Around the Tubes: January 12, 2022

       

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on The Dropout, Conversations with Friends, Eddie Vedder, Aerosmith, Foxes, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Cat Stevens, Futurama, I Love You for That, Vice, and Attica.

- Check out the official trailer and key art for Hulu's "The Dropout." The limited series premieres on Thursday, March 3rd with three episodes. New episodes stream weekly.  Money. Romance. Tragedy. Deception. Hulu’s limited series “The Dropout,” the story of Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) and Theranos, is an unbelievable tale of ambition and fame gone terribly wrong. How did the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire lose it all in the blink of an eye? 

- Check out Hulu’s teaser for upcoming original limited series "Conversations with Friends" based on Sally Rooney's best-selling novel starring Alison Oliver, Sasha Lane, Joe Alwyn, and Jemima Kirke. "Conversations with Friends" premieres with all 12 episodes on Hulu and BBC Three in May 2022.  "Conversations with Friends" follows Frances (Alison Oliver), a 21 year old college student, as she navigates a series of relationships that force her to confront her own vulnerabilities for the first time.

- Eddie Vedder unveils his highly anticipated new album, Earthling, via Seattle Surf/Republic Records. It is available on all streaming platforms HERE, on cd (available now) and deluxe cd, vinyl & cassette (pre-order) available HERE.  He celebrates the arrival by sharing the opener and latest single “Invincible.” The track echoes with raw energy, cinematic synths, heavenly harmonies, and lush guitars.  Fans can also tune in for an exclusive, intimate conversation between Vedder and Bruce Springsteen presented by Amazon Music. In the special, which was filmed on Bruce’s farm in New Jersey, the two break down Vedder’s new album, Earthling - from production and appearances by Stevie Wonder, Ringo Starr, Elton John and Andrew Watt, to Vedder’s songwriting. Directed by Thom Zimny, the special will debut on Amazon Live Friday, February 11^th beginning at 2PM EST and will be available exclusively for 48 hours. The interview will be made available on Eddie Vedder’s YouTube page on Sunday, February 13^th.

-  In the first of many announcements celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the four-time GRAMMY® winning and Diamond-certified rock legends Aerosmith, one of their earliest recordings, Aerosmith – 1971: The Road Starts Hear (UMe), will make its CD and digital debut on April 8. This rare recording from 1971 was recently discovered in Aerosmith’s Vindaloo Vaults and was originally only available as a limited-edition cassette and vinyl release for Record Store Day in 2021. The heavily sought-after RSD release quickly sold out and debuted on the Billboard 200, hitting No. 2 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, No. 12 on the Top Rock Albums chart, No. 13 on the Vinyl Albums chart, and No. 19 on the Top Album Sales chart.  The Road Starts Hear can now be preordered/presaved, HERE. In addition, the band’s official online store will also feature a new 1971 collection of exclusive merchandise, available HERE.

- Foxes (Louisa Rose Allen) releases her highly-anticipated new album, The Kick on [PIAS] Recordings. Including the recent singles "Body Suit", "Absolute", "Sky Love", "Dance Magic" and "Sister Ray", The Kick is Foxes’ first album in over five years. Serving as a form of escapism, the record was written and recorded via zoom with producer Ghost Culture (Daniel Avery, Kelly Lee Owens) during the height of the pandemic.  LISTEN TO THE KICK.  Inspired by the desire for freedom that the world collectively shared over the last 18 months of lockdowns, the near-animalistic desperation to socialise, and a longing to dance again, Louisa naturally pivoted the sonics to feed that escapism and create a record that simultaneously feels close to the euphoric, dancefloor-filling pop roots that brought us hits like ‘Let Go For Tonight’, ‘Youth’ and ‘Body Talk’, while still feeling completely fresh.

 

- After independently releasing a series of singles and building a core fan base, Vancouver Island sensation and singer/songwriter Lauren Spencer-Smith partnered with Island Records and Republic Records, both divisions of Universal Music Group (UMG). The innovative partnership allows Lauren Spencer-Smith to keep her independent spirit via her own imprint while tapping into premium services from both labels.  The collaboration was structured with manager and business partner David Ehrlich.  Listen to “Fingers Crossed” — HERE.

- Fifty years since its release, the original motion picture soundtrack for Hal Ashby’s 1971 classic cult film “Harold and Maude,” made up exclusively of songs by Cat Stevens, is now available in new 180g 1LP / 1CD / Digital release formats via A&M/Cat-O-Log/UMe. The new edition of the soundtrack combines Cat Stevens’ nine original songs, as well as dialogue from the film, for the first time.  Hal Ashby’s 1971 film about the unlikely friendship-turned-love story of suicidal teenager Harold Chasen (played by Bud Cort) and 79-year-old free spirit Maude (played by Ruth Gordon) is now widely praised as a bona fide cult classic. Filled with dark humor and existential drama, the film represents the potentially glorious benefits that can arise from a balanced partnership between conservative pragmatism and colorful free-spirited idealism. It reveals the deep lying synergy that exists between seemingly opposing views and how, when united, they can flourish to their mutual advantage.

- The future is looking bright for Fry, Leela and Bender at Hulu.  20th Television Animation and Hulu announced today the return of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy, FUTURAMA.  The announcement was made by Craig Erwich, President, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment and 20^th Television Animation Head Marci Proietto.  The order is for 20 new episodes and the series will go into production in February, with a 2023 premiere.  The show’s returning voice cast includes stars Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr and David Herman.

- SHOWTIME has officially started production on I LOVE THAT FOR YOU, the half-hour comedy series starring and executive produced by Emmy^® nominee Vanessa Bayer, with Molly Shannon and Jenifer Lewis also leading the cast.  Previously titled I LOVE THIS FOR YOU, the eight-episode series began production in Los Angeles last week and is set to premiere this spring.  Inspired by Bayer’s own story of overcoming childhood leukemia, I LOVE THAT FOR YOU centers on Joanna Gold (Bayer) who dreams of becoming a host at a home-shopping channel. Shannon plays Jackie, the charismatic star of the network and Joanna’s idol. Lewis plays Patricia, the network’s icy, enigmatic founder and CEO. Additional series regulars include Paul James, Ayden Mayeri, Matt Rogers and Punam Patel.

- SHOWTIME has renewed the Peabody Award-winner and two-time Emmy^®-nominated documentary series VICE for an upcoming third and fourth season. Season three will premiere Sunday, May 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with the first eight episodes airing weekly on Sundays leading to a midseason finale on June 19. The remaining eight episodes of the season will air later this year. Known for delivering immersive reporting from the frontlines of global conflict, civil uprisings and more, this season of VICE will cover a new slate of groundbreaking stories from its team of global correspondents.  Each half-hour episode of VICE relentlessly pursues untold stories of social justice, civil rights and identity, tackling complex geopolitical stories from remote parts of the world and on domestic grounds. The VICE reporting team includes a diverse group of award-winning journalists, including Hind Hassan, Alzo Slade, Seb Walker, Paola Ramos, Gianna Toboni, Ben C. Solomon, David Noriega, and Krishna Andavolu. The series was honored with a 2021 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for excellence in journalism.

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films has received the first Oscar nomination in its history, with the feature-length documentary ATTICA from Emmy^® winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson (Freedom Riders, The Murder of Emmett Till) and co-director Traci A. Curry in final contention for Best Documentary Feature at the March 27 ceremony. ATTICA recounts in vivid detail the five-day 1971 prison rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York, which took the lives of 29 inmates and 10 hostages – the deadliest single day of violence Americans inflicted on each other since the Civil War. ATTICA can be seen for free for viewing through the end of February’s Black History Month on Sho.com and YouTube, as well as across multiple streaming and on-demand platforms.

- Showtime Networks Inc. and Bleecker Street have entered into a new and exclusive three-year output agreement, effective in March, under which SHOWTIME will exhibit high-profile Bleecker Street feature films across its on-air, on demand and streaming premium services. Each film will come to SHOWTIME within five months of initial release. The deal will comprise up to 12 films per year, all of which will be released theatrically by Bleecker Street,

57 Channels and Only This Is On: January 6, 2022

  

Claws:  Really, we are supposed to believe Uncle Daddy went to gay heaven?  Dude is definitely going south of the border.  But what a horrible set up job.  Desna just puts all her fingerprints over the gun before even planting it, and then shoots Uncle Daddy with the gun.  It is going to be really hard to set him up now.  I would not be disappointed if Desna joins Uncle Daddy, but she is probably going to get away.

 

Billions:  So Mike Prince wants the 2028 Olympics for New York City?  Umm, who is going to break it to him that those games were already awarded to Los Angeles?  That is about as bizarre as Wags saying Frey would never do that to Henley.  Huh?  They had such a contentious relationship that they named their reunion tour “Hell Freezes Over.”  I do not know, seems like there was a time Frey would have outted Henley for performing a private concert for Kim Jung Un.

 

Snowpiercer:  So Wilford was going to freeze off Melanie’s arm and just decides against it just because Layton went by him (I am I the only one who just now realized that Layton was his last name?).  It will be interesting if Layton’s discovery will be able to win over any of Wilford’s faithful when the trains join back up.

 

Pam & Tommy:  Well this is turning out to be the longest Funny or Die sketch ever.  As of now, I am leaning towards “Die.”

 

The Book of Boba Fett:  I never thought I would see the day when Raylan Givens got outdueled.  But he is not dead, right?  Cad Bane did shoot him once, but riddled the deputy multiple times.  We got to hear what Raylan was going to tell the town and maybe get some insight of what was with the box of sand the Pykes took out to a desert.  Not that Boba will be lacking soldiers; he got the Wookie, the cyber punks, Fennic, Mando is coming back, possibly with Grogu and his tiny armor with him (obviously he is choosing the armor over the lightsaber, but why not let him have both, Luke).  Maybe Ahsoka who was just randomly at Luke’s academy for no apparent reason other than maybe make us remember she has a spinoff coming.  We may also see some surviving Tuscan Raiders join the fight.  While the Pykes just have Cad Bane.  Although Emilia Clarke has been the Mephisto of the Star Wars universe, so maybe she and Crimson Dawn comes by to even the odds.

 

Single Drunk Female:  How do you do an episode entitled “Shamrocks and Shenanigans” that takes place on St. Patrick’s Day and not feature any House of Pain songs?

Around the Tubes: January 5, 2022

      

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on everything’s gonna be all white, Life & Beth, Florian Picasso, Lyn Lapid, BENEE, Kae Tempest, Bob Marley, Bastille, Nothing Compares, 2nd Chance, Up Here, and The Man Who Fell to Earth.

SHOWTIME^® has released a trailer for everything’s gonna be all white, directed by Emmy^®-nominee Sacha Jenkins (BITCHIN’: THE SOUND AND FURY OF RICK JAMES). In honor of Black History Month, SHOWTIME Documentary Films is premiering the provocative new three-part docu-series, which explores the history of race in America from the perspective of people of color. From the ever-shifting classifications of racial identity, to the generational effects of racism on housing, education and healthcare, to the singular fight of Indigenous populations to reclaim their land from constant encroachment, everything’s gonna be all white delves deeply into the root causes of racial inequities in this country. The first part of the docu-series will premiere on-air on Friday, February 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. SHOWTIME will release all three parts, along with a bonus episode, to its subscribers On Demand at 12:01 a.m. ET, prior to the on-air debut of the first episode later that night at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

- Hulu has revealed the release date of original comedy series "Life & Beth" starring and executive produced by Amy Schumer. The ensemble cast includes Amy Schumer, Michael Cera, Susannah Flood, Violet Young, Kevin Kane, Yamaneika Saunders, Laura Benanti, Larry Owens, Michael Rapaport, Rosebud Walker and LaVar Walker.  "Life & Beth" premieres all 10 episodes on March 18, only on Hulu.  SYNOPSIS: Beth’s life would look pretty great on paper. Impressive to everyone she grew up with.  She makes a good living as a wine distributor. She’s in a long term relationship with a successful guy and lives in Manhattan. When a sudden incident forces Beth to engage with her past her life changes forever. Through flashbacks to her teen self, Beth starts to learn how she became who she is and who she wants to become.  We’ll go on her journey towards building a bigger, bolder and more authentic life. Learning to express herself and living in an intentional way. A trip down memory lane is a strong source of trauma, comedy and moving forward.

- To commemorate the release of their NFT collection, Florian Picasso - the great grandson of the famed artist, adopted by Picasso’s granddaughter Marina - collaborated with John Legend and Nas on a new track titled "Tomorrow.” Available today, Friday, February 4^th. The song was produced and co-written by British artist and producer-legend Stuart Price. Each NFT from the release is be backed by the audio from "Tomorrow," creating a singular visual and sonic experience.  The NFT collection is segmented into different lots, with 5 limited sets of 200 NFT's being sold via their own ManAndTheBeat.com marketplace, powered by Origin Story. There will be a further release via Nifty Gateway of a limited set of 10 pieces, combining for a total of 1010 NFT’s for sale.

- Songstress Lyn Lapid returns with her latest single “I Guess That Was Goodbye”—listen HERE. Inspired by the heartache that results in not being able to say goodbye to a special person and produced by Wendy Wang (Tori Kelly, Nick Jonas, Terror Jr), the song is a gorgeous ballad complete with orchestral strings that lift Lyn’s signature ethereal vocals to a whole new level. Lyn first teased the track on TikTok, where it has amassed hundreds of thousands of views and quickly become a favorite amongst her fans—watch HERE and HERE.

- BENEE returns with her first new music of 2022, a single entitled “Beach Boy” via Republic Records – listen HERE. The song is produced by Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia, Beck) and arrives alongside the announcement of her forthcoming EP LYCHEE out March 4th.  “Beach Boy” sets BENEE in her breeziest form to date. A sweetly toned vocal and dreamy guitars evoke sixties beach movies, sun kissed summer days, and perfect beach dates.

- British spoken word artist, rapper, poet, novelist, and playwright Kae Tempest announces a string of headline shows along the East Coast in March in support of their upcoming album The Line Is A Curve out April 8^th via American Recordings/Republic Records. The dates include Washington DC on March 22^nd, Boston on March 23^rd, and Brooklyn on March 24^th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 4^th at 10AM local time via http://www.kaetempest.co.uk/live/.

- The Marley Family and UMe will honor the legacy of Bob Marley, commemorating his 77th birthday by honoring his life, legacy, and music with a multitude of in-person, virtual, and philanthropic events.  The Marley Family is celebrating the occasion by returning to Marley's Roots. Seven different events over seven days have been curated to give back to the community in Jamaica in observance of his birthday. The scheduled events include a Back To Our Roots beach cleanup and concert as well as a newly curated exhibition at the Bob Marley Museum, titled The 7 Roots of Bob Marley's Livity, which features the work of young, up-and-coming artists. In addition, a new web series of the same name will premiere on Tuff Gong TV, which explores the natural mystic of Reggae Legend and his enduring influence on Jamaica and the world. Marley's Earthstrong festivities culminate on February 6, with a limited-capacity concert celebration at Tuff Gong International, in Kingston, Jamaica which will be live-streamed on Bob Marley's official YouTube channel. In addition, an extraordinary Lion's Den Concert by Stephen Marley from Miami, FL., will also premiere on February 6. Watch Marley's 77^th Earthstrong ROOTS festivities on Bob Marley's official YouTube channel HERE.

- After building a groundswell of buzz for its arrival, Bastille unveils their anxiously awaited new album Give Me The Future today via Republic Records. Listen to Give Me The Future HERE.  The band set the stage for the record with their latest single “Shut Off The Lights” and announces today they will be performing the song on The Late Late Show with James Corden on February 15^th (check local listings). In addition, the song has garnered over 5 million global streams and has incited widespread applause from tastemakers. V Magazine urged it “might just be the highest they’ve ever gone,” while Entertainment Tonight noted it “focuses on staying in the moment and touches on the intimate connection humans experience with one another.” Watch the official music video for “Shut Off The Lights” HERE.

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to NOTHING COMPARES directed by Kathryn Ferguson (Taking the Waters, Space to Be). NOTHING COMPARES charts Sinéad OʼConnorʼs phenomenal rise to worldwide fame and examines how she used her voice at the height of her stardom before her iconoclastic personality led to her exile from the pop mainstream. Focusing on Sinéad’s prophetic words and deeds from 1987 to 1993, the film presents an authored, richly cinematic portrait of this fearless trailblazer through a contemporary feminist lens.  NOTHING COMPARES, Ferguson’s documentary feature directorial debut, was an official selection in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival last week. SHOWTIME is planning a theatrical release later this year in the U.S., UK and Ireland ahead of the SHOWTIME premiere in the U.S., and its international partner streaming platforms later this year. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. 

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced that it has acquired North American rights to the Sundance Film Festival documentary 2ND CHANCE, from director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Ramin Bahrani (The White Tiger, 99 Homes, Chop Shop).  2ND CHANCE, Bahrani’s feature-length documentary debut, is an exploration of the life and legacy of Richard Davis, the charming and brash inventor of the modern-day bulletproof vest who shot himself 192 times to prove his product worked. SHOWTIME is planning a theatrical release ahead of a network premiere later his year, leading into awards season. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

- Hulu greenlights musical romantic comedy series Up Here from  20^th Television and Old 320 Sycamore Productions.  Logline: A musical romantic comedy set in New York City in the waning days of 1999, following the extraordinary story of one ordinary couple, as they fall in love – and discover that the single greatest obstacle to finding happiness together might just be themselves – and the treacherous world of memories, obsessions, fears, and fantasies that lives inside their heads.  Original songs for the series by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. 

- SHOWTIME announced today that BAFTA Award winner Bill Nighy (Love Actually) will star in the highly anticipated upcoming original drama series THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH. He will reunite with stars Oscar and Emmy^® nominee and BAFTA Award winner Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Oscar, BAFTA^® and Screen Actors Guild^® Award nominee Naomie Harris (Moonlight), both of whom he worked with on previous projects. The series will premiere exclusively on SHOWTIME later this year.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: January 29, 2022

  

Claws:  Well, I have been predicting the group would slowly break up all season and they finally did, but it happened quickly and it was not everyone going over to Quiet Ann’s side.  But at least they called out Quiet Ann for not being very quiet this season.  I am now beginning to think that Desna killing Quiet Ann from the opening scene is actually them faking her death to get out from under the DEA.

 

Snowpiercer:  So Layton found someone in that building and it was not Melanie?  So where is Melanie?  They did spoil that she was still alive during “This Season On…”  Just how was that person surviving?  Where are they getting heat for their suit?  And why did the one dude that was being locked away in the library car have a Taser?  Maybe not give someone possibly loyal to Wilford a weapon that can be used against you.

 

How I Met Your Father:  I was very underwhelmed when Hilary Duff said she met the father that day and the only possible baby daddies we met were the dude who got engaged, the annoying British dude, the guy who moved to Australia (and did she really meet him that day if they had been facetiming and texting for weeks prior), and… Piz.  I did say it would be lame if the father turned out to be some guy at the engagement party that we, the audience did not meet.  Low and behold, the first person she is going to date is some random guy she said two words to at the bar.  If everyone she ends up dating over the course of the series just happened to be at that engagement party… ugh, I do not even want to think about it.

 

The Book of Boba Fett:  It seemed pretty obvious Mando was going to show up at some point.  Boba needs help taking down the Pykes and Mando owes him one for saving Grogu, oh and they literally played his theme at the end of the last episode, but I was not expecting a full episode of The Mandalorian right in the middle of the season with no Boba and Fennick only showing up for a minute.  Sad this was easily the best episode of this series.  The cold open was great.  Mando having to take a commercial flight was hilarious (shocking he got all his weapons back), and heartwarming that the mechanic converted the place on the ship usually meant for droid for presumably a place for Grogu to hang out (though where exactly is the bounty hunter going to put his bounties).  Though, Boba needs him, but Mando is going to go visit Grogu first?  Is Mando going to bring in Grogu for the final showdown?

Around the Tubes: January 28, 2022

     

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, Your Attention Please, Rick and Morty, The Circus, Saint X, bülow, Chelsea Cutler, Em Beihold, Kate Tempest, and Foxes.

- SHOWTIME has released the official trailer for SUPER PUMPED: THE BATTLE FOR UBER, the first installment of a new anthology series, which is set to premiere on Sunday, February 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Starring Emmy^® winner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Emmy winner Kyle Chandler (Bloodline, Friday Night Lights) and Oscar^® and Emmy nominee Uma Thurman (Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction), the first season is based on Mike Isaac’s bestselling book Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber. Brian Koppelman and David Levien (BILLIONS, Rounders) and Beth Schacter (Soundtrack) executive produce, write and serve as showrunners on the series.  

- Host Craig Robinson is back in the Black History Month series that takes us on a visual journey into the lives, ideas, and purpose of a diverse group of Black innovators and creators who are leaving their mark on the world. This season spotlights celebrity dog groomer Ashley Ann, ice cream scientist Dr. Maya Warren, NASCAR pit crew member Brehanna Daniels, and many more.  Season 3 of Your Attention Please premieres February 1st on Hulu.

- From creators Justin Roiland (“Solar Opposites”) and Dan Harmon (“Community”), go on an intergalactic adventure across the multi-verse with the epic release of the Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-5 boxed set on Blu-ray™ and DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 29, 2022. Get Schwifty while you binge on one of cables #1 watched comedies - and follow the misadventures of America’s favorite crazy scientist and his grandchildren with this outrageous boxed set which includes all 51 episodes from the first five seasons of the award-winning series, along with copious special features, including audio commentary, deleted scenes, “Inside the Episode” segments, numerous featurettes, past animatic sketches, and more. For a limited time, fans who purchase the set will receive an exclusive poster from the series. Rick and Morty: Seasons 1-5 is priced to own at $89.99 SRP for the Blu-ray ($99.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only) and $79.99 SRP for the DVD ($89.99 in Canada). Rick and Morty is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

- The seventh season of the Emmy-nominated series THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH premieres on Sunday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. Hosted by John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Alex Wagner, and Jennifer Palmieri, the 16-episode season will air in two parts of eight episodes apiece, with the program returning in the fall for the second installment.  To watch and share the trailer, click HERE: https://youtu.be/Lt9N44meIoU.  THE CIRCUS will hit the ground running in March, covering the lead-up to the most consequential midterm elections in our lifetime. As President Joe Biden's agenda stalls, his poll numbers slide, inflation spikes and the nation grows ever more divided over the Covid-19 pandemic, the November midterms will not only determine control of Congress but the future of the Biden presidency. The program will also pull back the curtain on this extraordinary and precarious moment, examining how former President Donald Trump continues to undermine the country's electoral process, and as the Republican Party, under his sway, passes laws in state after state restricting voter access to the polls and changing how votes are counted. As THE CIRCUS returns, nothing short of the future of American democracy is on the line.  

- Hulu has given an 8-episode drama series order to the adaptation of Alexis Schaitkin’s acclaimed debut novel, “Saint X,” from ABC Signature.  Logline: “Saint X” is a psychological drama, told in multiple timelines and perspectives, which explores and upends the girl-gone-missing genre. It’s a show about how a young woman's mysterious death during an idyllic Caribbean vacation creates a traumatic ripple effect that eventually pulls her surviving sister into a dangerous pursuit of the truth. 

- This week, alternative pop singer and songwriter bülow unveils a new single entitled “Don’t Break His Heart" via Republic Records. The new track unleashes a new sound from bülow, with much more to come this year.  Regarding the track, she shared, “I let my curiosity lead me and ended up getting way too deep with somebody I didn’t have business going deep with. I tend to go with the flow if it feels good and sometimes it gets me in trouble. It’s weird sometimes I don't understand my emotions entirely, but that’s why I wrote this song.”

- After releasing her critically acclaimed sophomore album When I Close My Eyes last fall and (unintentionally) shaking up the internet and music industry earlier this month, Platinum-Certified singer, songwriter, and producer Chelsea Cutler returns today with her new single “the lifeboat’s empty!” out now alongside the official video—listen HERE and watch HERE. The new song will be featured on her upcoming deluxe version of When I Close My Eyes, set to be released later this spring.  On the inspiration behind the new song, Chelsea says, “I’m so excited to continue the When I Close My Eyes era with the deluxe album and start it off with one of my favorite songs I’ve ever made – ‘the lifeboat’s empty!’. I had a lot of fun making this one and think it’s going to absolutely go off on tour.”

- After captivating millions across social media, buzzing Los Angeles singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Em Beihold shares a new single and music video entitled “Numb Little Bug.” It marks her debut for Moon Projects and Republic Records—as announced earlier via Variety.  Listen to “Numb Little Bug”— HERE.  Watch the lyric video for “Numb Little Bug”—HERE.

- Following the release of Kate Tempest’s new single “More Pressure” with Kevin Abstract earlier this month, the British spoken word artist, rapper, poet, novelist, and playwright drops the official video for the song today—watch HERE. The video was directed by Harris Elliott and Manny Bonett and features live performance footage shot during the original vocal recording of the album, recorded on the day by Brian Rogers, alongside abstract animation created by 3D visual artist Zongbo Jiang.  Tempest says, “The best experience of making a music video I’ve ever had, testament to the incredible talents involved. Huge deep love and thanks to Harris Elliot, Zongbo Jiang, Brian Rogers, and Kevin Abstract. Watch it. It’s so fucking good.”

- Ahead of the release of her highly-anticipated new album, The Kick due out February 11 2022 via [PIAS] Recordings, Foxes shares the new single "Body Suit."  Produced by Ghost Culture (Daniel Avery, Kelly Lee Owens), "Body Suit" is one of The Kick’s most tender moments. Continuing the themes of freedom explored on recent singles ‘Absolute’, ‘Sky Love’, ‘Dance Magic’ and ‘Sister Ray’, it’s an intimate description of the euphoria that comes with another person seeing the real you and accepting you as you are.

Around the Tubes: January 22, 2022

    

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Billions, John Mellencamp, Joy Oladokun, Kiss, Conan Gray, The Weeknd, Everything’s Gonna Be all White, Yellowjackets, and Bite Size Halloween.

- SHOWTIME has released the upcoming season six premiere episode of the hit drama series BILLIONS^® for free sampling on streaming platforms and on demand. The episodes will be available from January 21 to April 10 on Showtime.com, Sho.com, and YouTube, as well as across multiple SHOWTIME partner platforms including Amazon Prime Video Channels, Apple TV App, Roku, Sling TV, Xfinity, Spectrum, DISH, DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, Cox, ATT Uverse, Verizon Fios and more.  Starring Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Paul Giamatti, Corey Stoll and Maggie Siff. BILLIONS is created and executive produced by showrunners Brian Koppelman and David Levien. Season six is also executive produced by Beth Schacter. The series was also created by Andrew Ross Sorkin. BILLIONS will officially premiere on Sunday, January 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

- John Mellencamp’s new album Strictly A One-Eyed Jack is out now on Republic Records. Stream and purchase it HERE and listen to the new album single “Did You Say Such A Thing” HERE.  The album—written and produced by Mellencamp himself at his own Belmont Mall Studios in Bloomington, Indiana—features three collaborations with Bruce Springsteen including the first album single “Wasted Days.”

- Acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician Joy Oladokun’s new song, “Keeping the Light On,” is out today via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records.—listen/share HERE.  Reflecting on the song, Oladokun shares, “My next body of work is about the human will to keep trying in the midst of all the tragedy that we’ve seen and perpetrated. ‘Keeping the Light On’ is my little musical way of saying it’s really hard to keep trying but I think part of life is doing so anyway and seeing what magic comes out of it.”

- KISS premiered the first unreleased live version of “Lick It Up” from KISS – Off The Soundboard: Live In Virginia Beach, being released on March 11. The original album version of “Lick It Up” was released in 1983 and is the title track from the band’s platinum selling release Lick It Up. The song quickly became a fan favorite with the promotional video featuring the band without makeup for the first time.  KISS – Off The Soundboard: Live In Virginia Beach was recorded at the Virginia Beach Amphitheatre on July 25, 2004 and is the second in a series of official live bootlegs released by the band. Available as a 3-LP standard black vinyl set, a 2-CD set, a limited edition 3-LP set pressed on 180g opaque green vinyl, and to stream and download, Live In Virginia Beach can now be pre-ordered and pre-saved, here.

- Gearing up for a massive year, platinum selling, chart topping, pop singer and songwriter pop singer songwriter Conan Gray unveils a brand-new single entitled “Jigsaw” today.  Listen to “Jigsaw” HERE via Republic Records.

- The Weeknd’s album, Dawn FM, continues it’s global domination by setting a new record on the Billboard Global 200 chart - charting 24 songs, the most ever by a solo male artist.  The compilation The Highlights also occupies the Billboard Top 10 at #6,  alongside Dawn FM, earning The Weeknd a rare two albums in the top 10.

- In honor of Black History Month, SHOWTIME Documentary Films is premiering the provocative new three-part docu-series everything’s gonna be all white, which explores the history of race in America from the perspective of people of color. From the ever-shifting classifications of racial identity, to the generational effects of racism on housing, education and healthcare, to the singular fight of Indigenous populations to reclaim their land from constant encroachment, the docu-series delves deeply into the root causes of racial inequities in this country. Directed by Emmy^® nominee Sacha Jenkins (BITCHIN’: THE SOUND AND FURY OF RICK JAMES), the first part of the docu-series will premiere on-air on Friday, February 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. SHOWTIME will release all three parts, along with a bonus episode, to its subscribers On Demand at 12:01 a.m. ET, prior to the on-air debut of the first episode later that night at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

- The hit drama YELLOWJACKETS on Sunday completed its first season on SHOWTIME as the second-most streamed series in network history, behind only the recently aired DEXTER: NEW BLOOD. Buoyed by its inclusion on nearly 50 year-end “Best of” television lists, a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and snowballing buzz (yeah, we went there) on social media, YELLOWJACKETS delivered one of the biggest SHOWTIME debut seasons ever. The series has averaged over 5 million weekly viewers across platforms – the highest for a freshman series on the network since BILLIONS in 2016.  Sunday’s YELLOWJACKETS season finale amassed 1.3 million viewers across platforms on Sunday alone, more than doubling its audience from the series premiere. Streaming viewership for YELLOWJACKETS has quadrupled over the course of the season. Last week, the series received WGA Award nominations for Best Drama Series and Best New Series. In December, SHOWTIME renewed YELLOWJACKETS for a second season.

- The partnership between 20th Digital Studio and Hulu is set to include nine horror features over the next few years. The films will expand directly on the shorts from the “BITE SIZE HALLOWEEN” collection, featuring previous writers or directors, or inspired by past shorts. The films deal with topical social issues such as mental health, ecological collapse, reproductive rights, interracial adoption and online hysteria.  Horror short film APPENDAGE by writer/director Anna Zlokovic and starring Rachel Sennott (SHIVA BABY) and Eric Roberts, now playing at the Sundance Film Festival, will expand to a Hulu Original feature film with 20th Digital Studio as part of the nine-film slate currently in development.

Previewing Billions Season Six

 

I do not know what it is, but Damien Lewis always stays a season or four too long on a Showtime show.  Maybe he is just a great hang.  But he spent three seasons on Homeland even though had he blown himself up on the season finale of the first season, it may have made that one of greatest season in the history of television.  But he stuck around; the second season was fine but had some diminishing returns, though season three was one of the worst seasons in the history of television.

 

Shortly after being written of off Homeland, Lewis then showed up on Billions and once again, the show would have been much better in the long time had it written him off after a season or two.  The cat and mouse routine between his hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod and Paul Giamatti’s District Attorney was fine for the first two season but, once again, diminishing returns for subsequent seasons.  The show would have been much better off had Chuck had a new antagonist each season (or even better, had it been a limited season where they both ended up in prison cells next to each other at the end of it).

 

Though this time it feels like it was not a creative reason as to why Lewis was written off the show because nothing really has changed for the new season except for the person sitting in Bobby’s chair and the name on the side of the building.  Dollar Bill and McPhee took off at the end of last season, but everyone else returns whether they like it or not. 

 

Sure, the show wants you to think there are big changes, the season starts with Chuck on a tractor, Wendy looks like she is working as an ice cream maker, Sacker is doing combat training, Taylor is watching The Bachelor (or maybe random engagement videos), Wags is actually exercising, and Bobby’s replacement Mike Prince is, well, that is hard to explain.

 

Okay, there is a slight difference between Bobby and Mike Prince; Bobby would cut every corner to win.  Mike Prince on the other hand is a Boy Scout (or wants you to think that) who wants to do things with honor and want you to know just how on the straight and narrow he is.  Basically the worst kind of foe for Chuck, a guy who is not going to slip up because he cannot be tempted in doing something illegal.  Or so we are led to believe, he did double cross Chuck to get Bobby out of the way.

 

While the show wants you to think there are big changes  by the opening montage, it is still the very same Billions at its course and even pull off their way overused “One week earlier” trope and even doubles down on that trope by dropping a “Two weeks ago” title card while we were already a week in the past.  And really, nothing says Billions more than starting the episode with a classic rock song and then ending it with a rap song that samples the exact same classic rock song that opened the season.

 

Billions airs Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.

Who the fork is Lottie Matthews!?!?!

 

Well, there went my two biggest theories for Yellowjackets: that Lottie was pit girl and that Jackie was left for dead but has come back to haunt the remaining girl and that Lottie was the Pit Girl.  The thing is, Jackie was my back up for Pit Girl and she seemed to be the consensus for the top two for most people (the person was wearing her necklace).  Stupid casting red herring.  Those predictions were basically made mostly because Ella Purnell was a full cast member while Courtney Eaton (kind of wonder if she was cast solely for her name) was just recurring.  Though Coach Ben is a cast member and I am shocked he made it this far.  But they better sign up Eaton for future seasons soon now.

 

But I guess I can just slide Lottie into my Jackie theory that she was left for dead and also stole Shauna’s wilderness baby.  But how many people stayed with her?  There were four people who kidnapped Nat, including one dude.  Javi?  Wilderness baby?  Has Lottie recruited more people to her cult?  I did not notice any of the chicks having facial scares though we saw Van worship at the altar of Lottie.  But then again, so did Misty and she apparently left.  Or did she?  Tai is still doing ritualistic killings; I am guess to help win her election.  Of course, this begs the question; Simone is just now noticing there was a draft in the basement?

 

So we do have confirmation of one other survivor who made it to 2021.  But another of my predictions, that there would be another survivor that would turn up at the reunion also turned out to be wrong.  Though we did get a surprise attendee in Allie who I believe was just a freshman in 1996.  That actress just kept on throwing heaters.  The Rewatchables Podcast has something called the Dion Waiters award for the character who puts up a lot of shots in a little amount of times and that actress really was gunning for that award.  One nit-pick about the reunion, the trophy case only had fifteen players on the team.  The show has been fast and loose with the numbers, but there were nineteen survivors, minus Coach, Travis, Javi, and Misty, plus the three that can be seen dead in the cabin, plus Allie who was not on the flight should be nineteen.

 

Misty Psycho watch:  I knew there was no way Misty was going to let the fixer go even though it seemed like she was Stockholming her.  She definitely showed she knew how to get rid of a body earlier in the episode, but lacing the cigarette that she threw away was some next level planning.  Then Nat asking Shauna if she remembered how to cut up a body was chilling  Speaking of dead bodies, Callie was weirdly stone-faced was Adam’s missing report came on television.  Besides Pit Girl’s identity, that was the big hanging thread from this season, who was that dude?  That he had no digital footprint seems like a huge thing.  But why drag that mystery into season two?  Or is there no reveal coming and he was just some dude.  There were people thinking he was working with Callie and they were the blackmailers.  Other people thought Misty sent him but she had no such reaction to his body.  Either he is nobody or part of Lottie’s cult.  Probably the latter.

 

Despite getting everything wrong so far, that is not going to stop me making more predictions for season two.  Like I previous suggested, I will slide Lottie into my Jackie was left for dead in the wilderness and also stole Shauna’s wilderness baby prediction.  Pit Girl kind of has to be Mari at this point because she is the only dark haired girl left in 2016 that we do not know is alive in 2021 yet (while I love it, the Callie is Pit Girl theory makes no sense since Van clearly looks down on the dead body in that scene).  Unless they bring one of the background girls to the forefront, by my math, there are still six unnamed Yellowjackets that are still alive as of now.

 

Then, who else joins Lottie cult?  We learned last week, Lottie is the Antler Queen.  We have always known Misty was a part of it.  It also tuned out Van’s Co-Ed Naked Soccer shirt was not a red herring, but that is really her.  That leaves four other people from the dinner scene in the premiere.  Could it be simply the four other people we knew survived: Shauna, Tai, Nat, and Travis?  Could it be the four people who abducted Nat?  Considering her shrine and her ties to Van, Tai seems like a lock.  Nat asks Shauna if she remembers how to cut up a body so they seem like a possibilities.  Unless Javi, who was last seen running away from Shauna, ended up like Jackie, seems like he would be willing to join a cult too.  Yet, I am not entirely sure.  It is going to be a long wait until season two.