Around the Tubes: Trick or Stream: The Disney Bundle is the Ultimate Home of Halloween

 

There are some holidays that have become synonymous with major live events - a parade, or perhaps a ball drop - but Halloween belongs to the streamers. This year, Hulu’s iconic “Huluween,” now in its fifth year, and Disney+’s “Hallowstream” celebration make the Disney Bundle the ultimate destination for every kind of Halloween viewer, whether you’re looking for scares, sass, or even sports.

 

Huluween

Hulu will kick off its iconic Huluween celebration with the premiere of Huluween Dragstravaganza, a hilarious drag variety show hosted by fan-favorites Ginger Minj and Monét X Change.  These two superstars are trapped in the TV, and the only way out is to host a hilarious Huluween TV special with a troupe of iconic queens (and a major special musical guest) who take the stage in original musical numbers, sketch comedy, and more!  The one-hour show will stream exclusively on Hulu beginning October 1, and the hair (and heel!)-raising scream-worthy teaser premieres today.

 

The Huluween hub will continue to serve as the go-to streaming destination for every type of Halloween content including recent buzzworthy film releases Prey, No Exit, Hatched and Abandoned (10/21), highly-anticipated premieres like A Sinister Halloween Scary Opposites Solar Special (10/3), Hellraiser (10/7), The Paloni Show! Halloween Special! (10/17), Antlers (10/11), and legendary favorites like The Rocky Horror Picture Show (10/1), The Sixth Sense (10/1), Monster House (10/1), and the Blade trilogy (10/1). Chilling, can’t-miss TV series include American Horror Stories, The X-Files, Stephen King's Storm of the Century, SurrealEstate (10/6), the hilarious What We Do in the Shadows and many more. This year also marks the anniversaries of unforgettable classics including Predator (35th Anniversary), The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (30th Anniversary, streaming 10/1), Hotel Transylvania (10th Anniversary), and Buffy the Vampire Slayer series (25th Anniversary).

 

The Huluween celebrations won’t stop at the screen.  This year, Huluween enthusiasts can revel on both coasts, with Hulu taking part in Salem, Massachusetts’ annual Haunted Happenings celebration on October 31, and LA’s terrifying Haunted Hayride from October 19-31 (ex. 10/24).  More details about these fan opportunities, if you dare, will be revealed in the coming weeks.  

 

Also premiering on October 1 is the third season of Bite Size Halloween featuring 21 brand new shorts that explore different areas of the horror genre and provide a platform for exciting up-and-coming filmmakers. Viewers should be on the lookout for some familiar faces including Tatiana Maslany, Misha Osherovich, Brigette Lundy-Paine, David Costabile, and more.  As previously announced, several of the Bite Size shorts have been developed into feature films, and this year Hulu will release Grimcutty on October 10, and Matriarch on October 21. The Grimcutty and Matriarch official trailers make their frightening debuts today!

 

Hallowstream on Disney+

This fall, Disney+ will host its third annual “Hallowstream'' celebration. With Halloween traditions like Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Collection, eerie episodes from WandaVision, Glee, and Even Stevens, and further frights like Halloweentown, Muppets Haunted Mansion, and Zombies 3, the Halloween Collection on Disney+ offers tricks and treats for all ages.

 

Hallowstream 2022 brings brand-boo releases including the return of the iconic Sanderson sisters in Hocus Pocus 2 (9/30), and Marvel Studios’ first-ever special presentation Werewolf by Night (10/7). Families can also pick up their mics to new Sing-Along releases of fan favorite films including The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along (9/30) and Into the Woods Sing-Along (10/4). 

 

Hallowstream fans in Los Angeles can check out some of the collection’s most wicked offerings on the big screen at one of LA’s oldest cemeteries - the legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery - with fan-favorite screenings on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8. Bites and treats will be available for purchase from Smorgasburg. Additional details to come.

 

ESPN+

Sports fans will enjoy a ghost-busting Halloween too, when Peyton and Eli’s Spooky Adventure: A Places Universe Special debuts on ESPN+ on October 23. Join brothers Peyton and Eli Manning in the Places Universe as they look for the ghost of Notre Dame’s most legendary football player.

 

For other chilling stories centered around sports, the ESPN+ True Crime collection includes titles like The Life & Trials of Oscar Pistorius, OJ: Made in America, The Two Escobars, and more.

 

Electrifying New Films, Series and Specials

Super/Natural (Disney+ Original Series, September 21) - Executive-produced by James Cameron and narrated by Academy Award®-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning actor Benedict Cumberbatch (“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Power of the Dog”) this spine-tingling documentary series from National Geographic will utilize the latest scientific innovations and leading-edge filmmaking technology to reveal the secret powers and super-senses of the world’s most extraordinary animals. The series invites viewers to see and hear beyond normal perception to witness nature in its eerie wonder — from vampiric jumping spiders with a lust for blood, glow-in-the-dark squirrels, to the super-skills and magical forces of both the hunters and the hunted.

 

Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney+ Original Movie, September 30) - A Disney+ Original movie debuting September 30, 2022, exclusively on Disney+, the live-action comedy “Hocus Pocus 2” is a haunting sequel to the Halloween classic which brings back the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters for more comedic mayhem. “Hocus Pocus 2” stars Bette Midler (“The First Wives Club,” “Beaches”), Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and the City,” “Divorce”), and Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act,” “Younger”), and is directed by Anne Fletcher (“Dumplin,’” “The Proposal”).

 

It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve. “Hocus Pocus 2” also stars Sam Richardson (“The Tomorrow War”), Doug Jones (“The Shape of Water”), Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”), Whitney Peak (“Gossip Girl”), Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories”), Lilia Buckingham (“Dirt”), Froy Gutierrez (“Teen Wolf”), and Tony Hale (“Veep”). The film is produced by Lynn Harris (“King Richard,” “The Shallows”), with Ralph Winter (“Hocus Pocus,” “X-Men” franchise), David Kirschner (“Hocus Pocus,” “Chucky”), and Adam Shankman (“Disenchanted,” “Hairspray”) serving as executive producers.

 

Under Wraps 2 (New to Disney+, September 30) - “Under Wraps 2” picks up Marshall (Malachi Barton), Gilbert (Christian J. Simon) and Amy (Sophia Hammons) are getting ready to attend Amy's father's Spooktacular Halloween-themed wedding. However, plans soon go awry when the three friends discover their mummy pal Harold (Phil Wright) and his beloved Rose (Rryla McIntosh) may be in danger. Sobek (T.J. Storm), an evil mummy with a 1000-year-old grudge against his best friend-turned-bitter-rival Harold, is unexpectedly awakened and out for revenge. With help from his hypnotized lacky Larry (Jordan Conley), Sobek kidnaps Rose. Gilbert, Marshall, Buzzy (Melanie Brook) and Harold must use their skills once again to save her and get back in time to attend the wedding.

 

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Sing-Along Version) (New to Disney+, September 30) - Sing along with your favorite songs with on-screen lyrics as you watch “Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas."

 

Huluween Dragstravaganza Variety Show (October 1) - Two world-famous drag superstars, Ginger Minj and Monét X Change, are trapped in the TV - and the only way out is to host a hilarious variety show. Our drag hosts and a troupe of queens and kings - including Mo Heart, Jujubee, Manila Luzon, Lady Bunny, Jackie Beat, Selene Luna, Landon Cider, Mario Diaz - take the stage in original musical numbers, sketch comedy, and more. With a special A-list musical guest and surprise cameos to delight horror fans, this is going to be a Huluween Dragstravaganza to remember. (Trailer)

 

A Sinister Halloween Scary Opposites Solar Special (Hulu Original, October 3) - Sometimes alien life can be spooky. The Solar Opposites do a Halloween Special!

 

SurrealEstate: Complete Season 1 (Hulu Original, October 6) - Realtor Luke Roman and an elite team of specialists handle the cases that no one else can: haunted and possessed houses that literally scare would-be buyers away.

 

Hellraiser (Hulu Original Film, October 7) - A new take on Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic in which a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites, a group of sadistic supernatural beings from another dimension. The ensemble cast includes Odessa A’zion (Grand Army), Jamie Clayton (The L Word: Generation Q, Sense8), Adam Faison (Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Yes Day), Drew Starkey (Outer Banks, The Devil All the Time), Brandon Flynn (Ratched, 13 Reasons Why), Aoife Hinds (The Long Call, Normal People), Jason Liles (Stereoscope, Rampage), Yinka Olorunnife (The Transporter), Selina Lo (Boss Level, Q8 Unleashed), Zachary Hing (Halo), Kit Clarke (Leonardo), with Goran Visnjic (The Boys, Timeless) and Hiam Abbass (Succession, Blade Runner 2049).

 

Marvel Studios’ first Special Presentation: Werewolf by Night (Disney+ Original Special, October 7) - On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster. Inspired by horror films of the 1930s and 1940s, the chilling special aims to evoke a sense of dread and the macabre, with plenty of suspense and scares along the way as we explore a new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

“Werewolf by Night” is directed by Michael Giacchino and stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Laura Donnelly and Harriet Sansom Harris.

 

Grimcutty (Hulu Original Film, October 10) - In this modern creature feature, a scary internet meme called Grimcutty stirs up panic amongst all the parents in town, convinced it’s making their kids harm themselves and others. When a real-life version of Grimcutty starts attacking teen Asha Chaudry (Sara Wolfkind), her parents believe that she’s cutting herself as part of a challenge. With her phone taken away and no one who believes her, Asha has to figure out how to get through to her parents and stop the Grimcutty once and for all. Grimcutty is written and directed by John William Ross and stars Shannyn Sossamon (Wayward Pines, Sleepy Hollow), Usman Ally (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Veep), Alona Tal (Seal Team), and newcomer Sara Wolfkind. (Trailer)

 

Into the Woods Sing-Along Version (New to Disney+, October 14) – Sing along with your favorite songs with on-screen lyrics as you watch “Into the Woods."

 

The Paloni Show! Halloween Special! (Hulu Original, October 17) - From creator Justin Roiland (Solar Opposites, Rick and Morty), The Paloni Show! Halloween Special! premieres October 17, 2022 on Hulu. In this special, Leroy, Reggie, and Cheruce Paloni have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to be the hosts of an unforgettable Halloween Special full of “spooky” shorts from a group of up-and-coming animators. The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!, executive produced by Roiland and Ben Bayouth, comes from 20th Television Animation.

 

Abandoned (Hulu, October 21) - Directed by Spencer Squire, Abandoned follows Sara (Emma Roberts), her husband Alex (John Gallagher Jr.), and their infant son as they move into a new home, which harbors a dark, tragic past. As their home’s history is revealed, the mother’s postpartum depression escalates to a state of psychosis that jeopardizes her own safety and that of her newborn son.

 

Matriarch (Hulu Original Film, October 21) - After an overdose nearly takes her life, Laura Birch (Jemima Rooper, The Girlfriend Experience, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin) escapes from the high-stakes pressure of the advertising world to return to her roots. Accepting an invitation home from her estranged mother (Kate Dickie, Game of Thrones, The Green Knight), Laura hopes the time away in the secluded English village will help calm the demons raging inside of her. She soon discovers that the locals of the town are all protecting an unspeakably dark secret—a secret that involves not only her mother but her own terrifying destiny as well. Matriarch is from writer/director Ben Steiner and is a thematic successor to Steiner’s 2018 20th Digital short Urn. The film also stars Sarah Paul, Franc Ashman, and Keith David Bartlett. (Trailer)

 

Peyton and Eli’s Spooky Adventure: A Places Universe Special (ESPN+ Original, October 23) - When two Irish football players see the ghost of Notre Dame’s most legendary football player, head coach Marcus Freeman calls in Peyton, Eli and Jerome Bettis for a ghost busting Halloween adventure.  

 

Dancing with the Stars (Live on Disney+, Every Monday) - Every week, look forward to themed episodes with spectacular new costumes and dances culminating in the ultimate haunted ballroom on October 31.

Lucifer: The Complete Sixth and Final Season Review

 

Full Disclosure Notice:  Warner Bros. sent me this blu-ray for free so I could review it.

When I wrote about the fifth season release of Lucifer, I joked there was only one more season left to get a physical release… until the inevitable reboot.  In between released, Lucifer actually found his way back on television… well, in a way.  Lucifer Morningstar did pop up in another show, but looks very different than the one we saw for six seasons.  Instead, this version of Lucifer looked more like Brianne of Tarth than the suave British man we were used to.   We will have to wait a little longer to see Tom Ellis back wearing wings.

 

A lot happened at the end of season five, God resigned and Lucifer become his successor, Chloe quit her job to join him in heaven, with the vacancy open, Maze became the ruler of Hell.  Amenadiel decided to become a cop.  Oh, and Dan died and no one could find him in heaven, which mean there was only one place he could be.

 

The sixth and final season starts six months later.  Lucifer and Maze still have not actually started to rule over their new kingdoms yet.  Amenadiel is getting ready for his first day on the job, and Dan, well… he is still dead (though Kevin Alejandro remains in the credits).  Despite Chloe retiring and Dan dying, the show still finds a way to keep its usual case of the week theme going.  Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights) who appeared at Dan’s funeral last season is back, taking the detective position on the force and of course Ella is still a forensic analyst. 

 

Over the first five seasons, Lucifer has run ins with his fellow angels, his mother, Cain, Eve, his twin brother, and even God himself appeared last season.  How do you top God?  Well, there is a special new guest star that has a hidden connection to Lucifer who pops up this season with a shocking twist.  It is an end of a era, but cannot keep a good devil down and we already seen a new version of Lucifer and I will only be a matter of time before we see him again, it may even once again come in the form of Tom Ellis.

 

There is not much in the way of extras, just a gag reel and deleted scenes from one episode that last less than ten minutes combined.   All ten episodes of the sixth season are contained on three Blu-rays and can be found at www.warnerarchive.com and on your favorite online retailer sites.  Lucifer: The Complete Series will also be available, containing all 93 exhilarating episodes from the phenomenal series, as well as countless hours of bonus features from all six epic, not-to-be-missed seasons. Lucifer: The Complete Series is priced to own on DVD for $112.99 SRP ($134.99 in Canada).

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 11, 2022

 

House of the Dragon:  Really, three years and Daemon and his dragon cannot defeat the Crab Feeder?  If they are hiding in caves, how about shoot the fire in the caves and smoke them out?  But we got our first Lannister of the season and he is no Jamie, or Tywin, or even Tyrian.  So should I car for him.  Rhnessra certainly does not.  How long will it take before she starts forking the royal guardsman?  Though, they may just yadda yadda over that like they did the wedding, conception, and birth.

 

The Chi:  This show has so many characters many of them never even interact (except for the rare poker game where they are buddy-buddy and then never talk to each other again).  But they finally tied in a few characters.  The ex-mayor has recruited Emmitt and Bakari to work for him.  Though bad look for Emmitt to still take his money after the video tape was released. But bizarre that the new report found people that actually defended the ex-mayor. Is it safe to assume Victor released the tape?  Though the ex-mayor had him dispose of a body so there could be some mutually assured destruction in doing that.  Maybe it was the dude who gotten beaten.

 

Tales of the Walking Dead:  Like the riverboat episode, I enjoyed the set up and the concept, the also like the riverboat episode, it just devolved into everything I have grown to dislike in these shows where it is just zombies eating everyone.  Plus I think it would have been more symbolic if the chick survived and she ended up tagging the scientist who turned.

 

City on a Hill:  There was a lot of flip flopping in this episode.  Jackie saying it was okay to take the dirty money to help his family only to want to take his boss down in the very next scene.  Then Decoursey refuses to help Jackie only to change his mind too.  But nothing more predictable than Jackie flashing his badge shortly after his wife retrieved it.

 

In the Dark:  Just how incompetent do you have to be to be murdered by a blind chick?  And did he rent the one place that locks from the outside?  So she just kills a dude and rides off into the sunset?  What a horrible ending to a horrible show.  Good riddance.

 

Tell Me Lies:  I am glad the killed off the roommate by the end of the episode because she was noticeably not at the wedding so thankfully they did not drag that out.  Except she died before we got to learn what the secret she was going to tell Lucy before she got that phone call in the cafeteria.  Was that secret that she hooked up with Stephen?  But that escalated quickly that he was taking naughty pictures of her.   That he was invited to the wedding kind of makes it seems like no one finds out about that.  While we did find out why the roommate was not there, Wrigley’s brother conspicuously was not there.  Someone even mentioned to cut Wrigley some slack because it was just his brother’s birthday.  Does he kill himself out of guilt?  Though, because of the pictures, it seems very clearly why Stephen wants to keep the circumstances around her death silent.  The question is, did anyone ever see them together?  The other question I am most interested in this show answering is that did Bree really have the same unflattering hairstyle at her wedding that she had as a freshman in college?

 

The Challenge: USA:  That had to be the most pathetic elimination ever in the history of The Challenge.  Both should have been sent home.  The final elimination should be interesting.  You have the four Survivor guys and two Big Brother girls, so you think those two would safe as long as they do not come in last as long as they beat Enzo (which should be easy).  But what if one of the Survivor guys wins with one of the girls in the Fab <strike>Five</strike> Three, would there be a stalemate on who goes in?  I am still hoping we get the Angela vs. Sarah showdown I would have bet on the previous week.

 

Stargirl:  So Shiv was found with a literal smoking gun over the corpse of The Gambler, though I still doubted she did it (plus he turned out to have died from being impaled), but this week they made it seem like whoever took his laptop was the killer… and it turned out Shiv also had the laptop.  But I will still contend she is a red herring.  That he was impaled makes me think my original guess it was someone in the Icicle family and Jr. having issues really backs up that theory.

Around the Tubes: September 10, 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 POV, Aqua Teen Forever, The Police, The Beach Boys, The Ed Sullivan Show, George Michaels, The Headies, King Shaka, and The Handmaid's Tale.

- POV, currently celebrating its 35th anniversary season as America’s longest running non-fiction series, offers an intriguing look at the high stakes quest for college admissions at a prep school in Louisiana, known for its viral videos of seniors being accepted to Ivy League schools in Accepted, directed by Dan Chen (Waiting For Mamu) and produced by Jason Y. Lee, Chen, Jesse Einstein and Mark Monroe.  Accepted, an official selection of the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, will make its national broadcast premiere on Monday, October 10, 2022 (check local listings) and will be available to stream free until November 10, 2022 at pbs.org, and the  PBS Video app. In addition to standard closed captioning for the film, POV, in partnership with audio description service DiCapta, provides real time audio interpretations for audiences with sensory disabilities.

- We just released the never-before-seen movie trailer for Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm and wanted to share with you. Feast your eyes on the all-new mystery-adventure with Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad here: https://youtu.be/F59B9xfWQb8.  Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm is coming to Digital, 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray on November 8, 2022 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. This is the second film adaptation inspired from one of Adult Swim’s longest running animated series – Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

- Ghost In The Machine, The Police’s fourth album which was first released in 1981, is to be reissued as a stunning limited edition picture disc, featuring the alternate, ‘original’ track-listing and sequencing.  To be released on November 4 and now available on pre-order, this special reissue features three additional tracks not included on the original album – “I Burn For You” - the single mix of the track from the “Brimstone and Treacle” album – “Once Upon A Daydream” and “Shambelle.”  To add to the unique nature of this release, and reflecting the personality of the band, four songs (“Spirits In The Material World,“ “Rehumanize Yourself,“ “One World (Not Three)“ and “Hungry For You“) feature Stewart Copeland counting in the tracks – distinctive audio from the recording studio that was not included on the 1981 release.

-  Four of The Beach Boys’ most timeless and legendary songs – “Barbara Ann,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and “God Only Knows” – serve as the soundtrack to a stunning, unprecedented four-part video series that builds on itself to become one long narrative when watched in order or can be enjoyed individually. Directed by Andrew Litten, who’s worked with Anderson .Paak, Pusha T, and Earth, Wind & Fire, the cinematic story, which was beautifully filmed in South Africa with a local cast of actors, captures what it’s like to be young and in love as it traces a high school romance between surfing-obsessed Helena (Zoe Manoek) and Lucas (Toby De Goede), an aspiring photographer who’s the new kid in town, and the difficult decisions they each must make as graduation looms and their future’s beckon.  The video series will play out over back-to-back weekends and kicked off today with the first installment, “Barbara Ann,” which introduces Helena, a young teen who spends her waking hours daydreaming about surfing and getting out of her small town. The story of Lucas, a boy who moves to town with his dad, will be told in the ensuing video, “Don’t Worry Baby,” which follows tomorrow, September 10th at 9 am PT on The Beach Boys Official YouTube Channel.  Watch “Barbara Ann” here: https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/BarbaraAnnMusicVideoPR

- From the late ‘50s through the early ’70s -- families across America gathered around their television every Sunday night to watch The Ed Sullivan Show. And while the country and its music underwent an enormous evolution over the course of those years, the show not only kept up with the times, but it informed them -- evidenced by the wide variety of acts fortunate enough to perform live on the stage of Studio 50. From slick-haired snarlers to soulful singing groups to rebellious rockers from across the Atlantic, Ed Sullivan’s musical guests were a who’s who of the era’s popular culture. And today, they’re regarded as some of the greatest artists of all time. The long and winding road of music history is full of forks, but from the 1950s through the early ’70s, one stop was essential: The Ed Sullivan Show.  This October, the acclaimed TV DVD archivists at Time Life invite music lovers and classic TV aficionados to experience the excitement of these once-in-a-lifetime performances in one spectacular DVD collection: ED SULLIVAN’S ROCK & ROLL CLASSICS. From rock ‘n’ roll legends to shimmering soul superstars, The British Invasion to Folk Rock, psychedelic pop, and so much more, Ed Sullivan showcased them all on his Sunday Night variety show, week after unforgettable week. This set brings the very best of these performances together in one memorable 10-disc set, featuring 128 live, uncut performances from the greatest performers and musical icons of the 20th century including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis, The Supremes and so many more. This special DVD collection will be available to add to every home entertainment library for $119.96.

- Who really was George Michael? The new documentary GEORGE MICHAEL: PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST (Amazon Prime Video, Apple iTunes, Google Play), details just that, told candidly from the people who really knew him best – his music manager Simon Napier-Bell, his longtime lover and partner Kenny Goss, fellow luminaries Stevie Wonder, Rufus Wainwright, Stephen Fry, and many more. By far the most definitive feature documentary on George’s amazing life, the film explores the many ups and downs of the illustrious Grammy Award winner, considered one of the best-selling musicians of all time with sales of over 120 million records worldwide. We would love to set up an interview with you and the film’s director, Simon Napier-Bell and/or Kenny Goss to discuss the importance of the documentary and George’s legacy, as well as share anecdotes about who he really was.  TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ59r8vp7ME

- When The Headies brings the best in Afrobeats and African music and culture to the States on September 4th, it will do so with the help of Emmy Award-nominated actor and host Anthony Anderson and Nigerian American actress and co-host, Osas Ighodaro. This A-list trio of dynamic talents will lead the proceedings at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, GA, at 5 PM ET.  The star-studded lineup of performers includes Tiwa Savage,  Wizkid, FireBoyDML, Adekunle Gold, Davido, Flavour, Kcee, Buju, Lojay, Goya Menor,  Cohbams, 2Baba, Joeboy, Rugier, Olamide, Asake and more to be announced.

- SHOWTIME announced today that Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost, Oz), Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage) will star and Terry Pheto (Tsotsi, The Bold & the Beautiful) and Lerato Mvelase (Justice Served) will guest star in the highly anticipated new series KING SHAKA, an epic drama centered around one man’s personal journey from stigmatized childhood to legendary king. They join previously announced cast Charles Babalola (The Outlaws) as Shaka, Aïssa Maïga (The Fear Index), Thando DIomo (The Woman King), Thapelo Mokoena (Bulletproof) and Warren Masemola (Queen Sono). The CBS Studios production, produced with Propagate and Fuqua Films and to be fully shot in South Africa, kicks off later this month in the historic KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Africa province, the birthplace of King Shaka, and will debut on SHOWTIME in 2023.  

- Hulu’s award-winning, hit drama series, “The Handmaid’s Tale” has been renewed for a sixth and final season ahead of its season five premiere. In addition to season six of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Bruce Miller (creator, showrunner and executive producer) is actively developing "The Testaments," a follow-up to “The Handmaid’s Tale,”  which picks up years later.  

 

The Most (and Least) Anticipated Questions of 2022-23 Television

 

The start of the television season is upon us, though it feels like it already started as many big shows started last week.  Though, it reality, it feels like the television season did not even end with a constant stream of notable shows popping up during what typically been a barren wasteland for scripted television.  But I digress.  The unofficial start of the television season is when I like to ask a couple questions that hopefully get answered by the end of the season… if the season actually ever ends in the era of streaming.

  

      1.       Who Will Win the IP War: Marvel, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars?  Labor Day is when temperatures start to fall with the unofficial end of summer, but things are already heating up on television.  We have three episodes of She-Hulk and House of the Dragon as well as two episodes of Rings of Power.  Then the day before the official first day of fall, Andor premieres.  Marvel, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars represent the three biggest names on television right now (sorry DC and Walking Dead who also recently launched less buzzworthy shows).  HBO says Hot D got 10 million viewers for its premiere and increased that for the second episode.  Then Prime said 25 million people watched Ring (though a bit apples to oranges because Hot D was just Americans and Rings were worldwide).  The Ploose did not give out She-Hulk numbers, but something called Samba TV claims 1.5 million households watched the premiere, but again households to people can be apple to oranges).  That viewership went up seems like Hot D is currently in prime position to win the IP wars.  The low states comedy of She-Hulk will probably come in last with Andor being the dark horse.  The last two Star Wars shows were not well received but Rogue One was one of the bright spots of the Disney era Star Wars properties.  But what is clear, there will be a round two.

      2.       Who the Fork Is Lottie Matthews?!?  Fewer things got me more hyped while watching television over the past year than listening to Natalie’s voice mail on Yellowjackets when her AA sponsor found out who emptied Travis’s bank account and asked her, “Who the fork is Lottie Matthews.”  Sure, my theory that Lottie was Pit Girl went out the window, but considering how Lottie went from a background character to a crazy Antler Queen, I am not disappointed.  If she could go off the rails after a couple months, just how crazy has she become twenty-five year later?  Unfortunately the show already spoiled her acolyte Van is still alive when they announced Lauren Ambrose has been cast as an adult version.  Elijah Wood has also been cast, but thankfully not as adult Javi in another spoiler, but as one of Misty’s Citizen Detectives.

      3.       What Now on The Handmaid’s Tale?  After three seasons of torture porn, June actually managed to escape Gilliad last season and celebrated by brutally murdering Commander Waterford.  So what do you do after escaping and killing your capture?  Well, June still needs to rescue her daughter who is still in Gilliad.  Hopefully that does not take three seasons to accomplish.  And while the Commander is dead, his widow is still very much alive.  Though one person we will not be seeing is Emily who has been written off the show.  Though no big loss as she had not added much to the show after escaping back in season two.

      4.       Will Dr. Ben Seong Run Into Dr. Samuel Beckett?  For years I have been asking for a Quantum Leap reboot with Sam playing the Al role.  While we are getting a Quantum Leap reboot, the leaper is still a dude and the Al sand in will be played by Ernie Hudson.  Sigh.  Now the question is, will the new leaper eventually run into Sam?   Here is hoping he will and it will be sooner rather than later.

      5.       Who Killed Pail Rudd and When Will We Find Out?  Much like the first season of Only Murders in the Building ended with a teaser of a new murder, season two ended will Paul Rudd dying on stage shortly after having a tense exchange with Charles Hayden Savage and a notably shaken Mabel in shock.  Was Mabel the “she” Charles told Paul Rudd to stay away from?  The list of alternatives is not very long.  Lucy is too young but could Lucy’s mom be back in the picture.  Then there is the question of when will the third season premiere.  Season two actually arrived two months earlier than the first, could we get the third season two more months earlier?  That would put it in late April.  For Emmy reason, it is doubtful, but the Emmy window ending in late May, a premiere around that time does not seem out of the question.  Then the other question remains, if Paul Rudd was murdered on stage, will they need to change the name of Only Murders in the Building?

 

As the great philosopher Butt-Head once pondered, how would we know if something was cool if there weren't things that sucked; here are the five least anticipated questions

      1.       Who Will Survive the Walking Dead?  It is the end of the era, after ten seasons, the last as which was split into three parts; The Waling Dead is coming to an end.  So who will survive?  Well, Daryl and Carole have already been announced for a spin-off show (though Carole dropped out) as well as one with Maggie and Negan so I am guess those four survive unless those shows will just be those zombiefied four around eating stupid humans.  Actually, that may actually be better than what we will likely get.

      2.       Who Will Survive The CW Sale?  It was a bloodbath last spring when The CW canceled three of its female fronted superhero television shows (Stargirl was lucky in that it had not aired yet).  The Flash has already been announced for a final season which will leave just Stargirl, Superman, and the upcoming Gotham Knights as the lone superhero shows.  Will any of them or the other low performing show make the cut after the new owners have full control?  Who care, no one will likely watch either way.

      3.       Who Will Survive the HBO Max / Discovery Merger?  The new CEO comes in, axes the almost completed Batgirl and the internet turns into Chicken Little.  Someone even claimed HBO Max would stop making originals and current originals would move to HBO.  Stupid people.  While this month HBO Max will premiering… um, just about nothing, a sizzle real that launched with Hot D promises new seasons of Pennyworth (coming next month) Titans, Doom Patrol, Hacks Minx, Our Flag Means Death, coming soon.  Okay, the only new show is some new show with Elizabeth Olsen based on a story Hulu already did earlier this year.  So the merger may mean less content coming from HBO Max / Discover, but in an era of too much television, that may not be such a bad thing

      4.       Who Will Survive NBC Axing the 10:00 Hour?  This rumor just hit the internet recently launching a thousand Jay Leno jokes.  But if NBC does end up axing six hours every week, what will be left?  Sadly, it will probably not be what historically NBC has done best: comedies.  They are no sitcoms premiering this month, though Young Rock and some George Lopez show are coming to Fridays in November.  But losing 10:00 would also mean no full nights of Chicago or Law and Order shows.  Though what will become of ambitious shows like La Brea that NBC tries every year?  What surprises me about this is that linear television is still very profitable and NBC’s streaming sister, Peacock is the one that seems to be struggling the most.  It seems like a very poor business move.  But if we get less procedurals, maybe that will not be such a bad thing.  Speaking of which…

      5.       Just How Many Spin-Off Are There?  Law and Order and Chicago are not the only shows that dominate an entire night, FBI, All-American, and Walker all take up a full day of programing.  NCIS and The Rookie do have shows on different nights while Grey’s Anatomy takes up multiple timeslots on Thursday .  Surprisingly we are down to just the original CSI this fall.  Who are watching all these shows and their spin-offs?

 

Here is everything I will be watching this fall... Why the fork are there so many shows on Wednesdays?  How about spreading things out?

Mondays

8:00 – The Neighborhood (CBS, September 19(

9:00 – Kevin Can Fork Himself (AMC, already started)

10:00 – Quantum Leap (NBC, September 19)

 

Tuesdays

Reboot (Hulu, September 20)

9:00 - La Brea (NBC, September 27)

 

 Wednesdays

Wedding Season (Hulu, September 7)

Tell Me Lies (Hulu, September 7)

The Handmaid’s Tale (September 14)

Andor (Disney+, September 21)

Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (Peacock, November 23)

8:00 – Stargirl (The CW, already started)

8:00 – Survivor (CBS, September 21)

8:30 – The Goldbergs (ABC, September 21)

9:00 – Abbott Elementary (ABC, September 21)

10:00 – Big Sky (ABC, September 21)

 

Thursdays

Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head (Paramount+, already started)

She-Hulk (Disney+, already started)

The Lord of the Ring: The Rings of Power (Prime, already started)

A Friend of the Family (Peacock, October 6)

8:30 – Ghosts (CBS, September 29)

 

Fridays

Ramy (Hulu, September 30)

8:00 – Young Rock (NBC, November 4)

 

Sundays

9:00 – House of the Dragon (HBO, already started)

9:00 – The Walking Dead (AMC, October 2)

10:00 – Let the Right One In (Showtime, October 9)

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 4, 2022

 

House of the Dragon:  I never really minded that Game of Thrones routinely went an hour because they usually juggled at least four storylines at a time, sometimes more.  With this show staying at King’s Landing most of the time and focusing solely on the Targarians, these episodes have dragged a bit.  They really need to get the Starks or Lannisters in there.  But the battle lines are starting to form.  The Sea Snake has thrown in with the Rouge Prince, the king has tied himself to the Hightowers (which I guess is less gross than marrying a twelve year old), and the current heir is kind of left out there on her own waiting for a half-brother to come along (which the promo spoils happens).

 

Tales of the Walking Dead:  I actually liked the idea of a swamp cruise to escape a zombie apocalypse; unfortunately they ruined it by making it an Alpha origin story, even though we already got her origin story.  I checked out after she left the boat.  This episode would have been much better had it been Death on the Zombie Nile, just keep have people disappearing, and then have the hijackers arrive in the final act.

 

The Chi:  Oh snap, they killed off the old kingpin.  Though he really felt insignificant this season.  It felt like he was just brought back so the former mayor could turn on him to make more nefarious.

 

City on a Hill:  Watching a lot of cop shows in my life, I have heard them talk about giving gun residue tests before, but in all my years, that was the first time I actually saw someone take that test.  That was a lot more complicated that I assumed.  I thought it was just a simple swab.  So Jackie actually lied to help Decoursey.  Then Jackie saw Decoursey’s boss at Sinclair’s house.  Everything is starting to tie together.  But why is Jenny having someone dive for her husband’s badge? If she wants her husband reinstated, could they not just issue a new one?

 

In the Dark:  Huh?  Did we not see Darnell get shot at the start of the season?  What bad editing bullshirt is this?  Mot that I am complaining Max died, I just wish that had happened a lot sooner.  But all this happened because Josh would rather the Blind Chick go to prison than bring down a drug organization that is killing people.  That has to be the dumbest plot mechanism in the history of television.  Then it looks like in the finale, the Blind Chick is going to torture and kill Josh.  I guess if you are going out, go out with a dumb bang.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Sigh, after all that big talk from Sarah last week, I was fully expecting her to get eliminated by Angela this week.  Unfortunately Danny turned out to be scared of Angela and sent in Cashey instead.  So the Fab 5 did not last very long, Desi turned on them and Cash is gone.  So is there just a Fab 3 or with the other two realize Sarah is too much of a loose cannon?

 

Stargirl:  As if Cindy did not look even guiltier, she had a literal smoking gun in her hand.  She really cannot talk her way out of that one, though she looks so guilty it probably is not her.  But which of the new friendamies could it be?  I suspect it was not anyone we saw.  Maybe someone in the Icicle family.  Are any of them still around?  I do wonder how, or if, the daughter plays into this.  But artimis coming though with a C+C Music Factory montage really made this episode.

 

Resident Alien: Well, that was confusing. It took me a second to realize that Harry is actually the artist.  So he is the baby alien’s actual father, just a six hundred year older version of him.  But why not go to Patience to warn Harry of the upcoming apocalypse?  Is this Back to the Future rules where he cannot see his younger self?  If so, why not send a note or something?

 

The Resort:  To quote the great philosopher Chidi Anagonye: What the fork?!?!  Really, that was it?  The kids were just hanging out in goo like nothing happened for the past 15 years?  I was expecting something a lot more interesting than that from the guys who did Palm Spring and Mr. Robot.