Around the Tubes: July 8, 2023

 

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 Cyndi Lauper, Lily & Madeleine, U2, Taylor Swift, Meduza, Smiling Friends, and POV.

- Cyndi Lauper's new song for the series "Oh, Dolores" is now available on all digital platforms. Co-written by Cyndi Lauper and Ben Hopkins, and produced and performed by Lauper, the song release coincides with the series premiere, in which Lauper plays the character Ruthie.  Click HERE to listen!  Based on the hit Spotify podcast series of the same name The Horror of Dolores Roach is a contemporary Sweeney Todd-inspired urban legend of love, betrayal, weed, cannibalism and survival of the fittest. Dolores Roach (Justina Machado) is released from prison after 16 years and returns to a gentrified Washington Heights. She reunites with an old stoner friend, Luis (Alejandro Hernandez), who lets her live and work as a masseuse in the basement under his empanada shop. When the promise of her newfound stability is quickly threatened, “Magic Hands” Dolores is driven to shocking extremes to survive.

- Indianapolis-based folk-pop duo Lily & Madeleine announce their enchanting fifth studio album Nite Swim available to pre-order now. Alongside the announcement, the band share the soothing official first taste of the project, the track and video, "Windowless Bedroom" out everywhere now. Plus, the pair will hit the road this summer with stops in Columbus, OH and Nashville, TN and tickets are on sale now via lilandmad.com.  Nite Swim, Lily & Madeleine's forthcoming fifth studio album is an expansive journey introducing the listener to various vignettes of the duo's lives over the past five years. Its central thesis explores vulnerability, acceptance, embracing shame and acknowledging one's feelings rather than running from them. Lily says the project dives into the feeling of "wanting to be intimate with someone but feeling like they’ll reject you when they see how complicated you are inside." Over ten tracks, the listener is led through intimate scenes of Lily & Madeleine's lives, collectively as sisters and individually as artists. The foundation of the songwriting was built when the band began taking stock of their lives and who is important to them. Madeleine explains, "As we go through personal hardships, it’s worth noticing the people who remain at our side and the people who disappear. What would it have been like if they stayed? Are we truly better off without them?" The album was produced by longtime friend and collaborator Shannon Hayden and other instrumentation was provided by Devon Ashley, Heidi Gluk, and Jared May.

- Island Records, Interscope, and UMe announce the release of Zooropa – 30^th Anniversary Limited Edition Gatefold – a transparent yellow vinyl pressing celebrating three decades of U2’s Grammy-winning eighth studio album. This very special release is coming in October 2023 to coincide with the band’s next ambitious project, their long-awaited live return with U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere, which kicks off on September  29, 2023, for a run of shows in Las Vegas. Pre-order Zooropa - 30^th Anniversary Limited Edition Gatefold HERE  Produced by Flood, Brian Eno, and The Edge, Zooropa was released on July 5, 1993, on Island Records. U2 began writing and recording Zooropa in Dublin in February of that year, during a six-month break between legs of the industry-defining ZOO TV Tour.  Initially intended as just an EP, Zooropa became a fully-fledged album with 10 tracks – including singles “Numb,” “Lemon,” and “Stay (Faraway, So Close!)” - recorded in just six weeks, making it the fastest U2 album ever produced. Inspired by the band’s experiences on the ZOO TV Tour, Zooropa expanded on many of the tour’s themes of technology and media oversaturation. The album went to Number 1 in Ireland, the USA, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, Austria, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. In 1994, Zooropa saw the band collect the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.

- Taylor Swift released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).  The 22 track album of new recordings is the third instalment of Taylor’s Version albums. All songs on Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) are written by Taylor Swift.  Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) includes six never before released songs, including “Castles Crumbling” (From The Vault) featuring Hayley Williams, “Electric Touch” (From The Vault) featuring Fall Out Boy and “I Can See You” (From The Vault).   LISTEN TO SPEAK NOW (TAYLOR’S VERSION) HERE

- Multi-platinum selling global hitmakers Meduza return with new single “Phone”, featuring Sam Tompkins and Em Beihold, listen HERE via Island UK / Republic Records.  A slamming house beat with melody at its heart, “Phone” is the story of a frustrated relationship told through an endlessly ringing phone. The track’s rousing groove and signature atmospheric sonics provide the perfect setting for a stunning duet between rising British star Sam Tompkins and platinum-certified US singer-songwriter Em Beihold.

- Turn that frown upside down! From creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, go on a journey across a bizarre and colorful world with SMILING FRIENDS: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray™ and DVD August 29, 2023. You’ll be grinning ear to ear while you binge on all 8 episodes, alongside a bonus special and audio commentary. The series is available now to purchase Digitally.  The quarter-hour animated series is co-created by Cusack (YOLO: Crystal Fantasy) and Hadel (Hellbenders) and animated by Princess Bento Studio. SMILING FRIENDS has been viewed over 7 million times across linear, digital, and streaming.

- Following its award winning festival run, While We Watched directed by Vinay Shukla (An Insignificant Man) and produced by Luke W. Moody (founding producer, Lono Studio) and Khushboo Ranka (co-director, producer, An Insignificant Man), will make its national broadcast premiere on Monday, September 4, 2023 at 10pmET/9C (check local listings) and will be available to stream until December 3, 2023 at pbs.org, and the PBS 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. Now in its historic 36th season, POV continues to share bold, visionary stories as America's longest running non-fiction series with Vinay Skukla’s timely look at the increasing threats to independent journalism and the public’s trust in news. 

 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 2, 2023

 

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  When I first saw those helmet dudes, I thought the blades were a bit overkill, but I guess they could come in handy in a zombie apocalypse

 

Cruel Summer:  So Isabella has been connected to two drownings?  It seems way too early in the season for that not to be a red herring though.  I do wonder if we will see that summer with the dead chick at some point.

 

Secret Invasion:  Wait, Shooter McGavin is a Skrull?!?!?!  I feel so betrayed. 

 

The Blacklist:  Yet another week, yet another dismantling for Red’s criminal empire.  This season really did not need to be 22 episodes.  How is there still three left?  Let us just to Red's reason why he is doing it.

Around the Tubes: July 1, 2023

   

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, Futurama, Self Reliance, Benee, Daya, Bob Marley, Lauren Spencer Smith, The Rolling Stones, POV, Paramount+, and Goliath.

- On the heels of today’s Paramount+ with Showtime launch, SHOWTIME announced the official trailer for the seventh and final season of the hit drama BILLIONS.  Each of the 12 episodes will stream weekly on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME beginning on Friday, August 11, with the season premiere debuting on air Sunday, August 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. The series stars Oscar^® nominee and Emmy^® winner Paul Giamatti, Corey Stoll and Maggie Siff, and this final season also marks the return of Emmy^® winner Damian Lewis as fan-favorite Bobby “Axe” Axelrod.

- After a brief ten-year hiatus, Futurama has crawled triumphantly from the cryogenic tube, its full original cast and satirical spirit intact. The ten all-new episodes of season eleven have something for everyone. New viewers will be able to pick up the series from here, while long-time fans will recognize payoffs to decades-long mysteries – including developments in the epic love story of Fry and Leela, the mysterious contents of Nibbler's litter box, the secret history of evil Robot Santa, and the whereabouts of Kif and Amy's tadpoles. Meanwhile there's a whole new pandemic in town as the crew explores the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture, and streaming TV.

- In a deal with MRC and Paramount Global Content Distribution, Hulu has acquired the U.S. rights to Jake Johnson’s feature directorial debut, “Self Reliance''. The hilarious and thrilling film is also written by and starring Jake Johnson, and boasts an all-star cast including Johnson (“New Girl”, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Minx”), Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, Andy Samberg, GaTa (“Dave”), Emily Hampshire (“Schitt’s Creek”), Mary Holland, Boban Marjanović, with Christopher Lloyd, and Wayne Brady. The fiercely competitive deal was struck on the heels of the world premiere of the MRC-financed film at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival in March, which was a festival favorite, screening to a standing-room-only audience. The hilarious film will premiere as a Hulu Original on September 8.  When a man is offered a million dollars to play a game in which hunters try to kill him, he thinks he has found the perfect loophole: they can only attack when he’s alone. His only problem is that none of his friends or family believe the game is real.

- The highly anticipated Official Song for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, “Do It Again” by BENEE ft. Mallrat, is now officially live and available across all major music platforms–listen HERE!  This dynamic collaboration between two artists from the host nations – BENEE from Aotearoa New Zealand and Mallrat from Australia – captures the essence of unity, celebration, and empowerment that defines the FIFA Women’s World Cup™.  The two have joined forces on a vibrant and infectious anthem that promises to captivate fans worldwide and provide an unforgettable soundtrack to the tournament.

- Multi-talented pop sensation Daya unveils "Juliene," her first single release since the widely acclaimed EP In Between Dreams. “Juliene” is available today on all DSPs.  "'Juliene' is a celebration of pleasure and desire,” says Daya. “It's about releasing any shame and inhibitions and surrendering wholeheartedly to the thrills and temptations of the present moment." With this track, Daya invites her audience to embark on a liberating journey, embracing the joys of living life to the fullest.  In addition to her highly anticipated solo releases, Daya is currently experiencing a solid moment with her collaboration "Sometimes..." alongside Snakehips and hip-hop duo Earthgang. The track has been met with widespread acclaim and is currently on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic chart, further solidifying Daya's versatility and ability to captivate audiences across genres.

 

LISTEN TO “JULIENE”

- Bob Marley's immortality continues with Africa Unite, a majestic, posthumous album celebrating the vibrant fusion of Reggae and Afrobeats!  Africa Unite is an extraordinary album that pays homage to the Reggae icon's greatest hits, beautifully reimagined and infused with the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats. Scheduled for release on August 4, 2023, Africa Unite features inspiring collaborations between Bob Marley's classics and a stellar line-up of contemporary African musicians. This ten-track masterpiece includes Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Teni, and Oxlade, which will be announced before the album’s release. Each artist brings unique flair and artistry, paying tribute to Bob Marley's enduring influence while adding their refreshing voices to his iconic compositions.  Stream ‘Africa Unite’ NOW!

- “That Part," Lauren Spencer Smith created a quintessential love song for 2023. In the official video, released today, Lauren connected with real couples and documented landmark moments in their respective relationships — a prom, a proposal, a vow renewal, and a wedding— before pulling the curtain back on her own relationship and showing her and her boyfriend Matt moving in together. Click here to watch the full video.

- The Rolling Stones' Forty Licks, the album that gathered together fully three dozen of the most enduring and anthemic songs from the group's peerless career and added four then-new tracks to their incredible story, is to be released digitally for the first time on July 26. Two days later, it will be available, again for the first time, in a lavish, limited edition four-disc, 180-gram black vinyl version, housed in a wide spined gatefold sleeve. At the same time, Stones fans will also have an opportunity to enjoy the reimagined Dolby Atmos® versions of the album’s 40 tracks – streaming where available. With Dolby Atmos, fans will experience an immersive journey through the iconic album as details in every song are revealed with unparalleled clarity and depth.  Pre-order now: https://therollingstones.lnk.to/40LicksPR

- There is so much incredible entertainment to stream up here on Paramount Mountain. With the launch of the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan yesterday, premium subscribers now have access to the critically acclaimed programming on SHOWTIME including iconic and award-winning series such Yellowjackets, Billions, The Chi, Dexter and a host of titles from across several decades that pushed boundaries and revolutionized premium storytelling. The introduction of the brand’s prolific and diverse slate of franchises reinforces Paramount+’s promise of being a total household service with the biggest series and movies from across every genre.  In addition to SHOWTIME content coming to the service next month, audiences will be drawn into the hunt in Special Ops: Lioness, the upcoming Paramount+ Original series by Taylor Sheridan and starring Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman. There will also be plenty of family fun with the premiere of the Paramount+ Original Movie Zoey 102 and the return of Big Nate. And premium subscribers will get an in-depth look at the life and legacy of legendary NBA player Wilt Chamberlain in the original SHOWTIME documentary Goliath. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Paramount+ in July, check out the latest edition of View from the Peak.

- SHOWTIME SPORTS has released the official trailer for GOLIATH, a three-part documentary series examining the historic life, career and impact of Wilt Chamberlain, one of the greatest and most misunderstood athletes of all time. The series premieres on Friday, July 14 on demand and on streaming platforms for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers before making its on-air debut on SHOWTIME^® on Sunday, July 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT with additional episodes premiering each Sunday. GOLIATH is produced by Village Roadshow Television and Gotham Chopra’s Religion of Sports in association with Kevin Garnett’s Content Cartel, Happy Madison Productions and Heeltap! Entertainment.

 

- Following its award winning festival run, the Oscar® nominated A House Made of Splinters directed by POV alum Simon Lemeng Wilmont (The Distant Barking of Dogs) and produced by Oscars® nominee Monica Hellström (Flee) will make its national broadcast premiere on Monday, July 17, 2023 (check local listings) and will be available to stream until October 15, 2023 at pbs.org, and the PBS 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.  Now in its historic 36th season, POV marks its place as America’s longest running non-fiction series with an in-depth look at the lives of children whose world is upended by poverty, addiction and the unfolding war in Ukraine as their caretakers grapple with the everyday struggles to keep them safe.

- Paramount+ today has launched the highly anticipated Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, a cornerstone integration that makes Paramount+ the new streaming home for SHOWTIME. The SHOWTIME portfolio of edgy, critically acclaimed programming will now complement the broad and popular Paramount+ library in a seamless offering that appeals to everyone, at a competitive price of $11.99 per month. The Paramount+ Essential Plan (without SHOWTIME) is available for $5.99 per month.  “By adopting the boundary-pushing programming of SHOWTIME onto our platform, Paramount+ has fortified itself as the ultimate total household destination in streaming,” said Tom Ryan, President & CEO, Paramount Streaming. “Together, these powerhouse brands will showcase the breadth and depth of our content offering from across Paramount. At this price point, we’ll put the value of the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan up against any other.”

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 25, 2023

 

Fear the Walking Dead:  They killed off the big bad already?  So is the unseen person who overheard the radio transmission going to be the new big bad?  Who is that?  We still have not seen Strand whom I only remember is still alive because he was mentioned in the aftershow.  Where exactly has he been?  I vaguely remember him being on a boat with Alicia.  But she may or may not be dead.

 

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  Holy Smash Williams sighting!  Though the anti-man cowboy look does not really suit him.  Who thought was a good idea? Well, it is about a good idea as Maggie teaming up with the dude who bashed her husband's head in.

 

Cruel Summer:  So Megan was pregnant?  I wonder if the blood she was cleaning up in the premiere was hers not the dead guy’s.  I am also wondering is possibly she was telling the truth that the dude did run away and was hiding out in the cabin and it was not her or Isabelle that killed her and the baby was the big secret they were holding.  But if not them, who?  The brother?  The gun crazy neighbor?

 

Class of ‘09:  So we are not going to learn who tried to kill Tayo or why?  Just that it was probably someone inside the FBI and Tayo was promoted to director for his troubles?  What a stupid show.  Good riddance.

 

The Blacklist:  Is Red dying… again?  He risks his life to see a ballet recital; he has been dismantling his criminal empire, trying to end blood feuds.  What else would he be doing things if not to get his affairs in order?  But unlike the last time when he had a miraculous recovery and Lizzie ended up dying instead, since the series is ended, he will probably actually die this time.

Around the Tubes: June 24, 2023

  

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 Chi, The Real George Michael, Billy idol, Lyn Lapid, Shania Twain, Mýa's, Solar Opposites, Succession, and Metalocalypse.

- The sixth season of the hit SHOWTIME drama series THE CHI will premiere Friday, August 4 streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and on demand, before making its on-air debut Sunday, August 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. On the heels of a series high in streaming audience for season five, last year, the network extended a one-time expansion to 16 episodes, which will be split into two eight-episode installments with the second half of the season premiering at a later date.  “THE CHI is SHOWTIME at its best – complex characters and sophisticated storytelling that leave our viewers wanting more, which is why we’ve expanded this season to its biggest yet,” said Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “Lena is a gifted creator and we’re fortunate to collaborate with her on this iconic series – one of our biggest – as we continue to lean into diverse cultures, one of our key programming lanes, that you’ll see us build out as we gear up to launch Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.”

- Who really was George Michael? The new documentary THE REAL GEORGE MICHAEL, available on June 25^th, which would have been George’s 60^th birthday, will be available on Amazon, Tubi, Roku, Peacock, Plex and Xumo in the United States and Canada. The doc 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, to discuss the importance of the documentary and George’s legacy, as well as share anecdotes about who he really was.

- Rock legend Billy Idol is releasing an expanded edition of his self-titled debut album on July 28 via Capitol/UMe. The reissue includes the original 10-track album, the previously unreleased August 12,1982 concert from The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA as well as the recently unearthed and previously unreleased 12-minute Clubland Extended Remix of his classic song “White Wedding” from Idol’s debut. You can pre-order the deluxe 2CD and pre-save the reissue HERE.  Fans are also encouraged to celebrate the release of this iconic album with a Dolby Atmos®️ aural upgrade by GRAMMY®️-winning engineer Paul Hicks who has remixed albums in Atmos®️ for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison and more.

- 20-year-old buzzing songstress Lyn Lapid delivers her brand new EP, to love in the 21^st century, out now on Mercury Records/Republic Records–listen HERE! Inspired by Gen Z rom-coms like To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Summer I Turned Pretty, the narrative behind the 10-track project follows Lyn over the course of a relationship while falling in and out of love for the first time. The EP captures the vulnerable emotions during the beginning, middle, and end of a relationship, allowing listeners to relate to the all-too-familiar feelings of a first love. Watch the cinematic trailer for the EP HERE.  On the project, Lyn says, “My EP, ‘to love in the 21st century,’ follows one story about a girl who meets a boy, who she talks to for 147 days, falling in love with the idea of being with him, only until he shatters her overly romanticized perception of love and relationships. I love when projects are cohesive and revolve around a story, and I knew I wanted this next project to revolve around a true story. I watched the events that I describe in the tracks of the EP happen in real time to someone very close to me, and I feel like writing about this one story allowed me to epitomize what it’s like to be young and to experience romantic love in this day and age.”

- five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning legend and the best-selling female artist in country music history Shania Twain unveils the Royal Edition Extended Version of her acclaimed new album, Queen Of Me, out now via Republic Nashville, a division of Republic Records. With a total of 19 tracks, it encompasses her complete vision for this musical chapter. Listen to Queen of Me: Royal Edition Extended Version—HERE.  Shania shines once again on the fresh additions “Done & Dusted” and “On Three,” which features none other than Billy Ray Cyrus counting Shania in. She flexes her world-renowned range with dynamic performances punctuated by no shortage of personality, prowess, and passion. These songs ultimately round out the full body of work, elevating the Queen of Me chapter even higher.

- We are thrilled to announce the premiere of Grammy Award-winning artist Mýa's new music video, "It's All About Me (25th Anniversary Remix)" - a reinvented heels choreography version of her 1998 debut music video. This video celebrates Mýa's remarkable 25-year journey in the music industry, showcasing her enduring talent as a premier dancer and performer.  The 2023 version of "It's All About Me" is directed and choreographed by the iconic Brian Friedman, a pioneer and entrepreneur in the dance industry, who has worked with top music artists such as Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Prince, Paula Abdul, and more. This collaboration marks another milestone in their history of successful collaborations, including Mýa's "My Love is like Wo!" music video, Mýa's MTV ICON tribute performance for Janet Jackson, and Mýa's fierce "Whatever Bitch" performance from Pepsi Smash.  CHECK IT OUT HERE. 

- Hulu announced today that Dan Stevens has joined “Solar Opposites” as the new voice of Korvo, a grouchy alien who always wears ceremonial robes and professes to hate Earth. He desperately wants to fix their spaceship so he can escape to a new planet.  Season four of “Solar Opposites” will premiere on August 14, 2023 on Hulu with 11 episodes followed by a Valentine’s Day special coming in 2024.  Hulu previously announced the season four renewal in June 2021, and the season five renewal in October 2022 at New York Comic Con

- For the first time ever, all episodes from HBO’s award-winning original series are brought together in one set with the release of Succession: The Complete Series. Get ready to binge on all 39 episodes from the series’ four critically acclaimed seasons, along with all the previously released special features. The brilliant high-stakes drama following the Roy Family and their quest for power will be available to own on DVD on September 12, 2023.  For fans looking to complete their DVD library, Succession: The Complete Fourth & Final Season will also be available to purchase on DVD on September 12. Season 4 episodes are averaging 9.4 million viewers across platforms.  Succession: The Fourth and Final Season and Succession: The Complete Series are available now to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.

- It doesn’t get more metal than this! The long-awaited return of Adult Swim’s favorite heavy metal adventure Metalocalypse arrives with an all-new, full-length animated movie. Written and directed by series co-creator Brendon Small, Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar brings the heaviest metal band ever created back together again for an action-packed journey. The movie will be available to purchase Digitally and on Blu-ray Disc August 22, 2023.  As a special highlight, fans can also look forward to the release of two full-length albums this year. Fans can now pre-save DETHKLOK’s highly anticipated Dethalbum IV which includes all new original DETHKLOK songs, and releases on August 22. The second album release, Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) will include additional songs plus a totally original movie score and will be released August 25.  Both albums will be released through WaterTower Music, who today released “Aortic Desecration”, the first new music from Dethalbum IV, and DETHKLOK’s first new music in almost 10 years! Dethalbum IV will also be available on vinyl through Mondo, and vinyl preorders are now live.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 18, 2023

 

 Fear the Walking Dead:  They have a cure (maybe, the kid is not looking very good) but cannot get it to Grace in time?  Why introduce a cure in first place.

 

Cruel Summer:  I am confuse what exactly is going on with Isabella.  She has diplomatic immunity, which implies she is a diplomat’s kid from another country, yet she has an American accent.  So where exactly is she from?  Did she just grow up in America?  This character just seems poorly cast from the American accent to people mistaking her for a white chick.

 

Class of ‘09:  So they have graduated and they never went back to the black dude being able to run a mile.  The whole 2009 timeline was just worthless.

 

The Clearing:  Oh, so the kid’s mom was a founding member of the cult.  That was almost interesting enough me for me to look up from my tablet.