View From The Peak - Everything Coming to Paramount+ in September

 

September brings a wealth of shows and films to Paramount+. Next month, the hit BBC comedy series Dreaming Whilst Black* makes its U.S. debut on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and tells the story of an aspiring filmmaker who takes the first step to achieving his dream. Football fans have a lot to cheer about when the NFL and Big Ten Conference seasons kick off in September. And big changes are in store for the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos when Star Trek: Lower Decks returns for its fourth season. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Paramount+ in September, check out the latest edition of View from the Peak. PEAK STREAMING Josh Duhamel in Buddy Games   Once regarded as a summertime diversion, reality programming is now a year-round phenomenon with dramatic reveals and provocative eliminations driving high engagement for each episode as soon as it drops. The genre is more popular than ever and in Q2 we saw a 29 percent increase year over year in active subscriber households watching reality content. In fact, reality is one of the most popular genres on the service with one out of four of subscribers watching at least one reality show. A new unscripted series joining the Paramount+ lineup, which includes popular and long-running CBS hits such as Big Brother, Survivor and The Challenge, is Buddy Games. Inspired by the movie franchise of the same name, the show is hosted by Buddy Games actor Josh Duhamel and pits six teams of close friends against one another in a nostalgic lakeside summer camp adventure. Team up for summer fun when Buddy Games streams on Paramount+ on September 14. GET A SNEAK PEAK OF BUDDY GAMES BEHIND THE STREAMS Kemi Adekoya-Lofinmakin and Adjani Salmon in Dreaming Whilst Black   Next month, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can stream Dreaming Whilst Black, a series based on creator, executive producer, writer and star Adjani Salmon’s life as a filmmaker. Already creating buzz in the UK, the show employs dream sequences as a comedic device, in which Salmon's character Kwabena fantasizes how he'd like to react to the racial microaggressions and uncomfortable situations he experiences on a daily basis at work and in other public settings.  “The essence of the entire show centers on portraying the Black professional experiences,” said director Koby Adom. “The dream sequences illustrate ideal responses and instinctive reactions when confronting adversity, while transitioning back to reality reveals how most of us typically respond to the overwhelming weight of oppression.” “What often makes situations uncomfortable, whether they are racial or otherwise, is that they can catch you off guard, and our behavior doesn't always align with our intentions,” said producer Nicola Gregory. “The dream sequences serve a dual purpose: to create comedic or dramatic effects and to illustrate how Kwabena envisions himself ideally, in contrast to his current self.” The dream sequences also allowed the filmmakers to help shift the viewer’s mood and comfort level. “It was about knowing when to allow the story to breathe in order to land the drama and when to pace it up in order to land the comedy,” said director Joelle Mae David. “I am all for audiences feeling an array of emotions, not just joy.” Dreaming Whilst Black may inspire you to follow your own dream when it premieres on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan on September 8. WATCH THE TRAILER HIGH SCORE NFL players Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes This September, Paramount+ kicks off an incredible football season with NFL and Big Ten games streaming live on the service. The NFL on CBS begins its 2023 season in September with Paramount+ as the streaming destination for Super Bowl LVIII from Las Vegas in February. Paramount+ subscribers will be able to stream NFL on CBS live local market games across the 18-week regular season, featuring marquee matchups, Thanksgiving and Christmas games, and a full postseason slate, including the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVIII. To celebrate the new season, Paramount+ has a special offer for football fans: a 12 month subscription for only $2.50 per month. The offer was highlighted by NFL on CBS lead analyst Tony Romo and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in this recent campaign. The Big Ten on CBS will also feature seven games streaming on Paramount+ in 2023, with an opening weekend highlighted by two Big Ten match-ups as Ohio State plays Indiana on September 2, followed by Northwestern visiting Rutgers on September 3. Watch Big Ten on CBS beginning September 2 and the NFL on CBS season beginning September 10. IN THE SPOTLIGHT Ensigns Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) and Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) in Star Trek: Lower Decks   Star Trek: Lower Decks has the unique distinction of focusing its attention on the more junior members of the crew. This season the “Warp Core Four” face their biggest challenge yet: getting promoted. During production earlier this year, the series leads shared what these promotions mean for each of their characters. Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner “She tries to give this promotion back 80 times, which I can understand. She does accept it because she realizes she can still do her thing; she can still do some good; she can still be a little chaotic. She believes ‘I’m still a lower decker; I’m still a scrappy underdog.” Jack Quaid as Brad Boimler “I love that the Lower Deckers got promoted. Boimler has his first away mission that he is leading, and he is nervous, to say the least. He doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. He eventually must learn to trust his friends and trust the process.” Noël Wells as D'Vana Tendi “Tendi is very excited about being promoted. She’s come to Starfleet with this hope of being assimilated but, secretly, she’s finding this well of power within herself. Being promoted is a natural extension of all the hard work she is doing.” Eugene Cordero as Sam Rutherford “I think Rutherford has a fear of moving up or advancing too fast. I think he’d be worried to move to a different ship or be placed in a different world where he would have to give orders. That’s an issue they’re all having, but I think Rutherford would have the toughest time.” Join the crew of Starfleet’s best “Second Contact” ship when Star Trek: Lower Decks premieres September 7. WATCH THE TRAILER DID YOU KNOW? Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, and Paramount+ is celebrating with One Mountain. Una Familia. This special collection highlights shows and films that showcase Hispanic stories and cultures, including At Midnight, Bosé, The Envoys, Frida, El Norte and Alternatino; and blockbuster titles with Hispanic leads, such as Special Ops: Lioness, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Scream VI and more. The SHOWTIME docuseries Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court premieres on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on September 22. Emmy-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter traces the modern history of the Supreme Court and the people, decisions and confirmation battles that have shaped America. The four-part series reveals how the Supreme Court’s ideological balance has shifted over the years to reflect the hopes – and fears – of American citizens, exploring the interconnectedness between the Court’s and the nation’s future. In 1983, six armed men stole £26m worth of gold in London and their crime inadvertently gave birth to the phenomenon of large-scale international money laundering. Next month, the international drama series The Gold makes its debut on the service to tell this extraordinary and epic true crime story for the first time, in its entirety. BROWSE THE ONE MOUNTAIN. UNA FAMILIA. COLLECTION ★  BACK TO TOP  ★ STREAMING SOON ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES, PREMIERES 9/7: Star Trek: Lower Decks (Season 4) premiere 9/8: Dreaming Whilst Black premiere* 9/12: Football Must Go On premiere 9/13: MTV Video Music Awards 9/17: The Gold premiere 9/18: Superpower premiere 9/22: Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court premiere* 9/26: 72 Seconds premiere LIBRARY SHOWS September 6 RENO 911! (Season 7) The Naked Brothers Band (Seasons 1-3) September 7 NFL Slimetime (Season 3) September 13 America in Black (Season 1) September 14 Buddy Games (Season 1)** September 16 48 Hours (Season 36)** September 17 60 Minutes (Season 56)** September 19 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) (Seasons 1-2) September 20 Average Joe (Season 1) Ice Airport Alaska (Seasons 2-3) It's Pony (Season 2) The Surreal Life (2022) (Season 1) September 27 ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks (Season 5) Survivor (Season 45)** The Amazing Race (Season 35)** LIBRARY MOVIES September 1 10 Cloverfield Lane 54 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Abandon* Afflicted American Gigolo American History X* American Hustle Amores Perros An Unfinished Life Angel Heart Annihilation Arrival Asylum Baby Boom* Bad News Bears Beastly Below Beneath Blazing Saddles* Bless the Child* Blue Chips Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 Breakdown Captive State* Carriers Cheech & Chong's Still Smokin' Children of a Lesser God* Cocktail Curandero Cursed Days of Thunder Death On the Nile (1978) Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Dragonslayer Eddie Murphy: Raw El Norte Elf Event Horizon* Forrest Gump Fresh Frida Ghost Team One God's Petting You* Good Mourning* Hamlet (2000)* Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Hard Candy* Hecho en México How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Hugo I Married a Monster from Outer Space In Too Deep Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 Unrated Jeff, Who Lives at Home Ladybugs* Let's Scare Jessica to Death Like Water for Chocolate Long Shot Married to the Mob* Memories of Me* Mimic Mimic 2 Mimic 3: Sentinel Mother! Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Nacho Libre Nick of Time On the Edge* Overlord Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Phantoms Primal Fear Prophecy River's Edge* Road House* Road to Perdition Schindler's List* Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse Seven Psychopaths Sherlock Gnomes Some Kind of Hero* Stand and Deliver* Stardust Striptease* Summer Rental Super 8 Surviving Christmas Teaching Mrs. Tingle* Terminator 2: Judgment Day Terminator Genisys The Back-up Plan The Best Offer* The Big Lebowski* The Blair Witch Project The Brady Bunch Movie The Brothers Grimm The Cutting Edge* The Devil Inside The Dictator The Fighting Temptations* The First Wives Club The Hole The Hunt for Red October* The Last Exorcism Part II The Last Samurai The Longest Yard The Loved Ones The Mighty* The Monster Squad The Prophecy The Prophecy 3: The Ascent The Prophecy II The Prophecy: Forsaken The Prophecy: Uprising The Reckoning The Ruins The Spiderwick Chronicles The Talented Mr. Ripley The Three Amigos The Virgin Suicides* The Woman in Black The Woods* The Wrath of Becky* The Yards* Thief* To Catch a Thief Twisted Up in Smoke Witchboard II: The Devil’s Doorway World Trade Center* World War Z World War Z (Extended Domestic Cut) September 4 Mafia Mamma* September 9 Basic Instinct 2* September 14 Buddy Games: Spring Awakening September 15 The End of Sex* September 20 Cursed Friends Pet Sematary (2019) SPORTS 9/2: Campeonato Brasileirão Série A – Botafogo vs. Flamengo  9/2: CBS Sports Confidential – Big Ten Football 2023 9/2: Big Ten on CBS – Ohio State @ Indiana 9/2: College Football on CBS – Texas Tech @ Wyoming 9/3: Big Ten on CBS – Northwestern @ Rutgers  9/3: College Football on CBS – Oregon State @ San Jose State 9/3: Serie A – AC Milan vs. Inter Milan  9/3: Serie A – Lazio vs Napoli 9/9: NWSL Challenge Cup Final 9/9: Big Ten on CBS – UNLV @ Michigan  9/9: College Football on CBS – UCLA @ San Diego State 9/10: NFL ON CBS Week 1 Doubleheader (check local listings)  9/16: Oracle Los Angeles Sail Gran Prix 9/16: PGA TOUR Originals: One Shot Away 9/16: SEC on CBS – South Carolina @ Georgia 9/16: NWSL –  Portland Thorns FC vs. OL Reign  9/17: NFL ON CBS Week 2 Doubleheader (check local listings) 9/18: Serie A – AC Milan vs. Napoli 9/19-9/20: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1 9/21: UEFA Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1 9/21: UEFA Europa Conference League Group Stage Matchday 1 9/23: 2023 American Cornhole League World Championship Final 9/23: SEC on CBS 9/23: Big Ten on CBS – Iowa @ Penn State 9/24: NFL ON CBS Week 3 (check local listings) 9/24: Professional Bull Riding Camping World Teams Series 9/30: We Need to Talk 9/30: France Sail Grand Prix 9/30: SEC on CBS Throughout September: NWSL competition Throughout September: Italian Serie A competition Throughout September: Concacaf Nations League qualifiers Throughout September: Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol competition Throughout September: Campeonato Brasileirão Série A competition Throughout September: Scottish Professional Football League competition Throughout September: Combate Global competition * Title is available to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers. **All Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can live stream CBS titles via the live feed on Paramount+. Those titles will be available on-demand to all subscribers the day after they air live. Dates for library titles are subject to change.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 20, 2023

 

The Chi:  In this week’s instalment of should I know who these people are: should I know who those first two people at the party are?  I vaguely remember who the guy who sat at the bar was, but am not entirely how he fit into the story.  Thankfully the guy who did not pick up Keisha the night she was kidnapped said that upfront, because I would not have known that if he did not.  But is this the first time all the characters were in the same place at the same time?  But I think we need to keep track of the Chekov’s Gun that was given as a housewarming present.  I have a feeling I know who will be on a receiving end (the kingpin), but the list of who could shoot it is very long.

 

Billions:  So Chuck ended the last season in jail and has his job back by episode two because of a pair of cowboy boot?  That is pretty absurd even by television standards.  I am guessing it will take a little longer to get Axe Cap back together.  Then I have to imagine the whole bassoon thing was inspired by Only Murders in the Building.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  Ben Glenroy's apartment may have been more wild than the stalkers. Then Death Rattle Dazzle is really coming together nicely, or at the very least coming together hilariously.

But my two main suspects after the first two episodes look a little less guilty this week. The brother looked broken up even when no one was watching (that he knew of). Then Flobert (that is my official name for him going forward unless Mabel comes up with a better one) seemed to help Mabel in her investigation... but then again, Jan did help too.

I do have a sinking suspicion than Kimber was not the only one to lose her hankie.

 

Justified: City Primeval:  Oh no, Sweetie is dead… oh well.  But what happened to the gun?  But this has to be the point where the lawyer turns on him.  But who is the mole in the police department?  The black dude is pretty laissez faire but it is probably the lady cop.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Why were trey trying to make Paulie seem sympathetic?  Good riddance.  If only both went home.  But it is nice to see the hot chick alliance take full control of this game.  It will be interesting as to what Johnny does.  Seems most likely that he goes to go to Blue.  But does he go full spite and send Cory to Red Flag or does he try to make a Vet majority and send one of the non-Vets packing like Chris?  That would be Johnny, Cory, Fessie, and Tori against Cassidy, Seabass, and the Alyssa’s.  Tori could definably get Seabass to switch in that situation.  But can the Alyssa’s keep Cory on their side in that situation.

Around the Tubes: August 19, 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 Other Black Girl, Chucky, SurrealEstate, Shoresy, Kid Cudi, Sister Hazel, Anitta, Bahamas, Noah Gundersen, and Paris Jackson

- Hulu has debuted the trailer and key art for the upcoming Original series "The Other Black Girl," from Onyx Collective, based on Zakiya Dalila Harris' best selling novel.  The series will premiere all 10 episodes on September 13, only on Hulu. TRAILER  Nella, an editorial assistant, is tired of being the only Black girl at her company, so she’s excited when Hazel is hired. But as Hazel’s star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company.

- “Chucky” Season 3 Returns Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SYFY/USA, Streaming Next Day on Peacock.  “SurrealEstate” Season 2 Immediately follows at 10 p.m. on SYFY.  Chucky Talks Season 3 in Press Conference Video.  Support Chucky and the new season by texting "CHUCKY" to 201- 500-3347.  SurrealEstate Season 2 Trailer.  Official season 2 trailer makes its debut.  Season 1 is now available on Hulu

- Season 2 of SHORESY will premiere exclusively on Hulu Friday, October 27!  Watch the New Teaser HERE.  Created by and starring Jared Keeso, directed by Jacob Tierney and produced by New Metric Media in association with Play Fun Games, the half hour comedy sees the foul-mouthed, chirp-serving, mother-loving, fan favourite character, Shoresy (Keeso), and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs of the Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (The NOSHO), continue their quest to never lose again.  Joining the stellar lineup this season are Frederick Roy (son of Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy), international pop star Rêve, Catherine St-Laurent (Tu Dors Nicole) and Jordana Lajoie (THE BOYS).

- GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum sonic visionary, artist, producer, actor, and director Kid Cudi unlocks the pre-order for his anxiously awaited ninth full-length studio album, INSANO. Additionally, he revealed 4 covert-art variations that feature artwork by renowned artist and designer, KAWS.    Pre-order/Pre-save INSANO HERE via Republic Records. It stands out as his first full-length offering since 2022 and one of the most anticipated records of this year.   Listen to “PORSCHE TOPLESS” HERE. 

- Platinum-selling, iconic, country/rock band Sister Hazel premiered their highly anticipated new song, "Coconut Trees," on Wide Open Country earlier this week. "Sister Hazel take listeners on a breezy island escape with new single 'Coconut Trees,' an ode to slowing down and soaking up special moments with loved ones — whether it's a gorgeous summer day or a dreary winter morning." (Wide Open Country). "Coconut Trees" was written by the band's guitarist, Andrew Copeland, and Kyle Jacobs, and was produced by Ben Jackson. The c’est la vie track is a unique blend of sounds meant to be listened to with "a little sun and rum on ice with an ocean breeze," and no distractions. The song is being released today by Nashville-based label Rock Ridge Music, with distribution via Warner/ADA. "Coconut Trees" is available for streaming and download here. 

- Back with a whole lot of heat, record-breaking international superstar Anitta unleashes a brand new three-song bundle entitled Funk Generation: A Favela Story today via Republic Records/Universal Music Latin Entertainment.  Listen to Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story HERE.

-  Award-winning, Canadian artist Bahamas, a.k.a. Afie Jurvanen, has released a new video for the new track “I’m Still,” from the upcoming album Bootcut (out September 15^th via Brushfire Records).  While many of the songs on Bootcut were written and performed with a strong country influence, “I’m Still” stands out as a bit of an anomaly. The soulful track features a retro R&B arrangement led by a funky guitar riff that sits behind Jurvanen’s laid-back vocal cadence. The new video features a solo Jurvanen on a leisurely stroll on High Head Trail and along the beautiful coastline nearby in Blandford, NS. He is contemplative at one moment, playful in the next, like fans have come to expect in Bahamas’ songs and videos. Jurvanen balances thoughtful sincerity and a little fun like few other artists. Watch the “I’m Still” video HERE and stream HERE.

- Soundly Music and acclaimed Washington-based singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen are pleased to announce the Friday, September 8 release of If This Is The End, Gundersen’s brand new full-length studio album and first offering since 2021’s A Pillar of Salt (pre-save/pre-add HERE). Born out of a soul-searching period in Gundersen’s life where he was working a construction job after having enjoyed a fruitful career in music, the songs on If This Is The End detail the regret and failure of those years, but it also highlights his newfound outlook on hope and the transformative power of love.  ”I found myself disillusioned with the industry and no longer knew my place in it,” Gundersen recalls. “The world around me has changed rapidly and I sometimes have difficulty grasping it. There were moments when I felt I had lost the wind from my sails, but I still love creating music and I love these songs.”

- Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, and activist paris jackson reveals her new single “Hit Your Knees” out now via Republic Records—listen HERE. For the release of “Hit Your Knees,” paris partnered with co-writer and producer Linda Perry, the co-founder along with Alisha Ballard, of EqualizeHer, an organization working to solve gender inequality in the music industry by taking action to create more opportunities for women. Written, performed, produced, mixed, and mastered entirely by women, “Hit Your Knees” amplifies EqualizeHer’s mission and aims to challenge other artists to support female creatives through collaboration. EqualizeHer was founded to take aggressive action and help solve for the underrepresentation of women in the music business and the problems women face in the industry every day.

 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 13, 2023

 

The Chi:  Are they really doing a grooming storyline with Poppa.  Sure, a two year age difference is not that gross, but it is a little icky hearing anyone ask someone when they turn eighteen.  But twice this week I had to ask myself, should I know these people?  First was the guy who found God while in prison.  I ended up using context clues to realize that was brother of the girl Kevin’s moms adopted.  Then the drug dealer’s mom was talking about her brother who was murdered.  Is that Quinten?  Did we know Quinten and the drug dealer were related?

 

Only Murders in the Building:  I was wondering how they were going to do an Only Murders in the Building podcast when the murder did not happen in the building.  Good fake out especially with Uma saying it was nice they kept the body out of the building this time only for her to see Ben Glenroy’s dead body later on.   It would have been funny had people kept trying to kill Ben Glenroy all season only to fail, but alas, it seems like he is really dead this time.

 

Though I do have a theory that whoever poisoned Ben Glenroy was not the person who pushed him down the elevator shaft.  Right now I think the brother poisoned him while the documentarian shoved him down the shaft even though they really seemed to want us to think Meryl Streep did it.

 

My other big prediction after one episode is that the “her” Charles told Ben Glenroy to stay away from is not a person but a thing.  He mentioned that Mabel did not get to know him before he died and Lucy was quickly ushered out of the theater so it does not seem like we will see much of her (and it would have been creepy anyway if Ben Glenroy needed to be told to stay away from a teenage girl).  That just leaves his girlfriend because I doubt Charles would get too attached to one of his castmates.

 

Justified: City Primeval:  Well, I was just saying how Raylan has seemed to mature during the show’s hiatus for not letting one bad guy kill another bad guy and then he goes and forks a key person in the case he is working on and get in a pissing contest with her ex-husband.  And now that key person may become a person of interest if she starts using that book to advance her career.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Ugg, the nation centric spin-offs last season year were so good without the same tired contestants from the flagship show.  Of course they had to go and ruin it just like they ruined All-Star.  Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to bring Paulie back.  And no, Paulie, people do not love to hate you, you have go away heat.  Ugg, and Josh is back and on the same team as Paulie.  Hopefully that team self-combusts and Michele is the only one who survives.   If we are lucky Johnny gets sent in and sent home, but I fear there may be a frozen envelope situation.  I like the idea of a hidden vote and random people being thrown in, but I do not trust the producers not to do some shenanigans to keep the same boring players on the show longer.

Around the Tubes: August 12, 2023

 

- DNA evidence speaks when victims can’t. There are over 100,000 cold cases in America. Only about 1% are ever solved – and, increasingly, advancements in forensic science are key to cracking these long-running mysteries.  COLD CASE FILES: DNA SPEAKS is a new, 10-part documentary series focusing on murder cases that remained unsolved for decades and were ultimately cracked with DNA evidence. It explores these stunning scientific developments – as well as the unwavering dedication of families and investigators – that eventually brought the killers to justice.  The Emmy-nominated Cold Case Files was the original forensic science crime show when it first aired in 1999. This brand-new series is narrated by the original host and executive producer, celebrated journalist Bill Kurtis, and builds on the success of the original with spectacular cinematography, extraordinary crime scene footage, and cutting-edge science.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OFFICIAL TRAILER

- Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Bay returns with a brand-new single entitled “Goodbye Never Felt So Bad” out now via Mercury/Republic Records. It notably marks his first release of 2023 and first new music since his 2022 third full-length album, Leap.  Listen to “Goodbye Never Felt So Bad”—HERE.

- 3 Doors Down releases the 20th-anniversary Digital Deluxe Edition of their legendary sophomore album, Away From The Sun.  Filled with timeless hits and heart-pounding energy that defined an era, Away From The Sun features chart-toppers “Here Without You” and “When I’m Gone.” Remastered from 24-bit sources by the renowned Dave Donnelly, the iconic album’s original twelve tracks of powerful melodies and emotive lyrics have been revitalized to capture the essence of the band’s groundbreaking sound. The deluxe version also includes ten bonus tracks, including unearthed treasures like “Pop Song” and “Living A Lie,” both making their long-awaited digital debut, as well as the hidden gems “When I’m Gone (Live – Early Version)” and “Here Without You (demo),” which was recorded at a house in Mobile, AL in the early stages of the album’s creation. Rounding out the bonus material are three previously unreleased studio recordings, including “Long Day,” “Something In My Mind,” and a striking Lynyrd Skynyrd cover of “That Smell,” plus three tracks produced by Rush’s Alex Lifeson during the original recording sessions: “Dangerous Game,” “Wasted Me,” and “Dead Love.” A 1LP Limited Edition Color Vinyl of the original album will also be available on November 10. Preorder the LP or Listen to the Digital Deluxe Edition of Away From The Sun HERE.

- Back with a bright summer anthem, 19-year-old Southern California singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Claire Rosinkranz releases a new single entitled “Pools and Palm Trees” today–listen HERE! The song sets the stage for her highly anticipated debut album Just Because, due out on October 6^th via slowplay/Republic Records. Pre-order/Pre-save Just Because HERE.  On “Pools and Palm Trees,” acoustic guitar echoes through airy production as Claire’s candid and conversational lyrics take hold. She sings, “I miss you a lot…‘cause you feel like pools and palm trees swaying in the breeze.” The track reflects the sunny spirit of her signature musical style.

- Steely Dan’s 1977 multi-platinum jazz-rock masterwork, Aja, has been remastered from analog and will be reissued on vinyl for the first time in more than four decades on September 29^th via Geffen/UMe. Aja marks the latest release in Geffen/UMe’s extensive reissue program of Steely Dan’s classic ABC and MCA Records catalog, which returns the band’s first seven records to vinyl – most of which haven’t been available since their original release. Overseen by founding member Donald Fagen, the series launched in November 2022 with the group’s legendary 1972 debut, Can’t Buy A Thrill, followed by 1973’s Countdown To Ecstasy in May 2023. The band’s beloved third album, 1974’s Pretzel Logic, was just released last month.  Aja has been meticulously remastered by Bernie Grundman from an analog, non-EQ’d, tape copy and will be pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at 33 1/3 RPM. Additionally, Aja, like all the titles, is being released as a limited edition premium 45 RPM version on Ultra High-Quality Vinyl (UHQR) from Analogue Productions, the audiophile in-house reissue label of Acoustic Sounds. Analogue Productions is also releasing this series of titles on Super Audio CD (SACD). Visit here for more details and to order.  Pre-order Aja: https://steelydan.lnk.to/AjaVinylPR

- POV, America's longest running non-fiction series continues its 36th season with Peabody Award-winning director/producer Marco Williams’ personal film, Murders That Matter. The PBS alum documents five years in the life of Movita Johnson-Harrell, an African American Muslim mother in Philadelphia, as she transforms from a victim of violent trauma into a fierce advocate against gun violence in Black communities. Though her story is local, it nonetheless remains a siren call in the wake of escalating gun-related deaths that ultimately impact Black and other communities of color throughout the U.S.  A co-production with ITVS, Murders That Matter is scheduled to make its world premiere on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 10 pm ET/9C (check local listings) and will be available to stream until December 25, 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.

Previewing Billions Season Seven

 

Poor Michael Prince, he was brought in to replace Bobby Axelrod but just one season after jettisoning Bobby to some nondescript European city, presumably to never be seen again, Axe is back.  Not only is he back, but front and center in the seventh and final season poster for Billions, pushing Prince to the edges.  Making things worse is that Bobby is barely in the episodes given to critics.  Another character that has not been seen in a while may actually have more screen time than Axe in those  episodes.

 

But hey, at least Prince gets to open the season with a very eye opening scene.  Unfortunately that is directly followed by a “5 months earlier“ chyron.  That gets us closer to the end of last season which ended in a high stakes game of chicken which left Prince $3.5 billion cheaper and Chuck in jail, though the latter was short lived as New York State Attorney General Dave Mahar bailed him out.  Prince would move on as he has bigger fish to fry.  After failing to bring the Olympics to New York, now he is trying to run for president as an Independent.

 

But this is an end of the era.  It has been announced that the seventh will be final season of Billions (though Millions and Trillions are currently in development along with versions of Billions set in Miami and London… geez).  And it is time to wrap things up if they think they need Bobby Axelrod to save the show after just one season without him even though the show had gotten stale with Bobby and Chuck going after each other for the previous five seasons (aside from that one stretch when they were on the same side).  The show even seems to run out of pop culture references, there is an awkward Nirvana references early in the season and I was left wondering if they were cribbing other shows’ with a couple of reference.   Like most Showtime shows, this one seems to be ended one to three seasons too late.

 

Billions airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime, though you can stream episodes on Fridays on Paramount+ with Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 6, 2023

  

Cruel Summer:  This season was a big downgrade, but if you are going to go out, go out hard.  I was slightly disappointed that the death was sort of an accident, but they did make up for that to have Isabella very intentionally killing the dude.  Do not ask me why the police did not bother to check security tapes until six months after the guy went missing.  But kudos to who ever thought it was a good idea to turn some crappy White Zombie song into some moody folk song.  That was hilarious.

 

Justified: City Primeval:  It looks like Raylan has grown.  There were multiple time he had no problem with one guy killing another guy.  But the show was much better without his daughter around.