57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/10/2017

Shameless: Ooo, Gallagher vs. Gallagher. This should be interesting. Except Fiona is in the right, certainly there are plenty of run down properties in Chicago for them to rent a new shelter.

The Walking Dead: So all the Walkers in the yard just went into the building right? Why was that such a question? Unless that has something to do with why no one is answering the walkie talkie. Is Eugene really as smart as he think he is and cleared the building and captured the snipers?
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: Just how do you sneaked a tied up and gagged guy out of a hotel. But anyway. And bad idea buying a house with all the money you made? How are you going to furnish it and pay property tax? Not that Letty may never live in it because is in the middle of nowhere without her shoes. That is why you do not do drugs kids. Well that and getting shot with a nail gun.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

SMILF: Well that was weird. Okay I get the Run Lola Run reference because of the hair but I never saw the movie. Was it a complete homage with three acts and people getting run over by a hearst? And did Tami Taylor really proposition a threesome or was the last part we saw the only thing that really happened?

White Famous: So Kali really did lose her phone. I wonder if we will learn it was stolen by someone next week. Thinks just do not happen accidentally on television shows.

Supergirl: Well that is an interesting mask Reign is wearing. Kind of reminds me of Hallie Berry’s Catwoman mask, which is not a compliment. And how much does the original character know about Reign? She just seemed to think she was asleep and this was a duel personality situation. But aren’t they doing that on one of the other superheroes show? I think one of the people at The Flash’s wedding was a good person that had a bad person living inside of them.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

Lucifer: Wait, was that really the Sinnerman that we saw. I got a strong patsy vibe from him. There has to be more coming. I am still not counting out Superman being involved even though he claims the Sinnerman killed his brother.
You can download Lucifer on iTunes.

The Gifted: Wait, the brother and sister can bring down a building by holding hands? And what a Chekov’s Gun letdown that they did not end up using the ability.
You can download The Gifted on iTunes.

Marvel’s Runaways: Finally, all the powers are coming to light and used at the same time (well except being able to control a dinosaur; and I guess Alex does not have any powers). Although, how did the blonde know she could shoot rainbow beams? Now all they have to do is actually runaway. And I am still kind of fuzzy who the old dude is. I thought it was the mom’s father, but now I am thinking they may be more than that now that we have seen the new him. Was he who brought the Pride together? And just what do the rest of the Pride get out of these sacrifices?.
You can stream episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars: What a complete and utter disaster, Camilla gets the boot, Jenna leaves due to injury, and now Ashley is gone because her father’s death, Terrell Owens quits, and Riff Raft is MIA. Maybe instead of a mini-season, they should have just done a two hour special.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: The family reward challenge was the worst in the history of not only the show but in the history of all competition shows. Putting the Immunity Shell literally where Lauren could reach out and touch it from her station was way too easy. But what was going down as one of the worst episodes in the show’s history was redeemed by Dr. Mike throwing Lauren’s Idol into the fire (I have gone back in forth on whether it would have been wise to try and fish it out; maybe try to get a stick or something and push it out).

I have to put that move by Lauren as the third dumbest move ever in the history of the show (after Brandon and the Ice Cream Scooper giving up their Immunity Necklace only to be promptly being voted out). Seriously, how do you start off the day with a Hidden Immunity Idol and an Extra Vote and get your torch snuffed? It always amazes me how everyone obsesses over splitting votes just in case of a Hidden Immunity Idol, yet this is not the first time when people had enough people to split the vote but did not. Seriously, all Lauren had to do was throw her Extra Vote on Dr. Mike or Turtleneck and would have booted one of them just in case Ben had an Idol, which he did.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Vikings: Maybe Ivar the Boneless really is unkillable. But come on, when it is 100 vs a cripple, how about firing more than one arrow. But I actually thought he was going to kill another brother this episode. But the cripple has to die soon, the question is who, one of his brothers, the Englishmen, Laggatha? I am going o go with the half-brother when he comes back. And where my original thought was Floki discovered North America, but now I am thinking he is in Iceland.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: Darla and the FBI agent? But now that Mr. Robot and Elliot know there is a White Rose mole in the FBI, will they be able to save her before the Dark Army gets to her before she undoes the original hack. Unless Dom finally realizes her boss is working for the enemy. Ever since the one shot episode, I have thought Angela would die, I still have a sinking suspicion someone we know will not make it to season four.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Gotham: I was actually thinking Falcone, close to death, ordered the hit on himself to save his daughter from Penguin, how cold do you have to be to order the hit on your dad? And did Butch actually remember his pre-Grundy life?
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Once Upon a Time: So Rapunzel is the Evil Stepmother who was a good person, sacrificed everything for her family and then decided to say, fork it, I am killing my husband’s new wife? Huh? Drusilla is coming out as the only reasonable person on this show.
You can download Once Upon a Time on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Fitz is who is on the radio, right?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/8/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Tarantula, The Best of the Dean Marin Celebrity Roasts: Volumns 1-3!, POV, The Trade, Darius Rucker, Cash Cowboys, White Famous, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.


- In a network first, TBS is debuting a full-season binge of the highly anticipated new series Tarantula via the TBS app and TBS.com beginning, Monday, December 4th. The animated half-hour comedy is written and executive produced by Carson Mell (Silicon Valley) alongside executive producers Danny McBride (Vice Principals, Eastbound & Down), Jody Hill (Vice Principals, Eastbound & Down), Brandon James and David Gordon Green for Rough House Pictures, Claudia Katz and Gregg Vanzo for Rough Draft Animation.

- This fall, Dino goes digital with The Best of the Dean Marin Celebrity Roasts: Volumns 1-3! Never before released on any digital platform, the Roastmaster General will be available exclusively on iTunes beginning December 11, with three "Best of" compilation releases priced at $14.99; individual episodes will be available for $1.99 each. The classic TV archivists at Time Life will release additional digital content throughout 2018 and beyond.

- Capstoning a year of celebrations for the documentary showcases' 30th anniversary, PBS television series POV is excited to announce its first-ever documentary marathon. Premiering on public television’s WORLD Channel, the binge-worthy marathon will showcase films from POV’s rich and diverse history of character-driven stories over a 24-hour period. Kicking off on New Year's Eve, the marathon will also run 30 films for 30 days on the POV streaming service at pov.org, pbs.org, and the PBS Anywhere app. POV is the longest running independent documentary series on American television. The marathon will also include the television premiere of the film 500 Years by Emmy-nominated and veteran POV filmmaker Pamela Yates, which will broadcast twice on January 1, 2018 at 8/7 p.m. Eastern Time and at 9 p.m. Pacific Time on the WORLD Channel. The film will also begin streaming on Amazon Prime Video on December 1. 500 Years had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. The marathon will begin broadcasting on the WORLD Channel at 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 31, kicking off with the three-time Emmy-nominated American Promise, which received a top prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. The television marathon will continue until 10 p.m. on January 1, 2018.

- From Columbus, Ohio to Guerrero, Mexico and countless cities in between, the opioid epidemic has ravaged communities on both sides of the border. But what about the lives behind the headlines and statistics? The timely, provocative new five-episode SHOWTIME docu-series The Trade spotlights the crisis through the eyes of those most affected: the growers, addicts, cartel bosses and law enforcement hopelessly caught in its web. Directed and executive produced by Oscar nominee and Emmy® winner Matthew Heineman (Cartel Land) and executive produced by Oscar and Emmy nominee Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), The Trade will world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and debut on Friday, February 2 at 9:00 on Showtime.


- Tune in Friday, December 8 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “Darius Rucker” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. Airing at 9:00 the one-hour concert was shot live from the iconic stage of the Apollo Theater in New York City. Darius performs hits spanning his country career---from his first country No. 1 single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” to his most recent chart topper “If I Told You” off his just released fifth album When Was the Last Time (Capitol Records Nashville)--to crowd favorites from his career as lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish. During the concert, Darius brings Robert Randolph on stage for a duet on their “Love What You Do.” The pedal steel rock star stayed on stage transitioning into an Apollo-only-worth collaboration on “Hold My Hand.” As he celebrates this latest milestone and bucket list moment in his groundbreaking, multi-genre music career, Darius joins series host Ted Stryker for an intimate interview on the stage of the legendary Apollo Theater just before the sold-out show.

- Cash Cowboys, currently airing on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. ET/PT on POP TV, features Colorado-based family, the Huwas, who are 21st Century Colorado cowboys, as they reclaim areas destroyed by naturally occurring disasters – from hurricanes to floods, tornadoes, fires, and more. A family that has had generations of working on the farm, the Huwas apply their knowledge, skill, values and disciplined work ethic to restore the damaged earth. The heart of the series is all about cowboy culture, and the spirit of the West – just as likely to be riding a five-ton bulldozer as a one-ton rodeo bull, a 200-horsepower excavator as a horse on the range. The show is about big equipment, tough terrain, bucking bulls, mother nature, and extreme deadlines that keep them on their toes. The stakes are high, and there is no room for error.

- Academy Award® winner and executive producer Jamie Foxx, who played an over-the-top, satirized version of himself in the pilot episode of White Famous, will reprise his role for the series’ season one finale airing this Sunday, December 10 at 10:30 on SHOWTIME. The episode finds Floyd Mooney (Jay Pharoah) coming full circle as his life is once again turned upside down due to a viral internet video. As the career opportunities start pouring in, Foxx comes calling to offer Floyd a chance of a lifetime.

- GSN, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, announced today that it has licensed seasons 14 and 15 of iconic game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, with the show to air Monday through Friday at 3:00pm and 3:30pm ET beginning Monday, December 18. In addition, on Sunday, December 24, fans can catch a stacked marathon airing from 9:00am to 2:00pm ET.

- The King of Morocco Mohammed VI, as Chairman of the Committee Al Qods, sent a message to the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, expressing his "deep concern as well as the inquietude of the people of the Arab and Muslim States" following the information about the decision of President Trump to "recognize Al-Qods as capital of Israel and to move there the Embassy of the United States ".

Previewing Knightfall

As Vikings debuted its fifth season last week, it is a bit surprising that History has yet to do another full series set on a fascinating but underreported moment in history (I am not counting last year’s Six which is a modern show that could have easily been on NBC). Much like Vikings which seems to have a foot in the truth and a foot in myth, Knightfall follows the Knights Templers of the around the time of the turn of the fourteenth century. This is ripe for story because secrecy surrounds the Templers though they do run into a few historical figures like Philip IV of France and his royal family along with Pope Boniface VIII.

The series starts at the end of the Siege of Arce, the last stronghold of the Templar’s in the Holy Land in 1291. The Knights have saved the Holy Grail… only to watch it sink to the bottom of the sea. Fast forward fifteen years and those Templars have settled in Paris serving the King there as peace with Britain is fragile and ready to disintegrate at any moment. The Grail still haunts the Knights until a clue that maybe the Holy Grail actually in France and the remaining Knights are following to clue to see if it never sank to the bottom of the sea.

Though information is scares, I do recommend not looking up spoilers because they do hint at what happens at the end of the season (though in retrospect, the title can be consider kind of spoilery). But I do wonder if the show would have been better off starting earlier. We spend ten minute in the Siege of Arce and that itself could have been a whole season. The writers really could have started the series as the main Templar of the show joins the Knights and worked its way to this season where he takes over the Order.

But my bigger complaint is that the show does not do a very good job paying plots off. In the penultimate episode a whisper is made that changes the fate of one of the major character. When that character asked what was said, the replay is that he will be told when he comes back… except he does not return to learn the big twist before the season ends so we, the audience, will have to wait until next season (or possibly longer which always seemed to be the case on Lost) to find out as well. It is always a pet peeve a mine when shows do not pay things off in the same season. What if this show gets canceled? Then we will never know.

Still if you like the epicness of Vikings, you should stick around for Knightfall. It reminds me of what a live action version of Assassin’s Creed should have looked like without the weird modern day mad scientist plot (full disclosure notice: I never did see the move but will take the critics’ take for it that the movie was bad). Except instead of a show where we follow an assassin who crosses path with Templars, we are following Templars who have a few run ins with secretive assassin originations.

Knightfall airs Wednesdays at 10:00 on History.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/3/2017

Shameless: There are few things more annoying than when people on their twelve steps try to make amends to you. Sure, it may make them feel better, but it also dregs up horrible feelings up for you that you were trying to repress. But I wonder if that is it for Shawn. And how much time is Kev and Vee going to spend in Kentucky. I bet some of the family will follow them back to Chicago at some point.

The Walking Dead: Aftershows are inherently dumb, but again I learned something I completely missed. I was wondering who that person in the cage at the garbage people only to be told by the aftershow that it was Rick. I just thought he was ushered out when they declined his offer instead of keeping him hostage.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: So we are back to episode one Letty: stealing from hotel rooms and doing copious amount of drugs. But while she was talking to her parole officer, it got me thinking; shouldn’t she have a new parole officer after he lost his job? But was good about that first season is tey kept me on my toes having no clue where the show was going and they finally confirmed something I have assumed since the season premiere, that Tao killed Silk and was trying ti kill Javier. Also not too surprising that Tao was hired by Javier’s father, but we did get a shocking twist at the end with the father gone missing.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

SMILF: Wait, after all that baby daddy did not participate in the mud run? And way to get caught going out for lunch after the baptism instead of going straight to the mud run. I thought about doing mud run myself, but do the courses really have a sock pit? If so, hard pass. I do not mind getting a little dirty but I am not getting shocked.

White Famous: So Kali “lost” her phone? The one that looked like it was filming her and Floyd getting intimate? I am also suspicious the paparazzi happened to find her at Floyd’s place. I think he is getting played. But that video looked really bad, I hope we get to see the final cut at some point.

Supergirl: Well that sucked, I liked the CW crossover much better when just ten seconds of it happened on Supergirl. And it felt like they pushed along the plot of every show except Supergirl. I guess that happens when one two of their characters show up and pretty much the full cast of the other three shows are represented.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: What is going on, did Camilla curse all the other females after she left? Jenna fractured her ankle (when if first happened I thought Shawn fractured her head on one of those bars, did not even realize it was Jenna that got hurt), then Ashley’s father is on life support and looks like she will be leaving soon too. But has CT never seen the show before? Whenever someone leaves and there is no replacements, he always teases there is going to be an elimination before doing a fake out.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: It is amazing how the new dominate alliance can be o smart and so dumb at the same time. When they were discussing who to vote out first, they ended voting out JP which was stupid, no one runs the Immunity table anymore because there is much more luck involved. It really blew my mind that that they did not target the guy they knew had an Idol. If you have a chance to get an Idol out of the game without the person even knowing you are targeting them, you do it.

Yet they ended up pulling off one of the best strategies in the history of the show by having Ben play dumb and still ended up flushing the Idol. Except the three people in that alliance not named Ben, you have this great chance of getting rid of Ben except they do not pull the trigger. Why would you want to sit next to a veteran who everyone thinks is running the game at the Final Tribal? You brought Joe along this far, why not take him to the end at this point?
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: Well that was the most insignificant episode of the show ever. Unless the whole Back to the Future reference essentially confirms White Rose is working on time travel. Even then, that hour was really boring.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Blindspot: Oh hey, Jane's daughter, and meeting her was the big secret in Berlin that Kurt was hiding in Berlin. But is there really no way to tell a woman has had a kid before? That seems like a pretty big body changing event. Maybe after eighteen years things may get back to "normal" but seems like you could tell somehow.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: SHIELD has gone to space, which we learned by the teaser at the end of last season. Except the big twist is that they are in the future. Which sounds cool in theory, but execution it looks like every mediocre vaguely futuristic dystonia that has ever aired on Syfy. Kurt was And it did not make much sense, so Daisy quakes apart the Earth in the future (or at least according to the Framework, which is not entirely reliable source of news) so to save humanity in the future, instead of going back in time to change the future, they bring people from the past into the future. Huh? How exactly will that work? But why was Fitz left behind? And what is with the weird dude at the beginning with the human skin?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/1/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on East Los High, The Alienist, Inside Windsor Castle: Triumph and Tragedy, new additions to Hulu, SMILF, and Deal or No Deal.

- The long-awaited return of East Los High has arrived with a Finale Event that bids farewell to the highly acclaimed and Emmy-nominated original television series. Season four of East Los High left fans on the edge of their seats with the most shocking cliffhangers in the show’s history. Eight months later, the crew prepares to leave high school behind and maybe even East LA as they begin a journey of self-discovery and learn the true meaning of love, family and friendship in this romantic, sexy and emotional series finale. East Los High continues to provide a unique and relevant space on television at a time when the plight of immigrant communities like East Los Angeles are under fire. By featuring underrepresented voices and bringing awareness to issues relevant to the Latino community, the series provides a realistic account of Latino youth culture in the U.S. today. East Los High’s Finale Event pays tribute to the popular characters fans have followed during the past four seasons, reminding us that their universal stories will continue to grow, prosper and transcend.


- The Alienist opens when a series of haunting murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City. Newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) calls upon criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans) to conduct the investigation in secret. They are joined by Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), a headstrong secretary determined to become the city's first female police detective. Using the emerging disciplines of psychology and forensics, this band of social outsiders set out to apprehend one of New York City's first serial killers. The limited series also stars Douglas Smith, Matthew Shear, Matt Lintz, Robert Ray Wisdom and Q'orianka Kilcher. The Alienist premieres across TNT’s television, mobile and digital platforms on Monday, January 22, at 9:00.


- Once upon a time, more than 150 years ago, Windsor Castle wed Queen Victoria's eldest son, the future Edward VII and his wife, Alexandra of Denmark. Now it’s time to make room for a new royal couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have just announced their engagement and upcoming wedding at Windsor Castle. Back in 1992, however, things weren’t in such perfect standing - the private chapel at Windsor caught fire and burned inside the castle for 15 hours. 100 ancient rooms were badly damaged in the worst disaster in the castle’s long history, though from ruins to restoration, thousands worked tirelessly to restore the Queen’s weekend home to its original prestige. Explore the beautiful grounds, history and renovation of Windsor Castle ahead of the next royal wedding with Inside Windsor Castle: Triumph and Tragedy, airing this Friday, December 1st at 10:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Just in time for the holidays, Hulu this week announced that it has licensed the subscription streaming rights to even more hits for the whole family from The Disney/ABC Television Group, including ABC’s hit drama series, Designated Survivor. In addition to becoming the exclusive U.S. SVOD home to Designated Survivor, the complete libraries of fan favorites such as Revenge, Shadowhunters, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Blossom, The Catch, Bunheads, Cougar Town, and Perception.

- Here are some imports that will be coming to Hulu soon:

From prolific screenwriter Dan Sefton (The Good Karma Hospital) and starring Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch, Doctor Who), character-led psychological thriller Trust Me centers on a gripping story of identity, lies and a woman’s desperation to escape the pain and disappointment of her old life. When Cath (Jodie Whittaker), an idealistic, hardworking nurse, loses her job for whistle-blowing, she is forced to take drastic measures to provide for her daughter. Seizing the opportunity to steal her friend’s identity as a senior doctor, Cath starts a new life. As she buries herself deeper in the imposter persona, she realizes she could get everything she ever wanted – but with her old life threatening her fragile creation, how far will she go to protect it?

The Wine Show is back and this time we're based in the glorious South of France. Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey, The Good Wife, Roots) is joined at the sun-drenched Provenal villa by, actor James Purefoy (The Following, Episodes). In addition to tasting the wines brought back from around the globe, they are tasked by Joe Fattorini to find a case of wine to match a six course French lunch cooked by Michelin starred chef, Stephane Reynaud. But this year, Joe is not judging. Jancis Robinson, the worlds most influential wine critic, decides which wines make it to the Wine Show Case. And she is taking no prisoners. Matthew and James journey all over southern France to find their wines. Their mission involves kayaking and caving in the Ardeche, rounding up bulls on horseback in the Camargue, baking in Lyon and even cooking their own lunch in the sweltering kitchens of the legendary Palme DOr restaurant in Cannes. And our old friend Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Brothers and Sisters) is also busy. He's back in the UK exploring gadgets old and new in the glorious setting of 17th century Berry Brothers & Rudd in London's St. James's Street.

Midnight Sun, a high-concept thriller from Mårlind & Stein (Bron/Broen), starring French actress Leïla Bekhti (The Prophet, All that Glitters) and Gustaf Hammarsten (Bruno, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). Kahina Zadi (Leïla Bekhti), a French police officer, travels to Kiruna, a small mining community in remote northern Sweden, to investigate a brutal murder of a French citizen. With the help of Anders Harnesk (Gustaf Hammarsten), a Swedish DA and a member of the Sami, an ancient, mysterious indigenous tribe of Scandinavia, they are faced with new killings and the initial murder turns out to be the tip of the iceberg. Kahina and Anders come to realize that behind the killings is a ten-year-old secret conspiracy involving many of the town’s inhabitants. Kahina finds herself confronting a ruthless serial killer, always one step ahead, a macabre plan, and her own painful past.

Below the Surface: Copenhagen, 2017. 15 innocent people are held hostage underground in a subway train. From BAFTA award-winners Soren Sveistrup (The Killing) and Adam Price (Borgen), and Meta Louise Foldager Sorensen (A Royal Affair). A terror taskforce led by Philip Norgaard (Johannes Lassen) and Louise Falk (Sara Hjort Ditlevsen) is dispatched to rescue them. Reporter Naja Toft (Paprika Steen) acts as a go-between with the hostages and police as the savvy captors bait the press with information about the pasts of each of their hostages. As a media frenzy ensues, the country finds itself divided on whether or not to negotiate with terrorists. Over the course of eight days, growing fear and desperation grip Denmark while those trapped underground lose all hope for survival.

- Showtime is picking up its hit comedy series SMILF for a second season, it was announced by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. Created, starring and executive produced by Frankie Shaw, SMILF is a raw, honest look at the life of a 20-something single mom based on her Sundance Film Festival Jury Award-winning short film of the same name. The series also stars multiple Emmy® winner Rosie O’Donnell in her first series regular TV role. SMILF will go back into production next year. The season one finale will air on New Year’s Eve, December 31 at 10:00, with a special preview available online and On Demand on Friday, December 29.

- Before her road to becoming royal, Meghan Markle was featured as a case model on Deal or No Deal. Watch the royal-to-be conduct her case duties in the clip below, and check her out in the DEAL OR NO DEAL episodes from 2006-2007 currently airing weekdays at 11 a.m. on GSN (Game Show Network).

Previewing Vikings: Season Five

The king is dead… Long live the king. Just who is going to ascend the thrown of Kattagard? The Brits also lost a king last season and he was replaced by his lone son. But Ragnar had five sons (or more; didn’t knock up a Brit a while ago). Okay one is already dead by the hand of his brother. Lagatha currently sits on the throne while all the sons went to avenged his death. Neighboring kings will also have an eye. Okay, I have to admit I have seen the whole block of episodes airing this winter and I have to admit I was quite shock who ends up taking the throne (or presumably, this person is not actually seen with the crown and I will have to wait for more episode to see if I am correct).

With Ragnor dead that only leaves four characters left from the first season. Two start the season leaving Katergard for greener pastures. Well, one does, Bjorn finally makes his Mediterranean trip and ends up in the desert of Arabia. Then Floki decides to live on the seas before discoing a barren land he thinks is Asgaurd (I am thinking he may have discovered North America). This show has fallen into the familiar going between Kattergard and pillaging other European cities it is nice to have two new adventures to break up the monotony of all the raiding.

That is not to say there is not plenty of raiding. Igar as a Napoleonic complex and is ready to take as much land as he can by any means necessary, usually in very sadistic ways (pouring liquid metal down someone’s throat was pretty unnecessary). No royal offspring has been this annoying since King Joffrey. And he is just like his father taking a Christian under his wing. But Ivar is not his father, he cannot fight and Ragnor had principals. It will be a glorious moment when Ivar gets his comeuppance.

Vikings airs Wednesdays at 9:00 on History.

I Want My Music Television: 11/27/2017

Wolves - Selena Gomez and Marshmello




Wolves - Selena Gomez was having a pretty good year musically; Bad Liar is best song yet, Fetish was weird but still mostly enjoyably (though I could have done with Gucci Mane), she also scored one of the few EDM-pop songs that does not suck with It Ain’t Me (maybe the second best ever after Wake Me Up), but her new EDM-pop song is just as bland and unremarkable as all the other bland emotionless EDM-pop songs that liter the radio. And for forks sake, anyone who is making a video with their phone, turn it the fork sideways. I hate these forking videos everywhere with the vertical forking view. Oh, I guess that is not the official video, the second one is. Model looking Selena in a pool locker room. Alrighty.


Lemon - N.E.R.D. and Rihanna


Recently word was spreading around the internets that new N.E.R.D. was imminent. I got a excited for a day, but when Lemon actually dropped, I realized, oh yeah, N.E.R.D. is a weird vanity project that can be a hard listen at times.


Perfect - Ed Sheeran


Ed Sheeran used to never appear in his video and in his last two he has cast Saoirse Ronan and Zoey Deutch as love interest. The guy is turning into Adam Levine. Hopefully Ed’s music doesn’t start sucking massively too.


Obsession – OK Go


And now it is time for what seems to be a yearly cool video (and mediocre) song from OK Go. Pretty fascinating, it took me a couple seconds to realize that it was probably mostly stop motion filming. Still cool.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/26/2017

The Walking Dead: So is the reverend now officially a Savior now? But it is weird the show is trying to humanize a guy who beat Glen’s head in with a bat in front of his wife just because Daryl got mouthy.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: Wait, why did Javier did leave the dude tied up in a hotel? Why not at least interrogate him first? And just leaving him tied up in a hotel and leave is kind of a Bond villain thing to do. Does Javier leave him to die or know he will get free eventually? I am not sure that was the wisest thing to do. But meeting Letty’s grandmother was definitely entertaining. And good twist by having the step-grandfather being faithful and truly in love. I hope we get back to the plantation later this season.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

White Famous: Wait, wasn’t Meagan Good’s character on Californication (which was created by the same guy as White Famous) also a singer named Kali? She was quick to get with Hank on that show, maybe it is a crossover. But Floyd’s big mistake was he did not tape the cheaters to show Sadie. Like maybe Kali did, the camera did not linger on her phone at the end for no reason. Who was she filming that for?

Supergirl: Ugg, Mon-El is back. But, oh my, Saturn Girl. Though I am still no entirely sure how Mon-El went to the future but was found on a ship that crashed into the ocean centuries ago. But the finally confirmed what I figured out a long time ago that the new single mom is an alien herself. Though how in eighteen years did a curious kid not look underneath a sheet in the barn and then ask what is up with the spaceship? But nice touch putting her Fortress of Solitude in the desert compared to the super cousin’s one in the arctic.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

Marvel's Runaways: Hulu made available the first two episodes of the show over the summer but they were "not for review." This happens from time to time, and the screeners are eventually updated with reviewable versions. Except Hulu took down those two episodes and never put up any more so that is why I never previewed the show this week. Granted my first impressions was an overwhelming meh (which I guess means I was whelmed). It reminded me of every bad CW teen show and I actually related more to the evil parents than the protagonist teens. I did end up seeing the third episode that was also released this week and I enjoyed it a little more just because it seemed a big ore fun than the first two. I mean, there was a dinosaur and x-ray glasses (though I did not exactly get why the girl was where a lead layered vest). But in the end I am still wondering why the Runaways have yet to, you know... actually runaway.
You can stream episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars: When the cast got leaked I thought it contained spoilers considering Cory, Jenna, and Aneesa had never won. Nope apparently the show cannot find ten people who have actually won before. And it looks like it may be a melancholy happy trails to Camilla because you may be asked back if you punch a contestant (or more in the case of CT), but punching a producer probably is a line. They did not even invite her the reunion and barely mentioned her and explain why she was not there. The Camillinator was always good for one crazy drunken moment per season, but the got progressively more depressing every subsequent season. I doubt there will ever be another like her as the next generation seem to be too self aware.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: When Ben got really excited when Cole got eliminated I realized that yet again they are going to give Joe another reprieve. No I understand the reasoning of keeping Joe, there is no one this season you would rather sit next too at the Final Tribal. Except in an alliance of seven, you really need to worry of other people you are with thinking the same thing. Ben wanting to not even do a split vote on Joe should have been a huge red flag to the other six. Clearly Ben is angling Joe in the final with him, and that leaves one less spot for you. There are nine next week and odd numbers are the perfect time to switch things up because you definitely do not want to get to seven and realize you are in the three not the four of the alliance. Let’s see if the other six are smart or are they just going to let Ben run it all the way to the win.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: I spent the last two episodes fearing Angela would make it to the end and not I fear she will survive but will spend most of the rest of the show in a nut house. But this episode was really the first misstep of the season. The big post credits scene was the former Fsociety hackers being found. But they waited until the second half of the season to get back to them even though it seemed like less than an hour elapsed between that scene and this episode, only to kill them off by the end of the episode. And all because the chick could not drive. Meh.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/25/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The Alienist, Wild ‘N Out, Maggie Lindemann, Lady Antebellum, The Lost Tapes: Patty Hearst, Panama's Animal Highway, and Meth Storm.

- The Alienist opens when a series of haunting murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City. Newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) calls upon criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans) to conduct the investigation in secret. They are joined by Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), a headstrong secretary determined to become the city's first female police detective. Using the emerging disciplines of psychology and forensics, this band of social outsiders set out to apprehend one of New York City's first serial killers. The limited series also stars Douglas Smith, Matthew Shear, Matt Lintz, Robert Ray Wisdom and Q'orianka Kilcher. The Alienist premieres across TNT’s television, mobile and digital platforms on Monday, January 22nd, at 9:00.


- For the 10TH SEASON of Wild ‘N Out Nick Cannon and his world class crew of comedians and freestylers will be taking their hit show to Brooklyn! Over the years Wild ‘N Out has curated one of the most impressive arsenals of comedians and entertainers in the game. Mike Epps, Kevin Hart, Kat Williams, Mikey Day, Pete Davidson, DeRay Davis and more all started as Wild ‘N Out cast members. Each episode puts two teams, comprised mostly of seasoned vets, against each other in some of the most hilarious, entertaining and sometimes outlandish games seen on TV. Nick Cannon will lead his team against a celebrity-led squad and the two teams will try to best each other in ridiculous comic throw downs. These throw downs escalate with each act, all gearing up toward the main event: the “Wildstyle battle” to decide who takes home the coveted WNO battle belt. The show premieres on Thursday, November 30th with two back-to-back episodes beginning at 11:00 on MTV.

- Multi-platinum recording artist, Maggie Lindemann continues to prove that she is one of music’s newest pop heroines. The 19 year old artist lands today with her new single “Obsessed” (via 300 Entertainment)— a glittering pop gem infused with tropical synths and saccharine melodies.

- On Friday, November 24, AT&T* AUDIENCE Network will present the broadcast premiere of a special concert and documentary event with seven-time GRAMMY award-winning trio Lady Antebellum via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. The two-hour show, titled Lady Antebellum: YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR starts live at 8:00 and gives viewers full access to personal interviews and a never-before-seen televised concert packed with their biggest chart-topping hits and new favorites. The show was recorded live at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena--on the last official North American stop of the tour, which spanned over 60 shows this year and coincided with the release of their sixth studio album HEART BREAK.

- For nineteen months, American families were glued to their TV screens watching the saga of the kidnapped Patricia “Patty” Campbell Hearst as she turned from an American heiress to the automatic machine gun toting urban guerilla fugitive named Tania. Hear the inside story straight from Patty herself in The Lost Tapes: Patty Hearst, which features footage of her first interview following her release, first-hand audio tapes of the kidnappers and rediscovered news footage to reexamine the story that held a nation in thrall. The Lost Tapes: Patty Hearst airs this Sunday, November 26 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Smithsonian Channel’s Wild Wednesday lineup takes viewers on a journey of extremes, from the rugged beauty of South Dakota’s Badlands to the tropical jungles of Panama, to meet some of the amazing animals that call these locations home. While an extraordinary assortment of creatures migrate thousands of miles to escape to warmer weather, others must stick it out through the brutal winter. All of these animals have one thing in common: the struggle to survive. Get a closer look at the challenges these animals face on Smithsonian Channel with the premiere of Panama's Animal Highway on Wednesday, December 13 at 8:00 and America's Badlands on Wednesday, December 20 at 8:00.

- Today, 90% of the methamphetamine consumed in America comes over the border from Mexico in the form of a superdrug called ICE. As drug enforcement agents battle sophisticated cartels, poor, rural users, dealers and families are caught in the middle. Featuring extensive access to law enforcement, Meth Storm tells the story of rural, economically-disadvantaged users and dealers whose addiction to ICE and lack of job opportunities have landed them in an endless cycle of poverty and incarceration, and follows police and DEA agents struggling to stop the cartels. Debuting this MONDAY, NOV. 27 (10:00–11:40 p.m. ET/PT), this timely presentation is both a cautionary tale and a high-stakes drama told from inside the war on drugs. The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

The Voice Season Thirteen Not So Live Playoffs Power Ranking

What the fork!?! Back in season six, the show realized taped Playoffs with coaches picking all three singers was an abject failure and when back to Live Playoffs… until this season. Which begs the question why? Is it simply because NBC did not want to preempt This Is Us? There were plenty ways around this, push This Is Us to 10:00. Or just do two hours on Wednesday. Just push The Blacklist episode back a week.

So we are left to wonder what would have happened had America voted. I think Jennifer’s team would be the same with America saving Noah and Chris and then Jennifer inexplicably saving Shi’Ann (even though Hannah deserved for making a horrible song almost listenable; seriously, Jennifer did really horrible job picking songs making me wonder if there was intentional bussing). Blake is slightly more questionable. Red probably would have (sadly) gotten America’s vote, and Chloe charted high on iTunes, then Blake could have saved Keisha. But America loves boring white guys so Mitchell could have very likely gotten the second spot with a bored housewife catnip of a song selection, but then again he charted very low. But if it counts as a votes, are the bored housewives more willing to part with their cash?

Things get interesting with Adam. Addison far and away charted the highest, but Jon, Emily, and Adam were all bunched up. I think Adam gets through with the country vote, and then Adam saves Jon. But how many people who would have downloaded Emily’s song if it was for a vote but didn’t since she did not advance. That may have been a bit of a change. Miley is probably the most questionable with all her singers bunched up together.

But I have reached that point of the season where I stop caring. I will probably catch Addison on YouTube and vote for her if I remember. So here is my final Power Ranking.

1. Addison Agen (Team Miley Adam)
2. Adam Cunningham (Team Blake Adam)
3. Noah Mac (Team Blake Jennifer)
4. Chloe Kohanski (Team Miley Blake)
5. Jon Mero (Team Adam)
6. Davon Fleming (Team Jennifer)
7. Janice Freeman (Team Miley)
8. Brooke Simpson (Team Miley)
9. Ashland Craft (Team Miley)
10. Keisha Renee (Team Blake)
11. Shi’Ann Jones (Team Jennifer)
12. Red Marlow (Team Blake)

Ugg, I hate these coaches, my top four are the four Steals left In the show. Miley in particular, her team would have been much better if it were Karli, Addison, and Chloe. Brooke and Ashland never lived up to their buzzed about Blind Auditions and though Janice improved I still find her mostly boring. But who cares what I think, here is how the top twelve charted on iTunes.

1. Noah Mac (19)
2. Addison Agen (31)
3. Red Marlow (62)
4. Chloe Kohanski (67)
5. Emily Luther (94)
6. Davon Flemming (95)
7. Jon Mero (100)
8. Adam Cunningham (104)
9. Janice Freeman (127)
10. Ashland Craft (152)
11. Noah Mac – Hold Back the River (164)
12. Chloe Kohanski – Landslide (171)
13. Brooke Simpson (169)
14. Keisha Renee (179)
15. Karli Webster (262)
16. Adam Pearce (266)
17. Addison Agen – Beneath You’re Beautiful (300)
18. Mitchell Lee (326)
19. Moriah Formica (337)
20. Anthony Alexander (363)
21. Noah Mac – Way Down We Go (486)
22. Red Marlow - Outskirts of Heaven (512)
23. Shi’Ann Jones (591)
24. Lucas Holliday (612)
25. Hannah Mrozak (637)
26. Natalie Stovall (655)
27. Addison Agen – Jolene (656)
28. Addison Agen and Karli Webster (684)
29. Emily Luther – Glitter in the Sky (773)
30. Chloe Kohanski – The Chain (862)
31. Keisha Renee – I Hope You Dance (904)
32. Esera Tuaolo (978)
33. Keisha Renee and Noah Mac (1031)
34. Davon Flemming - I Can Only Imagine (1112)
35. Chris Weaver (1191)
36. Whitney Fenimore (1434)
37. Emily Luther – Summertime (1434)
38. Janice Freeman – I’m Going Down (1487)

I have been saying Noah and Addison are the front runners for a couple rounds now in that they have been constantly recharting past performances. Both had all four in the top 1500 last week. Chloe and Keisha had three. Though if I were a betting man, I would still pick Red to win after two strong weeks on the charts. If you averaged the peaks of all four rounds, here is how everyone would rank (Janice, Chloe, and Shi’Ann all failed to chart one round and I gave them 1500 for the missing song).


1. Addison Agen (76)
2. Noah Mac (131.75)
3. Karli Webster (160.3)
4. Ashland Craft (163.25)
5. Brooke Simpson (191.5)
6. Davon Flemming (248.25)
7. Adam Cunningham (259)
8. Jon Mero (332)
9. Mitchell Lee (334.75)
10. Moriah Formica (339)
11. Keisha Renee (346.5)
12. Emily Luther (359.25)
13. Natalie Stovell (437.6)
14. Anthony Alexander (448.75)
15. Janice Freeman (501.75)
16. Red Marlow (518)
17. Chloe Kohanski (535.75)
18. Hannah Mrozak (547.25)
19. Chris Weaver (557.75)
20. Lucas Holiday (571)
21. Adam Peirce (701.5)
22. Shi’Ann Jones (719)
23. Esera Tuaolo (749.25)
24. Whitney Fenimore (755.6)

Wow, four of the top five were all on Miley’s team at the start of the season, though the top two are no longer on her team. I do wonder what would happen if we pulled an Olympic rull where you toss out the lowest score because Janice and Chloe had one bad performance but their last two were strong (same with Red who no one cared about his first two performances).

Weirdly, despite coaches getting to pick instead of he public, I went eleven for twelve on my picks (Mitchell instead of Chloe being the one I got wrong). Except Mitchell was one my finalist. So here are my revised picks:

Elimination Order: Shi’Ann, Janice, Brooke
Eliminated During Bloodbath: Chloe, Jon, Addison, Keisha, Davon
Finalists: Adam, Ashland, Noah
Winner: Red

And I just realized there is a lot of country and RnB this season, with only three (Chloe, Addison, and Noah) not fitting into that category. Five RnB, four country is way too much. If you are going to have the coaches pick the top twelve they need to do a much better job coming up with a more diverse sound. Shi’Ann has no right being here. Adam , Whitney, and or Moriah could have added some pure rock (Noah is more in the alt-rock vein). Clearly iTunes purchaser would have included Karli who is more of an old school pop singer compared to Addison’s newer take on the folk pop genre. Seriously, The Voice, white people can sing more than country on this show.

Previewing Search Party: Season Two

The first season of Search Party followed a bunch of annoying Brooklyn hipsters trying to find their missing college friend that they really did not communicate with anymore despite living in a time where it is really easy to stay in touch with everyone. But the thing is, I could tell from the very beginning how that season was going to end: with the whole missing thing being a misunderstanding and the friend would show up safe and sound on the finale. And though that is exactly how the mystery was resolved, the show did throw a huge curve at the end when the merry band of hipsters killed a dude.

Sure, they thought he had something to do with the disappearance and possible murder, except the friend was alive and well and he was a private investigator looking for a reward. So this was straight up murder. Much like the first season, early in the seconds season I f think I figured out how the season second season would end: these Brooklyn hipsters would end up in prison. Seriously, there is no way these morons could possibly get away with murder, can they? Sure it would hard for there to be a show if most the of the main characters are in prison unless there is big switch in season three.

Each of the annoying Brooklyn hipsters are rationalizing the tragedy in their own way. Dory keeps seeing things, Elliot developed a rash, Drew is trying to get his job to transfer him to the Shanghai office in hopes there is no extradition treaty, and Portia actually veers into trauma by joining a play about the Manson murders. Needless to say none of these coping mechanisms go very well. Oh yeah, and lets not forget the gang’s token black friend (who knew he went on to become ABC’s The Mayor) who joins the staff of a senatorial campaign of someone who looks a lot like nineties era Hilary Clinton. Though I am not entirely sure if this was intentional but this candidate does act more like Bill than Hilary behind close door in an eerie bit of timing with all the current senate candidates right now.

The thing about the first season was it was fun watching a bunch of incompetent hipster try to do something good for the first time in the lives and bumble their way through their task. But watching a bunch of incompetent hipster try to get away with murder and bumble their way through their task is not nearly as entertaining. It was really mostly a drag. The most entertaining part came in the second to last episode where a not so incognito Portia and Eliot do a very poor job tailing someone. See the uncomfortable comedy is much better when the stakes were low. But I will say, much like the end of the first season, I was shocked by the ending and left wondering what they possibly be doing in season three.

Search Party airs Sundays at 10:00 on TBS and airs back to back episodes each week.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/18/2017

The Walking Dead: Go ahead and kill all the humans you want, but why the fork did they need to kill the tiger? And just after we learned how the King saved her. Booooooooo.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: Wow, Letty made the worst dude ever. Are there really drag queens that skinny out there? They really should have gone with Javier in drag, at least it would have been funnier.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

White Famous: Maybe it was because Mr. Robot did it a couple days before, but there was a point where I thought this was one long shot, and then there was a bunch of quick cuts and got that wrong. Then I had a suspicion that this was all a dream because that cat fight was a little weird, especially when they both just ran out of the house. Wrong on both accounts.

Supergirl: The pervert scandal hit Supergirl this week with one of the producers of the show was accused by multiple women. This was kind of shocking in that Surpergirl lays on the girl power themes pretty quick and I really never notice the guys perversion seep into them… well that was until teenaged Kara walks into the boys locker room and is offered a peep show. Well, that was poor timing especially with what is going on in Alabama.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

Lucifer: Well that was weird, an episode that really does not fit in the timeline and was just basically a loop of a character we just met. Interesting that this Hell is basically the same Hell described Preacher where you have to relive the worst moment in your life over and over again. Of course if he died while Lucifer is on Earth, who exactly is administering things down there?
You can download Lucifer on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: I know this is season where everyone is playing dirty, but c’mon, you make us wait a week after the finale to see who wins… and then wake us wake another forking week. Although where most reunion show are mostly boring, oh my goodness, what the fork happened with Tori’s phone!?!
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: Wait, what just happened? Everyone hates Joe, the seemingly split the votes just in case Joe found yet another Idol, but then voted out Desi. What? And I have to say of all the lame advantages that have popped up recently, Laurens save a vote for later is the least stupid. Except how did she pull it off? I am at hope counting votes every week so how with eleven people do Joe and Desi not go, wait, how is this a tie with an odd number of people?
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunesr.

The Blacklist: You know what, if I ever fall afoul to some really bad dudes who are going to kill me, I hope they have the common curtosy to put on some classic yacht rock while they do it. Oh yeah, and Tom died. So I guess we are never going to get resolution on what was happening on the Redemption spin-off. Oh well.
You can download The Blacklist on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: I spent half the last episode with a growing suspicion that Angela would not make it out alive and the crept into this episode too. Especially when she had a gun pointed out her. But when the robber ran off, I realize, she is not going to be killed by some random person. Then in the next season when she ran into Darlene, I realize, oh, Darlene is going to kill Darlene. Except she did not. I am going to spend every episode thinking she is going to die which probably will happen the moment I stop thinking it is coming.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Blindspot: Why didn’t drunken Patterson crash every wedding dedication? Oh well. Oh yeah, and Jane has a daughter. Wait, what? Which begs the question, who is the father? And how old is the daughter? She would have to be at least five. Except small kids are boring, it would be a lot more interesting if she is older. If Jane was a teen mom, you could reasonable say the kid could be as old as twenty if you say Jane is in her mid-thirties (the actress is currently thirty-three; not that Hollywood does not fudge ages; the Gilmore Girls were only eleven years apart in real life). I kind of hope the daughter is a Hannah situation, a kid assassin, that would be the most interesting.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/17/2017

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The Chi, Rachel Platten, Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray’s Extra Innings, Tears For Fears, Survival in the Skies: Space Suits, Ella Fitzgerald, Sigrid, Tim & Faith: Soul2Soul, Meth Storm, Megnify, Teyana & Iman, and GSN marathons.

- Showtime has released the full trailer and the official poster art for the highly-anticipated drama series The Chi, created and executive produced by Emmy® winner Lena Waithe (Master of None), and executive produced by Academy Award®, Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Common (Selma) and Elwood Reid (The Bridge, Hawaii Five-O) who also serves as showrunner. The series, which explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago, premieres on Sunday, January 7 at 10:00.


- Tune in Friday, November 10 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special "Rachel Platten" on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW.Airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT theone-hourconcert features the multi-platinum, EMMY award-winning pop star Rachel Platten. Shot on location in Los Angeles in ultra high-definition 4K, Rachel performs all the hits and joins series host Ted Stryker for an intimate look at her career.

- Oso Studios and Facebook today announced the premiere of Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray’s Extra Innings, an original unscripted series on minor league baseball hosted by the comedy icons. The ten-episode digital series debuts on Facebook Watch on Monday, November 20 with new episodes available weekly on Mondays. People can add the show to their watchlist by following the Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray’s Extra Innings Show Page.

- Following a sold-out summer arena tour highlighted by their triumphant UK return in front of 65,000-plus fans as s pecial guests of The Killers during British Summer Time Festival at Hyde Park, Tears For Fears - Roland Orzabal [vocals, guitar, keyboards] and Curt Smith [vocals, bass, keyboards] - close out 2017 with the release of their first career-spanning Greatest Hits album, Rule The World. The collection arrives everywhere November 10, 2017 on UMe. It's available for pre-order at the band's official site now.

- Every day, pilots and astronauts face life-or-death situations when they risk their lives to test the capabilities of physics and science. With limited time, harsh conditions and the pressure of survival, they must do everything they can to make it back on the ground safely. Survival in the Skies tells the stories behind incredible pieces of space and aviation technology, from the invention of the parachute to the development of space suits. The series features stories of the people who created these amazing breakthroughs and the men and women who relied on them when their survival hung in the balance. The premiere episode, Survival in the Skies: Space Suits, airs Tuesday, November 28 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Verve Records and UMe will close out their year-long celebration of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald’s centennial with the ultimate present for her 100th birthday – a completely unreleased live album. More than 60 years after it was recorded, Ella At Zardi’s will finally be released on CD and digital on December 1. WBGO, the global leader in jazz radio, premiered the album’s opening track, “It All Depends on You,” both on the air and at WBGO.org, with an accompanying article. The song, popularized by Doris Day, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, was never released on any of Fitzgerald’s albums, making this a truly rare performance. Listen at WBGO.

- In the past nine months, Sigrid has gone from unknown to one of the most exceptional breakout artists of 2017. Sigrid’s rise has been unrivaled; from releasing her acclaimed debut Don’t Kill My Vibe EP, which has amassed over 100M global streams – to playing multiple festivals worldwide and being chosen as Apple’s Up Next Artist, all in less than a year. Now Sigrid releases the mighty ‘Strangers’, produced by Martin Sjolie, the dream pairing behind ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’. With lyrics of steel, meandering melodies and stark honesty, ‘Strangers’ embodies the natural, sincere talent Sigrid has become renowned for. Watch the lyric video to the track HERE.

- A concert special from Grammy® Award-winning superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Tim & Faith: Soul2Soul will premiere on Friday, November 17 at 9:00 on Showtime, on-air, on demand and over the internet. The special was shot over the summer in the U.S. on this year’s Soul2Soul The World Tour. Tim & Faith: Soul2Soul is directed and executive produced by the award-winning Magical Elves production team of Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz (Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, Katy Perry: Part of Me). The tour documentary includes live performances from their Soul2Soul tour, as well as unprecedented access to Tim and Faith, with never-before-seen interviews and behind-the-scenes footage capturing their unmatched chemistry on and off the stage.

- Today, 90% of the methamphetamine consumed in America comes over the border from Mexico in the form of a superdrug called ICE. As drug enforcement agents battle sophisticated cartels, poor, rural users, dealers and families are caught in the middle. Featuring extensive access to law enforcement, Meth Storm tells the story of rural, economically-disadvantaged users and dealers whose addiction to ICE and lack of job opportunities have landed them in an endless cycle of poverty and incarceration, and follows police and DEA agents struggling to stop the cartels. Debuting Monday, NOV. 27 at 10:00, this timely presentation is both a cautionary tale and a high-stakes drama told from inside the war on drugs. The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

- FOX Sports Films is excited to present Megnify, a new feature-length documentary series, leveraging sports as a lens for examining important cultural stories. The films’ deep explorations of athletes’ on and off-the-field journeys connect to the challenges, change and unity that sports can bring to communities. “This commitment to deeper storytelling – pointing the cameras where they’re needed most -- diversifies our voice and gets audiences thinking about sports in a broader context beyond wins and losses,” says Charlie Dixon, EVP, Content at FOX Sports. “The aim is to create dialogue and hopefully affect change in the communities where these stories are told.” The first documentary in the series is “89 Blocks” (82 minutes) airing Sunday, November 26 on FOX. The film, executive produced by Time Inc.’s SPORTS ILLUSTRATED with LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s UNINTERRUPTED, brings an authentic perspective to the story of the East St. Louis High School Flyers football team -- the pride and joy of a complex, at-risk Illinois community. This look at their exceptional challenges and heartwarming triumph during the 2016 season is directed by Emmy winner Josh Oshinsky.

- VH1 today announced the new series Teyana & Iman will premiere Monday, February 19 at 10PM ET/PT. The eight, 30-minute episodes will provide an intimate look into newlyweds Teyana Taylor, a trend-setting singer, dancer, model and actress, and Iman Shumpert, a professional athlete, musician, dedicated father and loving husband.

- Celebrate Thanksgiving with a GSN marathon! Gather the family ‘round to watch game show favorites The $25,000 Pyramid, The Chase, and Family Feud while you're waiting for (or digesting) that delicious turkey.
Thanksgiving Day Marathons, Thursday November 23rd:
8:00am - 12:00pm – The $25,000 Pyramid
12:00pm - 7:00pm – The Chase
7:00pm - 11:00pm – Family Feud (Harvey)
And the fun doesn't stop once the pumpkin pie has run out - come back on Friday, Nov. 24th and Saturday, Nov. 25th for more mini-marathons including Match Game, Cash Cab, and more Steve Harvey.
Friday November 24th Marathon:
8:00am - 12:00pm – Match Game
12:00pm -11:00pm – Family Feud (Harvey)
Saturday November 25th Marathon:
11:00am - 4:00pm – Cash Cab
4:00pm - 8:00pm – Family Feud (Harvey)
8:00pm - 11:00pm – The Chase

Previewing There's... Johnny! and GameFace

We have finally reached peak streaming because something called Seeso just folded before I ever heard of it. According to Wikipedia, it was basically an over the top channel from NBC Universal devoted to comedy with shows that had appeared on its network. It officially launched January 2016 and shit down earlier this month. I being this up because they had just started creating original content, much of which got moved to other streaming sites I have never heard of.

The most ambitious of the bunch had not even premiered when Seeso went under but was saved by a streaming service I have actually heard of, Hulu. There’s… Johnny! follows a Midwestern guy who travels to Los Angeles mistaking a stock response from the show as an actual job offer. When he shows up for work just shy of 11:30, the surprisingly understanding guard points out the show is not live and actually let him on the lot and a day later he gets a job as a goffer on The Tonight Show.

Ian Nelson (The Boy Next Door) played the doe eyed kid. The always good Jane Levy (Suburgatory) is an assistant talent coordinator who takes a shine to the kid. T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh (In Living Color) is the gatekeeper to Johnny. And Tony Danza (Who’s the Boss) does his best Mad Men audition as the executive producer. While minus the dirty stuff the ad men did and the creator of that show was alleged to do.

Really the tone of There’s… Johnny! is more Wonder Years than Mad Men in that it is a much idealized version of the time. One of the bosses is a black woman and George Carlin does not ask any of the pages if he could touch himself in front of them. Okay the writers do refer to one of their co-workers Joy as Joy of Sex, one of the ladies takes her shirt off in front of a guy the first day they meet, while the F-word gets thrown around a couple times.

The show is quant and nostalgic which actual scenes from The Tonight Show circa 1972 thrown in. Paul Riser (Mad About You) is the creator, producer, and even wrote the first episode. Sure these episodes will likely be the last as the original network folded and Levy has already landed two more shows (including the upcoming Hulu Steven King universe show Castle Rock) but it is something most of the family can gather around with Thanksgiving next week and remember or simpler time. Or just watch it while avoiding the family next week.

All episodes of There’s… Johnny! is available to stream now on Hulu.



English humour is an acquired taste. And it is one that I have not quite acquired yet unless it is delievered by Edgar Write with Simon Pegg starring. But I will admit to laughing more than I do to most Bristish shows when watching GameFace. The show was created and stars Roisin Conaty. Her Marcella reminds me a lot of SMILF’s Bridget. Both are struggling actors who are struggling even more to keep their lives together. Thankfully Marcella does not have a kid, but on the flipside she probably has a decade on Bridget.

Sure Marcella is trying to get her life together, she is learning how to drive (though regularly called by her teacher asking where she is), she has a life coach (though it was a gift from her mom), and can still book acting gigs every once and a while (if you consider children’s parties gigs). The show does have some dark undercurrents as Marcella walks in on a suicide attempt in the first episode and has to deal with the death of an ex-boyfriend mother in the second. If you do have the acquired taste of British humour, you may want to give GameFace a try.

All episodes of GameFace is available to stream now on Hulu.

Previewing Mythbusters and Street Science

Mythbusters seems like a show I would like, except it fell into that category of television show that aired on a channel never watched mixed with being too lazy to find it. But there is no way better to get me to watch a show than to send me a screener. So now I know that the show airs on Science channel (okay, I still have no idea what channel that is on my cable box. But again I thought I would like it because I am not a big fan of conspiracy theories and I am more a Occam’s Razor guy which states “that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected” which basically the most obvious answer is usually the right one.

Since I never saw the original I really cannot judge these new guys, who won some Mythbusters Search that I also did not watch. But my first impressions are these guys are overexciteable, the type of guys who think everything is awesome

But I am not here for the host, I am much more interested in the myths. In the first episode the new host test out if when you put your feet up on the dashboard, would deploying the airbags be fatal even at low speeds and can you cut straight threw the neck where the head dramatically stays put before falling of like in ninja and zombie movies? Um, did the bust all the myths in the first run? To me, Occam ’s razor would say, you may lose some limbs but you will not die and you are not getting a blade threw bone. Well, unless a zombie has been rotting for a while. But you will have to watch to find out. I will say it is very amazing how realistic crash test dummies are now.

Then next week’s episode they will be testing that if a burgle gets stuck in a fireplace and the unknowing owners like the propane fireplace with a leak, will he become a “rocketman?” The other myth says that a bullet that is log in a tree will shoot into a lumberjack when he tries to cut into it. In my opinion Occam ’s razor would say guy may not survive but he is not going airborne. Then in the other myth, um, who would ever think of this. I am not sure there is an Occam ’s razor for that.

Mythbusters airs Wednesdays at 9:00 on Science Channel.

Now I had heard of Mythbusters, but not only have I never seen Street Science, I have never even heard of it. But they had me at: a five found Gummy Bear, potassium chlorate, a concrete block, and a blowtorch. Science people. Fun times. It is just in its second season but this show follows a bunch of scientists who perform experiments, well, on the street. Yeah, the title pretty much sums the show up. Okay not all their science happens on the street like in the premiere where the boys try to create a fire ball thrower that comes out their wrist like Spiderman’s web thrower. There is even a running segment of “Will it Burn” which is a lot more entertaining than Letterman’s “Will it Float.”

If fire launcher is not cool enough for you, the guys create a person launcher in the second episode. And the professionals are not helping because they have no interest in sharing trade secrets so the scientist have to figure it out themselves and then test it even though thirty “cannonballers” have died. Street Science is one of those fun science shows that is fun for the whole family. Well unless a member of you family is quick to ignore the “Do not try this at home” warning and go around lighting everything in the house just to see if it will burn.


Street Science airs Wednesdays at 10:00 on Science Channel.

Previewing Future Man

It is interesting in the advertising of Future Man says it is from the same guys behind Sausage Party and This Is the End and not Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s other television show on right now. It is a smart move, not just because it would be kind to say that show got mixed reviews. But Preacher was based on nineties graphic novel and Future Man is from the brains of the writing duo like the previous mention mentions. And what makes those two movies stand out was that they were high concept movies with low IQ characters.

Future Man follows that high concept filled with stupid people as Josh Henderson (Journey to the Center of the Earth) stars as a janitor who spends all his free time playing video games. He becomes so obsessed with Biotic Wars he is basically the only one left playing while everyone has moved on to the latest one. So he becomes the first person to actually beat the game. And while celebrating the only way a guy who spends too much time playing video games can, two characters from the game show up.

It turns out the game was sent from the future to recruit the best fighters from our time to fight the real Biotic Wars in the future because the resistance has run out of fighters to help win the war. (Yes this is the plot of The Last Starfighter, but even the writer cop up to this and that is even part of the trailer.) Except videos games in the future are for training, unlike this time when it is played by the least athletic. See what I said about high concept, I just burned through two paragraphs just explaining the basic plot even though must network executives want you to be able to explain your show in one line. Of course maybe this is why most network shows are boring.

One of the soldiers from the future is Derek Wilson (Preacher) who may actually be dumber than Henderson because the latter at least has a basic liberal arts education; all Wilson knows to do it fight. And his commanding officer, Eliza Coupe (Benched) is not much smarter. Like I said, high concept, stupid people. And you also get a bit of wacky partners mixed in too. The future soldiers are quick to kill the guy who invented the Biotics where Henderson, who is only comfortable with killing cartoon characters on his television would like to change history in less violent way in hilarity, ensues because everyone involved is kind of incompetent.

Oh, and a lot of hilarity ensues. Be it in the past where they debate killing baby Hitler, or in the future where they break into a famous director’s house to get more time travel material. There is a very high laughs per minute ratio. Well that is if you really enjoy sophomoric humor. If you have not liked any of Rogan or Goldberg’s movies, this show will not change your mind about them. But I will be laughing all the way to the end.

Hulu might not be pumping out the content of other streaming options or networks are, but of the three new shows they debuted in 2017, Harlots was really good, The Handmaids Tale was great, and Future Man is already one of the funniest shows on television. Then next week, Marvel’s Runaways premieres and, well, no one bats a thousand. Which may end up being my official review because the screeners I watched of the first two episodes were not for review. Hulu took those two down a month ago and have not put any up for review.

All episode of Future Man are available now to stream on Hulu.

Previewing Ill Behaviour

Cancer is not funny. This is probably why there are not many comedies about the subject. Off the top of my head there is 50/50 where Joseph Gordon Levitt is diagnosed with schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma and Funny People in which Adam Sandler has acute myeloid leukemia. Weirdly enough Seth Rogan was the second lead in both movies coming out two years apart. Leave it to the British to turn tragedy into a television show with Ill Behaviour. Of course since this is an originally a British show, the series lasts just three hours which Showtime will be showing in six half hour episodes here stateside.

Ill Behaviour stars Tom Riley (Da Vinci’s Demons), father of two who has decides after finding a cancerous lump on his neck that he is going to forgo chemotherapy, with a ninety-four percent success rate, for more holistic treatments of acupuncture, enemas and juicing. This does not sit well with his childhood friends including Chris Geere (You’re the Worst) who, after some life changing news too, decide to kidnap their sick friend and force chemotherapy treatments on their friend.

To do so, first they need some chemo drugs, and those are supplied by a morally questionable oncologist in the form of Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex). Needless to say hijinks in sue and concludes is a surprisingly tense climax. Despite hiding behind some cringeworthy British humour and drugged out characters it does tackle some deep philosophic and moral question, most importantly should you and when should you step in when someone you love is doing something harmful to their being. And at just three hours, it does not stick around too long. I wish America would do more bite sized shows like this as there are too many shows on right now whose thin conceit is spread out amongst ten to twenty episodes.

Ill Behaviour airs Mondays at 10:30 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/12/2017

The Walking Dead: Well that guy from season one did not last very long. Well, I guess he is still around since Daryl did not shoot him around. Same with the gay homosexual. Seriously, his boyfriend was, sure, fine; he will still be hear during a zombie apocalypse gunfight when I get back? Get the dude to a doctor. I think the characters on this show are somehow getting dumber.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: Yeah, I am not buying it. I do not see an FBI really chancing losing her job and being sent to a prison possibly fill with people she put there because a petty thief thinks she can rob an FBI evidence locker.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

White Famous: Wait, the fake show is done? I guess they can get funding elsewhere depending on who owns the rights. I would not mind if Floyd would move on to another project though just to get away from Michael Rapaport

Supergirl: Good riddance lesbian. Can we please go back to season one when neither of the Danvers sisters dated? But this probably mean Mon-El will be back next week.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: They are not going to announce the winner until the Reunion Show? How Survivor of them. Except Survivor airs its reunion show for after the finale, so only the contestants have to wait, not the audience. Meh. But at least I can make a guess of who wins and I am going tto go with Jordan and Tori.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: Booooo, my two favorite contestants out in consecutive weeks. But you really cannot fault Ben or Lauren for going with the Heroes/Hustlers alliances because the alternative would be aligned with super annoying Tony and Cole would cannot keep his mouth shut. Speaking, Tony is a complete and utter moron. When you announce you have an Idol, and no one reacts, that means they are not voting for you. At that point, you either hold onto the Idol for later or give it to someone else. Well at least he no longer has an Idol and looking at the preview, everyone knows who gets the new Hidden Immunity Idol (or some stupid new advantage) so they can easily get rid of him next week.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

The Blacklist: Yeah, I am getting more and more lost on the whole suitcase subplot.
You can download The Blacklist on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: Well that was ambitious. It probably took me fifteen minutes to realize that the episode would be one long take. And just when the gimmick started getting stale, a morsel of an idea started growing in my mind that Angela would not get out of the building alive. They clearly were building to something, thankfully that just turn out to be Angela running into Eliot.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Gotham: I think this was the first time anyone called Tabitha “Tigress.” And that was sadly the most interesting part of the episode.
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Blindspot: Ooops, during the premiere when Rich and shared a secret, I just assumed they were doing the nasty. Nope, they were doing white hat hacking. Alright. So are all the new tattoos going to unveil a new secret about the team. Twenty-two episodes, which would be four secrets per team member. Unless they also unveil secrets of other agents not on the team.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Marvel’s Inhumans: I feel like I deserve a I watched every episode and all I got was this stupid t-shirt, t-shirt. Hopefully that is it. Sure Lockjaw and the little sister can show up on SHIELD except SHIELD looks like they are going to space this season.
Marvel's Inhumans on iTunes.