The 10 Most Anticipated Moments of 2018

Before I get into the best things to look forward to in the next twelve months, let me highlight a few things not on my list. First off, there is the World Cup which will not be featuring the United States of America on account they failed to qualify this year. Then there is Marvel’s New Warriors that was supposed to debut on Freeform this year except they passed on the show. We may still get to see the show this year as Marvel is still shopping it around. Um, now that Disney who own Marvel and pretty much owns Hulu, after purchasing Fox’s shares, totaling sixty percent, seems like a good spot to me. They already have Marvel’s Runaway. Really, I just want to see the AT&T Girl and Squirrel Girl sooner than later.

Another possible event this year I have zero interest in is the potential reboot of the XFL. Recently Vince McMahon sold off a bunch of WWE stock and is reportedly going to use that money to get his failed football league up and running again. Hard pass. I, like much of America, watched the first game, laughed, and stopped after that. Why someone would think it could work a decade and a half later has to be senile. Sure some people have lost interest in the NFL, and I am one of them but my disinterest is in not wanting to watch people get brain damage anymore, a presumably more violent XFL is not going to help that.

10. Wako (January 22 on the Paramount Channel) – Poor Tim Riggins, he was pegged to be the breakout star from Friday Night Lights but followed the show up with being the lead in two historic bombs (and that does not include X-Men Origins: Wolverine where he was not asked back to be Gambit in future films). This will be his first major lead role since. Notorious Nineties nostalgia was big last year with OJ, the Menendez Brothers and Tonya Harding getting stories on the big and small screens, and now Riggins is playing cult leader David Koresh. Then there is also Michael Shannon as one of the Feds and Melissa Benoist as one of the cultist (yes Zod and Supergirl on the same show). Now I am sure your first question is, what the fork is the Paramount Channel? Now it is not a new streaming service, it is not really even a new cable channel, it was Spike, and before that Spike TV, and before that The New TNN, and before that The National Network, and before that The Nashville Network, which I believe was the last time I watched the cannel back when it aired Dukes of Hazard reruns.

9. Game Night (February 23) – Really any cast that boasts Rachel McAdams, George Bluth, and a Friday Night Lights reunion of Coach Taylor and Landry Clarke is must see in my book. But the trailer makes the movie look forking hilarious. From the trailer, it looks like an action comedy where a group of couples are brought together to solve a murder mystery, except the host gets captured for real (maybe), but everyone still thinks it is part of the game. Awesome.


8. Ruins - First Aid Kit (January 19) – Folk rock may be my favorite genre of the decade and First Aid Kit has had a few songs that have made my year end lists, but It’s a Shame released last year is by far my favorite from the band so far. Hopefully the album lives up to the single.


7. Titans (TBD) – Okay, we need a new streaming service like we need a hole in the head, but it seems like every content maker is going to have their own standalone service rather than selling it elsewhere. It started last year with CBS All Access. Next DC is starting their own. And Disney has one slated for 2018. But the DC streaming service will at least get me to do a free trial just to check out Titans whom are apparently not going to be teenagers (at least not most of them). But most importantly, Lyla Garrity was cast in a supporting role with potential for her own spin off. No word on when this will air or when the DC streaming service even starts, but the only other show announced, a Young Justice reboot, does have a vague release date of "Fall 2018".

6. Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves (TBD) / Untitled Vampire Weekend Album – Kacey Musgraves released one of my favorite debut albums of the decade and my favorite country album in over a decade. There was a sophomore slump for the follow up but I am still looking forward to it. In other Musgraves news, lead singer Ezra Koenig said the next Vampire Weekend album is inspired by the country singer which made me that much more interested in a new album by the alt-rock band.

5. Women’s Royal Rumble (January 28) – I watched wrestling as a kid and then again in college, but again fell off slightly after that. Do not ask me why, but I started listening to the Grantland wrestling podcast, probably because I listened to them all. And when David Shoemaker bolted with Bill Simmons to the Ringer, I ended listening to two wrestling podcast. I did start tangentially following sports entertainment because of it. Then last year Alexa Bliss and I became instantly interested in the Women’s Division as she quickly became the second best bad guy ever (after the late great Rowdy Roddy Piper).

Growing up, women were just arm candy for the men. They started wrestling again in the nineties, but it was not much better as they just hired fitness models and actual models; Trish Status actually was the head of a team called T and A. WWE tried to legitimate them with the Women’s Revaluation, even retiring the Diva’s Title in 2015, but it was just the same three factions of three wrestling the same matches over and over again. But with the brand split, the two main shows need more bodies and Bliss was one of the call up.

After Survivor Series, the WWE called up five more women (along with the returning Paige) and now we are getting an all-female Royal Rumble, which was always my favorite match since WWE started it back in 1988. It is vague on the rules. The men’s is a thirty men over the top rope competition where a new competitor comes down to the ring ever two(ish) minutes with the winner getting a title match at Wrestlemania. The title match is the only stipulation. Currently right now, there are only eleven women on both Raw and Smackdown (but that is including Lana who has not wrestled in months and Nikki Bella who has not been seen since Wrestlemania). And wo of them are currently champions who are typically in the Royal Rumble. But there are ten women currently in NXT which brings you to 29 non champions’ women employed by the WWE. Of course the Royal Rumble is known for its surprise returns, you have to imagine, there are plenty of retired wrestlers who would like to be in a Rumble, and a few shocking debuts (Ronda Rosey has been teasing her involvement in the WWE for years). I may actually have to take the WWE up on their free trial to watch history.

4. More Marvel Movies (Various dates) – We are getting our fair share of Marvel movies this year but what makes things more interesting is Disney recently announced they are buying 20th Century Fox movie studios which means Disney now owns all things Marvel including X-Men and Fantastic Four (well Sony still technically owns the rights to Spider-Man but he has shown up in a couple Marvel movies after the last film reboot failed). Could those universes collide this year? Doubtful they will be included in the already bloated Infinity War, but maybe they add something to the end credit scene to tease their inclusion in Phase Four (which comes after the next Avengers movie next year). Here is the rundown of all eight (!) movies based on Marvel properties: Black Panther (February, 16), The New Mutants (April 13), Avengers: Infinity War (May 4), Deadpool 2 (July 1), Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6), Venom (October 5), X-Men: Dark Phoenix (November 2), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (December 14; note this is an animated movie that does not seemed to be tied to any live action universe). Oh yeah, they also have new television show Cloak and Dagger coming to Freeform sometime this year too while Runaways has its season finale next week and, again, there is a chance New Warriors finds a home this year.

3. Rise (March 12 on NBC) – They had me at from the producer of Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, but throw in a producer of Hamilton, a live action Moana, and, welcome back Marley Shelton. It seemed like she was the next big thing at the turn of the century but other than Sin City, it is hard to think of anything she has done since Sugar and Spice. I think there was a one and done Lifetime show.


2. The XXIII Olympic Winter Games (February 9) – It is the end of an era as for the first time since 1988, an Olympic Games will not be hosted in prime time by Bob Costas (unless you count when he came down with pink eye at the last winter event). Instead Mike Tirico will oversee the proceedings after being ESPN’s/ABC’s lead host. Ironically also absent these games will be the last Winter host Russia who was ban after state sponsored doping scandal (Russians not tested positive can participate under an independent flag). Also not taking the trip to South Korea will be NHL players who will not participate for the first time since 1998. But hey, it will be the only time in four years we get to watch curling on television and Costas may be gone but I am sure Mary Carillo, who only seems to pop up during Olympics, will have a special interest story or two.

1. Black Manta (in Aquaman, December 21) – I audibly laughed when I heard DC was making a live action Aquaman movie. Aquaman is lame and always has been (with the lone exception of the over the top version from Batman: The Brave and the Bold). The green and orange color palette is hard to look at. But then I got actually kind of excited because that meant we might get a Black Manta, my personal favorite supervillain, sighting. As some who grew up with a heavy dose of the Super Friends, I gravitated to the villain in the Legion of Doom who would beat the crap out of Aquaman. The problem is that Ocean Master was first announced as the film’s antagonist. But it was later announced Black Manta would also be in the film.

Of course Black Manta could play a bigger role moving forward… if there is a DC movie universe. Aquaman could be a make or break point. All the movies sans Wonder Woman have been received as mediocre at best while Justice League bombed at the box office. Then nothing after Aquaman has even started filming (yes, there are eight Marvel movies this year but only one DC movie) even though thirteen other films have been formally announced, If Aquaman under performs, that could be the end of the DC Movie Universe (for now at least). But if they do move forward, my sources tell me that Justice League teased the Legion of Doom while a Flashpoint movie is also on the DC docket and Black Manta is featured in the comic version of that. Plus Flashpoint could serve as a hard reboot to get rid of everything that has not worked (Batfleck, sullen Superman, Leto's Joker). But again, if Aquaman fails, we may just get Wonder Woman throughout history films for the next decade until DC can figure things out.


Since tonight marks the return of television (seriously, too soon networks, can we have more than a week and a half break?), here is what I will be watching while trying to avoid going outside in the cold. Seriously, I saw a few negative lows this week.



Mondays
8:00 – Lucifer (January 1, FOX)
8:00 - Supergirl (January 15, The CW)
9:00 – The Gifted (January 1, FOX)
9:00 – The Alienist (January 22, TNT)
10:00 – Good Girls (February 26, NBC)

Tuesdays
8:00 – The Middle (January 2, ABC)
8:00 – Shadowhunters (April 3, Freeform)
9:00 – Black’ish (January 2, ABC)
9:00 – Rise (March 13, NBC; first week at 10:00)
9:30 – The Mayor (January 9, ABC)
10:00 – The Challenge: Vendettas (January 2, MTV)
10:00 – Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (January, 2)
10:30 – The Detour (January 23, TBS)

Wednesdays
The Path (January 17, Hulu)
Hard Sun (March 7, Hulu)
8:00 – The Librarians (Already Started, TNT)
8:00 - The X-Files (January 3, Fox)
8:00 – The Blacklist (January 3, NBC)
8:00 – The Goldbergs (January 3, ABC)
8:00 – Grown-ish (January 3, Freeform)
8:00 – Survivor (February 28, CBS)
8:00 – Modern Family (January 3)
10:00 – Waco (Paramount Network, January 24)

Thursdays
8:00 – Superstore (January 4, NBC)
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory (January 4, CBS)
8:30 – The Good Place (January 4, NBC)
9:00 – Nashville (January 4, CMT)
9:30 – Great News (January 4, NBC)

Fridays
8:00 – Blindspot (January 12, NBC)
8:00 – XXIII Olympics Winter Games Opening Ceremony (February 9, NBC)
8:00 - Once Upon a Time (Match 2, ABC)
9:00 – Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (January 5, ABC)

Saturdays
9:00 – Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars (February 10, Showtime)

Sundays
The Looming Tower (February 18, Hulu)
8:00 – Jesus Christ Superstar Live! (April 1, NBC)
9:00 – Homeland (February 11, Showtime)
10:00 - The Chi (January 7, Showtime)

The 100 Best Songs of 2017

1. Bad Liar - Selena Gomez

2. Better Man - Little Big Town

3. Every Little Thing - Carly Pearce

4. Dog Years - Maggie Rogers

5. Sugar and Salt - Jillian Jacqueline

6. Want You Back - HAIM

7. The Fighter - Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood

8. Either Way - Chris Stapleton

9. It's a Shame - First Aid Kit

10. OMG - Vic Mensa featuring Pusha-T

11. Only Songs - The Wild Reeds

12. HUMBLE. - Kendrick Lamar

13. Alaska - Maggie Rogers

14. Perfect Places - Lorde

15. Dis Generation - A Tribe Called Quest

16. Chase Me - Danger Mouse feat. Run The Jewels and Big Boi

17. We Should Be Friends - Miranda Lambert

18. It Ain't Me - Kygo and Selena Gomez

19. Trainwreck - Banks

20. Back To the River - The Pretty Reckless featuring Warren Haynes

21. Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato

22. Near To The Wild Heart Of Life - Japandroids

23. Undertow - Lisa Hannigan

24. Stuck - The Aces

25. Love - Lana Del Rey

26. Ain't Got It Like That - Earl St. Clair featuring PJ

27. Sway - Danielle Bradbery

28. Moonshine - Foy Vance featuring Kacey Musgraves

29. Selfish Love - Jessie Ware

30. Golden Dandelions - Barns Courtney

31. Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man

32. Midnight - Jessie Ware

33. Forgetting All About You - Phoebe Ryan featuring blackbear

34. Hate Me - Jillian Jacqueline

35. Little of Your Love - HAIM

36. Tin Man - Miranda Lambert

37. Hope the High Road - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

38. 2 Lovin U - DJ Premier and Miguel

39. Reasons - Jillian Jacqueline

40. I Feel It Coming - The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk

41. Revolution - Van William featuring First Aid Kit

42. Safari Song - Greta Van Fleet

43. Bleachers - Jillian Jacqueline

44. May I Have This Dance (Remix) - Francis and the Lights featuring Chance the Rapper

45. Don't Believe - Slow Dancer

46. High Ticket Attractions - The New Pornographers

47. Alone - Jessie Ware

48. My Mind Is For Sale - Jack Johnson

49. 1 Night - Mura Masa featuring Charli XCX

50. Low Blows - Meg Mac

51. Green Light - Lorde

52. Do I Have to Talk You Into It - Spoon

53. Told You So - Paramore

54. HARD LOVE - NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Andra Day

55. Across the Room - ODESZA featuring Leon Bridges

56. Nothing Without You - Emma Blackery

57. Don't Love Me - Janine

58. Canyon - Joseph

59. Money - The New Respects

60. Hard Times - Paramore

61. Same Drugs - Chance the Rapper

62. He's Fine - The Secret Sisters

63. Physical - The Aces

64. So Tied Up - Cold War Kids featuring Bishop Briggs

65. Keep It Between the Lines - Sturgill Simpson

66. Shape of You - Ed Sheeran

67. Heavy - LINKIN PARK featuring Kiiara

68. California Numb - CLOVES

69. Up All Night - Beck

70. Can We Hang On? - Cold War Kids

71. Perfect - Ed Sheeran

72. Stand by My Girl - Dan Auerbach

73. Down Side of Me (Live) - CHVRCHES

74. Fake Happy - Paramore

75. Hot Thoughts - Spoon

76. Dear Life - Beck

77. Hungry Ghost - Hurray for the Riff Raff

78. The Blackout - U2

79. Hopeless Romantic - Michelle Branch

80. Time's Always Leaving - The Lone Bellow

81. Big Picture - London Grammar

82. Thunder - Imagine Dragons

83. Two High - Moon Taxi

84. Baby Who - The Aces

85. The Gold - Manchester Orchestra

86. Don't Look Back - Dia Frampton

87. On + Off - Maggie Rogers

88. Best You Ever - Michelle Branch

89. Hurt Somebody - Noah Kahan

90. The Sky Is a Neighborhood - Foo Fighters

91. Hard to Love - Kacy Hill

92. Holier Than Thou - Jillian Jacqueline

93. Waiting on a Song - Dan Auerbach

94. Maybe It's My First Time - Meg Mac

95. No Diggity - Alice Jemima

96. Right Now - HAIM

97. Shine on Me - Dan Auerbach

98. Run for Cover - The Killers

99. No Good At All - Lucy Rose

100. Split Stones - Maggie Rogers

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/29/2017

Marvel’s Runaways: The mysterious figure that walked in on Amy as she was leaving has to be Jonah right? I guess maybe one of the other Pride members could also make sense. And what a complete cop out of not killing anyone to save angry dad. You cannot spend half an episode deciding who dies only to have on person destroyed the pod at the last minute. Though I kind of like the evilness of saying there has to be a sacrifice now, and then after that could not happen be like, never mind, we will figure out something else later. But after finding the footage of their parents being evil, the Runaways have to actually runaway next week, right.
You can stream episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars: So Josh, who wert twice, had the fastest overall time (beating self-proclaimed state champion swimmer Wes), Kim had the fastest female time, the Stars got seven more flags than the Champs… but still lost by ten seconds. How sad. With Vendetta starting next week, I hope that means that means next week is the last for this pitiful special.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

The Librarians: Wait, Jenkins gave up his immortality to someone who themselves have also lived hundreds of years? Isn’t he more important than her? And if he is no longer immortal, shouldn’t he have turned to dust? So is the old Guardian going to become the new Jenkins since he may die soon? Or are they going to find a way for him to become immortal again? I guess they should have captured Rasputin and transfer his immortality to the Guardian.
You can download The Librarians on iTunes.

Vikings: So Bjorn’s Mediterranean adventure is not going well. But the desert was never really a good place for the fair skinned.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Knightfall: So Godfrey had the Grail all along and young Landry knew about it? Alrighty. So when Godfrey went to the Middle East in that first scene, he already knew what they had was not the Grail. Then you had the princess once again acting creepy towards her uncle.
You can download Knightfall on iTunes.

The 50 Best Music Videos of 2017

1. Bad Liar - Selena Gomez


2. It's a Shame - First Aid Kit


3. Perfect Places - Lorde


4. Chase Me - Danger Mouse featuring Run the Jewels and Big Boi


5. Obession - OK Go


6. Feels Like Summer (Roses N’ Weezer Version) - Weezer

7. Humble. - Kendrick Lamar

8. Same Drugs - Chance the Rapper

9. Stand By My Girl - Dan Auerbach

10. Santa's Coming For Us - Sia

11. 1000 - N.E.R.D. featuring Future

12. …Ready for It? - Taylor Swift

13. Legend Has It - Run the Jewels

14. Galway Girl - Ed Sheeran

15. Fetish - Selena Gomez featuring Gucci Mane

16. Lift - Radiohead

17. Look What You Made You Do - Taylor Swift

18. Lemon - N.E.R.D. featuring Rihanna

19. The Sky Is a Neighborhood - Foo Fighters

20. Hard Times - Paramore

21. I Could Use a Love Song - Maren Morris

22. Don't Get Captured - Run the Jewels

23. Down - Marian Hill

24. Hold Me Tight or Don't - Fall Out Boy

25. Drink Up - Train

26. Alaska - Maggie Rogers

27. Back in the USA - Green Day

28. DNA. - Kendrick Lamar

29. Dis Generation - A Tribe Called Quest

30. Believer - Imagine Dragons

31. Loyalty - Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna

32. Physical - The Aces

33. King of a One Horse Town - Dan Auerbach

34. If We Were Vampires - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

35. Good with God - Old 97's featuring Brandi Carlile

36. Thunder - Imagine Dragons

37. Little of Your Love - Haim

38. Things it Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution - Father John Misty

39. Colors - Beck

40. Green Light - Lorde

41. Fake Happy - Paramore

42. Pure Comedy - Father John Misty

43. May I Have This Dance (Remix) - Francis and the Lights featuring Chance the Rapper

44. Now - Miguel

45. On + Off - Maggie Rogers

46. Run - Foo Fighters

47. Lost in Your Light - Dua Lipa featuring Miguel

48. G O O D - Erin McCarley

49. I Dare You - The xx

50. So Tied Up - Cold War Kids featuring Bishop Briggs

The 40 Worst Songs of 2017

1. 10,000 Miles - Cam'Ron

2. Uh Huh - Julia Michaels

3. Mo Bounce - Iggy Azalea

4. Bon Appétit - Katy Perry featuring Migos

5. Body Like a Back Road - Sam Hunt

6. No Promises\ - Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato

7. Swalla - Jason Derulo featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign

8. Swish Swish - Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj

9. II'm the One - DJ Khaled featuring Justin Beiber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo, and Lil Wayne

10. Mask Off - Future

11. Strip That Down - Liam Payne featuring Quavo

12. Million Reasons - Lady Gaga

13. All Time Low - Jon Bellion

14. Congratulations - Post Malone featuring Quavo

15. Down - Fifth Harmony featuring Gucci Mane

16. Bodak Yellow - Cardi B

17. Don't Wanna Know - Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar

18. Havana\ - Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug

19. Cold - Maroon 5 featuring Future

20. Wild Thoughts - DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller

21. Stay Together - Noah Cyrus

22. 2U - David Guetta and Justin Beiber

23. Attention - Charlie Puth

24. Bad and Boujee – Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert

25. Light My Body Up - David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne

26. Issues - Julia Michaels

27. Slumber Party - Britney Spears featuring Tinashe

28. Sign of the Times - Harry Styles

29. Friends - Justin Beiber and BloodPop®

30. Back to You - Louis Tomlinson featuring Bebe Rexha

31. There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back - Shawn Mendes

32. Slow Hands - Niall Horan

33. Paris - The Chainsmokers

34. Make Me (Cry) - Noah Cyrus featuring Labrinth

35. What Lovers Do - Maroon 5 featuring SZA

36. Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift

37. Mercy - Shawn Mendes

38. No Frauds - Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne

39. ...Ready For It? - Taylor Swift

40. Crying in the Club - Camila Cabello

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/23/2017

Shameless: C’mon Ian, not worth it, all you did was piss off your sister and your ex-boy(girl)friend. And why isn’t Carl detoxing any of Lip’s friends if it is working so well? I just assumed that was going to happen eventually.

SMILF: Eww, Larry will not got potty in the bathroom but will on a salvage yard toilet.

Marvel’s Runaways: You know, when a future person tells you not to do something, maybe you should not do that thing. But, oh snap, she shot her husband. Finally something interesting happened on the show. Though I wonder why future Chase did not also try to contact himself and tell him not to tinker with his toy without his father.
You can stream episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars: I thought for sure when Johnny was talking about how he would have to retire from the show if he lost to Riff Raft that Johnny would lose (granted he was in the promo for next season).
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: Wow, these people are morons. After pulling an Idol out on Lauren and Ashley in the past two week, how can the remaining four not sit on Ben until the next Tribal? They literally have nothing better to do. At least Devon was smart enough to throw a vote to Dr. Mike. Except he then gets screwed by a new twist where the Immunity winner picks someone to take to the finale and the other two go to a fire making challenge.

Speaking of stupid moves and unfair advantages, it seem like that is the theme of next season. I think. The promo was pretty vague. It seems to me they are resurrecting Exile Island (or, God forbid, Redemption Island) where contestants go to be haunted by failed advantages and Idols past and maybe they will hope to get played wisely. I guess that would be interesting if it was a returning players’ season primarily made up of people who made stupid moves (let me against suggest a Morons vs. Masterminds season). But alas it is all new players. Unless Ghost Island is literal and the Ice Cream Scooper and/or Lauren who made the dumbest move this season will be showing up to haunt the inhabitants of Ghost Island.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Vikings: So is the Bishop going to be the new Applestan? I am actually much more interesting In the trials and tribulations of Bjorn on his Mediterranean journey. The never-ending cycle of English vs Norsemen is getting a bit overdone. Bjorn’s story is fresh.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Knightfall: Who creates a mural of the time their brother stabled them through the stomach. But you gotta feel bad for the brother, pretty much ends up dying the same way that the Holy Grail saved him. But how exactly did the Grail go from the bottom of the sea on a wrecked ship to Godfrey’s possession? Was that not the Grail at all?
You can download Knightfall on iTunes.

Blindspot: Wait, we just learned Jane has a kid less than a month ago and Kurt killed her already? That just does not up. Especially considering how Kurt was very adamant that he not a killer earlier. Of course my number one rule of television is that no one is truly dead until you see the dead body (and even then I am still suspicious).
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Um, Fitz, why are you finding a way to the future without a plan to get back to present day? Or is he content living seventy days in the future? And I am not sure why sending SHIELD in the future stops an extinction level event (other than if Daisy is in the future she cannot destroy the past. Though I am not totally convinced Daisy quaked the Earth apart.
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/22/2017

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 Pitch Perfect 3, The Chi, The Path. The Looming Tower, Our Cartoon President. The Numbers on Great-Grandpa's Arm, Little Steven, The Velvet Underground, Culture Club, POV, Silicon Valley: The Untold Story, and Family Feud.

- Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series. Featuring a cappella mash-ups and medleys from the upcoming Universal Pictures' film, the soundtrack from UMe/Republic is available on all formats here on December 15. Pitch Perfect 3 hits theaters nationwide on December 22. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson headline the returning cast of Pitch Perfect 3, the follow-up to summer 2015's blockbuster hit that took the honor of highest-grossing live-action movie-musical opening of all time and a #1 soundtrack debut. The eagerly awaited next chapter is led by series producers Paul Brooks of Gold Circle Entertainment and Max Handelman & Elizabeth Banks of Brownstone Productions. The film is directed by Trish Sie (Step Up All In).

- Showtime is giving viewers an early opportunity to sample the series premiere of the highly anticipated new drama The Chi. The series was created and is 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 Chi explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago. Showtime is releasing The Chi ahead of its on-air debut Sunday, January 7 at 10:00. Consumers can watch The Chi series premiere for free now on YouTube, Facebook and SHO.com, as well as across multiple television and streaming providers’ devices, websites, applications and authenticated online services and their free On Demand channels. In addition, the episode is available for free on computers through the SHOWTIME stand-alone service’s website showtime.com.

- Hulu released the season three trailer and key art for The Path. The first two episodes of the 13-episode season will launch on Wednesday, January 17th.


- Check out the behind the scenes featurette and first look photos of Hulu Original Limited Series The Looming Tower. The Looming Tower will premiere Wednesday, February 28 only on Hulu.


- On the heels of the State of the Union address, Showtime will premiere its new animated series Our Cartoon President. Executive produced by multiple Emmy® winner Stephen Colbert and his Late Show executive producer, Chris Licht, this new 10-episode parody will follow the tru-ish misadventures of the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, and his merry band of advisors and family members. R.J. Fried will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Tim Luecke will serve as lead animator and co-executive producer. Matt Lappin will serve as consulting producer. The half-hour series will debut Sunday, February 11 at 8:00 on Showtime, before the 9:00 season premiere of Homeland.


- When 10-year-old Elliott asks his 90-year-old great-grandfather, Jack, about the number tattooed on his arm, he sparks an intimate conversation about Jack’s life that spans happy memories of childhood in Poland, the loss of his family, surviving Auschwitz, and finding a new life in America. Directed and produced by Emmy® winner Amy Schatz, the short film The Numbers on Great-Grandpa's Arm weaves in haunting historical footage and hand-painted animation to tell a heartbreaking story of Jewish life in Eastern Europe before and during the Holocaust. The film, presented with the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, debuts Saturday, JAN. 27 (6:00-6:20 pm ET/PT), International Holocaust Remembrance Day, exclusively on HBO.

- Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul are celebrating the season with a very special holiday single. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight),” is out today, Friday, December 15th, at all digital music retailers and streaming services.

- To celebrate the Velvet Underground’s 50th anniversary, Verve Records/UMe is releasing The Velvet Underground, a limited-edition career-spanning box that collects all four of the pioneering band’s studio albums, Velvets collaborator Nico’s debut LP, Chelsea Girl, and a reconstruction of the fabled “lost” 1969 album, making it available on vinyl for the first time. The six albums housed in a special black slipcase will be pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and feature stereo mixes and meticulously reproduced original cover art. The box will also include an exclusive 48-page booklet, featuring vintage photos, lyrics and a new foreword penned by founding member Maureen “Moe” Tucker. Limited to 1000 copies worldwide, the box set, which will be released February 23, is available for pre-order now exclusively at uDiscover.

- Rock Fuel Media is excited to announce the release of Live At Wembley from multi-Platinum and '80s icons CULTURE CLUB. A state-of-the-art DVD, Blu-Ray, and CD package, is out now via Cleopatra Records. The concert will be broadcast on TV in 2018, details of which will be announced soon.


- On February 2, 2018, Zappa Records/UMe will release The Roxy Performances, a definitive seven-CD box set that collects all four public shows from December 9-10, 1973, and the December 8th film shoot/soundcheck, each presented in their entirety for the first time, along with bonus content featuring rarities from a rehearsal, unreleased tracks and highlights from the Bolic Studios recording session. This complete collection, totaling nearly eight hours, documents the Roxy shows as they happened and presents brand new 2016 mixes by Craig Parker Adams from new 96K 24 Bit transfers of the multi-track masters. The set is rounded out with a 48-page booklet that includes photos from the performances, extensive liner notes by Vaultmeister Joe Travers, essays from Zappa family friend, Australian writer Jen Jewel Brown, and American singer/songwriter Dave Alvin, who give their firsthand recollections about the shows, and a selection of archival press reviews. Those who digitally pre-order the box set will receive an instant grat download of “RDNZL.” Culled from the very first show on December 9, the track is a live version of the classic song featuring the never-before-heard 2016 mix that exemplifies the sonics of the new box set. Pre-order The Roxy Performances now.

- 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.

- Just south of San Francisco lies a region that has spawned not just new products but whole new industries, from vacuum tubes to radio, microchips to personal computers, mobile devices, apps and social media. Home to Apple and Facebook, Intel and Google, there is simply no other place on earth that can rival its remarkable record of innovation. A new Science Channel three-part documentary series will provide a comprehensive look at the century-and-a-half history of this fascinating place, and reveal how and why it became such a fertile ground for technological breakthroughs. Silicon Valley: The Untold Story premieres Sunday, January 28 at 8, 9 and 10 p.m. It is produced with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA is serving as the community and education outreach partner on the series.

- Deck the halls with a boughs of jolly with Game Show Network's Fa La La La Feud Marathon! Beginning Saturday December 23rd, gather your friends and loved ones to watch Steve Harvey and the Feud families face off in 4 binge-worthy marathons through New Year's Day. Survey says your family will be filled with holiday cheer!

Saturday, December 23rd:
2:00pm – 7:00pm ET
Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24th:
2:00pm – 1:00am ET
Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th &
Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 26th:
2:00pm – 11:00pm ET
New Year's Day, Monday, January 1st:
2:00pm – 10:00pm ET

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/17/2017

Shameless: There is no greater fear I have in life than to die and my dogs would starve to death because no one noticed. Even more horrifying is now I have in my mind that they would not starve before someone notice. But you got to blame Fiona, if your tenant is late on rent and not responding, you got to go in earlier. But at least she did the right thing and saved the dog from execution. But why was it so hard for Kev to find a dude to have sex with? Does he not work as a bartender at a gay bar?

The Walking Dead: I actually felt bad for a couple seconds after Carl revealed the zombie bite. Of course then I realized that, oh yeah, I hate Carl. Although I fear that since the episode did not end with him dying that he will somehow survive. Of course Carl would be the one person who is immune (although I think the Fear the Walking Dead characters ran into someone who claimed they survived). But back to the beginning, I feel like I missed something, like how the Saviors got out. I know someone said how but it would have been nice to see.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: The last two episodes were duds because it was not very fun watching high Letty except hung over Letty was almost as bad. Then it looked like we were going to get the clichéd Javier sets a trap for Tao except he kidnaps Letty instead plot. Except they completely switch things up with Letty ending up killing Tao without the help of Javier…. And then kills the security guy for no reason. Yeah, it may be time for Letty to g back to prison. Good behavior is just not working out.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

SMILF: Watching Rosie O’Donnell having sex is very high on my list of things I never needed to see.

White Famous: Well, back to the beginning. But what is season two, are they actually going to do Angry Black? Do a time jump to something else? I am guessing it will not just be him raising his kid.

Lucifer: Well, I guess I was right that Superman was the Sinnerman. Though I could never predict he would turn out to be Cain. Superman said the Sinnerman killed his brother which turned out not to be a lie because Cain killed Abel.
You can download Lucifer on iTunes.

The Gifted: I have been in half watching mode of this show for a while, so I was wondering why the new blond was killing all the FBI agents (except the one we knew who somehow looked to only having a non-fatal injury). Then there was three of them. Okay, I am kind of almost interested in the show again.
You can download The Gifted on iTunes.

Marvel’s Runaways: So the old crusty dude who sucks the lifeforce out of people is the one that brought the Pride together? But where has he been the past decade that no one but apparently the alien mom knew? I also have the question the parentage of Karolina’s father. Is it the guy we thought was her father or is it the life sucker. I am starting to get an annoying Lost vibe in that they pose a bunch of questions but are very slow to answering them. And here we are past the half way point and the Runaways have yet to actually runaway.
You can stream episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars: So after over half the females Champs went home without losing anything, they brought in Tori… another Champ who has never actually won anything. I am hoping next week is the end, I am ready for it.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: I never understood why people are so hesitant to look for the Idol when other people are looking, especially when they know they are on the bottom. Weirder was Ben who did not want to go under the shelter around people and yet pulls it out at Tribal before the vote for everyone to see. But I did like him playing it before people voted to leverage Ashley and Devon to vote with him against Dr. Mike. Except then Ben and Devon voted for Ashley for no reason we, the viewers, were privy to. And this bad editing has gone on for three or so seasons. I get the show likes shocking votes, but the shock loses its luster if we have no clue why it happened.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Vikings: Well that is some strange bedfellows of Lagatha and one of the kids of the lady she killed. Weird the boys did not go after her when their half-brother left. Speaking of weird, where did the Vikings go at the end. I assumed they were playing possum, but why stop the episode there? Are they hiding underground and that is why the rates are above ground. Did they poison the land?
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: So the 5/0 hack never happened? Does this piss off White Rose or is this what (s)he wanted the hole time. I am a bit confused by everyone’s motive, Is this the time travel that is heavily hinted at (there was evn the turn back time scene from the Superman movie in this episode). But in the big letdown was the drug dealer from the first season was the end credit scene as he bizarrely showed up blaring Fiona Apple. Kind of a blah ending to what was an improvement over season two.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Knightfall: Wait, the princess wanted to marry her uncle. Now this is a large cast and I am still trying to figure out who is who, but are they really related? Although the royals of the time were famously inbred.
You can download Knightfall on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: From the start of the season I assumed Fitz was left behind so he could be the one to bring the rest of the team back to present day. But now he is in the future and wanting Quake to fight to the death (of course if she can rip apart the Earth, I think she could win most battles).
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/15/2017

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 Homeland, The Detour, Wu-Tang Clan, Kelsea Ballerini, Herbie Hancock, Full Frontal, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Noticias Telemundo, Kidding, and The Politics of Hate.

- Showtime has announced that the seventh season of the Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning hit drama Homeland will kick off on Sunday, February 11 at 9:00. Starring Emmy, Screen Actors Guild® and Golden Globe winner Claire Danes and Emmy and Tony® winner Mandy Patinkin, the cast of series regulars also includes returning actors Elizabeth Marvel, Linus Roache, Maury Sterling and Jake Weber, and joining the cast this season is acclaimed actor Morgan Spector (Boardwalk Empire). The network’s top-rated drama series, Homeland is currently filming in Richmond, Virginia.


- Created, written and executive-produced by Jason Jones and Samantha Bee, The Detour is an all-too-honest look at the family dynamic. Jones stars in the acclaimed comedy with Natalie Zea, Ashley Gerasimovich, Liam Carroll, Daniella Pineda and Laura Benanti. Season 3 finds the Parkers on the lam in Alaska. After months of running, the family finally finds a community of misfits and decides to settle down and start rebuilding their lives. But they’re not out of the woods, as the law isn’t far behind. While Nate and Robin learn to take on new roles in the family, Delilah starts to become a young woman. And Jareb...well he’s still Jareb. Well-intentioned, bad parenting is at its best in the Land of the Midnight Sun. The third season of The Detour premieres on Tuesday, January 23rd at 10:30.


- Revolutionary hip-hop outfit Wu-Tang Clan has joined forces with PledgeMusic to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed second release, Wu-Tang Forever. The group is commemorating the album's debut by offering fans exclusive packages, unreleased content, and limited-edition memorabilia. Fans can pre-order Wu-Tang Forever 20th anniversary packages on the group's PledgeMusic campaign page. The leaders in direct-to-fan platforms, PledgeMusic allows artists to get more personal with their fans, offering pledgers never-before-heard content and items not available anywhere else.

- Tune in Friday, December 15 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “Kelsea Ballerini” 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 the one-hour concert was shot live on location at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN in front of an adoring, sold-out crowd on the final U.S. date of her run on Lady Antebellum’s tour.

- When Herbie Hancock’s genre-defying River: The Joni Letters, won the 2007 Grammy® Award for “Album of the Year,” beating out Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters and Vince Gill, it was a victory for musical exploration, inspired musicianship and the kind of creative spirit that the legendary jazz musician has carried throughout his incredible and influential five-decade career. A true milestone, the album was only the second jazz recording to win the top honors in the award’s history, with the first being Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz and João Gilberto in 1965, 43 years prior. The musical tribute to the iconic Joni Mitchell, which also won “Best Contemporary Jazz Album,” soared up the charts where it peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200. In celebration of the album’s first decade anniversary, River: The Joni Letters, will be released as a 2CD/digital expanded edition with four bonus tracks on December 15 via Verve Records/UMe with the digital release to follow on December 29. Last month, the album was released on vinyl for the first time in the U.S. Pre-order River: The Joni Letters here.

- No Moore! | Full Frontal on TBS. Alabamians dealt a blow to Republicans by narrowly deciding child molester was a bridge too far.


- TBS will premiere the first five seasons of the Golden Globe-winning and critically acclaimed police comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, from Universal Television, beginning with the series pilot on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 7pm ET/PT. The show will air consecutive episodes every Thursday from 7-11pm ET/PT on TBS. Episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine will also be available on the TBS app.

- Noticias Telemundo announced special news coverage on the conditions in Puerto Rico three months after Hurricane Maria, airing Wednesday, December 20 on “Al Rojo Vivo con María Celeste” at 4 p.m./3 C and “Noticias Telemundo” newscast at 6:30 p.m./5:30 C. This special coverage will be led by “Al Rojo Vivo” host María Celeste Arrarás and Noticias Telemundo anchor José Díaz-Balart on-site in Puerto Rico, and will also be available via NoticiasTelemundo.com and Noticias Telemundo’s mobile app and Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp properties. “Noticias Telemundo will travel to Puerto Rico to provide a first-hand look at the state of recovery 90 days after the passage of Maria,” said Luis Fernández, Executive Vice President of Noticias Telemundo. “We’ll offer comprehensive coverage, including interviews with Puerto Rican officials, residents and celebrities, plus investigative segments and special reports.”

- This holiday season, celebrate with MythBusters as Science Channel airs every episode ever of the iconic series in chronological order. This year’s marathon is bigger than ever, starting with the very first myth – “Jet Assisted Chevy,” which premiered in 2003 – and ending with the latest myths from the new episodes MythBusters. The MythBusters Mega Merry-Thon begins Thursday, December 22 at 12am ET/PT to Wednesday, January 3 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, followed by an all-new episode of MythBusters at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

- Showtime has announced that Oscar, Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Catherine Keener (Get Out) has been cast as a series regular in the upcoming Showtime half-hour comedy Kidding. The series stars Golden Globe winner Jim Carrey in his first series regular role in more than two decades and reunites him with Oscar winner Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), who will direct the project.

- Fresh from his recent success with the controversial 99%, Michael Perlman brings you The Politics of Hate which will be available on iTunes in December and on Amazon in January. The Politics of Hate, which partially benefits the Southern Poverty Law Center, offers the most up-to-date investigation on the rise and interconnection of the far-right across Europe and America and points to the support of Russia while examining Trump’s connection. The film features Christian Picciolini, a former leader of the American Nazi and White Supremacist Movement and the author of Romantic Violence. He candidly explores how he and hundreds of thousands of others are recruited and how he now works through his NGO Life After Hate, to pull people out of hate groups. The film also features Mark Potok from the Southern Poverty Law Center who is one of the world’s most notable experts on extremism. The film is complete with archival footage of the struggle with extremism in the U.S. from the 1920's straight through to Charlottesville.

- A2IM's CEO Richard James Burgess Speaks Out On FCC Net Neutrality Vote: "A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) is extremely disappointed in the FCC's decision today to repeal net neutrality rules. This decision will disadvantage all the small and medium-sized enterprises, including the ones that make up our membership, and will negatively affect innovation. This is a fundamentally anti-democratic action that will have unintended consequences for the American economy for decades to come." - Richard James Burgess, CEO A2IM

Previewing The Librarians: Season Four

As other shows take Christmas off, The Librarians return tonight to give you an excuse to skip the holiday parties so you can stay inside nice and war. Next week, just five days before Christmas, the show has a very special holiday episode entitled …And the Christmas Thief. The three librarians are tasked with babysitting Santa’s Sliegh while the jolly man, Flynn, Eve, and Jenkins take a much deserved vacation.

But before then, tonight’s installment, … And the Dark Secret, well that secret is pretty surprising and rewarding for those that have been with the series back when Noah Wiley was starring in the movies. I cannot spoil the secret but I will say that it comes in the form of Rachel Nichols who is always welcome on my television screen. And I have a feeling that we may see her a few more times this season.

Things are up in the air again this season after all the proclamations have come to pass. The biggest point of order is that Charlene is no longer tethered to The Library, somebody has to. And there is a very elaborate ceremony for that to happen. Also this season, the group tries to save a town plagued by ghosts from the Civil War, battle a casino that steals luck, and endure a body-switching fiasco. You know, regular silly Librarian fun.

The Librarians airs Wednesdays at 8:00 on TNT.

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.