57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/8/2018

Claws: Finally the Quiet Ann-centric episode I never knew I needed. And I am still not sure I need it. I guess the AA Meeting was pretty entertaining. But, wait, Quiet Ann has a brother who is a gay politician? What? How have these groups of criminals not exploited that yet. But what is with that ending? Did Arlene fake getting fired in hopes to get a sting just like it went down?
You can download Claws on iTunes.

The Affair: Gee, the police got there pretty quick. Is the station right next to the school? But is there anyone Noah will not hook up with? How exactly was he able to stay faithful for twenty years? Or was Alison not his first affair. Then there was Helen and very telling she left after saying she could not live without her kids and did not say Vic. I almost thought she was going to say Noah first. But poor Vic, probably the most stand up person on the show, really the only one, and he just got a death sentence. Although making Helen raise a kid alone without him at his age is kind of selfless. I was waiting for Helen to ask, which one after that woman answered Bush. But I guess the oldest W. babies are only seventeen. As for the intro, it looks like I was wrong thinking that Noah and Cole were not looking for Alison because Anton’s comment about having a type pretty much confirms it. Which then begs the question, what the fork is Anton doing there?

I’m Dying Up Here: After a season of self-sabotage, Ron finally did the ultimate, he just upped and quit. But will it last or will he be happily back on the show by the finale last week? And just when you thought Bill’s dumbest thing he would do this week would be making fun a bunch of bikers, he tries to schedule a strike against Goldie. That will probably end p with his getting blacklisted more than getting paid by Goldie.

The Bold Type: I was wondering with Jane blaming a diversity hire for not getting a job if Kat would support her friend or call her out for being racist. I guess conflict should have been the obvious answer.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: After everything that went down the last two episodes, they just yadda-yadda Offred getting back safe and sound. Or as safe and sound as a handmaid in Gilliad can be. And just when you thought Rory Gilmore’s life could not get any worse, she end up in the house of probably the most dysfunctional family in Gilliad. Then her commander asked if she healed properly. What exactly did they do to her? I assumed when it happened last season they removed her lady parts but since she is back to making babies, that cannot be the case. But holy fork, they punished the driver’s teenaged wife with death by public drowning?!? Out oll the cruel things they do in thid country, that may be right below the ritual rape.
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Wait, wasn’t drilling for an “energy source” a plot point on Runaways? I wonder if it is connected even though Marvel television shows never reference each other except for the Netflix shows. Granted Freeform and Hulu are at least partially owned by Disney (and may soon be majority owner). Also the shows are on different coast. Still now that the Runaways have actually ran away, maybe they will make their way to New Orleans. But I will not hold my breath.

So there is a guy who worked with her father that Dagger cannot see his hopes. Instead they are locked away in his brain guarded by Cloak’s dark energy. Of course this begs the question is this because he is in a catatonic state or does the scientist was working on these powers when the rig exploded and he was the one that shut down his brain and is waiting for Cloak and Dagger to unlock it?

As for a question that likely will go unanswered on the show, why did the dirty cop have the hot lady cop kill his distributer? Didn’t he clear the streets of all the other drug kingpins to let this guy have a monopoly and get a cut for eliminating the competition? Doesn’t he need someone running the operation? Having the drug dealer kill the hot lady cop who is on to him seemed like the better strategy. Unless he is going to try to get her into his business. But still, it is not like she will be able to run the business.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 7/6/2018

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 I Am the Night, The Challenge: Final Reckoning, Sideswiped, Bob Marley, The Band, Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Wembley or Bust, The Score, POV, Claws, Animal Kingdom, and Sportsball.

- TNT has released the official trailer for the new limited series I Am the Night (formerly titled One Day She'll Darken) from executive producer and director Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Monster). The newest installment in a thrilling collection of limited series called the TNT Suspense Collection™, the series stars Chris Pine, who also is an executive producer. The talented roster joining Pine includes India Eisley, Jefferson Mays, Leland Orser, Yul Vazquez, Dylan Smith, Golden Brooks, Justin Cornwell, Jay Paulson and Connie Nielsen.


- Below is the latest super tease for this upcoming season of MTV’s The Challenge: Final Reckoning, set to premiere on Tuesday, July 10th at 9PM ET.


- YouTube Premium premieres the official trailer for its new original dating comedy series, Sideswiped, a multi-generational comedy about relationships - both romantic and familial. Based on a true story from Carly Craig, this eight-episode comedy series about dating in the digital age will debut on YouTube Premium July 25, 2018.​ A lifetime of saying no has left “Olivia” single and miserable on her 35th birthday. This workaholic verging on a breakdown vows to plunge into the hellish world of Tinder by dating all 252 of her matches. She is spurred on by her sister “Jayne” - a young married woman experiencing a seven-year itch. The sisters are joined by their recently widowed mother, “Mary,” who is now also a part of the online dating scene.


- On August 24, The Marley Family, Island Records, and UMe will collectively proclaim the sun is shining in celebration of 40 years of Kaya, Bob Marley & The Wailers’ historic March 1978 release. This most special anniversary edition will feature Stephen “Ragga” Marley’s exciting and vibrant new “Kaya 40” mixes of all ten tracks from the original album alongside its original mixes in 2CD and 180-gram 2LP configurations. (The digital version will be a standalone release of Stephen’s mixes only.) The album will also be available as a limited edition 180-gram 2LP green vinyl version exclusively at BobMarley.com.

- On July 1, 1968, The Band’s landmark debut album, Music from Big Pink, seemed to spring from nowhere and everywhere. Drawing from the American roots music panoply of country, blues, R&B, gospel, soul, rockabilly, the honking tenor sax tradition, hymns, funeral dirges, brass band music, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll, The Band forged a timeless new style that forever changed the course of popular music. Fifty years later, the mythology surrounding Music from Big Pink lives on through the evocative storytelling of its songs including “The Weight,” “This Wheel’s On Fire,” “Tears of Rage,” and “To Kingdom Come,” its enigmatic cover art painted by Bob Dylan, the salmon-colored upstate New York house – ‘Big Pink’ – where The Band wrote the songs, and in myriad descendant legends carried forth since the album’s stunning arrival. On August 31, Capitol/UMe will release Music From Big Pink in newly remixed and expanded 50th Anniversary Edition packages, including a Super Deluxe CD/Blu-ray/2LP/7-inch vinyl box set with a hardbound book; 1CD, digital, 180-gram 2LP black vinyl, and limited edition 180-gram 2LP pink vinyl packages. All the Anniversary Edition configurations feature a new stereo mix for the album, produced by Bob Clearmountain from the original four-track analog masters, achieving a striking clarity and incorporating some previously unreleased chatter from the studio sessions. The 50th Anniversary Edition's CD, digital, and box set configurations also include five outtakes and alternate recordings from the 'Big Pink' sessions and a previously unrelesed a cappella version of "I Shall Be Released."


- The concert documentary, Jeff Lynne’s ELO: Wembley or Bust, will make its U.S. television premiere on Showtime on Friday, July 27 at 9:00 on-air, on demand and over the internet. Celebrating Lynne’s enduring and ongoing musical legacy, director Paul Dugdale documents Lynne's ELO performance in England’s famed Wembley Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000 fans.


- One of 2018’s hottest breakthrough acts, LA rock band The Score – Eddie Anthony and Edan Dover – release “Glory” last week via Republic Records. Get it HERE. The Score recently supported Echosmith on a successful cross country run. They’ve become synonymous with high-energy and hypnotic live shows powered by a string of smashes, including the red hot single “Unstoppable.”

- In “one of the most dangerous places on earth," where the Taliban maintains a substantial presence, a young woman faces obstacles to pursuing a seemingly simple passion: sports. Born and raised in Pakistan’s mountainous tribal region of Waziristan, Maria Toorpakai emerged to become the country’s top female squash player and one of the top 50 in the world. Yet she has had to hide her talents from the Taliban, which is strongly—and violently—opposed to women in sports. From a young age, she disguised herself as a boy, going by the name Genghis Khan, so she could play, only to eventually be plagued by death threats from the radical group.Directed by Erin Heidenreich, The War to Be Her premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and makes its national broadcast on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, July 23 at 10 p.m. POV is American television’s longest-running documentary series now in its 31st season.

- TNT has renewed two of its core, powerful dramas – Animal Kingdom and Claws – following their impressive summer premieres. The two-night, two-telecast season three launch of Animal Kingdom combined for 4.3M Total Viewers and 2.0M 18-49 viewers so far, the premiere airing alone generating 978K 18-49 in Live +7. The season two premiere of Claws drew 1.3MM 18-49 in Live +7, +38% higher than last year’s series debut. Season two is now tracking +9% ahead of season one, ranks among the top 5 cable dramas this year, and is currently posting the largest YOY growth among all returning cable dramas.

- Rooster Teeth, the entertainment and media company behind some of the biggest online series in history, today announced the return of Sportsball, a weekly video podcast for sports fans who don’t take themselves too seriously, featuring no-holds-barred interviews, special guests and free-flowing-no-shits-given conversations on the latest sports news. Sportsball relaunches July 16 with new co-host Mia Khalifa who joins Rooster Teeth’s resident sports enthusiast and former ESPN radio host, Tyler Coe.

I Want My Music Television: 7/2/1018

The Space Program - A Tribe Called Quest


One thing I have wonder is why pretty much every song ever is on every streaming site but pretty much every television show and movie are exclusive to those streaming site? Unfortunately music sites are have dabbled with exclusivity for a couple years so which is kind of stupid. Seriously, The Carters, I am not signing up for Tidal just to listen to your album when 99.9% of all other music I can find on Spotify. Then earlier this year Apple Music relaunched their video section with some exclusive music videos most notably an Alison Brie starring Beck video and an eight minute video from A Tribe Called Quest. Which begs the question do people who even subscribe to Apple Music watch music videos there instead of YouTube? Month later the Tribe video has finally hit YouTube and thankfully Apple has not commished many videos since.


If You Know You Know - Pusha T


So the month of G.O.O.D. music is over and this Pusha T song is easily the best song of the five albums, maybe the only actual good song.


Ape(shirt) - The Carters


As for the other little early promoted album that came out recently, I still have not listened to the joint The Carter album because I have no desire to sign up for Tidal, and if this is the best song like many have said, I am not missing much. Beyonce the rapper is kind of horrible.


Gold Rush - Death Cab for Cutie


I was a little disappointed that Richard Ashcroft did not show up in the latest Death Cab for Cutie music video.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/1/2018

Claws: Things are getting super weird. First they start with a fifties sitcom (right after the Brady Bunch homage last week). Then Desna’s boyfriend starts seductively feeding strawberries to his mother. Then the bizarre courtroom show of Jenn vs. Bryce. Jenn gets drunk in a way I would have never thought of. Oh and I just noticed the portrait of Bryce and Jenn in their bedroom which is… interesting.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Mocking Muhammad Ali has to be the dumbest thing Bill has ever done and he has done some really dumb things. But the stuff with Goldie and her daughter got really deep. So the daughter picks the sleaziest old dude as the guy she lost her virginity to. And then when Goldie almost kills him, Amanda just so happens to confess the only guy she had sex with is now dead. Pretty convenient which makes me wonder if she is telling the truth or not.

The Bold Type: For a prude who has only slept with now five guys and has had many super moral stands, it is weird how anti-religious Jane is. Sure, how her mom died is reasonable to turn her back on the church, but she does (mosty) seems to live by its rules.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: I wonder why Offred did not run at the beginning. Was it just because she had just seen her daughter and realize she did not want to abandon her again? Was it because she was pregnant? Did she fear getting caught again? Then what about the Waterford’s visit maker her want to run? And are garage doors really that tough? And I think that is the first time I ever heard anyone call Mr. Waterford Fred. But is he and his wife really that stupid to not look for footprints in the snow? So what now? Offred is stuck in the middle of nowhere with no transportation and a new baby.
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: What a lame basketball game. So after seeing how horrible the lives of opposing team’s players are, Cloak (presumably) bricks the final shot. And yet, though the referee was clearly trying to throw the game, he does not even blow the whistle on the play. But Dagger is clearly becoming the star of the show as she is finally able to harness her abilities and then exploiting them for her own personal gains. And then pushing Cloak over the guardrail hoping it would trigger his powers was the best part of the show yet.

But the big reveal was that Cloak’s brother’s buddy is in cahoots with the officer that killed the brother. Huh? And it seemed like the friend knew the cop killed the brother. So were they working together back then? Did the friend learn of the murder later? And I wonder if Cloak’s storyline with his brother’s killer will end up tying in with Dagger looking into Roxxon.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 6/29/2018

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 Garbage, Ariana Grande, Neil Diamond, Donna Summer, Hulu, Fear Factor, Halo, Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out, Baby Driver, and King of the Desert Lions.

- Garbage last week released the 20th anniversary edition of their legendary second album Version 2.0 via Almo Sounds/UMe. The package features the whole original album, as well as 10 B-sides from the era. The album is available to stream and download starting today HERE.

- Ariana Grande surprises fans ringing in her 25th birthday with “Raindrops,” a track from her upcoming fourth studio album Sweetener. The song was released alongside a video directed by Grammy Award®-winning director Dave Meyers. Watch “Raindrops” video HERE. Preorder Sweetener HERE.

- On August 17, Capitol/UMe will celebrate one of the century's most electrifying live albums, with the release of Neil Diamond's Hot August Night Ill, a live concert DVD/CD Blu-Ray multi-disc set. Hot August Night Ill chronicles Diamond's triumphant return to the legendary Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in August 2012.The magical evening was Diamond's 40th anniversary celebration of the original multiplatinum-selling Hot August Night collection that was recorded at the very same venue in 1972. Diamond's noted concert performance and onstage musical prowess is in full evidence on Hot August Night Ill, which features 33 songs including 31 greatest hits. Clocking in at over 2 hours and 20 minutes in length, Hot August Night Ill will be released in multiple audio/video configurations, including 2CD, 2CD + 1DVD, and 2CD + 1Blu-ray, as well as digital and download options. The multidisc set's accompanying video content contains rare behind-the scenes footage with both the band and the crew, showcasing the undeniably palpable energy surrounding Diamond's return to this most historic venue.

- The musical legacy of Donna Summer, the undisputed Queen of Disco and The First Lady of Love, remains hotter than ever as she once again tops the charts with her track ”Hot Stuff (Ralphi Rosario & Erick Ibiza 2018 Rework),” taken from Summer: The Original Hits, hitting No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.

- In a new library agreement with Viacom, Hulu is now the exclusive streaming home to full libraries of fan-favorite series including: Daria, Nathan for You, My Super Sweet 16, and New Edition Story. In addition, the deal brings a suite of 11 series from the Nickelodeon family and over 20 films to Hulu, titles now available to stream include: Big Time Rush, School of Rock, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn, Hunter Street, Make It Pop, Every Witch Way, and WITS Academy. Also returning to Hulu will be hit series Alvinnnn!!! and the Chipmunks, Kung Fu Panda and Penguins Of Madagascar. The new deal is part of Hulu’s commitment to expanding its library with programming for the whole family. More series and films from Nickelodeon will continue to rollout throughout the year.

- MTV’s Fear Factor returns with celebrity episodes on Tuesday, July 17th at 10PM ET with a two-hour premiere. Hosted by Ludacris, the series will include ten, one-hour celebrity episodes filled with new stunts inspired by urban legends, popular scary movies and viral videos from today’s cultural zeitgeist. The celebrity contestants will confront their fears, be pushed beyond their comfort zones and take action against some of their biggest stressors.

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- Halo, the award-winning and record-shattering series of video games, is bringing its universe to SHOWTIME. The network has ordered a 10-episode season of the live-action, scripted drama HALO (working title), based on the hallowed Xbox® franchise, with Kyle Killen (Awake) serving as executive producer, writer and showrunner. Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) will direct multiple episodes and also executive produce the hour-long series. Produced by SHOWTIME in association with Microsoft/343 Industries, along with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television, HALO will begin production in early 2019. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc.

- MTV’s Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out returns for SEASON 11 on Thursday, July 12 with two back-to-back episodes beginning at 11PM ET/PT, followed by new episodes Thursday and Friday nights at 11PM ET/PT. This season’s star-studded roster includes Rick Ross, TIP & Hustle Gang, Vic Mensa, KeKe Palmer, Winnie Harlow, Matt Barnes, Trick Daddy, Amara La Negra, Rich The Kid, Tyga, Justine Skye, Cordell Broadus, and many more.

- Showtime will offer the world television premiere of the Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominated film Baby Driver on Saturday, July 14 at 10:00. Showtime subscribers will also be able to watch the film across all platforms including SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and the SHOWTIME stand-alone streaming service.

- After spending nearly six years filming a remarkable pride of endangered desert lions, Smithsonian Channel is now bringing viewers the compelling narrative of their lives in Namibia’s extreme, searing terrain. This story, about one of the world’s most magnificent coalitions of five male lions, has not only touched the hearts of millions all over the world, it has even changed national law. King of the Desert Lions premieres on Wednesday, July 11 at 8:00.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 6/24/2018

Claws: Really, Desna and her boy toy were in the same place at the same time and did not run into each other? I hope they do not pull that all season. But, goodness, was that commercial entertaining.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Ron has done some pretty dumb and self-destructive things this season but marrying a stripper after one week has to top that list. While the episode was going on I was wondering what would last longer, his employment on the show or his marriage. I guess it should not be too surprising the marriage did not last the episode. Also not surprising is that Cassie’s SNL audition did not go well, the real question was what messed it up. It turned out to be Nick OD’ing.

Supergirl: Good riddance Toyman Jr. and Mon-El. So is the latter going back to work on his marriage? It seemed like he made his choice an episode or two ago and picked Kara. And where was Saturn Girl? She completely disappeared in the second half, she was not at the goodbye, nor was she seen on the spaceship with Toyman Jr. and Mon-El leaving. Is she staying here with Braniac 5 (which I hope) or did she go back to the future? Speaking of whatever happened to: what happened to Chad Lowe? He seemingly died last week, but was seen moving this week and then never seen after that.

Just really an uneven and poorly planned out season, well with the exception of the introduction of Saturn Girl. Seriously, if she is not coming back next season, just give Saturn Girl her own show, be it on The CW or the upcoming DC streaming service. As for what will definitely be on the show next season, it looks like we will be getting some Bizzaro Russian Supergirl while Lena Luther starts Phase 2 with Miss Tessmacher. Well, it cannot possibly be worse than this season… can it?
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

The Bold Type: There are very few things more annoying when a show has a big game changing moment in a season finale only for everything to go back to normal early in the next season. So when Jane go fired last week, I figured she would be back at Scarlett but the end of this episode. Jane even has a meeting with Jacqueline, except Jacqueline shockingly does not hire Jane back saying Jane needs this as a learning expierence. Kudos to Jacqueline for doing so. Granted I will take that back if Jane is back at the magazine by the end of next episode.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars II: Poor Stars, the show did everything to help you this season and still cannot win. But c’mon, how could Louise and Casper get to the food eating challenge first, get the least disgusting foods and leave the round last?
You can download The Challenge: Vendettas on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Well that was cold that Offred straight up told the Commander that it is not his baby. Well assuming he believes her. But he did get her back vry cruely. Except then he did the most gracious thing (well aside from freeing her) by letting her see June see her kid. Unless it was his plan all along to strand her there. But that would not make sence to strand your very pregnant Handmaid, but still not the smartest idea to let her travel.

Then right in the middle of this heavy episode is the driver’s wife randomly making out with a guard. And what about the beginning. Did Rory Gilmore put some sort of poison in her lady area to induce a heart attack on her Commander?
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Well Cloak and Dagger finally spent more than a minute and a half together on screen for the first time this episode though I guess nothing really happened when they were together. Basically we just got a recap of them learning about their powers. Then Dagger threw herself off a pier. Was she actually trying to kill herself or just testing the limits of her powers? She did manage to cut through a steel safe afterwards.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 6/22/2018

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 U2, Eric B and Rakim, Florence + the Machine,Cold War Kids, Noah Kahan, The Supremes, Leonard Bernstein, Public Image Ltd., Welshly Arms, Hulu, and Desus Nice and The Kid Mero.

- UMC/Island/Interscope announced three new vinyl reissues from U2. Remastered and pressed on 180gsm double LP black vinyl, Achtung Baby (1991), Zooropa (1993) and The Best of 1980-1990 (1998) will be released on July 27th. Achtung Baby (1991), Zooropa (1993) and The Best of 1980-1990 (1998) are available to pre order now here.

- Ever since they burst upon the scene in the late 1980s, Eric B & Rakim have been universally recognized as one of hip-hop's greatest creative units. Eric's distinctive soundscapes and Rakim's complex raps remain unequaled, and the duo's classic recordings remain a benchmark of the genre. Although the pair's albums have remained immensely influential, all have been out of print for some time, making the UMe release The Complete Collection 1987-1992 an especially timely package. Not only a mighty monument to Eric B & Rakim's larger-than-life catalog, this ten-disc vinyl/CD set is the first U.S. career expanding box set for a hip hop artist. The Complete Collection 1987-1992 incorporates two-LP vinyl editions of each of Eric B & Rakim's four original albums—1987's Paid In Full, 1988's Follow the Leader, 1990's Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em and 1992's Don't Sweat the Technique— plus two bonus CDs of vintage remixes, none of which have ever appeared on an album, and only a handful of which have previously been available digitally. All four LPs are housed in a ridged slipcase that also houses a 36-page book and the two bonus CDs. The bonus CDs include no less than 26 vintage remixes, including such influential classics as Coldcut's "Seven Minutes of Madness" mix of "Paid In Full," the "Six Minutes of Soul" reworking of "I Know You Got Soul," Marley Marl and M.C. Shan's mix of "My Melody," and "Friends," Eric B & Rakim's Top Ten 1989 collaboration with Jody Watley.

- Florence + the Machine unveil a new song, “Big God,” and video today—watch it, choreographed by Akram Khan and Florence and directed by Autumn de Wilde, HERE. “Big God” is the third track to be released from Florence + the Machine’s hugely anticipated fourth studio album High As Hope, out June 29 on Republic Records.


- Cold War Kids: Can We Hang On?: Late Night with Seth Myers:


- As he quietly becomes an international sensation with nearly 110 million cumulative streams to his name, Vermont singer and songwriter Noah Kahan returns with his new single, “Come Down,” today—listen here.

- On June 29, in anticipation of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Motown — a.k.a. Hitsville U.S.A. — and inspired by the album’s own recent 51st anniversary, Motown/UMe is releasing a 51-track, 2-CD Expanded Edition of The Supremes’ tenth studio effort, the chart-topping The Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland. The collection magnifies the scope of a seminal album that made history, including 27 tracks that are heard here for the first time via a number of updated mixes and alternate versions, as well as electrifying live performances captured at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City in May 1967, the last recorded performance of the original trio: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard.

- In a dazzling musical career that spanned more than forty years, Leonard Bernstein distinguished himself as a conductor, pianist and educator, as well as a passionate musical communicator. But it was his work as a composer that made the most enduring impression upon the public. Bernstein's timeless compositions have become deeply ingrained in the American soundtrack, encompassing the Broadway stage, the pop scene and the jazz world. Now, just in time for the 100th anniversary of his birth on August 25, some of his greatest works have been assembled for Jazz Loves Bernstein, available June 29 via Verve/UMe. The two-CD/digital collection spans the musical and emotional breadth of the Bernstein songbook, with interpretations of the maestro's classic tunes spanning more than half a century, performed by some of the era's finest jazz singers and musicians.
Starting today, Bobby’s Scott rare 1959 recording of “Ya Got Me” is available for streaming and for immediate download with digital album pre-order. Pre-order Jazz Loves Bernstein now.

- n celebration of Public Image Ltd.’s (PiL) 40th Anniversary, Abramorama and Verisimilitude have released the first official trailer and poster of the new music documentary The Public Image Is Rotten. The career-spanning documentary, tells the story of music icon John Lydon and his pioneering group PiL with a level of depth and intimacy never before seen. Following a sold-out screening at Camden London’s Odeon Cinema, the film will be released in multiple theaters across the United Kingdom and select European cities throughout the summer, followed by a North American theatrical tour in the fall kicking off at New York City’s downtown Metrograph on September 14. Watch the trailer for the film The Public Image Is Rotten HERE.

- Cleveland-based, blues and gospel-influenced Alternative band Welshly Arms debuts the video for their single, “Sanctuary,” today—watch and share here. The video exclusively premieres on Billboard, who hails the song as an “earnest, dramatically arranged track.”​ It was directed by Los Angeles-based director Dan Henry and shot in the desert near Acton, CA.

- Hulu announced a deal to acquire whistleblower doc Crime + Punishment as a Hulu documentary. After debuting at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, CRIME + PUNISHMENT went on to win the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Social Impact Filmmaking, and has garnered numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Independent Film Festival in Boston. Stephen Maing directed, produced and filmed, and Academy Award Winner Laura Poitras serves as an executive producer. The premium streaming service will partner with IFC Films to release the documentary simultaneously in theaters and on Hulu on August 24th.

- Showtime has ordered a weekly half-hour late-night series starring Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, scheduled for premiere in 2019. The first ever weekly late-night talk show on Showtime will feature popular TV and podcast personalities Desus and Mero, speaking highly off the cuff and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc.

2018 Summer Preview

For a couple straight years I did not do a Most Anticipated list for my upcoming music round up post because I was finding it hard to come up with five albums to get remotely excited about. So last spring I was excited to actually have five worth talking about. I thought this may be a turning point for the music industry who had been decimated by low revenues for years. But streaming was finally starting to turn a profit which in turn record labels were spending more money on diverse artist. Then I started to compire my summer preview... and the album outlook is pretty dire again. Seriously, there are only five albums that I will even give one listen two listed listed to be released in July right now and even then one of them is a live album by a two hit wonder from the eighties. Even January is not that dire for music.

Granted we did get some surprise late spring releases. For the past month Kanye West has put out an album each week with little notice. Sure if you cherry picked the best tracks from each of the for albums and you would still get a pretty mediocre compilation. I do not even care for the last one coming this week. Then Saturday, Jay-Z and Beyonce released a joint album under the name The Carters stealing a little of Kanye's thunder. Granted that album was received only slightly better than the G.O.O.D. albums. So maybe we will get a few more surprised albums this summer though after Kanye, Jay-Z, and Beyonce, there are very few artist that most people could get excited for a surprise release. But here are the albums I will at the very least give one spin on Spotify this summer. Click on the album for an Amazon pre order or click on the band's name to be taken to their iTunes page.


June 22
Passwords - Dawes
Bad Witch - Nine Inch Nails
All o This Life -The Record Company

June 29
High as Hope - Florence + The Machine
The Now Now - Gorillaz
Greetings from the Neon Frontier - The Wild Feathers
Uniform Distortion - Jim James
Our Country: Americana Act II - Ray Davies

July 6
Ascension - A Flock of Seagulls

July 13
Wide Awake - Rayland Baxter
Love Monster - Amy Shark

July 20
Take Me to the Disco - Meg Myers
All Ashore - Punch Brothers

August 10
Know. - Jason Mraz

August 17
Thank You for Today - Death Cab for Cutie

Agust 24
Parallel Universe - Plain White T's

August 31
My New Moon - Amos Lee
Runaway - Passenger
Villains - Emma Blackery

August 17
Sweetener - Ariana Grande

September 7
Raise Vibration - Lenny Kravitz
Egypt Station - Paul McCartney
Ruby - Macy Gray

September 14
Cry Pretty - Carrie Underwood

September 21
Piano and A Microphone: 1983 - Prince

TBA
Weezer (The Black Album) - Weezer
The 1975
Avril Lavigne
blink-182
The Doobie Brothers
Grimes
Robyn
Slick Rick
Taylor Swift
Tenacious D

And of course this could be the quarter that Dr. Dre releases Detox.

I Want My Music television: 6/18/2018

Fall In Line - Christina Aguilera feat. Demi Lovato


Were those children in the beginning supposed to be young Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato because the former has to have a decade on the latter. It is kind of weird to have this female empowerment song and video that ends with: directed by a dude. As for the song itself, meh.


Lost My Mind - Lily Allen


When Lily Allen released her last album, songs went into two categories, her usually bratty songs that she did on her first two album while the other half were more adult sounding. At the time I said I wished Lily would dump the bratty persona and just do grown up songs. Her new album is mostly adult sounding, unfortunately it is mostly boring.


Rocket Man - Little Big Town


Elton John was made for MTV. Too bad most of his best songs predated the music video format. Weird that \Little Big Town went with a Phantom Zone look for their version of Rocket Man.


Give Yourself A Try - The 1975


Is the lead singer of The 1975 transitioning into Haley Williams?

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 6/17/2018

Billions: So did anyone associated with the show actually think the big showdown between Axe and Taylor would have anything near the weight of Axe vs. Chuck? Actually Wendy vs. Taylor was more interesting. But was this Taylor’s play the whole time? There was a point in season one where Taylor had a choice to stay with Axe or flip on him when Connerty offered it. Did Taylor know then (s)he could do this to Axe?

Much more interesting was Chuck. I was thinking that Chuck was going to take the Attorney General deal and give up the witness for cover for the rest of the term. Instead everyone turned on Chuck who gets fired while everyone he screwed got to watch. So Chuck and Ax team up to saved them selves in the middle of the season only for both to end the season at their lowest. I always though the series would best end with those two sharing a prison cell, this this was almost satisfying. Until you realize there is a next season where they will undoubtable fight back (and probably prevail) against the AG and Taylor. And as the final scene showed, they will probably help each other even though thwy are better antagonists than partners.

Fear the Walking Dead: Meh, I hate this duel storytelling gimmick. I spent most of the episode wondering if I missed something, Madison was at the ballpark when it fell and then she starts this episode she runs into Al and I am thinking this was after what happened last week. But no, that happened in between the season. They were cute with that but they were teasing Madison being dead all season, making it so obvious that I was thinking that was a fake out, except it finally came she was, in fact dead. And it seemed pretty flimsy why Alicia blamed Dharma for her mother’s death. And why exactly did Madison die? Couldn’t she just run out the other end after leading the walkers inside? Hopefully now that we are caught up, that is it for this duel timelines.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Why is it every time a woman flippantly swears off men, a chick tries to kiss her? I wonder if lesbians stir things up just so they can convert more women to swear off men. And then we learned why Nick is so messed up. Oh geez. Nothing like beating someone with a lamp and then they just laugh at you.

Supergirl: Just how slow is that Asian dude? Alex tells him to get the Worldkillers blood before Alex starts fighting the Kryptonians. Yet after trapping them in the net, one of the Kryptonians was able to get to the lab before the Asian dude did. Alex was able to get the Kryptonite gun, fight another Krptonian and still got to the lab seconds after the Asian dude. But most inexplicable moment goes to Kara who tossed the blood to the bad guys thinking she could destroy it in midair but was late. Why didn’t anyone smash the tubes under their boots?
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

The Bold Type: So Jane already loses her job in the first week back? So I am guessing she will back at Scarlet by the end of the next episode. Or is Jacqueline going to make her sweat for the betrayal.
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars II: I cannot believe they spent so much time with whether CT/Tony would save Wes or Kailah only for them to have to deceide between Wes and Louise which was an obvious choice. All that time wasted and they did not even finish the elimination in this episode. Meh. You can download The Challenge: Vendettas on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Waterfords in Canada. Though I was hoping more with a confrontation with Luke. But we did get a meeting of the baby daddies. Except the driver could not tell the truth about the paternity her current gestating kid (at least he did not lie or leave anything out to june). But the most interesting part of the trip was our introduction to the first modern day American on the show. I would be interested to see a map. I believe they said the new capital is in Alaska and now we know Hawaii is also still a state. But I do wonder if Serena will ever take them up on their offer. The prospect of having her own baby has to be a very powerful bargaining chip. She definitely does not look like the strong and stoic woman she was in the first season anymore. Back in Gilead, weird for Aunt Lydia say the death of her four day old goddaughter was not her fault without any prompting or explanation. Kind of makes me think it was her fault. And after a couple of episode of being subservient after being caught escaping, is June finally ready to resist again?
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Another episode where Cloak and Dagger barely spend any time together. Unless you count the weird dream land place. And what was with the creepy 3-D printer figure? Voodoo priestesses have apparently gone high tech.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes
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Around the Tubes: 6/15/18

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 Turner, EPMD, Sheppard, Dagny, French Fries, Black Monday, Black Monday, and BIG3.


- What streaming in June on tntdrama.com, the TNT App, tbs.com and the TBS App: The Hunger Games saga and the Ocean’s trilogy will be available all month on TNT. Don't miss Keanu from TBS' own Jordan Peele (The Last O.G.).

- Hailing from Brentwood, New York and armed with a vibrantly original sonic vision, the pioneering duo of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith, collectively known as EPMD, arrived on the hip-hop scene in the late 1980s and quickly became an influential force in that heady era. UMe honors EPMD's contributions to the art of hip-hop with new two-LP vinyl reissues of the duo's first two seminal albums, 1988's Strictly Business and 1989's Unfinished Business. These classic albums have been unavailable on vinyl for decades, and these reissues mark their long-awaited return to the format in which fans first came to know them. Both albums have also been released in colored-vinyl editions that are available exclusively from the online retailer Urban Legends.

- Multi-platinum recording artist Sheppard is thrilled to release their sophomore album Watching the Sky last week, June 8, 2018 via Empire of Song/Decca Records/Republic Records. The album is available HERE. Watching the Sky has already spawned several hits for the Brisbane band with international single “Coming Home” leading the way. Amassing over 21 MILLION streams, radio success around the globe and platinum certification in Australia, “Coming Home” debuted on US television on the TODAY Show and been featured in American Ninja Warrior, American Idol, Champions, Bose’s latest ad campaign, and Lionsgate’s animated hit comedy Early Man. “Coming Home” is joined by GOLD hit “Keep Me Crazy,” Latin American Top 10 single “Edge of the Night,” summer singalong “Riding the Wave,” and most recently, “Hometown,” which was added by 100 Australian Radio Stations in just one week.

- Critically acclaimed Norwegian pop art-songstress Dagny has released her new soon to be hit track “Used To You” last week! Get it HERE via Republic Records. The song is the second banger Dagny has released in the past few months as she recently released “That Feeling When” which was praised by Idolator, Baeble and more! The video was shot in Dagny’s hometown of Tromsø and the live performance footage was taken from a special performance in Oslo. Check out the video here!

- On Sunday, June 17, TNT will air French Fries, the first short film in the Shatterbox Anthology, a series from Refinery29 and TNT dedicated to spotlighting the voices of female filmmakers. From Claws Executive Producer Janine Sherman Barrois, French Fries explores a young, hip African-American foodie couple’s fight to resolve communication problems in a modern marriage of six years, four months and three and a half days.


- Showtime has ordered the comedy series Black Monday, starring and executive produced by Emmy® nominated and Golden Globe® winning actor Don Cheadle – returning to Showtime after a five-season run as star and executive producer of House of Lies – with two-time Tony Award® nominee and Grammy® winner Andrew Rannells (Girls) and Regina Hall (Girls Trip) also leading the cast. The series was created by David Caspe (Happy Endings) and Jordan Cahan (My Best Friend’s Girl), who will serve as executive producers and showrunners. Emmy nominees Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Preacher, Superbad), who will also executive produce, directed the pilot. With an 10-episode order, Black Monday, a co-production between SHOWTIME and Sony Pictures Television Studios, will premiere in 2019.

- FOX Sports announced this week a multiplatform distribution plan for the 2018 season of BIG3. Each week, a game will stream live exclusively on Facebook, leading in to three additional games which will air exclusively on FOX or FS1 (simulcast live in the FOX Sports app) during the regular season and playoffs. The first BIG3 game to stream on Facebook will feature a match-up between 2017 BIG3 MVP Rashard Lewis’ 3 Headed Monsters and Mike Bibby’s Ghost Ballers on June 22 from Houston, TX, followed by Chauncey Billups’ Killer 3’s and Dermarr Johnson’s 3’s Company; Corey Maggette’s Power and Brian Scalabrine’s Ball Hogs; and Kenyon Martin’s Trilogy and Jermaine O’Neal’s Tri-State on FS1.

Previewing The Affair: Season Four

The Affair started out weird with its split storytelling and inconsistent narrators. Sometimes you would even forget about the murder mystery. Then they unveiled the murderer in the second season and then things got weirder. All four of the main characters went their separate ways (yet would stillfind themselves running into each other). Two got married, and the two that were married to each other and were part of the titular affair got divorced. And that led Noah to a weird trip to France that dominated the last half of last season.

And that is the thing, Noah dominated so much of last season, I barely remember what happened to the other three main characters last season. From the “Previously On” segment, I vaguely remember Cole hooking up again with Alison and her kid with Noah is actually Cole’s. Then Helen ended up getting married to a doctor. But still, Noah getting stalked by a corrections officer (or so he thought, he may be the least reliable of all the narrators) before following his lover to Paris where things got weirder than usual.

But it looks like they are bringing it back to more of an ensemble as the fourth season. The season weirdly starts with Noah and Cole in the same vicinity vaguely taking about someone who we are led to believe is Alison but since that is so obvious and her name is never spoken I think there is a twist coming. Remember Helen was randomly the person who ran over Scotty Lockhart. Then after about a minute we get a weeks ago title card and a tradition “Act 1” title alert.

The new season sees Noah move to Los Angeles to follow his kids after Vic took a job there. Helen and Vic are living in a beautiful house in the hills next to the daughter of a starlet (who is a recognizable starlet herself) with the youngest kids. The two eldest are off at college and though she is still in the title sequence the oldest is nor seen in the first six episodes. The second eldest is not seen but we do get to hear his voice on the phone. In their absence, Trevor more screen time in the season premiere

Noah inexplicably gets another teaching job, this time teaching English to inner city youth at a charter school despite being a convicted felon for that Lockhart murder. The trademark wildly different narratives are back. Noah thinks Helen pulls him into the women’s bathroom while Helen believes they went into the men’s restroom to talk.

Of course you will have to wait until week two to learn what is going on with Cole and Alison. Cole is still in Montauk running the restaurant with Alison. Though Cole does not think Alison wants to sell the Lobster Roll, Alison thinks Cole doesn’t want to sell. Then by the middle of the season both find their way out to the West Coast, not necessarily together.

The show sticks with its traditional Noah/Helen, Cole/Alison episode structure that seems to be the norm since season two. They start mixing things up later in the season with someone outside those four getting their own act. I do wonder if there is a The Affair analytics page to show which character gets the most featured acts and who randomly shows up in other people’s acts.

The Affair airs Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.

I Want My Music Television: 6/11/2018

Back To You - Selena Gomez


I used to wish Selena Gomez would spend more time acting than singing. Then she made Bad Liar, one of the greatest songs in recent memory and know I get excited whenever she releases something new. Unfortunately the two songs she has released since are vaguely EDM pop songs, including this one. But hey, at least the music video is fun.


Babe - Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift


Oh hey, boring Superman. And redhead Taylor Swift. Wasn’t redhead Taylor Swift the antagonist of the You Belong with Me video? I guess this is more Mad Men. Although Betty Draper left Don because she was cheating and do not believe she ever caught him.


New Light (Premium Content) - John Mayer


No I.D. produced Jay-Z’s entire last album and what better way to follow that up by producing what is probably John Mayer’s cheesiest song ever. It is either that or the duet with Katy Perry, but the this video maybe put it ahead.


Girls Like You - Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B


I have been jibbing Maroon 5 for a decade and a half that they only make music videos so Adam Lavine can make out a new hot chick. So it is weird that they are now making some women empowerment music video with women of every stripe and Adam does not make out with any of them.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 6/10/2018

Patrick Melrose: How apropos that the series started with Poppa Melrose dying and ended with Momma Melrose’s funeral. But it was weird with every previous episode spent the majority of the time on a single day with the last one kept jumping around. Nicholas

Billions: The penultimate is usually the big one with all the cards on the table (or at least most of them) but ever since Chuck and Axe joined forces to beat their cases, it just feels the show has been treading water. Sure there were three storylines that came out of that, Chuck vs. the AG, Axe vs. Taylor, and Connorty trying to revive the cases against Chuck and Axe, but none have the same verocity of Chuck vs. Axe. Hopefully something in the finale reignites that feud.

Fear the Walking Dead: The mounting evidence that Madison is not alive is mounting. If she is not with Alicia and Stand and the stadium is overrun with zombies, then where is she? Unless she is stuck with the medical supplies unbeknownst to everyone else. Although this begs the question, where did everyone else at the ball park go? Were they all killed by the fire zombies?
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

I’m Dying Up Here: Ron really is trying to do everything he can to get fired. Bad mouthing his show on Carson? You would think the only thing that getting the couch on Carson is to start out on the couch. Of course this is the seventies so there is good damage control. Imagine if the comic store owner trashed The Big Bang Theory on Kimmel. Speaking of self-destruction, Cassie does not get SNL because she was forking another dude. Man, these comics are incompetent.

Supergirl: Wait, Miss Teschmacher went to Yale and knows nuclear physics? Why has she been a secretary for the past fout year. I know the economy is not great, but it should not take that long for a highly skilled person to get a good job. Almost as shocking was Supergirl being able to defeat Reign that easy and three episodes left. Though it seems like the high council chick helped Kara defeat Reign so she can be the new Worldkiller. But why is Kara going back to Argo with Mon-El? Um, doesn’t she think that maybe Clark would want to meet his aunt for the first time?
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars II: Vertical Twister is one of the greatest challenges in Challenge history right up there with the challenge where they had to melt a block of ice with their butts.
You can download The Challenge: Vendettas on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Wait, Serena likes The Commodores? You would think she would like something classical or at the very least secular. Though I guess how a Gileadian would like being easy like Sunday morning. Well as long as you ignore the double entendre. I wonder after getting whipped if Serena will join the Resistance and help the Handmaid’s or if she will take that and never resist her husband again like the Bible tells her too. But One Eyed Ofwillie’s baby being saved by true loves kiss was a little too Once Upon a Time for me.
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Reverie: I realized I like this episode much more at the start before Mara showed up. A real shame when your lead character is a wet blanket.
You can download Reverie on iTunes.

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger: Well that was boring. The titular characters spent less than five minutes on screen together.
You can download Marvel's Cloak and Dagger on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 6/8/2018

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 Challenge: Final Reckoning, Minding the Gap, QUEST, Ballet Now, Shameless, Kidding, BIG3, Roger Daltrey, Meg Myers, Alicia Witt, Mallrat, and The Fourth Estate.

- MTV today announced that The Challenge: Final Reckoning will premiere on Tuesday, July 10 at 9:00. Final Reckoning marks the conclusion of the series trilogy, which kicked off with XXX: Dirty 30 followed by Vendettas. The Challenge franchise is the #1 unscripted cable series on Tuesdays and is a top 10 unscripted property on all of cable (L3). The newest installation travels players to South Africa to face the consequences of their actions from the past two seasons. All of the recent betrayals, regrets and wrongdoings will rise to the surface as the competitors pair-off for their fiercest vendetta yet. Will they be able to put aside their issues, settle the score and work together to take home the $1 million prize?

- Hulu announced that the company has acquired the rights to Minding the Gap, a moving documentary from director Bing Liu about three young men who bond across racial lines to escape volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. Ten years later, while facing adult responsibilities, unsettling revelations force them to reckon with their fathers, their mothers, and each other. The film will be released as a Hulu Documentary both theatrically across key markets in the US and on Hulu on August 17th.

- For his debut documentary, QUEST, director Jonathan Olshefski spent nearly a decade chronicling the daily triumphs and tragedies of the Raineys, a working class African-American family in North Philadelphia. The vérité film opens with a shot inside the family’s modest North Philly row home. PJ, who wants to follow in the musical footsteps of her Dad, is drumming on the windowsill. It’s election season in 2009 and while frying bacon for breakfast Mom Christine’a is telling the story of how someone in the neighborhood yelled out, “Vote for McCain!” “You know he didn’t say that around the polls,” she adds. Chris, on the phone with a friend, asks, “You vote for Obama? We know where you live at.” In the next scene, Chris is returning from the polls, and in another phone conversation he happily reports, “There was a line for the first time in umpteen years down here.” The acclaimed documentary feature film QUEST will have its national television debut on PBS series POV on June 18 at 10 PM opening the historic 31st Season of the longest-running independent documentary series on American television.

- Ballet Now will launch Friday, July 20, only on Hulu. Ballet Now provides a rarely seen, unfiltered glimpse into the world of ballet and what it takes to create a one-of-kind dance extravaganza. Featuring New York City Ballet’s Prima Ballerina Tiler Peck - the first ever woman to be asked to curate The Music Center’s famed BalletNOW program - and a diverse cast of world-class dancers from around the globe, the film follows Tiler as she tries to execute her groundbreaking vision of mashing together the worlds of tap, hip-hop, ballet and even clown artistry. With less than a week to pull it all off, Tiler faces the mounting pressures of not only dancing in multiple pieces, but also producing and directing this high profile event. The success of the performances rests squarely on her shoulders. Will she pull it off? Directed by Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker Steven Cantor, featuring New York City Principal Ballerina, Tiler Peck. Emmy Award-winning actress Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale, Mad Men) serves as Executive Producer.

- Showtime has announced its new fall comedy line-up with the ninth season of its hit series Shameless, starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy® and SAG Award® winner William H. Macy and Golden Globe® nominee Emmy Rossum, premiering on Sunday, September 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, followed by the series premiere of the new half-hour comedy series Kidding, starring Golden Globe® winner Jim Carrey in his first series regular role in more than two decades and reuniting him with Oscar winner Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), at 10 p.m. ET/PT. To watch and share the official trailer for Kidding, visit: https://youtu.be/OzwU7dbmAyY. For a special video announcement from the cast of Shameless, go to: https://youtu.be/lB1tAqfiht4.

- FOX Sports exclusively presents BIG3, the highly anticipated professional 3-on-3, half-court basketball league founded by Ice Cube. The league's eight teams travel to 10 different cities including new stops at Houston, Oakland, Detroit, Miami, Toronto, Boston, and Atlanta. All stops will feature four back-to-back games on Friday evenings with star players including Amar’e Stoudemire, Baron Davis, Kenyon Martin, Stephen Jackson, Chauncey Billups, Metta World Peace, and Nate Robinson and legendary Hall of Fame coaches including Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving, Gary Payton, Nancy Lieberman and George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin. Season two returns to FOX Sports on Friday, June 22 at 7:30 ET/4:30 PT.

- As Long As I Have You the critically acclaimed new album from legendary Who frontman Roger Daltrey is released today. During his career spanning five decade Daltrey has sold over 100 million records including 9 US & 10 UK top ten albums and 14 UK top ten singles. He’s played over well over 2000 gigs in a career spanning over 50 years including venues such as Woodstock, Monterey Pop, Glastonbury (twice), Hyde Park (four times), The Isle Of Wight (three times), Desert Trip, Shea Stadium, The Superbowl half time show and Live Aid to name but a very few.

- Meg Myers has released Take Me To The Disco, the haunting title track from her forthcoming album of the same name, out 7/20 on 300 Entertainment. The album opener is subtly arresting - a sweeping, ethereal song about feeling untethered and wanting to escape. Listen here.

- Accomplished Singer/Actress Alicia Witt announces 15,000 DAYS, her EP set for release on August 24. Billboard recently premiered Younger, the first single off the album. Witt reflects on the track, “When we are younger, when we are 17 or 18, we kind of know exactly who we are. I think I’m a much more similar person to that version of me now than I was a few years ago. So I wrote the song, thinking of how to appeal to that side in somebody else and to have that little child version of you connecting, and letting that be your authentic self, as you go out into the world as an adult.” Listen and purchase “Younger” here.

Having garnered attention from The New York Times and NPR, it’s quickly becoming apparent that 2018 is the Year of the Mallrat, with the release of her highly anticipated sophomore EP, "In The Sky" via Nettwerk Records. Her refreshingly honest observations of day-to-day life, her relatable and confessional lyrics, and her penchant for writing sticky melodies that you just can’t shake have all shaped 19 year old Grace Shaw into the kind of artist that is perfectly positioned to be Australia’s next big name in pop music.

- Turning to Charlottesville and its tragic aftermath, the next episode of the Showtime documentary series The Fourth Estate airs this Sunday, June 10 at 8:00 on Showtime.

Previewing Claws: Season Two

Claws was a pleasant surprise last summer with a decent mix of humor, action, and about one huge plot twist per episode. Seriously, do not ask me how Roller was able to survive being drowned, shot, set a fire, and being some weird od lady’s sex slave. But those elements did a good job at hiding some of its flaws like how Uncle Daddy goes way over the top every time he opens his mouth and maybe there was one too many plot twists. Sure, the funeral he arranged for Roller was great mostly because it was over the top but he could have toned it down in pretty much every other scene.

So the gist of the first season was Desna trying to get out from underneath the Dixie Mafia but ended the season under the thumb of the Russian mob. And if you thought the lady who was running the Russian mob last season was scary and ruthless, wait until you meet her family, notably Franka Potente (Run Lola Run) who wants to expand Desna’s opiate money laundering business and start a Magic Mike type review in South Florida. Oh yeah, and the season ended with Uncle Daddy buddying up to the Haitian mafia to battle the Russian mafia and the Haitian mafia just so happened to be run by Desna’s boyfriend.

And Desna is not the only one with problems, Desna’s autistic brother knocked up Virginia, Jennifer got caught hooking up with a rabbi, and it has not yet, but you know Polly banging the guy who runs the clinic will end badly. And things are set for a just as wild, or wilder in the seconds season. I am not sure what will make Desna go into a rage more, Virginia’s pregnancy or her boyfriend’s secret life (we do learn the answer to one of those pretty quickly and an annoyingly close call to the other). Then Potente just set everything aflame (literally in one scene) which just adds to the craziness. We even get a surprise marriage in the premiere (hint, it is not Virginia and Dean). The second season of Claws just may be wilder than the first.

Claws airs Sundays at 9:00 on TNT.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 6/3/2018

Patrick Melrose: Oh wow, Patrick has of his own now? He looks like he is trying very hard not to be his father but turns out he is damaging the kid in different ways than his father did. And I am surprised he did not get injured going to the liquor store.

Billions: I thought Axe finally (and probably wisely) upgraded from Lara, until I realized that he was playing Maria Sharapova. That would have been a massive upgrade. And I still am not entirely sure why Ben Kim did a strip tease in the elevator, I am just glad he did.

I’m Dying Up Here: Gee, Cassie really is trying for that second kid. Is she going to go back to Bill next episode? And just when is Ron going to get a comeuppance? Once you start burning money, it has to come pretty soon.

Supergirl: Mama El is still alive? What? And just what does the High Council chick know? Is she communicating with Reign on Earth or is that just a hologram like Kara’s mom she talks to? But how convenient for Alex that every assassination attempt had a lengthy delay? She was able to pick up a grenade and put it in some bomb resistant receptacle (seriously, what park has those?). Then the dude set her motorcycle explode except she had enough time to flee before that went off too.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

Lucifer: So the show filmed a couple episodes for season four after they were done with season three before going on break… except Fox decided to cancel the show anyway. Kind of weird to have a show on the bubble do that. I do wonder if the first episode was meant to be the season premiere because they did not touch on the cliffhanger at all. But if Ella’s imaginary friend was going to be a season plot point, I actually want to see that. It would be better than the Cain plot or Lucifer’s mom. But when they put Able in a quirky chick’s body, that only lasted one episode so maybe we would have not seen ReyRey again after this.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars II: What a silly way to split a tie. They should have said if you cannot agree, you would be sent into elimination. I would love to see who budged them. But at this point of the game, getting out the strong teams is the right strategy. They should target CT and Tony.
You can download The Challenge: Vendettas on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: There has been a lot of debate of if Hulu should follow the Netflix model and dump every episode at once or continue the television model of weekly episode. Last week is why it is right to do the television model because it is more impactful to have to wait a week to live with what the aftermath of the bombing meant (it has been months for me as that was the last screener I saw). If you could just press play for the next episode, then the explosion had little impact. Sure it was pretty obvious Waterford would survive but the big shocker from the fallout was that Rory Gilmore and One Eyed Offwillie were reinstated as Handmaids. And now we half to wait week to see what that all means which makes it more meaningful.
You can stream The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

The Americans: When the show started, it was weird watch because the protagonists were trying to bring down America. I figured the only way to have a satisfying ending would them being brought down or at the very least being flipped by the FBI. Neither of those happened because Philip and Elizabeth get to live happily ever after in Russia (or at the very least contently ever after). So I am a bit disappointed on that ending.

I did find it a bit weird Stan knew where Paige lived. Or did he call into the FBI to get that info? But how quick could they come up with that in the eighties? It was wise of him not to take a hard stand against them in the parking garage because he was out numbered. Though I was surprised he did not call it in later and feigned ignorance when his boss confirmed they were the spies. I kind of wished that was the climax with a five or so minute epilogue after that instead of another half an hour (without ads). As surprising as Stan letting them go was Paige staying. When she started talking about who would take care of Henry in her apartment, I thought she would make an argument of how she should, or just wanted to stay in America. So it was weird when she just left the train. But overall I guess it wasa show with watching.
You can download The Americans on iTunes.