When Hulu announced the monthly anthology series Into the Dark with each installment being based on a holiday from those four weeks, the themes seemed easy to predict. And here we are at the penultimate installment and with the exception of March, they were. Of course with the announcement, my mind was searching for what they possibly could do for March. The only thing listing in my calendar was a Muslim holiday. There were also lesser acknowledged holidays like Grandparents day which would have been my bet. Instead, Into the Dark went with something that is not really a holiday and is something that is not celebrated on a universal day, and sometimes does not even happen in August: the first day of school.
The previous ten chapters covered many different sub-genres of horror, but the latest installment, School Spirit, final delves into probably the most popular: the slasher flick. But this is a new millennium, post-#MeToo slasher flick, not the type from the heyday of the eighties. So despite the opening scene involving two teen boys planting a webcam in the women’s locker room the day before classes start, but one claim claims he is “not gonna be a pervert about it.” But he becomes the first victim before and of the girls have their first gym class. There is also no clichéd have sex then die scene, the closest thing is a guy gets slashed while waiting for someone to show up and have sex with him.
Not only is the sex tamed down, the gore is pretty watered down. Some of the deaths happen just as the camera cuts away, while the camera instead focuses on the blood running down the floor. The kills that are shown are not the particularly scary. There are actually more scares in Hulu’s teen skewing horror show Light as a Feather than in School Spirit.
School Spirits takes place at a school named Helbrook, which, you know, pretty cool name for a horror film. After our introductory kill, we are then taken to the first Saturday detention of the year where the usual suspects are already gotten in some sort of problem, but things get interesting when the Ivy-bound student of the year also joins them. But this is the perfect setting for a slasher flick, the setting is big but space with a limited amount of potential victims, just five students and the vice principal. Actually that was kind of the premise of another Hulu horror show targeted at teenagers, Freakish.
One of the delinquents tells the story of the school being haunted of a teacher who died and haunts the halls getting revenges on the type of bad kids who sent her to an early grave. And of course then they start getting picked off one by one. The twist at the end is actually surprising and well done, unfortunately the watered down content that precedes it just puts a damper on the whole episode.
Into the Dark Power Ranking
1. The Body (October)
2. Culture Shock (July)
3. All That We Destroy (May)
4. Down (February)
5. New Year, New You (January)
6. School Spirt (August)
7. Pooka! (December)
8. I’m Just Forking with You (April)
9. They Come Knocking (June)
10. Treehouse (March)
11. Flesh and Bone (November)
Into the Dark: School Spirit premieres tomorrow on Hulu.
Veronica Mars: Episode 1: I really do not like when television shows drop all at once. As soon as Veronica Mars was erased there were though pieces on the shocking finale when I had not even gotten though one episode. And I am not entirely sure what Hulu is doing with their release schedule, sometimes it is weekly, and sometimes it is all at once. The Handmaid’s Tale and Harlots are currently being released weekly, and then Veronica Mars, Light as a Feather, and Four Weddings and a Funeral coming Friday are all at once. Then the Wu-Tang show is weekly. Then they just announced all their fall shows, Looking for Alaska, Dollface, Reprisal, and Runaways will be all at once. I guess I can understand the teen skewing shows going all at once, but shouldn’t the adult shows be weekly? I really hate asking people what episode they are on in hope of discussing what I just watch.
I also like talking about shows, dissecting every episode. When these seasons are release all at once, I usually post about them once and that it is. But I really like talking about Veronica Mars so I do plan about talking about what I watch that week (probably one or two episodes, I want to savor instead of binging and then probably forgetting I even watch the next week. As I did above, I will clearly state what episodes I am talking about.
The start of the season was a bit slow for me. Ronnie in love is usually boring and in-between season Logan somehow went from the obligatory psychotic jackass to kind of a wet blanket. Of course I have always been team DeputyDetective Leo. At least it picked up with the bombing. Here is my prediction: the hotel owner did it so his daughter could get the insurance money.
You can watch Veronica Mars on Hulu.
Big Little Lies: Well that was a weird season. I spend the whole time we were heading to a big showdown between Reece’s husbands but they do not even run into each other for the past two episodes. And after Adam Scott gets propositioned, he wants to renew his vows. And then we end the season (series?) with the Monterey Five walking arm and arm into the police station presumably all willing to admit to perjury. At least we got an epic courtroom scene to start off the episode. But yes, I would definitely watch a potential third season.
Claws: Oh wow, they killed the lady cop. But does that not just prove everything the candidate said? He talks about his gay sister and then exposes the governor’s Asian mob ties and a day later the girlfriend gets murdered. Even if she just “disappears” that looks bad. The national media would descend on that more than if a senate candidate got caught hanging out with teenage girls.
You can download Claws on iTunes.
City on a Hill: The worst part of these season long mystery shows, there always seems to be an episode where one of the cops takes an entire episode looking for their kid. Thankfully we just got an abridged version her. But what was that all about? Was the snitch intentionally trying to let Kevin Bacon he can get to him too, or just doing it to hurt him?
Fear the Walking Dead: So the zombies exposed to radiation may not be as deadly as the scientist lead everyone to believe? Alrighty. Maybe the actress is in a contract dispute and they are getting to sign a low ball deal, if not her character dis a slow and painful death..
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.
The Handmaid’s Tale: Well, it has been a while since June has been ritualistically raped. At least they did not show it this time. But I am still wondering what Serena is up to. Is she really trying to get “her” baby back or does she have an alternative motive. She ended last season getting her finger cut off and letting June leave with the baby. Does she regret letting her go or is she still bitter for the finger and is going to screw Fred and Gilliad as a whole by the end of the season?
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
Harlots: Wait, did they really just kill off Charlotte Wells? She is kind of the biggest name on the show. I know television characters have survived much worse but there is not much people in England a couple of centuries could do when you crack open your skull and have that much blood start to pool.
You can watch Harlots on Hulu.
Krpton: Did we really need a Doomsday origin story? Probably not. But I am a bit surprised they have not resurrected Lyta yet.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.
Swamp Thing: Okay, I am not entirely sure what is going on with the Blue Devil. It does not help that all his killing happen off screen. But I am not entirely sure what his power is. Does he just burn people with his touch?
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So they really are going to turn Not-Coulsen into Kind Of Now Coulsen by the end of the season? Yeah that whole thing is kind of confusing.
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.
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 Dollface, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Looking for Alaska, Reprisal, Snow Patrol, The Avett Brothers, Gary Clark Jr., Phantogram, Jeremy Zucker, Hero The Band, The Handmaid’s Tale, Love, Beth, Padma Lakshmi, Ramy, Marvel’s Runaways, Designing Women, Hunt for Eagle 56, Sid and Judy, Sick Girl, and Big Boy’s Neighborhood.
- New Original comedy series Dollface follows Jules (Kat Dennings), a young woman who – after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend – must deal with her own imagination in order to literally and metaphorically re-enter the world of women, and rekindle the female friendships she left behind. The 10-episode series will debut all episodes on Friday, November 15. Dollface stars Kat Dennings, Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell and Esther Povitsky. The series created by Jordan Weiss, who serves as an executive producer alongside showrunner Ira Ungerleider; Margot Robbie, Brett Hedblom and Tom Ackerley for LuckyChap Entertainment; Bryan Unkeless and Scott Morgan for Screen Arcade; Kat Dennings; Nicole King and Stephanie Laing (VicePrincipals). Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West) will executive produce and direct the first episode. Dollface is produced by ABC Signature Studios, part of Disney Television Studios.
- Previously announced, Wu-Tang: An American Saga will debut on Wednesday, September 4 with three episodes, followed by a new episode every Wu-Wednesday. Based on one of the most influential and important groups in hip-hop history, the 10-episode Wu-Tang: An American Saga is inspired by “The Wu-Tang Manual” and “Tao of Wu” and based on the true story of the Wu-Tang Clan. Set in the early '90s New York at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic, the show tracks the Clan's formation, a vision of Bobby Diggs aka The RZA, who strives to unite a dozen young, black men that are torn between music and crime but eventually rise to become the unlikeliest of American success stories. Wu-Tang: An American Saga stars Ashton Sanders, Shameik Moore, Dave East, Siddiq Saunderson, Marcus Callender, Julian Elijah Martinez, Zolee Griggs, Erika Alexander, TJ Atoms and Johnell Young. The series is created and written by Alex Tse and The RZA and executive produced by Tse, The RZA, Method Man, Brian Grazer, Michael Rosenberg and Francie Calfo. Wu-Tang: An American Saga is produced by Imagine Television.
- Also previously announced, Looking for Alaska, the limited series based on the best-selling John Green novel of the same name, will debut all eight episodes on Friday, October 18. The series centers around teenager Miles “Pudge” Halter (Charlie Plummer), as he enrolls in boarding school to try to gain a deeper perspective on life. He falls in love with Alaska Young (Kristine Froseth), and finds a group of loyal friends. But after an unexpected tragedy, Miles and his close friends attempt to make sense of what they’ve been through. The series stars Charlie Plummer, Kristine Froseth, Denny Love, Jay Lee, Landry Bender, Sofia Vassilieva, Uriah Shelton, and Jordan Connor. Also starring are Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us) and Timothy Simons (Veep). Looking for Alaska is created for television by Josh Schwartz; the series comes from Paramount Television and Schwartz and Stephanie Savage’s Fake Empire. Savage and Schwartz serve as executive producers alongside Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, John Green, and Marty Bowen and Isaac Klausner of Temple Hill. Fake Empire executive Lis Rowinski serves as co-executive producer. Sarah Adina Smith (Hanna, Legion) directs the first episode.
- On December 6, Hulu will launch all 10 episodes of new Original drama series Reprisal. The series is a hyper-noir revenge tale following a relentless femme fatale who, after being left for dead, leads a vengeful campaign against a bombastic gang of gear heads. Reprisal stars Abigail Spencer, Rodrigo Santoro, Mena Massoud, Madison Davenport, Rhys Wakefield, David Dastmalchian, W. Earl Brown and Gilbert Owuor. The series is created by executive producer and showrunner Josh Corbin and executive produced by Warren Littlefield, Barry Jossen and Jonathan Van Tulleken, who directs 5 of the 10 episodes.
- Snow Patrol announce the first of 2 Reworked EPs, released on August 9th, including a stunning new version of Crack The Shutters available to hear now.
- This week Grammy Award®-nominated collective The Avett Brothers have reached the top Americana Radio Airplay Chart with “High Steppin’” coming in at #1. “High Steppin’” is the first single from The Avett Brothers’ anticipated album Closer Than Together [American/Republic Records], out Friday, October 4, 2019.
- Multiplatinum Icelandic quintet Of Monsters and Men release their anxiously awaited third full-length album, FEVER DREAM, via Republic Records. Check out Fever DreamHere! The band announced on their social media channels last month they have been in the studio over the last few months and are releasing a new track ahead of more music later this year, celebrating the 25th anniversary since Snow Patrol formed.
- Front and Center, the critically acclaimed concert series that kicked off its ninth season this month, announced that GRAMMY Award-winning artist Gary Clark Jr., best known for his fusion of blues, rock and soul music with elements of hip hop, is featured in its next episode on public television (check local listings).
- Phantogram unveils the video for their latest single, “Into Happiness”—watch and share HERE! Of the video, Phantogram says, “‘Into Happiness’ is a song about growth and realization of a lot of things in our lives over the years. We teamed up with Floria Sigismondi, whose work we’ve loved for some time; it was fun to put ourselves in her hands and let her take the video and song where she saw it going. Since we’ve known each other since preschool, she wanted to show our journey together throughout our lives.”
- Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and producer Jeremy Zucker drops a new song for his fans called “oh, mexico” today—listen and share HERE! “oh, mexico” follows in the footsteps of his 2018 groundbreaking song, “comethru,” which has not only reached over a staggering 140 million Spotify streams and 100 million video views to date, but was recently re-added to Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits playlist over 10 months after its release.
- Hailing from Decateur, GA, Hero The Band makes a splash with their debut single for LAVA Records/Republic Records called “Back To Myself,” out today—watch the video HERE! Hero The Band—a quartet of brothers each born a year apart—emerge at a sonic crossroads between arena rock, experimental alternative, and swaggering R&B. “Back To Myself,” produced by Pete Nappi [Meghan Trainor, Kesha, Thirty Seconds To Mars], pairs a steady beat with earthquaking guitars and a soaring chant, “I’m getting back to myself.”
- Hulu’s 11-time Emmy®-winning drama series The Handmaid’s Tale has been picked up for a fourth season. The Handmaid’s Tale is executive produced by Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Ilene Chaiken, Eric Tuchman, John Weber, Sheila Hockin and Frank Siracusa. The series is produced by MGM Television. New episodes of the current third season stream weekly on Wednesdays.
- Hulu has joined forces with Emmy® Award-winning powerhouse comedian Amy Schumer for a first-look deal that will kick off with her new comedy series, Love, Beth. The 10-episode, half-hour comedy series from Endeavor Content stars Schumer as Beth. Love, Bethis created, directed, written, executive produced by and starring Amy Schumer. Executive producers also include Kim Caramele and Kevin Kane. Endeavor Content is also representing international sales. Further details about the series will be announced at a later date. Love, Beth is expected to launch late 2020.
- The Untitled Padma Lakshmi Series is a living cookbook made up more from people and culture than recipes. Curated by Emmy®-nominated host and author Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef), the series embraces culinary traditions from the first Americans to the latest arrivals alongside Padma’s perspectives and personal connection to each story. Filmed around the country, each episode starts with a single dish that represents and connects to a community’s history and traditions, and explores the evolution of that immigrant community through that cuisine. From family recipes and street food to high-end restaurants, each dish explored is a symbol of a unique journey and story that provides viewers a window into where communities came from and the tale of how they set roots in America. In the hands of different families and waves of immigration, an organic evolution emerges between traditional recipes and new approaches, different perspectives and emotions, all captured thru Padma’s eyes. Each 30-minute episode follows Padma as she learns, immerses and celebrates communities from around the world that have taken root in America, changed it and been changed by it. The 10-episode series is produced by Part2 Pictures.
- Two-time Academy Award® and Golden Globe® Award-winner Mahershala Ali has been cast as a special guest star in the Hulu Original comedy series Ramy. Ali, who is a huge fan of the series, will join creator Ramy Youssef in the second season, which is slated to premiere in 2020. Ali was recently nominated for an Emmy® Award for his critically-acclaimed performance in HBO’sTrue Detective. Marvel announced last week at San Diego Comic-Con that Ali has signed on to play BLADE in an upcoming feature for them. His credits include MOONLIGHT and GREENBOOK for which he won Academy Awards® for his performances. Ramy follows first-generation, Egyptian-American Ramy Hassan (Ramy Youssef) who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. Ramy brings a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it’s like to be caught between a religious community who believes life is a moral test, and a millennial generation that might not believe in an afterlife. In the second season, Ramy will delve further into his spiritual journey, finding a new Muslim community and embracing a deeper commitment to Islam. Ramy is written, executive produced, created by and starring Ramy Youssef, executive produced by Jerrod Carmichael, A24’s Ravi Nandan, co-creators Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, and produced by A24.
- Marvel’s Runaways will return for season three on December 13 with all 10 episodes. In an action-packed Season 3, the Runaways frantically search for their captured friends Chase, Gert and Karolina. The kids go head to head with an unstoppable enemy who has targeted Leslie — or more accurately, the child she’s carrying. Nico draws them all into a dark realm where its ruler Morgan le Fay, played by Elizabeth Hurley, is much more nefarious than anyone the kids have yet to face. The series stars Rhenzy Feliz, Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer, Gregg Sulkin, Allegra Acosta, Annie Wersching, Ryan Sands, Angel Parker, Ever Carradine, James Marsters, Kevin Weisman, Brigid Brannagh, James Yaegashi, Brittany Ishibashi, and Elizabeth Hurley. Marvel’s Runaways is executive produced by series showrunners/writers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (The O.C. and Gossip Girl) along with Marvel’s Head of Television, Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger) and Quinton Peeples. Marvel’s Runaways is a co-production with ABC Signature Studios, part of Disney Television Studios. It is based on the Marvel comics created by the award winning-team of Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona.
- Yesterday, in a deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT), Hulu has announced that it has acquired the rights to fan favorite comedy Designing Women set to stream on Hulu August 26...Women's Equality Day! Superfans can catch the entire series (163 episodes across 7 Seasons) starting August 26 to relive the 80’s hit following the women’s no-nonsense wit, humor and day-to-day antics!
- Smithsonian Channel will reveal the exclusive story of the discovery of the “Holy Grail” of missing World War II warships, the USS Eagle 56. The new three-part series, Hunt for Eagle 56, will follow the Nomad Exploration Team – a group of New England wreck divers who made the discovery – as they unearth cryptic clues 200 feet below the ocean’s surface off the coast of Maine. The revelation confirms that Eagle 56 is the last U.S. Navy warship sunk by a German submarine off the U.S. East Coast during WWII. HUNT FOR EAGLE 56 will premiere on Smithsonian Channel on Sunday, September 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Hunt for Eagle 56 features moving interviews with relatives of Eagle 56 sailors and never-before-seen accounts from survivors. Eagle 56 Seaman First Class James Cunningham will be posthumously awarded a Purple Heart for his service at a ceremony this Saturday, July 27 at NOSC Memphis in Millington, Tennessee. The Purple Heart will be presented by Rear Admiral Hughes, Navy Personnel Command (2-star) to Cunningham’s sister, Clara Cunningham Osborn, who will be accepting this honor on her late brother’s behalf.
- Showtime Documentary Films today announced it will premiere the new documentary Sid and Judy from director Stephen Kijak (STONES IN EXILE, WE ARE X), producer Diane Becker and Academy Award® winning producer John Battsek (ERIC CLAPTON: LIFE IN 12 BARS, LISTEN TO ME MARLON) on Friday, October 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Narrated by Emmy® winner Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Academy Award nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (PATRICK MELROSE), Sid and Judy explores the dramatic career and personal struggles of the talented and tragically short-lived entertainer Judy Garland through rare concert footage, never-heard-before voice recordings and personal photos. The film premiered at the Frameline Festival in San Francisco in June and will screen at Outfest Los Angeles on Saturday, July 27 at the iconic Ford Theater in Hollywood.
- Sick Girl, is the feature-film debut for writer/director Jennifer Cram (“Inception,” ”22 Jump Street”). Nina Dobrev (”xXx: Return of Xander”) serves as both star and executive producer on the film. Dobrev is joined by Wendi McLendon-Covey (”The Goldbergs”), Brandon Mychal Smith (”Four Weddings and a Funeral”), Sherry Cola (”Good Trouble”), Stephanie Koenig (”The Gay And Wondrous Life Of Caleb Gallo”), Hayley Magnus (”The Dressmaker”), Dan Bakkedahl (”Veep”), and Ray McKinnon (”Ford Vs Ferrari”). Sick Girl, is a female driven comedy about a woman who feels that she and her life long friends have grown apart. This is very much a ‘be careful what you wish for’ film where a simple little lie begins to tear a whole community apart. The cast is led by Nina Dobrev as ”Wren Pepper,” whose white lie takes them all on an unexpected ride.
- Fuse Media has renewed Big Boy’s Neighborhood for a third season. Premiering Thursday, August 1 on Fuse at 7:30 A.M., the televised version of iHeartMedia’s nationally-syndicated hit radio show starring radio legend Big Boy is one of the youngest-skewing series on the network, attracting an audience with a median age 5-6 years younger than the Fuse average.
In episode five of the new season of Light as a Feather, one character says to another, “Remember when I electrocuted you.., good times.” And I sat there thinking, um, no. And there lies the first world problem with Peak TV. Even though the show just dropped off of its episodes in the first season just nine months ago, I have to rack my brains to remember what happened. Obviously I remember a group of girls played Light as a Feather (it is the title) and then people started to die. And I do remember the protagonist ended the season with the weird growth on her back. But then things got fuzzy.
There were characters that popped up when I thought they died in the first season. Others that I thought were alive apparently were not. Then there were a few characters that came on screen making me wonder, should I know who this is. It probably did not help that they recast the leach chick’s mother. Instead of the prerequisite one minute “previously On” segment to open of the season, shows like this really to put a ten minute tutorial to remind watchers what exactly is going on.
So as a quick refresher, a group of cool girls invited the new girl to a slumber party. The new girls suggest playing Light as a Feather with a twist of telling a horror story of how each other the four other girls die. And then one of the girls dies that very way. And then another dies too. The season ends with the remaining two girls breaking the curse by playing the game again and having McKenna’s dead twin sister took the curse and sending the new girl Violet to juvy. Or so they thought as the final shot is the McKenna find the growth that was on Violet’s back.
As the new season starts, we have fast forward to Christmas, but since the show takes place in Southern California (I think) you could think it was still the summer if it is not for the elf costumes and Oh Holy Night playing in the background. McKenna is still dating the long haired dude boy next door (yeah, totally forgot that was a thing) , oh, and like I said earlier, there is a growth on her back that brings along with it pain, nightmares and blackouts. This then leads McKenna to the only person that can help her. And for that help, Violet (who does inform McKenna that the curse never made her blackout) asks for one thing in return, her freedom.
Season two of Light as a Feather is an interesting dichotomy of what two very different would do in the same predicament. Violet had no problem letting people die if that meant the curse was broken. On the other hand, McKenna refuses to play the game again which would kill four innocent people, even if it means she will be cured. But wouldn’t you know, during one ogf the blackouts, she plays with four unsuspecting people (one being the girl from The Walking Dead whom we last saw without here body attached as her head rested on a stake, so yeah, she was available for other work).
The twist of the blackout is well done. We also get a flashback to two years ago to see just how McKenna’s sister dies. We even meet someone who played the game long before Violet got cursed this season. Tomorrow only sees the first eight episodes of season two released with the last eight coming in October just in time for a Halloween binge. Here is hoping I can actually remember what happened in the first eight episodes in three months.
The first half of Light of a Feather premieres tomorrow on Hulu.
Big Little Lies: When I saw the title, “The Bad Mother,” I thought to myself, well that could be just about everyone on the show. But I guess the title was supposed to be about Nicole Kidman who got raked through the coals during her trail. But with one episode left, the question is if they are going to do anything big or are they going to wrap this p. If we are going to get season three, clearly someone is going to break, the obvious being Zoe Kravitz, but Shailene Woodley’s co-worker mention the first person that crack will get off easy. But I was a bit disappointed there were no scenes between Reece’s huisbands this week, because up to this point I thought maybe one would kill the other.
Claws: Wait, Dean dumped Virginia? Did not see that one coming. But the best part of the episode was When Jenn walked in on Virginia. Just the indignity that Jenn felt when Virginia admitted that she does not subscribe to Jenn’s Instagram and them Jenn just ended the argument by hoping Virginia gets her herpes. Oh snap.
You can download Claws on iTunes.
City on a Hill: Oh yeah, this whole thing started with that snitch whose buddy killed that cop. I think this was the first time we have seen him since the first episode. And now he is hanging with Kevin Bacon’s daughter. That is probably not end well for someone.
Fear the Walking Dead: So Alicia got splattered with radiation blood. So I wonder if hert organs will melt from the inside, someone will mercy kill her first, or if hot scientist will somehow know how to cure her. Or simply that was not one of the meltdown zombies.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.
The Handmaid’s Tale: Good for Crazy Handmaid to point out how different Ofjoseph had become. The scene last week where she just had the weird smile during the shooting spree was just not a good look for her. Neither was rummaging through the medical waste. Maybe she is normal now. Well except for her new kidnapping scheme.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
Krpton: Well Lyta is still dead. Kind of expected to see her alive somehow by the end of the episode. But since General Zod has not been Marty McFly’d out of existence, you have to assume she will be back by the end of the season.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.
Swamp Thing: So the evil origination that Avery feared so much he killed a reporter goes all the way up to the CDC. And now they presumably have Swamp Thing himself. So just how is he getting back to the swamp?
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: I knew it was weird pilot dude passed out at the party. But now I wonder why if he was being possessed by bat lady. No one else passed afterwards out because of it. She literally knocked Mac out so he could not do anything after she left his body. But we did learn what was up with Not-Coulsen and, um, it was complicated.
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.
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 Veronica Mars, On Becoming a God in Central Florida, Hitsville: The Making of Motown, Kate Tempest, Kassi Ashton, untitled Alicia Keys project, Schitt's Creek, WikiLeaks, and CTRL ALT DELETE.
- As announced yesterday by Kristen Bell during the series’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Hulu has made all 8 episodes of the new Veronica Mars season available to stream now, only on Hulu.
- Showtime has released the official poster and trailer for its new dark comedy series On Becoming a God in Central Florida, premiering on Sunday, August 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Kirsten Dunst (Fargo), the 10-episode series is a story about the cult of free enterprise and one woman’s relentless pursuit of the American Dream.
- Showtime Documentary Films today announced it will premiere the new documentary Hitsville: The Making of Motown from directors Benjamin and Gabe Turner (Class of 92, I Am Bolt, One Direction: This Is Us) on Saturday, August 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The remarkable story of the legendary Motown Records is told through new and exclusive interviews with the label’s visionary founder, Berry Gordy, and many of its superstar artists and creative figures, as well as rare performances and behind-the-scenes footage unearthed from Motown’s vaults and Gordy’s personal archives. Hitsville: The Making of Motown is the first documentary about the iconic label with Gordy’s participation.
- British spoken word artist, rapper, poet, novelist and playwright Kate Tempest debuted a fiery and passionate performance of her track “Firesmoke” from her new album The Book Of Traps & Lessons on Late Night with Seth Meyers last night—watch it HERE!
- Kassi Ashton, one of the most compelling rising stars in Nashville, has today unveiled the new music video for her song "Field Party". The upbeat, anthemic song calls for nothing short of a fun and energetic party, and that's exactly what the video delivers. The clip features Kassi with her friends in a field outside of an old factory in Nashville, TN, celebrating, drinking and dancing the night away. Refinery29 premiered the video recently, lauding it a "vibrant, playful music video." Read Kassi's interview with Refinery29 HERE and watch the video HERE.
- Showtime has made a series commitment to an untitled musical drama series executive produced by multiple Grammy winner Alicia Keys and the Oscar, Tony and Grammy winning team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman). Pasek and Paul will contribute music to the series. Kyle Jarrow (The SpongeBob Musical) will write and executive produce. Tony winner and Oscar nominated producer Marc Platt (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, The Band’s Visit, La La Land), Emmy winner R.J. Cutler (Nashville, American High), and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Grease: Live!) will executive produce. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.
- In a historic morning for Pop TV, the network’s acclaimed comedy series Schitt's Creek received four nominations for the 71st Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Eugene Levy, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Catherine O’Hara, and Outstanding Contemporary Costumes. The nominations mark the first in the history of Pop TV which is now fully owned by CBS Corporation.
- Ed Begley Jr. has received an Emmy Nomination for his role of Dr. Rosenblatt in CTRL ALT DELETE in the category of Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. Said Ed Begley Jr.: "It was a pleasure and an honor to work with Roni and Margaret on this show. What ultimately drew me to the project was the material - great characters, funny jokes, and very serious consequences about a very serious issue. We are at a turning point with regards to reproductive rights in this country. We can go one way or the other - one would be the Handmaids Tale path, which I hope we don’t choose. So we must stand up and we must fight for justice and a woman’s right to choose."
Welcome to the 15th Annual Scooter Television Awards honoring show that aired a majority of their season between July 2018 and June 2019. Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2018 STA's:
Best Scripted Show: Doom Patrol
Best Comedy: The Good Place
Best Sci-Fi Show: Future Man
Best Comic Book Adaptation: Doom Patrol
Best Period Show: G.L.O.W.
Best Animated Show: Young Justice
Best Reality Show: Survivor
Best Remake, Reboot, or (non-comic book) Adaptation: Miracle Workers
Best Miniseries: Little Drummer Girl
Best Talk Show: Pardon the Interruption
Best New Show: Doom Patrol
Guiltiest Guilty Pleasure: The Bold Type
Worst Show I Made Though an Entire Season Of: A Discovery of Witches
Best Hour of TV: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Game of Thrones)
Best Half Hour of TV: The Good Twin (G.L.O.W.)
Biggest Shocker: Bran won the game of thrones?
Best Line: The Donkey Doug who was banned from Disney World for biting Buzz Lightyear? (Tahani, The Good Place)
Worst Idea: Jon Snow’s Battle of Winterfield battle plan. Seriously, dude almost wiped out the Dothraki with that stupid opening attack, there was not enough fire, how about an extra moat of fire, more protection for Bran than arrow, and if Tormand could go around the army of the dead, how about a sneak attack from the back
Worst Moment: Danenerys going full Mad Queen for no apparent reason after spending eight season insisting she did not want to be the Queen of the Ashes
Biggest Disappointment: Cersie was killed by falling rocks instead of Arya killing her with Jamie’s face fulfilling The Valonqar Prophecy (really, Arya only crossing two names off her list during the whole run was extremely disappointing too)
Best Musical Moment: Right Here Waiting (The Good Place)
Best Karaoke: Jenny of Oldstones – Ser Podrick Payne
Best New Title Sequence: Doom Patrol
Best Character: Jason Mendoza (The Good Place)
Best Recurring Character: Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man (Doom Patrol)
Best Guest Appearance: Donkey Doug (The Good Place)
Best Cast Addition: Kristin Chenoweth (Trial and Error)
Best Duo: Arya Stark and the Hound
Most Entertaining Reality “Star”: Lauren O’Connell (Survivor)
Best Lauren Eyeroll:
Most Annoying Reality “Star”: Rick Devins (Survivor)
Most Anticipated New Show of Next Season: The Great
Most Anticipated Reboot: Veronica Mars
Show That Should Be Brought Back: Game of Thrones (or at least an Arya going West of Westeros spinoff)
Biggest Question for 2019-2020: Is anyone actually getting into The Good Place by the end of the show?
Big Little Lies: The random, bizarre interactions between Reece’s husbands have been the best part of this season. One of them has to die, right? There seems to be an increasing amount of shots of that bridge, I am beginning to think something has to happen there. A car accident? Someone jumps off (Zoey Kravitz has to be the leading candidate there). But back to weird scenes, we finally got someone of a payoff from the weirdest part of the season premiere where the chick stops Adam Scott to talk about her boob job. Clearly she wanted to get back at her husband, but then we get to see the husband watching his wife hit on Adam Scott. If that his penitence to his wife, he has to watch his wife have sex with the husband of the girl he cheated on with? This show is its most entertaining when it gets pretty weird.
Claws: Oh yeah, Desna and Dean have a father. I do not even remember him being referenced before, just their time in foster care. But the power struggle between the casino and Desna just is becoming cumbersome. Didn’t she inherit a bunch of other properties from the Jamaican? I do not know, if someone almost kills me and my loved ones and have other properties to fall back on, I would go ahead be a silent partner like they want.
You can download Claws on iTunes.
City on a Hill: I did not even realize that there was not a “previously On…” montage before, instead the show opts for a couple title cards to remind people what is going on. I do think actual moving images and voices helps reminding what happened better.
Fear the Walking Dead: I fell as I missed something. There was just a disconnect of having two episodes end with the Lord of the Flies. Then we got what Al has been up to for the last couple weeks ending with her finding Morgan. Then without explanation, Lord of the Flies kids start off the episode just chilling. It just seems like I missed an episode or three. But I did love the absurdity of the episode ending with the giant beer hot air balloon.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.
Legion: Um, so this kind of just like Intersteller but without the Wormhole?
You can download Legion on iTunes.
The Handmaid’s Tale: So Aunt Lydia became the horrible person she is today because she got blue balled? Alrighty. But I do wonder if the mother is around somewhere now. You know Gilliad is in need of child bearing women. And I do wish they would do more flashbacks, Lydia’s was long overdue, but as they struggle where to go after the books, maybe going backwards and show how we got to the book could be more interesting. Talking about present day, what is Ofjoseph doing? I understand she feels untouchable because they need her to get her daughter back to Gilliad, but what happens if that happens? She just might het her tongue cut out.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
Krpton: Oh wow, so Lyta died. Of course I have watched way too much television to believe she is dead. Or at the very least she will stay dead. She has not even given birth to or gotten strangled by her son. I cannot remember the show, but I vaguely remember a character getting their throat cut and then the next week, they were like, oh, it was not that deep (Hannibal I think). So it could be that. Could be a hologram. She could just be resurrected. All I know is I just do not believe we have seen the last of Lyta alive and breathing.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.
Swamp Thing: Just when you thought Avery being Matt’s daddy was going to be the biggest shocker of the episode, it was a plot between both of Avery’s lover to kill him. The least shocking moment was the reveal that Avery is not dead yet. But the big question now is has the swamp changed him much like Swamp Thing?
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So May shot not-Coiusen after all that. But since he is alien, I guess it is possible that he can survive human bullets. But it is weird that May shot first and did not bother to even ask questions. Maybe she knows something we do not yet. And there were some cryptic things between weird bat lady and not-Coulsen. Something about remembering her name and now she will help him remember his. There was also something about new skin. Could that really be Coulsen and the alien took a recently dead person’s body when he transported to this world and may still have some of Coulsen’s memory deep down? Speaking of weird bat lady, just where did she go? I thought for sure she did something to the pilot when he passed out, he just stayed passed out and no one seemed to be at all worried. Maybe nothing really happened to him and he just cannot hold his alcohol very well.
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.
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 Sherman’s Showcase, Harlots, The Circus, Our Cartoon President, Light As A Feather, Madison Ryann Ward, Common, The Brand New Heavies, Of Monsters and Men, bülow, QUEEVA, Jordan Whitmore, The Great Mother, and An American Aristocrat’s Guide to Great Estates.
- Hey cats and kittens, check out the newest trailer for IFC’s new variety sketch series Sherman’s Showcase. Do you f*cks with this? Created, executive produced, written and starring Bashir Salahuddin (GLOW, Snatched, South Side) and Diallo Riddle (Marlon, Rise, South Side), each episode of Sherman’s Showcase is hosted by Sherman McDaniels (Salahuddin) as he takes viewers through time via music and comedy drawn from the 40-year library of a legendary (but fictional) musical variety show, drawing inspiration from Solid Gold, Soul Train and Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Whether it's a questionably-attired funk super group in the 1970s, an up-and-coming MC in the 1980s or an R&B diva from the 1990s, Sherman's Showcase has it all: music, comedy, gameshow segments, political roundtables, commercial parodies, breakout hits destined to climb the charts, a dancing robot and a legendary host who’s been there from the beginning.
- You won’t want to miss the insane twists, turns and tantalizing new characters on this season of Hulu’s drama Harlots staring Liv Tyler, Samantha Morton and Lesley Manville. The first episode debuted this week, with remaining episodes streaming weekly each Wednesday!
- Tracking the largest field of presidential candidates in U.S. history, The Circus returns to Showtime with eight new episodes this fall. Starting on Sunday, September 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, the network’s most-watched docuseries will continue its fourth season, which averaged more than one million weekly viewers earlier this year. Co-hosts John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, and Mark McKinnon will crisscross the country as an unprecedented cast of Democratic candidates barnstorm key states in their quests to face off against Donald Trump in 2020. Meanwhile, the president is pursuing re-election amid a growing threat of impeachment and looming international crises.
- In the Season two finale of Our Cartoon President titled “Space Force” on Sunday, July 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime, Cartoon Trump launches Space Force without any attention to detail, while the Democratic presidential candidates tank their campaigns to avoid the risk of losing.
- Get ready to play the game again! We have released the official trailer for the second season of Hulu horror series, Light As A Feather. All 8-episodes of Light As A Feather premiere Friday, July 26 only on Hulu! The season will continue on Friday, October 4.
- Rising vocalist and songwriter Madison Ryann Ward reveals her debut EP, Beyond Me, out now. LISTEN TO BEYOND ME HERE! Beyond Me features Madison Ryann Ward’s lead single, “Beyond Me,” as well as three additional tracks: “The Key,” “Other Side” and “BRKN.” The EP follows Ward’s 2018 breakout single, “Mirror,” which was featured on Jay-Z’s episode of the hit Netflix series, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. The song, produced by the legendary Rick Rubin and recorded in his Malibu studio Shangri-La, has over 4 million streams to date and received praise from Billboard, Refinery29, Women’s Health, Music Connection and more. Earlier this year, Madison was also featured on Peter Cottontale’s hit track, “Forever Always,” also featuring Chance The Rapper, YEBBA and Daniel Caesar.
- GRAMMY® Award-winning rapper Common will release his new album Let Love on August 30, 2019, his debut for Loma Vista Recordings. Pre-order it HERE. In tandem with this announcement, he shared his latest single and music video entitled “Hercules” [feat. Swizz Beatz]. On the track, he serves up his sharp signature wordplay between soulful backing vocals from Swizz Beatz. Meanwhile, the music video directed by Carrick [Weezer] sees Common thwart a convenience store robbery caught on surveillance camera—in between rapping into his iPhone. Vince Staples makes a cameo as the cashier.
- The Brand New Heavies are pleased to share a breath-taking version of Kendrick Lamar’s "These Walls", recorded with longtime associate and vocalist N’Dea Davenport and produced by uber-fan Mark Ronson. Ronson first caught their show (and lineup) in New York in 1991, later inviting them to play at his 40th birthday party. Insistent once more to reconvene that lineup, they successfully reunited N’Dea and The Heavies for his production of this track for their 30th anniversary album. Listen to it HERE.
- Multiplatinum Icelandic quintet Of Monsters and Men release a new song “Wild Roses” off their upcoming full-length album FEVER DREAM out July 26th via Republic Records. Check out “Wild Roses” Here!
- Award winning and multi-platinum pop iconoclast bülow has released a music video for her new single, “Get Stupid,” today via Wax Records /Republic Records/Universal Music Canada. Watch the video for “Get Stupid” HERE.
- Up-and-coming songstress QUEEVA sets free her debut album How Do You Know today, July 12. The budding songwriter co-wrote every track on the album with mentor and hit songwriter Jamie O’Neal, who is also credited as the producer of the album.
- Texas-based singer-songwriter Jordan Whitmore is set to share her rootsy pop/Americana musical goodness with the world on September 6, 2019, with the release of her EP, Good Things. Mixing heartland rock & roll guitars with bright pop hooks a la Sheryl Crow, Whitmore showcases her cross-genre sound on the EP, which was produced by Brian Douglas Phillips (who produced her 2014 album, Other Side, as well as singles like “Here’s To You” and “I Promise”). Atwood Magazine admired the first single, “Something Different” (released in May), for its “touch of heartland rock n roll mixed with pop catchiness, making it all in all feel-good and familiar.”
- Nora Sandigo has more than 2,000 kids. The fierce immigration activist serves as the legal guardian for U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants who have been deported. Were it not for her, many would be forced into the foster care system, keeping them legally separated from their parents. The Great Mother profiles this inspiring woman, who not only provides economic, legal and emotional support for her charges, but lobbies Congress for immigration reform despite an increasingly hostile political climate. Filmed over two years, and encompassing both the 2016 election and its aftermath, the film captures two of the most tumultuous years on record for immigrants. The Great Mother premieres on STARZ on Monday, July 22nd at 9 PM ET/PT and will be available for download or streaming via the STARZ app.
- Smithsonian Channel has signed on to reveal the grandeur and fascinating backstories of the magnificent homes of Great Britain’s nobility. Through the eyes of host Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, viewers will receive an all-access pass to the amazing architecture, aristocratic inhabitants, priceless treasures and best-kept secrets of some of the United Kingdom’s most impressive estates. Each hour-long episode will follow Viscountess Hinchingbrooke as she visits one of these lavish homes – from Gloucestershire’s Sudeley Castle to Scotland’s Inveraray Castle to her husband’s own historic family estate in Dorset – Mapperton. Montagu will go beneath the skin of these finely crafted buildings as she discovers the lifestyles of the current owners, staff and craftspeople responsible for maintaining every exquisite detail, revealing what it really takes to maintain such storied estates for future generations. An American Aristocrat’s Guide to Great Estates will premiere on Smithsonian Channel in early 2020.
When the Wu-Tang documentary was announced I thought, four hours on one subject, but with ten members there were plenty of stories to spread around. And the ODB and their one copy album could support their own documentaries in themselves. And I kind of want the latter because it got short changed in their documentary. But really, it was hard to think that there were many other subjects that could substance four episodes.
Then I watched Showtime’s latest documentary Shangri-La. And you know what; it also manages to be compelling throughout its four episodes. The docu-series focuses on creative conversation and the emotional side of music-making, using legendary music producer Rick Rubin's iconic Malibu, CA studio, Shangrli-La, as the backdrop.
Unless you read liner notes, you may not know Rick Rubin’s name, but if you have listened to music in the past thirty-five years, you definitely have herd songs he has produced no matter what you listen to. You could listen to pop (Adele), rock, (Tom Petty), heavy metal (Slayer), country (The Dixie Chicks), alternative (Red Hot Chili Peppers), folk ((The Avett Brothers), he even produces comedy albums (Andrew Dice Clay). He is most linked to rap after starting Def Jam in his college dorm room launching the careers of Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy. When Jay-Z says, You’re crazy for this one Rick” in 99 Problems, that is Rubin he is referring to.
Shangri-La has had a long rich history long before Rick set foot there in 2006. It was featured in another famous music documentary, Martin Scorsese’s The Last when The Band’s bassist Rick Danko gives Scorsese a tour of the studio back in the late seventies. Oh, and Shangri-La use to be the summer home of one of the biggest television shows at the time. Probably someone you will never guess.
But is really is not just the long history of Rubin or even Shangri-La that makes this documentary, it is that this documentary is pretty weird. The series is peppered with images of a young Rick with his later day trademark beard and balding long hair. Then one of the first talking heads is Tyler the Creator basically saying he does not really know who Rick Rubin is. Kind of a weird choice for a docu-series about Rick Rubin. And I am all for it.
Some other people who stop over to Shangri-La include David Lynch, the lead singer of Vampire Weekend (watch to found out which song off their latest album he did not include because it sounded like a song Smash Mouth would do for a Shrek movie), David Blaine (Rick is a huge magic guy), Triple HHH (Rick is also famously a huge wrestling fan), Jerrod Carmichael, and it also features Mac Miller’s last recording sessions.
This is also the first docu-series that I can think of that kind of has an episode end on a cliffhanger. Episode three ends with news coverage of last year’s California wildfires, which left me thinking, oh await, is this studio I just spent three hours with about to burn down. You will have to turn into episode to find out. But the show is definitely worth the watch just because it is a very weird and entertaining watch. Of course if you do not get the weirdness, it does not really matter to Rick Rubin. When asked, “does it matter at all that people didn’t understand?” his answer is simply, “Never.”
Theon Greyjoy died much like he lived, pretty pathetically. Dude was killed by his own weapon in a fight that took less time than the time it took Theon to run towards the Night King. But hey, at least Theon was told by Bran he was a good man before being stabbed with his own weapon. Though who is to say that Bran was just saying that so Ayra would have enough time to get to the Werewood tree? I do not think Theon’s final act really makes up for groping his sister, burning two farm children, ruining his sister’s plan to rescue him, watching while someone raped his virginal surrogate sister, or literally jumping ship when his uncle captured his sister. But hey, that is just me.
So I kind of laughed when Theon Greyjoy showed up on the new season of Harlots. Seriously, he is the new main antagonist now that Lydia Quigley is in the nut house? Granted since Leslie Manville is still on the show, it is not a matter of if, but when Quigley gets out. Also listed first in the credits is Samantha Morton though Margaret Wells, who was last seen banished to America after confessing to murder being spared the noose, is completely absent the first two episodes. Though when characters talk about buying land in America at the end of episode two, it seems clear how the Wells matriarch will return to the show.
The third season picks up one year since Margaret set sail for America. Both of her children are doing well, Charlotte has taken over her mother’s business while Lucy is about to go into business for herself with a new partner that has a very different type of product. While Emily Lacey has teamed up with Theon and his brother who wants to expand their pleasure business.
Lydia Quigley does show up in the early episodes but is unrecognizable without her wig, powdered makeup, and fancy cloths. And the loony bins of the eighteenth century featured “cures” that probably made their cliental crazier. We are introduced to the rotating chair which is supposed to induce “involuntary evacuations.” Of course Quigley is quick to make friends that will help her cause.
Harlots has been a fun excursion for spring and summertime watching. Though as the show expands (Liv Tyler in season two, Theon in the new season) there are beginning to be too many characters with inter-swapping relationships, it is starting to get confusing who is aligned with who and who is hooking up with who in the next scene. One moment someone is burning down a building, the next they are hooking up with the inhabitant even though they know who did it. Though the way things end in episode three, things may become more clear sa I am guessing that moment will steer the storylines for the rest of the season.
Harlots premieres tomorrow on Hulu with the first two episodes and new episodes every Wednesday.
Big Little Lies: Renata may be going to the poor house, but at least she went out in style. C’mon, what second grader would not want a private disco concert by The Tramps? But at least we got Adam Scott in an afro getting into a fight. Is one of those two gonna kill each other this season?
Claws: Well that had to be the least realistic toe I have ever seen. At first I thought dude was just not very well endowed.
You can download Claws on iTunes.
Fear the Walking Dead: So Al’s captor promises not to kill he if she gave her a tape, is about to kill her after getting the tape, but instead kisses. The whole containment storyline has been confusing.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.
The Handmaid’s Tale: The new black Handmaid was almost like Checkov’s antagonist this season; you knew she was going to do something, just not what and when. But we finally got it, she snitched on the Martha that was helping June. But how did June not get implicated in this?
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
Krpton: So Seg separated himself from Brainiac last week except he is still there. So much for not brining Brainiac to Kyrpton. But who or what did Lobo kill last week? This show just does not makes sense too often.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.
Swamp Thing: So the weird dude who rowed up to Swampy last week is the same dude who cursed the actor dude. Do what exactly that guy up to?
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So weird bat lady thinks she is the victim while Not Coulsen claims to be the aggrieved. I don’t know, kind of seems like the chick who takes over people with bats is probably the true evil one. Or at the very least more evil. But why exactly did she not have her bats fly down the gullet of FitzSimmons? Did she run out of bats?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.
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 Affair, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Doom Patrol, Bill Burr Presents IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading, Snow Patrol, Carly Rae Jepsen, Of Monsters and Men, and Kara Marni.
- Showtime has released the trailer for the fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe®-winning Showtime drama series The Affair. Premiering on Sunday, August 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the series stars Golden Globe nominee Dominic West, Golden Globe winner Maura Tierney and Sanaa Lathan. Created by WGA Award-winning playwright, writer, executive producer and showrunner Sarah Treem (House of Cards, In Treatment), the series explores the emotional and psychological effects of an affair that destroyed two marriages, and the crime that brings these individuals back together. Oscar® and Golden Globe winner Anna Paquin (True Blood) joined the final season as a series regular.
- Hulu released the official trailer for upcoming limited anthology rom-com series Four Weddings and a Funeral from Mindy Kaling. The series stars Zoe Boyle, Nathalie Emmanuel, Guz Khan, Sophia La Porta, Harish Patel, Nikesh Patel, John Reynolds, Rebecca Rittenhouse and Brandon Mychal Smith. Four Weddings and a Funeral premieres the first four episodes Wednesday, July 31 and new episodes weekly only on Hulu.
- Things are about to get weird! Get ready for nonstop action as the world’s favorite misfit DC Super Heroes are about to enter our universe with the release of Doom Patrol: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray and DVD on October 1, 2019 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride with all 15 episodes from the first season of the DC UNIVERSE original series, plus enjoy the captivating extra features including gag reel and deleted scenes. Doom Patrol: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($30.99 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($39.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Both sets have an order due date of August 27, 2019. Doom Patrol: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers (available on August 26th in the U.S.).
- Bill Burr Presents IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading, the second of three All Things Comedy produced specials previously announced by Comedy Central, premieres July 12 at midnight ET/PT on Comedy Central. Official Trailer.In IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading, IAN EDWARDS gives his own edgy twist on a traditional TedTalk. He shares his thoughts on abortion, Harriet Tubman, and why he refuses to learn to swim for his own safety. Through his authentic balance of charm and self-deprecating humor, he’s able to dive into the intricacies of life, success, and dating with a relatable and refreshing twist.
- Snow Patrol debut their new song, “Time Won’t Go Slowly.” Listen here: The band announced on their social media channels yesterday they have been in the studio over the last few months and are releasing a new track ahead of more music later this year, celebrating the 25th anniversary since Snow Patrol formed.
- Vevo announces the release of Carly Rae Jepsen's live performance of "Too Much" from her new album, Dedicated. After Jepsen released her critically acclaimed album E·MO·TION in 2015, it became "a modern touchstone for a new crop of pop-leaning artists and legacy acts," as NPR noted, adding that "the blast radius of E*MO*TION is expansive." The album also inspired an abundance of memes - extending the cultural cachet that Jepsen earned from the ubiquity of her Grammy-nominated blockbuster hit "Call Me Maybe" (from her U.S debut album Kiss), which not only climbed to No. 1 on the iTunes Singles charts in over 47 countries, sold over 20 million singles worldwide, and was certified Diamond in the U.S., but was referenced by everyone from former secretary-of-state Colin Powell to Cookie Monster.
- Multiplatinum Icelandic quintet Of Monsters and Men share the official music video for their single “Alligator” today off of their upcoming third full-length album FEVER DREAM out July 26th via Republic Records. Check out the video for “Alligator” HERE!
- Red hot following a powerhouse performance at Glastonbury Festival this past weekend, critically acclaimed rising British R&B star Kara Marni shares a brand new single entitled “Opposite” today. Get it HERE.
Jason Blum, producer of Into the Dark, once say of one of most famous movies, The Purge, ““Whatever political party you’re in, you come out of the film saying, ‘See, that affirms my beliefs,’ which I think is cool. People on the Right are like, ‘The Purge is a terrible thing. This is an example of government getting into our private lives, when they should be smaller and get out of our private lives.’ People on the Left say, ‘There are too many guns, and this is what happens when there are too many guns.’ It’s a really violent movie, and it’s supposed to get people scared and it’s supposed to get people to have a good time for an hour and a half, in a movie theater. If it also gets people talking about whether it’s a good or a bad idea, that’s a great thing, too.”
I really do not think there will be as much ambiguity to the political themed latest Into the Dark installment, Culture Shock. First off, the America’s Birthday themed episode starts south of the border and it is over a half an hour before you hear anyone speak any English. The episode even mocks a certain popular Twitter feed. Yeah, conservative talking heads will be whining about this right after a segment where they call liberals snowflakes.
The episode starts off with a news segment stating violence against aliens at an all-time high (fun fact, the reporter also played a reporter in the Christmas episode; though a shared Into the Dark shared universe was kind of put to rest when someone who died in the Halloween episode showed up in the Mother’s Day episode). Marisol is giving birth any day now and has paid a coyote to get her across the border in time to anchor her baby. Along for the ride is a small child and a dude with a face tattoo that translates to “strength.” Oh my.
Things gets complicated when they arrive at the border and things go black, then all of the sudden Marisol wakes up in a bright pastel color scheme, has already given birth, in a very Wizard of Oz comparison to the dark and dirty first part of the show. This new place is part Pleasantville and part Stepford Wives. What happened? I will not say other than this is the best twist so far on Into the Dark.
Into the Dark Power Ranking
1. The Body (October)
2. Culture Shock (July)
3. All That We Destroy (May)
4. Down (February)
5. New Year, New You (January)
6. Pooka! (December)
7. I’m Just Forking with You (April)
8. They Come Knocking (June)
9. Treehouse (March)
10. Flesh and Bone (November)
Into the Dark: Culture Shock premiere tomorrow exclusively on Hulu.
Big Little Lies: Okay, I wonder if this is going to be an every other week thing because this week was much more entertaining than the last. Though I am missing what is Meryl Steep’s deal. She does not want to believe her son is an adulterer let alone a rapist, but then starts stocking Ziggy. SAeems like deep down she knows but does not want to admit it. Something dark had to have happened with her other son.
Claws: Gee, when I see a dead body, my first thought is call the police. Who would think Polly has a guy to help get rid of a body? But just when you thought the show could not get any weirder, Virginia starts talking to a pig.
You can download Claws on iTunes.
City on a Hill: So the bother is an informant for money? Couldn’t he make more money robbing armored trucks? Or is he just doing this because his brother would only let him do that one job. If the last job only netted $15,000 each, and Kevin Bacon is offering a $20,000 reward. But where exactly is Kevin Bacon getting this money? Does the FBI really pay that well to informants are does Bacon use the money he steals from bookies and the like to get all his money so he can close more cases?
Fear the Walking Dead: So we are not going to get a what Daniel was doing since we last saw him episode? Meh. But the using a cat to distract walkers so you can kill them easier was kind of brilliant. but that had to be one of the more gruesome ideas with the plan on either show. Now how many seasons until we see Daniel again?
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.
Legion: Um, where was the “previous on” reminder? I vaguely remember that not much actually happens on the show. Afterwards I went to YouTube to find the official recap and… um, that was not much help. Maybe it is not something that is meant to be understood.
You can download Legion on iTunes.
The Handmaid’s Tale: Wait, was that was June’s kid’s place in DC? But aren’t they in Boston? But June has seen her daughter multiple times. Did they move? And if Rory Gilmore and the crazy Handmaid had to be brought back from the colonies because a lack of Handmaids, why were there so many on the Mall at the end? Seems like there are plenty.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
Krpton: So they were able to remove Brainiac who looks like the old Brainiac. This makes no sense.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.
Swamp Thing: So we finally learned what happened to Shauna, they did shock me that Abby was at fault… until it turned out to be just a red herring and something drug Shauna down. So now that we got that answered, now the question is, who, or what, actually did that? If Swamp Thing could see what happen, shouldn’t he be able to know what pulled Shauna down?
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So not-Coulson is over a hundred years old? Well that kind of hurts my multi-verse theory. So just how do the two look-a-likes have matching DNA?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.
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 Mystic Briton, The Carol Burnett Show, Orangutan Jungle School, James Bay, BENEE, Meg Myers, One Day at a Time, Rita, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and The L Word: Generation Q.
- Smithsonian Channel is set to reveal the secrets of Britain’s most mysterious sites via a road trip mixing mysticism with very British humor. In this 10-part series, television and radio presenter Clive Anderson (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota explore the island’s ancient places and rituals. With Mary-Ann more than a match for Clive’s signature wit and irreverence, the pair travel the length of Britain to investigate the strange and sacred beliefs of its past, joining scientists, archaeologists and historians to look at the latest discoveries unearthing what ancient Britons did in the name of their beliefs and why. Mystic Briton premieres Monday, August 5 at 9 PM ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.
- On September 11, 1967, Carol Burnett and her madcap cast took to the airwaves on CBS for a new variety series that combined sketch comedy, singing and dancing. Little did they know that The Carol Burnett Show would become an Emmy Award-winning program and survive the changing tastes of TV audiences to last eleven seasons. Available at retail for the first time, The Best of the Carol Burnett Show: 50TH Anniversary Edition brings together the best of the best -- 60 hand-picked episodes covering every season -- into one singular and uproarious set. Available on August 6, 2019, this ultimate Burnett-lovers collection is priced at $249.98srp, and contains 21 discs and incredible, exclusive bonus features specially-created by the Time Life TV DVD archivists including exclusive interviews, a cast reunion and backstage tour of Studio 33, never-before-seen outtakes and featurettes.
- Class is now in session as Smithsonian Channel prepares to share the drama, as well as the hijinks, of a group of young endangered orangutans in an emotional new docuseries, Orangutan Jungle School. The 10-episode season takes viewers to Nyaru Menteng, a unique forest school for orphaned apes in Indonesia, run by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. At this singular school, young orangutans who have lost their mothers to poaching and deforestation learn the skills they’ll need to survive in the wild as they progress through a series of classes and grade levels – but these lessons take place in the jungle instead of a classroom. Full of rich and distinct characters, hilarious antics, tear-jerking moments and even heart-pounding cliffhangers, the series offers a look at the incredible work being done by human caregivers to provide these intelligent and endangered creatures a chance at life in the wild. All episodes of ORANGUTAN JUNGLE SCHOOL will be available to stream Friday, August 2 on Smithsonian Channel Plus, with the first two episodes free for those without a subscription.
- James Bay released the official video for his single “Bad.” The video sees BAY emotionally floating through New York as he performs his hit single. The video features some never before performed stunts through some of New York’s iconic streets and even an iconic shot in Times Square.
- The five-song collection threads together a tale of personal emotions and evocative stories over an unpredictable sonic backdrop. She introduces the project with the undeniable opener “Bitter.” Off-kilter production punctuated by handclaps, glitchy electronics, and strains of guitar gives way to a hypnotic hook as she encourages, “Try not to get bitter.” Watch the video for “Bitter” HERE
- Hailing from the suburbs of Auckland, 19-year-old indie pop artist BENEE has made her mark on the world with her debut FIRE ON MARZZ EP out today—listen HERE! On FIRE ON MARZZ, BENEE noted, “When it came to coming up with a name for my EP, what first came to mind was wanting a phrase that was a big old explosion, because that’s kinda what the EP feels like to me. I came up with the name FIRE ON MARZZ and thought it did the best job at not really relating to any song in the EP. I didn’t think there was a phrase that could sum them all up.”
- Meg Myers shares her stunning video of her empowering cover of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill.' The video features hand colored compositions from 2,130 children from around the country, including many at the 'Heart of Los Angeles' (HOLA) school - a non profit that gives underserved kids an equal chance to succeed through a comprehensive array of after-school academic, arts, athletics and wellness programs. As part of her partnership with HOLA, Meg and the producer of the video, Jo Roy taught animation classes to elementary school students. The frames they made during the classes were then composited together, and used in the video. The result is an ethereal, and highly captivating animated journey. With every frame being radically unique, the only constant is the certainty of change.
- Pop TV, now fully owned by CBS Corporation, announced that the critically-acclaimed series One Day at a Time will continue with a new 13-episode fourth season premiering in 2020. The Network shared the news amid fan campaigns rallying behind the series. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the fourth season of One Day at a Time will air exclusively on Pop.
- Showtime has announced a pilot production order for the hour-long dramedy Rita, starring Emmy and Golden Globe® nominee Lena Headey (Game of Thrones). Headey will executive produce the pilot, a co-production of Showtime and Platform One Media, with creator/showrunner Christian Torpe, who is writing the pilot based on his award-winning original Danish series.
- Showtime has announced that Michael Gladis (Mad Men) has joined Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, the next chapter of the Penny Dreadful saga, as a series regular. Lorenza Izzo (Aftershock) will recur in a pivotal role in the upcoming SHOWTIME series, along with Adam Rodriguez (CSI: Miami), Thomas Kretschmann (Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Dominic Sherwood (Shadowhunters), and Ethan Peck (Star Trek: Discovery) will guest in multiple episodes. The series stars Natalie Dormer, Daniel Zovatto, Kerry Bishé, Adriana Barraza, Rory Kinnear, Jessica Garza, Johnathan Nieves and Tony® and Emmy winner Nathan Lane. Oscar® and Emmy® nominee and Golden Globe® winner Amy Madigan, Brent Spiner and Lin Shaye will also be recurring guest stars. Tony and Golden Globe winner and three-time Oscar nominee John Logan, the creator, writer and executive producer of the Emmy nominated series Penny Dreadful, continues in those same roles. Michael Aguilar (KIDDING) also serves as executive producer. Production on the drama series is expected to begin later this year.
- Showtime has announced four new series regulars joining the cast of The L Word: Generation Q, premiering this fall on Showtime. Arienne Mandi (Baja), Leo Sheng (Adam), Jacqueline Toboni (Easy) and Rosanny Zayas (Orange is the New Black) are set to star as the new generation of LGBTQIA characters who will join original series stars and executive producers Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey. Executive produced by showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan (The Four-Faced Liar, 6 Balloons), original series creator Ilene Chaiken, Kristen Campo and Steph Green (pilot), the series is set to begin production on eight episodes in Los Angeles this summer.
In a measure of full disclosure I must say I am not a big fan of the heavily fictionalized bio-flick. Why would I want to watch Will Smith pretend to be Muhammad Ali when I could just watch the actual Muhammad Ali in When We Were Kings? Why watch Walk the Line when I have over a hundred Johnny Cash songs in my library? I guess bio-flick are a little better when I do not know much about the subject like The Loudest Voice about Roger Ailes whom basically all I know about is that he ran Fox News before being brought down by multiple sexual harassment claims.
Granted, The Loudest Voice is not a bio-flick, it is a miniseries about the man that is spread out across seven episodes. This is not be confused with the actually Roger Ailes bio-flick coming at the end of this year starring John Lithgow. Two competing Roger Ailes projects? I kind of the miss the days of dueling asteroid flicks. This show features Russell Crowe as the head of Fox News with a couple hundred extra pounds and about as much makeup. Each episode takes a year in the life of the man, starting with the launch of Fox News in 1995. The actually first scene is Ailes getting fired by Jack Dorsey as the head of CNBC right when MSNBC was about to be launched. Ironically, not going to CNN was a big part of the severance package.
The opening of the second episode begins with Ailes having to deal will Bill O’Reilly getting handsy (weirdly the biggest star in Fox News history does not get a fictionalize character, but is only mentioned), and about an hour later, a plane flies into the World Trade Center. Then we get another decent jump to 2008 when the third episode starts with a clenched fist watching Obama’s speech after locking up the Democratic nomination for president. I do not know why they portrayed Ailes as hating Obama so much considering the president was a rating boon for Fox News. Then that episodes ends with Ailes uttering the phrase, make America great again.” Yeah. I do not even want to mention how the fourth episode starts but I highly recommend just skipping the first five minutes of this episode. From there, the rest of the episode focuses on Fox News war on Obama. Grant it is somewhat amusing how everyone in the fear-mongering montage turned out to be.
No O’Reilly and no Megyn Kelly who reportedly was a late cut from the script (though Charlize Theron does play her in the movie) though Naomi Watts does show up as Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman takes the role in the movie) but does not get much screen time in the episode I saw. Instead we get a lot of behind the scenes moments with the real people you probably have never heard of. Sienna Miller plays Ailes wife (Connie Britton in the movie) who also worked at CNBC but seems very bored after being laid off and Roger has no interest in working with her again. That is probably because he has a side piece played by Annabelle Wallis, a Fox News booker. Seth McFarlane, yes that Seth McFarlane, plays someone that Ailes actually pouches from CNBC to be the Fox News PR guy. And in the most Seth MacFarlane way shouts, “Money Honey!” in his first line.
Just two weeks ago when reviewing Showtime’s other new show City on a Hill, I had to wonder if the creators made a period pierce so they could be as sexist and racist as they wanted for the sake of historical accuracy, and though the real life person The Loudest Voice was definitely a pervert and possibly a racist, the show gleefully show Ailes rewatching one of his anchors describe the Obamas greeting each other as a possible “terrorist fist jab.” Just the whole thing makes me queasier than most horror movies. Maybe it is apropos that the show is being produced by Blumhouse who made such movies as The Purge and Get Out.
The Loudest Voice airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.
Big Little Lies: I was a bit worried there would be a sophomore slump but my fears were eased by how on fire everyone was in the premiere but everyone but Meryl Streep seemed to cool down in the second week. Maybe they do need a mystery and a rich text to pull from to keep the show going.
Claws: Am I really supposed to think Uncle Daddy has changed because he had a heart to heart with Virginia? I am highly suspicious of that. What angle is he playing? And what a horrible witness protection program Desna is running. How about not hiding the Tat for Tit chick with a friend? $50,000 should get you a ticket out of town.
You can download Claws on iTunes.
Fear the Walking Dead: Yeah, I completely forgot what exactly happened to Dwight on the main show. I vaguely remember his wife leaving. Hopefully we get a montage next week catching us up on that. And, wait, the kids have been setting up those zombie roadblocks this whole time? I feel like I missed something.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.
The Handmaid’s Tale: I was wondering why Fred did not have some secret plan to kidnap his kid (or the kid he thinks is his); instead he was planning what seems to be a pretty bad plan. A least I assume that Canada is not going to give a kid that he cannot prove paternity to. But then again, Luke does not lay any claim other than being the husband of the mother. Interesting legal question.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
Krpton: I never thought Brainiac was dead last week, but, um, Brainiac is in Seg now? Huh? That makes no sense.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.
Swamp Thing: Wait, did Scarecrow pass through the bayou? Although I guess his terror gas was sprayed, not a communicable disease.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Seeing younger Simmons just made me realize how bad she looks now with those bangs. Time to pull your hair back Simmons. And I think we have seem more brain simulations of Daisy in the last couple episodes than real Daisy.
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.
1. Doom Patrol 1.x