Around the Tubes: July 24, 2021

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Clairo, Lorde, American Rust, Homeroom, James Blake, UFO, Pen15, Ariana Grande, Cassadee Pope, Cassadee Pope, Iron Maiden, Superman & Lois, Three Women, and POV.

- Following the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Sling, 22-year-old American artist, songwriter, and producer Clairo has announced her 2022 headlining North American tour dates today. Produced by Live Nation, the 28-date tour will kick off on February 16^th in Charlotte, NC at The Fillmore Charlotte with stops in Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and more before wrapping April 16^th in Atlanta, GA at Tabernacle.  Go to Clairo.com for more details.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum artist LORDE has released new song “Stoned at the Nail Salon”. The song is the second track from Lorde’s highly anticipated third studio album, Solar Power, which will be released via Republic Records on August 20^th. The album includes 12 tracks and is produced by Jack Antonoff who she collaborated with on her chart-topping last album, Melodrama.  Pre-Order / Pre-Save / Pre-Add Solar Power HERE.  Listen to “Stoned at the Nail Salon” HERE

- SHOWTIME has released the official trailer for its upcoming drama series AMERICAN RUST, starring Emmy winner and Tony nominee Jeff Daniels (THE COMEY RULE, The Newsroom, Godless, The Looming Tower) and award-winning actress and Emmy nominee Maura Tierney (YOUR HONOR, THE AFFAIR, The Report, Beautiful Boy). Daniels executive produces the series, reteaming with Oscar nominee Dan Futterman (The Looming Tower, Capote, Foxcatcher), who serves as executive producer, writer and showrunner. The series is co-produced with Boat Rocker Studios and will premiere on Sunday, September 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

- Check out the official trailer and key art for the inspiring and powerful documentary "Homeroom" directed by Peter Nicks and executive produced by Ryan Coogler. The Hulu Original documentary premieres on Hulu and in select theaters Thursday, August 12.  In "Homeroom,” Oakland High School’s class of 2020 confronts an unprecedented year. Anxiety over test scores and college applications gives way to uncertainty springing from a rapidly developing pandemic. Efforts to eliminate the school district’s police force unfold against the backdrop of growing nationwide demands for systemic change. 

- GRAMMY® Award-winning UK singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Blake has announced his new album, Friends That Break Your Heart, due out September 10, 2021 – Available for pre-order HERE, via Republic Records. Blake joined Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1 for “Hottest Record in the World” to premiere the album’s first single, “Say What You Will”. The single was accompanied by the release of the official music video starring Finneas alongside James Blake – Watch HERE. Today, the artist additionally announced his 2021 Fall tour dates. Produced by Live Nation, the 15-show tour will kick off on September 16th in San Diego at The Observatory North Park, making stops at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, New York’s Radio City Music Hall, and more before wrapping up in Atlanta’s Tabernacle on October 15^th. Tickets go on-sale to the general public starting Friday, July 30^th at 10am local time on JamesBlakeMusic.com
- SHOWTIME has released the trailer for the timely docu-series UFO from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Glen Zipper, premiering on Sunday, August 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series explores our fascination with unidentified flying objects, and what clandestine influence the American government, lucrative private companies and the military may have in shielding the truth behind extraterrestrial phenomena to further their own agendas. The premiere episode will be made available for free on YouTube, Showtime.com and Sho.com, as well as across multiple SHOWTIME partner platforms, and all four episodes will be available to SHOWTIME subscribers on Sunday, August 8 at 12:01 a.m. ET/PT. Directed by Mark Monroe (Icarus) and Paul Crowder (Riding Giants), the series is a co-production by Bad Robot and Zipper Bros Films.  To watch and share the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/tU9NhwYKCLM.
- It’s summer vacation and your favorite 7^th graders are back in a special "Pen15" animated episode launching Friday, August 27^th only on Hulu!  Ep. 208, “Jacuzzi”: On vacation with Curtis, Anna and Maya are introduced to new crippling insecurities. The girls try to ignore them, but a mystical turn makes their self-doubt impossible to forget.
- Vevo, the world's leading music video network, announces the release of Ariana Grande’s Official Live Performance of “positions" from her album Positions. Vevo’s Official Live Performances are the result of close creative collaboration with artists and their teams, resulting in a series of very special exclusive performances. “positions” follows Ariana’s previous Vevo Official Live Performances of “pov,” “safety net (feat. Ty Dolla $ign,)” “my hair,” “34+35” and “off the table (feat. The Weeknd)”.
- Cassadee Pope has just released the new music video for her latest single, "Say It First," off of her upcoming ninth album,  THRIVE, exclusively with Sounds Like Nashville. The video, directed and edited by Ed Pryor, is a colorful depiction of the inner storm that matches the song's eruptive angst along with the vulnerability of its lyrics.   “Working with Ed Pryor again was such a treat," says Pope. "We both knew we wanted this video to include weather elements and fast flashes to coincide with the inner turmoil the song talks about. I wanted to wear a beautiful dress to further illustrate the fact that vulnerability is strength.”  WATCH:      "Say It First" Music Video
- BMG is thrilled to announce the release of IRON MAIDEN’s 17th studio album Senjutsu, their first in six years, on September 3rd. It was recorded in Paris with longstanding producer Kevin Shirley and co-produced by Steve Harris.  It was preceded on Thursday July 15th by an already highly acclaimed animated video for the first single “The Writing On The Wall” made by BlinkInk based on a concept by Bruce Dickinson with two former Pixar Executives. It followed a month-long teaser campaign & global ‘treasure hunt’ for clues about the track title and concept.  For Senjutsu – loosely translated as ‘tactics & strategy,’ the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular Samurai themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Steve Harris. With a running time of a little under 82 minutes, Senjutsu, like their previous record The Book Of Souls, will be a double CD/Triple vinyl album.
- Superman saves the world, and saves his family when Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season releases on Blu-ray and DVD on October 19, 2021 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Featuring never-before-seen extended versions of all 15 action-packed episodes from the first season, plus bonus features, Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($29.98 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($39.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers and to stream exclusively on HBO Max starting August 20, 2021.
- SHOWTIME has announced that Emmy and SAG Award nominee Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies) will star in the original series THREE WOMEN, based on the blockbuster nonfiction No. 1 bestseller by Lisa Taddeo, who is also a writer on the series. The show has been picked up straight to series, with principal photography set to begin in the fall. 
- American Documentary | POV is proud to announce the national broadcast premiere of David Osit's Mayor on Monday July 26th at 10 p.m. (check local listings) and online at pov.org. The film will also be available to stream for free on pov.org until August 25th, 2021.  Mayor is director David Osit’s second film to broadcast on POV after his documentary Thank You For Playing, which won the ‘Outstanding Arts & Culture Documentary’ at the 2017 News and Documentary Emmy Awards. Mayor was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick and has picked up awards from Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and CPH:DOX, among others. 

- SHOWTIME has signed THE L WORD: GENERATION Q showrunner, executive producer, director and writer Marja-Lewis Ryan to an overall deal through which she will develop television projects exclusively for SHOWTIME. “Marja is our Shohei Ohtani … a gifted two-way player who is both an exceptional writer and an inventive director,” said Levine. “I love the energy, the perspective and the fun she brings to THE L WORD: GENERATION Q, and I look forward to the upcoming season of that series and other inspired creations from her.” 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 18, 2021

 

The White Lotus:  I was not expect this show to be a murder mystery but we learned someone died in the first scene.  Obviously we can write off the boring white dude since he was there in the future.  But since he was alone, this heavily it was his wife, but he seemed more angry than sad his wife died.  Plus they already set up plenty of reasons why she would want to go home without him (especially if you include the “This Season On” segment). 

 

Steve Zahn and his possibility of testicular cancer also makes him too obvious.  After the first episode, I would definably put Jennifer Coolidge at the top of my.  She is all alone and sad.  In the trailer she even asks if booze will be served on the boat.  Alcohol and the high seas seem like a pretty bad combination.  But then after I did my internal power rakings of the cast, it occurred to me, does it have to be one of the guests?  Could it be someone who worked there but grew up on the mainland?  The manager is Australian, so probably not him, the pregnant chick seems native to the island, but I would not be too surprised if it is someone else.  Granted the masseuse lady is the only other employee we spent much time with.

 

Kevin Can Fork Himself:  So all the trouble getting the drugs and she is not even going to try and kill Kevin?  So now the plan if for him to go to jail for the drugs?  Seems like a worse plan.

 

The Chi:   So the mayor gets shot last week and they are just going to ignore who shot him?  Is he not even going to plot revenge?  But hopefully they are learning just how hard it is to keep the piece if you are policing yourself.  Dude is going to be the one that gets shot if he keeps going out trying to stop violence by himself.  He has already been punched a few times.  But poor Kevin, finds a girl to play video games with but gets blocked when he tried to shoot his shot.  Though I am not sure why he is getting more freedom after he punched a teacher and got kicked out of school.  Might want to reign that kid in after that.

 

Black Monday:  Oh snap, Mo just not so subtlety called out the Emmy’s for always getting the Best Comedy Actor wrong.  So Dawn is just going to work for Death Row now (assuming the white rapper that was hung over the balcony was Vanilla Ice)?  That should be fun.  I always thought Staight Outta Compton should have a sequel that focused on Dr. Dre’s time at the label and not entirely sure why no one has done it.  Well, maybe I know why and it has to do with everyone being too scared of Suge Knight.

 

Flatbush Misdemeanor:  “Things just don’t make sense, you just go along with them.”  What a great thing for a teacher to say to his class.  About as good as “If only he’s death, I think it’s a win.”  Who knew a bomb threat at school could be so funny.

 

Motherland: Fort Salem:  So the former partners were in the same place at the same time for the first time this season.  I wonder how long until they come face to face.

 

In the Dark:  Man, all that trouble and the cop just takes all the cash.  But that is on the dude.  If you offer the cash, do not present him with a bag, take the right amount out while you care in the car then give it to them.  But now we are closer to my prediction that the blind chick will go back to Chicago and become evidence against the captain.

 

Good Girls:  If the DA is not actually a DA what game is the skincare guy even playing?  Is the lawyer even a lawyer?  Clearly he is just projecting his distain on his wife onto Dean, It is just about control over other people because he lost all control to his wife?

Around the Tunes: July 17, 2021

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Clairo, Chelsea Cutler, Almost Famous, Tycho and Benjamin Gibbard, Elvis Costello, The Mysterious Death of Eazy-E, Wakefield, and I Love Youu for This.

- The second season of “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” will premiere with the first three episodes on September 8th and every Wu-Wednesday following.  The Clan is disillusioned with life in the projects, and Bobby knows that success in the music industry could be their ticket to better lives. But getting the Clan members to drop everything for music isn’t easy. The resentment between Dennis, Sha, Power and Divine still runs deep, while the other Clan members struggle dealing with intercity life. This time around, Bobby is dedicated to authenticity and though he knows he can lead his crew through the challenges of the music business, the Clan’s fractures may prove too much to overcome.

-  Clairo has released her highly anticipated sophomore studio album, Sling, today via FADER Label/Republic Records. Listen HERE.  Co-produced with Grammy® Award winning producer Jack Antonoff, Sling was recorded at Allaire Studios in Upstate New York and features 12 tracks, including her critically acclaimed track “Blouse,” which the 22-year-old performed live on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last month. Watch the breath-taking performance HERE.

- Platinum Certified singer, songwriter, and producer Chelsea Cutler is back today with her new single, “Walking Away”—listen HERE!  Chelsea Cutler’s new song “Walking Away” hinges on lightly plucked guitar, as she accepts the end of a relationship and says goodbye once and for all through lyrics so personal, they could be a text message. Last year, she shared a short snippet of the track on Instagram, which fans lovingly dubbed the “Jeep Song.” After months of clamoring for its release, she finally delivers it today, and it marks the beginning of her highly anticipated sophomore album, set for release later this year.

- "Look under your bed—it'll set you free."  With those enticingly enigmatic words, an empathetic, hip older sister bequeaths to her hyper-smart but nerdy 11-year-old brother her Rosetta Stone to life in the late-'60s: a prized trove of expertly curated rock, pop, and folk albums that set into chaotic motion young William Miller's eye- ear- and mind-opening journey in director Cameron Crowe's quasi-autobiographical 2000 ode to rock 'n' roll fandom, Almost Famous..  UMe has compiled multiple iterations of the film's Grammy® Award-winning  soundtrack, augmented comprehensively in the limited-edition Uber Box set that encompasses an expanded soundtrack with five CDs, seven 180-gram black vinyl discs, and a brand new 7-inch for Stillwater's "Fever Dog." The expanded soundtrack includes songs from The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The Who, and Yes, plus all the songs created for the film's fictional aspiring rock group Stillwater, most written for the movie by Cameron Crowe, Heart's Nancy Wilson and Grammy Award-winning guitarist, Peter Frampton.  The Uber Box includes bonus items such as a 40-page photo book and memoir housed in a film-prop-replica of William Miller's high-school notebook complete with writings by Cameron Crowe, Nancy Wilson, along with cast and crew members; the first-ever complete William Miller cover story on Stillwater as a 1973 Rolling Stone newsprint; two replica ticket stubs from Stillwater's San Diego and Cleveland concerts; and a Stillwater tour poster. Exclusively available only in the Uber Boxset is a Stillwater Cleveland concert poster and a backstage poster; six film-prop-replica backstage passes (some seen throughout the film); three film-prop-replica business cards for Dick Roswell (Stillwater road manager), Lester Bangs (Creem magazine), and Ben Fong-Torres (Rolling Stone magazine); and three photo prints of cast members. Pre-order the ALMOST FAMOUS EXPANDED SOUNDTRACK now and listen to Stillwater's Bonus Track "Love Comes And Goes," HERE.

- 2x GRAMMY® Award-nominated electronic artist Tycho and Benjamin Gibbard of 8x GRAMMY® Award-nominated Atlantic Records recording group Death Cab for Cutie have announced the release of a landmark new collaboration. “Only Love” is available now via Mom + Pop Music/Ninja Tune; an official visualizer – designed by Tycho mastermind Scott Hansen – is streaming now at YouTube.  LISTEN TO “ONLY LOVE”

- Gen Z singer-songwriter Claire Rosinkranz announces the ‘Claire Rosinkranz Tour’ for this Fall 2021. The tour is in support of her recently released sophomore EP, 6 Of A Billion – listen HERE!  The tour kicks off November 7^th in San Francisco, with stops in major cities including Los Angeles and Chicago before ending in New York on November 17^th. Spotify Fan First: Tour Pre-sale begins today, July 14^th at 9AM Local Time, and general on-sale begins this Friday, July 16^th at 10AM Local Time. Get tickets and more information HERE.

- Elvis Costello and longtime collaborator, 18-time GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® award-winning producer, Sebastian Krys, have brought together a stunning international cast of some of the biggest Latin rock and pop artists from around the globe to interpret Elvis Costello and The Attractions’ album, This Year’s Model, entirely in Spanish. The inspired Spanish-language adaptations are set to the band’s classic studio performances, culled from the original master recordings, which have been newly mixed by Krys, revealing a new power and intensity to The Attractions’ 1978 instrumental performances. The mixes, sometimes running on, allow us to now hear “What Happened Next:” Costello and Mick Jones of The Clash lock dueling rhythm guitars in a thrilling coda to “Pump It Up” or Pete Thomas almost demolishing his drum kit at the end of “No Action.” There is even the occasional vocal cameo appearance by the bandleader, but the album can now be enjoyed in an entirely new way. Spanish Model is set for release September 10 via UMe.  Watch/share video for “Pump It Up” by Juanes.  Pre-order Spanish Model.  Pre-order This Year’s Model

- WE tv debuts groundbreaking original investigative docuseries, “The Mysterious Death of Eazy-E” on Thursday, August 12^th at 10pm. Featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews, the four hour-long installments explore the extraordinary impact Eric Wright, aka “Eazy-E,” had on the music industry and his daughter’s quest for answers to the perplexing circumstances surrounding the 1995 death of the gangsta rap icon.  VIEW SUPERTEASE HERE

- SHOWTIME has picked up the Australian drama series WAKEFIELD, starring British actor Rudi Dharmalingam (The Split, In The Shadow of The Moon). Scheduled to premiere on Monday, October 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME with an eight-episode season, WAKEFIELD is a psychological drama that shines a comedic light on what happens when the sanest individual working in a psych ward begins to lose his grip. A Jungle Entertainment production, WAKEFIELD is executive produced by showrunners Kristen Dunphy and Sam Meikle. The series is directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker, How To Make an American Quilt) and Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket). 

- SHOWTIME has picked up the half-hour comedy series I LOVE THIS FOR YOU, starring and executive produced by Emmy^® nominee Vanessa Bayer (Saturday Night Live), along with fellow nominee Molly Shannon (The White Lotus, The Other Two) also leading the cast. Bayer co-created the series with Emmy nominee and two-time Peabody winner Jeremy Beiler (Saturday Night Live, Inside Amy Schumer, I Think You Should Leave), who will executive produce. Emmy and Peabody winner Jessi Klein (Inside Amy Schumer, Dead to Me, Transparent) will serve as showrunner and executive produce along with Michael Showalter (The Big Sick, Wet Hot American Summer). 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 11, 2021

Kevin Can Fork Himself:  Really, she is going to admit she is going to murder her husband.  Sure, she is in mutual assured destruction territory, but murder is a lot worse than drug trafficking.

 

Motherland: Fort Salem:  Doesn’t marrying off soldiers to get pregnant sound like a pretty bad idea?  Sure, replenishing soldiers is a good thing, but you are losing current soldiers at their peak for months to make soldiers that will not be battle read for about twenty years seems like it would hurt the current cause.

 

In the Dark:  Well that has to be in the discussion for worst hour on television this year.  So many dumb people.  Instead of trying to get to the nerdy guy’s airport before he leaves, why not call him first.  She keeps trying to call the lesbian, but does not try to call the nerd?  Then that gay homosexual may have been dumber.  He is mister goody-goody, not want to do the altruistic deed of taking a blind chick to her dead grandmother’s funeral because he does not want to skip school to buying weed and lying about his age to hook up with older dudes.  Then he comes back to get the blind chick to the funeral only to let the taxi leave.  Get back into the taxi and go to the funeral!  So forking stupid.

 

Good Girls:  Oh hey, the secret service is back.  They were the best part of the last couple seasons.  Though I still do not understand how the mayor was able to get his brother off on a federal case.  Maybe they can explain that now.

 

Around the Tubes: July 10, 2021

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on HootieFest, McCartney 3,2,1, The Go-Go’s, Claire Rosinkranz, Audra McLaughlin, Joy Oladokun, The Valet, and Showtime.

- Hootie & the Blowfish is pleased to announce their inaugural destination concert vacation event: HootieFest: The Big Splash in partnership with CID Presents & On Location. Hosted January 26 - 29, 2022 on a picturesque stretch of white sand beach at Moon Palace Cancún, the four day celebration of all things rock will feature three headlining performances on the beach by the band, as well as appearances by Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Better Than Ezra, Spin Doctors, Toadies, Sister Hazel and Drivin N Cryin. Additional details, including pool party performances are still to be announced.  HootieFest packages will go on sale to the public on July 15 at 1 p.m and include all-inclusive resort accommodations, concert access, roundtrip airport transportation and more. A 24-hour pre-sale will begin July 14 at 1 p.m. ET. To sign up for early access, visit https://hootiefest.com

- All six episodes of "McCartney 3,2,1” premiere July 16 on Hulu. Synopsis: Paul McCartney sits down for a rare, in-depth, one on one with legendary producer Rick Rubin to discuss his groundbreaking work with The Beatles, the emblematic 70s arena rock of Wings and his 50 years and counting as a solo artist. In this six-episode series that explores music and creativity in a unique and revelatory manner, join Paul and Rick for an intimate conversation about the songwriting, influences, and personal relationships that informed the iconic songs that have served as the soundtracks of our lives.

- On July 8, 1981, The Go-Go’s released their platinum-selling, landmark debut, Beauty and the Beat. To celebrate the anniversary of its release, on September 10, 2021, UMe/Interscope will release Beauty and the Beat – 40^th Anniversary Limited Edition pressed on pink vinyl with new cover art featuring a never-before-seen photo taken from the original album cover shoot. Each copy is numbered and will only be available at uDiscover, The Sound of Vinyl and the band’s official store. Pre-order, HERE.  The Go-Go’s skyrocketed to superstardom after they released one of the most successful debut albums of all time. Beauty and the Beat is a collection of hook-laden, infectious songs that stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks, spawning the hits “Our Lips Are Sealed” (named one of Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Pop Singles) and “We Got The Beat” and also earned them a Grammy® nomination for “Best New Artist.”  They have the notable distinction of being the only all-female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments on a No. 1 album. 

- After building anticipation for its arrival, Gen Z singer-songwriter Claire Rosinkranz releases her anxiously awaited sophomore EP, 6 Of A Billion, today via slowplay/Republic Records.  Listen to 6 Of A Billion—HERE.  She heralded the project with her most recent single “Boy In A Billion.” In a week, it has already amassed over 1 million total streams. Attracting critical praise, The Honey Pop fittingly described Claire as “what’s next in pop music.” In addition to plugs from DORK and more, Clash raved the track “underlines her alt-pop prowess.” The project also boasts “Frankenstein,” which has reeled in 6 million streams and counting.

- Country-soul newcomer/former "The Voice" Season 6 finalist Audra McLaughlin is pleased to announce the release of her latest single, "(Can't Buy) Fun Like This," available TODAY through major music retail and streaming outlets following its exclusive premiere on Taste of Country yesterday. LISTEN HERE.

- Breakthrough singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun’s new deluxe album, in defense of my own happiness (complete), is out today via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. Stream/purchase HERE.  The special extended edition includes all 14 tracks from her major label debut, in defense of my own happiness, as well as the ten additional songs from her self-released 2020 record, in defense of my own happiness (the beginnings), and one new track, “judas”—listen HERE.

- “The Valet” Starring Eugenio Derbez Set for Worldwide Release on Hulu and Disney+.  Lionsgate Remake of French Film Picked up by Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer Platforms to Premiere Summer 2022 as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and Internationally on Disney+ as a Star Original.  The film, the English-language remake of the French hit The Valet, is directed by Richard Wong and stars Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving in her first lead role in a romantic comedy.  Max Greenfield, Betsy Brandt, Marisol Nichols, Noemi Gonzalez, Carmen Salinas, Ravi Patel, Tiana Okoye, Diany Rodriguez, Armando Hernández, Carlos Santos, Amaury Nolasco, John Pirucello and Alex Fernandez round out the cast. 

- Showtime Networks Inc. and Amblin Partners have renewed their exclusive output agreement, under which qualifying Amblin Partners films theatrically released through December 31, 2024 will air across SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as on SHOWTIME multiplex channels and streaming service. The agreement allows Showtime Networks Inc. to exhibit high-profile Amblin Partners features across its premium services on-air, on demand and online. The announcement was made by Kent Sevener, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, Showtime Networks Inc.  The new SHOWTIME deal extends the company’s long-term relationship with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin, that began in 2010, and adds up to 18 additional films to an already robust library of Amblin Partners titles available on SHOWTIME networks and streaming service.  Upcoming theatrical releases include Spielberg’s untitled film starring, among others, Oscar^® nominee Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano and Gabriel LaBelle; Distant, starring Anthony Ramos and Naomi Scott; Easter Sunday, starring comedian Jo Koy; and Last Voyage of the Demeter, which stars Corey Hawkins. 

- SHOWTIME has announced that Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award^® winner Kiefer Sutherland (24) will star as President Franklin D. Roosevelt in THE FIRST LADY. Sutherland joins Oscar^®, Emmy and Tony winner Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), who also executive produces, as former first lady Michelle Obama, Oscar and Emmy nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (French Exit) as Betty Ford and Emmy and Screen Actors Guild winner Gillian Anderson (The Crown) as Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Previewing This Way Up: Season Two

COVID not only wrecking the filming schedule, it also ruined the writing too.  Not that screenwriters can write from home or over video conference, some shows decided to include the pandemic into their show, mostly to poor results.  Superstore is the only one that handled adding it to the show successfully, because after a couple months of going to the store with COVID protocols, we were ready to laugh at just how ridiculous how things were.  But for most shows, it really would have been best if they just pretended it did not happen.

 

This Way Up is doing something slightly different in that it still takes place in this world, but shut down does not happen until the last seven minutes of the season finale. So really, we will have to wait until season three to see if the show hits COVID straight on or if they will skip over the pandemic almost complete and start the next season after everything has gone back to “normal.”

 

Hopefully there is a third season because the second one is just as sharp and witty as the first.  If you missed the first season, it will take you less than two and a half hours to catch up (so go do that now because there are spoilers for the first season coming up).  Then the second season is another tight six episodes topping out at twenty-five minutes.  The first season ended with Africa kissing the father of one of her students while her sister kissed a girl.

 

Going into the second, only one of those kisses turned into a full-fledged relationship.  And it was not Shona who remains engaged to Vish though he spends the entire season in New York City (while COVID does not affect any of the character until the end, I have a sinking suspicion Aasif Mandvi was not able to make it to England to film in person there which is why Vish is stateside) as Shona has to make due with a Vish doll that partakes in a weird threesome.  But Shona still has to work Charlotte which makes this awkward.  But awkward is what makes this show so charming and this season features a pretty awkward sauna session and bachelorette part.  Hopefully COVID does not delay a potential third season and the next one comes sooner than two years.

 

All episodes of This Way Up season two will be premiere on Hulu tomorrow.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 4, 2021

 

Kevin Can Fork Himself:  Ha, she reported the drug dealer who in turn ratted out the person that was supplying the drugs she was trying to buy.  That was the first time I laughed during this show so far.  But since we saw the neighbor in the “drama” setting this week, does this mean Kevin has the magical powers?  If she manages to kill him, will there be no sitcom?  Not that I think she will manage it.

 

The Chi:   So we got all the teases from the premiere last week but they still held out just who shot the mayor.  Surprisingly they revealed the shooter’s identity right off the bat.  Though I had absolutely no clue who that was at first.  It turned out to be Brandon’s mother who I do not believe we have seen since Brandon’s funeral back in the season three premiere.  And now I am left wondering if she was a bad shot or if she was not trying to kill them since he survived.  If it is the former, why not walk over to him and put a bullet in his head just to make sure?  That was just a pretty random reveal to bring back someone like that a season and a half later.

 

Black Monday:  I was wondering where Wayne was (okay, I was wondering where Horatio Sanz was, I had no clue his character’s name was Wayne) he was the only original one missing.  I guess he is dead now since everyone ended up being splattered with Wayne at the end.  But who killed Wayne and everyone else and shot Blair seems as obvious as how abducted everyone (seriously, Mo got picked up after Blair asked where he was): the preacher’s daughter.  But then it crossed my mind, what if it was Blair’s wife?

 

Flatbush Misdemeanor:  What is up with the rise of mean therapists?  The Winter Soldier was seeing one and now this one is so angry she is berating the dude’s neighbors for being so loud.

 

In the Dark:  They are just going to tease the lesbian dying all season aren’t they.  That scene on the road where they got out of the car really looked like the scene at the end of episode one.  Then she gets kidnapped at the end.  But by who?  The cops or the queen pin’s people?  Or possibly a friendly?  But I thought for sure the annoying dude would somehow skip out of the threesome, but good for him.  So does the Blind Chick call him or the other boyfriend when the lesbian does not show up?

 

The Bold Type:  I thought they brought Pinstripe back for Jane’s happy ending.  Instead Jane not only declines the promotion but quits all together.  Huh?  So now the editor in chief is going to be someone who was just hire back because she was fired for leaking information about the board of the magazine.  So stupid.  Good riddance to this show.

 

Good Girls:  So why did Annie try to escape only to cover for the guy keeping her captive?  And at what point does the bro squad recruit Matt Sarasan to their squad.  Granted, he does not know much, or really anything.  But it would be nice to be included.

Around the Tubes: July 3, 2021

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on  This Way Up, The L Word: Generation Q, POV, Lord Huron, Joy Oladokun, Noah Kahan, Claire Rosinkranz, and Audra McLaughlin, 

- Season two of the BAFTA award-winning series This Way Up is set after the events of the season one finale, with things in flux for Aine (Aisling Bea, "Living With Yourself;" "Quiz") and her sister, Shona (Sharon Horgan, "Catastrophe;" "Military Wives"). Aine's starting to leave her time in rehab behind and live less cautiously, which may not be entirely wise. Will she and Richard (Tobias Menzies, "The Crown;" "Game of Thrones") make a go of it? Or continue to exist in the odd tension of the employer and employee? How will Shona and Charlotte (Indira Varma, "Game of Thrones;" "Luther") manage running a new business together and having feelings for each other? Will Shona be able to go through with marrying Vish (Aasif Mandvi, "Evil;" "The Brink")? Planning a wedding? Can she tell him what happened? Is there anything more to tell?

- In anticipation of its big premiere, SHOWTIME is debuting the official season two trailer for THE L WORD: GENERATION Q. The series returns with its first new episode of the second season on Friday, August 6, available on streaming and on-demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers. Before making its on-air debut on Sunday, August 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, each new episode of the second season will be available on Fridays to stream via on-demand. The first five episodes of season two will air Sunday nights, with the final five episodes of the season airing Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT up until its October 11 season finale

- American Documentary | POV is proud to announce the national broadcast premiere of David Osit's Mayor on Monday July 26th at 10 p.m. (check local listings) and online at pov.org. The film will also be available to stream for free on pov.org until August 25th, 2021. Mayor is director David Osit’s second film to broadcast on POV after his documentary Thank You For Playing, which won the ‘Outstanding Arts & Culture Documentary’ at the 2017 News and Documentary Emmy Awards. Mayor was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick and has picked up awards from Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and CPH:DOX, among others. 

- With their Fall 2021 headline tour quickly selling out, Lord Huron announces three new dates in Oklahoma City on October 21^st, Dallas on October 22^nd, and Austin on October 23^rd. Tickets for these dates will be available tomorrow, June 29^th at 10:00AM CST via artist presale (pw: longlost21) and Thursday, July 1^st at 10:00AM CST via general on-sale. Visit www.lordhuron.com for more info and ticket links.

- The official visualizer for “Bigger Man,” Joy Oladokun’s new collaboration with Maren Morris, is debuting today. Watch/share HERE.  “Bigger Man” is from Oladokun’s acclaimed major-label debut, in defense of my own happiness, and will also be featured on her new deluxe record, in defense of my own happiness (complete), out next Friday, July 9 via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. The special extended edition includes all 14 tracks from in defense of my own happiness, as well as the ten additional songs from her self-released 2020 record, in defense of my own happiness (the beginnings), and one new song, “judas.” See below for complete track list. The release adds to a breakout year for Oladokun, who made her debut on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last week performing “sunday” from Nashville’s newly opened National Museum of African American Music. Watch/share HERE.  

- Following the recent announcements of his forthcoming album I Was / I Am set for release on September 17^th and upcoming fall headline tour, Noah Kahan reveals his latest single “Godlight” out now—listen HERE!  “Godlight” is a soaring anthem about fame, ego, and self-reflection, as Noah sings, “To know me, is to hate me, is to hate what I’ve become…I’m not the way I was, I’m not the way I was.” Of the meaning behind the song, Noah says, “I was on tour with a lighting director who said I needed more ‘Godlight’ on stage. ‘Godlight’ is the light that fixates on the singer, while the rest of the band is blackened down. In my life, I was chasing that. This ego was growing, and I saw it growing. I knew it was affecting my relationships. If the younger version of me who was making songs just for the love of music saw myself giving so much of a shit about the attention on me instead of the music, I’d be really disappointed. The song is like I’m singing to my older self at a family reunion.”

- Gearing up for a big summer, Gen Z singer-songwriter Claire Rosinkranz is back with a brand-new single entitled “Boy In A Billion” today via slowplay/Republic Records. It paves the way for her anxiously awaited sophomore EP, 6 Of A Billion, set for release on July 9.  Listen to “Boy In A Billion”— HERE.  Even before the song officially dropped, it had already stirred up widespread buzz online. A TikTok of Claire writing “Boy In A Billion” raked in over 4 million views (watch HERE). She didn’t stop there though. Welcoming her followers into the creative process, countless fans witnessed the recording of the song on Claire’s social media accounts (watch HERE). 

- Country soul singer-songwriter Audra McLaughlin knows that money can't buy happiness, as reflected by her upcoming single, "(Can't Buy) Fun Like This." Due for release on July 9 and currently available for PRE-SALE on Spotify and Apple Music at this LINK, McLaughlin's summertime anthem indicates she would rather wear a pair of cut-offs to a backwoods party and share a box of red with her friends than sport Louis Vitton and sip Dom Perignon with the Jones.

- As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, C‑SPAN is releasing the results of its fourth Historians Survey of Presidential Leadership, in which a cross-section of presidential historians and professional observers of the presidency ranked the country’s 44 former chief executives on 10 characteristics of leadership.  Former President Donald Trump enters the ranks for the first time in the #41 position. His highest rankings were in Public Persuasion (#32) and Economic Management (#34). The historians ranked him in last place (#44) for Moral Authority and Administrative Skills.  — Full rankings for each of the 44 presidents, as well as a Gallery of Insights with shareable/social media graphics, are available at www.c-span.org/presidentsurvey2021.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 27, 2021

  

Kevin Can Fork Himself:  I was really looking forward to this show when it was announce but, wow, those first to episodes were bad.  The sitcom parts were not funny and the drama parts were just boring.  Well except when Kevin got stabbed.  Except it never really happened so that was kind of lame too.

 

The Chi:  I am surprised we got the tease from the first episode this early.  Though as Keisha was getting birth and the kids’ roaming the halls, I kept wondering, so when is the mayor going to get shot?   As the episode went on, I looked at how much time was left wondering if they dare save that for later.  But we finally got it.  Except we still do not know who the shooter is.  I was typing out “killer” but I am not entirely sure he is dead, he was shot in the side so as long as someone finds him in time, he could easily survive.  And what exactly is a racial equitable Olympics?  HE was about to explain, but then they were playing music over the explanation.

 

Black Monday:  So Blair built a panic room but all he does in there is panic?  But it looks like he will be going on the offensive, but who will he go after?  I still think the preacher’s daughter is the prime suspect, going after Blair and killing her father in retaliation for her husband hanging himself.

 

Flatbush Misdemeanor:  Okay, betting on a 100 to 1 Homecoming King is pretty funny. 

 

Motherland: Fort Salem:  Man, this show really needed a much longer “previously on” segment.  The mythology is just so convoluted.  Now I am not entirely sure who the bad guys are.  Is it the main’s chick’s mother / girlfriend?

 

In the Dark:  I asked when talking about the season finale, with the blind dude figuring out Murphy was involved in the crimes, are they just going to go on the run?  I said that mockingly, but it turns out that is the case.  Though I have a feeling, it Murphy can somehow implicate the chief in letting Dean skate for Tyson’s murder, she will be allowed to stop running.  But what will happen to the dog school?  Will Murphy’s parent come back and run it?

 

The Bold Type:  poor Jane, while Sutton and Kat were participating in a sex montage with their season one relationships, she was working.  But I guess they really could not bring back the cheating Pinstripe.  I guess being the next editor is a decent consolation prize.

 

The Blacklist:  Well, that was annoying.  Right before the penultimate episode, new broke that Lizzie would not be back for the next season.  Since she would not be back but Red would, it because pretty obvious that Lizzie was not going to shoot Red.  But I guess it could be worse, I was under the assumption Ressler was going to shoot Lizzie to keep her from shooting Red for some dumb moralistic reason.  Sure, Townsend’s goon coming out of nowhere was almost as dumb.  Then Red shot the goon so no hunting down that dude, or even Townsend who got incinerated last week, so why bother killing her that way?

 

Poor Lizzie, dies without even finding out who her mother is.  She could not even read Red’s later because she was not allowed to open it until he was dead.  But seriously, who even wants to see a ninth season of this show without Lizzie?  Really,, NBC cancels Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Good Girls but they are going to air a ninth season of this show without one of the co-leads?  So forking stupid.  Sure, I will watch, but it will mostly be a hate-watch, much like most of this season.

 

Good Girls:  So why are they stealing the printing press?  Why not ask Rio for help?  I guess his version of helping would be to take out the old lady.  But you would think someone would mention it.  But what was with Dean just blurting out his wives crimes?  And then hiring one of the guys who heard him as his lawyer.  People on this show is getting pretty dumb.