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Thursday, August 24, 2023
View From The Peak - Everything Coming to Paramount+ in September
Sunday, August 20, 2023
57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 20, 2023
The Chi: In this week’s instalment of should I know who
these people are: should I know who those first two people at the party are? I vaguely remember who the guy who sat at the
bar was, but am not entirely how he fit into the story. Thankfully the guy who did not pick up Keisha
the night she was kidnapped said that upfront, because I would not have known
that if he did not. But is this the
first time all the characters were in the same place at the same time? But I think we need to keep track of the
Chekov’s Gun that was given as a housewarming present. I have a feeling I know who will be on a
receiving end (the kingpin), but the list of who could shoot it is very long.
Billions: So Chuck
ended the last season in jail and has his job back by episode two because of a
pair of cowboy boot? That is pretty absurd
even by television standards. I am
guessing it will take a little longer to get Axe Cap back together. Then I have to imagine the whole bassoon
thing was inspired by Only Murders in the Building.
Only Murders in the
Building: Ben Glenroy's apartment
may have been more wild than the stalkers. Then Death Rattle Dazzle is really
coming together nicely, or at the very least coming together hilariously.
But my two main suspects after the first two episodes look a
little less guilty this week. The brother looked broken up even when no one was
watching (that he knew of). Then Flobert (that is my official name for him
going forward unless Mabel comes up with a better one) seemed to help Mabel in
her investigation... but then again, Jan did help too.
I do have a sinking suspicion than Kimber was not the only
one to lose her hankie.
Justified: City
Primeval: Oh no, Sweetie is dead… oh
well. But what happened to the gun? But this has to be the point where the lawyer
turns on him. But who is the mole in the
police department? The black dude is
pretty laissez faire but it is probably the lady cop.
The Challenge: USA: Why were trey trying to make Paulie seem sympathetic? Good riddance. If only both went home. But it is nice to see the hot chick alliance take
full control of this game. It will be
interesting as to what Johnny does.
Seems most likely that he goes to go to Blue. But does he go full spite and send Cory to
Red Flag or does he try to make a Vet majority and send one of the non-Vets packing
like Chris? That would be Johnny, Cory,
Fessie, and Tori against Cassidy, Seabass, and the Alyssa’s. Tori could definably get Seabass to switch in
that situation. But can the Alyssa’s
keep Cory on their side in that situation.
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Around the Tubes: August 19, 2023
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 The Other Black Girl, Chucky, SurrealEstate, Shoresy, Kid Cudi, Sister Hazel, Anitta, Bahamas, Noah Gundersen, and Paris Jackson
- Hulu has debuted the trailer and key art for the upcoming Original series "The Other Black Girl," from Onyx Collective, based on Zakiya Dalila Harris' best selling novel. The series will premiere all 10 episodes on September 13, only on Hulu. TRAILER Nella, an editorial assistant, is tired of being the only Black girl at her company, so she’s excited when Hazel is hired. But as Hazel’s star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company.
- “Chucky” Season 3 Returns Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SYFY/USA, Streaming Next Day on Peacock. “SurrealEstate” Season 2 Immediately follows at 10 p.m. on SYFY. Chucky Talks Season 3 in Press Conference Video. Support Chucky and the new season by texting "CHUCKY" to 201- 500-3347. SurrealEstate Season 2 Trailer. Official season 2 trailer makes its debut. Season 1 is now available on Hulu
- Season 2 of SHORESY will premiere exclusively on Hulu Friday, October 27! Watch the New Teaser HERE. Created by and starring Jared Keeso, directed by Jacob Tierney and produced by New Metric Media in association with Play Fun Games, the half hour comedy sees the foul-mouthed, chirp-serving, mother-loving, fan favourite character, Shoresy (Keeso), and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs of the Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (The NOSHO), continue their quest to never lose again. Joining the stellar lineup this season are Frederick Roy (son of Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy), international pop star Rêve, Catherine St-Laurent (Tu Dors Nicole) and Jordana Lajoie (THE BOYS).
- GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum sonic visionary, artist, producer, actor, and director Kid Cudi unlocks the pre-order for his anxiously awaited ninth full-length studio album, INSANO. Additionally, he revealed 4 covert-art variations that feature artwork by renowned artist and designer, KAWS. Pre-order/Pre-save INSANO HERE via Republic Records. It stands out as his first full-length offering since 2022 and one of the most anticipated records of this year. Listen to “PORSCHE TOPLESS” HERE.
- Platinum-selling, iconic, country/rock band Sister Hazel premiered their highly anticipated new song, "Coconut Trees," on Wide Open Country earlier this week. "Sister Hazel take listeners on a breezy island escape with new single 'Coconut Trees,' an ode to slowing down and soaking up special moments with loved ones — whether it's a gorgeous summer day or a dreary winter morning." (Wide Open Country). "Coconut Trees" was written by the band's guitarist, Andrew Copeland, and Kyle Jacobs, and was produced by Ben Jackson. The c’est la vie track is a unique blend of sounds meant to be listened to with "a little sun and rum on ice with an ocean breeze," and no distractions. The song is being released today by Nashville-based label Rock Ridge Music, with distribution via Warner/ADA. "Coconut Trees" is available for streaming and download here.
- Back with a whole lot of heat, record-breaking international superstar Anitta unleashes a brand new three-song bundle entitled Funk Generation: A Favela Story today via Republic Records/Universal Music Latin Entertainment. Listen to Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story HERE.
- Award-winning, Canadian artist Bahamas, a.k.a. Afie Jurvanen, has released a new video for the new track “I’m Still,” from the upcoming album Bootcut (out September 15th via Brushfire Records). While many of the songs on Bootcut were written and performed with a strong country influence, “I’m Still” stands out as a bit of an anomaly. The soulful track features a retro R&B arrangement led by a funky guitar riff that sits behind Jurvanen’s laid-back vocal cadence. The new video features a solo Jurvanen on a leisurely stroll on High Head Trail and along the beautiful coastline nearby in Blandford, NS. He is contemplative at one moment, playful in the next, like fans have come to expect in Bahamas’ songs and videos. Jurvanen balances thoughtful sincerity and a little fun like few other artists. Watch the “I’m Still” video HERE and stream HERE.
- Soundly Music and acclaimed Washington-based singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen are pleased to announce the Friday, September 8 release of If This Is The End, Gundersen’s brand new full-length studio album and first offering since 2021’s A Pillar of Salt (pre-save/pre-add HERE). Born out of a soul-searching period in Gundersen’s life where he was working a construction job after having enjoyed a fruitful career in music, the songs on If This Is The End detail the regret and failure of those years, but it also highlights his newfound outlook on hope and the transformative power of love. ”I found myself disillusioned with the industry and no longer knew my place in it,” Gundersen recalls. “The world around me has changed rapidly and I sometimes have difficulty grasping it. There were moments when I felt I had lost the wind from my sails, but I still love creating music and I love these songs.”
- Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, and activist paris jackson reveals her new single “Hit Your Knees” out now via Republic Records—listen HERE. For the release of “Hit Your Knees,” paris partnered with co-writer and producer Linda Perry, the co-founder along with Alisha Ballard, of EqualizeHer, an organization working to solve gender inequality in the music industry by taking action to create more opportunities for women. Written, performed, produced, mixed, and mastered entirely by women, “Hit Your Knees” amplifies EqualizeHer’s mission and aims to challenge other artists to support female creatives through collaboration. EqualizeHer was founded to take aggressive action and help solve for the underrepresentation of women in the music business and the problems women face in the industry every day.
Sunday, August 13, 2023
57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 13, 2023
The Chi: Are they really doing a grooming storyline
with Poppa. Sure, a two year age
difference is not that gross, but it is a little icky hearing anyone ask
someone when they turn eighteen. But
twice this week I had to ask myself, should I know these people? First was the guy who found God while in
prison. I ended up using context clues
to realize that was brother of the girl Kevin’s moms adopted. Then the drug dealer’s mom was talking about
her brother who was murdered. Is that
Quinten? Did we know Quinten and the
drug dealer were related?
Only Murders in the
Building: I was wondering how they
were going to do an Only Murders in the Building podcast when the murder did
not happen in the building. Good fake
out especially with Uma saying it was nice they kept the body out of the
building this time only for her to see Ben Glenroy’s dead body later on. It would have been funny had people kept
trying to kill Ben Glenroy all season only to fail, but alas, it seems like he
is really dead this time.
Though I do have a theory that whoever poisoned Ben Glenroy
was not the person who pushed him down the elevator shaft. Right now I think the brother poisoned him
while the documentarian shoved him down the shaft even though they really
seemed to want us to think Meryl Streep did it.
My other big prediction after one episode is that the “her”
Charles told Ben Glenroy to stay away from is not a person but a thing. He mentioned that Mabel did not get to know
him before he died and Lucy was quickly ushered out of the theater so it does
not seem like we will see much of her (and it would have been creepy anyway if
Ben Glenroy needed to be told to stay away from a teenage girl). That just leaves his girlfriend because I
doubt Charles would get too attached to one of his castmates.
Justified: City
Primeval: Well, I was just saying
how Raylan has seemed to mature during the show’s hiatus for not letting one bad
guy kill another bad guy and then he goes and forks a key person in the case he
is working on and get in a pissing contest with her ex-husband. And now that key person may become a person
of interest if she starts using that book to advance her career.
The Challenge: USA: Ugg, the nation centric spin-offs last season
year were so good without the same tired contestants from the flagship
show. Of course they had to go and ruin
it just like they ruined All-Star.
Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to bring Paulie back. And no, Paulie, people do not love to hate
you, you have go away heat. Ugg, and
Josh is back and on the same team as Paulie.
Hopefully that team self-combusts and Michele is the only one who
survives. If we are lucky Johnny gets
sent in and sent home, but I fear there may be a frozen envelope situation. I like the idea of a hidden vote and random
people being thrown in, but I do not trust the producers not to do some shenanigans
to keep the same boring players on the show longer.
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Around the Tubes: August 12, 2023
- DNA evidence speaks when victims can’t. There are over 100,000 cold cases in America. Only about 1% are ever solved – and, increasingly, advancements in forensic science are key to cracking these long-running mysteries. COLD CASE FILES: DNA SPEAKS is a new, 10-part documentary series focusing on murder cases that remained unsolved for decades and were ultimately cracked with DNA evidence. It explores these stunning scientific developments – as well as the unwavering dedication of families and investigators – that eventually brought the killers to justice. The Emmy-nominated Cold Case Files was the original forensic science crime show when it first aired in 1999. This brand-new series is narrated by the original host and executive producer, celebrated journalist Bill Kurtis, and builds on the success of the original with spectacular cinematography, extraordinary crime scene footage, and cutting-edge science. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OFFICIAL TRAILER
- Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Bay returns with a brand-new single entitled “Goodbye Never Felt So Bad” out now via Mercury/Republic Records. It notably marks his first release of 2023 and first new music since his 2022 third full-length album, Leap. Listen to “Goodbye Never Felt So Bad”—HERE.
- 3 Doors Down releases the 20th-anniversary Digital Deluxe Edition of their legendary sophomore album, Away From The Sun. Filled with timeless hits and heart-pounding energy that defined an era, Away From The Sun features chart-toppers “Here Without You” and “When I’m Gone.” Remastered from 24-bit sources by the renowned Dave Donnelly, the iconic album’s original twelve tracks of powerful melodies and emotive lyrics have been revitalized to capture the essence of the band’s groundbreaking sound. The deluxe version also includes ten bonus tracks, including unearthed treasures like “Pop Song” and “Living A Lie,” both making their long-awaited digital debut, as well as the hidden gems “When I’m Gone (Live – Early Version)” and “Here Without You (demo),” which was recorded at a house in Mobile, AL in the early stages of the album’s creation. Rounding out the bonus material are three previously unreleased studio recordings, including “Long Day,” “Something In My Mind,” and a striking Lynyrd Skynyrd cover of “That Smell,” plus three tracks produced by Rush’s Alex Lifeson during the original recording sessions: “Dangerous Game,” “Wasted Me,” and “Dead Love.” A 1LP Limited Edition Color Vinyl of the original album will also be available on November 10. Preorder the LP or Listen to the Digital Deluxe Edition of Away From The Sun HERE.
- Back with a bright summer anthem, 19-year-old Southern California singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Claire Rosinkranz releases a new single entitled “Pools and Palm Trees” today–listen HERE! The song sets the stage for her highly anticipated debut album Just Because, due out on October 6th via slowplay/Republic Records. Pre-order/Pre-save Just Because HERE. On “Pools and Palm Trees,” acoustic guitar echoes through airy production as Claire’s candid and conversational lyrics take hold. She sings, “I miss you a lot…‘cause you feel like pools and palm trees swaying in the breeze.” The track reflects the sunny spirit of her signature musical style.
- Steely Dan’s 1977 multi-platinum jazz-rock masterwork, Aja, has been remastered from analog and will be reissued on vinyl for the first time in more than four decades on September 29th via Geffen/UMe. Aja marks the latest release in Geffen/UMe’s extensive reissue program of Steely Dan’s classic ABC and MCA Records catalog, which returns the band’s first seven records to vinyl – most of which haven’t been available since their original release. Overseen by founding member Donald Fagen, the series launched in November 2022 with the group’s legendary 1972 debut, Can’t Buy A Thrill, followed by 1973’s Countdown To Ecstasy in May 2023. The band’s beloved third album, 1974’s Pretzel Logic, was just released last month. Aja has been meticulously remastered by Bernie Grundman from an analog, non-EQ’d, tape copy and will be pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at 33 1/3 RPM. Additionally, Aja, like all the titles, is being released as a limited edition premium 45 RPM version on Ultra High-Quality Vinyl (UHQR) from Analogue Productions, the audiophile in-house reissue label of Acoustic Sounds. Analogue Productions is also releasing this series of titles on Super Audio CD (SACD). Visit here for more details and to order. Pre-order Aja: https://steelydan.lnk.to/
- POV, America's longest running non-fiction series continues its 36th season with Peabody Award-winning director/producer Marco Williams’ personal film, Murders That Matter. The PBS alum documents five years in the life of Movita Johnson-Harrell, an African American Muslim mother in Philadelphia, as she transforms from a victim of violent trauma into a fierce advocate against gun violence in Black communities. Though her story is local, it nonetheless remains a siren call in the wake of escalating gun-related deaths that ultimately impact Black and other communities of color throughout the U.S. A co-production with ITVS, Murders That Matter is scheduled to make its world premiere on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 10 pm ET/9C (check local listings) and will be available to stream until December 25, 2023 at pbs.org, and the PBS App. In addition to standard closed captioning for the film, POV, in partnership with audio description service DiCapta, provides real time audio interpretations for audiences with sensory disabilities.
Friday, August 11, 2023
Previewing Billions Season Seven
Poor Michael Prince, he was brought in to replace Bobby Axelrod but just one season after jettisoning Bobby to some nondescript European city, presumably to never be seen again, Axe is back. Not only is he back, but front and center in the seventh and final season poster for Billions, pushing Prince to the edges. Making things worse is that Bobby is barely in the episodes given to critics. Another character that has not been seen in a while may actually have more screen time than Axe in those episodes.
But hey, at least Prince gets to open the season with a very
eye opening scene. Unfortunately that is
directly followed by a “5 months earlier“ chyron. That gets us closer to the end of last season
which ended in a high stakes game of chicken which left Prince $3.5 billion cheaper
and Chuck in jail, though the latter was short lived as New York State Attorney
General Dave Mahar bailed him out. Prince
would move on as he has bigger fish to fry.
After failing to bring the Olympics to New York, now he is trying to run
for president as an Independent.
But this is an end of the era. It has been announced that the seventh will
be final season of Billions (though Millions and Trillions are currently in
development along with versions of Billions set in Miami and London…
geez). And it is time to wrap things up
if they think they need Bobby Axelrod to save the show after just one season
without him even though the show had gotten stale with Bobby and Chuck going after
each other for the previous five seasons (aside from that one stretch when they
were on the same side). The show even
seems to run out of pop culture references, there is an awkward Nirvana
references early in the season and I was left wondering if they were cribbing
other shows’ with a couple of reference. Like most Showtime shows, this one seems to
be ended one to three seasons too late.
Billions airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime, though you can stream
episodes on Fridays on Paramount+ with Showtime.
Sunday, August 06, 2023
57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 6, 2023
Cruel Summer: This season was a big downgrade, but if you are
going to go out, go out hard. I was
slightly disappointed that the death was sort of an accident, but they did make
up for that to have Isabella very intentionally killing the dude. Do not ask me why the police did not bother
to check security tapes until six months after the guy went missing. But kudos to who ever thought it was a good
idea to turn some crappy White Zombie song into some moody folk song. That was hilarious.
Justified: City
Primeval: It looks like Raylan has
grown. There were multiple time he had
no problem with one guy killing another guy.
But the show was much better without his daughter around.
Saturday, August 05, 2023
Around the Tubes: August 5, 2023
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 Bob Marley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Stephen Sanchez, Dreaming Whilst Black, POV, and Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court.
- Bob Marley's immortality continues with ‘Africa Unite’, a majestic, posthumous album celebrating the vibrant fusion of Reggae and Afrobeats! ‘Africa Unite’ is an extraordinary album that pays homage to the Reggae icon's greatest hits, beautifully reimagined and infused with the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats. ‘Africa Unite’ features inspiring collaborations between Bob Marley's classics and a stellar lineup of contemporary African musicians. This ten-track masterpiece includes some of Africa’s greatest artists who bring their unique flair and artistry, paying tribute to Bob Marley's enduring influence while adding their refreshing voices to his iconic compositions.
- Southern by the Grace of God indeed. On October 13, Geffen/UMe Recordings is set to release FYFTY, a 4CD/digital 50th anniversary box set that celebrates the enduring legacy of one of rock & roll’s most pre-eminent bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd. The career-spanning 50 tracks featured on FYFTY represent the best of the best music the band has offered up to its loyal, worldwide fanbase from the very beginning. Within this box set, fans of all eras of Lynyrd Skynyrd can trace the band’s roots by way of their early Muscle Shoals recordings through an abundance of iconic songs that defined the literal soundtrack of the ’70s. From there, listeners can revisit live cuts from the historic 1987 tribute show that ignited the band’s ensuing reunion, then continue onward and upward with the determined last-band standing defiance of fist-pumping latter-era tracks like “Last Of A Dyin’ Breed” and “Last Of The Street Survivors,” and eventually touch back down on earth with a special live performance of “Gimme Three Steps” that was culled from the band’s final show with co-founding guitarist Gary Rossington in November 2022, a previously unreleased live track. FYFTY is available to pre-order now via uDiscover Music and LynyrdSkynyrd.com. A limited-edition version of the collection with a signed litho will be available as an exclusive release available via uDiscover and the band’s touring packages. Pre-order FYFTY now: https://lynyrdskynyrd.lnk.to/
- Platinum-Certified, Nashville-based singer and songwriter Stephen Sanchez shares a brand new single entitled “Be More” today via Mercury Records/Republic Records—listen to “Be More” HERE and watch the visualizer HERE! “Be More,” which premiered on Apple Music’s “New Music Daily” playlist, heralds the arrival of Sanchez’s anxiously awaited, full-length debut album, Angel Face, on September 22nd—pre-order Angel Face HERE.
- SHOWTIME has secured the U.S. rights for the half-hour series DREAMING WHILST BLACK. Rolling out two episodes weekly, the six-episode dramedy from A24 and Big Deal Films will make its streaming debut on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on Friday, September 8, and premiere on air Sunday, September 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. Co-created and co-written by and starring Adjani Salmon, DREAMING WHILST BLACK is adapted from the web series and acclaimed Big Deal Films-produced BBC pilot of the same name, which garnered a string of award wins and nominations for Salmon, including the 2022 BAFTA for Emerging Talent: Fiction and Screen International Star of Tomorrow. Co-produced by UK-based indie Big Deal Films and A24, DREAMING WHILST BLACK is loosely inspired by real-life events, following Kwabena (Salmon), an aspiring filmmaker stuck in a dead-end recruitment job who takes the first step to achieving his dream. However, he is quickly confronted with the tribulations of balancing finances, love and his own sense of reality.
- As the country reflects on the one-year anniversary of the historic Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that effectively overturned Roe v. Wade, and as the Supreme Court Justices increasingly are under the microscope, SHOWTIME today announced that its timely four-part docuseries DEADLOCKED: HOW AMERICA SHAPED THE SUPREME COURT (previously announced as CONFIRMED) will make its streaming debut on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on Friday, September 22, and premiere that day at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. From Emmy®-winning director Dawn Porter (The Way I See It, John Lewis: Good Trouble), DEADLOCKED traces the modern history of the Supreme Court and examines the people, decisions and confirmation battles that have shaped the Court into what it is today. Trailer Here
- Following its award winning festival run, While We Watched directed by Vinay Shukla (An Insignificant Man) and produced by Luke W. Moody (founding producer, Lono Studio) and Khushboo Ranka (co-director, producer, An Insignificant Man), will make its national broadcast premiere on Monday, September 4, 2023 at 10pm ET/9C (check local listings) and will be available to stream until December 3, 2023 at pbs.org, and the PBS App. In addition to standard closed captioning for the film, POV, in partnership with audio description service DiCapta, provides real time audio interpretations for audiences with sensory disabilities.