Around the Tubes: March 30, 2024

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 Under the Bridge, Pearl Jam, Needtobreathe, Lyn Lapid, and Noah Kahan.

Hulu has debuted the official trailer for limited series “Under the Bridge.”  The series premieres on Hulu with two episodes on April 17, with new episodes launching weekly.  “Under the Bridge” is based on acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey’s book about the 1997 true story of fourteen-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta) who went to join friends at a party and never returned home. Through the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder — revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer.

- To celebrate the release of the new album, Pearl Jam will present an exclusive cinematic engagement, Pearl Jam – Dark Matter – Global Theatrical Experience – One Night Only, on April 16, 2024. Distributed by Abramorama, Dark Matter will come to life in over 800 locations worldwide, including US theaters AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Landmark, Marcus, Cinepolis, Harkins, Alamo Drafthouse, Chinese Cineplex, IFC, and more. Additionally, AMC and other cinemas will feature Dolby Atmos showings. Worldwide, it graces theaters in over 30 countries, appearing in more than 450 locations across Mexico, the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, and Poland, to name a few. Today, the band drops their first look at the Theatrical Experience.  You can watch the trailer HERE. Tickets are on sale HERE.

- Fans across the world can join GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum rock band NEEDTOBREATHE for their sold-out performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sunday, May 19th at 11pm ET—the show will stream live via premier streaming platform Veeps. Tickets are available for purchase today HERE and this week, Insiders can purchase tickets for just $9.99. Tickets leading up to the event are $14.99 and Day of Show tickets are $19.99, with $1 from each ticket benefitting For Others. As part of their subscription, Veeps All Access members will be able to watch the show for free. All streaming tickets will include a 7-day rewatch window and are available via Veeps.com and through the Veeps app on Roku, Apple TV, iOS, and Android.  Known for their distinctive blend of modern rock, soulful melodies, and undeniable mainstream appeal, NEEDTOBREATHE has built a “massive live following” (Rolling Stone) in their storied two-decade career. The band is currently gearing up for a special performance at the CMT Awards on April 7 in Austin, TX, where they will perform for the first time with country hitmaker Jordan Davis. Prior to the main event, fans will have the opportunity to attend a special taping of "CMT Crossroads" on April 5, where the band and Davis will perform together at the University of Texas Austin's UT Tower.

- 21-year-old singer and songwriter Lyn Lapid recruits Gold-selling artist and producer Whethan for her new single “Cruise Control” out now—listen HERE and watch the visualizer HERE. The electronic indie pop bop sets the stage for a new era from the songstress, and follows her recently released deluxe EP to love in the 21^st century: the epilogue and subsequent headline tour across the US.  Lyn says, “‘Cruise Control’ is one of those songs that is fun and upbeat but lyrically is a bit darker than you’d expect. I’ve definitely had many moments where my brain goes into autopilot, and I’m mentally floating for extended periods of time. I feel like this affects me creatively where I’m making songs with no meaning, making videos with no substance, and outwardly displaying no sense of direction. Some people find this writer’s block or creative’s block, but this kind of feeling seeps into essentially all aspects of my life. This is what ‘Cruise Control’ is about, being in a state where you sometimes have no clue what you’re doing or what’s happening, and floating around. So this one goes out to all my dissociate-r’s out there.”

- GRAMMY® Best New Artist nominee and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Noah Kahan stopped by Sesame Street, where it was the “season of the sticks”—check out a digital clip with his new friends Elmo and Tango HERE. The clip teases what’s to come from Noah’s upcoming performance on the show’s forthcoming 55th season, set to premiere this fall.

Previewing A Gentleman in Moscow

 

The communist revolution of 1917 in Russia saw the execution of the royal family.  During the next four years the Leninist re-organized the country.  The tsarist aristocracy was eradicated.  This is the setting for A Gentleman in Moscow where Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan) plays Count Alexander Rostov, whose life is spared after a poem attributed to him is presented at his hearing.  Though he has been sentenced to live the rest of his days in the hotel he had been living in.  Though he is resigned to the servants quarters of the hotel and if he ever leaves the hotel he will be shot on sight.  But hey, he eats for free at the very upscale restaurant inside the hotel. 

 

The story picks up when he runs into a precocious young girl who just happens to know all the secrets of the hotel.  Where are her parents?  Who knows.   That she does not interact with anyone else in the first couple episodes will lead to some speculation.  Is she even real?  It is she is the narrator of the show.

 

Another occupant is Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Asoka).  She is usually good in everything, but she does not really pull of a glamorous Russian actress.  The wig and accent (which, much like The Great is not Russian, but English) really do not work here. Thankfully the wig disappears after a couple episodes.  Johnny Harris (Without Sin) plays Rostov’s jailor with menace.  Fehinti Balogun (Dune) shows up as Rostov’s old friend who was also part of the revolution.

 

A Gentleman in Moscow is a well-crafted miniseries that can humorous as it is heartfelt.  In just eight episodes, the writers get you to get really invested in these characters, even the ones that do not even show up until the second half of the season while the story barrels to a thrilling conclusion after spending decades within the hotel.

 

A Gentleman in Moscow premieres today on Paramount+ with Showtime and will air Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.

View from the Peak - Everything coming to Paramount+ in April 2024

 

This April, Paramount+ brings exciting adventures the whole household will enjoy. March Madness has kicked off, already delivering plenty of upsets and drama. The crew of the U.S.S. Discovery makes its final voyage when Star Trek: Discovery returns for its fifth season. Everyone’s favorite little explorer, DORA, and the iconic echidna ,Knuckles, embark upon their own adventures that will win over the young and young-at-heart. And The Challenge: All Stars get the heart racing with an action-packed season four. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Paramount+ in April, check out the latest edition of View from the Peak.

PEAK CONTENT

Angourie Rice, Avantika Vandanapu, Reneé Rapp and Bebe Wood in Mean Girls Get in loser, we’re going streaming! Mean Girls, the musical hit that dominated the box office this winter, raking in more than $100 million at the box office, has arrived on Paramount+ as the No. 1 movie on the service among subscriber households. From the comedic mind of Tina Fey, the film, based on her popular Broadway musical, currently ranks as the No. 3 comedy of all time on the service. Even more fetch: audiences excited by this new twist have been revisiting the original Mean Girls, causing a 100% rise in streams month over month.

STREAM MEAN GIRLS ON PARAMOUNT+

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

David Ajala , Mary Wiseman, Doug Jones, Sonequa Martin-Green, Wilson Cruz, Blu Del Barrio and Callum Keith Rennie in Star Trek: Discovery Next month, the U.S.S. Discovery completes its mission to explore the outer reaches of space (and time). Launched in 2017, the series is one of the longest-running streaming dramas at 65 episodes and helped launch the resurgence of the Star Trek franchise, introducing fans to Picard, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, Prodigy and Section 31. At SXSW, we sat down with Showrunners and Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise to talk about the journey to the final season. Star Trek: Discovery brought Star Trek into the new frontier of streaming. Could you speak to the importance of that journey? Kurtzman: We were one of the first shows to launch on a streaming service. We were just making a new Star Trek series, which hadn't been on the air for 12 years. We weren't necessarily constrained by network rules so we were able to tell different kinds of stories, and that was exciting. We are able to open up and create bigger worlds than you would ever be able to create on a television show but also tell the kinds of stories you couldn’t tell on a network show. Captain Michael Burnham and crew have been through a lot since igniting a Klingon War in the pilot. Looking back, what do you think is the show's enduring message? Kurtzman: The show is called Discovery and it's about the discovery of different worlds and planets and species, but it's also about these characters discovering themselves and different things about each other. Hopefully, you'll feel emotionally satisfied by where we take you in the end. Paradise: As with any iteration of Star Trek, there is an underlying hope and optimism at the heart of Discovery. This show in particular is focused on the crew as a family and that emotional connection between them. When a family unit comes together, we can overcome the most challenging of obstacles. We have to imagine you have some big plans for the show's send-off. What can fans look forward to this season? Paradise: This season people can look forward to action, adventure and fun. There's an exciting quest element to this season that will put our heroes in all sorts of different situations. It's a satisfying journey for the season itself and a satisfying end to the series as a whole. Star Trek: Discovery heads into the final frontier on April 4 with season five.

WATCH THE TRAILER

FAMILY FUN

Since launch, Paramount+ has prioritized kids and family, providing a mix of bingeworthy programming for the whole household including PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We continue to invest in this genre, finding creative ways to immerse viewers of all ages while introducing them to new characters and worlds with fresh originals. Two new series are making their way to the service in April, starting with DORA, a reimagining of the iconic Nickelodeon children’s cartoon. “Dora the Explorer made television history 20 years ago as the first animated Latina character in a leading role, and its cultural impact on preschoolers around the world can still be felt today," said Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation. “The new series will build upon Dora’s legacy with all-new CG animation and character-driven storylines, welcoming a new generation of kids into her fantastical world, while empowering them to explore, learn and grow.” Knuckles, the other original arriving in April, is the first expansion of the cinematic world of Sonic the Hedgehog. The series continues the adventures of the eponymous hot-head echidna, voiced by Idris Elba, whom we met in the film Sonic the Hedgehog 2. “He’s a fun character to play and I’m glad that everyone really liked the character,” Elba said. “It’s exciting that there’s a spin-off for the people who really love Knuckles and Sonic in the same expanded universe.” The adventure begins when DORA premieres on April 12 and Knuckles premieres on April 26.

WATCH THE KNUCKLES TRAILER

WATCH THE DORA TRAILER

DID YOU KNOW?

The Challenge: All Stars is headed to South Africa where 24 contenders will compete for the grand prize of $300,000. Longtime fans of the MTV series should look out for cast favorites who haven't appeared in the franchise for some time, including Kefla Hare (1999), Flora Alekseyeun (2002), Adam Larson (2006) and Rachel Robinson (2012). In celebration of Earth Week, Paramount+ will launch Earthly Adventures, a special collection of content that gives viewers a comprehensive tour of our planet and brings them face-to-face with exotic creatures and natural wonders. Subscribers can explore national parks in the US and (safely) travel through the wildest parts of every continent. The upcoming documentary series, CTRL+ALT+DESIRE, tells a gripping story of online addiction and infatuation that resulted in a Florida manhunt to capture Grant Amato for the murder of his parents and brother. The three-episode series chronicles Amato’s obsession with a Bulgarian webcam model that led him to steal $200,000 from his family before attempting to stage a murder-suicide to cover up his crimes.

WATCH THE CHALLENGE: ALL STARS TRAILER

TEE TIME

Paramount+ hits the greens next month as top golfers from around the globe compete at The Masters. Our live coverage of golf’s biggest tournament begins with Masters On the Range, featuring interviews with players and expert commentary and analysis from the CBS Sports team. In total, expect more than 100 hours of “Masters Live” content across four live channels on the service, including five Masters specials preceding live third and final round coverage. Tee up when The Masters begins on April 8.

STREAMING SOON

In April, the global sensation that is the NCIS franchise will air its 1,000th episode with an episode of the flagship series, NCIS, airing April 15! We’re commemorating this milestone with “NCISVerse: The First 1,000, an Entertainment Tonight Special'' that will stream live on Paramount+ for all premium subscribers on April 8. The special, hosted by ET’s Kevin Frazier, will include exclusive interviews with stars from all five series, never-before-seen looks at the making of TV’s #1 primetime drama franchise and insights about how the fictional crime-stoppers have impacted the real NCIS.

ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES, PREMIERES & EVENTS 4/1: Talk to Me* A group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand and become hooked on the new thrill and high-stakes party game until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. 4/4: Star Trek: Discovery season five premiere In the final season, Captain Burnham and her crews uncover a mystery that sends them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been hidden for centuries. 4/7: CMT Music Awards** Streaming live from Austin, Texas, the event celebrates the biggest stars in country music, featuring electrifying performances and tributes to industry legends. 4/10: The Challenge: All Stars season four premiere Old-school legends, redemption-seekers and ex-lovers reunite in South Africa to compete for $300,000. In this game, anyone can win, relationships matter and only one all-star will claim the title. 4/12: DORA premiere Everyone’s favorite bilingual explorer, Dora, returns with her monkey best friend, Boots, to embark on a colorful adventure within a fantastical rainforest. 4/14: The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time** Get a front row ticket to Billy Joel’s history-making 100th sold-out concert of his legendary residency at the world-famous Madison Square Garden. 4/16: CTRL+ALT+DESIRE Terror grips a small Florida town when a mother, father and son are found gunned down in their home. The mystery deepens when 29-year-old Grant Amato, son and brother of the deceased, is named prime suspect.  4/26: Knuckles premiere The new live-action event series follows Knuckles on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the echidna warrior. The series takes place between the films Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. LIBRARY SHOWS April 1 Jeff Dunham: I'm with Cupid April 3 Bubble Guppies (Season 6) Bubble Guppies: Bubble Puppy’s Fin-tastic Fairy Tale Bubble Guppies: Guppy Style! Bubble Guppies: The Puppy and the Ring CMT Crossroads (Seasons 21-22) CMT Presents The Judds: Love Is Alive - The Final Concert April 8 NCISVerse: The First 1,000** April 10 Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out (Seasons 19-20) April 17 Mighty Planes (Seasons 1-4) RENO 911! (Season 8) The Last Cowboy (Season 4) April 24 Air Disasters (Season 9-10) How Did They Fix That? (Seasons 1-2) MOVIES April 1 Arsenal* B.A.P.S. Bandslam* Black Lotus Blades of Glory Catch and Release Chaplin Cheech & Chong's Still Smokin'* Cloud Atlas Cold Mountain Daddy's Home Deep Impact Domestic Disturbance* Drive Me Crazy Edge Of Darkness El Dorado Emma Empire Records Face/Off First Blood Galaxy Quest* Get Rich or Die Tryin' Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Hotel for Dogs I Love You, Man Identity Inherent Vice Jacob's Ladder* Juice Just Like Heaven Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Last Night* Life Like a Boss Magnolia Malcolm X Max Steel* Mimic Muriel's Wedding* My Baby's Daddy Nebraska Nick of Time* Planes, Trains and Automobiles Rambo: First Blood Part II Rambo III Saturday Night Fever Secret in Their Eyes* Team America: World Police Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III The Crossing Guard* The Evening Star* The Heartbreak Kid The King of Comedy The Ring The Ring Two The Ring Two (Unrated) The Score The Secret Garden The Station Agent The Transporter Refueled* The Uninvited TMNT Total Recall Transformers Up in Smoke Vacancy Varsity Blues Whip It Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Wild Card* Wuthering Heights* April 11 School For Scoundrels* April 12 Deliver Us from Evil April 25 The Painter SPORTS 4/2: Coppa Italia Semifinal – Juventus vs. Lazio 4/3: Coppa Italia Semifinal – Fiorentina vs. Atalanta 4/6: Serie A – Roma vs. Lazio  4/6: American Cornhole League – Pennsylvania Ringers vs. Arizona Burn* 4/6: New Zealand Sail Grand Prix* 4/6: United Soccer League – Louisville City FC vs. Indy Eleven*  4/7: PBR – Professional Bull Riders Sioux Falls* 4/7: High School Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships*  4/7: We Need to Talk*  4/7: HBCU All-Star Game* 4/8-4/14: Masters Live* 4/9: UEFA Champions League – Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich 4/9: UEFA Champions League – Real Madrid vs. Manchester City 4/10: UEFA Champions League – PSG vs. Barcelona 4/10: UEFA Champions League – Atlético Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund 4/11: UEFA Europa League Quarterfinals Leg 1 4/11: UEFA Europa Conference League Quarterfinals Leg 1 4/13: We Need to Talk at The Masters presented by AT&T* 4/13: The 2019 Masters: A Sunday Unlike Any Other presented in partnership with Rolex* 4/13: The Asia Pacific Amateur Championship: An Invitation to The Masters* 4/13: The Masters Third Round Coverage* 4/14: The Masters Final Round Coverage* 4/14: The Latin America Amateur Championship: An Invitation to The Masters* 4/14: Jim Nantz Remembers Augusta: The Spanish Inspiration presented in partnership with Rolex*  4/16: AFC Champions League – Al Ain vs. Al Hilal 4/16: UEFA Champions League – Barcelona vs. PSG 4/16: UEFA Champions League – Borussia Dortmund vs. Atlético Madrid 4/17: UEFA Champions League – Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal 4/17: UEFA Champions League – Manchester City vs. Real Madrid 4/17: AFC Champions League – Ulsan Hyundai vs. Yokohama F. Marinos 4/18: UEFA Europa League Quarterfinals Leg 2 4/18: UEFA Europa League Quarterfinals Leg 2 4/20: NWSL – Washington Spirit vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC* 4/20-4/21: PGA Tour – RBC Heritage (Third and Final Round Coverage)* 4/21: PBR – Professional Bull Riders Tacoma* 4/22: Serie A – AC Milan vs. Inter Milan 4/23: AFC Champions League – Al Hilal vs. Al Ain 4/23: Coppa Italia Semifinal – Lazio vs. Juventus 4/24: Coppa Italia Semifinal – Atalanta vs. Fiorentina 4/24: AFC Champions League – Yokohama F. Marinos vs. Ulsan Hyundai 4/27: Formula E – Monaco E-Prix* 4/27: Sail Grand Prix* 4/27-4/28: PGA Tour – Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Third and Final Round Coverage)* Throughout April: Italian Serie A competition Throughout April: Scottish Professional Football League competition Throughout April: UEFA Europa League competition Throughout April: UEFA Europa Conference League competition  Throughout April: Barclays Women’s Super League competition Throughout April: Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol competition  * Title is available to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers. **All Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can live stream CBS titles via the live feed on Paramount+. Those titles will be available on-demand to all subscribers the day after they air live. Dates for library titles are subject to change.