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

 

This month, we shared the exciting news that our direct-to-consumer segment, which includes Paramount+ and Pluto TV, was profitable this quarter, our first profitable quarter since Paramount+ launched. It’s been our pleasure to deliver world-class content to our growing audience around the globe, and we’re excited to keep building on that momentum. In September, we’re rolling out new seasons of our hit series Frasier, Tulsa King, DORA and Colin from Accounts; taking to the field with CBS Sports to kick off the 2024 NFL season; and going deep with new original documentaries including the poignant We Will Dance Again and the high-octane Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal. For a closer look at everything coming to Paramount+ in September, check out the latest edition of View from the Peak.

BEHIND THE STREAMS

Sylvester Stallone and Garrett Hedlund in Tulsa King In the Paramount+ Original series Tulsa King, we were introduced to charismatic mafia capo Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) who took on the impossible task of creating a criminal empire in bucolic, out-of-the-way Tulsa, Oklahoma. As we return for season two, Manfredi will need to contend with ruthless mob bosses and even the FBI who all want a piece of him. He may want a peaceful life, but for executive producer and writer Terence Winter, Manfredi is an interesting study in contrasts. “I don't think anyone is either all good or all bad, even hardened gangsters like Dwight,” Winter said. “By showing him in all his colors, he exhibits many moments of humor, kindness, fairness and even love, characteristics audiences recognize in themselves. This season we've got brawls, shootouts and other assorted mayhem. It's always fun to shoot big action scenes, especially when they involve Sylvester Stallone, the greatest action star in history.” Stallone is back in business when season two of Tulsa King debuts September 15.

WATCH THE TRAILER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Kelsey Grammer and Jack Cutmore-Scott in Frasier  In the Paramount+ Original series Frasier, the titular TV psychiatrist uproots his life, moving from Seattle to Boston, to rekindle his relationship with his son, Freddy. Throughout season one, the effete academic Frasier and down-to-earth firefighter Freddy struggled to connect and build a new life together. Ahead of season two, we chat with Jack Cutmore-Scott, who plays Freddy, to see where things stand with father and son. Freddy is such a contrast to his father, and the tension between them has created an interesting dynamic. Can you tell us more about how you developed the character? Freddy was originally developed by Joe Cristalli, Chris Harris and the Frasier team. It has been a lot of fun watching and helping them shape him. He’s definitely found his footing as someone who shares a lot of similarities with Frasier but also draws a lot from his grandfather, Martin. And while their dynamic is different from Frasier’s relationship with his dad, I really enjoy the moments when we get to echo their rapport. Where do we find Freddy in season two? What are you most excited for audiences to see? My read on Freddy going into season two was grounded in the fact that he and his dad have found a little security in their relationship. Freddy knows Frasier isn’t going anywhere, he’s expressed his frustrations and resentments, and now we get to have fun watching these two bounce off each other while knowing it’s all rooted in a deep affection. I’m really excited for people to feel the same relaxation I felt playing opposite Kelsey this season. They still push each other’s buttons, absolutely, but we get to have a lot more fun while we do it. There are a number of guest stars reentering the building and stepping back into their roles from the original series. Can you share a bit more on working with some of the original cast? It was, in a word, surreal. We all felt very spoiled to have such incredible guest stars and I felt extra lucky to spend a little time back in Seattle on a few familiar sets. Each and every one of the returning cast members were as charming as they were funny, but Harriet, who plays Frasier’s former agent Bebe Glazer, managed to bring the house down over a conference call during the table read. That’s a first for me. Without any spoilers, what can fans look forward to in season two? Superb writing, innovative directing, visionary lighting and scenic design, and heretofore unparalleled comedic performances. More of the same, basically! Reconnect with Frasier when season two premieres September 19.

HIGH SCORE

NFL players Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa and Travis Kelce  This September, Paramount+ kicks off the football season with the NFL on CBS streaming live on the service. This comes on the heels of Paramount+’s record-breaking year in sports, including the most-streamed Super Bowl in history. Across the 18-week regular season, subscribers can stream NFL on CBS live local market games, along with marquee matchups and a Thanksgiving game, not to mention a full postseason slate that includes two Wild Card playoff games, a Divisional playoff game and the AFC Championship game. To celebrate the new season, Paramount+ is offering football fans a score of a deal: a 12-month subscription for only $2.50 per month. The NFL on CBS streaming live on Paramount+ was highlighted by a recent ad campaign featuring CBS Sports' NFL Today analyst JJ Watt and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It’s game on when the NFL on CBS season begins September 8.

WATCH THE NFL ON CBS AD SPOT

MOUNTAIN OF MOVIES

Julia Garner and Dianne Wiest in Apartment 7A Next month Apartment 7A takes horror fans back to the twisted, Satanic world of cult classic Rosemary’s Baby. The film reintroduces Terry Gionoffrio, an aspiring dancer living with a mysterious couple with a dark secret to hide. “I suppose what attracted me most to Terry’s story was I found it really relatable,” said director and co-writer Natalie Erika James. “She’s someone with so much drive and ambition. Terry is a really unexplored piece of Rosemary’s Baby, so it was really exciting to be able to expand upon that.” The project has attracted a stellar cast—from Julia Garner who plays Gionoffrio to Dianne Wiest as her benefactor Minnie Castavet—who bring new life to characters from the iconic film. “Julia Garner has an incredible spark,” James said. “She portrays Terry with such purpose and is so compelling onscreen. I love Dianne’s Minnie too. She balances that sweetness with a real kind of dark, cutting nature.” Stream the classic Rosemary’s Baby today on Paramount+ and step into Apartment 7A when it premieres September 27.

TECH TALK

At Paramount+, we’re always refining and evolving our platform to deliver a best-in-class viewing experience for our subscribers. Here are just a few of the updates we’ve recently made to enhance discoverability and engagement. Marquee Peek Ahead - We’ve introduced mini posters to the home marquee of our latest content to encourage subscribers to explore the latest titles on the service. This new feature showcases the diversity of our offering and helps drive engagement, resulting in a boost to the number of titles visitors add to “My List.” Carousel of Collections - This highly stylized carousel brings together the many content collections—from Black Voices to critically acclaimed films—on the service. The feature makes the interface more dynamic for subscribers, encouraging exploration, and by showcasing the diversity of our content in one place, we’re making it easier for everyone across the household to discover new shows and movies they will love.   Recommendation Engine - We continue to refine our recommendation engine to expand visibility of and engagement with our valuable library titles. These changes are driving movies into carousels like Hot Right Now and even our Top 10 Now carousels which highlight the most engaged content in Paramount+.

DID YOU KNOW?

To honor the history, culture and contribution of Hispanic communities, Paramount+ is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with One Mountain Una Familia collection. The collection features a curated selection of series and movies spotlighting Hispanic talent and stories including DORA, Lioness, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, NCIS and more.   Next month marks one year since the now infamous attack on the Nova Music Festival. What was supposed to be a celebration of life, love and music became one of the most harrowing days in Israel’s history, resulting in a catastrophic situation for both Israelis and Palestinians. We Will Dance Again reconstructs the day’s events, weaving together a moving portrait of the survivors and those lost on that fateful day while showcasing the incredible sacrifice and bravery they displayed.

EXPLORE THE ONE MOUNTAIN UNA FAMILIA COLLECTION

STREAMING SOON

Kathy Bates in Matlock September kicks off a season of falling leaves, fresh school supplies and, of course, an incredible new slate on CBS. Paramount+ subscribers can stream hotly anticipated sneak peeks of news series like Matlock and The Summit and new seasons of Survivor, 48 Hours, Let’s Make a Deal and more. In Matlock, Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates stars as an often underestimated attorney at a prestigious law firm where she uses her wily tactics to win cases and ensure that justice always prevails.

ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES & PREMIERES 9/1 Parallel streaming premiere*  In this film, a grief-stricken mother takes refuge at a lake house and mysteriously navigates between parallel spaces, encountering an aberration of herself from another universe. 9/13 DORA season two premiere It's Dora, the world's most famous exploradora! Join her and all her friends as they embark upon new, magical adventures in the rainforest. 9/15 Tulsa King season two premiere Now that NYC mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi has set up shop in Tulsa, Okla., he and his crew must continue to build and defend their growing empire. It turns out they’re not the only ones who want to stake their claim. 9/17 Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal This three-part series showcases the notoriously wild ‘80s hard-rock phenomenon and features interviews with those who lived the scene. The docu-series delivers a fresh and shockingly candid behind-the-scenes look at one of music’s most iconic eras. 9/19 Frasier season two premiere As Frasier Crane enters the next chapter of his life, he returns to Boston, Mass. with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to finally fulfill. 9/26 Dreaming of a Freaking Fairy Tale premiere In this romantic comedy drama, a woman whose dream is to “become Cinderella” meets a "prince on a white horse" who does not believe in love. Both support and torment each other due to the reality that is difficult to escape. 9/26 Colin from Accounts season two premiere In this modern-day love story, two singles are brought together by a car accident and an injured dog. 9/27 Apartment 7A premiere When a struggling young dancer suffers a devastating injury, she finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected older couple promises her a shot at fame. Late September: We Will Dance Again premiere In this documentary, Yariv Moser provides an eye-opening view of the October 7th Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival in Israel. The film features personal accounts and insights into exactly what happened on that harrowing day. LIBRARY SHOWS September 3 After Midnight (Season 2)** The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Season 10)** September 4 Rubble & Crew (Season 1) September 9 The Drew Barrymore Show (Season 5)** The Talk (Season 16)** September 16 The Big (Seasons 1-4) September 18 Jordan Klepper Fingers the Globe: Hungary for Democracy Jordan Klepper Fingers the Midterms: America Unfollows Democracy Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Into the MAGAverse Survivor (Season 47)** September 20 Secret Celebrity Renovation** September 21 48 Hours (Season 37)** September 22 60 Minutes (Season 57)**  Matlock (Sneak Peek)** September 23 Let's Make A Deal (Season 16)** The Price Is Right (Season 53)** September 26 The Bold and the Beautiful (Season 38)** September 27 The Greatest @Home Videos** September 29 The Summit (Sneak Peek)** LIBRARY MOVIES September 1 6 Days 54* A Knight's Tale A Very Brady Sequel* A.I. Artificial Intelligence All the Right Moves Amores Perros Angel Heart Annabelle: Creation Annihilation Approaching the Unknown Asylum Babel Beastly Beatriz at Dinner Below Beneath Big Blue Crush Body Cam Bound Bringing Out the Dead* Buffy the Vampire Slayer Carriers Case 39 Cesar Chavez Changing Lanes Cheech & Chong's Still Smokin' Cloverfield Clue Coneheads* Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles Curandero Cursed Death on the Nile Death Wish Deep Impact Deepstar Six Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Doctor Sleep Domestic Disturbance Don't Worry Darling Doubt Down to You* Dragonslayer Dreamgirls Eagle Eye Ella Enchanted Eye for an Eye First Blood Foxcatcher From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter Get Over It* Get Rich or Die Tryin' Ghost Team One Ghost Town Halloween H20: 20 Years Later Halloween VI: The Curse of Michael Myers Halloween VIII: Resurrection Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Harold and Maude* Heatwave Hecho En Mexico Hostage In a Relationship In Too Deep It Follows Jeanne du Barry Jerry Maguire Jojo Rabbit Jungleland Just Like Heaven King Kong (1976) Kingpin Labor Day* Lara Croft: Tomb Raider* Last Shoot Out* Like Water for Chocolate Little Black Book Love and Monsters Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat* Mimic Mimic 2 Mimic 3: Sentinel Mommie Dearest Mother! Mr. Popper's Penguins Murder on the Orient Express (1974) My Baby's Daddy My Bloody Valentine Nacho Libre Night Falls on Manhattan Nine Lives* No Country for Old Men Notting Hill Overlord Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Phantoms Piñero Playing with Fire Pretty in Pink Primal Fear* Prophecy Rambo III Rambo: First Blood Part II Regarding Henry* Reindeer Games Sabrina (1954) Scary Movie Scary Movie 2 School Ties* Seabiscuit* Singularity Spell Spontaneous Still Waiting* Suspect Zero Switchback Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Teaching Mrs. Tingle That Thing You Do! The Brothers Grimm The Conversation* The Crossing Guard The Crow: City of Angels The Crying Game* The Curse of La Llorona The Devil Inside The Equalizer The Ghost and the Darkness The Gift The Grifters The Haunting The Honeymooners The Hunted* The Internship The Last Exorcism Part II The Long Kiss Goodnight The Longest Yard (2005) The Loved Ones The Mexican The Moon & Back The Parallax View The Peacemaker* The Perfect Score* The Prophecy 3: The Ascent The Prophecy II The Prophecy: Forsaken The Prophecy: Uprising The Reckoning The Relic The Ruins The Tenant The Three Amigos (2003) The Two Jakes* The Uninvited The Virgin Suicides The Woman in Black Things We Lost in the Fire True Grit (1969) Truth Twisted Unfaithful Urban Cowboy Waiting…* Witchboard II: The Devil’s Doorway September 15 Premonition September 18 Office Race The Preppie Connection September 25 Born to Be Blue Deadlock SPORTS 9/1: Serie A – Juventus vs. Roma 9/1: PBR – Professional Bull Riders Camping World Team Series Springfield* 9/1: American Cornhole League* 9/1: NWSL – North Carolina Courage vs. Kansas City Current* 9/1: NWSL – Angel City FC vs. Chicago Red Stars* 9/4: Concacaf W Champions Cup – Portland Thorns FC vs. Club América Femenil 9/7: NWSL – Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC* 9/7: Big Ten on CBS – Iowa State @ Iowa* 9/7: EFL – Wrexham vs. Shrewsbury Town 9/8: NFL ON CBS Week 1 (check local listings) 9/8: PBR – Professional Bull Riders Camping World Team Series Kansas City* 9/14: EFL – Leeds United vs. Burnley 9/14: CIBC Atlanta Slam Semifinals* 9/14: Big Ten on CBS – Notre Dame @ Purdue* 9/15: NFL ON CBS Week 2 Doubleheader (check local listings) 9/16: EFL – Birmingham City vs. Wrexham 9/19: Concacaf W Champions Cup – NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Monterrey 9/21: We Need to Talk* 9/21: Big Ten on CBS – USC @ Michigan* 9/22: NFL ON CBS Week 3 (check local listings) 9/22: PBR – Professional Bull Riders Camping World Team Series Greensboro* 9/28: EFL – Leeds United vs. Coventry City 9/28: EFL – Leyton Orient vs. Wrexham 9/28: NWSL – Kansas City Current vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC* 9/28: Big Ten on CBS* 9/29: NFL ON CBS Week 4 Doubleheader (check local listings) Throughout September: NWSL X LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup Throughout September: Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol competition Throughout September: Scottish Professional Football League competition Throughout September: English Football League competition Throughout September: Concacaf Men’s Nations League competition Throughout September: Concacaf W Champions Cup competition Throughout September: Serie A 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. Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to CBS titles to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on-demand. Essential tier subscribers have access to these titles on-demand the day after they air.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 18, 2024

 

Snowpiercer:  This season is really missing Wilford.  The new baddies are kind of boring.

 

Orphan Black: Echoes:  So is no one actually going to check the dental records on the dead body.  And isn’t just the lower jaw remaining highly suspicious? 

 

The Ark:  Kind of a filler episode since Eva’s brother gets introduced and dies in the same episode.  But we did learn Eva was once part of the Eastern Alliance.  Though those bad guys are not very fleshed out, just a couple fleeting mentions.

Around the Tubes: August 17, 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 Only Murders in the Building, La Máquina, Pearl Jam, Sister Hazel, Live, Nikka Costa, Vlad Holiday, and Greg Kihn.

- Check out the trailer for the fourth season of original comedy series "Only Murders in the Building." The Emmy^®- winning series returns August 27th on Hulu, with new episodes streaming Tuesdays.  In season four of “Only Murders in the Building,” Charles, Oliver & Mabel wrestle with the shocking events at the end of season three surrounding Charles’ stunt double & friend Sazz Pataki. Questioning whether Sazz or Charles was the intended victim, our trio’s investigation leads them all the way to Los Angeles where a Hollywood studio is readying a film about the Only Murders podcast. As our amateur sleuths race back to New York, they embark on an even more epic journey — traversing their building’s courtyard to delve into the twisted lives of the Arconia’s West Tower residents.

- Hulu debuted eight first-look images from its first ever Spanish language Original series "La Máquina," starring Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and Eiza González.  The series premieres with all six episodes on October 9, 2024. After a devastating loss, Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna (Gael García Bernal) is at a low point in his boxing career. Lucky for him, his manager and best friend Andy Lujan (Diego Luna) is determined to get him back on top. But when a nefarious organization rears its head, the stakes of this rematch become life or death. While struggling to mount a comeback, Esteban must also juggle his own personal demons and protect his family, including his ex-wife Irasema (Eiza González), a journalist who finds herself on a collision course with the dark side of the boxing world.

- Pearl Jam has released a new live music video for their current single “Wreckage”, filmed at their May 16th Las Vegas show. The single, along with the first release and title track “Dark Matter” went #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, marking the first time Pearl Jam has accomplished consecutive #1’s on the chart. Dominating the radio charts, both singles were also Top 5 records at Alt Radio and Wreckage was a #1 at AAA Radio.  Pearl Jam's "Wreckage" video features some of the band's unique tour visuals that were created by famed creative and fellow Seattle native, Rob Sheridan. The visual concept was a first for the band who generally toured with a more general, stripped back production. Sheridan, who’s previously worked with Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails as well as notable director David Fincher, told the Seattle Times “Pearl Jam isn’t a bright, cold LED screen; it’s a warm, incandescent light. We talked about, ‘What if we did this with a really analog feel?’ What if we used a projection screen, and some ways to help bring the visuals into the space with the band but not be fighting for attention with what is one of the greatest live bands, in terms of musical performances, of our generation.”  Watch the live music video for "Wreckage" HERE.

- Platinum-selling band Sister Hazel is excited to debut their latest single, "All Goes By So Fast." This heartfelt song, co-written by lead singer Ken Block and his daughter Alaina Block, is sure to resonate deeply with fans. Recently premiered on Americana Highways, the single captures the essence of fleeting moments.  Produced and mixed by Ben Jackson at East End Studio in Nashville, TN, the song is being distributed by Rock Ridge Music, a Nashville-based label. "All Goes By So Fast" is now accessible on all major digital and streaming platforms. Click HERE to listen and experience it yourself.

- On this week’s episode of SPIN’s podcast, Lipps Service host Scott Lipps welcomes Ed Kowalczyk, singer, songwriter, and frontman of the multi-platinum iconic rock band +LIVE+ for a nostalgic conversation about his early entry into the rock & roll world, the purpose behind his music, memorable encounters, & more. The episode will go live on all streaming services August 18th and on YouTube August 19th.  From its inception in York, Pennsylvania in 1984, Kowalczyk explains how +LIVE+ has evolved and mastered its sound to sell over 22 million albums worldwide, earning two #1 albums and numerous legendary hits such as “Lightning Crashes,” “I Alone,” “All Over You”, and “Lakini’s Juice.” In the interview, he recalls wanting to create music that digs deep and makes you think, stating, “You can have lyrics that poke at the truth and poke at reality and really try to bring people into this other place.”

- The LA-based soul and funk singer Nikka Costa releases her highly anticipated album Dirty Disco. The album was recorded with and produced by Justin Stanley (Prince, Jamie Lidell, Beck, etc.). Along with the talents of versatile musicians such as Brandon Coleman (Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Donald Glover, Flying Lotus), Greg Phillinganes (Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Kaveh Rastegar (John Legend, Beck), Nikka Costa brings you into her Dirty Disco world. The album will be available on vinyl and CD here.  Tickets to her live tour are on sale here. East coast dates will be announced next week.

- Romania-born, Nashville-based musical shapeshifter Vlad Holiday is joined by Kacey Musgraves on “I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore.” Mischievous and sultry, the track has all the jazzy, lo-fi hallmarks of a Bond song. Running Musgraves’ voice through tape delay, Holiday’s signature knack for gear experimentation gives the duet a style we’ve never heard either artist in before — Stream.   The two artists met a few years back through mutual friends. Continually finding themselves singing together over an acoustic guitar as the sun came up after a long party, the collaboration felt natural, especially given the lyrics of “I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore.” 

- It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Greg Kihn, an iconic figure in the realm of rock music. Greg lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease on 8/13/24 at the age of 75. Known for his magnetic stage presence and unique storytelling that captivated audiences around the globe. He was not merely a musician but a cultural phenomenon whose influence will resonate for generations to come.  Born on 07/10/49 in the vibrant city of Baltimore, Maryland. Greg discovered a passion for music early in life. He burst onto the scene with the release of Greg Kihn, which quickly garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. With a unique songwriting style that blended folk, classic rock, blues and pop, his sound helped define a rich musical legacy in the San Francisco Bay Area scene. Greg rose to worldwide fame in the 1980s and left an indelible mark for generations to come.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 11, 2024

 

House of the Dragon:  My sister changed her phone plan which means no more HBO for Life for her, which means no more free Max for me.  And of course she had to make the change just in time for me to miss the season finale.  Sigh.  Adding insult to injury, it seems like I am not eligible for the Hulu/Disney/Max bundle since I get Disney for free and/or I am on the Hulu yearly plan.    

 

Snowpiercer:  That seemed like an unnecessary obstacle to keep Layton from going after his kid.  Of course he was going to go.  But I an still wondering what is special about that kid.

 

Orphan Black: Echoes:  I completely missed there was an older version of Jessica Jones in the current timeline.  But I guess that shows just how little I am paying attention to the show.  I am just counting down until the season ends.

 

The Ark: Okay, so the alternative reality part of the episode was fun.  But did Cat get swapped back?  And did they just lose some red shirt in exchange for the husband?  And just what happened to the daughter?  I am surprised we did not see her.

 

2024 Olympic Games:  There are plenty of dumb events at the Olympics, but competitive breakdancing just may be the dumbest.  The song selection was pretty weak.  Most of the songs I made it through before turning this off sounded just like generic computer generated beats.

Around the Tubes: August 10, 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 Tell Me Lies, Snow Patrol, UB40, John Legend, and The Oak Ridge Boys.

- Tell Me Lies season two premieres with two episodes Wednesday, September 4 on Hulu.  Tell Me Lies Season 2 picks up as Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) return to college, not speaking after their dramatic breakup at the start of the summer. Yet while very much at odds, they find themselves in a new version of their addictive dynamic - which is as infuriating as it is inescapable. Meanwhile, the story expands deeper into the lives of Lucy and Stephen’s friend group, as the fallout from Season One impacts all of their lives in unexpected ways.

- SNOW PATROL released new single “All” via Republic Records. It is the third song to be shared from the Northern Irish band’s forthcoming new album The Forest Is The Path, which is set for release on September 13^th and marks their eagerly awaited return after six years, following 2018’s Wildness.  LISTEN HERE

 
- On Saturday, August 10th, the legendary four-time Grammy nominated reggae-pop band UB40 will take the stage for a sold-out performance at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on their current “Red Red Wine Tour,” celebrating 45 years of music and the recent release of their new album, “UB45.” Music fans everywhere are invited to experience this iconic event - UB40: LIVE FROM THE ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE - as it broadcasts LIVE exclusively on premier streaming platform Veeps at approximately 9:00 PM ET. Veeps All Access subscribers can watch the show for free, and individual tickets are on sale for $19.99 at UB40 - Live from The St. Augustine Amphitheatre - VEEPS.  Formed in December 1978 in Birmingham, England, UB40 has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart and achieved considerable international success. The band will bring their trademark hits such as “Red, Red Wine,” “Food For Thought,” “(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You,” new songs from UB45, and many more, to The St. Augustine Amphitheatre show.

- Los Angeles, CA – Multi-platinum, 12-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend today announced that he will release My Favorite Dream, an album of sing-alongs and lullabies for children and families,  via  Republic  Records:  Kids  &  Family  on  August  30.   Produced  by singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens, the project features nine original tracks written by Legend. As part of a collaboration with Fisher-Price, the album also includes three bonus tracks with covers of songs from their beloved toys. In conjunction with the album announcement, Legend shared the lead single from the project titled “L-O-V-E.” The bright, up-tempo anthem, featuring his wife (Chrissy Teigen) and two oldest children (Luna and Miles Stephens) on backing vocals, with single artwork created by Luna, is available HERE. Watch the accompanying music video HERE. Pre-save My Favorite Dream HERE.  “I’m right in the thick of fatherhood,” says Legend, father of daughter Luna (8), son Miles (6) and two toddlers, daughter Esti and son Wren. “My parents loved to sing around the house, making up bedtime songs for us and songs to motivate and inspire us. And Chrissy and I also love singing to our kids. We make up little jingles and ditties for them all the time. In our home, music is very important to the way we interact and communicate with them.”

- GRAMMY® Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys have released a music video for “Elvira” for the first time ever! In 1981, “Elvira” became a crossover pop smash with Joe Bonsall’s tenor lead and bass singer Richard Sterban’s unforgettable ‘oom papa mau mau’ refrain. The song brought the Oaks one of their five Grammy Awards, went double Platinum, and won the Single of the Year award from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, along with many other awards. To turn this video into the experience of the century, they invited several of their closest friends to appear in “Elvira,” including Andrea Pearson, Ben James, Big & Rich, Chase Matthew, Danni Stefanetti, Deborah Allen, Denzel & Angelina Irwin (aka Santa and Mrs. Claus from Santa’s Pub in Nashville), Hillary Williams, Kid Rock, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Stevens, Stephon Riley, T. Graham Brown, Tenille Arts, The Gatlin Brothers, Tico Herandez, Trace Adkins, and Zach Williams. The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira” video was directed and produced by Brandon Wood / IndieBling and was premiered by Billboard.  To purchase/stream: orcd.co/orb-elvira

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 4, 2024

 

House of the Dragon:  I complained about the lack of deaths at the end of the last couple episodes.  Well, we got more than a few this week.  But of course the two silver heads we have been randomly checking in on all season ended up being the two that claimed the dragons.

 

Snowpiercer:  A peacekeeping unit authorized to use force.  How ironic.  Disappointing no one pointed that out to them.   But I feel we need a lot more background on them and why they are stealing children.

 

Orphan Black: Echoes:  Nice casual mention that we go to Mars in forty years.  But shouldn’t we colonize the moon first?  I honestly forgot what else happened this week.

 

The Ark:  So they are just going to end every episode this season with a wild cliffhanger?  Last week it was the sentient lightning, and this week the Irish dude just disappears.  Though the promo monkeys spoiled it is a multiverse situation.  I guess this is how they bring back the generic hot blonde.   I wonder if this is how they introduce the one dude’s daughter that may or may not have been killed.  Considering how Trust brings up his dead wife at every chance, they will probably bring her back too.

 

2024 Olympic Games:  It seems like every Olympics I find a new weird sport to get transfixed by.  This time around it was Slalom: Kayak Cross.  There are three to four kayaks on the course at the same time, they drop them all from a one story building, and there is a point in the course where they were required to capsize their kayak and go underwater.  This is going on my must watch list for future Games.

Around the Tubes: August 3, 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 MisterWives, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Low Cut Connie, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, America, Amy Helm, Ruthie Foster, Rick and Morty, The Mask and, Succession.

- New York City/Los Angeles-based alt-pop group MisterWives finally share Nosebleeds: Encore, the highly anticipated deluxe version of their 2023 album, Nosebleeds, out everywhere now. Alongside the full project, the band shares the cathartic, empowering female rage anthem and official video "Vultures" featuring PVRIS out everywhere now. The 17 track album is complete with an astonishing list of all-female collaborators and reworked tracks, including appearances by Betty Who, Pom Pom Squad, Meet Me @ The Altar, Against The Current and more, and a remix by The Aces. See the staggering list of guests below.  This fall, MisterWives will embark on the MisterWives: Just For One Night! tour with support from Joan, Juliana Madrid, Moody Joody and Meg Smith beginning with the band taking the Austin City Limits stage on October 6 and October 13. Tickets are on sale now here with a full list of dates below.

- Multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductees Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo announce new vinyl reissues of three seminal albums, Crimes Of Passion, In The Heat Of The Night, and Precious Time, out September 13, 2024, via UMe.  Each LP will be available in various limited-edition configurations: In The Heat Of The Night will be pressed on either Black or Tangerine Vinyl, Crimes Of Passion on either Black or Opaque Magenta Vinyl, and Precious Time on either Black or Opaque Fruit Punch Vinyl.  “We know how much you’ve wanted reissues of the early records on vinyl. Finally, here they are! Happy listening, enjoy!” – Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo  Preorder In The Heat Of The Night, Crimes Of Passion, and Precious Time HERE.

- Low Cut Connie announced a distribution agreement with Dark Star Pictures for his hybrid documentary / concert film ART DEALERS. Dark Star Pictures has acquired North American rights to ART DEALERS and will release the film theatrically starting in early September, followed by a VOD/digital and physical media release on October 1.  Low Cut Connie has also announced a fall headline tour in support of the film release. The tour will kick off on October 10 in Portland, ME and will make stops in Boston, Jersey City, the historic First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN and many more. All tickets are on sale now.  Rolling Stone premiered the trailer for the film and spoke with Weiner about the film, proclaiming “As a music doc, Art Dealers succeeds on the strength of the musicians it profiles: not just the group’s flamboyant frontman, but the ragtag bunch of players who join him as he schleps his piano around the country. As a concert film, it expertly summons the sweaty revival that is a Low Cut Connie gig by culling the best from three shows at New York’s Sony Hall and jazz outpost the Blue Note.” 

- John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr reunited in the studio for the first time since the breakup of The Beatles in 1970 to record the song “I’m The Greatest” for Ringo’s eponymous solo album released that year. Recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles in March 1973, John, George and Ringo were joined by long time Beatles’ associates Klaus Voorman on bass and Billy Preston on organ, with producer Richard Perry at the helm. This would be the only time the three former Beatles recorded together between the band’s breakup and John’s death in 1980.  “I’m The Greatest” was written by John in 1970 shortly after the world’s most famous band broke up and was inspired both by Muhammed Ali’s famous catchphrase and watching the first UK television broadcast of “A Hard Day’s Night.” John then tailored the wry lyrics for Ringo to sing several years later. “I couldn’t sing it,” John told Playboy in 1980. “But it was perfect for Ringo. He could say, ‘I’m the greatest’ and people wouldn’t get upset. Whereas if I said ‘I’m the greatest,’ they’d all take it so seriously.” Ringo commented, “It’s very tongue in cheek. Only [John] could have written it and only I could have sung it.”  Stream Mind Games (Ultimate Mixes), featuring “I’m The Greatest” and “Rock ‘N’ Roll People,” here: https://johnlennon.lnk.to/TumPR

- When iconic band AMERICA stepped on the stage of the world-famous Hollywood Bowl on August 3rd, 1975, they were at the top of their game. The chart-topping folk-rock trio had just released its fifth album, Hearts, which boasted the band’s second #1 single, “Sister Golden Hair.” Today, one day before the 49th anniversary of that legendary AMERICA performance, the Grammy-winning band will issue a stunning live version of “Sister Golden Hair.” This will be the second single from AMERICA’s highly-anticipated upcoming live album, America – Live From The Hollywood Bowl 1975 (Primary Wave Music; distributed by Sun Records), out September 6, 2024. It’s hard to believe that “Sister Golden Hair” had only been out for just six months when AMERICA performed it at the Hollywood Bowl back in 1975. The live version here is mature, just like the live staple it has since become. AMERICA plays it faithful to the record, putting the interplay of the original trio of Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek front and center. A thicket of strummed acoustic guitars lay a foundation for the balmy harmony vocals, and the instantly-recognizable slide guitar melody. As the song patiently unfolds, the harmony vocals swell to choir-size, rocketing the song skyward. Pre-order and pre-save the album now on vinyl, CD, digital including exclusive merchandise bundles here.  Stream & download “Sister Golden Hair” here.

- Amy Helm, the esteemed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, unveils her evocative new single "Baby Come Back," offering another powerful preview of her forthcoming album, Silver City, which is set for release on September 6 via Sun Records.  Following the success of her first single, "Money On 7” (which was featured in Folk Alley’s Fresh Cuts and on Apple Music’s "New in Americana" and Amazon Music’s "Fresh Folk & Americana" playlists), Helm continues to explore profound themes with "Baby Come Back." With its buzzy guitars and powerful vocals, this poignant track delves into the raw emotions of reclaiming oneself after heartache. Helm's soulful delivery and powerful songwriting capture the essence of healing and resilience, making "Baby Come Back" a standout addition to Silver City.

- It’s been an awe-inspiring journey for Ruthie Foster, the singer-songwriter heralded for her powerful blend of blues, folk, and gospel. Today, Ruthie pays tribute to her lineage as a Black artist and a Sun Records artist with her latest single, a sensual, blues reading of “That’s All Right,” as made famous by Elvis Presley. “That’s All Right” will be the third single from Ruthie’s milestone tenth studio album, Mileage, and her first album for Sun Records. The ten-song record was produced by Tyler Bryant (Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown), and it will be released via Sun August 23rd.  Stream ‘That’s All Right’ Here and Pre-Order ‘Mileage’ Here

- Fans can travel across the multi-verse with the epic release of the Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-7 boxed set on DVD on September 10. Get Schwifty while you binge on one of cable’s most-watched comedies that follows the sci-fi misadventures of genius scientist Rick and his family. Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1-7 includes all 71 episodes from seven seasons of the award-winning series, copious special features, audio commentary, deleted scenes, “Inside the Episode” segments, numerous featurettes, animatic sketches, and more. Preorder your copy now.

- What better way to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of The Mask than catching up on the animated series inspired by the beloved theatrical film.  When he dons an ancient Nordic mask, Stanley Ipkiss moves at warp speed, knows your every desire, satisfies your every whim and dances like Fred Astaire, Gumby and Barishnikov combined. He's s-s-s-smokin'! Based on the film The Mask, this animated series tells the story of sweet, socially inept bank teller Ipkiss, who discovers a mask that transforms him into a superhero ... but one whom you may not want to call for help.  Available now for purchase digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango at Home and more.

- UPDATED RELEASE DATE:  Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will be newly releasing Succession: The Complete Series on Blu-ray. Get ready to binge on all 39 episodes from HBO’s Emmy® award-winning original series, along with all the previously released special features. The brilliant high-stakes drama following the Roy Family and their quest for power will be available to purchase online on August 27. Pre-order your copy today.  Succession stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun, J. Smith-Cameron, Peter Friedman, David Rasche, and Fisher Stevens.