Around the Tubes: October 3, 2020

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The Good Lord Bird, Bad Hair, Belushi, Huluween, Kingdom of Silence, Amy Winehouse, James Bond, The Midnight Special, Iron Maiden, Billie Holiday, Elvis Costello, Driving While Black, Bad Hombres, Steven Universe, Wizard World Virtual Experiences, and Billions.
- SHOWTIME will release the premiere episode of its new limited series THE GOOD LORD BIRD for free online sampling, on streaming platforms and on demand beginning at midnight on Sunday, October 4. Starring and executive produced by Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke, who plays the controversial abolitionist John Brown, the seven-episode series is from Blumhouse Television and based on the National Book Award-winning novel The Good Lord Bird by bestselling author James McBride. The premiere episode will be available on YouTube and SHO.com. THE GOOD LORD BIRD will officially premiere on SHOWTIME on Sunday, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.  The episode will also be available across multiple television and streaming providers’ devices, websites, applications and authenticated online services and their free on demand channels. In addition, the season premiere will be available for free on the SHOWTIME stand-alone service at www.showtime.com.

- It's time to celebrate National Hair Day with the official trailer for Hulu’s upcoming film BAD HAIR. The film will premiere on October 23rd, only on Hulu.  In this horror satire set in 1989, BAD HAIR follows an ambitious young woman (Elle Lorraine) who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career comes at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own. 

 

- SHOWTIME has released the trailer and poster art for the upcoming documentary BELUSHI. The feature-length film examines the too-short life of the once-in-a-generation talent John Belushi, who captured the hearts and funny bones of devoted audiences. Directed by R.J. Cutler (the upcoming Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, The September Issue, The War Room) and produced by John Battsek (One Day In September, The Tillman Story), the documentary will screen at Cannes Classics 2020, the Chicago Film Festival and AFI Fest ahead of its premiere on Sunday, November 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. 

- Huluween is back and spookier than ever. Horror fans can celebrate the third year of Hulu’s annual Halloween event with a full slate of nail-biting new Hulu Originals, a devilish drive-in movie theater event and an online Halloween immersive experience for fans to enjoy from home.  As the ultimate destination for Halloween lovers to “Scream it Out,” the Huluween content hub now has more titles than ever before. Highlighting the most spooktacular content on the service, the hub includes hand-picked collections of the best Halloween content including three feature collections: “Screamy as Hell,” for the most haunted fans, “Spooky not Scary,” for the viewers who are ready to have a fright, but still sleep at night and “Humorous Horror,” featuring light-hearted Halloween fun.  More than six billion minutes of Huluween programming were watched last year,* underscoring Hulu viewers’ love for fright-filled content -- and as no surprise, October ranks as the #1 month for engagement around the horror genre on Hulu. To give fans more of the thrills and chills they love, Hulu will showcase brand-new horrifying Hulu Originals and 30 bone-chilling Bite Size Halloween short films. The series of short genre films - from horror comedy to psychological thrillers - provides a platform for emerging filmmakers at 20th Digital Studio. Hulu will also feature a myriad of library content highlighting all of the Halloween episodes and films on the service. 

- SHOWTIME has released the new documentary KINGDOM OF SILENCE for free online sampling, on streaming platforms and on demand, two years to the date of the controversial murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The film is directed by Oscar^® nominated and Emmy winning filmmaker Rick Rowley (16 SHOTS, Dirty Wars). Oscar and Emmy award winning director Alex Gibney (ENEMIES: THE PRESIDENT, JUSTICE & THE FBI) executive produces in collaboration with Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright (The Looming Tower). KINGDOM OF SILENCE is available for free now on YouTube and SHO.com and will officially premiere on air tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.  The film is also available across multiple television and streaming providers’ devices, websites, applications and authenticated online services and their free on demand channels.

- A 7” singles box set comprising all of Amy Winehouse’s memorable singles from the Frank, Back To Black and Lioness: Hidden Treasures albums will be released on November 20. Featured tracks include “Stronger Than Me,” “Rehab” and “Love Is A Losing Game,” all of which won the Ivor Novello Award for Amy in 2004, 2007 and 2008. The set also includes the Grammy® Award-winning “Body and Soul,” a duet with the legendary Tony Bennett. The singles will be housed in individual picture sleeves and pressed on black vinyl. The deluxe box also features a 20-page lyrics booklet and a set of art cards. Preorder 12x7: The Singles Collection here: https://amywinehouse.lnk.to/12x7PR.

- On November 20, UMe will release an updated version of The Best Of Bond…James Bond, a digital, 2CD and 3LP black vinyl compilation featuring celebrated theme songs from the longest-running film franchise. In addition, a limited-edition gold vinyl will be available exclusively via uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl. The new collection will include “No Time To Die” by Billie Eilish from No Time To Die, the 25th film in the series*. Also now included will be Adele’s “Skyfall” from Skyfall, the highest-grossing Bond film to date, and Sam Smith’s Spectre theme, “Writing’s On the Wall,” – Oscar® winners for Best Song in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Preorder The Best Of Bond…James Bond here: https://lnk.to/TheBestOfBondPR

- Like never before THE SOUL OF THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL brings home audiences and music lovers everywhere an unforgettable collection of legendary soul artists performing their hits in the prime of their careers -- uncut performances, just straight-from-the-heart soul singing with live musicians in front of a live audience. Now available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon for the first time on October 13, 2020.  In the period between American Bandstand and MTV, there were sev­eral shows that tried to bring new music to television, but it wasn't until The Midnight Special, premiered on August 19, 1972, that live music found a home on the air. Burt Sugarman, producer of Grammy Awards telecasts, was frustrated by television's lack of programming after The Tonight Show ended -- the screen reverting to test patterns at 1:00 a.m.. Recognizing this valuable airtime could cater to a brand-new audience that craved its latest musical heroes, he created The Midnight Special, which ran every Friday night on NBC from 1972 to 1981.

- BMG are pleased to announce the release of IRON MAIDEN’s new double live album on November 20th worldwide. Containing over 100 minutes of classic Maiden music and available in multiple formats, including a limited edition Mexican Flag, triple colored (180g) vinyl and a limited edition deluxe 2 CD book format, Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast: Live in Mexico City was recorded during the band’s three sold out arena shows there in September 2019 and is a celebration of their Legacy Of The Beast World Tour which began in 2018 and will finish next Summer in Europe.   For more information go to www.ironmaiden.com   

- Verve/UMe will release the official companion soundtrack for the anticipated documentary, Billie, about legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday on November 13. Billie: The Original Soundtrack, which will be available on CD, LP and digitally for streaming and download, collects some of Holiday’s most popular songs featured throughout the transfixing film including “God Bless The Child,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” “I Loves You, Porgy” and “Strange Fruit,” along with instrumental cues. Pre-order is available now and “I Only Have Eyes For You” is available to stream or as an instant download with digital pre-order.  Pre-order Billie: The Original Soundtrack and stream “I Only Have Eyes For You” here: https://UMe.lnk.to/BillieOriginalSoundtrack

- Personally curated by Elvis Costello, The Complete Armed Forces is the definitive statement of the legendary songwriter and musician’s revered and essential 1979 album, featuring the classic hits “Accidents Will Happen,” “Green Shirt,” “Oliver’s Army” and “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding.” Leaving no musical stone unturned, no lyric notebook unrifled through and no detail left out, this new super deluxe edition vinyl box set is a thorough excavation of Costello’s vault from this metamorphic period of his early beginnings, painting as complete a picture as possible of the events that led to the making of the album, its creation, and the wild success that followed for him, and his band The Attractions, and ignited his career. Armed Forces is explored across nine pieces of vinyl (3 12-inch LPs, 3 10-inch LPs and 3 7-inch singles), including a new 2020 remaster of the album, B-sides, alternate versions and outtakes, demos, and a slew of live recordings – including 23 unreleased live tracks taken from three especially riotous concerts.  Releasing November 6 via UMe, The Complete Armed Forces will be exclusively available via Elvis Costello's official online store and UMG’s online stores uDiscover and Sound of Vinyl, in two vinyl versions – 180-gram black vinyl and limited edition 180-gram multi-color opaque vinyl. It will also be available digitally for streaming and download. The collection is proceeded today with the release of a three-track digital EP featuring unreleased live performances of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?,” “Goon Squad” and “Pump It Up,” taken from the new live LPs, Christmas In The Dominion - Live 24th December ’78, Riot At The Regent – Live In Sydney ’78 and Europe ’79 – Live At Pinkpop.  Pre-order The Complete Armed Forces and stream the new live EP here: https://elviscostello.lnk.to/ArmedForces

- PBS recently announced DRIVING WHILE BLACK: RACE, SPACE AND MOBILITY IN AMERICA – a ground-breaking, two-hour documentary film by acclaimed historian Dr. Gretchen Sorin and Emmy–winning director Ric Burns – will air on PBS on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). Watch the trailer now here.

- Showtime Sports Documentary Films today announced BAD HOMBRES, a new film chronicling the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos, the world’s only binational professional baseball team. Amid the United States government’s proposal for a border wall, and with U.S.-Mexico relations at a staggeringly low point, the team’s cross-border heritage provides a powerful symbol of unity, joining countries, cities and families. BAD HOMBRES premieres on SHOWTIME on Friday, October 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will also be available via the SHOWTIME streaming service and SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®.  BAD HOMBRES follows the Tecolotes as their season unfolds, revealing what life is genuinely like in two border cities besieged by divisive rhetoric and policies, all in the shadow of America’s pastime. Filmed over the course of the 2019 Mexican Baseball League season, BAD HOMBRES examines the crossroads of perspectives as human trafficking, drug cartels, environmentalists and asylum seekers intersect with the Tecolotes’ pennant race.

- Grab your popcorn and get ready to sing your hearts out as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings Cartoon Network’s award-winning series into your homes with the release of Steven Universe: The Complete Collection on DVD December 8, 2020. This ultimate 15-Disc Collector’s Edition Storybook features custom-made pieces of art on every page by Chromosphere. Inside, it is filled with every episode of Steven Universe, Steven Universe Future, as well as the smash hit TV movie, Steven Universe The Movie. Enhance the magic with hours of all-new bonus content including: Animatics, Minisodes, Commentary, Steven Universe The Movie: Sing-A-Long, and more. Steven Universe: The Complete Collection carries a suggested retail price of $89.99 for the DVD ($119.99 in Canada) and is rated TV-PG. Steven Universe: The Complete Collection is also available to currently download on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

- Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCBB:WIZD) brings more “Wizard World Virtual Experiences” featuring stars of iconic franchises across its digital video platforms in the coming weeks. On Saturday at 4 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, visit Gotham City with “From Batman to Joker” featuring franchise standouts Brett Cullen, Robert Wuhl and Michael Uslan. Then on Sunday, “Ary and the Secret of Seasons” voice actors Chris Zambelis, Kira Buckland and Casey Mongillo, join lead writer Genese Davis for a discussion on the new video game at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT. On Thursday, Oct. 8, stars of scary films Diane Salinger, Ann Robinson, James Murtaugh and Jimmy Workman meet up for “Oh The Horror!” at 7 p.m ET / 4 p.m. PT, followed that evening at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT by the live trivia contest for nerd-culture know-it-alls, “Last Fan Standing,” hosted by the inimitable Bruce Campbell. "Shadowhunters" headliners Maxim Roy, Anna Hopkins and Jon Cor reunite on Friday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.  During each celebrity session, the celebrities will participate in a FREE live moderated video Q&A, followed by one-on-one video chats, recorded videos and autographs. Sessions are accessible to virtual attendees on their computer and mobile devices via http://www.wizardworldvirtual.com.

- If there was ever any doubt regarding the “Fierce Urgency of Now,” last night’s poor representation of civility, solution-oriented dialogue, intentional rudeness, and the endorsement of white supremacy confirms that the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. must aggressively intensify voter mobilization and a protection plan. When a sitting President of the United States of America openly encourages a white supremacist organization to “Stand Back and Stand By” we must intensify our efforts.  Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has historically fought against racism, voter suppression, legalized segregation, and racial violence. We are continually fighting against these injustices and their various forms today.  The immediate first step to fight racial hatred and injustice as we approach Election Day is to participate actively in the electoral process. Our Fraternity is currently engaging in voter mobilization and voter protection efforts. The resurgence of white supremacy and divisive politics must end. Our future depends on it. The Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. are utilizing our vast collective power to ensure candidates from the federal level to the local level are addressing issues related to education, the economy, healthcare, international diplomacy, social equity, police reform, and economic development.

- SHOWTIME has picked up a sixth season of its acclaimed drama series BILLIONS. Starring Oscar^® nominee and Emmy^® and Golden Globe^® winner Paul Giamatti and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis, season five of BILLIONS will return with five new episodes in 2021, with season six to follow. Golden Globe nominee Corey Stoll (House of Cards), who joined to guest star as Mike Prince in season five, has signed on to return as a series regular for season six.

Previewing The Good Lord Bird

The first things that greets viewers at the start of each episode of The Good Lord Bird is a title card informing you that, “All of this is true, most of it happened.”  This reminded me of The Great that claimed its show was “Based on historical fact (sort of)”.   Both shows features main characters wearing dresses that play opposite of crazy people except the protagonist of The Good Lord Bird is a work of fiction.  Oh, and a dude.

 

Henry, who is forced to wear a dress for most of the series because when he is rescued as a slave, his rescuer thought someone called him Henrietta?  So when that person that rescuers you from slavery gives you a dress to wear, I guess it would be rude to refuse it.  And when they start calling you onion because you ate one, I guess you just go as “Onion” now.  Now his savior was not just any person but John Brown who you may or may not remember from the paragraph in your high school history book when they call him the most famous abolitionist who went around the South freeing slaves and murdering slave owners.

 

After being rescued, Onion goes on a Forrest Gumpian travel across pre-Civil War America, not only does he spend much of his time in John Brown’s gang but also has run ins with Fredrick Douglass (Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs) and Harriet Tubman.  Even though Ethan Hawke (Tesla) plays John Brown (and at times comes across like Will Forte playing Zeb Miller) this is Onion’s story and considering how Hawke’s performance is turned up to eleven most of the time he is on screen, it may be for the best.

 

Also appearing in The Good Lord Bird are Wyatt Russell (Everybody Wants Some!!) as a real life Confederate Soldier who plays a big part in the John Brown lore.  Ellar Coltrane, who spend twelve years playing Hawke’s son while filming Boyhood, also play’s John Brown’s son here.  Later in the series, one of John Brown’s daughters shows up and is also played by someone who Hawke is very familiar with.

 

Book adaptations have flourished in the time of Peak television, getting to fill out the stories over the course of four to ten episodes which movies have to cram into two(ish) hours.  The Good Lord Bird may be one of the few book adaptations that would have been better off as a movie.  The joke of Onion in a dress gets old quick.  It seems more people notice John Brown in a time before photographs than people realize Onion is not a girl.  Ethan Hawke firing on all cylinders in every scene also gets a little grating to the point you may be glad when he disappears for almost full episodes.  Still, the John Brown story is one that deserves more than a paragraph and The Good Lord Bird does a decent job expanding on his legacy to this nation.

 

The Good Lord Bird airs Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.

Around the Tubes: September 26, 2020

 
I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Helstrom, Run, People Yo May Know, Sasha Sloan, Eric Clapton, INXS, Shannon LaBrie, Citizen Bio, Cold War, Kids, Nina Simone, The Circus, Decision 2020, and Arrow.

- Every family has its demons! Check out the official trailer and key art below for our upcoming horror series Helstrom starring Tom Austen and Sydney Lemmon.  All 10 episodes premiere Friday, October 16, only on Hulu!

- Hulu Original Film RUN premieres Friday, November 20, 2020 on Hulu.  The film stars Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Sarah Paulson and introduces newcomer Kiera Allen.  RUN is the first major thriller since the 1940s starring an actual wheelchair user. Lionsgate will release the film theatrically in select international markets.  SYNOPSIS:  They say you can never escape a mother’s love... but for Chloe, that’s not a comfort — it’s a threat. There’s something unnatural, even sinister about the relationship between Chloe (newcomer Kiera Allen) and her mom, Diane (Sarah Paulson). Diane has raised her daughter in total isolation, controlling every move she’s made since birth, and there are secrets that Chloe's only beginning to grasp. From the visionary writers, producers and director of the breakout film Searching,  comes a suspense thriller that shows that when mom gets a little too close, you need to RUN.

- AMC Networks’ streaming service Sundance Now features the Streaming Premiere of the new timely and hard-hitting documentary PEOPLE YOU MAY KNOW on Monday, September 28, 2020. Set in the run-up to the 2020 US Presidential Election, People You May Know explores the political alliance between religious fundamentalists, oligarchs, and controversial British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica and its shell companies which have fundamentally shifted the balance of politics and elections in the US. People You May Know was licensed from Abacus Media Rights.  Sundance Now is AMC Networks’ premiere streaming service for engrossing true crime, heart-stopping dramas and fiercely intelligent thrillers from around the world.  The film follows Charles Kriel, specialist advisor to a UK parliament disinformation committee, when he discovers Cambridge Analytica collaborating with a software company creating a microtargeting platform for US churches, targeting vulnerable people - the poor, the grieving, the addicted - to radicalize them for far-right politics. With the imminent US 2020 elections, Kriel gathers a team of whistle-blowers and journalists to journey across America with his young family, where he discovers a powerful organization with ties to the heart of the White House. The man who commissioned Cambridge Analytica is a member of the most powerful secret political organization in the United States with an agenda to rewrite the Constitution according to Christian Law. Going undercover, Kriel risks everything to gain access where no outsider has ever set foot. 
 

- Sasha Sloan: Lie:

    

- This November sees the release of 50^th Anniversary edition of Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, available as a 4LP vinyl box set via UMe/Polydor. In celebration of the 50^thanniversary of the 1970 double album, the original has been given the ‘Half-Speed Mastered’ treatment by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios and is completed with a certificate of authentication.The 50^th anniversary 4LP box set, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, is available exclusively through uDiscover and Sound of Vinyl and can be ordered here.  Layla is often regarded as Eric Clapton’s greatest musical achievement. The album is notably known for its title track, an evergreen rock classic, which had top ten single chart success in the U.K. and features the dual wailing guitars of Clapton and Duane Allman. Alongside this are a further 2LPs of bonus material some of which has not previously been released on vinyl. All the bonus material across all of LP3 and LP4 is mastered normally (so is not half-speed mastered). The LP set also includes a 12×12 book of sleeve notes taken from the 40th-Anniversary Edition.

-  Singer/Songwriter Andrew Farriss celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the multi-platinum selling album 'X,' released on this day 30 years ago from the world-renowned band, INXS. Farriss, a founding member of the band, played keyboard and provided backing vocals and other instrumentation. With INXS, he has sold over 60 million records, received multiple Grammy nominations, and an induction into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2001. 'X,' INXS’s 7th studio album, was released on September 25th in 1990.  “I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since the release of the ‘X’ album,” shares Farriss. “As INXS, we knew we had to have the right songs to follow up on the massive success of our previous album ‘KICK’. I love the energy of the ‘X’ album. My favorite songs are still “Suicide Blonde,” “Disappear,” “Bitter Tears,” “Who Pays The Price,” and “Hear That Sound,” plus having blues music legend Charlie Musselwhite playing on the ‘X’ album with us was awesome!” 

- Shannon LaBrie prepares for the arrival of her upcoming LP Building, with the release of the reflective new track “Angels Fall,” that honors the gift of encouraging relationships we encounter throughout life. The lyric video premiered with Cowboys & Indians, saying, “In the midst of everything, the optimistic Nashville-based singer-songwriter finds hope…” watch the lyric video HERE.  “Angels Fall'' is now available, listen to it HERE. LaBrie’s forthcoming album Building will be available Sep. 25 and can be pre-saved HERE or pre-ordered HERE. 

- As the world’s medical research community grapples with the current COVID-19 pandemic, SHOWTIME Documentary Films will premiere a new, timely feature-length documentary entitled CITIZEN BIO, which explores in depth the nascent biohacking movement and the unconventional scientists and researchers developing alternative medicines to prolong human life and eradicate incurable viruses and diseases. Directed by Trish Dolman and executive produced by Graeme Manson (Snowpiercer, Orphan Black), CITIZEN BIO will premiere on SHOWTIME on Friday, October 30 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.  To watch and share the film’s official trailer, go to: https://youtu.be/moyabKVvY1c.

- Cold War Kids have unveiled plans for a landmark virtual tour, featuring four unique concert performances scheduled through November. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at coldwarkids.nocapshows.com beginning September 24 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET, with individual tickets priced at $15 and the four-show bundle priced at $50.  BUY TICKETS  All four shows on the virtual tour will begin at 6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET; the shows will then be archived though Sunday, November 29, one week after the final event.

- Nina Simone's classic 1965 albums I Put a Spell on You and Pastel Blues will be released as definitive audiophile grade versions as the third installment of Verve/UMe’s recently launched audiophile vinyl reissues series Acoustic Sounds. Utilizing the skills of the top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings, the LPs, which will be available November 6, were mastered in stereo from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality tip-on gatefold jackets. Like all Acoustic Sounds titles, the releases are being supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world’s largest source for audiophile recordings. The Simone titles follow the Acoustic Sounds editions of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme and Ballads set for release October 9.
 
Pre-order I Put a Spell on You: https://Verve.lnk.to/NSSpellOnYou
Pre-order Pastel Blues: https://Verve.lnk.to/NSPastelBlues

- With fewer than 40 days before the election, THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE CRAZIEST POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ON EARTH continues its fifth season this Sunday with a look at the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, what it means for the future of the Supreme Court and how it is reshaping the 2020 presidential race.  Hosts John Heilemann, Alex Wagner and Mark McKinnon, along with guest contributor Jennifer Palmieri, examine the unfolding drama as President Trump and Senate Republicans move toward filling Ginsburg's court seat before the election. As Republicans and Democrats prepare for a looming political fight, THE CIRCUS also speaks with voters and activists about how the Supreme Court battle is mobilizing both sides ahead of November 3.  For a preview, go to: https://youtu.be/acGZGcWxc60.

- With just over six weeks until Election Day, a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll published today offers the latest snapshot of Latino voters’ views on the 2020 presidential election.  The nationwide poll was conducted as part of Telemundo’s “Decision 2020” initiative, a non-partisan multiplatform news and civic engagement effort to provide Latinos with comprehensive information and resources on this year’s election. The poll is the latest in a yearlong series of Telemundo local and national surveys focused on the Latino electorate.  A story about the results of the NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Telemundo poll is available in Spanish at Telemundo.com. Highlights of the results will also be featured on Noticias Telemundo’s Sunday newscasts at 6:30 p.m EDT/5:30 pm CT and 11:30 p.m. EDT/10:30 CT. 

- After eight remarkable seasons, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC mark the end of an epic era with its final installment of the suspenseful and action-packed series with the release of Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season on Blu-ray & DVD April 28, 2020. Get ready for nonstop action from start to finish with all 10 action-packed episodes from the eighth and final season, plus the show’s 2019 Comic-Con Panel, the broadcast special Arrow: Hitting the Bullseye and deleted scenes! A limited edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event: Crisis on Infinite Earths episodes will be available exclusively for fans who purchase the Blu-ray. Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP ($29.98 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray which includes a Digital Code (U.S. only), ($39.99 in Canada). Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.  Arrow: The Complete Series will also be available for fans to own on Blu-ray and DVD for $189.99 / $169.99 SRP ($249.99 / $229.99 in Canada). The bonus disc is included in the Blu-ray Complete Series set. 

- Majorities of Americans across racial and ethnic backgrounds support meaningful changes to policing, including requiring officers to live in the communities they police and involving community-resource workers in certain emergency calls, a new national poll found.  The poll also found broad support for economic policies and programs to reduce wealth and income inequality, including a federal jobs guarantee, temporary suspension of rent and mortgage payments, fair hiring protections for people with criminal histories, and a program to provide grants to Black entrepreneurs starting small businesses.  The results point to encouraging opportunities for unity among Black, Latinx, and white Americans on priorities for tackling inequities.

Previewing The Comey Rule

Late in the second and last episode of The Comey Rule, the United States Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, fighting back tears argues to the acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Andrew McCabe the he should wear a wire in meeting with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, so he and the cabinet would have enough evidence to invoke the 25^th amendment of the condition declaring the president is unable to serve.  Wow, what a bombshell if true.  I jumped on my phone and apparently this news was already out there with the New York Times reporting this back in September 2018 and McCabe, in an interview with 60 Minutes in February, confirmed such.  It is amazing that there has been so much craziness in the past four year that is easy to forget something as big as a conspiracy to remove the president.

 

Weirdly Rod Rosenstein is sort of the narrator of The Comey Rule.  He opens the two night event trashing the titular character sometime after the bulk of the show takes place and is also the last voice we hear.  We actually see more of Rosenstein in a post mortem of the show than during the time James Comey was leading the FBI.  But hey, it is weird to even have a show based mostly on the memoir of James Comey on the eve of the election featuring the guy who fired him.

 

The limited series was originally scheduled to premiere in late November, I guess because it wanted to adhere to the FBI rule of not wanting to open a case that might influence an election.  But unlike James Comey who stubbornly stuck to principals in hopes to keep the FBI non-partisan (and was attacked for it by Rosenstein who called him a boy scout, which apparel to Rosenstein is considered an insult) Showtime caved to pressure to move the show up to just six weeks before the election.  Granted, who at this point watch The Comey Rule and realize maybe it is not wise to re-elect a psychopath?

 

This is the second straight year Showtime has aired a based on a tell all political show, thankfully The Comey Rule comes off as much less icky than the Roger Ailes show, The Loudest Voice.  But Showtime split the five hours and forty-five minute over seven weeks, for The Comey Rule, they split the three and a half hour into two back to back nights.  Why not spread that out across four week, especially in the middle of a pandemic where they are probably running low on things to air?

 

Much like The Loudest Voice, The Comey Rule has a very recognizable cast led by Jeff Daniels as the former FBI director.  Granted this is weird for me as I was also watch The Newsroom while watch The Comey Rule because I mostly saw Will McAvoy with slightly darker hair (ironically the episode I watch prior to The Comey Rule was the first Anthony Weiner scandal, probably not a spoiler to say Weiner comes up in the new show too in a major way).  I am not sure why they did not go with the full black dye job that the real Comey likely does.  Brendan Gleeson (Gangs of New York) does a pretty bad job as Donald Trump and the bad wig and bad make-up job do not help him at all, granted, just how can anyone replicate such a mess?  Kingsley Ben-Adir (Love Life) does a better job as the former president Barack Obama despite looking a good thirty years younger than the guy he is playing.

 

Thankfully the show puts up a name card whenever someone new comes on screen, taking out the guess work of who they are playing.  It is surprising how many names I recognized.  I probably could not name many in past administrations other than maybe the head of the FBI, but I recognized most of the people who popped up on the show.  The limited series also features (honestly, I am just copying and pasting this from the Showtime press release) Holly Hunter (The Piano) as former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, Michael Kelly (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan) as former FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty) as Patrice Comey, Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire) as former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul) as former National Intelligence Director James Clapper, Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones) as former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, Amy Seimetz (The Girlfriend Experience) as former FBI lawyer Trisha Anderson, Steven Pasquale (The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story) as former FBI agent Peter Strzok, and Peter Coyote (The Disappearance) as Robert Mueller. Steve Zissis (Togetherness), Shawn Doyle (House of Cards), Brian d’Arcy James (Spotlight), Dalmar Abuzeid (Anne with an E), William Sadler (When They See Us), Richard Thomas (Tell Me Your Secrets), T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Spencer Garrett (Bombshell), Michael Hyatt (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Damon Gupton (Black Lightning) and Seann Gallagher (Good Witch) also star. 

 

Bizarrely, comedian Truglio is playing former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and it is not as a joke.  I got to wonder just who The Comey Rule is for.  Unlike The Loudest Voice which came off as a liberal hit job, The Comey Rule seems to want to be as noble as James Comey wants us to think he was.  The second episode starts shortly after the election and we see a guy shooting off an e-mail about how Hilary got what she deserves and then pans to a crying woman upset than Clinton lost (well this is right after a pretty hilarious song that almost makes the series worth it).  The show also takes painstaking ways to make Comey out to be the Boy Scout Rosenstein complains about like when first briefed on the Steele dossier, Comey actually asks, “What’s a golden shower?’ which was just very eye rolling.  The liberals hate James Comey because they think he swung the election to Trump while conservatives hate him because they think the Russia investigation was just done to delegitimize his presidency.  So just who is The Comey Rule for?  Probably political junkies who want to complain on Twitter how poorly their side is being represented.

 

The Comey Rule premieres Sunday at 9:00 on Showtime and concludes the following day.

The Sixteenth Annual Scooter Television Awards

Welcome to the 16th Annual Scooter Television Awards honoring show that aired a majority of their season between July 2019 and August 2020. Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2020 STA's:

Best Scripted Show: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 

Best Comedy: The Good Place 

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show: Castle Rock

Best Comic Book Adaptation: Watchmen 

Best Period Show: The Great 

Best Animated Show: Harley Quinn 

Best Reality Show: The Challenge 

Best Remake, Reboot, or (non-comic book) Adaptation: Veronica Mars 

Best Miniseries: Little Fires Everywhere 

Best Talk Show: Pardon the Interruption 

Best New Show: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 

Guiltiest Guilty Pleasure: Zomboat 

 Worst Show I Made Though an Entire Season Of: Dispatches From Elsewhere 

Best Hour of TV: Zoey’s Extraordinary Glitch (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) 

Best Half Hour of TV: A Very G.L.O.W. Christmas (G.L.O.W.) 

Biggest Shocker: Cal was Dr. Manhattan this whole time (Watchmen) 

Best Line: “Look: I’m stomping on your fish!” (Bane to Aquaman, Harley Quinn) 

Worst Idea: Launching your streaming service without access to seventy percent of digital media players 

Worst Moment: Roger Ailes groping and sexualizing his employees (The Loudest Voice) 

Biggest Disappointment: Run 

Best Musical Moment: The last seven minutes of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’s finale 

Best Karaoke: Crazy – Zoey Clarke (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) 

Best New Title Sequence: Little Fires Everywhere 

Best Character: Jason Mendoza (The Good Place) 

Best Recurring Character: Vicky (The Good Place) 

Best Guest Appearance: Jason Bateman (The Outsider) 

Best Cast Addition: Lizzie Caplan (Castle Rock) 

Best Duo: Catherine the Great and Peter III (The Great) 

Most Entertaining Reality “Star”: Michele Fitzgerald (Survivor) 

Most Annoying Reality “Star”: Rob Mariano (Survivor) 

Most Anticipated New Show of Next Season: Only Murders in the Building 

Show That Should Be Brought Back: The Good Place (or at least a Jason prequel in Jacksonville)

Biggest Question for 2020-2021: What is television going to look like during the Coronapocalypse?

57 Channels and Only this Is On: September 20, 2020

 

Lovecraft Country:  Well that was gross.  But I wonder now if the creepy white dude ever existed?  Did he die when the mansion blew up in the second episode?  It does make the conversation where the creepy white chick and the sheriff attacked each other for not being part of the evil cult thing.  Apparently the creepy white chick was a part of it after all, just not in her form.

 

We Hunt Together:  The cop was right when he told Baba was not like the rest of us.  To lie that easy and then flip the bird on the way out of the police station.  But they did get her.  Thought I am not a lawyer and definitely do not know anything about British law, but, here, drawing the eyes and being is the only evidence is not enough to convict.  But I guess that is the potential season two to see if they can get anything concrete on Freddie.

 

Raised By Wolves:  Through most of the first episode this week I thought we were just going around and around in a circle with no major change… and then Ragnor just planted the android with an axe after stealing her eyes.  But of course he could not destroy her because he may be the vague prophecy.  Is Ragnor and the androids going to team up to destroy the religious zealots?

 

Around the Tubes: September 19, 2020

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Moonbase, Your Honor, The Comedy Store, U2, Great Performances: GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends, deryk, Zach Gill, Maja Kristina, Desus and Mero,and BET.

- SHOWTIME announced that the new half-hour comedy series MOONBASE 8, starring Emmy^® nominee Fred Armisen (Portlandia), Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) and Golden Globe^® and Academy Award^® nominee John C. Reilly (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story), will premiere on Sunday, November 8 at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The series is created, written and executive produced by Armisen, Heidecker, Reilly and Emmy nominee Jonathan Krisel (Baskets), who also serves as series director.  Set in the isolated desert of Winslow, Arizona at NASA’s Moon Base Simulator, MOONBASE 8 follows eager astronauts Skip (Armisen), Rook (Heidecker) and their leader Cap (Reilly) as they attempt to qualify for their first lunar mission. While working vigorously to complete their training, a series of unexpected circumstances forces the astronauts to question their own mental sanity, trust in each other and whether or not they’re cut out for space travel.


-  SHOWTIME has released the official trailer for the upcoming limited series YOUR HONOR, starring Oscar nominee and Emmy, Golden Globe^®, Screen Actors Guild^® and Tony^® Award winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad). BAFTA winner Peter Moffat (The Night Of, Undercover) serves as showrunner, executive producer and writer of multiple episodes. The series is executive produced by Emmy nominees Robert and Michelle King (The Good Fight, The Good Wife, Evil) and Liz Glotzer (Evil, The Good Fight). Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning writer/director Edward Berger (PATRICK MELROSE) executive produces and directs the first three episodes. YOUR HONOR is set to air this December.

- SHOWTIME has released the trailer and poster art for the upcoming docu-series THE COMEDY STORE, which chronicles the evolution of comedy from within the walls of the legendary L.A. club. Directed and executive produced by Mike Binder (The Upside of Anger, Reign Over Me), who started at the Store as a doorman before rising to main stage performer, and executive produced by Oscar^® nominee and Emmy winner Mike Tollin (The Last Dance), the five-part series premieres on Sunday, October 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.  THE COMEDY STORE brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at the iconic club on the Sunset Strip, weaving never-seen-before footage of trailblazers like Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison and Freddie Prinze together with interviews with David Letterman, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Andrew Dice Clay, Joe Rogen, Whitney Cummings, Jimmy Walker, Michael Keaton, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Marc Maron, Damon Wayans, Bill Burr, Byron Allen and many more as they reflect on the ups and downs of The Store’s textured history.  As a Comedy Store alum, former stand-up comic Binder spotlights one of pop culture’s great laboratories that forever changed comedy and, for many, provided a launching pad to stardom in film and television. Legions of legendary performers cut their teeth doing stand-up at The Store on Sunset while being mentored by the tough but nurturing gatekeeper Mitzi Shore. Loved by most, hated by some, but always garnering their respect, Shore, says Binder “…changed the way comedy was presented. The Store is her legacy. It’s the epicenter of stand-up comedy in the world.”


- YouTube, Island Records, Interscope, UMe, and UMC today announce the relaunch of U2’s Official YouTube Channel with weekly releases of the band’s most iconic music videos and never before seen content on YouTube, all remastered at the highest possible standard. Over the course of the next year and beyond, the band’s music video catalog will be remastered in HD and launched exclusively on YouTube in that format.  The first phase of the relaunch will celebrate the upcoming 20th anniversary of the band’s tenth studio album, the GRAMMY Award-winning global smash hit, All That You Can't Leave Behind; leading with the re-release of one of the album’s most seminal tracks, “Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” remastered in 4K as a premium music video (PMV) and Premiered yesterdy HERE.

- The Recording Academy® will honor its 2020 Special Merit Awards recipients with "Great Performances: GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends®," an awards ceremony and tribute concert hosted by Jimmy Jam on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/gperf and the PBS Video app.  Announced earlier this year, the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Public Enemy, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Ken Ehrlich, Philip Glass and Frank Walker received Trustees Award honors, and George Augspurger was recognized with the Technical GRAMMY® Award. Mickey Smith Jr. will also accept the Music Educator Award™ as this year’s recipient.  Performers include Laurie Anderson, Philip Bailey, Brandi Carlile, Cynthia Erivo, Chris Isaak, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Cyndi Lauper, Sam Moore, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Yola. Presenters include Rhiannon Giddens, Joe Mantegna, John Legend, LL COOL J, Greg Phillinganes, Henry Rollins, and Don Was.

- Auckland-based, UK-born newcomer deryk first arrested us with her affecting voice on her debut single “Call You Out” earlier this summer. She has since shared the moving follow up “One Star,” alongside announcing plans for her debut EP release WOMb out on October 2^nd.  The EP focus track, “goodtimes” is a heart-on-sleeve account of a time in deryk’s life that she invites us to share with her. The song, which is at times almost uncomfortably intimate, succinctly showcases her impeccable ability to harness a mature understanding of life’s common experiences. A tale of heartache and lessons learnt, “goodtimes” manages to be both melancholic and uplifting—like only the best multidimensional pop music can.  LISTEN TO “goodtimes” HERE!

- Acclaimed singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist ZACH GILL unveils his third full-length solo album, Cocktail Yoga, today.  Stream Cocktail Yoga HERE via Brushfire/Republic Records and view the lyric video for “Playground In Your Soul” HERE!  Zach Gill, who over the course of his career has accumulated over 18 million global streams, heralds the nine-track instrumental new album with the single “King Dancer’s Delight.” Punctuated by nature sounds, immersive production, and artful sonic transmissions, Cocktail Yoga also drew critical attention right out of the gate. In addition to features from JamBase and more, Santa Barbara Independent enthusiastically wrote, “To me, it sounds like that ‘space-age bachelor-pad music’ made famous by Mexican legend Esquivel!”

- Recharging The Pointer Sisters classic for the 21^st century, acclaimed 22-year-old Stockholm songstress Maja Kristina shares her new single “Slow Hand” today.  Stream “Slow Hand” HERE via Eddie O Entertainment/Republic Records.  On the new track Maja said “I love this song and I'm super excited to bring it back from the 80's with a modern twist. Great songs never go out of style and this is no exception.”  Maja adds her inimitable energy to this seductive rendition of the 1981 staple. Over fresh production, she leans into infections verses as the track culminates on the timeless hook illuminated her magnetic charm and the scope of her expansive voice.

- SHOWTIME has picked up a third season of DESUS & MERO, the network’s first-ever late-night talk show, to return in 2021. Season two continues through October, airing weekly on Sunday and Thursday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT and is currently shot remotely from the hosts’ own homes. Each episode of DESUS & MERO features the co-hosts giving their take on the day’s hot topics and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more, such as Senator Kamala Harris, Missy Elliott, Dr. Anthony Fauci, The Beastie Boys, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Vice President Joe Biden and David Letterman. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.

- SHOWTIME has picked up the 10-episode first season of THE END, a half-hour dark comedy series starring Emmy nominee Harriet Walter (Succession, The Crown, Killing Eve) and Golden Globe nominee Frances O’Connor (The Missing, Mansfield Park). In THE END, three generations of a family live with separate but intersecting obsessions – trying to figure out how to die with dignity, live with none and make it all count. The series is scheduled to premiere on SHOWTIME in 2021. A coproduction between Sky UK and Foxtel Australia, the series was created and written by Samantha Strauss and is directed by Jessica M. Thompson and Jonathan Brough. The announcement was made today by Jana Winograde, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.  O’Connor plays Dr. Kate Brennan, an Australian-based specialist in palliative care. Euthanasia is a hot-button topic in Kate’s field of work, and she is passionate in her opposition. On the other side of the world, Kate’s mother Edie Henley (Walter) feels just as strongly about her right to die. Kate has little choice but to ship Edie out from England and deposit her in Australia’s Gold Coast in a nearby retirement community – Edie’s worst nightmare. While Kate struggles with her own problems, her children, one of whom is a teenage trans boy, are trying to work out who they are and who they want to be. THE END is a story about family, ethics and emotion, and mostly how it’s never too late to start again.

- BET announces the next phase of its nonpartisan #ReclaimYourVote campaign, which declares the inaugural National Black Voter Day to be recognized on September 18, 2020. In partnership with the National Urban League and an expanding list of over 40 key partners, BET will launch various initiatives and provide content to inform, empower and mobilize Black Americans’ participation in the November election. Resources will assist in getting voters registered, demystify some of the confusing processes, as well as provide guidance on voting rights restoration for eligible voters, and help voters create their voting plan to ensure their voices are heard.  Blake Griffin (six-time NBA All-Star), Caron Butler (NBA Champion), Desmond Meade (President, FRRC/Voting Rights Activist), Dwane Casey (Champion Basketball Coach), Erica Campbell (Recording Artist), Jaren Jackson, Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies center), Jonica T. Gibbs (Actor, BET’s Twenties), Marc H. Morial (President & CEO, National Urban League), MAJOR. (Grammy Nominated Musician), Morgan DeBaun (Founder & CEO, Blavity, Inc), Mignon Von (Actor, Tyler Perry’s Sistas), Offset (Rapper), Rapsody (Recording Artist), Soledad O'Brien (Journalist/Producer), Stacey Abrams (Founder, Fair Fight Action), Ms. Tina Knowles Lawson (Co-Founder, Where Art Can Occur), Udonis Haslem (three-time NBA Champion), Vivek Ranadivé (Sacramento Kings Governor) and more are lending their voices to this powerful campaign with original PSAs that will be dispersed across BET’s platforms and by impact partners to their constituents. Additionally, a roster of media partners have joined these efforts, including Black Enterprise, Bounce, Entertainment Tonight, The Root, The Shade Room and The Skimm, as well as BET’s sibling networks MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central. National Black Voter Day coincides with some of the country’s earliest voting days in states like South Dakota and Minnesota – the latter being ground zero of the fight for racial justice, since the killing of George Floyd.

57 Channels and Only This is On: September 13, 2020

Lovecraft Country: So now we got an Indiana Jones episode… cool. Thoug I believe this was the first episode with a B plot that did not really have anything to do with the main story. I wonder if we will get more of that going forward or was it just an anomaly. We Hunt Together: So much for Baba refusing to kill the teacher guy, Freddie actually did it herself this time. And she did not think this one threw. She was lucky to get away with the gay lovers going awry storyline, but I cannot see her spinning this in anyway positive for her. Especially when the episode ends with roadblocks everywhere and a gun pointed at her. Raised By Wolves: So Ragnar is now the leader? Not bad considering that is not really him. Though I am unclear who he really is. But I think it is quite obvious that the rapist is the little girl’s father. But I do think the Earth flashbacks are more interesting than the stuff happening on the moon.