Around the Tubes: May 29, 2021

             

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Panic, Olivia Rodrigo, Lord Huron, Nelly Furtado, Emily Kinney, Joy Oladokun, Glass Animals, The Making of a Woman, Super Pumped, and Hulu's summer schedule.

- Experience the world of Panic online on behalf of the series premiere on Amazon Prime Video May 28th!  A thrilling VIRTUAL manhunt for you and up to five friends or family. Popular varsity athlete Noah Kaplan has gone missing from the town of Carp, Texas. You must crack codes and hack websites to figure out where he's gone, why he's vanished and why the cops are interested in strange graffiti that's started to appear all over town. Is Noah in danger? Or is the worst yet to come? Work together to follow Noah's online footsteps before the trail goes cold. Every second counts. Let the game begin. Let the panic set in.  Experience for free. Limited availability.

- Vevo, the world’s leading music video network, today released multi-platinum, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s second performance in her LIFT series, “favorite crime,” shot on film. "favorite crime" will act as the track's sole visual following the release of Olivia’s highly-anticipated debut album, SOUR - out now on Geffen Records. Vevo also recently announced Olivia as their first LIFT artist of 2021 and unveiled a live performance of her RIAA Gold certified single, “deja vu,” also shot on film. 

- Upon release of Lord Huron’s anxiously awaited fourth full-length album, LONG LOST, the band delivered unforgettable performances across the television circuit.  In celebration of the release, the band performed “I Lied” with Allison Ponthier on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – watch HERE. The following morning, Lord Huron took the stage at CBS This Morning: Saturday with performances of “Not Dead Yet”, “I Lied”, & “Mine Forever.”  Lord Huron will be heading out on a Fall 2021 headline tour in support of Long Lost. Tickets are on sale now HERE. Get Long Lost HERE.

- Grammy® winning singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado signaled a new era in pop music by fusing her multicultural musical heritage and unabashedly honest lyrical style with trip-hop for a bold approach that resonates to this day. Today, “All Good Things (Come To An End),” the fifth single from her third studio album, Loose, which is certified gold or platinum in 26 countries, transitions from an introspectively lush dreamscape to a dance-friendly fusion that retains the feel of its timeless sentiment with a new remix from gold- and platinum-awarding winning German production duo Quarterhead (Ofenbach, Robin Schulz, Sabrina Carpenter, Dan+Shay). Written by Nelly Furtado, Chris Martin, Danja and Timbaland, the song remains a fan favorite with more than 250 million streams globally across digital service providers, according to Universal Music Artists app. Stream / purchase “All Good Things (Come To An End) (Nelly Furtado x Quarterhead)” HERE

- Jullian Records and actress/singer-songwriter Emily Kinney (The Walking Dead, Showtime’s Masters of Sex, ABC’s Ten Days In The Valley) are pleased to present the brand new music video for “When the Midnight Fireworks Start,” a track lifted from Kinney’s recently released full-length album, The Supporting Character. Directed by Davy Greenberg, shot by Sam Price (@esbyprice) and premiering today with BUST Magazine, “When the Midnight Fireworks Start” is a moon ceremony, a sort of letting go of the past and focusing on where Kinney sees her music going in the future. Filmed during the last full moon, the clip also serves as a little prayer to the universe to help Kinney find the best path for her and the music. Watch the music video via BUST HERE and on YouTube HERE.

- Emerging singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun will release her highly anticipated major label debut album, in defense of my own happiness, next Friday, June 4 via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. With in defense of my own happiness, Oladokun forges her own path, sharing the unique perspective she’s gained from living in today’s world as a black, queer woman and first-generation child of Nigerian immigrants. Born in Arizona and now living in Nashville, her musical exploration began at age ten when she was inspired to learn guitar after seeing a video of Tracy Chapman—the first time she’d ever seen a black woman play the instrument—and has since gone on to become “a fierce voice demanding equality” (NPR Music). 

- Glass Animals delivered their first-ever U.S. awards show performance, as they took the outdoor stage at Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles to perform their global smash hit “Heat Waves” live—watch HERE! The band has been delivering some of the most colorful and creative live performances throughout quarantine, and last night’s did not disappoint. Featuring a pastel art sculpture by French artist Cyril Lancelin titled “pyramid pillows,” the band gave a signature, high-energy performance to a live audience of vaccinated fans. Not only was this Glass Animals’ first-ever U.S. awards show, but it was also their first live U.S. performance since their last show pre-Covid lockdown in March 2020 at Los Angeles’ iconic Troubadour.

- AspireTV, the network that celebrates and reflects Black culture and urban lifestyle, announced that the three-part limited series The Making of a Woman will premiere Saturday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET, as part of AspireTV’s celebration of Black Music Month. The Making of a Woman chronicles the journey of Syleena Johnson as she creates and completes her 11th studio album, “Woman.” An empowering story of hope, drive and determination, centered around music that highlights the challenges all women face in their quest for growth, happiness and success.  “We are thrilled to kick off Black Music Month with the premiere of the limited series The Making of a Woman,” said Tina Rodriguez, Senior Director of Programming & Acquisitions, AspireTV. “Grammy-nominated R&B singer Syleena Johnson’s powerful voice and lyrics resonate with so many of our own experiences, and we look forward to sharing more of her story with the AspireTV viewers.”

- SHOWTIME has given a series order to SUPER PUMPED, an anthology series with the first season based on Mike Isaac’s bestselling book Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber. Emmy winner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Trial of the Chicago 7) has signed on to star in the first installment as Travis Kalanick, Uber’s hard-charging CEO who was ultimately ousted in a boardroom coup. Brian Koppelman and David Levien (BILLIONS, Rounders) and Beth Schacter (Soundtrack) will executive produce, write and serve as showrunners on the series. Paul Schiff, Stephen Schiff and Allyce Ozarski will also executive produce and Isaac will co-executive produce the project. The anthology series will be produced by SHOWTIME and is part of Koppelman and Levien's overall deal with the network.

- SHOWTIME has announced that Emmy winner Kyle Chandler (Bloodline, Friday Night Lights) will join SUPER PUMPED, a new anthology series with the first season based on Mike Isaac’s bestselling book Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber. Chandler will star as Bill Gurley, the plainspoken, brilliant Texan venture capitalist who bets his sterling reputation on Uber’s success – and then has to live with the consequences.

- HULU ORIGINALS SUMMER 2021 SLATE:

FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES

PLAN B

Premiere Date: May 28, 2021

Genre: Comedy Film

Synopsis: After a regrettable first sexual encounter, a strait-laced high school student (Kuhoo Verma) and her slacker best friend (Victoria Moroles) have 24 hours to hunt down a Plan B pill in America's heartland.

CHANGING THE GAME

Premiere Date: June 1, 2021

Genre: Documentary Feature

Synopsis: Emmy® award-winning filmmaker Michael Barnett’s urgent and subsuming sports documentary illuminates what many have called the civil rights issue of our time: transgender inclusion in sports. “Changing The Game” takes us into the lives of three high school athletes—all at different stages of their athletic seasons, personal lives, and unique paths as transgender teens. Their stories span across the U.S. — from Sarah, a skier and teen policymaker in New Hampshire, to Andraya, a track star in Connecticut openly competing on the girls track team. The film centers on Mack Beggs, who made headlines when he became the Texas State Champion in girls wrestling – as a boy.

THE NEW YORK TIMES PRESENTS: WHO GETS TO BE AN INFLUENCER?

Premiere Date: June 4, 2021

Genre: Documentary Feature

Synopsis: “Who Gets To Be an Influencer?,” from The New York Times and producer/director Lora Moftah, chronicles the rise of Collab Crib, one of the first mainstream Black creator mansion, exclusively documenting their whirlwind drive to achieve social media stardom in 90 days. The intimate, character-based film captures the influencers wrestling with a nagging, and profound, challenge: how can they succeed in a nascent industry that seems tilted to their disadvantage? For a growing number of Gen Z’ers, the quest to become a social-media influencer isn’t just a passing fad: this is their preferred path to making it big. And for Black creators, the stakes and hurdles are even higher in a social-media ecosystem that has been dominated by white influencers.

FALSE POSITIVE

Premiere Date: June 25, 2021 

Genre: Horror/Thriller Film

Synopsis: After months of trying and failing to get pregnant, Lucy (Ilana Glazer) and Adrian (Justin Theroux) finally find their dream fertility doctor in the illustrious Dr. Hindle (Pierce Brosnan).  But after becoming pregnant with a healthy baby girl, Lucy begins to notice something sinister through Hindle's gleaming charm, and she sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about him, and her own “birth story.”  As if getting pregnant weren't complicated enough...

SUMMER OF SOUL (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) 

Premiere Date: July 2, 2021

Genre: Documentary Feature

Synopsis: In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Marcus Garvey Park. The footage was never seen and largely forgotten–until now. “Summer of Soul” shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Baretto, Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach and more. Summer of Soul premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. Together with Disney’s new BIPOC creator initiative Onyx Collective, Searchlight Pictures will release it theatrically and it will also stream on Hulu.

MCCARTNEY 3,2,1

Premiere Date: July 16, 2021 

Genre: Docuseries 

Episodes: 6

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

HOMEROOM 

Premiere Date: August 12, 2021 (New Announcement)

Genre: Documentary Feature 

Synopsis: A Sundance Official Selection, “Homeroom” follows Oakland High School’s class of 2020 as they confront an unprecedented year. Anxiety over test scores and college applications gives way to uncertainty springing from a rapidly developing pandemic. Efforts to eliminate the school district’s police force unfold against the backdrop of growing nationwide demands for systemic change. 

SERIES

LOVE, VICTOR

Premiere Date: June 11, 2021

Genre: Young Adult Series

Season: 2

Episodes: 10 (Binge)

Synopsis: The popular teen dramedy returns as season two finds a newly out-of-the-closet Victor entering his junior year at Creekwood High. But being out brings with it new challenges as Victor faces a family struggling with his revelation, a heartbroken ex-girlfriend in Mia, and the difficulties of being an openly gay star athlete -- all while navigating the excitement of his relationship with Benji.

THE HANDMAID’S TALE

Season Finale: June 16, 2021

Genre: Drama Series

Season: 4

Episodes: 10 (Weekly)

Synopsis: In the fourth season of “The Handmaid's Tale,” June (Elisabeth Moss) strikes back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader, but the risks she takes bring unexpected and dangerous new challenges. Her quest for justice and revenge threatens to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships. 

THIS WAY UP

Premiere Date: Summer 2021 (TBC)

Genre: Comedy Series

Season: 2 

Episodes: 6 (Binge)

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

NINE PERFECT STRANGERS

Premiere Date: August 18, 2021

Genre: Limited Series

Episodes: 8 (First three episodes drop on August 18, then weekly release)

Synopsis: Based on The New York Times bestselling book by author Liane Moriarty, “Nine Perfect Strangers” takes place at a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation as nine stressed city dwellers try to get on a path to a better way of living. Watching over them during this 10-day retreat is the resort's director, Masha, a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine “perfect” strangers have no idea what is about to hit them. 

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING

Premiere Date: August 31, 2021

Genre: Comedy Series

Season: 1

Episodes: 10 (First two episodes drop on August 31, then weekly release)

Synopsis: From the minds of Steve Martin, Dan Fogelman and John Hoffman comes a comedic murder-mystery series for the ages. “Only Murders In The Building” follows three strangers (Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late.

THE D’AMELIO SHOW

Premiere Date: Late Summer 2021 (TBC)

Genre: Unscripted Series

Season: 1

Episodes: 8

Synopsis: From relative obscurity and a seemingly normal life, to overnight success and thrust into the Hollywood limelight overnight, the D’Amelios are faced with new challenges and opportunities they could not have imagined. Charli, who at 16 became one of the biggest celebrities with over 150 million followers combined and #1 on the TikTok platform in less than a year, has the world at her fingertips and is working to balance fame and family life with dancing, running a budding empire, making new friends in LA and battling the naysayers online. Her sister Dixie, is now 19 and experiencing her own overnight rise to fame with over 78 million followers combined, one of the fastest growing YouTube channels and ranked within the Top 10 Most Followed Creators on TikTok. Dixie is now pursuing a music career in LA. For mom Heidi and dad Marc, raising teenagers is hard enough before adding in a cross-country move, supporting their daughters’ dreams and doing the best they can to stay close as a family and protect their girls from the dark side of fame, while also trying to adjust to life in Hollywood.

KIDS PROGRAMING

TROLLS: TROLLSTOPIA

Premiere Date: June 10, 2021

Genre: Animated Series

Season: 3

Episodes: 7 (Binge)

Synopsis: The Trolls are back with nonstop fun and new friends joining the hair-raising adventures! As the Troll tribes strengthen their friendships through games like wormhole scavenger hunts and massive piñata battles, they also learn about each others’ culinary traditions in an epic Trolls-style potluck.

THE MIGHTY ONES

Premiere Date: July 1, 2021

Genre: Animated Series

Season: 2

Episodes: 10 (Binge)

Synopsis: The misadventures of “The Mighty Ones” continue as they explore their backyard wonderland and learn more about the strange creatures they share it with. A flood forces the Mighty Ones to live as pirates searching for dry land, Rocksy dabbles in a home makeover, and Very Berry makes a new feathery “friend” who may or may not see her as food. These mighty little beings are relatively fearless, a little misguided and always have each others’ backs come snow, wind or any atmospheric phenomenon that threatens the yard they call home.

The 25 Contestants I Most Want to See on the Next Season of The Challenge: All-Stars

 

The Challenge: All-Stars has been the most nostalgia fun I have had in a long time and easily the best season since Johnny Bananas started popping up every season. The cast is a great mix of people you knew would show up (Mark, Katie), people who dominated early seasons but forgot about (Jissela, Teck) and people you completely forgot about but were glad to reminded of them (Kendal, Yes).  Word is, over 100 former cast mates have contacted Mark Long (which by my best guesstimate has to be around a third of all Real World or Road Rules members), who has been trying to get a Senior Tour off the ground for those that cannot commit to seasons that take multiple months to film.  In honor of the season finale today (though supposedly there is a reunion episode next week), here are some people I hope pop up for season two or beyond (and please let there be a season two and an inevitable Old School / New School season, teams can even fight over who gets CT and stuck with Anessa).

1.   Anyone From the First Real World Season

Original Season: New York

Challenge Seasons:  Eric (3), Norm (2) Becky (1), Heather B. (1)

Seasons Won: Eric (2)

Last Seen:  The Real World Homecoming: New York

While not as entertaining as old school Challenge, it was nice to see the original seven strangers get back together in the loft, unfortunately it got a little too unreal for Becky.  But one thing missing from the first season of The Senior Tour was anyone from the original feeder show.  It Is surprising that Julie never did one of these, hopefully she is game because from the Real World Reunion, she still got it.  Plus Eric got the short stiff due to COVID so it would nice to see him actually interact with his peers.

2.   Rachel Campos / Sean Duffy

Original Season: San Francisco and Boston respectively

Challenge Seasons: 1/2

Seasons Won: 1/2

Last Seen:  The View (2014) / Congress (2019)

This duo met on the very first season of The Challenge, before it was even call The Challenge and later got married.  Sean, famous at that point for being a log-rolling champion went on to be the first elected reality star in Washington.  He has since retired so it is not like he has anything better to do than relieve the glory day; well, unless he got a job as a lobbyist like most former Congressmen.

 

3. Neil Forrester

Original Season: London

Challenge Seasons: 1

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen: Real World/Road Rules Challenge (1999)

One of the few foreigners ever cast (though would fit right in the modern era).  Provably most known for having the tip of his tongue bitten off while trying to kiss a heckler on stage.

4.  Anyone From the Original Road Rules Season (Aside from Mark)

Original Season:  The First Adventure

Challenge Seasons:  1 (Los)

Seasons Won:  1 (Los)

Last Seen: Challenge 2000 (2000)

Mark has been such a mainstay on the show it is somewhat surprising that he has appeared on the show more times that his four cast mates combined; it is just Los who appeared on one season.  Kit went on to ESPN and is now with Access Hollywood.  Can Mark persuade any of the OG OG’s to join him for the Senior Tour abbreviated schedule?  Hopefully.

 

5.   5.  Dan Renzi

Original Season:  Miami

Challenge Seasons: 3

Seasons Won: 1

Last Seen:  Inferno II (2005)

One of the great reaction generators in reality TV history (maybe second only behind Eliza of Survivor)

6.  Tim Beggy

Original Season: USA – The Second Adventure

Challenge Seasons: 4

Seasons Won: 1

Last Seen:  Inferno 3 (2007)

I believe Timmy was the first to ever retire on the show but there are plenty of people on this season of The Senior Tour who “retired.”  Timmy was always good for a cheesy dad joke back then; imagine how cheesy those joke will be now that he is old enough to be a dad.

7.  Genesis Moss

Original Season: Boston

Challenge Seasons: 2

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Battle of the Sexes (2005)

My first favorite lesbian.  Boston is also one of the rare seasons where each housemate went on to do at least one season of The Challenge.

8.  Tara McDaniel

Original Season: Northern Trail

Challenge Seasons:  1

Seasons Won; 0

Last Seen:  Battle of the Seasons (2002)

One of the surprises of first season was long forgotten one timer Kendal ended up being one of the stars of this season, maybe another of the Miz’s fling can have that sort of resurgence.

9.  Stephen Williams

Original Season:  Seattle

Challenge Seasons:  1

Seasons Won; 0

Last Seen:  Battle of the Seasons (2002)

Boning and then confessing your love to a producer would have been the most controversial moment of most seasons, but that moment just happened on the same season as Stephen running down Irene’s cab and slapping her as she left the show.  Stephen did this because Irene called him a homosexual.  A decade later, Stephen announced he was engaged to a dude.

10.  Susie Meister

Original Season:  Down Under

Challenge Seasons:  5

Seasons Won:  3

Last Seen:  Spring Break Challenge (2010)

This one is a big question mark since Susie has since written some dispersing remarks about the show and MTV and Viacom at large really have not cleaned up their act (the latest seasons of Are You the One for misconduct) but hopefully the more mature vibe of The Senior Tour can convince one of the most visible member of the first decade to return.

11.  Veronica Portillo

Original Season:  Semester at Sea

Challenge Seasons:  12

Seasons Won:  3

Last Seen:  Final Reckoning (2018)

One of the most surprising omissions of the first season with the third most seasons under her belt of the female.  She even showed up for three seasons in the past five years.  It has to be only a matter of time before we see her.

12.  Julie Stoffer

Original Season:  New Orleans

Challenge Seasons; 5

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  The Gauntlet 2 (2006)

Long before The Book of Mormon or one became a presidential nominee, Julie was America’s favorite Mormon.  And this was even after she almost murdered Veronica by messing with her harness while going between two buildings.

13.  David Broom

Original Season:  New Orleans

Challenge Seasons: 2

Seasons Won: 0

Last Seen:  The Gauntlet (2004)

New Orleans another rare season where everyone did at least one season of The Challenge and really most would be worthy of returning.  They should just bring David back to record the Theme Song.

14.  Theo Von

Original Season: Maximum Velocity Tour

Challenge Seasons: 4

Seasons Won: 2

Last Seen:  Last Comic Standing (2006)

Theo went on to a comedy career and has not looked back.  Maybe the shorter season could entice him back.

15.  Coral Smith

Original Season: Back to New York

Challenge Seasons:  6

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  The Gauntlet (2004)

Along with Veronica, the most shocking omission of The Senior Tour.  So many great Coral moments.

16.  Rachel Robinson

Original Season: Campus Crawl

Challenge Seasons:  7

Challenge Wins:  2

Last Seen:  Battle of the Exes (2012)

Another early mainstay who was conspicuously absent from the Senior Tour.  Though there were two of her cast mates (Darrell and Kendal) and three from the Real World Season that year (Arissa, Alton, Trishelle).  Pretty strong year for MTV that year.

17.  Tina Barta

Original Season: South Pacific

Challenge Season:  5

Seasons Won: 0

Last Seen:  Cutthroat (2010)

Reportedly Tina came down with the COVID which is why she was not on the Senior Tour.  She was last seen as a ringer for an elimination that is best known for CT wearing Johnny as a backpack.  The last time she was an official cast member was 2006’s The Duel.

18.  Cara Zavaleta

Original Season:  South Pacific

Challenge Seasons:  3

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  Inferno III (2007)

After Road Rules, Cara went on to be a Miss November 2004 and still came back for three seasons of The Challenge.

19.  Adam King

Original Season:  Paris

Challenge Seasons:  6

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Rivals (2011)

Most memorable by getting punched by CT while wearing a onesie.  But that relationship came full circle in his last season where he teamed up with CT.

20.  Casey Cooper

Original Season:  Fresh Meat

Challenge Seasons: 4

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  The Ruins (2009)

Only three seasons, but Casey was pretty memorable for being one of the least athletic contestants ever but still managed to get third place in her first season and was eliminated right before the final on her last.  Sadly she was reportedly an alternative for this season but was sent home.  Hopefully that puts her first in line for the second one.

21.  Jenn Grijalva

Original Season: Denver

Challenge Seasons:  6

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Rivals (2011)

Honestly, I most want to see her return just because Bill Simmons and David Jacoby (who coined calling The Challenge the fifth major American sport) are obsessed she spelled her name with two “N’s.”

22.  Brooke LaBarbera

Original Season:  2

Seasons Won: 0

Last Seen:  The Duel II (2008)

One of my favorite Real Worlder of all time who unfortunately did not have the greatest runs of The Challenge (out on episode three both times).  I would just like an update.

23.  Tori Hall

Original Season: Viewers Revenge

Challenge Seasons:  3

Seasons Won:  2

Last Seen:  Cutthroat (2010)

Most famous for marrying Brad, baring two of his before divorcing him.  Brad returned to the Challenge and hooking up with one of the trashier contestants for all the world to see.  Weirdly Tori kept on showing up on spoiler cast list for a couple seasons straight and now I kind of want to see her again.

24.  Nany González

Original Season:  Las Vegas (2011)

Challenge Seasons:  10

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Double Agents (2021)

My favorite Challengers of all time.  Maybe my favorite reality star ever.  But she just made it to the finals for the second time in ten tries and the person she started her Real World career with, LeRoy just “retired.”  It has been a decade Nany, it is time to go to the Senior Tour.   There she would have been the same age as Jemmye who I believe was the youngest this season.

25.  Frank Sweeney

Original Season:  San Diego (2011)

Challenge Seasons:  3

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  Free Agents (2014)

Frank had a memorable confrontation with Nany in their first season which made it seem that the series would have two very strong contestants for the second decade.  Unfortunately Frank disappeared after three seasons.  But I will always remember the time he started streaming how he would not made to look crazy on television while looking crazy on television.  Maybe that is why he went M.I.A.

 

Honorable mentions to David (Los Angeles) and Puck (San Francisco), Camilla (Spring Break Challenge), I am not sure they would bring back people who got banned, but maybe they will now that they are older and wiser.   Also The Miz (Back to New York), Jacinda (London), David Giuntoli (South Pacific), Jamie Chung (San Diego) who are probably all to busy even to take a couple weeks off for the show.  One more honorable mention to Tonya who will likely never go on the show again for… various reasons.

The Five Most Anticipated New Shows of 2021-22

 

I waited a week to release my Fall Television schedule after most of the networks released theirs to wait for The CW except none of their new shows made my Most Anticipated list and I will be watching nothing on their fall schedule.    Though, is it wring that I am more interested the live action Powerpuff Girls show after the head of the CW called it a mess?  I kind of want to start a #ReleaseThePowerCut movement.  As for shows that actually made my list, well, it is only comedies.  Really, this season is almost as dreadful as last one, but at least the networks last year could blame the pandemic.  I really do not have much to say about any of these other that they look mostly watchable.  Hopefully the streaming services offer something better this fall.  Hulu is premiering two new shows in late August, Nine Perfect Strangers and Only Murders in the Building, which should trickle into fall.

 

1.       1,  Ghosts (Thursdays at 9:00 on CBS)

2.       2.  Maggie  (Midseason ABC)

3.       3,  Abbott Elementary (Midseason ABC)

4.       4.  Smallwood (Midseason CBS)

5.       5.  The Wonder Years (Wednesdays At 8:30 on ABC)

 

Here is my complete network fall schedule: 

 

Mondays

8:00 – The Neighborhood (CBS)

 

Tuesdays

Nothing

 

Wednesdays

8:00 – Survivor (CBS)

8:00 – The Goldbergs (ABC)

8:30 – The Wonder Years (ABC)  

 

Thursdays

9:00 – Ghosts (CBS)

9:30 – B Positive (CBS)

 

Fridays

8:00 – The Blacklist (NBC)

 

Sundays

Nothing, wow, this schedule is really dreadful.

57 Channels and Only This is On: May 23, 2021

 

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist:  Well that was a clunky way to end the season.  Wasn’t the main reason Max was going to New York was to franchise his restaurant idea.  Sure, breaking up with Rose hurts the living situation but he does have family in the city.  And just what changed in Max’s mind from when he was singing a sexy duet with her earlier this season and later signing a song with Rose’s name in it (or well he would have song that song had Zoey’s powers not been glitching), or just singing about having a New York state of mind to the final scene?  Rose telling him he looked distracted was all he needed.  That was about as forced as Zoey just learning Max gave up his offer for her when the brogrammers were have definitely had brought that up much earlier.  But I guess all that is fine if that final scene means we get more Zoey singing and dancing next season (please let there be a next season).

 

The Nevers:  I wonder if the writers sat down after five episodes and said, sure this show is confusing, but how about we make it more confusing.  Seriously, what the fork was that?

 

Fear the Walking Dead:  There have been almost twenty seasons of this franchise and it is surprising this is the first time they have done a death cult.  I do like that there is a cop hunting down the leader and has done so since before outbreak.

 

Good Girls:  So is the gangbanger just going to kill the cop?  What about the daughter?

 

Mare of Easttown:  Oh no, not Ralph Bohner.  Granted I already saw one person in the past year get shot in the head and survive.  Since that dude is dead, I guess that can put to rest the theory that the kidnapper and the killer are the same person.  Hopefully the murderer turns out to be actually someone we have met before.

 

City on a Hill:  The past finally caught up to Jackie… or did it?  Despite being recommended for termination and tossing his badge into the bay, it did leave the door open for an appeal with Decoursey as a key witness.  But this did also seem like it could serve as a series finale.  Jackie finally got his comeuppance, Decoursey got justice for his dead, unborn child (but did not leave him completely fulfilled), Siobhan found a new purpose in life, and Cathy Ryan is also starting a new life in Florida.  But that last one seemed like a rushed conclusion to her storyline.  She just shoots a dude that I am not entirely sure who they were and bolts.   But if this is the series finale so be it, it never seemed to come completely together and Showtime already has a show devoted to two alpha males going at it and sometime teaming up.

 

Debris:  Oh yeah, the evil dude is still around.  I completely forgot about him.  But that was a pretty wild plan.

 

Cruel Summer: Well there goes my theory that Jeanette’s mom was in the crazy bin in 1995, it certainty seemed like she was just heading that way.  Instead she just had a career change.  But it was weird when she was surprised when Angela suggested she left her husband.   Seemed that way to me.  Then weird she just left it at that ad did not explain what her point of view was.  But I guess I need a new theory and this week got me thinking, just why is Angela there?  I now think she has ties to Martin, maybe the ex-girlfriend he spoke of this week.  Could Angela be Annabelle?

 

Big Sky:  If these evil doers can make the sex trafficker just disappear, why didn’t they make him disappear when he went on the run?  Sure, he had to call them, but if they can easily find him and break him out of custody, surely they could have found him before that.  But the good guys were just as dumb.  Of course it was a trap.  How about bring more fire power that the sheriff, the FBI guy, and two PI’s?  This show is so stupid.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale:  I would have been so mad had June been caught by Gilead yet again.  But now she is finally in Canada, reunited with her husband and child with a different dude.  At what point that she had a rom-com moment on the bridge with that baby daddy who also happens to be a higher up in Gilead?  That should be a fun conversation. And does June visit the Waterford’s in Canadian prison?

 

The Challenge: All-Stars:  Surprising the cut two people right off the bat and then did not eliminate any of the other ten contestants in the subsequent checkpoint.  But who would have guess Jonna would get the first two first places?  I guess it helps that you can pick your partner first if you are fist to finish.  But they do need to trim some fat soon.  Ten finalists is a bit much.

 

Manifest:  Okay, I am surprisingly enjoying this silly Single White Female story line and how the two family members who were not on 828 could be jeopardizing the Life Boat by ostracizing the new chick.

 

The Blacklist:  Poor Lizzie, lost her entire team and her sister.  Maybe this crusade against Red was a bad decision.  And does she now need to team up with Red to bring down the guy who hired the hitman?  Oh the irony.

 

Around the Tubes: May 22, 2021

            

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Nine Perfect Strangers, Only Murders in the Building, Hip Hop 50, The End, McCartney 3,2,1., Lord Huron, Almost Famous, Glass Animals, BET Presents The Encore, The Warning, Carpenters, The D’Amelio Show, Immigrant.

- This week, as part of the Disney/Hulu Upfront, Hulu announced premiere dates for upcoming original tentpole series “Nine Perfect Strangers” and “Only Murders in the Building.” Both Hulu Original series will debut this August.

- SHOWTIME today announced HIP HOP 50, a multiyear, cross-platform programming initiative celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Hip Hop in collaboration with entertainment company Mass Appeal. HIP HOP 50 will encompass unscripted series and features, podcasts and digital shorts by and about some of the foremost names in the genre, driven by Mass Appeal partner Nasir “Nas” Jones and Mass Appeal Chief Creative Officer and partner Sacha Jenkins, writer, director and producer of the Emmy^® and Peabody-nominated SHOWTIME series WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN. HIP HOP 50 programming will begin airing later this year on SHOWTIME, running over the next three years and culminating with the 50^th anniversary of the genre in 2023.

- SHOWTIME announced today that the new half-hour dark comedy series THE END, starring Emmy^® nominee Harriet Walter (Succession, The Crown, Killing Eve) and Frances O’Connor (The Missing, Mansfield Park), will premiere with two episodes airing back-to-back beginning Sunday, July 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Produced by See-Saw Films, the 10-part series is a co-production between Sky UK and Foxtel Australia, and was created and written by Samantha Strauss and directed by Jessica M. Thompson and Jonathan Brough.

- Hulu announced the Original documentary series “McCartney 3,2,1.”  The six-episode music series event features intimate and revealing examinations of musical history from two living legends, Paul McCartney and super producer Rick Rubin, and hails from Endeavor Content. The series is executive produced by McCartney, Rubin, Scott Rodger, Peter Berg, Matthew Goldberg, Brandon Carroll, Jeff Pollack, Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern with Leila Mattimore serving as co-executive producer. All six episodes of “McCartney 3,2,1” premiere Friday, July 16, on Hulu.  

- Whispering Pines Studios is finally open for all y’all to visit from far and wide…  Lord Huron proudly present their anxiously awaited fourth full-length album, LONG LOST, out now via Whispering Pines Studios Inc./Republic Records. Get Long Lost HERE.  With the record loose upon the world, the boys hit the television circuit. Tonight, they are set to deliver an unforgettable performance on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon performing “I Lied” with Allison Ponthier and tomorrow morning, they take the stage at CBS This Morning: Saturday for a performance not to be missed.

- "Look under your bed—it'll set you free."  With those enticingly enigmatic words, an empathetic, hip older sister bequeaths to her hyper-smart but nerdy 11-year-old brother her Rosetta Stone to life in the late-'60s: a prized trove of expertly curated rock, pop, and folk albums that set into chaotic motion young William Miller's eye- ear- and mind-opening journey in director Cameron Crowe's quasi-autobiographical 2000 ode to rock 'n' roll fandom, Almost Famous.  Two decades later, the Oscar/BAFTA/Golden Globe Award-winning film remains one of the sweetest love letters to the genre, one that deftly captured the look, the sound, the feel, the attitude of what rock 'n' roll meant to its creators, its most fervent adherents, its hangers-on and its worried parents during a golden era of pop music. The movie's legacy is celebrated with the first-ever release of all the music that so powerfully fueled Crowe's story, based on his own power chord-driven odyssey from wide-eyed music-loving kid to respected rock journalist to celebrated filmmaker.

- Glass Animals share a collaboration with fast-rising UK popstar Bree Runway on their huge track “Space Ghost Coast To Coast,” taken from their acclaimed third album Dreamland released last year—listen HERE.  Hot on the heels of their endearingly trippy video for “Space Ghost Coast To Coast” released last week—watch HERE—Glass Animals have also been experiencing a huge global rise in support on their single “Heat Waves,” with the original track now surpassing 530 million streams, and the band recently released a version of “Heat Waves” featuring iann dior—listen HERE.

- BET brings together nine of the most memorable solo artists and girl groups from the 1990s and 2000s to form the ultimate R&B supergroup in the new original series, “BET Presents The Encore.” Shamari DeVoe, Irish Grinstead, LeMisha Grinstead, Nivea Nash, Felisha King, Fallon King, Pamela Long, Aubrey O’ Day, and Kiely Williams have signed on to the one-of-a-kind music experiment to become the next big musical sensation. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, these talented singers turned wives, moms, and entrepreneurs, will move in together, write new music, learn choreography, record an album, and put on a live performance. The catch? The songstresses must achieve this in only 30 days, with none of them knowing who their bandmates will be ahead of time. Faced with fun twists and unforeseen constraints, the ladies will need to stretch beyond their musical and personal comfort zones to succeed as a team. An esteemed roster of music industry experts will drop in each week to prepare them for their big debut and deliver a chart-topping record, including music producer Kosine, choreographer Aliya Janell, songwriter Elijah Blake, and vocal coach Cynnamyn.  Will their artistic differences or egos get in the way of forming a group? Or will these powerhouse women show the world that they still have what it takes to make a major comeback? Only time, and the music, will tell.  “BET Presents The Encore” premieres Wednesday, June 9 at 10 PM ET/PT on BET and BET Her. 

- After amassing 65 million-plus views and over 10 million streams independently, the Monterrey Mexico hard rock trio of sisters The Warning unleash a new single entitled “CHOKE” today via LAVA/Republic Records.  Listen to “CHOKE”—HERE and watch the official music video for the track HERE.  On the single “CHOKE” and working with legendary rock producer David Bendeth (Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon, Breaking Benjamin) the band said: “CHOKE is a song about drowning in your feelings and coming to terms with them. Recording it with David Bendeth (while in quarantine!) was an incredible experience and he really worked with us to bring the song to life.”

- The definitive biography of one of the most enduring and endeared recording artists in history—the Carpenters—will be told for the first time from the perspective of Richard Carpenter, through more than 100 hours of exclusive interviews and some 200 photographs from Richard’s personal archive, many never published. CARPENTERS: THE MUSICAL LEGACY is coming to bookstores on October 19th. Pre-order your copy of CARPENTERS: THE MUSICAL LEGACY today, HERE:

- Get ready to get social with “The D’Amelio Show” in our first look teaser!  From relative obscurity and a seemingly normal life, to overnight success and thrust into the Hollywood limelight overnight, the D’Amelios are faced with new challenges and opportunities they could not have imagined. Charli, who at 16 became one of the biggest celebrities with over 150 million followers combined and #1 on the TikTok platform in less than a year, has the world at her fingertips and is working to balance fame and family, life with dancing, running a budding empire, making new friends in LA and battling the naysayers online. Her sister Dixie, is now 19 and experiencing her own overnight rise to fame with over 78 million followers combined, one of the fastest growing YouTube channels and ranked within the Top 10 Most Followed Creators on TikTok. Dixie is now pursuing a music career in LA. For mom Heidi and dad Marc, raising teenagers is hard enough before adding in a cross-country move, supporting their daughters’ dreams and doing the best they can to stay close as a family and protect their girls from the dark side of fame, while also trying to adjust to life in Hollywood. 

- Hulu has picked up “Immigrant” straight-to-series. The 8-episode, limited series hails from “Pam & Tommy” creator Robert Siegel and star/executive producer Kumail Nanjiani.  “Immigrant” is the true story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee (played by Nanjiani), the Indian-American entrepreneur who started Chippendales. The series will detail the insane, darkly comedic, crime-ridden story behind the unique male revue that became a cultural phenomenon.  The series is written by Robert Siegel and executive produced by Siegel, Nanjiani, Dylan Sellers and Emily V. Gordon as well as Rajiv Joseph and Mehar Sethi who will also write on the series. 

Previewing The Chi: Season Four

 

There was a shocking end to the third season of The Chi.  After rescuing Keisha from her abductor, Ronnie was rewarded with a bullet to his head, a delayed payback from murdering Coogie back in the first season.  That original season was about how the lives of four black men at different stages of their development on the south side of Chicago intersected.  Now half of them are dead.

 

Now there are just Emmett and Kevin left on the show.  But their lives have intertwines with plenty of other Chicagoans in the ensuing seasons to pick up the slack of those that were lost.  Kevin, along with his two best friends Jake and Papa, have grown from boys to almost men.  Jake has two surrogate fathers in his life now, his real life brother who showed up after his other brother died and Douda, a gangsta turned politician, granted what is really the difference?  Emmett finally married his baby momma, except before that happened, he hooked up with his business partner who is now dating his father.  That is some Jerry Springer shirt right there.

 

The third season starts off with a montage set to one of the greatest song ever put on wax.  Well, it is part montage, part promo because all of it turns out to be scenes of what is to come this season as the montage culminates with something very huge happening followed by a “One Month Earlier” title card.  Unfortunately what follows is a very clunky Black Lives Matter plot and a lot of heavy hand scenes that seems like they were added because the writers felt obligated to include it since it was such a big story in the lives of black people in between seasons.  Personally, I would much rather spend time watching Papa record his new podcast.

 

The Chi airs Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.