Around the Tubes: June 19, 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 This Way Up, American Rust, Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James, Carrie Underwood, Lord Huron, Nonah Kahan, Styx, American Giglio, and UFO.

- 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?  This Way Up season two on Hulu July 9, 2021

- SHOWTIME will premiere its new drama series AMERICAN RUST, starring Emmy winner and Tony nominee Jeff Daniels (THE COMEY RULE, The Newsroom, Godless, The Looming Tower) and Emmy nominee Maura Tierney (YOUR HONOR, THE AFFAIR, The Report, Beautiful Boy), on Sunday, September 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The season will consist of nine episodes.

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced the new documentary feature BITCHIN’: THE SOUND AND FURY OF RICK JAMES, directed by Emmy^®-nominee Sacha Jenkins (WU-TANG CLAN: OF MICS AND MEN, BURN MOTHERF*CKER, BURN!). BITCHIN’ is an intimate yet propulsive look at Rick James, one of rock, funk and R&B’s most legendary and often underappreciated figures. The film will have a World Premiere at the Tribeca Festival tonight as part of the festival’s inaugural Juneteenth programming slate, ahead of the SHOWTIME premiere later this year.  Featuring rare footage of James’ incredible live shows, never-before-seen home video, original interviews with legendary artists, collaborators and friends, and a treasure trove of recorded interviews with James (who died in 2004), the documentary presents a full picture of James’ dramatic rise and fall, focusing in on the “Punk-Funk” music he left behind.

 

 

- Seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner and three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year Carrie Underwood has recorded her first-ever gospel LIVE performance DVD, My Savior: LIVE From The Ryman. The DVD will be released internationally on July 23 by Gaither Music Group in partnership with Capitol Records Nashville with distribution by Capitol Christian Music Group/Universal. Filmed at the celebrated Ryman Auditorium, known around the world as “The Mother Church of Country Music,” the country music superstar brings her best-selling, critically-acclaimed studio album My Savior (Capitol Records Nashville) to life on that legendary stage with breathtaking performances of traditional gospel hymns Underwood grew up singing such as “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.”

- Lord Huron continue to celebrate the release of their latest album, Long Lost, by bringing “Mine Forever” to the stage on The Late Late Show with James Corden – watch the performance HERE.  Upon release, Long Lost captured #1 on The Americana/Folk Album and Tastemaker Albums Chart, #2 on Vinyl Albums & Alternative Albums chart, #3 Top Rock Albums Chart, #4 Top Album Sales Chart and #23 on the Billboard 200 chart.

- Hot off the heels of the release of his latest single, “Part of Me,” Noah Kahan announces his highly-anticipated sophomore album, I Was / I Am, will be released on September 17^th. I Was / I Am is available for pre-order now HERE.  The critically acclaimed Vermont singer and songwriter took two years of milestones and transformed them into I Was / I Am, alongside his Busyhead collaborator and Grammy Award-winning producer Joel Little (Taylor Swift, Lorde, Shawn Mendes, Jonas Brothers, Khalid) and engineer Mark Rankin. Preserving his commitment to vivid lyricism, Noah crafted the new music with faster tempos and sweeping hooks, recharging his overall vision.

- A new era of hope, survival, and prosperity is here with the release of CRASH OF THE CROWN, STYX’s new studio album, which was written pre-pandemic and recorded during the trying times of the pandemic.  The legendary rockers--James “JY” Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals)--released their 17^th album today on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which is available as clear vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and on digital platformsand at Styxworld.com.  They’ve already released two singles from the new album:  the title track which premiered exclusively during Eddie Trunk’s “Trunk Nation” program on SiriusXM Satellite Radio last month, and “Reveries” which dropped June 4.

- SHOWTIME has picked up the drama series AMERICAN GIGOLO, starring Jon Bernthal (Ford v Ferrari, The Walking Dead) and written and directed by Emmy nominee David Hollander (RAY DONOVAN). Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the original film, will executive produce along with Jonathan Littman and KristieAnne Reed. Bernthal also serves as a producer. The project is a production of Paramount Television Studios. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine and Jana Winograde, Presidents of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.  AMERICAN GIGOLO is a present-day reimagining of the iconic 1980 film. Bernthal will play Julian Kaye, who is introduced 15 years after he's been arrested for murder and struggling to find his footing in the modern-day Los Angeles sex industry, while seeking the truth about the set-up that sent him to prison all those years ago and also hoping to reconnect with Michelle, his one true love, played by Gretchen Mol (Boardwalk Empire).

- SHOWTIME announced it will air UFO, a four-part docu-series from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Glen Zipper exploring our fascination with unidentified flying objects, and what clandestine influence the American government, lucrative private companies and the military may have in shielding the truth behind extraterrestrial phenomena to further their own agendas. Directed by Mark Monroe (Icarus) and Paul Crowder (Riding Giants), the series explores unsettling theories of a subject that recently reached national headlines, and has historically been the focus of powerful politicians and CEOs, while average citizens pursuing the very same truth have been ridiculed and ostracized. The series is a co-production by Bad Robot and Zipper Bros Films. SHOWTIME will release all four episodes of the new series UFO to its subscribers at midnight on Sunday, August 8, prior to its on-air debut that night at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 13, 2021

 

Fear the Walking Dead:  I never thought they were going to launch the nukes because what happens to this and the other shows if America becomes a nuclear wasteland.  But he did still get one rocket off with ten warheads.  Um, so now what?  Are they just going to be duds what have been sitting around too long?  I thought maybe Morgan would be able to redirect them to the ocean, but it looks like he will not try.  But one thing I do not understand about the madman’s plan, if he was directing the missiles on himself, who was going to let Alicia out of her bomb shelter if it is locked from the outside?

 

The Chi:  So they are going to defund the police and replace them with an untrained (unpaid?) community outreach?  Yeah, they deserved to be mocked for that.  But I wonder if by the end of the season, they “solved” policing a city without actual realize they are needed.  Like most things, the real answers lies somewhere in between the two extremes that the loudest voices propose.  It will be interesting to see where the writers lie.  But some angry white cop has to be on the top of the who killed the mayor power ranking.  But that would be as bad as the writers thinking they can solve policing if the shooter is not a major or at the very least recurring character.

 

Black Monday:  Wait, is Blair able to shoot people threw a television?  Not that kind of show but I think he may become the prime suspect.  Ironically I thought the preacher was the prime suspect of Blair’s shooting.  The same person had to do both shootings, but who?  Now I am beginning to think maybe Blair’s shooting was supposed to miss so maybe Tiffany.  But can she easily get on the preacher’s jet to do the shooting?  Maybe her partner, who is the preacher’s daughter.

 

Cruel Summer:  Well, that was crappy.  The Laid montage did not help it out either.  But on the eve of the finale, I have a few predictions: Annabelle is the gun Kate shoots Martin with, that is the gunshot we heard back in episode one and Joy was able to get the police to cover it up.  Kate saw Mallory dressed at Jeanette.  And Angela knew Martin and he was the reason she moved to town to find out the truth of his death.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale:  I predicted that the Waterford’s would be out of prison by the end of the season, I just did not think it would take this long.  Halfway through the episode, I thought he was going to get released in exchange for Hannah, but he does not even have to help with her release he just gets let go on the promise of information.  But what I do not understand is how the US dude was able to get his release if Fred is being tried in Canada. 

 

Manifest:  So Cal is Olive’s age now because he touched the tailfin?  Where did he go and age five years?  I vaguely remember the airplane flew back in time for a couple seconds and returned in the future.  Did Cal go back in time, hang out for five years and was somehow transported right back to the same time.  But why did nothing happen to his dad?  But at least the Single White Female remains stupidly entertaining.  Chick just straight up murdered someone because she thought the baby was her guardian angel. 

Around the Tubes: June 12, 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 The One and Only Dick Gregory, Broken Diamonds, Pete Lee: Tall, Dark, and Pleasant, Desus and Mero, Clairo, Eric Clapton, Evie Irie, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Billions. 

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY, the directorial debut from producer Andre Gaines (The Lady and The Dale, Bill Nye: Science Guy). The documentary feature unpacks the career of Dick Gregory, the activist, pop-culture icon and thought leader who changed the lives of millions across the world through constant disruption and awareness. The film will have a World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday, June 19 as part of the festival’s inaugural Juneteenth programming slate, ahead of the SHOWTIME premiere on Sunday, July 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. 

- Broken Diamonds: Debuts on Cable VOD + In Theaters on July 23rd and On Demand August 23rd.  In the wake of his father’s death, a twenty-something writer (Ben Platt, DEAR EVAN HANSEN) sees his dream of moving to Paris put in jeopardy when he’s forced to temporarily take in his wildly unpredictable, mentally ill sister (Lola Kirke, MISTRESS AMERICA). From Black Label Media, the producing team behind LA LA LAND. 

- Pete Lee takes the stage in his first SHOWTIME comedy special, PETE LEE: TALL, DARK, AND PLEASANT, premiering on Friday, July 9 at  9 p.m. ET/PT. Filmed at the Tempe Improv in Arizona, this special dives into Lee’s outrageous struggles with people pleasing, relationships, sex, drugs and motion-sensor sinks. In this hour-long special directed by Brian Volk-Weiss, Lee hilariously educates us on why it sucks to be a nice guy and how he hates conflict, unless the person he’s talking to likes it – then he of course does too. To watch and share the trailer from PETE LEE: TALL, DARK, AND PLEASANT, go to: https://youtu.be/O_aeQf9DEMU.

- SHOWTIME has announced that DESUS & MERO will mark its return to a revamped studio when it resumes new episodes beginning Sunday, June 20 with guest Lil Nas X. The show has been filmed remotely from the hosts’ own homes since March 2020. Currently in its third season, DESUS & MERO will continue to air weekly on Sunday and Thursday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT from New York City on SHOWTIME. Each episode of DESUS & MERO, which won a WGA Award earlier this year, features co-hosts Desus Nice and The Kid Mero giving their take on the day’s hot topics and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more, with past guests including President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, YoYo Ma, Missy Elliott, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Eddie Murphy, Demi Lovato and David Letterman.

- Clairo revealed her new single, “Blouse,” as well as the news of her forthcoming sophomore studio album, Sling, will see its global release on July 16^th via FADER Label/Republic Records– Pre-save/add/order HERE.   Written and recorded in up-state New York at Allaire Studios, Sling was co-produced by Clairo and Golden Globe/GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Jack Antonoff and was announced last night following Clairo’s live performance of “Blouse” on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Watch the stunning performance HERE.

- This summer sees the Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Eric Clapton’s eponymous first solo album, originally released in August 1970. It is being issued on 4CD and 1LP (standard black) formats and will also be released digitally. The album launched June 9, with the release of two tracks: After Midnight (Delaney Bramlett Mix) & Blues Power (Eric Clapton Mix).  The album represents one of rock history’s most successful reinventions. After emerging as one of the seminal guitar heroes of the ’60s, the English superstar decisively re-established his musical priorities with Eric Clapton. It marked Clapton’s transition from flamboyant instrumental icon to well-rounded recording artist, downplaying sonic pyrotechnics in favour of a song-focused ensemble approach that would lay the groundwork for his massively successful solo career. For the occasion, he surrounded himself with a new cast of American musicians, tapping into a rootsy musical foundation that provided an inspired framework for his talents. This Anniversary Deluxe Edition presents Eric Clapton – Eric Clapton in three separate mixes:  The Eric Clapton Mix, The Delaney Bramlett Mix and The Tom Dowd Mix (The UK Version). The Eric Clapton mix is being released in full for the first time. This anniversary collection also includes some singles, alternate versions and session outtakes.  Pre-order link:  https://EricClapton.lnk.to/4CD

- Evie Irie unveils her new single “The Idea Of You” today via Republic Records. Listen to “The Idea Of You”— HERE. Watch the lyric visualizer for “The Idea Of You”— HERE.  After returning to her home town of Sydney from LA during 2020, Evie Irie has been channeling her pop punk dreams in to songwriting with some of Australia’s most progressive producers. “The Idea Of You” is a 90s power punk throwback, with visuals to match. Evie’s vocal range showcases the reason she’s been heralded as one of the great new vocalists, and this new single sets us up for an exciting era with this teenage pop wunderkind.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members, The Oak Ridge Boys’ new album Front Porch Singin’ is available now from Lightning Rod/Thirty Tigers. This is the group’s fourth collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb. The highly anticipated album has been featured in People.com, Entertainment Tonight, Newsmax, Wide Open Country, Taste of Country, Cowboys & Indians, and an in-depth interview for The 700 Club. Front Porch Singin’ is available to stream and download on all digital services today!  To watch The Oak Ridge Boys Interview with The 700 Club, visit HERE.

- SHOWTIME announced today that season five of the hit drama series BILLIONS, starring Oscar^® nominee and Emmy^® winner Paul Giamatti and Emmy winner Damian Lewis, will return on Sunday, September 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT with five new episodes. For fans looking to catch up, the season five premiere episode of BILLIONS is now available for free on YouTube, Showtime.com and Sho.com, as well as across multiple SHOWTIME partner platforms. All episodes are available to stream for subscribers on SHOWTIME and across all SHOWTIME partner platforms. BILLIONS has been renewed for season six, which will premiere early next year.

Summer 2021 TV Schedule

 

Some spring shows still have an episode or two left, but Summer television kicks into high gear with the premiere of Loki today.  Interestingly this will be the first Disney Ploose show to debut on a day that is not Friday.  I wonder if going forward we will be getting Marvel shows on Wednesday and Star Wars shows stay on Fridays because we are getting close to the place where they will likely start airing concurrently.

 

Wednesday was the day when Disney’s other streaming service, Hulu, released their weekly shows, and 9 Perfect Strangers will come out that day, but later in the summer, they are releasing Only Murders in the Building on Tuesdays.  Then there will be two FX on Hulu shows airing on Mondays while two others will premiere on Thursdays.  It is nice that it looks like they are spreading things out so we do not have to cram everything in on weekends.  Now if only they would release the episodes in prime time so we do not have to wake up early to watch so we do not have to spend all say avoiding spoilers.  I have a Sophie’s Choice for the next two weeks as what to watch in the morning on Wednesdays: Loki, Cruel Summer, or The Handmaid’s Tale (all a part of the Disney cooperate family).

 

Speaking of FX on Hulu, one of those shows will be Y: The Last Man which I long ago dubbed the Chinese Democracy of television.  We will see if it actually does come out.  Hopefully it will be more worth the wait than the Guns ‘n’ Roses album was.  Here is everything else I will be watching while trying to stay cool.

 

 Mondays

Reservations Dogs (FX on Hulu, August 9)

Y: The Last Man (FX on Hulu, September 13)

 

Tuesdays

Only Murders in the Building (Hulu, August 31)

8:00 – DC’s Stargirl (The CW, August 10)

9:00 – Supergirl (The CW, August 24)

  

Wednesdays

Loki (Disney Plus, June 9)

Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu, August 18)

9:00 – In the Dark (The CW, June 23)

10:00 – The Bold Type (Freeform, already started)

 

Thursdays

Behind the Music (Paramount+, July 29)

Grown-ish (Freeform, July 8)

8:00 - Brooklyn 99 (NBC, August 12)

10;00 -What We Do in the Shadows (FX, September, 2)

Fridays

The Olympics (NBC, July 23)

 

Sundays

7:00 – A Discovery of Witches (AMC, June 27)

9:00 - The Chi (Showtime, already started)

9:00 – Kevin Can Fork Himself (AMC, June 20)

9:00 - The White Lotus – (HBO, July 11)

9:00 - Wellington Paranormal (The CW/HBO Max, July 11)

9:00 – The Walking Dead (AMC, August 22)

10:00 - Black Monday (Showtime, already started)

10:30 - Flatbush Misdemeanors (Showtime, already started)

57 Channels and Only This is On: June 6, 2021

 

 Mare of Easttown:  Well that suffered from one too twists.  Not to mention really obvious when the case gets solved with almost an hour left there is another one coming.  Sad thing is, the fake ending made more sense than the real one.  So the old dude waited until his very nice pizza slicer and Eagles Championship Cup went missing to mention someone stole his gun the very night someone was murdered and was returned sans two bullets?  That and the ex-boyfriend threatening the friend at gunpoint which went nowhere the next episode kind of puts a damper on a strong season.

 

Cruel Summer:  Aww, nineties technology.  Martin rewound the tape multiple times and it took until the third one for me to finally see Kate in the window… I think, maybe it was Annabelle.  But kind of a stupid reveal of what happened to the football player that the he blamed Jeanette for.  Unless that was not it?  The bartender said they do not employ people with a record.  I thought maybe he was going to take the fall for Jamie, claiming he was driving since Jamie was drunk, but that did not happen.  Maybe she did something that helped him get that record.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale:  Um, so why after daily protests, were the Waterford’s met with cheers all of the sudden?  Were people that happy Gilead was producing children that they could forgive all the rape and slavery?  But poor One Eyed Willie, back under the thumb of Aunt Lydia. 

 

The Challenge: All-Stars:  Pretty lame they only invited the finalist (but Beth instead of Aneesa for some reason).  I understand we are still in a pandemic, but at least let people come in via Zoom.  It is a shame as much as Kendal and Alton got mentioned; they could not defend or explain themselves.

 

The Blacklist:  Aw, man.  They brought back the cage only for Red to steal it.  But were they implying at the end that the woman that Red killed was not actually Lizzy’s mom?  

Around the Tubes: June 5, 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 Sublime, Olivia Rodrigo, The Beach Boys, Nelly Furtado, Joy Oladokun, bülow, 3 Doors Down, Quincy Jones, Paris Jackson, Glass Animals, The L Word: Generation Q, River City Drumbeat, Baker's Dozen, and City on a Hill.

 

- Southern California’s reggae-punk pioneers Sublime are celebrating the 25^th anniversary of their iconic self-titled album that spawned timeless hits like “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and “Wrong Way.” Fans can expect numerous special releases, events and new merch to celebrate the 25^th anniversary, including a virtual plaque ceremony to commemorate over 18 million in album consumption in the U.S. according to MRC, limited-edition AleSmith Sublime Mexican Lager cans, a graphic novel by Z2 Comics called SUBLIME: $5 At the Door, new music videos for “Garden Grove” and “Pawn Shop” and much more.

- Vevo, the world’s leading music video network, today released multi-platinum, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s short film as part of her LIFT series, shot on film. The visual, available to watch HERE, follows Rodrigo’s songwriting process, what creating music has taught her, and her incredible career development over the years. Vevo recently announced Olivia as their first LIFT artist of 2021 and unveiled live performances of her songs “deja vu” and “favorite crime,” both also shot on film, off her debut album, SOUR - out now on Geffen Records.

- In honor of 50 years of The Beach Boys’ timeless and often underappreciated albums, Capitol/UMe will release an expansive 5CD and digital box set titled Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971 on July 30 that chronicles and explores in depth this metamorphic and highly influential 1969-1971 period of the band’s legendary career. Assembled by Mark Linett and Alan Boyd, the team behind 2013’s GRAMMY® Award-winning SMiLE Sessions, the expansive collection features newly remastered versions of Sunflower and Surf’s Up and boasts 135 tracks, including 108 previously unreleased tracks, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the album sessions.  Pre-order Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971.  Stream/embed “Big Sur”

- When Grammy® winning singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado released Loose, her third studio album, the nightlife anthem for summer 2006 quickly proved to be the third track, “Promiscuous” feat. Timbaland. The breezy, worldly pop that initially defined Furtado expanded to include an empowering self-assuredness across so many genres that she reinvented what it means to be a pop star. Today, IGA/UMe marks the 15^th anniversary of a career milestone with Loose (Expanded Edition), a digital reissue with an additional 12 rare remixes and bonus tracks, many previously unavailable on streaming services.  Available now, HERE, Loose (Expanded Edition) further illuminates the attitude, vibe and creativity that captured the hearts of fans and critics alike. Among the rarities and bonus material on Loose are a version of “Do It” feat. Missy Elliott, Spanish versions of “All Good Things (Come To An End),” “In God’s Hands” and “Te Busque” feat. Juanes, plus several remixed tracks.

- Emerging singer, songwriter, and musician Joy Oladokun’s highly anticipated major label debut album, in defense of my own happiness, is out today via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. Stream/purchase HERE.  With in defense of my own happiness, Oladokun is forging 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.  Already receiving widespread acclaim, the new record builds on a breakout year for Oladokun and features 14 tracks including “breathe again” and “sunday,” as well as special collaborations with Maren Morris (“Bigger Man”), Jensen McRae (“wish you the best”) and Penny & Sparrow (“heaven from here”). 

- Today, alternative pop singer and songwriter bülow unveils a new single entitled “Revolver.” Listen to “Revolver” HERE via Republic Records and Universal Music Canada.  Regarding the track, she shared, “I want people to feel empowered listening to it. You are as powerful as you want to be. I don’t wake up every day feeling my most confident self. No one does. I struggle with finding my footing and falling into a state of confidence every day where what people say or do doesn’t affect me. It’s something I work on every day, but I know that when I am that and I believe it, I’m not afraid of fucking up/falling on my face. That’s how I want to live. And that’s what I want people to feel when listening to ‘Revolver’.

- 3 Doors Down will be celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of their debut album "The Better Life" this summer by hitting major markets in amphitheaters across the US for The Better Life 20^th Anniversary Tour. "Kryptonite," which launched their career, has become a juggernaut hit across the globe that generations now sing. 2020 marked the 20^th Anniversary of their debut, and for the first time ever, the band will play The Better Life in its entirety, front to back, along with the rest of their hits on The Better Life 20^th Anniversary Tour. Produced by Live Nation, tickets for the tour will be available HERE. 

- In 1981, Quincy Jones released The Dude, a monumental pop-soul album created with a stellar cast of vocalists, studio musicians, and songwriters. Today, IGA (A&M) / Urban Legends is pleased to announce the 40th anniversary reissue of The Dude; available for pre-order now and available June 11, 2021. Featuring bold yellow vinyl with red/orange splatter, the limited edition 40th anniversary reissue also boasts a lithograph of the iconic album art, a gatefold jacket with foil finish, and newly remastered audio. A standard edition single LP is also available, featuring a tip-on gatefold jacket and newly remastered audio.  The Dude was a commercial success, spending 81 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaking at number three. It spawned three top 40 singles, including "One Hundred Ways" with James Ingram, which went on to become Jones' single biggest hit as a solo artist. The Latin-inspired dance number "Ai No Corrida" and tender ballad "Just Once" also charted in the U.S., while the horn-driven "Razzamatazz" achieved Jones' highest U.K. chart rank as a solo artist. Quincy Jones was awarded Producer of the Year at the 1981 Grammys. The Dude was nominated for five Grammys, ultimately winning three: Best Instrumental Arrangement, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Instrumental Arrangement (Accompanying Vocalists). 

- Paris Jackson surprises fans with the release of a new song “adagio” featuring Manchester Orchestra. Listen to “adagio”—HERE.  The track unfolds as a simmering psychedelic slow burn. Embers of distortion glow underneath Paris’s hypnotic delivery as she locks into an unbreakable groove with Manchester Orchestra. Clocking in at just shy of seven minutes, the track culminates on a moment of empowering and entrancing catharsis. Once again, she illuminates the scope of her sweeping and soaring vision. The accompanying music video brings this emotional push-and-pull to life in vivid fashion as well.

- As parts of the US welcome the first heat wave of the summer, Glass Animals continue to make waves across the globe, having recently performed at the Billboard Music Awards (watch here), released the formidable ‘Space Ghost Coast To Coast’ featuring Bree Runway, collaborated with cult Peanut Butter brand Jackpot to raise money for Music Venues Trust, announced their upcoming Good Morning America Summer Concert Series performance on July 20^th, hit #15 at Top 40 radio and today, the critically acclaimed British band drop the remix of ‘Tokyo Drifting’ with Oliver Malcolm.

-In celebration of its highly anticipated season two premiere, THE L WORD: GENERATION Q will return with its first new episode on Friday, August 6, available on streaming and on-demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, August 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Each new episode of the second season will be available on Fridays to stream via on-demand. The first five episodes of season two will air Sunday nights, with the final five episodes of the season airing Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT up until its October 11 season finale.

- This summer River City Drumbeat will be available from PBS and its local stations beginning June 18, 2021.  Check your local PBS station for scheduling and broadcast dates/times.  The film will also be available on PBS platforms for streaming, including the PBS app, PBS.org, and PBS Distribution digital streaming services and providers. The critically-acclaimed River City Drumbeat is a powerful, immersive story of music, love, and legacies, as told by the members of a Black youth drum corps in Louisville, Kentucky. When the founder Edward “Nardie” White steps down, a young alum, Albert Shumake, whose life was saved by the drumline rises to mentor the next generation. Meanwhile, student drummers Imani, Jailen, and Emily navigate adolescence and life changes.

- Do they have what it takes? We are excited to announce that "Baker's Dozen," the newest baking competition that pits passionate amateur bakers against seasoned professionals, will join Hulu’s unscripted slate! Hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley and former White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, contestants will go head-to-head in an effort to take home the golden rolling pin and cash prize.  Passionate amateur bakers will go head-to-head with seasoned professionals in each episode of “Baker’s Dozen”.  Join hosts Tamera Mowry-Housley (FOX’s “The Masked Singer,” Hallmark’s “Home & Family” and Hallmark’s “Christmas Comes Twice”) and Bill Yosses (Author and former White House Pastry Chef) for this fast-paced competition series that will determine the best baker of all! Which of the 13 bakers has what it takes to create the next viral baking sensation, win the golden rolling pin and take home the cash prize?

- SHOWTIME has picked up a third season of its acclaimed Boston crime drama CITY ON A HILL. Starring Emmy nominee Kevin Bacon and Screen Actors Guild^® award winner Aldis Hodge, season three will be eight one-hour episodes and is set to resume production in New York later this year to premiere in 2022. CITY ON A HILL is executive produced by multiple Emmy winner Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street), who also serves as showrunner. The announcement was made today by Gary Levine and Jana Winograde, Presidents of Entertainment, Showtime Networks.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: May 30, 2021

 

 Fear the Walking Dead:  I have no recollection of the guy from the stadium.  I barely remember the stadium other than it was overrun by zombies and Alicia’s mom scarified herself to save everyone. Not that it matters now because they are all dead.  But at least we finally found out what that key was to, just a nuclear warhead. 

 

Mare of Easttown:  So we have a murder confession (albeit, kind of coerced) and seemingly who the father is (though I think it is the other brother, not the one that confess) but that begs the question, what was in the journal that the friend saved and why did the boyfriend threaten to kill her if he was not the one to kill Erin?

 

Debris:  Oh well, it was canceled.  Was never that compelling to begin with.  Now I do not have to wrap my head around the pod or why the dad turned heel for no apparent reason.

 

Cruel Summer:  The show has a lot of trigger warning, but I really needed one for all the pronged fed printers.  Those scenes gave me bad PTSD from the time in college where mine stopped working properly the night before I had a paper due and had to force feed the paper sometime past midnight to get it printed.  But we learned who left the “Liar” letter.  Gotta be nice to be buy a new printer when the old one jams rich.  But the brother had no problem printing out reams of pages while in the shower (who had a shower in their dorm room?) though does that change much?  It does not seem like that would be admissible in court.

 

The Handmaid’s Tale:  The American dude is acting weird; it was almost as if he wants Serena to work with Fred.  Could he be double agent?  I just feel like they are going to somehow get set free sometime before the end of the season.  I wonder if June will end up using her to get her other daughter back.  Now that she is free, there really is not that left for the show to do but that.

 

The Bold Type:  Well that ended badly.  It was almost like the writers took a hard left after the criticism of Kat sleeping with the Republican.  I wonder if that is the last we see of her.

 

The Challenge: All-Stars:  Well that was pretty anti-climactic when the two points leaders jumped out to a big lead in the last leg of the finale.  But I have big beef with the official fantacy league. I had the second and both third place finishers on my team and yet the only points I got were from Mark who did not even place.  I was doing pretty well until the finale.

 

The Blacklist:  So Lizzie had yet another chance to kill Red and failed.  Meh.  And now she has to work with him to bring down Townsend.  I am ready for this season to end.  I kind of which Lizzie could easily go back to being an agent after this.