Around the Tubes: August 26, 2023

 

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 Expend4bles, Ariana Grande, Shania Twain, Noah Kahan, Anitta, Bryan Ruby, Frawley, and Girl Named Tom.

- A new generation of stars join the world’s top action stars for an adrenaline-fueled adventure in Expend4bles. Reuniting as the team of elite mercenaries, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy Garcia. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. But new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning.   WATCH ALL THE BLOOD, GUTS, AND GLORY IN THE NEW RED BAND TRAILER FOR “EXPEND4BLES” 

- Grammy winning, multi-platinum recording artist and international superstar, Ariana Grande celebrates a decade of her multi-platinum chart-topping full-length debut, Yours Truly, with the digital release of Yours Truly Deluxe Edition out now via Republic Records.  Listen to Yours Truly Digital Deluxe Edition HERE.  A special Yours Truly Deluxe Vinyl Edition will be available for preorder on Monday, August 28.  For the first time, she notably expanded the original LP with six new live performance tracks.  These six Live From London performances include Yours Truly-era staples. Alongside the digital release, Grande shared performance videos of “Honeymoon Avenue” and “Daydreamin’”.

- Shania Twain releases multiple expanded U.S. and International Diamond Editions of her all-time classic third studio album, November 1997’s Come On Over via Mercury/UMe. Come On Over is the record that confirmed Twain’s status as an international crossover-format superstar, having been certified as being both the top-selling country album and the highest-selling album by a female artist of all time. In celebration of this benchmark album’s 25th anniversary and its accumulation of over 40 million-plus in global album sales, both the U.S. and International versions of Come On Over have been remastered from the original tapes for the first time ever.  Come On Over will be released in the following formats: 3CD Super Deluxe, 3LP Super Deluxe, 3LP International Super Deluxe, 2LP Deluxe, 2CD Deluxe, and Digital.  2LP Deluxe Retail Exclusives will also be available in the U.S.  All versions of Come On Over can be ordered HERE.

- This week, critically acclaimed Vermont singer and songwriter Noah Kahan’s latest single “Dial Drunk” reached #1 on AAA Radio Chart. This achievement heralds Kahan’s second #1 at the format, following “Stick Season”’s peak last fall. Not to mention, “Dial Drunk” is currently charting across four radio formats—sitting at #6 at Alternative, #23 at Top 40, and #32 at Hot AC.  The breakout artist continues his much-talked-about, sold-out “Stick Season Tour” this fall, which has sold nearly half a million tickets worldwide. Kahan will be performing his second sold-out show at New York’s iconic Radio City Music Hall on August 31st, as well as at upcoming festivals including Iron Blossom Music Festival, Ocean’s Calling, and Austin City Limits. Due to overwhelming demand, he recently announced he will be returning to the UK and Europe next spring as part of the “We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour.” The dates, which immediately sold-out upon on-sale, include two nights at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on February 14th & 15th, Paris’ L’Olympia on February 17th, Berlin’s Columbiahalle on February 21st, and more. See the full list of upcoming 2023-2024 tour dates at noahkahan.com/tour/.

-  Last week, global superstar Anitta dropped her three-song bundle Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story to critical acclaim and fanfare. Today, she has released the third and final music video to complete the visual trilogy.  Watch “Used To Be” HERE

 

- Nashville-based Country Music artist Bryan Ruby just dropped a lively cover of John Fogerty’s classic baseball anthem, “Centerfield.” The new version is available for streaming and download HERE.  “Centerfield” was released by John Fogerty, who also penned the song, in March 1985 as the B-side of “Rock and Roll Girls.” It was also the title track of Fogerty’s comeback album about a decade after leaving Creedence Clearwater Revival. A track that combined two of his passions, baseball and rock and roll, the song has been a fixture at baseball parks everywhere, played during team breaks and in between innings. Even the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York is known for playing it. The song also garnered a 1985 Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

- Practically breaking TikTok with just a snippet, rising New Jersey-born and Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter Frawley serves up her anxiously awaited new single “Figure You Out” available now via Republic Records/More Than Friends.  Listen to “Figure You Out”: HERE.  Frawley initially teased the confessional and catchy anthem on TikTok, and it has amassed a staggering 43 million-plus views in addition to inspiring over 14K videos. Under the glow of neon synths and powered up by a dancefloor-ready beat, the track spotlights her open-hearted lyrics. Right out of the gate, she sighs, “Probably think I’m on psycho shit, sent you 23 messages.” On the hook, she wonders, “If you really want me, why the hell aren’t you here right now? Oh boy, it’s getting hard trying to figure you out. I can never figure you out.” 

- Following a history-making turn as “the first group to win NBC’s The Voice” during Season 21, buzzing sibling pop trio Girl Named Tom return with a brand new single entitled “What A View” out now via Republic Records.  Listen to “What A View” HERE.  Watch the Music Video HERE.  The track’s breezy guitar and danceable grooves underline upbeat verses as the harmonies careen towards a captivating chorus. No matter how fast the days go by, the song serves as a reminder to enjoy the moment and treasure the magic around us. It fittingly culminates on the optimistic observation, “Life is flashing by but what a view.”

View From The Peak - Everything Coming to Paramount+ in September

 

September brings a wealth of shows and films to Paramount+. Next month, the hit BBC comedy series Dreaming Whilst Black* makes its U.S. debut on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and tells the story of an aspiring filmmaker who takes the first step to achieving his dream. Football fans have a lot to cheer about when the NFL and Big Ten Conference seasons kick off in September. And big changes are in store for the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos when Star Trek: Lower Decks returns for its fourth season. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Paramount+ in September, check out the latest edition of View from the Peak. PEAK STREAMING Josh Duhamel in Buddy Games   Once regarded as a summertime diversion, reality programming is now a year-round phenomenon with dramatic reveals and provocative eliminations driving high engagement for each episode as soon as it drops. The genre is more popular than ever and in Q2 we saw a 29 percent increase year over year in active subscriber households watching reality content. In fact, reality is one of the most popular genres on the service with one out of four of subscribers watching at least one reality show. A new unscripted series joining the Paramount+ lineup, which includes popular and long-running CBS hits such as Big Brother, Survivor and The Challenge, is Buddy Games. Inspired by the movie franchise of the same name, the show is hosted by Buddy Games actor Josh Duhamel and pits six teams of close friends against one another in a nostalgic lakeside summer camp adventure. Team up for summer fun when Buddy Games streams on Paramount+ on September 14. GET A SNEAK PEAK OF BUDDY GAMES BEHIND THE STREAMS Kemi Adekoya-Lofinmakin and Adjani Salmon in Dreaming Whilst Black   Next month, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can stream Dreaming Whilst Black, a series based on creator, executive producer, writer and star Adjani Salmon’s life as a filmmaker. Already creating buzz in the UK, the show employs dream sequences as a comedic device, in which Salmon's character Kwabena fantasizes how he'd like to react to the racial microaggressions and uncomfortable situations he experiences on a daily basis at work and in other public settings.  “The essence of the entire show centers on portraying the Black professional experiences,” said director Koby Adom. “The dream sequences illustrate ideal responses and instinctive reactions when confronting adversity, while transitioning back to reality reveals how most of us typically respond to the overwhelming weight of oppression.” “What often makes situations uncomfortable, whether they are racial or otherwise, is that they can catch you off guard, and our behavior doesn't always align with our intentions,” said producer Nicola Gregory. “The dream sequences serve a dual purpose: to create comedic or dramatic effects and to illustrate how Kwabena envisions himself ideally, in contrast to his current self.” The dream sequences also allowed the filmmakers to help shift the viewer’s mood and comfort level. “It was about knowing when to allow the story to breathe in order to land the drama and when to pace it up in order to land the comedy,” said director Joelle Mae David. “I am all for audiences feeling an array of emotions, not just joy.” Dreaming Whilst Black may inspire you to follow your own dream when it premieres on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan on September 8. WATCH THE TRAILER HIGH SCORE NFL players Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes This September, Paramount+ kicks off an incredible football season with NFL and Big Ten games streaming live on the service. The NFL on CBS begins its 2023 season in September with Paramount+ as the streaming destination for Super Bowl LVIII from Las Vegas in February. Paramount+ subscribers will be able to stream NFL on CBS live local market games across the 18-week regular season, featuring marquee matchups, Thanksgiving and Christmas games, and a full postseason slate, including the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVIII. To celebrate the new season, Paramount+ has a special offer for football fans: a 12 month subscription for only $2.50 per month. The offer was highlighted by NFL on CBS lead analyst Tony Romo and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in this recent campaign. The Big Ten on CBS will also feature seven games streaming on Paramount+ in 2023, with an opening weekend highlighted by two Big Ten match-ups as Ohio State plays Indiana on September 2, followed by Northwestern visiting Rutgers on September 3. Watch Big Ten on CBS beginning September 2 and the NFL on CBS season beginning September 10. IN THE SPOTLIGHT Ensigns Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells) and Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) in Star Trek: Lower Decks   Star Trek: Lower Decks has the unique distinction of focusing its attention on the more junior members of the crew. This season the “Warp Core Four” face their biggest challenge yet: getting promoted. During production earlier this year, the series leads shared what these promotions mean for each of their characters. Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner “She tries to give this promotion back 80 times, which I can understand. She does accept it because she realizes she can still do her thing; she can still do some good; she can still be a little chaotic. She believes ‘I’m still a lower decker; I’m still a scrappy underdog.” Jack Quaid as Brad Boimler “I love that the Lower Deckers got promoted. Boimler has his first away mission that he is leading, and he is nervous, to say the least. He doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. He eventually must learn to trust his friends and trust the process.” Noël Wells as D'Vana Tendi “Tendi is very excited about being promoted. She’s come to Starfleet with this hope of being assimilated but, secretly, she’s finding this well of power within herself. Being promoted is a natural extension of all the hard work she is doing.” Eugene Cordero as Sam Rutherford “I think Rutherford has a fear of moving up or advancing too fast. I think he’d be worried to move to a different ship or be placed in a different world where he would have to give orders. That’s an issue they’re all having, but I think Rutherford would have the toughest time.” Join the crew of Starfleet’s best “Second Contact” ship when Star Trek: Lower Decks premieres September 7. WATCH THE TRAILER DID YOU KNOW? Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, and Paramount+ is celebrating with One Mountain. Una Familia. This special collection highlights shows and films that showcase Hispanic stories and cultures, including At Midnight, Bosé, The Envoys, Frida, El Norte and Alternatino; and blockbuster titles with Hispanic leads, such as Special Ops: Lioness, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Scream VI and more. The SHOWTIME docuseries Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court premieres on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME on September 22. Emmy-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter traces the modern history of the Supreme Court and the people, decisions and confirmation battles that have shaped America. The four-part series reveals how the Supreme Court’s ideological balance has shifted over the years to reflect the hopes – and fears – of American citizens, exploring the interconnectedness between the Court’s and the nation’s future. In 1983, six armed men stole £26m worth of gold in London and their crime inadvertently gave birth to the phenomenon of large-scale international money laundering. Next month, the international drama series The Gold makes its debut on the service to tell this extraordinary and epic true crime story for the first time, in its entirety. BROWSE THE ONE MOUNTAIN. UNA FAMILIA. COLLECTION ★  BACK TO TOP  ★ STREAMING SOON ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES, PREMIERES 9/7: Star Trek: Lower Decks (Season 4) premiere 9/8: Dreaming Whilst Black premiere* 9/12: Football Must Go On premiere 9/13: MTV Video Music Awards 9/17: The Gold premiere 9/18: Superpower premiere 9/22: Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court premiere* 9/26: 72 Seconds premiere LIBRARY SHOWS September 6 RENO 911! (Season 7) The Naked Brothers Band (Seasons 1-3) September 7 NFL Slimetime (Season 3) September 13 America in Black (Season 1) September 14 Buddy Games (Season 1)** September 16 48 Hours (Season 36)** September 17 60 Minutes (Season 56)** September 19 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) (Seasons 1-2) September 20 Average Joe (Season 1) Ice Airport Alaska (Seasons 2-3) It's Pony (Season 2) The Surreal Life (2022) (Season 1) September 27 ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks (Season 5) Survivor (Season 45)** The Amazing Race (Season 35)** LIBRARY MOVIES September 1 10 Cloverfield Lane 54 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Abandon* Afflicted American Gigolo American History X* American Hustle Amores Perros An Unfinished Life Angel Heart Annihilation Arrival Asylum Baby Boom* Bad News Bears Beastly Below Beneath Blazing Saddles* Bless the Child* Blue Chips Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 Breakdown Captive State* Carriers Cheech & Chong's Still Smokin' Children of a Lesser God* Cocktail Curandero Cursed Days of Thunder Death On the Nile (1978) Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Dragonslayer Eddie Murphy: Raw El Norte Elf Event Horizon* Forrest Gump Fresh Frida Ghost Team One God's Petting You* Good Mourning* Hamlet (2000)* Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Hard Candy* Hecho en México How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Hugo I Married a Monster from Outer Space In Too Deep Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5 Unrated Jeff, Who Lives at Home Ladybugs* Let's Scare Jessica to Death Like Water for Chocolate Long Shot Married to the Mob* Memories of Me* Mimic Mimic 2 Mimic 3: Sentinel Mother! Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Nacho Libre Nick of Time On the Edge* Overlord Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Phantoms Primal Fear Prophecy River's Edge* Road House* Road to Perdition Schindler's List* Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse Seven Psychopaths Sherlock Gnomes Some Kind of Hero* Stand and Deliver* Stardust Striptease* Summer Rental Super 8 Surviving Christmas Teaching Mrs. Tingle* Terminator 2: Judgment Day Terminator Genisys The Back-up Plan The Best Offer* The Big Lebowski* The Blair Witch Project The Brady Bunch Movie The Brothers Grimm The Cutting Edge* The Devil Inside The Dictator The Fighting Temptations* The First Wives Club The Hole The Hunt for Red October* The Last Exorcism Part II The Last Samurai The Longest Yard The Loved Ones The Mighty* The Monster Squad The Prophecy The Prophecy 3: The Ascent The Prophecy II The Prophecy: Forsaken The Prophecy: Uprising The Reckoning The Ruins The Spiderwick Chronicles The Talented Mr. Ripley The Three Amigos The Virgin Suicides* The Woman in Black The Woods* The Wrath of Becky* The Yards* Thief* To Catch a Thief Twisted Up in Smoke Witchboard II: The Devil’s Doorway World Trade Center* World War Z World War Z (Extended Domestic Cut) September 4 Mafia Mamma* September 9 Basic Instinct 2* September 14 Buddy Games: Spring Awakening September 15 The End of Sex* September 20 Cursed Friends Pet Sematary (2019) SPORTS 9/2: Campeonato Brasileirão Série A – Botafogo vs. Flamengo  9/2: CBS Sports Confidential – Big Ten Football 2023 9/2: Big Ten on CBS – Ohio State @ Indiana 9/2: College Football on CBS – Texas Tech @ Wyoming 9/3: Big Ten on CBS – Northwestern @ Rutgers  9/3: College Football on CBS – Oregon State @ San Jose State 9/3: Serie A – AC Milan vs. Inter Milan  9/3: Serie A – Lazio vs Napoli 9/9: NWSL Challenge Cup Final 9/9: Big Ten on CBS – UNLV @ Michigan  9/9: College Football on CBS – UCLA @ San Diego State 9/10: NFL ON CBS Week 1 Doubleheader (check local listings)  9/16: Oracle Los Angeles Sail Gran Prix 9/16: PGA TOUR Originals: One Shot Away 9/16: SEC on CBS – South Carolina @ Georgia 9/16: NWSL –  Portland Thorns FC vs. OL Reign  9/17: NFL ON CBS Week 2 Doubleheader (check local listings) 9/18: Serie A – AC Milan vs. Napoli 9/19-9/20: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1 9/21: UEFA Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1 9/21: UEFA Europa Conference League Group Stage Matchday 1 9/23: 2023 American Cornhole League World Championship Final 9/23: SEC on CBS 9/23: Big Ten on CBS – Iowa @ Penn State 9/24: NFL ON CBS Week 3 (check local listings) 9/24: Professional Bull Riding Camping World Teams Series 9/30: We Need to Talk 9/30: France Sail Grand Prix 9/30: SEC on CBS Throughout September: NWSL competition Throughout September: Italian Serie A competition Throughout September: Concacaf Nations League qualifiers Throughout September: Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol competition Throughout September: Campeonato Brasileirão Série A competition Throughout September: Scottish Professional Football League competition Throughout September: Combate Global competition * Title is available to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers. **All Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can live stream CBS titles via the live feed on Paramount+. Those titles will be available on-demand to all subscribers the day after they air live. Dates for library titles are subject to change.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: August 20, 2023

 

The Chi:  In this week’s instalment of should I know who these people are: should I know who those first two people at the party are?  I vaguely remember who the guy who sat at the bar was, but am not entirely how he fit into the story.  Thankfully the guy who did not pick up Keisha the night she was kidnapped said that upfront, because I would not have known that if he did not.  But is this the first time all the characters were in the same place at the same time?  But I think we need to keep track of the Chekov’s Gun that was given as a housewarming present.  I have a feeling I know who will be on a receiving end (the kingpin), but the list of who could shoot it is very long.

 

Billions:  So Chuck ended the last season in jail and has his job back by episode two because of a pair of cowboy boot?  That is pretty absurd even by television standards.  I am guessing it will take a little longer to get Axe Cap back together.  Then I have to imagine the whole bassoon thing was inspired by Only Murders in the Building.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  Ben Glenroy's apartment may have been more wild than the stalkers. Then Death Rattle Dazzle is really coming together nicely, or at the very least coming together hilariously.

But my two main suspects after the first two episodes look a little less guilty this week. The brother looked broken up even when no one was watching (that he knew of). Then Flobert (that is my official name for him going forward unless Mabel comes up with a better one) seemed to help Mabel in her investigation... but then again, Jan did help too.

I do have a sinking suspicion than Kimber was not the only one to lose her hankie.

 

Justified: City Primeval:  Oh no, Sweetie is dead… oh well.  But what happened to the gun?  But this has to be the point where the lawyer turns on him.  But who is the mole in the police department?  The black dude is pretty laissez faire but it is probably the lady cop.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Why were trey trying to make Paulie seem sympathetic?  Good riddance.  If only both went home.  But it is nice to see the hot chick alliance take full control of this game.  It will be interesting as to what Johnny does.  Seems most likely that he goes to go to Blue.  But does he go full spite and send Cory to Red Flag or does he try to make a Vet majority and send one of the non-Vets packing like Chris?  That would be Johnny, Cory, Fessie, and Tori against Cassidy, Seabass, and the Alyssa’s.  Tori could definably get Seabass to switch in that situation.  But can the Alyssa’s keep Cory on their side in that situation.