View From the Peak - Everything Coming to Paramount+ in November 2023

 

This November Paramount+ is serving up a feast of entertainment for every member of the household for which to be thankful. We have a double serving of series that feature quirky couples in newly premiering Colin From Accounts and The Curse. History buffs will love the chance to dig into the rich story of the Wild West’s first Black U.S. deputy marshal in Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Sports fans will enjoy an incredible spread of pro and college football games over the holiday week, and fast food is on the menu with the premiere of the nostalgic Paramount+ original film Good Burger 2. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Paramount+ in November, check out the latest edition of View From the Peak. IN THE SPOTLIGHT David Oyelowo and Lauren Banks in Lawmen: Bass Reeves   In November, Lawmen: Bass Reeves joins the elite collection of Paramount+ Original Series set in the Wild West. Created for television by executive producer, writer and showrunner Chad Feehan and executive produced by Taylor Sheridan and series lead David Oyelowo, the show tells the gripping story of U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves (Oyelowo), famed for apprehending more than 3,000 outlaws during his time. We sat down with Feehan to get his insights into the creation of the series. Not enough Americans know about Bass Reeves, the first Black U.S. deputy marshal west of the Mississippi; what attracted you to telling this story? I was attracted by the triumph of his spirit. Bass Reeves was a real-life superhero, who overcame unimaginable circumstances and dedicated his life to justice and equality in a lawless region of American history. I’m honored and humbled to be a part of the team that celebrates Bass’ legacy. Expanding on that, can you talk about how important it was to authentically depict the diversity of Texas during this time period? Our series begins with enslavement and carries through Reconstruction to the first cruel whispers of Jim Crow. During this time, Texas, the Indian Territory and Arkansas were home to multiple cultures, races and creeds. Not only was it important to depict that as authentically as possible, but more so, we wanted to explore the universality of the human condition and the emotionality that connects all of us. What was it like to collaborate with David Oyelowo as you developed the series and the title character? In my opinion, television writing is a team sport. Not only does that include a wide array of voices in the writers’ room, but it also extends to historians, researchers and various experts. Our series was incredibly fortunate to rely on the likes of David as well as Sidney Thompson, Mo Brings Plenty and many others, who shepherded us into recreating an authentic picture of the American West. Without giving any spoilers, what are you most excited for audiences to see? I’m excited for our audiences to see a portrayal of Bass Reeves – the lawman, the husband and the father – as well as experience a story that’s thrilling, heroic and emotionally complex. No one is above the law when Lawmen: Bass Reeves premieres on November 5. WATCH THE TRAILER BEHIND THE STREAMS Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall in Colin From Accounts Next month, Colin From Accounts makes its streaming debut in the U.S. on Paramount+. The series follows the unconventional meet cute between Ashley (Harriet Dyer) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall), which involves an unexpected flash, a car accident and an adorable dog in need of assistance. While many rom coms tend toward the fanciful, executive producer Trent O’Donnell wanted to keep the show grounded and authentic. “It's messy and weird in a good, specific way," said O’Donnell. “I think the real strength of the show is in the real-life moments. There are so many funny, beautifully observed stories that often feel too inappropriate for a romantic comedy. They tend to play the best.” While working with the show’s human leads was a dream, their canine co-stars were another story. “There were two dogs that played Colin: Zak and Buster,” said O’Donnell. “I was a big Zak guy. Buster and I definitely clashed more.” Boy meets girl...and dog when Colin From Accounts premieres on November 9. WATCH THE TRAILER MOUNTAIN OF MOVIES Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell at New York Comic Con Welcome back to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger! After 25 years, best pals Dexter and Ed, played by comedy legends Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, have reunited and are ready to take your order in Good Burger 2. Fans of the 1997 cult-classic comedy will be thrilled to see the return of the iconic Burgermobile, a highly modified 1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible that sports a custom burger hood, hot-dog headrests, pickle hubcaps and French-fry windshield wipers. The new Burgermobile, which clocks in at more than 5,000 pounds (or 1,500 Good Burgers), recently made its first-ever appearance at New York Comic Con. Two versions of the car were made, but one comically was destroyed during filming. Dex and Ed will deliver laughs for the whole family when Good Burger 2 premieres on November 22. WATCH THE TEASER HIGH SCORE NFL players Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes Heat up those leftovers; get cozy on the couch; and settle in for an unmatched lineup of live sports on Paramount+ this Thanksgiving holiday.    The action begins on Thanksgiving Day with the NFL on CBS when the Washington Commanders take on the Dallas Cowboys. The fun will continue Sunday, November 26, with an NFL on CBS doubleheader that will feature live, local-market games.  College football fans also will be treated to a hefty helping of games during Thanksgiving weekend with a doubleheader on Black Friday. A Big Ten on CBS matchup, featuring Iowa vs. Nebraska, will kick off the day, followed by an SEC on CBS contest between Missouri and Arkansas. The SEC on CBS game of the week on Saturday, November 25, will cap the college football action. Soccer fans also will get a treat in the days after Thanksgiving when Paramount+ brings CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League studio show stateside with Destination Miami. Fans can watch UEFA Champions League Today live from Miami on November 28-29 with all 16 matches streaming live on Paramount+.  DID YOU KNOW? Emma Stone in The Curse Next month will see the premiere of The Curse*, a genre-bending series that explores how an alleged curse disturbs the relationship of a newly married couple as they try to conceive a child while co-starring in their new home-improvement show. The series stars Oscar® winner Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie.    After a long day of binging an epic Thanksgiving feast, it’s wonderful to relax with the whole family and binge great movies together until the food coma subsides. The Paramount+ movie library is filled with options for your family to enjoy including family favorites like The Loud House Thanksgiving Special for the little ones and beloved films for older family members including Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Gladiator, Catch Me If You Can, Dreamgirls, Runaway Bride, The Big Short, The Godfather trilogy*, The Lincoln Lawyer, Chicago and many more. STREAMING SOON ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVES, PREMIERES & EVENTS 11/1: Ink Master (Season 15) premiere 11/5: Lawmen: Bass Reeves premiere 11/7: De La Calle premiere 11/7: FBI True (Season 4) premiere 11/9: Colin From Accounts premiere 11/10: The Curse* premiere 11/14: JFK: What the Doctors Saw premiere 11/22: Good Burger 2 premiere LIBRARY SHOWS November 1 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (Season 2) RuPaul's Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular November 3 Let's Make a Deal Primetime** November 6 The Eternal Memory November 12 Assassin Club November 14 NCIS: Sydney (Season 1)** PAW Patrol (Season 8) Pay Or Die November 15 Basketball Wives (Season 10) The Loud House Thanksgiving Special The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist (Season 1) November 16 Ghosts UK (Season 1)** November 21 A Song Film by Kishi Bashi : Omoiyari Alive in Bronze Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney Last Song from Kabul: The Day The Music Stopped Tattoo on My Brain The ABCs of Book Banning by Grace Lin November 22 Drag Race Mexico (Season 1) The Last Cowboy (Season 3) November 28 The Billion Dollar Goal (Season 1) LIBRARY MOVIES November 1 A Boy Named Charlie Brown A Very Brady Sequel Above the Rim Aeon Flux* Alfie (2004) Along Came a Spider American Gun Ashby Bad Santa Bad Santa 2 Black Hawk Down Bloodsport* Blue Hawaii Blue Velvet* Boomerang* Bounce Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Bridget Jones's Baby Cadillac Man* Catch Me If You Can Chicago Christmas Eve City of God Cold Mountain Cool World* Detective Story Dreamgirls Easy Come, Easy Go Enemy at the Gates Everyone Says I Love You* Ferris Bueller's Day Off Footloose (2011) Forces of Nature Four Brothers Fun in Acapulco Funny Face G.I. Blues Girls! Girls! Girls! Gladiator Grumpy Old Men Happy Christmas Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Keeping Up with the Steins King Creole Kinky Boots (2005) Kiss the Girls Like a Boss (2020) Long Shot Love, Rosie Menace II Society* Mistletoe Ranch* Moonlight and Valentino My Fair Lady Mystic Pizza* No Strings Attached Paradise, Hawaiian Style Peanuts: Bon Voyage Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!!) Rabbit-Proof Fence Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown Rat Race Remember Pearl Harbor Reservoir Dogs* Roman Holiday Rosie the Riveter Roustabout Rules of Engagement Runaway Bride Sabrina (1954) Sahara Sands of Iwo Jima Santa Stole Our Dog! Saving Christmas* Saving Private Ryan Scooby-Doo (2002) Scream 4 Scrooge (1970) Shutter Island Small Time Crooks* Snake Eyes Snoopy, Come Home Staying Alive Stop-Loss Sunset Boulevard Superstar The Actors The Babysitter The Bad News Bears* (1976) The Big Short The Boy in the Striped Pajamas The Collective* The Color Purple The Counselor* The Crying Game* The English Patient The Godfather (Remastered)* The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (Remastered)* The Godfather Part II (Remastered)* The Heartbreak Kid The Kite Runner* The Lincoln Lawyer The Out-of-Towners (1999) The Out-of-Towners (1970) The Perks Of Being A Wallflower* The Romantics The Stepford Wives (2004) The Switch The Terminal The Town The Traveler The Truman Show The Uninvited The War of the Worlds (1953) The Wiz* The Woman in Red* The Wood Uncommon Valor Unfaithful* Up In The Air Virtuosity Wall Street* What Men Want What Women Want When Harry Met Sally* Wolves of War* November 9 Lucky Number Slevin Miracles Across 125th Street November 14 The Accused November 15 Dead Shot* The Crusades* November 23 Southpaw* November 27 The Lesson* November 28 Earth Mama* SPORTS 11/4: Big Ten on CBS – Ohio State @ Rutgers* 11/4: SEC on CBS – Missouri @ Georgia* 11/4: SEC on CBS – LSU @ Alabama*  11/5: NFL ON CBS Week 9 (check local listings) 11/5: Rockwool Italy Sail Grand Prix* 11/5: Barclays Women’s Super League – Arsenal vs. Manchester City 11/7-10/8: UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 11/7: UEFA Champions League – AC Milan vs. PSG 11/8: UEFA Champions League – Arsenal vs. Sevilla 11/9: UEFA Europa League – Matchday 4 11/9: UEFA Europa Conference League – Matchday 4 11/11: SEC on CBS* 11/11: 2023 NWSL Championship Game* 11/12: NFL ON CBS Week 10 (check local listings)  11/12: Courage in Sports: Grid Iron Greatness*  11/12: Serie A – Lazio vs. Roma 11/16 & 11/20: Concacaf Nations League – Costa Rica vs. Panama 11/17 & 11/21: Concacaf Nations League – Honduras vs. Mexico 11/17 & 11/21: Concacaf Nations League – Jamaica vs. Canada 11/18: WCRA Rodeo Carolina* 11/18: SEC on CBS 11/19: NFL ON CBS Week 11 Doubleheader (check local listings) 11/19: Barclays Women’s Super League – Manchester United vs. Manchester City 11/23: NFL ON CBS Thanksgiving Day – Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys 11/24: Big Ten on CBS – Iowa @ Nebraska* 11/24: SEC on CBS – Missouri @ Arkansas*  11/25: SEC on CBS* 11/26: NFL ON CBS Week 12 Doubleheader (check local listings)  11/26: Serie A – Juventus vs. Inter  11/28-11/29: UEFA Champions League – Destination Miami (Matchday 5) 11/28: UEFA Champions League – PSG vs. Newcastle United 11/29: UEFA Champions League – Real Madrid vs. Napoli  Throughout November: Italian Serie A competition Throughout November: Concacaf Nations League qualifiers Throughout November: Concacaf W Gold Cup qualifiers Throughout November: Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol competition Throughout November: Campeonato Brasileirão Série A competition Throughout November: Scottish Professional Football League competition Throughout November: Combate Global competition Throughout November: AFC Champions League competition Throughout November: Barclays Women’s Super League 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: October 22, 2023

  

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  Much like Dead City, I was not aware this was an ongoing series, though will there be much Daryl in the Book of Carol?  I just hope the zombies killed the kid.

 

Billions:  So Prince just let Taylor walk?  Seems uncharacteristic of him.  And how was Bobby let back in the US?  Wasn’t he wanted by the federal government?  But Prince has his vice president and crushed the Bobby/Chuck alliance.  Congratulation, it was a good run for the show.  Good night.  Oh, wait; there is still one more episode left?  Oh, Prince is going down.

 

Survivor:  Really, another quitter?  Someone needs to fire the casting division (get a new casting director for The Challenge why you are at it CBS).  The problem is just way too many super-fans.  The show used to look like a cross-section of American and now it looks more like a D&D convention.  What happen to all the athletes?  Beauty Queens?  Anyone over 40?  Now it is just nerds who cannot even climb a ladder or dive under a log without breaking their skull.  Probst should be embarrassed by this season.

 

Doom Patrol:  Happy Immortus Day!  You knew a musical episode of this show would not disappoint.

 

Loki:  Ultron was evil and all, but at least he did not want a physical form to fork a dude.  I am not sure if that is more or less creepy than Loki wanting to hook up with the female variant of himself.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Well, at least Chris was able to win a show without some stupid loop hole, so congrats I guess.  Dude is still boring and probably should not been cast.  Now I just need to decide, what was a funnier way for Fessy to bomb out of a final: not being able to eat gross things after blaming his partner’s bad ankle or going the wrong way because even the chicks were able to hit an axe on a target? 

Around the Tubes: October 21, 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 Faraway Downs, James Bay, The Black Crowes, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Chelsea Cutler, Noah Kahan, and Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas.

- Baz Luhrmann’s 6-chapter reimagining of his 2008 film Australia, Faraway Downs is an epic adventure that will inspire audiences.   Faraway Downs will screen on Hulu in the United States, Star+ in Latin America and on Disney+ in all other territories on November 26.  The story centers on an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) who travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset:  a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian Outback called ‘Faraway Downs’.  Following the death of her husband, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown), plots to take her land and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch.  The sweeping adventure romance is explored through the eyes of young Nullah (Brandon Walters), a bi-racial Indigenous Australian child caught up in the government's draconian racial policy now referred to as the “Stolen Generations.”  Together the trio experiences four life-altering years, a love affair between Lady Ashley and the Drover, and the unavoidable impact of World War II on Northern Australia. 

- Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Bay shares a new single entitled “All My Broken Pieces” out now via Mercury/Republic Records. Listen to “All My Broken Pieces”—HERE.  The track has a special place in James’ heart as he wrote the song with Jamie Hartman and Boots Ottestad ten years ago while he was writing his GRAMMY® Award-nominated album Chaos And The Calm (which featured the now infamous singles “Let It Go” & “Hold Back The River”). Recently when diving back into some old sessions he found the original demo and decided it was finally time to re-record the track, enlisting Gabe Simon to produce it.

- Today, world-renowned rock band The Black Crowes dropped a new mix of an unreleased recording of the Memphis soul classic song "99 Pounds," originally recorded by Ann Peebles and written by Don Bryant.  The track is just one of the 14 never-before-released recordings off the forthcoming box set of their chart-topping sophomore album, The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion, set for release on December 15 via American Recordings/UMe.  Stream/listen to “99 Pounds” HERE.   Originally from the catalogue of Memphis soul singer-songwriter Ann Peebles “99 Pounds” was originally released on Peebles' 1972 album Straight From the Heart. The Black Crowes’ cover of the admired track is a classic Rock & Roll take on a Southern Soul ballad. Listen to Chris Robinson talk about the recording of the song HERE.  Pre-Order Catch A Fire’s 50th Anniversary Editions Here

- Catch A Fire is the fifth studio album by Bob Marley and the Wailers and was the first to be released by Island Records UK. The album originally had a limited release and was credited to The Wailers. Housed in a memorable sleeve in the shape of a Zippo lighter designed by graphic artists Rod Dyer and Bob Weiner, Catch A Fire’s future versions would feature the classic portrait of Marley smoking a “spliff,”  taken by Esther Anderson. From then on, the artist credit was Bob Marley and The Wailers. After touring and recording in the UK with Johnny Nash, Nash’s departure to the United States left the Wailers without enough money to return home. They approached Island founder and producer Chris Blackwell, who advanced them the money for an album and paid their fares back to Jamaica, where they recorded Catch a Fire. The album features nine songs, two of which were written by Peter Tosh and the rest by Bob Marley. After Marley’s return to London to present the tapes to Blackwell, the producer reworked the tracks with contributions by Muscle Shoals session musician Wayne Perkins, who played guitar on two overdubbed tracks.  Marking the beginning of the anniversary celebrations will be the unearthing of the “Slave Driver” performance from the Edmonton show in 1973, available on his YouTube page. Fans can enjoy an ensemble of videos over the next few months to mark the release of the 50th-anniversary editions in November.

- To celebrate the release of her new album Stellaria out now, Platinum-Certified singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer Chelsea Cutler reveals her 2024 headline tour titled “The Beauty Is Everywhere Tour.” Kicking off in Atlanta on February 16th, the tour makes stops at iconic venues across North America throughout the spring, including New York’s Radio City Music Hall on February 23rd, Los Angeles’ The Hollywood Palladium on March 22nd, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on March 30th, and more. See the full list of tour dates below and at www.chelseacutlertour.com/.  Fans can sign-up for early access to tickets at www.chelseacutlertour.com/. The artist presale tickets along with VIP package sales begin on October 24th at 10am local time, and the local presale begins on October 26th at 10am local time. The general on-sale starts on October 27th at 10am local time.

- On the one-year anniversary of Stick Season’s original release, Noah Kahan’s critically acclaimed breakout album climbed back up to the Top 10 on Billboard’s 200 Chart, landing at #9 this week. Not to mention, this week, the beloved title track jumped to the Top 15 on Spotify’s US Top 200 Chart and #74 on the Billboard Hot 100, just in time for “stick season” to begin, and fan favorite “She Calls Me Back” made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at #76.   This week, he dropped a live performance of “Dial Drunk” from his sold-out show at Red Rocks Amphitheater earlier this summer—watch HERE

- Just in time for the holidays, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment brings home an all-new holiday miracle with Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas, a 2023 Emmy Award® Nominee for Outstanding TV Movie. Experience the magic and music with the highly anticipated holiday special featuring a powerhouse cast starring global icon Dolly Parton alongside Tom Everett Scott, Angel Parker, Mary Lane Haskell, and Ana Gasteyer. The special will also boast a lineup of talented guest stars such as Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jimmie Allen, Zach Williams, and Miley Cyrus. With a cast like this, Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas will get everyone in the holiday spirit in no time and is available to purchase Digitally now and on DVD on October 31, 2023.  A modern-day movie musical about the making of a network TV special, Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas is the frenetic backstage story and delightful on-camera results of Dolly's desire to uplift an exhausted world's spirits by sharing the unique "mountain magic" she has always found in and around Dollywood at Christmas. Throughout the movie's production numbers and rehearsal chaos, Dolly finds herself taking a private journey into her past, guided by the mysterious appearances of her personal Three Wise Men. When it's time for her big special to air live, a renewed and inspired Dolly goes rogue and shows the world that the real magic of Christmas lies in the hearts of the children we all once were, the realization that Christmas is about the people we share it with, and how her faith remains the common thread between Christmases past, present, and future..

57 Channels and Only This Is On: October 15, 2023

  

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  Oh no, they are going to kill Daryl?!?!?  Oh wait, the promo completely spoiled that he is going to get out of the predicament.  Not that I thought for a second they were going to kill off the titular character.

 

Billions:  Finally, Bobby is back.  For someone who was front and center in the poster, the guy has barely been here.  If he appears in the final two episodes, that would be just five of the twelve.  But my bigger complaint is that Prince got U2 to play at his political campaign (one of the least believable things to have ever happen on this show; and that is saying a lot) but they played Beautiful Day at the end of the episode instead of the much better End of the World.  Though that is a weird request for a political rally.

 

Quantum Leap:  So Magic no longer works for the military?  So why was he allowed back in the building?  The modern day timeline has always been really stupid.

 

Doom Patrol:  Thankfully they put out two episodes because I had absolutely no clue who Immortus was.  But then again, I was unaware that the person who played Rita in the stage production was the same person who Madame Rouge pushed into the hole.  Then it looks like we are getting a musical episode next week.  Awesome.

 

Loki:  Of all the places in time of any planet this show could have sent Sylvie, they sent her to the one place and time where she got herself one of the most hideous mullets ever.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Were they actively trying to ruin Hall Brawl?  That puzzle was so stupid if it was easier to just run back and forth ten feet and guess rather than actually solve it.  Remember when you used to get a penalty for a wrong guess?  Then the Hall Brawl aspect meant nothing, basically the first one through got maybe a half a second head start on the puzzle.  Why did anyone bother to fight in the hall is beyond me.  So stupid.  But at least Josh finally went home.  Please stop bringing him back.

Around the Tubes: October 14, 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 The Curse, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, Em Beihold, Sheryl Crow, Joy Oladokun, Chelsea Cutler, and Lauren Spencer Smith.

- In advance of the much-anticipated premiere of THE CURSE, SHOWTIME has released the official trailer and key art for the series, which will premiere on streaming and on demand for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan on Friday, November 10, before making its on-air debut on SHOWTIME on Sunday, November 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and have its world premiere tonight at the 2023 New York Film Festival on Thursday, October 12, screening the first three episodes.  Co-created and executive produced by Benny Safdie and Nathan Fielder, THE CURSE is a genre-bending series that explores how an alleged curse disturbs the relationship of a newly married couple as they try to conceive a child while co-starring in their new home-improvement show. The series stars Emma Stone (La LaLand, The Favourite), Fielder (The Rehearsal) and Safdie (Oppenheimer). Guest stars include Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi, Emmy^® nominee Corbin Bernsen and Constance Shulman.

    

- For over five decades, Jimmy Buffett has transported listeners to easy living paradises through his music. His passion for travel and good-time escapism continues in a pair of new singles from his upcoming album Equal Strain On All Parts [Mailboat Records, distributed by Sun Records], due November 3. The two new tracks include a balmy version of the most Jimmy Buffett-esque song Bob Dylan ever wrote, “Mozambique,” and the rollicking original, “University of Bourbon Street,” destined to become a New Orleans Parrot Head party anthem.

- This year marks two decades since Johnny Cash passed away, but the Man in Black’s legacy endures. His hard-fought wisdom and his rich baritone have made him one of the most respected figures in post-World War II country music. He wasn’t Nashville, he wasn’t rock n’ roll, and he wasn’t honky tonk. He was simply Johnny Cash, and he first made a name for himself with a series of singles for Sun Records that the label eventually anthologized and released in 1958 as his aptly-titled sophomore album, Johnny Cash - Sings The Songs That Made Him Famous.  On October 13, 2023, Sun once again releases this career-making recording, originally issued on the label 65 years ago. Beyond a reissue, this is a ceremonial release remastered from the original tapes and exquisitely packaged with its classic artwork elegantly complemented by exclusive, tangerine orange vinyl.  Album is available for purchase and download here

- Platinum-certified critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Em Beihold meets overwhelming fan demand with the official release of her new single “Pedestal” via Moon Projects/Republic Records. Listen to “Pedestal” HERE.  Em has performed “Pedestal” live the past year and a half, most recently on tour with Lewis Capaldi, and her proper studio recording of the single is a perfect accompaniment to her first-ever headline tour announcement.

- On December 1, A&M/UMe will release Sheryl Crow’s career-making major-label debut album, August 1993’s Tuesday Night Music Club, on vinyl as part of the ongoing celebration of the album’s 30th Anniversary. Propelled by the playfully descriptive Grammy-winning No. 2 hit single “All I Wanna Do,” Tuesday Night Music Club has also been certified as 7x platinum in the United States, and it is Crow’s best-selling album to date.  Tuesday Night Music Club’s was not actually released on vinyl upon the album’s initial 1993 release. But now, this highly influential, best-selling, 11-song album properly appears as it should as a 140-gram black and also a beautiful 140-gram limited-edition sea blue vinyl with white marbling. The new 1LP set also comes in a gatefold sleeve. Bernie Grundman, who originally mastered Tuesday Night Music Club, recently used the original ½″ flat master tape to create a new master for this special 1LP edition. He then cut the lacquers for it himself at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles. (Prior to this release, a brand-new, stunning Dolby Atmos version of Tuesday Night Music Club mixed by Mills Logan was made available digitally back on July 28.)  Crow’s breakthrough album, Tuesday Night Music Club, ultimately garnered her three Grammy Awards — Best New Artist, Record of the Year (“All I Wanna Do”), and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (“All I Wanna Do”) — and it helped set in motion the trajectory of an influential and original artist who only keeps on growing with each subsequent release. Listen to Tuesday Night Music Club – 30th Anniversary Edition HERE.

- The new deluxe version of Joy Oladokun’s acclaimed album, Proof of Life, is out today via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. Stream/purchase HERE.  Alongside the album’s thirteen original tracks, the extended edition also features new songs “Black Car” and “Wild Enough,” as well as alternative versions of album tracks “Sweet Symphony” featuring Chris Stapleton, “Somehow” and “Keeping the Light On” among others. See below for complete track list.

- Platinum-Certified singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer Chelsea Cutler proudly presents her highly-anticipated third studio album, Stellaria, out now—listen HERE..  On the album, Chelsea says, “Making this album has been unequivocally the most difficult creative process I have experienced. But this album gave me a chance to experience every emotion on the spectrum. It forced me to confront questions I had previously been too afraid to ask myself, both professionally and personally. It challenged me to push myself again and again to be better than last time. It offered me moments of intense creative and collaborative joy. Perhaps most importantly, it taught me to enjoy the present, cherish the process, and get comfortable with the uncomfortable.”

- Multi-platinum singer-songwriter & global breakout star Lauren Spencer Smith shares her new song “Sad Forever” from her album, Mirror. “Sad Forever” is accompanied by her music video directorial debut, co-directed alongside Henry Arres, which showcases stunning visuals that match the tone of the beautiful ballad. In the official video, viewers see Lauren grappling with complex emotions behind the scenes of a busy and successful life. Lauren — known for her songwriting prowess and powerhouse vocals  — uses the depth and range of her voice to advocate for checking in on your mental health and encourages fans to recognize how they feel beneath the surface. Watch here and listen here.  “Sad Forever” comes shortly after Lauren released her first full length album Mirror, out via Island Records/Republic Records, to praise from NPR, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and more. She’s currently in the middle of The Mirror Tour, her 42-city global headlining tour with dozens of sold out dates across North America, Europe & the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Mirror features 15 deeply moving, personal songs that provide listeners with an autobiographical look into Lauren’s life. 

57 Challenge and Only This Is On: October 8, 2023

 

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  Not killing the dad is probably going to come back and bite Daryl.  He better hope the auntie is very persuasive.

 

Billions:  So Prince knows of the coup but we still have not gotten to the scene where he throws a chair through Wendy’s window.  I guess that comes when the alliance to bring him down actually does separate Prince from his billions.  So now Prince is bringing in a guy and Chuck is bringing in a guy… could they both actually be bringing in Bobby?  Bobby is clearly the guy Chuck is recruiting for their group, but why exactly would Prince trust Bobby at all?  But I predict that Chuck’s thumb drive gets exposed before the end of the season.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  On no, poor Sazz. Though I did predict that someone would kill her thinking it was Charles way back in season one. Finally got that right belatedly.

 

This finale was missing some hilarious reveal. First season had a drugged Charles, there was the Killer Reveal Party in the second season. I thought it was coming when Mabel mentioned it was too easy when they got the mom to confess. Instead it seemed like they went for a too dramatic reveal with the producer threatening to kill himself which just felt out of place on this show. It probably did not help that the producers were the worst part of this season.

 

But hey, we did finally get a full performance of Creatures of the Night. And I guess the nanny turned out to be the killer in the musical. I mentioned this last week, but I really hope they film a full production of Death Rattle Dazzle and put it out as a special as we wait for I have to assume will be a strike delayed fourth season.

 

Ashoka:  I have been saying all season: they should have found someone better than Erza. Looks like I have been proven right because the bum has up and left them. Now here Ahsoka and Sabine are, foreign to their world. Straight and composed, Thrawn's sermons they can do without. But I am sure they have found that everybody loves to love them when they're far, far away.

 

Quantum Leap:  Really, writers and actors were on strike, but this was the show that somehow managed to come back?  And they yadda yadda three years?  This is going to be a rough season.

 

Loki:  Well, that was confusing.  But at least there was more Pillboi and the new guy was funny.  Gotta love the duct tape bit.  But pretty ominous that one of the judges is Kaittlyn Stark’s creepy sister.

 

The Challenge: USA:   Oh, Michele, I told you that you chose unwisely last week.  But hilarious that the Goof is offering to go in himself next week.  I would love to see it.  But who can he beat at Hall Brawl.  But hey, at least it is not the throwing challenge from earlier this season.

Around the Tubes: October 7, 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 Only Murders in the Building, Black Cake, The Artful Dodger, The Circus, INXS, Nelly Furtado, Noah Kahan, and Claire Rosinkranz.

- Check out Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd performing “For the Sake of a Child” and Martin Short performing "Creatures of the Night" - songs from the in-world musical, Death Rattle Dazzle. "For the Sake of a Child" was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson ("A Strange Loop") and Oscar®, Grammy®, Tony®, and Olivier Award-winning songwriters/producers Benj Pasek & Justin Paul ("La La Land," "Dear Evan Hansen," and "The Greatest Showman"), who also wrote "Creatures of the Night."  All episodes of “Only Murders in the Building” season three are streaming now on Hulu.  FOR THE SAKE OF A CHILD: HERE; CREATURES OF THE NIGHT: HERE 

- Hulu has debuted the trailer for the upcoming Original drama series "Black Cake,"based on The New York Times best-selling novel by Charmaine Wilkerson. The series premieres with three episodes on November 1, and new episodes stream Wednesdays on Hulu.  Based on The New York Times-bestselling book by Charmaine Wilkerson, “Black Cake” is a family drama wrapped in a murder mystery with a diverse cast of characters and a global setting. The story takes place in Jamaica, Italy, Scotland, England and Southern California.  In the late 1960s, a runaway bride named Covey disappears into the surf off the coast of Jamaica and is feared drowned or a fugitive on the run for her husband’s murder. In present day California, a widow named Eleanor Bennett, loses her battle with cancer, leaving her two estranged children, Byron and Benny, a flash drive that holds previously untold stories of her journey from the Caribbean to America. These stories, narrated by Eleanor, shock her children and challenge everything they thought they knew about their family’s origin.

- Hulu has revealed the teaser and key art for the upcoming Australian Original series "The Artful Dodger," exploring the adult double life of Charles Dicken's famous prince of thieves, aka The Artful Dodger. The series, starring Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis and Maia Mitchell, premieres on Hulu Wednesday, November 29.  "The Artful Dodger" explores the adult double life of Charles Dickens’ famous prince of thieves, Jack Dawkins aka The Artful Dodger, whose fast pickpocketing fingers have turned into the skilled hands of a surgeon.

- The four-time Emmy^® nominated docuseries THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH kicks off the second half of its eighth season with the historic vote to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a revolt instigated by members of his own party. THE CIRCUS returns this Sunday, October 8 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME^® and on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME and Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan.  Hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, and Jennifer Palmieri are on Capitol Hill capturing the inside story of the takedown of the speaker of the House, a first in American history. The program also heads out on the campaign trail in Iowa and to New York City, where former president and current GOP front-runner Donald Trump created a courthouse spectacle while attending the civil fraud trial of his company.  For a preview, click HERE.

- Petrol Records, UMe, and uDiscover Music, in partnership with This Day In Music Books, release the first ever book on INXS, written by their fans, Calling All Nations – A Fan History Of INXS.   The book embodies a living history of the legendary global rock band in hardback form, as told through the stories, memories, and life-changing moments of INXS’s most passionate fans and strongest supporters.    The impetus for Calling All Nations was to allow the band’s fans to share what INXS has meant to them throughout their lives in their own words, in turn helping tell the story of one of the greatest bands of all time.  Kirk Pengilly of INXS commented, “We are thrilled to have our fans come together to tell the story of INXS in their own words.   Their support and passion have been instrumental in our success, and we are honored to have their contributions be a part of this book.   Calling All Nations is a testament to the enduring legacy of INXS, and we hope it will continue to inspire and connect fans for generations to come.”  Calling All Nations – A Fan History Of INXS is available now HERE.

- On December 1, IGA/UMe will release Nelly Furtado’s masterful dance-pop third album, June 2006’s Loose, on vinyl. Catapulted by a trio of No. 1 hits — the suggestive serve-and-volley relationship conversation “Promiscuous (Feat. Timbaland),” the percussive drive of the pleading “Say It Right,” and the sultry declarations of “Maneater” — Loose became an international sensation, having sold 12M copies globally to date.  Loose will be released in two vinyl options. The standard 2LP version comes in a gatefold sleeve and is available on standard black vinyl, while the Limited-Edition version comes in an exclusive red and white color vinyl. Engineer Dennis “Roc” Jones recently used the original master files to create a truly special 2LP edition of Loose. Preorder or Listen to Loose HERE

- Noah Kahan shares a brand new version of his fan favorite track “She Calls Me Back” now featuring multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and superstar Kacey Musgraves. Listen to “She Calls Me Back” with Kacey Musgraves HERE!  Adding a new verse and perspective to the song, Kacey sings a conversational back-and-forth with the breakout Vermont singer and songwriter over a buoyant guitar riff and head-nodding beat. She sings, “You love me, and I don’t know why. I only call you once a week,” as he counters on the hook, “Everything’s alright when she calls me back.” The track unites two of music’s most authentic and vivid storytellers on one undeniable anthem.

- Inviting audiences into her world, 19-year-old Southern California singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Claire Rosinkranz proudly presents her highly anticipated debut album Just Because out now via slowplay/Republic Records—listen HERE!  Claire wrote and recorded the album with producers Afterhrs, Paul Phamous, Stint, Elie Rizk, and her most frequent collaborator and executive producer Ragnar Rosinkranz.  Just Because etches together a coming-of-age story documented in real-time from the frontlines of growing up. On the focus track “Swinging At The Stars,” glassy harmonies give way to a bouncy beat as Claire recounts a series of memories depicting a short-lived romance. On the song, she says, “‘Swinging at the Stars’ is about wanting to experience the fullness of living, and about experiencing beautiful things with someone else. I love to feel everything. I’m obsessed with the abundance that comes with being alive. The fact that I’m capable of feeling all these things and all these emotions - and so if I can touch all the corners of that, that’s what this song feels like.” Stay tuned for the arrival of the official music video, which features a very special guest!

Previewing The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

 

At the bottom of the press release for The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, they made sure to let us know that, “The film, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, was completed prior to William Friedkin’s passing on August 7, 2023.”  Friedkin was the director of such fabled seventies movies such as The French Connection and The Exorcist, though people of my generation will most likely remember him more for directing Blue Chips.  Friedkin was not the only person associated with the film that passed since the competition of the film, Lance Reddick, who plays the head judge in the film, left us back in March.

 

People of my generation will also likely watch the military courtroom drama and have a hard time not thinking of A Few Good Men.  Though to be fair, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is based on a book released three and a half decades before Aaron Sorkin wrote the play that was later turned into the acclaimed movie.  Since that play was written for a visual and audio medium, it has the advantage as books are written difference and there are no “You can’t handle the truth” moments in the new film no matter how the defense attorney tries to get a witness to break to help his client.

 

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is about Executive Officer (Jack Lacy) who removes the commanding (Kiefer Sutherland) during a cyclone claiming he was not mentally stable and was charged with mutiny and now stands trial.  Monica Raymund plays the lead prosecutor while Jason Clarke tries to paint the mutiny as a courageous act as the defense.  The film moves the time and location of The Caine from the Pacific during World War II to modern day in the Persian Gulf where the ship is sweeping for mines.

 

The film takes place almost entirely in the courtroom with only a couple hallway scenes and a quick epilogue.  It is pretty bold to not show any scenes on the boat, even retroactively.  Instead we get a very clinical look at the trail which sometimes comes across as an old Court TV case with very few cinematic flourishes.  Instead we have to rely on the testimony of the people on board The Caine to paint the picture.

 

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial airs Sunday at 9:00 on Showtime.  The film will be available to stream Friday on Paramount+ with Showtime.

57 Channel and Only This Is On: October 1, 2023

  

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  It did not occur to me that we could see the boyfriend again.  But it was pretty wild of him to think that he would think his former flame would know he was forking her sister.  I know I did not get that during their flashback.

 

Billions:  Wags has some weird kinks, but the new one is just gross.  But another episode without Bobby.  Is Chuck is really going to wait until the last episode or two to call in his favor?  Is Prince’s wife going to join the resistance?

 

Only Murders in the Building:  So it looks like I was right that the creepy mother poisoned Ben to sink the plane.  Now we have to wait and see if my other prediction of a second killer will be right.  But it was just nice to have the Three Amigos back together.

 

Ashoka:  So Thrawn’s plan was just to waste time?  That just made it seem like this was a waste of an episode because of it.

 

The Challenge: USA:  Oh Michele, why are you siding with the Vet’s?  Getting out Tori would have really helped your game.  But more oil wrestling challenges please.  Just do not cut to Josh during it next time.