Around the Tubes: February 22, 2019

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Billions, Ariana Grande, The Resurgence: DeMarcus Cousins,, Janelle Monáe, Monica Martin, Peter Tork, and MuscleKingz Car Show & Concert.

- Showtime has released a new video for the highly anticipated fourth season of Billions, premiering on Sunday, March 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Paul Giamatti and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis. Viewers can catch up on the first three seasons of BILLIONS, available now on Showtime on-air, on demand and over the internet.


- Multi-platinum, record-breaking superstar ARIANA GRANDE captures #1 on the Billboard 200 with her fifth full-length album, thank u, next. Get it HERE via Republic Records with SB Projects managing. This marks her fourth number one bow on the chart and second number one bow in under six months. The album broke numerous records right out of the gate. With 360k equivalent album units in under seven days, it now holds the record for Largest Streaming Week for a Pop Album & Female Artist. She also ascends as The Only Female Artist to Grace the List of Top Ten Biggest Streaming Weeks.

- Showtime today announced The Resurgence: DeMarcus Cousins, a Showtime Sports Documentary Films original chronicling the enigmatic NBA superstar’s grueling comeback from a career-threatening injury and his path through free agency, will premiere on Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The Resurgence provides unfettered access to one of the NBA’s biggest personalities at the most crucial time of his career. Viewers witness Cousins’ roller-coaster ride through free agency that culminated in a shocking one-year deal with the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors and join his private and emotionally charged journey back from a devastating Achilles injury.

- Last weekend marked NBA All-Star which lent itself to a handful of exciting announcements and performances, specifically as it relates to AT&T. Most prominently, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, performer, producer, activist and actress Janelle Monáe headlined the debut AT&T Pregame Concert streamed live Sunday on AT&T and NBA social media channels with more than 1,000,000 live viewers. The rising star was most recently featured in the Robert Zemeckis film Welcome to Marwen in winter 2018, and pulled off an incredible musical performance at last week’s Grammy Awards in support of her critically-acclaimed third solo album, DIRTY COMPUTER. Watch the replay on AT&T Twitter or here on AT&T’s YouTube channel.

- Chicago-born and Los Angeles-based songstress Monica Martin releases her new single “Patient” via Republic Records. Get it HERE! “Patient” exclusively premiered on Consequence of Sound, who said, “The track finds the former PHOX frontwoman trying to find strength in pushing a loved one away while pop piano melodies sadly sway under constantly building alt-folk orchestration.” The song, produced by Jon Green (James Bay, Paloma Faith) and featuring noteworthy musician Ian Fitchuk (producer of Kacey Musgraves’ Grammy Award-winning album Golden Hour), marries acoustic guitars and steady beats. Blurring the lines between pop, alternative and folk, the lyrics evoke an emotional plea, “You’re going to have to be patient with me.” “Patient” follows her previously released singles “Thoughtless” and “Cruel.”

- MeTV Network pays tribute to the career of actor and musician Peter Tork with a special presentation of The Monkees airing on MeTV this Sunday, February 24, beginning at 5:00pm ET/PT through 6:00pm ET/PT. Complete tribute schedule is listed below. Peter Tork will forever be remembered as the keyboardist and bass guitarist for The Monkees, the 60’s pop/rock band that was formed specifically for the eponymous television show that originally aired from 1966 to 1968. Beloved for the TV show’s comedy and music, The Monkees musical hits include I’m a Believer (featured in this MeTV tribute), Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville and Pleasant Valley Sunday.

- Yes, it’s true! Luke Duke, Daisy Duke, ‘Crazy’ Cooter Davenport, Coy Duke, Cousin Jeb Duke, Deputy Enos Strate, and Deputy Cletus Hogg are reuniting and will appear at the MuscleKingz Car Show & Concert series! The MuscleKingz Car Show & Concert series puts a modern twist to the classic culture of a traditional car show with the addition of great live music. The kick-off event will transform the Kern County Raceway on Saturday, April 13 into a car show & concert venue fit for a great experience for car enthusiasts and music fans alike featuring classic and modern American muscle cars, custom trucks, hot rods, rat rods and more. Previous shows have been headlined by Dan+Shay, Rodney Atkins, 38 Special, Night Ranger, and more! To register your vehicle and learn more visit musclekingz.com.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 17, 2019

Shameless: Oh no, Fiona got fired. But long overdue, she has been constantly drunk since learning her boyfriend was married. Now I am wondering if she is actually going to die and that is how she leaves the show. It is certainly not going to be her going away for very long for that petty assault. Or she could go to rehab and be back a season later like Ian who was just revealed to be returning just two months after announcing his departing. But that was kind of a random intro with Frank recapping what happened during the first season of Homeland which was about eight years ago. I guess it is nice he is finally getting caught out. I cannot wait to hear his take on the bad second season.

The Walking Dead: When they lingered on Jesus, I thought they were actually going to act like a sword through the heart was not fatal. Would not have been the most absurd, oh dude is dead moment, only for them to recover the next episode moment. But then you have Negan who escapes, goes back home, and then decides he rather be a captive? Is that actually what is happening?
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Passage: Oh snap, the main vampire forked the other doctor’s wife and then turned her into a vampire herself? Now with all the mind control going on, they have to kill all the vampires now, right?
You can download The Passage on iTunes.

Manifest: Let me call it now, all of these new people with lost time are going to be the evil version of the flight passengers. Although it would be quite on the nose that the good people lost time in the air while all the bad people lost time underground / under water.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Challenge: War of World: How silly how they played up Hunter sending home the person who took a half a million dollars (pre-taxes) from him as if they are even now. Smashley can go home to her million dollars (pre-taxes) while Hunter is stuck in a house where most people are against him. I do wonder if anyone has won a Challenge after being sent in first. But the big news was the promo for next week hyping a Legend goes home. Has to be Bananas right? Really only him and CT qualify even though CT went out early last season so that really would not garner a tease like that. I guess there is an outside chance that it is Cara Maria or Wes.
You can download The Challenge: War of Worlds on iTunes.

Deadly Class: How very Fear and Loathing of them. Though I guess Hunter S. Thompson never ran into a talking Ice-T slot machine. I kind of want to play that. But was the headmaster really there or was white boy just tripping?
You can download Deadly Class on iTunes.

Gotham: Of course Leigh was a secret agent, she “died” with The Riddler. But why didn’t Bane deploy her at the same time?
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Doom Patrol: The Doom Patrol episode of Titans was the best one of that show so I had high hopes for the spin off. Unfortunately it dragged a bit because there were so much origin stories. Yet somehow at the same time not enough because I was left wondering how Elasti-Girl and Negative Man met the Chief and then we got nothing of Crazy Jane. And it was a bit weird Beast Boy did not even get a mention despite being part of the team for a while. Here is hoping now that the introductions are out of the way, things pick up next week.

Around the Tubes: February 15, 2019

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Desus & Mero, Action, Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1, Meg Mac, Jay Rock, and The Go-Go’s.

- Desus Nice and The Kid Mero will welcome fellow Bronx native Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as the first guest in studio on their new Showtime weekly half-hour late-night talk show, Desus & Mero. The series will premiere on Thursday, February 21 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT and air on Thursday nights from New York City. In the premiere episode, the duo will also visit the Congresswoman’s new offices in D.C. determined to make her feel at home, as well as give their take on the day’s hot topics in their signature style in front of a small live studio audience. Upcoming guests on Desus & Mero will include John Legend, Vince Staples, Ben Stiller, Issa Rae, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Pusha T.


- Hulu and Lionsgate today announce that Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1, the powerful and inspiring true story of how Air Jordan 1 (AJ1) transcended sport to become a global phenomenon, will stream exclusively on Hulu. From first time filmmaker Dexton Deboree, the documentary interviews culture-defining titans, including NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan himself, Quincy Jones, Spike Lee, Lena Waithe, Carmelo Anthony, Chuck D, and Phil Knight among others, to explore how AJ1 was not just a sneaker, but a worldwide movement that broke through barriers of race, age, and gender to define the culture in which we now live. Lionsgate acquired the documentary which is set to make its exclusive streaming debut on Hulu on February 14. “Sneaker fans all over the world remember the thrill of getting their first pair of Air Jordans, and this film explores the story behind and incredible impact of that iconic shoe,” said Heather Moosnick, Senior Vice President Content Partnerships, Hulu. “At Hulu, we’re focused on bringing highly compelling films and series to our viewers that reflect the culture and inspire conversation – and Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 is exactly that.”


- The critically acclaimed coming-of-age story Minding the Gap directed by Bing Liu, an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature for the 91st Academy Awards, will have its national broadcast debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org next Monday, February 18 at 9 p.m. (check local listings).

- Showtime Sports Documentary Films today announced a multi-part docu-series titled Action, exploring the legalization of sports gambling and its evolving impact on the gambling community as the industry navigates a landmark 2018 court ruling. Peeling back the curtain on a once taboo industry during its most critical juncture, the four-part series will premiere Sunday, March 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime. Action chronicles the lives of professional gamblers, bookies and oddsmakers throughout the 2018 NFL season following the Supreme Court decision to lift a ban on sports betting. The series will culminate with the biggest gambling day of the year, Super Bowl Sunday. The character-driven narrative delivers intimate access to a diverse cross-section of authentic and sometimes garrulous subjects within the sports gaming community, documenting the effects of legalization through their prisms.


- Meg Mac is thrilled to unveil her empowering new single, ‘Something Tells Me’. Written with Grammy nominated Melbourne songwriter Sarah Aarons and produced by ARIA and Grammy Award winner M-Phazes, it is the second single from Meg’s forthcoming project. The song premiered on Consequence of Sound and is an ode to trusting in yourself, and learning to drown out the noise of others when it comes to making decisions. She explains, “Something Tells Me is about trying not to listen to the people around you but working out what you really want to do. I’ve made so many decisions and choices based on what other people tell me I should or shouldn't do. This song is about not doing that anymore”.

- Tune in this Friday, February 15 at 10:00 pm ET/PT to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert featuring the GRAMMY Award-winning rapper, songwriter and producer “Jay Rock” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239. The show will also be available streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV.

- Showtime announced today it has acquired U.S. rights to The Go-Go’s, a feature documentary about the most successful female rock band of all time, with plans to premiere the film later this year. Alison Ellwood (HISTORY OF THE EAGLES, American Jihad) will direct the project. The band granted full access for this textured biography featuring candid interviews and archival footage to tell the real story of their meteoric rise to fame and the journeys, triumphs, laughter and struggles along the way.

Previewing Miracle Workers

Workplace comedies have been a staple since the dawn of the television age, from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to The Office. There is just something universal of going in punching the clock. From being in close proximity to people you otherwise would have never talked to and the occasional office flirtations, to the potential pouching from rival companies, to the banality of doing the same job over and over again. And then there is the aloof boss who has decided to blow up the Earth.

Okay, that last one is exclusive to the latest workplace comedy, Miracle Workers, which imagines God as the CEO of Heaven Inc. with departments like clouds, mammals, and bug control (spoiler alert, that department is not doing a very good job) while the Angels are resigned to being the worker bees. The show follows Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers) as she finally gets to leave the Dirt Department for The Department of Answered Prayers only to find an overworked Daniel Radcliffe (Now You See Me 2) who spends most his days melting snowflakes one at a time for hours to answer the prayer of finding one’s car keys. See he is not allowed to break the laws of physics so it is rerouting wind patterns to uncover gloves under leaves.

Just last week I was lamenting the lack of extremely weird show despite there being an overabundance of outputs these days. I pointed out there was nothing truly bizarre since the FXX comedy Man Seeking Woman. Well that show was created by Simon Rich who also created Miracle Workers and wrote the book What in God’s Name that the series is based on. And that warped sense of humor continues on the new show.

So right as Viswanathan finally got a more exciting job, God has decided to blow up the Earth after a day of watching a wall of cable news. But Viswanathan convinces God to give Earth a reprieve if she is able to answer one of the prayers labeled “Impossible” and God gives her two weeks or kaboom. So hell or high water, the miracle workers go to work to make that one last wish come true by any means necessary. Oh, and I forgot to mention, God is played by Steve Buscemi (Grown Up’s 2). Yes, that Steve Buscemi.

What is great is all the actors completely buy into their characters no matter how absurd things get around them. Seriously, there is a “Burst Appendix” button that of course comes into play in hilarious fashion. Viswanathan is a great find and is perfect as the wide eyed newbie who will stop at nothing to prove she belongs. Go ahead and put her in ever comedy from her on out please. Though The best character may be the newscaster who comments on all the acts of God that the miracle workers and God create during the show. His delivery is just deadpan gold.

There is really only one complaint I can give to Miracle Workers: It is too short at just seven half hours. Really, without ads, you could watch the entire series in under two and a half hours (which comes to think of it would have made for a decent movie). If you are going to give the team two weeks, how about fourteen episodes, one day per episode? Instead we go from twelve days until the end of the world to six just like that and we are left to wonder what shenanigans happening in those six day.

Also TBS is calling the show a “limited series” but I really hope we get more seasons. It would not be unprecedented, Big Little Lies got a second season as did The Alienist on Turner’s other channel. But being too short is the best complaint you can have. For those that are missing the heavenly comedy of The Good Place will definitely want to check out Miracle Workers.

Miracle Workers airs Tuesdays at 10:30 on TBS. Or just watch the first episode below.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 10, 2019

The Passage: Some of these death row convictions just seem absurd to me. Last week the hot vampire is to be put to death because she murdered her child rapist and his protector, even if you do not particularly believe that defense, it should be enough to avoid the death penalty. Then this week the black dude is to be put to death because he drowned his lover? Again, that is a bit harsh. I understand the writers want them to come off as a little sympathetic, but c’mon can theynot be accused of something a little more gruesome than that?
You can download The Passage on iTunes.

Manifest: The Church of The Returned? Just when you thought the show could not get any dumber. Plus did none of the writers see that horrible show The Returned? Not really something you want to compare yourself to.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Challenge: War of World: With Road Rules not airing for over a decade and Real World finally ending two years ago (on MTV anyway, supposedly there is a Facebook Watch reboot already in the works) and the show slowly working in MTV's other reality show, Are You the One before also including British shows and Big Brother, it is not surprising we are finally getting a full blown The Challenge vs. Other MTV shows. Though it is weird that one fourth of the vets started out on another show so MTV Americans are actually outnumbered ten to six. It is nice to finally have Nany back for the first time in four seasons, which is actually only a two and a half year absence. But the school yard pick was weird. In what world does Pauli get picked first and Zach gets picked last?
You can download The Challenge: War of Worlds on iTunes.

Deadly Class: I had a theory that hot Asian chick was going to be related to the Asian headmaster and when they ran into each other while the cousins were taking her to her bother, I thought that was going to be the twist. But I kind of missed the layout of everything. Why go through a random restaurant while kidnapping someone. Is that were the secret entrance was. I vaguely remember a secret entrance.
You can download Deadly Class on iTunes.

Blindspot: Finally, they cured Jane. That went on a little too long. Maybe should have found a cure by the midseason finale. Of course, this begs the question, now what? Is the Zapata storyline really going to carry the show for the rest of the season? Although, kind of annoying that the promo monkeys spoiled what they needed the hacker for.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

The Blacklist: Uh oh, Lizzie got caught. Although Ressler just let it slide despite being the boy scout of the group. But will he just let it be or try to figure out just what Lizzie was doing with the fake Red tip? Well, obviously it will have to be the latter.
You can download The Blacklist on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: February 8, 2019

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The Handmaid’s Tale, Epic Yellowstone, Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me, Women, War & Peace, America's Hidden Stories, The Avett Brothers, KT Tunstall, Sheppard, Tony Lucca, Anna of the North, The Score, Flikka, In My Journey with a Polar Bear, Gibson, and Lot18.

- For the third year in a row, Hulu has featured an original series in their Super Bowl ad. The 30-second spot aired during the first quarter of today’s game and gave viewers a sneak peek into season three of the dystopian series The Handmaid’s Tale. The Super Bowl ad kicks-off the season three marketing campaign for the award-winning Hulu Original


- The eagerly anticipated series Epic Yellowstone is set to give audiences a front row seat to the extraordinary spectacle of wildlife and dramatic seasonal extremes in the iconic crown jewel of America’s national parks. Hosted by renowned actor and Montana local Bill Pullman, and filmed over the course of three years, the series delivers stories from Yellowstone never told before. The stunning four-part project uses state-of-the art 8K cameras, FLIR thermal imagery, drone timelapse, cineflex aerials and miniature nest cameras to reveal the world of Yellowstone’s predators and prey in jaw-dropping beauty – shot fully in the wild with no captive or enclosed animals. EPIC YELLOWSTONE premieres on Sunday, March 10 at 9 PM ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel and will also be available on the channel’s 10-hour 4K On-Demand model. In the lead-up to the event series, Smithsonian Channel will also premiere an all-new episode of the acclaimed and popular Aerial America focusing entirely on Yellowstone on Sunday, March 3 at 9 PM ET/PT.

- In celebration of Black History Month, Showtime will premiere Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me, exploring the rise of legendary soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, the first male African American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums. Set against the backdrop of 1960s America, and his comeback after a life-changing accident, Pendergrass’ untold and ultimately inspiring story premieres this Friday, February 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Capturing Pendergrass’ rise to fame the film includes rarely before seen archival footage and features revealing interviews with his family, friends and colleagues alongside industry legends, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.


- In a year when American women mobilized, ran for office, and were elected to Congress in unprecedented numbers, the acclaimed documentary series Women, War & Peace (pbs.org/womenwarandpeace) returns Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26, 9-11 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) with powerful stories of women’s role in dramatic conflicts and peace settlements across the globe.

- The Salem witch trials. The Spanish influenza of 1918. The treason of Benedict Arnold. These events are notorious in American history, but new revelations suggest we don’t know their full stories. Smithsonian Channel’s new series America's Hidden Stories delves into hidden records to investigate what our history books may have missed: Is a British lord responsible for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor? Did Benedict Arnold act alone? Where is the true site of the Salem witch hangings? The answers to these questions, and more, are uncovered in America's Hidden Stories, premiering Monday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

- GRAMMY® Award-nominated North Carolina band The Avett Brothers share new song “Neapolitan Sky” last week. It follows up the recently released “Roses and Sacrifice” and “Trouble Letting Go”, which closed out a banner 2018 for the group. Check out “Neapolitan Sky” HERE via American/Republic Records.

- Tune in this Friday, February 8 at 9:00 pm ET/PT to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert featuring singer-songwriter “KT Tunstall” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239. The show will also be available streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV.

- Multi-platinum selling recording artist Sheppard is back with a brand-new single “On My Way” – available today, February 1, 2019 via your preferred music platform! Cowritten by John Hume (co-writes with Dean Lewis, Sofi Tukker), the anthemic, uplifting song, which was originally penned as a stand-alone single, earned the band a nod to participate in the show which will select Australia’s next representative at Eurovision 2019!

- Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tony Lucca is flexing his Americana muscles on his forthcoming new album, Ain’t No Storm, which he will be releasing on March 29, 2019. Ain’t No Storm reads like a who’s who of East Nashville notables: Ken Coomer produced the record at his studio, Cartoon Moon, great Nashville players like Michael Webb, Ted Pecchio, and Joe Garcia lent their talents — and even Patrick Sweany stopped in for a cameo on “Room With A View.” Replete with songs borne of his admiration for Nashville’s rich history – the town’s creative community ultimately fueled Lucca’s return to the studio and inspired the new album – Ain’t No Storm finds Lucca embracing with reverence the process and craft of songwriting and taking his time (more than two years) to get it right.

- Anna of the North has premiered brand new track ‘Leaning On Myself’, her first taste of new music since critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Lovers’. Having sold out worldwide shows and amassed over 140 million streams, Anna plays a headlining show in London on March 25, before embarking on her first North American headlining tour starting on April 19. Tickets for all US tour dates will go on sale this Friday, 2/8 at 10am PST.

- Critically acclaimed, buzzing LA based, New York born rock band The Score – Eddie Anthony and Edan Dover – release their much-anticipated new Pressure EP via Republic Records. Check out The Score’s Pressure EP HERE.

- Stockholm newcomer Flikka has revealed her debut single "Someone To Lose" via London independent label Blue Flowers. She also shares the track's video, directed by Beatrix Blaise.


- With climate change at the forefront of the world’s natural crises, Smithsonian Channel takes you on a dramatic adventure that reveals an ever-changing Arctic. In My Journey with a Polar Bear, viewers will get an intimate look at one polar bear mother’s struggle to raise her cubs as her home melts away under her feet. Norwegian filmmaker Asgeir Helgestad worked in the harshest of conditions to document the bear’s life over the course of four years, capturing her attempts to hunt and her interactions with other bears while experiencing unprecedented change to the world around her. In My Journey with a Polar Bear premieres Wednesday, March 6 at 8 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel.

- Writing a new chapter to the guitar of choice for artists in rock, pop, country, blues, folk, jazz, and beyond, GIBSON ignited its next era at NAMM in Anaheim, CA. The pre-eminent American-made instrument brand revitalized, re-envisioned, and recharged its core mission, paying homage to its storied history as it embraced the next vanguard of musicians independent of generation, gender and genre. NAMM represented a series of achievements for GIBSON including a NAMM Milestone Award for 125 years in business and the new Les Paul Standard 50s guitar went on to win “Best Electric Guitar of NAMM” from the editors of Guitar, Total Guitar and Music Radar magazines.

- Winemaker Lot18 has teamed up with Playboy Enterprises, Inc. to produce the ‘Playboy California Red Wine’, a limited edition, high-quality blend crafted for wine aficionados and Playboy fans alike. In celebration of Playboy’s 65-year anniversary, and just in time for Valentine’s Day, Lot18’s specially crafted red wine blend will undoubtedly please any wine lover. The bottle itself makes for a perfect gift for collectors, with a unique label that presents the famed Playboy Bunny Costume. Inspired by the sultry silhouette of the iconic Bunny, Playboy illustrator and designer, Katie Bailie, captured the essential details of the Costume – a satin bodice, ears, and bowtie applied in lavish gold mosaic as a gracious nod to Playboy’s heritage. Playboy California Red Wine Blend can be ordered exclusively at Lot18.com/Playboy while supplies last. The wine was masterfully created by the team at Lot18 to celebrate the iconic brand and its legacy of work.

Previewing PEN15

As we sit here in peak TV, it is a bit surprising that the overabundance of outlets producing shows, there are very few super-weird content. Back in the eighties when there was significantly less content there seemed to a lot more weird stuff. Sure it was quite clear that creators and television and movie executives were doing copious amounts of cocaine. Seriously kiddies, not only was there a movie where two office flunkies carried around the dead boss for an entire movie, that actually got a sequel where I believe the corpse started to move by itself because of a voodoo curse. Le sigh. I miss those days.

So I got a little excited when I heard of the completely absurd concept for PEN15 (no, it is not pronounced Pen Thirteen, look at it some more, you will get it eventually): two thirty-somethings playing versions of themselves as thirteen-year-old outcasts in the year 2000, surrounded by actual thirteen-year-olds in seventh grade. The two women are Maya Erskine (who also starred in one of the few other weird shows this decade Man Seeking Woman which featured Lyla Garrity being best friends with a Japanese Penis Monster, seriously) and Anna Konkle (who was also in an episode of Man Seeking Woman but my be best known for Rosewood) who both co-created the show and wrote most of the ten episodes.

Yeah, it gets extremely weird seeing two women almost three times the age of their co-stars act out the most awkward time in everyone’s life. And sure it is extremely funny to start out but then it gets kind of creepy and fast. In episode three Maya becomes a chronic masturbator and it just feels dirty watching a thirteen year old character touching themselves even if she is being played by a thirty-one year old.

Then despite being labeled outcasts, the two girls do seem to have a steady stream of suiters and it is so creepy watching these women flirting with barely teenaged boys, I was expecting Chris Hansen to pop out multiple times. Though I did notice a couple times in the credits that there were stand in’s for some of the scenes, and the scenes were cut in such a way, it was obvious there were a couple stand in without seeing the credits. Oh and I think I saw more menstrual blood on this show than every show I have previously watched combined.

Despite the high concept, at heart PEN15 is a nostalgia show. In the premiere we get early 00’s gems from Mandy Moore, Lit, Lifehouse and the most underrated, and really the second best TLC song Unpretty. And of course there is dial up modems,  Ask Jeeves, Ace Ventura jokes, and the first R-rated movie the girls watch is the best trashy movie of the era Wild Things. Surprisingly we do not get to see the girls react to the Kevin Bacon coming out of the shower scene.

The most nostalgic of all the episodes is when the girls first log on to AIM. Everyone under the age of twenty really needs to watch the bizarre online mating rituals of people who just started using the internet on a primitive messaging app that you could only use for limited times because you needed to dial into your phone, which was connected to the wall and could only be used to call things… Yeah describing how we used the phone and the internet at the turn of the century to people under twenty is hard. You may just have to watch to understand.

All episodes of PEN15 are available tomorrow on Hulu.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 3, 2019

Supergirl: Well that was one of the worst hours to ever air on television. You have the sister being the only rational person on the episode pointing out The Dreamer was not really a woman and therefore should not receive any gift passed on the maternal line.
Supergirl on iTunes.

Shameless: Sextuplets? Those will double Frank’s output in children. Although does he actually take responsibility for them unlike his current children or does he just inform Carl he was the actual sperm donor. Although Peg Bundy does have a history of having fever dreams of being pregnant before.

The Passage: Finally a ration person who thinks they should actually kill the death row vampires. Oh wait; moron stopped the execution because she hijacked his brain to give him a sob story. You know what, when a death row vampire hijacks your brain, that is even more reason to destroy it.
You can download The Passage on iTunes.

Manifest: Jus when I thought this show could not get any worse; somehow the new hiker guy is making the show even dumber. So did he and the hot cop get stuck in another time jump thingy? Am I supposed to assume that bad CGI was what that was?
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

Vikings: Sometime the “Previously On” section can be a bit spoilerly and boy did I get a very Igar’s bride was going to be the one that murders him vibe from this week’s “Previously On.” Okay, I got that a bit backwards since Igar killed her but I did get it a bit right in that she tried pretty hard to get her killed by telling Bjorn about the secret passage into Kattergaurd. Of course this begs the question, when did Kattergaurd become that fortified? We always see the port but I do not remember ever seeing walls. But in the end, Bjorn was able to exile his brother… I think. That was a weird ending with Bjorn questioning things and the quick change of scenes of him holding a bloody blade his mother gave him. Are they saying that battle was just a dream? I am guessing seeing a fleeing Igar afterwards means that it happened.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Gotham: Wait, so Walker (who I just hear as Waller, as in Amanda, which would actually make sense) put a chip in The Riddler’s head so they could have him blow up a building full of civilians. Then tried to get Gordon to kill The Riddler threw his army buddy and when he did not, the army buddy sent The Riddler to kill Gordon. I feel like we are missing something.
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Blindspot: I kind of wish more of the episode was written by the dead writer, it was great to see overexaggerated versions of these characters. What I do not need more of is sick Jane. Now that her organs are shutting down and she is on her death bed they can finally cure her.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: February 1, 2019

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, Sgrill Foo Fighters, 2019 NBA All-Star Game, and a slew of Showtime TCA announcements.

- Showtime has released the official trailer for Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men, the four-part limited docuseries from filmmaker Sacha Jenkins (BURN MOTHERF*CKER, BURN!).The full series will air on Showtime later this spring. Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men is a Mass Appeal production in association with Endeavor Content. Peter J. Scalettar, Peter Bittenbender and Chris Gary serve as executive producers.



- Hulu released the teaser for Shrill. The six-episode season will launch on Friday, March 15th. Teaser Link: https://youtu.be/PVA7lfEGKkQ

- Foo Fighters will headline this year’s DIRECTV Super Saturday Night--one of the most sought-after invitations during the Big Game weekend--on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at a new high-end entertainment complex at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, GA. The sold-out event will also feature a special guest performance by hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, plus interactive fan experiences and more. Watch and share the trailer for “Live Super Saturday Night: Foo Fighters” (HERE).

- The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that 2019 GRAMMY®Award-nominated artist and North Carolina native J. Cole will take the court in his home state to headline the 2019 NBA All-Star Game halftime show on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Before the game, Meek Mill will take the stage for an exciting opening and entertaining introduction of the All-Star teams, followed by GRAMMY® Award winner and Charlotte-born Anthony Hamilton performing the U.S. national anthem. Multi-platinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer/songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen will perform the Canadian national anthem. The 68th NBA All-Star Game begins at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and will be seen by fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

- SHOWTIME has announced that Paco Cabezas (PENNY DREADFUL, The Alienist) is set to direct multiple episodes of PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS, the next chapter of the PENNY DREADFUL saga. Oscar® nominee John Logan, creator, writer and executive producer of the Emmy nominated series PENNY DREADFUL, will continue in those same roles. Production on the drama series is expected to begin later this year.

- SHOWTIME will premiere the feature documentary XY CHELSEA on Friday, June 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Directed by Tim Travers Hawkins, and produced by Pulse Films, XY CHELSEA tells the historic story of whistle-blower Chelsea Manning, whose 35-year sentence in a maximum security prison was commuted by President Obama in 2017. Shot over two years and featuring exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes verité with Manning, the film begins on the momentous day in May of that year when she leaves prison and follows her through her journey of discovery, while also examining her place in the conversation on national security and the fight of the transgender community for rights and visibility.

- The highly anticipated second season of the hit SHOWTIME drama THE CHI will premiere on Sunday, April 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Created and executive produced by Emmy winner Lena Waithe (Master of None) and executive produced by Academy Award®, Emmy and Golden Globe® winner Common (Selma), THE CHI is a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption. The ensemble cast includes Jason Mitchell (Mudbound, Straight Outta Compton), Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Queen of Katwe), Jacob Latimore (Sleight), Alex Hibbert (Moonlight) Yolonda Ross (Treme), Tiffany Boone (The Following), Armando Riesco (Bull), Barton Fitzpatrick, Shamon Brown Jr., and Michael V. Epps. THE CHI averaged 4.5 million weekly viewers across platforms and ranks as the highest-rated SHOWTIME freshman series since BILLIONS in 2016.


- SHOWTIME will premiere its new one-hour drama series CITY ON A HILL starring Golden Globe winner and Emmy® nominee Kevin Bacon (The Following) and Screen Actors Guild® award winner Aldis Hodge (Underground) on Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Production on the 10-episode series will begin in February in New York and Boston.


- Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the original’s premiere, SHOWTIME has announced an eight-episode order for a sequel to its groundbreaking hit series THE L WORD, scheduled to premiere by the end of 2019. Marja-Lewis Ryan (The Four-Faced Liar, 6 Balloons) serves as showrunner and is executive producing with series creator Ilene Chaiken and original series stars Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey.

- Oscar nominee and Emmy, Golden Globe®, Screen Actors Guild® and Tony® Award winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) has signed on to star and executive produce the new SHOWTIME limited series YOUR HONOR. The series is a legal thriller that rips through all strata of New Orleans society. Cranston will star as a respected judge whose son is involved in a hit-and-run that leads to a high-stakes game of lies, deceit and impossible choices. The 10-episode limited series will be executive produced by Emmy nominees Robert and Michelle King (The Good Fight, The Good Wife). Peter Moffat – whose Criminal Justice served as the basis for The Night Of – serves as showrunner, executive producer and will write multiple episodes, including the first episode. YOUR HONOR will go into production later this year in New Orleans.

- On the heels of the recent premiere of the second half of season nine of its hit comedy series SHAMELESS, SHOWTIME has announced its most-watched show has been renewed for a 10th season. The renewal will make SHAMELESS the longest running series ever on SHOWTIME. Season 10 will mark the return of television’s favorite dysfunctional family The Gallaghers that will include series stars Oscar® nominee and Emmy® and SAG Award winner William H. Macy, Jeremy Allen White, Ethan Cutkosky, Emma Kenney, Christian Isaiah and Cameron Monaghan. Production on season 10 will begin in 2019.

Previewing Into the Dark: Down

Not only have each episode of Into the Dark feature a different holiday of the year, each have their own take on the genre. There have been psychological, farcical, each different in their own way. For the Valentine’s Day episode Down, it is what the press release call Blumhouse’s version of a rom-com. A rom-com horror, I believe that is how you can describe seventy-two percent of every Lifetime movie.

I actually wished they played more into the rom-com aspect earlier in the movie to lull you into a false sense of security as the start is still very cold taking place in a very non-descript elevator. It is late on the start of the three day weekend where Valentine’s Day just happens to coincide with the President’s Day weekend and the final two people in the building are leaving. (To save you from some Googling, no, Valentine’s Day does not fall on the weekend this year. The 13th does not even fall on a Friday like the monitor say. The last time this happened was 2015 and will not happen again until 2026. So pretty much it seems like the writers really wanted this to take place on Friday the 13th, you know, because it is a horror movie.)

Natalie Martinez (Under the Dome) and Matt Lauria (Friday Night Lights) play the unlucky duo that at first make the best of a bad situation. The meet-cute happens when the elevator shuts down four stories underground and all they have to eat and drink are a bottle of wine and a handful of Hersey’s Kisses. These two are so perfect for each other; they both even keep a mini-corkscrew around just in case. But of course, since this is Into the Dark, things go horribly wrong before they are able to get out of the elevator. Now I am not saying it is the best episode so far (see the power ranking below), but it is the best twist so far.

Into the Dark Power Ranking
1. The Body (October)
2. Down (February)
3. New Year, New You (January)
4. Pooka! (December)
5. Flesh and Bone (November)

Into the Dark: Down premieres tomorrow only on Hulu.

Previewing I Am the Night

The Black Dahlia Murder is one of those famous stories that I really do not know that much about because I have never been that much of a fan of the true crime genre. I think I maybe have seen a movie about it, maybe starring Josh Harnett. Maybe not. You will hear a lot about The Black Dahlia when reading about I Am the Night, but really that crime is just tertiary to the plot of the new TNT limited series. the show is more of a character study than trying to figure out who committed the crime.

The show, based on the book One Day She'll Darken, is the story of Fauna Hodel, who on her sixteenth year, learns her mother that raised her is not actually her birth mother. She grew up thinking that her black mother had sex with a white man, but finds her birth certificate and her mother is listed as Caucasian and her father is listed as an unidentified negro. So it is off to Los Angeles to find her birth mother, find out who her father is, and the rest of her family including her grandfather George.

Oh, and George is believed to be a copycat killer of The Black Dahlia murderer, or possibly the actual killer himself by a reporter played by Chris Pine (teaming back up with his Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins who directed multiple episodes and serves as the executive producer). At the time Fauna is learning about her real self, Pine is a disgraced reporter who was successfully sued for definition by George Hodel and has resigned to awkwardly walking on the sand just to take private pictures of celebrates. As his editor tells him, hold stories you can’t tell.

It takes a while for the two leads to cross paths and the first couple episodes suffer for it. That is the problem with how television is made, Pine’s reporter should not even show up in the first episode because this is Fauna’s story, but since he is the recognizable episode who face has to be on the poster to sell the show, he has to be in as many scenes, and possibly more, just to get the show made.

But once the two cross path, the show really hits its stride in the final three episodes. Well until it just ends and you realize that this was not out to solve the case of The Black Dahlia, it was tell the story of Fauna Hodel. And to hammer that point home, at the end of the series, there is the usual where are they now epilogue and the only person we get an update on is Fauna. This will lead people who are not totally emerged in the Black Dahlia case straight to Bing to see what became of George Hodel and the case

I Am the Night airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT.
.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: January 27, 2019

Supergirl: Why is Kara acting as if Alex is not going to remember her at all? She is not losing the information that Kara is Supergirl. Presumably Alex will still remember Kara and still remember Supergirl, just not that they are the same person. Although, just how long until Alex realizes Kara is Supergirl? I cannot imagine it will take her own sister too long to figure out her secret identity.
Supergirl on iTunes.

Shameless: So no one took over Fiona’s room while she was livening in her apartment building? With that house over crowded, you would think someone would move in especially when I believe the three boys were still sharing a room. And I am starting to think that Fiona exits the show maybe going to rehab. Or could they possibly kill her off? It would be weird if she OD’s and yet Frank is still somehow managing to cling to life.

The Passage: Well, I was not expecting Zach Morris to get caught this quickly. Though where do they go from here? The shady organization had a shoot to kill order on him. They cannot let him go. Are they just going to try the cure on him too?
You can download The Passage on iTunes.

Manifest: So last week the pilot presumably found another cloud to make him go into the future again and now this week we find another dude who lost a year in the woods of New York? This show is getting dumber by the episode.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

Vikings: What a horrible troll to have Floki taunted by the Christian Cross in what he though was the Viking hell. So now he is caved in and covered in ruble. Is this it for Floki? I guess he could just go out the way he came but that is if his torch did not go out. It is about time to close out this plotline, no need to spread it over the final season.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Deadly Class: Would it be racist to ask if the hot Asian chick and the Asian head master dude were related? They had that moment at the end where she spilled all the secrets of the new guy. But he did poison her for that test so maybe not.
You can download Deadly Class on iTunes.

The Good Place: Well I was sort of right in that The Bad Place would pick people who would torture the Soul Squad. Got Simone completely right. But odd that of all the time they have spent on how Tahani has lived in her sister’s shadow that instead of Kamila, they bring in a blogger to torture Tahani. And that guy got really annoying real quick. I guess they still bring her because you can say Simone can torture both Chidi and Eleanor. I just hope Donkey Doug is one of the final two..
The Good Place on iTunes.

Gotham: I made an offhand comment that maybe it was The Riddler that blew up the building but I never actually thought it would be him because mass destruction was never his M.O. Or he would at least let someone solve a puzzle first to allow Batman to stop mass destruction.
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: January 25, 2019

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on PEN15, Minding the Gap, Tone Bell: Can't Cancel This, I Am the Night, The Avett Brothers, Florence + the Machine, James Blake, Sigrid, The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, A Night at the Garden, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Color Out of Space.

School is almost in session and we are excited to share the official trailer and key art for Hulu's hilarious new original comedy series PEN15. All 10 episodes will premiere Friday, February 8, only on Hulu.


- The critically acclaimed coming-of-age story Minding the Gap received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature for the 91st Academy Awards. Directed by Bing Liu, Minding the Gap has its national broadcast debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, February 18 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). The film is a co-production of ITVS, Kartemquin Films and American Documentary | POV and a co-presentation with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series now in its 31st season.

- Comedian Tone Bell takes the stage in his first stand-up special, Tone Bell: Can't Cancel This, premiering on Friday, February 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime on-air, streaming and on demand. In the hour-long special filmed at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theater in Dallas, Bell simply wants to live in a world where Alaska is cold, student loans are paid and jelly is free. He has finally found the one place his uncompromising view of this unfair world can't be stopped.


- TNT and Cadence13, a leading podcast media company, is revealing the NEW audio trailer for the ground-breaking eight-part podcast documentary series, Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia, a companion to TNT’s six-episode suspense drama I Am the Night. The podcast series will premiere Wednesday, February 13 and joins Turner Podcast Network’s portfolio of podcasts available on Apple Podcasts and wherever podcasts are available. I Am the Night, from director Patty Jenkins and writer Sam Sheridan, starring Chris Pine, is slated to premiere on Monday, January 28, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on TNT.

- The Avett Brothers recently announced a string of North American headline tour dates for summer 2019. The GRAMMY® Award-nominated North Carolina band continue their headline tour in Bonner Springs, KS at Providence Amphitheater on July 3 and perform in major markets throughout the country until August 24 when they grace the stage of the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA. Lake Street Dive and Trampled By Turtles join them for select dates. Check out the new tour dates below and full tour dates here.

- Florence + the Machine debut two new songs, “Moderation” and “Haunted House” today. Listen here. Produced by James Ford, “Moderation” is another driving force of nature that sees Florence’s new-found confidence ride high when it comes to love and relationships. In contrast, “Moderation” is backed by the more delicate “Haunted House.” Produced by Matthew Daniel Siskin (Gambles), it’s an open and exposing song that captures Florence’s more intimate vocal style.

- Grammy nominee and Mercury Prize winner James Blake releases his highly-anticipated fourth studio album Assume Form via Republic Records. The album is Blake’s most unguarded and accessible to date; selecting it as their “Critic’s Pick,” The New York Times observes, “with ‘Assume Form,’ Blake wants to get closer. His previous albums were suffused with loneliness; this one tentatively and almost incredulously, ponders intimacy.” Throughout Assume Form, Blake showcases his evolution not only as a solo artist but as one of the music industry’s most groundbreaking collaborators, working alongside Travis Scott, André 3000, Metro Boomin, Moses Sumney and ROSALÍA (see below for full track listing). Assume Form is available now.

- Last week Norwegian pop star Sigrid released defiant new single ‘Don’t Feel Like Crying’, ahead of her highly anticipated debut album Sucker Punch, due out March 8, 2019 on Island Records. The 22-year-old’s epic songs are tales of the unexpected; fearless musical collages and shout-outs to human resilience, “There’s a romantic melancholy in the landscape,” says Sigrid. “And there’s a certain grace to heartache, a sort of…epic grace! I love dramatic pop songs,” which is the foundation of Sigrid’s extraordinary debut Sucker Punch.

- On the heels of the Golden Globe® winning film Green Book, Smithsonian Channel is taking a deeper look into the real story of The Negro Motorist Green Book during the Jim Crow era and beyond. The Green Book: Guide to Freedom tells the story of Victor H. Green’s eponymously named travel guide that allowed African Americans to safely tour the country during a time of severe institutionalized racism. The film features a wide array of experts delving into the history of The Green Book – historians, business owners and individuals who experienced first-hand the phenomenon of “traveling while black” in pre-civil rights America. Written and directed by acclaimed documentarian Yoruba Richen, the filmmaker behind The New Black, The Green Book: Guide to Freedom looks at the daily realities that African Americans faced on the road – the struggles, indignities and dangers, but also the opportunities and triumphs that were won along the way. The Green Book: Guide to Freedom premieres Monday, February 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel and will also be available to stream on the Smithsonian Channel app starting on February 18.

- Marshall Curry's A Night at the Garden, which premiered on the PBS documentary series POV Shorts and pov.org on has been nominated for the Best Documentary Short Subject prize for the 91st Academy Awards.

- Christopher Meloni and Elizabeth Reaser will guest star as Commander Winslow and Mrs. Winslow in season three of The Handmaid’s Tale.

- SpectreVision, the boutique genre division of Company X, and ACE Pictures announced today that principal photography will begin next month on Color Out of Space. Starring Nicolas Cage, the film will be directed by Richard Stanley -- his first feature in over twenty years. Based on the novella by H.P. Lovecraft, COLOR OUT OF SPACE will reunite Cage with SpectreVision, the company behind the critically acclaimed and commercially successful 2018 film MANDY. The film will also star Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck, RED SPARROW), Tommy Chong (UP IN SMOKE), Elliot Knight (DC’s Titans), Julian Hilliard (The Haunting of Hill House) and Q’Orianka Kilcher (The Alienist, DORA THE EXPLORER).

I Want My Music Television: January 21, 2019

7 rings - Ariana Grande


Weird that the first huge pop song of 2019 references The Sound of Music and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (I assume Ariana Grande means the Audrey Hepburn movie and not the nineties one hit wonder sadly). But it is weird at the height #MeToo movement that the biggest pop star of the time is making an exploitative nineties hip-hop music video.


Cop Shot the Kid – Nas featuring Kanye West


Nice of Nas to bring in Slick Rick for a cameo, but I forget how weak the Kanye verse was on this song since I have not bothered to listen to any of the G.O.O.D. month of albums since they were released.


Screwed - Janelle Monáe featuring Zoë Kravitz


Always nice when people are recognized but it is weird when someone gets a featured credit on a song but after the song is over you are note entirely sure what they contributed. Did Zoe Kravitz sing back up on this Janelle Monáe song? Does she play guitar like her father?


Land Of The Free - The Killers


Who would have guessed The Killers would make a protest song? Unfortunately is is not very good. Brandon Flowers singing about how nice it is to drive when white is pretty cringe worthy. Really, all the anti-Trump songs kind of sucks. Makes me wonder when was the last great and popular protest song was? Do we have to go all the way back to American Idiot?

57 Channels and Only This Is On: January 20, 2019

Ray Donovan: I appreciate whenever shows try something new and it was interesting how this season the show tried something new with the “Previously On” segments with very little dialogue. Though what that said to me was, none of what was said really matters. I am not sure that the new location worked either because what made Ray Donovan work in Los Angeles is the City of Angels is a bright town and it was interesting the juxtaposition of the dark things Ray did in the shadows. Moving Ray to New York, a dark town, just made this season extra dark.

I am talking Bridget copping off the head of a cop with a chainsaw dark. How did we get here? And why was she so comfortable with doing something like that? Smitty kills a dude and is throwing up but Bridget is handing out sandwiches to people with blood splatter on him. Speaking of death, I understand why Lena killed that dude with a rope considering what he did to his girlfriend, but that certainly was an interesting way of going about it.

And was that Susan Sarandon hanging at the end of the episode? I cannot imagine someone that rich and powerful killing them self after one bad scandal. So was it Ray who did it? Weird they left that ambiguous. Unless that is a plot point next season.

Manifest: Um, so what happened to the Pilot? Did he really get shot down? Will he show up in season five? Ha, like there will be a season five.
You can download Manifest on iTunes.

The Passage: So this scientific group is really just going to keep all those death row inmates turned vampires in their basement in perpetuity? Yeah, that is not going to end well. Seriously, when you realized your new treatment has not worked, cut off their head and burn the body and move on. I guess this is why The Walking Dead started a year or so into the zombie apocalypse. And why Fear the Walking Dead sucked at the beginning.
You can download The Passage on iTunes.

Vikings: I predicted that Floki would end up killing Edge at some point and after this week it looks like I may be right sooner than later. Then you have Ivar’s brother selling him out only for the other king not to bite. It is weird that no one has been able to easily over through some guy named Ivar the Boneless. Didn’t we start the show with Ragnar challenging the leader to a duel to see who would rule Kattergaurd? No one is going to challenge a guy who cannot even stand?
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Deadly Class: No one does high concept but boring more than Syfy. But the promos for this show actually made it look kind of fun, something I would not call any Syfy show ever. And it actually was fun but I am not sure if they could have picked a less interesting character to focus on. The dude’s inner monologue may actually drag on more than the dude from You. I really came away from the first episode wishing the show focused on the hot Asian chick.
You can download Deadly Class on iTunes.

The Good Place: So season four is just going to be a soft reboot of season? I will be fine with that as long as the new humans are even half way as entertaining as Jason Mendoza. Oooo, what if Sean picks people the original four know: Donkey Doug, Kamilah Al-Jamil, Donna Shellstrop, and the chick Chidi dated earlier this season? That would be a way for Sean to torture everyone even though they are not in The Bad Place anymore. Whoever it is, I have a feeling the latest experiment will go as well as Michael’s soft reboot to start season two.
The Good Place on iTunes.

Gotham: Wait, Jim and Penguin are friends already? Penguin just had a price on Jim’s head at the start of the episode. But I guess the bigger question is who blew up the Haven? The Riddler? Or one of his personalities? The list of suspects is not very long unless it is someone new. Isn’t Bane supposed to show up this season?
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Blindspot: I thought the son was going to turn out to be evil because the cameras lingered on him after he asked if he could call his fiancée. And despite being told no, he still did which of course caused the cure to be destroyed. And why is the mother just able to go back into the world? She was alredy almost killed twice, are the evil guys not going to try a third time?
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: January 18, 2019

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Fyre Fraud, WTF Baron Davis, The Cranberries, Welshly Arms, and Keb’ Mo’.

- The Fyre Festival was the defining scam of the millennial generation, at the nexus of social media influence, late-stage capitalism, and morality in the post-truth era. Marketing for the 2017 music event went viral with the help of rapper Ja Rule, instagram stars, and models, but turned epic fail after stranding thousands in the Bahamas. Featuring an exclusive interview with Billy McFarland, the convicted con-man behind the festival; Fyre Fraud is a true-crime comedy bolstered by a cast of whistleblowers, victims, and insiders going beyond the spectacle to uncover the power of FOMO and an ecosystem of enablers, driven by profit and a lack of accountability in the digital age.


- On Sunday, January 20 at 11 p.m. ET/PT Retired two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis takes BDot, a rising social media phenom, under his wing in an unorthodox mentorship program that often ends in hilarious disaster. Featuring Davis and real-life Instagram star Brandon Armstrong (bdotadot5) as eccentric versions of themselves, WTF Baron Davis depicts the absurd antics that transpire when an opinionated and self-centered celebrity “invests” in the lovable yet incompetent screw-ups who hang around him. With guest appearances from Flava Flav, Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Jerry Ferrara (Entourage), and basketball player Nick “Swaggy P” Young. Then, immediately following, at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT, Fuse will debut brand-new series That White People Sh*t, featuring comedian King Keraun Harris (IG @kingkeraun) who is on a journey of discovery, pulling back the curtain on a variety of subcultures that are particular to the white community. Join King Keraun as he fully immerses himself in white culture like fencing, goat yoga, LARPing, slack lining, alpaca farming, and ghost hunting. Along the way, he meets new friends and makes it his mission to understand why white people do what they do, and love what they do. Better known by his online alias and persona King Keraun, Keraun Harris is a producer, actor, comedian, and Internet personality who has appeared on HBO's Insecure and ABC's Black-ish.

- Thirty years after forming in Limerick (initially as The Cranberry Saw Us) The Cranberries are set to release their 8th and final album In The End. With Stephen Street once again taking producer duties, the eleven-track record brings a remarkable career to a fitting and powerful closure. Announcing the album, the band has shared the first single "All Over Now" that blends rock, alternative and catchy almost pop-sounding melodies to deliver a classic Cranberries sound.

- Cleveland six-piece Welshly Arms unveils their new single “Learn To Let Go” today—listen and share HERE! The song exclusively premiered on Billboard, who hails it as “a punchy rock anthem.” “Learn To Let Go” follows the band’s 2018 debut album No Place Is Home released via Republic Records, which features their breakout hits “Legendary” and “Sanctuary.” “Legendary” has over 70 million Spotify streams to date and is certified platinum in Germany and Switzerland.

- Four-time GRAMMY award-winning contemporary Blues and Americana artist Keb’ Mo’ marks his 25th anniversary year with an upcoming tour and new studio album. The international solo tour will include a first-time performance at The Dubai Jazz Festival and trips to Australia, Europe, and dates spanning the United States.

Previewing Black Monday

Just last week I was talking about how Seth Rogan was the king of high concept and low brow comedy. But here I am reviewing another show he is a producer of (and also directed the Pilot episode with his producing partner Evan Goldberg) and Black Monday is actually a simple concept about the stock market crash of 1987. Okay, since the show focuses on predominately male stock brokers, there still is plenty low brow humor. Or as our present day grooming companies would call toxic masculinity masquerading as humor.

Being Black Monday, naturally the show starts with someone throwing themselves out a window crashing down on a Lamborghini limousine. Which is apparently a real thing. But this a story is about what caused the crash so we then flash back a year. Oh and we get to see the tie pin that was on the dead body on one of our main characters. Though that person is no longer in possession of that tie pin at the end of the second episode so we will get to debate all season (or more)just who jumped out the window. And le me go ahead and ask now, wait, did he jump or maybe was he pushed? After meeting the characters, I would not rule out murder.

Despite the setting and time period, this is not Wall Street or The Wolf of Wall Street or even Billions set in the eighties (though it may be a not white washed version of Working Girl). There is a meeting in the second episode that looks like a Benetton ad. There is a black man, a Hispanic, a Jew, a woman, an Arab, and a Polynesian, and even one of them is a closeted homosexual. The lone WASP at the Wall Street firm is actually a new guy and actually the mark for the group.

Don Cheadle (House of Lies) is head of this rag tag firm who wants to be a big player by any means necessary. Regina Hall (Support the Girls) is his right hand man and best mind on the team. Andrew Rannells (The New Normal) is the bright eyed newbie who has brought his new algorithm to Wall Street. Oh and Ken Marino shows up as both Leighman Brothers (someone is trying not to be sued) which makes it twice as fun.

Black Monday is reminiscent of Cheadle’s last Showtime show with him yet again playing the leader of a firm in a ruthless industry, though a little less successful this time around. And of course, a lot more eighties reference. Though closing out the first episode with a montage of New York Stock Exchange workers set to Don Henley’s New York Minute is a little on the nose. Still, thanks to all the eighties gags, the new show is a bit more funnier… and twice the Ken Marinos.

Black Monday airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

Previewing SMILF: Season Two

In the #MeToo era, plenty of men have been accused of impropriety, be it white men, black men, and even gay men. But if we have learned anything from Demi more in Disclosure, women can be inappropriate too. So things are going to be awkward on the upcoming season of SMILF. It has been reported that star Samara Weaving, who plays the new girlfriend of the lead character played by the show’s creator Frankie Shaw is leaving the show because of a few incidents during her time on the show.

Weaving is leaving because of two instances. The first being Weaving objected to appearing in a nude scene. Shaw responded by pulling up her own t-shirt and remarked how her body had altered after giving birth and she still did nude scenes when required. Then this season, Shaw instructed video monitors to be turned on during an intimate scene involving Weaving even though the set was supposed to be closed, with only limited crew present and with outside monitors off. Add to that, there have been multiple staffers have made complaints to the WGA about both credit issues and alleged race-based separation, though no formal grievances have been filed.

Despite all these allegations, Showtime is still going forward with season two. Though them bringing back the show for a third season will be a bit surprising. But then again, Bryan Singer just won a Golden Globe so you never know punishment in the #MeToo era have been fairly uneven. As the Commander in Chief has shown, just deny and wait it out and people will end up forgetting or caring eventually.

Unfortunately for me, the viewer, Weaving was the best part of the show in the first season. Shaw was just completely unlikeable as a mother who just cannot get her life together even though now is the moment she has to. Weaving was the complete opposite, a ray of sunshine that would not let anything get o her. Really, Showtime should just cancel SMILF and give Weaving her own show. Unfortunately it seems like Weaving was already halfway out the door as the second season happens because she does not even show up until episode four.

Those actually did the like the scattershot that was the first season, you are in luck because season two is just as jumbled and kind of incoherent. There is one episode that turned out to be just a dream sequence that means nothing. Another follows one of Connie Briton’s housekeepers for a reason that comes clear at the end but I stopped caring why we were spending the time with her much sooner. An episode where Shaw looks for her father is another episode that just ends in a thud. I think when Weaving is official gone from the show, I may too.

SMILF airs Sundays at 10:30 on Showtime.

2019 Winter Music Preview

Last decade, Ryan Adams released an album every year except the last, as well as three in 2005 and one of those was even a double albym. So only putting out six albums this decade seems a little slow for the singer. And that includes a full Taylor Swift cover album in the vein of The Smiths and what he called "a fully-realized sci-fi metal concept album." I am not sure which one of those was more absurd. Adams is leaving this decade with a bang by claiming he will again be releasing three albums in a calendar year. There seems to be a few more notable albums being released early this year as the music industries is changing. Usually the winter was dead foe new music aside from some up and coming artists (this winter sees two debut albums I am looking forward to be Maggie Rogers and Jade Bird). They labels used to save all the big names for the fall to get that Black Friday money but I do wonder as we switch from buying to streaming if getting music out for the summer will become the bigger priority. Here are the albums I will at least give a spin to on Spotify. Click on the album title to pre-order on Amazon and click the artist name to be taken to their iTunes page.


January 18
Heard it in a Past Life - Maggie Rogers
Native Tongue - Switchfoot
Rattlesnake - Neyla Pekarek
Mint - Alice Merton
Assume Form - James Blake
Look Alive - Guster
Remind Me Tomorrow - Sharon Van Etten
Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? - Deerhunter
Weird - Juliana Hatfield
Fool - Joe Jackson

January 25
In Search of Mona Lisa - EP- Santana
Stay Human, vol II - Michael Franti and Spearhead
Why You So Crazy - The Dandy Warhols
Live in Atlantic City - Heart

February 1
Don't Feed the Pop Monster - Broods
The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change - Nina Nesbitt
Stages - Cassadee Pope

February 15
What It Is - Hayes Carll
Head Above Water - Avril Lavigne
American Love Song - Ryan Bingham

February 22
Canterbury Girls - Lily and Madeleine

March 1
Weezer (Black Album) - Weezer
This Land - Gary Clark Jr.
Heroin and Helicopters - Citizen Cope
Sucker Punch - Sigrid
The Verdict - Queensrÿche

March 8
Gold in a Brass Age - David Gray
Cheers - The Wild Reeds
Still on My Mind - Dido
The Best of Everything - The Definitive Career Spanning Hits Collection 1976-2016 - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

March 22
No Words Left - Lucy Rose

March 29
Union - Son Volt

April 19
Big Colors - Ryan Adams
Jade Bird - Jade Bird
Moonlight - Johnnyswim

TBA
Wednesdays - Ryan Adams
Notes on a Conditional Form - The 1975
Late Night Feelings - Mark Ronson
Wasteland, Baby - Hozier
Run the Jewel 4 - Run The Jewels
On the Line - Jenny Lewis
Yandhi - Kanye West
Ariana Grande
Bruce Springsteen
Carly Rae Jepsen
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Charli XCX
Karen O and Danger Mouse
Kid Cudi
Maddie and Tae
Maren Morris
The Raconteurs
Rihanna
Ryan Adams (yes, a third album is also coming this year)
Sara Bareilles
Stray Cats
The Weeknd

And of course this could be the year Dr. Dre releases Detox.