Around the Tubes: June 20, 2020

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 Chi, Desus and Mero, Prince, Killing Eve, Greenleaf: Goin’ Up Yonder, Unsetteled, The Comey Rule, Indie Music Battle, Solar Opposites, Crossing Swords, and Dopesick.

- SHOWTIME announced a virtual concert dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Equal Justice Initiative, along with a $500,000 donation by the network and ViacomCBS on behalf of its drama series THE CHI. The one-hour special will feature an appearance by Lena Waithe (creator and executive producer of THE CHI) and a headlining performance by Oscar^® and Grammy^® Award winner Common (executive producer of THE CHI), along with notable Chicago-based artists and series cast members. The event will transform each artist’s “from home” performance into a unique concert experience. THE CHI WITH LOVE will air on the series’ YouTube page on Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, ahead of the drama’s on-air season premiere that evening at 9 p.m. ET.  “In this moment and always, SHOWTIME has a responsibility to support the change our country so sorely needs,” said Michael Engelman, Chief Marketing Officer, Showtime Networks, Inc. “We’re proud to stand with Lena and Common as storytellers and as activists as we present an evening of music, joy and reflection. Inspired by all the artists involved, it’s our hope that THE CHI WITH LOVE will be just one of many catalysts designed to inspire togetherness and action.”  “In this moment and always, SHOWTIME has a responsibility to support the change our country so sorely needs,” said Michael Engelman, Chief Marketing Officer, Showtime Networks, Inc. “We’re proud to stand with Lena and Common as storytellers and as activists as we present an evening of music, joy and reflection. Inspired by all the artists involved, it’s our hope that THE CHI WITH LOVE will be just one of many catalysts designed to inspire togetherness and action.”

- DESUS & MERO returns from hiatus with all-new episodes starting Sunday, July 5 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME, joining acclaimed series THE CHI and BLACK MONDAY in the network’s Sunday night block. Previously airing Mondays and Thursdays, the late-night show will now air weekly on Sunday and Thursday nights in the same time slot, and will continue to shoot remotely from the hosts’ own homes. Each episode features Desus Nice (Daniel Baker) and The Kid Mero (Joel Martinez) giving their take on the day’s hot topics and chatting with guests at the intersection of pop culture, sports, music, politics and more.

- Hurry Before It’s Too Late! Prince’s legendary 1987 concert film SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES is available to stream for free now on PlutoTV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, and the FilmRise App.  Shot at both Prince’s home base of Paisley Park and live in concert in Rotterdam and Antwerp, the film features the iconic Prince at the height of his powers and features performances from singer Sheena Easton and drummer Sheila E, among others in Prince’s canon. 

- The Emmy-winning spy show Killing Eve has concluded its third season, which, just like both seasons before, featured an abundance of Unloved tracks including new singles "Strange Effect" and "Why Not." The latter first appears against a backdrop of horror in the first episode of Killing Eve’s third season, when a young Dascha (the woman who trained Villanelle) commits her first kill. The brand new video for "Why Not" was directed by Julian House, who has worked with the band since their inception to craft the iconic, visual world of Unloved. Watch it HERE.

- OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will air the new one-hour special ‘Greenleaf: Goin’ Up Yonder,’ Tuesday, June 16 at 9pm ET/PT.  Hosted by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Patti LaBelle, who played Christian motivational speaker Maxine Patterson during Season Three of ‘Greenleaf,’ the special celebrates the first four seasons of the landmark drama series, with a look forward to the show’s fifth and final season which one week later on Tuesday, June 23 at 9pm ET/PT on OWN.  Featuring new interviews with series stars Merle Dandridge, Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Lamman Rucker and Deborah Joy Winans, clips of unforgettable moments from throughout the series, as well as a sneak peek at what is to come in the new season.  “Greenleaf’s” fifth and final season will premiere on Tuesday, June 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. See teaser trailer for the new season HERE.

- Open Door Productions LLC is proud to present the broadcast premiere of UNSETTLED: Seeking Refuge in America, a documentary revealing the untold stories of LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers, produced and directed by Tom Shepard and co-produced by Jen 
Gilomen.  UNSETTLED had its World Premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival, is the winner of the Best Documentary Feature Film at 2019 Outfest, and played at 55 festivals worldwide - winning 14 other top awards.  UNSETTLED will lead Doc World’s new season which broadcasts on public media’s WORLD Channel on June 28 and will be available for streaming on WorldChannel.org through July 12.

- SHOWTIME has announced that the new limited series THE COMEY RULE,  starring Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) as former FBI Director James Comey and Brendan Gleeson (Mr. Mercedes) as President Donald J. Trump, will premiere on back-to-back nights in late November. The two-part, four-hour event series was adapted for the screen and directed by Oscar^® nominated screenwriter Billy Ray (Captain Phillips, Shattered Glass) and executive produced by Shane Salerno, Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin and Ray. The series was produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Home Run Productions, The Story Factory, and Secret Hideout.  Based on Comey’s No. 1 New York Times bestselling book A Higher Loyalty and more than a year of additional interviews with a number of key principals, THE COMEY RULE is an immersive, behind-the-headlines account of the historically turbulent events surrounding the 2016 presidential election and its aftermath, which divided a nation. THE COMEY RULE is not a biopic of one man, but is instead the story of two powerful figures, Comey and Trump, whose strikingly different personalities, ethics and loyalties put them on a collision course.

- REELZ announced a new late-night series Indie Music Battle that puts a twist on music competitions with the music videos from unsigned independent artists across all genres battling it out for the top spot as chosen by live viewer voting via text message. With new videos introduced every week getting to number one is hard but staying there is even harder. Indie Music Battle makes its late-night premiere on Monday, June 29 at 3am ET/ 12am PT with new episodes weeknights at 3am ET/ 12am PT. Indie Music Battle is produced by IndieCast TV.

- Hulu has renewed 20^th Century Fox Television’s adult animated series Solar Opposites for a 3rd season (12 episodes). The series was initially picked up for two-season order.

- Hulu has renewed Stoopid Buddy Stoodios’ adult animated series Crossing Swords for a 2nd season (10 episodes). The first season debuted on Hulu on Friday, June 12 and is distributed by Sony Pictures Television Studios.

- Hulu announced a straight-to-series order for Dopesick from Emmy Award-winning writer Danny Strong (Empire, RECOUNT, GAME CHANGE). The eight-episode limited series will star Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Michael Keaton and will be directed by Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson (Paterno, RAIN MAN). The project, based on the New York Times bestselling book of the same name by Beth Macy, comes to Hulu from FOX 21 Television Studios and The Littlefield Company.  “The minute we met with Danny Strong about Beth Macy’s bestselling book, we immediately knew it was the kind of groundbreaking series we just had to bring to Hulu. Danny’s unflinching and deeply compelling take on America’s opioid crisis will bring to life one of the most important stories impacting our culture.  Add to that the cinematic vision of Barry Levinson and the extraordinary talent of Michael Keaton, and we’ve got an undeniable series that perfectly embodies our Hulu Originals brand,” said Craig Erwich, SVP of Originals, Hulu.  “Although we were sharply aware of and empathetic to the horrifying pain caused by the Opioid crisis for millions in this country, we were blown away when Warren Littlefield showed us Beth Macy’s book Dopesick. Consequently, Danny Strong had been crafting his own telling of the opiate epidemic and in typical Danny form, it was mesmerizing. The fact that Warren and Danny are collaborating on this is a studio’s dream. Together with Barry Levinson and Michael Keaton, we have every reason to believe this important story will be one of the tv events of the coming year,” said Bert Salke, President, FOX 21 Television Studios.

Previewing The Chi: Season Three

It is not every day when the lead of a show gets fired. Though we may see it happen more often after three high profile cases in recent memory with Lethal Weapon and Roseanne getting the boot from her own show as co-worker are less likely to put up with a lead that does not respect their co-stars. The third was Jason Mitchell who was posed to be the next big thing but was booted from The Chi after allegations from multiple people on the show. One of his accusers also has left the show.

That is not the only trimming to the cast as Reg was killed off at the end of the last season and Detective Cruz is completely absent, at least in the first couple episodes. Still, the cast is still big enough that those loses are not missed, really, Mitchell’s storylines were always the least interesting. The three young boys were always the most interesting and they continue to be as the third season goes on as they embark on a new chapter in their lives at a new, mostly white, school.

The third season starts with two life events on the opposite end of the spectrum happening on the same day. It is probably not too hard to guess who is involved in one of them. By the second episode, we are introduced to a mystery that at the very least takes up half the season. But as reminiscent of the first season mystery of who killed Coogie, it really does not take up a big chunk of the time and seems a bit gratuitous. But after some cast shake up, it is good to see The Chi remains consistent.

The Chi airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 14, 2020

Billions: I predicted in the premiere that the college professor and the painter would be new love interests, but extremely weird that both showed up to the hospital for Chuck’s father.

Snowpiercer: Well, as, meh as the first four episodes were, at least they solved the crime pretty quickly. I just hope they do not unfreeze the cop every time they need a crime solved. They need the tailey to escape and slowly move up the train like in the movie.
You can download Snowpiercer on iTunes.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels: I believe that was the first time the two Gods came face to face since the premiere. And I think it was the first time Margary Tyrell showed her true form to any human. Although all of that could have just appeared in her mind.

Barskins: Oh, that is why the new groom was so disappointed. Granted I did not get to see how bad the scar is, but really, when the rest of her looks like that, it would not be a big deal breaker for me.
You can download Barkskins on iTunes.

Stargirl: I found the first couple episodes to be a little to geared to small children but nothing like a little selfie scandal to make the show a little more adult. Probably the best episode of the bunch so far. I am a little more excited for the Justice Society than I was just Stargirl fighting crime.

The Challenge: Total Madness: I am not sure we really needed a disclaimer, but whatever. It seemed to line up just perfectly, having Dee go out after suffocating in Purgatory, except she then pulled out the win. Now I am beginning to think Dee may actually win this season.
You can download The Challenge: Total Madness on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: I guess I was wrong that the good robot could just meet back up with the rest of the team when they are back on the time line. Maybe not next time, but I am sure it will happen eventually. But this episode had a nice tie in to Agent Carter, unfortunately they could not get Peggy herself.
You can download Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

In the Dark: Wait, why did the blind chick tell the Queenpin about the raid? If the Queenpin is taken down, she is free. Now with all the drugs in the basement, and telling the other Kingpin, you have to worry about the Queenpin retaliating and the Kingpin keeping his word. Oh, and clearly the drug addict brother is obviously going to find the stash and be murdered for it.
You can download In The Dark on iTunes.

Blindspot: Of all the people they could have brought back, Jane’s first handler and Kurt’s dad? I thought for sure the Reade would show up since he had already a bunch this season. But I guess future daughter was a nice touch.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: June 13, 2020

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 NASCAR, BENEE, Lenny Kravitz, Flikka, Paul McCartney, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, The Ed Sullivan Show, Ringside, Attica, Ponpu, 2020 Concert for Love and Acceptance, Love, Victor and Taste the Nation.

- Just two days after Bubba Wallace made a statement saying he felt NASCAR should ban fans from flying the Confederate flag at tracks, a ban has been permanently put into effect at all events and properties of the auto-racing giant. On Sunday, Bubba Wallace, the only African American driver racing full-time in any of NASCAR’s top three series wore a shirt that said “I can’t breathe” in honor of George Floyd’s last words as he was killed on May 25th in Minneapolis. After Wallace wore the shirt for pre-race ceremonies and the national anthem, NASCAR held a moment of silence before the green flag as president Steve Phelps spoke to drivers and teams over the radio about racial injustice and the move for social change.

- BENEE ft. Gus Dapperton: Supalonely:


- Lenny Kravitz: Believe (The Tonight Show: At Home Edition):

- Following her Gotts Street Park collaboration "Favourite Kind of Girl", Stockholm-based singer-songwriter Flikka today has shared her new single "Stop Me From" via Blue Flowers (Nilufer Yanya, Puma Blue, Westerman). Listen to it HERE.  Produced by Leon Michels aka El Michels Affair, Flikka explains the inspiration behind the song: “I wrote this song while going through a difficult time,” the artist explains. “I had a lot of anxiety and regret and I couldn't sleep. I remember calling up my father in the middle of the night asking what to do with the state I was in. He told me to pick up my guitar and so I did, and this song happened. This was the first song I wrote for the Flikka project and its really about  looking for love in the wrong places. It's one of my most personal songs, which makes it hard to talk about. Sometimes you trust people who you shouldn't trust. It's kind of funny how some people can treat you like shit and make you feel guilty about it.”

- Paul McCartney proudly announces the thirteenth installment in his GRAMMY Award-winning Archive Collection: On July 31, Paul’s critically acclaimed and universally beloved tenth solo album Flaming Pie will be the latest to receive the Archive Collection treatment, being released on formats including a 5CD/2DVD/4LP Collector’s Edition, a 5CD/2DVD Deluxe Edition, plus 3LP, 2LP and 2CD editions.  All digital pre-orders for the Archive Collection release of Flaming Pie will include YOUNG BOY. Also available as a stand-alone for digital download & streaming, the EP recreates the 1997 “Young Boy” maxi single and features the remastered Flaming Pie single “Young Boy," a home-recorded version of the song, the original B-side “Looking For You,” and excerpts of “Oobu Joobu Part 1,” also from the original single. The two music videos for the track have been restored and will also be published on the same day.  Two additional EPs will be available with “The World Tonight” arriving on June 26 and “Beautiful Night” on July 17.

- Yusuf / Cat Stevens today releases a 2020 reimagination of his ‘70s classic ecological anthem, “Where Do The Children Play?” - A first glimpse into the forthcoming album Tea for the Tillerman² (Out September 18^th on UMe).  50 years later, “Where Do The Children Play?” still depicts a chilling reality of modern man’s disregard for nature and its disastrous implications for our future on this precious planet. Its original release on Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens’ multi-platinum selling album - made a giant imprint on the consciousness of the seventies generation and is set to do so all over again, this time accompanied by an allegorical and visually arresting animated video by director Chris Hopewell, whose previous credits include Radiohead’s “Burn The Witch.” Watch here.

- Nearly 50 years after The Ed Sullivan Show wrapped its final episode and charmed TV viewers for the final time on Sunday night June 6, 1971, it officially joins the streaming universe and lives on forever. UMe today announced an agreement with SOFA Entertainment Inc. for the global digital rights to The Ed Sullivan Show library, which encompasses the influential television program’s historic 23-year primetime run on CBS. This marks the first time that Ed Sullivan Show performance and guest segments will be officially available in their entirety across streaming services worldwide. Launching today on The Ed Sullivan Show’s official YouTube channel, the first segments showcase landmark live musical performances.

- SHOWTIME has released a first look at its upcoming award-winning documentary RINGSIDE, premiering on Friday, June 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. Filmed over the course of nine years by award-winning director Andre Hörmann, RINGSIDE chronicles the dramatic upbringing of two boxing prodigies and follows the divergent paths they take as they navigate life’s uncertainties on the South Side of Chicago. The never-before-seen clip illustrates the separate paths of Destyne Butler Jr. and Kenneth Sims Jr. In an emotional letter to his father, Butler reflects from a correctional center in Shawnee, Ill. upon the mistakes he’s made, while Sims travels the country fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a prosperous professional boxer. To watch or share the first look, go to: https://youtu.be/yjC2AoiYPP8. 

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films announced ATTICA, a new feature-length film from acclaimed Emmy-winning documentarian Stanley Nelson (Freedom Riders, The Murder of Emmett Till). The project details the five-day prison rebellion that transpired in the fall of 1971 in upstate New York and still stands as the largest and deadliest the country has ever witnessed. The film is set to premiere on SHOWTIME in 2021, the 50^th anniversary of the uprising. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. More than a simple recounting of the five days of rebellion, ATTICA will also offer a broader understanding of the Attica tragedy in the crosscurrents of politics, race, power and punishment during the early 1970s. Through expert voices and archival images of urban and suburban life, the film explores the tensions between a young, radicalized population of mostly Black and Latino inmates, and correctional officers from a predominately white company town, where the Attica prison was the primary employer for generations of families. ATTICA examines inmates’ demands for recognition of their humanity at the culmination of a moment where racial justice activists embraced prisoner rights as an extension of their fight for civil rights. Dr. Heather Ann Thompson, the Pulitzer Prize and Bancroft Prize-winning author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy, will serve as the lead historical consultant on the project.

- Developer Purple Tree Studio and publisher Zordix today announced that due to overwhelming fan demand, their upcoming four-player duck-on-duck destruction game Ponpu will feature both local and online multiplayer when it releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Steam, and Xbox One this Fall. The all-seeing Duck God has had enough and the world has run out of time. Every 2 billion years the world must be refreshed through divine destruction and he has sent you, a Ponpu, as his herald. But, a nasty bump on the head during a crash landing took your memory and now you find yourself working against the Duck God in a carnage-fueled battle against other Ponpu to save the very world you were sent to destroy. 

- The Academy of Country Music’s charitable arm ACM Lifting Lives®, CMT, GLAAD, and country music star and philanthropist Ty Herndon today announced new appearances and performances for the upcoming 2020 Concert for Love and Acceptance, set to take place as an online event amid the ongoing COVID19 crisis. Musicians Lauren Alaina, Lewis Brice, Terri Clark, Billy Gilman, Dennis Quaid, Kalie Shorr, and Rita Wilson will join the performance lineup, which already includes two-time 2020 Grammy® winner Tanya Tucker, who is set to open the show. In addition, singer Mickey Guyton will make a special appearance, as will actor, producer, and director Matt Bomer, who will introduce Wilson. The event will be live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook, and at www.F4LA.org/concert, with additional appearances and performances to be announced. 

- This coming June 19 -- Juneteenth  -- will mark 155 years since slavery was abolished in America. This date represents an important turning point for our nation and for human rights, and we believe that now, more than ever, it deserves to have its own day in the spotlight.  For this reason, we are shifting the premiere dates for our new original series, Love, Victor and Taste the Nation, to June 17th and 18th, respectively.

Previewing Into the Dark: Good Boy

With nothing being filmed since March, it is a bit surprising that there is still plenty of stuff that is already in the can. I was kind of hoping we would get a Coronapocalypse induced episode of Into the Dark with a creative writer/director filming some Father’s Day lockdown themed episode in their house, but the episode had already finished filming by the time lockdown when into effect. They are already done with the July episode too.

But it turns out this month does not even feature a father; instead this month’s holiday is Pet Appreciation Week. After some research, there is actually over 175 themed pet holidays this year. I guess whenever I go to the vet there is some new pet disease awareness month they are celebrating. Granted, technically we are actually at the end of Pet Appreciation Week as it ends Saturday. So it is time to sit your furry friend down and watch the latest installment of Into the Dark: Good Boy.

Or, well, maybe don’t because you may not want to give them any ideas. Judy Greer, plays a culture editor at a newspaper that is about to go digital who’s biological clock is ticking pretty loud. While looking for a donor, she decides to adopt a dog, and shortly after, people around her start dying. Though we do not get to see the deaths, the bodies are hilariously gruesome.

Okay, it is pretty easy to see where this going, but it is so nice to see Greer being a leading lady after way too many years as the best friend or side kick. She is literally just the ex-wife in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The supporting cast is pretty good, Steve Gutenberg is her boss, Ellen Wong plays a girl Greer used to babysit, while Elise Neal is her fertility doctor. After seeing Good Boy, you may want to skip Take Your Dog to Work Day which is coming up later this month.

Into the Dark: Good Boy premieres today on Hulu.

Into the Dark Season Two Power Ranking:

1. Uncanny Annie (October)
2. A Nasty Piece of Work (December)
3. Pooka Lives! (April)
4. Good Boy (June)
5. Delivered (May)
6. Crawlers (March)
7. Pilgrim (November)
8. My Valentine (February)

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 6, 2020

Billions: I predicted in the premiere that the college professor and the painter would be new love interests, but extremely weird that both showed up to the hospital for Chuck’s father.

Killing Eve: So the first season ended with Eve seemingly killing the crazy French assassin, the second season ended with the crazy French assassin seemingly killing Eve, and the third season ends with… what the fork was that?
You can download Killing Eve on iTunes.

Snowpiercer: So was there ever a Mr. Wilford? The big twist was that Jennifer Connolly was called Mr. Wilford. Here we have her playing a tape of a dude. Is that Wilford? Just a dude she got so she can continue to keep up the rouse? There is a Mr. Wilford in the movie but it seems like they do not take place in the same universe so it seems like a clunky way to make Connolly the head person.
You can download Snowpiercer on iTunes.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels: Well that was a masterclass of detectiving. Nathan Lane just managed to figure out that Tiago’s brother did it and got the other dude to not only admit to killing that cop, but also got him to admit to the murder that set off the series. Not too bad for the only two straight arrows on the force. But this begs the question, will we ever learn who really killed that family. They certainly implied that Miss Adelaide had something to do with it last week and she was going to take care of Tiago in the same fashion.

Barskins: Um, why as the new husband so disappointed when his new bride got naked? I have never seen a guy so sad to see a hot chick take off her clothes. Was she packing a little something extra downstairs? Was there a baby bump? I just feel like I missed something.
You can download Barkskins on iTunes.

Stargirl: They need to get to the pink pen sooner than later because I need to know whvt is up with that. And has Stripsey been feeding that owl? It has been like a decade since his master die and it just sits there in the dark?

Love Life: Man, Anna Kendrick’s boyfriends just get worse (note I have only seen one of the new episodes this week). Seriously, dude’s massive debt gets exposed and his response is to propose? That is some stones to think someone will take over your debt.

The Challenge: Total Madness: You knew the unholy alliance would not continue but boy did it go down in flames. Johnny was definitely one in the wrong. Whoever is in the tribunal should be assumed they would be the one who will pick themselves especially this late in the season. I am actually shocked whenever someone in the tribunal does not go in if they do not have a red skull.
You can download The Challenge: Total Madness on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Really, Daisy is that stupid that the robot dude who went back in time to specifically set a timeline that would help them rule the planet, and she was like, yeah, Deke, kill the person that the robot dudes want dead. At first I felt bad for the good robot dude for being left behind, but I guess he can just hang out for a couple decades and meet back up with everyone later, not like he will age, he once just hung out in that pod with Fitz for a century or two.
You can download Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

In the Dark: So the uncle guy is the little brother of the Queen Pin? Um, so that makes the dead kid her nephew too? Why was she not more mad that Harry Crane killed him?
You can download In The Dark on iTunes.

Blindspot: A whole episode full of Reade flashbacks? Yeah, continues my belief that he is not really dead. But if Weller was so mad at those two, why did he quickly pick them for the task force a short time later? I guess it mad for a funny site gag, but does not make much sense.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: May 6, 2020

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 Showtime, Tee Grizzley, Selena Gomez, Bryan Fox, Tommy Lee, Justin Flom, and POV.

- In an effort to provide resources and raise awareness around the ongoing struggle against systemic racism in America, SHOWTIME has made two of its acclaimed documentaries available for free. Peabody Award-nominated and Television Academy Honors recipient 16 SHOTS examines the 2014 shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke and the cover-up that ensued. Acclaimed director Sacha Jenkins’ BURN MOTHERF*CKER, BURN! explores the complicated relationship between the Los Angeles Police Department and the city’s Black and minority communities. Both are now streaming on YouTube and SHO.com, and are available to SHOWTIME subscribers on demand. The two films will also be available across multiple television and streaming providers’ devices, websites, applications and authenticated online services and their free On Demand channels.  


- Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley releases powerful anthem "Mr.Officer".  The song boldly addresses the issue of police brutality alongside a poetic hook with the assistance of Queen Naija and the children of the Detroit Youth Choir. As protests across the country continue, Tee explains the importance of releasing the song by saying  “I got a million experiences I can touch on in my music, but I couldn’t make another song without speaking on what’s going on. I’m not a politician or activist but right now it’s everybody’s job to speak up because the pain, the struggle for equality and the brutality is real”.  Along with the release, Tee also donated $10,000 each to Victory Management Homes and the Horatio Williams Foundation. As the son of a mother who is currently incarcerated, Tee recalls the moment in his childhood when they took his mother away and the state was going to put him and his siblings into foster care before his grandmother stepped in to be their primary caregiver. With that memory in mind, his donation comes as an effort to better support children who have lost their parents due to police brutality or mass incarceration and are forced to live within the foster care system. 



- Selena Gomez and The Lonely Island joined Usher, Janelle Monáe, Solange Knowles, Megan Thee Stallion, John Mulaney and many more to endorse law student Loralei HoJay’s viral Change.org petition calling for Justice for Breonna Taylor today. Loralei is leading a virtual protest today, Friday, June 5th at 3 PM EST, on what would have been Breonna’s 27th birthday. The protest directs petition signers and supporters to make phone calls, as well as send emails and “tweetstorm” calls for action targeting public officials, including KY Gov. Beshear and Sen. McConnell.

- Country rock songwriter Bryan Fox makes a celebratory return with fellow Kentucky natives Buffalo Stille and Ron Clutch from the Grammy-nominated, Southern alternative hip hop group Nappy Roots, releasing a new collaborative song called “That’s About Me.” Produced by studio verteran Malcolm Springer (Matchbox 20, Collective Soul, Boz Skaggs), and recorded at Nashville’s House of Blues studios, the new rollicking summer song is the third collaboration between the trio, and likely their best yet. The song gives its listener a reason to celebrate the return of summer, while paying homage to the popular song themes and instrumentation you get by mixing a little bit of country rock, with a little bit of hip hop.

- In conversation with Tommy Lee about his new music, his abject JOY over his new  album, ANDRO, is infectious. The mastermind behind this compelling collection of songs has conquered TikTok amassing 560k followers in the past couple of months, while growing his Instagram audience to over 1 million during quarantine - an audience that eagerly awaits his new opus.  Lee has had a mega-popular Netflix film (The Dirt), starred in and produced 3 Network TV shows (Tommy Lee Goes To College, Rockstar: Supernova, Battleground Earth: Ludacris vs Tommy Lee), had a NY Times Bestseller (Tommyland) and has appeared on scripted and interview TV shows – most recently, a hilarious appearance as a professor on ABC’s The Goldbergs. 

- Justin Flom, world-renowned magician and father of two, has debuted Season 1 of his new series Making Magic at Home with Justin Flom, exclusively on the Yippee TV platform, with Season 2 already in production. On the series, Flom shares the secrets to some of his most popular tricks and illusions, instilling a sense of wonder and joy to viewers of all ages.  Justin Flom has a magical life. At a very young age, Flom began sharing the stage with his family, performing magic as a form of storytelling. Now, as an adult, Flom finds himself in front of as diverse an audience as any entertainer, including touring with Country Superstars Florida Georgia Line and creating magic for other stars and companies such as Coca-Cola, Hobby Lobby, Lady Antebellum, Super Bowl Coach Pete Carroll, and the entire Seattle Seahawks team, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen and Nick Jonas. His tours take him to buildings like Madison Square Garden to mega-churches to amphitheaters across the US. He truly has the ability to entertain anyone, anywhere.


- POV’s historic 33rd season kicks off with Linda Goldstein Knowlton’s We Are The Radical Monarchs on July 20 at 9 p.m., available to stream on all PBS platforms, including PBS.org, the PBS Video App and pov.org. The documentary, which debuted at SXSW Film Festival 2019, follows a group of young girls of color on the frontlines of social justice. Radical Monarchs co-founders Anayvette Martinez and Marilyn Hollinquest—two queer women of color and working mothers—share their journey as they grow the group in Oakland, a city with a deep history of organizing movements. “I think self-empowerment and self-worth for young girls of color is really critical, and it’s really lacking,” says Martinez. “How do we create alternative spaces where that can happen?”

Previewing We Are Freestyle Love Supreme

Sometimes it seems like some celebrities just enter the public consciousness just fully formed with a blank slate before then. Lin Manuel Miranda just arrived as the Hamilton dude. Sure the theaters nerds probably remember him from In the Heights but there was a time Miranda was on stage even before that production. But his first off Broadway show was not even a musical but an improve comedy hip-hop show. And the thing about Freestyle Love Supreme, Miranda was not even the founder of the troupe or even the main star, but just a guy in the show.

But Lin-Manuel is definitely the reason there is a documentary called We Are Freestyle Love Supreme about the show even though watching it, you can easily forget he was a part of the group. And it is not like the other members went on to be big stars. Christopher Jackson, the original George Washington in Hamilton was a late addition and so was Utkarsh Ambudkar whom you may have seen in a few things including being one of the Treblemakers in Pitch Perfect but has not had that breakout moment yet. Miranda also mentions in the doc that he met Daveed Diggs through the show but never elaborates on the story. The others members are just college buddies that recruited Miranda because of their mutual love of hip-hop.

The documentary does devolves a little into Behind the Music tropes of having darker moments. There are hints of jealousy when Hamilton takes up a lot of three of the member’s time (director Thomas Kail being the third), the leader of the group moves to the west coast after getting married, and things get the darkest when Ambudkar tells the tale of hard drinking ruined his shot of being Aaron Burr in the original run of Hamilton. As Miranda says early in the doc quoting Orsen Wells, ”If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story. “

But the story of Freestyle Love Supreme does not stop there; instead the group gets back together for a string of shows in 2019. Besides those small bumps, the documentary is overwhelmingly positive and the love the guys have for each other and performing. Improv shows can usually be a tough watch and comedy-hip-hop improv is downright cringy especially with a name like Freestyle Love Supreme, but the love these guys have for each other and for their show may be worth checking out if they ever do another reunion show down the line, and not just because Lin-Manuel Miranda would likely show up.

We Are Freestyle Love Supreme premieres tomorrow on Hulu.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: May 31, 2020

Billions: Did Cory Stoll play Axe? Did he really want the bid, or did he only bid because he knew Axe would outbid him out of spite? That guy is growing on me every episode. Maybe Corey can team up with Chuck and take down Axe then next season can be Chuck vs. Corey Stoll.

Killing Eve: Well that was an interesting golf outfit. But kind of bad editing that the crazy French assassin hit her mentor in the back and later she has a decent gash in her head. But this whole season has been a series of mistakes. Thankful just one more episode left. Maybe try bringing back Phoebe Waller Bridge for the next season instead of hiring a different showrunner.
You can download Killing Eve on iTunes.

Snowpiercer: Not a good sign for the show that the first time the show made me feel bad was when all the cows were frozen. I wonder just how many of the 200(ish) cars have livestock. Gotta imagine that is it for the cows. But at lease the meat is preserved.
You can download Snowpiercer on iTunes.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels: Did Miss Adelaide just admit to killing that family? It certainly sounded like she wanted her henchman to take care of Tiago the way he took care of that family.

Barskins: I like a good historical drama and this is an interesting take on a part of time I am just vaguely familiar with. But it falls into the same problems as other prestige dramas as there are just too many characters to keep track of. I recognize Matthew Lillard but all the other dudes just blend into each other except the eccentric one.
You can download Barkskins on iTunes.

Love Life: Anna Kendrick is one of my favorite people in the world, I have a very low bar to enjoying her movies, but after watching two episodes, I really was hoping for something better. The supporting cast just does not add anything and all the boyfriends are kind of worthless when you know they are going to break up by the end of the episode. Then the English narration is just completely out of place. With that said, it will be nice to have Anna Kendrick on my television the next couple weeks. Well, I guess only three weeks because after announcing their shows would release weekly, HBO Max announced a day after the premiere they will be releasing remaining seven episodes over the next two weeks.

The Challenge: Total Madness: Nothing better than watch T.J. laughing at people scared by the the challenge. Though I do not understand why Swaggy P got medically pulled from the challenge and was still allowed to participate in the puzzle. If you are pulled, you are pulled. Then poor Nany, two thirds of her holy trinity eliminated in one episode and she is one of the few women left without a red skull. But it would be a cheap season if they institute the new rule that you cannot participate in the Finale and no one get eliminated. But where there are only three women without a red skull, there are six men without one.
You can download The Challenge: Total Madness on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Oh yeah, Patton Owsalt was a weird robot clone guy early in the series. I guess we will see what that was all about.
You can download Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

In the Dark: I am kind of glad that the brother ends up dying. He is just extremely annoying. But it looks like my original prediction that he dies because he stole the drugs is more and more correct. I guess the only question is who kills him.
You can download In The Dark on iTunes.

Blindspot: Oh now, they killed that one chick. But didn’t they blackmail her by threatening her family? So why not kill her family? Not a very proper blackmail. But there were a lot of Reede flashbacks this episode. The more the show him, the more I think he is going t pop up alive soon.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: May 30, 2020

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 We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Palm Springs, Gary Busey: Pet Judge, Let’s Stay (In) Together: A Benefit To Support The Apollo, Anthony Hamilton, Royalties, James Bay, The Avett Brothers, Bob Marley, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, The High Note, PJ Harvey, Greg Warren, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, A Film By Errol Morris, and Love, Victor.

- Well before the world knew of the Tony award-winning Broadway musicals Hamilton and In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda was in an improvisational hip-hop group called Freestyle Love Supreme along with director Thomas Kail and performers Christopher Jackson and Anthony Veneziale. Filmmaker Andrew Fried began chronicling the group in the summer of 2005, documenting the early days of Freestyle Love Supreme beatboxing and rapping on the sidewalks—unaware of how their story would unfold. Fourteen years later, Fried captures them reuniting for a series of shows in New York City that led to a triumphant run on Broadway. Both poignant and inspired, We Are Freestyle Love Supreme recalls the creative dreams of youth and why this show still means so much to these accomplished performers.  Premiere Date: Friday, June 5, 2020.

- Premiere Date: The upcoming Hulu Original Film, PALM SPRINGS (starring Andy Samberg) is set to premiere on Hulu and in select drive-ins nationwide on Friday, July 10^th.  Synopsis: When carefree Nyles (Andy Samberg) and reluctant maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti) have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, of each other.  Cast: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin, and Peter Gallagher.

- Each year across the country there are thousands of pet disputes. Those who want their cases tried by the best know there is only one man they can turn to, and he is thirsty for PET JUSTICE! That man- Gary Busey: Pet Judge. The six-episode season is now available and entirely binge-able on Prime Video streaming, and for purchase on iTunes, Google Play, Xbox, and VUDU. The series stars Judge Gary Busey as he presides over the fates of litigant pet owners. Each half-hour show presents two cases with a veritable menagerie of animals including monkeys, goats, birds, dogs, meerkats, turtles, robot raccoons, and more. Is Gary Busey a real judge?  Absolutely not. Does he know anything about pet law? Probably not. Can he look into your soul and suss out your spirit animal while delivering a verdict with a trademark Buseyism? You bet your sweet ass (the donkey kind).

- Gibson the iconic, American-made, leading instrument brand is proud to partner with the legendary Apollo Theater for the “Let’s Stay (In) Together: A Benefit To Support The Apollo” benefit concert. The celebration marks the launch of a partnership between Gibson and the Apollo Theater which will include collaborations on future show programming, music education initiatives, music preservation and support established and emerging talent. The LIVE, free virtual benefit concert will kick off Black Music Month in June and will offer critical support to safeguard the ground-breaking institution’s future following the unprecedented cancellation of more than 100 programs due to COVID-19. Tune in to watch the “Let’s Stay (In) Together: A Benefit To Support The Apollo” livestream this coming Tuesday, June 2 at 7:30p ET/4:30p PT at www.apollotheater.org.  “Let’s Stay (In) Together: A Benefit to Support the Apollo Theater” is sponsored by Gibson, through the Gibson Gives foundation. The free benefit concert will showcase an array of special guests delivering poems and performances dedicated to the memory of those who have lost their lives due to COVID-19. The landmark livestream event features performances by “CAPTAIN” KIRK DOUGLAS OF THE ROOTS, KOOL & THE GANG, GARY CLARK JR., ROBERT RANDOLPH, RAY CHEW, MICHAEL MCDONALD, LIL BUCK & JON BOOGZ, KEB MO, CELISSE HENDERSON, INFINITY’S SONG, MARC BAMUTHI JOSEPH and DJ REBORN as well as special appearances from DIONNE WARWICK, DOUG E. FRESH, ROY WOOD JR. and more to be announced. During the show, artists will perform the music of Apollo legends such as B.B. King, Patti LaBelle, and Stevie Wonder, and highlight the Apollo’s 86-year contribution to arts and culture. The “Let’s Stay (In) Together: A Benefit to Support the Apollo Theater” concert will also be available for free streaming by media partner, TIDAL

 With over 50 million albums globally and proclaimed a "national treasure" by the Los Angeles Times, GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum singer, songwriter, producer, actor, author, and R&B icon Anthony Hamilton, releases the official music video for “Back Together” [feat. Rick James]. Watch it HERE!  What initially began as a story about love and getting back together with someone you knew was special, ultimately took on a new meaning during the current pandemic. The cleverly animated video opens with DJ D-Nice spinning on ‘Instagram Live’ during Club Quarantine and now tells the story of two lovers as they long for the day when they can be reunited post Covid-19.

-  Quibi debuts the trailer of the new musical comedy series, ROYALTIES, created by Emmy & Golden Globe Award-winning actor and songwriter Darren Criss. ROYALTIES is a satirical take on the oft-untold story of songwriters behind the world’s biggest hits. Republic Records to release the series’ original soundtrack, marking the first major label release for a Quibi show.  On June 1^st in tandem with the series premiere, music performed by the ROYALTIES Cast during the first three episodes will be released. As subsequent episodes air, new music will follow daily through the season finale on June 10th. Following the final episode, the full Royalties: Season 1 (Music from the Original Quibi Series) Official Soundtrack arrives on June 12.  The comedy will feature twelve original songs and ten music videos, all co-written by Criss, featuring performances by Jordan Fisher, Julianne Hough, Jackie Tohn, Bonnie McKee, Jennifer Coolidge, Lil Rel Howery, Mark Hamill, Rufus Wainwright, and Sabrina Carpenter.

- Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multiplatinum singer-songwriter James Bay returns to The Ellen DeGeneres Show on June 3rd for a special performance. BAY will perform Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine."  During quarantine BAY has been giving guitar lessons on Instagram Live on Wednesdays and Fridays. In the past, he has taught fan favorites "Let It Go," "Hold Back The River," "Us," and more. View all previous lessons HERE. 

- The Avett Brothers have announced they will make their debut appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on June 4^th. They will be performing a song never performed on television from their 10^th studio album Closer Than Together which was released last fall to critical acclaim.  This marks the band’s second “at home” performance as they recently performed for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: At Home Edition on April 7^th where they performed “C Sections and Railway Trestles” which was first performed at the end of The Avett Brothers’ HBO Documentary May It Last: A Portrait of The Avett Brothers, and was written by Seth Avett after the birth of his son.

- Today, episode four of Bob Marley’s Legacy documentary series was released; this time exploring Bob’s well-known love of soccer and his longstanding connection between the game and his music. Delving deep into the archives, never before told anecdotes are revealed on Bob’s life and his impact on the world. Rhythm of the Game is available on Bob Marley’s Official YouTube Channel HERE.  Tuff Gong FC has also announced a special collaboration with FIFA for a limited-edition soccer kit available exclusively on May 29 at 1 p.m. ET in FIFA 20's Ultimate Team game mode via a limited-time-only Season Objective. Celebrate Bob Marley’s legacy and love of the sport with the 75th Anniversary Kit, available in FIFA Ultimate Team for a limited time on Windows, PS4, and Xbox One. Additionally, a Bob Marley 75 Soccer Jersey inspired by the newly-added Bob Marley player kit in the 2020 EA video game will become available on June 1 HERE.

- 50 YEARS on from the release of Tea for the Tillerman, the 1970 multi-platinum selling, era-defining album that made a superstar, Yusuf / Cat Stevens is set to release Tea for the Tillerman² on September 18th via UMe.  Tea for the Tillerman² sees Yusuf recast the same eleven songs for a new age with dramatic results. Half a century and an entire universe of experiences after they were originally laid down on tape, T4TT² is a beautiful reunion between the artist and the songs that helped define the melodious ‘70s. The impact of Tillerman has subtly intertwined with the fabric of popular culture while its songs have magnified and developed a life of their own through their ever-expanding use in film, TV, and numerous reinterpretations by other artists. 

- Republic Records and Focus Features release The High Note Original Motion Picture Soundtrack today. The film is also now available on at-home-on-demand and VOD streaming across platforms.  Prior to The High Note’s arrival, listeners everywhere experienced the first single “Love Myself (The High Note)” as performed by Emmy Nominated and Golden Globe® Award-winning actress Tracee Ellis Ross—who stars in the film as recording artist “Grace Davis.” This served as the multi-talented star’s very first career song release and recording.  Right out of the gate, it attracted widespread critical acclaim. Entertainment Weekly applauded, “Appropriately, Ross hits some high notes in the original single, ‘Love Myself’,” and Rolling Stone observed, “Ross’ musical debut is done exactly as the star had always hoped: through a project that combines her acting chops with a lifelong dream of flexing her vocal talents.” The Inquisitr put it best, “Tracee Ellis Ross, whose given name is Tracee Joy Silberstein, is showing the world that she’s even more talented than her fans already knew.” Not to mention, the official music video racked up over 1.5 million views to date.

- UMe/Island and Beggars today announce a comprehensive reissue campaign which will see PJ Harvey’s entire back catalog - plus her two albums in collaboration with John Parish - released on vinyl over the next 12 months. For the first time, each of PJ Harvey’s album demos will be available as a stand-alone album on digital and vinyl. This catalog project will celebrate every aspect of Harvey’s recording career and afford a comprehensive and exciting look at the evolution of one of the most singular and extraordinary artists of modern times. The first release is DRY, Harvey’s seminal debut album back in print on vinyl for the first time in 20 years with the Beggars Archive/Too Pure Records reissue on July 24. Released to worldwide critical acclaim on March 30, 1992, it was recorded at The Ice House in Yeovil and features the singles “Dress” and “Sheela-Na-Gig.” DRY saw PJ Harvey burst onto the global stage to begin her unique path. “… a seductive calling card that signals the arrival of an extraordinary new artist.”  - Robert Hilburn, LOS ANGELES TIMES. July 24 also sees the release of the 11 track DRY- Demos, previously released with DRY almost 30 years ago, and now available for the first time as a stand-alone vinyl/CD/digital release. Listen to “Sheela-Na-Gig” demo here.

- Greg Warren's newest comedy special and album are coming out in June and July from 800 Pound Gorilla Records and I'm sending you links to see and hear Where the Field Corn Grows ahead of time.   Greg Warren, most recently seen on Dry Bar Comedy, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show and Comedy Central Presents, has built a strong fan base with an act inspired by his Midwestern upbringing. His albums Fish Sandwich (April 2017), Running Out of Time (Sept 2013) and One Star Wonder (June 2009) hit #1, #3 and #6 respectively in iTunes Top Comedy Albums. An honest mix of self-deprecation, frustration and an arsenal of lifelike characters highlight Greg’s colorful perspective. 

- The fate of the world is in their hands as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fifth Season on Blu-ray and DVD on September 22, 2020. Suit up for all 15 captivating one-hour episodes from the fifth season, plus enjoy the epic extra content including a post-production featurette, deleted scenes and a gag reel. A limited-edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths episodes will be available exclusively for fans who purchase the Blu-ray. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fifth Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($29.98 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($39.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. Only). DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Fifth Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

- Showtime Documentary Films today announced a new feature documentary from Oscar^® winning director Errol Morris (Wormwood, The Fog of War) about Timothy Leary that will premiere on SHOWTIME later this year. A FILM BY ERROL MORRIS (w/t) asks the question why Leary, the High Priest of LSD, became a narc in 1974 and seemingly abandoned the millions he urged to turn on, tune in and drop out. Was his “perfect love” Joanna Harcourt-Smith a government pawn, as suggested by Allen Ginsberg? Or was she simply a rich, beautiful, young woman out for the adventure of a lifetime? Morris and Harcourt-Smith will reexamine this chaotic period of her life and explore the mystery of the Leary saga: his period of exile, reimprisonment and subsequent cooperation with the authorities. Devotion or selfishness? Perfect love or outright betrayal? Destiny or manipulation? The film is inspired by Harcourt-Smith’s memoir, Tripping the Bardo with Timothy Leary: My Psychedelic Love Story.  In a first-look clip from the forthcoming feature, Harcourt-Smith details an early encounter with Leary, previewing an impassioned affair. To watch or share the clip, go to: https://youtu.be/q8kmZYIbw3s.

- School’s back in session, so get ready for all the feels with the official trailer for Hulu’s upcoming YA dramedy series Love, Victor, set in the world of the 2018 groundbreaking film LOVE, SIMON. The series will premiere with all 10 episodes (binge) on June 19^th, only on Hulu.