Around the Tubes: December 9, 2022

 

 I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Yellowjackets, Letterkenny,  Koala Man, Favorite Daughter, Al Jardine, Sabrina Song, POV, and The D’Amelio Show.

- SHOWTIME announced that the Emmy-nominated drama YELLOWJACKETS will return for its highly-anticipated second season starting Friday, March 24 on streaming and on demand for all SHOWTIME subscribers, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, March 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Season one, which has a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and received seven Emmy nominations, averaged over 5 million weekly viewers across platforms and was the second-most streamed series in SHOWTIME history. Produced for SHOWTIME by studio Entertainment One (eOne), the series is currently in production in Vancouver.

- LETTERKENNY Season 11 premieres on Hulu, WATCH THE NEW TRAILER HERE!  The residents of Letterkenny belong to one of three groups: the Hicks, the Skids, and the Hockey Players, who are constantly feuding over seemingly trivial matters that often end with someone getting their ass kicked. In Season 11, the small town contends with the best chip flavors, lost dogs, an influencer invasion, Skid business, a mystery at the Church Bake Sale, unwanted guests at beer league, and the Degens stirring up trouble. And that’s just for starters.

- We are excited to announce the Hulu Original animated series "Koala Man" starring Michael Cusack, Hugh Jackman, Sarah Snook, Jemaine Clement, Demi Lardner and more, will premiere Monday, January 9th on Hulu.  "Koala Man" follows middle-aged dad Kevin and his titular not-so-secret identity, whose only superpower is a burning passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime in the town of Dapto. Though it may seem like any other Australian suburb, forces of evil both cosmic and man-made lie in wait to pounce on unsuspecting Daptonians. On a quest to clean up his hometown, and often roping his frustrated family into his adventures, Koala Man stands at the ready. He’ll do whatever it takes to defeat villainous masterminds, supernatural horrors, or worse: jerks who don’t take their rubbish bins down on the proper days.

- FAVORITE DAUGHTER is an intimate portrait of the director's grandmother Sylvia Weinstock and mother Janet Isa, sheltering in place together in a lower Manhattan apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sylvia was living alone for the first time in her life when after her partner of 69 years, my grandpa, Ben, passed away. Then her youngest daughter, Janet, moved in.  This short documentary is both raw and charming, melancholy and funny—a portrait of two women with vastly different experiences coming together and supporting one another through the uncertainty of spending the next chapters of their lives “alone,” without a partner.  Watch the Trailer Now - Just Released

- Al Jardine’s acclaimed debut solo album, A Postcard from California, is now available on CD once again via UMe. The album was recently reissued digitally for streaming and download, just ahead of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and legendary co-founder of The Beach Boys’ 80^th birthday on September 3^rd. Originally released in 2010 on CD and again in 2012 with two bonus tracks, “Waves of Love” and “Sloop John B (A Pirate’s Tale),” the much-sought-after record hadn’t been available digitally for several years before making its streaming debut in September. The album quickly sold out when released on limited edition translucent blue vinyl for Record Store Day in 2018. Purchase or stream A Postcard from California here: AlJardine.lnk.to/APostcardfromCaliforniaPR  “I can’t believe it’s been twelve years since Postcard came out and I thank everyone involved in the production and creation of this album to help me get my songs out there,” says Al Jardine. “Brian’s advice to aspiring young songwriters has always been ‘finish your songs’ so I took it to heart and I hope everyone who has listened to A Postcard from California feels my excitement and enthusiasm for this great land and sea of ours and our need to protect it forever. Thank you for all your support over the years, it is greatly appreciated and I will continue to dedicate Postcard to all the pets we love and who love us back!”

- Brooklyn-based alt-pop singer-songwriter Sabrina Song shares her long-awaited, delicate third EP When It All Comes Crashing Down, produced, written and engineered by Song herself, out everywhere now. Alongside the full release, Song shares the latest melancholic, piano-driven single & accompanying stirring video, "Down" out now. The dark, weighty tune sees Song earnestly wrestling with the fears that come with falling in love.  The four track collection from Sabrina Song is a tender, observational glimpse at the artist's assessment of relationships in her life where she discovers her own strength as she learns to advocate for herself, further solidifying both her sound and sense of self. Song explains, "'When It All Comes Crashing Down' represents a personal and musical evolution for me. The majority of my songwriting prior to this project was extremely inward-facing, working through my internal issues, insecurities, doubts, and streams of consciousness. I began writing this project at the end of college, and finished writing it through the end of last year. It was a period of rapid growth and transformation for me, and for the first time in a long time, I felt real security in who I am as a person and artist. I found the ability to turn outward, and begin evaluating my relationship dynamics, holding people accountable that I’ve let walk over me in the past, and being the best person I can be in the friendships and relationships that I hold dearly in my life. The result is four songs that find me trying to advocate for myself in my romantic and platonic relationships, and find a stronger sense of self and happiness."

-  POV takes a look at the dynamic between parents, educators, and students embroiled in a battle over closing a top-ranked elementary school with a predominantly Black student population in a gentrified Chicago neighborhood in the inspiring documentary Let The Little Light Shine, directed and produced by Kevin Shaw (America To Me, The Street Stops Here), produced by Rachel Dickson (‘63 Boycott, Hard Earned) and executive produced by Academy Award® nominee Steve James (Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, Hoop Dreams).  Let The Little Light Shine makes its national broadcast premiere on POV Monday, December 12, 2022 (check local listings) and will be available to stream with no PBS Passport membership necessary until March 12, 2023 at pbs.org, and the PBS Video app.

- Hulu Original docu-series “The D’Amelio Show” has been renewed for a third season with 10 episodes.  The second season premiered on September 28th and all ten episodes are now streaming on Hulu.  Season Two Synopsis: From public relationships, to private struggles, to new pursuits, with millions watching their every move, each decision The D’Amelio family makes comes with unfathomable pressure and scrutiny, in an era when comments and opinions are hard to tune out.  Dixie and Charli struggle to separate their own self-love and identity from their online presence.  Marc and Heidi parent in uncharted territory, as they try to protect their family from new pitfalls at every turn. With their spectacular rise comes one-in-a-lifetime opportunities from business to personal relationships, but can they hold on to what matters most–staying together as a tight-knit family?

57 Channels and Only This Is On: December 4, 2022

 

The White Lotus:  The “rich” gays really shot to the top of my whose gonna die power rankings.  But who pushes them off their boat is the real question now.

 

Let the Right One In:  At first, I thought it was Mark that knocked out the new vampire, but I guess he did not get there in time.  But where was the henchman that whole time?  Was he following Mark?  Now what?  Will Mark tell Clair his sympathetic story and start working together?

 

Survivor:  While possibly not the first time, you can say the time was when the dude voted out fourth won, but awarding the Immunity Necklace to two people really feels like a jump the shark moment.  Seriously, how does this happen?  It feels like every other time they have done this, they contestants would be fully submerged and just became a who can hold their breath the longest.  Did they not have the grates low enough?  Did they think the tide would get higher?  Then actually it was not just two people immune in the group of seven, because the latest dumb twist made Cody immune.  But to make the dumb twist even dumber, only Cody knew if he was immune or not.  With three Idols still in play and the shot in the dark, they could have had everyone immune.  Just poor planning.  Speaking of shot in the dark, I believe that was the seventh attempt at a one in six chance.  So that twist is becoming a bust too.

 

The Challenge: Ride or Dies:  Once again, a team wins mostly because of the peanut gallery.  And the peanut gallery is just making sure the same boring people that are dragging down this show stay in the game while the few interesting people go home early.  Seriously, either stop letting people help during elimination or have it happen in an empty arena.  It is horrible television when you know the people who get the most help are always winning.

 

Stargirl:  Those scenes with Starman last season were really weird and a few times this season I wondered why he was getting irrationally mad many times this season, but I was not ready for him to end up being the Ultra-Humanite.  Though I do have to wonder why he helped the JSA at all and why he was really against former allies Sportsmaster and Tigra.  Then why tell Artimis he was going to kill Icicle if he is working with him.  And just what his, Icicle, and Dragon King’s plan?  And how did the dead Dragon King’s brain get into the gorilla?

 

Big Sky:  So the husband is the Broken Heart Killer.  It seems like he has more in common with his wife’s other kid than the one he had with her.  Though I missed how the step father with the diary pages knows the evil gangster trying to find it.

 

Titans:  Um… what the fork just happened?  Where did everyone go?  Did they transport somehow?  But putting two people back together is bad, how wrong can putting six people back together.  And if Jinx said, “Not again,” does that mean that was not the first time she has been fatally stabbed and will be likely back again?

 

 

Around the Tubes: December 3, 2022

 

 I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Tell Me Lies, Louis Armstrong, The Beach Boys, Quinn XCII, Game of Thrones, Joy Oladokun, and Game Show Network.

- Hulu Originals drama series “Tell Me Lies” has been renewed for a second season.  “Tell Me Lies” follows a tumultuous but intoxicating relationship as it unfolds over the course of 8 years. When Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco meet at college, they are at that formative age when seemingly mundane choices lead the way to irrevocable consequences. Although their relationship begins like any typical campus romance, they quickly fall into an addictive entanglement that will permanently alter not only their lives, but the lives of everyone around them.  The renewal comes as Hulu Originals prepares to launch several other book-to-television adaptions including “Tiny Beautiful Things,” “Washington Black,” “Saint X,” and “Interior Chinatown.” 

- More than 50 years after his passing, the legendary Louis Armstrong is back on the charts with the release of his first-ever Christmas album, Louis Wishes You A Cool Yule (Verve/UMe). The collection debuted in the Top 10 across multiple Billboard charts (dated Nov. 26), including Top Holiday Albums where it bowed at No. 9 and launches in the top 10 on Jazz Albums (No. 4), Traditional Jazz Albums (No. 4), Top Album Sales (No. 7), Top Current Album Sales (No. 6) and Vinyl Albums (No. 7). It debuted at No. 122 on the Billboard 200, becoming Armstrong’s highest charting album since Hello Dolly spent six weeks at No. 1 in 1964.  “Louis Armstrong’s first album of holiday-associated songs is an auspicious aural example of why he was a man for all seasons, singing and playing his Promethean trumpet in the cause of happiness,” said Wynton Marsalis, president of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF). “Whether you’re seven or 70, these evergreen selections featuring the great composer/arranger Benny Carter, and the incomparable vocalists Ella Fitzgerald and Velma Middleton are illuminated by Pops’ down-home vocals. His reading of ‘The Night Before Christmas,’ with my New Orleans homeboy, Sullivan Fortner on piano, is a swinging Crescent City Christmas card. If anybody can bring joy to the world, Louis Armstrong can!”  “A Visit From St. Nicholas” has been vividly brought to life with a beautiful animated video to usher in the holiday season. Produced and directed by Tom Readdy and Lucy Dawkins at the award-winning creative house Yes Please Productions, the video was animated in a vintage storybook style by animators Sam Shaw, Jac Clinch and Chris Bowles. Watch “A Visit From St. Nicholas” here: https://louisarmstrong.lnk.to/VisitFromStNicholasMV

- Selected by Uncut as their “Reissue of the Month” and garnering rave four- and five-star reviews from MOJO, Record Collector, Goldmine, Shindig! and others, The Beach Boys expansive new box set, Sail On Sailor – 1972, available now via Capitol/UMe, is the latest acclaimed chapter in the Beach Boys archival series. The set documents and dives deep into their transformative and fruitful 1972 era, which bore the landmark albums, 1972’s Carl and the Passions – “So Tough” and 1973’s Holland.  In addition to the 6CD Super Deluxe Edition, Sail on Sailor - 1972 is available as a 5LP+7-inch EP vinyl box set, which includes the entire Carnegie Hall concerts, a variety of bonus material (also found on the Super Deluxe), and for the first time ever, a reproduction of Brian Wilson’s EP, Mount Vernon and Fairway (A Fairytale) on 7-inch, the format it was originally released on as a companion to Holland. The vinyl box is available on its own or as a limited edition set with lithographs. A variety of abbreviated versions are also available, including a 2LP+7-inch EP set, available with or without a limited edition reproduction of the original Holland promotional book telling the story of the making of the album; a 2CD deluxe edition; and digitally. For more information about the formats or to purchase visit: https://TheBeachBoys.lnk.to/SailOnSailorPR

- Following the recent announcement of his upcoming new album The People’s Champ out January 27^th, today, Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler team up once again for his new single “Let Me Down”—listen HERE. “Let Me Down” marks the sixth collaboration between the dynamic singer and songwriter duo, as they continue to make the most of their longstanding creative partnership.  Together on “Let Me Down,” Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler paint a picture of relatable relationship regrets against a New York City backdrop. The song’s airy synths underscore their unshakable back-and-forth, with fans anticipating the release for months following the artists teasing the track online. Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler have previously joined forces on the Gold-Certified “Flare Guns” and “Stay Next To Me,” in addition to “Calling All Angels,” “Giving Up Ground,” and Louis The Child’s “Little Things.” Stay tuned for the arrival of the music video to accompany the song soon!

- For one night only, the critically acclaimed Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience featuring two-time Emmy® Award-winning composer Ramin Djawadi will return for a special encore event at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA. Come relive this incredible concert on Saturday, May 13, 2023, the immersive live concert produced by Live Nation will have Djawadi conducting The Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra as they perform the iconic live music from all eight seasons from the blockbuster hit HBO® series including the “Main Title Theme,” “Light of the Seven,” “The Night King” and more. Complete with an array of big-screen visuals and dazzling bursts of pyrotechnics and fireworks, the concert will transport viewers to the world of Westeros once again while bringing to life one of the most memorable scores in television history. 

- Singer, songwriter, and voice for change Joy Oladokun shares a timely new anthem entitled “Power.” Listen to “Power”—HERE. The song notably serves as the end credits theme for the documentary LOUDMOUT about the life and battles of Reverend Al Sharpton. The film opens in theaters nationwide on December 9 and premieres on Amazon and Apple TV January 13, 2023. It was directed by Josh Alexander and executive produced by EGOT® winner John Legend. Watch the LOUDMOUTH trailer —HERE.  “Power” illuminates the power of Oladokun’s songcraft and delivery. Inspired by Reverend Al Sharpton’s historic journey crusading for Civil Rights, Oladokun wrote this potent anthem alone specifically for the film. It stretches from moments of vulnerability into a gospel-style crescendo with a skyscraping chorus meant as a call-to-action, “Power, help me use it. All of the people got it.”

- Game Show Network, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, is running a holiday block of classic game shows! The block will run Monday Dec. 5 through Friday Dec. 30.  The throwback shows running in the block include time-honored favorites such as: Press Your Luck, Super Password, Card Sharks (hosted by Jim Perry), Family Feud (hosted by Richard Dawson), Password Plus, To Tell The Truth, Match Game, I've Got A Secret, and What's My Line. Episodes airing from 1p - 3p are holiday themed episodes, featuring decorated sets, themed questions, and holiday sign offs. 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: November 27, 2022

 

The White Lotus:  So did Albie get a freebie or will Lucia expect payment for that?  Or does Lucia have something more nefarious going on where she will use that performance to blackmail the father?  And just how far will that condom misunderstanding go?  Will Harper try to get back at Ethan by hooking up with Cameron?  I always felt there was going to be some wife swapping, or at least offers, between those two couples.

 

The Walking Dead:  We have seen Glen fall into a crowd of zombies only to crawl under a trash bin to survive.  I thought that was going to go down as the most eye rolling moment in the show’s history, but they were saving the best (worst?) for last.  C’mon, Rosita, falling into the crowd, gets swarmed, breaks out like a pro wrestler in a dog pile, climbs on the truck, jumps from the truck to grab a pipe with a baby strapped to her, and then was able to climb on the second try was the most absurd thing ever thing ever.  A week later, I do not remember anything else that happened.

 

Let the Right One In:  Well, that was sad; they faked out the mother getting attacked early in the episode only for her to sacrifice herself later.  But why?  That was only a quick fix.  Now the father is alone and had to find the next fix all by himself.  But I guess the stargazer club was not the target of vampires, it was just random that Eleanor was attacked.  But that still begs the quest, why was the son targeted at that stargazer thing last week?  Now I am left wonder how the restaurant owner knows so much about vampire lore.  He knew the kid was going to attack her mother and that she needed to be allowed in the house.

 

Andor:  I am pretty sure the Stormtroopers killed more people in this episode than in the previous eleven movies and three shows previously combined.

 

Survivor:  I was really waiting for Gabler to blow up that plan.  This was the way to do it.  You have the two pairs and the four island of misfit toys.  If not now, when?  Time is dwindling.  Plus those two pairs have three Idols between them.

 

The Challenge: Ride or Dies:  Oh Nelson, maybe it was best you never won a daily challenge because he keeps on making dumb decisions.  And this would have been a great elimination to get Jordan out because Anissa is not climbing up that contraption.

 

Titans:  I just called the Rosita scene the most absurd thing ever, but Beast Boy morphing into a virus to infect a snake inside Super Boy gave it a run for its money.  But why leave Star Labs?  You had Super Boy in kryptonite cuffs.  Seemed like the threat was neutralized.  If Constantine could not get into Star Labs, would Mother Mayhem be able to?  Clearly the backup plan did not work.

 

Pennyworth:  So they are ending another season with London in chaos?  Of course last time that happened, they just yadda yaddaed what happened yet and just jumped five years in the future with the city back to normal, mostly.  But this time the city was bombed and the Prime Minister is presumed dead.

 

Fleishman Is in Trouble:  The music cues messed got me confused.   I thought they were in their late thirties / early forties (which is where the main actors are) but if they were listening to Hip-Hop Hooray, big in 19 Naughty 3, in college, that would make them late forties.  But then Tonight, Tonight, released in 1996, came on next which would put them more in the mid-forties range.  But then I realized, oh yeah, this show is sort of a period story taking place in 2016 making thing even more confusing.  But I guess hats off to any college party in the mid-nineties that transitioned from Naughty by Nature to the Smashing Pumpkins.  But after this episode, I realize I really did need anymore backstory to the relationship.

 

Around the Tubes: November 26, 2022

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, The Black Beauty Effect, Back in the Groove, and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

- You’ll be on the edge of your seat with HBO Max’s new generation of liars in the secretive and suspenseful drama series that has captivated audiences everywhere as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: The Complete First Season on Digital today November 21,2022, and on DVD February 28, 2023. Follow all 10, one-hour episodes from the series, plus almost one hour of bonus content that goes behind the scenes of the series for the ultimate fan! Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($29.98 in Canada). The series is now available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers and to stream on HBO Max.  Twenty years ago, a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, in the present day, a group of disparate teen girls — a brand-new set of Little Liars — find themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant and made to pay for the secret sin their parents committed two decades ago...as well as their own. In the dark, coming-of-age horror-tinged drama, we find ourselves miles away from Rosewood, but within the existing Pretty Little Liars universe — in a brand-new town, with a new generation of Little Liars.​

- UMe releases Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (Music From The Peacock Original Series) digitally. Its 16 tracks serve as the perfect digital audio companion to Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, the new original six-episode Peacock series starring Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland, Flula Borg, Jameela Jamil, and executive-produced by Elizabeth Banks, which premieres on the Peacock streaming service today. The digital-only album is available now in superior Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio. Click HERE to listen to or order Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (Music From The Peacock Original Series).  In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed musical comedy film series Pitch Perfect, Bumper in Berlin follows the revived career trajectory of Bumper Allen (Adam Devine), who moves to Germany to capitalize on the explosive popularity of his epic TikTok mashup of a pair of indelible hits from the Eighties, “99 Luftballoons x Take On Me.” Listen to Bumper’s unique a cappella take on this pair of classics from Nena and a-ha HERE. 

- Comcast and FaceForward Productions will premiere the new three-part docuseries, The Black Beauty Effect  on Friday, November 25 on the Black Experience on Xfinity channel, a first-of-its-kind destination of Black entertainment featuring the ultimate in Black storytelling. The docuseries spotlights the social change that has taken place in the beauty industry, as told from the perspective of the successful Black women who galvanized it.  Each hour-long episode of the docuseries features candid conversations on the impact influencers have had on the industry’s changing perception of beauty from Black beauty influencers, celebrities, and entrepreneurs including (but not limited to):  Actress, Filmmaker, Series Creator and Executive Producer Andrea Lewis, Executive Producer and Emmy-nominee CJ Faison, Executive Director, Multicultural Entertainment at Xfinity Keesha Boyd, Fashion expert and influencer Kahlana Barfield Brown, Acclaimed Actress Meagan Good, Actress and singer Amber Riley, Former editor-at-large at Essence Magazine Mikki Taylor, Co-Founder, Melanin Haircare; Natural Hair Influencer and Enthusiast Whitney White, Beauty Influencer Ellarie, Beauty Influencer and activist Nyma Tang, Beauty and Fashion Influencer Shalom Blac, and more.

- Check out the trailer for the upcoming Hulu Original unscripted series "Back in the Groove" with Host and Executive Producer Taye Diggs. The special four-night event kicks off Monday, December 5 with two episodes, on Hulu. Two all-new episodes available to stream daily through Thursday, December 8.  TRAILER: HERE

- For a record-breaking fourteen seasons and 435 episodes, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet™ aired on ABC-TV from 1952 through 1966, becoming one of the most cherished cultural touchstones of the twentieth century. The gentle humor of the prolific and popular sitcom was brought to the screen by the real-life Nelson family: Ozzie and wife Harriet with their sons David and Rick, all portraying themselves in a trend-setting blend of fact-meets-fiction comedy decades before Seinfeld and other semi-reality based shows.  The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet™ comedically chronicled the daily lives of the Nelson family as David and Ricky grew up before millions of weekly viewers. For the very first time, in association with the Nelson family, the entire series has been digitally restored with complete episodes from the original film negatives for superior picture quality.  Comes to DVD on December 6th

57 Channels and Only This Is On: November 19, 2022

 

The White Lotus:  How long until that one dude tells his wife about the prostitutes.  He does claim he does not lie to her, unless this is a story about how he gets corrupted by the other guy.  But where do the hookers go from here?  Will they carry on with those two?  Go back to the Italian?  Try to get money from his father?  Or son?

 

The Walking Dead:  So why, covered in zombie guys, did that chick still get bit?  Seemed like it would have been a lot smarter to just go off into the woods instead of trying to get in that trailer that is now surrounded by zombies.  And who is directing the horde?  They were being directed by Stormtroopers but it does not seem like anyone in the Commonwealth wanted this. 

 

Let the Right One In:  Wait, were vampires targeting a stargazer convention?  Why?  Another question I have with the human trials is just how do they expect to control humans with super human strength?

 

La Brea:  So what exactly happened in the warehouse?  They dance around the subject of how and why that dude got shot but never gave us an exact answer.  How exactly did he get shot and how did everyone else get out unharmed if someone with a gun was shooting at them?  Then why was he the only one that stayed in the 80’s.  I think I would rather go back to 10,000 BC with people I know with an outside chance of making it back to present day than stuck alone in 1988 with no one and no internet.

 

Andor:  That was sad, why did they program droids to have feeling?  But anyway.  Seems like another transition episode which is a little weird since there is only one episode left and there have been three, three episode arcs.  To end with one episode kind of by itself, not building like the previous arc, just seems off.  I guess the finale will just be a coda to the season and possibly a transition to season two.

 

Survivor:  The Knowledge Is Power advantage shows that the real power is with those that have the knowledge exists.  Noelle just used her advantage to keep him from using it and secretly used it against him.  Though that plan almost backfired because Sami was dumb enough to tell that guy’s one ally on the tribe.  I am not sure why she turned on him.  Tell him to steal Noelle’s Steal a Vote, then steal Owen’s vote and vote out Sami 3-2 out of spite.

 

The Challenge: Ride or Dies:  Eesh, Michele just cannot get things right.  But hey, at least she got laurel out, but no psychopath Jordan is out for blood.

 

Stargirl:  So what exactly is Icicle’s endgame?  He clearly is lying to everyone that his has changed, but why is he with the Ultra-Humanite?

 

Big Sky:  Oh my, Hootie just straight up murdered a cop.  But what happened to Lyle Lovett?

 

Titans:  Um… where did zombie Deathstroke come from?  Was that a Stay Puff Marshmallow Man situation that he appeared because someone thought about him?

 

Pennyworth:  Oh yeah, Bet’s sister is still around.  I guess I just assumed she had died.  I never though Bet did.  But how did she make it to the PWE place?

 

Fleishman Is in Trouble:  I cannot say this show is good, yet I still kind of find it entertaining.  Though the constant voiceover is a bit much.  And kind of weird that it is by the leads friend that he just reconnected with.

Around the Tubes: November 19, 2022

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting.  This post includes blurbs on Elton John, It's A Wonderful Binge, Your Honor, Letterkenny, Noah Kahan, John Legend, Mckenna Grace, Louis Armstrong, POV Shorts, Boys in Blue, The Territory, Arkells, and Nickelback.

- Disney+ announced that GRAMMY^®-winning artists Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile will join musical icon Elton John on stage during his final North American performance at Dodger Stadium, paying tribute to him and his legendary career. “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium'' will exclusively be livestreamed on Sunday, November 20, at 11 PM ET / 8 PM PT on Disney+. The concert will begin with “Countdown to Elton Live,” featuring famous friends from around the globe wishing him well, interviews with Elton John and David Furnish and more excitement from Dodger Stadium!  Disney+ also revealed the trailer to commemorate the upcoming historic three-hour livestream, from Disney Branded Television and produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Rocket Entertainment. “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium” will showcase Elton John as audiences have never seen him before, honoring the icon and the seminal moment in 1975 that cemented his global success. 

 

- Ho Ho Ho! Check out the trailer and key art for the upcoming Hulu Original film "It's A Wonderful Binge." The original comedy film comes from American High and will premiere on Hulu on Friday, December 9. 

- SHOWTIME has released the teaser and key art for the second season of YOUR HONOR, starring and executive produced by Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad). The 10-episode season will debut on demand and on streaming Friday, January 13, 2023 and on-air on Sunday, January 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The first season of YOUR HONOR ranks as the top debut season ever on SHOWTIME.   

- Gather your good buddies, LETTERKENNY returns for THAT'S A TEXAS-SIZED 10-4!  Watch the Date Announcement Video Here.  The residents of Letterkenny belong to one of three groups: the Hicks, the Skids, and the Hockey Players, who are constantly feuding over seemingly trivial matters that often end with someone getting their ass kicked. In Season 11, the small town contends with the best chip flavors, lost dogs, an influencer invasion, Skid business, a mystery at the Church Bake Sale, unwanted guests at beer league, and the Degens stirring up trouble. And that’s just for starters.

- In the vivid and thought-provoking new three-part television series, SEARCHING: OUR QUEST FOR MEANING IN THE AGE OF SCIENCE Alan Lightman asks deep and timeless questions: Where do we humans fit in the grand scheme of things? Why do we yearn for permanence in an impermanent universe? Are we just atoms and molecules, or something more? How does consciousness arise from the material neurons in our brains? What aspects of our humanity will be preserved as we evolve beyond biology, from Homo Sapiens to Homo Techno, part human and part machine? What are the smallest things in nature, and the largest and farthest?  To explore these questions, MIT physicist and best-selling author, Lightman (Einstein’s Dreams, The Diagnosis), engages in lively, revealing and sometimes even humorous dialog with Nobel Prize-winning scientists, philosophers, ethicists and faith leaders.  SEARCHING: OUR QUEST FOR MEANING IN THE AGE OF SCIENCE will debut with three one-hour episodes on public television stations starting on January 7, 2023 and streaming on demand on PBS.org for 60 days.

- Vermont singer and songwriter Noah Kahan performed a woodsy, acoustic version of his single “Northern Attitude” from his critically acclaimed new album Stick Season on The Kelly Clarkson Show—watch HERE. The stripped-back performance was shot in his hometown of Strafford, Vermont.  Next week, Noah will make the late night television performance debut of his breakout hit “Stick Season” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!—be sure to tune in on November 22^nd. The song recently hit #1 on the AAA Radio Chart, Noah’s first #1 at the format.

- Multi-platinum, 12-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend unveiled three new remixes of his hit song “Nervous,” today via Republic Records. Behind the new renditions are producer, composer, and performer King Britt Sexytech, whose remix credits include Solange, Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa among others; producer, artist, and songwriter Prince Fox, who has collaborated with artists such as Hailee Steinfeld, Tinashe, Cheat Codes, and Timbaland; and producer Xan Griffin, who has previously remixed for artists including Seven Lions and Minnesota.  Listen to each artist’s unique take on “Nervous” HERE.  The original version of “Nervous” is featured on Legend’s eighth studio album, LEGEND available now everywhere via Republic Records. The track recently blew up on TikTok after Legend initiated an open verse challenge inviting fans to add their own verse to the song via the popular “duets” feature. To date, the video has generated over 60M views on the platform. “Nervous” has also amassed nearly 17M global streams since its release.

- Emmy nominated singer, songwriter and actress Mckenna Grace released today her single, Self Dysmorphia via Photo Finish Records available to stream now on all DSPs [Here]  Self Dysmorphia is the latest single release from the sixteen-year-old acclaimed singer and actress off of her highly anticipated upcoming 2023 EP. Grace's powerful fan base continues to grow as evidenced by her recent TikTok postings which exceeded over 38M views.

-  Louis Armstrong’s poignant reciting of Samuel Clement Moore’s beloved, timeless poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” more popularly known as “The Night Before Christmas,” has been vividly brought to life with a beautiful animated video to usher in the holiday season. Produced and directed by Tom Readdy and Lucy Dawkins at the award-winning creative house Yes Please Productions, the video was animated in a vintage storybook style by animators Sam Shaw, Jac Clinch and Chris Bowles. Watch “A Visit From St. Nicholas” here: https://louisarmstrong.lnk.to/VisitFromStNicholasMV

-  POV Shorts, the award-winning non-fiction shorts film series curated by POV, celebrates its fifth year anniversary with 11 new bold and dynamic documentaries. The landmark season highlights art as activism, freedom of expression, Americans with disabilities, intergenerational stories, and connectedness, by independent storytellers. Nearly two-thirds of the season’s films are directed by filmmakers of color and over 80% are by women.  Packaged into six unique 30-minute episodes, POV Shorts, fifth anniversary season begins Monday, November 7, 2022 on PBS and streaming on POV.org and the PBS Video app. In addition to standard closed captioning for the film, POV, in partnership with audio description service DiCapta, provides real time audio interpretations for audiences with sensory disabilities. POV, America’s longest running documentary series, is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary season.

- SHOWTIME Sports Documentary Films announced BOYS IN BLUE, a searing four-part docuseries from Emmy-winning filmmaker Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor) that spotlights North Community High School and its football team in North Minneapolis during the 2021 season as the players come of age in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd. The series will premiere on Friday, January 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and episodes will air each Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT. All four episodes will also release on demand and on streaming platforms for SHOWTIME subscribers on January 6.  To watch and share the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/wyJygZIofc8.

- National Geographic Documentary Films announced the official National Geographic linear and Disney+ dates for THE TERRITORY, the award-winning feature documentary debut from director Alex Pritz. The critically acclaimed film will premiere on National Geographic Channel Thursday, Dec. 1, at 10 p.m. EST/PST and will then be available to stream the next day, Friday, Dec. 2, on Disney+.  THE TERRITORY provides an immersive look at the tireless fight of the Amazon’s Indigenous Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by farmers and illegal settlers. With awe-inspiring cinematography showcasing the titular landscape and richly textured sound design, the film takes audiences deep into the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau community and provides unprecedented access to the farmers and settlers illegally burning and clearing the protected Indigenous land.

- Arkells release new single, “Floating Like”, as a surprise addition to their just-released album, Blink Twice.  “‘Floating Like’ is about trying to free yourself of the allure and pull of material things and finding happiness in the simple wonders of life,” says frontman Max Kerman. It was written around a sample we cut up from The Impressions and their song ‘Seven Years.’ We added as many Motown soul tricks to the production with the goal of finding the joy and lightness of those classic tunes. It’s a special song for us, so we wanted to give it its own release and runway. Blink Twice is now complete.”

- Diamond certified multi-platinum selling rock band Nickelback kicks off album release week with “High Time,” the third single from their highly anticipated new album Get Rollin’, set for release Friday, November 18^th via BMG. Listen to “High Time” HERE. Watch the lyric video HERE.   Further previewing the band’s first album in five years, “High Time” takes listeners on a hazy cross-country road trip that reminds us that it’s always 4:20 somewhere. The new track strays from the album’s preceding singles, the edgy “San Quentin” and nostalgic “Those Days” with a funky groove and country rock twang that drives the message of a much-needed, carefree trip with good friends and some good grass. Frontman Chad Kroeger sings about “strumming’, thumpin’ on the dashboard”, which listeners are sure to do as their friends sing along in the backseat of a long drive while they get rolling - literally. The new single will have your spirits high (pun intended) with its infectious singalong chorus and Kroeger’s signature gravelly harmonies.