57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 22

Snowpiercer:  So not only did the big haired scientist we just met put the Earth into deep freeze, but he also turned out to be Alex’s father?  What big reveal related to him do they have in the finale?

 

Only Murders in the Building:  Whatever Paul Rudd was doing last season, it did not work for me. He just cannot do unlikeable very well. His character came off more like a SNL sketch. Now his weirdo Irish stuntman, this was hilarious. Nice to see with all the big names they brought in this season, they still held a few things back.

Ever since Mabel was kicked out of the Arconia, I have been wondering how she would get back in. I could have never guessed that it would be squatting in a killer’s apartment. Though It is pretty obvious the Portugal guy is not the killer, the killer was just taking advantage of the empty room. Could the killer be the Paramount producer? It is obviously way too early to reveal the killer and she will just be a red herring. I am guessing she had some connection to Sazz and that is why she was there. Maybe Sazz got her to be an investor. But why the gun, and why point it at the trio who she has met?

 

 Tell Me Lies:  Oh Diana, what the fork are you doing?  And why do these women keep on coving for this douchebag?  No wonder he is just walking around in the future timeline, these girls keep on giving him alibis and covering up his crimes.

 

Survivor:  There is always someone who breaks the cardinal rule of playing to hard early in the game and gets set home because of it.  Oh well.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  Why are people still scared of CT?  The guy put on a bunch of pounds since his last season.  It was not at all surprising he lost.  It was a lot more surprising that Tina was so good at removing nails. 

 

Agatha All Along:  Okay, that was fun, though I kind of wish we had gotten more parodies of prestige television kind of like how Wandavision was a walk through the history of sitcoms.   That should have been the first season and then the witch’s road could have been the second season.

The Ark: This felt too much like the alternative universe episode from earlier this episode, just with less people.  Though it was hilarious that Garnet basically ghosted the clone after they got back. 

 

Around the Tubes: September 21, 2024

 have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on The West Wing, Veep, Veronica Mars, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Nelly Furtado, Sister Hazel, Glass Animals, Kid Cudi, Joan As Police Woman, Gina Alice, and The Beach Boys

 

- Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will be releasing The West Wing: The Complete Series for the first time ever on Blu-ray, in celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the critically acclaimed series. Get ready to binge all 156 episodes from NBC/WBTV’sEmmy® Award-winning original series, along with hours of special features including over 20 commentaries, behind the scenes featurettes, unaired scenes, gag reels and more. The brilliant political drama, following an extraordinarily intimate look at an American President and the inner workings of the White House, will be available to own on Blu-ray on October 1. Pre-order your copy today.  Created by Aaron Sorkin who executive produced with Thomas Schlamme and John Wells, The West Wing stars Rob Lowe , Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen. The series was produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
 

- Just in time for one of the biggest political elections of all time, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will be newly releasing Veep: The Complete Series on Blu-ray. Get ready to binge on all 65 episodes from HBO’s Emmy® award-winning original series, along with all the previously released special features. The political comedy series follows United States Vice President Salina Meyer (played by Julia Louis Dreyfus) and her incompetent team as they attempt to secure a legacy, but often instead become bogged down in day-to-day political games. Pre-order your copy today.  Veep stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, Sufe Bradshaw, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, Sam Richardson, Sarah Sutherland, and Clea DuVall.

- Celebrating 20 years - Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her on the eve of graduating law school. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan (Jason Dohring) who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don't seem right with how Logan's case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind. Based on the hit series produced by Joel Silver and creator Rob Thomas, Veronica Mars is back, along with over a dozen original cast members... due to popular demand. Own it today!

- For a record-breaking fourteen seasons and 435 episodes, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet aired on ABC-TV from 1952-1966, 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 trendsetting blend of fact-meets-fiction comedy. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Video Scrapbook serves as a fun and fascinating companion to the complete restored series!   2-Disc DVD set Available On September 17th.

- GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar Nelly Furtado releases her highly anticipated new studio album, 7, today via Nelstar / 21 Entertainment / Universal Music Canada / Republic Records / Casablanca Records / Polydor Records. Listen to 7 HERE.  Written and co-produced by Furtado, 7 is a collection of liberated pop music, both celebratory and deeply personal, from her perspective as a “grown ass woman living with no shame or apologies.” Inspired by an “inner revolution”, Nelly Furtado is an artist thriving in her purpose, continuing her legacy of elevating pop music.

- Platinum-selling band Sister Hazel is thrilled to unveil its forthcoming 13th studio album, Sand, Sea & Crash Debris, due out on November 15, 2024. Produced by Ben Jackson and Sister Hazel, the album's 10 tracks guide listeners through personal and introspective experiences, exploring themes of vulnerability, love, growth, and renewal. It is now available for pre-order in digital format. Lead singer Ken Block shares his enthusiasm for the album, stating, "This time, our studio mantra was, 'Let’s have FUN.' We aimed to swing for the fences, keep things fresh, and throw out the rule book!"  PRE-ORDER SAND, SEA & CRASH DEBRIS 

- GRAMMY® and BRIT-nominated, Diamond-selling British band Glass Animals brought their “Tour Of Earth” to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, delivering a show stopping performance of their single “Creatures in Heaven” from their critically acclaimed fourth studio album I Love You So F***ing Much—watch HERE.  The band has been performing sold-out shows in arenas and amphitheaters across the country on their headline “Tour Of Earth,” which most recently stopped at Los Angeles’ iconic Kia Forum for a sold-out night—watch a show recap HERE. The tour has been met with widespread praise from fans and critics alike, as Glass Animals bring their new album to life with impressive, out-of-this-world production. Their “Tour of Earth” wraps in the U.S. this weekend with three back-to-back shows across Texas, and then continues in the U.K., Europe, and Australia later this fall, with the band playing massive shows at iconic venues, including London’s O2 and Sydney’s Opera House Forecourt. See the full list of upcoming tour dates HERE.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum sonic visionary, artist, producer, actor and director Kid Cudi shares “Don’t Worry” featuring Chip Tha Ripper on all streaming platforms.  Listen HERE. Watch the music video on YouTube HERE.  The self-proclaimed “ode to New York” sees Cudi lean into the sonic stylings he originated during his time in the city. His airtight flow and unpredictable cadence drive the track towards a hypnotic hook, while old friend and longtime collaborator Chip Tha Ripper pulls up with an incendiary verse of his own. In the visual, they take over NYC together. 

- Critically acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Joan As Police Woman today releases her 10th studio album Lemons, Limes & Orchids via Play It Again Sam. A record which explores love and loss at its core, the body of work functions as a nocturne for the expansion of time.   A crowning showcase of Joan's artistry in all its metamorphic splendor, the new album sees Joan venture deeper into her jazz influences with further affectations associated with electronic and ambient music. Featuring production and instrumentation from an impressive list of collaborators, the accomplished personnel includes the legendary and GRAMMY-Award winning Meshell Ndegeocello on bass, Chris Bruce (Seal, Trevor Horn, Alanis Morisette) on guitar, Daniel Mintseris (St. Vincent, David Byrne, Elvis Costello & The Imposters) on keys, and Parker Kindred (Jeff Buckley, Liam Gallagher) and Otto Hauser alternating on drums.   Watch the Video for "Remember the Voice" HERE

- Kicking off another creative chapter, international star, accomplished pianist, and dynamic vocalist Gina Alice unveils her anxiously awaited new debut Dreamcatcher EP available now via Republic Records.  Listen to Dreamcatcher HERE..  With its ever-evolving soundscape and stunning performances, the four-track body of work illuminates the depth of her artistry. “LONELY IN PARIS” revolves around soft piano and a gentle electronic beat, drawing the spotlight to her arresting vocals. Exuding attitude, she holds nothing back on the hook, “Now you’re just lonely in Paris, wishing that you still had this.” Elsewhere, her breathy delivery captivates over a synth loop and 808s on “Ladies Room.” She sets the scene, “Makeup on the counter. Nobody’s a stranger.” Then, there’s “GAMESHOW.” Locking into a hypnotic cadence, Gina gets reflective above stripped-back piano, steady snaps, and big screen-size strings, coming to the realization, “If you don’t know, it’s all just a gameshow.” She strikes an elegant and elusive balance between R&B and pop, cementing a sound of her own without.

- In 1964, at the height of their popularity, The Beach Boys put their Southern California-soaked sunshine spin on Christmas music with a mix of originals and inspired renditions of holiday favorites. Their fourth LP of the year, The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album was an instant classic, and over the ensuing six decades has become one of the group’s most beloved albums as well as one of the most cherished Christmas collections in the holiday music canon.  The 60^th anniversary of The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album is being commemorated with a numbered, limited edition LP on custom zoetrope vinyl, available exclusively via TheBeachBoys.com, uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl. The record includes a new gatefold jacket that features a holiday photo spread and a bonus 7″ with the single version of “Little Saint Nick” plus “Auld Lang Syne” on translucent “Ruby Red” color vinyl. The 7” single will also be available separately on “Ice Blue” vinyl. Both will be released November 8 via Capitol/UMe and are available for pre-order now.  Pre-order both releases now:

Zoetrope vinyl: https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/ChristmasAlbumZoetropeAndSinglePR

7” single: https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/LittleSaintNick7InchPR

- Some of the biggest holiday songs of all time will be released on collectible 7” color vinyl in time for the holidays. Available November 8 via UMe, Christmas music lovers and collectors alike can enjoy timeless yuletide classics from The Beach Boys, Brenda Lee, Burl Ives, Chuck Berry, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole and add a touch of vintage holiday spirit to their collections with these vibrant color vinyl records. Each 7” platter features a beloved holiday hit on the A-side and another festive favorite on the B-side, making these releases perfect for both enjoying and displaying. These limited-edition records are a celebration of the season and a tribute to the enduring appeal of these legendary artists.

The Beach Boys: “Little Saint Nick” / “Auld Lang Syne” on “Ice Blue” vinyl
Brenda Lee: “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” / “Papa Noel” on “Translucent Emerald” vinyl
Burl Ives: “A Holly Jolly Christmas” / “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” on “Opaque Snow White” vinyl
Chuck Berry: “Run Rudolph Run” / “Merry Christmas Baby” on “Evergreen” vinyl
Ella Fitzgerald: “Sleigh Ride” / “Jingle Bells” on “Apple Red” vinyl
Frank Sinatra: “Jingle Bells” / “Silent Night” on “Evergreen” vinyl
Nat King Cole: “The Christmas Song” / “Deck The Hall” on “Opaque Baby Blue” vinyl

Pre-order all titles here: https://UMe.lnk.to/Holiday7InchVinylPR

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 15, 2024

 

 Snowpiercer:  Um… didn’t Layton spend more time outside unprotected than the guy who froze to death a couple episodes?  But are we going to get a full out battle next episode?  Might as well go out with a bang.

 

Only Murders in the Building:   Celebrities playing exaggerated version of themselves can be tricky.  I was not really feeling the new Three Amigos after the first episode.  But by the end, the Perfect Strangers montage, unhinged va Longoria, and Eugene Levy getting punched in the face were extremely hilarious.  I also did not like Howard last season.  He just seemed forced as the stage hand, though I like him much more as basically a thankless unpaid intern for the podcast.  Though, now I am wondering what happened to his boyfriend?  Probably hanging out with all of Mabel’s exes in obscurity never to be heard from again. 

 

But that was an ominous ending.  Who was that weirdo on the other end?  And could that be Melissa McCarthy?  I kind of assumed that she would be playing Jan in the movie, but being some weirdo might be the better role for her.

 

 Tell Me Lies:  I was excited to get more of the future timeline in the first season, but now it kind of feels like a momentum killer.  Especially since it was a silly duel bachelor / bachelorette party which was only done to get Lucy and Stephen in the same room at the same time.   The earlier timeline remains more interesting.   Great scene with Lucy fulfilling her promise of outing Stephen’s secret if he continues to mess with her.  But she made one crucial mistake in not telling Diana that one of her sorority sisters saw Stephen and Macy together that night.  Now the question is, what, if anything does she do with that information.  Stephen is not in prison in the future, so it seems like nothing is a good guess.

 

The Old Man:  So the old man was not hallucinated the bad guy at the end of his episode?  But I am confused how Maeby went from having a fight to the death with her father to caving hunting with each other.

Around the Tubes: September 14, 2024

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Snow Patrol, Miranda Lambert, The Weeknd, The Beatles, Elvis Costello, Joy Oladokun, Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler, Bon Jovi, The Carpenters, Iron Maiden, Sabrina Song, and Flip Side.

- SNOW PATROL recently released their stunning new album ‘The Forest Is The Path’   featuring new single ‘Everything’s Here And Nothing’s Lost’  ‘The Forest is the Path’ is the Northern Irish band’s eighth studio album and marks their eagerly awaited return after six years, following 2018’s ‘Wildness’. It is produced by Fraser T Smith (Adele/Dave/Stormzy) and the band. Now comprising the trio of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, Snow Patrol offered the first tastes of their extraordinary new album with singles ‘The Beginning’, ‘This Is The Sound Of Your Voice’ and ‘All’.  LISTEN

- With NPR’s “All Songs Considered” lauding Miranda Lambert as “the most accomplished and consistently great artist in contemporary country music” as Postcards from Texas leads today’s discussion of the most impactful new releases, the show also declares, “This is an album that proves that she’s a backbone of country; she can make these really beautiful, minimalist country songs that get to the heart of very clear, concise ideas about love and homeland.” Listen to the latest project from the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history HERE.  “Usually when you make a record, it’s a snapshot of the past two or three years and where you are in that moment,” reflects Lambert. “Postcards from Texas instead draws on all the different stages of my life and my career, all the influences that have ever inspired me, and gives you a really full picture of who I am.”

- The Weeknd has officially released his latest song and music video, “Dancing In The Flames,” from his forthcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. Directed by Anton Tammi and director of photography Erik Henrikkson, the single’s artwork, music video, and promotional photography by Eddy Chen were all shot on the new iPhone 16 Pro. Rare behind-the- scenes footage of the stunning new visual premiered earlier this week during Apple’s  “It’s Glowtime” event, along with an early preview clip of the music video.  LISTEN TO THE NEW SONG HERE.

- Originally compiled for U.S. release between January 1964 and March 1965 by Capitol Records and United Artists, seven Beatles albums have been analog cut for 180-gram audiophile vinyl from their original mono master tapes for global release on November 22 by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe. Out of print on vinyl since 1995, the seven mono albums are available now for preorder in a new eight-LP box set titled The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono, with six of the titles also available individually.  All seven albums – Meet The Beatles!; The Beatles’ Second Album; A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track); Something New; The Beatles’ Story (2LP); Beatles ’65; and The Early Beatles – feature faithfully replicated artwork and new four-panel inserts with essays written by American Beatles historian and author Bruce Spizer. The albums’ new vinyl lacquers were cut by Kevin Reeves at Nashville’s East Iris Studios. The box set collects the seven albums, and all except The Beatles’ Story are also available individually.  Preorder The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono box set & individual LPs: https://thebeatles.lnk.to/1964USAlbumsPR.  Watch / embed the brief trailer: https://thebeatles.lnk.to/1964USAlbumsUnboxingPR

- Elvis Costello’s King Of America & Other Realms celebrates and explores the songwriter’s lifelong love, fascination, and influence of American music, spanning his many albums and inspired collaborations with some of the most celebrated musicians, songwriters and producers in this music, including his longtime creative partnership with T Bone Burnett.  Compiled by Elvis Costello, the six-disc Super Deluxe Edition box set, King Of America & Other Realms, releasing November 1 via UMe, traces Costello’s musical travels from Hollywood, Calif. – where the King Of America album was recorded – to a brand-new take on that album’s opener, “Brilliant Mistake,” recorded in Cape Fear, N.C. in early 2024, via Costello's recording adventures in New Orleans, Oxford and Clarksdale, Miss., Nashville and Memphis, Tenn. This one-of-a-kind 97-track musical journey is guided by Costello in a newly self-penned 35-page essay beautifully illustrated with numerous rare and never-before-seen photos in a 57-page booklet. The discs are housed in a handsome 12” x 11.5” package. A startlingly beautiful cover shot by Terence Donovan reveals the majesty and absurdity of a king in his velvet and bejeweled crown and embroidered denim jacket.  Stream “Indoor Fireworks” (2024 Remaster)  Pre-order King Of America and Other Realms here: https://elviscostello.lnk.to/KingOfAmericaDeluxe

- Acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer and performer Joy Oladokun will release her anticipated new album, Observations From a Crowded Room, October 18 via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records (pre-order/pre-save here). In advance of the release, two new songs, “NO COUNTRY” and “I’D MISS THE BIRDS,” are debuting today.  Written, produced and largely performed by Oladokun alone, the album marks a personal and creative turning point for the Nashville-based artist and was crafted during a period of intense introspection and questioning. The 15-track collection—comprised of 12 songs and 3 spoken interludes—finds Oladokun reflecting on her place in the world, both as a person and an artist, while blending her pop-folk roots with electronic and psychedelic elements. Earlier this year, Oladokun shared two additional album tracks: “QUESTIONS, CHAOS & FAITH” and “DRUGS,” which received critical attention from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, OUT Magazine and more.

- After weeks of teasing “brent forever” online and building fans’ excitement for a long-awaited brent reunion, Multi-Platinum singers, songwriters, and producers Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler finally reveal they’re teaming up once again for their new brent chapter—brent iii the album is set for release on November 1st via Mercury Records. brent iii marks the duo’s first full-length album together and follows their two previous brent EPs—2019’s brent and 2021’s brent ii, which heralded the Double-Platinum “you were good to me” and Gold “this is how you fall in love,” respectively.  To celebrate the announcement of the upcoming 11-track album, Jeremy and Chelsea reveal the first single “black & white” today—listen HERE and watch the official music video HERE. On the track, softly strummed chords brush up against Chelsea’s clear delivery as she muses, “Now I remember just how good it can be. I’d spend my whole life with you if you let me.” Jeremy also channels that lovestruck sentiment, harmonizing on the refrain, “You put color in my black & white.”

- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band BON JOVI will release its classic compilation album, Greatest Hits, on 2LP vinyl today, September 13, 2024. It will be available in various configurations at retail and through the artist store, including 1LP and 2LP variants on standard black vinyl and exclusive colors.  BON JOVI first unveiled Greatest Hits on October 29, 2010. Upon arrival, it bowed in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 in addition to capturing No. 1 on the U.S. Top Rock Albums Chart and the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums Chart. It also eventually earned a platinum certification from the RIAA and logged an impressive 352 weeks on the Billboard 200. Across the pond, it crashed the charts at No. 2 and reached quadruple-platinum status.  The album collects seminal anthems from the band’s first three decades, spanning everything from “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Bad Medicine” to “It’s My Life,” “Always” and “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” in addition to a pair of songs specifically recorded for Greatest Hits: “What Do You Got?,” which became a top 10 hit, and “No Apologies.”   Pre-order on the group’s official D2C store HERE.

On November 1, A&M/UMe is set to celebrate the upcoming holidays in a merry big way with the release of the Carpenters’ Christmas Once More, an all-new Christmas collection featuring 16 timeless Carpenters holiday classics personally curated by Richard Carpenter. This newly remixed and remastered 16-track set includes perennial Carpenters holiday favorites such as “Sleigh Ride,” “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays,” Richard's own “Merry Christmas, Darling” featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and many more.  All 16 tracks, which have been culled from the Carpenters’ most cherished holiday albums, will be available in multiple formats, including CD, black vinyl, limited-edition gold vinyl, digital download, streaming, and ATMOS. Listen to or preorder Carpenters’ Christmas Once More HERE.

- BMG will be releasing IRON MAIDEN Powerslave on November 15^th as a limited-edition vinyl pressings to mark this historic album and is true collector’s item. Powerslave is available to pre-order https://lnk.to/pwsl40PR.  In celebration of the 40^th Anniversary of IRON MAIDEN’s landmark album Powerslave, a brand-new edition will be released as the band’s first-ever zoetrope picture disc, featuring unique zoetrope artwork and the 2015 remastered audio of the album. The original sleeve has been expanded and contains new artwork and exclusive ‘Powerslave at 40’ liner notes from band founder Steve Harris.   In addition, there is a Walmart Exclusive version that included a Lenticular 3D Album Art sized print.

- Brooklyn-based alt-pop singer-songwriter and producer Sabrina Song will embark on a fall North American tour supporting indie singer-songwriter Carol Ades. See a full list of dates below and find tickets on sale now here.  The news comes following Song's release of her expansive debut full-length album You Could Stay In One Spot, and I'd Love You The Same out everywhere now. The expressive, earnest LP sees the musician take stock of her life as a twenty-something in New York City–reflecting on the love, loss, growth and gratitude–and what may come of it all.

- Hosted by Jaleel White (“Family Matters”), FLIP SIDE is a new comedy game show where two teams of players compete to guess how they think two different groups of people feel about the same issue. Every question has laugh-out-loud fun and surprises as the teams try and guess the top answers. The team that knows people best will play for the chance to win $10,000!  FLIP SIDE is a Game Show Enterprises Studios production for CBS Media Ventures with Jay James, Corin Nelson and Rich Sirop serving as executive producers. T. Jones serves as co-executive producer. Cleve Keller and Dave Noll (Keller/Noll) and Ken Ross serve as executive producers.