57 Channels and Only This Is On: December 8, 2024

 

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew:  Shout out to whoever on this show went down to their local Halloween store and bought the cheapest werewolf mask they could find.  I really hope we get much more wolf guy this season.  The first episode was a bit slow, but really picked up when they woke up the droid.  But I do have questions about Jude Law.  If he is some Jedi who can use the Force the get the cell key, why does he need a group of kids to escape?  Could he not just escape and steal a spaceship?

 

Survivor:  Is the guy who should have been voted out first, has been dragged along because he seemed like an easy win after having a mental breakdown at the first challenge actually going to win this season?  That would make him a bottom five winner of all time.  Probably a bottom five season too.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  We finally broke the cycle of ping ponging back between Michelle and Johnny.  We are getting too close to get a streak going the other way.

 

Around the Tubes: December 9, 2024

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, The Haunted Season, and Madison Bailey, Wicked.

- Motown/UMe releases the first-ever vinyl version of Stevie Wonder’s all-time best-selling hits set, The Definitive Collection. The 21-track, double album kicks off with the No. 1 live 1963 smash, “Fingertips – Pt. 2,” and takes us through Wonder’s timeless hits “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” “For Once in My Life,” “My Cherie Amour,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “Superstition,” “Higher Ground,” “Sir Duke,” “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” “Part Time Lover,” and more. It is now available HERE.  Reflecting the artist’s ongoing importance and popularity, The Definitive Collection is newly certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA.  The 2LP set is remastered for vinyl and housed in a beautiful gatefold package with Braille embossing, rare photos from the Motown Archives, full track-by-track annotations and a celebratory essay by Scott Regen, a Detroit DJ who became a Motown staff writer and producer and who wrote the liner notes to Wonder’s first Greatest Hits album in 1968. In addition to the wide release, The Definitive Collection will be available in an exclusive color vinyl edition at Amazon, while fans also have the option of collecting the album in 180gm vinyl and high gloss packaging with a limited-edition photo print and an additional exclusive Braille message from Stevie Wonder HERE. Complex.com followers have the option to collect their own exclusive edition, featuring an alternate cover and ‘Tamla yellow’ vinyl HERE. 

- Steely Dan’s sophisticated jazz pop fourth album, 1975’s Katy Lied, with such standouts as “Black Friday,” “Bad Sneakers” and “Doctor Wu,” will return to vinyl for the first time in more than forty years on January 31, 2025, via Geffen/UMe, continuing the extensive reissue program of the band’s classic ABC and MCA Records catalog. The series, which began in November 2022 with the Dan’s legendary debut LP, Can’t Buy A Thrill, is being personally overseen by founding member Donald Fagen, and returns the group’s first seven records to vinyl, most of which haven’t been available since their original release. The series will close out with 1976’s guitar-driven The Royal Scam (“Kid Charlemagne,” “The Fez”) in mid-2025.  Pre-order Katy Lied now: https://steelydan.lnk.to/KatyLiedLPPR.  Katy Lied has been meticulously remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes for release as a limited edition premium 45 RPM version on Ultra High-Quality Vinyl (UHQR) from Analogue Productions, the audiophile in-house reissue label of Acoustic Sounds. Analogue Productions is also releasing this series of titles on Super Audio CD (SACD).

 

- From boutique label Severin Films and renowned author, producer and filmmaker Kier-La Janisse (Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror, House of Psychotic Women) comes new annual series The Haunted Season.  Created by Janisse and executive produced by Severin Films, new episodes of The Haunted Season will arrive on Shudder each December with chilling short form horror tales in the tradition of telling ghost stories for Christmas. Future episodes will be announced each year as the holiday season approaches.  The first of these original commissioned productions comes from director Sean Hogan (director of The Devil’s Business, and author of England’s Screaming and its sequel Twilight’s Last Screaming), called To Fire You Come at Last.

- Continuing a dynamic and prolific creative season, critically acclaimed actress and buzzing singer-songwriter Madison Bailey unveils a new single entitled “Honestly” out today via Republic Records.  Listen HERE.  Acoustic guitar sets the tone for the track, underscoring her gentle vocal delivery. Brandishing an impressive range and hypnotic high register, she holds nothing back with a confession on the chorus, “Honestly, I can’t take another tragedy.” Meanwhile, emotion practically overflows from her words, “Every day just feels like it’s the hardest.” Ultimately, “Honestly” further affirms her as raw and relatable musical presence.

- Universal Pictures, Republic Records and Verve Records announce the release of Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score, from Grammy and Oscar® nominated composer John Powell (Solo: A Star Wars Story, How to Train Your Dragon) and Grammy and Oscar® winning composer Stephen Schwartz, the legendary composer and lyricist of the generation-defining Broadway show.  Listen to Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score HERE.  Available to stream on all digital platforms and on vinyl for purchase.  John Powell and Stephen Schwartz have built a magical sonic world for the film’s original motion picture score. From the “Arrival at Shiz University” to “All Around Defying Gravity,” the film’s timeless score accompanies and elevates the characters’ journeys through Oz.

Transmissions from Pluto - Everything Coming to Pluto TV in December 2024

 

‘Tis the season to be streaming with Pluto TV! In this month’s edition of Transmissions from Pluto, we are counting down to the New Year with a look back at 2024’s most free-nomenal moments, from our 10th Anniversary to our binge-worthy programming and everything in between. If you’re not into looking back, there’s still plenty to look forward to this holiday season with our Season’s Greetings category, featuring festive TV and movies all month long on channels like Pluto TV Christmas and Hallmark Movies and More Holiday Favorites, plus special programming like a Hanukah Menorah and Kwanzaa Kinara on our Crackling Fireplace channel. On the other hand, if spending extra time with your family makes you feel like you’re stuck in another time or dimension, check out our new channels, Dinos 24/7 and The Twilight Zone. No matter if your mood is merry or miserly, we have you covered, so settle in, stay cozy, and let Pluto TV light up your holiday season.

2024 REPLAY

As the clock ticks toward 2025, we’re looking back at the highlights that made this year epic and getting you excited for what’s ahead. Let’s count it down, Pluto TV style: 5️⃣ New Frontiers in Programming In 2024, we saddled up our brand new Westerns Category; broke records with Yellowstone; went on adventures around the world and galaxy with Pluto TV 007 and Star Trek: The Motion Pictures; celebrated diverse stories with The Black Collective; got 24/7 access to all the drama on Big Brother; and had a front row seat to Broadway’s biggest night with The Tony Awards: Act One. 4️⃣ Smarter, Sleeker Streaming Finding your favorites became easier than ever in 2024. We launched a redesigned VOD interface and the Mini-Channel Guide, and made improvements across the Pluto TV experience, giving you seamless access to our endless entertainment. 3️⃣ Super Bowl Glory We joined the big leagues with our first-ever Super Bowl commercial which debuted our bold new look and new logo. Plus, we launched the exclusive pop-up channel, NFL Super Bowl Classics Channel, to relive legendary moments from gridiron history. 2️⃣ Award-Winning Engineering Our tech game was so strong it won us a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award, solidifying Pluto TV as a leader in streaming innovation. 1️⃣ A Decade of Pluto TV! April 2024 marked our 10th anniversary, and we celebrated 10 years of free, nonstop entertainment. In 2025, we are diving into the next decade, so get ready for more groundbreaking programming, smarter streaming experiences, and exciting surprises.  Here’s to a new year full of free streaming, epic moments, and endless entertainment. Cheers to 2025! 🥂

THE MOST STREAMABLE TIME OF THE YEAR

This December, Pluto TV is serving up a sleigh-load of Christmas classics, holiday episodes, movies and more. Don’t miss our Season’s Greetings category, featuring fan-favorite holiday movies and a touch of seasonal ambiance, including special presentations of the Hanukkah Menorah and Kwanzaa Kinara on the Crackling Fireplace channel. You can also binge holiday episodes and movies across the service all month long.

Season’s Greetings Category Pluto TV Christmas: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Pluto TV Christmas is here to make your days be merry and bright. Watch family-friendly movies and specials that will fill you with the Christmas spirit for the entire holiday season. Crackling Fireplace: There’s something about the natural sounds of a roaring fire that make the holidays feel cozy. With Pluto TV’s Crackling Fireplace, you can enjoy that feeling any time of day this holiday season. Featuring a Hanukkah Menorah from December 25-31 and a Kwanzaa Kinara from December 26-31. Festive Fireplace: During the holidays, there’s nothing like gathering with your loved ones to sing songs around the fire. With Pluto TV’s Festive Fireplace, you can enjoy a traditional Yule log and accompanying music any time of day this holiday season. Hallmark Movies & More Holiday Favorites: Your cozy corner for festive, feel-good Hallmark holiday favorite movies that uplift your heart and bring non-stop joy all season long. Hallmark en español: Hallmark en español te ofrece películas originales de romance y festividades orientadas a la familia que los hispanos adoran. Con una amplia colección de contenido del catálogo de Hallmark doblado al español, hay algo para todos. Stingray Holidayscapes: Transform your home into a holiday haven and make every day memorable. Holiday Movie Favorites by Lifetime: Get into the holiday spirit with your favorite Lifetime Holiday Movies. It’s the channel that keeps on giving. Home for the Holidays: Your home for holiday cooking all month long. Stews, breads, cakes, and more to keep your bellies full and your spirits high through the month of December. Happy Holidays from Pluto TV! Vevo Holiday: Current and classic videos to help you celebrate the season. Cine navideño: Las mejores películas y especiales navideños están en un solo lugar: Cine navideño. Reúne a toda tu familia y prepárense para descubrir que este canal es el mejor regalo para disfrutar. Places & Spaces: There’s no place like home, and no channel embraces the interiors, exteriors and everything in between quite like this.  We’re the heart of home.

Holiday Episodes 12/19 on Sitcom Legends: The Conners, King of Queens, Rules of Engagement 12/21 on Cheers + Frasier: Cheers and Frasier 12/22 on More TV Sitcoms: Becker, Just Shoot Me, Married with Children, Wings 12/23 on TV Land Sitcoms: Caroline in the City, Hot in Cleveland, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Sabrina: The Teenage Witch, The Exes 12/25 on Black Throwbacks: Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends, One on One, The Parkers 12/25 on Black Classics: Moesha; Sister, Sister; Flip Wilson; Webster; Sanford and Son 12/24-12/25 on Classic TV Comedy: ALF, Green Acres, Hogan’s Heroes, Maude, Petticoat Junction, Taxi, That Girl, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Odd Couple, The Brady Bunch 12/24-12/25 on Classic TV Crime Drama: Cagney & Lacey, Dragnet, Hunter, In the Heat of the Night, Peter Gunn, 21 Jump Street, The Commish, Streets of San Francisco, MacGyver, Sherlock Holmes

Holiday Movies

Bad Santa Bad Santa 2 Scrooged A Christmas Carol (1984) Christmas Cupid Daddy's Home 2 Deck The Halls Home For The Holidays Little Women (1994) Miracle On 34th Street Surviving Christmas The Long Kiss Goodnight Everybody's Fine Go (1999) Reindeer Game

PREPPING FOR LAUNCH

Here are some of the new channels and movies launching throughout December on Pluto TV.

NEW CHANNELS The Twilight Zone You're traveling through another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. One that brings you all the twists and turns of Rod Serling’s groundbreaking classic series. Your next stop: Pluto TV’s The Twilight Zone channel. Dinos 24/7 Discover the awe-inspiring world of razor-sharp claws, massive tails, and groundbreaking archaeological finds. With captivating shows like Walking with Dinosaurs and Deadly Dinosaurs, every moment on DINOS 24/7 promises a new adventure! Bodas+ A space where we celebrate life, real people and real stories. It will be an emotional journey and a celebration you don´t want to miss. Un espacio para celebrar la vida con historias auténticas y reales. Prepárate para un viaje lleno de emociones. CNÑ XPRESS CNÑ XPRESS offers the latest news in Spanish including sports, entertainment and business with original reporting, news briefs and interviews with newsmakers from the US, Latin America and the World. Xpress ofrece las últimas noticias en español, incluyendo deportes, entretenimiento y negocios, con reportajes originales, resúmenes de noticias y entrevistas con personajes destacados de Estados Unidos, América Latina y el mundo. Construcciones Asombrosas The most amazing builds in the most amazing environments. Viewers will not believe that it is possible to build these kind of properties in these great locations. Estructuras sorprendentes en escenarios extraordinarios. La audiencia no podrá creer que se puedan construir propiedades así en lugares tan especiales. Crimen Real-life crime stories that are captivating and full of intrigue making spectators part of the investigation through the unique storytelling and reenactments that are full of suspense. Stay until the end to find out who did it and whether the victims survived or are they stories from the grave. Historias reales de crímenes envueltos en misterio y llenos de suspenso que te dejarán pegado a la pantalla para descubrir al culpable y el destino de las víctimas —aún desde la tumba. Expedientes Sobrenaturales Fact or fiction? It´s up to you! Experience moments of extreme suspense, fear and intrigue with content that showcases the world of the unknown. ¿Realidad o ficción? Tú decides. Vive momentos de suspenso, intriga y miedo, mientras exploras el mundo de lo desconocido. TuDiscovery The best quality of local productions, produced in the US and Latin America, featuring local talent with Hispanic appeal. El mejor contenido producido en Estados Unidos y América Latina, con talentos hispanos e historias que cautivarán al público. TuWarner A mix of top quality scripted and unscripted local Latin American productions. Lo mejor de nuestras producciones locales, con una variedad de ficción, reality-shows y documentales de la más alta calidad. Vidas Extremas Meet our most iconic Discovery personalities and immerse yourself into their extraordinary worlds. Conoce a las personalidades más icónicas de Discovery y sumérgete en sus extraordinarios mundos.

MOVIES 13 Going On 30 A.I. Artificial Intelligence Air Force One Ali Allied Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy Bad Santa Bad Santa 2 Beverly Hills Cop Beverly Hills Cop II Boogie Nights Braveheart Catch Me If You Can A Christmas Carol (1984) Christmas Cupid Cloverfield Coach Carter Collateral Coraline Daddy's Home 2 Days Of Thunder Deck The Halls Deep Impact Drive (2011) Empire Of The Sun Fences Flight Forrest Gump Ghost Gladiator Glory The Godfather The Godfather Part II The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone Godzilla (1998) Good Will Hunting Grease Heat Home For The Holidays Hustle & Flow Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom Insidious Insidious: Chapter 2 Interstellar The Island The Italian Job (2003) Jack Reacher Life (Sony) Little Women (1994) Magnolia Minority Report Miracle On 34th Street Mission: Impossible Mission: Impossible II Mission: Impossible III Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol No Country For Old Men Oceans 11 Oceans 12 Oceans 13 Oceans 8 Old School Once Upon A Time In Mexico Philadelphia Pulp Fiction Raiders Of The Lost Ark Roman J. Israel, Esq. Saving Private Ryan Scrooged Selma Sense And Sensibility Shaft She's All That Social Network, The Surviving Christmas Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows Terminator 2: Judgment Day The Long Kiss Goodnight Titanic War Of The Worlds (2005) When Harry Met Sally World War Z You Got Served

Around the Tubes: November 30, 2024

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Wicked, The Weeknd, Band Aid, Olivia Newton-John, Spellbound, and Mötley Crüe.

- From Grammy and Oscar® winning Stephen Schwartz, and Grammy and Oscar® nominee John Powell, Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score, will be available to stream at all digital platforms and vinyl for purchase on December 6 via Universal Studios / Republic Records / Verve Records.  Stephen Schwartz and John Powell have built a magical sonic world for the film’s original motion picture score. From their “Arrival at Shiz University” to “All Around Defying Gravity” the characters journey through Oz is captured by this new timeless film score. 

- Diamond-certified global superstar The Weeknd today announced the release date for his highly anticipated album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, on January 24th. This album serves as the final chapter in his trilogy, following After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022). Additionally, it was announced this week that he is the first artist in history to have 22 songs with over 1 billion streams each on Spotify.  To celebrate the album release, The Weeknd will perform a massive one-night-only live stadium show at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, on Saturday, January 25, 2025, debuting never-before-seen production. The stage will take over the entire floor of the stadium, for a must-see in-the-round experience.

- Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, and Trevor Horn announce details of the forthcoming Band Aid Compilation, a brand new 2024 Ultimate Mix and accompanying video release commemorating 40 years of Band Aid.  The latest incarnation of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is set to be premiered simultaneously across UK breakfast time radio on November 25, 2024, the 40th anniversary of the recording of the original song. It will be available to stream immediately on all digital platforms. “Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 2024 Ultimate Mix” is available to buy now digitally and physically on the Band Aid Compilation 1CD and 12” Vinyl and will be released on November 29. Buy here.

- This holiday season, Olivia Newton-John’s timeless voice graces us once more with the release of Angels in the Snow, a new album featuring reimagined Christmas recordings by the four-time GRAMMY® winner. The focus track, “Angels in the Snow (Reimagined),” showcases Olivia’s angelic vocals in a fresh and heartfelt rendition, capturing the essence of the season.   Watch the official “Angels in the Snow” video HERE.  

- Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Glenn Slater, release The Spellbound Soundtrack from the Netflix film by Skydance Animation celebrating the music of the much-anticipated animated film’s premiere on NETFLIX.  Arriving today is the standout song, “The Way It Was Before,” performed by Rachel Zegler, which follows the end credits version of the song released last week and performed by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith. 

- Thirty-five years after its release, Dr. Feelgood stands as the last great rock record of the 1980’s, and one of the greatest rock records of all time. Recorded in Vancouver with Producer Bob Rock and released in 1989, this iconic album took MÖTLEY CRÜE to #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and earned a 6X PLATINUM certification in the US. The album cemented the newly sober band's status as global superstars, hitting the Top 10 in Australia (PLATINUM), Canada (3X PLATINUM), Finland, Norway, New Zealand (PLATINUM), Sweden, Switzerland (GOLD) and the UK (GOLD).  NOW AVAILABLE - Dr. Feelgood 35^th Anniversary Editions HERE.  The Dr. Feelgood Online Pharmacy is NOW open, enter HERE.  Check Out The Limited Edition Box Set Trailer  HERE.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: November 24, 2024

 

Survivor:  Well, obviously you give up your Shot in the Dark for rice.  One in six is such poor odds for guaranteed food.  But I wonder if Jeff takes that off the table for future negotiations because it is such and easy and obvious trade going forward.

 

The Challenge: Battle of the Eras:  Johnny does not even go into elimination and Michele still gets a revenge pick.  But at least two of Johnny’s allies are also nominated.  It will be interesting if one of them goes in and Michele is finally spared.  But the Goof has to have one of the worse elimination records ever.  How does he keep getting asked back?  He is so bad at this game.