57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/10/2017

Shameless: Ooo, Gallagher vs. Gallagher. This should be interesting. Except Fiona is in the right, certainly there are plenty of run down properties in Chicago for them to rent a new shelter.

The Walking Dead: So all the Walkers in the yard just went into the building right? Why was that such a question? Unless that has something to do with why no one is answering the walkie talkie. Is Eugene really as smart as he think he is and cleared the building and captured the snipers?
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: Just how do you sneaked a tied up and gagged guy out of a hotel. But anyway. And bad idea buying a house with all the money you made? How are you going to furnish it and pay property tax? Not that Letty may never live in it because is in the middle of nowhere without her shoes. That is why you do not do drugs kids. Well that and getting shot with a nail gun.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

SMILF: Well that was weird. Okay I get the Run Lola Run reference because of the hair but I never saw the movie. Was it a complete homage with three acts and people getting run over by a hearst? And did Tami Taylor really proposition a threesome or was the last part we saw the only thing that really happened?

White Famous: So Kali really did lose her phone. I wonder if we will learn it was stolen by someone next week. Thinks just do not happen accidentally on television shows.

Supergirl: Well that is an interesting mask Reign is wearing. Kind of reminds me of Hallie Berry’s Catwoman mask, which is not a compliment. And how much does the original character know about Reign? She just seemed to think she was asleep and this was a duel personality situation. But aren’t they doing that on one of the other superheroes show? I think one of the people at The Flash’s wedding was a good person that had a bad person living inside of them.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

Lucifer: Wait, was that really the Sinnerman that we saw. I got a strong patsy vibe from him. There has to be more coming. I am still not counting out Superman being involved even though he claims the Sinnerman killed his brother.
You can download Lucifer on iTunes.

The Gifted: Wait, the brother and sister can bring down a building by holding hands? And what a Chekov’s Gun letdown that they did not end up using the ability.
You can download The Gifted on iTunes.

Marvel’s Runaways: Finally, all the powers are coming to light and used at the same time (well except being able to control a dinosaur; and I guess Alex does not have any powers). Although, how did the blonde know she could shoot rainbow beams? Now all they have to do is actually runaway. And I am still kind of fuzzy who the old dude is. I thought it was the mom’s father, but now I am thinking they may be more than that now that we have seen the new him. Was he who brought the Pride together? And just what do the rest of the Pride get out of these sacrifices?.
You can stream episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars: What a complete and utter disaster, Camilla gets the boot, Jenna leaves due to injury, and now Ashley is gone because her father’s death, Terrell Owens quits, and Riff Raft is MIA. Maybe instead of a mini-season, they should have just done a two hour special.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: The family reward challenge was the worst in the history of not only the show but in the history of all competition shows. Putting the Immunity Shell literally where Lauren could reach out and touch it from her station was way too easy. But what was going down as one of the worst episodes in the show’s history was redeemed by Dr. Mike throwing Lauren’s Idol into the fire (I have gone back in forth on whether it would have been wise to try and fish it out; maybe try to get a stick or something and push it out).

I have to put that move by Lauren as the third dumbest move ever in the history of the show (after Brandon and the Ice Cream Scooper giving up their Immunity Necklace only to be promptly being voted out). Seriously, how do you start off the day with a Hidden Immunity Idol and an Extra Vote and get your torch snuffed? It always amazes me how everyone obsesses over splitting votes just in case of a Hidden Immunity Idol, yet this is not the first time when people had enough people to split the vote but did not. Seriously, all Lauren had to do was throw her Extra Vote on Dr. Mike or Turtleneck and would have booted one of them just in case Ben had an Idol, which he did.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Vikings: Maybe Ivar the Boneless really is unkillable. But come on, when it is 100 vs a cripple, how about firing more than one arrow. But I actually thought he was going to kill another brother this episode. But the cripple has to die soon, the question is who, one of his brothers, the Englishmen, Laggatha? I am going o go with the half-brother when he comes back. And where my original thought was Floki discovered North America, but now I am thinking he is in Iceland.
You can download Vikings on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: Darla and the FBI agent? But now that Mr. Robot and Elliot know there is a White Rose mole in the FBI, will they be able to save her before the Dark Army gets to her before she undoes the original hack. Unless Dom finally realizes her boss is working for the enemy. Ever since the one shot episode, I have thought Angela would die, I still have a sinking suspicion someone we know will not make it to season four.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Gotham: I was actually thinking Falcone, close to death, ordered the hit on himself to save his daughter from Penguin, how cold do you have to be to order the hit on your dad? And did Butch actually remember his pre-Grundy life?
You can download Gotham on iTunes.

Once Upon a Time: So Rapunzel is the Evil Stepmother who was a good person, sacrificed everything for her family and then decided to say, fork it, I am killing my husband’s new wife? Huh? Drusilla is coming out as the only reasonable person on this show.
You can download Once Upon a Time on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Fitz is who is on the radio, right?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/8/2017

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 Tarantula, The Best of the Dean Marin Celebrity Roasts: Volumns 1-3!, POV, The Trade, Darius Rucker, Cash Cowboys, White Famous, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.


- In a network first, TBS is debuting a full-season binge of the highly anticipated new series Tarantula via the TBS app and TBS.com beginning, Monday, December 4th. The animated half-hour comedy is written and executive produced by Carson Mell (Silicon Valley) alongside executive producers Danny McBride (Vice Principals, Eastbound & Down), Jody Hill (Vice Principals, Eastbound & Down), Brandon James and David Gordon Green for Rough House Pictures, Claudia Katz and Gregg Vanzo for Rough Draft Animation.

- This fall, Dino goes digital with The Best of the Dean Marin Celebrity Roasts: Volumns 1-3! Never before released on any digital platform, the Roastmaster General will be available exclusively on iTunes beginning December 11, with three "Best of" compilation releases priced at $14.99; individual episodes will be available for $1.99 each. The classic TV archivists at Time Life will release additional digital content throughout 2018 and beyond.

- Capstoning a year of celebrations for the documentary showcases' 30th anniversary, PBS television series POV is excited to announce its first-ever documentary marathon. Premiering on public television’s WORLD Channel, the binge-worthy marathon will showcase films from POV’s rich and diverse history of character-driven stories over a 24-hour period. Kicking off on New Year's Eve, the marathon will also run 30 films for 30 days on the POV streaming service at pov.org, pbs.org, and the PBS Anywhere app. POV is the longest running independent documentary series on American television. The marathon will also include the television premiere of the film 500 Years by Emmy-nominated and veteran POV filmmaker Pamela Yates, which will broadcast twice on January 1, 2018 at 8/7 p.m. Eastern Time and at 9 p.m. Pacific Time on the WORLD Channel. The film will also begin streaming on Amazon Prime Video on December 1. 500 Years had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. The marathon will begin broadcasting on the WORLD Channel at 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 31, kicking off with the three-time Emmy-nominated American Promise, which received a top prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. The television marathon will continue until 10 p.m. on January 1, 2018.

- From Columbus, Ohio to Guerrero, Mexico and countless cities in between, the opioid epidemic has ravaged communities on both sides of the border. But what about the lives behind the headlines and statistics? The timely, provocative new five-episode SHOWTIME docu-series The Trade spotlights the crisis through the eyes of those most affected: the growers, addicts, cartel bosses and law enforcement hopelessly caught in its web. Directed and executive produced by Oscar nominee and Emmy® winner Matthew Heineman (Cartel Land) and executive produced by Oscar and Emmy nominee Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), The Trade will world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and debut on Friday, February 2 at 9:00 on Showtime.


- Tune in Friday, December 8 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special “Darius Rucker” on AT&T* AUDIENCE Network via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. Airing at 9:00 the one-hour concert was shot live from the iconic stage of the Apollo Theater in New York City. Darius performs hits spanning his country career---from his first country No. 1 single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” to his most recent chart topper “If I Told You” off his just released fifth album When Was the Last Time (Capitol Records Nashville)--to crowd favorites from his career as lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish. During the concert, Darius brings Robert Randolph on stage for a duet on their “Love What You Do.” The pedal steel rock star stayed on stage transitioning into an Apollo-only-worth collaboration on “Hold My Hand.” As he celebrates this latest milestone and bucket list moment in his groundbreaking, multi-genre music career, Darius joins series host Ted Stryker for an intimate interview on the stage of the legendary Apollo Theater just before the sold-out show.

- Cash Cowboys, currently airing on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. ET/PT on POP TV, features Colorado-based family, the Huwas, who are 21st Century Colorado cowboys, as they reclaim areas destroyed by naturally occurring disasters – from hurricanes to floods, tornadoes, fires, and more. A family that has had generations of working on the farm, the Huwas apply their knowledge, skill, values and disciplined work ethic to restore the damaged earth. The heart of the series is all about cowboy culture, and the spirit of the West – just as likely to be riding a five-ton bulldozer as a one-ton rodeo bull, a 200-horsepower excavator as a horse on the range. The show is about big equipment, tough terrain, bucking bulls, mother nature, and extreme deadlines that keep them on their toes. The stakes are high, and there is no room for error.

- Academy Award® winner and executive producer Jamie Foxx, who played an over-the-top, satirized version of himself in the pilot episode of White Famous, will reprise his role for the series’ season one finale airing this Sunday, December 10 at 10:30 on SHOWTIME. The episode finds Floyd Mooney (Jay Pharoah) coming full circle as his life is once again turned upside down due to a viral internet video. As the career opportunities start pouring in, Foxx comes calling to offer Floyd a chance of a lifetime.

- GSN, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, announced today that it has licensed seasons 14 and 15 of iconic game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, with the show to air Monday through Friday at 3:00pm and 3:30pm ET beginning Monday, December 18. In addition, on Sunday, December 24, fans can catch a stacked marathon airing from 9:00am to 2:00pm ET.

- The King of Morocco Mohammed VI, as Chairman of the Committee Al Qods, sent a message to the President of the United States, Mr. Donald Trump, expressing his "deep concern as well as the inquietude of the people of the Arab and Muslim States" following the information about the decision of President Trump to "recognize Al-Qods as capital of Israel and to move there the Embassy of the United States ".

Previewing Knightfall

As Vikings debuted its fifth season last week, it is a bit surprising that History has yet to do another full series set on a fascinating but underreported moment in history (I am not counting last year’s Six which is a modern show that could have easily been on NBC). Much like Vikings which seems to have a foot in the truth and a foot in myth, Knightfall follows the Knights Templers of the around the time of the turn of the fourteenth century. This is ripe for story because secrecy surrounds the Templers though they do run into a few historical figures like Philip IV of France and his royal family along with Pope Boniface VIII.

The series starts at the end of the Siege of Arce, the last stronghold of the Templar’s in the Holy Land in 1291. The Knights have saved the Holy Grail… only to watch it sink to the bottom of the sea. Fast forward fifteen years and those Templars have settled in Paris serving the King there as peace with Britain is fragile and ready to disintegrate at any moment. The Grail still haunts the Knights until a clue that maybe the Holy Grail actually in France and the remaining Knights are following to clue to see if it never sank to the bottom of the sea.

Though information is scares, I do recommend not looking up spoilers because they do hint at what happens at the end of the season (though in retrospect, the title can be consider kind of spoilery). But I do wonder if the show would have been better off starting earlier. We spend ten minute in the Siege of Arce and that itself could have been a whole season. The writers really could have started the series as the main Templar of the show joins the Knights and worked its way to this season where he takes over the Order.

But my bigger complaint is that the show does not do a very good job paying plots off. In the penultimate episode a whisper is made that changes the fate of one of the major character. When that character asked what was said, the replay is that he will be told when he comes back… except he does not return to learn the big twist before the season ends so we, the audience, will have to wait until next season (or possibly longer which always seemed to be the case on Lost) to find out as well. It is always a pet peeve a mine when shows do not pay things off in the same season. What if this show gets canceled? Then we will never know.

Still if you like the epicness of Vikings, you should stick around for Knightfall. It reminds me of what a live action version of Assassin’s Creed should have looked like without the weird modern day mad scientist plot (full disclosure notice: I never did see the move but will take the critics’ take for it that the movie was bad). Except instead of a show where we follow an assassin who crosses path with Templars, we are following Templars who have a few run ins with secretive assassin originations.

Knightfall airs Wednesdays at 10:00 on History.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 12/3/2017

Shameless: There are few things more annoying than when people on their twelve steps try to make amends to you. Sure, it may make them feel better, but it also dregs up horrible feelings up for you that you were trying to repress. But I wonder if that is it for Shawn. And how much time is Kev and Vee going to spend in Kentucky. I bet some of the family will follow them back to Chicago at some point.

The Walking Dead: Aftershows are inherently dumb, but again I learned something I completely missed. I was wondering who that person in the cage at the garbage people only to be told by the aftershow that it was Rick. I just thought he was ushered out when they declined his offer instead of keeping him hostage.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: So we are back to episode one Letty: stealing from hotel rooms and doing copious amount of drugs. But while she was talking to her parole officer, it got me thinking; shouldn’t she have a new parole officer after he lost his job? But was good about that first season is tey kept me on my toes having no clue where the show was going and they finally confirmed something I have assumed since the season premiere, that Tao killed Silk and was trying ti kill Javier. Also not too surprising that Tao was hired by Javier’s father, but we did get a shocking twist at the end with the father gone missing.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

SMILF: Wait, after all that baby daddy did not participate in the mud run? And way to get caught going out for lunch after the baptism instead of going straight to the mud run. I thought about doing mud run myself, but do the courses really have a sock pit? If so, hard pass. I do not mind getting a little dirty but I am not getting shocked.

White Famous: So Kali “lost” her phone? The one that looked like it was filming her and Floyd getting intimate? I am also suspicious the paparazzi happened to find her at Floyd’s place. I think he is getting played. But that video looked really bad, I hope we get to see the final cut at some point.

Supergirl: Well that sucked, I liked the CW crossover much better when just ten seconds of it happened on Supergirl. And it felt like they pushed along the plot of every show except Supergirl. I guess that happens when one two of their characters show up and pretty much the full cast of the other three shows are represented.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

The Challenge: Dirty 30: What is going on, did Camilla curse all the other females after she left? Jenna fractured her ankle (when if first happened I thought Shawn fractured her head on one of those bars, did not even realize it was Jenna that got hurt), then Ashley’s father is on life support and looks like she will be leaving soon too. But has CT never seen the show before? Whenever someone leaves and there is no replacements, he always teases there is going to be an elimination before doing a fake out.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: It is amazing how the new dominate alliance can be o smart and so dumb at the same time. When they were discussing who to vote out first, they ended voting out JP which was stupid, no one runs the Immunity table anymore because there is much more luck involved. It really blew my mind that that they did not target the guy they knew had an Idol. If you have a chance to get an Idol out of the game without the person even knowing you are targeting them, you do it.

Yet they ended up pulling off one of the best strategies in the history of the show by having Ben play dumb and still ended up flushing the Idol. Except the three people in that alliance not named Ben, you have this great chance of getting rid of Ben except they do not pull the trigger. Why would you want to sit next to a veteran who everyone thinks is running the game at the Final Tribal? You brought Joe along this far, why not take him to the end at this point?
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: Well that was the most insignificant episode of the show ever. Unless the whole Back to the Future reference essentially confirms White Rose is working on time travel. Even then, that hour was really boring.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Blindspot: Oh hey, Jane's daughter, and meeting her was the big secret in Berlin that Kurt was hiding in Berlin. But is there really no way to tell a woman has had a kid before? That seems like a pretty big body changing event. Maybe after eighteen years things may get back to "normal" but seems like you could tell somehow.
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: SHIELD has gone to space, which we learned by the teaser at the end of last season. Except the big twist is that they are in the future. Which sounds cool in theory, but execution it looks like every mediocre vaguely futuristic dystonia that has ever aired on Syfy. Kurt was And it did not make much sense, so Daisy quakes apart the Earth in the future (or at least according to the Framework, which is not entirely reliable source of news) so to save humanity in the future, instead of going back in time to change the future, they bring people from the past into the future. Huh? How exactly will that work? But why was Fitz left behind? And what is with the weird dude at the beginning with the human skin?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 12/1/2017

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 East Los High, The Alienist, Inside Windsor Castle: Triumph and Tragedy, new additions to Hulu, SMILF, and Deal or No Deal.

- The long-awaited return of East Los High has arrived with a Finale Event that bids farewell to the highly acclaimed and Emmy-nominated original television series. Season four of East Los High left fans on the edge of their seats with the most shocking cliffhangers in the show’s history. Eight months later, the crew prepares to leave high school behind and maybe even East LA as they begin a journey of self-discovery and learn the true meaning of love, family and friendship in this romantic, sexy and emotional series finale. East Los High continues to provide a unique and relevant space on television at a time when the plight of immigrant communities like East Los Angeles are under fire. By featuring underrepresented voices and bringing awareness to issues relevant to the Latino community, the series provides a realistic account of Latino youth culture in the U.S. today. East Los High’s Finale Event pays tribute to the popular characters fans have followed during the past four seasons, reminding us that their universal stories will continue to grow, prosper and transcend.


- The Alienist opens when a series of haunting murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City. Newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) calls upon criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans) to conduct the investigation in secret. They are joined by Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), a headstrong secretary determined to become the city's first female police detective. Using the emerging disciplines of psychology and forensics, this band of social outsiders set out to apprehend one of New York City's first serial killers. The limited series also stars Douglas Smith, Matthew Shear, Matt Lintz, Robert Ray Wisdom and Q'orianka Kilcher. The Alienist premieres across TNT’s television, mobile and digital platforms on Monday, January 22, at 9:00.


- Once upon a time, more than 150 years ago, Windsor Castle wed Queen Victoria's eldest son, the future Edward VII and his wife, Alexandra of Denmark. Now it’s time to make room for a new royal couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have just announced their engagement and upcoming wedding at Windsor Castle. Back in 1992, however, things weren’t in such perfect standing - the private chapel at Windsor caught fire and burned inside the castle for 15 hours. 100 ancient rooms were badly damaged in the worst disaster in the castle’s long history, though from ruins to restoration, thousands worked tirelessly to restore the Queen’s weekend home to its original prestige. Explore the beautiful grounds, history and renovation of Windsor Castle ahead of the next royal wedding with Inside Windsor Castle: Triumph and Tragedy, airing this Friday, December 1st at 10:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Just in time for the holidays, Hulu this week announced that it has licensed the subscription streaming rights to even more hits for the whole family from The Disney/ABC Television Group, including ABC’s hit drama series, Designated Survivor. In addition to becoming the exclusive U.S. SVOD home to Designated Survivor, the complete libraries of fan favorites such as Revenge, Shadowhunters, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Blossom, The Catch, Bunheads, Cougar Town, and Perception.

- Here are some imports that will be coming to Hulu soon:

From prolific screenwriter Dan Sefton (The Good Karma Hospital) and starring Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch, Doctor Who), character-led psychological thriller Trust Me centers on a gripping story of identity, lies and a woman’s desperation to escape the pain and disappointment of her old life. When Cath (Jodie Whittaker), an idealistic, hardworking nurse, loses her job for whistle-blowing, she is forced to take drastic measures to provide for her daughter. Seizing the opportunity to steal her friend’s identity as a senior doctor, Cath starts a new life. As she buries herself deeper in the imposter persona, she realizes she could get everything she ever wanted – but with her old life threatening her fragile creation, how far will she go to protect it?

The Wine Show is back and this time we're based in the glorious South of France. Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey, The Good Wife, Roots) is joined at the sun-drenched Provenal villa by, actor James Purefoy (The Following, Episodes). In addition to tasting the wines brought back from around the globe, they are tasked by Joe Fattorini to find a case of wine to match a six course French lunch cooked by Michelin starred chef, Stephane Reynaud. But this year, Joe is not judging. Jancis Robinson, the worlds most influential wine critic, decides which wines make it to the Wine Show Case. And she is taking no prisoners. Matthew and James journey all over southern France to find their wines. Their mission involves kayaking and caving in the Ardeche, rounding up bulls on horseback in the Camargue, baking in Lyon and even cooking their own lunch in the sweltering kitchens of the legendary Palme DOr restaurant in Cannes. And our old friend Matthew Rhys (The Americans, Brothers and Sisters) is also busy. He's back in the UK exploring gadgets old and new in the glorious setting of 17th century Berry Brothers & Rudd in London's St. James's Street.

Midnight Sun, a high-concept thriller from Mårlind & Stein (Bron/Broen), starring French actress Leïla Bekhti (The Prophet, All that Glitters) and Gustaf Hammarsten (Bruno, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). Kahina Zadi (Leïla Bekhti), a French police officer, travels to Kiruna, a small mining community in remote northern Sweden, to investigate a brutal murder of a French citizen. With the help of Anders Harnesk (Gustaf Hammarsten), a Swedish DA and a member of the Sami, an ancient, mysterious indigenous tribe of Scandinavia, they are faced with new killings and the initial murder turns out to be the tip of the iceberg. Kahina and Anders come to realize that behind the killings is a ten-year-old secret conspiracy involving many of the town’s inhabitants. Kahina finds herself confronting a ruthless serial killer, always one step ahead, a macabre plan, and her own painful past.

Below the Surface: Copenhagen, 2017. 15 innocent people are held hostage underground in a subway train. From BAFTA award-winners Soren Sveistrup (The Killing) and Adam Price (Borgen), and Meta Louise Foldager Sorensen (A Royal Affair). A terror taskforce led by Philip Norgaard (Johannes Lassen) and Louise Falk (Sara Hjort Ditlevsen) is dispatched to rescue them. Reporter Naja Toft (Paprika Steen) acts as a go-between with the hostages and police as the savvy captors bait the press with information about the pasts of each of their hostages. As a media frenzy ensues, the country finds itself divided on whether or not to negotiate with terrorists. Over the course of eight days, growing fear and desperation grip Denmark while those trapped underground lose all hope for survival.

- Showtime is picking up its hit comedy series SMILF for a second season, it was announced by Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. Created, starring and executive produced by Frankie Shaw, SMILF is a raw, honest look at the life of a 20-something single mom based on her Sundance Film Festival Jury Award-winning short film of the same name. The series also stars multiple Emmy® winner Rosie O’Donnell in her first series regular TV role. SMILF will go back into production next year. The season one finale will air on New Year’s Eve, December 31 at 10:00, with a special preview available online and On Demand on Friday, December 29.

- Before her road to becoming royal, Meghan Markle was featured as a case model on Deal or No Deal. Watch the royal-to-be conduct her case duties in the clip below, and check her out in the DEAL OR NO DEAL episodes from 2006-2007 currently airing weekdays at 11 a.m. on GSN (Game Show Network).

Previewing Vikings: Season Five

The king is dead… Long live the king. Just who is going to ascend the thrown of Kattagard? The Brits also lost a king last season and he was replaced by his lone son. But Ragnar had five sons (or more; didn’t knock up a Brit a while ago). Okay one is already dead by the hand of his brother. Lagatha currently sits on the throne while all the sons went to avenged his death. Neighboring kings will also have an eye. Okay, I have to admit I have seen the whole block of episodes airing this winter and I have to admit I was quite shock who ends up taking the throne (or presumably, this person is not actually seen with the crown and I will have to wait for more episode to see if I am correct).

With Ragnor dead that only leaves four characters left from the first season. Two start the season leaving Katergard for greener pastures. Well, one does, Bjorn finally makes his Mediterranean trip and ends up in the desert of Arabia. Then Floki decides to live on the seas before discoing a barren land he thinks is Asgaurd (I am thinking he may have discovered North America). This show has fallen into the familiar going between Kattergard and pillaging other European cities it is nice to have two new adventures to break up the monotony of all the raiding.

That is not to say there is not plenty of raiding. Igar as a Napoleonic complex and is ready to take as much land as he can by any means necessary, usually in very sadistic ways (pouring liquid metal down someone’s throat was pretty unnecessary). No royal offspring has been this annoying since King Joffrey. And he is just like his father taking a Christian under his wing. But Ivar is not his father, he cannot fight and Ragnor had principals. It will be a glorious moment when Ivar gets his comeuppance.

Vikings airs Wednesdays at 9:00 on History.

I Want My Music Television: 11/27/2017

Wolves - Selena Gomez and Marshmello




Wolves - Selena Gomez was having a pretty good year musically; Bad Liar is best song yet, Fetish was weird but still mostly enjoyably (though I could have done with Gucci Mane), she also scored one of the few EDM-pop songs that does not suck with It Ain’t Me (maybe the second best ever after Wake Me Up), but her new EDM-pop song is just as bland and unremarkable as all the other bland emotionless EDM-pop songs that liter the radio. And for forks sake, anyone who is making a video with their phone, turn it the fork sideways. I hate these forking videos everywhere with the vertical forking view. Oh, I guess that is not the official video, the second one is. Model looking Selena in a pool locker room. Alrighty.


Lemon - N.E.R.D. and Rihanna


Recently word was spreading around the internets that new N.E.R.D. was imminent. I got a excited for a day, but when Lemon actually dropped, I realized, oh yeah, N.E.R.D. is a weird vanity project that can be a hard listen at times.


Perfect - Ed Sheeran


Ed Sheeran used to never appear in his video and in his last two he has cast Saoirse Ronan and Zoey Deutch as love interest. The guy is turning into Adam Levine. Hopefully Ed’s music doesn’t start sucking massively too.


Obsession – OK Go


And now it is time for what seems to be a yearly cool video (and mediocre) song from OK Go. Pretty fascinating, it took me a couple seconds to realize that it was probably mostly stop motion filming. Still cool.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 11/26/2017

The Walking Dead: So is the reverend now officially a Savior now? But it is weird the show is trying to humanize a guy who beat Glen’s head in with a bat in front of his wife just because Daryl got mouthy.
You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Good Behavior: Wait, why did Javier did leave the dude tied up in a hotel? Why not at least interrogate him first? And just leaving him tied up in a hotel and leave is kind of a Bond villain thing to do. Does Javier leave him to die or know he will get free eventually? I am not sure that was the wisest thing to do. But meeting Letty’s grandmother was definitely entertaining. And good twist by having the step-grandfather being faithful and truly in love. I hope we get back to the plantation later this season.
You can download Good Behavior on iTunes.

White Famous: Wait, wasn’t Meagan Good’s character on Californication (which was created by the same guy as White Famous) also a singer named Kali? She was quick to get with Hank on that show, maybe it is a crossover. But Floyd’s big mistake was he did not tape the cheaters to show Sadie. Like maybe Kali did, the camera did not linger on her phone at the end for no reason. Who was she filming that for?

Supergirl: Ugg, Mon-El is back. But, oh my, Saturn Girl. Though I am still no entirely sure how Mon-El went to the future but was found on a ship that crashed into the ocean centuries ago. But the finally confirmed what I figured out a long time ago that the new single mom is an alien herself. Though how in eighteen years did a curious kid not look underneath a sheet in the barn and then ask what is up with the spaceship? But nice touch putting her Fortress of Solitude in the desert compared to the super cousin’s one in the arctic.
You can download Supergirl on iTunes.

Marvel's Runaways: Hulu made available the first two episodes of the show over the summer but they were "not for review." This happens from time to time, and the screeners are eventually updated with reviewable versions. Except Hulu took down those two episodes and never put up any more so that is why I never previewed the show this week. Granted my first impressions was an overwhelming meh (which I guess means I was whelmed). It reminded me of every bad CW teen show and I actually related more to the evil parents than the protagonist teens. I did end up seeing the third episode that was also released this week and I enjoyed it a little more just because it seemed a big ore fun than the first two. I mean, there was a dinosaur and x-ray glasses (though I did not exactly get why the girl was where a lead layered vest). But in the end I am still wondering why the Runaways have yet to, you know... actually runaway.
You can stream episodes of Marvel's Runaways on Hulu.

The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars: When the cast got leaked I thought it contained spoilers considering Cory, Jenna, and Aneesa had never won. Nope apparently the show cannot find ten people who have actually won before. And it looks like it may be a melancholy happy trails to Camilla because you may be asked back if you punch a contestant (or more in the case of CT), but punching a producer probably is a line. They did not even invite her the reunion and barely mentioned her and explain why she was not there. The Camillinator was always good for one crazy drunken moment per season, but the got progressively more depressing every subsequent season. I doubt there will ever be another like her as the next generation seem to be too self aware.
You can download The Challenge: Dirty 30 on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers: When Ben got really excited when Cole got eliminated I realized that yet again they are going to give Joe another reprieve. No I understand the reasoning of keeping Joe, there is no one this season you would rather sit next too at the Final Tribal. Except in an alliance of seven, you really need to worry of other people you are with thinking the same thing. Ben wanting to not even do a split vote on Joe should have been a huge red flag to the other six. Clearly Ben is angling Joe in the final with him, and that leaves one less spot for you. There are nine next week and odd numbers are the perfect time to switch things up because you definitely do not want to get to seven and realize you are in the three not the four of the alliance. Let’s see if the other six are smart or are they just going to let Ben run it all the way to the win.
You can download Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers on iTunes.

Mr. Robot: I spent the last two episodes fearing Angela would make it to the end and not I fear she will survive but will spend most of the rest of the show in a nut house. But this episode was really the first misstep of the season. The big post credits scene was the former Fsociety hackers being found. But they waited until the second half of the season to get back to them even though it seemed like less than an hour elapsed between that scene and this episode, only to kill them off by the end of the episode. And all because the chick could not drive. Meh.
You can download Mr. Robot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: 11/25/2017

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 Alienist, Wild ‘N Out, Maggie Lindemann, Lady Antebellum, The Lost Tapes: Patty Hearst, Panama's Animal Highway, and Meth Storm.

- The Alienist opens when a series of haunting murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City. Newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) calls upon criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans) to conduct the investigation in secret. They are joined by Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), a headstrong secretary determined to become the city's first female police detective. Using the emerging disciplines of psychology and forensics, this band of social outsiders set out to apprehend one of New York City's first serial killers. The limited series also stars Douglas Smith, Matthew Shear, Matt Lintz, Robert Ray Wisdom and Q'orianka Kilcher. The Alienist premieres across TNT’s television, mobile and digital platforms on Monday, January 22nd, at 9:00.


- For the 10TH SEASON of Wild ‘N Out Nick Cannon and his world class crew of comedians and freestylers will be taking their hit show to Brooklyn! Over the years Wild ‘N Out has curated one of the most impressive arsenals of comedians and entertainers in the game. Mike Epps, Kevin Hart, Kat Williams, Mikey Day, Pete Davidson, DeRay Davis and more all started as Wild ‘N Out cast members. Each episode puts two teams, comprised mostly of seasoned vets, against each other in some of the most hilarious, entertaining and sometimes outlandish games seen on TV. Nick Cannon will lead his team against a celebrity-led squad and the two teams will try to best each other in ridiculous comic throw downs. These throw downs escalate with each act, all gearing up toward the main event: the “Wildstyle battle” to decide who takes home the coveted WNO battle belt. The show premieres on Thursday, November 30th with two back-to-back episodes beginning at 11:00 on MTV.

- Multi-platinum recording artist, Maggie Lindemann continues to prove that she is one of music’s newest pop heroines. The 19 year old artist lands today with her new single “Obsessed” (via 300 Entertainment)— a glittering pop gem infused with tropical synths and saccharine melodies.

- On Friday, November 24, AT&T* AUDIENCE Network will present the broadcast premiere of a special concert and documentary event with seven-time GRAMMY award-winning trio Lady Antebellum via DIRECTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and streaming on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. The two-hour show, titled Lady Antebellum: YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR starts live at 8:00 and gives viewers full access to personal interviews and a never-before-seen televised concert packed with their biggest chart-topping hits and new favorites. The show was recorded live at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena--on the last official North American stop of the tour, which spanned over 60 shows this year and coincided with the release of their sixth studio album HEART BREAK.

- For nineteen months, American families were glued to their TV screens watching the saga of the kidnapped Patricia “Patty” Campbell Hearst as she turned from an American heiress to the automatic machine gun toting urban guerilla fugitive named Tania. Hear the inside story straight from Patty herself in The Lost Tapes: Patty Hearst, which features footage of her first interview following her release, first-hand audio tapes of the kidnappers and rediscovered news footage to reexamine the story that held a nation in thrall. The Lost Tapes: Patty Hearst airs this Sunday, November 26 at 9:00 on Smithsonian Channel.

- Smithsonian Channel’s Wild Wednesday lineup takes viewers on a journey of extremes, from the rugged beauty of South Dakota’s Badlands to the tropical jungles of Panama, to meet some of the amazing animals that call these locations home. While an extraordinary assortment of creatures migrate thousands of miles to escape to warmer weather, others must stick it out through the brutal winter. All of these animals have one thing in common: the struggle to survive. Get a closer look at the challenges these animals face on Smithsonian Channel with the premiere of Panama's Animal Highway on Wednesday, December 13 at 8:00 and America's Badlands on Wednesday, December 20 at 8:00.

- Today, 90% of the methamphetamine consumed in America comes over the border from Mexico in the form of a superdrug called ICE. As drug enforcement agents battle sophisticated cartels, poor, rural users, dealers and families are caught in the middle. Featuring extensive access to law enforcement, Meth Storm tells the story of rural, economically-disadvantaged users and dealers whose addiction to ICE and lack of job opportunities have landed them in an endless cycle of poverty and incarceration, and follows police and DEA agents struggling to stop the cartels. Debuting this MONDAY, NOV. 27 (10:00–11:40 p.m. ET/PT), this timely presentation is both a cautionary tale and a high-stakes drama told from inside the war on drugs. The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.