57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 22, 2026

 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:  Oh joy, a penultimate flashback.  There were fewer things I needed less than a Dunk backstory in the middle of an epic fight.  And now The Hand is missing his brains after they fell out.  Somehow less gross than how they opened the first episode.

 

Tell Me Lies:  Wait, has this been a comedy this whole time?  That ending was hilarious.  Stephan is a douche, maybe the evilest person in television history that was not a serial killer, just completely loathsome; and yet, he gave a highly entertaining speech.  I look forward to rewatching this show knowing it was a comedy this whole time.

 

But still, I was a little disappointed we never got the Stephan-Lydia hookup story other than the offhanded comment of only getting together to piss off Lucy.  Or how and why Lucy reconnected with the bartender.  Did she actually go back to the college after being expelled by disgrace?  I was also disappointed they never got to work in a Tell Me Lies by Fleetwood Mac needle drop.

 

Hijack:  So, no one died during the explosion last week?  How many fake out cliffhangers are there going to be this season?  Oh wait, there was probably another one this week.  Despite shots fired, no one is probably going to die.

Around the Tubes: February 21, 2026

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs Trousdale, Johnny Cash, Heart, Beatrix, and Jackie Kashian.

- Trousdale, the LA-based indie folk trio, announce Growing Pains Deluxe will be released on May 15. Arriving a little after the one-year anniversary of their sophomore album, the expanded version will include a mix of new songs and reworked versions of Growing Pains’ standout tracks. The deluxe album  will feature Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive, Tors, Ken Yates and HAFFWAY.  Along with today’s news, Trousdale has released their soaring cover of beloved Neil Young classic “Old Man.” A song the trio has been performing for years, Quinn D’Andrea, Georgia Greene and Lauren Jones use their three-part harmonies to raise the song to towering vocal heights — Stream. 

- Sun Records expand their acclaimed archival collaboration with the digital release of Pure Johnny Cash, available exclusively today via Qobuz, the independently owned high-quality music streaming and download platform known for prioritizing high-quality listening. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms March 6, 2026.  Listen on Qobuz in up to 24-bit Hi-Res: stream HERE and download HERE. 

- Heart’s legendary debut album, Dreamboat Annie, and Jellyfish’s cult classic swan song, Spilt Milk, are the latest records to join UMe’s Vinylphyle audiophile vinyl reissue series. Available to order today exclusively via uDiscover Music, both albums were mastered by Joe Nino-Hernes and pressed at RTI on 180-gram black vinyl, with an initial pressing of 3,000. Similar in presentation and execution to Blue Note’s acclaimed Tone Poet series, the production and packaging seek to honor the stature of these recordings and includes tip-on wrapped gatefold jackets in satin matte finish, printed on clay-coated board, with archival poly sleeves and a four-panel insert featuring new liner notes.  Dreamboat Annie, celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, was mastered from the 1975 Can-Base Studios tapes and features liner notes from veteran music writer Rick Florino, while Spilt Milk was mastered from a new 96kHz, 24bit digital remaster sourced from the 1993 Ocean Way Mixdown tapes and was pressed on 2LP, spreading the 46 minutes of music onto three sides to maximize punch and fidelity, while minimizing the amount of record-flipping interruptions. A handwritten message to fans from Jellyfish co-founder Roger Joseph Manning Jr. is engraved on the fourth side. Manning also provides an illuminating, in-depth interview in the liner notes about the making of the short-lived band's power pop masterpiece.  Order all Vinylphyle titles here: https://UMe.lnk.to/vinylphylePR

- Beatrix announces her sophomore album We Swallowed The Sky will be released on April 24 via Nice Life. The LA-based orchestral indie rock/ folk / chamber-pop project of Arielle Kasnetz sees her accessing the deepest recesses of her memory with her upcoming record. The songs are striking and off-kilter, full of surprising melodic turns or boldly arranged instrumentals, and careening from hushed piano numbers to loud full-band blasts.   We Swallowed The Sky’s connecting lyrical thread is Kasnetz returning to a long-gone relationship, allowing its ghost to haunt her former love. This ghost is embodied by the pedal steel that weaves between the past, present and future across the album. Where Kasnetz often feels misunderstood, this record is the most in her own form she has ever felt — Pre-save.   The's album news arrives with the new single and video “Class Reunion.” Kasnetz flexes her storytelling prowess as she paints a picture of the exes running into each other after ten years, sparing not one detail for the listener — Stream. 

- Jackie Kashian’s upcoming new hour of stand-up, Alter-Kashian is set for a release on YouTube February 25th, with a premiere event at 5pm PT, 7pm ET, with Jackie Kashian watching along in the chat. A comic’s comic, Kashian is a favorite of fans across the globe with peers like Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford, and Brian Regan who regularly bring Jackie to open for them when she’s not headlining clubs and theaters herself for 45 weeks of the year. Her newest hour, is chock full of great stories and rapid-fire punchlines, told by a comedy powerhouse who has been honing her skills for decades. Said Kashian, “as an adult, human woman in 2026 it will come as no surprise to anybody that I am entirely made of bees at this point. Anger. Frustration.” All of it has been synthesized into this newest hour of comedy that bars no holds and pulls no punches.”  Jackie Kashian’s albums debut atop Comedy charts regularly and her two podcasts, The Dork Forest and The Jackie and Laurie Show (with co-host Laurie Kilmartin) are widely popular and have enjoyed lifespans of 20 and 10 years each and are showing no signs of slowing down. You can also read her writing in “The Comedy Film Nerds Guide to Movies” and the comic book “Comics Comics Quarterly”. Her stand-up comedian can be seen on After Midnight, Conan, Corden, HBO, Netflix, and Comedy Central. She’s been heard on Bob’s Burgers and Strange Planet; and she’s been featured on NPR and Audible.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 15, 2026

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:  I figured Dunk would fine six others, but I was not expecting the prince to round out the squad. Although, it is pretty obvious who will win.

 

Tell Me Lies:  There is no way Stephen did not make a copy of that tape.  Chekhov’s tape is going to be released in the finale (Lydia’s reaction to Lucy in the future really makes the tape coming out very likely).  But the most interesting part of the episode was Bree talking about harming Stephan.  I have long believed the show has to end with him dead or in prison and now I think it may be likely that someone murders Stephan.  I wonder if we get to see the dead body if the finale setting up a who did it for next season.

 

Hijack:  Oh joy, another dramatic cliffhanger.  I wonder if this one will stick like the time they made it seem like they killed that one guy who ended up dying anyway.

Around the Tubes: February 14, 2026

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Watching You, The Artful Dodger, The Beach Boys, The Smashing Pumpkins, Violet Grohl, James Blake, Hallie Grace, and IMPACT x Nightline.

- Hulu has debuted the official trailer and key art for  the sexy new thriller “Watching You.”  Check out the trailer below!

- Jack’s back! The Artful Dodger returns, and he’s in deep trouble…  The comedy-adventure series starring Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis and Maia Mitchell returns. Season 2 now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

- The latest installment of The Beach Boys critically acclaimed reissue series, We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years, chronicles and celebrates the music the group made between 1976-77 at their Brother Studio in Santa Monica, Calif., when Brian Wilson returned to producing and songwriting, most notably exemplified on the fan favorite album, 1977’s The Beach Boys Love You. The six-disc box set quickly sold out of its first run upon announce but is once again available to pre-order exclusively at The Beach Boys official store and uDiscover Music, where it will ship on March 20^th. The full collection is now available to stream everywhere.  Stream or pre-order We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years: https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/wegottagroovePR

- GRAMMY® Award-winning iconic rock band The Smashing Pumpkins will celebrate the 35th anniversary of their seminal debut, Gish, with multiple new 35th Anniversary vinyl variants available on May 29, 2026, the same week as the anniversary.  Frontman Billy Corgan’s Madame ZuZu’s & other independent record stores will be carrying a color vinyl housed in the original 1991 packaging, a limited-edition colorway evokes the classic cover pressed on striking 180-gram gray vinyl, accented with pink and purple splatter. A standard Black 180-gram vinyl in the original 1991 packaging will also be available, honoring the legacy that helped shape an era. Pre-order The Smashing Pumpkins’ Gish, HERE.

- Violet Grohl releases an evocative video for her debut single “THUM,” out now via Republic Records through her imprint, Auroura Records. The video, directed by Nikki Milan Houston and shot on a Super 8 and 16mm, matches the track’s loud, raw, and emotionally explosive sound. Upon its initial release, Rolling Stone called the track "a two-minute blast about struggling to break a bad habit,” while Consequence praised its “cinematic feel, highlighted by Violet’s velvety vocals."   WATCH THE “THUM” VIDEO.  Previously only accessible via Bandcamp, Grohl's tracks, "Thum" and "Applefish," are now officially available on all streaming platforms.

- James Blake today releases ‘I Had A Dream She Took My Hand’.  You can listen to ‘I Had A Dream She Took My Hand’ HERE.  You can watch the live performance video - directed by Harrison & Adair - HERE.  ‘I Had A Dream She Took My Hand’ serves as the second single from Blake’s highly anticipated new album ‘Trying Times’, set for release on Friday 13th March via Good Boy Records. You can pre-order ‘Trying Times’ HERE.

- Charlotte, NC-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Hallie Grace has released her new single, "You're My Person," today, February 13, 2026. (It is from her forthcoming album, MOTIVATION, which is due out March 20, 2026.) Recommended if you like: Maggie Rogers, Sara Bareilles, Julia Michaels, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Rachel Platten.  From the "You're My Person" premiere: "MOTIVATION focuses on the challenge of not giving up, even in the darkest of times. This isn’t just a marketing ploy either. Grace comes from a very personal place with this album... MOTIVATION is a record that anyone can relate to. Authenticity and energy have carried Hallie Grace to this point, and she hopes that she can inspire others to keep going despite their own hardships and challenges."   Multi-Link

- A new episode of ABC News Studios’ documentary series “IMPACT x Nightline” premiered Thursday on Disney+ and Hulu, spotlighting teen influencer Piper Rockelle’s high-profile leap into adult content creation.  Titled “Piper Rockelle: Barely Legal,” the episode is hosted by “Nightline” co-anchor Juju Chang and follows Rockelle’s rapid transition from one of YouTube’s most-followed child creators to a multimillion-dollar earner on OnlyFans — just days after turning 18.  “I came to the realization that I’ve never really explored just being completely natural and just being,” Rockelle says in the opening moments of the documentary.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 8, 2026

 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:   The worst kept secret finally came out.  How anyone was surprised is the real shocker.  The guy shaves his head to hide something and whose nickname kind of sounds like a royal prince.  Despite being obvious, I wonder why the evil Targaryen horse killer believes him.

 

Tell Me Lies:  Um, why did multiple couples go to the anti-Valentine’s Day party?  Does that not defeat the purpose of having an anti-Valentine’s Day party if half the people there have valentines?  And how do you have an anti-Valentine’s Day party without playing the quintessential anti-love song: Love Stinks by the J. Geils Band?  But I do wonder if Wrigley picking Stephan as the most likely to go to prison is foreshadowing.

 

Hijack:  So, is that lady that supposedly knows Sam?  For a second I thought she was on the flight from the first season, but IMDB says she was not on the first season.  Does she know him from something else?  I am confused how she fits into this whole thing.

 

Around the Tubes: February 7, 2026

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Threshold, Rivals, Sunny Nights, Paul McCartney, Ziggy Marley, Fred Armisen, Dropkick Murphys, The Warning, and Bryant Barnes.

- THRESHOLD is the story of Olympic gold medalist and most decorated American cross-country skier ever, Jessie Diggins, and the struggle behind her smile– a painful fight with an eating disorder at the peak of her career.  This feature documentary is much more than a sports story; it's a visceral, human account of vulnerability, stigma, and recovery, unfolding in real time. Through unprecedented access to Jessie and those closest to her, the film offers an intimate look into the complexity of a disorder that often hides in plain sight yet remains tragically underrepresented in film and misunderstood in care.  THRESHOLD will premiere on Peacock on Monday, February 23rd timed to The Winter Olympic Games.

Hulu has released the official teaser trailer for the highly anticipated second season of the Emmy and BAFTA award-winning “Rivals."  The UK Original returns in two six-episode batches— the first on May 15 with a three-episode premiere and the second later in the year—on Hulu, and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers, in the US and Disney+ internationally.

- Break out the SPF—  “Sunny Nights” are coming to Hulu.  After a critical acclaimed Australian debut, the darkly comedic crime drama starring Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden makes its U.S. debut  on March 11 on Hulu.  “Sunny Nights” features Will Forte as strait-laced American Martin Marvin, who teams up with his loose cannon sister, Vicki, played by D’Arcy Carden, to set up a spray tan business in Sydney. But as Martin and Vicki attempt to turn their company from a start-up operating out of the back of a van into a multi-million-dollar empire, the siblings become tangled up in Sydney’s criminal underworld, and when a ruthless gangster begins to catch up with them, the two must figure out how to stay alive, out of prison, and in the black.

- What happens when you wake up the morning after leaving the most important rock band of all time? Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, the intimate new feature documentary by Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning director Morgan Neville, explores Paul McCartney’s creative rebirth after The Beatles’ breakup. The film is released in cinemas for one night only by Trafalgar Releasing on Thursday,  February 19th, 2026. Tickets are on sale today at manontherun.film. The theatrical trailer is now available to watch here.

- Nine-time GRAMMY Award-winning icon Ziggy Marley has released a brand new track, “Many Mourn For Bob,” a powerful tribute to the legacy of his father, the legendary Bob Marley.  “Many Mourn For Bob” marks the first time in his career that Ziggy has written and recorded an original song specifically dedicated to his father. The powerful track, rich in sentiment and deeply personal, evolved during his experience producing the 2024 fan-favorite biographical film “Bob Marley: One Love.” Through that time of reflection,  Marley gained a newfound perspective on their personal enduring connection and the lasting global impact of his father.

- CNN and Universal Music Group (UMG) announced today that Peabody Award-winning comedian, actor, writer and musician Fred Armisen will lead a new CNN Original Series. The untitled music docuseries will give fans an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into Universal Music Group's vaults, which form the world’s largest music archives. Produced by UMG’s film and television division Polygram Entertainment, TIME Studios and Known Originals, the CNN Original Series will premiere later this year as part of CNN Originals’ anticipated 2026 programming slate.  With Armisen as their dynamic and knowledgeable host, viewers will explore pivotal moments in pop culture, and the stories of the iconic artists and songwriters who changed the course of history. UMG’s archives include a massive, highly secure vault within the Iron Mountain facility in Boyers, Pennsylvania, located 220 feet underground in a former limestone mine. The series will unearth priceless artifacts, encompassing original recordings, master tapes, rare photos and performances, alternative album art and music videos, many of which have not been seen or heard publicly before.

- Dropkick Murphys have just released their new song “Citizen I.C.E.” (featuring Haywire) via all digital platforms, prior to the digital and physical release of their 12” vinyl split LP with Haywire titled New England Forever.  “Citizen I.C.E.” is a reimagined version of Dropkick Murphys’ 2005 song “Citizen C.I.A.,” recorded in late 2025. DKM recently previewed the song on social media, with a video drawing attention to the tragic killings in Minneapolis.

- Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the rock sister-trio from Monterrey, Mexico, The Warning team up with award-winning regional Mexican superstar Carín León on a brand new collaborative single and music video entitled “Love To Be Loved” out now via LAVA/Republic Records. Listen HERE, watch the music video HERE, and purchase a limited-edition 7” vinyl HERE.  The Warning notably co-wrote the track alongside vocal powerhouse and superstar artist Teddy Swims, Rob Grimaldi, Anton DeLost, Boy Matthews, and Neil Ormandy. Meanwhile, the band worked with producers Grimaldi and DeLost to bring the song to life. Breaking the mold, it notably marks Carín’s first-ever collaborative release sung entirely in English.

- Rising alternative R&B singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Bryant Barnes shares his cover of the Crowded House classic “Don’t Dream It’s Over” as the latest single from the GOAT Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Listen HERE. He debuted the song with a captivating performance on From The Block. Watch it HERE. The Soundtrack lands next Friday February 13 in tandem with the opening of GOAT in theaters nationwide. Pre-save the #GOATmovie soundtrack now HERE.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: February 1, 2026

 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:  And I thought the first episode started with something I really did not need to see.  This reminds me of the old SNL sketch where it was revealed a ten year old was writing Game of Thrones.

 

Tell Me Lies:  Well, that is one way to end an episode.  But I really thought I was right about Stephan calling Diana’s father and he was going to convince her to keep it when the dad called her in the waiting room. I still wonder if there is even a small chance there is a little Stephan running around in 2015.

 

Hijack:  They really wrote themselves into a lose-lose last week where either Sam was a cold-blooded killer or the cliffhanger was a cheap fake out.  It somehow was worse; it was a fake out and the dude still died.  This is getting stupid.

 

The Hunting Party:  If they do not go after the other lady soon and use this episode’s baddy of the week, it will be time to hire new writers.