Around the Tubes: July 13, 2019

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 Sherman’s Showcase, Harlots, The Circus, Our Cartoon President, Light As A Feather, Madison Ryann Ward, Common, The Brand New Heavies, Of Monsters and Men, bülow, QUEEVA, Jordan Whitmore, The Great Mother, and An American Aristocrat’s Guide to Great Estates.

- Hey cats and kittens, check out the newest trailer for IFC’s new variety sketch series Sherman’s Showcase. Do you f*cks with this? Created, executive produced, written and starring Bashir Salahuddin (GLOW, Snatched, South Side) and Diallo Riddle (Marlon, Rise, South Side), each episode of Sherman’s Showcase is hosted by Sherman McDaniels (Salahuddin) as he takes viewers through time via music and comedy drawn from the 40-year library of a legendary (but fictional) musical variety show, drawing inspiration from Solid Gold, Soul Train and Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Whether it's a questionably-attired funk super group in the 1970s, an up-and-coming MC in the 1980s or an R&B diva from the 1990s, Sherman's Showcase has it all: music, comedy, gameshow segments, political roundtables, commercial parodies, breakout hits destined to climb the charts, a dancing robot and a legendary host who’s been there from the beginning.


- You won’t want to miss the insane twists, turns and tantalizing new characters on this season of Hulu’s drama Harlots staring Liv Tyler, Samantha Morton and Lesley Manville. The first episode debuted this week, with remaining episodes streaming weekly each Wednesday!


- Tracking the largest field of presidential candidates in U.S. history, The Circus returns to Showtime with eight new episodes this fall. Starting on Sunday, September 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, the network’s most-watched docuseries will continue its fourth season, which averaged more than one million weekly viewers earlier this year. Co-hosts John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, and Mark McKinnon will crisscross the country as an unprecedented cast of Democratic candidates barnstorm key states in their quests to face off against Donald Trump in 2020. Meanwhile, the president is pursuing re-election amid a growing threat of impeachment and looming international crises.

- In the Season two finale of Our Cartoon President titled “Space Force” on Sunday, July 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime, Cartoon Trump launches Space Force without any attention to detail, while the Democratic presidential candidates tank their campaigns to avoid the risk of losing.

- Get ready to play the game again! We have released the official trailer for the second season of Hulu horror series, Light As A Feather. All 8-episodes of Light As A Feather premiere Friday, July 26 only on Hulu! The season will continue on Friday, October 4.


- Rising vocalist and songwriter Madison Ryann Ward reveals her debut EP, Beyond Me, out now. LISTEN TO BEYOND ME HERE! Beyond Me features Madison Ryann Ward’s lead single, “Beyond Me,” as well as three additional tracks: “The Key,” “Other Side” and “BRKN.” The EP follows Ward’s 2018 breakout single, “Mirror,” which was featured on Jay-Z’s episode of the hit Netflix series, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. The song, produced by the legendary Rick Rubin and recorded in his Malibu studio Shangri-La, has over 4 million streams to date and received praise from Billboard, Refinery29, Women’s Health, Music Connection and more. Earlier this year, Madison was also featured on Peter Cottontale’s hit track, “Forever Always,” also featuring Chance The Rapper, YEBBA and Daniel Caesar.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning rapper Common will release his new album Let Love on August 30, 2019, his debut for Loma Vista Recordings. Pre-order it HERE. In tandem with this announcement, he shared his latest single and music video entitled “Hercules” [feat. Swizz Beatz]. On the track, he serves up his sharp signature wordplay between soulful backing vocals from Swizz Beatz. Meanwhile, the music video directed by Carrick [Weezer] sees Common thwart a convenience store robbery caught on surveillance camera—in between rapping into his iPhone. Vince Staples makes a cameo as the cashier.

- The Brand New Heavies are pleased to share a breath-taking version of Kendrick Lamar’s "These Walls", recorded with longtime associate and vocalist N’Dea Davenport and produced by uber-fan Mark Ronson. Ronson first caught their show (and lineup) in New York in 1991, later inviting them to play at his 40th birthday party. Insistent once more to reconvene that lineup, they successfully reunited N’Dea and The Heavies for his production of this track for their 30th anniversary album. Listen to it HERE.

- Multiplatinum Icelandic quintet Of Monsters and Men release a new song “Wild Roses” off their upcoming full-length album FEVER DREAM out July 26th via Republic Records. Check out “Wild Roses” Here!

- Award winning and multi-platinum pop iconoclast bülow has released a music video for her new single, “Get Stupid,” today via Wax Records /Republic Records/Universal Music Canada. Watch the video for “Get Stupid” HERE.

- Up-and-coming songstress QUEEVA sets free her debut album How Do You Know today, July 12. The budding songwriter co-wrote every track on the album with mentor and hit songwriter Jamie O’Neal, who is also credited as the producer of the album.

- Texas-based singer-songwriter Jordan Whitmore is set to share her rootsy pop/Americana musical goodness with the world on September 6, 2019, with the release of her EP, Good Things. Mixing heartland rock & roll guitars with bright pop hooks a la Sheryl Crow, Whitmore showcases her cross-genre sound on the EP, which was produced by Brian Douglas Phillips (who produced her 2014 album, Other Side, as well as singles like “Here’s To You” and “I Promise”). Atwood Magazine admired the first single, “Something Different” (released in May), for its “touch of heartland rock n roll mixed with pop catchiness, making it all in all feel-good and familiar.”

- Nora Sandigo has more than 2,000 kids. The fierce immigration activist serves as the legal guardian for U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants who have been deported. Were it not for her, many would be forced into the foster care system, keeping them legally separated from their parents. The Great Mother profiles this inspiring woman, who not only provides economic, legal and emotional support for her charges, but lobbies Congress for immigration reform despite an increasingly hostile political climate. Filmed over two years, and encompassing both the 2016 election and its aftermath, the film captures two of the most tumultuous years on record for immigrants. The Great Mother premieres on STARZ on Monday, July 22nd at 9 PM ET/PT and will be available for download or streaming via the STARZ app.

- Smithsonian Channel has signed on to reveal the grandeur and fascinating backstories of the magnificent homes of Great Britain’s nobility. Through the eyes of host Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, viewers will receive an all-access pass to the amazing architecture, aristocratic inhabitants, priceless treasures and best-kept secrets of some of the United Kingdom’s most impressive estates. Each hour-long episode will follow Viscountess Hinchingbrooke as she visits one of these lavish homes – from Gloucestershire’s Sudeley Castle to Scotland’s Inveraray Castle to her husband’s own historic family estate in Dorset – Mapperton. Montagu will go beneath the skin of these finely crafted buildings as she discovers the lifestyles of the current owners, staff and craftspeople responsible for maintaining every exquisite detail, revealing what it really takes to maintain such storied estates for future generations. An American Aristocrat’s Guide to Great Estates will premiere on Smithsonian Channel in early 2020.

Previewing Shangri-La

When the Wu-Tang documentary was announced I thought, four hours on one subject, but with ten members there were plenty of stories to spread around. And the ODB and their one copy album could support their own documentaries in themselves. And I kind of want the latter because it got short changed in their documentary. But really, it was hard to think that there were many other subjects that could substance four episodes.

Then I watched Showtime’s latest documentary Shangri-La. And you know what; it also manages to be compelling throughout its four episodes. The docu-series focuses on creative conversation and the emotional side of music-making, using legendary music producer Rick Rubin's iconic Malibu, CA studio, Shangrli-La, as the backdrop.

Unless you read liner notes, you may not know Rick Rubin’s name, but if you have listened to music in the past thirty-five years, you definitely have herd songs he has produced no matter what you listen to. You could listen to pop (Adele), rock, (Tom Petty), heavy metal (Slayer), country (The Dixie Chicks), alternative (Red Hot Chili Peppers), folk ((The Avett Brothers), he even produces comedy albums (Andrew Dice Clay). He is most linked to rap after starting Def Jam in his college dorm room launching the careers of Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy. When Jay-Z says, You’re crazy for this one Rick” in 99 Problems, that is Rubin he is referring to.

Shangri-La has had a long rich history long before Rick set foot there in 2006. It was featured in another famous music documentary, Martin Scorsese’s The Last when The Band’s bassist Rick Danko gives Scorsese a tour of the studio back in the late seventies. Oh, and Shangri-La use to be the summer home of one of the biggest television shows at the time. Probably someone you will never guess.

But is really is not just the long history of Rubin or even Shangri-La that makes this documentary, it is that this documentary is pretty weird. The series is peppered with images of a young Rick with his later day trademark beard and balding long hair. Then one of the first talking heads is Tyler the Creator basically saying he does not really know who Rick Rubin is. Kind of a weird choice for a docu-series about Rick Rubin. And I am all for it.

Some other people who stop over to Shangri-La include David Lynch, the lead singer of Vampire Weekend (watch to found out which song off their latest album he did not include because it sounded like a song Smash Mouth would do for a Shrek movie), David Blaine (Rick is a huge magic guy), Triple HHH (Rick is also famously a huge wrestling fan), Jerrod Carmichael, and it also features Mac Miller’s last recording sessions.

This is also the first docu-series that I can think of that kind of has an episode end on a cliffhanger. Episode three ends with news coverage of last year’s California wildfires, which left me thinking, oh await, is this studio I just spent three hours with about to burn down. You will have to turn into episode to find out. But the show is definitely worth the watch just because it is a very weird and entertaining watch. Of course if you do not get the weirdness, it does not really matter to Rick Rubin. When asked, “does it matter at all that people didn’t understand?” his answer is simply, “Never.”

Shangri-La airs Fridays at 9:00 on Showtime.

Previewing Harlots: Season Three

Theon Greyjoy died much like he lived, pretty pathetically. Dude was killed by his own weapon in a fight that took less time than the time it took Theon to run towards the Night King. But hey, at least Theon was told by Bran he was a good man before being stabbed with his own weapon. Though who is to say that Bran was just saying that so Ayra would have enough time to get to the Werewood tree? I do not think Theon’s final act really makes up for groping his sister, burning two farm children, ruining his sister’s plan to rescue him, watching while someone raped his virginal surrogate sister, or literally jumping ship when his uncle captured his sister. But hey, that is just me.

So I kind of laughed when Theon Greyjoy showed up on the new season of Harlots. Seriously, he is the new main antagonist now that Lydia Quigley is in the nut house? Granted since Leslie Manville is still on the show, it is not a matter of if, but when Quigley gets out. Also listed first in the credits is Samantha Morton though Margaret Wells, who was last seen banished to America after confessing to murder being spared the noose, is completely absent the first two episodes. Though when characters talk about buying land in America at the end of episode two, it seems clear how the Wells matriarch will return to the show.

The third season picks up one year since Margaret set sail for America. Both of her children are doing well, Charlotte has taken over her mother’s business while Lucy is about to go into business for herself with a new partner that has a very different type of product. While Emily Lacey has teamed up with Theon and his brother who wants to expand their pleasure business.

Lydia Quigley does show up in the early episodes but is unrecognizable without her wig, powdered makeup, and fancy cloths. And the loony bins of the eighteenth century featured “cures” that probably made their cliental crazier. We are introduced to the rotating chair which is supposed to induce “involuntary evacuations.” Of course Quigley is quick to make friends that will help her cause.

Harlots has been a fun excursion for spring and summertime watching. Though as the show expands (Liv Tyler in season two, Theon in the new season) there are beginning to be too many characters with inter-swapping relationships, it is starting to get confusing who is aligned with who and who is hooking up with who in the next scene. One moment someone is burning down a building, the next they are hooking up with the inhabitant even though they know who did it. Though the way things end in episode three, things may become more clear sa I am guessing that moment will steer the storylines for the rest of the season.

Harlots premieres tomorrow on Hulu with the first two episodes and new episodes every Wednesday.

 

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 7, 2019

Big Little Lies: Renata may be going to the poor house, but at least she went out in style. C’mon, what second grader would not want a private disco concert by The Tramps? But at least we got Adam Scott in an afro getting into a fight. Is one of those two gonna kill each other this season?

Claws: Well that had to be the least realistic toe I have ever seen. At first I thought dude was just not very well endowed.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

Fear the Walking Dead: So Al’s captor promises not to kill he if she gave her a tape, is about to kill her after getting the tape, but instead kisses. The whole containment storyline has been confusing.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: The new black Handmaid was almost like Checkov’s antagonist this season; you knew she was going to do something, just not what and when. But we finally got it, she snitched on the Martha that was helping June. But how did June not get implicated in this?
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Krpton: So Seg separated himself from Brainiac last week except he is still there. So much for not brining Brainiac to Kyrpton. But who or what did Lobo kill last week? This show just does not makes sense too often.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.

Swamp Thing: So the weird dude who rowed up to Swampy last week is the same dude who cursed the actor dude. Do what exactly that guy up to?

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So weird bat lady thinks she is the victim while Not Coulsen claims to be the aggrieved. I don’t know, kind of seems like the chick who takes over people with bats is probably the true evil one. Or at the very least more evil. But why exactly did she not have her bats fly down the gullet of FitzSimmons? Did she run out of bats?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: July 6, 2019

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 Affair, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Doom Patrol, Bill Burr Presents IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading, Snow Patrol, Carly Rae Jepsen, Of Monsters and Men, and Kara Marni.

- Showtime has released the trailer for the fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe®-winning Showtime drama series The Affair. Premiering on Sunday, August 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the series stars Golden Globe nominee Dominic West, Golden Globe winner Maura Tierney and Sanaa Lathan. Created by WGA Award-winning playwright, writer, executive producer and showrunner Sarah Treem (House of Cards, In Treatment), the series explores the emotional and psychological effects of an affair that destroyed two marriages, and the crime that brings these individuals back together. Oscar® and Golden Globe winner Anna Paquin (True Blood) joined the final season as a series regular.


- Hulu released the official trailer for upcoming limited anthology rom-com series Four Weddings and a Funeral from Mindy Kaling. The series stars Zoe Boyle, Nathalie Emmanuel, Guz Khan, Sophia La Porta, Harish Patel, Nikesh Patel, John Reynolds, Rebecca Rittenhouse and Brandon Mychal Smith. Four Weddings and a Funeral premieres the first four episodes Wednesday, July 31 and new episodes weekly only on Hulu.


- Things are about to get weird! Get ready for nonstop action as the world’s favorite misfit DC Super Heroes are about to enter our universe with the release of Doom Patrol: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray and DVD on October 1, 2019 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride with all 15 episodes from the first season of the DC UNIVERSE original series, plus enjoy the captivating extra features including gag reel and deleted scenes. Doom Patrol: The Complete First Season is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($30.99 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($39.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Both sets have an order due date of August 27, 2019. Doom Patrol: The Complete First Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers (available on August 26th in the U.S.).

- Bill Burr Presents IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading, the second of three All Things Comedy produced specials previously announced by Comedy Central, premieres July 12 at midnight ET/PT on Comedy Central. Official Trailer. In IanTalk: Ideas Not Worth Spreading, IAN EDWARDS gives his own edgy twist on a traditional TedTalk. He shares his thoughts on abortion, Harriet Tubman, and why he refuses to learn to swim for his own safety. Through his authentic balance of charm and self-deprecating humor, he’s able to dive into the intricacies of life, success, and dating with a relatable and refreshing twist.

- Snow Patrol debut their new song, “Time Won’t Go Slowly.” Listen here: The band announced on their social media channels yesterday they have been in the studio over the last few months and are releasing a new track ahead of more music later this year, celebrating the 25th anniversary since Snow Patrol formed.

- Vevo announces the release of Carly Rae Jepsen's live performance of "Too Much" from her new album, Dedicated. After Jepsen released her critically acclaimed album E·MO·TION in 2015, it became "a modern touchstone for a new crop of pop-leaning artists and legacy acts," as NPR noted, adding that "the blast radius of E*MO*TION is expansive." The album also inspired an abundance of memes - extending the cultural cachet that Jepsen earned from the ubiquity of her Grammy-nominated blockbuster hit "Call Me Maybe" (from her U.S debut album Kiss), which not only climbed to No. 1 on the iTunes Singles charts in over 47 countries, sold over 20 million singles worldwide, and was certified Diamond in the U.S., but was referenced by everyone from former secretary-of-state Colin Powell to Cookie Monster.


- Multiplatinum Icelandic quintet Of Monsters and Men share the official music video for their single “Alligator” today off of their upcoming third full-length album FEVER DREAM out July 26th via Republic Records. Check out the video for “Alligator” HERE!

- Red hot following a powerhouse performance at Glastonbury Festival this past weekend, critically acclaimed rising British R&B star Kara Marni shares a brand new single entitled “Opposite” today. Get it HERE.

Previewing Into the Dark: Culture Shock

Jason Blum, producer of Into the Dark, once say of one of most famous movies, The Purge, ““Whatever political party you’re in, you come out of the film saying, ‘See, that affirms my beliefs,’ which I think is cool. People on the Right are like, ‘The Purge is a terrible thing. This is an example of government getting into our private lives, when they should be smaller and get out of our private lives.’ People on the Left say, ‘There are too many guns, and this is what happens when there are too many guns.’ It’s a really violent movie, and it’s supposed to get people scared and it’s supposed to get people to have a good time for an hour and a half, in a movie theater. If it also gets people talking about whether it’s a good or a bad idea, that’s a great thing, too.”

I really do not think there will be as much ambiguity to the political themed latest Into the Dark installment, Culture Shock. First off, the America’s Birthday themed episode starts south of the border and it is over a half an hour before you hear anyone speak any English. The episode even mocks a certain popular Twitter feed. Yeah, conservative talking heads will be whining about this right after a segment where they call liberals snowflakes.

The episode starts off with a news segment stating violence against aliens at an all-time high (fun fact, the reporter also played a reporter in the Christmas episode; though a shared Into the Dark shared universe was kind of put to rest when someone who died in the Halloween episode showed up in the Mother’s Day episode). Marisol is giving birth any day now and has paid a coyote to get her across the border in time to anchor her baby. Along for the ride is a small child and a dude with a face tattoo that translates to “strength.” Oh my.

Things gets complicated when they arrive at the border and things go black, then all of the sudden Marisol wakes up in a bright pastel color scheme, has already given birth, in a very Wizard of Oz comparison to the dark and dirty first part of the show. This new place is part Pleasantville and part Stepford Wives. What happened? I will not say other than this is the best twist so far on Into the Dark.


Into the Dark Power Ranking
1. The Body (October)
2. Culture Shock (July)
3. All That We Destroy (May)
4. Down (February)
5. New Year, New You (January)
6. Pooka! (December)
7. I’m Just Forking with You (April)
8. They Come Knocking (June)
9. Treehouse (March)
10. Flesh and Bone (November)

Into the Dark: Culture Shock premiere tomorrow exclusively on Hulu.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 30, 2019

Big Little Lies: Okay, I wonder if this is going to be an every other week thing because this week was much more entertaining than the last. Though I am missing what is Meryl Steep’s deal. She does not want to believe her son is an adulterer let alone a rapist, but then starts stocking Ziggy. SAeems like deep down she knows but does not want to admit it. Something dark had to have happened with her other son.

Claws: Gee, when I see a dead body, my first thought is call the police. Who would think Polly has a guy to help get rid of a body? But just when you thought the show could not get any weirder, Virginia starts talking to a pig.
You can download Claws on iTunes.

City on a Hill: So the bother is an informant for money? Couldn’t he make more money robbing armored trucks? Or is he just doing this because his brother would only let him do that one job. If the last job only netted $15,000 each, and Kevin Bacon is offering a $20,000 reward. But where exactly is Kevin Bacon getting this money? Does the FBI really pay that well to informants are does Bacon use the money he steals from bookies and the like to get all his money so he can close more cases?

Fear the Walking Dead: So we are not going to get a what Daniel was doing since we last saw him episode? Meh. But the using a cat to distract walkers so you can kill them easier was kind of brilliant. but that had to be one of the more gruesome ideas with the plan on either show. Now how many seasons until we see Daniel again?
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

Legion: Um, where was the “previous on” reminder? I vaguely remember that not much actually happens on the show. Afterwards I went to YouTube to find the official recap and… um, that was not much help. Maybe it is not something that is meant to be understood.
You can download Legion on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Wait, was that was June’s kid’s place in DC? But aren’t they in Boston? But June has seen her daughter multiple times. Did they move? And if Rory Gilmore and the crazy Handmaid had to be brought back from the colonies because a lack of Handmaids, why were there so many on the Mall at the end? Seems like there are plenty.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Krpton: So they were able to remove Brainiac who looks like the old Brainiac. This makes no sense.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.

Swamp Thing: So we finally learned what happened to Shauna, they did shock me that Abby was at fault… until it turned out to be just a red herring and something drug Shauna down. So now that we got that answered, now the question is, who, or what, actually did that? If Swamp Thing could see what happen, shouldn’t he be able to know what pulled Shauna down?

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So not-Coulson is over a hundred years old? Well that kind of hurts my multi-verse theory. So just how do the two look-a-likes have matching DNA?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: June 28, 2019

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 Mystic Briton, The Carol Burnett Show, Orangutan Jungle School, James Bay, BENEE, Meg Myers, One Day at a Time, Rita, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and The L Word: Generation Q.

- Smithsonian Channel is set to reveal the secrets of Britain’s most mysterious sites via a road trip mixing mysticism with very British humor. In this 10-part series, television and radio presenter Clive Anderson (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota explore the island’s ancient places and rituals. With Mary-Ann more than a match for Clive’s signature wit and irreverence, the pair travel the length of Britain to investigate the strange and sacred beliefs of its past, joining scientists, archaeologists and historians to look at the latest discoveries unearthing what ancient Britons did in the name of their beliefs and why. Mystic Briton premieres Monday, August 5 at 9 PM ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

- On September 11, 1967, Carol Burnett and her madcap cast took to the airwaves on CBS for a new variety series that combined sketch comedy, singing and dancing. Little did they know that The Carol Burnett Show would become an Emmy Award-winning program and survive the changing tastes of TV audiences to last eleven seasons. Available at retail for the first time, The Best of the Carol Burnett Show: 50TH Anniversary Edition brings together the best of the best -- 60 hand-picked episodes covering every season -- into one singular and uproarious set. Available on August 6, 2019, this ultimate Burnett-lovers collection is priced at $249.98srp, and contains 21 discs and incredible, exclusive bonus features specially-created by the Time Life TV DVD archivists including exclusive interviews, a cast reunion and backstage tour of Studio 33, never-before-seen outtakes and featurettes.

- Class is now in session as Smithsonian Channel prepares to share the drama, as well as the hijinks, of a group of young endangered orangutans in an emotional new docuseries, Orangutan Jungle School. The 10-episode season takes viewers to Nyaru Menteng, a unique forest school for orphaned apes in Indonesia, run by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. At this singular school, young orangutans who have lost their mothers to poaching and deforestation learn the skills they’ll need to survive in the wild as they progress through a series of classes and grade levels – but these lessons take place in the jungle instead of a classroom. Full of rich and distinct characters, hilarious antics, tear-jerking moments and even heart-pounding cliffhangers, the series offers a look at the incredible work being done by human caregivers to provide these intelligent and endangered creatures a chance at life in the wild. All episodes of ORANGUTAN JUNGLE SCHOOL will be available to stream Friday, August 2 on Smithsonian Channel Plus, with the first two episodes free for those without a subscription.

- James Bay released the official video for his single “Bad.” The video sees BAY emotionally floating through New York as he performs his hit single. The video features some never before performed stunts through some of New York’s iconic streets and even an iconic shot in Times Square.


- The five-song collection threads together a tale of personal emotions and evocative stories over an unpredictable sonic backdrop. She introduces the project with the undeniable opener “Bitter.” Off-kilter production punctuated by handclaps, glitchy electronics, and strains of guitar gives way to a hypnotic hook as she encourages, “Try not to get bitter.” Watch the video for “Bitter” HERE

- Hailing from the suburbs of Auckland, 19-year-old indie pop artist BENEE has made her mark on the world with her debut FIRE ON MARZZ EP out today—listen HERE! On FIRE ON MARZZ, BENEE noted, “When it came to coming up with a name for my EP, what first came to mind was wanting a phrase that was a big old explosion, because that’s kinda what the EP feels like to me. I came up with the name FIRE ON MARZZ and thought it did the best job at not really relating to any song in the EP. I didn’t think there was a phrase that could sum them all up.”

- Meg Myers shares her stunning video of her empowering cover of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill.' The video features hand colored compositions from 2,130 children from around the country, including many at the 'Heart of Los Angeles' (HOLA) school - a non profit that gives underserved kids an equal chance to succeed through a comprehensive array of after-school academic, arts, athletics and wellness programs. As part of her partnership with HOLA, Meg and the producer of the video, Jo Roy taught animation classes to elementary school students. The frames they made during the classes were then composited together, and used in the video. The result is an ethereal, and highly captivating animated journey. With every frame being radically unique, the only constant is the certainty of change.

- Pop TV, now fully owned by CBS Corporation, announced that the critically-acclaimed series One Day at a Time will continue with a new 13-episode fourth season premiering in 2020. The Network shared the news amid fan campaigns rallying behind the series. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the fourth season of One Day at a Time will air exclusively on Pop.

- Showtime has announced a pilot production order for the hour-long dramedy Rita, starring Emmy and Golden Globe® nominee Lena Headey (Game of Thrones). Headey will executive produce the pilot, a co-production of Showtime and Platform One Media, with creator/showrunner Christian Torpe, who is writing the pilot based on his award-winning original Danish series.

- Showtime has announced that Michael Gladis (Mad Men) has joined Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, the next chapter of the Penny Dreadful saga, as a series regular. Lorenza Izzo (Aftershock) will recur in a pivotal role in the upcoming SHOWTIME series, along with Adam Rodriguez (CSI: Miami), Thomas Kretschmann (Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Dominic Sherwood (Shadowhunters), and Ethan Peck (Star Trek: Discovery) will guest in multiple episodes. The series stars Natalie Dormer, Daniel Zovatto, Kerry Bishé, Adriana Barraza, Rory Kinnear, Jessica Garza, Johnathan Nieves and Tony® and Emmy winner Nathan Lane. Oscar® and Emmy® nominee and Golden Globe® winner Amy Madigan, Brent Spiner and Lin Shaye will also be recurring guest stars. Tony and Golden Globe winner and three-time Oscar nominee John Logan, the creator, writer and executive producer of the Emmy nominated series Penny Dreadful, continues in those same roles. Michael Aguilar (KIDDING) also serves as executive producer. Production on the drama series is expected to begin later this year.

- Showtime has announced four new series regulars joining the cast of The L Word: Generation Q, premiering this fall on Showtime. Arienne Mandi (Baja), Leo Sheng (Adam), Jacqueline Toboni (Easy) and Rosanny Zayas (Orange is the New Black) are set to star as the new generation of LGBTQIA characters who will join original series stars and executive producers Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig and Leisha Hailey. Executive produced by showrunner Marja-Lewis Ryan (The Four-Faced Liar, 6 Balloons), original series creator Ilene Chaiken, Kristen Campo and Steph Green (pilot), the series is set to begin production on eight episodes in Los Angeles this summer.

Previewing The Loudest Voice

In a measure of full disclosure I must say I am not a big fan of the heavily fictionalized bio-flick. Why would I want to watch Will Smith pretend to be Muhammad Ali when I could just watch the actual Muhammad Ali in When We Were Kings? Why watch Walk the Line when I have over a hundred Johnny Cash songs in my library? I guess bio-flick are a little better when I do not know much about the subject like The Loudest Voice about Roger Ailes whom basically all I know about is that he ran Fox News before being brought down by multiple sexual harassment claims.

Granted, The Loudest Voice is not a bio-flick, it is a miniseries about the man that is spread out across seven episodes. This is not be confused with the actually Roger Ailes bio-flick coming at the end of this year starring John Lithgow. Two competing Roger Ailes projects? I kind of the miss the days of dueling asteroid flicks. This show features Russell Crowe as the head of Fox News with a couple hundred extra pounds and about as much makeup. Each episode takes a year in the life of the man, starting with the launch of Fox News in 1995. The actually first scene is Ailes getting fired by Jack Dorsey as the head of CNBC right when MSNBC was about to be launched. Ironically, not going to CNN was a big part of the severance package.

The opening of the second episode begins with Ailes having to deal will Bill O’Reilly getting handsy (weirdly the biggest star in Fox News history does not get a fictionalize character, but is only mentioned), and about an hour later, a plane flies into the World Trade Center. Then we get another decent jump to 2008 when the third episode starts with a clenched fist watching Obama’s speech after locking up the Democratic nomination for president. I do not know why they portrayed Ailes as hating Obama so much considering the president was a rating boon for Fox News. Then that episodes ends with Ailes uttering the phrase, make America great again.” Yeah. I do not even want to mention how the fourth episode starts but I highly recommend just skipping the first five minutes of this episode. From there, the rest of the episode focuses on Fox News war on Obama. Grant it is somewhat amusing how everyone in the fear-mongering montage turned out to be.

No O’Reilly and no Megyn Kelly who reportedly was a late cut from the script (though Charlize Theron does play her in the movie) though Naomi Watts does show up as Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman takes the role in the movie) but does not get much screen time in the episode I saw. Instead we get a lot of behind the scenes moments with the real people you probably have never heard of. Sienna Miller plays Ailes wife (Connie Britton in the movie) who also worked at CNBC but seems very bored after being laid off and Roger has no interest in working with her again. That is probably because he has a side piece played by Annabelle Wallis, a Fox News booker. Seth McFarlane, yes that Seth McFarlane, plays someone that Ailes actually pouches from CNBC to be the Fox News PR guy. And in the most Seth MacFarlane way shouts, “Money Honey!” in his first line.

Just two weeks ago when reviewing Showtime’s other new show City on a Hill, I had to wonder if the creators made a period pierce so they could be as sexist and racist as they wanted for the sake of historical accuracy, and though the real life person The Loudest Voice was definitely a pervert and possibly a racist, the show gleefully show Ailes rewatching one of his anchors describe the Obamas greeting each other as a possible “terrorist fist jab.” Just the whole thing makes me queasier than most horror movies. Maybe it is apropos that the show is being produced by Blumhouse who made such movies as The Purge and Get Out.

The Loudest Voice airs Sundays at 10:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 23, 2019

Big Little Lies: I was a bit worried there would be a sophomore slump but my fears were eased by how on fire everyone was in the premiere but everyone but Meryl Streep seemed to cool down in the second week. Maybe they do need a mystery and a rich text to pull from to keep the show going.

Claws: Am I really supposed to think Uncle Daddy has changed because he had a heart to heart with Virginia? I am highly suspicious of that. What angle is he playing? And what a horrible witness protection program Desna is running. How about not hiding the Tat for Tit chick with a friend? $50,000 should get you a ticket out of town.
You can download Claws on iTunes.



Fear the Walking Dead: Yeah, I completely forgot what exactly happened to Dwight on the main show. I vaguely remember his wife leaving. Hopefully we get a montage next week catching us up on that. And, wait, the kids have been setting up those zombie roadblocks this whole time? I feel like I missed something.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: I was wondering why Fred did not have some secret plan to kidnap his kid (or the kid he thinks is his); instead he was planning what seems to be a pretty bad plan. A least I assume that Canada is not going to give a kid that he cannot prove paternity to. But then again, Luke does not lay any claim other than being the husband of the mother. Interesting legal question.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Krpton: I never thought Brainiac was dead last week, but, um, Brainiac is in Seg now? Huh? That makes no sense.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.

Swamp Thing: Wait, did Scarecrow pass through the bayou? Although I guess his terror gas was sprayed, not a communicable disease.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Seeing younger Simmons just made me realize how bad she looks now with those bangs. Time to pull your hair back Simmons. And I think we have seem more brain simulations of Daisy in the last couple episodes than real Daisy.
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: June 22, 2019

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 On Becoming a God in Central Forida, Prince, The Affair, America’s Hidden Stories, Amazing Dogs, Bipolar Rock ’N’ Roller, Paul Simon, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Maggie Lindemann, Back to Life, Heavenly Bodies, and The Banana Splits Adventure Hour.

- Showtime has picked up On Becoming a God in Central Forida, a one-hour series set to debut Sunday, August 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Kirsten Dunst (Fargo), the nine-episode series is a darkly comedic story about the cult of free enterprise and one woman’s relentless pursuit of the American Dream. In addition to Dunst, the series stars Théodore Pellerin (Genesis), Beth Ditto (Nocturnal Animals), Mel Rodriguez (The Last Man on Earth) and Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs). Created and executive produced by Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky and produced by Sony’s TriStar Television, the series is also executive produced by Smokehouse Pictures’ George Clooney (Catch-22) and Grant Heslov (Catch-22), along with Dunst, Charlie McDowell (The One I Love), who also directed the pilot and Esta Spalding (MASTERS OF SEX), who also serves as showrunner.


- The Prince Estate, in partnership with Warner Records, released a brand new music video for Prince's original demo recording of the classic "Manic Monday" featuring never before seen, archival footage from his storied vault that provides a rare window into Prince's creative process during a wildly productive era of his career. Watch the brand new "Manic Monday" music video in full and catch up on all things Prince on Apple Music here.

- Showtime has released the first-look teaser for the highly anticipated fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe-winning Showtime drama series The Affair. Premiering on Sunday, August 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the series was created by WGA Award-winning playwright, writer, executive producer and showrunner Sarah Treem (House of Cards, In Treatment). The Affair is also executive produced by Jessica Rhoades (Sharp Objects), Hagai Levi (In Treatment) and Michele Giordono (Nurse Jackie). Starring Golden Globe nominee Dominic West, Golden Globe winner Maura Tierney and Sanaa Lathan, the series explores the emotional and psychological effects of an affair that destroyed two marriages, and the crime that brings these individuals back together. Oscar® and Golden Globe Award winner Anna Paquin (True Blood) joined the final season as a series regular.


- Jamestown, the first successful English settlement in the Americas, is best known for the legend of John Smith and Pocahontas, but now archaeologists are on the hunt for a pioneering and controversial forgotten founding father. On July 30, 1619, Sir George Yeardley presided over the first democratic assembly in English-speaking America. Just a few weeks later, he purchased the first captive Africans for an English colony – opening America to the horrors of slavery. Smithsonian Channel’s probing series America’s Hidden Stories has pulled back the curtain on history we thought we knew, such as the groundbreaking revelation that Revolutionary War hero General Casimir Pulaski was intersex. Now, a special episode of the series reveals how Sir George Yeardley and a single year, 1619, set the course for the nation’s future. America’s Hidden Stories: Mystery at Jamestown premieres 400 years after the assembly’s anniversary on Monday, July 29 at 8 PM ET/PT.

- Take a journey along the twists and turns of the canine family tree to meet the most dangerous and wondrous wild dogs in the natural world and learn how they eventually went on to become much-loved pets like Labradors, bulldogs, mutts and more. Hosted by biologist Patrick Aryee, Amazing Dogs travels the world to study all 34 extraordinary canine species – from the Arctic fox to South America’s maned wolves and everything in between. Aryee examines these wonderfully varied creatures and discovers how, by harnessing their wild instincts, dogs helped change the course of human history. Taking viewers from the jungles of Brazil to the deserts of Africa and onto North America’s prairies to meet the most incredible canines known to man – Amazing Dogs premieres Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel. The premiere episode, MAN’S BEST FRIEND, sees Aryee meet the fastest, strongest and most unusual looking domestic dogs on the planet – all descended from the wild gray wolf. In the Mongolian wilderness, we find the Bankhar, a native dog that protects livestock from predators; then, it’s to the deserts of the Middle East to meet the Saluki – speed-demon canines that can reach up to 40 mph. Later, Aryee heads north on a dog-sledding adventure with the sturdy and strong Inuit Sled Dog, and while heading back south, he finds the loyal Newfoundland working among fishermen and the Cattle Dog riding alongside cowboys.

- Showtime and Mauro Ranallo announced at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) National Convention in Seattle that Bipolar Rock ’N’ Roller, a raw and revealing documentary chronicling the prolific combat-sports broadcaster Ranallo and his lifelong battle with mental illness, is now available for free to non-subscribers. The full documentary, which originally premiered on Showtime during Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2018, is available via YouTube, SHO.com and across select TV and streaming providers' websites, apps and free On Demand channels through Saturday, August 31.

- Paul Simon will perform a special pair of concerts August 13 and 14 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s A&B Amphitheater and Yokouchi Pavilion with all of the artist’s net proceeds to be donated to environmental organizations working in Hawai‘i. Tickets for both shows go on sale to the general public Saturday, June 22 at 10:00 am HST at the MACC Box office, by phone at 808-242-SHOW or online at http://mauiarts.org.

- One of music's most renowned trailblazers and the top-selling female country artist of all-time, Shania Twain, is returning to the Las Vegas Strip with Shania Twain "Let's Go!" The Vegas Residency, opening at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019.

- Taylor Swift's 7th studio album Lover has already set a new Apple Music record...and it's not even out yet! Lover is officially the most pre-added album by a female artist ever on Apple Music in the first day with 178.6K Pre-Adds worldwide, breaking the previous record set by thank u, next by Ariana Grande.

- On Maggie Lindemann's latest single, ‘Friends Go,’ the 20-year-old treads the line between modernist and throwback. The starlet embraces this duality with the help of Blink 182's Travis Barker by putting a punk twist on the recent single which explores feelings of disconnect at a time in which technology has made people closer than ever before.

- Showtime has ordered the critically acclaimed six episode comedy series Back to Life, from Fleabag producers Harry and Jack Williams and Daisy Haggard (EPISODES). Haggard plays Miri Matteson, who, after 18 years behind bars, returns home and stumbles back into adult life in the coastal town she once knew, while the mystery of her past looms large. Created by Haggard and written by Haggard and Laura Solon, the series will premiere on Showtime on Sunday October 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.

- What do you want to happen when you die? The ancient Greeks hung their heroes in the stars. On Monday, June 24, Smithsonian Channel cameras will capture an emotional, 21st-century version of this timeless human story, when 152 people mark the end of their life on Earth – by having their ashes shot into space. Celestis Memorial Spaceflights is lifting the cremains of 152 space enthusiasts off to their greatest and final adventure. Now, cameras are on the ground to capture the stories of Celestis participants and their loved ones as they witness this emotional launch to be shown in an upcoming Smithsonian Channel program, Heavenly Bodies (w.t.).

- One banana, two banana, three banana, GORE! The cult-favorite animal rock-band from Hanna-Barbera’s 1968 The Banana Splits Adventure Hour variety program is back with a blood-spattered vengeance! Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you The Banana Splits Movie, an original feature-length film on Digital on August 13, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on August 27, 2019. The movie is priced to own at $19.99 SRP for Digital, $24.98 SRP for Blu-ray Combo Pack ($34.97 in Canada), $19.98 SRP for the DVD ($24.99 in Canada).

The Five Most Anticipated Albums of Summer 2019

Last week I saw a Billboard headline that asked are labels signing too many artist? After the music industry almost died during the height of downloading, it seemed like most Top 40 radio stations only played 25 songs, streaming has been a huge boon and they are making almost as much money as the CD era. So to answer Billboard's question, no. With more signees means more diversity, after a long period where record companies were just throwing around crash to Soundcloud rappers, hopefully with the boon it will spawn the weirdness in the nineties where you had alt rock, gangsta rap, Boyz II Men, Hootie and The Blowfish, and Celine Dion all selling boatloads of CD's. Even Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and johnny Cash had huge comeback albums. With the overabundance of music come are way, I am actually able to come up with a Most Anticipated list for the first time in a while.

1. Originals - Prince (Tomorrow) - We are all familiar with songs like Manic Monday, Jungle Love, and the Glamorous Life but what some people may not know is that Prince wrote all three of those songs and many more that he handed off to artists as diverse as Martika and Kenny Rogers. Much like last years Piano and a Microphone 1983 these are all demos and not completely finished songs but like that album, this will at the very least be an interesting album to listen to.

2. "Let's Rock" - The Black Keys (June 28) - The duo released six albums in their first eight years as a band but just two in the next eight years. And the last one, Turn Blue was a weird psychedelic turn. Thier firt in five years sounds like a reeturn to the garage rock that got them the rare guitar based radio this decade. And I am all ready to have some rock back in my life.

3. Jimmy Lee - Raphael Saadiq (August 23) - Speaking of a long hiattus, it has been eight years since the last album by the RnB legend but listening to the first single Something Keeps Calling, it will be worth the wait. Really, old school RnB is another thing I really need back in my life.

4. No.6 Collaborations Project - Ed Sheeran (July 12) - Before he got signed and released mathematical themed album titles, Ed Sheeran numbered his EP's, the last of which was No.5 Collaborations Project. No word on who he is collaborating with other than Justin Beiber (meh) and Chance the Rapper (much better) which have already been released as single.

5. Lover - Taylor Swift (August 23) - Alright, Reputation was pure trash. And Me! was not much better, but Taylor does tend to release her cheesiest songs first. You Need to Calm Down is a little better. Here is hoping she is holding off her best for the album release like she has done for hr best albums.

Here are some other albums coming out this summer that will at least be worth a spin on Spotify. Click on the album name to pre-order on Amazon. Click on the artist's name to be taken to their iTunes page.


Tomorrow
Help Us Stranger - The Raconteurs
Late Night Feelings - Mark Ronson
Ride Me Back Home - Willie Nelson
Blood - Collective Soul

June 28
From Muscle Shoals - Foy Vance
Stranger Songs - Ingrid Michaelson

July 5
Brand New Day - Eddie Money

July 12
III - Banks
Solutions - K.Flay
Voyager - 311
Full Circle - Angie Stone
∑(No,12k,Lg,17Mif) New Order + Liam Gillick: So It Goes.. (Live at MIF) - New Order

July 19
Singular Act II - Sabrina Carpenter
Throwing Copper (25 Anniversary) - Live

July 26
Fever Dream - Of Monsters and Men
Little Yachty - Sugar Ray
Hotel Last Resort - Violent Femmes
Live From The Artists Den - Soundgarden
Everything Hits At Once: The Best Of Spoon - Spoon

August 2
Finch - Penny & Sparrow
Interpreting the Masters, Volume 2: (A Tribute to Van Halen) - The Bird and the Bee
Live at Woodstock - Creedence Clearwater Revival

August 9
How Do You Love? - The Regrettes

August 16
Thrashing Thru the Passion - The Hold Steady

August 23
Threads - Sheryl Crow
Hello From Las Vegas - Lionel Richie

September 6
Lost Girls - Bat for Lashes
404 - Barns Courtney
Valve Bone Woe - Chrissy Hynde

September 13
III - The Lumineers
Charli - Charli XCX

September 20
Why Me? Why Not. - Liam Gallagher

October 4
Closer Than Together - The Avett Brothers


TBD
Masochism - Sky Ferreira
Run the Jewels 4 - Run The Jewels
Adele
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Chance the Rapper
D'Angelo
Guns N' Roses
Hootie & The Blowfish
Keane
Lorde
Mandy Moore
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Rihanna

And of course this could be the quarter we here Dr. Dre's Detox. Recently Flying Lotus says he has heard Detox and claims it is better than Compton, so maybe there is a chance us common people will hear it soon too.

Previewing The Detour: Season Four

The Detour started out as a travel show as a family of four had a bunch of humorous mishaps while trying to make it to Florida for a family vacation. The show took a detour form that concept staying fairly stationary in seasons two and three. Now in season four, the Parkers are hitting the road again and traveling a lot further than from New York to Florida.

After Delilah stole a car and ran away last season, leaving a note imploring her family not to come find her, the remaining Parkers have been traveling the globe, going from Paraguay to Tibet to Russia (there is a Soviet version of Kickstart My Heart) trying to find the missing teenager. These travels also introduce us to some long lost relatives of the Parker clan, some never mention to others before and others thought to be long dead. While other family members who had been on the show previously like Robin’s sister and Nate’s other baby momma show up for about five seconds each via a phone message.

The problem with Delilah on the lamb, she was the best part of the show in the early season so she does not get much screen time for the first couple episodes. But when we finally get an episode devoted to what she had been up to in the past year, it not surprisingly turns out to be the best episode of the season. And much like last season, this season ends with a pretty big cliffhanger tease for a potential season five which may include a new cast member who shows up late in the season and is pretty entertaining in their own right.

The Detour airs Tuesdays at 10:30 on TBS.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 16, 2019

Billions: So everything Chuck did this season with his father was just a very long con against Connorty? That just comes across as a little too cute. Really, Chuck knew that choir boy Connerty was going to eventually turn into Chuck? But where does this leave Connerty next season? Is he really going to prison to only be seen again as Taylor plots her revenge against both Chuck and Axe who thankfully will be antagonists again next season because them working never seemed right? I just hope Taylor actually brings one if not both down next season. Although it will probably be another Connerty situation where just as we think Taylor has Axe dead to rights, in the season finale we will learn Taylor played into Axe’s hand the whole time. Meh.

Big Little Lies: I worried about the second season of the show because when Game of Thrones went past the books, creatively the show fell off, same for the Handmaid’s Tale, and there may not be much of a plot now that the murder has been resolved, but oh my goodness, everyone was just firing heaters all episode. I cannot remember any show that has ever been this snide and snarky before. Although the one exception was Adam Scott who seems to be obvious as ever. And I was just as puzzled as him at that supermarket scene. Should I know who the boob job chick was? Was that the teacher from last season?

The Chi: After all the blustery from Cruz, Ronnie still gets out of prison by the end of the episode. With not much time until the season finale, I wonder if he will catch Ronnie by then. It is also about time for the cops to crack down on all the gang activity this season. They finally connected everything, now they just need the smoking gun. Speaking of wrapping things up, it will be interesting to see how they end Brandon’s arc considering the actor got dismissed from the show. Hopefully they did not intend his wedding to be a big part of next season, because we know it is not happening now if it is not done by the end of this season.

The Bold Type: So Scarlett is folding? Is that was what was happening at the end? Is the main trio just going to start a blog next season? Or is the magazine just going full digital and just downsizing? Did they really renew this show and not Cloak and Dagger yet?
You can download The Bold Type on iTunes.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Wow, those Rory Gilmore scenes were just super boring. If you are going to do a sappy reunion, just leave it to one scene. If you are going to drag that out, at least give the wife a new wife (or more shockingly, a husband). Really the whole episode was a drag until the end (this episode sorely missed Commander Lawrence who is the only interesting this so far). Is Fred really going to go to Canada to steal “his” baby back?.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Krypton: So I watched about a ten minute recap before the premiere and still ended up a little confused. Like the blond chick was a clone? Completely forgot that. But I finally got the answer of what happened to Adam Strange, he went back to his time only for his town being bottled by Brainiac and apparently the planet was also taken over by Zod. Except Zeg-El killed Brainiac so all’s well on Earth now I guess? Okay, I doubt Brainiac is really dead. It would be pretty cheesy to defeat a supervillain off screen like that.
You can download Krypton on iTunes.

Swamp Thing: They are really racking up the questions without actually answering the past ones. Like who, or what, were controlling the bugs and why did they disperse when Swamp Thing told them to? What was the secret group the banker mentioned when threatening to expose Avery? And why exactly can the actor not leave, why did his cards change, what exactly do the cards mean, and what exactly does Abby have to do with it?

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: So Not-Coulsen is not evil and is actually trying to save the Earth? Alrighty. Even more confusing is how Daisy was able to get back to Earth so quickly. Didn’t Simmons waste the last warp speed jump to get to Fitz? So how did Daisy get back to Earth so easily?
You can download Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: June 15, 2019

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 Veronica Mars, Selena Gomez, Supergirl, The Avett Brothers, Common, I’m With Her, Royal Teeth, Anna of the North, Noah Kahan, BENEE, Social House, The Habits, Wild Rose, Keb’ Mo’, Disgraceland, Notorious B.I.G., Lavell Crawford: New Look, Same Funny!, Desus & Mero, and Fertile Crescent.

- Last week at ATX Festival, Hulu announced that Veronica Mars fans will be able to re-live the first three seasons of the cult favorite on July 1st ahead of the Hulu Original returning for its fourth season on July 26th. Brush up on everyone's favorite teenage private eye below:


- Selena Gomez Reveals What Bill Murray Kept Whispering to Her at Cannes:


- Just in time for the fifth season premiere on The CW, catch up with one of TV’s favorite DC Super Heroes as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings you Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray and DVD on September 17, 2019. Fans can purchase the sets which, in addition to all 22 super-powered episodes from season four, also contain the DC Crossover featurette, the show’s 2018 Comic-Con panel, deleted scenes and a gag reel! All three DC Crossover: Elseworlds episodes will also be available only for fans who purchase the Blu-ray set. Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season is priced to own at $39.99 SRP for the DVD ($51.99 in Canada) and $44.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($52.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (Available in the U.S.). Supergirl: The Complete Fourth Season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
In season four, Supergirl faces a bigger threat than she’s ever faced before – a new wave of anti-alien sentiment, spreading across National City that’s fomented by Agent Liberty. As Kara mentors a new reporter at CatCo, Nia Nal, and tries to use the power of the press to shine a light on the issues threatening to tear the city apart, Supergirl takes to the skies to battle the many villains who rise up in this era of divisiveness. But how does Supergirl battle a movement when she, herself an alien, represents one of the main things people are fearful of?

- In a letter penned by Seth Avett, Grammy Award®-nominated collective The Avett Brothers revealed today that they will be releasing their new album, Closer Than Together [American/Republic Records], on Friday, October 4, 2019. Read the mission statement for Closer Than Together here and below. The first single from the record “High Steppin’” was also released today along with its official music video. Listen to “High Steppin’” HERE and watch the official music video HERE.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning rapper Common unveils a new single and music video entitled “HER Love” featuring Daniel Caesar and special guest Dwele. Also included is an unreleased beat from J Dilla. Get it HERE! Boasting an unheard beat by longtime collaborator the late and great J Dilla, the soulful production underscores rhymes celebrating the culture from Jam Master Jay, all the way to Lil Uzi Vert, Nipsey Hussle, and Cardi B. It illuminates the genre’s powerful impact, as he claims, “You see a Malcolm X in a YG.” Regarding Hip-Hop, Common admits, “You gave me a voice in the world, it’s been hard to choose another girl.”

- Discogs has teamed up with I’m With Her to introduce an exclusive mini-documentary delivering a behind the scenes look at the vinyl manufacturing process — from mastering and lacquering to plating and pressing.

- Royal Teeth release their final single "Get A Load Of This One" before their long-awaited new full-length album Hard Luck comes out on June 28 via Round Hill Records. Keeping fans on the edge of their seats, the band announced the album release date today alongside the new track. "Get A Load Of This One" premiered by way of Northern Transmissions. The new single comes with a funky animated lyric video as well, which features a personal touch from the band - a peacock - because there's one that lives in their neighborhood and has become somewhat of a mascot for the group.

- Anna of the North today shares her magnificent new single ‘Thank Me Later’ via Paper Magazine. ‘Thank Me Later’ is yet another tantalizing addition to an enthralling new chapter of Anna of the North. A powerful follow-up to her defiantly raw singles ‘Leaning On Myself, and it’s equally powerful follow up ‘Used To Be’, ‘Thank Me Later’ is Anna of the North in full control. It's daydream pop brimming with the bold outlook of a woman taking charge in the modern age.

- Noah Kahan gifts his fans with a new song “Cynic” from his debut album Busyhead out this Friday, June 14th—listen and share HERE! Noah performed the track live for the very first time last night on Late Night with Seth Meyers—watch the performance HERE!

- Hailing from the suburbs of Auckland, 19-year-old indie pop artist BENEE returns with her latest single “Want Me Back” out today—listen HERE! Coming off the heels of her Gold-Certified hit “Soaked” and viral hit “Evil Spider,” the up and coming singer and songwriter also announces her upcoming debut EP FIRE ON MARZZ set for release on June 28th.

- Buzzing LA duo Social House—made up of Michael “Mikey” Foster and Charles “Scootie” Anderson—shares a brand new single “Haunt You” via School Boy Records/Republic Records—listen HERE! Social House also reveals their debut EP will be released on August 2nd—stay tuned for more!

- Los Angeles alternative/pop duo The Habits are celebrating the release of their debut self-titled EP, The Habits, out now. The band will be performing at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA on June 29th to commemorate the release. To further mark the the release of The Habits, the duo premiered their new music video for their 2nd single “Thirsty,” premiering now on Celebmix. “Thirsty” follows lead singer Wolf Bradley with a new sweetheart having an adventure on the world famous Santa Monica Pier. To catch the good vibes fans can view the video here.

- The Official Soundtrack for upcoming film Wild Rose, starring BAFTA Rising Star Award nominee Jessie Buckley, is now exclusively available at Barnes & Noble. Wild Rose is set for release in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, June 21st. Watch the trailer for Wild Rose HERE!

- Today, Keb’ Mo’ releases Oklahoma, his first solo studio album since BLUESAmericana (2014). Building on the backbone of the Blues with subjects like depression and love, Mo’ also addresses current worldly issues like immigration and environmental degradation. Oklahoma is now available through all digital retailers and can be purchased here.

- The explosive rock and roll true crime podcast Disgraceland released a new episode on Slick Rick chronicling an attempted murder, kidnapping, and more. So far in season 3, host Jake Brennan has dissected Kurt Cobain & Courtney Love, Snoop Dogg, Johnny Cash, The Grateful Dead and more. Recently, the show peaked at #4 on the overall Apple Podcasts Top Podcasts chart ahead of The New York Times' The Daily and Serial following the launch of season 3.

- The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, in partnership with the office of Majority Leader Laurie A. Cumbo, hosted the official event celebrating the street co-naming of Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace Way, located at the intersection of St. James Place and Fulton Street in Brooklyn, where the late rapper was born and raised. The event commemorated the life and legacy of the legendary Notorious B.I.G., and his impact on music as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time. Hundreds of fans showed up to witness this historic moment, joining Biggie’s closest family and friends in celebration.

- Lavell Crawford is back to debut his new comedy special Lavell Crawford: New Look, Same Funny!, premiering Saturday, July 6 at 10:35 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime. Filmed at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in San Antonio, Crawford is funnier – and skinnier – than ever. After losing over 120 pounds, the comic offers his unique take on everything from being a fan of first-term President Obama and the recent government shutdown to his weight-loss journey and the best way to deal with cops in 2019.


- Showtime has released the latest episode of Desus & Mero for free online sampling, on streaming platforms and on demand. In the episode, Desus Nice and The Kid Mero continue their EGOT mission, setting their sights on scoring a Tony® Award with the help of Academy Award® nominee and Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. The episode is available for free now on YouTube and SHO.com. Upcoming guests include Black Monday star Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson, Julian Edelman, Schoolboy Q and Ice Cube. The series airs Mondays and Thursdays at 11 p.m. ET/PT until its summer hiatus beginning August 5.

- Hulu announces straight to series order on Fertile Crescent (working title), an 8-episode drama series co-produced by Masha Productions, Spiro Films, Haut et Court TV, Arte France and Fremantle. Fertile Crescent dives into the depths of the Syrian civil war through the eyes of Antoine, a young French man, in search for his estranged, presumed to be dead sister. While unraveling the mystery, piece by piece, Antoine ends up joining forces with a unit of Kurdish female fighters, fierce women and ISIS’ biggest nightmare, and travels with them in ISIS occupied territory. Antoine’s journey crosses paths with adventurers and anarchists, spies and innocent victims, and provides a unique look on the tragic events in Syria, and the way they affect the entire world.

Previewing City on a Hill

There was a time in my life when I though the children were our future, just teach them well and let them lead the way. But whenever I spend any amount of time with the youth today I et increasingly depressed. The last interaction with a trio of teenagers, no of them had heard of the Beastie Boys, thought Eminem was old school, and have never played or even heard of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. For instance Aldis Hodge was Voodoo Tatum in Friday Night Lights with Connie Britton who was on Spin City with Michael J. Fox who was in Back to Future 2 with Elisabeth Shue who was in Hollow Man with, you guessed it, Kevin Bacon.

Although after next week those Hodge and Bacon will have no degrees of separation as they are both starring in City on a Hill. The new show is set in early nineties Boston (O.P.P. on the radio!) and follows a pompous FBI agent (Bacon) who has a great arrest record mostly thanks to illicit means and a new Assistant District Attorney who has to do everything by the books because all eyes are on him because the color of his skin. I sometime wonder if the proliferation of period pieces is solely the excuse for writers to be racist as they want under the guise of historical accuracy. Women are not portrayed much better, there is one actress who shows up in both of the first two episodes but only manages to spend less than ten percent of her time on screen actually clothed.

With the two lawmen, they need a crime to be solved. That comes way of Johnathan Tucker (whose one of his first acting gig was with Bacon in Sleepers) who despite runs a market, still finds time to knock over armored trucks. Although I am not entirely sure why someone with a full time job is risking everything for a $15,000 take. Especially considering what happens in a robbery that goes wrong that draws the attention of the Feds in the first episode. He does have three small children and a full time screw up little brother (a douchebag Bostonian who listens to Marky Mark in the early nineties is a bit on the nose) who wants in on the next score.

The thing about City on a Hill is the story as described in the press package sound much better that the clichéd period crime show that show up at the very least in the first couple episode. The press materials describe the early nineties setting as the height of violent crime and corruption in the city. Then the show starts at the dawn of the turnaround. I would like to watch that show as Bacon and Hodge route out corruption, instead it just comes off as a The Town retread with a couple more bushy mustaches (director of that movie, Ben Afleck is a producer on the show). Future seasons of City on a Hill may end up being compelling, but I feel like I have seen the first season way too many times at this point.

City on a Hill airs Sundays at 9:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 9, 2019

Billions: Well they finally got Chuck Sr. But I have to guess the thing Connerty’s brother stole is going tome back to haunt him. I was a bit disappointed that the two teams breaking in for the document did not run into each other. Not like either could rat the other out because they were both breaking the law.

Fear the Walking Dead: Wait, Daniel is alive? Didn’t he die… twice? I remember him “dying” in a fire in like the second season. Then he showed up at the damn, but then I do not even remember how he “died” that time. But apparently he has run into Al sometime between the damn and right now, which has been a while in the show’s time because they did a pretty big time jump just to get Morgan on the show.
You can download Fear the Walking Dead on iTunes.

The Chi: Well the last time Cruz brought in Ronnie when he was drunk did not end well for him. Let us see if things end differently this time.

The Handmaid’s Tale: So what is going on with Commander Lawrence, he seemed like a stand-up guy who was helping Rory Gilmore and Offred’s baby escape. And now this season he seems much more antagonist. Last season he seemed like the architect of Gilead who regretted his creation but now comes off as a grump. And even one face value it seemed extremely cruel to make Offred Ofjoseph pick five from a group being sent to the Colonies, but in actuality it turned out a blessing because then she could pick five that could be most helpful for the resistance. So what exactly is his deal? I guess we have a whole season to figure that one out.
You can watch The The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.

Swamp Thing: Well that was a weird week. Not necessarily anything that happened on the show but right before the second episode aired, DC Universe announced they were canceling the show that led to a flood of possible reasons why. The one that caught traction was that a clerical error leading to North Carolina not paying for half the budget like originally agreed turned out to be based on false evidence, the 40 million tax credit promised turned out to be a couple million more than North Carolina set aside for all productions in the yearly budget. The more likely culprit is probably DC’s new corporate overlords who is currently working on their own streaming service and have not decided what to do with the niche outlet. I think it is very telling they have not made any programming announcements since renewing Titans last fall and it has been almost a year since they last greenlit a new program, Stargirl. So the question is Warner Bros. let DC Universe stand along with maybe the shows and movies eventually showing up on their still unnamed service? Will they take the successful shows and let DC Universe be just for comics? Or will they shutter it all together? The uncertainty really looks both DC Universe and whatever the Warner Brother streaming service called look really bad especially with Disney+ almost ready to launch.

As for the actual show, it continued from it strong premiere. I was most interested this week with the dead friend who just seemed like a way to draw a wedge between Abby and the big wig family as well as a way for her to get out of town to st up this homecoming. But clearly there is something else going on with the dead friend showing up twice. You can write off the first appearance as a dream sequence, but then she showed up again in bed with the mother. So she clearly has not crossed over yet and the mystic knows something she is not telling. This could be interesting.