Category: Television News

New hit show on Tubi: About the Authors TV

About the Authors TV on Tubi profiles the world’s greatest storytellers. Photo: Google

If you are a fan of books and entertainment in general, this is a series worth checking out. The new streaming series on Tubi, About the Authors TV, profiles and tells the story behind some of the world’s greatest storytellers. Seasons 1 through 4 are available now. I know what I will be bingeing next. (MVD Publicity, 2023)

The documentary/lifestyle show’s new seasons 3 and 4 feature the creators of Oscar-winning The Martian movie, the Lincoln Rhyme franchise, Star Wars, Fox’s Bones TV show, the Indiana Jones film franchise, HBO’s True Blood, billion-dollar box office hit Rambo, Apple TV sensation Shining Girls, Donnie Brasco, The Goonies, Poltergeist, Netflix’s Blonde, Longmire, Trollhunters, Spike TV’s The Mars Trilogy, Sundance’s Hap and Leonard, Judy Moody, the Dark Hunter universe, and more.

Born out of the Covid-era boom of new shows that rose to popularity with 2020s viewing audiences, the show targets both the readers of these authors and aspiring writers alike. About the Authors TV has grown to over 2 million viewers and counting in the past two years since Tubi began airing the show.

Seasons 1 and 2 featured episodic interviews with best-selling writers Scott Turow, Karin Slaughter, T.C. Boyle, Brad Meltzer, Ian Rankin, Catherine Coulter, Heather Graham, Chris Bohjalian, Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, John Lescroart, Tess Gerritsen, F. Lee Bailey (in his final TV interview), Mindhunter’s John Douglas, Laurie R. King, Steve Alten, and Rob Bell, in more than 60 episodes.

Seasons 3 and 4 features another 68 of the world’s best-selling authors with Joyce Carol Oates, Andy Weir, Jeffery Deaver, Barry Eisler, James Rollins, JA Jance, Dr. Kathy Reichs, Daniel Kraus, Homer Hickam, Craig Johnson, Sara Paretsky, Erica Jong, Charlaine Harris, Joe R. Lansdale, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Ret. FBI agent Joe Pistone, David Morrell, Dean Koontz, Riley Sager, Victoria Aveyard, Kim Stanley Robinson, Candice Fox, Lauren Beukes, Christopher Paolini, Jay McInerney, Janet Fitch, Jeanine Cummins, Charles and Caroline Todd (in her final filmed interview), Megan Miranda, Christina Lauren, Joyce Maynard, novelizer James Kahn, Ruth Ware, Dr. Naomi Wolf, JD Barker, Lois Lowry, Mary Kay Andrews, Megan McDonald, Jay McInerney, Ben Mezrich, Hank Philippi Ryan, and more.

Patricia Cornwell declared to her 1.1 million Twitter followers that she had “a BLAST!” on the show. Gillian Flynn selected About the Authors TV as one of only four media appearances celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Gone Girl, alongside the Today Show. Legendary Irish author John Banville recently said, “I enjoyed our talk, and I must say I’m full of admiration for the panache with which you carried the thing off – you managed to mention all of my books in a neat hour. A pleasure to deal with a professional.” Joyce Carol Oates found her episode to be “brimming with enthusiasm & energy!”

Host/Creator Jake Brown, himself an award-winning author of 55 books says, “We’re so grateful for the opportunity to continue our relationship with Tubi TV and MVD Entertainment in delivering 68 more episodes over Seasons 3 and 4 as we work to make About the Authors TV the largest streamed episodic archive of author interviews across all genres and generations. With 80 more new episodes coming in Seasons 5 and 6, being filmed now, and recently completed Science Fiction and UK Editions, as well as an upcoming Horror Edition, there are hundreds of more episodes coming and we hope readers, aspiring authors and fans of each specific author will take a look and join our growing audience!”

About the Authors TV airs on Tubi and recently landed its first sponsor in partnership with International Literary Properties. Visit their YouTube Channel for daily promos from newly interviewed authors, extended previews of upcoming episodes and early exclusive premieres. The series is shot weekly at a Nashville, Tennessee-based studio and edited by the team of Ray Riddle, Allan McCall, Jake Brown, and Chris Lucas.

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Binge worthy shows you should watch

Photo: Tech Daily on Unsplash

The last few years have been a feast for the eyes, heart, and soul when it comes to streamable series. More people now watch classics and brand-new series via streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ than they do on regular TV. After all, almost all of the best shows will be released in bulk rather than a once-a-week release like TV.

Meaning when you have a few hours free, you can get into it! 2022 was great for TV shows, and there were some new seasons added to shows like Succession, and of course, we were blessed with the SATC women again with Just Like That.

But what does 2023 hold? And don’t worry, if you don’t live in the country with these releases, you can use a VPN for streaming!

Shrinking
An Apple TV+ release starring Jason Segel, and if you have watched Our Friend, you are probably itching to see Jason in more emotionally meaty roles.

Well, in Shrinking, he loses his wife, and we follow him go through the complexities of loss – and see how he helps himself and others—a great show with a big heart – funny, sad, and nuanced. A great show that deserves applause.

Beef
Is there anything Ali Wong can’t do? Not only does she have flawless comedic timing, but Beef is the show that keeps on giving – and yes, you will end up hungry from time to time, but we are talking Beef as in an argument, not Beef as in the food. While Ali Wong and Steven Yeun are the stars, David Choe and Amy Lau are right there with them. So far, it has received critical acclaim and is praised as what will be one of the best Netflix shows of 2023.

Coming from Korean director Lee Sung, we follow the foursome as they go to extreme lengths after an incident of road rage. Beef, while funny, smart, and often outrageous, does force you to look inwards at how you might be dealing with your own anger. A dark comedy that is just the right amount of spicy.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Bridgerton has been a runaway success, and from that, Queen Charlotte has arrived. What makes Queen Charlotte so intriguing is that it is a dramatization of the real-life story of King George III and Queen Charlotte.

While many of the characters from Bridgerton do make appearances, it is not 100% necessary to watch it first. But, for the sake of getting the full scoop and enjoying a show that millions did, it’s a good idea anyway.

While they are based on real people and some real events – it is not a history lesson, just a very enjoyable period series. Oh, and it has been stated to be a limited series, and no season 2 will be coming (or at least there are no announced plans).

Daisy Jones and the Six
An Amazon Prime series with the rather dashing Sam Clafin and gorgeous Riley Keough as the leads. The band is fictional but not far into the first episode, you will be hoping for them to release an album.

The band is a huge success and is topping the charts – only to crash and burn. The scenes switch between interviews of the band members, flashbacks, and more so that we, the viewers, can piece it together.

The original author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, said that it was inspired by Fleetwood Mac, who is well known for having a tumultuous time. Daisy Jones and the Six also deals with some heavy themes, so it is worth checking out trigger warnings.

The Witcher
This is the last time you can see Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia before Liam Hemsworth steps into the role for season 4. While it is not due to be released until the end of June, Netflix has been generous with plenty of teasers, first looks, and more.

The other Witcher seasons offered action, magic, mythical beasts, romance, and more. Based on the book and then the game, The Witcher has a lot of lore – and season 3 is set to be incredible.

The Bear
The Bear season one was an incredible success, and season 2 is set to be just as sizzling. Jeremy Allen White plays the uptight, hyper-precise, and messy chef we come to know as Carmy. Available on Hulu or the Star Hub on Disney +.

In season one, we see Carmy leave his high-flying fine dining career to take over a smaller place and the trials and tribulations that follow. The Bear deals with some heavy topics, too – so another one to check trigger warnings.

And let’s never forget there is always: The Lincoln Lawyer television series on Netflix!

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New horror television series release: The Dead Hour

The Dead Hour is a 12 episode horror series available for streaming now. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

There is a new horror series available now on Tubi, Amazon, and the YouTube channel Kings of Horror. Terror Films is getting into the horror television business, premiering a new 12-episode horror series titled The Dead Hour on digital platforms. (October Coast, 2023)

Creators Daniel B. Iske and Scott Coleman say classic The Twilight Zone was their key inspiration for the limited series, which premieres May 12 globally. It is an anthology series featuring a creepy tale each episode bookended by a twisted radio announcer (Melissa Holder) introducing each episode.

“We created our setup, a delightful yet twisted radio DJ in a dark booth late at night telling her audience creepy tales. We would start each episode with her opening setup monologue and then we’d jump into the story as it plays out on screen. For over a year we would come up with hundreds of short story ideas before finally narrowing it down to the dozen or so that we wanted to do first. Each episode has a different cast which gave us an opportunity to work with a vast array of talent. Our stories definitely are rooted in our commentary on today’s world and culture. We have our external monsters but also, we delve into the monsters inside us as well.”

Iske and Coleman wrote and directed the low budget horror film Fields of the Dead which enjoyed a run-on Redbox and OnDemand before turning their sights to the episodic realm.

Book adaptation: ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ by Laura Dave

‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ has been adapted into a limited time series available on Apple TV+. Photo: Google

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Last Thing He Told Me,” “Eight Hundred Grapes,” and other novels. Her work has been published in thirty-eight countries. “The Last Thing He Told Me” has been adapted into a limited series starring Jennifer Garner. It is available for streaming on Apple TV+. “The Last Thing He Told Me” is about a woman who thinks she has found the love of her life—until he disappears. (Amazon, 2023)

“The Last Thing He Told Me” – Before Owen Michaels disappears, he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother. As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband is not who he said he was and that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared. Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth but as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.

Television adaptation: ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory David Roberts

The television adaptation of ‘Shantaram’ is available on Apple TV +. Photo: Amazon

Gregory David Roberts, the author of “Shantaram” and its sequel, “The Mountain Shadow,” was born in Melbourne, Australia. Sentenced to nineteen years in prison for a series of armed robberies, he escaped and spent ten of his fugitive years in Bombay―where he established a free medical clinic for slum-dwellers, and worked as a counterfeiter, smuggler, gunrunner, and street soldier for a branch of the Bombay mafia. Recaptured, he served out his sentence, and established a successful multimedia company upon his release. Roberts is now a full time writer and lives in Bombay. “Shantaram” is the story of a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escapes from Pentridge Prison and flees to India. The novel is reportedly influenced by real events in the life of the author, though some claims made by Roberts are contested by others involved in the story. It was adapted into a major television series from Apple TV+ starring Charlie Hunnam. (Amazon, 2022)

“Shantaram” –  An escaped convict with a false passport, Lin flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of Bombay, where he can disappear. Accompanied by his guide and faithful friend, Prabaker, the two enter the city’s hidden society of beggars and gangsters, prostitutes and holy men, soldiers and actors, and Indians and exiles from other countries, who seek in this remarkable place what they cannot find elsewhere. As a hunted man without a home, family, or identity, Lin searches for love and meaning while running a clinic in one of the city’s poorest slums, and serving his apprenticeship in the dark arts of the Bombay mafia. The search leads him to war, prison torture, murder, and a series of enigmatic and bloody betrayals. Two people hold the keys to unlock the mysteries and intrigues that bind Lin. The first is Khader Khan: mafia godfather, criminal-philosopher-saint, and mentor to Lin in the underworld of the Golden City. The second is Karla: elusive, dangerous, and beautiful, whose passions are driven by secrets that torment her and yet give her a terrible power. Burning slums and five-star hotels, romantic love and prison agonies, criminal wars and Bollywood films, spiritual gurus and mujaheddin guerrillas―this huge novel has the world of human experience in its reach, and a passionate love for India at its heart.

Television adaptation: ‘The Peripheral’ by William Gibson

The series adaptation of ‘The Peripheral’ will be available on Amazon Prime Video starting October 21, 2022. Photo: Amazon

William Gibson is credited with having coined the term “cyberspace” and having envisioned both the Internet and virtual reality before either existed. His first novel, “Neuromancer,” won the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Philip K. Dick Award. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of “Count Zero,” “Burning Chrome,” “Mona Lisa Overdrive,” “Virtual Light,” “Idoru,” “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” “Pattern Recognition,” “Spook Country,” “Zero History,” “Distrust That Particular Flavor,” “The Peripheral,” and “Agency.” “The Peripheral,” a fast-paced sci-fi thriller that takes a terrifying look into the future, has been adapted into a series and will air on Amazon Prime Video beginning on October 21, 2022. The first season consists of eight episodes and stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Gary Carr, and Jack Reynor. (Amazon, 2022)

“The Peripheral” – Flynne Fisher lives down a country road, in a rural America where jobs are scarce, unless you count illegal drug manufacture, which she is trying to avoid. Her brother Burton lives on money from the Veterans Administration, for neurological damage suffered in the Marines’ elite Haptic Recon unit. Flynne earns what she can by assembling product at the local 3D printshop. She made more as a combat scout in an online game, playing for a rich man, but she has had to let the shooter games go.

Wilf Netherton lives in London, seventy-some years later, on the far side of decades of slow-motion apocalypse. Things are pretty good now, for the haves, and there are a few have-nots left. Wilf, a high-powered publicist and celebrity-minder, fancies himself a romantic misfit, in a society where reaching into the past is just another hobby. 

Burton’s been moonlighting online, secretly working security in some game prototype, a virtual world that looks vaguely like London, but a lot weirder. He has got Flynne taking over shifts, promised her the game is not a shooter. Still, the crime she witnesses there is plenty bad. Flynne and Wilf are about to meet one another. Her world will be altered utterly, irrevocably, and Wilf’s, for all its decadence and power, will learn that some of these third-world types from the past can be badass.

Excerpt available.

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Television adaptation: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

The television adaptation of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper graphic novel is now on Netflix. Photo: amazon

Heartstopper is a young adult LGBTQ+ ongoing graphic novel and webcomic series written and illustrated by British author Alice Oseman. The novel follows the lives of shy and softhearted Charlie Springs and rugby player Nick Nelson who sit next to each other in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who does not think he has a chance. Nick is struggling with feelings of his own and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works. This coming-of-age story has been adapted into a television series and is now streaming on Netflix. It has received critical acclaim and has already been renewed for a second and third season. (amazon, 2022)

Heartstopper is a British coming-of-age romantic comedy television series on Netflix. Written by Alice Oseman herself, the series primarily tells the story of Charlie Spring, a gay schoolboy who falls in love with classmate Nick Nelson, whom he sites next to in school. Starring Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, and Kizzy Edgell, it also explores the lives of Tao, Elle, Tara, and Darcy.

Television adaptation: Paper Girls comic book series

The television adaptation of the Paper Girls comic book series is available on Amazon Prime Video. Photo: google

Paper Girls is a mystery/science fiction comic book series written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, published by American company Image Comics. Paper Girls follows the story of four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls (Erin, MacKenzie, KJ, and Tiffany) set in Stony Stream, a fictional suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. As they are out delivering papers on the morning after Halloween in 1988, the town is struck by an invasion from a mysterious force from the future. The girls become unwillingly caught up in the conflict between two warring factions of time travelers. The television adaptation premiered on Amazon Prime Video on July 29, 2022 and consists of eight episodes. (Wikipedia, 2022)

Paper Girls is a science fiction drama television series created by Stephany Folsom based on the comic book series. It stars Camryn Jones as Tiffany Quilkin, Riley Lai Nelet as Erin Tieng, Sofia Rosinsky as Mac Coyle, Fina Strazza as KJ Brandman, and Ali Wong as Adult Erin. The girls become unwittingly caught in a conflict between warring factions of time-travelers, sending them on an adventure through time that will save the world. As they travel between our present, the past, and the future – they encounter future versions of themselves and now must choose to embrace or reject their fate.

This series premiered on Friday July 29 and I just watched the first episode and judging by the comments online, it is being compared to Stranger Things (I have never watched that show). The first episode introduces the main characters and sets off the time traveling where the first meet Adult Erin. Being a big fan of science fiction, especially time travelling, it looks interesting. The story line goes back and forth between the past, present, and future so I hope I do not lose interest because I really want to see it through. The best thing is that all eight episodes are available now, so I can probably binge watch the entire season.

Paper Girls comic book. Photo: google

Television adaptation: ‘The Old Man’ by Thomas Perry

The television adaptation of Thomas Perry’s ‘The Old Man’ is on FX and streaming on Hulu. Photo: amazon

Thomas Perry is the author of 23 novels including the Jane Whitefield series, “Death Benefits,” and “Pursuit,” the first recipient of the Gumshoe Award for best novel. He won the Edgar for “The Butcher’s Boy” and “Metzger’s Dog” was a New York Times Notable Book. The Independent Mystery Bookseller’s Association included “Vanishing Act” in its “100 Favorite Mysteries of the 20th Century” and “Nightlife” was a New York Times bestseller. “Metzger’s Dog” was voted one of NPR’s 100 Killer Thrillers–Best Thrillers Ever. His novel “The Old Man” is now an original series from FX starring Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, and Amy Brenneman and revolves around a retired intelligence officer living off the grid who gets caught in “[a] harrowing hunt-and-hide adventure” (The New York Times). It consists of seven episodes and is available for streaming on Hulu. (amazon, 2022)

“The Old Man” – To all appearances, Dan Chase is a harmless retiree in Vermont with two big mutts and a grown daughter he keeps in touch with by phone. But most sixty-year-old widowers don’t have multiple driver’s licenses, savings stockpiled in banks across the country, or two Beretta Nanos stashed in the spare bedroom closet. Most have not spent decades on the run. Thirty-five years ago, as a young army intelligence hotshot, Chase was sent to Libya to covertly assist a rebel army. When the plan turned sour, Chase acted according to his conscience—and triggered consequences he never could have anticipated. To this day, someone still wants him dead. And just when he thought he was finally safe, Chase is confronted with the history he spent much of his life trying to escape.

I have not read the book so I cannot compare the book to the series, but after watching the first four episodes on Hulu, I want to see where it leads. I am not a big fan of serials because it just seems like a really long movie that takes forever to resolve and halfway through I tend to lose interest. In this case, the story of a retired intelligence officer drew me in. Admittedly, the pacing can be slow and the constant flashbacks can be tiring, but it does have its plot twists to keep it interesting. Will Harper eventually catch up to Chase? How many people will Chase have to kill to evade one contract killer after another? Good question, I guess I will have to watch the rest of the episodes to find out. All I know is that if anything happens to those dogs, I am definitely out. 

Television adaptation: ‘The Terminal List’ by Jack Carr

The television adaptation of ‘The Terminal List’ premieres on Amazon Prime Video on July 1, 2022. Photo: amazon

Jack Carr is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and former Navy SEAL. He is the author of “The Terminal List,” “True Believer,” “Savage Son,” “The Devil’s Hand,” and “In the Blood.” He is also the host of the Danger Close Podcast. In his debut novel “The Terminal List,” a Navy SEAL has nothing left to live for and everything to kill for after he discovers that the American government is behind the deaths of his team in this ripped-from-the-headlines political thriller. It has been adapted into an action thriller television series and will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, July 1, 2022. It stars Chris Pratt and consists of eight episodes. (amazon, 2022)

“The Terminal List” – On his last combat deployment, Lieutenant Commander James Reece’s entire team was killed in a catastrophic ambush. When those dearest to him are murdered on the day of his homecoming, Reece discovers that this was not an act of war by a foreign enemy but a conspiracy that runs to the highest levels of government. Now, with no family and free from the military’s command structure, Reece applies the lessons that he learned in over a decade of constant warfare toward avenging the deaths of his family and teammates. With breathless pacing and relentless suspense, Reece ruthlessly targets his enemies in the upper echelons of power without regard for the laws of combat or the rule of law.