TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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FEMA's next Emergency Alert System test leaves internet devices out
Federal agencies are once again poised to test emergency alerts, but this time it's all about where you won't see them. The FCC and FEMA are conducting their fifth nationwide Emergency Alert System test on August 7th at 2:20PM ET, but only on TV and radios. They want to gauge the preparedness of the alerting system when there's no internet access -- important if a crisis knocks out data but not power.
AT&T is launching yet another streaming TV service this fall
In case DirecTV Now, HBO Max and Watch TV weren't enough, AT&T has one more streaming service in the works. The telecom used its second quarter earnings to reveal that it will start testing an AT&T TV service in "select markets" during the third quarter, with wider availability in the fall. The company didn't describe how it would work in a statement, but promised more details in the "coming weeks."
How to stream college sports without losing your mind
Thanks to all the services that let you stream live TV, it's easy to watch sports without a commitment to cable. The channel lineups vary, and some are more limited than others. What's more, the television rights for college sports, especially football, are tied to the conference, so you'll need to find out which channels have the deal covering your favorite schools. From there, it's a matter of making sure the service you choose has all the channels you need so you don't miss a game. Lucky for you, we can help.
FDA targets teens with e-cigarette prevention ads
Today, the FDA launched its first e-cigarette prevention TV ads. Part of "The Real Cost" campaign, they're meant to educate teens on the dangers of e-cigarette use. The ads will target nearly 10.7 million teens, aged 12 to 17, who have used e-cigarettes or are open to trying them. The short clips feature street magician Julius Dein, who turns a vape pen into a cigarette before onlookers. The trick is supposed to highlight the fact that teens who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes.
Amazon has already renewed 'The Boys' for a second season
Amazon is apparently confident The Boys will prove a hit -- so confident that it's committing to more before the Prime Video show is even available. The company has renewed its ugly-side-of-superheroes production for a second season days ahead of the series' July 26th premiere. On top of this, Amazon has confirmed that Aya Cash from You're the Worst will take on the role of Stormfront, the most powerful member of Payback (a spoof of the Avengers) and a "diabolical" character.
Netflix deal with Hollywood union promises better conditions for actors
Netflix regularly works with unionized actors (they're ubiquitous in Hollywood), but usually on a show-by-show basis. Now, though, it's establishing a deeper connection. The service has signed a roughly three-year contract with SAG-AFTRA that provides expanded coverage for union work. It now recognizes "performance capture" (think motion capture) and dubbing as covered work, giving actors in those fields the same labor protections as others. The people voicing the English-language version of your favorite anime might have better pay and working conditions, to put it one way.
Second season of DC's 'Doom Patrol' will also stream on HBO Max
Those murmurs of WarnerMedia making DC Universe's shows more widely available? They're true. DC's Doom Patrol has been renewed for a second season, and it'll be available on both DC Universe and HBO Max when it resumes in 2020. The move will also bring the superhero series' first season to HBO Max. There's no word on other shows following suit, but this could be a test case. It wouldn't be surprising if other shows followed suit if viewership soared.
Disney+ will play a huge part in MCU phase four
Marvel has provided the first details for phase four of its Cinematic Universe, and it won't surprise you to hear that Disney+ will play a large role. There are no less than five superhero shows reaching the streaming service, although you'll have to wait a while to watch them. And you'll have to watch them if you're an MCU completionist -- at least some of them will provide context for events in upcoming movies.
Amazon's 'The Expanse' season 4 premieres December 13th
Fans of The Expanse finally know when they can expect Amazon to continue the cult-hit sci-fi series. The internet giant has confirmed that the fourth season of The Expanse will debut on December 13th. As you might have surmised, it's a direct continuation of the narrative you saw on TV. Now that the Ring Gates have opened to more planets, there's a "blood-soaked gold rush." The crew of the Rocinante is in a particularly dire mess -- it's entangled in a fight between an Earth mining company that claimed a planet and the Belt colonists that were there first.
'The Orville' season 3 will be a Hulu exclusive
You'll have to forget about watching The Orville's third season on Fox. Hulu has announced that it will offer season 3 of the sci-fi series as an exclusive in the US, with new episodes premiering in late 2020. Creator and star Seth MacFarlane was fairly blunt about the reason for the move: the more ambitious production (particularly special effects, according to Variety) and resulting wait was going to be "challenging" for Fox. This ensures that you can still see The Orville while accommodating its needs.
'Westworld' season 3 trailer shows robots venturing beyond the park
HBO has released the first full trailer for Westworld's third season, and it's clear that there's much, much more to see than what you caught in the teaser. The clip shows a future city where the park robots have slipped into human society, with Dolores well aware that she and her fellow bots are prime targets. She'll clearly be involved with Caleb, the construction worker played by Aaron Paul. We also see Maeve in a WWII-themed park -- as if Westworld's robots weren't dangerous enough.
CBS offers the first trailer for 'Star Trek: Picard'
CBS is using San Diego Comic-Con to share a wealth of new info about its next wave of Star Trek material on All Access. To start, there's finally an honest-to-goodness trailer for Star Trek: Picard, which premieres early 2020 on the streaming service. We won't spoil the trailer for you, but that's not necessarily the biggest news from the event. It's who else is joining Patrick Stewart that could matter the most for some fans.
CBS goes dark on DirecTV Now, other AT&T services in price dispute
Media giants are embroiled in yet another fight over TV rates, and viewers are once again paying the price. CBS' channels in 17 markets (including New York, San Francisco and Atlanta) have gone dark on AT&T services like DirecTV Now and U-verse after the two companies failed to reach an agreement on a new carriage contract before the old one expired at 2AM ET on July 19th. As is often the case in disputes like this, the two sides are each accusing each other of being unreasonable -- though AT&T in particular has also claimed that CBS is using All Access as a weapon.
US Netflix subscribers can finally watch Eurovision replays
Americans didn't have official ways to watch the Eurovision Song Contest live this year, but they'll at least have a way to relive it. Netflix will carry the 2019 competition's semi-finals and grand final in the US starting on July 22nd, giving you eight-plus hours of melodramatic performances, over-the-top costumes and bitter national rivalries. You'll also have on-demand access to the 2020 contest after it airs.
What to watch to celebrate Apollo 11's 50th anniversary
What better way to celebrate the Moon landing than to gather your family around the couch and relive the experience? Even if you weren't lucky enough to see Neil Armstrong plant his feet on the Moon fifty years ago, there are plenty of films and shows that'll let you recapture the magic of that moment. And if you're not eager to honor the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's momentous mission (you monster), it's still worth reminding yourself of what NASA, and mankind writ large, can do under pressure. The planet might be in the midst of a political and environmental meltdown today, but we managed to walk on the Moon once, damnit. It's all a reminder there may be hope for us yet.
Apple previews its 'Peanuts' series 'Snoopy in Space'
Apple isn't just using the Apollo 11 anniversary to hype up its live action shows. The tech giant has offered an early look at its Apple TV+ Peanuts cartoons with a short trailer for "Snoopy in Space." The clip underscores Snoopy's usual hijinks (much to the chagrin of Charlie Brown), but it gives you an idea of what to expect. The title will have Charlie and crew visit NASA, where Snoopy and Woodstock have been chosen for a mission.
Apple's latest 'For All Mankind' trailer explains the show's origins
Apple knows the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 is right around the corner, and it's using that as an opportunity to offer a new trailer sharing more about the origins of its alternate history Apple TV+ show For All Mankind. Co-creator Ron Moore, executive producer Maril Davis and advisor Michael Okuda note that they wanted to tap into the "optimistic future" the Apollo program (and the space race at large) promised. It's about tapping into that desire for humanity to "take its place in the universe," and celebrating an era when astronauts held an almost mythic status.
'Space Invaders' movie is closer to becoming a reality
Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Space Invaders years ago, and now it looks ready to do something with the classic alien-blasting franchise. Deadline reports that Warner's New Line Cinema is advancing production on the film, with Mortal Kombat reboot writer Greg Russo handling the script. There's no release window yet, although the lack of detail suggests you'll be waiting a while.
'Mindhunter' season two finally premieres on Netflix August 16th
Netflix announced plans for a second season of Mindhunter almost two years ago, and now it finally has a release date. David Fincher has confirmed through The Treatment podcast that season two of the crime series will premiere August 16th. He didn't divulge details of the plot, but it's believe to take place roughly two years after the first and focus on the Atlanta child murders.
Jon Favreau is already working on season two of 'The Mandalorian'
Disney's The Mandalorian is still months away from its premiere, but that isn't stopping plans for round two. Jon Favreau told Collider that he's already in pre-production for a second season of the live action Star Wars show, including writing and preparation for special effects shots. While this is as much about saving time as anything (it's tricky to produce quality effects on a TV schedule, Favreau said), it does show that Disney has confidence in the series.

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