TV/Film

05 Jun 2023

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Is Officially Available for Digital Preorder

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It hasn’t even been a week since Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse dropped into theaters June 2, but the film has already received rave reviews. Fans who can’t get enough of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man have will be pleased to know the film is officially available for preorder on Prime Video for $19.99.

Since the movie just came out in theaters, Spider-Man merch has become all the rage — with a new book featuring art from the movie already a No. 1 release on Amazon. The digital release date for the film has not yet been announced, but since movie theaters get at least a 45-day exclusive theatrical window that means that’s the minimum amount of time you’ll have to wait until it’s released.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ The Art of the Movie: Where to…

In the meantime, you can preorder Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the moment it’s released the movie will automatically be added into your Prime Video library to stream as you please.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse takes place a year after its predecessor, with the story focusing on Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), and his journey across the multiverse after reuniting with Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld). Throughout this new adventure he’ll come face-to-face with new versions of Spider-Man as well as an aspiring villain called The Spot (played by Jason Schwartzman).

How to Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse From Home

To catch all the web-slinging action as soon as its available on VOD, you’ll need to pre-order the movie for $19.99 on Prime Video.

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

$19.99

Interested in joining Amazon Prime? Currently, Amazon has a free trial promo for 30 days, so you can test it out before committing. Afterward, you’ll pay $14.99/month (or $139/year). With a Prime membership you’ll be able to customize your viewing experience and add channels to Prime Video like Max, Paramount+, Starz and Showtime. That doesn’t even include the massive library of Prime Originals, including Citadel, Daisy Jones & The Six, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Summer I Turned Pretty and many, many more.

Along with video content, you can take advantage of access to Prime Music, Prime Gaming and Prime Reading. Plus, as a Prime member you’ll receive free same-day, one-day or two-day delivery on millions of items, exclusive deals, groceries, savings on prescriptions and more. Amazon also provides 50% off Prime memberships for qualifying students and EBT/Medicaid recipients.

If you’d prefer to own a hardcopy, then you can preorder the 4K, Blue-ray and DVD version below.

Amazon

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse – 4K Ultra-HD + Blu-Ray + Digital Edition

$32.99

This version of the movie is $32.99 for a 4k-Ultra/Blue-ray/digital combo and $40.99 for Blue-ray edition at Amazon. These editions are also also available to buy on Walmart.

If you want a double-feature night, then you can score a two-in-one Blu-ray edition featuring Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Walmart.

Walmart

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse/Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse Multi-Feature – Blu-Ray + Digital Copy

$29.96 $57.62 48% off% OFF

Watch both movies together in this double-feature edition that includes both films in one convenient case.

While you wait for Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse to release digitally and on DVD, you can rewatch the first movie, which is available in a steelbook edition in 4k Ultra-HD, Blue-ray and standard DVD. Plus, browse the new Miles Morales merch Amazon is offering while it’s still in stock.

Amazon

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – SteelBook 3-Disc Set Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Bonus Disc

$9.52

Check out the trailer below.

05 Jun 2023

Ryan Coogler, DJ Dahi & Director Peter Nicks Join Forces to Reimagine ‘Anthem’ for Hulu Documentary

With Black Music Month underway, Hulu is beginning to roll out some of its upcoming documentaries catered to the festivities, notably Anthem. 

Directed by Peter Nicks, Anthem will follow composer Kris Bowers (Bridgerton and King Richards) and Grammy-winning producer DJ Dahi’s trek across the nation to rediscover the roots of traditional American Music. During their quest, they find talent from a bevy of genres, such as jazz and soul, to help recreate the national anthem and reflect the modern times in the United States. Joining Nicks, Bowers and Dahi will be Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler and his multimedia company Proximity Media on the production front. Sean Havey, Chris L. Jenkins will also serve as producers. 

“Anthem started with the road trip that [Kris Bowers and I] took when we when we went around and started to just feel [and] understand what American music traditionally kind of comes from,” Dahi tells Billboard. “Soul music, country, jazz, native music, blues, and gospel are the foundational music that’s being a part of our being and a part of the different creative processes that people have expressed themselves through. The road trip really helped us see the world.”

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Dahi has previously worked with Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Last year, Dahi had production credits on Lamar’s Grammy-winning album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. His prints were on five records: “Father Time,” “Rich Spirit,” “Count Me Out,” “Mirror” and the Billboard Hot 100 top-five single “Die Hard.” 

To correspond with the announcement of Anthem, Dahi constructed an exclusive playlist that was instrumental to the documentary and the road trip he and Bowers conducted during their search. Listen below.

Anthem arrives on Hulu June 28. 

05 Jun 2023

Garth Brooks Reveals a ‘Cosmic’ Trick of Coral Reef While Narrating ‘America’s National Parks’ Season 2

As the narrator and executive producer of America’s National Parks, Garth Brooks takes TV viewers on a road trip to some of the most cherished and preserved spaces our country has to offer. When season 2 kicks off Monday night (June 5) on National Geographic and streams starting Wednesday on Disney+, he’ll dive even deeper.

In an exclusive clip from the “Biscayne” episode — one of two back-to-back new episodes premiering Monday night — Brooks narrates an otherworldly scene documenting the sprawling coral reef of Florida’s Biscayne National Park, just south of Miami.

“To protect from the bleaching power of the sun, the park’s coral community have developed their own extraordinary type of sunscreen,” Brooks narrates, explaining that microscopic algae within the reef combat the UV rays by absorbing sunlight and re-emitting it in other colors. “The results are cosmic,” Brooks adds over footage of a neon black-lit reef.

Monday’s other new episode is “Grand Teton,” which kicks off the two-part premiere at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic by scaling the majestic peaks of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Upcoming season 2 episodes, debuting June 12 and 19 on Nat Geo, venture to Southern California’s Channel Islands, Alaska’s Lake Park National Park, and Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park.

Also next week, Brooks will take a break from his current Las Vegas residency to sit down with Billboard for our inaugural Billboard Country Live in Conversation on June 7 in Nashville, taking part in an intimate Q&A with Melinda Newman, executive editor of Billboard, West Coast and Nashville.

Watch an exclusive Brooks-narrated clip from season 2 of America’s National Parks below:

05 Jun 2023

Dierks Bentley, Elle King, Lainey Wilson to Host ‘CMA Fest’ Television Special

As CMA Fest — formerly known as Fan Fair — celebrates 50 years of being an indelible connection point between scores of country music artists and their most ardent fans, three top-shelf artists are on board to guide viewers through some of this year’s biggest moments from the show.

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Dierks Bentley and Elle King return this year to co-host the annual CMA Fest special, set to air Wednesday, July 19 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on ABC. They will be joined by first-time CMA Fest host and “Watermelon Moonshine” singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson. The three-hour primetime concert special will feature performances from this year’s CMA Fest, slated for June 8-11 in downtown Nashville.

“I could not be more excited to welcome Dierks, Elle and Lainey as our ‘CMA Fest’ hosts this year,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement. “As fans experienced last year, the energy Dierks and Elle bring to the stage is palpable and will only be amplified with the addition of Lainey this year. Each of these artists have a deep passion for CMA Fest and the Country Music fans from around the globe who travel to Nashville for the event. We are thrilled to have all three of them together to help us celebrate 50 years!”

Performances for CMA Fest will be revealed in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the nightly concerts held at Nissan Stadium as part of this year’s CMA Fest will feature performances from artists including Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, HARDY, Miranda Lambert, Carly Pearce, Tanya Tucker, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Wilson.

CMA Fest is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer and writer, and Alan Carter is the director. This is the 20th consecutive year CMA has produced a summer music program to be broadcast as a network television special on ABC. 

02 Jun 2023

How to Watch TLC’s Lifetime Documentary Without Cable

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Tionne “T-Box” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas will share the story of their lives in how they “broke boundaries, influenced an entire generation and survived against all odds” in the Lifetime documentary TLC Forever, premiering Saturday (June 3) at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

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The two-and-half-hour documentary chronicles the group’s journey through music – from their start in the ‘90s to their message, style, legacy and the tragic death Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez. The documentary will feature appearances from other music industry colleagues such as Missy Elliott and Dave Grohl.

After Left Eye’s tragic death in 2002, T-Boz and Chili were not only grieving the loss of their group member and friend, but they were also uncertain about the future of TLC. In an interview with USA Today, T-Boz theorized that Left Eye would be the “female Kanye West” if she were alive today.

“I said that because Lisa was always just saying things. If she had Twitter fingers, she’d be all over the place and have something to say about everything and not care,” she explained. “She’d be making all of the shocking comments. And Kanye was the only comparison I could think of about what my sister would be like now.”

T-Box and Chilli are executive producers alongside Bill Diggins for Diggit Entertainment Group and Rick Krim; Roger Ross Williams and Geoff Martz for One Story Up. Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson are executive producers for A+E Networks. The documentary is produced by One Story Up and Lauren Fulton for Lifetime and A&E Network.

Keep reading for ways to watch and stream TLC Forever live and on-demand.

TLC Forever: Best Ways to Stream Online

TLC Forever will simulcast on Lifetime and A&E at 8 p.m. ET/PT ahead of Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Movie airing at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT. The biopic and documentary, which will be available to watch and stream on Lifetime, Lifetime.com and on Lifetime app, will re-air on Sunday (June 4) starting at 3:00 p.m. PT/ET.

Even if you’re not already signed up for a streaming platform, cable or satellite, you can stream TLC Forever online and for free – depending on which streamer you choose.

Lifetime is available on streaming platforms like Philo, DirectTV Stream, Vidgo and SlingTV. Viewers streaming internationally can use ExpressVPN to access Lifetime, Philo and more.

If you’re shopping for a streaming deal, Philo is one of the most affordable streamers around at $25/month and a free trial for the first week.

Philo

$25/month after 7-day free trial

Philo features over 70 channels including Lifetime, MTV, BET, TLC, VH1, CMT, WEtv, A&E, ID, Trvl Channel, OWN, AMC and Comedy Central. The subscription includes unlimited DVR that can be stored for up to a year.

Watch the trailer for TLC Forever below.

 

02 Jun 2023

‘The Idol’: How to Watch & Stream The Weeknd’s New Show

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The Weeknd is about to take over your TV screens once HBO’s highly-anticipated new drama, The Idol, premieres on Sunday (June 4).

Besides having a stellar cast lineup, which also includes actress Lily-Rose Depp as the leading lady and Schitt’s Creek star and creator Dan Levy, the series from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson tells the story of Jocelyn (played by Depp), an aspiring pop star who after having a nervous breakdown, begins an entangled relationship with Tedros, a self-help guru and the head of a contemporary cult (played by The Weeknd).

Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye

The Weeknd Reveals ‘The Idol Vol. 1’ Soundtrack Release Date & Cover Art

“Angel Baby” singer Troye Sivan, Moses Sumney, Suzanna Son and BLACKPINK’s Jennie Ruby Jane also appear in the series.

Read on for ways to watch and stream The Idol from anywhere.

How to Watch The Idol Without Cable

The Idol premiers Sunday, June 4, at 9 p.m. ET. In order to catch the premiere without cable — and avoid any spoilers from social media — you’ll need to make sure you have Max, HBO’s new streaming service. If you’re already a subscriber to HBO or previously subscribed to HBO Max, then you don’t need to worry about downloading a new streaming service, but for those who don’t have a subscription, there’s an easy way to sign up. Simply log into Max.com to join.

New episodes of The Idol will air on HBO on Fridays starting on June 4 until June 25.

You can watch HBO without cable through streamers such as DirecTV Stream and Hulu (use ExpressVPN to access the cable channel and other streaming platforms from outside of the U.S.)

Amazon Prime members have the ability to add Max as a premium channel onto their Prime Video subscription.

Max on Prime Video

$15.99/month after 7-day free trial

Click here or the buy button above to take advantage of a 30-day free trial to Prime Video and a week free trial to Max to stream The Idol and other content in the mega-library of films, movies, and TV shows.

Max, which launched on May 23, carries a large selection of content including Max Originals as well as programs from HBO, Discovery, TLC, HGTV, TCM, Food Network, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Trvl Channel and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Stream HBO hits, original movies and shows such as Love & Death, Succession, Barry, The Last of Us, Reality, Clone High, White House Plumbers, And Just Like That, Love to Love You: Donna Summer, Bama Rush and Being Mary Tyler Moore.

Check below to watch the trailer for The Idol.

02 Jun 2023

Iam Tongi Earns His First Billboard No. 1 After ‘American Idol’ Coronation

Newly crowned American Idol winner Iam Tongi sends a pair of songs onto Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart (dated June 3), paced by his original track “I’ll Be Seeing You,” which soars in at No. 1.

The song bows with 11,000 downloads sold May 19-25, according to Luminate.

It’s followed by his cover of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All,” which debuts at No. 19 with 2,000 sold. The song jumps 559% in sales; he initially made it available for download in March and performed it during the ABC competition’s top 20 episode in April.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” also debuts at No. 2 on the all-format Digital Song Sales survey.

In all, Tongi’s catalog so far moved 17,000 downloads May 19-25, a 1,899% boost from 1,000 sold May 12-18. His songs “Trust Me,” “Gone,” “Dreams” and “Efiafi,” the latter featuring Manatau Tuifua, all also accumulated 1,000 paid downloads apiece in that span.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” additionally opens on a pair of multimetric Billboard charts, at Nos. 19 and 23 on Hot Rock Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, respectively. In addition to its sales, the song earned 911,000 official U.S. streams.

Tongi, 18, won the latest season of American Idol May 21, becoming the first Pacific Islander champion in the show’s history, dating its launch on Fox in 2002. He auditioned with a cover of James Blunt’s 2019 song “Monsters” and performed it with Blunt on the finale; sparked by their duet, Blunt’s “Monsters” bounds back onto Digital Song Sales at No. 3 with 10,000 sold, up 925%. It debuted at No. 3 with 9,000 sold in March, then fueled by Tongi’s audition.

02 Jun 2023

The Weeknd Teases Viewers Will Hear ‘More of’ Madonna in ‘The Idol’: ‘She Is the Ultimate Pop Star’

From “Die for You” to “Creepin’,” The Weeknd has become almost synonymous with the upper regions of the Billboard Hot 100 in recent years. With the imminent premiere of his new HBO drama, The Idol, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is angling himself toward a new arena: television domination.

The Idol, which The Weeknd co-created with Emmy-nominated Euphoria producer and director Sam Levinson, is set to star Lily Rose-Depp, Troye Sivan, Moses Sumney, Jennie Ruby Jane, and, of course, The Weeknd himself. On Friday (June 2), the “Earned It” singer sat down with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 to discuss The Idol, the forthcoming soundtrack, and his new single “Popular,” which features Madonna and Playboi Carti.

“I’m definitely proud of it,” The Weeknd gushed. “And then Madonna, Madge. She’s the ultimate co-sign for this song, for this album, and for this TV show.”

Originally a collaboration between only The Weeknd and Playboi Carti, the “Can’t Feel My Face” singer revealed, “We’ve had a different version of this song prior. So I’ve had these vocals for a while and I’ve kind of just worked around it, and then kind of kept it in the tuck. But now it felt like it was time.”

“Popular” marks the second single from The Idol soundtrack following The Weeknd and Future’s No. 18-peaking duet “Double Fantasy.” Although “Popular” marks the first official collaboration between Madonna and The Weeknd, the Idol star promised that viewers will “hear more of her in the show. She is the ultimate pop star.”

With Madonna’s towering musical legacy and singular commercial success, it comes as no surprise that The Weeknd sings her praises. “I’ve always wanted to work with her,” he mused. “I’ve always wanted to write and produce a Madonna album … well, co-produce with her, of course … because she’s a visionary and she has such a singular vision, and I just want to come into her world and create a classic Madonna album. That was always my dream n… Hopefully, this is the appetizer for that.”

The Weeknd, who is currently in Portugal preparing for another leg of his globe-trotting After Hours Til Dawn Tour, worked on The Idol soundtrack alongside Sam Levinson and Mike Dean. “It’s such a labor of love and such a collaborative project,” he said. “You’ve got three maniacs in the studio … it’s a very cohesive body of work.”

Described as “very experimental, but still pop,” The Idol soundtrack also features production contributions from Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack curator and frequent Weeknd collaborator Metro Boomin.

The Idol is set to premiere on HBO Sunday (June 4). “I feel great because everyone involved feels great,” The Weeknd told Lowe of the show’s premiere. “We’re all so proud of what we made. It’s controversial. It is. And as you know, I’m no stranger to it. Sam is no stranger to it. We’re just excited for people to finally watch it and come up with their own opinion.”

Watch his interview with Zane Lowe above.

02 Jun 2023

Jacky Oh, Former ‘Wild ‘N Out’ Star, Dies at 32

Jacky Oh, a former castmember of Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out, has died at 32. At press time a cause of death had not been announced.

BET confirmed the news in an Instagram post, which read, “We, the BET family, extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Jacky Oh and DC Young Fly,” referring to Oh’s partner, fellow Wild cast member and father of their three children. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jacklyn Smith, known to the world as Jacky Oh, a talented Wild N’ Out family member whose impact will be forever treasured and missed. Jacky Oh was a loving friend and beloved colleague of the Wild N’ Out cast throughout five seasons.”

TMZ was first to report the news on Thursday, revealing that Smith died in Miami and the Young Fly was in Atlanta shooting new episodes of the show when he heard the news of her death; at press time it was not clear when Smith died.

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“More importantly, she was a tremendous mother to three beautiful children,” read the statement. “The BET family extends our sincere condolences to the Smith family, DC Young Fly, B Simone, Nick Cannon, and all friends who loved and cared for Jacky Oh during this difficult time.” Oh was one of the “Wild ‘N Out girls” on the Cannon-created series, where she met Young Fly (John Whitfield), with whom she shared daughters Nova and Nala and son Prince, who was born in 2022.

Following her run on Wild, Smith launched a lip gloss line called the J Nova Collection and sold real estate.

See BET’s statement below.

01 Jun 2023

Metro Boomin Unveils ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Soundtrack: Stream It Now

Metro Boomin assembles his own superstar Avengers for the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack, which was released on Friday (June 2).

As the soundtrack’s executive producer, Metro has threaded together the who’s who in hip-hop in a sonic web of his own design, including Future, Don Toliver, 21 Savage, Offset, Coi Leray, Lil Uzi Vert, Swae Lee, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, A$AP Rocky, Nav, J.I.D., James Blake and Wizkid, among others. Over the last week, the super-producer has been cleverly confirming the soundtrack’s stars by unveiling their Spider-Man-inspired illustrations one by one.

The Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack arrives on the heels of Metro’s third Billboard 200 No. 1 album, Heroes and Villains. The project features many of the aforementioned artists, and its hit single “Creepin’” with Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and 21 Savage (as well as Diddy on the remix) has been a mainstay in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for all of 2023 so far.

“I can’t say this about a lot of songs because I just try to make stuff that I love and hope it resonates with other people, but it’s really a rare occasion to where even after we made [“Creepin’”], it was like, ‘OK. I know this is gonna go up,’” he told Billboard in January. “Not just because of me or because of The Weeknd, but also with it halfway being a cover of a song that I loved so much growing up, and just know how much it worked before [and] it getting a new spin for the next generation.”

Listen to the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack below.