Showing posts with label Television Show Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Television Show Reviews. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

#ad: Going through @NBCThisIsUs Withdrawal? Would Winning #ThisIsUsMusic from the Series help? #Giveaway

AD: This is a Compensated Post Sponsored by One2One Network and UMe

This Is Us (Music From The Series)

Fall is upon us and along with cozy sweaters, boots, and for those who indulge, Pumpkin Spice Latte's, also comes the joys of Fall TV.

With most people hitting the road in the summer, summer TV tends to feel like the filler it is, and we await the return of Fall shows with baited breathe, wondering how those cliff hangers will be resolved.

I have a select few shows I am waiting for (what can I tell you 'spare time' is as elusive as a Unicorn for me as of late) - there are very shows I watch during live airing (I usually watch 'on demand' so for me to watch a show during it's live airing is saying it all about how much that show means to me) - one of the shows I can't wait to see return is NBC Television's This Is Us.

This Is Us Season 2 Premieres Tuesday, September 26 at 9pm on NBC. If you haven't watched Season 1, you need to get on that. Like NOW.

Be sure to have your snacks and beverages handy - you are NOT going to want to move, and be sure to have Kleenex on hand butterflies, this show will literally give you ALL the feels. Not some feels, but literally: ALL. THE. FEELS.

Above: Cast of NBC Television's Hit Series This Is Us
About the Show:

Chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten television programs of 2016 and nominated for 10 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series, "This Is Us" chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) as young parents in the 1980s and 1990s to their now adult kids Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) searching for love, fulfillment and healing in the present day. This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the events in our lives – both big and small – impact who we become, and how the connections we share with each other can transcend time, distance and even death. Chris Sullivan, Susan Kelechi Watson and Ron Cephas Jones (who is AMAZING!) also star.

Ron Cephas Jones as William Hill in NBC Television's This Is Us
Music From The Series:

This Is Us (Music from the Series), a companion to the show America loves, is available September 15 via UMe. This Is Us: The Complete First Season will be available on DVD three days earlier so fans can relive all the moments along with the music from the hit show. With instantly recognizable hits and classics, an original song and a compelling score, the soundtrack features 20 songs curated by “This Is Us” Creator/Executive Producer Dan Fogelman and his team, music supervisor Jennifer Pyken and composer/musician Siddhartha Khosla. Each musical element is carefully woven throughout the series, with the songs clearly defining a moment or serving as a gentle guide through the complex emotional journey.

TRACKLISTING:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1.  Death With Dignity - Sufjan Stevens
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2.  You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3.  Willin’ – Mandy Moore - Song on YouTube here
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 4.  Can’t Find My Way Home - Blind Faith
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 5. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 6.  The Calvary Cross – Richard Thompson & Linda Thompson
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 7.  Watch Me – Labi Siffre
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 8.  The Wind – Cat Stevens
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 9.  Come Talk To Me – Goldspot
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 10. Blues Run The Game – Jackson C. Frank
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 11. If Only – Maria Taylor (featuring Conor Oberst)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 12. Northern Sky - Nick Drake
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 13. If I Ever Was A Child - Wilco
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 14. Because Of You - Gene Clark
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 15. Evergreen Cassette (Tape Mix) – Goldspot
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 16. Without You – Badfinger
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 17. The World’s Smiling Now - Jim James
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 18. Photograph – Ringo Starr
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 19. We Can Always Come Back To This - Brian Tyree Henry
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 20. This Is Us Score Suite - Siddhartha Khosla

Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson in NBC Television's Hit Series, This Is Us
I am going to keep this post spoiler free because if you haven't seen the show I don't want to spoil it. One of the plotlines includes Rebecca Pearson, played by Mandy Moore, a mother with dreams of a career as a professional singer who eventually does attempt to live out this dream and we see her sing Little Feat's "Willin'" in one episode, the track is also included on This Is Us (Music From The Series).

Mandy does a great job with the song "Willin'", other notable tracks include:

"Death With Dignity" by Sufjan Stevens which fans will recognize from the series' debut episode.

A rare cover of Peter Gabriel's "Come Talk To Me" by Goldspot, praised by Gabriel himself! (not sure there is any other stronger endorsement than that!)

Above: We Can Always Come Back To This from Memphis Episode, NBC This Is Us
"We Can Always Come Back To This" a song that was part of Season 1's pivotal "Memphis" Episode - this soulful, Stax-Inspired song must have really resonated with the show's audience as it topped Billboard's Blues Singles chart at No.1 for FOUR consecutive weeks and reached No. 12 on iTune's Top 100 chart.

And in keeping with the show's theme of family and family relationships, not to be missed is Goldspot's "Evergreen Cassette (Tape Mix), drawing on Siddhartha Khosla's personal experience of living in India with his Grandparents while his parents were working in the United States and attending Graduate School. His sole method of being able to communicate with his parents at the time was with a evergreen-colored cassette tapes by his mother, who would speak to him, sing songs and tell him stories.

and the tracklisting concludes with the "This Is Us Score Suite"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WIN IT
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If you are anything like me and can mark pivotal moments in your own life with music, then you need to win a copy of This Is Us (Music From The Series)!

Winners choice of physical CD or Digital Download, you're welcome!

Can't wait to see if you've won,  Preorder This Is Us (Music from the Series):  https://UMe.lnk.to/ThisIsUs

Follow the instructions in the rafflecopter widget below so you can be in it to win it


I would not survive my commute into the city each day without music. Literally.

And right now in the midst of  New York Fashion Week, Fashion Shows are putting tons of songs in my head.

My ride home consists of good tunes and trying my best to tune out the many sounds of New York City (I am a public transportation commuter so trust when I tell you there are A LOT of sounds to tune out!).

Relationships are the crux of the show, but what NBC This Is Us does is make 'real life' not just relatable but instead of the theme being something you want to escape (we all have familial relationships right), they make it something you literally can't wait to come back to each week.

The entire cast is amazing but Ron Cephas Jones as William is the show standout from Season 1 and for those who watch regularly Toby and Kate played by Chris Sullivan and Chrissy Metz were giving everyone relationship goals, and I can't wait to see how they develop in Season 2. (Season 2 and Season 3 of the show have been given the green light).

There are literally only four shows that get my FULL attention, I mean no laptop/phone and I go entirely device free - This Is Us, Game of Thrones, Ray Donovan and Shameless. They are wildly different, yet technically they aren't - doesn't EVERYTHING revolve around relationships in some form or another?

Happy to be partnering with One2One Network and UMe to put these tunes in your library and share my love for This Is Us. (My favorite music collaboration posts on Ascending Butterfly have been in conjunction with One2One Network, this is one influencer network I have been with the longest, and we definitely share music vibes!)

READERS SOUND OFF: What show are you most looking forward to seeing return? If you watch This Is Us who is your favorite and why? And for true show die-hards, lets challenge you a bit more: Do you remember which scenes go with each song?

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FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post sponsored by One2One Network and UMe, all opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.

Monday, June 29, 2015

The Television Gods Took Another One! #RIP #NurseJackie

Showtime Nurse Jackie starring Edie Falco

I know all things must come to an end, but somehow with some shows I find I am just not ready. The 'Television Gods'  - the 'powers that be' decided it was time to snatch Nurse Jackie out from under me.

For those of you who haven't watched the show, feel free to binge watch this summer and then come back here and sound off.

About the Series:

Edie Falco stars in her Emmy® winning role as NURSE JACKIE, a skilled nurse with a nasty drug habit. She lies, she cheats, she steals, she hurts, she bamboozles friends, fools family, pops pills and breaks hearts. But you still root for her because on the worst day of your life, hers is the only face you want to see. With an addict's survival skills and an attitude that just won't quit, she'll do whatever it takes to hold onto the things that truly matter to her -- her friends, her family and her job.


Showtime Nurse Jackie Cast Photo


For those of you who have been watching, do you agree that Edie Falco needs to get 'a better ending' clause in her future contracts?

The 'ending/non-ending' of The Sopranos left many with a bad taste in their mouth, and oddly enough the same happened for me with the 'ending/non-ending' of Nurse Jackie. Perhaps it was because I was a die hard fan of the show. I wanted 'more'. I'm not even sure what 'more' means as I sit here and type this still in shock. I get she was on a hamster wheel with her addiction and I am not naive enough to think that she would ride off into the sunset habit free, but I felt so invested in all the characters maybe part of me did secretly want one of those saccharine sweet 'hollywood' endings.

All I can say for Edie Falco is that she really does fully embody her characters - Carmela Soprano and Nurse Jackie were very different women and she was very believable as both of them. I can't wait to see where she lands next.



There are small things I wonder like why Jackie wore that particular Saint pendant around her neck, (in fact on an interview Edie Falco did on the show "The View" she said she kept that necklace! I find it interesting that the pendant resonated with both her and the character so much.) and why oh why did cooper (played by Peter Facinelli of the Twilight series of films) go to Boston just before the end of the series?

I write this feeling a bit like a jilted girlfriend - where is my CLOSURE?

I just re-watched this 'Good Bye' from the cast:



My Take:

The show is incredibly well cast and you grow to care about them all, I wasn't quite ready to see the show ending, and I am not sure the series finale provides any closure, but would I watch it again? Definitely!

My favorite moment, has to be when Nurse Zoe and Dr. Roman do drugs and see a large sasquatch approaching them who happens to be Nurse Thor and NOT a sasquatch! It was the bouts of silly despite the 'serious' subject matter that I will miss most!

What did you think of the ending? If you haven't seen the show, add it to your binge watch list and come back and tell us what you thought of the ending once you have seen it!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a compensated post, no monetary compensation has been received, and all opinions are 100% my own! I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.