Post 100, 2018

It's the very middle of 2018 and what, I'm up to 100 posts already? Well actually between both blogs I'm up around 272 total posts, Flashing off the Record, if your keen on the best music around.

So let's look at highlights for 2018, so far.

TV, it's been a huge start to to 2018 with the 2017-2018 US TV season finishing last month, there were some epic finales and some epic fails. I have done countless posts on new shows, returning shows and shows I binge to the bitter end, like 13 Reasons Why season 2.

2018 has seen the axe fall on a number of shows, some however like Brooklyn Nine-Nine were cancelled for a day before swapping networks, oh TV execs. I really enjoyed NBC's Rise on Stan here in Australia, it was a musical drama, with well lot's of teenage drama, it was like 13 Reasons Why, without the body count and the rape scenes.

Rise might have been cancelled by NBC however they kept my long running crime series The Blacklist alive for a sixth mid season filler series as well as Blindspot which will have a massive plot change in 2018-2019.

NBC cancelled 8 shows at the end of the season, and will gain 10 new shows for the new season.

ABC are having a rough time in the US, losing 13 shows at the end of the season, including the highly controversial Roseanne. But gaining The Conners a less racist spin off. They will gain a new 11 shows however.

CBS I have little to no interest in, so no comment, The CW is one of my personal favourites and say farewell to three shows (two of which only started this season) and gain 5 shows and now having a programming period on Sunday nights.

FOX are in trouble, they have no big shows except Ryan Murphy's latest hit and surprise of the season, 9-1-1.

Empire and Star continued to be popular musical series, whilst Gotham will finally wrap up with a fifth season and Batman reveal at the end of the season.

Fox will only unveil four new shows in September/October.

They are losing eight shows, some to Netflix or NBC.

Now to music, other than Vance Joy, the albums have been less than exceptional in 2018. We have had an amazing array of singles and EP's and mix tapes and everything in between, but the album is proving challenging, so much so Kanye is reducing an album to 7 tracks.

Even between two heavyweights The Carters (AKA Jay Z plus Beyonce) can only muster up 9 songs, together!

That said there have been some brilliant singles, so Aussie success stories like Amy Shark being a force to reckon with, with that big song I Said Hi. Well done Amy. Credit due where credit is deserved.

Vance Joy continues to grow his big fanbase and artists like Childish Gambino, Drake, Kanye and Jay Z and Beyonce continue to flex their artist muscle with huge productions behind their music videos along with some powerful messages coming through lyrically and visually.

Movies in 2018 have been interesting, I just got out of Adrift (review coming Monday) and I think I am at a stage with comic book films, that I need a break. Sorry Ant Man and the Wasp, it's not you it's actually me.

I was underwhelmed by Jurassic World, Fallen whatever, Deadpool 2 was just more of Deadpool without the shock factor of the first film and Swinging Safari could be one of the worst Australian movies of all time.

That said Unsane, Hereditary and The Florida Project all made me love film and the movies just that little bit more.

Well that's it for Post 100 of 2018, since 2017 I have crapped on about movies, films, TV, social shit and more. But for now it's farewell until tomorrow when we look into the career of Jorja Smith for a Mini Sunday Profile.

Which is new and I hope you are enjoying because my Sunday Spotlights on Flashing off the Record are choc o block right now, tomorrow Florence and the Machine will be featured.

The Break with Michelle Wolf

This show is finding it's feet now, YAY. After her brilliant White House Correspondence Dinner Roast/set, Wolf is now weekly on Netflix, with a little show called The Break with Michelle Wolf.

We are five episodes in and I thought I would share with you some of the highlights.

I love her, I love her HBO Nice Lady standup special, which when down I just watch the scene about period farts. Yes sometimes we all just want to lay down on the ground and fart.

So let's stop the words and start the LOL's. Language Warning....

Queen of the South x Shooter return for Third Seasons

Double review for two returning (USA) Summer hits, one airs on Netflix week to week in Australia, one is delayed in Australia on Netflix.

Both airing on the USA Network in the States alongside Mr Robot, Colony, Suits and recently renewed The Sinner.

Queen of the South and Shooter are both action/dramas with family at it's core and along with action packed solid episodes.

Ryan Phillippe and Omar Epps lead the way in Shooter whilst in Queen of the South it's a more female affair with Alice Braga and Veronica Falcon seducing their way through cartels and US offiicals.

Summer TV in the USA is usually a lot less serious however the cable stations have pounced on this and delivered some solid Summer offerings, like these two series. Streaming giants Hulu and Netflix continue to deliver throughout the year, with Hulu currently giving us the most powerful season of Handmaid's Tale yet.

Shooter ended abruptly last season with 8 episodes as Phillipe had broken his leg, apparently this season will make up for the shortfall this season and deliver a big 13 episodes.

Queen of the South is generally 13 episodes and it's off to a cat and mouse worldwide chase with Teresa Mendoza on the run from Camila and her thugs.

With all the drama at the border and guns in the USA, these shows both pack a punch, I am excited they are both back and ready to keep me warm throughout these horrid cool months.

(Mini) Sunday Spotlight: Ruel

At 15 (almost 16) years old young UK born, now Sydneysider Ruel has had a great start in the tough music game.

Ruel's debut EP Ready was released last week and already Dazed & Confused has been a big hit on Triple J.

After a couple of highly praised cover song performances, a performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and now an EP of his own out there now. Ruel is on a mission. Check him out on 7:30 below and some choice (original cuts, no covers here, they are all on YouTube with a shit tonne of views) tracks below.

Could Ruel be up for an ARIA in 2018? For my full large, full scale, MASSIVE Sunday Spotlight on the Carters (aka Jay Z vs Beyonce) head to Flashing off the Record.

Movie Matinee Madness - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

It feels like a lifetime since the 2015 reboot to the Jurassic Park series, Jurassic World. Now three years later Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has landed.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return to a lava filled island, much like Hawaii in real life.

Of course all things get a bit pear shaped pretty fast after a rather dull start, however once we hit the island and Raptor Blue is on the run it picks up.



Blue is an interesting creature, tamed by Pratt, however still a pure killing machine. I loved the return to the Jurassic Park franchise back in 2015, it was 14 years after Jurassic Park III which by memory was not that great and after the original film the franchise was slowing down. Financially the 2015 reboot smashed the initial three films ass so we will see where this wraps up, however after Avengers, Deadpool 2 and Oceans 8 are film goers sick of throwing their cash around at the cinema?

I enjoyed this, it was great, a little long at over two hours, but all the same the effects, the destruction of the island and the dino's dying 3.5 Stars.

Wentworth Season 6.

So episode one has just aired, it's fresh, it was all sorts of amazing, but there was still some unanswered questions. Not only that we are presented with some fresh new inmates.



Now it will feel like a long wait until episode 2 of this season, that said we have waited almost a year for episode one of this season since season 6 left our screens on June 19, 2017.

This season will again comprise of 12 episodes, a few new inmates and the mystery of is The Freak buried alive or well and truly dead?

Franky is on the run and Vera is under the pump inside, her leadership is seriously in trouble, under threat and Jake Stewart is mucking up big time.

I loved episode one last night, despite watching it on catch up and staying up too late in the pouring rain, but honestly this is Australia's best drama right now, it's addictive and so well done.

As we await Sonia's return and possible showdown with Liz, it's still Boomer with some amazing one liners and her foul mouth that keep me hanging on every word.

Not sure where is left to go to for Kaz Proctor, her reign as Top Dog may end in season six? Thank god we already know a seventh season will air in 2019 and production is already on the way.

Wentworth, get on board again, Foxtel or Foxtel Now, right now, get on it!

Movie Matinee Madness - Upgrade

Leigh Whannell is now officially an Australian film legend, kicking off his Saw series originally and now bringing us the thriller Upgrade. Warning the trailer below is action packed, violent and slightly full on. As well it's not really the best representation of the film and it's overall story.

Upgrade is based in the near distant future and until I was a bit into the film I didn't know how futuristic it would actually be, it is actually super futuristic all for under a $5 million budget!



Logan Marshall-Green is the leading man and does a mighty fine job in this revenge film sci-fi outing.

It's a lot like Death Wish with Bruce Willis last year with a husband going rogue, however this film adds drones and a smart police lady.

It's a fun 95 minute rollercoaster ride, you actually like the hero however his mother played by Linda Cropper (an Australian sadly) is terrible, her role is easily the weakest link. That said it is an easy piece of escapism.

3 Stars if you feel or need an Upgrade.