SECOND LOOK: Star Trek: Lower Decks video clip from first episode courtesy Comic-Con@Home

The Comic-Con@Home version is now playing (July 22 – July 26) and yesterday there was a virtual Star Trek panel where more was revealed about the upcoming Star Trek: Lower Decks (FIRST LOOK) adult animated series coming August 6.

Star Trek: Lower Decks virtual panel starts at/around 45:00 in the video

All of the main voice actors and actresses are included. An enjoyable group discussion listening to their take on each of their character’s roles on the Ceritos. Was also glad to hear from the showrunner Mike McMahan (Rick & Morty) that while there is a lot of zany fun planned in the first season, they tried to stick close to cannon of the time period around when Star Trek: Next Generation.

They bleeped and SPOILER title tagged it, so they give enough away to tease, but don’t spoil, which I enjoyed.

A clip of one of the lower decks crew mates drunk on Romulian whiskey was also shared.

Romulan ale will give a serious buzz

I thought this clip was humorous. It’s the kind of comedy that pokes fun from the inside out. Klingons? Yeah, they are all about honor and dignity. Next Gen would poke fun at Worf from time to time, but this takes it to a different level. I liked it.

From what the voice talent revealed, this show sounds very promising to me. Without seeing any of the episodes, I’m most drawn to Jerry O’Connell’s character Ransom and the overzealous security officer, Lieutenant Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore) that just goes all in (something about a security officer that wants to go nuclear on every situation offers a ton of comedic potential). I also liked the voice of the security character. Reminds me of Rip Torn’s voice on steroids.

Am more looking forward to this then Picard before seeing any episodes, because my fear of Picard beforehand was he was too old and they weren’t going to be Star Trek enough.

Neither appears to be a problem here. They are taking the light — sometimes very light — tone of the Star Trek we know and love and amplifying it.

There is a vibrance and youthful aura around this show. Will it deliver or be too much for mass appeal (after seeing Harley Quinn, I hope they go into super “too much” mode here)? I don’t know how this will turn out, but am intrigued by the idea and concept and, as mentioned in the FIRST LOOK last week that from what little I’ve watched of Rick & Morty so far, I’ve enjoyed that series, too. Mike McMahon seems to have the right mix of enthusiasm, love and respect for the older Trek. McMahon admits being more in tune with Next Gen than any other series, but I’m OK with that. I liked Next Gen. Not as much as the original series, of course, but it’s a solid second place in my Trek ranking.

The one area that concerns me is that nobody else wanted to buy into this series. It’s strictly CBS going it alone. Amazon and Netflix passed from what I’ve read. If they saw the show and it was great, logic suggests they would have bought in.

Then again, maybe the price tag was higher than they thought it was worth? Amazon and Netflix know the numbers for Star Trek streaming on their platforms — since they’ve been streaming those shows for years — and maybe they didn’t think Lower Decks would bring enough new eyeballs? Either that or the potential controversy with Trek fans concerned them (doubtful Netflix would be concerned about that with shows like 365 DNI, but Amazon might be a little more concerned about negative publicity fallout).

Whatever happens, we don’t have much longer to wait. I’m stoked, anyway. I want to review the first season, but am going to wait until after watching the entire first episode before making the weekly commitment (sorry, the Picard stain is still fresh in my memory). The timing of Lower Decks starting is excellent because Stargirl is wrapping up its first season on August 10 and I am missing watching a new adult animated TV show since Harley ended (Rick & Morty is always there, though).

What are you thinking? Does this additional teaser/promotional content make you any more or less interested in the show? Now that we know a little more, has any of this changed your level of interest?

Bonus – Star Trek: Prodigy

There is a main title reveal of the Star Trek animated children’s show in association with Nickolodean that will be officially called Star Trek: Prodigy. No trailers or anything for that. It sounds from what little we’ve been told about this series that it’s going to be more serious in tone, but of course focused on children. Will it be more like the original animated series? Perhaps.

Star Trek: The Lower Decks season 1 first episode will premiere on CBS All Access on August 6, 2020.

Confusion alert! SpongeBob sequel to be released “exclusively” to multiple streaming services, maybe available before US via Netflix International

Let’s see if we can wrap our hurting heads around what’s going on with SpongeBob: Sponge On The Run – FIRST LOOK

But first a word of advice to studios: don’t make it so hard to understand when and where your movies are coming out. Entertainment is supposed to be fun, relaxing, not driving your customers to the medicine cabinet.

In January 2021, unless there’s another change, SpongeBob’s sequel will be released to VOD and shortly thereafter an exclusive on CBS All Access, but since CBS All Access isn’t available internationally, this left those abroad unable to view the movie. Netflix — internationally only — is stepping in, except for China.

Yup, brainfreeze.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is now heading to the streaming service, allowing UK and international fans of the Bikini Bottom inhabitant to watch his latest adventure from the comfort of their own homes.

New SpongeBob movie that skipped cinemas is coming to Netflix

So, Netflix is getting an international exclusive for the new SpongeBob movie in January 2021 (I think?), except for China and the US. In America we’ll get to see it on VOD on January 29, 2021 and shortly thereafter on CBS All Access. I’m not sure what the plan is for China, but maybe that is the plan — no plan for any kind of distribution in China.

Especially in our current times, I’m having enough challenges following the changing release dates in America, but this movie release plan is needlessly complex.

I sure hope this isn’t the path that other movies go down. Multiple different streaming services having exclusive premiere dates? Maybe it’s always been that way and I’m just late to the confusion party, but it’s a mess for people who follow movies, much less casual moviegoers who like SpongeBob and just want to see the freaking movie when it comes out … someday, somewhere.

What I don’t understand is why the movie decision not to have a theatrical release? Presumably in January 2021 movie theaters will be reopened. Are they possibly thinking they’ll make more money going straight to VOD like Trolls World Tour did? I’m all in favor of day and date releases for some movies, yes, but skipping theatrical release when you could have one internationally seems misguided.

It seems like Paramount is missing an opportunity to show the movie in theaters worldwide and then can cut up the streaming release premieres thereafter however it wants. It’s the most convoluted movie release we’ve encountered to date.

In June, Deadline explained more of the plan with CBS All Access.

ViacomCBS is using the movie as part of a big-rebranding of CBS All Access in early 2021, also making previous seasons of SpongeBob Squarepants available on the expanded service.

‘SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run’ Will Play In Homes Instead Of Movie Theaters

Other than being an opportunity for branding and promotion of the SpongeBob TV series and movie brand in CBS limited geographic territory, I don’t completely understand what’s happening here.

Why didn’t Paramount just sell SpongeBob’s premiere distribution rights to Netflix from the beginning like The Lovebirds and also to CBS All Access shortly thereafter? Instead it’s almost like they didn’t want to release the movie — ever — in China? Is that what is happening? Or did CBS come with an amazing deal for the United States that Paramount couldn’t say no and Netflix wouldn’t pay up for premiere licensing in America (seems unlikely considering they are ponying up over $200 million for an action film franchise from the Russo brothers)? Did Paramount realize, oh no, we have to release this to other countries? How do we do it? Could Paramount management possibly be this short-sighted?

Bottom line: SpongeBob: Sponge On The Run in the United States as of this writing won’t be available to watch until January 29, 2021 on VOD first, then CBS All Access soon thereafter (no specific date mentioned). International readers, except those in China, will be able to see it on Netflix … perhaps sooner? (this seems to be the inference, but no confirmed date) From my limited research this morning, I don’t see any mentioned release date for Netflix international (except for China), probably because they haven’t announced that yet (they don’t mention many of their release dates that far in advance).

Let’s all hope more movies don’t choose convoluted premiere releases like our good friend, SpongeBob. Seriously, Paramount.

FIRST LOOK: Star Trek: Lower Decks (Animated TV Series) Season 1 – CBS All Access

Have always been a fan of the original Star Trek animated series (1973) and curious how a new animated series will fare.

It sounds like it’s potentially going more adult-oriented, much more into comedy and less optimistic, but that doesn’t necessarily deter my interest. If they were going to do a serious animated Star Trek like the first one, then they would have needed to get actual Star Trek actor and actresses back. The Next Generation crew is all still alive, so that’s certainly a possibility down the road.

But this one doesn’t appear very serious. It’s highlighting those lesser known Trek crewmates. The unsung workforce that’s not part of the bridge crew.

The fact it’s partly coming from the team behind Star Trek: Picard makes me nervous (see: Done Watching and Reviewing Star Trek: Picard).

But, hey, I like the idea and concept. I liked Picard as well, too. Ah, so conflicted.

Will give just about any movie or TV show a first watch. Doesn’t mean I’ll stay, want to review, etc, but I’ll at least turn it on for as much of the first episode holds my interest.

Developed by Emmy-winner Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites), Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos, in 2380. Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi have to keep up with their duties and their social lives, often while the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies.

BREAKING: First Trailer For ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Reveals Franchise’s First Animated Comedy – TrekMovie.com

I enjoyed the first couple episodes of season one of Rick and Morty, currently available on HBO Max, so excited to see Mike McMahan involved.

Here’s the official trailer:

The trailer shows a very whimsical style Star Trek, once which we’re not familiar with, but having just enjoyed (a lot) the adult Harley Quinn animated TV series, I’m hoping this Trek goes more edgy in the name of comedy.

Sure, it’s a departure from the dramatic Trek we know and love, but if you’re going to be different and doing an animated comedy, then don’t hold back, go for it. If they end up only going halfway then it’s going to be a tough road ahead.

Are you interested in Star Trek: Lower Decks? Will you be watching?

Star Trek: Lower Decks first episode of season 1 (total of 10 episodes are planned) will debut Thursday, August 6, 2020 on CBS All Access, with new episodes offered weekly beyond.

FIRST LOOK: The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run

At some point with all these movie delays, moves and cancellations over the last few months confusion has set in.

As evidenced earlier today when I wrote a second FIRST LOOK for a movie I’d already previewed two months ago. No defense for my mistake, except to say that it’s starting to make my brain fuzzy and need to triple check my double checks for a site that is secondary to my actual job (which has been crazy busy lately — but that’s a whole other story).

Let’s talk about the newest Spongebob movie. You know that square cheese-looking (it’s a sponge, I know, I know!) character with pants and tiny legs, that Spongebob.

This new Spongebob movie which has not had a FIRST LOOK here before — yes, I triple-checked it, lol — has moved around several times and was supposed to be released in theaters on August 7, but that has been pushed back to a VOD (or PVOD) release in 2021 and then exclusively appear on CBS All Access according to the site below. Movieinsider.com (one of several sites I use for most current movie releases) still shows the release date as August 7, 2020 as a wide theater release as of this writing, but multiple sources (Variety, Syfy) are reporting this to be the case, including IMDB which simply lists “2021” as the most current release date.

“The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run,” Paramount and Nickelodeon’s animated adventure based on the absorbent underwater fry cook, is skipping its planned theatrical debut. It will instead launch on premium digital rental services in early 2021 before landing exclusively on CBS All Access, the streaming service owned by the studio’s parent company, ViacomCBS.

‘SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run’ Skipping Theaters for CBS All Access – Variety

Official trailer:

Have never been that much of a Spongebob fan. One of our children really likes Spongebob and even though he’s 30 (gasp!) he’s interested in seeing this, so I’ll probably throw down $$ and share watching the VOD with him. It looks about like any other Spongebob show I’ve watched (not many, admittedly) including all of Spongebob’s familiar friends.

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run does not have a release date in 2021, but as of this writing is being released straight to VOD and then exclusively streaming on CBS All Access.

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND #26 of 2020 Movie and TV Streaming Picks – Netflix, HBO Max, CBS All Access, Shudder, DC Universe

Will Ferrell’s newest comedy available Netflix June 25

Weekend #26 of 53 (6/26 – 6/28/2020) for 2020 Picks By Streaming Service

• Netflix – a new Will Ferrell movie, Eurovision: The Story Of The Fire Saga is something to look forward to for comedy fans on 6/26.
• HBO Max – another top five 2019 movie for us: Doctor Sleep – The Director’s Cut (see list: 2019 Favorite Movies).
• CBS All Access – Jordan Peele’s version of The Twilight Zone all *10* second season episodes are dropping to be binge watched. Resubscribed!
• Shudder – Yummy is available to watch as of June 25. With Joe Bob’s Drive-in season now over, it’s time to look to new movie releases, although there is rumor of an end of summer series special. Then we get to fall and Creepshow season two.
• DC Universe – Harley Quinn season two finale. How does this awesome series end? Does Poison Ivy go down the aisle with Kite Man, does she choose Harley, does she choose a threesome poly relationship or none of the above? Doom Patrol season two first three episodes are dropping and another Stargirl episode. It’s a great time to be subscribed to this service.

KEY
*Title with asterisk – newly released
Title is linked and has star rating – already watched, rated and reviewed
Title bolded – on our schedule to watch/rewatch, rate and review (or in progress)

NOTE: If you’re coming to these posts weeks or months later, some and/or all of the picks listed below may no longer be on the streaming services indicated. Anything marked as “Original” typically doesn’t expire on the streaming service.

NETFLIX Movies

1. *Eurovision: The Story Of the Fire Saga – Will Ferrell

Last chance to see movies leaving Netflix at end of June:

21 (2008)
The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Andy Griffith Show
Blow (2001)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas) (2008)
Brooklyn’s Finest (2010)
Center Stage (2000)
Chasing Amy (1997)
Cheers
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Chloe (2010)
Click (2006) .
Cloverfield (2008)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The Duchess (2008)
Elizabeth (1998)
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ghost Rider (2007)
Happyish: Season 1 (2015)
Here Alone (2017)
Inception (2010)
No se aceptan devoluciones (Instructions Not Included) (2013)
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Kate & Leopold (2001)
Kiss The Girls (1997)
The Last Samurai (2003)
Limitless: Season 1 (2015)
Little Monsters (2019)
Mansfield Park (1999)
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Minority Report (2002)
Patriot Games (1992)
Philadelphia (1993)
The Polar Express (2004)
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
The Ring (2002)
Scary Movie (2000)
Sliver (1993)
Stuart Little 2 (2002)
Tremors (1990)
Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)
Tremors 3 – Back to Perfection (2001)
Tremors 4 – The Legend Begins (2004)
Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Yes Man (2008)

HBO Max Movies

1. Doctor Sleep – The Director’s Cut (June 27) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

HBO Max TV

1. *I’ll Be Gone In The Dark – episode 1: “Murder Habit” (June 28)
   Crime, Golden State Killer – Original Miniseries
2. *Doom Patrol – Season 2 – episodes 1-3 (also available on DC Universe)
3. Adventure Time Distant Lands – Special premiere
   Animated, Science Fiction
4. South Park – Seasons 1-23 (June 24)
   TV-MA, Adult, Animated

If you haven’t seen Doctor Sleep yet, then this weekend on HBO Max is for you (see: Doctor Sleep Director’s Cut adds 30 minutes) — I’m a huge fan of this Stephen King novel adaptation.

CBS All Access TV

1. *The Twilight Zone (2019-) Season 2 – Binge all 10 episodes. Color only versions right now, no black and white versions (guessing those will be released in th future, as all first season episodes are offered in black and white.

SHUDDER Movies
https://www.shudder.com/

1. *Yummy (June 25)

DC Universe Movies
Leaving on July 1, so last chance to watch:

1. Batman
2. Batman Returns
3. Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
4. Green Lantern: First Flight
5. JL vs. Teen Titans
6. JL: Crisis on Two Earths
7. JL: Doom
8. JL: Gods and Monsters
9. JL: Flashpoint Paradox
10. JL: The New Frontier
11. JL: Throne of Atlantis
12. JL: War

DC Universe TV

1. *Doom Patrol – Season 2 – Episodes 1-3 (June 25)
2. *Harley Quinn TV Series – Season 2, Episode 13: “The Runaway Bridesmaid” (SEASON FINALE)
3. *Stargirl – Season 1, Episode 7: “Shiv Part One”

CBS All Access Working on Greatly Expanded Library For Release in 2021

CBS All Access seemingly has realized its Achilles heel: it’s working on adding more content to attract and hold subscribers.

As long at CBS owns The Twlight Zone, I’ll be at least marginally interested in their service, and season 2 of Jordan Peele’s version will be available June 25 (see: FIRST LOOK: The Twilight Zone (2020) Season 2 – CBS All Access June 25). I’ll be reactivating my subscription and watching.

Sure hope they go all the way with every version of The Twilight Zone TV in their “new” service scheduled for 2021. That should include the Forest Whitaker hosted version of Twilight Zone as well as the second TV series. And all seasons of everything, please.

As of the last time I was subscribed, only the original series and the newest one were available. Note to companies that own great IP: include everything. I would have stayed subscribed longer had they we worked their IP better, including perhaps some sort of ongoing TZ-related content. Heck, throw up a low-budget podcast that deals with their awesome IPs (Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Perry Mason and so on). I’ll re-up, watch the new TZ season and probably cancel again … until something else new (or classic) and interesting comes along.

Good news for existing subscribers, CBS All Access has added an update with over 100 Paramount movies. Their movie library was pretty bare bones before.

The updates to CBS All Access was discussed during the ViacomCBS earnings call in May, expanding on comments made earlier in the year about a “new” service. At the time, the company said that a “soft launch” of the updated service would take place sometime in 2020. The update started with the addition of over 100 Paramount films to the CBS All Access library, including The Godfather trilogy, Airplane, Pretty in Pink, and more movies from the Star Trek franchise.

CBS All Access ‘Super Service’ Will Launch in 2021 | Cord Cutters News

The addition of these 100 Paramount movies doesn’t appear to be the soft launch described in the article, so perhaps more of the proposed new service is coming later. How soon, again, isn’t detailed.

Am not sure why these companies can’t do an actual informational press release holding to some kind of future release date. Some time in 2020 is too vague when there are like six months left in the year. As for 2021? Just tack on another up to 18 months. Again, that’s an eternity in the streaming space. By the time CBS All Access adds more, Peacock will be in full swing (July 15, 2020), Disney+ will have The Mandalorian Season 2 (Fall 2020), HBO Max, Netflix and Amazon will have 18 months to build onto their original and existing libraries.

Notice I conveniently left off Apple TV. I’m not sure what they are up to, other than sitting on tons of cash and sort of poking at the competition with a few originals here and there. Greyhound, Tom Hank’s next movie is coming in July, but to this writer’s knowledge, they haven’t sprung for any other non-original content for their service. That’s going to make it nary impossible for them to keep and grow new subscribers. Sure, some will do the dip in and out subscribe routine, but unless they go in all in, they’re going to lag behind.

Quibi wasn’t mentioned either. They remain an outcast, despite their unusually short format (quick bites, yeah, yeah), but for the nearly $2 billion invested they’ll hang around a little while on content alone. Something tells me they were created to be bought by somebody else, perhaps Apple(?). I doubt Apple will be interested, at least in the near future, but it might be a not too expensive (especially if they wait for Quibi to fall almost completely apart and then swoop in with cash) way for them to expand their original content library. Recently, I started perusing Quibi’s content — now that it runs on my TV thanks to Google Chromecast — and am finding some interesting shows.

Is The Star Trek Universe Played Out?

The End is the Beginning — that’s the way it is for a universe as expansive as Star Trek

No. That’s the answer to the headline. Louder, no.

There are plenty of great stories in the Star Trek universe that can be told on streaming, in movies, books and more. The galaxy is massive and dare I suggest provides nearly limitless creative potential.

We might disagree on the most recent two Trek ventures (Discovery and Picard), but to suggest any one bad movie, TV show, book, story, etc can ruin the future story potential is silly.

(would say the same thing about the Terminator franchise, btw)

On the heels of my last post: CBS, please scrap Star Trek: Picard Season 2 and give us Star Trek: Next Generation Titan which generated a drive-by disagreement comment (hey, come back, I wanted to discuss the topic in greater depth!), comes a post with 10 more Star Trek series ideas for CBS All Access.

But Star Trek has been making TV shows, movies and more since 1966. There are an incredible number of opportunities for more series, mini-series and movies for CBS All Access.

10 NEW Star Trek Series For CBS All Access We Want To See

Some of the 10 ideas suggested in the linked article quoted above I really liked. The Galactic Core and Holodeck ideas stood out. I’m the type of creative person who looks at this well of creative goodness and sees immense opportunity.

My Twilight Zone TV Series Pitch

I can’t recall ever writing any fan fiction, but the closest I could see myself writing would be some kind of Twilight Zone stories. The coolest thing I’d like to see are an extension — not a reboot — of the original Twilight Zone episodes: filmed in black and white, shadows, substance, same stock Bernard Hermann music, 22-25 minute run time, and a narrator Serling clone who wears the black suit and has the wry Serling expression and cigarette dangling. Heck, even get sponsors that still exist and have retro commercials. So many opportunities with this pitch. If anybody from CBS is reading this, contact me, because, yes, I do have several script ideas. Again, this isn’t a reboot idea, this is a continuation of 1959-1963 in present day. Sacred ground, yes, I know, but if it’s a project done with admiration and love it could be pulled off and amazing. Would you dig seeing a Season 6 of the original series?

Am sure there are fans of Star Trek with ideas they can pitch that are as good as or better than what’s presented in the quote above — or my Star Trek: Next Generation Titan idea. There are also boatloads of books in the Star Trek universe that could be adapted. Picard won’t be the least Star Trek TV series.

Do you have any Star Trek (or other shows they own the IP) pitches for CBS All Access? Go ahead, pitch in the comments. Never know who’s reading!

CBS, please scrap Star Trek: Picard Season 2 and give us Star Trek: Next Generation Titan

I give up, replace me with a real crew exploring the universe, that’s Star Trek that you deserve!

CBS won’t listen to some lowly blogger, but hey, I’ll put my request on the web for all of virtual eternity.

Don’t want to rehash my dislike of Star Trek: Picard, but the show described in the paragraph below sounds like the Star Trek I’d still love to watch … if only it existed.

“Assuming that the Titan is still in service — probably a reasonable assumption — she’s nearly a decade in Riker’s rear-view, and he in hers,” Chabon says. “It’s off somewhere in the galaxy exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life, etc. This brand new Curiosity-class ship was freshly crewed up and ready to go.”

Star Trek: Picard Showrunner Explains Why Riker Wasn’t on the Titan in the Finale

That’s right (bolding in quote above is mine), you can keep Picard. Thank goodness Patrick Stewart is lobbying against a pandemic plotline for season two (Star Trek: Outbreak!).

Give me Riker before he was retired in charge of the Titan. Give him some synths, perhaps Brent Spiner as some other Data-relative or having his memories implanted, Worf at tactical, Geordie Laforge as the Scotty of the engine room, Counselor Deanna Troi as the new Number One, Dr. Crusher in charge of medical or as a hologram assisting a new doctor. Send this crew out into the great unknown.

There we go. That’s the series that, with the right humanity and solid writing and acting, would be worth seeing. Those of you reading that stayed with Picard longer than me, what do you want to see happen for the next Star Trek?

Go ahead. We can always dream.

CBS All Access One Month Free To Binge Content Using ‘GIFT’ Code Good Until April 23, 2020

Binge watch all five seasons of the classic TV series The Twilight Zone (yes, including season 4)

So this has been done primarily so you can binge the 10 episode season of Star Trek: Picard (see: Done Watching and Reviewing Star Trek: Picard), but I’d recommend binge watching the original Twilight Zone — including the hour long season four episodes (not available on any other streaming service) — heck, even Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone first season in black and white or one of the many classic TV shows you might not even realize were CBS shows. All, in my opinion, are superior to Picard, but binge it and draw your own conclusions.

To take advantage of the deal, sign up for CBS All Access using the code GIFT anytime before April 23rd. As part of that process, you’ll need to create an account and give CBS a credit card to charge when the month is up; the monthly payment will automatically renew once the free trial is up.

CBS All Access is offering a free one-month trial, just in time to binge Star Trek: Picard – The Verge

Free is a great price, although will admit feeling a bit of “haha sucks to be you” for paying for two months to see Picard, which was underwhelming, only to find out that CBS would let everybody see it for free. Oh well, that’s the risk we take.

Even if Picard doesn’t do it for you, CBS has some great IP in their vault. I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, Cheers, Family Ties, Happy Days, Hawaii Five-O, Mission Impossible (!), Perry Mason (!), Twilight Zone (!), The Odd Couple, Taxi and more!

It’s a good service to relive some really fantastic TV shows. Their movie offering is very small, perhaps a couple dozen titles at the most. Don’t join CBS All Access for movies, you can do much better with Amazon Prime, Netflix or Hulu, but they have some TV shows that are well worth watching and rewatching.

Happy binge-watching!