Are You Actually Going to Pay for Apple TV+? — Media+

· Charlotte Henry · Media+

The Mac Observer's Media+ Podcast Logo

Terrence Gaines from the snobOS podcast joins host Charlotte Henry to discuss the offer of a year of free Apple TV+ coming to an end. Are people actually going to pay for the streaming service?

Glenn Close Joins Cast of Apple TV+ Thriller 'Tehran'

· Charlotte Henry · Link

Glenn Close

Glenn Close is joining the cast of Apple TV+ Israeli thriller Tehran. She will be a regular in the forthcoming second season, Variety reported

Close, who has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards, will be a series regular in the upcoming second season of the show, which aired on Apple TV Plus last summer and has become a global hit for the platform. The show originally premiered on Israel’s KAN public broadcaster last June. Variety understands that Apple TV Plus picked up the title from distributor Cineflix Rights as an acquisition, but following its success for the streamer, boarded the show as a co-producer. Close is slated to play the role of Marjan Montazeri, a British woman living in Tehran, according to Apple. The first season of the series told the story of Tamar Rabinyan (Niv Sultan), a young Mossad agent undercover on a top secret mission in the heart of Tehran.

[Image credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com]

'Responsible Apple Employee' Rob McElhenney Smoked a Joint With Snoop Dogg at 7.30 AM Before Shooting 'Mythic Quest'

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

Mythic Quest star Rob McElhenney discussed smoking a joint with Snoop Dogg at 7.30 in the morning before the rap superstar filmed his cameo in the Apple TV+ comedy in a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. As  “a responsible Apple employee,” he noted, “we couldn’t do it on the premises.” Luckily, a tour bus was available.

Trailer for Apple TV+ Comedy ‘Schmigadoon!’, Comedy Premieres July 16

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

The trailer for Apple TV+ comedy series Schmigadoon! dropped Friday. The first two episodes will air on July 16, with subsequent episodes becoming available each following Friday. It stars Cecily Strong and Keegan Michael-Key as a couple who go on a backpacking trip to try and fix their relationship, Instead, they up in a magical town living in a 1940s musical and must find “true love” in order to leave. Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Dove Cameron, Ariana DeBose, Fred Armisen, Jaime Camil, Jane Krakowski and Ann Harada also star.

Apple TV+: Trailer for 'CODA' Now Available

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

The trailer for the movie CODA landed Thursday. The film tells the story of Ruby, a gifted young singer who is the only hearing member of her family. She has to make the decision whether to stay with them to support the family business or pursue her own path at music school. The movie premieres on Apple TV+ and in select theaters on August 13.

Ted Lasso and Coach Beard Announce US Soccer Women's National Team Roster for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

Ted Lasso was given the honor of announcing the US Soccer Women’s National Team (USWNT) roster heading to Tokyo for the delayed 2020 Olympics on Wednesday. He was joined, as ever, by Coach Beard. As well as announcing the players who will be representing the U.S. at the tournament, the two characters – played by Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt – make jokes throughout the seven-minute skit. Season two of Ted Lasso premieres on Apple TV+ on July 23, two days after the USWNT kick-off at the Olympics.

Apple TV+: How The World of 'Physical' Was Created

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

In a new video, the cast and crew of new Apple TV+ show Physical reveal how they recreated 1980s California. Writer and showrunner Annie Weismann explains how her own experience with eating disorders influenced the show. The stars, including Rose Byrne and Rory Scovel, also explain what it was like heading back to 1981. The first episodes are available to subscribers now, with new ones landing each Friday, and the show is very much worth watching.

There's Finally Official 'Ted Lasso' Merch

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

Ted Lasso Merch

After some griping (not least from The Mac Observer staff…) there is now official Ted Lasso merchandise. It is available via the Warner Bros. Shop, and includes team jerseys, hoodies, and mugs with inspirational quotes from the Apple TV+ hit.

Apple TV+: The 'Ted Lasso' Season Two Trailer is Here

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

The trailer for season two of Ted Lasso landed Monday. Having been relegated in the last match of last season, AFC Richmond and their American coach are back, looking for some sporting glory and attempting to bring hope to their fans. The trailer doesn’t explicitly say this, but shots of Wembley Stadium and references to “a team like us” winning “the whole chimichanga” indicate to me that upcoming episodes will focus, at least in part, on the team competing (and winning?) the FA Cup – the historic knockout football competition in which teams from all levels in England can face each other. Season two of Ted Lasso premieres on Apple TV+ July 23rd.

First Three Episodes of 'Physical' Now Streaming on Apple TV+

· Charlotte Henry · Cool Stuff Found

Rose Byrne physical

The first three episodes of Physical premiered on Apple TV+ on Friday. The series stars Rose Byrn as Sheila,  a quietly tormented housewife in 1980s San Diego. The character changes her life when she discovers aerobics. Subsequent episodes will be available each Friday.

Netflix Takes Almost the Same Percentage of TV Usage as Apple TV+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock and Discovery+ Combined

· Charlotte Henry · Link

Apple and Netflix

Latest Nielsen figures show that streaming overtook broadcast in TV usage in May. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the figures also revealed that Netflix occupied just two percent yes of that usage than a number of rivals, including Apple TV+, combined.

Netflix also has reason to tout the Nielsen findings, as they show that the company accounted for 6 percent of all TV usage in May. That’s tied with YouTube (including the YouTube TV bundle) for first among streamers; each makes up more than a fifth of all streaming time on TV. Hulu (including its live TV service) took up 3 percent of TV time, Amazon’s Prime Video 2 percent and Disney+ 1 percent. All other streaming combined — including Apple TV+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock and Discovery+ — made up 8 percent of of total usage.