Just in case you thought the culture at Fox News was going to change in any significant way with the ouster of Bill O’Reilly, I present to you Jesse Watters “defending” Ivanka Trump against liberal criticism:
The Atlantic‘s David Frum summarized it best:
Let us not forget what an asshole Jesse Watters is. I have literally been sitting on this link for days. Today seems like the perfect moment to post it.
Speaking of Fox News, their legal troubles are just heating up. The company was hit with two more racial discrimination suits and Andrea Tantaros has doubled down on her lawsuit.
Fox News is asking its staff to complete their sensitivity-training program. LOL, WHY?
This is a very long piece about the Murdoch family and their desperate attempts to contain the ongoing meltdown over at Fox News. May I suggest you guys begin by firing Jesse Watters?
And here is your reminder that tonight’s Law & Order: SVU will be all about Roger Ailes:
Late Night Roundup
I learned last week that my husband and I happen to be friends with the lawyer representing Alex Jones in his custody case. I KNOW. Look, I have a lot of feelings about this and EVEN MORE QUESTIONS. But until I can get all those questions answered, I’m going to continue distracting myself with more Tuck Buckford.
Sean Spicer, soap opera lothario:
While we’re on the subject of Sean Spicer:
And Donald Trump crashes The Daily Show:
In Other TV News
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Powerless lived up to its name and had the plug pulled over at NBC. Here are my updated best guesses as to which other shows are not going to live to see the 2017-2018 season.
Ratings, While We’re on the Subject
- Thanks to mediocre ratings for Taken, things are looking (marginally) better for Timeless being renewed on NBC. Personally, I still have it marked as a “toss-up” mostly because I think it didn’t receive as much buzz as NBC was hoping for. If I were in charge of NBC, I’d put Timeless in a 7/8 p.m. timeslot and treat it as a more a family-friendly series. But then no one actually asked me, so.
- Shots Fired on Fox will probably not be anything more than a “limited series,” but things are looking better for Prison Break.
- The Great Indoors is CBS’s third most popular comedy, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe.
- ABC will probably give Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. another season (but it’ll probably be a shortened one).
The story here is that they’ve created something called “The NBA Awards” which will air on TNT this summer and Drake is going to host it. But I have many questions: Even if you like sportsball, who cares about some made-up awards ceremony? Isn’t who wins the Finals and MVP award enough? Aren’t there actual stats that determine who is the best in any particular position? Why do you want to watch your favorite NBA players wear bad suits and sit in an auditorium for three hours? WHY DO PEOPLE WATCH AWARDS SHOWS FOR ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT? AREN’T THEIR ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS ACHIEVEMENT ENOUGH?
Game of Thrones stars Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau are reportedly going to earn roughly $2.5 million per episode through season 8, which suggests that at the very least, Tyrion, Jon, Cersei, Daenerys and Jaime will survive season 7. It also means that they negotiated the highest per episode rate for TV actors which is impressive, until you remember that there are only 13 more episodes and shows like The Big Bang Theory whose actors earn $1 million per episode 1. have roughly 22, 23 episodes a season and 2. haven’t been cancelled yet.
Here is a very good interview with Damon Lindelof talking about how Lost impacts The Leftovers and a great deal about naked Justin Theroux.
It’s going to be a dark day at ESPN.
OH HELL NO. YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME WITH THAT BLACK MIRROR SHIT.
Trailer Park
In Development
- DC is launching a digital service with two series, Titans and Young Justice: Outsiders.
- Faith Hill is producing a new daytime talk show, which will be hosted by Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron.
- Netflix has set its next Adam Sandler comedy: The Week Of, in which Sandler’s daughter marries Chris Rock’s son.
- Netflix bought Juanita, a film starring Alfre Woodard.
- Fox bought a comedy from Erica Oyama based on her life.
- The Tick will debut on Amazon on August 25.
- Turn will return on AMC on June 17th for its fourth and final season.
Renewals
- Into the Badlands has been renewed by AMC for a larger third season.
- Hunter Street was renewed by Nickelodeon for a second season.
- Might 13 Reasons Why get a second season? This Riverdale news is making it look likely.
Casting News
- Dule Hill (Psych) has joined Suits for season 7.
- Carla Baratta and Maurice Compte (Narcos) have joined the cast of Mayans MC.
R.I.P.
Jonathan Demme, legendary director
WATCH THIS
The Real Housewives of New York: Ramona’s dinner party is about to explode. 8 p.m., Bravo
The Handmaid’s Tale: Elisabeth Moss stars in this harrowing adaptation of the classic Atwood novel. More timely than ever, unfortunately. Three episodes will be available today, after which one episode a week will be released, which is probably for the best, because this would be too painful to binge. Series premiere. Hulu
Gomorrah: Second season premiere. 9 p.m., Sundance
Law & Order: SVU: The Roger Ailes episode is here. See above. 8 p.m., NBC
Watch What Happens Live!: Dorinda and John Oliver. Perfect combo. 10 p.m., Bravo
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Dr. Phil McGraw, Leslie Jones, Rick Ross featuring Young Thug and Wale Late Night with Seth Meyers: James Spader, John Mellencamp, Lucius The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: America Ferrera, Thomas Middleditch, Dave & Virginia Grohl, Preservation Hall Band The Late Late Show with James Corden: Salma Hayek, Elisabeth Moss, Eugenio Derbez, the Head and the Heart Jimmy Kimmel Live: XXX Conan: Dennis Quaid, Morena Baccarin, Nikki Lane The Daily Show: Kevin Coval Watch What Happens Live: Dorinda Medley, John Oliver
| WEDS. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | The Goldbergs (new) |
Speechless (new) |
black-ish (new) |
black-ish (new) |
Designated Survivor (new) |
| CBS | Survivor (new) |
Criminal Minds (new) |
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (new) |
| CW | Arrow (new) |
The 100 (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Shots Fired (new) |
Empire (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Blindspot (new) |
Law & Order: SVU (new) |
Chicago P.D. (new) |