In which I try to find something, anything to talk about other than sex monsters and I fail.

I’m trying to find something to lead this post that doesn’t involve men doing bad things to other people, abusing their power and just otherwise being awful because I am so exhausted by this story, you guys.

It’s been 6 weeks since the initial Harvey Weinstein story broke in The New York Times, (although the sexual harassment stories coming out of Fox News began back in the spring [although although, really in 2004 when the first stories about O’Reilly emerged]), and it’s draining. It is emotionally draining, this onslaught of horror stories. It’s tiring to be this angry.

And yet what other response is there? How else are we supposed to feel when we learn that over the past twenty years more than $17 million in tax payer funds –TAX PAYER FUNDS, MONEY YOU AND I HAVE GIVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR OWN PAYCHECKS– have been used to pay for sexual harassment settlements awarded to accusers of Congressmen.

AND I ASSURE YOU IT WAS CONGRESSMEN:

— and these are the settlements that were actually won. To arrive at these settlements, look at what the accusers have to endure:

AND NOW I AM FILLLLLLLED WITH RAGE ALL OVER AGAIN. Ugh. How does this end? Does this end? Does it ever get any better?

~breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth~

So what else is there to talk about in actual TV news? Let’s find something. Anything.

NBCUniversal is killing the Chiller channel. Honestly, I would have been an avid viewer except AT&T never offered it on High Def, so.

Disney’s Hollywood Records will release albums by the American Idol finalists. Speaking of, the new judges promise they are going to be “nice” so what’s even the point?

What Not to Wear DRAMAZ.

In other hilarious news, Gene Simmons has been banned from Fox News for life.

History Channel’s Vikings made this little boy’s dream come true.

The Punisher showrunner defends the show’s violence. Or tries to, at least.

Here is the long history of the “Mr. Plow” episode of The Simpsons that you did not ask for.

Fine. Let’s talk about sex monsters.

First, let’s pick up where we left off with Al Franken yesterday.

After an initially weak statement, Franken put out a much more fulsome apology and called for the Senate to launch an ethics investigation into his behavior. His accuser has accepted the apology and is not calling for him to step down.

Meanwhile, Trump and Bill O’Reilly attacked Franken:

A short and by no means exhaustive list of people who do not have any business talking about Al Franken:

1. Donald Trump
2. Bill O’Reilly

Drag them.

Jeffrey Tambor, god damn it to hell, what is wrong with you? I am so angry on behalf of your victims and the shows that are now in danger because you couldn’t stop yourself from being a creep. Just, ugh.

The Royal‘s cast and crew accuse Mark Schwahn of being a repeat harasser, although it came as a surprise to Elizabeth Hurley supposedly.

Sylvester Stallone has been accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in 1986. He denies it.

CAA is being sued for sexual harassment and assault by a former client.

Matthew Weiner’s book tour isn’t going great.

Another woman has accused George H.W. Bush of groping her, this time back in 1992.

Ron Jeremy has been accused by more than a dozen women of assault or rape.

Greg Berlanti has been meeting with the cast and crews of his shows in the wake of the allegations against Andrew Kreisberg.

Quentin Tarantino has moved to Sony Pictures in the wake of the Weinstein story.

The animators on Louis C.K.’s show, The Cops, have been laid off. ALL BECAUSE YOU COULDN’T KEEP IT IN YOUR DAMN PANTS, LOUIS.

Sarah Silverman on Louis C.K.: “It’s a real mind fuck, you know, because I love Louis. But Louis did these things. Both of those statements are true, so I just keep asking myself, ‘Can you love someone who did bad things? Can you still love them?’ I can mull that over later, certainly, because the only people that matter right now are the victims. They are victims, and they’re victims because of something he did. So I hope it’s okay if I am at once very angry for the women he wronged and the culture that enabled it, and also sad, because he’s my friend. But I believe with all my heart that this moment in time is essential. It’s vital that people are held accountable for their actions, no matter who they are. We need to be better. We will be better. I can’t fucking wait to be better.”

The superhero movie we need.

Dates

• The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills returns on December 19 to ruin my holidays.
• Valor will return on January 1st on The CW.
• Match Game returns on ABC on January 3rd.
• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend returns on January 5.
• Ricky Gervais’ new game show, Child Support, will debut on ABC on January 5.
• Supergirl returns on The CW on January 15.
• Black Lightning debuts on January 16 on The CW.
• Flash returns on The CW on January 16.
• Riverdale and Dynasty return on January 17.
• How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal will return on January 18.
• Supernatural and Arrow return on January 18.
• Grace and Frankie returns on Netflix on January 19.
• Cocaine Godmother (movie) will premiere on Lifetime on January 20.
• Jane the Virgin returns on January 26.
• Faith Under Fire (movie) will debut on Lifetime on January 27.
• The Simone Biles Story (movie) will debut on Lifetime on February 3.
• Good Girls will debut on NBC on February 26.
• Shoot the Messenger will debut on WGN on February 26.
• This is Us‘s season finale will air on March 13.
• Rise will debut on NBC on March 13.

Cancellations

• Lopez has been canceled at TV Land.

In Development

• George Clooney is going to star in and direct Catch-22 for Paramount Network.
• CBS is working on a series based on Stripes.
• Netflix bought Super-Normal, a superhero comedy that will star Daisy Ridley and Josh Gad.
• Rachel Bilson and Eddie Cibrian are going to star in ABC’s Take Two from the creators of Castle. And it sounds a LOT like Castle.
• One Hit Wendy, a music comedy starring Julianna Hough, is being developed at Fox.
• ABC is developing Flight 410 from the creator of The Last Ship.
• NBC is developing Body of Proof, a medical drama.
• Molto Mario is returning to the Food Network.
• Netflix bought Messiah, a messianic drama from Mark Burnett.
• Amazon is turning Mercury 13 into a miniseries.

Casting News

• David Allen Grier, Martin Mull, Leslie Jordan, and Vicki Lawrence have been cast in Cool Kids, the Fox retirement home comedy from the It’s Always Sunny guys and I am already in love.
• Steve Harvey will be your New Year’s Eve host on Fox.
• Rachel Bilson has left Nashville.
• Adam Rothenberg will be the male lead in Dietland.
• Geoff Pierson will join the cast of Splitting Up Together on ABC.
• Izabela Vidovic will guest on iZombie.

WATCH THIS

FRIDAY

Marvel’s The Punisher: Who’s ready for a superhero show about a guy who shoots like A LOT of people!?!?!! Netflix

Active Shooter: Or, you could watch the season finale of this docuseries. 7 p.m., Showtime

The Thing: Done with Stranger Things but have a monster itch to scratch? 8:35 p.m., Flix

SATURDAY

Night of Too Many Stars: Louis C.K. will no longer be one of the too many stars. But the rest of the gang will be there to raise money for autism. 7 p.m., HBO

I Am Elizabeth Smart: This biopic has Elizabeth Smart’s approval. 7 p.m., Lifetime

Saturday Night Live: Chance the Rapper & Eminem 10:30 p.m., NBC

SUNDAY

Search Party: The very best Millenial detective series is back for a second season. 9 p.m., TBS

American Music Awards: Musicians give each other prizes. 7 p.m., ABC

The Walking Dead: Negan’s story. 8 p.m., AMC

Late Night: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: (Friday): Norah O’Donnell, Dead & Company Jimmy Kimmel Live (Friday): Jessica Chastain, Timothee Chalamet, Justin Verlander, Kate Upton, a musical tribute to Sharon Jones Watch What Happens Live (Sunday): Dr. Jackie Walters, Porsha Williams

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