Billy Bush wrote a surprisingly frank and powerful editorial in the New York Times this weekend upon learning that the President Grabby has been going around telling people that it’s not him on the Access Hollywood tape entitled “Yes, Donald Trump, You Said That.” Bush focuses on the 16 women who have since stepped forward to say that Trump sexually assaulted them before admitting that he enabled Donny Trash for personal gain, and in the end, it cost him everything:
Was I acting out of self-interest? You bet I was. Was I alone? Far from it. With Mr. Trump’s outsized viewership back in 2005, everybody from Billy Bush on up to the top brass on the 52nd floor had to stroke the ego of the big cash cow along the way to higher earnings.
None of us were guilty of knowingly enabling our future president. But all of us were guilty of sacrificing a bit of ourselves in the name of success.
It’s worth reading in its entirety. Atlantic writer James Fallows had a very interesting take on the piece and how it reflects on our politics (I’ve consolidated the tweets, so read straight down):
As for other gropers:
Geoffrey Rush has stepped down as the President of Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts after allegations of being a creep emerged.
NPR’s John Hockenberry has been accused of being inappropriate with women.
And did I mention that toxic toad Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold? ~shudder~
NBC is determined to not pay Matt Lauer another dime. Which, great? I guess? But think about how much money he made between the first allegations which began as long ago as the late 90s and last week. Meanwhile, NBC is destroying every last trace of Lauer as best they can.
Common Cause has rescinded an award they were going to give Arnold Schwarzenegger after thinking about it for A HOT SECOND.
AND JUST SHUT IT, PAMELA ANDERSON, YOU ARE NOT HELPING.
Reminder: Danny Masterson still has a job on Netflix.
In Cable News News
Sooooooooo, if you can remember all the way back to Friday when the Mike Flynn guilty plea news broke, Brian Ross of ABC News said a source told him a number of astonishing things, including that Trump directed Flynn to contact the Russians.
https://twitter.com/yashar/status/936629379978944513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Of course, the Ragetweeter-in-Chief was all over the story, first congratulating ABC:
… before suggesting that people sue ABC for falling stock prices:
First of all, FIRST OF ALL, it’s interesting that Troll’s first response to ABC’s suspension of Ross was to pat the network on the back considering that when CNN had a similar situation wherein they hadn’t fully vetted a story and they FIRED people, he pointed to CNN’s response as evidence that they were FAKENEWS! even though their response was actually evidence of exactly the opposite.
Second of all, there is no way to determine that it was ABC’s reporting and ABC’s reporting alone that cause the stock market to drop. I would posit that it was the bombshell news that the former National Security Advisor was pleading guilty to lying about talking to Russians during the transition and violating the Logan Act that might have made investors a little shaky about the direction the country is headed in, but who knows, maybe it was news that the orange crop is going to be fine this year that caused the drop.
Finally, just imagine what we would be saying if the leader of another country called on his people to sue a media outlet. These are interesting times. And by “interesting” I mean “horrifying.”
Meanwhile, Shepard Smith continues being a thorn in Fox News viewers’ sides. KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT, SHEP.
Over in MSNBC’s world, Joy Reid apologized for blog posts from 2006-2009 in which she made a number of homophobic comments, specifically about former Florida Governor Charlie Crist.
In Other TV News
THERE ARE LEGIT GAME OF THRONES SPOILERS IN HERE AND THEY ARE PRETTY BADASS. And without giving anything away, I am reminded of Daenerys’ visions in the House of the Undying. I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
So this idiot, inspired by that History show Forged in Fire, tried to burn down the entire town.
Were you a fan of The Strain? Because they’re emptying out the prop house if you’re interested.
Erica Rose is married. True story, I know the guy she was dating right before this Mr. Lucky. Just … just good luck, dude.
Rachel Lindsay is determined to marry Mr. Second Choice.
Renewals
Cancellations
Mark Your Calendar
- CBS announced their winter premiere dates: The Amazing Race returns January 3rd; Big Brother returns on February 7 and will run against the Winter Olympics; Living Biblically debuts on February 26; Survivor returns on February 28; and Instinct debuts on March 11.
- Altered Carbon will debut on Netflix on February 2.
- Mysteries at the Museum returns on the Travel Channel on December 28.
- CBS will also air the special MVP: Most Valuable Player on January 25.
In Development
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch has been picked up for two seasons on Netflix.
- Barry & Joe: The Animated Series has moved closer to reality: now Conan O’Brien is an executive producer.
- NBC has put Bad Medicine, based on the comic of the same name, into development.
- Netflix has picked up animated series Twelve Forever.
Casting News
- Dannell Ackles, wife of Jensen, will appear in multiple episodes of Supernatural.
- Catherine Keener will appear in the Maya Rudolph/Fred Armisen Amazon project.
- Breeda Wool will return to UNReal.
- Ana Villafañe will star in the comedy History of Them for CBS.
R.I.P.
Robert Asman, News producer
WATCH THIS
Vanderpump Rules: These assholes are back. Season premiere. 8 p.m., Bravo
The Great Christmas Light Fight: Some lunatic wraps 78 trees in lights in the season premiere. 7 p.m., ABC
The Wall: It’s a holiday-themed episode. 9 p.m., NBC
Relationshep: Prepare for all the “Shep” puns you can handle. Series premiere. 9 p.m., Bravo
The 95th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting from President’s Park: What if you held a tree lighting and no one came? 6 p.m., Hallmark
Cash Cab: This is back. Series premiere. 9 p.m., Discovery
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Keegan-Michael Key, Claire Foy, Sports Illustrated’s 2017 Sportsperson of the Year, St. Vincent Late Night with Seth Meyers: Samantha Bee, Matt Smith, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Brooks Wackerman The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Billy Bush, Gwendoline Christie The Late Late Show with James Corden: Denis Leary, Maya Rudolph, Bob Odenkirk, Stereophonics Jimmy Kimmel Live: Chris Pratt, Margot Robbie, Chris Stapleton Conan: Dan Rather, Ana Gasteyer, Ty Segall The Daily Show: Frankie Shaw The Opposition with Jordan Klepper : Kwame Alexander Watch What Happens Live: hep Rose, Stassi Schroeder
| MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | The Great Christmas Light Fight (new) |
The Good Doctor (new) |
| CBS | The Big Bang Theory (repeat) |
Man with a Plan (new) |
Superior Donuts (new) |
9JKL (new) |
Scorpion (new) |
| CW | Supergirl (new) |
Valor (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Lucifer (new) |
The Gifted (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | The Voice (new) |
The Wall (new) |
I think you glossed over the real story in the Joy Reid – Charlie Crist bit. She apologized, with grace and sincerity. He accepted, with grace and a compliment. There were no insults, tweet storms, or demands for firings … just mutually cordial and respectful words. It’s things like this that give us hope.
Absolutely, Jim. Excellent point.
-T