I’m not saying she should run (I don’t think she should), but in the event that Oprah does decide she wants to ruin her life and run for President, there’s the small issue that she is currently in a contract with Discovery Communications. Would they let her out of that contract if she wanted to run? And what about CBS? She’s a contributor on 60 Minutes, would Les Moonves be cool with her leaving?
“Oprah is in charge of her own destiny.” Truer words have never been spoken.
If the election were held today, Oprah would beat Trump. Of course, at this point a loaf a bread would beat Trump, so.
Future President Oprah discussed the devastation of Montecito with her neighbor Ellen yesterday:
Meanwhile, President Dumbfuck just threatened to overhaul libel laws because his fee-fees were hurt by Michael Wolff’s book Fire & Fury. Where to begin with this one? For one thing, it’s insane and dangerous for a President to threaten to change laws to go after his detractors. This is some grade A dictator bullshit. But for another thing, there is only one federal libel law and that is the First Amendment, ya idiot. But even if there were some libel law that he could tinker with, IT’S NOT LIBEL IF IT’S TRUE.
And then there’s the laughable lie from Kellyanne Conway that she tried to peddle on CNN that no one in the White House is talking about Hillary Clinton. Earlier that afternoon, Trump mentioned Clinton several times — completely unprovoked — in a press conference, and tweeted about her just this morning.
Hey, remember when Prince was still alive and Obama was still President? ~sobs~
Prepare your DVRS: 2018 is set to have more than 520 scripted series.
In “Things You Already Knew” news: Modern Family is going to end after next season and Gillian Anderson is really really for real done with The X-Files. Really.
Breaking Bad season four has begun filming, meaning it won’t return until the fall at the earliest.
Game of Thrones took three of the five nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Dramatic Series by the Directors Guild of America, so their chances are looking good. (Stranger Things and The Handmaid’s Tale took the other two nominations.) As for comedies: Master of None has two nominations; The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Veep and Silicon Valley took the others. All of the nominations are here.
Here are some theories about what will ultimately happen on The Good Place, some of which are pretty intriguing (except the Wizard of Oz one: obviously it’s something of a Wizard of Oz allegory, that isn’t a theory as much as an observation). Also, here’s a nice appreciation for the best thing about The Good Place: Jason Mendoza.
Shitty Men Doing Shitty Things Report
More women are coming forward to talk about James Franco being a creep. He continued his late night tour last night where he was confronted once again about the allegations, this time by Seth Meyers. Meanwhile, HBO reports that there haven’t been any complaints against Franco on the set of The Deuce, and Franco’s stripper movie has been … postponed. For some reason.
Listen, there are obviously there are degrees of awfulness in regards to behavior, and from the sound of it, Franco mostly hovered around the “being a creep who took advantage of a corrupt and broken system that abused women” side of the spectrum. And what really got him in trouble here was wearing that “Time’s Up” pin to the Golden Globes, as if he’s some sort of ally. The sad thing is, Franco and plenty of men like him ~cough Al Franken cough~, do think they are allies, and ignore or deny their own behavior which perpetuates the damn problem. GUYS, CHECK YOURSELVES. PLEASE.
A Washington Post reporter and a Fox News reporter have been removed from their jobs for inappropriate conduct.
Corey Feldman has himself been accused of sexual battery by a woman who claimed he grabbed her last year.
Meanwhile, the #MeToo movement has given some writers in Hollywood pause, forcing some to wonder if they can tell a particular joke anymore. I am not one for allowing political correctness to censor expression, but maybe — just hear me out — maybe people thinking before they speak is a GOOD THING.
After a Spartacus moment when a number of women stepped forward to claim they were the author of the “Shitty Media Men” list, the actual author stepped forward with an essay explaining her actions. It’s worth reading, regardless of your feelings about what she did.
Mira Sorvino has written an open letter apologizing to Dylan Farrow for working with Woody Allen. And Ronan Farrow is very close to signing a multi-year deal with HBO to bring his investigative reporting to the network.
Renewals
In Development
- ABC is developing a family drama based on Selena.
- Kumail Nanjiani is developing an adaptation of My Beautiful Laundrette.
- Apple has bought epic drama See from the creator of Peaky Blinders.
- TruTV bought Tacoma FD, a firefighter comedy from some of the Super Trooper guys.
- BBC is working on a Harvey Weinstein documentary.
- Paramount Network is developing the novel Shantaram into a series.
- Paramount Network is adapting the British anthology series, Accused.
- Golden Revenge and Critters: A New Binge have been ordered by go90.
- The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco has been ordered by streaming service BritBox.
Casting News
- Michael J. Fox is joining Designated
80s StarsSurvivor. - Jennifer Lopez will make an appearance on Will & Grace.
- Wunmi Mosaku is joining Luther.
Mark Your Calendars
- Grand Prix Driver will premiere on Amazon on February 9.
- Dirty Money premieres on Netflix on January 26.
- Lip Sync Battle LIVE: A Michael Jackson Celebration will air on Paramount Network on January 18.
- BET’s Mancave debuts on BET on January 18.
R.I.P.
John Thompson, Producer (of Mansquito, no less)
WATCH THIS
The 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards: Olivia Munn hosts the only awards ceremony that knows what it’s talking about. 7 p.m., The CW
Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story: WHY? WHYYYY? 8 p.m., ABC
Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid: Tip #1: Your entire diet is now lemon water. Series premiere. 9 p.m., Lifetime
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Sam Rockwell, Tig Notaro, Alan Walker featuring Noah Cyrus Late Night with Seth Meyers: Matt Ingebretson, Jake Weisman, Allison Miller The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Molly Shannon, Thomas Lennon, Owen Smith The Late Late Show with James Corden: Tyra Banks Jimmy Kimmel Live: Annette Bening, Paul Thomas Anderson, Sylvan Esso The Daily Show: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar The Opposition with Jordan Klepper: Jelani Cobb Watch What Happens Live: Liam Neeson, Taraji P. Henson
| THURS | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Child Support (new) |
Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story (new) |
| CBS | The Big Bang Theory (new) |
Young Sheldon (new) |
Mom (new) |
Life in Pieces (new) |
S.W.A.T. (new) |
| CW | Critic’s Choice Awards (live) |
News/Local |
| FOX | The Four (new) |
News/Loca |
| NBC | Superstore (new) |
The Good Place (new) |
Will & Grace (new) |
Great News (new) |
Chicago Fire (new) |
A few thoughts:
“Prepare your DVRS: 2018 is set to have more than 520 scripted series.”
Good God, man.
“Breaking Bad season four has begun filming, meaning it won’t return until the fall at the earliest.”
I thought BB was over? (Even though I’m just starting it soon)
“Silicon Valley returns on HBO on March 25.”
Fuck. And. Yes.
Dammit, I meant “Better Call Saul.” I’ve made that dumb mistake before and caught it, this time my brain just malfunctioned.
Thanks, Josh!
-T