Heathers will not be debuting on March 7 on Paramount Network after all. The network is delaying the premiere of the series because of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, and they have not announced when it will premiere, other than to say it will be “later this year.” Of course, considering the epidemic of gun violence in this country, there will never be a good time to air a series that deals with such dark subject matter.
“Paramount Network’s original series Heathers is a satirical comedy that takes creative risks in dealing with many of society’s most challenging subjects ranging from personal identity to race and socio-economic status to gun violence. While we stand firmly behind the show, in light of the recent tragic events in Florida and out of respect for the victims, their families and loved ones, we feel the right thing to do is delay the premiere until later this year.”
Speaking of gun violence, we have literally elected Archie Bunker as President. In their old age, the generation who used to identify with Meathead have decided that Archie made some solid points.
Well, this is intriguing: NBC Universal is planning to cut back on ad time on all of its networks by up to 20%. However, they are planning to add something they call a “prime pod” that will air at the beginning or end of a show that will be dedicated to only two advertisers.
This is an interesting argument that net neutrality will hamper the TV renaissance, not because it will throttle streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, but because it will hurt up-and-coming artists like Issa Rae and sites like Funny or Die.
WHAT IS THAT WHITE ROBOT IN THE WESTWORLD TRAILER, THOUGH?
The actor who is playing the Not Joker on Gotham promises that the Joker’s introduction will be “the biggest shock.”
Spoiler alert: there is going to be “a lot of head-butting” in the Scandal/How to Get Away with Murder crossover tonight.
This is a nice reminder of what is up Ryan Murphy’s sleeve when he heads over to Netflix.
Why are there so many bisexual characters on TV these days? Because they make the traditional love triangle much, much more interesting.
Time’s Up
Jeff Franklin, the creator of Full House and Fuller House among others, has been ousted from Fuller House amidst reports of inappropriate behavior.
Alex Jones has been accused of sexual harassment and discrimination by two former employees to the shock of absolutely no one. He denies the allegations.
A new harassment allegation against Harvey Weinstein has emerged, this one from 1975.
Meanwhile, The Weinstein Company is being sued by American Express and their insurance company.
Robert Knepper has been sued by his accuser for defamation.
Kelly Ripa defended Ryan Seacrest on Live with Kelly and Ryan! this morning without directly mentioning the allegations against him. Publicists are reportedly planning to steer their actor clients away from Seacrest on the red carpet (but boy, howdy, I’d like to see Debra Messing talk to him). Jennifer Lawrence isn’t sure if she is going to speak to Seacrest on the red carpet, and points out that E! has a lot of issues.
Alec Baldwin maybe should stop talking for a little while.
We are coming for your balls, Steve Bannon, you should be scared.
Renewals
- The Magicians has been renewed for a fourth season by Syfy.
- Jersey Shore Family Vacation has been renewed for a second season.
- Travelers has been renewed for a third season.
In Development
- Billy Eichner has set his first Netflix special.
- Terry Pritchett’s Discworld is being adapted by the BBC.
- In Principle, a conservative talk show, is coming to PBS in a desperate attempt to prevent Trump from taking all of their money away.
- The Last Kids on Earth is coming to Netflix.
- Pete Nowalk has signed a deal with ABC to create more shows for them.
Casting News
- Bill Nye is going to guest star on Blindspot — and he’s going to play himself who happens to be one of the character’s father.
- Gina Rodriguez is going to guest star on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
- Iain Armitage, James Tupper, and Jeffrey Nordling are all returning to Big Little Lies.
- Rupert Evans is joining the Charmed reboot.
- Jennifer Carpenter and Morris Chestnut are going to star in NBC’s pilot Enemy Within.
- Carrie-Anne Moss is going to star in the Norwegian series Wisting.
- Freddie Stroma and Joey King are co-starring in Dead Inside.
- Violett Bean is going to star in the CBS’s comedy pilot God Friended Me.
- John Magaro is joining the cast of The Umbrella Academy.
- Dawn Olivieri is joining S.W.A.T.
- Lorraine Toussaint is going to star in The Village.
- Janina Gavankar is joining the Fox Don Johnson comedy pilot.
- Michael Trucco is co-starring in CBS’s cop pilot Chiefs.
- Caleb Foote, Christopher Paul Richards, and Jack Gore have been cast in Tim Doyle’s comedy pilot on ABC.
- Rhyon Nicole Brown and Porscha Coleman will recur on Empire.
- Chris Warren has been cast in the ABC pilot Grand Hotel.
- Thomas Cocquerel is joining Get Christie Love.
- Christina Moses and James Roday are joining A Million Little Things, an ABC drama pilot.
- Alexander Sokovikov is joining the cast of ABC pilot Staties.
- Leonard Roberts and Andrea Demetriades have joined the CBS pilot Murder.
- Matt Barr is starring in The CW’s pilot Skinny Dip.
- Pretty much everyone from season one is returning to Westworld except Anthony Hopkins.
Mark Your Calendars
- Wild Wild Country, a documentary series from the Duplass brothers about an Oregon cult and its battle with the government, comes to Netflix on March 16, and I am going to BINGE THE HELL OUT OF IT.
- Yellowstone will debut on Paramount Network in June.
- Archer: Danger Island will premiere on FXX on April 25.
- Legendary Locations will debut on the Travel Channel on March 28.
- Billy Graham: An Extraordinary Journey will air on Fox on March 4.
R.I.P.
Barry Crimmins, Comedian
WATCH THIS
Supernatural: BOBBY! 7 p.m., The CW
Scandal & How to Get Away With Murder: CROSSOVER ALERT! 8 p.m., ABC
Atlanta: It’s the “Robbin Season.” Season premiere. 9 p.m., FX
A.P. Bio: Hey, this dark — but very funny — little series is back and jumping past the second episode for some reason? 7:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m., NBC
Gotham: The Toy Maker is hired to kill a doctor in the mid-season premiere. 7 p.m., Fox
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Alicia Keys, Darren Criss, Rudy Francisco Late Night with Seth Meyers: Connie Britton, Joel Edgerton, J.J. Totah The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Jeff Daniels, Krysten Ritter, Noah Kahan The Late Late Show with James Corden: Camila Morrone, Robert Plant Conan: Heather Graham, Sofi Tukker The Daily Show: Chadwick Boseman The Opposition with Jordan Klepper: Bakari Sellers Watch What Happens Live: Jennifer Lawrence
| THURS | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Grey’s Anatomy (new) |
Scandal (new) |
How to Get Away With Murder (new) |
| CBS | The Big Bang Theory (new) |
Young Sheldon (new) |
Mom (new) |
Life in Pieces (new) |
S.W.A.T. (new) |
| CW | Supernatural (new) |
Arrow (new) |
News/Local |
| FOX | Gotham (new) |
Showtime at the Apollo (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Superstore (new) |
A.P. Bio (new) |
Will & Grace (new) |
A.P. Bio (new) |
Chicago Fire (new) |
So, with the Ryan Murphy / Netflix thing. Whatever he has on Fox or FX stays where it is and only new stuff is going to Netflix?
Yes, that’s what I understand. But he’s so prolific, he’ll have 30 projects up and running on Netflix with all his other projects humming along at Fox and FX at the same time.