I have a difficult time talking about TV news when my heart and brain are on fire about some outrage this Presidential administration has committed. And such, it is impossible for me to yammer about Game of Thrones and Roseanne and The Bachelorette before we at least mention that right now the Trump Administration — with the full support of the GOP — are ripping immigrant families apart at the border, and placing children, young children, in caged detention centers. Not that they want you to call them “cages.”
“They may be cages, but people are not being treated like animals.”
And you want to know how I know the Right knows that this is evil and wrong? Because besides trying to blame the Democrats for it even though it’s their fucking policy, now they’ve pulled out the ol’ “crisis actor” conspiracy theory:
Let me be VERY FUCKING CLEAR about what is going on here:
People fleeing violence and unrest in their home countries are coming to America seeking asylum — which they can only ask for after they have crossed the border. The government has set up checkpoints for asylum seekers to go through on the border, but these points have tremendous backlogs (perhaps intentionally) and in desperation, some immigrants are crossing the border at non-checkpoints. If they are caught, they are arrested — for a misdemeanor — and their children are taken away from them and placed in one of these centers that you’ve heard so much about. Because this administration has determined that fleeing gang violence (the same kind that they are setting their hair on fire about happening here) and domestic violence are no longer categories eligible for asylum, the parents are often deported without their children, and with no known process in place to reunite them.
Some facts:
The Obama administration did place migrant children in detention centers, but these were unaccompanied minors, and most of them were older children — again, often fleeing from gang violence. The Obama administration did not separate families or deport parents without their children.
This is not the Democrats’ fault. There is no law compelling the Trump administration to do this. This is a zero-tolerance policy that Jeff Sessions, Stephen Miller and John Kelly dreamed up as an immigration “deterrent.” The President, Justice Department and Homeland Security could stop separating families right now if they wanted to. They do not.
The Democrats have a bill calling for the end of the separations. No Republicans have agreed to join it.
The staff at these facilities are not allowed to touch or physically comfort these children. In fact, one employee was told that three siblings who had been taken from their parents were not allowed to hug each other.
This weekend, I had the privilege and great joy to take my 17-year-old son to Savannah, Georgia where he will be participating in a pre-college program. He will be staying in a dorm that is nicer than any of the apartments I had in New York City; I know exactly where he will be the entire time; I know exactly when I will see him again. He is 17 years old, he’s practically a legal adult.
And yet, I still cried when I had to leave him because it is painful and scary to be away from your children. When I try to imagine a foreign government tearing my children away from me and never knowing when OR IF I will see them again, it fills me with rage. Pure rage. I am profoundly ashamed and ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY FURIOUS that our country is responsible for this atrocity straight from the Nazi handbook. SO FURIOUS, I WISH THE BUSHES WERE STILL IN CHARGE BECAUSE AT LEAST THEY HAVE HEARTS.
Call your representatives, protest, march, donate and most of all, most importantly, remember in November that not a single Republican did a FUCKING THING to stop this.
Alright. TV.
Some Game of Thrones stuff because season 8 is still a long ways away.
Emilia Clarke is officially done filming as Daenerys Targaryen. Shit’s just got real.
SPOILER! Little Miss Badass is back and was filming in the same location as Emilia Clarke and zomg what I would give for a scene between the two of these queeeeeeeens.
Reason to watch the World Cup: The coach for Morocco is more Lannister than Jaime Lannister. My husband, who actually watches soccer, tried to explain to me that Hervé Renard is “more Dario Noharis than Lannister: Pretty but also very sell-sword-y” but I don’t have time for that nonsense. JUST LOOK AT THE MAN. HE LOOKS MORE LIKE TYWIN’S SON AND CERSEI’S TWIN THAN JAIME.
HOLD UP, [POSSIBLE SPOILER REDACTED] MIGHT BE RETURNING TO THE WALKING DEAD? (Don’t hover over the link unless you want to know.
American Horror Story season 8: what do we know? Not much, honestly, but we know that Emma Roberts will probably be back:
Apparently, Ryan Murphy tweeted that “All the witches are being asked back,” but deleted the tweet soon after.
We won’t know the name of the season for at least another month. Murphy announced a contest to benefit the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in which winners will be flown out to LA to hang out with the cast (which will include Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson apparently), read the first three scripts and be the first person to learn the title of the season. You can enter here.
Also returning for the season: Kathy Bates and Billie Lourde and Joan Collins are joining the cast. Still waiting to hear from: Lily Rabe, Jessica Lange, Taissa Farmiga, Jamie Brewer, Gabourey Sidibe, Angela Bassett, and for me, personally, Frances Conroy and Leslie Jordan. And from the Murder House cast, Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Zachary Quinto, Alexandra Breckenridge, Kate Mara, and Matt Ross would all be welcome additions. Sadly, it looks like Denis O’Hare won’t be able to do it, see below in Casting.
We are edging closer to a Roseanne spinoff. Roseanne Barr has reportedly agreed to walk away from the characters she co-created, and other writers, producers and cast, including John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf are on-board. The last hurdle is deciding what the “go away now” money would be for Barr. I can see this being the point where everything blows up. Exhibit A:
I still don’t understand how someone like Lincoln Adim slipped through The Bachelorette‘s vetting process. But to add to this story, the fact that ABC hasn’t gone out of its way to defend Lincoln, the fact that there has been no statement from Becca regarding this story is just one more piece of evidence that ABC spoiled itself a couple weeks ago about who the winner will be.
I hate it when I agree with something Seth MacFarlane says.
Maybe MacFarlane is angling for his own Ryan Murphy deal with Netflix?
Fox, shockingly, was not happy with MacFarlane’s tweet.
Lucifer has been saved by Netflix, thank Satan!
Senator Blobfish beat Ted Cruz in that basketball game this weekend. Anyway, VOTE BETO!
Leslie Jones used to be Mikey Day’s waitress when he as a kid because the world is a weird place.
Kyle MacLachlan has no idea what was happening on Twin Peaks, either.
Teresa and Joe Giudice are out of bankruptcy somehow.
Congratulations, Jared and Ashley I. or Khaste Kardashian and Cousin Max, as you might remember them. I genuinely hope it works out for you two dummies!
WAY TO GO, AMERICA. GREAT JOB, EVERYONE.
#MeToo
The Chris Hardwick fallout: AMC has pulled his show, Talking with Chris Hardwick and he will not be hosting their panels at Comic-Con (it remains unclear if he will host any other panels at the convention); Nerdist removed him from the website he created; music-comedy festival KAABOO has pulled his appearance in September; but NBC is playing “wait and see” regarding his hosting of The Wall.
Hardwick responded to Dykstra’s accusations by saying that he never sexually assaulted her and that he dumped her after she cheated on him.
“These are very serious allegations and not to be taken lightly which is why I’ve taken the day to consider how to respond. I was heartbroken to read Chloe’s post. Our three year relationship was not perfect — we were ultimately not a good match and argued — even shouted at each other — but I loved her, and did my best to uplift and support her as a partner and companion in any way and at no time did I sexually assault her.”
“When we were living together, I found out that Chloe cheated on me, and I ended the relationship. For several weeks after we broke up, she asked me to get back together with me and even told me she wanted to have kids with me, ‘build a life’ with me and told me that I was ‘the one,’ but I did not want to be with someone who was unfaithful.”
“I’m devastated to read that she is now accusing me of conduct that did not occur. I was blindsided by her post and always wanted the best for her. As a husband, a son, and future father, I do not condone any kind of mistreatment of women.”
Look, I wasn’t there, I don’t know if he sexually assaulted her or not, but attacking her by saying that she cheated on him is some straight-up gaslighting bullshit. Even if it is true, it is unrelated to the allegations at hand and clearly meant to make him look like the real victim here. If he had just eliminated that second paragraph from his statement I would 1. not be calling him out right now and 2. might have given him the benefit of the doubt. What an asshole. What a fucking asshole.
Meanwhile, his mother-in-law Patty Hearst has his back:
I’m not going to make a comment about Stockholm Syndrome here OOPS THAT’S WHAT I JUST DID.
Hey, curious how Danny Masterson was written out of The Ranch, but not enough to actually watch that show because, UGH? Here you go. His accuser is still pissed, though.
Renewals
Cancellations
- Desus & Mero is ending at Viceland,
but maybe headed to Showtimedefinitely headed to Showtime.
In Development
- Apple is NOT PLAYING AROUND: They’ve signed a multi-year contract with Oprah for content. (But doesn’t she have her own network?)
- Here’s a guide to all the talent Apple has signed for their TV platform in recent months. It’s pretty impressive.
- Hulu has ordered Reprisal from Warren Littlefield.
- Netflix has picked up Hache, a Spanish-language heroin drama.
Casting News
- Denis O’Hare will join the cast of Big Little Lies (which means he probably won’t be in American Horror Story season 8. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.)
- Giuliana Rancic is back as co-host of E! News.
- Matt Barr from Valor is going to star in CBS’s Blood and Treasure.
- Here is your cast of Big Brother this season.
Mark Your Calendar
- Like Father will debut on Netflix on August 3.
- Kiss Me First, a VR thriller, will debut on Netflix on June 29.
- Killjoys returns on Space on July 20 and everyone’s hair is PERFECT.
R.I.P.
Martin Bregman, Producer (mostly of movies, including Dog Day Afternoon and Carlito’s Way, but there was an adaptation of The Four Seasons in there)
Billy Sammeth, Manager of Joan Rivers, Cher and Dolly Parton
WATCH THIS
The Bachelorette: The manherd heads to Park City. 7 p.m., ABC
The Proposal: Ten women compete in a pageant to win the affections of a man they haven’t met in hopes to be engaged AFTER AN HOUR. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY? Series premiere. 9 p.m., ABC
Stranger Fruit: A look into the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. 8 p.m., Starz
It Will be Chaos: A documentary that explores the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. 7 p.m., HBO
Supergirl: Supergirl faces down Serena in the season finale. 7 p.m., The CW
2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards: Tiffany Haddish hosts the awards ceremony. 8 p.m., MTV
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jared Leto, Alessia Cara Late Night with Seth Meyers: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Louie Anderson, Cold War Kids The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Benicio Del Toro, Alison Brie, Robin Thede The Late Late Show with James Corden: Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Niall Horan, Andrew Lloyd Webber Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jeff Goldblum, Jermaine Fowler, Granger Smith The Daily Show: Rep. Karen Bass The Opposition with Jordan Klepper : Dan Pfeiffer Watch What Happens Live: Mike Colter, Alfre Woodard
| MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | The Bachelorette (new) |
The Proposal (new) |
| CBS | Mom (repeat) |
Man with a Plan (repeat) |
NCIS: New Orleans (repeat) |
Elementary (new) |
| CW | Supergirl (new) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (new) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | So You Think You Can Dance (new) |
So You Think You Can Dance (repeat) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Running Wild with Bear Grylls (new) |
American Ninja Warrior (new) |
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!!!!!! We have gone insane and if they do it to children, you can be assured they will do it to ANYONE. Please keep using your voice and THANK YOU!
So Sessions justifies the separations by quoting the Bible, specifically a (much debated) reading from Paul in the Epistles. Maybe he should pay more attention to the Gospel, Matt 25.35-.45, with extra attention on verses 40 and 45.
absolutely right!!!