As for the horrific massacre at the Pittsburgh synagogue in which 11 elder members of the Tree of Life congregation were murdered by a virulent anti-Semite while they prayed, the alleged shooter, Robert Bowers had posted on Gab that a Jewish refugee organization was responsible for bringing “invaders” into our country to “kill our people.”
This, after Donald Trump had been shrieking for weeks about the caravan of migrants moving through Central America, and his right-wing cohorts accused George Soros of financing it. This, the same week that Donald Trump proudly declared himself a “nationalist” right here in Houston.
This is not complicated. There is a direct line from Point A: The President of the United States’ attacks on the free press, his political enemies, and people of color and other minorities to Point B: violence enacted by his followers. And that line is so short, those two points are almost indistinguishable.
So everyone can just save me the hand-wringing over how much culpability the President bears for the violence of the past week: the bombings, for the heartbreaking murder of Jews in Pittsburgh, and for the attempted mass slaughter in a black church in Kentucky that ended in the death of two African-Americans who just happened to be in a parking lot. Donald Trump has been lighting matches since before he declared his candidacy; we can’t be surprised at the conflagration we are left with.
Please vote. And if you have voted, please consider helping in some way a campaign you believe in during these last few moments ahead of Election Day. I am terrified of the flames and how brightly they are burning.
In other TV News
Sort of related to the above:
It’s been a long week for Fox Business News’ Lou Dobbs who had to delete a tweet suggesting that the bombs were “fake,” and the network is deleting an episode in which a guest suggested that George Soros was financing the caravan — a sentiment that fueled the Tree of Life massacre.
This is a top editor at The Financial Times:
Chuck Lorre’s title card on this week’s The Big Bang Theory? I can relate.
God, (I call you that even though I suspect thou art well beyond names and words and might actually be some sort of ineffable quantum situation), I humbly beseech thee to make thy presence known on November 6th. Demonstrate your omnipotence through us as we make ink marks on little circles in curtained booths. Of course if you, in your divine wisdom, believe a fascist, hate-filled, fear-mongering, demagogic, truth-shattering, autocratic golf cheater is what we need right now, then, you know, thy will be done. But if thou art inclined to more freedom, more love, more compassion, and just more of the good stuff thou hath been promoting in our hearts or our parietal lobes – either one, doesn’t really matter – I submissively ask that thy encourage voter turnout in that general direction. Also God, please help Bob Mueller. Guide him and make him strong, brave, wise and true. And yes, I know there must be thousands of guys named Bob Mueller, so why not help them all, just to be on the safe side. Amen. Oh, almost forgot, remind those who collaborate with the darkness that thou art the light, and the light is not above whipping out a little Old Testament wrath. Amen again.”
And thank you, Johnny Galecki.
Megyn Kelly is reportedly eyeing a return to Fox News.
My love for the Matt Damon/Jimmy Kimmel relationship is irrational but here we are.
ZOMG: The Haunting of Hill House siblings = the stages of grief.
Ahead of his final episode of The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln wrote a thank you letter to the fans. While we’re on the topic of The Walking Dead, I intend to spend this week trying to catch up with the recaps before his final episode this Sunday. Wish me luck.
The streaming service FilmStruck, which hosted the Criterion Collection and was the excuse I gave my husband for buying an Apple TV, is being shut down. AND I AM VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT.
There was a mini-Stark-sibling reunion this weekend and I am all about it.
Note to self: If ever auditioning for the role of Khalessi, do the robot.
Game of Thrones has launched a series of handbags and while I consider myself House Targaryen, those Stark bags are HOT.
Or, wait, maybe not?
Tina Fey is the executive producer of Busy Philipp’s new talk show that premiered last night and I didn’t watch because I was TOO TIRED.
Michael Ausiello has some mild spoilers for Supernatural, Outlander, Grey’s Anatomy and some of your other favorite shows.
Will podcasts translate to television? Homecoming and Dirty John sure hope so.
Martin Scorsese says that HBO canceling Vinyl was a “tragedy.” He was wrong.
David Cross is pretty sure Arrested Development is for sure done now.
Here is an easter egg from a series that has not been on the air for five years.
The creepy way the monster on Channel Zero moves is 100% contortionist, 0% CGI. Speaking of Channel Zero, there might be some sort of crossover or a revisiting of an old character in future seasons, and here the creator recommends five essential horror films, and they are quality.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend‘s 90s jam, “Don’t Be a Lawyer,” spoke to me, the wife of a lawyer, despite the fact that my husband’s being a lawyer is the only way I am able to do this job at all.
Robert Durst will have to stand trial for the murder of his best friend, Susan Berman. Still no trial for the murder of innocent candy in my CVS, though.
Viacom is making some changes at the head of their cable channels if you are interested at all.
#MeToo
HBO has hired an “intimacy coordinator” to oversee sex scenes on its shows, to make ensure safe working conditions for the actors. For some reason this is a big story that is being picked up everywhere, instead of being what the standard should be for all sets.
Actress Sarah Scott’s claim of sexual assault and misconduct against fellow actor Kip Pardue while filming a sex scene for indie series Mogulettes, is finally going to mediation at SAG-AFTRA after months of inaction. Sounds like that series could use an intimacy coordinator.
Donald Trump must turn over records in the Summer Zervos sexual harassment trial. GOOD.
Jerry Seinfeld gave an interesting and nuanced interview to the New York Times where he managed to talk about Louis C.K., Roseanne, Bill Cosby, Nanette, and the #MeToo movement. I don’t agree with everything he said, and there will be critics of what he said, particularly about Louis C.K. and Roseanne. But it’s clear he’s been giving a lot of thought to these issues which is all I ask.
Here’s how the CBS investigation into its own shenanigans is going.
A former PBS employee is suing for being fired over what he claims was an innocuous comment about Meghan Markle.
Will the Megyn Kelly mess be the end of Andy Lack at NBC News?
The New York Times discovered that over the past decade, three senior Google executives were accused of sexual misconduct who were ousted from the company, but given millions and millions to soften the blow — $90 million in one instance. Must be nice. The company has also fired some 48 employees for sexual harassment in the past 2 years, reportedly.
Patricia Clarkson believes Netflix did the right thing in firing Kevin Spacey because no doy.
Renewals
- A Million Little Things and The Conners have been given additional episodes at ABC.
Cancellations
- American Vandal has been canceled at Netflix. BOOOOO. BOO.
In Development
- Star Trek: Lower Decks, an animated series from an executive producer of Rick & Morty, has been ordered by CBS All Access.
- The Emperor of Malibu, a series from the author of Crazy Rich Asians, is in the works at CBS.
- Duncanville, an animated comedy that will feature the voices of Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, and Wiz Khalifa has been given a series order at Fox.
- Years & Years, a dystopian family drama starring Emma Thompson, is coming to HBO.
- Major, a dance drama from producer Jennifer Lopez, is in development at NBC.
- Home Economics, a family comedy, is in development at Fox.
- Halfway There, a sibling comedy from Iliza Shlesinger is in development at CBS.
- Fox has bought a parenting comedy from a former SNL writer.
- A single mom comedy is being developed at ABC.
- Trader, a modern reimagining of Robin Hood, is in the works at HBO.
- Deadwax
- Netflix is making a movie about Wyclef Jean’s childhood.
- Starz has signed a deal to make some Power spinoffs.
Casting News
- Nestor Carbonell, Mark Duplass, Billy Crudup, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are joining the Apple morning talk show series starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Anniston.
- Gabriel Byrne, Lola Kirke, Miriam Shor, Thomasin McKenzie, Oona Laurence, Reed Birney, Kevin Corrigan, Rosal Colon, and Dean Winters have joined the Netflix film Lost Girls.
- Jessica Williams, Nikesh Patel, Rebecca Rittenhouse, and John Reynolds will star in an adaptation of Four Weddings and a Funeral for Hulu.
- Gael García Bernal will star in an untitled immigration drama at Showtime.
- Victor Garber is joining the cast of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City for Netflix.
- Adam Scott will appear in an episode of The Twilight Zone on CBS All Access.
- Wayne Brady will have a recurring role on The Bold and the Beautiful.
- Peyton List will recur in Cobra Kai on YouTube.
- Peter Alexander has joined the anchors for Weekend Today on NBC.
- Claudia Black is joining the cast of Roswell, New Mexico.
- Aleksa Palladino has been added to the cast of the Showtime Roger Ailes film.
- Jeryl Prescott is joining the cast of the Swamp Thing series on DC Universe.
- Rene Rosado is joining the cast of The Conners.
- Scotty Tovar is joining the cast of Empire.
- Colin Ford, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Sophie Simnett, Austin Crute, Gregory Kasyan, Krysta Rodriguez, Cody Kearsley, and Jeante Godlock are joining the cast of Daybreak on Netflix.
- Lela Rochon, Trace Lysette, Liza Colon-Zayas, Juanita Jennings, Lindsey Blackwell, Solomon Valdez, Teshi Thomas, Nick Creegan, Kimaya Naomi, and Logan Rozos are joining the cast of David Makes Man on OWN.
- The Game of Thrones spinoff has put out more casting notices.
Mark Your Calendar
- The Timeless two-hour series finale will air on NBC on December 20.
- Broad City‘s final season will debut on Comedy Central on January 24.
- The Orville will return on Fox on December 30. I WILL NOT BE BLOGGING IT.
- Shut Up and Dribble will debut on Showtime on November 3.
- F is for Family returns on Netflix on November 30.
- John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons will debut on Netflix on November 5.
- Outlaw King will debut on Netflix on November 9.
- Friends from College will return on Netflix on January 11.
- The Hookup Plan will debut on Netflix on December 7.
- Icebox, a film about the immigration crisis, will debut on HBO on December 7.
- Deadwax will debut on Shudder on November 15.
- Frontier will return on Netflix on November 23.
- Botched will return on E! on December 6.
- Body Cam will debut on Investigation Discovery on November 27.
- Country Music’s Biggest Stars will air on CMT on November 11.
- Lego Star Wars: All Stars will debut on Disney XD on October 29.
R.I.P.
Ntozake Shange, Writer best known for the play For Colored Girls.
WATCH THIS
Outside the Bubble: On the Road with Alexandra Pelosi: Determined to understand perspectives of Americans outside of her coastal bubble, filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi travels around the country to talk to people about politics. 7 p.m., HBO
A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating 15 years on Broadway: A concert celebrating the Broadway musical’s 15th anniversary. 9 p.m., NBC
Frontline: “The Frontline Dilemma”: A look at the social media platform’s influence on democracy around the world. 9 p.m., PBS
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Rami Malek, Chrissy Metz, John Prine Late Night with Seth Meyers: Amanda Peet, Jake Shears, Jon Theodore The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Kerry Washington, Taylor Mac The Late Late Show with James Corden: Carey Mulligan, Jenna Fischer Jimmy Kimmel Live: Morgan Freeman, Bill Burr, Gaz Coombes The Daily Show: Andrew Gillum Watch What Happens Live: Kelly Dodd, Brandi Redmond
| MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Dancing with the Stars (new) |
The Good Doctor (new) |
| CBS | The Neighborhood (new) |
Happy Together (new) |
Magnum P.I. (new) |
Bull (new) |
| CW | Arrow (new) |
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (new) |
Local |
| FOX | The Resident (new) |
9-1-1 (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | The Voice (new) |
A Very Wicked Halloween (new) |