And the hits keep coming over at CBS.
Yesterday, two pretty big stories broke about what will certainly be known as The Les Moonves Era at CBS:
This is notable for a couple of reasons: Cybill was doing just find ratings-wise when it was canceled. But also, if you read the comments on any story about this, you’ll see people stumbling over themselves to claim the show was canceled because Cybill Shepherd was a difficult bitch to work with. I remember these stories circulating at the time the show was canceled, but now I can’t help but wonder if this wasn’t a smear campaign being launched from the top to justify punishing a woman who wouldn’t give in to the boss’ sexual demands. Also: no shows are ever canceled because a male star is difficult to work with. That doesn’t happen because networks are in the business to make money, not to coddle people’s feelings.
2. Eliza Dushku was paid $9.5 million by CBS in a confidential settlement after she was sexually harassed by Bull star Michael Weatherly and written off the show when she confronted him about it.
This second story is a doozy, and is another vivid example of the institutional rot at CBS. One of the horrific details: after Weatherly made a joke (one of many) in front of the cast and crew about wanting to have a threesome with Dushku, a crew member approached Dushku and said he wanted to have a threesome with her, too. Then, when she took her complaints to Weatherly, he went to CBS complaining about Dushku’s “sense of humor.” She was written off the show soon after.
Dushku considered a lawsuit but went into mediation with CBS instead and some brainiac at CBS thought it would be smart to hand over to the mediator outtakes from Bull because they would show Dushku cursing on the set.
Instead, the outtakes showed the harassment itself in living color and the lawyers hired to investigate all of the CBS nonsense noted that “the company’s failure to recognize the instances of harassment caught on tape was a symptom of larger problems at CBS.” OH, YA THINK?
After this news broke last night, women’s group Ultraviolet called for Weatherly to be fired. That’s unlikely to happen, but keep an eye on what happens with the ratings and CBS’s renewal calculations. So far, season three has been holding up season two’s ratings, so it’s not a surefire cancellation.
As for what this all means, as I pointed out in last week’s Shitty Men post, it’s hard to not see this as a pattern of behavior not just limited to Les Moonves, but one that infected the entire network. When the compliance officers think that a woman cursing is more offensive than sexual harassment — when they literally can’t even see the harassment when it is happening in front of their faces ON TAPE — there is a deep-rooted cultural problem.
I highly recommend this thread by the great TV critic Mo Ryan to help refresh your memory on how many instances of sexual misconduct there have been over at CBS. Seriously, click through to read the whole thing. It’s informative because it clearly and overwhelmingly demonstrates that it’s not just a Les Moonves or a Michael Weatherly who is the problem — it’s a CBS problem. And just imagine if the Eliza Dushkus and Cybill Shepherds are being treated this way, what must the women who are not household names be dealing with?
Meanwhile, CBS just paid $20 million that was marked for Moonves to 18 organizations that fight sexual discrimination in the workplace. It’s a start, but how about we start passing out that $120 million severance.
In Other TV News
Mika Brzenzski gave an on-air apology for her use of the term “butt-boy” the other day. This is how you apologize, KEVIN HART:
“I was off yesterday for a family matter… but I wanted to address a term that I used on this show on Wednesday that was vulgar,” she said. “I knew it right away, and I tweeted that it was a terrible choice of words and that I was sorry. But please allow me to say this face to face: The term is crass and offensive and I apologize to everyone, especially the LGBTQ community and to my colleagues, for using it.
“It was a mistake,” Brzezinski continued. “My father would have found it so unbecoming and disrespectful and he would have told me. I will work hard to be better. But I just wanted to say, on camera, looking viewers straight in the eye, I am really, really sorry.”
This comes after President Individual 1 tweeted the following:
The thing that so many right-wing critics of “the media” or of “the Hollywood left” don’t understand is that liberals, for their many faults, do try to be consistent, meaning there are some lines you don’t cross, like gross sexual harassment. Goodbye, Harvey Weinstein, it doesn’t matter how much you’ve given to Democratic causes, you’re a fucking monster; goodbye, Les Moonves, despite all your big talk about your support of #MeToo, you’ve got to go; and goodbye, Al Franken, if we didn’t ask you to leave, the GOP would have rightfully called us hypocrites.
However, forgiveness is also a possibility. We are but human, after all, and so if someone did something that didn’t actually really hurt someone, like said something offensive in an inflamed moment, but then realized what they had done and SINCERELY apologized for it, we can all agree they shouldn’t be shut out in the cold. We can recognize that no one is perfect, and as long as you genuinely try to do better, there is still a place for you. And that’s why Brzezinski — who said her dead father would have been ashamed of her, for fuck’s sake — will be fine, but someone who would have responded to the same controversy by screaming about political correctness, as so many on the right have done, would be shown the door. It’s just not that hard to wrap one’s head around it.
Speaking of, Jerry Seinfeld says that Kevin Hart will be “fine,” which, yeah, no shit. Oscar-viewers weren’t exactly his audience anyway.
495 scripted original series last year. That is a 385% increase since 2014 and that is too many.
Netflix is experimenting with a feature that would let you rewatch “favorite scenes” and “memorable moments” with the push of a button. Hmm.
The Emmys have set the minimum length of a “TV movie” at 75 minutes, which is an interesting change that will impact series like Black Mirror.
Now we know what ice spiders look like, which, great, BUT GET TO WRITING, GEORGE.
Listen, I resisted watching this Game of Thrones/How to Train Your Dragon video because NO, but then I gave in and, just, OK, yes.
The Better Call Saul guys are promising that season five will explore Kim’s relationship with Jimmy Saul Goodman and, more interestingly, it doesn’t sound like next season will be its last.
They are still talking about a Riverdale/Sabrina crossover. Can we just do this already so we can stop talking about it? My 2019 resolution will be to never speculate on the Riverdale/Sabrina crossover ever again.
Leah Remini was on Watch What Happens Live! with Jennifer Lopez last night and she said that current Scientologists run away from her like she is “a pimp” when they cross paths with her. I don’t know what being a “pimp” has to do with anything, but it is interesting that Elisabeth Moss left the room when Remini was given a TCA award. This seems like something I should have already known.
Facebook is in talks to make premium cable channels (HBO, Starz) available on their platform — so long as you’re a subscriber. And Smithsonian is launching its own streaming service. Because one day in the future we will all have our own streaming services.
CONGRATULATIONS, KATY TUR! I once tweeted about having a dream where Katy Tur and I were arguing about the correct pronunciation of “guacamole” and she replied: “ɡwäkəˈmōlē.” Which I loved. She took the tweet down later, but then brought in guacamole to MSNBC the next day (although to my Texan eye it looked like more of a salad, but you know). Anyway, eat all the guacamole you crave, Katy Tur!
Julie Andrews, please come collect your granddaughter.
Renewals
- My Next Guest Needs No Introduction has been given a second season on Netflix.
- The Conners is moving closer to renewal.
In Development
- What Remains Behind, a documentary about Natalie Wood, is coming to HBO.
- My Glory Was I Had Such Friends is headed to Apple. It is produced by J.J. Abrams and Jennifer Garner (who might also star?).
- The Great Believers is going to be turned into a TV series by Amy Poehler’s production company.
- Special Skills and Unmade, two short-form comedy series is coming to IMDB who is now producing original content apparently.
- Let it Snow is headed to Netflix.
- Common is working on a docuseries about the upcoming Chicago mayoral race.
- Fleabag is coming to IFC. Will you watch it then, please?
- Ina Garten has signed a deal with Food Network.
- Heather Zuhlke has signed a deal with Starz.
- David Kushner has signed a deal with Hulu.
Casting News
- Jennifer Grey is joining Grey’s Anatomy but is being all mysterious about who she is going to play.
- Greg Kinnear is going to be in an episode of CBS All Access’ Twilight Zone.
- Kaya Scodelario is going to star in Netflix’s Spinning Out, taking over the role Emma Roberts left.
- Logan Lerman is going to star in Jordan Peele’s Nazi hunter series for Amazon, The Hunt.
- Lou Ferrigno Jr. is joining DC Universe’s Stargirl. Brian Stapf is also joining the cast.
- Paul James is going to star in Mixtape, a Netflix series.
- Diego Luna and Scoot McNairy will be returning to Narcos: Mexico.
- Julia Garner is in talks to star in a film about Harvey Weinstein’s assistant.
Mark Your Calendar
- Star Trek: Discovery will return on CBS All Access on January 17.
- Downton Abbey will come to theaters sometime next year.
- Taylor Swift reputation Stadium Tour will debut on Netflix on December 31.
- Russian Doll will debut on Netflix on February 1.
- Magic for Humans will return on Netflix in 2019.
- Relics and Rarities is coming to Alpha in February.
- One Day at a Time will return on Netflix on February 8.
- “Red Nose Day” will air on NBC on May 23.
- O.G. will debut on HBO on February 23.
- iHeartRadio Music Awards is going to be on Fox — not The CW — on March 14.
- Tigtone will debut on Adult Swim on January 13.
- IO will debut on Netflix in January.
- It’s a Hard Truth Ain’t It will debut on HBO on February 25.
- Garage Rehab returns on Discovery on January 8.
- Abby Hatcher debuts on Nickelodeon on January 1.
- SEMA: Battle of the Builders will debut on MotorTrend Network on January 7.
R.I.P.
Sondra Locke, Actress
Nancy Wilson, Singer
Jessica Starr, Detroit meteorologist who took her own life after complications from vision surgery
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
Roma: Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical film about growing up in Mexico City has critics saying things like “achingly beautiful” and “soulful” and “most beautiful tours in the wound of time” and “best film of 2018” Netflix
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: They’re back, hunty. Season premiere. 7 p.m., VH1
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale: It’s a witchy Christmas special because sure, why not. Netflix
Fuller House: Season four. Netflix
Travelers: Season three. Netflix
The Innocent Man: John Grisham brings you your next true crime obsession. Netflix
The Fix: A panel of comedians take on the world’s problems in this new talk show. Netflix
I Love Lucy Christmas Special: Lucy and Ricky and Ethel and Fred decorate a Christmas tree. 7 p.m., CBS
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Now in Living Color: The Dick Van Dyke Show gets the colorized treatment this year. 8 p.m., CBS
Christmas Movies
- Christmas Around the Corner: 7 p.m., Lifetime
SATURDAY
Saturday Night Live: Matt Damon & Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson
Blockers: I haven’t seen this, but what I understand is that this is a teen sex comedy with a decidedly feminist bent. Also, it stars John Cena. 7 p.m., HBO
Pete Holmes: Dirty Clean: Pete Holmes’s stand-up special ahead of the return of Crashing. 9 p.m., HBO
Christmas Movies
- Christmas Pen Pals: 7 p.m., Lifetime
- Entertaining Christmas: 7 p.m,., Hallmark
- Country Christmas Album: 8 p.m., Ion
- Northern Lights of Christmas: 8 p.m., HMC
SUNDAY
Springsteen on Broadway: Exactly what it sounds like. Netflix
2018 Miss Universe: You know. 6 p.m., Fox
The Sound of Music: The hills are alive and all that. 6 p.m., ABC
Christmas Movies
- Christmas on Holly Lane: 6 p.m., UP
- Coins for Christmas: 6 p.m., TV One
- A Gingerbread Romance: 7 p.m., Hallmark
- Hometown Christmas: 7 p.m., Lifetime
- A Christmas in Royal Fashion: 8 p.m., Ion
- Small Town Christmas: 8 p.m., HMC
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Friday): Armie Hammer, Mark Ronson, Pete Lee The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: (Friday): Tony Shalhoub Watch What Happens Live (Sunday): Cynthia Bailey, Anderson Cooper
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Fresh Off the Boat (new) |
Speechless (new) |
Child Support (new) |
20/20 (new) |
| CBS | MacGyver (new) |
Hawaii Five-0 (new) |
Blue Bloods (new) |
| CW | Dynasty (new) |
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Last Man Standing (new) |
The Cool Kids (new) |
Hell’s Kitchen (new) |
Local |
| NBC | Blindspot (new) |
Midnight, Texas (new) |
Dateline (new) |
—
| SAT. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 | 11:00 | 11:30 |
| ABC | Great American Baking Show (repeat) |
The Alec Baldwin Show (new) |
News/Local |
| CBS | NCIS (repeat) |
Magnum P.I. (repeat) |
48 Hours (new) |
News/Local |
| FOX | College Football: XXX (live) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Dateline | Dateline | Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
News/Local | Saturday Night Live (Matt Damon & MIley Cyrus) |
—
| SUN. | 6:00 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | America’s Funniest Home Videos (new) |
Dancing with the Stars: Juniors (new) |
Shark Tank (new) |
Shark Tank (repeat) |
| CBS | 60 Minutes (new) |
God Friended Me (new) |
NCIS: Los Angeles (new) |
Madam Secretary (new) |
| The CW | Local | Supergirl (new) |
Charmed (new) |
Local |
| FOX | The Simpsons (repeat) |
Bob’s Burgers (repeat) |
The Simpsons (new) |
Bob’s Burgers (new) |
Family Guy (new) |
Rel (new) |
Local/News |
| NBC | Sunday Night Football: XXX (live) |