So Liam Neeson managed to open quite the can of worms. While on a promotional tour for his new revenge movie, Cold Pursuit, Neeson told a story to the London paper The Independent about how after a woman close to him told him she had been raped by a black man, he went looking for a random black man to attack. He said he never did find anyone and gave up after about a week, adding, “It’s awful, but I did learn a lesson from it. When I eventually thought, ‘what the f— are you doing?’ I understand that need for revenge. But it just leads to more revenge and more killing, and more killing.”
This morning he appeared on Good Morning America to say he’s “not a racist.” But Robin Roberts wasn’t having it, saying, “This isn’t a gotcha — so I will give you credit there. But also having to acknowledge the hurt, even though it happened decades ago, the hurt of an innocent black man, knowing he could’ve been killed for something that he did not do because of the color of his skin.”
Look, I think Liam Neeson thought he was telling this story in good faith and just being honest and that maybe should be rewarded? I guess? for acknowledging these dark feelings? as a way to justify starring in violent movies so that people can live out their own revenge fantasies vicariously through fictional characters? But, at the same time, dude needs to do some long, hard thinking about what this story says in general about his own internalized racism and maybe not expect a fucking pat on the back for ultimately not harming some innocent person. Also, too, will someone tell me again how the Jussie Smollett story is hard to take at face value? THANKS.
FX had their turn at the Television Critics Association and made a whole bunch of news. First of all, FX head John Landgraf, who always has lots of thoughts about the current state of television, thinks Netflix’s ratings are bullshit.
“Many Silicon Valley companies have long used various metrics used on video views or video start-ups, which inflates their views and is not remotely accurate representation of a long-form program’s performance,” Landgraf said, arguing that the average audience measurement is “the methodology that best represents an apples to apples comparison of viewership — not just how many people are watching but how many people watch, how often, and for how long.”
Netflix counted each view based on when an account watched at least 70 percent of one episode. So, per Landgraf, the 40 million accounts that have viewed “You” equates to a much smaller audience who’ve kept watching. “Really, it’s an average audience of 8 million viewers,” Landgraf said, “which is very good” but doesn’t equate to the No. 1 show in America — as an apples to apples comparison of Netflix’s report with traditional metrics would indicate.
“An average audience of 40 million would not only make ‘You’ and ‘Sex Education’ the two most-watched shows on television, it would give Netflix two original series hits to join their one true breakout, which is ‘Stranger Things,’” Landgraf said. “But 40 million people are not watching each episode of ‘You’ or ‘Sex Education.’”
In disappointing news for yours truly, Atlanta’s season three probably won’t air until sometime in 2020 and DEFINITELY will not be eligible for the 2019 Emmys (not that they would be adequately represented or rewarded there ANYWAY.) The writers are writing, but since shows have to air before May 2019 to be eligible for consideration at the Emmys, it’s just not going to happen.
Legion is going to end of FX after three seasons. But the door is open for a movie possibly in the future. Also, Harry Lloyd and Gabrielle Haller are joining Legion as David’s parents. (Which means Viserys Targaryen = Professor X, for all you nerds out there.)
Fargo’s fourth season is going into production this winter. What we know about it: It’s set in Kansas City in 1950, and Chris Rock will star as the head of a crime family, and I can’t wait as the three previous seasons have been some of the most interesting and imaginative crime stories on television.
American Crime Story won’t be doing a season about Hurricane Katrina after all, which is not entirely surprising as it wasn’t … a crime, exactly? The head of FX says that they anticipate more seasons of American Crime Story, but declined to say what they would be about. Also, they anticipate more American Horror Story. We’ll see — but I suspect it depends on just how tied up Ryan Murphy gets with his Netflix series.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia might live forever. We can certainly hope.
Y has been given a series order at FX, and people are really excited.
Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi want to make a What We Do in the Shadows werewolf spinoff series (would watch) and already would have if stupid Thor: Ragnarok hadn’t gotten in the way. Speaking of Taika Waititi and his multiple projects, he says The Mandalorian series on Disney+ will be more in tone with the original Star Wars trilogy.
In non-FX news, the Game of Thrones prequel will begin filming in early summer. ARE YOU EXCITED BECAUSE I AM EXCITED EVEN THOUGH WE WILL NOT SEE ANY OF THIS BEFORE 2020 AT THE VERY EARLIEST, PROBABLY NOT UNTIL 2021 IF WE’RE BEING HONEST.
Netflix made a video removing Joe’s narration in YOU and yeah, he’s a creepy-ass stalker, Beck.
Happy 50th anniversary, Sesame Street! I, like millions and millions of American children who grew up with you, owe you a tremendous debt.
John Oliver is coming back not this week, but next, and there’s only one story that broke during the hiatus that he regrets not covering: the monstrous British family who terrorized the country of New Zealand. If you haven’t read this story already, do yourself a favor and cut five minutes out of your day to enjoy because it is truly something else. Stealing Christmas trees and rope, putting ants and hair into food at restaurants so that they wouldn’t have to pay, littering, leaving a shit-filled onesie on a plane, a finger-flipping nine-year-old, it’s all here and it is hilarious.
Hey! Tucker Carlson is still shedding advertisers, so that’s good. Speaking of, my new favorite Twitter follow is No Context Fox News. Please enjoy some Tucker highlights:
CONGRATULATIONS, ANDY COHEN! This is such a beautiful photo.
Renewals
- The Walking Dead has been renewed for season 10 on AMC.
- New Amsterdam has been given a second season on NBC.
- grown-ish has been renewed at Freeform.
- Good Trouble has been renewed at Freeform.
- Light as a Feather has been renewed at Hulu.
- Love It or List It has been renewed at HGTV.
In Development
- Party of Five has been given a series order at Freeform.
- Katy Keene, a Riverdale spinoff, has been given a pilot order at The CW, and Ashleigh Murray, Josie on Riverdale, is set to star.
- Oh geez, Netflix and Goop are making a show together.
- Nana, a comedy starring Katey Sagal and an untitled family comedy starring Leslie Odom Jr. have been given pilot orders at ABC.
- Dirty Thirty, a cop drama from the creator of Power, is being developed at HBO.
- Say Yes to the Dress America has been given the green light at TLC.
- The Ted Bundy movie, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, is coming to Netflix.
- Sea of Shadows, a documentary produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, has been bought by Nat Geo.
- Netflix and Nickelodeon are collaborating for Loud House and TMNT movies.
- Reasons To Stay Alive is being turned into a dramedy for UKTV by the producers of Fleabag.
- The Hair musical is no longer going to happen on NBC. They say it might happen later, but come on.
- Shōgun’s production has been delayed at FX.
- Michael B. Jordan’s production company has signed a first-look deal with Amazon.
Casting News
- Rosanna Arquette is joining Ryan Murphy’s Ratched on Netflix in no small part because she spoke out against Harvey Weinstein:
- Timothy Spall is going to recur in Our Lady, LTD on Starz.
- Jake Austin Walker and Meg DeLacy are joining the cast of Stargirl on DC Universe.
Mark Your Calendars
- O.G. will debut on HBO on February 23.
- When Calls the Heart will return for a sixth season on the Hallmark Channel on February 24.
- I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story will debut on Lifetime on April 20.
WATCH THIS
State of the Union: Can’t wait to hear this fucker try to tell me that the state of the union is anything other than a goddamn dumpster fire. 8 p.m., Everywhere
American Housewife: This is back. Mid-season premiere. 7 p.m., ABC
Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner: A friendly reminder that Ray Romano started off as a stand-up comedian. Netflix
American History X: I’m not saying that IFC playing this movie about neo-Nazis at the same time Trump is giving his State of the Union is shade, I’m just pointing out that this is happening. 8 p.m., IFC
Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Stephen’s doing it live after the State of the Union. 10:30 p.m., CBS
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Priyanka Chopra, Henry Winkler, Lizzo
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Taylor Schilling, Ana Navarro, Tucker Rule
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Live broadcast following the State of the Union
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: Billy Crystal, Sarah Chalke, Buddy
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Will Arnett, Julian Castro, Randy Houser
- The Daily Show: Frank Bruni
- Conan: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sam Morril
- Busy Tonight: Ron Funches
- Watch What Happens Live: “Below Deck” Reunion Show
| TUES. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | American Housewife (new) |
The Kids Are Alright (new) |
State of the Union (live) |
| CBS | The World’s Best (repeat) |
State of the Union (live) |
| CW | The Flash (new) |
Roswell, New Mexico (new) |
Local |
| FOX | The Masked Singer (repeat) |
State of the Union (live) |
| NBC | Ellen’s Game of Games (new) |
State of the Union (live) |