Emilia Clarke has written a very personal and revealing essay in The New Yorker about how she suffered two brain aneurysms during the filming of the first two seasons of Game of Thrones, had several brain surgeries and very nearly died. It’s a powerful and terrifying account but Clarke feels with the end of the series it is time to come forward with it. She is also trying to bring attention to SameYou, a charity that provides treatment to people who have suffered brain injury and strokes. In the wake of the untimely death of Luke Perry, this essay seems more important than ever.
It’s impressive that she and the show were able to keep this story so quiet and it brings new meaning to this 2015 interview with Benioff and Weiss that Entertainment Weekly only published recently where they were contemplating the end of the series:
This was a unique point in the show’s history. Benioff and Weiss were still a couple of seasons away from being finished, but were now beginning to seriously think about the end. They’d decided the fates of every major character. Sometimes they gave actors cryptic suggestions when filming certain scenes, with those final episodes in mind. The actor didn’t know why they were doing something a certain way, only that it was somehow important. After Thrones is finished, fans will look back and see subtle hints that were dropped.
There were some fears, too. In addition to the usual writer worries (can we get it right?), a private concern at the time was that one of the show’s major cast members would quit or fall victim to some random tragic circumstance. The cast was getting so popular, and there were so many members who were absolutely essential. “If something had happened to them, or if they decided not to do it anymore, to make movies, we would be screwed,” Benioff said later.
😳
Cersei celebrated her fellow queen:
Stay well, Emilia!
Update on that Iron Throne contest: two have been found. Two more have been revelaed:
So if you’re in Spain right now …
We are already in season finale season. I have started a gallery here with the dates when your favorite network shows will end for the season — or forever. We still have to hear from NBC, Fox and more of ABC.
The Parks and Recreation revival that you actually do want is almost certainly never going to happen. The thing is, a Parks and Rec/Veep mashup in which all the characters are working in a Knope White House is what I need in my life right now.
President Fox News called Fox News “Fake news, every once and a while,” in an interview with Maria Bartiromo when she had the audacity to ask him questions about John McCain and suggest that he was not doing anyone any favors when he kept bringing the senator up in such disparaging ways:
“I didn’t mention John McCain until you asked me a question about John McCain,” a visibly annoyed Trump said in an interview broadcast on Friday. “I could say I have no comment but that’s not me. But you shouldn’t have brought it up. Actually, I thought you weren’t suppose to bring it up but that’s OK. Fake news, every once and a while.”
“It’s not fake news,” Bartiromo pushed back. “You just told me why you have an issue with him. It’s real news.”
So Fox News is “fake news” when they ask him a question he doesn’t want to answer? Well, that’s clarifying.
Bartiromo claims that despite this asshole saying, “I thought you weren’t suppose to bring it up,” there were no stipulations or conditions on the interview. So either she and Fox News are lying or he went into this interview expecting Fox News to not ask him questions he didn’t like which is entirely more likely.
Speaking of Fox News, President Pacifier’s favorite screaming lady is not going to be on tomorrow night.
Tucker Carlson is back, but a full 35% of the advertisers on his show now are from in-house. In December, that number was 3.7%. That’s not a good look.
Oh, so now Roseanne Barr is blaming Sarah Gilbert for Roseanne being a racist conspiracy theory promoter? Sure, why not.
“Michael Sheen Didn’t Actually Name His Penis After Christine Baranski” is the kind of headline that just sets you up for tremendous disappointment.
The Conan archives will launch on Monday.
Shaquille O’Neal is going to save Papa John’s. I don’t know if this has anything to do with television, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
A lovely tribute to Charo during a very sad time in her life.
Time’s Up
Michael Jackson will remain in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Super.
Jenny Lewis has opened up a little about the whole Ryan Adams mess. He worked on her most recent album.
From Last Week:
James Gunn has been rehired to direct Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3. He had been removed from the film after some right-wing trolls dug up some old tweets in which he made inappropriate rape and pedophilia jokes. Gunn apologized fulsomely (unlike some people ~cough~ KevinHart ~cough~) and many in the cast and crew called for his reinstatement.
Former Disney star Kyle Massey has been sued for sexual misconduct with a minor.
Ted Rath, a L.A. Rams coach (famous for his job of restraining head coach Sean McVay) has been charged with sexual battery.
Renewals
- The Conners has officially been renewed at ABC for a second season to no one’s surprise.
Cancellations
From Last Week:
- The Innocents has been canceled at Netflix after one season.
In Development
- Below Deck Sailing Vessel is being developed at Bravo.
- A series based on The Talented Mr. Ripley is being shopped around.
- The Colton Malone book series is being developed as a possible TV series.
- Beth Schwartz has signed an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.
Casting News
- Sam Strike, Roland Deschain, and Jasper Pääkkönen have been cast in The Dark Tower pilot at Amazon.
- Steven Weber is going to star in Uninsured, a comedy pilot at NBC.
- Nicole Richie has been cast in the Richard Lovely pilot at Fox. Asif Ali is also joining the cast.
- Nick Thune will join the Heart of Life pilot at ABC.
- Denny Love, Jay Lee, Landry Bender, Sofia Vassilieva, Uriah Shelton, and Jordan Connorhave joined the cast of Looking for Alaska at Hulu.
- Joe Cortese is your new Roger Stone in The Loudest Voice at Showtime. Josh Charles will play Casey Close, Gretchen Carlson’s husband.
- Mark Steines will host Animal ER Live on Hallmark.
- Drea Kelly, T-Boz, Waka Flocka and Tammy Rivera are joining Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta.
- Pepe Rapazote and Alimi Ballard are going to join Queen Sugar on OWN.
- Beth Riesgraf, Jeffery Self, and Linda Park have been cast in Fox’s pilot Lovestruck.
- Matt Cohen is leaving General Hospital.
From last week:
- Joe Tippett and Alex Neustaedter have been cast in Prism.
Mark Your Calendar
- Deadwood: The Movie will air on HBO on May 31.
- Godfather of Harlem will debut on Epix sometime later this year:
- Kevin Hart: Irresponsible will debut on Netflix on April 2.
- The Politician, Ryan Murphy’s first Netflix series, is going to premiere on September 27.
- Yellowstone will return on Paramount Network on June 19.
- The New Negroes with Baron Vaughn and Open Mike Eagle will debut on Comedy Central April 19.
- Inside Mighty Machines premieres on Smithsonian on April 28.
- Egypt’s Unexplained Files will debut on Science Channel on April 14.
ABC announced a few season finale dates:
- Splitting Up Together will air on Tuesday, April 9.
- Fresh Off the Boat and Speechless will air on Friday, April 12.
From Last Week:
- The Legend of Cocaine Island will premiere on Netflix on March 29.
R.I.P.
Eunetta Boone, Showrunner of Raven’s Home, and producer of a number of series, including Living Single, Lush Life and The Hughleys.
Buddy Morra, Talent manager of comedy greats including Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, David Letterman, Martin Mull, Martin Short, and Dana Carvey.
From Last Week:
Al Silverman, Writer of Brian’s Song
Jake Phelps, Editor of Thrasher magazine and legendary skateboarder
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
The OA: THE CRAZIEST SHOW IN NETFLIX HISTORY IS BACK YOU GUYS PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB ME THIS WEEKEND. Season premiere. Netflix
The Dirt: I was never a Mötley Crüe fan, but I was alive when all … this happened, so hell yeah, I’m going to watch this nonsense. Netflix
Mirage: Don’t go fucking around with the time/space continuum, y’all. Netflix
SATURDAY
The Meg: Story time: When I worked in book publishing some twenty years ago, our publisher bought the novel this movie is based on and he was SO EXCITED, convinced it was going to be the next Jaws. It was not the next Jaws. 7 p.m., HBO
Funny Women of a Certain Age: LET’S LEAVE AGE OUT OF IT, SHALL WE. 8 p.m., Showtime
SUNDAY
Into the Badlands: The third and final season of this crazyass show. Series premiere. 9 p.m., AMC
Action: A look at professional gamblers and bookmakers during the 2018 football season. Series premiere. 7 p.m., Showtime
King Charles III: LOL, As if Queen Elizabeth is ever going to die. 8 p.m., PBS
The Walking Dead: “The Calm Before.” Well, that’s ominous. 8 p.m., AMC
Late Night:
- The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (Friday): Norman Reedus, Ilana Glazer, Mikaela Shiffrin, James Veitch
- Watch What Happens Live (Sunday): Kim Zolciak-Biermann, Jonathan Van Ness
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Fresh Off the Boat (new) |
Speechless (new) |
20/20 (new) |
| CBS | NCAA Basketball (live) |
| CW | Dynasty (new) |
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Last Man Standing (new) |
The Cool Kids (new) |
Proven Innocent (new) |
Local |
| NBC | Blindspot (new) |
The Blacklist (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 | American Idol (repeat) |
20/20 | News/Local |
| CBS | NCAA Basketball (live) |
News/Local |
| FOX | MasterChef Junior (repeat) |
9-1-1 (repeat) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Figure Skating (live) |
Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
News/Local | Saturday Night Live (Halsey) |
—
| SUN. | 6:00 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | America’s Funniest Home Videos (repeat) |
American Idol (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) |
Family Guy (repeat) |
Local/News |
| NBC | Ellen’s Game of Games (repeat) |
World of Dance (new) |
Good Girls (new) |
Cotton Malone. Colton has poisoned your brain.
Ugh. You’re correct. Thanks.
-T
What’s a friend for?