Comicpalooza is happening the weekend of May 10-12 here in Houston and they are going to have some AMAZING guests: most notably EMILIA FREAKING CLARKE, on the weekend Game of Thrones is set to air — according to Khaleesi herself — an episode even “bigger” than “The Long Night,” and one week before the series finale. Clarke will be joined by Nathalie Emmanuel, who plays Daenerys’ faithful companion Missandei. Their panel will be on Saturday at 11 a.m. so keep your eyes peeled for Clarke and Emmanuel on Friday night, Houston!
In addition to that huge Game of Thrones news, Comicpalooza will be hosting a Lost panel featuring Jeremy Davies (Daniel Faraday), Mira Furlan (Danielle Rousseau) and Andrew Divoff (Mikhail Bakunin) — and, more excitingly for me, I’ll be moderating the panel. I KNOW. I’M TERRIFIED. The Lost panel will be on Sunday at 1:30 in Ballroom C, and I hope my Losties will make it!
Other than the terrific Lost and Game of Thrones panels, there will be a bunch of other amazing guests at Comicpalooza: Grant Gustin; John Barrowman; Gates McFadden; Billy Zane; Wilmer Valderrama; and a ton of other actors, voice actors, comic book writers and artists, and authors. It looks to be pretty great, and tickets are still available (including a special Lost pass that gets you into the room early and a line jump for autographs and pictures).
If you can’t make Comicpalooza (or even if you can) but you have questions for the panel, SHARE THEM WITH ME BECAUSE I AM FREAKING OUT. But if you’re at Comicpalooza, please be sure to come say hi to me. I’ll be the one freaking out.
FREAKING OUT. NOW I HAVE TO POST ALL THOSE LOST POSTS OVER HERE, LIKE, YESTERDAY.
In other news, here’s a look at the 10 most likely pilot pickups. We’ll find out the week of May 12. Which is going to be a hellacious week for me. PRAY FOR MY SURVIVAL.
If y’all don’t bring Patton Oswalt in to play Bill Barr, Saturday Night Live, YOU’RE ALL FIRED.
Like the walkers themselves, The Walking Dead is never going to die. AMC is threatening us with 20 more years.
Oh this is VERY interesting: the reason Netflix killed Santa Clarita Diet and One Day at a Time and other shows after three seasons, despite the fact that they are among some of the most streamed series? Maybe it’s because the deals they strike with shows often guarantee the talent more of the backend of the profits once the show hits the fourth season. HMMMM. Basically, showrunners need to keep this in mind when working with Netflix and have a plan to potentially wrap a story within three seasons.
Here is an interview with Craig Mazin, the writer and producer of HBO’s Chernobyl miniseries (debuting on Monday), friend of Benioff and Weiss — and I’m not making this up — Ted Cruz’s freshman college roommate. SPOILER ALERT: he hates Ted Cruz. (You should follow Craig on Twitter, he’s pretty hilarious.)
YouTube had their Upfront yesterday and announced new and returning series (see below), but more interestingly, they announced their programming will be free — with advertising.
Speaking of advertising — there will be fewer ad breaks during next year’s Super Bowl, but those breaks are going to be longer.
Wait, hold up, Rashida Jones wrote the “Nose Dive” episode of Black Mirror? How is this the first I’ve heard of this?
Everyone prefers shorter episodes — unless it’s Game of Thrones we’re talking about. In that case MORE. GIVE ME MORE.
This is just a really weird blind item and I don’t know what to make of it.
Renewals
- black-ish has been renewed at ABC for a sixth season.
- Cobra Kai has been renewed for a third season on YouTube.
- Kevin Hart: What the Fit has been renewed for a third season at YouTube.
In Development
- mixed-ish, a spinoff of black-ish about Bow’s childhood, has been ordered to series by ABC.
- The Gilded Age has moved from NBC to HBO.
- One L is being developed at Freeform.
- Has The CW officially ordered the Batwoman series? Probably! Most likely!
- Most Dangerous Game is in development at Netflix.
- Warm Bodies is being adapted into a series.
- The Infiltrators is being adapted into a scripted series.
- YouTube announced a slate of docuseries and specials. They are not very interesting, frankly.
- Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire is being made for Shudder.
- Dan Fogelman has signed an overall deal with 20th Century Fox.
- Raven Metzner has signed an overall deal with ABC.
- The Fox pilot Adam & Eve is not going forward.
Casting News
- Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil are going to be Gayle King’s co-hosts on CBS This Morning.
- Jeff Tweedy is going to appear in Curb Your Enthusiasm next season.
- Betty Gilpin, Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor, RonReaco Lee, and Terrence Little Gardenhigh are joining the Netflix film, Coffee & Kareem.
- Charles Esten, Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Rudy Pankow, Austin North, and Drew Starkey have been cast in Netflix’s YA series Outer Banks.
- Kenan Thompson claims he’s not leaving Saturday Night Live, even with his new sitcom in the works — so that’s good news.
Mark Your Calendar
- The Righteous Gemstones will debut on HBO in August. YES TO THIS.
- Jett is going to debut on Cinemax in June.
- Vida will return on Starz on May 23.
- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns on ABC on May 10.
- Sweetbitter will return on Starz this summer.
- Press Your Luck is going to debut on ABC on June 12, and Elizabeth Banks is going to be your host.
- Legion will return for its final season on FX on June 24.
- Baskets will return on FX on June 13.
- Snowfall returns on FX on June 10.
- 30 on 30: Qualified will air on ESPN on May 28.
- Marriage Rescue will premiere on Paramount Network on June 3.
R.I.P.
Peter Mayhew, Chewbacca.
“Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed of great dignity and noble character. These aspects of his own personality, plus his wit and grace, he brought to Chewbacca. We were partners in film and friends in life for over 30 years and I loved him. He invested his soul in the character and brought great pleasure to the Star Wars audience.
Chewbacca was an important part of the success of the films we made together. He knew how important the fans of the franchise were to its continued success and he was devoted to them. I and millions of others will never forget Peter and what he gave us all. My thoughts are with his dear wife Angie and his children. Rest easy, my dear friend…. ” — Harrison Ford
“Peter was a wonderful man. He was the closest any human being could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle nature…and I learned to always let him win. He was a good friend and I’m saddened by his passing.” — George Lucas
John Llewellyn, British director
Gary Lang, Emmy-winning sports producer
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
Dead to Me: You had me at Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. Series premiere. Netflix
Tuca & Bertie: You had me at Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish. Series premiere. Netflix
Flinch: This Fear Factor rip-off might be for some people, but it ain’t for me. Series premiere. Netflix
At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal: Prepare to be infuriated. 7 p.m., USA
SATURDAY
Kentucky Derby: Dust out your hat and break out the bourbon. 12:30 p.m., NBC
Saturday Night Live: Adam Sandler returns to SNL to host for the first time. 10:30 p.m., NBC
Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact: A look at what has happened since Lifetime aired this game-changing documentary. 9 p.m., Lifetime
SUNDAY
The Spanish Princess: A look at Catherine of Aragon, the woman who would change the world through an unhappy marriage. Series premiere. 7 p.m., Starz
World of Dance: A winner is chosen! Season finale. 7 p.m., NBC
Game of Thrones: Uh … ok. Now what? 8 p.m., HBO
Late Night:
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: (Friday): Craig Ferguson, Ronda Rousey
- Watch What Happens Live (Sunday): Gizelle Bryant, Kristin Chenoweth
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Screentime: Diane Sawyer Reporting (new) |
20/20 (new) |
| CBS | MacGyver (new) |
Hawaii Five-0 (new) |
Blue Bloods (new) |
| CW | Dynasty (new) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | Last Man Standing (new) |
The Cool Kids (new) |
Proven Innocent (new) |
Local |
| NBC | 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 | NBA Basketball (live) |
News/Local |
| CBS | Million Dollar Mile (new) |
Ransom (new) |
48 Hours (new) |
News/Local |
| FOX | MasterChef Junior (repeat) |
911 (repeat) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Kentucky Derby(live) | Stanley Cup Playoffs(live) | Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
News/Local | Saturday Night Live (Adam Sandler & Shawn Mendes) |
—
| SUN. | 6:00 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | America’s Funniest Home Videos (new) |
American Idol (new) |
Shark Tank (new) |
| CBS | 60 Minutes (new) |
The Red Line (new) |
NCIS: Los Angeles (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) |