Here’s a bunch of ‘Game of Thrones’ stuff ahead of this weekend’s finale. Are you ready? Because I’m not ready.

Have y’all heard: Game of Thrones ends on Sunday. I KNOW. Here are the only two images we have from the episode:

OK.

But if almost one million people had their way, Sunday’s episode wouldn’t be the series’ last. Some very angry nerds have created a change.org petition demanding that “HBO: Remake Game of Thrones season 8 with competent writers.” It’s a meaningless gesture and some are calling them stupid crybaby brats, but I have to be honest: I get it. I completely understand the impulse.

A New York Times writer who hadn’t previously watched Game of Thrones binged it in five weeks ahead of this season and has some really interesting thoughts not just about the show, but about the nature of TV-viewing in general.

So, you named your daughter Khaleesi …

This is an unsatisfying explanation for why the show got rid of all of its direwolves. BOO. AND GRRRRR.

Apparently, Hodor and the wilding Karsi were originally supposed to be among the army of the dead. This piece seems grateful that the show “chose not to inflict even more pain than usual” on the audience, but I, for one, think an opportunity was missed.

If you haven’t had enough Game of Thrones after Sunday, there’s always the Con of Thrones being held in Nashville the weekend of July 12-14.

Stephen King is the only person happy with this season of Game of Thrones:

Oh, Stephen. No, honey, that’s not the problem.

Here are some of the loose ends we will never get the answers to. I was very convinced Daario was going to have infiltrated the Golden company and turn them against Cersei. In retrospect, that was dumb.

One solution to the Game of Thrones finale problem: make the entire episode about Tormund and Ghost. For it.

Y’all need to be nicer to Maisie Williams.

Here the HBO folks unconvincingly try to claim that everything is going to be JUST FINE once Game of Thrones is over and done with.

Game of Thrones isn’t the only huge show ending this week: Veep had its series finale last Sunday and it was practically perfect. So how did Veep pull it off? Oh, I can tell you how: THEY STAYED TRUE TO THE CHARACTERS. THEY CARED MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS THAN THE PLOT. STILL ANGRY.

And The Big Bang Theory had its series finale last night. No spoilers, but there was a final guest star, a big prize and a twist that some critics felt was unearned, particularly in this political environment. In any event, it went out on top: some 18 million people tuned in last night.

I’m including this link as an excuse to mention The Bachelorette which I am very much going to blog, I’m just off to a super-late start because of these motherfucking dragons.

The Riverdale season finale had pretty much everything except any reference to Luke Perry. Looks like they’re going to address the Fred Andrews thing next season so as to make sure they get it right instead of rushing it.

I do not look forward to the coming streaming wars. Oh, and IFC is launching a new streamer featuring its movies, IFC Films Unlimited.

Steve Kroft is retiring from 60 Minutes after 30 years.

Renewals

  • The Spanish Princess has probably been renewed for a second season at Starz, but there has not been an official announcement yet.

Cancellations

  • The Tick has been canceled after two seasons on Amazon.

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendar

  • South Side will debut on Comedy Central on July 24.
  • Years and Years will debut on HBO on June 24. It looks kinda amazing — and a little too familiar.
  • My Next Guest Needs No Introduction will return on Netflix on May 31.
  • Strange Angel returns on CBS All Access on June 11.

R.I.P.

Grumpy Cat, Cat and internet star

Ashley Massaro, WWE wrestler and Survivor: China contestant

WATCH THIS

FRIDAY

Fleabag: Honestly, I loved the first season of this dark comedy SO MUCH that I almost didn’t want another season of it. However, according to every review I’ve read, this season might even be better than the first. In any event, I CAN’T WAIT. Season premiere. Amazon Prime

Catch-22: George Clooney stars in and produces this satirical take on the war classic. Season premiere. Hulu

Nailed It!: BAD CAKES. Netflix

See You Yesterday: Back to the Future + social justice. Netflix

The Rain: Season two. Netflix

Meghan and Harry Plus One: Hey, did you hear there’s a royal baby? 7 p.m., CBS

The Blacklist: Season finale. 7 p.m., NBC

Hawaii Five-0: Season finale. 9 p.m., CBS

SATURDAY

Note: Here in Houston at 7 p.m., Channel 11, KHOU is running a special on the anniversary of the Santa Fe shooting. Keep those families in your thoughts.

Saturday Night Live: Paul Rudd and DJ Khaled. Season finale. 10:30 p.m., NBC

The Blackcoat’s Daughter: I don’t know what this is even about, just that it stars Emma Roberts and Kiernan Shipka and it’s a horror film and that’s all I kinda need to know? Netflix

Psycho Granny: YEP. HERE FOR IT. 7 p.m., Lifetime

SUNDAY

Game of Thrones: HOW CAN IT BE THE SERIES FINALE ALREADY? I’M NOT READY. 8 p.m., HBO

Barry: I was just having a conversation with someone who asked if I could think of a show that had a great first season and maintained that momentum. There are PLENTY of shows that continued being great, but Barry is a specifically contemporary example of this. Season finale. 9:20 p.m., HBO

American Idol: A winner is chosen. Season finale. 7 p.m., ABC

America’s Funniest Home Videos: Season finale. 6 p.m., ABC

Supergirl: Season finale. 7 p.m., The CW

Charmed: Season finale. 8 p.m., The CW

The Red Line: Season finale 8 p.m., CBS

NCIS: Los Angeles: Season finale. 9 p.m., CBS

Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Friday): Gabrielle Union, DJ Khaled
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: (Friday): Olivia Wilde, Scott Pelley, BTS
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!: (Friday): Ryan Seacrest, Celeste Barber, Slipknot

 

FRI. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
(new)
20/20
(new)
CBS Meghan and Harry Plus One
(new)
CBS Morning News Special: No Exit!
(new)
Hawaii Five-0
(new)
CW Dynasty
(new)
Whose Line is it Anyway?
(repeat)
Whose Line is it Anyway?
(repeat)
Local
FOX Paradise Hotel
(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 American Idol
(repeat)
20/20
(new)
News/Local
CBS Million Dollar Mile
(new)
Ransom
(new)
48 Hours
(new)
News/Local
FOX MLB Baseball
(live)
News/Local
NBC Stanley Cup Playoff
(live)
Saturday Night Live
(repeat)
News/Local Saturday Night Live
(Paul Rudd & DJ Khaled)

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)
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)
Hotel Transylvania Local/News
NBC Ellen’s Game of Games
(repeat)
Dateline
(new)
Good Girls
(new)

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