“Russia will never celebrate the Chernobyl events as a holiday — and if leaders cannot turn it into a fete of national pride and greatness, then better to forget that it ever happened at all.
Still, an attempt will be made to put an entirely different spin on those events. Russia’s NTV channel has already announced that it is shooting its own ‘Chernobyl’ series based on the premise that the CIA sent an agent to the Chernobyl zone to carry out acts of sabotage.”
This is kinda amazing since the whole point of Chernobyl is how obscuring the truth can be catastrophic — that FACTS MATTER. But, you know, Russia’s gonna Russia. (But also, I would totally watch this version of Chernobyl.)
Watchmen has released another enigmatic teaser. OK, but who is the guy reflected on the mask?
Here are all of the reasons to subscribe to Disney+. The World According to Jeff Goldblum, y’all.
The Game of Thrones coffee cup controversy shall never die.
The Champion Slayers never stick around for long.
Alec Baldwin says he is “so done” playing Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, and that he can’t imagine he’ll do it again. PROMISE? Also, if they don’t have Kenan or Aidy do it (which would piss Trump off so much) they should absolutely either bring Darrell Hammond back or hire Anthony Atamanuik.
Don Lemon receives 300 harassing calls A DAY from Trump supporters. It’s so bad, he doesn’t know if he’ll stay on through 2020. Jesus.
Swamp Thing was canceled after one episode on DC Universe, but why? According to this guy, North Carolina done fucked up and accidentally promised the production a $40 million tax rebate. As the series cost $80 million to make, Warner Brothers thought they had a great deal. When it turned out it was a $14 million rebate, suddenly the economics didn’t make as much sense.
What you didn’t know about Kelly Bundy: she was a virgin. (Can I just reiterate my love for Christina Applegate and insist that you watch Dead to Me this weekend if you haven’t already seen it?)
Billy Porter calls out the double standard when it comes to being a gay actor — that it’s difficult for him to land any role that isn’t explicitly flamboyant, but that straight men are celebrated for playing gay. LISTEN UP: Any production would be BLESSED to have Billy Porter in their cast. Y’all need to hire him.
Lori Loughlin’s legal issues might just be about to get worse as it sounds like USC might be coming after her and her husband. I say this as someone who has just gone through the nightmare that is getting your child into college: there is not enough popcorn in the world.
This is only tangentially related to TV, but Entertainment Weekly is going to become a monthly. Is it going to keep the name?
Cancellations
- Lucifer has been renewed for a fifth and final season at Netflix.
In Development
- Tokyo Vice, a drama starring Ansel Elgort, has been set at the upcoming streamer WarnerMedia.
- Daniel Dae Kim has signed a first look deal with Amazon Studios.
- Larry Teng has signed an overall deal with CBS TV.
Casting News
- Kim Dickens has joined the cast of Briarpatch, a USA crime anthology series.
- Tasha Smith is joining the cast of Good People on Amazon.
Mark Your Calendar
- Share will debut on HBO on July 27.
- Lights Out with David Spade will debut on Comedy Central on July 29.
- Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2019 will debut on August 10. Michael Strahan will host.
R.I.P.
Dr. John, Legendary New Orleans musician. Between this and Leah Chase, it’s been a rough week for my beloved NOLA.
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City: A reboot of the miniseries based on Maupin’s classic novels. Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney are back, along with Ellen Page. Series premiere. Netflix
Designated Survivor: The ABC political drama moves to its new home on Netflix. Season premiere. Netflix
I Am Mother: Hillary Swank stars in this sci-fi thriller about a teenage girl who was raised by a robot, and whose world is rocked when a blood-soaked woman arrives at her door. Netflix
3%: Season premiere. Netflix
The Masters of Illusion: Season premiere. 7 p.m., The CW
The Big Stage: It’s a talent show, I think. Series premiere. 8 p.m., The CW
SATURDAY
A Star is Born: Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sing at each other’s faces. 7 p.m., HBO
Harlan County, USA & Grey Gardens: Brush up on your documentary history with these two classic and important films. 7 p.m., TCM
SUNDAY
Big Little Lies: The bitches are back. Season premiere. 8 p.m., HBO
The 73rd Tony Awards: Broadway prizes. 7 p.m., CBS
Celebrity Family Feud: Season premiere. 7 p.m., ABC
The $100,000 Pyramid: Season premiere. 8 p.m., ABC
To Tell the Truth: Season premiere. 9 p.m., ABC
Claws: Season premiere. 8 p.m., TNT
Ripley’s Believe it or Not!: Bruce Campbell hosts this reboot of the classic series from our childhoods. Series premiere. 8 p.m., Travel
Late Night:
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!: (Friday): Kevin Costner, Tim Robinson, the Lumineers
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: (Friday): Elisabeth Moss, Matt Bomer
- Watch What Happens Live (Sunday): Robin Givens, Robyn Dixon
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | NBA Finals (live) |
| CBS | Whistleblower (new) |
Hawaii Five-0 (repeat) |
Blue Bloods (repeat) |
| CW | Masters of Illusion (new) |
Masters of Illusion (new) |
The Big Stage (new) |
The Big Stage (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Beat Shazam (repeat) |
MasterChef (repeat) |
Local |
| NBC | American Ninja Warrior | Dateline (new) |
—
| SAT. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 | 11:00 | 11:30 |
| ABC | Bayou Bowl (live) |
News/Local |
| CBS | God Friended Me (repeat) |
48 Hours (new) |
48 Hours (new) |
News/Local |
| FOX | MLB Baseball (live) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Songland (repeat) |
Dateline | News/Local | Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
—
| SUN. | 6:00 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | America’s Funniest Home Videos (repeat) |
Celebrity Family Feud (new) |
The $100,000 Pyramid (new) |
To Tell the Truth (new) |
| CBS | 60 Minutes (repeat) |
The Tony Awards (live) |
| The CW | Local | Burden of Truth (repeat) |
Supernatural (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | Last Man Standing (repeat) |
Bob’s Burgers (repeat) |
The Simpsons (repeat) |
Bob’s Burgers (repeat) |
Family Guy (repeat) |
Last Man Standing (repeat) |
Local/News |
| NBC | Stanley Cup (live) |
I think the mask reflection is Jeremy Irons in the yoga-atop-my-desk pose.
Or maybe just Jeremy Irons watching his wall of television screens – which I assume is why the background changes the way it does.
Is there dialog here I’m supposed to be hearing?
Nope. No dialogue, as far as I can tell.
-T