What you need to know before you watch the Watchmen.

by Therese Odell, posted in watch this

Watchmen debuts this Sunday, you guys, and I have been WOUND UP about this series since it was announced a couple of years ago. The reviews are coming in, and they’re pretty uniformly positive, the show is being called “great” and “necessary”, “thrilling … funny … inventive and surprising,”  and “breathtaking, ambitious television.”

From what I understand, you don’t have to be a The Watchmen superfan — or even have any real experience with the graphic novel — to be able to follow the series. But in case you’re curious, Vulture has a short history of the Watchmen universe. And The New York Times has a quick breakdown of the Watchmen universe. If you’re looking for a deeper or more specific dive, you can also do what I do with most shows I write about and consult the fan wiki. General rule: the nerdier the show, the more comprehensive the fan wiki.

American Horror Story: 1984 is going to only be 9 episodes long, making it the shortest season yet. And I’m not caught up, but from what I’ve been reading, it’s probably for the best.

Jeff Zucker is trying to woo Stephanie Ruhle away from MSNBC (and frankly, I don’t blame him, she’s a smarty pants).

Impeachment Corner!

Me after the past 48 hours:

rhonj teresa exhausted done

Just a quick couple of notes:

As I mentioned yesterday, Mick Mulvaney went and said the quiet parts out loud IN A PRESS BRIEFING, insisting that yeah, the White House did a quid pro quo with the military aid to Ukraine, of course, they did and “GET USED TO IT.” Immediately, Republicans FREAKED OUT, and so Mulvaney went back and said that actually, he had his fingers crossed when he said that and also, too, it was Opposite Day and plus it’s the FAKE NEWS’ fault anyway.

sure-right-ok-nick-kroll-whatever-you-say

Whatever. His comments have Republicans in a bind and it’s hilarious.

One of our Three Amigos, Rick Perry, has again announced he is resigning and he’s for serious this time. He’s also not saying whether he’s going to hand over Energy Department documents Congress has subpoenaed that are related to the Ukraine inquiry. They’re due today. The White House also is supposed to turn over documents today but that just ain’t gonna happen.

Meanwhile, the news isn’t all great for the other side, or at least for Biden. One of the diplomats who testified this week, George Kent, said that he tried to raise alarms about Hunter Biden being on that Ukrainian gas board back in 2015, but Biden’s office told him to fuck off because Joe Biden was dealing with his other son, Beau’s, battle with cancer.

The Washington Post has a good story about how after this week’s depositions, it’s becoming REALLY FUCKING CLEAR that President Brain Worm is the one who orchestrated this whole Ukraine mess.

And that, at least since two minutes ago when I last checked Twitter, is the latest in the impeachment foofoorah. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go lie down in a dark room for the next three days.

Time’s Up

Kurt Sutter, the creator and showrunner of Sons of Anarchy and Mayans MC has been fired from FX for — in his words — being “an abrasive dick.”

This morning I was fired by Dana Walden and John Landgraf for all the complaints levied against me. Not the way I wanted to end my 18 year relationship with FX. At least being fired for being an abrasive dick is on brand.

I deeply apologize if I’ve made people feel less than or unsupported. My intention was literally the opposite. But clearly I’ve not been paying attention. My arrogance and chronic distraction has created wreckage. Just know, I adore this cast and crew.

BUT THEN, in a different letter, Sutter took a completely different tone, a much more pissed-off tone:

Disney letting me go today was apparently based on data collected by HR and Business Affairs from writers, producers, cast and crew. They claim the intel suggests that I created a climate of hostility, favoritism and enabled a set where no one felt safe or appreciated. I know that’s not true. I’m not saying it was all sunshine and roses, but I’m close with most of those guys and they love going to work. I’m also not sure how, having been on set… maybe three times all season, I was able to singularly create that much damage.

So who knows.

emmy shrug che jost snl

 

Gretchen Carlson, Greta Van Susteren, Megyn Kelly are among women who signed a letter calling on Comcast to conduct an investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct and cover-up at NBC News. However, NBC will not be launching an independent (or any other kind of) investigation because Andy Lack and Noah Oppenheim must be protected at all costs.

Renewals

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendar

  • Dollface will debut on Hulu on November 15.
  • American Son will premiere on Netflix on November 1.
  • The Outsider will debut on HBO on January 12.
  • The Sinner returns on USA in 2020.
  • Atypical will return on Netflix on November 1.
  • Marriage Story will debut on Netflix and in theaters on November 6.

R.I.P.

Bill Macy, Actor

WATCH THIS

FRIDAY

Wounds: Armie Hammer, Zazie Beetz, and Dakota Johnson star in this demonic horror film that features lots of cockroaches for some reason. Hulu

Looking for Alaska: A tragedy makes a young man and his friends question a tragedy they’ve all suffered. Based on the John Green novel of the same name. Series premiere. Hulu

Modern Love: This anthology series is based on the New York Times column and stars everyone from Anne Hathaway to Tina Fey to John Slattery. Series premiere. Amazon

Tell Me Who I Am: In this documentary, a man loses his memory after an accident and his twin brother helps him piece together his past. Except! it’s all LIES. Netflix

The Laundromat: Meryl Streep is a woman who gets swindled by Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas and everyone seems to be having a very good time.
Netflix

SATURDAY

Patsy & Loretta: The true story of the friendship between Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn as portrayed by women who look nothing like them. 7 p.m., Lifetime

Glass: THE TRILOGY IS COMPLETE. 7 p.m., HBO

SUNDAY

Watchmen: Regina King plays a badass vigilante taking down white supremacists while living in The Watchmen universe. Series premiere. 8 p.m., HBO

Halloween marathon: Just a whole bunch of Halloween movies, including the most recent. Begins 7:45 a.m., IFC

The Simpsons: “Treehouse of Horror XXX”! 7 p.m., Fox

Late Night:

  • Watch What Happens Live (Sunday): Dr. Jackie Walters, Iyanla Vanzant

 

FRI. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC American Housewife
(repeat)		 Fresh Off the Boat
(repeat)		 20/20
(new)
CBS Hawaii Five-0
(new)		 Magnum P.I.
(new)		 Blue Bloods
(new)
CW Charmed
(new)		 Dynasty
(new)		 Local
FOX Friday Night Smackdown
(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 College Football
(live)		 News/Local
CBS Bob Hearts Abishola
(repeat)		 Bob Hearts Abishola
(repeat)		 FBI
(repeat)		 48 Hours
(new)		 News/Local
FOX The Masked Singer
(repeat)		 The Masked Singer
(repeat)		 News/Local
NBC Jurassic World 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
(new)		 Kids Say the Darndest Things
(new)		 Shark Tank
(new)		 The Rookie
(new)
CBS 60 Minutes
(new)		 God Friended Me
(new)		 NCIS: Los Angeles
(new)		 Madam Secretary
(new)
The CW Local Batwoman
(new)		 Supergirl
(new)		 Local
FOX The OT The Simpsons
(new)		 Bless the Harts
(new)		 Bob’s Burgers
(new)		 Family Guy
(new)		 Local/News
NBC Sunday Night Football
(live)

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