Impeachment Corner!
Today’s big news is that the House approved a resolution that authorized and spelled out how the next part of the impeachment inquiry will proceed as it becomes public and comes to our TV screens. The resolution splits the process into two parts: the Intelligence committee will conduct public hearings and then compile a report which they will then hand over to the Judicial Committee who will decide whether or not to recommend articles of impeachment. Public hearings could begin as soon as the week of November 11, so clear your TV schedules and buy snacks.
You’ll be surprised, I’m sure, to learn that the Republicans, who have been calling for this very thing, opposed the resolution because reasons. You’ll also be surprised to learn that President Tantrum tweeted that this is the “Greatest Witch Hunt in American History.” And Happy Halloween to you, too, asshole.
Also happening today, Tim Morrison, the former top Russia expert for the National Security Council — former, because he just resigned yesterday — he is testifying today. As of right now, no one knows what he’s going to say. But it can’t be good news for the administration that he’s reportedly been considering resigning for a while.
But the big news from yesterday is that the Democrats have asked John Bolton to testify, and he’s not saying no. He’s not saying yes, exactly, but instead through his lawyer, he said he will need to be subpoenaed. Meanwhile, as I write this, one of Bolton’s lawyer’s other clients, Charles Kupperman, is in court right now waiting to hear whether he needs to cooperate with Congress or do what the White House is telling him (to not testify, but instead hide in a cupboard). This case is hugely important as it might force other people, like former White House Counsel Don McGahn, to testify, too. FINGERS CROSSED, GUYS.
Elsewhere, some Senate Democrats are demanding information on why the administration delayed restoring Ukraine’s trading privileges this summer. OH, I THINK WE KNOW.
Meanwhile, this mouth-breather over here:
Actually just said by Donald Trump Jr: "I wish my name was Hunter Biden. I could go abroad and make millions off my father's presidency. I'd be a really rich guy" pic.twitter.com/9ohFDbwJn4
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) October 31, 2019
This doesn’t have anything to do with impeachment, exactly, and it’s old, but I keep forgetting to include it. ANYWAY, WATCH THIS, IT’S BRILLIANT:
Other TV News
More Game of Thrones shit. George R.R. Martin chimed in on the House of the Dragon news, giving some background information (and noting that a writers room hasn’t even been assembled, much less a cast) and adding that while he would love to write a script or eleven, he promised he would not write anything until Winds of Winter is done. So, either he’s never writing a script for this new show or he’s closer to finishing The Winds of Winter than we realized.
LOL, obviously it’s the former.
Martin also claims that the decision to not move forward with The Long Night had nothing to do with the order of House of the Dragon, but color me suspicious. While I take his point about there being multiple CSIs on the air at the same time, HBO and CBS are two very different animals and I suspect they believe there’s only so much room in the fantasy marketplace.
You hurt Benioff and Weiss’ feelings and that’s why you’re not getting their Star Wars. (But also, too, it’s a bit of what I suspected: their Netflix deal did not make them any friends at Disney/Lucasfilm.) Oh, also according to Variety, the films Benioff and Weiss were going to make were going to be about the origins of the Jedi. OH WELL. NOW WE’LL NEVER KNOW.
We are never (well, probably never — though TV has changed so much so who even knows) going to move away from commercial breaks in the middle of broadcast shows, but there is an argument to be made here that not having your episodes interrupted makes for better storytelling.
The Daytime Emmys are making some changes, including merging the Young Performers category into one, instead of being divided by gender. They are also making it clear that for the other acting categories, performers are welcome to enter the one that they feel best fits their gender identity. It’s an interesting change, and it makes me think that it won’t be long before we stop segregating all the acting categories. We don’t have best female director or outstanding male writer categories … and what I’m saying is that there’s an argument to be made we shouldn’t do it for actors, either.
Lori Loughlin and her family are SO SAD they didn’t take a plea deal. TOO BAD, SO SAD.
In Development
- A Jeffrey Epstein limited series from Adam McKay has been set at HBO.
- Big Shot, a dramedy from David E. Kelly starring John Stamos has been ordered at Disney+.
- Reasonable Doubt, a legal drama, has been bought by ABC.
- A League of Their Own, a British game show, not the movie, is going to be remade at CBS.
- Skrrt with Offset has been set at Quibi.
- A series about Benjamin Netanyahu’s life is being developed.
Casting News
- Andrew Garfield is going to star in Lin-Manuel’s tick … tick … BOOM! on Netflix.
- Will Arnett is going to host LEGO Masters on Fox.
- Patton Oswalt has a secret role on The Boys in season 2.
- Joshua Malina will guest star on Perfect Harmony on NBC.
- Monica Raymund is returning to Chicago Fire on NBC.
- Marianly Tejada, Cooper van Grootel, Annalisa Cochrane, Chibuikem Uche, Jessica McLeod, Barrett Carnahan, and Melissa Collazo have been cast in One of Us on Peacock.
Mark Your Calendars
- Kristen Stewart will host Saturday Night Live this weekend.
- The Witcher will premiere on Netflix on December 20. It looks like A LOT.
- Forky Asks a Question will premiere on Disney+ on November 12.
- V Wars will premiere on Netflix on December 5.
- High Fidelity will premiere on Hulu on February 14.
- Moonshiners returns on Discovery Channel on November 19.
- Unearthed returns on Science Channel on November 3.
R.I.P.
Bernard Slade, Creator of The Partridge Family and writer on Bewitched and The Flying Nun among others
WATCH THIS
Ghost Adventures: Zak and his team of dummies investigate a Rhode Island farm. 8 p.m., Travel
Mysteries Decoded: A look at New Orleans’ vampire scene. As I’ve said here once or a thousand times, I lived in New Orleans for a while, and highly recommend taking a vampire tour next time you’re in town. They are interesting and occasionally unintentionally hilarious. 8 p.m., The CW
The 13 Scariest Movies of All Time: The scariest movie I’ve seen in recent years is Hereditary. I am going to assume Hereditary is not on this list. 7 p.m., The CW
Hereditary: It’s Halloween. So I’m going to watch Hereditary. Amazon Prime
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Kristen Stewart, Gaten Matarazzo, Pete Lee
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Timothée Chalamet, Cynthia Erivo, Miranda Lambert
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Rob Corddry
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: Jason Momoa, Alfre Woodard, Hollywood Vampires
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Antonio Banderas, Natalia Reyes, Big Boi, Sleepy Brown & CeeLo Green
- The Daily Show: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chelsea Clinton
- Conan: Ewan McGregor
- Lights Out with David Spade: Tony Hale, Fortune Feimster
- Watch What Happens Live: Bear Grylls, Nick Lachey
| THUR | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Grey’s Anatomy (new) |
A Million Little Things (new) |
How to Get Away With Murder (new) |
| CBS | Young Sheldon (repeat) |
The Unicorn (repeat) |
Young Sheldon (repeat) |
The Unicorn (repeat) |
Evil (repeat) |
| CW | The 13 Scariest Movies of All Time (new) |
Mysteries Decoded (new) |
News/Local |
| FOX | Thursday Night Football (live) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Super-store (new) |
Perfect Harmony (new) |
The Good Place (new) |
Will & Grace (new) |
Law & Order: SVU (new) |
100% in on The Witcher.