WAIT … WAIT … WAIT … WAIT.
The Lube Guy scene in Watchmen — you know, the one where Angela chases a guy in a silver suit until he covers himself in some sort of liquid before sliding feet first into a storm drain — y’all, that was a PRACTICAL STUNT. IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
From an interview with Regina King:
“It was wild. It was wild just to see the guy do it. I was like, ‘Yo, that’s bananas!’” King enthused. “And it was cold as shit that day. So he’s out there in that polyurethane, whatever it was that he had on, and he did that, and that was amazing. … They built that little drain so that he can slide in it. But yes, that was an actual stunt.”
Nope. My brain rejects this.
You get one guess: What was the most-watched primetime network series of the decade? I will tell you, it’s not what I thought it was.
The Walking Dead stuntman lawsuit has concluded: The family of the stuntman was awarded $8.6 million, but AMC was not found negligent. I don’t know how to square those two things, and my house lawyer isn’t here for me to ask, so.
This is more of a sports story, but it is related to the story above because Dwayne Wade is Gabrielle Union’s husband. ANYWAY, he was on a podcast recently where he was asked about being from the hyper-masculine world of the NBA and raising a gay son. What he had to say made me cry it was so beautiful. He’s a good man, married to a good woman, raising some good kids.
WAIT … AGAIN … The Americans was inspired by a true story? HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS? ~mind continues to be blown~
Pat Sajak opened up about his recent medical emergency and surgery, and noted that Vanna White was nervous about hosting. Aw! She did a great job!
Mob Wives star Drita D’Avanzo and her husband were arrested on drug and gun charges, which is just really surprising for someone on a show called “Mob Wives.”
And this isn’t TV-related, but since my mind has already been blown twice now, what’s one more time? Here’s the year’s best optical illusion (literally):
Time’s Up
CBS, man.
First: another 60 Minutes employee, associate producer Cassandra Vinograd, is suing CBS for retaliating against her when she went to HR after her boss sent her an inappropriate photograph. COME ON, CBS.
Second: The Survivor finale was earlier this week, and during the reunion, contestant Kellee Kim confronted host and producer Jeff Probst about how the show mishandled her allegations against fellow contestant Dan Spilo.
“I think one of the things that has been the hardest was the fact that Dan remained in the game even after I spoke up,” Kim said. “And the reason why is not necessarily the injustice, it’s because I felt that I spoke up, and I was not being supported or believed.”
“To not be supported or believed is really the hardest thing,” she continued.
Probst, to his credit, admitted that by just giving Spilo a warning and keeping him on the show, they made a mistake: “Your voice should have been enough,” Probst said. “And it will be next time.”
CBS and Survivor announced changes to the show and its rules: “A new rule will be implemented stating unwelcome physical contact, sexual harassment and impermissible biases cannot be brought into the competition and will not be permitted as part of gameplay.” Additionally, there will be an on-site producer to handle the reporting and handling of any reported incident.
As for Dan Spilo, he gave an apology to Kim and others via People Magazine:
“I am deeply sorry for how my actions affected Kellee during the taping of this season of Survivor,” Spilo writes in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. “After apologizing at the tribal council when I first learned that Kellee still felt uncomfortable, I want to make sure I do so again, clearly and unambiguously.”
“I truly regret that anyone was made to feel uncomfortable by my behavior,” Spilo continues. “In my life, I have always tried to treat others with decency, integrity and kindness. I can only hope that my actions in the future can help me to make amends and show me to be the kind of father, husband, colleague and friend that I always aim to be.”
We now know why Ruth Wilson left The Affair, and it’s exactly what you thought: she was pressured to do nude scenes she wasn’t comfortable with, she found some of the rapey scenes excessive, and one of the directors who was the worst offender was the primary character in a story that involves him trying to get Lena Dunham to convince Wilson to “show her t–s, or at least some vag[ina]” and a photograph of a naked man’s genitalia. The Hollywood Reporter has the whole story here, and it is a DOOZY. It’s really worth the read. Team Ruth Wilson.
Oh, hey, another woman, Kaja Sokola, a former model, has filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein, for an incident that took place when she was 16 years old. Jesus.
Charlize Theron says that she was sexually harassed by a “very famous director” early in her career, and that she told journalists his name, but none of them ran it in their stories. She says giving up his name now will only overshadow Bombshell, the movie she’s promoting, but that the time will come when she will give it out again. ALRIGHT, JOURNALISTS, WHO IS IT?
Uh, OK.
The outgoing governor of Kentucky is a real piece of work. Adios, asshole.
Really looking forward to hearing how #metoo has “over corrected”
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) December 20, 2019
Outside of how disgusting this comment is, it’s just another reminder of what it means for girls and women to have men who don’t understand anything about our bodies legislating them
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) December 20, 2019
Renewals
- The Family Business has been renewed for a second season at BET.
- Green Eggs and Ham has been renewed at Netflix for a second season.
In Development
- Jerusalem’s Lot, a series based on the Stephen King story starring Adrien Brody, has been given a straight-to-series order at Epix.
- Carrie is being turned into a limited series at FX.
- Housebroken, an animated comedy starring Lisa Kudrow, has been ordered at Fox.
- The Vampire Chronicles is no longer moving forward at Hulu and is now being shopped elsewhere.
- Bad Taste, a restaurant comedy, has been bought by NBC.
- A workplace comedy produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller is in the works at Fox.
- The Midnight Gospel has been ordered at Netflix.
- The Prince, a fashion drama, is in the works at ABC.
- Ali Velshi and Alicia Menendez are getting their own weekend shows on MSNBC.
Casting News
- Sofia Vergara is in talks to join America’s Got Talent as a judge.
- Marisa Tomei is joining the cast of the Netflix film Sweet Girl.
- Olivia Colman will star in Landscapers on HBO.
- Zoe Colletti is joining Fear the Walking Dead.
- Bailey Chase is joining S.W.A.T.
- Jessy Schram will appear on Chicago Med.
- Audry Grace Marshall is joining the cast of The Flight Attendant on HBO Max.
- Myha’la Herrold, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, David Jonsson, Nabhaan Rizwan, Freya Mavor, Will Tudor, Conor Macneill, and Ken Leung have been cast in Industry for HBO and BBC.
- Genneya Walton, Iman Benson, Scarlet Spencer, Justin Clairborne, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, and Richard Gardenhire Jr. have joined the cast of #BlackExcellence on Netflix.
Mark Your Calendar
- Schitt’s Creek returns on Pop on January 7.
- High Fidelty will debut on Hulu on February 14.
- Medical Police will debut on Netflix on January 10.
- Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez will debut on Netflix on January 15.
- Truth and Lies: Jeffrey Epstein will air on ABC on January 9.
- LEGO Masters will debut on Fox on February 5.
- High Maintenance will return on HBO on February 7.
- The Plot Against America will premiere on HBO on March 16.
- FOX’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square will air on Fox on December 31.
- Five Feet Apart will premiere on Showtime on December 30; On the Basis of Sex on January 1; and The Upside on January 4.
- Pet Tales with Greta will debut on Discovery on January 4.
R.I.P.
Claudine Auger, French actress known for Thunderball
Shahdon Winchester, Professional soccer player
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
The Witcher: Henry Cavill stars in this new epic drama about a monster hunter, a powerful sorceress and a princess with a secret. Series premiere. Netflix
The Aeronauts: This film starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones is loosely based on the true story of British aeronauts James Glaisher and Henry Coxwell whose coal-fueled hot air balloon broke the world flight altitude records. Amazon
The Two Popes: Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins star in this fictionalized account of the transfer of power from Pope Benedict to Pope Francis. Netflix
Celebrating Marvel’s Stan Lee: A celebration of Stan Lee’s life and creations. 7 p.m., ABC
Global Citizen Prize: Prizes! For Good-doers! 7 p.m., NBC
Togo: The true story of the Great Race of Mercy, in which sled dog teams raced diphtheria antitoxin serum over 700 miles to save Nome from an epidemic. Also, cute sled dogs. Disney+
For All Mankind: Season finale. Apple TV+
The Morning Show: Season finale. Apple TV+
The Adventures of Paddington: Your favorite Peruvian bear is back. Series premiere. 11:30 a.m., Nickelodeon
SATURDAY
Saturday Night Live: EDDIE MURPHY AND LIZZO. I mean, come on. 10:30 p.m., NBC
Star Wars marathon: I mean, you know what this is. It begins with the three lesser prequels. Rogue One airs at 7, FYI. 9:50 a.m., TNT
Ultimate Hanukkah Challenge: GIMME ALL THE LATKES. 8 p.m., Food Network
SUNDAY
Mr. Robot: Two-part series finale for one of the most groundbreaking shows of the 2000s. 8 p.m., USA
The Price is Right: The cast of SEAL Team join Drew Carey for a “holiday extravaganza.” 7 p.m., CBS
The Year 2019: I mean, it was a year. I’ll say that much for it. 8 p.m., ABC
A Home for the Holidays: Idina Menzel hosts the annual special highlighting foster care and adoption. 8 p.m., CBS
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Friday): Eddie Murphy, Greta Gerwig, Orlando Leyba
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Celebrating Marvel’s Stan Lee (new) |
20/20 (new) |
| CBS | I Love Lucy Christmas Special (new) |
Magnum P.I. (repeat) |
Blue Bloods (repeat) |
| CW | Penn & Teller: Fool Us (repeat) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | Friday Night Smackdown (new) |
Local |
| NBC | Global Citizens Prize (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 | Las Vegas Bowl (live) |
News/Local |
| CBS | Young Shel-don (repeat) |
The Uni-corn (repeat) |
Carol’s Second Act (repeat) |
Bob Hearts Abi-shola (repeat) |
48 Hours (repeat) |
News/Local |
| FOX | PBC Fight Nights (live) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Dateline | Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
News/
Local |
Saturday Night Live (Eddie Murphy & Lizzo) |
—
| SUN. | 6:00 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown | Kids Say the Darndest Things (new) |
The Year 2019 (new) |
| CBS | 60 Minutes (new) |
The Price is Right (new) |
A Home for the Holidays (new) |
NCIS: New Orleans (repeat) |
| The CW | Local | The Christmas Caroler Challenge (new) |
The Christmas Caroler Challenge (new) |
Local |
| FOX | The OT (repeat) |
Last Man Standing (repeat) |
The Simp-sons (repeat) |
Bob’s Burgers (repeat) |
Ice Age: A Mam-moth Christmas Special | Local/News |
| NBC | Sunday Night Football (live) |
The real life people that the Aeronauts were based off of were the first people to ever see the curvature of the earth. The more you know.