So back in mid-March, this guy went out to a cabin in the woods for a 75-day silent retreat:
I'm back from 75 days in silence. Did I miss anything?
— Daniel Thorson (@dthorson) May 23, 2020
GO BACK. JUST TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO THAT CABIN, MY MAN.
Because things, they aren’t better. It’s Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday — or would have been if she hadn’t been killed by the police in her own home. Cops are still beating the shit out of protestors and, apparently, old men (warning, this video is really hard to watch):
New Tonight: Disturbing video from @WBFO in Buffalo, NY shows an elderly man walk up to police in riot gear. An officer shoves the man…he falls backwards, hits his head…starts bleeding immediately…motionless.
Why did this happen @BPDAlerts ?
pic.twitter.com/qbTvXAAPLH— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) June 5, 2020
DTLA earlier: "completely unarmed homeless man in a wheelchair that had NOTHING to do with our protest." "They proceeded to inappropriately shoot "non-lethal" rounds directly at his face, which is against the proper procedure for firing rubber bullets." pic.twitter.com/MMdEkutgCx
— Chris Scalzo (@thescalzinator) June 5, 2020
Just found this article about it, seems to be @eriepolice in Erie, PA. A spokesman calls it an "unnecessary use of force" but they have yet to release the name of the officer or any potential repercussions. @CityofEriePA @PAStatePolice#BLUEFALLhttps://t.co/R2kjtv9Dh8
— Jeff Shafer | Anti-fascist 🇺🇸 (@JeffShafer) June 4, 2020
… there are mysterious unmarked military men in Washington D.C. who refuse to identify themselves …
Back outside the White House. Today the perimeter has been pushed back another half block. Federal law enforcement of some kind, but they won’t identify themselves, and all insignias and name plates have been removed. pic.twitter.com/q5dmdMgkLV
— Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) June 3, 2020
… and this fucking moron who is currently occupying the White House just said this:
I had to clip this because it is unbelievable. President @realDonaldTrump just said this: “Hopefully, George is looking down right and saying this is a great thing that’s happening for our country. It’s a great day for him, it’s a great day for everybody.” #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/6CbGoLJrRg
— Vladimir Duthiers (@vladduthiersCBS) June 5, 2020
As you all well know, I am rarely left speechless by this man. But y’all, I have no words.
George Floyd is not having a good day, actually, because he is dead, a victim of systemic racism. Here are photos from his funeral. I am not going to post about the celebrities who attended because it’s not about them.
Every night this week, Late Night with Seth Meyers has handed over the opening of the show to Amber Ruffin who has been sharing her experiences with the cops. It’s worth your time:
OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here? will be hosted by Oprah Winfrey and be broadcast on OWN and all of Discovery’s networks on June 9 and 10.
Riverdale‘s creator and producer has responded to Vanessa Morgan calling out the show’s lack of diversity.
#hearvanessamorgan @BLMLA #riverdale ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gnlI8Dh9yz
— RobertoAguirreSacasa (@WriterRAS) June 5, 2020
As we take a deeper look at racism and inequality, @CBSMMiller offers her reflections on why she believes this could be the moment that changes everything.#RaceForJustice pic.twitter.com/DS3bDA2dBo
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 5, 2020
Does this go with the protest news or does it go with the virus news and WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON, 2020? Anyway, The ATX Festival, which begins today, has canceled their panels on Scrubs, Justified, Cougar Town, One Day at a Time, Channel Changers and Torchlighters with the hope to reschedule them later in the summer. From what I can tell, this is out of sensitivity for what is happening right now.
I’m old enough to remember when Laura Ingraham told LeBron James to shut up and dribble. Gee, I wonder what the difference is? Mr. James would like to know, too.
Meghan McCain compared New York City to a warzone and was dragged by a Full Frontal writer for it in one of my very favoritest tweets of this whole mess:
Meghan, we live in the same building, and I just walked outside. It’s fine. https://t.co/ZvwNrjL6P7
— Kristen Bartlett (@kristencheeks) June 2, 2020
But the REAL punchline is that McCain has been in Virginia THIS WHOLE TIME.
Abby Lee Miller was accused by a Dance Moms mom of being a racist asshole towards her and her daughter — shocking, I know — and now Miller is sorry you found out.
— Abby Lee Miller (@Abby_Lee_Miller) June 4, 2020
Buffalo Bills quarterback Jake Fromm suggested in a text that became public that guns should be made so expensive that “only elite white people can get them.” He’s sorry now that people found out.
Oh no:
Taryn Manning is trash. Goodbye. pic.twitter.com/7xa8OlRv1B
— Nurpl3 (@nurpl3) June 2, 2020
Oh no:
I am rarely speechless but I am speechless. https://t.co/rabiwN4S75
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) June 2, 2020
The post of #MrRogers by danicamckellar reminded me of one of my favorite #ShirleyTemple movies #TheLittleColonel because of the history of the #Stairdance she did with the incredible #BillyBojanglesRobinson. When… https://t.co/GoYOG7aY68
— Melissa Joan Hart (@MelissaJoanHart) June 1, 2020
Hey, Disney, here’s an idea:
Yo Disney! Can you use the power of your lawsuits and sue all the police department for using the punisher skull logo? They are profitting of your property and I know you hate that more than anything, you’ll be doing us a favor.
— Yesse (@Jazzdragon) June 4, 2020
The editor of Variety is taking a little time off after getting into a heated back-and-forth with a former employee on Twitter about whether the company was doing enough to encourage and support diversity in the newsroom.
Y’all. I know The Help makes you feel better, but there are better things to watch on Netflix right now like The 13th, Selma, and When They See Us. In fact, The Criterion Collection has lifted its paywall on many movies and documentaries by black filmmakers, so go enjoy!
Epix has pushed back the release date of their Charles Manson documentary because MAYBE RIGHT NOW ISN’T THE TIME.
Terry Crews has publicly apologized to Gabrielle Union in light of the George Floyd protests:
Whites have always had privilege in a society that has systemic racism built in, a fact that has been proven over and over again with the senseless deaths of unarmed Black men and women— with no one being held accountable.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 4, 2020
It is in this light I want to make further amends with Black women, and in particular @itsgabrielleu for not recognizing the privilege I have – especially in the workplace- and adding this fact to my earlier apology.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 4, 2020
If we are to move forward as a people we must do the work required to heal the relationships in our community first. To whom much is given, much is required. I have a huge responsibility —and I vow to honor it.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 4, 2020
John Mulaney was at the White House Horse in a Hospital protest:
I’m not TMZ, but I’m pretty sure John Mulaney was there. pic.twitter.com/pxooTtrhRj
— Mackenzie Weinger (@mweinger) June 2, 2020
Newspapers have to do better.
But Time Magazine gets it. And so does LEGO. And it only took the threat that black people might buy guns for Walmart to remove them from store floors. Huh.
Side note: Initially scrolling past this on Twitter I thought for a second it was the opening to a @watchmen episode (which I guess thematically fits).
— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) June 5, 2020
(h/t Josh! Thanks!)
Going Viral:
The Disney virtual upfronts actually happened on May 27, but the embargo was only lifted today, so here are Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes about the pandemic, the Olympics, Disney, TikTok, Quibi, Peacock, advertising and linear TV.
“The good news is that after everything that’s happened, we’re still here, new platforms come and go, but television is here to stay whether you watch it or not. Forget about what these other guys are doing, just remember what TV doesn’t do.
TV doesn’t buffer, TV doesn’t freeze up, TV doesn’t constantly suggest what other shows you should watch, TV doesn’t ask you for a password you can’t remember or if you accept cookies, or start playing the next episode before you have time to say that you don’t want to watch another episode, and before you know it, the sun is coming up and you’ve just finished a season of Riverdale. TV will also never keep a list of all of the porn you’ve ever watched. Because we’re old school. We might be dinosaurs, but you know what, dinosaurs roamed the earth for 160M years.”
True Life Presents: First-Time First Responders will air on MTV on June 9.
Con of Thrones has been postponed until 2021, and will move to Orlando.
All Other TV News
Speaking of HBO Max, guess what the most popular title to stream is? Nope. Guess again. Not that either. I’ll give you one more guess.
Meanwhile, HBO Max still isn’t available on Roku. Here’s why that’s a problem for them.
Joe Giudice is going to box some ex of Jennifer Lopez. 2020 just keeps on keeping on.
Renewals
- We’re Here has been renewed for a second season at HBO, thank the TV Gods because it is one of the few things that has lifted me up through ALL OF THIS.
Cancellations
- Next in Fashion has been canceled after one season on Netflix.
In Development
- Law & Order: Hate Crimes, which was ordered way back in 2018, will probably be streamed on Peacock rather than aired on NBC out of a concern over language. This is probably for the best, honestly. Keep it real. Make it real. Let people hear the truth instead of (literally) white-washing it.
- When The Dust Settles and the documentary Through Greenland hosted by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau have been bought by streaming service, Topic.
Mark Your Calendar
- Untucked will return after RuPauls’ Drag Race All Stars beginning tonight.
- Dating Around (which is an actually very charming dating reality show unlike SOME I COULD NAME) returns on Netflix on June 12.
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: More Drag Race, yes, please. It’s about the only thing getting me through these dark days, I’m not even kidding. Season premiere. 7 p.m., VH1
13 Reasons Why: The fourth and final season of the controversial teen drama. Netflix
Dear …: In which famous people read letters from people whose lives they changed because what famous people need are ego boosts. Series premiere. Apple TV+
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme: A documentary about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop group from the early 2000s. Hulu In solidarity with the protests, this has been postponed. đź–¤
Queer Eye: If you want something to cry about other than the news, these guys have you covered. Season premiere. Netflix
Trackers: A political crime thriller set in the shadowy underworld of South Africa. Series premiere. 9 p.m., Cinemax
Betty: All-girl skate! Season premiere. 10 p.m., HBO
SATURDAY
Ad Astra: Brad Pitt goes to space. 7 p.m., HBO
Dear Class 2020: Man, what a time to be graduating. YouTube
Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It!: The co-star of Insecure has her first stand-up special. 9 p.m., HBO
SUNDAY
30 for 30: Be Water: An intimate look at the life of the incomparable Bruce Lee. 8 p.m., ESPN
Hollywood Game Night: Season premiere. 6 p.m., NBC
I May Destroy You: Michaela Coel wrote, produced, directed and stars in this new series that explores the murky morass that is sexual consent, liberation, and exploration. Series premiere. 9:30 p.m., HBO
Late Night:
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: (Friday): Rep. Karen Bass, Judd Apatow
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Shark Tank (repeat) |
20/20 |
| CBS | MacGyver (repeat) |
Magnum P.I. (repeat) |
Blue Bloods (repeat) |
| CW | Masters of Illusion (new) |
Masters of Illusion (repeat) |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (repeat) |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | Friday Night Smackdown | Local |
| NBC | World of Dance (repeat) |
The Blacklist (repeat) |
Dateline |
—
| SAT. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 | 11:00 | 11:30 |
| ABC | The Last Dance (repeat) |
The Last Dance (repeat) |
The Rookie (repeat) |
News/Local |
| CBS | Bull (repeat) |
NCIS: Los Angeles (repeat) |
48 Hours | News/Local |
| FOX | PBA Bowling | LEGO Masters (repeat) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Indy Car Racing | Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
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) |
Celebrity Family Feud (new) |
Press Your Luck (new) |
Match Game (new) |
| CBS | 60 Minutes (new) |
Grease Sing-a-long |
| The CW | Local | Stargirl (repeat) |
Supergirl (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | Last Man Standing (repeat) |
Duncan-ville (repeat) |
The Simp-sons (repeat) |
Bless the Harts (repeat) |
Bob’s Burgers (repeat) |
Family Guy (repeat) |
Local/News |
| NBC | Hollywood Game Night (new) |
The Titan Games (repeat) |
America’s Got Talent (repeat) |