Hi. It’s Monday, June 8.
George Floyd’s final memorial service is being held here in Houston today. Protests continued all weekend, and most were very peaceful. Confederate statues have been pulled down all over the South, and monuments to racist politicians and historical figures are being destroyed all over the world.
It is beautiful.
The statue of Confederate General Williams Carter Wickham in Monroe Park lays beside its base, covered in paint. pic.twitter.com/D6EgslhpS7
— The Commonwealth Times (@theCT) June 7, 2020
“There are members in my family who are shaking in their boots. I’m sure my ancestor Robert E Lee is rolling in his grave and I say let him roll,” Robert Lee’s Fourth Great Nephew said in support of tearing the statue down. @NBC12 pic.twitter.com/lxsjtXPVJF
— Eric Perry (@EricpNBC12) June 4, 2020
Indianapolis will remove a monument dedicated to Confederate soldiers. The mayor called it a reminder of the "state's horrific embrace of the Ku Klux Klan a century ago."
The memorial was to be taken down in 2017 after protests, but the city hadn't secured funds at the time. pic.twitter.com/tW8VV1NxwL
— AJ+ (@ajplus) June 6, 2020
As Philadelphia police commissioner in the 1960s, Frank Rizzo raided gay clubs. While running for a third term as mayor, he urged his supporters to “Vote White.” His statue, which protesters have tried to take down, has now been removed by the city.https://t.co/OJHa1LKaBi
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 3, 2020
Protesters against systemic racism in the UK tore down a bronze statue depicting slave trader Edward Colston, rolling it through the streets before tossing it into the river. https://t.co/K1ZrZ65Nik pic.twitter.com/0n6gENEYhY
— ABC News (@ABC) June 8, 2020
A crowd has climbed onto the statue of colonial King Léopold II in #Brussels chanting “murderer” and waving the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo where his atrocities took place. #DRC 🇨🇩 #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/DIH9MGu39M
— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) June 7, 2020
The White House put up a fence:
Okay I just walked the entire perimeter of the White House and the Ellipse, the park that abuts the executive mansion.
It’s COMPLETELY fenced in now, a significant addition from yesterday. Analysis from @JakeGodin suggests this is roughly 1.7 miles of fence. pic.twitter.com/VOWZiwd7ga
— Hannah Natanson (@hannah_natanson) June 6, 2020
And protestors turned it into a memorial wall.
It’s beautiful.
The fence outside the White House has been converted to a crowd-sourced memorial wall — almost like an art gallery — to black men and women who lost their lives at the hands of police.
Hundreds are strolling, looking, adding names and paintings and posters. pic.twitter.com/mXlZpfMAeX
— Hannah Natanson (@hannah_natanson) June 7, 2020
There is still violence and hate:
Video footage of man driving his car into #BlackLivesMatter protest in Seattle and shooting a man through the window before he flees. #seattle #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/3iUI7eKEye
— SeanNyberg (@SeanNyberg) June 8, 2020
(The heroic man who was shot is OK.)
But there is also a great deal of grace:
In Whitefish, Montana, a young woman named Samantha Francine is confronted by a large white man with balled fists, shouting, "Black Lives Matter? Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!" She does not look away.
This is America, 2020.
(Photo by Grace Jensen) https://t.co/dq3Akejk3s pic.twitter.com/2kN4P7QgaL
— David Roberts (@drvox) June 7, 2020
Let’s hope it is enough to inspire real change. The Democrats have drafted legislation that would make choke-holds and no-knock warrants illegal, create a registry of cops who have used force, and create an independent process for state attorneys general to investigate police abuses. It’s a start but we have a long, long way to go.
Seriously, ABC, we all see you. If you don’t do cast a black man this season — even if it is a token gesture to prove you’re not actively supporting white supremacy — if you don’t do it now, we will know once and for all that you never will. Casting a black man as the Bachelor and having him date women of different ethnicities, portraying a black man as a romantic hero, a human being worthy of finding love and marriage, would be a powerful message to this country. It’s not going to end racism, but it would certainly help in some small way to wear away at old racist, dehumanizing tropes in our culture.
And, listen, I get it! You’re worried about your ratings — of course you are! That’s the business you’re in! And the harsh truth of the matter is you’re going to lose some share of uneducable white people (and most of them will insist they’re not watching not because they’re racist, but because they don’t like this particular individual for some bullshit reason — they’re lying). But ultimately, isn’t it worth it? Isn’t it worth breaking down this dumb self-imposed barrier and dragging some of your viewers into the 21st century along with you?
Here’s the thing: it’s not just on you to actually do the right thing, ABC. It’s on me, too. Though The Bachelor recaps are easily the most popular thing on this blog, if you don’t have a black Bachelor this season, I won’t recap the show. This won’t hurt you in any way — you don’t know this little blog exists — it will only hurt the readership of this blog. But I’ve been talking about the obvious racism on your show for far too long without actually doing anything about it. It’s past time I put my money where my mouth blog is.
Michael B. Jordan called on Hollywood to commit to black hiring in a Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday. AGAIN, ABC, ARE YOU LISTENING?
Live PD and Cops have both been pulled from A&E and Paramount. Huh. Why?
Spectrum has delayed LA’s Finest‘s second season premiere because of the protests.
Warren Leight, the Law & Order: SVU showrunner admits that cop shows are “miscontributing” to society. It will be interesting to see how police series move forward from this moment.
The Murder of George Floyd: A Nation Responds will air on ID on June 9.
Hartley Sawyer, Ralph Dibny, aka Elongated Man on The CW’s The Flash, has been fired after some racist and misogynistic tweets resurfaced. GOOD.
The time the Vanderpump Rules cast threatened to call the cops on the only African-American cast member: “There was this article…where there was an African American lady,” Stowers described. “It was a weird photo, so she looked very light-skinned and had these different, weird tattoos. They showcased her, and I guess this woman was robbing people…The woman was at large…and they called the cops and said it was me. This is like, a true story. I heard this from actually Stassi during an interview.”
And it looks like Stassi Schroeder might actually face some consequences for this bullshittery. Good.
Lifetime has severed ties with Abby Lee Miller. Good.
You remember when the black actors wanted to put on a Black Lives Matter Benefit show and you said only if we gave half of the proceeds to the Chicago PD, because I will never forget. Remember when you would make black people audition for job you simply just have to white people? https://t.co/LA92b13qs3
— Dewayne Perkins (@DewaynePerkins) June 4, 2020
the wildest part about my second city experience is that they forced me to quit because they didn't believe me. then weeks later for "unknown reasons" they fire the white man who put hands on me, but allowed the narrative to be that they fired him because of me.
— Aasia LaShay (@euthanAasia) June 5, 2020
And over in the newspaper business, The New York Times Editorial Page editor, James Bennet, has resigned after publishing an editorial by that Arkansas fascist, Tom Cotton, calling for the military to be used against the protestors. GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE. Let’s hope the idiots they keep around the opinion page over there are starting to sweat a little bit. I’M TALKING ABOUT YOU, BRET STEPHENS. AND DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE, ROSS DOUTHAT. Also, the editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer resigned over their “Buildings Matter, Too” headline. AMEN.
The co-creator of Friends is super sorry the show wasn’t more diverse. As someone who was the target audience for the show when it was broadcast and watched every week, I am here to remind her that people actually pointed out the lack of diversity at the time and their complaints were dismissed.
I’m not going to lie, this Sesame Street clip made me cry. My kids are old enough to protest on their own now, but I remember how heartbreaking it was to have to explain to them why 9/11 happened, and why school shootings happened, why the world was dark and scary sometimes and that I couldn’t shield them from that terror and pain. My heart breaks for parents today dealing with all of this. I hope they can find a bright spot of something positive in all of this.
I knew Elmo was a real one. https://t.co/k9J9rEqlwX
— Camilla Blackett (@camillard) June 6, 2020
Atlanta knew:
He would have been 62 yesterday.
Terry Crews got out over his skis again.
On second thought, Roger Goodell is really sorry about the whole kneeling thing (but not necessarily how he and the NFL treated Colin Kaepernick). And BOY HOWDY is President Racist angry about it.
Comcast has pledged $100 million for social justice causes; Michael Jordan has pledged $100 million; BTS has contributed $1 million to Black Lives Matter; and ViacomCBS has pledged … $5 million. Huh.
Tucker Carlson accused a bunch of celebrities of inciting riots and looting. Spoiler alert: they were donating to bail funds for protestors. MONSTERS. Also, why is Chrissy Teigen in there twice?
Fuck this pasty asshole.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 6, 2020
Got this e-mail from my mom when she heard about Tucker Carlson doing his celebrity roll-call bullshit on his show. I love her. pic.twitter.com/uF0zGAt60l
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) June 6, 2020
And if you thought that was the worst thing on Fox News about all of this, I present this infographic:
Dear Class of 2020, a virtual commencement celebration that streamed on YouTube yesterday, featured speeches from President Obama and Michelle Obama, and appearances by Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion, Alicia Keys, Shawn Mendes, Jennifer Lopez, Finneas, Katy Pery and Demi Lovato, Seth Rogen, Chris Pine, Jack Black, and John Mulaney, the cast of The Simpsons and Schitt’s Creek (and Mariah Carey), Jimmy Kimmel, Condoleezza Rice and a performance by BTS.
Thank God we still have the Obamas to help us get through this moment.
So much has changed so quickly. And if any of you are confused or scared or angry—or just plain overwhelmed—I just want you to know that you aren’t alone. I am feeling all that, too. And I have a few things I want to say about it. https://t.co/kUZeBzC8xP pic.twitter.com/0zOQpEcX9K
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 7, 2020
Film and TV production can begin again in California on June 12. We’ll see!
Fox News is expected to continue working from home through at least the end of July. Except for when they go to the Republican National Convention — I guess.
The second season of The Mandalorian will not be delayed by COVID-19, so that’s good news.
This is the last week of new Jeopardy! episodes. Reruns begin next week.
Regular Heroes, a series celebrating the essential workers, is streaming on Amazon right now.
New Zealand is COVID-19-free. Time to move to New Zealand.
Hong Kong is preparing to reopen Disneyland and Ocean Park.
All Other TV News
Because we could all use a good laugh right now, a friend of mine sent me this from some website she landed on. I don’t have a story to go along with this, just the observation that the internet is a profoundly stupid place, y’all.
Wait, Becker? THAT’S the show most people know Jorge Garcia/Kit Harington from? HUH.
Another long weekend, another batch of Tiger King news because this is the prison we live in now. Jeff Lowe, the guy who basically stole the zoo from Joe Exotic and is the real villain in all of this (in addition to Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin — you know what? they’re all monsters), he’s basically announced that he’s the zoo is a “complete hell” and that he’s trashed it ahead of giving it over to Baskin. He seems chill. Meanwhile, Joe Exotic has written a self-pitying letter to his fans from prison. And the guy who wrote the Tiger King songs is continuing to try to cash in on his 15 minutes.
Cheer and RuPaul’s Drag Race lead the nominations for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards 2020. Tiger King was shut out.
Gun activists have stripped Elmer Fudd of his second amendment rights. (Good.)
REMINDER: Do not use this time to finally get around to watching The Leftovers unless you know what you are getting into. I AM SERIOUS. It is one of my favorite series of the past 20 years, BUT NOW MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT MOMENT.
There was a virtual Friday Night Lights reunion on Friday if this is of interest to you.
This skeptical E! reporter gets a reading from Thomas John (NOT THOMAS JANE, THERESE) and it gives him pause. (This is a very sweet read, by the way.)
The one man who thought the Red Wedding was “joyful.”
TV Guide is insisting NBC needs to renew Manifest. COUNTERPOINT: Do they? Do they, though?
President Reality Show’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star has been defaced again. Honestly, the only shocking thing about this is how few times it’s been defaced since 2017.
Hey, remember Lisa Page? The FBI agent who shared some private text messages with her boyfriend about how they didn’t like Donald Trump which was then turned into a whole Deep State conspiracy in which these two people tried, unsuccessfully I might add, to ruin his presidential campaign? Yeah, so she’s joining MSNBC and NBC News. President FAKE NEWS is unhappy about it. TOO BAD SO SAD.
You must be kidding??? This is a total disgrace! https://t.co/3QdaYCaiZS
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2020
And in other BIZARRE President Twatter news, so you know the show Insecure? The one created by and starring Issa Rae about a black woman in her late 20s/early 30s living in Los Angeles and her friends? Yeah, so this happened yesterday. I swear, this is real:
realDonaldTrump liked this tweet: https://t.co/xXzqz0hjR5
— Trump Alert (@TrumpsAlert) June 8, 2020
Well I found one thing I have in common with him: we’re both big fans of @IssaRae.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) June 8, 2020
In Development
- The Detective Fawley novels by Cara Hunter have been optioned for TV.
Casting News
- Charisma Carpenter will return on The CW’s Pandora for season 2.
Mark Your Calendar
- Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn will debut on HBO on June 19.
- Tournament of Laughs, a comedy tournament hosted by Jason Sudeikis, will debut on June 21.
- Lost Resort will debut on TBS on July 23.
- Dino Hunters will premiere on Discovery on June 19.
R.I.P.
Kurt Thomas, Olympic athlete and first American to win gold at the gymnastics world championships
Rupert Hine, British music producer
WATCH THIS
The Time Is Now: Race and Resolution: A commercial-free special about our country in this moment of crisis. It will air on all of the A&E networks. 7 p.m., A&E, FYI, History, Lifetime, LMN, Vice
The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons — Ever!: THREE HOURS OF “Hey, remember when this happened?” THREE HOURS. Series premiere. 7 p.m., ABC
Buried Worlds with Don Wildman: Don Wildman travels the world to investigate the supernatural and occult and SPOOKY GHOSTS. Series premiere. 8 p.m., Travel
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: John Oliver, Spike Lee, Benne featuring Gus Dapperton
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: JJ Watt, Nicole Byer
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: Matthew Macfadyen, Josh Groban
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kerry Washington
- The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
- Conan: Mayor Melvin Carter
- Watch What Happens Live: Porsha Williams, W. Kamau Bell
| MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart (new) |
| CBS | The Neighbor-hood (repeat) |
Bob Hearts Abishola (repeat) |
All Rise (repeat) |
Bull (repeat) |
| CW | Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Roswell, New Mexico (new) |
Local |
| FOX | 9-1-1 (repeat) |
9-1-1: Lone Star (repeat) |
News/Local |
| NBC | The Titan Games (new) |
The Wall (new) |
Songland (new) |
For Pride Month I would also recommend the 2018 documentary “5B,” free on hoopla and Amazon Prime, rentable elsewhere. It’s about the US’s first AIDS ward (at San Francisco General Hospital) and the wonderful nurses who volunteered to work there, and the way they set a standard of humane care for the patients.
So statues of Confederates are being removed to reduce the “footprint” of racism. Fine, I understand. But let me point out an elephant in the room: Washington and Jefferson were slave owners.
Samantha Francine has a better, cooler head on her shoulders than most of us could ever hope to have.
“Ms Francine grew up in Chicago and was raised by her single father who happens to be white.
“He taught us from a young age that things were going to be different for us just because of the colour of our skin,” she wrote.
“One of the things he use to remind us constantly was that ‘no matter the threat, always look them in the eye so they have to acknowledge you’re human’.”
Her father died sixteen years ago but she still carries this advice with her to this day.
“When I lifted up my glasses, he saw me. I saw him. He was acting out fear, I know that,” she said.
“I hold no malice in my heart for this man. I hope this moment will soften him.”’
https://au.news.yahoo.com/woman-reveals-powerful-story-behind-viral-protest-moment-053441747.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJZBPxHSKhRVS7MYeYQOTDd0zWonDvqmu8NT2RnzOkopCDDgOVrTs3p7YDYMtPJOfMS2nN4T4LBF-Zk2wBkxxUpiSk0C8yjNdVocDtYTO90cdCi8Bia38vnhYSF1yrlWALaQygp0JvfiPy8mUVt7pr-7F-MFIVxRBYXgntwueBT2