Apparently, it’s Thursday! OK! So, let’s begin this Thursday with a little spot of joy:
COVID-19: Jared, your graduation is cancelled.
Jared: But, have you met my momma? pic.twitter.com/j8UJM29Z2G
— Jason “Tik Tok Doc” Campbell MD (@DrJCoftheDC) June 7, 2020
Congratulations, Jared!
Another day, another reality cop show DOWN. A&E canceled their wildly popular series, Live P.D. in the wake of the police brutality protests and also because … HOLY SHIT, they filmed a police-involved death of a black man in Austin back in March, 2019, and destroyed the footage of it.
The story is so much worse than that, though. Javier Ambler was pulled over in Williamson County after a twenty-minute chase because he had his brights on. Cops held him down in the street and as he pleaded for mercy, told them he had congestive heart failure and that he couldn’t breathe, they tased him four times, resulting in his death.
Live P.D. filmed the entire thing through the body cameras the cops were wearing and with the camera crew that was riding along with the officers. The incident did not take place while the show was live, however, and never made it to broadcast. An internal affairs investigation within the Sherriff’s department took place, and you’ll be shocked to hear this, determined the police did nothing wrong. And that’s when Live P.D. destroyed their footage.
A&E’s statement said that Austin investigators had not asked for the video or to interview show producers. “As is the case with all footage taken by Live PD producers, we no longer retained the unaired footage after learning that the investigation had concluded,” the network said in a statement.
The contract between Williamson County and Live PD producers in place at the time of Ambler’s death allowed the show to destroy unaired footage within 30 days unless a court order or other state or federal law required it to be retained.
It’s bad. I urge you to read the Austin American-Statesman piece for the entire story as I only touched upon it lightly for Chron.com because I’m not a real journalist, just a dummy who pays attention to TeeVee nooze. But people are getting sued and the Travis County D.A. is assembling a grand jury, so something is definitely wrong here.
Live P.D.‘s host, Dan Abrams, regrets the tape was destroyed and that it wasn’t aired. OH, I BET YOU DO, DAN.
COPS reruns are also being pulled from TV schedules. GOOD.
Tucker Carlson is losing advertisers for being an asshole. Disney, T-Mobile, and Papa John’s are done with him.
Lisa Vanderpump has finally responded to the whole Vanderpump Rules mess:
And Faith Stowers has said that she’s pleased by Bravo’s response.
The Mighty Boosh is the most recent British comedy to be pulled from Netflix over blackface. Meanwhile, BAFTA-winning British comedy star and The Windsors actor Harry Enfield ain’t sorry for doing blackface in the past. Ok.
NASCAR is banning Confederate flags at their races. I’m genuinely shocked by this — things truly are changing. I mean, there are people calling for boycotts, so it’s not like racism is over or anything, but it’s a big step forward. Huge step forward.
And Confederate and Christopher Columbus statues are falling everywhere.
And here is Davis being dragged onto the bed as a crowd shouts “fuck that statue” pic.twitter.com/IsX2oxTC4L
— BK (@BradKutner) June 11, 2020
Protestors have now toppled Christopher Columbus statue outside Minnesota State Capitol.
Organizers were from American Indian Movement & footage from moments ago: pic.twitter.com/nZIb780wva
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) June 10, 2020
The pic on the left is pure poetry https://t.co/31tkdN05BZ
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 10, 2020
And over in Europe:
The statue of Robert Milligan, slave trader and founder of West India Docks, has been removed. @SkyNews #BlackLivesMatterUK pic.twitter.com/Se0JXougxd
— Sam Holder (@samholdertv) June 9, 2020
Statue of Belgium's King Leopold II is removed in Antwerp https://t.co/UlOOmdC6ej via @MailOnline
— ℬasic human decency ℞ (@bbycarrot69) June 11, 2020
Meanwhile, President Klan has promised that he will not allow military bases named after Confederates to be renamed, including Fort Hood and Fort Bragg. (I mean, just think of having a Fort Arnold or Fort Rommel or a Fort Bin Laden — THE CONFEDERATES WERE ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. FULL FUCKING STOP.)
And he’s planning on holding a rally on June 19th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is holding a MAGA rally on JUNETEENTH in the city that was the site of the WORST RACE MASSACRE IN UNITED STATES HISTORY …. this is not a dog whistle, this is a full-on racist bullhorn.
Also, he’s shortened “Secret Service” to SS, so that’s concerning.
Our great National Guard Troops who took care of the area around the White House could hardly believe how easy it was. “A walk in the park”, one said. The protesters, agitators, anarchists (ANTIFA), and others, were handled VERY easily by the Guard, D.C. Police, & S.S. GREAT JOB!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020
Oh and Stephen Miller is reportedly writing him a speech to give on race relations, so that should go well.
Stephen Miller, who crafted @realDonaldTrump immigration policy at the southern border, including separating families and caging children, is preparing a @WhiteHouse speech on race relations. @aurnonline #AURN report https://t.co/2BMNkGPqgq
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) June 9, 2020
But in a rare positive development:
General Mark Milley apologizes for taking part in Trump’s Bible photo op outside the White House: “I should not have been there…It was a mistake.” pic.twitter.com/h8PIunEOCP
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 11, 2020
President Bunkerbitch’s attack on Milley in 3 … 2 …
Becca Kufrin is having to defend her dumbass fiance again.
Dear Hollywood Actors: Everyone hates this shit. Cut it out. Signed, Literally Everyone.
regret to inform you the celebs are at it again pic.twitter.com/pfORBiqvrX
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) June 11, 2020
Going Viral
We’re still in the middle of this pandemic, though it’s easy to forget that, what with everyone being bored with wearing masks and social distancing, but it’s true! And alarmingly, we are still losing somewhere between 800-1,000 Americans every day. At this rate, 200,000 Americans will be dead of the virus by September. And that’s before the fall hits and shit gets real. (By the way, I’m old enough to remember that they once told us we would have 65,000 deaths by August, and that seemed scary.)
The U.S. may reach 200,000 coronavirus deaths by September. New Mexico, Utah and Arizona each saw its number of cases rise by 40% last week. Florida and Arkansas have also become hot spots. https://t.co/2Tgi3mQEXo
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 11, 2020
BUT YEAH, LET’S OPEN LAS VEGAS BACK UP! LET’S FLING OPEN DISNEYLAND!
Speaking of: Disneyland is planning to reopen on July 17. We’ll see!
Coachella and Stagecoach are officially canceled for 2020.
Comic-Con has announced its virtual event will be held July 22-26, though they have not yet announced the schedule. Stay tuned!
Bradley Whitford discusses how the virus has impacted filming The Handmaid’s Tale and what it will look like when they can get back to the Canadian set (if they can). And in the same issue, Aidy Bryant discusses the impact on both Saturday Night Live and Shrill.
Wendy Williams is waiting for New York to reopen before returning to her show.
All Other TV News
Well, this is the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard: President Binky is threatening to sue CNN because they had a poll that showed Joe Biden leading him by 14 points.
Official response from CNN General Counsel to @TeamTrump‘s letter demanding CNN apologize for a poll that shows @JoeBiden leading. pic.twitter.com/pQaGPxsA0y
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) June 10, 2020
Kobe Bryant is going to receive a posthumous Emmy.
Batwoman is not going to kill off Kate Kane. Stand down.
HBO Max will pull a bunch of their DC movies, including Wonder Woman, Batman, and Justice League next month, which is weird. HBO Max has only been up for a month, why would they remove movies so soon?
Here Padma Lakshmi discusses her upcoming Hulu series, Taste the Nation, and how she wants to explore the idea of what is “American food,” which, of course, is with the exception of Native American cuisines, all immigrant food. (If this show sounds interesting to you, I also encourage you to watch Street Food on Netflix, in which food vendors in Asia tell their stories. It’s wonderful.)
So I haven’t gotten into this story at all because up to this point it had not been related to TV, but J.K. Rowling is a TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) and in the past week or so, she’s been tweeting and writing some really ugly and hateful bullshit about trans people and it’s like, NOT NOW, J.K. ROWLING. GO COUNT YOUR MONEY AND BE QUIET. The Harry Potter actors have had to come out in support of trans people, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne. I breach it now because the cast and crew of Pose have come out to denounce Rowling’s comments and remind her and everyone else that she’s contributing to stigma and violence against the trans community. And Warner Brothers felt compelled to issue a statement affirming that they believe in inclusiveness.
Byron Allen and Comcast have laid down their fight and reached a settlement.
This is a SCATHING but incredibly entertaining takedown of Glee. Sure, its low-hanging fruit, but the author makes a compelling argument for why Glee will not have the sort of nostalgic revival that other comedies of its time have enjoyed.
Patrick Stewart is so creeped out by Kieran Culkin on Succession, he can barely stay in the room when he’s on. HIGHEST COMPLIMENT.The Ruderman Family Foundation has honored This Is Us, See, Atypical, Spare Room, and The Politician for their representations of people with disabilities. You know you’ve made it when you’ve become Jeopardy! question:
Renewals
- Hightown has been renewed at Starz for a second season.
Cancellations
- NBC finally got around to canceling Perfect Harmony and Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone Collector. Here’s my updated gallery over at Chron, if you’re interested.
In Development
- Amazon has bought mockumentary series Rodeo Queens starring Dakota Johnson.
- The documentary Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President has been bought by CNN.
- All Boys Aren’t Blue, a memoir by journalist and LGBTQ+ activist George M. Johnson, has been optioned by Gabrielle Union to be turned into a series.
Mark Your Calendars
- Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga will debut on Netflix on June 26.
- Doom Patrol’s second season will debut on HBO Max on June 25.
- I’ll Be Gone in the Dark will debut on HBO on June 28.
- Crossing Swords will premiere on Hulu on June 12.
- Karma will debut on HBO Max on June 18.
- Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 will air on ABC on June 16.
R.I.P.
Jas Waters, Writer on This is Us and Kidding, among others
Roberto Faraone Mennella, Jewelry maker who’s work was made popular on Sex and the City
WATCH THIS
Don’t: Adam Scott hosts this new game show in which contestants are challenged to not do things, like blink, get tired, or drink. Series premiere. 8 p.m., ABC
Man With a Plan: Adam tries to give his wife the perfect 20th wedding anniversary in the series finale. 7:30 p.m., CBS
The Bold Type: Jane returns to Scarlet with new editorial duties in the summer premiere. 9 p.m., Freeform
Whispers: This thriller is the first Saudi series to come to Netflix. After the family patriarch dies, his family is left to deal with his mysterious past which begins to surface. Premiere. Netflix
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Anthony Mackie, Guy Raz, Avril Lavigne
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Regina King, Ann Patchett
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Wesley Lowery, Judd Apatow
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: Mayor Muriel Bowser, Brandy Clark
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Chadwick Boseman
- The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
- Conan: Nicole Byer
- Watch What Happens Live: Leah McSweeney, Tinsley Mortimer
THUR | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
ABC | Holey Moley (new) |
Don’t (new) |
To Tell the Truth (new) |
CBS | Young Sheldon (repeat) |
Man With a Plan (new) |
Mom (repeat) |
Broke (new) |
S.W.A.T. (new) |
CW | Burden of Truth (repeat) |
In the Dark (new) |
News/Local |
FOX | Celebrity Watch Party (new) |
Labor of Love (new) |
News/Local |
NBC | Council of Dads (new) |
Blindspot (new) |
Law & Order: SVU (repeat) |
Money talks. We could have 100,000 people dying a day and the corporations would still be pushing to open everything up to improve their bottom line. Theyve already proven that they dont care about their own workers, why would they care about the elderly dying?