Welcome to Tuesday, the last day of June. That’s correct, we are halfway done with this shit year. Hoo-fucking-ray. Here’s what a baby squirrel sounds like.
I put my microphone in front of a 7 week old baby red squirrel. pic.twitter.com/JrRRvE9ngN
— Dani Connor Wild 🐺 (@DaniConnorWild) June 23, 2020
(And here’s the story behind the videographer’s relationship with the baby squirrels, if you’re interested.)
So, movie theaters. Just a week or so ago, these idiots thought that we would all be clamoring to overpay to go sit in their dirty theaters and eat overpriced snacks while sitting shoulder to shoulder with perfect strangers for three hours. Welp, not so much. Mulan has been moved from July 24 to August 21 (we’ll see); Without Remorse has been pushed back to February 2021 (we’ll see); and Tenet has been pushed back to August 12. (WE. WILL. SEE.)
Oh, and whaddya know, but AMC has announced they won’t actually be reopening their theaters on July 30. And Cinemark thinks they’re going to reopen on July 24.
And the NBA is moving forward with games in Orlando despite Florida’s complete collapse. Did I mention that 16 of their players have tested positive? I’m sure it’ll be fine.
26 NHL players have tested positive. But, again, the NFL is confident that they will be ready to play with fans in the stadiums in ~checks calendar~ three months?
Other things COVID-19 has killed: Cirque du Soleil; Chuck E. Cheese; the Costco sheet cake.
And you know what else COVID-19 is about to kill off? Any plans to start production in Los Angeles anytime soon. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles county topped 100,000 and they are warning that the ICUs could become overwhelmed there in two to three weeks. People are being urged to stay home, which, understandably, will make restarting TV shows … difficult. The entertainment industry is looking for a little help from Washington D.C. to get productions up and running again, but what they’re really going to need are a hell of a lot fewer people testing positive across the country.
But General Hospital is planning to start back up in about two weeks!
The MTV VMAs are going to be held in Brooklyn at the Barclay Center on August 30. There will be a “limited” or no audience. (Let’s go with “no.”)
NBC has ordered Connecting, a coronavirus-era comedy, straight-to-series.
A TV series about how Boris Johnson handled the COVID crisis is in the works in the U.K. NOW DO PRESIDENT SUPERSPREADER.
You might want to sit down for this next story, but studies suggest that conservative media is intensifying the spread of the virus through misinformation and conspiracy theories.
We’re officially living in a Parks and Rec episode. #WearAMask pic.twitter.com/LknwwdYmvF
— BLM || Law⚡️ (@LawJSharma) June 25, 2020
ONE MORE REASON TO VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN: He would require face masks in public.
Black Lives Matter
And the supermarket Winn-Dixie is considering changing its name. This opens an interesting question: Where does the term “Dixie” come from and why is it problematic?
People in California are calling for John Wayne Airport in Orange County to be renamed based on racist comments he made. And, listen, I know judging people in the past based on contemporary values is a slippery slope, but you should click on the article and see what Wayne had to say back in 1971 … it’s … it’s not cool. In the name of fairness, I will add that John Wayne’s family insists that he was not racist.
Disney is going to rebrand Splash Mountain and make it a Princess and the Frog ride. It was previously based on characters from Song of the South, a movie so racist, Disney won’t make it available on Disney+.
People are starting to point out that Survivor and Big Brother lack diversity and are often deeply racist behind the scenes.
Netflix is vowing to give 2% of its cash holdings to the economic development of Black communities.
Sacha Baron Cohen pranked a far-right-wing rally but it was not a bit for Who Is America?
That dingus Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, claims that his animated Dilbert series was canceled because he was white and not because it was one of the lowest-rated series on television at the time (which it was).
Cristela Alonzo, the comedian who had her own sitcom for a minute, named appropriately enough, Cristela, says that her white male writing partner was paid three times as much as she was when the show was bought. This is some bullshit on multiple levels and I dare someone to defend it.
All Other TV News
The Daytime Emmys were this past weekend: here are your winners.
Here are the five returning characters to look for in the final episodes of Supernatural. Don’t click the clicky if you don’t want to be spoiled.
Don’t hold your breath for a Walt or Jessie cameo on Better Call Saul, guys. We’re quickly running out of runway.
The Real Housewives of New York ladies just up and changed their taglines halfway through the season? WHAT MADNESS IS THIS?
It’s the end of Pride Month, and I’m afraid I’ve recommended a downer of a documentary about LGBTQ struggles in Chechnya under “Watch This.” That said, it’s important to note, as this piece does, that Queer stories don’t always have to be tragic, and in fact, can be filled with great joy. In addition to the shows mentioned, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Legendary are also both bursts of pure happy.
Interesting: Disney is eliminating the Disney Channel in the UK and moving all of their titles to Disney+. The future?
All of your Eurovision Song Contest questions, answered.
If it’s your thing, the Hannibal cast had a reunion and you can watch it on YouTube on July 11.
Twitch and Reddit have both broken up with Donald Trump over his awfulness.
Joseph James DeAngelo, The Golden State Killer — the subject of HBO’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark — pled guilty to 13 charges of murder and admitted to all uncharged crimes committed during the Golden State Killer’s spree.
The most important people at the #GoldenStateKiller hearing today are the survivors. All present, all staring directly at that zilch of a human being, and he can’t return their gaze. That’s what I’m focusing on. https://t.co/1lqZSIyt14
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) June 29, 2020
“When asked to describe the assailant, Jane Doe said he had a small penis.” The crowd then broke out in applause. #GoldenStateKiller pic.twitter.com/hEkvO0m68B
— Billy Jensen (@Billyjensen) June 29, 2020
GOOD.
Renewals
- Nikki Fre$h has been renewed for a second season at Quibi.
Cancellations
- Ozark will return on Netflix for a fourth and final season.
In Development
- ABC will film pilots for Rebel; Harlem’s Kitchen; Bossy; Home Economics; and Work Wife. They are not moving forward with the reboot of Thirtysomething; Valley Trash; and Brides, the Dracula-based soap. (And I genuinely wonder how much the decision to not move forward with those last three have to do with not being able to film love scenes. Who knows!)
- Debris has been ordered to series at NBC.
- A TV sequel to D.A.R.Y.L. starring Tony Hale has been ordered by TBS. They also ordered the comedy, Space.
- TNT has ordered dramas The Fall and Liar’s Club.
- Celebrity Call Center; Dr. 90210; and Glamsquad Showdown have all been ordered at E!
- Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue is being developed at Quibi.
- Apple TV+ has acquired Losing Alice, an Israeli neo-noir thriller.
- The Vanishing Half will be adapted by HBO.
- Lebron James’ Springhill Entertainment has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios.
- Kenneth Lin has signed an overall deal with CBS TV Studios.
- LA Complex is not moving forward at The CW.
- Tell Me Your Secrets is not moving forward at TNT.
Casting News
- Will Cain is going to be the new Fox & Friends Weekend cohost.
Mark Your Calendars
- Psych 2: Lassie Come Home will debut on Peacock on July 15.
- Greatness Code will debut on Apple TV+ on July 10.
- Mucho Mucho Amor Walter Mercado will premiere on Netflix on July 8.
- Showbiz Kids will premiere on HBO on July 14.
- Jim Jeffries: Intolerant will premiere on Netflix on July 7.
- Motherland: Fort Salem will return for season 2 on Freeform.
- An If Loving You Is Wrong reunion will air on OWN tonight.
- The Soup returns on E! on July 8.
- Disney Channel Summer Sing-Along and Radio Disney Presents ARDYs Summer Playlist will both debut on Disney Channel on July 10.
- David Makes Man will be available on HBO Max on July 16.
- Brittania will debut on Epix on August 2. Season two will premiere on October 4.
- The Weight of Gold will debut on HBO on July 29.
- The Code premieres on Ovation TV on August 1.
- Love After Lockup will return on WE tv on July 17.
- Very Scary People will return on HLN on July 12.
- Raven About Bunk’d will debut on Disney Channel on July 24.
- Theater: A Love Story will premiere on Amazon on July 17.
- Marrying Millions will return on Lifetime on August 5.
- Netflix has announced dates for three documentary shorts: The Claudia Kishi Club on July 10; The Speed Cubers on July 29; and John Was Trying to Contact Aliens on August 20.
R.I.P.
Carl Reiner, One of the all-time greats. Reiner was a brilliant comedian and writer, and created The Dick Van Dyke Show and directed The Jerk, among many others. He was Rob Reiner’s father.
Last night my dad passed away. As I write this my heart is hurting. He was my guiding light.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) June 30, 2020
Tons of people are paying tribute and they are beautiful.
The brilliant and hilarious Carl Reiner hosted the Director’s Guild awards for decades before his health forced him to take the night off.
They asked me to sub in for him. Here’s the letter he sent me:#RIPCarlReiner https://t.co/dkvtzXtKfA pic.twitter.com/eUy2E9b0B0
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) June 30, 2020
The Dick Van Dyke Show debuted in 1961, and it's still funny. That's a magic trick. RIP Carl Reiner, one of comedy's greatest magicians.
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) June 30, 2020
Johnny Mandel, M*A*S*H theme composer and Oscar winner
WATCH THIS
Homemade: A collection of short films made by acclaimed filmmakers during quarantine. Netflix
Welcome to Chechnya: A harrowing documentary about the purge of LGBT folks in Chechyna. 9 p.m., HBO
OWN Presents: Oprah and 100 Black Fathers: Oprah Winfrey sits down with 100 Black fathers, including Killer Mike, Courtney B. Vance, and Tyler Perry, to discuss how racism impacts their families’ lives. 9 p.m., OWN
TUES. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
ABC | Modern Family (repeat) |
Modern Family (repeat) |
black-ish (repeat) |
Mixed-ish (repeat) |
The Genetic Detective (new) |
CBS | NCIS (repeat) |
FBI (repeat) |
FBI: Most Wanted (repeat) |
CW | Stargirl (new) |
Barry Brewer: Chicago, I’m Home | Local |
FOX | Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back (repeat) |
News/Local |
NBC | America’s Got Talent (new) |
World of Dance (new) |