Hi, and welcome to Wednesday. To help you with this stressful time, here are two very calm cats with lettuce on their heads. I’m not convinced they haven’t been drugged, but I can’t prove anything, so:
So, The Sex-Offender-in-Chief gave his first coronavirus briefing yesterday, believing that what the people want is more of him on their teevees. (Note: this is not what the people want.) And while he also said a lot of his typical bullshit about the virus going away, he did encourage people to wear masks. Which FUCKING FINALLY.
And that’s bad and weird and a lot of people are suggesting all sorts of things like he’s sending her a signal to not spill on him or that he’s going to pardon her or WHATEVER.
I can think of four times when Trump has publicly extended his best wishes to people charged with federal crimes by DOJ: Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort — and now Ghislaine Maxwell.
— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) July 21, 2020
When asked @realDonaldTrump said he wished #GhislaineMaxwellArrested well. With media mob eager to see her lynched it was brave to weigh in. Fact: cases vs her are for crimes allegedly committed more than 25 years ago. She deserved bail & got solitary confinement: woke politics.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) July 22, 2020
SHE DESERVED BAIL? THE CRIMES HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO? THIS IS “WOKE” POLITICS? SHE’S A SEX TRAFFICKER. Jesus, what does Ghislaine have on you, Geraldo?
For reals or on a list she has
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) July 22, 2020
I don’t know who needs to hear this but people who send well wishes to sexual predators are not brave. #geraldo
— Meredith Lee (@meralee727) July 22, 2020
I still remember Geraldo blaming Trayvon’s death on him wearing a hoodie a couple of years ago.
But the child sex trafficker who destroyed young girl’s lives deserves empathy apparently hmmmmm https://t.co/pZctTbxadI
— Heba Hersi (@Hebahersi) July 22, 2020
SO HERE’S WHAT (DIDN’T) HAPPEN: During the briefing, Al Jazeera reporter Kimberly Halkett asked Kayleigh McEnany a question which McEnany didn’t answer, and Halkett replied, “you don’t want to engage.” But some people thought she said, “you’re a lying bitch.”
Thanks for asking @charliespiering … there's a lot of misreporting out there about that briefing. The answer to your question is, I DID NOT. What I said was, "OKAY, YOU DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE." https://t.co/xmu5YR7gXr
— Kimberly Halkett (@KimberlyHalkett) July 21, 2020
And Carlson, despite this controversy already being settled, went ahead and spent time on his show explaining that while Halkett didn‘t call McEnany a “lying bitch,” it’s conceivable that she COULD HAVE. Of course, lots of things could have happened at the White House press briefing: McEnany could have knocked over the podium and thrown her shoes at the reporters, President Dingaling could have come out and peed on the flag, McEnany could have spent the entire time at the podium talking about the actual and very real sexual harassment allegations against Tucker Carlson. But none of those things DID happen and that’s why they weren’t covered because we don’t do stories about things we feel COULD happen, Tucker. That’s called “fake news.” For the thousandth fucking time, your feelings aren’t facts.
By the way, I can’t help but think that this whole stink has something to do with the fact that on Monday, a Florida Republican Congressman, Ted Yoho, got into an argument with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the steps of the Capitol, calling her disgusting and a “fucking bitch.” This actually DID happen (Yoho made a non-apology “apology” on the floor of Congress today, refusing to apologize for his “passion”), and I think the right is feeling ashamed, and looking for a way to make this a both sides issue. But also, shut the fuck up, Tucker.
Also, Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson had a little lover’s spat during the hand-off between the two shows over Jeff Bezos and the fact that he made $13 billion in ONE DAY during this pandemic. Hannity is sorry for snapping at Tucker, so don’t worry, they’ve kissed and made up.
Alonzo Brooks’ body has been exhumed following the story of his death/murder being explored on Unsolved Mysteries. Good.
A defamation lawsuit against Billions has been dismissed.
This is a public message: you can binge old 90s episodes of Supermarket Sweep on Netflix.
Going Viral
The MLB has released their shortened schedule for the 2020 season. Good luck and God bless.
Peacock has launched a Road to Tokyo channel one year ahead of the start of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics — assuming there will be a 2021 Olympics. Here’s to hoping!
NBC Sports is going to air tons of hockey between August 1-5 to make up for the postponement of the season thanks to lockdown.
The Wendy Williams Show will return to the studio on September 12.
The Great British Bake Off has been back in production for two weeks now and anticipates returning to British TV sometime this year.
Sky Studios is planning for shows to go back into production beginning in September, but they are making contingency plans in the event they have to go back into lockdown, including writing exit strategies into scripts.
Fans have set up a shrine to Comic-Con in San Diego ahead of the start of the virtual event that begins with some panels today.
San Diego Street Photo
#SanDiegoLovesComicCon tribute at the Gaslamp Trolley is getting bigger!!! #ComicConAtHome pic.twitter.com/qaA0wxBT4Y— Chris Morrow #ComicConAtHome Curator (@morrowchris) July 19, 2020
San Diego Love @Comic_Con morning photos. It's growing! Love the @WillEisner Hall of Fame tribute!! #ComicConAtHome #SDCC2020 pic.twitter.com/DZMRgZ5EXN
— Chris Morrow #ComicConAtHome Curator (@morrowchris) July 21, 2020
A message to the @Comic_Con community, with love pic.twitter.com/3otI5LmKYr
— San Diego Convention Center (@SDConventionCtr) July 21, 2020
Reminder: all Comic-Con panels are free for everyone to watch from home this year.
Anna Camp revealed that she had COVID-19 and that a month later she’s still recovering.
95 NFL players have tested positive since the league began testing.
I hadn’t considered this, but there are also reporters in the NBA’s quarantine bubble who are required to be tested every day, too.
Black Lives Matter
Select episodes of The Good Fight tackling racial issues and other social ills will air on BET next week on Monday and Tuesday.
Unsaid Stories… a series of four dramas inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement is in development at ITV.
Other areas that need work: hair and makeup.
Renewals
- Perry Mason has been renewed at HBO. Good! It’s very good and very dark.
- Burden of Truth and Diggstown have both been renewed at CBC. Burden of Truth has been airing on The CW, but it’s unclear if they will pick up the new season (they probably will). Diggstown has recently been acquired by BET+.
- Outer Banks has probably been renewed at Netflix.
In Development
- There are rumors that Donald Glover is going to star in a Lando Calrissian series on Disney+, guys.
We can finally announce that Donald Glover will be reprising his role as Lando in a future #StarWars series! What do you guys think of this news?? pic.twitter.com/TyQGjM0kdn
— Noah Outlaw (@OutlawNoah) July 22, 2020
- Rodham, an alternate history in which Hillary never married Bill Clinton, is being turned into a series at Hulu.
- Somebody Somewhere, starring the hilarious Bridget Everett, is in the works at HBO.
- Black Match, an anthology series from Elisabeth Moss’s new production company, is being developed at Hulu. Her production company also signed a first-look deal with Fox 21 Television Studio and Hulu.
- Repeat, a time travel drama based on a Japanese series, is in development at CBS.
- Rub & Tug is being turned into a TV series with a promise to hire a trans actor (instead of Scarlett Johannson) for the lead role.
- Foxy, a comedy, is in development appropriately enough at Fox.
- Gomorrah, The Great Pottery Throw Down, The Immortal, Veneno, and The Great British Bake Off have all been bought by HBO Max.
- Burden of Justice, a documentary series about L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer representing George Floyd’s family is in the works at eOne.
- The Dog, a documentary about John Wojtowicz, is being turned into a drama series.
- Tia Mowry’s Challenge Accepted is being developed.
- Luchador, a luchador drama, is being turned into a TV series.
- Louis Theroux: Life On The Edge is in the works at BBC Two.
- Crime has been ordered at BritBox.
- Joey King has signed a first-look deal at Hulu.
Casting News
- Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson will star in the animated Quibi comedy Futha Mucka.
- Bob Odenkirk, Martha Kelley, Paul Tompkins, and Lauren Lapkus will guest star on this season of Corporate on Comedy Central.
- Kim Coates, Ali Liebert, and Steve Bacichave joined the cast of Van Helsing on Syfy.
- Sherri Saum is joining the cast of Power Book II: Ghost on Starz.
- Jared Harris will star in The Beast Must Die on BritBox.
Mark Your Calendars
- Hitmen will debut on Peacock on August 6.
- Don’t Look Deeper will premiere on Quibi on July 27.
- Biohacker will debut on Netflix on August 20.
- Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning will debut on Netflix on August 4.
- Anelka: Misunderstood will debut on Netflix on August 5.
- Anything Is Possible – The Serge Ibaka Story will debut on Crackle on August 1.
- Elena of Avalor will return with new episodes on Disney Junior and Disney NOW on July 26, and the series finale will air on August 23.
- The Third Day will debut on HBO on September 14.
- Cobra Kai, seasons one and two, will debut on Netflix on August 28.
- The Legend of Korra will debut on Netflix on August 14.
- The Last Narc will debut on Amazon on July 31.
- All Together Now will debut on Netflix on August 28.
- Last Tango in Halifax will debut on PBS on September 20.
- Married at First Sight: Couples Cam will debut on Lifetime on July 23.
R.I.P.
Daisha Riley, A producer on Good Morning America
Michael Franklin, Executive who used to head the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America
WATCH THIS
Corporate: The final season begins with Hampton DeVille attempting to rewrite the finale of a beloved children’s show. Season premiere. 9:30 p.m., Comedy Central
Fear City: New York vs. the Mafia: This docuseries explores the investigation and prosecution of the five mob families in the 1980s. Series premiere. Netflix
Love on the Spectrum: This new series takes a look at the challenges young people on the spectrum have in the world of dating. Series premiere. Netflix
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Cameron Diaz, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Kygo featuring OneRepublic
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Amy Sedaris, Nikki Glaspie
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Mary Trump, Kristen Bell
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Willie Nelson, guest host George Lopez
- The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
- Conan: Jim Gaffigan
- Watch What Happens Live: Maren Morris, Dorit Kemsley
WEDS. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
ABC | United We Fall (new) |
The Goldbergs (repeat) |
The Conners (repeat) |
American Housewife (repeat) |
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (new) |
CBS | Tough As Nails (new) |
Game On! (new) |
SEAL Team (repeat) |
CW | The 100 (repeat) |
Bulletproof (repeat) |
Local |
FOX | MasterChef/b> (repeat) |
Ultimate Tag (new) |
News/Local |
NBC | Chicago Med (repeat) |
Chicago Fire (repeat) |
Chicago P.D. (repeat) |
I ordered tickets to two more Olympics events in a fit of irrational optimism that it will actually happen next year.