Well, that was a particularly shitty weekend, between the death of Chadwick Boseman, another murder at a protest, and the President of the United States cheering on the violence …
So here’s a baby rhino with the zoomies. Let’s try to make this week better, together.
Let’s begin with some actual TV news for a change!
Netflix has launched a new streaming site, netflix.com/watch-free, where you can do just that: watch some of their pilot episodes for free, in an attempt to convince you to become a member. For those six of you out there who don’t have a Netflix subscription yet. (Seriously, who are you?) Bird Box, Stranger Things, Love is Blind, Grace And Frankie, Elite, Our Planet, When They See Us, Murder Mystery, The Boss Baby: Back In Business, and The Two Popes are all available.
R.I.P. New York Times TV grid. (Mine isn’t going anywhere, by the way.)
Manifest wants SO HARD to be Lost. It is not Lost. (But here are 8 clues about season 3.)
Happy 828 Day, Manifesters! Here's:
8️⃣ things to look forward to in Season 3
2️⃣ fan theories debunked
8️⃣ things you may have noticed in Season 2 pic.twitter.com/kaSmwxTsEP— Manifest (@NBCManifest) August 28, 2020
Like Cobra Kai? Because some spinoffs could be in the works.
American Horror Story goes back into production in October and this is what we know:
FBI: Most Wanted has changed showrunners.
The VMAs were last night. Here’s what you missed if you are an old fart like me.
A reminder: when she filmed The Graduate, Ann Bancroft was three years younger than Clare Crawley is now.
Going Viral
Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to the El Capitan theater on September 21.
CBS is announcing the return to production:
- NCIS begins production on September 9
- NCIS: Los Angeles will begin on September 3
- NCIS: New Orleans will begin production on September 21
- The Unicorn will begin October 12
- The Neighborhood will have a table read on September 16
- Magnum P.I. returns September 14
- Bull on September 25
The VERY dry British comedy, Breeders, returned to production today in the U.K.
And the Netflix/ BBC drama, The Serpent has begun filming in the U.K.
The virus denied the world a pop-up “spite store” for Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, the unions and guilds are nearing deals and formalizing plans for productions to start back up again. (Of course, a bunch already have … so …)
The A’s and Astros had to postpone a game because some A’s players tested positive. Saturday was only the third day since the MLB came back when all 30 teams played.
Oh! Huh! The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease has been found in multiple schools reopening in the middle of a pandemic! COoooOOooool
University of Alabama has well over 1,000 positive cases now, and reportedly told their employees to keep quiet about the outbreak. GREAT JOB, EVERYONE!
In fact, there are some 26,000 positive cases in our colleges and universities.
James Corden is worried about Broadway being able to bounce back from this.
The ghost of Herman Cain is tweeting about how COVID-19 is less deadly than everyone is saying in the most amazing bit of irony I have ever seen.
The White House has a new pandemic advisor, Scott Atlas, and he’s pushing for a herd immunity approach to the virus. What could go wrong?
“With a population of 328 million in the United States, it may require 2.13 million deaths to reach a 65 percent threshold of herd immunity, assuming the virus has a 1 percent fatality rate, according to an analysis by The Washington Post.”
Political Crap
Oy. I really wanted to take a day or two off after two weeks of conventions, but there is no taking a day off with President Flamethrower in office, I’m afraid.
After last week’s police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and then the protests, and then the counter-protestors including a 17-year-old kid with an itchy trigger finger who killed two protestors and injured another, the action moved back to Portland this weekend. There, a bunch of Trumplings threw their own truck rally before driving into downtown where they drove through crowds, shot protestors with paintballs, and maced them. President Chaos called them “great patriots,” obviously.
Horrifically, one of these great patriots was shot and killed that night in downtown Portland, inflaming passions on both sides even further. It’s a terrifying, dangerous time for everyone. But instead of trying to calm his supporters, President Race War is convinced that the unrest and tension in this country is his best opportunity to distract the American people from his failure to protect them from COVID-19 and will be his path to reelection. And it might just work if enough people in the swing states buy his lies. He’s planning on going to Kenosha tomorrow to “thank” the National Guard and police (he has not reached out to Jacob Blake’s family, obvs), even though Wisconsin is BEGGING him to stay the fuck away.
Vice President Biden delivered a powerful speech today, rebutting the bullshit the Liar-in-Chief has been spewing about him for weeks now.
"He keeps telling you if only you he was President, you would feel safe. Well, he is President whether he knows it or not." https://t.co/k4HZZzFKUN
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) August 31, 2020
Biden: "Trump, you want to talk about fear? Do you know what people are afraid of? They're afraid they're gonna get Covid. They're afraid they're gonna get sick and die. And that is in no small part b/c of you. We're now on track for more than 200,000 deaths in this country." pic.twitter.com/MbhFcCKTpl
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 31, 2020
BIDEN: "We have arrived in a moment in this campaign that we all knew we would get to: The moment when Donald Trump would be so desperate he would do anything to hold onto power. Donald Trump has been a toxic presence in our nation for four years." pic.twitter.com/ecJq4cZHHZ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 31, 2020
It’s all very depressing and hard and I woke up in the middle of a panic attack two mornings ago, just wanting to be able to see into the future and know how this all ends. I need to be prepared because I wasn’t prepared last time.
So, I’m going to conclude on a positive note: across the board, in every demographic and on every night, the Democratic National Convention beat the Republican National Convention in the ratings — you know, where it really hurts President Neilsen.
Well @JoeBiden hits @realDonaldTrump where it hurts: in the convention speech ratings! The #DNC2020 blew the #RNC2020 out in the ratings war by 2 million more viewers. https://t.co/6Qg97qSO2Q #JoeBiden #ratings
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) August 28, 2020
Cancellations
- NOS4A2 has been canceled after two seasons on AMC.
In Development
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air will have an unscripted reunion special on HBO Max.
- The X-Files: Albuquerque, an animated comedy X-Files spinoff has been put into development at Fox.
- Women of the Movement, a limited series about Mamie Till Mobley, mother of Emmett Till, has been ordered at ABC.
- The Pretenders, a witness protection drama produced by Damon Wayans Jr. is being developed at The CW.
- Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special is coming to Apple TV+.
- Felix Ever After is being developed into a TV series at Amazon.
- Rights to the documentary The Boy From Medellín have been bought by Amazon.
Casting News
- Nick Robinson will co-star in Maid on Netflix.
- Katherine Renee Turner is joining the cast of FBI on CBS.
- Gus Birney and Dylan Gage are joining Shining Vale on Starz.
Mark Your Calendar
- The Haunting of Bly Manor will debut on Netflix on October 9.
- The Stand will premiere on CBS All Access on December 17.
- We Are Who We Are will premiere on HBO on September 14.
- News Nation, a three-hour primetime news block, will debut on WGN tomorrow.
- 50 States of Fright will return on Quibi on October 26.
- Singled Out will return on Quibi on September 7.
- Hosts will debut on digital and VOD on October 2.
- Dr. 90210 will return on E! on September 28.
R.I.P.
Chadwick Boseman, Actor known for portraying Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, James Brown, and, of course, he was the star of Black Panther, King T’Challa. Boseman was only 43 and succumbed to colon cancer, which he had battling for the past four years. It’s such a terrible, shocking loss.
Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson. You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years. https://t.co/KazXV1e7l7
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 29, 2020
Heartbroken. My friend and fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble. He left too early but his life made a difference. Sending my sincere condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/C5xGkUi9oZ
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 29, 2020
The true power of @ChadwickBoseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen. From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes. Jill and I are praying for his loved ones at this difficult time.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 29, 2020
Most liked Tweet ever.
A tribute fit for a King. #WakandaForever https://t.co/lpyzmnIVoP
— Twitter (@Twitter) August 29, 2020
.@KingJames paid respect to Chadwick Boseman before last night's Game 5 pic.twitter.com/lOurIDwd41
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 30, 2020
.@KekePalmer honored Chadwick Boseman with a touching tribute at the 2020 MTV #VMAs 😭
📽: @MTV pic.twitter.com/q6FukYO0sb— TeaTimeWithLou&V (@TeatimewithlouV) August 31, 2020
Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther wrote a beautiful tribute to Boseman. You can read the whole thing here.
In African cultures we often refer to loved ones that have passed on as ancestors. Sometimes you are genetically related. Sometimes you are not. I had the privilege of directing scenes of Chad’s character, T’Challa, communicating with the ancestors of Wakanda. We were in Atlanta, in an abandoned warehouse, with bluescreens, and massive movie lights, but Chad’s performance made it feel real. I think it was because from the time that I met him, the ancestors spoke through him. It’s no secret to me now how he was able to skillfully portray some of our most notable ones. I had no doubt that he would live on and continue to bless us with more. But it is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now. And I know that he will watch over us, until we meet again.
And ABC aired Black Panther commercial-free last night as a tribute. It won the night in the ratings.
Netflix canceled a preview event for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, in which Boseman co-starred, that was scheduled to take place today.
— Danai Gurira (@DanaiGurira) August 30, 2020
I’m gonna have to tell Cy, Bowie and Zen that T’Challa has passed. What other king can I tell them about now? pic.twitter.com/AFEFxJOFd5
— Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) August 29, 2020
"It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of alumnus Chadwick Boseman who passed away this evening. His incredible talent will forever be immortalized through his characters and through his own personal journey from student to superhero! Rest in Power!" @HUPrez17 pic.twitter.com/8TFBTM0tlm
— Howard University (@HowardU) August 29, 2020
Chadwick…..no words to express my devastation of losing you. Your talent, your spirit, your heart, your authenticity……..It was an honor working beside you, getting to know you….Rest well prince…May flights of angels sing thee to thy heavenly rest. I love you! 💛💛💛 pic.twitter.com/6abglPBOsh
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) August 29, 2020
I’m absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking.
Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. I’m endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, King💙 pic.twitter.com/oBERXlw66Z
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) August 29, 2020
All I have to say is the tragedies amassing this year have only been made more profound by the loss of #ChadwickBoseman. What a man, and what an immense talent. Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 29, 2020
Chadwick Boseman getting emotional about trading letters with kids with terminal cancer who passed before they got to see Black Panther…knowing he was himself battling cancer when he said this. Jesus. pic.twitter.com/o6l6hUjanU
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) August 29, 2020
And if you have a moment, scroll through this thread of young kids dressed as T’Challa, a superhero who looked like them:
here are my babies, two different kind of black panthers, from halloween 🖤🖤🧡 pic.twitter.com/xSbG2gBR2L
— derecka (@dereckapurnell) August 29, 2020
Cliff Robinson, NBA All-Star and Survivor contestant
Caesar Cordova, Character actor in Scarface and Carlito’s Way
Bob “Bullet” Armstrong, WWE Hall of Fame wrestler
John Thompson Jr., Former Georgetown basketball coach
Leslie H. Freas, Twin sister of Linda Hamilton and her stunt double
WATCH THIS
Planet Earth: A Celebration: Eight of the most spectacular segments from Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II are highlighted in this new special featuring new narration from David Attenborough. Premiere. 7 p.m., BBC, AMC, IFC, Sundance
All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspurs: Tom Hardy narrates this documentary about the Premier League Spurs team, the soccer team my husband is completely obsessed with for reasons I do not understand. Premiere. Amazon
Back to the Future marathon: What I would give for a time-traveling Delorean these days … 6 p.m., WGN
Late Night:
- Conan: Jason Sudeikis
MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
ABC | The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons Ever! (repeat) |
CBS | The Neighbor-hood (repeat) |
Young Sheldon (repeat) |
Love Island (repeat) |
Bull (repeat) |
CW | Whose Line is it Anyway? (new) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
Penn & Teller: Try This At Home Too (new) |
Local |
FOX | Love the Coopers | News/Local |
NBC | American Ninja Warrior (new) |
Dateline NBC (repeat) |
Every generation seems to have their touchstone tragic celebrity death.
For the Greatest Generation, it was James Dean and Buddy Holly.
For Boomers it was John Lennon.
Gen X was Michael Jackson and perhaps Selena.
Will Chadwick Boseman be considered the Millennial touchstone?