Shitshow.

by Therese Odell, posted in Uncategorized

It’s Wednesday and I can’t be the only one with a post-debate hangover headache out there. There’s only one cure: FAT BEARS.

Fat Bear Week BEGINS TODAY:

Political Crap

I mean … you guys … what is even there to say?

Yes, it was a shitshow. But don’t “both sides” this. Let us be VERY clear who caused the shitshow: President Shitflinger himself. Last night’s debate was not just exhausting, maddening, and embarrassing — mostly for Chris Wallace, who had no control over President Adderall — it was also instructive, not on the issues, mind you, but on who these men are. Joe Biden is an old-school politician who wanted to speak to the American people about who he would be as the President; President Screamy McWon’tShutTheFuckUp is a bully. David Corn is more eloquent about it in this Mother Jones piece that I urge you to read in full:

Donald Trump was talking at Joe Biden, and Joe Biden was talking to America. 

That’s what happened Tuesday night during the first presidential debate of 2020. Trump was focused on smearing his opponent, and Biden was trying to connect with voters. Throughout the evening, Trump kept his sneering look fixed upon Biden, as he heaped abuse on Biden (and Biden’s son, Hunter). Trump rarely addressed voters. It was as if he was only bent on creating content for Sean Hannity. Biden, in a stark comparison, often peered into the camera and attempted to speak directly with viewers. At one point, Biden, while responding to yet another Trump assault on Hunter Biden, brought the debate straight to those watching: “This is not about my family or his family. It’s about your family.”

President Dumpsterfire lied about mail-in voting, refused to agree to step down if he loses, encouraged his supporters to intimidate voters at polling locations, attacked racial sensitivity training as being “racist,” repeated weird conspiracy theories about Mike Flynn and Hillary Clinton, mocked Joe Biden for wearing masks and not holding super-spreader rallies, and attacked Joe Biden’s education and more disgustingly, his sons.

This from a man whose children have been banned from operating charities because they can’t be trusted to not steal from them, and a man who got into college by paying off another student to take his S.A.T.s for him.

OK.

But the moment that stunned America was when President Tiki Torch not only refused to condemn white supremacists, he gave them literal marching orders:

And the Proud Boys heard him.

As Joe Biden said to President Grand Wizard about more than 200,000 Americans dead because he failed to control the COVID-19 pandemic: “It is what it is. Because you are who you are.”

Look, I’m not a political scientist, I don’t know how last night’s performance will play with the average voter, but I can’t imagine many people outside of President Proud Boy’s base watching last night’s debate and thinking to themselves, “Yeah, I definitely want four more years of being yelled at by this angry can of Tang. I want to sign up for four more years of this chaos.”

So here are a bunch of takes from actual political scientists:

“Trump’s strategy is to turn the debates into a dumpster fire on steroids. He did nothing to win over the suburbs, college-educated white women, seniors and people of color. He offered a base appeal to his base—and he can’t close the gap with that. The alienating character of his conduct was compounded by his answers and his fabrications. The white supremacist Proud Boys, he says, are supposed to “stand back and stand by” as the ballots are counted. They now appear to be using that as a slogan on their social media accounts. It was the lowest moment in the history of presidential debates.

The “Sleepy Joe” meme is over. Biden refused to be bullied, pushed back effectively, and was strong all the way through. Trump may not be toast yet, but he’s in the toaster. It’s been said that everything he touches dies, and maybe Tuesday night he killed the tradition of presidential debates. I hope not. But two more of these debates in 2020 will only debase our democracy.” –Bob Shrum

“This was not a debate. It was a sustained attack on the American system of government by the President of the United States. There is nothing to comment on regarding policy; Donald Trump made substantive discussion of anything all but impossible. But Trump did make a few things clear: He takes no responsibility for the pandemic deaths that occurred on his watch, he refuses to condemn white supremacists, he wants his followers to engage in voter intimidation, and he intends to challenge any election result he doesn’t like. Any sense of decorum, any possibility that an election is a contest between Americans who want the best for the nation, went out the window as Trump railed—and lied, repeatedly—in desperation. Any reasonable viewing of this debate can only lead to two conclusions: One is that something is deeply wrong with Donald Trump, mentally and emotionally. The other is that the president will attack anyone and anything, that he will sacrifice any principle, ignore any norm, and even that he will violate any law that he thinks stands in the way of staying in office. Trump has brought a new disgrace upon his own country, and we should be horrified that our fellow citizens, our children, our allies—and especially our enemies—have now seen the United States brought low in a way few of us could have imagined possible even five years ago.” –Tom Nichols

“You might have missed the most important thing in the debate. It wasn’t the attacks or the insults, it was the asides, the telling statements uttered almost underneath the candidates’ breaths.

For example, when moderator Chris Wallace said: “Mr. President, your campaign agreed both sides get two minutes, answers uninterrupted. Your side agreed. Observe what your campaign agreed to.” Biden uttered, “He never keeps his word.” Boom.

This aside illustrated Biden’s central argument about Trump—and was the most effective way of making the point. While Biden had several rehearsed lines about the many lies of Donald Trump, this resonated, because in a moment of exasperation, the audience could see that if President Trump couldn’t play by the rules he had agreed to, how on earth can he be expected to keep his word to the American people? Biden’s aside highlighted what was clear from the exchange: The president is untrustworthy.

By contrast, President Trump’s asides were interruptions of the moderator and his opponent’s answers, intended to egg Biden on, ribbing him, trying to throw him off balance. But the president’s most revealing aside occurred when he was pressed to renounce white supremacists and instead first uttered, “Proud boys, stand back and standby” before confusingly counter-attacking the anarchist group antifa. Here again President Trump finds himself hard pressed to condemn Proud Boys, a group the Southern Poverty Law Center identifies as a hate group know for anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric known to have appeared in Charlottesville at the Unite the Right rally. The failure of the president to renounce a hate group when offered up the chance in front of the American people, and instead telling them to “stand by,” illustrates how Trump is fostering unrest.

The unrehearsed quips and exhalations that punctuated this “debate” revealed more about each man than any scripted line or practiced zinger. They reveal contrasting portraits of Biden’s frustration of taking seriously the opportunity to debate ideas compared to Trump’s anger ridden sparring contest, annoyed at having to subject himself to the demeaning process of democracy.” –Margaret Hoover

Yeah, I think that about sums it up. Oh! One more thing: in the next two debates, give the moderators a kill switch on the microphones, please, and thank you.

But in a tiny sliver of good news: Kylie Jenner posted this “thirst trap” as the kids call it, urging people to register to vote, with a link to vote.org in her bio:

… and y’all, it worked. According to vote.org, nearly 50,000 people came to their site through Kylie’s link. Let’s just hope they don’t vote for her brother-in-law.

Voter registration closes here in Texas on Monday, so it is worth it to swing by the site yourself to make sure you are registered, even if you think you are. Voter roll purges are real, y’all.

Going Viral

Chicago Med is halting production for two weeks after a crew member tested positive.

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, Riverdale, A Million Little Things, Charmed, Batwoman, The Mighty Ducks, Nancy Drew, and Maid had to halt production because test results are taking over 72 hours to return. The Flash, Supergirl, and DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow were all scheduled to begin production this week, but have been pushed back.

But things are better in the U.K. Apple is beginning production on Suspicion and Slow Horses.

Jim Parsons revealed he had COVID-19 back in March, and lost his sense of smell and taste.

The NFL is postponing the Titans-Steelers game after a bunch of people and players in the Titans’ organization tested positive.

Disney is planning to lay off 28,000 park employees because California won’t allow them to reopen.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Comic-Con announced their intentions of holding an in-person event in December. NOPE. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

All Other TV News

The Spirit Awards are adding five television categories: new scripted series, new non-scripted or documentary series, male performance, female performance, and ensemble cast. I don’t know why they’re limiting it to “new” series, but sure.

The Schitt’s Creek motel is up for sale, if you’re interested in owning a little Emmy history.

If you’ve been watching The Third Day on HBO (and if you’re a fan of horror, you should), you’ll be interested to know that HBO will be featuring a 12-hour “live theatrical event” called “Autumn” on their Facebook page. “For viewers who seek more of THE THIRD DAY, ‘Autumn’ will allow them to be immersed in the world of the show on the island of Osea. A unique live event broadcast online, ‘Autumn’ serves as a bridge between the three episodes of ‘Summer’ and the three episodes of ‘Winter’ while not being requisite for enjoying the limited series. Featuring members of The Third Day cast including Jude Law and Katherine Waterston, viewers will follow the events of a single day in real time.” INTRIGUING.

Seth Meyers is hosting a fundraiser for the Chinquapin Preparatory School here in the Houston area. “Chinquapin Preparatory School is tucked away about 20 miles east of downtown Houston, and is known as Texas’ only private college prep boarding school that serves students in grades six through 12 from under-resourced communities and schools in greater Houston.” Seth Meyers is good people.

George R.R. Martin’s least favorite scene in Game of Thrones is certainly not the same as yours. I mean, I know you’re the king of nerds, but this takes nerdiness to another level, George.

Amazon moved its Prime Day(s) to October 13 and 14, Prime members. 

Keep fighting, Shannen Doherty!

Renewals

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Cancellations

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In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • black-ish returns on Sunday for a special event — but! the real premiere is on October 21 on ABC.
  • Supermarket Sweep will debut on ABC on October 18.
  • Marvel’s 616 will premiere on Disney+ on November 20.
  • Holidate will debut on Netflix on October 28.

R.I.P.

Helen Reddy, Australian singer and feminist icon who sang “I Am Woman”

Mac Davis, Country singer, songwriter, and host of The Mac Davis Show

WATCH THIS

The 100: Clarke and her friends have reached the final battle. Series finale. 7 p.m., The CW

NBA Finals & Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night: Basketball in the time of coronavirus. 7 p.m., ABC

Love Island: Season finale. 8 p.m., CBS

The Boys in the Band: Ryan Murphy updates the classic play and 1970’s film with Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesus, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Tuc Watkins. Premiere. Netflix

American Murder: The Family Next Door: An examination of the Watt family murders, in which Christopher Watts murdered his pregnant wife and two young daughters. Premiere. Netflix

South Park: In the season premiere, the pandemic hits South Park, Colorado. Season premiere. 8 p.m., Comedy Central

Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Chris Colfer, BTS
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers: Taylor Schilling, Brian Stelter, Jessica Burdeaux
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: John Lithgow, Jonathan Alter
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Surfaces
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live: Julie Bowen, My Morning Jacket
  • The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
  • Watch What Happens Live: Stacey Abrams, Ilana Glazer

 

WEDS. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC NBA Finals
(live)
CBS Big Brother
(new)		 Love Island
(new)		 48 Hours: Suspicion
(new)
CW The 100
(new)		 Penn & Teller: Fool Us
(repeat)		 Local
FOX The Masked Singer
(new)		 I Can See Your Voice
(new)		 News/Local
NBC Stanley Cup Playoff
(live)

 

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