Cartoon dragons are coming.

by Therese Odell, posted in Uncategorized

It’s Thursday.

 

Now HBO is thinking about an animated series based in the Game of Thrones universe. That’s it, that’s all I’ve got: animated series set in the Game of Thrones universe. No news on when, where, who, what, or why. Well … the why is probably, “because animation is cheaper than a bunch of CGI dragons,” but as to the other questions, I got nothing.

Meanwhile, the original Daenerys has for the first time talked about filming that infamously terrible pilot. It sounds like it all worked out for the best for everyone involved.

Turns out the gamble they made with releasing Wonder Woman: 1984 paid off for HBO Max. According to the CEO of AT&T John Stankey, HBO Max’s subscriber base doubled during the fourth quarter, far ahead of schedule. And this is interesting: HBO Max is planning on launching a cheaper, ad-supported tier this spring.

Meanwhile, Peacock is up to 33 million subscribers now. It sounds like adding The Office has helped.

These two keep being teases.

WandaVision is partially based on this cult sitcom. I can see it. But it’s a shame she couldn’t work Small Wonder or It’s a Living! in there, too.

We have Real Housewives of New Jersey taglines, people.

Andy Cohen is threatening to reboot The Real Housewives of Orange County.

A firefighter puts himself in Station 19 to offer some criticisms of their firefighting techniques:

Watchmen writer Cord Jefferson has established a fellowship for journalists interested in becoming TV writers.

Don’t cry for Steven Yeun.

You love to see it:

Norman Lear will be receiving The Carol Burnett Award at the Golden Globes this year.

Shaquille O’Neal thinks you’d rather watch him than puppies.

Katherine Heigl has some thoughts on her character’s off-screen “happy ending” on Grey’s Anatomy.

ABC News President James Goldston is leaving after being with the network for 17 years. A replacement has not been named. Hmm …

Confused by the GameStop news? An explainer:

Black Lives Matter

Lucasfilm recently announced Star Wars: The High Republic Show, a companion webseries to a series of comic books and novels called Star Wars: The High Republic, would be hosted by actress/cosplayer/tabletop role-playing gamer Krystina Arielle, and the racist trolls came out of the woodwork, some accusing her of “calling all White people racist,” which she did not do. People began attacking her online, saying all matter of racist things on her accounts, and in response, other people created the #IStandWithKrystina hashtag. Finally, Star Wars’ Twitter account took notice:

But then there were a lot of people who were mad at Lucasfilm and Disney for not doing enough for John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran among others, and considered this an empty gesture. Basically, like everything online, it devolved into a shitshow. But the bottom line? White people, we’ve got to pull it together. Stop doing this crap.

The head of The CW is proud of the diversity on his networks’ shows but admits they can do better behind the camera and aims to increase diversity in internal hires and working with more diverse external vendors.

The Television Academy Foundation has established a Diversity and Inclusion Unscripted Internship Program with the intention of establishing paid internships for Los Angeles area college students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds to help them break into the reality TV business. Traditionally, such internships are unpaid, creating a barrier for students who aren’t subsidized by wealthy families.

Over in the U.K., Sky is aiming to diversify its workforce and senior leadership team.

Police in one sheriff’s department are undergoing training on how to deal with autistic individuals — training that would certainly be helpful across the board for all police departments. Get on it, folks.

Removing tribespeople on the Jungle Cruise ride at the Disney parks is a genuinely good start, but what took so long?

Going Viral

January was the worst month for COVID-19 here in America: some 80,000 of us died. We are projected to hit half a million dead by next month. According to Worldometer’s numbers, we’re set to hit 450,000 dead by the weekend.

The state of Oklahoma was hoodwinked by Former President Huckster, and now are trying to return $2 million worth of hydroxychloroquine, LOL.

Here’s a “good people doing good things” story for you: some health care workers stuck in a traffic jam passed out extra doses of vaccine to those stuck in the jam with them rather than allow the vaccine to expire. Critical thinking skills! They are important!

Sonny Fox, the beloved host of a New York children’s program in the 60s, has died of COVID-19.

Michael Strahan has tested positive and is quarantining.

NBCUniversal is trying to project confidence that the Tokyo Olympics will go forward this year. We’ll see.

Disney is pushing back their cruise dates until at least May. We’ll see.

These Days, a series set in the pandemic, is hoping it won’t turn audiences off as it searches for a home at the Sundance Film Festival.

Renewals

Cancellations

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • Tell Me Your Secrets will premiere on Amazon on February 19.
  • The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers will premiere on Disney+ on March 26.
  • Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar will debut on VOD on February 12.
  • The Map of Tiny Perfect Things will premiere on Amazon on February 12.
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will premiere on Paramount+ on March 4.
  • Haute Dog returns on HBO Max on February 4.
  • Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine will debut on Showtime on February 21.
  • The Head will debut on HBO Max on February 4.
  • Canine Intervention will premiere on Netflix on February 24.
  • Sew the Winter to My Skin will premiere on Crackle on February 1.
  • In the Same Breath will premiere on HBO and HBO Max later this year.
  • Warner Bros. has released a sizzle reel for their 2021 releases which will stream on HBO Max.

R.I.P.

Cloris Leachman, Oscar-winning legendary actress who excelled in both comedic and dramatic roles. She won the Academy Award for The Last Picture Show but was best remembered for her comedic roles, including Young Frankenstein, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Malcolm in the Middle, Raising Hope, and her starring role in Phyllis.

WATCH THIS

Jann: Canadian singer and comedian Jann Arden plays a version of herself in this new comedy about a singer of a certain age who realizes her career is slipping away from her. Premiere. Hulu

Possessions: Is a young French expatriate in Israel charged with her husband’s murder a lost and vulnerable woman trapped in a foreign country, or is she a dangerously manipulative killer? Premiere HBO Max

Palmer: Justin Timberlake stars in this film about a former college football star who returns to his hometown after a stint in prison. Premiere. Apple TV+
Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Keegan-Michael Key, Terry Gross, Fontaines D.C.
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers: Desus & Mero, Ryan Shazier
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Viggo Mortensen, Charles Blow
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden: Carey Mulligan, Jhene Aiko
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live: Michelle Pfeiffer, George Lopez, Arlo Parks
  • The Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
  • Conan: Mike Birbiglia
  • Watch What Happens Live: Wendy Williams
  • A Little Late with Lily Singh: Mary Holland
THUR 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
(new)		 The Chase
(new)		 The Hustler
(new)
CBS Young Sheldon
(repeat)		 Young Sheldon
(repeat)		 Mom
(repeat)		 The Unicorn
(new)		 Star Trek: Discovery
(new)
CW Walker
(new)		 Legacies
(new)		 News/Local
FOX Hell’s Kitchen
(new)		 Call Me Kat
(new)		 Last Man Standing
(new)
NBC Mr. Mayor
(new)		 Superstore
(new)		 Law & Order Special Victims Unit
(repeat)		 Dateline

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