It is a Friday.
This Shih Tzu …
… is definitely related to this Yorkshire Terrier:
This is probably he funniest short video I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/SmUNS3BzUu
— Dame Sarah Connolly (@spconnolly) February 3, 2021
Fox News is in a bit of a ratings crisis, shedding 20% of its viewers compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, MSNBC has risen by 65% and CNN an impressive 151%.
There are plenty of theories as to why Fox News is in such a decline after owning the top spot in news ratings since 1999, but it certainly doesn’t help that they have spent decades filling their audience’s heads with conspiracy theories and complete falsehoods while also claiming to be a “news” organization. The problem with that strategy is at some point, your conspiracy-fed audience will reject facts and news if you report them and flee to places that will tell them what they want to hear, like OANN and Newsmax.
It’s the classic “woman who voted for the ‘leopard’s eating faces’ party never thought leopard would eat HER face” situation. And now that they’re bleeding, Fox News has decided to double down on the crazy, instead of becoming a real news station. Good luck with that, you fucking ghouls.
Just to compound Fox News’ terrible horrible no good very bad month, they are also being sued for $2.7 billion by Smartmatic for defamation. The voting systems company claims that Fox News “falsely accused the company of helping to rig the U.S. presidential election in favor of Joe Biden.” Smartmatic is also suing Fox News hosts Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo, and Jeanine Pirro, as well as Rudy Giuliani and Sydney Powell. Delicious.
Speaking of looney right-wing networks, voting systems, and lawsuits, I haven’t really had a chance to discuss the Newsmax/My Pillow Guy meltdown, but I’d not be doing my job if I just glossed over it altogether, especially since it is so hilarious. It became clear a few weeks ago that Newsmax had been threatened within an inch of their lives with a lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems to keep their names OUT THEIR MOUTHS. Which is why when Newsmax decided to have the My Pillow Guy — the lead conspiracy theorist that Dominion rigged the election — on to talk about “cancel culture,” this happened:
Newsmax invites Mike Lindell, who advocated for a coup and spews dangerous conspiracy theories, on air. It didn't go well. pic.twitter.com/6xzSgXlHua
— Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) February 2, 2021
What is even funnier is that the My Pillow Guy’s fans LOST THEIR SHIT, feeling like their boy had been disrespected by Newsmax. So a day later, the host apologized to the My Pillow Guy. Ah, I see you have met the leopards, Newsmax. Having a face was nice while it lasted.
(By the way, when I was doing a quick search on Foolish for “Bullshit Mountain,” I found this post from early in the Trump Administration ranting about how Fox News was being used as a propaganda outlet by glorifying Former President Shitstain while he golfed, and … I just … it’s almost sweet how angry I was at something that in retrospect is so fucking small. Golf? YOU’RE MAD AT FOX NEWS CALLING HIM GOLFING “WORK?” Oh, my sweet summer child, winter is coming, and it is going to hit you hard.)
Kevin Feige, the President of Marvel Studios, says there are no plans for any kind of Marvel/Star Wars crossovers, crushing the dreams of one Garth Blunden.
Eh. I tried. https://t.co/KqhRvEW0vP
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 4, 2021
The Nick Cannon Redemption Tour continues afoot. Morgan Wallen, are you taking notes?
Congratulations to Gabbi Tuft and her family!
Going Viral
More than 3,500 Americans died of COVID-19 yesterday, and we are nearing 470,000 deaths total. If we had universal mask mandates, it is projected that only 505,000 will be dead by the end of next month. However, if we ease mask mandates, we could have over 700,000 dead in that same time. Currently, we are projected to add another 100,000 to the death total by March 31, if we keep doing what we’re doing.
Please wear a mask so that you can live long enough to enjoy having dogs in the White House again.
The Senate approved moving along President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill — without a single Republican vote. President Biden still wants this to be bipartisan but is happy to move without Republican help because we DO NOT HAVE TIME TO DICK AROUND.
It looks like the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be up for approval review on February 26. Let’s do this! And in more good news, the vaccine being used in the U.K. appears to offer protection against the U.K. variant.
Robb Webb, the voice of 60 Minutes, has passed from COVID-19.
Anne Feeney, Folk singer and activist, died from COVID-19.
Apparently contracting COVID makes you crave s’mores.
That Soul Cycle instructor who lied to get a vaccine could go to jail for it — but she won’t.
Outer Range on Amazon and Big Shot on Disney+ both had to suspend production.
The film Am I OK? has also paused production after a positive test.
Renewals
- The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has been renewed for a second season on Bravo.
- Impractical Jokers has been renewed for a tenth season on truTV.
In Development
- A remake of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman starring Emily Hampshire is in the works at Sony TV.
- The Thing About Pam, a limited series based on a true crime story and starring Renée Zellweger, has been greenlit at NBC.
- The Serpent Queen, a drama about Catherine de Medici, has been ordered at Starz.
- Summer of Soul (… Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) will stream on Hulu.
- Breathe, a survival drama, has been ordered at Netflix.
- Ripple is being turned into a film at Netflix.
Casting News
- Ryan Seacrest will no longer co-host Live From The Red Carpet on E! after 14 years. I suspect this is a contractual thing — Seacrest and his production company appear to be tying themselves closer to Disney and severing ties to NBCUniversal.
- Terry O’Quinn, Gil Birmingham, and Calum Worthy have been cast in Pieces of Her on Netflix.
- Emma Corrin will co-star with Harry Styles in My Policeman on Amazon.
- Nhut Le has been cast as Judomaster in HBO Max’s Peacemaker.
- Olivia Colman, Matt Smith, Patricia Allison, and Rob Brydon will voice the BBC animated special Superworm.
Mark Your Calendar
- Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump will premiere on E! on March 18.
- Allen v. Farrow will premiere on HBO on February 21.
- Mayans MC returns on FX on March 16.
- Sentinelle will stream on Netflix on March 5.
- The TS Madison Experience will air on WE tv on March 4.
- Attack of the Murder Hornets will debut on Discovery+ on February 20.
- Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir will premiere on PBS on May 3.
- The Great Food Truck Race: Alaska will premiere on Food Network on March 7.
- Lazarus will premiere on Tubi on February 26.
- Atlantic Crossing will premiere on PBS on April 4.
R.I.P.
Christopher Plummer, Legendary actor, star of The Sound of Music
Haya Harareet, Israeli actress who starred in Ben-Hur
Jim Weatherly, Songwriter who wrote “Midnight Train to Georgia” (which was originally “Midnight Train to Houston” and inspired by Lee Majors and Farah Fawcett, true story)
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
Malcolm & Marie: Zendaya stars in this film about a director whose relationship is tested as he and his girlfriend await the reviews of his latest movie. Netflix
Strip Down, Rise Up: This documentary follows a group of women of various ages and ethnicities who heal their trauma and body issues through the art of pole dancing. Netflix
SATURDAY
Saturday Night Live: Dan Levy & Phoebe Bridgers 10:30 p.m., NBC
Irresistible: Jon Stewart made his directorial debut with this political comedy starring Steve Carrell and Rose Byrne. 7 p.m., HBO
Life in a Day 2020: People all over the world filmed themselves on July 25 to create this portrait of an extraordinary year. YouTube
SUNDAY
Super Bowl: PLEASE please I’m begging you please watch this at home with your family that you are sick of looking at and do not attend Super Bowl parties or go to a sports bar or whatever other foolishness you are considering. PLEASE. 5:30 p.m., CBS
Puppy Bowl: Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg are hosting, which is just damned delightful. 1 p.m., Animal Planet
Black Lives Matter: A Global Reckoning: A look at how George Floyd’s death made people all over the world consider their own countries’ unique issues with racism. Series premiere. 10 a.m., Vice
The Equalizer: Queen Latifah stars in this reboot of the classic series and it is making some dumb white men SO MAD. Keep it up, Queen. Series premiere following the Super Bowl. 9 p.m. (-ish), CBS
Late Night:
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Shark Tank (new) |
20/20 |
| CBS | MacGyver (new) |
Magnum P.I. (new) |
Blue Bloods (new) |
| CW | Whose Line Is It Anyway? (new) |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (repeat) |
Penn & Teller: Fool Us (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Friday Night Smackdown | Local |
| NBC | The Blacklist (new) |
Dateline |
—
| SAT. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 | 11:00 | 11:30 |
| ABC | NBA Basketball (live) |
News/Local |
| CBS | Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials (repeat) |
NFL Honors | News/Local |
| FOX | 9-1-1 (repeat) |
Name That Tune (repeat) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Ellen’s Game of Games (repeat) |
Law and Order: SVU (repeat) |
Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
News/ Local |
Saturday Night Live (Dan Levy & Phoebe Bridgers) |
—
| SUN. | 6:00 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | America’s Funniest Home Videos (repeat) |
America’s Funniest Home Videos (repeat) |
Shark Tank (repeat) |
Shark Tank (repeat) |
| CBS | Super Bowl (live) |
|||
| The CW | Local | Batwoman (repeat) |
Charmed (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | Call Me Kat (repeat) |
Bless the Harts (repeat) |
The Simp-sons (repeat) |
The Simp-sons (repeat) |
Bob’s Burgers (repeat) |
Family Guy (repeat) |
Local/News |
| NBC | Weakest Link (repeat) |
The Wall (repeat) |
Chicago Med (repeat) |
Dateline (repeat) |