More ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel series than you could shake a Needle at

by Therese Odell, posted in Uncategorized

It’s another Friday! This bear knows how to celebrate the weekend:

All Other TV News

Oh my GOD, how have I taken all week to mention the Game of Thrones spinoff news? Last week it was announced that there are three prequel series being considered at HBO:

9 Voyages:

[9 Voyages] refers to the great voyages at sea made by Corlys Velaryon aboard the Sea Snake ship. Velaryon journeyed to places including Pentos, Dragonstone and around the bottom of Westeros as well as to Lys, Tyrosh and Myr. He reached the fabled lands of Yi Ti and Leng, whose wealth doubled that of the House Velaryon, and him and the Ice Wolf headed north searching for passage around the top of Westeros, only to find frozen seas and icebergs as big as mountains.

Flea Bottom:

[Flea Bottom] is the poorest slum district in King’s Landing, a maze-like warren of narrow streets and dark alleys filled with tanneries, brothels and ale houses. It is featured in the first four seasons of Game of Thrones, including when William’s Arya Stark takes refuge there after fleeing the Red Keep. Characters from Flea Bottom include Ser Davos Seaworth, played by Liam Cunningham, Gendry, the bastard son of King Robert Baratheon, played by Joe Dempsie, prostitute Armeca, played by Sahara Knite and Karl Tanner, a brother of the Night’s Watch played by Burn Gorman.

and 10,000 Ships:

[10,000 Ships is] a reference to the journey made by warrior queen Princess Nymeria and the surviving members of the Rhoynars, who travelled from Essos to Dorne following their defeat by the Valyrian Freehold in the Second Spice War. This migration took place around 1,000 years before the events depicted in the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, named her direwolf after Nymeria.

Now, it’s unlikely that all three will go into actual production, but it is worth noting that the 9 Voyages project has Bruno Heller, the executive producer of Rome, Gotham and The Mentalist attached, so it’s at least being taken pretty seriously.

In “It Was a Long Time Coming” news: Fox News has been sued by Dominion Voting Systems for $1.6 Billion.

Over in Georgia, they passed a horrific voter suppression bill that does things like make it illegal to give people waiting in lines water or food — and more alarmingly, taking power away from the Secretary of State in elections and allowing room for the legislature to overturn elections they don’t like. It makes the need for the filibuster to be killed in the Senate so that they can pass meaningful voter rights legislation more dire than ever. Meanwhile, a backlash is beginning: director James Mangold has announced he will not be filming in Georgia anymore in response. More Hollywood actors need to step up and follow his example.

ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY NOT, MSNBC.

Chris Harrison is not going gentle into that good night.

If you want to watch Thursday Night Football in a couple of years, you’re going to need to get an Amazon Prime subscription.

OK, but Lisa Vanderpump’s drag name does work (but that’s not how you pick your drag name — that’s how you pick your stripper name).

Joe Exotic has had a hell of a year — oh wait, I mean a “year of hell.” Meanwhile, Jeff Lowe is pretty sure he was poisoned. Tiger King weirdos are gonna Tiger King.

The son of All My Children‘s Vincent Irizarry — better known as Dr. David Hayward — was at the Capitol riot and charged with multiple offenses.

People love them some Friends.

Hope none of y’all doubted Charlie Murphy’s story:

LOL, what a dork.

LOL, what an asshole.

This story about people punching the wax statue of Former President Giblets in San Antonio is old news, but how am I not going to include it?

Jessica Walter apparently left behind an entire season of Archer.

A few more tributes:

And Mitch Hurwitz, the creator of Arrested Development:

I’m stunned and so very sad to hear this news. Jessica was one of the sharpest, funniest people I’ve ever worked with — and I’ve been incredibly fortunate in working with some true greats. She was, to me, the best kind of comic actor — one who’s fearless in her willingness to draw upon the, shall we say, less desirable aspects of our character that, well … make us funny. She effortlessly sunk her teeth into depicting a type of mother that, given how people related to her, must be more common than is usually celebrated.

Her Lucille Bluth must somehow lurk in even the most loving moms. I remember once, in front of her own daughter, she said to me, “I love playing Lucille — she reminds of my mother.” And, I could be wrong, but I thought I detected a look on her daughter’s face that said, “YOUR mother?” Because Lucille was kind of everyone’s mother at their worst. And she somehow made that all really lovable. I really loved her — she was so special. I’m so saddened by this news.

Congratulations to Emma Stone and Dave McCary! And congratulations to Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell!

Going Viral

We’re starting to see cases ticking up as the more contagious variants are taking hold in many states. But the vaccine numbers continue to be good, we delivered 3.3 million doses today. If we continue at this pace, we are projected to have half the total population at least partially vaccinated by May. Keep it up and get your shot!

Two vaccine stories from opposite sides of the spectrum: vaccines are going for $500 a dose while meanwhile, in New Jersey, one gym is offering free memberships if people DON’T get the shot. What the fuck?

Organizations are making more plans to return to close to normal soon: The Kentucky Derby will run on May 1 with 40-50% capacity; Yankee Stadium is opening on April 1 and Dodger Stadium on April 9; Tribeca Film Festival could be the first major festival to be held in person in June; the NFL will loosen restrictions at the Draft events if the entire team can prove they’ve been vaccinated; New York City is setting up a designated Broadway vaccination program; Disney Cruises announced a list of destinations for 2022; and Royal Caribbean is being super ambitious: they’re planning to have fully vaccinated cruises — staff and guests — starting in June.

Meanwhile, Mar-a-Lago had to partially close last week after an outbreak. HUH. WONDER HOW THAT HAPPENED.

Here’s yet another piece about how TV medical dramas felt compelled to tackle the whole COVID thing. And another bit of the Hollywood industry impacted by the virus: location scouting.

Roll Up Your Sleeves: Presented by Walgreens will air on NBC on April 18.

The special aims to dispel concerns, provide information and encourage those who are hesitant to receive a vaccine to participate, all with the goal of increasing vaccinations for people to help end the pandemic and allow states to fully reopen so family and friends can gather and reunite.

The special will feature prominent public figures, comedians, artists and performers, as well as frontline and medical professionals.

Renewals

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendar

  • Law & Order: Organized Crime premieres on NBC on April 1.
  • Cruel Summer will debut on Freeform on April 20.
  • Frank of Ireland will debut on Amazon on April 16.
  • P!NK: All I Know So Far will debut on Amazon on May 21.
  • Ghost Brothers: Lights Out will debut on Discovery+ on April 17.
  • Storage Wars returns on A&E on April 20.
  • Hustle & Tow will premiere on A&E on April 20.
  • The Brokenwood Mysteries will premiere on Acorn on March 29.
  • Ride or Die will debut on Netflix on April 15.
  • Urban One Honors will air on TV one and CLEO TV on May 16.
  • Boys from County Hell will premiere on Shudder on April 22.
  • Solar Opposites returns on Hulu today.

R.I.P.

Larry McMurty, Texas novelist and writer of Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment, and The Last Picture Show among others

Terrel Richmond, Crew member on The Conners

Bertrand Tavernier, French filmmaker

WATCH THIS

FRIDAY

Godzilla vs. Kong: Legends collide in this month’s would-have-been theatrical release. Premiere. HBO Max

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers: A new group of scrappy hockey players discovers the love of the game at a rundown rink run by a familiar face. (It’s Emilio Estevez.) Series premiere. Disney+

Nailed It!: Season five. Netflix

The Irregulars: A crew of young misfits investigates supernatural crimes for Dr. Watson and his mysterious partner, Sherlock Holmes. Series premiere. Netflix

Bad Trip: Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery, and Tiffany Haddish star in this Borat-like prank movie about a pair of friends who steal a car for a road trip, and are pursued by the car’s owner. Mayhem ensues, innocent bystanders are shocked. Premiere. Netflix

SATURDAY

Tina: This documentary is an intimate portrait of the superstar and icon, Tina Turner, and her self-described final farewell to her fans.  7 p.m., HBO

Saturday Night Live: Maya Rudolph and Jack Harlow. 10:30 p.m., NBC

The 52nd NAACP Image Awards: Celebrating the outstanding achievements and performances by people of color in the arts. 7 p.m., CBS & BET

SUNDAY

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist: Max and Mo have their restaurant opening in the spring premiere. 8 p.m., NBC

The Rookie: The son of a judge with a long list of enemies is kidnapped. Spring premiere. 9 p.m., ABC

City on a Hill: Tensions flare between rival gangs at the federal housing project Braxton Summit, making it difficult for community activists to help the residents there in the second season premiere. 9 p.m., Showtime

Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Friday): Viola Davis, Addison Rae
  • Watch What Happens Live (Sunday): Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Dr. Contessa Metcalfe

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?
(repeat)		 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 Shark Tank
(repeat)		 American Idol
(repeat)		 News/Local
CBS The 52nd Annual NAACP Image Awards
(repeat)		 48 Hours News/Local
FOX The Masked Singer
(repeat)		 Game of Talents
(repeat)		 News/Local
NBC Figure Skating
(live)		 Saturday Night Live
(repeat)		 News/
Local		 Saturday Night Live
(Maya Rudolph & Jack Harlow )

—

SUN. 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC America’s Funniest Home Videos
(new)		 American Idol
(new)		 The Rookie
(new)
CBS 60 Minutes NCIS: Los Angeles
(new)		 NCIS: New Orleans
(new)
The CW Local Batwoman
(new)		 Charmed
(new)		 Local
FOX Cherries Wild
(new)		 Bless the Harts
(repeat)		 The Simp-sons
(new)		 The Great North
(repeat)		 Bob’s Burgers
(new)		 Family Guy
(new)		 Local/News
NBC Ellen’s Game of Games
(repeat)		 Ellen’s Game of Games
(new)		 Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
(new)		 Good Girls
(new)

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