John Oliver just shamed a bunch of local news stations with a fake sex blanket.

by Therese Odell, posted in Uncategorized

It’s Tuesday!

AND HERE’S A BABY WOLF HOWLING.

All Other TV News

On Last Week Tonight this week, John Oliver covered “sponsored content” on local news broadcasts, a cheap and easy way for local broadcast channels to make some extra cash money by selling air time that looks like news segments. In the piece, Oliver  exposed just how easy it was to get air time promoting a shit product with a sheen of Real News respectability by buying time at several stations for promotions for a fake “sexual wellness blanket.” Now station groups are “investigating” their practices that make these commercials look like real news segments.

The Daytime Emmy nominations are here, and both Alex Trebek and Larry King earned posthumous nods.

Some folks have accused Lil Nas X of faking his “wardrobe malfunction” on Saturday Night Live. But Jimmy Fallon has the footage of the dress rehearsal that suggests it was truly a mishap and just not a stunt.

Jimmy Kimmel just called Ted Cruz a “moist, gelatinous tubeworm” and really, who am I to argue? (His bit on Cruz begins at 4:44.)

Apparently, teens who watch shows like 13 Reasons Why, and other shows that portray mental health issues, actually inspire kids to discuss and seek out more information about mental health. Which makes sense, but there was a lot of hand-wringing about this series when it came out.

Here’s a long and delightful oral history of A Different World, told by the cast and crew.

#MeToo

Last week, The Washington Post reported that CNN’s Chris Cuomo participated in strategy calls with his brother Governor Andrew Cuomo’s staff over how to handle the sexual harassment allegations against him. Which is, you know, not cool!

The behind-the-scenes strategy offered by Chris Cuomo, who anchors CNN’s 9 p.m. nightly newscast, cuts against the widely accepted norm in journalism that those reporting the news should not be involved in politics.

“If you are actively advising a politician in trouble while being an on-air host on a news network, that’s not okay,” said Nicholas Lemann, a professor at Columbia Journalism School and a New Yorker staff writer.

CNN agrees it was a mistake for Cuomo to do so, but is like, “and there will be no consequences for it.”

“Chris has not been involved in CNN’s extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo — on air or behind the scenes,” the network said in a statement. “In part because, as he has said on his show, he could never be objective. But also because he often serves as a sounding board for his brother.”

“However, it was inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor’s staff, which Chris acknowledges,” the statement added. “He will not participate in such conversations going forward.”

As for Chris Cuomo, he “apologized” on air, but was like, “IT’S FAMILY, WHADDYA THINK I WAS GONNA DO?”

“I told you back in March, I couldn’t cover my brother’s troubles, it wouldn’t be fair. Now today there are stories about me offering my brother advice. Of course I do, this is no revelation,” he said. “I can be objective about just about any topic, but not my family. I’m family first, job second.”

Chris Cuomo is not going to be fired or even suspended for this complete lapse of ethical judgment, because CNN wants to keep that sweet, sweet access. (Compare what is happening here to the AP reporter who was fired for Tweets when she was in college on a subject she was not reporting on.)

Meanwhile, let’s laugh at Meghan McCain who has completely gotten the wrong end of the stick on this story, claiming that Chris Cuomo is bad at his job because he won’t report on the allegations against his brother. “Quite frankly, if my dad had been accused of sexual assault I would be talking about it on ‘The View,’ because I’m not a snowflake and I’m not Chris Cuomo,” McCain said. Yeah … that’s not … that’s not the issue here, you idiot.

Glenn Gordon Caron, the showrunner on Bull, and cast member Freddy Rodriguez, are both leaving the show after an internal investigation.  CBS isn’t talking, but according to an anonymous source: “The environment went from dysfunctional to toxic depending on Gordon’s mood, and that became unsustainable.” This comes a few years after CBS had to pay Eliza Dushku $9.5 million after she was harassed by star Michael Weatherly.

Kevin Spacey has been cast in his first film role since the sexual abuse allegations came out about him. He will have a small role in the Italian film L’uomo Che Disegno Dio, or The Man Who Drew God, by and starring Franco Nero and his wife Vanessa Redgrave. Spacey will play, and I’m not kidding, a police officer investigating claims of child sex abuse. Gross. Oh, and could someone please explain to me what “cancel culture” is if no one actually remains canceled?

David Ellefson, Megadeth co-founder and bassist, has been fired from the band after grooming an underage girl for sex.

Lady Gaga revealed in an interview that she became pregnant after being raped when she was younger, and opened up about the impact on her mental health in general. On the same series, Oprah Winfrey frankly discussed being repeatedly raped by a family member as a child.

Another woman has come forward to accuse Marilyn Manson of sexual harassment, abuse, and battery.

I do not know if Johnny Depp abused Amber Heard, none of us do, and he’s never been convicted of such a thing. That said, the way he keeps dragging her into court over bullshit sure as hell feels like an abuser who just refuses to let his victim go.

Mischa Barton recently revealed that she left The OC after being bullied on the set.

Sinead O’Connor has claimed that Prince was abusive towards her when she visited Paisley Park, and it hurts my heart.

Elyes Gabe, the former star of Scorpion on CBS, was arrested for abusing his girlfriend. 

Dominic Foppoli, the mayor of Windsor, California, has been accused by Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham and eight other women of sexual assault and had to resign.

The man the Trump Republicans want to run against Liz Cheney got a 14-year-old girl pregnant when he was 18. The age of consent is 16 in Wyoming, so this was rape! But don’t worry! It all worked out: they got married, then divorced, and then she committed suicide. He seems great.

OH COME ON, FLORIDA.

Meanwhile in Texas, we just banned abortion in pregnancies as early as six weeks, and will now allow people to sue doctors or “anyone who helps a woman get an abortion.” It’s just one of many completely batshit insane bills flying through my state’s legislature right now, and honestly, it’s terrifying.

If you or someone you know needs help, the RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline is 800.656.HOPE, or you can chat online with trained professionals here.

Renewals

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • Gunpowder Milkshake will premiere on Netflix on July 14.
  • The Real Housewives of Potomac returns on Bravo on July 11
  • Penguin Town will debut on Netflix on June 16.
  • Timewasters will debut on IMDb TV on June 11.

The CW has announced their 2021 season finales:

  • Nancy Drew, June 2
  • Legacies, June 24
  • Batwoman, June 27
  • Charmed, July 16
  • All American, July 19
  • The Flash, July 20
  • Kung Fu, July 21
  • Walker, August 12
  • Superman & Lois, August 17

R.I.P.

Mark York, Actor who played Billy Merchant on The Office

Robert Hall, Special effects artist who worked on Teen Wolf, Queen of the South, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles among many many others

Desiree Gould, Actress who was in Sleepaway Camp and ou Can’t Go Home Again among others

WATCH THIS

Soul of a Nation: After Floyd: The Year That Shook the World: A reflection on how the murder of George Floyd a year ago changed the world. 9 p.m., ABC

Bars and Ballads for George Floyd: Musical and spoken word tributes to Geroge Floyd. 7 p.m., BET

Widen the Screen –  A Fuller View of Black Life: Oprah honors the memory of Floyd with a series of uplifting short films. 7 p.m., OWN

Mike Tyson: The Knockout: This two-part documentary follows the rise and fall of one of the greatest boxers of all time. Premiere. 7 p.m., ABC

The Voice: The live season finale crowns a winner. 7 p.m., NBC

This is Us: Wedding time! Maybe! Season finale. 9 p.m., NBC

NCIS: Bishop is implicated in an NSA leak in the season finale. 7 p.m., CBS

FBI: The long-awaited showdown between Vargas and Isobel. Season finale. 8 p.m., Fox

Chad: The school believes Chad has been the victim of a hate crime in the season finale. 9:30 p.m., TBS

Game of Talents: Season premiere. 7 p.m., Fox

Mental Samurai: Season premiere. 8 p.m., Fox

Mr. Inbetween: Season premiere. 9 p.m., FX

Late Night:

  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Kevin Hart, Chrissy Metz, St. Vincent
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers: Jake Tapper, Paul W. Downs
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Gayle King, BTS
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden: Andrew Rannells
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lena Waithe, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Allison Russell featuring Brittney Spencer & Brandi Carlile
  • A Little Late with Lily Singh: Ryan O’Connell
TUES. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Mike Tyson: The Knockout
(new)		 After Floyd: The Year that Shook the World
(new)
CBS NCIS
(new)		 FBI
(new)		 FBI: Most Wanted
(new)
CW The Flash
(new)		 Superman & Lois
(new)		 Local
FOX Game of Talents
(new)		 Mental Samurai
(new)		 News/Local
NBC The Voice
(live)		 This Is Us
(new)

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