It’s Thursday! And here is a very amenable penguin in Antarctica.
All Other TV News
If you’ve ever wondered how much people get paid to be on those Bachelor shows, wonder no more! Two former Bachelorette contestants and contenders to be the Bachelor let slip how much they were offered for Bachelor in Paradise and how much they were negotiating for to be The Bachelor. What I find most interesting about this is the revelation that they get paid per episode (at least for Bachelor in Paradise — but maybe this applies to being a contestant on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette?), which helps explain why some of these people would want to stay on that show even when they haven’t made a romantic connection.
The final ratings breakdown for the weirdest television season EVER is here, and in the top 10 series that aren’t football, CBS claims 5 slots. Still! People love them those Chicago shows which are 3 of the top 10!
And this is just a little tangent, but I had always wondered about the programming decision to take shows that were related to each other, like the Chicago series, and put them on different nights instead of creating a programming block of them on one night. I suppose the philosophy was if a franchise is popular, the networks should try to spread it out over multiple nights and sprinkle some of that success dust onto other unrelated shows. Recently, networks have been grouping franchises together — particularly on NBC and ABC — and it seems to be paying off for them? Anyway, these are the things that rattle around in my brain, thank you for letting me share.
Kelly Clarkson will be your new Ellen. Hopefully with less bullying.
Better Call Saul is filming at a Breaking Bad location.
@panda.kwiot #bettercallsaul sighting in abq. I thought he was saying “Saw” like the movie 😭😅
♬ original sound – Panda Kwiot
Showtime is going to stream over 50 hours of LGBTQ programming for free for Pride next month.
I dunno, maybe they could have just shot it in a real gas station?
Dick Wolf compares his shows to soup.
Alan Dershowitz is suing Netflix and the makers of Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich for defamation.
That time Moonlighting created the most expensive hour of television ever (at the time).
The BET Awards have announced their nominees.
Pete Davidson sure sounds like he’s done with Saturday Night Live.
Howard University is renaming its College of Fine Arts after alum Chadwick Boseman, who, interestingly enough, led protests as a student against plans to absorb the college into the College of Arts & Sciences. It was re-established as its own department when Boseman returned in 2018 to give the commencement address.
#HowardForever ❤️💙 https://t.co/p5JsrWuZu7
— Howard University (@HowardU) May 26, 2021
There are roughly one bajillion stories out there about the Friends: The Reunion which debuts today, but I’m guessing if you really care about what happened, you’ll watch it yourself? In the event that you kinda care but not enough to actually pony up for an HBO Max subscription, I’ll point you to these two “surprising facts” articles about the reunion and call it a day because OH MY GOD WHY ARE WE ALL FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS DUMB REUNION?
RACIAL Justice
On that same topic, Hari Kondabolu, comedian and the creator of The Problem with Apu, spoke at an Amazon event about comedy and this concept of “cancel culture,” arguing that, “As a stand-up, you should be able to talk about whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean there’s not repercussions. Now … you have to deal with the repercussions of what you say, more than ever before. But I think that’s a good thing.” Also: “Times change, audiences change, and you go with it. That’s the nature of entertainment,” he said. “[It’s also] a part of learning and growing, and ultimately, I think it makes you a better artist.”
Which brings me to Seth Rogen who said basically the exact same thing but received A LOT more attention for it. In an interview with Good Morning Britain, he was asked about cancel culture and said, “To me when I see comedians complaining about this kind of thing, I don’t understand what they’re complaining about. If you’ve made a joke that’s aged terribly, accept it. And if you don’t think it’s aged terribly, then say that.”
I mean, it’s obvious but it’s true. Culture changes and comedy has to adapt with it instead of insisting that there is some sort of objective comedic truth that remains impervious in the face of change. That’s bullshit, and maybe comedians who are upset that their racist, sexist, homophobic material isn’t being warmly received anymore should do a little more introspection.
Speaking of introspection, Rick Santorum could use some.
And then there’s Tucker Carlson who spent the night before the anniversary of George Floyd’s death by calling Black Lives Matter a “national humiliation.”
After promising to meet with Black leaders and the NAACP, country singer Morgan Wallen ghosted the organization. So good for the CMAs for shutting him out of all solo categories this year.
John Boyega has something nice to say about Disney!
The HFPA has hired a bunch of lawyers and consultants to help them reform their disaster of an organization.
Renewals
- Breeders has been renewed for a third season on FX.
- Firefly Lane has been renewed for a second season on Netflix.
In Development
- NewsBeat, a news program hosted by drag queens Nina West and Bianca Del Rio and featuring other drag queens, including Lady Bunny, Lyle, and Delta Work, is being developed by Clay Aiken and while this feels like a weird Mad Lib, I WANT THIS IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
- Evil Dead Rise is being made at HBO Max.
- Garbage Pail Kids is being turned into an animated series for HBO Max, produced by Danny Boyle.
- The Killing Kind is being adapted into a limited series.
- A documentary about great white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod is in the works at HBO.
- Val, a documentary about Val Kilmer for some reason, is coming to Amazon.
- Levittown: Two Families, One Tycoon, and the Fight for Civil Rights in America’s Legendary Suburb is being adapted into a limited series.
- Meet Your Makers Showdown has been greenlit at Discovery+.
- Jac Schaeffer has signed an overall deal with Marvel Studios and 20th Television.
Casting News
- Chris Noth will indeed return as Mr. Big on Sex and the City: And Just Like That …. on HBO Max.
- Parker Posey is joining the amazing cast of The Staircase at HBO Max.
- Michiel Huisman has been cast in Echo 3 on Apple TV+.
- Thomas Ian Griffith is joining Cobra Kai as Terry Silver.
- Christopher McDonald has been added to Secret Invasion on Disney+.
- Tobias Menzies and Sophie Okonedo have been added to Modern Love on Amazon.
- Jeremy Irvine has been cast in Green Lantern on HBO Max.
- Nat Wolff has joined Joe Exotic on Peacock.
- Rory Cochrane, Danny Burstein, Austin Aaron, Ta’Nika Gibson, Edwin Hodge, Terence Davis, and Ja’Quan Cole have been added to the L.A. Lakers movie at HBO.
- Omari Hardwick, John Ortiz, and Molly Parker have joined the cast of The Mothership on Netflix.
- Christine Ko, Malcolm Barrett, Sally Pressman, Cedric Joe, Riki Lindhome, Tim Heidecker, Gabriel Bateman, Cyrus Arnold, Arjun Athalye, Jack Gore, Logan Gray, Elisha Henig, Rachel Marsh, Jy Prishkulnik, Megan Stott, Henry Thomas, and Izabela Vidovic have been cast in Just Beyond on Disney+.
- Aubin Wise, Jason Robert Moore, Dominic Goodman, Phillip Mullings Jr, Elizabeth Mitchell, Will Swenson, Gracie Dzienny, Dylan McNamara, MK xyz, Jonas Dylan Allen, Roberto Mendez have been cast in First Kill on Netflix.
- Mary Carillo, Andrea Joyce, and Jimmy Roberts will be covering the Tokyo Olympics for NBC.
- Juan Williams is leaving The Five, but not Fox News. (Yet.)
Mark Your Calendars
- Physical will premiere on Apple TV+ on June 18.
- Kevin Can F**k Himself will premiere on AMC on June 20.
- RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars moves to Paramount+ on June 24.
- Dexter returns on Showtime this fall.
- Cobra Kai will return on Netflix soon.
- The Bachelorette returns on ABC on June 7.
- Jungle Cruise will debut on Disney+ and theaters on July 30.
- Fantasy Island will premiere on Fox on August 10.
- Generation returns on HBO Max on June 17.
- In the Dark returns on The CW on June 23.
- Leverage: Redemption will debut on IMDb TV on July 9.
- Chesapeake Shores will return on Hallmark Channel in August.
- The House of Flowers, The Movie will premiere on Netflix on June 23.
- The Naked Director will return on Netflix on June 24.
- So Not Worth It will debut on Netflix on June 18.
- Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist will air a marathon this weekend beginning on May 30.
- Modern Love will return on Amazon on June 13.
- Tulsa 1921: An American Tragedy will air on CBS on May 31.
- Icon: Music Through the Lens will premiere on PBS on July 16.
- The Me You Can’t See: A Path Forward will stream on Apple TV+ on May 28.
- Infinite will debut on Paramount+ on June 10.
- Shark Week will begin on Discovery on July 11.
- Queen of the Universe will premiere on Paramount+ on December 2.
- Put a Ring on It returns on OWN on June 25.
- The BeatBuds, Let’s Jam! will debut on Nickelodeon on June 7.
NBC has announced their summer premiere dates:
- American Ninja Warrior: May 31
- Small Fortune: May 31
- America’s Got Talent: June 1
- Capital One College Bowl: June 22
- Making It: June 24
- Olympic Dreams Featuring Jonas Brothers: July 21
- Ultimate Slip ‘N Slide: Aug. 8
- Family Game Fight: Aug. 11
R.I.P.
Kevin Clark, Musician and child actor who starred in School of Rock
John Davis, One of the real voices behind Milli Vanilli
Eric Carle, Author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and more than 70 other children’s books
WATCH THIS
Friends: The Reunion: The reunion they couldn’t stop talking about is finally upon us. But don’t hold your breath for an appearance by Marcel. Premiere. HBO Max
Plan B: This raunchy teen comedy about a couple of girls in desperate search of a Plan B pill after a wild party is receiving glowing reviews. Hulu
Panic: In this new thriller, teens compete to escape a small Texas town in a series of dangerous challenges. Series premiere. Amazon
Rugrats: Reboot premiere. Paramount+
Ragnarok: Season two. Netflix
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Michael Douglas, Billy Porter, Mustafa
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Joel Edgerton
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Bradley Whitford, Carlos Watson
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: Emily Blunt, Elle King
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Emma Stone, Rory Scovel, Chloe Moriondo
- A Little Late with Lily Singh: Payal Kadakia
| THUR | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Station 19 (new) |
Grey’s Anatomy (new) |
Rebel (new) |
| CBS | Young Sheldon (repeat) |
United States of Al (new) |
Mom (repeat) |
B Positive (repeat) |
Clarice (repeat) |
| CW | Walker (repeat) |
Legacies (repeat) |
News/Local |
| FOX | iHeartRadio Music Awards (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | The Wall (new) |
Law & Order Special Victims Unit (new) |
Law & Order: Organized Crime (new) |