I have not stopped laughing:
@chriswadih if someone could give me a scientific answer that would be great #fyp #aussie
All Other TV News
This Dave Chappelle: The Closer mess at Netflix is only getting messier. Ted Sarandos sent a memo to employees insisting that the special, in which Chappelle makes a number of jokes about the trans community, “doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.” Netflix has also reiterated that the special will not be removed from the platform.
“GLAAD was founded 36 years ago because media representation has consequences for LGBTQ people. Authentic media stories about LGBTQ lives have been cited as directly responsible for increasing public support for issues like marriage equality,” GLAAD said in a statement. “But film and TV have also been filled with stereotypes and misinformation about us for decades, leading to real-world harm, especially for trans people and LGBTQ people of color.”
Trans employees of Netflix and their allies are planning a walkout in protest next week. And Netflix’s official Twitter handle had some feelings about all of this:
To be clear: As the queer and trans people who run this account, you can imagine that the last couple of weeks have been hard. We can’t always control what goes on screen. What we can control is what we create here, and the POV we bring to internal conversations.
— Most (@Most) October 13, 2021
ok you can go back to yelling at us now
— Most (@Most) October 13, 2021
And it turns out, Chappelle’s last two specials cost more than the entire season of Squid Game.
The special generated about $19M in value. It is less efficient (0.8x) than Bo Burnham.
Both figures would suggest it lost money. But that is not how Netflix calculates. (Netflix says Chappelle's specials are its most watched specials.)
— Lucas Shaw (@Lucas_Shaw) October 13, 2021
Netflix employees basically never speak out of turn or share internal documents. That they chose to in this case speaks to the frustration felt by many of them.https://t.co/z9JcgB8JA9
— Lucas Shaw (@Lucas_Shaw) October 13, 2021
For my two cents, comedy is about speaking truth to power, not punching down, and not making targets of already vulnerable groups.
Commedia dell’Arte for instance was used to overcome censorship. They communicated with highly physical manifestations of characters that were created to represent servants and farmers starving and dying at the hands of characters representing the rich and powerful.
— Maria DeCotis (@MariaDeCotis) October 14, 2021
They didn’t need a unified language to speak truth to power. So when people say comedy was meant to be “provocative” and “boundary-pushing” YES!! Against the people holding the power to silence and impoverish you!!! That’s why it was created. Being “risky” came with a cost.
— Maria DeCotis (@MariaDeCotis) October 14, 2021
Which in the 1500s meant your life. Now, comics say they are being “risky” when they are not posing danger to themselves in any way. But making fun of someone whose entire life is surrounded by danger. That’s not comedy. It’s not the point. Read a freaking art history book.
— Maria DeCotis (@MariaDeCotis) October 14, 2021
Dave Chappelle has every right to say whatever he wants and Netflix has the right to distribute it, but neither of them should expect to avoid criticism for doing so.
— SKerri 🎃🎃🎃 (@KerriChristian) October 9, 2021
Fox is going to be making Masked Singer NFTs. Sure. Why not.
Gerri on Succession was originally written for a man, but J. Smith-Cameron is killing it. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role.
It’s genuinely amazing that Erika Girardi chose to film The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills this season. Her lawyers had to have been shitting themselves.
Shameless‘ Emma Kenny has some shit to say about Emmy Rossum. 👀
Someone recut Ted Lasso into a horror trailer. 10/10 would watch.
Archer said goodbye to Jessica Walter in its finale last week in a truly lovely way. I don’t even watch Archer, but this one got me all up in my feelings.
Bobby Flay’s 27-year relationship with Food Network has come to an end.
RACIAL Justice
SHOCKING: An NFL coach was caught making racist, sexist and homophobic comments. Jon Gruden, the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, resigned from the position when emails he sent when he was an ESPN commentator came to light during a workplace misconduct investigation into the Washington Football Team. What is actually shocking about this story is that Gruden is actually facing consequences, not that Gruden made the comments in the first place. That’s just the culture of the NFL, let’s be completely honest.
Carl Nassib, one of Gruden’s players, and the only openly gay current NFL player, took a personal day after the news broke. Meanwhile, Greg Kelly is whining over on Newsmax that “white men are under attack.”
MLB announced Jim Kaat is sorry for making a slavery reference during one of last week’s Astros/White Sox games. I MEAN, HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN, GUYS?
The Rolling Stones are retiring the song “Brown Sugar” because of, you know, all the racism. And of course Piers Morgan is all butt-clinched about it.
Renewals
- Foundation has been renewed for a second season on Apple TV+.
- Jack Ryan was renewed for a fourth season on Amazon.
- Blindspotting was renewed for a second season on Starz.
In Development
- A spinoff of WandaVision focused on Agatha Harkness is in development at Disney+. GOOD.
- Shrinking, a comedy produced by Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein and starring Jason Segel, has been given a series order at Apple TV+.
- The Patient, a thriller starring Steve Carell, has been ordered at FX.
- Doomsday Machine, a drama series about Facebook and starring Claire Foy is being developed.
- Rescue: MIA, a first responder procedural, has been ordered at CBS.
- Voir, a docuseries from David Fincher which is definitely NOT season three of Mindhunter, is coming to Netflix.
- Dirt Girls, an animated comedy, is in development at Fox.
- Task Lyst is being developed into a drama series by NBCUniversal.
- The Masters of Mini-Golf, a comedy film starring Ashton Kutcher, has been bought by HBO Max.
- Game Theory with Bomani Jones has been ordered by HBO.
- Overcoming, an animated series about athletes and the challenges they faced, is in the works.
- Phil Augusta Jackson has signed an overall deal with Universal Television.
- Kenny Smith has signed an overall deal with Universal Television.
Casting News
- Jamie Clayton will star as Pinhead in the new Hellraiser series at Hulu.
- Tommy Lee Jones is replacing Harrison Ford in The Burial on Amazon.
- Michael Peña is joining the cast of Jack Ryan on Amazon.
- Lin Shaye will star in the action-thriller, Ellen.
- Adam Korson has joined the cast of Maggie on ABC.
- Jesse Garcia and Yvonne Senat Jones will star in The Mother on Netflix.
- Jeff Perry will co-star in the untitled Hilary Swank project at ABC.
- Darren Pettie, Noah Weisberg, Mark Gessner, and Joel Kelley Dauten have joined Super Pumped on Showtime.
- Kiernan Shipka will be appearing on Riverdale as Sabrina.
- Mark Consuelos has left Riverdale on The CW.
Mark Your Calendars
- Dickinson returns on Apple TV+ on December 24.
- The Afterparty will debut on Apple TV+ in January.
- The Sex Lives of College Girls will premiere on HBO Max on November 18.
- Lost in Space will return on Netflix on December 1.
- The Price of Freedom will premiere on HBO Max on October 19.
- The Kids Tonight Show premieres today.
- Sex, Love & goop will premiere on Netflix on October 21.
- Swagger will debut on Apple TV+ on October 29.
- Gentefied returns on Netflix on November 19.
- Selena + Chef returns on HBO Max on October 28.
- Britannia returns on EPIX on January 16.
- The Challenge: All Stars will return on Paramount+ on November 11.
- Ricky Velez: Here’s Everything will debut on HBO Max on October 23.
- Love Hard will debut on Netflix on November 5.
- Texas 6 will return on Paramount+ on November 18.
- Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show will debut on Apple TV+ on November 5.
- The Unlikely Murderer will debut on Netflix on November 5.
- Lost City of the Monkey God will premiere on Science Channel on October 31.
- A World Without will premiere on Netflix today.
- The World According to Jeff Goldblum will return on Disney+ on November 12.
- All Creatures Great and Small returns on PBS on January 9.
- Saved by the Bell will return on Peacock on November 24.
- Earwig and the Witch will premiere on Netflix on November 18.
- Siwas Dance Pop Revolution will premiere on Peacock on November 4.
- Table Wars will premiere on HGTV and Discovery+ on November 12.
- From Scratch will debut on FYI on October 31.
- Candy Coated Christmas will premiere on Discovery+ on November 19.
- Tug of Words will debut on Game Show Network on November 8.
- Simple as Water will premiere on HBO Max this fall.
- Born Mucky will debut on Animal Planet on October 16.
- Dear Rider will debut on HBO Max on November 9.
- Four Seasons Total Documentary will air on MSNBC on November 7.
- Shetland will premiere on Britbox on November 9.
R.I.P.
Ravil Isyanov, Actor who appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles, GLOW, and The Last Ship among many others
Juli Reding, Actress who had many guest-starring roles on shows, including Sea Hunt, Dr. Kildare, and Murder She Wrote
David H. DePatie, Animation producer
Ray Fosse, Former MLB catcher and broadcaster for the Oakland A’s
Gary Paulsen, Author
WATCH THIS
I Know What You Did Last Summer: This new series is based on the classic 1973 novel of the same name. Series premiere. Amazon
Project Runway: Season 19 premiere. 8 p.m., Bravo
Legacies: Hope and the Super Squad devise a plan to rescue Landon. Season premiere. 8 p.m., The CW
B Positive: Drew develops romantic feelings for someone new in the season premiere. 8:30 p.m., CBS
What Happened, Brittany Murphy?: This limited series looks into the short, tragic life of actress Britney Murphy, and her mysterious death. Premiere. HBO Max
Another Life: The Katee Sackhoff alien drama returns. Season two. Netflix
Guilty Party: Kate Beckinsale stars as a disgraced journalist trying to salvage her career by proving that a young mother accused of killing her husband is innocent in this new series. Premiere. HBO Max
Phoebe Robinson: Sorry, Harriet Tubman: Stand-up from Phoebe Robinson. Premiere. HBO Max
The Velvet Underground: Director Todd Haynes looks at the legendary band and how they became a cultural touchstone. Premiere. Apple TV+
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jamie Foxx; Jodie Comer; Tom Thakkar
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: James Spader; Beanie Feldstein; Tate McRae
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Billie Eilish
| THUR | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Station 19 (new) |
Grey’s Anatomy (new) |
Big Sky (new) |
| CBS | Young Sheldon (new) |
United States of Al (new) |
Ghosts (new) |
B Positive (new) |
Bull (new) |
| CW | Coroner (new) |
Legacies (new) |
News/Local |
| FOX | Thursday Night Football (live) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Law & Order: SVU (repeat) |
Law & Order: SVU (new) |
Law & Order: Organized Crime (new) |
Beyond the obvious punching down, what bothered me was the special was basically just an hour of him complaining about cancel culture. Chappelle is a very smart man and it was just dumb. The whole thing was dumb.