First and foremost: HAPPY MARDI GRAS, Y’ALL!
I was in New Orleans this weekend to celebrate, and this small girl near us danced like this for hours. May we all have a little bit of this joy in the face of a darkening world.
Let’s start with Russia
We’re back — and back to the real world, the state of which is … not great. Russia is shelling and attacking Ukrainian cities, and it’s kinda hard to care about pop culture news when it feels like World War III is imminent. Again.
This Ukrainian grandmother using sunflower seeds to tell Russian soldiers to f**k off pic.twitter.com/d5FIeyLhAz
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) March 1, 2022
But that’s where we are, so let’s get this Russia stuff out of the way first. Let me note that I understand that you don’t come here for hard news, but this situation is impacting the entertainment business in indirect ways.
- The Russians just destroyed a TV tower in Kyiv, killing five people, and ending broadcasts in the area.
Russians are destroying the Kyiv TV Tower.
They are trying to cut us off from communications. pic.twitter.com/ppi264K5Jf— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) March 1, 2022
- Russian studios will not be allowed to participate in upcoming television markets and festivals.
- Netflix is not cooperating with Russian rules that they host 20 state-owned channels to be able to stream within the country.
- The European Union is banning RT and Sputnik, and Roku is removing RT from its platform in European markets. Foxtel is also removing RT down in Australia. Great, but how about here in the U.S., y’all?
- Studios are pulling releases of their movies from Russian markets. And film festivals are kicking out Russian films. Listen, this and the other boycotts are small potatoes compared to say the financial sanctions or the boycott of Russian oil or whatever, but every little action like this reminds the Russian people that their leader is making their entire country a pariah on the world stage.
- In that same vein: Athletes are forcing organizations to kick out Russians, including FIFA; Formula One Racing; Chelsea Football Club; NHL; and the Eurovision Song Contest (which is a kind of sport, right?).
- Meta, TikTok and Twitter claim they are cracking down on Russian misinformation.
- The future is terrible:
WW3 sponsored by Applebees.
We’re living in an episode of South Park.
— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) February 24, 2022
- The Simpons take sides:
#TheSimpsons #Simpsons #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/aWvgTUGJKP
— The Simpsons (@TheSimpsons) February 26, 2022
- Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkov has had a harrowing experience trying to get out of Ukraine. He had been in his home country filming a show called World of Dance UA, when he tried to leave. He’d been arrested — though it’s unclear by who — and he’s now safely across the border in Poland. (I do have questions about his citizenship, and whether or not he’s exempt from the requirement of all men ages 18-60 to stay and fight, but I am relieved for him and his family and friends that he’s safe.)
- Tucker Carlson is trying to gaslight all of us into believing that he didn’t support Putin. LOL OK
We slowed Tucker Carlson down to half speed in the first-ever edition of #DrunkTuckerPutin pic.twitter.com/uOuKZKyvMi
— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) February 25, 2022
Fixed it.#ComradeCarlson pic.twitter.com/Iyri6W15Gh
— Paul Lee Teeks (@PaulLeeTeeks) February 23, 2022
- Republicans are fucking cowards.
I think @GStephanopoulos has a good question here
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) February 27, 2022
- That actress who was on Nip/Tuck and 90210 did the cringiest spoken word poetry thing where she blames all of this on Putin’s mother. Because why blame it on the man who is actually responsible when you can blame a woman, amirite?
Dear Mister President Vladimir Putin… pic.twitter.com/LbDFBHVWJf
— AnnaLynne McCord (@IAMannalynnemcc) February 24, 2022
And before we wrap this all up, let’s remember that the heroic President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, he himself began as an entertainer before becoming the man so many of us are admiring for his grit, strength and bravery. In fact, he rose to popularity as the star of a comedy called Servant of the People, in which he played a high-school teacher who unexpectedly becomes the President.
He also served as the voice of Paddington in the Ukrainian-dubbed versions of the films.
He also performed on the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars:
Think about it. #Putin, that all his life wanted to be seen as the 'tough guy', is getting humiliated by a former comedian who once won the #Ukrainian version of 'Dancing with the Stars'. #Zelenskyy is a Legend. Putin is definitely mad. 😆 pic.twitter.com/3U8qpQqdQr
— WallStreetPro (@wallstreetpro) February 27, 2022
And, of course, there is this:
Who among us has not played "Hava Nagila" on a piano with their genitals on stage and then gone on to lead their country against a foreign invasion? pic.twitter.com/6IlRgF83he
— Amy Spiro (@AmySpiro) February 28, 2022
But most importantly, he’s this man:
New Zelensky address: “When I planned to become a president, I said that each of us is the president. Because we are all responsible for our state. For our beautiful Ukraine. And now it has happened that each of us is a warrior… And I am confident that each of us will win.” pic.twitter.com/zN629XehUv
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 28, 2022
I pray he stays alive.
All Other TV News
Mark your calendars for March 16: that’s the day that Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher, and The Defenders limited series as well as Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. move to Disney+. It’s an interesting choice because up to this point, Disney+ had remained decidedly PG. Disney+ will be updating its parental controls ahead of this move.
Hours before it was scheduled to air, HBO has pulled The Larry David Story off of its schedule tonight. Apparently, he wants to “do it in front of an audience” first? Whatever the hell that means?
The #LarryDavidStory on @HBOMax is being postponed. Instead, Larry has decided he wants to do it in front of an audience. Stay tuned for more info.
— HBO Documentaries (@HBODocs) March 1, 2022
Chris Licht, the showrunner of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and the guy who saved the show when it was tanking in the ratings, was just named Chairman and CEO of CNN Global. “I wasn’t sure whether I would like him, whether we would become friends, because we’re all show folk here, and Chris is not…. I didn’t know whether I’d like him, but six years later, I love you, Chris,” said Colbert on his show last night.
In case you didn’t know, 1883 was a limited series, and not returning for another installment. If that last episode felt like a finale, it’s because it was.
Peacock hid Kevin Malone’s chili recipe in their terms of service agreement. You can check it out here, if you’d like. As someone who is pretty proud of her own chili recipe, I turn my nose up at a 15-minute cook time. That’s some straight-up undercooked nonsense.
Jurassic Park getting sassy with a Wheel of Fortune contestant:
Ho__ on__ y_ur b___s https://t.co/50sHwQnwrO
— Jurassic World (@JurassicWorld) February 24, 2022
Congratulations to Colton Underwood!
And congratulations to Amy Schneider!
And big fingers crossed for Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa!
Renewals
- Battle on the Beach has been renewed at HGTV for a second season.
- Sort Of has been renewed at HBO Max and CBC for a second season.
- Son of a Critch has been renewed at CBC for a second season.
In Development
- Avalon, a drama from David E. Kelley, has been given a straight-to-series order at ABC.
- Twisted Metal, a comedic live-action adaptation of the video game, starring Anthony Mackie, is being made at Peacock.
- An Outlander prequel series is in the works at Starz.
- The graphic novel Bodies is being adapted into a series at Netflix.
- Quentin Tarantino is in talks to direct Justified: City of Primeval on FX.
- After Jackie, a documentary film about the Black baseball players who came after Jackie Robinson, has been greenlit at The History Channel.
- Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between has been acquired by Netflix.
- Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker is being adapted into a comedy series at HBO Max.
- A New Orleans Noel; A Country Christmas Harmony; and Untitled Mario Lopez/Jana Kramer Holiday Movie have been greenlit at Lifetime.
- Weetzie Bat is being adapted into a series at Peacock.
- Notes on an Execution is being adapted into a series.
- James Brown: Say It Loud has been greenlit at A&E.
- Exposing Parchman, a documentary about abuses in the Mississippi correctional system, is coming to ID.
- Chelsea Devantez has signed a multi-year overall deal with 20th Television.
Casting News
- Michael Douglas will star as Benjamin Franklin in A Great Improvisation on Apple TV+.
- Jennifer Coolidge will, in fact, return on White Lotus on HBO.
- Charles Dance has joined Washington Black on Hulu.
- Matt Barr and Justin Johnson Cortez have been cast in Walker: Independence on The CW.
- Max Thieriot will star in Cal Fire on CBS.
- Kodi Smit-McPhee is joining Disclaimer on Apple TV+.
- Gabriel Iglesias and Ryan McPartlin have been cast in Hungry on NBC.
- Lyric Ross is joining Ironheart on Disney+.
- Tony Danza is joining the cast of Darby Harper Wants You to Know on Hulu.
- Stephan James will star as Jean-Michel Basquiat in an upcoming limited series.
- Craig Bierko, Cleo Anthony, Darius Homayoun, Dylan Bruce, and Wallis Day have been added to the cast of Sex/Life on Netflix.
- Bernard White is joining the cast of Big Sky on ABC.
- Jessica Brown Findlay and Anthony Welsh will co-star in Flatshare on Paramount+.
- Michael Rispoli and Paloma Guzman are joining Power Book III: Raising Kanan on Starz.
- Anthony Boyle and Lovie Simone have been added to the cast of Manhunt on Apple TV+.
- Yasmine Aker is joining Good Trouble on Freeform.
- Piper Curda has joined Legacies on The CW.
- Richard Flood is leaving Grey’s Anatomy on ABC.
- Oscar Kennedy and Jack Rowan have joined the cast of Wrecked on BBC.
- Henry Winkler and Aleeza Chanowitz will co-star in Chanshi on the Israeli network HOT.
Mark Your Calendars
- WeCrashed premieres on Apple TV+ on March 18.
- The Baby will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on April 24.
- Life After Death with Tyler Henry will premiere on Netflix on March 11.
- 61st Street premieres on AMC on April 10.
- Better Nate Than Ever debuts on Disney+ on April 1.
- Gaming Wall St debuts on HBO Max on March 3.
- Murder in Provence premieres on BritBox today.
- The Shop: Uninterrupted moves to YouTube on March 4.
- Queen of Versailles Reigns Again will stream on Discovery beginning March 30.
- Theodosia debuts on HBO Max on March 10.
- Formula 1: Drive to Survive returns on Netflix on March 11.
- Bubble premieres on Netflix on April 28.
- Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 returns on Netflix in May.
- Weekend Family will debut on Disney+ on March 9.
- Dynasty returns on The CW on March 11.
- Outer Range will debut on Prime Video in April.
- Yellowstone will stream on Peacock beginning on March 28.
- Expedition Bigfoot returns on Travel Channel on March 20.
- Chef Boot Camp returns on Food Network on April 7.
- Big Restaurant Bet debuts on Food Network on April 5.
- Black Files Declassified will premiere on Science Channel on March 9.
- Marry Me Now premieres on OWN on March 19.
- Jalsa will debut on Prime Video on March 18.
R.I.P.
Sally Kellerman, Oscar-nominated actress in M.A.S.H. and others
Ned Eisenberg, TV, film, and Broadway actor known for his roles on Law & Order: SVU among others
Ralph Ahn, Actor who appeared on New Girl and whose credits go back to the 1950s
Marna Grantham, Entertainment executive at Epix, Miramax, Turner, Fox, and UPN
Mark Gage Stroman, Advertising and marketing executive
Alice Koh, Documentary director
Leo T. Reed, Former AFL player and longtime Teamsters leader
Joni James, Pop singer
Snootie Wild, Rapper
WATCH THIS
State of the Union: President Biden gives his first state of the … all this. 8 p.m., ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, C-SPAN
The Larry David Story: Larry David’s personal highs and lows are examined in this two-part documentary. 8 p.m., HBO It’s been postponed? For some reason?
Worst Roommate Ever: This series better include Robert Durst, the dude who chopped his roommate into pieces, dumped him in Galveston Bay AND SOMEHOW GOT AWAY WITH IT. Netflix
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Greg Kinnear, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jim James
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Amanda Seyfried, Harvey Fierstein, Frank Bruni, Carter McLean
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Big Thief
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: Pamela Adlon, Taika Waititi, Pinegrove
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Sandra Oh, Russell Wilson, Ciara, Mitski, Doreen Ketchens
- The Daily Show: Bob Odenkirk
- Watch What Happens Live: Melissa Gorga, Joe Gorga
| TUES. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Celebrate Andres | The State of the Union and The Republican Response |
| CBS | FBI (repeat) |
CBS News: State Of The Union 2022 |
| CW | Superman & Lois (new) |
Naomi (new) |
Local |
| FOX | The Resident (new) |
State Of The Union 2022 |
| NBC | American Auto (new) |
Grand Crew (new) |
NBC News Special: State of the Union |