And I’m back! Thanks for being patient while I slipped away for a couple of weeks for a much-needed family vacation. Did I miss anything while I was gone? Were, say, any of my constitutionally-guaranteed rights stripped from me while I was out of the country?
Supreme Court my ass
— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) June 24, 2022
So, yeah, Roe V. Wade was overturned on Friday, which was not unexpected after the decision had leaked several weeks ago. Still, it is devastating news that will create chaos, pain, and unnecessary death for many people and families in the coming months and years. And that’s just the real, practical impact of this decision, but there is an emotional one as well — as a woman, it is incredibly infuriating and painful to be told by my government that I do not have bodily autonomy, that I am to not be trusted with my own medical decisions, and that corpses literally have more rights than I do.
I hope the 53% of white women who just couldn’t stomach voting for @HillaryClinton are happy that they’ve just ensured that their daughters grow up in #Gilead.
A woman’s right to choose is a HEALTH decision.
A PERSONAL health decision.
I’m a Christian and know that.
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) June 24, 2022
And this is not just impacting red states like the one I live in. The Republicans have loudly stated that their next step, should they win the White House and Congress, is to pass a federal ban on all abortions. In fact, Michael Pence appears to be making that his platform for a 2024 presidential run. And then there’s the threat that this is merely the beginning. In a concurrent opinion, Clarence Thomas wrote that contraception and same-sex marriages and relationships should be considered next. What this actively does is give red states the heads up that they should find cases involving those issues and shove them through the court system to get the results this rogue conservative bench is all but promising. The right is telling us, explicitly, that they intend to roll us back into the 19th century. Are we willing to listen?
Ready for birth control and same sex relationships to go away too? THE CRAZY PEOPLE ARE TAKING OVER BECAUSE WE DON'T ACT!" Clarence Thomas WROTE that justices “should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell”
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) June 24, 2022
Major Hollywood studios and employers are promising to expand their healthcare benefits to cover transportation services for abortion care for those employees in backward states that have banned abortion. They include Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, Disney, Comcast, and Sony. And that’s terrific! But it would be even more effective if these very powerful players applied real political power on the states that seek to restrict women’s rights, or pulled productions in such states. We’ll see how this all unfolds, but so far, so horrible.
Anyway, here’s one view from my vacation. I hope it helps lower your blood pressure.
All Other TV News
The other big news while I was gone was the announcement of a possible Jon Snow sequel series to Game of Thrones starring Kit Harington. Harington is not only set to reprise his role as Snow, apparently the actor himself is the one who initiated the idea for the show, according to George R.R. Martin. According to Martin’s blog, which he spends more time writing on than HIS UNFINISHED BOOKS, it will be called Snow, and it not only has showrunners, it is in the script stage. Tales of Dunk and Egg; 10,000 Ships; 9 Voyages; Flea Bottom; and an animated series are still in development as well.
Because I’m a nerd, I’ve been looking forward to the Game of Thrones series that will expand the universe and would have just rather left the Stark kids’ stories be. That said, I know full well that the vast majority of fans are very attached to these characters and if this show does make it into production — and if it’s not complete garbage — it could be a huge hit for the franchise.
BUT THAT SAID, I’m also down with this:
Because basically I interpret the ending if anything is some wishy washy technocratic liberal message about how a good leader must not care about anything and basically be a smart leader who only listens to "logic."
— Be Gay, Do Crimes of the Future🏴👻📽 (@haususpiria91) June 19, 2022
and Jon Snow is leading a rebellion against his adopted brother.
— Be Gay, Do Crimes of the Future🏴👻📽 (@haususpiria91) June 19, 2022
YES. DO THAT.
Another story that broke while I was gone was that on Thursday the 16th, a production crew from Late Show with Stephen Colbert filming a Triumph the Insult Comic Dog were arrested at the U.S. Capitol, including Robert Smigel, Triumph himself. According to CBS, the group had permission to film earlier in the day, and were filming a few final elements after their permissions had expired. As you might imagine, Fox News and others tried to frame this as being the same thing as January 6th, because obviously.
Colbert addressed the mess on his show:
“After they finished their interviews, they were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway, when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by the Capitol police — which actually isn’t that surprising,” Colbert continued, before alluding to the ongoing congressional hearings regarding the events of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. “The Capitol police are much more cautious than they were, say, 18 months ago, and for a very good reason. If you don’t know what that reason is, I know what news network you watch.”
Colbert continued by affirming that things were resolved as professionally as possible, while acknowledging that the experience was not pleasant for his staff. The late-night host also dismissed comparisons between his production team’s detainment and the arrest of individuals during the insurrection.
“Drawing any equivalence between rioters storming our Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral ballots and a cigar-chomping toy dog is a shameful and grotesque insult to the memory of everyone who died,” Colbert said.
Alex Wagner is your new Rachel Maddow.
I am absolutely thrilled and honored and generally upside down with excitement to come back home to @MSNBC to host the 9PM hour, beginning August 16th. LET'S DO THIS https://t.co/bgJAcmuDtt
— alexwagner (@alexwagner) June 27, 2022
The Daytime Emmys were held this weekend. General Hospital was the Daytime Drama winner, and The Kelly Clarkson Show won Outstanding Talk Show. Mishael Morgan is the first Black actress to win in the Outstanding Lead Actress category for her work on The Young and the Restless. Full winners are here.
Said Netflix: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took the lives of Ray Garduño and Juan Francisco González. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and with those injured during this unfortunate accident.”
Stranger Things 4 has officially become Netflix’s most-watched English language series, eclipsing Bridgerton. Now that we are only a few days away from the season finale, and the creators are warning fans that it’s going to be an emotional rollercoaster. Variety places a bet on who won’t make it out alive in these next two episodes, placing their money on either Eddie or (gulp) Steve.
Netflix is launching games based on their series, including Queen’s Gambit — which somehow isn’t just online chess.
If you’re a fan of Only Murders in the Building (which returns tonight at 11 Central), you’ll love the wild story behind the actual building where it is set.
The Charmed series finale, which opened the possibility of a crossover with the original series and cast, created DRAMA with both fans and the creators of both series.
As an original #Charmed writer, I can tell u what happened next: Piper, Phoebe & Paige vanquished the 3 imposters right after they invaded Halliwell Manor. Then @H_Combs blew up the portal to that other universe & quipped: “We wish them well.” #seriesfinale #CharmedReunionMovie https://t.co/Ab5dBsts6f
— Curtis Kheel (@curtiskheel) June 11, 2022
Unlike with the OG version of the franchise, we had a strict ‘no assholes’ hiring policy in the writer's room.
We feel mostly sorry for these people, because unlike them we actually like each other and had the BEST time.
Onward… https://t.co/laKke3Yo8n
— Charmed Writers (@CharmedWriters) June 11, 2022
And for the record, we LOVE both versions, which is why we set out to create a cohesive universe. In our minds there is zero competition in a long line of strong young witches tasked with repeatedly saving the world. –FIN
— Charmed Writers (@CharmedWriters) June 11, 2022
Considering neither show is airing anymore, these are some pretty spicy takes for something with such low stakes.
Love is dead, part the second.
Get better soon, Justin Bieber.
Renewals
- Squid Game 2 has officially been renewed for a second season on Netflix.
Red light… GREENLIGHT!
Squid Game is officially coming back for Season 2! pic.twitter.com/4usO2Zld39
— Netflix (@netflix) June 12, 2022
- Starstruck has been renewed for a third season at HBO Max.
- When Calls the Heart has been renewed for a tenth season on Hallmark Channel.
- Bloodline Detectives Hosted by Nancy Grace has been renewed for a third season.
Cancellations
- Made for Love has been canceled at HBO Max after two seasons.
- Snowpiercer will end with season four on TNT. (This is unsurprising — part of the Discovery/Warner Brothers merger and the shifting of TNT and TBS away from scripted originals.)
- Woke has been canceled after two seasons on Hulu.
In Development
- Bodkin, a dark comedy starring Will Forte has been ordered at Netflix.
- Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power has been ordered at Peacock.
- Laid, an Australian comedy, is being adapted at Peacock.
- Ride, a rodeo dynasty series, has been ordered at Hallmark Channel.
- The Book of Jose, a series based on the life of Fat Joe, is in the works at Showtime and BET.
- Holland, Michigan, a film starring Nicole Kidman, is in the works at Amazon.
- A reality series about the wives and girlfriends of the English soccer team that would be filmed during the World Cup is in discussion at Netflix.
- A remake of Trigun is in the works at Crunchyroll.
- I’m With Her, a middle-school comedy, is in development.
- Spacey Unmasked and Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer have been set at Channel 4.
- The Littlefield Company has signed an overall deal with ABC.
- Spencer Hudnut has signed a new overall deal with CBS.
Casting News
- Carol Burnett will guest star on Better Call Saul on AMC.
- Leah Remini is the new judge on So You Think You Can Dance on Fox, replacing Matthew Morrison.
- Kim Cattrall will star in Glamorous on Netflix.
- Andy McQueen, Ben Chaplin, and Margo Martindale have been cast in Mrs. Davis on Peacock.
- Dennis Haysbert, Frank Grillo, and Rosanna Arquette have been cast in an untitled comedy from one of the creators of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.
- Uma Thurman and Henry Golding have been added to the cast of The Old Guard 2 on Netflix.
- Viola Davis, Chris Messina, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Marlon Wayans, Tom Papa, Matthew Maher, and Julius Tennon have been cast in Ben Affleck’s untilted Nike movie on Prime Video.
- Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips are joining the cast of Outlander on Starz.
- Amira Casar, Billie Boullet, and Ashley Brooke have joined the cast of A Small Light on Disney+.
- Pearl Mackie and Jess Chanliau have been added to the cast of The Diplomat.
- Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen have been cast in Wilderness on Prime Video.
- Lesley Manville has joined Disclaimer on Apple TV+.
- Britt Robertson has joined The Rookie: Feds on ABC.
- Julia Chan has joined the cast of Criminal Nature, a crime drama pilot on ABC.
- Josh Lucas will return to Yellowstone on Paramount Network.
- Matthew Ashford and Cady McClain are returning to Days of Our Lives.
- Tony Dokoupil is sticking around CBS Mornings for a while.
- Temuera Morrison and Robyn Malcolm have been cast in Far North on Sundance Now.
- Harry Lawtey, Jessica Barden, and Sophia Brown will star in You & Me on ITV.
Mark Your Calendar
- Boo, Bitch debuts on Netflix on July 8.
- Rap Sh!t will premiere on HBO Max on July 21.
- The Girl in the Mirror will debut on Netflix on August 19.
- Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Ghost Island premieres on Nickelodeon on July 30.
- Hunting Ava Bravo is streaming on Roku Channel.
- Apache Junction is streaming on Roku Channel.
- Country Queen will debut on Netflix on July 15.
- Sophia will premiere on Showtime later this year.
- Dragon Age: Absolution will debut on Netflix in December.
- DOTA: Dragon’s Blood will premiere on Netflix on August 11.
DOTA: DRAGON'S BLOOD BOOK 3, coming to Netflix August 11 #GeekedWeek pic.twitter.com/WcgmilwM8x
— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) June 10, 2022
- Castlevania: Nocturne will debut sometime soon on Netflix.
- Sonic Prime will debut on Netflix soon.
- Art of Incarceration will debut on Netflix on July 3.
- Extraordinary Attorney Woo premieres on Netflix on June 29.
- Modern Love: Hyderabad will debut on Prime Video on July 8.
- Mom, Don’t Do That! will debut on Netflix on July 15.
- Cafe Minamdang premieres on Netflix today.
- The Handmaid’s Tale returns on Hulu on September 14.
- The End is Nye will premiere on Peacock on August 25.
- The Rehearsal will debut on HBO Max on July 15.
- Living With a Serial Killer returns on Oxygen on July 9.
- The Captain will premiere on ESPN on July 18.
- American Dynasty debuts on Fox Nation tonight.
- Good Bones returns on HGTV on July 12.
- Solar Opposites returns on Hulu on July 13.
R.I.P.
Mark Shields, Political analyst on PBS News Hour and Capitol Gang
Tyler Sanders, Actor who starred in Just Add Magic: Mystery City, and guest-starred on 9-1-1 Lone Star, Fear the Walking Dead, and The Rookie
Billy Kametz, Video game and anime voice actor
Harry Gration, BBC presenter
Roberta Whiteman, Variety editor
Jean-Louis Trintignant, French actor
Donald Pippin, Emmy- and Tony-winning conductor
Cooper Noriega, TikTok star
WATCH THIS
Only Murders in the Building: Charles, Oliver, and Mabel investigate the murder of Arconla Board President Bunny in the second season of the charming murder mystery series. Hulu
Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness: An unflinching look at 20 young Americans from all over the country, who are struggling with mental illness. Series premiere. 8 p.m., PBS
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Martin Lawrence, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, a performance from Broadway’s “A Strange Loop”
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Beanie Feldstein, Matthew Modine, Billy Strings, Jonathan Ulman
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Wanda Sykes, Ronan Farrow
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: President Joe Biden, Billie Eilish, David Harbour, Alanis Morissette
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Joey King, Megan Stalter, anees, guest host Chelsea Handler
- The Daily Show: TBA
- Watch What Happens Live: “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” Season 3 Reunion
| MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Celebrity Family Feud (repeat) |
Celebrity Family Feud (repeat) |
Celebrity Family Feud (repeat) |
| CBS | The Neighborhood (repeat) |
Bob ♥ Abishola (repeat) |
NCIS (repeat) |
NCIS: Hawai’i (repeat) |
| CW | Roswell, New Mexico (new) |
In the Dark (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Don’t Forget the Lyrics! (new) |
Beat Shazam (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | American Ninja Warrior (new) |
Weakest Link (new) |
One thought on “I’m back! Y’all didn’t break anything while I was gone, right?”