Melanie Lynskey is not interested in your body-shaming bullshit.

The post-sneeze grumble is simultaneously the most adorable and the most terrifying thing:

@ggconservation

Sneezy Smokey 🦁 The one where Smokey needed to sneeze… twice..

♬ original sound – GG Conservation Glen Garriff

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

Do not come for Melanie Lynskey. Former America’s Next Top Model and Mrs. Peter Brady had some very dumb thoughts about Melanie Lynskey being cast as The Last of Us’ terrifyingly brutal Kathleen, but Miss Melanie was NOT HAVING IT TODAY.

Firstly- this is a photo from my cover shoot for InStyle magazine, not a still from HBO’s The Last Of Us. And I’m playing a person who meticulously planned & executed an overthrow of FEDRA. I am supposed to be SMART, ma’am. I don’t need to be muscly. That’s what henchmen are for pic.twitter.com/YwkmkwUdOm

— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 8, 2023

Not the coolest or the toughest person. The organiser. The person who knows where everything is. The person who is doing the planning. The person who can multitask. The one who’s decisive

— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 8, 2023

I was excited at the idea of playing a woman who had, in a desperate and tragic time, jumped into a role she had never planned on having and nobody else had planned on her having, and then she actually got shit done

— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 8, 2023

I understand that some people are mad that I’m not the typical casting for this role. That’s thrilling to me. Other than the moments after action is called, when you feel like you’re actually in someone else’s body, the most exciting part of my job is subverting expectations

— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 8, 2023

And I’m also grateful because the love and support I receive from you all is so overwhelming and powerful- I feel like we are a community and I feel very seen and loved. Ok rant over and thank you all so very much 💗

— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 8, 2023

KICK SOME ASS, MISS MELANIE.

(It should be noted that Adrienne Curry doubled down on her stupid opinion, adding that she said the “same shit about Carol on the walking dead” which just goes to show you how stupid she is, as Carol was easily the most terrifying character on that show.)

And while we’re talking about bad The Last of Us takes, Ben Shapiro is a fucking idiot. Also, Frank didn’t have cancer.

CBS is replacing The Late Late Show with James Corden with @midnight, a series that ran for 600 episodes on Comedy Central from 2013-17.

Netflix has rolled out those password changes in Canada, and people are unhappy.

I think your policy is confusing and doesn't consider those of us who travel, have multiple children at home, use in car hotspots, watch at work, etc. What's wrong with the 1,2,4 device limitations already in place? With so many other options, why keep your service?

— Michael Howard MD (@mhoward223) February 8, 2023

so y'all make us pay for using netflix on multiple screens…. but don't let those multiple screens live outside the same household….. the math isn't mathing https://t.co/XStMfUpRDH

— bee 💌 (@beelovejoy) February 8, 2023

Are they prepared for the mass cancellations? If you pay for Netflix, you should be able to distribute how you see fit. You pay the bill. It’s absurd. There are so many instances where this is not going to benefit the customers. They want more $, but are about to lose $. https://t.co/l91MIl6EGp pic.twitter.com/g097AEIOOL

— LvngDoll87 (@LvngDoll87) February 8, 2023

pic.twitter.com/kWsVNEwf2J

— Pluto TV (@PlutoTV) February 8, 2023

Warner Bros. Discovery is not shutting down Discovery+ after all. The plan had originally been to fold HBO Max and Discovery+ into one expensive streamer, but they’ve come to realize that their Discovery+ subscribers might not actually want to pay for expensive HBO content. From the sound of it, their plan is to launch Max, which will include both HBO and Discovery content, and do away with HBO Max, while also keeping Discovery alive. So, basically, they are going to force HBO viewers extra for Discovery content they don’t actually want. Cool!

Disney+ lost 2.4 million subscribers at the end of 2022. 

And Bob Iger is open to selling Hulu.  👀

A writers’ strike is coming. Brace yourselves.

The upcoming Damon Lindelof Peacock series Mrs. Davis was apparently rejected by a different streaming service because they didn’t like that algorithms were painted in a negative light. So let that sink in a minute.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time on Tuesday’s State of the Union except to say that the Republicans could not have given President Biden a bigger gift than to act like a bunch of over-sugared and under-rested toddlers.

On the left, Republican Senator Mike Lee feigns outrage during the State of the Union when President Biden suggests that some Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare.

On the right, Mike Lee says he wants to get rid of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. pic.twitter.com/vi6pYQmhZX

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) February 8, 2023

My favorite story of the week has to be that the kiss at the end of Netflix’s You People was CGI. Like, why? How? WHY? I have so many questions that need answers.

ayo is it true 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/hIsvHvZTJq

— mickey-L (@abraha_mikiele) February 4, 2023

The headline here is “Chris Harrison Says Kaitlyn Bristowe & Tayshia Adams Were ‘Doomed to Fail’ as ‘Bachelorette’ Co-Hosts” and the use of the passive voice makes it sound like he is being ugly towards them. It’s actually just the opposite — he was saying that ABC set them up to fail. Had I written the headline, it would have been much more direct: “Chris Harrison says Bachelor producers set Kaitlyn Bristowe & Tayshia Adams to fail as Bachelorette co-hosts”. Anyway, it’s an interesting interview for two reasons: 1. Bristowe told Harrison on his podcast that she and Adams were given the titles “mentors” instead of “hosts” so that ABC wouldn’t have to pay them as much — which in and of itself is infuriating. And 2. Chris Harrison was mad when they were named co-hosts … but on their behalf:

“The only thing that really upset me when I heard that you and Tayshia were hosting was that it was you and Tayshia and that they named two of you,” he said. “Because you were doomed to fail. You were set up to fail. That was never going to succeed.”

“There’s not room for two people; there’s not room for two mentors. There’s not room for two emotions in that mental space that you’re taking over. So, that was just never going to work,” he added.

JUST. IMAGINE. THE FREAKOUT. IF. HE. HOSTED.

Netflix’s Heartstopper will explore asexuality and aromanticism in season two through Isaac’s story.

FINISH THE BOOK, GEORGE.

Y’all need to give Teresa her Mercedes back.

I regret to inform you that Joe Rogan is at it again, this time with the antisemitism.

I don’t care about sportsball (… if the Astros aren’t involved) but congratulations to LeBron James! That’s an amazing accomplishment. 

Thank you for a brilliant career, Christina Applegate. We love you.

Renewals

• Tehran has been renewed for a third season on Apple TV+.
• Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News has been renewed for a third season on Comedy Central.

Cancellations

• Reboot is officially canceled, after no one wanted to pick it up after being canceled by Hulu.

In Development

• A revival of Fawlty Towers, written by and starring John Cleese and his real-life daughter Camilla Cleese, is being developed.
• St. Denis Medical, a medical mockumentary from the Superstore/American Auto team, has been given an order at NBC.
• The Wayans Father/Son comedy has been given a pilot order at CBS.
• A series based on Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta novels, starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis is in the works at Prime Video.
• The Madness, a conspiracy thriller starring Colman Domingo, has been given a series order at Netflix.
• A series adaptation of Butterfly starring Daniel Dae Kim is being developed at Prime Video.
• The Mole Agent, a comedy from Mike Schur starring Ted Danson, is being shopped around.
• Three Women, which was dropped by Showtime after it was completed, might be picked up at Starz.
• Prime Video is making two more Bosch spinoffs.
• A bounty hunter series from Joe Barton and Michael Bay is in the works at Prime Video.
• An animated series based on the graphic novel Wytches has been ordered at Prime Video.
• Influencer has been acquired at Shudder.
• Empty Mansions is being adapted for TV at HBO.

Casting News

• Hugh Laurie is joining Tehran on Apple TV+.
• Kelly Hu has joined the cast of East New York on CBS.
• William H. Macy, Anja Savcic, Andrew Santino, and Lex Scott Davis have joined the cast of Ricky Stanicky on Prime Video.
• Renate Reinsve, Greta Scacchi, Peter Sarsgaard, Joe Grifasi, O-T Fagbenle, and Tom Mardirosian have joined the cast of Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+.
  
• Henry Czerny and Doug Savant have been added to the cast of The Venery of Samantha Bird on Starz.
• Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, McKenna Roberts, and Rylan Jackson have joined Back in Action on Netflix.
• Lori Loughlin will star in another Christmas movie at GAC.
• Jordan Alexandra, Steven Elder, Andrew Gower, Aneirin Hughes Bot, Emily John, Tatjana Nardone, Ken Nwosu, and Billy Postlethwaite have been cast in The Winter King at ITVX.
• David Schwimmer will compete on The Great Celebrity Bake Off on Channel 4.

Mark Your Calendars

• Perry Mason returns on HBO on March 6.

• Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will premiere on Paramount+ on April 6.

• Liaison premieres on Apple TV+ on February 24.

• The Night Agent will debut on Netflix on March 29.

• Berlin will debut on Netflix in December.

• RapCaviar Presents debuts on Hulu on March 30.

• Grown & Gospel will premiere on WE tv on March 16.

• The Madame Blanc Mysteries returns soon on Acorn.

• African Queens: Njinga premieres on Netflix on February 15.

• The Law According to Lidia Poet premieres on Netflix on February 15.

• The Glory returns on Netflix on March 10.

• Invisible City returns on Netflix soon.

• The Daily Show has announced its next line-up of guest hosts and their premiere dates.
• The Portable Door will debut on MGM+ in April.
• The 2023 Primetime Emmys will air on Fox on September 18.
• Byron Allen Presents the Comedy and Music Superfest will air on NBC on February 11.
• Power Book II: Ghost returns on Starz on March 17.
• Martha Cooks returns on Roku on February 17; Emeril Cooks on April 3.
• Act Your Age premieres on Bounce on March 4.
• Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Story will debut on Lifetime on April 8.
• Houses with History will return on HGTV on March 7.
• Spoonful of Sugar will debut on Shudder on March 2.
• The Ride premieres on Hallmark on March 26.
• The MTV Movie & TV Awards will air on MTV on May 7.
• Homestead Rescue will return on Discovery on February 28.
• The Mandalorian will air on ABC, Freeform, and FX on February 24.
• The Ultimate Fighter returns on ESPN on May 30.

R.I.P.

Burt Bacharach, Legendary pop composer

Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick reminisce through the amazing catalog of songs they recorded with Hal David. We lost a giant today. https://t.co/JNl0vVPOjq pic.twitter.com/K7ix7YrycQ

— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) February 9, 2023

Scott Alexander, Magician who appeared on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us

Eugene Lee, Emmy-winning production designer for SNL

Bob Orben, Joke writer for many comedians and at least one president

Lee Moder, Comic book artist

WATCH THIS

You: Joe takes his psychopathy to Europe. Season premiere. Netflix

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence: Oh hey, it’s another documentary about the weird sex cult at the college we chose to send one of our children to, cool. Premiere. Hulu

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special: Premiere. HBO Max

Hell’s Kitchen: Two-hour season finale. 7 p.m., Fox

Late Night:

• Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Matthew McConaughey, Evangeline Lilly, Lang Lang
• Late Night with Seth Meyers: Penn Badgley
• The Late Late Show with James Corden: O’Shea Jackson Jr.
• The Daily Show: Guest host Chelsea Handler
• Watch What Happens Live: Natasha Lyonne, Alison Brie

THUR

7:00

7:30

8:00

8:30

9:00

9:30

ABC

The Parent Test (new)

The Parent Test (new)

The Chase (new)

CBS

Young Sheldon (new)

Ghosts (new)

So Help Me Todd (new)

CSI: Vegas (new)

CW

Walker (repeat)

Walker: Independence (repeat)

News/Local

FOX

Hell’s Kitchen (new)

News/Local

NBC

Law & Order (repeat)

The 12th Annual NFL Honors (new)