I don’t mean to laugh at that poor woman on the plane who was obviously having some sort of mental health issue but on the other hand … this is just brilliant …
@pugdashians Pug version of the lady on the plane. We apologize for the POOR acting skills, but this is what you get when there’s an actors’ strike….WOOF!!WOOF!!✈️🙈🙉🙊 #MotherPugger #LadyOnThePlane #Pugdashians
Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News
It’s Day 87 of the WGA strike and Day 14 of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and there’s no end in sight because the studios still don’t want to pay creatives what they are owed and refuse to assure them that they won’t replace them with robots at the first opportunity. As such, the Television Academy has officially postponed the Emmys, and no new date has yet been set. This is the first time since 9/11 that the awards have been postponed.
The Academy would like to reschedule them for November to keep the awards in 2023, as it is their 75th anniversary, and also to prevent it from being lumped in with every other awards show in the early winter. But Fox wants to air them in January so that it doesn’t conflict with their NFL schedule. I’m guessing Fox will win this particular fight partially because money always wins but mostly because I’m not optimistic that this strike is going to end in time for there to be a November ceremony.
“WELL, THAT’S AWFULLY PESSIMISTIC OF YOU, THERSE.” Yes, I agree, but everybody is too dug in at this point and there doesn’t seem to be any movement from either side to resolve things. The studios are betting that they have enough content stocked up that they can literally wait out the strikers until they begin “losing their houses.”
“The endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses,” a studio executive told Deadline. Acknowledging the cold-as-ice approach, several other sources reiterated the statement. One insider called it “a cruel but necessary evil.”
And the strikers are now more pissed than ever having heard that the studio bosses are betting on them literally becoming homeless so as to win this war.
But I hope the studios are paying attention to this study that suggests people are going to start canceling their streaming services if the content dries up. They may have some content stocked up for the next few months but it’ll run out eventually. And despite what they may want to tell themselves, endless reality content is not going to be an adequate replacement for quality TV shows and movies.
Meanwhile, President Biden is showing his support for the strikers by not doing fundraisers in Los Angeles; and Snoop Dogg is showing his support for the strikers by canceling his Hollywood Bowl concerts:
Finally, New York Times TV writer James Poniewozak makes an argument for why we should all be rooting for the writers and actors in this mess: because in the eyes of corporate America, we are all, ultimately, as replaceable as that background actor or low-level writer. A.I. is coming for all of us.
In non-strike news:
Suits is currently a huge hit on Netflix? Why? What is happening? And does it mean that Suits could be the next Manifest and get another season on the streamer? (Maybe! But most likely without a particular American princess.)
Well, all the streamers but the upcoming free NASA streamer — NASA+, which will provide original video series and live events.
It’s genuinely shocking how little the Real Housewives were originally paid by Bravo.
Exclusive: Former CNN CEO Jeff Zucker has requested a retraction for a Variety report that characterized him as desperate to acquire the network, an individual close to Zucker told TheWrap.https://t.co/pii8Du5ADX
— Natalie Korach (@NatalieKorach) July 27, 2023
CNN (and the Atlantic and Puck) respond to Variety article on the politicking around Licht.
This is like the fight scene in Anchorman. https://t.co/pX9Ntf8h2K
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) July 26, 2023
Season 15 episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race will be the full 90 minutes on Paramount+ instead of the 60-minute episodes they tried to serve us when it originally aired on MTV.
Madonna seems to be on the mend.
Congratulations to Michelle Yeoh and Jean Todt and for ending the longest engagement ever.
Cancellations
- Down to Earth with Zac Efron and Fantastic Friends have been pulled from The CW’s schedule.
In Development
- Donald and Stephen Glover are now developing the Lando series for Disney+, with the departure of Justin Simien.
- The podcast Escaping Denver is being turned into a TV series.
Casting News
- Christine Romans is leaving CNN after 24 years.
CNN's Christine Romans signs off air for the last time as she announces she is leaving the network after 24 years https://t.co/sSRMqN5rOt pic.twitter.com/sAmhMnnQSa
— CNN (@CNN) July 28, 2023
Mark Your Calendar
- Demons and Saviors will debut on Hulu on August 3.
- The Marriage Pact will premiere on Roku on August 4.
- Castlevania: Nocturne will debut on Netflix on September 28.
- The Kardashians returns on Hulu on September 28.
- The Victoria’s Secret World Tour will air on Prime Video on September 26.
- Secrets of Penthouse will air on ASeptembertmeber 4 and 5.
R.I.P.
Katie Spikes, Longtime 60 Minutes producer
Justin Peacock, Writer on Suits and Lincoln Lawyer
Jerome Coopersmith, Writer on the original Hawaii Five-0
Lelia Goldoni, Star of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Shadows
Julian Barr, Playwright and screenwriter
Randy Meisner, Bassist and co-founding member of the Eagles
WATCH THIS
FRIDAY
Good Omens: Season two. Prime Video
How to Become a Cult Leader: Peter Dinklage narrates this satirical look at cults. Premiere. Netflix
Too Hot to Handle: More slutty dummies try to keep it in their pants in the fifth season of this nonsense. Netflix
Heels: Ace is still reeling from Jack’s revelation in the season premiere. 9 p.m., Starz
How to with John Wilson: John looks for a public restroom in New York City in the season premiere. 10 p.m., HBO
SATURDAY
Lady Bird: After you’ve enjoyed Barbie, give Greta Gerwig’s brilliant examination of a mother/daughter relationship. 7 p.m., Showtime Women
John Wick marathon: DON’T FUCK WITH HIS PUPPY 6:30 p.m., Paramount Network
SUNDAY
The Righteous Gemstones: A miraculous intervention changes the Gemstones’ fates in the one-hour season finale. 9 p.m., HBO
Dark Winds: Season two premiere. 8 p.m., AMC, Sundance
When Calls the Heart: Hope Valley faces an economic downturn in the 10th season premiere. 8 p.m., Hallmark
| FRI. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | Will Trent (repeat) |
20/20 |
| CBS | Tough As Nails (new) |
Fire Country (repeat) |
Blue Bloods (repeat) |
| CW | Family Law (new) |
Moonshine (new) |
Local |
| FOX | Friday Night Smackdown | Local |
| NBC | Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge (repeat) |
Dateline |
—
| SAT. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 | 11:00 | 11:30 |
| ABC | UFC 291 Prelims: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 (live) |
The Prank Panel (repeat) |
News/Local |
| CBS | NCIS (repeat) |
48 Hours | 48 Hours | News/Local |
| CW | Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982 (new) |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (repeat) |
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | MLB Baseball | News/Local |
| NBC | Baking It (new) |
America’s Got Talent (repeat) |
News/ Local |
Saturday Night Live (repeat) |
—
| SUN. | 6:00 | 6:30 | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | America’s Funniest Home Videos (repeat) |
Celebrity Family Feud (new) |
The $100,000 Pyramid (new) |
The $100,000 Pyramid (repeat) |
| CBS | 60 Minutes | Tough as Nails (new) |
The Equalizer (repeat) |
NCIS: Los Angeles (repeat) |
| The CW | Local | The Chosen (new) |
World’s Funniest Animals (repeat) |
World’s Funniest Animals (repeat) |
Local |
| FOX | Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars (repeat) |
The Simpsons (repeat) |
Family Guy (repeat) |
Housebroken (new) |
Housebroken (new) |
Local/News |
| NBC | American Ninja Warrior (repeat) |
America’s Got Talent (repeat) |