Norman Lear’s family sang his theme songs to him as he passed away and now I’m crying

by Therese Odell, posted in watch this

I want to hug Teddy, please.

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

Norman Lear’s son-in-law revealed that the family sang him songs from his TV shows as he passed away, and I don’t think my heart can take this:

When they got to the theme for The Jeffersons, LaPook said he was overcome with emotion. “You never know when these moments are going to sneak up on you,” he said. “I kind of held it together, [but] then we were singing ‘movin’ on up to the East Side’ and I heard myself saying ‘to a deluxe apartment in the sky,’ I just lost it. Because he’s going to some deluxe apartment in the sky.”

Godspeed, Mr. Lear.

This New York Times piece about “Zombie TV” is a good exploration of the current state of cable television. Most cable channels used to produce original scripted programming, but in the past decade or so, they’ve reverted to showing mostly reruns with the occasional reality show or sports program thrown in to keep it alive, and scripted TV has moved over to streaming services. The question for advertisers now is, “Why should we keep throwing money at networks that aren’t actually offering anything?” Interestingly, according to Dateline, after the unexpected popularity of Suits on Netflix, USA is putting feelers out for more “blue sky” scripted series — shows like Suits, Psych, and Monk which used to be their bread and butter. I find all of this fascinating because it’s clear that some cable channels just gave up — I’M LOOKING AT YOU COMEDY CENTRAL, TBS, TNT, AND USA — while others have successfully created a strong brand around themselves: Bravo, FX, Hallmark, and Lifetime are out there thriving and surviving, largely because they defined themselves as delivering a specific type of television and didn’t give up on original programming. Here’s to hoping that USA can save itself from the abyss.

Well, here’s Neil Patrick Harris and Russell T. Davies just lying to everyone’s faces.

A bunch of people who need a hug and some therapy took time out of their day to complain about a transgender character in a Doctor Who episode.

Rachel Recchia says she’s done competing on Bachelor series, after having “completed the trinity.” GOOD FOR YOU, RACHEL. DATE A REAL PERSON FOR A CHANGE.

Either Tyler Sheridan and Cole Hauser really hate each other or they are secretly in love, can’t tell.

This story about the internet coming together to find a mystery country song featured in one X-Files 25 years ago is wonderful.

Celebrities have been tricked by Russians to post Cameos attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a drug addict because the internet is a hell place.

Get well soon, Hayley Erbert!

Renewals

In Development

Casting News

Mark Your Calendar

  • The Bachelor returns on January 22 on ABC.
  • Letterkenny will return on Hulu on December 26.
  • The Regime premieres on HBO this spring.
  • Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale debuts on AMC+ and Sundance Now on January 4.
  • MTV Unplugged Presents: A Hip Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest premieres on MTV on December 14.
  • Silver premieres on Prime Video today.
  • Casey Anthony’s Parents: The Lie Detector Test will premiere on Lifetime on January 4.
  • The Tiger’s Apprentice will debut on Paramount+ on February 2.
  • Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise premieres on Hulu soon.
  • As the Crow Flies will debut on Netflix on December 14.
  • Love Is Blind Sweden premieres on Netflix on January 12.

R.I.P.

Ellen Holly, First Black actor to have a starring role in daytime television, in her role as Carla on One Life to Live

David McKnight, Actor who appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including The Commish, Boston Legal, Benson, and Hill Street Blues

Keisha Nash-Whitaker, Actress, producer, and ex-wife of Forest Whitaker

WATCH THIS

FRIDAY

Leave the World Behind: A family’s luxury vacation takes an ominous turn in this dark thriller starring Julia Roberts. Netflix

Culprits: Following a high-stakes heist, a crew of elite criminals who have gone their separate ways find themselves targeted by an assassin in this new series. Premiere. Hulu

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: Monk returns to solve one last case involving his stepdaughter Molly. Premiere. Peacock

The Great British Baking Show: The Holidays: Sixth season premiere. Netflix

FBoy Island: The women have to make their final choices and risk losing both love and money. Season finale. 8 p.m., The CW

SATURDAY

Saturday Night Live: Adam Driver and Olivia Rodrigo. 10:30 p.m., NBC

Doctor Who: The Giggle: The final in the three-part Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials. Premiere. Disney+

Byron Allen Presents A Merry Soulful Christmas: Music icons perform holiday music in this new special. 7 p.m., CBS

SUNDAY

A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop: A star-studded lineup of hip-hop legends celebrate the 50th anniversary of the music form that changed the world. Premiere. 7:30 p.m., CBS

MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays: Two hours of kids making holiday treats while Gordon Ramsay tries his best to keep from screaming at them. 7 p.m., Fox

Yes, Chef! Christmas: The Bear but make it a Lifetime holiday movie. 7 p.m., Lifetime

Late Night:

    • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Friday): Anne Hathaway, Peter Sarsgaard, Daniel Humm, Fumi Abe

FRI. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Shark Tank
(new)		 20/20
CBS The Price is Right at Night
(new)		 Raid the Cage
(new)		 Blue Bloods
(repeat)
CW Penn & Teller: Fool Us
(new)		 FBoy Island
(new)		 Local
FOX Friday Night Smackdown Local
NBC Despicable Me 3 Dateline

—

SAT. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30
ABC NBA Basketball
(live)		 News/Local
CBS Byron Allen Presents A Merry Soulful Christmas
(new)		 48 Hours News/Local
CW Shrek
(live)		 Local
FOX Men’s College Basketball
(live)		 News/Local
NBC Shrek the Halls Trolls: Holiday in Harmony Dateline Saturday Night Live
(repeat)		 News/
Local		 Saturday Night Live
(Adam Driver & Olivia Rodrigo)

—

SUN. 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Mickey Saves Christmas Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Frozen The Great Christmas Light Fight
(new)
CBS The OT 60 Minutes A Grammy® Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop
(new)		 The Equalizer
(repeat)
The CW Local The Chosen
(new)		 Local
FOX LEGO Masters
(repeat)		 MasterChef Junior: Home For The Holidays
(new)		 Local/News
NBC Sunday Night Football
(live)

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