Things just got really messy behind the scenes at ‘The Last of Us’

by Therese Odell, posted in watch this

The struggle is real:

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Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

Well, this is interesting, if foreboding: Neil Druckman, the creator of The Last of Us video games and co-creator of the series, is stepping down from season three, as is Halley Gross, who co-wrote “The Last of Us Part II” video game, and was an executive producer on the series. Druckman says he’s leaving to return his focus on his next video game project. I’m curious if Druckman and Gross left of their own volition or were encouraged to leave because of the ratings drop (and curious creative choices) in the second season. Stay tuned, I suspect people will talk.

HOLD UP: Have they already replaced Mel Owens as the second Golden Bachelor?

Quick recap: Owens, who is 66, went on a podcast in early June and claimed he told the producers that he would eliminate any woman over 60, and wanted the women to be between the ages of 45-60. As you might imagine, this did not go over well with the intended audience, especially in the wake of so many Very Bad Bachelors and Bachelorette contestants (looking at you Grant, Clayton, Devin, and Gerry).

According to Reality Steve, the producers heard folks’ concerns, and an announcement about a replacement for Owens will be made soon. I’m sure they don’t want to drown out publicity for Bachelor in Paradise which is set to return on Monday. I hope this is accurate, because the last thing this franchise needs is another unserious man and another scandal.

Trainwreck: Poop Cruise is the most popular movie on Netflix right now and I’m not naming any names, but I happen to know for a fact that there is a cruise line who is VERY UNHAPPY about it and hoped that it would never see the light of day.

Well, this is bittersweet, but I’m sure the final season will be anything but.

Having watched the second season of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, I’m happy to get this update on Chandi Dayle. 

Rob McElhenney Mac has put out a public statement about his name change in case it was keeping you up at night.

Big Brother has revealed its theme and house for the season.

The twins who played Ross and Rachel’s daughter, Emma, on Friends are grown-ass adults now because we are old.

Here’s a deep dive into the upcoming Alien: Earth series on FX from Noah Hawley. I literally can not wait for this series, so much so that a few months ago I bored a bartender talking up it and Hawley. GO WATCH FARGO.

Great list, George, but maybe stop watching so much TV AND FINISH THE BOOKS.

Jesse Palmer was out there imposing rules on. Bachelor in Paradise, telling everyone to stay in their own generational lanes. WHO ARE YOU TO STAND IN THE WAY OF LOVE, JESSE PALMER?

Plan accordingly.

If I remember correctly, Travis Kelce was a charming host on Saturday Night Live, despite being a graduate of the “Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too.”

Welp. As feared, Paramount settled with President Blackmail for $16 million and no apology over the 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala in which they did absolutely nothing wrong. Paramount, who is desperate to move forward with their merger with Skydance, insists that settling — even though it was a meritless suit intended to bully and lie — was better than “being mired in uncertainty and distraction.” 

Reportedly, CBS News staffers are “unsurprised but disappointed” by the settlement, and hope that if the Skydance deal goes through, it will offer them a fresh start. 

The Writers Guild East, however, put out a fiery statement, writing:

“The Writers Guild of America East stands behind the exemplary work of our members at ’60 Minutes’ and CBS News. We wish their bosses at Paramount Global had the courage to do the same. This settlement is a transparent attempt to curry favors with an administration in the hopes it will allow Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger to be cleared for approval. Paramount’s decision to capitulate to Trump threatens journalists’ ability to do their job reporting on powerful public figures.”

And Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for an investigation to look into whether any bribery laws have been violated by the settlement, suggesting that President Scam Artist was essentially shaking down Paramount, in exchange for the permissions for the Skydance merger to go through.

“With Paramount folding to Donald Trump at the same time the company needs his administration’s approval for its billion-dollar merger, this could be bribery in plain sight,” Warren said in a statement. “Paramount has refused to provide answers to a congressional inquiry, so I’m calling for a full investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken.”

It won’t happen under the Republican regime in place, but that’s what midterm elections are for, kids.

Meanwhile, the Paramount/Skydance merger itself — which hasn’t happened yet — is creating other issues, according to the South Park guys, including leading to a delay of the release of the new season:

Stay tuned!

Renewals

  • The Bear has been renewed for a fifth season on Hulu. (I’m thrilled about this — as good as the season four finale was, I need some wrap-up.)
  • Tires has been renewed for a third season on Netflix.

In Development

  • What’s in the Box, a game show hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, has been ordered at Netflix.
  • Scrambled Up, a game show hosted by Michael Yo, will go into syndication this fall.
  • An adaptation of Best Offer Wins has been ordered at Hulu.
  • The Agrihood, “an unscripted short-form docuseries about farming, mental health, and transformation through land-based healing,” is in the works.

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • Invasion returns on Apple TV+ on August 22.
  • The Terminal List: Dark Wolf will premiere on Prime Video on August 27.
  • Eyes of Wakanda will premiere on Disney+ on August 27.
  • Unwrapping Christmas debuts on Hallmark Channel on July 5.
  • The Challenge returns on MTV on July 30.’
  • Hudson & Rex will return on UPtv on July 17.
  • The Fight Life returns on ESPN on July 7.
  • Fanatics Fest: All Access debuts on ESPN on July 7.
  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder returns on Disney+ on August 6.
  • Marked will premiere on Netflix on July 31.
  • Delirium debuts on Netflix on July 18.
  • Unspeakable Sins will debut on Netflix on July 30.
  • Glass Heart premieres on Netflix on July 31.
  • South Park has pushed its premiere date on Comedy Central back to July 23.
  • Necaxa will debut on FXX on August 7.
  • Wrapped will debut on QVC+ and HSN+ on July 8.
  • War Game will premiere on The Network on July 4.

R.I.P.

Peter-Henry Schroeder, Actor who appeared in Star Trek: Enterprise and Argo among others

Jim Shooter, Former Marvel Editor-in-Chief

WATCH THIS

Heads of State: Idris Elba and John Cena star in this action comedy as two world leaders who must overcome their rivalry to thwart a global conspiracy. Premiere. Prime Video

The Old Guard 2: Andy and her cohort of immortals return to fight those who threaten the world in this sequel. Premiere. Netflix

Dear Ms: A Revolution in Print: This documentary, more relevant than ever, traces the history of Ms. Magazine and the feminist movement it was born from. Premiere. 8 p.m., HBO

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CBS Hollywood Squares
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CW Sullivan’s Crossing
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FOX MasterChef
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NBC Chicago Med
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