Seeking empathy in a vacuum.

by Therese Odell, posted in watch this

Before we move forward

Let me be perfectly clear: there is no room for political violence, and no one deserves to be shot to death, especially for just expressing themselves. I extend my condolences to Charlie Kirk’s children and wife, to his family and his friends, to anyone who grieves him. I also am so very sorry for the people who were in attendance at his event yesterday who had a front-row seat to our nation’s deepest pathology: gun violence.

But let me be equally clear: Charlie Kirk was not a good person. He was a racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-science Christian nationalist who actively glorified gun culture, and I am not going to contort myself into a position to mourn him. His last words, in fact, were a racist dog whistle while in defense of gun rights, ironically enough. And by now, you have seen his quote: “I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”

And so, you will have to excuse me if I can not find it within me at this moment to find the good in or be empathetic towards a man who could not find it in his own heart to bear empathy for dead school children, or their parents, or dead church goers, or dead music festival attendees, or dead college students, or dead grocery shoppers, or immigrants, or Black people, or Muslims, or homosexuals, or trans people, or Ukrainians, or women as a whole. The man himself hated empathy — “I can’t stand the word empathy, actually. I think empathy is a made-up, new age term that — it does a lot of damage.” — so I will honor his memory by extending as much empathy towards him as he extended to others.

Quite frankly, I am more concerned about what doors his death will open up, what opportunities those on the right will take in the name of vengeance for Charlie Kirk. Despite politicians and celebrities on the left side of the aisle expressing their condolences and condemnation for political violence — condolences that the right, and our current President couldn’t bring themselves to extend to the families of Melissa and Mark Hortman, or Paul Pelosi, or Brian Sicknick, or Josh Shapiro — the right has already begun chanting for revenge and “war.” President Reichstag Fire himself put out a video statement yesterday, decrying “left-wing radicals” as being responsible for Kirk’s murder, even though we do not have a suspect yet, much less any motives. Several HBCUs are currently on lockdown due to threats placed against them, and I fear much darker things lay ahead for all of us.

If you believe in the power of prayer, pray for Charlie Kirk that his soul might now repent for all the pain and damage he caused others in his lifetime. But more importantly, pray for our country. I fear the worst is coming.

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, MSNBC fired analyst Matthew Dowd for his comments on Kirk’s death:

“He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in. You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”

I mean, I can see how some might read Dowd’s comments as victim-blaming, but we are all adults here and should be able to admit that such discourse does have consequences. Saying hateful things and encouraging violence encourages violence. This is not complicated math.

Meanwhile, Jesse Watters, who called for Kirk’s death to be “avenged” is still on Fox News.

And Comedy Central has pulled the South Park episode that appeared to spoof Kirk. The episode is still available at this time on Paramount+.

David Zaslav envisions the split between Warner Bros. and Discovery Global to take place in April of 2026. Also, expect a price hike on HBO Max and a crackdown on password sharing, they’re coming.

GIVE ME THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS LIMITED SERIES FROM BRYAN FULLER STARRING ZENDAYA. GIVE IT TO ME NOW. PUT IT IN MY GREEDY LITTLE HANDS.

Tamera Mowry claims that ABC canceled her show Sister, Sister because of Friends, though I have to admit, I don’t entirely understand the connection. She also noted that when the series moved to The WB network, which she had never heard of at the time, she was baffled until her co-star Tim Reid explained it to her:

“I have a frame from the WB saying, ‘Thank you for helping us start a network,’” she adds. “And Tim Reid was telling me, ‘Tamera, a lot of networks do this.’ They start off with Black shows, because we’re talented. Black people are talented, and a lot of people watch Black shows, and they built that network with those shows, and then they start changing.”

The WB did launch in ’95 with The Wayans Bros., The Parent’ Hood (starring Robert Townsend and Suzzanne Douglas) and Cleghorne! (featuring Saturday Night Live alum Ellen Cleghorne).

Fair point, Tim Reid.

And Kathy Bates said what she said. 

This is how I find out Martina Navratilova is married to a Real Housewife of Miami? 

Comedian Andrew Santino says that Disney made him edit his Disney adults jokes in his Hulu stand-up special that premieres tomorrow. 

If you have a Samsung smart TV, you’ll be able to watch Letterman TV, a channel that only shows old episodes of David Letterman’s NBC show, Late Night with David Letterman. (The Late Show with David Letterman, his CBS series, does not appear to be on this new channel.)

More evidence that Ellen DeGeneres is not a nice person. 

Steve Martin and Martin Short read Jimmy Fallon for filth. 

Please do not sucker punch James McAvoy.

Justin Fallows would rather not have to deal with Nazis, thanks. None of us do, Justin. None of us do.

Oh! Lady Edith and Andrew the footman are married in real life!

Love is dead.

Renewals

Cancellations

  • MediaBuzz has been canceled at Fox News after 12 years.

In Development

  • All’s Fine, a comedy set in an Austin food truck park, is in development at ABC.
  • Alley Cats, an animated comedy from Ricky Gervais, is in the works at Netflix.
  • The Hairdresser Mysteries, starring Sally Phillips, is in the works at BBC.
  • The Sunday Briefing, hosted by Jacqui Heinrich and Peter Doocy, will replace Mediabuzz on Fox News.

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • English Teacher will return on FX on September 25.

  • Into the Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal will premiere on Hulu on September 22.

  • Cocaine Quarterback: Signal-Caller for the Cartel will debut on Prime Video on September 25.

  • The Braxtons will return on We TV on October 10.

  • Homestead Rescue returns on Discovery Channel on September 23.

  • Hustlers, Gamblers, Crooks returns on Discovery Channel on September 23.

  • Cristela Alonzo: Upper Classy will debut on Netflix on September 23.

R.I.P.

David Travis, Home video pioneer and marketing executive

WATCH THIS

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Season finale. Paramount+

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