To celebrate our 5,000th post, ‘The Bear’ just dropped a surprise episode! (These things actually have nothing to do with each other, but a girl can pretend.)

Hey! Here’s a meaningless little stat: This is FoolishWatcher’s 5,000th post! Woo, I guess! Anyways, thanks for sticking around and reading all this nonsense, I appreciate ya!

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

The Bear dropped a surprise prequel episode, “Gary,” yesterday. It was written by and stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal:

View this post on Instagram

We now know why Helena Bonham Carter left The White Lotus after only 9 days on set: 

White had written a washed-out star who is chasing a comeback, sources tell Variety. The role was originally set for Helena Bonham Carter, who exited the HBO production — after nearly a week on set — over “creative differences” involving White’s demand for a boisterous performance; within days, she was replaced by Laura Dern.

Other things we learned from that Variety piece above: this upcoming season set at the Cannes Film Festival will cost $120 million; “French aloofness” inspired the season; filming will also take place at the Hôtel Lutetia in Paris (if you are ever in Paris, trust me: go to that hotel and get a drink at Bar Josephine); and it was the best crafts service some have ever had.

President Obama was Stephen Colbert’s guest last night, and he didn’t exactly poo-poo the idea of Stephen Colbert running for President. After all, “the bar has changed.”

Matthew Perry’s personal items, including Friends scripts and his SAG Award, are going up for auction to benefit his foundation.

Please do not stalk the sets of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Just be normal.

The only winners in the Justin Baldoni/Blake Lively fight? The lawyers.

Elle Key would like you to know that those stories about her are “outlandish.”

That SNL sketch, “Rasta Driver,” was inspired by a real guy.

“TV Is Changing Its Approach to ‘the Change’” — a very good piece about how TV is becoming more sensitive on the subject of menopause and no longer just treating it as an easy joke. Probably because — GASP — there are women in the writers’ rooms these days.

The sole sane person remaining at the FCC is calling for a “rigorous” review of the foreign investment in Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. (It’s not going to happen.)

President Sensitive Fee-Fees is talking shit about Norah O’Donnell and Van Jones for some reason.

Renewals

• The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins has been renewed for a second season on NBC. (yay!)

Casting News

• Rita Wilson has joined How to Survive Without Me on HBO Max.
• Abigail Breslin, David Denman, and Annabeth Gish have joined The Night Agent on Netflix.
• John Patrick Jordan has joined Dark Winds on AMC.
• Jessica Sula and Maria Zhang have been added to the cast of The Interrogator on Fox.

Mark Your Calendars

• Heart & Hustle: Houston will return on OWN on May 30.

• Sofia the First: Royal Magic will debut on Disney+ on May 25.

• King of the Hill will return on Hulu on July 20.
• The American Experiment will premiere on Netflix on June 24.
• Downfall: The Case Against Boeing will premiere on Netflix on August 19.
• Fightland will premiere on Starz on July 31.
• The Clash of Nations: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling debuts on History Channel on June 19.
• American Hostage will debut on MGM+ in the fall.

R.I.P.

Ted Turner, Media mogul and philanthropist who created CNN

WATCH THIS

Citadel: Season two premiere. Prime Video

The Other Bennet Sister: In this continuation of the classic Pride & Prejudice, the overlooked Bennet sister, Mary, travels to London and the Lake District in a journey of self-discovery. Series premiere. Britbox

Worst Ex Ever: Season two of the true crime docuseries. Netflix

Late Night:

• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Brendan Fraser, Kate Mara, Trueno
• Late Night with Seth Meyers: Maya Rudolph, Michael Gandolfini
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Sally Field, Chris Stapleton, Evie McGee Colbert
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: Steve Carell, Mike Tyson, the Avett Brothers, Mike Patton
• The Daily Show: Marla Mindelle, host Desi Lydic
• Watch What Happens Live: Ella Stiller, Zack Wickham

WEDS.

7:00

7:30

8:00

8:30

9:00

9:30

ABC

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (repeat)

Shark Tank (repeat)

Shark Tank (repeat)

CBS

Survivor (repeat)

America’s Culinary Cup (new)

CW

Police 24/7 (new)

Missing: The Nancy Guthrie Mystery (repeat)

Local

FOX

Masterchef (new)

The Floor (new)

News/Local

NBC

Chicago Med (new)

Chicago Fire (new)

Chicago P.D. (new)