The almost comical corruption behind the Paramount/Warner Bros. merger is becoming exposed and yet you can fully expect nothing will be done to stop it.

Therese Odell

1 hour ago

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

As of now, I’m not seeing any indication that any of the major networks are planning on broadcasting President Tantrum’s primetime message tonight, where he’s expected to lie about the 2020 election. Stay tuned.

While we’re on the topic of that boil on American democracy, he had a snit because The New York Times reported on the lack of security on his ~~bribe~~ toy plane from Qatar, and he sent the Department of Justice after the reporters with subpoenas to find out the source of the “leak.” The New York Times is fighting the subpoenas because, no.

Color me shocked, but FCC head Brendan Carr has been accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts — roughly $63,000 worth — from Paramount ahead of his approval of the merger. Another FCC Commissioner, Olivia Trusty, who cast a crucial vote for the approval, also accepted $12,000 worth of gifts. The irony of all this is that Carr would certainly have approved the merger without Paramount throwing gifts at him, and making the whole thing stink to high heaven. Expect this to go nowhere and change nothing because the corruption is fully baked in now.

In his confirmation hearing yesterday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche basically admitted he was responsible for pushing forward approval for the Paramount/Warner Bros. merger even though some DoJ attorneys were reportedly leaning towards presenting a legal challenge to it.

Some shareholders are now suing to block the Paramount/Warner Bros. merger, accusing David Ellison and Larry Ellison of making an illegal deal with President Corruption for approval of the merger.

In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in Delaware Chancery Court, the investors claim that the Ellisons promised to make sweeping changes at CNN to greenlight the acquisition. They also point to an alleged promise for up to $20 million in free advertising and a $16 million payment to Trump through a prior settlement by the studio’s previous ownership to resolve an allegedly frivolous lawsuit he had filed against CBS.

There was a scary incident at The Today Show this morning, when a man breached security, looking for Al Roker, and, when unable to find him, lunged at Craig Melvin while yelling a racial slur. He was detained, no one was hurt, and nothing was mentioned about the incident on-air.

MS Now is comin’ on down to Texas (Arlington) for a pre-election event.

So, I’m guessing that those rumors that ABC was going to air The Bachelorette this summer were premature.

The royals are VERY PERTURBED that Meghan Markle’s show, With Love, Meghan, was nominated for an Emmy, lol.

A couple of years ago, I was outside chatting with a neighbor one night when I thought I felt something tickle my leg. I didn’t check; instead, I went inside, and it was there, to my absolute disgust, that I realized that yes, I had felt something on my leg and that it — a tree roach — had actually climbed INSIDE THE LEG OF MY JEANS. I genuinely considered chopping my leg off after this little dalliance. Just telling you this horror story for no particular reason.

The Stranger Things kids had a 10-year not-reunion.

Congratulations, Luke Wilson, and your underage girlfriend. I guess.

Love is dead.

Love has been dead.

Renewals

Sullivan’s Crossing has been renewed for a fifth season at CW.

Cancellations

The Claudia Winkleman Show has been canceled at BBC after one season.

In Development

Jane Elliott Against the World, Seeds, My Omaha, and The Other Side of Memory have been acquired by Independent Lens on PBS.
Cold as Balls will stream on Netflix this summer.
Nick DiGiovanni and Nick’s Kitchen episodes will be available on Netflix.
Filming on The Valley has resumed after Jax Taylor was seen being romantic with his publicist.
Capital, a crime drama from Guy Ritchie, has been set at Amazon MGM U.K.
Sambre will stream on MHz.

Casting News

Jessica Alba has joined 13 Going on 30 at Netflix.
Jodie Whittaker will co-star in Chicks at Hulu.
Gabriel Luna has joined Dexter: Resurrection on Paramount+.
Ella Anderson has joined Conviction on Hulu.
James Purefoy, Colin O’Donoghue, and Luke Roberts have joined Robin Hood at MGM+.
Vincent D’Onofrio, Kate Mara, Clancy Brown, Thomas Sadoski, and Jascon Schwartzman have been cast in The Roman at Netflix.
Gemma Whelan, Arsema Thomas, Harry Lawtey, Sophie Willan, and Timothy Spall have joined The Lords’ Day on Netflix.
Matt Barnes, Alycia Baumgardner, Candace Cameron Bure, David Charvet, Brandi Glanville, Collin Gosselin, Oliver Hudson, LeSean McCoy, Maxim Naumov, Ruby Rose, George Santos, Hannah Stocking, Breana Tiesi, Alexia Umansky, and Mauricio Umansky will compete on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on Fox.

Mark Your Calendars

Mobland returns to Paramount+ on September 18.

My Life with the Walter Boys returns on Netflix on August 6.

The Challenge: Cutthroat moves to Paramount+ on August 5.

The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare will debut on Netflix on July 29.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place will return on Disney Channel on August 4.

Time and Water will premiere on National Geographic on July 31 and Disney+ on August 1.

Bill Maher: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor will debut on Netflix on July 21.

A Child of My Own premieres on Netflix on August 13.

American Horror Story will return on FX on September 24.
A supersized cut of an episode of The Rookie will stream on Hulu on July 20.
Futurama returns on Hulu on August 3.
Euphoria: A Look Back will stream on HBO Max on July 24.
Totally ’90s House will premiere on HGTV on August 26.
Big Break x Good Good Presented by Golf Galaxy returns on Golf Channel on August 25.
Shadows in Sunlight will premiere on Documentary+ on July 17.

R.I.P.

Scott Bryce, Actor known for As the World Turns and Guiding Light

Dave Kendall, Creator and host of MTV’s 120 Minutes

Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dave Kendall.

Dave was one of the true believers. Long before alternative music found its way into the mainstream, he was there every week on 120 Minutes, introducing people to bands that would go on to define an era. He didn’t just host… pic.twitter.com/IVTHRV301i

— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) July 14, 2026

Hal Williams, Actor known for Sanford and Son, 227, Private Benjamin and guest appearances on That Girl, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Cannon, Police Woman, Gunsmoke, Police Story, Quincy M.E, Good Times, Knots Landing, The Waltons, The Dukes of Hazzard, Webster, Hill Street Blues, Magnum P.I., Night Court, L.A. Law, Suddenly Susan, Moesha, Matlock and Parks and Recreation

Cristina Sanz, Star of Born This Way

Joanna Pettet, British actress who appeared in The Group and Casino Royale

Harris Katleman, Former television executive at MGM and 20th Century Fox

Sam Masaru Sekoff, Literary manager

WATCH THIS

The Hawk: Will Ferrell stars as an aging golfer who chases one last major in this new series that seems perfect for him. Series premiere. Netflix

Marc by Sofia: An intimate portrait of designer MarcJacobss by his friend Sofia Coppola. Premiere. HBO Max

Descendants: Wicked Wonderland: It’s another installment of the Descendants movies. Lost count of which one this is. Anyway, if you’re the parent of a child of a certain age, expect to be hearing this on repeat for a while. 7 p.m., Disney

Late Night:

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Christopher Nolan
Late Night with Seth Meyers: Matt Damon
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Regina Hall, Alan & Jon Barinholtz, Jeff Tweedy, guest host Ike Barinholtz
The Daily Show: Jake Johnson, host Michael Kosta
Watch What Happens Live: Molly Shannon, Tamra Judge