Happy 30th birthday, ‘The Daily Show’!

by Therese Odell, posted in watch this

My client is innocent, Your Honor.

@katiemaki

That time when Ripp broke into a whole tub of yogurt and ended up with the hiccups 😂 #labrador #puppy #dog #dogsoftiktok #dogs

♬ original sound – Katie Maki

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the debut of The Daily Show. Late Nighter has a great piece about how Jon Stewart came into the show, made it his own, turned the show much more political, and changed late night forever.

One point that the piece doesn’t spend any time on, though, that I think made The Daily Show and Stewart so vital and relevant is that the show doesn’t merely take a political position; it also serves as an important piece of media criticism. Stewart has long been a vocal critic of the 24-hour news cycle and what it has done to our universe of information; how news and facts had to become sensationalized to break through. One of his greatest moments was when he appeared on CNN’s Crossfire and scolded both hosts for how their show was “hurting America.” And it’s important to remember that The Daily Show came up alongside Fox News, one of the most (the most?) corrupting influences in our political lives. The Daily Show and Stewart made a point to go out of their way to pull apart their lies and hypocrisy in real time, dedicating an entire segment to it called “Bullshit Mountain,” which was brilliant and insightful. The fact that The Daily Show was a satirical news program that covered real news made its criticism of actual news programs just that much more poignant and powerful.

Oh, hey, they are going to try to hold the White House Correspondents’ Dinner again this weekend. More than 500 journalists are calling on the WHCA to “forcefully oppose the Trump administration’s attacks on journalists and on freedom of the press,” and listed a number of egregious attacks this administration has made on the First Amendment just since the last time they tried to hold this dinner. I fully expect those attending to do something very brave, like wear a pin or a pocket square with a “message.”

63 million people in the U.S. watched the World Cup final game on Sunday, making it the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. television history and the most-watched World Cup final ever in the U.S. on record.

The time Cole Sprouse punched KJ Apa in a Vancouver strip club because Apa was using drugs.

Is Conan going through some things?

So, Ben Affleck had an AI company? And Netflix just bought it? For half a billion dollars? 

Sam Levinson is a masochist? You don’t say.

That MAHA Hospital sketch that SNL ripped off from The Daily Show will be going up against it at the Emmys. Shouldn’t The Daily Show get bonus points for having done it first?

SPILL THE TEA, JANICE.

All I’m going to say about this is that back in the 90s, I too worked with Star Jones and every report of her being a diva is spot on.

Christopher Nolan has a weird thing against Uggs. And I know he’s probably our greatest working director right now and I know I’m not actually an actor and I know that even if I WERE an actor the chances I’d ever work with Christopher Nolan are slim to none but I also know that Christopher Nolan would have to PRY MY UGGS OFF MY DEAD FEET.

While we’re on the subject: Matt Damon’s body double in The Odyssey was a woman, so you just know somewhere, Elon Musk is rolling around in a ball, sobbing.

Because what do you mean your AI is going to create a “historically accurate” version of The Odyssey, Elon? You know it’s fictional, right, buddy?

I mean, leaving aside the absurdity of a “historically accurate” version of The Odyssey, which  — SPOILER ALERTS! — contains men being turned into pigs by witches, cyclops, mermaids, and Gods and Goddesses running around, perhaps the most egregious thing about Elon’s stupid little Odyssey project is the idea that anyone wants his AI slop. Our eyeballs hate that shit, and this year’s box office is proving that.

The worst person you know just made a great point meme here.

In Development

  • A Robocop series has been set at Prime Video. It’s being created by Peter Ocko, a writer and producer who worked on The Leftovers, The Office, and Pushing Daisies, so this has potential if he comes at it from the same satirical space that the original Paul Verhoeven movie did.
  • Stillwater, a horror drama based on a graphic novel of the same name, has been greenlit at MGM Studios.
  • Peculiar Stars has been acquired at Apple TV.
  • Kill Jackie, a thriller series starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, has been acquired by AMC+.
  • A documentary about Lily Allen is in the works at Prime Video.
  • NASCAR Americana has been greenlit at USA.

Casting News

Mark Your Calendars

  • The Real Housewives of New York City returns on Bravo on September 8.
  • Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy debuts on Netflix on August 5.
  • Nirvana: The Band The Show premieres on Hulu on July 24.
  • Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes premieres on HBO on August 14.
  • Camp Rock 3 debuts on Disney Channel and Disney+ on August 13.

R.I.P.

Dixon Q. Dern, Hollywood attorney who helped shape entertainment law, specifically in television. He represented Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, The Jackson Five, and the Television Academy, and helped shape television syndication deals.

Richard M. Rawlings Jr., Four-time Emmy-nominated cinematographer on Charlie’s Angels, Matt Houston, L.A. Law, Boston Public and Desperate Housewives

Mike Preston, Actor known for Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and the Australian series Homicide

Charles Latham Gaines Jr., Author of Pumping Iron, which launched Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career

Plas Johnson, Saxophonist known for The Pink Panther theme song

Toshiaki Fushimi, Olympic medalist

WATCH THIS

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?: Larry David and his daughter, Cassie, compete in the season premiere. 7 p.m., ABC

A Toxic Love Story: A young woman is arrested for harassing her ex-boyfriend’s new wife, but the truth is more complicated as revealed in this new true crime movie. Netflix

Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston: The star of Loki transports us back in time to the eruption of Pompeii, and who better? 7 p.m., National Geographic Channel

Late Night:

  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: John Leguizamo, Shania Twain
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers: Tracee Ellis Ross
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live: Arsenio Hall, Patrick Ball, Frank McComb, guest host Colman Domingo
  • The Daily Show: Elliot Page, host Desi Lydic
  • Watch What Happens Live: Ariana Biermann, Kristen Doute

WEDS. 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30
ABC Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
(new)		 Shifting Gears
(repeat)		 Shifting Gears
(repeat)		 Shifting Gears
(repeat)		 Shifting Gears
(repeat)
CBS Big Brother
(new)		 Survivor
(repeat)
CW Police 24/7
(repeat)		 Police 24/7
(repeat)		 Local
FOX Masterchef
(new)		 Nation’s Dumbest
(new)		 News/Local
NBC Chicago Med
(repeat)		 Chicago Fire
(repeat)		 Chicago P.D.
(repeat)

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