Politics Corner April 30th

 

photo mine

There is literally nothing about capital punishment that is not about state murder. We cloak it in "justice" but it's not justice, it's vengeance. Almost all of the civilized world recognizes this. The US is nearly unique in its bloodthirsty campaign to kill. Mostly poor people of color by the way. We don't even pretend that the system is fair. And we lie. Prosecutors have always lied to protect themselves and their predecessors. But also any medical "professional" endorsing capital punishment must lie by default because their profession forbids. it. [ProPublica]

via ProPublica

Political discussion encouraged.

What's On Tonight (Monday): Who will be the Idol of Americans?

 

Courtesy New York Post.

Tonight's Top Pick, mostly because I'm still trying to recognize everyone, is American Idol. The show's actually going to air only one more Monday night episode after this one this season, on May 15.

Cancellation League Update!

 

Courtesy Amadeus3000.

After today, four more Cancellation League posts for the season. I'm keeping an eye on Kat, specifically Mayim Bialik's newest side hustle, the proposed Blossom reboot (Annual? Perennial?). In the meantime, +550 for Bob Hearts Abishola's 11 supporting actors (+50 each) all getting downgraded from being regulars.

CBSSM: 'Optimism Is Sustainable'

Via Gifer

This week's segments can be found at the CBSSM YouTube page. Viewers in Australia/New Zealand may encounter IP geoblocking that requires a VPN to bypass.

PET SET - MR. BONES

What's On Tonight (Sunday): Heroes are mortal and not divine

Tom Jones

Better dead than red! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, April 30!

Our Top Pick tonight is the limited series Tom Jones (PBS, 9 p.m.). This 4-part story, starring Solly McLeod in the title role, is based Henry Fielding's 18th century book that was previously adapted into the Best Picture winner of 1963, starring Albert Finney. This retelling features Sophie Wilde as Sophia and Hannah Waddingham as Lady Bellaston. It's been years since I've revisited the movie.

Elsewhere, Fatal Attraction also gets a modern miniseries update, Marie Antoinette has a bun in the oven, Company You Keep finds new company, Eva Longoria ventures to Veracruz, Bob tells family history, Succession wants to be like dad, The Blacklist always rings twice, and Crackers party with billionaires.

Politics Corner April 29th

 

photo mine

It's game night tonight so nothing matters except whether or not I win. Okay, that's not true. Maybe when I was a little chef but I grew up not to be Republican. I've got friends coming over (and some more competitive than me!) and the goal is to have fun and leave as better friends. [Exploding Kittens]

If you buy it (and you should) go direct to Exploding Kittens
via Amazon

Political discussion welcome

This Weekend in Pop Culture: April 28-30

 Welcome to the Weekend in Pop Culture! Let's examine what's coming out in theaters this weekend.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.

A young girl questions religion and comes of age in 1970 New Jersey.

Polite Society

An aspiring stuntwoman attempts to rescue her sister from her fiancé’s sinister family.

Sisu

A prospect seeks revenge on the Nazis who stole his gold.

What have you been watching?

Astronomy Day And Make Your Own Saturday Headlines

    

Via Tumblr

PET SET

Politics Corner April 28th

 

photo mine

Chief Justice John Roberts' wife made over $10 million from law firms. That leaves only the Trump appointees and the liberals who haven't been fingered for corruption. [Business Insider]

via Business Insider

What's On Tonight (Saturday): Should these animals give up or should they just keep Chasing Rains

Chasing the Rains

Sit on it! Here's what's on television for tonight, Saturday, April 29!

Our Top Pick tonight is Chasing the Rains (BBC America & AMC+, 8 p.m.). This week's nature documentary, which premiered last Saturday, follows three animal matriarchs (elephant, wild dog, cheetah) as they try to survive a harsher-than-usual dry season in Kenya's national parks. A making-of special is available available on AMC+.

Elsewhere, David Bowie has a Daydream, Murdoch delivers, Food Wars bakes Christmas cake, White House Correspondents correspond over dinner, the Judds say farewell, Happy Days are here again, and Japan calls upon all its kaiju.

Jeopardy! recap for Fri., Apr. 28

 Introducing today's contestants:

- Kevin, a trail planner, also goes by "Whiskey Ginger"; 

- Katherine, a grad student & museum worker, was an amateur archeologist who found a mouse skeleton; and

- Eric, an operations director, grew up watching Jeopardy! with his grandparents. Eric is a one-day champ with winnings of $7,600.

There's Something About Elroy Patashnik And Other Friday Headlines

Via Gfycat

Meatball Ron 'Has An Elizabeth Warren Problem' [The Bulwark]

'Lordy, Abby Grossberg Has Tapes!' [Wonkette]

Politics Corner April 27th

 

photo mine

ETA: Tacopina's cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll was disastrous for Trump. [Daily Beast]

via Daily Beast

What's On Tonight (Friday): No Hay Nadie Aquí Excepto Nosotros, Pollos Sin Cabeza...

     

Pollos Sin Cabeza (Headless Chickens)

Estaba listo para hacer que la nueva serie de Amazon, Citadel, fuera la mejor elección de hoy, pero luego AV Club le dio una D+. Entonces, DEFINITIVAMENTE iba a darle Top Pick, pero cuanto más leo sobre esto, más creo que debería mantener bajas mis expectativas y, por poder, las de todos. Por otro lado, el tráiler de Pollos Sin Cabeza es bastante encantador incluso con los subtítulos apagados. Todavía no estoy seguro de qué se trata realmente el programa, pero aquí en What's On Tonight creemos que el idioma no debería ser una barrera para el entretenimiento.

Top Pick

⭐⚽ Pollos Sin Cabeza (Headless Chickens)✔️ (HBO Max, 3:01 AM) SERIES PREMIERE. 'Follows the story of Alberto Martin Ruiz, a former soccer player and present player representative who everyone refers to as Beto. With the help of his girlfriend Sonia, a woman who knows him better than anyone else, Beto establishes his own representation agency and strives to strike a balance between his wild business world and his erratic personal life.'

Elsewhere...

Jeopardy! recap for Thur., Apr. 27

 Today's contestants are:

- Eric, an operations director, was able to draw a crowd with his accordion; 

- Rebecca, a reference librarian, whose daughter wants her to win, but not too much; and

- Jesse, a customer success implementation manager, was a high school sports announcer. Jesse is a one-day champ with winnings of $2,600.

Little Paulina, Happy at Last and Other Thursday Headlines

 

Via Tumblr.

Ms. Porizkova's dating again, and good for her! (Page Six)

The Friars Club's up for sale. (Page Six)

Project Runway, S13 E6: 'Rock The Wedding'

Via Imgur

Originally Aired: August 28, 2014

From Zap2It:

The designers must impress the judges by creating unconventional wedding dresses.

Season Thirteen of Project Runway is available for free on Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDB.tv), The Roku Channel and Tubi.  

Politics Corner April 26th

 

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There is a man on death row in Oklahoma set to be killed. He was never charged with actually killing anyone but was sent to death row for first degree murder. Someone else confessed to the murder and got life in prison and later claimed that Richard Glossip ordered the crime. Glossip was convicted with no evidence except the testimony of a junkie murderer. This is so outrageous that the Republican Attorney General testified before the pardon and parole board for clemency for Glossip. A host of Oklahoma legislators are pushing to stop this and most of them are pro-death penalty Republicans. The pardon and parole board voted 2-2 which is a denial. All that stands between him and lethal injection is the governor who I don't believe has ever stopped an execution.

I don't think the Republican motive here is pure. I don't think that they are all that concerned about executing an innocent man or they would have problems with the death penalty itself. I think that this situation is so beyond the pale that it could be used to dismantle corporal punishment. Glossip has maintained his innocence from the beginning. He at least deserves a fair hearing before we kill him. [Guardian]

via Guardian

What's On Tonight (Thursday): Eyes on the road, fat boy!

 

Via Giphy.

Tonight's Top Pick is The Last Last Late Late Show With James Corden Carpool Karaoke Special. It's that special, with the title I'm only going to type once more, and not the straight LLS, because I'm pedantic and think that making it the LLS means that that I'm giving a Top Pick for Friday, not Thursday. So there!

Feed Me: Pretzels

 

Legend has it, these treats were invented by Catholic monks in the Middle Ages who found a way to use leftover bits of dough after making bread.

Jeopardy! recap for Wed., Apr. 26

 Here are today's contestants:

- Jesse, a customer success implementation manager, bonded with his future wife over Jeopardy! texts; 

- Liz, a subrogation analyst & science teacher, bartended during Mardi Gras; and

- Johanna, a fiction writer & adjunct professor, plays duplicate bridge, or "party bridge on steroids". Johanna is a one-day champ with winnings of $6,999.

Free To Brie You And Me And Other Wednesday Headlines

Via Pinterest

Swing Voters Aren't Really Motivated By The Threat Of The 'Woke Mind Virus' [The Bulwark]

'Glenn Greenwald Misses His Friend Tucker, Glenn Loves His Friend, YOU DON'T KNOW HIM LIKE GLENN KNOWS HIM!' [Wonkette]

What's On Tonight (Wednesday): 4 score and 10 years ago

Carol Burnett

I saw it in a window and just couldn't resist it! Here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, April 26!

Our Top Pick tonight is the special Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (NBC, 8 p.m.), which celebrates the iconic comedian's 90th birthday with clips of her variety shows and special guests of all ages. The special airs on NBC, not her original network home CBS and the one noted in the gif. I'm mad at NBC for not posting any promos.

Elsewhere, Awkwafina is still Nora from Queens, James Corden airs his penultimate Show, the Saint X comes marching into Hulu, Schmigadoon! finds fame, Moms report for Work one last time, Wynonna Judd gets Netflix treatment, The Flash celebrates a birthday, Riverdale fights the censors, Nature visits an unknown coral reef, and Dave meets his number one fan.

Politics Corner April 25th

 

photo mine

So this happened today. Now we've got a year and a half for pundits to get everything wrong. Why start thinking things through now? There will be plenty of tearing down of Biden and building up of Trump as the likeliest candidates - even though supposedly almost nobody wants them to run. Statistics should be a required class for a degree in journalism (Ethics too, but that's another day). It's already begun with the media coalescing around how old Biden is. Last time that I checked, Biden and Trump are within a few years and Biden is healthy while Trump will either fall apart or explode at any minute. They've got to do something or there won't be a race to cover. Likeable incumbents don't lose to unlikeable losers. They're going to have to come up with something much bigger than "her e-mails".

Jeopardy! recap for Tue., Apr. 25

 Please welcome today's contestants:

- Johanna, a fiction writer & adjunct professor, wrote a novel with "giant, ferocious, magical pigs"; 

- Ian, a retired broadcaster & state medical board executive, produced the "Montana Academic Challenge" for television; and

- Dillon, a development director, supports reviving baseball in the inner city. Dillon is a one-day champ with winnings of $21,999.

Adios, Liar Tuck And Other Tuesday Headlines

Via Gfycat

'Bro, You Got An Extra Sarah Huckabee Sanders Koozie In Your Truck? My Beer's Gettin' Woke' [Wonkette]

'Identity Politics Come For A Best-Selling Novelist' [The Bulwark]

Politics Corner April 24th

 

photo mine

Tucker Carlson got fired! A-aron Rodgers got traded! Don Lemon got fired but nobody notices the black guy unless he gets arrested. We also keep hanging on the verge of fascism. Things like Trump and others trying to steal elections (see below the jump) and literal insurrection get the most attention because they are big and in your face. Or judge shopping to find a single judge willing to take away women's control over their own bodies. The reason that all of this can happen is because fascism is bubbling under. Their needs to be people to answer the call to insurrection and there are, even in California. [Guardian]

via Guardian

What's On Tonight (Tuesday): Baby J's in the house!

 

Via Giphy.

Baby A, of course, has been in the house for nearly two years now. Tonight's Top Pick is John Mulaney: Baby J, his stand up special for Netflix. I decided on it before even knowing about The Light We Carry.

Jeopardy! recap for Mon., Apr. 24

 Here are today's contestants:

- Dillon, a development director, was captain of his Arkansas quiz bowl state championship team; 

- Année, an editor, has post office workers in her family; and

- Emma, a librarian, wound up on the set of "Game of Thrones" without permission. Emma is a two-day champ with winnings of $26,000.

Sportsball April 24th

 

Via Imgur

Basketballs, pucks, baseballs and PUPPIES!

via Tenor

What's On Tonight (Monday): Mr. Mason, do you wish to make a closing statement?

 

Via Tumblr.

Tonight's Top Pick is the belated first season finale of Perry Mason, concluding its second eight-episode run. I'm not sure why the show is considered as just now ending a season that began in 2020, but here we are. Or perhaps Futon Critic is being silly, referring to episodes 9-16 as part of the first season. Ah, well ...

Politics Corner April 23rd

 

photo mine

The NAACP is suing the state of Mississippi with due cause. The majority white and Republican state government has determined that the Capital police should have joint jurisdiction and state courts will hear municipal Jackson cases. Jackson is 83% black. The NAACP complains that this is "separate but equal policing." They are correct. The citizens of Jackson will lose all meaningful local control of their own police and courts. The judges will be appointed by the chief justice of the state. Of course he a conservative white man. [PBS News Hour]

via PBS Newshour

Political discussion welcome

Cancellation League Update

 

Courtesy Amadeus3000.

Demerits, actually. Unless I missed something, the only action over the last two weeks affecting CL players is the renewal sbefore May of The Good Doctor and Will Trent. They're each worth -500 points.

CBSSM: Rachel McAdams Is Back

Via Gifer

This week's segments can be found at the CBSSM YouTube page. Viewers in Australia/New Zealand may encounter IP geoblocking that requires a VPN to bypass.

PET SET

What's On Tonight (Sunday): Accused witches lit a Spark

A Kind of Spark

D'oh! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, April 23!

Our Top Pick tonight is the youthful A Kind of Spark (BYU TV, 8 & 8:25 p.m.). The drama, co-produced with the CBBC, follows 11-year-old autistic Addie who, upon learning about witch trials in the town centuries ago, fights against all odds for a memorial to honor the condemned. It is quite well done with Addie being bullied at school, tensions at home (a sister is also autistic), and an education system that only sees Addie as a burden. The series still manages to find plenty of heart and humor, too, and a parallel witch trials story is shown throughout with actors pulling double duty. Like all BYU programs, A Kind of Spark is available commercial-free online, no subscription needed.

Elsewhere, Expectations are met, Sanditon calls it quits, Amityville's real story gets docuseries treatment, some channel has Somebody Somewhere, the battle for Succession heats up, Homer Simpson faces fandom, From returns from hibernation, Magnum protects the nest, and there's birthday Crackers.

Politics Corner April 22nd

 

photo mine

There has plenty of big news this week but most of it is still overshadowed by the Supreme Court stay on an attempted nationwide ban of the safest and most common form of abortion by one judge in Texas.. Since this decision was decided by shadow docket, the only way to know who voted for what is if they say. Thomas dissented quietly which is the smartest thing he's done in a while. On the other hand, Alito had a shit fit. He called out the three women justices by name which is a no-no in court decorum. He whined specifically about the use of the shadow docket because after all he had been accused of abusing the shadow docket. He doesn't seem to realize or care that he used it to make radical changes to the status quo while this decision was made to preserve the status quo while it plays out in courts where it will likely lose.

via Poltico

This Weekend in Pop Culture: April 21-23

Welcome to the Weekend in Pop Culture! Let's examine what's coming out in theaters this weekend.

Beau is Afraid

A man embarks on a surreal journey to get to his mother’s house.

Chevalier 

A talented black musician’s rise and fall in revolutionary France.

Evil Dead Rise 

A family endures terror when their mother comes back from the dead.

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant

A soldier returns to a war zone to rescue his Afghani interpreter.

What have you been watching?

Earth Day And Make Your Own Saturday Headlines

Via Pinterest

PET SET - NOVA

What's On Tonight (Saturday): I know Elephants' Secrets and, girl, you wouldn't believe

Secrets of the Elephants

Stifle yourself! Here's what's on television for tonight, Saturday, April 22!

Our Top Pick tonight is the finale of Secrets of the Elephants (Disney+, 3 a.m. / National Geographic, 9 & 10 p.m.). Narrated by Natalie Portman, it is the second season of the Secrets Of series, which began with the Emmy-winning Secrets of the Whales in 2021 — one of the best nature docuseries I've ever watched (and I've watched a lot). Each episode focuses on different types of elephants and gives you an intimate and absorbing exploration of their environment, life, and societies. Like whales, elephants are more like us than we previously thought.

Elsewhere, Murdoch turns 250, My Hero finds the hero killer, One Piece will cut a... woman, Food Wars finds a gate, Florida saves its Panther, Hallmark gets a Pinch, and Catchy Comedy goes to the dingbats.

Politics Corner April 21st

 

photo mine

Today in Republicans have no shame: Jim Jordan pursues Hunter Biden, Clarence Thomas says he's going to file his taxes for real this time. We've been down this road before. In Montana a trans legislator is refusing is refusing to apologize for saying that legislators will have blood on their hands if they pass legislation that effectively erases trans and intersex kids. This is not conjecture. This is something that we know. But she is being accused of hate speech and is consistently being mis-gendered. Montana Republicans are trying to pass several bills and amendments aimed mainly at children but at trans people in general and in their twisted minds drag queens because they can't tell the difference. Not only will trans kids be persecuted  and not allowed to be who they are (which strikes me as particularly not-Montanan) but will be suicides, and straight/cis kids will be taught that the other kids are inferior. We know all of this. [Montana Free Press]

via Montana Free Press

Political discussion welcome

Jeopardy! recap for Fri., Apr. 21

 Please welcome today's contestants:

- Igor, an attorney, learned a lot of English from Jeopardy!; 

- Anjali, a lawyer, engages in hut-to-hut hiking; and

- Emma, a librarian, went to Rome and missed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Emma is a one-day champ with winnings of $11,400.

Braggtime And Other Friday Headlines

Via Tumblr

It Was A(nother) A Wingnut-Off On Fox News [Wonkette]

'Sorry Doubters, But Bragg Was Right To Indict Trump' [The Bulwark]

Politics Corner April 20th

 

photo mine

Someone from the Bradley Foundation, which used to be right around the corner from me, is pushing for elimination of polling places near college campuses, singling out Wisconsin because our State Supreme Court was flipped in the last election and Gen Z came out in force in favor of abortion rights and clean elections. The  GOP is also hoping to flip the Virginia legislature and then cut 45 days of early voting. [Stevens Point Journal]

via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

What's On Tonight (Friday): Attenborough Stops Appropriating Everyone Else's Wildlife...

    

Wild Isles

You know how I realized Earth Day is this weekend?  When I saw that three wildlife series - not specials mind you, because that would be some weak sauce - we're talking about three full-fledged SERIES premiering today.  That's some serious nature shit.  We here at What's On Tonight are big fans of serious nature shit and try to treat every day as if it is Earth Day.  We've seen far too many movies where people who piss off the Earth live to regret it.  

All that remains is to pick which series will be today's Top Pick and therefore represent all of What's On Tonight (Friday) at whatever wonderous festivities we have planned for Earth Day.  Do we have any festivities planned?  We do not, but I have been assured that the brightness of our website will be reduced by exactly 0.3208 percent for almost a full minute some time Sunday morning.  We hear your pain big planet, and we are your allies.

Top Pick

⭐🔔 Wild Isles✔️ (Amazon, 12:01 AM) LIMITED SERIES. 'The five-part natural history series centers on the British Isles, which is one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes on Earth, and the series is full of behaviors never before seen on screen. The breathtaking aerial photography reveals the beauty of the British countryside, and motion controlled time-lapse photography brings to life the story of the passing seasons. The latest low-light cameras uncover the secret nocturnal lives of many of our favorite animals, and macro photography reveals the miniature worlds of rock pools, ponds, and grasslands. The series was captured over three years in 4K resolution.'

Elsewhere...

Jeopardy! recap for Thur., Apr. 20

 Today's contestants are:

- Emma, a librarian, found that Adele wouldn't get on her elevator; 

- Sam, a history professor, specializes in the medieval period; and

- Devin, an architectural designer & masters student, walked right up to the Mona Lisa. Devin is a one-day champ with winnings of $1,200.

Box Office Discussion: "Bros."-mance

  Super Mario dominates its second weekend, while it's already game over for most of the newcomers.

A Coupla White Dudes Sitting Around Talking and Other Thursday Headlines

 

Courtesy Playbill

Great moments in interviewing? (Wonkette)

Ralph! Ralph! Ralph! (Wonkette)

Project Runway, S13 E5: 'The Klum Of Doom'

Via Imgur

Originally Aired: August 21, 2014

From Zap2It:

The designers must create looks for Heidi Klum to wear at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Season Thirteen of Project Runway is available for free on Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDB.tv), The Roku Channel and Tubi.  

Politics Corner April 19th

 

photo mine

Methinks the lady doth protest too much. The only people who try so hard to put down LGBTQetc. people have more than skeletons in their closet. I' guessing that a crush on Mickey is only the beginning. [ABC]

via Flickr