The last time I posted anything in my entertainment blog was a review on October 30, 2016 and the last time I posted one of my lengthy entertainment news updates was way back on August 30, 2016. Since then I’ve spent a month the hospital and tried to put my life back together after that ordeal. I’ve been working day and night on assistive technology projects for myself and for my partners at Adafruit.com. And I’ve been busy trying to catch up on watching TV shows that I missed during all that time. On my bedroom DVR I’m currently about 10 or 11 weeks behind schedule and on my living room DVR I’m about five weeks behind.
It took me several days to go through all of my RSS feeds which only dated back to sometime in mid to late November. A lot of these items are out of chronological order and it wouldn’t be surprised to find out I actually reported something twice in this list. The so-called “spoilers” are probably way out of date but I put them in any way in case there’s some good tidbits that you missed.
Sadly a huge percentage of the items below are obituaries of various celebrities that have died in the past five or six months.
Now that life is somewhat approaching normal I will try to get back to doing one of these every three or four weeks so that the “news” is little more timely.
Lots of the news below is about series being canceled or renewed. As always we refer you to TV line keeps an excellent list of what has been renewed and what hasn’t. Here are some links you can check out to see what your favorite shows are doing or not doing.
Primetime broadcast networks renewals and cancellations
http://tvline.com/2016/10/03/renewed-tv-shows-2017-renewal-scorecard-cancelled-series/
Cable channel renewals and cancellations
http://tvline.com/2015/12/28/cable-tv-shows-renewed-cancelled-2016/
Calendar of season finale’s
http://tvline.com/2017/04/28/tv-schedule-2017-may-finale-dates-calendar-sweeps-upfronts/
In the links below read…
Spoilers from Inside Line dated January 9
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated January 20
Spoilers from Inside Line dated January 31
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated February 9
Spoilers from Inside Line dated February 17
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated February 28
Interesting article about “Logan” connection to “Shane” and Johnny Cash
Spoilers from Inside Line dated March 14
Michael Ausiello previews deaths, weddings, firings, sex, weddings, resurrections, and Time jumps for the May sweeps.
Spoilers from Inside Line dated March 30
Postmortem interview with executive producer of Grimm about series finale
Postmortem interview with executive producer Gail Anne Hurd of Walking Dead about season finale and other topics
Postmortem interview with other Walking Dead executive producer Scott Gimpel.
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated April 6
Spoilers from Inside Line dated April 17
Spoilers from Michael Ausiello dated April 26
Not linked but also of interest…
Netflix announced season 5 of “Hours of Cards” premieres May 30
NBC is going to reboot supernatural show Witchblade
In the case you haven’t heard… Star Wars 8 will be titled “The Last Jedi”
Kristin Wiig has/will joined the cast of The Last Man on Earth in a recurring role.
Stephen Colbert will host the 2017 Emmy awards
TNT has renewed The Librarians for season 4.
RIP Mary Tyler Moore age 80
RIP Mannix star Mike Connors age 91
NBC is canceling the third hour of the today show to make room for Megyn Kelly
Amazon Studios announced that Mozart in the Jungle is renewed for season 4
So You Think You Can Dance has been renewed for season 14
One of my guilty pleasures The Good Place has been renewed for season 2
A new Marvel series “Cloak and Dagger” will premiere on Freeform network
Peter Capaldi is leaving Doctor Who sometime in season 10 probably the end.
Ben Affleck will not be directing his solo Batman movie
Oprah Winfrey is joining 60 minutes as a special contributor
Tamrona Hall his leading NBC news
There will be a Sharknado 5 made for Syfy Channel
Kevin Sorbo a.k.a. Hercules and Andromeda Capt. Dylan Hunt will have a recurring role as a bad guy on Supergirl
Netflix announced season 2 of Stranger Things will premiere Halloween 2017
NBC has considering a 30 minute primetime weekly special based on Saturday Night Live’s weekend update
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary has added the words “binge-watch”. So that’s a real thing now.
The final season of Orphan Black premieres June 10
RIP Richard Hatch who played Capt. Apollo on the original 70s version of Battle Star Galactica, age 71
Bill Nye as a new series on Netflix that premiered this week
Netflix announced Oranges the New Black season 5 will premiere June 9
Bob Costas has stepped down as the host of NBC’s Olympic coverage.
Rumor has it American Idol may return to TV this time on NBC
Saturday Night Live ratings are up 50% over previous year in the highest in six years no doubt thanks to Alec Baldwin and Melissa McCarthy impressions of Trump and Spicer
RIP singer Ala Jarreau age 76
Lucifer has been renewed for season 3 at Fox and we are very well pleased
Edward James Olmos will star in Sons of Anarchy spinoff series about the Mayans MC
NBC announced Superstore has been renewed for season 3
Tangled: The Series has been renewed for season 2 at Disney Channel
Starz announced that season 3 of Outlander will premiere in September
Amazon has renewed legal drama Goliath for season 2
American Horror Story season 7 will be about the 2016 election. As if that isn’t scary enough to begin with.
Star Wars episode VIII The Last Jedi will premiere December 18, 2017
Sir Patrick Stewart will provide the voice for the poop emoji in the upcoming animated “The Emoji Movie” released August 4
Former Partridge Family star David Cassidy announced he suffers from dementia
JJ Abrams is producing a 10 episode series for Hulu based on Stephen King’s Castle Rock
NBC has renewed soap opera Days of Our Lives for its 52nd season.
Fox announced TV series Lethal Weapon has been renewed for season 2
Fox announced Star will return for season 2
History Channel announced “Six” about Seal Team Six has been renewed for season 2
“Doubt” a legal drama starring Katherine Heigl after just 2 episodes
RIP actor Bill Paxton dead at 61
RIP Game of thrones actor Neil Fingleton age 36 who played Mag the Mighty. At 7 foot 7 inches he was the tallest British-born person.
RIP Judge Joseph Wapner of The People’s Court age 97
Benedict Cumberbatch will star in a five episode miniseries for Show turning called Melrose about a self-destructive Playboy
Former Hell on Wheels star Anson Mount will start in a new Marvel Inhumans series for ABC
Emillia Clark the Dragon Queen from Game of Thrones will be in the upcoming Han Solo spinoff movie
Discovery Channel Pumpkin Chucking has been canceled after 2 people were seriously injured in an accident when a cannon exploded.
RIP Barney Miller star Rona Glass age 71
Lucasfilm has confirmed there will be no Star Wars Rogue One sequel. I thought there already was. It’s called Star Wars IV: A New Hope the original Star Wars movie.
RIP producer Grant Tinker of Mary Tyler Moore show and others age 90
Showtime has canceled Masters of Sex after 4 seasons. Probably 2 seasons too late 🙂
Happy birthday to Kirk Douglas age 100!
Rami Malek from Mr. Robot will play Freddie Mercury an upcoming film directed by Bryan Singer
Rumors are CBS is developing a Big Bang Theory prequel titled “Sheldon” about a young Sheldon Cooper
RIP the original Man from Uncle Robert Vaughn age 83 of leukemia
HBO renewed Westworld, Divorce, and Insecure. Westworld will not return however until 2018
RIP PBS journalist Gwen Ifill after a long battle with cancer
Duck Dynasty has been canceled by A&E after five years and 130 episodes
RIP actress Zsa Zsaa Gabor age 99
Dick Van Dyke will appear in the upcoming Disney sequel to Mary Poppins
RIP actor Alan Thicke
Netflix has renewed Fuller House for season 3
RIP Bob start George Michael age 15.
RIP Carrie Fisher age 60
RIP Debbie Reynolds age 84
RIP William Christopher who played Fr. Mulcahy on MASH age 84
Amazon has renewed “The Man in the High Castle” for season 3
CW network has renewed The Flash, Supernatural, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Jane the Virgin
Showtime has rendered The Affair for season 4
Showtime announced the new seasons of Twin Peaks will premiere May 21
Fox has renewed Empire for season 4
FX has renewed American Horror Story four seasons 7, 8, and 9
RIP William Peter Blatty author of “The Exorcist” novel age 89
Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent a.k.a. Prof.Slughorn in the Harry Potter movies is joining the cast of Game of Thrones for season 7
The home used as Harry Potter’s home with his aunt and uncle Dursley is up for sale. Only $600,000.
There will be a total of five “Fantastic Beasts” movies spinoff from the Harry Potter series
Mel Gibson is filming a sequel to “The Passion of the Christ” to be titled “The Resurrection”
Director Rick Famuyiwa is the second director to drop out of the upcoming DC film “The Flash”. Left over creative differences. Film slated for late 2018 release.
Netflix announced Longmire will have a sixth and final season.
The Simpsons has been renewed for season 29 and 30 which will make it the longest running scripted TV series in history passing Gunsmoke who had 635 episodes. The Simpsons has already passed 600.
Dakota Fanning has joined the cast of TNT Gilded Age thriller series “The Alienist”
TNT announced Good Behavior has been renewed for season 2. If you’ve not seen this, definitely check out season 1 on demand or streaming if you can find it. Excellent series!
Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” is moving to Netflix. Was previously available on Crackle.
NBC has ordered a 10 episode revival of “Will and Grace” to air sometime during the 2017-2018 season. All four of the main stars will return.
Star Trek: Discovery casts former True Blood bad guy James Frain as Spock’s father Sarek. However the series is been delayed again and there is no set’s premiere date.
TNT has renewed Major Crimes for season 6
Hit family drama “This Is Us” as been renewed for seasons 2 and 3 by NBC. Excellent show.
Amazon has renewed Sneaky Pete for season 2. Stars Giovanni Ribrisi as a con man.
RIP actor Miguel Ferrer who played on Crossing Jordan and NCIS: Los Angeles. Age 61
Season 5 of House of Cards will premiere May 30
Netflix reboot of the sitcom “One Day at a Time” has been renewed for 13 episode season 2
RIP Robert Osborne host of Turner Classic Movies age 84
SNL regular Pete Davison admitted he’s been missing from the show lately because of a battle with drinking and alcohol.
CW has renewed Riverdale for season 2.
Showtime financial drama Billions renewed for season 3 and I’m very happy. I really love this show.
Reduction is underway on Drastic World 2
Sean Austin will play Teddy Roosevelt in upcoming TNT drama “The Alienist”
AMC announced Preacher season 2 will premiere June 19
CW network announced “The 100” has been renewed for season 5
James Cameron announced Avatar 2 delayed again. Will not premiere in 2018. Late word is the four sequels will premiere in December 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025. That I should live so long.
Mr. robot Season three will not premiere until October which means it will not be eligible for 2018 Emmy award.
StarTalk with Neil Degrasse Tyson has been renewed for 20 episodes of season 3
Tyra Banks is replacing Nick Cannon as the host of America’s Got Talent
Syfy Channel has renewed “The Expanse” for season 3 and we are very well pleased.
Warner Bros. has announced Aquaman has been pushed from October 2018 until December 2018 a slot previously held by Avatar 2 which was delayed.
NBC announced Shades of Blue cop drama starring Jennifer Lopez has been renewed for season 3
RIP rock ‘n’ roll star Chuck Berry age 90
Big Bang Theory has been renewed for seasons 11 and 1248 episodes total
Robert Downey Jr. will play Dr. Doolittle in upcoming films
Former “House” actress Anne Dudek will have a recurring role in “The Flash” as a quirky future genius.
The Carmichael Show will air an upcoming episode featuring uncensored use of the “N-word”
RIP Chuck Barrus creator of The Gong Show age 87
on March 23 CBS renewed 16 of it series including Bull, MacGyver, Kevin Can Wait, Man with a Plan, Superior Donuts, Hawaii 50, Blue Bloods, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS New Orleans, Madam Secretary, Scorpion, Survivor, 60 minutes, and 48 Hours. It had already previously renewed Big Bang theory and NCIS. Still undecided are Criminal Minds, 2 Broke Girls, and Elementary. Also Code Black, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. We are pretty sure “Doubt” is dead because it was pulled after 2 episodes. Pure Genius is probably on thin ice because it did not get a back 9 order. And Training Day is probably no go after the death of Bill Paxton. CBS notes there still could be additional renewals.
Elizaa Dushku is joining the cast of Bull as a potential series regular. I really like her.
Lucifer season 2 is being cut by 4 episodes which will be pushed to the next season for the fall. They were sort of standalone episodes that did not fit into the continuing story.
Robert Rodriguez is going to direct a film remake of Escape from New York. We can’t imagine anything topping the original.
Dave Erickson is stepping down as showrunner on Field the Walking Dead after the upcoming season 3
Harry Connick Jr. syndicated daytime talk show has been renewed for season 2
Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Tim Rice are bringing animated “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” to the big screen.
NBC will broadcast the 2018 Winter Olympics from South Korea live in all time zones.
Netflix has renewed Drew Barrymore comedy “Santa Clara Diet” for season 2.
The Mindy Project will and after season 6
Ken Burns is producing a Mohammed Ali documentary for PBS
ABC canceled series “Time after Time” based on the film of the same name about Hg Wells and Jack the Ripper after 5 episodes.
Netflix will reboot “Lost in Space” as a TV series in 2018
Rainn Wilson will play con man Harry Mudd in upcoming Star Trek: Discovery series. That should be great!
Sylvester Stallone will not be part of “The Expendables” fourth film
Recently departed Walking Dead Sonequa Martin-Green will be first officer on the new Star Trek: Discovery
Former Dallas quarterback Tony Romo is retiring to join CBS sports. Will replace Phil Simms as the lead NFL analyst
Netflix has a renewed Series of Unfortunate Events through season 3
USA Network has renewed Colony for season 3 and we are very well pleased.
RIP comedian Don Rickles age 90
CBS renewed Criminal Minds at the last minute for season 13
Nashville has been renewed for season 6 on best CMT
RIP Dorothy Mengering mother of David Letterman age 95
Syfy Channel has renewed The Magicians for season 3. I kind of like it.
Arrow has promoted Wild Dog and the new Black Canary to series regulars for season 6
Outsiders has been canceled by WGN America after 2 seasons. It was weird but I liked it.
Filter Walking Dead has been renewed for season 4
Animated Disney XD Star Wars Rebels will end after season 4
The Walking Dead has promoted Simon (Negan’s right-hand man), teenager Enid, and neither of the scavengers Jadis into series regulars.
Kevin Spacey will host the 2017 Tony Awards
National Geographic has renewed its Albert Einstein biography series “Genius” for season 2
Joss Whedon cannot get Marvel to agree to a Black Widow standalone film so he jumped to DC and will produce direct Batgirl
The X-Files will be back again next season for 10 episodes
RIP Erin Moran who played Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days age 56
NBC has pulled Powerless from the schedule not airing the final three episodes
AMC has renewed Into the Badlands for season 3 of 16 episodes
RIP Oscar winning director Jonathan Demme age 73. Directed “Silence of the Lambs” and “Philadelphia” among others
Nicholas Cage broke his ankle on the set of a bank heist movie he’s filming in Bulgaria
Showtime announced the final season of Matt LeBlanc comedy “Episodes” will begin August 20 a full 29 months after its last season and. Also season will five of Ray Donovan will premiere August 6
Showtime revival of Twin Peaks begins May 21
Production has shut down on TNT’s “The Last Ship” because star Eric Dane is battling depression
Ryan Seacrest is replacing Michael Strahan as permanent cohost of Live with Kelly Ripa
Fox’s canceled “Pitch” about the first female major league baseball player. Canceled after one season
Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy have been renewed to 2020 with their existing casts
Season two of “The Good Fight” will have 13 episodes instead of 10. This is a wonderful show. It’s a shame you have to subscribe to CBS streaming service to get it.
Rumors are American Idol may come back this time to ABC
How Johnny Cash and ‘Shane’ influenced Hugh Jackman’s ‘Logan’
‘The Walking Dead’ EP Gale Anne Hurd On What’s Next, 100th Episode & ‘FearTWD’