It seems kind of trivial to be writing about pop culture with all that has been going on in the United States in the last week. I know this. But as important as it is to be paying attention and to engage, people also need temporary refuge from the news and reality. So I offer up this week’s pop culture roundup as a momentary distraction, a break from the very ugly world in which we are living in.
Television
- In a move that proves they are not f*cking around, Netflix lures Shonda Rhimes away from ABC with a four-year deal.
- Ava DuVernay is reportedly developing a TV series adaptation of Octavia Butler’s Dawn.
- Netflix has renewed GLOW for a second season. Yay!
- Ikea has released instructions for how to turn their rugs into Game of Thrones capes.
- Production on the second season of Atlanta will reportedly start next month.
- The Cohen brothers are making a western miniseries for Netflix that will debut in 2018.
- If Louie CK ever brings Louie back to FX, it will be the same show.
- FX has renewed Snowfall.
- David Tennant and Michael Sheen set to star in an adaptation of Good Omens.
- CBS is developing a thriller aboard a nuclear submarine.
- Aaron Eckhart joins the cast of Matthew Weiner’s The Romanoffs.
- Connie Britton has been cast in Showtime’s SMILF.
- Netflix has renewed Ozark for a second season.
- Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin will star in Chuck Lorre’s Netflix comedy.
- American Horror Story: Cult may be coming to a city near you with a mysterious bus tour.
- NBC is developing a Munsters series where the family lives in Brooklyn.
- Josh Groban will guest star on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
- Talks for a Hannibal revival are apparently happening.
- This fan’s argument for why Rachel should have ended up with Joey on Friends is pretty damn convincing.
- American Crime Story: Katrina is getting a complete overhaul. Sarah Paulson will still star.
- They are returning to the drawing board for another try at a How I Met Your Mother spinoff.
- Not sure how, but David Tennant will return for the second of Jessica Jones.
- The cast for the second season of Westworld continues to expand.
- Zosia Mamet and Lou Diamond Phillips to guest star on You’re The Worst.
- Joel McHale is being considered for a lead role in the Quantum and Woody TV series.
- Barbara Hershey will appear in the second season of The X-Files.
- Nia Vardalos has a new series inspired by Chewbacca Mom.
- Lifetime orders a drama series from Jamie Denbo and Jenji Kohan.
- Hulu obtains the rights to a series based on RuPaul’s life.
- Comedy Central is developing a series starring Alex Karpovsky.
- Ben Platt will drop by the Will & Grace reboot.
- Feeling left out, CBS is now developing a singing competition show.
- John Carpenter is directing a TV pilot.
- Cast members of This Is Us earned $250,000 bonuses from NBC.
- NBC is working with the team behind The Maze Runner films for a futuristic drama series.
- NBC is officially shuttering Seeso. Some shows have already found a new home.
- Chris Elliott will guest star and Kristin Wiig will recur on Last Man on Earth, season 4.
Movies
- It’s finally official – Danial Craig will return as 007.
- Leonardo DiCaprio to play Leonardo da Vinci in a biopic based on Walter Isaacson’s upcoming book.
- Louis CK apparently made a film in secret which will debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
- Casey Affleck says that Ben Affleck won’t be in The Batman, but then walks back his comments. Little brothers, am I right?
- Ali Wong and Randall Park will star in a rom-com for Netflix.
- Showtime has been making a documentary about The New York Times since Trump’s inauguration.
- Kate Holmes will star in the film adaptation of The Secret.
- Cate Blanchett is in talks to join Eli Roth’s The House With a Clock In Its Walls.
- Nick Jonas joins Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley in Chaos Walking.
- Jamie Kennedy joins the cast of Ad Astra.
- Anya Taylor-Joy will reunite with director Robert Eggers for his Nosferatu remake.
- There will be a female-led remake of License To Drive.
- Josh Brolin turned down the Avatar sequels and James Cameron wasn’t happy.
Trailers
- The Crown, season 2:
- Wonder:
- Our Souls at Night:
- Molly’s Game:
- The Meyerowitz Stories:
- The Defenders:
- The Florida Project:
- Batman vs. Two-Face:
- The Death of Stalin:
Music
- Pink is back with a new song and a new album forthcoming.
- Pink will receive the Video Vanguard Award at the 2017 MTV VMAs.
- Kendrick Lamar will perform a headlining set at the VMAs.
- Queens of the Stone Age released a new single.
- Beck has a new album coming in October.
- Bill Hader and Cecily Strong star in a music video for Steve Martin’s “Caroline.”
- Willie Nelson had to end a concert early in Salt Lake City due to breathing problems.
- Wilco has released a benefit song for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Theater
- Ben Platt is leaving Dear Evan Hansen in November.
- There will be no trolls in the Frozen Broadway musical.
- Bruce Springsteen will do an eight-week run on Broadway.
- There is an all-male, nude production of Hamlet being performed in NYC.
- Bandstand will close on Broadway September 17.
- Joshua Jackson will make his Broadway debut in Children of a Lesser God.
- Bill Murray saw Groundhog Day on Broadway two days in a row. The joke is too obvious to make.
- Good thing he saw it now – Groundhog Day will close September 17.
- There is now a Hamilton app that I have been driving my SIL crazy with.
Books
- Actor Bruce Campbell has written a memoir.
- A My Cousin Vinny book sequel is in the works.
- A Hamilton-inspired cookbook will hit shelves this November.
Podcasts
- A new podcast will dive into the origins of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
- 2 Dope Queens is getting a series of specials on HBO.
Odds and Ends
- Wonder Woman and Riverdale did well at the Teen Choice Awards.
- Broad City now has its own line of sex toys.
- A Hunger Games theme park is really happening.
- A UK zoo named their new baby male hippo Hodor.
- A jury has ruled in favor of Taylor Swift in her lawsuit against a DJ for groping her.
- Prince officially has his own shade of purple.
- This week in pop culture real estate: Eminem is selling his house.
- Chris Cornell’s family has commissioned a statue of him to be placed in Seattle.
- Mindy Kaling has confirmed her pregnancy.
- Ric Flair was hospitalized and has undergone surgery.
- Tom Cruise was reportedly injured during a stunt on Mission: Impossible 6.
- Stuntwoman Joi Harris died in a motorcycle accident during filming Deadpool 2.
Mashups and Supercuts
- Watch Leslie Jones and Set Meyers watch Game of Thrones:
- Jamie Lannister’s life as a Lifetime movie trailer:
- A Game of Thrones/Friends mashup that employs NSFW language:
- Even the Night King is a fan of Drake: