Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, May 30th, 2024:
COVERING THE DONALD TRUMP TRIAL VERDICT
Yesterday I wrote about the various streamers and the assets they might have in place to promote their live news coverage of the Donald Trump trial verdict.
While most of the streamers seem to ignore the event this afternoon, props to Max, who had a link to its CNN Max live coverage in the first spot on the home page of the top promo carousel. Granted, they didn't send out an email blast promoting it, so you would have to visit the app to find it. But it was a solid promo effort.
YOU PROBABLY (DIDN'T) READ THIS HERE FIRST
In a new piece for Slate Magazine, a former producer for Donald Trump’s reality TV show The Apprentice, Bill Pruitt, says his NDA has expired, leaving him free to discuss details from his time on the show. It is a great read and provides a fascinating look behind-the-scenes of the show.
But much of the attention from the press has focused on his revelation that he had overheard the former President refer to contest Kwame Jackson as a n*gger:
"Yeah," Trump said, "but, I mean, would America buy a n— winning?” Pruitt then looked at Trump, who looked "serious" and "adamant about not hiring Jackson."
While that be shocking, it wouldn't be such a surprise if you had read my 2016 piece on AllYourScreens, in which I reported some of the same stories, including the use of the "N" word (albeit without the specific context):
So what would they have discussed if they weren't facing the prospects of a court battle? Sources claim that each of the six contestants had personally heard Donald Trump use "troubling" sexual banter with female contestants and one source claims to have heard the billionaire off-handily describe a female contestant as having a "nice big black ass." Another source claims to have heard Donald Trump refer to season one runner-up Kwame Jackson as a "n*gger."
Last week, I spoke with Gene Folkes, who was a contestant on season ten of The Apprentice. He told me that in off-camera moments, Donald Trump would ask male contestants to rate the attractiveness of female contestants and even crew. "He would not move on without getting an answer," said Folkes. "He would keep pushing. 'Well, if you had to, would you sleep with her?" He also said that in down moments in the boardroom, Trump would point out one of the female contestants and then turn to one of the male contestants and ask him if she was hot or not.
This is unfortunately another example of reporting that I am very proud of which unfortunately didn't get the attention it deserved at the time.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TV AND MOVIE CRITIC
Look, everyone is entitled to their opinion. And there is nothing more crowd-pleasing to a Hollywood audience than to write something that frames TV and movie critics as being know-nothings who write because they can't create. But still, it was disappointing to see this pop up in an Ankler piece today:
Yes, there are certainly bad critics. But I think one of the lessons of the streaming era is that content curation and discovery is one of the weakest links in the industry. And thoughtful critics can highlight worthy shows in a way that is useful and necessary.
PBS KIDS TO ROLL OUT NEW EPISODES FOR THE SUMMER
It's just about time for kids to be out of school for the summer and PBS Kids is premiering new episodes of some of its most popular shows.
More season two episodes of Elinor Wonders Why premiere on June 3rd, new episodes (including a Juneteenth episode) of Molly Of Denali premiere on June 10th, and new episodes are on the way from Rosie's Rules (June 24th) and Work It Out Wombats! (July 1st).
The channel will also premiere the new special Pinkalicious A Pinkerton Family Vacation on June 10th, Brambletown on July 26th and new episodes of Lyla In The Loop on August 5th.
ODDS AND SODS
* Netflix has ordered and renewed a variety of unscripted and reality shows. It has renewed The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On for a third season, which will premiere in December. The Ultimatum: Queer Love is getting a second season, which will likely air in early 2025. The streamer also ordered three new shows: Selling the City is the New York City edition of Netflix's Selling luxury real estate franchise. Battle Camp pits stars from various Netflix reality shows against each other in a series of physical and mental challenges. And Building The Band brings together 50 singers in an effort to create the perfect band.
* Season two of Pachinko will premiere Friday, August 23rd on Apple TV+.
* Hallmark has ordered the docuseries Hallmark Christmas Cruise, which follows superfans as they prepare for a special five-day "Countdown To Christmas" cruise.
* A new season of Expedition Unknown premieres Wednesday, June 19th on Discovery.
* The five-episode series Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Chicago Bears premieres Tuesday, August 6th on HBO.
* Season fifteen of Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles will premiere Wednesday, July 10th on Bravo.
* HBO has renewed Hacks for a fourth season.
* There are a number of stories today touting the fact that Netflix has ordered an animated Minecraft series and mentioning how that is another move the streamer is making into familiar IP. No one seems to remember that Netflix had previously released the animated Minecraft Story Mode, which was one the streamer's string of unsuccessful "Choose Your Own Adventure" interactive specials.
* Paramount+ has opted not to proceed with its live-action series based on Hasbro's Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game franchise. Hasbro is reportedly going to shop the series to other streamers.
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
THURSDAY, MAY 30TH:
* Daddy's Deadly Secret (Lifetime)
* Eric Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Gary "G-Thang" Johnson: Sitcho Ass Down (ALLBLK)
* Geek Girl Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Hacks Season Three Finale (Max)
* Inmate To Roommate Season Premiere (A&E)
* Loot Season Two Finale (Apple TV+)
* Outchef'd Season Premiere (Food)
* Pyramid Game Series Premiere (Paramount+)
* 60 Days In Season Premiere (A&E)
* Teen Mom: The Next Chapter Season Premiere (MTV)
* We Are Lady Parts Season Two Premiere (Peacock)
FRIDAY, MAY 31ST:
* A Part Of You (Netflix)
* Celebrity Family Food Battle Series Premiere (The Roku Channel)
* Frog And Toad Season Two Premiere (Apple TV+)
* Gold Rush: Parker's Trail Season Premiere (Discovery)
* Here We Go (Britbox)
* How To Ruin Love: The Proposal Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Jim Henson: Idea Man (Disney+)
* Raising Voices Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Stopmotion (Shudder)
* The Famous Five Series Premiere (Hulu)
* The Great Lillian Hall (HBO)
* The Outlaws Season Three Premiere (Prime Video)
* Tòkunbọ (Netflix)
SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!