2017-18 Week 9-10 Sitcom Scorecard -- Sitcom Scorecard is on Hiatus

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Written Substituting Explicit Ratings by Bridger Cunningham

For those reading the weekly entries of the Sitcom Scorecard, please note Week 10 will take a hiatus for the week due to the lack of original sitcoms available this week.  With FOX Sundays, ABC Tuesdays and NBC Thursdays absent this week, there isn't a whole hell of discussion available.  Also, final numbers are not readily and timely available due to holiday delays, so this writer thinks best at taking a week off.  All will be discussed at length next week, as there was little to no movement this week.  Next week, there will be five evenings and 23 sitcoms to discuss, including the heralded returns of Will & Grace and Superstore on a special Tuesday evening at 10:00.  Elsewhere, I shall devote efforts to adding to the TVRG Ratings History Library due to expressed interest this week, including the 1964-65 Sitcom Scorecard!  Enjoy a peek into ratings history this week, and see you on Friday, December 8 with Week 11's article.

Previously Reported November 25, 2017:

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Week 9 experienced quiet results, save for Football-inflated Thanksgiving.  FOX delivered a full roster on Sunday, November 19 with drastic drops as expected.  Bob's Burgers returned down three tenths (1.1), the Simpsons lost nearly a point (1.1), Ghosted lost half a point and registered a series low (0.8), as did Family Guy's drop tying its series low (0.9).  And Last Man on Earth dropped two-tenths to its series low (0.7).

CBS managed moderate results on Monday, November 20 delivered modest results as Kevin Can Wait dropped a tenth (0.1), Man With a Plan held steady (1.0), Superior Donuts ticked up a tenth (1.0), and 9JKLet'sStayThisLow held steady as shirt (0.8).  Tuesday, November 21 also delivered steady results.  ABC truncated their block from 8:00-9:00, as The Middle (1.3) and Fresh Off The Boat (1.1) were in line with the previous week.  Sadly, FOX also managed forkin' steady ratings with The Mick (0.7) and anemic Brooklyn 99 (0.6)

ABC took Wednesday, November 22 off, and CBS delivered a Thanksgiving lineup on November 23 sans The Big Bang Theory.  Results are likely inflated due to football, and adjustments will be made as information becomes readily available.  The common Big Bang repeat, known as Big Bang Lite, registered a 2.9, drastically up 1.8 points from its last November 6 outing.  A pity the network cannot count this in their season averages.  Young Sheldon enjoyed a six-tenth increase (2.6), Mom enjoyed a four-tenth spike (1.8), a rating the show has not seen since 2015.  And Life in Pieces enjoyed a healthy two-tenth bump (1.3).


In other developments, The Good Place enjoyed a hearty mid-hiatus renewal.  It appears NBC's partial-order strategy for its sitcoms will help craft a ripe launching ground for Must-See-TV.  Man With a Plan entered renewal percentages at 55% (On the Bubble, Leans Renewal).  Its performance narrowly outplays Superior Donuts, and it is also aided by having an additional 9 episodes to get to the renewal finish-line.  And thus why it narrowly outshadows Superior Donuts.

Mom S5E5 Review

After Bonnie is injured, Christy has to take her place as building manager.


S5E5 "Poodle Fuzz and a Twinge of Jealousy"

While Bonnie and Adam are out getting ice cream, Bonnie trips on the curb and injures her ankle. When she gets home, she blames Christy, because she asked her to pick up her dry cleaning. Bonnie is in a wheelchair, which creates some challenges. It's hilarious when Bonnie and Adam try to have sex; Allison Janney gets some great physical comedy in as Bonnie tries to gets to the bedroom.

Christy has to help Bonnie out during this time. An attempt to help her use the bathroom is hilarious. Christy acts as building manager in Bonnie's place, and some of the tenants ask Christy for things that they claim, to Christy's surprise, Bonnie does for them. The funniest moment here is when Christy reads a sexual book to a blind man.

Christy doubts Bonnie's ability to be a good person. She goes to Marjorie and Wendy, who at first doubt that Bonnie could possibly be a good person, but Marjorie then suggests that it's possible. She goes to Adam next, who tells Christy about how Bonnie said she was "so, so sorry" earlier in the day, presented in a hilarious flashback.

Realizing that Bonnie may not be all that bad, Christy makes Bonnie homemade soup, which is a very enjoyable moment. At the end of the episode, Bonnie no longer needs the wheelchair, but pretends that she does in order to get Christy to continue doing things for her. It's a very funny ending, made funnier when Christy reveals that she knows Bonnie was lying, and when Bonnie begs for her not to tell Adam.


This was a funny episode, though it was inconclusive as to whether or not Bonnie truly is a nice person. I also have a hard time believing that Bonnie would do the things the neighbors claimed she did, and we never knew for sure if she did or didn't. However, I don't know how important that is.

Score: 9.5/10

What did you think of "Poodle Fuzz and a Twinge of Jealousy"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Wednesday Cable Ratings, 11/29/17: Vikings Tops South Park as Top Entertainment Program

Below are the Top 25 programs on cable on Wednesday, 11/29/17. Items of note include Vikings on History, two new episodes of Martha & Snoop on VH1, and South Park on Comedy Central.
(Note: Click the names of the shows written in teal or blue to be taken to their pages in the TV Ratings Guide Cable Database.)
Show
Network
18-49 Viewers
Viewers (mil.)
College Basketball: Duke v. INESPN0.641.70
VikingsHistory0.572.17
South ParkComedy Central0.510.90
Black Ink Crew ChicagoVH10.51.02
Real Housewives of New JerseyBravo0.441.16
Vikings SpecialHistory0.431.80
Property Brothers At HomeHGTV0.432.21
College B-Ball Regular SeasonESPN0.421.16
Liga MX: America v. TigresUniv. Deportes0.410.83
SportscenterESPN0.370.83
The Rachel Maddow ShowMSNBC0.363.11
HannityFox News0.353.72
Tucker Carlson TonightFox News0.353.44
Murder in the HeartlandInvest. Discovery0.351.43
An American Murder MysteryInvest. Discovery0.331.50
Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe KendaInvest. Discovery0.321.50
The Ingraham AngleFox News0.32.95
Are You the One?MTV0.30.51
Homestead RescueDiscovery0.291.29
Martha & Snoop's Potluck DinnerVH10.290.60
House HuntersHGTV0.281.50
The StoryFox News0.282.70
Erin Burnett OutFrontCNN0.271.24
The Daily ShowComedy Central0.270.89
Special Report w/ Bret BaierFox News0.272.79
Off the chart, Broad City sank to 0.25 for its return. A second episode of Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner was down to 0.26. Mr. Robot was down from its Thanksgiving Eve episode to 0.17. MSNBC's Morning Joe was up to 0.14, while Deadline: White House was up to 0.15, and Velshi & Ruhle was steady at 0.1. Wolf on CNN was way up to 0.17. TBS's nightly talkshow Conan was down to 0.16.

Dancing with the Stars And Its Success Rate At Launching Shows

The Ratings Junkie Thursday, November 30, 2017
Dancing with the Stars And Its Success Rate At Launching Shows

Networks typically like to give new shows, especially the ones they think have the most potential, good time slots. This means airing directly after one of their biggest hits. Here, I take a look at how three of ABC's flagship shows: Dancing with the Stars, Grey's Anatomy, and Modern Family, do at launching shows. Here's a look at Dancing with the Stars.

In the 2005-06 season, Dancing with the Stars got its first shot at launching a show in comedy Crumbs, which aired Thursday at 9:30. Well, for five episodes at least, before it got pulled. In Justice, its Friday at 9pm lead-out, fared a tiny bit better, getting to air out its initial 13 episode order. Two takeaways here: Dancing with the Stars is not at the point where it can launch a show, and it also airs partially on Fridays.

Record: 0 for 2

In 2006-07, ABC moved Dancing with the Stars to Mondays and Tuesdays and launched Help Me Help You Tuesdays at 9, which was canceled after 13 episodes.

Record: 0 for 3

In 2007-08, comedy Samantha Who? launched Mondays at 9:30. It was a top 30 show that season in A18-49 and top 20 in total viewers. However, it collapsed and was canceled in its second season despite keeping the DWTS lead-in. ABC also launched Women's Murder Club after the Tuesday hour of Dancing with the Stars. It was canceled after 13 episodes, and wasn't even in the top 100 in A18-49 for the season, averaging a 2.0 rating out of its 4.1 lead-in. On Wednesdays, Grey's Anatomy spin-off Private Practice was launched. It became a top 30 show in A18-49, averaging a 3.0.

Record: 1.5 for 7 (Samantha Who? gets half a point for its initial success and subsequent collapse).

In 2008-09, ABC tried again on Mondays this season with two new shows. Survivor Suburbia was a comedy than was given a 13 episode order and didn't get a backorder or renewal. Then there was Cupid, a drama that was 7-and-done, one of which was burned off in the summer.

Record: 1.5 for 9

In 2009-10, things changed. A little show named Castle launched Mondays at 10 and stayed there for the rest of its run; it was controversially canceled in 2016. However, comedy Romantically Challenged was also ratings challenged (sorry), getting pulled from the schedule after just four episodes. It's noteworthy that it actually pulled better ratings than already-renewed fellow comedy The Middle, and was on par with already-renewed Cougar Town. However, its retention from DWTS was just not excusable. Finally, they launched a drama called Forgotten Tuesdays at 10. It was canceled after 17 episodes. While it did OK-ish at best with the Dancing with the Stars lead-in, it really collapsed without it.

Record: 2.5 for 12. But that one success was all ABC needed to have a stable Monday night for more than half a decade.

In 2010-11, ABC focused on trying to launch a drama out of the Tuesday edition of Dancing with the Stars, while keeping Castle in the prime Mondays at 10 time slot. Their first attempt was Detroit 1-8-7, was received 18 episodes before being canceled. Midseason replacement Body of Proof fared much better; it was a top 10 drama in total viewers that season. It went on two more seasons before getting controversially canceled, a show that by the end did well in total viewers but pretty shaky in A18-49.

Record: 3.5 for 15

After this, there was a major lull in launching new shows out of Dancing with the Stars. Veteran shows such as Happy Endings and Private Practice (again) briefly aired after the Tuesday hour to weak results, before the Tuesday hour itself was eliminated after spring 2013.

It wasn't until 2016-17 when another new show was launched out of Dancing with the Stars: legal drama Conviction. It didn't last long, as its ratings were very low.

Record: 3.5 for 16

In fall 2017, ABC launched medical drama The Good Doctor out of Dancing with the Stars. While Dancing with the Stars is at its lowest raw numbers ever, The Good Doctor is doing numbers the time slot hasn't seen in several years. It probably didn't hurt that The Good Doctor got a nice lead-in, so I'm counting it as a success.

FINAL Record: 4.5 for 17

The Consensus
There were certainly more failures than successes in new shows that aired after Dancing with the Stars. However, there are more failures than successes in the freshmen TV class every year as it is. It's key that Castle was one of those successes; it helped ABC keep Mondays stable for years while they worked on other nights and went eight seasons. We'll see how The Good Doctor holds, but ABC can keep comfort in knowing that Dancing with the Stars was able to launch Castle and had at least a couple other short-term successes.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

American Housewife Season 2 Episode 8 Review

American Housewife has had an incredibly strong second season thus far, consistently delivering strong episodes that are funnier than almost everything else on TV. This week's episode brings us back to Katie's chairing of the Spring Gala, as well as showing the war reenactments that Greg always talks about. This is gonna be good.

Greg is talking about how "great" war re-enacting is when Katie walks in to brag about how great she's doing as chair of the Spring Gala. Then, everyone tells her how sucky her items for the gala auction are, so she has to scramble for non-sucky things. Greg tells Taylor that she's going to have to go to a war reenactment with him, and of course she gives him a hard time about it. Anna-Kat also comes along, because she's weird like her dad. Katie talks to Nancy, who donated time at her vacation home the previous year, and she wants her to give it again. Nancy won't do it, so Katie gets annoyed. Greg is super excited about the reenactment, but the girls are forced to be nurses, and they can't do anything fun. Katie complains to Angela and Doris about Nancy, but they tell her that she'll need to give something to these people in return if she wants them to make donations. Tara comes in to brag about Katie's likely failure, but Katie's not going to let that happen. Not if it'll bring Tara joy.

Katie "bumps into" Nancy, but her offer to her is terrible. Oliver comes to save her, and offers her something she can't refuse: sitting at the Bradford family's table. Katie wants to use this on all of the Wesportians, in order to save the auction. At the reenactment, Anna-Kat is having fun masquerading as a morphine-addicted Massachusetts housewife, but Taylor is miserable. Taylor pulls her phone out, but Greg snatches it from her. One of the higher-ups at the reenactment sees Greg with the phone, however, and he demotes his military rank. At home, Taylor complains about not being able to go to school, and Greg isn't pleased to learn that Katie has been sucked into Westport culture by Oliver. While Greg begs her to reconsider, Katie ultimately sides with Oliver. Later, Tara rushes into the restaurant to offer up her timeshare, but Katie declines. Oliver then runs in to tell him that Cooper Bradford may be expelled, meaning potential trouble for Katie's plan.

Katie heads to the school and asks Principal Ablin to let Cooper back in school. She appeals to him by calling each of them "poors" and that they can, for once, use the rich people to their advantage. He gives in. At the reenactment, Anna-Kat is "shot," as are Greg and Taylor. Taylor continues to get shot, but she won't "die." She tells them how ridiculous they all are, putting stickers on people and yelling bang, but not letting women be soldiers.This causes a huge fight with Greg and one of the other men. Many other guys also stand up against him, and he gets "shot" and "dies" too. Greg and Taylor bond over this. When they get home, Greg again tries to get Katie to go to the good side, after she tells him about bribing the principal. She sees the error of her says, and then grounds Cooper. This does not effect him at all.

As always, this was a solid episode, but it was probably my least favorite of the season. Katie's story wasn't really all that strong this week, and I didn't think that it resolved itself all that well. While it still had some funny moments, I really didn't laugh that much at it. Nevertheless, Katy Mixon still delivered a typically wonderful performance. Greg's story, however, was very good. I really loved it and thought it was quite unique. Diedrich Bader is just so great, and this was a story that really let his shine.
My Score: 8/10
My Grade: B

Modern Family S9E8 Review

Celebrity encounters is the topic of this week's Modern Family, as the family members remember when they met various celebrities.


S9E8 "Brushes With Celebrity"

Phil gets to show a house to Chris Martin of Coldplay, which he is of course very excited about. However, he starts having groin pain, which disrupts his showing of the house. He tries to ignore it, but ends up passing out. At the hospital, Phil discovers that Chris Martin is still there, which he likes at first, but he soon starts to become annoyed with the lack of privacy he now has. But things become alright for Phil when Chris Martin sings the song that Phil wrote. There is also a very funny ending, where the doctors and nurses ignore patients.

Mitch and Cam see the host of a gardening show that they watch, and they try to get him to offer to improve their backyard. They remember that couples on the show often have conflict, but they suddenly can't stop agreeing, which serves as a funny commentary on how often Mitch and Cam bicker on the show. Their obvious staged conflict is funny, and it's great that it goes further, with Cam actually ending up offended then the couple having a sincere moment. The end of the story is also great when they confront him, and at the end get mad at him, when he doesn't say yes when they ask him if he would pick them if he still had the show. This was a great story to bring Mitch and Cam together for a common goal, and it had funny moments.

Jay quickly goes from trying to get out of jury duty to embracing it when a football player he really likes joins the jury. This contrast is great, but the story gets better. Jay behaves like a schoolgirl with a crush, which is very entertaining and different than how we usually see Jay behave. Of course, his obsession leads to him offending the football player, and later he gets removed from the jury. However, things weren't all bad for Jay, as the restraining order he is given has the football player's signature on it, which is very excited about.

While Manny and Gloria are at a diner, Manny sees a playwright that he is a huge fan of. He goes to the playwright's table, but he is rude to him. This obviously angers Gloria. Manny tries to keep her from confronting her, but he ends up being unsuccessful, which is very funny. There is an ironic ending, when Manny and Gloria realize how the playwright must feel when people approach him, but aside from this and Gloria distracting Manny, there isn't that much that's entertaining about this story.


While certainly not one of Modern Family's strongest episodes, it is one of the show's strongest recent episodes. I haven't been that impressed with the show as of late, but, while this episode wasn't outstanding, it entertained throughout. Manny and Phil's stories were okay, but Jay and Mitch and Cam's stronger two stories made up for it.

Score: 7.5/10

What did you think of "Brushes With Celebrity"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Speechless S2E8 Review

Maya and Jimmy take J.J. on a college visit in this week's Speechless, but J.J. has reasons he is keeping secret for going on this visit.


S2E8 "B-I-BIKINI U-N-UNIVERSITY"

The episode begins with Kenneth calling a family meeting, and it's funny when he is surprised that no one objects. He calls Maya and Jimmy's attention to the fact that J.J. isn't taking applying to college seriously. J.J. is uninterested, until he suddenly asks his parents to tour a college. However, Dylan discovers his true motives, when she follows him and discovers that he responded to an ad to be in a movie, the third in a "Bikini University" series. J.J. is very entertaining when he meets the girls on the movie and tries to get one to practice a scene with him.

While they think that J.J. is on a students-only tour, Maya tries to find a way that they would be able to afford this college when Jimmy points out how expensive the college is. She tries to prove that she would be able to work a low-level job at the college, but her attempts at working for someone else go very poorly, and it is very entertaining. It is especially funny when she lashes out at the guy who she gets groceries for, especially when he gives her a poor review. It's a story that taps into Maya's character very well, as it challenges her while making it believable due to her motivation to allow J.J. to do what he dreams of.

When Dylan and J.J. spot their parents, they have to act quickly to pretend that they are meeting with people from the college, which is entertaining. However, it doesn't last long, and their secrecy falls apart in a creative way when Maya discovers what he's up to by doing tasks on the set of the movie. It's also great how this leads to J.J. discovering that he has a passion for movies. It's a great ending for the story, and there is a very funny moment in the end when J.J. falls asleep in the car and the family comments on what he is dreaming of.

While the rest of the family goes to visit the college, Ray decides to throw a party. However, this goes horribly wrong when the person he trusted with the guest list drops off his younger brother and his friends. Ray tries to impress the kids, which is very entertaining, but things can't always go well for Ray. The snake that Dylan was hiding but lost shows up, and Ray and one of the kids hide from it, but when Ray discovers that the snake isn't poisonous, he lets the kid pretend he was the one that picked up the snake. It is a sweet ending, Ray choosing to help the kid instead of making himself look good.


Maya was the highlight of the episode this week, in her attempts to prove that she could take directions in order to help J.J. go to what she believes to be the college he really wants to go to. However, the rest of the episode was great too, from J.J's obsession with breasts, to Dylan talking to her secret snakes, to Ray being unaware that parties go on at his school. In addition to these funny moments, the stories have great endings.

Score: 9.5/10

What did you think of "B-I-BIKINI U-N-UNIVERSITY"? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 5 Episode 8 ’Return to Skyfire’ Review


***Spoilers Ahead***

Return to Skyfire

Terry Crews (left), Andy Samberg (center), Stephanie Beatriz (left). Photo: John P. Fleenor/FOX

Aside from the 'Pontiac Bandit' and Halloween outings, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has stayed away from sequel episodes. Because of this, 'Skyfire Cycle' seems like an odd candidate to receive a follow-up episode. While it was far from bad, the original was pretty by-the-book and not high on my list of episodes that I want sequels to. Despite my skepticism, the installment easily blew away my expectations. In fact, 'Return to Skyfire' is arguably a stronger episode than its predecessor in the comedy and story department.

The A-plot follows the trio of Terry, Jake, and Rosa trying to figure out who stole D.C. Parlov's manuscript. This select pairing has rarely been used in the series, so I'm happy that Nine-Nine can still change things up after ninety-eight episodes. Right off the bat, 'Return to Skyfire' deconstructs the 'never meet your heroes' message from the first one. It definitely felt odd that Terrry was suddenly a fan of D.C. again despite the way Parlov treated him in 'Skyfire Cycle'. While that aspect of the plot borders on unrealistic territory, it does not take away from the laughs. Since Jake is now part of the 'Skyfire' fandom alongside Terry, the episode is able to produce some hilarious moments where the duo get absorbed in the fantasy world. To top it off, Rosa's slightly annoyed demeanor makes Peralta and Jefford's enthusiasm even more fun to watch.

By the end of the episode, it is revealed that Parlov and Lawson leaked their own manuscripts and both are locked behind bars. Essentially, 'Return to Skyfire' undoes the plot of 'Skyfire Cycle' only to reconstruct and confirm the fact that Parlov is a bad person. If this were a movie sequel, a retread of the same plot would be tedious. But, since this is a 22-minute sitcom, the writers manage to change things up so it doesn't feel repetitive. Moreover, I enjoyed how unfazed Terry was by Parlov's criminal behavior and the way he brushed it off. While D.C. never became a better person, at least Jeffords saw through his tricks and realized yet again that your heroes may not be who they seem to be. Ultimately, the A-plot was a blast with rapid-fire jokes, an engaging trio, and an enjoyable story.

In the B-plot, Boyle, Terry, and Amy take part in a forensics course in order to receive board certification and get a grant. Even though the story isn't as good as the A-plot, Holt's banter with Santiago alongside Hitchock & Scully's small scene were both great examples of comedy gold. The scenes with Boyle blurting out information about his family didn't add much, but I did enjoy his struggle of trying to get the mask off. Ultimately, it wasn't a stand-out story, but it definitely made me laugh.

Overall, 'Return to Skyfire' is a worthy sequel and fun ride. The jokes land and the plot is entertaining. Additionally, I am glad that the episode had two stories per episode like last week's 'Two Turkeys'. Because of this, neither plot felt underdeveloped and the episode flowed smoothly. Finally, if the writers choose to make a 'Skyfire 3' at some point, I would absolutely be on board.


Stray Thoughts
  • Now that we have a 'Skyfire 2', let's hope that we get a 'Jimmy Jabs 2'. That episode was amazing.
  • I find it hard to believe that Terry is a bad writer when his children's book in Season 2's 'Stakeout' was amazing.
  • I can't believe D.C. didn't delete his browser history. Parlov is an awful criminal. 
  • Jake's Addams Family song really should be on Spotify. Super catchy
  • According to Holt, Barbra Streisand is a rock star. 
  • Future's 'Mask Off' was the perfect song to use when Rosa, Jake & Terry got into costume.

What did you think of 'Return to Skyfire'?

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Good
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Survey Maker

Grade: A

What did you think of 'Return to Skyfire'? Vote in the poll and leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

The Goldbergs Season 5 Episode 8 Review

This week, the Goldbergs revisits the episode that started it all: The Circle of Driving. That episode introduced us to all of these crazy nutjobs, and is a true Goldbergs classic. This time around, however,  it's Adam's birthday, but driving is something he just is not ready for. With this crazy family, this is bound to be interesting.

It's Adam's 16th birthday, and he reveals to his family that he has no interest in driving, which shocks the whole family. Beverly's the only one that's okay with this, but it ultimately appears as if Adam will get his way. Erica is at a college when she declines an invitation to RA Srini's Karaoke/Toga party. When she gets to her dorm, she finds Barry, who is there for his college tour. He wants to go to a party while he's there, so Erica goes to convince Srini to let her some after her decline. Back home, Murray forces Adam to drive, despite Adam's protesting. They argue for a bit, and then a car drives into their car door. So, a great start to Adam's driving lessons. Barry is getting ready for his first college party, and he puts on an insane costume, complete with an invisible dog, in order to get some attention. Some college girls are actually not completely disgusted by this. Back at home, Murray reveals to Beverly that he went to take Adam out for driving lessons, and that he ruined the car. After Adam leaves, Beverly tells Murray that she really does want Adam to drive, and that she's just putting up an act so he'll be a cautious driver. Later, Pops tells Beverly and Murray that he's going to help Adam learn to drive. One small problem: he doesn't have a license. Beverly and Murray let him teach Adam to drive, but they have to go with, too. Uh oh.

Barry is attracting a ton of attention at college and is invited to a bunch of parties. He even gets Erica an invitation to Srini's party, which she declines. She does, however, feel betrayed by Brry for abandoning her. Elsewhere, Adam's first driving lesson with the Crazy Family isn't going great. Everyone is arguing and distracting him, and he's clearly struggling with his slightly idiotic parents. At college, Erica is annoyed by how well Barry is liked by the college students, so she crashes the party, where she sings Amazing Grace and totally bombs. She storms out, but Barry chases her. He tries to convince her to just put herself out there, and he promises her that everyone will love the real her. Back at the driving lesson from hell, Adam successfully crosses a train track, but then he immediately crashed into a cop. Maybe he wasn't ready to drive after all?

After some paperwork, the Goldbergs return home. Murray forces Pops to give up his keys. Adam tries to stop this, but then Beverly apologizes for her scary stories of driving. Murray also encourages him to drive, and Adam finally gains some confidence in his driving skills. At college, Erica returns to the party and tries to win everyone over by not sucking at karaoke this time. Adam tells Pops it's time for him to stop driving, and that in order to keep going on their adventures, he'll learn to drive. Erica wins over the college kids, and Adam takes Pops to Hooters to cheer him up. Beverly doesn't allow this, so they go to the Spaghetti Warehouse across the street, but it's the thought that counts.


Summary:
This was a very enjoyable episode, and a nice follow-up to its classic predecessor. I also enjoyed how this episode gave us another look at the Adam and Pops relationship, which is always so nice because the relationship is so sweet. This helped provide for the perfect ending for the episode, with both Pops and Adam growing and realizing that they need to change their ways. Hopefully this actually keeps up, as it'll definitely be interesting to witness Adam's driving journey progress

The episode was certainly at its best when it focused on Adam's story, because Erica and Barry's really wasn't all that good. While it had a nice ending, it took awhile to get going and it just wasn't really that funny. It was easily outshone by the episode's main plot. While it's obviously nice that Erica has developed as a character, meaning that she's finally at college, I can't say that this hasn't affected my enjoyment of her stories. She works best when she's playing off of her crazy mother or her father, and there aren't as many opportunities for this anymore. The new college characters haven't really added anything new to the show and it's a bit disappointing.

While I gave most of the attention and acclaim to the Adam/Pops portion of the episode, Beverly and Murray were also thoroughly enjoyable. Their arguing, particularly during Adam's driving lesson, was very true to form for this family. Of course they would make this event all about themselves, because that's just what they do. But at the end of the day, despite all of their arguing, the family truly loves each other, which is why I love this show so much.

This isn't related to anything else I have to say here, but the "cookie" scene between Adam and Beverly was hilarious.
My Score: 8.5/10
My Grade: B+

How Are Our Shows Affected? The Sexual Allegations Dumpster Fire Unfortunately Continues to Kindle


Written Grateful at Karma's Vicious, Vengeful Sword by Bridger Cunningham



Updated November 29, 2017: Add Today Reporter Matt Lauer and Chicago PD Star Jason Beghe to this infamous roster.  And roll a Yahtee with the firings of Lauer, Charlie Rose and Arrowverse Showrunner Andrew Kreisberg.

For those following this ongoing article, it has gotten around TV Ratings Guide's in as many maneuvers since November 10 as several offenders' hands have behaved inappropriately.  Now with 13 infamous mentions, this article must distinguish between allegations and CONFIRMED 
accusations.  Mentions in green have LOW impact on shows or are tenuous/long-distant accusations affecting shows.  Yellow mentions are LOW TO MODERATE as their impacts escalate to the next level and affect a prolific level of shows.  Orange mentions are MODERATE damage to shows have resulted in interruptions of programming and/or removal of stars.  And Red mentions are EXTREME effects, impacting an iconic presence and several shows to boot.

The greatest irony is this article's acronym by title is inadvertently SADFCK.  Time to buy a vowel.

Prior to October 5, 2017, the speculations and urban legends of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry remained a well-known,  loosely regulated scandal known by the masses.  Before that date, President Donald Trump, 80's NBC icon Bill Cosby, wholesome 7th Heaven Alum Stephen Collins and a slew of cable newscasters remained the only recent media figures shackled down to confirmed notoriety due to past behaviors of confirmed sexual harassment and assault.  Few spoke of the matter in the industry.  And if they spoke up, it was via passive-aggressive humor, similar to Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane's jabs via dialogue in 2013 episodes.  Or 30 Rock's coy dialogue with one of its characters stating "I'm not afraid of anyone in show business, I turned down intercourse with Harvey Weinstein on no less than three occasions, out of five." (1)

Image result for courtney love 2017The boldest action taken prior to 2017 derived from volatile actress/Hole lead singer Courtney Love's 2005 statement advising new actresses, "If Harvey Weinstein invites you to a private party in the Four Seasons, don't go."  Equally aggressive in calling out the underbelly of the industry was 80's teen star Corey Feldman, who bravely shined a light on pedophilia running rampant for decades.  Then, NY Times Journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey released a report detailing Harvey Weinstein issuing 8 females settlements over three decades traversed during his tenures at Mirimax and The Weinstein Company. (1)   The dumpster fire kindled after NBC News reporter Ronan Farrow (son of Peyton Place alum Mia Farrow) reported in The New Yorker of his own investigation, shining light on 13 victims of sexual harassment and 3 rape victims.  Farrow eluded to NBC receiving pressure to kill the segment when he investigated months earlier (denied by the network).  The sordid development ignited into a media firestorm in preceding weeks, leading to several revelations of misconduct against others.  And it has left several shows suspended, speculating survival or potentially quashed.  

And the Sexual Allegations Dumpster fire burned like a scrub bush beneath the Hollywood sign, ignited by a cigarette flick of the industry's reckless and vile.  The scandal smoldered after years of allegations lying in plain site, spreading and burning everything in its path late in 2017 including viewers' favorite television shows.  Here are shows linked to this rash of reveals, and the effects on scheduling.

13.  Matt Lauer (November 29, 2017)


Show Affected -- Today Show.

Allegations - 21-year veteran newsanchor Matt Lauer was fired amidst reports of inappropriate sexual behaviors.  One anonymous accuser stated Lauer of "giving a sex toy gift with a note on how he would like to use it, of exposing himself, and loving to play the game 'f*ck, marry or kill,' in which he would identify the female TV news co-hosts he’d most like to shag."  (25) Further reports from former co-anchor Katie Couric accused Lauer of inappropriate pinching in a 2012 interview which she was a guest on her former reporting grounds.

Extent of Affects -- Extreme.  Lauer is a revered household name in reporting, having been a (somewhat) celebrated presence on Today for 21 years after replacing heralded host Bryant Gumbel.  Today reclaimed 1st Place over Good Morning America in 1995, remaining in the dominant lead until early 2012.  Lauer and Katie Couric's 1997-2006 run remained one of history's landmark pairings in Morning Newscasts.  Despite format and co-anchor shakeups, Today has edged closely to ABC's Good Morning America primarily due to Lauer's presence.  Losing his presence may harm or help the show's ratings and stance with the effects playing out in the upcoming months.


Shows' Statuses -- Lauer is gone, with his last telecast being November 28, 2017.  A replacement has yet to be announced on Today.

12. Jason Beghe (November 22, 2017)


Show Potentially Affected -- Chicago PD


Jason Beghe Picture
Allegations -- Beghe is under investigation for anger issues and sexual misconduct by NBC after reports emerged of "toxic" behaviors on set.  Speculation has run rampant as to Beghe's behavior in relation to costar Sophia Bush' exit earlier this year, and Beghe has conceded to issues with anger which he is receiving treatment. (24)

Extent of Affects -- Moderate.  Beghe is the leading star of Chicago PD's ensemble, and his exit would impact stories if he were removed.  However, this is an ensemble show which could easily recuperate in the event of losing one character.


Show's Status -- No changes to scheduling or production have occurred, and this revelation has not smoldered or erupted with further developments.  Beghe remains employed with NBC, and fans may continue to watch the series at their own discretion should they separate art from artist.


11. Charlie Rose (November 20, 2017)

Shows Affected -- CBS This Morning, Charlie Rose (PBS), 60 Minutes.


Allegations - CONFIRMED.  8 Women aged between 21-37 have come forth and reported to the Washington Post and stated Rose grabbed them in inappropriate places between the late 1990's through 2011.  Rose conceded to the allegations and issued the following apology (all too late):
“In my 45 years in journalism, I have prided myself on being an advocate for the careers of the women with whom I have worked. Nevertheless, in the past few days, claims have been made about my behavior toward some former female colleagues.
“It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken.
“I have learned a great deal as a result of these events, and I hope others will too. All of us, including me, are coming to a newer and deeper recognition of the pain caused by conduct in the past, and have come to a profound new respect for women and their lives.” (23)
Extent of Affects -- Extreme.  Rose had a career spanning over 5 decades, and his presence was an invigorating force to revitalize the CBS News franchise.  His self-titled show also was a longstanding staple on PBS since 1991, and Rose was an esteemed presence in the news world.  Rose's exit from the news realm is as much of a blow as Dan Rather's disgraced exit from CBS News in 2005.

Shows' Statuses -- CBS, Bloomberg and PBS have all effectively suspended Rose from their networks on November 20.  He was fired from all franchises on November 21.


10. Ryan Seacrest (November 17, 2017)


Shows Affected -- American Idol, Live With Kelly and Ryan, Plus Various Programming.

Allegations -- An anonymous stylist is alleging the popular television host behaved inappropriately more than a decade earlier while the two interacted on E!  The network is launching a precautionary investigation. (21)   Please note TVRG takes a firm stance of "Innocent Until Stated Otherwise" and will not discuss the details until confirmed by statement or investigation. 

Extent of Affects -- Low to Moderate.  Though the alleged incident occurred years earlier and may be motivated by greed, Seacrest' name is tied to several productions.  Any such scandal can change the way the public looks at a figure.  On the plus side for ABC, perhaps the controversy will prompt folks to tune in to the already-panned revival in March.


Shows' Statuses -- No scheduling changes are known as production has not been halted in lieu of these developments.

9. Murray Miller (November 17, 2017)


Show Affected -- Girls

Allegations -- A former actress on the long-running series has accused the showrunner of sexual misconduct. (20)  Please note TVRG takes a firm stance of "Innocent Until Stated Otherwise" and will not discuss the details until confirmed by statement or investigation. 

Extent of The Affects -- Low.  Though Girls concluded its 6-season run earlier this year, former co-showrunners Jenni Konner and star Lena Dunham have raced to the forefront and are adamantly defending Miller.

Show's Status -- Girls concluded its run earlier this year, and repeats have yet to be interrupted or pulled from HBO.

8. Mark Schwahn (November 15, 2017)


Shows Potentially Affected -- The Royals

Allegations -- On November 14, 18 female One Tree Hill former cast and crew, including actresses Daphne Zuniga, Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz and Danneel Harris signed a collective statement regarding harassment and intimidation they endured while appearing on OTH.  Former male cast members Chad Michael Murray, Lee Norris, James Lafferty, Robert Buckley and Austin Nichols made statements supporting and backing the 18 females involved in the accusation. (18)  Only one day after the suspension announcement, 25 cast and crew members from the Royals executed a similar statement of allegations similar in nature, bringing 43 accusations of inappropriate conduct. (19) Either that is damning, or that is 43 plotting people who have it out for someone.  Please note TVRG takes a firm stance of "Innocent Until Stated Otherwise" and will not discuss the details until confirmed by statement or investigation.

Extent of Affects -- Moderate.  Although One Tree Hill ended over 5 seasons ago, the collective actresses of the ladies in question foreshadows problems for Schwahn.  Individual claims leave many questions and speculation, but a collective statement holds greater creed. E! has taken a precautionary investigation and suspended him from the network.  And now that 25 individuals from the current Royals production spoke up, this could gravely affect the production of any upcoming material produced beyond November 2017.  

Shows' Statuses -- The Royals, the E! network's first scripted drama, is slated to return for Season 4 early in 2018, bringing the episode order up to 40.  No effects on the production schedule are visible as S4 is concluded.  However, if this matter continues to loom, it could also affect chances of renewal.  S4 ranged in the 18-49 adult demographic between 0.17-0.31, a stark difference from S1's performances between 0.50-0.60.  Although this controversy does not help the show's renewal odds, the ratings trajectory is ticking downward for E!'s first scripted series.

7. George Takei (November 10, 2017)

Show Affected -- Fresh Off The Boat

Allegations -- A former model has accused Star Trek alum George Takei of Sexual Miscounduct stemming from an incident in 1981. (17)  Please note TVRG takes a firm stance of "Innocent Until Stated Otherwise" and will not discuss the details until confirmed by statement or investigation.

Extent of The Affects -- Low.  Takei's incident occurred decades earlier and no further incidents have been brought to light.

Show's Status -- Takei was a marketed guest star.  This standalone cameo should affect little with the ABC franchise, save for advertisement issues.

6. Andrew Kreisberg (November 10, 2017)


Image result for andrew kreisberg cw
Shows Affected -- The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow and Supergirl.

Allegations -- 15 women and 4 men have declared allegations of misconduct, leading to Kreisberg's suspension pending CW's cautionary investigation. (15)  Following the investigation, Kreisberg was fired on November 29.  Please note TVRG takes a firm stance of "Innocent Until Stated Otherwise" and will not discuss the details until confirmed by statement or investigation. 

Extent of Affects -- Low to Moderate.   Kreisberg leaving CW as the four-post showrunner, changes in tone may affect CW's higher-rated franchises.  A replacement has yet to be announced for Kreisberg.

Shows' Statuses -- No scheduling changes are known as production has not been halted in lieu of these developments.

5. Louis CK (November 9, 2017)

Shows Affected -- Better Things, Baskets, One Mississippi, The Cops, 2017, Night of Too Many Stars and Upcoming Standup Specials on Netflix and HBO.
Image result for tig notaro
Tig Notaro, Louis CK

Allegations -- CONFIRMED.Following accusing Louis CK of plagiarism in April 2017, Tig Notaro, star of CK's series One Mississippi, stated in August she would be distancing herself from the comedic powerhouse due to incidents involving multiple women, as well as an unspecified incident involving herself.  The troubling headlines ignited in flames on November 9, 2017 when five women made statements CK pressured them to watch or listen to him self pleasure himself.  The following day, CK conceded to the accusations and issued an apology statement. (13)

Pamela Adlon, Louis CK.
Extent of Affects -- Extreme.  6-time Emmy winner CK had many irons in the fire, affecting not only his personal stake, but also those associated with him.  Better Things star Pamela Adlon has a lengthy work relationship and friendship with CK and made this statement on November 10, 2017:

“My family and I are devastated and in shock after the admission of abhorrent behavior by my friend and partner, Louis C.K. I feel deep sorrow and empathy for the women who have come forward. I am asking for privacy at this time for myself and my family. I am processing and grieving and hope to say more as soon as I am able.” (11)

CK's woes affect multiple networks, platforms and actors involved in active productions.  The Orchard pulled the release of upcoming film "I Love You, Daddy," a film they acquired at the purchase of $5M.  Multiple active shows may also mar the audience's view of the series due to the association, demonstrating how one person's poor decisions affected thousands involved in multiple productions and millions of viewers who previously adored the franchises.

Shows' Statuses -- FX has severed its relationship with CK and his production company, Pig Newton and will not offer compensation or employment relating to Better Things, Baskets, The Cops and One Mississippi.  Shows featuring CK proliferate and affect a broad range.

1. Better Things concludes its 2nd season on Thursday, November 17 and is renewed by FX for an upcoming 3rd season.
2. Baskets concluded its 2nd season on Thursday, March 23, 2017 and is renewed by FX for an upcoming 3rd season. 
3. One Mississippi released its 2nd 6-episode season on September 8, 2017.  Amazon has yet to announce if the show will be renewed for a 3rd season. (8)
4. Production has been suspended by TBS on the upcoming animated comedy The Cops which CK was slated to voice the role of Lou.  It appears imminent the role will be recast as CK's relationship with the show is severed. (10)
5. HBO has scrapped CK's contribution to its upcoming Autism documentary Night of Too Many Stars on Saturday, November 18. (10)
6. HBO pulled all of CK's comedy standup material from their On Demand Menu. (10)
7. Though Netflix has scrapped production on CK's upcoming standup comedy sketch, his previous releases, 2017 and 2015 Live at the Comedy Store will remain available to stream. (9)

4. Jeffrey Tambor (November 8, 2017)


Image result for transparent jeffrey tambor
Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfefferman in Amazon's Transparent
Shows Potentially Affected -- Transparent and Arrested Development

Allegations -- On November 8, a transgender actress launched allegations of improper behavior, which Tambor rebuffed as baseless.  Transparent's distributor, Amazon, has launched a cautionary investigation to investigate the claims.(6)  Please note TVRG takes a firm stance of "Innocent Until Stated Otherwise" and will not discuss the details until confirmed by statement or investigation. 

Extent of Affects -- Moderate.  Tambor's image has suffered, mainly due to his promontory status as a straight gentleman portraying a transgender lady in the hit series. (5)  Even if nothing comes to fruition from the investigation, the allegations hold potential for the audience to view Tambor in a less sensitive light.  Thus why investigations are necessary to not only look into the matter for potential issues, but also avoid defamation or misrepresentation.  Tambor resigned from Transparent on November 19. (22)

Shows' Statuses -- Transparent and Arrested Development are both renewed for 5th seasons, slated to air in 2018. (7) Tambor, however has walked away from Transparent and it appears the series will continue with the remaining cast intact.

3. Ed Westwick (November 7, 2017)

Image result for ed westwick wicked cityShow Affected -- White Gold

Allegations -- November 7-8, 2017, two women accused Westwick of sexual assault in 2014. An addtional woman came forth on Novewmber 15.(16) 

Extent of Affects -- Moderate.  Westwick's career not only spans current franchises; it also traversed CW's former Gossip Girl.  The accusations are heavier than the actor placing his hands where the don't belong.  

Show's Status -- BBC is halting Westwick's series 2 appearance in White Gold pending an investigation.  The show is also simulcast on Netflix internationally.  BBC issued the following statement:

“These are serious allegations which Ed Westwick has strenuously denied. The BBC is not making any judgement but until these matters are resolved we will not include Ordeal by Innocence in the schedules. The independent production company making White Gold has informed us that Ed Westwick has paused from filming while he deals with these allegations.” 



2. Jeremy Piven  (October 30, 2017)
Jeremy Piven's 11/9/2017 Twitter Post rebutting the allegations.

Show Potentially Affected - Wisdom of the Crowd

Allegations -- The same day Spacey dealt with scandalous headlines, Piven received similar accusations improper behavior from an actress dating stemming to his 2004-11 run on Entourage.  Piven has aggressively rebuffed the statements.  CBS has launched an investigation into the matter.  No confirmations have been issued, though three actresses have come forth in similar nature. (4)  Please note TVRG takes a firm stance of "Innocent Until Stated Otherwise" and will not discuss the details until confirmed by statement or investigation. (4)

Extent of Affects - Low.  Piven's woes are merely headlines and occurred years prior.  Wisdom of the Crowd is a first-season drama on CBS Sundays and does not possess the same exposure as House of Cards.  Piven's matter is also under investigation, and no visible effects to the 11/5/2017 broadcast, which experienced an uptick to a 1.1 18-49 Adult Demo rating.

Show's Status -- CBS has capped the series' order effective November 28 at 13 episodes, ultimately foreshadowing cancellation.

1. Kevin Spacey (October 30, 2017)

Show Affected -- House of Cards.

Allegations -- CONFIRMEDOn October 30, Star Trek alum Anthony Rapp came forth and revealed Spacey sexually harassed him when he was 14 in 1986. (2)  Spacey issued an apology to Rapp, as well as came out of the closet.  Since the reveal, others have stated allegations of similar behaviors, including parties associated with production of HOC.
Image result for House of Cards
Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey, House of Cards.
Wright's likeness is now used when viewers access episodes of HOC on Netflix.

Extent of Affects - Extreme.  Spacey was not a C-lister enjoying mild success in his 50's; he was a name which drew attention and acclaim.  Spacey's likeness prior to October 30 was prominently used to advertise Netflix and T-Mobile's joint venture.  Following the developments, Robin Wright's image and likeness replaced Spacey for  House of Cards.  Spacey is a multiple Academy Award, SAG Award and Golden Globe winner, harming any of his productions' prior acclaim.  The actor is also seeking treatment in lieu of these recent developments.

Show's Status -- Uncertain.  Production was indefinitely halted on October 31 after completion of two episodes of the 6th season.(3)  The previous day, Netflix declared Season 6 would be the series' final season, bringing the episode count to 78.  On November 3, Netflix stated they would not produce new episodes featuring Spacey.  Discussions of Robin Wright being the central focus of the last season, as well as a post-HOC spinoff.  Production is slated to resume minus spacey on December 9.  For fans of HOC, the only silver lining is the series' first 5 seasons remain on display on Netflix to enjoy at their own risk and ability to separate art from artist.

The Continued Effects and Unspeakable Aftermath
Image result for daryl hannah kill bill quentin
It appears the unyielding reveals and scandals have yet to slow their path of destruction, with several more reveals speculated into the unforeseeable future.  The saddening fact is it was not one offender in the incident, but hundreds to thousands who abetted the behavior or enabled such vicious, violent acts.  Judd Apatow sadly publicized an incident which Kill Bill actress Daryl Hannah bravely fought off a nefarious attack from Harvey Weinstein during a press tour for the films.  After barricading herself in a dressing room with a dresser, Weinstein charged the door, and Hannah made multiple distressed calls to production folks for help.  The resolve?  SHE was removed.  Hannah deserves a standing ovation for thwarting such unwanted actions, the worst appears yet to be disclosed.  

Multiple television and streaming shows are affected, and TVRG will keep readers updated for changes relating to the shows.  This site will not comment on speculations and accusations not confirmed.  But rather will only report confirmed stories and how they affect the shows people love.

Number of Shows Affected So Far -- 27


State Route 27 marker
Sources:

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Weinstein_sexual_abuse_allegations

(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Spacey
(3) http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/10/house-of-card-spinoff-in-works.html
(4) http://www.tvguide.com/news/jeremy-piven-sexual-harassment-statement/
(5) http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-fam-jeffrey-tambor-sexual-assault-20171109-story.html
(6) http://deadline.com/2017/11/jeffrey-tambor-sexual-harassment-claims-amazon-1202204220/
(7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparent_(TV_series)
(8) http://deadline.com/2017/11/fx-cuts-ties-louis-c-k-ends-pig-newton-1202206037/
(9) http://deadline.com/2017/11/netflix-louis-c-k-standup-special-dead-sexual-misconduct-allegations-1202205702/
(10) http://deadline.com/2017/11/louis-ck-tbs-suspends-production-animated-cop-comedy-series-albert-brooks-1202205246/
(11) http://deadline.com/2017/11/pamela-adlon-louis-c-k-devastated-and-in-shock-after-his-admission-of-misconduct-1202206147/
(12) https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/tig-notaro-louis-ck-one-mississippi
(13) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_C.K.
(14) http://deadline.com/2017/11/judd-apatow-harvey-weinstein-sex-scandal-reforms-commentary-breaking-news-1202204254/
(15) http://deadline.com/2017/11/andrew-kreisberg-suspended-sexual-harassment-allegations-1202206230/
(16) http://deadline.com/2017/11/ed-westwick-bbc-ordeal-by-innocence-white-gold-1202205604/
(17) http://deadline.com/2017/11/george-takei-reponse-sexual-assault-allegation-twitter-1202206322/
(18) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Schwahn
(19) http://deadline.com/2017/11/the-royals-female-cast-crew-members-statement-mark-schwahn-sexual-harassment-1202209877/
(20) http://deadline.com/2017/11/girls-producer-sexual-assault-murray-miller-aurora-perrineau-1202211274/
(21) http://deadline.com/2017/11/ryan-seacrest-harassment-claims-stylist-e-entertainment-1202211382/
(22) http://deadline.com/2017/11/jeffrey-tambor-leaving-transparent-sexual-harassment-allegations-amazon-jill-soloway-1202211711/
(23) http://deadline.com/2017/11/charlie-rose-unwanted-sexual-advances-report-1202212678/
(24) http://people.com/tv/jason-beghe-investigated-inappropriate-behavior-chicago-pd/
(25) http://deadline.com/2017/11/matt-lauer-sexual-harassment-fired-report-1202216448/