Category: TV

TV ratings: Atlanta, Saudi Arabia

Motorsports continued to hold its own against the sports Goliath of college basketball last weekend, with NASCAR up from the week prior and Formula 1 realizing a year-on-year gain. NASCAR’s Cup Series round from Atlanta led the way with a 1.95 …

Motorsports continued to hold its own against the sports Goliath of college basketball last weekend, with NASCAR up from the week prior and Formula 1 realizing a year-on-year gain.

NASCAR’s Cup Series round from Atlanta led the way with a 1.95 Nielsen rating and 3.422 million household viewers Sunday on FOX, per numbers from ShowBuzzDaily.com. That was down from a 2.36/4.003m last year, but a slight uptick from the previous week’s Phoenix race (1.93/3.389m).

Formula 1, meanwhile, rebounded from its slight year-on-year decline for its season opener with a gain for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on ESPN, which averaged a 0.74/1.523m. That was up 5% over the ’22 race on ESPN (1.44m) and up 17% compared to last year’s F1 season average. It was also the weekend’s most-viewed telecast across ESPN platforms, according to the network, which reports that Buffalo was the top local market for the race, averaging a 2.4 rating. Time for a Buffalo GP, maybe? Last year on this date, ESPN carried the Bahrain GP, which averaged 0.75/1.353m.

Despite its smaller overall audience, F1 bested Cup in the 18-49 age range, averaging 681,000 in that demographic to Cup’s 608K.

NASCAR’s Xfinity Series race from Atlanta averaged 0.58/1.019m on FS1 Saturday afternoon, while the Camping World Truck Series race that preceded it on FS1 averaged 0.48/807,000. Last year these races averaged 0.66/1.123m and 0.51/841K, respectively.

While Saturday’s IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Sebring was live in its entirety on the Peacock streaming service, the portion airing on the USA network averaged 100,000 viewers.

The Bachelor’s Zach Shallcross makes a mess of Fantasy Suite week in the most unnecessary way

A self-imposed rule that comes back to bite him.

It’s Fantasy Suite week, and our bachelor Zach Shallcross was determined to not make things messy.

Folks, it got messy.

Zach’s intentions heading into the week where physical intimacy is expected — or at least accepted — were honestly coming from a good place. He didn’t want to have sex with any of the three remaining women during the overnight dates, because that would be weird, what with him seemingly proposing to one of them in a week’s time.

Makes sense!

And it seemed to be working well through his first date with Ariel. They visited a market in Thailand, had a private dinner and went to the Fantasy Suite. After waking up all canoodled, it’s revealed they didn’t cross that line, so Zach is still cruising with his plan!

Gabi was the second date of the week, and they spent an afternoon on the beach before she opened up about insecurities in their relationship and the fact that she had been cheated on previously. Another private dinner came before a night alone together, heavy emphasis on the together in that situation.

That’s right. Zach and Gabi got very personal, breaking his one rule for the week. Racked with guilt, he felt the need to confess his sins to host Jesse Palmer.

That guilt also led him to confess to Kaity, which made for an incredibly awkward date in the jungle for the pair. Kaity would go on to forgive him, deciding to spend the evening with him in the Fantasy Suite (we find out after the rose ceremony that he did not get intimate with Kaity).

All of this was just so unnecessary and messy. Everyone knows that Fantasy Suites happen with three contenders left. Everyone knows that the possibility of intimacy exists.

Instead of keeping things simple, there are now way more emotions and drama. At the Rose Ceremony, Zach sent Ariel home. She was the only one that he either 1. was not intimate with or 2. hadn’t told about his intimacy with one of the other women.

Their chemistry was off the charts, and it’s hard not to wonder if his pick wasn’t influenced. There’s no way Gabi was going home after everything, and Kaity was the first name called. Ariel feels more like a casualty of the situation than a woman we expected to be sent home.

It’s fair to wonder how much of Zach’s decision-making this week stemmed back to his bizarre Fantasy Suite experience with co-Bachelorette Rachel last season, after which Zach removed himself from the competition.

Next week, Gabi and Kaity will meet Zach’s family, and he will allegedly propose to one of them. I can’t imagine it will go smoothly, but we will tune in nonetheless.

Ted Lasso’s Jason Sudeikis advocated for mental health support in White House visit

Good on Jason Sudeikis and the Ted Lasso cast for shedding light on mental health support.

As the cast of Ted Lasso visited the White House on Monday, show star Jason Sudeikis talked about the importance of helping those who are going to struggles related to mental illness.

That was the subject of the visit this week, as the show’s cast members were invited by President Joe Biden to discuss the importance of advocating for mental health issues.

One of the running themes through the AppleTV+ series has been the importance of self care, Sudeikis discussed how people at home can support themselves and those they know who are dealing with mental health struggles.

“It’s something that we can all, and should, talk about with one another when we’re feeling that way, or when we recognize that in someone feeling that way,” Sudeikis said about mental illness during the White House press briefing.

It was an admirable step for the Ted Lasso cast to make as the show’s new season premieres, and it will surely help bring awareness to one of the most prevalent issues people face around the globe.

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Trent Crimm made a surprise appearance at the Ted Lasso White House press briefing

Trent Crimm of The Independent made his White House press briefing room debut on Monday.

The cast of Ted Lasso got to see a familiar face while visiting the White House on Monday.

As previewed by President Joe Biden, Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Toheeb Jimoh, Brett Goldstein and Brendan Hunt appeared at the nation’s capital this week to discuss the importance of talking about mental health and supporting those who are struggling.

Toward the end of the day’s press briefing, Sudeikis got asked a question by an old friend. It was none other than Trent Crimm of The Independent.

Yes, Ted Lasso actor James Lance showed up to the briefing in character as Crimm and fittingly asked Sudeikis about Kansas City being named a host city for the 2026 World Cup.

Of course, Sudeikis, a Johnson City, Kansas, native, gave a very Coach Lasso-inspired answer to Crimm’s question.

As the Ted Lasso cast advocated for something as vital as mental health care, it is nice to see them embrace the moment to do some good and add a little fun into the mix.

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Jason Sudeikis and Ted Lasso stars sat courtside for Knicks-Nuggets at Madison Square Garden

AFC Richmond, meet the NBA.

Four stars from Ted Lasso took a break from promoting the new season to take in an NBA game on Saturday.

Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso), Brendan Hunt (Coach Beard), Toheeb Jimoh (Sam Obisanya) and Kola Bokinni (Isaac McAdoo) were courtside at Madison Square Garden for the day’s New York Knicks/Denver Nuggets game.

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It’s always good to get a break from the pitch when you’re AFC Richmond, and it’s even better when you can watch two of the best teams in the NBA in the Nuggets and the Knicks.

It’s all smiles for the Ted Lasso cast as they took in a marquee NBA game.

Could this inspire a Ted Lasso spinoff where Coach Lasso and Coach Beard leave AFC Richmond to take over a basketball team somewhere?

Well, if so, the two unlikely soccer coaches picked a good game to learn from!

Season three of the Emmy-winning AppleTV+ show is now streaming.

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7 most iconic scenes of Lance Reddick as Cedric Daniels on ‘The Wire’

“Comes a day you’re going to have to decide whether it’s about you or about the work.”

Lance Reddick – a brilliant actor who showcased his talents and smooth voice across an array of TV shows, films and video games – died on Friday at the age of 60. A representative for Reddick confirmed to Deadline that he died of “natural causes.”

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Reddick made his acting debut in 1996 in an episode of New York Undercover. Over the next 27 years, he would act in prestige television shows like Oz, The Corner, Lost, Fringe and Bosch. In the world of video games, he lent his voice to the Destiny and Horizon franchises. And in film, Reddick most notably played a key role in the action-packed and critically acclaimed John Wick series, but also played more dramatic parts, like a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated One Night in Miami.

Reddick was damn funny too, taking comedic turns in appearances on Key & Peele, The Eric Andre Show, Rick and Morty, Duck Tales and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

He was an actor who could show strength as easily as he could display grace, elevating every piece of art he appeared in. On-screen, he could be intimidating and formidable, but also hilarious and warm. He could portray disdain with just a slight move of his eyes, and then show joy with a flash of a smile. Reddick seemed to bring respect and authority to everything he popped up in, whether it was an HBO show, a Netflix comedy or a video game.

Reddick is still due to appear in a few projects posthumously, including a remake of White Men Can’t Jump that is being produced by NBA star Blake Griffin, among others.

While Reddick had a long and accomplished career in acting, there is one role that his fans will remember him for best. From 2002 to 2008, Reddick starred as Cedric Daniels in HBO’s The Wire.

Over the course of five seasons, Daniels rises from the rank of lieutenant working in the Baltimore Police Department’s narcotics unit, to Major, to Colonel, to Deputy of Operations, to a then short-lived stint as Commissioner. While Reddick’s character has a questionable past that viewers never see on-screen, he is typically a straight-shooting who doesn’t bend the rules and often acts a strict father figure to Jimmy McNulty, Kima Greggs, Herc and Carver, and Roland Pryzbylewski. We see Daniels go through the show trying to juggle his career aspirations, his pursuit of working a good case, and trying not to give into the department’s stat-juking methods. He tries not to rock the boat, but often ends up calling his superiors – and subordinates – out on their BS. Reddick’s Daniels is a key figure in the show as the major crimes unit chases Avon Barksdale, Stringer Bell, The Greek, and Marlo Stanfield.

Before being cast as Daniels, Reddick initially read for the parts of Bubbles and Bunk Moreland in the groundbreaking show from David Simon. Andre Royo wound up playing Bubbles, a drug addict turned police snitch who tries to get clean, and the part of the foul-mouthed, cigar-smoking detective Bunk went to Wendell Pierce.

To properly remember Reddick, we thought it would be best to revisit some of his most memorable scenes from his most memorable role. Here’s the best of Cedric Daniels.

 

Survivor 44 VIBE CHECK: Fake idols and the real consequences of sitting out challenges

You can only outwit and outlast so long before you’re forced to outplay.

Warning: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED EPISODE 3 OF SURVIVOR 44.

Ready?

Ok.

Welcome to Survivor Vibe Check! Each Thursday this season, Blake Schuster and Bryan Kalbrosky will chat about last night’s episode to see who is thriving and who is straight up not having a good time on the islands of Fiji. Season 44 got off to an absolutely chaotic start.  Episode 2 sowed strategies and alliances. Episode 3 exposed some tribal priorities. Let’s dig into it.

Blake: Well, Episode 3 was maybe the easiest vote they’ll have all season. We’ve talked a lot about what makes good gameplay on Survivor, especially early on. Claire’s exit reminded us that you have to actually play the game in order to stay. Sitting out twice in the first two challenges is questionable at best. Once that streak reaches three you officially have a target on your back. I believe Danny said it best: there’s a camaraderie you build with your tribe during challenges.

Bryan: Let’s just put it this way: I know that if I were hungry as heck and had just done something physically exhausting and challenging, I would be resentful of the person who didn’t have to go through that awful experience with me. It was like when someone was excused from the mile run in P.E. class. Why do I have to do this but not you?! She said all the right things in tribal, but the fate was sealed.

Blake: Even if the Soka tribe had won immunity again, I still think she’s dealing with the same issue for that exact reason. Other tribemates are hungry and tired and might need a rest, too. You have to be able to carry some of that weight and curry favor there. We don’t have the benefit of seeing what life is like at camp 24/7 but for how strategic Claire tried to play early on, I’d like to imagine she could pick up on who was struggling at the time.

Claire was sent packing having never participated in an immunity challenge and without casting a vote. That’s rough. I know Sandra talked a lot about not being a physical player at all and relying on her social game, but she knew you can’t just sit out every time.

Bryan: I just have to wonder how much of the decision to sit out actually came from the tribe suggesting her each time, as she said, or if it was more of a self-volunteer. It’s a bummer because we’ll never know if she could have helped them during challenges, but this was a valuable lesson for future players.

Blake: Yeah I don’t really care if it was her tribe asking her to do it. At some point you have to fight for yourself and your resume and say “I’m playing”. 

Elsewhere on Soka, Danny did an excellent job getting back into the birdcage, putting the fake idol in and getting Matt to think he found an advantage. THAT is how you build a resume and take control of the game.

Bryan I think Danny had a 10/10 episode. His performance was masterful. It was executed to perfection. Hopefully, for his sake, Matt does not use the fake idol any time soon — that’ll make everyone paranoid about who set that up. But when the showrunners decided to create a fake idol, this is exactly what they had in mind.

Speaking of fake idols…

Blake: Matthew! Welcome to the game!

Bryan: That was nice work, too, but the Plant Daddy nickname has gotta go. Meanwhile, I still wish he would show some consistency about when his shoulder hurts and needs to be in a sling versus when he feels like participating in a challenge. My guy: You have a former NFL player on your tribe. You don’t need to be the one reaching for the key! It feels like he is going to inevitably exacerbate this injury.

Blake: Did he pop his shoulder back in during that challenge!?

Bryan: I don’t know but if I’m a doctor or physical therapist watching this show, I would be infuriated with the way he treats that sling.

Blake: Aside from Danny and Matt figuring out how to use their fake idols, and Claire continuing to do Claire things, this was really just a calm episode. Which means we’re due for some chaos. Tribe swap to start episode four, perhaps?

Bryan: It certainly seems like something big is about to happen next week. I wouldn’t mind seeing Frannie and Matt (for my J.D. Salinger heads, I initially typed Franny and Zooey) on tribes apart from one another before their postgame road trip begins.

Blake: Our dorky magnets will always find their way back to each other, don’t you worry.

Racing on TV, March 16-19

All times Eastern; live broadcasts unless noted. Thursday, March 16 Sebring 1 9:10-9:55am Sebring 1:15-3:20pm Sebring 2 5:30-6:15pm NOLA TA2 8:00-9:00pm (D) Homestead 8:30-9:30pm (D) NOLA TA 9:00-10:00pm (D) Friday, March 17 Sebring qualifying 9:15- …

All times Eastern; live broadcasts unless noted.

Thursday, March 16

Sebring 1 9:10-9:55am

Sebring 1:15-3:20pm

Sebring 2 5:30-6:15pm

NOLA TA2 8:00-9:00pm
(D)

Homestead 8:30-9:30pm
(D)

NOLA TA 9:00-10:00pm
(D)

Friday, March 17

Sebring
qualifying		 9:15-
10:25am

Saudi Arabia
practice 1		 9:25-
10:30am

Saudi Arabia
practice 1		 9:25-
10:30am

Sebring
1000 Miles		 11:30am-
8:30pm

Saudi Arabia
practice 2		 12:55-
2:00pm

Saudi Arabia
practice 2		 12:55-
2:00pm

Atlanta
qualifying		 3:00-4:30pm

Atlanta
qualifying		 4:30-6:00pm

Glen Helen 1 8:00pm

Saturday, March 18

Saudi Arabia
practice 3		 9:25-10:30am

Saudi Arabia
practice 3		 9:25-10:30am

Sebring
12 Hours		 10:05am-
10:10pm

Atlanta
qualifying		 11:30am-
1:00pm

St.
Petersburg		 12:00pm-
1:30pm (D)

Saudi Arabia
qualifying		 12:55-2:00pm

Saudi Arabia
qualifying		 12:55-2:00pm

Atlanta 1:00-2:00pm
pre-race
2:00-4:00pm
race

Atlanta 4:00-5:00pm
pre-race
5:00-7:30pm
race

Sebring
12 Hours		 4:30-
10:30pm

Detroit 7:00pm

Glen Helen 2 8:00pm

Sunday, March 19

Saudi
Arabian GP		 11:30am-
12:55pm
pre-race
12:55-3:00pm
race

Atlanta 2:00-3:00pm
pre-race
3:00-7:00pm
race

Glen Helen 3 4:00pm

Key: SDD: Same day delay; D = delayed; R = Repeat/Replay

A variety of motor racing is available for streaming on demand at the following sites:

  • SRO-america.com
  • SCCA.com
  • Ferrari Challenge
  • The Trans Am Series airs in 60-minute highlight shows in primetime on the MAVTV Network. For those wishing to tune in live, the entire lineup of SpeedTour events will stream for free on the SpeedTour TV YouTube page. SpeedTour TV will also air non-stop activity on Saturday and Sunday (SVRA, IGT and Trans Am). You can also watch all Trans Am event activity on the Trans Am YouTube page and Facebook page.

TV ratings: Gainesville, Phoenix

March Madness is heating up, which means a lot more competition for sports fan’s eyeballs, but motorsports held its own. The NASCAR Cup Series round from Phoenix last Sunday afternoon averaged a 1.93 Nielsen rating and 3.389 million household …

March Madness is heating up, which means a lot more competition for sports fan’s eyeballs, but motorsports held its own.

The NASCAR Cup Series round from Phoenix last Sunday afternoon averaged a 1.93 Nielsen rating and 3.389 million household viewers on FOX, per numbers from ShowBuzzDaily.com. That was down from a 2.33/3.991m for this race last year, and from a 2.22/3.991m for the previous week’s race in Las Vegas.

NHRA’s Camping World Drag Racing Series launched its season at Gainesville on FOX, and averaged a 0.58 and 945,000 viewers. Additional coverage on FS1 bumped up the total race day audience to 1.12m, the highest ever for the Gatornationals during the FOX era, according to the sanctioning body. Last year’s finals were delayed on FS1 and averaged 0.28/458,000.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix on Saturday averaged a 0.60 and 1.025m viewers on FS1, down from 0.70/1.087 last year. The ARCA Menards Series race at Phoenix on Friday night averaged 0.12/172,000 on FS2.

Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham proves she’s a natural at everything, even doing the weather

But honestly, is she good at everything?

Hannah Waddingham can do it all. She’s one of the stars of the ultra-popular Ted Lasso — which had the premiere episode of Season 3 drop today on Apple TV+ — and an accomplished actress with credits in shows like Game of Thrones. She’s an amazing singer. She’s stunningly beautiful with incredible fashion.

And now she’s a meteorologist.

MORE: Brendan Hunt says Ted Lasson Season 3 ‘not necessarily the end of everything’

OK, that’s a bit of a stretch, but Waddingham (along with co-stars Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt) visited the TODAY Show on Wednesday morning and got a chance to flex her weather muscles. In a segment with legendary weatherman Al Roker, Waddingham showed maybe she has her next career lined up if she decides she’s tired of the whole acting thing.

Watch out, Northeast. It’s WINDY.

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