Major TV networks reject the Pentagon’s restrictive new press policy / HGTV orders Bachelor Mansion Takeover / Kimmel and Colbert offer rare praise for Trump
PLUS: Peacock to tackle “The Night Stalker” Richard Ramirez in Season 2 of Devil in Disguise.
Major TV networks reject the Pentagon’s restrictive new press policy
Fox News, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, CNN and MSNBC have signed a joint statement saying they won’t sign up for the Pentagon’s new press access rules. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave news outlets until 5 p.m. ET today to sign the restrictive new policy. The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal have also rejected the new press policy. “Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues,” the TV news outlets said in the joint statement. “The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections. We will continue to cover the U.S. military as each of our organizations has done for many decades, upholding the principles of a free and independent press.” The statement is notable in that Hegseth’s former employer Fox News is among those rejecting his new press policy. As The Wall Street Journal notes, “those who don’t sign on to the new policy must forfeit their Pentagon press badges and won’t be issued new ones. For decades, reporters wearing identification badges had broadly unfettered access to nonclassified areas of the Pentagon, able to walk the hallways of the sprawling building and visit officials’ offices. The agency limited where they could go without escorts earlier this year. Members of the press have until Tuesday to sign the new policy, which states that military personnel need approval before sharing information with the media, even if it isn’t classified. It says members of the media should be aware that agency ‘personnel may face adverse consequences for unauthorized disclosures.’” While right-wing outlet Newsmax has rejected the new Pentagon policy, fellow right-wing outlet One America News Network is the only prominent TV news outlet that will sign the policy.
Peacock to tackle “The Night Stalker” Richard Ramirez in Season 2 of Devil in Disguise
With Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy set to premiere on Thursday, Peacock has set its eyes on another notorious serial killer for Season 2. “Early talks are under way to consider a new Devil in Disguise that would tell the story of Ramirez, the serial killer, rapist and burglar who became known as the ‘Night Stalker’ as he terrorized Los Angeles and Southern California between 1984 and 1985,” says Variety’s Michael Schneider. “Ramirez is believed to have killed at least 15 people; because his victims varied in age, gender and background, that made Ramirez’s crimes extremely hard to predict.”
HGTV orders Bachelor Mansion Takeover hosted by The Bachelor’s Jesse Palmer with Tayshia Adams and Tyler Cameron as judges
The Bachelor franchise’s Tayshia Adams, Tyler Cameron and a surprise guest judge from the franchise will serve as judges on the six-episode reality competition featuring their fellow alumni as contestants taking turns making over the iconic site for a shot at the $100,000 cash prize. “When we learned the Bachelor Mansion needed a serious makeover, we knew only HGTV could give the iconic property a renovation worthy of the name,” said Warner Bros. Discovery’s chief creative officer of U.S. networks, Howard Lee. “We’re welcoming fan favorites and memorable cast members from throughout Bachelor history to the HGTV family and can’t wait to see what they get up to in this first of its kind competition for the network.”
Abbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walter to make her standup special debut on Hulu
Walter, who has performed standup for more than 20 years, directed her special that was taped at the Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia. The untitled special is set to be released in 2026.
Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert offer rare praise for President Trump over the Gaza ceasefire
“What a day for Donald Trump,” Kimmel said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “You know what? He finally did something positive today and I want to give him credit for it — because I know he’s not the type to take credit for himself.” On The Late Show, Colbert said: “It’s important. Credit where credit is due — Donald Trump did something good.” Colbert then paused for a moment and joked: “Are we still canceled?”
ICE is spending a lot of money to advertise during college football games
According to Puck News’ John Ourand, a 30-second advertisement during “big primetime college football games” costs around $300,000. Ourand adds: “Because these are one-off ad buys and obviously not part of a general election, networks are charging top dollar for these spots, sources told me. (By law, networks have to give candidates for public office the lowest rate that was sold in a particular game—a rule that doesn’t apply here.) Once sold, network ad sales execs send the commercials to their legal departments to make sure they pass all the standards-and-practices checks they have in place.”
Netflix strikes a deal to add select podcasts from Spotify and Bill Simmons’ The Ringer
Months after Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos floated the idea of adding video podcasts, Netflix will begin including podcasts from Spotify Studios and The Ringer to Netflix’s platform, including The Ringer’s The Bill Simmons Podcast, The Zach Lowe Show, The McShay Show, The Rewatchables and Conspiracy Theories.
President Trump blasts “fake news” ABC and The View’s Alyssa Farah Griffin
During a cabinet meeting today, Trump blasted ABC for George Stephanopoulos’ tense interview of Vice President JD Vance Sunday on This Week that ended with Stephanopoulos cutting Vance off. “I don’t take questions from ABC fake news after what you did with Stephanopoulos to the vice president of the United States. I don’t take questions from ABC fake news,” Trump said with the vice president seated next to him, according to Mediaite. Pro-MAGA reporter Brian Glenn then asked Trump about Griffin’s comments that she would wear a MAGA hat on The View and thank Trump should the hostages in Gaza be released. Trump recalled her being loyal during his first administration. “And then, she got hired by The View, they gave her a couple of bucks, and she changed her view very quickly,” he said. “I never thought she’d make it. I never thought she had what it took in any way.”
Cheryl Hines clashes with The View stars over her husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“I know you ladies, I know you love to talk about him,” Hines said before being grilled about being married to President Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary, while promoting her new book Unscripted. Hines then confronted The View co-hosts on their past criticisms of her husband.
CBS News staffers won’t be disciplined for not responding to Bari Weiss’ memo, WGA says
The Writers Guild of America East warned union members not to respond to the new CBS News editor in chief’s memo asking what each staffer does throughout their day. CBS “informed us that you will not be disciplined if you do not respond to the email, indicating that a response is optional. The company further stated that if you choose to respond, it will not be a basis for discipline, discharge, or layoff,” according to a message from the union to its members that was reviewed by Variety. “We intend to hold the company to these responses.”
NBC News is expected to cut 150 jobs after splitting from MSNBC
The potential layoffs will high roughly 7% of the 2,000-person news division, according to Status.
Stephen Colbert pays tribute to Diane Keaton by re-airing her memorable 2012 Colbert Report visit
The Late Show host said his Colbert Report alter ego “had the honor of attempting to interview her about her memoir, that she apparently had no interest in talking about. It was so charmingly chaotic.” ALSO: SNL’s Ashley Padilla says working as Diane Keaton’s assistant “changed my life.”
How I Met Your Mother rewatch podcast is joining Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s Office Ladies Network
HIMYM co-creator Craig Thomas and star Josh Radnor are moving their How We Made Your Mother rewatch podcast to Audacy and become part of Fischer and Kinsey’s podcast network. “I called Jenna to talk rewatch podcasts and invite her onto our show to chat about the weird beauty of playing one character for so many years, and the next thing I knew, she and Angela were inviting us to collaborate with them,” Radnor said in a statement. “It was the easiest ‘yes’ of my career.” Thomas added: “I feel like we all went to TV college together at the same time, and now this is our class reunion … we couldn’t be more honored and excited to be joining forces with Jenna and Angela, the best in the TV rewatch biz!”
Sebastian Maniscalco’s first Hulu special It Ain’t Right gets a premiere date
The comedian’s follow-up to his 2022 Netflix special It Ain’t Me? premieres Nov. 21.
Stephen Colbert and Conan O’Brien to reunite on stage at the Montclair Film Festival
“An Evening With Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert,” set for Dec. 7, follows Conan’s recent appearance on Colbert’s The Late Show two weeks ago.
John Mulaney to direct Robby Hoffman’s first Netflix special
After meeting on the set of Mulaney’s Everybody’s Live earlier this year, Mulaney has agreed to direct Hoffman’s first special since 2019, which will mark her Netflix debut.
General Hospital star Kirsten Storms announces she’ll undergo brain surgery in two weeks for an aneurysm
Storms explained on Instagram that the aneurysm was discovered during a follow-up scan for a cyst she had removed from her brain in 2021.
PaleyFest NY sets its fall lineup, including Landman and Pluribus
The Nov. 6-16 television festival will also feature panels on Power Book IV: Force and A Man on the Inside.
Watch Nick Offerman prank Parks and Recreation co-star Jim O’Heir on an airplane
Offerman took over the plane’s intercom on their flight to Indianapolis.
IT: Welcome To Derry releases a final NSFW trailer
The Bill Skarsgård-led HBO IT prequel series premieres Oct. 28.
Sky teases Will Sharpe as Mozart in the trailer for limited series Amadeus
The White Lotus and Too Much alum will play the musical genius alongside Paul Bettany as envious court composer Antonio Salieri in the British limited series, premiering in December.
Fox teases Johnny Knoxville’s Fear Factor reboot
The Jackass star will host Fear Factor: The Next Chapter starting in January.