Emmy Award
Spielberg and Hanks and HBO with Guns and Tanks and a New War Show
World War II: Part Three? You betcha.It seems that Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg will dip into the World War well for the third time (well, four times if you count “Saving Private Ryan”) and partner up with HBO to create yet another military mini-series event in the near future. Hanks and Spielberg have been more »
Acclaimed Character Actor Charles Durning Dead at 89
Charles Durning’s plain features ensured he was never the leading man. His talent ensured you remembered him in whatever role he played. His name might not immediately jump into your mind, but moviegoers know the face.The actor and World War II vet died Christmas Eve at age 89. The Academy honored him with Oscar nominations more »
Jack Klugman, Lovable Lug of Stage and Screen, Dead at Age 90
Jack Klugman, whose roles included an overzealous pool shark and a crimefighting coroner, has died at age 90. Most remember him as Oscar Madison, the slob of a sportswriter on the TV version of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple. Initially he didn’t want the role, he preferred the theater. When the play he was in more »
History Channel Reunites ‘Hatfields & McCoys’ Producer and Writer on ‘Texas Rising’
Hatfields & McCoys was a smash for History Channel. It drew 16 Emmy nominations and five wins, including Kevin Costner for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries. His co-star Bill Paxton got nominated in the same category. The mini-series got excellent ratings on Memorial Day weekend, not traditionally a TV hotspot. More importantly, it may more »
At the End of the Day…
Noted awful person Nikki Finke, live-blogging the Emmys, complaints that “beautiful actresses are not funny.” Julie Bowen, Alison Brie, Sofia Vergara, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Zooey Deschanel and a few dozen other people beg to differ (Deadline) A look at fan theories about popular TV shows. I actually believe the How I Met more »
‘Homeland’, Surprisingly, and ‘Modern Family,’ Unsurprisingly, Dominate Emmys
The Emmys, America’s maybe third or fourth favorite pop culture awards show, took place last night and aired on ABC. As for the awards themselves, the most striking thing was the total split between drama-which provided plenty for the quality TV nerd to be happy about-and comedy, where Modern Family continued its inexplicable domination of the awards more »
Steve Sabol, the NFL’s Poet Laureate, Dead at Age 69
Steve Sabol, the creative director of and driving force behind NFL Films, died Tuesday of brain cancer at age 69. Sabol captured the essence of a violent game with orchestral music, poetry and the style of fine film.Sabol saw that football contains many of the elements of great theatre. Roger Staubach played opposing defenses as more »
Emmy Award Winning Actor Albert Freeman Jr. Dead at 78
Albert Freeman Jr, best known for portraying the mentor to Denzel Washington’s Malcolm X in the Spike Lee biopic, has died at 78. Howard University, where Freeman served as chairman and artistic director of the theatre department, confirmed the news. His lengthy career included movies, TV and Broadway as an actor and director. Lee told more »
Oscars Courting Jimmy Fallon as Host, ABC Less Than Thrilled
Hosting the Academy Awards may be the most dangerous gig in the entertainment industry. Steering the increasingly bloated broadcast to conclusion while being entertaining has been a Herculean task. Nowadays the Oscars can’t even find a host without controversy. In 2011 Eddie Murphy was going to host, but decided against it. That was after the more »
Emmy Nominees are Announced, Mostly Good Things Are Nominated, Some Fan Favorites Ignored
The Emmy nominations were announced earlier this morning in Los Angeles. You can see the full list of all nominees in all categories here. At first glance it looks like for the most part the choices are consistent with the TV critic/quality TV fan consensus, even if they are rounded out by more toothless network more »
