Favorite Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees Include 'Wicked,' Veteran Actresses

by Tyler Glover

Record-Tying Nominations for "Wicked" 

Photo: Universal Pictures

My favorite film of 2024 was definitely Universal Pictures’ Broadway adaptation of “Wicked.” It has been doing well this award season picking up four Golden Globe nominations (winning one), 11 Critics’ Choice Award nominations and it even won the National Board of Review Award for Best Picture. Because of this, I was anticipating that “Wicked” would get a few nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards this morning. What I was not anticipating is that they would also nominate the show for Stunt Ensemble and include Jonathan Bailey for Best Supporting Actor. Before this nomination, Jonathan Bailey had only been nominated for an individual award at the Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards. Every other nomination he has had this awards season has been as part of the ensemble. Jonathan Bailey does deliver a performance full of charisma and charm. The five nominations today for “Wicked,” ties it with “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “Doubt,” “Shakespeare In Love” and “Chicago” as the most nominated film ever at the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards proving the film to be very “Popular!” ​

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Demi Moore for "The Substance" 

Photo: Mubi

​“The Substance” was a film that intrigued me for weeks before I finally watched it. I had heard there was some gore and that some audiences were being nauseated. I wasn’t sure I could make it through that. However, the story that “The Substance” was telling intrigued me enough to give it a shot. I am so very glad that I did. “The Substance” is without a doubt one of the best films of the year and Demi Moore’s performance is Oscar-worthy. At the Golden Globe Awards last Sunday, I was surprised and very excited to see Moore win the award for Lead Actress for Musical/Comedy for “The Substance.” Her speech made me love Demi Moore even more ... if that was possible. Moore portrays Elisabeth Sparkle, an aging former Oscar winner who is fired when she turns 50 from her job on an aerobics television series. What is brilliant about Moore’s performance is most of her scenes are just her in them. Moore manages to convey all of the complex emotions Sparkle feels to us and makes us really think about how we are all too hard on ourselves. We all buy into society’s definition of beauty and this film warns us to embrace who we are. I am hoping Moore’s Globe win is positioning her as the favorite to win the Oscar for Best Actress.

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Hacks

Photo: Max

 
My favorite show of 2024 was Max’s comedy series, “Hacks.” So often, television shows will have excellent first seasons and great second seasons. However, the third season will dip dramatically in quality making you feel that it isn’t necessary to continue on with the series. You stop caring. That is something that hasn’t happened with “Hacks.” This series tells the story of comedy legend Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) who is trying to make a comeback with the help of younger writer, Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder). The chemistry between these actresses is electric. They are so incredibly funny and a match made in Heaven. “Hacks” is in the middle of filming season four, and I am hoping they maintain the quality. For now, though, I am happy that the Screen Actors Guild Award is recognizing this incredible cast, who really are some of the best actors and actresses in the business.

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Nicola Coughlan for "Bridgerton"

Photo: Netflix

​I have been a diehard “Bridgerton” fan from Day One. The romance between the Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page) and Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) had me instantly interested in the series. Then, the scandal of the secret identity of the infamous Lady Whistledown got me hooked. The first season was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards and received a Drama Ensemble nomination at the Screen Actors Guild. However, the accolades were mostly absent from season two. The quality did dip a little but season three came back guns blazing and it was spear-headed by Nicola Coughlan’s performance of Penelope Featherington. Penelope’s character makes us all remember the difficulties of loving someone you cannot be with and the complexities of trying to keep a friendship with that person. However, we get to see Penelope start to live a fairy tale before her world turns upside down. Coughlan does not miss a beat. She shows us the multiple layers of Penelope and makes us all think of what we would do to feel seen and heard.

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Kathy Bates for "Matlock"

Photo: CBS

When I first heard CBS was doing a show called “Matlock,” I rolled my eyes big time. Reboots of classic television series have been done so many times. Most of the results are awful and somewhat tarnish the brilliance of the first. I decided to give this “Matlock” a chance though and I am so glad I did. There was a twist at the end of the first episode that hooked me and showed us all that this series is different and it is going to be great. Bates’ performance as Madeline Matlock shows us all why Bates has won so many awards in her career, including an Academy Award. I won’t spoil the twist but it is going to give Bates tons of material to sink her teeth into and I know she will deliver. I was very happy to see Bates nominated at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards and I was beyond excited that the Screen Actors Guild Awards recognized her excellent performance.