by Julian Spivey May December – Netflix – Friday, December 1 Director Todd Haynes’s latest drama “May December” is already being hailed as one of the best movies of 2023 and just yesterday took home Best Screenplay for Samy Burch and Best Supporting Actor for Charles Melton at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. The film, loosely inspired by American teacher Mary Kay Letourneau who had a relationship with a young student whom she eventually married, stars Natalie Portman as an actress who travels to Georgia to meet a controversial woman (played by Julianne Moore) she is set to play in a film, who had a long relationship with a husband, played by the aforementioned Melton, whom she first met as a minor. Portman, Moore and, especially, Melton are all receiving Oscar buzz for the film. John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial – AppleTV+ - Wednesday, December 6 “John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial,” a three-part docuseries, that examines the murder of music icon John Lennon and the investigation and conviction of his killer Mark David Chapman debuts on AppleTV+ on Wednesday, December 6. The docuseries, narrator by Emmy-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland, is supposedly the most in-depth look into the murder and court case with interviews from witnesses of the murder, attorneys on the case and close family friends of Lennon. Mr. Monk’s Last Case – Peacock – Friday, December 8 I’m almost embarrassed about how giddy I was when I heard Det. Adrian Monk would be returning for a TV movie earlier this year. It’s titled “Mr. Monk’s Last Case,” premiering on Peacock on Friday, December 8, but I hope if things go well it won’t necessarily be the real last case but maybe a harbinger of more specials to come. Monk is played by the exquisite Tony Shalhoub who won three Emmy Awards for his performance of the top-notch detective suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during the original dramedy that aired on the USA Network from 2002 to 2009. The made-for-TV movie reunites the entire cast from the last few seasons of the series, including Traylor Howard, Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford. It’ll be a welcome sight to see how Monk navigates the modern world. Maestro – Netflix – Wednesday, December 20 “Maestro” is clearly actor/director Bradley Cooper’s passion project as he’s spent years working on this biopic of legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein and his relationship with his wife Felicia Montealegre, which is the follow-up to his 2018 directorial debut and Best Picture-nominated “A Star Is Born.” Cooper takes on the role of Bernstein with Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan playing Montealegre. The film, which is produced by Netflix, will make its debut on the streamer on Wednesday, December 20 after a short run in select theaters and is sure to be one of the big awards contenders of 2023. Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road – Disney+ - Monday, December 25
“Doctor Who” has entered its most recent era by bringing back a leader from a past era in showrunner Russell T. Davies and it’s already off to a nice start with the first of the show’s 60th anniversary specials, which also brought back familiar faces in David Tennant and Catherine Tate reprising their roles as The Doctor and Donna being a lot of fun. Two more 60th-anniversary specials are coming this month with “Wild Blue Yonder” dropping on Disney+ on Saturday, December 2 and “The Giggle” on Saturday, December 9, but it’s the return of the Christmas Special that most interests me because that will be the true start of the next era with Ncuti Gatwa taking over the role of The Doctor in “The Church on Ruby Road.” I’ve always loved the “Doctor Who” Christmas specials but we haven’t had one in quite some time as the show’s previous showrunner tried his own thing with New Year’s specials instead – I know, I know it’s only the difference of a week – but there’s just something so right about “Doctor Who” on Christmas Day. I can’t wait to see how this new era of ‘Who’ mixing a new cast with a veteran showrunner turns out.
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by Julian Spivey All the Light We Cannot See - Netflix - Thursday, Nov. 2 Netflix’s miniseries adaptation of author Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2014 novel about a blind French girl named Marie-Laurie LeBlanc, who takes refuge in her uncle’s house after Paris is invaded by Nazis during World War II whose path crosses with a German boy named Werner Pfennig, who’s accepted into a military school due to his exceptional skills in radio technology. The miniseries, directed by Shawn Levy, stars newcomer Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laurie, Louis Hofmann as Werner and Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie in supporting roles. The novel is considered a modern masterpiece, but looking at some of the early reviews of this miniseries leads me to fear that Netflix may not have done it justice. I guess we shall see for ourselves. 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Disney+ - Friday, Nov. 3 For pretty much the entirety of the time broadcasting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies on television, whether it was once on VH1 or more recently on HBO, the ceremony has been pre-taped and aired later. Excitingly this year’s induction ceremony will be airing live and uncut on Disney+ beginning at 7 p.m. (CST) on Friday, Nov. 3. The inductees are Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners with other recognitions going to hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc and guitar legend Link Wray for Musical Influence and singer Chaka Khan, musician Al Kooper and songwriter Bernie Taupin for Musical Excellence. The induction ceremony will include performances from most of the living inductees, as well as Elton John, Stevie Nicks, LL Cool J, Dave Matthews, Carrie Underwood, Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, Adam Levine, St. Vincent, Queen Latifah and more. It’ll be a can’t-miss moment for music lovers everywhere. Lawman: Bass Reeves - Paramount+ - Sunday, Nov. 5 I’m fairly ho-hum on writer/showrunner Taylor Sheridan and his view on the world, despite having seen every episode of his Paramount Network drama “Yellowstone,” which made him a superstar, so his association with “Lawman: Bass Reeves” has me a bit worried. But the show is primarily the baby of showrunner Chad Feehan and the legend of Bass Reeves, the first black Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River is one that I’ve been longing to see told. Anytime Reeves has appeared as a character in TV or movies – like the past NBC time-travel drama “Timeless,” where he was portrayed by Colman Domingo, and the Western film “The Harder They Fall,” where he was portrayed by Delroy Lindo, I have been enamored. In ‘Lawman,’ David Oyelowo stars as the legendary lawman with a talented supporting cast that includes Dennis Quaid and Donald Sutherland. I’m not sure if ‘Lawman’ is set to be a miniseries, annual series or anthology featuring different lawmen, but the first season will consist of eight episodes. The Crown (Final Season - Part 1) - Netflix - Thursday, Nov. 16 “The Crown” has arguably been the biggest series in Netflix’s more than a decade now of original programming, at least in terms of critical acclaim and awards won, and its final season – which has been broken into two parts that will drop in back-to-back months – will premiere on Thursday, Nov. 16. It should be an emotional and tragic season as it will lead up to the death of Princess Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki) and see the family’s response and reaction in the aftermath of it. The second part of the final season will premiere on December 14. Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain – Peacock – Friday, Nov. 17 The comedy trio known as Please Don’t Destroy, consisting of Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy, has been among the highlights of the last few seasons of NBC’s long-running sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” with their frequent pre-recorded films usually seeing them involved in ridiculous comic hijinks. It took me a bit to get on the Please Don’t Destroy train, but I’ve certainly warmed up to them and laugh at most of what they do these days. The trio has taken their short films a step further with their feature film debut, “Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain,” which premieres on Peacock on Friday, Nov. 17. The film features the three comedians as co-workers who live together who are tired of the day-to-day monotony of their deadbeat lives and go on the search for rumored hidden gold. The film, directed by Paul Briganti, is narrated by John Goodman and will feature the hilarious Meg Stalter and Bowen Yang in supporting roles. This one should be wild. Doctor Who: The Star Beast (60th anniversary special) – Disney+ - Saturday, Nov. 25 There hasn’t been a new “Doctor Who” episode or special since the end of the producer Chris Chibnall/actress Jodie Whittaker era on October 23, 2022. It’s been a long year-plus without The Doctor and we Whovians are excited to see what’s in store for the 60th-anniversary specials, which feature the return of not only beloved producer Russell T. Davies but also David Tennant as The Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, which might be the most popular Doctor/companion matchup in the show’s legendary history. The three 60th anniversary specials will be released on consecutive Saturdays beginning with November 25’s “The Star Beast,” which will see the debut of “Doctor Who” on its new American TV home of Disney+. That’s right, if you’re a Whovian who hasn’t yet subscribed to that service it's time to do so. by Tyler Glover The third season of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” just concluded this past Tuesday and showed us all why it has become as successful as it has and why it really was a no-brainer decision to pick it up for a fourth season. The magical trio of Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) are still just as funny as ever while trying to solve the latest murder in the building for their podcast. At this point, I would move but that’s beside the point. In this latest season, Oliver is directing a Broadway show with his leading man being a famous Hollywood actor named Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd). Unfortunately, on opening night, Ben becomes the latest victim. After a very disappointing killer reveal in the second season, this season offers so many suspects and many that would be a satisfying choice as the killer. It could be new breakout star, Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep). Loretta went years without being able to chase her dreams and now that she is here, was Ben standing in the way? It could be Charles’ new girlfriend, Joy (Andrea Martin). It wouldn’t be the first time Charles dated a murderer, after all. It could be Ben’s girlfriend Kimber Min (Ashley Park). Did Ben break it off and then, she decides that she needs to off him? Could it be his adopted brother, Dickie (Jeremy Shamos)? Was Dickie tired of all of the years of being in the shadows while his brother reaped all the praise? Then there is the mother-son producing duo of Donna and Cliff DeMeo (Linda Emond and Wesley Taylor). Could Ben be destroying their production? The list could go on and on. That is what makes this season so exciting. The writing this season is absolutely top-notch. The twists and turns continue in this season just as much as any season so far. The writing team knows what they are doing to keep us engaged and barely being able to wait to see what happens next. Their ability to mix the drama with the comedy is absolute perfection. They also throw in a very clever reference to a Steve Martin-Martin Short previous film, “Father of the Bride” in an episode that left me laughing for several minutes. This writing team deserves an Emmy for season three. The only thing that could be disappointing for some viewers is that in the beginning of the season, Charles, Oliver and Mabel are in a bit of a squabble that leaves them to not spend every episode trying to solve the murder together. At times, they are going it alone and in those moments, we do miss the magic of the trio. I feel it was necessary to deliver some drama but some may be disappointed in the decision to break them up for a bit. One addition for me that elevated this season to another level was the inclusion of three-time Academy Award-winning actress, Meryl Streep. Streep plays her part so brilliantly and deserves an Emmy in my opinion. When Streep is on screen, she really does steal the show which is really hard to do from the three stars that have made this show what it is. It does not change how brilliant they are though. Martin, Short and Gomez are pure gold in this show and I cannot wait to see them solve the next murder in the building next season. Seriously, people: you might need to move. by Julian Spivey Our Flag Means Death (Season 2) – Max – Thursday, Oct. 5 “Our Flag Means Death” was a bit of an underseen gem in 2022 when it premiered on Max (then still HBO Max) that turned the swashbuckling life of pirates into a romantic comedy with a wealthy gentleman turned pirate striking up a friendship with the feared Blackbeard himself. Stede Bonnett, the gentleman pirate played brilliantly by Rhys Darby who is taking full advantage of finally having a lead role, and Blackbeard, hilariously played by Taiki Waititi, wind up falling in love but things go array at the end of the first season. This is where I assume season two, premiering on Max on Thursday, October 5, will pick back up. I know “Our Flag Means Death” has developed a small and loyal fan base, particularly among LGBTQ+ viewers, but as previously mentioned it doesn’t seem to have a large viewership – that probably needs to tick up a bit for the show to receive a third season, which series creator David Jenkins plans on being the show’s swan song. Moonlighting (Complete Series) – Hulu – Tuesday, Oct. 10 If you’ve ever seen questions as to which older television series people most want to see added to streaming one of the top answers has always been “Moonlighting,” the ABC comedy-drama starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis that aired from 1985-1989. The series about private detectives is finally making its way to streaming this month with the addition of the entire series to Hulu on Tuesday, Oct. 10. I’ll be a little surprised if “Moonlighting” catches on with younger generations having a chance to see it for the first time (although it’s on my to-watch list), but it’ll definitely be a treat for old fans longing to re-watch it over the years. Frasier (Reboot) – Paramount+ - Thursday, Oct. 12 I’m going to call the resumption of “Frasier,” nearly 20 years after the Emmy-winning NBC series ended, on Paramount+ a reboot of the series, but seeing how the only returning character is going to be Kelsey Grammer’s titular character it feels like it’s mostly going to be a new series that shares a name and character. I have my doubts about bringing back Frasier Crane, mostly because the character, Grammer’s performance and the shows the character appeared on “Cheers” and “Frasier” are all television classics and I’d hate to see any of it besmirched if this doesn’t turn out well, but I’ll certainly be giving “Frasier” the chance to assuage my fears. The Fall of the House of Usher – Netflix – Thursday, Oct. 12 Mike Flanagan has had much success with horror limited series on Netflix before with 2018’s “The Haunting of Hill House” and 2021’s “Midnight Mass.” His latest for the streamer sees him taking on the works of poet/author Edgar Allan Poe with “The Fall of the House of Usher,” with a nice cast including Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood and Mary McDonnell. I’ll be the first to admit that I probably won’t be watching this as Flanagan’s works are a bit too gory for my personal taste, but I know this is going to be right up the alley for many in the weeks leading up to Halloween. Lessons in Chemistry – AppleTV+ - Friday, Oct. 13 There has been a handful of interesting new AppleTV+ drama series this year and once they have premiered you kind of never heard of them again – maybe it’s because so few people still have or use AppleTV+? But then again shows like “Ted Lasso” and “Severance” blew up without this being an issue. Hopefully “Lessons in Chemistry,” based on the bestselling novel by Bonnie Gramus, won’t be the latest in that line. It probably helps that its lead is Oscar-winner Brie Larson (though she’s a name we haven’t heard a whole lot from lately). Larson stars as Elizabeth Zott, whose dream of being a chemist is put on hold in the early ‘60s when she finds herself pregnant, alone and out of a job before getting her own TV cooking show where she’s able to educate housewives on scientific topics. The first two episodes drop on Friday, Oct. 13 with additional episodes coming every Friday following. Slotherhouse – Hulu – Sunday, Oct. 15 “Slotherhouse” looks ridiculous. But it feels like the kind of movie that knows it’s ridiculous and plays that up for fun and camp in the best of ways. I guess to truly find out if that’s the case I’ll have to tune in when it drops on Hulu on Sunday, October 15. “Slotherhouse” is the story of a sorority girl who plucks a sloth out of the jungle to help her gain popularity in college and well, the sloth, one of the world’s most notoriously slow creatures, goes on a vengeful killing spree. Let’s hope it’s campy fun. Pete Holmes: I Am Not for Everyone – Netflix – Tuesday, Oct. 24
Pete Holmes is one of the funniest stand-up comedians in the game today and he has been for quite some time. He even had a critically acclaimed HBO comedy series “Crashing” for a few seasons. But he’s also surprisingly, to me at least, not someone who’s become a household name – but I guess as the title of his new stand-up special claims ‘I Am Not for Everyone.’ Surprisingly, Holmes hasn’t had a new stand-up special since 2018’s “Dirty Clean,” so seeing him perform some new material for the first time in half a decade will be a real treat. The new special premieres on Netflix on Tuesday, October 24. by Julian Spivey The Little Mermaid – Disney+ - Wednesday, September 6 “The Little Mermaid,” the latest Disney live-action remake of one of the brand’s classic animated films, makes its Disney+ streaming debut on Wednesday, Sept. 6 for all of those people (like me) who said: “Meh. I’ll wait for it to come to Disney+.” The film, which was in theaters in early May, stars pop star Halle Bailey as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton with Daveed Diggs voicing Sebastian the crab and Jacob Tremblay voicing Flounder. The film, directed by “Chicago” director Rob Marshall, is the sixth highest-grossing film at the box office this year. Dreaming Whilst Black – Paramount+ - Friday, September 8 “Dreaming Whilst Black,” a BBC series about Kwabena, a black filmmaker working to make ends meet while attempting to get a big break in the film industry, makes its American debut on Paramount+ on Friday, Sept. 8. The six-episode comedy series is created (written and directed) and stars Adjani Salmon in the lead role and the pilot episode won the BAFTA for Emerging Talent last year. NFL Sunday Ticket – YouTubeTV – Sunday, September 10 NFL Sunday Ticket, the subscription service that allows football fans to watch out-of-market NFL games, has switched from DIRECTV to the streaming TV service YouTubeTV for the 2023 season. YouTubeTV acquired the NFL package through at least 2030, so if your favorite team is out-of-market and not frequently televised nationally you’re probably going to want to make this switch. The price for YouTubeTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket is $349/year plus the $73/monthly YouTubeTV subscription (which, of course, can be canceled following the NFL season if it’s not your preferred method for watching television). If you just want the NFL Sunday Ticket package on its own it’ll cost $449/year as a stand-alone YouTube Primetime Channel option. YouTube is currently running a deal where you can get $50 off if you sign up. Personally, I’ll be sticking with whatever’s broadcast on CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN. The Morning Show: Season 3 – AppleTV+ - Wednesday, September 13 This is a recommendation with a major caveat. Season two of “The Morning Show” on AppleTV+ was mostly horrible, which was a massive disappointment because the first season was pretty strong. Season three is going to be a make-or-break one for me personally as to whether or not I continue with this series (if it’s renewed for a fourth season) about a network morning talk show co-hosted by characters played by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Jon Hamm and Nicole Beharie join the cast for the third season, which could be a big plus. The show also has a new showrunner for the third season with Charlotte Stoudt taking over for the show’s developer Kerry Ehrin, which gives me hope for change. Season three of “The Morning Show” premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Theater Camp – Hulu – Thursday, September 14 I saw the trailer for “Theater Camp” before a showing of “Barbie” and it looked incredibly funny and lovely. The film didn’t come to theaters in my neck of the woods, so I’m happy to see it streaming Hulu so quickly. “Theater Camp” seems like a passion project created by much of its cast with it co-directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman and co-written by Gordon, Lieberman, Noah Galvin and Ben Platt. The film is about the eccentric staff of a theater camp banding together to keep the camp afloat when its founder falls into a coma. “Theater Camp” premieres on Hulu on Thursday, Sept. 14. Flora and Son – AppleTV+ - Friday, September 29 Director/writer John Carney does musical dramas (not your typical song and dance musical but films about musicians) better than anyone and has proven such in the past with “Once,” “Sing Street” and even “Begin Again,” which is not as well-received as the other two but still a lovely film. His latest is “Flora and Son,” starring Eve Hewson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, about a single mother (Hewson) struggling with a relationship with her son (Oren Kinlan) and finding a bond with music. Hewson is no stranger to the world of music as the daughter of U2 frontman Bono. Carney certainly has a niche and has nearly perfected it. “Flora and Son” premieres on AppleTV+ on Friday, Sept. 29. The Broady Awards are The Word's own little awards for the best on the broadcast network television stations - ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, NBC and PBS. The stations you could hook an old-school antenna up and have access to watch. The networks that long ago (at least in the case of most of them) were the only options for TV watching. Despite receiving little love from the big television awards ceremonies and talk in the pop culture zeitgeist, the networks are still the most watched and feature many of the shows that are among the most-watched on television. These awards are solely for those networks and the shows on them. Click HERE to see the complete list of nominees.
Favorites 'Only Murders,' 'Reservation Dogs' Returns Among August's Streaming Recommendations8/1/2023 by Julian Spivey Reservation Dogs: Final Season – Hulu on Wednesday, August 2 “Reservation Dogs” has been one of the best series on television since it debuted in 2021, despite never seeming to catch on to the masses. If you’re not watching this series about a group of Native American teenage friends dealing with the tragic death of one of their friends in rural Oklahoma then you’re truly missing out on greatness. Featuring a cast of almost completely indigenous actors and a behind-the-scenes crew of indigenous people it’s a unique look into the lives of a group of people we rarely see and it’s told with beautifully realistic performances led by young actors Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis and Lane Factor. “Reservation Dogs” is funny, heartwarming and gut-wrenching all at the same time. It’s truly special. Only Murders in the Building: Season 3 – Hulu on Tuesday, August 8 The third season of Hulu’s smash Emmy-nominated comedy-mystery “Only Murders in the Building” features its biggest star-studded cast yet with the likes of Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd joining Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez for their latest podcast murder mystery, which takes place behind the scenes of Oliver’s (Short) latest play when the lead of the show (Rudd) winds up dead. “Only Murders in the Building” has probably been Hulu’s most successful comedy to date and the chemistry between Martin, Short and Gomez is outta sight. Strange Planet – AppleTV+ on Wednesday, August 9 You’ve probably seen them and belly-laughed, those cartoons of the aliens bemused and befuddled by daily life on Earth in cartoonist Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet cartoons that are wildly popular online. Now comes “Strange Planet,” the television series, featuring Pyle’s characters in an animated sci-fi-comedy giving their unique and poignant observations on life. The voice cast for “Strange Planet” includes Hannah Einbinder of “Hacks” and Danny Pudi of “Community,” which gives me hope it’ll provide as many laughs as Pyle’s drawings have over the years. Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop – Netflix on Wednesday, August 9 This year marks the 50th anniversary of the hip-hop musical genre so there’s no better time for a documentary series on the women who’ve shined in what’s often a male-dominated genre. ‘Ladies First,’ a four-part docuseries, will feature interviews with artists of the genre as well as journalists and music executives to help bring the story of the women of hip-hop to the forefront featuring the stories of Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Da Brat, Roxanne Shante, Sha Rock and more, as well as some of today’s hottest acts like Latto and Saweetie. Tracy Morgan: Takin’ It Too Far – Max on Thursday, August 17 I’ve always loved Tracy Morgan’s wild and seemingly unscripted type of humor, especially as a guest on late-night talk shows. I’ve also loved his performances through the year in shows like “Saturday Night Live,” “30 Rock” and “The Last O.G.” But I’ve never really paid a whole lot of attention to his stand-up routine, which I understand is much dirtier and have even been the source of controversy a time or two. But as much as Morgan has made me laugh over the years it’s probably time to get into his stand-up routines and there’s no better chance than his latest special, “Tracy Morgan: Takin’ It Too Far” debuting on Max on Thursday, August 17. Let’s see if he actually “takes it too far.” I’m sure social media will let us know moments after the special drops. This page was made on a laptop and for a desktop/laptop screen. Our apologies if it looks a little (or completely) wonky on a phone. The Broady Awards are The Word's own little awards for the best on the broadcast network television stations - ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, NBC and PBS. The stations you could hook an old-school antenna up and have access to watch. The networks that long ago (at least in the case of most of them) were the only options for TV watching. Despite receiving little love from the big television awards ceremonies and talk in the pop culture zeitgeist, the networks are still the most watched and feature many of the shows that are among the most-watched on television. These awards are solely for those networks and the shows on them. Below are the nominations for the 14th annual Broady Awards. The winners will be announced in the first week of August. Best Drama Series Best Comedy Series Best Talk or Variety Series Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) Saturday Night Live (NBC) Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) Best New Drama Series Alaska Daily (ABC) Fire Country (CBS) Will Trent (ABC) Best New Comedy Series Best Comedy Episode
Show: Saturday Night Live Episode: Pedro Pascal (Host) Director: Liz Patrick Writers: Kent Sublette, Alison Gates and Streeter Seidell (Head Writers) Best Drama Episode
Best Actress - Drama Best Actor - Drama Best Actor - Comedy Best Actress - Comedy Best Supporting Actress - Drama Erika Christensen (Will Trent) Grace Dove (Alaska Daily) Sandra Mae Frank (New Amsterdam) Natacha Karam (9-1-1: Lone Star) Anna Madeley (All Creatures Great & Small) Allison Miller (A Million Little Things) Best Supporting Actor - Drama Kevin Alejandro (Fire Country) Billy Burke (Fire Country) Bruce Greenwood (The Resident) Harry Lennix (The Blacklist) Richard Schiff (The Good Doctor) Samuel West (All Creatures Great & Small) Best Supporting Actor - Comedy Jay R. Ferguson (The Conners) Topher Grace (Home Economics) Devan Chandler Long (Ghosts) James Austin Johnson (Saturday Night Live) Jimmy Tatro (Home Economics) Tyler James Williams (Abbott Elementary) Best Supporting Actress - Comedy Nicole Byer (Grand Crew) Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live) Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) Karla Souza (Home Economics) Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary) Best Guest Actress - Drama Josielyn Aguilera (Quantum Leap) Whitney Cummings (Accused) Deirdre Lovejoy (The Blacklist) Stephanie Nogueras (Accused) Stephanie Szostak (A Million Little Things) Annie Wersching (The Rookie) Best Guest Actor - Drama Lou Beatty Jr. (A Million Little Things) Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Will Trent) Justin Hartley (Quantum Leap) Stacy Keach (The Blacklist) Ron Livingston (A Million Little Things) Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Accused) Best Guest Actor - Comedy Best Guest Actress - Comedy Hall of Fame Show: Revealed in August Hall of Fame Legend: Revealed in August
Hidden Gem 'Manhattan,' Now Streaming on Tubi, Makes for Perfect Primer, Companion to 'Oppenheimer'7/21/2023 by Julian Spivey The cineplexes across America will be a buzz this weekend with the biggest movie release day in quite some time with both Christopher Nolan’s latest “Oppenheimer,” a three-hour epic of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man tasked by the United States government with designing and building the atomic bomb, and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” about America’s favorite plastic doll who comes to life to live among the real world. It’s an event that’s been billed by some as “Barbenheimer” and pre-bought tickets have been flying off the internet in preparation for the packed cinemas.
“Barbie” is projected to make around $100 million in its opening weekend at the box office. “Oppenheimer” will probably do somewhere in the $40-50 million range. When it comes to “Barbie” you’re definitely going to have to contend with packed and likely sold-out showings for its opening weekend, but if you do get in at under two hours it should be a breezy watch, even if it's likely a bit more subversive that some might be expecting. However, “Oppenheimer” at three hours and with such a serious tone there may be some interested in the film, like me, who may not want to fight both packed theaters and a three-hour runtime and might consider waiting for it to hit video-on-demand or streaming – which would certainly make Nolan cringe if he read that. I might catch it at the cinema sometime after opening weekend, but damn three hours is longer than baseball games are these days. Anyway, if you’re going to wait for a while for “Oppenheimer” – or you just want a fantastic companion to the film – you should definitely check out the short-lived drama series “Manhattan,” which aired for two seasons on WGN America from 2014-2015. All 23 episodes of this exquisite series, created by Sam Shaw, can be streamed for free (with occasional ad interruption) on Tubi, which has gained in viewership lately as TV viewers flock to cheaper viewing options (and I’m sure those creepy rabbit Super Bowl commercials didn’t hurt). While there’s certainly a lot of dreck to scroll through on Tubi, there are also terrific, forgotten or little-watched gems like this period piece drama that aired on a network that doesn’t even exist anymore. “Manhattan,” while featuring J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Daniel London) himself in a recurring role, is more about the scientists working directly on the Manhattan Project to create the atomic bomb at Project X in the newly created desert town of Los Alamos, N.M., which the outside world knows little to nothing about for safety and security purposes. “Manhattan” is based on history, but doesn’t intend to be historically accurate, which gives it some nice leeway as far as drama goes. Oppenheimer may actually be the only real-life character in the bunch in the few times he appears onscreen. The series mostly focuses on the team of Dr. Frank Winter, played by the underrated John Benjamin Hickey, who leads a small group of scientists, basically considered the ‘B Team’ of the site, but also includes a rising star of a scientist prospect in Dr. Charlie Isaacs, played by Ashley Zukerman. The team also includes scientists played by Katja Herbers, who’d go on to her terrific starring role in Paramount+’s horror-drama “Evil,” and Michael Chernus, who has a key role in AppleTV’s excellent sci-fi/drama “Severance.” However, the biggest rising star of “Manhattan” was Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Dr. Issacs’ wife Abby. After the cancellation of “Manhattan,” Brosnahan would, of course, go on to the Emmy-winning titular character in Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” The series also features fantastic guest appearances at times from Daniel Stern, David Harbour (soon to go on to “Stranger Things” stardom), Richard Schiff, Griffin Dunne and William Petersen. Part of what made “Manhattan” so intriguing is it not only showed these scientists working on the creation of the atomic bomb, but also their family life on the base. Olivia Williams’ portrayal of Dr. Liza Winter, a botanist who’s just as big of a star (if not more so) than her husband Frank in the world of academia but struggles to conform to life on the base. The series is also kept very suspenseful by the constant threat of German or Japanese spies infiltrating the group of scientists to learn their secrets in the race to become the first nation in World War II to build and perhaps drop the bomb. The intrigue, drama and historical aspects of “Manhattan” made for a riveting television series that I wish had lasted longer than its two seasons and had it been elsewhere and not a network that was trying late in its run to become sort of like a competitor to AMC’s “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” et all, may have succeeded in bringing in more viewers. The critical reception was always favorable. If you never saw “Manhattan” the first time around – and the odds are you didn’t – there’s never been a better time to revisit it than now during “Oppenheimer” mania. So, fire up that Tubi app and enjoy! This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series and performances being covered here wouldn't exist. by Tyler Glover & Julian Spivey House of the Dragon for Drama Series When it was announced there was going to be a prequel series to the epic “Game of Thrones,” I was skeptical for multiple reasons. The original had been the drama with the most Emmys wins in history with 59. It was very beloved by the Television Academy and by fans alike. However, the last season was a big disappointment. Could the prequel live up to the original during its golden years? It turns out I had nothing to worry about. “House of the Dragon,” which takes place 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” is just as epic. The production value is so high: fantastic performances, great storytelling, beautiful sets and exquisite costumes. I was worried, though, that the Emmys might have some fatigue with the series. However, Emmy nominations came out and while they are definitely not as enamored with ‘HOD’ the way they were with ‘GOT,’ it still managed to get a Best Drama Series nomination. I was disappointed that none of its cast members could break through but happy for this nomination. TG The Bear for Comedy Series, Actor in a Comedy, Supporting Actress in a Comedy & Supporting Actor in a Comedy The first season of “The Bear,” an FX on Hulu production, was my favorite TV show of 2022. The series sees acclaimed chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) taking over the family restaurant following the death of his older brother and trying to keep it afloat with the help of his new inexperienced sous chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and despite the hindrances of his “cousin” Richie Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). White, Edebiri and Moss-Bachrach all appeared in the top-5 of my favorite TV performances of 2022 and I’m thrilled to see each of them nominated in their respective categories. “The Bear” received 13 total nominations for its first season, including the coveted Outstanding Comedy Series. White is the most likely winner of the four on this list. JS Barry for Comedy Series, Supporting Actor in a Comedy & Directing in a Comedy The final season of HBO’s “Barry” has been my favorite TV series of 2023 thus far with the series wrapping in a grim and dramatic way despite being a nominee for Outstanding Comedy Series, though its funniest moments are maybe the funniest on television period. The show’s final season received 11 nominations, but other than for comedy series, the two I’d like to shout out the most are Anthony Carrigan for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his hilarious and in the final season tragic performance of Noho Hank and Bill Hader for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the series finale “wow.” Hader directed the entire final season of “Barry” and most of the show’s penultimate season and has proven himself to have a keen eye for it that could see him as one of the up-and-coming auteurs of his generation. JS Wednesday for Comedy Series I rarely find shows that I consider “binge-worthy.” With life being as busy as it is, a show has to really grab me and not let go. “Wednesday,” Netflix’s series following the young Wednesday Adams going off to school and solving a mystery got its hooks into me almost immediately. The phenomenal Jenna Ortega, who plays Wednesday, was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series as well. Both are very deserving of nominations! The show had other phenomenal performances that I wish would have been recognized such as Gwendolyn Christie as the principal and Christina Ricci as one of the teachers. The mystery of the show keeps you in suspense and the writers have you not being able to wait to see what happens next. I am just so thrilled for the show to get the recognition that it did. TG Michael Shannon & Jessica Chastain for Actor & Actress in a Limited Series Despite it being pretty damn good and about one of the most famous couples in music history, “George and Tammy,” the Showtime limited series which aired late in 2022, didn’t seem to get much recognition. The performances from Jessica Chastain as country music’s first lady Tammy Wynette and Michael Shannon as her alcoholic husband and hitmaker George Jones were terrific leading both to be nominated for performed in a limited series, but the series itself was noticeably snubbed for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, which may hurt Chastain and Shannon’s chances at victory. JS Nick Offerman for Guest Actor in a Drama Nick Offerman should have an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his iconic portrayal of Ron Swanson on the NBC sitcom, “Parks and Recreation” but during the show’s seven seasons, Offerman was never even nominated. When I sat down and watched the HBO drama “The Last of Us” and saw Offerman’s performance as Bill, I immediately thought how upset I would be if he wasn’t nominated for the Emmy for this performance. Now, I’m going to be really upset if he doesn’t win! In “The Last of Us,” Offerman plays Bill, a man who is secluded during a worldwide pandemic and finds love unexpectedly with a traveler he takes in named Frank. It is such a beautiful love story. Watching Bill’s tough exterior become vulnerable is truly touching to watch. TG Elton John Farewell: Live from Dodgers Stadium for Variety Special (Live) Disney+’s first live concert event “Elton John Farewell: Live from Dodgers Stadium,” which aired Nov. 20, 2022, and marked the Rock Hall of Famer’s final American concert was the best live concert special aired on TV that I’ve seen in many years. Elton John performed the majority of his classic hits during that wonderful evening of music from the site of one of his most memorable shows in his heyday. If Elton John were to win the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) he would become the 19th person to win the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony). Elton John is a five-time Grammy Award winner, a two-time Oscar winner (for Best Original Song) and a Tony winner for the Best Original Score of “Aida” in 2000. JS Mayim Bialik for Game Show Host I have always been a huge Mayim Bialik fan. Her performance as Amy Fowler on CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” was deserving of an Emmy win but none of her nominations translated into one. One of the main reasons I am excited for her with this nomination is all of the hate she has been getting. Since Alex Trebek passed away, Ken Jennings and Bialik have been sharing hosting duties of the veteran game show “Jeopardy” but many fans have been brutal towards her, preferring Jennings. Bialik does a fantastic job and I prefer her over Jennings, personally. That is why I was so excited to see her nominated for Outstanding Game Show Host. She can show the haters that she is being recognized for the work they are bashing. One of her competitors in the category is actually Jennings. Will one of the “Jeopardy” hosts win? We will have to wait to see…….”What is?” TG Hocus Pocus 2 for Television Movie Every Halloween since I was a child, I remember watching “Hocus Pocus.” The story of the three Sanderson sisters: Winnie, Mary and Sarah trying to live forever to continue their witchy shenanigans has captivated audiences for years. It is crazy to think that the original was a box office dud. This was mainly due to the fact that Disney put the movie out in July instead of November of 1993 to avoid collision with their other film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The original did become a cult hit though and fans were overjoyed when it was announced that there would be a sequel. I was so excited but so worried it would let me down. While the film wasn’t as great as the original, it really did a fantastic job of telling a new story with just the right amount of nostalgic ingredients. I was excited to see its nomination for Outstanding Television Movie. I cannot wait for a potential “Hocus Pocus 3”. TG Weird Al Yankovic & Eric Appel for Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie I just love that Weird Al Yankovic is now a multi-time Emmy Award nominee. He’s received three nominations for his work on The Roku Channel original “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” a parody biopic about his start in music parodies, the first as a co-producer of the film for Outstanding Television Movie, the second for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Now You Know,” written specifically for the film, and the one I’ve chosen to spotlight here, Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie with co-writer and director Eric Appel. JS
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