Reservation Dogs: Season 2 – Hulu – Wednesday, August 3
“Reservation Dogs,” an FX production airing only on Hulu, was my fourth favorite show of 2021 when it aired its first season. The show, created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, is the story of four indigenous teens in small town Oklahoma and the ins and outs of their lives and how they want to escape their circumstances. It’s the first TV series to feature an entire indigenous staff or directors and writers and majority of its cast is as well. It’s a unique look into a life we don’t often see on the small screen (or any screen for that matter). 

Lightyear – Disney+ - Wednesday, August 3
If you were interested in seeing the Buzz Lightyear original story “Lightyear,” but didn’t make it out to the cinema in June or July, it’s now available on Disney+ so you can watch from the comfort of your own home. “Lightyear” tells the story of a young Buzz Lightyear, who the future toy of “Toy Story” fame would be created after, who after being marooned on a hostile planet must find his way back home. Chris Evans voices the hero in “Lightyear,” which was the subject of some controversy because Tim Allen had voiced Lightyear in all four ‘Toy Story’ movies, but again this is Lightyear the man and that is Lightyear the toy. 

Thirteen Lives – Amazon Prime Video – Friday, August 5
One of the biggest news stories of 2018 was the Thai junior soccer team that was trapped in a northern Thailand cave that was flooding for more than two weeks and the daring rescue mission to save them. “Thirteen Lives,” directed by Ron Howard, is the story of this rescue mission. Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton play the real-life heroes Richard Stanton, John Volanthen and Richard Harris who led the mission. 

A League of Their Own: The Series – Amazon Prime Video – Friday, August 12
One of the all-time greatest baseball movies is director Penny Marshall’s 1992 flick “A League of Their Own,” starring Geena Davis and Tom Hanks, which told a fictional account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that formed during World War II when many of Major League Baseball’s finest were serving during wartime. Comedian/actress Abbi Jacobson and producer/director Will Graham have adapted Marshall’s film as a TV series for Amazon Prime Video that will star Jacobson, D'Arcy Carden and Nick Offerman among others. I’m really hoping this one knocks the story out of the park like the movie did.

The Patient – Hulu – Tuesday, August 30
Steve Carell seems to be everywhere over the last few years, especially when it comes to TV series on streaming services having previously done “The Morning Show” for AppleTV+ and “Space Force” for Netflix. Now comes “The Patient” for Hulu, which sees Carell as a psychologist kidnapped and held prisoner by a patient, played by Domhnall Gleeson, who reveals himself to be a serial killer. “The Patient” is a psychological thriller told over 10 episodes. 

by Julian Spivey
James Corden announced in late April that he will be leaving CBS’ “Late, Late Show” in mid-2023 after eight years hosting the late night talk show, which he revolutionized in many ways from bringing panel-style interviewing and YouTube friendly musical bits and numbers to the medium.

​The anticipation of who will be Corden’s replacement on “Late, Late Show” is one of the biggest talking points in late night television and will be until CBS makes an announcement, if the network decides to even continue the show or keep the same single-host format it’s always had.

I have some candidates I think could be good replacements for Corden as “Late, Late Show” host and I will preface from the beginning that none of them are white guys. Late night talk shows have been a white guy party for far too long and there’s no way CBS should hire a white guy as Corden’s replacement. And if the network absolutely must replace Corden with a white guy it should be someone like Dan Levy, who at least doesn’t come from a hetero point of view.

Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph & Samantha Bee
I’m going to go with Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph (who would be my preferred choice of the three) and Samantha Bee first because I think they are the most unlikely replacements for Corden simple based on being in their 50s and the network probably wanting to go with someone younger, especially following Stephen Colbert, who’s also in his 50s, on the “Late Show.” Fey’s wit, Rudolph’s variety background and Bee already hosting a late night show in TBS’ “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” all would be great for the job though.

Mindy Kaling
If the networks wanted a female point of view from someone a bit younger than the three women I mentioned above they might need to look at Mindy Kaling, who would be 44 around the time she’d need to take over. Kaling has had a critically-acclaimed sitcom, written multiple best-selling books and even wrote and produced a film based on a late night talk show in 2019’s “Late Night.”

Trevor Noah
“The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah seems like the most obvious candidate to take over as host of the “Late, Late Show,” but there is the question as to whether or not Noah would view it as a good career move. It’s really not a promotion. Sure, it would be a network show, but “The Daily Show” is better regarded in the pantheon of television. It would be a lateral move at best. The money involved would probably be the deciding factor and CBS might not want to go big on a contract for the show.

Hasan Minhaj
Hasan Minhaj has a late night talk show style background having been a senior correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” before doing his own similar series “Patriot Act” on Netflix for two years, where it won two Peabody Awards. Critics loved it, but I’m not sure how many people actually watched it with Netflix pulling the plug after 40 episodes. The late night format doesn’t seem to work with streamers. Minhaj could be a cheaper addition than Noah if CBS is wanting to save some money.

Roy Wood Jr.
Roy Wood Jr. has been a popular correspondent for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” during Trevor Noah’s tenure as host of the politically engaged series. If the network is looking for late night’s first African-American host since the days of the syndicated Arsenio Hall show in the early ‘90s, Wood might be near the top of their prospects list.

Desus Nice
Just last week many were shocked to see the end of Showtime’s talk show “Desus & Mero,” co-hosted by Desus Nice and The Kid Mero, after the two have seemingly had a falling out. Listening to The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top Five podcast co-host and TV critic Daniel Fienberg was discussing whether Desus or Mero would be a good fit for the “Late, Late Show” and said he didn’t think Mero would have any interest, but he could see Desus Nice doing it. Something that made “Desus & Mero” a standout was its perspective with the hosts being black and from immigrant families and that would definitely be a fresh perspective for a network late night show.

Amber Ruffin
Now we arrive at the choice I would make if I were CBS … Amber Ruffin. She’s already doing it on a smaller scale hosting her own series, the critically-acclaimed “The Amber Ruffin Show” on Peacock, while also still participating in “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Corden’s direct competition. Ruffin is really a no-brainer choice, if she had no qualms about going into direct competition with Meyers, who gave her her big shot in late night comedy.
 
Who is most likely to replace Corden when it’s all said and done? Probably a straight white guy. 

There are a lot of nominees I’m thrilled about – mostly on the comedy side of things – but I don’t really want to spend time on obvious nominees like the majority of the “Ted Lasso” cast, Jean Smart for “Hacks,” Michael Keaton for “Dopesick,” etc. So, I’m gonna use my favorite picks for surprises, except for my first choice which is … ​

Bill Hader for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
It was a no-brainer that Bill Hader would be nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for the HBO comedy that’s really a dramedy “Barry.” He’s probably the favorite to win and has won the honor for the first two seasons. What I’m more interested in is if he can win Outstanding Directing for the season three episode “710N,” which is the single most exhilarating episode of television I’ve seen this year. The episode is a showcase for the entire cast, but mostly for Hader’s directing skills that include an absolute bonkers chase scene with Barry attempting to survive and outrun a motorcycle gang. Hader is probably the favorite to win the category and it’ll be a crime frankly if he doesn’t. JS

Squid Game for Outstanding Drama Series 
In this fast-paced and busy world, it is very difficult for me to find time to binge watch anything. It can take me forever to get through a series. However, when a show like “Squid Game” comes out, I find the time to binge it. The show follows Seong Gi-hun, a divorced father, who is desperate for cash. When he gets invited to play a series of children’s games in order to collect a big payday, he takes advantage of that opportunity. He soon learns that the losers of the games are killed and that out of all the people competing, only one will make it out alive.  The show is so suspenseful and thrilling throughout all nine episodes with multiple twists that truly make this show the best of the best. This show made history today for becoming the first non-English series nominated for the Best Drama Series category. It received a total of 14 nominations today, including acting nominations for Lee Jung-jae in Lead Actor, Park Hae-soo and Oh Yeong-su in Supporting Actor, and Jung Ho-yeon in Best Supporting Actress. I am hoping on Emmy night the Academy gives the green light to “Squid Game” for Outstanding Drama Series. TG

Late Night with Seth Meyers for Outstanding Variety - Talk Series
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” has been among my annual biggest Emmy snubs lists since early on in its run. I’m thrilled to say that snub streak is FINALLY over because the show has FINALLY been nominated for Outstanding Variety Talk Series. Meyers’s show is extremely clever, especially when it comes to political humor in the “Closer Look” segment and Meyers is an affable and good interviewer, especially with guests he has camaraderie with. It’s about time. JS

Jean Smart for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Jean Smart’s performance in HBO Max’s “Hacks” is one of my favorite roles of all time. Smart plays Deborah Vance, a Vegas comedian who decides to take her show on the road and is trying to find a way to continue to perform comedy and connect with her audience while also  staying true to herself. The show’s central focus is Vance’s complicated relationship with her co-writer, Ava Daniels, played by Emmy nominee Hannah Einbinder. Smart is absolutely captivating in this role. Her performance demands your attention when she is in the room and it is hard to take your eyes off of her. Smart may be playing a very self involved and complicated character but Jean Smart helps us find her humanity and peels back the layers to truly understand why Deborah is the way she is. I loved both seasons and cannot wait for the next one. I would love to see Jean Smart win Emmy number two for this role this year! TG

Sarah Niles for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Many didn’t expect as much love for the cast of AppleTV+’s “Ted Lasso” for the show’s second season as it received from the Emmys for its first last year, but I had my hopes up. Hannah Waddingham was a lock. Juno Temple was likely. I didn’t think Sarah Niles stood much of a chance, but her role (new to the show in season two) was integral to Jason Sudeikis’s titular character opening up emotionally. Niles was brilliant as psychologist Sharon Fieldstone. I said on my social media feeds last year during her performance that I hoped Emmy voters would remember her come voting time and I’m thrilled they did. JS

Julie Andrews for Outstanding Character Voiceover Performance 
This year, the Academy failed to recognize “Bridgerton” in any of the top fields but I was very pleased to see the Academy once again recognize Julie Andrews for Outstanding Voice Over Performance. Andrews is the voice of Lady Whistledown, the mysterious author who dishes in her newsletter about all the scandalous secrets of the ton. Andrews shows us why she is an Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy winner with this performance. While reading her vicious and telling newsletters, Andrews’ performance of Lady Whistledown is done with such poise, grace, elegance, wit, and intelligence. I am really hoping Andrews will bring home the Emmy this year for this magnificent performance. TG

Norm Macdonald for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
Norm Macdonald meant a lot to a lot of people as a comedian and I’m in that camp. It was a shock when he died of cancer in September of 2021 at 61. It was also a shock, but this time a pleasant one, when it was announced in May that he had recorded a final stand-up segment from home during the COVID-19 pandemic to be shown if he succumbed to cancer. That special “Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special” dropped on Netflix on the final day of May, the final day of eligibility for the 2022 Emmys. Honestly, I haven’t had the chance to see this special yet (I certainly will before the Emmys in September), but I’m just thrilled for Macdonald to be remembered so fondly and to always have “Emmy-nominated” with his name for the rest of eternity.  JS

This Is Us for Everything 
I didn’t think the Emmy Awards were going to go overboard in honoring the final season of “This Is Us,” which concluded in May on NBC, but I didn’t think it would virtually be shut out. It’s only nomination is in the Outstanding Original Music/Lyrics category meaning that it received zero major category nominations – the biggest snub of all of these being Mandy Moore for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her beautiful performance of Rebecca Pearson. It’s not unusual for Emmy voters to be “done” with a popular show among its voting body before it ends, but I didn’t really see the erasure of “This Is Us” coming. JS

Bridgerton for Outstanding Drama Series 
Last year, the Academy recognized Bridgerton with nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Directing, and Lead Actor for Rege Jean-Page. However, this year, the Academy only gave the show three nominations: Voice Over Performance, Costumes, and Hairstyling. I definitely feel this show was snubbed. To have a show that will focus primarily on a different sibling for eight seasons definitely comes with risks. You have to make sure the next story is compelling and find ways to keep the momentum going. I feel season two did just that and with the departure of the Duke of Hastings, I was worried it would not be able to. I know there are limited spaces but I do find its snub today to truly be a scandal worthy of Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers column. TG

Reservation Dogs for Outstanding Comedy Series
I would chalk this one up to airing its freshman season beginning in August of 2021, but both “Ted Lasso” and “What We Do in the Shadows” began their most recent seasons before then and were nominated – ‘Lasso’ being a lock, but ‘Shadows’ more of a surprise. So, what it really comes down to is the voting body probably not getting around to “Reservation Dogs,” which was beloved by critics, but seemed to have little mark on culture (which is a shame because it’s a unique look into a group of people we don’t get enough stories about). I have hope for this series to be featured in this category in the future, but goddamn season one was near perfect. JS

Brian Tyree Henry for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
The third season of FX’s “Atlanta” didn’t get as much Emmy love overall as it should have – despite the fact many viewers seemed perturbed with its lack of focus on the usual core characters and delved into more of an anthology thing. Donald Glover was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in the show, which is nice, but the best performance of the season was that of Brian Tyree Henry’s Alfred “Paperboi” Miles, especially in an episode like “New Jazz.” There is so much going on with Henry’s performance in this show – so many different emotions and all of them exquisitely portrayed – I just don’t understand this snub at all. JS

Jane Lynch for Outstanding Reality Host
It is very difficult to imagine anyone else hosting the game show, “Weakest Link,” other than the first host, Anne Robinson. Her biting remarks and sarcastic humor helped make the show such a huge success. When it was revealed they were reviving it with another host, I was skeptical. Then came the news that Emmy winner Jane Lynch would be filling that role and all my skepticism went out the window. Lynch was the perfect replacement having already played a role in the hit series, “Glee,” that mirrored Anne Robinson’s demeanor. Lynch’s performance as Sue Sylvester on “Glee” won her the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series. Lynch is delivering every week and I hate that she was not recognized for her efforts. However, Lynch was nominated this year for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series for her role on Hulu’s “Only Murders In The Building” so she still could go home with another Emmy this year. TG

Jennifer Aniston for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
To be honest, the second season of “The Morning Show” was really lackluster especially when comparing it to the excellent first season it had. However, even when not given the best material, Aniston still does her best to rise above the material. My favorite part of the season was when Aniston’s character, Alex Levy is trying desperately to get ahead of a bad narrative being put on her career. She feels the feedback will be brutal but it turns out that the public is siding with her…only for it to fall apart with new information hours later. Alex Levy may be a very self-centered and at times, very unlikeable character but Aniston shows us why she is an Emmy winner already. It is also important to note that Aniston’s co-star, Reese Witherspoon, was nominated in this category so “The Morning Show” did get some recognition in this category. TG

Yellowstone (and Jennifer Aniston) 
With all due respect to Tyler, Jennifer Aniston (and the writers, of course) was the leading reason why the second season of AppleTV+’s “The Morning Show” sucked so damn much and it was the right decision not to nominate her for an Emmy. Reese Witherspoon receiving one was bad enough.  
 
A lot of folks expected big Emmy love for “Yellowstone” this year and I frankly don’t understand it. I don’t understand it because the show didn’t receive any Emmy love for its first three seasons, so why would season four – which is the show’s weakest and was pretty aimless – be the one to breakthrough. I’ve watched “Yellowstone” from the start and I’m going to follow it through to the finish, but the Emmy voting body got this one right.  JS

More than a decade ago when we began The Word we realized that the tide had changed on television, especially when it came to award shows like the Emmys in which shows on premium networks or cable channels (and in today's case streaming services) were winning almost all of the awards. There are still a lot of quality shows on network TV that we thought deserved some added attention, so we created a TV awards solely for shows on the broadcast networks (those that you could put an old school antenna up and still watch). ​

This is Mandy Moore's second consecutive win in the category and record-breaking fourth overall.

Directed by Zetna Fuentes 
Written by Jonny Gomez

What began as a spin-off of one of broadcast television's all-time greatest comedy series "Cheers" (this recipient of this honor in 2019) wound up being the most honored sitcom in Emmy Awards history with 37 wins. 

Frasier Crane probably wasn't the most obvious choice of a "Cheers" character to make a spinoff go at with the hoity-toity psychologist serving as some high brow humor on the show about a Boston bar. But creators David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee had the brilliant idea of moving Frasier back home to Seattle to be with his also stuck-up, high brow brother Niles (an amazing David Hyde Pierce) and their blue collar, former police officer father Martin (the wonderful John Mahoney), who seemed in no way possible of having raised these two men (which is where much of the show's humor comes in). Rounding out the cast were Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon, Martin's live-in physical therapist and future love interest to Niles and Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle, Frasier's producer at his radio psychology show. 

"Frasier," which aired on NBC for 11 seasons from 1993-2004, is one of the standouts of NBC's "must-see TV" era and probably holds up today better than any sitcom of its era. 

Stranger Things – Netflix – Today
It feels like we were just here … the second part of the fourth season of Netflix’s mass hit “Stranger Things” is streaming now, just a bit over a month since the first part dropped on Memorial Day weekend. I can’t exactly tell you how the season is going because I’ve deliberately waited for part-two before starting the season, but I’ve heard mostly good things from friends who binged it immediately and it’s certainly done great things for Kate Bush. Enjoy the second half of the season because it’s most likely going to be two years before the final season airs.

Black Bird – AppleTV+ - Friday, July 8
Inspired by true events and based on the true crime memoir In With the Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer by James Keene and Hillel Levin comes the limited drama series “Black Bird,” premiering Friday, July 8 on AppleTV+. The series stars Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene, sentenced to 10 years in a minimum-security prison, but given the chance for freedom if he goes undercover in a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane to befriend a suspected serial killer Larry Hall (played by Paul Walter Hauser) in an effort to get him to admit to multiple murders. The series co-stars Greg Kinnear and Ray Liotta, in one of his final roles. 

The Last Movie Stars – HBO Max – Thursday, July 21
Paul Newman is one of my all-time favorite actors. His wife Joanne Woodward was also an Oscar-winning great. Together they were one of the all-time great Hollywood couples. The HBO Max six-part documentary series “The Last Movie Stars” tells their story and I can’t wait to see it. The docuseries is directed by Oscar-nominated actor Ethan Hawke and produced by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese and premieres Thursday, July 21. 

The Gray Man – Netflix – Friday, July 22
The Russo Brothers, Anthony and Joe, have directed many of Marvel’s most acclaimed superhero action flicks. Now they are branching out to a different kind of action flick with “The Gray Man,” based on Mark Greaney’s 2009 novel of the CIA’s most skilled mercenary becoming the target of a psychopathic former colleague. Ryan Gosling plays the skilled mercenary and Chris Evans the psycho and those two going head-to-head is going to be a lot of fun for the audience. “The Gray Man” will be in select theaters on Friday, July 15 but then streaming on Netflix on Friday, July 22. 

Anything’s Possible – Amazon Prime Video – Friday, July 22
Emmy-winning actor Billy Porter’s directorial debut “Anything’s Possible” is a modern coming-of-age story of a high school trans girl (played by Eva Reign) and the boy (Abubakr Ali) who falls in love with her. It’s a frequent story – boy falls for girl – but with a modern spin that is something happening more in real life and thus an important story to tell. It looks lovely based on the trailer. 

Best Drama Series: 

9-1-1: Lone Star (Fox) 

All Creatures Great & Small (PBS) 

Around the World in 80 Days (PBS) 

The Blacklist (NBC) 

The Resident (Fox) 

This Is Us (NBC) 

Best Comedy Series: 

black-ish (ABC) 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC) 

Ghosts (CBS) 

Grand Crew (NBC) 

Home Economics (ABC) 

The Wonder Years (ABC)

Best Actress in a Drama: 

Freema Agyeman as Dr. Helen Sharpe (New Amsterdam)

Leonie Benesch as Abigail "Fix" Fortescue (Around the World in 80 Days) 

Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson (This Is Us) 

Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson (This Is Us) 

Simone Recasner as Gabby Lewis (The Big Leap)

Elodie Yung as Thony De La Rosa (The Cleaning Lady)

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy: 

Andre Braugher as Capt. Raymond Holt (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

Laurence Fishburne as Earl Johnson (black-ish)

Topher Grace as Tom (Home Economics) 

Dule Hill as Bill Williams (The Wonder Years)

Carl Tart as Sherm Jones (Grand Crew)  

Jimmy Tatro as Connor (Home Economics) 

Best New Comedy Series: 

Abbott Elementary (ABC) 

Ghosts (CBS) 

Grand Crew (NBC)

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy: 

Billie Eilish as Herself/Various Characters (Saturday Night Live) 

Lizzo as Herself/Various Characters (Saturday Night Live) 

Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) 

Katey Sagal as Louise Goldufski (The Conners) 

Mary Steenburgen as Adriana (Mr. Mayor) 

Best Drama Episode

9-1-1 (Fox) - "May Day" Director:  Juan Carlos Coto Writer: Juan Carlos Coto 

A Million Little Things (ABC) - "Fingers Crossed" Director: DJ Nash Writer: DJ Nash & Michelle Leibel

All Creatures Great & Small (PBS) - "Home Truths" Director: Andy Hay Writer: Ben Vanstone

Around the World in 80 Days (PBS) - "Episode 2" Director: Steve Barron Writer: Ashley Pharoah & Caleb Ronson 

The Blacklist (NBC) - "Andrew Kennison" Director: Mahesh Pailoor Writer: Lukas Reiter 

The Blacklist (NBC) - "Caelum Bank" Director: Cort Hessler Writer: Sean Hennen 

The Blacklist (NBC) - "Marvin Gerard: Conclusion" Director: Christine Moore & Cort Hessler Writer: Daniel Cerone & Lukas Reiter 

This Is Us (NBC) - "Katoby" Director: Ken Olin Writer: Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger 

This Is Us (NBC) - "Day of the Wedding" Director: James Takata Writer: Jon Dorsey 

This Is Us (NBC) - "Miguel" Director: Zetna Fuentes Writer: Jonny Gomez 

This Is Us (NBC) - "The Train" Director: Ken Olin Writer: Dan Fogelman

This Is Us (NBC) - "Us" Director: Ken Olin Writer: Dan Fogelman 

Best Comedy Episode

Abbott Elementary (ABC) - "Zoo Balloon" Director: Randall Einhorn Writer: Jordan Temple 

black-ish (ABC) - "And the Winner Is ..." Director: Stacey Muhammed Writer: Graham Towers & Ben Deeb 

black-ish (ABC) - "If a Black Man Cries in the Woods" Director: Iona Morris Writer: Rob Chavis 

black-ish (ABC) - "Homegoing" Director: Anton L. Cropper Writer: Steve White 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC) - "PB & J" Director: Gail Mancuso Writer: Lamar Woods & Jeff Topolski

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)  - "The Last Day" Director: Linda Mendoza & Claire Scanlon Writer: Luke Del Tredici, Audrey E. Goodman & Dan Goor 

Ghosts (CBS) - "The Vault" Director: Christine Gernon Writer: Joe Port & Joe Wiseman 

Grand Crew (NBC) - "Wine & Fire" Director: Linda Mendoza Writer: Lamar Woods 

Home Economics (ABC) - "49ers Foam Finger, $7" Director: Dean Holland Writer: Michael Colton & John Aboud 

Hall of Fame Show

To be announced 

Past Winners: 
2021: Gunsmoke
2020: Will & Grace
2019: Cheers
2018: The Tonight Show
2017: Seinfeld
2016: I Love Lucy
2015: Saturday Night Live
2014: Late Night/Late Show with David Letterman
2013: The West Wing
2012: M*A*S*H
2011: The Twilight Zone

Hall of Fame Legend

To be announced 

Past Winners: 
2021: Norman Lear
2020: Ted Danson
2019: Mary Tyler Moore
2018: Johnny Carson
2017: Edward R. Murrow
2016: Lucille Ball
2015: Lorne Michaels
2014: David Letterman
2013: Andy Griffith
2012: Rod Serling
2011: Alan Alda

​YES!
​You may wonder if this is really a big deal and the answer to that is: Yes, it is! To better understand the true impact of its significance is to go back to your childhood. The biggest thing we all want practically from the womb is to be told we are doing a good job at almost everything we do. This is even more true when it comes to something we are passionate about. Few are able to truly make it as successful actors, producers and directors. So, if you are able to make it, create your art, and then receive praise for it, it does not get much better than that for an artist. To win even one of these awards is receiving validation that you are succeeding and excelling at what you are passionate about. But, to win all four of them and receive that validation from four different esteemed establishments? That truly is a remarkably high honor indeed. 

​The truth is that the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys are the highest achievement in their mediums. The Emmys are the most prestigious award for television, the Grammys for music, the Oscars for movies and the Tonys for theater.

In recent years, one controversy that seeks to ruin the prestige of an EGOT winner is that chances of winning one has increased by increased categories. The Grammys and Emmys, especially, have lots of categories that cover about everything you could imagine in their fields. While this is great for inclusion, it could be considered that more accessibility and chances can take away some of its merit. If this continues, I believe it could lose some of its shine, but this will truly be up to the academies of these establishments to truly consider what constitutes an award and what does not. 
 
However, at the end of the day, I genuinely believe that the honor of being an EGOT winner is something to take great pride in. In life, we are all seeking acceptance. We all seek validation. The biggest way in entertainment to receive that validation is from a majority of other artists that know the struggle. They know the blood, sweat, and tears. They know all of the positives and negatives of their careers. They look at you and say, “Yes! Out of all the leading actors this year, YOU are the best! Receiving even just one of these awards changes people’s lives, but ALL four of them? Jennifer Hudson can say that she has “R.E.S.P.E.C.T” from everyone in all four of the fields of entertainment. - TG

MEH!
So, it’s my job to tell you why an EGOT is not a big deal.

​First of all, nobody had even heard of an EGOT before 38 years ago when “Miami Vice” actor Philip Michael Thomas – he played Det. Ricardo Tubbs opposite of Don Johnson’s Det. Sonny Crockett – told an interviewer that he wanted to win an EGOT withing the next five years. He then began wearing an EGOT necklace. Thomas has never been nominated for any of the four awards.
 
The first time I’d ever heard of EGOT was thanks to Tina Fey’s brilliant TV satire “30 Rock” when character Tracy Jordan (played hilariously by Tracy Morgan) set out to achieve winning an EGOT, equipped with his own gold necklace, in a season four episode of the series.
 
There are some major names on the EGOT winners list like Audrey Hepburn, Mel Brooks, Mike Nichols, Rita Moreno – but there’s also people you might suspect would’ve been EGOT winners who aren’t like Barbra Streisand (she doesn’t have a Tony), Julie Andrews (doesn’t have a Tony), Elton John (doesn’t have an Emmy), Stephen Sondheim (never won an Emmy) and more. Is film/tv/stage songwriter Robert Lopez or producer Scott Rudin any more important in the history of entertainment than Streisand?
 
It just seems trivial almost – and if you could name all 17 EGOT winners that would certainly be impressive (I wouldn’t be surprised if Tyler could). There’s certainly a lot of hard work that goes into winning an EGOT (for the most part), but there’s also a lot of luck that goes into it.
 
Let me be straight … I’m supposed to be arguing why the EGOT is not that big of a deal. But even I don’t always buy that it isn’t. Some EGOTs mean more than others. Mel Brooks freakin’ earned his EGOT. He won the Oscar in 1968 for writing “The Producers.” He’s won four Emmy Awards, three of which came for guest starring on the hit ‘90s NBC comedy “Mad About You” (which I adore). He’s won three Grammys, most importantly in my mind in 1998 for the comedy album The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000 with his lifelong friend Carl Reiner. He won three Tony Awards, all in 2001 for “The Producers.” The man turned his non-musical comedy for which he won an Oscar for writing into a musical – that takes a lot of talent. If you tell me Brooks’ EGOT means nothing I’m going to have a problem with you.
 
Most EGOT winners probably deserve their winnings. Mike Nichols, yes. Audrey Hepburn, yes. Rita Moreno, yes.
 
But I do not think Jennifer Hudson’s EGOT is the same as those won by the artists in the prior two paragraphs – which is where I come down on the side of “not all EGOTs mean the same and therefore EGOT isn’t the biggest deal in the world.
 
Hudson won her Oscar for “Dreamgirls.” Very legitimate. Both of her Grammy Awards are legitimate, especially the one she won for Best R&B Album in 2009. The Best Musical Theater Album win for “The Color Purple” is a cast award, so yes it’s legitimate but it’s more of an ensemble win than individual.
 
But I don’t quite feel the same for producing wins as I do for performance wins. They feel less earned.

Now I know there are multiple jobs that a producer can do, but in many cases they are the money behind the project.
 
Producing is how Hudson won her Emmy Award – which was a Daytime Emmy Award, which doesn’t seem near as impressive to me as a Primetime Emmy Award (I realize I’m a snob) – for executive producing the virtual reality animated film “Baba Yaga,” made for Oculus Quest, which won in the interactive media for a daytime program category. I don’t know what any of that shit is, but apparently it’s television.
 
Michael R. Jackson’s “A Strange Loop” won Best Musical at the Tony Awards this weekend and with that came a Tony Award for Hudson as one of the show’s producers, which included at least a dozen people many of whom you’ll recognize like RuPaul Charles, Alan Cumming, Don Cheadle, Mindy Kaling and Billy Porter – all of whom won Tonys for whatever role they played in producing the musical, which I assume means monetary contributions.
 
Because of this it doesn’t quite feel like this EGOT win – and I’m betting there are other scenarios like this one among the other 16 EGOT winners – isn’t the same as being the main creative force behind a work of art or performance.
 
Can you throw money at an EGOT? Maybe so. That’s partially why it doesn’t mean all that much to me. - JS

by Julian Spivey
I saw someone online refer to the season three finale of HBO’s terrific comedy-drama “Barry” as a “30-minute panic attack” and I couldn’t agree more with that assessment. The only thing I’ll add is it’s the greatest panic attack you’re ever gonna have.
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After two years off television due to the Covid pandemic I worried about how season three of “Barry” would hit me – I didn’t do a re-watch of the first two seasons, which I truly should’ve leading me to struggling to remember what was going on heading into the season.

Season three of “Barry” has been like a four-hour film in that I honestly kind of wish I had opted to wait until the season finished and binged it, as opposed to watching it weekly as it aired (which is how I generally prefer watching television). I just feel like this series being so cohesive that it really would’ve hit more watching it over say four nights (one hour/two episodes a night).

Let’s jump into the fantastic finale “starting now,” which has been hailed by many critics and viewers alike since it aired on Sunday, June 12, as one of the best episodes of television in quite some time, if not ever.

Spoilers ahead … 

The episode begins with Fuches (Stephen Root) being locked away in prison in what is a quick end to his season three storyline, which saw him trying to get back at Barry for turning his back on him by telling grieving family members of his past victims as a hitman that he killed their loved ones. He finally wound up behind bars when the ex-military or law enforcement (or both, I can’t remember) Jim Moss (Robert Wisdom), the father of Det. Janice Moss from season one, was one of the people Fuches tried to use to kill Barry. There wasn’t a whole lot of Fuches and Root in season three, which I hope the show fixes in season four.
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There also wasn’t enough Noho Hank (Anthony Carrigan) in season three. He is the only one you could argue gets a happy ending in the season though, even though he has to go through Hell to get there. In the penultimate episode of the season Hank was captured in Bolivia while looking for his boyfriend Cristobal (Michael Irby), who was captured and taken back to his home country by his pissed off wife. Hank is being held in a dungeon, waiting for his certain death when he hears his Chechen buddies being tortured to death via panther attack. This was utterly amazing acting by Carrigan, essentially reacting to just sounds of horror behind a wall. Hank is able to break free, comes upon Cristobal being tortured by his wife in some sort of gay conversion therapy treatment, kills her and rescues his love. End of the only happy-ish storyline of the episode.

Earlier in the episode, Barry (Bill Hader) returns to his apartment after leaving the hospital where he was saved from poisoning in the previous episode and sees his ex-girlfriend Sally (Sarah Goldberg) waiting on him. She was deceived (at least in her mind) by her friend in the previous episode and wants to use Barry’s skills to get back at her. The duo is then attacked by the leader of the motorbike gang from the “710N” episode two weeks before (my personal favorite episode of the season). Barry is immediately knocked out by the leader, who then proceeds to strangle Sally almost to death – a moment bringing up horrible past memories for her – before she summons the courage to stab him in the neck with a nearby object. Barry and Sally plan to meet up later, but she’s last seen boarding a plane for her hometown of Joplin, Mo. In the episode.

While Barry is burying the gang leader’s body he is confronted by his old army buddy turned FBI agent Albert (who’s life he saved in the Middle East) and Albert demands to know why his life turned down such a tragic role. We think Albert (James Hiroyuki Liao) is either going to arrest Barry or force Barry to kill him but repaying a favor to Barry for saving his life he simply implores Barry to get his act together. The performances in this scene from Hader and Liao are terrific.

This might be the moment that finally turns around Barry’s life, something he’s been hopeful of doing ever since he stumbled upon the acting class in season one.

But earlier in the day Jim Moss had invited Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) over to his place to talk and uses his incredibly interrogation skills on him getting him to finally admit that it was Barry who killed Janice. Gene calls Barry in a panic claiming that Moss knows Barry killed his daughter and he’s going to do something about it. Barry shows up at the Moss residence to find Gene with a handgun seemingly going to kill Moss to help protect Barry. Barry determines he’ll have to get rid of Moss, enters the house and I believe the season is going to end with him killing Moss. But, then the entire thing is revealed to have been a set up by Moss and Gene and season three ends with Barry being arrested for the murder of Janice.

I have no freakin’ clue where season four of “Barry” is possibly going to go from here and I hate that I’m going to have to wait at least a year to find out. “starting now,” honestly would’ve made for a good series ender, albeit a mostly depressing one – but I get the feeling whenever the show does end that it’s probably not going to be full of smiles.

“Barry” is probably the most unique show on television with a style and tone all its own mixing great laughs and funny moments with the most dire and dramatic of moments – the season three finale was almost completely dire and dramatic. 

“Hustle” – Netflix – Premieres: Friday, June 3
It’s always nice to see Adam Sandler do something serious. He’s certainly proven he can but seems to prefer his silly side when churning out movies for his production company Happy Madison. Being the massive basketball fan that he is, Sandler has decided to go serious for “Hustle,” in which he portrays a NBA scout attempting to revive his career by recruiting a talented European player with a checkered past. Actual NBA player Juancho Hernangomez, who currently plays for the Utah Jazz, plays Bo Cruz – the European player. The film co-stars Queen Latifah, Ben Foster and Robert Duvall is currently streaming on Netflix. 

“Evil” Season 3 – Paramount+ - Sunday, June 12
“Evil” has been one of television’s best dramas over its first two seasons, though I get the impression many folks still haven’t seen it (even though the first season aired on CBS). The horror-science fiction series moved to Paramount+ for its second season and got even wilder in its dealings with religious supernatural. The cast of Katja Herbers, Mike Colters, Michael Emerson and Aasif Mandvi is fantastic, and the writing staff led by Robert and Michelle King among television’s best. Season three premieres Sunday, June 12. 

“The Bear” – Hulu – Thursday, June 23
Hulu’s “The Bear” is billed as a half-hour comedy, but after watching its recently dropped trailer I’m going to assume it’s a dramedy – that actually adds to my expectations for the series revolving around a struggling Chicago restaurant. Chef Carmen Berzatto (played by Jeremy Allen White) is given his family restaurant after a death in the family and aspires of keeping it afloat. The cast is full of names and faces I don’t know, but the trailer really looks good. The whole series debuts on streaming on Hulu on Thursday, June 23. 

“Loot” – AppleTV+ - Friday, June 24
I will watch anything with Maya Rudolph in it. I’m hoping that AppleTV+ will do for Rudolph what it’s wonderful series “Ted Lasso” has done for her former ‘SNL’ cast mate Jason Sudeikis. Rudolph stars in “Loot,” a comedy series about a divorcee who receives an incredibly large settlement from her billionaire ex-husband and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and giving back to those less fortunate. The series co-stars Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Ron Funches and Nat Faxon and premieres with its first three episodes on AppleTV+ on Friday, June 24. 

“Only Murders in the Building” Season 2 – Hulu – Tuesday, June 28  
It’s hard to believe it’s already time for season two of Hulu’s terrific true crime podcast inspired comedy series “Only Murders in the Building.” The first season ended less than eight months ago, so the storyline is still fresh in our minds. Three podcast lovers played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez band together to try to solve a murder in their ritzy apartment building. Season one ended in a fantastic cliffhanger where the three are thrown into the story themselves as they are being arrested under suspicion of murder. I can’t wait to see where the show takes this storyline. “Only Murders in the Building” season two premieres on Tuesday, June 28 on Hulu. 

by Julian Spivey
The finale episode of NBC’s six-season family drama “This Is Us” ended on Tuesday, May 24 with a quiet afternoon for the pre-teen Pearsons (which I assume puts us around 1992 or 1993) and the adult Pearson Big Three (Kevin, Kate and Randall) in the aftermath of Rebecca’s death in the previous episode.

“Us,” written by series creator Dan Fogelman, might not go down as one of the five-to-10 greatest episodes of “This Is Us,” at least in my mind, but it does make for a calm, nice way for the beloved series to say goodbye.

In a previous episode after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease Rebecca (Mandy Moore) was worried about forgetting the little things that make up a life. This series finale was all about the little things: spending a quiet weekend afternoon with the ones you love, watching home videos, playing board games, teaching your sons how to shave.

This was a brilliant way by Fogelman of bringing the final scene from the previous week’s episode where a dying Rebecca is walking through a train representing her life and when she gets to caboose she lies down in a bed beside Jack (Milo Ventimiglia). The finale features the conversation between the two with Rebecca saying she’s scared to leave the children behind and Jack assuring her that she’s done a terrific job of raising them, especially after his premature death.

In the modern timeline – which is actually some time in the future – the Big Three are experiencing life without their mom. Randall (Sterling K. Brown) is struggling to write a eulogy and wondering if life is all “pointless,” which he ultimately realizes it isn’t when Deja reveals to him the sex of her baby (Randall is having a grandson and thrilled by it). Kate (Chrissy Metz) and especially Kevin (Justin Hartley) don’t really have huge moments in the finale, which is kind of unfortunate, but there’s a lot packed into the 42-minute running time of the episode. Kate does have a nice moment with ex-husband Toby (Chris Sullivan) where he tells her both her mom and him are proud of her, and he loves her and would relive their marriage all over again if he had the chance.

A couple of my favorite moments of the episode appeared in the first half and provided the heavy episode with some nice levity and humor with Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) going through the worst case scenarios with Randall in post-Rebecca life in a poking at him way that only Beth can get away with. I also loved Uncle Nicky (Griffin Dunne) ribbing Kevin about how he changed his life the day he knocked on his trailer door and brought him into this loving, caring family and how that really “messed up” his life in a sarcastic manner. It was textbook Nicky.

The Big Three have a wonderful moment on the porch of the family cabin where they wonder what they’re going to do next. Kate is going to continue opening music schools for the blind. Kevin is going to focus on his nonprofit. Randall is thinking about going to a state fair in Iowa, the first steps to potentially running for President of the United States. Kate wonders if their mom, being the glue of the family, passing on will lead to the siblings drifting apart. Randall and Kevin assure her this is never going to happen.

“Us” was a perfectly pleasant way for “This Is Us” to send fans off with both a smile on their face and tears streaming down their cheeks, which has been the ultimate vibe for the series the entire way.