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.
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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
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 Sarah Goldberg (Barry) for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy The first thing I looked for on Wednesday when I awoke and clicked on the Emmy Award nominations was for Sarah Goldberg’s name in the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy category – though I swear, she should be in the lead actress category – and when I didn’t see it I wanted to riot at where the Television Academy headquarters is Jan. 6 style. Goldberg gave the best performance I’ve seen on television thus far in 2023 and the fact that she can’t find her way into a seven-person category is dumbfounding. The fact that she was only nominated once over four seasons is infuriating. She wound up in many ways being the best performer of the series featuring nothing but great performances. JS Imelda Staunton (The Crown) for Best Actress in a Drama “The Crown” has always been an Emmy darling. During its previous season, it managed to win Drama Series, Actor In A Drama Series for Josh O’Connor, Best Actress for Olivia Colman, Supporting Actor for Tobias Menzies, and Supporting Actress for Gillian Anderson. In all four prior seasons of “The Crown,” the actress playing Queen Elizabeth II has been nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Claire Foy and Olivia Colman were both nominated for both seasons they portrayed the Queen. Imelda Staunton took over for season five and just became the first Queen actress snubbed on Emmy nominations morning. This is not because Staunton doesn’t do a great job. She was a perfect successor to Foy and Colman. This past season wasn’t the best of the series but this was still quite a shock. TG Reservation Dogs for Best Comedy Series When I first saw the Emmy nominations on Wednesday and saw that Hulu’s (FX Production) “Reservation Dogs,” not only wasn’t nominated for Best Comedy Series, which let’s face it wasn’t a huge shock, though it should be!, but was only nominated for a single nomination (Sound Editing) of any kind I angrily tweeted: “What does ‘Reservation Dogs’ have to do to get noticed by the Emmys? Do they have to be white?” Not only is the show great for representation on television in that it stars and is written by an entirely indigenous cast and crew, but it’s generally one of the best, funniest and warmest shows on TV. Everywhere you look on this show are people who should be worthy of Emmy love: Devery Jacobs, D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis, Lane Factor, Zahn McClarnon and the terrific writing staff. JS Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama The original actress to play Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” made us fall in love with the character. After five episodes of the first season, actress Emma D’Arcy ages up and takes over the character. Milly Alcock’s performance of Rhaenyra was so fantastic that I was not happy to see her go. In my opinion, Emma D’Arcy doesn’t live up to her. Alcock shows us the beginning of the power struggle that ensues later on and we see her devastation that just because of her gender that she is not considered worthy to lead the nation. Everyone is looking for a man to lead but her father wants her to rule. Alcock conveys all of these complex emotions to near perfection. She will likely not get another chance for a nomination, so I hate she did not get this recognition. TG Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Matt Smith secured a nomination for playing Prince Phillip in Netflix’s “The Crown” for Best Supporting Actor a few years ago. He is someone the Emmys are familiar with and he is starring in a big-budget epic prequel series to a beloved show. Smith plays Daemon, the brother of the King who believes he should be the heir. His brother, King Aegon, believes this honor belongs to his daughter, Rhaenyra. Smith plays a villainous performance to perfection. We understand Daemon’s motivation and anger and watch him endure multiple complex situations. He is a character you love to hate which is sometimes hard for an actor to convey. It would have been great to see Smith ride some of the “House of the Dragon” love into a nomination. TG Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy “Atlanta,” which was no stranger to Emmy love in its early seasons, was almost completely left out (it got one nomination for cinematography), which isn’t all that surprising as for some reason the cultural zeitgeist didn’t feel like returning to the series after a lengthy hiatus. The snub that pisses me off the most is that of Brian Tyree Henry, whose performance as Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles in the series is one of the greatest performances on television, period, over the last decade. The fact that the Emmys only nominated him once over four seasons and he doesn’t have the tag “Emmy Winner” by his name is almost criminal. JS Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live) for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy So, this one isn’t a shocker in the least. I read a handful of articles predicting the Emmy nominees and listened to a few podcasts doing the same and not one mentioned Ego Nwodim, one of the standout cast members currently on “Saturday Night Live.” Nwodim is comedy gold each and every time she appears on the screen during the legendary live sketch comedy show and her debut of a new character, Lisa from Temecula, this season was the funniest sketch of the year. This is the first year since 2013 that ‘SNL’ didn’t have a single nominee in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy category. JS Kristin Chenoweth (Schmigadoon!) for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Who doesn’t love Kristin Chenoweth? Whether she is playing the original Galinda on Broadway’s “Wicked” or Olive Snook in her Emmy-winning performance on ABC’s “Pushing Daisies,” Chenoweth always delights us even when she is playing the villain. She was phenomenal as Maleficent in the Disney original movie, “Descendants” and she is equally brilliant in Apple TV’s musical comedy series, “Schmigadoon!” Chenoweth brings so much joy to the world in her performances and as the mayor’s wife, Mildred Clayton, she delivers the camp to perfection. It would have been great to see her nominated. TG Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere) for Best Actress in a Comedy Sometimes you really want a show or performer to be recognized with award nominations because you know it’s sort of a hidden gem that more people should be familiar with. Now, it seems wild for a show that airs on HBO, especially one that aired directly after the final seasons of “Succession” and “Barry” could be considered a hidden gem, but that’s exactly how Bridget Everett’s comedy “Somebody Somewhere” feels. The series, which recently finished airing its second season, sees Everett in the starring role as Sam, who returns to her small Kansas hometown following the death of her sister and has to cope with the loss. Jeff Hiller really should’ve been considered for Supporting Actor in a Comedy too for his wonderful performance as Sam’s best friend Joel, but Everett not getting a nomination hurts more because it feels like her show. JS Big Brother for Best Reality-Competition Series For 23 years, every summer, we have come to “expect the unexpected.” This CBS summer staple has always been a show full of drama, competitions, tears, fights, HOH competitions, Power of Veto competitions, and known for its host Julie Chen, also known as the Chenbot. This series has always been one of my favorite competition programs. It is exceedingly difficult to play a game like this and it is fun to watch all the houseguests do their best to manipulate their way to a half million dollars. I cannot believe it has never even managed to get a nomination. It may not be the Emmys’ cup of tea but it should be. TG
by Julian Spivey Brandi Carlile: In the Canyon Haze (Max) – Saturday, July 1 at 7 p.m. Brandi Carlile is one of the best singer-songwriters in all of music and can out-sing any and everyone. I’ve loved seeing her rise in recognition and popularity over the last few years thanks to powerhouse performances on television like at the Grammy Awards and on “Saturday Night Live.” I’m super pumped to see her have a concert film via HBO and Max. “Brandi Carlile: In the Canyon Haze” premieres Saturday, July 1 at 7 p.m. and sees the nine-time Grammy-winner performing last September from the storied Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, which was home to music icons like Joni Mitchell, one of Carlile’s biggest influences. If you’re a fan, I know you’ll be watching. If you’re not familiar with Carlile please watch and your jaw with drop. The Afterparty: Season 2 (AppleTV+) – Wednesday, July 12 I have to admit I was only so-so on the first season of AppleTV+’s whodunnit mystery-comedy “The Afterparty,” which premiered in early 2022. But the things I appreciated about the first season – among them Sam Richardson and Tiffany Haddish – are returning for the second season. Season two sees Richardson’s Aniq and his girlfriend Zoe (Zoe Chao) in the middle of yet another murder mystery when the groom winds up dead at Zoe’s sister’s wedding. Haddish once again shows up at Det. Danner to help solve the case. Zach Woods, Poppy Liu, Elizabeth Perkins, Jack Whitehall, Vivian Wu, Ken Jeong, John Cho and Paul Walter Hauser have joined the cast for season two. Full Circle (Max) – Thursday, July 13 “Full Circle,” the latest TV series from prolific creator and director Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon, sees an investigation into a botched kidnapping in New York City and the secrets it uncovers. The six-episode miniseries debuts on Max on Thursday, July 13, and features a terrific cast of Claire Danes, Zazie Beets, Timothy Olyphant, Dennis Quaid and Jharrel Jerome. Stephen Curry: Underrated (AppleTV+) – Friday, July 21 Multiple-time NBA M.V.P. and champion Stephen Curry is one of the most popular and likable athletes in all of sports. AppleTV+’s “Stephen Curry: Underrated,” tells his story from an undersized player at a small college to changing the entire way the game of basketball is played in the NBA. Peter Nicks directs this documentary, which Apple says, “blends cinema verité, archival footage and on-camera interviews.” Jim Gaffigan: Dark Pale (Amazon Prime Video) – Tuesday, July 25 Jim Gaffigan is one of the funniest stand-up comedians of all time and he’s also one of the busiest and most prolific comedians, seemingly having a new concert special on an annual basis. Gaffigan’s latest special (his 10th), “Jim Gaffigan: Dark Pale,” premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday, July 25. It’s sure to be a laugh riot, as all of his specials are. |
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