Fifteen years ago, writer/director Judd Apatow hired documentary filmmaker Chris Wilcha to film a behind-the-scenes movie about the making of “Funny People” and changed Wilcha’s life forever when the documentarian moved from New York to Los Angeles to work on the project. After he was done with the shoot, Wilcha had a hard time finding documentary work and ultimately settled into a life of directing commercials, returning to his first love of non-fiction filmmaking only sporadically as he accumulated hard drive after hard drive of footage from unfinished projects. Apatow was stunned to learn what an effect he had had on Wilcha’s life. “I didn’t even know that he moved to L.A. for the job,” Apatow told IndieWire, “and that his mom has been mad at me for decades.”
The unexpected connections between people and the unknown ways in which they affect each other are...
The unexpected connections between people and the unknown ways in which they affect each other are...
- 5/29/2024
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Humanitas has tapped actors/writers June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer as host of this year’s Humanitas Prizes event, which will take place on Thursday, September 12 (three days before the Emmy Awards) at Avalon Hollywood.
“As writers, actors, and comedians June and Paul work tirelessly to champion stories and the people creating them,” said Humanitas executive director Michelle Franke in a statement. “Year after year, the Humanitas Prizes crowd is warm, engaged, and ready to laugh, and we know they’re going to have a blast with these two leading our show.”
The Humanitas Prizes nominees will be announced later this summer, the org said. The annual prize recognizes “writers exploring the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way” across nine TV and feature categories.
As part of the awards, Humanitas has also launched the Starz #TakeTheLead award, “which will recognize a New Voices Fellowship alum who has demonstrated...
“As writers, actors, and comedians June and Paul work tirelessly to champion stories and the people creating them,” said Humanitas executive director Michelle Franke in a statement. “Year after year, the Humanitas Prizes crowd is warm, engaged, and ready to laugh, and we know they’re going to have a blast with these two leading our show.”
The Humanitas Prizes nominees will be announced later this summer, the org said. The annual prize recognizes “writers exploring the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way” across nine TV and feature categories.
As part of the awards, Humanitas has also launched the Starz #TakeTheLead award, “which will recognize a New Voices Fellowship alum who has demonstrated...
- 5/22/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
There is no denying that theaters are losing their charm thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix. People now would much rather prefer paying a monthly fee and enjoying more content than ever before in the comfort of their own homes. Now, it takes films like Barbie and Oppenheimer to drive people to theater halls and experience cinema first-hand.
A still from Barbie (2023)
As if this was not enough, director and producer Judd Apatow recently gave his two cents on the state of television today and how shows are just getting recycled over and over again thanks to licensing pacts between streaming platforms. Judd Apatow expressed his worries that if things keep going on like this, it might lead to fewer new shows and television becoming more of a business than art.
Judd Apatow is Worried About Netflix’s Model Judd Apatow on The Tonight Show
Many people prefer doing re-runs of their favorite television series,...
A still from Barbie (2023)
As if this was not enough, director and producer Judd Apatow recently gave his two cents on the state of television today and how shows are just getting recycled over and over again thanks to licensing pacts between streaming platforms. Judd Apatow expressed his worries that if things keep going on like this, it might lead to fewer new shows and television becoming more of a business than art.
Judd Apatow is Worried About Netflix’s Model Judd Apatow on The Tonight Show
Many people prefer doing re-runs of their favorite television series,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
Judd Apatow is commenting on the trend of streamers licensing content from rival studios.
It was recently announced that Warner Bros. Discovery struck a deal to license Sex and the City to Netflix. Apatow is now looking ahead at the implications that these types of deals might have in the industry in the years ahead.
“I’m of two minds. There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch Deadwood or NYPD Blue or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television,” Apatow told Vulture in a recent interview. “But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back Barnaby Jones.’ They’re going to do it, then...
It was recently announced that Warner Bros. Discovery struck a deal to license Sex and the City to Netflix. Apatow is now looking ahead at the implications that these types of deals might have in the industry in the years ahead.
“I’m of two minds. There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch Deadwood or NYPD Blue or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television,” Apatow told Vulture in a recent interview. “But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back Barnaby Jones.’ They’re going to do it, then...
- 3/24/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Judd Apatow spoke to Vulture in a recent interview about the current state of television, including why the trend of rewatching older series and licensing pacts between streamers is “scary.”
“I’m of two minds,” Apatow said. “There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch ‘Deadwood’ or ‘NYPD Blue’ or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television. But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back “Barnaby Jones.”‘ They’re going to do it, then you’ll get fewer new shows.”
The “This Is 40” writer-director continued, “They realize, Oh wait, Netflix can just buy shows from HBO, and I would assume they’re cheaper than making new ones.
“I’m of two minds,” Apatow said. “There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch ‘Deadwood’ or ‘NYPD Blue’ or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television. But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back “Barnaby Jones.”‘ They’re going to do it, then you’ll get fewer new shows.”
The “This Is 40” writer-director continued, “They realize, Oh wait, Netflix can just buy shows from HBO, and I would assume they’re cheaper than making new ones.
- 3/23/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Judd Apatow is opening up about the current state of television and why he finds it “scary” that Netflix can license shows from HBO.
The writer-director-producer told Vulture in a recent interview that licensing pacts between streaming giants is just going to lead to viewers getting “fewer new shows.”
“I’m of two minds,” Apatow explained. “There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch Deadwood or NYPD Blue or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television.”
The This Is 40 writer-director continued, “But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back Barnaby Jones.’ They’re going to do it, then you’ll get fewer new shows.
The writer-director-producer told Vulture in a recent interview that licensing pacts between streaming giants is just going to lead to viewers getting “fewer new shows.”
“I’m of two minds,” Apatow explained. “There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch Deadwood or NYPD Blue or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television.”
The This Is 40 writer-director continued, “But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back Barnaby Jones.’ They’re going to do it, then you’ll get fewer new shows.
- 3/23/2024
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Judd Apatow is warning against the rise of rewatching and the implications it has for streamers not to greenlight new series.
The writer/director/producer told Vulture that Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO licensing shows like “Sex and the City” to Netflix is just a recent example of limiting audiences’ “content” options, which is no doubt “cheaper than making new ones.”
“I’m of two minds,” Apatow said of the rise of viewers rediscovering older series. “There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch ‘Deadwood’ or ‘NYPD Blue’ or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television. But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back “Barnaby Jones.
The writer/director/producer told Vulture that Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO licensing shows like “Sex and the City” to Netflix is just a recent example of limiting audiences’ “content” options, which is no doubt “cheaper than making new ones.”
“I’m of two minds,” Apatow said of the rise of viewers rediscovering older series. “There’s a part of me that’s an audience member: I’ll go back and rewatch ‘Deadwood’ or ‘NYPD Blue’ or any of the David Milch shows. I understand why people like the comfort food of television. But it’s a scary thing as a creator of television, because of all the streamers going, ‘Wait a second. We don’t need to spend $200 million on a new show. We can just bring back “Barnaby Jones.
- 3/22/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
M. Emmet Walsh, a veteran character actor who appeared in more than 150 films including “Blade Runner,” “Blood Simple” and “Knives Out” and played Dermot Mulroney’s dad in “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” has died.
His manager Sandy Joseph confirmed that he died Tuesday in Vermont. He was 88.
In Ridley Scott’s 1982 “Blade Runner,” Walsh was Harrison Ford’s LAPD boss, while he played the vicious private detective Loren Visser in the Coen brothers’ directing debut “Blood Simple.” Wearing a sickly yellow suit, Pauline Kael said he was the film’s “only colorful performer. He lays on the loathsomeness, but he gives it a little twirl — a sportiness.”
His other roles included the corrupt sheriff in the 1986 horror film “Critters” and a small role as a security guard in “Knives Out.”
Walsh appeared in a string of memorable 1970s films, including “Little Big Man” with Dustin Hoffman, “What’s Up, Doc?” with Ryan O’Neal and Barbra Streisand,...
His manager Sandy Joseph confirmed that he died Tuesday in Vermont. He was 88.
In Ridley Scott’s 1982 “Blade Runner,” Walsh was Harrison Ford’s LAPD boss, while he played the vicious private detective Loren Visser in the Coen brothers’ directing debut “Blood Simple.” Wearing a sickly yellow suit, Pauline Kael said he was the film’s “only colorful performer. He lays on the loathsomeness, but he gives it a little twirl — a sportiness.”
His other roles included the corrupt sheriff in the 1986 horror film “Critters” and a small role as a security guard in “Knives Out.”
Walsh appeared in a string of memorable 1970s films, including “Little Big Man” with Dustin Hoffman, “What’s Up, Doc?” with Ryan O’Neal and Barbra Streisand,...
- 3/20/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
“Succession” stayed winning with its third Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series on Sunday night, tying “The X-Files” and “Mad Men” for the most wins in the category. Since it’s over, it won’t have the chance to grab the solo record, but it did make Globe history in another way: It’s never lost the category.
The HBO hit, which earned a record-breaking nine nominations for its fourth and final season, was not nominated for Best Drama Series for its first season, only receiving one bid in supporting actor for Kieran Culkin. It promptly made up for that with an unbeaten tear, winning for Season 2 in 2020, Season 3 in 2022 and now Season 4.
See Full list of Golden Globe winners
Neither “The X-Files” nor “Mad Men” can boast a perfect record in the category as they both won three times from four nominations. However, they each were unbeaten at one point.
The HBO hit, which earned a record-breaking nine nominations for its fourth and final season, was not nominated for Best Drama Series for its first season, only receiving one bid in supporting actor for Kieran Culkin. It promptly made up for that with an unbeaten tear, winning for Season 2 in 2020, Season 3 in 2022 and now Season 4.
See Full list of Golden Globe winners
Neither “The X-Files” nor “Mad Men” can boast a perfect record in the category as they both won three times from four nominations. However, they each were unbeaten at one point.
- 1/8/2024
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
When the 2023 Emmy nominations were announced, Pedro Pascal made history as the first person to instantaneously go from having zero to three TV academy acting notices. His recognized body of work as a star of “The Last of Us,” narrator of “Patagonia” and guest host of “Saturday Night Live” serves as a full display of his talent, with his performance on the NBC sketch series being the strongest showcase of his versatility. If voters feel compelled to honor him somewhere, the choice to support his Best Comedy Guest Actor campaign may be rather simple.
Pascal made his “SNL” hosting debut on February 4, 2023, three weeks after “The Last of Us” first premiered on HBO. The actor kicks off the episode – which features music from Coldplay and a cameo from his friend and colleague, Sarah Paulson – with a monologue focused on his thriving career and then embodies a wide array of characters...
Pascal made his “SNL” hosting debut on February 4, 2023, three weeks after “The Last of Us” first premiered on HBO. The actor kicks off the episode – which features music from Coldplay and a cameo from his friend and colleague, Sarah Paulson – with a monologue focused on his thriving career and then embodies a wide array of characters...
- 12/23/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Time for a different sort of commercial break.
Any subscriber to the ad-supported version of Hulu is bound to encounter the usual assortment of TV commercials that regularly interrupt a binge-watch of anything from “Only Murders in the Building” to “NYPD Blue.” Sometimes, a different sort of pitch pops up.
This one only surfaces when users stop the action on their own to take a call, grab a snack or hit the bathroom. “Need a break?” asks an on-screen graphic from Procter & Gamble’s Charmin during a halt in one recent stream. The toilet paper’s colorful bear mascot makes an appearance. “Enjoy the go.” There are other ads with similar themes. One on-screen entreaty for Hershey’s Kit Kat shows one of the candy bars in pieces and says, “Have a break.” One from Berskhire Hathaway’s Geico tells viewers to “Hold the phone.”
So-called “pause ads” — they...
Any subscriber to the ad-supported version of Hulu is bound to encounter the usual assortment of TV commercials that regularly interrupt a binge-watch of anything from “Only Murders in the Building” to “NYPD Blue.” Sometimes, a different sort of pitch pops up.
This one only surfaces when users stop the action on their own to take a call, grab a snack or hit the bathroom. “Need a break?” asks an on-screen graphic from Procter & Gamble’s Charmin during a halt in one recent stream. The toilet paper’s colorful bear mascot makes an appearance. “Enjoy the go.” There are other ads with similar themes. One on-screen entreaty for Hershey’s Kit Kat shows one of the candy bars in pieces and says, “Have a break.” One from Berskhire Hathaway’s Geico tells viewers to “Hold the phone.”
So-called “pause ads” — they...
- 10/23/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
1998’s Halloweentown is one of the most beloved Halloween and Disney Channel movies, and is a gift that keeps on giving as new generations discover the film that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Starring Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, Judith Hoag and Debbie Reynolds, the film directed by Duwayne Dunham followed Marnie, who on her 13th birthday discovers she’s a witch and is transported to Halloweentown, a magical place that is facing an evil curse. The film spawned three sequels: Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge in 2001, Halloweentown High in 2004 and Return to Halloweentown in 2006.
Halloweentown, written by Paul Bernbaum, Jon Cooksey and Ali Marie Matheson, holds a score of 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. You can currently watch Halloweentown on Prime Video or on Disney+. The franchise is also airing as part of Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween.”
In celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary, take a look...
Starring Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, Judith Hoag and Debbie Reynolds, the film directed by Duwayne Dunham followed Marnie, who on her 13th birthday discovers she’s a witch and is transported to Halloweentown, a magical place that is facing an evil curse. The film spawned three sequels: Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge in 2001, Halloweentown High in 2004 and Return to Halloweentown in 2006.
Halloweentown, written by Paul Bernbaum, Jon Cooksey and Ali Marie Matheson, holds a score of 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. You can currently watch Halloweentown on Prime Video or on Disney+. The franchise is also airing as part of Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween.”
In celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary, take a look...
- 10/17/2023
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Viewers who tuned in to watch repeats of “Yellowstone” on CBS Sunday night got something they might not have expected — two commercials telling them to watch the show somewhere else.
CBS sold national ad time during the program to rival NBCUniversal, which ran a spot highlighting the availability of the Western-themed drama series on its Peacock streaming hub. “Peacock has all episodes of ‘Yellowstone,’” the commercial says via graphics that appear over scenes from the program. “Stream every season now.” Peacock has streaming rights to the program, even though it’s produced by CBS parent Paramount Global, which first airs the series on its TV networks. “This is a declaration of war,” says one “Yellowstone” character at the end of the spot.
The advertising arrangement shows just how much the advent of streaming has changed relationships between fierce rivals like NBC and CBS. Paramount Global generates revenue from the sale of “Yellowstone” rights to Peacock,...
CBS sold national ad time during the program to rival NBCUniversal, which ran a spot highlighting the availability of the Western-themed drama series on its Peacock streaming hub. “Peacock has all episodes of ‘Yellowstone,’” the commercial says via graphics that appear over scenes from the program. “Stream every season now.” Peacock has streaming rights to the program, even though it’s produced by CBS parent Paramount Global, which first airs the series on its TV networks. “This is a declaration of war,” says one “Yellowstone” character at the end of the spot.
The advertising arrangement shows just how much the advent of streaming has changed relationships between fierce rivals like NBC and CBS. Paramount Global generates revenue from the sale of “Yellowstone” rights to Peacock,...
- 9/25/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
The Roy boys may not have succeeded their dad on “Succession,” but they can at the Golden Globes. Kieran Culkin is the current odds-on favorite to join his TV father and brother, Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong, respectively, as winners of the Best TV Drama Actor award. And should he prevail in January, “Succession” would become just the second show to produce three different winners in the category.
The only show to achieve this feat is “NYPD Blue,” which yielded three consecutive victories for Davis Caruso in 1994, Dennis Franz in 1995 and Jimmy Smits in 1996. Multiple acting winners per show is rare in this category in general. Besides “Succession” and “NYPD Blue,” “Mission: Impossible” is the only other one with multiple champs, Martin Landau in 1968 and Peter Graves in 1971. Like “NYPD Blue,” “Succession” would win for three consecutive seasons as well — but not in consecutive years. Cox triumphed in 2020 for Season...
The only show to achieve this feat is “NYPD Blue,” which yielded three consecutive victories for Davis Caruso in 1994, Dennis Franz in 1995 and Jimmy Smits in 1996. Multiple acting winners per show is rare in this category in general. Besides “Succession” and “NYPD Blue,” “Mission: Impossible” is the only other one with multiple champs, Martin Landau in 1968 and Peter Graves in 1971. Like “NYPD Blue,” “Succession” would win for three consecutive seasons as well — but not in consecutive years. Cox triumphed in 2020 for Season...
- 9/21/2023
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
In the NYPD Blue Season One episode “Tempest in a C-Cup,” cop Andy Sipowicz and prosecutor Sylvia Costas wind up on an impromptu dinner date. To call the occasion unexpected would be a wild understatement, as we were introduced to the characters at the very start of the series with a drunken, rampaging Sipowicz grabbing his crotch and calling Sylvia a “pissy little bitch.” But Andy is sober now, and Sylvia finds herself charmed by his company. After he tells her about the aquarium of saltwater tropical fish he keeps in his apartment,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
Saturday marks 96 years since the great Peter Falk was born (9-16-27), which strikes us as a great reason to revisit a detective drama as timeless as it is entertaining. In the whole of television history, few actors have been as identified with a single character than was Falk with Lieutenant Columbo, the eccentric, rumpled, cigar-chomping, trench coat-clad, implausibly wily Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective who always got his man. In the process, Falk and the producers revolutionized what a cop show could be. We’re wishing him a Happy Birthday, even though he left us on June 23, 2011.
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys.
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys.
- 9/14/2023
- by Ray Richmond and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Saturday marks 96 years since the great Peter Falk was born (9-16-27), which strikes us as a great reason to revisit a detective drama as timeless as it is entertaining. In the whole of television history, few actors have been as identified with a single character than was Falk with Lieutenant Columbo, the eccentric, rumpled, cigar-chomping, trench coat-clad, implausibly wily Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective who always got his man. In the process, Falk and the producers revolutionized what a cop show could be.
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys..
SEE30 best TV detectives ranked
From the first official installment of “Columbo” – entitled “Murder by the Book...
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys..
SEE30 best TV detectives ranked
From the first official installment of “Columbo” – entitled “Murder by the Book...
- 9/13/2023
- by Chris Beachum and Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
This year, for the first time ever, multiple limited series have each received two simultaneous directing Emmy nominations. These history-making programs – “Beef” and “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” – are both Netflix productions that have amassed 13 TV academy notices apiece, with this being one of eight categories in which they are directly facing off. While it is true that only one of this category’s previous multi-nominated series actually won, the fact that these two new shows take up a majority of their lineup’s slots might very well yield an unusual result.
Either Netflix series would bring the streaming platform its third limited program directing win, following the success of “Unorthodox” in 2020 and “The Queen’s Gambit” in 2021. Also in the running are the category’s first Hulu original movie, “Prey,” and the FX series “Fleishman is in Trouble,” which also hails from a network that has already prevailed here twice.
Either Netflix series would bring the streaming platform its third limited program directing win, following the success of “Unorthodox” in 2020 and “The Queen’s Gambit” in 2021. Also in the running are the category’s first Hulu original movie, “Prey,” and the FX series “Fleishman is in Trouble,” which also hails from a network that has already prevailed here twice.
- 8/30/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
A version of this story about “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story“ first appeared in the Down to the Wire: Drama and Limited Series issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
The Emmys won’t air for five months, but already Paris Barclay has made an impact. With his Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nomination for Netflix’s “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” Barclay became the first Black director to be nominated in all three narrative directing categories: limited series for “Dahmer”; drama series for “The West Wing” in 2002 and “NYPD Blue” in both 1998 and 1999; and comedy series for “Glee” in 2010, 2013 and 2014.
“I’m very grateful, because whenever a body of your peers actually decides the work is significant enough to be nominated for an Emmy, it’s a huge deal,” said Barclay, who served as the first Black and first openly gay...
The Emmys won’t air for five months, but already Paris Barclay has made an impact. With his Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nomination for Netflix’s “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” Barclay became the first Black director to be nominated in all three narrative directing categories: limited series for “Dahmer”; drama series for “The West Wing” in 2002 and “NYPD Blue” in both 1998 and 1999; and comedy series for “Glee” in 2010, 2013 and 2014.
“I’m very grateful, because whenever a body of your peers actually decides the work is significant enough to be nominated for an Emmy, it’s a huge deal,” said Barclay, who served as the first Black and first openly gay...
- 8/22/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Actor Susan Kelechi Watson is mourning the loss of her This Is Us costar Ron Cephas Jones following the news of his death on Saturday.
“It was really an instant gravitation,” Watson wrote of their relationship on Instagram. “Like anytime you were in the room I’d quickly make my way to you. Was it the New York energy, both of us getting a big break at the same time, the coolness, the swag, the stories of hardships and triumphs, the honesty, the laughter, the humor, the laughter, the laughter, the humor and the honesty. The genuiness. The freedom and...
“It was really an instant gravitation,” Watson wrote of their relationship on Instagram. “Like anytime you were in the room I’d quickly make my way to you. Was it the New York energy, both of us getting a big break at the same time, the coolness, the swag, the stories of hardships and triumphs, the honesty, the laughter, the humor, the laughter, the laughter, the humor and the honesty. The genuiness. The freedom and...
- 8/20/2023
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
Ron Cephas Jones, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his role as William Hill in NBC's critically-acclaimed drama "This Is Us," has died at the age of 66. The news was confirmed by a representative for the actor, who released a statement to People attributing the "beloved and award-winning" actor's death to "a long-standing pulmonary issue." Jones had suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Copd) and received a double lung transplant in 2020.
Jones began his acting career on the stage before landing guest roles on "Law & Order" and "NYPD Blue." The '90s also saw him star in Bridgett M. Davis' indie movie "Naked Acts" and appear in Spike Lee's "He Got Game," but it was in 2016 that his star truly began to rise as he appeared in "Mr. Robot," "Luke Cage," "The Get Down," and, of course, "This Is Us."
In the NBC family drama, Jones played...
Jones began his acting career on the stage before landing guest roles on "Law & Order" and "NYPD Blue." The '90s also saw him star in Bridgett M. Davis' indie movie "Naked Acts" and appear in Spike Lee's "He Got Game," but it was in 2016 that his star truly began to rise as he appeared in "Mr. Robot," "Luke Cage," "The Get Down," and, of course, "This Is Us."
In the NBC family drama, Jones played...
- 8/20/2023
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
Ron Cephas Jones, who left viewers emotional throughout his breakthrough run on NBC’s “This Is Us,” has died, TheWrap has confirmed via his manager.
Jones, 66, had broken through as an older actor portraying William “Shakespeare” Hill on the soapy NBC drama, father to Sterling K. Brown’s Randall Pearson.
Jones died of a “long-standing pulmonary issue,” according to a statement from his representatives. The actor suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he told The New York Times in 2021, and had received a double-lung transplant.
The first credited role Jones played was in 1994, but he continued to get work in projects including “Law & Order,” “NYPD Blue” and “He Got Game.” But he hit a new level of prominence as an estranged father on “This Is Us,” one who knew his time was limited and whose arc ultimately depicted his death.
In the last decade, Jones’ credits have also included “Truth Be Told,...
Jones, 66, had broken through as an older actor portraying William “Shakespeare” Hill on the soapy NBC drama, father to Sterling K. Brown’s Randall Pearson.
Jones died of a “long-standing pulmonary issue,” according to a statement from his representatives. The actor suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he told The New York Times in 2021, and had received a double-lung transplant.
The first credited role Jones played was in 1994, but he continued to get work in projects including “Law & Order,” “NYPD Blue” and “He Got Game.” But he hit a new level of prominence as an estranged father on “This Is Us,” one who knew his time was limited and whose arc ultimately depicted his death.
In the last decade, Jones’ credits have also included “Truth Be Told,...
- 8/19/2023
- by Mike Roe
- The Wrap
When Ryan Murphy approached Paris Barclay about directing “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” the Emmy-winning director shot down his offer.
“I said no,” says Barclay. He changed his mind, however, when he learned more about Episode 6, titled “Silenced.” Barclay, who previously won two Emmys for directing “NYPD Blue” and garnered nominations for “Glee” and “The West Wing,” ended up receiving his latest Emmy mention for his work on the episode.
On Variety Awards Circuit Roundtable, Paris Barclay, the Emmy-nominated director and executive producer of “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” sits down with us to talk about the Emmys, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the DGA, “Dahmer,” his career (including those LL Cool J videos) and more. Listen below!
So what turned Barclay around? “[Murphy] started telling me the story of Tony Hughes,” he reveals. “I’d never heard of this young man, and I thought,...
“I said no,” says Barclay. He changed his mind, however, when he learned more about Episode 6, titled “Silenced.” Barclay, who previously won two Emmys for directing “NYPD Blue” and garnered nominations for “Glee” and “The West Wing,” ended up receiving his latest Emmy mention for his work on the episode.
On Variety Awards Circuit Roundtable, Paris Barclay, the Emmy-nominated director and executive producer of “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” sits down with us to talk about the Emmys, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the DGA, “Dahmer,” his career (including those LL Cool J videos) and more. Listen below!
So what turned Barclay around? “[Murphy] started telling me the story of Tony Hughes,” he reveals. “I’d never heard of this young man, and I thought,...
- 8/18/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
New info regarding the death of “NYPD Blue” child star Austin Majors has come to light.
It’s been six months since the 27-year-old passed away, and now his cause of death has been linked to an accidental fentanyl overdose, per an online report obtained by E! News.
Read More: ‘NYPD Blue’ Star Austin Majors Has Died At 27 Years Old
News of his unexpected and shocking death hit social media back in February when Majors’s parents revealed he had died. The child star’s credits included big-shot roles in hit shows like “How I Met Your Mother”, “Desperate Housewives” and “NCIS”.
In a statement by TMZ at the time, his parents described him as a “loving, artistic, brilliant and kind human being.”
Read More: Angus Cloud’s Mother Lisa Disputes Claims Her Son’s Death Was Intentional: ‘His Last Day Was A Joyful One’
“Austin was the kind of son,...
It’s been six months since the 27-year-old passed away, and now his cause of death has been linked to an accidental fentanyl overdose, per an online report obtained by E! News.
Read More: ‘NYPD Blue’ Star Austin Majors Has Died At 27 Years Old
News of his unexpected and shocking death hit social media back in February when Majors’s parents revealed he had died. The child star’s credits included big-shot roles in hit shows like “How I Met Your Mother”, “Desperate Housewives” and “NCIS”.
In a statement by TMZ at the time, his parents described him as a “loving, artistic, brilliant and kind human being.”
Read More: Angus Cloud’s Mother Lisa Disputes Claims Her Son’s Death Was Intentional: ‘His Last Day Was A Joyful One’
“Austin was the kind of son,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
Former child star Austin Majors, known for his seven-season run as the young son of star Dennis Franz’s Detective Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue, died from an accidental fentanyl overdose.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the cause of death for Austin Setmajor as fentanyl toxicity and manner of death as accidental, according to the report released Tuesday.
As we previously reported, Majors died February 11 in a Los Angeles homeless facility. Fentanyl poisoning was suspected at the time.
The week before his death, Majors was photographed for a Los Angeles Daily News article when L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, visited the homeless facility Hilda Solis Care First Village, where Majors resided.
Dennis Franz, Austin Majors, ‘NYPD Blue’ (1999)
Majors’ portrayal of young Theo Sipowicz from...
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the cause of death for Austin Setmajor as fentanyl toxicity and manner of death as accidental, according to the report released Tuesday.
As we previously reported, Majors died February 11 in a Los Angeles homeless facility. Fentanyl poisoning was suspected at the time.
The week before his death, Majors was photographed for a Los Angeles Daily News article when L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, visited the homeless facility Hilda Solis Care First Village, where Majors resided.
Dennis Franz, Austin Majors, ‘NYPD Blue’ (1999)
Majors’ portrayal of young Theo Sipowicz from...
- 8/8/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
With his nomination this year for an installment of the Netflix limited series “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” Paris Barclay is the first Black director to compete at the Emmys with nominations in three different genres: drama series, comedy series (“Glee”) and now limited/anthology with “Dahmer – Monster.” It’s his ninth Emmy nod overall, with four coming for “NYPD Blue” (a pair each in 1998 and ’99 for producing and directing), one for “The West Wing” (2002) and three for “Glee”. His two wins came for directing “NYPD” in ’98 and ’99, so it’s been nearly a quarter-century since his last triumph.
SEEParis Barclay (‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ director): ‘These victims were people, they’re worth telling the stories of’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Barclay has been a go-to director of episodic television since the early 1990s, helming more than 170 episodes all told. He’s directed episodes of (among many others) “Lost,...
SEEParis Barclay (‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ director): ‘These victims were people, they’re worth telling the stories of’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Barclay has been a go-to director of episodic television since the early 1990s, helming more than 170 episodes all told. He’s directed episodes of (among many others) “Lost,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Among the dozen Emmy Awards “Game of Thrones” collected in 2019 for its final season was one for casting, which made it the first drama program to achieve a third victory in that category. Each time it was honored there, it also won Best Drama Series, setting a precedent that “Succession” could emulate this year after having taken both prizes in 2020 and 2022. Although it is heavily favored to clinch the top honor again, its potential casting win might not come as easily or at all, given the remarkably stiff competition it faces from “The White Lotus.”
After winning 10 Emmys in 2022 while classified as a limited series, “The White Lotus” is now competing in seven specific drama series categories, including casting. Its genre shift was triggered by its second season’s incorporation of previously established characters. As it goes against “Succession” in this race, it will also have to fend off two-time winner “The Crown,...
After winning 10 Emmys in 2022 while classified as a limited series, “The White Lotus” is now competing in seven specific drama series categories, including casting. Its genre shift was triggered by its second season’s incorporation of previously established characters. As it goes against “Succession” in this race, it will also have to fend off two-time winner “The Crown,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
“Yellowstone” premiered in 2018, and has led to an acclaimed TV franchise, with star Kevin Costner striking gold once again in his career as patriarch John Dutton. Fans were disappointed to learn that Costner has opted to leave “Yellowstone” with the upcoming conclusion of season five; his schedule is currently full as he has been starring in, producing, co-writing and directing “Horizon: An American Saga,” the first of a four-film western saga.
However, this isn’t the first time a star has left a series too early, leaving producers scrambling to find a solution to keep a successful series going. Tour our photo gallery featuring 27 performers who abandoned their programs.
Like Costner, other actors and actresses have left to pursue other projects. Some, like Farrah Fawcett and George Clooney, go on to successful careers in movies or with more TV. Others, like David Caruso and McLean Stevenson, regret leaving a successful show when careers flounder afterwards.
However, this isn’t the first time a star has left a series too early, leaving producers scrambling to find a solution to keep a successful series going. Tour our photo gallery featuring 27 performers who abandoned their programs.
Like Costner, other actors and actresses have left to pursue other projects. Some, like Farrah Fawcett and George Clooney, go on to successful careers in movies or with more TV. Others, like David Caruso and McLean Stevenson, regret leaving a successful show when careers flounder afterwards.
- 7/27/2023
- by Susan Pennington, Chris Beachum and Misty Holland
- Gold Derby
“American Horror Story” fans finally have their first look at series newcomers Kim Kardashian and Cara Delevingne in Season 12 thanks to the first teaser for “AHS: Delicate.”
At less than 30 seconds long, the FX teaser doesn’t share much about the show, though it’s clear that this season will have something to do with children and motherhood. The video shows three stars donned in bright white wigs removing their glasses: series alum Emma Roberts, model Cara Delevingne and reality star, socialite and model Kim Kardashian. In between these glamorous revelations, groups of women with long white hair ritualistically dance and a cradle ominously moves as “Rock-a-bye Baby” plays.
At the moment, there is no release date for this new season. The teaser only reveals that it will be coming soon.
In addition to the three aforementioned actors, “AHS: Delicate” will star Matt Czuchry (“Gilmore Girls”), Annabelle Dexter-Jones (“Succession”), Michaela Jaé Rodriguez...
At less than 30 seconds long, the FX teaser doesn’t share much about the show, though it’s clear that this season will have something to do with children and motherhood. The video shows three stars donned in bright white wigs removing their glasses: series alum Emma Roberts, model Cara Delevingne and reality star, socialite and model Kim Kardashian. In between these glamorous revelations, groups of women with long white hair ritualistically dance and a cradle ominously moves as “Rock-a-bye Baby” plays.
At the moment, there is no release date for this new season. The teaser only reveals that it will be coming soon.
In addition to the three aforementioned actors, “AHS: Delicate” will star Matt Czuchry (“Gilmore Girls”), Annabelle Dexter-Jones (“Succession”), Michaela Jaé Rodriguez...
- 7/20/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Remember AMC’s “The Walking Dead”? You know, the biggest series on TV at one time. Most-watched basic cable show in history, and I can guarantee that will never be topped. But yet, an Emmy dud. The series (which will live on via a frenzy of spin-offs) ended its run last November after 11 seasons… and it’s still ignored by TV Academy voters, failing to pick up a single nomination on Wednesday.
And yet… this may have been the most successful year at the Emmys ever for “The Walking Dead.” That’s because two of the franchise’s most beloved actors, Steven Yeun and Jon Bernthal, picked up their first-ever Emmy nominations. Granted, it’s not for “The Walking Dead” — Yeun is nominated in lead limited/anthology actor for “Beef” and Bernthal is a comedy guest actor nominee for “The Bear” (which is about… Chicago’s “Beef” restaurant) — but at...
And yet… this may have been the most successful year at the Emmys ever for “The Walking Dead.” That’s because two of the franchise’s most beloved actors, Steven Yeun and Jon Bernthal, picked up their first-ever Emmy nominations. Granted, it’s not for “The Walking Dead” — Yeun is nominated in lead limited/anthology actor for “Beef” and Bernthal is a comedy guest actor nominee for “The Bear” (which is about… Chicago’s “Beef” restaurant) — but at...
- 7/14/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s Emmy nominees will highlight a more diverse crop of actors, with Latino performers having a particularly strong showing.
Of course, much of that is thanks to Pedro Pascal, who has become the most-nominated Latino in a single year with three noms. He’s recognized for his work in “The Last of Us” as lead drama actor, “Saturday Night Live” as guest comedy actor and “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World” as the narrator. Pascal’s nomination for HBO’s dystopian video game adaptation makes him only the second Latino ever recognized in the drama category after Jimmy Smits’ four consecutive noms for “NYPD Blue” from 1996-1999. But there were some notable Latino stars who didn’t hear their names read — namely, Diego Luna, who was snubbed for Disney’s “Andor,” despite its best drama series nomination.
Elsewhere, Netflix’s origin series “Wednesday” made star Jenna Ortega...
Of course, much of that is thanks to Pedro Pascal, who has become the most-nominated Latino in a single year with three noms. He’s recognized for his work in “The Last of Us” as lead drama actor, “Saturday Night Live” as guest comedy actor and “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World” as the narrator. Pascal’s nomination for HBO’s dystopian video game adaptation makes him only the second Latino ever recognized in the drama category after Jimmy Smits’ four consecutive noms for “NYPD Blue” from 1996-1999. But there were some notable Latino stars who didn’t hear their names read — namely, Diego Luna, who was snubbed for Disney’s “Andor,” despite its best drama series nomination.
Elsewhere, Netflix’s origin series “Wednesday” made star Jenna Ortega...
- 7/12/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The 2023 Emmys nominations are finally out, and this year’s nominees have secured landmark representation for Asian American, Latino and LGBTQ+ actors.
Netflix’s revenge dramedy “Beef” became the first limited series from an Asian American creator to be nominated in the category, with leads Ali Wong and Steven Yeun scoring nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress and Actor in a limited or anthology series or movie, respectively. With Kumail Nanjiani also securing a nomination in the Lead Actor in a limited series category for Hulu’s “Welcome To Chippendales,” the 2023 nominations made history by nominating two Asian American actors for Outstanding Lead Actor in a limited series for the first time. “Beef” supporting actors Joseph Lee and Young Mazino also secured nominations for supporting actor in a limited series, and Maria Bello scored a nod in the supporting actress category.
The nominations also marked a landmark year for Latino actors,...
Netflix’s revenge dramedy “Beef” became the first limited series from an Asian American creator to be nominated in the category, with leads Ali Wong and Steven Yeun scoring nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress and Actor in a limited or anthology series or movie, respectively. With Kumail Nanjiani also securing a nomination in the Lead Actor in a limited series category for Hulu’s “Welcome To Chippendales,” the 2023 nominations made history by nominating two Asian American actors for Outstanding Lead Actor in a limited series for the first time. “Beef” supporting actors Joseph Lee and Young Mazino also secured nominations for supporting actor in a limited series, and Maria Bello scored a nod in the supporting actress category.
The nominations also marked a landmark year for Latino actors,...
- 7/12/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
TV dramas have come a long way since the days of Playhouse 90, Hallmark Hall of Fame and Net Playhouse – all of which won Emmys for best drama in the 1960s. Even the category’s name has evolved since then, from Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama to Outstanding Dramatic Series or Outstanding Series-Drama and the current Outstanding Drama Series.
Click through a gallery of the shows that have taken home to marquee Emmy Award since 1960 – from the elegance of The Defenders and the period tech of Mission: Impossible through cop shows including Police Story, Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue; medical shows Marcus Welby, M.D. and ER, the legal offices of L.A. Law and The Practice; such quirky fare as Picket Fences, Northern Exposure and Ally McBeal; and into the antihero tales of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad – and many more.
Along the way you...
Click through a gallery of the shows that have taken home to marquee Emmy Award since 1960 – from the elegance of The Defenders and the period tech of Mission: Impossible through cop shows including Police Story, Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue; medical shows Marcus Welby, M.D. and ER, the legal offices of L.A. Law and The Practice; such quirky fare as Picket Fences, Northern Exposure and Ally McBeal; and into the antihero tales of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad – and many more.
Along the way you...
- 7/12/2023
- by Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
When Kieran Culkin confirmed in late April that he will submit in Best Drama Actor at the Emmys for the fourth and final season of “Succession” after two supporting bids, it set off a flurry of reactions. One was that it’s the correct call, given the increased focus on Roman (Culkin), Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Shiv (Sarah Snook) this season in the wake of Logan’s (Brian Cox) death in the third episode. Another was that he would split the vote with Strong, the 2020 champ, and Cox, who later confirmed he was staying in lead, paving the way for someone else to triumph. But if either Culkin or Cox pulls out the win, though the latter seems less likely, “Succession” will join rarefied air as one of just two series to win the category for two different people.
Eleven dramas have nabbed multiple wins in the Best Drama Actor category,...
Eleven dramas have nabbed multiple wins in the Best Drama Actor category,...
- 6/26/2023
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
New voting methods will likely yield surprise Emmy nomination inclusions (and exclusions) this year. There could also be historic representation in several areas, with ethnicity, age and decades-old records shattered.
HBO is no stranger to setting Emmy records. The fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” currently holds multiple records, including the most overall nominations for a drama series at 161 across its eight seasons. The network is celebrating its 50th anniversary and a new Max branding — so naturally, it wants more. If the early projections are accurate and it lands four drama series noms — “House of the Dragon,” “The Last of Us,” “The White Lotus” and last year’s winner, “Succession,” — HBO would tie the record for most series noms by a network in a single year, held by NBC since 1992.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Emmy predictions in all categories.
“Succession,” which broke the record for most acting...
HBO is no stranger to setting Emmy records. The fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” currently holds multiple records, including the most overall nominations for a drama series at 161 across its eight seasons. The network is celebrating its 50th anniversary and a new Max branding — so naturally, it wants more. If the early projections are accurate and it lands four drama series noms — “House of the Dragon,” “The Last of Us,” “The White Lotus” and last year’s winner, “Succession,” — HBO would tie the record for most series noms by a network in a single year, held by NBC since 1992.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Emmy predictions in all categories.
“Succession,” which broke the record for most acting...
- 6/22/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Pedro Pascal is charming, funny and incredibly talented. His resume thus far includes notable films and television series such as HBO’s “The Last of Us” and Lionsgate’s “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.”
During his interview, I referenced his 2020 cover story. In that story, he said he couldn’t believe Patty Jenkins cast him in “Wonder Woman 1984” without auditioning. Then something happened that you don’t typically see. When asked what it feels like to be a role model to young Latinos, LGBTQ and Hollywood dreamers everywhere who yearn to sit in the same position he finds himself in, his usual charisma and confidence melted away.
“I want to be able to fulfill the assignment and continue to fulfill the assignment,” Pascal says as he crosses his arms like a nervous student on the first day of school. “It’s the best part. It’s not necessarily...
During his interview, I referenced his 2020 cover story. In that story, he said he couldn’t believe Patty Jenkins cast him in “Wonder Woman 1984” without auditioning. Then something happened that you don’t typically see. When asked what it feels like to be a role model to young Latinos, LGBTQ and Hollywood dreamers everywhere who yearn to sit in the same position he finds himself in, his usual charisma and confidence melted away.
“I want to be able to fulfill the assignment and continue to fulfill the assignment,” Pascal says as he crosses his arms like a nervous student on the first day of school. “It’s the best part. It’s not necessarily...
- 6/21/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
If Diego Luna (“Andor”) and/or Pedro Pascal (“The Last of Us”) are nominated for Best Drama Actor at the Emmys this year, they’ll break a long and disappointing drought in the prestigious and competitive category, with Luna also breaking records for an often-overlooked genre.
It has been 24 years since a Latino actor has been nominated for Best Drama Actor, when Jimmy Smits (who was the first to do it) received his fifth (and final) consecutive nomination for “NYPD Blue” back in 1999. Since then, no other Latino actor has cracked the lofty category. Yes, you read correctly. No. Other. Latino. Actor. Not Wagner Moura for “Narcos.” Not Edward James Olmos for “Battlestar Galactica.” Not even left-field choices like Tyler Posey for “Teen Wolf” or Benjamin Bratt for “The Cleaner.” And no, multiple Emmy nominee Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”) is not included in this list (for argument’s sake...
It has been 24 years since a Latino actor has been nominated for Best Drama Actor, when Jimmy Smits (who was the first to do it) received his fifth (and final) consecutive nomination for “NYPD Blue” back in 1999. Since then, no other Latino actor has cracked the lofty category. Yes, you read correctly. No. Other. Latino. Actor. Not Wagner Moura for “Narcos.” Not Edward James Olmos for “Battlestar Galactica.” Not even left-field choices like Tyler Posey for “Teen Wolf” or Benjamin Bratt for “The Cleaner.” And no, multiple Emmy nominee Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”) is not included in this list (for argument’s sake...
- 6/6/2023
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Barry Newman, best known for starring in the action-thriller “Vanishing Point”, has died. He was 92.
Newman’s wife, Angela, confirmed the news of Newman’s death to The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday. The actor died of natural causes on May 11 at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Newman had a number of smaller screen roles and performed on Broadway until he was cast in the 1971 car chase classic “Vanishing Point”, by director Richard C. Sarafian. He starred as a former race car driver named Kowalski who drives a Dodge Challenger across the US while avoiding cops and getting entangled in a deadly criminal conspiracy.
The film went on to be a cult classic and genre-defining epic that went on to be revered for its action set-pieces and proved to be influential on the next generation of blockbuster filmmakers.
Newman later went on to play defence lawyer Anthony J. Petrocelli...
Newman’s wife, Angela, confirmed the news of Newman’s death to The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday. The actor died of natural causes on May 11 at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Newman had a number of smaller screen roles and performed on Broadway until he was cast in the 1971 car chase classic “Vanishing Point”, by director Richard C. Sarafian. He starred as a former race car driver named Kowalski who drives a Dodge Challenger across the US while avoiding cops and getting entangled in a deadly criminal conspiracy.
The film went on to be a cult classic and genre-defining epic that went on to be revered for its action set-pieces and proved to be influential on the next generation of blockbuster filmmakers.
Newman later went on to play defence lawyer Anthony J. Petrocelli...
- 6/5/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Barry Newman, who somehow made souped-up muscle cars look even cooler in the 1971 film “Vanishing Point” and starred in the titular role on NBC’s legal drama “Petrocelli,” has died. He was 92 years old.
Newman died at Columbia University Irving Medical Center on May 11, according to media reports.
Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, he took a college course with renowned acting instructor Lee Strasberg, who inspired him to become an actor. After graduating from Brandeis University and serving time in the army, Newman moved to New York City to study with Strasberg.
Newman went on to perform in various Broadway and New York theater shows before moving into feature films like 1971’s “The Lawyer” and, of course, “Vanishing Point,” in which he played Kowalski, a car delivery driver known for transporting hot rods in record time — but with a knack for running into trouble with highway cops.
He went...
Newman died at Columbia University Irving Medical Center on May 11, according to media reports.
Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, he took a college course with renowned acting instructor Lee Strasberg, who inspired him to become an actor. After graduating from Brandeis University and serving time in the army, Newman moved to New York City to study with Strasberg.
Newman went on to perform in various Broadway and New York theater shows before moving into feature films like 1971’s “The Lawyer” and, of course, “Vanishing Point,” in which he played Kowalski, a car delivery driver known for transporting hot rods in record time — but with a knack for running into trouble with highway cops.
He went...
- 6/5/2023
- by Jethro Nededog
- The Wrap
The nominations for the Emmys are still weeks away. But there’s growing excitement in the Latino community as multiple lead actors continue to look well-positioned to receive deserved recognition.
Two of the top contenders in the lead drama actor race — Pedro Pascal as the hardened survivor Joel from HBO’s apocalyptic video game adaptation “The Last of Us” and Diego Luna as the rebel hero Cassian in the “Star Wars” prequel series “Andor” from Disney+ — are Latino and star in buzzy sci-fi and fantasy series.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Emmy predictions in all categories.
Only one Latino actor has been recognized in the lead drama actor category in the past: From 1995-1999, Jimmy Smits received five consecutive noms for his role as Det. Bobby Simone on ABC’s “NYPD Blue.” Coincidentally, Pascal appeared as a guest on a 2001 episode.
Jumping seamlessly between film and television,...
Two of the top contenders in the lead drama actor race — Pedro Pascal as the hardened survivor Joel from HBO’s apocalyptic video game adaptation “The Last of Us” and Diego Luna as the rebel hero Cassian in the “Star Wars” prequel series “Andor” from Disney+ — are Latino and star in buzzy sci-fi and fantasy series.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Emmy predictions in all categories.
Only one Latino actor has been recognized in the lead drama actor category in the past: From 1995-1999, Jimmy Smits received five consecutive noms for his role as Det. Bobby Simone on ABC’s “NYPD Blue.” Coincidentally, Pascal appeared as a guest on a 2001 episode.
Jumping seamlessly between film and television,...
- 6/3/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Chicago – An essential documentary will stream on Apple TV+ beginning May 12th. “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” directed by Davis Guggenheim (“An Inconvenient Truth”) combines interview, re-creations and most telling, clips of Fox’s film/TV appearances to highlight his triumph and later, his Parkinson’s Disease.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
The film incorporates documentary, archival and scripted elements, recounting Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words - the improbable tale of an undersized kid from a Canada who rose to the heights of stardom in 1980s Hollywood. The account of Fox’s public life … full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss … dovetails with his private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease (along with his foundation advocacy in the search for a cure). The film chronicles Fox’s triumphs as well as his travails, and explores what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
The film incorporates documentary, archival and scripted elements, recounting Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words - the improbable tale of an undersized kid from a Canada who rose to the heights of stardom in 1980s Hollywood. The account of Fox’s public life … full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss … dovetails with his private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease (along with his foundation advocacy in the search for a cure). The film chronicles Fox’s triumphs as well as his travails, and explores what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.
- 5/10/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
CBS has canceled both the police procedural “East New York” and “True Lies” after just one season.
According to sources, the decision to cancel the series came down to CBS haggling with the series’ studio Warner Bros. Television over the show’s budget, which included CBS asking that the cast of the show not get the customary pay increases going into the second season. It has previously been reported that CBS has renewed other shows on its lineup, like the comedy “Bob Hearts Abishola,” after asking the cast to take pay cuts or by shifting series regulars to recurring status.
The drama series starred Amanda Warren as deputy inspector Regina Haywood, the newly promoted boss of the 74th Precinct in East New York, a working-class neighborhood on the edge of Brooklyn in the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification. With family ties to the area, Haywood...
According to sources, the decision to cancel the series came down to CBS haggling with the series’ studio Warner Bros. Television over the show’s budget, which included CBS asking that the cast of the show not get the customary pay increases going into the second season. It has previously been reported that CBS has renewed other shows on its lineup, like the comedy “Bob Hearts Abishola,” after asking the cast to take pay cuts or by shifting series regulars to recurring status.
The drama series starred Amanda Warren as deputy inspector Regina Haywood, the newly promoted boss of the 74th Precinct in East New York, a working-class neighborhood on the edge of Brooklyn in the midst of social upheaval and the early seeds of gentrification. With family ties to the area, Haywood...
- 5/9/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
“I feel a little old to play the girlfriend,” confesses Amy Brenneman about her role in the FX spy drama “The Old Man.” For our recent webchat she continues, “What I love about this project is it’s a re-examination of all these tropes. It’s this masculine action hero. Ok, what happens when he gets old? I’m the girlfriend. But she’s got a lot going on too. Ultimately, it’s this examination of masculinity and hyper-masculinity. As the systems break down and international politics shift, what’s another way?” Watch our exclusive video interview above.
“The Old Man” follows former CIA agent and fugitive Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) who is on the run from the FBI and assassins. Brenneman plays Zoe McDonald, a woman Dan rents a property from who gets caught up in the danger as they fall in love. She says, “Every single other person...
“The Old Man” follows former CIA agent and fugitive Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) who is on the run from the FBI and assassins. Brenneman plays Zoe McDonald, a woman Dan rents a property from who gets caught up in the danger as they fall in love. She says, “Every single other person...
- 4/28/2023
- by Matt Noble
- Gold Derby
I laugh when I hear people talk about how “Succession” is a sure thing winner for Best Drama Series and that it’s such a lock nothing whatsoever can derail it. Ha! Ha I say! Oh, it’s naturally going to be nominated and will likely remain the overwhelming frontrunner clear through Emmy season and up to Emmy night, all right. In the Gold Derby combined Emmy odds, it’s running away with this race, with “The White Lotus” Sicily” a very distant second. But if Emmy history has taught us anything, it’s that upsets happen, even giant ones. So you can absolutely never say never.
What upsets are we talking about? Well, let’s flash back and check out 15 of them, shall we?
See‘Succession’ way out front to win Best Drama Series Emmy 1952: “The Red Skelton Hour” beats “I Love Lucy” for “Best Comedy Show” – “Lucy...
What upsets are we talking about? Well, let’s flash back and check out 15 of them, shall we?
See‘Succession’ way out front to win Best Drama Series Emmy 1952: “The Red Skelton Hour” beats “I Love Lucy” for “Best Comedy Show” – “Lucy...
- 4/24/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
She'll be there for you. Bonnie Somerville, best known for playing Mona throughout the eighth season of "Friends," just tied the knot in the Santa Susana Mountains. On April 8, the actor married creative director Dave McClain - the person she says made her believe in true love. According to People, the ceremony took place at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in California, with Somerville's mom, Maureen, walking her down the aisle.
"I never believed in soulmates until I met Dave," Somerville told People. "I love everything about him." And evidently, so does Maureen. "She raised me alone so she's my best friend and both mom and dad to me," Somerville explained. "She loves Dave and they have an amazing bond."
As Mona, Somerville played one of Ross Geller's love interests who was trying to balance their relationship with the news of Rachel Green's pregnancy. Her character eventually broke things off...
"I never believed in soulmates until I met Dave," Somerville told People. "I love everything about him." And evidently, so does Maureen. "She raised me alone so she's my best friend and both mom and dad to me," Somerville explained. "She loves Dave and they have an amazing bond."
As Mona, Somerville played one of Ross Geller's love interests who was trying to balance their relationship with the news of Rachel Green's pregnancy. Her character eventually broke things off...
- 4/10/2023
- by Chandler Plante
- Popsugar.com
Back in the 1980s, John Larroquette dominated Best Comedy Supporting Actor at the Emmys. He won the category four times in a row (1985-88) for playing Dan Fielding on the NBC sitcom “Night Court.” Now, 35 years after his last win for the show and this time in Best Comedy Actor, he’s seeking to join an even more exclusive club of actors who have won five Emmys for playing the same character.
If Larroquette were to claim a fifth Emmy for playing Fielding, he would join three other performers who have also won that amount. Don Knotts won five times in Best Comedy Supporting Actor for his role as Deputy Sherrif Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show” in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967 and 1968. Ed Asner won three Emmys in Best Comedy Supporting Actor for playing Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and then two for Best Drama Actor for the same character on the spin-off show,...
If Larroquette were to claim a fifth Emmy for playing Fielding, he would join three other performers who have also won that amount. Don Knotts won five times in Best Comedy Supporting Actor for his role as Deputy Sherrif Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show” in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967 and 1968. Ed Asner won three Emmys in Best Comedy Supporting Actor for playing Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and then two for Best Drama Actor for the same character on the spin-off show,...
- 4/3/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Pedro Pascal has been a bonafide Hollywood star for years now, harking back to his earlier stints on shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Narcos.” But that has only been elevated this year, given his widely acclaimed turns on Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” and HBO’s “The Last of Us” — not to mention his magnificent hosting performance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” this season. With three potential categories for Pascal to shine, it would be unfathomable to imagine an Emmy acting lineup without the inclusion of the Chilean superstar.
Three wildly different Pascal performances are available for the Television Academy to consider.
With “The Last of Us,” an adaptation of the popular videogame series, Pascal stars as Joel Miller, a hardened survivor of a global pandemic that finds a vulnerability in 14-year-old Ellie (played remarkably by lead actress drama candidate Bella Ramsey). A genre show that allows Pascal to internalize his emotions,...
Three wildly different Pascal performances are available for the Television Academy to consider.
With “The Last of Us,” an adaptation of the popular videogame series, Pascal stars as Joel Miller, a hardened survivor of a global pandemic that finds a vulnerability in 14-year-old Ellie (played remarkably by lead actress drama candidate Bella Ramsey). A genre show that allows Pascal to internalize his emotions,...
- 4/3/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Showtime is keeping its Yellowjackets team intact.
The network has struck an overall deal with showrunner Jonathan Lisco. The move will see Lisco continue to serve as executive producer, writer and showrunner on the hit series, alongside creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, while also developing new projects.
The move comes after it also locked up married couple Lyle and Nickerson to a similar deal last year.
Yellowjackets is a breakout hit for the network and one of the few that is not based on existing IP. The season two premiere delivered Showtime‘s best debut for a second installment that the network has seen in more than 10 years.
That’s before we’ve even got to the fun part with episode two, Edible Complex, which features the first full-blown cannibalism episode of the show and was written by Lisco.
The series also received an early renewal – ahead of...
The network has struck an overall deal with showrunner Jonathan Lisco. The move will see Lisco continue to serve as executive producer, writer and showrunner on the hit series, alongside creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, while also developing new projects.
The move comes after it also locked up married couple Lyle and Nickerson to a similar deal last year.
Yellowjackets is a breakout hit for the network and one of the few that is not based on existing IP. The season two premiere delivered Showtime‘s best debut for a second installment that the network has seen in more than 10 years.
That’s before we’ve even got to the fun part with episode two, Edible Complex, which features the first full-blown cannibalism episode of the show and was written by Lisco.
The series also received an early renewal – ahead of...
- 3/31/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
While all of the early Emmy drama series buzz has fallen to HBO’s “Succession” with its fourth and final season having launched on Sunday, this fails to acknowledge the fact that there are no fewer than four previous top series winners poised to compete against one another in the category this year: “Succession,” “The White Lotus,” “The Crown” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The fact that one of them won for Best Limited/Anthology series (“White Lotus”) rather than Best Drama Series is irrelevant. Best is best.
Moreover, there are three shows that earned more than 20 nominations apiece in their last qualifying year:
“Succession”: 25 nominations and four wins (including top drama) in 2022. “The White Lotus”: 20 nominations and 10 wins (including limited series) in 2022. “The Crown”: 24 nominations and 11 wins (including Best Drama) in 2021. SEEEmmy Experts Typing: Will ‘Succession’ go out on a high note?
The last time that three...
Moreover, there are three shows that earned more than 20 nominations apiece in their last qualifying year:
“Succession”: 25 nominations and four wins (including top drama) in 2022. “The White Lotus”: 20 nominations and 10 wins (including limited series) in 2022. “The Crown”: 24 nominations and 11 wins (including Best Drama) in 2021. SEEEmmy Experts Typing: Will ‘Succession’ go out on a high note?
The last time that three...
- 3/29/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
These days, Pedro Pascal is one of the internet’s favorite stars. In just a few years, the actor has arisen from a breakout star of Narcos to a legitimate leading man. Of course, Game of Thrones is a big part of that ascension as well. But despite his current success, Pascal has no qualms about looking back at his early career, including his guest appearance on NYPD Blue.
Pedro Pascal made many TV guest appearances before his big break Pedro Pascal attends the Vanity Fair 95th Oscars Party. I Michael Tran/Afp via Getty Images
Arguably, Pascal first gained mainstream attention as Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones. But long before he joined that show -– and was spectacularly killed off –- in season 4, the actor was making the rounds and paying his dues with regular guest appearances on a variety of hit TV series. This includes roles on more than 20 shows,...
Pedro Pascal made many TV guest appearances before his big break Pedro Pascal attends the Vanity Fair 95th Oscars Party. I Michael Tran/Afp via Getty Images
Arguably, Pascal first gained mainstream attention as Oberyn Martell on Game of Thrones. But long before he joined that show -– and was spectacularly killed off –- in season 4, the actor was making the rounds and paying his dues with regular guest appearances on a variety of hit TV series. This includes roles on more than 20 shows,...
- 3/28/2023
- by Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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