The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is clearly taking a “go big or go home” approach to its fifth and final season. To wit: The Prime Video smash held its final table read at New York’s Steiner Studios on Wednesday and it’d be an understatement to say no expense was spared.
The streamer’s Head of Awards, Debra Birnbaum, shared on Instagram Thursday a collection of photos from the grandiose event, which featured an opulent banquet hall-type setting and culminated with a fireworks display.
More from TVLineRings of Power: Daniel Weyman Didn't Know The Stranger's Identity Until Filming the Season...
The streamer’s Head of Awards, Debra Birnbaum, shared on Instagram Thursday a collection of photos from the grandiose event, which featured an opulent banquet hall-type setting and culminated with a fireworks display.
More from TVLineRings of Power: Daniel Weyman Didn't Know The Stranger's Identity Until Filming the Season...
- 10/13/2022
- by Michael Ausiello
- TVLine.com
Academy Invites 397 New Members, Including Billie Eilish, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jamie Dornan, Dana Walden
Anya Taylor-Joy, Billie Eilish, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan and Disney exec Dana Walden are among the 397 artists and executives invited to join the membership of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. If all of this year’s invitees accept membership, it will bring the total number of Academy members to 10,665, with 9,665 eligible to vote for the 95th Oscars set to take place on March 12, 2023.
The 2022 class is 44 women, 37 belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 50 are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States. There are 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners, among the invitees. Some of the big names invited are recent winners Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) and Troy Kotsur (“Coda”), and nominees Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”), Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”). Also invited are a slew of global artists and artisans such as actors Robin de Jesús, Olga Merediz...
The 2022 class is 44 women, 37 belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 50 are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States. There are 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners, among the invitees. Some of the big names invited are recent winners Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) and Troy Kotsur (“Coda”), and nominees Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”), Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”). Also invited are a slew of global artists and artisans such as actors Robin de Jesús, Olga Merediz...
- 6/28/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 397 members of the global film community to join the organization, it was announced Tuesday.
Among those who will henceforth be able to vote for the Oscar nominations and winners if they accept, as the vast majority of people who have received invites historically have: newly-minted Oscar winners Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell (music branch) and Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur (actors); Paramount chief Brian Robbins and Disney general entertainment chief Dana Walden (executives); and film critic Leonard Maltin (members-at-large).
According to an Academy-provided breakdown of the new invitees, 44 percent are women, 37 percent are non-white and 50 percent are non-Americans (54 different countries are represented). If they all accept, the Academy’s overall membership will be 34 percent female, 19 percent non-white and 23 percent non-American.
Seven branches invited more women than men (actors, casting directors, costume designers, documentary,...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 397 members of the global film community to join the organization, it was announced Tuesday.
Among those who will henceforth be able to vote for the Oscar nominations and winners if they accept, as the vast majority of people who have received invites historically have: newly-minted Oscar winners Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell (music branch) and Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur (actors); Paramount chief Brian Robbins and Disney general entertainment chief Dana Walden (executives); and film critic Leonard Maltin (members-at-large).
According to an Academy-provided breakdown of the new invitees, 44 percent are women, 37 percent are non-white and 50 percent are non-Americans (54 different countries are represented). If they all accept, the Academy’s overall membership will be 34 percent female, 19 percent non-white and 23 percent non-American.
Seven branches invited more women than men (actors, casting directors, costume designers, documentary,...
- 6/28/2022
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Happy Anniversary — well, sort of “happy” — to Sarah Paulson, since it’s exactly 25 years since Variety ran a review of her feature film debut, “Levitation.” In the indie, she plays a pregnant teenager. Critic Leonard Klady on April 14, 1997, said it was a grim saga with “a strong cast” who were “not ably supported by the script.”
It’s not the most promising debut and the film was quickly forgotten, but Paulson continued to work.
Like many New York actors, she worked on stage and made her TV debut in a 1994 “Law & Order” episode, about a year after her high school graduation.
She continued to do theater, including Broadway’s 2005 “The Glass Menagerie” with Jessica Lange, and films, such as the Oscar winner “12 Years a Slave,” where she proved herself a team player by working hard to promote the movie, even though she had a relatively small role.
Her...
It’s not the most promising debut and the film was quickly forgotten, but Paulson continued to work.
Like many New York actors, she worked on stage and made her TV debut in a 1994 “Law & Order” episode, about a year after her high school graduation.
She continued to do theater, including Broadway’s 2005 “The Glass Menagerie” with Jessica Lange, and films, such as the Oscar winner “12 Years a Slave,” where she proved herself a team player by working hard to promote the movie, even though she had a relatively small role.
Her...
- 4/1/2022
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
A few years ago, I asked “Supernatural” creator Eric Kripke about the barrier to entry for genre shows in the Emmy race. With a few exceptions, such as “The X-Files” and “Lost,” shows with a sci-fi, fantasy or comic book bent had a hard time being taken seriously by Television Academy voters.
“I always figured it was a neighborhood where I’m not allowed. I always thought it was a gated community [and] I could never get over that gate,” he told me at the time.
“Game of Thrones” busted that gate open. Streaming amplified it, and this year the proof is in the noms: 24 for “The Mandalorian,” 23 for “WandaVision,” 18 for “Lovecraft Country.”
And then there’s Kripke’s latest series, Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys.” The series follows a group known as “The Boys” who try to expose the truth of how superheroes are abusing their powers. The show’s second season,...
“I always figured it was a neighborhood where I’m not allowed. I always thought it was a gated community [and] I could never get over that gate,” he told me at the time.
“Game of Thrones” busted that gate open. Streaming amplified it, and this year the proof is in the noms: 24 for “The Mandalorian,” 23 for “WandaVision,” 18 for “Lovecraft Country.”
And then there’s Kripke’s latest series, Amazon Prime Video’s “The Boys.” The series follows a group known as “The Boys” who try to expose the truth of how superheroes are abusing their powers. The show’s second season,...
- 8/17/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video is getting into the Emmy FYC pop-up groove after all. The streamer is unveiling a three-day experiential event next weekend tied to its drama series “The Boys.”
The drive-thru restaurant, dubbed “Planet Vought,” will take place at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, with reservations available between June 4 and June 6. Besides being fed, visitors will be sent through a 40-minute ride that will showcase production elements related to “The Boys,” as well as storylines and characters that should familiar to fans of the show. Because of Covid protocols, attendance will be limited to reservations, which can be made both by Emmy voters and civilian consumers.
The event represents a return to experiential Emmy FYC events for Amazon, which traditionally holds a large pop-up space, including panels and displays, at the Hollywood Athletic Club. But that experience has been put on hold the past two years due to...
The drive-thru restaurant, dubbed “Planet Vought,” will take place at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, with reservations available between June 4 and June 6. Besides being fed, visitors will be sent through a 40-minute ride that will showcase production elements related to “The Boys,” as well as storylines and characters that should familiar to fans of the show. Because of Covid protocols, attendance will be limited to reservations, which can be made both by Emmy voters and civilian consumers.
The event represents a return to experiential Emmy FYC events for Amazon, which traditionally holds a large pop-up space, including panels and displays, at the Hollywood Athletic Club. But that experience has been put on hold the past two years due to...
- 5/26/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Prime just won a couple of Oscars for their film “Sound of Metal,” and now the streaming service is jumping right into Emmy season with “Beyond the Screen” virtual events and a “Prime Video Presents” podcast to promote their slate of programs from May 1 through June 10. Their events can be found on the Emmys FYC calendar.
Among the programs being promoted by Amazon this season include the sci-fi dramas “The Boys” and “The Expanse”; the Barry Jenkins limited series “The Underground Railroad”; the telefilms “Uncle Frank,” “Yearly Departed,” and “Sylvie’s Love”; the documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy“; the anthologies “Solos” and “Them”; and the theatrical special “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
Seersvp now for May 10: TV documentary directors for ‘Framing Britney Spears,’ ‘Heaven’s Gate,’ ‘High on the Hog,’ ‘Seduced,’ ‘The Year Earth Changed’ join Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts series
“Beyond the Screen” kicked...
Among the programs being promoted by Amazon this season include the sci-fi dramas “The Boys” and “The Expanse”; the Barry Jenkins limited series “The Underground Railroad”; the telefilms “Uncle Frank,” “Yearly Departed,” and “Sylvie’s Love”; the documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy“; the anthologies “Solos” and “Them”; and the theatrical special “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
Seersvp now for May 10: TV documentary directors for ‘Framing Britney Spears,’ ‘Heaven’s Gate,’ ‘High on the Hog,’ ‘Seduced,’ ‘The Year Earth Changed’ join Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts series
“Beyond the Screen” kicked...
- 5/3/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Amazon Prime Video has once again put a pause on its annual in-person Emmy FYC pop-up events space due to the pandemic. But in its place, the streamer has curated a virtual experience, dubbed “Beyond the Screen,” that kicks off this weekend with an evening devoted to the stars, crafts and music of Steve McQueen’s anthology series “Small Axe.”
Variety has the exclusive roundup of the Emmy FYC panels, screenings, podcasts and performances that will kick off Amazon Studios and Prime Video’s campaign starting May 1, and continuing through June 10.
Talent populating the panels, set to be streamed for Television Academy members, include McQueen and John Boyega (“Small Axe”); Barry Jenkins and Joel Edgerton (“The Underground Railroad”), and Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Aya Cash and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”). Other contenders participating include “Solos,” “Sylvie’s Love,” “The Expanse,” “Them,” “Uncle Frank,” “What The Constitution Means To Me” and “Yearly Departed.
Variety has the exclusive roundup of the Emmy FYC panels, screenings, podcasts and performances that will kick off Amazon Studios and Prime Video’s campaign starting May 1, and continuing through June 10.
Talent populating the panels, set to be streamed for Television Academy members, include McQueen and John Boyega (“Small Axe”); Barry Jenkins and Joel Edgerton (“The Underground Railroad”), and Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Aya Cash and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”). Other contenders participating include “Solos,” “Sylvie’s Love,” “The Expanse,” “Them,” “Uncle Frank,” “What The Constitution Means To Me” and “Yearly Departed.
- 4/30/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Studios has tapped Lorenza Muñoz as senior global awards executive, Variety has learned.
Muñoz joins the studio from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she led the internal member relations and awards department. In her new role, she will focus on implementing awards strategies on a global and international scale, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusivity.
Reporting to Debra Birnbaum, the director of awards at Amazon Studios, Lorenza will work across all Amazon original film and series content.
At AMPAS, Lorenza helped bring in the largest and most diverse member classes in the organization’s history. She also oversaw activities and initiatives for the Academy’s near 9,000 members, including Oscars submissions, rules for eligibility, Oscar-related events and voting throughout the organization.
Some of her notable initiatives included A2020, which doubled the number of women and people from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities in the...
Muñoz joins the studio from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she led the internal member relations and awards department. In her new role, she will focus on implementing awards strategies on a global and international scale, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusivity.
Reporting to Debra Birnbaum, the director of awards at Amazon Studios, Lorenza will work across all Amazon original film and series content.
At AMPAS, Lorenza helped bring in the largest and most diverse member classes in the organization’s history. She also oversaw activities and initiatives for the Academy’s near 9,000 members, including Oscars submissions, rules for eligibility, Oscar-related events and voting throughout the organization.
Some of her notable initiatives included A2020, which doubled the number of women and people from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities in the...
- 9/10/2020
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Studios is providing $1 million for the catering team at the Jon & Vinny’s restaurant group to prepare meals for local charities feeding those in need, including No Kid Hungry, Off Their Plate, the Los Angeles Mission and the Motion Picture & Television Fund. As part of the initiative, Jon & Vinny’s will team with other L.A. restaurants including the Culver City restaurant Hatchet Hall, whose kitchen staffs will also work to prepare and deliver food to be distributed.
“This unprecedented crisis has impacted all of us in immeasurable ways, and it’s more important than ever that we all do our part to give back at every level — and particularly to our own community,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, whose headquarters is based in Culver City. “At Amazon Studios and Prime Video, we’re truly honored to be able to show our support to the community that has always supported us,...
“This unprecedented crisis has impacted all of us in immeasurable ways, and it’s more important than ever that we all do our part to give back at every level — and particularly to our own community,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, whose headquarters is based in Culver City. “At Amazon Studios and Prime Video, we’re truly honored to be able to show our support to the community that has always supported us,...
- 5/14/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A column chronicling conversations and events on the awards circuit.
Emmy voting closes in three days. The reason I know that is because as a Television Academy member you are constantly reminded to vote, and that is the notice I got today, as opposed to yesterday, when it was four days. I wonder if they just send this no matter what, or if they really know I am a straggler and have not yet cast my ballot.
It’s not that I won’t — it’s just that I, like many others, keep procrastinating because, based on experience, it is quite daunting just to get through the damn thing. As a member of the writers branch I have five categories of hundreds of submissions to peruse, and then there are about 20 program categories to also go through in choosing those you think are worthy. The numbers are mind-boggling with some reportedly 732 programs — 165 drama series alone.
Emmy voting closes in three days. The reason I know that is because as a Television Academy member you are constantly reminded to vote, and that is the notice I got today, as opposed to yesterday, when it was four days. I wonder if they just send this no matter what, or if they really know I am a straggler and have not yet cast my ballot.
It’s not that I won’t — it’s just that I, like many others, keep procrastinating because, based on experience, it is quite daunting just to get through the damn thing. As a member of the writers branch I have five categories of hundreds of submissions to peruse, and then there are about 20 program categories to also go through in choosing those you think are worthy. The numbers are mind-boggling with some reportedly 732 programs — 165 drama series alone.
- 6/21/2019
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Debra Birnbaum of Variety and many others have made it known that RuPaul is making his way to daytime TV where he’s going to hosting his own talk show. He’ll be covering a variety of topics, not the least of which will be fashion tips and different ways to be glamorous and of course be yourself and who you’re meant to be. Those that have been following RuPaul for so long are no doubt going to be very excited to see him hosting his own talk show as it will be a slightly different take from what he’s already done
We Thought You Should Know RuPaul has a New Talk Show...
We Thought You Should Know RuPaul has a New Talk Show...
- 6/12/2019
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
As the volume of original scripted series has continued to grow, the number of central characters, often embodied by big name talent, has increased as well. This is causing an influx of co-stars seeing their names alongside each other’s on the lead acting nomination ballots at the Emmys.
“The volume of original programming now and the volume of actors doing really, really terrific work now and speaking the words of great writers probably has never been better in the history of television,” says television communications and awards executive Richard Licata of Licata & Co. “And that’s why you’re seeing so many movie stars come over to television, too. They’re hungry for great roles.”
Licata notes that in the more than three decades he has been in the business, he has often had to get on the phone with talent’s reps to say that a particular actor...
“The volume of original programming now and the volume of actors doing really, really terrific work now and speaking the words of great writers probably has never been better in the history of television,” says television communications and awards executive Richard Licata of Licata & Co. “And that’s why you’re seeing so many movie stars come over to television, too. They’re hungry for great roles.”
Licata notes that in the more than three decades he has been in the business, he has often had to get on the phone with talent’s reps to say that a particular actor...
- 5/29/2019
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
CBS and The Young and the Restless were the top winners Friday at the Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Awards, which were handed out at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the site of tomorrow’s 46th annual Daytime Emmys.
The Young and the Restless scored five nods at the ceremony, which honored the year’s best in children’s and animated programming along with crafts. Baobab Studios’ animated Crow: The Legend and Amazon Prime’s soap After Forever scored four wins apiece.
The syndicated The Ellen DeGeneres Show was one of four shows with three wins apiece, among them for directing and writing. Others with three included HBO’s Sesame Street, which was named Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series; NBC’s Days of Our Lives, which leads all programs this year with 27 total noms; and CBS’ The Talk.
Other marquee children’s programming winners included PBS’ Odd Squad, which won the Outstanding...
The Young and the Restless scored five nods at the ceremony, which honored the year’s best in children’s and animated programming along with crafts. Baobab Studios’ animated Crow: The Legend and Amazon Prime’s soap After Forever scored four wins apiece.
The syndicated The Ellen DeGeneres Show was one of four shows with three wins apiece, among them for directing and writing. Others with three included HBO’s Sesame Street, which was named Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series; NBC’s Days of Our Lives, which leads all programs this year with 27 total noms; and CBS’ The Talk.
Other marquee children’s programming winners included PBS’ Odd Squad, which won the Outstanding...
- 5/4/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Variety took home a Daytime Creative Arts Emmy award on Friday for its “Actors on Actors” series.
“Variety Studio: Actors on Actors” is a production with PBS SoCal that features two actors discussing their craft and thoughts on Hollywood. The winning season includes interviews with actors promoting their television projects including: Bill Hader (“Barry”) with Jason Bateman (“Ozark” and “Arrested Development”), Michael B. Jordan (“Fahrenheit 451”) with Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Sharon Stone (“Mosaic”) with Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Jonathan Groff (“Mindhunter”) with Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Deuce”), J.K. Simmons (“Counterpart”) with Edie Falco (“Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders”), and Jeff Daniels (“Godless” and “The Looming Tower”) with Laura Linney (“Ozark.”)
“Actors on Actors” won in the special class series category against “Close Up With the Hollywood Reporter,” “Lucky Dog With Brandon McMillan,” “Mysteries & Scandals,” “To Life: How Israeli Volunteers Are Changing the World,” “Working in the Theatre,” “Light in the Water,...
“Variety Studio: Actors on Actors” is a production with PBS SoCal that features two actors discussing their craft and thoughts on Hollywood. The winning season includes interviews with actors promoting their television projects including: Bill Hader (“Barry”) with Jason Bateman (“Ozark” and “Arrested Development”), Michael B. Jordan (“Fahrenheit 451”) with Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Sharon Stone (“Mosaic”) with Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Jonathan Groff (“Mindhunter”) with Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Deuce”), J.K. Simmons (“Counterpart”) with Edie Falco (“Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders”), and Jeff Daniels (“Godless” and “The Looming Tower”) with Laura Linney (“Ozark.”)
“Actors on Actors” won in the special class series category against “Close Up With the Hollywood Reporter,” “Lucky Dog With Brandon McMillan,” “Mysteries & Scandals,” “To Life: How Israeli Volunteers Are Changing the World,” “Working in the Theatre,” “Light in the Water,...
- 5/4/2019
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Debra Birnbaum chats with “Outlander” star Caitriona Balfe about the fourth season of the hit Starz show. As Claire Randall, a time-traveling nurse balancing both family and love, Balfe finds herself juggling romance with some horrors of early American life in the new season.
“Claire, especially last season, was very much focused on her professional life and this idea that she was this trailblazing professional women in the ’50s and ’60s, and that was really gratifying to play,” Balfe says.
This season, though, the actress continues, “we get to see this woman, and this couple, choose their home and sort of choose how they want to live their life and what that community that they want to build from the ground up,...
In this week’s episode, Debra Birnbaum chats with “Outlander” star Caitriona Balfe about the fourth season of the hit Starz show. As Claire Randall, a time-traveling nurse balancing both family and love, Balfe finds herself juggling romance with some horrors of early American life in the new season.
“Claire, especially last season, was very much focused on her professional life and this idea that she was this trailblazing professional women in the ’50s and ’60s, and that was really gratifying to play,” Balfe says.
This season, though, the actress continues, “we get to see this woman, and this couple, choose their home and sort of choose how they want to live their life and what that community that they want to build from the ground up,...
- 11/23/2018
- by Nate Nickolai
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s business editor Cynthia Littleton and executive editor of TV Debra Birnbaum talk with Ben Stiller, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Dano, and Patricia Arquette about their new Showtime series “Escape at Dannemora.”
The eight-episode series follows the true story of two inmates, David Sweat and Richard Matt, who escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, in 2015, spurring a three-and-a-half-week manhunt.
Director Stiller talks about getting direct permission from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to film in the actual location from which the inmates made their famous escape.
“You go to Clinton Correctional and you see the environment, you see how old the prison is, you see how long people have been working there,” Stiller says. “It’s really...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s business editor Cynthia Littleton and executive editor of TV Debra Birnbaum talk with Ben Stiller, Benicio Del Toro, Paul Dano, and Patricia Arquette about their new Showtime series “Escape at Dannemora.”
The eight-episode series follows the true story of two inmates, David Sweat and Richard Matt, who escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, in 2015, spurring a three-and-a-half-week manhunt.
Director Stiller talks about getting direct permission from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to film in the actual location from which the inmates made their famous escape.
“You go to Clinton Correctional and you see the environment, you see how old the prison is, you see how long people have been working there,” Stiller says. “It’s really...
- 11/16/2018
- by Margeaux Sippell
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon has ordered a pilot for a bilingual scripted show from “Everybody Loves Somebody” director Catalina Aguilar Mastretta.
The untitled comedy project is, per Amazon’s description, a bilingual (Spanish) romantic comedy about family – the one you choose and the one you’re born into, set in Los Angeles. Sara has been the matriarch of her chosen family since her parents moved back to Mexico City in her late teens. She and her diverse group of friends and family attempt to master their careers and romantic entanglements while living together in Sara’s Hollywood Hills compound. Now, Sara’s mother, Ines, is moving back in and shedding a new light on the life Sara built for herself, pushing everyone towards a late-in-life coming of age.
Lorenza Izzo will play Sara, “a self-described Mexican American Jew who works as a professional photographer” per Amazon. The project also stars Georgie Flores, Giancarlo Vidrio,...
The untitled comedy project is, per Amazon’s description, a bilingual (Spanish) romantic comedy about family – the one you choose and the one you’re born into, set in Los Angeles. Sara has been the matriarch of her chosen family since her parents moved back to Mexico City in her late teens. She and her diverse group of friends and family attempt to master their careers and romantic entanglements while living together in Sara’s Hollywood Hills compound. Now, Sara’s mother, Ines, is moving back in and shedding a new light on the life Sara built for herself, pushing everyone towards a late-in-life coming of age.
Lorenza Izzo will play Sara, “a self-described Mexican American Jew who works as a professional photographer” per Amazon. The project also stars Georgie Flores, Giancarlo Vidrio,...
- 11/13/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Despite the demise of Toys R Us, which rocked sales for Hollywood’s film and TV merchandise, the death of retail stores is exaggerated.
Online commerce only accounts for around 10% of U.S. retail sales, and such brick-and-mortar mass-market retailers as Walmart and Target are still corralling two-thirds of sales in many product categories. But the pursuit of direct-to-consumer sales online by all players in the merchandise ecosystem has unleashed multi-directional competition, and that contributed to Toys R Us shuttering its stores in bankruptcy earlier this year.
“It used to be sacrosanct that studios and television networks not compete with retailers and manufacturers,” says Ira Mayer, a New York-based consultant and co-director of the Institute of Branding & Licensing at Long Island U.-Post. “Now the studios and TV networks sell direct to consumers, and the manufacturers sell direct to consumers, competing with their retailer customers. Everybody is competing with everybody.
Online commerce only accounts for around 10% of U.S. retail sales, and such brick-and-mortar mass-market retailers as Walmart and Target are still corralling two-thirds of sales in many product categories. But the pursuit of direct-to-consumer sales online by all players in the merchandise ecosystem has unleashed multi-directional competition, and that contributed to Toys R Us shuttering its stores in bankruptcy earlier this year.
“It used to be sacrosanct that studios and television networks not compete with retailers and manufacturers,” says Ira Mayer, a New York-based consultant and co-director of the Institute of Branding & Licensing at Long Island U.-Post. “Now the studios and TV networks sell direct to consumers, and the manufacturers sell direct to consumers, competing with their retailer customers. Everybody is competing with everybody.
- 11/13/2018
- by Robert Marich
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
On this week’s episode, Variety‘s Debra Birnbaum talks with CW stars Caity Lotz and Candice Patton about their website SheThority. Lotz stars as Sara Lance — aka White Canary — on “Legends of Tomorrow.” Patton plays Iris West on another of the network’s DC Comics-inspired superhero dramas, “The Flash.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The idea for SheThority grew from the experience that Lotz, Patton, and other actresses from the CW’s “Arrowverse” shows had working together on their annual crossover event.
“When we got together on the crossovers, we were like ‘Wow, this feels so nice,'” said Lotz. “We just started sharing stories of what we were going through, whether it’s personal or work,...
On this week’s episode, Variety‘s Debra Birnbaum talks with CW stars Caity Lotz and Candice Patton about their website SheThority. Lotz stars as Sara Lance — aka White Canary — on “Legends of Tomorrow.” Patton plays Iris West on another of the network’s DC Comics-inspired superhero dramas, “The Flash.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The idea for SheThority grew from the experience that Lotz, Patton, and other actresses from the CW’s “Arrowverse” shows had working together on their annual crossover event.
“When we got together on the crossovers, we were like ‘Wow, this feels so nice,'” said Lotz. “We just started sharing stories of what we were going through, whether it’s personal or work,...
- 11/9/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Daniel Holloway, Variety’s senior TV writer, is being promoted to Executive Editor, TV. He will assume his new role on Nov. 26.
Holloway is succeeding Debra Birnbaum — who’s been tapped as director of awards at Amazon — and will lead the publication’s team of TV writers, editors, and critics in Los Angeles and New York. He will be responsible for shaping the daily and weekly TV coverage for print and online and set and implement Variety’s overall TV strategy.
He will also put his own imprint on Variety’s TV podcast, “Remote Controlled.”
Holloway will report directly to Variety co-Editor-in-Chief Claudia Eller.
“Dan has proven himself to be a major star here at Variety and was the natural choice to take on the leadership of our great TV team,” says Eller. “Given his smarts, drive, and deep knowledge of the industry, Dan will be a phenomenal manager, mentor,...
Holloway is succeeding Debra Birnbaum — who’s been tapped as director of awards at Amazon — and will lead the publication’s team of TV writers, editors, and critics in Los Angeles and New York. He will be responsible for shaping the daily and weekly TV coverage for print and online and set and implement Variety’s overall TV strategy.
He will also put his own imprint on Variety’s TV podcast, “Remote Controlled.”
Holloway will report directly to Variety co-Editor-in-Chief Claudia Eller.
“Dan has proven himself to be a major star here at Variety and was the natural choice to take on the leadership of our great TV team,” says Eller. “Given his smarts, drive, and deep knowledge of the industry, Dan will be a phenomenal manager, mentor,...
- 11/7/2018
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Studios bolstered its trophy-campaigning ranks today, naming Debra Birnbaum as director of awards. She will oversee all aspects of the studio’s campaigns including strategy, marketing, advertising and awards publicity and events across both TV and film.
Formerly executive editor of our sibling publication Variety, she will lead awards efforts for the studio’s Prime Original Series, Amazon Original Movies and the Prime Video service. She will report to Mike Benson, director of marketing at Amazon Studios.
Birnbaum has more than two decades of experience covering news and entertainment. At Variety, she oversaw all television coverage for the trade’s multiple platforms. Prior to that she was the President/Editor-in-Chief of TV Guide Magazine for seven years. She also has worked for Redbook, George, More, The New York Post and Us Weekly.
Formerly executive editor of our sibling publication Variety, she will lead awards efforts for the studio’s Prime Original Series, Amazon Original Movies and the Prime Video service. She will report to Mike Benson, director of marketing at Amazon Studios.
Birnbaum has more than two decades of experience covering news and entertainment. At Variety, she oversaw all television coverage for the trade’s multiple platforms. Prior to that she was the President/Editor-in-Chief of TV Guide Magazine for seven years. She also has worked for Redbook, George, More, The New York Post and Us Weekly.
- 11/6/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios has hired Variety’s Executive TV Editor Debra Birnbaum as awards campaign director, the studio announced on Monday.
Birnbaum will oversee all aspects of the awards campaigns for Amazon’s film and TV divisions. She will report to Mike Benson, Amazon’s marketing director.
Birnbaum is entering the awards business after more than 20 years in Hollywood entertainment and trade reporting. Prior to her tenure at Variety, she served as president and editor-in-chief of TV Guide Magazine.
Amazon Studios became the first streaming media service to win a Golden Globe earning the top prize for Best TV Musical or Comedy in 2015 for “Transparent” and doing so again a year later with “Mozart in the Jungle.” Amazon also became the first streaming studio to release a film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar with “Manchester By The Sea,” which won Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. Most recently, the studio...
Birnbaum will oversee all aspects of the awards campaigns for Amazon’s film and TV divisions. She will report to Mike Benson, Amazon’s marketing director.
Birnbaum is entering the awards business after more than 20 years in Hollywood entertainment and trade reporting. Prior to her tenure at Variety, she served as president and editor-in-chief of TV Guide Magazine.
Amazon Studios became the first streaming media service to win a Golden Globe earning the top prize for Best TV Musical or Comedy in 2015 for “Transparent” and doing so again a year later with “Mozart in the Jungle.” Amazon also became the first streaming studio to release a film nominated for the Best Picture Oscar with “Manchester By The Sea,” which won Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. Most recently, the studio...
- 11/6/2018
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Variety Executive Editor Debra Birnbaum will be leaving her post of four and a half years to join Amazon as director of awards. Her last day at Variety will be Nov. 23.
Birnbaum has led Variety’s TV team and coverage since joining the news organization in 2014, serving both as editor and writer of some of the publication’s strongest cover stories, including her recent profile of Robin Wright and her takeover of “House of Cards.”
Along with her many newsroom and managerial duties, Birnbaum has overseen Variety’s annual TV awards coverage and gold standard Emmy standalones. She has also moderated numerous industry panels with top talent and led the charge on Variety’s award-winning TV Actors on Actors series.
“We will sorely miss Debra and all of the enormous contributions she has made to our organization—both from an editorial and business perspective,” says Claudia Eller and Andrew Wallenstein,...
Birnbaum has led Variety’s TV team and coverage since joining the news organization in 2014, serving both as editor and writer of some of the publication’s strongest cover stories, including her recent profile of Robin Wright and her takeover of “House of Cards.”
Along with her many newsroom and managerial duties, Birnbaum has overseen Variety’s annual TV awards coverage and gold standard Emmy standalones. She has also moderated numerous industry panels with top talent and led the charge on Variety’s award-winning TV Actors on Actors series.
“We will sorely miss Debra and all of the enormous contributions she has made to our organization—both from an editorial and business perspective,” says Claudia Eller and Andrew Wallenstein,...
- 11/5/2018
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In today’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV Debra Birnbaum talks with “Homecoming” star Julia Roberts and creator-director Sam Esmail (“Mr. Robot”), ahead of the series’ Nov. 2 premiere on Amazon.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The psychological thriller, based on a podcast of the same name by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, focuses on a former caseworker, played by Roberts, who worked at a mysterious facility helping soldiers transition to civilian life.
When Roberts and Esmail first met over Skype, it was an instant “alchemy,” Roberts said. Because she hadn’t ever led a television series before, Roberts wanted Esmail to direct all the episodes and serve as “a captain” to maintain stability over such a long period of filming.
In today’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV Debra Birnbaum talks with “Homecoming” star Julia Roberts and creator-director Sam Esmail (“Mr. Robot”), ahead of the series’ Nov. 2 premiere on Amazon.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The psychological thriller, based on a podcast of the same name by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, focuses on a former caseworker, played by Roberts, who worked at a mysterious facility helping soldiers transition to civilian life.
When Roberts and Esmail first met over Skype, it was an instant “alchemy,” Roberts said. Because she hadn’t ever led a television series before, Roberts wanted Esmail to direct all the episodes and serve as “a captain” to maintain stability over such a long period of filming.
- 10/26/2018
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Nathan Fillion, star of the new ABC drama “The Rookie.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The project marked the first time Fillion ever pitched and sold a show to a network without having a pilot written. He jokingly likens the experience to selling a sandwich.
“If I told you I was gonna make you an amazing sandwich — the bread’s gonna be fresh, it’s all your favorites, the tomato’s perfect, the shredded lettuce — you haven’t tasted it yet, but you know it’s gonna be a great sandwich,” he says of his blind confidence that the show would work.
Fillion’s character,...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Nathan Fillion, star of the new ABC drama “The Rookie.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The project marked the first time Fillion ever pitched and sold a show to a network without having a pilot written. He jokingly likens the experience to selling a sandwich.
“If I told you I was gonna make you an amazing sandwich — the bread’s gonna be fresh, it’s all your favorites, the tomato’s perfect, the shredded lettuce — you haven’t tasted it yet, but you know it’s gonna be a great sandwich,” he says of his blind confidence that the show would work.
Fillion’s character,...
- 10/19/2018
- by Margeaux Sippell
- Variety Film + TV
Although writers’ rooms have become more diverse in the last few years, the heads of networks or studios are “still in a bubble” when it comes to conversations around #MeToo and Time’s Up, believes “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” co-creator and showrunner Aline Brosh McKenna. And ultimately, they wield the most power when it comes to diversity in a series.
“You walk into those rooms, and you are aware that it is still 50-year-old white men who are in charge,” McKenna said during a panel on inclusivity and representation held Sunday. “I want to see these companies, these corporations that we work for say, ‘I heard you, this is not okay.'”
McKenna was among 10 executive producers from various CW series, including Mara Brock Akil (“Black Lightning”), Nkechi Okoro Carroll (“All American”), Julie Plec and Jennie Snyder Urman (“Charmed” and “Jane The Virgin”) who participated in the panel moderated by Debra Birnbaum,...
“You walk into those rooms, and you are aware that it is still 50-year-old white men who are in charge,” McKenna said during a panel on inclusivity and representation held Sunday. “I want to see these companies, these corporations that we work for say, ‘I heard you, this is not okay.'”
McKenna was among 10 executive producers from various CW series, including Mara Brock Akil (“Black Lightning”), Nkechi Okoro Carroll (“All American”), Julie Plec and Jennie Snyder Urman (“Charmed” and “Jane The Virgin”) who participated in the panel moderated by Debra Birnbaum,...
- 10/15/2018
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, speaks with the filmmakers behind “Making a Murderer,” Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, about Season 2 of the hit documentary, which returns to Netflix on Oct. 19.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The first season, which chronicled Teresa Halbach’s 2005 murder trial and the convictions of Steven Avery as well as his nephew Brendan Dassey, ignited a firestorm, with advocates on either side arguing vociferously over the men’s guilt or innocence — and the filmmakers say they had plenty of material worth exploring for a second season.
“We knew that this story wasn’t over,” Demos says. Adds Ricciardi, “In part two, we wanted to look at the...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, speaks with the filmmakers behind “Making a Murderer,” Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, about Season 2 of the hit documentary, which returns to Netflix on Oct. 19.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The first season, which chronicled Teresa Halbach’s 2005 murder trial and the convictions of Steven Avery as well as his nephew Brendan Dassey, ignited a firestorm, with advocates on either side arguing vociferously over the men’s guilt or innocence — and the filmmakers say they had plenty of material worth exploring for a second season.
“We knew that this story wasn’t over,” Demos says. Adds Ricciardi, “In part two, we wanted to look at the...
- 10/12/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s associate features editor of TV, Danielle Turchiano, talks with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” co-creators Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna about the final season of their CW musical comedy.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
McKenna says the series’ four seasons are “remarkably accurate” to the initial pitch to the network in 2015. “We really conceived of it beginning, middle, and end,” she says. “We really knew this was just going to be about this period in this girl’s life where she’s subject to a very intense romantic obsession and then recovers from it.”
While the season starts with her in jail after pleading guilty to pushing her stalker ex, Trent (Paul Welsh), off a building,...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s associate features editor of TV, Danielle Turchiano, talks with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” co-creators Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna about the final season of their CW musical comedy.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
McKenna says the series’ four seasons are “remarkably accurate” to the initial pitch to the network in 2015. “We really conceived of it beginning, middle, and end,” she says. “We really knew this was just going to be about this period in this girl’s life where she’s subject to a very intense romantic obsession and then recovers from it.”
While the season starts with her in jail after pleading guilty to pushing her stalker ex, Trent (Paul Welsh), off a building,...
- 10/5/2018
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, speaks with “Grey’s Anatomy” showrunner Krista Vernoff, which returned for its 15th season on Thursday.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Vernoff had been in the writers’ room for the show’s first seven seasons, then returned last season as showrunner. In taking the reins, she says she wanted to bring some of the “comic teeth” she sharpened during her time on “Shameless” back to “Grey’s.” “The show had become a much darker, much more serious drama,” she says. “Now it’s time to bring the light back in. The government’s gone dark, people need some relief. So I came in to bring joy and comedy and light.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, speaks with “Grey’s Anatomy” showrunner Krista Vernoff, which returned for its 15th season on Thursday.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Vernoff had been in the writers’ room for the show’s first seven seasons, then returned last season as showrunner. In taking the reins, she says she wanted to bring some of the “comic teeth” she sharpened during her time on “Shameless” back to “Grey’s.” “The show had become a much darker, much more serious drama,” she says. “Now it’s time to bring the light back in. The government’s gone dark, people need some relief. So I came in to bring joy and comedy and light.
- 9/28/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
Congratulations to our Experts Chris Harnick (E!), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Lynette Rice (Entertainment Weekly) and Susan Wloszczyna (Gold Derby) for tying with a terrific score of 61.54% when predicting the 2018 Emmy Awards on Monday. They are first among 27 Experts, journalists who cover the entertainment industry throughout the year. See Experts’ leaderboard.
Over 2,900 people worldwide predicted these champs in 26 categories. The awards ceremony was held in downtown Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater and was hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost.
SEEEmmy winners 2018: Full list of winners and nominees at the 70th Emmy Awards
You can see how your score compares to all others in our leaderboard rankings of all contestants, which also includes links to see each participant’s predictions. To see your own scores, go to the User menu in the top right corner of every page of Gold Derby when you’re signed in to the site.
Over 2,900 people worldwide predicted these champs in 26 categories. The awards ceremony was held in downtown Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater and was hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost.
SEEEmmy winners 2018: Full list of winners and nominees at the 70th Emmy Awards
You can see how your score compares to all others in our leaderboard rankings of all contestants, which also includes links to see each participant’s predictions. To see your own scores, go to the User menu in the top right corner of every page of Gold Derby when you’re signed in to the site.
- 9/18/2018
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” edged out “Atlanta” in the nail-biter Emmy battle for Best Comedy Series, which was a neck-and-neck two-way race according to the thousands of users who made their forecasts at Gold Derby. “Maisel” also won four other awards during the Emmys telecast on September 17: Best Comedy Actress (Rachel Brosnahan), Best Comedy Supporting Actress (Alex Borstein), and Best Comedy Writing and Best Comedy Directing (Amy Sherman-Palladino for the pilot). Check out the complete list of winners here.
“Maisel” also claimed three prizes at the Creative Arts Emmys on September 8: Best Comedy Casting, Best Music Supervision and Best Picture Editing (Single-Camera Comedy) for its pilot episode. That brings its grand total for the year to eight, which makes it the most awarded comedy of the year. It tied “Saturday Night Live” as the second most awarded program of the year in any genre. The only show that...
“Maisel” also claimed three prizes at the Creative Arts Emmys on September 8: Best Comedy Casting, Best Music Supervision and Best Picture Editing (Single-Camera Comedy) for its pilot episode. That brings its grand total for the year to eight, which makes it the most awarded comedy of the year. It tied “Saturday Night Live” as the second most awarded program of the year in any genre. The only show that...
- 9/18/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
As expected, Rachel Brosnahan made a marvelous impression on Emmy voters. She won Best Comedy Actress for the Amazon streaming series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” when the television academy handed out its prizes on Monday night, September 17. She overcame her five fellow nominees Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”), Allison Janney (“Mom”), Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”) and Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”).
Brosnahan had been the front-runner all season, ever since she won Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards for her breakthrough role as Midge Maisel, a ’50s housewife who takes a sharp left turn into the world of stand-up comedy after her husband abruptly leaves her for his secretary. Going into Emmy night she was far and away the favorite to prevail with overwhelming odds of 2/11 based on the combined forecasts of thousands of Gold Derby users.
SEEEmmy winners 2018: Full list of winners and nominees at the...
Brosnahan had been the front-runner all season, ever since she won Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards for her breakthrough role as Midge Maisel, a ’50s housewife who takes a sharp left turn into the world of stand-up comedy after her husband abruptly leaves her for his secretary. Going into Emmy night she was far and away the favorite to prevail with overwhelming odds of 2/11 based on the combined forecasts of thousands of Gold Derby users.
SEEEmmy winners 2018: Full list of winners and nominees at the...
- 9/18/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, chats with Jane Fonda and director Susan Lacy ahead of the Sept. 24 release of their HBO documentary “Jane Fonda in Five Acts.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Lacy says she had long admired the Academy Award winner, known for films like “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” and “On Golden Pond.” Lacy wanted to make a “portrait” of Fonda after reading her memoir, “My Life So Far,” and split the documentary into five parts to emphasize the influences on the woman who would become both a lauded actress and a controversial anti-war advocate. She said that in many ways, Fonda was defined by the men in...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, chats with Jane Fonda and director Susan Lacy ahead of the Sept. 24 release of their HBO documentary “Jane Fonda in Five Acts.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Lacy says she had long admired the Academy Award winner, known for films like “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” and “On Golden Pond.” Lacy wanted to make a “portrait” of Fonda after reading her memoir, “My Life So Far,” and split the documentary into five parts to emphasize the influences on the woman who would become both a lauded actress and a controversial anti-war advocate. She said that in many ways, Fonda was defined by the men in...
- 9/14/2018
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
The Emmy for Best Comedy Series remains strictly a two-way race, according to the forecasts of the vast majority of thousands of Gold Derby users. But not everyone agrees on which horse will win that race. The Expert journalists we’ve polled give the slight edge to “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” but most of our users — including last year’s highest-scoring users — think it will be “Atlanta,” tilting the overall momentum in favor of the FX series.
As of this writing 14 of our 26 Experts are betting on a “Maisel” victory: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Jen Chaney (Vulture), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Eric Deggans (NPR), Bonnie Fuller (Hollywood Life), Pete Hammond (Deadline Hollywood), Chris Harnick (E!), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Ed Martin (Media Village), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Ken Tucker (Yahoo), Matt Webb Mitovich (TVLine) and Susan Wloszczyna (Gold Derby).
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter...
As of this writing 14 of our 26 Experts are betting on a “Maisel” victory: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Jen Chaney (Vulture), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Eric Deggans (NPR), Bonnie Fuller (Hollywood Life), Pete Hammond (Deadline Hollywood), Chris Harnick (E!), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Ed Martin (Media Village), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Ken Tucker (Yahoo), Matt Webb Mitovich (TVLine) and Susan Wloszczyna (Gold Derby).
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter...
- 9/13/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, chats with the cast and creators of Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which is in contention for 14 Emmy awards, including best comedy, best actress (Rachel Brosnahan), supporting actress (Alex Borstein), supporting actor (Tony Shalhoub), writing, and directing.
The nominations came as “gratifying” relief to the show’s creators, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, who were on set with the cast when the news broke, especially since their earlier effort, “Gilmore Girls,” went unrecognized by voters. “Our biggest frustration with ‘Gilmore Girls’ and awards was that our actors didn’t get [nominated],” says Dan Palladino. “We really wanted Lauren Graham to get a nomination. She was the number one person for us that we fought for.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, chats with the cast and creators of Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which is in contention for 14 Emmy awards, including best comedy, best actress (Rachel Brosnahan), supporting actress (Alex Borstein), supporting actor (Tony Shalhoub), writing, and directing.
The nominations came as “gratifying” relief to the show’s creators, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, who were on set with the cast when the news broke, especially since their earlier effort, “Gilmore Girls,” went unrecognized by voters. “Our biggest frustration with ‘Gilmore Girls’ and awards was that our actors didn’t get [nominated],” says Dan Palladino. “We really wanted Lauren Graham to get a nomination. She was the number one person for us that we fought for.
- 9/7/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
A former gang member, Elgin James spent a year in prison in 2011 for extortion, just after his film “Little Birds” premiered at Sundance to rave reviews. Here, he talks to Variety’s Debra Birnbaum about his journey out from behind bars to “Mayans M.C.,” the sequel to Kurt Sutter’s “Sons of Anarchy.” James serves as co-creator and an executive producer of “Mayans,” which debuts on FX on Sept. 4.
I’d been out of prison for a few years, and I said that I would never tell stories about violence and gangs in my past. I just wasn’t interested in it. Even the film that I made called “Little Birds,” which was about me and my best friend joining a street gang, I turned into a story about two 15-year-old girls running away. Then I heard that Kurt Sutter was meeting with writers to talk about an idea he...
I’d been out of prison for a few years, and I said that I would never tell stories about violence and gangs in my past. I just wasn’t interested in it. Even the film that I made called “Little Birds,” which was about me and my best friend joining a street gang, I turned into a story about two 15-year-old girls running away. Then I heard that Kurt Sutter was meeting with writers to talk about an idea he...
- 9/4/2018
- by Elgin James
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, the team behind FX’s “Mayans M.C.” — co-creators and executive producers Kurt Sutter and Elgin James, and star J.D. Pardo — talks with Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, about their “fierce” sequel to the hit series “Sons of Anarchy.”
And in the second half of the podcast, the team behind Lifetime’s “You” — showrunner Sera Gamble, and stars Penn Badgley and Elizabeth Lail — discusses with associate features editor Danielle Turchiano the challenges of their stalker drama.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Asked why he wanted to revisit the world of “Sons of Anarchy,” Sutter jokes that the reason was “money.” But the truth is, he always had the idea for setting...
In this week’s episode, the team behind FX’s “Mayans M.C.” — co-creators and executive producers Kurt Sutter and Elgin James, and star J.D. Pardo — talks with Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, about their “fierce” sequel to the hit series “Sons of Anarchy.”
And in the second half of the podcast, the team behind Lifetime’s “You” — showrunner Sera Gamble, and stars Penn Badgley and Elizabeth Lail — discusses with associate features editor Danielle Turchiano the challenges of their stalker drama.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Asked why he wanted to revisit the world of “Sons of Anarchy,” Sutter jokes that the reason was “money.” But the truth is, he always had the idea for setting...
- 8/31/2018
- by Danielle Turchiano and Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
Twenty-three of Gold Derby’s Emmy Experts from major media outlets have piped in with their Best Drama Actor predictions, and things are still looking good for Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”). Last year’s winner in this category is expected to repeat by the slimmest of margins over perpetual nominee Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”). As a reminder, last month when about a dozen Experts were making their predictions, eight picked Brown and four chose Rhys. Now, the race has tightened as 12 Experts are predicting Brown and 10 are picking Rhys. Who do You think will win?
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
The 12 Experts backing Brown are Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Bonnie Fuller (Hollywood Life), Chris Harnick (E), Matthew Jacobs (HuffPo), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Ed Martin (Media Village), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Anne...
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
The 12 Experts backing Brown are Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Bonnie Fuller (Hollywood Life), Chris Harnick (E), Matthew Jacobs (HuffPo), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Ed Martin (Media Village), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Anne...
- 8/30/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Twenty-three of Gold Derby’s Emmy Experts from major media outlets have chimed in with their Best Drama Actress predictions, and Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) is the favorite to win her second consecutive Emmy. After losing six times for “Mad Men,” Moss now finds herself on a roll with the TV academy as she took home two trophies last year for acting in and producing “The Handmaid’s Tale.” While she’s the favorite with 15 Experts picking her to win, two other leading ladies have the support of 4 Experts apiece: Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”) and Keri Russell (“The Americans”). Talk about a nail-biter! Who do You think will win?
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
The 15 Experts backing Moss are: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Bonnie Fuller (Hollywood Life), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Tom O...
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
The 15 Experts backing Moss are: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Bonnie Fuller (Hollywood Life), Kelly Lawler (USA Today), Tom O...
- 8/30/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Matthew Broderick worked with Neil Simon five times throughout his career, onstage and on-screen. Here, he shares with Variety‘s Debra Birnbaum his memories of the acclaimed playwright, who died Aug. 26 at age 91 due to complications from pneumonia.
I met Neil through auditioning for “Brighton Beach Memoirs” in 1982. I’d auditioned in an office for a casting director a few times, and then finally worked my way to auditioning on a stage. “Ain’t Misbehavin’” was playing in the theater, and Neil was in the house. There was a whole group of us, and when I read, I do remember very distinctly hearing him laugh. It was great. Part of me was thinking, “Oh, he likes laughing at his own jokes,” but it was kind of a lengthy, giggly laugh, and it gave me some confidence. I was so nervous, and I remember just being so sort of flattered and comforted by that.
I met Neil through auditioning for “Brighton Beach Memoirs” in 1982. I’d auditioned in an office for a casting director a few times, and then finally worked my way to auditioning on a stage. “Ain’t Misbehavin’” was playing in the theater, and Neil was in the house. There was a whole group of us, and when I read, I do remember very distinctly hearing him laugh. It was great. Part of me was thinking, “Oh, he likes laughing at his own jokes,” but it was kind of a lengthy, giggly laugh, and it gave me some confidence. I was so nervous, and I remember just being so sort of flattered and comforted by that.
- 8/28/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live” standout Kate McKinnon is the odds-on favorite to win the Emmy for Best Comedy Supporting Actress for the third year in a row. That’s according to the combined odds of more than 1,000 Gold Derby users, but not everyone agrees. While McKinnon has the most support from the Expert journalists we’ve polled, our Editors give the edge to Alex Borstein for her scene-stealing performance in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
McKinnon plays multiple characters on the late-night sketch comedy series, which may explain her appeal: it gives voters the chance to reward several performances for the price of one. She currently leads our predictions with odds of 5/4 and support from nine Experts: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Chris Harnick (E!), Ed Martin (Media Village), Kaitlin Thomas (TVGuide.com), Anne Thompson (IndieWire), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Ken Tucker (Yahoo!), Adnan Virk (ESPN) and Glenn Whipp (La Times).
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McKinnon plays multiple characters on the late-night sketch comedy series, which may explain her appeal: it gives voters the chance to reward several performances for the price of one. She currently leads our predictions with odds of 5/4 and support from nine Experts: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Chris Harnick (E!), Ed Martin (Media Village), Kaitlin Thomas (TVGuide.com), Anne Thompson (IndieWire), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone), Ken Tucker (Yahoo!), Adnan Virk (ESPN) and Glenn Whipp (La Times).
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- 8/27/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, chats with Regina King, who received an Emmy nomination for her gripping performance as Latrice Butler in the Netflix limited series “Seven Seconds.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Despite the number of crime dramas now on the air, King thinks “Seven Seconds” broke out of the pack because of “the relevance to what’s going on right now,” she says. “It’s some powerful stuff we’re dealing with.”
Playing a mother whose life changes when her son dies in a matter of “seven seconds,” King thought that looking at police shootings from the lens of the violence as a systemic problem was a valuable way...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, chats with Regina King, who received an Emmy nomination for her gripping performance as Latrice Butler in the Netflix limited series “Seven Seconds.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Despite the number of crime dramas now on the air, King thinks “Seven Seconds” broke out of the pack because of “the relevance to what’s going on right now,” she says. “It’s some powerful stuff we’re dealing with.”
Playing a mother whose life changes when her son dies in a matter of “seven seconds,” King thought that looking at police shootings from the lens of the violence as a systemic problem was a valuable way...
- 8/24/2018
- by Tara Bitran
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Jane Goodall, who stars in the NatGeo documentary “Jane,” which has been nominated for seven Emmy awards, including cinematography, directing, editing, writing, and documentary filmmaking.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The doc, which was written and directed by Brett Morgen, was compiled from footage long considered lost of Goodall’s first days in Africa, as a young scientist who would go on to make groundbreaking discovering about chimpanzees.
The trip down memory lane was “revisiting the best days of my life,” says Goodall. She’s been the subject of numerous documentaries before, but she says “Jane” stands apart — and not just because the footage...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Jane Goodall, who stars in the NatGeo documentary “Jane,” which has been nominated for seven Emmy awards, including cinematography, directing, editing, writing, and documentary filmmaking.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The doc, which was written and directed by Brett Morgen, was compiled from footage long considered lost of Goodall’s first days in Africa, as a young scientist who would go on to make groundbreaking discovering about chimpanzees.
The trip down memory lane was “revisiting the best days of my life,” says Goodall. She’s been the subject of numerous documentaries before, but she says “Jane” stands apart — and not just because the footage...
- 8/23/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
Each year there are a few programs and performers that sit atop the predictions’ list at the Emmys, and this year, even with incumbent comedy champ “Veep” sitting out, that’s no different (see: “The Handmaid’s Tale” in the drama races). However, predictions are not perfect, and there are a number of underrated nominees that could take the trophy Sept. 17 if the Academy voters want to prove they aren’t so predictable. They did it in the nomination-voting round, after all, honoring veteran comedy king Ted Danson for the first time in over two decades, and Sandra Oh, the first actress of Asian descent to see recognition in the lead drama actress category.
Here, Variety’s staff makes a case for some of those nominees.
Drama Series
“The Americans”
Given its love for slow, simmering storytelling, it’s not entirely surprising that “The Americans” has only been nominated for drama series twice.
Here, Variety’s staff makes a case for some of those nominees.
Drama Series
“The Americans”
Given its love for slow, simmering storytelling, it’s not entirely surprising that “The Americans” has only been nominated for drama series twice.
- 8/21/2018
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with comedy legend Carol Burnett, who scored her 23rd Emmy nomination for “The Carol Burnett Show 50th Anniversary Special.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Even with six Emmy Awards under her belt, Burnett is still immensely grateful at the recognition by the TV Academy, as well as audiences. “To have this happen now, it’s kind of unbelievable,” Burnett says. “I was happily surprised.”
The program, which is in contention for variety special, celebrated the 50th anniversary of “The Carol Burnett Show,” the variety series which ran from 1967 to 1978, and won 25 Emmys over the course of its run.
“We weren’t timely, but what the comedy was is timeless,...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with comedy legend Carol Burnett, who scored her 23rd Emmy nomination for “The Carol Burnett Show 50th Anniversary Special.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
Even with six Emmy Awards under her belt, Burnett is still immensely grateful at the recognition by the TV Academy, as well as audiences. “To have this happen now, it’s kind of unbelievable,” Burnett says. “I was happily surprised.”
The program, which is in contention for variety special, celebrated the 50th anniversary of “The Carol Burnett Show,” the variety series which ran from 1967 to 1978, and won 25 Emmys over the course of its run.
“We weren’t timely, but what the comedy was is timeless,...
- 8/17/2018
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
Gold Derby’s Emmy Experts from major media outlets are nearly unanimous that Laura Dern will win a bookend trophy for HBO’s telefilm “The Tale” just one year after prevailing for the limited series “Big Little Lies.” The Best Movie/Limited Series Actress frontrunner plays the role of the movie’s producer/director/writer Jennifer Fox in the true-to-life film about her childhood sexual abuse. Since Dern’s victory last year was in the supporting race, winning now in lead would be a sort of “Emmy promotion” of sorts for the veteran actress.
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
A whopping 13 of our 16 Experts think that Dern will prevail for “The Tale,” resulting in leading 1/3 odds. They are: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Eric Deggans (NPR), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Chris Harnick (E), Matthew Jacobs (HuffPo), Tom O’Neil (Gold Derby), Matt Roush (TV...
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
A whopping 13 of our 16 Experts think that Dern will prevail for “The Tale,” resulting in leading 1/3 odds. They are: Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Eric Deggans (NPR), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Chris Harnick (E), Matthew Jacobs (HuffPo), Tom O’Neil (Gold Derby), Matt Roush (TV...
- 8/16/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera. In this week’s episode, Variety‘s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with “The Handmaid’s Tale” star Yvonne Strahovski.
The conversation with the actress, who received a 2018 supporting actress Emmy nomination for her work as Serena Joy in the sci-fi drama’s sophomore season, spanned topics ranging from the age-old Serena as victim-versus-villain debate, as well as Strahovski’s speculations into her character’s Season 3 arc.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The second season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” pushed Serena to the edge emotionally and physically, with Strahovski and Elisabeth Moss as Offred/June facing off in no shortage of intense scenes. With Season 2 having officially left Margaret Atwood’s source material behind, Strahovski was...
The conversation with the actress, who received a 2018 supporting actress Emmy nomination for her work as Serena Joy in the sci-fi drama’s sophomore season, spanned topics ranging from the age-old Serena as victim-versus-villain debate, as well as Strahovski’s speculations into her character’s Season 3 arc.
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
The second season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” pushed Serena to the edge emotionally and physically, with Strahovski and Elisabeth Moss as Offred/June facing off in no shortage of intense scenes. With Season 2 having officially left Margaret Atwood’s source material behind, Strahovski was...
- 8/15/2018
- by Christi Carras
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to “Remote Controlled,” a podcast from Variety featuring the best and brightest in television, both in front of and behind the camera.
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Judith Light, who is nominated for an Emmy for FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
“It’s a profound honor to me,” says Light of her nomination for her role as Marilyn Miglin, the wife of one of serial killer Andrew Cunanan’s victims. She says it’s “a real testament” to the creators. “Our world, our work, is a team sport. And the team that was brought together for this, it’s a magnificent arena to do this work.”
Light says Tom Rob Smith’s script provided her with a “road map” to the character,...
In this week’s episode, Variety’s executive editor of TV, Debra Birnbaum, talks with Judith Light, who is nominated for an Emmy for FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”
Listen to this week’s podcast for free below and at Apple Podcasts:
“It’s a profound honor to me,” says Light of her nomination for her role as Marilyn Miglin, the wife of one of serial killer Andrew Cunanan’s victims. She says it’s “a real testament” to the creators. “Our world, our work, is a team sport. And the team that was brought together for this, it’s a magnificent arena to do this work.”
Light says Tom Rob Smith’s script provided her with a “road map” to the character,...
- 8/10/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
As more and more Emmy Experts from major media outlets pipe in with their Best Drama Actor predictions, Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) continues to narrow the lead between himself and frontrunner Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”). Last month when 13 Experts were making their predictions, eight picked Brown and four chose Rhys, with Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”) getting the last vote. Now, a whopping 17 Experts have chimed in and while a leading nine still have Brown and one goes for Wright, the remaining seven all think that Rhys will prevail. Who’s right?
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
The nine Experts backing Brown are Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Chris Harnick (E), Matthew Jacobs (HuffPo), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Anne Thompson (Indiewire), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) and Adnan Virk (ESPN). Brown plays family man Randall Pearson...
See 2018 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 70th Emmy Awards
The nine Experts backing Brown are Debra Birnbaum (Variety), Debbie Day (Rotten Tomatoes), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), Chris Harnick (E), Matthew Jacobs (HuffPo), Robert Rorke (New York Post), Anne Thompson (Indiewire), Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) and Adnan Virk (ESPN). Brown plays family man Randall Pearson...
- 8/9/2018
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
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