The SAG Awards were last night, and here’s who actors thought were the best actors in television this year. As you might have guessed, I mostly disagree:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Antonio Banderas, Genius
Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal
Antony Hopkins, King Lear
Bill Pullman, The Sinner
Who should have won: Darren Criss, but only because The Sinner is not a miniseries.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannamora
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects
Penelope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Emma Stone, Maniac
Who should have won: Amy Adams, but I’m fine with Patricia Arquette winning this, it was quite a performance.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Joseph Feinnes, The Handmaid’s Tale
John Krasinski, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Who should have won: Bob Odenkirk and I’m unsure how John Krasinski even got in there when Matthew Rhys is out walking around in the world.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
Julia Garner, Ozark
Laura Linney, Ozark
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Who should have won: SANDRA OH FOREVER
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Alison Brie, G.L.O.W.
Jane Fonda, Grace & Frankie
Lily Tomlin, Grace & Frankie
Who should have won: Alison Brie
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Bill Hader, Barry
Henry Winkler, Barry
Who should have won: Out of this list? Bill Hader. Out of the nominees who were woefully excluded? Byran Tyree Henry or Lakeith Stanfield or Donald Glover.
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
This Is Us
The Americans
Better Call Saul
The Handmaid’s Tale
Ozark
Who should have won: The Americans
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Atlanta
Barry
G.L.O.W.
The Kominsky Method
Who should have won: Atlanta or Barry. You know how I feel about Atlanta, but I’d even give it to Barry.
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
G.L.O.W.
Daredevil
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
The Walking Dead
Westworld
Who should have won: G.L.O.W. though all of these series are worthy.
TV Insider has all the best moments from last night’s award ceremony in case you, like me, did not watch it because YAWN. Geoffrey Owens was there and he was terrific:
Also airing last night: Fox’s Rent Live! which turned into something of a disaster. One of the stars, Benjamin Hunt, broke his ankle in a dress rehearsal and as a result, Fox ended up using a bunch of pre-recorded footage and the reviews weren’t kind. Nor were the ratings. Fox released footage of the live performance — the”concert version” as they are calling it — that didn’t air.
ABC is rebranding GMA Day as Strahan & Sarah which is not a great sign for the talk show which reportedly isn’t performing as well as even The Chew. But I wish they’d rebrand it as All My Children. R.I.P. All My Children, I’m still not over you. YOU COULD BRING IT BACK, ABC, IF YOU WANTED TO.
The Real Housewives held a baby shower for Andy Cohen and I have never had a worse case of FOMO in my life.
Mike Schur shares his favorite The Good Place easter egg from this season. “Is She that Woman Up There?”:
Don’t say TV never taught you nothin’.
LOL, President Clementine is mad at Fox News today:
As for that poll figure:
Speaking of Hispanics, guh, Tom Brokaw. So, Tom Brokaw said a bunch of very dumb things about Hispanics on Meet the Press yesterday, claiming that “Americans” have told him that they don’t want “brown grandbabies.” He then added that he himself believes that Hispanics should assimilate into our culture more: “I also happen to believe that the Hispanics should work harder at assimilation. … You know, they ought not to be just codified in their communities but make sure that all their kids are learning to speak English and that they feel comfortable in the communities. And that’s going to take outreach on both sides, frankly.”
Tom Brokaw then twitapologized for being an out-of-touch old white guy. But that took an unfortunate turn, too:
OH BABY WHAT IS YOU DOIN??
‘NIGHT, TOM.
#MeToo
Let’s check in on how things are going for Bryan Singer in the wake of that big Atlantic article: GLAAD pulled its nomination for Bohemian Rhapsody, and Queen guitarist Brian May has apologized for defending him.
However, that appears to be the extent of the fallout. Rami Malek claims that he had never heard any of the allegations against Singer which is some grade A bullshit he’s peddling in an effort to protect the movie and his own awards nominations. Worse, Singer is still directing Red Sonja, somehow. According to the film’s producer Ari Levner:
“The over $800 million Bohemian Rhapsody has grossed, making it the highest grossing drama in film history, is testament to his remarkable vision and acumen. I know the difference between agenda driven fake news and reality, and I am very comfortable with this decision. In America people are innocent until proven otherwise.”
Which, due process, blah blah blah, but this Levner dude reportedly tried to silence Terry Crews:
… and has himself been sued for sexual harassment.
Speaking of Terry Crews, he is having a public feud with D.L. Hughley after Hughley made some comments about how he didn’t believe Crews’ allegations of sexual assault, because “a dude with all those muscles can’t tell an agent to not touch his a–.” When Crews confronted Hughley about it on Twitter, Hughley suggested that Crews could have “slapped the shit” out of Venit:
Here’s where it gets tricky: some outlets are reporting that Crews then threatens Hughley, but I think his response is in keeping with Crews’ larger message about toxic masculinity, that violence solves nothing:
And in conclusion, Terry Crews is still the best. Sexual abuse and violence are the same side of the same coin, and understanding that is key to understanding toxic masculinity.
Over at Sundance, the Leaving Neverland documentary debuted, and from all reports, it’s harrowing. Just warning you, the link includes some graphic descriptions of the allegations against Jackson. I didn’t realize until this weekend that one of the two accusers featured in the film is choreographer (and breaker-upper of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears) Wade Robson. Robson had previously testified in defense of Michael Jackson, but I believe him here.
This film is an example of why #MeToo is so important: particularly when powerful figures are involved, sometime it requires a massive movement to allow the truth to come out. Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey and Bill Cosby weren’t taken down by one voice, they are being brought down by many voices. And the women standing up to Cosby have given courage to the women standing up to Weinstein who have given courage to the men standing up to Spacey who give courage to the men speaking their truth — even years later and after his death — about Michael Jackson. And we, as a society, are better prepared to hear this truth about Jackson, about R. Kelly, about Woody Allen, and so on thanks to the brave people coming forward about Matt Lauer and Louis C.K. and Bryan Singer. It’s a shame that Jackson’s accusers in the 90s and early 2000s were not believed, but I hope his victims can find some peace now. As for Michael Jackson’s family, they are calling the film a “public lynching.”
There was also a documentary about Harvey Weinstein at Sundance, Untouchable, that gives a lot more history to the Weinstein and Miramax story, and how their success insulated Harvey for years.
Also at Sundance, actress and #TimesUp activist Tessa Thompson issued a challenge to other actors and actresses to work with a female director in the next 18 months. Plenty of others jumped aboard.
Alan Alda is not ready to write off Woody Allen, which, ugh. I almost wish people would stop asking actors about this and just let Allen’s career quietly die off already. The truth is the man is in his eighties, hasn’t made a decent film in a long while and he’s not going to be brought to justice before he dies. Just, let’s stop talking about him.
R. Kelly has been accused of abusing another ex. In other news, water is wet.
Penn Bagdley continues to get it.
Renewals
- FBI, Magnum P.I. and The Neighborhood have all been renewed at CBS.
- Coop & Cami Ask the World has been renewed at Disney Channel.
Cancellations
- Stan Against Evil has been canceled at IFC.
- According to TuSubtitulo’s twitter account, The Punisher has been canceled at Netflix after two seasons. I’m not seeing this anywhere else, though, so proceed with caution.
In Development
- Hillbilly Elegy is going to be made for Netflix. Ron Howard is set to direct.
- A church choir comedy starring Bradley Whitford is being developed at NBC.
- Under the Bridge, a medical drama and Nancy, a cop drama have been given pilot orders at CBS.
- The Stranger, a thriller series starring Richard Armitage, is coming to Netflix.
- 30 Minute Meals is returning to Food Network.
- Late Night, a comedy from Mindy Kaling and starring Emma Thompson, is coming to Amazon.
- Double Shot of Love with Pauly D. & Vinny is happening over at MTV, saints preserve us.
- Jason Bateman is directing an untitled project at Netflix. John Cena is going to star.
- Behind Her Eyes is being developed as a limited series at Netflix.
- The Girlfriend, a “subversive” comedy, is being developed at Freeform.
- HBO bought the film Share at Sundance.
- Ruthanne Secunda has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios.
- ZOMG THEY MIGHT MAKE A STARSHIP TROOPERS PREQUEL SERIES. I HAVE MANY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS.
Casting News
- Halsey will host and be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on February 9.
- Sherri Saum, Griffin Gluck and Steven Williams are joining Locke & Key on Netflix.
- Marika Domińczyk and Christa Miller are joining the cast of Whiskey Cavalier on ABC.
- Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson, and Nicole Kang are joining the Batwoman pilot for The CW.
- Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, Mare Winningham, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, Yul Vázquez, Jeremy Bobb, Marc Menchaca, Hettienne Park, and Michael Esper have been cast in HBO’s adaptation of Stephen Kings The Outsider.
- Jasmine Cephas Jones will recur on Mrs. Fletcher on HBO.
Mark Your Calendar
- Barry returns on HBO sometime this spring.
- Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men will debut on Showtime sometime this spring:
- David Makes Man will debut on OWN sometime in 2019.
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind will debut on Netflix on March 1.
- Crashletes returns on Nickelodeon on February 3. The Dude Perfect Show will return on February 8.
- Heart of Darkness will debut on Investigation Discovery on February 9.
R.I.P.
Fatima Ali, Top Chef contestant and just all-around charming person. She wrote an essay for Bon Appetit about her life that is worth a read if you were a fan.
James Pond, Writer and producer of a number of TV comedies, including Newhart, Night Court, Living Single and Hope & Faith
Barbara Claman, Casting Director
Michael Legrand, Composer
Meshulam Riklis, Producer and husband of Pia Zadora who bought her a Golden Globe back in the 1980s.
WATCH THIS
The Bachelor: From the promos, it looks like Miss North Carolina is going to 1. have the one-on-one date and 2. open up about being sexually assaulted, a topic she discussed in the pageant. 7 p.m., ABC
Manifest: A threat appears on Dr. Saanvi’s doorstep. And I’m sure it will lead to something and not just be another meandering bit of nonsense. 9 p.m., NBC
I Am the Night: A young woman explores the secrets of her past and discovers that she might be tied to one of the most notorious murders in Hollywood history. Chris Pine starts in this a weird true story. 8 p.m., TNT
Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists: A look at legendary New York journalists Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill. FAKE NEWS. 7 p.m., HBO
Late Night:
- Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Shaquille O’Neal, Colin Quinn, 21 Savage
- Late Night with Seth Meyers: Alan Cumming, Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Brendan Buckley
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Cliff Sims, Paul Simon
- The Late Late Show with James Corden: Eric McCormack, Danielle Macdonald, Paige Weldon
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Tracy Morgan, Dave Salmoni
- The Daily Show: TBA
- Busy Tonight: Aldis Hodge, Tom Lenk
- Conan: Tig Notaro
- Watch What Happens Live: Jax Taylor, Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz
| MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | The Bachelor (new) |
The Good Doctor (new) |
| CBS | Big Brother: Celebrity Edition (new) |
Magnum P.I. (new) |
Bull (repeat) |
| CW | Arrow (new) |
Black Lightning (new) |
Local |
| FOX | The Resident (new) |
The Passage (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | America’s Got Talent: The Champions (new) |
Manifest (new) |