This one has to be better, right? It will be the first Oscars under Academy CEO Bill Kramer, who took the role in July 2022 after running the Academy Museum. After last year’s incendiary ceremony produced by Will Packer, which featured an ungainly trio of hosts, capped by the slap, Kramer had a new mantra: Make the show classy, fun, and celebratory of the movies. And sure enough, that’s exactly what the producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner say, too.
Here’s the thing: For the first time since the era of Gil Cates, who produced the Academy Awards 14 times between 1990 and 2008 with hosts Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart, we have an Oscar producer with extensive Oscar telecast experience.
Three-time Primetime Emmy winner Weiss (the guy who proposed to his wife live on the Emmys) directed the show seven times; this will be his eighth.
Here’s the thing: For the first time since the era of Gil Cates, who produced the Academy Awards 14 times between 1990 and 2008 with hosts Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart, we have an Oscar producer with extensive Oscar telecast experience.
Three-time Primetime Emmy winner Weiss (the guy who proposed to his wife live on the Emmys) directed the show seven times; this will be his eighth.
- 3/8/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Oscars, airing March 12 on ABC, have the remainder of their key production team set. The group ranges from veteran lighting designer Robert Dickinson embarking on his 34th voyage on the show and co-executive producer Rob Paine on his 28th, to three new female producers getting their first shot with the venerable awards telecast.
Rickey Minor takes charge of the orchestra’s baton for the first time since 2020, while Dave Boone is coming back as a writer, his 13th Oscars in the last quarter century. Executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss (who is also directing the show for the 8th time) and Ricky Kirshner made the announcement.
Here are the players AMPAS announced today:
Rob Paine has worked on the Oscars telecast for over two decades and returns for his 28th year in a new role as co-executive producer. Paine has more than 200 credits to his name, spanning four decades.
Rickey Minor takes charge of the orchestra’s baton for the first time since 2020, while Dave Boone is coming back as a writer, his 13th Oscars in the last quarter century. Executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss (who is also directing the show for the 8th time) and Ricky Kirshner made the announcement.
Here are the players AMPAS announced today:
Rob Paine has worked on the Oscars telecast for over two decades and returns for his 28th year in a new role as co-executive producer. Paine has more than 200 credits to his name, spanning four decades.
- 2/9/2023
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
The Oscars show producer Will Packer has announced key production team members for the 94th Academy Awards, which are set to air live on ABC March 27. In addition, for the first time, a new culinary partner, Ghetto Gastro, will collaborate with longtime chef Wolfgang Puck on the Governor’s Ball menu.
Puck and his Wolfgang Puck Catering will again create the menu for this year’s Governor’s Ball taking place after the telecast, this year with Bronx-based Ghetto Gastro contributing additional menu items. Ghetto Gastro blends influences from the African diaspora, global South ingredients and hip-hop, according to the Academy.
“This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that breaks boundaries and brings a new flavor to the Oscars Governors Ball,” said Packer. “The Ghetto Gastro Collective, Wolfgang Puck and Academy teams embraced this dope alliance, which is all about uniting people in a true celebration of film and food.”
Meanwhile, Rob Paine...
Puck and his Wolfgang Puck Catering will again create the menu for this year’s Governor’s Ball taking place after the telecast, this year with Bronx-based Ghetto Gastro contributing additional menu items. Ghetto Gastro blends influences from the African diaspora, global South ingredients and hip-hop, according to the Academy.
“This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that breaks boundaries and brings a new flavor to the Oscars Governors Ball,” said Packer. “The Ghetto Gastro Collective, Wolfgang Puck and Academy teams embraced this dope alliance, which is all about uniting people in a true celebration of film and food.”
Meanwhile, Rob Paine...
- 3/10/2022
- by Wyatte Grantham-Philips
- Variety Film + TV
After canceling the Governors Ball due to Covid concerns last year, the official post-Oscars celebration will be back in action, and that includes Gov Ball perennial Wolfgang Puck back to collaborate on the menu, this year joined by Bronx-based culinary collective Ghetto Gastro. The latter’s work blends influences from the African diaspora, global South ingredients and hip-hop to create offerings that address race, identity and economic empowerment.
“Chef Wolfgang Puck and his masterful team raise the bar with each Governors Ball, and this year will be no different,” said Academy governor and Awards Committee chair Jennifer Todd. “We’re thrilled to welcome the extraordinary talents of Ghetto Gastro to the table. Together, Wolfgang and the Ghetto Gastro collective will create an inspired culinary experience for our Oscars guests.”
“Every year we look to find ways to keep things new, fresh and fun,” said Puck. “The Oscars Governors Ball is an event where food,...
“Chef Wolfgang Puck and his masterful team raise the bar with each Governors Ball, and this year will be no different,” said Academy governor and Awards Committee chair Jennifer Todd. “We’re thrilled to welcome the extraordinary talents of Ghetto Gastro to the table. Together, Wolfgang and the Ghetto Gastro collective will create an inspired culinary experience for our Oscars guests.”
“Every year we look to find ways to keep things new, fresh and fun,” said Puck. “The Oscars Governors Ball is an event where food,...
- 3/9/2022
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd are surrounding themselves with many of the veterans that helped them make their first stint last year such a success, barring that last-minute snafu with the Best Picture envelope. On Friday they confirmed the top-notch production team for the upcoming 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4. As the producers noted, “This team brings more than 90 years of combined Oscars telecast experience. Collaborating with them as we celebrate the 90th year of the Oscars is both fitting and thrilling.”
Director: Glenn Weiss
The Emmy-winning helmer of the Tony Awards is returning to oversee the telecast for a third year running. He has won 13 Emmy Awards, including one for the 89th Oscars, for which he also won a DGA Award. Weiss has directed numerous televised events, including 17 Tony Awards shows. Other directing credits include multiple “Primetime Emmy Awards,“ “The Kennedy Center Honors,” “Billboard Music Awards,...
Director: Glenn Weiss
The Emmy-winning helmer of the Tony Awards is returning to oversee the telecast for a third year running. He has won 13 Emmy Awards, including one for the 89th Oscars, for which he also won a DGA Award. Weiss has directed numerous televised events, including 17 Tony Awards shows. Other directing credits include multiple “Primetime Emmy Awards,“ “The Kennedy Center Honors,” “Billboard Music Awards,...
- 2/9/2018
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards is only five days away, and today CBS and the Television Academy announced the trophy show’s production team. White Cherry founders Glenn Weiss (executive producer/director) and Ricky Kirshner (executive producer) will be joined by Steve Bass, head writer Dave Boone, Bob Dickinson, Sarah Levine Hall, Danette Herman, Rickey Minor and Rob Paine to produce the telecast. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Ep Chris Licht previously was announced…...
- 9/12/2017
- Deadline TV
While Carrie Fisher is best known for her work in front of the camera, she was also a celebrated writer of books and films. The late Star Wars actress and icon, who died at age 60 on Dec. 27 after a heart attack, was even responsible for writing a few key funny one-liners for Oscar hosts and accidentally covering them in glitter.
According to veteran comedian and comedy writer Bruce Vilanch, who hired Fisher to be a part of his Oscar writing teams, she had several great ideas that were too good to air, like Princess Leia singing a Joni Mitchell song...
According to veteran comedian and comedy writer Bruce Vilanch, who hired Fisher to be a part of his Oscar writing teams, she had several great ideas that were too good to air, like Princess Leia singing a Joni Mitchell song...
- 1/6/2017
- by Kara Warner
- PEOPLE.com
The Writers Guild of America has just announced the nominations for their annual awards for Best Screenplays (by writers who are guild signatories). That’s right, before you get nervous thinking that your favorite may have been left off the list, you must remember that the WGA is the group that is not all-inclusive and leaves out several of the top contenders each year due to them not being part of the guild or not following their very specific rules. For this reason, you won’t see Inside Out, The Hateful Eight, and Ex Machina in the Original Screenplay category or Room, Brooklyn, or Anomalisa in the Adapted screenplay category.
Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...
Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...
- 1/6/2016
- by Jeff Beck
- We Got This Covered
The Writers Guild of America announced some of its nominees for its 2015 awards on Thursday, including television, new media, and radio, and among the TV nominees are series both new and old, and all beloved.
In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.
On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.
The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...
In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.
On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.
The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...
- 12/3/2015
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" won the Original Screenplay honor at the recently concluded Writers Guild Awards while Morten Tyldum's "The Imitation Game" took home the Adapted Screenplay trophy. "The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swarts" written by Brian Knappenberger won Documentary Screenplay award. The film is not nominated for an Academy award.
In TV land, HBO's "True Detective" won the Drama Series award and FX's "Louie" received the Comedy Series trophy.
Here's the complete list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 2015 Writers Guild Awards:
Feature Film
Original Screenplay
Boyhood, Written by Richard Linklater; IFC Films
Foxcatcher, Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman; Sony Pictures Classics
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness; Fox Searchlight Winner
Nightcrawler, Written by Dan Gilroy; Open Road Films
Whiplash, Written by Damien Chazelle; Sony Pictures Classics
Adapted Screenplay
American Sniper,...
In TV land, HBO's "True Detective" won the Drama Series award and FX's "Louie" received the Comedy Series trophy.
Here's the complete list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 2015 Writers Guild Awards:
Feature Film
Original Screenplay
Boyhood, Written by Richard Linklater; IFC Films
Foxcatcher, Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman; Sony Pictures Classics
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness; Fox Searchlight Winner
Nightcrawler, Written by Dan Gilroy; Open Road Films
Whiplash, Written by Damien Chazelle; Sony Pictures Classics
Adapted Screenplay
American Sniper,...
- 2/16/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
2015 Writers Guild Awards – Winners Announced The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) tonight announced the winners of the 2015 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for film, television, new media, videogames, news, radio, promotional, and graphic animation categories at simultaneous ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles and the Edison Ballroom in New York City. Film Winners Original Screenplay The Grand Budapest Hotel, Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness; Fox Searchlight Adapted Screenplay The Imitation Game, Written by Graham Moore; Based on the book Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges; The Weinstein Company Documentary Screenplay The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, Written by Brian Knappenberger; FilmBuff Television And New Media Winners Drama Series True Detective, Written by Nic Pizzolatto; HBO Comedy Series Louie, Written by Pamela Adlon, Louis C.K.; FX New Series True Detective,...
- 2/15/2015
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) handed out top film honors to the screenplays of "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "The Imitation Game" Saturday night. On the television side, "Louie" and "True Detective" were favorites, winning two prizes each. Damien Chazelle's "Whiplash" competed in the original category at the WGA Awards, while the Academy's Writers Branch, in a rare move outside of guild designation, deemed it adapted due to the fact that a scene from the feature script was the basis of a short film that screened at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. So if "The Imitation Game" is to go on to Oscar glory, it will have to compete with Chazelle's popular film for the first time this season at the Feb. 22 Academy Awards ceremony. Additionally, presumed Best Picture frontrunner "Birdman" was not eligible for WGA (making it still significant competition with "Grand Budapest" in the original category), nor was "The Theory of Everything,...
- 2/15/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in TrainwreckPhoto: Universal Pictures With Sundance just wrapping up and Berlin starting up in a few days, we are now immersed in the year-long barrage of film festivals. One such festival in South By Southwest. A few weeks back they announced the first seven films of their program, including the opening night film Brand: A Second Coming. Today, they have revealed the rest of the features to be shown in March (except for the midnight program), and some of it has me very excited. The bigger titles announced do not do much for me. Paul Feig's Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart starrer Get Hard leave a lot to be desired in terms of anticipation, as does a work in progress cut of Judd Apatow's latest film Trainwreck. I'm guessing an Apatow work in progress is probably around three and a half hours.
- 2/3/2015
- by Mike Shutt
- Rope of Silicon
Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron today announced the special material writing team for the 87th Oscars, which will air live on Oscar Sunday, February 22, 2015, on ABC.
Host Neil Patrick Harris will lead the special material writing team alongside head writer Dave Boone. Boone, a veteran of eight Oscar telecasts, won two Emmys for his work on the 63rd and 64th Tony Awards, and received nominations for all three subsequent shows. He also earned nominations for his work on the 84th Oscars, hosted by Billy Crystal, and the 70th and 71st Golden Globe Awards telecasts. Boone’s additional writing credits include the “Primetime Emmy Awards,” “The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration,” the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” the “Screen Actors Guild Awards,” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”
Writer and producer Paul Greenberg won an Emmy as a writer on the 63rd Tony Awards...
Host Neil Patrick Harris will lead the special material writing team alongside head writer Dave Boone. Boone, a veteran of eight Oscar telecasts, won two Emmys for his work on the 63rd and 64th Tony Awards, and received nominations for all three subsequent shows. He also earned nominations for his work on the 84th Oscars, hosted by Billy Crystal, and the 70th and 71st Golden Globe Awards telecasts. Boone’s additional writing credits include the “Primetime Emmy Awards,” “The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration,” the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” the “Screen Actors Guild Awards,” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”
Writer and producer Paul Greenberg won an Emmy as a writer on the 63rd Tony Awards...
- 12/9/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron on Tuesday unveiled their special materials writing team for host Neil Patrick Harris. The Oscar host will work alongside head writer Dave Boone, a veteran of eight Oscar telecasts and a winner of two Emmys for his work on the 63rd and 64th Tonys. Others working with Harris include writer-producer Paul Greenberg, who won an Emmy for his work on the 63rd Tony Awards; Mason Steinberg, who worked on the 84th Academy Awards show; and Derek DelGaudio, who wrote and co-starred in Nothing to Hide, a theatrical magic show directed by
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- 12/9/2014
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eight writers have been assembled to script Oscar chatter for host Neil Patrick Harris, producers of the 87th Academy Awards announced today. Those scribes are Oscars vets Dave Boone, Jackass writer Paul Greenberg, Crank Yankers/Mad TV alum Mason Steinberg, magician Derek DelGaudio, Ellen and 2 Broke Girls writer Liz Feldman, SNL‘s Paula Pell, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart‘s Tim Carvell, and Harris himself.
May I present my Academy Award writing team! (It took four of us to craft that last sentence) #Oscars pic.twitter.com/HiooVFDIjx
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) December 9, 2014
Harris Tweeted out the line-up today: “May I present my Academy Award writing team! (It took four of us to craft that last sentence) #Oscars.”
The Special Material Writing Team joins previously announced show writers including first-time telecast head writer Greg Berlanti and Michael Green, Seth Grahame-Smith and Andrew Kreisberg. Hamish Hamilton is returning for his...
May I present my Academy Award writing team! (It took four of us to craft that last sentence) #Oscars pic.twitter.com/HiooVFDIjx
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) December 9, 2014
Harris Tweeted out the line-up today: “May I present my Academy Award writing team! (It took four of us to craft that last sentence) #Oscars.”
The Special Material Writing Team joins previously announced show writers including first-time telecast head writer Greg Berlanti and Michael Green, Seth Grahame-Smith and Andrew Kreisberg. Hamish Hamilton is returning for his...
- 12/9/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron today announced the special material writing team for the 87th Oscars, which will air live on Oscar Sunday, February 22, 2015, on ABC. Host Neil Patrick Harris will lead the special material writing team alongside head writer Dave Boone. Boone, a veteran of eight Oscar telecasts, won two Emmys® for his work on the 63rd and 64th Tony Awards®, and received nominations for all three subsequent shows. He also earned nominations for his work on the 84th Oscars, hosted by Billy Crystal, and the 70th and 71st Golden Globe Awards telecasts. Boone’s additional writing credits include the “Primetime Emmy® Awards,” “The Neighborhood Ball: An Inauguration Celebration,” the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” the “Screen Actors Guild Awards,” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.” Writer and producer Paul Greenberg won an Emmy as a writer on the 63rd Tony Awards...
- 12/9/2014
- by HollywoodNews.com
- Hollywoodnews.com
First-time Oscar host Neil Patrick Harris will lead the special material writing team alongside head writer and Emmy-winning awards telecast veteran Dave Boone, who worked on the 84th Oscars hosted by Billy Crystal. You may recognize these names from film, theater and television, as Zadan and Meron have tapped comedy scribes from "SNL," "The Andy Milonakis Show," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," "The Daily Show" and more, along with the more seasoned awards show writers. Here's the full list: Writer and producer Paul Greenberg won an Emmy as a writer on the 63rd Tony Awards and earned three more nominations for his work on subsequent telecasts. His other credits include “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the “Primetime Emmy Awards” and the “People’s Choice Awards.” Greenberg also is a veteran sketch comedy performer and is currently writing, producing and acting in his own show, “International Ghost.
- 12/9/2014
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Writers Guild of America announced the TV nominees for the 2015 WGA Awards on Thursday (December 4) morning and several new shows broke into the fields in a big way. And, of course, there were a number of big WGA Award nomination head-scratchers. Specifically, where the heck was FX's "Fargo"? The answer is below. Making perhaps the biggest splash was "Transparent," which earned three nominations and, since "Orange Is The New Black" earned two nods and "House of Cards" pick up one, that meant that Amazon Prime and Netflix are, at least for one award-giving organization, on equal footing as creators of original programming. The Jill Soloway-created "Transparent" is nominated for New Series, where it will go against "The Affair," "The Knick," "Silicon Valley" and "True Detective." "Transparent" and "Silicon Valley" are also up for Comedy Series, going against "Louie," "Veep" and "Orange Is The New Black." Lest you panic...
- 12/5/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Breaking Bad’s amazing final season always meant that it was a likely winner come awards season. However, the debut of the critically acclaimed True Detective earlier this year did leave many wondering whether it might rob the end to Walter White’s story of one final sweep of prizes at last night’s Emmy Awards.
As it turns out, Breaking Bad would end up being rewarded for those amazing final episodes, though True Detective did earn a very well deserved award for director Cary Joji Fukunaga (who helmed all eight instalments).
The UK was represented by Sherlock, and that too did exceptionally well, walking away with Emmys for Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and writer Steven Moffat. Looking at the results, it’s hard to imagine anyone being too upset with the results, though many Game of Thrones fans won’t be happy to see that it was again snubbed.
As it turns out, Breaking Bad would end up being rewarded for those amazing final episodes, though True Detective did earn a very well deserved award for director Cary Joji Fukunaga (who helmed all eight instalments).
The UK was represented by Sherlock, and that too did exceptionally well, walking away with Emmys for Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and writer Steven Moffat. Looking at the results, it’s hard to imagine anyone being too upset with the results, though many Game of Thrones fans won’t be happy to see that it was again snubbed.
- 8/26/2014
- by Josh Wilding
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The 66th Annual Emmy Awards have come and gone; the big winners include greats like Breaking Bad, which won outstanding drama, best actor (Bryan Cranston), best supporting actor (Aaron Paul) and best actress (Anna Gunn). Not too bad for one last victory lap. Matthew McConaughey didn’t pick up a win for True Detective, but he’s had a great year regardless having already picked up an Oscar; he will sleep well.
Here is Billy Crystal‘s great Robin Williams tribute:
Check out the full list of nominees and winners (highlighted in bold) below:
Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
House of Cards
Mad Men
True Detective
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama
Julianna Margulies,...
Here is Billy Crystal‘s great Robin Williams tribute:
Check out the full list of nominees and winners (highlighted in bold) below:
Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
House of Cards
Mad Men
True Detective
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama
Julianna Margulies,...
- 8/26/2014
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
And here we are, the last big hurrah before the granddaddy of the awards season, the Academy Awards. As expected, "Zero Dark Thirty" won Original Screenplay but the most surprising winner was "Argo," beating the writing frontrunner, "Lincoln" by Tony Kushner. So more "Argo" power! It's definitely the film to beat this Oscars, and I'm happy that it's my No. 1 film of 2012!
Here's the complete list of WGA winners; for other winners/nominees this awards season, click here:
Film
Original Screenplay
"Zero Dark Thirty" - Written by Mark Boal; Columbia Pictures
Adapted Screenplay
"Argo" - Screenplay by Chris Terrio; based on a selection from "The Master of Disguise" by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired magazine article "The Great Escape" by Joshuah Bearman; Warner Bros. Pictures
Documentary Screenplay
"Searching for Sugar Man" - Written by Malik Bendejelloul; Sony Pictures Classics
Television
Drama Series
"Breaking Bad" - Written by Sam Catlin,...
Here's the complete list of WGA winners; for other winners/nominees this awards season, click here:
Film
Original Screenplay
"Zero Dark Thirty" - Written by Mark Boal; Columbia Pictures
Adapted Screenplay
"Argo" - Screenplay by Chris Terrio; based on a selection from "The Master of Disguise" by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired magazine article "The Great Escape" by Joshuah Bearman; Warner Bros. Pictures
Documentary Screenplay
"Searching for Sugar Man" - Written by Malik Bendejelloul; Sony Pictures Classics
Television
Drama Series
"Breaking Bad" - Written by Sam Catlin,...
- 2/18/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The Writers Guild of America gathered last night and handed out hardware to those in the world of film, radio and television. Read on for a list of winners from the latter industry...
Drama Series
Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett
Comedy Series
Louie, Written by Pamela Adlon, Vernon Chatman, Louis C.K.
New Series
Girls, Written by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, Lena Dunham, Sarah Heyward, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Jenni Konner, Deborah Schoeneman, Dan Sterling
Episodic Drama
“The Other Woman” (Mad Men), Written by Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner
Episodic Comedy
“Virgin Territory” (Modern Family), Written by Elaine Ko
Long Form – Original
Hatfields & McCoys, Nights Two and Three, Teleplay by Ted Mann and Ronald Parker, Story by Bill Kerby and Ted Mann
Long Form – Adapted
Game Change, Written by Danny Strong, Based on the book by Mark Halperin and...
Drama Series
Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett
Comedy Series
Louie, Written by Pamela Adlon, Vernon Chatman, Louis C.K.
New Series
Girls, Written by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, Lena Dunham, Sarah Heyward, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Jenni Konner, Deborah Schoeneman, Dan Sterling
Episodic Drama
“The Other Woman” (Mad Men), Written by Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner
Episodic Comedy
“Virgin Territory” (Modern Family), Written by Elaine Ko
Long Form – Original
Hatfields & McCoys, Nights Two and Three, Teleplay by Ted Mann and Ronald Parker, Story by Bill Kerby and Ted Mann
Long Form – Adapted
Game Change, Written by Danny Strong, Based on the book by Mark Halperin and...
- 2/18/2013
- by matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal)
- TVfanatic
Argo continued its domination of award season by claiming one of the last of the pre-Oscar prizes — the Writers Guild Award, where screenwriter Chris Terrio won the honor for adapted screenplay.
Terrio’s competition included Tony Kushner’s Lincoln, David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, David Magee’s Life of Pi and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. All but Chbosky are also up for the Oscar next weekend, with Beasts of the Southern Wild’s Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin taking that slot.
Best original screenplay went to Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty, who bested John Gatins’ Flight,...
Terrio’s competition included Tony Kushner’s Lincoln, David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook, David Magee’s Life of Pi and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. All but Chbosky are also up for the Oscar next weekend, with Beasts of the Southern Wild’s Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin taking that slot.
Best original screenplay went to Mark Boal for Zero Dark Thirty, who bested John Gatins’ Flight,...
- 2/18/2013
- by Anthony Breznican
- EW - Inside Movies
As we enter the home stretch to the Academy Awards, writers were celebrated Sunday. The 2012 Writers Guild Awards honored the best writing in film, television, radio, new media, and video games. "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Argo" took home the original and adapted screenplay awards, respectively. While "Breaking Bad," and "Louie" took home awards for best drama and comedy series.
Here is the full winners list:
Television
Drama SERIESBreaking Bad (AMC), Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett
Comedy SERIESLouie (FX), Written by Pamela Adlon, Vernon Chatman, Louis C.K.
New SERIESGirls (HBO), Written by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, Lena Dunham, Sarah Heyward, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Jenni Konner, Deborah Schoeneman, Dan Sterling
Episodic DRAMAMad Men (AMC) - "The Other Woman" - Written by Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner
Episodic COMEDYModern Family (ABC) - "Virgin Territory" - Written by Elaine Ko
Long Form -...
Here is the full winners list:
Television
Drama SERIESBreaking Bad (AMC), Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett
Comedy SERIESLouie (FX), Written by Pamela Adlon, Vernon Chatman, Louis C.K.
New SERIESGirls (HBO), Written by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, Lena Dunham, Sarah Heyward, Bruce Eric Kaplan, Jenni Konner, Deborah Schoeneman, Dan Sterling
Episodic DRAMAMad Men (AMC) - "The Other Woman" - Written by Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner
Episodic COMEDYModern Family (ABC) - "Virgin Territory" - Written by Elaine Ko
Long Form -...
- 2/18/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Executive Producer Cort Casady and Talent Producer Carole Propp have confirmed additional presenters to the talent line-up for the 2013 Writers Guild Awards L.A. ceremony this Sunday: Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Modern Family co-stars Julie Bowen and Rico Rodriguez, Jane Lynch (Glee), Steven Spielberg (Lincoln), Viola Davis (The Help), Kate Walsh (Private Practice), Stana Katic (Castle) joining her co-star Nathan Fillion, Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) and co-star Adam Scott, Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Walton Goggins (Justified), Alfred Molina (Monday Mornings), Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Sam Waterston (The Newsroom), Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond), filmmaker Mark Duplass (The Mindy Project), screenwriters Jon Lucas & Scott Moore (The Hangover), and Key And Peele co-creators/co-stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. The show will be directed by Joe DeMaio with Dave Boone returning as the show’s head writer. Contributing creative direction is the Wgaw’s...
- 2/15/2013
- by NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
- Deadline TV
Executive Producer Cort Casady and Talent Producer Carole Propp have confirmed additional presenters to the talent line-up for the 2013 Writers Guild Awards L.A. ceremony this Sunday: Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Modern Family co-stars Julie Bowen and Rico Rodriguez, Jane Lynch (Glee), Steven Spielberg (Lincoln), Viola Davis (The Help), Kate Walsh (Private Practice), Stana Katic (Castle) joining her co-star Nathan Fillion, Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) and co-star Adam Scott, Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Walton Goggins (Justified), Alfred Molina (Monday Mornings), Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Sam Waterston (The Newsroom), Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond), filmmaker Mark Duplass (The Mindy Project), screenwriters Jon Lucas & Scott Moore (The Hangover), and Key And Peele co-creators/co-stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. The show will be directed by Joe DeMaio with Dave Boone returning as the show’s head writer. Contributing creative direction is the Wgaw’s...
- 2/15/2013
- by NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
- Deadline Hollywood
Cort Casady, who for the past decade has been supervising producer of the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award telecasts, returns as executive producer of the WGA West’s 2013 awards show set for February 17 at the Jw Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live. Dave Boone (Dancing With The Stars) returns as head writer, having penned past ceremonies in 2005, 2006, and 2009 with Casady. Directing the 2013 show will be Joe DeMaio, whose credits include helming the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011. Talent producer Carole Propp also returns. The 2013 WGA Awards will be held at simultaneous ceremonies in La and the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City.
- 12/5/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Winners in the Creative Arts categories for this year's Emmy Awards were announced last night, with Boardwalk Empire leading the way.
Remember to visit TV Fanatic on the night of September 18 for a live blog of the Jane Lynch-hosted ceremony and check out the full results are below.
Outstanding guest actress in a drama series: Loretta Devine, "Grey's Anatomy"
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series: Gwyneth Paltrow, "Glee"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Paul McCrane, "Harry's Law"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Justin Timberlake, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding reality series: "Deadliest Catch"
Outstanding reality host: Jeff Probst, "Survivor"
Governors Award: John Walsh, "America's Most Wanted"
Outstanding casting for a drama series: "Boardwalk Empire"
Outstanding casting for a movie or miniseries: "Mildred Pierce"
Outstanding casting for a comedy series: "Glee"
Outstanding prosthetic makeup: "The Walking Dead"
Outstanding makeup for a movie or miniseries (non-prosthetic):...
Remember to visit TV Fanatic on the night of September 18 for a live blog of the Jane Lynch-hosted ceremony and check out the full results are below.
Outstanding guest actress in a drama series: Loretta Devine, "Grey's Anatomy"
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series: Gwyneth Paltrow, "Glee"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Paul McCrane, "Harry's Law"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Justin Timberlake, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding reality series: "Deadliest Catch"
Outstanding reality host: Jeff Probst, "Survivor"
Governors Award: John Walsh, "America's Most Wanted"
Outstanding casting for a drama series: "Boardwalk Empire"
Outstanding casting for a movie or miniseries: "Mildred Pierce"
Outstanding casting for a comedy series: "Glee"
Outstanding prosthetic makeup: "The Walking Dead"
Outstanding makeup for a movie or miniseries (non-prosthetic):...
- 9/11/2011
- by matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff)
- TVfanatic
The television academy honored the behind-the-scenes artists and technicians -- along with a few on-camera stars -- at the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday (Sept. 10). Here are the winners of the Creative Arts awards:
Outstanding guest actress in a drama series: Loretta Devine, "Grey's Anatomy"
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series: Gwyneth Paltrow, "Glee"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Paul McCrane, "Harry's Law"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Justin Timberlake, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding reality series: "Deadliest Catch"
Outstanding reality host: Jeff Probst, "Survivor"
Governors Award: John Walsh, "America's Most Wanted"
Outstanding casting for a drama series: "Boardwalk Empire"
Outstanding casting for a movie or miniseries: "Mildred Pierce"
Outstanding casting for a comedy series: "Glee"
Outstanding prosthetic makeup: "The Walking Dead"
Outstanding makeup for a movie or miniseries (non-prosthetic): "The Kennedys"
Outstanding makeup for a single-camera series (non-prosthetic): "Boardwalk Empire"
Outstanding makeup for...
Outstanding guest actress in a drama series: Loretta Devine, "Grey's Anatomy"
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series: Gwyneth Paltrow, "Glee"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Paul McCrane, "Harry's Law"
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series: Justin Timberlake, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding reality series: "Deadliest Catch"
Outstanding reality host: Jeff Probst, "Survivor"
Governors Award: John Walsh, "America's Most Wanted"
Outstanding casting for a drama series: "Boardwalk Empire"
Outstanding casting for a movie or miniseries: "Mildred Pierce"
Outstanding casting for a comedy series: "Glee"
Outstanding prosthetic makeup: "The Walking Dead"
Outstanding makeup for a movie or miniseries (non-prosthetic): "The Kennedys"
Outstanding makeup for a single-camera series (non-prosthetic): "Boardwalk Empire"
Outstanding makeup for...
- 9/11/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Modern Family, Mad Men and HBO were among the major winners at last night's 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. The ABC series snagged awards for supporting actor Eric Stonestreet, Christopher Lloyd’s writing and Outstanding Comedy Series, while Mad Men was named Outstanding Drama Series and won for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. HBO’s Temple Grandin, You Don’t Know Jack and The Pacific also all received at least one award.
Other series that received Primetime Emmys included Fox’s high school musical, Glee, AMC’s Breaking Bad, CBS’s superior legal drama, The Good Wife and one of yours truly's favorites, Big Bang Theory. Bazinga!
The CBS sitcom was named in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the performances of Jim Parsons. Parsons plays uber-geek, antisocialite and self-confessed physics genius Sheldon Cooper. You can see Parson's...
Modern Family, Mad Men and HBO were among the major winners at last night's 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. The ABC series snagged awards for supporting actor Eric Stonestreet, Christopher Lloyd’s writing and Outstanding Comedy Series, while Mad Men was named Outstanding Drama Series and won for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. HBO’s Temple Grandin, You Don’t Know Jack and The Pacific also all received at least one award.
Other series that received Primetime Emmys included Fox’s high school musical, Glee, AMC’s Breaking Bad, CBS’s superior legal drama, The Good Wife and one of yours truly's favorites, Big Bang Theory. Bazinga!
The CBS sitcom was named in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the performances of Jim Parsons. Parsons plays uber-geek, antisocialite and self-confessed physics genius Sheldon Cooper. You can see Parson's...
- 8/30/2010
- CinemaSpy
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded the 2009-2010 Primetime Emmys for programs and individual achievements on the .62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. originating on the NBC Television Network from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Academy’s Chairman & CEO John Shaffner participated in the awards ceremony. Don Mischer was Executive Producer of the telecast. In addition to Emmys in 26 categories announced tonight, Emmys in 74 other categories and areas for programs and individual achievements were presented at the Creative Arts Awards on August 21, 2010 from the Nokia Theatre. HBO, AMC were the big winners at the 62nd Primetime Emmys, while ABC and CBS were the top broadcast Networks.
Biggest shocks on Sunday night.
7 time Emmy winner, The Amazing Race, was brought down by fellow reality series Top Chef. Previous Emmy champs, Tony Shaloub and Alec Baldwin were brought down hard by Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons!
Biggest shocks on Sunday night.
7 time Emmy winner, The Amazing Race, was brought down by fellow reality series Top Chef. Previous Emmy champs, Tony Shaloub and Alec Baldwin were brought down hard by Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons!
- 8/30/2010
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
HollywoodNews.com: The 62nd Annual Primetime Emmys featured some wins from a handful of newcomers, as well as some repeat wins from previous years. As “Mad Men” took home the award for Best Drama Series and “Modern Family” took home the Emmy for Best Comedy Series, these shows aren’t the only ones who reaped some of the awards.
View the complete nominee and winner list below:
Drama Series
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Dexter (Showtime)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Lost (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)
Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Modern Family (ABC)
Glee (Fox)
Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
The Office (NBC)
30 Rock (NBC)
Miniseries
The Pacific (HBO)
Return to Cranford (PBS)
Made for Television Movie
Endgame (PBS)
Georgia O’Keeffe (Lifetime)
Moonshot (History)
The Special Relationship (HBO)
Temple Grandin (HBO)
You Don’t Know Jack (HBO)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Michael C. Hall,...
View the complete nominee and winner list below:
Drama Series
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Dexter (Showtime)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Lost (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)
Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Modern Family (ABC)
Glee (Fox)
Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
The Office (NBC)
30 Rock (NBC)
Miniseries
The Pacific (HBO)
Return to Cranford (PBS)
Made for Television Movie
Endgame (PBS)
Georgia O’Keeffe (Lifetime)
Moonshot (History)
The Special Relationship (HBO)
Temple Grandin (HBO)
You Don’t Know Jack (HBO)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Michael C. Hall,...
- 8/30/2010
- by Linny Lum
- Hollywoodnews.com
While the writers strike has pulled the rug out from under the Golden Globes, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is quietly making plans for the 80th Annual Academy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 24, hoping that it isn't tripped up as well.
But with no writers on hand, the trophy show already is behind schedule.
"I'm not going to cite odds, but our hope is we can work something out or that the strike is resolved in time," Academy executive director Bruce Davis said Tuesday.
"The major change from last year," he said, "is that in a normal year, we'd have assembled a staff of writers, and they would have been working on the show for more than a month."
Following that schedule, writing for this year's show would kick into high gear after the Oscar noms are announced Jan. 22.
In a typical year, the Academy assembles one group of writers -- often including such frequent contributors as Dave Boone, Carol Leifer and Bruce Vilanch -- while the host brings in a second set of writers. Last year's show required at least 14 writers, including host Ellen DeGeneres.
But this year, the Academy said it hasn't yet hired any writers, and Jon Stewart, who is to serve as emcee, hasn't brought together his writers, either.
Stewart, who initially refused to cross picket lines, returned to the air this week as star of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart on Comedy Central. He is expected to be on hand at the Oscars, but Academy officials admitted that if he should withdraw for any reason, they have no plan B in place.
When it does approach the WGA for a waiver, the Academy is likely to argue that it owns the Academy Awards, which it licenses to ABC, and so should be able to negotiate an agreement on its own like David Letterman's Worldwide Pants did.
But with no writers on hand, the trophy show already is behind schedule.
"I'm not going to cite odds, but our hope is we can work something out or that the strike is resolved in time," Academy executive director Bruce Davis said Tuesday.
"The major change from last year," he said, "is that in a normal year, we'd have assembled a staff of writers, and they would have been working on the show for more than a month."
Following that schedule, writing for this year's show would kick into high gear after the Oscar noms are announced Jan. 22.
In a typical year, the Academy assembles one group of writers -- often including such frequent contributors as Dave Boone, Carol Leifer and Bruce Vilanch -- while the host brings in a second set of writers. Last year's show required at least 14 writers, including host Ellen DeGeneres.
But this year, the Academy said it hasn't yet hired any writers, and Jon Stewart, who is to serve as emcee, hasn't brought together his writers, either.
Stewart, who initially refused to cross picket lines, returned to the air this week as star of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart on Comedy Central. He is expected to be on hand at the Oscars, but Academy officials admitted that if he should withdraw for any reason, they have no plan B in place.
When it does approach the WGA for a waiver, the Academy is likely to argue that it owns the Academy Awards, which it licenses to ABC, and so should be able to negotiate an agreement on its own like David Letterman's Worldwide Pants did.
This year's Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will feature a grab bag of at least nine major comedy stars in lieu of a dedicated host, making it especially challenging for the writers and producers of Fox's live three-hour telecast. But it's a task that Emmy telecast executive producer Don Mischer says he and his team are up to, even if Mischer admits they haven't quite figured out how they'll pull it off by the time the big show starts Sept. 21. Mischer has lined up awards show veterans Jon Macks, Dave Boone and Beth Armogida to write the show, though more scribes may be added in the coming weeks. "Generally, the host of a three-hour show will make 18-20 separate appearances during the course of a three-hour ceremony," Mischer said. "This year, in an attempt to help comedy be the central focus of the show, we wanted to put more comedic talent on the stage in any way possible."...
- 8/12/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
8-11 p.m.
Monday, May 19
ABC
Trying to boil down 50 years to three hours (including commercials) is no easy task. Just ask anyone who has ever tossed a 50th wedding anniversary bash. But exec producer Don Mischer and his cohorts do a reasonably spiffy job here in catching most of the highlights, lowlights and midlights of ABC's purported half-century of existence. We say "purported" because ABC actually boasted a primetime schedule as early as 1948, which would in fact make it 55 years old. In Hollywood, clearly, even networks aren't immune to the obsession with trying to trim years from their lives. But "ABC's 55th Anniversary Celebration" obviously carries somewhat less cache for a sweep extravaganza.
Of course, this is also a precipitous time for the network to be using fuzzy math given the ongoing sorry state of its primetime fortunes. But again, this here is about celebration, not wallowing, and indeed ABC has had plenty to be proud of in its glorious history. The celebration touches all of the key areas with panache, giving it a sparkling (if sometimes token-driven) sheen.
Staged at the Pantages Theatre and shot on film to give it a classier and more consequential look, the all-star retrospective trots out nearly every living soul who has ever meant anything to the network -- with the ghost of ABC's late news/sports impresario Roone Arledge hanging tantalizingly over the proceedings. We get reunions of the casts of "Welcome Back, Kotter" (complete with John Travolta), "The Brady Bunch", "The Mod Squad", "Happy Days", "Family Matters", "The Love Boat" and even the still-going "NYPD Blue". This serves mostly as a gauge for how poorly, or well, these people have aged. And "Dynasty"'s Joan Collins looks significantly better and younger now than she ever did on the show, which points to the miracle of ... well, something.
Tellingly, David Caruso isn't present with the "NYPD" cast, nor is Ellen DeGeneres there for the brief tribute to "Ellen".
There are kicky moments scattered throughout, such as clips featuring the appearances of Harrison Ford on "Love, American Style", Tom Hanks on "Love Boat" (be very afraid), stars Ryan O'Neal on "Peyton Place" and Michael Douglas on "The Streets of San Francisco", Jodie Foster on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and Burt Reynolds on "The Dating Game". There's Sonny & Cher and the Jackson Five on "American Bandstand". And exes O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett (herself an ABC icon, of course, from "Charlie's Angels") arrive onstage together.
We also get clip packages galore, of course, paying self-homage to ABC's groundbreaking work in sports broadcasting (via the Olympics, "Wide World of Sports" and "Monday Night Football"), in longform movies and miniseries, in comedy and at the Oscars -- which is somehow missing the most electric Academy Awards moment of them all, which featured Charlie Chaplin in 1972.
Some things do indeed receive unnervingly short shrift, like the ABC News legacy (dispensed with in roughly five minutes of reflection from Peter Jennings and Ted Koppel) and most anything that predates the mid-1960s. There is, however, a little something for everybody in the star-studded special. And let it be said that while ABC may admit to being 50, it doesn't look a day over ... well, OK, 50.
ABC'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
ABC
Don Mischer Prods.
Credits:
Executive producer: Don Mischer
Producer: Charlie Haykel
Director: Glenn Weiss
Ling producer: Bill Urban
Co-producer: Julianne Hare
Associate producer: Mark R. Leed
Writers: Dave Boone, Brian Brown, Sara Lukinson, Jon Macks, Stephen Pouliot, Jeff Stilson
Music director: Harold Wheeler
Production designer: Robert Keene
Art directors: Brian Stonestreet, Alex Fuller
Set decorator: Dwight Jackson
Costume designer: Paula Elins
Editors: Mike Polito, Mark Stepp, Bill Weinman Appearances by: Muhammad Ali, Tim Allen, Jim Belushi, LeVar Burton, Drew Carey, Richard Chamberlain, Dick Clark, Michael Cole, Joan Collins, Hugh Downs, Peter Falk, Farrah Fawcett, Michael J. Fox, Dennis Franz, Jennifer Garner, Dorothy Hamel, Florence Henderson, Bonnie Hunt, Peter Jennings, Jimmy Kimmel, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carl Lewis, Peggy Lipton, George Lopez, Susan Lucci, Joan Lunden, Jim McKay, Gavin MacLeod, John Madden, Camryn Manheim, Penny Marshall, Al Michaels, Joe Namath, Ryan O'Neal, John Ritter, Roseanne, John Travolta, Barbara Walters, Damon Wayans, Jaleel White, Cindy Williams, Clarence Williams III, Oprah Winfrey, Henry Winkler...
Monday, May 19
ABC
Trying to boil down 50 years to three hours (including commercials) is no easy task. Just ask anyone who has ever tossed a 50th wedding anniversary bash. But exec producer Don Mischer and his cohorts do a reasonably spiffy job here in catching most of the highlights, lowlights and midlights of ABC's purported half-century of existence. We say "purported" because ABC actually boasted a primetime schedule as early as 1948, which would in fact make it 55 years old. In Hollywood, clearly, even networks aren't immune to the obsession with trying to trim years from their lives. But "ABC's 55th Anniversary Celebration" obviously carries somewhat less cache for a sweep extravaganza.
Of course, this is also a precipitous time for the network to be using fuzzy math given the ongoing sorry state of its primetime fortunes. But again, this here is about celebration, not wallowing, and indeed ABC has had plenty to be proud of in its glorious history. The celebration touches all of the key areas with panache, giving it a sparkling (if sometimes token-driven) sheen.
Staged at the Pantages Theatre and shot on film to give it a classier and more consequential look, the all-star retrospective trots out nearly every living soul who has ever meant anything to the network -- with the ghost of ABC's late news/sports impresario Roone Arledge hanging tantalizingly over the proceedings. We get reunions of the casts of "Welcome Back, Kotter" (complete with John Travolta), "The Brady Bunch", "The Mod Squad", "Happy Days", "Family Matters", "The Love Boat" and even the still-going "NYPD Blue". This serves mostly as a gauge for how poorly, or well, these people have aged. And "Dynasty"'s Joan Collins looks significantly better and younger now than she ever did on the show, which points to the miracle of ... well, something.
Tellingly, David Caruso isn't present with the "NYPD" cast, nor is Ellen DeGeneres there for the brief tribute to "Ellen".
There are kicky moments scattered throughout, such as clips featuring the appearances of Harrison Ford on "Love, American Style", Tom Hanks on "Love Boat" (be very afraid), stars Ryan O'Neal on "Peyton Place" and Michael Douglas on "The Streets of San Francisco", Jodie Foster on "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and Burt Reynolds on "The Dating Game". There's Sonny & Cher and the Jackson Five on "American Bandstand". And exes O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett (herself an ABC icon, of course, from "Charlie's Angels") arrive onstage together.
We also get clip packages galore, of course, paying self-homage to ABC's groundbreaking work in sports broadcasting (via the Olympics, "Wide World of Sports" and "Monday Night Football"), in longform movies and miniseries, in comedy and at the Oscars -- which is somehow missing the most electric Academy Awards moment of them all, which featured Charlie Chaplin in 1972.
Some things do indeed receive unnervingly short shrift, like the ABC News legacy (dispensed with in roughly five minutes of reflection from Peter Jennings and Ted Koppel) and most anything that predates the mid-1960s. There is, however, a little something for everybody in the star-studded special. And let it be said that while ABC may admit to being 50, it doesn't look a day over ... well, OK, 50.
ABC'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
ABC
Don Mischer Prods.
Credits:
Executive producer: Don Mischer
Producer: Charlie Haykel
Director: Glenn Weiss
Ling producer: Bill Urban
Co-producer: Julianne Hare
Associate producer: Mark R. Leed
Writers: Dave Boone, Brian Brown, Sara Lukinson, Jon Macks, Stephen Pouliot, Jeff Stilson
Music director: Harold Wheeler
Production designer: Robert Keene
Art directors: Brian Stonestreet, Alex Fuller
Set decorator: Dwight Jackson
Costume designer: Paula Elins
Editors: Mike Polito, Mark Stepp, Bill Weinman Appearances by: Muhammad Ali, Tim Allen, Jim Belushi, LeVar Burton, Drew Carey, Richard Chamberlain, Dick Clark, Michael Cole, Joan Collins, Hugh Downs, Peter Falk, Farrah Fawcett, Michael J. Fox, Dennis Franz, Jennifer Garner, Dorothy Hamel, Florence Henderson, Bonnie Hunt, Peter Jennings, Jimmy Kimmel, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carl Lewis, Peggy Lipton, George Lopez, Susan Lucci, Joan Lunden, Jim McKay, Gavin MacLeod, John Madden, Camryn Manheim, Penny Marshall, Al Michaels, Joe Namath, Ryan O'Neal, John Ritter, Roseanne, John Travolta, Barbara Walters, Damon Wayans, Jaleel White, Cindy Williams, Clarence Williams III, Oprah Winfrey, Henry Winkler...
- 5/19/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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