NEW YORK (AP) — John Aniston, the Emmy-winning star of the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” and father of Jennifer Aniston, has died at age 89.
The actor’s daughter posted a tribute to him Monday morning on Instagram, announcing that he had died Friday, Veteran’s Day. John Aniston served in the U.S. Navy.
“Sweet papa… John Anthony Aniston,” Jennifer Aniston wrote. “You were one of the most beautiful humans I ever knew. I am so grateful that you went soaring into the heavens in peace — and without pain. And on 11/11 no less! You always had perfect timing. That number will forever hold an even greater meaning for me now.”
John Aniston’s acting credits included “Search for Tomorrow,” “The West Wing” and “Gilmore Girls.” But he was best-known for his long-running role on “Days of Our Lives” as family patriarch Victor Kiriakis, the former drug lord who goes on to found the powerful Titan Industries.
In 2017, his work on “Days of Our Lives” brought him an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a drama series. Earlier this year, he was presented a lifetime achievement Emmy, with Jennifer Aniston honoring him via video.
“It’s an opportunity to not only pay tribute to a true icon in the daytime television world, but it’s also a chance to recognize the lifelong achievements of a great and well-respected actor, who also happens to be my dad,” Jennifer Aniston said at the time. “John Aniston has been working in television consistently for over half a century.”
John Aniston was born Yannis Anastassakis in Crete, Greece, and emigrated with his family to Pennsylvania when he was a child. A theater major at Pennsylvania State University, he began his professional acting career in the 1960s, with early roles in “Combat!”, “I Spy” and “The Virginian.”
Aniston was married twice, most recently to Sherry Rooney. He had two children, Jennifer and Alexander Aniston, and a stepson, John Melick.
Earlier this year, Louis C.K. proved his own “cancellation” was a myth when his big comeback special Sincerely Louis C.K. not only landed a nomination but went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.
Don’t be surprised if Dave Chappelle pulls off a similar trick at the Emmys.
Now, to be fair, hateful speech is not the same as C.K.’s abusive behavior, but it now feels inevitable that Chappelle’s controversial Netflix special The Closer will be rewarded by the Television Academy when nominations are announced this Tuesday.
In addition to Chappelle’s Netflix special, the nominations for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) are expected to include some non-comedy entries as well, including Adele’s One Night Only concert and a similarly problematic Harry Potter 20th anniversary reunion on HBO Max. But it is comedy—and Chappelle, specifically—that have dominated the category in recent years. The comedian’s previous Netflix specials Equanimity, in which he defended Louis C.K., and Stick and Stones, in which he mocked Michael Jackson’s accusers, won the award in 2018 and 2020, respectively.
If The Closer is included among the nominees, it will be despite immense backlash against the transphobic jokes at its center—and the comedian’s continued obsession with that topic. Even after he was attacked on stage at the Hollywood Bowl, Chappelle quickly joked that the assailant must have been a “trans man.” More recently, he assailed students who criticized him as “instruments of oppression.”
But it will also come at a time when Chappelle—much more so than Louis C.K.—has maintained the support of the comedy community, speaking on behalf of his friend Jon Stewart at the recent Mark Twain Prize ceremony—an honor he received himself in 2019—and making a surprise appearance on one of John Mulaney’s summer tour stops that drew criticism from fans who felt bombarded by his anti-LGBTQ+ jokes.
So ahead of the nomination announcement this week, here are five comedy specials that deserve a spot over The Closer.
Jerrod Carmichael — Rothaniel
Of all the specials on this list, Carmichael’s game-changing hour is (hopefully) the most likely to make it into the final crop of nominees. Directed by his frequent collaborator—and the man who should have won last year’s award in this category—Bo Burnham, Rothaniel is a sneakily hilarious and moving set that promises to uncover multiple secrets about Carmichael and delivers. Coming out as a gay man is among the least surprising things the comedian reveals about himself over the course of the laid-back hour, which evolves into a sort of public therapy session with the hyper-engaged audience.
Moses Storm — Trash White
When comedian Moses Storm dropped by The Last Laugh podcast back in January, I called his HBO Max special Trash White the first great stand-up special of 2022. Not only is it visually dazzling with a set made out of literal white trash, but Storm has a hell of a story to tell about growing up in a doomsday cult and reckoning with how that unconventional childhood has impacted his ability to exist as an adult in the world. And on top of that, it includes a beautifully rendered, inadvertent tribute to the late Bob Saget, who played a surprisingly big role in Storm’s upbringing.
Ronny Chieng — Speakeasy
Speakeasy, gorgeouslyfilmed in New York’s Chinatown, isThe Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng’s excellent follow-up to 2019’s equally hilarious Asian Comedian Destroys America! Instead of complaining about “cancel culture,” Chieng flips the script by daring viewers to “cancel” him so he can stop being so successful, go back home to Singapore and see his mother for the first time in several years. “If you commit a crime, you go to jail. That’s not cancel culture, that’s a felony,” he told me earlier this year. “So when I did that bit, I was making fun of the ‘woke’ Twitter people who try to cancel everybody. And then I was making fun of the right-wing, who think that cancel culture is all-powerful.”
Taylor Tomlinson — Look at You
In her debut Netflix special Quarter-Life Crisis, Taylor Tomlinson broke through the noise and quickly established herself as one of the most confident young stand-up comedians in the game. Her 2022 follow-up Look at You proved it wasn’t a fluke. Now, at just 28 years old, she has already achieved her wildest comedy dreams, culminating with her first big theater tour this fall. The Emmys will presumably have many more opportunities to honor Tomlinson down the line, but they might as well start now. Her bit comparing imbalanced couples to chocolate-covered raisins alone deserves some sort of award.
Roy Wood Jr. — Imperfect Messenger
If you want to see what true stand-up comedy excellence looks like, few can top another Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who has been at it for more than two decades and just gets better with every special he puts out. For evidence of his mastery, look no further than the long run about how Leonardo DiCaprio’s role as an evil slaver in Django Unchained makes him an “underrated white ally.” But that joke is just one of many in Comedy Central’s Imperfect Messenger that intelligently takes on relevant issues in the culture without punching down or pissing off entire groups of marginalized people.
Bonus: Naomi Ekperigin on The Standups and River Butcher’s A Different Kind of Dude
So, these two are kind of a cheat because, as part of Netflix’s The Standups and Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Presenting series, respectively, the half-hour specials from Naomi Ekperigin and River Butcher don’t exactly qualify for this category at the Emmys. But I would put both sets up there with any of the hour-long specials released by more seasoned comics over the past year. Each comedian uses their 30 minutes to introduce themselves to the world in very different ways. By the time they inevitably land their own hours, they will no doubt both deserve to be in the Emmy conversation for real.
For more, listen and subscribe to The Last Laugh podcast.
Donald Glover and Brian Tyree Henry in season 3, episode 2 of AtlantaPhoto: Coco Olakunle/FX
At SXSW last week, Atlanta creator and star Donald Glover said he wanted season 3 to be a “Black fairytale.” That tracks with the show’s genre-skipping ethos, which has forayed into surrealism and horror, and the evolution of its characters, who may be about to taste the first mythical fruits of rap superstardom. The full extent of that remains to be seen, but the first two episodes of season three cement Atlanta’s reputation as a classic-in-progress and one of the most daring and imaginative shows on television, period.
It’s been nearly four years since the end of season two, so, here’s a refresher: Earn (Glover) manages his cousin, the rising rapper Al “Paper Boi” (Brian Tyree Henry), basically because they’re cousins. Laconic philosopher sidekick Darius (Oscar nominee Lakeith Stanfield) is along for the ride, as is Earn’s on-again, off-again girlfriend Van (Zazie Beetz). The first two seasons followed them from struggle to breakout to the cusp of major success, and season three was publicized as taking place on a European tour.
But that’s not where we are as the season premiere begins.
The show has gone Gothic before (particularly in last season’s exceptional “Teddy Perkins”) and has turned away from its main characters to do nearly anthology-style episodes. But not much can prepare you for “Three Slaps,” a retelling of the Devonte Hart story, about a while female couple who killed themselves and their six Black foster children in 2018.
The episode exactly replicates certain aspects of the real-life tale (Devonte’s fedora, his tearful clinch with a cop) while filling in the blanks with exceptional economy and tension. The script, by Stephen Glover, also includes the show’s trademark pitch-dark irony: When the Devonte-inspired character, Loquareeous (now nicknamed “Larry”), is standing at a farmer’s market wearing a sign that says “Free Hugs,” a white man asks him, “Is your dad Hugs?”
Things don’t end exactly like the true-life Hart story, and it’s unclear if the entire unfolding was happening in someone’s mind (Earn’s?) or in some parallel universe. But that doesn’t detract from its impact as an indictment of the foster system, the cruelty that can lie beneath well-meaning, and the obliviousness of onlookers. I haven’t been able to get this episode out of my mind for days. It haunts and reverberates, producing the same kind of prolonged hangover HBO Sunday night dramas once did.
Episode two finds the group in Amsterdam. Having picked up two fans who proceeded to trash his hotel room, Paper Boi sits in a very posh jail (which, in Amsterdam, apparently look like a slightly elevated Residence Inn, complete with room service menus provided by solicitous cops—an excellent sight gag).
LaKeith Stanfield in season 3, episode 2 of AtlantaPhoto: Coco Olakunle/FX
Meanwhile, Van shows up, adrift after a professional disappointment, and she and Darius trip around the city. A crumpled-up address found in a thrift-store coat leads them to sort of a deathbed cocktail party, as a man’s loved ones and his “death doula” have gathered to celebrate his final moments. There, Van receives existential counsel from the doula: “You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
Once Earn bails out Paper Boi, the focus turns to the preparation for that night’s show, and Paper Boi wonders what’s up with all the Dutch people wandering around in blackface. Their driver explains that it’s a local holiday tradition to dress up as “Black Pete,” Sinterklaas’ assistant. “Sounds like Santa’s slave, but I respect the rebrand,” Paper Boi says, classically. (The script, by Janine Nabers, deserves a shout-out.) The Sinterklaas celebration complicates the gig that night and leads to a confrontation in the venue lobby that feels downright Kubrickian, one that only Atlanta would dare try.
Even beyond that, “Sinterklaas Is Coming To Town” includes one of the funniest and most darkly shocking moments in recent memory, and I won’t spoil it just in case you’re scanning this before watching. Coming at the close of the death-doula scene, it’s reminiscent of the best moments of Six Feet Under, only taken one step further. And that’s Atlanta: The show—like its characters—is really going places. It’s unclear where the twists of this fairytale will lead, but judging by these two episodes, they’re not to be missed.
Stray Observations
A low-key scene stealer in episode two: Darius’ coat.
Zazie Beetz makes a strong impression in episode two, turning in affecting work at the dying man’s bedside before The Big Twist.
Also excellent: Christopher Farrar as Loquareeous, the protagonist of “Three Slaps.”
The script for “Three Slaps” is award-worthy, but it’s hard to imagine it finding traction in comedy categories. A shame.
Donald Glover has announced that seasons three and four of Atlanta, which were shot concurrently, will be the last.
Christine Baranski stars in The Gilded AgePhoto: Alison Roma/HBO
Agnes van Rhijn: You are my niece, and you belong to old New York.
When Downton Abbey crossed the pond to PBS in 2011, the truncated form it arrived in—edited down from seven episodes to four—was a sign of how little Masterpiece expected of the winter-filler acquisition. Instead, it changed the entire PBS landscape. It also generated a spinoff announcement at its height. The Gilded Age, an 1880s New York set prequel from series creator Julian Fellowes, was set for NBC (producer Carnival Films is owned by NBCUniversal), telling the story of the wealthy Cora Levinson and her engagement to fortune-hunter Lord Grantham.
A Downton Abbey clone was never a good fit for NBC, though, and it sat for years in development hell before executive Bob Greenblatt left for HBO, taking the project with him. The pandemic then delayed the show again, making it an entire decade from that 2012 announcement to the final product. Meanwhile, Fellowes attempted two other projects, Belgravia and The English Game, neither of which came close to capturing the Downton magic.
Those failures may explain the opening to The Gilded Age, which plays like Downton almost beat for beat. Instead of a train across the English countryside, horse-drawn carriages speed across a sheep-infested Central Park, and the mail arrives bearing bad news, not a telegram. But the downstairs scene in the kitchen between cook and butler could be Lesley Nichols’ Mrs. Patmore and Jim Carter’s Carson instead of Kristine Nielsen’s Mrs. Bauer and Simon Jones’ Bannister, and it would not make a difference.
The Gilded Age’s premiere runs nearly as long as the 90-minute PBS-edited version of Downton’s opening episode, a full hour and twenty minutes, creating the same sense of elongated introduction to the ensemble. The initial Cora-centric idea was abandoned for a more Shakespearean one, two houses, both alike in dignity, etc. In short order, viewers are introduced to them, sitting across the street next to Central Park. One is the long-established home of old-money widow Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and her spinster sister, Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). The other is a just-built mansion moved into by the new-money Russells, George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha (Carrie Coon).
Carrie Coon in HBO’s The Gilded AgePhoto: Alison Rosa/HBO
The show also introduces Marian Brook (newcomer Louisa Jacobson, whose main credit is being Meryl Streep’s daughter). Her father, Henry, just inconveniently died, leaving her all of $30 and no choice but to leave her Pennsylvania home and throw herself upon the mercy of Aunts Agnes and Ada in NYC. Her late father’s lawyer, Tom Raikes (Thomas Cocquerel), is a potential suitor. However, the Russells’ son Larry (Harry Richardson) is obviously love interest number two, despite his mother’s lofty ambitions to marry him to someone of higher stature like Caroline Astor (Amy Forsyth). Agnes’ son Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) also seemed smitten by Marian, but the Matthew-and-Mary vibes are a deliberate red herring, as he’s in love with John Adams IV (Claybourne Elder).
However, despite his mother’s instant hatred of the new neighbors, Oscar recognizes that Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga) is the monetarily smart match. His predatory eye suggests he’ll be over there like a shot as soon as she makes her debut into society.
Bertha says she’s holding out on Gladys’ debut because it should be part of the Russells’ first official ball. However, Gladys may be in her mid-20s before that happens; Bertha is in for a rough ride to break into society. When she and Gladys attend the charity fundraiser held by Mrs. Fane (Kelli O’Hara), the hostess is almost comically terrified that someone will notice. Bertha’s open house is a disaster as nearly the whole of society ignores the invitations she spent hours personally delivering. At least Marian sneaks over to see the inside of the Russell house in a Beauty and the Beast-like ballgown, officially befriending both Larry and Gladys along the way.
Taissa Farmiga and Carrie Coon in HBO’s The Gilded AgePhoto: Alison Rosa/HBO
Marian also picked up a BFF on the way to New York, Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), who rescues Marian when her purse is stolen. There’s a (long needed) movement in period pieces to show the Black perspective. Peggy’s lead status puts The Gilded Age on the same footing as Sanditon, Grantchester, and others that have recognized these all-white worlds are historically false. Miss Scott’s role is also quickly upgraded from “random BFF people mistake for the maid” to “Agnes’ secretary” in less than 45 minutes, cementing the show’s plans to keep telling that story. It remains to be seen how comfortable the series is in going deep into this unexplored side of period dramas. However, the scene on the train and Peggy meeting her mother Dorothy (Audra McDonald) in an all-Black establishment gives hope The Gilded Age will screw its nerve to the sticking place and keep going.
But Miss Scott’s story also highlights an issue all shows that followed in Downton’s wake have struggled with: How to make people care about downstairs. Downton’s downstairs crew introduced the household through their eyes, so fans cared about them before they cared about upstairs. But this was a rare feat since most plot drivers come from above. Though the racist microaggressions Peggy encounters are far from easy to watch (and they’re not supposed to be), the scenes help immediately define the van Rhijn downstairs set for viewers through a set of eyes not usually given a perspective in these series. In contrast, the Russells’ downstairs team is far less interesting, a major letdown since the upstairs story on that side of the street is, so far, the far superior one.
Stray Observations
In most Fellowes’ stories, families like the Russells, the lot that buys it rather than inherits it, are the antagonists. But in American storytelling, especially in the post-Civil War period, it’s the capitalists who we revere. The tension between these competing dynamics is one of the things that makes this first episode tick.
On that same note, Carrie Coons’ Bertha comes in like a Fellowes’ antagonist, but it’s hard not to feel sympathy for her as she runs into the societal brick wall by the end of the episode.
I know I’m supposed to care about George’s train business, but currently, those scenes mainly exist so one can marvel about offices with six-foot-tall fireplaces.
This show’s smart choice was to understand the character fans loved the most in Downton Abbey was the house itself. The swooping camera shots of the Russells’ wide curved staircases, gilt-edged paneled walls, massive crystal chandeliers, gorgeous stained glass windows, and the sumptuously upholstered furniture are *chef’s kiss*
The van Rhijns’ house is less modernized and does not lend itself to quite the same period real estate porn. However, the camera takes every opportunity to frame the actors from a wider shot to afford viewers long looks at the bookcases, the well-turned furniture, and the portraiture that decorates the walls.
My gods, these costumes. I would watch this for Bertha’s outfits alone.
My sainted aunt, these HATS. I believe I may have died for the tall blue sail perched upon Carrie Coon’s updo.
The show claims these houses are located at 5th Ave and 61st, but most street scenes were filmed upstate in Troy, NY, just outside Albany, and are CGI composites. Sorry, no Highclere Castle tours for this show.
The 73rd Emmy Awards returned Sunday night to celebrate the best in television. Actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer hosted the ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, making him only the second solo Black host in the event’s history.
“Ted Lasso” went into the night with the most nominations, 13, and took home four, including wins for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series and outstanding comedy series. “The Crown” ended up with the most wins, racking up seven Emmys.
Debbie Allen, the multi-talented actress, singer, dancer, choreographer and director, received the 2021 Governor’s Award. RuPaul also made history by winning the most Emmys ever by a person of color.
The annual event had a limited in-person audience made up of nominees and their guests. It’s a shift from last year’s show, which was partially virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, all attendees were asked to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, the Television Academy said.
The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday night, as stars from across the TV industry vied to take home the coveted award. Cedric the Entertainer hosted the show, which was broadcast live from Los Angeles on CBS and Paramount+.
Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” came into the night with the most nominations with 13 and took home four awards. Netflix’s “The Crown” received 11 nominations and ended up with the biggest haul of the night with seven wins. Debbie Allen received the 2021 Governor’s Award.
Jean Smart received the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on HBO’s “Hacks.” Kate Winslet, who worked alongside Smart in “Mare of Easttown,” another HBO production, was given the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Movie.
Jean Smart from “Hacks” appears at the 73rd Emmy Awards.
Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty Images
After last year’s mostly virtual show, the 2021 ceremony took place before a limited live audience made up of nominees and select guests. All attendees were asked to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
Check out the full list of winners and nominees below.
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”— Winner
“Conan”
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Outstanding Competition Program
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” — Winner
“The Amazing Race”
“Nailed It”
“Top Chef”
“The Voice”
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Jean Smart, “Hacks” — Winner
Aidy Bryant, “Shrill”
Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “Black-ish”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”— Winner
Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”
Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Kenan Thompson, “Kenan”
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Ted Lasso”— Winner
“Black-ish”
“Cobra Kai”
“Emily in Paris”
“Hacks”
“The Flight Attendant”
“The Kominsky Method”
“Pen15”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie
Ewan McGregor, “Halston” — Winner
Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”
Hugh Grant, “The Undoing”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton”
Leslie Odom, Jr., “Hamilton”
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or a Movie
Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” — Winner
Michaela Coel, “I May Destroy You”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”
Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit”
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
“The Queen’s Gambit” — Winner
“I May Destroy You”
“Mare of Easttown”
“The Underground Railroad”
“WandaVision”
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Olivia Colman, “The Crown” — Winner
Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”
Emma Corrin, “The Crown”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
MJ Rodriguez, “Pose”
Jurnee Smollett, “Lovecraft Country”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Josh O’Connor, “The Crown” — Winner
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
Jonathan Majors, “Lovecraft Country”
Regé-Jean Page, “Bridgerton”
Billy Porter, “Pose”
Matthew Rhys, “Perry Mason”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”— Winner
Carl Clemons-Hopkins, “Hacks”
Brendan Hunt, “Ted Lasso”
Nick Mohammed, “Ted Lasso”
Paul Reiser, “The Kominsky Method”
Jeremy Swift, “Ted Lasso”
Kenan Thompson, “Saturday Night Live”
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso” — Winner
Aidy Bryant, “Saturday Night Live”
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
Rosie Perez, “The Flight Attendant”
Cecily Strong, “Saturday Night Live”
Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Tobias Menzies, “The Crown”— Winner
Giancarlo Esposito, “The Mandalorian”
O-T Fagbenle, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
John Lithgow, “Perry Mason”
Max Minghella, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Chris Sullivan, “This Is Us”
Bradley Whitford, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Michael K. Williams, “Lovecraft Country”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Gillian Anderson, “The Crown”— Winner
Helena Bonham Carter, “The Crown”
Madeline Brewer, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Ann Dowd, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Aunjanue Ellis, “Lovecraft Country”
Emerald Fennell, “The Crown”
Yvonne Strahovski, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Evan Peters, “Mare of Easttown”— Winner
Thomas Brodie-Sangster, “The Queen’s Gambit”
Daveed Diggs, “Hamilton”
Paapa Essiedu, “I May Destroy You”
Jonathan Groff, “Hamilton”
Anthony Ramos, “Hamilton”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Julianne Nicholson, “Mare of Easttown”— Winner
Renée Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”
Kathryn Hahn, “WandaVision”
Moses Ingram, “The Queen’s Gambit”
Jean Smart, “Mare of Easttown”
Phillipa Soo, “Hamilton”
Outstanding Drama Series
“The Crown” — Winner
“The Boys”
“Bridgerton”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Lovecraft Country”
“The Mandalorian”
“Pose”
“This is Us”
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
“Saturday Night Live” — Winner
“A Black Lady Sketch Show”
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
“Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Better 2020”— Winner
“Celebrating America – An Inauguration Night Special”
“The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards”
“The Oscars”
“The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show Starring The Weeknd”
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
“Hamilton” — Winner
“Bo Burnham: Inside”
“David Byrne’s American Utopia”
“8:46” – Dave Chappelle
“Friends: The Reunion”
“A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote”
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
“Hacks” (Episode: “There Is No Line”), Directed by Lucia Aniello— Winner
“B Positive” (Episode: “Pilot”), Directed by James Burrows
“The Flight Attendant” (Episode: “In Case of Emergency”), Directed by Susanna Fogel
“Mom” (Episode: “Scooby-Doo Checks and Salisbury Steak”), Directed by James Widdoes
“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Biscuits”), Directed by Zach Braff
“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “The Hope that Kills You”), Directed by MJ Delaney
“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Make Rebecca Great Again”), Directed by Declan Lowney
Outstanding Directing for a DramaSeries
“The Crown” (Episode: “War”), Directed by Jessica Hobbs — Winner
“Bridgerton” (Episode: “Diamond of the First Water”), Directed by Julie Anne Robinson
“The Crown” (Episode: “Fairytale”), Directed by Benjamin Caron
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Episode: “The Wilderness”), Directed by Liz Garbus
“The Mandalorian” (Episode: “Chapter 9: The Marshal”), Directed by Jon Favreau
“Pose” (Episode: “Series Finale”), Directed by Steven Canals
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
“The Queen’s Gambit,” Directed by Scott Frank— Winner
“Hamilton,” Directed by Thomas Kail
“I May Destroy You” (Episode: “Ego Death”), Directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel
“I May Destroy You” (Episode: “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”), Directed by Sam Miller
“Mare of Easttown,” Directed by Craig Zobel
“The Underground Railroad,” Directed by Barry Jenkins
“WandaVision,” Directed by Matt Shakman
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
“Hacks” (Episode: “There Is No Line”), Written by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky— Winner
“The Flight Attendant” (Episode: “In Case of Emergency”), Written by Steve Yockey
“Girls5eva” (Episode: “Pilot”), Written by Meredith Scardino
“PEN15” (Episode: “Play”), Written by Maya Erskine
“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Make Rebecca Great Again”), Written by Joe Kelly, Brendan Hunt, and Jason Sudeikis
“Ted Lasso” (Episode: “Pilot”), Written by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
“The Crown” (Episode: “War”), written by Peter Morgan — Winner
“The Boys” (Episode: “What I Know”), written by Rebecca Sonnenshine
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Episode: “Home”), written by Yahlin Chang
“Lovecraft Country” (Episode: “Sundown”), written by Misha Green
“The Mandalorian” (Episode: “Chapter 13: The Jedi”), written by Dave Filoni
“The Mandalorian” (Episode: “Chapter 16: The Rescue”), written by Jon Favreau
“Pose” (Episode: “Series Finale”), written by Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk, Our Lady J, Janet Mock, and Ryan Murphy
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
“I May Destroy You,” Written by Michaela Coel— Winner
“Mare of Easttown,” Written by Brad Ingelsby
“The Queen’s Gambit,” Written by Scott Frank
“WandaVision” (Episode: “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!”), Written by Chuck Hayward and Peter Cameron
“WandaVision” (Episode: “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience”), Written by Jac Schaeffer
“WandaVision” (Episode: “Previously On”), Written by Laura Donney
From left: The Mandalorian, Ted Lasso, I May Destroy YouPhoto: Disney; Apple; Natalie Seery/HBO
If you thought that the Academy Awards would be the standard-bearer for award shows in the future, you’d be wrong. Dead wrong. Well, maybe not that serious, but the Emmys will not be doing the old Steven Soderbergh route and setting the ceremony in a train station. We also assume the award for Best Actor won’t be the show’s finale, and you can pretty much guarantee Anthony Hopkins won’t be winning—unless he’s nominated for those delightful Instagram posts, which he isn’t.
This year, it sounds like the Emmys won’t doing the whole Zoom-based ceremony, so don’t expect to see Jason Sudekis in a hoodie like the Golden Globes. Instead, they’re moving the ceremony outside, keeping a tight lid on the guest list, and hoping to keep its star-studded presenters and hard-working crew that puts the show together safe from the ongoing pandemic.
Where can I watch it?
The Emmy awards are again changing networks. Last year, the show happened on ABC, the year before Fox. This year, CBS and everybody’s favorite streamer Paramount+ have the honors. The show will air on Sunday, September 19, at 8 PM EST. Viewers will have the option of watching the show live on CBS, streaming it on Paramount+, or both—we’d hate to deny anyone of a dual-screen experience.
Who’s Hosting?
Say goodbye to ABC golden boy Jimmy Kimmel. Instead, this year CBS is bringing in a company man: Cedric the Entertainer. The star of CBS’ The Neighborhood and one of The Original Kings Of Comedy, Cedric the Entertainer is a first-time presenter but a long-time Emmy watcher. He said in a statement, “Since I was a little boy huddled up next to my grandmother, television has always been my reliable friend, so it is an enormous honor for me to host this year’s Emmy Awards.”
G/O Media may get a commission
Where is the ceremony taking place?
Unlike last year, the ceremony will be in person, which saw Kimmel trapped in the Staples Center as celebrities imprisoned in Zoom screens like an E! channel version of the Phantom Zone. But it will be happening outside at the Event Deck at L.A. Live with a limited audience. The space will allow for “an opportunity to utilize an ‘indoor/outdoor’ setting and more socially distanced audience seating.” Per Variety, the Television Academy continues:
“Although invitations have just been mailed out, nominated teams of three or more will now be limited to no more than four tickets per nomination. Unfortunately, this means not all nominees will be able to attend this year’s awards. We recommend those on nominated teams coordinate between themselves and identify how they will allot their four tickets before they RSVP.”
Has the Television Academy announced this year’s roster of presenters and performers yet?
Not yet. We’ll keep you in the loop, though. In the meantime, maybe imagine an Emmy ceremony in which Jennifer Coolidge presents all the awards.
Who’s nominated?
We have a full list of the nominees right over here, which you can peruse at your leisure.
Watch along with The A.V. Club
You didn’t think we’d leave you to watch this thing alone, did you? The A.V. Club cordially invites you to join our staff for a live blog of the ceremony. But that’s not all. And on Emmy night, we’ll be talking winners and losers, writing up the breakout stories, and chronicling the big moments on Newswire and Twitter. We’re talking snubs, flubs, cheers, and jeers as only The A.V. Club can.
Loki (Sophia Di Martino) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston).Photo: Disney
This week’s Loki season finale on Disney+ was full of twists and turns, and a very conspicuous apple. But the biggest surprise of all may have been saved for the very end.
Loki’s story isn’t over yet. Marvel revealed in the mid-credits scene of “For All Time. Always.” that the Disney+ series would be coming back for season two, making it the first Marvel Cinematic Universe show to be officially approved for more than one season. The news explains why the finale gave us far more questions than answers, ending on a cliffhanger that perhaps not evenDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesscould solve. This reveal came after Lovecraft Country’s Jonathan Majors made his MCU debut as Kang (though not quite the Conquerer version we’ll see in the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania).
The MCU entered the realm of Disney+ television shows with two limited series, WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier—both of which have been nominated for several awards at this year’s Emmy Awards. It was believed that the six-episode season of Loki would follow suit, with the story of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie setting up the final puzzle pieces for Phase 4 of the MCU. This phase is set to go places, with projects like the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, the cameo-filled Spider-Man 3: Far From Home, Disney+’s What If…?, and Quantumania taking us everywhere and everywhen in the multiverse. While that is still true (more on that in our recap later), that doesn’t mean the Time Variance Authority—or Mobius (Owen Wilson) and his lost-in-time jet ski—are going anywhere anytime soon.
Loki season two will join an ever-growing number of Disney+ shows currently in development. They include Ironheart, She-Hulk, and Ms. Marvel, which will introduce Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) to the MCU. That’s only the tip of the iceberg for the future of the MCU—lest we forget, the Fantasic Four is coming. Hopefully, third time’s the charm on that one.
G/O Media may get a commission
The first season of Loki ended on Wednesday. No planned production or release date for season two has been announced yet. We’ll bring you more as we know it.
Wondering where our RSS feed went? You can pick the new up one here.
Industry halts and pandemic production pauses won’t stop “television’s biggest night.”
The 2021 Emmy Award nominees were announced Tuesday via the Television Academy’s YouTube livestream above.
History-making Emmy-winning father-daughter duo Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”) and Jasmine Cephas Jones (“#FreeRayshawn”)hosted the nomination reveal live from NYC.
“It has been an extraordinary year in which television brought multigenerational families together in a shared love of their favorite programs,” TV Academy Chairman and CEO Frank Scherma said in a statement. “So it seems fitting that these two accomplished performers announce this year’s Emmy nominees as we acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional programs and talent that are elevating and redefining television.”
Check out the full list of major 2021 Emmy nominees below:
Best Actress in a Comedy
Aidy Bryant, “Shrill”
Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Tracee Ellis Ross “Black-ish”
Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Marsai Martin, Miles Brown, Marcus Scribner and Yara Shahidi in “Black-ish.”ABC
Best Actor in a Comedy
Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”
Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”
Kenan Thompson, “Kenan”
Jason Sudeikis as “Ted Lasso”Apple TV+
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
Cecily Strong, “SNL”
Aidy Bryant, “SNL”
Kate McKinnon, “SNL”
Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso”
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”
Rosie Perez, “The Flight Attendant”
Rosie Perez and Kaley Cuoco in a scene from “The Flight Attendant.”HBO Max
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Carl Clemons-Hopkins, “Hacks”
Bowen Yang, “SNL”
Kenan Thompson, “SNL”
Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”
Brendan Hunt, “Ted Lasso”
Nick Mohammed, “Ted Lasso”
Jeremy Swift, “Ted Lasso”
Paul Reiser, “The Kominsky Method”
Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in “Hacks”HBO Max
Best Comedy
“Black-ish”
“Cobra Kai”
“Emily in Paris”
“Hacks”
“The Flight Attendant”
“The Kominsky Method”
“Pen15”
“Ted Lasso”
Best Actress in a Drama
Emma Corrin, “The Crown”
Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”
Olivia Colman, “The Crown”
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
MJ Rodriguez, “Pose”
Jurnee Smollett, “Lovecraft Country:”
Best Actor in a Drama
Josh O’Connor, “The Crown”
Billy Porter, “Pose”
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”
Rege-Jean Page, “Bridgerton”
Jonathan Major, “Lovecraft Country”
Matthew Rhys, “Perry Mason”
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Aunjanue Ellis, “Lovecraft Country”
Emerald Fennell, “The Crown”
Gillian Anderson, “The Crown”
Helena Bonham Carter, “The Crown”
Yvonne Strahovski, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Madeline Brewer, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Ann Dowd, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Michael K. Williams, “Lovecraft Country”
John Lithgow, “Perry Mason”
Tobias Menzies, “The Crown”
Max Minghella, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Bradley Whitford, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
O-T Fagbenle, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Giancarlo Esposito, “The Mandalorian”
Chris Sullivan, “This is Us”
Best Drama
“The Boys”
“Bridgerton”
“The Crown”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“Lovecraft Country”
“The Mandalorian”
“Pose”
“This Is Us”
Best Actress, Limited Series or TV Movie
Michaela Cole, “I May Destroy You”
Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit”
Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown”
Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”
Hugh Grant, “The Undoing”
Ewan McGregor, “Halston”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton”
Leslie Odom, Jr., “Hamilton”
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
David Diggs, “Hamilton”
Jonathan Groff, “Hamilton”
Anthony Ramos, Hamilton”
Paapa Essiedu, “I May Destroy You”
Evan Peters, “Mare of Easttown”
Thomas Brodie-Sangster, “The Queen’s Gambit”
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Phillipa Soo, “Hamilton”
Renee Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”
Julianne Nicholson, “Mare of Easttown”
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Moses Ingram, “The Queen’s Gambit”
Kathryn Hahn, “WandaVision”
Outstanding Limited Series
“The Underground Railroad”
“The Queen’s Gambit”
“I May Destroy You”
“WandaVision”
“Mare of Easttown”
Best TV Movie
“Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square”
“Oslo”
“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”
“Sylvie’s Love”
“Uncle Frank
Outstanding Competition Program
“Amazing Race”
“Nailed It!”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race”
“Top Chef”
“The Voice”
Variety Talk Series
“Conan”
“The Daily show with Trevor Noah”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live”
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
The 73rd annual ceremony will air on September 19 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+, live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.AFP via Getty Images
The 73rd annual ceremony will air on September 19 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+, live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
The Television Academy will be recognizing programs that aired between June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. Unfortunately, some fan favorites — and former Emmy winners — are disqualified from the 73rd ceremony due to halted productions. This past year, the entertainment industry cut production in half in major production locations (New York City and Los Angeles) on account of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Television Academy announced on Monday that the second COVID-19 ceremony will host “a limited audience of nominees and their guests.”
Cedric the Entertainer, star of “The Neighborhood,” will host the 2021 Emmy Awards.Getty Images
ViacomCBS, CBS’s parent company, also announced that the network recruited from within the family, with Cedric the Entertainer as the host for the September 19 ceremony. Cedric stars in “The Neighborhood,” which airs Mondays on CBS and the fourth season is anticipated to premiere the Monday following the ceremony to kick off the network’s fall TV lineup.