As I walk into a downtown LA hotel room to speak with Laura Dern, I’m distractingly still looking at my phone. LAFCA is in the middle of voting on their year-end awards which coincidently are taking place at the same time as Lucasfilm‘s pre-screening press day for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”  Dern, who is here to talk about her role as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo in the highly anticipated Rian Johnson directed chapter of the popular franchise, wants to know what’s going on.

Continue reading Laura Dern Is Still Having A ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi,’ ‘Twin Peaks,’ ‘Big Little Lies’ Moment at The Playlist.

What you are looking at is pure, unadulterated joy. The image accompanying this story finds Lena Waithe dancing her ass off at Netflix‘s post-Emmy party in Hollywood. She was at the center of the dance floor. Throwing her Emmy up in the air to cheers from everyone in the room. And if you were in her shoes you would have been just as euphoric. Waithe became the first African-American woman to win a Comedy Series writing Emmy for her now classic episode “Thanksgiving” from “Master of None.”

Throw in the two wins for “Black Mirror: San Junipero” (including an unexpected writing trophy) and it didn’t matter that “Stranger Things” was shut out or only John Lithgow took home a statue for “The Crown.” Netflix topper Ted Sarandos and stars such as Jeffrey Tambor, Dave Chappelle, James Corden as well as some familiar Netflix faces made sure the party was as lit as the HBO ceremony five miles away.

Continue reading Lessons Learned From The 2017 Emmy Awards Season at The Playlist.

Will viewers remember this year’s Emmy ceremony more than last year’s?  Probably not, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good one.  Stephen Colbert was arguably better than Jimmy Kimmel’s pre-Oscars stint a year ago, there were a number of impressive upsets (Holy Ann Dowd!) and, for the most part, the winners were incredibly worthy of their just rewards (just don’t get us started on “The Voice” over “Drag Race” in Reality-Competition). 

Continue reading Best and Worst of the 2017 Emmy Awards: ‘Handmaid’s Tale,’ Donald Glover, ‘9 to 5’ Reunion at The Playlist.

In a ceremony hosted by Stephen Colbert and broadcast on CBS, the 69th Emmy Awards were handed out on Sept. 17, 2017 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Here is a complete list of all the categories, nominees and winners.

Outstanding Comedy Series
“Veep” (HBO) – WINNER
“Atlanta” (FX)
“Black-ish” (ABC)
“Master of None” (Netflix)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Silicon Valley” (HBO)
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)

Outstanding Drama Series
“Better Call Saul” (AMC)
“The Crown” (Netflix)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu) – WINNER
“House of Cards” (HBO)
“Stranger Things” (Netflix)
“This Is Us” (NBC)
“Westworld” (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Foy (“The Crown”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) – WINNER
Robin Wright (“House of Cards”)
Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”)
Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”)
Keri Russell (“The Americans”)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K.

Continue reading 69th Primetime Emmy Awards: Complete Winner’s List at The Playlist.

The Emmys are upon us. Whether you’re an avid fan of one show, support diverse television, or just want to watch for the pure entertainment factor, the broadcast is bound to be exciting. We have our predictions of winners ready and our ballots checked, but there are some things we are still hoping to see happen. Here is a list of ten things we’d like to see at this year’s Emmys (no envelope mishaps, please).

Continue reading 10 Things We’d Like To See At This Year’s Emmy Awards at The Playlist.

Emmy is in for an eventful night.  The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards have more than enough suspense to go around for even a casual television or streaming content viewer.  Throw in Stephen Colbert as your host, the uncontrollable fingers of a sitting president and it could be more memorable than anyone could have imagined.

At the crux of this year’s Emmy Awards is who will or won’t dominate the drama series categories.

Continue reading Final 2017 Primetime Emmy Award Predictions: Will ‘Stranger Things’ or ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Triumph? at The Playlist.

When I sat down with Matt and Ross Duffer (collectively known as the Duffer Brothers) last month they were pretty calm, cool and collected for two guys whose first series, “Stranger Things,” had become a cultural phenomenon and earned a tantalizing 18 Emmy nominations after the debut of its first season. To clarify, they certainly were not cocky or overconfident, but considering the looming deadline to submit nine episodes of the second season to Netflix they certainly were not as stressed as you or I would probably be.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’: Duffer Brothers On Inspiration, Season 2, And Knowing When It Will All End [Interview] at The Playlist.

Are you ready for two more weeks of Emmy madness? The final round of Emmy voting has officially begun and the networks and streaming services have lined a ton of Q&A’s and events to try and sway Television Academy voters.

Netflix has already held events for “The Crown” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” with panels for “The Keepers” and “Stranger Things” on deck for Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Continue reading Emmy Awards Predictions 2017: Four Races That Are Currently Too Close To Call at The Playlist.

WEST HOLLYWOOD – The final round of Emmy voting begins on Monday which means a number of networks and services are doing some last minute events to champion their contenders. On Thursday night Netflix put on an elegant soiree for “The Crown” at the London Hotel with nominees John Lithgow and Peter Morgan on hand. Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nominee Claire Foy and co-star Matt Smith participated in a Q&A with James Corden at the beginning of June so this was chance for Lithgow, in particular, to make his case to the Television Academy and members of the press on hand.

Continue reading Peter Morgan On Finding The Future Queen And Ted Sarandos Talks Coen Bros. At ‘The Crown’ Emmy Event at The Playlist.

The Television Critics Association wrapped up their long summer soiree of network and streaming provider presentations by holding their annual TCA Awards gala.  Since 1984 the TCA has handed out honors for the best programs and performances of the year and have championed shows such as “The Americans,” “The Leftovers,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Friday Night Lights” and “My So Called Life” before Emmy voters ever considered them.

Continue reading ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ ‘Atlanta’ and Carrie Coon Big Winners At 2017 TCA Awards at The Playlist.

Donald Glover took the equivalent honor at the Golden Globes, but was snubbed without a nomination at the SAG Awards as was every actor from “Atlanta.” “Transparent’s” Jeffrey Tambor has won this category for the past two years and could easily take it again. We’re betting on Glover, but Tambor could snag the three-peat. [Updated July 27]

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Lead Actor In A Comedy Series Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

Like David E. Kelley in the Writing category Jean-Marc Vallée should be rewarded for the breadth of his work directing every episode of “Big Little Lies.” If not, Ryan Murphy’s “And the Winner Is…” from “Feud: Bette and Joan” – the best thing he’s ever directed – or Steven Zaillian‘s first episode of “The Night Of” could surprise. [Updated July 27]

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, TV Movie or Dramatic Special

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Directing For A Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

This race may be too close to call. Both Reed Morano (“Handmaid’s Tale”) and Stephen Daldry (“The Crown”) have an excellent shot to take this Emmy as do the Duffer Bros. (“Stranger Things”). The question is whether the second “Handmaid’s” nomination for Kate Denis seriously affects Morano’s chances and just how much Emmy voters love “Stranger Things.” [Updated July 27]

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Directing For a Drama Series Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

“Transparent’s” Jill Soloway, the winner in this category the past two years, was shockingly snubbed this time around, but this has always been Donald Glover‘s to lose anyway. The “Atlanta” star, director and writer earned a DGA Award nod for the same episode losing to an episode from the previous “Veep” season, and the series could take Writing and overall Series Emmys as well. Glover is also assisted by the fact that “Veep” and “Silicon Valley” embarrassingly split up the other five slots in this category.

Continue reading 2017 Best Directing For A Comedy Series Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

You can argue that individually, “Black Mirror’s” “San Junipero” or the Academy Awards centric episode of  “Feud: Bette and Joan”, are worthy of a win, but David E. Kelley‘s overall adaption of Liane Moriarty’s popular novel was an upgrade on the original source material. It also doesn’t hurt that Kelley is an Emmy legend with 10 wins already. [Updated July 27]

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Writing For A Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

If there is justice in the world, Lena Waithe‘s deeply personal “Master of None” episode “Thanksgiving” will take this Emmy. If not, either “Veep” episode (we’re going with the funnier “Georgia”) or “B.A.N.” from “Atlanta” are next up. [Updated July 27]

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

1. “Master of None,” “Thanksgiving” by Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe
2.

Continue reading 2017 Best Writing For A Comedy Series Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

In theory, Emmy voters should reward Bruce Miller’s unique adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s classic Sci-Fi novel. That being said, “Stranger Things” is hugely popular with the Television Academy (note those 19 nominations) and that might push it to the top. “The Crown” is also the sort of prestige series that could take this honor especially with Peter Morgan‘s three earlier Emmy nominations and two Oscar screenwriting nods.

Continue reading 2017 Best Writing For A Drama Series Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

There are very few categories that seem like a lock, but this is one of them. If John Lithgow doesn’t take this Emmy, it will be a monumental upset.  He won the “lead” actor category for his role in “The Crown” at the SAG Awards and is a 12-time Emmy nominee and four-time winner. If anyone finds a way to steal his, um, crown among this crowded field, it will likely either be Ron Cephas Jones from “This Is Us” or David Harbour from “Stranger Things.”  [Posted July 25]

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Predictions at The Playlist.

Louie Anderson won this category last year. Tony Hale won two out of the past four years. Ty Burrell won in 2011 and 2014. None of that matters because Alec Baldwin is taking this easily for his iconic performance as Donald Trump on “SNL.” You can even expect a Trump tweet about it is already ready to go. [Posted July 24]

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Predictions at The Playlist.

Will the fact that there are three actresses in this category from “SNL” cancel each other out? Not likely. Kate McKinnon should repeat her 2016 win easily. If she falters, look for the very deserving Judith Light to add an Emmy to those two Tonys and that Daytime Emmy Award already on her mantle. [Posted July 24]

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

This category is very, very interesting. Emmy voters rewarded great performances that might not have made the cut, such as Jackie Hoffman, as well as longtime favorites such as Regina King (the winner in this category the past two years) and Judy Davis (12-time nominee, three-time winner including twice in this category). But, Laura Dern is now a six-time nominee who has never won and Michelle Pfieffer is a first-timer who falls into the legendary category with the ladies in the lead version of this category. 

Continue reading 2017 Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

This is another tough category where almost any of the nominees could win (do you detect a theme?). We’re going with our gut here that “Feud‘s” Alfred Molina pulls it out, but his co-star Stanley Tucci and “Big Little Lies“ Alexander Skarsgard are right in the mix. [Posted July 24]

Outstanding Supporting Actor a Limited Series or TV Movie

1.

Continue reading 2017 Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

This category has upset written all over it. There is no contender who has won in this awards cycle at the SAG Awards or Golden Globes, although the “frontrunner,” Riz Ahmed, was nominated for both.  There are also two Oscar winners, Robert De Niro and Geoffrey Rush, another Oscar nominee, Benedict Cumberbatch, an actor who played two roles, Ewan McGregor, and a former Emmy winner who has a legendary career, John Turturro.

Continue reading 2017 Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

The drama starts here. Four Oscar winners stand before us: Nicole Kidman, Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon and Reese Witherspoon. Joining them is fan favorite Carrie Coon, who should have been Academy Award nominated a few years ago for “Gone Girl” and Emmy nominated for the past three seasons of “The Leftovers.” I’m sticking with my prediction that “Feud‘s” Lange, who has won this category twice before and has another win in Supporting Actress, will prevail here while “Big Little Lies” takes the top prize.

Continue reading 2017 Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie Emmy Predictions at The Playlist.

Yes, it’s almost time to reveal the nominations for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards and some of the world’s biggest stars have learned to care and fret about the Emmys like they never have before. And so are the networks and streaming services behind the series, limited series and TV movies vying for those pretty gold statuettes.

There are no official statistics as of yet, but, based on just the live events staged by Netflix and Amazon over the past few months, this has been arguably the most expensive Emmys campaign to date.

Continue reading Emmy Nomination Predictions: ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘The Crown’ And ‘Atlanta’ Will Dominate at The Playlist.