Latest news with #DeliBoys
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Consider this: ‘Deli Boys' star Asif Ali deserves to bring some South Asian flavor to the Comedy Supporting Actor Emmy race
It's Emmy season again, which means we'll see a bunch of new shows and breakthrough performers jostling for attention alongside returning Emmy favorites in the crowd of prestige television and streaming content. Chief among this season's freshman class is Deli Boys, starring actor-comedian Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh (Ms. Marvel), and Poorna Jaganathan (Never Have I Ever). In Hulu's dark comedy series — or as showrunner Michelle Nader calls it, a 'crimedy' — focusing on a Pakistani American family, Ali plays Mir, who, along with brother Raj (Shaikh), is thrown into the criminal underworld after discovering his late father's deli empire was a front for drug-trafficking. The series helps redefine the typical stereotypes and gives South Asian and American Muslim actors an opportunity to play roles with depth, outside the common cab driver, terrorist, or doctor roles. According to Ali, the show deviates from the "model minority" stereotype, offering a more nuanced representation of South Asian characters on television. The actor's compelling performance captures Mir's transformation from dutiful son to a reluctant participant in crime, deftly switching between comedic and dramatic moments with finesse. More from GoldDerby 'Buena Vista Social Club' director Saheem Ali and writer Marco Ramirez on creating 'a joyful experience' out of the 'beautiful' Cuban record 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' eyes record-breaking $50 million opening as the Weeknd and Jenna Ortega fizzle in 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' 'Forever' star Michael Cooper Jr. admits he was 'petrified' going into his first big acting gig Ali is being submitted for Best Comedy Supporting Actor, with Shaikh as Best Comedy Actor, and Jaganathan for Best Comedy Supporting Actress. According to Gold Derby's odds in that race, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) and Harrison Ford (Shrinking) are out in front with the best odds, with a bunch of contenders jockeying for the remaining five spots. Based on recent history, we often see fresh faces in this category, like Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso) in 2022 and Lionel Boyce (The Bear) in 2024. Ali has risen seven slots in the Gold Derby odds over the past month, but still sits on the outside at No. 33 overall. But with Deli Boys' critical and commercial success, his standout performance deserves voters' attention. Hulu Ali, who was named one of Variety's Top 10 Comedians to Watch last year, brings his comedic timing to the character seamlessly. And while he has played several characters, from Don't Worry Darling to Marvel's WandaVision before, this is where we should give him his flowers as he really made Mir his own. His comedic background is evident in his role of Mir Dar where he brings his natural flair for humor to the type-A character of Mir. Ali initially auditioned for the role of Raj, since he felt more like him in real life, but playing Mir let him tap into someone with bottled-up energy and a lot going on under the surface. Ali's work represents understanding of timing, tone, and emotional nuance. He delivers a quick witted joke in one moment, and then reveals the deeper emotional layers of Mir in a subtle way, in the next. The series is a hit with critics, with Collider's Tania Hussain highlighting the show's "colorfully grounded performances" and "sharp, focused story and humor" and noting that Ali and Shaikh "slip into the sibling dynamic perfectly while bringing depth and dimension to their shared goofball adventures." Laura Zornosa of the Los Angeles Times emphasized how Deli Boys "flips the script" on traditional South Asian stereotypes. It is something that Ali is deeply proud of, telling the newspaper that the Deli Boys team "made something that pushes us forward ... expanding the bounds of what people that look like us can be in.' The show has a 96 percent 'fresh' rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Ali's ability to balance humor with the complexities of identity and familial expectations has clearly resonated. Per The Hollywood Reporter review, 'Ali is cast well enough as the uptight half, and Shaikh is oddly endearing as the type of dude who unironically describes his role as being 'the vibes guy.'' Time, meanwhile, notes, 'Charismatic slacker Raj and uptight striver Mir aren't just foils for each other; their mutual love is unmistakable, which gives weight to the looming prospect that the stress of salvaging Baba's empire could tear them apart.' Ali offers a fresh perspective on the immigrant experience, blending cultural specificity with universal themes. The show is littered with moments like one of the highlights when Mir is dealing with the inner battle of finding his individuality to make his father proud as he tries to navigate an unexpected FBI raid at the company after his father's death. There are moments with his brother Raj, where he is trying to understand the workings of it all, but trying to be a "good person" or dealing with the fact that the love of his life is leaves him. Can Ali bag a nomination? It's a possibility, if voters see the show — and it would end the dry spell since 2021, when the TV Academy last nominated a South Asian man in Best Comedy Supporting Actor, Aziz Ansari for Master of None. Ali's ability to shift between tension and humor, without breaking the flow of the character speaks to his skill-not only as a comedian, but as a versatile actor who understands the emotional beats of a scene and knows exactly when to lean in or pull back. As he's able to broaden the scope of his roles, a nomination could be a redefining moment in his career. Deli Boys is streaming on Hulu. Best of GoldDerby Making of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' panel: Bringing the Balrog to life was 'like doing a slight of hand card trick' TV Animation roundtable panel: '#1 Happy Family USA,' 'Secret Level,' and 'Arcane' 'Secret Level' creator Tim Miller explains how he gets writers to create short stories based on video and role-playing games Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Better Sister' showrunner Regina Corrado: Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks ‘are at the top of their game'
In Prime Video's eight-episode limited series thriller, The Better Sister, Chloe (Jessica Biel) navigates life with her husband Adam (Corey Stoll) and son Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan) — until Adam's murder unravels long-buried family secrets. Meanwhile, Chloe's estranged sister Nicky (Elizabeth Banks) struggles with addiction, further complicating the already fractured family dynamic. "They are at the top of their game," says series co-showrunner Regina Corrado, praising Biel and Banks for their performances at the heart of this gripping family drama. The series, based on Alafair Burke's novel, explores themes of sisterhood, betrayal, and redemption, all with an unpredictable mix of twists and humor. More from GoldDerby Filming 'The White Lotus' terrified Sam Nivola more than once Adria Arjona on breaking 'Star Wars' ground with intense 'Andor' scenes: 'I found it really important' TV showrunner panel: 'The Better Sister,' 'Deli Boys,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Shifting Gears,' and 'Three Women' "The book is fabulous," says Corrado, who cocreated and showruns the series with Olivia Milch. "Olivia got it first and really responded strongly to the family [drama]. In every family, we all get different versions of our parents, particularly if addiction is in the mix. There are lots of twists and turns and it's a great family drama." Biel and Banks had never met before being cast as the sisters. "You got to witness their relationship in real time," Corrado says. "They got to know each other — and also the sisters are estranged — so it was kind of like the play within the play." For Banks, a three-time Emmy nominee for comedies 30 Rock and Modern Family, the role offered an opportunity to showcase her dramatic range. "Elizabeth gets to do a lot of drama," Corrado says. "I loved seeing that aspect of her. There's still a lot of comedy even though it is a serious show, and they're just very loving and strong. [Both Biel and Banks] have really high standards and that was awesome for us." Balancing the show's comedic elements with its heavy themes of betrayal and tragedy was a priority for the showrunners. "One sister steals the other one's husband, basically," Corrado explains. "Raises her child as her own! It's unforgivable stuff. How could you not have comedy? How could you not try to build characters and supporting players that are going to even the playing field? It's like life — if you experience any kind of grief or any kind of tragedy — there is always a relief in humor. There's no other way to survive. It was important to us to make them real women." A self-described "sap," Corrado says what she enjoys most about the series is the love between sisters, despite all the pain they've caused each other. "I loved seeing that develop," she explains. "I loved peeling those layers away. Are they going to be together? It's like the love story! Are they going to get together at the end? Is it possible? That, to me, was as important as 'Who did it? Who did the big deed?'" Bringing The Better Sister to the screen wasn't without its challenges. Corrado credits her co-creator and collaborator Olivia Milch for keeping the production on track. "She is so competent and so capable. Any ball I dropped, she was going to catch it. This partnership was incredible for me. The challenges for us were just that it was a tremendous undertaking. It's running a giant company with artists! It's people-managing for the most part. It never ends — it's a marathon." All episodes of The Better Sister drop on Prime Video on May 29, catering to binge-watchers eager to uncover the mystery. Corrado, however, prefers to take her time with shows. 'I'm not a binge-watcher,' she laughs. 'I have an 11-year-old son. There is no binging at home! Even with The White Lotus, which I loved, I had to stop and let it sink in." Corrado, a previous Emmy nominee for Deadwood: The Movie, expresses excitement at the possibility of The Better Sister earning recognition from the TV Academy this season. "I would be so proud and happy for all of us," she shared. "Every single person who worked on this brought so much goodwill and good cheer. We had a very good time and I would be so happy for everybody. " This article and video are presented by Prime Video. Best of GoldDerby Filming 'The White Lotus' terrified Sam Nivola more than once TV showrunner panel: 'The Better Sister,' 'Deli Boys,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Shifting Gears,' and 'Three Women' 'Three Women' showrunner Laura Eason talks courage, desire, and 'superhero' intimacy coordinators Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Deli Boys' and ‘Shifting Gears' showrunner Michelle Nader says both shows ‘are about humanity and make people laugh'
Michelle Nader, the showrunner behind two of the year's new comedies — Hulu's Deli Boys and ABC's Shifting Gears — says "both shows are about humanity and making people laugh." With two very different worlds, casts, and tones to balance, Nader has crafted shows that not only entertain but resonate deeply with audiences. Created by Abdullah Saeed, Deli Boys follows a pair of privileged Pakistani-American brothers who lose their lavish lifestyle after their convenience-store mogul father dies in a freak golfing accident. Nader calls the genre-blending comedy one of the most rewarding experiences of her career. More from GoldDerby TV showrunner panel: 'The Better Sister,' 'Deli Boys,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Shifting Gears,' and 'Three Women' 'Three Women' showrunner Laura Eason talks courage, desire, and 'superhero' intimacy coordinators 'Overcompensating' showrunner Scott King on Prime Video comedy: 'There are no heroes or villains - everyone is just a f--ing mess' 'Deli Boys is so special to me,' Nader shares. 'The experience of working on it has been one of the best I've had in my long career. It was such a gift to be able to tell this story about a family coming together through crime. I come from Philadelphia, it's set in Philadelphia, and it was a convergence of so many great things — the cast, the writers' room, and the directors. It's a special show that is resonating with people. The genre is such a blend of action, comedy, and craziness. That's what people want now — laughing and being surprised. A lot of comedies today are just smiles." Deli Boys brings on the laughs. At the heart of Deli Boys is its ensemble cast, led by Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh as the brothers navigating their father's criminal empire. Nader credits their bond as the driving force behind the series' success. 'Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh are brothers now,' Nader says. 'They are the two sides of Abdullah [Saeed]: the hardworking person and his pursuit of weed. It's about rich kids — one wants to enjoy [the wealth], and the other wants to keep [the family business afloat]. Both Saagar and Asif really took that to heart. They came every day ready to explore [their characters] with each other and with us. The dialogue between the writers and them, as actors, brought their performances and the show to a level that people are responding to.' The diverse and energetic writers' room also played a pivotal role in shaping the voice of Deli Boys. 'Abdullah is Pakistani, I'm Lebanese and Italian — there were Indian people, Persian people, Thai, other Pakistanis, Jewish writers. We had this Ocean's Eleven group of weirdos with crazy backgrounds drama,' Nader explains. 'I would say in the writers' room, 'It has to be a runaway train to a rocket ride.' Abdullah created something so rich. We were able to cull from that and develop it." While Deli Boys explores crime and chaos, ABC's Shifting Gears takes a more traditional sitcom approach, with Tim Allen playing widower Matt Parker, whose estranged daughter shows up with her two teenage children, sparking both family drama and heartfelt humor. Though Nader didn't work on the pilot, she was thrilled to join forces with Kat Dennings, whom she calls her 'professional wife' after working closely together on 2 Broke Girls. 'It was going to be hard for me to watch Kat in another relationship on a show,' Nader jokes. 'Miraculously, fate brought me to [Shifting Gears]. Then I got to work with Tim Allen, who is such a legend. I was nervous because he's such an icon, but he was so welcoming and trusting. We were on the same page — we wanted this to be a classic sitcom but modernized.' The chemistry between Allen and Dennings was what ultimately convinced Nader the show could work creatively. 'They are so magical together,' Nader says. 'I responded to their dynamic and chemistry as actors, but I also love the exploration of grief and how people have to rebuild. The show is about Matt Parker restoring classic cars, so thematically, I wanted to mirror that idea of restoration in the family as well. They still fight, but they have to make peace with their differences and drive the car together.' Deli Boys and Shifting Gears are both streaming on Hulu. This article and video are presented by Disney/Hulu. Best of GoldDerby Filming 'The White Lotus' terrified Sam Nivola more than once TV showrunner panel: 'The Better Sister,' 'Deli Boys,' 'Overcompensating,' 'Shifting Gears,' and 'Three Women' 'Three Women' showrunner Laura Eason talks courage, desire, and 'superhero' intimacy coordinators Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TV showrunner panel: ‘The Better Sister,' ‘Deli Boys,' ‘Overcompensating,' ‘Shifting Gears,' and ‘Three Women'
Gold Derby recently gathered together four top TV showrunners to discuss how they landed their first job, what advice they would share with people starting out in show business, and what some of their favorite TV shows were that inspired them to work in Hollywood. Joining our Meet the Experts: Showrunners roundtable panel are The Better Sister showrunner Regina Corrado, Deli Boys and Shifting Gears showrunner Michelle Nader, Overcompensating showrunner Scott King, and Three Women showrunner Laura Eason. Watch the full roundtable above. Click each person's name to watch an individual discussion. More from GoldDerby 'Three Women' showrunner Laura Eason talks courage, desire, and 'superhero' intimacy coordinators 'Overcompensating' showrunner Scott King on Prime Video comedy: 'There are no heroes or villains - everyone is just a f--ing mess' 'Deli Boys' and 'Shifting Gears' showrunner Michelle Nader says both shows 'are about humanity and make people laugh' "I actually came up through ensemble theater as a playwright," says Eason. "I was artistic director of the theater company. I was a writer, actor, director. In that capacity, I sat in a bunch of different seats. When I came into television, I had already done sort of producing, people management, running a staff, looking at a budget. A lot of the things that writers in a writers' room don't actually do. When I was able to see what the showrunner did — I thought, 'I hope one day that I get to do that.' I had my eye on it for a while." Corrado could relate to being in the writers' room. "You're sort of confined to create an environment in a room," she says. "I'm very committed to fostering environments that are nourishing, that are fun. Sometimes we get lost in the fear of what we do. As a showrunner I thought, 'Gosh! If you could get in that position you could create an entire show where people were happy to come to work. Is that possible? That was the goal for me. It's so much more than just writing. It's such a big boss job. [The Better Sister] was my first showrunning job and it was incredible." Nader rose through the ranks of comedy, noticing there were never female showrunners anywhere she worked. "I was learning from the way guys did it," she recalls. "In comedy, that meant stay for 24 hours a day and never want to go home. I was like, 'There's got to be a better way.' We were just wasting a lot of time. Women are natural multi-taskers in a way I didn't see with men. I'm very efficient — and I actually really like it. I like being able to put an imprint on something. Maybe I'm a little bit of a control freak." King began as a writer on Mad TV before working his way up to head writer, and eventually landing his first showrunning gig on Hulu's Difficult People. "I got a very lucky call from Julie Klausner because I had worked with her. That's how I got my first opportunity. I am so co-dependent and wrapped up in everyone's experience — it became a job where I could use that for good." After sharing valuable life lessons, the panelists chat about some of their favorite TV shows that inspired them: Batman, My So-Called Life, SCTV, and Seinfeld. The Better Sister is streaming on Prime Video. Deli Boys and Shifting Gears is streaming on Hulu. Overcompensating is streaming on Prime Video. Three Sisters is streaming on Starz. This article and videos are presented by Disney, Hulu, Prime Video, and Starz. Best of GoldDerby Filming 'The White Lotus' terrified Sam Nivola more than once 'Three Women' showrunner Laura Eason talks courage, desire, and 'superhero' intimacy coordinators 'Overcompensating' showrunner Scott King on Prime Video comedy: 'There are no heroes or villains — everyone is just a f-king mess' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Family-run deli which 'goes the extra mile' is a huge hit with customers
A family-run deli that 'goes the extra mile' said they would be 'over the moon' to win the borough's best of award. Deli-Boys Delicatessen has been shortlisted for The Bolton News' best farm, deli or butchers shop 2025. The deli has been supplying shoppers with meats, cheeses and a range of homemade goods from their stall in Bolton Market for the last eight years. Martin Farrimond, 43, said that he was 'shocked' to learn that they had been nominated. He said: 'I was shocked because I've been doing this for a very long time really – and I suppose it perked me up a bit! 'I think it's the customer service and the quality of our products – it can only be those two things – because it's not about the price. 'It's expensive – but it's homemade.' Have a story? Get in touch at Mr Farrimond runs the business with his mum and dad – and boasts that 85 per cent of what they sell comes out of his mum's kitchen. He said: 'I generally believe that we as a company – me, my mum and my dad – go the extra mile.' As well as bread, meat and cheese – Deli-boys sell homemade treats, pies, condiments and a wide range of products. The deli also runs a home delivery service advertising '£10 Deli to Door'. READ MORE: Traditional Great Lever butchers nominated for another award READ MORE: Atkinsons butcher's in Bradshaw up for top award in 2025 Mr Farrimond said said: 'Thanks very much for nominating us – we really appreciate it – but come and buy something in the market some time. 'I'd be over the moon if we won – but more over the moon for my mum because she makes everything!' To vote pick up a copy of today's newspaper.
