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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Genius: MLK/X,' ‘Out of My Mind,' and 4 other shows win at the 2025 Television Academy Honors
Two scripted shows — Genius: MLK/X and Out of My Mind — and four unscripted projects — Daughters, Independent Lens: Greener Pastures, We Will Dance Again, and Will & Harper — have been named the winners of the 2025 Television Academy Honors. RuPaul's Drag Race judge and producer Michelle Visage will host the non-televised awards show on May 28. This is the 18th year for the Television Academy Honors, which recognizes programs and producers that inspire social change. This year's eligibility window was the 2024 calendar year. More from GoldDerby No, Conan O'Brien is not dead in the 'Hacks' world - and he has an 'open invite' to join Season 5 'No one ever asks me to do comedy': Julianne Nicholson explains how she became Dance Mom on 'Hacks' Steve Carell will submit in lead at the Emmys for 'The Four Seasons' as Will Forte, Colman Domingo, and Marco Calvani land in supporting Recent influential series that have claimed this prestigious prize from the TV Academy include Beef, Heartstopper, Insecure, The Daily Show, I May Destroy You, Watchmen, and Pose. 'Now more than ever, television serves as a powerful platform for information and discourse on important social issues that affect so many of us throughout the world,' said Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego. 'We honor this year's winners for their dedication and commitment to creative and effective storytelling that both educates and motivates audiences around the globe.' Visage, an outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion both on and off the screen, has won three Emmy Awards so far as a producer on RuPaul's Drag Race. The 17th season of that inspirational reality TV show will be eligible at the upcoming Emmys. SEE'RuPaul's Drag Race' winners list: Every season, plus 'All Stars' Here are the 2025 Television Academy Honors winners: This documentary film intimately follows four young girls as they prepare for a special daddy / daughter dance with their incarcerated fathers, part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., jail. The girls share their aspirations, dreams and the emotional toll of their fathers' absence, revealing a profound wisdom and resilience beyond their years. (Netflix) The formative years and parallel stories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, two iconic leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, are compellingly explored in this docudrama series. It is particularly focused on their pioneering accomplishments with their formidable wives, Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz. (National Geographic Channel) There is a mental health crisis happening for many American farmers. A combination of climate change and the pandemic have contributed to increasing economic uncertainty and isolation. This documentary, which follows four family farms in the Midwest over several years, is a story of perseverance and survival within the farming industry in the heartland. (PBS) This inspiring, coming-of-age drama is the story of Melody Brooks, a quick-witted, non-verbal sixth grader with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair. She is not given the same opportunities as her classmates; but when a young educator notices her untapped potential, Melody starts to participate in mainstream education and finds her voice. (Disney+) This documentary about the October 7 Hamas terror attack at the Nova Music Festival in Israel is told by two dozen survivors — witnesses to unimaginable stories of courage, humanity and heroism. Their stories provide a riveting account as the celebration of music turned into a nightmare, and festivalgoers had to make choices that would determine whether they lived or died. (Paramount+ and Bitachon 365) When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years was coming out as a trans woman, the two decided to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship. This documentary is an intimate portrait of friendship, transition and America. (Netflix) SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Everything to know about Ryan Coogler's 'The X-Files' reboot: Gillian Anderson finally weighs in 'I just wanted to make her feel seen': Imogen Faith Reid on portraying Natalia Grace in Hulu's 'Good American Family' 'The Four Seasons' star Marco Calvani on how his breakout role changed his life Click here to read the full article.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Saying goodbye to ‘What We Do in the Shadows': an oral history
'What We Do in the Shadows' was an unlikely success story. Rising from the coffin of a hilarious but obscure mockumentary feature about four sort-of loser vampire housemates in suburban New Zealand, the FX sitcom shifted the action to Staten Island and cast its undead ensemble as blithely murderous, petty, pansexual and often dim-witted. The result: critical acclaim and three Emmy nominations for comedy series. Now, having driven a stake through the series' heart, showrunner Paul Simms and the main ensemble — Matt Berry (Laszlo Cravensworth), Natasia Demetriou (Nadja of Antipaxos), Kayvan Novak (Nandor the Relentless), Mark Proksch (Colin Robinson, energy vampire) and Harvey Guillén (Nandor's human familiar, Guillermo) — chatted about the series' sixth and final season and the bloody, wild ride that was. Was it surprising the TV Academy would embrace a series this offbeat? Paul Simms: Going into it, I was, like, this seems really fun but not the kind of show that's ever going to get nominated for anything. The PR people get mad at me when I say that the show is stupid, but it's stupid in the best way. When we first got some Emmy nominations, that was a real surprise. I wouldn't call it stupid. I'd say it celebrates stupidity. Simms: Yes, there! That's what I should have been saying all these years. And the actors fully committed to being really stupid characters. They made incredibly bad decisions all the time, despite having hundreds of years to figure everything out. They're like the rest of us. No matter how much time you have to figure it out, you never really do. Matt Berry: It was a surprise when it cut through, but I always felt like it was a decent show. Natasia Demetriou: There were endless moments during filming where we'd look at each other like, 'I will never again be in a big-box store at 4 a.m. watching a fake Doug Jones puppet be wheeled along in a Barbie car —' Berry: '— a candle attached to its head —' Demetriou: '— and I'm dressed as a mad vampire.' Simms: It felt like what you imagined show business was going to be when you're a little kid, where someone's dressed as a monster and you're about to have a big explosion and someone fly by wires over a house, and you see a little half-Guillermo, half-sheep hybrid creature smoking a cigarette between scenes. Mark Proksch: I think a lot of TV comedy, especially these days, insults the audience by having to overexplain who each character is and why that joke is funny, and 'Shadows' never did that. Harvey Guillén: I think we were recognized for everything except the acting. If I got the nomination, it would make history as … the first queer Latino to be nominated [for] supporting role for comedy. Last year was the first year Matt got nominated, and we were ecstatic. Kayvan Novak: I wasn't ecstatic; I was furious. [Laughs] Had to ruin my f— day. Nominate my fellow actor for a best actor Emmy. I mean, Jesus Christ. Ecstatic! [Laughs] Guillén: We're still surprised if we get [acting] nominations. Novak: We had fun at the Emmys. We sat there saying, 'Please don't win. Please don't win.' [Berry did not win.] So that was a plus. We're all still on an even keel. We've all still won f— all. Will we ever see a 'Shadows' blooper reel? Simms: We really don't have many bloopers because of the way we shot, that fake-documentary style. You can be on camera at any moment, so people would absolutely stay in character through anything that happened. Demetriou: It's because we're such professional and incredible actors. That's my answer for that. Proksch: The only time we would laugh at each other is when the other person would screw up so the scene was already ruined. Demetriou: There was a lot of coughing over people's lines or saying someone's line — Kayvan would often come up with a one-liner he thought was zingy and once he'd done it a couple of times, people would start saying it before he could say it. [Laughs] 'Oh, I've got a really good one!' 'What is it?' And he'd tell us, then Matt would say it. [Suddenly reproachful] There was a lot of that nasty, nasty sort of behavior. Berry: I did that to him quite a few times, and he always took that like a gentleman. Guillén: Kayvan is the funniest person I've ever met and literally the only person who makes me break on set. I'm really a stickler, but he would be [singing in bombastic pop-crooner style] 'The Greatest Actor in the World!' [laughs] — he would sing that, and that alone would make me break. What was your favorite episode? Simms: I loved Jackie Daytona ['On the Run'] and the way we follow one character and it turns into a completely different documentary that's almost like 'Harlan County, USA' or something. Sarah Naftalis wrote one about them going to the casino, going to Atlantic City, that was one of my favorites. Berry: Mine would be a season. I think we reached our zenith in Season 4. When you look back at Season 4, it's like a greatest hits. There's just so many great episodes there. So that would be my choice. Proksch: The dinner party episode with Tash [Demetriou], the last season, we had so much fun doing that one. Matt and I got to work a lot together [largely because of a bizarre plot in which Colin is reborn as a baby vampire and Laszlo raises him]; that was always fun because our characters were so different from each other, yet there was some sort of connection, whether they would admit it or not. Demetriou: I would definitely agree with Matt; I thought Season 4 was so fun. I got to have a nightclub, seeing all the vampires in the nightclub, turning the nightclub into a wedding — that was such a spectacle and so funny and stupid. The short-lived Colin-as-a-teenager was unbelievable. And I loved the singing episode where Colin managed me and Matt, and we were the human music group. Novak: 'The Casino' is my favorite episode. I'd say any scene with Harvey, really. They always surprised me because it was always quite emotional and intense and really rewarding. Harvey's such a great actor, I always felt like, 'Got to be good in this one.' Guillén: We really had a great time when Mark Hamill joined us [in 'On the Run'], and Haley Joel Osment. Haley was really a trouper. Mark Hamill's kids got him into the show, and he tweeted about how loves the show; Kayvan and Mark were really big 'Star Wars' fans. The characters were actual monsters … who were petty and foolish yet somehow relatable. Novak: The fact that this group of degenerates, these bloodsucking, mass-murdering vampires and wannabe vampires, [could be] so lovable is amazing. It transcended all normal rules of engagement. There's no virtue signaling going on. Demetriou: It's rare and refreshing to be able to play a bunch of a— because, let's face it, we are all a—. We're all fools. It was very fun and liberating to play people who know that they're evil, and I think that's endlessly funny, and that violence, timed right, can be hilarious. There was an episode that we did this fake home improvement show, and these two really happy, chipper guys, the Sklar Brothers, are presenting, and they walk through the door like, 'Welcome!' and within seconds, I kill one of them. That made me laugh so much. And … dead. Berry: We didn't apply any caution. I think once you start doing that, you have a lot less colors to play with. And because these were vampires … the comedy could be as free and as filthy as you wanted because these people didn't have to adhere to [morality] because they weren't from the here and now. You cheated death in the finale, with three different endings, including that 'Newhart' reference. Simms: Bob Newhart was my favorite comedian of all time. He said [in Parade magazine] that he and his wife watched 'What We Do in the Shadows.' I was very excited. Guillén: I loved our 'Newhart' ending … in a weird way, [Guillermo and Nandor] ended up together. Novak: I think it satisfied a lot of the 'Nandermo' fans, even though they didn't get to see a full-on sex scene. A lot of the fan art used to be them kissing and fondling each other in Nandor's room. Now it's them kissing and fondling each other whilst fighting crime. They captured a lot of hearts, those two. Demetriou: I was sobbing for most of those [alternate endings] because we filmed that episode last … us singing 'We'll Meet Again' around the piano. Novak: We became a big happy family and that was very wonderful to experience. We laughed a lot, man. A lot. Demetriou: My dad has dementia and he still remembers the show. He wears my Nadja T-shirt all the time and doesn't really know what it is anymore, but to me that's the most special thing in the world, that he absolutely loved it and thought it was hilarious. Guillén: I want to say thank you to the fans for watching all these years and making us feel so loved. Novak: And thank you, FX, for picking up the tab.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Seacrest talks ‘Wheel of Fortune' future, honors Pat Sajak and Vanna White: ‘This show means something to people'
Ryan Seacrest wants his Emmy for hosting Wheel of Fortune and he's not afraid to ask for it. Six months after taking the reins from Pat Sajak, who spent over four decades behind the wheel from 1981 to 2024, Seacrest sat down with TV Academy members at the game show's iconic Sony Pictures Studios lot to discuss the future of the iconic game show. More from GoldDerby 'The Masked Singer' is skipping the fall season 'to regroup' 'Grotesquerie' star Niecy Nash-Betts on that shocking coma twist, and Travis Kelce's 'greedy' appetite TV Cinematography panel: 'Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire,' 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,' 'Étoile' "You have memories of your grandparents watching this show," Seacrest said. "Everybody who's here, and certainly every contestant who comes on, has a story to tell about when they first saw Wheel of Fortune. I remember having to mow lawns and bag grass — because you got paid extra to bag it — to buy a Zenith TV. My mom wouldn't let us watch TV at dinner time, so I bought the Zenith TV with the ears, put it on the butcher block in the kitchen, and that's when I began to watch Wheel of Fortune with my family while we had dinner." "This show means something to people," he continued. "It means something to families. I have fun with the job, but I take that responsibility very seriously." Following the discussion, Vanna White surprised attendees as she walked out in one of her signature gowns and asked, "Should we play a game?" Holding Seacrest's arm, she looked at him and said, "This is an incredible man. I am so happy to be working with you. We've known each other for over 20 years, but we've worked together over a year now — and it's such an honor. You make it so easy and you're doing such a great job. I adore you and enjoy working with you." After a couple of impromptu rounds with three lucky guest players, Seacrest and White invited everyone to join them for a cocktail and an up-close look at the famous wheel and letter board. The dynamic duo also stuck around for well over two hours, taking photos and chatting one-on-one with each person in attendance. In its 50th anniversary season, Wheel of Fortune still ranks No. 1 in its time slot across most of the country and reaches 22 million viewers each week. Seacrest took over hosting duties for Sajak on Sept. 9, 2024, but conversations about the transition began years prior. Sajak's letter-turning cohost White decided to remain on the show with Seacrest after working with Sajak since 1982. "When you look at what Pat and Vanna have built over the years — they are your friends! They're your companions. You feel like you know them," Seacrest said. "What they built being in peoples' living room every night is such a special thing." To fill Sajak's iconic shoes, Seacrest watched the duo tape their shows for a year, closely studying the rules and what made the game show work so well. Six months before he started, producers gave Seacrest a small wheel he could travel with that allowed him to play in hotel conference rooms with random guests. "I wanted to come on day one as if I knew what I was doing," he said. Seacrest also revealed his relationship with the show's creator, Merv Griffin (who died in 2007), started 31 years ago. "When I was 19, I auditioned to host a game show called Click for kids on Saturday mornings," he said. "I got the job, and Merv was the first person to teach me the mindset of game. It was a different game — but the mindset of game and how to interact with contestants. He told me the story of how he created Wheel of Fortune on an airplane — it's basically Hangman — and that's why it's worked forever. It's a very simple game." "When I was working for Merv, he let me come and sit in meetings about Wheel of Fortune at the Beverly Hilton Hotel," he continued. "I had no idea I would eventually be sitting here. Merv is the one that taught me to be as focused on the business show business as the performance, which is why I produced a lot at the beginning of my career. He wasn't just the guy that was on camera, he was a force behind it. I found that so fascinating. He was so charming. He could get anybody to say yes to anything." When asked how his hosting gigs on American Idol and Live With Kelly and Ryan helped prepare him, Seacrest shared, "With American Idol, I have a chance to really connect with contestants and their families. I get to meet them early on. I'm interested in where they've come from. That's something that is part of this show. The one thing I forget about Wheel — that I'm often reminded of by our producer — I think we're live. I'm like, 'We have to start in one minute! What's going on?' And sometimes they're like, 'If anything happens we can fix it,' and I'm like, 'We can fix it?' I forget we're on tape. I like to not stop ever and try to do this as fast as possible." "Live With Kelly and Ryan was interesting because we would show up and we didn't discuss anything we were going to talk about beforehand," he continued. "You really get comfortable on national television just sitting and telling stories." The new Wheel host also revealed that his chemistry with White came naturally because they've been friends for over 20 years. "We first met through Merv Griffin and we sat together at Merv's funeral as well," he said. "We have remained friends over the years. When I first got the job, I tracked her down at a golf course and said, 'I want to make this as seamless for you as possible.' This crew is a well-oiled machine. You don't want to be the guy that slows things down. I wanted her, also, to feel comfortable. She has been a tremendous supporter and dear friend through all of this." Seacrest describes White as "very casual" in real life — far different from her glamorous persona on TV — and recounted how she hand-made him a quilt that he has in his home. "She's just a lovely person," he shared. "Have you ever met someone famous and they let you down? Shout their name! No — but you see her, you know she's a treasure, and when you meet her she's even better." "Wheel of Fortune is simple, it's never changed, and will always be a protected safe space for anybody to watch," he said about why the show has resonated with viewers for so long. "We're never going to have an uncomfortable puzzle. We're never going to have an uncomfortable conversation about something you've got to explain to your kids. This is a safe place for fun and it will always be that way. I think that's special." Wheel of Fortune has won seven Daytime Emmys, including Best Game Show in 2011. Last year, the show won its first Primetime Emmy for host Pat Sajak in his final year. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'Grotesquerie' star Niecy Nash-Betts on that shocking coma twist, and Travis Kelce's 'greedy' appetite TV Cinematography panel: 'Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire,' 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,' 'Étoile' 'Étoile' cinematographer M. David Mullen on reuniting with the Palladinos Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2025 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 12 to June 23, with the official Emmy nominations announced Tuesday, July 15. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 18 and ends the night of August 27. The 77th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 14, and air live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT. 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' and 'Saturday Night Live' will be this year's Outstanding Scripted Variety Series nominees. Let's just get that out of the way. More from IndieWire The 29 Ballets of 'Étoile': How They Restaged Classic Productions and Created Tobias Bell's Originals Diego Luna Tells Us Why 'Something Has To Be on the Line' in 'Andor' Season 2 What's frustrating is it's not that those two shows aren't deserving of recognition — it's that the Television Academy changed the voting rules to guarantee those two shows will be the only two recognized as long as this category exists. The Outstanding Scripted Variety Series category itself was started two years ago transparently as a way to move the incredibly dominant 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' from contention against more traditional late-night talk shows. At that point, the category had enough submissions to use one of the standard formulas the Academy uses to determine how many nominees are in any given category. Then, last year, the submissions for the category dropped below eight, meaning nominations would be determined by a jury of appropriate peers, with each submission needing 90% approval to be nominated. Since there was no cap on how many nominations there could be in the category with that iteration of the Emmy rules, it left scripted variety show fans excited that at least one newer entrant could break in, and compete with the long-running, highly decorated pair of annual nominees. Looking at 'A Black Lady Sketch Show,' the last series to be nominated against 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' and 'Saturday Night Live,' that exposure led to the HBO sketch series receiving nominations in multiple categories over the years. It even won four. Anyways, after Emmys campaigning was already up and running, the TV Academy changed its rule for categories with under eight submissions to lower the approval rating to 70 percent of peers, then capping the number of nominees to two. No other shows stood any chance against two series that have become institutions, and that sucks if you like scripted variety series and want to see more of them on TV. Emmy nominations had kept cult series like 'Drunk History' and 'Portlandia' alive, allowing them to grow and develop a fan base. Meanwhile, CBS' Taylor Tomlinson-hosted 'After Midnight,' the other show that would have likely been nominated if the TV Academy didn't stop nominations at two, is already set to end once this season is over. With all that said, kudos to HBO for still greenlighting shows like 'Fantasmas' and 'It's Florida, Man,' keeping alive the kind of idiosyncratic comedy that inspires people to want to be comedic performers. If there was no cap on nominees in this category, 'Fantasmas' in particular would be a shoo-in based on the acclaim it received from the Gotham Awards and Independent Spirit Awards. Hopefully, voters at least sample that show, and others, even if it's inevitable that only two shows will be nominated for this category. Current Contenders (In Alphabetical Order):'After Midnight' (CBS)'Fantasmas' (HBO)'It's Florida, Man' (HBO)'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' (HBO)'Saturday Night Live' (NBC) More Category Predictions:Outstanding Animated ProgramOutstanding Talk SeriesOutstanding Documentary or Nonfiction SeriesOutstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special View IndieWire's full set of predictions for the 77th Emmy Year's Winner: 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'Still Eligible: Streak: From its time in the Variety Talk category to here in the Scripted Variety Series category, 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' has won the Emmy nine years straight. Should it win this year, it would tie the record 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' holds for 10 consecutive Emmys received by a variety Ineligible Series: 'Painting With John' (ended); 'The Rehearsal' (Season 2 submitted in Outstanding Comedy Series) Best of IndieWire 2023 Emmy Predictions: Who Will Win at the Primetime Emmy Awards? 2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special 2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Emmys: Netflix Doc ‘The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' Submitted for Exceptional Merit Award (Exclusive)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, Norwegian filmmaker Benjamin Ree's Peabody Award-nominated Netflix documentary about a physically-disabled and socially-isolated young man whose vibrant online friend-group is only discovered by his family after his death, has been submitted and accepted for consideration for the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Emmy, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. For this special category, documentaries are submitted to the TV Academy's documentary peer group for initial consideration, and must meet three criteria: (1) exemplary filmmaking, (2) profound social impact and (3) innovation of form. If they clear that hurdle, as Ibelin has, they become ineligible 'in any other documentary/nonfiction special or series program area,' and are forwarded to a special jury, which ultimately picks three or four titles each year for a nomination. In other words, they either end up with a nomination in this category, or none at all. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'The Two Popes' Pops on Netflix Following Francis' Death Emmys: 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' Doc Submitted for Exceptional Merit Award (Exclusive) Netflix Bringing 36 Alfred Hitchcock Movies to New York's Paris Theater (Exclusive) Ibelin had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the audience award and directing prize in the World Cinema Documentary competition. It went on to receive noms for the top prizes at the IDA Awards, the Critics Choice Documentary Awards and the Cinema Eye Honors, and was also included on the best documentary feature Oscar shortlist. THR previously broke the news that two HBO/Max docs, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and Quad Squad, have also been submitted and accepted for consideration for the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Emmy. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise 'Yellowstone' and the Sprawling Dutton Family Tree, Explained
