Saturday, August 30, 2014

"Downton Abbey's" Series 5 Trailer



The moment we've all been waiting for - a new trailer has finally arrived for "Downton Abbey" for Series 5 (or Season 5, as we say in the States). Looks like more drama and mayhem. I can't bloody wait!

The new season premiers in the US on PBS Masterpiece on January 4th, 2015 but if you're lucky enough to live in the UK, (btw, so jealous it's not even funny!), then you can start watching it on September 21st. 

Without further adieu, here's the trailer...!

Thursday, July 10, 2014

2014 Primetime Emmy Nominations

 
Good Morning, Pop Culture Junkies!  I've got your complete list here for this year's Emmy nominations just announced this morning.  A lot of "Game of Thrones", "True Detective" and "Orange Is the New Black" noms rolling around. Well done, everyone! 

The Emmy's will air live on Aug. 25 on NBC, hosted by Seth Meyers.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom”
Woody Harrelson, “True Detective”
Matthew McConaughey, “True Detective”

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”
Lizzy Caplan, “Masters of Sex”
Kerry Washington, “Scandal”

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Dancing on the Edge”
Martin Freeman, “Fargo”
Billy Bob Thornton, “Fargo”
Idris Elba, “Luther”
Mark Ruffalo, “The Normal Heart”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock: His Last Vow”

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Sarah Paulson, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Helena Bonham Carter, “Burton and Taylor”
Minnie Driver, “Return to Zero”
Kristen Wiig, “The Spoils of Babylon”
Cicely Tyson, “The Trip to Bountiful”

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Ricky Gervais, “Derek”
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Louis C.K., “Louie”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Melissa McCarthy, “Mike & Molly”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is the New Black”
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
“The Amazing Race”
“Dancing With The Stars”
“Project Runway”
“So You Think You Can Dance”
“Top Chef”
“The Voice”

Outstanding Miniseries
“American Horror Story: Coven”
“Bonnie & Clyde”
“Fargo”
“Luther”
“Treme”
“The White Queen”

Outstanding Television Movie
“Killing Kennedy”
“Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight”
“The Normal Heart”
“Sherlock: His Last Vow”
“The Trip To Bountiful”

Outstanding Variety Series
“The Colbert Report”
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live”
“Real Time With Bill Maher”
“Saturday Night Live”
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”

Outstanding Comedy Series
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Louie”
“Modern Family”
“Orange Is The New Black”
“Silicon Valley”
“Veep”

Outstanding Drama Series
“Breaking Bad”
“Downton Abbey”
“Game Of Thrones”
“House Of Cards”
“Mad Men”
“True Detective”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
Jim Carter, “Downton Abbey”
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
Josh Charles, “The Good Wife”
Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland”
Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad”
Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”
Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”
Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones”
Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Paul Giamatti, “Downton Abbey”
Dylan Baker, “The Good Wife”
Reg E. Cathey, “House of Cards”
Robert Morse, “Mad Men”
Beau Bridges, “Masters of Sex”
Joe Morton, “Scandal”

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Margo Martindale, “The Americans”
Diana Rigg, “Game of Thrones”
Kate Mara, “House of Cards”
Allison Janney, “Masters of Sex”
Jane Fonda, “The Newsroom”
Kate Burton, “Scandal”

Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
Moira Walley-Beckett, “Breaking Bad”
Vince Gilligan, “Breaking Bad”
David Benioff, “Game of Thrones”
D.B. Weiss, “Game of Thrones”
Beau Willimon, “House of Cards”
Nic Pizzolatto, “True Detective”

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Tim Van Patten, “Boardwalk Empire”
Vince Gilligan, “Breaking Bad”
David Evans, “Downton Abbey”
Neil Marshall, “Game of Thrones”
Carl Franklin, “House of Cards”
Cary Joji Fukunaga, “True Detective”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Andre Braugher, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Adam Driver, “Girls”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family”
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Fred Armisen, “Portlandia”
Tony Hale, “Veep”

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory”
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Kate Mulgrew, “Orange Is the New Black”
Kate McKinnon, “SNL”
Anna Chlumsky, “Veep”

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Bob Newhart, “The Big Bang Theory”
Nathan Lane, “Modern Family”
Steve Buscemi, “Portlandia”
Jimmy Fallon, “SNL”
Louis C.K., “SNL”
Gary Cole, “Veep”

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Natasha Lyonne, “Orange Is the New Black”
Uzo Aduba, “Orange Is the New Black”
Laverne Cox, “Orange Is the New Black”
Tina Fey, “SNL”
Melissa McCarthy, “SNL”
Joan Cusack, Shameless”

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, ”Episodes”
Louis CK, “Louie”
Liz Friedman and Jenji Kohan, “Orange Is The New Black”
Alec Berg, “Silicon Valley”
Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche and Armando Iannucci, “Veep”

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Iain B. MacDonald, “Episodes”
Paris Barclay, “Glee”
Louis C.K., “Louie”
Gail Mancuso, “Modern Family”
Jodie Foster, “Orange Is the New Black”
Mike Judge, “Silicon Valley”

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Colin Hanks, “Fargo”
Jim Parsons, “The Normal Heart”
Joe Mantello, “The Normal Heart”
Alfred Molina, “The Normal Heart”
Matt Bomer, “The Normal Heart”
Martin Freeman, “Sherlock: His Last Vow”

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Frances Conroy, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Angela Bassett, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Allison Tolman, “Fargo”
Ellen Burstyn as Olivia, “Flowers in the Attic”
Julia Roberts, “The Normal Heart”

Monday, June 23, 2014

Go See: "Jersey Boys"


Oh gosh, it's been ages since I've written anything here.  Let's just call it a film lover hiatus that I went on and leave it at that.  Last weekend, I went to see Clint Eastwood's "Jersey Boys".  I'd never seen the musical on Broadway when I lived in NY but was always intrigued about the story and what it was all about.  And let me just say - if you add in a musical/song singing concept into a film, I'm hooked!

I haven't experienced a Clint Eastwood film in a couple of years having boycotted him during his last film release of "Trouble With The Curve" when he was acting cray-cray during the last presidential election.  I will note that one of my most fave Clint films is "Gran Torino", oh, and let's not forget "Million Dollar Baby".  I love his filmmaking style as it is a little slower than normal allowing you to really marinate the scene and grab that emotional connection to the characters.  So, let's get to it...

..."Jersey Boys" stars the amazing singer/actor John Lloyd Young, who btw, also starred in the broadway version as Frankie Valli (and he won a Tony for this role as well!).  Rounding out The Four Seasons is Vincent Piazza "Tommy DeVito", Michael Lomenda "Nick Massi", and Erich Bergen "Bob Gaudio". And you'll see a short cameo of Clint's daughter, Francesca Eastwood, in one of the scenes as a cocktail waitress.  It's a wonderful, entertaining story about the rise of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  I'm not into spoiler alerts so I will say no more but go see this film.  It's purely entertaining and will make you become a fan of the famous Frankie Valli. 


Friday, December 13, 2013

2014 Golden Globe Nominations

 
Well, were they everything you imagined and more?  I'm talking about the 2014 Golden Globe nominations this year, of course.  I'm still so behind on watching all of these incredible films and there are some surprises but overall, well done, everyone.  The 71st Golden Globe Awards, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, will be held on Sunday, Jan. 12th in Beverly Hills on NBC. 

So, without further adieu, here are the 2014 Golden Globe nominations. (thanks LA Times for the full list)

Best motion picture, drama
"12 Years a Slave"
"Captain Phillips"
"Gravity"
"Philomena"
"Rush"

Best motion picture, musical or comedy

"American Hustle" "Her"
"Inside Llewyn Davis"
"Nebraska"
"The Wolf of Wall Street"

Best Actress in a motion picture, drama

Cate Blanchett "Blue Jasmine"
Sandra Bullock - "Gravity"
Judi Dench - "Philomena
Emma Thompson - "Saving Mr. Banks"
Kate Winslet - "Labor Day"

Best Actor in a motion picture, drama

Chiwetel Ejiofor - "12 Years a Slave"
Idris Elba - "Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom"
Tom Hanks - "Captain Phillips"
Matthew McConaughey - "Dallas Buyers Club"
Robert Redford - "All Is Lost"

Best Actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Amy Adams - "American Hustle"
Julie Delpy - "Before Midnight"
Greta Gerwig - "Frances Ha"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "Enough Said"
Meryl Streep - "August: Osage County"

Best Actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Christian Bale - "American Hustle"
Bruce Dern - "Nebraska"
Leonardo DiCaprio - "The Wolf Of Wall Street"
Oscar Isaac - "Inside Llewyn Davis"
Joaquin Phoenix - "Her"

Best supporting Actress in a motion picture

Sally Hawkins - "Blue Jasmine"
Jennifer Lawrence - "American Hustle"
Lupita Nyong'o - "12 Years a Slave"
Julia Roberts - "August: Osage County"
June Squibb - "Nebraska"

Best supporting Actor in a motion picture

Barkhad Abdi - "Captain Phillips"
Daniel Brühl - "Rush"
Bradley Cooper - "American Hustle"
Michael Fassbender - "12 Years a Slave"
Jared Leto - "Dallas Buyers Club"

Best Director – motion picture

Alfonso Cuarón - "Gravity"
Paul Greengrass - "Captain Phillips"
Steve McQueen - "12 Years a Slave"
Alexander Payne - "Nebraska"
David O. Russell - "American Hustle"

Best Screenplay – motion picture

Spike Jonze - "Her"
Bob Nelson - "Nebraska"
Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan - "Philomena"
John Ridley - "12 Years a Slave"
Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell - "American Hustle"

Best Foreign Language Film

"Blue is the Warmest Color"
"The Great Beauty"
"The Hunt"
"The Past"
"The Wind Rises"

Best Animated Feature film

"The Croods"
"Despicable Me 2"
"Frozen"

Best Original Song – Motion Picture

"Atlas" - "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
"Let It Go" - "Frozen"
"Ordinary Love" - "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
"Please Mr. Kennedy" - "Inside Llewyn Davis"
"Sweeter Than Fiction" - "One Chance"

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

Alex Ebert - "All is Lost"
Alex Heffes - "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
Steven Price - "Gravity"
John Williams - "The Book Thief"
Hans Zimmer - "12 Years a Slave"

Best TV series, drama

"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"The Goodwife"
"House of Cards"
"Masters of Sex"

Best TV Series, Comedy

"The Big Bang Theory"
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
"Girls"
"Modern Family"
"Parks and Recreation"

Best TV movie or mini-series

"American Horror Story: Coven"
"Behind the Candelabra"
"Dancing on the Edge"
"Top of the Lake"
"The White Queen"

Best Actress in a TV series, drama

Julianna Margulies - "The Good Wife"
Tatiana Maslany - "Orphan Black"
Taylor Schilling - "Orange is the New Black"
Kerry Washington - "Scandal"
Robin Wright - "House of Cards"

Best Actor in a TV series, drama

Bryan Cranston - "Breaking Bad"
Liev Schreiber - "Ray Donovan"
Michael Sheen - "Masters of Sex"
Kevin Spacey - "House of Cards"
James Spader - "The Blacklist"

Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy

Zooey Deschanel - "New Girl"
Lena Dunham - "Girls"
Edie Falco - "Nurse Jackie"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "Veep"
Amy Poehler - "Parks and Recreation"

Best Actor, TV Series Comedy

Jason Bateman - "Arrested Development"
Don Cheadle - "House of Lies"
Michael J. Fox - "The Michael J. Fox Show"
Jim Parsons - "The Big Bang Theory"
Andy Samberg - "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"

Best Actress in a mini-series or TV movie

Helena Bonham Carter - "Burton and Taylor"
Rebecca Ferguson - "White Queen"
Jessica Lange - "American Horror Story: Coven"
Helen Mirren - "Phil Spector"
Elisabeth Moss - "Top of the Lake"

Best Actor in a mini-series or TV movie

Matt Damon - "Behind the Candelabra"
Michael Douglas - "Behind the Candelabra"
Chiwetel Ejiofor - "Dancing on the Edge"
Idris Elba - "Luther"
Al Pacino - "Phil Spector"

Best Supporting Actress in a series, mini-series, or TV movie

Jacqueline Bisset - "Dancing on the Edge"
Janet McTeer - "White Queen"
Hayden Panettiere - "Nashville"
Monica Potter - "Parenthood"
Sofia Vergara - "Modern family"

Best Supporting Actor in a series, mini-series or TV movie

Josh Charles - "The Good Wife"
Rob Lowe- "Behind the Candelabra"
Aaron Paul - "Breaking Bad"
Corey Stoll - "House of Cards"
Jon Voight -" Ray Donovan"

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Downton Abbey: Season 4 Trailer

 
I can only believe that this is the moment that we've ALL been waiting for.  Here is the trailer for Season 4's Downtown Abbey.  And it is such a teaser for is Stateside folks as we have to wait until bloody January 2014 to watch it on PBS.  Kill me now!  It looks so good - filled with debauchery, deceit and affairs.  I can not wait.  If you are a lucky brit, then you can watch it in the UK starting next month. 




Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The 5er: Comedian Naz Osmanoglu

Comedian Naz Osmanoglu


Worst advice: "Yes, you should definitely wear that funny hat onstage."

 As y'all know, I have a slight sick sense of humour, which means I have a huge affection towards british humour.  I even spelled "humour" like they do.  So, when I was introduced to funnyman Naz Osmanoglu (yes, that's his real name), I was intrigued and that was just the beginning.  He's half English, half Turkish and well, a prince as wikipedia reports, "Prince Şehzade Nazım Ziyaeddin Nazım Osmanoğlu, Imperial Prince of the Ottoman Empire more commonly known as Naz Osmanoglu."  I'm suddenly feeling so inadequate and not worthy. 

Nonetheless, "The 5er" jumps the pond this week to chat it up with the comedian to find out what or rather whom inspired him to jump onto the comedy bandwagon, how maybe a "born again" experience on stage can help one become a better performer and who he name drops as his one-night stand dream girl.  You never know, Naz, your dream may come true here in Hollywood with Ms. Cattrall!

Tell me a little about your comedic background and why you think you're funny.

Well, it all started when I saw Richard Ayoade (Director of "Submarine" & ex Cambridge Footlights (comedy troupe)) do a twenty minute stand up set at my school when I was about 14. It was amazing and I didn't really understand what was happening, I just knew I wanted to do that thing that he was doing. Then I watched Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" and worried that I would never be able to so easily make stuff up like that on the cuff and got quite disheartened...but after a few years I realised it was a craft and it wasn't actually all improvised there on the spot and so I decided to give it a go at university with my mates who now are my colleagues - we write sketches for TV as WitTank and I also do stand up.

Why am I funny? Because I was a MASSIVE loser as a kid. Big time social reject. Short, podgy, scared of people (especially girls) and terrible at sport. Slowly, I realised if I could make people laugh, they forgot to bully me about all the other stuff...


 Richard Ayoade - Comedian/Director/Writer

I'm obsessed with British TV.  Ask our friend Ed as I constantly ask him for suggestions on what the latest brit shows I should watch. Do you have any fave shows? Do tell!
My favourite British TV shows: "Peep Show" (amazing but not for the faint hearted, it's not a feel good show), "The Thick of It" (Malcolm Tucker is amazing), Garth Marenghi's "Darkplace Illumination" (Richard Ayoade is in this - it is a spoof horror doc and it's probably the best one ever). If you like sketch shows, the best one in my opinion is "Big Train" (Simon Pegg, Mark Heap - consistently hilarious)....




Many people think - "How hard can it be to get up on stage and tell a joke or two?!?"  I know that' s not the case.  So, what's one of the biggest challenges that you never realized existed in your journey to becoming a successful comedian? 
Well, the most difficult part of stand-up is being consistently good. It takes literally years to learn how to play all the different rooms, how to unify all the different crowds, how to deal with different types of people... and that is a slog, especially when dying onstage is part of the learning process. You have to die in order to learn and when you first start out, that can be particularly challenging. Worst death I've ever had was my first ever 20 min set in front of more than 100 people. No one laughed for 17 minutes then there was some coughing. I was quite sweaty after.

Also heckling is sometimes hard, although I tend to enjoy them now. Worst heckle I ever had was: WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!?  

What's the best advice you've ever received? And the worst advice?
Best advice: "Keep going, keep writing, keep gigging". I'ts the only way to get better, by constantly pushing yourself.

Worst advice: "Yes, you should definitely wear that funny hat onstage."

If you could have a one night stand with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Kim Cattrall. She had it "Mannequin", she had it in "Sex And The City" (and yes I have watched it all) and she still has it now. I don't know why, but I really think we would just get on...




Check out these fresh clips of Naz's work.  This here bit is of his character "Antonio".



And here's a sketch he did for WitTank called "The Break Up".



Thursday, July 18, 2013

And the 2013 Emmy Nominees Are...


And this just in today - the 2013 Emmy nominations.  This year's award show will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 22nd.  Congrats to all the nominees!!


From Imdb.com....

2013 Emmy Awards

Nominations announced on Thursday, July 18th; winners announced on Sunday, Sept. 22nd.
image of Mad Men image of Modern Family image of Homeland image of The Big Bang Theory image of Behind the Candelabra image of The Good Wife

Outstanding Comedy Series

Nominees:

"Girls" (2012)
"Louie" (2010)
"30 Rock" (2006)
"Veep" (2012)

Outstanding Drama Series

Nominees:

"Homeland" (2011)
"Mad Men" (2007)

Outstanding Miniseries or Made for Television Movie

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

Nominees:

"Girls" (2012): Lena Dunham("On All Fours")
"Glee" (2009): Paris Barclay("Diva")
"Louie" (2010): Louis C.K.("New Year's Eve")
"Modern Family" (2009): Gail Mancuso("Arrested")
"30 Rock" (2006): Beth McCarthy-Miller("Hogcock!" / "Last Lunch")

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

Nominees:

"Boardwalk Empire" (2010): Timothy Van Patten("Margate Sands")
"Breaking Bad" (2008): Michelle MacLaren("Gliding All Over")
"Downton Abbey" (2010): Jeremy Webb("Episode 4")
"House of Cards" (2013): David Fincher("Chapter 1")

Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Nominees:

"Louie" (2010): Louis C.K., Pamela Adlon("Daddy's Girlfriend")
"Episodes" (2011): David Crane, Jeffrey Klarik("Episode 209")
"The Office" (2005): Greg Daniels("Finale")
"30 Rock" (2006): Jack Burditt, Robert Carlock("Hogcock!")
"30 Rock" (2006): Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield("Last Lunch")

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Nominees:

"Downton Abbey" (2010): Julian Fellowes("Episode 4")
"Breaking Bad" (2008): George Mastras("Dead Freight")
"Breaking Bad" (2008): Thomas Schnauz("Say My Name")
"Game of Thrones" (2011): David Benioff, D.B. Weiss("The Rains Of Castamere")
"Homeland" (2011): Henry Bromell("Q & A")

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series