GoldDerby

News Nuggets: Will Cannes influence the Oscars again this year?

2012-05-16T14:23:14-07:00

Will Cannes make a major mark on the Oscar race again? "Certainly festival director Thierry Fremaux and Gilles Jacob hope the sun will shine on the official selection this year as well after a rousing 2011 where Cannes had an an unusually large impact on the Oscar race. An impressive three films that debuted here – 'Midnight in Paris,' 'The Tree of Life' and 'The Artist' – all received Best Picture nominations ... 'I’m just here supporting our film,' an excited Fremaux told me at the time, but certainly ‘how do you top this?’ had to be in the back of his mind." DEADLINE The MTV Video Music Awards get a new location: "MTV's annual awards ceremony is moving to Los Angeles' Staples Center this year, giving it a lot more elbow room than its previous location, the Nokia Theatre. The Staples Center, home venue to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Kings, has a seating capacity approaching 20,000 f...

'Downton Abbey': The Emmy ascendancy of Lady Mary

2012-05-16T11:44:11-07:00

After accepting the marriage proposal of Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) in the last episode of "Downton Abbey," Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) has not only laid new claim on the regal estate on PBS, but she's making a bold Emmy grab too. She's moving up to the lead actress race after failing to be nominated last year in supporting. Granted, it's a whole new Emmy game for "Downton Abbey" as it moves over to the drama series categories after reigning as Best Miniseries last year, but the show had much more humble aspirations in 2011. Only five of its actors were submitted for Emmy consideration. In addition to Dockery, Hugh Bonneview (Robert) was entered in lead, Elizabeth McGovern (Cora) in lead, Maggie Smith (Violet) in supporting, Brendan Coyle (John) in supporting. Only McGovern and Smith were nominated; Smith won. MAKE YOUR EMMY PREDICTIONS: Will Michelle Dockery be nominated for Best Drama Actress?  Log your predictions in all to...

Jason Isaacs on 'hysterical and emotional' final episodes of 'Awake' [Video]

2012-05-15T23:56:23-07:00

"Whenever I've won an award or been nominated for an award, I had known the day the ink was drying, and it's always the script," says Jason Isaacs. The actor has two chances for Emmy attention this year: he starred in the PBS miniseries "Case Histories" as well as NBC's drama "Awake." "Case Histories," which premiered last June in the UK and in October in America, is based on thee novels by Kate Atkinson and follows the investigations of Jackson Brodie (Isaacs), a police inspector-turned-private eye. Though it will compete as a miniseries at the Emmys, the drama is set to return with more episodes later this year. "Awake," however, struggled to find an audience despite the praise of critics and was officially canceled by NBC on May 11; its last episode airs on May 24. On the series, Isaacs plays Det. Michael Britten, a Los Angeles homicide detective caught between two parallel worlds following a car accident:...

Elisabeth Moss leads 'complicated' women of 'Mad Men' [Video]

2012-05-15T19:37:19-07:00

Peggy Olson started out as the meek secretary of advertising executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) in the first season of "Mad Men." Five years on, she has moved up the corporate ladder, a fact that brings pride to actress Elisabeth Moss, who celebrates the fact that women on the the AMC series have become more "complicated." In a video chat with Gold Derby, Moss recalls, "starting out as the eyes and ears of the audience coming into this world like Peggy did on her first day in the pilot. Then really women rose up in the ranks and had more and more power and changed things for women in the workplace. You can't show this world without showing both sides of it." Now the chief copywriter for the agency, Peggy's relationship has also changed with Don. For Moss, "That scene this season in the test kitchen where we yell at each other was so much fun to do. I really have stood across from him as he stood behind his desk and yelled at me so...

Peeking into the Fox Studios Emmy campaign

2012-05-15T18:05:18-07:00

While "Modern Family" airs on ABC, it is actually a production of Fox Studios and is once again a key part of their Emmy Awards campaign. It will be returning to defend its two consecutive trophies for Best Comedy Series and also has its six adult stars in contention again in the supporting categories. Golden Globe nominated comedy "New Girl" is among the rookie programs aiming to claim new Emmy slots for Fox. Its star Zooey Deschanel is a good bet to compete as Best Comedy Actress, as is one of the season's highlights, Max Greenfield, in supporting. Other freshman series include "Awake," "Don't Trust," "Last Man Standing," and "Touch." Among returning shows, all acting placements are in line with last year with the exception of Cloris Leachman moving from guest to supporting and Garret Dillahunt trying for the lead race after failing to receive a supporting bid for "Raising Hope." The other F...

News Nuggets: Ellen DeGeneres will receive the Mark Twain Prize

2012-05-15T12:55:12-07:00

Ellen DeGeneres will receive the Mark Twain Prize: "Ellen DeGeneres, the award-winning comedian and talk show host, has been selected by the Kennedy Center to receive this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Ellen, as she is known to the millions who watch her syndicated talk show, had this to say about the award. 'It’s such an honor to receive the Mark Twain Prize. To get the same award that has been given to people like Bill Cosby, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell, it really makes me wonder ... why didn’t I get this sooner?' DeGeneres, 54, is the fifteenth recipient of the Twain, the center announced Tuesday. She was chosen because her 'special brand of humor has allowed us to find hilarity in the mundane and has kept us laughing for years,' said center chairman David M. Rubenstein." WASHINGTON POST The Hollywood Foreign Press will appeal its loss in Golden Globes case: "The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is going back to ...

Adam Scott tries luck in lead Emmys race for 'Parks and Recreation' [Video]

2012-05-15T00:04:00-07:00

Last year, Rob Lowe shocked Emmy pundits by entering the lead-actor race for "Parks and Recreation," and this year his co-star Adam Scott is following suit. Scott, who plays state auditor-turned-campaign manager Ben Wyatt, has been a love interest for Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope for the better part of two seasons, and he has decided that his increased prominence during Leslie's city council campaign warrants the promotion: "I think this season, I was connected to Amy's character so much through the campaign and our relationship that in order to try and spread it out a bit since there are so many actors on the show, this season I could maybe justify sliding over to the other category." It may be a savvy move. The "Modern Family" men have dominated Best Comedy Supporting Actor for the last two years, and with 2011 nominees Steve Carell ("The Office") and Matt LeBlanc ("Episodes") not in the running this year &n...

News Nuggets: 'Sherlock,' 'Great Expectations' win three at BAFTA Craft Awards

2012-05-14T14:02:14-07:00

"Sherlock" and "Great Expectations" win at BAFTA Craft Awards: "BBC dramas 'Great Expectations' and 'Sherlock' have each won three prizes at this year’s British Academy Television Craft Awards. 'Sherlock' won for its editing and sound, with Steven Moffat winning the writing award for his work on the series. Moffat beat Neil McKay, who penned 'Appropriate Adult,' Abi Morgan, who wrote 'Birdsong,' and Jack Thorne, who was nominated for 'The Fades.' At tonight’s ceremony, hosted by Alan Davies, 'Great Expectations' won for its photography and lighting, its production design and for its visual effects." THE STAGE Billboard Music Awards will pay tribute to Whitney Houston: "In addition to performances from a number of today's top recording artists, a special tribute to Whitney Houston has been confirmed for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards. News of the tribute broke Sunday, with ...

Christina Applegate adopts Emmy-winning strategy with 'Up All Night' birth episode [Video]

2012-05-14T10:28:10-07:00

If Christina Applegate wins an Emmy Award this September for the NBC laffer "Up All Night," she will have something in common with Jennifer Aniston, Candice Bergen, Helen Hunt and Lisa Kudrow. All of these funny ladies claimed trophies for episodes where their characters gave birth, and that is exactly the subject of Applegate's possible submission if nominated as Best Comedy Actress. In a video chat with Gold Derby, Applegate revealed that she and the flashback episode's writer Caroline Williams had babies just two weeks apart. "We kind of went on the same journey at the same time. We really brought in a lot of things that had happened personally. I got it, and I thought it was written very full," she added. "I had some great funny stuff that I got to do that was so bizarre, which is the kind of stuff I love, like singing that live song." Applegate is also a producer on the freshman laffer, so she could earn a nomination ...

News Nuggets: A closer look at Broadway moms on Mother's Day

2012-05-13T13:21:13-07:00

Celebrating Broadway moms on Mother's Day: "Every once in a while a play comes along with a genuine mother of a maternal role: from 'Medea' through 'The Glass Menagerie' to ''night, Mother' and 'Three Tall Women' to more recent productions like 'Doubt,' 'Well' and 'August: Osage County.' But this past season in New York City gave theatregoers (Off-Broadway and on) more memorable moms than most — in 'Other Desert Cities,' 'The Lyons,' 'Tribes,' 'Russian Transport' and 'Hurt Village' — even if few of them could be considered role models to hold up as your family's matriarch on Mother's Day." PLAYBILL "Community" will return to NBC, but will showrunner Dan Harmon return with it? "Harmon only signed a one-year deal when the show was renewed last spring, and insiders tell Vulture there haven't been any intense talks just yet. [NBC ch...

'House' creator David Shore on final Emmys stand for show and Hugh Laurie [Video]

2012-05-13T10:16:10-07:00

David Shore, who created “House,” has overseen the series starring Hugh Laurie as the cantankerous title doctor for its entire eight seasons. In 2005 he won the Emmy for Best Drama Series Writing for the episode ‘Three Stories.’ And, as a producer, he has shared in the four Emmy bids for Best Drama Series (2006-2009). With its award success, critical acclaim and strong ratings, the medical drama has been FOX’s flagship scripted series. However, earlier this year the decision was made to close the doors on “House.” As Shore explains, “It was a group discussion, I think I have to take the majority of the responsibility for it.” He decided to wrap up the series because, “It’s been an unbelievable run ... and I don’t want to overstay my welcome, I’m a little worn out, and I feel good about everything I’ve done and it would be horrible to end it when I no longer feel that way ... I think th...

Matt Bomer 'thankful' for busy year with 'White Collar,' 'Glee,' and 'Magic Mike' [Video]

2012-05-12T18:25:18-07:00

"I have a lot to be thankful for," says Matt Bomer of his busy year. "I've gotten to work with a lot of great people that I've dreamed of working with for years, and got to play a lot of really fun roles." The actor recently guest-starred on "Glee," will appear in Steven Soderbergh's "Magic Mike," and is now back to work shooting a fourth season of USA's popular drama "White Collar." After starting his career in musical theater, he landed his first major TV role on the now defunct CBS soap opera "Guiding Light," where he appeared from 2001 to 2003 as Ben Reade. Anticipating a short stint on the show, he encouraged the writers to give him "the craziest storyline you've ever given anyone," and they obliged, turning his character into an abuse victim, a gigolo, a serial killer, and a kidnapper in a dramatic sendoff that culminated in his suicide, of which he says, "These kinds of thi...

News Nuggets: Zooey Deschanel will play Loretta Lynn on Broadway

2012-05-12T15:59:15-07:00

TV cancellations probably won't affect Emmy nominations: "Emmy contenders emerged largely unscathed even as more and more programs found the network chopping block this week, with Kathy Bates of 'Harry's Law' perhaps the most prominent casualty. Bates received a lead drama actress nomination last tear for 'Harry's' — which also generated 2011's winner for drama guest actor, Paul McCrane — but despite the show ranking as one of the Peacock's most-watched programs, the demos of its viewers did not fit with NBC's needs ... 'Awake,' dropped today as expected by NBC, arguably deserves some Emmy writing nomination consideration for its pilot by Kyle Killen, but attention to the show might be too low to register at voting time. No broadcast drama received a writing nom a year ago." THE VOTE With "Newsies" now a hit on Broadway, should it return to the silver screen? "Now, after much acclaim from critic...

Maya Rudolph doubles Emmy chances with 'Up All Night' and 'SNL' [Video]

2012-05-11T18:13:18-07:00

Fresh from the success of the film "Bridesmaids," Maya Rudolph returned to her TV roots. This season, she impressed with both her return to "Saturday Night Live" for the first time as host and as a supporting player on the NBC comedy series "Up All Night." Former "SNL" writer Emily Spivey developed the role of daytime diva Ava Alexander on "Up All Night" for her friend of 15 years(they met in the improv group The Groundlings). The character is best friends with Reagan Brinkley (Christina Applegate). The pair were slated to be in public relations before a change in focus put them in the world of daytime television. In a video chat with Gold Derby, Rudolph revealed, "positive mental imagery" played a part in the switch. "Luck played a big part of it. I just thought it was a bigger and more fun choice. I thought it was an environment where we could do more. It took me a long time to figure out who s...

Emmys continue to blur line between series and miniseries

2012-05-11T17:26:17-07:00

What distinguishes a series from a miniseries at the Emmys? The difference used to be more or less clear, but in recent years several programs that straddle the fence have forced the TV academy to make case-by-case judgments. Last year, British imports "Downton Abbey" and "Luther" competed as miniseries even though both had cliffhanger endings and were renewed for second seasons. This year, "Downton," which won the Best Movie/Miniseries contest, is switching to the Best Drama Series race. However, "Luther" will remain in the longform category, where it will be joined by several shows that a few years ago would likely have been forced to compete as continuing dramas. ABC's "The River" and "Missing," FX's "American Horror Story," and BBC America's "The Hour" will compete as miniseries this year; "Horror" and "Hour" are set to return for second seasons, while ABC...

News Nuggets: Latin Grammys expand to 10 nominees; should original Grammys follow?

2012-05-11T15:06:15-07:00

The Latin Grammys expand their top categories to ten nominees: "The chance of winning an album of the year Latin Grammy just slightly improved. Coming to the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards is an expansion of the four top categories, which will now include 10 nominees apiece. This adds five new contenders to best new artist, as well as the record, album and song of the year fields. The move would seem to foretell similar changes for the Grammy Awards and would follow like-minded tweaks by the Academy Awards and the Emmys. However, the Latin Recording Academy operates independently of the Recording Academy, with each maintaining a separate board of trustees." LOS ANGELES TIMES Should the original Grammy Awards also expand to 10 nominees? "... There’s no reason to think the Grammys wouldn’t want to do the same, especially while they are on a roll: this year’s show received some of the best ratings in decades. Plus, the expansion to 10 nominees in the four...

Take a peek at the PBS Masterpiece Emmy campaign

2012-05-11T12:38:12-07:00

PBS had great success last year at the Emmy Awards with major wins by "Downton Abbey" and Maggie Smith in the movie/miniseries categories. As reported a few weeks ago, the TV Academy has ruled that the second season of that program must now compete in the drama categories for 2012. Fortunately for the public television network, they have plenty of past awards winners in contention in the longform categories and hope to fill the void that "Downton Abbey" will leave behind. Gold Derby has confirmed the official acting category submissions from PBS for the shows that fall under its long-running "Masterpiece" banner. Other eligible performers could be submitting on their own. BEST DRAMA SERIES Downton Abbey BEST DRAMA ACTRESS Downton Abbey (Michelle Dockery) Downton Abbey (Elizabeth McGovern) BEST DRAMA ACTOR Downton Abbey (Hugh Bonneville) Downton Abbey (Dan Stevens) BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS Downton Abbey (Joann...

Joel Kinnaman knew he 'wasn't a bad guy' on 'The Killing' [Video]

2012-05-10T12:34:12-07:00

In the much-discussed and debated first season finale of "The Killing" last June, many viewers were left wondering if Detective Stephen Holder was actually one of the people responsible for the death of Rosie Larsen. In a video chat with Gold Derby, actor Joel Kinnaman said, "I knew I wasn't a bad guy. There were a lot of viewers that, of course, got very concerned because it looked like I was some kind of participant in a cover-up. But actually Holder is a guy that cuts corners, and in this case he became a victim of his trusts. It was a big thing for Holder, a devastating loss of trust." The AMC drama is based on the original Danish series "Forbrydelsen" and features Kinnaman as a new detective in the Seattle homicide department brought over from another unit. He is partnered with seasoned veteran Detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos), and they hit the ground running with the murder investigation of a teenaged girl. The case was not...

News Nuggets: Russell Brand will host the MTV Movie Awards

2012-05-10T12:23:12-07:00

Russell Brand will host the MTV Movie Awards. From the press release: "Brand will build upon his triple-threat skill set to give viewers a new, off-the-cuff and unique spin on the past year’s biggest films and hottest stars. 'This MTV Movie Awards will be more impressive than "The Avengers" and you won't have to wait an hour for someone to Hulk out,' said Russell Brand. 'With his amazing ability to span the full spectrum of comedy from the most high to lowbrow, Russell’s smart, unpredictable wit uniquely connects him to our audience,' said Stephen Friedman, President of MTV. 'His rock-n-roll sensibility and fearlessness give us the perfect partner with whom to take a leap of faith with as we meld the worlds of movies and music together on one very special night.'" First batch of presenters announced for the MTV Movie Awards: "'The Amazing Spider-Man' co-stars Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield will be on tap fo...

'Mad Men' Emmys shocker: Jessica Pare going lead against Elisabeth Moss

2012-05-10T05:44:05-07:00

Pour yourself a glass of scotch, Jessica Pare, because when it comes to your breakout role on "Mad Men," life is about to imitate art. Just as Pare's character Megan went from being a simple office receptionist to a well-respected adwoman within the course of a year, she has been upgraded from the Drama Guest Actress field (where she failed to receive a nod last year) to the all-important Drama Actress race at this year's Emmys. Talk about a promotion! Last year was Pare's first crack at the Emmys for this relatively new role, but she didn't receive any attention from voters. Gold Derby has learned exclusively that with her dramatic increase in screen time this season and positive feedback from critics and viewers , AMC is swapping Pare's Emmy category. Such category jumps are commonplace at these kudos -- guest stars frequently leap up to supporting status, supporting performers of...