William Earl Variety won seven first-place awards Saturday night at the Los Angeles Press Club’s 64th SoCal Journalism Awards, including the honors for entertainment journalist and music criticism.The Variety work recognized runs the gamut from a social media post to commentary urging the industry to act on timely issues, such as the hardships that exhibitors faced last fall, or the need for the Emmys to create new lanes for different forms of drama series.Owen Gleiberman, Variety‘s Chief Film Critic, prevailed against tough competition for entertainment journalist of the year.Gleiberman also garnered two other wins, while TV Editor Michael Schneider also nabbed two wins.Gleiberman was recognized for obituary/appreciation for his column on pioneering director Lina Wertmüller, who died in December at the age of 93. He also won in the music criticism category for his candid assessment of the Sparks in connection with Edgar Wright’s 2021 documentary “The Sparks Brothers.” Schneider won for commentary/analysis of TV or film for his column that put forth the proposal that it’s time to create a new Emmy category for traditional network dramas.
Awards HQ June 6: Elle Fanning’s Double Push; Banff’s Return; Trent Crimm Moderates ‘Ted Lasso’; More!
07.06.2022 - 04:29 / variety.com
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThrough the years, there have been countless creators, producers, directors and actors who have gone without an Emmy Award. And then there are those lucky enough to earn multiple kudos for different projects — in the same year.That could be the case for numerous stars leading up to the 2022 Emmys, with more than a dozen actors with multiple projects in contention.Elle Fanning is Hulu’s shining star this year, with both “The Great” and “The Girl From Plainville” in the conversation; not only does she lead the comedy and the dark drama, she also serves as an executive producer on both.“I only had two weeks in between to go from ‘The Great’ to ‘The Girl From Plainville.’ So it was a complete 180 for sure,” says Fanning of wrapping the second season of the period comedy and heading into the true-crime story.
“‘The Girl Form Plainville’ was a project that I knew was kind of looming. During filming ‘The Great,’ I knew that it was a project I had signed on to do.
It was that daunting thing in the back of your head that you’re nervous about and actually don’t quite know what you’re going to do with the character yet. Honestly, during ‘The Great,’ I was really suppressing thinking about Michelle [Carter].”Although simultaenous projects for the same individual have become common in Emmy contention, it is rare for those projects to be from the same studio or network.
That has allowed Hulu to put out TV spots touting both performances.Click the video above to watch. “Elle Fanning is a masterful and formidable actress who we’re so lucky to have the opportunity to work with across two series, ‘The Great’ and ‘The Girl From Plainville,’ both of which have been tremendously successful on Hulu,
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Wolfgang Puck Partners With Genius Brands to Create and Star in Children’s Animated TV Series (EXCLUSIVE)
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFamed chef and restauranteur, entrepreneur and philanthropist Wolfgang Puck is getting into the kids business. Puck is set to announce plans to launch a new children’s animated series, “Wolfgang Puck’s Secret Chef Academy,” which he plans to pitch to networks and streamers.Puck has partnered with Genius Brands International to launch the project.
Elle Fanning on Why She Was Hesitant to Star in Hulu’s ‘The Girl From Plainville’
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeElle Fanning is Hulu’s MVP this year, in contention via both her edgy comedy series “The Great” and the dark limited series “The Girl From Plainville.” Not only does she star in both she also serves as an executive producer on the two projects.“Hulu comments on my Instagram photos all the time,” she says. “And it’s always a boost from Hulu.
Emmy Predictions: Variety Talk Series – Seth Meyers Is Overdue for an Emmy Closer Look
Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.
Lizzo, President Biden Among James Corden’s Guests As ‘The Late Late Show’ Visits London Next Week
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large“The Late Late Show with James Corden” will head to London next week with episodes featuring guests including President Joe Biden, Vin Diesel, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran and a Carpool Karaoke featuring Lizzo.Also scheduled: John Boyega, Jamie Dornan, David Harbour, Alanis Morissette, Sam Smith and Tessa Thompson. This marks the first time “The Late Late Show” has been in London since 2019 (due to the pandemic), and its fourth trip there overall. But it’s also the show’s final trip to Blighty before Corden ends his late night run next spring.
From ‘Archie Bunker’s Place’ to ‘Bosch: Legacy’: When a Show’s End Is Just the Beginning
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeIn recent decades, some of these spinoffs have been just as good as the original: I would lead with “Frasier,” out of “Cheers,” of course, which put Kelsey Grammer’s character front and center, making him just as iconic as Ted Danson’s Sam Malone. And “Better Call Saul,” an idea that began as a bit of a lark when “Breaking Bad” was ending. Of course, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould wound up creating something richer — a show led by Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn that went to dramatically dense places no one could have predicted.
Starz’s ‘Gaslit’ Premiere Episode to Air on NBC-Owned TV Stations This Weekend As Part of Emmy FYC Push (EXCLUSIVE)
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAs Emmy nominations voting comes to a close this Monday, UCP and Starz have found one more way to expose their limited series “Gaslit” to potential voters: Free, over-the-air broadcast TV.The first episode of “Gaslit,” starring Julia Roberts and Sean Penn, will air on NBC-owned TV stations in key markets including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, this weekend in a final push to expose the series to as many people as possible. (Episodes, originally rated TV-MA, will be edited for broadcast standards.)Universal Studio Group’s UCP produces “Gaslit” for Starz. And in a case of Comcast/NBCUniversal synergy, USG and UCP have turned to their sister NBC broadcast station unit for help.
Awards HQ June 20: ‘The White Lotus’ Eligibility; ‘Bridgerton’ Podcast; Indie Stage 13 Aims for Emmy; Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Wins; and More!
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeIn 2021, HBO scored 94 nominations while HBO Max landed another 36, making for a total of 130 — squeaking past Netflix, which secured 129 nominations. A year before, in 2020, Netflix came out on top swinging with a record 160 nominations, followed by HBO (pre-HBO Max) in second at 107 nods.
‘Kelly Clarkson Show’ Leads Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards 2022 Winner Tally (FULL LIST)
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe 2022 Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards took place on Saturday, June 18, at the Pasadena Convention Center, with big winners including syndicated talkers “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and “The Drew Barrymore Show,” as well as CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” and Netflix’s “Penguin Town.”“Kelly Clarkson” picked up five awards, while “Penguin Town” was next, with three. Beyond syndication, Netflix was the big single network winner, picking up nine total, spread out among “Penguin Town,” “Cat People,” “Headspace: Guide to Meditation” and “You vs.
The Emmys’ New Documentary Eligibility Rule Finally Forces Filmmakers to Pick a Lane
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeI’ve long banged the drum that television is better than film, yet even now, the TV industry still carries a bit of an inferiority complex.It’s why those of us who cover TV cringe at filmmakers who finally enter the episodic world — only to proclaim their series is actually a “10-episode movie.”It comes from decades of the small screen being seen as the stepping stone to true stardom and success in the movies. But of course, “prestige TV” has always been around, and it only intensified in the past two decades.The industry has itself to blame for playing second fiddle.For a long time, the Television Academy included a loophole in which Oscar doc contenders could turn around and try again for sloppy seconds at the Emmys — even though the Motion Picture Academy didn’t allow Emmy titles to do the same.
‘Friends’ Reunion, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ ‘We Are Lady Parts’ Among Banff’s Rockie Awards International Program Competition
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeThe Banff World Media Festival revealed the winners of the 2022 Rockie Awards International Program Competition on Monday, with big winners including the “Friends” Reunion, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “We Are Lady Parts” and more.The event, held in Banff and hosted by comedian Rakhee Morzaria (“Run the Burbs”) featured winners chosen by a panel of 150 international industry professionals. The Rockie Awards International Program Competition presented awards in 28 categories spanning Documentary & Factual, Arts & Entertainment, Children & Youth, Scripted, and Podcast.The competition featured 148 nominations from 45 countries including the UK, United, Canada, Australia, France, China, Germany, Italy and Norway.
Emmy Predictions: Variety Sketch Series – A Race With Only Two Nominees Isn’t Really a Race, TV Academy Should Allow More Entries
Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.
Creators of ‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘Cobra Kai,’ ‘Ghosts’ and More Talk Broadcast Comedy Comeback and Honoring IP
Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterEleven of the TV industry’s top comedy creators and showrunners came together to talk about the so-called return of the broadcast sitcom, the daunting task of reshaping and adhering to beloved IP and why the workplace comedy is still a tried-and-true format during Variety‘s “A Night in the Writers’ Room” event Thursday.During the comedy roundtable, TV editor Michael Schneider chatted about these topics and more with Jenny Bicks (“Welcome to Flatch”), Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”), Dave Burd (“Dave”), Greg Daniels (“Upload”), Chris Miller (“The Afterparty”), Tracy Oliver (“Harlem”), Saladin K. Patterson (“The Wonder Years”), Joe Port (“Ghosts”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Meredith Scardino (“Girls5eva”) and Hayden Schlossberg (“Cobra Kai”).
Warren Littlefield Sets New Overall Deal With 20th Television and ABC Signature, Plans Expansion Into Unscripted
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeWarren Littlefield is looking to make more Must-See TV with Disney’s 20th Television and ABC Signature. The network president-turned-producer, whose prolific output in recent years has included “Fargo,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Dopesick,” has sealed a multi-year overall deal with 20th and ABC Signature that will keep him exclusive with those studios through 2026.Littlefield was most recently in a joint deal with 20th Television and Fox 21.
‘Bo Burnham: Inside,’ ‘Summer of Soul,’ ‘The Underground Railroad’ Among Final Round of Peabody Awards 2022 Winners (FULL LIST)
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeAmazon Prime Video’s “The Underground Railroad” and Netflix’s “Bo: Burnham: Inside” are among the final round of entertainment series to be honored by the Peabody Awards this year. The last crop of winners were announced Thursday morning.“The Underground Railroad” award was presented by Ibram X.
The ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Effect Continues, As Small Town Charm on TV Hits Big With Emmy Contenders
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeSo did a lot of folks. That year’s virtual Emmys experienced a winning streak like no other for “Schitt’s Creek,” which won outstanding comedy, as well as trophies for stars Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Annie Murphy and Dan Levy (not to mention wins for writing, directing and more).It was the right show at the right time, and TV Academy voters clearly agreed.
‘We Are Lady Parts,’ ‘The Wonder Years’ Among Third Round of Peabody Awards 2022 Winners (FULL LIST)
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargePeacock’s “We Are Lady Parts” is among the latest entertainment series to be honored by the Peabody Awards, which announced the win on Wednesday morning.“The rebellious spirit of the Sex Pistols meets the guiding wisdom of the Quran in ‘We Are Lady Parts,’ Nida Manzoor’s subversive British comedy about an all-female, all-Muslim punk band,” the Peabodys said in a statement. “Dressed in hijabs and ripped jeans, niqab face scarves and combat boots, the women are poised to infiltrate London’s punk patriarchy with original songs like ‘Voldemort Under My Headscarf’ and ‘Ain’t No One Gonna Honour Kill My Sister But Me.’ This irreverent, charming, and utterly fresh series, obliterates MENA and South Asian stereotypes and fearlessly tackles taboos about Islam, offering a multifaceted depiction of Muslim women rarely seen on screen.” “We Are Lady Parts” comes from Working Title Television, a part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Spectrum News 1 Takes Over as Most-Nominated Local Station for 2022 Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeLocal cable news upstart Spectrum News 1 has taken the crown for the first time ever in Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards nominations. The outlet, which just launched in 2018, pulled 23 nominations this year, up from 19 last year. That puts it head of public broadcaster KCET, which was in second with 15 nominations (down from 23 last year).The Television Academy announced this year’s L.A.
‘Hacks’ Among Second Round of Peabody Awards 2022 Winners
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeHBO Max’s “Hacks” is the latest entertainment series to be honored by the Peabody Awards, which announced the win on Tuesday morning.“When they’re together taking on all things comedy and feminism, ‘Hacks’ crackles with wit and truly sings,” Melissa McCarthy said in her presentation to the show.Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Paulilu, First Thought Productions, Fremulon Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, are behind the show.“HBO Max’s Hacks became a word-of-mouth hit thanks to the brilliantly funny intergenerational pairing of Jean Smart as standup legend Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, the desperate young comedy writer sent to freshen up Deborah’s act,” the org said in its statement honoring the show. “Created by ‘Broad City’ writers Lucia Aniello, Paul W.
TV’s Tales of True Crime Accountability Resonates As The Real World Turns Darker
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large There are some years where the TV trends are so obvious, it’s hard to ignore. And this year, one looms over all: The evolution of true crime, once the bastion of news magazines and cheesy made-for-TV movies of the week, into prestige television.