| | | | | | What's news: A bumper awards issue of the TIE newsletter this morning, with extensive coverage of the 76th Primetime Emmys. Netflix has renewed Emily in Paris for a fifth season. Disney and DirecTV have a deal in principle. Beetlejuice 2 has sailed over the $250m mark at the box office. Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck won TIFF's audience award. — Abid Rahman
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Primetime Emmys 2024 ►🏆 Get Smart 🏆 The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards were handed out Sunday night, with HBO's Hacks taking home a surprise best comedy series award, beating FX's The Bear, which won the category last year. However, The Bear did collect four other big wins. FX's Shogun collected four wins, including best drama series. Netflix's Baby Reindeer also picked up four wins, including best limited or anthology series. The winners.
—Snubs, shutouts and surprises. Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building went into Sunday night’s Emmys with 21 nominations, the third most of any series this year, but the star-studded murder mystery comedy failed to win a single award. (To be fair, Murders did win three awards during the non-televised Creative Arts Emmys last week). Despite its 18 nominations, onetime Emmy favorite The Crown won only one award in the main telecast. In the night's big upset, Hacks star Jean Smart beat out The Bear's Ayo Edebiri and last year’s winner Quinta Brunson to best comedy actress prize. The snubs.
—The House of Mouse prevails. After 14 Creative Arts wins for Shogun, Disney had essentially an insurmountable lead in terms of awards won. Led by Shogun and The Bear — which each won four awards at Sunday’s awards and set records for wins by a drama (18) and comedy (11) in a single year — FX-produced programs led all platforms with 36 wins at the 76th Emmy Awards. By itself, FX would have put Disney into first place among media conglomerates, but the company also took home 24 other awards for a record-breaking total of 60. The scorecard.
—Sugoi! Shogun extended its reign over the 2024 Emmys on Sunday night. Going into the evening, the hit samurai series already held the record for the most wins by any show in a single year, having bagged 14 trophies at the Creative Arts Emmys a week ago. But the show further cemented its rule inside the Peacock Theater at the Primetime Emmys, winning an additional four awards, including the top categories of best drama series, best actress in a drama series for Anna Sawai, best actor in a drama series for Hiroyuki Sanada, and best drama directing for Frederick E.O. Toye. The story.
—"Perhaps in a few years the idea of a separate International Emmys ceremony will be seen as obsolete." THR's executive editor of awards coverage Scott Feinberg dissects Sunday night's results, and looks at how Hacks was able to best The Bear to the coveted best comedy prize, how Shogun changed the Emmys game and how Peacock was able to get on the awards map with The Traitors. The analysis. |
Review: 76th Emmys Oscillate Between Freshness and Fatigue ►"I would say that this was, by general Emmy telecast standards, an above-average show. But it was still a letdown." In his review of the Emmys telecast, THR's chief TV critic Dan Fienberg writes that Shogun and Hacks won big as the TV Academy attempted to recapture the magic of January's Emmys, but with diminishing returns. The review.
—"I know some of you might be expecting us to make a joke about whether The Bear is really a comedy. In the true spirit of The Bear, we will not be making any jokes." Hosts Eugene and Dan Levy made good on their pledge to bring a gentler comedic style to the 2024 Emmys. The father-son Schitt’s Creek duo offered a warm and traditional opening monologue, poking fun at themselves, the Emmys and a few of the shows, but didn’t single out any individuals in the room for mockery. The monologue.
—Warms the heart. The West Wing, Happy Days, Saturday Night Live, Reba and Schitt’s Creek were among the popular series to reunite their casts at the 2024 Emmys. SNL standouts Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Seth Meyers reconnected on Sunday night, as did Happy Days favorites Ron Howard and Henry Winkler. The story.
—Groundbreaking night. The 76th Emmy Awards were filled with plenty of highlights, from historic wins to emotional tributes. THR's intrepid team put together some of the night’s unforgettable moments including The West Wing and Happy Days cast reunions; John Leguizamo's powerful speech on diversity in Hollywood; and Anna Sawai, Liza Colón-Zayas and Hiroyuki Sanada's history-making wins. The memorable moments. |
Best Dressed Stars at the Emmys ►Bold and bright. Style at the 2024 Emmys ran the gamut this year, from vivid hues to the deepest jewel tones and a substantial commitment to classic black and shimmering metallics. The sheer variety of looks made the task of narrowing the list of best-dressed stars among this year’s winners and nominees all the more daunting. THR's Laurie Brookins picked out a dozen stars who simply dazzled on Sunday night. The looks.
—Ceasefire call. Several stars brought Israel–Hamas ceasefire advocacy to the Emmys on Sunday. Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Brittani Nichols (Abbott Elementary writer) and Caroline Joyner were among those seen on the red carpet wearing a pin that featured a red background, orange hand and black heart. The pin symbolizes support for a permanent ceasefire, release of all hostages and immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to Artists4Ceasefire. The story.
—Notable omissions. The In Memoriam segment of the Emmys paid a moving tribute to several television stars, creators and producers who died over the last year — but social media was quick to point out the omissions. Among the notable omissions from the video montage were Shelley Duvall, Erica Ash, Johnny Wactor, Tyler Christopher, Joe Flaherty and Chita Rivera. The story.
More from the 76th Emmy Awards...
—Shogun's Hiroyuki Sanada becomes first Japanese actor to win best lead in a drama series
—Shogun's Anna Sawai becomes first actor of Asian descent to win drama actress
—The Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas becomes first Latina to win best supporting actress in a comedy
—Emotion John Oliver thanks his dog as Last Week Tonight repeats as best scripted variety series |
Productivity Media Suspends CEO Amid Money Probe ►"There is an ongoing confidential investigation." THR's Gary Baum has the scoop that film finance and production company Productivity Media Inc. has suspended its CEO William Santor amid a probe over allegations of financial mismanagement. Gary reports the backer of indie films, including the buzzy Day of the Fight, has brought in PricewaterhouseCoopers to look at its books amid concerns about the management of various loans in its fund. The story.
—Leaving on a high. THR's Borys Kit has the scoop that longtime Marvel executive Dave Bushore is exiting the company. Bushore, who had been with the studio for 15 years, was most recently vp, franchise creative & immersive development for Marvel and leaves on a career high. He directed and executive produced the What If …? — An Immersive Story experience, that was awarded a Creative Arts Emmy last weekend. Bushore is not joining a new company, but instead looking to use his experience to find new ways for audiences to participate with their favorite brands. The story.
—🤝 Finally! 🤝 After a two-week channel blackout, Disney and DirecTV have a deal in principle. The agreed-upon points include the opportunity to offer DirecTV customers genre-specific bundles, sports, entertainment, kids and family, which also incorporate Disney’s linear networks, as well as Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. DirecTV will also have the right to distribute Disney’s upcoming ESPN flagship streaming service to its customers for free upon launch. The deal came in time for the college football games set to run on ESPN Saturday, as well as the Emmy Awards on Sunday night and Monday Night Football. The story.
—"Essentially a private legal arrangement." A succession battle that will determine stewardship of Rupert Murdoch‘s right-wing media empire will not be open to the public, a court has ruled. Nevada probate commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. on Thursday denied a petition by a coalition of media organizations, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press, to unseal court proceedings and records. He found that hearings will remain closed off to prevent the disclosure of confidential information. The story.
—Cheeky bonus. Mattel has issued a special $15m stock grant to CEO Ynon Kreiz, citing his success in film and TV as a driving factor. Mattel’s board issued the Retention Performance Grant last week, with the company writing in an SEC filing Friday that the importance of his continued leadership at the company was a key factor in the grant. Mattel, of course, was behind one of last year’s blockbuster hits with the Barbie movie. The company is also working with Paramount on an American Girl film, and with Universal on a Monsters High film. The story.
—Sentenced. Former BBC News presenter Huw Edwards has been handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children. The 63-year-old said he was “profoundly sorry” for the “repugnant” images before he was sentenced Monday at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court in a case that has shocked the U.K. He must also attend a sex offender rehabilitation program, of which there are 25 sessions in total. The suspended sentence means that Edwards will only serve jail time if he reoffends in the next two years. The story. |
Netflix Renews 'Emily in Paris' ►Oui! Oui! Oui! Emily in Paris has been renewed at Netflix. The Darren Star series starring Lily Collins will return for a fifth season, the streamer announced, with Star confirming Rome will continue to be an Emily in Paris locale. The renewal comes shortly after the Part 2 debut of season four on Sept. 12. The story.
—Live Ones. Netflix wants to heat up its live programming slate with a red-hot talk show. The streaming giant is in talks to pick up some live editions of the popular YouTube talk show Hot Ones. The show, which is hosted by Sean Evans and produced by BuzzFeed’s First We Feast, sees Evans grill a celebrity guest over spicy chicken wings, with each wing being hotter than the last. The deal, assuming it comes together, would see Evans host some live versions of the show exclusively for Netflix. The story.
—Full throttle. SNL alum Tim Meadows will star in DMV, a single-camera comedy pilot, which comes from CBS Studios and creator Dana Klein. As the title implies, the show is set in a department of motor vehicles office and follows the people who work there. DMV is one of three comedy projects CBS has in various stages of development. The others are Eternally Yours, a show about a family of vampires from Ghosts showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman that has opened a development writers room; and Area 51, set at the secretive military installation in Nevada, which is in development from writers Steven Lilien, Bryan Winbrandt and Laura Moran. The story.
—New impetus. A Hollywood adaptation of S-Town is still in the works, with a fresh creative team. Host Brian Reed tells THR that Apple TV+ is eying a limited series adaptation of the podcast, with Damages and Bloodline co-creator Daniel Zelman attached to develop the project. The hit 2017 nonfiction podcast centered on an oddball, genius antique clock restorer and his complex relationship with his rural Alabama community. When it was released, S-Town shattered podcast listenership records, gaining 16m downloads in its first week and 40m in its first month. The story. |
Revenge of the Movie Franchises ►We are so back! Franchises are both the lifeblood and bane of Hollywood’s existence. When everything clicks, a series can keep consumers intrigued for years if not decades. But sooner or later, fatigue sets in and the complaints begin (i.e., what happened to originality?). THR's Pamela McClintock writes that with domestic box office at $5.4b so far, 2024 hasn’t been too shabby, as the big IP swings are mostly working. The analysis.
—McAvoy supremacy! Warner Bros.'s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice lost none of its ghostly mojo in its second weekend and easily stayed atop the box office chart with an estimated $51.6m as it hurtles toward the $200m mark domestically. The pic, playing in 4,575 theaters domestically, fell just 54 percent for a 10-day domestic total of $188m. Overseas, the sequel took in another $28.7m from 76 markets for a lukewarm foreign tally of $76.3m and $264.3m globally.
Blumhouse and Universal’s new horror-thriller Speak No Evil was also good news for the early fall box office. The pic opened in second place with an estimated $11.5m from 3,375 locations against a budget of just $15m before marketing. The movie follows an American family as they spend the weekend at a plush British estate only to discover that their host, played by James McAvoy, has a rather sinister side. Speak No Evil boasts an 85 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences. Overseas, it started of with $9.3m from 73 markets for a global launch of $20.8m. The box office report. |
Paramount Snags Fall's Hottest Sales Title 'September 5' ►Shaking up the Oscar race. THR's Scott Feinberg has the big scoop that September 5, the hottest sales title that played at this year’s fall film festivals and an across-the-board awards contender, has landed at Paramount. The studio has secured the worldwide distribution rights for the film and will begin platforming it in the U.S. on Nov. 27, with plans to expand its theatrical footprint into December and back it with a full-fledged awards push. Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro and Leonie Benesch star in the third feature from director Tim Fehlbaum, a dramatic thriller about ABC Sports’ coverage of the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack. The story.
—📅 Dated! 📅 Blue Harbor Entertainment has acquired North American rights to The King of Kings, the faith-based animated movie, and intends to release it in theaters over Easter holiday 2025. The company did not reveal an exact date, though the holiday falls on the April 18-20 weekend next year. The film is loosely based on The Life of Our Lord, a posthumously published Charles Dickens short story that focuses on the life and times of Jesus Christ. Kenneth Branagh voice stars as Dickens, while Oscar Isaac voices Jesus. Ben Kingsley, Forest Whitaker, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Pierce Brosnan and Roman Griffin Davis also voice star. The story.
—Strong choice. French-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop’s Dahomey documentary, which earned the Golden Bear prize at the Berlin Film Festival, has been chosen to represent Senegal in the best international feature category at the Academy Awards. The film tracks the return of 26 royal African treasures looted in the 19th century by France from the Kingdom of Dahomey and are due to return to the present-day Republic of Benin as part of reparations. The story.
—Sold! Good Deed Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Hangdog, a comedy movie starring Desmin Borges and Kelly O’Sullivan. Director Matt Cascella’s feature is scheduled for release via digital platforms on Oct. 25, which will be preceded by advance theatrical screenings in select cities. Rounding out the cast are Barbara Rosenblat, Steve Coulter, Catherine Curtin and rescue dog-turned-performer Mr. Tibbs. Set in Portland, Maine, Hangdog centers on Walt (Borges), who deals with anxiety while attempting to retrieve his stolen dog before his girlfriend, Wendy (O’Sullivan), returns from a business trip. The story. |
'Life of Chuck' Wins TIFF Audience Award ►🏆 Good luck Chuck 🏆 Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck picked up the top People’s Choice honor Sunday at the Toronto Film Festival as its 2024 edition wrapped. The second runner-up for the People’s Choice Award was Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, a queer crime musical headed to Netflix that earned the jury prize in Cannes for the director. TIFF’s top audience award is considered a barometer of future Oscar nominations as Hollywood’s awards season kicks into gear. The winners.
—Trouble up north. With TIFF closing its doors on another edition, THR's executive editor of awards Scott Feinberg discusses the festival's dearth of world premieres of real awards contenders, the comatose sales market and the bizarre audience award pick. The analysis.
—🏆 Jimmy! 🏆 Max Train's James, a quirky Canadian comedy about a stolen bike, won the German Independence Award for best film at this year’s Oldenburg Film Festival. Tim Blake Nelson won Oldenburg’s best actor prize, the Seymour Cassel Award, for his starring turn in Bang Bang, where he plays a retired boxer looking to exorcise the demons of his past. Best actress honors went to Aki Kigoshi for her turn as a sex worker in Zhang Suming’s Japanese drama A Wasted Night. The winners. |
Film Review: 'The Deb' ►"Overstuffed with both good and bad." THR's Lovia Gyarkye reviews Rebel Wilson's The Deb. The Pitch Perfect actress adapts an Australian stage play about a city girl who moves to the outback and helps her cousin become a debutante. The review.
—"Stirringly lands its punches." For THR, Michael Rechtshaffen reviews Rachel Morrison's The Fire Inside. Cinematographer Morrison makes her directorial debut with this chronicle of the career of two-time Olympic gold medal-winner Claressa Shields, starring Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry. The review.
—"Mighty far from paradise." Michael reviews Ron Howard's Eden. Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas and Vanessa Kirby are among the ensemble of this true-life thriller about a 1920s German philosopher who starts a new life on an uninhabited island. The review.
—"A cinematic dream you'll only half remember." THR's Frank Scheck reviews Florian Frerichs' Traumnovelle. An adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler’s classic 1926 novella, the film offers a modern-day, Berlin-set take on the work that Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut was based. The review.
—"In the finest tradition of the British New Wave." Frank reviews Michael J. Long's Baby Brother. The filmmaker's debut feature, premiering at the Oldenburg Film Festival, depicts the relationship between two siblings attempting to overcome their troubled home life. The review.
—"Offers just enough surface pleasures." For THR, Jourdain Searles reviews Max Minghella's Shell. Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson, Kaia Gerber and Amy Landecker star in Minghella's second film, a horror comedy about youth and beauty that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. The review. |
THR Critics Pick the Best Films From the Fall Festivals ►Crème de la crème. With the Venice, Telluride and Toronto festivals wrapped for another year, THR's cadre of critics — David Rooney, Jon Frosch, Lovia Gyarkye, Sheri Linden, Leslie Felperin, Jordan Mintzer, Stephen Farber and Caryn James — pick their 15 faves. In the mix are an ambitious American immigrant saga, Nicole Kidman’s steamy erotic thriller, an intimate John Lennon doc and a trippy Luca Guadagnino-Daniel Craig collaboration. The list.
In other news...
—Kevin Hart’s vegan restaurant Hart House closes all locations
—Hollywood’s top 35 real estate agents keep setting records despite the downturn
—Supacell, Wonka among Production Guild of Great Britain Awards winners
—Alamo Drafthouse renames Brooklyn location as Spike Lee Cinema
—Franca Bettoia, Italian actress in The Last Man on Earth, dies at 88
—Tommy Cash, country singer and Johnny Cash’s brother, dies at 84
What else we're reading...
—Catherine Shoard feels the 2025 Oscars race could be Brit heavy with Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Craig and Hugh Grant all seemingly in the running [Guardian]
—Doyle McManus looks at how millions of voters can still be undecided between Trump and Harris [LAT]
—Jon Passantino writes that Fox News and right-wing media are ignoring Trump’s embrace of far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer [CNN]
—Max Tani reports that the New York Times’ tech staff are threatening a strike during the Election Day crunch [Semafor]
—Michael Schulman profiles Bowen Yang, with the SNL comedian revealing he went through gay conversion therapy as a boy [New Yorker]
Today...
...in 1993, NBC unveiled its Cheers spinoff show Frasier, starring Kelsey Grammer. The series ran 11 seasons before being picked up for a revival on Paramount+ three decades later. The original review.
Today's birthdays: Jennifer Tilly (66), Mickey Rourke (72), Molly Shannon (60), Amy Poehler (53), Max Minghella (39), Nick Jonas (32), Kurt Fuller (71), Fan Bingbing (43), Marc Anthony (56), Craig Zobel (49), Alexis Bledel (43), Ed Begley Jr. (75), Madeline Zima (39), Chase Stokes (32), Jessica Plummer (32), Michael James Shaw (38), Elena Kampouris (27), Ian Harding (38), Jayne Brook (64), Toks Olagundoye (49), Christopher Rich (71), Kyla Pratt (38), Holly J. Barrett (22), Danny John-Jules (64), Mike Doyle (52), Thekla Reuten (49), Virginia Gay (43), Vanessa Aspillaga (52), Ed Stoppard (50), Amy Price-Francis (49), Victory Van Tuyl (29), Linda Henning (80), Susan Ruttan (76), Rodrigo Sorogoyen (43), Lee Jin-wook (43), Bailey De Young (35), Daren Kagasoff (37) |
| Tito Jackson, the brother of Michael and Janet Jackson and a singer and guitarist who was a founding member of the highly influential pop bands The Jackson 5 and later The Jacksons, has died. He was 70. The obituary. |
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