‘Simpsons’ leads Writers Guild TV nominations

‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Mad Men,’ ‘The Wire’ all receive nominations

LOS ANGELES – “The Simpsons,” television’s longest-running comedy, led the nominations announced on Monday for the Writers Guild of America’s annual broadcasting awards.

The edgy cartoon series, airing on the News Corp.-owned Fox network for 19 seasons, was one of five nominees for best comedy series, along with two previous winners from NBC, “30 Rock” and “The Office,” and two cable shows, HBO’s “Entourage” and Showtime’s “Weeds.”

Four episodes of “The Simpsons” were nominated separately in the category for best animation broadcasts.

The hit cartoon about a lazy, slow-witted family man named Homer Simpson has collected numerous WGA awards in the animation category over the years, but this is the first time the show also is competing as best comedy series.

The WGA awards for television and radio will be held on February 7.

In September, “The Simpsons” extended its record Emmy-winning streak by claiming television’s highest honor for a prime-time cartoon for a 10th year.

NBC’s show-within-a-show “30 Rock,” starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, was the second most WGA-nominated program on Monday with four nods in all — including a bid for best comedy series and three for best comedy episode. “30 Rock” won for best comedy last season.

The most recognized drama in the WGA sweepstakes this year is the AMC cable series “Breaking Bad,” starring Bryan Cranston in his Emmy-winning role as a terminally ill high school teacher who cooks crystal methamphetamine for quick cash.

“Breaking Bad” drew three nominations, one for best new series and two in the drama episode contest. It will vie for best new series against “Fringe” (Fox), “In Treatment” (HBO), “Life on Mars” (ABC) and “True Blood” (HBO).

Three of the nominees for best drama come from cable television — HBO’s defending champion “The Wire,” which recently ended its run; AMC’s “Mad Men,” this year’s Emmy winner for best drama series; and Showtime’s “Dexter,” about a serial killer working as a crime scene investigator.

Two drama nominees from broadcast television are NBC’s high school football saga “Friday Night Lights” and the ABC castaway thriller “Lost.”

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Australia rewards Ledger’s Joker performance

Family accepts posthumous best actor prize from film institute

MELBOURNE, Australia – Heath Ledger’s family paid a teary tribute to the late actor as they accepted a top Australian film industry award on his behalf.

Ledger was posthumously given the Australian Film Institute’s international award for best actor for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

His father, Kim; mother, Sally; and sister Kate accepted the award.

“It’s been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member,” said Kate Ledger, fighting back tears.

“We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter, who we will cherish forever,” she said, referring to Matilda, his 3-year-old daughter with actress Michelle Williams.

Ledger’s performance in the Batman blockbuster is regarded as having a solid chance for a posthumous Academy Award for best supporting actor.

“It was this swaggering, psychopathic clown that turned his career into a legacy and the name Heath Ledger into an ongoing inspiration to actors everywhere,” the Australia Film Institute said at the awards ceremony Saturday night in Melbourne.

Sally Ledger thanked the film institute for the tribute to her son, who died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in New York in January. He was 28.

“We are immensely proud of him, not only for his professional achievements, but in the way he truly cherished his family, friends and his precious Matilda,” she said.

“Heath was never one to accept mediocrity, he put his heart and soul into achieving what he believed was required and followed his passions with great enthusiasm and an insatiable curiosity,” she added.

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AWARDS

These Emmy Awards are not a popularity contest

2008 Emmy scorecard

Click above for a complete list of this year’s honorees from the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards

By Scott Collins, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

September 22, 2008

When the 1960s period piece “Mad Men” won the Emmy for outstanding drama series at Sunday’s 60th annual Emmy Awards, it made history in at least two ways. It became the first basic-cable program to take top series honors. But it also added a more dubious mark: Compared with previous Emmy series winners, “Mad Men” is by far the least-watched, with an average of fewer than 1 million viewers tuning in during its first season last year. That’s a fraction of the audience of even NBC’s ever-ratings-challenged “30 Rock,” which again took the comedy prize this year.   (click on ‘Continue Reading’ for more)

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Emmys race comes down to old or new

It’s youth versus maturity. Change versus experience. A lot like our presidential race. The results could tell us plenty about what we value.

By Mary McNamara, Times Television Critic

September 21, 2008

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IT’S A race to decide what we value most: the vibrant and new or that which is mellow with experience. Shall we surrender to the seductive nature of callow youth or the guaranteed satisfaction that only maturity can provide?

Astonishingly enough, it would seem that the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on ABC tonight have managed to become part of the larger cultural conversation.

“Change” howled the Obama campaign from its infancy. “Experience” the Clinton supporters bellowed right back. And we know how that one turned out. Now we are in the midst of a campaign that redefines May-December relationships on both tickets while everyone grows hoarse debating the merits of record versus vision.   (click on ‘Continue Reading’ for more)

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Fans can win bleacher seats for 2009 Oscars

(AMPAS)

The Academy will put 300 seats up for grabs in an online lottery

Stargazers seeking an up-close glimpse of Hollywood’s royalty can win seats on Oscar night along the red carpet.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that 300 bleacher seats will be up for grabs in an online lottery.

Beginning at 9 a.m. PDT Monday, movie buffs can enter for a chance to win a seat in front of the Kodak Theater for the Oscars scheduled for Feb. 22. The lottery runs through 9 p.m. Sept. 28.

Applicants can register for up to four seats at www.oscars.org/bleachers.

In previous years, as many as 20,000 fans have applied online for the bleacher seats.

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Kathy Griffin wins another Schmemmy and ‘F—ing Matt Damon’ is still all the rage

Winning a second Emmy would normally be enough to get you off of the D-list, but taking home the trophy for best reality show will always be D-list. Right?

The Creative Arts Primetime Emmys were held Saturday night in Los Angeles, and Kathy Griffin, who’s dubbed them the “Schmemmys” because they’re given out before the actual Emmy broadcast (Sept. 21 this year), once again accepted the award for her Bravo series My Life on the D-List. According to Gold Derby by Tom O’Neil, she started her speech with “Well, well, well! Here we go again, f—ers. Here we go again!” (I still don’t get why she got in so much trouble last year.) Apparently, she and Cesar Millan weren’t the biggest stars in attendance for once. She continued: “Hanks, Gandolfini — what the f—! I’m not going to tell anyone to suck it. I would make love to this thing if I could.”

Speaking of making love, Sarah Silverman also accepted an award Saturday night for “I’m F—ing Matt Damon,” which earned an Emmy for its original music and lyrics. According to People, she acknowledged her ex gracefully: “Thanks to the person for whom this whole video was made: Jimmy Kimmel, who broke my heart — ohh, who’ll always have a place in my heart.”

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PRIMETIME

Emmy Nominations

‘Lost,’ ‘Boston Legal’ take top Emmy noms

“Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Wire” are among the snubs.

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

July 17, 2008

 
FX’s “Damages” and AMC’s “Mad Men” made history this morning when they became the first basic-cable series to earn Emmy nominations for best drama, edging out such favorites as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Wire.”

“Mad Men,” a stylish period drama set on Madison Avenue in the early advertising world of the 1960s, earned 16 nominations for the 60th annual Emmy Awards, including one for breakout star Jon Hamm for lead actor. The thrilling legal drama “Damages” garnered seven, including a best actress nod for star Glenn Close.

Joining them in the dramatic series category are “Boston Legal,” “Dexter” and “House.” “Lost” also earned a nod in this category, a comeback of sorts for the ABC show that many said had lost its way. In the comedy category, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage,” “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “Two and a Half Men” earned nominations.

HBO continued its domination in the nominations, earning 85, with 23 of those going to its lavish miniseries about the second U.S. president, “John Adams.” That production earned nods for best miniseries, lead actor for Paul Giamatti and lead actress for Laura Linney.

HBO also managed to dominate the category of lead actor in a miniseries or movie: All five of the nominees are from the pay-cable channel’s projects. In addition to Giamatti, the nominees are Ralph Fiennes for “Bernard and Doris,” Ricky Gervais for “Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale” and Kevin Spacey and Tom Wilkinson for “Recount.” (click on ‘Continue Reading’ for more…)

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2008 Tony Award Winners

(Sara Krulwich/The New York Times)

A complete list of winners of 2008 Tony Awards (denoted with a *), with links to the original New York Times reviews.

NEW YORK TIMES COVERAGE

CLICK ON ”Continue Reading” FOR THE AWARD WINNERS.

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