Primetime Emmy Awards: The Past is Prelude to a ‘Bad’ Night in TV History
With the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards now down in the history books, the television industry’s highest honors will be remembered as an awards show that was all about “in with the old and out with the new.” With repeat program winners in the marquee drama and comedy series categories, it also turns out that every lead actor and actress whose name was announced for their work in those shows has other Emmys at home to keep their new ones...
VMA Moments and Memories: It’s Still All About Miley, and Beyonce
There was no “Miley Moment” akin to last year’s foam finger twerking brouhaha, so it turned out to be a tamer night at the 31st annual MTV Video Music Awards, held August 24 at the refurbished Forum in Inglewood as Lorde, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Cyrus, Nicki Minaj and Gwen Stefani all performed, presented or took home the coveted Moonmen. Oh, unless you count the moment where Cyrus sent a homeless man on...
Big Men: A Story of Greed and Corruption Unfolds When Big Money is at Stake
One of the things that POV on PBS, now in its 27th season, does best is showcasing the work of the world’s finest independent documentary filmmakers, and the upcoming “Big Men” is a prime example. Airing Monday, August 25 on PBS, the documentary is a nail-biting exposé of the global dealmaking and the dark underside of what happens when the US oil industry goes into Africa to drill. It becomes a contest for money and power that...
Emmy Governors Ball: An Electrifying Kaleidoscope of Celebratory Color
Imagine putting on a party for 3,000-4,000 people who happen to be television’s most talented and well-recognized in the industry. Then imagine doing it every year, managing all the moving parts and trying to top yourself. That’s the challenge that Cheryl Cecchetto and her company, Sequoia Productions takes on every year in producing the Governors Ball for the Emmy Awards. (And being the best in the business with a stellar track...
Giving it Away: Generosity is Golden and a 20-Year Tradition for the HFPA
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is famous for putting on the Golden Globe Awards every January, honoring excellence in both film and television. Program note: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are set to host again, for the third year running. But what that HFPA does not get as much publicity for is its extreme generosity in awarding grants, fellowships and scholarships every year to worthy organizations ranging from those supporting...