Laughter is the Ticket at a New Awards Show
Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another awards show, Comedy Central comes up with one that looks like a gas. It’s the first annual Comedy Awards, taping March 26 at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom and airing on April 10 on Comedy Central, VH1, Spike TV, CMT, TV Land, Logo and Nick At Nite. The nominees were just announced, and “30 Rock” leads the pack with seven nominations, followed by “Modern Family” and “The...
Treacherous Times for Female TV Reporters
These have been the worst of times for two female television news reporters, who in an ironic twist, are both employed by CBS. Both women are highly experienced broadcast journalists, one on the streets of Los Angeles, the other in world trouble spots. Both happen to be very attractive and if it matters, blonde. Both were working, one on camera, one off camera, when events spiraled beyond their control—and the women themselves,...
‘Inception’ Gets its Due; ‘Mad Men’ Strikes Gold Again
It’s pretty rare when an awards winner uses an acceptance speech to complain, but that’s exactly what Christopher Nolan did at the 2011 Writers Guild of America Awards. The writer and director of “Inception,” which made a huge splash last summer but has fallen off the awards season hot list, won the WGA Award for best original screenplay, but complained that nine years ago, his “Memento” was not eligible. Apparently he’s still a bit...
The Tartikoff Legacy Lives On
The legendary Brandon Tartikoff would’ve been thrilled at this year’s 8th Annual Legacy Awards presented in his name at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami during NATPE. Three of the four recipients had ties to the late Tartikoff. One, Dick Ebersol, was his one-time boss and best friend. Another, Gerhard Zeiler, was the first non-American given the honor–and as the head of European entertainment network RTL Group,...
Change of Scenery Brings Miami Heat to NATPE
A change of venue from the gaming tables of Sin City to the tropical breezes and Latin influence of Miami re-energized this year’s NATPE market and conference, headquartered at the beachfront Fontainebleau Resort. More than 4,500 attendees and 700 buyers descended on the hotel for three days of dealmaking, networking, information gathering and partying– something that has been sorely missing from the conference in recent...