News

If you’ve been a bit bummed out by the dystopian storylines in film and television lately, you’re not alone — Seth MacFarlane readily agrees. That’s why he’s going out of his way to offer some hope.

Appearing on SiriusXM’s “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast hosted by Ted Danson this week, the “Family Guy” creator explained that he created his show “The Orville” specifically as an antidote to some of the bleaker stories onscreen nowadays.

“That’s why I did that show,” MacFarlane explained on Wednesday. “Because when I was a kid, Hollywood was providing that voice in various forms. There was a lot of hope, and we’re doing a really — you know, some of the blame lies right here in this town.”

“Like, the dishes that we are serving up are so dystopian and so pessimistic and yeah, there’s a lot to be pessimistic about,...

The final mystery of the missing cast members at SNL50 has been solved. Dana Carvey was sick as a dog. Dan Aykroyd claims he preferred watching at home with family instead of working. And now Bill Hader is telling Seth Meyers why he decided to stay away.

Actually, Meyers was the one who spilled the beans to America. “You were very open and honest after you left SNL about the anxiety you had when you were working there,” Meyers told Hader. “And then for the SNL 50th, I think people were obviously at first disappointed you weren't coming, but that was the reason.”

Hader has discussed his SNL panic attacks several times in the past. “There will be moments,” he once confessed to Ted Danson, “where I’m like, ‘Oh man, am I going to be known as the anxiety guy?’” He’s talked about fighting off terror in multiple sketches,...

The popular animated series American Dad! is making its way back to its original home, Fox, for the upcoming Season 22. The return comes after the show had aired on TBS for a little over a decade.

The animated series' future was likely to include its own feature film. However, ahead of its return to Fox next year, the animated series received a four-season renewal. Speaking with ComicBook, co-creator and executive producer Matt Weitzman gave a disappointing update about the movie, highlighting that they want to focus on the series until then.

"We got picked up for four more seasons," Weitzman responded to the possibility of a new American Dad! movie. "That gives us another 56 episodes to make. Maybe when it’s all said and done, there will be an American Dad! movie." He continued, I would be happy to announce and to make happen... at this stage, I think we...

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, the married actors and philanthropists, have been tapped by the board of governors of the TV Academy to receive its Bob Hope Humanitarian Award — in recognition of “a lifetime of extraordinary philanthropy, activism and unwavering commitment to global good” — during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 14.

The award, which is “given to an individual(s) in the media industry whose deeds and actions have a lasting impact on communities and whose philanthropic efforts exemplify Bob Hope’s decades-long altruism and positive impact on society,” has been presented on an irregular basis since 2002. Past recipients include Oprah Winfrey, Danny Thomas (posthumously), George Clooney and Sean Penn. Danson and Steenburgen, who have been married since 1995, are the first couple to receive it.

“Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen have long used their voices — and their hearts — to champion causes that uplift the planet and its people,...

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will receive the 2025 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 77th Emmy Awards. It’s the first time the award, which honors Hollywood philanthropists, will be presented to a couple.

Danson co-founded the American Oceans Campaign (Aoc) in 1987 to alert Americans to the life-threatening hazards created by oil spills, offshore developments, toxic wastes, sewage pollution and other ocean abuses. The Aoc merged with Oceana in 2001. Since then, Danson has served on Oceana’s board of directors and has testified before the House Committee on National Resources on behalf of the cause. Danson has also worked with and supported several other philanthropic organizations, including the Aspca, Climate U.S. Pac, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Malaria No More and Young Storytellers.

Steenburgen has collaborated with Artists for a Free South Africa, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Heifer International, No Kid Hungry and Oceana. She is also an...

On the heels of Primetime Emmy nominations, the Television Academy has announced that beloved actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award during the 77th Emmy Awards ceremony and telecast, airing on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.

The honor, established in 2002, is meant to recognize individuals whose humanitarian work reflects late comedian Bob Hope’s profound impact on society. The handful of past recipients include Oprah Winfrey, Danny Thomas (posthumously), George Clooney, and Sean Penn. This will be the first time the award will be presented to a couple — two luminaries whose offscreen legacy shines as bright as their decades of celebrated television work

As a couple, Danson and Steenburgen co-founded the nonprofit organization Angels at Risk with activist Susie Spain, which addresses the crisis of children, teenagers, and their families who are at risk for drug and alcohol abuse. Recently, the pair was also awarded the Nancy...

The Television Academy announced today that married actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will be honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2025 Emmys.

This prestigious trophy recognizes their lifelong dedication to philanthropy, activism, and making a positive impact around the globe. The duo will receive the award during the 77th Emmy ceremony, airing live on Sept. 14 on CBS. Nate Bargatze will host.

Fun fact: this marks the first time the honor has been given to a couple, celebrating two individuals whose off-screen contributions are just as important as their award-winning acting careers. Danson and Steenburgen married in 1995. They were most recently seen working together on many episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Established in 2002, the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is one of the Television Academy Board of Governors' highest honors. It's presented to talented individuals whose actions and charitable efforts mirror Bob Hope's long-standing altruism and positive societal influence.

Chris Pine, widely known for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, is boldly going where few live-action stars have gone before: into the animated chaos of American Dad! The show is now 20 years old, set to return for its 22nd installment soon, and it’s bringing in a high-wattage roster of guest stars, and Pine leads the pack. His involvement marks a major crossover of sci-fi royalty into one of Fox’s most enduring animated comedies, as American Dad! returns to its original network after a decade-long detour on TBS.

The announcement comes after the show's panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, 2025, as reported by Variety. Plus, American Dad!’s return to Fox, despite no longer getting to swear on-screen, seems like a calculated move, backed by a major four-season renewal that signals the network’s long-term investment in the series. Executive producer Matt Weitzman confirmed that...

With “American Dad!” returning to Fox — and broadcast television — the show’s producers admit they’re going to have to adjust to those broadcast standards. “The only thing that we’re gonna have to get used to is no longer being able to say ‘shit’ and ‘God damn it,'” executive producer Matt Weitzman told the audience at the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel on Saturday. “But you know what? We don’t have to find creative ways to be entertained.”

The show, entering its Season 20, recently received a whopping four-season order at Fox, alongside four-season renewals for “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” and “Bob’s Burgers” — all shows fomr 20th TV Animation. Fox originally launched the show in 2005, but after it canceled the show, TBS picked it up in 2014. After TBS opted not to renew it, Fox opted to take it back.

“I’m just super excited to be able...

Joining the intense race of the streaming era, streaming platforms like HBO Max boast a huge range of shows and movies. However, the more options, the harder it is to choose, but we are here to help you. Among the long range of shows spanning multiple seasons, we bring you some of the best feel-good shows that will be the perfect companion for you this weekend.

If you’re looking for something light and feel-good to get lost in this weekend, then these HBO Max hit shows are worth watching. From comedy and drama to horror and adventure, there’s enough of everything to turn your weekend into a joyful ride through some of the best feel-good shows on HBO Max.

10. Bored to Death (2009-2011) Bored to Death | Credit: HBO

If you’ve ever thought, “I could totally be a private detective,” after watching too many noir films, this show is for you.

Skip Brittenham, the powerful Hollywood attorney who represented clients including Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis and Eddie Murphy, died Thursday. He was 83.

Brittenham founded Ziffren Brittenham, which confirmed his death, with Ken Ziffren in 1978. He worked on major deals such as the launch of Pixar, David Ellison’s Skydance Media and Christopher Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment as well as the split of DreamWorks into two entities. The value of the deals he helped negotiate was said to be more than $1 billion annually. He also helped pioneer the famous “backend deal” with clients such as Henry Winkler, Ted Danson and Tom Selleck.

He had recently left Ziffren Brittenham and remained a partner emeritus.

Ziffren Brittenham represented numerous top entertainment clients including Drew Carey, Michael Keaton, Ridley Scott, Shawn Levy, Kevin Feige, Toby Emmerich, Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman.

Rothman, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, said, “Singular is an overused word: it...

Skip Brittenham, the forthright Hollywood attorney and power broker who represented A-listers from all corners of the industry, from Kevin Feige, Harvey Weinstein and Toby Emmerich to Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks and Eddie Murphy, died Thursday. He was 83.

“Everyone in our industry knew of Skip’s legal prowess,” Ziffren Brittenham Llc., which he founded in December 1978, said in a statement. “But some may not have known of his quiet generosity, his ability to find humor and opportunity in the darkest moments and his unwavering belief that media and the entertainment industry must serve people, not the other way around.” (Read the firm’s full statement here.)

A Hollywood Reporter “Legal Legend,” Brittenham launched the boutique firm Ziffren Brittenham with Ken Ziffren, and his clients over the years also included Richard Pryor, Tony and Ridley Scott, Joe Eszterhas, Glen A. Larson, Warren Littlefield, Ted Danson, Tom Selleck, Tim Allen, Bruce Willis,...

The 2025 Emmy Awards failed to recognize a number of longtime favorites with nominations, with past winners Squid Game, Elisabeth Moss, Jon Hamm, Ted Danson and past nominees Yellowjackets and Selena Gomez not nominated this year.

Squid Game, which won six Emmys including the top prize of best drama actor for Lee Jung-jae for its first season in 2022, saw its second season completely absent from this year’s nominations. The hit Netflix series’ third and final season will be eligible for next year’s awards.

Similarly, The Handmaid’s Tale was once so adored by Emmy voters that it received multiple nominations in 2019 solely off of hanging episodes. The adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s best-selling novel of the same name, which won best drama series for its first season in 2017, only scored one nomination for Cherry Jones’ guest role, leaving out the rest of its acclaimed cast, including star Moss, who also...

The Hangoverstar Ed Helms has recently spoken about how his mother cried watching the film for the first time. Along with Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis, Helms helped make this Todd Phillips classic one of the most popular comedies of the 2000s, as his characterization of the dentist Stu was an essential part of the movie’s wild dynamic.

Telling the story of a bachelor party gone wrong, The Hangover was a raunchy glimpse into the most outrageous side of human debauchery as a group of friends wake up to a missing groom with no memory of the night before. Given Helms’ conservative upbringing, he was understandably nervous about how his family would react. See Helms' full comments below.

“I grew up in a kind of a repressed Southern home. Politically, very progressive, but still a very socially conservative kind of environment.

And so ‘The Hangover’ is nuts. That’s...

Ed Helms certainly did not end up having the career that his parents envisioned for him. “The Hangover” — and its two sequels — are about as far from traditional, buttoned-up, family-friendly comedy as a movie can get, and this ran precisely counter to Helms’ upbringing, as he shared with host Ted Danson on the SiriusXM podcast “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.”

“I grew up in a kind of a repressed Southern home. Politically, very progressive, but still a very socially conservative kind of environment,” Helms said (via Variety). “And so ‘The Hangover’ is nuts. That’s not what they raised me to do, to be in a movie like ‘The Hangover.’ So my parents — at that point they’d seen me do crazy stuff on ‘The Daily Show’ and ‘The Office’ — and so there was some sort of acceptance already, but, still, I was nervous for my parents to see ‘The Hangover.'”

Helms,...

Larry David is returning to television, and he's bringing a former U.S. president with him.

HBO has ordered an untitled half-hour sketch comedy limited series from David, who starred in, wrote, and produced Curb Your Enthusiasm for the premium cable network between 1999 and 2024. Barack Obama's Higher Ground production company is executive producing the new project, which is being billed as an American history sketch comedy.

Details are still emerging about David and Obama's HBO collaboration, so read on for everything we know so far.

What's it about?

The sketch series will focus on U.S. history, which is where the 44th president's expertise comes in. "President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America's 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion," HBO teases. "But then Larry David called."

Who's in the cast?

HBO has revealed that cast members and noteworthy guest...

Past winners like “Hacks” and “The Bear” will battle newcomers like “The Studio,” legends will be bypassed in favor of upstarts, and “The White Lotus” will try its best to hog the supporting actor and actress categories one more time.

That’s the outlook for the 77th Primetime Emmy Award nominations, which will be announced on Tuesday morning by Harvey Guillen and Brenda Song. With the number of entries in many categories slipping for the second year in a row, Television Academy rules dictate that the number of nominees will also drop, leading to pitched battles for the remaining slots and inevitable cries of “Snub!” when the nominations are revealed.

Our stab at prognostication suggests that “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Hacks,” “Shrinking” and “The Studio” will all do well in the marquee comedy categories; “The Pitt,” “Severance” and “The White Lotus” will be among the most-nominated dramas; and that “Adolescence” will top “The Penguin,...

Ed Helms is recalling how nervous he was for his “very socially conservative” parents to see 2009’s The Hangover.

The actor recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, where he looked back at the R-rated comedy that also starred Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis.

“I grew up in kind of a repressed Southern home. Politically, very progressive, but still a very socially conservative kind of environment,” Helms explained to host Ted Danson. “And so The Hangover is nuts. That’s not what they [his parents] raised me to do, to be in a movie like The Hangover.“

“So my parents — at that point they’d seen me do crazy stuff on The Daily Show and The Office — and so there was some sort of acceptance already, but, still, I was nervous for my parents to see The Hangover. I was like 35 when that movie came out, and I...

David L. Hamilton, who co-founded and played keyboards for the prog-rock group Pavlov’s Dog before pivoting to a composing career and earning an Emmy nom, has died. He was 74.

A rep for the family said he died June 20 but not give provide a cause or place of death.

Born on May 4, 1951, in St. Louis, Hamilton studied classical piano while attending Macalester College in St. Paul before attended the University of Stirling in Scotland on an English lit exchange fellowship. While there he continued studying piano at at the Royal Academy of Music in Edinburgh.

After returning to St. Louis, he co-founded Pavlov’s Dog, a seven-piece progressive rock band with which he would record a pair of albums for Columbia Records. The group toured with the likes of Journey, Elo and Kraftwerk but couldn’t break through commercially. Its albums Pampered Menial (1975) and At the Sound of the Bell (1976) did sell in Australia,...

Ed Helms recently stopped by SiriusXM’s “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast, hosted by Ted Danson, and remembered how nervous he was for his parents to see “The Hangover,” Todd Phillips’ 2009 R-rated comedy blockbuster, which paired Helms with Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis. Helms said his upbringing made a movie like “The Hangover” an absolutely nuts choice for his family.

“I grew up in a kind of a repressed Southern home. Politically, very progressive, but still a very socially conservative kind of environment,” Helms said. “And so ‘The Hangover’ is nuts. That’s not what they raised me to do, to be in a movie like ‘The Hangover.’ So my parents — at that point they’d seen me do crazy stuff on ‘The Daily Show’ and ‘The Office’ — and so there was some sort of acceptance already, but, still, I was nervous for my parents to see ‘The Hangover....

Ted Danson once admitted that it was sometimes hard to be in the same room as Shelley Long — unfortunate since they were co-stars on Cheers. Rhea Perlman was more diplomatic when she discussed working with Long on Watch What Happens Live a few years ago, but she essentially co-signed on Danson’s assessment.

Andy Cohen, who never met a piece of juicy showbiz gossip he didn’t devour, asked Perlman if the rumors were true: Did Long really have “so much friction” with the rest of the cast?

“Yeah,” Perlman replied without hesitation.

Then she softened her answer. “There was a little bit,” admitted the actress who played Carla Tortelli for 11 seasons. “She left, and then we had Kirstie (Alley), and life moved on.”

Wasn’t it difficult to continue the show without Long, who won an Emmy and two Golden Globe awards for playing elitist snob Diane Chambers? “People...

Ed Helms admitted that because he was raised in a “repressed Southern home,” he was worried to show his parents “The Hangover.”

While talking with Ted Danson on the “Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast, Helms explained that he grew up juggling a complicated relationship with comedy due to his upbringing. Thankfully, the art form was something that got him through some more “toxic” aspects of his childhood.

“I think that has a much more complicated origin in growing up in a very sort of repressed Southern home with some toxic elements to it and comedy being a kind of way out of tough situations, or a way to handle tough people or a way to fix things,” Helms said. “My dad was a very complicated guy, who was brilliant and had some demons, but he was also insanely funny.”

The “Office” alum had found comedic success by his 30s, but...

Wolf Kasteler has two new senior vice presidents.

The bicoastal public relations and consulting firm has promoted Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes in the agency’s Los Angeles and New York offices, respectively. With their new senior vp titles, the pair will be charged with partnering across teams to help shape strategy, guide emerging talent and support operational procedures while working alongside vice presidents Lauren Appel, Christa Dallas, Caryn Leeds and Annick Oppenheim.

In a joint statement, Wolf Kasteler partners Annett Wolf and Annick Muller said, “They’ve consistently brought passion, strategy and unwavering commitment to our clients — leading major campaigns and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. This promotion reflects the trust they’ve earned from us, our clients and the industry.”

Jenkins started her career by working in global branding at ICM in 2010. She moved to ID-pr in 2011, and segued to a position at Wolf Kasteler two years later.

Wolf Kasteler has promoted veteran publicists Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes to senior VPs in the agency’s Los Angeles and New York offices, respectively.

Partners Annett Wolf and Annick Muller announced the news, saying of Jenkins and Hayes: “They’ve consistently brought passion, strategy, and unwavering commitment to our clients — leading major campaigns and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. This promotion reflects the trust they’ve earned from us, our clients, and the industry.”

Founded by Wolf in 1989 and joined by partner Lisa Kasteler in 1991, Wolf Kasteler represents top-tier artists, film and television content, awards consulting and corporate clients. In 2018, Muller was elevated to senior partner, joining Wolf and recently retired partner Kasteler.

In their new roles, Jenkins and Hayes will take on expanded leadership responsibilities — partnering across teams to help shape agency strategy, emerging talent and support operations alongside the existing VPs, including Lauren Appel,...

Public relations and consulting firm Wolf Kasteler has elevated Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes to SVP in the agency’s Los Angeles and New York offices, respectively.

“We are incredibly proud to announce the promotion of Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes to Senior Vice President,” said Annett Wolf and Annick Muller, Partners at Wolf Kasteler. “They’ve consistently brought passion, strategy, and unwavering commitment to our clients — leading major campaigns and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. This promotion reflects the trust they’ve earned from us, our clients, and the industry.”

As SVPs, Jenkins and Hayes will take on expanded leadership duties — partnering across teams to help shape agency strategy, emerging talent, and support operational excellence alongside the existing VPs which includes Lauren Appel, Christa Dallas, Caryn Leeds and Annick Oppenheim.

Jenkins began her career in Global Branding at ICM in 2010, and moved to Idpr in 2011 before joining...

Days of Our Lives spoilers suggest the land of Salem wouldn’t be the same without its beloved mayor, Paulina Price, played by Jackée Harry.

With that said, Ms. Harry will be a very busy bee pulling double duty as she’ll appear on both Dool, the Netflix comedy hit, A Man on the Inside. More details below.

Jackée Harry’s Streaming Service Stint

Before Harry dominated the world of soaps, she was in TV comedy series like Sister, Sister and 227. Now, she’ll appear in a guest role on A Man on the Inside, starring Ted Danson.

According to Deadline, Harry will be a part of Season 2, and while the character she’s playing is being kept a secret, the report reveals Harry could possibly return to the show if it is renewed for Season 3.

There’s also no information on how many episodes Harry will participate in...

Before Jackée Harry ever hit Days of Our Lives, she starred in hit TV comedies like 227 and Sister, Sister. And since entering the soap world, she has continued to appear in projects outside the daytime universe. Now comes word that she’s joining the cast of a successful Netflix comedy starring Ted Danson. Here’s what we know…

Jackée Joins Man on the Inside

Deadline was the first to report that Harry will guest star in the second season of Netflix’s A Man on the Inside. The comedy stars Ted Danson, who plays “a retired man who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a Pi and becomes a mole in a secret investigation.”

The details of Harry’s character are being kept under wraps. However, Deadline states that the actress could potentially return should the show get renewed for a third season.

Ted Danson revealed that he was initially reluctant to cast a certain actress in a critical role on Cheers. The main cast of Cheers is so etched in stone at this point that it's hard to imagine any other actor stepping into one of the roles that helped make the 11-season series become a fixture of network comedy.

Every actor in Cheers was perfect for their character, and the tremendous amount of chemistry on display between every character configuration was remarkable. However, Danson said that he was initially wary of casting Shelley Long as Diane Chambers (via EW). He said on his podcast in a conversation with Helen Hunt,

"I looked at Shelley Long when we were auditioning for Cheers. I went, 'No, no, no. Do not hire her. It'll ruin the show.' She made the show. She came out hitting a home run, day one... We were so different.

“Days of our Lives” star Jackée Harry (Paulina Price-Carver) will appear as a guest star on the Netflix comedy “A Man on the Inside,” starring Ted Danson (“Cheers”), when it returns for Season 2 later this year on the streaming service.

While details on the character she’ll be playing are being kept under wraps, Deadline, which first reported the news, says that Harry could return for more episodes should the show be renewed for a third season.

Based on the documentary “The Mole Agent,” which received an Oscar nomination in 2021 for Best Documentary Feature, the series follows retiree Charles (Danson), who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a Pi and becomes a mole in a secret investigation.

Per Deadline, Season 2 of the show will follow an anthology format with Charles tackling a new case each season. In Season 2, he’ll go undercover at a college as a guest lecturer,...

Exclusive: Emmy winner Jackée Harry (227) is set for a guest-starring role on Season 2 of Netflix’s comedy A Man on the Inside, starring Ted Danson.

Created by Mike Schur, A Man on the Inside centers on Charles (Danson), a retired man who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a Pi and becomes a mole in a secret investigation.

Harry’s role is being kept under wraps. She could potentially return in Season 3.

The series is taking on an anthology format, with Charles tackling a new case each season. In Season 1, he went undercover at a retirement home. Season 2 will see him sleuthing at a liberal arts college, sources said.

The new destination was telegraphed at the end of Season 1 when Charles, a retired college engineering professor, started offering his services as a guest lecturer.

A Man on the Inside is based on The Mole Agent,...

Possessor of one of the finest chins in existence, Ted Danson has been a heartthrob for decades now with no sign of stopping.

Nowadays, he hosts a podcast, which I think should be reserved for those of us who don’t, well, look like Ted Danson. Nevertheless, he and his Cheers co-star Woody Harrelson take to the mic to interview friends in film and further. Given their history and the fact that the podcast is called Where Everybody Knows Your Name, discussion of the Cheers days is anything but off-limits. Even though we all know that if anyone from Cheers was going to launch a podcast, it would clearly have been Cliff. You know he'd be recording live from a studio he called the Clave Cave.

Recently, Danson had Helen Hunt on the podcast, and when the conversation came around to casting, of course they discussed the pitch-perfect casting of...

Cheersran for 11 seasons on NBC from 1982 to 1992. While the cast was a big part of the show's success, Ted Danson recalls worrying that one of his co-stars was not the right fit for the sitcom.

Speaking on his Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast alongside guest Helen Hunt, Danson opened up about his initial concerns about Shelley Long's casting. "I looked at Shelley Long when we were auditioning for Cheers. I went, 'No, no, no. Do not hire her. It'll ruin the show,'" he said via Entertainment Weekly. The actor went on to admit that his first impression of his co-star was wrong. "She made the show. She came out hitting a home run [on] day one. We were so different... Grew to love her, absolutely. But different. It was hard for us to sit around and just talk. But when we got in front of a camera, it was like a prize fight.

Ted Danson and Fred Armisen commiserated this week about jokes that they thought were funny, but a live audience disagreed. “This must have happened to you all the time at Saturday Night Live,” Danson told Armisen during a recent episode of the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast.

It’s a dilemma familiar to anyone who has performed live comedy, whether it’s stand-up, sketch or acting in a TV comedy. “All week long on Cheers, we would rehearse, and there was (a series of jokes) that we could barely get through. We would be rolling on the ground. It was so funny,” Danson remembered.

But then the hammer drops. “Audience comes, here comes the moment, and you could hear a pin drop,” he explained. “Instead of being horrified, it’s the funniest thing because your body is all of a sudden plummeting to earth.”

“You feel it in your stomach,...

For much of the 20th century, if an up-and-coming actor was eying a movie career, taking a prominent role in a television series could be perilous. While it may be hard to believe now, there was a time when film was considered a far more prestigious line of work than getting beamed into the living rooms of viewers all over the world. Obviously, breaking through in television wasn't an automatic death knell, but familiarity could breed a fixed set of expectations. Ted Danson could've been a huge movie star, but after a few seasons of brilliant work in "Cheers" all people could see was Sam Malone. Tom Selleck, the man who almost was Indiana Jones, faced similar struggles as he tried to break free of his "Magnum P.I." persona.

So, when Tom Hanks, after making his bones as a performer in the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio,...

Ted Dansonbrought Sam Malone to life on Cheers, the long-running sitcom that allowed fans to fall in love with patrons of the titular bar. When a woman named Diane (Shelley Long) comes in needing a job, Sam eventually comes to realize that he has feelings for her. Sam and Diane's relationship is one that fans cling to; a staple of sitcom history. But Danson revealed on his podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, that he originally did not want Long to take on the role of Diane. Danson also admits that he was wrong.

Danson was talking about Long when he revealed that, while on Cheers, his opinion on things was often ignored because everyone knew that he was wrong about it. "I had the reputation on Cheers where if I suggested something, pretty much – this is not self-deprecating humor or false humility – I was dead wrong. And if they did the opposite,...

The Emmy Awards 2025 have opened up the window for casting their ballots for nominees, and competition is stiff across all categories. Despite many shows returning post-strike, there were reportedly less number of contenders submitted to the Emmys this year in the Best Lead Actor Comedy category, resulting in a nominee cap of only five this year.

With fewer nomination spots this year, the competition seems to be stiff, as 51 actors will be competing for five spots at the Emmys this year. The submissions are diverse, but it seems to be even more difficult for newbies to crack it this year. Previous winner Jeremy Allen White from The Bear (is that still a comedy?) has returned, but it might not be a walk-in for him this time. So, who will we be seeing on the ballots this year?

Emmy Awards 2025 Predictions: What to Expect in the Best Lead Actor Comedy Race...

With the Emmy Awards 2025 just a few months away, the tradition of predicting the anticipated contenders and winners of television’s most prestigious honors is once again in full swing. With the long-beloved shows joined by several new exciting additions, there is surely no shortage of contenders across various genres and categories.

Among the many, one of the most anticipated categories remains Best Comedy Series, honoring shows that bring a flood of emotions to their viewers, including joy through laughter, heart, and occasional depth. And the following are the ones that have fared a little better at this task than others this year, and could be the leading contenders for Best Comedy Series at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Emmy Awards 2025 Predictions: What to Expect in the Best Comedy Drama Race… The Bear | Credit: Hulu

With the blend of tonal innovations in comedy and heartfelt drama, the race for Best...

Over the past few months of Emmy campaigning, Gold Derby has spoken with several contenders in all categories. Now with voting underway ahead of the July 15 unveiling of the nominees, we have compiled 10 interviews for stars vying for Best Comedy Actor, including: Brian Jordan Alvarez (English Teacher), Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside), David Alan Grier (St. Denis Medical), Luke Kirby (Étoile), Danny McBride (The Righteous Gemstones), David Oyelowo (Government Cheese), Seth Rogen (The Studio), Jason Segel (Shrinking), and Saagar Shaikh (Deli Boys).

Read on for highlights from each interviews and links to watch our full video Q&As.

Brian Jordan Alvarez (English Teacher)

The creator, writer, director, and star for the FX comedy series plays Evan Marquez, an English teacher in Austin, Texas, navigating the complex sociopolitical climate of high school and his personal life, specifically his on-again, off-again boyfriend Malcolm (Jordan Firstman...

Ted Lasso has become a cult classic on Apple TV+ all thanks to its brilliant writers and showrunner, who thought of the interesting script and decided to bring forward a story about love and healing, and growth that needed to be told.

One man who has contributed immensely to this process is Brett Goldstein. He not only plays a pivotal character on the show, but is also one of the key writers on it, making him fully involved in the creative process of the show. In a recent interview with Ted Danson on Team Coco, Goldstein talks about the magical phone call that changed the trajectory of his career.

The leap of faith that took Brett Goldstein into the Ted Lasso writer’s room

It indeed comes as no surprise that Brett Goldstein’s journey to stardom has been anything but conventional. Though he entered the industry years ago as...

Ted Danson has 18 Emmy nominations to his name, 14 of which are in Best Comedy Actor. If that sounds like a lot, it is. He holds the record for the most nominations in the category — a record he could extend if he scores his 15th bid this year with A Man on the Inside.

Danson, who won Best Comedy Actor for Cheers in 1990 and 1993, previously shared the record at 11 nominations with Alan Alda and Kelsey Grammer for 14 years before nabbing his 12th nomination in 2018 for The Good Place. He racked up two more in 2019 and 2020 for the NBC comedy to put more distance between them.

Alda was the first person bag 11 Best Comedy Actor nominations, all for M*A*S*H, winning in 1974 and 1982. Danson was also nominated for all 11 seasons of Cheers. After debuting Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers, for which he earned two supporting actor bids, Grammer starred on Frasier for 11 years,...

A big reason why Cheers became such a massive hit with ‘80s audiences — apart from giving viewers the vicarious thrill of hanging out in a windowless bar for 22 minutes — was the Sam and Diane relationship. The will-they-won’t-they romance between a former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher and an overly pretentious grad student became the stuff of TV comedy gold.

And a big reason why the offbeat pairing worked so well was the lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry between Ted Danson and Shelley Long. Not every pairing of actors could sell both earnest love scenes and episodes that required going full Three Stooges on one another.

But Long never would have been cast in the role had Danson gotten his way. On a recent episode of Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, the Becker star hosted guest Andy Richter and, at one point, the two discussed the process of collaborating on comedy shows.

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2025 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 12 to June 23, with the official Emmy nominations announced Tuesday, July 15. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 18 and ends the night of August 27. The 77th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 14, and air live on CBS at 8:00 p.m. Et/ 5:00 p.m. Pt.

The State of the Race

There are a couple categories that are brutal this year because they lost one nomination slot, and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series is one of them. Funny enough, the whole reason the category had six nomination slots last year was because there was a tie. That is not something contenders can count on, though it is...

Brooklyn Decker is 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm) tall and wears a shoe size 9 (US). The American actress, recognized for her roles in movies like “Just Go With It” and “Battleship,” towers over many of her counterparts in the industry.

Brooklyn Decker, standing 5ft 9 (175.3 cm), edges out June Diane Raphael, who measures 5ft 8 ½ (174 cm), as they pose together, showcasing their close height difference (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)

Brooklyn Decker on Towering Over Jennifer Aniston in Just Go With It

To put it in perspective, in a 2011 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Decker amusingly remarked on her height difference with Friends actress Jennifer Aniston, saying, “She’s [Jennifer Aniston] tiny! She’s so little, but then I’m like 5ft 9ins so I’m a giant compared to most people, but she’s so little and petite and the cutest thing”.

Brooklyn Decker and Jennifer Aniston starred together in the 2011 American romantic comedy film Just Go with It.

After “Shrinking” star Jason Segel wrapped nine seasons of the multi-cam sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” in 2014, he decided he wanted to break out of his comedy mold. But Segel said he was met with resistance from the industry.

“[It] was like a decade of being on one show and doing a bunch of romantic comedies and stuff, I decided I wanted to see if I was good at dramas, and so I, like, dove in hard,” Segel said during THR’s Comedy Actor Roundtable. And I thought, ‘Look out world. Here comes me doing drama.’ And it turns out nobody gives a shit.”

Then he did the 2015 film “The End of the Tour,” where he played the late novelist David Foster Wallace, which earned Segel excellent reviews. Richard Lawson wrote in Vanity Fair, “Segel handles Wallace’s intricate, discursive speech with remarkable dexterity, putting Wallace’s brilliant, troubled mind...

Ted Dansonand The Good Placecreator Mike Schur teamed up again for the Netflix series A Man on the Insideand fans praised Season 1. When a retired professor named Charles (Danson) gets hired to investigate a retirement home, not everything goes to plan, but he does find a new lease on life. Part of that new lease for Season 2 is going to be a new love interest for Charlie, played by Danson's real-life wife, Mary Steenburgen. And while on a recent episode of his podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, Danson spoke about working with Steenburgen again.

“It's just magical,” the former star of Cheerssaid of Steenburgen. “We're falling in love. The story evolves, but I'm just head over heels. My character is in love with her, and to sit there on camera and look into your wife's eyes — and we're nauseatingly in love in private life — and just disappear into her...

Stick the stars of six top comedies around a table for an hour, and it becomes increasingly impossible to keep composure. At least, that was the case for The Hollywood Reporter’s latest Comedy Actor Emmy roundtable, featuring Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside), John Mulaney (Everybody’s Live), Seth Rogen (The Studio), Jason Segel (Shrinking) and Julio Torres (Fantasmas).

The rollicking conversation hit on topics as far ranging as the ways in which they’ve been typecast — the schlubby stoner type (Rogen), the confident nerd (Brody), the “soulless wooden boy who’s fast on his feet” (Mulaney) — to the “dream roles” they didn’t land. (Spoiler: Brody fought hard for Blues Clues.) They also talked in earnest about the most challenging period in their careers and swapped tales about the most baffling creative notes they’ve ever received.

At one point, the six...

George Wendt was one of the most talented, legendary actors the industry has ever seen. His role as Norm Peterson, the witty, beer-chugging guy on Cheers with a massive tab, became a familiar friend to the millions of viewers watching. When the actor died on May 20, 2025, many tributes came rolling in from his family, the Cheers cast, friends, and even fans who considered him an on-screen friend. Some shared how they reacted when they first heard the somber news, including Ted Lasso star Brett Goldsteinand Wendt's castmate (and close friend) Ted Danson, who talked about it on the latest episode of the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent on the Apple TV+ series, revealed that he was with co-star Jason Sudeikis (Wendt's nephew) when the actor received the news. "I was with Jason in the Ted Lasso writers' room when the news came in,...

Mary Steenburgen is playing her Irl husband Ted Danson‘s love interest on A Man on the Inside!

In March, it was announced that Mary will be joining the second season of the Netflix comedy show. Now, Ted is revealing more details about the nature of her character.

“It’s just magical. We’re falling in love. The story evolves, but I’m just head over heels. My character is in love with her, and to sit there on camera and look into your wife’s eyes — and we’re nauseatingly in love in private life — and just disappear into her eyes in front of a camera is pretty astounding,” he said while on a recent episode of his “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast.

Keep reading to find out more…

“By the way, if we suck, it’s her fault. I just want to go on the record,” he jokingly added.

A star-studded lineup of talent returned for the new season of Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter.

The Emmy-nominated series debuted new episodes in May and June on IFC that were available to stream the same day on AMC+.

Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter showcases five categories of Emmy contenders, featuring themed episodes for Drama Actress, Drama Actor, Comedy Actress, Comedy Actor and Stand-Up. Moderated by THR’s Lacey Rose and Mikey O’Connell, the series is known for its sharp, unfiltered roundtable format, delivering honest, insightful and often hilarious conversations about the craft and chaos of working in television. But what truly sets Off Script apart is its unmatched ability to curate a who’s who of Hollywood who rarely, if ever, share the same stage.

Closely timed with each episode’s premiere, THR released digital covers, in-depth features, and full video cuts of each roundtable on THR.

If you wanted an immersive awards voter experience — something like snapping a selfie with Oz Cobb’s gleaming purple Maserati from The Penguin or strolling the stately grounds of Pasadena’s grand Huntington Library before listening in on a chat with The Diplomat’s Keri Russell and Allison Janney, or perhaps cracking up as comedian Patton Oswalt hilariously peppering Tony Gilroy and the Andor cast with uber-nerdy questions — the 2025 FYC season had a little something for just about everyone.

Even with all the chatter about how tight-belted Hollywood’s TV networks and streamers must be right now, budgets for voter-influencing soirees featuring the stars and creators of the medium’s top series remained decidedly robust this spring, with a flurry of stunt-minded occasions designed to be memorable enough to linger in the mind as Emmy voters mark their ballots this week.

The vast majority of the events were built on...