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With 91 submissions, this year's Best Limited/Movie Directing category at the Emmys will have six finalists when the nominations are announced Tuesday.

There are two series that were directed by a single person and thus had to submit the entire projects: Adolescence, directed by Philip Barantini, and Disclaimer, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Both are virtually guaranteed to make the Emmy lineup. The Netflix psychological crime drama, whose episodes are each filmed in one single take, is currently projected to win Best Limited Series, while the Apple TV+ program has the four-time Oscar winner behind the camera, and is filled with striking images and beautiful cinematography.

Alfonso CuarónRob Latour/Variety

For the other contending limited series, the submissions have ranged from one (Dying for Sex and Say Nothing) to four installments (The Penguin and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story). While single submissions are a wise strategy to prevent splitting the vote,...

HBO will submit four cast members from The Penguin for Emmy consideration, Gold Derby has confirmed.

Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobb, aka the Penguin, is entering the Best Movie/Limited Series Actor category, as expected. Earlier this awards season, the Irish actor prevailed at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and Screen Actors Guild Awards for playing the villainous DC Comics character. A victory at the Emmys would complete his sweep of top awards. A former Oscar nominee for The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), this would be his first career Emmy bid.

Cristin Milioti as Sofia Gigante (née Falcone) is being submitted for Best Movie/Limited Series Actress. She won the Critics Choice Award for this role, but lost at the Golden Globes to Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country) and at the SAG Awards to Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer). Milioti could receive her first two career Emmy noms this year,...

Exclusive: HBO‘s limited series The Penguin has revealed its game plan for the upcoming Emmy race.

Colin Farrell will vie for Best Actor for playing Oswald “Oz’ Cobb while Cristin Milioti will enter the contest for Best Actress after her memorable turn as Sofia Falcone.

The limited series created by Lauren LeFranc will enter the Outstanding Limited Series category, while LeFranc will also compete in writing.

Two other actors from the limited series will enter the Emmy race, as well. Rhenzy Feliz, who played Oz’s devoted right hand Victor, will enter the Supporting Actor category, while Deirdre O’ Connell, who played Oz’s mom Francis, will go for Supporting Actress.

Craig Zobel, Helen Shaver, Kevin Bray and Jennifer Getzinger will vie for directing episodes 101 (“After Hours”), 104 (“Cent’anni”), 107 (“Top Hat”) and 108 (“A Great or Little Thing”), respectively.

Cindy Tolen and Suzanne Ryan will compete in casting. DPs Darran Tiernan,...

Meghan Markle originally didn’t think she was going to get the role of Rachel Zane on Suits.

On Tuesday’s episode of the “Sidebar” podcast, Suits creator Aaron Korsh and producing director Kevin Bray gave inside knowledge of how they chose to cast Rachel, who had to be “both strong, beautiful, and likable.”

Keep reading to find out more…

“[Meghan] came in at Tribeca, and she read for us, and everybody was just done. It’s 4:00 in the afternoon, and I was like, do you guys see her? I ran out and got her, brought her back in, and I think I said, ‘Charm them,’ or some little note,” Aaron said of the future Duchess of Sussex.

“I remember. She thought she blew it and was not gonna get a callback, and then she was wrong. It was a difficult role to cast, and I think we knocked it out of the park,...

Mikey Madison as Ani and Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan in ‘Anora’ (Courtesy of Neon)

Hot off the film’s Critics Choice Awards Best Picture win, Anora‘s Sean Baker took home his first DGA Awards win in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film category. Winners of the 77th Annual DGA Awards were announced on February 8th at a ceremony hosted by filmmaker Judd Apatow in Beverly Hills.

In addition to the competitive categories, Ang Lee was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Unit Production Manager Mary Rae Thewlis earned the Robert B. Aldrich Service Award. Unit Production Manager Thomas J. Whelan was recognized with the Frank Capra Achievement Award.

“I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational, and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of...

With Oscar nominations firmly set and multiple guild award shows every week between now and the big show in March, the race to the Academy Awards has entered its final leg. This weekend is a crucial one for award watchers, with the Producers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America both giving out their annual prizes at ceremonies that could predict the Best Picture and Best Director race.

The 77th annual DGA Awards, which took place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, February 8, honored the year’s finest achievements in feature filmmaking, episodic TV, and commercial directing. The evening’s top prize, Theatrical Feature Film, went to Sean Baker for “Anora,” while other nominees included Jacques Audiard (“Emilia Pérez”), Edward Berger (“Conclave”), Brady Corbet (“The Brutalist”), and James Mangold (“A Complete Unknown”).

It remains to be seen what Baker’s big win means for his Oscar campaign — but last...

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In the age of modern television, there's nothing quite like "Suits." It was a popular show that had a healthy nine season run on USA Network, even generating a short-lived spin-off in the form of "Pearson." Then, years later, "Suits" found new life out of nowhere on Netflix as viewers began binge-watching the show, many for the first time. It's truly one of the weird little miracles of the streaming era. It also means that more recent viewers have lingering questions. For one, what the heck was the deal with the can opener?

One of the running gags in the show involves Gabriel Macht's Harvey and Sarah Rafferty's Donna. For the duo, a can opener was regularly employed as part of a pre-trial ritual. Yet, it was never fully explained in the show itself. It seemed very random and raised eyebrows.

Updated with film nominees, 10:48 Am: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Perez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Golden Globe winner Brady Corbet (The Brutalist) and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown) are the nominees for the DGA Awards’ marquee Theatrical Film Award announced Wednesday by the Directors Guild of America.

Among the awards-season hopefuls who didn’t make the cut are Wicked helmer Jon M. Chu, Dune: Part Two’s Denis Villeneuve and The Substance‘s Coralie Fargeat.

The rookie directors up for the DGA’s First-Time Theatrical Feature Film prize are Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light), Megan Park (My Old Ass), RaMell Ross (Nickel Boys), Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel (Armand) and Sean Wang (Dìdi).

Winners will be announced at the 77th annual DGA Awards on February 8 at The Beverly Hilton.

Previously, January 7: The Directors Guild of America today revealed the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and...

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has announced the list of TV nominees for its 77th Annual DGA Awards. The list shows some of the best work that streaming services and traditional networks have done in various areas, such as limited series, variety shows, reality shows, and children’s programs.

HBO’s “The Penguin” has received three nominations in the Movies for Television and Limited Series category, making it a strong candidate. People praised directors Kevin Bray, Jennifer Getzinger, and Helen Shaver for their work on shows such as “Top Hat,” “A Great or Little Thing,” and “Cent’anni.”

Steven Zaillian and Alfonso Cuarón are two well-known filmmakers who stand out in other areas. You can vote for Zaillian to direct Netflix’s “Ripley,” and you can vote for Cuarón to direct Apple TV+’s “Disclaimer.” These nominations show how streaming services are becoming more important in elite TV directing.

There...

The Directors Guild of America has named the nominees for its 2024 awards in the outstanding directorial achievement in television, commercials and documentary categories. “Shogun,” “The Bear” and “The Penguin” all lead with three nominations each.

The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.

Nominees for film and the Michael Apted award for first-time theatrical feature film will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Here are this year’s TV nominees:

***

Dramatic Series

Alex Graves, The Diplomat, “Dreadnought” (Netflix)

Hiromi Kamata, Shōgun, “Ladies of the Willow World” (FX)

Issa Lopez, True Detective: Night Country, “Part 6” (HBO)

Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Mari Jo Winkler; First Assistant Director: Richard Graysmark

Frederick E.O. Toye, Shōgun, “Crimson Sky” (FX)

Jonathan Van Tulleken, Shōgun, “Anjin” (FX)

***

Comedy Series

Lucia Aniello, Hacks, “Bulletproof” (Max)

Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Chris R. Robinson...

Shōgun, The Bear, and The Penguin led Tuesday’s 2025 Directors Guild of America Awards nominations in the TV, commercial, and documentary categories.

In drama, Shōgun took up three of the five spots for the episodes “Anjin,” “Crimson Sky, and “Ladies of the Willow World.” They face “Dreadnought” from The Diplomat and “Part 6” from True Detective: Night Country. DGA rules stipulate that anthology series, such as True Detective, must compete in either the drama or comedy categories, not limited as they are allowed to do at the Emmys.

The comedy lineup features triple episodes from The Bear: “Doors,” “Tomorrow,” and “Napkins,” the last of which was helmed by Ayo Edebiri. The other nominees are “Bulletproof” from Hacks and “No Lessons Learned” from Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Three was the magic number apparently because The Penguin also scored three nominations in the the limited series/TV movie category for the episodes “Cent’anni,...

“Shōgun,” “The Bear,” and “The Penguin” were each nominated for three DGA Awards on Tuesday, when the program also recognized its nominees for the Best Documentary directors of the year, selecting the behind-the-camera work for “Porcelain War,” “Sugarcane,” “Daughters,” “Hollywoodgate,” and “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat.”

The full list of this first wave of DGA nominees can be found below.

The remaining nominees for Feature Film and the Michael Apted Award for First-Time Theatrical Feature Film will be announced tomorrow, January 8. The 77th DGA Awards will be held on February 8.

FX’s “Shōgun” and Max’s “Hacks” brought home trophies at Sunday’s Golden Globes; Colin Farrell won for his starring role on “The Penguin.”

Last year, “Succession” earned four of the five directing nominations in the DGA’s Drama Series category, but those episodes split the vote and the series lost out to the sole nomination for “The Last of Us...

“Shōgun” and “The Bear” are among the leaders in nominations by the Directors Guild of America, which announced its TV and documentary nominations on Tuesday.

In the Dramatic Series category, “Shōgun” received three of the five nominations, with “The Diplomat” and “True Detective: Night Country” receiving the other two. Nominated directors were Hiromi Kamata, Frederick E.O. Toye and Jonathan Van Tulleken for “Shōgun,” Alex Graves for “The Diplomat” and Issa López for “True Detective.”

In the Comedy Series category, Christopher Storer, Duccio Fabbri and actress-director Ayo Edebiri were all nominated for “The Bear,” while the category’s other nominees were Lucia Aniello for “Hacks” and Jeff Schaffer for “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

“The Penguin” had the same three-out-of-five feat in the Movies for Television and Limited Series category, receiving a trio of nominations to one each for “Disclaimer” and “Ripley.”

The guild also announced documentary nominations, with nods going to the directors of “Porcelain War,...

The Directors Guild of America has announced its TV, documentary and commercial award nominations for the 2025 DGA Awards.

The guild will reveal its theatrical feature film and first time feature film nominees on Wednesday.

The guild previously announced that Ang Lee would receive a lifetime achievement honor at the 77th annual DGA Awards.

The 2025 DGA Awards is set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 8.

A complete list of this year’s TV, documentary and commercial nominees follows.

Dramatic Series

Alex Graves, The Diplomat, “Dreadnought” (Netflix)

Hiromi Kamata, Shogun, “Ladies of the Willow World” (FX)

Issa LÓPEZ, True Detective: Night Country, “Part 6” (HBO)

Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Mari Jo Winkler

First Assistant Director: Richard Graysmark

Frederick E.O. Toye, Shogun, “Crimson Sky” (FX)

Jonathan Van Tulleken, Shogun, “Anjin” (FX)

***

Comedy Series

Lucia Aniello, Hacks, “Bulletproof” (Max)

Directorial Team:

Unit Production Manager: Chris R. Robinson

First Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg

Second...

Quick Links The Penguin's Vic Kills Squid The Penguin's Vic Has Broken His Ethical Code

The following contains spoilers for The Penguin Season 1, Episode 6, "Gold Summit," which debuted Oct. 27 on HBO and HBO Max.

One major player who's been helping Colin Farrell's Oswald "Oz" Cobb build his criminal empire is Victor "Vic" Aguilar. The teenager sees Oz as a father-figure to the point he abandoned his plan to move to Los Angeles with his girlfriend to build a new life.

Vic lost his family during the Riddler's terrorist attacks in 2022's The Batman, but he sees Oz's project as an endeavor that will make him rich. Still, he tried to be a good guy. Only when he was forced into survival mode did he cross moral lines. That changed in Episode 6, "Gold Summit," when Vic returned to Crown Point, where he made a sinister turn that showed...

“Suits” alum Patrick J. Adams is convinced that “Succession” is indebted to the viral USA Network series.

While “Suits” ran from 2011 to 2019, “Succession” debuted in 2019. The Emmy-winning HBO series concluded in 2023.

“’Suits’ is a predecessor to another very popular show,” Adams said during his and Sarah Rafferty‘s “Sidebar: A ‘Suits’ Watch Podcast,” adding, “’Suits’ walked so that ‘Succession’ could run.”

He added, “They got to be the grown-up [to ‘Suits”] PG version.”

Adams pointed to the overlap of actors and directors between the two series.

“The things that we have in common [include] Dagmara [Domińczyk]. She was in ‘Succession,’ she was in ‘Suits,'” Adams said. “Rob Yang. Do you know who Rob Yang was in our show? He was the doctor in [the ‘Suits’ pilot] where he’s giving Mike the drug test. You know where else you’ve seen Rob Yang? The pilot of ‘Succession.'”

Adams also said that “Suits” director and producer Kevin Bray,...

Patrick J. Adams is throwing out the idea that “Suits walked so that Succession could run.”

The actor, who played Mike Ross on the popular legal drama, shared his theory in a recent episode of his and Sarah Rafferty’s Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast, saying, “Suits is a predecessor to another very popular show,” which was HBO’s Succession.

Adams went on to list “the things that we have in common,” including “Dagmara [Domińczyk]. She was in Succession, she was in Suits. Rob Yang. Do you know who Rob Yang was in our show? He was the doctor in [Suits’ pilot] where he’s giving Mike the drug test. You know where else you’ve seen Rob Yang? The pilot of Succession.”

The Plan B actor also noted that Kevin Bray, who directed and produced several early episodes of Suits, and who Adams said is “arguably responsible for the look and vibe of the whole thing,...

Once again, HBO has delivered another series worth following, The Penguin, inspired by the character of Oswald Cobblepot or Oz Cobb from the Batverse. DC tends to deliver the darkest and most gruesome on-screen versions of various storylines, and this is what fans probably expect from The Penguin.

Colin Farrell in The Penguin (2024) | Credits: Warner Brothers Discovery

Here’s a short backstory on Oz Cobb for those who aren’t aware of him. Oz Cobb, popularly known as the Penguin, is arguably the biggest criminal underworld mastermind in the Batverse.

Oz Cobb’s motives are fueled by a desire to be recognized by Gotham’s elites. Cobblepot tries to take over the underworld from the Falcones. And who tries to stop the Penguin from his antics? Batman.

HBO’s adaptation of the story features Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb, the lead role. Cristin Milioti and Michael Zegen act as Sofia and Alberto Falcone.

Rebel Ridge is a crime action thriller film written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier. The Netflix film is set in the town of Shelby Springs and it follows the story of Terry Richmond, a former marine as he comes to town to post bail for his cousin but when his savings are unlawfully taken by corrupt local police officers led by Chief Sandy Burnne, he decides to fight against the ones spreading corruption. Rebel Ridge stars Aaron Pierre in the lead role with Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Steve Zissis, Dana Lee, and James Cromwell starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the brutal action, thrilling story, and compelling characters in Netflix’s Rebel Ridge here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Wrath of Man (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – MGM

Wrath of Man is an action thriller drama film directed by Guy Ritchie from a screenplay co-written by Ritchie,...

Suits' theme song "Greenback Boogie" by Ima Robot references the great lengths people go to make money, fitting the show's focus on lawyers hustling to secure billables and keep the firm afloat. The song's lyrics highlight how earning money becomes addicting over time somehow mirroring Mike's journey Director Kevin Bray chose "Greenback Boogie" as the theme song. They considered another song as well, but ultimately realized that the catchy and thematically fitting track worked well for Suits.

Suits opens with its addicting theme song, and the Suits theme song lyrics have a deeper meaning. Four years after it ended its original run on USA Network, Suits finds new life when it arrived on Netflix. Since becoming available on the streaming platform, it has consistently topped charts, with numbers combined with data from Peacock. The legal drama follows the lives of the lawyers at Pearson, Hardman (and its subsequent iterations) as...

Spoiler Alert: This article includes details about the series finale of “Clipped,” now streaming on Hulu.

The emperor with no clothes is still the emperor. That’s the ugly truth that FX’s “Clipped” arrives at in its series finale.

After Donald Sterling (Ed O’Neill) fails to block his wife Shelly (Jacki Weaver) from alleging her husband is mentally incapacitated and taking control of their family trust, Donald concedes to the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to the rambunctious ex-Microsoft exec Steve Ballmer. With that, Donald also stops fighting against his lifetime ban from the NBA, imposed against him after TMZ publishes an audio recording of Sterling delivering a racist tirade to his assistant-mistress V. Stiviano (Cleopatra Coleman) chastising her for publicly associating with Black people.

For waving the white flag, the Sterlings are awarded $2 billion in the sale of the Clippers: an exponential return on the $12 million...

Jessica Alba is back in action after her break of nearly four years. Directed by Mouly Surya from a screenplay co-written by John Brancato, Josh Olson, and Halley Gross, the Netflix film titled Trigger Warning follows the story of Parker, a Special Forces commando, as she returns to her hometown to take ownership of her family’s bar after her father suddenly dies. But soon, she finds herself fighting against a dangerous, violent gang terrorizing her hometown. So, if you like the action and thrills of Trigger Warning, here are some similar action films you should check out next.

The Equalizer (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Sony Pictures

The Equalizer is an action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua from a screenplay by Richard Wenk. Based on a 1980s series of the same name created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim, the 2014 film follows the story of Robert McCall,...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Clipped on Hulu showcases the toxic impact of power in sports, shedding light on the Donald Sterling scandal through a blend of drama and humor. Showrunner Gina Welch and the creative team aim to educate viewers on the lasting effects of toxic behavior in positions of authority. The FX limited series, led by Laurence Fishburne as Coach Doc Rivers, delves into societal issues while emphasizing the importance of kindness.

The first four episodes of Clipped are currently available to stream on Hulu with new installments released weekly on Tuesdays. FX's limited series stars Laurence Fishburne as Doc Rivers, a former Clippers player who returns to coach the team in 2013. Rivers' goal to help his players succeed is made difficult by owner Donald Sterling, who torments them through racist remarks and belligerent comments.

Gina Welch serves as the showrunner of Clipped, as well...

The nominations for the eighth annual Black Reel Television Awards are out. Topping the list is Genius: MLK/X, Season 4 of National Geographic’s biographical series, and Abbott Elementary is next with 12.

Amazon’s Prime Video leads all networks with 19 noms, fueled Gen V, I’m a Virgo, Them: The Scare and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The streamer edged rival Netflix, which received 19 nominations. But Netflix claimed the most nominated shows, with 11 titles receiving recognition vs. Prime Video’s four.

See the full list below. The Black Reel TV Awards will be handed out

Mr. and Mrs. Smith star Donald Glover nabbed four individual nominations, achieving a trifecta by being nominated for lead performance, directing and writing (twice). Michelle Buteau received nominations for comedic writing and acting in the freshman year of her Netflix dramedy Survival of the Thickest.

BET+ was the breakout network this year, garnering its first two...

A new limited series ripped straight from the headlines comes to us from FX. Clipped stars Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill, Jacki Weaver and Cleopatra Coleman in one of the NBA’s biggest controversies. The six-part limited series is set to debut on Hulu with back-to-back episodes on June 4. The trailer for the show has been released by FX.

The official synopsis reads,

“FX’s Clipped takes you behind the scenes of a notorious NBA owner’s racist remarks, captured on a tape heard around the world. Based on the hit ESPN 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs, this limited series charts the collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.

Famed coach Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) arrives as coach of the LA Clippers...

The official trailer for the docudrama Clipped has hit, with Laurence Fishburne, Jacki Weaver, Cleopatra Coleman, and Ed O’Neill delivering a behind-the-scenes dramatization of one of the NBA’s most scandalous moments.

The six-part limited series debuts June 4 on Hulu with back-to-back episodes.

FX’s Clipped probes a notorious NBA owner’s racist remarks, captured on a tape heard around the world. Based on the hit ESPN 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs, this limited series charts the collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less-functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.

Famed coach Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) arrives as coach of the Clippers in 2013. With a promising roster of big personalities, Rivers had the building blocks to win the franchise’s first championship. The team’s owner, Donald Sterling...

Ten years ago today, TMZ published an audio recording of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling saying racist things surreptitiously captured by his mistress, V. Stiviano. The recording led to his downfall, and changed the NBA forever.

If you’re not a basketball fan, you might not remember the story. But FX’s limited series “Clipped,” which just got its first trailer today, makes a case for the Donald Sterling saga as a “People v. O.J. Simpson”-style story about race, class, power, and that unique corner of America known as Los Angeles.

Per FX, “Clipped” “charts the collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.”

“Clipped” stars Ed O’Neill as Sterling, a man who made his fortune building an L.

HBO had the Lakers, now FX has the Clippers. Will the series’ fates differ (as the real-life teams’ have), or will “Clipped” face the same quick, quiet end as “Winning Time”? We’ll find out this June, when FX’s latest ripped-from-the-headlines adaptation premieres exclusively on Hulu. The trailer was released Thursday, April 25 — just under six weeks prior to the premiere — and now you can watch the first footage below.

Set in 2013, the six-episode limited series stars Ed O’Neill as L.A. Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling and Laurence Fishburne as the team’s head coach, Doc Rivers. Formerly with the Boston Celtics (who won an NBA title in 2008), Rivers had just joined the Clippers when the owner’s racist comments went public, sending the organization into a tailspin and Sterling into a power struggle with Rivers, players, and the NBA at large. Key players in the tumultuous saga include Shelly Sterling...

Exclusive: Christina Diamantas has been promoted to partner at Thruline Entertainment on her 15-year anniversary at the company, where she started in 2009 as an assistant and became a manager in 2015. She becomes Thruline’s ninth manager/partner.

Diamantas was based in Los Angeles before relocating to Philadelphia in 2016 and has since established a strong presence in New York. Her client list includes Valorie Curry (The Boys), Annabeth Gish (Pretty Little Liars), Giacomo Gianniotti (Wild Card), Aj Buckley (Seal Team), Dawn Olivieri (Yellowstone), Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs), Brian Michael Smith (911: Lone Star), and writer-director Caroline Lindy (Your Monster

“Christina has been a force of nature since day one at Thruline. She is a fierce advocate for her clients and, just as importantly, for her colleagues,” said Thruline founding partner Ron West. “We are so happy to acknowledge her work and commitment in this way.”

Before joining Thruline, Diamantas worked at...

Exclusive: Kevin Bray has signed a two-year overall deal with HBO.

Under the agreement, Bray will direct exclusively for the premium network.

Bray recently wrapped directing the pilot and executive producing FX’s Clipped starring Lawrence Fishburne and Ed O’Neill, with Color Force producing. Bray began his career directing music videos and commercials.

After helming his first two features, All About the Benjamins and Walking Tall, Bray transitioned to television by directing and executive producing the pilots of Suits and Unprisoned, as well as multiple episodes of Succession, for which he was nominated for a DGA Award.

Bray went on to direct half-hour and hour-long television, both in comedy and drama, including episodes of Insecure, blackish, The Americans, Loot, The Morning Show, Snowfall, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Rap Sh!t and The Penguin.

He also directed three episodes of The Patient, a limited series starring Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleason for FX.

Besides CAA,...

Peacock is hoping to drive some eyeballs to Pearson, the short-lived Suits spin-off, after the latter became a surprising hit on Netflix this summer.

The NBCUniversal streamer has added the show, which starred Gina Torres, to its service today. It is hoping that new Suits fans may discover the spinoff as well, which is not available on Netflix.

Pearson ran for one season on the cable network in 2019 but was canceled a month and a half after its season ended.

Toplined by mothership series alumna Torres, Pearson centered on her character, powerhouse lawyer Jessica Pearson, as she enters the dirty world of Chicago politics. It also stars Bethany Joy Lenz, Morgan Spector, Chantel Riley, Simon Kassianides, Eli Goree and Isabel Arraiza.

Pearson originated on Suits, whose Season 7 finale served as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff.

The offshoot, which hailed from UCP, was executive produced by Suits creator and EP...

Exclusive: Kerry Washington‘s comedy series UnPrisoned seems to be resonating with viewers in the U.S.

The series, which debuted on March 10, has now become Onyx Collective’s most-watched Hulu premiere to date. It is also the most-watched Hulu Original scripted series so far in 2023, in terms of hours watched, according to Onyx.

As is typical among the streamers, Hulu did not offer up specific viewing metrics for the series.

UnPrisoned is Onyx Collective’s inaugural comedy series. Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan’s life, the series follows a messy but perfectionist relationship therapist and single mom, Paige Alexander (Washington), whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad, Edwin Alexander (Delroy Lindo), gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).

The series also stars Jordyn McIntosh (Little Paige) and Marque Richardson (Mal Kennedy).

UnPrisoned is executive produced by Tracy McMillan, Yvette Lee Bowser...

The Los Angeles premiere of Hulu’s comedy series “UnPrisoned” was held on Thursday, March 2nd at the Hollywood Legion Theater. Gold Derby’s associate editor Latasha Ford interviewed stars Kerry Washington, Delroy Lindo, Faly Rakotohavana, Jordan McIntosh, Marque Richardson and executive producer Joy Gorman Wettels on the red carpet. Watch the video above.

“UnPrisoned” is a story inspired by author Tracy McMillan’s life. The half-hour comedy stars Washington as Paige Alexander, a marriage and family therapist whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad (Lindo) gets out of prison and moves in with her and her 16-year old son (Rakotohavana). The eight-episode scripted comedy series is produced by ABC Signature and will be streamed exclusively on Hulu on March 10th.

Writers for the series were McMillan, Jen Braeden, Yvette Lee Bowser, Lane Lyle, Lauren Caltagirone, Miguel Nolla and Peter Saji. Directors for the eight episodes were Kevin Bray,...

Showtime’s upcoming series, “Waco: The Aftermath,” will debut on the streaming service and on-demand April 14, followed by its linear premiere on April 16 at 10 p.m.

A first-look image has been released in addition to the premiere date (see above). “Waco: The Aftermath” follows the 2018 limited series “Waco,” which retold the true story of the 51-day standoff between a small religious community and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Atf). “The Aftermath” stars Michael Shannon, who reprises his role as Gary Noesner, a FBI hostage negotiator suffering from Ptsd after the failed negotiations in Waco. Shannon is rejoined by John Leguizamo as Jacob Vasquez, an undercover Atf agent. The upcoming five-episode series will document the fallout of the disaster, including the trials of the surviving Branch Davidian members and the rise of homegrown terrorist Timothy McVeigh.

“Waco: The Aftermath” also stars David Costabile, J. Smith Cameron, John Hoogenakker,...

Updated: HBO’s Emmy Award-winning comedy Insecure, starring series’ co-creator Issa Rae and Yvonne Orji, will begin airing two back-to-back episodes on Tuesday night on OWN. It premieres on Tuesday, February 7 at 9:00 p.m. Et/ Pt with the show’s pilot episode titled “Insecure As F**k.”

This is a rare HBO series to get an off-network run on basic cable where premium content normally has to be sanitized to comply with ad-supported networks’ broadcast standards for language, nudity, violence, etc. In this case, the agreement with HBO and Rae does not allow for any edits or alterations to the content besides the insertion of commercial breaks. Aside from those and a Standards & Practices advisory cards at the top of each break, the show will air as it was created for HBO, sources tell Deadline.

HBO made a big push in the arena more than a decade ago when...

Exclusive: FX has added seven to the recurring cast for The Sterling Affairs, its limited series about the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling amid the team’s drive to win a championship under coach Doc Rivers. Harriet Samson Harris (Hacks), Corbin Bernsen (City On a Hill), Yvonna Pearson (Dynasty), Jock McKissic (Your Honor), Darryl Wesley (This Is Us), Rich Sommer (Minx) and Clifton Davis (Billions) join leads Laurence Fishburne and Jacki Weaver in the six-episode series.

The Sterling Affairs is written by Gina Welch (Feud: Bette and Joan) based on the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast of the same name reported and hosted by Ramona Shelburne. The series tells the behind the scenes story of Doc Rivers (Fishburne) and the Los Angeles Clippers’ quest to bring a championship to one of the historically worst franchises in all of sports during the impending downfall of the team’s owner, Donald...

Yvette Lee Bowser points to Unprisoned — Onyx’s first scripted comedy that stars Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo — as a key example of how far TV has come when it comes to telling contemporary Black stories.

“We are absolutely making progress,” said Bowser, whose numerous credits include A Different World, Living Single, black-ish and now serving as showrunner on Unprisoned. “I’ve been in the business 35 years. It’s beginning to change. It’s incredibly cathartic and incredibly rewarding to be here to shepherd such a beautiful, fresh story … we as Black writers have been fighting to tell a story. Now we find ourselves in a period of time that we can go deeper, much deeper, why we struggle to love.”

Inspired by the life of author Tracy McMillan, Unprisoned is a half-hour about “a messy but perfectionist relationship therapist and single mom whose life is turned right-side-up when her...

Former network head Robert Greenblatt has set up a limited series for development at Hulu, Variety has confirmed.

Greenblatt, via his first-look deal with Lionsgate Television, will executive produce a series adaptation of The Atlantic article “Death at a Penn State Fraternity” by Caitlin Flanagan.

The project is currently titled “Death at Penn State.” Based on a true story, the series’ official logline states, “The limited series explores fraternity life and specifically tells the story of Tim Piazza who fought for his life for 12 hours before his Beta Theta Pi brothers called 911. By then it was too late.”

“We are grateful and fully supportive of Lionsgate and Hulu taking on this project related to our son’s tragic and very preventable death,” said Jim and Evelyn Piazza. “Given the reckless and deplorable behavior of fraternity members and their advisors, the lack of oversight by the University and the National Fraternity...

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Robert Greenblatt is getting serious for his next TV foray.

The former Showtime, NBC and HBO Max topper has set up limited series Death at Penn State at Hulu via his first-look deal with Lionsgate Television.

The liited series, which is currently in development at the Disney-backed streamer, is based on Caitlin Flanagan’s November 2017 feature Death at a Penn State Fraternity. The project, like Flanagan’s story, explores fraternity life and specifically tells the story of Tim Piazza who fought for his life for 12 hours before his Beta Theta Pi brothers called 911. By then it was too late. Joe Hortua (Better Things, Home Before Dark) is writing the script and will exec produce alongside author Flanagan and Greenblatt. The latter’s The Green Room partner Jon Wu will serve as a co-ep. Kevin Bray will also exec produce and direct, with The Atlantic...

Director Kevin Bray is cementing his relationship with FX.

Bray, who has directed episodes of The Americans, Snowfall and The Patient, has struck a first-look deal with FX Productions.

Next up for Bray, he will serve as a director and exec producer on FX’s upcoming The Sterling Affairs, the limited series about the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling starring Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill and Jacki Weaver.

Under the deal, Bray will develop new content for the network.

Bray, who was recently nominated for a DGA award for his directing on Succession, began his career as a music video director before directing episodes of series such as Suits, Grown-ish, Unprisoned, Insecure, Black-ish, The Morning Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Rap Sh!t. On the film side, Bray directed the action comedies All About the Benjamins and Walking Tall starring Dwayne Johnson.

“We’ve been fortunate to work with Kevin...

Kevin Bray has inked a first-look deal with FX Productions. As part of the agreement, Bray will be developing new content for FX.

The deal further expands Bray’s relationship with FX. Bray directed three episodes of FX’s “The Patient” as well as several episodes of “The Americans” and “Snowfall.” In partnership with Color Force, Bray will also executive produce and direct on “The Sterling Affairs,” FX’s limited series about the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling starring Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill and Jacki Weaver.

“We’ve been fortunate to work with Kevin on some of FX’s most acclaimed series and he’s a gifted artist with the skills to create series of his own,” said Nick Grad, FX’s president of original programming. “Kevin’s a wildly accomplished director and producer whose latest work on ‘The Patient’ is among his best and will be...

During a recent therapy session, I told my doctor that I was watching a new series called The Patient, where Steve Carell plays a psychologist kidnapped by a serial killer, who hopes Carell can cure him of his homicidal impulses.

“That sounds funny!” my doctor said with a laugh.

“Oh, it’s not at all,” I warned him. “Intentionally so.”

I do not suspect he will enjoy The Patient, in the same way that surgeons typically can’t stand to watch hospital dramas, cops dislike police shows, etc. But as...

FX has rounded out the cast of The Sterling Affairs, its limited series about the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling amid the team’s drive to win a championship under coach Doc Rivers. Cleopatra Coleman (Dopesick) has been tapped to star as Sterling’s mistress V. Stiviano.

Also cast are Kelly AuCoin (Billions) as former Clippers president Andy Roeser and Austin Scott (A Jazzman’s Blues), J. Alphonse Nicholson (P-Valley), Sheldon “Shel” Bailey (Game Shakers), Sarunas J. Jackson (Insecure) and Charlie McElveen (The Deuce) as the NBA players caught up in the shocking events. Scott will play Blake Griffin, Nicholson will portray Chris Paul, Bailey will play D’Andre Jordan, Jackson will portray Matt Barnes, and McElveen will play JJ Reddick.

They join previously announced leads Laurence Fishburne as former Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, Ed O’Neill as Donald Sterling, and Jacki Weaver as Sterling’s wife Shelly.

Cleopatra Coleman has joined FX’s “The Sterling Affairs.” The Australian-born actress, who quickly rose to fame starring alongside Will Forte as Erica in Fox’s comedy “The Last Man on Earth,” will portray Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling’s mistress V. Stiviano in the forthcoming limited series.

Written by Gina Welch and based on the ESPN 30 for 30 Podcast of the same name reported and hosted by Ramona Shelburne, “The Sterling Affairs” is a retelling of the true events that transpired in the rise and fall of the Clippers legacy. With behind the scenes stories, the series follows Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers’ quest to bring a championship to one of the historically worst franchises in all of sports during the impending downfall of the team’s owner, Donald Sterling, whose notoriously racist behavior is brought to light amid the power struggle between his wife of 60+ years,...

Plot: Dr. Alan Strauss, a therapist mourning the death of his wife, takes on an enigmatic new client. As the two men wrestle with very different, individual problems, their professional relationship is transformed by a choice that binds them deeply together.

Review: Television series have long explored the worlds of serial killers and psychotherapy. Usually, killers are fodder for police procedurals and thriller series but every now and then there is a unique take on the subject that upends convention. From Dexter to Mindhunter to Hannibal, serial killers have often been portrayed as monsters or deviant human beings that the masses struggle to comprehend. The new limited series The Patient tries an angle of the expected serial killer story that somewhat succeeds thanks to the writing of Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg. Echoing the dramatic intensity of their riveting espionage series The Americans, The Patient is an unexpected twist on a familiar genre.

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While most showrunners are content to use Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” for soundtrack shorthand, Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg prefer slightly deeper cuts from the Canadian singer-spiritualist.

The duo potently utilized “Who By Fire,” with its ties to the Hebrew “Unetaneh Tokef” prayer, at the climax of the fourth season of The Americans. They return to Cohen again with a song that I won’t spoil featured pivotally in their new FX limited series The Patient, which will air exclusively on Hulu.

It’s easy to see why Fields and Weisberg respond to Cohen (or why their music supervisor thinks their shows and Cohen’s songs are a good match). Like Cohen, Fields and Weisberg are engaged in their own blending of the profane and the sacred, using the trappings of pulpy genres as a delivery mechanism for richer, more haunted storytelling that...

Domhnall Gleeson channels Hannibal Lecter in the first trailer for “The Patient,” the upcoming FX limited series co-starring Steve Carell.

Created by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, who previously worked together on the acclaimed FX drama “The Americans,” “The Patient” focuses on the relationship between Alexander Strauss (Carell), a well-regarded psychotherapist, and his new patient Sam Fortner (Gleeson). When Sam takes Strauss hostage, he reveals himself to be a serial killer, and asks the doctor to cure him of his murderous tendencies. As Strauss reluctantly begins treatment, the experience unearths demons and traumas of his own, blurring the line between the patient and therapist. The trailer begins with a normal therapy session between the two before fast-forwarding to the hostage situation, with Strauss trapped via chain in Sam’s house.

“Successful therapy requires a safe environment, without anything like fear hanging over every session,” Carell says in the trailer.

“The Patient...

There are a whopping 237 submissions for Best Drama Directing on the 2022 Emmys ballot, which will yield seven nominees. As a reminder, last year’s winner was “The Crown” (“War” by Jessica Hobbs) and the other nominees were “Bridgerton” (“Diamond of the First Water” by Julie Anne Robinson), “The Crown” (“Fairytale” by Benjamin Caron), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“The Wilderness” by Liz Garbus), “The Mandalorian” (“Chapter 9: The Jedi” by Jon Favreau) and “Pose” (“Series Finale” by Steven Canals).

The only eligible returnee out of this bunch is “Bridgerton,” which entered three episodes of its second season for consideration. It may have a harder time getting back in as “Ozark” and “Succession” will be back to reclaim their crowns, having prevailed in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Winner Jason Bateman is back on the ballot for the “Ozark” series finale, after being absent for the third season, and joining him will be his co-star Laura Linney for her directorial debut,...

HBO is juggling multiple television shows for a shot at the Primetime Emmy Awards, which could make them a dominating force in all categories, particularly for directing and writing.

Just wrapping its season finale, “Barry” is expected to match, if not exceed, its previous 18 nomination haul last time. Actor and producer Bill Hader will be among the “locks” for outstanding comedy series and lead actor (comedy). Still, with two previous Emmy noms for directing, he’ll be in the running again with the episode “710N,” the sixth episode that finds the titular hitman attacked by Traci’s gang. Three “Barry” episodes will also vie for attention in the writing categories: “710N” (by Duffy Boudreau), “candy asses” (by Liz Sarnoff) and the finale “starting now” (by Hader and Alec Berg).

Read more: Variety’s Awards Circuit Emmys Predictions Hub

With Zendaya leading the charge for lead actress (drama) for her towering...

Ed O’Neill is set to play Donald Sterling in the upcoming FX limited series “The Sterling Affairs,” Variety has learned.

The show was picked up to series at FX back in April. It is based on the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast of the same name. O’Neill joins previously announced stars Laurence Fishburne and Jacki Weaver.

The six-episode series tells the behind the scenes story of Doc Rivers (Fishburne) and the Los Angeles Clippers’ quest to bring a championship to one of the historically worst franchises in all of sports during the impending downfall of the team’s owner, Donald Sterling (O’Neill), whose notoriously racist behavior is brought to light amid the power struggle between his wife of 60+ years, Shelly Sterling (Weaver), and his mistress, V. Stiviano.

This will mark O’Neill’s first TV role since the finale of “Modern Family” in 2020. O’Neill starred on the single-cam sitcom...