News

Longtime NBC “Today” weather and feature anchor Al Roker has been tapped to receive a lifetime achievement honor at the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards next month. Also set to be given the lifetime achievement is documentary filmmaker, cinematographer, producer, and director Jon Else.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which administers the News & Documentary Emmys, announced the news on Thursday.

The News & Documentary Emmys are split into two ceremonies, with the first focused on news programming on Wednesday, June 25, and the second centered on documentary fare on Thursday, June 26. Roker will receive his award during the news ceremony, while Else will be honored at the documentary ceremony.

“These Lifetime Achievement honors recognize Al Roker and Jon Else for their enduring contributions to the television industry,” said NATAS prexy Adam Sharp in a statement. “We honor not only their remarkable work in front of and behind the camera,...

Today‘s Al Roker and filmmaker Jon H. Else will receive Lifetime Achievement honors at the 46th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

Roker will be recognized for his career in broadcast journalism during the News ceremony June 25. Else will be honored for his contributions to documentary filmmaking at the Documentary ceremony June 26.

“These Lifetime Achievement honors recognize Al Roker and Jon Else for their enduring contributions to the television industry,” said Adam Sharp, president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, in a statement. “We honor not only their remarkable work in front of and behind the camera, but also the lasting impact they have made on audiences, the industry and generations of storytellers. NATAS proudly celebrates their commitment to excellence and pivotal roles in shaping the television landscape.”

“This is such an incredible honor. I’m just another indication of either an end-of-career or end-of-life award,...

On Thursday February 27 2025, HBO broadcasts Eyes on the Prize III!

What Comes After Hope? 2008-2015 Season 1 Episode 6 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Eyes on the Prize III,” titled “What Comes After Hope? 2008-2015,” promises to delve into the ongoing struggle for equity and racial justice in America. This episode is set to air on HBO and will explore the stories of individuals and communities who have continued to fight for their rights in the years following the civil rights movement.

In this episode, viewers can expect to hear powerful narratives from various people who have worked tirelessly to address issues of inequality. The focus will be on the challenges they face and the victories they achieve in their pursuit of justice. This time period, from 2008 to 2015, was marked by significant events that shaped the landscape of civil rights in the United States, including the election of the first Black...

On Thursday February 27 2025, HBO broadcasts Eyes on the Prize III!

We Don’t See Color 1996-2013 Season 1 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Eyes on the Prize III,” titled “We Don’t See Color 1996-2013,” promises to shed light on the ongoing struggles for equity and racial justice in America. Set to air on HBO, this episode continues the series’ commitment to exploring the stories of individuals and communities who have fought for civil rights since the movement’s inception.

In this episode, viewers will see how the fight for racial justice has evolved from the 1990s to the early 2010s. The stories highlighted will feature both well-known figures and everyday activists, showcasing their efforts to address issues of inequality and discrimination. The narrative will focus on the challenges these individuals faced and the progress they made in their communities.

The title “We Don’t See Color” hints at...

On Wednesday February 26 2025, HBO broadcasts Eyes on the Prize III!

Million Man March 1995 Season 1 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Eyes on the Prize III,” titled “Million Man March 1995,” promises to delve into a significant moment in the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equity in America. This episode will air on HBO and is expected to shed light on the powerful stories of individuals and communities that have continued to fight for civil rights since the early days of the movement.

“Million Man March 1995” will explore the historical context and impact of the march, which took place in Washington, D.C. The event aimed to unite African American men and promote a sense of community, responsibility, and empowerment. The episode will feature personal accounts and reflections from participants, highlighting their motivations and the lasting effects of the march on their lives and the broader fight for justice.

As...

On Wednesday February 26 2025, HBO broadcasts Eyes on the Prize III!

Spoil the Vine 1982-2011 Season 1 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Eyes on the Prize III,” titled “Spoil the Vine 1982-2011,” promises to delve into important stories that highlight the ongoing struggle for equity and racial justice. Airing on HBO, this episode continues the series’ commitment to showcasing the voices and experiences of those who have fought for civil rights in the years following the American civil rights movement.

In “Spoil the Vine,” viewers will be taken on a journey through the decades, exploring how communities across the United States have continued to advocate for justice and equality. The episode will feature personal stories and historical events that illustrate the challenges and triumphs faced by individuals committed to these causes. It aims to shine a light on the resilience and determination of those who have worked tirelessly to make a difference.

On Tuesday February 25 2025, HBO broadcasts Eyes on the Prize III!

America, Don’t Look Away 1977-1988 Season 1 Episode 1 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Eyes on the Prize III,” titled “America, Don’t Look Away 1977-1988,” promises to be a powerful exploration of the ongoing fight for equity and racial justice in America. This episode will focus on the years following the civil rights movement, highlighting the stories of individuals and communities who have continued to push for change during this critical period.

Viewers can expect to see a range of voices and experiences that illustrate the struggles and triumphs of those who have dedicated their lives to advocating for justice. The episode aims to shed light on the bold actions taken by ordinary people as they confront systemic racism and work towards a more equitable society. Through personal narratives and historical context, the episode will paint a vivid picture...

On Tuesday February 25 2025, HBO broadcasts Eyes on the Prize III!

Trapped: 1989-1995 Season 1 Episode 2 Episode Summary

“Eyes on the Prize III” is set to air an intriguing episode titled “Trapped: 1989-1995.” This episode promises to dive deep into the stories of individuals and communities that have fought for equity and racial justice in the years following the civil rights movement. It highlights the ongoing struggles and successes that have shaped the landscape of American society.

The episode will explore significant events and movements from 1989 to 1995, a time marked by both challenges and advancements in the fight for equality. It will showcase the resilience of those who have continued to advocate for justice, despite facing numerous obstacles. The stories presented will aim to shed light on the importance of community activism and the impact it has had on creating change.

Viewers can expect personal narratives that illustrate the determination and courage...

Back in 2021, Max premiered the new documentary Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground.

Despite being an extension of one of the most acclaimed television franchises ever produced, Hallowed Ground was basically ignored by critics.

I mean, I reviewed it, but to date, Sophia Nahli Allison’s film doesn’t have enough reviews to have an average score on either Metacritic or Rotten Tomatoes.

And I get it. HBO/Max barely promoted the documentary and it was an extremely complicated project to approach — not exactly a sequel to Henry Hampton’s seminal chronicle of the Civil Rights Movement, which aired its first six episodes in 1987 and the eight-hour second part in 1990, both on PBS. Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground was a 61-minute complement to the brand, a formally experimental meditation on Eyes on the Prize, its importance and its limitations. But if you were looking for something that picked up...

Nearly three decades before ESPN’s O.J.: Made in America blurred the lines between TV documentary series and feature film, an episode of PBS’ Eyes on the Prize was nominated for an Academy Award. That 1987 episode, “Bridge to Freedom,” lost the Oscar to The Ten-Year Lunch: The Wit and Legend of the Algonquin Round Table.

I mention this mainly because that Oscar was pretty much the only thing Eyes on the Prize lost. Henry Hampton’s 14-hour chronicle of the civil rights movement won Emmys, a Peabody and the TCA Award for program of the year. Between regular encore ...

Nearly three decades before ESPN’s O.J.: Made in America blurred the lines between TV documentary series and feature film, an episode of PBS’ Eyes on the Prize was nominated for an Academy Award. That 1987 episode, “Bridge to Freedom,” lost the Oscar to The Ten-Year Lunch: The Wit and Legend of the Algonquin Round Table.

I mention this mainly because that Oscar was pretty much the only thing Eyes on the Prize lost. Henry Hampton’s 14-hour chronicle of the civil rights movement won Emmys, a Peabody and the TCA Award for program of the year. Between regular encore ...

Documentarian Senain Kheshgi takes us through a few of her favorite documentaries.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

American Movie (1999)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary

The French Connection (1971) – Dennis Lehane’s trailer commentary, Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary

Grey Gardens (1975)

Salesman (1969)

Real Life (1979)

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Seven Up! (1964)

Don’t Look Back (1967)

Primary (1960)

The Thin Blue Line (1988)

Reds (1981)

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) – Dennis Cozzalio’s 2020 best-of list

High School (1968)

Hospital (1970)

Titicut Follies (1967)

Harlan County, USA (1976)

Salaam Bombay! (1988)

Mississippi Masala (1991)

India Cabaret (1985)

The 400 Blows (1959) – Robert Weide’s trailer commentary

Bicycle Thieves (1949) – Dennis Cozzalio’s Muriel Awards column

Shoeshine (1946)

Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Day For Night (1973) – Neil Labute’s trailer commentary

Sherman’s March (1986)

Capturing The Friedmans (2003)

I Think We’re Alone Now (2008)

The Mole Agent (2020)

The Act of Killing (2012)

Other Notable Items

Walter Hill

Walton Goggins

The Majority

Mark Borchardt

Mike Schank

The...

HBO Max, HBO and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios have teamed to bring the legacy of Henry Hampton’s critically acclaimed civil rights documentary Eyes on the Prize to the small screen.

Starting today, Part 1 of the Oscar-nominated and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning Eyes on the Prize docuseries is available for streaming on HBO Max. It will be followed by the premiere of Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground, a one-hour Max Original documentary special directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison (A Love Song For Latasha), on Thursday, August 19 on HBO Max.

HBO is also in production on a new documentary series reflecting on the legacy of the movement covered in the original Eyes on the Prize, and its ties to the present day. The new docuseries also will be available for streaming on HBO Max.

Created and executive produced by Hampton and his Blackside film production company, the...

The groundbreaking Oscar-nominated and Peabody and Emmy award-winning documentary “Eyes on the Prize,” from documentarian and historian Henry Hampton, is coming to a new audience.

HBO Max, HBO and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios are joining forces to bring the 14-part PBS docuseries to HBO, where, starting Monday, viewers will be able to stream part one of Hampton’s chronicle of Black history and the civil rights movement, which debuted in 1987.

But the legacy of “Eyes on the Prize” does not end there — part one of “Eyes on the Prize” will be followed by the premiere of a one-hour Max Original documentary special, “Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground” on Aug. 19.

The new special is directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker and artist Sophia Nahli Allison (“A Love Song for Latasha”) with executive producers including Patrisse Cullors, Mervyn Marcano and De La Revolución Films’ Melina Matsoukas, as well as Anonymous Content’s Joy Gorman Wettels,...

RaMell Ross’ debut feature, Hale County This Morning, This Evening, an intimate and cinematic portrait of black lives in Alabama, took the top award tonight at the 12th annual Cinema Eye Honors, winning Outstanding Nonfiction Feature. It was the second Cinema Eye Feature Honor in a row for producer Joslyn Barnes, who also produced last year’s award winner, Strong Island.

The 12th Annual Cinema Eye Honors were presented at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York and were streamed live via the Museum of the Moving Image and Cinema Eye Honors Facebook pages. Filmmaker Steve James, a winner for Outstanding Series for America to Me, was the host.

The awards capped a week of events that brought together nonfiction filmmakers from around the globe. Cinema Eye was founded in 2007 as a protest of that year’s existing awards which it claimed failed to recognize many of...

RaMell Ross’s debut feature, “Hale County This Morning, This Evening” took the top prize at the Cinema Eye Honors Thursday night in New York, winning outstanding nonfiction feature.

Bing Liu’s much-lauded skateboarding doc “Minding the Gap,” which tied the Cinema Eye record for most noms with seven, took home three trophies, including outstanding achievement in direction, editing, and debut. “Free Solo” also won three awards, with “Shirkers” nabbing two honors.

“Hale County’s” win marks the second for producer Joslyn Barnes, who also won last year for “Strong Island.” “Free Solo’s” three wins landed Jimmy Chin the title of most awarded individual in Cinema Eye history, with five awards including his two for 2015’s “Meru.”

See the full list of winners below.

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking

“Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” RaMell Ross

Outstanding Achievement in Direction

Bing Liu, “Minding the Gap”

Outstanding Achievement...

Exclusive: Cinema Eye Honors said that Eyes on the Prize, the landmark civil rights docuseries that first aired on public television in 1987, will receive the group’s 2019 Legacy Award. The honor will be bestowed January 10 during the 12th annual Cinema Eye Honors awards ceremony in New York.

“For me and so many others, Eyes on the Prize was a transformational cinematic experience, artfully crafting the history of a nation into an unforgettable story,” Cinema Eye board co-chair Dawn Porter said Thursday. “Countless filmmakers have been inspired by this elegant body of work.”

Created and by the late Henry Hampton’s Blackside, the 14-part Eyes on the Prize is considered the definitive documentary record of the American civil rights era, tracing the country’s long and brutal march toward equality and the fight to end decades of discrimination and segregation. It aired in two parts, the first covering the years 1954–1965 and...

Premiering at Tiff 2017, Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me is the first major film documentary to examine Davis’ vast talent and his journey for identity through the shifting tides of civil rights and racial progress during 20th-century America.

Today Sammy Davis is seen primarily as part of The Rat Pack. That quartet of bad boys who sing and joke around is very much a part of time when Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were the kings of the Las Vegas scene.

But Sammy Davis Jr. was much more than that and merely by lending his black face to that group makes The Rat Pack seem like a liberal if slightly dissolute, but a filled-with-fun group. In truth, his position with Sinatra, Martin, Peter Lawford was not all that comfortable and the path Davis had already trod before landing there was not a simple or easy one.

He...

This Sunday, February 7, 2016, tune in to the World Channel for the next episode of the Emmy-Award winning series "Eyes on the Prize" which kicked off on January 17, 2016. Created by Executive Producer Henry Hampton, the World Channel's broadcast of the critically-acclaimed and in-depth documentary series on civil rights in America, couldn't be more timely, at a time when the national spotlight is on issues of race and inequality in the USA, as well as the marking of the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, and the 60th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Journalist and writer Al Letson hosts new introductions to each episode. The next chapter, airing this Sunday...

DVD Playhouse: January 2011

By

Allen Gardner

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (20th Century Fox) Sequel to the seminal 1980s film catches up with a weathered, but still determined Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas, who seems to savor every syllable of Allan Loeb and Stephen Schiff’s screenplay) just out of jail and back on the comeback trail. In attempting to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter (Carey Mulligan), Gekko forges a reluctant alliance with her fiancé (Shia Labeouf), himself an ambitious young turk who finds himself seduced by Gekko’s silver tongue and promise of riches. Lifeless film is further evidence of director Oliver Stone’s decline. Once America’s most exciting filmmaker, Stone hasn’t delivered a film with any teeth since 1995’s Nixon. Labeouf and Mulligan generate no sparks on-screen, and the story feels forced from the protracted opening to the final, Disney-esque denouement. Only a brief cameo by Charlie Sheen,...