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The entrance of a number of newcomers could shake up long-time favorites’ odds to win at this year’s Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies.

Here, Variety takes a closer look at six of those important races.

Main Title Design

This is one category in which the nominees get to be wholly creative when it comes to visual styles. They use live-action elements, animation, photography or some combination thereof to quickly encapsulate the themes of the show that will follow. It is no easy feat, and neither is comparing such unique pieces in order to reward one over the other. Those who like minimalism will likely gravitate toward the moving, colored dots of Apple TV Plus’ “The Morning Show,” while voters looking for metaphors about compartmentalization and the pieces that make a man will select Netflix’s “The Politician,” while those who prefer symbolic images will finally award two-time prior nominee HBO’s “Westworld.

Netflix dominated this year’s Critics Choice Real TV Awards, thanks in part to “Cheer” and “Queer Eye,” which led the winners list with two kudos each.

“Cheer” was named best unstructured series, as well as male star of the year for Jerry Harris, while “Queer Eye” landed wins for lifestyle: fashion/beauty show and ensemble cast in a scripted series.

Overall, Netflix won eight awards, also picking up trophies for “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich” (crime/justice series), “Somebody Feed Phil” (travel/adventure series), “Love Is Blind” (relationship show), as well as the peer-voted award for outstanding achievement in nonfiction programming by a network or streaming platform.

Other networks with multiple wins were ABC and Bravo, with two each. “Survivor” host and executive producer Jeff Probst was awarded this year’s Critics Choice Real TV Impact Award, “for his ongoing contributions to the unscripted television industry.”

The Critics Choice Association...

Netflix’s “Cheer” and VH1’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” both earned five nominations for the second annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards, while Netflix dominated the tally among all networks.

Administered jointly by the Critics Choice Association and the nonfiction producers organization Npact, the Critics Choice Real TV Awards has also named “Survivor” host and executive producer Jeff Probst as the recipient of its Critics Choice Real TV Impact Award.

“Cheer’s” nominations were for categories including unstructured series, sports show, limited documentary series, male star of the year (Jerry Harris), and female star of the year (Monica Aldama). “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will compete in competition series, ensemble cast in an unscripted series, female star of the year (Michelle Visage), male star of the year (RuPaul Charles), and show host (also RuPaul Charles).

Netflix landed 31 nominations, far ahead of second-place networks ABC, Bravo and VH1 (tied at six each). Disney...

Netflix has released 10 of its educational documentaries on YouTube to give teachers free content to screen for their virtual classrooms.

The company’s free documentaries include the David Attenborough-narrated “Our Planet,” which explores the various wonders of the natural world, and Ava DuVeray’s “13th,” which examines the 13th Amendment, mass criminalization, and the American prison industry. Netflix is also making educational resources, including study guides and Q&As, available for each documentary.

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The other free Netflix documentaries include “Abstract: The Art of Design,” which features visionary designers in the arts and sciences, “Babies,” which focuses on newborns, “Chasing Coral,” about a group that documents coral reefs, and “Explained,” which explores various topics of cultural relevance.

“Knock Down the House” centers on the 2018 U.

For Sama, Waad al-Kateab’s striking documentary about the start of the protests against the Assad regime in Syria, won the Best Feature prize at the International Documentary Association’s Ida Awards.

Al-Kateab shot hundreds of hours of footage over a course of the five-year siege that offered an unflinching view of life in war; the twentysomething economics student married one of the last doctors in her hometown of Aleppo, and they had a daughter, Sama, as the city crumbled around her.

Other winners Saturday at a ceremony on the Paramount lot in Los Angeles included HBO’s Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland, which won for Best Multipart Documentary, and Homecoming, Beyoncé’s Coachella concert film for Netflix.

Netflix won a leading three awards, including Best Director for American Factory co-directors Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert and Abstract: The Art of Design as Best Episodic Series.

Here’s the full...

“For Sama,” Waad al-Kateab’s wrenching story of raising a young daughter in war-torn Syria, has been named the best nonfiction film of 2019 at the International Documentary Association’s 35th annual Ida Documentary Awards, which were handed out on Saturday night on the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles.

Al-Kateab, who directed “For Sama” with Edward Watts, also received the Ida Awards Courage Under Fire Award at the ceremony. Last week, the film also won the top award at the British Independent Film Awards, a rarity for a documentary.

Steven Bognar and Julie Reichert received the Best Director Award, the first time the Ida has handed out that particular prize, for their look at the culture clash when a Chinese company took over an American auto glass factory in Ohio in “American Factory.”

Also Read: 'For Sama' Film Review: Syrian Documentary Finds Wrenching Personal Take on Conflict

Two...

In the spirit of melding form and subject, “Abstract: The Art of Design” is one of the most dazzling-looking shows anywhere on TV. The Netflix documentary series, executive produced by Morgan Neville and former Wired editor-in-chief Scott Dadich, doesn’t take its title lightly and offers a sleek, vibrant presentation of some of the most influential figures in the design world.

In its six-episode Season 2, “Abstract” focuses on a half dozen individuals in various corners of the design world, across bioengineering, digital products, and typography. Different directors visit the offices, homes, and neighborhoods of these creators in an attempt to document the process by which their work jumps from a desk and into the public consciousness.

“Abstract” often makes the case that these designers are fundamentally shaping and shifting the way we see the world. They’re not necessarily inventing a new language, but they’re honing the way that...

Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: What better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? This week, […]

The post This Week In Trailers: Cunningham, Abstract: The Art of Design Season 2, Clemency, Explained: Season 2, Living Undocumented appeared first on /Film.

In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix announced the premiere date for Arsenio Hall’s comedy special and a “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” duo (among others) will guest star on “Elena of Avalor.”

Casting

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” stars Rachel Brosnahan and Tony Shalhoub, as well as Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”), John Leguizamo (“When They See Us”), Taye Diggs (“All American”), Eugenio Derbez (“Overboard”) and Jamie-Lynn Sigler (“The Sopranos”) have lent their voices to Season 3 of the animated“Elena of Avalor,” which premieres Oct. 7 on Disney Junior. Diggs and Derbez guest star in a dia de los Muertos-themed episode in October, while Sigler portrays a princess visiting from a Latino Jewish kingdom in an episode airing in December. A royal coronation special will also air next year.

Programming

DirecTV announced the service will air 4K Hdr versions of select “Thursday Night Football” games on Fox starting with the Sept. 26 Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers game.

Netflix has confirmed that 40 new original series, movies and specials will be debuting on the streaming service in September. Leading off lineup is the first season of “The Politician” from the Emmy-winning Ryan Murphy. This drama about an ambitious politico stars Tony champ Ben Platt and Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow. Among the other freshman series one of the most intriguing is “Criminals,” an anthology set in four police stations in the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

Two limited series tell true-life stories. “Unbelievable” chronicles the efforts of two detectives to discover the truth about an alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl. And “Spy” showcases Sacha Baron Cohen as Israeli Mossad agent Eli Cohen, who went undercover in 1960s Syria. Among the new films on offer is Zach Galifianakis’ satire “Between Two Ferns: The Movie.”

Below is the full schedule of everything that is coming and leaving Netflix in September...

New episodes means new haircuts and new hormone monsters. (And new jobs for Coach Steve!)

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Prepare for another inside look into the art, science, and philosophy of design for the world that we take for granted around us. Scott Dadich and Morgan Neville’s “Abstract: The Art of Design” is returning for a second season on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

The series lets the designers themselves offer insight into how they first conceive of and then execute their visions in a variety of disciplines. In Season 1, the series examined craftspeople ranging from illustrator Christoph Niemannn and Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield to stage designer Es Devlin and graphic designer Paula Scher.

In its review of Season 1, IndieWire said, “There’s real excitement in hearing a creator explain his inspirations, when it’s done right — and that’s something ‘Abstract’ is rich with. You never know, after all, where a great idea might come from…It is fascinating to see this sort of focus applied to the creation...

Imagine Entertainment chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard announced Tuesday that producer Justin Wilkes is joining the company to launch its new venture, Imagine Documentaries.

Based in New York, Imagine Docs will focus on developing and producing feature documentaries and non-scripted television. Wilkes served as a producer on Howard’s documentary debut, “Jay-z’s Made In America,” and was also a producer on the National Geographic series “Mars.” Wilkes has won multiple Emmys and Peabody Awards and was recently nominated for an Oscar as a producer on the Netflix doc “What Happened, Miss Simone?

“We are so excited to have Justin join the team. He combines unique vision and masterful execution in all his projects. In the world of filmmaking and documentaries, he is a visionary. We have enjoyed our successful collaborations over the years, and are excited for what is to come in the future,” said Grazer and Howard in a statement.

Exclusive: Imagine Entertainment Chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard have launched Imagine Documentaries, a venture to develop and produce feature documentaries and non-scripted television projects. Grazer and Howard have set to Justin Wilkes to run the division, which will be based in New York. It marks Imagine’s first dedicated Gotham outpost.

Wilkes, who has been the long-time President of Entertainment and a partner at RadicalMedia, has worked closely enough with Grazer and Howard to have developed a shorthand. Wilkes collaborated with Grazer and Howard on Jay Z’s Made in America (on which Howard made his docu debut as director) and more recently on the hit National Geographic series Mars. Wilkes co-created and exec produced that series, whose second season debuts this fall. Imagine has always shown an interest in the documentary, with earlier efforts including Katy Perry: Part of Me, Inside Deep Throat, and Beyond The Mat.

He just wants to take a nap in his favorite chair, but the 172 demons in Willard's Mill have other plans for Stan and Sheriff Evie Barret in IFC's Stan Against Evil. With filming on the second season underway (stay tuned to Daily Dead for our set visit report), the cast and crew of the horror comedy series will travel to San Diego for what is sure to be a panel to remember.

Taking place in Room 5Ab on Thursday, July 20th, the Stan Against Evil Season 2 panel will include co-stars John C. McGinley and Janet Varney, as well as executive producer Dana Gould (who also plays cemetery caretaker Kevin on the series). We have official details below, as well as the previous press release with full details on the show's second season.

Daily Dead will be providing live coverage from San Diego Comic-Con later this month, and we'll be sure...

IFC is gearing up for another round of demon slaying, as the network has announced the start of production in Atlanta on season 2 of Stan Against Evil, starring John C. McGinley as the one and only Stan Miller.

Press Release: New York – May 30, 2017 – Production has commenced in Atlanta, Ga for IFC’s Stan Against Evil, with returning leads John C. McGinley (Scrubs) as Stan Miller, the curmudgeonly retired police-sheriff, and Janet Varney (You’re The Worst) as Evie Barret, the current sheriff in Willard’s Mill determined to wipe out the demons that plague their quaint New England town. Stan Against Evil is created by Dana Gould (The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation) and produced by RadicalMedia (Mars, Abstract: The Art of Design). Season 2 of the horror-comedy series will premiere this fall on IFC with eight half-hour episodes.

New guest stars coming to Stan Against Evil Season 2 include:

Denise Boutte (Meet The Browns) as Lara Bouchard,...

Perhaps you’ve heard: there’s a lot of TV airing these days. With new classics and returning favorites popping up every week, there’s certainly a lot to keep track of. We thought we’d make it easier to sort the shows worth your time from those that, well…might not be.

So we’ve gathered all our 2017 TV reviews in one place and sorted them by grade. (Where applicable, we’ve noted the season number and the network.) We’ll be updating this throughout the year, so be sure to check back as new shows premiere to see which tier they end up in. It’s not even a third of the way through the calendar year and there’s already been a bevy of quality television, ready for your DVRs and streaming service queues.

Without further ado: happy catch-up!

A+

The Leftovers – Season 3 [HBO]

A

The Americans – Season...

“Abstract: The Art of Design” is not necessarily a show we’d recommend for binge-viewing. The new Netflix series, streaming now following its Sundance 2017 premiere, is far from bad. Executive produced by Morgan Neville, the documentarians assembled to capture the spotlighted subjects have done a masterful job, by and large, of highlighting the unique sort of artistry at work here. However, episode by episode, every installment strikes such a similar tone and mood that to truly appreciate the difference in aethestics and disciplines on display, you’ll want to space them out.

You might also favor certain installments over others, whether it be because of subject matter or the execution itself. We reviewed the first two installments last month, finding it to be a fascinating approach to the importance of design we might otherwise take for granted. But now that we’ve been able to see all eight episodes, we have our favorites.