67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

The 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Andy Samberg, took place on Sunday Night September 20th.  The awards were presented during a FOX live telecast from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

In Samberg's first time as host, his opening was like the opening skit of an episode of SNL and starred some of this year's nominees...it was awesome!  It felt like he hit the nail on the head in terms of providing the new angle the Academy was looking for when they chose him as this year's host.



Some of the best moments of the night included Ricky Gervais pretending he won the Emmy, the "World's Best Boss" mug for Lorne Michaels (but actually Shonda Rimes), Andy's performance of "I'd Like to Give the World an Emmy", metal detectors on the red carpet, and Tracy Morgan's appearance to announce the winner of Outstanding Drama Series.

VEEP won Outstanding Comedy Series.  Julia Louis-Dreyfus won Lead Actress in a Comedy for her role in VEEP, and Tony Hale won Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his role in the series, his second category win for the role.  Jeffrey Tambor won Lead Actor in a Comedy for his role in Transparent, Jill Soloway also won the Emmy for Directing for the series.  Allison Janney won Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her role in Mom, her 7th career Emmy.

Olive Kitteridge swept the Limited Series categories wining 6 Emmys for Writing, Directing, Supporting Actor, Lead Actress, Lead Actor, and Outstanding Series.  The one other televised award in the category, Supporting Actress, went to Regina King for American Crime.

Game of Thrones won awards for Directing and Writing in a Drama Series, Oustanding Drama Series, and Supporting Actor in a Drama for Peter Dinklage.  Uzo Aduba won Supporting Actress in a Drama for her role in Orange is the New Black.  Jon Hamm (finally) won the Emmy for Lead Actor in a  Drama for playing Don Draper in Mad Men. Viola Davis took home Lead Actress in a Drama for How To Get Away With Murder, making her the firs African American woman to win the category.



One thing I personally enjoyed was the way they announced the nominees for Writing and Directing in a Comedy Series by asking the writers what was the hardest part of writing for a comedy and directors what are the best skills to have as a Comedy director.

Full Winners List
Creative Arts Emmys Full Winners List

Fashion

PC: John Shearer/Wireimage

Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany looked fabulous in a Bouchra Jarrar Couture ivory tuxedo.  

PC: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Taraji P. Henson of FOX's Empire looked incredible in custom Alexander Wang. 

PC: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Orange is the New Black's Uzo Aduba looked marvelous in Jonathan Cohen.

PC: Steve Granitz/Wireimage

Claire Danes looked magnificent in a rockstar-esque Prada gown.

PC: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Mad Men's Christina Hendricks looked stunning in Naeem Khan.













Of course, there were many more stunning looks on this year's red carpet! To see all of those looks check out the Red Carpet gallery here.

Fall 2015 Television Schedule: What's New and What's Returning

When the calendar flipped to September that meant the countdown was on for our favorite TV shows to come back into our lives. Starting September 21st we kick off Premiere Week with The Big Bang Theory on CBS at 8; this will the time slot for Big Bang until CBS is done covering Thursday night football then Big Bang will return to its normal time slot. Tuesday nights have a couple new shows with Limitless on CBS, Quantico on Fox, Heartbreaker on ABC, and Scream Queens on Fox.

Wednesday night the return of the breakout drama Empire makes its highly anticipated return. Also on Wednesdays will be Nashville on ABC, Law and Order: SVU and Chicago PD on NBC. Thursday Nights TGIT returns on ABC with a McDreamy-less Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How To Get Away with Murder. Also on NBC on Thursday is the resurrection of the groundbreaking drama Heroes with Heroes Reborn.

Photo: ShowBuzzDaily

Friday's viewers can take another swim in the tank with SharkTank on ABC, a race around the world on CBS with The Amazing Race, and see whats happening on Dateline. Sunday will feature its resident power women with The Good Wife and Madam Secretary on CBS. New to the Sunday night line up is Blood and Oil; if you were a fan of Dallas (the old or new version) this is a show you should check out starting Gossip Girl star Chase Crawford.

A few notes: Chicago PD will not start on Wednesday September 23rd because Law and Order: SVU is a 2 hour episode; so Chicago PD will start September 30th. Chicago Fire doesn't start until October 13th at its normal time of 10pm on Tuesday. The third installment of the Chicago series by Dick Wolf will have Chicago Med starting on November 17th. On Sunday September 27th at 8 there will be a 2 Hour CSI farewell with some of the original cast making an appearance. The September 24th episode of Heroes Reborn will also be 2 hours.

Addicting Television Shows that are not on basic networks:

Downton Abbey: January 2016
Walking Dead: October 11, 2015
Finding Carter Season 2b: October 6, 2015
Suits: January 2016
Major Crimes: November 2015

Let us know what shows you would like more information on in the comments! Or what shows you think everyone should watch because they are just epic!

Television Premiere Dates: August

August

Sunday, August 2
8:00 pm: Bachelor in Paradise (ABC)

Monday, August 3
9:30 pm: Significant Mother (CW)

Tuesday, August 4
10:00 pm: Playing House (USA)

Wednesday, August 5

Difficult People (Hulu)

8:00 pm: America's Next Top Model (CW)

9:00 pm: Mr. Robinson (NBC)

              A Wicked Offer (CW)
              Job or No Job (ABC Family)

9:30 pm: The Carmichael Show (NBC)

Saturday, August 8
11:00 pm: America's Next Weatherman (TBS)

Tuesday, August 11
9:00 pm: Next Step Realty: NYC (ABC Family)

Wednesday, August 12

8:00 pm: Young and Hungry (ABC Family)
8:30 pm: Kevin From Work (ABC Family)

Sunday, August 16
9:00 pm: Show Me A Hero (HBO)

Tuesday, August 18
8:00 pm: Startup U (ABC Family)

Thursday, August 20
10:00 pm: Documentary Now! (IFC)

Saturday, August 22

9:00 pm: Blunt Talk (Starz)
9:30 pm: Survivor's Remorse (Starz)
10:00 pm: Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted (HBO)

Sunday, August 23
9:00 pm: Fear the Walking Dead (AMC)

Monday, August 24
8:00 pm: Switched at Birth (ABC Family)

Tuesday, August 25
10:00 pm: Public Morals (TNT)
               Tosh.O (Comedy Central)

Friday, August 28
Narcos (Netflix)

Monday, August 31
9:00 pm: Awkward (MTV)
9:30 pm: Faking It (MTV)
10:00 pm: Todrick (MTV)
10:30 pm: Girl Code Live (MTV)

Primetime Emmy Nominations 2015

At 8:30 a.m. PST/11:30 a.m. EST, Uzo Aduba of Orange is the New Black and Cat Deely, host of So You Think You Can Dance?, announced the nominations for the 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards live from the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

Going into the nominations, perennial favorites including Mad Men and Orange is the New Black were expected to do well, as well as some newcomers including Empire, black-ish, and Grace and Frankie.  

Game of Thrones has the most nominations with 24, including Outstanding Drama Series. Grace and Frankie were not nominated as well as expected, while Netflix comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was nominated better than expected, including a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. Empire was largely snubbed, with only one nomination in the main acting categories of Taraji P. Henson for Lead Actress.

Andy Samberg will host the 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20.  The awards will be broadcast live on Fox from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

A partial list of nominations can be found below and a full list of nominations can be found here.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland House of Cards
Mad Men
Orange Is the New Black

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Robin Wright, House of Cards

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
Louie
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation Silicon Valley
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 
Veep

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Louis CK, Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
William H Macy, Shameless
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Allison Janney, Mom
Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Niecy Nash, Getting On

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Adam Driver, Girls
Tony Hale, Veep
Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele

NRACT Shines Like the Sun with 9 to 5 the Musical!

A few weeks ago, I told my parents that I would do anything to see 9 to 5 the Musical.  After years of seeing the movie and listening to the original cast recording, I was ready to see the show outside of a few youtube videos.  A random Facebook ad led me to hear about a local production of the show. Well, I did say I would do anything.

     

                                                            Photo courtesy of nract.org.

I was not expecting to be blown out of my seat by the sheer talent, force, and heart of North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre's production.

In 2009, Dolly Parton's musical, 9 to 5, opened on Broadway and earned fifteen Drama Desk Award nominations and four Tony Award nominations.  The show starred Allison Janney (NBC's The West Wing, CBS's Mom), Stephanie J. Block (The Boy From Oz, Wicked), Megan Hilty (NBC's SMASH, Wicked), and Marc Kudisch (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie).  While the production was short-lived, it certainly lived on among Dolly and Broadway fans.

Video courtesy of ABC via youtube.

Directed by James Ilsley, NRACT's production brings together some of the area's most talented to bring the show to life.  It should be noted that, unlike other groups, the cast and crew are volunteers - simply coming together to share their love of performing with each other and their audience.

    

               Mary Reilly, Mary Beth Hollmann, and AC Donohue as Judy, Violet, & Doralee. Photo courtesy of nract.org.

The show stars Mary Beth Hollmann, AC Donohue, and Mary Reilly as Violet, Doralee, and Judy respectively.  Alongside them, Bill Andrews plays Mr. Frank Hart, Natalie Turgeon plays Roz Keith, and David Kerman as Joe.  I cannot say how talented every person in the cast is; all have powerful voices that bring down the house in every number.  

A show like 9 to 5 requires a big cast to help carry the musical numbers, but the 18 performers in this production are the epitome of the phrase "less is more."  From the  beginning, a video of Dolly Parton leads the cast through the tale of three women who begin to fight back against their egotistical boss. The same video continues throughout the show providing the audience with a sense of location, as the sets are limited.  Following Dolly's lead, the cast brings audience members into the offices and homes of the characters.

Overall, the production is nothing short of stellar.  As mentioned, everyone involved is a volunteer - simply in it because they care.  It is rare to see a live show in which everyone is performing simply for the joy of performing.  Yes, the singers and actors are talented, but the passion is what makes this show shine like the sun!

9 to 5 runs until July 26!  Get your tickets now!

Be sure to like NRACT on Facebook, twitter, and instagram!  Also, check out their website for information about the rest of the season!

Coming to Netflix July 2015

July 1

Alive

An Honest Liar

Bad Hair Day
Bionicle: The Legend Reborn

Dave Attel: Road Work
Death in Paradise - Season 3
Grandma’s Boy
Hostage
Invizimals: The Alliance Files
La Reina del Sur
Octonauts - Season 3
Piglet’s Big Movie
El Senor de los Cielos - Seasons 1 & 2
Saw V
Set Fire to the Stars
Shooting Fish
The Secret of Roan Inish
Underworld: Evolution
Velvet - Season 2

 

July 3

Knights of Sidonia - Season 2

July 4

Faults

Hell on Wheels - Season 4

White Collar - Season 6 

July 7

Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights

Witches of East End - Season 2

July 9

Monsters: The Dark Continent

Serena

July 10

Chris Tucker Live

Violetta - Seasons 1 & 2

July 14

Bad Ink - Season 1
Bible Secrets Revealed - Season 1
Creep
Goodbye to All That
Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanleys Island of Dr. Moreau
Preachers’ Daughters - Season 2
Storage Wars: Texas - Season 1
The Killer Speaks - Season 2

July 15

Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
H20 Mermaid Adventures – 5 New Episodes
Penguins of Madagascar
The Physician

July 16

Changeling

July 17

BoJack Horseman - Season 2
The Human Experiment
Tig

July 18

Glee - Season 6
Java Heat

July 23

Teacher of the Year

July 25

The Guest

July 28

Comet
Marvel’s Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. - Season 2

July 30

Almost Mercy
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Season 5
The Wrecking Crew

July 31

Turbo Fast - Season 2

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp

Television Premiere Dates: July

July

Wednesday, July 1
10:00 pm: Extant (CBS)

Thursday, July 2
8:00 pm: Food Fighters (NBC)

Monday, July 6
8:00 pm: Penn & Teller: Fool Us (CW)

9:00 pm: Whose Line Is It Anyway? (CW)
              Chasing Life (ABC Family)

10:00 pm: Becoming Us (ABC Family)

Tuesday, July 7
10:00 pm: Hollywood Game Night (NBC)

Wednesday, July 8
10:00 pm: Key & Peele (Comedy Central)
             Catfish (MTV)              

10:30 pm: Why? with Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central)

Thursday, July 9
9:00 pm: Dates (CW)
10:00 pm: Teen Mom 2 (MTV)
               Dominion (Syfy)
11:00 pm: One Bad Choice (MTV)

Friday, July 10

8:00 pm: Masters of Illusion (CW)

Saturday, July 11
10:00 pm: 7 Days in Hell (HBO)

Sunday, July 12
9:00 pm: Ray Donovan (Showtime)
10:00 pm: Masters of Sex (Showtime)
               The Strain (FX)

Monday, July 13
10:00 pm: Monica the Medium (ABC Family) 
               Running Wild with Bear Grylls (NBC)
               Cuban Chrome (Discovery)

Wednesday, July 15

10:00 pm: The Jim Gaffigan Show (TV Land)
10:30 pm: Impaster (TV Land)
11:00 pm: The Exes (TV Land)

Thursday, July 16
10:00 pm: Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (FX)
10:30 pm: Married (FX)
11:30 pm: Geeks Who Drink (Syfy)

Friday, July 17
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (Netflix)
BoJack Horseman (Neflix)

Saturday, July 18
9:00 pm: Hell on Wheels (AMC)

Sunday, July 19
8:00 pm: Welcome to Sweden (NBC)

Tuesday, July 21
9:00 pm: Knock Knock Live (Fox)

Wednesday, July 22
9:00 pm: Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (Syfy)
              Last Comic Standing (NBC)
              Home Free (Fox)
              Dating Naked (VH1)
10:00 pm: Twinning (VH1)

Sunday, July 26
8:00 pm: I Am Cait! (E!)
9:00 pm: Who Do You Think You Are? (TLC)
              Stewarts & Hamiltons (E!)

Tuesday, July 28
9:00 pm: Face Off (Syfy)

Wednesday, July 29
9:00 pm: The Game (BET) - Series Finale
11:00 pm: Candidly Nicole (VH1) 
               America's Best Dance Crew All-Stars: Road to the VMAs (MTV)

Thursday, July 30
10:00 pm: Review (Comedy Central)

Friday, July 31
8:00 pm: Cold Justice (TNT)
9:00 pm: Cold Justice: Sex Crimes (TNT)