S P ECIAL ISS U E S UNDAY, A P R I L 7, 2 0 1 9
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SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I’VE GOTTA BE ME
TED WILLIAMS: “THE GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED”
GARRY WINOGRAND: ALL THINGS ARE PHOTOGRAPHABLE
FYC OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY OR NONFICTION SERIES
JOSEPH PULITZER: VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
EVERYBODY KNOWS... ELIZABETH MURRAY
WYETH
DECODING WATSON
BASQUIAT: RAGE TO RICHES
CHARLEY PRIDE: I’M JUST ME
HOLLY NEAR: SINGING FOR OUR LIVES
7:00AM - 8:20 A M
S P O N S O R E D BY
A B REA KFAST INS P IRED BY T H E M A RVELOU S M RS. M A ISEL
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO 8:23am – 8:44am
Homecoming
Eli Horowitz (Co-Creator/Writer) Micah Bloomberg (Co-Creator/Writer) Stephan James (Actor) Shea Whigham (Actor)
The Romanoffs
Matthew Weiner (Creator/Writer/Director/EP) Christina Hendricks (Actor)
PARAMOUNT NETWORK 8:47am – 8:57am
Yellowstone
Kevin Costner (Actor) Luke Grimes (Actor) Kelly Reilly (Actor)
HBO 9:00am – 9:32am
True Detective
Mahershala Ali (Actor) Nic Pizzolatto (Creator/Writer/Director/EP)
The Deuce
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Producer/Actor)
Sharp Objects
Amy Adams (EP/Actor) Jean-Marc Vallée (Director/EP)
MASTERPIECE/PBS 9:34am – 9:44am
Les Misérables
Lily Collins (Actor) Dominic West (EP/Actor)
WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP 9:46am – 10:07am
The Big Bang Theory
Mark Cendrowski (Director) Mayim Bialik (Actor) Kunal Nayyar (Actor) Melissa Rauch (Actor)
You
Greg Berlanti (Co-Creator/ EP/ Writer) Sera Gamble (Co-Creator/EP/Writer) Penn Badgley (Actor)
Schitt’s Creek
Daniel Levy (Co-Creator/Showrunner/EP/Actor) Eugene Levy (Co-Creator/EP/Actor)
CATE RE D B REA K FAST
POP TV 10:09am – 10:19am
SCHEDULE AND PRESENTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
FOX/TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION 10:22am – 10:43am
The Orville
Seth MacFarlane (Creator/EP) Brannon Braga (Executive Producer) Jon Cassar (Executive Producer) Stephen Lineweaver (Production Designer)
Rent
Adam Siegel (Executive Producer) Julie Larson (Executive Producer) Alex Rudzinski (Executive Producer) Vanessa Hudgens (Actor) Brandon Victor Dixon (Actor)
AT&T AUDIENCE NETWORK 10:50am – 11:00am
Condor
Mira Sorvino (Actor) Christina Moses (Actor) Kristen Hager (Actor) Katherine Cunningham (Actor)
ABC/ABC STUDIOS 11:03am – 11:24am
ABC’s Women of Comedy
Sara Gilbert, The Conners (EP/Actor) Mary McCormack, The Kids Are Alright (Actor) Molly McNearney, Jimmy Kimmel Live! (Co-EP/Co-Head Writer)
A Million Little Things
Ron Livingston (Actor) David Giuntoli (Actor) Christina Moses (Actor)
IFC 11:27am – 11:37am
Documentary Now!
Rhys Thomas (Creator/EP/Director) Alex Buono (EP/Director) Fred Armisen (Creator/EP/Writer/Actor)
STARZ 11:40am – 12:00pm
Vida
Tanya Saracho (Creator/Showrunner/Writer/Director) Melissa Barrera (Actor) Mishel Prada (Actor)
American Gods
Ricky Whittle (Actor) Ian McShane (Executive Producer/Actor) Emily Browning (Actor) Pablo Schreiber (Actor)
Free Solo
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (Director) Jimmy Chin (Director) Bob Eisenhardt (Editor)
NAT GEO 12:03pm – 12:23pm
SCHEDULE AND PRESENTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
F O R
Y O U R
C O N S I D E R A T I O N
O U T S T A N D I N G
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
DOMINIC WEST
L I M I T E D
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
LILY COLLINS
S E R I E S
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
DAVID OYELOWO
A N E W A DA P TAT I O N O F T H E C L A S S I C N OV E L
NAT GEO 12:03pm – 12:23pm
The Hot Zone
Julianna Margulies (Actor) Topher Grace (Actor) Kelly Souders (Showrunner) Brian Peterson (Showrunner)
NETFLIX 12:26pm – 1:06pm
Bodyguard
Richard Madden (Actor)
Ozark
Jason Bateman (EP/Director/Actor) Julia Garner (Actor) Laura Linney (Actor)
Russian Doll
Natasha Lyonne (EP/Co-Creator/Writer/Director/Actor) Leslye Headland (EP/Co-Creator/Writer/Director) Amy Poehler (EP/Co-Creator/Writer)
The Kominsky Method
Michael Douglas (EP/Actor) Chuck Lorre (EP/Director)
1:10P M - 2:30P M
S P O N S O R E D BY
AMC 2:35pm – 2:45pm
Better Call Saul
Bob Odenkirk (Actor)
COMEDY CENTRAL 2:48pm – 3:20pm
Broad City
Abbi Jacobson (Co-Creator/EP/Showrunner/Director/Actor) Amy Poehler (Executive Producer)
Drunk History
Derek Waters (Co-Creator/EP/Director/Host) Jeremy Konner (Co-Creator/EP/Director)
The Other Two
Chris Kelly (Co-Creator/Writer/EP/Director) Sarah Schneider (Co-Creator/Writer/EP)
The Clinton Affair
Blair Foster (Director) Alex Gibney (EP)
CATE RE D LU NC H
A&E 3:22pm – 3:32pm
SCHEDULE AND PRESENTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
For Your on C o n si d e ra ti
tional a m r fo In g in d Outstan cial Series or Spe
with
LIFETIME 3:35pm – 3:45pm
Surviving R. Kelly
Brie Miranda Bryant (EP) Kitti Jones (Survivor)
CBS TELEVISION STUDIOS 3:48pm – 4:09pm
The Late Late Show with James Corden
James Corden (Host/Producer)
The Twilight Zone
Simon Kinberg (EP/Director) Sanaa Lathan (Actor)
FX 4:12pm – 4:22pm
Pose
Steven Canals (Co-Creator/Co-EP/Writer) Janet Mock (Producer/Writer/Director) Our Lady J (Producer/Writer)
HULU 4:25pm – 5:08pm
Catch-22
Grant Heslov (EP/Director) Ellen Kuras (Producer/Director) Richard Brown (EP) Luke Davies (EP/Co-Writer) Christopher Abbott (Actor)
Ramy
Ramy Youssef (Creator/EP/Actor)
Shrill
Ali Rushfield (Co-EP/Co-Writer) Elizabeth Banks (EP)
The Act
Nick Antosca (EP/Co-Showrunner) Michelle Dean (EP/Co-Showrunner) Joey King (Actor) Patricia Arquette (Actor)
5 :15 PM - 7:30P M
CO C KTA I L R EC E PTI O N
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A N E W A DA P TAT I O N O F T H E C L A S S I C N OV E L
PETE HAMMOND
PRESTIGE TV Pete Hammond moderates a Contenders Emmys panel with Mosaic’s Sharon Stone.
WELCOME TO THE CONTENDERS EMMYStakes a look at what’s in store PETE HAMMOND
at Deadline’s celebration of all things television THE SIX MONTH-LONG Oscar season may be finished, but there is no rest for the weary as the Emmy season—just as long again—is already upon us. Deadline’s fourth annual The Contenders Emmys comes from a new venue this year—Paramount Studios—but we’ll still offer a plethora of hopefuls for TV’s highest honors.
Actually, as time goes on it seems Emmy season gets longer, and bigger than ever in terms of campaign intensity. Compared against the Oscars, it has certainly become more crowded, with more studios, networks, cable outlets and streamers participating than ever. The emergence of the streaming phenomenon, led by Netflix,
Amazon and Hulu, is particularly significant. Netflix broke the Emmy glass ceiling last year, leading all comers and scoring the most Emmy nominations in the pack. And Hulu and Amazon have broken through in the past couple of seasons by each scoring a significant victory in the marquee Comedy (Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Drama Series (Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale) categories. And the streamers will be keeping you fed and watered today, with Amazon returning to host breakfast, Netflix to host lunch and Hulu offering a post-event reception. Of course, the big four networks and cable behemoths aren’t resting on their laurels,
LAUGH RIOT Sarah Silverman speaking at last year’s television extravaganza.
and if anything they’re increasing their presence in the season this year. HBO, for example, has a star-studded line-up planned for today’s event, with a morning session that will feature twotime Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (True Detective), six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams (Sharp Objects), and Oscar and Emmy nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Deuce). That kind of star power will be evident throughout the day. It’s interesting to note that all four acting winners at the Oscars this year—for the first time ever—were all TV stars in current or upcoming series. The aforementioned Ali joined Regina King (Seven Seconds), Rami
Malek (Mr. Robot) and Olivia Colman (Fleabag) on the Oscar podium. Colman will also soon appear in Seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown. It’s proof, if needed, that the old stigma that the best careers could only be forged on film has died out. This as the streamers continue to blur the lines between theatrical film and television, as eligibility debates dominate both the Oscar and Emmy races. Still, the Emmys will be dealing with a number of their own key moments this year, including final seasons for HBO’s Game of Thrones and Veep, both multiple past Emmy winners looking for one last chance at glory. TV’s number one comedy, CBS’s The
Big Bang Theory, will be hoping also to go out on a bang of its own, as it ends its 12-season run. Can it finally win Best Comedy Series, or will Veep—or last year’s winner The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel—repeat? Judging by the comedy series that will take our stage today, it may be something else entirely. Of course, all eyes are on this year’s crop of new shows, coming to Contenders in the hope of an early lift to their exposure in front of the voters on hand at the Paramount Studios Theatre. They include Matt Weiner’s follow-up to Mad Men, The Romanoffs; You; Homecoming; The Orville; Yellowstone; A Million Little Things; Vida; The Kominsky Method; Russian Doll; Pose; and many more. Stars from Kevin Costner to Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin will all be on hand. During the day we have a plethora of comedy series, talk shows, drama series, limited series, movies and so much more. The talent line-up is bigger than ever, and so is Deadline’s The Contenders Emmys. So welcome to the one-stop shop for Television Academy voters. Settle in and enjoy a day that will hopefully give you a taste of what’s in store this season, and what to expect when you get your screeners. ★ Follow Pete Hammond’s video series, The Actor’s Side and Behind the Lens, this Emmy season at Deadline.com
THE
SHOWS AMAZON PRIME VIDEO Homecoming Based on a podcast created by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, this Hitchockian thriller marks Julia Roberts’ entrée into the world of prestige TV. Roberts stars as Heidi, a caseworker at a mysterious government facility. While the center claims to help soldiers transition back to civilian life, Heidi eventually intuits much darker intentions on the part of her employers, unraveling an apparent conspiracy. Directed and co-created by Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot), Homecoming features memorable supporting turns from Stephan James, Shea Whigham, Bobby Cannavale and more. The Romanoffs Created by Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner, this ambitious eight-part anthology series canvasses the globe. Offering up an abundance of compelling characters, the drama presents eight separate stories about people with one strange quality in common—each of them is convinced of their relation to the Russian royal family. The
series boasts an impressive cast, including Diane Lane, Aaron Eckhart, Kathryn Hahn, Corey Stoll, and even a couple of Mad Men alums: Christina Hendricks and John Slattery. PARAMOUNT NETWORK Yellowstone From John Linson and Taylor Sheridan—the Oscar nominee behind a trio of award-winning Westerns—Yellowstone is the Paramount Network’s first scripted series, a portrait of life on America’s volatile new frontier. Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton, a Montana native in control of the United States’ largest contiguous ranch. Contending with powerful, encroaching neighbors who understand the value of his land, the patriarch enlists his children in its defense. Back for a second season in June, the drama also stars Kelly Reilly and Luke Grimes. HBO True Detective In the months leading up to his second Oscar win, Mahershala Ali was also commanding attention on television, in the
The Golden Age of television rolls on at this year’s The Contenders Emmys, where stars, showrunners, and other key creatives will be on hand to discuss the most high-profile series of today.
third season of this acclaimed crime anthology. Playing Detective Wayne Hays, with Stephen Dorff as his partner, the actor finds himself up in the Ozarks, investigating the disappearance of two children. With palpable chemistry between its two leads, the season also features strong supporting turns from Carmen Ejogo and Scoot McNairy. Created by Nic Pizzolatto, the series has won five Emmys in the past, and looks to return to competition this year. The Deuce Celebrated for their work on The Wire—a gripping portrait of the Baltimore drug scene—David Simon and George Pelecanos have turned their attention to equally sordid affairs with their latest series. Set in ‘70s New York, the drama examines an evolving city, at a time when porn and prostitution were rampant. Two seasons in, with a third and final go-round on the horizon, the series has been critically praised, earning Maggie Gyllenhaal a Golden Globe nod last year for her turn as street-smart sex worker Candy Merrell.
The Romanoffs
Yellowstone
The Deuce
Sharp Objects This psychological thriller adapts Gillian Flynn’s debut novel of the same name. Created by Marti Noxon (UnREAL), the limited series follows Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), a troubled reporter who reluctantly returns to her hometown, covering a violent local murder while staring down demons from her past. This year, the series earned three Golden Globe nominations, along with a statuette for co-star Patricia Clarkson. Jean-Marc Vallée, the Oscar-nominated talent behind the premium cabler’s Big Little Lies, directs all eight episodes. PBS Les Misérables (Masterpiece) Seven years after Tom Hooper’s Oscar-winning movie musical, Andrew Davies tries his hand at adapting Victor Hugo’s classic novel, with an all-star cast in tow. In the six-part miniseries directed by Tom Shankland, Dominic West stars as Jean Valjean, a peasant in postNapoleonic France who spent 19 years in prison for a minor crime. Finally freed, he must evade a ruthless police inspector with a vendetta against him (David Oyelowo), just as a destitute young woman (Lily Collins) enters his life. WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP The Big Bang Theory Since its 2007 premiere, this sitcom has been a staple for CBS, generating 10 Emmys, an avid fan base, and a prequel. Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill
Prady, the series follows two first-rate physicists and their equally brilliant friends, who excel at work, but lack social skills, turning to their extroverted neighbor to learn about life outside the lab. Starring Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar, the comedy is currently in its 12th and final season, and will end production for good in May this year.
by circumstance, learning over time how the other 99% live. The quirky series reteams the elder Levy with fellow SCTV alum Catherine O’Hara, while Annie Murphy and Chris Elliott round out the cast.
You Based on Caroline Kepnes’ best-selling novel, this psychological thriller presents the ultimate antihero, exploring the fine line between love and obsession. Penn Badgley stars as Joe Goldberg, a seemingly innocuous bookstore manager who falls in love at first sight, and will stop at nothing to earn an aspiring writer (Elizabeth Lail)’s heart. Created by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, the series first aired on Lifetime, before moving to Netflix. It was renewed for a second season prior to its debut.
FOX/TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION The Orville The first live-action series created by and starring Seth MacFarlane, the sci-fi comedy follows Capt. Ed Mercer, an officer commanding an exploratory space vessel in the 25th Century. Navigating the complexities of the USS Orville’s diplomatic and exploratory missions, Mercer must also deal with the presence of his ex-wife (Adrianne Palicki) at work, when she’s assigned as his first officer. Executive produced by Jon Cassar and Star Trek alum Brannon Braga, with stellar production design from Stephen Lineweaver, the series wraps up its second season this month.
POP TV Schitt’s Creek Created by (and starring) the father-son duo of Eugene and Daniel Levy, this Canadian sitcom remains a favorite among comedy fans, five seasons in. The fish-out-of-water tale follows the Rose family—four self-absorbed, pampered individuals who experience a rude awakening when finances run low. Moving to a town that patriarch Johnny once bought as a joke, the quartet are humbled
Rent Executive produced by Adam Siegel, Julie Larson and Alex Rudzinski, the latest in a series of live musical events from the network adapts Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award-winning musical, making good use of an all-star cast. Directed by the Emmy-winning Rudzinzki and Tony Award-nominee Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen), this rendition stars Vanessa Hudgens, Brandon Victor Dixon,
You
Kiersey Clemons, and Keala Settle. Previously adapted into a 2005 feature, Rent tells the story of New York City artists confronting poverty, homophobia and AIDS, while trying to make ends meet. Schitt’s Creek
Les Misérables
Condor
AT&T AUDIENCE NETWORK Condor Previously adapted into an Oscar-nominated film, James Grady’s Six Days of the Condor has now come to TV. Produced by MGM and Skydance Television, the thriller is centered on Joe Turner (Max Irons), an idealistic, young CIA analyst whose dreams of fostering agency reform go out the window when he stumbles into the midst of a giant, deadly conspiracy. Starring William Hurt, Mira Sorvino, Christina Moses, Kristin Hager, and Katherine Cunningham, the series was renewed for a second season last summer.
ABC/ABC STUDIOS The Conners The spin-off to a landmark sitcom, this comedy looks to make a mark of its own in its first go-round, and has already been picked up for a second. Following up with the Conners following the sudden death of matriarch Roseanne, the series sees every member of the family dealing with the loss in their own way. Leading the cast, Sara Gilbert, John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf invite viewers into their living room in the fictional Lanford, Illinois to laugh, be comforted and discuss a series of major issues affecting America today. The Kids Are Alright This series from Tim Doyle is loosely inspired by his own experiences coming of age in a large family, so it’s only fitting that Doyle also provides the
Bodyguard
narration voiceover. In the sitcom, Mary McCormack (Will & Grace, Nobodies) and Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead) star as Peggy and Mike Cleary, working-class Irish Catholics working hard to raise their eight sons. A portrait of ‘70s Los Angeles, the series is one of several breathing new comedic life into ABC. Jimmy Kimmel Live! Closing in on Episode 3000, this late-night talk show has had the longest run of any in ABC’s history. Hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, the all-star show regularly features a who’s who of guests, spanning all areas of entertainment. Emmynominated for Outstanding Variety Series in each of the last seven years, this particular late-night series is quite a family affair: Kimmel’s band leader is a childhood friend, while his cohead writer and co-executive
producer is none other than his wife, Molly McNearney. A Million Little Things In the vein of 1983 classic The Big Chill, DJ Nash’s series centers on one man’s suicide, and the effect it has on his tight-knit group of friends. A drama with comedic elements, the story unfolds in Boston, as those who knew Jon Dixon (Ron Livingston) reflect on their lives, balancing career and family challenges, while striving with renewed purpose for personal fulfillment. Renewed for a second season in February, the show’s ensemble includes David Giuntoli. Christina Moses, Romany Malco, James Roday and Allison Miller. IFC Documentary Now! Over the course of 21 episodes, this mockumentary series hosted by Helen Mirren has become
Free Solo
Ozark
Vida
a bona fide cultural phenomenon. Created by SNL alums Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas, the series examines the prevalence of documentaries in our current pop culture conversation, parodying celebrated works, with an eye for their visual style. As a testament to the series’ cachet, Season 3 guest stars include Owen Wilson, Michael Keaton and Cate Blanchett. EPs Thomas and Alex Buono direct. STARZ American Gods With characters named “Mr. World”, “Technical Boy” and “Mad Sweeney”, this fantasy series could have only come from the wildly inventive mind of Neil Gaiman. Based on his novel, the drama stars Ricky Whittle as Shadow, a man released from prison only to become caught up in a world of magic, where Old and New Gods are at war. Created by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, the series’ all-star cast includes Emily Browning, Crispin Glover, Bruce Langley, Yetide Badaki, Pablo Schreiber and Ian McShane. With its second season winding down, American Gods has already been renewed for a third. Vida Starring Mishel Prada and Melissa Barrera, this series is the first from playwright-turnedscreenwriter Tanya Saracho (Looking, How to Get Away with Murder). Centered on two Mexican-American sisters from East LA with substantially
different personalities, the half-hour drama forces the estranged pair to come together to confront their past and a startling truth about their mother’s identity. Inspired by a short story by Richard Villegas Jr., the series was renewed for a second season in June. NAT GEO Free Solo Two months after its Oscars win, this jaw-dropping doc is starting another climb. Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, the film follows Alex Honnold as he manages to scale El Capitan, without so much as a rope to prevent his fall. As unprecedented as the free-climber’s achievement clearly was, it’s fitting that the doc about his exploits also may make history. If Free Solo can parlay its February win into an Emmy victory, in the category of Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, it would become only the second doc in history to do so. The Hot Zone Following her years on ER, Julianna Margulies had no desire to take on another medical drama—until she read the scripts for this compelling limited series, from Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders and Jeff Vintar. Executive produced by Ridley Scott, the thriller is based on a harrowing true story, explored in Richard Preston’s 1994 bestseller. Opposite Topher Grace, Noah Emmerich and Liam Cunningham, Margulies
stars as Nancy Jaax, an army scientist who sees the potential for an outbreak of Ebola on U.S. soil, and puts her life at risk to stop it. NETFLIX Bodyguard After three seasons on Game of Thrones, Richard Madden found his star-making role in this political thriller from Jed Mercurio, for which Madden won his first Golden Globe. He plays Police Sergeant David Budd, a heroic, though emotionally damaged veteran of the British Army, whose PTSD estranges him from his family. Recruited by London’s Metropolitan Service to guard a politician whose values clash violently with his own, Budd finds matters worsening substantially as he’s caught up in a conspiracy. Ozark Displaying talents on both sides of the camera, Jason Bateman has played a major role in shaping this crime drama. The SAG Award winner stars as Marty Byrde, a Chicago financial adviser laundering money for a Mexican drug cartel, who moves his family to the Ozarks when things go awry. Working with his politically savvy wife (Laura Linney) and a teenage local (Julia Garner) to appease the cartel, Byrde tangles with local criminals, while striving to protect his kids, and keep his family together. From Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, the highly cinematic nail-biter was renewed for a third season last fall.
Russian Doll While Nadia (creator/star Natasha Lyonne) finds herself stuck in one place, courtesy of a pesky time loop, this stylish mystery bridges past and future, taking a Groundhog Day-adjacent premise, and twisting it into a fresh, binge-worthy series. Dying on her 36th birthday, the cynical New Yorker realizes she is doomed to relive that same day until she’s able to face harsh truths about herself. Co-created by Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler, with an all-female roster of writers and directors, the series also stars Charlie Barnett and Greta Lee. The Kominsky Method A meditation on the experience of growing old, this series from powerhouse producer Chuck Lorre won two Golden Globes in its first go-round (including the award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy). Michael Douglas plays Sandy Kominsky, a formerly successful actor who now works as an acting coach and experiences a third-quarter life crisis, alongside his best friend and agent, Norman (Alan Arkin). One of the season’s most popular new comedies, The Kominsky Method was renewed for a second season earlier this year. AMC Better Call Saul The prequel to modern classic Breaking Bad, this spin-off has matched that crime drama’s level of acclaim, generating 23 Emmy nominations over the course of its four seasons. Starring as Jimmy McGill, Bob
Russian Doll
The Other Two
Odenkirk masterfully charts the character’s path from con man to small-time lawyer, to criminal-for-hire Saul Goodman. While Season 4 sees McGill teetering on the edge of his ultimate moral descent, the series from Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould will be back for a fifth season, perhaps to make the transformation finally complete. COMEDY CENTRAL Broad City The brainchild of Upright Citizens Brigade alums Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson— who executive produce, direct and star—and based on their popular web series, this comedy follows the daily lives, hijinks and hedonism of two millennial women trying to make it in New York City. In the fifth and final season,
Better Call Saul
executive produced by Amy Poehler, the friends get into new adventures, trying hair modeling and cashing out Bitcoin earnings, while opening up an outdoor workspace for dedicated smokers. Drunk History Created by Jeremy Konner and Derek Waters, who hosts, this educational comedy series has comedians get totally inebriated and give their take on famous historical narratives, with A-list stars acting out events as they’re recollected. Executive produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the variety series has been going strong for six seasons, earning 11 Emmy nods and one statuette. Tackling such subjects as The Little Rock Nine and the origins of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Sea-
Broad City
son 6 features Seth Rogen, Thomas Middleditch, Chris Parnell and more. The Other Two Given Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider’s past experience as the head writers of Saturday Night Live, it’s little wonder that their showbiz satire drew an avid following from the start, getting a Season 2 pick-up less than a month after its debut. Poking fun at the ubiquitous pre-pubescent celebrity type, the series follows an aspiring actor (Drew Tarver) and his sister (Heléne Yorke), a former professional dancer, stumbling through their New York lives, as their 13-year-old brother becomes an internet sensation overnight. Case Walker, Ken Marino, and Molly Shannon round out the principal cast.
A+E NETWORKS The Clinton Affair (A&E) 20 years after President Bill Clinton’s sexual misconduct came to light and scandal erupted, Emmy winner Blair Foster turns her lens on this impactful political moment with a six-part docuseries, observing its relevance in today’s political world. Executive produced by Alex Gibney, the series discusses the oppression of female accusers, and couldn’t be more current. It’s stitched together with neverbefore-seen archival footage and a series of new interviews, and while the Clintons declined to participate, Foster’s series finds its secret weapon in Monica Lewinsky herself. Surviving R. Kelly (Lifetime) In the year of the damning docuseries, this much-dis-
cussed effort set its sights on R&B star R. Kelly, digging into myriad allegations of sexual abuse that circulated for decades without legal intervention. Executive produced by Brie Miranda Bryant, the series has given a voice and platform to women like Kitti Jones—victims of Kelly’s alleged abuse who will suffer in silence no more. Within a month of the critically acclaimed series’ release, Kelly was dropped by his record label, and he was formally charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. CBS TELEVISION STUDIOS The Late Late Show with James Corden Garnering 9 Emmy nominations over the course of several years, this late-night talk show has consistently made waves since
James Corden arrived as host in 2015. A popular comedian and Tony Award-winning actor, the British import has taken the gig and run with it, revitalizing the late-night space with an imaginative, experimental spirit. A virtual unknown in the United States just four years ago, Corden has thus far generated countless viral videos, along with several massively popular original segments like “Carpool Karaoke”, which have quickly spun off into their own separate series. The Twilight Zone In 1959, Rod Serling introduced the world to a mesmerizing new dimension with his classic series—and in 2019, Jordan Peele reboots it for a new generation of viewers, standing in for the TV titan as the series’ narrator and EP. In keeping with the original anthology, this third small-screen revival explores genres including fantasy, science fiction and horror, an imaginative commentary on the human condition, and our contemporary world. Revisiting classic episodes like “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”, Season 1 features Seth Rogen, Kumail Nanjiani, Ginnifer Goodwin and more. FX Pose Nominated for two Golden Globes in its first season, including Best Television Series – Drama, this series is set in the late ‘80s, and takes
a look at three of New York’s unique spheres: the downtown social scene, the world of African-American and Latino ball culture, and the emerging elite. Created by Steven Canals, Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy, with Janet Mock and Our Lady J on board as writer-producers, the LGBTQx drama boasts an impressive cast, featuring more trans actresses than any scripted series in history, and will be back for its second season this year. HULU Catch-22 This adaptation of Joseph Heller’s classic satirical novel was mounted by an assortment of entertainment titans, including George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Ellen Kuras and Richard Brown. Set during World War II, the dark comedy is centered on Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a member of the US Army Air Forces, whose experiences speak to the essential absurdity of war. Starring opposite Abbott and Kyle Chandler, Clooney directs two episodes of the six-part limited series, scripted by Luke Davies and David Michôd. Ramy A stand-up comedian on the rise, Ramy Youssef channels his life experiences into this fresh coming-of-age comedy, which picked up SXSW’s Episodic Audience Award ahead of its debut. In the series, executive produced by Jerrod Carmichael, the director and EP stars as a version of himself—a first-
generation American Muslim struggling to reconcile conflicting facets of his identity, as an Egyptian and a millennial. Produced by A24 Television, the series premieres on April 19. Shrill Standout SNL player Aidy Bryant breaks out this year as the star of her own series, executive produced by Alexandra Rushfield and Elizabeth Banks. Based on a memoir by Lindy West, the comedy follows Annie, a young writer often judged for her weight, who comes to a realization— that she can change her life without changing her body. Working hard to build a career, the scribe decides to ignore the expectations of others, focusing instead on those she has for herself. The Act Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean capture two of the season’s most startling performances in their truecrime anthology’s first season. Patricia Arquette stars as Dee Dee Blanchard, an overprotective mother accused of abusing her teenage daughter (Joey King), and who met a violent, upsetting end at the girl’s own hand. Previously explored in an HBO documentary after the case went viral, the story at the center of the series’ first installment is truly stranger than fiction. Chloë Sevigny, AnnaSophia Robb and Calum Worthy also star. ★
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
RUTH WILSON
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C O N S I D E R A T I O N LEONARD BERNSTEIN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT TANGLEWOOD
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
ORPHÉE ET EURYDICE FROM LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
HAROLD PRINCE: THE DIRECTOR’S LIFE
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
GRAMMY SALUTE TO MUSIC LEGENDS®
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)