Emmys, new series and a movie, a little catch-up

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Stars of David Contributing Columnist

Editor’s Note: Persons in bold are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of this column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in, or identify with, a faith other than Judaism. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.

The Emmy Awards will be presented on Sept. 19 (CBS, 8 p.m.). As interest in the Emmys has waned, my sense is that new TV shows, etc. are of more general interest. Here are lists of Jewish nominees in just the acting and best series categories. Omitted are guest acting role nominees.

Lead actor, comedy series: Michael Douglas, 76, “The Kominsky Method;” Lead actress, comedy series: Tracee Ellis, 48, “Blackish;” Supporting actor, comedy: Brett Goldstein, 40, “Ted Lasso” and Paul Reiser, 65, “Kominsky;” Supporting actress, comedy: Hannah Einbinder, 26, “Hacks;” and Lead actor, limited series/TV movie: Daveed Diggs, 39, “Hamilton.”

Best series

All but two of the following persons are “best series” Emmy nominees, but I also note (see asterisk) two persons who wrote books or films the series was based on. Comedy series: “Cobra Kai,” based on “Karate Kid” films, written by Robert Mark Kamen*, 73; “Kai” was created for TV by Hayden Schlossberg and Jon Hurwitz, both 43; and “Emily in Paris,” created by Darren Star, 60; and “Kominsky,” created by Chuck Lorre, 68.

Drama series

“Boys,” developed for TV by Eric Kripke, 46; “Bridgerton,” based on novels by Julia Quinn*, 51; “The Crown,” created by Peter Morgan, 58; “The Mandolorian,” created by Jon Faveau, 54; “Pose,” cocreated by Brad Falchuk, 50; and “This is Us,” created by Dan Fogelman, 45.

Limited series/TV movie

“The Queen’s Gambit,” created by A. Scott Frank, 60; and “Wanda Vision,” created by Jac Schaeffer, 42. I’ve omitted the best talk show and animated series nominees.

TV shows and more

“Ordinary Joe” stars James Wolk, 36, as a guy who faces a pivotal decision after college. The series follows three different lifepaths that could result from that decision. David Warshowsky, 60, has a supporting role. (Premieres Sept. 20, 10 p.m., on NBC).

“Y: The Last Man” posits a dystopic future in which all mammals with a Y chromosome are rendered sterile — except one man. The main cast includes Olivia Thirlby, 34. (Premieres Sept. 13 on FX).

“The Big Leap” is a musical-comedy series based on a British reality show. The supporting cast includes Jon Rudnitsky, 31. (Premieres Sept. 20, 10 p.m., on Fox)

Opening in theaters on Sept. 29 is “Dear Evan Hansen,” based on the megahit Broadway musical of the same name. The title character is a troubled teen. Ben Platt, 27, who created the stage role, plays Hansen in the film. The music and lyrics are by the team of Benj Pasek, 36, and Justin Paul. The screenplay is by Steven Levenson, 37, who created the “book” (story) for the stage musical.

Catch-up “corner”

“Hit & Run” is the first Israeli series created for Netflix. All the actors, except one American, are Israeli and Jewish. The nine-episode series follows a tour guide (Lior Raz, 49) investigating the mysterious death of his wife. (Began streaming Aug. 6).

“Respect,” a biopic about the late Aretha Franklin, opened in theaters on Aug. 13. Marc Maron, 57, has a large supporting role as Jerry Wexler (1917-2008), a legendary producer and record company executive who made Franklin a star.

Aretha’s huge hit, “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman,” is sung in the film. The music is by Carole King, now 79. The lyrics were by her first husband, Gerry Goffin (1939-2014). It has always intrigued me that a man wrote the “Natural Woman” lyrics.