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Bob Dylan, Once a Political Singer-Songwriter, to Release 3 CDs of Crooning Classic Songs

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Bob Dylan just won the Nobel Prize for his majestic songs drenched in political and social importance.

Now that the country is in flames, Dylan, 75, will release a 3CD set of…himself croaking classic American songs like “Sentimental Journey” and “Stormy Weather.”

Dylan, whose voice is now like unpaved gravel, has already released a couple of albums of this stuff, and it’s unlistenable. No one will say it, because he’s a god and revered (by this columnist as well).

Has he nothing to say? Or is he just fulfilling his contract with Columbia Records? The latter would seem like it. The three CDs only have ten songs per disc, five songs per “side.” On them, from the tracklisting, Dylan is now in a reverie of nostalgia that should land him on a Netflix reboot of “The Love Boat.”

Disc 1 – ‘ Til The Sun Goes Down Disc 2 – Devil Dolls
       Side 1:        Side 1:
  1. I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plans
  2. September Of My Years
  3. I Could Have Told You
  4. Once Upon A Time
  5. Stormy Weather
  1. Braggin’
  2. As Time Goes By
  3. Imagination
  4. How Deep Is The Ocean
  5. P.S. I Love You
Side 2: Side 2:
  1. This Nearly Was Mine
  2. That Old Feeling
  3. It Gets Lonely Early
  4. My One and Only Love
  5. Trade Winds
  1. The Best Is Yet To Come
  2. But Beautiful
  3. Here’s That Rainy Day
  4. Where Is The One
  5. There’s A Flaw In My Flue

Disc 3 – Comin’ Home Late
       Side 1:
  1. Day In, Day Out
  2. I Couldn’t Sleep A Wink Last Night
  3. Sentimental Journey
  4. Somewhere Along The Way
  5. When The World Was Young
Side 2:
  1. These Foolish Things
  2. You Go To My Head
  3. Stardust
  4. It’s Funny To Everyone But Me
  5. Why Was I Born

Oprah Winfrey Joins “60 Minutes” as Special Correspondent and Pal Gayle King at CBS

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Oprah Winfrey is joining “60 Minutes” as a special correspondent this fall, which is great, because she’ll give them an injection of life and soul they always need. The relationship between Oprah and CBS has increased tremendously since good pal Gayle King became co-host with Charlie Rose of “The CBS Morning Show.”

She’s been a regular guest there over the last couple of years. Recently Oprah hosted a special interview with Michele Obama on CBS, which was a surprise since Oprah’s done most of her outside specials with ABC. It was clear then that something was up. Let’s just hope she doesn’t bring Ekhart Tolle and his new age gang onto the show! PS Sort of sad that Oprah and David Letterman didn’t get to be part of the CBS family at the same time.

Oprah’s statement:

“I’ve been a big admirer of 60 Minutes since my days as a young reporter,” Winfrey said in a statement. “I’m so excited and proud to join forces with this historic news program, which for me represents the bastion of journalistic storytelling. At a time when people are so divided, my intention is to bring relevant insight and perspective, to look at what separates us, and help facilitate real conversations between people from different backgrounds.”

Beatles Plan 50th Anniversary of “Sgt. Pepper” as “Revolver” Gets Its Own Celebration

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We’re waiting now for word from Apple Records and the Beatles. The most important rock album of all time, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” turns 50 on June 1st this year. So far word has been scarce, but the thinking is that there will some kind of anniversary edition and more than just a nod to an album that literally changed everything in popular music.

In the meantime, we’ve got the 51st anniversary of “Revolver,” the album that preceded “Sgt. Pepper” and was up until then the greatest rock or pop album of all time.

Klaus Voorman, bass player and artist, a Renaissance man, designed the cover of “Revolver.” So now he’s issuing “Revolver 50: Grammy Edition,” on March 2nd through Genesis Publications.

From the press release: Voormann has collaborated with Genesis Publications to produce a signed, enhanced edition of his recent book, Revolver 50, to celebrate the anniversary of his landmark award. REVOLVER 50: GRAMMY ANNIVERSARY EDITION is limited to just 500 copies. The 156-page book tells the story of the making of the celebrated collage, and each copy will come with a signed original drawing by the artist; a one-of-a-kind artwork, from a selection Voormann has curated exclusively for this anniversary edition. 67 Deluxe copies and 433 Collector copies. Deluxe copies (£845) will come with an original artwork in an 18.5 x 18.5” frame, while the Collector copies (£325) will contain drawings of varying sizes, placed within a 12 x 12” record-sized mount, suitable for framing. All 500 copies will include a signed, limited edition version of the Revolver 50 book, with gold foil blocking, gilt page edges and encased in presentation boxes – along with a special Grammy Anniversary 12-page commemorative booklet.

Genesis Books are quite something, so this should be a real collector’s item. And then we wait for the “Sgt. Pepper” news.

Ben Affleck Out as Director of “The Batman”: Punished for $95 Mil Loss on “Live by Night”?

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Breaking everywhere: Ben Affleck will not be directing “The Batman.” He’s still playing Batman and Bruce Wayne, as he did in “Batman vs. Superman” and soon in “Justice League of America.”

But Warner Bros, has pulled the plug on his directing from a screenplay he co-wrote. This could be seen as punishment for the studio taking a $95 million bath on “Live by Night.” Affleck’s latest film has tanked miserably at the box office.

Remember, this is an Oscar winning director of “Argo,” whose other films– “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town”– are highly regarded.

But “Live by Night” was a mess. It only made $10 million and was Dead by Day. And it’s just possible that Affleck has taken on too many projects of late. Just playing Batman in a blockbuster is enough. It will be smart to get another whole person in there to run the show.

Ben will direct again, and it will all go swell.

“Fifty Shades Darker” May Do 50% Less Than First Film: Sources Say E.L. James Got Final Cut

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The world is waiting for this Friday’s release of “Fifty Shades Darker,” the sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey.” But not that much of the world.

Early tracking suggests that the sequel could do 50% less business at the box office on opening weekend. The first film had an opening weekend of $85 million, which turned out to be fully half of its domestic total of $166 million. The new film is projected anywhere from $30-$40 million this weekend.

It almost doesn’t matter how much this new film, directed by James Foley, makes. The first one had a worldwide total of $571 million. Universal probably made all of its money from the planned trilogy back on Day 1.

I’ve been told that one big problem with “Darker” is that the book’s author–and screenplay writer– E.L. James– had final cut approval on this film. Sources say she had more authority than Foley or anyone at the studio. James “whipped them” into shape, so to speak. And no one was going to fight with her.

One “Darker” insider told me that they weren’t sure if James actually had final cut, but that “she was the most involved with this film than any writer ever.” It’s also well known that the director of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” Sam Taylor Johnson, didn’t return because of James. Foley is kind of a D list director whose biggest hit, “Perfect Stranger,” made $23 million in 2007.

Universal is not overplaying this release. Their premiere this week in Hollywood is a small one, downtown, at the Ace Hotel. There’s also a “fan event.” In New York there are just press screenings. Reviews are being held until the last minute.

If “Darker” tanks, by the way, look for Universal to do what LionsGate has to the “Divergent” series– and throw the last episode onto cable, pay for view, VOD, or other platforms.

John Mayer Returns to Charts with Lowest Selling Number 1 Debut of All Time

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John Mayer is back on the charts after a long absence. But it’s not much of a celebration.

His “The Search For Everything– Wave One” sold 38,274 physical CDs and downloads combined. That in itself is startlingly low for a number 1. But when you add in streaming, “Search” total is 50,437. And that is lower than last year’s all time low scored by Rihanna when “Anti” appeared on the charts.

Of course, “Search” only has four tracks, and clocks in at 14:34. It’s actually impressive that anyone bought physical CD– why bother?– when you could just download the tracks or stream them. Mayer says he’s going to release four tracks per month instead of just putting out an album of like, 12 songs. Hmmmm….Does that mean every month he’s going to break a record for lowest sales?

The number 2 album this week was AFI with 26,883 in sales– and that’s a low of all time. The Weeknd’s “Starboy” album sold 50,000 copies including streams. All in all, very low sales. The bottom nine from 42 to 50 sold fewer than 2,000 copies apiece.

The next big seller should be Ed Sheeran’s “Divide,” on March 3rd.

SAG Awards: Has Casey Affleck’s Negative Publicity Played a Bigger Part Than We Thought?

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The absolute shock of the night at the SAG Awards: Denzel Washington beats Casey Affleck for Best Actor. Affleck has won nearly every critics award plus the Golden Globes. He’s been the odds-on favorite to win the Oscar for “Manchester by the Sea.” Washington, very respected with two Oscars, was not picked as a challenger.

But then again, SAG is the first test of the real population of the Academy. The SAG branch of the Academy is the biggest, too. Prior to this, Affleck’s awards had come from committees. Granted, I thought he’d win hands down even though Denzel’s work is sterling.

Yet, out in the real world, there’s been an undercurrent of negative publicity for Affleck. News broke that two women who worked on his Joaquin Phoenix documentary accused him of sexual misconduct. There were settlements. And whoever stoked the fires against Affleck found an easy way to get it going– use Nate Parker and his rape case, Mel Gibson and his misconduct. They said Is Affleck exempt from scrutiny?

Frankly, he is. Parker stood trial, there’s a record of a criminal case, and the fallout despite his acquittal. Gibson also was arrested, which is what brought about his anti-Semitic, misogynist, racist remarks.

Affleck’s matter was handled privately. The women did take settlements rather than pursue their case. In a PC world we are clearly on their side. But Affleck’s “case” was never a case, and that’s all we know. If he’d stood trial, if evidence has been presented, then he could be equated with Parker and Gibson.

But the news is out, Affleck has obviously been convicted in minds of many and perhaps tainted. I hope that isn’t the case. But the surprise tonight seems to suggest it. If Washington won SAG, it’s unlikely the voters are going to change their minds when they mark their Oscar ballots. Unless the other voters and Guild members feel differently, the Best Actor statue may be going much differently than expected.

SAG Awards Shocker as Hidden Figures Wins Best Ensemble, Heads to Oscars with Advantage

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Ted Melfi’s “Hidden Figures” wins Best Ensemble at the SAG Awards. They are now the main competition for Best Picture at the Oscars– “La La Land” is now in trouble. “Hidden Figures” has turned into a phenomenon.

The other shocker for the night was Denzel Washington beating Casey Affleck for Best Actor. Affleck has won every other award. Washington has won nothing. It’s major.

Full list of winners to come…
23rd ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® RECIPIENTS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Troy Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
EMMA STONE / Mia – “LA LA LAND” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
MAHERSHALA ALI / Juan – “MOONLIGHT” (A24)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
VIOLA DAVIS / Rose Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
HIDDEN FIGURES (20th Century Fox)
MAHERSHALA ALI / Col. Jim Johnson
KEVIN COSTNER / Al Harrison
KIRSTEN DUNST / Vivian Mitchell
TARAJI P. HENSON / Katherine G. Johnson
ALDIS HODGE / Levi Jackson
JANELLE MONÁE / Mary Jackson
JIM PARSONS / Paul Stafford
GLEN POWELL / John Glenn
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Dorothy Vaughan

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
BRYAN CRANSTON / President Lyndon B. Johnson – “ALL THE WAY” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
SARAH PAULSON / Marcia Clark – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JOHN LITHGOW / Winston Churchill – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven
CARA BUONO / Karen Wheeler
JOE CHREST / Ted Wheeler
NATALIA DYER / Nancy Wheeler
DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper
CHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan Byers
JOE KEERY / Steve Harrington
GATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin Henderson
CALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas Sinclair
MATTHEW MODINE / Dr. Martin Brenner
ROB MORGAN / Officer Powell
JOHN PAUL REYNOLDS / Officer Callahan
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers
NOAH SCHNAPP / Will Byers
MARK STEGER / The Monster
FINN WOLFHARD / Mike Wheeler

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
ALAN AISENBERG / Baxter “Gerber” Bayley
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
BLAIR BROWN / Judy King
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
LEA DeLARIA / Big Boo
BETH DOVER / Linda Ferguson
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
LAURA GOMEZ / Blanca Flores
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
BRAD WILLIAM HENKE / Desi Piscatella
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
JAMES McMENAMIN / Charlie “Donuts” Coates
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Cindy “Black Cindy” Hayes
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
LORI PETTY / Lolly Whitehill
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara “Daya” Diaz
LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause
JOLENE PURDY / Stephanie Hapakuka
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina Murphy
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Erica “Yoga” Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda Berlin
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco
SAMIRA WILEY / Poussey Washington

STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“HACKSAW RIDGE” (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

53rd Annual SAG Life Achievement Award
LILY TOMLIN

SAG Award Winners: Mahershala Ali Wins, First Muslim Ever: “That’s the minutiae”

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Donald Trump’s immigration ban and the embarrassment of what’s happened this weekend are being called out live on the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Julia Louis Dreyfus just called the ban un American and read the Writers Guild West statement denouncing it. Emcee Ashton Kutcher also referenced the detainees.
Taylor Schilling of “Orange is the New Black”– “what unites is stronger than the forces that seek to divide us”
orange statement
Best Supporting Actress- Viola Davis: August Wilson “honored the average man who happened to be a man of color…we deserve to be in the center of any canon…”
Best Supporting Actor-Mahershala Ali: “my mother is an ordained Baptist minister. She didn’t do backflips when I told her I converted [to Islam]. But that’s minutiae.”

Best Supporting Actress in a Mini Series: Sarah Paulson– — “donate any money you can to the ACLU”
Best Supporting Actor in a Mini Series: Bryan Cranston: How would Lyndon Johnson feel about Donald Trump? “Just don’t piss in the soup that all of us gotta eat.”
Life Achievement Award– Lily Tomlin presented by a very endearing Dolly Parton. (Jane Fonda has strep throat.)
“The Doomsday clock has been moved up to two minutes before midnight…”
Best Actor in a Drama Series– John Lithgow, for “The Crown” with a nod to Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes speech
Best Actress in a Drama Series– Claire Foy, for “The Crown”
And now a speech by Andrea Zuckerman– er, Gabrielle Carteris–
Best TV Ensemble– “Stranger Things”
Best Actress –Emma Stone
Best Actor–Denzel Washington– big upset –cool
Best Ensemble– Movie– Hidden Figures

Keep refreshing….
Winners include Julia Louis Dreyfus (Best Actress, Comedy) and William H. Macy (Best Actor, Comedy).
Ensemble Comedy Series:

Orange is the New Black

SAG Award winners in bold:

ENSEMBLE

Captain Fantastic

Fences

Hidden Figures

Manchester

Moonlight

ACTOR

Casey Affleck

Andrew Garfield Hacksaaw

Ryan Gosling

Viggo Mortensen

Denzel Washington

ACTRESS

Amy Adams

Emily Blunt

Natalie Portman

Emma Stone

Meryl Streep

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Mahershala Ali

Jeff Bridges

Hugh Grant

Lucas Hedges

Dev Patel

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Viola Davis

Naomie Harris

Nicole Kidman

Octavia Spencer

Michelle Williams

TELEVISION PROGRAMS

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
RIZ AHMED / Nasir “Naz” Khan – “THE NIGHT OF” (HBO)
STERLING K. BROWN / Christopher Darden – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)
BRYAN CRANSTON / President Lyndon B. Johnson – “ALL THE WAY” (HBO)
JOHN TURTURRO / John Stone – “THE NIGHT OF” (HBO)
COURTNEY B. VANCE / Johnnie Cochran – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD / Lacie – “BLACK MIRROR” (Netflix)
FELICITY HUFFMAN / Leslie Graham – “AMERICAN CRIME” (ABC)
AUDRA McDONALD / Billie Holiday – “LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL” (HBO)
SARAH PAULSON / Marcia Clark – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)
KERRY WASHINGTON / Anita Hill – “CONFIRMATION” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
STERLING K. BROWN / Randall Pearson – “THIS IS US” (NBC)
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – “GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)
JOHN LITHGOW / Winston Churchill – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
RAMI MALEK / Elliot Alderson – “MR. ROBOT” (USA Network)
KEVIN SPACEY / Frank Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven – “STRANGER THINGS” (Netflix)
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
THANDIE NEWTON / Maeve Millay – “WESTWORLD” (HBO)
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers – “STRANGER THINGS” (Netflix)
ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ANTHONY ANDERSON / Andre Johnson – “BLACK-ISH” (ABC)
TITUSS BURGESS / Titus Andromedon – “UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT” (Netflix)
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy – “MODERN FAMILY” (ABC)
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)
JEFFREY TAMBOR / Maura Pfefferman – “TRANSPARENT” (Amazon)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren – “ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK” (Netflix)
JANE FONDA / Grace Hanson – “GRACE AND FRANKIE” (Netflix)
ELLIE KEMPER / Kimmy Schmidt – “UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT” (Netflix)
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)
LILY TOMLIN / Frankie Bergstein – “GRACE AND FRANKIE” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE CROWN (Netflix)

DOWNTON ABBEY (Masterpiece/PBS)

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)

WESTWORLD (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)

BLACK-ISH (ABC)

MODERN FAMILY (ABC)

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)

VEEP (HBO)

STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
“DOCTOR STRANGE” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
“HACKSAW RIDGE” (Lionsgate)
“JASON BOURNE” (Universal Pictures)
“NOCTURNAL ANIMALS” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)
“MARVEL’S DAREDEVIL” (Netflix)
“MARVEL’S LUKE CAGE” (Netflix)
“THE WALKING DEAD” (AMC)
“WESTWORLD” (HBO)

SAG Awards Tonight: No “La La Land” Because It Wasn’t An Ensemble– Moonlight, Manchester, Fences, Capt Fantastic, Hidden Figures Compete

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The SAG Awards begin tonight at 8pm on TNT. “La La Land” wasn’t nominated because the award here is Best Ensemble cast. “La La Land” is really about two people. But those people, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, are nominated for Best Actress and Actor.

The nominees for Best Ensemble are Fences, Moonlight, Captain Fantastic, Hidden Figures, and Manchester by the Sea. This is the first time in memory that an Oscar certain best Picture (La La Land) isn’t up for this award.

Stand by for the winners, the not winners, and the speeches