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Box Office: “St. Vincent,” Bill Murray Stealth Comedy, Crosses $40 Mil Line

Roger Friedman
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Box Office: “St. Vincent,” Bill Murray Stealth Comedy, Crosses $40 Mil Line

Well, well. Yes, “Mockingjay” is number 1 again. Who cares? The big news is that “St. Vincent” will cross the $40 million line this weekend. Bill Murray’s beautiful performance leads a big cast including Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts, through a very likeable, smart comedy.

When we saw this in Toronto, I had plenty of predictions of Murray for an Oscar, etc. Snark bloggers (‘the pajama people,” a friend of mine calls them) tried to wreck it. But “St. Vincent” is very appealing, and obviously audiences love it. I don’t see why Theodore Melfi’s sweet, sweet film won’t get a Golden Globe in comedy/musical. It’s also right on the for SAG Best Ensemble.

Don’t count Bill Murray out either. Right now the Oscar race for Best Actor is volatile. The two Brits– Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne– are in. David Oyelowo has to be third, for “Selma.” Fourth place could be Steve Carell, so good in “Foxcatcher.” And then? Michael Keaton? Maybe. Bradley Cooper is exceptional in “American Sniper.” And then there’s Murray. He has a lot of good will, and box office numbers on his side.

Elaine Kaufman Has Been Gone Four Years, Her Customers Still Wander New York

Roger Friedman
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Elaine Kaufman Has Been Gone Four Years, Her Customers Still Wander New York

I should have written about this three days ago, but it’s been a crazy week. Elaine Kaufman died on December 3, 2010. Four years have passed, and her friends, who were her family, have wandered like a lost tribe ever since. Elaine’s restaurant closed the following May thanks to the bad management and inattention of the woman who inherited it all. Since then the building was sold, and I’m told now it’s being flipped again. Millions have been made by other, and Elaine is gone. It’s a tragedy. And the people who really were the survivors know the real story.

Every night around 11 pm , as evening soirees wind down, I say the same thing out loud: “Let’s go to Elaine’s.” It’s said with a sigh, and I know about a dozen other people who think the same thing. Elaine didn’t come in to the restaurant until around 9pm, and when she was well and in her hey day she stayed until closing around 2am. Elaine’s was designed as a late night spot where actors and writers and police chiefs and mobsters could come in after their adventures were over and share stories.

Elaine’s was not digital. One of the big moments most nights was getting “the paper” before it was printed– whether it was the Times, Post, or News. Someone would always have an early copy, a Xerox of the front page before it hit the stands. Smart phones didn’t exist. Maybe someone would struggle to find information on one of those dark blue early Blackberrys. But really, everything was about “the paper” and maybe the 10pm news on Channel 5. What was going to happen tomorrow? We knew it in Elaine’s before anyone else did.

And the going at 11pm. You went because Elaine was there. You had no idea who else would be there. Just Elaine, sitting along the front row of tables. When you got there she was already in the middle of something great. You’d greet her, bowing down, a peck on the cheek and her usual greeting– “Where have you been?” which was not an inquiry about your health but a warning that she knew you’d eaten somewhere else two nights ago and some one had seen it and reported it back.

“Well, there was a dinner at _________ and we had to go,” I’d say. “Yeah, yeah,” said Elaine, rolling her eyes. “And now you’re back.” Because we always came back, and we were so happy to see her. “Listen,” she’d say, “DabneyColeman/Alan King/Jackie Collins/Marisa Berenson/Peter Maas”– one of them– “is back there. Go say hello.”

Her eyes, very wide and accentuated by those big round tortoise shell glasses, showed her excitement, and she was already gesturing– her right arm swung from the elbow backwards as if to say Go, go go. And you’d be plopped down with Bobby Zarem entertaining this week’s movie star, or Neil Travis regaling us with his scoop of the day, or Catherine Deneuve or Michael Caine or Phil Spector (don’t ask). And say these words: “Elaine told me to come over here.” A chair was made open immediately. And down you’d sit.

Anyway, Elaine, on Thanksgiving we had a bottle of Chateau Simard in your honor and a toast. We have no place to go at 11pm except home, which is so boring and you would hate it. Sometimes we go to Bar Centrale after theater and see a few people. But no restaurateur would ever really allow the shenanigans of jumping from table to table, coming and going, no reservations, staying for hours, total anarchy. Only you. And we miss you. A lot.

See Cher, with Her Original Face, Make Her Acting Debut at Robert Altman Festival

Roger Friedman
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See Cher, with Her Original Face, Make Her Acting Debut at Robert Altman Festival

Robert Altman, one of the top tier great American film director and auteurs, is now having a massive retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. It kicked off last night with his 1982 adaptation of “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.” Altman directed the play on Broadway nefore filming with with Sandy Dennis and Karen Black in main roles. He added then newcomers Cher and Kathy Bates. The festival goes on through January with loads of Altman gold from “MASH” to “The Player,” “Short Cuts,” “The Long Goodbye,” “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “A Wedding,” all the films plus all the shorts and Altman’s TV work on shows like “Bonanza” and “Combat!”

On December 19th, MoMA will show “Nashville,” Altman’s masterwork, after a book signing with his widow, the amazing Kathryn Reed Altman. She’s signing a new book made just for this show and I can’t wait to buy a copy. In January MoMA will finish up with Ron Mann’s excellent documentary, called “Altman,” which Epix broadcast last summer.

Last night was like old home week for Altman regulars starting with actor Keith Carradine, star of “Nashville,” as well as the equally amazing Lee Grant, record producer Russ Titelman, photographer Carol Friedman, Sony Pictures’ Michael Barker and famed agent/manager Johnnie Planco.

Watching “Jimmy Dean” was like a master class. It’s not among the Altman “A” pictures. But it’s really stunning to see how he moves the camera, works with light and darkness, and fades back and forth from past to present and back.  You also see how he takes this sort of dreamy story and reworks it so it becomes at one point all-engrossing.

Karen Black and Sandy Dennis turn in two of their finest performances. And Cher is remarkable– here she is with her original face and teeth. She’s sensational– real and right in the moment.  She went from there to “Silkwood,” “Mask.,” and “Moonstruck” and an Oscar. Altman saw what she had in her.

If you want to find me from December 17th to the end of the year, check MoMA’s schedule.

Grammy Mistakes: No Gaga ARTPOP, Aretha, Bruce, JHUD, Mariah — and Haim Was a New Artist Last Year

Roger Friedman
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Grammy Mistakes: No Gaga ARTPOP, Aretha, Bruce, JHUD, Mariah — and Haim Was a New Artist Last Year

Ever since I can remember–and that’s a long time now– the Grammys have been a head scratcher. They omit stuff that should be there, they include nominations for things you’ve never heard of. The wrong people win all the time. The really good music outlasts things that are celebrated on Grammy night. You may love Outkast, but that album and single were the end of a short career. “Hey Ya” sounds like a novelty song now. Does anyone listen to that album?

Today’s Grammys snubbed Aretha Franklin’s “Divas” album and her great recording of “Rolling in the Deep.” They also skipped Bruce Springsteen’s “High Hopes” and Jennifer Hudson’s “JHUD” album. (Jennifer got a single nom for a duet with R Kelly.) They also just completely dissed Mariah Carey’s “Elusive Chanteuse” album which got very good reviews. Of course, the great Leon Russell album released last April was ignored. I’m sure there were more– Leonard Cohen, Broken Bells, and two albums from Prince, plus Tom Petty. And no Lady Gaga “ARTPOP”.

As well, a female group called Haim is up for Best New Artist.  Their official album was released on September 30, 2013. This means they were eligible for last February’s award, not this one. Also, they’ve been around for a while. They are not New artists.

No worries: Miss Aretha will receive a special Billboard Icon award next Friday, December 12th. It’s the first time they’ve given it. And of course, Aretha has 18 Grammy awards already.

Patty Smyth and Scandal Back after 30 Years with Anniversary Show!

Roger Friedman
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Patty Smyth and Scandal Back after 30 Years with Anniversary Show!

Remember “The Warrior”? Patty Smyth and Scandal’s biggest hit came 30 years ago. Now they’re reuniting for their first show in a very long time on December 13th at the Cutting Room here in New York. Amazing. Patty is also Mrs. John McEnroe and has raised three kids and three stepkids. She’s one of the nicest people I run into, and still a rock chick first and foremost. I always ask here, when are you going to get back on stage? And now we have the answer!

UPDATED Grammy Nominees Announced: Sam Smith, U2, Gaga-Bennett,Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor Among Them

Roger Friedman
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UPDATED Grammy Nominees Announced: Sam Smith, U2, Gaga-Bennett,Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor Among Them

The great thing about the Grammys is that they can have whatever number of nominees they want in each category. So there are six nominees for the Pop album but just five for R&B. No one knows why! Anyway, the Grammy nominees are being announced all day at different times in different ways so that potential nominees will have to spend the entire day on Xanax. It’s a not a game that’s much fun because it entails looking around on Twitter to figure out what’s going on.
Best Album will be announced live tonight at 10pmon CBS during the Grammy Christmas special, on which there will be an explanation for snubbing several deserving recordings.
Album of the Year

Beck – Morning Phase

Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Ed Sheeran – X

Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

Pharrell Williams – GIRL
Record of the Year

Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”
Song of the Year

Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”

Hozier – “Take Me To Church”

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
Best New Artist

Bastille

Iggy Azalea

Brandy Clark

HAIM

Sam Smith
Best Pop Solo Performance

John Legend – “All of Me” (Live Version)

Sia – “Chandelier”

Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”

Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”

Pharrell – “Happy”
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX – “Fancy”

Coldplay – “A Sky Full of Stars”

A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera – “Say Something”

Jessie J feat. Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang”

Katy Perry feat. Juicy J – “Dark Horse”
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett – Cheek to Cheek

Annie Lennox – Nostalgia

Barry Manilow – Night Songs

Johnny Mathis – Sending You A Little Christmas

Barbra Streisand – Partners
Best Pop Vocal Album

Coldplay – Ghost Stories

Miley Cyrus – Bangerz

Ariana Grande – My Everything

Katy Perry – Prism

Ed Sheeran – X

Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour
Best Dance Recording

Basement Jaxx – “Never Say Never”

Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne – “Rather Be”

Disclosure feat. Mary J. Blige “F For You”

Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones – “I Got U”

Zhu – “Faded”
Best Dance/Electronic Album

Aphex Twin – Syro

Deadmau5 – While (1 < 2)

Little Dragon – Nabuma Rubberband

Röyksopp & Robyn – Do It Again

Mat Zo – Damage Control
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Mindi Abair – Wild Heart

Gerald Albright – Slam Dunk

Nathan East – Nathan East

Jeff Lorber, Chuck Loeb & Everette Harp – Jazz Funk Soul

Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer – Bass & Mandolin
Best Rock Performance

Ryan Adams – “Gimme Something Good”

Arctic Monkeys – “Do I Wanna Know?”

Beck – “Blue Moon”

The Black Keys – “Fever”

Jack White – “Lazaretto”
Best Metal Performance

Anthrax – “Neon Nights”

Mastodon – “High Road”

Mötorhead – “Heartbreaker”

Slipknot – “The Negative One”

Tenacious D – “The Last In Line”
Best Rock Song

Jack White – “Lazaretto”

The Black Keys – “Fever”

Paramore – “Ain’t It Fun”

Beck – “Blue Moon”

Ryan Adams – “Gimme Something Good”
Best Rock Album

Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams

The Black Keys – Turn Blue

U2 – Songs of Innocence

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye

Beck – Morning Phase
Best Alternative Music Album

Arcade Fire – Reflektor

Alt J – This is All Yours

Cage the Elephant – Melophobia

St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Jack White – Lazaretto
Best R&B Performance

Beyoncé feat. Jay Z – “Drunk In Love”

Chris Brown feat. Usher, Rick Ross – “New Flame”

Jennifer Hudson feat. R. Kelly – “It’s Your World”

Ledisi – “Like This”

Usher – “Good Kisser”
Best Traditional R&B Performance

Marsha Ambrosius & Anthony Hamilton – “As”

Kem – “Nobody”

Angie Fisher – “I.R.S.”

Robert Glasper Experiment – “Jesus Children”

Antonique Smith – “Hold Up Wait a Minute (Woo Woo)”
Best R&B Song

Beyoncé feat. Jay Z – “Drunk In Love”

Usher – “Good Kisser”

Chris Brown feat. Usher, Rick Ross – “New Flame”

Luke James feat. Rick Ross – “Options (The Wolfjames Version)”

Jhene Aiko – “The Worst”
Best Urban Contemporary Album

Jhene Aiko – Sail Out

Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Chris Brown – X

Mali Music – Mali Is

Pharrell Williams – G.I.R.L.
Best R&B Album

Bernhoft – Islander

Aloe Blacc – Lift Your Spirits

Toni Braxton & Babyface – Love, Marriage, and Divorce

Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio 2

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Give The People What They Want
Best Rap Performance

Childish Gambino – “3005”

Drake – “0-100/ The Catchup

Eminem – “Rap God”

Kendrick Lamar – “i”

Lecrae – “All I Need Is You”
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Common feat. Jhene Aiko – “Blak Majik”

Eminem feat. Rihanna – “The Monster”

ILoveMakonnen feat. Drake – “Tuesday”

Schoolboy Q feat. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Studio”

Kanye West feat. Charlie Wilson – “Bound 2″
Best Rap Song

Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”

Kanye West – “Bound 2″

Kendrick Lamar – “i”

Wiz Khalifa – “We Dem Boyz”

Drake – “0 to 100/The Catch Up”
Best Rap Album

Iggy Azalea – The New Classic

Childish Gambino – Because the Internet

Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2

Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron

Wiz Khalifa – Blacc Hollywood

Common – Nobody’s Smiling
Best Country Solo Performance

Eric Church – “Give Me Back My Hometown”

Hunter Hayes – “Invisible”

Miranda Lambert – “Automatic”

Carrie Underwood – “Something in the Water”

Keith Urban – “Cop Car”
Best Country Duo/Group Performance

The Band Perry – “Gentle On My Mind”

Miranda Lambert feat. Carrie Underwood – “Somethin’ Bad”

Little Big Town – “Day Drinking”

Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill – “Meanwhile Back at Mama’s”

Keith Urban feat. Eric Church – “Raise ‘Em Up”
Best Country Song

Miranda Lambert – “Automatic”

Kenny Chesney – “American Kids”

Eric Church – “Give Me Back My Hometown”

Glen Campbell – “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill – “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Best Country Album

Dierks Bentley – Riser

Eric Church – The Outsiders

Brandy Clark – 12 Stories

Miranda Lambert – Platinum

Lee Ann Womack – The Way I’m Livin’
Best American Roots Performance

Gregg Allman & Taj Mahal – “Statesboro Blues”

Rosanne Cash – “A Feather’s Not a Bird”

Billy Childs feat. Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas – “And When I Die”

Keb Mo feat. the California Feet Warmers – “The Old Me Better”

Nickel Creek – “Destination”
Best American Roots Song

Rosanne Cash – “A Feather’s Not a Bird”

Jesse Winchester – “Just So Much”

The Del McCoury Band – “The New York Trains”

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers feat. Edie Brickell – “Pretty Little One”

John Hiatt – “Terms of My Surrender”
Best Americana Album

Rosanne Cash – The River & The Thread

John Hiatt – Terms Of My Surrender

Keb’ Mo’ – Bluesamericana

Nickel Creek – A Dotted Line

Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
Best Folk Album

Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas & Rob Ickes – Three Bells

Alice Gerrard – Follow the Music

Eliza Gilkyson – The Nocturne Diaries

Old Crow Medicine Show – Remedy

Jesse Winchester – A Reasonable Amount of Trouble
Best Reggae Album

Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – Back on the Controls

Sean Paul – Full Frequency

Shaggy – Out of Many, One Music

Sly & Robbie & Spicy Chocolate – The Reggae Power

Soja – Amid the Noise and the Haste
Best Spoken Word

James Franco – Actor’s Anonymous

Jimmy Carter – A Call To Action

John Waters – John Waters Hitchhikes Across America

Joan Rivers – Diary of a Mad Diva

Elizabeth Warren – A Fighting Chance

Gloria Gaynor – We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song
Best Comedy Album

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Mandatory Fun

Jim Gaffigan – Obsessed

Louis C.K. – Oh My God

Patton Oswalt – Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time

Sarah Silverman – We Are Miracles
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

American Hustle

Frozen

Get On Up: The James Brown Story

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Frozen

Gone Girl

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Gravity

Saving Mr. Banks
Best Song Written for Visual Media

Tegan and Sara feat. the Lonely Island – “Everything is Awesome!!!”

Ed Sheeran – “I See Fire”

Glen Campbell – “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”

Idina Menzel – “Let It Go”

Scarlett Johansson & Joaquin Phoenix – “The Moon Song”
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Paul Epworth

John Hill

Jay Joyce

Greg Kurstin

Max Martin
Best Music Video

Arcade Fire – “We Exist”

DJ Snake & Lil Jon – “Turn Down For What”

Sia – “Chandelier”

Pharrell Williams – “Happy”

Woodkid feat. Max Richter – “The Golden Age”
Best Music Film

Beyonce & Jay Z: On the Run Tour

Ghost Stories

20 Feet from Stardom

Metallica Through the Never

The Truth About Love Tour: Live from Melbourne

Exodus $150 Mil Movie: Bad Reviews Pouring In As Moses Gets His Staff Cut, Doesn’t Part Red Sea

Roger Friedman
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Exodus $150 Mil Movie: Bad Reviews Pouring In As Moses Gets His Staff Cut, Doesn’t Part Red Sea

Luckily, 20th Century Fox has already had a very good year– 8 movies that crossed the $100 million mark. They are currently Number 1 in market share. So a set back won’t hurt them. But Ridley Scott’s “Exodus: Gods and Kings” is shaping up as a potential bust.

So far “Exodus”—already criticized for casting all white actors–is scoring 53% 50%  now 43% on Rotten Tomatoes. And that’s being kind. Several of the reviews listed as “fresh” are mostly rotten. And more are coming in every day.

Meantime, the nearly three hour extravaganza has more problems than just white actors playing Egyptians. From all reports, Moses (Christian Bale) doesn’t part the red sea and doesn’t have a staff. Well, his only staff is in the back office cutting checks. (Parumppum!)

Don’t count on foreign audiences picking up the slack. On the imdb message board people who’ve already seen “Exodus” in South Korea have been underwhelmed. Fox will use an old trick and open the movie in 20 countries before American reviewers can really savage it. Sometimes that works.

Meantime, this Sunday’s New York premiere may be a signal. It’s being held at the Brooklyn Museum, which is in faraway Brooklyn. It’s also happening at the same time as Bradley Cooper opens in “The Elephant Man” on Broadway in Manhattan. If Moses can’t part the Red Sea, how’s he going to get people over the East River?

Movie News Exclusives: Matt Damon Project with Alexander Payne, Bruce Willis, Norman Mailer’s Sons Make a Movie

Roger Friedman
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Movie News Exclusives: Matt Damon Project with Alexander Payne, Bruce Willis, Norman Mailer’s Sons Make a Movie

EXCLUSIVES (Please attribute with backlinks)

I’m hearing that Alexander Payne is re-teaming with frequent collaborator Jim Taylor on a new film. Payne and Taylor wrote “About Schmidt,” “Sideways.” “Election”  and “Citizen Ruth” together. Taylor also produced “The Descendants ” with Payne. Their new project is said to be original, not an adaptation. Matt Damon may be signing for the lead. Potential producer is Megan Ellison and Annapurna. All these names in one place and I want to see the movie already! Let’s see how this develops…

Bruce Willis— isn’t it funny, but I kind of miss him. Anyway, he may be starring in “Wake,” directed by John Pogue of “US Marshalls” fame. Producers are Michael Benaroya and David Alpert. Willis is also in the upcoming “Rock the Kasbah,” the next Barry Levinson movie after “The Humbling.” If you’re interested, Bruce starred in one of Barry’s best movies, a personal favorite of mine called “Bandits.” It’s a lost gem…

…the sons of the late and legendary writer Norman Mailer are getting together for a film project. Michael Mailer, who has a long film resume, will produce and direct an original script called “Blind,” by his brother John Buffalo Mailer. It’s described as a romance between a blind, bitter novelist and a woman assigned to read to him thanks to a community service sentence. The Mailer boys are half brothers and two of Norman Mailer’s nine children…

 

Writers Guild Announces TV and New Media Nominees Include “Mad Men” and Amazon Series “Transparent”

Roger Friedman
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Writers Guild Announces TV and New Media Nominees Include “Mad Men” and Amazon Series “Transparent”

Here are the Writers Guild nominees for everything but movies. I’m thrilled to see “Mad Men” and “General Hospital” (which is loony fun). The big news is that Amazon has a series in there– “Transparent.” The world is changing fast.

2015 writers guild awards

 

 

TELEVISION AND NEW MEDIA NOMINEES

DRAMA SERIES

Game of Thrones, Written by David Benioff, Bryan Cogman, George R.R. Martin, D.B. Weiss; HBO

The Good Wife, Written by Leonard Dick, Keith Eisner, Matthew Hodgson, Ted Humphrey, Michelle King, Robert King, Erica Shelton Kodish, Matthew Montoya, Luke Schelhaas, Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Craig Turk, Julia Wolfe; CBS

House of Cards, Written by Bill Cain, Laura Eason, Sam R. Forman, William Kennedy, Kenneth Lin, John Mankiewicz, David Manson, Beau Willimon; Netflix

Mad Men, Written by Heather Jeng Bladt, Semi Chellas, Jonathan Igla, David Iserson, Erin Levy, Matthew Weiner, Carly Wray; AMC

True Detective, Written by Nic Pizzolatto; HBO

COMEDY SERIES

Louie, Written by Louis CK; FX

Orange Is the New Black, Written by Stephen Falk, Sian Heder, Tara Herrmann, Sara Hess, Nick Jones, Jenji Kohan, Lauren Morelli, Alex Regnery, Hartley Voss; Netflix

Silicon Valley, Written by John Altschuler, Alec Berg, Matteo Borghese, Jessica Gao, Mike Judge, Dave Krinsky, Carson Mell, Dan O’Keefe, Clay Tarver, Rob Turbovsky, Ron Weiner; HBO

Transparent, Written by Bridget Bedard, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster, Ethan Kuperberg, Ali Liebegott, Faith Soloway, Jill Soloway; Amazon Prime

Veep, Written by Simon Blackwell, Kevin Cecil, Roger Drew, Sean Gray, Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, Georgia Pritchett, David Quantick, Andy Riley, Tony Roche, Will Smith; HBO

NEW SERIES

 

The Affair, Written by Dan LeFranc, Hagai Levi, Melanie Marnich, Eric Overmyer, Kate Robin, Sarah Treem; Showtime

The Knick, Written by Jack Amiel, Michael Begler, Steven Katz; Cinemax

Silicon Valley, Written by John Altschuler, Alec Berg, Matteo Borghese, Jessica Gao, Mike Judge, Dave Krinsky, Carson Mell, Dan O’Keefe, Clay Tarver, Rob Turbovsky, Ron Weiner; HBO

Transparent, Written by Bridget Bedard, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster, Ethan Kuperberg, Ali Liebegott, Faith Soloway, Jill Soloway; Amazon Prime

True Detective, Written by Nic Pizzolatto; HBO

LONG FORM ORIGINAL

 

Deliverance Creek, Written by Melissa Carter; Lifetime

 

Return to Zero, Written by Sean Hanish; Lifetime

LONG FORM ADAPTED

Houdini, Written by Nicholas Meyer; Based on the book Houdini: A Mind in Chains: A Psychoanalytic Portrait by Bernard C. Meyer, M.D.; History Channel

Klondike, Parts One, Three and Six, Teleplay by Paul T. Scheuring, Parts Two, Four and Five, Teleplay by Josh Goldin & Rachel Abramowitz, Based on the book Gold Diggers by Charlotte Gray; Discovery Channel

The Normal Heart, Teleplay by Larry Kramer, Based on his play The Normal Heart; HBO

Olive Kitteridge, Teleplay by Jane Anderson, Based on the novel by Elizabeth Strout; HBO

“Pilot” (The Leftovers), Teleplay by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta, Based on the book by Tom Perrotta; HBO

SHORT FORM NEW MEDIA – ORIGINAL

 

“Apocalypse No” (Bad Shorts), Written by Ben Zelevansky; luckybirdsmedia.com

“City of Angels” (Caper), Written by Amy Berg & Mike Sizemore; hulu.com

“Episode 1 – Nature” (F To 7th), Written by Ingrid Jungermann; youtube.com

“Episode 113: Rachel” (High Maintenance), Written by Katja Blichfeld & Ben Sinclair; helpingyoumaintain.com

“Episode 204” (Vicky and Lysander), Written by Damon Cardasis and Shannon Walker; youtube.com

“Episode 207” (Vicky and Lysander), Written by Damon Cardasis and Shannon Walker; youtube.com

ANIMATION

 

“Bob and Deliver” (Bob’s Burgers), Written by Greg Thompson; Fox

“Brick Like Me” (The Simpsons), Written by Brian Kelley; Fox

“Covercraft” (The Simpsons), Written by Matt Selman; Fox

“Pay Pal” (The Simpsons), Written by David Steinberg; Fox

“Steal This Episode” (The Simpsons), Written by J. Stewart Burns; Fox

“Work Hard or Die Trying, Girl” (Bob’s Burgers), Written by Nora Smith; Fox

EPISODIC DRAMA

 

“A Day’s Work” (Mad Men), Written by Jonathan Igla and Matthew Weiner; AMC

“Devil You Know” (Boardwalk Empire), Written by Howard Korder; HBO

“Donald the Normal” (Rectify), Written by Kate Powers & Ray McKinnon; Sundance Channel

“Friendless Child” (Boardwalk Empire), Written by Riccardo DiLoreto & Cristine Chambers and Howard Korder; HBO

“The Last Call” (The Good Wife), Written by Robert King & Michelle King; CBS

“The Lion and the Rose” (Game of Thrones), Written for Television by George R.R. Martin; HBO

EPISODIC COMEDY

“The Cold” (Modern Family), Written by Rick Wiener & Kenny Schwartz; ABC

“Landline” (New Girl), Written by Rob Rosell; Fox

“Low Self Esteem City” (Orange Is the New Black), Written by Nick Jones; Netflix

 

“So Did the Fat Lady” (Louie), Written by Louis C.K.; FX

“Three Dinners” (Modern Family), Written by Abraham Higginbotham & Steven Levitan & Jeffrey Richman; ABC

“The Wilderness” (Transparent), Written by Ethan Kuperberg; Amazon Prime

COMEDY / VARIETY (INCLUDING TALK) – SERIES

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Writers: Rory Albanese, Dan Amira, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, Travon Free, Hallie   Haglund, JR Havlan, Elliott Kalan, Matt Koff, Adam Lowitt, Dan McCoy, Jo Miller, John Oliver, Zhubin Parang, Owen Parsons, Daniel Radosh, Lauren Sarver, Jon Stewart, Delaney Yeager; Comedy Central

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Writers: Kevin Avery, Tim Carvell, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner; HBO

 

Inside Amy Schumer, Head Writer: Jessi Klein Writers: Emily Altman, Jeremy Beiler, Neil Casey, Kyle Dunnigan, Kurt Metzger, Christine Nangle, Dan Powell, Amy Schumer; Comedy Central

The Colbert Report, Writers: Michael Brumm, Nate Charny, Aaron Cohen, Stephen Colbert, Rich Dahm, Paul Dinello, Eric Drysdale, Rob Dubbin, Ariel Dumas, Glenn Eichler, Gabe Gronli, Barry Julien, Jay Katsir, Sam Kim, Matt Lappin, Opus Moreschi, Tom Purcell, Meredith Scardino, Max Werner; Comedy Central

Jimmy Kimmel Live, Head Writers: Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Gary Greenberg Writers: Jack Allison, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Bess Kalb, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Loveness, Bryan Paulk, Rick Rosner, Bridger Winegar; ABC

Saturday Night Live, Head Writers: Seth Meyers, Colin Jost, Rob Klein, Bryan Tucker Writers:  James Anderson, Alex Baze, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Steve Higgins, Leslie Jones, Zach Kanin, Chris Kelly, Erik Kenward, Lorne Michaels, Claire Mulaney, Josh Patten, Paula Pell, Katie Rich, Tim Robinson, Sarah Schneider, Pete Schultz, John Solomon, Kent Sublette, Lakendra Tookes; NBC

Real Time with Bill Maher, Head Writer: Billy Martin Writers: Scott Carter, Adam Felber, Matt Gunn, Brian Jacobsmeyer, Jay Jaroch, Chris Kelly, Bill Maher, Danny Vermont; HBO

COMEDY / VARIETY – MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES – SPECIALS

The 68th Annual Tony Awards, Written by Dave Boone; Special Material by Jon Macks; CBS

71st Annual Golden Globe Awards, Written by Barry Adelman; Special Material by Alex Baze, Dave Boone, Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Jon Macks, Sam Means, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Mike Shoemaker; NBC

 

2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Written by Gerry Duggan, Wayne Federman, Patton Oswalt, Erik Weiner; IFC

 

Bill Maher: Live from D.C., Written by Bill Maher; HBO

Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles, Written by Sarah Silverman; HBO

QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Hollywood Game Night, Head Writer: Grant Taylor; Writers: Alex Chauvin, Ann Slichter; NBC

Jeopardy!, Written by John Duarte, Harry Friedman, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve D. Tamerius, Billy Wisse; ABC

DAYTIME DRAMA

 

Days of Our Lives, Written by Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Christopher Dunn, Janet Iacobuzio, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Melissa Salmons, Christopher Whitesell; NBC

General Hospital, Written by Ron Carlivati, Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O’Connor, Elizabeth Page, Katherine Schock, Scott Sickles, Chris Van Etten; ABC

CHILDREN’S SCRIPT – EPISODIC AND SPECIALS

“Girl Meets 1961” (Girl Meets World), Written by Matthew Nelson; Disney Channel

“Haunted Heartthrob” (Haunted Hathaways), Written by Bob Smiley; Nickelodeon

“Haunted Sisters” (Haunted Hathaways), Written by Boyce Bugliari & Jamie McLaughlin; Nickelodeon

 

DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – CURRENT EVENTS

 

“Losing Iraq” (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS

“United States of Secrets: Privacy Lost (Part Two)” (Frontline), Written by Martin Smith; PBS

“United States of Secrets: The Program (Part One)” (Frontline); PBS; Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS

DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS

“Episode Five: The Rising Road (1933-1939)” (The Roosevelts: An Intimate History), Written by Geoffrey C. Ward; PBS

“League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis” (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS

“Standing Up in the Milky Way (Episode 1)” (COSMOS: A Space Time Odyssey), Written by Ann Druyan and Steven Soter; Fox

TV NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT

“50th Anniversary of JFK’s Assassination” (CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley), Written by Jerry Cipriano, Joe Clines; CBS News

CBS This Morning, Written by Duane Tollison, Chip Sorrentino, Bruce Meyer, Bill Crowley; CBS News

“Nelson Mandela: A Man Who Changed the World” (World News with Diane Sawyer), Written by Diane Sawyer, Lisa Ferri, Dave Bloch; ABC News

TV NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

“Nowhere to Go” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Oriana Zill de Granados & Michael Rey; CBS

RADIO NOMINEES

RADIO DOCUMENTARY

“Three Shots Rang Out: The JFK Assassination 50 Years Later,” Written by Darren Reynolds; ABC News Radio

RADIO NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT

“6AM News,” Written by Philip Pilato; 1010 WINS Radio

“8PM Hour,” Written by Robert Hawley; WCBS-AM

“New York City Loses a Radio News Legend,” Written by Bill Spadaro; CBS Radio/1010 WINS

“World News This Week,” Written by Andrew Evans; ABC News Radio

RADIO NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY

“Civil Rights at 50,” Written by Jane Tillman Irving; WCBS Radio

“Remembering Nelson Mandela,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS Radio News

 Writers

Chris Rock Makes His “Annie Hall”: “Top Five” Finally Puts Him in the Big Leagues

Roger Friedman
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Chris Rock Makes His “Annie Hall”: “Top Five” Finally Puts Him in the Big Leagues

I wasn’t crazy about “Top Five” when I saw it in Toronto. For one thing, I think the press screening was early in the morning. That is not not the time for this very funny, slightly raunchy, satiric romantic comedy. But going back for a second time last night, the movie just hit me the right way. “Top Five” is probably the best laugh out loud comedy of the year, Chris Rock’s “Annie Hall.” And that’s not far off the mark. When I mentioned that to Chris last night he said, “I’ve probably seen that movie 40 times.” That, and “Bullets Over Broadway” are his favorite Woody Allen movies. (More on Chris and Woody below.)

(Note to publicists: don’t show comedies at 9am.)

Chris wrote the movie with Nelson George, and directed himself in it. He plays Andre Allen, a suddenly sober hit comic  movie star trying to take on serious parts. It’s not working. He can’t shed his popular character “Hammy the Bear,” a series of hit movies in which he wears a bear costume. In his new movie he plays a Haitian rebel who kills thousands of white people. “Uprize” is a total bomb. At the same time, Andre is scheduled to marry Erica Long, a  beautiful, self centered and talentless Kardashian like reality star played by the excellent Gabrielle Union (who pulls off the movie’s one dramatic and telling scene–all reality stars pay attention to her). That’s his “career move.”

Into this comes a New York Times reporter in the form of Rosario Dawson. She follows Andre around on the opening day of “Uprize” for an article– and a surprise twist that is completely implausible. (I won’t give it away, but they should have chosen another paper. Just as in “Birdman,” writers seem not to understand what the Times allows.) It doesn’t matter because Rosario is a modern day Annie Hall– beautiful, intelligent, articulate, literate– and empowered. She gives as good as she gets.

Dawson and Rock have so much chemistry and rhythm they alternately reminded me of Dave and Maddie on “Moonlighting.” They riff off each other in superb parries. But they are never mean– this is adult talk, and I don’t mean pornographic. It’s hip, and age appropriate. True, at the beginning “Top Five” offers a kind of orgy scene that’s hysterical followed by one gross shot. But 97% of time the movie aims for smart and sweet, and gets there. Also, there’s a not to be missed sequence with Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg, and Adam Sandler. (The latter, also an “SNL” alum, is the butt of another joke in the movie, too.) There’s solid and hilarious support from Ben Vereen, Leslie Jones, Sherry Shepherd, Tracy Morgan, and of course JB Smoove.

Most everyone was at the Ziegfeld premiere last night from the movie, as well as John Turturro, Robert Wuhl, Paramount’s Brad Grey (he knows he has a winner), Lorne Michaels ( who even came to the dance party later at Terminal 5, deejayed by QuestLove), Ice T and wife Coco. Seinfeld, Louis CK, and a few others walked the red carpet at the Z.

As for Chris Rock and Woody Allen: when I interviewed Woody this summer, he told me that when he married Soon Yi Previn, Chris Rock send him a wedding gift. They didn’t really know each other, though. So I asked Chris — a big Woody fan– why he did that, Chris said, “I figured he wasn’t getting a lot of wedding gifts, if you know what I mean.”

One last thing– Rosario Dawson– I mean, come on. She should be presenting at the Oscars, starring in her own movies. Let’s  get with it, Hollywood.

 

 

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