Donald Trump must be such a comfort to his wife in her time of mourning.
As Melania Trump’s mother was dying this afternoon and evening, The Donald was busy posting dozens of inflammatory messages on his social media.
None of the posts mention his mother-in-law, who was his age by the way.
Instead he’s been ranting about immunity, backing fringe candidates, and attacking his prosecutors and judges in his four cases.
This is what he was doing today:
I have to admire whoever cooked up this story.
Someone wants you think that Elly Conway is really Taylor Swift. A whisper campaign has begun for a new novel called “Argylle” from a first time novelist. The case is being made that whoever Conway is, she’s planted clues in her book making people think she is Swift.
To make matters more confusing, in a couple of weeks director Matthew Vaughn is releasing his film of the book, with an all star cast.
When stories broke this morning, “Argylle” — which is in book stores — jumped from somewhere in the thousands on Amazon to number 438. Like magic. How else to goose a book by an unknown?
Back before you were born, in 1977, a rumor went around that an unknown pop group called Klaatu was really the reunited Beatles. I’m telling you, the rumor was rampant. The songs sounded Beatlesque. This was before social media and the internet, so the rumor really grew and sold records for Klaatu. The Carpenters even recorded one of their songs.
Klaatu was indeed not the Beatles.
It’s very unusual to see a novel issued so close to a movie’s premiere. Usually there’s a year or two in between. But “Argylle” is coming from Bantam, which is really a paperback house at heart. The hardcover is more like a souvenir for them.
Whoever is running Conway’s Instagram account is having fun with this mystery.They’ve just posted a copy of the first page of the novel. They’ve also posted shots of two book covers. One is titled “Everyone Here is Lying.” The other is called “Normal Rules Don’t Apply.” These are clues, you see, in the treasure hunt. Did Taylor Swift write a mystery book while touring and making dozens of records at a time? I guess anything is possible, but I’m sure the answer is very dull in the end.
Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knaus has died from cancer at age 78.
A few years ago the late Ivana Trump told me Mrs. Knauss told me Melania was taking care of her mother in Bedminster, New Jersey. It was an explanation for all of Melania’s absences from official events.
Let’s face it, no one likes Melania. But losing your mother is a big deal. Condolences to her and her father and their family.
It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija.
Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond…
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) January 10, 2024
Carrie Coon’s stock has risen about 400% this year.
Popular as the social climbing Mrs. Russell on “The Gilded Age,” she’s now booked another HBO show.
Coon will be heading to Thailand soon to be part of the season 3 cast of “The White Lotus.”
She will part of a large cast that already includes Parker Posey, Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Dom Hetrakul, Michelle Monaghan and Tayme Thapthimthong.
They’ll be shooting at a Four Seasons resort in Thailand, and taking on spirituality and Eastern religions. They’ll also be getting in a lot of trouble!
Join us in welcoming Carrie Coon to Season 3 of #TheWhiteLotus on Max. pic.twitter.com/DDtS3a2IXS
— Max (@StreamOnMax) January 10, 2024
HBO got all 5 DGA nominations for TV drama, 4 of them for “Succession” and one for “The Last of Us.”
Congrats to everyone. These are the Directors Guild noms for TV, commercials, and documentaries. Davis Guggenheim’s “Still,” about Michael J. Fox, is on the Oscar shortlist (don’t know how since it just won an Emmy). But it’s that good, so why not give it everything?
HBO continues to rule the roost!
DRAMATIC SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
PETER HOAR
The Last of Us, “Long, Long Time”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
BECKY MARTIN
Succession, “Rehearsal”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
MARK MYLOD
Succession, “Connor’s Wedding”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
ANDRIJ PAREKH
Succession, “America Decides”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
ROBERT PULCINI & SHARI SPRINGER BERMAN
Succession, “Tailgate Party”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
***
COMEDY SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
ERICA DUNTON
Ted Lasso, “La Locker Room Aux Folles”
(Apple TV+)
BILL HADER
Barry, “wow”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
DECLAN LOWNEY
Ted Lasso, “So Long, Farewell”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
CHRISTOPHER STORER
The Bear, “Fishes”
(FX)
Directorial Team:
RAMY YOUSSEF
The Bear, “Honeydew”
(FX)
***
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
SHAWN LEVY
All the Light We Cannot See
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
TARA MIELE
Lessons in Chemistry, “Introduction to Chemistry”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
MILLICENT SHELTON
Lessons in Chemistry, “Poirot”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
SARAH ADINA SMITH
Lessons in Chemistry, “Her and Him”
(Apple TV+)
Directorial Team:
NZINGHA STEWART
Daisy Jones & The Six, “ Track 10: Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide”
(Amazon)
Directorial Team:
***
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time with Bill Maher, “Episode 2117”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
JIM HOSKINSON
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Jan. 19, 2023: Rep. Adam Kinzinger; Meet Me at the Altar; Special appearance by Harvey Guillén”
(CBS)
Directorial Team:
MICHAEL MANCINI & LIZ PATRICK
Saturday Night Live, “Pedro Pascal / Coldplay”
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
DAVID PAUL MEYER
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, “Singer Charley Crockett Performs “Name on a Billboard” and Discusses New Album with Jordan Klepper “
(Comedy Central)
Directorial Team:
PAUL PENNOLINO
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Episode 1018: Dollar Stores”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
***
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
JOEL GALLEN
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
STAN LATHAN
Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
LINDA MENDOZA
Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer
(Netflix)
Directorial Team:
PAUL MILLER
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
GLENN WEISS
The 95th Annual Academy Awards
(ABC)
Directorial Team:
***
REALITY PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
NIHARIKA DESAI
Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss, “Happiness is a Bottle of Cod Liver Oil”
(Peacock)
KEN FUCHS
The Golden Bachelor, “Premiere”
(ABC)
Directorial Team:
JOSEPH GUIDRY & ALEXANDRA LIPSITZ
Project Greenlight: A New Generation, “PGL vs. Gray Matter Problem”
(HBO | MAX)
Directorial Team:
RICH KIM
Lego Masters, “Is It Brick?”
(FOX)
Directorial Team:
PATRICK McMANUS
American Ninja Warrior, “Season 15 Finale”
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
***
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
JAMES BOBIN
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher”
(Disney+)
Directorial Team:
DESTIN DANIEL CRETTON
American Born Chinese, “What Guy Are You”
(Disney+)
Directorial Team:
ROB LETTERMAN
Goosebumps, “Say Cheese and Die”
(Disney+)
AMY SCHATZ
Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High School
(HBO | MAX)
DINH THAI
American Born Chinese, “A Monkey on a Quest”
(Disney+)
Directorial Team:
***
COMMERCIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
MARTIN de THURAH
(Epoch Films)
Fair Exchange, Levi’s 501 Jeans – Droga5
Legends Never Die, Levi’s 501 Jeans, Droga5
SEB EDWARDS
(Park Pictures)
Rumble, Battle of the Baddest – Droga5
KIM GEHRIG
(Somesuch)
Run This Town, Apple Music – Apple (Client Direct)
The Travelers, Expedia – Wieden & Kennedy
CRAIG GILLESPIE
(MJZ)
Waiting Room, Apple iPhone – TBWA/Media Arts Lab
ANDREAS NILSSON
(Biscuit Filmworks)
R.I.P. Leon, Apple iPhone – Apple (Client Direct)
Action Mode, Apple iPhone14 – Apple (Client Direct)
Choose Happy, Les Mills Fitness – Nice&Frank, San Francisco
Wait’ll You See This, Snapchat – Snapchat (Client Direct)
***
DOCUMENTARY
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):
MOSES BWAYO & CHRISTOPHER SHARP
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
(National Geographic)
MSTYSLAV CHERNOV
20 Days in Mariupol
(PBS Distribution)
MADELEINE GAVIN
Beyond Utopia
(Roadside Attractions)
DAVIS GUGGENHEIM
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
(Apple Original Films)
Directorial Team:
D. SMITH
Kokomo City
(Magnolia Pictures)
***
For a complete list of nominations in all categories, please visit the Awards section of the DGA website at www.dga.org.
The Feature Film and First-Time Feature Film nominees for the 76th Annual DGA Awards will be announced on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The winners in all categories will be announced at the 76th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
Cadillac is the Official Automotive Sponsor of the 76th Annual DGA Awards.
Mucho congrats to Teni Melidonian and MaryJane Partlow. They’ve gotten well deserved promotions at the Motion Picture Academy in running the Oscars. Believe it or not, this is like the work of UN ambassadors, dealing with all the crazy logistics and egos!
Here’s the press release:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has promoted Teni Melidonian to Chief Oscars Officer and MaryJane Partlow to Executive Vice President, Awards Production and Special Events, Academy CEO Bill Kramer announced today. Melidonian will continue to report directly to Kramer. Partlow will report to Melidonian.
Melidonian will lead strategy, talent relations, special events and production teams for all awards programs and events in this newly created position. She will collaborate closely with the Oscars producers and show host, Disney/ABC, and Academy leadership, including the Board of Governors and its committees, and oversee the teams involved in developing and executing the Oscars for a global viewing audience.
As the lead liaison with Disney/ABC, the Academy’s broadcast distribution partner, Melidonian heads Oscars ad sales, marketing, advertising and synergy strategies supporting audience growth opportunities globally. Partlow will lead the teams in producing all awards special events throughout the Oscars season, including the Governors Awards, Nominations Announcement, Nominees Luncheon, Scientific and Technical Awards, and the Oscars Governors Ball.
“These positions and department are vital to the Academy’s evolution and success as we head into our 100th Oscars and beyond,” said Kramer. “Teni is creative and forward-thinking—and her years of Academy experience and strong knowledge of our awards are a huge asset for our organization during this exciting and historic time. She played a critical role in the success of last year’s show. MaryJane is a truly innovative leader, and her prowess in producing top-notch events is exceptional. I am deeply grateful for their strategic partnership and support.”
In 2022, under Kramer’s leadership, Melidonian led the newly created Oscars Strategy division, successfully creating a unit working year-round on all awards-related programs. The team also oversees guest and nominee ticketing and seating for awards season events and spearheads member screenings.
Melidonian was most recently EVP of Oscars Strategy. She began her Academy career in 2005 as a publicist, advancing to head communications and publicity and overseeing brand strategy and marketing before moving over to lead the Oscars Strategy team. Prior to the Academy, Melidonian worked in Washington, D.C., including for the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia.
Partlow joined the Academy in 2013 and most recently held the position of Senior Vice President, Awards Production and Special Events, contributing significantly to the Academy’s marquee events. Prior to joining the Academy, Partlow produced events for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Emirates airline and several high-profile global philanthropic families.
Bravo!
Indiana Jones is finally getting his so called gold watch!
After 50 years in the business and countless blockbuster hits, Harrison Ford will get career lifetime achievement recognition this Sunday at the Critics Choice Awards.
The star studded CCA will air on the CW Network this Sunday at 8pm. Chelsea Handler, who was brilliant last year, is hosting again.
Keep in mind, the Golden Globes — which had lower ratings than reported — had no Lifetime Achievement winners this year. No one would accept it!
What a great choice! Ford starred in the first three Star Wars movies, and one of the last group, as well as five Indiana Jones smash hits, American Graffiti, Blade Runner, 42, Witness — a movie everyone should see if you don’t know it — Presumed Innocent, Working Girl, and dozens more. He’s currently in the hit TV series, Shrinking, on Apple TV.
The CCA’s are voted on by 600 actual film critics from print, online, and TV, all with actual credentials. They are also big indicator of Oscar nominations, which are coming soon.
I wish I were going to be in town this Thursday.
A new musical called “The Ghost of John McCain” will be workshopped, including characters like Trump’s Brain and “Karen.”
Sounds like fun. Here’s the press release:
A by-invitation-only industry reading of the provocative and zeitgeisty new musical The Ghost of John McCain will be held in New York on Thursday (1/11/24), it was announced today by producers Quixote Productions and Max Fose.
With a book by Scott Elmegreen and score by Drew Fornarola, The Ghost of John McCain offers a unique psychological exploration of power, rivalry, and the human condition.
Directed by Marya Mazor, the reading will feature a cast that includes Ken Marks as John McCain, Hudson Loverro as Donald Trump, Major Attaway as Donald Trump’s brain and Others, Ann Harada as Karen and Others, Andrew Polk as Lindsey Graham and Others, and Angie Schworer as Hillary Clinton and Others.
In Ghost of John McCain, the late Vietnam War hero-turned-senator awakens, horrified to find himself back in captivity, in the afterlife, inside the mind of Donald Trump. As a prisoner of Trump’s war to win the approval of an establishment that Trump both reveres and scorns, McCain must fight for his freedom by engaging in a high-stakes debate over life, legacy, and American values. As McCain navigates the surreal landscape within Trump’s consciousness, a “Greek Chorus” of iconic public figures, including Hillary Clinton, Roy Cohn, Eva Peron, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Jordan, and Lindsey Graham, rebel against the President’s relentless demands for affirmation.
Last night Jimmy Kimmel hit back at Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, who said on ESPN last week that the talk show host could turn up on the Jeffrey Epstein list of names.
Kimmel was furious and threatened to sue Rodgers last week. Now, he’s just gone after him again on his talk show. Among other things, he says: “Might be time to revisit that concussion protocol, Aaron.”
Kimmel has no patience for fools, and calls Rodgers out for all his wacky theories.
Jimmy’s thoughts on quarterback Karen Rodgers… pic.twitter.com/mRh5VRUycz
— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) January 9, 2024
I always look forward to the AARP Movies for GrownUps Awards. The nominations are out today and they’re pretty good. I’m a little surprised “The Holdovers” didn’t make it into Best Picture, but the cut off was five. I’m sure that was number 6. followed by “American Fiction.”
This has been a very good year for films, better than the last several seasons, in fact. Add in “Nyad” and “Rustin,” “Air,” “May December,” and “Ferrari,” and that’s 12 quality releases not including films like “Past Lives,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Teachers Lounge,” and “Zone of Interest.”.
“Our goal has always been to ignite cultural change in Hollywood through our Movies for Grownups initiative. And this year’s bumper crop of masterworks worth a grownup’s time suggests that it’s happening,” says AARP film and TV critic Tim Appelo. “AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards fights industry ageism, and they’re a measure of social change as well as artistic excellence.”
They usually tape a TV ceremony that’s aired soon after, with Alan Cumming as host. But that info has not been released. Still, great choices.
The complete list of the annual Movies for Grownups® Awards Nominees: