Author: Neon Vincent

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) produced an Emmy-winning documentary, “Sonic Sea.”  When the show won Outstanding Nature Documentary, the NRDC took the opportunity to describe how it was standing up to the current adminstration.

The executive producer of the film stating that the Natural Resources Defense Council has sued the Trump Adminstration more than two dozen times this year over its destructive environmental policies — and it’s only October — caught my attention.  I searched for “NRDC sues Trump” and immediately found these three headlines from the NRDC’s website:

September 27: The Truth Behind Trump’s Brazen Attempt to Kill the Clean Water Rule
The president’s scheme is unlawful and reckless–and we’re doing everything we can to stop it.
September 29: The Gloves Are Off
Trump is going after America’s most pristine wildland. Literally the “last best place” in the country. It’s a brazen move–and proof that no part of our natural heritage is safe from commercial exploitation these days.
October 4: Zinke’s Illegal Suspension of Methane Rules Will Not Stand
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s illegal suspension of rules to cut methane pollution from drilling operations on public lands is the latest example of the Trump administration’s cavalier disregard for vital public health and environmental safeguards.

The last action was almost immediately successful.

Update: in a rebuke for Secretary Zinke, late today the federal court in San Francisco overturned the BLM’s first stay of the methane rule, and ordered the rule back into full effect.

All three of these were only from the two weeks immediately preceding the awarding of the statuette.  I don’t need to search any more to be persuaded that NRDC has sued the Trump Administration at least 25 times this year.

Follow over the jump for the presentation and acceptance of the other award “Sonic Sea” won.
“Sonic Sea” also won Outstanding Music and Sound last night.  Here is Katy Tur presenting the award.

This acceptance speech focused much more on the sound than the fury of the NRDC vs. the Trump Adminstration.  It reminded me of the exchange Infidel 753 and I had in the comments to ‘Sonic Sea,’ a triple nominee, and its competitors on my own blog.

[Infidel 753:]  I had heard of this problem of human-generated noise causing trouble for cetaceans. I guess from their point of view, humans are like the asshole neighbor upstairs who never turns their music down.

[Me:] I’ve been hearing and reading about this for decades. It was part of the background for Sperm Whales in the Ringworld game, which was published in 1984, 33 years ago. [In the game,] A U.S. Navy sonar test during the early 21st Century deafened them, leading to their extinction. As for us being their noisy upstairs neighbors, I think that’s apt.

My readers should have known I would work a Known Space reference into my response.

I also noted that “If the show wins any of the three awards, I’ll go back and leave another comment.”  Here it is.

The awards were given out last night and “Sonic Sea” won Outstanding Nature Documentary and Outstanding Music and Sound. Congratulations to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Imaginary Forces, the Discovery Channel, and all the rest involved in the making of the film. May the film’s critical success lead to an impact in the real world.

In particular, I’m hoping that “Sonic Sea” have as much influence as “Blackfish,” which was snubbed by the Oscars (and Emmys, too), but led to SeaWorld phasing out orca shows and orca breeding.  It would be a shame that “Sonic Sea” wins awards, but does not lead to action.

I conclude today’s celebration of an environmental film that I will recommend to my students for extra credit with the television trailer for “Sonic Sea” from Discovery Channel.

Sonic Sea travels beneath the ocean’s surface to uncover the damaging consequences of increased ocean noise pollution and what can be done to stop it.
…
Everywhere on Earth we can hear the songs of life. From small insects to the largest animals on the planet, our world is made up of the sounds of these creatures living and communicating with one another. This is even more apparent deep down in the darkness of the sea, where whales and other marine life depend on sound to mate, find food, migrate, raise their young and defend against predators. Yet, their symphony of life is being disrupted by the industrialized noise that has become commonplace in our oceans today – with tragic and deadly costs.

I plan on posting more about the politically significant winners of this year’s News and Documentary Emmy Awards throughout the month.  Stay tuned.

Originally posted as ‘Sonic Sea’ wins Outstanding Nature Documentary and Outstanding Music and Sound at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

I promised “I’ll keep an eye on it and report updates as events unfold” at the end of Kid Rock for Senate?  It’s time to follow through.

First, the Los Angeles Times reports Kid Rock says, ‘… no, I’m not running for Senate’ in Michigan.

“… no, I’m not running for Senate,” Kid Rock said. Turns out that all the while he was promoting — surprise, surprise! — his forthcoming album. With Kid Rock’s would-be run now over, he will likely focus on his craft.

So it was just a publicity stunt.  Even though that means I’ll have a less entertaining time blogging about next year’s congressional elections here in Michigan, I have to say I’m relieved.  He would have caused a lot of disruption, both in the Republican primary and the general election and he would likely have been a joke as a Senator.  I’m now much more confident that Senator Debbie Stabenow (who I’ve met) will defend her seat successfully next year.
Just the same, Republicans are still having a competitive primary.  Both Robert Young and John James have filed and are raising money, with James raising more.  As I wrote two months ago, Young looks better on paper, but James looks better in person.  Speaking of “in person,” here he is in I’m Running.

Impressive.  The man has a future in politics, even if it won’t be in the U.S. Senate.

As for Lena Epstein, she is now running for Republican nomination to the 11th Congressional District, so she’s no longer a candidate for U.S. Senate.*  That’s a good thing for her, as first Kid Rock and now John James sucked the oxygen out of the room in the Senate race.  Someone else could do it in the near future — U.S. Representative James Upton from the 6th Congressional District.  MLive reports that he is considering getting into the race as well.  If so, he’d immediately be the front runner, although I don’t think he has what it takes to beat Stabenow, either.  If he gets in, I’ll post an update.  Stay tuned.

*On the other hand, it will make the Republican primary for the 11th Congressional District more entertaining, although not as wacky as it was in 2012, when I posted about my volunteering experience in A-10s on parade on my own blog.  I don’t expect any candidates to be either LaRouchies or Bad Santas!

Originally posted at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

Kevin Robbins of Hometown U.S.A. and I had this enchange in the comments to Entertainers and sports organizations condemn Charlottesville violence and trademark infringement on my own blog.

[Kevin:] I trust Senator Stabenow will chew up and spit out little bits of Kid Rock next year. The Republican primary, presuming there is one, should be a show for the ages.

[Me:] Me, too. Thanks for mentioning that. I really have been neglecting a big story in my own backyard. I’ll have to remedy that in the near future.

It turns out I have been ignoring this story for longer than I thought.  Nearly six months ago, Stephen Colbert observed If ‘President Trump’ Is Hard To Say, Try ‘Senator Kid Rock’.

Kid Rock is running for Senate in Michigan, and there’s only one man standing in his way.

LOL!  Unfortunately for Kid Rock, his primary opponent won’t be the fictional Shrieking Joe.  They’re the very real Bloomfield Hills businesswoman Lena Epstein, who was Michigan co-chair for Trump, and retired Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bob Young.  In addition, businessman and Iraq War veteran John James of Farmington Hills has formed an exploratory committee, as The Detroit News reported.  Follow over the jump for my analysis of that field.
I consider Young, who is African-American and a political veteran, having served on the Michigan Supreme Court for 18 years, to be the establishment choice.  He has a long record of public service, having been a judge since 1995, and a strong conservative track record as a jurist.  He can also peel off at least a few African-American votes from Stabenow.  In a close contest, that might make a difference.  He also might drive a few rural voters into the arms of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, which will run a candidate for U.S. Senate.  I don’t think that will make as much of a difference unless the margin is paper-thin.

Epstein, who lives only two towns over from me, nominally represents the insurgent wing of the party, having been Trump’s state co-chair.  In a primary between her and Young, I expect her to get crushed, as I don’t know if she can even get all the Tea Partiers on board.  Kid Rock, legally known as Robert Ritchie, would be her main competitor for that constituency, and he’d likely get all of it.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she withdraws well before next year’s August primary if Kid Rock gets serious.

As for John James, who lives in the town literally across the street from me, he has an interesting biography, but he would have most of the disadvantages of Young with few of the advantages because he’s also African-American but has no record of elective office.  However, unlike the retired Supreme Court Justice, he’s actually young at 36, which means he’s better looking.  I think he has a future in politics, but should run for a lower office first.  The state senate district in which he lives will be open in next year’s election because Vincent Gregory will be retiring because of term limits.  I think he should run for that office, where he would have a better chance of actually being nominated.

All that written, Roll Call reports he might still have an advantage.

Ritchie also led the hypothetical GOP primary with 50 percent against former Trump campaign state co-chairwoman Lena Epstein (9 percent), former Army Ranger/businessman John James (7 percent), and retired state Supreme Court Justice Bob Young Jr. (6 percent). Kid Rock’s name ID advantage certainly factored into his early advantage.

Roll Call reported on another poll showing him with a smaller lead.

Ritchie took 33 percent in the Target-Insyght poll, compared to his closest rival, businessman and veteran John James, who had 16 percent.

On second thought, I take back what I wrote about James not being as good a candidate as Young.  While Young looks better on paper, James looks better in person.

In addition to the actual people he would have to beat to become the Republican nominee.  He’ll also have to overcome his own stage name.  On the one hand, Kid Rock has more name recognition than Robert Ritchie.  On the other, `Kid Rock’ May Be Ineligible for Michigan Ballot, as Roll Call reports.

Robert Ritchie may end up challenging Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in Michigan next year, but his stage name, Kid Rock, may not be allowed to appear on the ballot.

Kid Rock is a household name to Americans under the age of 50, and voters might be attracted to vote for him, as a middle finger to the political establishment. But it’s not immediately clear whether his famous stage name would appear on the ballot or if he’d be required to run under his less-known given name.

If Ritchie were to submit enough valid signatures to make the ballot and indicate that he wanted to be listed as “Kid Rock,” the Michigan Bureau of Elections staff would have to research the question of whether that name would be allowed. At an initial glance, Ritchie’s stage name isn’t an obviously acceptable one under the state’s criteria.

According to Michigan law via the “Affidavit of Identity and Receipt of Filing,” there are five stipulations regarding the manner in which a candidate can have his or her name printed on the ballot.

For example, a candidate “may specify that both his or her given name and middle name, or only a middle name, shall appear on the ballot,” or “may specify a name that constitutes a common law name in accordance with the Michigan Department of State Guidelines.” But according to the rules, candidates may not use a “nickname that is not a recognized diminutive of the candidate’s given name.”

Ha, ha.  Let’s see if he even runs if he can’t use his stage name.  If he does and wins the primary, the general election polling is ambiguous.  The two Roll Call articles I’ve linked to cite different polls.  In the Target-Insyght poll that had him leading James 33% to 16%, he trails Stabenow by 8 points.  In the Trafalgar Group poll that had him with 50 percent of the Republican primary vote, he leads Stabenow by two points, 49% to 46%.  That’s enough to make people take his candidacy seriously, as CNN notes in State of the Cartoonion: Kid Rock for Senate?

With a former reality star in the White House, why not have a rock star in the Senate? Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan may be facing some interesting competition in her re-election race.

Kid Rock running for U.S. Senate isn’t as dumb an idea as it first seemed, even if it is just a publicity stunt.  Now that my readers have mentioned it, I’ll keep an eye on it an report updates as events unfold.  Stay tuned.

Originally posted at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” won half of the eight Primetime Emmy Awards for which it was nominated, including repeating all three categories it won last year, Outstanding Talk Variety Series, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Variety Series.  It also won Outstanding Interactive Program, unseating “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and holding off SNL in the face of a near sweep.

The episode after his four wins, Oliver and his crew kept up the outstanding work with Corporate Consolidation, in which he actually tries to tank the merger between HBO’s parent company Time Warner and AT&T.

Big businesses are getting even bigger thanks to a rise in corporate mergers. John Oliver explains why that could make you want to physically destroy your cable box.

The ubiquitous tribute to small business reminds me of this exchange between Greer the Archdruid and me in Donald Trump and the Politics of Resentment.

“Even the once-mighty profit class, the people who get their income from the profit they make on their own business activities, is small enough these days that it lacks a significant collective presence.”

The odd thing is that the small business owner still plays an important political and cultural role, even if they don’t actually have much political clout.  Lots of politicians craft the appeals for their policies as promoting “small business,” even if they don’t really do anything of the sort.  There’s also the repeated fantasy of running a business, such as a restaurant or store, as a way of achieving independence.  The reality is that it’s usually the interests of the investment class that get promoted when politicians talk about policies that are “good for business,” not the profit class.  Also, running a small business is much more work than people realize.  In the current system, it’s a lot more remunerative for less work to be a member of the salary class.

Thanks to John Oliver and his writers, researchers, and editors for pointing out how true my observation still is.

In addition to blowing up a cable box to point out the problems with monopolies, Oliver also took aim at the airlines.  Here is his most savage dig, which might earn yet another nomination for Picture Editing.

Mean, but true and funny.  Just for that, congratulations, John Oliver and the crew of “Last Week Tonight.”  Keep up the good work of being the most entertaining informational program on television.

A longer version was posted at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

Today’s entry is part 4 of a series on nominated shows at the Emmy Awards with a political theme.

Today is for drama and the leading political drama that isn’t also science fiction is “House of Cards,” the other nominated series besides “Veep” that portrays a fictional past or present president.*  It is well behind “Veep” with only six nominations.  The other nominated drama series with political themes are “The Americans” and “Mr. Robot” with four nominations each, “Homeland” with three nominations, “Orange is the New Black” with two nominations, and “The Good Fight” with one.

Follow over the jump for the nominations of all the dramas with political or governmental themes.
I covered most of the drama nominations in ‘Westworld’ leads drama series with 22 Emmy nominations, followed by ‘Stranger Things’ with 19 and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ with 13 at my personal blog, so I’ll be a good environmentalist and recycle from that post, rearranging the order to fit today’s theme.  I begin with the nominated categories for “House of Cards.”

Drama Series
“Better Call Saul” (AMC)
“The Crown” (Netflix)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)
“House of Cards” (Netflix)
“Stranger Things” (Netflix)
“This Is Us” (NBC)
“Westworld” (HBO)

All three leading speculative fiction series are nominated in this category, the first of six in which they are competing with each other.  Out of all of them, I’m rooting for “Westworld,” but I’d be just as happy if “Stranger Things” won and pleasantly surprised if “The Handmaid’s Tale” pulled an upset.  As for which series the more conventional voters might pick, I’d say “The Crown.”

My opinion hasn’t changed much, except that “The Handmaid’s Tale” winning two Television Critics Association Awards makes me think that its odds of winning have improved.  “House of Cards,” not so much.  At least this is an open category, as “Game of Thrones” was not eligible.  Next year.

Drama Actress
Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”)
Claire Foy (“The Crown”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Keri Russell (“The Americans”)
Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”)
Robin Wright (“House of Cards”)

In ‘The Walking Dead’ vs. ‘Westworld’ at the 2017 Saturn Awards, I griped about the treatment of the acting nominees from “Westworld,” beginning with the category in which Evan Rachel Wood was nominated.

[N]one of these are my choices for Best Actress in the television programs eligible.  Instead, I think Evan Rachel Wood should be here along with Eva Green of “Penny Dreadful” and I’ve be much happier trying to choose between them with the slight edge to Wood, who won the Critics’ Choice Award competing against all television actresses, not just the ones in speculative fiction.
…
As I wrote above, I think Evan Rachel Wood should have been nominated for Best Actress instead of Best Supporting Actress.

I was hoping she and the rest of the actors from “Westworld” would be nominated in the correct categories at the Emmy Awards.  I got my wish.  As a result, Wood is competing against Elisabeth Moss from “The Handmaid’s Tale” as the only two nominees from speculative fiction series in this field.  I’m rooting for Wood.  As for who else might win, I’d put my money on Viola Davis, the only former winner in the field.  Just the same, I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the nominees won.  As I have been saying since last year, the actresses this year are very strong.

While I think “The Handmaid’s Tale” has a greater chance to win more awards, I suspect Elizabeth Moss didn’t do herself any favors when she defended Scientology.

Elisabeth Moss has spoken up about a subject on which she normally keeps quiet: her religion. On Tuesday, the “Handmaid’s Tale” star addressed a fan’s question about Scientology via her Instagram account. One Instagram user posed an interesting question comparing Scientology to the dictatorship in Handmaid’s Tale. Moss offered the following response: “That’s actually not true at all about Scientology. Religious freedom and tolerance and understanding the truth and equal rights for every race, religion and creed are extremely important to me.”

That may not help returning nominees Keri Russell or Robin Wright, who are the nominees from modern American political dramas, and may be a wash for Viola Davis, also a returning nominee and past winner, if not the returning winner.  Instead, I think it might help Claire Foy, the star of a period drama about British politics and government.$

Drama Actor
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Anthony Hopkins (“Westworld”)
Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”)
Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”)
Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”)
Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”)
Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”)

I also complained about the miscategorization of Anthony Hopkins, writing “I think Anthony Hopkins, like Evan Rachel Wood, is misplaced.  He’s present in every episode and he’s actually the only candidate for male lead I’d accept.”  Again, I got my wish, as he’s nominated in the proper category at the Emmys.  While he’s certainly the most distinguished actor nominated and my favorite, he’s not a lock.  Bob Odenkirk, Liev Schreiber, and Kevin Spacey have all been nominated at least three years in a row.  Of that group, I’d say Spacey is Hopkins’ stiffest competition.

I failed to note that this is an open category, as Rami Malek of “Mr. Robot” was eligible, but not renominated.  Darn.  However, Matthew Rhys of “The Americans” was renominated, so political dramas have two nominees and Anthony Hopkins has more worthy competitors.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
John Lithgow (“The Crown”)
Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”)
Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”)
Michael Kelly (“House of Cards”)
David Harbour (“Stranger Things”)
Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”)
Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

While I thought the nominees from “Westworld” for Best Supporting Actor were appropriate, I was a bit disappointed by the winner.

I voted for Jeffrey Wright because “his performance was more nuanced than Ed Harris, who is the more established actor.”  That should have been a giveaway.  Nuanced and subtle are synonyms and as I wrote yesterday, “the Saturn voters are not about subtle.”

The Emmy voters, on the other hand, are, so Wright was nominated while Harris was not.  Good — the better performance is being rewarded.  Maybe two years from now, Harris will be nominated for supporting actor and Wright for lead.  As for David Harbour, I’m happy he’s here, but I think he should just be happy to be nominated.  While I’m rooting for Wright, I think either John Lithgow or Mandy Patinkin are better bets.

I forgot to mention Jonathon Banks and Michael Kelly as the only returning nominees.  That might help “House of Cards” earn an award.

Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)
Larry Benjamin, Kevin Valentine, Philip W. Palmer (“Better Call Saul” — “Witness”)
Nathan Nance, Scott R. Lewis, Lorenzo Milan (“House of Cards” — “Chapter 53”)
John W. Cook II, Bill Freesh, William Sarokin, Paul Drenning (“Mr. Robot” — “eps2.8_h1dden-pr0cess.axx”)
Joe Barnett, Adam Jenkins, Chris Durfy, Bill Higley (“Stranger Things” — “Chapter Eight: The Upside Down”)
Keith Rogers, Scott Weber, Roger Stevenson, Kyle O’Neal (“Westworld” — “The Bicameral Mind”)

Again, I expect “Stranger Things” to win this.

In defense of “House of Cards,” it won this category in 2014 and has been nominated every year since.  In addition, “Mr. Robot” and “Better Call Saul” have been nominated every year of each show’s existance.  As much as I like “Stranger Things” and “Westworld,” both show are up against stiff competition.

The final nomination for “House of Cards” is one I should have mentioned in Nature and science at the Primetime Emmy Awards as it was nominated in the same category as “Planet Earth II.”  From The Entertainment Factor blog:

Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)

Rupert Gregson-Williams (“The Crown” — “Hyde Park Corner”)
Jeff Beal (“House of Cards” — “Chapter 63”)
Jacob Shea, Jasha Klebe (“Planet Earth II” — “Islands”)
James Newton Howard (“A Series of Unfortunate Events” — “A Bad Beginning”)
Max Richter (“Taboo” — “Episode 1”)
Martin Phipps, Ruth Barrett, Natalie Holt (“Victoria (Masterpiece)” — “Doll 123”)

I’m still rooting for Jacob Shea, Jasha Klebe for “Planet Earth II,” but Jeff Beal won this category for “House of Cards” in 2015.  Along with “Mr. Robot” not being renominated, that gives Beal and “Houst of Cards” an advantage.

Now to the categories in which “The Americans” is the lead nominated political drama, which I’m again recycling from ‘Westworld’ leads drama series with 22 Emmy nominations, followed by ‘Stranger Things’ with 19 and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ with 13.

Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Alison Wright (“The Americans” – “The Soviet Division”)
Alexis Bledel (“The Handmaid’s Tale” – “Late”)
Cicely Tyson (“How to Get Away with Murder” – “Go Cry Somewhere Else”)
Ann Dowd (“The Leftovers” – “The Most Powerful Man In The World (And His Identical Twin Brother)”)
Laverne Cox (“Orange is the New Black” – “Doctor Psycho”)
Shannon Purser (“Stranger Things” – “Chapter Three: Jolly, Holly”)

In the final acting category, “Stranger Things” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” duke it out with the sole nomination for “The Leftovers” taking the place of “Westworld.”  Out of all of them, I’m rooting for Ann Dowd, who has always been gripping as Patti Levin.  Besides, it’s the only nomination for “The Leftovers” — ever.  The show deserves some love.

Usually, Margo Martindale gets the nomination for “The Americans,” but not this year.  I’m not sure Alison Wright is at her level.  The other political/government show nominee is Laverne Cox for “Orange is the New Black.”  Normally, I’d file this under crime and punishment except that this season, like the two before it, have been exploring the impact of privatized prisons, a hot political topic, and government officials above and beyond the Prisons Bureau were involved in the current season.  As for which I think is actually favored, as opposed to who I want to win, I’d say Cicely Tyson.  She’s been nominated for this role before in this category and she delivered a strong performance.

Now, the last of the four categories in which “The Americans” earned a nomination.

Writing for a Drama Series
Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields (“The Americans”)
Gordon Smith (“Better Call Saul”)
Peter Morgan (“The Crown”)
Bruce Miller (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
The Duffer Brothers (“Stranger Things”)
Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan (“Westworld”)

Again, all three leading speculative fiction drama series compete against each other, this time for writing, the fourth category out of six in which they do.  I’m rooting for “Westworld.”  As I told Infidel 753 in the comments to Thanks to Infidel 753, I describe how ‘Westworld’ is like ‘Jurassic Park’.

My wife and I are quite impressed at the depth of the ideas explored in the show. The creators have also done their research. Every time they mention something about evolution in Ford’s dialog, they’re right. This is especially true about the more disturbing concepts mentioned, like sexual selection contributing to the development of the human mind and what humans did to our nearest relatives. As someone who knows the field, that’s both gratifying and unsettling.

Just the same, the writing is as strong as the direction and acting, particularly by the actresses, so I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the shows win.

My opinion about the likelihood of any of these shows winning has not changed.  I will add that “The Americans” has been nominated three years in a row and “Better Call Saul” was nominated for its initial season, so they might have a slight advantage if all things are equal.  I’m biased in favor of “Westworld,” so I don’t think they are.

Now to the next political drama with four nominations, “Mr. Robot,” as only one of its nominations has been mentioned so far.

Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour)
Adriano Goldman (“The Crown”)
Colin Watkinson (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
James Hawkinson (“The Man in the High Castle”)
Tod Campbell (“Mr. Robot”)
John Toll (“Sense8”)
Tim Ives (“Stranger Things”)
Paul Cameron (“Westworld”)

In the final category that has all three featured shows nominated, speculative fiction dominates.  The only show not in or adjacent to the genre is “The Crown.”  This says that speculative fiction shows are, if nothing else, beautifully photographed.  By that standard, I hope the broad Western vistas of “Westworld” give it an advantage.

I should have noted that “The Man in the High Castle” won the equivalent award last year, so it’s the essentially the returning winner and favorite.**  “Mr. Robot,” on the other hand, was not nominated, so I’m not sure about its chances.  I just hope “The Crown” doesn’t win.

Creative Achievement in Interactive Media Within a Scripted Program
Mike Benson, Bob Bowen, Brianna Lopez, Brian Burton & Campfire (“The Man in the High Castle: Resistance Radio”)
USA Network, Universal Cable Productions, Here Be Dragons, Esmail Corp. & Anonymous Content (“The Mr. Robot Virtual Reality Experience”)
James L. Brooks, Al Jean, Matt Groening, David Silverman & Google Spotlight Stories (“The Simpsons – Planet of the Couches”)
Netflix & CBS Digital (“Stranger Things VR Experience”)
HBO, Kilter Films & Bad Robot (“Westworld”)

All of the nominees are or adjacent to speculative fiction.  By the way, this is where the discrepancy between the 18 nominations for “Stranger Things” in the video and news accounts and the 19 nominations I count.  “Stranger Things VR Experience” is counted as a different show than “Stranger Things.”  Meanwhile, the nomination for “Westworld” is counted as one for the show itself.  That doesn’t seem fair, does it?  On a personal note, I should root for “The Simpsons” because I marched in the UCLA Band with David Silverman (we’re both tuba players).  I think that’s a good enough reason.

“The Mr. Robot Virtual Reality Experience” is the political entry here.

It turned out that I failed to mention an entire acting category because it wasn’t mentioned in any of the speculative fiction series I examined.  “Mr. Robot” just happens to have a nomination in it, which is its final nominated category.  Again, from The Entertainment Factor blog.

Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Ben Mendelsohn (“Bloodline” — “Part 32”)
BD Wong (“Mr. Robot” — “eps2.3_logic-b0mb.hc”)
Hank Azaria (“Ray Donovan” — “Norman Saves the World”)
Denis O’Hare (“This Is Us” — “Last Christmas”)
Brian Tyree Henry (“This Is Us” — “Memphis”)
Gerald McRaney (“This Is Us” — “The Big Day”)

Oh, BD Wong!  I’m a big fan of his work as Hugo Strange in “Gotham.”  I’m glad to see him nominated for “Mr. Robot.”  As for who is favored, not who I like, Ben Mendelsohn won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Supporting Role for the same part in the same show last year.  On the other hand, Hank Azaria won this same category for this same role last year, so he’s the returning winner.  I think it will be a photo finish between these two, so Wong should just feel lucky to be nominated.  Maybe next year.

I’ve already mentioned one of the three nominations earned by “Homeland,” Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.  I mentioned the other two in ‘Westworld’ leads drama series with 22 Emmy nominations, followed by ‘Stranger Things’ with 19 and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ with 13.

Directing for a Drama Series
Vince Gilligan (“Better Call Saul”)
Stephen Daldry (“The Crown”)
Reed Morano (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Kate Dennis (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Lesli Linka Glatter (“Homeland”)
The Duffer Brothers (“Stranger Things”)
Jonathan Nolan (“Westworld”)

Moving from in front of the camera to behind the camera, all three shows have been nominated for Direction of a Drama Series, the third category in which they are all competing.  “The Handmaid’s Tale” was nominated twice for two of its directors, so speculative fiction series have four out of seven nominations, just as they do in Supporting Actress in a Drama.  I’m rooting for Jonathon Nolan, but I’d be happy with the Duffer Brothers as well.  Just the same, any of the nominees could win.

In terms of favorites, I note that Lesli Linka Glatter has been nominated for “Homeland” three of the past four years and this is her fourth nomination, while none of the rest of this year’s nominees has been nominated once.  All things being equal, that would make her the favorite.  I’m not sure all things are equal.

Sound Editing for a Series
Benjamin Cook, Stefan Henrix, Mike Szakmeister, Shaugnessy Hare, Tim Tuchrello, Brett Voss, Michael Baber, Jeffrey Wilhoit & Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit (“Black Sails”)
George Haddad, Chad J. Hughes, Dale Chaloukian, David Barbee, Julie Altus, Ashley Revell, Joey Sabella & Joanie Rowe (“Gotham”)
Craig A. Dellinger, Ryne Gierke, Eric Raber, Shawn Kennelly, Jeff Charbonneau, Melissa Kennelly & Vince Nicastro (“Homeland”)
Bradley North, Craig Henighan, Jordan Wilby, Jonathan Golodner, Tiffany S. Griffth, Sam Munoz, Sam Munoz, David Klotz, Noel Vought & Ginger Geary (“Stranger Things”)
Thomas E. deGorter, Matthew Sawelson, Brian Armstrong, Fred Paragano, Mark Allen, Marc Glassman, Sebastian Visconti, Geordy Sincavage, Michael Head, Christopher Kaller, Rick Owens & Tara Blume Norton (“Westworld”)

Look, one of three nominations for “Gotham!”  Cool, but I expect either “Westworld” or “Stranger Things” will win.

There’s only one flaw with my prediction; “Black Sails” is the returning winner.  Also, “Gotham” has been nominated three years in a row.  As for “Homeland,” this is its first nomination in this category.

Now for the other category in which “Orange is the New Black” has a nomination.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”)
Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”)
Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”)
Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)

In this, the second of six categories in which the top three speculative fiction dramas contend with each other, I’m rooting for Thandie Newton, as I think she gave the best performance in a supporting role among the Saturn nominees (she lost to Candice Patton).  However, I also voted for Millie Bobby Brown, so I would be pleasantly surprised by her winning.  Finally, Samira Wiley and Ann Dowd, who I know from “Orange is the New Black” and “The Leftovers,” would also be good choices.  Speaking of “Orange is the New Black,” Uzo Aduba is one of only two nominations the prison drama earned this year.  Oh, my, I have lots of actresses I like.  Well, it is that strong a field, particularly with four nominees from speculative fiction series.

I have one more thing to say about Uzo Aduba; she’s the only previous winner of this award in this field.

Now for the last category and the last show.

Original Main Title Theme Music
Mac Quayle (“FEUD: Bette and Joan”)
Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe (“Genius”)
John David Buckley (“The Good Fight”)
Michael Stein, Kyle Dixon (“Stranger Things”)
Martin Phipps (“Victoria (Masterpiece)”)
Ramin Djawadi (“Westworld”)

My other prediction that both “Stranger Things” and “Westworld” would have their outstanding theme songs nominated also came true.  Joining them is the theme to “The Good Fight,” the streaming series’ only nomination.

To conclude this entry, I’m sharing the theme from “The Good Fight.”

I found watching all the items from a law office blow up cathartic.  Did you?

That’s it for scripted dramas.  Stay tuned for three posts about variety shows later this week.

*Three other shows, “Designated Survivor,” “Madam Secretary,” and “Scandal,” also have fictional presidents as regular characters.  However, none of them are nominated this year, although “Scandal” has been nominated for five awards, winning two of them.

$This is why I didn’t include “The Crown” among the shows for which I’m listing all nominations.  I’m interested in American politics and government other than crime dramas from the 30 years ago until today.  That’s among the reasons I’m not examining “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Leftovers,” or “The Man in the High Castle” here; all are science fiction.  It’s also why I’m not writing about “Fargo” today; it’s a crime drama.

Remember to vote in the poll!

Originally posted at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

It’s time for part 3 of a six-part series on the Primetime Emmmy nominated shows with a political theme.  Continuing on from yesterday’s ’13th’ vs. ‘O.J.: Made in America’ plus other non-fiction political programs at the Emmy Awards, today I’m examining the nominated scripted comedies that use politics for laughs (and occasionally a serious point).

The leading comedy, political or otherwise, is “Veep” with 17 nominations.  It’s won Outstanding Comedy Series the past two years in a row and its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series every year the show has aired, which makes for five consecutive wins.  Impressive.

What’s also impressive is the number of Washington insiders who say that it is the most realistic portrayal of political life on American television, more so than “House of Cards,” the subject of tomorrow’s entry.  I’ll begin with WYNC’s quote.

According to Jess Mcintosh, a democratic operative who works in communications, “Our lives are not like ‘House of Cards.’ There is really nothing that ‘House of Cards’ presents other than the names of certain Washington locations that bear any relation to reality.”

“‘VEEP’ is sometimes so painful to watch because it is so close to things that have happened in my world. I’m aware that it is funny, but I can’t possibly laugh at it,” she continues.

The Wrap elaborates on what “Veep” captures that “House of Cards” does not.

“The funny thing about `Veep’ is, we as people who worked in the White House always get asked, okay, what’s the most real? Is it `House of Cards? Is it `West Wing’? And the answer is, it’s `Veep.’ Because you guys nail the fragility of the egos, and the, like, day-to-day idiocy of the decision-making,” [Tommy] Vietor said.

I finish the comparison with this passage from The Atlantic.

House of Cards does get some things right. Its set design is impressive, down to the decor of the congressional offices and the style of the nameplates on the doors. And it correctly captures a new media landscape influenced by Politico and Buzzfeed (er, Slugline) while only somewhat exaggerating the corrosive impact of money on modern politics.

But Veep gets much more of the total picture, and it does so more enjoyably by presenting the capital as folly, not awash in soul-crushing darkness.

It may not make Congress’s approval ratings rebound from the gutter, but the truth that Veep captures is that the worst of the worst in Washington are more likely to be buffoons than monsters: Politicians and their aides are probably not killing people in D.C., but they often are shooting themselves in the foot.

There you have it.  To paraphrase what a Canadian politician said about the Canadian left, our politicians are more likely to be gauche than sinister.

There are two other comedies with a political slant, “Black-ish” with four nominations and “South Park” with one.  Follow over the jump for all the nominations of scripted comedies with political themes at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

I begin with the seventeen nominations in twelve categories for “Veep,” which also includes two nomionations for “Black-ish.”

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Atlanta” (FX)
“Black-ish” (ABC)
“Master of None” (Netflix)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Silicon Valley” (HBO)
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)
“Veep” (HBO)

As I wrote above, “Veep” is a two-time returning winner in this category, so it’s definitely the favorite.  The biggest competition I see for it is “Atlanta,” which won Outstanding Achievement in Comedy at the 2017 Television Critics Association Awards.  A dark horse would be “Modern Family,” which won in 2014.

Outstanding Comedy Actress

Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”)
Tracee Ellis-Ross (“Black-ish”)
Jane Fonda (“Grace and Frankie”)
Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”)
Allison Janney (“Mom”)
Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”)

Again, as I wrote above, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won this category every year that “Veep” has aired, so she is a prohibitive favorite.  That written, she’s in very good company with her fellow nominees, especially Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Allison Janney.  Tracee Ellis-Ross also does an outstanding job in “Black-ish.”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”)
Louie Anderson (“Baskets”)
Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)
Tony Hale (“Veep”)
Matt Walsh (“Veep”)

Tony Hale of “Veep” won this award in 2013 and 2015, so he could do it again, especially as it’s an odd-numbered year.  However, the returning winner is Louie Anderson.  The other previous winner among the nominees is Ty Burrell, who won in 2014. Any of them could win, but none are safe.  I suspect Alec Baldwin might win based on his Trump impersonations.  I’ll have more to say about that next week.  As for Matt Walsh, he was nominated against Hale last year and two years ago.  He lost both times, so I don’t think he has much of a shot.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Vanessa Bayer (“Saturday Night Live”)
Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”)
Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”)
Judith Light (“Transparent”)
Kathryn Hahn (“Transparent”)

I’m going to let Anna Chlumsky, who announced the nominees and found that she was a nominee in person, have the first word.

Yes, she’s been nominated five times.  I don’t think she’ll win unless the voters split their ballots among the multiple nominees from the same shows.  I doubt that will happen.  Instead, I expect that Kate McKinnon, who won last year, will repeat.  Still, that is a political show, even if it’s one I won’t get to until next week.

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)
Jamie Babbit (“Silicon Valley”)
Mike Judge (“Silicon Valley”)
Morgan Sackett (“Veep”)
David Mandel (“Veep”)
Dale Stern (“Veep”)

Last year’s winner, Jill Soloway (“Transparent”) isn’t returning, so this is an open field.  David Mandel and Dale Stern of “Veep” are returning nominees, as is Mike Judge of “Silicon Valley,” so under normal circumstances I’d say they were the favorites.  I’m not sure this year is normal and it may not work in favor of “Veep.” Instead, I suspect Donald Glover will pull an upset.

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)
Stephen Glover (“Atlanta”)
Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe (“Master of None”)
Alec Berg (“Silicon Valley”)
Billy Kimball (“Veep”)
David Mandel (“Veep”)

Aziz Ansari is the returning winner, so I’d say he’s the favorite.  As for the rest of the field, Alec Berg and David Mandel are returning nominees, so they have a shot.  So does Donald Glover for “Atlanta.”  I have a feeling it might be his year in comedy.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Riz Ahmed (“Girls” — “All I Ever Wanted”)
Matthew Rhys (“Girls” — “American Bitch”)
Dave Chappelle (“Saturday Night Live” — “Host: Dave Chappelle”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Satuday Night Live” — “Host: Lin-Manuel Miranda”)
Tom Hanks (“Saturday Night Live” — “Host: Tom Hanks”)
Hugh Laurie (“Veep” — “Blurb”)

Hugh Laurie is my choice for the best actor of the bunch, but I wouldn’t put it past the Emmy voters to pick either Lin-Manuel Miranda or Tom Hanks.  I might have more to say about them and SNL next week.

Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour or Less)

John Shaffner, Francoise Cherry-Cohen & Ann Shea (“The Big Bang Theory”)
Devorah Herbert, Ben Edelberg & Christopher Carlson (“Grace and Frankie”)
Tommaso Ortino, Susanna Codognato & Letizia Santucci (“Mozart in the Jungle”)
Richard Toyon, Jaclyn Hauser & Jennifer Mueller (“Silicon Valley”)
Cat Smith, Macie Vener & Dea Johnson (“Transparent”)
Jim Gloster, Andrew Leitch & Kimberly Wannop (“Veep”)

“Transparent” is the returning winner, so it’s the favorite.  The next best bet is “Silicon Valley,” which won in 2015.  “Veep” still has a chance, as it has been nominated in this category every year it has existed, which is since 2014, but I’m not optimistic.

Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series

Alexa L. Fogel, Tara Feldstein Bennett & Chase Paris (“Atlanta”)
Cody Beke & Teresa Razzauti (“Master of None”)
Jeanne McCarthy, Nicole Abellera Hallman & Leslie Woo (“Silicon Valley”)
Eyde Belasco (“Transparent”)
Dorian Frankel & Sibby Kirchgessner (“Veep”)

“Veep” has won this category two years in a row and none of the previous winners are nominated (most are no longer being produced), so it’s the favorite.  “Silicon Valley” and “Transparent” are the only other returning nominees and “Veep” has beaten both of them, twice in the case of “Transparent.”  “Atlanta” might pull an upset, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour)

Rodney Taylor (“Ballers”)
Reed Morano (“Divorce”)
Tobias Datum (“Mozart in the Jungle”)
Tim Suhrstedt (“Silicon Valley”)
Jim Frohna (“Transparent”)
David Miller (“Veep”)

There is no returning winner, as the category didn’t exist last year.  Therefore, I have no idea who might win, but I’m still rooting for “Veep.”

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series

Jennifer Lilly (“Master of None”)
Brian Merken (“Silicon Valley”)
Tim Roche (“Silicon Valley”)
Roger Nygard & Gennady Fridman (“Veep”)
Eric Kissack (“Veep”)

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” last year’s winner, is not returning.  On the other hand, “Veep” and “Silicon Valley” are returning nominees, so I would say they’re the favorites.

Outstanding Sound Mixing For a Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation

Joshua Berger, Michael Barosky (“Master of None” — “Dinner Party”)
Dean Okrand, Brian R. Harman, Stephen A. Tibbo (“Modern Family” — “Basketball”)
Andy D’Addario, Gary Gegan, Marco Fiumara (“Mozart in the Jungle” — “Now I Will Sing”)
Elmo Ponsdomenech, Todd Beckett, Ben Patrick (“Silicon Valley” — “Intellectual Property”)
John W. Cook II, Bill Freesh, Bill MacPherson (“Veep” — “Omaha”)

“Mozart in the Jungle” is the returning winner and likely favorite.  The next most likely is “Modern Family,” which has won three times.  As for “Veep,” it’s been nominated four years in a row.  It may not be the best, but is certainly has consistent high quality.

That takes care of the categories that have “Veep” as a nominee, so it’s time to move on to “Black-ish.”  I’m including the show here because it addressed Trump’s election.

The ABC sitcom “Black-ish” came out with one of the more explicit commentaries of any scripted show on the election of Donald Trump with its episode Wednesday night, “Lemon.” And critics are piling on praise for it.

The Emmy-nominated show, which has previously addressed Black Lives Matter and police violence, used the character Dre’s workplace to talk about the presidential election.

Anthony Anderson, who plays Dre, delivered an impressive monologue on the subject.

“I love this country even though at times it doesn’t love me back,” he said. “For my whole life, my parents, my grandparents, me, for most black people, this system has never worked for us. But we still play ball, tried to do our best to live by the rules even though we knew they would never work out in our favor, had to live in neighborhoods that you wouldn’t drive through, send our kids to schools with books so beat up you couldn’t read them, work jobs that you wouldn’t consider in your nightmares.”

He added: “You think I’m not sad that Hillary didn’t win? That I’m not terrified about what Trump’s about to do? I’m used to things not going my way. I’m sorry that you’re not and it’s blowing your mind, so excuse me if I get a little offended because I didn’t see all of this outrage when everything was happening to all of my people since we were stuffed on boats in chains. I love this country as much — if not more — than you do. And don’t you ever forget that.”

He definitely deserves his nomination.

Outstanding Comedy Actor

Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
Aziz Ansari (“Master of None”)
Zach Galifianakis (“Baskets”)
Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”)

This was one of the categories singled out in “Fear the Walking Dead: Passage” contributes to diversity at the 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards, when I quoted Wochit News.

The 69th Primetime Emmy nominees are the most diverse in the program’s history.
25 people of color were nominated across 18 onscreen acting awards, while 22 were nominated in 2016. Last year, people of color represented 24.6 percent of the major acting nominees. In 2015, that percentage was 21.9. In 2014, it was 9.7. In addition to the acting nominees, “Atlanta,” “black-ish” and “Master of None” received nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. The shows’ leads, Donald Glover, Anthony Anderson and Aziz Ansari, will compete for the Lead Actor in a Comedy category.

That’s laudable, but Jeffrey Tambor is the two-time returning winner.  He’s the favorite and has beaten most of these actors before.  The one wild card is Donald Glover.  I don’t think he’s ready to beat Tambor, even if it seems like his year.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Wanda Sykes (“Black-ish” — “Lemons”)
Carrie Fisher (“Catastrophe” — “Episode 6”)
Becky Ann Baker (“Girls” — “Gummies”)
Angela Bassett (“Master of None” — “Thanksgiving”)
Kristen Wiig (“Saturday Night Live” — “Host: Kristen Wiig”)
Melissa McCarthy (“Saturday Night Live” — “Host: Melissa McCarthy”)

I wrote about this category briefly in Star Wars at the Primetime Emmy Awards, when I noted “the late Carrie Fisher was nominated for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her appearance in ‘Catastrophe.'”  I didn’t make a prediction then, so I’ll make it now.  Fisher might garner a sympathy vote, but Melissa McCarthy was nominated last year and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler won last year.  Based on that track record, I’d say either McCarthy or Wiig will win, probably McCarthy.  She made an outstanding Sean Spicer.

Finally, a category with a show that has made political commentary a staple, “South Park.”

Outstanding Animated Program

“Archer” (FX Networks)
“Bob’s Burgers” (FOX)
“Elena and the Secret of Avalor (Sofia the First)” (Disney Channel)
“The Simpsons” (FOX)
“South Park” (Comedy Central)

I’m not rooting for “South Park.”  I don’t agree with its politics, which are libertarian, but it would be unfair and incomplete to ignore the show.  As for the nominee I am rooting for, it’s “Elena and the Secret of Avalor,” which I noted in Lots of politics in nonfiction television at the 2017 Television Critics Awards “looks like the most conventional fantasy.”  That written, I doubt either will win.  “Archer” is the returning winner.  “South Park” last won in 2013 and “The Simpsons” last won in 2008.  I expect “Archer” will repeat.

That’s it for scripted comedy.  Stay tuned for the political nominees in drama followed by the political nominees in variety.

Don’t forget to vote in the poll for your favorite nominated comedy!

Originally posted at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

It’s time for part 2 a five or six part series on the Primetime Emmmy nominated shows with a political theme.  Continuing on from yesterday’s ‘Love Has No Labels’ and ‘Women’s March’ among 2017 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Commercial with this bit of foreshadowing from Nature and science at the Primetime Emmy Awards at my personal blog.

The other nine nominations [for “Planet Earth II”] include Documentary or Nonfiction Series, two nominations for Directing for a Nonfiction Program (Fredi Devas and Elizabeth White), two nominations for Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program (one each for the teams for “Islands” and “Cities,” the final episode), two nominations for Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program (Dave Pearce and Matt Meech), Outstanding Sound Editing For Non Fiction Programming, and Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming.  I’m rooting for it in all categories, although it’s competing with “O.J: Made in America” and “13th” in many of them.  The former won an Oscar; the latter was nominated for it.  That’s a quality field.
…
“Bill Nye Saves The World”… earned two nominations for Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming and Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Reality, or Reality Competition Programming…As for it winning, I don’t have much hope.  It’s competing for the writing award with “13th.”  In the production design, it’s competing against “Saturday Night Live,” one of the two most nominated shows this season.  Bill Nye and Netflix should just be happy to get the nominations.

Both of the leading nominated political non-fiction shows are about the politics of race relations in America.  They’re not alone, as “United Shades of America” along with two shows about the 25th Anniversary of the L.A. Riots and another about the Obamas also show up among the nominees.  Given the racial motivation for the violence in Charlottesville, that remains an important topic.

Follow over the jump for the political nominees in non-fiction television at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
I begin with those categories in which both “O.J: Made in America” and “13th” are nominees and either or both “Planet Earth II” and “Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds” are also nominated.  Here’s one that has all of them and no other nominees.

Directing for a Nonfiction Program

Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens (“Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds”)
Ezra Edelman (“O.J.: Made in America”)
Fredi Devas (“Planet Earth II”)
Elizabeth White (“Planet Earth II”)
Ava DuVernay (“13th”)

On two criteria, most nominations in this awards show (8 for “13th” in contrast to 6 for “O.J.: Made in America”) and track record of the nominee, I think Ava DuVernay is going to win, even though Ezra Edelman directed the actual Oscar winner for Feature Length Documentary and “Planet Earth II” has 2 more nominations overall; I think it might have its votes split in this category.

Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program

Todd Lieber & Zach Zamboni (“Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown”)
Will Basanta (“Chef’s Table”)
Nick Higgins (“O.J.: Made In America”)
Cinematography Team (“Planet Earth II: Cities”)
Cinematography Team (“Planet Earth II: Islands”)
Hans Charles & Kira Kelly (“13th”)

This is a very tough field.  Anthony Bourdain’s food and travel show has been nominated multiple times and even won once.  “O.J.: Made In America” is an Oscar winner.  “13th” has more nominations.  Finally, the BBC Earth team are masters at their craft.  I personally am cheering for “Cities” to win.

Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program

Paul Crowder (“The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years”)
Bret Granato, Maya Mumma & Ben Sozanski (“O.J.: Made in America”)
Dave Pearce (“Planet Earth II”)
Matt Meech (“Planet Earth II”)
Spencer Averick (“13th”)
Joe Langford, Richard Lowe, Denny Thomas (“Vice”)

Tough competition.  I wouldn’t be surprised if any one of them wins, including “Eight Days A Week.”

Sound Mixing For a Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi-Camera)

Brian Bracken (“Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown” — “Rome”)
Chris Jenkins, Cameron Frankley, Nathan Evans, Sam O’Kell (“The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years”)
Keith Hodne, Eric Di Stefano (“O.J.: Made In America” — “Part 2”)
Graham Wild (“Planet Earth II” — “Cities”)
Jeffrey Perkins (“13th”)

This is the last category in which “13th” and “O.J.: Made in America” compete head-to-head and “Planet Earth II” and “Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown” are right there with them.  I’d give a slight advantage to “Eight Days A Week,” which is a music documentary, but any one of them could win.  Again, I’m rooting for “Planet Earth II.”

Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program (Single Camera)

Benny Mouthon (“Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown”)
Jon Michaels, Harrison Meyle, Dan Kenyon, Will Digby & Melissa Muik (“The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years”)
David Crocco & Rolando Nadal (“Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath”)
Kate Hopkins & Tim Owens (“Planet Earth II”)
Tim Boggs, Alex Lee, Julie Pierce & Lise Richardson (“13th”)

“O.J.: Made in America” isn’t here, but it was replaced by another worthy show, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” which won Outstanding Achievement In Reality Programming at the Television Critics Association Awards.  I think “13th” has a good shot and “Eight Days A Week” a better one, but I’m still rooting for “Planet Earth II.”

Writing for a Nonfiction Program

Matthew Hamachek and Brian McGinn (“Amanda Knox”)
Anthony Bourdain (“Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown”)
Mark Monroe (“The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years”)
Prashanth Venkataramanujam, CeCe Pleasants, Sanden Totten, Mike Drucker & Flora Lichtman (“Bill Nye Saves the World”)
Ava DuVernay & Spencer Averick (“13th”)

Without “Planet Earth II” in the mix, I think “13th” is the favorite, even though I’m rooting for “Bill Nye Saves the World,” even though I don’t think it deserves it.

Documentary or Nonfiction Special

“Amanda Knox” (Netflix)
“The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years” (Hulu)
“A House Divided (Vice Special Report)” (HBO)
“L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later” (A&E)
“13th” (Netflix)

“13th” is the clear favorite, given the reputation and quality of the director and the urgency of the movie’s topic, but any of these shows could win.

Original Music and Lyrics

Adam Schlesinger, Rachel Bloom, Jack Dolgen (“Crazy Ex Girlfriend” — “We Tapped That Ass”)
Christopher Willis, Darrick Bachman, Paul Rudish (“Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special” — “Jing-A-Ling-A-Ling”)
Jonathan Kimmel, Gary Greenberg (“Jimmy Kimmel Live” — “The Ballad of Claus Jorstad (Devil Stool)”) Eli Brueggemann, Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, Kenan Thompson, Will Stephen (“Saturday Night Live” — “Last Christmas”)
Common, Robert Glasper, Karriem Riggins (“13th” — “Letter to the Free”)
Jeff Richmond, Tina Fey, Sam Means (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” — “Hell No”)

In its final nominated category, “13th” would be the winner of a game of “One of these things is not like the other” in this field.  All the rest are for comedies.  At least as the most serious, it would stand out.  That written, I’d actually have to listen to all of them to give an informed opinion.

Documentary Filmmaking

Alexis Bloom, Fisher Stevens, Sheila Nevins, Brett Ratner & Nancy Abraham (“Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds”)
TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay, Jonathan Chinn & Simon Chinn (“LA 92”)
Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow, Connor Schell, Libby Geist, Tamara Rosenberg & Nina Krstic (“O.J.: Made In America”)
Barak Goodman, Emily Singer Chapman, Mark Samels & Susan Bellows (“Oklahoma City (American Experience)”)
Joanna Natasegara (“The White Helmets”)

“O.J.: Made In America” is the favorite as it won the Oscar for feature length documentary, but it has worthy competition in “The White Helmets,” which is also an Oscar winner for Best Documentary Short Subject.  However, I wouldn’t be surprised if “Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds” pulled off an upset.  It’s a Hollywood story that Hollywood people like and so they might vote for it.  I hope not.  I’d rather see “LA 92” pull off the upset.

Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

Jeff Russo (“Fargo” — “Aporia”)
Mac Quayle (“FEUD: Bette and Joan” — “Pilot”)
Jeremy Turner (“Five Came Back” — “The Price of Victory”)
Gary Lionelli (“OJ: Made in America” — “Part 3”)
Rael Jones (“Suite Française”)
Patrick Jonsson (“The White Helmets”)

“O.J.: Made in America” and “The White Helmets” face off again.  While I’m rooting for “O.J.: Made in America,” I’d have to listen to all the scores to determine which really deserves the statue.

Unstructured Reality Program

“Born This Way” (A&E)
“Deadliest Catch” (Discovery Channel)
“Gaycation With Ellen Page” (Viceland)
“Intervention” (A&E)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked” (YouTube)
“United Shades Of America: With W. Kamau Bell” (CNN)

The political show here is “United Shades of America,” which examines race relations in America with a light touch.  However, I doubt it will win.  “Deadliest Catch” has won twice and “Born This Way” is the returning winner.  I watch “Deadliest Catch” occasionally, as it has a nature aspect, but “Born This Way” makes its own subtle political point, so I would be O.K. with it repeating.

Host for a Reality/Reality-Competition Program

Alec Baldwin (“Match Game”)
W. Kamau Bell (“United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell)
RuPaul Charles (“RuPaul’s Drag Race)
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn (“Project Runway)
Gordon Ramsay (“MasterChef Junior)
Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg (“Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party”)

RuPaul Charles is the defending winner and I think he’s the favorite.  W. Kamau Bell should just be happy to be nominated.  If Alec Baldwin wins this category, it would be an injustice.  He can earn his Emmy for portraying Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live; that shouldn’t bleed over here.

I also foreshadowed today’s post in More nature and science at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

I’ll have more to say about the rest of the nominees in the final category [Outstanding Original Interactive Program, a new category] in a future entry, as two of them are nonfiction political shows.  Until then, stay tuned.

Thank you for staying tuned.

Original Interactive Program

Disney/ ABC Television Group & Kids Digital Media (“Amigo to the Rescue: Disney Junior Interactive Show”)
Oculus Story Studio (“Dear Angelica”)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jared Geller, ACLU & Hitrecord (“Hitrecord x ACLU: Are You There Democracy? It’s Me, The Internet”)
Ben Grossmann, Adrian Sciutto, Amaresh Kollipara, David Swift & Oculus (“Mission: ISS”)
Felix & Paul Studios (“The People’s House – Inside the White House With Barack and Michelle Obama”)

The political shows are “Hitrecord x ACLU: Are You There Democracy? It’s Me, The Internet” and “The People’s House – Inside the White House With Barack and Michelle Obama.”  Between the two, I’d root for the Obamas, but I suspect “Dear Angelica” will win instead.

Creative Achievement in Interactive Media Within an Unscripted Program

John Najarian & Darren Hand (“E! Live 360”)
Meghan de Boer, Rich Preuss, Teeny Stillings, Augie Vargas & Shelby Sundling Lathrop (“The Oscars: All Access”)
Eric Gurian, Evan Jonigkeit, Jerry Kupfer, Jack Burditt & Nick Bernardone (“Stand For Rights: A Benefit for the ACLU with Tom Hanks”)
Stand Up To Cancer: A Program of the Entratainment Industry Foundation, Done + Dusted Inc., Telescope Inc., Blue State Digital & ID-PR (“Stand Up to Cancer: #Reasons2StandUp”)

The political show is “Stand For Rights: A Benefit for the ACLU with Tom Hanks,” but I think either “The Oscars: All Access” or “Stand Up to Cancer” will win, the first because it is a show about Hollywood and the second because it’s about a cause that Hollywood likes.  Yes, I’m cynical, but I grew up around Hollywood people.  I might have more to say about that later.

Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

“Creating Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“Feud: Bette and Joan: Inside Look” (FX.com)
“Jay Leno’s Garage” (nbc.com)
“National Endowment for the Arts: United States of Arts” (arts.gov)
“Viceland at the Women’s March” (Viceland)

“Viceland at the Women’s March” is the political program, but “United States of Arts” also fits the theme, as it was produced by the government.  I’m also counting “Creating Saturday Night Live,” as the parent program can be very political and I’m examining it in a future entry.  Speaking of which, stay tuned for two posts about the scripted comedies and dramas about politics, including shows starring two fictional presidents, Selina Meyer and Frank Underwood.

Originally posted at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

This is the first of a five or six part series on the Primetime Emmmy nominated shows with a political theme.  

I’m planning the first of a series of entries about politically themed nominees, much as I did for the political-themed nominees at the 2017 Television Critics Awards.  I’m starting with just one category for today’s entry.

Commercial

John X Hannes & Smuggler (“Calling JohnMalkovich.com – Squarespace”)
R/GA & Tool of North America (“Love Cam – Ad Council: Love Has No Labels”)
R/GA & MJZ (“We Are America – Ad Council: Love Has No Labels”)
McGarry Bowen & Hungry Man Productions (“Why I March – Women’s March on Washington”)
72 and Sunny & Hecho en 72 (“Year in Search 2016 – Google”)

The middle three are expressly political and the last one is about last year’s news.  Given that it was an election year, a lot of that was political, too.  Only the very first had no political content, so it goes last in this post.  That means the second one listed goes first, although the Ad Council on YouTube doesn’t call it “Love Cam.” It’s Fans of Love.

For years, kiss cams have been a big part of American sports culture. This year, Love Has No Labels puts a twist on the kiss cam by turning it into a symbol for unbiased love. In the stadium, fans cheered for love in all its forms – regardless of race, gender, disability, age or religion.

Love Has No Labels is a movement to open our eyes to unconscious bias. While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we see – whether it’s race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability. By becoming aware of our own biases, we can work to end bias in ourselves, our families, our friends, and our communities. Rethink bias at www.lovehasnolabels.com.
…
Music: “Show Me Love (feat. Chance the Rapper, Moses Sumney, and Robin Hannibal) [Skrillex Remix]” – Hundred Waters

I enjoyed that, but I liked the next public service announcement even better: We Are America ft. John Cena.

To love America is to love all Americans. John Cena takes a break between dropping body slams to drop some truth – that patriotism is more than pride of country, it’s love beyond labels.

While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we see – whether it’s race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability. The Love Has No Labels campaign challenges us to open our eyes to our implicit, or unconscious, bias and work to stop it in ourselves, our families, our friends, and our colleagues. Rethink your bias at www.lovehasnolabels.com.

I think history is on the side of one of these two will winning.  I’ll explain why over the jump — after the other three nominees and last year’s winner.
The most political nominee is “Why I March – Women’s March on Washington.”  I couldn’t find it on YouTube, so here is one from Vimeo.  It looks like it’s just good enough to be nominated.  Here’s to it actually being the right one, as the studio name doesn’t match.

Why I March | Women's March on Washington from Wonderdog Studios on Vimeo.

The next one should look familiar of my personal blog, as I embedded it in Farewell to 2016 on social media for New Year’s Eve there: Google – Year In Search 2016.

See what the world searched for in 2016.

The last of this year’s nominees is Calling JohnMalkovich.com, which was a Super Bowl commercial.

The real John Malkovich asks, “How can you be John Malkovich?” Get your domain before it’s gone. Squarespace.com.

That’s funny, so it’s stiff competition for the rest.

Finally, I wrote above that history is on the side of one of the two Love has no Labels public service announcements winning.  That’s because last year’s winner is an earlier installment of the series: Love Has No Labels: 90 Second TV Spot and I think that the Emmy voters will likely repeat themselves.

That’s a message worth repeating, so I will.

Originally posted at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

Remember to vote in the poll!

I concluded ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ ‘Stranger Things,’ and ‘The Good Place’ lead speculative fiction nominees at Television Critics Association Awards on my blog with “I might write about the reality and news and information program nominees later.”  I think now fits that criterion, especially as the awards ceremony is this Saturday, August 5th.

At first glance, what I found remarkable about the news and information nominees was the inclusion of political humor shows.  At second glance, the number of political documentaries also struck me.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee,” TBS (2016 Winner in Category)
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” HBO
“The Lead With Jake Tapper,” CNN
“O.J.: Made in America,” ESPN
“Planet Earth II,” BBC America
“Weiner,” Showtime

While I agree that both “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” and “Last Week Tonight” are excellent sources of information — in fact, I called “Last Week Tonight” “the best news program on TV today, even if it is considered entertainment” — both shows are primarly comedy about the news, not the news itself.  Still, it says a lot about our times that the comedians do a better job of covering important stories than the actual journalists.  Many of today’s stories, particularly the political ones, are absurd and deserve nothing better than to be laughed at.

On the other hand, some stories deserve a more serious and longer look than the evening news can give them, so they become the province of documentaries.  Two of them, “O.J.: Made in America” and “Weiner,” were also nominated.  The former has been nominated for six primetime Emmy Awards, while the latter probably should have been nominated for at least one.*

Rounding out the field are “Planet Earth II” and “The Lead With Jake Tapper,” the only true news program nominated.  The former has ten Primetime Emmy nominations, while the latter couldn’t even pick up one at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards; the Emmy voters prefer Anderson Cooper, who earned three nominations there, but that’s a story for a future entry.

Speaking of preferences, Samantha Bee, who has six nominations for her regular show and the “Not the White House Correspondents Dinner” special, is the returning winner and favorite, at least for this award.  On the other hand, I expect John Oliver will beat her again at the Primetime Emmy Awards for Talk Variety Series.
Politics also showed up in the next category.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING
“The Circus,” Showtime
“The Great British Baking Show,” PBS
“The Keepers,” Netflix
“Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” A&E
“Shark Tank,” ABC
“Survivor: Game Changers,” CBS

Three of these stand out as not being standard reality shows.  “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” has two Primetime Emmy nominations for Informational Series or Special and Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program.  It’s not a reality show, despite what the television critics think.  Neither is “The Keepers,” which has an Emmy nomination for Documentary or Nonfiction Series.  Finally, “The Circus” straddles the line between reality and documentary, as it covered the presidential primaries in more or less real time; I found it both entertaining and informative.

If I thought the critics would vote for a reality show, I would think they would vote for either “The Great British Baking Show” or “Shark Tank.”  That’s not what I expect.  Instead, I suspect they will vote for either Leah Remini, a story about Hollywood that other people in Hollywood would like, or “The Keepers.”  Sorry, “The Circus,” just be happy to be nominated.

That’s enough of the Television Critics Association Awards for now.  Stay tuned for more about the Emmy nominees.

*I’m biased, as I have been following this story for four years and think it deserves more recognition beyond being a political scandal.

Originally posted to Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.

Last December, the news was ‘Inconvenient Truth 2’ being released next year.  It’s now “next year,” so the news is How Donald Trump Made `An Inconvenient Sequel’ 10 Times More Relevant.

[H]ow could his follow-up bulletin of a climate-change doc, “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” coming out eleven years later, possibly have a comparable impact? If you’d asked me a year ago, I would have said: It couldn’t. I would have said that Gore’s relevance as a herald of looming environmental disaster had been diminished by his own success. He no longer owned the issue, because we all did. And that would be a good thing!

But when you see “An Inconvenient Sequel,” which played at the Sundance Film Festival in January and opened yesterday, to promisingly huge numbers, in limited release (it goes wider next weekend), the film takes on a radical urgency that even Al Gore probably didn’t plan on. In a way that neither Gore nor the film’s co-directors, Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, could have anticipated, “An Inconvenient Sequel” makes the case for climate change as a fundamental political/economic/moral issue of the 21st century in a way that shoves it right through the teeth of Donald Trump’s destructive ignorance.

If Hillary Clinton were now president, the film’s politics would be more or less congruent with that of her administration. Instead, “An Inconvenient Sequel” plays as a bolder statement: a movie that might have been designed to answer the current rollback of environmental policy — and to address America’s backing out of the Paris Climate Accord, since the film documents, with fascinating on-site political detail, how, exactly, that accord was reached in 2016 (complete with participation from Chinese president Xi Jinping and Trump’s BFF Vladimir Putin).

The pulling out of the Accord was, of course, another case of macho semiotics on Trump’s part: “I’m not going to go to your girly-man Euro garden party. Too regulated!” But since the President of the United States is now a captive of magical thinking on the environment (his plan to take America back to the glory days of coal mining makes about as much sense as returning to the gold standard), we are once again in dire need of a crossover documentary that can demonstrate what the stakes are. And “An Inconvenient Sequel” does just that. The force of Trump turns this movie into an impassioned answer to the force of Trump.

Trump even opens the trailer, which I probably should have posted in April, when it came out.

Watch the new trailer for An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, the sequel to An Inconvenient Truth. In theatres July 28, 2017.

That’s not all for promotion of the documentary.  Al Gore and One Republic, which plays the theme song to the movie, have been busy making the rounds of late night talk shows the past month as well.  Follow over the jump for clips from Stephen Colbert, James Corden, and Seth Meyers.
I begin with the earliest clip, Al Gore Received Illegal Campaign Materials In 2000 (And Reported It) from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The 45th Vice President and ‘An Inconvenient Sequel’ documentarian Al Gore once found himself at a moral crossroads eerily similar to Donald Trump Jr.’s.

Colbert returned to this interview last week in Get A Hot Date With Al Gore’s Climate Change Pick-up Lines.

Former Vice President Al Gore offers up some steamy climate change-themed pick-up lines that might land you a date to his film ‘An Inconvenient Sequel.’

Gore showed up on James Corden’s show, where he took on Donald Trump’s latest tweets & takes.

James asks former Vice President Al Gore about President Donald Trump’s moves to break down much of the previous administration’s accomplishments, and the two discuss the 9-minute gap between tweets announcing transgender individuals are no longer eligible to serve in the military.

Gore was not alone in promoting the film.  The band OneRepublic sang the title song on Seth Meyers’ show.

Musical guest OneRepublic performs “Truth to Power” for Late Night with Seth Meyers.

When I first saw this, I thought “the band’s name alone is perfect for this song.”  Whether they will have the same success with it as Melissa Etheridge, whose song for “Inconvenient Truth,” “I Need to Wake up” won an Oscar, remains to be seen.  I wish them and Vice President Gore luck with this film.  If it’s good enough, I will be showing it to my students next year.

Speaking of success, Colbert, Corden, and Meyers are all nominated for at least one Primetime Emmy.  I’ll get back to that topic later.

Originally posted to Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.