‘American,’ ‘Barry,’ ‘Atlanta’ crash SAG Awards TV party’
Yeun joins ‘Twilight Zone’
LOS ANGELES, Dec 13, (RTRS): “Barry” and “The Kominsky Method” went all the way on their first SAG Awards ballot while “The Americans” joined the party at long last for its final season.
SAG Awards voters cemented Netflix’s “The Kominsky Method” as a kudos season contender with comedy actor noms for stars Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin, and a comedy ensemble nod. The series, created by comedy superproducer Chuck Lorre, revolves around an aging acting teacher, Sandy Kominsky (Douglas), and his friendship with his agent Norman (Arkin).
“Kominsky Method” and HBO’s “Barry” were the only freshman shows nominated in the comedy or drama ensemble category. The sixth and final season of FX’s “The Americans” grabbed its first-ever SAG Awards nom in any category, landing in the drama series ensemble race. FX’s “Atlanta” also earned its first SAG nom, for comedy ensemble.
Embraced
SAG Awards voters embraced the popcorn fare of Amazon’s “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” with a nom for star John Krasinski and the esoterica of Netflix’s “Maniac” with a nom for star Emma Stone. Anthony Hopkins picked up his sixth career SAG nom, for his work as the deranged monarch in Amazon’s “King Lear.”
The drama series ensemble field opened up significantly this year with past SAG nominees “The Crown,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Stranger Things” sitting it out this year because they did not air new episodes. That made room for AMC’s “Better Call Saul” and Netflix’s “Ozark” to claim their first noms for ensemble, alongside repeat nominee “The Handmaid’s Tale” and the 2018 winner, NBC’s “This Is Us.”
On the comedy side, Netflix’s “GLOW” was the only repeat comedy series ensemble nominee from this year’s field. Rounding out the category with “Atlanta,” “Barry,” and “Kominsky” is Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” This year’s winner, HBO’s “Veep,” was ineligible for the 2019 race. SAG Awards favorite “Orange Is the New Black” was left out of the running for the first time in four years.
All told, “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Ozark” paced the TV race with four nominations apiece. “Barry,” “GLOW,” “Handmaid’s Tale,” and “Kominsky Method” grabbed three apiece.
Netflix led the network pack with 15 mentions, followed by Amazon (eight), HBO (six), and FX (four).
The SAG noms also seem to cement the new players in the fiercely competitive limited series/movie lead actress heat, with Patricia Arquette up for Showtime’s “Escape at Dannemora,” and Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson competing for HBO’s “Sharp Objects.” Penelope Cruz for FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” and Stone for “Maniac” round out the category.
Bill Pullman of USA’s “The Sinner” was a surprise nominee for limited series/movie actor. Hugh Grant is a contender for Amazon’s “A Very English Scandal.” Antonio Banderas (Nat Geo’s “Genius: Picasso”) and Darren Criss, who took home the Emmy in September for “Versace,” were expected.
SAG’s comedy actor category saw a complete turnover from the 2018 competition, when William H. Macy won for Showtime’s “Shameless.” Bill Hader and Henry Winkler won lead and supporting comedy Emmys, respectively, in September for their work in the dark comedy “Barry,” and both are up again, in the same category this time, for comedy actor honors. “Mrs. Maisel’s” Tony Shalhoub rounds out the category with “Kominsky’s” Douglas and Arkin.
Also:
LOS ANGELES:
Steven Yeun has been cast in the CBS All Access reboot of “The Twilight Zone.” The “Walking Dead” alum and “Burning” star will appear in an episode of the series titled “The Traveler.” Other episodes of the series will star Adam Scott, Kumail Nanjiani, Sanaa Lathan, John Cho, Allison Tolman, and Jacob Tremblay. The series hails from “Get Out” director Jordan Peele, who will also serve as narrator.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (“The Walking Dead,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) will be reprising his role as John Winchester for “Supernatural’s” 300th episode. The episode is entitled “Lebanon” and will air Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Executive producer Andrew Dabb said, “Fans will love what we have planned for his character... and a few other surprise guest stars.”
Ian Ziering has been added to the cast of “Swamp Thing,” which is coming soon to DC Universe. The series follows Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) as she investigates what appears to be a swamp-born virus in small Louisiana town, but soon realizes the marsh holds mystical and terrifying secrets. Ziering will appear in a recurring guest star role as Daniel Cassidy, a washed up actor and former stuntman, who finds himself on a collision course with destiny.
LOS ANGELES:
“One Dollar” has the ignominious distinction of being the first CBS All Access original series to be canceled.
Variety has confirmed that the streaming service will not be bringing the drama series back for a second season. The series was set in a small rust belt town in post-recession America, where a one-dollar bill changing hands connects a group of characters involved in a shocking multiple murder. It starred John Carroll Lynch, Nathaniel Martello-White, Christopher Denham, Philip Ettinger, Kirrilee Berger, Gracie Lawrence, Joshua Bitton, Nike Uche Kadri, and Hamilton Clancy.
LOS ANGELES:
The BBC has ordered “A Tabloid Empire,” a three-part documentary series on Rupert Murdoch’s influence over the British press.
The series will air on BBC Two in the UK and examine in detail Britain’s popular press between 1997 and 2012, a period that covers phone hacking and corruption but that also saw Murdoch’s and other papers wielding great influence over politics and society in general.