Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
STARS ON SCREEN
Historial funnies: Ah, the period piece. They’ve always been popular in media, but it definitely feels like they’ve been on the upswing in recent years, buoyed by British imports such as “Call the Midwife” and “Downton Abbey,” and World War II epic “Dunkirk” cleaned up at the box office last year.
Well, period pieces don’t have to be dramas, and Comedy Central’s “Another Period” proves that by taking the genre and giving it a wrenching twist. The late Gilded Age series takes a look at the era through heavily tinted lenses, giving it a hilarious (and more than a bit, ahem, raunchy) twist. The third season of the comedy premiered last week, and continues Tuesday evenings.
Natasha Leggero (“He’s Just Not That Into You,” 2009) and Riki Lindhome (“The Last House on the Left,” 2009) return as Lillian and Beatrice, a pair of sisters and members of the wealthy Bellacourt family of Newport, Rhode Island. For these socialites, the most important things in the world are their clothing, the parties they attend and their efforts to become famous far and wide — something that’s much more difficult to accomplish in the pre-television and pre-internet age.
It’s a bit of a spoof on reality shows like “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and the various Real Housewives iterations, but the laughs to be found here are no joke. David Koechner (“Superior Donuts”) also stars as Commodore Bellacourt, the family patriarch, and Jason Ritter (“Gravity Falls”) plays the girls’ younger brother, Frederick, who’s involved in a lessthan-savoury relationship that’s more than a little bit taboo.
Last season ended with several cliffhangers, with Lillian becoming depressed and Beatrice finding God while at a nunnery. Last week’s premiere already dealt with some of last season’s lingering issues, but, really, the Gilded Age laughs have only just begun. The latest season of “Another Period” continues Tuesdays on Comedy Central.
Grammy fever: We’re in the thick of awards season, when the best in entertainment from the past year is feted, celebrated and recognized, and the music industry is no exception. Excellence in the many genres of music is recognized every year with the Grammy Awards, and this year’s ceremony has made a pretty big move.
The 60th Annual Grammy Awards broadcasts live on CBS Sunday, Jan. 28, from New York City’s Madison Square Garden — a huge change of venue for the ceremony that’s called Los Angeles’ Staples Center its home for more than a decade. The change in cities and in venues hasn’t come with a change in host, though. “The Late Late Show” host James Corden returns as MC for the second year in a row.
This year’s nominees really run the gamut, from longtime favourites to exciting up-andcomers. Childish Gambino (the “Atlanta” star is known outside of his music by his real name, Donald Glover) has been nomi-nited for two of the most coveted awards, Record of the Year and Album of the Year, a feat matched by Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z.
In the Best New Artist category, R&B singer Khalid, Canadian Alessia Cara, pop star Julia Michaels, hip-hop artist Lil Uzi Vert and singer-songwriter SZA all compete for what’s often a career-changing award that can bring instant recognition for a newer voice in the industry.
There are so many more categories and even more nominees waiting for their chance at one of the gilded gramophone trophies, representing one of the highest achievements in the music industry. The 60th Annual Grammy Awards airs live from New York City Sunday, Jan. 28, on CBS.
Baldwin’s back: Alec Baldwin is getting back into sitcoms. The Hollywood movie star struck success with his sevenseason run as TV network executive Jack Donaghy in “30 Rock,” but since that show wrapped up for good in 2013, his TV work has been largely limited to hosting the game show “Match Game” and frequently guest starring on “Saturday Night Live,” where he does an impression of President Trump.
The accomplished actor has partnered with “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris to develop a new, as-yet-unnamed sitcom that was recently ordered straight to series by ABC. It’s still too early for any casting announcements, but it potentially could be a new starring vehicle for Baldwin, although nothing is written in stone.
The series will focus on an aging and opinionated TV star who’s forced to move in with his far more liberal daughter, her girlfriend and their child, setting up a generational clash as the foundation of its comedy.
Baldwin first came to prominence in television in the 1980s with his two-season stint in “Knots Landing” before successfully making the transition to big-ticket movie star, with film credits that include “Beetlejuice” (1988), “The Hunt for Red October” (1990) and “The Cooler” (2003), the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination.