20 years ago at the Emmys: An effusive Elaine Stritch has the time of her life
What constitutes variety at the Primetime Emmy Awards can be a toss-up. Is it a sketch comedy series? A stand-up comedy series? A musical? A late-night talk show? The answer over the decades has been yes and no, depending on the year. From 1979 to 1989 and then again in 1991, variety series and specials competed together, after which the variety special category was created. Since 2015, there have been two categories to cover the various programming — variety sketch series and variety talk series — but 20 years ago, on Sept. 19, 2004, at the 56th Primetime Emmys, the story was a little different.
20 years ago at the Emmys: David Hyde Pierce keeps his streak alive
A glance back at the nominees in the supporting actor categories at the 56th Primetime Emmy Awards proves that a modern golden age of TV was in full force. Whether it was the tail end of a remarkably stable comedy lineup, the long-awaited breakthrough for a standout drama or the ongoing domination of one show in the miniseries category, the performances being honored on Sept. 19, 2004, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles were extraordinary then — and still memorable decades later.
20 years ago at the Emmys: Drea de Matteo was dying for an award
The supporting acting Emmy races typically deliver the most surprises. Nominees can range from EGOTs to actors getting the first recognition of their careers, to everything in between. And at the 56th annual Primetime Emmy awards, held Sept. 19, 2004, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the three supporting actress races proved that truth again, as all were awarded to first-timers — even as a future president handed an Emmy to a future gubernatorial candidate.
20 years ago at the Emmys: ‘The Amazing Race’ continues its amazing streak
Reality fans had a bit of a challenge on their hands trying to watch their favorite shows at the Emmys a couple decades ago. Though the reality-competition program and reality program categories were first introduced in 2000, only one was part of the live telecast. And in 2004, there was a notable contrast in the spectacle with which each award was handed out. Reality-competition program got an extended bit onstage with host Garry Shandling and two nonindustry people to present the award, which was given out on Sept. 16, 2004. But plain old reality competition earned its award at the separate Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards a few days earlier, on Sept. 12. At least both ceremonies were held in the Shrine Auditorium.
A look behind the scenes at how the Billy Joel TV concert came together
Few musicians can say they celebrated their 75th birthday blowing out candles on a cake just ahead of putting on a 140-minute show in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden.
Billy Joel can, though, and did just that ahead of his May 9 show at the legendary venue. He’s been setting records and milestones at MSG since he began the monthly residency in 2014 — a run broken only by the pandemic lockdown, and one that’s set to wrap up in July after a total of 150 performances. Yes, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour reset the bar for modern concertgoing spectacle, but as Joel proved again and again for 10 years (give or take), sometimes all you need is a guy at a piano on a motorized turntable and a roaring backup band to rock the house.
Writer-director Steven Zaillian was drawn to the timelessness of the ‘Ripley’ story
Steven Zaillian’s choice in what he chooses to write comes down to two simple questions, as he explains: “Is it interesting to me? Do I think I could do it well?” And in the case of Netflix’s “Ripley,” his eight-part adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” the answer to both was yes. But Zaillian — who often pens meaty tales of men in morally gray areas, including “Gangs of New York,” “American Gangster,” “Awakenings” and the one that earned him an Oscar in 1994, “Schindler’s List” — didn’t stop with sole screenwriter credit on “Ripley.” He’s its director and an executive producer too. Zaillian spoke with The Envelope via Zoom about taking on the equally gray-area Tom Ripley in stark black-and-white … and one splash of red.
Gillian Anderson brings back the tension of BBC’s Prince Andrew interview in ‘Scoop’
Gillian Anderson glides between worlds. Or, more accurately, glides between countries. The star of Netflix’s based-on-a-true-story “Scoop” is American-born, in part British-raised, and now lives in Britain full-time. And she moves between cultures, accents and perspectives like a chameleon.
Perfect training for an actor with two Emmy Awards who is still often identified by one of her earliest roles: Dana Scully on “The X-Files.”
But it’s as if she senses where her true identity lies and she has an answer: a very particular North London vegetation.
For ‘True Detective’s’ Kali Reis, showing Indigenous people as they really are is key
Kali Reis hits hard. That’s true whether she’s co-starring opposite Jodie Foster in the fourth season of HBO’s “True Detective” as a troubled state trooper investigating a mysterious mass murder just as Alaska has entered its darkest time of the year, or as a pro boxer with 19 wins and two weight-class world championships to her credit. She also contains multitudes, with Cape Verdean ancestry and as a member of the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe whose husband is Jewish and Sicilian. (During holidays, she quips, “We have seven fishes, the dreidels and lots of candles.”)
Reis got on Zoom with The Envelope to talk about light in the darkness, Indigenous stories and taking on the bullies of the world.
‘Under Paris,’ explained: Why the shark movie is No. 1 on Netflix right now
It’s summertime, which means our thoughts turn naturally to beaches, oceans … and sharks.
Thankfully, Netflix is here to answer the call with “Under Paris,” a new monster film about a shiver of sharks swimming in the City of Lights’ legendary Seine River. As of the publication of this article, “Under Paris” is the top-streamed Non-English language movie this week, with nearly 41 million views, according to the streamer.
Here’s a quick nibble of what you need to know about “Under Paris” before you sink your teeth into it!
‘Ted Lasso’? ‘The Offer’? Nothing prepares you for the Juno Temple you see in ‘Fargo’
If the dictionary ever needed a picture next to the word “moxie,” Juno Temple‘s image would suffice. The London-born star of this season’s “Fargo” has been a working actor since her first audition at 17 (2006’s “Notes on a Scandal”), gone on to pop up in such features as “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012) and TV series like “Dirty John” (2018). She broke big as model turned PR maven Keeley in “Ted Lasso” in 2020 and stole scenes in 2022’s “The Offer.”
None of them prepare you for the Juno Temple you see in Season 5 of FX’s “Fargo.” As Dorothy “Dot” Lyon, she’s a pancake-making housewife with a hidden history and a powerful right hook.
Temple spoke with The Envelope on her way home in L.A. (no, she wasn’t driving — she doesn’t have a license) about being engaged, lobster pantyhose and running faster than Tom Cruise.
