72nd Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations: Netflix Leads in Nod: Watchman Leads Top Nomination

The 72nd Primetime Emmy nominations were announced on Tuesday and leading out the nominations is HBO's Watchman with 26 nominations that include Outstanding Limited Series and Regina King and Jeremy Irons getting nominations. Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel comes in second with 20 nominations followed by Netflix's Ozak and HBO's Succession with 18.

But after coming in second place in the nominations last year, Netflix regained the top spot with the most nominations with 160! HBO got 107 followed by NBC with 47, ABC with 36, and FX with 33. Disney+ racked up 19 with Apple TV+ getting 18.

Both The Good Place, Modern Family, and Schitt's Creek score nominations for their final season. Fred Willard earns a posthumous nominated for Modern Family.

While there are the usual suspects to get the nominations there were some first-time individual nominees like Cate Blanchett, D'Arcy Caden, Billy Crudup, William Jackson Harper, Annie Murphy, Octavia Spencer, Cecily Strong, Kaitlin Olsen, and Zendaya.

Here's the list of the nominations:

Outstanding Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO
Dead to Me, Netflix
The Good Place, NBC
Insecure, HBO
The Kominsky Method, Netflix
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Prime Video
Schitt's Creek, Pop TV
What We Do In The Shadows, FX


Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul, AMC
The Crown, Netflix
The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu
Killing Eve, BBC America
The Mandalorian, Disney+
Ozark, Netflix
Stranger Things, Netflix
Succession, HBO


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Don Cheadle, Black Monday, Showtime
Anthony Anderson, black-ish, ABC
Ted Danson, The Good Place, NBC
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Methody, Netflix
Ramy Youssef, Ramy, Hulu
Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek, Pop TV


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish, ABC
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me, Netflix
Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me, Netflix
Issa Rae, Insecure, HBO
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Prime Video
Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek, Pop TV

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Steve Carell, The Morning Show, Apple TV+
Jason Bateman, Ozark, Netflix
Billy Porter, Pose, FX
Brian Cox, Succession, HBO
Jeremy Strong, Succession, HBO

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Olivia Coleman, The Crown, Netflix
Zendaya, Euphoria, HBO
Jodie Corner, Killing Eve, BBC America
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve, BBC America
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show, Apple TV+
Laura Linney, Ozark, Netflix

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Hugh Jackman, Bad Education, HBO
Jeremy Pope, Hollywood, Netflix
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much is True, HBO
Paul Mescal, Normal People, Hulu
Jeremy Irons, Watchman, HBO

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Kerry Washington, Little Fires Everywhere, Hulu
Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America, FX
Octavia Spencer, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, Netflix
Shira Haas, Unorthodox, Netflix
Regina King, Watchman, HBO

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andra Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, NBC
William Jackson Harper, The Good Place, NBC
Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method, Netflix
Sterling K. Brown, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Prime Video
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Prime Video
Mahershaia Ali, Ramy, Netflix
Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek, Pop TV

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies, HBO
Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies, HBO
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown, Netflix
Samira Wiley, The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu
Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve, BBC America
Julia Garner, Ozark, Netflix
Sarah Snook, Succession, HBO
Thandie Newton, Westworld, HBO

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul, AMC
Bradley Whitford, The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show, Apple TV+
Mark Duplass, The Morning Show, Apple TV+
Nichola Braun, Succession, HBO
Kieran Culkin, Succession, HBO
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession, HBO
Jeffery Wright, Westwold, HBO

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Betty Gilpin, GLOW, Netflix
D'Arcy Carden, The Good Place, NBC
Yvonne Orji, Insecure, HBO
Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Prime Video
Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Masiel, Prime Video
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Cecily Strong, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Annie Murphy, Schitt's Creek, Pop TV

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Dylan McDermott, Hollywood, Netflix
Jim Parsons, Hollywood, Netflix
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend, Netflix
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchman, HBO
Jovan Adepo, Watchman, HBO
Louis Gossett, Jr, Watchman, HBO

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Holland Taylor, Hollywood, Netflix
Uzo Adubla, Mrs. America, FX
Margo Martindale, Mrs. America, FX
Tracey Ullman, Mrs. America, FX
Toni Collette, Unbelievable, Netflix
Jean Smart, Watchman, HBO

Guest Actress in Comedy
Angela Bassett, A Black Lady Sketch Show, HBO
Maya Rudolph, The Good Place, NBC
Wanda Sykes, The Marvelous Mrs. Masiel, Prime Video
Bette Midler, The Politician, Netflix
Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Saturday Night Live, NBC

Guest Actor in Comedy
Luke Kirby, The Marvelous Mrs. Masiel, Prime Video
Fred Willard, Modern Family, ABC
Dev Patel, Modern Love, Prime Video
Adam Driver, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Eddie Murphy, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Brad Pitt, Saturday Night Live, NBC


Guest Actor in Drama
Andrew Scott, Black Mirror, Netflix
Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian, Disney+
Martin Short, The Morning Show, Apple TV+
Jason Bateman, The Outsider, HBO
James Cronwell, Succession, HBO
Ron Cephas Jones, This Is Is, NBC

Guest Actress in a Drama
Alexis Bledel, The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away With Murder, ABC
Laverne Cox, Orange Is the New Black, Netflix
Harriet Walter, Succession, HBO
Cherry Jones, Succession, HBO
Phylicia Rashad, This Is Us, NBC

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Matt Shakman, The Great, "Pilot",  Hulu
Amy Sherman-Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, "It's Comedy or Cabbage", Prime Video
Daniel Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs. Masiel, "Marvelous Radio," Hulu
Gail Mancuso, Modern Family, "Finale Part 2," ABC
Ramy Youssef, Ramy, "Miakhalifia," Hulu
Andre Cividino and Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek "Happy Ending" Pop TV
James Burrows, Will & Grace "We Love Lucy" NBC

Outstanding Directing for a Drama
Benjamin Caron, The Crown, "Aberfan" Netflix
Jessica Hobbs, The Crown, "Cri de Coeur" Netflix
Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland, "Prisoners of Wars" Showtime
Mimi Leder, The Morning Show, "The Interview" Apple TV+
Alik Sakharov, Ozark, "Fire Pink" Netflix
Ben Semanoff, Ozark, "Su Casa Es Mi Casa" Netflix
Andrij Parekh, Succession, "Hunting", HBO
Mark Mylod, Succession, "This Is Not For Tears" HBO


Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Micheal Schur, The Good Place, "Whenever You're Ready" NBC
Tony McNamara, The Great, "The Great" Hulu
Daniel Levy, Schitt's Creek, "Happy Ending" Pop TV
David West Read, Schitt's Creek, "The Presidential Suite" Pop TV
Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil, What We Do In The Shadows "Collaboration" FX
Paul Simms, What We Do In The Shadows, "Ghosts" FX
Stefani Robinson, What We Do in The Shadows "On The Run" FX

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Thomas Schnauz, Better Call Saul, "Bad Choice Road" AMC
Gorden Smith, Better Call Saul, "Bagman" AMC
Peter Morgan, The Crown, "Aberfan" Netflix
Chris Mundy, Ozark, All In" Netflix
John Shiban, Ozark, "Boss Fight" Netflix
Miki Johnson, Ozark, "Fire Pink" Netflix
Jesse Armstrong, Succession, "This Is Not For Tears" HBO


Outstanding Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Comedy Central
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, TBS
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC


Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
A Black Lady Sketch Show, HBO
Drunk History, Comedy Central
Saturday Night Live, NBC


Outstanding Limited Series
Little Fires Everywhere, Hulu
Mrs. America, FX
Unbelievable, Netflix
Unorthodox, Netflix
Watchman, HBO

Outstanding Television Movie
American Son, Netflix
Bad Education, HBO
Dolly Parton's Heartstrings: These Old Bones
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Netflix
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs The Reverend, Netflix

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
The Masked Singer, FOX
Nailed It, Netflix
RuPaul's Drag Race, VH1
Top Chef, Bravo
The Voice, NBC


The 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air September 20th on ABC hosting by Jimmy Kimmel.

NBC 2020-2021 Fall Schedule

On Tuesday, NBC becomes the latest network to announce their fall schedule and just like CBS, they took it as business as usual approach.

NBC's pandemic-era fall slate will boost the return of 16 programs from Sunday Night Football (which will kick off with Cowboys and Rams Sept. 23), the top-rated This Is Us and the #OneChicago will return too.

"With the reopening of the Universal lot for select productions this week, we are confident that our schedule will premiere intact later this fall," said entertainment president chairman Paul Telegdy in a statement.

The new Elliot Stabler-centric Law and Order Organized Crime will lead out of SVU on Thursdays. While the recent renewal of Zoey's Playlist will return in the fall. And with The Voice returning, Gwen Stefani will return taking Nick Jonas' chair.


Here's the fall schedule:

MONDAY:
8/7c The Voice
10/9c: Manifest

TUESDAY
8/7c The Voice
9/8c This Is Us
10/9c New Amsterdam

WEDNESDAY
8/7c Chicago Med
9/8c Chicago Fire
10/9c Chicago PD

THURSDAY
8/7c Superstore
8:30/7:30c Brooklyn Nine-Nine
9/8c Law & Order SVU
10/9c Law & Order Organized Crime

FRIDAY
8/7c The Blacklist
9/8c Dateline

SATURDAY
8/7c Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10/9c SNL Encores

SUNDAY:
7/6c Football Night In America
8/7c Sunday Night Football

MIDSEASON: Ellen's Game of Games, Good Girls, Kenan, Mr. Mayor, Small Fortune, That's My Jam, True Story, Young Rock, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

CANCELED: Blindspot, Bluff City Law, The Good Place, The InBetween, Indebted, Lincoln Rhyme; Hunt or the Bone Collector, Perfect Harmony, Sunnyside, and Will and Grace.


It looks like the network is staying to what CBS is doing but only adding one new series to the fall schedule. I'm super excited about the new Law & Order spinoff and even more than it's teaming with SVU on Thursday nights. After the reveal of the fall schedule, I'm a little confident that we'll see new episodes this fall. The one thing that worries me is how will the new standard be like.

The Spirit of Toledo: A.P. Bio: "Ride the Ram"/"Kinda Sorta" Season Finale

"Ride the Ram" 

It's school spirit week, and as the school is battling its rival in the annual Ram Championship, Whitlock tries to do what it can to win. Even though the blood drive was ruined, Helen saved the day by giving enough blood to win. But when it came to the principal challenge, Ralph couldn't do it due to his procedure.

 

Jack comes in to help Ralph after he had ruined their time at his birthday dinner the other night. Jack gets on the mechanical ram, and instead of going up against the rival principal, he's going up against Heather's former love crush. After Heather's move on Chad, he gets thrown off, and Jack wins it for the school and Ralph's friendship.

"Ride the Ram" was a delightful and hilarious episode. The Ralph and Jack character relationship is so good in this episode that it gives Jack a rethinking of their friendship that, at times, he denies it. Paula Pell does it once again with another standout supporting performance. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Kinda Sorta"

In the season two finale, Jack has a one-shot out of Toledo if he helps Sarika get into Harvard. But he and the class must help Sarika make a good impression by changing her outlook and not being so rude-looking. After training, Jack and Sarika meet with the advisor of Harvard, who happens to be someone Jack dated. Yikes!

Jack tries his best not to get sexual with the advisor, but after seeing Lynette with someone else at the bar that night, he is considering going for it. But that all ended when he stopped it and ran to see Lynette, telling her about this dream he had with her and their four fat Toledo kids. The two finally become exclusive as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Jack learned that Sarika had snuck her paper into the advisor's bag and that her aunt was impressed with his book. Jack's got an appointment to see her, but will he go? Also, Jack learns from Ralph that he has a new student...Helen! Helen didn't graduate high school. Oh boy!

"Kinda Sorta" While it felt like two parts of the series finale and season finale, I'm glad that the series was saved and moved to the Peacock Streaming Service. I love this episode! This episode was such a good development for the character of Jack to realize that staying in Toledo isn't all that bad with someone that he has feelings for in Lynette. Also, I can't get enough of the Jack and class dynamic, and helping Sarika was just the icing on the cake. I can't wait to see what Season Three has in store. I hope Elizabeth Alderfer, who played Lynette, returns because she was so good in season two.

Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch A.P. Bio on NBC.com, the NBC app, and the Peacock Streaming Service.

Powers to Believe: A.P.: Bio: "Handcuffed"/"Spectacle"

"Handcuffed" 

When Jack needs a new cell phone, he asked Mary to be on her plan; but in return must help her get rid of her boyfriend. Trying to give the bad news to her boyfriend, he doesn't accept and his handcuffed to Jack's mother's stairlift. Jack plays into Mary until it was too late and she goes back to him. That is until Jack stops her and tells her that she can do a lot better than with that guy; in return, the two will share a phone plan and get out of being handcuffed as well.

Principal Ralph can't take the stress of informing his staff of the cuts and moves. But that's when Anthony came in to interview Ralph for the school paper; Anthony helps give the bad news and is given the power to tell everyone from the gym coach to janitor about the changes. Even trying to get out of a B- grade but Helen took care of that after noticing he dipping the chip into way too much dip.

"Handcuffed" was a very good episode. I enjoyed a lot from Mary and Jack's friendship story to Anthony's reign of power. But the one that really had me laughing was Paula Pell's performance as Helen stealing scenes and that dipping the chip into way too much dip was so funny. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Spectacle" 

There's a talent show but will Jack and his class win it?

As the school talent show is about to begin, Jack thinks he can win it with his class and after searching for some talent from his class he had found it. It was a play and while at first, it was a good idea; Jack turned it and went a whole other direction by using what everyone likes in entertainment from dub music to dancing. At first, it wasn't going so well until Jack went back to the original idea and won the show.

Meanwhile, Mary and Stef try to help Michelle out with her bell concert for the talent show but instead Michelle does it all on her own. While Helen and Ralph come up with who will be the new M.C. the talent show; spoiler alert it's them!

"Spectacle" was so good with the performances from Paula Pell and Patton Oswalt with their chemistry just put to a whole new level. When watching these two I don't think they're doing it on scripted but improvising. I didn't really like the whole bell concert storyline in this episode because it just left too predictable. While Jack and the classmate's story was good on average but had a nice ending to it. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.

You can catch A.P. Bio available on NBC.com, NBC app, and Peacock streaming service.

The Umbrella Academy Season 1

After learning the date for Season Two of The Umbrella Academy, I have finally watched the first season of the comic book series. Here are my thoughts.

It's been over a year since the first season of Netflix's comic book series The Umbrella Academy debuted, and while it's been on my must-see list to watch, I have finally just finished watching it this week and loved every episode. Yes, I was a fool not to watch this when it first debuted, as it's the one issue for me with binge-watching.

I love the first season of The Umbrella Academy as it was so well written, with such in-depth characters that have a little resemblance to X-Men, but better. The season deals with the team assembling after learning about the death of their adopted father. While reunited, the team deals with issues of their own, but when a team member returns from the future to learn of the apocalypse to happen in a few days.

There are many twists and turns as we watch a lot of backstories that don't mess up anything with the story and characters. But the one thing about this series with a strong theme is family. Superhero may be one thing, but this series is about family.

This ensemble cast gives such a strong performance for each of their characters. Aidan Gallagher, playing Number Five, was one of the most fun and exciting characters in this series. Robert Sheehan gave one of the best performances of the character, as he showed a lot of character growth. Also, Sheehan's Klaus was one of my favorite characters. But it was Ellen Page as Vayna/Number Seven stole season one with her performance, still leaving me thinking about her character and what comes next.

That also implies how the season ended, as the apocalypse was still coming to the team after saving Vayna, joined hands with Number Five to time travel. What happens next, I'm dying to see. I will not make the same mistake I did a year ago by waiting over a year to watch the first season. When July 31st comes, I'll be tuning in to Netflix to watch it.

Overall, I give this season of The Umbrella Academy a 9/10. You can now catch The Umbrella Academy's first season on Netflix, with Season 2 coming on July 31st.

Still the Best Drama: The Blacklist Season 6-7 Review

Season 6

After the shocking moment in the fifth season finale, the sixth season took off with exciting thrills and drama that pushed the level of Liz and Red's relationship. As Liz knows that her father, Raymond Reddington is dead and someone is impersonating Reddington, she betrayed him by setting him up to get arrested.

Throughout the season, as Reddington's trial goes underway, Liz has a change of heart with Reddington as she learns the truth about what really had happened between him and her mother. Soon as Red is free, both Red and the task force are put against the United States of America President and his staff, the way that Red and the team helped get Liz out of custody against the Director back in season three.

The season ended well enough to have a cliffhanger of Reddington meeting with Liz's mother, who kidnaps Reddington at the end.

Season Six was one of the best seasons so far in the series. The season elevated to another level with brilliant wiring, character development, and performances from the cast. While Season three and five were the top two best seasons of the series, this one ranks right along with them. Overall, I give this season a 9.5/10.

Season 7

The Seventh Season of The Blacklist was as good as it could have gotten. The season saw Liz learning of her mother, who happened to be staying across the hall from her. Liz is divided between Red and her mother on who is telling the truth. Still, with Red not telling what she needs to know, she leans more towards her mother by the end of the season as she finally embraces the evil power that she's been feeling this season during the season finale.

This season we saw Ressler's backstory dealing with his brother, who helped him get rid of a dead body of a cop that had killed their dad twenty years ago. And the team takes on a new team member, Aliana Park, who has a history with Reddington and is not the good one.

The seventh season of The Blacklist has proven that it's not running out of gas. The show still brings the best out of these characters. Week to week, episode after episode, the series still shows it's got teeth, and there are times when shows do show that they're running out of gas. Brilliant writing and character development, along with another season of great performances from the cast, mostly Megan Boone, who's given such a strong performance this season. Al Roker deserves an Emmy nomination for his guest-starring role this season in the 150th episode. Overall, I give this season of The Blacklist a 9.5/10.

You can catch The Blacklist available now on the NBC app. NBC.com and Netflix.

An Emotional Goodbye: The Good Place "The Final Chapter: Whenever You're Ready" Series Finale

Note: I apologize for not writing this up and posting it. It's been almost four months since this aired. And well, let me say that after watching it the first time, it was tough to protect it during the second time because it was so emotionally powerful.

The series finale of The Good Place might be one of the best finale endings in quite a long time, and saying goodbye to these characters is overwhelming emotions. The episode picks up as everyone enjoys their time in A Good Place, from learning ethics to seeing everyone doing their own thing and being happy. The new system looks to work for the best as the Judge learns from Michael and Chidi.

But things took a turn quickly when Justin won the Super Bowl in the video game with his dad, and he felt it was time for him to leave. After throwing a party, Justin walks with Janet to the doors to the universe. Tahani reunited with her sister and learned that their parents had passed the system, but what they had expected wasn't the case with their parents as they showed love and affection. After many moments, she decides she's ready, but instead of leaving, she wants to be like Michael and work as an intern.

Later, Eleanor learns that Chidi is on the verge of wanting to leave and tries to keep him here by taking him to all the places he loves. But Eleanor knows that to be happy, she can't ruin someone's happiness, too. After an emotional and memorable scene of the two at sunset, Chidi leaves Eleanor while sleeping. But a surprise comes when, just as Chidi walks into the door to the universe, Justin pops out to give Janet the necklace he had made for her, and after another moment, he walks with Chidi.

Soon, Eleanor felt it was time; she brought Mindy St.Clare to The Good Place to agree to take the test. She gets the Judge to grant one last favor for Michael; he becomes a real-life boy who goes to Earth and lives out his best life, from learning guitar to cooking a meal in the microwave.

Just before Eleanor leaves, she talks with Janet and has one last drink with her. Soon, she walks into the door to the universe to see her body turn into stars, where one falls to Earth to a man who almost threw out someone's mail but returned it, that happens to be Michael.

"Whenever You're Ready" was one of the best series finales since Parks and Recreation. The finale felt like a natural closure to the series, with the characters deciding to leave or stay and become something else, like Tahani wanting to do what Michael has done. Each character had a memorable moment; the one that stuck was Chidi and Eleanor with that sunset, in which Chidi described the ocean waves. This episode should get an Emmy nomination for best writing. Overall, I give this episode a 10/10, while the season gets a 9.5/10.

You can catch The Good Place on Netflix and Google Play.