Day: December 17, 2009

The Screen Actors Guild announced its nominations from calendar year 2009 today, and once again, I may not be the only person wondering why the people who care most about acting are willing to separate TV shows into drama and comedy categories, but not the movies. You'd think they'd give themselves enough respect to recognize great comedic performances on the big screen. Especially since they're willing to include a category for stunt workers. Hmmm. Maybe next year? Let's talk, SAG! In the meantime… Their TV nominations do include room for critically-loved newcomers Glee and Modern Family, at least for the ensembles. They're up against 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series. I know some who quibble about Glee being considered in the comedy category (at least in the case of the Golden Globes, it's a music and comedy category, but that's problematic for entirely different reasons). Otherwise, though, good selections. Although how about some love for Parks and Recreation this year! And here are the individual acting nominees (I particularly like the notation under Larry David, while for Toni Collette, are they just picking the one personality out?):   The full SAG Award nominees can be viewed here, with the awards themselves handed out Jan. 23, 2010, on TBS and...

Just when you thought Stephen Colbert had had a pretty good year as a parody of a TV news blowhard, he has to go and up the ante, and then up the ante again! If you haven't yet watched Colbert rap his own suburban lyrics with Alicia Keys on a duet of her New York City anthem for the 21st century, "Empire State of Mind," then you must watch it right now. You think it might be a contrivance? You think wrong. It's quite wonderful, actually. That followed a weekend in which Colbert went home — or at least back to his comedy roots at Second City — to be the star attraction among dozens of stars for Second City's 50th anniversary. There's a video of Colbert and Steve Carell reuniting for an old Second City sketch in this NYT review. Meanwhile, Colbert has managed to not only singlehandly adopt the U.S. Olympic speedskating team with his fans at Colbert Nation donating $250,000 to the team's cause, but the comedian also has taken over this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. That's right. SPORTS Illustrated. Simply remarkable. You've seen the cover? Online, SI.com has a slew of outtakes. Check them all out. This one, photographed by Michael O'Neill for SI, is perhaps my favorite. Look out for his right. It's a sharp hook! Or is that an uppercut? Either way,...