HBO is most honored network with 7 wins, followed by FX with 4
The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) tonight announced the winners of the Critics’ Choice Television Awards. Eighteen of the best series in television were honored at the Beverly Hilton Hotel at a star-studded gala awards show, which was broadcast live on A&E. Topping the field was Olive Kitteridge with three wins–Best Limited Series, Best Actress for Frances McDormand, and Bill Murray for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Limited Series. The three awards for Olive Kitteridge contributed to HBO’s total of seven, making it the most awarded network for the evening.
HBO’s other four wins were for: Silicon Valley which scored Best Comedy Series distinction as well as Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for T.J. Miller; Nightingale for which David Oyelowo was honored as Best Actor in a Movie or Limited Series; and Bessie which took the Best Movie Made for Television mantle.
Next up on the network tally was FX with four wins. The Americans (FX) was named Best Drama Series. For the fourth year in a row, Archer (FX) was honored as Best Animated Series. Sam Elliott was named Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series for his role in Justified (FX). And Sarah Paulson scored Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series for her role in American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX).
For the second year in a row, Allison Janney was awarded Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Mom ( CBS). Bob Odenkirk and Jeffrey Tambor were awarded Best Actor in a Drama Series for Better Call Saul (AMC) and Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Transparent (Amazon), respectively. Taraji P. Henson was honored as Best Actress in a Drama Series for Empire (FOX), while Amy Schumer won Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central). Jonathan Banks was awarded Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Better Call Saul (AMC); and Lorraine Toussaint was named Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Orange Is the New Black (Neflix). Bradley Whitford was named Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for his role in Transparent (Amazon).
Shark Tank (ABC) received the Best Reality Series award. Face Off (Syfy) took home the award for Best Reality Competition Series, and the Critics’ Choice Television Awards’ own host Cat Deeley was awarded Best Reality Show Host for So You Think You Can Dance (FOX). The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) won for Best Talk Show for the third time.
BTJA honored Seth MacFarlane with the Critics’ Choice LOUIS XIII Genius Award for demonstrating unprecedented excellence in the television arts. Charlize Theron presented the award to the CCTA and two-time Emmy Award winner.
In addition, American Crime Story (FX), Aquarius (NBC), Blindspot (NBC), Minority Report (FOX), The Muppets (ABC), Scream Queens (FOX), Supergirl (CBS), and UnREAL (Lifetime) were honored as Most Exciting New Series.
The Critics’ Choice Television Awards honored programs and performances that aired between June 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015, except for the Most Exciting New Series category, which are shows premiering after May 1, 2015.
Here’s a rundown of Critics’ Choice Television Award winners:
· Best Drama Series: The Americans (FX)
· Best Actor in a Drama Series: Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (AMC)
Best Actress in a Drama Series: Taraji P. Henson, Empire (FOX)
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (AMC)
· Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Lorraine Toussaint, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
· Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series: Sam Elliott, Justified (FX)
· Best Comedy Series: Silicon Valley (HBO)
· Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent (Amazon)
· Best Actress in a Comedy Series: Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)
· Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley (HBO)
· Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Allison Janey, Mom (CBS)
· Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series: Bradley Whitford, Transparent (Amazon)
· Best Movie Made for Television: Bessie (HBO)
· Best Limited Series: Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
· Best Actor in a Movie or Limited Series: David Oyelowo, Nightingale (HBO)
· Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series: Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
· Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Limited Series: Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
· Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series: Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)
· Best Reality Series: Shark Tank (ABC)
· Best Reality Competition Series: Face Off (Syfy)
· Best Reality Series Host: Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
· Best Talk Show: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
· Best Animated Series: Archer (FX)
· Critics’ Choice LOUIS XIII Genius Award: Seth MacFarlane
· Most Exciting New Series: American Crime Story (FX), Aquarius (NBC), Blindspot (NBC), Minority Report (FOX), The Muppets (ABC), Scream Queens (FOX), Supergirl (CBS) and UnREAL (Lifetime)
· Most Bingeworthy Series: The Walking Dead (AMC)
Awards Tally by Networks, Channels & Distributors (not including Most Exciting New Series)
HBO – 7
FX – 4
Amazon – 2
AMC – 2
Comedy Central – 2
FOX – 2
ABC – 1
CBS – 1
Netflix – 1
Syfy – 1
Awards Tally by Show
Olive Kitteridge – HBO – 3
Better Call Saul – AMC – 2
Silicon Valley – HBO – 2
Transparent – Amazon – 2
The Americans – FX – 1
American Horror Story: Freak Show – FX – 1
Archer – FX – 1
Bessie – HBO – 1
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – Comedy Central – 1
Empire – FOX – 1
Face Off – Syfy – 1
Inside Amy Schumer – Comedy Central – 1
Justified – FX – 1
Mom – CBS – 1
Nightingale – HBO – 1
Orange Is the New Black – Netflix – 1
Shark Tank – ABC – 1
So You Think You Can Dance – FOX – 1
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More