Category: Awards

THE PRODUCERS
The Producers Guild of America announcing its annual batch of honorary award recipients. MPAA boss Jack Valenti will get the Milestone Award for contributions to the Industry, Godfather producer Robert Evans will receive the David O. Selznick Lifetime Achievement Award, George Lucas will take home the Vanguard Award for technical achievement and Rita Wilson will pick up the Visionary Award for producing My Big, Fat Greek Wedding. The PGA Awards will be handed out March 2.

Stuff Magazine names its 2002 Biggest Loser List.
Steven the Dell Guy, the perky pitchman for Dell Computer Corp., is the biggest loser of the year, according to a tongue-in-cheek list compiled by Stuff magazine.
The beanie cap-wearing actor, whose real name is Ben Curtis, fended off tough competition from the likes of fellow thespian Russell Crowe and airport security workers, according to the list published in Stuff’s upcoming December issue.
“We chose people that just make your skin crawl by being there,” Stuff editor-in-chief Greg Gutfeld told Reuters on Thursday. “The Dell Guy was ubiquitous, and the only reason he’s perceived as being successful was because he was ubiquitous.”
A spokesman at Austin, Texas-based Dell said he “disagreed wholeheartedly” with the No. 1 ranking, noting that the Steven campaign had been very successful. Curtis does not appear in Dell’s current ad campaign, but the company still has a relationship with him, the spokesman said.
Gutfeld said airport security workers would have been a lock for the top spot, but he was worried he would be thrown off future flights. Instead, the federal employees made the list at No. 5 with the citation: “they couldn’t spot a real terrorist if they had ‘Death to Infidels’ tattooed on their foreheads.”
Crowe, who missed out on an Academy Award this year for “A Beautiful Mind,” was ranked No. 2 with the recommendation that he should lighten up.
Other “losers” included the FBI, for publicly identifying a suspected anthrax mailer who now plans to sue the agency for defamation; and “The West Wing” star Martin Sheen for apparently thinking he really is the president.

GOING THE WAY OF CABLE
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is close to a deal with HBO to have the pay TV network air the annual Primetime Emmy Awards for five years, starting with the September 2003 ceremony, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Steve Martin to Return as Oscars Host
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Actor-comedian Steve Martin will once again trade in his arrow-through-the-head for a tuxedo as he returns to host the 75th Academy Awards in March, the show’s organizers announced on Thursday.
The March 23 presentation of the film industry’s highest honors will mark Martin’s 10th appearance on an Oscars telecast and his second as master of ceremonies.
“I’m very pleased to be hosting the Oscars again, because fear and nausea always make me lose weight,” the 57-year-old entertainer joked in a statement issued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Last year’s telecast was hosted by comic actress Whoopi Goldberg, who did an absolutely horrendous job. She was horrible in every sense of the word!
Martin first hosted the Oscars in 2001 with a performance that eschewed the “wild and crazy” persona that propelled him to fame in favor of a more understated, biting humor, with many of his jabs aimed at Hollywood stereotypes.
The silver-haired funny man and film star also has served as presenter on six Oscar shows, introduced a best-picture clip in 1997 and took part in a gag film sequence in 1995.
“The 75th anniversary show is a meaningful one for the academy, and it is wonderful to work with a host who’s done it before, Oscar producer Gill Cates said. “A host who’s witty, clever, sharp, intelligent, quick on his feet and always on top of the unfolding action.”
A spokeswoman for the academy declined to say whether perennial emcee favorite Billy Crystal, who has hosted the Oscars seven times, was asked back for the 75th show. He last hosted in March 2000.
Martin sprang to fame as the zany, banjo-playing stand-up comedian who coined such catch phrases as “Well, excuuuuse ME!” and “I am a wild and crazy guy!” He became a hit with several wildly popular appearances on TV’s “Saturday Night Live” before embarking on a successful film career as an actor, writer and producer.
He has appeared in more than two dozen moves, including “Pennies from Heaven,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and “Parenthood,” but has never been nominated for an Oscar.
Martin recently completed filming an upcoming Disney comedy, “Bringing Down the House,” with co-stars Queen Latifah and Eugene Levy. In January, he is due to being production on “Shopgirl,” adapted for the screen by Martin from his own best-selling novella. He will star in that film with Claire Danes and Jimmy Fallon.
The 2003 Oscars will be televised live on ABC from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

Alan Jackson dominates CMA Awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alan Jackson couldn’t go wrong Wednesday, taking home his second entertainer of the year award and four other honors at the annual Country Music Association Awards.
His five awards tied a record for most received in one year. Johnny Cash had that many in 1969, as did Vince Gill in 1993.
“CMA’s been a little too generous to me tonight,” Jackson said while accepting the top honor. “There’s probably people who are a little more exciting on stage, but I just walk out there and sing.”
Jackson, who was nominated a record 10 times, was also named male vocalist of the year, won album of the year for “Drive,” and song and single of the year for his Sept. 11-themed “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” His debut of the song at last year’s telecast stopped the show.
Jackson’s album award was the second such nod of his career. His first came in 1994 when he shared the honor for his contribution to the all-star collaboration “Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles.” He won entertainer of the year for the first time in 1995.
An emotional Martina McBride accepted her second female vocalist of the year award after performing her new single “Concrete Angel” for the crowd at the Grand Ole Opry House. She also won in 1999.
“I was not prepared for this emotion that I’m feeling, it’s just so amazing that I get to live this dream,” she said, her voice cracking as she wiped away tears.
The Dixie Chicks were named vocal group of the year for the fourth time; Brooks & Dunn took home their 10th award for vocal duo of the year; and Brad Paisley beat out Jackson for music video of the year honors for “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song).”
The night also signaled the return of Shania Twain to the national spotlight. She added a bit of pop to the show, bounding onto the stage in a black catsuit to sing “I’m Gonna Getcha Good” — her first network performance since beginning an almost three-year hiatus in 1999, when she was CMA entertainer of the year.
“It didn’t have the scary impact that I thought it would,” Twain said of her performance. Her new CD “Up!” hits stores on November 19th.
Gill, hosting the show for the 11th straight year, joked after Twain’s performance about his yearly effort to lose weight before the awards.
“I’ve lost 26 pounds for this year’s show. I lose 20 more, I’m showing my belly button like (Twain),” he said with a laugh.
Dolly Parton welcomed the Country Music Hall of Fame’s newest inductees — Bill Carlisle and Porter Wagoner — with a video montage of their careers.
“I like to think of myself as a link, a link between the real pioneers of country music and the stars of tomorrow,” Wagoner said after taking the stage. Carlisle waved from his seat in the audience, but didn’t speak.
Country trio Rascal Flatts won the Horizon Award, which goes to a performer or group considered to have good career prospects.
Before the show, Willie Nelson received the vocal event of the year award for “Mendocino County Line,” his single with Lee Ann Womack. And Jerry Douglas, who plays dobro with Alison Krauss and Union Station, was named musician of the year.
Country music sales are up in a generally sluggish year industry-wide. As of Oct. 27, country music sales for 2002 totaled 51.9 million, up 5.5 percent from the same period last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Overall music sales were down 10.5 percent over the same period.
The CMA is a trade organization which promotes country music. About 6,000 members nominate and vote for award winners.
ENTERTAINER
Alan Jackson
MALE VOCALIST
Alan Jackson
FEMALE VOCALIST
Martina McBride
HORIZON AWARD (for most promising artist)
Rascal Flatts
VOCAL GROUP
Dixie Chicks
VOCAL DUO
Brooks & Dunn
SINGLE (award to artist and producers)
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning); Alan Jackson; producer Keith Stegall
ALBUM (award to artist and producer)
Drive; Alan Jackson; producer Keith Stegall
SONG (award to songwriter and primary publisher)
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning); Alan Jackson; EMI April Music/Tri-Angels Music
VOCAL EVENT
Mendocino County Line; Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack
MUSICIAN
Jerry Douglas, dobro
MUSIC VIDEO (award to artist and director)
I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song); Brad Paisley; director Peter Zavadil

MASTER THESPIAN
The American Film Institute to present the 31st AFI Life Achievement Award, its highest honor, to Robert De Niro for being “one of the greatest actors of his generation” and “changing the way we look at an actor.” The award will be presented June 12, 2003.

ALL YOU NEED IS RECOGNITION
Late Beatle George Harrison set to receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to British cinema at the British Independent Film Awards next Wednesday.

TROPHY TIME
Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report named Hollywood Movie of the Year at the Sixth Annual Hollywood Film Festival. Tom Hanks is the fest’s Hollywood Actor of the Year, Jennifer Aniston the Hollywood Actress of the Year and Naomi Watts the Breaktrough Performer. Jodie Foster will also recieve a lifetime achivement award when the hardware gets handed out next Monday in Beverly Hills.

EMMYS UP
The Conan O’Brien-hosted Emmycast was seen by an average of 19.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That’s up from the 17.1 million that saw last year’s twice-delayed Emmys, but less than the 21.8 million who tuned in in 2000.

Concert for September 11 Victims Wins Emmy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – An all star television concert shown on all the major networks to raise money for the victims and survivors of the Sept. 11 attacks won an Emmy on Sunday night for best variety or music special, while a black tie audience broke down in tears in a salute to Oprah Winfrey.
What started out as a night of irreverent comedy and jokes by host Conan O’Brien trading bleeps with the Osbournes, soon took a serious turn as “America: A Tribute to Heroes” won.
The show’s producer, Joel Gallen, said “This honor really does belong to the hundreds of people who put this show together in a matter of weeks.” The telethon, which featured such performers as Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, raised millions for victims’ families and survivors.
NBC hit political drama “The West Wing” won its third consecutive Emmy Award as best drama, edging out the season’s hot new show “Six Feet Under,” in a victory that took many observers by surprise.
“We are just as surprised as you are,” the show’s creator, Aaron Sorkin. “West Wing” won the same prize the past two years.
In a major Emmy Awards upset, Michael Chiklis was named best actor in a drama series for playing a corrupt cop on the FX cable network’s biggest hit, “The Shield.”
It was the first Emmy victory for Chiklis, who has usually played warm and gentle characters, and a surprising outcome in the highly competitive race for best actor in a drama.
The show is a critical favorite but has been controversial for its edgy portrayal of police corruption, with several advertisers refusing to run spots on the show.
“The Gathering Storm,” the tale of how Winston Churchill rose to power to fight Hitler, was named the best made for television movie. Another HBO series about World War II, “Band of Brothers, produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, was named best mini-series. “We didn’t just win this, the men of Easy Company did,” Spielberg said.
Veteran British actor Albert Finney won the best actor award for a miniseries or movie for his role as Winston Churchill in “The Gathering Storm” and Laura Linney won the best actress award for the same category for her role as Iris Bravard in the Showtime production “Wild Iris.”
Veteran actress Stockard Channing walked off with two awards — one for supporting actress in “The West Wing” drama series and best supporting actress in a made for television movie for playing the mother in “The Matthew Shepard Story,” the tale of the young homosexual man who was murdered for being gay.
Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old gay Wyoming college student who in 1998 was tortured, tied to a fence and left to die in a hate crime that shocked the nation.
Winfrey was given the first Bob Hope Humanitarian award and accepted it in tears after muttering a series of wows after listening to tributes from Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and a host of other stars .
“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Friends,” “The West Wing,” “Six Feet Under” and “Sex and the City” grabbed early prizes at the Emmy Awards, television’s highest honors,
“Everybody Loves Raymond” won big, with star Ray Romano named best actor in a comedy series. Co-star Brad Garrett was named best supporting actor in a comedy for his role as Robert, the brooding older brother of the show’s title character, in the first prize of the night. It was his first Emmy.
“Friends” star Jennifer Aniston was named best actress in a comedy series for her role as Rachel Green on television’s top-rated show.
It was the first Emmy prize claimed by Aniston on the smash NBC comedy, which is entering its ninth and presumed final season. Aniston, kissed by husband Brad Pitt as she rose to accept the prize, previously was twice nominated as best supporting actress on the show without winning.
Allison Janney was named best actress in a drama series for her portrayal of the White House press secretary on NBC political drama “The West Wing.”
It was the third straight victory for Janney, coming in a year in which she faced intense competition from the female co-stars of HBO’s “Six Feet Under” and Jennifer Garner, the sexy super agent on the ABC espionage thriller “Alias.”
The Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy went to Doris Roberts who plays the meddling mother in “Raymond,” the top-rated comedy for CBS. It was her third Emmy and second for that role.
John Spencer won best supporting actor in a drama series for his role as White House chief of staff in NBC’s “The West Wing.” Channing, who plays the first lady in the presidential drama, was named best supporting actress in a drama series.
Michael Patrick King, one of the creators of “Sex and the City,” was named best director of a comedy series and Oscar-winning screenwriter Alan Ball (“American Beauty”) was named best director of a drama series for “Six Feet Under,” a series he created.
The big question of the night was whether two of the most popular shows “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “Friends” would take top honors for best drama and best comedy series, or be bested by a gaggle of undertakers, politicians, super-animated families and sex-seeking big city career women.
“Friends,” now in its ninth and probably final season, is up for best comedy series — an award it has never won.
Even though it is now the sentimental favorite, the show has some strong competition; Bryce Zabel, the chairman of the sponsoring Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, says this year the contests are just too close to call.
“Last year was about whether the Emmys would go on,” Zabel told reporters last week. “This year I think … is probably the most exciting contest in a decade or more, and you really don’t know who is going to be taking home those Emmys.”