Introducing the Smackdown Panel for '81
Friday, April 24, 2020 at 8:00PM We're so excited to bring you a new super-sized season of the Supporting Actress Smackdown. First up in early May is the year 1981. We'll be talking about Reds, On Golden Pond, Only When I Laugh, Ragtime, and Absence of Malice... so watch those flicks, won'cha? We've gathered a panel of actors, critics and industry cinephiles for you.
Ready to dive into 1981? Let's meet the people who will be talking about the Oscars of 1981 with us.
PLEASE WELCOME ...
SEAN MAGUIRE
Originally from London, Sean started his career at age five starring alongside Sir Laurence Olivier in his final film, A Voyage around my Father. He then rose to fame at age ten when he was cast in the BBC drama "Grange Hill." He was cast as the lead in US number one box office feature Meet the Spartans. Sean has also starred in the TV comedies Off-Centre, Eve, The Class and took the title role in the Comedy Central series Krod Mandoon opposite Kevin Hart. Sean has also appeared in shows such as BBC series Scott & Bailey, the hit series Criminal Minds, and Timeless as James Bond creator Ian Flemming. Sean is best known for playing "Robin Hood" on the hit ABC series Once Upon A Time. Sean just completed the 5th series of The Magicians on SyFy where he played two separate characters. Sean is an ambassador for the charity Oxfam. Sean resides in Los Angeles with his wife Tanya and two sons Flynn and Leo. [Twitter | Instagram ]
DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN
Donna Lynne Champlin is an OBIE, Drama Desk and Gracie Award winning actress. Having worked extensively on stage, in television and film, she is most well-known for playing Carol Burnett in the autobiographical Hollywood Arms and “Pirelli” in the musician-actor revival of Sweeney Todd on Broadway, “Hortense” in Comedy Central’s Another Period, and “Paula Proctor” on The CW’s Emmy award winning Crazy Ex Girlfriend. [Twitter | Instagram]
BOYD VAN HOEIJ
Boyd van Hoeij is a Dutch-born freelance film writer based in Luxembourg and Paris. He was a contributing critic at Variety before moving to The Hollywood Reporter in 2013. Boyd also regularly contributes to De Filmkrant (Netherlands), is artistic advisor at the Luxembourg City Film Festival and president of the Selection Committee of the Luxembourg Film Fund. He has been part of festival juries in, amongst others, Cannes, Venice, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Sydney, Palm Springs and Thessaloniki and taught film criticism workshops and conducted shot-by-shot analyses of film classics across Europe and in the U.S. He has also moderated masterclasses with talents including Quentin Tarantino, Todd Haynes, Melanie Griffith and Ray Liotta. [Twitter]
AMIR SOLTANI
Amir is a cinephile, former film critic (and TFE contributor), and current festival programmer who lives in Toronto. His interests include Iranian cinema, noir films, sad romances and Claudia Cardinale. [Twitter | Letterboxd ]
And two regulars from Team Experience...
ERIC BLUME
Eric Blume is a comedy writer and director. He spent a decade and a half at Comedy Central, where he developed, wrote and directed content pieces and half-hour shows featuring Hollywood's biggest talent. In addition, he's written and directed national commercials, branded content pieces, and comedy content for networks and services such as TBS, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, E!, Syfy, Laugh Out Loud, and Funny or Die.
NATHANIEL R
Nathaniel R is the creator and owner of The Film Experience. He is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association ("Critics Choice") and The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics ("GALECA"). He is a longtime Oscar pundit (TFE, Gurus of Gold), and his writing has appeared online (Vulture, Show-Score, Slate, Towleroad, Tribeca Film) and in print (Vanity Fair, Esquire and Winq). Nathaniel regularly serves on international festival juries and has appeared as an on-air Oscar pundit for CNNi. [Twitter | Contact | Instagram | Letterboxd]
THE SMACKDOWN OF 1981 IS COMING ON THE WEEKEND OF MAY 8TH! Here's how to vote.
Reader Comments (28)
Love the panel! Rewatching Reds (or at least the Stapleton parts) and On Golden Pond before I vote. If anyone wants to defend Hepburn's fourth win, as I would, please feel free to make that detour. :)
@eurocheese
You're not alone when it comes to defend Hepburn's fourth win. I'm with you ;)
As a Manchester lad who watches Scott & Bailey every time it’s on ITV3, I’m so made up to see Sean here! Really looking forward to your thoughts and any anecdotes about working with amazing Suranne will make my life.
I used to have a Sean Maguire album,he was a successful soap star turned pop star for a few years in the mid 90's.
holy crap, that's some heavy hitters (esp. Donna Lynn Chapman).
I wish I could sing “The First Penis I Saw” to Amir Soltani and have it be truthful.
I love Donna Lynne Champlain! I'm so excited to see her commentary - she was absolutely great on "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" and is a fantastic singer.
And, in general, DLC and others - these are hot pictures.
what a list! can't wait.
Another defender of Hepburn’s fourth win here. She’s fabulous in it.
OMG Sean Maguire and Donna Lynne Champlin!!! Exciting!
Great lineup!
I can't support Katharine's win for this film. I do support her being a four time winner but when Sarandon (first time) and Keaton where right there I'm torn. I'd probably learn more towards Keaton. Excited for this panel and the smackdowns to come. The great content that we all need during our current situation
KHep’s fourth win is a fine one. Though I do love me some Atlantic City. Can’t wait for this Smackdown. As Nathaniel would say, this season keeps getting Bette-r. ;)
Historical oddity: 1981 saw the fewest films represented among the 20 lead and supporting acting nominations (just 9). 2007 saw the most (18), with only Michael Clayton scoring multiple acting nominations from the same film.
Paranoid -i love that stat.
Scarlett -- i would not say that but go on :)
Ryan -- i think so too.
Bushwick - it took me a second to get this and then I endd up in a Crazy Ex Girlfriend Youtube Khole so thank you.
As a major fan of the wildly funny (and tragically under-appreciated) Crazy Ex Girlfriend, I am gagged at Paula / Donna Lynne Champlin.
Excited for this, and great panel (especially excited to see Boyd’s contribution, but great set overall).
Love this year!
#JusticeforMarsha
So excited to see Donna Lynne Champlin return! She's terrific on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and was a great previous Smackdown panelist. I'm torn on this line-up, so I'll look forward to hearing her insights especially.
What an attractive bunch of panelists! Looking forward to reading all of your thoughts!
My choice for this year would be Stapleton, followed by Fonda. I haven't seen McGovern, but Dillon and Hackett failed to leave any kind of impression on me at all.
So many attractive people.
Welcome to the first time panelists and welcome back to the returning ones. Looking to reading your thoughts on the nominees.
What a great group!
Wow - I had forgotten Krod Mandoon. Loved that show. Now off to youtube to see it again.
In a perfect world, Glenn Close would have 4 more Best Actress wins than Hepburn.
whunk--Nobody, but nobody, should have eight acting Oscars.
I Love On Golden Pond and especially love Katharine Hepburn’s performance in that film. With that said, I’m in the midst of watching Reds and I got a bad feeling that maybe Diane Keaton should have won. Arghhhhh. Basically my head says Keaton but hearts wants Hepburn. Does anyone feel similarly?
@BlueMoon02 I rewatching all the actress nominees and Keaton would be my clear winner. It proves she is much more than a zaney comedy led. I don’t feel bad not wanting Katharine to win because INMO she should’ve won four statues but for different performances (I.e. Alice Adams, Long Day’s Journey)