Fosse/Verdon - Finale!

by Eric Blume

Michelle & Sam as Gwen & Bobby

Fosse/Verdon wrapped its 8-episode run this Tuesday, and here’s a quick recap on the final three episodes, and some overall thoughts on this captivating mini-series.

Episode Six, “All I Care About is Love” 
Episode six concerned Fosse’s heart attack during the editing of Lenny (1974) editing and rehearsals for Chicago on Broadway.  It was one of the weaker episodes of the series, especially coming off the previous episode, the almost-staged-play episode with the characters locked in a Hamptons house, arguably the show’s high-water mark.  That episode gave director Thomas Kail (who went from Hamilton to TV with graceful ease) the opportunity to put in the nails early on and keep screwing tightly, with all the actors laser-focused on their objectives and obstacles.  Episode Six, on the other hand, contained some material handled directly in All That Jazz, and it felt more like a transitional episode for the final narrative haul of the show...

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Fosse/Verdon - EP 4: "Glory"

previously on Fosse/Verdon

by Murtada Elfadl

I was looking forward to episode 4 of Fosse/Verdon because the trailers showed that it would mark the introduction of Margaret Qualley as Ann Reinking. Maybe Michelle Williams would get a real sparring partner to act against, as Sam Rockwell was not rising up to the occasion. That's mostly because the material he’s given is repetitive. How many notes can an actor ring out of tortured genius? Not many. Little did I know the actor who would actually match up fantastically with Williams wouldn’t be Qualley but rather Aya Cash as her best friend Joan Simon.

But before we get to that we have to deal with Bob Fosse’s mega year of 1973. This is the year he won an Oscar (for Cabaret), 2 Tonys (for Pippin) and 3 Emmys (for Liza with a Z)...

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"Mr. Robot", "People vs O.J." Lead Television Critics Association Conglomeration Nominations

The Television Critics Association announced the nominees for their 34th annual TCA Awards yesterday, as Emmy nomination ballot deadlines loom (Monday). For those unitiated into the organization's particular mode of aggregating accolades, it may come as a bit of a surprise to see Bob Odenkirk and Sarah Paulson mentioned in the same acting category. The TCA loves a good buffet. Rather than divvy up the love by format, they scoop a big heaping of pick-and-choose onto their nominating plate; the tip-toppest acting bona fides of series, miniseries, talk shows, TV movies, and different genders all taste great so why not load them all onto the same plate?

Granted, they break up serials and self-contained shows for their Best categories but there's something thrilling about weighing Samantha Bee's achievement in fervent fact-boiling against Aya Cash's honest exploration of depression in a way that feels less competitive than it does conversation-raising. In fact, there's not a straight white male amongst the Individual Achievement in Comedy group, which is 5/6 women; its selection of nominees balks at the idea of institutional placeholders in favor of true grit. Inclusion, it appears, garners a compellingly reflective list.

Individual Achievement in Drama

• Bryan Cranston, All The Way
• Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
• Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
• Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Keri Russell, The Americans
• Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Individual Achievement in Comedy

• Aziz Ansari, Master of None
• Samantha Bee, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
• Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• Aya Cash, You’re The Worst
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat

Outstanding New Program

• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• Marvel’s Jessica Jones
• Master of None
• Mr. Robot
• Underground
• UnREAL 

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, and Specials

• All The Way
• Fargo
• The Night Manager
• The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Roots
• Show Me A Hero 

Outstanding Achievement in Drama

• The Americans
• Better Call Saul
• Game of Thrones
• The Leftovers
• Mr. Robot
• UnREAL

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy

• black-ish
• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• Master of None
• Silicon Valley
• Veep
• You’re The Worst

Program of the Year

• The Americans
• Fargo
• Game of Thrones
• Making a Murderer
• Mr. Robot
• The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• UnREAL

What do you make of the TCA's kitchen sink approach to their nominations? By eliminating binaries, does its all-of-the-above inclusion cut straight to the heart of the talent, or does it winnow its window of worthy contenders?