Emmy Category Analysis: Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

by Christopher James

Quinta Brunson faces off against two previous Emmy winners for the first season of "Abbott Elementary."

Variety in nominations is rare this Emmy season. Thus, the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series race stands out. This is the only category amongst drama and comedy acting honors wherein more than half of the nominees come from shows without a Series nomination.

This makes watching the nominated episodes a bit more fun. There are only so many times one can watch every episode of Hacks and Ted Lasso, no matter how good they are! In addition, it makes the race a little easier to call. The last time an actress won this prize for a show not nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series was when Melissa McCarthy surprised with a win for Mike & Molly in 2011, which (not) coincidentally was the same year she was the breakout star of Bridesmaids in movie theaters. Let’s analyze the race after the jump...

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What will you see this weekend... Land disputes? Fantastical tales? Corporate satires?

There are a dozen movies opening today, four of which we've reviewed. Let's jump right into your options...

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The hot mess of the 'Don't Worry Darling' press tour and other stories...

• Vanity Fair Alfre Woodard takes the Proust Questionnaire
• LA Times on the incredible writing of Manuel Muñoz. If the name sounds familiar that's because you either have very good taste in writers (seriously his work is brilliant) or you've been reading TFE for awhile. Manuel has been on the Smackdown a couple of times and we've also discussed his Psycho-related novel "What You See in the Dark"
• Out After lots of rumors about Kat's diminished role on Euphoria in season 2 and offscreen disputes, actress Barbie Ferraira will not be returning for season 3

That crazy Don't Worry Darling press tour, some Oscar hopefuls in animated short, Elton John twice, Lt Uhura's ashes, and more after the jump...

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Yes No Maybe So: That other "Pinocchio"

by Nathaniel R

Pinocchio is everywhere. It's a cyclical thing that happens with a lot of "public domain" characters who are essentially free IP for storytellers. Consider that in the 21st century alone Pinocchio has appeared --take a deep breath the list is long-- as a supporting character multiple films in the Shrek franchise, as a character in a TV musical (Geppetto), as the subject of two live action adaptations (interesting enough both were Italian films) and three animated adaptations (from Canada, Italy, and Russia). Next up in the next several months he'll be the lead in a new video game (only hot and 20something this time), and have two more feature-length adaptations of his story. We've already seen the trailer for the Guillermo del Toro's stop motion version of the story which arrives in December. Now we get the trailer to the live action (with lots of CG characters) version from director Robert Zemeckis which will be on Disney+ beginning September 8th.

A Yes No Maybe So™ breakdown after the jump...

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I'll Link to That

TODAY'S MUST READ Self-Styled Siren debunks myths surrounding John Wayne and Sacheen Littlefeather at the Oscars in March '73. Really interesting piece as it shows you how press and stars speak about charged incidents, how incredible stories get started, how they change over time, and how often they're accepted as gospel once enough time has gone by. (P.S. Personally speaking I have always disliked John Wayne but even so, I have had trouble believing this story)

More after the jump including a biography of an Almodóvar regular, funeral screenings for Batgirl, the cult of A24, Black Panther toys, and a couple of remakes. Question: why does the entire internet call all remakes (and even some sequels) reboots now? The three separate words actually do mean three separate things... 

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