“The Assassination of Gianni Versace”: With 18 nominations, this will go down as Ryan Murphy’s final traditional TV triumph before he resurfaces on Netflix sometime in the near future.
Oh isn’t the only significant Asian representation among the nominees though. Darren Criss, who is half Filipino, snagged a nomination for playing killer Andrew Cunanan, who in real life was also half-Filipino, in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” on FX. This is his first individual acting Emmy nomination. He previously had a nod as a singer/songwriter on “Glee.”
Criss released the following statement on Twitter regarding his nomination: “Zorro, Dr. Strange, Harry Dunne, Todd Alquist, and Jesus Christ… pretty incredible company to keep. Humbled by your talent, Antonio Banderas, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeff Daniels, Jesse Plemons, John Legend. I’m such a fan. Congrats! What an honor, Television Academy. Thank you so much. Truly. Wow. And a huge congrats to my fellow cast and crew of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story! Ryan Murphy does it again!”
Either win would make great strides for Asian representation, especially in the acting categories. Only two Asian actors have won previously: Riz Ahmed in 2017 for his leading role in “The Night Of” and Archie Panjabi for her supporting role in “The Good Wife” in 2010.
His role in the TV drama “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” as a serial killer has been a big hit with audience and critics.
Now, Filipino-American actor Darren Criss has received an acting nomination for an Emmy, perhaps the highest honor in TV, it was revealed late Thursday (Philippine time).
This is the first Emmy acting nod for Criss, whose mother is from Cebu. He was nominated in 2015 in the outstanding original music category for a song he wrote for “Glee.”
In his new show, Criss plays Andrew Cunanan, the half-Filipino murderer notorious for killing five men, including famous fashion Gianni Versace, in 1997.
It has drawn positive reviews from critics, with the New York Times’ Margaret Lyons describing his performance as “impressive and haunting” in spite of her tamed views on the show overall.
TV Guide called him “magnificent,” while USA Today praised him for bringing the spree killer to life with “disturbing energy and commitment,” just to name some of the reviews.
LIMITED SERIES The Alienist The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Genius: Picasso Godless Patrick Melrose
We’re inclined to split the vote between Melrose and Versace, even though we had issues with both. If you threatened to set our closets on fire, we suppose we’d have to pick the Versace one.
LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE
Antonio Banderas, Genius: Picasso Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Melrose Jeff Daniels, The Looming Tower John Legend, Jesus Christ Superstar; Live in Concert Jesse Plemons, U.S.S. Callister: Black Mirror
We’re THRILLED that Jesse Plemons got a nod for that supremely creepy, but also somewhat hilarious performance. As much as we were impressed with Darren Criss and as much as we bitched about Patrick Melrose, we think Cumberbatch is probably a likely win.
Television Is Still Doing Diversity Better Than Film
In one of the most deserving nods on the list, Sandra Oh’s nomination for Killing Eve is the first time an Asian-American actress has been nominated for a drama lead. Zazie Beets’s nomination for Atlanta in the supporting comedy actress category alongside Leslie Jones for SNL is the first time two African American women have been nominated in that category. Darren Criss, who is the odds on favorite to win for his turn in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, would be the first time a Filipino-American would win in the Lead Actor, Limited Series or Movie category.
Today the 2018 Emmy nominations were announced, and while there’s not a whole lot for the horror crowd to get excited about, we do have a few of “our” people and TV shows in the mix so without further ado, here are your horror (and horror-ish) nominees.
LIMITED SERIES The Alienist The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE Jessica Biel, The Sinner Edie Falco, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Cult
LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Jesse Plemons, Black Mirror, “USS Callister”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE Adina Porter, American Horror Story: Cult Letitia Wright, Black Mirror, “Black Museum” Penelope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Judith Light, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE Ricky Martin, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Finn Wittorck, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”: When it was announced that the second season of FX’s limited-series “American Crime Story” would detail the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace, some felt that it could not reach the heights of the first season which dealt with the O.J. Simpson murder trial. But “Versace,” which hauled in 18 nominations, was a revelation that featured a powerful performance from Darren Criss as the troubled killer Andrew Cunanan. Criss is nominated for lead actor in a mini-series or movie.
38: People of color nominated for Emmys in major categories, which more than doubles last year: Sterling K. Brown and Ron Cephas Jones, This Is Us; Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson and Wanda Sykes, black-ish; Donald Glover, Zazie Beetz, Katt Williams and Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta; Leslie Jones, Kenan Thompson, Tiffany Haddish, Saturday Night Live; Tituss Burgess,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Jeffrey Wright and Thandie Newton,Westworld; Samira Wiley and Kelly Jenrette, The Handmaid’s Tale; Regina King, Seven Seconds; RuPaul Charles, Drag Race; W. Kamau Bell, United Shades of America: With W. Kamau Bell; Issa Rae, Insecure; Sandra Oh, Killing Eve; Trevor Noah, Daily Show; Antonio Banderas, Genius: Picasso; Penelope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Darren Criss and Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story;Brandon Victor Dixon and John Legend, Jesus Christ Superstar; Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder; Viola Davis, Scandal; Adina Porter, American Horror Story: Cult; Letitia Wright, Black Mirror; Maya Rudolph, The Good Place; Lin-Manuel Miranda, Curb Your Enthusiasm; John Leguizamo, Waco
6: Number of Latinx performers nominated, including Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz, Edgar Ramirez, Ricky Martin, John Leguizamo and Lin-Manuel Miranda
In happier news – especially for the hundreds of thousands of commenters who snarled up the Emmy Facebook feed with breathless cries of “DARREN!!!”, The Assassination of Gianni Versace has finally received the recognition it couldn’t achieve through viewing figures alone. As I wrote back in April, Darren Criss’ role as serial killer Andrew Cunanan was a star-making turn on a level I haven’t seen in years. It was a performance of such sheer bruised charisma that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about all year. Criss is up against Benedict Cumberbatch, who delivered a lifetime’s worth of acting in the first episode of Patrick Melrose alone, but only a fool would think of betting against him
Outstanding Limited Series The Alienist The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Genius: Picasso Godless Patrick Melrose
BG: Shouts to The Alienist for getting nominated for an Emmy. I didn’t watch it and I don’t think I heard a single person mention it once in real life or online, but still, an accomplishment all the same. I have no strong opinions about any of these shows so let’s say… oh, I don’t know… American Crime Story. Although Godless would definitely win if there was a category for Best Mustaches. Which there should be.
PV: American Crime Story is, without a doubt, my top choice (and not just because I refuse to look up Patrick Melrose’s deal). ACS lost a lot of people this season, but I don’t think it was trying to measure up to its first installment. It was trying to do something much different, quieter, more introspective — and it accomplished all of that. It was gripping even without the theatrics; it was practically a nine-episode long Emmy reel for its cast, and the more I sat with it afterward, the more I appreciated its existence.
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Television Movie Antonio Banderas (Genius: Picasso) Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story) Benedict Cumberbatch (Patrick Melrose) Jeff Daniels (The Looming Tower) John Legend (Jesus Christ Superstar) Jesse Plemons (USS Callister)
PV: As much as I love the idea of us throwing Emmys at John Legend for playing Singing Jesus, I have a feeling that won’t happen. Jesse Plemons has a good shot to take this home, but Darren Criss is definitely the standout. The Assassination Of Gianni Versace was a tough watch — especially if you were expecting another People v. O.J. Simpson — but it was more an intimate character study than anything else and Criss effortlessly pulled off playing the real-life killer with depth, intensity, and care.
BG: Here for “throwing Emmys at John Legend for playing singing Jesus.”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jeff Daniel, Godless Ricky Martin, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Brandon Victor Dixon, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Finn Wittrock, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Michael Stuhlbarg, The Looming Tower John Leguizamo, Waco
BG: Jeff Daniels was good in Godless and the Emmys sure does like to give awards to people who already have them but I really like the idea of Ricky Martin winning an Emmy so let’s go with that.
PV: All three men from Assassination Of Gianni Versace deserved this nomination and I’d be happy if any of them won, but especially Finn Wittrock who had a memorable, devastating performance as one of Andrew Cunanan’s victims. His central episode was, hands down, the best of the season. But I also agree with Brian about Ricky Martin — let’s get him halfway to an EGOT.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Adina Porter, American Horror Story: Cult Letitia Wright, Black Museum (Black Mirror) Merritt Weaver, Godless Penelope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Judith Light, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Sara Bareilles, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
PV: I’m pleasantly surprised that Letitia Wright got recognized! And ditto Judith Light, who was my absolute favorite part of Assassination of Gianni Versace (I don’t think I’ll ever be emotionally ready to rewatch the series but I have rewatched some of her scenes). But, even though I haven’t seen Godless, wouldn’t it be great if Merritt Weaver won just based on her last Emmy acceptance speech?
BG: This is Judith Light’s award. I was not super into the second season of ACS, in general, but her performance was so good. Merritt Weaver was great, too, but I don’t know if Godless ever really penetrated enough to bump her over what Light did in a big splashy show from a big splashy showrunner. Also, if I mention Judith Light I get to post the GIF of her doing cocaine at the rodeo from the TNT version of Dallas. Quite frankly, I’m not strong enough to pass up that opportunity.
ACS news 