Tag: july 2018

Emmys 2018: Predicting the Lead Actor in a Limited Series winner

The television Super Bowl is upon us once again, as the nominees for the 2018 Emmy Awards have finally been announced. Of course, with the announcement of the nominees come the heart-crushing snubs (no Mandy Moore again?!), the jaw-dropping surprises (Ted Danson for The Good Place… fork yes!), and the months of predictions leading up to TV’s biggest night in September. It’s time to predict who will be winning those coveted Emmys.

When it comes to the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series race, there’s a six-way embarrassment of riches. As limited series become more and more trendy, television has been drawing bigger names and better talents to lead the shows that have us binge-watching into the wee hours. This year, there’s an obvious frontrunner in The Assassination of Gianni Versace standout Darren Criss, but can he fend off the other leading men? Let’s take a closer look at the Lead Actor in a Limited Series category and place our bets on a winner.

The Contenders

Antonio Banderas in Genius: Picasso
Darren Criss in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Benedict Cumberbatch in Patrick Melrose
Jeff Daniels in The Looming Tower
John Legend in Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesse Plemons in Black Mirror

The Consensus

Who should take home the award, and who will win the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series? All signs point to Darren Criss being the answer to both of those questions. Out of the six nominees, all of which are formidable talents of seasoned actors delivering impressive performances, none have been as talked about as that of Criss. His fearless and revelatory turn as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story earned the Glee veteran new respect from the mainstream. As a killer rather than a happy-go-lucky high school dreamer, Criss was haunting, and the role couldn’t have been tackled by any other actor.

Emmys 2018: Predicting the Lead Actor in a Limited Series winner

acsversace-news:

@ACSFX: Congrats to the cast and crew of American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace on their Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited Series. #ACSVersace #Emmys

edouardholdener: So excited about this!! Congrats to everyone that worked on ACS, and especially @mrrpmurphy and @darrencriss !!

CityBeat TV critic Jac Kern Gives Her Emmy Nomination Breakdown

LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE

First off, I realize the Emmys are already packed with categories. I mean, if you’ve made it this far down, dear reader, bless your soul, because this is long AF. I’m not even including reality series or technical nominees! But this category is in need of a revamp. With the increase in quality miniseries (especially “limited series” that actually get unlimited seasons — lookin’ at you, Ryan Murphy), it feels like there is too much to pack in here. And how does Black Mirror qualify as a movie yet again? I’d suggest separating comedies and dramas, but there’s not much funny fare this year. Just something for the Emmy gods to mull over!

Outstanding Limited Series

Genius: Picasso

The Alienist

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Godless

Patrick Melrose

I admittedly talk a lot of smack on Ryan Murphy because he dominates TV and, despite being pretty brilliant, can deliver some real shit shows (American Horror Story: Cult) and everyone still kisses his ass for it. But Versace was divine. Arguably better than the O.J. season of ACS.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV 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 Live In Concert

Jesse Plemons, USS Callister (Black Mirror)

Criss gave a performance of a lifetime. I haven’t seen Patrick Melrose yet but Cumberbatch is supposed to be amazing in it. Gotta go with Plemons, though! He played a character that you felt for, then despised, and then liked again.

CityBeat TV critic Jac Kern Gives Her Emmy Nomination Breakdown

10 Best TV Shows Of 2018 (So Far)

9. The Assassination Of Gianni Versace

The strength of The People v O.J. Simpson (alongside its great cast and direction) was the way it gradually unfolded its titular case, adding new pieces each week until it all came together.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace could have followed that model, which may have guaranteed it some more hype from expectant American Crime Story fans, but instead it did the exact opposite: starting with the ‘main’ event, and then going backwards in time to show how and why it happened.

This isn’t so much a story about a murder case as it is about making a murderer, with the Ryan Murphy series shining a light on the societal and cultural issues that ultimately led Andrew Cunanan (played by an Emmy-deserving Darren Criss) killing Versace and a number of others on his murder spree.

It delves into Cunanan’s psyche, with Criss giving a performance that manages to be both unhinged and yet tragically human, and explores homophobia and what it means to be gay in America during the 90s. Uncompromising, fascinating, and with some stunning direction, this is a very different show to O.J., and might not have the same broad appeal, but is equally as deserving of your time.

10 Best TV Shows Of 2018 (So Far)

Darren Criss and Jesse Plemons are vying to be the second youngest Best Limited Series/TV Movie Emmy Actor champ

Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”) and Jesse Plemons (“USS Callister: Black Mirror”) could break the curve in the big way at the Emmys. Both are nominated for Best Limited Series/TV Movie Actor and if either wins, he’d be the second youngest champ in the category.

At 31 and 30, respectively, Criss and Plemons are competing in a category that has long favored middle-aged and older stars. The category’s youngest winner is Anthony Murphy, who was 17 when he prevailed for “Tom Brown’s Schooldays” in 1973, which was also his first and only acting role. That record looks to stand for a long time, considering that no one in their 20s has ever won.

Eleven people have won in their 30s, including last year’s champ Riz Ahmed(“The Night Of”), who was 34, and Criss and Plemons’ rival Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”), who was 38 when he upset in 2014 for “Sherlock: His Last Vow”. Criss or Plemons would knock back then-32-year-olds Peter Strauss (“The Jericho Mile”) and Powers Boothe (“Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones”), who won in in back-to-back years in 1979 and 1980.

Criss, Plemons and Cumberbatch are up against 57-year-old Antonio Banderas(“Genius: Picasso”) and 39-year-old John Legend (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”). Two-time champ Al Pacino, who’s 78, was shockingly snubbed for his turn as Joe Paterno in HBO’s “Paterno.” Between this and Robert De Niro‘s loss last year to Ahmed, maybe the academy is turning over a new leaf and won’t just automatically check off established stars over rising younger actors.

The good thing for Criss and Plemons is that they’re both already on the Emmys’ radar. Criss, who has been the predicted favorite to win all year for his eerie performance as Andrew Cunanan, was nominated in 2015 for writing the song “This Time” from “Glee”. Plemons, who was in eighth place in our odds for playing the reclusive Robert Daly, competed in the supporting race two years ago for “Fargo,” losing to another “American Crime Story” star, Sterling K. Brown.

Darren Criss and Jesse Plemons are vying to be the second youngest Best Limited Series/TV Movie Emmy Actor champ

Darren Criss earns lead actor Emmy nod for ‘Assassination of Gianni Versace’

Fil-Am actor Darren Criss’ heartbreaking, gut-wrenching performance as Filipino serial killer Andrew Cunanan has earned him a well-deserved Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.

FX’s true crime dramatization, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace”, led the limited series category with 18 nominations. It will be competing against “The Alienist”, “Genius: Picasso”, “Godless”, and “Patrick Melrose” for Outstanding Limited Series.

This is Criss’ first Emmy nomination for acting. He will be up against Antonio Banderas (“Genius: Picasso”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”), Jeff Daniels (“The Looming Tower”), John Legend (“Jesus Christ Superstar”), and Jesse Plemons (Black Mirror: USS Callister).

Criss fleshed out in the small screen the troubled mind of Cunanan, who went on a horrific murder spree that ended with the death of legendary fashion designer Gianni Versace.

Cunanan killed at least five people before taking his own life to evade arrest.

Darren Criss earns lead actor Emmy nod for ‘Assassination of Gianni Versace’

dcriss-archive:

roguemagazine: In honor of @darrencriss being nominated for the Best Actor Emmy today, here’s an unreleased shot from his feature for @roguemagazine’s Summer Issue N°9, link in bio. 
Photography by @josephsinclair 
Styling by @krishanparmar_ 
Hair by @naradkutowaroo 
Makeup by @laurengriffinmua 
Written by @jackiefern #darrencriss #assasinationofgianniversace #americancrimestory #versace

naradkutowaroo: D A R R E N @darrencriss for @roguemagazine Such a fun day with this hero! Congratulations on the nomination for best actor!#photographer @josephsinclair #styling @krishanparmar_ #mua @laurengriffinmua #hair by me using @unite_hair @go247 #darrencriss #theassassinationofgianniversace #glee #singer #actor #magazine #americancrimestory #london #east #bestactor #emmys