Eva Longoria Gives a Sneak Peak at The Alma Awards

  Photo by Chris Haston/NBC 

 

This Friday night Eva Longoria is not only co-hosting The NCLR Alma Awards but she’s been acting as co-executive producer for the event as well. In a recent conference call interview, the Desperate Housewives star talked about the night that honors the best in Latino entertainment.

Eva explained how the categories for the awards are chosen. She admitted, “It’s a hard process because we want enough time to honor everybody but at the same time we do have a pre-show. So we still have all the categories, we have a pre-show and then we have the on-air show. And also every year there just seems to be a heavier category than others. And so usually depending on the amount of nominees and the amount of people that actually service the categories, then that’s pretty much how we make the decision on what’s going to make the final.”

She pointed to a couple of fields that were really difficult to pin down this year. “We’ve had a great musical year with Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias and Demi Lovato and Shakira. Everybody had such great music this year. So we’re hoping to be able to reflect that in the musical categories.”

Want an Insider's View of the Oscars? There's an App for That

ABC/Bob D'Amico

If you have an iPad, iPhone or iPod, be sure to download the Oscar Backstage Pass app. It's the next best thing to being there. The Motion Picture Academy has teamed up with Disney/ABC to release the new technology that allows users to have a whole new Oscar-viewing experience.

The app promises to make the 83rd Annual Academy Awards "the most interactive Oscar Night in history." Before the big day, use the digital technology to watch previous Oscar highlights and behind the scenes footage of preparations for the event. On Oscar day it will bring you onto the red carpet with access to live video streams of cameras placed at numerous locations along the most famous press line in Hollywood. During the ceremony viewers can virtually go backstage to watch recipients after they accept their statues. And the voyeuristic fun continues at the Governor's Ball following the telecast.

ABC Television Group's Executive VP of Digital Media Albert Cheng said, “We’re excited to be able to lower the ‘velvet rope’ and offer viewers new ways to be a part of Hollywood’s biggest night. We wanted to offer an experience to viewers that allows them to feel like they’re there with their favorite nominees and be able to see the stars mingle at this prestigious event.”

Check out a demo at the Oscar site and purchase the Oscar Backstage Pass App for $0.99 from the App Store.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards airs on Sunday, February 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST/7:30 p.m. Central and 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC.

For related stories check out:
Picktainment Offers an Online Oscar Pool
QRANK Rules


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Ricky Geravis Back for Round 2 Hosting the Golden Globes

Photo by Virginia Sherwood/NBC

This Sunday night Ricky Gervais returns to host the Golden Globes for a second time. We enjoyed Ricky's performance last year and look forward to his sharp wit and off kilter sense of humor to spice up the awards again this weekend. Of course not everyone was pleased with Gervais' pokes at the celebrities and still others didn’t think he took his humor far enough. So the star of The Office and Extras is left walking a fine line between offensive and safe. In a recent conference call interview, Gervais talked about his 2010 performance, what he learned from it and being a comedian with a conscience.

Tune into the Golden Globes Sunday, January 16 live on both coasts — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. PST and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. EST on NBC.

Q: How did you feel that things went last year hosting the Golden Globes and were there things you learned that you’ll apply this year?

RICKY: I think it went well. I really enjoyed myself. I think I pitched it about right but… I think I can go a little bit further. I don’t know, I just think I can really go out and really throw away the shackles of worry. I don’t mean I’m going to go out and get drunk and have absolutely no planning or input. But I think I can certainly have more fun with it and I think I can have more fun with the room as well.

Q: How surprised were you and how quickly afterwards did they invite you back?

RICKY: Well the strange thing was they said during the show, “Great. We’d love you to do it again.” And I went, “Well let’s see. It’s not over yet.” And so yes, they invited me back on the way they thought it went and my performance, which is nice and very flattering and the way it should be. But then I saw I think the ratings went up about 18% or something so I thought it was on the cards. I wasn’t going to do it again, but then I thought, “Oh no, I could improve.” That’s what I really thought.

Q: A lot of the viewers didn’t get the reference during your last hosting gig to Extras when you made the comment to Kate Winslet about the Holocaust. Are you going to have more stuff like that coming up this time?

RICKY: Do you mean references that no one understands? I’ve got loads of those.

Q: Yes, that will insult a bunch of people.

RICKY: The last thing I want to do is genuinely offend anyone. I couldn’t live with myself. So I want the victims of the joke to like it as well… That was an episode of Extras where Kate Winslet played a twisted version of herself, of course, and she was only doing a Holocaust movie to win an Oscar. And it came true... I honestly couldn’t believe my luck when that happened. A funny thing happened actually at the Globes before that and Tom Hanks was telling me that he was on his way to work and he was listening to the radio and he must’ve just tuned in and they were playing a clip from the Extras that Kate Winslet was in. And she was saying, “Yes. I mean, do we need another Holocaust movie?” And he thought it was an interview. He didn’t realize. He hadn’t seen the show. So he thought Kate Winslet was on the radio saying she’d only done a Holocaust film to win an Oscar. And he went around telling everyone, “What is she thinking?" And then his producer said, “Tom, that must’ve been a clip from the show.” And then he went, “All right. Okay.” And he’d spent the whole day going around telling people that Kate Winslet had lost her mind.

Jim Parsons Made a Big Bang at the 2010 Emmy Awards

Photo by Pop Culture Passionistas

We have to admit that we’re never been fans of The Big Bang Theory. We’ve heard good things and chuckled a bit at the few minutes we’ve watched. But we just never connected to the characters or the storylines.

So, when Jim Parsons beat some of our favorite Outstanding Actor contenders at the Emmy Awards this year we were shocked. We mean, seriously, could he really be funnier than Larry David, Steve Carell, Tony Shalhoub, or Alec Baldwin? And surely, he can’t have the singing chops of Glee’s Matthew Morrison.

But something magical happened in the pressroom at the Primetime Emmys. Jim Parsons won us over. He had an effortless charm and an affection for his character, Sheldon Cooper, that was nothing short of infectious.

And, it turns out, he can sing, too, as his evidenced in this clip of Jim recreating his very first role—that of the Kolokolo bird in his school pageant version of Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child. See this special command performance and clips of him discussing his favorite TV nerds and how it felt to win an Emmy.

Catch the season premiere of The Big Bang Theory as it moves to Thursdays at 8:00 PM on CBS.

Jim Parsons on His First Role

 

Jim Parsons on Winning an Emmy for "The Big Bang Theory"

 

 Jim Parsons on His Favorite TV Nerds

Burbank Film Festival schedule—Sunday, September 19, 2010

Photo by Pop Culture Passionistas

The Burbank International Film Festival wraps up today with a few final screenings at the AMC 6 Theater and an awards banquet. The nominees and special honorary award winners are listed below.

For further information, contact the Burbank International Film Festival offices at 818-861-7270 or visit their website www.burbankfilmfestival.org.

The Awards Banquet will be at the AMC 6 with a reception to follow at the newly opened comedy club Flappers located at 102 East Magnolia Boulevard in
Burbank. Tickets for the event are $125 plus a $6.50 handling fee per ticket and can be ordered through the festival’s website.

AMC 6

770 N 1st St 
Burbank, CA 91502

12:00-2:00 PM   Fudgy Wudgy Fudge Face

2:00-4:00 PM    My Name is Jerry

4:00-8:30 PM    Awards Banquet

Awards Nominations

Best Feature

My Name is Jerry

Charlie Valentine

Who Loves Judus

Becoming Eduardo

Lily’s Thorn

Best Short

Direct To Your Door

Ceremonial Behaviors

True Beauty

This Night

Ugly

Best Documentary

Finding Face

Macho Like Me

Gus, An American Icon

Residentially Challenged

Best Student Film

Jale

La Niña del Desierto

Tar Art

Best Film Noir

Laura

Sage

A Little Vinegar

Best Animated

We Are All Here

Skylight

NstaCharge

Best Drama

Tick Tock

The Predator’s Return

Juche Rules

Best Western

The Sierra

Best Music Video

California Roll

City of Noise

We Are Punky Pets

The Magic Rabbit

Best Live Action/Animation

Hector Corp.

Glory to the Conquerors of Space

Best Foreign Film

La Niña del Desierto

Scissu

Andheri

Grandpa?!

Jale

Best Sci-Fi Comedy

Fudgy Wudgy Fudge Face

The Adventures of Zion Man & The Supreme Commander

Best Sci-Fi

Enigma

Serum 1831

Best Commercial

HBO - The Deal Breaker

Levi’s True Love Ad

Best Cinematography

Resurrection of Officer Rollins

Mansfield Path

Enigma

Best Based on A True Story

A Letter From Home

Directing Award

Buroinfierno

Head In The Sand

Best Socially Conscious Film

The Elephant in the Living Room

The Cartel

Shortest Short

Peel

The Author

Direct to your Door

Best Screenplay

Medicine Ave.

Outrider

Returning Warhol

Best Historical Piece

Grace Bedell

Best Editing

City of Noise

Living/Dead

Mansfield Path

Best Acting

Peter Green

Michael R. Escamilla

Raymond J. Barry

President’s Award

Resurrection of Officer Rollins

Mansfield Path

Poetry Man

Enigma

Honorary Award: Lifetime Achievement in Entertainment

Awarded to Mark Rydell

Mark Rydell is the Oscar nominated director of the film On Golden Pond, which starred Henry Fonda and Catherine Hepburn. His other credits include the Bette Midler films The Rose and For the Boys. As an actor, he appeared in Woody Allen’s Hollywood Ending and The Long Goodbye.

Kyra Sedgewick Prepped for Her Big Emmy Win

When it comes to big awards shows, we’re all used to hearing about the stars get ready. Designer gown get shipped to the nominees (for free) so they can choose their favorite look. Diamonds are loaned to megastars—sometimes accompanied by bodyguards to ensure their safe return. And lots of primping and powdering are done.

Yes, many stars have been open about what they do to prepare for the big events. But few have given as much detail as Kyra Sedgwick did at this year’s Emmy awards. Backstage in the pressroom, the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama Series winner, shared more than we expected. It seems The Closer star's build up to the big moment included not only jogging, and eating right, but a bit of hair removal as well.

Now, we’re not saying that Kyra had a full-on Hollywood wax. But she did admit to some important removal for that crucial red carpet waving.

Check out what she had to say here:

The Emmy Clips Keep on Coming

Photo by Pop Culture Passionistas

We're pulling Emmy red carpet and pressroom clips right and left. Don't miss out. Visit the EmmyTVLegends playlist to stay on top of all of our interviews from TV's biggest night.

Pop Culture Passionistas Bring You Emmy Photos

 Photo by Pop Culture Passionistas

Today we’re continuing to bring you our Emmy coverage. We’ve posted slideshows on Facebook and Examiner with our special blend of stolen moments from the red carpet and pressroom. We don’t just capture the staged press pics you’ll see on other sites. We grab shots of the stars when they least expect it.

Check out our slideshows and see for yourself:

Our Favorite Emmy Photos—Featuring candid shots of Al Pacino, Lauren Graham, Glenn Close, and more.

  

2010 Emmy Winners–The Comedy, Drama, Movies, Miniseries, and Reality winners.

Movie Stars on the Red Carpet—Big screen celebrating the small screen’s night including Al Pacino, George Clooney, and Kevin Bacon.

2010 Emmy Awards Red Carpet Fashion—The best and worst of Emmy’s fashion including the sequin dresses worn by stars like Claire Danes.

Reality Stars on the Red Carpet­—Including Paula Abdul, Kathy Griffin, the stars of “Top Chef.”

More photos and videos to come this week so stay tuned.

  

Streaming LIVE from the Red Carpet

We'll be shooting on the Red Carpet at the Emmys today and will post the interviews we do on behalf of the Archive of American Television this week.

In the meantime, here's NBC's live coverage of the Red Carpet.

Be sure to come on over to our Facebook or Twitter pages during the ceremony where we'll be posting live from the backstage press room and giving you our take on the highlights that you won't see on TV.

Passionistas Picks for the 2010 Primetime Emmys

As we all know by now, this Sunday is the Primetime Emmy Awards. And, as all the pop culture gurus of the world ponder the odds of what will win, we prefer to just lay it on the table and give a shout out to the people and shows we want to see win. We’re not journalists, we’re bloggers. We don’t have to be objective. We can say it like we see it.

So with no further ado, here are some of our picks (and the fellow nominees) for the 62nd  Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

  

Outstanding Comedy Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Modern Family

WHY: We’re big fans of Glee, Curb, and 30 Rock. But when all is said and done, we believe that Modern Family will live in the top 10 list of best sitcoms of all time alongside The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Bob Newhart Show.

Nominees:

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Glee

Nurse Jackie

The Office
30 Rock

Outstanding Drama Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Mad Men
WHY: As much as we love True Blood and were sorry to see Lost end, no drama compares to Mad Men in our books. The anticipation of seeing what’s going down at Sterling-Cooper, is the only thing that helps us get through the Sunday night blues.

Nominees:

Breaking Bad

Dexter

The Good Wife

Lost

True Blood

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

PASSIONSTAS PICK: Ed O’Neill on Modern Family (WRITE-IN)

WHY: Okay, so we’re bending the rules on this one but it has to be done. Two reasons. O’Neill is the king of understated comedy among the circus freaks that are his relatives on Modern Family. And, he’s such a good guy offscreen that he insisted on being put in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category with his cast mates, and was squeezed out of the nominations. If he had gone up for Lead Actor, we truly believe that he would have earned a nomination and the win. Hands down.

Nominees:

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory

Larry David as Himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester on Glee

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk on Monk

Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation

WHY: Parks and Recreation is the most underrated sitcom on television. The fact that Nick Offerman wasn’t nominated for his mustachioed portrayal of Ron Swanson is a travesty. Not only does Poehler deserve to win, she needs to take this one home for the team.

Nominees:

Lea Michele as Rachel Berry on Glee

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell on The New Adventures Of Old Christine

Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton on Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock

Toni Collette as Tara Gregson on United States Of Tara

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Jon Hamm as Don Draper on Mad Men

WHY: From the very beginning of Mad Men Don Draper was calm, cool, and in control. Even his lost weekend in Palm Springs was buttoned up. But somewhere along the way last season, he started to unravel (in his dashing, low-key way, of course). And by the time he bared his soul to Betty and told her all about Dick Whitman, the dynamic range of Jon Hamm’s acting chops were exposed.

Nominees:

Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Moragan on Dexter

Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights

Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House on House

Matthew Fox as Jack Shephard on Lost

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Connie Britton as Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights

WHY: Loyal fans of Friday Night Lights will sing you Connie Britton’s praises. The show doesn’t get its due and a win for Britton would be a victory for the Dillon Panthers and their devotees.

Nominees:

Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson on The Closer

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes on Damages

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife

Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

January Jones as Betty Draper on Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family

WHY: Really, we dream of a four way tie in this category. Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, and Ty Burrell are all worthy of the honor. And, Glee newcomer Chris Colfer is one of the best young talents to hit TV screens in a long, long time. But if we have to choose, and that’s the point of all this really, we’ve got to give it to Burrell. Clive Bixby, we mean Phil Dunphy, could win a comedy showdown any day of the week—Kitty’s got claws.

Nominees:

Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel on Glee

Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother

Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell on Modern Family

Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker on Modern Family

Jon Cryer as Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Andre Braugher as Owen on Men of a Certain Age

WHY: We struggled with this one a bit. We love John Slattery and dream of a day where we could bullishly say whatever’s on our minds just like Roger Sterling does. But when push came to shove, we had to give it to Andre Braugher. We know that he’s had four nominations and two wins before, but Men of a Certain Age needs some serious press and this might do the trick.

Nominees:

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad

Martin Short as Leonard Winstone on Damages

Terry O'Quinn as John Locke on Lost

Michael Emerson as Ben Linus on Lost

John Slattery as Roger Sterling on Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester on Glee

WHY: We’ve been singing the praises of Jane Lynch for decades, although admittedly, we couldn’t always remember her name. Thanks to Sue Sylvester, that will never happen again.

Nominees:

Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family

Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family

Kristen Wiig as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live

Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock

Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper on Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris on Mad Men

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson on Mad Men

WHY: We found it impossible to choose between Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss in this category. If you combine their parts on Mad Men they make the perfect woman—smart, quick witted, sexy, confident, loyal, and ambitious.

Nominees:

Sharon Gless as Madeline Westen on Burn Notice

Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons on Damages

Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife

Outstanding Reality – Competition Program

PASSIONISTAS PICK: The Amazing Race

WHY: No matter what you say, there isn’t a harder show to produce on television. Just remember that for any team that shoves themselves into a sweaty, overcrowded train in India, there are camera and sound guys doing the same thing. We bow to their mad production skills.

Nominees:

American Idol

Dancing With The Stars

Project Runway

Top Chef

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien

WHY: We will always be on Team Coco and we’d like the members of the Academy to officially stand with us, shoulder to shoulder.

Nominees:

The Colbert Report

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Real Time With Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Michael Sheen as Tony Blair in The Special Relationship

WHY: Michael Sheen has played former British Prime Minister Tony Blair seven times (including recreating him in archival footage for various shows) and besides a few film critics awards here and there, has never been honored for his portrayal. We feel he deserves the nod for stamina alone.

Nominees:

Jeff Bridges as Jon Katz in A Dog Year

Sir Ian McKellen as Two in The Prisoner

Dennis Quaid as Bill Clinton in The Special Relationship

Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian in You Don't Know Jack

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Claire Danes as Temple Grandin in Temple Grandin

WHY: We’re not going to quote from Tropic Thunder here, but history does show that playing a mentally challenged character and de-beautifying yourself can often lead to an award.

Nominees:

Maggie Smith as Mary Gilbert in Capturing Mary

Joan Allen as Georgia O’Keeffe in Georgia O'Keeffe

Dame Judi Dench as Miss Matty in Return To Cranford (Masterpiece)

Hope Davis as Hillary Clinton in The Special Relationship

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Ryan Murphy for Glee—“Pilot”

WHY: For a guy who delivered some pretty gruesome moments on Nip/Tuck, Murphy drove home the perfect tone of campy and heartfelt in the Glee pilot. We were more than hooked from minute one and have been devout followers ever since.

Other Nominees:

Paris Barclay for Glee —“Wheels“

Jason Winer for Modern Family—“Pilot “

Allen Coulter for Nurse Jackie—“Pilot “

Don Scardino  for 30 Rock—“I Do Do”

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Lesli Linka Glatter for Mad Men—“Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency”

WHY: Not since the wood chipper scene in Fargo, has farm equipment caused so much damage. The fact that it happened in a New York Ad Agency in the ‘60s only made it more entertaining. One of the best episodes of the season of the best drama on TV.

Other Nominees:

Michelle MacLaren for Breaking Bad—“One Minute”

Steve Shill for Dexter—“The Getaway”

Jack Bender for Lost—“The End”

Agnieszka Holland for Treme—“Do You Know What It Means (Pilot)”

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Modern Family—“Pilot”

WHY: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Modern Family is the best sitcom to come around in decades. An instant classic. Besides, they can dedicate the statue to Flyza Minnelli.

Nominees:

Glee—“Pilot”

The Office—“Niagara”

30 Rock—“Anna Howard Shaw Day”

30 Rock— “Lee Marvin Vs. Derek Jeter”

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

PASSIONISTAS PICK: Mad Men—”Shut the Door. Have a Seat.”

WHY: In last season’s finale, Don Draper and his dashing co-workers did what we had hoped they’d do for years—they left Sterling Cooper to start their own agency. The fact that Sterling and Cooper went with him only made it better. The perfect way to wrap up and leave us wanting more.

Nominees:

Friday Night Lights—“The Son”

The Good Wife—“Pilot”

Lost—“The End”

Mad Men—“Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency”