First season of Star Trek: The Next Generation wins three Primetime Emmys 1988

The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation generated seven Primetime Emmy nominations and won three at the 40th annual ceremony August 28, 1988.  The Creative Arts awards ceremony was held the previous evening.

Television during the 1987-1988 season had some pretty great series, and a couple of pretty lame ones as well.  I highlighted the wins from my favorites.  I liked Cheers, but never connected with it.

Star Trek: The Next Generation faced intense scrutiny won during its first season, since the original series from the 60's had been elevated to cut status, with four blockbuster movies.  Yet, the newest installment in the Star Trek franchise stepped up to the challenge.  It won Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for the episode Conspiracy.  This was well-deserved achievement if you have seen the episode.  It also won Outstanding Costume Design for The Big Goodbye, in which the officers of the USS Enterprise become trapped in the holo-suite running a 1940s noir program.  The episode 11001001 won for Outstanding Sound Editing.

The series was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling, Outstanding Achievement in Makeup, Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.

The Golden Girls was nominated for eleven Primetime Emmys and won three.  Bea Arthur won Outstanding Lead Actress and Estelle Getty won  Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.  The Golden Girls won Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control of the episode Old Friends.

Rue McClanahan and Betty White were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress.  Herb Edelman and Geraldine Fitzgerald were nominated for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. The Golden Girls was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Editing for a Series-Multi-Camera Production, and Outstanding Sound Mixing.

The series was nominated for Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series but lost to The Charmings.  Seriously? 

The Vietnam War series China Beach won Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series for the pilot episode.  It received three more nominations: Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Editing for a Series-Single Camera Production, and Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.

Designing Women won Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for the episode I'll Be Seeing You. The show was nominated for Outstanding Editing for a Series-Multi-Camera Production and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.

I watched the TV movie The Secret Garden, which won for Outstanding Children's Program. Well-deserved.

Angela Lansbury was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series her work on Murder, She Wrote, but lost to Sharon Gless for Cagney and Lacey. Oh, well.  The show was nominated for Outstanding Costume Design for a Series.

Newhart was nominated for Outstanding Editing for a Series-Multi-Camera Production.  Peter Scolari and Julia Duffy were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury and Edith Head are robbed of Oscars, 1963

Probably more drama backstage than on-stage, the 35th Academy Awards were held April 8, 1963.

Bette Davis was up for Best Actress for her performance as Jane Hudson in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, but her feud with Joan Crawford led to Crawford campaigning against her receiving the award.  It would have been Davis's third Oscar win, which would have been made her the first actress to win three Oscars. But Crawford's smear campaign worked and Anne Bancroft won the Oscar for her performance in The Miracle Worker.  I like Anne Bancroft, but I think Bette Davis should have won.  To add insult to injury, Crawford had arranged ahead of time to accept the award for Bancroft who was unable to attend.  

Patty Duke won Best Supporting Actor for her work as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker.  However, I wonder if someone had initiated a campaign against Angela Lansbury, because she should have won the award for her performance as Eleanor Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate.  I really think something fishy was going on there.  Especially since The Manchurian Candidate was only nominated for two supporting acting awards, nothing else, not even Best Picture or Best Directing.  

The Music Man won Best Music (Scoring of Music-Adaption or Treatment) for Ray Heindorf. Was there any real competition?

Henry Mancini won for Best Music (Song) for Days of Wine and Roses for the movie of the same name.  Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics. I'm not familiar with the other nominees so I agree with this award. 

What Ever Happened to Baby? won for Best Costume Design (Black-and-White) for Norma Koch.  Iconic Edith Head was nominated for the two costume design categories but didn't win either.  Hmmm....

Lawrence of Arabia was the biggest winner of the night, winning seven out of ten nominations.  

Angela Lansbury wins first Golden Globe award 1946

Angela Lansbury won her first Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for her work as Sibyl Vane in The Picture of Dorian Gray at the 3rd annual ceremony held March 30, 1946.  It was the first of six Golden Globe awards for Dame Lansbury, and first of fifteen nominations. 

Hers was the only nomination for the film.

First Screen Actors Guild Awards 1995

The Inaugural Screen Actors Guild was held February 25, 1995, awarding the new statuette The Actor. Tom Hanks won Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Leading Role for his work in Forrest Gump. Angela Lansbury was the presenter and handed him the award.

Martin Landau won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood, a well-deserved recognition.

Lansbury was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her work in Murder, She Wrote, but lost to Kathy Baker(?),

Patrick Stewart was nominated for his portrayal as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, but lost to Dennis Franz (??).

Angela Lansbury wins her first Tony Award 1966

Dame Angela Lansbury won her first of many Tony Awards at the 20th annual ceremony, June 16, 1966.  She originated the role of Mame Dennis in the musical Mame.   Mame had been nominated for eight Tony Awards.  Sweet Charity was nominated for nine, and Man of La Mancha got seven nominations.

Angela won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.  Bea Arthur won Best Performance by a Supporting or Featured Actress in a Musical.  Frankie Michaels won Best Performance by a Supporting or Featured Actor in Musical.

Angela would go on to win five more Tony Awards.

 

Happy birthday, actor extraordinaire Michael York!

Michael York, born March 27, 1942 in Buckinghamshire, England, has had a lengthy and stellar acting career, including some daring roles. He has appeared as D'Artagnan in several musketeers films as well as the Austin Powers movies.  He first appeared in Accident in 1967, but it was his role as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet in 1968 that proved to be his break-out performance.  He starred with Angela Lansbury as a bisexual man in Something for Everyone.

He then went on to star as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers and its sequel, The Four Musketeers. He appeared in Murder on the Orient Express in 1974. 

In 2001, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in The Lot.

I think it is tragic that such an accomplished, versatile actor has not been nominated for more awards, especially an Oscar.  He truly is remarkable and seems under-rated.  He's one of my favorites.

Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile" premieres 1978

The first film adaption of Agatha Christie's novel Death on the Nile was released into US theaters September 29, 1978.  It boasted a stellar cast: Peter Ustinov (as Hercule Poirot), Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, George Kennedy, and David Niven.

It won a Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Anthony Powell, who won the BAFTA Film Award for Best Costume design as well.  Angela Lansbury won a National Board of Review award for Best Supporting Actress.

The 2022 version by Kenneth Branagh is a great adaption as well, even though Branagh changed it up a little.  

Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Voyager, Cyndi Lauper, and Babylon 5 win Primetime Emmys 1995

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Star Trek: Voyager each won 3 Primetime Emmys at the 47th annual ceremony held September 10, 1995.  My girl Cyndi Lauper won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in Mad About You.  Babylon 5 won Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Acts of Sacrifice. Angela Lansbury was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Murder, She Wrote. The X-Files received 7 nominations, four of which were for the episode Duane Barry. Mystery Science Theater 3000 was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program.  CCH Pounder was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in The X-Files.

DS9 won:

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Distant Voices

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Special Visual Effects for The Jem’Hadar
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series for Improbable Cause

Voyager won:

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Special Visual Effects for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music for Jerry Goldsmith
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Faces

Voyager was nominated for:

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series for Heroes and Demons
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Heroes & Demons

X-Files was nominated for: 

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series for One Breath
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single Camera Production for Sleepless
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single Camera Production for Duane Barry
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for Duane Barry
Outstanding Writing for a Drama for Duane Barry

Murder, She Wrote was also nominated for 
Nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series for Death ‘N’ Denial
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costuming for a Series for Murder A La Mode
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Murder in High C

Angela Lansbury wins fifth Golden Globe 1990

Multi-talented actress Dame Angela Lansbury won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama for her role as Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote, at the 47th ceremony held January 20, 1990.  It was her third win for playing Fletcher and fifth Golden Globe overall.  

Happy birthday, Babylon 5 actress Andrea Thompson!

Beautiful actress Andrea Thompson, born January 6, 1960 in Dayton, Ohio, is probably best known for her work on NYPD Blue, but my favorite is her appearance as Psi Officer Talia Winters on Babylon 5.  She also appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote with Angela Lansbury.  

Thompson was only in two seasons of Babylon 5, appearing in 44 episodes, and her character was written out of the series rather rudely, but I understand there were some extenuating circumstances.  

"Not Necessarily The News" wins 3 CableACE Awards 1983

Not Necessarily the News, a favorite of mine and an HBO satire show, won 3 CableACE awards at the 5th ceremony held December 12, 1983.  The show was on air from 1983-1990 and won 14 CableACE awards during its run.

The satire won for General Entertainment or Variety: Comedy, Single Program - General Entertainment or Variety: Comedy; and Best Writing in a Variety Program.  Stuart Pankin was nominated for Best Actor in a Variety Program.  Anne Bloom and Audrie Neenan were both nominated for Best Actress in a Variety Program. John Moffitt was nominated for Directing in a Variety Program.

The same evening, Angela Lansbury won the award for Actress in a Theatrical or Musical Program.

The CableACE Awards (ACE = Award for Cable Excellence) was created in 1978 as cable television's answer to broadcast television's Primetime Emmys.  The Emmys did not honor cable television until 1988 and soon cable shows began dominating the Emmys. The CableACE Awards waned in popularity and the last awards were handed out in 1997. 

Remembering actress extraordinaire Angela Lansbury (1925-2022)

The amazingly talented, beautiful, intelligent, and all-around perfect Angela Lansbury passed away today in Los Angeles, California at the young age of 96, just 5 days shy of her 97th birthday.

Her first on-screen appearance was in Gaslight in 1944 which garnered her first Academy Award nomination.  The next year, she received her second nomination for her performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Her final nomination came in 1962 for her performance in the Manchurian Candidate, a powerful piece of filmmaking, and she delivered a knockout performance.  One of the Academy's biggest snubs.  But in 2013 she received the Academy Honorary Award.  Good for her!

She kept busy during her career, appearing in some of my favorites, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Death on the Nile, The Mirror Crack'd, Pirates of Penzance, Beauty and the Beast, and Nanny McPhee.  One of her most beloved roles was that of Jessica Fletcher in the immensely popular television series, Murder, She Wrote.  

She was nominated for twelve Golden Globes for her performance as Jessica Fletcher and nominated for 6 more. She won 4 Golden Globes for Murder, She Wrote, plus an additional 3 wins and 8 more nominations.

She received 18 Primetime Emmy Nominations, 12 for Murder, She Wrote, pretty much a nomination for every season of the show.

She has won 5 Tony Awards, the first of which was for originating the role of Mame in the musical of the same name.

She also received a Grammy Award nomination for the soundtrack for Beauty and the Beast.

She will be so missed.  🙁😦

Patricia Routledge and Leslie Uggams tie for Tony Award 1968

Patricia Routledge and Leslie Uggams tied for the Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, at the 22nd annual ceremony, April 21, 1968.

Routledge won for her role as Alice Challice in Darling of the Day, in which she starred with Vincent Price in his one and only Broadway musical.

Leslie Uggams won for her role as Georgina in Hallelujah, Baby!

Angela Lansbury and Peter Ustinov hosted the ceremonies. 

Murder, She Wrote episode "Murder Takes the Bus" 1985

A very Agatha Christie, "the-murderer-is-one-of-us" episode of Murder, She Wrote, Murder Takes the Bus, aired March 17, 1985.  Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and Sheriff Tupper (Tom Bosley) are stranded at a road-side diner.  Jessica finds one of the passengers stabbed to death with a screwdriver.

The episode had a stellar cast including Rue McClanahan, Linda Blair, and Larry Linville.  

"Fiddler on the Roof" wins two Golden Globes 1972

Fiddler on the Roof won two Golden Globes at the 29th annual ceremony February 6, 1972.  It won for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical.  Topol won for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy or Musical.  It received two more nominations.  Paul Mann was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lazar Wolf.  Norman Jewison was nominated for Best Director.

Other nominations that night: Angela Lansbury for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her performance in Bedknobs and Broomsticks.  Cloris Leachman as Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in the Last Picture Show.  The Andromeda Strain was nominated for Best Original Score for Gil Melle. 

Angela Lansbury her third Golden Globe 1985

Angela Lansbury won her third Golden Globe For Best Actress in a Drama Television Series at the 42nd awards ceremony January 26, 1985 for her performance as Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.  It was her third Golden Globe win.

The same night Murder, She Wrote won for Best Television Series Drama. It was the first of two Golden Globes for the series.

"Beauty And The Beast" wins three Golden Globes 1992

Disney's blockbuster animated film Beauty and the Beast won three Golden Globe Awards at the 49th ceremony held January 18, 1992.

The movie won Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, Best Original Score for Alan Menken, and Best Original Song for Beauty and the Beast performed by Peabo Byson and Celine Dion.  

Be Our Guest was also nominated for Best Original Song for Angela Lansbury and Jerry Orbach.

Happy birthday, Electra Woman!

Deidre Hall, born October 31, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has won numerous awards for her performances in Days of Our Lives.  

But before that she was Electra Woman!  She appeared in the Saturday morning live-action superhero show Electra Woman and Dyna Girl with Judy Strangis.  She also appeared in Murder, She Wrote, but did not have any scenes with Angela Lansbury. Bummer.

Remembering John Saxon (1935-2020)

My favorite bad guy, John Saxon, passed away yesterday from pneumonia.  He would have turned 85 next week.  I always thought he was handsome and he was always popping up as the bad guy: The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, Murder, She Wrote.

He also appeared with Angela Lansbury in The Reluctant Debutante and with Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon.

Saxon won a Golden Globe in 1958 as Most Promising Newcomer - Male for his role in This Happy Feeling.

May he rest in peace.

Angela Lansbury wins Tony for Best Actress in a Musical 1969

Angela Lansbury won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a musical for her role as Countess Aurelia in Dear World, April 20, 1969. It was the only nomination for the musical and Angela took it home!

This was her second win of five total Tony Awards.