Miranda Lambert (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
September 1, 2020
The following is a press release from the Country Music Association and ABC:
The Country Music Association has announced the nominees for “The 54th Annual CMA Awards,” with Miranda Lambert topping the list at seven nominations – making CMA Awards history as the first female artist to accumulate a record-breaking 55 total career nods. This record was previously held by Reba McEntire, who earned her 51st nomination this year. Other top nominees include Luke Combs with six nominations – including his first-ever nod for Entertainer of the Year; Maren Morris with five nods; Dan + Shay, producer Jay Joyce and Carly Pearce each securing four; and Justin Bieber, Ashley McBryde and Keith Urban each up for trophies in three categories during the live broadcast, Wednesday, November 11 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. Alongside newcomer Combs for Entertainer of the Year, Eric Church, Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Urban return with nominations for the night’s highest honor.
First-time CMA Awards nominees are Jimmie Allen, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Bieber, Justin Clough, David Coleman, Jim Cooley, Luke Dick, Sam Ellis, Ray Fulcher, Caylee Hammack, Hozier, Zach Kale, Rob McNelley, Buckley Miller, Scott Moffatt, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton, Sam Siske, Derrick Southerland, Chris Tomlin, Tenille Townes and Laura Veltz.
Combs and Pearce revealed select nominees on ABC’s “Good Morning America” today, live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Immediately following the live broadcast, Andress and Barrett revealed the remaining CMA Awards categories in addition to the CMA Broadcast Awards finalists via live stream hosted by Ashley Eicher, host of Apple Music Country’s “Guest List Radio with Ashley Eicher,” on CMA’s YouTube and Facebook as well as GoodMorningAmerica.com and GMA’s Facebook.
“This year’s nominees represent the passion, creativity and hope our world could use more of these days. From record-shattering milestones to reaching across genre lines, these finalists are outstanding examples of the craft and camaraderie country music holds deeply,” says CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “As we navigate the coming months and look to properly honor our nominees and the community, we are committed to delivering the safest and most memorable live television experience our artists, creators and fans could ask for. We cannot wait to reveal our two incredible CMA Awards hosts in just a few weeks, and we look forward to celebrating country music this November!”
MIRANDA LAMBERT – SEVEN NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year (“Bluebird”), Album of the Year (“Wildcard”), Song of the Year (“Bluebird”), Musical Event of the Year (“Fooled Around And Fell In Love”), Music Video of the Year (“Bluebird”)
Lambert tops this year’s CMA Awards nominations with seven, adding to her previous 48 nominations and 13 wins. She is now the most nominated female artist in CMA Awards history, a record previously held by Reba McEntire. She scores her fourth nomination for Entertainer of the Year and 14th nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year, which she has won seven times. Lambert receives her fifth Album of the Year nomination for “Wildcard,” produced by Jay Joyce, as well as her fifth Song of the Year and eighth Single of the Year nomination for “Bluebird.” “Bluebird” was written by Lambert, Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby, produced by Joyce, and mixed by Joyce and Jason Hall. She also scores her seventh nomination in the Musical Event of the Year category for “Fooled Around and Fell In Love,” featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack, produced by Joyce.
LUKE COMBS – SIX NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year (“Beer Never Broke My Heart”), Album of the Year (“What You See Is What You Get”), Song of the Year (“Even Though I’m Leaving”), Song of the Year (“I Hope You’re Happy Now”)
Combs scores six CMA Awards nominations this year, adding to his previous six nominations and three wins. Combs is a first-time nominee in three categories – Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year. “What You See Is What You Get” was produced by Scott Moffatt. “Beer Never Broke My Heart” was produced by Moffatt and mixed by Jim Cooley. The reigning Song of the Year winner, Combs receives a double nomination in the Song of the Year category for “Even Though I’m Leaving,” written by Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III and Ray Fulcher; and “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” recorded by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice and written by Combs, Randy Montana, Pearce and Jonathan Singleton. Combs scores his third nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, which he won in 2019.
MAREN MORRIS – FIVE NOMINATIONS
Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year (“The Bones”), Song of the Year (“The Bones”), Musical Event of the Year (“The Bones”), Musical Event of the Year (“Fooled Around and Fell In Love”)
Morris receives five CMA Award nominations, adding to her previous 16 nominations and two wins. She scores her fifth nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year and third nomination for Single of the Year and Song of the Year. A double nomination this year for Musical Event of the Year earns Morris five total nominations in this category. “Bones” was written by Morris, Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz, and produced and mixed by Greg Kurstin. “Fooled Around and Fell In Love” was recorded by Miranda Lambert, featuring Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack, and produced by Joyce.
JAY JOYCE – FOUR NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year (“Bluebird”), Album of the Year (“Never Will”), Album of the Year (“Wildcard”), Musical Event of the Year (“Fooled Around and Fell In Love”)
Joyce is a 20-time CMA Awards nominee this year, adding four to his previous 16 nominations. Joyce scores his eighth Single of the Year nomination for producing Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird.” The song was mixed by both Joyce and Jason Hall. He receives his 11th Album of the Year nomination with two nods in the category this year for producing Lambert’s “Wildcard” and Ashley McBryde’s “Never Will.” Joyce is a first-time nominee for Musical Event of the Year with Lambert’s “Fooled Around and Fell In Love,” which he produced. Joyce has won four CMA Awards previously – two for both Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
DAN + SHAY – FOUR NOMINATIONS
Vocal Duo of the Year, Single of the Year (“10,000 Hours”), Musical Event of the Year (“10,000 Hours”), Music Video of the Year (“10,000 Hours”)
Dan + Shay score four nominations for this year’s CMA Awards, adding to their previous 10 nominations and one win. They receive their seventh nomination for Vocal Duo of the Year, which they won in 2019. “10,000 Hours,” featuring Justin Bieber, scores three nominations – Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year. The song was produced by Dan Smyers (of Dan + Shay) and mixed by Jeff Juliano. The music video was directed by Patrick Tracy. Smyers scores two solo nominations as well for his production work on “10,000 Hours” in the Single of the Year and Musical Event of the Year categories.
CARLY PEARCE – FOUR NOMINATIONS
New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“I Hope You’re Happy Now”), Musical Event of the Year (“I Hope You’re Happy Now”), Music Video of the Year (“I Hope You’re Happy Now”)
Pearce receives four CMA Awards nominations this year, adding to her previous New Artist of the Year nomination in 2019. She scores her second nomination for New Artist of the Year and is a first-time nominee in three categories – Song of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year. “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” recorded with Lee Brice, was written by Pearce, Luke Combs, Randy Montana and Jonathan Singleton and produced by busbee, who earns his eighth CMA Awards nomination posthumously. The music video was directed by Sam Siske.
ASHLEY McBRYDE – THREE NOMINATIONS
Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year (“Never Will”), Musical Event of the Year (“Fooled Around and Fell In Love”) Ashley McBryde scores three CMA Awards nominations this year, bringing her total nominations to four with one win for New Artist of the Year in 2019. McBryde is a first-time nominee in three categories – Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Musical Event of the Year. “Never Will” was produced by Jay Joyce and John Peets. “Fooled Around and Fell In Love” was recorded by Miranda Lambert, featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, McBryde, Tenille Townes and Caylee Hammack, and produced by Joyce.
JUSTIN BIEBER – THREE NOMINATIONS
Single of the Year (“10,000 Hours”), Musical Event of the Year (“10,000 Hours”), Music Video of the Year (“10,000 Hours”)
Bieber is a first-time CMA Awards nominee for his collaboration with Dan + Shay on their single “10,000 Hours.” He is nominated in three categories – Single of the Year, Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year. The song was produced by Dan Smyers (of Dan + Shay) and mixed by Jeff Juliano. The music video was directed by Patrick Tracy. Bieber has worked with various artists including Diplo, Ariana Grande, Halsey, Ludacris, Nicki Minaj and Ed Sheeran, however, this is his first collaboration in the Country genre.
KEITH URBAN – THREE NOMINATIONS
Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year (“Be A Light”)
Urban scores three CMA Awards nominations this year, bringing his total count to 50 nominations and 12 wins. He is now a 13-time Entertainer of the Year nominee, bringing home that trophy two times previously. He has now been nominated 16 times for Male Vocalist of the Year with three wins. Urban receives his sixth Musical Event of the Year nomination for Thomas Rhett’s “Be A Light,” which features Urban, Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin. He has previously taken home the Musical Event award four times. Media assets for all CMA Awards categories and nominees are available now at CMApress.com. Further details regarding coverage opportunities for media will be shared in the coming weeks.
Winners of “The 54th Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting CMA members. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members Thursday, Oct. 1. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Tuesday, Oct. 27 (6:00 p.m. CDT).
“The 54th Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer; Alan Carter is the director, and David Wild is the head writer.
“THE 54th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” – FINAL NOMINEES
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Eric Church Luke Combs Miranda Lambert Carrie Underwood Keith Urban
SINGLE OF THE YEAR Award goes to artist(s), producer(s), and mix engineer
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber) (Producer: Dan Smyers; Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano)
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs (Producer: Scott Moffatt; Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley)
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR Award goes to artist and producer(s)
“Heartache Medication” – Jon Pardi (Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi)
“Never Will” – Ashley McBryde (Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets)
“Old Dominion” – Old Dominion (Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion)
“What You See Is What You Get” – Luke Combs (Producer: Scott Moffatt)
“Wildcard” – Miranda Lambert (Producer: Jay Joyce)
SONG OF THE YEAR Award goes to songwriters
“Bluebird” (Songwriters: Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
“The Bones” (Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz)
“Even Though I’m Leaving” (Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher)
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” (Songwriters: Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton)
“More Hearts Than Mine” (Songwriters: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert Ashley McBryde Maren Morris Kacey Musgraves Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Eric Church Luke Combs Thomas Rhett Chris Stapleton Keith Urban
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A Little Big Town Midland Old Dominion Rascal Flatts
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn Brothers Osborne Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR Award goes to artists and producer(s)
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber (Producer: Dan Smyers)
“Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban (Producer: Dann Huff)
“The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier (Producer: Greg Kurstin)
“Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack (Producer: Jay Joyce)
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Producer: Busbee)
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar Rob McNelley, Guitar Ilya Toshinskiy, Guitar Derek Wells, Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR Award goes to artist(s) and director
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber (Director: Patrick Tracy)
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert (Director: Trey Fanjoy)
“Homemade” –Jake Owen (Director: Justin Clough)
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice (Director: Sam Siske)
“Second One To Know” – Chris Stapleton (Director: David Coleman)
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jimmie Allen Ingrid Andress Gabby Barrett Carly Pearce Morgan Wallen
FINALISTS FOR BROADCAST PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (by market size): National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Westwood One “The Blair Garner Show” (Blair Garner and “Off Eric” Garner) – Westwood One “CMT After Midnite” (Cody Alan) – Premiere Networks “Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Westwood One “The Mayor of Music Row” (Charlie Monk) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Major Market
“Angie Ward” – WUBL, Atlanta, Ga. “Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and McKaila Granning) – KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. “Double-L” (Lois Lewis) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz. “Fitz in the Morning” (Cory Fitzner) – KNUC, Seattle-Tacoma, Wash. “Paul Schadt & Sarah Lee in the Morning with Producer Geof” (Paul Schadt, Sarah Lee and Geof Knight) – WKKT, Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C.
Large Market
“The Big Dave Show (“Big Dave” Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, Jason Statt and Ashley Hempfling) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio “Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind. “Lexi & Banks” (“Lexi” Elena Abatgis and “Banks” Jared Danielson) – KUBL, Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, Utah “Obie & Ashley” (“Obie” Obed Diaz and Ashley Morrison) – WWKA, Orlando, Fla. “Ridder, Scott and Shannen” (“Ridder” Shaun Ridderbush, Scott Dolphin, and Shannen Oesterreich) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
Medium Market
“Brent Michaels” – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif. “Clay & Company” (Clay Moden, Rob Banks, and Val Townsend) – WYRK, Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y. “Kenn McCloud” – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif. “Scott and Sarah in the Morning” (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) – WQMX, Akron, Ohio “Steve & Gina In The Morning” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.- Iowa
Small Market
“Big Rick In The Morning” (“Big Rick” Daniels) – WGGC, Bowling Green, Ky. “Bobby & Steve (and Mandi!)” (Bobby Cook, Steve Schwetman and Mandi Turner) – WKYQ, Paducah, Ky. “Brent and Candy – The Cat Pak Morning Show” (Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton) – WYCT, Pensacola, Fla. “Officer Don & DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky. “Steve And Jessica Mornings” (Steve Waters and Jessica Cash) – WFLS, Fredericksburg, Va.
FINALISTS FOR RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (by market size):
KKNU – Eugene-Springfield, Ore. WBYT – South Bend, Ind. WKXC – Augusta, Ga. WXBQ – Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va. WXFL – Florence-Muscle Shoals, Ala.
About the CMA Awards
The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time – making it the longest-running, annual music awards program on network television. The CMA Awards have aired on ABC since 2006. ABC is the network home of the CMA Awards and CMA’s other two television properties, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”
All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte. As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte & Touche LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of Deloitte’s legal structure. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.
“A Million Little Things” cast members, from left to right in front row: Stephanie Szostak, Lizzy Greene, Chance Hurstfield, Romany Malco and Tristan Byon. Pictured from left to right in back row: James Roday, Allison Miller, Christina Moses, David Giuntoli and Grace Park. (Photo by Robert Trachtenberg/ABC)
ABC officially announced the lineup of the network’s shows for the 2020-2021 TV season. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the network’s upfront presentation, which traditionally takes place at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall in New York City, was cancelled this year. Instead, the announcement was made online. Most of the existing shows had previously been announced as renewed. However, the upfront presentation made it official that “Emergence,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Modern Family,” “How to Get Away With Murder,” “Bless This Mess,” “Schooled,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Kids Say the Darndest Things” and “Single Parents” have been cancelled. ABC has not yet announced the fates of “United We Fall,” “For Life,” “The Baker and the Beauty,” “Don’t” and “Family Food Fight.”*
New scripted shows include the drama “Big Sky” and the comedy “Call Your Mother” (formerly “My Village”). The network’s new unscripted show is “Supermarket Sweep,” hosted by Leslie Jones. Some of the stars of the new shows are familiar to TV audiences. Jones was previously a “Saturday Night Live” cast member. “Call Your Mother” star Kyra Sedgwick is best known for starring in “The Closer.” “Big Sky” star Katheryn Winnick was previously a series regular on “Vikings.”
The premiere dates will be announced at a later time. ABC has renewed the following shows: “American Housewife,” “Black-ish,” “The Conners,” “The Goldbergs,” “The Good Doctor,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Station 19,” “A Million Little Things,” “Mixed-ish,” “The Rookie,” ”Stumptown,”* “20/20,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “American Idol,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Holey Moley,” “Shark Tank,” “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.”
*September 16, 2020 UPDATE: ABC has cancelled “Stumptown” after announcing that it was renewed for a second season. In addition, ABC has cancelled “The Baker and the Beauty” and “United We Fall.”
The following is an excerpt from an ABC press release:
ABC FALL 2020 SCHEDULE
All times listed are Eastern/Pacific Time.
MONDAY
8-10 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
10-11 p.m. “The Good Doctor”
TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. “The Bachelorette”
10-11 p.m. “Big Sky”
WEDNESDAY
8-8:30 p.m. “The Goldbergs”
8:30-9 p.m. “American Housewife”
9:30-10 p.m. “The Conners”
9:30-10 p.m. “Call Your Mother”
10-11 p.m. “Stumptown”*
*September 16, 2020 UPDATE: ABC has cancelled “Stumptown” after announcing that it was renewed for a second season.
THURSDAY
8-9 P.M. “Station 19”
9-10 P.M. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10-11 P.M. “A Million Little Things”
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. “Shark Tank”
9-11 p.m. “20/20”
SATURDAY
8 p.m. “Saturday Night Football”
SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8-9 p.m. “Supermarket Sweep”
9-10 p.m. “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”
10-11 p.m. “The Rookie”
NEW DRAMA SERIES
“BIG SKY”
From visionary storyteller David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies”) comes “Big Sky,” a thriller created by Kelley, who will write multiple episodes and serve as showrunner in its premiere season. Private detectives Cassie Dewell and Cody Hoyt join forces with his estranged wife and ex-cop, Jenny Hoyt, to search for two sisters who have been kidnapped by a truck driver on a remote highway in Montana. But when they discover that these are not the only girls who have disappeared in the area, they must race against the clock to stop the killer before another woman is taken. Based on the series of books by C.J. Box, “Big Sky” is executive produced by David E. Kelley, Ross Fineman, Matthew Gross, Paul McGuigan and C.J. Box and is produced by A+E Studios in association with 20th Century Fox Television. A+E Studios is the award-winning studio unit of the global media company A+E Networks, LLC. 20th Century Fox Television is a part of Disney Television Studios, alongside ABC Studios and Fox 21 Television Studios.
Cast: Katheryn Winnick as Jenny Hoyt, Kylie Bunbury as Cassie Dewell, Brian Geraghty as Ronald Pergman, Dedee Pfeiffer as Denise Brisbane, Natalie Alyn Lind as Danielle Sullivan, Jesse James Keitel as Jerrie, with John Carroll Lynch as Rick Legarski and Ryan Phillippe as Cody Hoyt.
NEW COMEDY SERIES
“CALL YOUR MOTHER”
“Call Your Mother” star Kyra Sedgwick (Photo by Melanie Acevedo)
From Kari Lizer (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”), this multicamera comedy follows an empty-nester mom who wonders how she ended up alone while her children live their best lives thousands of miles away. She decides her place is with her family and as she reinserts herself into their lives, her kids realize they might actually need her more than they thought. “Call Your Mother” is produced by Sony Pictures Television & ABC Studios. ABC Studios is a part of Disney Television Studios, alongside 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios.
Cast: Kyra Sedgwick as Jean Raines, Rachel Sennott as Jackie Raines, Joey Bragg as Freddie Raines, Patrick Brammall as Danny, Emma Caymares as Celia and Austin Crute as Lane.
NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES
“SUPERMARKET SWEEP”
“Supermarket Sweep” host Leslie Jones (Photo by Blair Raughley/Invision for Sony/AP Images)
ABC has not yet announced details about this game show.
Culture Representation: The documentary “The Story of Soaps” takes a historical look at American TV soap operas and their impact on pop culture, by interviewing a racially diverse (white, African American and Latino) group of actors, screenwriters, TV producers and other people connected to the business of soap operas.
Culture Clash: Many of the people say in the documentary that soap operas are often misunderstood or underrated and that reality TV shows have brought on the decline of soap operas with professional actors.
Culture Audience: “The Story of Soaps” will appeal primarily to people who want to learn more about this type of this “guilty pleasure” TV genre and also take a breezy nostalgia trip for American soap operas’ most notable moments.
The stars of “Generations” in “The Story of Soaps” (Photo courtesy of ABC)
The comprehensive and thoroughly entertaining “The Story of Soaps” skillfully manages to make this documentary go beyond the expected compilation of TV clips and commentaries from talking heads about the history of American TV soap operas. The documentary also puts all of this sudsy entertainment into a cultural context that shows how soap operas have had much more influence than they’re typically given credit for when it comes to our entertainment choices and how we see the world.
Directed by Robin Pelleck and Rebecca Gitlitz (who are also executive producers of the documentary), “The Story of Soaps” packs in interviews with numerous people (mostly actors, screenwriters and producers) who are connected to the world of TV soap operas in some way. The long list of actors includes Kristian Alfonso, John Aniston, Alec Baldwin, Maurice Benard, Carol Burnett, Bryan Cranston, Mary Crosby, Eileen Davidson, Vivica A. Fox, Genie Francis, Diedre Hall, Jon Hamm, Drake Hogestyn, Finola Hughes, Susan Lucci, John McCook, Eddie Mills, Denise Richards, Marc Samuel, Melody Thomas Scott, Erika Slezak, John Stamos, Susan Sullivan, Greg Vaughan, Chandra Wilson and Laura Wright.
Screenwriters and producers interviewed in “The Story of Soaps” include Shelly Altman (“General Hospital,” “The Young and the Restless”); Brad Bell (“Husbands”); Lorraine Broderick (“All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives”); James H. Brown (“All My Children,” “The Young and the Restless”); Andy Cohen (“The Real Housewives” franchise); Marc Cherry (“Desperate Housewives”); David Jacobs (“Dallas,” “Knots Landing”); Agnes Nixon (the “All My Children” creator who passed away in 2016); Jonathan Murray (“The Real World”); Ken Olin (“This Is Us”); Jill Farren Phelps (“General Hospital”); Angela Shapiro-Mathes (“All My Children: Daytime’s Greatest Weddings”); Yhane Smith (“Harlem Queen”) and Chris Van Etten (“General Hospital”).
Other people interviewed are People magazine editorial director of entertainment Kate Coyne, “The Survival of Soap Opera” co-author Abigail De Kosnik, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” co-star Erika Jayne, Netflix consultant Krista Smith, casting director Mark Teschner and Soap Opera Festivals Inc. co-founders Joyce Becker and Allan Sugarman.
Brad Pitt, Julianne Moore, Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones are named in the documentary as some of the Oscar-winning actors whose early careers on screen included roles in soap operas. Leonardo DiCaprio, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei and Kathy Bates are other Oscar-winning actors who were in soap operas before they became famous. Other alumni of daytime soap operas include William H. Macy, Demi Moore and Meg Ryan.
The documentary begins with testimonials from several actors who were in soap operas in the early years of careers, such as Cranston (“Loving”), Baldwin (“The Doctors,” “Knots Landing”), Stamos (“General Hospital”) and Fox (“Days of Our Lives”). Cranston’s first TV job was a guest role in “One Life to Live” in 1968. And when he was in his 20s, he landed a recurring role as Douglas Donavan in “Loving” in 1983.
Cranston says, “I think there are these derisive comments made about soap operas and it’s not fair and it’s not accurate. You’re there to learn. You’re there to bring as much honesty and reality as you can to the moment—and it’s difficult.”
“This genre [soap operas], this job invited me in and put me to work like nobody’s business,” Cranston continues. “It made me feel accomplished, like I broke through a barrier.” Cranston went on to become an Emmy-winning actor several years later, for his role as methamphetamine manufacturer/dealer Walter White in “Breaking Bad,” which he says was a show that was really a soap opera.
Baldwin also says that working in soap operas was extremely valuable to him. He describes “Knots Landing” (where he played the role of Joshua Rush from 1983 to 1985) this way: “It was probably one of the five most important times of my life. They had a very good cast. They had a very talented cast. And that changes everything when you go to work. You don’t care if it’s a soap if you’re working with somebody who’s great. I loved it.”
The grueling hours of working on a soap opera, especially a daytime soap opera that airs five times a week, results in a “sink or swim” atmosphere for a lot of actors who are new to the business. Stamos, who’s best known for starring in the long-running sitcom “Full House,” comments on his 1982-1984 stint as Blackie Parrish in “General Hospital,” which made him a star: “It was great training.”
Fox (who co-starred with Will Smith in the 1996 film “Independence Day”) says of her time on “The Young and the Restless,” where she played the character of Stephanie Simmons from 1994 to 1995: “I learned so much. I learned to hit my cue, how to memorize, how to cry, how to flip my hair.”
“General Hospital” casting director Teschner comments: “There was this stigma to daytime [soap operas] and people misperceiving the acting style as being over-the-top and ‘soapy.’ But I always say that if you can do daytime, you can do any time.” Teschner also mentions that it’s not unusual for a daytime soap opera to film up to 120 pages of dialogue a day, which is the amount of pages that’s typical for a feature-length movie.
“General Hospital” star Francis, who’s been playing Laura on the show since 1977, says in the documentary about her dedication to staying on a soap opera: “Why do I do it? Why do I put myself through this? Because I love to tell stories.”
“General Hospital” co-star Wright, who’s played the role of Carly on the show since 2005, offers a more business-minded perspective to what actors bring to the escapism appeal of soap operas: “It’s our job to sell it to you.” Many of the actors in “The Story of Soaps,” including Melody Thomas Scott (who’s played the character of Nikki on “The Young and the Restless” since 1979), say that because TV brings repeated familiarity in people’s homes, many soap opera fans confuse the actors with the characters that they play on TV.
“The Story of Soaps” has various themed segments which give excellent analysis and commentary on important aspects of soap-opera history. The segment titled “By Women, For Women” details how daytime soap operas have provided many of the best opportunities for women working in television behind the scenes. While male executives dominated prime-time programming, female executives were allowed to shine in daytime television, since the early years of television.
Irna Phillips, who’s often referred to as the “Queen of the Soaps,” could be considered the godmother of daytime TV soap operas, which took the concept of radio soap operas and transferred them to a visual medium. Phillips created the TV soaps “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns” and “Another World.” She also mentored “All My Children” creator Nixon (who also created “One Life to Live” and “Loving”) and William J. Bell, who created “Another World” (with Phillips), “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
In the 1950s, when it was more common for the majority of women to be homemakers, daytime soap operas provided an ideal captive audience for advertisers. The term “soap opera” comes from the fact that during the radio era (before television was invented), soap companies would be frequent advertisers on these drama series.
“The Survival of Soap Opera” co-author De Kosnik notes that when soap operas began on TV, they pioneered the lingering close-ups of actors’ faces to show their emotions, thus adding to the melodramatic appeal. She also mentions that loyalty to certain soap operas would be handed down from generation to generation of women, much like loyalty to certain sports teams would be a generational tradition for men. Although soap operas tend to have a female-majority audience, there’s been a steady increase of male fans of soap operas over the years, especially for primetime soaps.
The documentary’s “Fan-Addicts” segment examines the culture of soap opera fans. Benard (who’s played Sonny Corinthos on “General Hospital” since 1993) calls soap-opera enthusiasts: “The most loyal fans in the world.” The documentary includes a lot of archival footage of fans giving adulation to some of the most famous soap stars over the years, including Stamos and Lucci.
Lucci says of her iconic Erica Kane character, which she played during the entire run of “All My Children” from 1970 to 2011: “I loved playing her. There was such range with her. She was a capable of doing and saying just about anything. And the audience saw humanity in her stories.” And yes, the documentary includes footage of Lucci finally winning her first Daytime Emmy in 1999, after she had a long losing streak of being nominated 18 times and never winning before.
Soap Opera Festivals Inc. co-founder Becker reminisces about the company’s first fan event in 1977, which she says drew “hundreds of thousands of people”—a crowd turnout that probably wouldn’t be possible today, considering how much the popularity of daytime TV soap operas has declined. Becker also describes why soap opera fans are devoted to soap opera cast members: “It’s almost like your own family.”
Legendary comedian Burnett is famously an “All My Children” superfan—so much so that she had a guest-starring role on the show as Verla Grubbs in 1983, 1995, 2005 and 2011. In “The Story of Soaps,” she repeats a story she told in her memoir: When she and her husband spent a month-long vacation in Europe many years ago (before VCRs and the Internet), Burnett asked a friend of hers to send a telegram every Friday with a summary of everything that happened on “All My Children” that week.
One time in the early-morning hours, Burnett was awakened by a hotel employee who was trembling with the telegram, because the visibly shaken employee thought that all the tragic bad news in the telegram was real. Burnett said she started laughing so hard that she began to cry, and the hotel employee thought that she was crying hysterical tears of sorrow, until she explained that what was in the telegram was really an “All My Children” plot summary. Burnett says later in the documentary about “All My Children” being cancelled in 2011: “I’m still angry that they took it off the air.”
A documentary segment called “Love, Lust, Luke & Laura” explores how TV soaps often pushed the boundaries of raunchiness with sex scenes and outrageous love stories, beginning in the 1970s and ramping up even more in the 1980s. Stories about infidelities are very common in soap operas, but the sexual revolution also opened up wilder storylines on soap operas, such as falling in love with a space alien, taboo stepsibling romances and as much nudity as possible.
“General Hospital” characters Luke Spencer (played by Anthony Geary) and Laura were undoubtedly the most famous couple on daytime TV soap operas. Luke and Laura’s 1981 wedding on the show was a major media event, and it remains the highest-rated daytime TV soap opera event, with an estimated 30 million U.S. viewers. However, their relationship was controversial because Luke raped Laura when they first began dating.
De Kosnik says that the 1979 rape storyline was concocted by “General Hospital’s” then-executive producer Gloria Monty (who died in 2006), in a desperate ploy to boost the show’s ratings, because “General Hospital” was on the verge of being cancelled at the time. The show’s producers explained that the rape was “rape seduction” and justified it by saying that Luke really loved Laura. However, that kind of storyline would not have gotten such an easy pass if it had been suggested in later decades.
In “The Story of Soaps,” Francis says about that controversial rape storyline: “I had to justify it for so many years. And I have to say that it feels good to sit here and say it’s awful. They shouldn’t have done it.” In 1998, “General Hospital” made an attempt to remedy this wrong by having Laura angrily confront Luke (they were still married at this point) about the rape.
The documentary segment “It’s a Revolution” is one of the best that demonstrates how soap operas are both a reflection of and influence on culture. Just as soap operas were often the first TV series to have groundbreaking stories about sex, soaps were also among the first scripted TV drama series to address serious social issues. The Vietnam War controversy, abortion, interracial romances, gay teens, transgender relationships, AIDS, mental illness and eating disorders were among the many topics that were considered too taboo for scripted TV series until they were presented on TV soap operas.
“Days of Our Lives” star Diedre Hall, who has played Marlena Evans on the show since 1976, says: “The most compelling thing about daytime drama is that we follow the pulse of what’s goin on.” “General Hospital” writer Van Etten says that he used to be a “deeply closeted” gay man, but he was influenced to come to terms with his own sexuality after seeing Ryan Phillippe portray gay teen Billy Douglas in a 1992 “One Life to Live” storyline.
Emmy-winning “General Hospital” star Benard’s Sonny character is bipolar, and so is Benard in real life. Benard says of the “General Hospital” executives’ decision to make Sonny a biploar character: “I can’t thank them enough.” He says that authentic representation matters in destigmatizing mental illness.
The soap opera “Generations” also led the way in representation for African Americans, since it was one of the first scripted TV dramas to feature a white family and an African American family as equal stars of the show. Although the show didn’t last long (it was on the air from 1989 to 1991), “Generations” co-star Fox comments that the show “changed perceptions” of black people on soap operas, since the black characters on “Generations” weren’t just playing servants, sidekicks or other supporting characters.
But daytime soap operas began to have more competition in popularity with the resurgence of primetime soap operas. The documentary mentions two major social changes that began in the late 1970s and affected the rise of American primetime soaps, such as “Dallas,” “Dynasty,” “Knots Landing” and “Falcon Crest.” First, more women began working outside the home and didn’t have time to watch TV during the day, but they wanted to get their soap-opera fix at night. Second, the VCR became available as a home product, thereby revolutionizing the way people watched TV, by giving people the freedom to record and watch programs whenever they wanted.
“The Story of Soaps” also points out that the most popular primetime soaps in the 1980s were about rich families because it was a reflection of the decade’s fascination with excess and wealth. Former “Dallas” writer Jacob says it all came down to this concept: “People like to see people that rich [can be] that miserable.” And, of course, the documentary includes a look at the “Who Shot J.R.?” cliffhanger phenomenon of “Dallas” in 1980, when lead character/villain J.R. Ewing got shot in the show’s third-season finale in March of that year, leaving viewers to wonder (until it was revealed in November 1980) who shot him and whether or not he was going to live. An estimated 83 million U.S. viewers watched the fourth-season premiere “Dallas” episode that solved the mystery.
And each popular TV soap opera of a decade is a reflection of what was going on society at the time. “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Melrose Place” were about people from Generation X establishing their identities and careers in the beginning of the Internet age. “Desperate Housewives” was a commentary on middle-aged, middle-class women in the suburbs during the end of the George W. Bush era and the beginning of the Barack Obama era. And awareness in the mid-to-late 2010s of more inclusivity on TV has been reflected in primetime soaps such as “Empire” (a show about an African American family dynasty) and “This Is Us,” which centers on an interracial family with diversity in body sizes.
The documentary’s “Stranger Than Fiction” segment takes an unflinching look at how reality TV has eroded the popularity of traditional soap operas. Reality TV programs have proliferated and thrived because they’re almost always cheaper to produce than scripted shows with professional actors. Several people interviewed say that the O.J. Simpson trial of 1995 was a TV game changer, since live coverage of the trial pre-empted many daytime soap operas, and many TV networks saw that the trial coverage got higher ratings than the soaps. The trial is often called “a real-life soap opera.”
“The Real World” executive producer Murray (who credits the show’s late co-creator Mary-Ellis Bunim for being a TV pioneer for TV soaps) says that they pitched MTV on the concept of “The Real World” as being a “docu-soap.” The late Pedro Zamora, who was on “The Real World: San Francisco” in 1994, is credited with helping bring more awareness to TV viewers about AIDS, since he was the first openly HIV-positive person to be on a reality TV series.
And most reality shows about people’s lives are basically just soap operas with people who usually aren’t professional actors. “The Real Housewives” franchise (which was inspired by “Desperate Housewives”) and the Kardashian/Jenner family are predictably mentioned. Many former reality TV stars have admitted (but not in this documentary) that much of what’s on these reality TV shows is already pre-planned by the show’s producers. Curiously, this documentary didn’t include any footage from “The Bachelor” franchise, which has been described as being among the most “soap opera-ish” reality shows of all time.
The documentary’s “Death of Daytime” segment gives an overview of the cancellations of numerous daytime TV soap operas in the 2000s and 2010s. “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns,” “Passions,” “All My Children,” “One Life to Live” and “Port Charles” were the long-running American soap operas that were cancelled in these decades. “All My Children” was the cancellation that caused the most viewer outrage, according the documentary. The rise of social media, streaming services, interactive websites, apps and podcasts have further fragmented audiences, who now have millions of more options than the days when there were only a handful of national TV networks in the United States.
Although soap operas seem to be a dying genre, several people interviewed in the documentary point out that many Emmy-winning prestigious shows of the 2000s and 2010s were really soap operas, including “Game of Thrones,” “Breaking Bad,” “The Sopranos” and “Orange Is the New Black.” On the other end of the spectrum, trashy talk shows hosted by the likes of Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, Morton Downey Jr., Sally Jessy Raphael and Jenny Jones also took their cues from soap operas, since these shows thrived on creating nasty fights with guests while the cameras were rolling.
TV news has also absorbed the influence soap operas, as many news programs (especially on cable TV) have taken big stories and presented them as soap operas, with TV hosts and commentators being sort of like a Greek chorus weighing in with their opinions. The overall message of “The Story of Soaps” seems to be that if people have a snobbish attitude toward soap operas, then they should take a look at their favorite entertainment and media and see how much soap operas have had an influence. They might be surprised to see how much soap operas have impacted our culture.
ABC premiered “The Story of Soaps” on May 19, 2020.
“Parasite” cast and filmmakers at the 92nd Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on February 9, 2020. (Photo by Craig Sjodin/ABC)
As the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, the South Korean drama “Parasite” made Oscar history at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards, which took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on February 9, 2020. ABC had the U.S. telecast of the show. “Parasite,” which takes a scathing look at the class and social divisions between those who are wealthy and those who are not, also won the Oscars for Best Director (for Bong Joo Ho), Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film.
“Parasite” is the first movie since 2008’s “Slumdog Millionaire” to win Best Picture without any nominations in the actor/actress categories. It’s also the first time that Asian filmmakers have won in the categories for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. In addition, “Parasite” is the first movie to win the Oscars for Best International Feature (formerly titled Best Foreign-Language Film) and Best Picture in the same year. “Parasite” is also the first South Korean film to be nominated for Best International Feature and for Best Picture. Leading up to its Academy Awards victories, “Parasite” won the most awards of any movie released in 2019, including the Palme d’Or (the top prize) at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where the movie had its world premiere.
Oscar winners in the acting categories were Joaquin Phoenix of “Joker” for Best Actor; Renée Zellweger of “Judy” for Best Actress; Brad Pitt of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” for Best Supporting Actor; and Laura Dern of “Marriage Story” for Best Supporting Actress. Phoenix, Zellweger, Pitt and Dern been winning prizes in these categories at other major awards shows this season. Phoenix is the second actor to win an Oscar for playing DC Comics villain The Joker. Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his Joker performance in 2008’s “The Dark Knight.”
With 11 Oscar nominations, “Joker” was the leading contender going into the ceremony, and the movie ended up winning two: In addition to Best Actor, “Joker” also won for Best Original Score. The World War I drama “1917” won three Oscars—all in the technical categories: Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects. The 1960s auto-racing drama “Ford v Ferrari” was also a multiple Oscar winner, taking two: Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing. The mobster drama “The Irishman,” which had 10 Oscar nominations, ended up winning no Academy Awards, in the biggest shut-out of the ceremony.
For the second year in a row, there was no host for the Oscar ceremony. The show opened with a performance by Janelle Monáe doing a version of the “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” theme, before being joined by Billy Porter on stage for Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” and then going solo again for the rest of the performance.
There were no controversial publicity stunts or major errors. A few of the Oscar winners—particularly Pitt and Phoenix—expressed their opinions about political and social issues during their acceptance speeches. Pitt made it clear how he felt about the result of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, which ended February 5 with the majority of the U.S. Senate acquitting Trump. Pitt said: “They told me I only had 45 seconds this year, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave [proposed trial witness] John Bolton this week. I’m thinking maybe Quentin [Tarantino] does a movie about it. In the end, the adults do the right thing.”
Phoenix (a longtime animal-rights activist and environmentalist) spoke out about the need for people to go vegan and to have more respect for the earth’s natural resources: “We go into the natural world, and we plunder it for its resources … But human beings, at our best, are so inventive and creative and ingenious, and I think that when we use love and compassion as our guiding principles, we can create, develop and implement systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings and to the environment.”
One of the ceremony’s biggest surprises was Eminem performing his Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself” from the 2002 movie “8 Mile,” with his on-stage performance serving as a transition from a tribute montage about how songs can transform movies. When Eminem won the Oscar in 2003, he did not attend the ceremony, so this performance (which had many censor “bleeps”) took place 17 years after it could have first happened.
Elton John, Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel, Chrissy Metz and Randy Newman each performed their Oscar-nominated tunes for Best Original Song. The Oscar went to John and his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from the Elton John musical biopic “Rocketman.” Meanwhile, Billie Eilish performed the Beatles classic “Yesterday” for the “In Memoriam” tribute segment dedicated to people in the movie industry who passed away since the previous Oscar ceremony.
In addition, the show featured a special appearance by Questlove. Eímear Noone did a guest-conductor segment for all the hyear’s Oscar-nominated film scores. She was the first woman to conduct during an Oscars telecast.
Presenters included, Mahershala Ali, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Zazie Beetz, Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, James Corden, Penélope Cruz, Beanie Feldstein, Will Ferrell, Jane Fonda, Gal Gadot, Zack Gottsagen, Salma Hayek, Mindy Kaling, Diane Keaton, Regina King, Shia LaBeouf, Brie Larson, Spike Lee, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, George MacKay, Rami Malek, Steve Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ray Romano, Anthony Ramos, Keanu Reeves, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Mark Ruffalo, Kelly Marie Tran, Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Wiig and Rebel Wilson.
Here is the complete list of winners and nominations for the 2020 Academy Awards:
*=winner
Best Picture
Choi Woo-sik, Song Kang-ho, Jang Hye-jin and Park So-dam in “Parasite” (Photo courtesy of Neon Entertainment)
“Ford v Ferrari”
Producers: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and James Mangold
“The Irishman”
Producers: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Emma Tillinger Koskoff
“Jojo Rabbit”
Producers: Carthew Neal and Taika Waititi
“Joker”
Producers: Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper and Emma Tillinger Koskoff
“Little Women”
Producer: Amy Pascal
“Marriage Story”
Producers: Noah Baumbach and David Heyman
“1917”
Producers: Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren and Callum McDougall
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Producers: David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh and Quentin Tarantino
“Parasite”* Producers: Kwak Sin Ae and Bong Joon Ho
Best Actor
Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker” (Photo by Niko Tavernise)
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story” Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”*
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Best Actress
Renée Zellweger in “Judy” (Photo by David Hindley/LD Entertainment/Roadside Attractions)
Brad Pitt in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Photo by Andrew Cooper)
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman” Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”*
Best Supporting Actress
Laura Dern in “Marriage Story” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Bong Joo Ho on the set of “Parasite” (Photo courtesy of Neon Entertainment)
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Todd Phillips, “Joker”
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”*
Best Animated Feature
“Toy Story 4” (Image courtesy of Disney/Pixar)
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” directed by Dean DeBlois; produced by Bradford Lewis and Bonnie Arnold
“I Lost My Body,” directed by Jérémy Clapin; produced by Marc du Pontavice
“Klaus,” directed and produced by Sergio Pablos; produced by Jinko Gotoh and Marisa Román
“Missing Link,” directed by Chris Butler; produced by Arianne Sutner and Travis Knight
“Toy Story 4,” directed by Josh Cooley; produced by Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera*
Best Animated Short
“Hair Love” (Photo courtesy of Matthew A. Cherry Entertainment)
“Dcera,” directed and produced by Daria Kashcheeva “Hair Love,” directed and produced by Matthew A. Cherry; produced by Karen Rupert Toliver*
“Kitbull,” directed by Rosana Sullivan; produced by Kathryn Hendrickson
“Memorable,” directed by Bruno Collet; produced by Jean-François Le Corre
“Sister,” directed and produced by Siqi Song
Best Adapted Screenplay
Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi and Scarlett Johansson in “Jojo Rabbit” (Photo by Kimberley French)
“The Irishman,” Steven Zaillian “Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi*
“Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
“Little Women,” Greta Gerwig
“The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten
Best Original Screenplay
Lee Sun Gyun and Cho Yeo-jeong in “Parasite” (Photo courtesy of Neon Entertainment)
“Knives Out,” Rian Johnson
“Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach
“1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho and Jin Won Han*
Best Cinematography
George MacKay (center) in “1917” (Photo by François Duhamel / Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures)
“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto
“Joker,” Lawrence Sher
“The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke “1917,” Roger Deakins*
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson
Best Documentary Feature
Wong He, Kenny Taylor and Jarred Gibson in “American Factory” (Photo by Aubrey Keith/Netflix)
“American Factory,” directed and produced by Julia Rieichert and Steven Bognar; produced by Jeff Reichert*
“The Cave,” directed by Feras Fayyad; produced by Kirstine Barfod and Sigrid Dyekjær
“The Edge of Democracy,” directed and produced by Petra Costa; produced by Joanna Natasegara, Shane Boris and Tiago Pavan
“For Sama,” directed and produced by Waad Al-Kateab; directed by Edward Watts
“Honeyland,” directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov; produced by Atanas Georgiev
Best Documentary Short Subject
“Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone (If You’re a Girl)” (Photo by Lisa Rinzler)
“In the Absence,” directed and produced by Yi Seung-Jun; produced by Gary Byung-Seok Kam
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl),” directed by Carol Dysinger; produced by Elena Andreicheva*
“Life Overtakes Me,” directed and produced by Kristine Samuelson; directed by John Haptas
“St. Louis Superman,” directed and produced by Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan
“Walk Run Cha-Cha,” directed by Laura Nix; produced by Colette Sandstedt
Best Live Action Short Film
“The Neighbors’ Window” (Photo by Wolfgang Held)
“Brotherhood,” directed and produced by Meryam Joobeur; produced by Maria Gracia Turgeon
“Nefta Football Club,” directed and produced by Yves Piat; produced by Damien Megherbi
“The Neighbors’ Window,” directed and produced by Marshall Curry*
“Saria,” directed by Bryan Buckley; produced by Matt Lefebvre
“A Sister,” directed and produced by Delphine Girard
Best International Feature Film
Choi Woo-sik and Park So-dam in “Parasite” (Photo courtesy of Neon Entertainment)
“Corpus Christi,” directed by Jan Komasa (Poland)
“Honeyland,” directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov (North Macedonia)
“Les Misérables,” directed by Ladj Ly (France)
“Pain and Glory,” directed by Pedro Almodóvar (Spain) “Parasite,” directed by Bong Joon Ho (South Korea)*
Best Film Editing
Matt Damon and Christian Bale in “Ford v Ferrari” (Photo by Merrick Morton)
“Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland*
“The Irishman,” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Jojo Rabbit,” Tom Eagles
“Joker,” Jeff Groth
“Parasite,” Jinmo Yang
Best Sound Editing
Christian Bale in “Ford v Ferrari” (Photo by Merrick Morton)
“Ford v Ferrari,” Don Sylvester*
“Joker,” Alan Robert Murray
“1917,” Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Wylie Stateman
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Matthew Wood and David Acord
Best Sound Mixing
Cast and crew members on the set of “1917” (Photo by François Duhamel/Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures)
“Ad Astra,” Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson and Mark Ulano
“Ford v Ferrari,” Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Steven A. Morrow
“Joker,” Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic and Tod Maitland “1917,” Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson*
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Michael Minkler, Christian P. Minkler and Mark Ulano
Best Production Design
Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Photo by Andrew Cooper)
“The Irishman”
Production Design: Bob Shaw; Set Decoration: Regina Graves
“Jojo Rabbit”
Production Design: Ra Vincent; Set Decoration: Nora Sopková
“1917”
Production Design: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”* Production Design: Barbara Ling; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
“Parasite”
Production Design: Lee Ha Jun; Set Decoration: Cho Won Woo
Best Original Score
Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker” (Photo by Niko Tavernise)
“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir*
“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat
“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman
“1917,” Thomas Newman
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams
Best Original Song
Taron Egerton as Elton John in Rocketman from Paramount Pictures.
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from “Toy Story 4,” song written by Randy Newman
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman,” song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin*
“I’m Standing With You” from “Breakthrough,” song written by Diane Warren
“Into the Unknown” from “Frozen 2,” song written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez
“Stand Up” from “Harriet,” song written by Cynthia Erivo and Joshuah Brian Campbell
Best Makeup and Hair Styling
Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie in “Bombshell” (Photo by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle)
“Bombshell,” Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan and Vivian Baker*
“Joker,” Nicki Ledermann and Kay Georgiou
“Judy,” Jeremy Woodhead
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” Paul Gooch, Arjen Tuiten and David White
“1917,” Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis and Rebecca Cole
Best Costume Design
Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan and Emma Watson in “Little Women” (Photo by Wilson Webb)
”The Irishman,” Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson
“Jojo Rabbit,” Mayes C. Rubeo
“Joker,” Mark Bridges “Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran*
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Arianne Phillips
Best Visual Effects
George MacKay in “1917” (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures)
“Avengers: Endgame,” Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken and Dan Sudick
“The Irishman,” Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser and Stephane Grabli
“1917,” Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy*
“The Lion King,” Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Elliot Newma
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach and Dominic Tuohy
Cynthia Erivo at the gala event “For the Love of Cinema” during the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on April 20, 2017. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for IWC)
Sir Elton John at the “Rocketman” world premiere during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 16, 2019. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
Idina Menzel at the Billboard Women In Music at Pier 36 in New York City on December 9, 2016. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for A+E)
The following is a press release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC:
Cynthia Erivo, Oscar winner Elton John, Idina Menzel, Chrissy Metz and Oscar winner Randy Newman will perform this year’s nominated songs at the 92nd Oscars ceremony, show producers Lynette Howell Taylor and Stephanie Allain announced today. “The Oscars” will air live, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, on ABC.
“We’re excited to have an incredible group of nominees and performers who will deliver one-of-a-kind music moments you will only see on the Oscars,” said Howell Taylor and Allain.
This year’s Original Song nominees and performers are as follows (in alphabetical order by song title):
· “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from “Toy Story 4” – performed by Randy Newman; music and lyric by Randy Newman
· “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman” – performed by Elton John; music by Elton John; lyric by Bernie Taupin
· “I’m Standing with You” from “Breakthrough” – performed by Chrissy Metz; music and lyric by Diane Warren
· “Into the Unknown” from “Frozen II” – performed by Idina Menzel and AURORA; music and lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
· “Stand Up” from “Harriet” – performed by Cynthia Erivo; music and lyric by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo
In addition to the five nominated song performances, the show will feature a special appearance by Questlove and a guest-conducted segment by Eímear Noone. Noone is the first woman to conduct during an Oscars telecast.
The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show in the coming weeks.
The 92nd Oscars will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby(R) Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center(R) in Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST. “Oscars: Live on the Red Carpet” will air at 6:30 p.m. EST/3:30 p.m. PST. “The Oscars” also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
About The Academy
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of more than 9,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers and executives working in film. In addition to celebrating and recognizing excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars, the Academy supports a wide range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies, including public programming, educational outreach and the upcoming Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which is under construction in Los Angeles.
Follow The Academy (#Oscars) at www.oscars.org and on social media: Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
UPDATE: Billie Eilish and Janelle Monáe have been added to the lineup of performers. They will perform separately. The songs they will perform have not been announced.
In addition, these presenters have been announced for the ceremony: Mahershala Ali, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Zazie Beetz, Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, James Corden, Penélope Cruz, Beanie Feldstein, Will Ferrell, Gal Gadot, Zack Gottsagen, Salma Hayek, Mindy Kaling, Diane Keaton, Regina King, Shia LaBeouf, Brie Larson, Spike Lee, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, George MacKay, Rami Malek, Steve Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ray Romano, Anthony Ramos, Keanu Reeves, Maya Rudolph, Mark Ruffalo, Kelly Marie Tran, Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Wiig and Rebel Wilson.
Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker” (Photo by Niko Tavernise)
With 11 nods, including Best Picture, Warner Bros. Pictures’ DC Comics-based supervillain drama “Joker” has the most nominations for the 92nd Annual Academy Awards, which will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on February 9, 2020. ABC will have the U.S. telecast of the show, which begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. For the second year in a row, there will not be a host for the Oscar ceremony. The 11 nods for “Joker” make it the highest number of Oscar nominations for a comic-book-based movie.
Coming close behind in Oscar nominations this year, with 10 nominations each, are Columbia Pictures’ 1969-set retro drama “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and Netflix’s mobster drama “The Irishman”; and Universal Pictures’ World War I drama “1917.” All of these movies are contenders for Best Picture.
The Best Picture category can have up to 10 nominated movies. This year, there were nine nominated movies. The other Best Picture nominees include Fox Searchlight’s Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit,” Neon’s South Korean drama “Parasite,” Columbia Pictures’ remake of “Little Women” and Netflix’s divorce drama “Marriage Story,” which earned a total of six Oscar nods each. Rounding out the Best Picture nominee list is 20th Century Fox’s auto-racing drama “Ford v Ferrari,” which received four Oscar nominations.
Three of the Best Picture nominees do not have any nominations in the actor/actress categories: “1917,” “Ford v Ferrari” and “Parasite.” “Ford v Ferrari” does not have a screenplay or director nomination, therefore significantly decreasing its chances of winning Best Picture.
The nominees in the actor/actress categories all received Golden Globe nominations for the same roles, with the exception of Florence Pugh of “Little Women,” who was passed over for a Golden Globe nomination for that supporting role but scored an Oscar nod.
There were several people who received multiple Oscar nominations this year. Facing off in the same three categories (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay) are Quentin Tarantino of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Bong Joo Ho of “Parasite” and Sam Mendes of “1917.” Meanwhile, Todd Phillips of “Joker” also has three nods: Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
People who received two Oscar nods each this year are actress Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story,” “Jojo Rabbit”); producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff (“Joker,” “The Irishman”); producer David Heyman (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Marriage Story”); “Marriage Story” writer/producer Noah Baumbach; “The Irishman” director/producer Martin Scorsese; “Jojo Rabbit” writer/director Taika Waititi; special effects supervisor Dominic Tuohy (“The Lion King,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”); “Marriage Story” composer/”Toy Story 4″ songwriter Randy Newman; and Cynthia Erivo, who’s nominated for Best Actress and Best Original Song for Focus Features’ Harriet Tubman biopic “Harriet.”
Snubs and Surprises
“The Farewell” (Photo courtesy of A24)
Despite winning several awards leading up to the Oscar nominations (including a Golden Globe for star Awkwafina), the Chinese American drama “The Farewell” was completely shut out of the Oscar race. “Rocketman” star Taron Egerton was another Golden Globe winner who failed to get an Oscar nomination for his Golden Globe-winning role. The only Oscar nod for the Elton John musical biopic “Rocketman” was the expected nomination for Best Original Song: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” written by John and his longtime songwriter partner Bernie Taupin. The song won a Golden Globe and is a strong contender to win the Oscar.
“Rocketman” scored one Oscar nomination, but other movies that won awards elsewhere were completely snubbed for Oscar nominations, including A24’s drama “Uncut Gems,” Netflix’s comedy “Dolemite Is My Name,” STX Entertainment’s drama “Hustlers” and Universal Pictures’ horror film “Us.”
Disney’s popular sequel “Frozen 2” failed to get a nod in the category of Best Animated Feature, but Netflix’s Christmas film “Klaus” got a surprise nomination in this category. “Frozen 2” got an expected nomination for Best Original Song (for “Into the Unknown), while Beyoncé’s “Spirit” from “The Lion King” remake was snubbed in that category. The only Oscar nomination for “The Lion King” remake was in the category of Best Visual Effects, and that nomination was expected.
The NASA documentary “Apollo 11” has won numerous awards, but was shut out of the Oscar race for Best Documentary Feature. This snub should not come as much of surprise to observant Oscar watchers, since the documentary branch of the Academy Awards has a history of snubbing documentaries that rely heavily on archival footage that was not filmed by the documentaries’ directors.
A big surprise was that the North Macedonian documentary “Honeyland” was nominated in two categories: Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature. It’s rare for a documentary to get nominated in the Best International Feature category.
Diversity and Inclusion
Cynthia Erivo in “Harriet” (Photo by Glen Wilson/Focus Features)
It was widely predicted that no women would be nominated for Best Director, and that prediction turned out to be true. In the 92-year-history of the Academy Awards, only five women have ever gotten nominated for an Oscar for Best Director, and only one woman has won: Kathryn Bigelow for the 2009 war film “The Hurt Locker.” “Little Women” director Greta Gerwig was considered the most likely female director to get an Oscar nomination for Best Director this year. Instead, she got an expected nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie. (Gerwig’s previous Oscar nominations were for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, for the 2017 movie “Lady Bird.”)
Best Cinematography, another Oscar category that has been snubbing women for years, once again had only male nominees this year. Only one woman has been nominated in this category so far: Rachel Morrison, for the 2017 Netflix drama “Mudbound.”
“1917” director/co-writer/producer Mendes is multiracial (his father is Portuguese Creole and his mother is white), and Mendes has received his first Oscar nominations since winning for Best Director for the 1999 drama “American Beauty,” which was his feature-film directorial debut.
After a historic number of black people (five) won Oscars in 2019, black people are underrepresented in Oscar nominations in 2020. Only four black people got Oscar nods this year: British/actress singer (and double Oscar nominee) Erivo of “Harriet”; “Hair Love” director Matthew Cherry and producer Karen Rupert Toliver, both nominated for Best Animated Short; and Mali-born writer/director Ladj Ly, whose French drama “Les Misérables” (which is not an adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel) is one of the nominees for Best International Feature Film.
Asians got the most representation with writer/director Bong Joo Ho’s “Parasite,” which has six Oscar nods: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, Best Film Editing and Best Production Design. “Jojo Rabbit” writer/director/producer Taika Waititi (who is of Māori descent) picked up three nominations: Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. “Jojo Rabbit’s” other Oscar nods went to white nominees: Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
Filipino songwriter Robert Lopez (a two-time songwriting Oscar winner for “Frozen” and “Coco”) is once again nominated with his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez in the Best Original Song category—this time, for the “Frozen 2” song “Into the Unknown.”Jinko Gotoh, who is of Japanese descent, received a Best Animated Feature nod for producing “Klaus.” Oscar-winning “The White Helmets” producer Joanna Natasegara, who is of Asian descent, is nominated again for Best Documentary Feature—this time for “The Edge of Democracy.” She was previously nominated in this category for 2014’s “Virunga.” Japanese makeup artist Kazu Hiro, a previous winner for 2017’s “Darkest Hour,” is nominated again for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, this time for “Bombshell.”
Meanwhile, the categories for short films had a significant number of Asian filmmakers. Chinese filmmaker Siqi Song earned a Best Animated Short nomination for directing and producing “Sister.” South Korean filmmakers Yi Seung-Jun (director/producer) and Gary Byung-Seok Kam (producer) are up for Best Documentary Short for “In the Absence.” “St. Louis Superman” directors/producers Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan, who are of Indian descent, are also nominated in the Best Documentary Short category.
People of Arab descent had strong showings in the Best Documentary Feature category, which includes two nominations for movies about the war in Syria: “The Cave” (directed by Feras Fayyad, a previous nominee in this category for 2017’s “Last Men in Aleppo”) and “For Sama” (co-directed by Waad al-Kateab in her first Oscar nomination). Tunisian-born director/producer Meryam Joobeur received a Best Live-Action Short nomination for the Canadian film “Brotherhood.”
Latinos were represented in the high-profile Oscar categories with Sony Pictures Classics’ Spanish film “Pain and Glory,” writer/director Pedro Almodóvar’s semi-autobiographical film, which has nominations for Best Actor (the first Oscar nomination for Antonio Banderas) and Best International Feature Film. Meanwhile, Netflix’s “The Edge of Democracy” is up for Best Documentary Feature, the first Oscar nod for Brazilian director Petra Costa and Brazilian producer Tiago Pavan. Other first-time Oscar nominees are these filmmakers for the animated movie “Klaus”: Spanish director/producer Sergio Pablos and Venezuelan producer Marisa Román.
Also a nominee in the Best Animated Feature category is “Toy Story 4” producer Jonas Rivera, a previous Oscar winner in this category for 2009’s “Up” and 2015’s “Inside Out.” In the technical categories, Mexican director of photography Rodrigo Pietro got a nod for Best Cinematography for “The Irishman,” while Adam Valdez was part of the Oscar-nominated visual-effects team for “The Lion King.”
Here is the complete list of nominations for the 2020 Academy Awards:
Best Picture
“Ford v Ferrari”
Producers: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and James Mangold
“The Irishman”
Producers: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Emma Tillinger Koskoff
“Jojo Rabbit”
Producers: Carthew Neal and Taika Waititi
“Joker”
Producers: Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper and Emma Tillinger Koskoff
“Little Women”
Producer: Amy Pascal
“Marriage Story”
Producers: Noah Baumbach and David Heyman
“1917”
Producers: Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren and Callum McDougall
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Producers: David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh and Quentin Tarantino
“Parasite”
Producers: Kwak Sin Ae and Bong Joon Ho
Best Actor
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Best Supporting Actor
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Best Director
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Todd Phillips, “Joker”
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”
Best Animated Feature
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” directed by Dean DeBlois; produced by Bradford Lewis and Bonnie Arnold
“I Lost My Body,” directed by Jérémy Clapin; produced by Marc du Pontavice
“Klaus,” directed and produced by Sergio Pablos; produced by Jinko Gotoh and Marisa Román
“Missing Link,” directed by Chris Butler; produced by Arianne Sutner and Travis Knight
“Toy Story 4,” directed by Josh Cooley; produced by Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera
Best Animated Short
“Dcera,” directed and produced by Daria Kashcheeva
“Hair Love,” directed and produced by Matthew A. Cherry; produced by Karen Rupert Toliver
“Kitbull,” directed by Rosana Sullivan; produced by Kathryn Hendrickson
“Memorable,” directed by Bruno Collet; produced by Jean-François Le Corre
“Sister,” directed and produced by Siqi Song
Best Adapted Screenplay
“The Irishman,” Steven Zaillian
“Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi
“Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
“Little Women,” Greta Gerwig
“The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten
Best Original Screenplay
“Knives Out,” Rian Johnson
“Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach
“1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino
“Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho and Jin Won Han
Best Cinematography
“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto
“Joker,” Lawrence Sher
“The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke
“1917,” Roger Deakins
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson
Best Documentary Feature
“American Factory,” directed and produced by Julia Rieichert and Steven Bognar; produced by Jeff Reichert
“The Cave,” directed by Feras Fayyad; produced by Kirstine Barfod and Sigrid Dyekjær
“The Edge of Democracy,” directed and produced by Petra Costa; produced by Joanna Natasegara, Shane Boris and Tiago Pavan
“For Sama,” directed and produced by Waad Al-Kateab; directed by Edward Watts
“Honeyland,” directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov; produced by Atanas Georgiev
Best Documentary Short Subject
“In the Absence,” directed and produced by Yi Seung-Jun; produced by Gary Byung-Seok Kam
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl),” directed by Carol Dysinger; produced by Elena Andreicheva
“Life Overtakes Me,” directed and produced by Kristine Samuelson; directed by John Haptas
“St. Louis Superman,” directed and produced by Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan
“Walk Run Cha-Cha,” directed by Laura Nix; produced by Colette Sandstedt
Best Live Action Short Film
“Brotherhood,” directed and produced by Meryam Joobeur; produced by Maria Gracia Turgeon
“Nefta Football Club,” directed and produced by Yves Piat; produced by Damien Megherbi
“The Neighbors’ Window,” directed and produced by Marshall Curry
“Saria,” directed by Bryan Buckley; produced by Matt Lefebvre
“A Sister,” directed and produced by Delphine Girard
Best International Feature Film
“Corpus Christi,” directed by Jan Komasa (Poland)
“Honeyland,” directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov (North Macedonia)
“Les Misérables,” directed by Ladj Ly (France)
“Pain and Glory,” directed by Pedro Almodóvar (Spain)
“Parasite,” directed by Bong Joon Ho (South Korea)
Best Film Editing
“Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland
“The Irishman,” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Jojo Rabbit,” Tom Eagles
“Joker,” Jeff Groth
“Parasite,” Jinmo Yang
Best Sound Editing
“Ford v Ferrari,” Don Sylvester
“Joker,” Alan Robert Murray
“1917,” Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Wylie Stateman
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Matthew Wood and David Acord
Best Sound Mixing
“Ad Astra,” Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson and Mark Ulano
“Ford v Ferrari,” Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Steven A. Morrow
“Joker,” Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic and Tod Maitland
“1917,” Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Michael Minkler, Christian P. Minkler and Mark Ulano
Best Production Design
“The Irishman”
Production Design: Bob Shaw; Set Decoration: Regina Graves
“Jojo Rabbit”
Production Design: Ra Vincent; Set Decoration: Nora Sopková
“1917”
Production Design: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Production Design: Barbara Ling; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
“Parasite”
Production Design: Lee Ha Jun; Set Decoration: Cho Won Woo
Best Original Score
“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir
“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat
“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman
“1917,” Thomas Newman
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams
Best Original Song
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from “Toy Story 4,” song written by Randy Newman
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman,” song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
“I’m Standing With You” from “Breakthrough,” song written by Diane Warren
“Into the Unknown” from “Frozen 2,” song written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson Lopez
“Stand Up” from “Harriet,” song written by Cynthia Erivo and Joshuah Brian Campbell
Best Makeup and Hair Styling
“Bombshell,” Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan and Vivian Baker
“Joker,” Nicki Ledermann and Kay Georgiou
“Judy,” Jeremy Woodhead
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” Paul Gooch, Arjen Tuiten and David White
“1917,” Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis and Rebecca Cole
Best Costume Design
”The Irishman,” Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson
“Jojo Rabbit,” Mayes C. Rubeo
“Joker,” Mark Bridges
“Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Arianne Phillips
Best Visual Effects
“Avengers: Endgame,” Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken and Dan Sudick
“The Irishman,” Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser and Stephane Grabli
“1917,” Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy
“The Lion King,” Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Elliot Newma
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach and Dominic Tuohy
All TV shows listed here are U.S.-based TV series. Availability might vary outside of the United States. Show descriptions are from the TV networks. Click on the show’s title to the go to the show’s official website that has air dates and more information.
ABC News’ “20/20” is an award-winning primetime program. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 40 years, “20/20” features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories.
“48 Hours” is one of the most successful law and justice programs in television history. The enduring appeal of the program is based on original reporting and impact journalism. “48 Hours” has helped exonerate the wrongly convicted, helped solve cold cases, and is committed to investigating the most intriguing and compelling true crime cases. “48 Hours” has been recognized with multiple Peabodys, Emmys, RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award. Erin Moriarty, Peter Van Sant, Maureen Maher, Richard Schlesinger, Tracy Smith are correspondents. Judy Tygard is executive producer, Nancy Kramer is executive story editor.
This one-of-a-kind documentary series brings viewers behind-the-scenes of the fast-paced, high-stakes world of a dynamic 911 call center outside of Cleveland. This is an up-close and personal look at an amazing team of 911 dispatchers as they take on a never-ending bombardment of panic-stricken callers, and save lives. These dedicated professionals really are the unsung heroes of law enforcement.
Series Premiere: November 6, 2021.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Each hour-long episode retraces the investigation from start to finish, taking viewers through the twists and turns of these shocking cases, from dissecting the red flags to the undeniable evidence, and strange behavior that put the tragedy in question. With the families fighting for justice and the detectives on the case determined to find the truth, motives will be exposed and justice will be served as the families finally find out what caused the death of their loved ones.
Series Premiere: March 23, 2019.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Imagine being accused of a crime, knowing you may spend years in prison. A&E Network’s documentary series “Accused: Guilty or Innocent?” follows the dramatic inside stories—as they unfold—of people facing trial for serious crimes they are alleged to have committed. “Accused: Guilty or Innocent?” offers an intimate account of what happens when someone is formally charged with a crime and sent to trial—all solely from the perspective of the accused, their legal team and family members. Each episode follows the accused person’s journey through the planning of their legal defense, the trial and, ultimately, the verdict. “Accused: Guilty or Innocent?” is produced by Brinkworth Productions. Malcolm Brinkworth and Xander Brinkwork are Executive Producers. Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro and Brad Holcman are Executive Producers for A&E.
Series Premiere: April 21, 2020.
Available on A&E, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
This true-crime series hosted by Lt. Joe Kenda, one of America’s toughest detectives, features incredibly disturbing and mind-blowing cases from across the country. Lt. Kenda expertly guides us through the complex twists and turns of these bizarre crimes.
Series Premiere: January 4, 2021.
Available on Discovery+, Investigation Discovery, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Discover multimillion-dollar scams that build unimaginable wealth. Go to places where devious frauds feed deviant desires. And witness the fatal flaws that bring criminals to justice. “American Greed” takes you deep inside shocking true stories of brazen con artists who thrive on stealing fortunes, ruining and even taking lives. In-depth reporting exposes the devastating effects greed has on victims, bringing you up-close to heartless villains living large on other people’s life savings. How do these crooked masterminds defraud the wealthy, rip off their own families, and scam their friends? On “American Greed” (narrated by award-winning actor Stacy Keach), crime pays well, until the crooks get caught. Some people will do anything for money. With evil like this, no one is safe. “American Greed” is produced for CNBC by the independent documentary production company Kurtis Productions, which was formed in Chicago in 1988 by broadcast journalist Bill Kurtis.
Series Premiere: June 21, 2007.
Available on CNBC, Peacock, SlingTV, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Narrated by actor Dennis Haysbert (“24,” “The Unit,”) the newly reimagined and iconic “American Justice” looks at recent criminal cases in the United States through the prism of the criminal justice system, and from the first-hand perspectives of the prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, victims and perpetrators involved. The series dives into significant crimes that were adjudicated within the last few years, from trials that made national headlines to gripping lesser-known cases, ensuring that the issues being explored are relevant. Each story reveals how our justice system works, and, sometimes, how it doesn’t. One of the original true crime documentary series, “American Justice” originally aired for 13 years (1992-2005) on A&E, and was revived in 2021.
Series Premiere: September 15, 1992; August 20, 2021 (reboot)
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
Monsters can be found lurking behind any innocent smile and on any street corner in America. Never-before-seen-video footage stares straight into the eyes of these killers who hide in plain sight.
Series Premiere: June 1, 2016.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Offering an immersive portrayal of life on the streets, “Body Cam” engages a unique storytelling technique combining the body camera footage with first-hand accounts to virtually place viewers in harrowing moments as the suspense builds and the tension rises. Each episode tells multiple stories of those who vowed to protect and serve in unflinching detail, offering viewers their own personal perspective of officers in life-threatening circumstances. From domestic disputes to ambushes and traffic stops gone dangerously awry, “Body Cam” profiles just how quickly seemingly routine situations can escalate into tragic altercations. Produced by Arrow Media.
Series Premiere: November 27, 2018.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Buried in the Backyard” examines true-crime stories of victims found hidden in quintessential idyllic spaces. Unearthing the human remains is only the beginning, however, as each hour-long episode focuses on a compelling police investigation that unravels the mystery surrounding the victim’s identity and cause of death. “Buried in the Backyard” is produced by Renegade 83, an Entertainment One company, with Jay Renfroe, David Garfinkle, Bob Kusbit and Carolyn B. Day serving as executive producers. There are also the spinoff series “Buried in the Backyard: Buried in the House” and “Buried in the Backyard: Buried in the Sand.”
Series Premiere: June 3, 2018.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
It’s an iconic line in any crime story: when a suspect is arrested, they get one call. In reality, once a person enters the criminal justice system, they have multiple opportunities to make calls as they await trial. The vast majority of those calls are recorded. An admission, a threat, a slip of the tongue, a bribe it’s all on tape and the suspect knows it. But this doesn’t always stop them from talking and talking. Calls From the Inside, uses jailhouse phone calls to frame the narrative of murder investigations steeped in mystery.
Series Premiere: December 29, 2021.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
What happens when the clues to a murder aren’t just physical, but digital? Caught in the Net presents gripping true stories of investigators entering the digital world to solve a brutal murder. In each case, detectives are up against a lack of physical clues. But every time anyone goes online, whether it’s chat rooms, cellphone apps, car GPS or fitness trackers, they leave a digital trail behind them. Now investigators must enter this virtual world and follow the data, as they race against time to secure justice for victims’ families and track down the killer.
Series Premiere: March 14, 2022.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Chaos in Court” examines clips of dramatic, unexpected, and cathartic courtroom moments captured in real time. Each hour brings the backstories of the crimes and legal proceedings to the forefront with actual courtroom footage, so shocking, it has to be seen, to be believed. With insightful analysis from a diverse panel of experts including judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and criminal psychologists, “Chaos in Court” takes you into the proceedings analyzing each case from start to finish. Featured within each of the ten episodes are interviews with defendants, family members, and others who witnessed the action to help bring dramatic courtroom moments to life, and the emotional realities of what happens when the ultimate stakes are on trial.
Series Premiere: September 18, 2020.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“City Confidential” returns to explore crimes that have impacted cities and towns across America. The iconic, noir-style series goes beyond the headlines to showcase the emotional and unexpected stories that catapulted unique communities, both large and small, into the public eye. Narrated by actor Mike Colter, “City Confidential” tells the story of one crime, the ensuing investigation, and the ripple effect it had on a community. Speaking with family, friends, detectives, journalists, and others close to the case, the series weaves together firsthand accounts and archival footage to explore the crime and its outcome.
Series Premiere: November 7, 1998; October 28, 2021 (reboot)
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
There are over 100,000 cold cases in America, and only about 1% are ever solved. With recent advancements in technology and the methods used to solve these cases, as well as the unwavering dedication of victims’ families, law enforcement and the public, “Cold Case Files” explores the cases the defied the odds. Narrated by the original host and producer of “Cold Case Files,” celebrated veteran journalist and newsman Bill Kurtis, each episode of the Emmy-nominated series examines the twists and turns of one murder case that remained unsolved for years, and the critical element that heated it up, leading to the evidence that finally solved it. Featuring interviews with family members, friends, detectives, and others close to the cases, the refreshed classic series examines all facets of the crime and shines a light on a range of voices and victims.
Series Premiere: January 1, 1999; February 27, 2017 (reboot); August 20, 2021 (reboot)
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
From executive producer Dick Wolf and Magical Elves, the real-life crime series follows veteran prosecutor Kelly Siegler, who gets help from seasoned detectives—Johnny Bonds, Steve Spingola, Aaron Sam and Tonya Rider—as they dig into small town murder cases that have lingered for years without answers or justice for the victims. Together with local law enforcement from across the country, the “Cold Justice” team has successfully helped bring about 30 arrests and 16 convictions. No case is too cold for Siegler as the new season delves into new unsolved homicides while also bringing updates to previous cases. “Cold Justice” is produced by Wolf Reality & Magical Elves with Dick Wolf and Tom Thayer serving as executive producers for Wolf Reality and Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, Kelly Siegler, Nan Strait and Scott Patch serving as executive producers for Magical Elves.
Series Premiere: September 3, 2013.
Available on TNT (2013-2015); Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV (2017-present); Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
A&E Network takes viewers inside America’s courtrooms in the new series “Court Cam” executive produced by Law&Crime Productions and Dan Abrams, former host of A&E’s “Live PD” and chief legal analyst for ABC News. This eight-episode 30-minute series gives viewers a front row seat to some of the most wild, unruly and outrageous courtroom moments recently caught on tape.
Series Premiere: December 5, 2019.
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
“Crimes Gone Viral” explores the riveting stories behind shocking crimes caught on camera that gain viral fame on the internet. From business security cameras to home surveillance systems and cell phone cameras, someone is almost always watching. Gripping clips of kidnappings, break-ins, wild car chases, violent road rage incidents and other crimes rack up millions of views. But “Crimes Gone Viral” goes beyond the jaw-dropping footage to tell the full story. This series features compelling interviews and behind-the-scenes information of some of the internet’s most viral crime clips.
Series Premiere: September 9, 2020.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
In her 12 years as a Crime Scene Investigator for Orange County, Florida, C.S.I Alina Burroughs investigated some of the most startling and devastating cases in the country – from the tragic 2008 death of toddler Caylee Anthony to the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre. Through her work she has learned that people may not always tell the truth, but the forensic evidence never lies. In this gripping ID series, Burroughs revisits controversial and shocking murder cases from across the country, taking a fresh look at the forensic evidence with the hope to bring more clarity to these complex crimes and closure to those the victims left behind.
Series Premiere: March 8, 2022.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Certain cases are seared into the American consciousness. They are a part of how we look at society, good and evil. But what would happen if we could go back in time, or back in crime, and look again? This unique series fully re-immerses the viewer in these cases as we experienced them at the time by pairing the best news archive with audio interviews, reintroducing these cases from a new standpoint. Each episode shows the evolution of how these cases were perceived by the public then and how we view them now, exposing how the times have changed, and revealing the lessons learned from each case.
Series Premiere: November 11, 2020.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Dateline” is NBC’s signature newsmagazine, bringing viewers storytelling at its best. The stories range from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. When major news breaks, they go to the scene, putting the pieces together to bring the viewer the full picture. And in every story they tell, they help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with the viewer. On the air since 1992, “Dateline” is the longest-running prime-time program on NBC. “Dateline’s” work has been honored time and again with broadcast journalism’s highest awards. Lester Holt is the principal anchor, joined by correspondents Andrea Canning, Hoda Kotb, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy.
Series Premiere: March 31, 1992.
Available on NBC, Peacock, SlingTV, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Dateline: Secrets Uncovered,” hosted by Craig Melvin, explores chilling stories through first-hand accounts, told by those closest to the issue, including investigators entrusted with cracking the case and the families confronting tragedy.
Series Premiere: July 21, 2017.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, especially when she’s on a mission to murder. There’s no shortage of these tempestuous “Deadly Women,” Investigation Discovery’s signature hit series about women who have been driven to kill. Jealousy, revenge, desperation, and greed all play their devilish hand in driving these daughters, sisters, mothers, and wives to commit the ultimate sin. While male murderers are often motivated by anger, impulse, and destruction, women usually have more complex, long-term motives. Former FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong helps viewers distinguish between the emotionally charged impulses and sociopathic intentions that lace each story.
Series Premiere: February 8, 2005 (as a limited series); December 24, 2008 (as a regular series).
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Deep in the woods, inside an abandoned house, or along the shores of a sleepy lake, every snap of a twig or unidentified rustle can be a sign of danger. “Dead Silent” shows just how dark and desolate the great outdoors can be when no one can reach you, where myth, urban legend, and horror movie dread collide to showcase twisted tales too frightening to be imaginary. Each hour-long episode features one spine-tingling and terrifying true story, interwoven with expert commentary from local authorities, true-crime experts, and psychologists, as well as first-person accounts from many of the victims who survived these nightmarish events.
Series Premiere: October 25, 2016.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Each one-hour episode of “Devoured” is a deep dive into a single true crime story that centers on one American city or region’s food specialty. Viewers will be taken through a thrill-ride of twists and turns as narrator Jon Cryer uncovers the unbelievable stories of how food fuels criminal enterprises, both large and small. Along the way, the series dishes up the food’s origin story and impact on the culinary landscape—while revealing how our passion for eating well can become a recipe for doing wrong.
What if the person closest to you was a devil in disguise—would you see the signs? Investigation Discovery’s original series “Evil Lives Here” explores the true, heart-stopping stories of people who shared a home and a life with a loved one who would become a killer. “Evil Lives Here” has exclusive interviews and never-before-told accounts of the years and critical moments leading up to these vicious acts, “Evil Lives Here” showcases the devastating and often undiscussed consequences on the people who have nurtured, loved and raised a murderer.
Series Premiere: January 17, 2016.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Family Massacre” is a gripping and powerful exploration of some of the most ruthless murders ever committed. This series follows the true and gruesome tales of the unthinkable: multiple members of the same family slain in cold blood. In each episode, we hear from friends and surviving relatives, those people closest to the family that was massacred, while also detailing the work of the dedicated investigators and prosecutors tasked with finding their killer and bringing them to justice. Through first-hand accounts, archival footage and cinematic recreations, we see the twists and turns of the investigation unfold and delve deep into who could have committed such a shocking crime and just how they were caught and made to answer for it.
Series Premiere: December 3, 2021.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Each pulse-pounding hour-long episode of “Fatal Attraction” centers around an incredible and dangerous romance. Shocking crime, kidnapping or even murder is only half of the story. Driven by powerful, real-life stories, “Fatal Attraction” weaves together intimate, first-person interviews, exclusive interrogation footage and rare archival material. Listen as the key players, family of the survivors and those that investigated the horrific crimes reveal the secrets to each sordid tale.
“The FBI Declassified” features FBI agents and analysts taking viewers behind the scenes of some of the biggest cases they’ve solved during their careers. Through never-before-seen footage and in-depth interviews, each episode will focus on a different investigation and showcase the cooperation between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. Agents and analysts reveal the thinking, teamwork, technology, techniques and pure gut instinct that goes into solving a critical case. The show’s narrator is Alana De La Garza, star of CBS’s “FBI” drama series.
Series Premiere: October 6, 2020.
Available on CBS, Paramount+, YouTube TV and FubuTV.
The biggest enemy for any homicide detective is not the suspect…it’s the clock. In fact, if they don’t find a lead in the first 48 hours, their chances of catching the killer are cut in half. The “First 48” tracks real homicide detectives as they struggle to solve murder cases across the country. Gripping, authentic and dramatic, viewers are brought along for the ride as the detectives hunt for killers to bring to justice.
Series Premiere: June 3, 2004.
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
Long considered the gold standard of crime docuseries, “Forensic Files” returned after an eight-year production hiatus, now produced by CNN Development for HLN under the guidance of executive producer Nancy Duffy. “Forensic Files II” continues the franchise, featuring the amazing work of scientists and investigators who use cutting edge forensics to crack the most baffling criminal cases. Acclaimed film, stage and television actor Bill Camp (“Dark Waters,” “Joker,” “The Night Of”) is the narrator.
“For My Man” is a true-crime series that features the salacious and shocking stories of women who have been arrested for a crime they did in the name of love. From a killing spree across the mid-west to being an inside informant at the DEA and from murdering an unsupportive mother to robbing fifteen banks in under a year, these women have no limits as to how far they’ll go for their men. And do not be misled; these are not the women you’d expect. They are straight-A students, career police officers and once happily married women. These are the stories of the obsessions and weakness that fueled their fall from grace.
“Homicide City” takes a deep dive into the crimes that shook Philadelphia to its core. The series explores cases from a darker time that had police detectives banding together across the metropolitan landscape in a sequence of manhunts. From the mansions of the wealthy suburbs to the rowhouse-lined streets of the inner city, each episode is told through the eyes of veteran homicide detectives, local beat reporters and the victims’ families who lost so much.
Series Premiere: January 1, 2018:
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
The holiday season is usually the busiest and happiest time of the year and spent with family and friends, but unfortunately can leave a painful surprise when it begins with a shocking murder. Each hour-long episode examines a devastating case as police investigate and go to incredible lengths to unveil secrets about the true motive of the killer, giving families justice about their loved ones’ death. With firsthand accounts from those close to the victim, the limited series delves into the alarming cases that prove the holidays can turn the happiest time of the year upside down in a split second.
Series Premiere: December 3, 2016.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Hosted by lauded actor Hill Harper (“The Good Doctor,” “CSI: NY”), “How It Really Happened With Hill Harper” delves deeply into some of the most notorious crimes, mysteries, trials and celebrity tragedies of our time, with enlightening interviews and access to the vast CNN news library. Nancy Duffy is executive producer of the HLN Original Series “How It Really Happened with Hill Harper.”
Their lives are portrayed in movies, TV shows and books and their shocking acts are woven into the fabric of scary stories about real monsters in the world. But what happens when the monster is someone you live with and love? Every hour-long episode of “I Lived with a Killer” brings a haunting new twist to cases that terrified the public with the powerful stories from the family members of killers. Viewers will also hear from members of the victims’ families, detectives on each case and experts who break down the media frenzy around the crimes. “I Lived with a Killer” is produced by Breakthrough Entertainment.
“I Survived a Serial Killer” documents the harrowing, heroic stories of one or more survivors of the same serial killers. Told from the survivors’ point of view, the series highlights the strength and perseverance of regular people encountering and overcoming pure evil. Interviews with those closest to the cases will round out the stories of these unimaginable crimes.
Series Premiere: December 5, 2019.
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
Putting the victim at the forefront, Investigation Discovery’s “Impact of Murder” utilizes the emotionally gripping victim’s impact statement delivered in court as the driving storytelling technique. Through a victim’s own words, viewers understand the horror they endured or the significance of the life that was taken, providing an acute understanding of the collateral damage of murder. Impact statements act as a source of strength for those who may feeling helpless after a senseless tragedy, showcasing the empowerment that they feel when they stand up in court to address the perpetrator.
Series Premiere: July 14, 2019.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Grammy and NAACP Image Award winner Ice-T (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) is host and executive producer, using his distinct voice to guide viewers through shocking true stories involving sex, money, obsession – or a fatal cocktail of all three. With in-depth interviews and archival footage, each hour-long episode spotlights a shocking mystery characterized by expert detective work, unforeseen twists and jaw-dropping discoveries. When some of the most basic human desires—sex and money—cloud our judgment with lust and greed, they run the risk of dangerous consequences. “In Ice Cold Blood” is produced by The Content Group with Steven Michaels, Jonathan Koch, Brian Knappmiller, and Ryann Lauckner serving as executive producers, along with Final Level Entertainment with Ice-T and Jorge Hinojosa serving as executive producers.
Series Premiere: April 1, 2018.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Legal analyst Nancy Grace gets to the bottom of some of the most challenging and multi-layered true crime stories. Each episode of “Injustice With Nancy Grace” will expose an untold and riveting case involving wrongful accusations, botched investigations, suppressed evidence, unclear motives, unjust sentences and the path forward in seeking justice. “Injustice With Nancy Grace” is produced by The Intellectual Property Corporation, an Industrial Media company, in conjunction with KT Studios and TAP INc., with Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Nancy Grace, John Terenzio, Stephanie Lydecker and showrunner Steve Katz serving as executive producers.
Series Premiere: July 13, 2019.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“In Pursuit With John Walsh” unites the power of Investigation Discovery’s dedicated fanbase with John Walsh’s lifelong mission of putting fugitives behind bars, finding missing children, and empowering the public to assist law enforcement. Showcasing time-sensitive, unsolved cases in desperate need of attention, this new real-time investigation series mobilizes ID’s audience to actively engage in the pursuit of justice. Backed by decades of victim advocacy with a mission stemming from his own personal tragedy, “In Pursuit With John Walsh” utilizes Walsh’s unique and unrivaled experience in this field coupled with a call center able to help law enforcement find leads in real time.
Series Premiere: January 16, 2019.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“I Was a Teenage Felon” tells some of the most brazen stories of youthful ambition gone haywire as “average American kids” become smugglers, dealers, hackers, scammers and thieves.
“Judgment With Ashleigh Banfield” is an original series hosted by original Court TV alum and respected former CNN and MSNBC legal analyst Ashleigh Banfield, who made her Court TV return as a special contributor in 2020. “Judgment With Ashleigh Banfield” is a weekly hour-long series taking viewers on a deep dive into the most provocative and talked about trials and cases of all-time. With brand-new interviews and exclusive first-time ever reveals, each installment looks to further explore everything people only thought they knew about these touchstones in judicial history.
“Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole” tells the individual stories of eight previously convicted child offenders sentenced to mandatory life terms, without parole, who are now seeking resentencing on the heels of a recent United States Supreme Court ruling. While some may be resentenced to life, others could be immediately released or given a new sentence that makes them eligible for parole.
Series Premiere: April 30, 2019.
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
“Killer Motive,” from the producers of NBC’s “Dateline,” is hosted by two award-winning journalists, NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk and Emmy Award winner Troy Roberts. Each hour-long episode uncovers dark and twisted motives, from vengeance to jealousy to greed that led to gruesome killings. “Killer Motive” is produced by NBC News’ award-winning production arm Peacock Productions with Paul Ryan serving as executive producer and Alexa Danner as co-executive producer.
Series Premiere: July 11, 2019.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins” investigates burgeoning romances from their sweet beginnings, and follows what happened all the way through to their bitter endings. With her background as a criminal prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and with her expertise in matters of the heart, Faith Jenkins gives her professional POV of the nightmarish cases. With first-hand accounts from victims’ family, friends and law enforcement, each hour-long episode reveals the inner workings of intimate attachments that seemed fated to last forever and ended in murder.
Series Premiere: January 16, 2022.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Killer Siblings” tells the twisted stories of some of the most maniacal siblings in history. Each hour-long episode explores the psychology and pasts of cold-blooded siblings who have carried out vicious murders. Through exclusive interviews and firsthand accounts, the series delves into the evil minds of siblings who partnered together to commit some of the most heinous and sophisticated homicides. “Killer Siblings” is produced by Scott Sternberg Productions with Scott Sternberg and Matthew Watts serving as executive producers.
Series Premiere: October 27, 2019.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Hosted by renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow (“Botched”), “License to Kill” chronicles the harrowing accounts of patients put into jeopardy by medical professionals’ insidious use of their expertise. Told from the perspective of victims, families, colleagues and law enforcement, each episode of “License to Kill” exposes what happens when the hands that should heal are used to cause harm on patients at the most vulnerable times. “License to Kill” is produced by Shed Media with Pam Healey, Dan Peirson, Adam Kassen, Haylee Vance, Dave Kuba and Terry Dubrow serving as executive producers.
Series Premiere: June 23, 2019.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Lies, Crimes & Video” gives viewers an intimate look into terrifying 911 calls, police interrogations, jail house recordings, body camera and surveillance video captured as part of a criminal investigation. This series features riveting stories that incorporate video evidence in criminal cases and shocking courtroom testimony. The lies, deceit and bad behavior are all caught on camera and presented in this candid true crime docuseries. Produced by HLN Investigations, Elizabeth Yuskaitis is the executive producer.
“Locked Up Abroad” is a cult cable favorite known for taking viewers inside accounts of capture, incarceration and terror far away from home with intimate personal interviews and dramatic reenactments. Hear the firsthand accounts not only of those who were locked up but also of those who were directly part of the story, such as the undercover agent compiling the evidence against the suspect or the person making the drug dealing offers.
Series Premiere: July 24, 2007.
Available on National Geographic Channel, Hulu, ABC. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Middle American towns are explored through the murders that tore through them. The townspeople not only become storytellers, they also hold clues to the puzzle that forever changed their lives and how they understand their home.
Series Premiere: November 29, 2017.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Homicide investigations unfold through dramatic real footage in this groundbreaking series. Viewers get an up-close perspective of each case using raw, unfiltered footage from body cams at the crime scene, surveillance cameras and interrogation room video.
Series Premiere: August 28, 2019.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Across the country, high school football unites small-town communities. But when a heinous murder shatters that Friday night dream world, the crime ripples beyond those immediately impacted, and the community will never be the same again.
Series Premiere: January 24, 2022.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Oxygen, the home for high quality true crime programming, is diving deep into some of the most chilling murder cases in New York City’s recent history. New York is a shining beacon of opportunity to people across the world, and the convergence of almost innumerable cultures, customs and languages, makes it a true melting pot. It’s a city with a gritty core, where tensions run high. The series, from Good Caper Content, details the brazen crimes that could only happen in New York and the intense work by law enforcement and civilians who race to take murderers off the streets.
Series Premiere: January 1, 2022.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“On the Case With Paula Zahn” takes viewers on an exciting journey inside the most fascinating crime and mystery investigations. First person accounts, along with insight from experts are featured as each case reaches its dramatic conclusion.
Series Premiere: October 18, 2009.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Real Life Nightmare” presents heart-wrenching, personal mysteries and unexplained deaths that continue to baffle investigators and horrify those left behind. Featured in the series is never-before-seen evidence plus a call-to-action that provides viewers an opportunity to be part of the investigation. This docuseries is produced by HLN Investigations, headed by executive producer Elizabeth Yuskaitis.
“The Real Murders of Atlanta” portrays the unbelievable cases of homicide that highlight the boundaries between gentrified Southern dynasties, hip hop hustlers and the flashy nouveau riche of this metropolitan mecca of music, entertainment and tech. Told by the investigators, witnesses, reporters and loved ones who have direct connections to the cases, each hour-long story brings Atlanta’s hustle and deadly decadence into sharp focus. It’s the dark side of the New South, where deadly battles for status and affluence emerge between those who are willing to kill for the good life and those willing to kill to keep it.
Series Premiere: January 18, 2022.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“The Real Murders of Orange County” delves into the most horrific, sinful and salacious cases that rocked Southern California’s wealthy coastal community. From a murder for hire gone wrong to families turning on their own, viewers will hear the harrowing tales of when privilege leads to problems and greed leads to murder. as one wrong turn led to a brutal murder. “The Real Murders of Orange County” is produced by 44 Blue Productions, a Red Arrow Studios company, with Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch, Josh Bingham, David Hale and Dan Snook serving as Executive Producers.
Series Premiere: November 8, 2020.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Reasonable Doubt” explores controversial murder convictions through an objective lens. With their parallel expertise of the law, hosts retired homicide detective Chris Anderson and criminal defense attorney Fatima Silva know that the justice system doesn’t always get it right. As cries of innocence reverberate through prison cells across the country, this series sets out to help families who are desperate for someone to listen to their evidence and theories, convinced that their loved ones were wrongfully convicted of murder. Each episode is an intense and thorough re-examination of a murder case, where the two pore over evidence, interview witnesses, and consult experts previously overlooked by police or barred by the courts to hopefully reveal the truth. Each episode culminates with the gut-wrenching reveal to the family that either brings hope for an appeal, or clarity to accept the guilty verdict.
Series Premiere: April 26, 2017.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“See No Evil” reveals how the deadliest crimes are solved by the only witnesses that never lie and never forget: surveillance cameras. With more shocking CCTV footage than ever before, “See No Evil” proves there’s nowhere killers can hide.
Series Premiere: February 17, 2015
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
When you are playing with fire, someone is bound to get burned. In the HLN series “Sex & Murder,” detectives undercover dirty secrets, scandalous sex affairs, online sex addictions, dangerous jealousy, and stunning twisted fantasies which have all led to murder.
Charm. Narcissism. Lack of empathy. Impulsiveness. Manipulation. Deception. These traits and others are the telltale “Signs of a Psychopath.” This harrowing archive series revisits some of the most dangerous killers in modern history, reviewing news footage—and the words of the killers themselves—to see which terrifying traits each killer exhibited.
Series Premiere: August 23, 2020.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Sins of the City” is a close-ended series that exposes the dark underbelly of a city you thought you knew, by highlighting the mysterious crimes that changed the community forever. Combining informative takeaways and chilling first-hand storytelling, “Sins of the City” focuses on one shocking murder and begins with the discovery of a body as investigators are called to the scene in each hour-long episode. Each episode concludes with a verdict and the impact the case had on the victim’s family, law enforcement, the city, and the people living there.
Oxygen’s ultimate guilty pleasure profiles the fascinating cases of every day, seemingly average moms, wives and girlfriends accused of murder. Did they really do it? And if so, why? Was it a cheating spouse, years of constant abuse or that dirty dish in the sink? “Snapped” attracts millions of fans, including a wide range of celebrities from Anderson Cooper to Kelly Ripa. There are also the spinoff series “Snapped: Killer Couples” and “Snapped: Notorious.”
Series Premiere: August 6, 2004.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Just because a case is closed doesn’t mean the truth has been revealed. Suicide or murder? Runaway or kidnapping? Accidental or premeditated? “Still a Mystery” re-examines cases where unanswered questions remain. Through original interviews with law enforcement, family members and private investigators, news footage and social media, “Still a Mystery” dissects the evidence and presents new theories in a quest to uncover the truth.
Series Premiere: May 27, 2019.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Suspicion is contagious. What starts as a tiny spark of doubt focused on one individual can metastasize and cast a shadow on everything you, your community, and ultimately law enforcement thought to be true. “Suspicious Minds” creates a visceral viewing experience where a murder mystery unfolds as a psychological thriller where suspicion and doubt cloud the perceptions of everyone involved.
Series Premiere: October 8, 2020.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Taking the Stand” tells the story of a crime from the unique lens of the accused as they take the witness stand. Hosted by Dan Abrams, each episode will cover everything from first-hand defendant testimony, juxtaposed with the contentious cross examination to the final verdict. There is a reason that taking the witness stand in your own defense is a gamble that very few criminal defendants ever take. In addition to interviews with key members of the investigation, the series features original video from law enforcement, surveillance camera footage, 911 audio recordings, digital forensic evidence and some exclusive interviews and responses from the defendants themselves, to provide an in-depth look at dozens of raw and real cases.
Series Premiere: January 13, 2022.
Available on A&E, A&E Crime Central, Hulu, Tubi, Sling TV and Philo. Individual episodes available for a price on YouTube.
The key to solving the toughest murders lies somewhere in the final 24 hours of a victim’s life. Determined investigators must piece together events to reconstruct the timeline, unlock the motive, and ultimately close in on the killer.
Series Premiere: June 4, 2020.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“Trafficked With Mariana van Zeller” is an original documentary series that explores the complex and dangerous inner-workings of the global underworld, black and informal markets. Each adventure follows Mariana on a mission to follow the chain of custody of trafficked goods, understand how to obtain the contraband, or see the 360-degree view of the trafficking world from the point of view of the smugglers, law enforcement and those caught in the crossfire.
Series Premiere: December 2, 2020.
Available on National Geographic Channel, Hulu, ABC. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
“True Conviction” explores how homicides are solved on the street and won in the courtroom. Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, a decorated Brooklyn homicide prosecutor, travels across the country to reveal how the nation’s top prosecutors tackled their toughest cases.
Series Premiere: January 1, 2018.
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
The most baffling cases. The most bizarre killers. What drives acts of evil? “Twisted Killers” tells the shocking stories of some of America’s darkest, most unusual murderers. Along the way, a trio of criminal experts, including former NYC DA Beth Karas, retired LAPD Homicide Detective Tracey Benjamin and Forensic Psychologist Kate Termini, provide insight and expertise on how these twisted killers were brought to justice.
Series Premiere: January 6, 2022.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
From a quiet town near the Smoky Mountains, to the sunny skies of St. Petersburg, Florida, stories in this season span the nation, and across multiple different family dynamics. It’s not always the sister who is the culprit of the crime, but sometimes the accomplice, victim, whistle-blower or unintended spy. Each episode of the Khloé Kardashian-produced series “Twisted Sisters” is shrouded in mystery, heartbreak and hidden emotions, proving that where there are family ties, there are also family lies.
Series Premiere: September 3, 2018
Available on Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, Hulu, YouTube TV, Philo and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
Each standalone episode takes viewers on a riveting ride that explores a jaw-dropping murder investigation in which detectives discover the killer is someone completely shocking and unexpected. The series takes a deep dive into homicide investigations through captivating interviews with potential suspects, in-depth examinations of the crime scene and re-enactments. “An Unexpected Killer” is produced by Our House Media with Simon Lloyd, Matt Hanna, Samantha De France, Tom Adams, and Carey Zeiser serving as executive producers.
Series Premiere: December 5, 2019.
Available on Oxygen, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV and FuboTV. Individual episodes available for a price on Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
HLN’s “Vengeance” franchise is about revenge, betrayal and murder. “Vengeance: Killer Lovers” premiered in March 2019 as the first series under the franchise, followed by “Vengeance: Killer Coworkers” in January 2020. “Vengeance: Killer Families” debuted in September 2021. “Vengeance: Killer Newlyweds” premiered in January 2022.
Hosted by actor and musician Donnie Wahlberg, “Very Scary People” details many of history’s scariest and most notorious characters, through captivating news footage and interviews with people close to the case.
This documentary series delves into the gripping real-life stories of the world’s most terrifying and sinister celebrities of the crime world. “World’s Most Evil Killers” gives viewers first-hand accounts as told by detectives involved with the case, journalists who reported on the stories, relatives and survivors. The series examines the triggers that drove the most evil to kill delving into their insatiable appetites for murder and their now chilling legacies. “World’s Most Evil Killers” is produced by Keshet International.
Carrie Underwood at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on November 13, 2019. (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
Carrie Underwood decided to end 2019 with a surprising announcement: After 12 consecutive years of being a host of the Country Music Association Awards (which is televised in the U.S. on ABC), she will no longer emcee the show. Underwood began her CMA Awards hosting stint in 2008, with Brad Paisley as her co-host. Paisley co-hosted the show with Underwood until 2018. In 2019, Underwood hosted the show with Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton.
On December 30, 2019, Underwood posted an Instagram message that read: “One of the highlights of 2019 and of my entire career was being on stage with the legends that are Reba and Dolly. I’m so proud that we could celebrate the incredible female artists that are part of the legacy of country music, past present and future, and I’m thankful for the huge audiences all over the world that tuned in to see it. It’s hard to believe that it was my 12th year hosting and I will always treasure every show, from the 11 that I was so lucky to do with my partner in crime and friend for life, Brad Paisley, to sharing the stage with two of my all-time heroes. I’m so incredibly grateful to everyone involved with the CMA Awards all these years. It’s hard to imagine topping what we have accomplished together, so I’ve decided that it’s time to pass the hosting torch (at least for now!) to others that will cherish it and honor it as much as I do. I’ve got so many exciting things coming in the new year and beyond, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all of us.”
The Country Music Association responded Twitter: “We love you, Carrie! You’ll always be family to us. Thanks for 12 amazing years hosting the #CMAawards. We look forward to working with you in 2020 and beyond to help spread Country Music to fans around the world!”
Underwood has won nine CMA Awards so far, including five for Female Vocalist of the Year. Although she won the CMA Chairman’s Award in 2016, she has yet to win the top CMA prize of Entertainer of the Year, which she has been nominated for twice so far: in 2016 and in 2019. In 2019, she was nominated for three CMA Awards but didn’t win any.
Underwood ‘s first book, “Find Your Path,” will be published by Dey Street Books on March 3, 2020.
Watching a New Year’s Eve special on TV is a tradition for millions of people around the world. Here’s what is planned for the four biggest New Year’s TV specials in the United States:
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020
Ryan Seacrest (Photo by Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC)
Celebrating its 48th year, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” (which is produced by Dick Clark Productions and airs in the U.S. on ABC) is still the most high-profile televised New Year’s Eve event. Post Malone, who performed on the show last year, is headlining the show this year from New York City’s Times Square. Ryan Seacrest will once again host the show, which begins airing from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, followed by 11:30 p.m. to 2:13 a.m. ET. Former “Pretty Little Liars” star Lucy Hale, who previously hosted the show’s Central Time Zone segments from New Orleans, replaces Jenny McCarthy to provide on-site reporting in Times Square. McCarthy quit the show because she said she wants to celebrate New Year’s Eve with her family. Other performers in Times Square this year include BTS, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morrissette.
Additionally, country artist Jessie James Decker will reveal the first Powerball millionaire of the year during this year’s live broadcast. She will provide live updates from the First Powerball Millionaire of the Year party throughout ABC’s live telecast and the big reveal announcing the winner will air just after midnight on January 1, 2020.
Ciara will once again host the Los Angeles segments of the show that will feature performances that were mostly previously recorded. Artists in the show’s Los Angeles segments will include Paula Abdul, Kelsea Ballerini, Blanco Brown, Dan + Shay, Green Day, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Megan Thee Stallion, Anthony Ramos, Salt-N-Pepa and SHAED.
Meanwhile, Billy Porter will host the show’s third annual Central Time Zone celebration from New Orleans, where Sheryl Crow and Usher will perform. The show has added a segment from Miami, where Jonas Brothers will perform.
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” is produced by Dick Clark Productions with Ryan Seacrest, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco serving as executive producers. Larry Klein is producer.
Fox’s New Year’s Eve With Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square
Steve Harvey (Photo courtesy of Fox)
After televising its New Year’s Eve show (hosted by Pitbull) in Miami from 2014 to 2016, Fox changed locations and hosts in 2017, with the show now taking place at New York City’s Times Square with comedian/talk-show host Steve Harvey and former E! News personality Maria Menounous. This year, three-time Super Bowl Champion and Fox Sports NFL analyst Rob Gronkowski joins Harvey and Menounous to co-host the show, which airs on Fox from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET live; CT/MT/PT tape-delayed. Performers will include headliner LL Cool J with DJ Z-Trip, The Chainsmokers, The Lumineers, Florida Georgia Line, the Backstreet Boys, Lauren Alaina, Tyga and The Killers. Select musical performances will be broadcast in collaboration with iHeartRadio. Additionally, the special will include celebrity cameo appearances by Gordon Ramsay, Will Arnett and Jenna Dewan, plus an exclusive WWE match featuring Roman Reigns. “Fox’s New Year’s Eve With Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square” is produced by Endeavor Content’s Film 45 and Done + Dusted. Guy Carrington, Katy Mullan, Michael Antinoro and David Chamberlin serve as executive producers.
NBC’s New Year’s Eve
(Photo courtesy of NBCUniversal)
Stars from NBC’s “The Voice” are all over “NBC’s New Year’s Eve” special, which begins airing at 10 p.m. ET from New York City’s Times Square. Not only is “The Voice” host Carson Daly hosting the New Year’s Eve show (with Julianne Hough and correspondent Stephen “tWitch” Boss), but “The Voice” coaches Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are also performing on the special. Other performers include Hough, X Ambassadors, Brett Eldredge, Ne-Yo, Leslie Odom Jr. and The Struts. Keith Urban will once again perform at Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville, taking place near the Tennessee State Capitol at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. “NBC Nightly News” and “Dateline NBC” anchor Lester Holt will also appear on stage before the iconic ball drop. “NBC’s New Year’s Eve” will be televised from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, followed by the New Year’s countdown segment 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET. “NBC’s New Year’s Eve” is executive produced by Daly and John Irwin through NBCUniversal Television Studio and Irwin Entertainment. It is co-executive produced by Casey Spira and directed by Alan Carter.
Before “NBC’s New Year’s Eve,” the network will air the special “A Toast to 2019!” from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, the special will highlight the year’s biggest pop culture moments and trends. Celebrities interviewed for the show include Lauren Ash, Kristen Bell, Andrea Canning, Chris D’Elia, Dylan Dreyer, Ryan Eggold, Ben Feldman, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Willie Geist, Brad Goreski, Tony Hale, NBC’s Holt, Matt Iseman, Sheinelle Jones, Carson Kressley, Loni Love, Howie Mandel, Josh Mankiewicz, Craig Melvin, Natalie Morales, Brent Morin, Keith Morrison, Dennis Murphy, Patton Oswalt, Al Roker, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Ashley Tisdale, Johnny Weir and many more.
New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (Photo courtesy of CNN)
For the third year in a row, longtime friends Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will co-host CNN’s New Year’s Eve celebration, which begins at 8 p.m. ET. CNN’s 12th annual New Year’s Eve Show, which is telecast live from New York City’s Times Square. Performers on New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will include Christina Aguilera, Lenny Kravitz, Shania Twain, Patti LaBelle, Keith Urban, 50 Cent, The Chainsmokers, and comedian/actress Dulcé Sloan. The show will also feature CNN’s Stephanie Elam, Randi Kaye, Richard Quest, Bill Weir and Gary Tuchman with daughter Lindsay at locations across America, including the Brady Bunch House and Key West. Then at 12:30am ET, CNN’s Brooke Baldwin and Don Lemon will do a New Year’s countdown from the Central Time Zone, live from Nashville for the Music City Midnight Celebration. In previous years, CNN’s Central Time Zone countdown took place in New Orleans.
In 2017, Cohen replaced Kathy Griffin, who was notoriously fired from the show in May of that year for publicly posting a photo of herself holding up a fake bloody head of President Donald Trump. Griffin and Cooper had co-hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve Show since 2007, but the Cooper/Cohen duo brought in the show’s highest ratings so far. Cooper and Cohen have an established rapport, since they have done numerous speaking engagements together. The CNN live stream will be available on CNN.com and across mobile devices via CNN’s apps for iOS and Android. It can also be viewed on CNNgo. Leading up to “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” will be the CNN one-hour special “All the Best, All the Worst 2019,” beginning at 7 p.m. ET and hosted by Tom Foreman, covering the highlights and lowlights of the past year.
Post Malone (Photo courtesy of ABC/Image Group LA)
The following is a press release from Dick Clark Productions and ABC:
Dick Clark Productions and ABC today announced that multi-platinum selling artist Post Malone will join America’s most watched New Year’s Eve special, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020,” with a headlining performance live from New York City’s Times Square, just minutes before the ball drops. Making his Times Square debut, Post Malone will be joined by additional performers BTS, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morissette, performing for the first time with the cast of the hit Broadway musical “Jagged Little Pill” for America’s biggest celebration of the year. Additionally, as part of the broadcast, presenting sponsor YouTube will take a look back at the biggest trends on YouTube from the past decade plus make a surprise announcement. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” will broadcast LIVE on Tuesday, December 31, beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST, on the ABC Television Network.
“We are so lucky to have Post Malone performing for the world right before the iconic ball drop,” said Mark Bracco, executive producer and executive vice president, programming and development, Dick Clark Productions. “Add to that superstars like BTS, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morrissette and it promises to be a memorable New Year’s Eve in Times Square.”
“Ringing in the New Year with this unbelievable roster of talent is sure to be a magical event,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, alternative series, specials and late night, ABC Entertainment. “We couldn’t be more excited to honor and share this iconic celebration with the world.”
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” marks the 48th anniversary of America’s biggest celebration of the year and will include 5 ½ hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe. Ryan Seacrest will lead the traditional countdown to midnight from Times Square in New York City, with live onsite reporting from award-winning actress and co-host Lucy Hale. Multi-platinum artist Ciara will once again ring in the New Year from the West Coast as host of the Hollywood Party, while award-winning Broadway actor Billy Porter will host the fourth annual Central Time Zone celebration, live from New Orleans.Additionally, country artist Jessie James Decker will reveal the first-ever First Powerball Millionaire of the Year during this year’s live broadcast of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020.” Decker will provide live updates from the First Powerball Millionaire of the Year party throughout ABC’s live telecast and the big reveal announcing the winner will air just after midnight on January 1, 2020.
A diamond-certified Grammy Award-nominated phenomenon, Dallas, TX artist Post Malone regularly rewrites history, blurs boundaries, and incites internet-breaking conversation with every move. Emerging in 2015 with a genre-less brew that inspired a movement, he delivered the diamond-selling “Congratulations” [feat. Quavo], achieved back-to-back #1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, received countless multi-Platinum certifications around the world, and smashed one record after another with his Hot 100-topping hits. His 2019 third full-length, Hollywood’s Bleeding [Republic Records], represented an audience and critical high watermark. Not only did it arrive at Platinum status, but it also reigned at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 for four weeks and returned to the chart for a fifth week, making for the longest run atop the chart of 2019 and the first release to do so in over a year. It followed the immense success of the triple-Platinum beerbongs & Bentleys, which also landed at #1 a year prior. In the wake of beerbongs & bentleys, Post crushed a record in place for 54 years. He charted nine songs in the Top 20 of the Hot 100, notching “the most songs in the Top 20 of the Hot 100 ever.” Moreover, he also trounced the record for most simultaneous Top 40 Hot 100 hits with 14. As of 2019, his catalog comprises the GRAMMY® Award-nominated “rockstar” [feat. 21 Savage” (8x-platinum), “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)” [feat. Swae Lee] (8x-platinum), “I Fall Apart” (5x-platinum), “Psycho” [feat. Ty Dolla $ign] (5x-platinum), “White Iverson” (5x-platinum), “Better Now” (4x-platinum), and more. Not to mention, he sold out numerous arena tours and launched his own mega-popular Posty Fest in its second successful year in 2019. It all started with his triple-platinum influential 2016 debut, Stoney. With records under his belt that will likely never be surpassed and a generation of artists and audiences worldwide under his spell, Post Malone simply doesn’t stop.
Additional “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” Performers:
Los Angeles: Host Ciara, as well as Paula Abdul, Kelsea Ballerini, Blanco Brown, Dan + Shay, Green Day, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Megan Thee Stallion, Anthony Ramos, Salt-N-Pepa and SHAED.
New Orleans: Host Billy Porter, as well as Sheryl Crow and Usher
Miami: Jonas Brothers
YouTube is the presenting sponsor of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020.”
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020” is produced by Dick Clark Productions with Ryan Seacrest, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco serving as executive producers. Larry Klein is producer.
The complete lineup airing Tuesday, December 31 on ABC is:
8:00-10:00 p.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 – Part 1”
10:00-11:00 p.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 – Part 2”
11:30 p.m.-1:09 a.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 – Part 1”
1:09-2:13 a.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020 – Part 2”
About Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions (DCP) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes “So You Think You Can Dance” from 19 Entertainment and DCP. DCP also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with over 60 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. DCP is a division of Valence Media, a diversified and integrated media company with divisions and strategic investments in television, film, live entertainment, digital media and publishing. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.
About ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment airs compelling programming across all day parts, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” the longest-running medical drama in prime-time television; riveting dramas “The Good Doctor,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “A Million Little Things” and “Station 19”; the Emmy® Award-winning “Modern Family” and trailblazing comedy favorites “American Housewife,” “black-ish,” “Bless This Mess,” “The Conners,” “The Goldbergs,” and “Schooled”; the popular “Summer Fun & Games” programming block, including “Card Sharks,” “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Holey Moley” and “Press Your Luck”; star-making sensation “American Idol”; reality phenomenon “Shark Tank”; “The Bachelor” franchise; long-running hits “Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos”; “General Hospital,” which has aired for more than 55 years on the network; and late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”; as well as the critically acclaimed hit special ”Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s ‘All in the Family’ and ‘The Jeffersons.’” The network also boasts some of television’s most prestigious awards shows, including “The Oscars®,” “The CMA Awards” and the “American Music Awards.” ABC programming can also be viewed on ABC.com, the ABC app and Hulu.
About YouTube
Launched in May 2005, YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share and build community through our stories. YouTube is a Google company.
