Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Drama Series

Winner - (TIE) The Sopranos and The West Wing

Runners Up - L.A. Law, Mad Men, Lost, Hill Street Blues

Commentary - Right as the world was about to enter the new millenium, television dramas took a turn for the better. All of the sudden, the new kids on the block were not procedural cop dramas or weepy family dramas with no bite. Instead, two shows emerged that would set a new course for television dramas and television history. The two stories, one about a mob family whose ties and secrets, and livelihood were all complicated, and one about an idealistic president and the talented people who help run his White House, were essential Americana. The Sopranos was so gritty, deep, and altering, it was unlike anything we had ever seen on television. The West Wing was political nirvana, fast-paced, and groundbreaking. They still remain the two best dramas to ever grace the small screen. And today's plethora of cinematic dramas all owe a little bit to the success and power for these two magnificent television programs.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Comedy Series

Winner - I Love Lucy

Runners Up - Seinfeld, Friends, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family, Cheers

Commentary - In my mind, I kept bouncing back and forth between Friends and Seinfeld, Seinfeld and Friends. But in the end the choice was a lot easier than I though. Neither Seinfeld nor Friends, nor Mary Tyler Moore nor Cheers, nor Modern Family nor 30 Rock would be here today if it weren't for the initial and continued success of the original television classic I Love Lucy. It showed that women could be a force to reckon with in comedy, it still makes new generations laugh out loud, and it paved the way for so many other sitcoms. It also created some of the most memorable characters in pop culture history from Fred and Ethel to Lucy and Ricky. I Love Lucy is quite simply, the best.

The 67th Annual Tony Award Nominations

Here are this year's nominees! There are of course some surprises, and some snubs, but we'll have plenty of time to dissect all of that and figure out who is going to win before the ceremony on June 9th. For more information check out www.tonyawards.com

Best Play

The Assembled Parties

Lucky Guy

The Testament of Mary

Vania and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Best Musical

Bring it On: The Musical

A Christmas Story: The Musical

Kinky Boots

Matilda: The Musical

Best Revival of a Play

Golden Boy

Orphans

The Trip to Bountiful

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Revival of a Musical

Annie

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Pippin

Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella

Best Book of a Musical

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Joseph Robinette

Kinky Boots

Harvey Fierstein

Matilda The Musical

Dennis Kelly

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Douglas Carter Beane

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Music and Lyrics: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Hands on a Hardbody

Music: Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green
Lyrics: Amanda Green

Kinky Boots

Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper

Matilda The Musical

Music & Lyrics: Tim Minchin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Tom Hanks "Lucky Guy"
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Tracy Letts, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tom Sturridge, Orphans

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Laurie Metcalf "The Other Place"
Amy Morton "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Kristine Nielson "Vonya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"
Holland Taylor "Ann"
Cicely Tyson "The Trip to Bountiful"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Bertie Carvel, Matilda The Musical
Santino Fontana, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Rob McClure, Chaplin
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Stark Sands, Kinky Boots

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello, Scandalous
Valisia LeKae, Motown The Musical
Patina Miller, Pippin
Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Danny Burstein, Golden Boy
Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Billy Magnussen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy
Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Carrie Coon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Judith Ivey, The Heiress
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Charl Brown, Motown The Musical
Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody
Will Chase, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Musical
Terrence Mann, Pippin

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots
Victoria Clark, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Lauren Ward, Matilda The Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty, The Nance
Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties
David Rockwell, Lucky Guy
Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Scott Pask, Pippin
David Rockwell, Kinky Boots

Best Costume Design of a Play

Soutra Gilmour, Cyrano de Bergerac
Ann Roth, The Nance
Albert Wolsky, The Heiress
Catherine Zuber, Golden Boy

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Kinky Boots
Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Dominique Lemieux, Pippin
William Ivey Long, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy
Donald Holder, Golden Boy
Jennifer Tipton, The Testament of Mary
Japhy Weideman, The Nance

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Kenneth Posner, Kinky Boots
Kenneth Posner, Pippin
Kenneth Posner, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Hugh Vanstone, Matilda The Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play

John Gromada, The Trip to Bountiful
Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary
Leon Rothenberg, The Nance
Peter John Still and Marc Salzberg, Golden Boy

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Jonathan Deans & Garth Helm, Pippin
Peter Hylenski, Motown The Musical
John Shivers, Kinky Boots
Nevin Steinberg, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Direction of a Play

Pam MacKinnon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nicholas Martin, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Bartlett Sher, Golden Boy
George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy

Best Direction of a Musical

Scott Ellis, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Diane Paulus, Pippin
Matthew Warchus, Matilda The Musical

Best Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Peter Darling, Matilda The Musical
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Chet Walker, Pippin

Best Orchestrations

Chris Nightingale, Matilda The Musical
Stephen Oremus, Kinky Boots
Ethan Popp & Bryan Crook, Motown The Musical

Danny Troob, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

Bernard Gersten

Paul Libin

Ming Cho Lee

Regional Theatre Award

Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, MA

Isabelle Stevenson Award

Larry Kramer

Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre

Career Transition For Dancers

William Craver

Peter Lawrence

The Lost Colony

The four  actresses who created the title role of Matilda The Musical on Broadway - Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro 

Tony Nominations by Production

Kinky Boots - 13

Matilda The Musical - 12

Pippin - 10

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella - 9

Golden Boy - 8

Lucky Guy - 6

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - 6

The Mystery of Edwin Drood - 5

The Nance - 5

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - 5

Motown The Musical - 4

The Trip to Bountiful - 4

The Assembled Parties - 3

A Christmas Story, The Musical - 3

Hands on a Hardbody - 3

The Testament of Mary - 3

Bring It On: The Musical - 2

The Heiress - 2

Orphans - 2

Ann - 1

Annie - 1

The Big Knife - 1

Chaplin - 1

Cyrano de Bergerac - 1

The Other Place - 1

Scandalous - 1

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions - Final List

There have been some changes, particularly in Best Actress in a Musical, where it was determined a few days ago, that the four Matildas were not eligible.

Best Musical
A Christmas Story
Kinky Boots
Matlida
Motown: The Musical

Best Play
The Assembled Parties
Lucky Guy
The Nance
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Best Revival of a Musical
Annie
Cinderella
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Pippin

Best Revival of a Play
Golden Boy
Orphans
The Trip to Bountiful
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Actor in a Musical
Bertie Carvel "Matilda"
Brandon Victor Dixon "Motown"
Billy Porter "Kinky Boots"
Stark Sands "Kinky Boots"
Anthony Warlow "Annie"

Best Actress in a Musical
Stephanie J. Block "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"
Lilla Crawford "Annie"
Valisia LaKae "Motown: The Musical"
Patina Miller "Pippin"
Laura Osnes "Cinderella"

Best Actor in a Play
Alan Cumming "Macbeth"
Tom Hanks "Lucky Guy"
Nathan Lane "The Nance"
Tracy Letts "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
David Hyde Pierce "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"

Best Actress in a Play
Laurie Metacalf "The Other Place"
Bette Midler "I'll Eat You Last"
Holland Taylor "Ann"
Cicely Tyson "The Trip to Bountiful"
Sigourney Weaver "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Variety Series

Winner - (TIE) The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson; Saturday Night Live

Commentary - The Tonight Show is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, late night talk show in the history of television. Johnny Carson to this day remains an undeniable legend, and everyone who has dared to follow him on that big stage has never lived up to his greatness (good luck Jimmy Fallon). Saturday Night Live was definitely not the first sketch comedy show, and I'm sure it will not be the last. But for 38 seasons, SNL has defined late night comedy. It has launched the careers of some of today's most successful comedians. And although it is going through a bit of a dry spell, it is still one of the funniest things to watch and still remains a pop culture icon.

2013 Drama Desk Award Nominations

These nominees could reflect tomorrow's Tony nominees, although they also include some Off-Broadway nominees.

Outstanding Play
Annie Baker, The Flick
Christopher Durang, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Joe Gilford, Finks
Richard Greenberg, The Assembled Parties
Amy Herzog, Belleville
Deanna Jent, Falling
Richard Nelson, Sorry

Outstanding Musical
A Christmas Story: The Musical
Giant
Hands on a Hardbody
Here Lies Love
Matilda
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Golden Boy
Good Person of Szechwan
The Piano Lesson
The Trip to Bountiful
Uncle Vanya

Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue
Passion
Pippin
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
The Golden Land
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Working: A Musical

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Reed Birney, Uncle Vanya
Daniel Everidge, Falling
Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Shuler Hensley, The Whale
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Tracy Letts, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia, Belleville
Amy Morton, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Julia Murney, Falling
Vanessa Redgrave, The Revisionist
Miriam Silverman, Finks
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Eric Anderson, Soul Doctor
Brian d'Arcy James, Giant
Jim Norton, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen
Ryan Silverman, Passion
Anthony Warlow, Annie

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin, Giant
Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello, Scandalous
Lindsay Mendez, Dogfight
Donna Murphy, Into the Woods
Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Jenny Powers, Donnybrook!

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Chuck Cooper, The Piano Lesson
Peter Friedman, The Great God Pan
Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Aaron Clifton Moten, The Flick
Brían F. O'Byrne, If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Tasha Lawrence, The Whale
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Kellie Overbey, Sleeping Rough
Maryann Plunkett, Sorry
Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful
Laila Robins, Sorry

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Stephen Bogardus, Passion
John Bolton, A Christmas Story: The Musical
Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody
Bertie Carvel, Matilda
John Dossett, Giant
Andy Karl, The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots
Melissa Errico, Passion
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Jessie Mueller, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Christiane Noll, Chaplin: The Musical
Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Kate Wetherhead, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Director of a Play
Lear Debessonet, Good Person of Szechwan
Sam Gold, Uncle Vanya
Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, Restoration Comedy
Pam MacKinnon, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Lynne Meadow, The Assembled Parties
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
John Doyle, Passion
Diane Paulus, Pippin
Emma Rice, The Wild Bride
Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love
Matthew Warchus, Matilda

Outstanding Choreography
Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Warren Carlyle, A Christmas Story: The Musical
Peter Darling, Matilda
Josh Rhodes, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Sergio Trujillo, Hands on a Hardbody
Chet Walker and Gypsy Snider, Pippin

Outstanding Music
Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, Hands on a Hardbody
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love
Michael John LaChiusa, Giant
Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, A Christmas Story: The Musical
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Lyrics
Amanda Green, Hands on a Hardbody
Amanda Green and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bring It On: The Musical
Michael John LaChiusa, Giant
Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Tim Minchin, Matilda
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Book of a Musical
Dennis Kelly, Matilda
Sybille Pearson, Giant
Joseph Robinette, A Christmas Story: The Musical
David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen
Jeff Whitty, Bring It On: The Musical
Doug Wright, Hands on a Hardbody

Outstanding Orchestrations
Trey Anastasio and Don Hart, Hands on a Hardbody
Larry Blank, A Christmas Story: The Musical
Bruce Coughlin, Giant
Larry Hochman, Chaplin: The Musical
Steve Margoshes, Soul Doctor
Danny Troob, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

Outstanding Music in a Play
César Alvarez with The Lisps, Good Person of Szechwan
Jiří Kadeřábek, Mahir Cetiz, and Ana Milosavljevic, Act Before You Speak: The Tragical History of
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Glen Kelly, The Nance
Eugene Ma, The Man Who Laughs
Steve Martin, As You Like It
Jane Wang, Strange Tales of Liaozhai

Outstanding Revue
Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking!
Old Hats
Old Jews Telling Jokes

Outstanding Set Design
Rob Howell, Matilda
Mimi Lien, The Whale
Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties
Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy
David Zinn, The Flick

Outstanding Costume Design
Amy Clark and Martin Pakledinaz, Chaplin: The Musical
Dominique Lemieux, Pippin
William Ivey Long, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
Chris March, Chris March's The Butt-Cracker Suite! A Trailer Park Ballet
Loren Shaw, Restoration Comedy
Paloma Young, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Lighting Design
Ken Billington, Chaplin: The Musical
Jane Cox, Passion
Kenneth Posner, Pippin
Justin Townsend, Here Lies Love
Daniel Winters, The Man Who Laughs
Scott Zielinski, A Civil War Christmas

Outstanding Projection Design
Jon Driscoll, Chaplin: The Musical
Wendall K. Harrington, Old Hats
Peter Nigrini, Here Lies Love
Darrel Maloney, Checkers
Pedro Pires, Cirque du Soleil: Totem
Aaron Rhyne, Wild With Happy

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Hands on a Hardbody
Scott Lehrer and Drew Levy, Chaplin: The Musical
Tony Meola, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Brian Ronan, Bring It On: The Musical
Brian Ronan, Giant
Dan Moses Schreier, Passion

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Ien DeNio, The Pilo Family Circus
Steve Fontaine, Last Man Club
Christian Frederickson, Through the Yellow Hour
Lindsay Jones, Wild With Happy
Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary
Fergus O'Hare, Macbeth

Outstanding Solo Performance
Joel de la Fuente, Hold These Truths
Kathryn Hunter, Kafka's Monkey
Bette Midler, I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers
Julian Sands, A Celebration of Harold Pinter
Holland Taylor, Ann
Michael Urie, Buyer & Cellar

Unique Theatrical Experience
Bello Mania
Chris March's The Butt-Cracker Suite! A Trailer Park Ballet
Cirque Du Soleil: Totem
That Play: A Solo Macbeth
The Fazzino Ride
The Man Who Laughs

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Reality Series

Winner - The Amazing Race

Runners Up -  Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

Commentary - I am so tired of The Amazing Race winning the Reality-Competition category I could just puke. But while I think that there constant Emmy awards passed obsessive about four years ago, I can understand why it remains so popular to Emmy voters, and to its loyal fans. It is grand in scope, it can be thrilling and heartbreaking and nailbiting all at the same time, and it never lets up. It is also one of the most emotionally gratifying of any of the reality competition programs, and it doesn't look it is slowing down anytime soon.

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions: Winners - Best Musical

Nomination Predictions
A Christmas Story
Kinky Boots
Matlida
Motown

Other Contenders - Hands on a Hardbody, Bring It On, Scandalous, Chaplin

Commentary- Despite being shut out of the Best Actress race (which will be reflected in tommorrow's final prediction list), Matilda still remains the one to beat in this year's race for Best Musical. Right on its heels (pun sort of intended) is Kinky Boots, which will probably at least take Best Actor. The last two slots are a little more fluid. Motown got mixed reviews, but is probably still popular enough to make the cut. And while A Christmas Story closed last year, I still think there is enough good will for the last slot. But it needs to watch out for Bring It On and Hands on a Hardbody, both of which could slip in.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Made for Television Movie

Winner - The Gathering Storm

Runners Up - Special Bulletin, Friendly Fire, Wit

Commentary - I'm sure that depending on which generation you belong to, you may prefer some of the classic TV Movies like Special Bulletin and Friendly Fire. But I was a 12 years old when The Gathering Storm premeired, and it had a profound effect one me, and still does. I am a huge history buff (I even have a degree in it), and have always been fascinated by Winston Churchill. The handling of the subject matter by the writers and director is fantastic. But what really makes this film so special are the incredible performances. Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave in particular were simply magnificent, bringing a cinematic quality to the project, and giving us impeccable portrayals of incredible historic figures.

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions: Best Play

Nomination Predictions
The Assembled Parties
Lucky Guy
The Nance
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Other Contenders - The Other Place, I'll Eat You Last, Grace, Ann, Dead Accounts, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Testament of Mary

Commentary - Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is probably the frontrunner for the prize with rave reviews, a stellar cast, and a lot of buzz. But watch out for the late Nora Ephron's The Lucky Guy. Despite its middle of the road reviews, it is a blockbuster so far, features the beloved Tom Hanks in his Broadway debut, and will have a sentimental factor going in its favor. The last two slots seem pretty safe for both The Nance and The Assembled Parties. Both are well-liked plays with enough success to merit a nod, and both are just joining the Broadway stage and therefore are on the forefront of voters' minds. Of the other contenders, Ann and I'll Eat You Last feature great lead performances, but that might be their consolation prize, and The Other Place has already closed, out of sight, out of mind. Although if it slips in the fourth slot come Tuesday morning, it would not surprise me at all.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Miniseries

Winner - (TIE) Roots; Angels in America

Runners Up -  Holocaust, Band of Brothers, Downton Abbey

Commentary - The two crowning achievements of television minseries occured decade apart, and tackled very different subjects. Yet somehow I see a link between the two productions. Not only are both cinematic in quality, epic in scale, and beautifully acted, written, and directed, but I think what makes them so powerful, and so memorable is how they both tackle subjects that, while at times painful to watch, discuss parts of our American past that need to be discussed. Slavery and the AIDS epidemic are dark parts of our history, but they also show the resilience of the American people, the history that we need to learn, and do so while captivating and affecting us deeply. Both are truly worthy of all honors they received over the years, and both are simply incredible.

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions - Best Revival of a Musical

Nomination Predictions
Annie
Cinderella
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Pippin

Other Contenders - Jekyll and Hyde

Commentary - This one is not hard to figure out. There are five major contenders for four spots, and Jekyll and Hyde is clearly the lesser of the five. Now stranger things have happened, but I honestly don't see it making it in, leaving Pippin, Annie, Cinderella, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood as the nominees.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Actor in a Drama Series

Winner - James Gandolfini "The Sopranos"

Runners Up - Ed Asner "Lou Grant", Dennis Franz "NYPD Blue", Bryan Cranston "Breaking Bad"

Commentary - How could I give the win to Carmelo, without also giving it to Tony as well? There have been so many great male lead performances in television dramas, but James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano rises about them all to simply be the best. Gandolfini didn't just play another Brando-esque mob guy, one-note all the way. Instead, he built us an entire character, and an entire world that was The Sopranos. For six seasons, he and Falco (as well as the rest of the amazing cast), entertained us, scared the hell out of us, and kept us wanting more. For the record, if Martin Sheen had ever won for The West Wing (a shameful mark for Emmy voters) this would have been a tie.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Actress in a Drama Series

Winner - Edie Falco "The Sopranos"

Runners Up - Sharon Gless "Cagney & Lacey", Tyne Daly "Cagney & Lacey", Michael Learned "The Waltons", Julianna Margulies "The Good Wife"

Commentary - Edie Falco only won two Emmy awards for her role as Carmela Soprano, but in my opinion, she should have won about five. She has built on her success with the series Nurse Jackie, but the role that made her one of the most iconic characters and actresses in television history was Carmelo. She displayed such a ferocity, such determination and energy in this role, yet also had a hint of vulnerability. Simply put, Edie Falco was impeccable and brilliant, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

  

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions - Best Revival of a Play

Nomination Predictions
Golden Boy
Orphans
The Trip to Bountiful
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Other Contenders - Glengarry Glen Ross, An Enemy of the People, Harvey, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Big Knife, The Heiress, Cyrano de Bergerac, Macbeth, Picnic

Commentary - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is the clear frontrunner, but The Trip to Bountiful and Golden Boy will both put up a fight in this race. There are so many classic revivals this year, that it is hard to narrow down which one will grab the fourth slot. Macbeth could inspire the Shakespearian attuitudes of all Broadway stars, Glengarry Glen Ross is a great adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize winning play, and Harvey stars the always likeable Jim Parsons. But my guess is that in the end, the adaption of Orphans will get the final ticket to the big stage.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner - Carroll O'Connor "All in the Family"

Runners Up - Michael J. Fox "Family Ties", Alan Alda "M*A*S*H", Ted Danson "Cheers", Dick Van Dyke "The Dick Van Dyke"

Commentary - Archie Bunker was racist, xenophobic grouch, and that was exactly the point. His over the top hilarity and ridiculousness painted an incredible portrait of just how ignorant and ridiculous racism really was. In some ways it was a groundbreaking show. A lot of people didn't really understand its subtleties, but decades later we can appreciate the kind of character the great Carroll O'Connor was trying to portray. He tried, and he not only succeeded, but exceeded all expectations.

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions - Best Actor in a Musical

Nomination Predictions
Bertie Carvel "Matilda"
Brandon Victor Dixon "Motown: The Musical"
Billy Porter "Kinky Boots"
Stark Sands "Kinky Boots"
Anthony Warlow "Annie"

Other Contenders - Jim Norton "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", Rob McClure "Chaplin", Santino Fontana "Cinderella", Matthew James Thomas "Pippin", Johnny Rabe "A Christmas Story", Constantine Maroulis "Jekyll and Hyde", Keith Carradine "Hands on a Hard Body", Hunter Foster "Hands on a Hard Body", John Bolton "A Christmas Story"

Commentary - There are three guys that are battling it out for the top prize. The frontrunner, and at this point, the winner apparent is Billy Porter for his role in Kinky Boots. He may not have any previous Tony History, but his performance is clearly the favorite of the bunch. The other two to really watch out for, in terms of actually winning, are Brandon Victor Dixon for his role in Motown: The Musical, and Anthony Warlow for Annie. Dixon was nominated for The Color Purple, and despite Motown's mixed reviews, I think there is enough good will for him to make the cut again. Anthony Warlow is making his Broadway debut in Annie, but I think the revival is popular enough to get nomiantions across the board. I am currently predicting Bertie Carvel for Matilda, and if he gets nominated, he could also be a dark horse contender. But there is a lot of competition, and he could be left off the list. My final slot is going to Billy Porter's co-star Stark Sands. If the show has enough good will and coattails, then Sands is in. But if in the end it is all about Porter, then someone like previous nominee Jim Norton, or potential first time nominees Rob McClure and Matthew James could be in instead.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Winner - Lucille Ball "I Love Lucy"

Runners Up - Bea Arthur, Rue McClanaghan, and Betty White "The Golden Girls, Jennifer Aniston "Friends", Mary Tyler Moore "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

Commentary - Lucille Ball still remains one of the funniest women in television today, even though she died 24 years ago as of Friday. We are still constantly inundated with reruns of I Love Lucy, and each year that passes a new generation discovers just how incredible she was. Lucy was the original sitcom star and she broke barriers for women in television. Her humor and personality were loud and audacious, a far cry from some of the "perfect wife" images that were predominant on television at that time. Most importantly, she was a trailblazer for all of comedy's greatest women to this very day. Look at women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, and you can accredit their good fortune to the path that all started with Lucy. We all still love Lucy, and she truly was one of a kind.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Actor in a Made for Television Movie or Miniseries

Winner - Al Pacino "Angels in America"

Runners Up - Louis Gossett Jr "Roots", Albert Finney "The Gathering Storm", Mickey Rooney "Bill"

Commentary - This one was a pretty easy choice. Al Pacino is one of the greatest actors of all time. He has tackled some of toughest roles on stage, and in television and movies. One of his greatest roles, and one of his most emotional effective roles was that of Roy Cohn. The struggles of his character, from hiding his homosexuality, to the brutal struggle with AIDS, all the while still denying who he is. Pacino's take on this conflicted character brings out both love and hate from its viewers, and gives the character such weight and passion that it is hard to ignore the enormity of this incredible performance.

The 79th Annual Drama League Award Nominees

Includes Broadway and off-Broadway, and therefore there are a lot of nominees. The winners will be announced on May 17th.

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
"The Assembled Parties"
"I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers"
"Lucky Guy"
"The Nance"
"Old Hats"
"The Testament of Mary"
"Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"
"The Whale"

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
"Dogfight
"Here Lies Love"
"Kinky Boots"
"Matilda The Musical"
"Motown: The Musical"
"Murder Ballad"
"Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812"

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
"As You Like It"
"Golden Boy"
"Macbeth"
"The Piano Lesson"
"The Trip to Bountiful"
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
"Annie"
"Marry Me a Little"
"The Mystery of Edwin Drood"
"Passion"
"Pippin"
"Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella"

DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD
(One winner is selected, and the recipient can only receive the award once during his or her career.)

Alec Baldwin, "Orphans"
Danny Burstein, "Talley's Folly"
Bobby Cannavale, "The Big Knife" and "Glengarry Glen Ross"
Bertie Carvel, "Matilda The Musical"
Tracee Chimo, "Bad Jews"
Lilla Crawford, "Annie"
Alan Cumming, "Macbeth"
Brandon J. Dirden, "The Piano Lesson"
Brandon Victor Dixon, "Motown: The Musical"
Jesse Eisenberg, "The Revisionist"
Edie Falco, "The Madrid"
America Ferrera, "Bethany"
Jake Gyllenhaal, "If There is I Haven't Found It Yet"
Tom Hanks, "Lucky Guy"
Jessica Hecht, "The Assembled Parties" and "Harvey"
Shuler Hensley, "The Whale"
Bill Irwin, "Old Hats"
Judith Ivey, "The Heiress"
Brian d'Arcy James, "Giant"
Scarlett Johansson, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
Judy Kuhn, "Passion"
Nathan Lane, "The Nance"
Valisia LeKae, "Motown: The Musical"
Tracy Letts, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Judith Light, "The Assembled Parties"
Constantine Maroulis, "Jekyll and Hyde"
Andrea Martin, "Pippin"
Rob McClure, "Chaplin"
Lindsay Mendez, "Dogfight"
Laurie Metcalf, "The Other Place"
Bette Midler, "I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers"
Patina Miller, "Pippin"
Amy Morton, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Donna Murphy, "Into the Woods"
Kristine Nielsen, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"
Jim Norton, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"
Seth Numrich, "Golden Boy"
Laura Osnes, "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella"
Tina Packer, "Women of Will"
David Hyde Pierce, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"
Billy Porter, "Kinky Boots"
Lily Rabe, "As You Like It"
Vanessa Redgrave, "The Revisionist"
Chita Rivera, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"
Paul Rudd, "Grace"
Roslyn Ruff, "The Piano Lesson"
Stark Sands, "Kinky Boots"
Tony Shalhoub, "Golden Boy"
Michael Shannon, "Grace"
Fiona Shaw, "The Testament of Mary"
Ryan Silverman, "Passion"
Phillipa Soo, "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812"
Tom Sturridge, "Orphans"
Holland Taylor, "Ann"
Cicely Tyson, "The Trip to Bountiful"
Michael Urie, "Buyer & Cellar"
Courtney B. Vance, "Lucky Guy"
Anthony Warlow, "Annie"
Stephen Tyrone Williams, "My Children! My Africa!"
Vanessa Williams, "The Trip to Bountiful"

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions: Best Actress in a Musical

Nomination Predictions
Stephanie J. Block "The Mystery of Edwin Drood"
Lilla Crawford "Annie"
Patina Miller "Pippin"
Laura Osnes "Cinderella"
Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro "Matilda"

Other Contenders - Carolee Carmello "Scandalous", Valisia LeKae "Motown", Adrienne Warren "Bring it On", Deborah Cox "Jekyll and Hyde", Erin Dilly "A Christmas Story", Taylor Louderman "Bring it On"

Commentary - Unlike some of the other acting categories this year, this particular one is populated by a lot of fresh faces, and many actresses are going to get their first Tony nominations. Two young actresses who have already charmed Tony voters and earned nominations will most likely return this year. Patina Miller was close to winning for Sister Act a few years ago, and this year, Pippin might be her ticket to her first win. Laura Osnes this year tackles Cinderella, one of the most iconic roles on the stage, with great results. She will mostly likely also earn her second nomination, after last year's nod for Bonnie and Clyde. But most of the other contenders will all be first time nominees. An exception would be Carolee Carmello for Scandolous, a two time nominee, but at the moment, I think she is a close sixth place, battling it out with Stephanie J. Block, who I think will beat her out in the end. The other two contenders are child actors, who despite their young age, lit up the stage this year. Lilla Crawford brought life, and her own twist, to the precocious Annie, earning rave reviews. Finally, after the three Billy Elliot's made Tony history, sharing one Tony Award, the four Matlidas look like they are going to repeat, especially as the show has continued to be a box office success in the past week.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Actress in a Made for Television Movie or Miniseries

Winner - (TIE) Cicely Tyson "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" and Meryl Streep "Angels in America"

Runners Up - Ingrid Bergman "A Woman Called Golda", Julianne Moore "Game Change", Sally Field "Sybil"

Commentary - Two titans of acting share this award. Meryl Streep's various characters in Angels in America range from haunting to tormenting, but all of them show us exactly why we love Meryl Streep so much. She was simply impeccable. The other is a personal favorite that pulls my heartstrings. I have a degree in American History, and in a slave seminar I took, a classmate told us about her grandparents. They had just recently passed away, both above the century mark. They were sharecroppers, and their parents were slaves. We think we are so far removed from it, but we're not. When she was telling us this story, I got goosebumps, and in the back of my mind, I thought of Miss Jane Pittman. This story of resilience and memory, of redemption and change, is so powerful thanks to the incredible talents of Cicely Tyson. She plays Pittman with tenacity and heart-tugging emotion, and gives this incredible character so much life and historical impact.  An incredible performance.

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions: Best Actor in a Play

Nomination Predictions
Alan Cumming "Macbeth"
Tom Hanks "Lucky Guy"
Nathan Lane "The Lance"
Tracey Letts "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
David Hyde Pierce "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"

Other Contenders - Seth Numrich "Golden Boy", Jim Parsons "Harvey", Douglas Hodge "Cyrano de Bergerac", Boyd Gaines "An Enemy of the People", Alec Baldwin "Orphans", Bobby Cannavale "The Big Knife", Norbert Leo Butz "Dead Accounts", Ciaran Hinds "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Paul Rudd "Grace", Michael Shannon "Grace", Cory Michael Smith "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Commentary - Tom Hanks made his Broadway debut with Lucky Guy a couple of weeks ago. But he could easily win his first Tony on his first time out. Lucky Guy has done extremely well, and for God's sake he is Tom Hanks. No more explanation needed. But he will have some competition from stage veterans who may be more palatable to Tony voters. David Hyde Pierce is one of the stars of the Best Play frontrunner Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and is already a Tony winner. Alan Cumming is also a Tony winner, and is taking on the classic Macbeth. Theater purists will eat his performance up. Tracey Letts has never been nominated for an acting Tony, but he is the is the mastermind and playwright behind August: Osage County, a Tony-award winning play, whose buzz is certaintly on the rise with its impending film adapation just around the corner. In the last slot, there are several choices. Jim Parsons did wonders with Harvey, and is a popular actor thanks to his Big Bang day job. Seth Numrich made a splash in Golden Boy, Alec Baldwin, a previous nominee, is always a possibility, and previous nominee Douglas Hodge has a baity role in Cyrano de Bergerac. But I am going with the ever-popular Nathan Lane, who could be walking away with a third Tony Award.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Winner - Jimmy Smits "L.A. Law"

Runners Up - Aaron Paul "Breaking Bad", John Spencer "The West Wing", Richard Schiff "The West Wing", Bradley Whitford "The West Wing", Timothy Busfield "thirtysomething"

Commentary - In his almost 30-year television career, Jimmy Smits has played some of the most endearing, tough, and important television characters of all time, on some of the greatest shows of all time including NYPD Blue, and my favorite character of his, Matthew Santos on The West Wing. But his first big break came in 1986 with the popular and well-rewarded L.A. Law as Victor Sifuentes. Jimmy Smits has always had this impeccable combination of ferocity and humanity, and Victor was the first time, but definitely not the last, that we were able to truly see his talent on screen. It is hard to believe that after twelve Emmy nominations, he has only won one. But I think it is important that we continue to make that one last, as he continues to light up the television screen.

2013 Tony Nomination Predictions: Best Actress in a Play

Predicted Nominees
Laurie Metcalf "The Other Place"
Bette Midler "I'll Eat You Last"
Holland Taylor "Ann"
Cicely Tyson "The Trip to Bountiful"
Sigourney Weaver "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"

Other Contenders - Fiona Shaw "The Testament of Mary", Jessica Chastain "The Heiress", Amy Morton "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", Emilia Clarke "Breakfast at Tiffany's", Scarlett Johansson "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Jessica Hect "The Assembled Parties", Katie Holmes "Dead Accountants"

Commentary -  A lot of big names, including some that are returning to Broadway after a long absence, populate this category this year, in some big projects. The last time Sigourney Weaver was nominated for a Tony was in 1985 for Hurlyburly. This year, one of the top contenders for Best Play is Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and Weaver's star turn is locked and loaded for a second nomination. Laurie Metcalf is a previous nominee as well, with her first nomination coming in 2008 for November. This year in role The Other Place is getting rave reviews, and looks like a strong contender not only for a nomination, but potentially for the win. It is hard to believe that Cicely Tyson has not been on a Broadway Stage since 1983 in the revival of The Corn is Green. It is even harder to believe that in her entire career, she has never been nominated for a Tony Award. Well, after April 30th, that will most likely change, as her raved performance in The Trip to Bountiful looks like a shoo-in. In 1974, Bette Midler won a special Tony, but this year, she looks to finally be in a competition race with her role in I'll Eat You Last. Finally, the last slot is a toss up between three buzzed performances. Jessica Chastain could ride her new found celebrity to a nod in The Heiress, and previous nominee Fiona Shaw is a strong contender for her work in The Testament of Mary. But my guess is that, despite its box office woes, that the writer/star of Ann, the new play about Gov. Ann Richards, Holland Taylor will ride her popularity, and the exposure the show has gotten (including a segment on CBS Sunday Morning) and received her first Tony nomination.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Winner - Allison Janey "The West Wing"

Runners Up - Drea de Mateo "The Sopranos", Margo Martindale "Justified", Patrica Wettig "thirtysomething"

Commentary - She have bumped up to lead later on in the series, but let's be honest, every character on that show was a supporting character to Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlett. It is hard to believe that we are discussing Aaron Sorkin's sexism with some of his characters on The Newsroom, considering that not that long ago he created one of the strongest female characters in television history. I love Allison Janey, and for seven seasons, her portrayal of C.J. made me laugh, cry, and cheer. She was strong, yet had humanity and vulnerability. She had power and influence, despite almost always being surrounded by men, and her personal stories were some of the most effective and powerful in the series.

2013 GLAAD Media Award Winners

Advocate for Change Award: President Bill Clinton

Stephen F. Kolzak Award: Entertainment attorney Steve Warren

Film: The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Summit Entertainment)

TV Comedy Series: The New Normal (NBC)

Individual TV Episode: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Me What to Do” Raising Hope (Fox)

TV Movie or Mini-Series: American Horror Story: Asylum (FX)

Daytime Drama: Days of Our Lives (NBC)

Talk Show Episode: “At Home with Neil Patrick Harris, His Fiancé David Burtka, & Their Twins”
Oprah’s Next Chapter (OWN)

Los Angeles Theater: The Children by Michael Elyanow

Spanish Language Awards

Daytime Talk Show Episode: “Confirma su identidad como mujer” Showbiz (CNN en Español)

TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: TIE: “Los transexuales buscan su identidad en medio de ignorancia y prejuicios” Encuentro (CNN en Español) and “La vida en rosa” Aquí y Ahora (Univision)

Newspaper Article: “Gays y padres excelentes” by Pilar Marrero (La Opinión)

Best of the Emmy Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner - Don Knotts "The Andy Griffith Show"

Runners Up - Art Carney "The Honeymooners", Woody Harrelson "Cheers", David Hyde Pierce "Frasier"

Commentary - Don Knotts is the original supporting character on television. For the better part of a decade, Barney Fife made us laugh with his good-hearted nature, his inability to do, well, anything, and his constant reminder that sometimes the greatest comedy in the world is the most simple. Don Knotts won a total of five Emmy awards for Barney Fife, and to this day, he is one of the most iconic television legends, and Barney Fife one of the most iconic characters, not soon to be forgotten.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Winner - Rhea Perlman "Cheers"

Runners Up - Vivian Lance "I Love Lucy", Estelle Getty "The Golden Girls", Megan Mulally "Will & Grace"

Commentary - Of all the quirky characters on Cheers, probably my favorite was Carla. Rhea Perlman doesn't necessarily look like a star of film and television, but her quirky sensibility, sharp tongue, and incredible talent brought so much life and energy to Cheers, and she still remains a standout among an incredible cast, one of the best in television history. The role also brought her a total of four Emmy awards, which is remarkable and only further proof that not only her fans, but the industry itself has so much love and respect for Rhea Perlman.

Best of the Emmy Awards: Winners - Best Supporting Actor in a Made for Television Movie or Miniseries

Winner - Jeffrey Wright "Angels in America"

Other Contenders - Ed Asner "Roots", James Earl Jones "Heat Wave", Tom Wilkinson "John Adams"

Commentary - A lot of big names in this category, including legendary Oscar and multiple-Emmy winning actors. But when I looked at this category for the first time, it seemed like such an easy choice. Angels in America had one of the best casts ever assembled on any television movie or miniseries (heck one of the best on any television program period). And to me, probably the most effective performance of the bunch was Jeffrey Wright's Belize. He was emotionally raw and visceral, and gave a flawless and timeless performance. I also think that he is one of the most underrated actors working today, just waiting for that right role that will launch him into the stratosphere of fame. Until them, we can always enjoy his acting gems, particularly this one.