SAG nominations: For TV, battle of heavyweights
Several well-established series scored major nominations in television categories for the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will also feature a showdown among three of film’s most honored actresses.
“Boardwalk Empire,” HBO’s drama about the rise of a gangster in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, received nominations for performance by a male actor in a television series (Steve Buscemi) and performance by an ensemble in a drama series. Buscemi, last year’s winner, is nominated with Kyle Chandler (“Friday Night Lights”), Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”) and Patrick J. Adams (“Suits”).
Adams’ nomination alongside such well-known actors surprised Hollywood insiders — and Adams. Not only is it his first award nomination, he’s never attended a red-carpet award ceremony of any kind. “This is all brand new to me,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s been such a whirlwind of a year. I never, ever imagined it would get to this point. You don’t expect anything — it’s been all about learning this year.”
Another major drama nominee was AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” about a chemistry teacher who begins manufacturing meth. The drama earned a nod for its star, Bryan Cranston, who has won three consecutive Emmys for the role, as well as ensemble in a drama.
Nominees in the ensemble drama category include HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” CBS’ “The Good Wife” and Showtime’s “Dexter.”
In the comedy categories, ABC’s “Modern Family” received a nomination for ensemble, while four cast members (Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet and Sofia Vergara) were singled out for individual performances.
Other comedy ensemble nominees were “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Glee.”
Competing against Burrell and Stonestreet in performance by a male actor in a comedy series are Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”), Steve Carell (“The Office”) and Jon Cryer (“Two and a Half Men”). Bowen and Vergara are joined by Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Edie Falco (“Nurse Jackie”) and Betty White (“Hot in Cleveland”).
Three of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actresses were nominated in performance by a female actor in a drama series. Oscar winners Kathy Bates (NBC’s “Harry’s Law”) and Jessica Lange (FX’s “American Horror Story”) and Oscar nominee Glenn Close (DirectTV’s “Damages”) received nods alongside Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”) and Kyra Sedgwick (TNT’s “The Closer”).
“It’s wonderful, wonderful,” said Close, also nominated for her role in the movie “Albert Nobbs.” During a break from shooting on the New York “Damages” set, she said, “I don’t take anything for granted. The … nomination was a bit surprising because we’d been away for a while. But it’s a show with a very strong, engaged following.”
Individual performance nominations for television movies or miniseries were also dominated by major film stars. Laurence Fishburne (HBO’s “Thurgood”), Paul Giamatti and James Woods (HBO’s “Too Big to Fail”), Greg Kinnear (Reelz Channel’s “The Kennedys”) and Guy Pearce (HBO’s “Mildred Pearce”) are nominated for male actor while Diane Lane (HBO’s “Cinema Verite”), Maggie Smith (PBS’ “Downton Abbey”), Emily Watson (Sundance Channel’s “Appropriate Adult”), Kate Winslet (“Mildred Pearce”) and Betty White (“CBS “Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine”) are nominated for female actor.
Mary Tyler Moore is slated to receive the 48th annual Life Achievement Award at the ceremony, which will air Jan. 29 on TBS and TNT.
Times staff writer Deborah Vankin contributed to this report.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
