Halloween Watch List 2018

Here is my Halloween Watch List for 2018. Every year I watch a Halloween related movie each night of October to celebrate one of my favorite holidays. If you'd like, join me! Enjoy!

1. The Birds

      2.  Psycho

      3.  Rope

      4.  Vertigo

      5. Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein

      6. Ghostbusters (1984 Version)

      7. Gremlins

      8. So, I Married an Axe Murderer

      9. The Stepford Wives (2004 Version)

      10.   Hocus Pocus

      11.   Beautiful Creatures

      12.   Dracula Untold

      13.   The Fog (1980 Version)

      14.   Friday the 13^th (1980 Version)

      15.   The Haunting (1963 Version)
16. House of Wax (1953 Version)

      17.   Interview with the Vampire

      18.   The Lost Boys

      19.   The Others

      20.   Poltergeist (1982 Version)

      21.   Prom Night (1980 Version)

      22.   Queen of the Damned

      23.   The Ring

      24.   Scream

      25.   Scream 2

      26.   Scream 3

      27.   Scream 4

      28.   The Shining (Stanley Kubrick)

      29.   Sleepy Hollow

      30.   Something Wicked This Way Comes

      31.   The Rocky Horror Picture Show

2018 Prime Time Emmy Awards

My Picks
Actual Winners

OUTSTANDING DRAMA

The Americans
The Crown
Game of Thrones
The Handmaid's Tale
Stranger Things
This is Us
Westworld

OUTSTANDING COMEDY

Atlanta
Barry
black-ish
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glow
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Silicon Valley
Unbreakable Kimmy Shmidt

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES

The Alienist
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Genius: Picasso
Godless
Patrick Melrose

OUTSTANDING VARIETY TALK SERIES

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

OUTSTANDING REALITY SHOW: COMPETITION

The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Project Runway
RuPaul's Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

At Home with Amy Sedaris
Drunk History
I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live
Tracy Ullman's Show

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Claire Foy: The Crown
Tatiana Maslany: Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss: The Handmaid's Tale
Sandra Oh: Killing Eve
Keri Russell: The Americans
Evan Rachel Wood: Westworld

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Jason Bateman: Ozark
Sterling K. Brown: This is Us
Ed Harris: Westworld
Matthew Rhys: The Americans
Milo Ventimiglia: This is Us
Jeffrey Wright: Westworld

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Alan Taylor: Game of Thrones
Jeremy Podeswa: Game of Thrones
Jason Bateman: Ozark
Daniel Sackheim: Ozark
The Duffer Brothers: Stranger Things
Stephen Daldry: The Crown
Kari Skogland: The Handmaid's Tale

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

David Benioff & D.B. Weiss: Game of Thrones
Phoebe Waller-Bridge: Killing Eve
The Duffer Brothers: Stranger Things
Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg: The Americans
Peter Morgan: The Crown
Bruce Miller: The Handmaid's Tale

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Alexis Bledel: The Handmaid's Tale
Millie Bobby Brown: Stranger Things
Ann Dowd: The Handmaid's Tale
Lena Headey: Game of Thrones
Vanessa Kirby: The Crown
Thandie Newton: Westworld
Yvonne Strahovski: The Handmaid's Tale

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau: Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage: Game of Thrones
Joseph Fiennes: The Handmaid's Tale
Mandy Patinkin: Homeland
David Harbour: Stranger Things
Matt Smith: The Crown

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL

Stan Lathan: Dave Chapelle-Equanimity
Michael Bonfiglio: Jerry Seinfield-Jerry Before Seinfeld
Marcos Raboy: Steve Martin & Martin Short-An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life
Hamish Hamilton: LII Halftime Show Starring Justin Timberlake
Glenn Weiss: The Oscars

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL

Melinda Taub & Samantha Bee: Full Frontal With Samantha Bee Presents-"The Great American" Puerto Rico (It's Complicated)

John Mulaney: John Mulaney-Kid Gorgeous at Radio City
Michelle Wolf: Michelle Wolf-Nice Lady
Patton Oswalt: Patton Oswalt-Annihilation
Steve Martin & Martin Short: Steve Martin & Martin Short-An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE  OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Antonio Banderas: Genius-Picasso
Darren Criss: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-American Crime Story
Benedict Cumberbatch: Patrick Melrose
Jeff Daniels: The Looming Tower
John Legend: Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesse Plemons: Black Mirror-"USS Callister"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Jessica Biel: The Sinner
Laura Dern: The Tale
Michelle Dockery: Godless
Edie Falco: Law & Order True Crime-The Menendez Murders
Regina King: Seven Seconds
Sarah Paulson: American Horror Story-Cult

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING OF A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Scott Frank: Godless
David Leveaux & Alex Rudzinski: Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Barry Levinson: Paterno
Edward Burger: Patrick Melrose
Ryan Murphy: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-American Crime Story
Craig Zisk: The Looming Tower
David Lynch: Twin Peaks

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Kevin McManus & Matthew McManus: American Vandal
Scott Frank: Godless
David Nicholls: Patrick Melrose
Tom Rob Smith: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-Ameican Crime Story
David Lynch & Mark Frost: Twin Peaks
William Bridges & Charlie Brooker: "USS Calister"-Black Mirror

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Jeff Daniels: Godless
Brandon Victor Dixon: Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Ricky Martin: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-American Crime Story
Edgar Ramirez: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-American Crime Story
Finn Wittrock: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-American Crime Story
Michael Stuhlbarg: The Looming Tower
John Leguizamo: Waco

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Adina Porter: American Horror Story-Cult
Letitia Wright: Black Mirror-"Black Museum"
Merritt Weaver: Godless
Sara Bareilles: Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
Penelope Cruz: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-American Crime Story
Judith Light: The Assassination of Gianni Versace-American Crime Story

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Anthony Anderson: black-ish
Ted Danson: The Good Place
Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Donald Glover: Atlanta
Bill Hader: Barry
William H. Macy: Shameless

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Pamela Adlon: Better Things
Rachel Brosnahan: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Allison Janey: Mom
Issa Rae: Insecure
Tracee Ellis Roth: black-ish
Lily Tomlin: Grace & Frankie

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Donald Glover: Atlanta
Hiro Murai: Atlanta
Bill Hader: Barry
Jesse Peretz: Glow
Mike Judge: Silicon Valley
Amy Sheridan-Palladino: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Donald Glover: Atlanta
Stephanie Robinson: Atlanta
Alex Berg & Bill Hader: Barry
Liz Sarnoff: Barry
Alec Berg: Silicon Valley
Amy Sheridan-Palladino: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Zazie Beetz: Atlanta
Aidy Bryant: Saturday Night Live
Alex Borstein: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Betty Glipin: Glow
Leslie Jones: Saturday Night Live
Kate McKinnon: Saturday Night Live
Laurie Metcalf: Roseanne
Megan Mullally: Will & Grace

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Louie Anderson: Baskets
Alec Baldwin: Saturday Night Live
Titus Burgess: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Bryan Tyree Henry: Atlanta
Tony Shalhoub: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Kenan Thompson: Saturday Night Live
Henry Winkler: Barry

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Diana Rigg: Game of Thrones
Cicely Tyson: How to Get Away With Murder
Viola Davis: Scandal
Kelly Jenrette: The Handmaid's Tale
Cherry Jones: The Handmaid's Tale
Samira Wiley: The Handmaid's Tale

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA

F. Murray Abraham: Homeland
Cameron Britton: Mindhunter
Matthew Goode: The Crown
Gerald McRaney: This is Us
Ron Sephus Jones: This is Us
Jimmi Simpson: Westworld

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Wanda Skykes: black-ish
Tina Fey: Saturday Night Live
Tiffany Haddish: Saturday Night Live
Maya Rudolph: The Good Place
Jane Lynch: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Molly Shannon: Will & Grace

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Katt Williams: Atlanta
Sterling K. Brown: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Bryan Cranston: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Lin Manuel-Miranda: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Donald Glover: Saturday Night Live
Bill Hader: Saturday Night Live

OUTSTANDING TV MOVIE

Black Mirror: "USS Callister"
Farenheit 451
Flint
Paterno
The Tale

OUTSTANDING REALITY SHOW HOST

W. Kamau Bell: United States of America with W. Kamau Bell
RuPaul Charles: RuPaul's Drag Race
Ellen DeGeneres: Ellen's Game of Games
Jane Lynch: Hollywood Game Night
Heidi Klum & Tim Gunn: Project Runway

Dr. Charles Metten

Dr. Charles Metten was a beloved professor of theatrical arts at Brigham Young University and Southern Utah University. He founded the College of Performing Arts at Southern Utah University as well as helped develop what is today "Words Cubed," the new play writing program at The Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. I have had the honor of working with Dr. Metten on a few occasions and learning from his wisdom. He will be sorely missed in Utah Theatre!

Remembering Dr. Charles Metten

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

As I sat in the theater in Provo waiting for the matinee to begin, I was so excited for this incredible theatre company to be launching their second season. I was also really excited to finally see this award winning play on stage at last. I was not disappointed in any way!

This play is basically about a young English boy named Christopher (portrayed brilliantly by my dear friend Bryce Lloyd Fueston) who comes to his next door neighbor's backyard to visit her dog, which he has always done for most of his life, but he finds the poor dog dead, a pitchfork stabbed into its back. Thus begins the amazing tale of a young boy on the autistic spectrum, specifically with sensory autism, who conquers his fears by going out of himself and to find out who did this horrible thing to to this beautiful animal. 

This play pays tribute to those amongst us who are "neurodivergent." This play sets off to prove that those on the autistic spectrum, although being born with unique, what some would call "handicaps," personality traits are just like you and I, and are capable of great things in their life! In fact they can excel despite their physical and emotional challenges.

The ensemble for this production were superb! They worked as a true ensemble and helped to tell the story of this remarkable young boy come to life for us the audience. We saw things through Christopher's eyes and understood, albeit on a small level, what it must be like to be on the autistic spectrum and deal with those challenges each and every day. Brett Merritt shone as well as Christopher's father, Ed. I really felt for his character; the challenges of raising an autistic child as a single parent, and despite the challenges and personal flaws in himself, he comes to really love and care for his son and would do anything for him.

Kudos once again to An Other Theater Company for a job well done! And best wishes for a successful second season. I am so excited to witness it and be a part of it! Don't miss this production! It only plays for one more weekend! I know it will sell-out quickly!

Movies That Have Had An Impact ...

For the past 10 days I have been part of a challenge on Facebook to post 10 images from 10 films that had an impact on me. Each posting had the following heading on it:

10 day movie challenge: Posting just an image, no explanation, from 10 movies that had an impact on me. 10 movies, 10 images

Enjoy.

Marin Mazzie

The theatre world lost one of it's greatest stars today, the beloved Marin Mazzie. I adored this woman and she truly was a shining example of a real artist. An artist of integrity, passion and professionalism. My heart is breaking! All my love goes out to her family and loved ones! God be with you sweet angel until we meet again!

Playbill Obituary     The Broadway Community Remembers     A Look Back

Here is my favorite song from "Ragtime" that Marin starred in and originated the role of "Mother."
This is a clip from the Broadway preview of the original production.
"Back to Before"



The next two videos are from when she took over the role of "The Lady of the Lake" in "Spamalot. She truly knew how to feel at home in both dramatic musicals as well as comedic ones. This was my favorite musical comedy she starred in.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

I absolutely enjoyed this film from beginning to end! It completely exceeded my expectations. This movie was not what I thought it would be, and that's a good thing!  It was truly an adventure and an emotional journey that these wonderful characters took me on. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard once again were in top form as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing. These two wonderful characters I fell in love with in "Jurassic World" became even deeper as characters and I felt everything they felt throughout the course of the film. By the end, I was an emotional wreck. 

Justin Smith (Franklin Webb), Daniela Pineda (Zia Rodriguez), Isabella Sermon (Maisie Lockwood), Geraldine Chapman (Iris), Ted Levine (Ken Wheatley), Rafe Spell (Eli Mills), Jeff Goldblum (Ian Malcolm), and B.D. Wong (Dr. Wu) round out a fantastic supporting cast for this incredible film.

Kudos to director, J.A. Bayona for leading a top notch cast and crew on a wonderful adventure film for the ages. I know this film took a lot of hits and criticism but I loved every single moment of it!

It's still in theater's, but it is now available on iTunes. Don't miss this film!

Book Club

Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen. How can you go wrong? Well, in this fantastic film, you can't!

What a truly touching and romantic comedy for the over 70's. WOW! It's wonderful to see mainstream Hollywood finally recognizing that love doesn't end after 30. These incredible powerhouse actresses are better than ever and still absolutely gorgeous! The story will enthrall you, touch you and make you laugh from beginning to end!

Kudos to the male supporting ensemble: Andy Garcia, Richard Dreyfuss, Wallace Shawn, Ed Begley, Jr., Don Johnson and Craig T. Nelson! What an incredible group of gentlemen!

This was such a fun, enjoyable, and heartwarming romantic comedy that proves that "It Ain't Over until it's Over!!" Each of these ladies give powerhouse performances as four highly successful ladies who get together and read books. When they all get together to read  "50 Shades of Grey," these ladies go on an adventure of self-discovery and learning that they are not "past it!" Don't miss this film, now available on video!

Love, Simon

When I was in high school I had John Hughes films to watch. Classics like: "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Pretty in Pink." These were hilarious comedies but at the same time brought poignancy to the teen experience of the time. But for me, a young gay teen, I had no one like me up there on the big screen. No gay teen love stories for me. Well, with this incredibly funny and touching film, there is now a major studio Hollywood film with a love story/comedy about a gay teen. I am so happy, particularly for this generation of gay teens for a film like this. Leave it to director, Greg Berlanti (Brothers and Sisters) from my generation and gay, to direct and bring to the big screen the gay teen movie we always longed for when we were young and closeted.

Nick Robinson, the young actor who brings Simon to life on the screen is fantastic! He breaks your heart. He, like Molly Ringwald in "Sixteen Candles," pines away for the boy he has fallen in love with (albeit only by social media) and in the end, finally wins him. Nick is wonderful and beautiful in this role. The thing I admire about this film, except for a few very quick scenes, they don't prance him around the entire film showing off his body and you don't have any sex scenes in this film. It's all about first love and coming to terms with one's identity and being proud of who you are. He's cute and adorable and you fall in love with him the first scene he's in. You're rooting for him the entire length of the film! The wonderful Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel play Simon's parents magnificently! His coming out scene is heartbreaking and his one on one scenes with his parents are so moving and gut wrenching honest! This is a film that I hope will also help parents of LGBTQ kids and their ability to accept their kids and to be there for them no matter what. I hope it will open  up a dialogue between parents and their kids! The rest of the cast is incredible and truly a magnificent ensemble. Thank you to all involved and for the producers for having the courage to make a film like this for today's generation! Don't miss this film! It's now available on video!