Awards Daily Tv's Water Cooler Podcast

Molly Smith Metzler talks about the inspirations for her Netflix limited series Sirens, including the identity of the series’ true villain.  Starring Oscar winner Julianne Moore, Sirens took flight in the American theater. Series creator Molly Smith Metzler first conceived of the characters and essential plot while a student at Juilliard. The resulting play, Elemeno […] The post ‘Sirens’ Creator Molly Smith Metzler On True Villain Of Netflix Series appeared first on The Contending.

Joey and Clarence are joined by Frank J. Avella to recap the 2025 Tony Awards presentation, the winners, the surprises, and more. The 2025 Tony Awards aired last night on CBS to a dramatically increased audience. Did the show put its best foot forward? With Megan away for the night, Joey and Clarence are joined […] The post Tonys 2025: Recapping This Year’s Tony Awards Ceremony [PODCAST] appeared first on The Contending.

We’re never truly told exactly where Netflix’s Sirens takes place. Yet, the lack of a defined location provided director of photography Gregory Middleton several opportunities to capture both the island’s mythic beauty and accentuate its inherent creepiness. Particularly within the cavernous hallways of Peter and Michaela “Kiki” Kell’s (Kevin Bacon, Julianne Moore) mansion. With the DeWitt […] The post ‘Sirens’ DP Gregory Middleton Creates Mythical Island Vibe appeared first on The Contending.

Well, that was great…that was really fucking great! This Sunday, the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League will name the best of Broadway at the 78th Annual Tony Awards. With Maybe Happy Ending, Death Becomes Her, and Buena Vista Social Club all tied with 10 nominees each, there are some real races to be […] The post We Could Go See BOOP! And Predict the Tony Awards! [PODCAST] appeared first on The Contending.

Succession’s Jesse Armstrong returns with a late-breaking Emmy entry about narcissistic tech bros. We weigh in with our Mountainhead review. Jesse Armstrong returns to HBO, the site of his beloved and Emmy-winning Succession, with Mountainhead. The satire stars Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef as four billionaire tech bros meeting for a weekend […] The post Mountainhead Review: Will Emmy Embrace HBO’s Late Entry? [PODCAST] appeared first on The Contending.

Desperate Housewives episode eighteen, “Children Will Listen,” shows the darkest side of Carlos Solis we’ve seen yet in the series. “Children Will Listen,” Desperate Housewives’ eighteenth episode, brings some of the darkest scenes / themes in the first season. Yes, darker than Mary Alice Young’s suicide. We’re talking about the Solis’s deeply troubled marriage and Carlos’s […] The post “Children Will Listen:” Especially If Bree Spanks Them appeared first on The Contending.

The Contending sits down with Emmy nominee Rob Tokarz to chat about HBO MAX’s Hacks production design, including Deborah Vance’s late show set. Rob Tokarz received an Emmy nomination last year for his HBO MAX’s Hacks production design on season three. He returns with season four to carry Deborah Vance (Emmy winner Jean Smart) into her long-coveted […] The post ‘Hacks’ Production Design Blends Vegas, LA For Late Show Set appeared first on The Contending.

This week’s Desperate Housewives episode, “There Won’t Be Trumpets,” offers an exploration of heroes, saviors, and really expensive funerals. Desperate Housewives episode seventeen, “There Won’t Be Trumpets,” puts aside the first season central Mary Alice mystery in favor of slices of suburban drama for our housewives. It isn’t the best episode of season one, and […] The post “There Won’t Be Trumpets:” But There Will Be Pricey Funerals! appeared first on The Contending.

Joey, Megan, and Clarence are joined by The Contending contributor Mark Johnson for their 2025 Summer Movie Preview. The Contending correspondent Mark Johnson joins the Water Cooler for our 2025 Summer Movie Preview. With Mark’s personal Top Ten list posted, we break down the 2025 Summer Movie Season week by week. Some weekends are an […] The post 2025 Summer Movie Preview: Marking Our Favs With Mark! appeared first on The Contending.

There actually are no caftans on Wisteria Lane, but this week’s Desperate Housewives episode looks at what happens when Maisy Gibbons blows it all up. The sweet peace (ha!) of Wisteria Lane becomes disrupted with the screams and protestations of Maisy Gibbons (Sharon Lawrence) as Desperate Housewives episode sixteen, “The Ladies Who Lunch,” opens. Maisy’s arrest […] The post “The Ladies Who Lunch:” Lounge In Caftans, Gossip At Brunch appeared first on The Contending.

Megan McLachlan welcomes Grits & Gab to a very special Contending podcast to talk about four high-profile true crime Emmy contenders in the Documentary and Nonfiction Series category. Looking at the 2025 Emmy Documentary Series contenders, there are a handful of true crime docuseries that are in contention for a nomination. Grits & Grab joined […] The post 2025 Emmy Podcast: Looking at 4 True Crime Emmy Contenders in the Documentary and Nonfiction Series Race appeared first on The Contending.

This week’s Desperate Housewives episode may be titled “Impossible,” but sex is very possibly on the forefront of everyone’s mind. “Impossible” isn’t perhaps the best title of Desperate Housewives‘ fifteenth episode (we take that on during the podcast). Instead, the theme of this week’s outing is very definitely sex in varied incarnations. Take Bree who […] The post “Impossible:” Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby appeared first on The Contending.

After diving into Netflix’s The Four Seasons, Joey and Megan face off in Clarence’s Name That John Williams Tune pop quiz. Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield revisit writer/director/star Alan Alda’s 1981 The Four Seasons. This time, the four seasons are split across an 8-episode comedy series starring Fey, Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Steve Carell, […] The post Can Netflix’s ‘The Four Seasons’ Enter Emmy’s Comedy Fray? appeared first on The Contending.

The Contending’s Clarence Moye sits down with Laurent Bouzereau, the director of Music By John Williams, to talk about the life and influence of the iconic and beloved composer. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Star Wars. Jaws. These films — among many, many others — helped define the language of cinema for an entire generation. These […] The post ‘Music By John Williams:’ Director Laurent Bouzereau Explores the Life, Influence Of the Iconic Composer appeared first on The Contending.

A romantic Valentine’s date at between Mike and Susan ends as only their dates can in “Love Is In the Air.” “Love Is In the Air,” Desperate Housewives‘ fourteen / Valentine’s Day episode, considers that love may indeed be in the air, but it’s definitely not everywhere you look around Wisteria Lane. Take Mike and […] The post “Love Is In the Air:” Is It Everywhere I Look Around Wisteria Lane? appeared first on The Contending.

In case you have been living under a rock, you have heard of the sensation known as Sinners. People love it! People are seeing it over and over! People are predicting Sinners for Oscars already! On this week’s pod, Megan and Joey talk about what they love about Ryan Coogler’s box office smash before talking its […] The post Podcast: Basking in Box Office Fire of ‘Sinners,’ Catching up with ‘The Studio’ appeared first on The Contending.

This week’s podcast is an Emmy Lead Actress breakdown for contenders across Comedy, Drama, and Limited Series races. We’re approaching the end of the 2025 Emmy eligibility window. We’ve previously discussed Drama Series, Comedy Series, and Limited Series contenders, so it’s time to focus on performances. This week, we’re looking at the 2025 Emmy Lead […] The post Emmys 2025: It’s This Year’s First Emmy Lead Actress Podcast! appeared first on The Contending.

Paul Young spins several stories about “Dana,” Mary Alice, and Zach as he tries to throw Susan off his trail in “Your Fault.” “Your Fault,” Desperate Housewives‘ thirteenth episode, kicks things off with a great Stephen Sondheim song title reference (cribbed from Into the Woods). There’s a lot of “fault” going around Wisteria Lane, but the title […] The post “Your Fault:” Yes, But What About Dana In the Third Place? appeared first on The Contending.

We look at the contentious Comedy Series Emmy race where any number of series could fill the final few nominee slots. We’ve broken down the Drama Series 2025 Emmy race. We looked at the weaker Limited Series Emmy field. Now, it’s time for Comedy Series. Much like Drama, Comedy boasts five near-guaranteed contenders: Hacks, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Only […] The post Comedy Series: Hacking Our Way Through Emmy’s Comedy Race appeared first on The Contending.