New Emmys rules redefine guest stars, theme music and directing honors
A shake-up is about to hit TV’s biggest night, changing who gets a shot at taking home that golden statuette. The Television Academy has announced rule updates for the 77th and 78th Emmy Awards.
Guest performer eligibility sees major change
One of the most notable changes affects how guest performers qualify for Emmy consideration. Performers who were previously nominated or won in the lead or supporting category can no longer submit as guest performers for the same character in the same series.
This rule opens doors for first-time and true guest appearances.
An example of how this impacts past winners? Ron Cephas Jones, known for his role as William Hill on NBC’s “This Is Us.” He won two Emmys for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2020. Under the new rule, Jones would not have been eligible to submit for those wins in subsequent seasons, leaving more room for fresh guest talent.
New rules for main title theme music
Starting next year, the Emmys are also shaking up the rules for the Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music category. A show’s theme must now appear in at least 50% of the eligible episodes submitted to qualify.
This means shows that frequently skip their opening credits for special episodes, finales or to dive straight into a cold open may find their themes ineligible for consideration.
Directors get more chances to showcase range
Finally, directors are getting a major boost. Starting with the 2026 Emmys, directors can submit multiple entries per category if their work comes from different shows. This change allows directors to showcase their range rather than being limited to one submission per category.
The new rules aim to make the Emmys more inclusive and reflective of the evolving television landscape. By redefining guest performer eligibility, emphasizing consistent theme music, and expanding opportunities for directors, the Television Academy is attempting to set the stage for a more dynamic and fair awards season.
One of TV’s most chaotic families is making a comeback. Disney+ announced that “Malcolm in the Middle” is getting a reboot with four brand-new episodes.
The streaming platform shared the news on Instagram, captioning a post, “They’re back!”
Frankie Muniz, who played the titular character, expressed his excitement, saying he’s ready to show fans where the family is now.
What made “Malcolm in the Middle” special?
The original series premiered on Fox in 2000 and ran until 2006. During its six seasons, the show earned 33 Emmy nominations and won seven awards. It became a classic sitcom thanks to its unique humor and relatable characters.
“Malcolm in the Middle” followed Malcolm, a gifted middle child navigating life with his wild and dysfunctional family. His intelligence often clashed with his brothers’ antics and his parents’ strict, chaotic parenting style.
Familiar faces returning for the reboot
Fans will see Muniz reprise his role as Malcolm in the reboot. Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek will also return as his eccentric parents, Hal and Lois. According to Variety, the official synopsis teases, “Malcolm and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.”
Linwood Boomer, the creator of the original series, will return as a writer and executive producer.
Muniz shares his excitement
Since the series ended, Muniz has pursued a professional racing career. However, he has teased the possibility of a reboot for years.
In an interview with Dr. Mayim Bialik in 2023, Muniz said, “I have a greater appreciation of even what the show is and was and would love to dive in with all those people again.” Now, that dream is becoming a reality.
No official premiere date has been set, but fans are eager to reunite with the family that brought chaos and comedy to TV screens for years.
Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’ at his golf club: FBI
For the second time in just over two months, authorities say former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent “attempted assassination.” We have the latest on the investigation. And the red carpet was rolled out for TV’s biggest stars Sunday night. We recap who won at the 76th Emmy Awards. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.
FBI: Trump was target of apparent ‘attempted assassination’
The FBI is investigating what it said “appears to be an attempted assassination” of former President Donald Trump near his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida Sunday, Sept. 15. Authorities said Trump was playing a round of golf when Secret Service agents spotted the gunman a few hundred yards away pointing a weapon through the bushes.
The agents fired five to six shots at the gunman. The suspect dropped his weapon, described as an AK-47-style rifle, and fled in his vehicle. It was not clear if the suspect had fired any shots.
The suspect was soon taken into custody during a traffic stop in a nearby county.
Authorities said the rifle with a scope was found in the shrubbery along with two backpacks, ceramic plates, and a GoPro camera.
Shortly after the incident, a spokesperson for the Republican presidential nominee said Trump was safe. Trump later sent out a letter to supporters saying, “Nothing will slow me down! I will never surrender.”
Law enforcement sources have told multiple news outlets the suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh of Hawaii. Authorities are said to be looking into Routh’s possible motives, including his reported grievances about the war in Ukraine. The New York Times reported the paper interviewed Routh last year about recruiting Afghan soldiers fleeing the Taliban to fight in Ukraine.
During a Sunday afternoon press conference, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw spoke about the Secret Service’s presence protecting Trump at the time of the assassination attempt.
“At this level that he is at right now, he’s not the sitting president. If he was, we would have this entire golf course surrounded,” Bradshaw said. “Well, because he’s not, the security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible. So, I would imagine the next time he comes to the golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter. But the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done.”
Biden said he has directed his team to ensure the Secret Service “has every resource” necessary for Trump’s “continued safety.” Harris said, “We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence.”
Late Sunday night, Trump posted a message on Truth Social thanking law enforcement for “an incredible job done” and saying, “It was certainly an interesting day.”
I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day! Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible… pic.twitter.com/mV15rJygOR
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 16, 2024
Israel says Houthis will pay ‘heavy price’ after attack on Tel Aviv
Israel’s Prime Minister has vowed retaliation after a missile fired by Houthi rebels reached central Israel for the first time. A Houthi spokesman said the hypersonic ballistic missile, fired from Yemen, traveled more than 1,200 miles in just over 10 minutes Sunday.
Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, a surface-to-surface missile was identified crossing into central Israel from Yemen and fell in an open area. No injuries were reported.
The Israeli Defense Forces said there were repeated attempts to shoot down the missile mid-air, but it most likely fragmented as it approached Tel Aviv. Israel said there were no direct casualties from the missile, but at least nine people suffered minor injuries.
This is just the latest attack by the Houthis, in what they say is solidarity with the Palestinians, in support of Hamas.
At least 8 dead as torrential rain triggers flooding in central Europe
At least eight people are confirmed dead as torrential rain continues to pound central Europe, causing widespread flooding. Thousands of people evacuated their homes in the Czech Republic Sunday as rivers overflowed their banks in various parts of the country.
A storm system named Boris has caused heavy downpours from Austria to Romania, leading to the worst flooding the Czech Republic and Poland have seen in nearly 30 years.
The relentless rain is expected to last at least through Monday.
US Coast Guard hearing into deadly Titan submersible implosion begins
Former employees of OceanGate are expected to testify. The company was behind the experimental submersible that imploded while on its way to the wreckage of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023, killing all five people on board.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the Coast Guard released a statement saying the hearing “aims to uncover the facts surrounding the incident and develop recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
The hearing will take place in Charleston County, South Carolina and is expected to last about two weeks. Witnesses scheduled to appear include one of OceanGate’s co-founders and the company’s former engineering, operations, and scientific directors.
Apple’s AI-powered operating system to launch Monday
Apple’s latest operating system, featuring the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities, is set to go live Monday. iOS 18 will come with changes for all compatible iPhone models, but Apple Intelligence will be the highlight of the update for iPhone 15 Pro and later models.
Some tech experts say this is Apple’s biggest update since it originally launched the iPhone.
Apple usually releases its updates at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.
‘Shogun,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘The Bear’ win at the 76th Emmy Awards
History was made at the 76th Emmy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles. The big winner was the historical drama Shogun.
“Shogun” became the first non-English language series to win best drama. It claimed a total of 18 wins, including lead actor, actress, and directing.
Trump wins Iowa caucuses in historic landslide; DeSantis places 2nd: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 16, 2024
In a dominant victory, former President Donald Trump walks away the winner in Iowa. And the two largest supermarket chains in the country are sued over their proposed merger. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.
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Trump easily wins Iowa caucuses; DeSantis & Haley battle for second
It did not take long for a winner to be decided in Monday’s Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses. Just a half-hour into the first 2024 Republican presidential contest, former President Donald Trump was declared the victor by multiple news outlets.
“This has been an incredible experience,” Trump said. “This is the third time we’ve won, but this is the biggest one.”
Following the results, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy ended his bid for the presidency, saying he’s endorsing Trump for the White House. Next, the GOP candidates set their sights on New Hampshire for the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23.
After winning big in Iowa on Monday night, Jan. 15, Trump is once again expected to be in court Tuesday, Jan. 16, as a civil damages trial begins in New York concerning a defamation case brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll. Following those proceedings, the former president is set to fly to New Hampshire for a rally.
U.S. condemns Iran’s attack on Iraq near American consulate
The Kurdistan Regional Security Council said four people were killed in the attack, and six others were wounded. In a statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the U.S. strongly condemns Iran’s missile strikes in Iraq, which undermine Iraq’s stability. The IRGC also claimed it hit ISIS targets in Syria. A White House official said the U.S. has tracked the missiles that impacted northern Iraq and Syria and said no U.S. personnel or facilities were targeted.
Israel moving to a new phase of war in Gaza
It has been more than 100 days into the Israel-Hamas war, and the death toll has reached 24,000, according to Palestinian authorities. Now, Israel has announced it is changing pace.
The country’s defense minister said on Monday, Jan. 15, that Israeli forces have finished “intensive” ground operations in Northern Gaza, and that phase in the south is coming to an end soon. It comes as world pressure to limit mass casualty events continues to mount.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that starvation looms over Gaza, adding that the humanitarian situation is beyond words.
“The onslaught on Gaza by Israeli forces over these 100 days has unleashed wholesale destruction and levels of civilian killings at a rate that is unprecedented during my years as secretary-general,” Guterres said.
Still, the fighting is not over yet, as Israeli officials say keeping the pressure on Hamas in Gaza is the only way to free 132 hostages. And there are still talks on what post-war Gaza looks like, with the U.S. saying that the Palestinian Authority should have a role in governance, something Israel disagrees with.
Swatting incident at the White House
Firefighters and EMS responded to the White House after a 911 caller reported a fire had broken out with someone trapped inside on Monday morning, Jan. 15. When crews arrived on the scene, there was no fire; according to officials, it was a swatting incident.
It is still unclear who called in the fire, but the Secret Service said that any fire at the White House would be immediately detected, and there was no fire. President Biden was at Camp David in Maryland when the call came in. Though law enforcement did not respond in this instance, the incident falls in line with a wave of swatting attempts on congressional leaders, judges, and other elected officials in recent weeks.
Washington state sues to block Kroger, Albertsons merger
The two supermarket chains issued a joint statement, calling Ferguson’s decision to file a lawsuit “premature” since the merger is still under review by the Federal Trade Commission. The deal was announced in 2022, and last year, Kroger said it would sell more than 400 stores to help the merger get approved. The supermarket chains said a merger is necessary to compete with retail giants like Walmart and Amazon.
Big night for Elton John, ‘The Bear,’ and ‘Succession’ at the Emmys
Award season continued in Hollywood Monday night, Jan. 15, with the 75th annual Emmy Awards, following a four-month delay due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes. On a night honoring the best in television, it was a legendary musician who made history. Elton John won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special for his Disney+ farewell concert. With the win, John officially became an EGOT, a performer who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
It was another big night for “Succession” as the HBO show won outstanding drama series for its final season, and outstanding comedy series went to the FX series “The Bear.” Both shows topped all others, taking home six awards apiece.
Actors may soon join writers strike after deadline for deal passes
Hollywood actors may soon join screenwriters in a strike on the picket lines. A deadline for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to reach a deal with studios and streaming services passed at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 12.
The SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee then voted unanimously to recommend a strike, which would halt Hollywood productions. An official decision by the guild will be considered by leadership at a meeting later Thursday.
Issues in the negotiations to avoid and actors strike include better residuals with streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon, as well as the use of artificial intelligence technology.
“The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us. Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal,” said Fran Drescher, star of “The Nanny” and SAG-AFTRA’s president and chief negotiator.
The group representing the studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, issued a statement on the deadline passing, saying they are “deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations. This is the Union’s choice, not ours.”
“There are certain streamers that have really kind of changed the way we work and the way we have work,” Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain, who was nominated for her first Emmy for playing Tammy Wynette in “George & Tammy,” told The Associated Press Wednesday. “And the contracts really haven’t caught up to the innovation that’s happened.”
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since early May of 2023. If the actors go on strike, it would be the first time since 1960 that the two guilds would be on strike at the same time.
The major unions in Hollywood issued a joint statement extending their “unwavering support and solidarity” of SAG-AFTRA.
“Hollywood must be a place where every worker, on-screen and off, is treated according to the value their skills and talents command,” the statement from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Teamsters, Hollywood Basic Crafts, the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Writers Guild of America East and the Writers Guild of America West said.
The unions’ statement continued, “While the studios have collective worth of trillions of dollars, billions of viewers globally, and sky-high profits, this fight is not about actors against the studios, but rather about workers across all crafts and departments in the industry standing together to prevent mega-corporations from eroding the conditions we fought decades to achieve.”
Chinese hackers target government officials: July 13 rundown
Chinese hackers breached the email accounts belonging to top government officials, and Hollywood actors could join writers in striking. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Chinese hackers breach U.S. government email accounts
Microsoft email accounts belonging to top government officials and agencies have been breached by Chinese hackers, according to statements from Microsoft and the White House. Affected agencies include the State Department and the Commerce Department.
According to The Washington Post, hackers accessed the email account of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Sources familiar with the investigation said the Chinese hackers also targeted a handful of other government officials.
The FBI had previously said Beijing has a larger hacking program than all other governments combined. The latest breach could escalate cybersecurity concerns regarding China.
“We always look at incidents such as this and seek to learn how to better protect our systems,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Wednesday, July 12. “And of course, we engage in conversation with the third-party providers about how they can better protect the systems that they provide to us.”
Russian general dismissed over criticism of leadership
A Russian general said he was dismissed after telling military leadership about the dire situation on the front lines of the war with Ukraine. Major General Ivan Popov said Russian soldiers had been stabbed in the back by the failings of military leadership.
Popov also said the Russian army lacked proper reconnaissance of enemy artillery and counter artillery systems. His criticism and subsequent dismissal comes less than three weeks after the Wagner group staged a brief but significant revolt against Russia, further demonstrating discontent within Russian fighters as the country continues the biggest land war in Europe since World War 2.
“Putin still wrongly believes that he can outlast Ukraine. He can’t believe it’s their land, their country and their future. And even after all this time, Putin still doubts our staying power,” President Joe Biden said Wednesday in his closing remarks at this week’s NATO summit. “He’s still making a bad bet that the conviction and the unity among the United States and our allies and partners will break down.”
Tornado spotted near Chicago’s O’Hare airport
A tornado was spotted near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Wednesday night. Just behind planes on the tarmac, a funnel and dark clouds hovered in the skies, grounding nearly 700 flights as pilots waited for the powerful storm to pass through.
Homes were lost and trees and powerlines were toppled in the suburbs. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage at the airport.
Ray Epps sues Fox News over Jan. 6 charges
Among the thousands of people participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, Ray Epps became the center of a conspiracy theory accusing him of being an FBI informant, at the Capitol to incite the crowd. Several Fox News hosts ran with the story, with former primetime host Tucker Carlson often questioning why Epps hadn’t been arrested when hundreds of others had.
Epps has now sued Fox News for defamation. According to the suit, Epps was informed in May of 2023 that he faces criminal charges for his actions on Jan. 6. Epps blames the charges on “the relentless attacks by Fox and Tucker Carlson and the resulting political pressure.”
The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of Delaware, the same court where Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox over its coverage of the 2020 presidential election. Before trial was set to begin, Fox agreed to settle that lawsuit for $787 million. Soon after, Carlson was ousted.
Hollywood actors strike looms
Hollywood actors may soon join screenwriters on the picket lines. A deadline for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to reach a deal with studios and streaming services passed at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
The SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee then voted unanimously to recommend a strike, which would halt Hollywood productions. Issues in the negotiations include better residuals with streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon, as well as the use of AI technology.
“There are certain streamers that have really kind of changed the way we work and the way we have work,” actress Jessica Chastain said Wednesday. “And the contracts really haven’t caught up to the innovation that’s happened.”
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since early May of 2023. If the actors go on strike, it would be the first time since 1960 that the two guilds would be on strike at the same time.
Elon Musk creates new company “xAI”
Elon Musk has begun his next business venture. This time, he’s entering the space of artificial intelligence.
Musk said he built “xAI” with a goal to “understand reality and the true nature of the universe.” He hired researchers from Google, OpenAI and other top tech firms to be part of his initial xAI team.
According to Musk, xAI will be its own entity, separate from his other businesses like Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX. However, Musk also said the companies will work closely together.