Still Waters

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The Road to the Mountain

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Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David is back in great shape for a new season of laughs, mostly at his expense.

While this show has had its ups and downs, as is not always easy to hit the target with comedies such as these, which feature a heavy dose of improvisation, this time he hits it on the head for sure.

From the early gags, like when it's no longer appropriate to say Happy New Year, to being the victim of a sexual harassment accusation, to his starting a spite store, David will have you in stitches.

Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, and Susie Essman feature prominently throughout, which is great, while J.B. Smoove is only sprinkled here and there, which is even better, since I'm not a big fan of that character.

If you've ever watched, and like, this show, season 10 should really not be missed.

Grade - Season 10: 8.5

The 93rd Academy Awards - The Nominees

This morning the nominations for the 2021 Oscars were announced. The ceremony, because of health concerns related to Covid-19, will be held at both Union Square (for the first time ever) and the Dolby Theater on April 25 at 8:00 PM EDT (view it on ABC).

Of note, the dual nominations for Best Director for women, a first at the Oscars. Furthermore, the category features only one White, male, American nominee. Who will win?

The new members of the Academy are also flexing their newfound power in the acting nominees:

• Only two White males for Best Actor; neither American
• Two Black females for Best Actress
• Three Black males for Best Supporting Actor

The shortlists:

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

Minari

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Father

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Gary Oldman, Mank

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

Steven Yeun, Minari

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Frances McDormand, Nomadland

Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami

Paul Raci, Sound of Metal

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Amanda Seyfried, Mank

Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Olivia Colman, The Father

Youn Yuh-jung, Minari

Best Achievement in Directing

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

David Fincher, Mank

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Lee Isaac Chung, Minari

Thomas Vinterberg, Druk

Best Original Screenplay

Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenneth Lucas, Keith Lucas, Judas and the Black Messiah

Lee Isaac Chung, Minari

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Darius Marder, Abraham Marder, Derek Cianfrance, Sound of Metal

Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Adapted Screenplay

Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman, Lee Kern, Nina Pedrad, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Kemp Powers, One Night in Miami

Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller, The Father

Ramin Bahrani, The White Tiger

Best Animated Feature Film

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Onward

Over the Moon

Soul

WolfWalkers

Best International Feature Film

Colectiv

Druk

Quo vadis, Aida?

Shaonian de ni

The Man Who Sold His Skin

Best Documentary Feature

Colectiv

Crip Camp

El Agente Topo

My Octopus Teacher

Time

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)

Terence Blanchard, Da 5 Bloods

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Mank

Emile Mosseri, Minari

James Newton Howard, News of the World

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste, Soul

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

Richard Göransson, Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, "Husavik"

H.E.R., D'Mile, Tiara Thomas, Judas and the Black Messiah, "Fight for You"

Diane Warren, Laura Pausini, La vita davanti a sé, 'Io Si (Seen)"

Leslie Odom Jr., Sam Ashworth, One Night in Miami, "Speak Now"

Celeste, Daniel Pemberton, The Trial of the Chicago 7, "Hear My Voice"

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

News of the World

Nomadland

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Achievement in Film Editing

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Father

Best Achievement in Production Design

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Mank

News of the World

Tenet

The Father

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Emma.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Mank

Mulan

Pinocchio

Best Sound

Greyhound

Mank

News of the World

Soul

Sound of Metal

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

Emma.

Hillbilly Elegy

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Mank

Pinocchio

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Love and Monsters

Mulan

Tenet

The Midnight Sky

The One and Only Ivan

Best Documentary Short Subject

A Concerto Is a Conversation

A Love Song for Latasha

Colette

Do Not Split

Hunger Ward

Best Animated Short Film

Burrow

Genius Loci

If Anything Happens I Love You

Já-Fólkið

Opera

Best Live Action Short Film

Feeling Through

The Letter Room

The Present

Two Distant Strangers

White Eye

The 63rd Grammy Awards - The Winners

Last night's ceremony, hosted by a chipper Trevor Noah, who kept the proceedings humming along nicely, saw big wins by women overall, upending years of being ignored in favor of their male counterparts.

Beyoncé, with her four wins out of nine total nominations, set a new record for Grammys won by women, while also tying uber-producer Quincy Jones, the current still-living record holder, with 28 trophies. The overall record stands at 31, so she'll undoubtedly be on top of everyone in a few short years …

Nice performances overall, even though the best moment was the In Memoriam segment, which featured several outstanding tributes.

Here are the winners in the main categories. For the full list, head on over here:

Album of the Year

"Chilombo," Jhené Aiko

"Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)," Black Pumas

"Everyday Life," Coldplay

"Djesse Vol. 3," Jacob Collier

"Women in Music Pt. III," Haim

"Future Nostalgia," Dua Lipa

"Hollywood's Bleeding," Post Malone

"Folklore," Taylor Swift

Record of the Year

"Black Parade," Beyoncé

"Colors," Black Pumas

"Rockstar," DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch

"Say So," Doja Cat

"Everything I Wanted," Billie Eilish

"Don't Start Now," Dua Lipa

"Circles," Post Malone

"Savage," Megan Thee Stallion

Song of the Year

"Black Parade," (performed by Beyoncé)

"The Box," (performed by Roddy Ricch)

"Cardigan," (performed by Taylor Swift)

"Circles," (performed by Post Malone)

"Don't Start Now," (performed by Dua Lipa)

"Everything I Wanted," (performed by Billie Eilish)

"I Can't Breathe," (performed by H.E.R.)

"If the World Was Ending," (performed by JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels)

Best New Artist

Ingrid Andress

Phoebe Bridgers

Chika

Noah Cyrus

D Smoke

Doja Cat

Kaytranada

Megan Thee Stallion

Best Pop Vocal Album

"Changes," Justin Bieber

"Chromatica," Lady Gaga

"Future Nostalgia," Dua Lipa

"Fine Line," Harry Styles

"Folklore," Taylor Swift

Best Rock Album

"A Hero's Death," Fontaines D.C.

"Kiwanuka," Michael Kiwanuka

"Daylight," Grace Potter

"Sound & Fury," Sturgill Simpson

"The New Abnormal," The Strokes

Best Alternative Music Album

"Fetch the Bolt Cutters," Fiona Apple

"Hyperspace," Beck

"Punisher," Phoebe Bridgers

"Jamie," Brittany Howard

"The Slow Rush," Tame Impala

Best Progressive R&B Album

"Chilombo," Jhené Aiko

"Ungodly Hour," Chloe X Halle

"Free Nationals," Free Nationals

"____ Yo Feelings," Robert Glasper

"It Is What It Is," Thundercat

Best Rap Album

"Black Habits," D Smoke

"Alfredo," Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist

"A Written Testimony," Jay Electronica

"King's Disease," Nas

"The Allegory," Royce Da 5'9"

Best Country Album

Lady Like," Ingrid Andress

"Your Life Is a Record," Brandy Clark

"Wildcard," Miranda Lambert

"Nightfall," Little Big Town

"Never Will," Ashley McBryde

Best Latin Pop or Urban Album

"YHLQMDLG," Bad Bunny

"Por Primera Vez," Camilo

"Mesa Para Dos," Kany García

"Pausa," Ricky Martin

"3:33," Debi Nova

True Detective

The disappearance of two young kids, brother and sister, triggers a police investigation led by two hardened detectives, Wayne Hays and Roland West.

The suspects are multiple, but the clues few and even quite strange. Eventually the crime is pinned on someone, but is that really the end of it?

True Detective burst onto the scene years ago with an explosive season 1, only to noticeably drop qualitatively in season 2.

This third chapter took several years to put together (perhaps because of the backlash against the second), and gets a lot of things right, especially thanks to the always fantastic work by Mahershala Ali, but I wasn't overly-impressed.

Mostly, I found the screenplay to have a couple glaring holes that, in this type of show, really do stand out and leave the audience absent explanation.

Also, I felt like too much time was devoted to the love story and marriage of Hays and his wife. Character development is always great, but at times it felt like their story, while intertwined with the kids' disappearance, overtook the main narrative.

Still, it's definitely an enjoyable show.

Grade - Season 3: 6

Star Trek: Picard

Years have passed since he was captain of the starship Enterprise, and Jean-Luc Picard has now retired to his earthbound Chateau, where he mostly minds his vineyards.

One day, a stranger named Dahj shows up searching for help and answers after she was almost abducted at gunpoint.

The little information Dahj has points to a wide ranging and far reaching conspiracy that involves the Romulans, the Federation arch-enemies, and implies the existence of other androids in the likeness of Picard's beloved Data, in spite of a long standing ban on all forms of synthetic life.

Unable to get answers from the current leadership of the Federation, Picard takes matters into his own hands, puts together a ragtag crew, and sets out to uncover the truth.

After the successful launch of Star Trek: Discovery, the standalone Picard is another surefire hit in the Trek canon, and what a joy it is to see Patrick Stewart playing this character again!

Grade - Season 1: 8

Westworld

Finally free of the confines of Westworld, Dolores sets out to accrue wealth and power, since those are the things that dominate the world of humans.

She's not alone, of course, having successfully smuggled out a few pearls during her daring escape. But who do they represent?

Dolores's main targets are Rehoboam, a powerful AI that seemingly controls everyone's lives, and its elusive creator.

Meanwhile, Bernard tries to make sense of everything that has happened to date, but it's not an easy task.

Maeve, Charlotte, and William are but a few of the returning familiar faces, while a new character, Caleb, strikes up an unusual alliance with Dolores, unsure whether she cares more about justice or revenge.

Before the end of the season, many questions are answered and a few more presented, as per usual with this uber-cerebral show that gets better and better with time.

Grade - Season 3: 9

HFPA's Diversity Controversy

Due to this past weekend's Golden Globes ceremony in Los Angeles, the HFPA was in the news quite a bit recently, especially after it was reported that not a single member of the association is Black.

I'm usually on board with calls to increase diversity in any type of organization or company, but this time I disagree.

Let me explain. According to Wikipedia (emphasis mine):

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) is a non-profit organization of journalists and photographers who report on the entertainment industry activity and interests in the United States for media (newspaper, magazine and book publication, television and radio broadcasting) predominantly outside the U.S. The HFPA consists of about 90 members from approximately 55 countries with a combined following of more than 250 million. It conducts the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony in Los Angeles every January, which honors notable examples of film and television and achievements in entertainment businesses.

To retain "Active" status, each member must be currently accredited by the Motion Picture Association of America and must submit clippings of their work every year to renew their active status or be reassigned to a non-voting affiliate status.

Requirements for active membership include primary residence in Southern California, attendance in at least four monthly general membership meetings and a minimum of four published articles or photographs per year outside the US.

From this bit of information it is clear that:

1. the HFPA doesn't represent every country in the world, in fact, just over a quarter of them;
2. its membership is potentially volatile, unlike membership in the Academy Awards. For example, if a publication finds itself in economic distress, it can decide to recall its assigned journalist and perhaps rejoin the organization at a later date.

I would then venture to argue that those 55 countries are mostly within Europe (with its traditionally large majority White populations) or are similarly advanced economically. By this, I mean that very likely no African nation sends representatives to the US to be part of the HFPA.

Is it then realistic or even fair to expect (or demand!) that other countries select their journalists based on their race? And then to expect that some of them (which ones?) ensure that they're Black?

I would imagine a country like Finland, or Germany, to have an overall fairly White population, which would also mean that their journalists are very likely going to be White as well. If a Swedish or Spanish or Greek newspaper wants to send a journalist to the HFPA, and has no Black journalists on staff, what could they do?

My more general point is that the United States is considered a melting pot for the many different nationalities of origin of its people, but the rest of the world is hardly like it in this regard.

Let's posit a hypothetical: 20 central African countries decide to join the HFPA and send a representative. Those 20 new members would almost assuredly be Black, because their countries' populations are likely almost all Black, so those who become journalists would be Black as well. Would anyone complain that the African delegation isn't representative of other ethnicities because all their representatives are Black? Of course not!

In conclusion, the HFPA's membership shouldn't really reflect the world, because participation isn't mandatory and it's not made up of people from every country; that's what the UN is for. If there were only White males, I would share in calling them out for not allowing women, but that's not the case (in fact, two of the three representatives who went onstage to try and quell the criticism last Sunday were women, and one was from India -- and wasn't a blonde, tall, Barbie-look-alike; and the man, from Turkey, wasn't actually pale white either).

I think a lot of work needs to be done to achieve equality or parity, but targeting the HFPA is a misplaced effort and fails to consider their extenuating circumstances.

The 78th Annual Golden Globes - The Winners

The Golden Globes' ceremony was last night and, like everything else this past year, it had to adapt to a world beset by Covid-19. Its lovely couple of hostesses, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, split their duties between Los Angeles and New York, but worked in tandem as flawlessly as if they were side-by-side.

The Oscars are going host-less again this year, which is unfortunate. A host sets the tone of the show and helps moving things along, both excellent reasons to have one, I think.

Given that the ceremony had to be as virtual as possible, no stars were in attendance, so the few people in the audience were actually first responders, which was a laudable act and a great idea on the part of the HFPA. Also, watching the stars in their own homes allowed us a more personal peak than what we usually get, which was also interesting.

Having said that, I do think that Jason Sudeikis should have had the good sense of wearing something more appropriate. Sure, you're logging in from the comfort of your home, and no, we don't really expect you to wear a tuxedo, but perhaps a decent sweater? That sweatshirt was a step too far, in my opinion, and frankly made him look like one of those lazy teenagers that can't even bother to get out of bed and their pajamas when logging into a virtual classroom. It's just sloppy.

I enjoyed the comedy skits about the Globes' bad speeches and the Hollywood tourists, but it became apparent that the show's director had lost track of time. After the first hour or so, which saw several speeches drag on, almost everyone started getting played off-screen by the dreaded background music, including winners of the most prestigious awards!

At least they had the good sense not to do it to Chadwick Boseman's widow, whose acceptance speech was incredibly touching and moving.

Norman Lear and Jane Fonda both got great presentations for their special awards, showcasing their incredible careers and lives. Their speeches were very good as well.

I was glad to see a woman win Best Director (and her film win Best Picture), and also loved seeing Jodie Foster accept her award with her wife sitting next her, with whom she shared a sweet kiss. Representation matters, and seeing these things matters, because they help normalize them.

And here are the winners:

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Mank
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
The Father
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Hamilton
Music
Palm Springs
The Prom

Best Motion Picture - Animated

Onward
Over the Moon
Soul
The Croods: A New Age
WolfWalkers

Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language

Deux
Druk
La llorona
La vita davanti a sé
Minari

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Gary Oldman, Mank
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Tahar Rahim, The Mauritanian

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Andy Samberg, Palm Springs
Dev Patel, The Personal History of David Copperfield
James Corden,The Prom
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma.
Kate Hudson, Music
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit
Rosamund Pike, I Care a Lot

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Bill Murray, On the Rocks
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Jared Leto, The Little Things
Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Helena Zengel, News of the World
Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian
Olivia Colman, The Father

Best Director - Motion Picture

Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
David Fincher, Mank
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Regina King, One Night in Miami

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Jack Fincher, Mank
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton, The Father
Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

Judas and the Black Messiah, Fight for You
La vita davanti a sé, Io Sì (Seen)
One Night in Miami, Speak Now
The Trial of the Chicago 7, Hear My Voice
The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Tigress & Tweed

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Mank
James Newton Howard, News of the World
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste, Soul
Ludwig Göransson, Tenet
Alexandre Desplat, The Midnight Sky

Best Television Series - Drama

Lovecraft Country
Ozark
Ratched
The Crown
The Mandalorian

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Emily in Paris
Schitt's Creek
Ted Lasso
The Flight Attendant
The Great

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Al Pacino, Hunters
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Josh O'Connor, The Crown
Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama

Emma Corrin, The Crown
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Laura Linney, Ozark
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Sarah Paulson, Ratched

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Ramy Youssef, Ramy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek
Elle Fanning, The Great
Jane Levy, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
Lily Collins, Emily in Paris

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Bryan Cranston, Your Honor
Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird
Hugh Grant, The Undoing
Jeff Daniels, The Comey Rule
Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Supporting Role

Brendan Gleeson, The Comey Rule
Dan Levy, Schitt's Creek
Donald Sutherland, The Undoing
Jim Parsons, Hollywood
John Boyega, Small Axe

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen's Gambit
Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People
Nicole Kidman, The Undoing
Shira Haas, Unorthodox

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Supporting Role

Annie Murphy, Schitt's Creek
Cynthia Nixon, Ratched
Gillian Anderson, The Crown
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
Julia Garner, Ozark

Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Normal People
Small Axe
The Queen's Gambit
The Undoing
Unorthodox

Cecil B. DeMille Award

Jane Fonda

Carol Burnett Award

Norman Lear