In a recent interview with Awards Radar, Krueger dissected his work as Coach Ben—a role that gave him a fleshed out character, room for creative interpretation, and the physical challenge of often working one-legged after the tortured character went through a stomach churning post-crash amputation. The role required discipline, instinct, and commitment to shape Ben’s heartbreaking journey. Krueger’s words pull back the curtain on how he physically and mentally transformed the character into one whose impact will be felt long after digested.

Krueger’s discipline is evident in his calculated physical evolution, a series-long commitment to mirror Ben’s decline. To help make his physical erosion more prominent the actor did not start with weight loss, instead choosing to gain weight. “I started the long game. I like as much information as I possibly can have. Part of the job of acting is you have to know more than the audience,” shared Krueger.

“At the beginning of season one, I put on a lot of weight. [Coach Ben] is 1990s New Jersey former athlete, muscled out beefcake, perfectly fit. I knew that I could gradually lose the weight. By the time we got to season two, I was down to my normal operating weight,” he explained. “Then going into this season, I started months out. The first script said, ‘Ben looks as gaunt as we’ve ever seen him‘. [Ben] has kind of been off on my own, just grounging for food, trying to catch whatever [he] can. So that was important to me. There’s a whole thing around actors and weights and what they’re doing for roles and… how extreme actors go to me should always be dictated by the story.”

Krueger’s work was not stunt acting, it was layered storytelling. His commitment to Coach’s physical decline conveyed a character who was not only struggling with physical malnourishment as he would abstain from any of the cannibal feasts, but also a loss of morale as he witnessed these young women he coached regress in the most primal of ways. Every glance and stagger felt painfully real, as Ben struggled to stick to his beliefs in a setting that would beat down even the strongest willed.

This season showcased both the physical toll of being stranded in the wilderness and the impact on Coach Ben’s mental state as he responded to voices only he could hear. While fans have numerous theories of voice origins, Krueger revealed that they were not specifically defined by the writers, who trusted him to portray them as a psychological response to Ben’s mental deterioration after six months alone.

“I was talking to whoever I thought might be there, whether it was my subconscious, whether it was my alter ego, whether it was Paul (François Arnaud), I was just trying to make conversation with anybody. That is not the first time that I’ve been talking to somebody.”

Another burning question fans have not been able to shake, who set fire to the cabin. The actor does provide some insight, but no answers, which he feels is kind of the point. “Some stuff we leave a little bit more vague and ambiguous. For instance, I don’t think we’re ever really gonna find out if we’re ever really gonna know who burned down the cabin or what happened to the cabin,” shared Krueger. “I think that’s one of those great stories. Was it Ben? I don’t know, maybe, maybe not. Was it the other other Tai? Was it just a spark that got lifted in the wind from having a bunch of open flames and an old wooden cabin? Who knows? But the important thing is the effect that it had on the group and what happened afterwards, like what transpired because of those events.”

Where discipline laid the groundwork, Krueger’s instincts elevated the final moments of Coach Ben with a prime cut in letting go in one of the most powerful moments of the series. Coach, who is now the captive of the Yellowjackets, wasting away, unwilling to eat. He is gaunt, weakened, disheartened and hoping to die – a shell of the man he was before the crash. His condition is too much for Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) who decides to put him out of his misery. The actor found the closure of his character to be quite fitting. “When I first when I first found out about exactly what the destiny would be, I was like, this is poetic. This is exactly what should happen – it should absolutely be Natalie that does the final act as kind of a mercy killing,” explained Krueger. “And then also just for me as an actor, working with Sophie Thatcher is one of my favorite things in the world.”

“If I have a scene with her, my entire body just relaxes, I know that I’m not gonna have to work too hard, I know that I can just be with her and be present in the moment… I went into that scene… knowing what it was, and having an idea of how it should look. But I also let the idea go because I was like, let’s just see what happens with Sophie and I. We really played off of each other and just kind of let it breathe as much as possible,” continued Krueger. “That naturally led to all of the emotion. This was a long goodbye for the character and for me as an actor on the show as well. So everything just came together really, really beautifully, I thought.”

Krueger’s ability to abandon preconceptions and lean into the energy of each scene created a performance that’s raw, wrenching, and unforgettable—ending a goodbye that gutted fans. It is a testament to an actor who wove discipline, instinct, and courage into every frame. His transformation, presence, and moral weight turned Coach Ben into a character we couldn’t look away from, even as he broke us.

Even post death, Coach Ben’s presence continued to be felt, especially when his decapitated head lead to the literal “WTF!” moment (one of my favorites not only of the series but of recent TV as a whole). Watch the full interview below for: the amputation challenges, learning the fate of his character, funeral parties, Coach Ben ghost detective, and much more.

All three seasons of Yellowjackets are now airing in their entirety on Paramount+.

The post Interview: Steven Krueger On His Transformation For Coach Ben’s Heartbreaking Endgame in ‘Yellowjackets’ appeared first on Awards Radar.

Apple TV+’s The Studio, a satire about the inner workings of Hollywood, led the 2025 Astra TV Awards with a total of 14 nominations, including Best Comedy Series, Best Actor for Seth Rogen, Best Supporting Actor for Sal Saperstein himself, Ike Barinholtz, and two Best Supporting Actress nominations – one for Catherine O’ Hara and the other for Chase Sui Wonders. 

Severance and The Last of Us tied for second place with 13 nominations each. Both series received nominations in multiple acting categories as well as Best Drama Series. Broadcast comedies also dominated with CBS’ Ghosts receiving 11 nominations and ABC’s Abbott Elementary receiving 10. Both shows were nominated for Best Comedy Series, and multiple acting nominations. 

Some of the other top contenders include HBO’s The White Lotus with 11, MAX’s Hacks with 10, Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building with 10, FX’s The Bear with 9, Apple TV+’s Shrinking with 9, CBS’ Matlock with 8, Netflix’s Adolescence with 8, HBO’s The Penguin with 7, ABC’s Will Trent with 6, MAX’s The Pitt with 6, Peacock’s Poker Face with 5, and Showtime’s Yellowjackets with 5. 

Additionally, The Astras have added new Cast Ensemble categories, which will replace the Broadcast, Cable and Streaming series and acting categories. The Astras also plan to introduce new honorary Spotlight Awards that will recognize cast and crew members of current Broadcast, Cable and Streaming shows. 

A complete list of nominees for the 2025 Astra TV Awards can be found below: 

Best Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Ghosts (CBS)
Hacks (HBO/MAX)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Poker Face (Peacock)
Shrinking (Apple TV+)
The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)
The Studio (Apple TV+)
What We Do In The Shadows (FX)

Best Cast Ensemble in a Broadcast Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Animal Control (FOX)
Ghosts (CBS)
St. Denis Medical (NBC)
Shifting Gears (ABC)
The Neighborhood (CBS)

Best Cast Ensemble in a Cable Comedy Series
English Teacher (FX)
Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)
What We Do In The Shadows (FX)

Best Cast Ensemble in a Streaming Comedy Series
Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Hacks (HBO/MAX)
Mid-Century Modern (Hulu)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Poker Face (Peacock)
Shrinking (Apple TV+)
The Bear (FX on Hulu)
The Studio (Apple TV+)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
John Goodman – The Conners (ABC)
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Jason Segel – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Matt Berry – What We Do In The Shadows (FX)
Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Tim Allen – Shifting Gears (ABC)
Utkarsh Ambudkar – Ghosts (CBS)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO/MAX)
Kat Dennings – Shifting Gears (ABC)
Kathryn Hahn – Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)
Natasia Demetriou – What We Do In The Shadows (FX)
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Rose McIver – Ghosts (CBS)
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Asher Grodman – Ghosts (CBS)
Brett Goldstein – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Harrison Ford – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Michael Urie – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Paul W. Downs – Hacks (HBO/MAX)
Román Zaragoza – Ghosts (CBS)
Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Walton Goggins – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Catherine O’Hara – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Chase Sui Wonders – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO/MAX)
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Jessica Williams – Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Liza Colon-Zayas – The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Meg Stalter – Hacks (HBO/MAX)
Sheila Carrasco – Ghosts (CBS)
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Best Writing in a Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary – “Back to School” – Written by Quinta Brunson (ABC)
The Bear – “Napkins” – Written by Catherine Schetina and Christopher Storer (FX on Hulu)
Ghosts – “Pinkus Returns” – Written by Skander Halim and Talia Bernstein (CBS)
Hacks – A Slippery Slope – Written by Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs (HBO/MAX)
Nobody Wants This – “My Girl Bina” – Written by Barbie Adler & Niki Schwartz-Wright (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building – “My Best Friend’s Wedding” – Written by John Hoffman & J. J. Philbin (Hulu)
Shrinking – “The Last Thanksgiving” – Written by Neil Goldman, Bill Lawrence, and Brett Goldstein (Apple TV+)
Somebody Somewhere – “AGG” – Written by Hannah Bos & Paul Thureen and Bridget Everett
The Studio – “The Golden Globes” – Written by Alex Gregory (Apple TV+)
The Studio – “The Promotion” – Written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Peter Huyck & Alex Gregory & Frida Perez (Apple TV+)

Best Directing in a Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary – “Rally” – Directed by Claire Scanlon (ABC)
Ghosts – “Ghostfellas” – Directed by Rose McIver (CBS)
Hacks – “A Slippery Slope” – Directed by Lucia Aniello (HBO/MAX)
Only Murders in the Building – “My Best Friend’s Wedding” – Directed by Jamie Babbit (Hulu)
Poker Face – “Last Looks” – Directed by Natasha Lyonne (Peacock)
Shrinking – “The Last Thanksgiving” – Directed by Bill Lawrence (Apple TV+)
The Bear – “Napkins” – Directed by Ayo Edebiri (FX on Hulu)
The Righteous Gemstones – “Prelude” – Directed by Danny McBride (HBO)
The Studio – “The Oner” – Directed by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Apple TV+)
What We Do In The Shadows – “The Finale” – Directed by Taika Waititi (FX)

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Scott – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Bradley Cooper – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Bradley Cooper – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)
Christopher McDonald – Hacks (HBO/MAX)
John Cena – The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Jon Bernthal – The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Martin Scorsese – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Martin Short – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Ron Howard – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Timothee Chalamet – Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Ariana Grande – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Cynthia Erivo – Poker Face (Peacock)
Kaitlin Olson – Hacks (HBO/MAX)
Kaitlin Olson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Jamie Lee Curtis – The Bear (FX on Hulu)
Mary Holland – Ghosts (CBS)
Melissa McCarthy – Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Quinta Brunson – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Sarah Polley – The Studio (Apple TV+)
Zoë Kravitz – The Studio (Apple TV+)

Best Drama Series
Andor (Disney+)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)
Matlock (CBS)
Severance (Apple TV+)
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
The Last of Us (HBO)
The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
The White Lotus (HBO)
Will Trent (ABC)

Best Cast Ensemble in a Broadcast Network Drama Series
9-1-1 (FOX)
Elsbeth (CBS)
High Potential (ABC)
Matlock (CBS)
The Cleaning Lady (FOX)
Will Trent (ABC)

Best Cast Ensemble in a Cable Drama Series
House of the Dragon (HBO)
Interview with a Vampire (AMC)
Industry (HBO)
Outlander (Starz)
The Last of Us (HBO)
The White Lotus (HBO)

Best Cast Ensemble in Streaming Drama Series
Andor (Disney+)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
Landman (Paramount+)
Lord of The Rings: Rings of Power (Prime Video)
Paradise (Hulu)
Severance (Apple TV+)
The Boys (Prime Video)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)

Best Actor in a Drama Series
Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV+)
Charlie Cox – Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)
Eddie Redmayne – The Day of The Jackal (Peacock)
Gary Oldman – Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
Jacob Anderson – Interview with a Vampire (AMC)
Joshua Jackson – Doctor Odyssey (ABC)
Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO/MAX)
Pedro Pascal – The Last of Us (HBO)
Ramón Rodríguez – Will Trent (ABC)
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise (Hulu)

Best Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (ABC)
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO)
Britt Lower – Severance (Apple TV+)
Carrie Preston – Elsbeth (CBS)
Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Kaitlin Olson – High Potential (ABC)
Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)
Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Melanie Lynskey – Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Nicola Coughlan – Bridgerton (Netflix)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Daniel Sunjata – High Potential (ABC)
James Marsden – Paradise (Hulu)
Jason Isaacs – The White Lotus (HBO)
Jason Ritter – Matlock (CBS)
John Turturro – Severance (Apple TV+)
Sam Reid – Interview with the Vampire (AMC)
Sam Rockwell – The White Lotus (HBO)
Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV+)
Vincent D’Onofrio – Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)
Walton Goggins – The White Lotus (HBO)

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus (HBO)
Allison Janney – The Diplomat (Netflix)
Carrie Coon – The White Lotus (HBO)
Dichen Lachman – Severance (Apple TV+)
Isabela Merced – The Last of Us (HBO)
Jennifer Love Hewitt – 9-1-1 (FOX)
Julianne Nicholson – Paradise (Hulu)
Parker Posey – The White Lotus (HBO)
Skye P. Marshall – Matlock (CBS)
Taylor Dearden – The Pitt (HBO/MAX)

Best Writing in a Drama Series
Andor – “One Year Later” – Written by Tony Gilroy (Disney+)
High Potential – “Pilot” – Written by Drew Goddard, Nicolas Jean, and Stéphane Carrié (ABC)
Matlock – “Pilot” – Written by Jennie Snyder Urman (CBS)
Severance – “Cold Harbor” – Written by Dan Erickson (Apple TV+)
Slow Horses – “Hello, Goodbye” – Written by Will Smith (Apple TV+)
The Diplomat – “Dreadnaught” – Written by Debora Cahn (Netflix)
The Last of Us – Through the Valley – Written by Craig Mazin (HBO)
The Pitt – “7:00 PM” – Written by Joe Sachs and R. Scott Gemmill (HBO/MAX)
The White Lotus – ”Full-Moon Party” – Written by Mike White (HBO)
Will Trent – “Best of Your Recollection” – Written by Rebecca Murga (ABC)

Best Directing in a Drama Series
Andor – “One Year Later” – Directed by Ariel Kleiman (Disney+)
Matlock – “I Was That, Too” – Directed by Hanelle M. Culpepper (CBS)
Severance – ”Chikhai Bardo” – Directed by Jessica Lee Gagné (Apple TV+)
Severance – “Cold Harbor” – Directed by Ben Stiller (Apple TV+)
Squid Game – “Friend or Foe” Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk (Netflix)
The Last of Us – “Through the Valley” – Directed by Mark Mylod (HBO)
The Pitt – “7:00 A.M.” – Directed by John Wells (HBO/MAX)
The White Lotus – ”Full-Moon Party” – Directed by Mike White (HBO)
Will Trent – “I’m a Guest Here” – Directed by Ramón Rodríguez (ABC)
Yellowjackets – “Croak” – Directed by Jennifer Morrison (Showtime)

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Cheyenne Jackson – Doctor Odyssey (ABC)
Danny Ramirez – The Last of Us (HBO)
Ethan Slater – Elsbeth (CBS)
Gong Yoo – Squid Game (Netflix)
Jeffrey Wright – The Last of Us (HBO)
Joe Pantoliano – The Last of Us (HBO)
Joel McHale – Yellowjackets (Showtime)
John Noble – Severance (Apple TV+)
Scott Glenn – The White Lotus (HBO)
Yul Vazquez – Will Trent (ABC)

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Alanna Ubach – The Last of Us (HBO)
Angela Bassett – Doctor Odyssey (ABC)
Catherine O’Hara – The Last of Us (HBO)
D’Arcy Carden – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Gweneline Christie – Severance (Apple TV+)
Hilary Swank – Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Kaitlyn Dever – The Last of Us (HBO)
Mary Louise Parker – Matlock (CBS)
Merritt Wever – Severance (Apple TV+)
Tracey Ullman – Black Doves (Netflix)

Best Limited Series
Adolescence (Netflix)
Black Mirror (Netflix)
Dope Thief (Apple TV+)
Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
The Penguin (HBO)

Best Television Movie
Another Simple Favor (Prime Video)
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
G20 (Prime Video)
Rebel Ridge (Netflix)
The Gorge (Apple TV+)
The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (Hulu)

Best Cast Ensemble in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Adolescence (Netflix)
Black Mirror (Netflix)
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
G20 (Prime Video)
The Penguin (HBO)

Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Aaron Pierre – Rebel Ridge (Netflix)
Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief (Apple TV+)
Colin Farrell – The Penguin (HBO)
Jake Gyllenhaal – Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
Miles Teller – The Gorge (Apple TV+)
Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)

Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Amanda Seyfried – Long Bright River (Peacock)
Anya Taylor Joy – The Gorge (Apple TV+)
Cristin Milioti – The Penguin (HBO)
Kaitlyn Dever – Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix)
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
Renee Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Ashley Walters – Adolescence (Netflix)
Clancy Brown – The Penguin (HBO)
Dan Stevens – Zero Day (Netflix)
Hugh Grant – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
Javier Bardem – Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie
AnnaSophia Robb – Rebel Ridge (Netflix)
Cristin Milioti – Black Mirror (Netflix)
Deirdre O’Connell – The Penguin (HBO)
Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)
Jenny Slate – Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
Ruth Negga – Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)

Best Writing in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Adolescence – “Episode 3” – Written by Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham (Netflix)
Black Mirror – “Eulogy” – Written by Ella Road and Charlie Brooke (Netflix)
Dying for Sex – “It’s Not That Serious” – Written by Shannon Murphy, Kim Rosenstock, and Elizabeth Meriwether (FX on Hulu)
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – “The Hurt Man” – Written by Ian Brennan (Netflix)
Rebel Ridge – Written by Jeremy Saulnier (Netflix)
The Penguin – “A Great or Little Thing” – Written by Lauren LeFranc (HBO)

Best Directing in a Limited Series or TV Movie
Adolescence – “Episode 3” – Directed by Philip Barantini (Netflix)
Black Mirror – “Eulogy” (Netflix)
Rebel Ridge – Directed by Jeremy Saulnier (Netflix)
The Gorge – Directed by Scott Derrickson (Apple TV+)
The Penguin – “Cent’anni” – Directed by Helen Shaver (HBO)
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – Directed by Michael Uppendahl (Netflix)

Best Animated Series
Batman: Caped Crusader (Prime Video)
Harley Quinn (HBO/MAX)
Invincible (Prime Video)
Love Death + Robots (Netflix)
Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
The Simpsons (FOX)

Best Anime Series
Dandadan (Crunchyroll)
Dragon Ball Daima (Netflix)
Fire Force (Adult Swim)
Lazarus (Adult Swim)
Solo Leveling (Crunchyroll)
The Apothecary Diaries (Crunchyroll)

Best Lead Voice-Over Performance
Kaley Cuoco – Harley Quinn (HBO/MAX)
Alex Borstein – Family Guy: Holiday Special (FOX)
Seth MacFarlane – Family Guy: Holiday Special (FOX)
Aleks Le – Solo Leveling (Crunchyroll)
Johnny Yong Bosch – Devil May Cry (Netflix)
Stephanie Nadolny – Dragon Ball Daima (Netflix)

Best Supporting Voice-Over Performance
Caitlin Glass – One Piece (Crunchyroll)
J. K. Simmons – Invincible (Prime Video)
Jack Quaid – Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
Jamie Chung – Batman: Caped Crusader (Prime Video)
Justin Briner – Solo Leveling (Crunchyroll)
Xolo Mariduena – Sakamoto Days (Netflix)

Best Comedy or Standup Special
Adam Sandler: Love You (Netflix)
Ali Wong: Single Lady (Netflix)
Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years (Hulu)
Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life (HBO)
Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go (HBO)
Iliza Shlesinger: A Different Animal (Prime Video)
Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…(Netflix)
Roy Wood Jr.: Lonely Flowers (Hulu)
Sarah Silverman: PostMortem (Netflix)
Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking (HBO)

Best Documentary TV Movie
Beatles ‘64 (Disney+)
I am Celine Dion (Prime Video)
Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words (Prime Video)
Music By John Williams (Disney+)
Number One on the Call Sheet (Apple TV+)
Will & Harper (Netflix)

Best Docuseries or Nonfiction Series
Baylen Out Loud (TLC)
Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing (Netflix)
Conan O’Brien Must Go (HBO)
Pee-wee as Himself (HBO/MAX)
Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers (PBS)
Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)

Best Game Show
Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity? (Prime Video)
Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
Celebrity Jeopardy (ABC)
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (ABC)
Jeopardy Masters (ABC)
The Floor (FOX)

Best Reality Series
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Food Network)
Love is Blind (Netflix)
Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
Selling Sunset (Netflix)
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu)
Shark Tank (ABC)

Best Reality Competition Series
Beast Games (Prime Video)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Ru Paul’s Drag Race (MTV)
The Masked Singer (FOX)
The Traitors (Peacock)
Top Chef (Bravo)

Best Talk Show
Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney (Netflix)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (Netflix)
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)

Best Variety Series or Special
Beyonce Bowl (Netflix)
Ladies and Gentlemen…50 Years of Saturday Night Live Music (NBC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Saturday Night Live: The Anniversary Special (NBC)
The Oscars (ABC)

About The Astra Awards:

The Astra Awards recognizes and celebrates the best in film, television and the creative arts. The awards are voted on by members of the Hollywood Creative Alliance, which is a 501 c6 membership-based, not-for-profit organization. The organization’s inclusive membership includes critics, entertainment journalists, content creators, industry insiders, and creatives with a shared passion for celebrating excellence in entertainment.

The post The 2025 Astra TV Awards Nominations Announced: The Studio, The Last of Us and Severance Lead The Pack appeared first on Awards Radar.

This year’s musical acts reflect the international success anime has seen over the past year. Creepy Nuts, the 2025 Anime Award nominated hip-hop duo behind viral hits “Otonoke” and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”, the opening themes for Dan Da Dan and Mashle: Magic and Muscles, respectively. FLOW, the legendary rock band featured in the openings for Naruto and Code Geass, will perform “DAYS” in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven.  LiSA, Spotify’s most streamed Japanese artist overseas in 2020 and the singer of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s “Gurenge”, will take the stage for a special performance. 

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards will take place on Sunday, May 25, 2025 with the live ceremony hosted by renowned voice actress Sally Amaki and popular entertainer Jon Kabira. Beginning with the pre-show at 5:00PM JST and mainshow at 6:00PM JST, the livestream will be available for global tune-in on Crunchyroll’s Twitch and YouTube channels as well as SONY PICTURES CORE and the Sony Group Corp Global YouTube Channel. The 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards will be available in 9 languages, including English, Arabic, Brazilian-Portuguese, Castillian-Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, and Latin-Spanish. 

The full music performance slate and additional live ceremony and pre-show presenters are listed below, in alphabetical order:

Musical Performances by:

• Creepy Nuts—2025 Anime Award nominated hip-hop duo behind viral hits “Otonoke” and “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”, the opening themes for Dan Da Dan and Mashle: Magic and Muscles, respectively.
• FLOW—Rock band, performing at the Anime Awards in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Eureka Seven.
• LiSA—Japanese singer and iconic voice behind Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’s opening theme “Gurenge”

Live Ceremony and Pre-Show Presenters:

• J Balvin—GRAMMY nominated global music superstar
• Kacey Musgraves—GRAMMY award winning singer, songwriter, & musician
• Zak Penn—Screenwriter

The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading yearly awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime. The ninth annual Anime Awards will take place at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on May 25, 2025. Sony Music Solutions Inc., part of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Dempsey Productions will support Crunchyroll in the execution of the event. The event will be livestreamed for global audiences.

More information can be found on the Crunchyroll Anime Awards Official Website and across X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Channel. 

The post 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Votes Top 51 Million as the Awards Show Powers Up on Performers and Presenters appeared first on Awards Radar.

The limited series based on a podcast of the same name, tells the true story of Molly Kochan (played by Michelle Williams), a woman who after learning she has terminal breast cancer leaves her unfulfilling marriage to explore her sexuality and live fully in her final days. By her side is her best friend Nikki Boyer (Jenny Slate), for support and companionship as she confronts mortality and seeks the joy that she was always missing through sex.

The series tackles incredibly serious themes of mortality, grief, abuse, and sexual liberation with unflinching honesty; it also provides countless laughs and some of the most raunchy scenarios to ever be offered to the general audience. While it is as kinky and funny as can be it is never irreverent or loses focus on the poignant story it is telling, allowing it to work on many levels for those able to get past their inhibitions and embrace the beauty presented.

At its emotional core is  the deepening bond between Molly and Nikki, a friendship that transcends typical portrayals, and knowing it is based on a real-life relationship makes it only more engaging. Awards Radar spoke with some of the cast and team behind the series, for some fascinating conversations that explored what makes the series connect with so many.

(Watch the full interviews below)

“I think it was very much this story on the podcast that immediately grabbed both of us,” explained Kim Rosenstock who co-created, co-produced, and co-wrote the series with Elizabeth Meriwether. “Just the idea that like they were already really good friends, but being in this situation kind of brings their relationship to such a deeper level.” 

The unique friendship dynamic struck a chord with the creators, making this a story they needed to tell. “We don’t often get to experience that with our friends. Like she (Molly) makes her (Nikki) her life partner… essentially, her caretaker for her final years – and Nikki accepts,” explained Rosenstock. We’ve seen so many wonderful shows and films about female friendship, but I think this one felt so specific and that question of ‘Will you die with me?’”

With that concept of “dying” with someone alone being a wrecking ball to the heart – it is a miracle how much the comedic aspects of the series and Molly’s inspiring perseverance serve as a life preserver preventing audiences from drowning in sorrow. Playing Molly required a special actress, one who could take on a role demanding both raw vulnerability and fearless bravado. 

“I was so daunted by casting this show because I was like, ‘How are we going to find an actress that’s going to want to tackle all of these moments? Sex scenes, death scenes. She’s in almost every moment on screen. It’s a marathon.” shared Meriwether.

Michelle Williams proved to be the perfect fit. “She listened to the podcast and kind of fell in love with Molly,” shared Meriwether. “Something about Molly’s voice and the character just really got under her skin. And as soon as she said yes to the show, she just dove in. She went through every moment of the script and she was fearless.” 

Williams’ performance anchors the series, bringing Molly’s journey – from bold sexual exploration to confronting mortality – to vivid life, balancing humor and heartbreak with remarkable depth, making it easy to momentarily forget that Dying for Sex is about a woman’s final days. Williams fully embodies the role, striking a delicate balance that renders the show gripping and deeply moving, stirring emotions and ideas that resonate even more deeply with each passing episode.

Producer Nikki Boyer (Molly’s real-life best friend, played by Slate) discussed how the series’ universal themes resonated far beyond the screen, touching audiences she never expected. “I was blown away by the reach that the story had. People were letting me know about their own cancer journeys. People were telling me about their sexual relationships and how they’re feeling confined and don’t know what to do, or they’re leaving a marriage as well,” shared Boyer. 

“Then I had one guy who was a truck driver and was listening like ‘on accident’ while he was on his truck route,” shared Boyer. “He’s like, ‘I pulled over and I called my mom and I haven’t spoken to my mom in 10 years. But hearing Molly’s mom and their connection through the podcast, I was like, well, what am I waiting for?’”

Rob Delaney, plays “Neighbor Guy,” a slightly off-putting tenant whose relationship with Molly evolves in completely unexpected ways on many levels. The actor considered working with Michelle Williams “really special.”

“I was consciously aware of how lucky I was doing it. Her reputation is justified and to act opposite her is probably one of the great privileges that an actor can have in this business,” Delaney revealed. 

He relished the opportunity to defy typecasting allowing him to explore “the whole emotional palette” for the series. “I mean like I’m six foot four. I have a heavy brow. It would be maybe easier or more expected for me to just play like heavies or whatever, but the fact is it’s way more fun, interesting, challenging and rewarding to play people who do cry, to play people who do fall down and are fallible and vulnerable,” he explained. Delaney’s performance adds yet another layer to the series, showcasing the strength found in emotional openness even if sometimes it is a literal kick to the balls.

Dying for Sex refuses to shy away from life’s complexities, taking them head-on with humor and sexual daring are as bold as its heartbreak is raw. All episodes are now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. (***1/2 our of 4).

Watch the interviews in their entirety below.

The post Interview: ‘Dying for Sex’ Finds Humor & Heart in the Hardest Truths appeared first on Awards Radar.

Deborah Vance’s journey takes a big leap onto a new stage as she takes on her dream job as a late-night host, an accomplishment that comes with its own challenges.  “It’s sort of, be careful what you wish for. I mean, the pressure gets to her, definitely,” Smart shared. Expect a season steeped in the whirlwind of late-night television, plenty of laughs and chaos behind the curtain. “We always knew we wanted Deborah to get her white whale, to get this late-night show. So there is a lot of behind-the-scenes drama and comedy that happens at a late-night show,” said Paul W. Downs, who is the series creator, writer, and also stars as Jimmy.

Deborah’s inner struggles have the seasoned comedian feeling the pressures and doubts of the new job, taking the unique form of a coyote that makes multiple appearances. “All of her fears have sort of been turned into this creature, who keeps popping up. Living in California, they’re always kind of this specter out in your yard,” said Jean Smart.

These doubts carry over to the workplace in the form of clashes and comedy in the new backdrop of late night as Deborah steps into her new role. Many of these clashes are stirred up by Ava (Hannah Einbinder), the often belittled writer, who now serves as head writer for the late night program. Hostility should be no surprise for fans who have watched them butt heads since season one, Especially after Ava secured the new head writer position after blackmailing Deborah with potentially career-damaging emails.

Their complex and often volatile relationship remains at the show’s core, always teeming with tension as its meter sways from friendly to toxic and back again. “I give credit to the writing for that—it continually amazes me that they are able to find more and more for us,” said Smart. “The fact that they’ve been able to keep this dynamic going, because that was my biggest fear after the first season, is that now that they’re kind of friendly, is that going to be as much fun?”

The Deborah/Ava relationship is like oil and vinegar, while they do not alway mix they naturally work well together. That does not mean you should expect smooth sailing for season 4, anything but. The characters are at eachothers throats early and often as they try fiercely conflict over Deborah’s comedic voice for her new show. One charged moment has the persistent tension escalate from the series trademark verbal barbs to a near physical altercation. “It’s a very kind of threatening, threatening moment, but to play opposite her, everything’s easy because it’s in her eyes,” Jean Smart, with Hannah Einbinder adding, “We are so deeply close to these characters and so it really does just come naturally, and the dialog leads the way. And so we’re able to just embody that and it frickin’ rips.”

Now that Ava has crow-barred her way into the position, she and Deborah have to find a way to not only co-exist, but to also deliver ratings while both want to maintain their comedic integrity. The shift in the relationship dynamic puts Ava in a new position of power, a situation that keeps them at odds and the comedy at peak levels. “A lot of people ask me, ‘Has Ava turned bad?’”, shared Einbinder. “I think Ava is in a position, her hand has kind of been forced. She has to kind of speak Deborah’s language. It’s been really cool to get to play the adversarial thing.”

Season 4 is poised to deliver all the sharp wit, emotional depth, as well as the messy thrill of Deborah and Ava’s new late-night venture. The series is as strong as ever as it heads off on a wild ride this season – one that includes a wild Las Vegas road trip, guest appearances from names like Jimmy Kimmel and the legendary Carol Burnett, and enough tension you can put it with a knife. The first two episodes of Hacks are now streaming on Max, with new episodes of the 10 episode season dropping every Thursday until the May 9th finale.

The post ‘Hacks’ Season Four Brings Deborah/Ava Tension To the Late Night Stage appeared first on Awards Radar.

When Yellowjackets premiered in 2021, it was a dark, tense, haunting marvel—secrets dripping from every frame, mysteries like the Pit Girl’s identity, the Antler Queen’s rise, and cryptic symbols keeping us guessing. Fans, myself included, dissected every feral twist: Who survived? What’s stalking them in the wilderness? Season 1 was a slow-burn triumph. 

Then came Season 2 in 2023—a sophomore slump for many. It had moments of brilliance: like the raw emotion of Shauna’s (Sophie Nélisse) heart-wrenching miscarriage, Walter (Elijah Wood) and Misty’s (Christina Ricci) Citizen Detectives adding some quirky fun to the typically ominous series, young Misty’s involvement in the death of Crystal (Samantha Hanratty) the long-awaited, stomach churning cannibal feasting on Jackie (Ella Purnell). Even with plenty to enjoy, at the same time pacing faltered, underdeveloped threads like adult Lottie’s (Simone Kessell) cult, and Natalie’s (Juliette Lewis) abrupt death felt like a gut punch to nowhere, and left many fans wondering if the show’s untamed spark had fizzled. Hope lingered, but doubt crept in.

After a strike-delayed wait, Season 3 landed in 2025. It opened with a breathless chase through the snowy woods—Natalie (Sophie Thatcher), now Antler Queen, hunting with the desperate teen pack—promising the chaos we desire.  Plus, a power struggle was taking form with Shauna’s rage and paranoia peeking through her facade. Yet, by Episode 5, “Did Tai Do That?,” both timelines felt lost in the forest of trees, unsure where it was headed. 

The teens’ storyline is the stronger of the two but still erratic at times, talking llamas, an attempt to bring more girls to the forefront, and the ep4 tribal trial of Coach Ben (Steven Krueger) exposed both the best and worst of the series all at once. Back in the 2020s timeline, the adult versions drifted without purpose, often treading water as we waited for a spark of the intensity of season one. Van (Lauren Ambrose) and Tai (Tawny Cypress) started the season off with a shocking twist, but the relationship pulse started to fade after, unable to fully capitalize off it. Killing off another fan favorite, Lottie, off-camera and without explanation, only added to the frustration. 

It was stop and go, stop and go. Every time it appeared the season was finding creative momentum, we had to sit through some seemingly unnecessary side conversation or worse a cringy fake tech support call (even the great Melanie Lynskey struggled to make that scene work). Ep 5 turned out to be IMDb’s lowest-rated episode yet – and for good reason, it was messy.

Has our beloved series jumped the shark? Is the magic gone, lost in the clutter of ambitious writing gone unleashed? The concern was rising, even for this day-one supporter of the series. 

That’s when episode 6, “Thanksgiving (Canada),” flipped the script. It starts unassumingly: the Sadeckis—Shauna, Jeff (Warren Cole), and Callie (Sarah Desjardins) —hunkered down in the motel, spooked by a DAT tape of wilderness screams Callie found. Shauna’s paranoia spikes, convinced an unexplained stalker is closing in on her family. Meanwhile, in the 90s timeline, things are getting darker by the minute: Natalie mercy-kills Coach Ben, and his decapitated head ends up like a trophy on the feasting table—proving the girls’ humanity is tattering. Their taste in decor, though? Exquisite.

The girls dance in furs and tattered clothes, lost in a cannibalistic ritual, their voices mingling with the wilderness’s eerie song. Lottie (Courtney Eaton), gleefully gnawing on what appears to be one of Coach Ben’s ribs, suddenly freezes as a figure emerges in the distance. Confusion flickers across her face— she unleashes a blood-curdling ‘No!’ as three figures stumble into their camp.

Silence.

Everyone freezes in their tracks (including me, watching at home). Breathes halt. Eyes widen. Who (or what) the hell was entering the camp? From the darkness, wrapped in the glow of the campfire, a trio of hikers appears, led by a dweeby guy in glasses, who quickly raises his hand as if saying —“We come in peace.”

This is the moment we have been waiting for, the one that changes the series forever…Salvation! Except with one little caveat, just feet away from a way home lies Coach Ben’s head on display like a gruesome Yankee Candle centerpiece. Talk about your poor timing. Maybe the dweeby hiker won’t notice it. Salvation or damnation teeters in the balance for the Yellowjackets.

The hiker slowly turns his head, then jumps back as three words escape his mouth “What the f*ck?” Oh shit – he definitely noticed Ben’s decapitated head! This is the spark that ignited the powder keg. An absolutely killer television moment. And it is just getting started.

Cut to black. Cue the outro music and credits. The Yellowjackets are back!

I leapt off my couch in awe of what I just watched, as my heart raced in anticipation for what’s to come. This wasn’t just a memorable moment; it was Yellowjackets reborn—raw, unhinged, Season 1 energy pulsing through its veins. Like the prodigal son (daughters), they who once appeared lost are now found in one of the most jaw-dropping, heart-racing, mind-blowing ways imaginable. An instant classic TV moment that changes the series forever.

Does this mean full redemption for the series? It alone does not. Thankfully, what follows in episodes 7 – 10 is some of the best Yellowjackets yet, the chef’s kiss of pure chaos. So many shows start to lose their way and either never find it or overcompensate by trying to please the audience to the point that they lose their identity and never regain their magic. That is not the case here. This moment relit a fuse that was looked as if it may go out. It is the catalyst for some of best of television this year.

Sorry – no spoilers here. I will not share details or even hint at them. (Episode 7 “Croak” – a magnificent episode – is out already – go watch it for yourself.) What I will share is that: questions are satisfyingly answered, some long-awaited questions and other more recent ones. At the same time, some lingering questions/theories are more or less dismissed. After years of analyzing each frame and line of dialogue delivered, it is oddly cathartic to finally learn the answers, even when some are simpler than expected up to be. Of course with answers come new questions which will drive the series for its final two seasons.

It’s impressive how re-focused, cohesive Yellowjackets feels as the season wraps up. The character arcs become clearer and more fleshed out as the breadcrumbs to what’s to come are laid out for each – a delicious recipe for mayhem. My faith was restored to the point that I am even excited how/if they tie up some of the lesser loose ends that I had dismissed.

From that ‘WTF?’ moment on, it delivers one of the greatest course corrections I’ve seen in all my years of TV viewing. It is again the most bloody fun series on TV. My love for Yellowjackets, once wavering, is back in full force. Even the first five episodes absolve many of their sins—they make much more sense now.

As the season concludes, the credits roll, and the spot on music selection plays, I was left with chills, head to toe as I look forward to feasting on the next season of Yellowjackets.

Season 3 of Yellowjackets continues with episode 8 “A Normal, Boring Life” streaming on Paramount+ on March 28th and then broadcast on Sunday the 30th.

Season 3 Yellowjackets Review:
***1/2 our of 4 stars

Episodes 6-10 (****)

The post TV Review: ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Finds Salvation In Three Little Words – “WTF?!”  appeared first on Awards Radar.

Mullen faces obstacles from extreme media narratives, conspiracy theorists, manipulative political rivals, his allies, and even his own deteriorating mental state, all of which blur the lines between truth and reality. In this complex web of deception and uncertainty, Zero Day raises questions about how we navigate a world where the truth is always in question.

Awards Radar spoke with the cast and team behind Zero Day, and one theme that connected all the conversations was how timely and relevant the series is to the current state of the world. (Watch all four interviews in their entirety below) Series co-showrunner and co-creator Eric Newman discussed developing Zero Day with co-creator/showrunner Noah Oppenheim, recalling how the series originated from a discussion between the two.

Newman shared how the conversation centered around “our relationship as a society with the truth and the fact is retreating into a state of alternate realities, presented facts and different conclusions and therefore different truths that, though mutually exclusive, have to coexist for us to continue to function as a civilization.”

As Oppenheim explained, the series tackles the complexity of an ever-changing landscape in a world where the truth shifts from person to person. “One of the themes of the show is the difference between facts and truth,” he explained. “First of all, there are outright lies, obviously, but there’s also a world in which there are a set of facts which people will look at and draw completely different conclusions from based on which facts they choose to prioritize, which facts they choose to omit.”

It doesn’t take a series like Zero Day to alert most people to the growing division in this country over the last decade. Lizzy Caplan, who plays President Mullen’s daughter, Alexandra, frequently engaged in conversations with the cast and crew — all with strong political opinions — about both the show and the state of the world.

Unlike in the past, where the issues themselves created the biggest divisions, Caplan shared that today the cause is something else. “What this show is raging against, and I think what a lot of people are raging against out in the world, is the divisiveness, is the fact that we can’t have these conversations,” Caplan explained. “So it’s not even about the issues necessarily at all. It’s just about how we can’t seem to talk to each other. We can’t even agree on what’s true and what’s not true.”

It can be tough to be hopeful when we are faced with the monumental task of recalibrating our communal mindsets to a shared truth, especially while deep fakes, media pundits, and politicians who care more about winning than democracy constantly clutter the waters. Not only tough, the outlook can seem downright grim. “We’re really broken,” Caplan conceded before sharing the good news: “But the good news is we’re so deep into the broken phase that’s gotta mean that the pendulum swing back to the other direction is closer than it was.”

Newman seems to agree, with an outlook that’s less cynical than how many people feel these days. “Even when confronting this challenge, even when you’re dealing with a really broken system and a fractured media landscape, every one of us does still have inside ourselves a moral compass, a voice that does tend to guide us towards the right thing,” said Newman.

“I think that by turning inwards, people every day when they walk out the door can make a series of decisions about how they treat their neighbors, their fellow citizens. And if we start listening to hopefully that voice and that, you know, that higher calling to behave with kindness, generosity, humility towards others, that maybe that’s the way we turn things around one person at a time. At least that’s our hope.”

Matthew Modine plays House Speaker Richard Dreyer, a relentless character who helps drives the series’ conspiratorial themes. Ironically, while his character may be tough to trust, it was Modine who shared some of the most uplifting insights to the current world situation through a lesson his mom taught him about the monsters that hide in the dark.

“In this confusing time in this period of darkness where there’s uncertainty,” shared Modine, “it’s citizens as part of this great experiment of American democracy to remember that we have to reach for the light switch – that we always have to put the light on To make the monsters go away we can’t allow the fear to take us over because fear is a powerful weapon.”

“At the end of the day, that’s what the show is about… it’s all about the fear, but you have to find the light you have to find the path,” said director Lesli Linka Glatter.

Zero Day is streaming in its entirely exclusively on Netflix. Watch my interviews with the cast and team behind the series below.

The post Interview: ‘Zero Day’ Cast on Confronting the Crisis of Truth in a Divided World appeared first on Awards Radar.

Fans of the series understand how many twists and turns there are on this garden path. For Amy Lou Wood, who plays Chelsea, reading the scripts had her trying to guess where everything was leading for her character. “So reading the scripts, I was like, ‘I know who Chelsea is. I know who she is now.’ And then I’d read the next step and it would be like, ‘What?,’ shared Wood. “(Mike White) is just so good at that, it reveals itself like that to us as the actors, it is a slow reveal. And that’s so exciting. By the end of it, you just kind of understand exactly where your character fits into the story because he’s such a good storyteller.”

Mike White is not only the creator, writer, and director of The White Lotus, he’s also one of the most memorable contestants on Survivor, in addition to being an actor with 20 film and TV credits, including roles in my favorites, School of Rock and Freaks and Geeks. This acting experience allows him to connect with the cast in a way that not every director/producer can, helping to fertilize their performances and nurture the growth of each character.

“Mike understands and respects the actor’s process,” explained Monhagan.  “He understands when you go to him with a question of a particular quality or a characteristic, where he wants that revealed and where he wants you to kind of lean into it or highlight it just by percentages. You can trust him implicitly from every stage of the process.”

This trust is important when the actors venture down dark unexpected paths. But not every storyline ventures into darkness… yet. Carrie Coon plays Laurie, part of a trio of old friends (along with Monaghan and Leslie Bibb) who come to The White Lotus for a girls’ trip only to find they do not know each other as well as they thought they did. The storyline provides some moments of humor as well as a look at how the evolution of a friendship.

“I was so gratified to see where Mike (White) has gone very Greek and very transgressive in some of the other storylines, and this storyline felt particularly grounded in a typical experience,” said Coon. “I felt that I knew that the female’s friendship storyline was going to be a real weigh-in for a lot of people, and I was really happy to be part of such a relatable piece of the show”. 

Leslie Bibb, who plays Kate, a character who made headlines for being a Trump supporter discussed the friendship. “As you peel away these layers, you start to see these three very different, all dynamic women, but also all not living their truth ,” explained Bibb. “We joke that if one of us had just walked into the trip and just said, “This is how I feel,” and risked being that honest, it would have been a very different trip in Thailand.”

While the girlfriends’ storyline may be one of the most relatable, Coon calls the rest of the series “jaw-droppingly shocking sometimes.” This is particularly true for the Ratcliffs, a dysfunctional family with a drugged-out mother (Parker Posey) and father Tim (Jason Isaacs), whose life, unbeknownst to his family, is starting to crumble. Isaacs describes the character as “a big swinging dick of Wall Street” who comes from “generations of wealth and privilege.” Like all of White’s characters, much more of him unfolds throughout the season.

“One of the beauties of what Mike White does is he’s slowly revealing things that are going to happen both on the page and what’s happening behind the scenes to these characters, both evident and not,” shared Isaacs. “I think that’s what he really wants is for the consumer to really think about what’s going on and what this journey is for each and every character.”

“As the storyline continued, I just was continuously wondering where it was going to go, and then when it got to where it was going, I was shocked,” Isaacs continued. Watching his character’s fall from grace has been one of the most intriguing storylines of the season. The chaos of the Ratcliff family isn’t reserved to the parents, it extends to their three children.

Playing the eldest son, Saxon, is Patrick Schwarzenegger, an apple that does not fall far from the tree, who makes some questionable decisions of his own. The actor praised the depth of development in The White Lotus, which allowed each character to be dissected and examined. “For me, I think he (White) strips layers off people, but by throwing fate and destiny and circumstance at them so that their very worst, almost difficult situation, the thing that is the most catastrophic thing that could happen to them internally happens externally, and then we watch them struggle with those things, particularly in this season.”

None of White’s characters are painted with a single brush, including Saxon. Schwarzenegger shared, “There’s some humanizing moments and elements of Saxon as well, and the vulnerability of him I think people hopefully will enjoy watching.”

Watching White’s complex characters navigate such trying situations is part of the draw of the series. It leads to questions that viewers are constantly trying to figure out, and the actors playing them are doing the same. Sam Nivola (who plays Tim’s other son, Lochlan) explained how his experience evolved during production: “You’re always finding out new things as the shoot goes on. We would share with each other. And I think understanding each other’s characters so well really helped us to understand their motives and sort of pick them apart in the scenes.” 

Sarah Catherine Hook, who plays the third Ratcliff sibling, Piper, sums up the experience of working with Mike White perfectly, calling it “the best part about it for all of us” because “he’s just this mad genius who created this like cultural phenomenon.” 

The White Lotus is heading toward its final episodes and, as expected, viewers have no idea what to expect but are looking forward to seeing how this garden’s final secrets are revealed.

Watch my full video cast interviews which dig deeper into the characters, working Thailand, rating the Ratcliff parents, dealing with the wildlife, and much more can be watched in their entirety below. 

The post Interview: ‘The White Lotus’ Cast on the Gardener Behind the Chaos appeared first on Awards Radar.

Showrunner and Executive Producer for this year’s Oscars, Raj Kapoor, set the tone by emphasizing the key themes for the show. “We have a couple. One is that we are honoring the City of Los Angeles,” explained Kapoor.”There have been so many people that have been touched by this devastation. We wanted to create beautiful moments on stage that celebrate this amazing says City we live in and amazing films that were filmed here and have an uplifting and beautiful message we hope that touches everyone that watches the show.”

Kapoor also pointed to the show’s charitable component. “There will be a charitable component that people will interact with and feel free to donate if they like,” he added. This year’s Oscars will celebrate not only the achievements of filmmakers but the resilience of Los Angeles and its people.

“One of the themes this year is celebration of connection,” said Katy Mullan, Executive Producer. “What is so incredible and extraordinary about these movies is the number of people, the number of departments, and the number of talents that it takes to put these incredible movie magic together.”

Mullan continued, ”There are a lot of moments in the show where we pull back the curtain and look at the behind the scenes stories and as well as celebrating being in front of the camera.”

The Oscars are the one night of the year when the history of film is celebrated globally. The ceremony is at its best when films, filmmaking, and the people who make the magic are the focus. Expect to see several moments honoring the often unsung heroes.

When O’Brien was announced as the Oscar host back in November, many fans questioned what took so long, he’d be the perfect host. O’Brien was asked about that and of course, responded with his trademark wit, “I never hosted before or have been invited to the Oscars, to be honest with you. I only hosted so I could be invited to the Oscars. (laughing) O’Brien continued referring to the producers, ”I think you’ve been around me for a while now we’ve worked together. And I think — I don’t want to put words in your mouth but I’m probably the greatest entertainer you ever worked with.” 

Fellow panelists couldn’t help but sing O’Brien’s praises. “He is filled with humor, warmth, sincerity. Honestly when we first met it was like this warm hug,” shared Kapoor. “It just felt like we were in such good hands.”

To which Conan responded, “Well, let’s see what you are saying on Monday.”

As you can tell, Conan O’Brien’s humor will be an essential part of the show’s success. Jon Macks, one of the writers behind this year’s Oscars explained. “There is a balance in every show. We are lucky Conan set the tone,” Macks said. “He is funny and people trust him. He likes to know what to do. In terms of serious or straightforward, that is talent written in many ways. You talk to them and find out what they want to say and tell them the theme of the show and work with them to get it right.”

As with past hosts, finding the correct balance of humor and heart will be the biggest challenge for O’Brien during the ceremony. “As a host, I’m the spokesperson for the audience. If something feels strange or odd, I’ll comment on it. I can’t ignore the moment we’re in, but I also have to make sure the night celebrates the hard work behind the films. It’s a delicate balance. I want to address the moment, but I also want to infuse the show with positivity, not let it be overshadowed by politics. It’s about celebrating the beauty of the work and recognizing everyone, from A-list celebrities to those who work behind the scenes.”

As the team prepares for the big night, one thing is certain: the Oscars will be a night to remember. With Conan at the helm, we can expect an unforgettable evening with a healthy dose of the unexpected.

Let’s just hope that Conan makes it to the stage in time after he humorously admitted, “I was under the impression that the Oscars is August 2. I have not prepared… I swear to God, today they told me.” Cross your fingers for the nominees and that the host is prepared.

The 97th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.  

The post Lights, Camera, Conan! What’s In Store for the 97th Academy Awards appeared first on Awards Radar.

Survivor 50, which will be a returning player season, will take the series into uncharted territory allowing the fans to determine key elements of the gameplay. Season 50 subtitles, “In the Hands of the Fans” will allow viewers to vote on rules and aspects of the game, directly influencing the game. Players will not know how the fans have changed the game until they are competing on the island, so there is no way for them to prepare for the game’s latest evolution.

Watch these exclusive clips from the event where Probst discusses in detail the cast of Survivor 50 and the fan-focused changes to the game.

CBS provided additional information on how fans can be part of the games and celebrations leading up to next February’s premiere. Everything is “designed to honor fans for their loyalty and passion throughout the 25 years of the hit series, and to entice new viewers as well!”

You decide what happens in Survivor Season 50. VOTING IS OPEN NOW!! https://survivor50cbs.votenow.tv

• The Inclusive/Interactive Theme: “SURVIVOR 50: In the Hands of the Fans” – Starting on premiere day of SURVIVOR 48 (Wednesday, Feb. 26), fans can go to survivor50cbs.votenow.tv to vote on the key elements that will shape SURVIVOR 50 for its players. There will be multiple rounds of voting, including for “Idols or No Idols,” “Final Four Fire Making: Keep It or Lose It” and “Live Finale and Reunion Show in L.A. – or Keep the Winner Reveal and Aftershow in the Jungles of Fiji.” All voting will conclude prior to start of filming for the 50^th edition.

• CBS and Fiji Airways Partnership – CBS and Fiji Airways are forming an alliance (SURVIVOR-style!) to award five lucky fan “tribes” – comprised of family members, friends and/or loved ones – with once-in-a-lifetime trips to Fiji during the filming of SURVIVOR 50. In the coming months, the “tribes” – and, separately, the season 49 and 50 castaways – will be transported to Fiji on a SURVIVOR 50-branded Fiji Airways jet, which will fly regular travelers to/from Fiji throughout the year as well.

• The Fiji SURVIVOR 50 Trip Packages for the Winning “Tribes” include:

• Roundtrip Fiji Airways airfare and ground transportation for each “tribe” member.

• Four nights of accommodations at a luxurious ocean-front resort.

• Exposure to the rich Fijian culture while exploring stunning local destinations.

• A VIP tour of the SURVIVOR Islands (including the filming locations for tribal council and the challenge beaches), the exclusive opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at life on SURVIVOR during the filming of season 50, a meet-and-greet with Jeff Probst and SURVIVOR swag! (**Winners will not appear on the show, but their journeys and experiences will be documented on video for promotional opportunities for the 50^th season.) For full details and official rules please see https://gf.fan/cbs/survivorfanfiji.

One more way for fans to be included in Survivor is the new board game, “Survivor: The Tribe Has Spoken by Exploding Kittens” which was created in partnership with Elan Lee (a producer on Survivor who also created the popular “Exploding Kittens” game). The game started by Jeff Probst started as a stack of handwritten white paper cards and a dream to recreate the feeling of contending on Survivor at home. While Jeff would agree his original idea for the board game was not in anyway perfect, it was his passion and persistence that helped it evolve into what it is today. Probst, Lee and his team spent years perfecting this, which included about 80 variations of the game until they felt it was worthy of being shared with fans.

Below are some photos from the event. Look for more Survivor coverage and maybe even a TV Topics podcast with Jeff Probst coming to Awards Radar.

Season 48 of Survivor premieres Wednesday, February 26th on CBS.

The post Jeff Probst Provides Updates on the Cast and Game-Changing Rules for ‘Survivor 50’ During new Season Premiere appeared first on Awards Radar.