Olive Kitteridge tops Critics' Choice Television Awards
Mini-series Olive Kitteridge scooped three prizes at Sunday night's (31May15) Critics' Choice Television Awards, but lacked representation as its leading stars weren't on hand to accept their trophies.
The drama, based on the award-winning book by Elizabeth Stout, was feted with the Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series for Bill Murray and Frances McDormand, respectively, but neither were at the Los Angeles prizegiving to accept their awards.
The program was also named the Best Limited Series, and director
Lisa Cholodenko took the stage to accept the honor, but lamented
that she was the only one on hand to receive the accolade.
She told the crowd, "Oh my God, they're all somewhere out there
working. They actually have other jobs, it's incredible. I feel
like I should be here with Fran and Richard (Jenkins) and Bill, and
everybody else... I'm super proud of it... and all these wonderful
actors and every creative spirit that came into this wonderful
thing. Thank you, I'm so deeply appreciative and moved and sort of
sorry I'm here to celebrate alone, but hey, thank you!"
Meanwhile, transgender series Transparent scooped up two awards for
Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for Bradley Whitford, and
Jeffrey Tambor for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
Upon accepting the prize, Tambor acknowledged how groundbreaking
the program has been for the transgender community, saying, "This
is much bigger than me... I had an acting teacher who said, 'When
you act, you have to act as if your life depends on it.' And now
I've been given the wonderful gift of having a role where I have to
act and we all have to act because other people's lives depend on
it."
Multiple winners also included sitcom Silicon Valley, which earned
the Best Comedy Series prize and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Series for T.J. Miller, while Breaking Bad spin-off, Better Call
Saul, won two prizes for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a
Drama Series for Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, respectively.
Other notable winners included spy drama The Americans (Best Drama
Series), Empire's Taraji P. Henson (Best Actress in a Drama
Series), David Oyelowo for Nightingale (Best Actor in a Movie or
Limited Series), Amy Schumer (Best Actress in a Comedy Series), and
for the second year in a row, Allison Janney was named Best
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Mom.
The veteran actress stunned fans when she accepted the trophy from
guest presenter James Corden, as she planted a huge, long kiss on
his lips, after he called her "one of the best actresses I've ever
met".
In addition, Charlize Theron presented her A Million Ways To Die In
The West co-star/director Seth MacFarlane with the Louis XIII
Genius Award in recognition of his contribution to television. Upon
accepting the honor, MacFarlane made light of the fact that he
usually gets mixed reviews on his projects, and rarely receives
positive recognition for his work.
He said, "I don't win a ton of awards so this is going to look
great next to my soccer participation trophy from 1988... Let's put
this in perspective here - being called a 'genius' in Hollywood is
kinda like being called 'thin' at Disneyland - it's not at all that
hard."
The ceremony, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, was hosted by TV
personality Cat Deeley, who also earned the title of Best Reality
Series Host for competition series So You Think You Can Dance.