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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 16 July 2018

Television academy: thumbs down on the latest reboots

By DAVID BAUDER nomination.
NEW YORK (AP) — Televi- "Game of Thrones" and "The
sion executives and many Handmaid's Tale" were no
viewers love the idea of re- surprises with big nomina-
viving series and ideas from tion hauls in the drama cat-
the past. Emmy voters? Not egories. Although "Game
so much. of Thrones" actors Nikolaj
"Roseanne" quickly be- Coster-Waldau, Peter Din-
came television's top-rated klage and Lena Headey
comedy upon its return, un- will compete for supporting
til ABC pulled the plug fol- actor trophies, the Emmys
lowing star Roseanne Barr's stubbornly refuse to con-
racist tweet. The series was sider the show's stars for the
not among the eight com- top acting trophies, prob-
edies nominated for an ably because it's in the fan-
Emmy on Thursday, howev- tasy realm, said Tom O'Neil,
er. Laurie Metcalf earned editor of the awards handi-
a supporting actress nod, capping web site Gold
but Barr and Conner family Derby.
patriarch John Goodman "For the lead roles, they
were ignored. This image released by NBC shows Debra Messing as Grace Adler, left, and Sean Hayes as Jack want pretension and
Similarly, NBC's "Will & McFarland in a scene from "Will & Grace." 'Game of Thrones' doesn't
Grace" reboot didn't earn Associated Press deliver that," O'Neil said.
a comedy nomination de- In the major categories,
spite solid reviews. Of the Popularity doesn't indicate got little respect from the shiny, new or streaming both HBO's hitman com-
four main stars, only Megan much with the television Emmys when it was a sen- — seemed to hurt "Twin edy "Barry" and the dra-
Mullally has the chance to academy, anyway. "Young sation; still popular but fad- Peaks." The Showtime re- ma "Westworld" overper-
bring home some hardware Sheldon," a spinoff of CBS' ing, the show still isn't rec- boot won't compete in the formed in terms of expect-
from the September show. popular "The Big Bang The- ognized. limited series category. Ac- ed nominations, setting up
Sean Hayes' absence was ory," got no Emmy love, Being a returning series — tor Kyle MacLachlan simi- some spirited competition,
a particular surprise. either. "The Walking Dead" as opposed to something larly did not earn an actor's O'Neil said. q

Scarlett Johansson pulls out of trans drama after backlash

she's pulling out from the to life, I understand why "Actors who are trans nev-
project "in light of recent many feel he should be er even get to audition for
ethical questions raised sur- portrayed by a transgen- anything other than roles
rounding my casting." Last der person, and I am thank- of trans characters," Jamie
week, Johansson said she ful that this casting debate, Clayton, a transgender ac-
would star as Pittsburgh albeit controversial, has tress who stars in Netflix's
1970s and '80s prostitution sparked a larger conver- "Sense8." ''That's the real is-
ring leader Dante "Tex" Gill, sation about diversity and sue. We can't even get in
who was born Lois Jean Gill representation in film," the the room."
but identified as a man. actress added. Jen Richards, trans activist
When transgender actors Johansson previously came and creator of the web se-
and advocates questioned under fire for playing an ries "Her Story," praised Jo-
the casting, Johansson originally Asian character hansson for stepping down.
initially responded with a in the 2017 film "Ghost in "If you're tired of hearing
statement that criticism the Shell." That film's direc- about it, you can't imagine
"can be directed to Jeffrey tor, Rupert Sanders, was set how tired trans actors are
Tambor, Jared Leto and Fe- to also helm "Rub & Tug." of talking about it," Rich-
licity Huffman's reps." All are It's not clear if the film, ards said on Twitter. "We
cisgender actors who won which Johansson was also just want to work. And with
acclaim for playing trans- producing, will go forward. more trans and nonbinary
gender characters. A representative for Jo- people, of all kinds, partici-
"Our cultural understand- hansson didn't respond to pating, the work will be a
ing of transgender people an email Friday. A spokes- better and richer represen-
continues to advance, and man for New Regency, tation of our world. This is a
I've learned a lot from the which was set to produce win."
community since making "Rub & Tug," said it's uncer- GLAAD, formerly known as
my first statement about tain what will happen with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance
This 1979 photo shows transgender man Dante "Tex" Gill, flanked
by masked Frank Cocchiara and Donna Potts while leaving the my casting and realize it the film. Against Defamation, said in
Public Safety Building in Pittsburgh. was insensitive," said Jo- Some critics have argued a statement: "Scarlett Jo-
Associated Press hansson, who added that that trans roles should be hansson's announcement,
she had "great admiration played by trans actors. Last together with the transgen-
By JAKE COYLE Tug" after her plans to por- and love for the trans com- week, numerous trans ac- der voices who spoke out
Associated Press tray a transgender man munity." tors responded to Johans- about this film, are game
NEW YORK (AP) — Scarlett prompted a backlash. "While I would have loved son's casting as another changers for the future
Johansson on Friday with- In a statement to Out.com the opportunity to bring sign of a lack of opportu- of transgender images in
drew from the film "Rub & on Friday, Johansson said Dante's story and transition nity for trans actors. Hollywood."q