Entries from January 2005 ↓

Nominations for the 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards� for outstanding performances in 2004 in five film and eight primetime television categories were announced Tuesday.

SAG will honor its own at its 11th Annual Awards ceremonies on Saturday, February 5, at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center, televised nationally on Turner Network Television (TNT) at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT, and 6 p.m. MT.

Of the top industry accolades presented to performers, only the Screen Actors Guild Awards� are selected purely by actors� peers. Two selected panels–one for television and one for film–each comprised of 2100 SAG members from across the United States, chose this year�s Actor� nominees. The secret ballots were mailed Friday, December 10, 2004 and returned by the deadline of noon on January 7, 2005 to Integrity Voting Systems, the Awards� official teller.

Awards ballots will be mailed on January 11, 2005. The entire active membership of the Guild across the country, including yours truly, will vote on all acting categories. Ballots must be returned to Integrity Voting Systems by noon on Thursday, February 3, where results will be tallied and sealed until they are opened by the presenters at the 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards� ceremonies on February 5.

11TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS� NOMINATIONS

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Don Cheadle / HOTEL RWANDA - Paul Rusesabagina - United Artists
Johnny Depp / FINDING NEVERLAND - Sir James Matthew Barrie - Miramax Films
Leonardo DiCaprio / THE AVIATOR - Howard Hughes - Miramax Films
Jamie Foxx / RAY - Ray Charles - Universal Pictures
Paul Giamatti / SIDEWAYS - Miles - Fox Searchlight Pictures

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Annette Bening / BEING JULIA - Julia Lambert - Sony Pictures Classics
Catalina Sandino Moreno / MARIA FULL OF GRACE - Maria - Fine Line Features
Imelda Staunton / VERA DRAKE - Vera - Fine Line Features
Hilary Swank / MILLION DOLLAR BABY - Maggie - Warner Bros.
Kate Winslet / ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND - Clementine Kruczynski - Focus Features

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Thomas Haden Church / SIDEWAYS - Jack - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Jamie Foxx / COLLATERAL - Max - DreamWorks SKG
Morgan Freeman / MILLION DOLLAR BABY - Scrap - Warner Bros.
James Garner / THE NOTEBOOK - Duke - New Line Cinema
Freddie Highmore / FINDING NEVERLAND - Peter Llewelyn Davies - Miramax Films

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett / THE AVIATOR - Katharine Hepburn - Miramax Films
Cloris Leachman / SPANGLISH - Evelyn - Columbia Pictures
Laura Linney / KINSEY - Clara McMillen - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Virginia Madsen / SIDEWAYS - Maya - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Sophie Okonedo / HOTEL RWANDA - Tatiana Rusesabagina - United Artists

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

THE AVIATOR - Miramax Films
Alan Alda - Senator Ralph Owen Brewster
Alec Baldwin - Julian Trippe
Kate Beckinsale - Ava Gardner
Cate Blanchett - Katharine Hepburn
Leonardo DiCaprio - Howard Hughes
Ian Holm - Professor Fitz
Danny Huston - Jack Frye
Jude Law - Errol Flynn
John C. Reilly - Noah Dietrich
Gwen Stefani - Jean Harlow

FINDING NEVERLAND - Miramax Films
Julie Christie - Mrs. Emma Du Maurier
Johnny Depp - Sir James Matthew Barrie
Freddie Highmore - Peter Llewelyn Davies
Dustin Hoffman - Charles Frohman
Radha Mitchell - Mary Ansell Barrie
Joe Prospero - Jack Llewelyn Davies
Nick Roud - George Llewelyn Davies
Luke Spill - Michael Llewelyn Davies
Kate Winslet - Sylvia Llewelyn Davies

HOTEL RWANDA - United Artists
Don Cheadle - Paul Rusesabagina
Nick Nolte - Colonel Oliver
Sophie Okonedo - Tatiana Rusesabagina
Joaquin Phoenix - Jack Daglish

MILLION DOLLAR BABY - Warner Bros.
Clint Eastwood - Frankie
Morgan Freeman - Scrap
Hilary Swank - Maggie

RAY - Universal Pictures
Aunjanue Ellis - Mary Ann Fisher
Jamie Foxx - Ray Charles
Terrence Dashon Howard - Gossie McGee
Regina King - Margie Hendricks
Harry Lennix - Joe Adams
Clifton Powell - Jeff Brown
Larenz Tate - Quincy Jones
Kerry Washington - Della Bea Robinson

SIDEWAYS - Fox Searchlight Pictures
Thomas Haden Church - Jack
Paul Giamatti - Miles
Virginia Madsen - Maya
Sandra Oh - Stephanie

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Jamie Foxx / REDEMPTION - Stanley �Tookie� Williams - F/X
William H. Macy / THE WOOL CAP - Gigot - TNT
Barry Pepper / 3 - Dale Earnhardt - ESPN
Geoffrey Rush / THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS - Peter Sellers - HBO
Jon Voight / MITCH ALBOM�S THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN - Eddie - ABC

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Glenn Close / THE LION IN WINTER - Eleanor Of Aquitaine - Showtime
Patricia Heaton / NEIL SIMON�S THE GOODBYE GIRL - Paula McFadden - TNT
Keke Palmer / THE WOOL CAP - Lou - TNT
Hilary Swank / IRON JAWED ANGELS - Alice Paul - HBO
Charlize Theron / THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS - Britt Ekland - HBO

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Hank Azaria / HUFF - Dr. Craig �Huff� Huffstodt - Showtime
James Gandolfini / THE SOPRANOS -Tony Soprano - HBO
Anthony LaPaglia / WITHOUT A TRACE - Jack Malone - CBS
Jerry Orbach / LAW & ORDER - Detective Lennie Briscoe - NBC
Kiefer Sutherland / 24 - Jack Bauer - FOX

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Drea De Matteo / THE SOPRANOS - Adriana La Cerva - HBO
Edie Falco / THE SOPRANOS - Carmela Soprano - HBO
Jennifer Garner / ALIAS - Sydney Bristow - ABC
Allison Janney / THE WEST WING - C.J. Cregg - NBC
Christine Lahti / JACK & BOBBY - Grace McCallister - The WB

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Jason Bateman / ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - Michael Bluth - FOX
Sean Hayes / WILL & GRACE - Jack McFarland - NBC
Ray Romano / EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND - Raymond Barone - CBS
Tony Shalhoub / MONK - Adrian Monk - USA
Charlie Sheen / TWO AND A HALF MEN - Charlie Harper - CBS

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Teri Hatcher / DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - Susan Mayer - ABC
Patricia Heaton / EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND - Debra Barone - CBS
Megan Mullally / WILL & GRACE - Karen Walker - NBC
Sarah Jessica Parker / SEX AND THE CITY - Carrie Bradshaw - HBO
Doris Roberts / EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND - Marie Barone - CBS

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

24 - FOX
Reiko Aylesworth - Michelle Dessler
Carlos Bernard - Tony Almeida
Elisha Cuthbert - Kimberly Bauer
James Badge Dale - Chase Edmunds
Joaquim De Almeida - Roman Salazar
Dennis Haysbert - David Palmer
Mary Lynn Rajskub - Chloe O�Brien
Paul Schulze - Ryan Chappelle
Kiefer Sutherland - Jack Bauer

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION - CBS
Gary Dourdan - Warrick Brown
George Eads - Nick Stokes
Jorja Fox - Sara Sidle
Paul Guilfoyle - Jim Brass
Robert David Hall - Dr. Robbins
Marg Helgenberger - Catherine Willows
William Petersen - Gil Grissom
Eric Szmanda - Greg Sanders

SIX FEET UNDER - HBO
Lauren Ambrose - Claire Fisher
Frances Conroy - Ruth Fisher
James Cromwell - George Sibley
Idalis de Leon - Sophia
Peter Facinelli - Jimmy
Ben Foster - Russell Corwin
Sprague Grayden - Anita
Rachel Griffiths - Brenda Chenowith
Michael C. Hall - David Fisher
Peter Krause - Nate Fisher
Justina Machado - Vanessa Diaz
Freddy Rodriguez - Federico Diaz
Mathew ST Patrick - Keith Charles
Mena Suvari - Edie
Justin Theroux - Joe

THE SOPRANOS - HBO
Lorraine Bracco - Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Steve Buscemi - Tony Blundetto
Dominic Chianese - Corrado �Junior� Soprano
Vincent Curatola - Johnny �Sack� Sacramoni
Drea De Matteo - Adriana La Cerva
Jamie-Lynn Discala - Meadow Soprano
Edie Falco - Carmela Soprano
James Gandolfini - Tony Soprano
Robert Iler - Anthony Soprano, Jr.
Michael Imperioli - Christopher Moltisanti
Steven R. Schirripa - Bobby �Bacala� Baccilieri
Tony Sirico - Paulie �Walnuts� Gualtieri
Aida Turturro - Janice Soprano
Steven Van Zandt - Silvio Dante
John Ventimiglia Artie Bucco

THE WEST WING - NBC
Stockard Channing - Dr. Abigail Bartlet
Kristin Chenoweth - Annabeth Schott
Dul� Hill - Charlie Young
Allison Janney - C.J. Cregg
Joshua Malina - Will Bailey
Mary McCormack - Kate Harper
Janel Moloney - Donna Moss
Richard Schiff - Toby Ziegler
Martin Sheen - Pres. Josiah Bartlet
John Spencer - Leo McGarry
Lily Tomlin - Debbie Fiderer
Bradley Whitford - Josh Lyman

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - FOX
Will Arnett - George Oscar Bluth II (Gob)
Jason Bateman - Michael Bluth
Michael Cera - George-Michael Bluth
David Cross - Tobias F�nke
Portia de Rossi - Lindsay Bluth F�nke
Tony Hale - Buster Bluth
Alia Shawkat - Maeby F�nke
Jeffrey Tambor - George Bluth, Sr.
Jessica Walter - Lucille Bluth

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - ABC
Andrea Bowen - Julie Mayer
Ricardo Antonio - Carlos Solis
Marcia Cross - Bree Van De Kamp
Steven Culp - Rex Van De Kamp
James Denton - Mike Delfino
Teri Hatcher - Susan Mayer
Felicity Huffman - Lynette Scavo
Cody Kasch - Zach Young
Eva Longoria - Gabrielle Solis
Jesse Metcalfe - John the Gardener
Mark Moses - Paul Young
Nicollette Sheridan - Edie Britt
Brenda Strong - Mary Alice Young

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND - CBS
Peter Boyle - Frank Barone
Brad Garrett - Robert Barone
Patricia Heaton - Debra Barone
Monica Horan - Amy McDougal-Barone
Doris Roberts - Marie Barone
Ray Romano - Raymond Barone
Madylin Sweeten - Ally Barone

SEX AND THE CITY - HBO
Kim Cattrall - Samantha Jones
Kristin Davis - Charlotte York
Cynthia Nixon - Miranda Hobbes
Sarah Jessica Parker - Carrie Bradshaw

WILL & GRACE - NBC
Sean Hayes - Jack McFarland
Eric McCormack - Will Truman
Debra Messing - Grace Adler
Megan Mullally - Karen Walker

Screen Actors Guild Awards 41st Annual Life Achievement Award
James Garner

The Democratic Party, losers of the last two presidential elections, minority party in both the House and Senate and on the verge of becoming a minor player on the U.S. political scene, will soon choose a new chairman to lead them.

Who they select will determine the direction of the party and whether they continue on a center-right agenda that has thus far reaped no significant victories, or choose a new direction, back towards its more liberal roots, where an invigorated voting bloc awaits.

Seeking the chairmanship is former Vermont Governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean. In a letter to his supporters, he outlined why he is running and the need for a new strategy.

As I have traveled across our country, I have talked to thousands of people who are working for change in their own communities about the power of politics to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Every group I have spoken to, I encouraged them to stand up for what they believe and to get involved in the electoral process�because the only sure way to make difference is to step up and run for office yourself.

Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for the Chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee.

The Democratic Party needs a vibrant, forward-thinking, long-term presence in every single state and we must be willing to contest every race at every level. We will only win when we show up and fight for the issues important to all of us.

Another integral part of our strategy must be cultivating the party’s grassroots. Our long term success depends on all of us taking an active role in our party and in the political process, by volunteering, going door to door and taking the Democratic message into every community, and by organizing at the local level. After all, new ideas and new leaders don’t come from consultants; they come from communities.

As important as organization is, it alone can no longer win us elections. Offering a new choice means making Democrats the party of reform�reforming America’s financial situation, reforming our electoral process, reforming health care, reforming education and putting morality back in our foreign policy. The Democratic Party will not win elections or build a lasting majority solely by changing its rhetoric, nor will we win by adopting the other side’s positions. We must say what we mean�and mean real change when we say it.

Read the full text here.

Mayoral race in Massachusetts

In Brockton, Massachusetts, Jass Stewart, a 33 year old Black gay man, is running for mayor. He isn’t making his personal identity the focus of this campaign however but is putting forth a vision for rebuilding another northeastern city that has seen too many jobs and industries disappear. His ideas are sound and he’s building community support.

Political campaign can only survive through contributions from supporters. A few weeks ago, I sent a check, because I believe it is important to support those who work for positive change, especially if they happen to be one of us. I invite you to consider doing the same.

Visit his campaign website and look for the link to “Contribute.”

Also, here are links to two Africana.com articles that are unrelated to the election but profiled him, his partner and their adopted son:

Finally, another out gay man, Sean Patrick Maloney, a New York Democrat, will soon announce that he is running for Attorney General of New York in 2006, when current AG Eliot Spitzer runs for Governor.

Maloney is an experienced attorney and business executive, who worked side-by-side with Bill Clinton in the White House. He has worked for years on progressive causes as a volunteer, a pro bono attorney, and at all levels of New York and national politics, from his neighborhood clubs and Community Board all the way to the West Wing.

While that election isn�t until next year, I�ll be keeping my eye on the race to see where Maloney stands on the issues. In the meantime you can visit his website for more information.

My own personal response to everybody else�s list of 101 in 1001. Stuff I hope to do this year, when I find time to get around to it.

1. Finally get my commission as a New York State Notary Public. I studied like a year ago, and just need to find time to take the test, which they offer on a walk-in basis every Wednesday morning.

2. Get new headshots taken and comp cards made. Ok, so I supposedly retired from show business four years ago. I�ve always kept my union cards current and still do voiceover and the occasional acting gig when asked (I just don�t audition). Even though I�m moving towards a culinary career, I long to perform again, and just think having current pictures handy would make that possible, even if it�s just once or twice a year.

3. Get my apartment in some kind of presentable shape. I�ve lived there six and a half years and still have boxes from the move in. No decent furniture, not enough storage. I do NOT have the decorator gene. When are they gonna do Queer Eye for the Gay Guys?

4. Redesign this blog. Help has been patiently standing by, but I have no concepts in mind. I�ve wanted to do away with the side blogs because they�re too much work to keep current. But I don�t have any ideas creatively.

5. Get a will made. Thursday, I turn another year older (see the Wishlist for gift selections), and I sho ain�t getting� no younger! If I keeled over today, my shit would be tied up in probate court for years. And I could just see some of y�all fighting over the porn collection.

That�s probably enough. I�m tired just writing this much. I don�t how some of y�all came up with 101 things.

Keep checking in. I may get some of it done�one day.

…for myself and everyone I come in contact with.

I�m back at work now, after two weeks on vacation.

OH GOD, SOMEBODY SAVE ME!!!!

Ok, I�m better. But I am sooooo not a morning person. Two weeks of never hearing an alarm clock. Puttering around the house in my bathrobe until 2:30 or 3:00 in the afternoon. Staying up until 1:00 or 2:00 AM. Now I�m back in my windowless cubicle. Hip hip fuckin� hooray!

But I am determined to put on a brave face and be more productive this year. My six month review is tomorrow and frankly I�m a bit anxious. See, my face sometimes gives me away. When I�m unhappy, or not feeling it, just read my eyes and my body language. There aren�t very many stupid people where I work, so I�m sure they were reading carefully. I need this gig, at least until April, June at the latest, so I need to show results and give the performance of my life.

Speaking of good acting, as several of us have commented, Gem of the Ocean, August Wilson�s new Broadway play here in New York, is just a fabulous show. I got a discount offer in my email today that cuts the ticket price about in half. If you haven�t seen it and want to (and I highly recommend it), you can email me and I�ll forward the discount offer.

Went to a nice house party Saturday night over in Brooklyn. A friend of a friend. One of those spaces I don�t occupy nearly enough. Nice people, good conversation, some games, sitting around eating. Intelligent, mature Black folks with no drama or shade. Lord, bottle it, sell it, make a fortune! Tight as the schedule is, I shall try to be more sociable this year. We�ll see how that plays out.

Everybody is doing those �101 in 1001� lists. Don�t expect me to. I�ve got enough things on my plate and I�m only getting half of them done as it is.

Congrats to Steven and Larry. What’s the saying, “Black men loving Black men is a revolutionary act.” Twenty-four more years and you get silver.

Update I got a satisfactory review. I couldn’t disagree with any comments made about me. Best of all, I still have a job! hehehe