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Ted Sarandos Praised at TV Academy Hall of Fame Induction

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The Television Academy welcomed a new class of industry heavyweights into its Hall of Fame on Thursday, honoring a diverse group of television trailblazers including Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, actors Ted Danson and Jean Smart, documentary producer Sheila Nevins and “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

The ceremony also posthumously honored legendary journalist Ed Bradley.

Jerry Seinfeld toasted Sarandos’ induction at the 28th annual ceremony at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live in Los Angeles Thursday night.

“It’s so wonderful to be at the Academy of Television to induct Ted Sarandos of Netflix into the Hall of Fame,” Seinfeld said. “Even though, at the same time, it’s hard for me to believe that I’m not the one receiving this very special recognition. Nothing against Ted! So I thought it might be helpful to intersperse some of my achievements, along with Ted’s, to give some perspective and also to maybe offer a little guidance to the Hall of Fame nominating committee as we look forward to next year’s induction ceremony.”

He continued: “Let’s compare: Ted built Netflix’s entire content strategy. He turned a DVD mail order tech company into a major Hollywood studio. I co-created the TV series ‘Seinfeld,’ one of the most successful sitcoms of all time.”

On a serious note the comedian added that Sarandos was “not only the most respected, but also the most-loved industry executive I’ve ever seen in my career.”

While accepting the honor, Sarandos noted that he was also surprised to be in the Television Academy Hall of Fame while thanking colleagues like Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, his co-CEO Greg Peters and trailblazers of the medium like Norman Lear, Bob Daly and Lorne Michaels. For Sarandos, TV provided a safe space saying, “My house was chaos. My parents were struggling; we didn’t always have electricity and water, but we always had paid TV.”

Mary Steenburgen introduced her husband Ted Danson who led shows like “Cheers,” “The Good Place” and “A Man on the Inside.”

“Whether he’s pouring drinks behind a bar in Boston, solving cases in a retirement home, or trying to become a better person in the afterlife, Ted has given us unforgettable characters who feel like family,” she said. “Kelsey Grammer once described Ted as ‘as easy as the sunrise.’ And that is just perfect: Ted is easy. He is fun. And most of all, he loves people and their stories. He really is the guy who always knows your name and is always glad you came.”

At the podium Danson talked about falling in love with television when he would visit his cousins in Pasadena, Calif., explaining it was the one time of year he would get to watch TV. Safe to say he was transfixed.

“I was in heaven. I would wake up early in the morning so I could read the TV Guide magazine cover to cover.”

While the actor has been a TV fixture for the last 40 years he joked that his parents were not quite as impressed as the rest of the world when he hit it big. “My mother, during the height of Cheers, was asked what she thought of her son’s success,” Danson remarked. “She said, ‘Well, of course I’m happy for him. But I’ve always believed in the nobility of quiet failure.’”

Jean Smart attends the 28th Television Academy Hall of Fame (Credit: LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images) and Ted Danson (Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
Jean Smart attends the 28th Television Academy Hall of Fame (Credit: LISA O’CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images) and Ted Danson (Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

“Hacks” star Jean Smart was honored by the show’s creators Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky and Lucia Aniello.

“Jean has proven time and time again that she can be funny, dramatic, sexy, vulnerable and strong. And on ‘Hacks,’ she showed us that she can do all of those things, oftentimes in one scene, and sometimes, in a single moment,” Downs said.

The “Designing Women” and “Fargo” actress said growing up in the Golden Age of television “was really kind of magical” as she accepted her award.

Never one to leave without the last laugh she closed out her speech talking about her relationship to fame, not dissimilar to her on-screen counterpart Deborah Vance.

“Recently, this year, I was shooting in Las Vegas, and I happened to be sharing the elevator with another hotel guest, and I noticed he kept glancing at me,” she said. “Finally, he asked, ‘Are you famous?’ So I just said, ‘Well, apparently not!’”

Other inductees included “South Park” creators Parker and Stone who was inducted by longtime friend Bill Hader, Nevins who was introduced by Lily Tomlin and late Ed Bradley who was honored with a speech by his widow Patricia Blanchet.

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Max Greenfield Says Taylor Swift Was a Better Actor Than ‘New Girl’ Cast

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According to Max Greenfield, Taylor Swift has some serious acting chops.

The “New Girl” star appeared on Friday’s episode of “Therapuss” and told host Jake Shane that the pop star was so good, she blew the cast away with her cameo in 2013. He even admitted to thinking she was a tad better than him and the rest of the cast that included Zooey Deschanel and Jake Johnson.

Swift made a brief but memorable cameo on the Season 2 finale of the Fox Show in 2013. Titled “Elaine’s Big Day,” she played Elaine, a wedding guest who is revealed to be Shivrang’s true love after his wedding to Cece falls apart. Elaine and Shivrang promptly run off together to elope, while the chaos helps set up the next chapter of Cece’s and Schmidt’s relationship.

“Taylor wasn’t quite yet Taylor, but I remember she was on set and we were hanging out and she was so kind,” Greenfield said. “She was a better actor than all of us.”

“I remember asking her, I said, ‘Can I ask a question?’ She was like, ‘Yeah, sure,’” he explained. “And I go, ‘If you could play like to an intimate audience or a big arena — what do you prefer?’ And she goes without missing a beat, she goes, ‘If you could fill the ocean with people, I’d like to play for that.’”

While Swift is most likely too booked and busy to comment on each and every cameo appearance, a few of the show’s other stars sung her praises as well. Johnson, who played Nick Miller during the show’s seven season run, had nothing but nice things to say about the singer during a 2024 episode of the “We’re Here to Help” podcast.

“She’s such a huge star but her vibe isn’t bad,” Johnson said at the time. “She’s sweet. She’s funny. A lot of big stars, they have their own hair and makeup. The first time I met her, I was going to my lady in the corner … and there was a random blonde lady sitting in one of the chairs.”

“You would expect her to come fully ready from their own thing, not talk to anybody,” he said explaining that Swift easily integrated with the cast and crew.

Here’s to hoping Swift has more time for television cameos in the future.

You can listen to Greenfield’s full podcast episode here.

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Greg Gutfeld Argues Hasan Piker Is Only ‘Democrat Hot’

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Fox News host Greg Gutfeld appeared to take issue with people finding Hasan Piker attractive, arguing that the left-wing political commentator was a “Republican 3” at best.

After it was revealed that The Telegraph had declared it “a sexy socialist summer,” Gutfeld weighed in on Piker’s physical appearance during Friday’s episode of Fox News’ “The Five,” where defended that his “wheelhouse” was discussing public figures’ “hotness.”

“That’s not hot. That’s Democrat hot,” the conservative commentator told his co-hosts. “You know, a Democrat 10 is a Republican 3. Let’s be honest. [Co-host] Jessica [Tarlov] the exception. They are very homely, sad-looking. You have Jerry Nadler.”

At this comment, Tarlov countered with, “You have Randy Fine.”

Gutfeld attempted to sidestep this mention by stating he doesn’t know “who that is.”

“That can’t be your excuse for every thing I ever say,” Tarlov argued in response.

Gutfeld didn’t back down, however, quipping in response that he’s “glad” he doesn’t know who Rep. Fine (R-Ariz.) is.

The debate on “The Five” was clipped and shared on X, prompting a big reaction on the social media post.

“Why does MAGA think they have the attractive people? They need to get out of their AI worlds and back to reality,” one critic wrote on X in response to the clip. Another commented, “He’s got that ass backwards. Republicans are weird looking vile creatures.” A third remarked, “This is really gross actually. Everything that’s going on and this is what they’re talking about.”

“I’m sorry but like … Gossiping about how hot a twitch streamer that you’ve been trying to get cancelled for months is, IS CRAZY,” a fourth sounded off.

As for Piker? He responded to Fox News linking him to Democratic candidates amid this “sexy socialist summer,” writing on X, “Does Fox News know I’m not running for office?”

Watch the Fox News highlight above.

“The Five” on the Fox News Channel airs weekdays at 5 p.m. ET. 

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Golden Globe Foundation Fires CEO Gregory Goeckner

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Gregory Goeckner has been fired as CEO of the Golden Globe Foundation in a vote from the foundation’s board, the foundation told TheWrap on Friday.

Goeckner and the Golden Globes Foundation are both being sued by remaining members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for what the lawsuit describes as efforts to dismantle the HFPA, acquire the Golden Globe Awards and consolidate power across the awards and entertainment business in Hollywood. Jay Penske and the Penske Media Corporation are also named as defendants in the suit. Eldridge Industries owner Todd Boehly is frequently mentioned in the suit, but is not listed as a defendant.

Goeckner was a longtime counsel and COO for the HFPA before becoming a key figure in the 2022 revamping of the Golden Globes. The overhaul took place in the wake of a 2022 boycott launched by Hollywood PR firms to protest the organization’s absence of any Black voters and history of ethically dubious dealings with talent, studios and networks.

According to a report from Page Six Hollywood’s Tatiana Siegel, the move to oust Goeckner was spearheaded by foundation board members Silvia Bizio and Raffi Boghosian, both members of the HFPA. Boghosian confirmed to TheWrap that he is the newly elected president of the Golden Globe Foundation.

Of the nine current foundation board members, seven were members of the HFPA before the Penske/Boehly takeover.

The Golden Globe Awards was formerly a non-profit enterprise of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which gave out annual grants with some of the money earned by the Globes. When Penske Media and Eldridge Industries took over the show in the wake of the boycott, it essentially dissolved the HFPA, removed many of its members and turned the Globes into a for-profit venture.

The charitable arm of the old organization shifted to the new Golden Globe Foundation, and Goeckner was appointed CEO of that foundation.

Last year, HFPA members voted to formally reactivate and audit Penske and Boehly’s acquisition. Their subsequent lawsuit singles out Goeckner, who it alleges surreptitiously transferred $4 million from HFPA accounts to the Foundation in an attempt to push the HFPA to dissolve.

A spokesperson for the Golden Globes declined to comment on Goeckner’s removal. Foundation officials confirmed Goeckner’s removal but did not immediately respond to questions about its connection to the lawsuit.

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