'Game of Thrones' breaks record with 32 Emmy nominations

LOS ANGELES—HBO and its medieval fantasy series "Game of Thrones" led nominations on Tuesday for the Emmy awards, the highest honors in television.

HBO got a leading 137 nominations, 32 of them for three-times best drama series winner "Game of Thrones," and recognition for lead actors Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke. The 32 nods for "Game of Thrones," which concluded its final season in May, marked a record high for a drama program in a single year.

Netflix followed with 117 nominations, led by its searing racial justice drama "When They See Us," and surreal time-loop comedy "Russian Doll."

Amazon Studio's bubbly "The Marvelous Mrs Maisel" got 20 nominations, making it a strong contender for a repeat win in the best-comedy series category, while HBO's limited series "Chernobyl," a recreation of the 1986 Russian nuclear power disaster, had 19.

Political satire "Veep" will compete for its fourth Emmy as best comedy series, along with star Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Other contenders in the comedy series category are "Barry," quirky British show "Fleabag," "The Good Place," "Russian Doll" and "Schitt's Creek."

Joining "Game of Thrones" in the top category of best drama series are "Better Call Saul," British thrillers "Bodyguard" and "Killing Eve," "Ozark," transgender show "Pose", family drama "This is Us" and media mogul dynasty series "Succession."

The Emmy awards will be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Sept. 22. (Reporting by Jill Serjeant and Lisa Richwine; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pinoy duo gets standing ovation on 'Ellen'

The General Santos-based music duo who went viral this year for their YouTube video drew laughs and a standing ovation when they made their American TV debut on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Thursday.

B'laan cousins Aldrich Talonding and James Bucong had a sit-down interview with the popular comedienne-host in the episode of her talk show that aired on September 12 (Manila time).


"We started a few years ago, we have been best friends in music," the younger Talonding said of Bucong, when asked how they ended up uploading their rendition of the Luther Vandross hit "Dance With My Father," which has garnered millions of views since April.

A well-spoken Talonding triggered laughter when he related how the video's viral spread has made them popular in the Philippines.

Shortly after their YouTube video made the rounds online in late April, the cousins were featured in ABS-CBN's primetime newscast "TV Patrol."

Days later, DeGeneres on her talk show invited the boys to come to the United States to perform, as she shared a clip from their original video.

"People started recognizing us along the streets or in the malls. They even recognize us in the restroom!" Talonding said to laughs from the live audience.

"That's weird!" he quipped.

Also speaking in fluent English, Bucong added, "Many people do recognize me, especially girls. So it feels awkward when they say that they love me!"

Standing ovation


Noting his father died in June this year, Talonding said the Vandross tune now "means a lot to me, because I didn't realize the song would become true.

The duo went on to perform "Dance With My Father," which ended with a standing ovation from the audience.

"I'm so glad we found you," DeGeneres told Talonding, as she gave the young singer a guitar, a piano, and $10,000.

This isn't the first time Filipino talents were brought to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which is broadcast internationally.

Charice Pempengco, who similarly began as a YouTube sensation, marked the start of her international career when she performed on the talk show in December 2007.

Singers Rhap Salazar and Zendee Tenerefe also debuted on American TV when DeGeneres invited them at different times to perform on her show in late 2012.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com