“Homeland” was honored Monday night as best drama series at the second annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards.
Coming on the heels of its Golden Globe victory in January, the win positions the Showtime series as a serious contender for the Emmy Awards in September, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The thriller, which premiered in October, also won an award for star Claire Danes as best actress in a drama series.
NBC was the most-honored network with five wins at the awards show held at the Beverly Hilton, including “Community” as best comedy series, “The Voice” as best reality competition series and “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” as best talk show.
Amy Poehler was named best actress in a comedy series for NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” in a tie with Zooey Deschanel, who won for her lead role on Fox’s “New Girl.”
Bryan Cranston was named best actor in a drama series for AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” which also won for Giancarlo Esposito as best supporting actor in a drama series.
Christina Hendricks was named best supporting actress in a drama series for her work on AMC’s “Mad Men.”
Louis C.K. was honored as best actor in a comedy series for FX’s “Louie.” Best supporting actor in a comedy series went to Ty Burrell for ABC’s “Modern Family,” which also won best supporting actress in a comedy for Julie Bowen.
The best movie/miniseries award was given to “Sherlock,” which aired on PBS. Its star, Benedict Cumberbatch, won best actor in a movie/miniseries.
Julianne Moore was honored as best actress in a movie/miniseries for her role as Sarah Palin in HBO’s “Game Change.”
For best guest performer, Lucy Liu won for TNT’s “Southland” and Paul Rudd for “Parks and Recreation.”
“Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” which airs on Travel Channel, was named best reality series. Tom Bergeron of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” and Cat Deeley of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” tied as best reality show host. FX’s “Archer” was named best animated series.
The Critics’ Choice Television Awards are presented by the Broadcast Television Journalist Association, a group that includes TV, radio and Internet journalists and is a partner organization to the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
The show included six new categories in its second outing: best movie/miniseries, best actor and actress in a movie/miniseries, best animated series and best guest performer in a drama and in a comedy.
While the inaugural show aired on ReelzChannel and was streamed by VH1, this year’s show was not televised.
New nightly talk show in the works for Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is returning to TV’s late-night scene, where he flourished with a talk show two decades ago.
CBS Television Distribution said it is developing a syndicated nightly talk show with the 57-year-old actor and comedian. The company said Monday that the show is set to premiere in the fall of 2013.
Mr. Hall is best known for hosting the Emmy Award-winning “Arsenio Hall Show,” which ran from 1989 to 1994. That show’s place in pop-culture history was clinched in 1992 when then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton appeared and played “Heartbreak Hotel” on the saxophone.
Mr. Hall was featured in the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming to America” and was a regular on the CBS series “Martial Law” in the late 1990s.
Recently, he won the latest edition of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.”
Boy in Darth Vader ad home after heart surgery
The 7-year-old actor who played a pint-size Darth Vader in a popular car commercial is out of the hospital after open-heart surgery.
A spokesman for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles said Max Page was released Monday, four days after his pulmonary valve was replaced in a two-hour operation. Max headed home with his parents and younger brother.
Max, who plays Reed on the CBS soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” was born with a congenital heart defect and has undergone multiple surgeries.
He rallied quickly after last week’s operation, giving a thumbs up the next day and telling his parents, “I am happy,” the day after that, said his mother, Jennifer Page.
The valve used for Max will last about 15 years and won’t require invasive surgery to replace it, according to the hospital. He faces six to eight weeks of recovery.
Maria Arena Bell, executive producer for “The Young and the Restless,” said she and others with the show were “thrilled” Max was doing well and look forward to his return when he recovers.
Romney’s sons to appear on Conan O’Brien’s show
Before presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney makes the rounds on the late-night talk shows, he’s testing the waters with five delegates: his sons.
All five of the Romney boys — Tagg, Matt, Josh, Ben and Craig — are set to make their late-night debut on Wednesday’s episode of “Conan.”. The TBS series announced Monday that it would host the Romneys during Wednesday’s broadcast, putting Conan O’Brien, who mocked Mr. Romney’s compassion for “the underprivileged” in a recent Hollywood Reporter cover story, in the position to navigate a rather large interview.
Mr. Romney has thus far kept his distance from giving too many TV interviews. While he did appear on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Mr. Romney has thus far only made one late-night appearance during the election cycle — and that was to deliver the “Top Ten” list on “The Late Show With David Letterman.” President Obama most recently appeared on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” and first lady Michelle Obama has made 2012 appearances on “Letterman,” “The Tonight Show” and “The Daily Show.”
• Compiled from Web and wire reports
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