Wednesday’s Directors Guild of America nominations for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television mark the medium rapid shift toward what might be called “auteur TV,” with names familiar from the world of film—Sofia Coppola, for “A Very Murray Christmas” (Netflix); Steven Soderbergh, for “The Knick” (Cinemax)—featured alongside writer-director-stars—Louis C.K., for “Louie” (FX); Amy Schumer and co-director Ryan McFaul, for “12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer,” which I named the best TV episode of 2015.
READ MORE: “The Top Ten TV Episodes of 2015”
Other notable nominees include Matthew Weiner, for “Mad Men” (AMC) series finale “Person to Person”; Jill Soloway, for “Transparent” (Amazon) season premiere “Kina Hora”; and Chris Rock, for Schumer’s HBO stand-up special “Live at the Apollo.”
The winners will be
announced at the 68th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February
6, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The DGA Awards will
be hosted by actor Jane Lynch. Read the list of nominees below:
DRAMATIC SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2015 are (in
alphabetical order):
MICHAEL ENGLER
Downton Abbey, “Episode 8”
(PBS)
This is Mr. Engler’s fourth
DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Comedy Series category
in 2007 for the 30 Rock episode “Rosemary’s
Baby,” in 2003 for the Sex and the City episode “Hop, Skip
& A Week,” and in 2001 for the Sex
and the City episode “My Motherboard, Myself.”
LESLI LINKA GLATTER
Homeland, “The Tradition of
Hospitality”
(Showtime)
Ms. Glatter’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Michael Klick
·
First Assistant Director: Sunday Stevens
·
Second Assistant Director:
Wendy Bledsoe
This is Ms. Glatter’s sixth
DGA Award nomination. She previously won
in this category in 2014 for Homeland,
“From A to B and Back Again” and in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” She was also
nominated in 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes
“The Star” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.”
DAVID NUTTER
Game of Thrones, “Mother’s Mercy”
(HBO)
This is Mr. Nutter’s sixth
DGA Award nomination. He was previously
nominated in this category in 2013 for theGame
of Thrones episode “The Rains of Castamere” and in 2006 for The Sopranos episode “Join the
Club.” He was also nominated in the Comedy Series category for Entourage episodes “The
Resurrection” (2007) and “Lose Yourself” (2010); and in the Movies for
Television and Mini-Series category for The Pacific “Basilone” in 2010.
STEVEN SODERBERGH
The Knick, “Williams and Walker”
(Cinemax)
Mr. Soderbergh’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Managers:
Michael Polaire, Gabrielle Mahon
·
First Assistant Director:
Gregory Jacobs
·
Second Assistant Director:
Jody Spilkoman
·
Second Second Assistant
Directors: Travis Rehwaldt, Jason F. Fesel
·
Location Manager: Rob
Striem
This is Mr. Soderbergh’s
fourth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial
Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for Behind the Candelabra in 2013. He was previously nominated in the Feature Film
category in 2000 for both Erin
Brockovich and Traffic.
He was also the recipient of the Guild’s 2014 Robert B. Aldrich Service Award
for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.
MATTHEW WEINER
Mad Men, “Person to Person”
(AMC)
Mr. Weiner’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Dara Weintraub
·
First Assistant Director:
Lisa M. Rowe
·
Second Assistant Director:
Maria Mantia
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: M. Ryan Traylor
This is Mr. Weiner’s
third DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category
for theMad Men episodes
“Meditations in an Emergency” in 2008 and “Shut The Door. Have A Seat” in 2009.
COMEDY SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2015 are (in
alphabetical order):
CHRIS ADDISON
Veep, “Election Night”
(HBO)
Mr. Addison’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Bill Hill
·
First Assistant Director:
Dale Stern
·
Second Assistant Director:
Michelle Gritzer
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Miles Perman
This is Mr. Addison’s first
DGA Award nomination.
LOUIS C.K.
Louie, “Sleepover”
(FX)
Mr. C.K.’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager: M.
Blair Breard
·
First Assistant Director:
Adam Escott
·
Second Assistant Director:
Nick Vanderpool
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Daniel Lugo
·
Location Manager: Jeff
Caron
This is Mr. C.K.’s fourth
DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in this same category in 2012
for the Louie episode “New
Year’s Eve” and in 2014 for the Louie episode
“Elevator: Part 6.” He was also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials
category in 2013 for Louis C.K.: Oh
My God.
MIKE JUDGE
Silicon Valley, “Binding Arbitration”
(HBO)
Mr. Judge’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Philipp A. Barnett
·
First Assistant Director:
Brett Dos Santos
·
Second Assistant Director:
Thomas Boucher
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Bryan Snodgrass
This is Mr. Judge’s second
DGA Award nomination. He was previously
nominated in this same category in 2014 for the Silicon Valley episode “Minimum
Viable Product.”
GAIL MANCUSO
Modern Family, “White Christmas”
(ABC)
Ms. Mancuso’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Sally Young
·
First Assistant Director:
Jim Hensz
·
Second Assistant Director:
Jason Z. Kemp
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Matt Baker
This is Ms. Mancuso’s third
DGA Award nomination. She was previously
nominated in this same category in 2014 for the Modern Family episode “Vegas” and in 2013 for the Modern Family episode “My Hero.”
JILL SOLOWAY
Transparent, “Kina Hora”
(Amazon)
Ms. Soloway’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Victor Hsu
·
First Assistant Director:
Maria Battle Campbell
·
Second Assistant Director:
Allan Monteiro Fortes
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Anna Vogt
This is Ms. Soloway’s
second DGA Award nomination. She previously won the DGA Award for Outstanding
Directorial Achievement in Comedy in 2014 for her Transparent episode “Best New Girl.”
MOVIES FOR TELEVISION
AND MINI‑SERIES
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini‑Series
for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
ANGELA BASSETT
Whitney
(Lifetime)
Ms. Bassett’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Kyle Clark
·
First Assistant Director:
Van Hayden
·
Second Assistant Director:
Elaine Wood
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Wayne Witherspoon
This is Ms. Bassett’s first
DGA Award nomination.
LAURIE COLLYER
The Secret Life of Marilyn
Monroe
(Lifetime)
Ms. Collyer’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Joseph Boccia
·
First Assistant Directors:
Myron Hoffert, J. Stephen Buck
·
Second Assistant Directors:
Gerrod Shully, Brent Clark
This is Ms. Collyer’s
second DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in the Documentary
category in 2000 for Nuyorican Dream.
PAUL HAGGIS
Show Me a Hero
(HBO)
Mr. Haggis’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Managers:
April Taylor, Nina K. Noble
·
First Assistant Director:
Haze JF Bergerson, III
·
Second Assistant Director:
Matthew Mason
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Scott Foster
·
Additional Second Assistant
Director: Mary G. Knauf
·
Location Manager: Andrew D.
Cooke
This is Mr. Haggis’s
second DGA Award nomination. He was previously nominated in the Feature Film
category in 2005 for Crash.
KENNY LEON (Directed By)
MATTHEW DIAMOND (Live Television Direction By)
The Wiz Live!
(NBC)
Directorial Team:
·
Associate Directors: Rae
Kraus, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Adam Mishler
·
Key Stage Managers: Andrew
C. Gottlieb, Jeff Markowitz
·
Stage Managers: Cyndi
Owgang, Jeffrey L. Pearl, Annette Powlis, Elise Reaves, Cody Renard Richard,
Sarah Testerman
This is Mr. Leon’s second
DGA Award nomination. He was previously
nominated in this same category in 2008 for A Raisin in the Sun.
This is Mr. Diamond’s
seventh DGA Award nomination. He won DGA Awards for Outstanding Directorial
Achievement in Musical Variety for Great
Performances: Dance in America – Swan Lake with American Ballet Theater in
2005; for From Broadway: Fosse in
2002, and for Some Enchanted
Evening, Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein in 1995. He was previously
nominated in the Musical Variety category in 1998 for Savion Glover – Stomp, Slide & Swing: Performance in the White
House; in the Documentary category in 1998 for Dance Maker; and in the Children’s Programs category in 2008 for Camp Rock.
DEE REES
Bessie
(HBO)
Ms. Rees’s Directorial Team:
·
Unit Production Manager:
Ron Schmidt
·
First Assistant Director:
Michael J. Moore
·
Second Assistant Director:
Basti Van Der Woude
·
Second Second Assistant
Director: Joann Connolly
This is Ms. Rees’s first
DGA Award nomination.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS –
REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly
Scheduled Programming for 2015 are (in alphabetical order):
PAUL G. CASEY
Real Time With Bill Maher, “Show #1334”
(HBO)
Mr. Casey’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Director: Stacy
Talbot
·
Stage Managers: Patrick
Whitney, Brian Anderson
This is Mr. Casey’s second
DGA Award nomination. He was previously
nominated in this same category in 2014 for Real Time With Bill Maher, “Show
#1226.”
DAVE DIOMEDI
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #325”
(NBC)
Mr. Diomedi’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Directors: Mark
Jankeloff, Maureen Smith
·
Stage Managers: Niclana
Tolmasoff, Mike Kilkenny
This is Mr. Diomedi’s third
DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial
Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in
2014 for The Tonight Show
Starring Jimmy Fallon, “Episode #1.” He was
previously nominated in this same category in 2013 for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, “#799.”
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live, “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical
Guest: Demi Lovato”
(NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Directors:
Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti
·
Stage Managers: Gena
Rositano, Chris Kelly
This is Mr. King’s tenth DGA
Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement
in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in 2013 for Saturday Night Live“Host: Justin Timberlake” and was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes
in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. He is also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials category this year for Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary
Special.
RYAN MCFAUL & AMY SCHUMER
Inside Amy Schumer, “12 Angry Men”
(Comedy Central)
Directorial Team:
·
Associate Directors:
Nicholas R. Bell, Kim Thompson, Luke Sherman
This is Mr. McFaul’s first
DGA Award nomination.
This is Ms. Schumer’s first
DGA Award nomination.
CHUCK O’NEIL
The Daily Show with Jon
Stewart, “Episode #20142”
(Comedy Central)
Mr. O’Neil’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Director: Paul
A.J. Pennolino
·
Stage Managers: Craig
Spinney, Tom Ucciferri, April Smith
This is Mr. O’Neil’s
twelfth DGA Award nomination. He previously was
nominated in 2010 for Rally to
Restore Sanity and/or Fear and in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,
2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, all for The
Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS –
SPECIALS
The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for
2015 are (in alphabetical order):
SOFIA COPPOLA
A Very Murray Christmas
(Netflix)
Ms. Coppola’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Director: Roman
Coppola
·
Head Stage Manager: Jason
Ivey
·
Stage Managers: Scott
Bowers, Connie Pierce-Winters, Woodrow Travers
This is Ms. Coppola’s
second DGA Award nomination. She was previously nominated in the Feature Film
category in 2003 for Lost in
Translation.
HAMISH HAMILTON
The 87th Annual Academy
Awards
(ABC)
Mr. Hamilton’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Directors: Hayley
Collett, Susan Kopensky, Tim Kettle, Lori Margules, Michael Polito
· Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Dave Cove, John Esposito, Valdez
Flagg, Chris Hines, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Roxanne Lozano, Ron
Paul, Vince Poxon, Tammy Raab, Jason Seligman, Doug Smith, Jackie Stathis,
Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Debbie Williams, Ari Woog
This is Mr. Hamilton’s
second DGA Award nomination. He was previously
nominated in this same category in 2014 for The 86th Annual Academy Awards.
DON ROY KING
Saturday Night Live
40th Anniversary Special
(NBC)
Mr. King’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Directors:
Michael Mancini, Michael Poole, Bob Caminiti, Dan Dome
·
Stage Managers: Gena
Rositano, Chris Kelly, Joey Despenzero, Lynn Finkel, Eddie Valk
This is Mr. King’s tenth
DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial
Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming in
2013 for Saturday Night Live“Host:
Justin Timberlake” and was previously nominated for Saturday Night Live episodes in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010,
2011, 2012 and 2014. He is also nominated in the Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming
category this year for Saturday Night
Live, “Host: Tracy Morgan/Musical Guest: Demi Lovato.”
BETH MCCARTHY‑MILLER
Adele Live in New York City
(NBC)
Ms. McCarthy-Miller’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Directors: Susan
Locke-Shapiro, Michael Poole
·
Stage Managers: Gena
Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk
This is Ms.
McCarthy-Miller’s eleventh DGA Award nomination. She won the DGA Award for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2013 for the 30 Rock episode “Hogcock!/Last
Lunch.” She was also nominated that year, together with Rob Ashford, in the
Movies for Television and Mini-Series category forThe Sound of Music Live! She was previously nominated in the
Comedy Series category for 30 Rock episodes
“Live from Studio 6H” in 2012, “Live Show” in 2010, “The Reunion Episode #304”
in 2008 and “Somebody to Love” in 2007. She won the DGA Award for Outstanding
Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety twice, in 2001 for America: A Tribute to Heroes (co-directed
with Joel Gallen) and in 2000 for the “Val Kilmer and U2” episode of Saturday Night Live. She was also
twice nominated in that category for Saturday Night
Live episodes “Christopher Walken and The Foo Fighters” in 2003 and
the 25th Anniversary episode in 1999.
CHRIS ROCK
Amy Schumer: Live at the
Apollo
(HBO)
Mr. Rock’s Directorial Team:
·
Associate Director/Stage
Manager: Arthur Lewis
This is Mr. Rock’s first
DGA Award nomination.
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