Armisen to Present at This Year’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Fred Armisen is about to get creative

The 47-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor and former Saturday Night Live star, who received his first-ever Emmy nomination in an acting category this year, will be among the presenters at the 2014 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on August 16, according to the show’s executive producer Spike Jones Jr.

Fred Armisen

Armisen, who earneda best supporting actor in a comedy nod for Portlandia, the IFC series filmed and set in Portland, joins a list of presenters that includes Jane Lynch, Morgan Freeman, Tony Goldwyn, Heidi Klum and much of the nominated cast of Orange Is the New Black.

Other presenters include Patrick Adams (Suits), Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), Judy Greer (Archer), Jonathan Groff (The Normal Heart), Tim Gunn (Project Runway), Tony Hale (Veep), Allison Janney (MomMasters of Sex), Keegan Michael Key (Key and Peele), Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is the New Black), Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Joel McHale (The Soup; Community), Aisha Tyler (Archer), Matt Walsh (Veep), Matt Weiner (Mad Men) and Bellamy Young (Scandal).

This year’s awards show will take place a week and a day before the Primetime Emmy Awards. An edited version of the show will be broadcast on the FXM cable network.

The entire show will be streamed on Emmys.com from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday Aug. 25, just before the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Louis C.K. Collects Five Primetime Emmy Award Nominations

Louis C.K. is still a Primetime Emmy Awards darling…

Following a record-setting nine nominations last year, the 46-year-old Mexican American actor/comedian cleaned up once again during Thursday morning’s Emmy nominations.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K., a four-time Emmy-winner, earned five nominations for the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, the most individual nominations of anyone, Latino and non-Latino, this year.

Louis C.K., the creator of FX’s dark comedy series Louie, is nominated for Actor in a Comedy for his laugh-inducing performance as the show’s title character.

His behind-the-scenes work on Louie has also resulted in nods in the Writing for a Comedy Series and Directing for a Comedy Series categories. Louis C.K., one of the executive producers onthe show, saw the series receive a Comedy Series nomination.

And last but certainly not least, Louis C.K. earned a nomination in the Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category for hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live earlier this year. The actor/comedian, a two-time SNL host, has earned Emmy love for both his hosting stints on the long-running NBC sketch comedy series.

But Louis C.K. isn’t the only Latino to receive multiple nominations…

Fred Armisen, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, earned a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nod for portraying various characters on his critically acclaimed IFC satirical sketch comedy series Portlandia.

The 47-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor, who created the series with co-star Carrie Brownstein, also earned a nod in the Writing for a Variety Series for hisbehind-the-scenes work on the series.

Helena Bonham Carter, a two-time Oscar nominee, has earned her third career Primetime Emmy nod. The 48-year-old part-Spanish actress earned her first nomination in 11 years in the Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie category for her portrayal of the late Elizabeth Taylor in the BBC/BBC America production Burton and Taylor.

Alfred Molina earned his first-ever Primetime Emmy Award nomination. The 61-year-old half-Spanish actor is nominated in the Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie category for his performance in HBO’s The Normal Heart.

Lin-Manuel Miranda, who earned his first-ever Daytime Emmy Award nod earlier this year, now has his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

The Tony Award– and Grammy-winning American composer, rapper, lyricist and actor picked up the nod in the Original Music and Lyrics category for penning the lyrics to “Bigger!,”a tune performed by Neil Patrick Harris at the 2013 Tony Awards.

The 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on Monday August 25, 2014 at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, and will be broadcast live by NBC.

Here’s a look at the categories with Latino nominees.

Comedy series
“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
“Louie” (FX)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)
“Silicon Valley” (HBO)
“Veep” (HBO)

Actor in a Comedy
Louis C.K (“Louie”)
Don Cheadle (“House of Lies”)
Ricky Gervais (“Derek”)
Matt LeBlanc (“Episodes”)
William H. Macy (“Shameless”)
Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”)

Writing for a Comedy Series
David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik (“Episodes”)
Louis C.K. (“Louie”)
Liz Friedman and Jenji Kohan (“Orange Is the New Black”)
Alec Berg (“Silicon Valley”)
Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche and Armando Iannucci (“Veep”)

Directing for a Comedy Series
Iain B. MacDonald (“Episodes”)
Paris Barclay (“Glee”)
Louis C.K. (“Louie”)
Gail Mancuso (“Modern Family”)
Jodie Foster (“Orange Is the New Black”)
Mike Judge (“Silicon Valley”)

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Bob Newhart (“The Big Bang Theory”)
Nathan Lane (“Modern Family”)
Steve Buscemi (“Portlandia”)
Jimmy Fallon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Louis C.K. (“Saturday Night Live”)
Gary Cole (“Veep”)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)
Adam Driver (“Girls”)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family”)
Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”)
Fred Armisen (“Portlandia”)
Tony Hale (“Veep”)

Writing for a variety series
“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central)
“Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)
“Portlandia” (IFC) 
[Fred Armisen]
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC)

Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Jessica Lange (“American Horror Story: Coven”)
Sarah Paulson (“American Horror Story: Coven”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“Burton and Taylor”)
Minnie Driver (“Return to Zero”)
Kristen Wiig (“The Spoils of Babylon”)
Cicely Tyson (“The Trip to Bountiful”)

Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Colin Hanks (“Fargo”)
Jim Parsons (“The Normal Heart”)
Joe Mantello (“The Normal Heart”)
Alfred Molina (“The Normal Heart”)
Matt Bomer (“The Normal Heart”)
Martin Freeman (“Sherlock: His Last Vow”)

Original Music and Lyrics
“No Trouble” from “A Christmas Carol — The Concert”
“Les Mis” from “Key & Peele”
“Home for the Holiday (Twin Bed)” from “Saturday Night Live”
“Merroway Cove” from “Sofia the First: The Floating Palace”
“Day Is Gone” from “Sons Of Anarchy”
“Bigger!” from “67th Tony Awards” [Lin-Manuel Miranda, lyrics]

Directing for a miniseries, movie or a dramatic special
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (“American Horror Story: Coven”)
Adam Bernstein (“Fargo”)
Colin Bucksey (“Fargo”)
Stephen Frears (“Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight”)
Ryan Murphy (“The Normal Heart”)
Nick Hurran (“Sherlock: His Last Vow”)

Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie
“Fargo” (Dana Gonzales)
“Fargo” (Matt Lloyd)
“Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond”
“Killing Kennedy”
“The Normal Heart”
“Sherlock: His Last Vow”

Costumes for a Series
“Boardwalk Empire”
“Downton Abbey”
“Game of Thrones”
“Mad Men”
“Once Upon a Time” [Eduardo Castro]

Outstanding Cinematography For Reality Programming
Project Runway (Lifetime) [Gus Dominguez, Director of Photography]

Armisen to Produce and Appear on IFC’s “American Documentary”

Fred Armisen is about to document American history… Sort of!

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live cast member, who has starred on IFC’s sketch comedy series Portlandia, will star in a new comedy project called American Documentary (working title).

Fred Armisen

Armisen created the docu-parody with his fellow Saturday Night Live vets Bill Hader and Seth Meyers.

American Documentary is hailed as a curated series of half-hour documentaries and biopics, each about a completely fictitious subject. Featuring a repertory-like ensemble cast, the episodes will explore important political figures, influential artists, titans of industry, and iconic cultural movements, all utterly fictional.

Produced by Lorne MichaelsBroadway Video Television and directed by SNL’s Rhys Thomas, American Documentary will be shot on location in the traditional documentary style.

IFC has ordered six half-hour episodes to premiere in 2015. Meyers will executive produce the series alongside Armisen and Hader, who’ll have recurring roles.

Production is scheduled to begin later this year.

Armisen to Serve as Band Leader on the new “Late Night with Seth Meyers”

Fred Armisen is the leader of the band…

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star has been named the new bandleader on the new Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Fred Armisen

Meyers, Armisen’s SNL cast mate for several seasons, just tweeted the announcement.

Armisen, a talented drummer – as evidenced in the video clip below – currently stars on IFC’s sketch series Portlandia opposite fellow musician Carrie Brownstein, who fronted the rock band Sleater-Kinney.

Armisen “will curate and lead the band, and continue to run it even when he’s off shooting Portlandia,” announced Meyers on his Twitter page.

Meyers’ Late Night will make its big debut on February 24.

Armisen to Guest-Star on ABC’s Comedy “Super Fun Night”

Fred Armisen has a super fun night ahead of him…

The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor has signed on to guest star in an upcoming episode of comedic actress Rebel Wilson’s ABC sitcom Super Fun Night, according to Entertainment Weekly.

 

Armisen, a former Saturday Night Live cast member currently starring in IFC’s sketch comedy series Portlandia, will reportedly portray a character named Brian Headfoot, the infuriated head of HR at the law firm where Wilson’s Kimmie works.

In the episode, his character is called in to broker a truce between feuding Kimmie and Kendall (portrayed by Kate Jenkinson). Fred Armisen

The episode is set to air early 2014 on ABC.

Armisen is not the first SNL alum to guest on the comedy series, which airs on Wednesday night.

Molly Shannon recently appeared on the show as a relationship guru nicknamed “The Love Lioness.”

Armisen to Direct a Kings of Leon Concert for American Express Unstaged

Fred Armisen is preparing to work with music royalty

The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan actor/comedian and former Saturday Night Live star is set to direct a Kings of Leon show next month for the American Express Unstaged series, according to the Associated Press.

Fred Armisen

The Portlandia star, who recently ended his SNL run after 11 years, has previously directed music videos and is himself a drummer and musician.

Armisen wrapped up his SNL run as his memorable punk character Ian Rubbish along with former Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon, J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols and former Sleater-Kinney guitarist and vocalist (and his Portlandia co-star) Carrie Brownstein, among others.

The Kings of Leon concert will take place on August 9th at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, and will be streamed by YouTube and Vevo.

It will mark the 13th entry in the American Express Unstaged series; the series’ last show featured Steve Buscemi directing Vampire Weekend, which had Armisen open as Ian Rubbish.

Kings of Leon’s next album, Mechanical Bull, will be out September 24th.

Louis C.K. Breaks His Own Record with Nine Primetime Emmy Nods

Louis C.K. has proven to be the Emmy darling once again, breaking his own record for the most  nominations in a single year.

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor/stand-up comedian has earned a massive nine individual for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards nods, breaking the record for individual nods in a single year that he set last year.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K., the creator of FX’s Louie, earned acting, producing, writing and directing nominations for his work on the critically acclaimed comedy series.

He also earned a Guest Actor in a Comedy nomination for hosting NBC’s  Saturday Night Live last fall.

But that’s not all… Louis C.K. also earned producing, writing, directing and editing nominations for his hit HBO special Oh My God.

Louis C.K. isn’t the only multiple nominee…

Bobby Cannavale, who earned two SAG Award nominations in December,  has earned two Emmy nods this year.

The 43-year-old half-Cuban American, an Emmy Award winner in 2005 for his recurring role on NBC’s Will & Grace, has earned guest actor nods in the comedy and drama categories for his roles on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie.

Meantime, perpetual Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara has landed another nod for her scene-stealing role on ABC’s Modern Family.

The 41-year-old Colombian actress has earned her fourth consecutive Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category.

From fourth to first… Morena Baccarin has earned the first Emmy nomination of her career.

The 34-year-old Brazilian American actress, who is expecting her first child, earned the nod in the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series category for her work on Showtime’s Homeland.

Other Latino nominees include former SNL star Fred Armisen in the Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series category for penning IFC’s Portlandia.

The nominations were announced on Thursday morning in Hollywood by actor Aaron Paul and Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris, who was a last-minute fill-in for actress Kate Mara.

The Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented on September 22 at 8:00 pm on CBS.

Here’s a look at this year’s Latino Emmy nominees in the major categories:

Lead actor in comedy series
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Louis CK, Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Outstanding comedy series
The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Girls, HBO
Louie, FX Networks
Modern Family, ABC
30 Rock, NBC
Veep, HBO

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire, HBO
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad, AMC
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad, AMC
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey, PBS
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones, HBO
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland, Showtime

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad, AMC
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey, PBS
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones, HBO
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife, CBS
Morena Baccarin, Homeland, Showtime
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men, AMC

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, The Big Band Theory, CBS
Jane Lynch, Glee, Fox
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family, ABC
Julie Bowen, Modern Family, ABC
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie, Showtime
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock, NBC
Anna Chlumsky, Veep, HBO

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Nathan Lane, Modern Family, ABC
Bobby Cannavale, Nurse Jackie, Showtime
Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live, NBC
Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Will Forte, 30 Rock, NBC

Click here for the complete list of Emmy nominees.

Louis C.K. Wins His First Writers Guild Award

Louis C.K. has picked up his first Writers Guild Award

The 45-year-old half-Mexican American actor, stand-up comedian and Emmy-winning writer was named the winner in the comedy series category at Sunday’s 65th Annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K., who will be starring in Woody Allen’s latest film Blue Jasmine this summer, won the award for penning his critically acclaimed FX series Louie, alongside Pamela Adlon and Vernon Chatman.

Fred Armisen won the WGA Award in the Comedy/Variety Series category. The 46-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star took home the prize for penning his IFC series Portlandia, along with fellow writers Carrie Brownstein, Karey Dornetto, Jonathan Krisel and Bill Oakley.

PBSMarcela Gaviria won the WGA Award in the Documentary – Current Events category. The Colombia-born journalist and filmmaker earned the award for penning Frontline’s “Money, Power and Wall Street: Episode One” documentary with Martin Smith.

The Writers Guild Awards, presented by the Writers Guild of America, honor outstanding achievement in writing in film, television, radio, new media, and other awards categories.

Vergara to Play Tia Sofia on “The Cleveland Show”

Sofia Vergara is heading to Cleveland this fall…

The 40-year-old Colombian actress—who just earned her third consecutive Primetime Emmy nomination for her role on ABC’s Modern Family—will be lending her voice to Fox’s animated series The Cleveland Show. 

Sofia Vergara

Vergara, currently the highest paid actress on television, will play Tia Sofia, who attempts to convince Cleveland to throw a quinceñera for Cleveland Jr.’s 15th birthday.

In addition, she’ll make a cameo as Peter Griffin’s fantasy love interest in an upcoming episode of Family Guy, according to Entertainment Weekly. In a cutaway gag featuring Peter as a telenovela lothario, Vergara will voice his oh-so-sexy and sassy lover. And that’s not her only role in the episode; she’ll also play a woman selling roses in a restaurant where Quagmire is “wooing” Peter so that Peter will do him a big favor.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, Bruno Mars will appear in the season premiere of The Cleveland Show, along with Kanye West,  Nicki Minaj, The Roots’ ?uestlove and will.i.am. They’ll star as characters in a secret hip-hop society that Cleveland discovers in the season premiere.

A subsequent episode will feature Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who recently became the 49th player in major league history to reach 400 home runs.

On The Simpsons, the 24th season of the Fox comedy will feature Portlandia‘s Fred Armisen, while Family Guy will see The Voice’s Christina Milian voice an upcoming role.

Armisen Heading to Springfield

Doh! Fred Armisen is about to get seriously animated.

The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan Saturday Night Live cast member—who currently stars on the IFC’s sketch comedy series Portlandia—and his co-star Carrie Brownstein have signed on to provide the voices for the Simpson’s new neighbors on Fox’s The Simpsons.

Fred Armisen

Armisen and Brownstein’s characters, who will make an appearance in an episode of the animated show’s 24th season, are described “a cool family from Portland.”

Homer will be seen desperately trying to befriend them, but Marge thinks that “being cool isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“They’re the best thing to come out of Portland since everything our show took out of Portland,” gushed executive producer Al Jean about the casting of Armisen and Brownstein.

The episode featuring the Portlandia duo is titled “The Day the Earth Stayed Cool” and will air next fall.