Posts Tagged ‘James Spader’

Sunday night, the 63rd Emmy Awards were presented by first time host Jane Lynch of Fox’s “Glee.” While New England was well-represented throughout the show, the big winners of the evening was ABC’s “Modern Family,” winning a total of five awards, including the first four awards of the evening.

Massachusetts men, Steve Carrell and John Krasinski were both spotted on the red carpet, speaking individually to E’s Ryan Seacrest. Krasinski remarked on how he had not seen Carrell since he left, and how he was enjoying working with James Spader, a new addition to “The Office” family. Carrell likewise said how he was looking forward to catching up with his former cast.

Boston’s own Leonard Nimoy helped open the show, appearing as the ‘President of Television’ in the opening gag/musical number with Jane Lynch about the world of TV. The skit featured Lynch making her way through an apartment building where all of the current TV shows “live.” At one point, Lynch happened upon the “Mad Men” set, and sang to the characters about how women “in the future” can marry other women. Lynch married her partner in Sunderland, Massachusetts, in 2010. Many television stars made appearances throughout the skit; even the “Can you hear me now?” guy from the infamous Verizon commercials, Paul Marcarelli, a native of North Haven, Connecticut, made a brief cameo.

As for the awards, Matt LeBlanc, a Newton native, lost to Jim Parsons from “Big Bang Theory” for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy and “Downton Abby (Masterpiece)” beat “The Kennedys” for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. Barry Pepper, who played Robert F. Kennedy in the controversial miniseries “The Kennedys,” won the best supporting actor award.

Burlington’s Amy Poehler, along with winner Melissa McCarthy helped present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. Poehler was up against McCarty earlier in the evening for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy. The funny lady nominees each scrambled to the stage as their names were called and assembled in a row, pageant-like, and stood holding hands, before McCarthy was announced as the winner, and presented with her trophy, along with a tiara and bouquet of roses.

Mark Wahlberg was spotted in the audience when Lynch introduced the cast of “Entourage,” who presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special. Actor Jeremy Piven even joked about his former boss, remarking about how “HBO, also known as the Mark Wahlberg Channel.” Wahlberg served as executive producer of the show up until its last season earlier this year.

Also appearing during the telecast, Connecticut’s Michael Bolton reprised his role as Captain Jack Sparrow from his wildly popular viral digital video with the SNL guys who make up the  Lonely Island music group.

Actress Jill Clayburgh, who died in early November of last year, appeared in the annual “In Memoriam” reel; she was a native of Connecticut.

During the commercial breaks, advertisements for the partially made in Boston movie, Moneyball and Footloose, starring Stoughton’s Kenny Wormald, aired.

How do you like them apples?

Following his hilarious appearance in “The Office” season finale, Boston native, James Spader has officially joined the cast of the popular NBC sitcom.  After weeks of speculation, it was officially announced that Spader will play the new CEO of Sabre Dunder Mifflin, replacing actress Kathy Bates.

Spader was born in Boston and attended private schools in Massachusetts before dropping out in eleventh grade to pursue acting in New York City.  He started his career appearing in popular 80′s movies, Pretty In Pink and Mannequin before returning to his New England roots as brilliant attorney, Alan Shore, in David E. Kelley’s “Boston Legal.”

In “The Office” season finale Spader appeared as Robert California, a businessman interviewing for Michael Scott’s vacant position at the Scranton branch.  Last month, “The Office” executive producer Ricky Gervais announced Spader would be joining the show as a permanent cast member, but not as a replacement for Steve Carell’s character.  He will instead replace Kathy Bates, who is committed to a second season of her own NBC show, “Harry’s Law.”  Spader will join fellow New England natives on “The Office,” John Krasinski, B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling.

TNT’s newest crime drama, “Rizzoli & Isles,” is the latest television show to continue the long held tradition of being set in Boston.  This crime drama comes out later this year and centers around a Boston detective played by Angie Harmon and a medical examiner (Sasha Alexander) who work closely to solve crimes.

Currently, there are several other shows along with “Rizzoli & Isles” that are set in Boston.  In fact, Boston has been featured in shows so often, that there is even a Wikipedia page about it.  These include the latest installment of the Jesse Stone series, “Fringe,” and the recently premiered “Boston Med,” that delves into the goings on of three of Boston’s best hospitals – Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Boston.

Some recent well known Boston-set programs include the James Spader lawyer dramas “Boston Legal” and “The Practice,” “Ally McBeal” and “Crossing Jordan.”

Teens might remember that the main characters in programs like “Dawson’s Creek” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” attended college in Boston, while “Two Guys and a Girl” and “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” also took place there.

Of course you cannot mention Boston-based television shows without giving a nod to “Cheers,” the 1980s sitcom centering around a bar “where everybody knows your name.”  People from all over the world still come to Boston to visit the famous bar on Beacon street where all of the exteriors were filmed.

It is important to note that although all of these shows were set in Boston, most of them were taped in Los Angeles.  As disappointing as that might be for some New England filmmakers, it is still exciting to know that Boston is the home to so many favorite television shows.