LOS ANGELES, Jan. 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Directors Guild of America President Michael Apted today announced the DGA's nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement for 2005 in the television categories of Dramatic Series Night, Comedy Series, Musical Variety, Reality Programs, Daytime Serials and Children's Programs. The winners of all six categories will be announced at the 58th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
"With the landscape of television rapidly widening and productions becoming more complex and more visually ambitious, the role of the director is increasingly critical to the success of television programming," said DGA President Michael Apted. "The DGA Television Awards represent an opportunity for the Guild to recognize this vital role and to honor the broad range of excellence found in television directing today."
Apted continued: "As we celebrate the inauguration of the DGA Reality Television Award this year, I offer my congratulations to the first five nominees -- their work is a strong testament to the importance of the director's role in this genre."
DRAMATIC SERIES NIGHT The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night for 2005 are (in alphabetical order): MICHAEL APTED "ROME - THE STOLEN EAGLE" HBO Unit Production Manager: Stanley Wlodkowski First Assistant Director: Sergio Ercolessi, Julie Bloom, Thomas Gormley Second Assistant Director: Barbara Ravis, Kiersten Miller This is Mr. Apted's third nomination. He was nominated in the Feature Film category for COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER in 1980, and in the Dramatic Series Night category for THE COLLECTION-HAROLD PINTER (PBS SPECIAL) in 1978. ---------- ALAN BALL SIX FEET UNDER - "EVERYONE'S WAITING" HBO Unit Production Manager: Robert del Valle First Assistant Director: Marty Elcan Second Assistant Director: Cara McCastlain Second Second Assistant Directors: Eddie Kalpa, Yumiko Takeya, Melody Beam, Matt Buckler This is Mr. Ball's third nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night in 2001 for SIX FEET UNDER (PILOT) and was nominated in the same category for SIX FEET UNDER ("I'M SORRY I'M LOST") in 2003. ---------- PARIS BARCLAY HOUSE - "THREE STORIES" FOX Unit Production Manager: Gerrit van der Meer First Assistant Director: Carol Green Second Assistant Director: Janet VanEtten Second Second Assistant Director: Stacy Christenson Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Grace Liu This is Mr. Barclay's sixth nomination. In 1998 he won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night for NYPD BLUE ("HEART AND SOULS"). He was nominated in 1996 for ER ("ASK ME NO QUESTIONS, I'LL TELL YOU NO LIES"); in 2000 for THE WEST WING ("THE PORTLAND TRIP"); in 2001 for THE WEST WING ("THE INDIANS IN THE LOBBY"); and in 2002 for THE WEST WING ("DEBATE CAMP"). ---------- PETER HORTON GREY'S ANATOMY - "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" ABC Unit Production Manager: Ann Kindberg First Assistant Director: Carey Dietrich Second Assistant Director: Korey Pollard Second Second Assistant Director: Deborah Greaney This is Mr. Horton's first nomination. ---------- JEFF MELMAN GREY'S ANATOMY - "IN TO YOU LIKE A TRAIN" ABC Unit Production Manager: Carla Corwin First Assistant Director: Annette Sutera Second Assistant Director: Shawn Hanley Second Second Assistant Director: Laura Petticord DGA Trainee: Patricia Butler This is Mr. Melman's first nomination. ---------- COMEDY SERIES The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2005 are (in alphabetical order): MARC BUCKLAND MY NAME IS EARL - "PILOT" NBC Unit Production Manager: Henry Lange, Jr. First Assistant Director: Joan Cunningham Second Assistant Director: Jeff Bilger Second Second Assistant Director: Stacy Schrader This is Mr. Buckland's first nomination. ---------- JAMES BURROWS WILL AND GRACE - "ALIVE AND SCHTIKING" NBC Unit Production Manager: Tim Kaiser First Assistant Director: Dale White Second Assistant Director: Caryn Rae Shick Technical Coordinator: Russell D. Sherman This is Mr. Burrows' twenty-first nomination. The four-time DGA Award winner received his first nomination in 1981 for the TAXI episode "JIM THE PSYCHIC." He is a ten-time nominee and two-time winner for CHEERS in 1982, 1983 (winner), 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 (winner), 1991 and 1992. He won the DGA Award again in 1993 for the pilot episode of FRASIER, and in 1995 was nominated for the FRIENDS episode "THE ONE WITH THE BIRTH." He received the nomination in 1997 for the DHARMA AND GREG pilot, and was also nominated for WILL & GRACE from 1998-2003, winning the award in 2000 for his direction of the episode "LOWS IN THE MID-EIGHTIES." ---------- LARRY CHARLES CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - "THE END" HBO Associate Director: Dale Stern Stage Manager: Jonathan Harris This is Mr. Charles' second nomination. He was previously nominated for CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM ("THE NANNY FROM HELL") in 2002. ---------- JULIAN FARINO ENTOURAGE - "EXODUS" HBO Unit Production Manager: Wayne Carmona First Assistant Directors: Gary Goldman, Jeff Kay Second Assistant Director: Susan Hellmann Second Second Assistant Director: Michelene Mundo This is Mr. Farino's first nomination. ---------- BRYAN GORDON CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - "KOREAN BOOKIE" HBO Associate Director: Dale Stern Stage Manager: Jonathan Harris This is Mr. Gordon's third nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series in 2002 for CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM ("SPECIAL SECTION") and was nominated in 2004 for CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM ("THE 5 WOOD"). ---------- MUSICAL VARIETY The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety for 2005 are (in alphabetical order): MATTHEW DIAMOND "GREAT PERFORMANCES: DANCE IN AMERICA SWAN LAKE WITH AMERICAN BALLET THEATER" PBS Associate Director: Rae Kraus Stage Manager: David Fox This is Mr. Diamond's fifth nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 2002 for FROM BROADWAY: FOSSE and in 1995 for SOME ENCHANTED EVENING, CELEBRATING OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN. He was nominated in 1998 for SAVION GLOVER - STOMP, SLIDE & SWING: PERFORMANCE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, and also in 1998 in the Documentary category for DANCE MAKER. ---------- JERRY FOLEY "LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN" - SHOW #2452 CBS Associate Directors: Randi Grossack, Jessica Santini Stage Managers: Biff Henderson, Frank Comito, Mark Dicso, Edward Valk, Sandy Stevens This is Mr. Foley's seventh nomination, all for THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN. He was nominated in 2004 for episode #2187, in 2002 for episode #1876, in 2001 for episode #1634, in 2000 for episode #1527, in 1999 for episode #1294, and in 1998 for episode #958. ---------- LOUIS J. HORVITZ "THE 77TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS" ABC Associate Directors: James Tanker, Timothy H. Kettle, Mike Polito, Richard Preuss, Deborah Read, Greg Fera, Rita Rogers-Blye, Lauren Singer, Anne Rickey, Harriet Ells, Ronni Fisher, David Kelmachter Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Denny Barry, Rita Cossette, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Harve Levine, Arthur Lewis, Dency Nelson, Ronald Paul, Vincent Poxon, Jason Seligman, Rob Sellers, Jr., Douglas Smith This is Mr. Horvitz's twelfth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety in 1997 for THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS. He received his first nomination in 1985 for LIVE AID CONCERT. He was nominated again in 1993 for THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, and in 1995 for SINATRA: 80 YEARS MY WAY. He received his next three DGA nominations for THE 70TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS, THE 71ST ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS AND THE 72ND ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS. He garnered another nomination in 2001 for THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, and again in 2002-2004 for THE 74TH, 75TH, and 76TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS. ---------- CHUCK O'NEIL "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART" COMEDY CENTRAL Associate Director: Paul A.J. Pennolino Stage Manager: Craig Spinney This is Mr. O'Neil's third nomination. He was nominated for THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART in 2003 and 2004. ---------- ALAN SKOG "LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER HIGHER GROUND HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT" PBS Associate Director: Karen McLaughlin Stage Managers: Electa Brown, Phyllis Digilio, Lynn Finkel, Douglas Fogel, Mark McKenna, Jeffrey Pearl This is Mr. Skog's first nomination. ---------- GLENN WEISS "THE 59TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS" CBS Associate Directors: Gregg Gelfand, Robin Mishkin, Ricky Kirshner Stage Managers: Garry W. Hood, Peter Epstein, Andrew Feigin, Lynn Finkel, Douglas Fogel, Jeffry Gitter, Christopher Kelly, Arthur Lewis, Mark McKenna, Jeffrey Pearl This is Mr. Weiss' third nomination. He was nominated in 2001 and 2002 for THE 55TH and 56TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS, respectively. ---------- REALITY PROGRAMS The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2005 are (in alphabetical order)(See Note): ROSS BREITENBACH BRAT CAMP - "EPISODE #104" ABC TONY CROLL THREE WISHES - "EPISODE #1, PILOT" NBC STAR PRICE PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT! - "CIRCUMCISION" SHOWTIME Segment Directors: Scott Schaefer, Chip Selby, Ted Saad, Tim Rogan Stage Manager: Tim Rogan ---------- J. RUPERT THOMPSON FEAR FACTOR - "HEIST FEAR FACTOR, SEASON 6 PREMIERE" NBC Stage Manager: John Stewart ---------- BERTRAM VAN MUNSTER THE AMAZING RACE, "EPISODE #805" CBS Segment Director: Michael Noval NOTE: These are all first-time nominations. ---------- DAYTIME SERIALS The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials for 2005 are (in alphabetical order): LARRY CARPENTER "ONE LIFE TO LIVE' - EPISODE #9385 ABC Associate Directors: Teresa Anne Cicala, Paul Glass Stage Managers: Richard A. Manfredi, Alan P. Needleman Production Associate: Allison J. Samon This is Mr. Carpenter's third nomination. He was nominated for ONE LIFE TO LIVE, episode #8655 in 2002 and episode #8849 in 2003. ---------- OWEN RENFROE "GENERAL HOSPITAL" - EPISODE #10914 ABC Associate Directors: Ron Cates, Christine Magarian, Penny Pengra, Peter Fillmore Stage Managers: Craig McManus, Crystal Craft Production Associates: Lisa Kaseff, Denise Van Cleave, Christine Cooper This is Mr. Renfroe's first nomination. ---------- HERBERT STEIN "DAYS OF OUR LIVES" - EPISODE #10090 NBC Associate Directors: Julie Brady, Joseph H. Lumer Stage Managers: Joseph H. Lumer, Francesca Bellini-De Simone, Stuart W. Howard Production Associates: Tonya Van Horn Peat, Michael Fiamingo This is Mr. Stein's second nomination. He was previously nominated for DAYS OF OUR LIVES, episode #8557 in 1999 (co-director Roger Inman). ---------- MICHAEL STICH "THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL" - EPISODE #4623 CBS Associate Directors: Steven Wacker, Clyde Kaplan, Jennifer Howard Stage Managers: Laura Yale, Douglas Hayden, Lisa Winther-Huston This is Mr. Stich's seventh nomination for his direction of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials in 1991 and 1994; he was nominated in 1993, 1996, 2001 and 2002. ---------- ELLEN WHEELER "GUIDING LIGHT" - EPISODE #14696 CBS Associate Directors: Christopher Cullen, Jan Conklin, Ilene Frankel, Tracey Hanley Bryggman, Andrea Giles-Rich Stage Managers: Adam Reist, Ann Vettel, Joseph Willmore Production Associates: Elana Slott, Charles Grayauskie, Kristin Doherty This is Ms. Wheeler's first nomination. ---------- CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs for 2005 are (in alphabetical order): CHRIS EYRE "EDGE OF AMERICA" SHOWTIME Unit Production Manager: Donald Schain First Assistant Director: Matias Alvarez Second Assistant Director: Miriam Epstein Footer Second Second Assistant Director: Christopher Barnes This is Mr. Eyre's first nomination. ---------- ELLEN GOOSENBERG KENT "I HAVE TOURETTE'S, BUT TOURETTE'S DOESN'T HAVE ME" HBO This is Ms. Goosenberg Kent's first nomination. ---------- DAVID JACKSON "BUFFALO DREAMS" DISNEY CHANNEL Unit Production Manager: Donald Schain First Assistant Directors: Matias Alvarez Second Assistant Director: Miriam Epstein Footer Second Second Assistant Director: Cody J. Harbaugh This is Mr. Jackson's first nomination. ---------- SEAN MC NAMARA THAT'S SO RAVEN - "COUNTRY COUSIN #336" DISNEY CHANNEL Associate Director: Thomas Rickard Stage Manager: Eric Dean Seaton This is Mr. McNamara's fourth nomination. He was nominated in 2000 and 2001 for the "EASY WAY" and "VERY SCARY STORY" episodes of EVEN STEVENS, and in 2003 for THE EVEN STEVENS MOVIE. ---------- JESSICA SHARZER "SPEAK" SHOWTIME Unit Production Manager: Fred R Berner First Assistant Director: Daniel Shaw Second Assistant Director: Kathleen M. Tull Second Second Assistant Director: Jeremy Haak This is Ms. Sharzer's first nomination.