upworthy

celebrity news

Pop Culture

'Severance' actor dedicates historic Emmy win to his 'tough' first acting coach—his mom

"Do the work, show up, and most importantly, for the love of God, don't embarrass me in public."

via Gabriel Hutchinson Photography/Wikimedia Commons

Short. Sweet. Perfect.

Tramell Tillman, aka Mr. Milchik in Severance, might have made Emmy history for being the first Black man ever to win Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series…but he’s also in the running for best acceptance speech ever. As Tillman took to the stage, he began by quoting: “‘You remember what you want to remember. You make time for what you want to make time for. Do the work, show up, and most importantly, for the love of God, don't embarrass me in public.’”

Then, he cheekily added, “My first acting coach was tough, y'all. But all great mothers are.” That's right, Tillman’s acceptance speech became a heartwarming tribute to his mother, who also happened to be accompanying him that night.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

“Mama, you were there for me when no one else was, and no one else would show up. Your loving kindness stays with me, and this is for you.” Tillman then concluded, “Thank you to the Academy. I am full. I am humbled. I am honored. And as my mama would say, ‘OOOOO Look at God!’” That’s it–short, sweet, personal…about as close to a perfect Emmy speech as you could get.

In a previous interview with amNewYork, Tillman shared that it was his mom who encouraged him to get into acting to overcome his shyness. Because of her, his first acting role came in the form of a one-line part in a Christmas play. And from there "something clicked,” Tillman said.

With that tidbit in mind, it makes all the more sense that Tillman would dedicate his win to the woman who started it all. That wasn’t the only iconic Severance moment at the awards show. Britt Lower, who plays Helly, took home the award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

While her acceptance speech was rather normal (celebrating the talents of the other nominees, thanking her Severance cast and crew, etc). But then, as many eagle-eyed fans spotted, the words "LET ME OUT" were written in all caps on the back of the paper Lower read from. This was an awesome Easter egg referring to something her character did in Season One. Iykyk.

@taquedurshop Let me out Helly. Love this scene #fyp #severance #adamscott #letmeout #helena #appletv #severanceedit #musicdanceexperience #severancetvshow #severance #severancetvshow #lumon #lumonindustries #grandcentral #grandcentralstation #forupage #fyp#hellyseverance ♬ original sound - grapo

In addition, the series took home the following additional wins:

  • Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One-Hour or More)
  • Outstanding Title Design
  • Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)
  • Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
  • Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour)
  • Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Merritt Wever
From Your Site Articles
awards
Pop CultureTelevision
Celebrity

In 1984, Lucille Ball and Richard Simmons teamed up to create the perfect charades game show

Two greats at the top of their game. What's not to like?

Trivia Chat/Youtube

This is pure nostalgia.

There are few celebrities so universally loved as Lucille Ball and Richard Simmons. Each was completely their own person with a unique and contagious sense of humor that lit up every room they walked in. So it’s no wonder that when they appeared on a live game show together over 40 years ago, they completely dominated.

The gameshow in question was Body Language, wherein one contestant used charades to convey a list of words, and a celebrity guest would try to correctly guess as many words from that list as possible in under 60 seconds. This particular episode, which aired the day after Christmas 1984, had both Simmons and Ball—as well as The Jeffersons' Isabel Sanford and Broadway star Robert Morse—competing.

The real magical moment came when Simmons was in charge of acting out clues and Ball was the guesser. In the clip below, there’s a sweet exchange between the two, where a starstruck Simmons tells Ball, “I’ve watched you on television…I can’t believe I’m sitting here…doing these things” before launching into the round.

You instantly see that the dynamic plays perfectly to their strengths (both Simmons’ balls-to-the-wall physicality and Ball’s incredibly sharp wit) because in mere seconds they rack up seven correct guesses, earning $900.

It’s a hoot to watch:

- YouTube youtube.com

Glorious, wasn’t it? Unsurprisingly, the short clip left many feeling a bit nostalgic.

"Pure joy. Two people who brought so much joy to humanity despite their personal pain. Now gone into Love and Light forever."

"Two of the good ones. Always brought a smile to my face."

"Both of them were loved by so many people for completely different reasons!! I hope both of them knew how much they were truly loved!"

That same year, Ball would be inducted into the 1st Television Academy Hall of Fame, tape for her TV special, All-Star Party for Lucille Ball, and discuss the legacy of her show with Entertainment Tonight. Meanwhile, Simmons, at the height of his own fame, would film the final season of The Richard Simmons Show, and continue growing his fitness empire.

Both legends are gone now, but continue to bring a smile to so many. At the end of the day, is there any marker of success greater than that?

If you’re curious, you can see the full episode of Body Language below:

- YouTube www.youtube.com

From Your Site Articles
celebrities
CelebrityPop Culture
Joy

Taylor Swift visits patients at a children's hospital, and their reactions are everything

The hospital staff called it a day they’ll "never shake off."

JDCHospital/X

Yet another reason to love T-Swizzle.

When kids are going through a difficult health crisis, seeing their hero show up just to brighten their day can make a whole world of difference. They get a much needed boost of inspiration, joy, and maybe even a little bit of magic to brighten their day.

That's exactly what the kids got over at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida after they were delightfully surprised by none other than T-Swizzle herself.

“You made this a day we’ll never shake off. Thank you, @taylorswift13 for bringing your support and kindness to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital,” the hospital’s official X account tweeted. “You turned hospital hallways into a place of joy, comfort, and connection.”

In a video posted online, we see a girl named Zoe drop her jaw in disbelief as Swift walks in and introduces herself (as if she needs any introduction).

“What the????” the young Swiftie says before promptly putting her head in her hands.

The “Blank Space” singer complimented Zoe on her cat eye nails, saying “Are you kidding me? That is beautiful!” before going in for a hug, taking a photo, and handing over a signed copy of her book. After that, Zoe literally swooned.

In a different video, a teen boy named Jamar exclaims “OH MY GOD!” and goes into a laughing fit upon his Swift sighting.

“This is the coolest room I’ve ever seen,” says Taylor, eying the hanging decorations.

“Can I scream?” Jamarr asks. Obviously, the answer was yes.

Swift even says hello to his twin sister over FaceTime, who is equally elated.

The visit, which certainly made the rounds online, was well-received, and Swift garnered a lot of praise and gratitude from viewers for her genuine kindness.

“Something like this can definitely speed up the healing faster. 1000% positive,” one person wrote.

Another added, “I'm not a swift fan but this made me tear up. Always use any power you have for good. This truly shined a light in these kids' lives. ”

Celebrity visits to children's hospitals have a long history—notable examples include baseball legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the 1920s and Clayton Moore, aka The Lone Ranger , in the 1950s and 60s—and became more organized and widespread in the 1980s, with the establishment of organizations like Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

It’s worth noting that it's not just individual patients who benefit from celebrity visits. Their influence often draws attention to the needs of the hospital they are visiting, which can encourage donations for vital research, treatments, and support services. It’s truly an amazing way to use fame for good.

If you'd like to donate to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, click here.

From Your Site Articles
celebrity
JoyHeroes
Pop Culture

Hugh Grant finally tells Renée Zellweger what he always thought of her, post Bridget Jones

Zellweger said the feeling is mutual.

Images of Hugh Grant and Renee Zellweger via Wikicommons

Hugh Grant (left) Renee Zellweger (right)

Hugh Grant does not hold back when it comes to his opinions on anything. But in one unfortunate interview he did for Elle Magazine back in 2009, he dished on most of his female co-stars, and it wasn't pretty. He described Emma Thompson as "clever, funny, mad as a chair." Of Sandra Bullock, he said, "a genius, a German, too many dogs." He later commented that Julia Roberts' mouth was so big, he "was aware of a faint echo" when they kissed onscreen. And while Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz, and Drew Barrymore were all described as clever, stunning, or beautiful, the consensus was that they all "loathed him."

But it was his Bridget Jones's Diary co-star Renée Zellweger with whom he seemed to have the softest spot. Even when revisiting the matter on The Graham Norton Show in 2016, Hugh agreed with his original assessment that she's "delightful. Also far from sane. Very good kisser."

When pressed, Hugh jokingly said, "She is genuinely lovely, but her emails are 48 pages long. Can't understand a word of them."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Now, nine years later, Renée is returning to her Bridget Jones character, and the two reunite for a piece called "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" for British Vogue. Apparently in their OG Bridget Jones days, had tons of questions between on-set shots for Renée. Examples include: "If you had to marry one of today's extras, who would it be?" and "Who is a better kisser, me or Colin Firth?"

This time, there was a new slew of questions for each actor. Here are a few key things we find out:

What did Hugh always think of Renée?

He says candidly (of course), "With a lot of other actors, you think they're really great, and then suddenly you see a little glint of steely, scary ambition, and you realize this person would trample their grandmother to get what they want in this business. But I've never seen that glint coming off you. So either it's very well disguised, or you are quite nice."

What does Renée really think of Hugh?

Hugh Grant, Renee Zellweger, celebrity news, bridget jones diary, movies, rom coms, bridget jones 2 "You're hilariously brilliant at everything you hate." media1.giphy.com

"You're hilariously brilliant at everything you hate. And, though you hate humans, you're a very good and loyal friend. I like you very much. And I love working with you."

What did Hugh really think of her English accent?

After discussing Renée's dialect coach, Hugh tells her that her attempt at an English accent is…"perfect."

Why does the Bridget Jones franchise remain so appealing?

Hugh Grant, Renee Zellweger, celebrity news, bridget jones diary, movies, rom coms, bridget jones 2 "Bridget is authentically herself…and triumphs in her own way." media1.giphy.com

Hugh says, "In a nutshell, I say it's an antidote to Instagram. Instagram is telling people, especially women, 'Your life's not good enough.' It's not as good as this woman's or that woman's, making you insecure. Whereas what Helen (the writer) did with Bridget is celebrate failures, while making it funny and joyful."

Renée makes some jokes and then says, "I think maybe folks recognize themselves in her and relate to her feelings of self-doubt. Bridget is authentically herself and doesn't always get it right, but whatever her imperfections, she remains joyful and optimistic, carries on, and triumphs in her own way."

What does Hugh think of Renée's fashion?

After asking if people in general should be a "bit more stylish," Hugh tells Renée she's "very chic." Renée pushes back with, "I'm wearing a tracksuit." To which Hugh retorts, "Yeah, but a sort of PRICEY one."

And finally, those emails:

Hugh Grant, Renee Zellweger, celebrity news, bridget jones diary, movies, rom coms, bridget jones 2 "They're written in some curious language that I can't really understand." media2.giphy.com

"You have sent me the longest emails I've ever received. I can't understand a single word of them. They're written in some curious language that I can't really understand."

"No!" Renée exclaims. "If you reference something in your emails that makes me laugh…I will circle back to that. And if you've forgotten that you wrote it, I don't think I should be held accountable for that!"

This article originally appeared in February

From Your Site Articles
movies
Pop CultureCelebrity
Trending Stories