Downton Abbey, Scorsese's Broadwalk Empire Compete For Emmy Awards.

Downton Abbey, Mad Men and Broadwalk Empire are all competing for Emmy Awards tonight. The Emmy Awards are the TV equivalent of the Oscars.

Mad Men have been nominated for outstanding drama series, for the fourth year in a row. Jon Hamm is also nominated for outstanding dramatic actor and co-star Elisabeth Moss has been nominated for best dramatic actress, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery are up for the best supporting actor/actress awards.

Kate Winslet and Hugh Laurie are keeping the British side up, Winslet is up for best actress in a mini-series for her role in Mildred Pierce, while the show itself is also competing for the mini-series award.

And Laurie is up against Jon Hamm in the outstanding actor category for his role as grumpy surgeon Dr Gregory House in the acclaimed drama House.

Downton Abbey – which returns to ITV tonight for a second series – is up for the best mini-series category, while Maggie Smith is nominated for her role as the Countess of Grantham. I have filmed a lot for Downtown Abbey, as a downstairs maid, so I am rooting for the cast and crew, who are all lovely.

And British actresses Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh both received nominations for their roles in the BBC remake of Upstairs Downstairs.

Other shows with nominations are Glee – nominated in a few categories including best comedy – the medieval drama Game Of Thrones, serial killer drama Dexter and the US remake of The Office.
Martin Scorsese’s Boardwalk Empire is also tipped to win big at the awards.

The prohibition era drama is up against Mad Men in the best drama category, while Steve Buscemi is nominated in the same category as Jon Hamm, for the best actor trophy.

The awards, which will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday night, will be hosted by Glee actress Jane Lynch.

Bob Mackie Debuts Series of Fashion and Costume Illustrations

Legendary fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie is launching the first series of his fashion and costume illustrations for sale exclusively at BobMackie.com and on the Bob Mackie Facebook Fanpage. The illustrations, curated from Mackie’s extensive archives, showcase Mackie’s exquisite, imaginative, whimsical and wonderfully glamorous designs over the past four decades.

The first series of reproductions, comprising 46 illustrations, are fine art giclees, printed on archival stock, and sold stylishly matted and framed. Each illustration is available in two sizes, 14″x17″ ($69) and 21″x25″ ($179).

Bob Mackie’s stunning costume designs have earned him nine Emmy Awards, 31 Emmy Award nominations and three Oscar nominations. His innovative work in the entertainment world, including designing costumes for “The Carol Burnett Show” and “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” is legendary. His awe-inspiring costumes have been worn by hundreds of celebrities including Carol Burnett, Cher, Tina Turner, Pink, Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Diahann Carroll, Diana Ross, Madonna, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez , and of course, Barbie. The crowning achievement, thus far, is his 2002 induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Mackie is the only costume designer in the Television Hall of Fame.