This morning, nominations were announced in the fields of motion picture and television for the 24th annual Critics’ Choice Awards given out by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association.  The kudofest will be held on January 13th on the CW airing at 7PMET/PT.

Leading the pack in the TV field was the final season of The Americans and limited series Escape at Dannemora and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story with five nominations.

This Is Us as with the Golden Globes did not come up with a Drama Series nod, however at the Critics’ Choice Awards two if its stars:  Milo Ventimiglia and Justin Hartley were nominated.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

For Hartley, the former Y&R star received an nod in the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category,  While Ventimigilia, who plays Justin’s on-screen dad, is vying the Lead Actor Drama category.

Judith Light, the former two-time Daytime Emmy winner from One Life to Live, received a nomination in the Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television category for her performance in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

While yet, another former daytime, Finn Wittrock (Ex-All My Children) in the Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made For Television category also for “Versace”.

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

To view the complete list in all motion picture and TV categories click here.

Now, let us know if you are happy to hear that Justin, Judith, and Finn received nominations for their work? Comment below!

Very sad news to report.  Renowned director, Jorn Winther, who served as executive producer and director at All My Children has died at the age of 88.

Winther was actually killed on November 9th when in an automobile accident in front of Palm Desert High School outside Palm Springs.

According to the Desert Sun, “Jorn was killed in a two-vehicle collision at Cook Street and Santa Fe Trail in Palm Desert. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said a vehicle was moving south on Cook Street when its driver suddenly entered the northbound lanes and collided with an oncoming vehicle,  Winther was pronounced dead shortly after noon Friday, according to the Riverside County Coroner’s office. His wife of 31 years, Claire Winther, confirmed that her husband drove the vehicle that entered oncoming traffic. Why he did so remains a mystery.”

The famous director was best known for for the landmark David Frost-Richard Nixon interviews in 1977,  The Sonny & Cher Hour, and was also known for producing rock performances for TV including: California Jam II, featuring performances by Aerosmith, Foreigner, Heart, Santana and more.

In the world of soaps, Jorn had been the EP and director for ABC”s All My Children for five and half years, and had been with the series from 1981 to 2005.  He also directed on: One Life to Live, Generations, Santa Barbara and Rituals.

Born in Denmark, Winther studied speech and drama at the University of Copenhagen and continued his education at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen, where his mother had danced as a prima ballerina. He also studied at the Stratford Shakespearean Theater in Ontario, Canada, and at Stanford.

Most recently, Winther directed and produced the independent film Do It or Die!, about the 1979 kidnapping of socialite Elaine Chaddick. It screened at the 2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Winther’s daughter, Lisa has been a stage manager on the soaps most recently working at The Bold and the Beautiful.

Share your thoughts on the passing of Jorn Winther as we offer our thoughts, condolences, and prayers to his family, via the comment section below.

Here’s a fun bit of casting news!  Live with Kelly and Ryan and former All My Children star, Kelly Ripa  (Ex-Hayley) is joining her real-life husband, Mark Consuelos (Ex-Mateo, AMC) on the hit CW soapy drama Riverdale.

Consuelos already plays the the role of Hiram Lodge, and now Ripa will plays his mistress, Mrs. Mulwray.

Kelly shared the inspired-casting choice on Instagram relating: “It’s a family affair …23 years of auditioning for a role i was born to play. Coming soon to the CW;s Riverdale.”’

The CW released a statement on the casting of Ripa, adding: “Kelly Ripa will guest star on Riverdale as Mrs. Mulwray. Confident and tough, she is Hiram Lodge’s alleged mistress. She’s a beautiful, icy, femme fatale who gets caught up in a conspiracy that’s much bigger than she initially realized.”

Film buffs take note!  Ripa’s character name is borrowed from Faye Dunaway’s Oscar-nominated role in Chinatown (1974), Evelyn Mulwray.   Those who saw Chinatown know that Evelyn was a femme fatale as well caught up in a conspiracy!

And there is more “All in the Consuleos Family” casting.  The couple’s son Michael is portraying the teen-aged version of Hiram on tonight’s all-new episode.

Riverdale airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT

So, will you be checking out Kelly on Riverdale? Comment below.