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Court challenge over vote to extend post-Brexit trading arrangements dismissedCHICAGO, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC), producer and marketer of sorbent mineral products, today announced results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2025. † Please refer to Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures below for a reconciliation of Non-GAAP items to the comparable GAAP measures. Consolidated Results Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 reached a historic high of $127.9 million, or a 15% increase over the same period in the prior year. This marks the 14 th consecutive quarter of year-over-year sales growth. Revenue increases were primarily driven by higher volumes across both operating segments, with significant sales gains generated from fluids purification, crystal cat litter, and co-packaged coarse litter products. Our recently acquired subsidiary, Ultra Pet Company, Inc. ("Ultra Pet”), delivered net sales of $6.0 million, or 5% of the total consolidated net sales increase over the prior year. Organic growth from Oil-Dri's other products drove the remaining increase in the Company's topline. Consolidated gross profit of $40.8 million, a record quarterly high, was achieved during the first three months of fiscal year 2025, representing a 32% gain over the prior year. Gross margins expanded to 32% in the current year from 28% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. Oil-Dri's efforts to grow volume, improve product mix, and enhance operating efficiencies proved successful during the quarter. This marks the ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year gross margin expansion. During the three months ended October 31, 2024, domestic cost of goods per ton remained flat compared to the prior year. Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A”) were $19.6 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to $17.8 million for the same period last year. This $1.8 million, or 10%, increase reflects higher compensation costs and a preliminary foreign value-added tax assessment, in addition to other operating segment costs. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, consolidated operating income increased to $21.2 million, or by 61%, compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. Higher sales volumes combined with improved product mix offset elevated SG&A costs. Total other expense, net was $1.0 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $300,000 in the same period last year. This increase was mainly due to interest expense on the debt assumed for the Ultra Pet acquisition, along with an additional reserve for the capacity modification project at the Company's sole landfill located in Georgia. The modification work is expected to be completed during fiscal year 2025. Consolidated net income reached a record $16.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 from $10.7 million in the same period in fiscal 2024, reflecting a 52% improvement over the prior year. Cash and cash equivalents for the three month period ending October 31, 2024, totaled $12.5 million compared to $23.5 million at the end of fiscal year 2024. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, Oil-Dri continued its significant investment in manufacturing infrastructure improvements. In addition, the Company paid down $5.0 million of the $10.0 million revolving credit facility that was used to partially fund the acquisition of Ultra Pet. Other significant uses of cash include the payment of dividends and the purchase of treasury shares that were surrendered by teammates to pay taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock awards. Product Group Review The Business to Business Products ("B2B”) Group's first quarter of fiscal year 2025 revenues were a record $48.4 million, or 24% greater than the prior year, primarily driven by an increase in volume and, to a lesser extent, by higher prices. Elevated sales from fluids purification and agricultural products offset slight sales declines in the animal health business. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, revenues from fluids purification products reached an all-time high of $30.1 million, or an 37% increase over the prior year. The Company experienced increased demand of its Metal X and Metal Z products as a result of recently established renewable diesel plants within North America. Sales of fluids purification products in EMEA 1 , Latin America, and Asia also increased during the three month period ended October 31, 2024, compared to the same period last year. The agricultural products business achieved record quarterly net sales of $11.6 million, or a 12% increase over the prior year. This growth was mainly fueled by higher demand from key customers who resumed typical purchasing patterns after working through inventory surpluses, as well as by elevated prices. Amlan, the Company's animal health business, generated $6.2 million in sales, or a 3% decline from the prior year. The decrease was primarily concentrated in Asia due to the sell-off of existing inventory in China that occurred in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 as part of the transition to a master distributor. However, double-digit topline growth was achieved within Latin America and North America where increased demand, in conjunction with elevated prices, helped drive sales improvement. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, SG&A costs within the B2B Products Group increased by $700,000 or 20%, compared to the same period last year. This was mainly driven by a preliminary foreign value-added tax assessment and higher research and development costs. Operating income for the B2B Products Group was $17.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 compared to $11.1 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, reflecting a 54% increase. This growth can be attributed to higher sales and a favorable product mix, partially offset by increased SG&A expenses. The Retail and Wholesale ("R&W”) Products Group's first quarter revenues reached an all-time high of $79.5 million, a 10% increase over the prior year. The acquisition of Ultra Pet contributed 8% of the total R&W sales growth, and the remaining 2% can be attributed to organic topline growth from increased demand for other products within the operating segment. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company increased distribution of its Cat's Pride and Ultra crystal litter products and is beginning to realize synergies related to the acquisition. Total domestic clay-based cat litter sales, excluding the Company's co-packaged coarse cat litter business, were $53.8 million, or 2% lower than the prior year. Conversely, revenues of co-packaged coarse cat litter increased by $2.1 million, or 78%, compared to last year due to higher demand. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, a cyberattack disrupted a key customer's ability to place and receive orders, which negatively impacted sales of Oil-Dri's co-packaged coarse litter. However, the cyber event boosted sales of the Company's branded and private label coarse items and is currently influencing year-over-year comparisons for both domestic clay and co-packaged litter products. Although total domestic clay litter revenues declined, Oil-Dri continued to experience topline growth of its EPA-approved Cat's Pride Antibacterial Clumping Litter, which is currently sold at large brick and mortar and e-commerce retailers. In addition, new distribution of other clay litter products and accessories was achieved at both new and existing customers. Domestic industrial and sports product revenues were $11.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, or 4% higher than the same period in the prior year, driven by increased demand. The Company's Canadian subsidiary experienced sales declines as a result of softer revenues from cat litter, partially offset by sales growth from industrial floor absorbent products. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, SG&A expenses within the R&W Products Group increased by $1.0 million, or 21% over the prior year. This increase was primarily driven by higher compensation costs, a significant credit reserve for several customer bankruptcies, acquisition-related amortization of intangible assets, and increased research and development costs. These higher expenses were partially offset by lower advertising costs. Oil-Dri expects advertising expenditures for the full fiscal year 2025 to be lower than fiscal year 2024. Operating income for the R&W Products Group reached $13.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 compared to $11.3 million in the prior year, reflecting an 18% increase. This growth can be attributed to higher sales volumes, including the incremental business from the Ultra Pet acquisition, partially offset by elevated SG&A expenses. The Company will host its first quarter of fiscal year 2025 earnings discussion and its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders virtually via a live webcast on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. Central Time. Participation details are available on the Company's website's Events page. 1 EMEA is the region including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. "Oil-Dri”, "Cat's Pride”, "Metal X”, "Metal Z”, "Amlan”, and "Ultra” are registered trademarks of Oil-Dri Corporation of America and its subsidiaries. About Oil-Dri Corporation of America Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty sorbent products for the pet care, animal health and nutrition, fluids purification, agricultural ingredients, sports field, industrial and automotive markets. Oil-Dri is vertically integrated which enables the Company to efficiently oversee every step of the process from research and development to supply chain to marketing and sales. With over 80 years of experience, the Company continues to fulfill its mission to Create Value from Sorbent Minerals . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future performance, our business, our beliefs and our management's assumptions. In addition, we, or others on our behalf, may make forward-looking statements in other press releases or written statements, or in our communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, webcasts, phone calls and conference calls. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "expect,” "outlook,” "forecast,” "would,” "could,” "should,” "project,” "intend,” "plan,” "continue,” "believe,” "seek,” "estimate,” "anticipate,” "may,” "assume,” "potential,” "strive,” and similar references to future periods. Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, those described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2024 and our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, intended, expected, believed, estimated, projected, planned or otherwise expressed in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except to the extent required by law, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements after the distribution of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, or otherwise. Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP”), we provide certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release as supplemental financial metrics. In particular, EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure provided herein. We provide a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure below. The non-GAAP financial measures we use may not be the same or calculated in the same manner as those used and calculated by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our financial results prepared and reported in accordance with GAAP. We believe that certain non-GAAP measures may be helpful to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results, and we urge investors to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures included in this release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business. Contact: Leslie A. Garber Director of Investor Relations Oil-Dri Corporation of America [email protected] (312) 321-1515
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The Golden Globes unveiled nominations this morning, offering a blend of surprising choices and unexpected omissions that could reshape the awards landscape. With the Oscars nomination voting period just weeks away, the Globes voters have once again asserted themselves as a momentum driver, and indicator of what might follow in Hollywood’s most glamorous season. Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez” emerged as the morning’s biggest story, garnering an impressive 10 noms. This feat not only sets a new Golden Globes record for a comedy or musical film, surpassing “Cabaret” (1972) and “Barbie” (2023) which shared the previous record with nine; but also helped Netflix lead the way for all studios with 12 mentions for film. Most importantly, it cemented “Emilia’s” status as one of the year’s frontrunners for the best picture statuette. Adding to the intrigue, these announcements coincide with a particularly frenzied moment in the season. Today marks the deadline for Critics Choice Awards ballots, while Oscar shortlist voting begins in 10 categories, including documentary feature, international feature, sound, visual effects and more. Meanwhile, SAG Awards voting kicks off next week, on Dec. 16, further intensifying the race. On the small screen, the Golden Globes nominations reveal an industry in transition. Again, Netflix had a standout day, racking up seven series noms across its programming slate. Leading the charge were dramas “The Diplomat” and “Squid Game,” comedies “The Gentlemen” and “Nobody Wants This,” and limited series “Baby Reindeer,” “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” and “Ripley.” However, FX’s “The Bear” claimed the top spot for all shows with five mentions, keeping up its status as a critical darling. The culinary dramedy has now secured its third consecutive nom, solidifying its place in awards history. Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” another perennial favorite, also fared well (minus the Meryl Streep snub), continuing its streak of recognition for its sharp writing and ensemble performances. The nominations raise pressing questions about how these picks will influence the Oscar race. Can “Emilia Pérez” sustain its momentum in a more traditional Academy landscape? Will Netflix maintain its dominance as a platform capable of excelling in drama, comedy, and limited series? And what does the overwhelming success of “The Bear” say about the growing embrace of hybrid genres in television? Below, we dive into 15 takeaways and pivotal questions from this year’s Golden Globes nominations. Variety parent company PMC owns Dick Clark Prods. in a joint venture with Eldridge Brady Corbet’s sweeping historical epic “The Brutalist” and Edward Berger’s religious thriller “Conclave” emerged as major players, earning seven and six Globe nominations respectively, trailing only the musical “Emilia Pérez.” Both films have been considered serious contenders for the Academy’s top prize, based on industry buzz and glowing reviews. Focus Features, eyeing the first best picture win for the studio, is banking on the power of the preferential ballot, in addition to possible triumphs for drama actor Ralph Fiennes, and screenplay for Peter Straughan. Regarding “Brutalist,” acquired by A24 after its Venice premiere, it has been considered a bonafide contender in multiple categories, including directing, actor for Adrien Brody, and numerous artisan awards. Brody’s nom comes 22 years after his Oscar win for “The Pianist,” and he also won big with New York Film Critics. However, the film’s trajectory has seemed to echo the 2002 awards race when “Pianist” pulled off key upsets in directing (Roman Polanski) and adapted screenplay (Ronald Harwood), losing best picture to another musical “Chicago.” Could “The Brutalist” duplicate a similar evening, if the Academy ends up going for “Emilia Pérez” or “Wicked?” History offers no guarantees. On the drama side, a Globe win for best picture doesn’t always translate to Oscar success. Films like “1917,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “The Revenant,” “The Social Network” and “Babel” claimed the Globe but ultimately lost the Oscar’s top prize to “Parasite,” “The Shape of Water,” “Spotlight,” “The King’s Speech” and “The Departed.” Noteworthy is the inclusion of James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown” in drama, which could see its lead actor nominee Timothee Chalamet emerge victorious. Also, “Dune: Part Two” had a ho-hum showing, which came with only two mentions (one of which is ineligible ), and a head-scratching omission from the box office category. The road for Denis Villeneuve’s masterful sci-fi epic is looking a bit grim. The day after Amazon MGM Studios’ “Nickel Boys” from RaMell Ross and Paramount Pictures’ “September 5” from Tim Fehlbaum tied at the L.A. Film Critics Awards for best editing , the pair landed in the best picture (drama) category, but as the film’s sole nominees. Only seven films in history have been nominated for just one Golden Globe for best picture (drama): “The Great Debaters” (2007), “La Bamba” (1987), “In Cold Blood (1967), “The Professionals” (1966), “The Chalk Garden” (1964), “The Great Escape” (1963) and “The Inspector” (1962). Coincidentally, none of them translated to an Oscar nom for best picture. In addition to their surprise inclusions, it’s also interesting to see which films they pushed out, including A24’s prison drama “Sing Sing” (which landed a sole nod for Colman Domingo) and Bleecker Street’s British character study “Hard Truths” (which was unfortunately shut out). So what does that mean for “Nickel Boys” and “September 5?” Let’s see how they continue to perform. Between Sean Baker’s poignant indie Palme d’Or winner “Anora,” which recently topped the L.A. Film Critics Association , Jacques Audiard’s dazzling nomination leader “Emilia Pérez,” and Jon M. Chu’s beloved blockbuster musical “Wicked,” three of the presumed frontrunners for the Oscar best picture race hail from the comedy/musical side of the Globes. This year’s lineup suggests a resurgence for the genres, but the big question remains: Which film can seal the deal for its studio and ultimately cross the finish line at the Oscars? It’s worth remembering that success in the comedy/musical category at the Globes doesn’t always translate to Oscar glory. In recent years, notable examples include “The Banshees of Inisherin,” which triumphed at the Globes only to lose the best picture Oscar to “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022). Similarly, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” charmed its way to a win, only to watch “Birdman” (2014) dominate the Oscars ceremony. But one thing’s for certain: If the Globes producers are looking to ensure maximum audience engagement, they’d be wise to save the comedy/musical categories for the final act of the show. This year’s lineup features all the heavyweights and crowd-pleasers that will keep viewers glued to their screens. There’s been a growing consensus the race for best actress is the most competitive, with an embarrassment of riches. The nominees include Pamela Anderson for “The Last Showgirl,” Angelina Jolie for “Maria,” Nicole Kidman for “Babygirl,” Tilda Swinton for “The Room Next Door,” Fernanda Torres for “I’m Still Here” and Kate Winslet for “Lee.” Each talented performer brings a unique and compelling portrayal to the table, only adding to the fierce competition at hand. Among the nominees, Torres stands out as the only actress whose film also earned another mention, landing a spot in the Non-English Language category. Does the dual recognition make her the frontrunner for this prize? Multiple industry insiders and voter conversations suggest she’s a favorite among members, which could solidify her position as a leading contender, which could help her in her awards prospects. But while Torres may have the edge, Kidman and Jolie’s portrayals have also garnered significant support. For Anderson and Swinton, the nominations provide a much-needed jolt of momentum. Both actresses have faced somewhat muted awards buzz leading up to nominations. And then there’s Winslet, whose double nom — including her nod for the miniseries “The Regime” — adds an intriguing layer. The last time Winslet landed two Globe noms was in 2008 when she went on to win for both “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader.” Could voters throw one her way? One of the more surprising omissions from this year’s Globes was the snub for Jon M. Chu in the directing category for Universal’s “Wicked,” which prompted a flurry of social media declarations: “It’s over” for the film’s directing and best picture chances. Not so fast, Ozians. History reminds us that a Globe snub doesn’t necessarily spell doom. Five films have gone on to win the Oscar for best picture despite their directors missing out on Globes: “CODA” (2021), “Crash” (2005), “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), “Chariots of Fire” (1981) and “The Sting” (1973). And in the rare but not impossible case of a director missing the Globe nod and still clinching the Oscar, there are two examples: Roman Polanski for “The Pianist” (2002) and George Roy Hill for “The Sting.” While not unprecedented, Chu’s omission raises the stakes for “Wicked” as the season continues to heat up. The Directors Guild of America noms, which come in January, will be key in determining whether the film’s directorial vision can still carve out its path to Oscar night glory. Also noteworthy, sometimes “overperforming” can be a bad thing in the grand scheme of Oscar campaigning. Just ask “Barbie” following its nine Globe noms, and record-breaking 18 CCA mentions last year. For now, it’s still anyone’s game. India is the new France, at least in the Oscar international feature world. After years of contentious selections — most notably not choosing “Anatomy of a Fall” over “The Taste of Things” last year — France appears to have finally realigned its strategy with Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez,” a choice vindicated by its 10 noms. In contrast, India’s choice to bypass Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix winner, “All We Imagine as Light” in favor of “Lucky Ladies,” turned some heads. Many believe that Kapadia’s film possesses the thematic depth and cinematic artistry to be a true challenger to “Emilia.” Despite not being India’s official entry, “All We Imagine” is gaining traction in the U.S. Securing distribution through Janus Films and Sideshow — the team behind the best picture-nominated “Drive My Car” — Kapadia’s film is poised for a robust awards campaign. Its recent victories in the Foreign Language categories at both the L.A. Film Critics and Gotham awards show strength. Additionally, dual mentions for non-English language and director amplify its visibility and credibility in the crowded awards landscape. This could mimic the road for “Anatomy” last year, which went on to receive five Oscar nominations, winning one for original screenplay. BAFTA will be vital. Searchlight Pictures’ “A Real Pain,” written, directed, and produced by Jesse Eisenberg, had a strong showing at the nominations, earning nods for picture (comedy), supporting actor (Kieran Culkin), actor and screenplay (both for Eisenberg). Thus far, Glen Powell’s charismatic turn in “Hit Man,” Jesse Plemons’ Cannes-winning performance in “Kinds of Kindness” and the double-nominated Sebastian Stan for “A Different Man” have been assumed to be the frontrunners. However, Eisenberg’s momentum, bolstered by “A Real Pain’s” screenplay win from L.A. Film Critics, and Culkin’s current steamroll with other critics groups, suggests he shouldn’t be counted out. If Eisenberg pulls off a Globe victory, he could join an elite club of actors who directed themselves to Oscar nominations, including Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born,” “Maestro”), Denzel Washington (“Fences”), and Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Unforgiven”). Eisenberg, a former Oscar nominee for “The Social Network” (2010), has proven he’s capable of delivering compelling performances, ones the Academy can embrace, and his work in “A Real Pain” is no exception. Sebastian Stan has doubled his awards season presence, earning two lead noms — one for his daring portrayal of Donald J. Trump in the drama “The Apprentice” and the other for his tender turn as a man grappling with neurofibromatosis in the dramedy “A Different Man.” This rare feat places Stan among an elite group of performers. The last actor to achieve dual lead nominations in both drama and comedy categories was Julianne Moore in 2014, winning for “Still Alice” while also nominated for “Maps to the Stars.” Among male actors, he joins the ranks of Ryan Gosling (2011’s “The Ides of March” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love”), Tom Hanks (1993’s “Philadelphia” and “Sleepless in Seattle”), and Dustin Hoffman (1970’s “Midnight Cowboy” and “John and Mary”). Notably, Gosling is the only one of these not to secure an eventual Oscar nomination, underscoring the significance of this accomplishment. Stan’s awards trajectory is further bolstered by his co-star Jeremy Strong, who earned a supporting actor nom for “Apprentice.” This added co-star presence could strengthen Stan’s chances with Academy voters, particularly in a year with a comparatively weaker lead actor field. However, the road is not without challenges. Vote-splitting between his two standout performances could dilute his Oscar chances, and “The Apprentice,” despite its acclaim, faces polarizing reactions due to the cultural baggage of its subject. On the other hand, “A Different Man,” which won best feature at the Gothams, may present a more accessible option for voters. Perhaps there’s room for our favorite “Winter Soldier?” The Globes acting nods delivered a mix of triumphant milestones and notable snubs with diversity and representation. Latino actors had one of their strongest showings in decades, particularly Afro-Latinos. Colman Domingo earned a nom for his powerful role in “Sing Sing,” while Zoe Saldaña, a standout in “Emilia Pérez,” was joined by her co-star Selena Gomez, who scored a second mention for TV comedy actress in “Only Murders in the Building.” Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, nominated for “I’m Still Here,” follows in the footsteps of her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who was recognized in 1998 for “Central Station.” On the TV side, Liza Colón-Zayas (“The Bear”), Sofía Vergara (“Griselda”), and Diego Luna (“La Máquina”) also received deserved noms. Notable: “Alien: Romulus,” directed by Uruguayan auteur Fede Álvarez, earned a spot for box office and cinematic achievement. However, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, the sole Latino main actor in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” was snubbed, even as his co-stars Javier Bardem and Cooper Koch had their names called. Black actors were highlighted on the film side with Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II”), Zendaya (“Challengers”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), along with Saldaña and Domingo. Yet glaring omissions were felt, with Danielle Deadwyler (“The Piano Lesson”), Clarence Maclin (“Sing Sing”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”), and RaMell Ross (director of “Nickel Boys”) left out. On the TV side, Jamie Foxx’s comedy special earned a nod, as did Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”), Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”), and Donald Glover (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”). AAPI talent shone on the television side, with Ali Wong, Ramy Youssef, Tadanobu Asano, Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, and Maya Erskine all landing mentions. Meanwhile, hopes are high for Indigenous performer Kali Reis to follow in Lily Gladstone’s historic win last year (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), with her nom for HBO/Max’s “True Detective: Night Country.” Karla Sofía Gascón hit a significant milestone for the LGBTQ community with her nom for “Emilia Pérez, ” becoming the first out trans performer to be nominated in a top film acting category (“Pose” actor Michaela Jaé Rodriguez won the TV actress comedy in 2022). Non-binary actor Emma D’Arcy was among the TV nominees for “House of the Dragon” in lead drama actress, along with other openly gay actors such as Jodie Foster and Kali Reis (“True Detective: Night Country”) and Richard Gadd (“Baby Reindeer”). That also included film nominees such as Domingo and Erivo. Coralie Fargeat’s bold and visceral “The Substance” made a major splash with five Globe noms, including best picture (Comedy), directing, screenplay, actress (Demi Moore) and supporting actress (Margaret Qualley). A significant moment for the often-overlooked horror genre, but the bigger question remains: Will the Academy embrace this daring, genre-defying choice? The film, which won the screenplay prize at Cannes, has garnered critical acclaim for its audacious storytelling, particularly its jaw-dropping, chaotic third act. International voters could be the group to rally behind its innovative approach, but convincing Hollywood’s more conservative (snobby?) voting body to recognize a horror film is a perennial challenge. Still, the film’s momentum is undeniable. A fascinating footnote: This marks Demi Moore’s first Globe nomination on the film side since “Ghost” (1990) — when she was nominated alongside her “Substance” co-star Qualley’s mother, Andie MacDowell (“Green Card”), before Qualley was even born. A full-circle moment. The first season of Netflix’s “Squid Game” landed three Globe noms in 2021, including drama series. Now, it’s been three years since the show, which became the most-watched series in Netflix history, and voters gave it a sole nom for drama series. But don’t read too much into that. Netflix made Season 2 available to Globe voters (Season 2 doesn’t release until Dec. 26), however, this is different from late-breaking films which have fall festivals and other avenues to pick up steam. The TV awards calendar blends overlapping Emmy seasons. It’s also difficult for a show to take such a long hiatus, and return for more (i.e., “Atlanta”). Nonetheless, “Squid Game” is back in the conversation, and hoping for another dance at the Emmys (especially now that “Succession” is over). While broadcast networks broke their way back into the Emmy race earlier this year with ABC and CBS picking up 38 nods each, that wasn’t the outcome for Globe nominations. ABC’s hit mockumentary “Abbott Elementary” is the sole nominated broadcast show, picking up two noms for TV comedy series and lead actress Quinta Brunson. The rest of the field was dominated by streamers (and a little bit of cable). After “Abbott” won the top prize for the first season, it was de-throned by “The Bear” last year. In the middle of an amazing fourth season, could the critically acclaimed comedy make another trip to the Beverly Hilton ballroom stage? Netflix has long sought a dominant player in the TV comedy awards race, with past contenders like “Orange Is the New Black,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Master of None” and “Wednesday” earning acclaim but falling short of the top prize. Now, the streamer appears poised for a breakthrough with the rom-com series Nobody Wants This. Starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, the show centers on the unconventional relationship between an agnostic woman and a rogue rabbi, striking a chord with audiences and critics alike. As a result, the series landed three Globe noms — for Comedy Series, Actor, and Actress — mirroring the same showing at the Critics Choice TV Awards nominations last week. With a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a growing fanbase, “Nobody Wants This” could give Netflix the chance to walk away with its second Globe win for a comedy series after “The Kominsky Method” in 2019. But one thing’s for certain, this is the streamer’s comedy pony to push for next year’s Emmys and they’re determined to get it there. HBO/Max’s crime drama miniseries “The Penguin” has solidified its place in this year’s TV awards conversation, earning three noms for Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, and limited series and joining its network counterpart “House of the Dragon” among the genre shows recognized. Farrell, a past Globe winner for the film “In Bruges,” emerges as a formidable contender, potentially challenging Emmy winner Richard Gadd (“Baby Reindeer”). Meanwhile, Milioti’s mention for her standout portrayal positions her as a dark horse in the actress category, where she could upset fellow HBO/Max star Jodie Foster (“True Detective: Night Country”). Interestingly, the Globes and Emmys have aligned in this category for the past five years, but history suggests the occasional surprise. Memorable upsets include Patricia Arquette’s (“Escape at Dannemora”) over Regina King (“Seven Seconds”) and Drew Barrymore’s win for “Grey Gardens” over Emmy-winning co-star Jessica Lange. “The Penguin” could go far. After a historic Emmy loss despite breaking the all-time nomination record for a comedy series, FX’s “The Bear” leads the Globe nominations for all series with five, including comedy series, and four of its actors. While Season 3 of the FX hit received a more tempered response compared to its earlier seasons, this marks the second major voting body to cast their ballots on this previous outing. The Critics Choice TV Awards only provided a sole mention for supporting comedy actress Liza Colón-Zayas. The show’s uneven reception hasn’t stopped its dominance, but the ongoing debate over whether “The Bear” truly qualifies as a comedy will continue to be a topic going into the next season, surely. The question now is whether Globe voters will double down on their love for “Bear,” or pivot to fresher, newer contenders.Microsoft flags $0.8M writedown on stake in GM-backed CruiseLast month, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams and his brother were pulled over for an alleged speeding violation. Williams' brother, who was driving, has a concealed carry license and informed the officer that there were two guns in the vehicle. One of the guns was registered to Williams and the other was registered to his brother. However, because Williams does not have a concealed pistol license, he faced potential weapons charges as a result. On Monday, Williams received good news when Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced that the third-year wide receiver would not face charges. "Worthy said she could find no legal basis to charge the high-profile receiver," said Andrea May Sahouri of the Detroit Free Press . "Worthy noted that Williams' brother has a CPL and informed officers of both weapons. The gun was not on Williams, he never admitted to putting the gun in the car and Williams is eligible for a concealed pistol license, she said." Justin Casterline/Getty Images Worthy added that the goal of Michigan's concealed pistol laws are to prevent criminals and violent offenders from getting their hands on a licensed weapon, but Williams is neither a criminal nor dangerous. This is obviously wonderful news for the Lions and Williams, who has 29 receptions for 602 yards and four touchdown on the season. However, the former first-round pick could not avoid a punishment for doing his best Marshawn Lynch impression, grabbing his crotch as he dove into the end zone to score a touchdown in Detroit's 52-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 17. The gesture cost Williams $19,697 for unsportsmanlike conduct. Surely, he'd rather pay that than have to deal with a potential felony gun charge though. The Lions are off to a 10-1 start following yesterday's win over the Indianapolis Colts. Detroit currently holds the No. 1 seed in the NFC, one game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles. Related: Lions Wide Receiver Jameson Williams Punished For 'Obscene Gesture'
As drink-spiking and date-rape drugs cases continue to stoke emotions, Victoria council is looking for answers The conversation re-entered the spotlight recently when the 2021 death of Victoria 18-year-old Samantha Sims-Somerville — who ingested a lethal dose of the well-known date-rape drug GHB — was re-classified a homicide by the Coroner's Service of B.C. Additionally, this month, a 16-year-old girl and her mom spoke with local media about her experience allegedly being drugged at a Vancouver Island party. Victoria police chief Del Manak spoke at council's Nov. 21 meeting about Somerville's death, which was initially ruled an accidental overdose. "This is an extremely tragic situation," he said. Manak explained that investigations like this can be tough, and some evidence, including second or third-hand evidence, can't always be admissible evidence to the court. He also mentioned that though the coroner's office deemed Somerville's death a homicide, there may not be enough evidence to prove anyone's culpability. "We aren't doubling down. This is an extremely serious case with just a horrific outcome and we're doing everything we can," Manak told the council. "I can't make up the evidence though, right? The evidence is the evidence and the courts will decide, not on a balance of probabilities, but on beyond a reasonable doubt if there's enough evidence that meets the charge-approval standard." Following the re-classification of Somerville's case, VicPD said it has since requested more information from the coroner about why. In the meantime, "out of an abundance of caution," it has forwarded the case to the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, which looks after all suspicious deaths and homicide cases, for review. Council members put forward a motion to request an update from VicPD, the Greater Victoria School District, and the provincial government about any efforts being undertaken to raise awareness and prevent the use of date-rape drugs like GHB or Rohypnol. "What are we doing in Victoria about these crimes? What can city council do about these crimes? And likewise, what are high schools doing about these crimes? What are our not-for-profits, our social services agencies doing about these drugs? And what is VicPD doing?" asked councillor Matt Dell. Dell explained he recently talked to nightclub owners in the city, who said that they put up awareness posters, have safe drink spots where people can leave their drinks and offer free lids to cover the top of drinks, though other council members felt that it isn't enough. "I think we are doing our due diligence to let parents and victims know we're on their side and we want to do everything we can to educate the community and make sure that everything that could happen to prevent this is happening; that when there is a case, that charges are laid when they need to be laid that we're not just letting this slip through the system," Coun. Krista Loughton said. Stacey Forrester, a co-founder of Good Night Out, whose goal is to create safer spaces and prevent sexual violence in Vancouver and Victoria's nightlife, says suspected drink spiking is not a rare sight for their street-teams, which works in the cities' entertainment districts on Friday and Saturday nights. "A big part of our work is actually educating the public, not just on signs of drink spiking, but signs of predatory behaviour," Forrester explained in an interview in the summer. "We can only saturate women so much with 'cover your drink, don't leave it alone, don't [take] drinks from strangers.' Whereas, we need to educate bar staff and patrons, especially men, on signs that someone is being predatory." She explained red flags to watch for in bars and nightclubs include individuals targeting the most intoxicated person in the room, lingering around unattended drinks, buying drinks with a sense of entitlement or expectation, and trying to separate an intoxicated person from their friends. "Good Night Out has a three-hour training that includes all aspects of nightlife safety, including preventing drink spiking," Forrester said. "Talking about drink spiking is really important, but we also have to be aware that the most commonly used drug to render people incapacitated is alcohol. It just doesn't make the headlines." Coun. Stephen Hammond explained that he didn't support the motion because he felt it would be a waste of time for the province, the school district and VicPD to put a report together. He thought it would be better to encourage the parties to make sure people are being educated about the issue. "What I want is for the school district and for the police to be educating young men that they have no right over the bodies of young women, nor do they have the right to drug young women," Hammond said. "I would also prefer they spend the time educating young women about the harms, and that tragically, today, you can never leave a drink alone or out of your sight."
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Hopes for a Santa Claus rally on Wall Street fell Friday as tech stocks slid lower, while a weaker yen lifted Japanese equities. US indices slid lower at the opening bell, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite losing two percent during morning trading. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.
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Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara released a statement Friday slamming the "100% false" media reports that suggested he had thrown his final pass for the Hawkeyes. McNamara has been sidelined since sustaining a concussion during the Oct. 26 win against Northwestern. Backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan has started the last two games for the Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) but is out with an ankle injury for Saturday's game at Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said earlier this week that Jackson Stratton will be the likely starter against the Terrapins if McNamara is unavailable. McNamara's cloudy status prompted speculation on a podcast this week that he was "not mentally ready to play." The podcast hosts from the Des Moines Register and The Athletic also suggested that McNamara -- who played three years at Michigan (2020-22) before transferring to Iowa -- is not "fit to play quarterback in the Big Ten right now." "We don't want to bury his career yet, but it does seem like that interception against Northwestern was his last snap as a Hawkeye," Leistikow said. McNamara, who passed for 1,017 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games this season, released a statement updating his current status. "My status is the same as it's always been -- a proud member of this football team," he said. McNamara said he has not yet been cleared to play. He said he was cleared to practice on Sunday but suffered an "adverse reaction" and was unable to practice this week and therefore unable to travel with the team to Maryland. "I have been working with the University of Iowa doctors and trainers, a concussion specialist focused on vision training, as well as engaging in hyperbaric treatments as frequently as possible," McNamara said. "I have every intention to play versus Nebraska next Friday night and I am confident that my teammates will return from Maryland with a win." Including his time with the Wolverines, McNamara has completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 4,703 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 34 games. --Field Level MediaHow £10 Lidl & Aldi buy helps fight mould and condensation for FREE before it even forms
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