‘Succession’ Dominates Directors Guild of America (DGA) Television Nominations

The Directors Guild of America today announced the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2023 where the fourth and final season of Succession once again dominated, taking four of the five spots for Directing for a Drama Series.

The episodes “Rehearsal,” “Connor’s Wedding,” “America Decides” and “Tailgate Party” were all nominated alongside the bottle episode of The Last of Us, “Long, Long Time” directed by Peter Hoar. Two years ago Succession became the first series in 39 years to receive all the nominations in its category.

In comedy series, the third and final season of Ted Lasso earned two nominations, the second season of The Bear earned two and the final season of Barry rounded out the category.

For documentaries, the nominees were 20 Days in Mariupol, Beyond Utopia, Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Kokomo City and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.

Nominations for feature film will be announced on January 10. The winners will be announced at the 76^th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

DRAMATIC SERIES

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

PETER HOAR

The Last of Us, “Long, Long Time”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Cecil O’Connor
• First Assistant Director: Bethan Mowat

BECKY MARTIN

Succession, “Rehearsal”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
• First Assistant Director: John Silvestri
• Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Notte
• Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
• Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi

MARK MYLOD

Succession, “Connor’s Wedding”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
• First Assistant Director: Christo Morse
• Second Assistant Directors: Sahar Shmolevitz, Justin Bischoff
• Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
• Additional Second Assistant Directors: Cris Iannucci, Norman Franklin, Kyle Burstein
• Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi

ANDRIJ PAREKH

Succession, “America Decides”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
• First Assistant Director: John Silvestri
• Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Notte
• Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
• Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi

ROBERT PULCINI & SHARI SPRINGER BERMAN

Succession, “Tailgate Party”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Managers: Hilary Kehoe, Gabrielle Mahon
• First Assistant Director: Michelle Flevotomas
• Second Assistant Director: Sahar Shmolevitz
• Second Second Assistant Director: Jimmy Rosario
• Additional Second Assistant Directors: Isabel Sofia Cervantes, Nicole Kay Payson
• Location Manager: Paul Eskenazi

***

COMEDY SERIES

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

ERICA DUNTON

Ted Lasso, “La Locker Room Aux Folles”

(Apple TV+)

BILL HADER

Barry, “wow”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Aida Rodgers
• First Assistant Director: Gavin Kleintop
• Second Assistant Director: Erin Stern Linares
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Yarden Levo, George Williams

DECLAN LOWNEY

Ted Lasso, “So Long, Farewell”

(Apple TV+)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Mike Livanos (U.S. Unit)
• First Assistant Director: Jason Z. Kemp (U.S. Unit)
• Second Assistant Director: Christopher Cook (U.S. Unit)

CHRISTOPHER STORER

The Bear, “Fishes”

(FX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Managers: Tyson Bidner, Carrie Holt de Lama
• First Assistant Directors: Duccio Fabbri, Pablo Gambetta
• Second Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Olivia Dame, Hiro Taniguchi
• Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas

RAMY YOUSSEF

The Bear, “Honeydew”

(FX)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Managers: Tyson Bidner, Carrie Holt de Lama
• First Assistant Directors: Kit Bland, Pablo Gambetta
• Second Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek
• Second Second Assistant Directors: Olivia Dame, Hiro Taniguchi
• Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas

***

MOVIES FOR TELEVISION AND LIMITED SERIES

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

SHAWN LEVY

All the Light We Cannot See

(Netflix)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Scott Elias
• First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen
• Second Assistant Director: Simeon Jones

TARA MIELE

Lessons in Chemistry, “Introduction to Chemistry”

(Apple TV+)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Chris Hayden
• First Assistant Director: Katie Carroll
• Second Assistant Director: Alexis Olsen Colwell

MILLICENT SHELTON

Lessons in Chemistry, “Poirot”

(Apple TV+)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Chris Hayden
• First Assistant Director: Kristofer Kolpek
• Second Assistant Director: Deborah Chung

SARAH ADINA SMITH

Lessons in Chemistry, “Her and Him”

(Apple TV+)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Steven Brown
• First Assistant Director: Kristofer Kolpek
• Second Assistant Director: Deborah Chung

NZINGHA STEWART

Daisy Jones & The Six, “ Track 10: Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide”

(Amazon)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Michael Nelson
• First Assistant Director: Anna Notarides
• Second Assistant Director: Samantha Hollingsworth
• Second Second Assistant Directors : Tarin Squillante, Jeff Tavani, Alex Lee Bonner, Matthew Kramer
• Location Manager: Batou Chandler

***

VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Regularly Scheduled Programming for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

PAUL G. CASEY

Real Time with Bill Maher, “Episode 2117”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Stacy Talbot
• Stage Managers: Brian Anderson, Patrick Whitney

JIM HOSKINSON

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, “Jan. 19, 2023: Rep. Adam Kinzinger; Meet Me at the Altar; Special appearance by Harvey Guillén”

(CBS)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Directors: Yvonne DeMare, Karen Yaeger
• Stage Managers: Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib

MICHAEL MANCINI & LIZ PATRICK

Saturday Night Live, “Pedro Pascal / Coldplay”

(NBC)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Directors: Janine DeVito, Michael Poole, Laura Ouziel-Mack
• Stage Managers: Gena Rositano, Chris Kelly, Eddie Valk

DAVID PAUL MEYER

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, “Singer Charley Crockett Performs “Name on a Billboard” and Discusses New Album with Jordan Klepper “

(Comedy Central)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Adrienne Ford
• Stage Managers: Bennymar Almonte, Tyler Goldman

PAUL PENNOLINO

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, “Episode 1018: Dollar Stores”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Elliot Mendelson
• Stage Managers: Craig Spinney, Mark McKenna, Jeff Leib, Steven Van Patten

***

VARIETY/TALK/NEWS/SPORTS – SPECIALS

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

JOEL GALLEN

Chris Rock: Selective Outrage

(Netflix)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Robin Mishkin Abrams
• Stage Manager: Arthur Lewis

STAN LATHAN

Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer

(Netflix)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Jill Dove
• Stage Manager: Valdez Flagg

LINDA MENDOZA

Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer

(Netflix)

Directorial Team:

• Stage Manager: Dan Frank

PAUL MILLER

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

(NBC)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Sara Niimi
• Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Christopher McDonald, Jackie Stathis

GLENN WEISS

The 95th Annual Academy Awards

(ABC)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Directors: Ken Diego, Ricky Kirshner, Susan Kopensky, Lori Margules, Robin Mishkin Abrams, Sara Niimi, Kristen Patterson Terry, Michael Polito
• Stage Managers: Gary Natoli, Alexis Brusig, Rita Cossette, John Esposito, Valdez Flagg, Doug Fogel, Chris Hines, Alissa Levisohn Hoyo, Arthur Lewis, Roxanne Lozano, Donna Parker, Ron Paul, Tammy Raab, Jason Seligman, Jackie Stathis, Cheryl Teetzel-Moore, Ari Woog

***

REALITY PROGRAMS

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

NIHARIKA DESAI

Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss, “Happiness is a Bottle of Cod Liver Oil”

(Peacock)

KEN FUCHS

The Golden Bachelor, “Premiere”

(ABC)

Directorial Team:

• Stage Manager: Isaiah Fuchs

JOSEPH GUIDRY & ALEXANDRA LIPSITZ

Project Greenlight: A New Generation, “PGL vs. Gray Matter Problem”

(HBO | MAX)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Lizzie MacPherson
• Stage Manager: T.J. Ganser

RICH KIM

Lego Masters, “Is It Brick?”

(FOX)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Ryan Bunnell
• Stage Managers: Will Baker, Dan Shepard

PATRICK McMANUS

American Ninja Warrior, “Season 15 Finale”

(NBC)

Directorial Team:

• Associate Director: Dave Massey
• Stage Managers: Sara Brown, Sean P. Galvin, T.J. Ganser, Joseph R. Osborne, Matthew Patrick, Greg Rosa, Louise Story

***

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

JAMES BOBIN

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher”

(Disney+)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Jim Rowe
• First Assistant Director: Pete Whyte
• Location Manager: David Occhino

DESTIN DANIEL CRETTON

American Born Chinese, “What Guy Are You”

(Disney+)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Erin O’Malley
• First Assistant Director: Katie Hausmann
• Second Assistant Directors: Randin Brown Hargrave, Morgan Willis

ROB LETTERMAN

Goosebumps, “Say Cheese and Die”

(Disney+)

AMY SCHATZ

Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High School

(HBO | MAX)

DINH THAI

American Born Chinese, “A Monkey on a Quest”

(Disney+)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Erin O’Malley, Stacy Murphy Gold
• First Assistant Director: Michael Risoli
• Second Assistant Director: Morgan Willis

***

COMMERCIALS

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

MARTIN de THURAH

(Epoch Films)

Fair Exchange, Levi’s 501 Jeans – Droga5

Legends Never Die, Levi’s 501 Jeans, Droga5

SEB EDWARDS

(Park Pictures)

Rumble, Battle of the Baddest – Droga5

• First Assistant Director: George Walker

KIM GEHRIG

(Somesuch)

Run This Town, Apple Music – Apple (Client Direct)

• First Assistant Director: David Webb

The Travelers, Expedia – Wieden & Kennedy

• First Assistant Director: Zaida Fakih

CRAIG GILLESPIE

(MJZ)

Waiting Room, Apple iPhone – TBWA/Media Arts Lab

• Unit Production Manager: Martha Davis
• First Assistant Director: Christian Van Fleet
• Second Assistant Director: Gregory Moutran

ANDREAS NILSSON

(Biscuit Filmworks)

R.I.P. Leon, Apple iPhone – Apple (Client Direct)

• First Assistant Director: Gareth Moses

Action Mode, Apple iPhone14 – Apple (Client Direct)

• First Assistant Director: Gareth Moses

Choose Happy, Les Mills Fitness – Nice&Frank, San Francisco

Wait’ll You See This, Snapchat – Snapchat (Client Direct)

DOCUMENTARY

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

MOSES BWAYO & CHRISTOPHER SHARP

Bobi Wine: The People’s President

(National Geographic)

MSTYSLAV CHERNOV

20 Days in Mariupol

(PBS Distribution)

MADELEINE GAVIN

Beyond Utopia

(Roadside Attractions)

DAVIS GUGGENHEIM

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

(Apple Original Films)

Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: John Locke
• First Assistant Director: Richard Rosser

D. SMITH

Kokomo City

(Magnolia Pictures)