Top Story Weekly

THE TOP STORY! WEEKLY REPORT FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2012

Starring Artemis Pebdani (Anchor), Phil Ranta (Anchor), Jimmy Guidish (Gary Busey), Gregg Lopez (Joe Kennedy III), Rebecca Stevens (Mollie Thomas) and Brent Pope (Galesburg Illinois McDonald’s Employee)

Directed by Michael Hughes

CAIN UNABLE by Phil Ranta

Starring Matthew Harris (Herman Cain), Sean Cowhig (Tom) and Grasie Mercedes (Sandra)

Directed by Michael Hughes

TS!W 720: NATALIE WOOD INVESTIGATION by Michael Hughes and Phil Ranta

Starring Matt Moore (Bernardo Nunez) and Phillip Wilburn (Phillip)

Directed by Michael Hughes

REGIS TAKES A BOW by Phil Ranta

Starring Phillip Wilburn (Regis Philbin), Kipleigh Brown (Kelly Ripa), Damien Fahey (Damien Fahey), Christopher Biewer (Michael Gelman) and Matt Moore (Intern)

Directed by Michael Hughes

TS!W 720: THE SIMPSONS by Phil Ranta

Starring Christopher Biewer (Christopher) and Phillip Wilburn (Phillip)

Directed by Michael Hughes

DOCTOR DEATH by Phil Ranta

Starring Phillip Wilburn (Jim), John McNamee (Dan), Brent Pope (Judge) and Derek Reid (Dr. Conrad Murray)

Directed by Michael Hughes

SPOON TONGS by Phil Ranta

Starring Kipleigh Brown (Tammy), Brian Vestal (Danny) and Colin Contreary (Joey)

Directed by Michael Hughes

LAST TANGO WITH BEANSTER by Michael Hughes

Starring Phillip Wilburn (Muammar Qadaffi), Andrés du Bouchet (Larry), Brent Pope (Steve Culpepper) and Phil Ranta (Chuck Beanster)

Directed by Tom Repetto

KIM TAKES NEW VOWS by Phil Ranta

Starring Kipleigh Brown (Kim Kardashian), Rhoda Baldwin (Kourtney Kardashian), Andy Harris (Khloe Kardashian), Derek Reid (Kris Humphries) and Christopher Biewer (Ryan Seacrest)

Directed by Tom Repetto

Last year Top Story! Weekly was fortunate enough to be selected as the Best Scripted Show in iO West’s Del Close Awards for the second year in a row. The 2011 nominations were announced last week, and Top Story! Weekly was thrilled to once again receive a nomination as Best Scripted Show!

We also picked up a second nomination when our cast member Matt Moore got a nod for Best Portrayal of an Object for his amazing work in two scenes in our February 20 show as Watson, the Jeopardy Playing Computer!

Here he is in “What Is Robotic Domination?” by Phil Ranta, also starring Christopher Biewer (Ken Jennings), Sean Cowhig (Brad Rutter), Jimmy Guidish (Gary) and Kipleigh Brown (Ellen):

And here Matt reprises his role in in “Oscar Computer” by Andrew Payne, also starring Phillip Wilburn and Artemis Pebdani:

If you’d like to vote, and you’re a student or alumnus/a of iO West, just head over to the Del Close Awards website and cast your ballot!

We’re very excited that so many of our cast members, writers, guest stars and colleagues received votes in other categories! Here’s our cast member Damien Fahey announcing the awards with Grasie Mercedes:

Congratulations to everyone affiliated with our show who got recognized:

The Jon Crowley Excellence in Bartending Award: Our cast members Brian O’Connell and Tommy Bechtold, and our Sunday night bartender Molly Prather

Best Waitstaff: Our Sunday night server Vanessa Ramos (who did an awesome set in our show last year, posted right below) and also Rebecca Stevens, who’s guested with us.:

Hardest Working Intern: Our amazing house manager Filup Molina

The Herb Koss Most Supportive Audience Member Award: Our writer Faryl Saliman Reingold

Best Del Close Theater Show: Triggerfinger, with our cast member Damien Fahey and our writer Stacy Rumaker, and Danger Snack, also with Stacy

The Dasariski Best Improvised Non-Harold Show: Dr. God, with our cast members Sean Cowhig, Neil Garguilo and Brian O’Connell

The Nick Armstrong Sexiest Player Award: Sean Cowhig and last year’s winner Tommy Bechtold! If you’d like to check out the sexiness, watch this sexy, sexy video, “Sean Cowhig: Man’s Man”:

Coach of the Year: Cast member Brian O’Connell

Best Harold Team: Trophy Wife, featuring cast members Rachael Drummond and John Abbott

And check out some photos of us at 2009’s ceremony here and here!