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Sheryl Lee Ralph celebrates 3rd Emmy nomination before release of new comedy
When she hosted the 2024 Emmy nominations on Wednesday, Sheryl Lee Ralph had no idea a surprise was in store.
After announcing the other nominees alongside actor Tony Hale, she said she was shocked to hear Hale reveal that Ralph received her own Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her work on “Abbott Elementary.”
“For three consecutive years, my peers have chosen to put me on the list of the best of the best, and I thought this time, ‘Look at the company they put me in!'”
Ralph is celebrating her third Emmy nomination in a row while a new comedy she stars in, “The Fabulous Four,” is set to be released later this month.
The nominees in the category of outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, including Ralph, are:
- Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale”
- Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
- Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”
- Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”
- Meryl Streep, “Only Murders in the Building”
The “Abbott Elementary” star said she had never been to the Emmys prior to being nominated.
“The first time I’ve been invited, the first time I’m there, I win,” Ralph said.
In 2022, Ralph became the first Black woman in 35 years to win an Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy series. She said it was a big shock.
“All I could do was thank my mother and father in heaven, because I was like, I know you’re working your magic, and it has just been the best ride ever since.”
Throughout her decades-long career, Ralph has held roles on Broadway in the musical “Dreamgirls,” along with dozens of TV shows and movies, including “Moesha” and “Sister Act: 2.”
In “The Fabulous Four,” Ralph said she loved the opportunity to work with Bette Midler.
“To be with her everyday, I was learning something everyday,” Ralph said. “She gets it, and she’s very capable of standing up for herself. She understands the industry that we’re in, and I love that about her.”
In addition to starring in the movie, Ralph navigated the role of executive producer, which she said meant learning more about the position and the challenges it presents.
“How are things all coming together? About the people that are there with us together, how do we move forward under challenging situations? Because remind you, we were really making this during the strike, so it was very difficult.”
On staying youthful, Ralph said, “The fountain of youth is good vibes always. Be as kind as you can to as many people as you can for as long as you can.”
The Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Tupperware and some of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the once-iconic food container maker said in a statement late Tuesday.
The company has suffered from dwindling sales following a surprise surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, when legions of people stuck at home tried their hands at cooking, which increased demand for Tupperware’s colorful plastic containers with flexible airtight seals.
A post-pandemic rise in costs of raw materials and shipping, along with higher wages, also hurt Tupperware’s bottom line.
Last year, it warned of “substantial doubt” about its ability to keep operating in light of its poor financial position.
“Over the last several years, the Company’s financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment,” president and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman said in a statement announcing the bankruptcy filing.
“As a result, we explored numerous strategic options and determined this is the best path forward,” Goldman said.
The company said it would seek court approval for a sale process for the business to protect its brand and “further advance Tupperware’s transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company.”
The Orlando, Florida-based firm said it would also seek approval to continue operating during the bankruptcy proceedings and would continue to pay its employees and suppliers.
“We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process,” Goldman said.
The firm’s shares were trading at $0.5099 Monday, well down from $2.55 in December last year.
Tupperware said it had implemented a strategic plan to modernize its operations and drive efficiencies to ignite growth following the appointment of a new management team last year.
“The Company has made significant progress and intends to continue this important transformation work.”
In its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Tupperware listed assets of between $500 million and $1 billion and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion.
The filing also said it had between 50,000 and 100,000 creditors.
Tupperware lost popularity with consumers in recent years and an initiative to gain distribution through big-box chain Target failed to reverse its fortunes.
The company’s roots date to 1946, when chemist Earl Tupper “had a spark of inspiration while creating molds at a plastics factory shortly after the Great Depression,” according to Tupperware’s website.
“If he could design an airtight seal for plastic storage containers, like those on a paint can, he could help war-weary families save money on costly food waste.”
Over time, Tupper’s containers became popular that many people referred to any plastic food container as Tupperware. And people even threw “Tupperware parties” in their homes to sell the containers to friends and neighbors.
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