Archive for the ‘ drama ’ Category

2013 Emmy Predictions (Top Contenders) – Supporting Actor in a Drama Series


corey stoll house of cards

Interestingly enough, there was a time when, before the actual nominations came out, voters would narrow down all the contenders to the “top 10″. They obviously don’t do that anymore. But…we can still assume which contenders are at the top of the voter’s minds. Before I release my official nomination predictions around early July, I am going to run down which 10 or so contenders are the biggest threats…and maybe some personal long shots that I believe voters should consider. Here we go!

(Yeah…I copied that opening paragraph from last season…deal with it.)

For more Emmy stuff, click here.

Here are the top Emmy contenders for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. In alphabetical order…

This category was particularly difficult for me (it usually is) so…hopefully, whoever gets nominated in this category is at least mentioned in this post, whether they’re a “top contender” or not…

1. jonathan banks (breaking bad): PRO: Banks had a really great season this year. With Giancarlo Esposito out of the way, Banks was really been allowed to stand out as the “real badass in charge.” I don’t want to give any spoilers away but…let’s just say…something happens to his character by the end of the season that would make voters more inclined to pick him this year. CON: This would be his first nomination for the show so…it’s tricky. Otherwise, all signs should point towards a nomination.

2. jim carter (downton abbey): PRO: People don’t want to admit it, but he was nominated last year so, technically, he is a top contender. This season, Carter did more of the same…but it’s that “same” that the voters liked the last season. I could see him repeating. CON: Was Carter really nominated last year because voters genuinely admired his performance…or because they just wanted to give Downton Abbey as many nominations as possible? I believe Carter’s nomination mostly depends on how voters regarded the show this season.

3. alan cumming (the good wife): PRO: He’s been nominated twice (once for guest) for this role, but he was snubbed last year. People still really like how quirky this character is. He brings a sense of humor to the show and definitely stands out among the cast. Out of all the supporting actors on the show, he has the best chance of squeezing in. Also, if the New York voters watched his performance of Macbeth on Broadway and was upset that he was snubbed at the Tonys, giving him an Emmy nomination might make up for it. CON: I’m trying to think off the top of my head what “episode” he would submit if he got a nomination. I honestly can’t. Maybe that’s just my bad memory but…I don’t know if he stood out this season IMO.

4. peter dinklage (game of thrones): PRO: He won for his first season and received another nomination last year. The Emmy voters don’t seem to appreciate the cast much, but Dinklage is the one actor that stands out among them. CON: I’m the only person in the world that doesn’t watch this show regularly. I’m also the only person in the world who (from the little I’ve seen) isn’t crazy about his performance.

5. noah emmerich (the americans): PRO: I don’t know anything about this show or his role on the show, but I do know that Emmerich (of Truman Show fame) is a long working, respected actor who’s never been nominated before. If this show becomes the Emmy hit it is destined to be, I could see this as Emmerich’s chance at getting in. People are already predicting him for a nomination. CON: However, if The Americans doesn’t get the broad Emmy support, I’d be little surprised to see Emmerich’s name on the list of 6.

6. larry hagman (dallas): PRO: Despite its relatively good reviews, I don’t think Dallas was destined to be much of an Emmy favorite. However, voters may want to honor Hagman for his contribution to television and give him a posthumous nomination “John Ritter-style.” It’s not too far-fetched. He was nominated for the role in the 80′s a couple times, and he has gotten some good notices for his performance in the revival. I could definitely see a spot saved for him. CON: I hate asking this but…would Larry Hagman be such a strong contender if he were still alive? I don’t watch the show so I don’t truly know. However, I wasn’t hearing people say “Larry Hagman deserves an Emmy” before his death. Just a thought…

7. rob james-collier (downton abbey): PRO: Who else watched “Episode 7″ and went OH SHIT!? Yeah, exactly. This season, we saw a different side of Thomas. A more vulnerable side of him that voters, who we know watch the show, may appreciate. With Brendan Coyle curiously not being submitted, James-Collier could rightfully take the now empty Downton Abbey spot for this category. CON: James-Collier has always given a good performance, so why hasn’t he been nominated before? Even last season, him being nominated would have probably made more sense than Jim Carter. It’ll be interesting if voters have just noticed Rob James-Collier.

8. vincent kartheiser (mad men): PRO: At this point, it may seem silly to anticipate a Vincent Kartheiser nomination. However, John Slattery’s snub last year in favor of the new Jared Harris may give us some newfound hope. Maybe voters have just realized that there could possibly be more deserving actors than John Slattery…including Kartheiser. CON: Or…maybe Harris only got nominated last year because his character committed suicide, and now that he’s not eligible, Slattery will take his spot on the short list again. Maybe they’ll continue to snub Kartheiser the same way they’ve been snubbing him the last 5 years.

9. mandy patinkin (homeland): PRO: Last year, Patinkin didn’t get a nomination. The writers of Homeland took note and gave Patinkin stronger, more emotional material. In some cases, he would be the best thing about an episode. Last year, I didn’t particularly think he deserved a nomination. This year? I think he would be in my personal top 6. Do the voters feel the same way? Despite the criticisms this season has accumulated, Homeland is still expected to have a strong showing, possibly even stronger than last year. CON: But still…he wasn’t nominated last year. So this year will be especially nail-biting.

10. aaron paul (breaking bad): PRO: He has been nominated three times, winning for his last two eligible years. Even last year when most people were predicting Esposito (not me!), he still prevailed. He continues to be intense and sublime in his role and there is NO reason why he should be left off this year. CON: Absolutely no reason.

11. john slattery (mad men): PRO: He was consistently nominated for the show’s first four years before being dropped last season in favor of Jared Harris. However, now that Harris is gone, I could Slattery comfortably taking his spot again. Similar to Cumming, Slattery is nice comedic relief for the show and usually breaks the tension. Also, that signature grey hair? Sa-exy. CON: Even though Mad Men is a very popular show among voters, the “once you’re out, you’re out” rule may still apply to John Slattery. Also, so far (the show still has only one episode left to air), Slattery hasn’t been given too much to do.

12. corey stoll (house of cards): PRO: Since Midnight in Paris, Stoll has broken out and become a truly a respected actor. His performance in House of Cards has gotten praise and even earned him a Critics Choice Award nomination. If a complete newcomer can squeeze into the race, it’s probably Stoll. CON: Despite the praise, sometimes it takes a year or two before an actor is nominated. Just ask Aaron Paul…or even Michael C. Hall. Sometimes a voter simply needs more proof of worthiness before adding him to his or her ballot.

13. Sam Waterston (the newsroom): PRO: He’s been nominated for eight Emmys, but he’s never won for an acting performance. Nonetheless, he’s clearly an Emmy favorite and, I believe, being on the long running (and maybe tiring) Law & Order has kept him from receiving more Emmy nods. With this new, fresh role as network president Charlie Skinner, maybe he finally has a chance for Emmy glory. CON: No Golden Globe nomination might be a crutch (although, it’s much harder for a supporting performer to get nominated for a Golden Globe than an Emmy). Still, this show is very divided and Waterston will need all the people who love the show to vote for him in order to get the nomination.

Other strong contenders: Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire), Josh Charles (The Good Wife), Guillermo Diaz (Scandal), Ben Feldman (Mad Men), Walton Goggins (Justified), David Harewood (Homeland), Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel), Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal), John Noble (Fringe), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad), Kevin Rahm (Mad Men)

Long shots worth considering: Michael Cuditz (Southland), Matt Czurchy (The Good Wife), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), Jeff Perry (Scandal), Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire)

Even longer shots I recommend checking out: Noel Fisher, Cameron Monaghan, and Jeremy Allen White (Shameless), Jordan Garavis (Orphan Black), James Pickens Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy)

Read the ballots here to see who else was submitted in this category. Thanks for reading! More coming soon! For more Emmy stuff, click here.

2013
06/17
CATEGORY
tv
the good wife
television
awards
predictions
review
snubbed
nominations
emmy awards
emmys
reflection
drama
breaking bad
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2 comments

2013 Emmy Predictions (Top Contenders) – Lead Actress in a Drama Series


tatiana maslany orphan black

Interestingly enough, there was a time when, before the actual nominations came out, voters would narrow down all the contenders to the “top 10″. They obviously don’t do that anymore. But…we can still assume which contenders are at the top of the voter’s minds. Before I release my official nomination predictions around early July, I am going to run down which 10 or so contenders are the biggest threats…and maybe some personal long shots that I believe voters should consider. Here we go!

(Yeah…I copied that opening paragraph from last season…deal with it.)

For more Emmy stuff, click here.

Here are the top Emmy contenders for Lead Actress in a Drama Series. In alphabetical order…

1. connie britton (nashville): PRO: She was nominated last year in the Movie/Miniseries category for American Horror Story, and then two times in a row in this category for Friday Night Lights. She’s obviously become an Emmy favorite. Nashville was one of the most buzzed new network drama series of the season and she’s right in the center of that buzz. CON: Yes, she was nominated for a Golden Globe this year but…I dunno…can she really get an Emmy nomination? Nashville is a fun show, but I’m not sure if the show (and her performance) are top 6 material. Although…I honestly haven’t watched the show since January so maybe things have changed.

2. glenn close (damages): PRO: She’s been nominated for this role every year she’s been eligible, and she won 2 Emmys for the first 2 seasons. Even if voters have become disinterested in the show itself, they still seem very fond of Close. This is the show’s last year. Voters may want to honor her. Also…she’s Glenn Close. CON: The series finale aired so long ago…I remember it being a great finale, but did the voters remember?

3. claire danes (homeland): PRO: C’mon. Danes has created one of the most complex, intense female characters for television. Carrie Mathison has practically become an icon. On a technical front…she has an Emmy, 2 Golden Globes, and a SAG for this season (obviously, this is specifically for Homeland.) There’s no way she’s missing out this year. CON: Homeland has gotten some “The Killing”-sized criticism this year…but I doubt that should affect Danes much. She’s in. She’s totally in.

4. michelle dockery (downton abbey): PRO: While Maggie Smith is the only actor on the show to actually win awards, Dockery has also set herself from the cast with all her nominations – an Emmy nomination last year, a Golden Globe nod, and a “hard to get” SAG nomination. She was given a lot to work with this season and if voters liked her performance last year, then they probably like what she did this year. CON: However, this year, the Lead Actress category is even more competitive with a lot of new worthy contenders. I haven’t made an official prediction, but I don’t think she’s as much of a lock as Claire Danes or even Julianna Margulies. We’ll see. (I know, this goes against what I wrote earlier.)

5. vera farmiga (bates motel): PRO: Before Bates Motel, Vera Farmiga was mostly a movie actress (with an Oscar nomination under her belt). But the Television Academy loves movie stars doing TV. I’m not trying to compare Farmiga to Glenn Close…buuut…actually, I won’t go there. But Bates Motel has gotten a strong critical reception and some people are actually predicting Farmiga so I’ll put her as a top contender. She was also nominated for a TCA Award. CON: It’s a new, “spring semester” show in an already crowded year…and, despite her Oscar nomination, Farmiga isn’t necessarily a household name. She certainly won’t get nomination through blind name recognition.

6. julianna margulies (the good wife): PRO: Along with her one Emmy and two nominations for this role, she has pretty much been nominated (and won) for every other major award out there. Her performance in this season was no different than the three before it (in fact, it was probably better). She has a real, wonderful leading role on a wonderful TV series. CON: Last year, the show wasn’t nominated for Drama Series. Uh oh! Do voters not like this show anymore???

7. tatiana maslany (orphan black): PRO: She could certainly be the surprise hit of the Emmys. If voters took the time to actually watch this show, they’d realize how EXCELLENT she is. Seriously, I’m only on the 4th episode and she’s already played like 10 roles. She’s a chameleon and has a harder task than any of the the other contenders here. She not only deserves a nomination…but I believe she deserves win. (I may be biased, I’ve been a fan of her since her days on renegadepress.com.) CON: Yeah, she’s been getting notice from the various critics awards…but they’ve never been great Emmy predictors. She’s an unfamous Canadian actress on a show very few people realize exist. This is going to take prayer.

8. elizabeth moss (mad men): PRO: She’s been nominated four times for this role and will probably get another nomination this year.. Moss definitely does some very interesting things with this character. She’s my favorite thing about the show right now. CON: …although, I can’t say she would be in my personal top 6. Let’s wait and see…

9. keri russell (the americans): PRO: Interestingly enough, she was never nominated for Felicity (despite a Golden Globe win). However, this new, darker, maturer, critically acclaimed role might do the trick. Both she and the show are receiving a lot of buzz. CON: There’s not really much of a “con” to be honest. Only time will tell how the Emmys respond to the show. Ya neva know!

10. kyra sedgwick (the closer): PRO: Before finally winning the Emmy in 2010, she was nominated four times. However, after 2010, she was strangely dropped from the lineup and hasn’t recovered since then. Still, this is her last season, and voters may want to put her back in the race one last time (for this role, at least.) CON: The old Emmy rule: “Once you’re out, you’re out!” Another Emmy rule: “The Emmys aren’t as sentimental as we think they are.” I think Kristen Wiig and the late great Kathryn Joosten can attest to that.

11. kerry washington (scandal): PRO: Seriously, Scandal is not only a great show, but Kerry Washington absolutely nails it. She does so well with portraying “pain and regret,” all the while being a buttkicking badass in the process. She hasn’t been nominated for anything major yet…but the Emmys could fix that mistake. CON: Network dramas and Emmys never seem to be a good mix. Mark my words – if this show were on Showtime or HBO or AMC, Washington would be a much more confident contender here.

12. robin wright (house of cards): PRO: Emmy voters love women in power. Like Tina Fey mentioned in 2010: “These women are terrifying.” Wright plays her character with a confident and subtle power. Emmy voters like that kind of stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised if she got a nomination. CON: …I also wouldn’t surprised if she didn’t get in. When it comes to House of Cards, people are talking about Kevin Spacey and Corey Stoll…I just don’t think the women on the show are getting much recognition.

Other strong contenders: Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: SVU), Mary McDonnell (Major Crimes), Emmy Rossum (Shameless)

Long shots worth considering: Taraji P. Henson (Person of Interest), Lucy Liu (Elementary), Anna Paquin (True Blood), Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy), Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy)

Even longer shot I recommend checking out: Jennifer Love Hewitt (The Client List)

Read the ballots here to see who else was submitted in this category. Thanks for reading! More coming soon! For more Emmy stuff, click here.

2013
06/15
CATEGORY
awards
connie britton
drama
emmy awards
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grey's anatomy
nominations
predictions
reflection
review
series finale
television
the good wife
tv
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3 comments

2013 Emmy Predictions (Top Contenders) – Lead Actor in a Drama Series


house of cards kevin spacey

Interestingly enough, there was a time when, before the actual nominations came out, voters would narrow down all the contenders to the “top 10″. They obviously don’t do that anymore. But…we can still assume which contenders are at the top of the voter’s minds. Before I release my official nomination predictions around early July, I am going to run down which 10 or so contenders are the biggest threats…and maybe some personal long shots that I believe voters should consider. Here we go!

(Yeah…I copied that opening paragraph from last season…deal with it.)

For more Emmy stuff, click here.

Here are the top Emmy contenders for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. In alphabetical order…

1. hugh bonneville (downton abbey): PRO: He was (surprisingly) nominated last year. This season, his character dealt with a lot of things – from the (almost) loss of his estate to the death of his daughter. As an actor he had a lot to work with. CON: However, some may see the character as too unlikable (or even too stupid). And let’s be honest, last year, he was nominated mostly because of the overwhelming support for the show as a whole. If the show doesn’t get the same amount of support this season, he could easily be dropped out.

2. steve buscemi (boardwalk empire): PRO: These last three seasons, he’s been consistently nominated for all the big TV awards, including winning two SAG awards in the process. He’s an actor’s actor and I believe the industry respects him enough. CON: Is it just me (and I say this as someone who doesn’t watch the show regularly) or has this show been overshadowed by Breaking Bad and Homeland? Just sayin’…

3. bryan cranston (breaking bad): PRO: Three Emmys out of four nominations…and he just received his first SAG award this year.  This season was highly acclaimed and we’re all anticipating the second half of the last season in the process. I think it’s safe to say he’ll get nominated this year and last year too…he may even win again in the process. On a personal note, in my opinion, he gives one the best performances on TV. CON: Hey! Even James Gandolfini missed a year during his Sopranos run. Anything can happen!

4. jeff daniels (the newsroom): PRO: He’s actually never been nominated for any Emmys for his previous work. However, so far, for The Newsroom, he’s gotten a nominated for the Satellite, The Golden Globes, and the SAGs. All signs lead to “Emmy.” If voters watched only the pilot (like I have), he could still get in based on his fiery performance in that episode. CON: The Newsroom has gotten some pretty nasty reviews from critics (and even audiences). The whole show, including Daniels, could be snubbed.

5. michael c. hall (dexter): PRO: Last year, against all odds, despite scathing reviews for the season, Michael C. Hall still received a nomination. He received it over Hugh Laurie for his last season of House and presumed front runner Kelsey Grammar for Boss. That is how much voters like Michael C. Hall. This last season hasn’t gotten better reviews so, technically, it should be safe, right? CON: Something in my blood tells me this category will be shook up. This category is TOO competitive this year with too many new contenders for voters to give Hall his 6th nomination (without a win). But…I think I said the same thing last year so what do I know?

6. jon hamm (mad men): PRO: The season isn’t over yet, but, so far, I think Hamm has done enough to warrant another nomination. He’s an Emmy favorite. He’ll probably get nominated for 30 Rock again…even if he didn’t appear in any episodes. CON: Is Mad Men losing stock? The show got no wins last year. Hamm has never won an Emmy. Even newcomer Damien Lewis beat him last year. Will there be a time when voters will stop nominating Hamm altogether?

7. damien lewis (homeland): PRO: Damien Lewis, IMO, gives a tour-de-force performance. And he impressed me more this season than he did last season when he actually won. He deserves another nomination this year, maybe even a second Emmy. CON: Homeland got a lot of flack this year (mostly the second half of the season). And not everyone loves Lewis’s performance. But, again, this is a “critics vs. regular people vs. industry” situation.

8. andrew lincoln (the walking dead): PRO: I am the only person in America who doesn’t watch this show. Seriously, this show gets ratings that broadcast networks would die for. Even if this show isn’t really a reliable awards favorite, this wouldn’t be the first time an actor has received an Emmy nomination after a few seasons, especially when the critical reception for the show is getting warmer. CON: But, again, the show isn’t a reliable awards favorite. And besides a couple Saturn Award nominations, Lincoln has never been nominated for anything significant (SAGs and Golden Globes, etc.)

9. timothy olyphant (justified): PRO: As the rough and tough deputy, he earned a nomination for the show’s second season when the show was receiving a lot of Margo Martindale related buzz. He hasn’t gotten nominated for much since then, but he is still a top contender because he and the show still receives a lot of acclaim. CON: He wasn’t nominated last year. You know the old Emmy rule: “Once you’re out, you’re out forever!”

10. matthew rhys (the americans): PRO: This is a very new show that hasn’t had much of a chance to pick awards steam. However, Matthew Rhys just received a TCA nomination, and Critics Choice nomination, and tons of critical acclaim. CONS: You’d have to be ballsy to put him in your final top 6 (esp. considering everyone nominated last year is eligible this year). But predict him if you must.

11. kevin spacey (house of cards): PRO: Like Rhys, he’s on a very new show that has gotten some really nice critical notice. Unlike Rhys, he is a terribly established actor with two Oscars and a couple Emmy nominations for previous works. After three episodes, I found the show a little boring to be honest, but I found his performance invigorating and droll. CON: If this show had premiered on traditional television and not the internet, I’d probably be more confident of his chances.

Other strong contenders: Kevin Bacon (The Following), Andre Braugher (Last Resort), Hugh Dancy (Hannibal), Michael Emerson (Person of Interest),

Long shots worth considering: Patrick J. Adams (Suits), Simon Baker (The Mentalist), Kelsey Grammer (Boss), Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Jeremy Irons (The Borgias), Peter Krause (Parenthood), Gabriel Macht (Suits), William H. Macy (Shameless), Jonny Lee Miller (Sherlock)

Read the ballots here to see who else was submitted in this category. Thanks for reading! More coming soon! For more Emmy stuff, click here.

2013
06/12
CATEGORY
tv
television
awards
predictions
review
nominations
emmy awards
emmys
reflection
drama
breaking bad
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2 comments

Season 12 American Idol Results Overview (Top 3 Announced)


amber holcomb

Before we talk about tonight’s results, I want look back at the past eleven “top 3′s.” Let’s see how this season’s top 3 stacks up with the others.

Season 1: This probably would have been a solid top 3 if Tamyra had made it. Nikki was a cute underdog but she was clearly out of her league against the other 2.

Season 2: This top 3 was absolutely perfect with Ruben, Kimberly and Clay. In fact…I really loved Josh Gracin during that season so I even thought the top 4 was perfect.

Season 3: I know everyone LOVED the “three divas” during the season…but I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of Jhud until Dreamgirls. That being said, the “three divas” being the top 3 would have been better than Jasmine Trias making it. What bunk!

Season 4: This…is not a season I know much about (I know, ironic). So…I honestly don’t know anything about Vonzell. Next!

Season 5: Overall, this was a good top 3. Similar to Jennifer Hudson, I didn’t feel much for Daughtry while he was in the competition. Confession alert: Taylor Hicks was actually my favorite during the season. So…I dunno, maybe this top 3 would have been better if Daughtry had been in there for McPhee…

Season 6: Unlike a lot of people, season 6 is actual a favorite of mine (minus Sanjaya…although he was hilariously bad, unlike some other VFTW picks who were simply bad). I quite liked this top 3. But, I probably would have switched Blake for Lakisha.

Season 7: This season focused so much on “David vs. David” that the third finalist didn’t even matter much. Sorry!

Season 8: Ugh. What was Danny Gokey doing there? Replace him with the wonderful Allison Iraheta and we would have had the best top 3 ever.

Season 9: Season 9 sucked. Top 3? More like top 1 (and that “1″ was Crystal Bowersox.)

Season 10: Solid top 3 but Haley was CLEARLY on another level.

Season 11: Overall good top 3…but I still have very mixed feelings over Phillip Phillips.

So…I think I would say the most “evenly matched” tops 3′s occurred during season 2, season 5, season 6, and the last couple of seasons. Why the long introduction? Just so I could make the declaration that season 12, despite all its problems, has given us one of the strongest, most evenly matched top 3′s in American Idol history. I’m not saying this was a perfect season as a whole. I’m not even saying the top 10 was all that great. But these three girls remaining are (for the most part) the cream that have thankfully risen to the top of my mocha cap.

And I think this is a very diverse top 3. We have Candice who has an R&B Jazmine Sullivan thing going on. We have Angie who is a Miley Cyrus-inspired pop rocker, sort of a female Billy Joel if you will. And then we have Kree: the thoughtful, mature country girl. All three contestants have something great to offer. And…most importantly…THEY ARE ALL GIRLS. I know I know…we’ve known this for 3+ weeks now; but this season is going to give us our first female winner in 6 years. Quelle exciting!

So people can bitch and complain at how manipulative this show has been this season (because American Idol TOTALLY has never been manipulative before). I will be enjoying these fine ladies battle it out until the end. And, while I’m still rooting for an Angie/Candice finale at this point, even the thought of Kree winning makes me smile. I’m happy…

But, a few minutes ago, I was a bawling mess. I usually don’t cry during eliminations. The last few times I remember crying was when Haley was eliminated in season 10, Allison in season 8, and Melinda in season 6 (I also cried after Crystal performed “People Get Ready” in season 9 but that’s different story.) But when my little Amber Holcomb got eliminated, my stomach dropped. And then when she was trying to get through “I Believe in You and Me,” my eyes water. And when her father came on stage to hug her, I lost it. Wooh! Emotions!

This wasn’t surprising. We all saw it coming. Most people believed Amber should have been the next to go. Honestly, I still prefer Amber to Kree but…maybe it was Amber’s time. It was Amber’s time. She had a great run but, quite honestly, I have to compare her to Candice. Candice is simply the stronger, more experienced artist. So if one of them had to go…then it’s good that it was Amber. I wish Amber had grown more during her run…but maybe that needs to happen off the show.

But…she really was a contestant I enjoyed immensely throughout the competition. Some of her performances early in the season still stick in my head (She’s Loving Home – which is definitely making my top 20 list in a few weeks, Lately, What About Love, Love on Top). It’s very impressive that she was able to make it far despite barely being featured before the Las Vegas round. She clearly made her mark with “My Funny Valentine” (her first performance) and that’s impressive enough. Even though she’s gone, she will always be a member of the “original fab 4.”

So…where does she go from here? Who knows? I’m not going to sit here and pretend she’ll be the next Whitney. It seems like fewer and fewer AI finalists find commercial success post tour. But…she still did something a lot of singers would not have been able to do and that’s a reward in itself.

However…if/when she puts out a new single (maybe with the help of Nicki?), I’ll be the first to download it.

Anyway, I think I’m just going to end this post here. A few other things happened but I think everything I needed say was said tonight. See ya next week (…maybe.)

Byeeeez!!!!

2013
05/02
CATEGORY
american idol
drama
fox
music
predictions
recap
reflection
review
snubbed
television
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1 comment

2013 Early Emmy Talk #1(The “locks”)


modern family

Last year, when I did this post for the 2012 Emmys, I actually predicted most of the locks right. The only ones I got wrong was Parks and Recreation for Series and John Slattery for Supporting Actor. However, I was still very weary about making a post this year because…for some reason, I feel like we’re in store for some really big surprises this summer. With some shows finishing out their tenures (and some new shows coming out), it’s tough figuring which shows and people are “safe.” The truth is…no one’s ever truly safe. Last year, everyone and their mother predicted Parks and Recreation and Louie for series nominations, and maybe even wins. Instead, they were surprisingly overturned by the likes of Veep (yay!) and Girls. So…it may be a bit silly to make predictions this early in the season…but, the Emmy bug is itching so…here goes.

Just a reminder, here are some ground rules:

1. This is not an OFFICIAL prediction list. I actually don’t make concrete predictions until voting’s over. I’m just going to name the 1 or 2 people in each category that, no matter what, will most likely get a nomination. That’s all…

2. I never consider new shows and new actors “locks.” Even if it’s PAINFULLY obvious, I leave them out for now. Remember when we all thought Luck would dominate? Exactly. (Side note: are there really any new series this year that are major contenders this year? Is House of Cards that big of a threat?)

3. …I think that’s it, actually.

OK. Here are the locks for the 2013 Emmys as of April 29th…

COMEDY

Lead Actor: With Larry David out of the way this year, we have one slot open…a slot that will probably be filled by either Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) or Jason Bateman (Arrested Development). However, this a category that seldom sees much movement so…Alec Baldwin (for his last season), Jim Parsons, Jon Cryer (last year’s winner) and Louie CK remain the four strongest contenders this year. Don Cheadle is very much in the game but…I can’t help thinking that last year might have been a “one time thing.” I guess we’ll see.

Lead Actress: She probably won’t win, but Tina Fey is most definitely getting in for her last season of 30 Rock. Last year’s winner and reliable Emmy favorite Julia Louis Dreyfuss is also in (and might even win again if the rest of season 2 is as good as these first 3 episodes). Parks and Recreation may be losing stock, but the likable Amy Poehler should stick around. And, last, I think America’s sweetheart Lena Dunham should have another chance of Emmy gold after being routinely snubbed last year. There aren’t many new contenders in this category, so we might very well see the same nominations we got last year. Newbie Mindy Kaling could squeeze in though…but again, I’m not considering newbies (not that I that I think she’s much of a lock anyway).

Supporting Actor: Is it too easy to assume that all four Modern Family dudes will be back this year? It’s tough because Arrested Development could bring a couple supporting actors of their own…and that would still be a perfect six. But still…supporting actor is tighter than you may think. I haven’t watched a single episode of MF this year so I have no inkling who’s been standing out. But…I think previous winners Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell are safe. If this is going to be the year that voters think outside the “Modern Family box.” then I believe those two will be left standing.

Supporting Actress: Because there are only two adult women in the Modern Family cast, I think it’ll be easier for Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara to get in easily. As for everyone else? Good luck. If Jane Krakowski hadn’t been egregiously snubbed last year, she would definitely be a lock because it was 30 Rock‘s final season. However, because Emmy voters usually play the “Once you’re out, you’re always out” game, it’ll be a tough road for Jane K. Jessica Walter (AD) may also be a contender and could even win if given the chance. And last year’s surprise nominees Mayim Bialik and Merrit Weaver are still in the game…even though I’m quite confident both will be knocked out come July. (Hey…a Girls gotta eat.)

Series: There are three locks this year: Modern Family because…well…it’s Modern Family, 30 Rock (because their last season was universally acclaimed unlike the last seasons of past Emmy bait shows like Will and Grace. ) and Girls. Everything else is in a bubble. For Veep, it’s too early to say…although I would love to see it get nominated again. For Arrested Development….it’s even more too early because none of the episodes have premiered yet and, well, they could in theory be crap (also, we don’t quite know how voters will react to online television being in contention). Big Bang Theory remains the highest rated comedy on television. I haven’t watched it all this season (actually there are a lot of comedy shows I’ve missed on this season for one reason or another)…but I’ve heard even the most diehard fans say how uneven this season’s been. Louie SHOULD get in…but it’s last 2 (IMO superior) seasons have been snubbed so maybe we should just give it up. It’s also the last season of The Office but…unless the very last episode is spectacular, I’m not seeing right now. And, for the fun of it, let’s not leave out New Girls, Parks and Rec, Episodes, and Enlightened, k?

DRAMA

Lead Actor: The likes of Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) and Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) have been getting a good amount of buzz…but they’re new shows so…Also, The Newsroom is a hella polarizing. Just sayin’. Anyway, I think the magic three (Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Damian Lewis) will pop up. Steve Buscemi is a little shaky just because Boardwalk Empire isn’t a “hot button” show anymore (at least, that’s what it seems like to me…BTW, I don’t follow the show so maybe I’m wrong), but I still think it’s a lock. I think those 4 definitely have a better chance than Hugh Bonneville and Timothy Olyphant. Michael C. Hall will probably get a nomination, but I wouldn’t consider him a lock persay.

Lead Actress: Once again, I’m not going to put Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) on the list because there’s still that slight chance she’ll switch to supporting (thus giving Jessica Pare a better chance to prevail). Who knows what’s up with Moss or her character or how long we’ll follow her this season? So…she’s not a lock. Call me strange but, like Lead Actor, I think there are 4 locks: Julianna Margulies, Claire Danes, Glenn Close (if she could manage a nomination last year, she’ll probably get in again this year for the last season of Damages) and Michelle Dockery (Golden Globe and SAG nominee who definitely stood out this last season of Downton Abbey). With Kathy Bates out, there is pretty much one slot open. Will it go to Kerry Washington? Connie Britton? Jessica Pare? Mariska Hargitay?

Supporting Actor: The Supporting Drama Actor category is looser than a…something that’s loose. Yeah, Aaron Paul and Peter Dinklage are virtual locks. But outside that…it’s anyone’s game. I mean, let’s remember, last year…two guys from Downton Abbey got in. You never know what the voters are thinking. I do believe Mandy Pantinkin (Homeland) and Jonathon Banks (Breaking Bad) are probably the next up…but they’ve never been nominated before [for these roles] so…again…very loose.

Supporting Actress: The Good Wife is in an interesting position. For the last three years, they’ve been able to hold on to those 2 supporting actress slots. But this year their hurt by a couple things. One, is Archie Panjabi’s really bad story line during the 1st half of the season. And two, the show as a whole being snubbed series which signifies that voters may be letting go of the series slowly but surely. Will these otherwise amazing actresses be the next victims? Only time will tell. Right now, they’re not locks. Maggie Smith and Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) definitely are. (Hayden Panettiere FYC).

Series: It’s strange. All 6 nominees from last year could get in this year. In fact, that’s probably what I would predict if I were making a real prediction right now. However, for the sake of me not being bold, I’ll say that the only locks right now are Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and last year’s winner Homeland (even though critics and fans alike were very critical of the latter half of the season). Downton Abbey could be the token period piece / network show this category needs but…I dunno, it’s not everyone’s favorite show. And, hey, The Good Wife could come back and take the spot from Game of Thrones or Boardwalk Empire. Maybe? Probably not. House of Cards, The Newsroom, The Americans, and even Nashville are also contenders. But, again, I think it’ll probably just be the same 6 as last year…

Cool. I got that out of my system. Did I leave out any BIG contenders? Am I underestimating the power of Malibu County? What about Glee? Is that still a thing? Would it be so totally awesome if Shameless got any love besides Joan Cusack? Sound off below.

2013
04/29
CATEGORY
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Favorite Moments of the Golden Globes (+an Update on the State of the Race)


Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I tell you Argo would walk away the big winner? We have to remember, when predicting these awards, that the Hollywood Foreign Press are, well, FOREIGN. So sometimes their winners reflect that. No, there was no way Maggie Smith was going beat Jennifer Lawrence. But I think if the voters had the choice between the “semi-International” Argo and the equally great, but more patriotic Zero Dark Thirty, they would choose Argo. 

For a full list of winners, click here. 

What I wasn’t expecting was Ben Affleck to pick up his second trophy for Direction. And, to a larger extent, I wasn’t expecting Lincoln to be so shut out (The only award it won was the expected Lead Actor in a Drama Movie for Daniel Day Lewis). But, like I mentioned before, Lincoln may be “too American” for the Academy…even if half the actors in the movie arent’t American.

For the most part, I liked a lot of the films/actors who won. Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain. Daniel Day Lewis, and Chrisophe Waltz, all deserved their wins. I feel more ambivalent towards Hugh Jackman and Les Miz beating Bradley Cooper and Silver Linings Playbook but the wins were far from shocking. I was very happy to see Quentin Tarrantino win for his screenplay among a sea of heavy competition. And I think it was cute that Mychael Danna won. I’ve always loved his work…particularly for The Sweet Hereafter and Road to Avonlea among many other things.

So what do these Golden Globes say about the competition for the more important award?:

  1. Daniel Day Lewis and Anne Hathaway are pretty much going to sweep their categories. Anne Hathaway may be on some thin ice because she totally “Kanye West-ed” the producer when he went up to the mic to accept the award for Best Motion Picture. But, I honestly think the only people who will make a really big deal out of that are people who irrationally hated her in the first place.
  2. Supporting Actor is still very much up in the air. Imagine if Leonardo Dicaprio had won. That would have made the race even more exciting. Right now, Waltz, Hoffman and, yes, Jones have a slight bump…but it’s still anyone’s game.
  3. Lead Actress is still “Lawrence vs. Chastain” because they both won their respective categories. And considering Riva wasn’t nominated for the Golden Globes and the SAGs, she is still a very possible dark horse for the Oscar, thanks to the many surprise nominations Amour received.
  4. Best Director is more competitive than ever. I actually hope Ben Affleck wins the DGA…then we’ll really be biting our nails by Oscar night.
  5. For the first time since Driving Miss Daisy, a film (cough cough Argo) could win Best Picture without a Best Director nomination may still win Best Picture. Think about it.

That’s all for now. When the guild awards announce their winners, we may get a better idea as where the buzz is heading.

The TV Awards were a lot less exciting. One, because the Emmys already happened. And two, because the wins were, for the most part, expected. If my #1 prediction didn’t win, you can bet your ass my #2 won. Homeland swept all their categories except Supporting Actor. I have to admit though: the Girls wins were pretty surprising…but not really at the same time. The Globes love new shows and young winners. They killed two birds with one stone.

Last, let’s discuss some moments I loved more than vanilla cream cheese and store brand Wheat Thins.

  • Tina and Amy were amazing hosts. Was there any doubt that they wouldn’t be? That opening was unbelievable…probably the most hilarious opening I have ever seen on an awards show. The jokes aimed at James Cameron and James Franco (theme?) had me go nuts. Their delivery was pitch perfect. I wish they appeared a bit more throught…but, really, that opening monologue was almost too much. Hopefully they’re invited next year. Maybe the Oscars in 2014?
  • Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell presenting Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Movie probably got the biggest laugh out of me. It was essentially “Garth and Kat” + Ferrell, minus Fred Armisen. I just loved it and it sounded like the audience was feeling it also. They essentially did a bit where they pretended to watch all the movies so they would be prepared. They weren’t prepared…
  • Some of the acceptance speeches were really great. Jennifer Lawrence’s was refreshing and funny. Chastain’s was heartfelt and emotional. Anne Hathaway’s mini-tribute to Sally Field was very genuine. I actually like it when someone takes the time to write a speech and read it, so I appreciated Lena Dunham’s (even if I wasn’t too thrilled over her win). Adele’s win was nice. She’s always just…so COCKNEY when she wins an award. It’s hilarious.
  • Jodie Foster’s speech was also very nice. It was rambling. It was slightly confusing and jumbled. It was funny. It was cheeky. It was awkward. It was heartfelt. It was genuine. She came across as completely likeable and…I need to see more of her movies. I heart Flightplan is fun. I absolutely loved this moment.

I dreamed a dream doo doo doo doo

And then I went and had a sandwich.

Anyway, that’s all for now. I actually had a lot of fun watching this ceremony. And, I just gotta say that this is probably the most exciting Oscar season in a while. So…I can’t wait to discuss it more.

Also, yesterday was the blog’s two year anniversary. I decided not to do anything major. I just want to say thank you. Whether you’re a regular or you just happened to stumble upon this blog for the first time…thank you for reading. And here’s to another year!

2013
01/14
CATEGORY
30 rock
academy awards
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70th (2013) Golden Globes Predictions (Television Categories)


game change

Is anyone else completely psyched for this year’s Golden Globes. I don’t necessarily take the actual awards too seriously…but I love the ceremony atmosphere. It’s a lot less stuffy than some of the more “major” awards. It’s just cool seeing drunk celebrities so uninhibited. And as much as I liked Ricky Gervais and his painfully honest commentary, I am balls to the wall excited for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. They are the two funniest women in Hollywood. They’re best friends. I am confident this will be a fun night. But before then, I just GOTTA predict which people will win (and should win). Right now, I’m just going to focus on television. I’ll predict the movie categories after the Oscar nominations are announced Thursday. I know it shouldn’t matter…but it does.

OK…let’s start this thang. The nominations are here.

DRAMA

Series: With Mad Men surprisingly out of the way, this category is down to two strong contenders. The Newsroom is the type of new show that the Globes would probably like to reward, but the negative reviews might turn the Press away. Breaking Bad is a show that was never popular with this awards group. It’s weird how this was the show’s first nomination. And, let’s face it, no one really talks about Boardwalk Empire anymore. So, it’s last year’s winner Homeland vs. last year’s winner Downton Abbey. According to many fans and critics alike, both shows have gone through “sophomore slumps” in their second seasons. Nonetheless, they’re both front runners, and I think these mostly foreign voters will want to vote for the sophisticated British drama: Downton Abbey.

(However, I believe Breaking Bad should win to make up for all those times it was snubbed an nomination (Also, my opinion on the second season of Homeland might have changed a bit since my “Top 10 TV Shows” article from a few days back.))

Actor: Again, if The Newsroom had gotten better reviews, I’d feel tempted to predict Jeff Daniels. But, I think this time, the voters won’t vote for the “new nominee.” Clearly the HFPA doesn’t love Mad Men anymore so I don’t see Jon Hamm prevailing. And, again, no one really talks about Boardwalk Empire. So, similar to the Emmys, it’s Cranston vs. Lewis. The HFPA have had so many chances to give Bryan Cranston the award. I don’t think it’s going to happen this year. I think recent Emmy winner Damien Lewis will win.

(And, I think Damien Lewis should win. He was really great this year. Bryan Cranston winning would be fine, if only to make up for the past years snubs.)

Actress: Like I’ve mentioned before, the Golden Globes really love awarding the new underdog, with or without Emmys. That’s why the likes of Anna Paquin and Katey Sagal have won the years before. So, yeah, Connie Britton and Michelle Dockery have a chance. However, the HFPA’s love for Claire Danes is undeniable (she has never lost a Golden Globe before). So, I think she’ll just win this one again.

(Claire Danes is a worthy winner, but, for the sake of spreading the wealth, I’d like to see Michelle Dockery nab the prize this time. Julianna Margulies has also had a great year. I love Connie Britton, but her story line in Nashville is the most boring.)

COMEDY

Series: This is a toughie for me. I think it’s safe to say Big Bang Theory and Smash are out. The Golden Globes clearly like Episodes - Matt LeBlanc won last year. Modern Family seems to win everything nowadays. And Girls is a new, critically acclaimed show – the type of show that voters would like. Hm…I think MF has run its course. Episodes will win. (So, if things go according to plan, British shows will win for Drama and Comedy.)

(I’m hoping Episodes win. It’s the only show in this lineup that I would have personally nominated.)

Actor: Alec Baldwin could get a “goodbye” win…but I think the voters’ ambivalence towards the show as a whole is holding Baldwin back. This is Louis CK’s first nomination…I think the nomination is the award for him. In short, I think this will be a good night for Matt LeBlanc and he’ll win again. He should watch for Don Cheadle though.

(Honestly…anyone but Jim Parsons. I’m rooting for Louis CK’s the most.)

Actress: It’s the dueling hosts – Amy vs. Tina! Just kidding. It’s really Lena Dunham vs. Julia Louis Dreyfus. The Golden Globes like cable comedies. They like young women. I think first timer Lena Dunham will prevail and win her first major award.

(Hm…I think Tina Fey is the best of these ladies. But, at the same time, seeing Amy Poehler finally win an award would be beautiful.)

TV MOVIE/MINISERIES

TV Movie/Miniseries: The Golden Globes usually just copy off the Emmys…even if there are new contenders. Game Change‘s only real competition is Hatfields and McCoys.

(Having not seen The Girl, Political Animals or the second season of The Hour, I have no choice but to root for Game Change.)

Actor: This category is pretty much out in the air. Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock is a strong contender, but I’m going to predict Kevin Costner this time for Hatfields and McCoys. 

(I think Cumberbatch should win. I really like Woody Harrelson though. It’s sad that he doesn’t get much credit for Game Change.

Actress: Jessica Lange won a Golden Globe last year for American Horror Story. She could very well win again for this second season. However, like I mentioned before, the Golden Globes usually just award the person who won the Emmy. So I think Julianne Moore will win for her wonderful Sarah Palin performance in Game Change.

(Yeah, Julianne Moore FTW.)

SUPPORTING PERFORMERS

Actor: The supporting categories are always a crapshoot. Besides Danny Huston for Magic City, any of these men have a chance. Eric Stonestreet won the Emmy last fall, while Max Greenfield and Ed Harris were nominated. However, Mandy Patinkin had a stand out role in this season’s Homeland. If the voters love Homeland, they watched this season. And if they were as impressed with his performance as everyone else was, then I think they’ll award him along with his two co-stars. It’s anyone’s game though.

(I think Mandy Patinkin is the most deserving (If Aaron Paul had been nominated, then we’d be having a different discussion.). If Eric Stonestreet wins, I’ll lose it.)

Actress: Without Jessica Lange in her way, this is Maggie Smith‘s to lose.

(Honestly, this is the one category where I really like all the nominees. However…a little part of me is rooting for Hayden Panettiere of Nashville. Yeah, is she really supporting? Who knows? She’s still really good and has sort of become a breakout this season. I hope she’s nominated for an Emmy)

So…that’s it. Stay tuned for my movie predictions which I’ll either have posted on the night of the 10th…or early 11th. Thanks for reading!

2013
01/08
CATEGORY
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breaking bad
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My 10 Favorite Television Programs of 2012


I decided not to title this article “Ten BEST Shows of 2012″ because, honestly, there are still a few shows I haven’t watched yet…most notably American Horror Story. I really liked the first season. And although that first season probably wouldn’t have made my top 10 last year, I still think it’s worth noting that I would probably enjoy the show this season and that it would probably be a contender for my top 10.

Anyway, let’s go through the top 10 (separated by comedy and drama), and afterwards I’ll list a couple honorable mentions…

COMEDY:

5. ANT Farm - On this blog, I’ve discussed my adoration for kids shows like iCarly and Good Luck Charlie. (Both shows are definitely part of my honorable mention list). iCarly had a really nice series finale…however, most fans admit that the show had been getting worse and worse. However, a new generation of kids shows have surprisingly been holding up…and the best of the shows is definitely ANT Farm. The show stars musical prodigy China Anne McClain, and is about a bunch of young high schoolers who are part of a gifted program at their school. This show is actually very funny and if people actually looked past the “Disney Channel” label and gave it chance, they would crack up more than once. Also, China Anne McClain is more talented than Selenademimileyhilary and all the others IMO.

Standout episode: “fANTasy Girl” (Watch the episode twice!)

4. Episodes - This second season wasn’t as fresh and hilarious as its first season (last year it was my number 1 show). Nonetheless, this show still easily finds a spot in my top 5 comedies. This season took off from where the last one left us. The show did a good job dealing with Sean and Beverly’s separation. We saw them struggle with their marriage and also their show which didn’t do too well in the ratings. We also saw Joey deal with getting old and see him reflect sadly on his “Friends” day. Once again, this show does a good job balancing slightly raunchy humor with some realy poignant stuff. And I am definitely looking forward to the next season.

Standout episode: “Episode Nine” (This show is good with finales).

3. The New Normal - Book of Mormon is literally one of the best musicals of the last few years, so, naturally, I was very excited that Andrew Rannells had a new comedy show (esp. considering how hilarious he was in Girls). I really like this show. Yeah, some people think the show is too preachy. I dunno…I feel like we need shows like this. There are people out there who are still disappointingly racist and homophobic, so I don’t mind watching a show that stresses the importance of tolerance and acceptance. I think Rannells and Justin Bartha have great chemistry together. And, I don’t watch much cable reality television, but I have such a soft spot for Nene Leakes. IMO, her character is a better foil for the main characters than Ellen Barkin’s. This is the only new fall comedy that I watch religiously.

Standout episode: “Sofa’s Choice” (Shania as Little Edie was enough for me to get hooked onto this show.

2. 30 Rock - Here comes the waterworks! I’ve mentioned on this blog many times how much I love this show. I pretty much plan on writing another article towards the end of the show’s run. So, I’m not going to delve too deeply on my love for this show. However, season 7, in particular, has been great so far. And if things go according to plan, season 7 could end up being the show’s strongest season ever. Jane Krakowski has been a stand out. I’m really going to miss the show when it ends in January.

Stand out episode: “Mazel Tov Dummies” (Liz and Criss’s wedding made me crack up and cry at the same time.)

1. Veep - This eight episode first season has been pitch perfect. The first time I watched the season, I loved it. The second time I watched it, I appreciated the swift writing even more. This show is similar to 30 Rock in that there’s a joke every ten seconds. And most of the jokes are just hilarious. This show has one of the sharpest casts on television. I think it’s a little ridiculous  that people only focus on Julia Louis Dreyfuss, when Anna Chlumsky and Tony Hale also give great performances (which is why I’m glad The Emmys gave us a surprise and nominated the show as a whole along with the lead actress.) I like Girls alot…but this show deserves much more attention.

Stand out episode: “Baseball” (really all of them…but this episode is just the bees knees).

game change

DRAMA:

5. Game Change - The thing I really like about this TV movie is that it really paints a sympathetic portrait of the Republican party. Despite what the people at Fox News thinks, this movie isn’t completely scathing towards Palin orMcCain. I mean, yeah, it does point out how unqualified Palin would have been for the job (and how McCain tried to manipulate the public by choosing her in the first place). But, I left the movie not hating them…but feeling sorry for them. Maybe if I had known how much these people were struggling/hurting, I would have voted for McCain (jk…seriously…jk). Anyway, Julianna Moore gives a great performance and she won her Emmy fair and square with her pitch perfect Sarah Palin impression.

4. Breaking Bad - I really don’t think the producers should have split the last season in half. I would have rather waited 2 years for 16 episodes in a row, then watch 8 episodes a year. As much as I loved this season, I felt like it was mostly set up for the last 8 episodes next summer. This is the same problem The Sopranos had during their last season (although, because The Sopranos is more anthological, it worked better). This show is obviously still in my top 10 because it still remains one of the best shows on television. But…there are three drama shows I liked more this year. Bryan Cranston, Anna Gun and Aaron Paul still continue to do great work. And Jonathan Banks deserves an Emmy nomination next year.

Stand out episode: “Fifty-One” (the fight between Walter and Skyler was wild).

3. Homeland - This has become the show people love to hate apparently. Yes, towards the end of the season, the show became a bit ridiculous and implausible. But…I never got into this show because it was “realistic”. I got into this show because it was exciting and because I constantly anticipated what happened next. This show constantly surprised and I watched every episode on the edge of my seat. That’s mostly what I look for in a show like this. So…despite what others think, this show has not jumped the shark and I’m already looking forward to the third season (because I have no idea what they plan on doing with Brody). Mandy Patinkin CHALLA BREAD!

Stand out episode: “Q and A” (for obvious reasons).

2. The Good Wife - This technically still remains my favorite dramatic show. The show is just slick and sly, with fast paced editing and sharp characterization and performances. The show constantly makes me laugh and keeps me intrigued. Julianna Margulies continues to be a great leading lady and anchors the cast well. I’ve also really enjoyed the addition of Amanda Peet as a military lawyer who works for the DA’s office after losing her rape trial. The thing that’s preventing this show from being number 1 is the really terrible Kalinda story line this fall.  Luckily, the producers got rid of it and still have a chance to fully redeem season 4.

Stand out episode: “Another Ham Sandwich”

3. Shameless - The more I think about this show, the more I love it. It’s just such a messy, crazy, imperfect show with a great cast and crazier story lines. And, yeah, this show has so many “funny” moments that it could be counted as a comedy. But what really draws me to this show is the heartbreaking drama, particularly anything having to do with the mother (her suicide attempt was cray!)Karen’s birthing episode was also pretty dramatic, especially the scenes where she tries to get her mother (Joan Cusack) to not adopt the baby. Overall, I love this show with a passion and if no other critic is going to acknowledge it…then I will!

Standout episode: “Just Like the Pilgrims Intended”

Other honorable mentions go to: Mad Men (I just couldn’t fit it into my top 10), Louie, New Girl, Dance Moms, Saturday Night Live, Grey’s Anatomy, and Bob’s Burgers.

I also have to give a special shout out to Downton Abbey. Season three was really great this season and if it had already aired in America this year, it would have definitely made my top 10. But…I ultimately decided not to include the season this year. But look for it next year. I can’t wait until the rest of America watches it (y’know, the part of the population that’s never heard of Sceper).

OK! What’s in your top 10! Thanks for reading and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2012
12/25
CATEGORY
30 rock
breaking bad
children's tv
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2012 Emmys Recap!


So…that just happened. Can I be honest? Between late July and now, my interest level in the Emmys have dropped considerably. Like I came into this ceremony not really caring about…anything. I suppose that’s a good thing because there were one too many “wasted wins”. So…congrats you rich celebs! Let’s just go through this…THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY!

THE GOOD

  • The following wins: Damian Lewis (I was hoping Bryan Cranston would make history but Lewis was my second choice and it’s nice seeing an underdog win), Homeland (again, I was technically rooting for Breaking Bad, but, by golly, this was a spectacular first season and I’m glad something beat Mad Men this year. Proud of the cast and crew.)
  • I actually liked the opening video. It was kind of cool seeing a nominated actress pop up, one after the other. Seeing a nude Lena Dunham eat cake in a stall was…interesting. And I did have a pretty big LOL moment when Heidi, Howie, Tom, Ryan and Jeff popped up said they would host the show. It wasn’t as great as Jane Lynch’s last year. And it doesn’t even come close to the likes of Jimmy Fallon’s or Conan O’Brien’s…but I guess I have to appreciate the fact that Jimmy didn’t piggyback off those past hosts and do a song or put himself in other shows. It was a short and sweet opening.
  • Louis CK winning two Emmys. That was nice. He won his first Emmy for writing which was a slight disappointment considering I thought the script he submitted was pretty weak compared to some of the others. But Louie CK writes every episode on his show so I’ll say this Emmy represents his solid work along the season. I’m just glad he walked away with an Emmy. It would have been tragic if he had been snubbed this year.
  • Sofia Vergara happily chanting “BRAVO!!” to her co-star Julie Bowen after she won, showing how great of a sport Vergara is. I suspect her time will come soon.
  • During the “Best Direction in a Comedy Series” clip package, the directors are asked who make the best directors. Lena Dunham’s “Jewish Men?” had me chuckle.
  • Despite the fact that I was pretty angry with Modern Family dominating again, their clip package involving a badass Lily was funny. Funniest quip: “Can anyone understand what [Sofia Vergara's] saying?”
  • Melissa McCarthy going over the Lead Actors in a Comedy Series (Alec Baldwin has great chest hair, Jim Parsons is smooth like a baby.) She’s such a funny lady on such an unfunny TV show!

THE BAD

  • The following wins: Eric Stonestreet (although his slight pro-gay rights message was appreciated), Julie Bowen (which means Kristen Wiig has ZERO Emmys for her work on SNL. ZERO!!!), Steve Levitan for Directing in a Comedy Series, Modern Family (so, yeah, pretty much anything having to do with Modern Family), Jon Cryer (although his utter disbelief didn’t make the whole moment seem too terrible), Maggie Smith (she’s excellent on Downton Abbey, but in such a strong year for supporting actresses, did she really need another Emmy?), Kevin Costner (Really? Really.),

THE UGLY

  • Last year’s Emmys was so great because they had these beautifully edited clip packages for all the actors nominated. This year, they had nothing for the comedy actors, and barely anything for the drama/Movie actors. C’mon! Remind us one last time why these actors are great!

AND THE OUTSTANDING

  • The following wins: Aaron “Freakin’” Paul!!! (Deserved a second win through and through! I love how passionate and intense his speeches are. As great as Esposito is, I don’t think he should win just because his character dies), Claire Danes (“Mandy Patinkin. HOLLA!”), Julianna Moore (and pretty much all the love Game Change got was fantastic)
  • Y’know, I was really rooting for Amy Poehler to finally get a golden baby, but I absolutely adore Veep and I think Julia Louis Dreyfuss was still deserving. That little skit she created with Amy Poehler was hilarious and genius and was definitely the brightest moment of the entire night. Amy Poehler continues to have such a great attitude despite her continual losses. Let’s cross our fingers for next year.
  • Again, Jon Stewart’s 10th win was pretty disappointing. What made it better was Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert pulling Stewart back to prevent him from getting on the stage. And what followed was a pretty earnest speech from Stewart, giving props to all the other nominees in particular. I don’t think Jon Stewart should pull a “Candice Bergen” and drop out of the race, but I really hope next year someone new can win. I hope this every year and it never happens!

Overall, I can’t say this was a great Emmy night. It was so-so. Some great funny little bits, a couple deserving winners, a few undeserving ones. Jimmy Kimmel was a fun host, but I think he could have been better. But…who am I kidding? I’m just glad this is all over! Goodnight!

2012
09/24
CATEGORY
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FINAL 2012 EMMY PREDICTIONS + Reviewing the Comedy Series and Drama Series nominations


For more Emmy discussion, visit my Emmy page.

First things first, I want to apologize for kind of forgetting about this blog for the last few weeks. The truth is, I have just begun my senior year of college, and I haven’t had much time to even speculate over the Emmys. I was really hoping I would do more categories this year. I even watched all the nominees for Animated Program and Voice Over Program…but I simply didn’t have the energy to finish what I started. I’m happy that I at least covered all the “major” categories. That was my main goal. So…no regrets…but still disappointed.

So this will be my final post before the big night(s), so I’m just going to squish everything on one page. Let’s start with figuring who I think will win. In my “Reviewing the Nominees” posts, I only revealed who I thought SHOULD win. Now is the time to buck up and make real objective predictions. Let’s do this!:

(Of course, I won’t be predicting anything from the Creative Arts Emmys because those are taking place as I type this. Again…sorry!)

Movie/Minseries - I think the political drama Game Change will prevail. It’s a short movie that most voters have probably seen.

Lead Actor in a Movie - I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Bill Paxton will win for Hatfields & McCoys beating his more famous co-star, the same way Barry Pepper beat Greg Kinnear last year. (Bill Paxton gave the stronger performance of the two the same way Pepper did.)

Lead Actress in a Movie – Julianna Moore all the way.

Supporting Actor in a Movie - Hm…I think Ed Harris will take this for Game Change as well…

Supporting Actress in a Movie – I want it to be Sarah Paulson so bad but…Jessica Lange has been the front runner since she won the Golden Globe earlier this year.

I pretty much also think Game Change will take awards for Writing and Directing.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Bryan Cranston (6 for 6, baby! 6 for 6!)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series - This is Claire Danes to lose. If both Jon Hamm and Elizabeth Moss couldn’t win last year, I don’t think either of them have a chance this year.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Nope. Not Giancarlo. It’s gonna be Aaron Paul all the way. I can feel it. I can feel it in my loins.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Downton Abbey can’t walk away empty handed, so I think Maggie Smith will unfortunately beat Christina Hendricks.

Directing for a Drama Series - The Emmys love pilots, which is why I’m tempted to go with Homeland…but Breaking Bad’s “Face Off” was the most talked about episode of the year.

Writing for a Drama Series - What a toughie. I’m going to have to go with… the Homeland pilot. 

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Louis CK is well respected in Hollywood, but after Jim Parsons beat Steve Carell last year…it would be silly not to predict him again.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Amy Poehler’s not going to win. Let’s just prepare for it now. The plucky Zooey Deschanel wouldn’t be such a bad pick however.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Jesse Tyler Ferguson from Modern Family. He had a stand out year, and I think voters will eventually want the whole cast to win.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - I only have one more chance to do this…so I might as well do it now: Kristen Wiig

Directing for a Comedy Series - Louis CK. He can’t go home empty handed again. I think this will be the category where he will prevail.

Writing for a Comedy Series - Lena Dunham for the same reason I had for Louie CK.

The Amazing Race and The Daily Show will win their respective categories for the billionth year.

For the full nominees for all these categories, plus more detailed takes on the categories (along with my choices as to who SHOULD WIN…visit my EMMY PAGE.

OK! The next (and more important) part of this post is my views of the Drama Series and Comedy Series nominations.

Here are the nominees for Best Drama Series:

Boardwalk Empire

Mad Men

Game of Thrones

Breaking Bad

Homeland

Downton Abbey

Who Should Win: Of these nominees, there are four shows I love and watch, and two shows I care little about. While I recognize that Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire are beautiful, well made, well written shows with dedicated fan bases (particularly GoT)…the shows have never really caught my interest. BE is just a little too slow for my taste…the exciting moments are too far in between. And, more than anything, the subject matter never initially interested me…and sadly the show didn’t make me more interested. As for GoT…I’ve never really been a fan of genre television. It’s not my style. So I can’t pretend I’d be happy if either of these shows won.

I have to admit, I’ve grown to love Downton Abbey. I know I was quite ambivalent about the show during the 1st season…and I wouldn’t say the 2nd season is BETTER…but the 2nd season definitely, for some reason, made me understand what has drawn people to the show. I STILL think Mildred Pierce is a much better program…but I genuinely do enjoy this show and I am so looking forward to the 3rd season (which I will be watching tomorrow…no matter what…not waiting for PBS). On the other hand, Mad Men is a show I’ve always liked, that gets better and better with every season. Season 5 was just so amazing with stand out episode after the other. I still don’t think Mad Men is the best drama on TV…and I never have. But I appreciate the show for at least improving, something even the best shows fail to do…

Homeland was the surprise hit of the season…and I was certainly surprised at how much I loved show and how engaged I was while watching the episodes. I never thought I would love a military thriller…but this show definitely caught my attention. I’m very glad it got all the attention it did. However…it’s been too long…Breaking Bad has to win. It was the most talked about show last year. And I feel like so many people discovered this show and watched it from the beginning because of the sheer awesomeness of this season. It would be a shame in 10 years to look back and realize that we never awarded this great drama. We’re doing it right now with The Wire. Let’s not make the same mistake with Breaking Bad.

Last Good Wife shout out: The Good Wife is better than all these shows.

Who Will Win: Mad Men. Sigh…just…sigh.

Here are the nominees for Best Comedy Series: 

30 Rock

Modern Family

The Big Bang Theory

Girls

Veep

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Who Should Win: This is a category that always pisses a lot of people off. It just shows how strong the comedies are lately. We truly are living in a golden age. However…I will confidently say that I would replace Modern Family, Big Bang Theory and Girls with Parks and Recreation, New Girl, and Louie among others. Sorry! Just sayin’. Girls had a really solid first season. I truly did look forward to new episodes…and I’m looking forward to the next season. But Lena Dunham is still a very green writer and actor. I just feel like voters, in nominating this show, were rewarding the young person’s accomplishments and not the actual product. Girls was simply not among the top 6 this year. Plain fact. The other two shows are similarly overrated. I used to LOVE The Big Bang Theory…I still really like it. But (kill me) I truly believe 2 Broke Girls has more heart and funnier jokes (neither shows deserve recognition…but if a multi-camera sitcom had to win…) And Modern Family is cute…but it’s not terribly edgy and there’s very little development. I hope they step it up next year.

30 Rock is my favorite show but it’s won 3 times…so I don’t really need to see it win again. I mean, I would be happy for the show…but I don’t think it’s a necessary win. At this point, people aren’t going to like the show any more or less. The same technically could be said for Curb…but the show HAS NEVER won. And, as someone who has started getting into the show, I think it would be cool if they finally did. I mean, “Palestinian Chicken” is just a perfect 30 minutes of television. However, my vote would definitely go to Veep, a thoroughly underrated show that cracks me up every third line spoken. I just don’t know how they come up with such funny dialogue and situations. If an Emmy win means more people will give this gem a chance, then I am ALL FOR IT.

Who Will Win: Modern Family.

So…that’s as much as I can do. I’ll see you all next week and I definitely plan on recapping the ceremony and reviewing the winners and all that jazz. Thanks for reading!

 

2012
09/15
CATEGORY
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emmy awards
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nominations
predictions
reflection
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