Archive for the ‘ snubbed ’ Category

2013 Emmy Predictions (Top Contenders) – Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series


anna chlumsky veep

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 Actress in a Comedy Series. In alphabetical order…

1. mayim bialik (the big bang theory): PRO: Last year, she earned her first nomination in what was a minor shock. This year, with two slots “open” in this category, she could definitely find herself back. For one reason or another, I didn’t watch the show this season, but I do believe, based on the last season, she definitely elevated the show and made it funnier. In short – if voters still love the show, they’ll still love her. CON: But if the voters decide they no longer support the show, then I think she’d be hanging on by a thread.

2. julie bowen (modern family): PRO: She won in this category the last two years. There’s no way she’s going to suddenly be dropped after winning the two previous years. CON: But then there was Jeremy Piven who was completely dropped after three wins in a row. As Mary Poppins sings, “Anything can happen…”

3. anna chlumsky (veep): PRO: As the level headed VP’s chief of staff, Chlumsky plays the role with such control and adept comic timing. With more and more people appreciating the show, I could see voters looking beyond Julia-Louis Dreyfuss and giving one of her co-stars a supporting nomination. In that case, I think Chlumsky has the strongest chance in this relatively wide open category. CON: Worst case scenario – the voters won’t be able to look past JLD.

4. kaley cuoco (the big bang theory): PRO: Despite the additions of Bialik and Melissa Rauch, Cuoco still sort of remains the “female face” of the show. Although Jim Parsons has become the show’s MVP, I think some of the show’s growing success should also be credited towards Cuoco, who plays her “dumb blonde” character with such enthusiasm and earnestness. CON: However, in the show’s six seasons, she’s never gotten a nomination. It’s admittedly silly that I still consider her a “top contender” when other people who have actually gotten nominations aren’t anymore…

5. sarah hyland (modern family): PRO: Like I did with “Supporting Actor,” I’ve decided to include the kids here because I think the show’s popular enough for even them to be serious contenders. However, this was honestly started because at this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards (which should really be called “The Underrated Awards”), Hyland was the only part of Modern Family that received a nomination. So…I dunno, are people beginning to look past age and notice her as a worthy nominee? CON: Critics don’t vote for the Emmys.

6. jane krakowski (30 rock): PRO: The biggest disappointment from last year were the voters snubbing Jane K. After three nominations in a row, Krakowski was passed over despite being the funniest thing about season 6 of 30 Rock. However, with this being 30 Rock‘s last season (and with Jenna getting one of the final moments of the series, singing a hilarious rendition of “Rural Juror”), I could see Krakowski overcoming the “once you’re out, you’re out” rule and getting one last chance to submit an episode. CON: After her snub last year (and never winning before then), I’m not sure if the voters have much regard for Krakowski. I could see this going either way.

7. kate mckinnon (saturday night live): PRO: Kristen Wiig was nominated the last four years in this category. With her out of the way this year, there is an open spot…and that spot could easily go to another SNL player. While Nasim and Vanessa are main cast members,  those two didn’t have the impact that would get them noticed. That’s where featured player Kate McKinnon would come in. Dubbed as the “next Kristen Wiig” because her wide array of impression and eccentricities, I believe she has the best chance at continuing the “Supporting Actress SNL” legacy that Amy Poehler started. CON: But, at the same time, she’s only a featured player. And in terms of screen time, she hasn’t stood out the same way Wiig did. This will be tough for her.

8. cecily strong (saturday night live): PRO: If there’s been a surprise this SNL season, it has been Strong’s coming of age. Very quickly, she fit right in the cast; and by the end of the season, she was the “go to female” for many of the sketches. Her breakout sketches were definitely “Girl You Wish…” spots she had during Weekend Update. She has proven herself to be a versatile cast member and has a lot of people (including me) rooting for her. CON: Let’s face it, even if the voters consider giving a spot to one of the SNL ladies…it’ll only be one of them. So…which one? Which one?

9. sofia vergara (modern family): PRO: Although she hasn’t won an Emmy, she must be pretty pleased with her three nominations + a bundle of nominations from other notable award shows, including The Golden Globes. She’s also the face of every product in America, appearing in over 100 commercials a year (OK, I made that statistic up, but, still, she is EVERYWHERE.) People love her. She’s in. CON: I think…Julie Bowen has a better chance at a nomination than her. That doesn’t matter because…most voters will naturally find space for both of them.

10. jessica walter (arrested development): PRO: While reviews for the show have been mixed, many have been impressed with how quickly Walter slipped into the role of Lucille Bluth after a 7 year break. She won an Emmy in 1975 and was nominated three times afterwards, with her latest nomination being for the second season of Arrested Development. I could definitely see her getting in, even if the show doesn’t receive widespread awards support. CON: However, she wasn’t nominated for the 1st and 3rd seasons of AD, so her record is spotty at best. Maybe she’ll get a nod for her voice work on Archer instead. Shrug!

11. merritt wever (nurse jackie): PRO: After two years of being snubbed, Wever received her first nomination last year; this shows that she’s always been an “under the radar” contender and that I grossly misjudged her chances (she was a “long shot” last year when I was doing this) . Not anymore! I don’t know if she’ll receive another nomination, but clearly she has fans with the Academy and clearly she will get a substantial amount of voters. CON: I’ve heard rumblings that this season didn’t live up to the overall excellent fourth one. If that’s true then…[holds onto collar in a nervous manner.]

12. betty white (hot in cleveland): PRO: The Awards favorite has a bundle of nominations and 5 wins. She received a nomination for this show a couple years ago. And then last year she received a nomination for “Outstanding Host,” presumably getting a nomination over “four times in a row” winner Jeff Probst. It seems like she always has to be nominated for something every year so…maybe it’ll be this show again. She’s also won two SAGs and was nominated for a third one which shows widespread support among the actors in the Academy. CON: She wasn’t nominated for Hot in Cleveland last year. Maybe the “raunchy grandma” routine is getting old to some people?

13. allison williams (girls): PRO: If Girls is going to receive acting nominations outside Lena Dunham, then I think Adam Driver and Allison Williams have the strongest chance. Williams’s character felt more fleshed out this second time around, mostly because her story lines were away from Hannah’s (Lena Dunham). Also her performance of “Stronger” may have impressed voters. CON: Similar to Driver’s “CON,” Allison Williams doesn’t have a very funny character. Actually, she may be the most serious character on the show.

14. ariel winter (modern family): PRO: Winter is growing up – it’s as simple as that. Also between her personal issues (which I won’t go into) and her new animated show on Disney, she’s getting a lot of exposure outside Modern Family. That will only help her out. CON: The Emmys just don’t nominate kids. It was worth a try though.

Other strong contenders: Ellen Barkin (The New Normal), Diane Ladd (Enlightened), Cloris Leachman (Raising Hope), Jane Lynch (Glee), Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleveland), Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), Hannah Simone (New Girl)

Long shots worth considering: Kristen Bell (House of Lies), Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland), Conchata Ferrell (Two and a Half Men), Jenna Fischer (The Office), Ellie Kemper (The Office), Jemima Kirke (Girls), Jane Leeves (Hot in Cleveland), Zosia Mamet (Girls)

Even longer shots I recommend checking out: Sufe Bradshaw (Veep), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia), Tamsin Greig (Episodes), Angela Kinsey and Phyllis Smith (The Office), Retta (Parks and Recreation), Maya Rudolph (Up All Night), Amy Schumer (Amy Schumer), Eden Sher (The Middle), Casey Wilson (Happy Endings), Bebe Wood (The New Normal)

2013
06/18
CATEGORY
30 rock
awards
emmy awards
emmys
glee
nominations
predictions
reflection
review
saturday night live
SNL
snubbed
television
tv
TAGS









2 comments

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
awards
breaking bad
drama
emmy awards
emmys
nominations
predictions
reflection
review
snubbed
television
the good wife
tv
TAGS









2 comments

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


girls adam driver

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 Comedy Series. In alphabetical order…

1. will arnett (arrested development): PRO: He’s been nominated for five Emmys, four of those being for his guest role on 30 Rock, and one for Arrested Development‘s “last” season. Voters clearly know who he is and enjoy his work. CON: There are a couple cons, though. One, he’s been a regular on THREE series since Arrested Development ended, but he’s only gotten Emmy recognition for 30 Rock. So…he probably has a better chance getting one last guest nomination for 30 Rock, than a nomination for this more crowded “Modern Family-loving” category. And, second…the divorce from Amy Poehler. Just sayin’…some friends of Amy Poehler may not want to vote for him. Ridiculous, but possible.

2. ty burrell (modern family): PRO: He’s been nominated the last three years, winning for his second. He’s also been nominated for the  SAGs and Golden Globes among other things. I think he and Eric Stonestreet have the best chance at staying another year among the males on the show. CON: …and I think Eric Stonestreet has a better chance than Ty Burrell when it comes to being nominated again. So there’s that!

3. adam driver (girls): PRO: Adam Driver is arguably the best actor (male or female) on Girls. I mean, he went to Juilliard! I think Driver has done some really deep and interesting things with a character that could have been expendable. And with Girls itself getting a lot of Emmy buzz, Driver could benefit from the show’s predicted domination. CON: He hasn’t been nominated for anything so far, although it’s still pretty early for him. Also…his character isn’t really “funny.” For voters who like their comedy contenders to make them laugh (and not be “rapey”), Driver wouldn’t be their ideal candidate.

4. jesse tyler ferguson (modern family): PRO: He was nominated for the last three seasons. While I didn’t much care for him or his character in the beginning of the first season, I think Ferguson has come to his own and is making a bigger impression with every episode. Also, he’s just a friendly personality and seems to be really popular. Take his recent appearance at this year’s Tonys. CON: Besides a recent People Choice Award nomination, he’s never really been nominated for anything outside the Emmys. I’ve made this claim the last three years and he still keeps getting nominated so…screw it! He’s in.

5. nolan gould (modern family): PRO: I think the kids are becoming old enough to be serious Emmy contenders. I mean, honestly, I think 4 of the 6 slots will be filled by the Modern Family men so there’s no point highlighting too many actors outside the show. Uh…where was I going with this? Yeah, Gould is a contender. Congratulations! CON: The Emmys don’t like kids. Unless your character has been molested by Ted Danson or you’re Anne Frank, it’s hard for someone under the age of 21 to get a nomination.

6. max greenfield (new girl): PRO: Earned his first nomination last year. New Girl continues to be a hit with audiences and critics. And even though Jake Johnson has gotten a lot of praise, people still seem to love Schmidt (also, who cares? Jake Johnson is competing in lead which moreso helps Greenfield). Also, Greenfield in a fat suit = Emmy gold. CON: I didn’t watch every episode of New Girl this season, but it doesn’t seem like Greenfield’s character did as much as he did during the first season. He could be passed over for a newer contender.

7. bill hader (saturday night live): PRO: Earned a semi-surprising Emmy nomination last season after 6 years of being snubbed. Between the legendary “Puppet sketch” and the fact that it’s his last season, he has a great chance of repeating for one last chance at Emmy gold. CON: Again, his nomination last year sort of came out of nowhere. This is the year where we’ll find out whether his nomination was a fluke or not. (I hope not because think he was deserving last season and he would be deserving this year.)

8. taran killam (saturday night live): PRO: With this being his first year as a full cast member, he has broken out as one of the show’s most reliable cast members, with a slew of impressive impressions…or what I like to call: impressions. (Puns!) Anyway, voters seem to like SNL cast members (Poehler, Wiig, Hader). I could see Killam, as the show’s new alpha-male, joining that list. CON: Once Hader, Armisen, and maybe even Sudeikis, leave the show next season, I could see Killam standing out even more, thus having a better chance at getting a nomination.

9. ed o’neill (modern family): PRO: Although he was shockingly snubbed during the show’s first year, he’s been redeemed with receiving two nominations afterwards. How many more ways are there to say “The Emmys love Modern Family”? CON: His character isn’t as flamboyant or “out there” as the others. His character is very grounded (from what I’ve noticed). Older voters may appreciate him…but will the younger ones be entertained?

10. rico reodriguez (modern family): PRO: Because at this point, he has a better f@#kin’ chance at getting in than Nick Offerman. CON: The “kid thing” I mentioned earlier. Also…I just think after the first season, the novelty his character had became less interesting. JMO. He probably deserved a nomination for the show’s first season. After that? Eh…

11. eric stonestreet (modern family): PRO: He’s been nominated the last three years. He won for the show’s first season and, again (against most predictions) for the third season. Also, his cameo in Identity Thief may give him more visibility. He’s a crazy, fun character and, for better or worse, he’s memorable. CON: The character’s lack of nuance or subtlety may - who am I kidding? It’s comedy! People love his shtick!

12. jeffrey tambor (arrested development): PRO: He’s been nominated for six Emmys, including two for Arrested Development. AD has gotten so much buzz that one of the supporting actors are bound to get in. Just…which one? CON: Based on pure name recognition, Tambor could get in. However…let’s be honest, his two episodes this season were probably the weakest. I believe there are more deserving supporting actors from the show (like Will Arnett). Maybe I’m not alone in this.

Other strong contenders: Fred Armisen (SNL or Portlandia), Michael Cera (Arrested Development), Chris Colfer (Glee), David Cross (Arrested Development), Tony Hale (Veep), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory), Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), Jason Sudeikis (SNL)

Long shots worth considering: Ed Helms (The Office), Alex Karpovsky (Girls), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Chris Messina (The Mindy Project), Tracy Jordan (30 Rock), Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory), Mike White (Enlightened), Rainn Wilson (The Office)

Even longer shots I recommend checking out: Doesn’t Scott Adsit (30 Rock) finally deserve some recognition? Also: Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele (Key and Peele), Stephen Mangan (Episodes), Garrett Morris (2 Broke Girls), Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, and Matt Walsh (Veep), Kenan Thompson (SNL), James Van Der Beek (Don’t Trust the B…)

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
06/16
CATEGORY
30 rock
awards
emmy awards
emmys
glee
nominations
predictions
reflection
review
snubbed
television
tv
TAGS









3 comments

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


tina fey 30 rock

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 Comedy Series. In alphabetical order…

1. portia de rossi (arrested development): PRO: She is the only person on this show who submitted in this category. So, if the voters decide to really embrace Arrested Development, then she might actually get swept up in the buzz. Yes, she’s never been nominated before…but she’s also never been given an entire episode to herself. CON: Still…she’s never been nominated before.

2. laura dern (enlightened): PRO: Despite its low ratings, Enlightened has become one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the year, topping many critics’ top 10 lists. Although she (shockingly) didn’t receive a nod last year, she is still a reliable Emmy favorite, having been nominated for 4 Emmys in the past for previous works. CON: Along with not being nominated last year when she was considered a front runner, the show was cancelled, which is never a good ingredient for Emmy consideration. I feel like fans of the show will fight for it…but it still may not be enough to convince stubborn Emmy voters.

3. zooey deschanel (the new girl): PRO: She received a nomination last year despite the mixed reviews. This season, fans of the show have definitely warmed up to Deschanel’s character. And I think the producers have reined her quirkiness more. She may have broader support this season. CON: …or maybe her nomination last year was a “one time thing” like Martha Plimpton…

4. lena dunham (girls): PRO: Both her and the show received a lot of Emmy nominations last year…but no wins. However, the show recovered when it dominated at the Golden Globes among other other awards. For better or worse, Girls gets a lot of buzz and reception and her name will be hard to ignore on the ballots. CON: I appreciated how bold this season was (even if I found the first season funnier)…but other people seem to think less of it. People either love the show or hate it. Also, not getting a SAG nomination could be a roadblock.

5. edie falco (nurse jackie): PRO: Edie Falco is an Emmy queen. She won 3 Emmys for The Sopranos. She won an additional Emmy for Nurse Jackie, and has been nominated every year since then. The nomination  for her and her co-star Merrit Weaver last year shows a continuing support for the show. CON: Similar to Girls and especially Enlightened, the show can be very dramatic with a very dry and dark sense of humor. With more comedic shows and performances still getting the wins, it’s harder for these types of dramedies to make an impression with voters, especially the older ones. Just an observation…

6. tina fey (30 rock): PRO: Tina Fey NEEDS one more nomination. She is one of the best television comedy actresses right now and it would be embarrassing if she were left off the top 6/7. There I said it! On top of that, she’s been nominated in this category for the last 6 years, winning for her second. She’ll get in. CON: She may get a nomination in the writing category instead…

7. mindy kaling (the mindy project): PRO: A funny leading debut for Mindy. She’s only gotten nominations for writing The Office, but voters like creator/star-types (like Tina Fey). Really, she’s the show’s best chance at a nomination. She could get her first nomination the same way fellow FOX star Zooey Deschanel got in. CON: The show’s been on since the fall, yet she hasn’t really gotten much. And reviews for the show seem more ambivalent than anything. Let’s just say, the network will have to do a LOT of campaigning.

8. julia louis-drefus (veep): PRO: She’s safe, c’mon! She’s won three Emmys (for three different shows) and bunch of other nominations for the seasons in between. Veep has been on fire this season and there’s really no reason why she could suddenly be left off. CON: No SAG nomination is the only thing I can think of.

9. melissa mccarthy (mike and molly): PRO: She won for her first season. She was nominated again last year. And during these last few months, she has become a big movie star, with Identity Thief becoming a huge success (commercially, not critically) and she has another movie with Sandra Bullock on the way. People love Melissa McCarthy and people will vote for her…even without checking out the show first. CON: It’s just interesting that the Emmys is the only major award show that acknowledges both her and the show. It’s a “Breaking Bad” sort of situation. What’s up with that???

10. martha plimpton (raising hope): PRO: She was nominated a couple years ago. While she didn’t receive a nomination last year, she still won an Emmy for a guest role on The Good Wife which shows some widespread support for the actress. She’s guaranteed another Guest Actress in a Drama Series nomination. But will that carry her back into Comedy consideration? CON: Probably not. We just have to admit to ourselves that Raising Hope is not an “Emmy show.” No shame in that. Good Times was never nominated for an Emmy and that show was/is dynomite!

11. amy poehler (parks and recreation): PRO: She’s been nominated the last three years. And she was arguably a front runner for the last 2, despite getting snubbed. The show may be off the radar, but I think Poehler will continue getting nominations, if only to see what funny thing she’ll plan for the ceremony. CON: It’s sad Poehler’s never won. Apparently, this season, she doesn’t have the same showcase she had with last year’s “Win, Lose, or Draw.” But that shouldn’t stop her. I think she’s safe.

Other strong contenders: Sutton Foster (Bunheads), Lea Michele (Glee), Mary Louise-Parker (Weeds)

Long shot worth considering: Patricia Heaton (The Middle)

Even longer shots I recommend checking out: Beth Behrs, Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls), and Courtney Cox (Cougar Town). Also, I’d legitimately put Krysten Ritter (Don’t Trust the B) in my top 6. She’s hilarious and underrated on that show.

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
06/13
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2013 Tony Awards Recap (The Moments that Rocked!)


2013 tonys

I gotta say, of the big four (EGOT), the Tonys are, and have always been, my favorite award ceremony. Is it the musical performances? Yes. Is it Neil Patrick Harris who has become a Tony award staple? Yeah. But…it’s also the fact that as much as I love theatre, I haven’t seen any of these shows. So not only is this show a great way to introduce to me to great New York theatre, but I can confidently say I can’t get upset when a “favorite” (if I even have one) loses because…unlike the Oscars or the Emmys or the Grammys…I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY OF THE SHOWS SO I CAN’T PROPERLY JUDGE! YAY!!!

But, I can still list some of my favorite moments from the entire evening. And there were a lot because, wow, this was the best Tony ceremony from the last few years. Very few sound issues. A couple great speeches (with a couple surprising wins). And Neil…wow. Just when I though having him as a host for a fourth time wasn’t a great idea, he proves me wrong and outdoes himself yet again. Can he PLEASE host the Oscars next year? Anyway…let’s do this:

    • THE OPENING: What can I say? It was spectacular. An ode to all the musicals (sorry plays) that are still on Broadway. We saw the Newsies. We saw those bird puppets from The Lion King. We saw A LOT of kids (more on that later). We saw Neil sing really fast and dance and disappear before out very eyes. I think…this was my favorite opening of all time. It was a nice way to incorporate all the shows without doing an awkwardly edited medley. NPH (and his team) are always creative like that.
    • a christmas story tony
    • THE KIDS: We got a lot performances from the kid performers on Broadway. We started with a performance by the cast of Matilda. “Revolting Children” is such a spirited number and I’m always in awe of the spirit and choreography when watching it. You can tell the cast has such a fun time performing it. By the end of “When I Grow Up,” all four actresses who played Matilda take the stage to sing a snippet reprise of “Naughty.” And then we got a performance from the kid cast of Annie, led by unfairly and criminally snubbed Lilla Crawford (OK, the only nomination snub that made me upset). They performed “It’s a Hard Knock Life.” I have a soft spot for both this musical and its revival so I’m glad it at least got this Revival nomination so they were able to perform, even if they had no chance of beating Pippin or even Cinderella. Unfortunately these little girls were interrupted by Jane Lynch who played Miss Hannigan. Jane Lynch does a good job but…it seemed like a way to sell tickets to the Glee crowd. I would have preferred a performance of “You’re Never Fully Dressed” instead. Lastly, we got a performance from the kid cast of A Christmas Story. Believe it or not, this was my favorite performance of the evening. Johnny Rabe as Ralphie was great, but that little tapper dude (Luke Spring) stole the entire night with that wonderful tap solo. All the kids in the number were wonderful at tapping. And while, having not been familiar with the movie, I didn’t quite understand what was going on, I still smiled the whole way through. Great job to all the kids!!!

cinderella cinderella cinderella

    • OTHER STRONG PERFORMANCES: I can’t say I fully understood what was going on during the Bring it On performance, but by time they got to what I think was the chorus of the song, I was definitely feeling it. Apparently Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote the book and lyrics which is no surprise considering how similar the rap is to the raps in In the Heights. It was a cool performance for a show that I wanted to see last year. Unfortunately, it had a short run. Cinderella was awesome mostly because of the cool quick costume changes done by Broadway’s future Laura Osnes and the always fabulous Victoria Clark (“You’d be surprised how many beautiful gowns have crazy women in them!”) who play Cinderella and Fairy Godmother respectively. William Ivey Long definitely deserved his Costume Tony (the only award the musical won that night.) And, despite the fact the high grossing show wasn’t nominated for Best Musical, Motown: The Musical  was still able to churn out a couple dance numbers. I especially liked the performance of another child star, Raymond Luke Jr., as young Michael of the Jackson 5. I love this music so I was really digging it. 
    • WOMEN DIRECTORS: For the first time since 1998, two women directors won for both Best Direction of Musical and Play. First, Diane Paulus won for directing the beautiful and lavish Pippin. Her speech was very heartfelt and articulate, and she especially paid tribute to the great Stephen Schwartz. And then Pam MacKinnon won for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. She started her speech by going, “So…Vegas got this one wrong…an Diane Paulus’s speech was fantastic. Um…so that’s where my head is.” Who run the world!

laura benanti tony

    • BROADWAY STARS ON CANCELLED TV SHOWS: While Andrew Rannells, Megan Hilty, and Tony winner Laura Benanti are all Broadway favorites, on the small screen, they aren’t quite as successful. So the three of them (joined by a smug NPH) sang their woes about being on cancelled (NBC) TV series. Laura Benanti (to the tune of “Ladies Who Lunch”) is especially depressed about being on TWO cancelled TV series. It was one of the funniest moments of the night and showed how talented each of them (esp. Megan Hilty wowza) are! If it’s any consolation, I loved The New Normal,  “mildly” kept up with Smash, and…well…I didn’t watch Go On but I heard a lot of great things about it and I was a little surprised that NBC cancelled that one TBH.
    • JESSE EISENBERG AND THE PLAYS: He introduced the nominated plays…and in record speed. I love Jesse Eisenberg. I love how he can’t keep his jittery body still. I love his speedy voice. Also, you all should watch Now You See Me. Anyway, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike won Best Play. Judging by the little snippets of each play, and the fact that I’ve loved reading all the other Christopher Durang plays, I think the Theatre Wing made the right choice.

pippin revival tony

    • PIPPIN: Pippin  was one of three musicals who dominated the night with four Tonys, including Best Revival and Direction. Andrea Martin won for Best Featured Actress, while Patina Miller won for Leading Actress in the same role that won Ben Vereen a Tony 40 years ago. (Is this the first time two people of different genders won a Tony for the same role?) Patina Miller dominated with a great acceptance speech and a great leading performance in “Magic to Do” with the rest of the spirited cast. However, I’m not going to leave out Matthew James Thomas who did a good job with “Corner of the Sky” in the usually thankless leading titular role. I have to say I love this interpretation of Pippin. The carnival aspect of the show definitely took me by surprise when I first watched the previews. The original production was definitely a lot subtler and simplistic (in an effective way of course). But, theatre is about embracing different interpretations, not clinging on to the old productions. So, I believe what Diane Paulus and her team did with this was excellent and made sense. And, honestly, such a great, talented company. I can’t wait to watch this on bootleg!

kinky boots tony

    • KINKY BOOTS: When most people, including myself, began watching the Tonys, we expected the British import Matilda to dominate the same way Billy Elliot did. However, that wasn’t the case. Yes, Matilda still won 4 Tonys, but it was the supposed dark horse Kinky Boots that took the top honor Best Musical. This sort of surprise just made the night more exciting. And judging from other performances the cast has given on other shows and their performance of “Everybody Say Yeah” (which featured some cool treadmill choreography) tonight, I think this was a just win. Cyndi Lauper won Best Score, and looked so grateful and tearful accepting her award. It’s nice to see this global superstar so humble and gracious. Billy Porter won Lead Actor and gave one the strongest speeches of the night. (“I want to thank…my mother…you are the personification of true Christianity. Your willingness to embrace that which you don’t understand with unconditional love is a template that the world could benefit from employing. Your courage gives me life and I love you!”) It was a good night for the musical that will surely get a boost in ticket sales. The best part about all this is reading the bitter British presses try to bash Kinky Boots. Nice try.

cicely tyson tony

    • CICELY TYSON: And the award for the greatest speech in the history of awards goes to…the great Cicely Tyson. Let’s walk through this piece by piece. The nominations are called. Tyson is clearly nervous. She wants this. She wants this bad. Her name is called. The crowd goes wild. Most jump to their feet. Cecily stays seated, trying to take it all in. She finally stands, revealing a dress that’s made of nothing but extravagant purple ruffles. The announcer reveals that this is her FIRST Tony nomination and win. It takes her like 5 minutes to reach the stage. She gets a rousing standing ovation in the process. She reaches the mic, not holding the trophy. And she gives her speech in a slow, thoughtful delivery, with plenty of conviction. She takes in the moment. She starts out by talking about herself in the third person. She talks about how she’s last living member of her immediate family. She talks about how it’s been thirty years since she’s done stage work. She didn’t think it would happen again in her lifetime…but she had this burning to desire to just have “one more. One more great role, I said. I didn’t want to be greedy. I just wanted one more!” The audience laughs to this. She thanks the American Theatre Wing for welcoming her home. She takes a long pause before the music comes in. I’m already buying my ticket so I can fly to New York to murder the conductor that decided to play this living legend off. But then she recovers like the pro she is. “Please wrap it, they say…Well that’s exactly what you did with me. You wrapped me up in your arms after 30 years. And now I can go home with a Tony!” She thanks the crowd and they give her another standing ovation. A great moment of television and probably my favorite of the year so far. I still have tears in my eyes. Now, how about we give her one more great movie role, so she can win an Oscar! (And, going off of that, let’s give Cyndi Lauper an Oscar so she can complete her EGOT!)
    • EMPIRE STATE OF MIND: The show ends with NPH doing his usual “recap” of the show with lyrics that were probably written a mere minutes before it happened. He rapped it to Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” with Audra McDonald singing the chorus. Even when she’s not nominated, she’s still fabulous. She ends with a gif-worthy mic drop.

Overall, this was a great night filled with wonderful performances and funny bits in between. I think the only I didn’t like was the characters from previous musical introducing the newer musicals’ performances. (Like Spiderman…I didn’t get that.) But, otherwise, the Tonys prove why it’s better than the other award shows out there. Thanks for reading!

2013
06/10
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Season 12 American Idol Results Review (Our TOP 2 IS ANNOUNCED!!!)


american idol

This is going to be very short because…I have a 10 page paper I need to finish by tomorrow noon (hashtag exam week…hashtag senior week! hashtag graduation can’t come soon enough!) This is also why I didn’t post a recap last night. I did watch the episode though. The hometown visits were emotional like usual (esp. Kree’s) and the performances were great (esp. Angie’s “Try” and Candice’s everything). So I came into this results show having no idea who would make the top 2.

All 3 are excellent. Like I stated last week, despite my sadness over Amber leaving, I felt this season gave us one of the most dynamic and evenly matched top 3′s ever. HOWEVER…I was really rooting for a Candice/Angie finale. And after hearing Kree’s emotionless “Friggin’ Perfect” last night, my feelings got a little stronger. Still, I came into this results show with a mixture of excitement and nervousness (both kinds of “anxiousness” according to the 1998 Parent Trap).

I definitely wanted Candice to make the top 2. She’s the contestant I’m rooting for the most. So when she was called out first, I immediately jumped up and shouted “EFF YAH!!!’” over and over again. The audience and the judges (esp. the judges) seemed pumped. Candice was understandably shocked. It seemed like the whole world was singing with a bottle of Coke.

And, at that moment, I figured Kree would be the one going home because…I pegged Angie for the winner. She had the most Twitter followers. She had never been in the bottom “anything!” She had a strong voice but she looked marketable. I mean, she was polarizing…but her fan base was strong enough to keep her afloat…

And then Ryan called Kree’s name and I was like…whaaaat. 

It was definitely a shocker…and I 100% believe that Angie should have been in the finals with Candice. But…Kree has been great all season long. It’s an exciting, intriguing shock…and it’s not the worst thing in the world because Kree is amazing in her own right. This isn’t even close to when Jasmine Trias made the top 3 over Latoya London. This isn’t a bad shock…it’s an interesting shock.

It’s an interesting shock that makes me happy because…for the last 5 years we’ve had to deal with skinny, white, “attractive,” boy next door winners. I know this season has had seem relatively low ratings (it’s still a top 10 show…and it’s in its 12th season!!!) and I know this season isn’t “perfect.” But…it’s nice that the typical “American Idol audience” is embracing 2, slightly heavyset, mature female singers. It is truly astounding. It really gives me hope. It took some manipulation from Nigel and co. but…WHEN has the show NOT been manipulative? When it was pimping out the likes of Lee, Scotty and Phillip? Exactly. For once, Nigel used his manipulation skills for good. THERE! I SAID IT!

So…am I happy with this top 2? Inspired? Excited? Yes!

But…was this really and truly the right top 2? Honestly…no. I’m sorry, Kree fans. Yes, Kree was consistent. But Angie took more risks. She sang more uptempo songs. She sang more current songs. Her song selections interesting. Lately, Kree’s been putting me to sleep a bit. Angie’s been improving in this competition while Kree has been settling. Growing and improving is what this show is about…and Kree simply hasn’t been living up to that standard.

So…unless something drastically happens next week, I am whole-heartily rooting for Candice. And while Kree winning would obviously be a welcome change of pace from the last 5 winners…I will probably be a little bit disappointed if Candice isn’t given the confetti shower.

I’m sure Vote For the Worst is ecstatic though…even if picking Kree was bullshit.

So…Angie Miller got the boot. Very shocking. I believe she was singing her original song Colton Dixon’s “Never Gone”. She could barely get through it. She really looked messed up (in a smiley sort of way.) It’s interesting comparing her elimination with Amber’s. While Amber’s tears were more “I knew this was going to happen, but I’m still very sad,” Angie’s were more like “I’m just happy I made it this far but I REALLY thought I would win and I REALLY wanted to win but I’m still proud of those 2 girls but still…god dammit.” Just an interesting little ….

But I was very emotional watching this result show. I mean these girls have been so good. They seem so close and…I just feel the sisterhood this season. Maybe Burnell hates Devin. And Devin hates Nicki Minaj. And Curtis hates Lazaro. And Lazaro hates everyone who isn’t Amber*…. But the 5 females really had a bond this season (like the TPTB wanted all along).

*I’m just kidding guys. Obviously.

Anyway…thanks for reading. And, yes, I will be recapping next week.

PS…so…Randy is leaving. It was time. I think he had slivers of greatness (like when he was being brutally honest, ie. “That was straight up terrible, dawg”) but…it was time.

Apparently, TPTB are looking to replace the whole judging panel. I disagree with this. Keep KEITH because he’s normal and he hasn’t really done anything wrong this season. Keep NICKI because she’s honest and she clearly cares about the contestants even if she is a little wacky. And…yeah, you can dump Mariah. And then hire either Melinda Doolittle, Adam Lambert, or just a random unfamous person who is working in the music business and would know his stuff, like a pre-X Factor Simon Cowell. Keep the panel to 3. And we might have a good show.

2013
05/09
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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
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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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Season 12 American Idol Results (Our Top 4 is Revealed…uh…what?)


american idol season 12

OK, this was actually one of the more enjoyable results shows of the season. So…let’s countdown the reasons why.

1. Without any dead weight males in the way, the group performance of Donna Summer songs actually sounded really good. Naturally, Candice stood out the most…but really they all had a chance to shine.

2. The Ford Scavenger Hunt video package thingie was really cheesy and corny and scripted…and that’s what made it hilariously entertaining. And it only got better when their mystery celebrity turned out to be…Matthew Morrison! I could maybe see Amber excited, but Candice…girl, she was thinkin’ I don’t watch Glee. Who this be?

3. PAULA ABDUL! WHAAAT?? That semi-random appearance just blew my mind. It’s nice to see that she, I guess, had no hard feelings towards the show that unfairly fired her (esp. considering she was on The X Factor for a year…BTW, I periodically forget that she was ever a judge on that show.) Anyway, Candice looked happy. The judges looked happy. I was happy. Happy days…is my favorite Barbra Streisand song.

4. Idol Family reunion! This episode actually featured a lot of old friends. First we saw a glimpse of Jordin Sparks in the audience which was nice (I loved Sparkle by the way). And then season 2′s Clay Aiken came back to perform one of his signature songs: “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” He sounded excellent and it’s sad that we don’t hear male voices like that anymore. It’s, I guess, out of style. According to Wikipedia, he’s the fourth highest selling American Idol alum (Ruben is 6th BTW). His first three albums did very well, but he’s been on the decline ever since. Oh well. I still enjoyed his presence…the weird Ruben Studdard joke towards the end was the only sour note.

Then we were unfortunately reminded of that terrible results show during season 3 when the three divas (Fantasia, Latoya London, Jennifer Hudson) were in the bottom 3, over the likes of Jasmine Trias and John Stevens (blech!). That was the night when Jennifer Hudson was eliminated. However, we ended up getting a follow up on Latoya London who, despite being wonderful that season, never had the success of the other two ladies. She gave some vague details on a new album, but it was nice to see her again and she seemed really excited to introduce Fantasia.

Fantasia (who, BTW, is the 5th most successful alum) premiered her new single “Lose To Win.” It was pure 90′s R&B and I loved it. She was passionate and emotional and, even if the performance seemed to go on forever, I still enjoyed watching her get into it. I honestly think Fantasia’s a bonafied success. If you consider her genre of music, she is actually still one of the premiere female R&B singers we have right now (and no, Beyonce and Rihanna are NOT R&B).

So now we had to get down to the results and, unsurprisingly, Janelle Arthur got the lowest number of votes…and she’s…going home WHAAAT? So…is this season going to end a week early? I don’t really get this. Honestly, by the time we get to the top 4…there’s no use using the save. It would have been nice to have seen these 5 ladies sing together for one more week. So…this result makes me scratch my head more than anything.

However, as much as I loved Janelle and her spunk and her spontaneity…she was technically the weakest of the girls. But…I really enjoyed on the show. She was wonderful during Hollywood week, she had some rough moments during Las Vegas and semis…but she really redeemed herself with “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” and proved that she belonged to stand side by side with the other female powerhouse singers. She was bubbly. She was sweet. And I’ll miss seeing her on the show. Y’know…Kellie Pickler is the 9th most successful alum. If Kellie Pickler can make a Gold Album and become BFF’s with Taylor Swift…then who knows what Janelle can achieve!

So…we are down to four. And…I’m not going to rank these girls…I’m just going to say one good thing about them…and one thing they need to improve on. So…in alphabetical order…

1. CANDICE GLOVER - You’re creativity has really come out these last few weeks. However, singing more current songs wouldn’t hurt. You’ve been lacking in that department.

2. KREE HARRISON - You are terribly consistent and reliable. However…too many ballads. You haven’t truly rocked out for us yet. It’s time to stand out.

3. AMBER HOLCOMB - When you hit those high notes, it’s absolutely beautiful. I know “Love on Top” wasn’t your most popular performance…but ya gotta take more risks like that. Your first album won’t be ONLY Whitney Houston inspired ballads.

4. ANGIE MILLER - Keep doing the Christian thing. Keep doing the piano thing. Keep looking like Miley Cyrus. Just try to connect with your songs more.

There you have it…a strong top 4. And I’m looking forward to next week. I esp. hope they take advantage of “Contestant Choice” and do something really interesting.

Thanks for reading! Bye bye!

2013
04/18
CATEGORY
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Season 12 American Idol Results (Top 8 Revealed…my ranking)


So, it’s 8:36. I just back to my dorm from class. And I’m watching this results show on crappy internet television. But I want to review this results show now so I can get it over with.

So, right now, Paul and Devin are (deservedly) in the bottom 3. Unfortunately, Lazaro isn’t joining them. Once again, he is completely safe, which means…well it means someone who performed better than him will be in the bottom 3. Fairness!

So, I’m a little worried right now. It’s comforting seeing 2 guys in the bottom…but I’m not sure if Burnell is going to be the one who joins them, which means…oh, God. I don’t even want to think about it.

Now we’re gearing up for Jessica Sanchez to premiere her new single with Ne-Yo. It’s called “Tonight.” I downloaded it earlier today and I think it’s very catchy and it’s a nice lead single. OK…back to the show!

That was fun performance from Jessica. It’s nice to see her come out of her shell. I liked how she was moving and dancing and shaking her little bum and showing some attitude (snap snap snap). And the voice is still amazing. If people in America aren’t going to embrace her, hopefully her Filipino fans will keep her and her album afloat.

Back to the results…Amber is in the bottom 3. Not surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. And the audience agreed because they booed…right? (Nah, the American Idol audience apparently loves every contestant that’s on the stage.) I guess this is what Amber gets for taking a risk, choosing an interesting song, and singing it on key. How dare she.

Paul Jolley GOT THE LOWEST NUMBER OF VOTES! YES! I’m just happy that it’s not Amber. He’s repeating his performance of “Alone” from a couple weeks ago for the save he’s clearly not going to get. I don’t think the audience really cares. He’s going home. There’s no way Nicki is going to save him,

I do love “Alone” though…no matter who’s singing it.

The judges will not use the save. Paul is his usual jolly self. And I am jolly too, for the most part. Paul was never bad…but he certainly was not among the strongest…and I can deal with him leaving…which means the “white guy” streak has broken at last. Can we also break the overall “guy” streak?

OK, let’s rank the contestants. These are are MY PERSONAL rankings so far…

1. KREE HARRISON - She’s still my number 1 girl. I’d like to see her do something a little faster next week.

2. CANDICE GLOVER - Since she took a risk and sang uptempo, she can get away with a rousing ballad next week. (I have to say Candice has performed better than Kree these last 2 weeks…if this happens again, I’ll probably move Candice to #1)

3. AMBER HOLCOMB - Amber’s placement in the bottom 3 was thoroughly upsetting. I don’t think there’s really much she can do to get a bigger fan base. On American Idol, there’s only room for one African American female in the top 5…and it’ll probably be Candice Glover.

4. ANGIE MILLER - Fab 4 is still alive.

5. JANELLE ARTHUR - I like her. But I don’t think I’ll ever like her more than the other 4 girls. We’ll see…

6. BURNELL TAYLOR - He’s young and hip. He should utilize that sing something fast and show off any potential dance moves.

7. DEVIN VELEZ - He needs to try something new this week. He has the voice. He has the look. Now he needs to not be boring.

8. LAZARO ARBOS - Out of his league.

Next week is Motown. I actually thought this week was really strong so I have a lot of hope for next week. With Curtis and Paul out of the way, I think people need to give this top 8 7 more credit. Thanks for reading!

BUY JESSICA SANCHEZ MUSIC!

2013
03/21
CATEGORY
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