The post awards show letdown

The Emmy people are smart. They know that if they were tossed in against big movie stars, their little tv award show wouldn't stand a chance. But coming in the late summer as they do, they are like a small sip of ice cold water on a hot day. That is why the Emmy's are so fun for me. They are on the opposite side of the calendar than the normal awards flurry. That would also explain why every year I get my hopes up, and every year, in one category or another, they are dashed. Still, award shows are like crack to me, so I will keep coming back. And like an addict there were highs and lows for me this year.

Highs:

• Eric Stonestreet: Wonderful speech, completely deserving win, and his whole cast seemed truly happy for him.
•  Modern Family: I would have been happy for this or Glee, but this cast seems like a family, the showrunner was humble, and by gum it is funny stuff!
• Ricky Gervais. How I wish this man hosted everything. That Mel Gibson line was the funniest of the night. 
• Jim Parsons!!! I can't believe he actually won. Sometimes they do get it right!
• Jon Hamm. I will follow that man to the ends of the Earth. He sings, he dances, he spoofs himself, and he is damn sexy. Oh, and he can act.
• George Clooney. One of the worlds' biggest movie stars, and he joins the cast of Modern Family in a wonderful little parody, and then goes and gets all humanitarian. He is what a celebrity should be. Also, shout out to Aunt Rosemary!! 

Lows:

• Nothing for Lost? Seriously?! Writing, directing, acting by Terry O'Quinn, NOTHING?!? The smoke monster shall smite you all.
  
• Breaking Bad. I am sure it is a perfectly fine show, but I just don't get it. And in the year of such great acting, I was disappointed every time this show was called.
• Kyra Sedgewick. Her dress was a pretty color. That is all. Hate her accent, hated her "my hair hasn't seen a brush in two weeks" look, hate her accent, hate that she won for best actress, hate her fake collagen lips and I HATE HER ACCENT.
• Anna Paquin, January Jones, and Tina Fey. Stop listening to stylists and look in the mirror. Y'all look like damn fools.
• Kate Gosslin, get off my television. Forever. 
• This last one breaks my heart a little. Lea Michelle has an incredible voice. She needs to save it for singing, and talk less. Also, the fake smile and overly posed pictures is making her look like a little girl playing dress up, and not like an up and coming star. Also, stop saying "like" in every sentence. You are from New York, not the valley. Take a page from your costar, Dianna Agron, who was poised and well spoken and flawless looking:

 Only 137 days until the Golden Globes!!

Are you LOST without Glee? Is your Modern Family full of Mad Men?

Emmy Awards are tomorrow. Have you printed your ballots and set all your Tivo tuners to the various red carpet shows? No? Just me then. But still, you will want to know about the two biggest awards for the night:

Best Comedy Series:
30 Rock (NBC)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Glee (Fox)
Modern Family (ABC)
Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
The Office (NBC) 


This is a classic old vs. new category this year. The Office and 30 Rock have both won before, but Modern Family and Glee are the new darlings. Keep in mind when The Office and 30 both (the first time for 30 Rock, as it has had 3 wins), it was the first year they were nominated. As much as the Emmy's love to reward the same actors over and over (I'm glaring at you Jeremy Piven), the Series award occasionally go to the new buzzworthy shows (unless they are up against Frasier of course). I think in the battle of Glee vs. Modern Family it is really a battle of the kind of television people want to see more of. Glee is a whole new kind of show, with singing and dancing mixed heavily with sarcasm and pathos. Whereas Modern Family has been heralded for being a throwback to the sitcoms of old, though I have to say that there is still plenty of sarcasm to go around on that show. So who will Emmy choose? Could be a battle of old vs. new, or it could be a battle of different kinds of new. My prediction? The voters are a sucker for good old fashion family comedy. Even if that "family" comedy is full of disfunction and non-traditional relationships, which is why I love it so much! Still, personally, I'm a singing and dancing and sarcastic kind of a girl, with much love for Glee.
Should Win: Glee
Will Win: Modern Family


Best Drama Series:
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Dexter (Showtime)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Lost (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

These are all great. Except for the vampire porn show. I swear someone lost a bet and had to add True Blood as the sixth nominee. No matter. This is Mad Men's award to lose, as it was last year and the year before. And I love Donald Draper, Joan Holloway and all the small perfections of this show. They make a period piece exciting for today, and they make you care about the characters even while you are marveling at the sets and costumes and how perfectly they evoke the era.
But....
Lord of the Rings was an amazing movie. Yes, there were three. But really, it was one long movie, and it was outstanding. (Stay with me here, I swear I am getting back to tv). The reason they gave the Best Picture Oscar to LOTR: Return of the King, was because they had to wait until the movie was complete and reward it as a whole. Therefore, using this logic, it only makes sense that they reward LOST this year. It won Best Drama the first year, and that was great. It won for the pilot episode really, because we had never seen anything like it before. And now the story has ended. Some people think it was fantastic, some people think the very last episode ruined it, but everyone has to agree that this series changed the way we view television. It was the first tv series you had to do homework for! Websites were set up, not just by fans, but by writers and producers to enhance your viewing experience. None of this would matter however, if it wasn't a damn fine show. And it was. Of course it had flaws, but this being the final season, I think it must be judged as a whole. It was set up that way. And the whole of the show was amazing, and I feel certain will stand the test of time.
Should Win: LOST
Will Win: LOST (Ok, really probably Mad Men, but I have to have faith. John Locke would have wanted it that way)

Paging Drs. House and Shepherd

A single thought for today's categories: There is an embarrassment of riches this year, please don't screw these awards up.


Best Actor in a Drama:
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Matthew Fox (Lost)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Hugh Laurie (House)

 How do you compare a serial killer to a high school football coach? An addict doctor to a doctor addicted to fixing people? A cancer ridden meth dealer to a wheeler dealer from a bygone era? Short answer: you find the common thread. These men are so damaged, and it makes them fascinating. These men each deserve an award for specific parts of their performances, and I think this category more than other will depend on while episode the actors decided to submit for consideration. Hugh Laurie has always been a strong contender and has yet to win for House. The season premiere episode with him in an institution allowed him to expand his character to new levels, which for a series on the sixth season, is really saying something. Likewise, Matthew Fox's season finale of Lost was surely the best he had ever been, but sort of makes me ask where the hell those acting chops had been for six years. Jon Hamm and Michael C. Hall both had fabulous seasons in their entirety, and neither has ever won an Emmy. And this is where the night always sours for me. Laurie, Hall and Hamm have all won Golden Globe's for their performances, and rightfully so. But nary an Emmy between them. Because the last two years have gone to Cranston, and before that James Spader (yes, really. That James Spader). So while I admire the work Cranston has done, it is time to spread the love around. And this year, there are so many right choices, it will be hard to decide.So hard, I feel like instead of a "should win" I need instead to rank these men.
Should Win: Hugh Laurie, Michael C. Hall, Jon Hamm, Matthew Fox
Will Win: Jon Hamm

Best Actress in a Drama:
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)
January Jones (Mad Men)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Who doesn't love a second act? We all remember Julianna Margulies from ER, but perhaps we didn't remember just how good she was, holding her own against George Clooney, making her Carol likeable and vulnerable at the same time. So when a new role came up, another strong woman (this time complete with topical political plotting), she jumped at it, and rightfully so. She is great in the role, and an actress all of America seems to like. We already know Glenn Close can blow the doors off anyone and has won before, as has Mariska Hargitay. Kyra Sedgewick's accent makes my ears bleed, and I know I can't be alone in that, and January Jones can only get away with pretending empty stares and vapid whining are acting for so long. So, with Margulies having already won the SAG and Golden Globe for this, I think she can start writing her speech.
Should win: Julianna Margulies
Will Win: Julianna Margulies

Emmy prediction week ends tomorrow with Best Drama and Comedy Series! Think you know me well enough to know my picks? You may be surprised...!  

BAZINGA!

Only a few more days to set your tivos, fill out your ballots and stock up your bar for the red carpet drinking game (someone uses the term "glam cam", drink). Today, the two Lead Comedy Categories, where I fear I will have my biggest disappointment of the night.

Lead Actor in a Comedy:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Matthew Morrison (Glee)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

First off, Tony Shalhoub, you have won more times than is really necessary, so I am discounting you out of hand. It was funny the first year, but you did not deserve three Emmys, and I pray you do not get a fourth. Steve Carell and Larry David are both also old hat, and I think Steve Carell will be awarded next year for his final Office season. Matthew Morrison is great on Glee, but doesn't have the funniest part on the show. He has great pipes, but this is not an award for singing. So... Alec Baldwin and Jim Parsons. Alec Baldwin won last year, and he really is the highlight of that show. He deadpans with the best of them. And by the best of them, I mean Jim Parsons. He takes a role that could have been a caricature and makes him a character, one that you want to root for. He is odd and touching and tactless and crazy (though he claims he isn't, as his mother had him tested), but mostly he is funny. If he loses, I won't be surprised, but I will be sorely disappointed.
Should Win: Jim Parsons
Will Win: Alec Baldwin

Lead Actress in a Comedy:
Toni Collette (United States of Tara)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
Lea Michele (Glee)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

The biggest story here isn't who got nominated, it is who didn't. Courtney Cox was an expected lock for Cougartown (worst title since Cop Rock) but she is continuing her Susan Lucci like streak of not being nominated. She was the only Friend who never got a nod, and the critics love her. I don't know who she pissed off, but her omission here is a glaring one. I would love to see Lea Michelle take this, because she has a singing voice equally as good as Matthew Morrison, but also has some great comic timing. I believe that Jane Lynch will be the only GleeK to get an Emmy this year though, as it is mostly an ensemble show, so I think the fight here is between Toni Collette and Edie Falco. Now, not being a paid critic or held to any kind of unbiased standard, I will come right out and say I hate Edie Falco. I have never liked her in anything, and I got sick of her winning year after year for the Sopranos when all she did was whine and yell (please save your angry disagreements for the comment section below). The voting board loves her though, and while Toni Collette won last year for playing 4 different personalities, I still think they will fall back into old habits, and just tick the Edie Falco box.
Should Win: Toni Collette
Will Win: Edie Falco 

Tomorrow, the most packed category of the night: Best Actor in a Drama. Dr House! Dexter Morgan! Donald Draper! And Jack Shepherd. Plus, Julianna Margulies and her "just happy to be nominated" opponents in Best Actress in a Drama. 

Man of Smoke, Man of Faith

Today we come to the Supporting Drama Categories. I think these two races could be the crazy ones of the night. We could get what we expect, we could get what we don't expect but feel satisfied with, or we could get Martin Short and Chrisine Baranski. Two veteran actors known for their comedic acting who have gone to the other side. The academy eats that stuff up. First, to the men:

Supporting Actor in a Drama:
Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age)
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Terry O'Quinn (Lost)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Martin Short (Damages)
John Slattery (Mad Men)

This is the category I will honestly say I have no idea how the votes will go. John Slattery is great in Mad Men, and we could well see a Mad Men sweep of many categories this year. Andre Braugher is always good (I am mad he didn't get acknowledged for guesting on House), but he is the best part of a middling show, which makes winning awards hard. I know many people are in love with Breaking Bad, but I don't watch it. From what I understand it is the lead that makes the show, not this guy, so I'm discounting him. To me, this comes down to Ben and Smokey, as ever. Michael Emerson (rightly) won the award last year, and I think this year it is time to honor Terry O'Quinn. The different sides of one man we got to see was a joy to watch, but you add in that he also portrayed the epitome of Evil, and you have a virtuoso performance that I think will stand up for years. I only hope Emmy agrees.
Should Win: Terry O'Quinn
Will Win: Martin Short (?)

Supporting Actress in a Drama:
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Rose Byrne (Damages)
Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)

The most interesting category of the night, because there is only one return nominee, Rose Byrne. None of the Grey's Anatomy women made it this year,  nor 24 (Cherry Jones won last year) and the Mad Men gals are new to the race, echoing a bit of the show itself. I have always thought the women (save Betty, who needs a kick in the damn teeth) were really what made the show great, and now they are being recognized, which mirrors the story arc of the show nicely. Plus, tell me everyone in the world doesn't want to see Christina Hendricks accept an Emmy, just so we get to see more of her in formal wear. The Emmy's do love new shows though, so either woman from The Good Wife could take it. Panjabi has more to do on the show, but again, Baranksi is a viable option.
Should Win: Christina Hendricks
Will Win: Christina Hendricks


Tomorrow, Lead Comedy categories, where I feel a bit safer in my predictions.

Winning your office pool

Ok, so your office probably doesn't hold an Emmy pool. But maybe you want to start one. Or maybe you like being the person who has a tidbit or two to throw out around the water cooler that others may not know. Or maybe you just like watching for the one or two shows you are a slave to, and the pretty girls in pretty dresses. Either way, I am here to help. Each day this week I will focus on a different category and give you the run down. Who should win, who will probably win, and in one or two cases who better not win lest I chuck my 46 inch tv out the damn window (I am looking at you, Jon Cryer). Today, Supporting  Comedy categories.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy:
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live) 

A much stronger group of nominees than in years past, due largely to Glee and Modern Family. Both Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen do a great job, but on that show the women are largely the "straight men" which often get overlooked come awards time. Really though, smart money is on Jane Lynch. She is the voice of scathing wit on Glee, saving it from downright treacly, after school special nonsense (and I say that with love).
Should Win: Jane Lynch
Will Win: Jane Lynch

Supporting Actor in a Comedy:
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Chris Colfer (Glee)
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)

This may be the hardest category of the night other than the notoriously packed Drama Actor category. I can honestly say that as long as Jon Cryer doesn't win, I will be satisfied. There can be only one however, and that one has to be Fizbo. Eric Stonestreet submitted the episode Fizbo to be considered, and that should secure his win. It was the most I laughed all year at any American comedy. Chris Colfer did a great job with Glee, but he is young and not going anywhere. The other 2 actors from Modern Family are wonderful, but they just don't surpass Stonestreet. So that just leaves NPH. I love Barney Stinson, and for years I have been cursing that asshat Jeremy Piven to stop stealing the Emmy right out from under Harris. So that should mean with Piven gone, it is the year of the Barnicle, no? No. NPH is wonderful, but his character lacked just a little bit this year, and with such a strong category, I don't think he can pull it out. He will just have to make do with the other 2 Emmys he got Saturday night!
Should Win: Eric Stonestreet
Will Win: Eric Stonestreet


Oh and a quick disclaimer. For heaven sake don't actually bet anything of value based on my predictions. The Emmy voters are notorious for nominating the new and cutting edge, and the awarding the old and tired. Plus, I just do this for fun. The real money comes at OSCAR time!

Tomorrow: Supporting Drama races

NPH FTW!

The Creative Arts Emmy's were held last night, or as they are otherwise known, the awards they don't have time to give at the actual Emmy's. While most of these awards are ones that only select (read: people in the industry) care about, the decision to relegate the guest acting awards to the the non-broadcast ceremony still seems foolish to me, though it has been this was for as long as I can remember. This has always seemed like some sort of a gyp, but this year in particular it seems we, the viewing audience, missed opportunities of real enjoyment at having the right people win. It is so rare that the Emmy's get things all the way right, but for all 4 categories for Guest Acting, I have no real complaints.

Guest Actor in a Comedy: Neil Patrick Harris, Glee. 
I love NPH, and will never argue about him winning. His turn on Glee was great, and while critics and entertainment sites and magazines are today saying that Mike O'Malley should have won for his role on Glee, I disagree. O'Malley was fantastic as Kurt's dad, but the man was not funny. He was touching and poignant, but not funny, and this is a comedy award. Plus, he lost to NPH, who kindly acknowledged O'Malley in his speech. So it is hard to argue with that.

(NPH also won for hosting the Tony's, which was fabulous. He has a chance to three-peat on Sunday with Supp. Actor Comedy for How I Met Your Mother, but I don't think he will win. More on that in tomorrow's post!)

Guest Actress in a Comedy: Betty White, hosting SNL
Everyone loves a spunky octogenarian, so if you bet against her, well, the industry disagrees.

Guest Actress in a Drama: Ann Margaret, Law and Order: SVU
I would have preferred to see Elizabeth Mitchell from LOST take this, as I love all things LOST, but someone from the Law and Order juggernaut wins a guest Emmy every year, so this is fine I guess. Plus a little part of me is glad EM didn't win this for a guest spot. It seems beneath her character somehow to come back and win as a guest, when she should have won for her remarkable work in Season 5.

Guest Actor in a Drama: John Lithgow, Dexter
He killed it (see what I did there?) as Trinity. No one else in this category stood a chance. My only gripe? He wasn't a guest star. Hell, he was the second lead the whole season, with never an episode without him. However, I am perfectly pleased to have him submit here, because it leaves the Supp. Actor Drama open for two LOST actors, Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson. Because as much as I love LOST, even in that talent-heavy category, had Lithgow chosen to be included there rather than as a guest, I still would have favored him winning. He was that good.

So there you have it. First Emmy post and certainly not the last, especially since I love all things Award Show, and at this time of year this is the only one around. Until the show airs on Sunday will I be posting my "shoulds and wills" for winning, a few categories at a time. Until then...

I want the fish biscuit

On Tuesday, both the Season Six Dvd and the Complete Series Box Set  of LOST will be available for purchase. Both offer goodies, most importantly 12 minutes of footage featuring Ben and Hurley on island. Both have bloopers, and deleted scenes. Sure the Complete Series has a cool ankh and a replica of the island, but does that really warrant an extra 108 (really) dollars? Not in my mind. And I already own Seasons 1-5, so it would make sense to just buy Season Six, right? Of course. Then why the debate?

One tiny sentence: One full disc of never-before-seen content.  

It calls to me. It is my precious. It could reveal answers. We may find out about the Dharma food drops. We may see Sawyer with his shirt off some more. Dear sweet heaven, we may learn about Waaaaaaaaaaalt. And the producers and marketing execs know this. They know that especially for a show like this, people will make use of Ebay and sell off their single seasons to re-purchase things they already owned for one disc of unknown treasures.
I already did this once, for Alias. I owned all seasons, they came out with a huge box set featuring, you guessed it, one full disc of never-before-seen content, and I sold off my seasons for a tiny amount and ponied up for the pleasure of knowing I had now seen it all. Every minute of never-before-seen footage was mine. Was it worth it? Possibly. Did it answer all of my unanswered questions? No. Did it keep me busy for a day searching for Easter Eggs and watching segments on Jennifer Garner's dog? Sure did.

Will I do it again? Will I fork over money for  another JJ Abrams show, unsure of what the unknown content will be?

Of course I will. Because I want the fish biscuit.

When I grow up

Plenty of things I always wanted to be. Broadway star, librarian, mother, independently wealthy. Some of those things will never happen (never much of a tap dancer sadly), but for years I have had some success at being a previewer. Not an official job title maybe, but there are people who do much the same thing. That person you know who reads the book the week it comes out and then passes it along (or not) depending on the quality. That wannabe Roger Ebert in your life who goes to opening night of a movie, the lines and crowds be damned. The person who owns more Tivos than any one person could possibly need, because a new show just might be worth a look. That person is a previewer. Magazines have professional reviewers, certainly, but all too often they are worried about the marketing, or the producer, or the giant conglomerate who owns both the movie studio and magazine. Those people get paid for what they do, but so often become tired and jaded at their jobs. I am a previewer. I do this for free, and I do it for the joy of it. I tell my friends what is worth their time, and I cater my recommendations accordingly. So, in an effort to disseminate this information more efficiently, and perhaps give you an opinion of something you may not have thought twice on, I give you a place where you can find all my opinions, reviews and occasionally some google-free trivia, just to keep you on your toes.

Now then, for a taste of what you can expect here I give you my brief Loves and Hates. Not all encompassing of course, and (mostly) not deal breakers on how I view people who may disagree, but a good sense of what you can come to expect from this trivial pursuit of mine: Being a Previewer.

Loves: 

• Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams, and shows and movies thereof. 
• Memoirs, books about wars, harrowing tales and very occasionally, good "chick lit".
• Superhero and comic book movies, sci fi shows and fantasy.
• All things Harry Potter
• Old movies, particularly if they feature men with cleft chins, strong jaws and a slightly chauvinistic air about them.
• Musicals. Pretty much all of them. Except ones with puppets. I hate puppets.
• Reality tv, on a limited and selective basis. I wish there were some basis upon which I choose, but there isn't really. Some I love, some I hate with a fiery passion.

• Penguins. This has nothing to do with pop culture, but I felt it important to add.

Hates :

• Nicholas Sparks. Movies, books, whatever. 
• Vampires that sparkle. 
• Reality tv. See above
• Horror movies. I'm not offended by them, they just aren't my thing. I know several people who love them and can give excellent opinions on them though.
• Procedurals. CSI and the whole lot of them. Just can't bring myself to care. 
• Rodents. Again, not really relevant, but more important to know than my love of penguins.