Johnny Simmons

I haven’t had a chance to catch up on Damages, which is unfortunate because no one’s week should be devoid of Glenn, but most of the other shows seemed intent on upping their game, so the week wasn’t a waste.
     
Breaking Bad: “Open House”; Season Four, Episode Three [B+]

Third time’s the charm. This week Breaking Bad offers up an episode that’s excellently realised. It touches on those gritty dramatic issues that make you wince even as you hold your breath. Walt notices the surveillance camera in the lab, and Jesse continues to be creepy and tragic as he finds the wrong avenues for his pent up emotion. But, it’s about the women. As psycho as she is, I still feel badly for Marie (who reminds me of Terri Schuester, oddly) and watching her faux house-hunting managed to be both humorous and tragic. Hank is really annoying and Brandt is so good dealing with all those issues. Skylar’s underhand machinations to attain the carwash were all brilliant and it’s going to be interesting to see what happens now that they have a “legit” business to front with. I’m glad to see the season picking up.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B]

True Blood: “I Wish I Was the Moon”; Season Four, Episode Six [B+]
Oh, Sookie Stackhouse you wanton woman...but, I digress. I’ve said it elsewhere over the past week and perhaps alluded to it here but I’m actually feeling now that the show is becoming oversaturated with supporting characters and the machinations of the important ones are becoming a bit diluted. But, even with those superfluous bits this week’s episode was excellent. The concept of possession was examined again and again as the full moon came. Eric is still possessed and Nan and Bill (via Skype) decide he should be punished with the true death, as a precaution of course. But, that’s nowhere near as riveting as what’s going on elsewhere. Evil Baby (a name coined from Mark over at Critical Condition who gives great weekly commentary) burns down his parents’ house, but some spirit ensures that he’s out of the house safe from harm. Meanwhile, Tommy shifts into Sam (confusing me even further on this shifting thing) but giving Trammell a chance to absolutely rock the episode. And I haven’t even gotten to Marnie being possessed by Antonia and Jason realising that he wants to become a were-panther. True Blood is always best when characters interact (stop dividing and conquering Alan Ball) so I’m game for Pam vs Tara and Jason and Jessica (even if that plot point seems a bit too...tawdry?)
[Writing: B+; Directing: B+]

Entourage: “Out with a Bang”; Season Eight, Episode Two [B/B+]

Okay, fine. Perhaps Entourage isn’t quite imperative TV for these first two episodes (even though last season picked up around episode four and turned into something brilliant), it’s still going well though. On the downside, they’re back to making Vince absolutely trite but great things go on elsewhere – I’m particularly loving any scenes which involve Lloyd and Ari. Really, Ari has his despicable traits but I don’t find him anywhere near as jerkish as the writers seem to think he is. I’m also not certain what to make of the Johnny’s Banana’s issues. Dillon was in peak form last season, so I’m hoping the arc will pick up. Plaintive Eric is not exactly fun, but Connolly has improved as an actor – hopefully Sloan hasn’t gone for good. The show’s in need of a level-headed woman.
[Writing: B/B+; Directing: B]

The Closer: “Under Control.”; Season Seven, Episode Four [B/B+] Last week we had Flynn and Provenza (along with Buzz) getting their arcs, and this week we get to meet Tao’s son. Tao and Sanchez are my favourite of the supporting cast, and Chan is a fine actor so it’s nice seeing him get something new to do. I wasn’t a fan of the main case this week, it just seemed a trifle too ridiculous and it sort of sucks that Mary McDonnell only shows up at the bookends of the episodes. BUT, she shows up and does excellent work. It seems the season is going to be a dramatic one, so it’s going to be interesting to see what Brenda decides to do.
[Writing: B/B+; Directing: B/B+]

The Big C: “The Little c; Season Two, Episode Six [A-]

I’ve probably enough superlative rumination on The Big C this season, but the show has turned from a very good comedy into an essentially flawless one. This week cancer takes a backseat to crabs – which Adam brings into the house courtesy of his hooker from last week. To address the elephant in the room, it’s weird seeing how much of a jerk Adam is turning into and hopefully it’s addressed soon because it’s unfortunate seeing him return to his boorish behaviour of season one. Still, it makes for good TV. Linney is back in top form, as Cathy takes on the swim team and that final scene as she lays into those parents is one of those uplifting things the show manages to do without being all mawkish. Paul and his craziness at work makes for good comedy, especially when Andrea shows up at the store. I can’t believe we’ve only got four episodes left.
[Writing: A-; Directing: A-]

Web Therapy: “Shrink Rap”; Season One, Episode Three [B/B+]

Lilli Tomlin shows up this week and for the first time we manage to understand that, perhaps, Fiona isn’t as terrible as she pretends to be. It’s a fine thing opening the episode with Fiona receiving a grilling from her mother, which only goes to show just why she’s as messed up as she is. And, as everything happened in the episode you couldn’t help but think how screwed up her childhood was. I’m becoming more and more interested in finding out just what happened at the Lachman brothers, but the episode depended on Bob Balaban’s showing up to evaluate Fiona and I’m still a bit shocked that Fiona actually managed to break him with her shameless attempt at pretending she came up with “word association” but Kudrow continues to be brilliant and the show continues to be rewarding.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B/B+]

Wilfred: “Pride”; Season One, Episode Seven [B/B+]

 

I have to admit that there was something awkward this week watching Ryan essentially whore himself out to get out of a debt, and I’m starting to wonder how the influence of the potentially diabolical Wilfred is going to affect him in the long run; it seems that each week Wilfred gets more bawdy and unhinged. Still, it’s always fun watching Elijah Wood battle with morality issues and Ryan is a character that we want to root for despite everything. Wilfred and his craziness with Bear is so hilariously disgusting, and the fact that Ryan almost got sucked into it only make it more priceless.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B+]

Standouts
Laura Linney in The Big C A-
Lisa Kudrow in Web Therapy A-
Oliver Platt in The Big C B+
Sam Trammell in True Blood B+
Anna Gunn in Breaking Bad B+

Betsy Brandt in Breaking Bad B+
Elijah Wood in Wilfred B+
Jason Gann in Wilfred B+
Gabriel Basso in The Big C B+
Lilli Tomlin in Web Therapy B+
Jeremy Piven in Entourage B+
     
Next week I’ll have a double dose of Damages. Did anyone see Glenn this week? What did you watch on TV?

We’re almost at the halfway mark for a number of the summer shows. I always find the shows during the summer to be more performance based than regular network shows and we get some fine performances this week.

Breaking Bad: “”; Season Four, Episode Two [B/B+]

This episode is a step up from last week’s good, but not great premiere. For one, it’s an episode that’s Jesse centred which is never a bad thing – Aaron Paul is a fine actor. The thing is, I can’t help thinking that Paul’s Jesse is a lesser version of Joel Kinnaman’s Holder on The Killing. I’d definitely watch a spin-off where the two of them have a clash, baggy jeans and all. Watching Jesse try to inject enthusiasm into the life around him is disturbing especially in those quiet moments like that brilliant closing scene. I’m not as interested in [ ]’s own machinations, although Cranston does manage to make everything that he does work. Truly, Walt is turning into such an insufferable douche I actually feel bad for Marie. I’m still wondering, though, exactly where this current season is headed. The first two episodes haven’t given us any indication as to the season’s arc.
[Writing: B/B+; Directing: B+]

Entourage: “Home Sweet Home”; Season Eight, Episode One [B/B+]
I know Entourage has lost its fans over the years, but I’m glad to have it back. It’s been three months since last year’s finale and Vince is out of rehab, Sloan has terminated her engagement with Eric and Ari is still living out of the house. For me, Entourage never delivers unparalleled brilliance with their premieres, and true to form this episode is good but not faultless. But, it sets up the story for what’s going to happen in this final episode. The filial relationship between Vince and Drama is always fun to watch and watching him trying to de-drug the house is fun. Vince is still being something of a dick, especially to Eric who I’m feeling badly for – broken engagement and all. It’s a true shame, though, that Jeremy Piven has lost his streak of Emmy nominations. His expression when his wife tells him that she’s seeing someone is brilliant as is his tearful gaze as he watches Vince’s house go up in flames. What does the future hold for this motley crew? Well…we’ll see, I guess – but it’s a solid start.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B/B+]

True Blood: “Me and the Devil”; Season Four, Episode Five [B]
This week the folks at Bon Temps offer up what’s probably the weakest episode of the season, which is not to say that it’s a bad episode in itself – it’s just a bit of a fall from the first month of goodness. Recently the great number of characters on the show has been turning into more of a crutch than a blessing and it’s becoming a bit difficult to focus on the goodness of characters like Pam when people like Alcide keep turning up to annoy me for no reasons. I’ve no idea what will become of Arlene’s demon baby, but the arc seems decidedly forced this time around And, of course, I have a right to resent any episode of True Blood where Sam doesn’t turn up until the halfway mark. On the upside, though Marnie is becoming even more interesting of a character and it’s nice to see just what those witches can do to the vampires. It’s nice to have Jason back in the human world, although I’m undecided as to what I think of his dreams. The episode is marked by some great duo moments, though – Sam and Tommy bonding over the death of their parents (none too soon) was a nice moment. Amidst the occasional confusion, though, Paquin holds down the episode with great moments opposite Skarsgård, Shaw and Wesley. And, on that note, it’s great that Tara’s gets more to do in this episode. Still, the overall episode is lacking in bite, a bit.
[Writing: B/B-; Directing: B]

The Closer: “To Serve With Love”; Season Seven, Episode Three [B/B+]
We’ve had episodes where Finn and Provenza have been the cause of craziness but this episode was interesting in that Brenda is relegated to almost supporting status. It’s fun watching the men interact with each other, and it becomes even more fun when Buzz is added to the mix. The case is an interesting one, and it’s great how everyone keeps ignoring Commander Taylor and it’s even more hilarious watching Brenda trying pull one over Fritz and the FBI. It’s a filler episode of sorts in that the major plot-points like Captain Raydor’s investigation are absent, but as far as filler episodes go it’s a delight.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B]

The Big C: “Cats and Dogs”; Season Two, Episode Four [B+]
Honestly, The Big C is being absolutely brilliant in its second season. It’s the fifth episode in and every episode has been stellar, and it’s all because the show keeps surprising you. Watching Cathy bond with her fellow cancer patient is nice, and when I saw the previews I was dubious about Cathy having another potential adulterous dalliance. But, we’re thrown a curveball and it’s just great that her new friend turns out to be gay. It allows Linney to breathe a little and have a little fun. On the topic of fun, Hickey is just hilarious playing Sean and it’s good to see that the drugs haven’t made him lose all his peculiarities. I loved the arc with him and Adam (and Adam’s hooker). Adam is being a bit of a dick, recently, but Basso always makes him come off as at least sympathetic. What’s more is the show has managed to make strident dramatic moments work in a comedic register. Paul’s job troubles are sad, but Platt’s final scene is lovely and wanly comedic. I love this show.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B+]

Web Therapy: “Desperate Measures”; Season One, Episode Two [B/B+]
RASHIDA JONES!!!! Sorry, I love Rashida and that’s two weeks in a row she pops in her awesomeness on great TV shows (first Wilfred then Web Therapy). She gets way more to do this time around playing the girlfriend to Fiona’s patient and the arc is great to watch especially when Fiona has her freak-out. The first beats of the episode felt a bit reticent, but by the midpoint it was back to ridiculous humorous bits. Kudrow is still true brilliance to watch and even though there’s something decidedly uncomfortable in watching Fiona control Richard it’s still funny as hell.
[Writing: B/B+; Directing: B/B+]

Damages: “I’d Prefer My Own Office”; Season Four, Episode Three [B+]
Glenn’s back. Sure, Close has been putting in good work since the season began but this episode depended on the virtuoso of Patty Hewes. In theory, her search for Michael shouldn’t be that riveting but Close is always great with quiet bouts of emotion. I especially liked the scene between her and Goodman, even though I haven’t been especially moved by Goodman on the show, yet. Byrne continues turning in effective work and the drama of this season’s case continues to unfold. I really hope Messina doesn’t die (well, at least not soon) he’s turning in fine work and making me rethink his ability as an actor. I have to significant props to the show for managing to be such a riveting drama with such a low interest in romantic hijinks.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B+]

Wilfred: “Conscience”; Season One, Episode Six [B+/A-]
What is there to say about Wilfred? It’s one of the best comedies on television at the moment and this early in the season (it’s little over a month old) I’m wondering if any male actor is going to top Elijah Wood’s fine work on the show. Even as a ridiculous concept like a talking dog to develop its narrative, the show is so brilliant in the way that it touches on significant issues despite all the silliness – even if the silliness is excellent. Will Ryan and Jenna eventually hook up? I can’t say, I don’t really care. The show’s great either way.
[Writing: B+; Directing: B+]


Standout Performers
Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad B+/A-
Glenn Close in Damages B+
Elijah Wood in Wilfred
Lisa Kudrow in Web Therapy B+
John Benjamin Hickey in The Big C

Laura Linney in The Big C B+
Jason Gann in Wilfred B+
Rose Byrne in Damages B+
Chris Messina in Damages
Rashida Jones in Web Therapy
Dan Bucatinsky in Web Therapy
Jeremy Piven in Entourage B+
Gabriel Basso in The Big C B+
           
What did you watch this past week?

Two more days until the actual Emmy nominees are announced, so I need to get my actual Emmy ballot in before they're disqualified. Bear with me, and let me pretend I have a say. So, back with my ballot - part two of the comedy. (go see Part One: Drama, Part One: Comedy)

OUTSTANDING WRITING
 Nominees
Cougar Town / Ryan Koh & Sam Laybourne for “Lost Children”
Nurse Jackie / Ellen Fairey for “Orchids and Salami”
Modern Family Abraham Higginbotham for “Regrets Only”
The Office / Mindy Kaling for “Classy Christmas”
Parks and Recreation / Amy Poehler for “The Fight”
Parks and Recreation / Katie Dippold for “Indianapolis”

Nurse Jackie is excellently written, even if I figure that the actual Emmy's will ignore it. “Orchids and Salami” is sort of a standout episode, writing wise at least. It mixes all those witticisms of the show with some astute, if subtle, pop culture references. And, it cashes in on how good the main cast are together, which is something that “Lost Children” does brilliantly. The madness of the cul-de-sac crew playing their childish games was great, but it was Ellie and Bobby's TV show Beef and Bubbles which got the biggest laughs. As much as I love B. J. Novak I have to give props to Mindy Kaling for being the best writer on The Office. Her episodes always manage to recall that great ensemble nature that makes the show so good and the return of Holly is worthy of mention.  “Regrets Only” does some interesting thing with the flashback motif and stands out as my favourite episode of the show, this season. Then Parks and Recreation - “The Fight” has that hilarious drunken gag and “Indianapolis” has Leslie's gag about being dumped. And those are just two examples of how brilliant this show is.
Runners-Up: The Big C for “Pilot” / / Modern Family for “Caught in the Act” / Nurse Jackie “Mitten” / Entourage for “Stunted” / Episodes for “Episode Two” / Glee for “Original Song”


OUTSTANDING DIRECTING
Nominees:
Cougar Town / Michael McDonald for “Lost Children”
Entourage / David Nutter for “Lose Yourself”
Modern Family Dean Parisot for “Regrets Only”
Nurse Jackie / Tristram Shapeero for “Rat Falls”
The Office / Rainn Wilson for “Classy Christmas”
Parks and Recreation / Randall Einhorn for “The Fight”

The finale wasn’t the best episode of the last season of Entourage, but it was more than skilfully directed. As the walls started crumbling around Vince it was interesting how it was the direction and not the writing which ended up being the effective way in which it was showed. The choices from Cougar Town and Modern Family both exist as my favourite things on both shows this past season. The former is brilliant because it sees the appearance of the entire gang in one place being ridiculously childish. The time flies by and it makes the potentially tougher issues develop in such a natural, comedic way. The latter is great because it’s one of those episodes where the three arcs are balanced so well not only because of the script, but because of how they’re showed to us. For, Nurse Jackie just the image of that rat falling on Zoey’s lunch makes it worthy of consideration. Both, The Office and Parks and Recreation have episodes featuring celebrations, the first for Christmas and the second for Tom’s club. The latter wins just for that drunken montage.

Runners-Up: Modern Family for “Halloween” / Parks and Recreation for “Harvest Festival”/ 30 Rock for “Christmas Attack Zone / The Big C for “Pilot” / Cougar Town for “Walls” / Glee for “Furt” / The Office for “Garage Sale”


OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
Nominees:
Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock for “Everything Sunny All the Time Always”
Ty Burrell in Modern Family for “Mother Tucker”
Steve Carell in The Office for “Garage Sale”
Matt LeBlanc in Episodes for “Episode Two”
Stephen Mangan in Episodes for “Episode One”
Jeremy Piven in Entourage for “Porn Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”
   
I was back and forth on where to categorise LeBlanc, but I decided I’d lodge him here. Sure, he’s the least impressive of the six nominees, but he IS hilarious on Episodes, hardly the MVP but well balanced and subtle enough to be garishly caricature-like. Mangan works well opposite him, but even better opposite Greig who plays his wife. Carrell and Baldwin are both default nominees, it seems, but both had great seasons. One gained a wife, one gained one – then lost her. But, it’s all about Piven and Burrell for me. Curiously, both men submitted themselves in the supporting category but it’s outstanding Lead Actors I think of when I see them in top form. One’s bathetic, the other’s a bit of a bastard but both manage to be interegrated with their co-stars and still be the best-in-shows without hogging the camera. Goodness.

Runners-Up: John Krasinski in The Office /  Adrian Grenier in Entourage / Kevin Connolly in Entourage /  Matthew Morrison in Glee / Joel McHale in Community
         
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Nominees:
Courteney Cox in Cougar Town “You Don’t Know How It Feels”
Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie for “Game On”
Laura Linney in The Big C for “Pilot”
Tamsien Greig” in Episodes for “Episode Two”
Lea Michele in Glee for “Comeback”
Amy Poehler in Parks & Recreation for “Eagleton”
For me, it’s a generally weak field but I like each of these six well enough to consider them seriously. It’s an even split, though, between the incomparable and the good. Cox, Michele and Falco are at the bottom, if only because they’re shows both work best as ensembles for me. Even though Lea is the MVP for her show the writers aren’t as dedicated to making her lead it, she still succeeds for the most part though. It’s the converse thing with Falco and Cox, the writers want it to be their shows, but they keep getting derailed by the far more interesting (and dare I say, outperformed?) by her supporting cast. Greig is phenomenal in Episodes. True, she can’t touch the top 2 but she plays excellently. It’s wrong to call Linney’s Cathy a revelation, we know she’s brilliant. When she nails those scenes on The Big C, I still can’t help but feel like I’m seeing her be brilliant for the first time and it’s sort of the same thing with Poehler who’s grown over the past three years into the finest female lead on television for me.
Runners-Up: Tina Fey in 30 Rock / Marcia Cross in Desperate Housewives

OUTSTANDING COMEDY
Nominees:
The Big C
Cougar Town
Entourage
Episodes
Nurse Jackie
Parks & Recreation
    
I think this is an eclectic bunch. Episodes and Entourage are probably the ones that least people would consider mentioning, the former because few have started watching and the latter because few have continued watching. They both had good seasons, both examining the difficulty of show business but in different beats. The two showtime series are next, both focusing on a woman but with good ensembles to back them up. For the first two seasons Nurse Jackie felt decidedly more dramatic, but it’s found its comedic bone and worked it well in season 3. And, sure, The Big C has a main character stricken with cancer but it’s never mawkish and rarely overdramatic – always consistently humorous, even if morbidly so. Cougar Town managed to find itself, then top itself continuously in its sophomore season becoming ABC’s best show and…thenParks and Recreation. It’s in a class of its own, really.

Runners-Up: Modern Family / The Office / Glee /Community
           
What would your choices look like?