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Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Ryan’s and I conversations about Emmy have come to an end and in preparation for the imminent reading of the nomination-list tomorrow we speculate on the potential nominees.
Ryan: Okay ready!
Andrew: Invert that to ready-okay, and we have the beginning of a Bring it On cheer.
Ryan: Awesome, oh wow, like totally freak me out, I mean, right on. The Toros sure are #1!
Andrew: So are the potential comedy nods totally awesome?
Ryan: I don't know about awesome, but I don't think they'll be any big shockers a la a Community or a Cougar Town nomination. And actually to make it ridiculously easy for myself I just looked at my other nominations throughout the past few chats we've had and tallied it up.
Andrew: I don't know, but I could see some big shocks happening. Well, not big but you know.
Ryan: And the top 6 are my show nominations... and it sort of worked out.
Andrew: Emmy isn't Oscar. They don't always nominate those with the most nomination. Didn't True Blood get like 1 other nomination other than Best Drama last year? (Although I fear I'm getting ahead of myself.)
Ryan: Oh, yes on True Blood, so my system isn't perfect, but at least it lines up with my predictions at least giving them some sort of logic (which again is not the Emmy way really). But in any case, we have some locks surely.
Andrew: Four locks, I would presume...although I'm still thinking that there could be a massive shock and Glee gets snubbed.
Andrew: Of course, as much as Glee is not my in MY top 6 I love it like I love a wayward child - so I don't want that to happen.
Ryan: And even though they are fickle, they are not THAT fickle. They can't ignore how big the show still is in terms of public awareness/buzz.
Andrew: And, as you said - like heroin when it's good it gets you high.
Ryan: Right, so the other locks though seem to be fairly safe especially since they've all won before.
Andrew: Well, The Office has never won but I say that it's a lock.
Ryan: It won in 2006.
Andrew: I honestly forgot that. I kept thinking that the show and Carrell had never won.
Ryan: I didn't know it either until I checked Wikipedia right before our chat! But yeah, since its win it's never NOT been nominated and with it being its the last season... it won't suddenly find itself not in the running.
Andrew: Did you just say this is the last season of The Office?
Ryan: Whoa. Yeah. How... random.
Andrew: Random, and dangerous...if that show gets cancelled this is on you!
Ryan: Ha! But yeah, random Freudian slip maybe. But really with Carrell gone, it really does feel like it though.
Andrew: So, the new shows fighting for a potential nod: ShowTime darling (and its biggest premiere) The Big C; SAG nominated cast Betty White’s Hot in Cleveland and Raising Hope
Ryan: The first two seem to be duking it out. Their main lead is almost guaranteed a nomination so they have that going for them.
Andrew: True. I say The Big C gets the edge because it's most likely going to pick up a writing or directing nod.
Ryan: Yeah and it's not like it'll be a big breakthrough for it to be nominated. Weeds in 2009 and Nurse Jackie in 2010 paved its way. What's weird is why United States of Tara has never been nominated.
Andrew: Diablo Cody hatred, perhaps?
Ryan: Well she's divisive, but who knows?
Andrew: Indeed.
Ryan: Any show, other than Community and Cougar Town, you wish could be honoured? For me, those are the two really. I mean I love How I Met Your Mother and all, but I'm okay with it not being nominated. Wait, there's one show I WOULD LOVE to get nominated, and it's not even a sure thing so I don't know why I didn't mention it. I think it's because I'm hoping it's a lock for a nomination...Andrew: Are you talking about a particular government office?
Ryan: With a particularly charming blonde lead? YES.
Andrew: If any show gets a breakthrough nod, it could be that...which I could see taking the spot that went to Nurse Jackie last year...
Ryan: It's just really sad that possibly the best sitcom on TV right now needs to "breakthrough" to get a nomination.
Andrew: Yes, it is. It really should be shoo-in...but Emmy voters scare me (re: Two and A Half Men...but that's out right?)
Ryan: Thank goodness. They had the decency to not submit themselves this year.
Andrew: THANK GOODNESS, indeed. So, predictions?
Ryan: My predictions:
30 Rock
The Big C
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Parks and Recreation
Andrew: My predictions:
30 Rock
The Big C
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Parks and Recreation
Andrew: Yup, yet again we have the same group...but it's pretty solid. 30 Rock is the least deserving for me ...but they had some brilliant episodes this past season.
Ryan: It is a solid list and I think it's more because I can't see any other shows nominated?
Andrew: Which probably means we're wrong.
Ryan: I mean sure Hot in Cleveland, Raising Hope, Nurse Jackie, and even How I Met Your Mother, but probably not. And yeah, we're SO wrong.
Andrew: Things get a whole lot more interesting in drama.
Ryan: Maybe. We'll see. I have about 4 locks, 1 most likely, and a wildcard.
Andrew: I really can't see Mad Men winning again.
Ryan: Who knows? But yeah it really all depends on how much they love Boardwalk Empire aka the shiny new HBO epic kid on the block.
Andrew: (Which just happens to be made of brilliance.)
Ryan: It's not TV, after all, it's HBO.
Andrew: So, Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men are going to head-to-head...those two male centred dramas...does that mean Alicia Florrick of The Good Wife can sidle in and shock us all?Ryan: With a win, highly unlikely, but a nomination is pretty lock. It's the one show from broadcast network that has any chance at all really. The closest would be Friday Night Lights, for its final season. And even then a) not big enough or seen enough andit's technically a Direct TV show vs. an NBC show.
Andrew: And I think the category is WAY too stacked for FNL.
Ryan: Most definitely.
Andrew: Dexter I want to say is a lock, but I'm worried that people are tiring of it - sadly.
Ryan: I think it's still a lock though. They, probably, still feel really bad about not honouring Michael C. Hall last year and this season was great at least when it came to Johnny Lee Miller and Julia Stiles.
Andrew: If they felt bad they'd have f%%%ing gave him the statue!!!! (That was for dramatic effect, of course)
Ryan: Of course. In terms of new shows that could breakthrough we have Game of Thrones, The Killing, The Walking Dead, and Shameless. Am I missing anything? Any of them have a chance?
Andrew: And if they go absolutely crazy, which they won't The Borgias. In Treatment was cancelled and in a way, I could see it getting some love at least more than FNL.
Ryan: I haven't seen it, but I felt it was a tough sell of a show. Yes, it's got some love from the acting branch, but the show sort of lends itself to that kind of nomination. But for the whole show? Not sure.
Andrew: It's never been nominated, which I find odd but it seems made for Emmy love.
Ryan: Yeah, if it was going to be nominated, it'd be for its first season or whenever Gabriel Byrne was nominated. Then again one could say the same thing for Friday Night Lights. I'd like to think though that last year's duo-acting nomination could be a sign of (too late?) momentum. But really, probably not.
Andrew: It's on the cusp; if there were - say - eight nods maybe...
Ryan: Weird, it’s my eight pick as well.
Andrew: That IS weirdness. Shall I predict?
Ryan: Go right ahead.
Andrew: I predict:
Boardwalk Empire
Game of Thrones (as last year's True Blood)
The Good Wife
The Killing
Mad Men,
True Blood (as last year's Lost)
Ryan: Hmm. True Blood as last year's Lost? I don't get that analogy. Lost had multiple nominations and they were honouring it for the whole series.Andrew: Well, year, but they always like an oddball fantasy nod...this year is lacking that.
Ryan: Well that's why they have Game of Thrones. Speaking of... My predictions:
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Mad Men,
Shameless
Andrew: We both go in for some new blood. We shall see what ensues.
Ryan: Thrones is my most likely, Shameless is my wildcard, and the rest are my locks. Though if there was anything like last year's True Blood, I'd have think it'd be for The Walking Dead.
The Emmys do love them their AMC the past few years.
Andrew: Which I considered, but I opted for the actual True Blood. Now, I'm nervous wondering how right we were.
Ryan: Just for completes sake... Justified has a chance because they're pushing the show hardcore and critics love it... and then there's my off-the-wall Hail Mary pass for Fringe.
Andrew: I should probably put out a final mention for Big Love...just because. But it shall not happen.
Ryan: It's all about putting it out there. You never know. In fact, hey Emmy how about the retroactive love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you damn bastards.
Andrew: Ha. We'll see...we'll see...Nothing to do now, but wait.
The Emmy nominees are being announced tomorrow morning by Melissa McCarthy and Joshua Jackson (heavy on the alliterative names, apparently).
Previously: Guest Actors and Actresses / Writing and Directing for Comedy / Writing and Directing for Drama / Supporting Actors / Lead Actors / Supporting Actresses / Lead Actresses
We’ll be back to give our thoughts on the nominees and make predictions when they’re out, but for now – who are you hoping gets nominated?
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
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?
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Most persons don't deign to predict the writing and directing categories, but we're extra special so we took a look. Ryan and I are back with more Emmy predictions. (Previously: Guest Players, Writing and Directing for Drama, Lead Actors, Supporting Actors). So, look out below for more on your favourite comedies - Glee, Modern Family, The Office, 30 Rock (but not in that order).
Andrew: So...writing and directing...are we ready?
Ryan: Sounds good. Where to begin?
Andrew: Well, can I preface with saying I find the predictions for writing and directing for a comedy way more difficult?
Ryan: Well since I find predicting for writing/direction difficult in general, as I mentioned before, this was nearly impossible. So yeah. Especially since you kind of know MAYBE which shows to focus on, because Emmy always pick those shows and yet you see all these other submissions that are SO good, but probably have no chance.
Andrew: Yup...on to the writing first I guess. In the case of full disclosure, I'm giving you the WGA nods. Modern Family “Earthquake”, The Office “Wuphf.com” / 30 Rock “When It Rains It Pours”. The rest are ineligible. I just like to see what WGA are interested in. Of course, this doesn't mean these will be nominated.
Ryan: Of course not. Certainly The Office will have a few more choices now.
Andrew: Definitely. Where to begin?
Ryan: Well I was going to say... The Office.
Andrew: Sure....but I have no idea which to bet on for that. This last half of the season had some supremely written episodes.
Ryan: I know. The way I see it, they have three episodes... all dealing with Michael's departure. "Garage Sale" with the proposal, "Michael's Last Dundies," and of course Carrell's final episode "Good-Bye Michael". That last episode is a good bet, but "Garage Sale" was so expertly done.
Ryan: Yeah. I actually thought that Dundies episode wasn't as strong as the others, but oh well. I see your reasoning and it makes sense. But we'll see. So... Glee?
Andrew: So we can be assured that The Office will get at least one...
Ryan: Most definitely.
Andrew: ...now Glee I can see it getting it, and then again I can see it not. They've only submitted three episodes, and for me one towers above the rest.
Ryan: Good of them to only submit three episodes, but honouring Glee for its writing is... oh man. I don't want to be mean. Which episode seems best to you?
Andrew: I'd have loved if they'd submitted “Furt” or “Never Been Kissed or “Original Song” which I think had the strongest writing but of the three I think “The Substitute” is the best. Gwyneth works a la Kristin in “The Rhodes Not Taken” She interacts with cast, the episode has Sue being well written, has Schue interacting well with Sue and Gwynnie. And has Teri being useful.
Ryan: Thanks for recapping since other than Gwyneth, I couldn't remember much of the episode, which is coincidentally airing as we speak. I want to be cynical and say they may gravitate towards “Born This Way” since it's a Very Special Episode.
Andrew: “Born This Way” has some excellently written parts, for example Emma's bit about being a ginger was hilariously written but then there are those awful bits like Quinn's portion. Vomit. But, I don't know what they like Glee for...
Ryan: Yeah. For all we know they're off the Glee train.
Andrew: Indeed. They SHOULD be off the 30 Rock train too. Right?
Ryan: You'd think so, but even with a less-than-stellar season the show gave some nice submissions. Their "100" and "When It Rains, It Pours" could make it in.
Andrew: I hated the 100.
Ryan: I should clarify... so did I.
Andrew: The best of the lot, for me, is “Queen of Jordan”...but that probably won't make it.Ryan: God, that was hilarious. Who knows it very well could. Okay, so another big favourite for them... Modern Family. Thoughts?
Andrew: Yet another show with a slew of potential nods
Ryan: Well “Earthquake” has a good chance, WGA nominated and all, but they have LOTS of choices.
Andrew: This is another show which submitted a number of potential bids, but I don't think all are excellent. The episode I think that was best done isn't there (saving that for a surprise when I reveal MY nominees this week.)
Ryan: Of course.
Andrew: I think “Caught in the Act” and “Earthquake” are the logical choices...but, episodes like “The Kiss” or “The Musical Man” had fine reviews.
Ryan: I think so too. I think "Manny Get Your Gun" has a chance as well. Like The Office, the show will get nominated for something. So sadly, I feel like the episodes and shows we mentioned are it in terms of what they might nominate, but WOW so many episodes they are missing.
Andrew: We've got shows like United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie which could be remembered, or the pilots for Raising Hope and The Big C...or Parks and Recreation (which has Poehler getting a potential bid).
Ryan: Exactly. For United States of Tara, the finale was great. And don't even ask me to pick a favourite episode from Parks and Recreation.
Andrew: Okay, I'm going to go first here.
Predictions:
30 Rock for “100”
The Big C for “Pilot”
Modern Family for “Caught in the Act”
The Office for “Goodbye Michael”
Parks and Recreation for “The Fight”
Ryan: Predictions:
30 Rock for “When It Rains it Pours”
Modern Family for “Caught in the Act”
Modern Family for “Earthquake”
The Office for “Goodbye, Michael”
Parks and Recreation for “Lil’ Sebastian”
Andrew: Quite ballsy of you not nominating Tina Fey.
Ryan: I know. I don't know what's wrong with me. There's probably no way they'd not nominate Tina Fey, but again Community did it better in "Paradigms of Human Memory!" Community deserves some love.
Andrew: Ha. So true. So, directing. DGA nods, Entourage for “Lose Yourself” (finale) / Modern Family “Halloween” / 30 Rock “Live Show”. Those 3 are eligible. But, let's start with Glee. They submitted more than in writing...and infinitely better. (Ryan Murphy was nominated at the DGA for “The Power of Madonna”, back when the show was brilliant).
Ryan: "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle" will get attention definitely.
Andrew: Yeah, I think “Sue Sylvester Shuffle” is a threat because it's gaudy and looks over-directed which is what some people think "good" directing is.
Andrew: Logically, “Duets” and “Furt” should be the frontrunners.
Ryan: Logically. With them, it's rarely about that though.
Andrew: And “The Substitute” is always a threat because Murphy directed it.
Ryan: So it could be any number. Though I feel they'll at most only get 2 nominations.
Andrew: At most or at least?
Ryan: Well they have other shows to consider. Jumping to 30 Rock... I think "Live Show" is a lock.
Andrew: Really? Ick. Hated it. Over, the 100?
Ryan: I think so. At least because it was such a big deal. It's gaudy and looks over-directed.
Andrew: Ha. I'm quotable! Bill Condon is a big name and he directs The Big C opener, I think he's a threat.
Ryan: Yeah, he's in my longlist-shortlist. And speaking of name directors... The Office has some of its cast working double-time.
Andrew: “Goodbye Michael” nis probably the lock here, though I'd love for Rainn to get in for the Christmas episode.
Ryan: No doubt. I thought I had more to share in regards to The Office, but I don’t.
Andrew: Modern Family?
Ryan: I know "Halloween" was DGA-nominated, but I think their strongest bet is "See You Next Fall." I don't get why they didn't submit that for Writing.Andrew: Really? I didn't like “See You Next Fall”. And, strangely, despite the theatrics “Halloween” doesn't feel overdone.
Ryan: So we're just disagreeing all over the place tonight. That's great.
Andrew: Yay for diversity.
Ryan: Haha. Well Raising Hope has its pilot, but I love the title of their other submission "Don't Vote For This Episode." I didn't see the episode, but if I was a voter, I'd watch it.
Andrew: Ha. I get you. I sort of think Entourage should be considered. Not only because of DGA, I think this last season was its best yet.
Ryan: As a non-watcher, I'll take your word for it. Which episode(s)?
Andrew: I figure Lose Yourself, the finale.
Ryan: Parks and Recreation or Community? Will they get any love?
Andrew: The former for “The Fight” and the latter for “A Fistful of Paintballs”?
Ryan: Community submitted its Paintball finale, which doesn't compare to the original, but still something to behold on a sitcom.
Andrew: So, predictions?
Ryan: Okay, predictions:
30 Rock “Live Show”
The Big C “Pilot”
Glee “Sue Sylvester Shuffle”
Modern Family “See You Next Fall”
The Office “Goodbye Michael”
Andrew: My gleeful choices.
The Big C “Pilot”
Glee “The Substitute”
Glee “Sue Sylvester Shuffle”
The Office “Goodbye Michael”
Modern Family “Halloween”
Ryan: And thus ends probably the least exciting topic we'll talk about. Next, actresses and Shows!
He's so mean isn't he? It could be a strong list of nominees depending on what the Emmy's decide to go for. But what will they go for? What do you think?
Saturday, 2 July 2011
- Entourage
- Glee
- Nurse Jackie
- Parks & Recreation
- Reid Ewing in Modern Family
- Jonathan Groff in Glee
- James Marsden in Modern Family
- Timothy Olyphant in The Office
- James Spader in The Office
Both Spader and Groff turn up with the same purpose on their shows, to make everyone else looks like amateur. Groff is brilliant in the season’s penultimate episode, even though he doesn’t sing a note he delivers on the meanness tempered with sagacity that makes Jesse such an interesting character. And, Spader just needs to look into the camera to make us fear and love him simultaneously. Both Damon and Ewing thrive in the episodes where their women break up with them. Damon’s great arguing with Fey, but it’s Ewing who’s the standout moping over Hayley and simultaneously bonding with Phil. I fear that both Olyphant and Marsden get forgotten because their appearances play up their good looks, but they’re both excellent. Barry is unnecessarily zany, but his scenes opposite Mitchell land effectively and Olyphant was such a perfect (temporary) addition to The Office I wish he’d have stayed longer. - Kristin Chenoweth in Glee as April Rhodes
- Megan Mullally in Parks & Recreation as Tammy Swanson
- Cynthia Nixon in The Big C
- Gwyneth Paltrow in Glee
- Amy Ryan in The Office as Holly
It’s as if all the love for Holly on Glee this season pushed April to the backburner. Not that that was such a bad thing. Gwyneth makes good on all the scenes she gets and delivers with aplomb more often than not being the best thing in the episodes she was featured in. Kristin only gets one episode, but she brings the funny and reminds us why April Rhodes is Schuester’s best duet partner. Ryan shows up for a few episodes and each time she doesn’t you wish that she would. Sure, she’s the reason Michael leaves us – but she’s so effective we can’t be too sad. Aniston, Mullally and Nixon are all former staples of comedies from the late nineties, early aughts and they each do delicious work. Nixon, of course gets the edge because she’s in more than one episode. But, more than that, Rebecca’s superficiality is played for excellent comedic AND dramatic beats. - Peter Facinelli in Nurse Jackie for “Rat Falls”
- Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother for “Cleaning House”
- Rob Lowe in Parks & Recreation for “Flu Season”
- Nick Offerman in Parks & Recreation for “Indianapolis”
- Adam Scott in Parks & Recreation for “Media Blitz”
This is one packed category, so I want to make note of the brilliant runners-up listed below. I don’t know how NPH continues to be so consistently hilarious and layered on a show that for so long has failed to precipitate any significant amount of humour. It’s not that the show is bad; it just seems to move along at a consistent level of blandness that I’ve come to find exasperating – except for Barney. True, I moped when news came about that Schneider was leaving Pawnee but I didn’t realise that one great actor would be replaced with two great actors and that those two great actors would be so brilliant in their roles. Scott and Lowe do such different things in their roles, but they’ve both turned into necessitate son Parks and Recreation. I love the show, and sue me, I still love Entourage. Watching Drama struggle with his employment and then the perceived insult of him playing an “ugly” ape was hilarious to watch. But, what makes Dillon such a treasure to the show is the – no pun intended – dramatic beats he’s always able to sell. A bit like the humour mixed with sadness that plagues Peter Facinelli’s Coop for this entire season. He stood out as the season’s MVP even as he moved through a series of crazy machinations. But, no one beats crazy machinations like Offerman. The man is a legend. Period. - Julie Bowen in Modern Family for “Regrets Only”
- Jane Krakowski in 30 Rock for “Queen of Jordan”
- Christa Miller in Cougar Town for “Walls”
- Busy Philipps in Cougar Town for “You Don't Know How It Feels”
- Merritt Wever in Nurse Jackie for “Orchids and Salami”
It was terribly difficult narrowing this list down to six. I want all six above and all five below to be remembered. Grrr. Krakowski and Wever both have something in common. Both their shows were so caught up in other plotlines that at times it felt like they both were being shafted. That’s why it’s so impressive that they turned in such excellent work this past season. Both hit the comedic bits like nobody’s business and Wever in particular managed to turn those comedic bits into moments of strong character development. The Cougar Town cast is excellent and I’m glad that both Philipps and Miller turn up. Both bring different things to their shows, but like that episode where Ellie finally realises the value of Laurie these two are on fire when they’re working together. Eve Best and Julie Bowen are both sometimes relegated to playing the straight woman alone, but both do their finest work of their tenures this last season. Bowen has the upper hand, but both were fantastic. Friday, 1 July 2011
Why is that the lead actors’ races seem so boring to us? Is it because the pickings are slim or is it because we know Emmy is lazy in their choices? Ryan and I are back with my predictions, the Outstanding Lead Actors. We start off predicting and end up veering into discussions on Web Therapy and excel spread-sheets.
Andrew: So, the lead actors. It's in theory the top acting category, but I find the pickings really slim. Or is it just me?
Ryan: No, it's not just you. My long-list is not really that long to be honest.
Ryan: But I think most of that is also due to the Emmys sticking to the same 5-6 guys as much as they can whenever they can.
Andrew: Exactly. Because there are some great actors coming to mind, but I just know that Emmy is never going to nominate them.
Ryan: Most definitely. With that said, in Comedy and Drama there are people who aren't eligible or their shows ended, so they HAVE to pick new-ish people.
Andrew: So, which of the two to start with. Which is weaker, drama or comedy?
Ryan: Don't know about weaker per se, but let's start with Comedy first.
Andrew: Parsons, Carrell and Baldwin?
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| Are these three poised for a nomination? |
Ryan: Exactly. Last year's winner, sentimental favourite, and loved by the Emmys.
Andrew: Yup, yup, yup. I can already see that this is going to be one tepid discussion. (I'm sure our personal lists will be way more fun.)
Ryan: Most definitely. Though it will be interesting to see where the Emmys will go to fill the other spots. Would it be 2 or 3 more spots?
Andrew: Generally, it's six per category (for serial acting). I know you're not a fan of Morrison, but considering the weak field of persons they'd actually nominate I'd say he deserves a nod (and will probably get one).
Ryan: Ha! Actually when I was making my predictions I came up with five choices leaving out Morrison so I guess he could take that sixth spot for me. I wonder if the Emmys are still high on Glee though in general. I'd wish they'd branch out a bit more like Joel McHale even though he isn't the funniest in his cast.
Andrew :I think I'll save my thoughts on Glee acting for when we meet a particular category, but I think Morrison deserves credit for making a lot poor writing decisions work (most notably “Rocky Horror Glee Show” which he sort of sold).
Ryan: Yeah, I guess. I think I've just developed a sense of apathy towards Morrison's character which is sad.
Andrew: Heretic! And, incidentally, I'm wondering if McHale could get a nomination (although I like to pretend Community is just Glover and Brie.)
Ryan: It really all depends on if they think that Community was snubbed last year. Zero nominations in all categories! Which was especially stingy since they asked McHale to announce the nominations last year!
Andrew: AND Community was BRILLIANT last season, much better than this one.
Ryan: Yes, exactly I was just going to say that if this season had built up on the goodwill the first one had, then it'd almost be a no-brainer. But speaking of a brilliant show... Parks & Recreation... any thoughts on Rob Lowe's lead campaign?
Andrew: I think it's both brilliant and ridiculous...just like his character actually. It might work, and then again it might not, but maybe it might. On the topic of freakish submissions, I finished watching Episodes Season One and Matt LeBlanc is nowhere NEAR a lead actor. I have a feeling one of them will get in, but I'm not sure which...
Ryan: That's a bit weird. At least from the commercials I've seen it looked like LeBlanc's star vehicle post-Friends (because Joey never ever existed).
Andrew: (Drea de Mateo was ridiculously wasted on Joey. Ugh.) Nope, the Brits are the lead. The show is HILARIOUS, but Matt's hardly the draw for me. But, eh, he's a name actor. And, why has Duchovney never gotten an Emmy nod? I didn't watch this last Californication season, but he's great and he has a Golden Globe.
Ryan: Yeah, plus we already said it's a weak field. I was even tempted to put it Matthew Perry for the not-so-good Mr. Sunshine just for name recognition alone.
Andrew: Why haven't Perry and Kudrow gotten better post Friends shows? They're brilliant (PS. off topic, but have you heard Web Therapy is coming to the small screen?)
Ryan: I actually sort of dug The Comeback and Sunset Strip. They were both flawed, but at least Kudrow and Perry were damn watchable.
Andrew: Yeah, they were good but they both got cancelled well before their time!
Ryan: And yes, I can't wait to see how Web Therapy on TV. I need to catch up on the web series!
Andrew: Wow, we sort of derailed this conversation, that's how boring these men are. Okay, what do your nods look like?
Ryan: My predictions:
Alec Baldwin 30 Rock
Louis C.K. Louie
Steve Carrell The Office
Matt LeBlanc Episodes
Joel McHale Community
Jim Parsons The Big Bang Theory
And yes, I'd rather be wrong than predict Matthew Morrison.
Andrew: To quote Sue, “your resentment is delicious!” So, you see Louie making it? I've never seen it.
Ryan: Never seen it either, but critics are loving it. And again, weak category.
Andrew: My predictions:
Alec Baldwin 30 Rock
Steve Carrell The Office
Rob Lowe Parks and Recreation
Matthew Morrison Glee
Joel McHale Community
Jim Parsons The Big Bang Theory
Ryan: Rob Lowe! Delicious. Literally. Okay, Drama.
Ryan: This field is a bit more interesting. Maybe? Not really.
Andrew :Haha. What do you think of the field, generally? I think great potential nominees. Shame, Emmy hates them.
Ryan: Pretty much what I'm thinking too. Like Comedy, I see three locks. Buscemi, Hall, and Hamm.
Andrew: God, I want Hall to win so badly. Seriously, my mouth was on the floor when he lost last year? I mean cancer, a SAG, a Globe and the man STILL can't win an Emmy? Egads.
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| What does he have to do to win an Emmy? |
Ryan: Yeah, I love love love Bryan Cranston and his character Walt in Breaking Bad, but he did not need to win a third time and certainly should NOT have won over Hall last year. I was so... confused!
Andrew: I mean, Rita died DAMN IT! Ugh. Okay, moving on - I'm getting caught up. Who do we see joining him? I say Chandler, easy as pie. (Not that pie is easy, but whatever.)
Ryan: Is it that easy really? I mean it was a great (and awesome) breakthrough for him and Britton to be nominated last year, but will they repeat? I guess in this case, Emmys complacency should help for once.
Andrew: I just feel like Chandler is EVERYWHERE now and the Super 8 (which I DID NOT LIKE) I just feel like he's in. I don't know. But then, Paxton has never been nominated (WTF??????) and his show ended too...
Ryan: Kind of odd to see Chloe Sevigny the only person to get noticed from that show, but neither here nor there.
Andrew: (and Sevigny did not get Emmy love, but I'm not even going there...not for now)
Ryan: Other than Buscemi, any other new blood? There's a lot of talk about Timothy Olyphant for Justified.
Andrew: I've never seen Justified, I love Olyphant but I'm a terrible fan...for some reason I think he could be easily snubbed...it's sort of half-and-half from where I sit. Same goes for William H. Macy in Shameless.
Ryan: And Sean Bean in Game of Thrones. Lots of maybes, who knows, we'll see...
Andrew: And Hugh Laurie in House. Geez, this category is actually looking packed.
Ryan: Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment is a former nominee.
Andrew: Irons for The Borgias, Byrne for In Treatment, Leary for Rescue Me. Wow...this is interesting.
Ryan: Yeah, plenty of people could be nominated it seems!
Andrew: I'm going to go ahead and lay down my picks; even though I have a feeling I'll be devastatingly wrong.
Ryan: Half of our picks will at least be right!
Andrew: (Always the optimist). Predictions:
Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire
Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment
Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall in Dexter
Jon Hamm in Mad Men
Bill Paxton in Big Love
I sort of feel Chandler and Paxton won't both be nominated, but I don't know which to chuck out. Paxton was great this last season, but then....he's always been good...Ugh.
Ryan: Wow, we both snubbed Hugh Laurie. Very interesting. My predictions:
Steve Carrell
Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall in Dexter
Jon Hamm in Mad Men
William H. Macy in Shameless
Timothy Olyphant in Justified
Um, Wow not Carrell... Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire.
Andrew: Ha. Now THAT'S a weird slip.
Ryan: Well Steve Carrell did make me cry this season! Bastard.
Andrew: I'm actually kind of sure that Paxton WON'T be nominated, but I don't want to predict him not getting in. I'd feel responsible if he doesn't...
Ryan: We have our own battles. Mine is not predicting Morrison, yours is predicting Paxton. We're good.
Andrew: So, hmm. The men are done. I'm having way more fun making up my fake ballots.
Ryan: I'll need to look over the list again to make my own picks, but yeah it'll definitely be way more fun.
Excel Sheets,
Andrew: When I say I'm neurotic, I'm not kidding. I've been making my spreadsheet since January. I have an entire excel sheet dedicated to my ballot.
Ryan: That is impressive. The closest thing I've done similar to that would be to keep an on-going list of movies I see and rank them relative to each other as soon as I see them so that by year's end, the list would be done. Oh and I also list all of the critic awards pre-Oscars to track down front-runners and whatnot.
Andrew: (I have another excel document for movies.)
Ryan: Of course you do!
Andrew: This is so screwed up.
Ryan: It's what we do. We all have our little obsessions.
Andrew: My own awards are more fun because I choose my own categories, wherever I see fit. Like when we discuss the supporting actors next (tomorrow?) you'll see how random some of the submissions are.
Ryan: I've looked them over already though nothing really looked out of place for me. I'm sure you'll point them out though.
Andrew: I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not…
Ryan: I'm not! For me, it was just funny seeing people submit themselves as if they have a chance to actually get nominated. So hilarious. Oh man now I sound overly pretentious... but seriously, some of these people... no.
We can’t give away the entire conversation. Supporting Actors are next, but what do you think of our predictions for the Lead Actor Ballot? Are we crazy for snubbing Laurie? Is Ryan crazy for snubbing Morrison?
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Hickey recently won a Tony for his work in The Normal Heart and if he’d had only a few more killer scenes in The Big C he’d have been a shoo-in for Emmy consideration. He’s the brother of Linney’s cancer patient, and he just happens to be living on the streets – by choice. Hickey paints his intrepid character in broad strokes, but those strokes are hilarious and he’s an absolute delight to watch. He’s great opposite Linney, but even better opposite Cynthia Nixon (a friend of Cathy who he recently impregnated). The Big C just happens to be about someone with cancer, it’s ensemble is brilliant. Hickey needs to get more.
The amount of things I want to change on Glee…. Musically, Salling is my favourite supporting player on the show and for some time in season one Puck was my favourite character. As of late, though, he’s become one random ball of confusion – like a number of things on the show. It’s not that I object to the presence of Lauren, I just wonder if the writers have any legitimate interest in Puck since they’ve managed to turn him into an overly trite mess. Remember how funny he was dreaming about Rachel in “Mash Up”? Or how surprisingly deep he was offering Quinn that money in “Wheels”? Give the guy something to do. When he’s going to get another Jewish artist to cover?
Somewhere around the middle of the last season I feel in love with Grenier’s acerbic family law representative of Lockhart/Gardner. Whether he was insulting Derek Bond or advising Alicia on her prospective divorce Grenier was continually excellent offering a brand of caustic humour that the show lacks on occasion. The show already has Eli Gold for random humour, but I’d love if David Lee got a more prominent role in the show next season. He's another theatre alum (Tony nominated for 33 Variations), so far he’s been brilliant opposite Alicia, Diane and Will. Let’s see him face off with Kalinda and Cary. 
Apparently every real Mad Men had orgasmic reactions to “The Suitcase”. I’m not a “real” Mad Men fan (though, I did like the episode). Still, my favourite scene of the last season involved neither Peggy Olson nor Don Draper it was Lane and Joan who defined the season for me. Case in point, that scene in “The Good News” where Lane’s incompetent secretary mixes up his flower orders and Joan and him have that argument. Jared Harris is just perfect as Lyle, whether it’s fending off his abdominal father or dealing with his marriage problems. He’s a great addition to the cast, and I’m hoping that when the show returns he’s given more to work with. More great scenes opposite Hendricks would be great.
Kaling writes for the show, so I figure that they’re not too intent on going overboard with her and, true, I miss Ryan (BJ Novak) just as much. Consider this a nomination for both of them. Kaling was so funny in the season finale, applying for the job of manager, and her ditzy charm works brilliantly especially since she’s so certain that she’s not ditzy. The departure of Carrell has not made me lose interest in the show, but giving Kaling more to do would make me love it even more.
Mol’s not a regular on Boardwalk Empire and the show boasts such a large ensemble that I could pick out any number of characters who’re worthy of more screen time. Still, Mol is so fantastic in her role that she’s all but begging for a promotion to a regular player. She plays the mother of one of our protagonists, Jimmy. (Ignore the propaganda; Michael Pitt and Steve Buscemi are co-leads.) Her son is 13 years younger than she and she maintains a good relationship with him even as she plays her leading role in a burlesque club. Other than Kelly MacDonald the show is lacking in strong female performers, more of Mol would not be a bad thing. 
All Diane Lockhart, one of the name partners of Alicia Florrick’s (the eponymous good wife) firm needs is a withering glance and she steals a scene and as much as I love Kalinda (in superlatives) I wish there’d be more for Baranski to do with the role. After the power-play last season by Derek Bond the show sort of lost interest here, and the season finale was egregiously low on Diane witticisms. Hopefully Panjabi will win a second Emmy this season, so the writers need to put all their effort into ensuring that Baranski wins it next season, and for that to happen they need to give her better material to work with.
I’m loathe to say that there’s anything wrong with Parks and Recreation, it’s about as perfect a TV show as there is at the moment but I can’t deny that the opportunity for Retta’s delightful Donna having more screen time would make my day. One of the most surprisingly great arcs last season on the show was Ann and Donna going on speed dates and bumping into each other and the two’s chemistry was brilliant. It’s only proof that Retta is just all around greatness. Give her and her Mercedes more! 
Thanks to Jose I’ve fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with True Blood and as expansive as the cast I always feel as if everyone gets enough love – except for Pam. Pam is Eric Northman’s (Alexander Skarsgård) protégé and is one of the best female vampires – ever. There are lot of things I want in season 4 (continued storylines for Sam, a little more Tara and Sookie) but increased Pam is one I want desperately. Kristin Van Bauer deserves something more than occasional one-lines (even if she’s brilliant doing them).Any TV characters you want writers to pay more attention to?
