2009 Emmy Nominations

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

• Big Love
• Breaking Bad
• Damages
  Dexter
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men

Where the fuck is Friday Night Lights? Or even Battlestar Galactica? Hmm. I would replace House with either one, and I'd be willing to replace Lost and Damages with Friday Night Lights. Not that any of these aren't good Drama series, but Friday Night Lights is just SO GOOD. And BSG deserved something after 4 seasons.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

• Entourage
• Family Guy
• Flight of the Conchords
• How I Met Your Mother
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Weeds

I've never seen Flight of the Conchords, and I'm biased given my hatred of the Office, but I would have included Big Bang Theory on this list. And more to the point Chuck. Entourage needs to die, I'm done with it. I watched a bit of the first season and never saw the appeal.

Outstanding Reality Competition

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Project Runway
• Top Chef

I didn't bother to paste the other Reality competition because I don't watch it. I fear Runway has been gone too long to win. Race just had an awesome season, so it'll probably win for the 64th time. Top Chef is good but not worthy of an Emmy win. Idol needs to die.

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

• Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
• Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
• Hugh Laurie (House)
• Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
• Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
• Simon Baker (The Mentalist)

Again, I ask where the hell is Kyle Chandler? I knew McShane would never get nominated but he was good. I like Hugh Laurie, and he's good on his show, but I want fresh meat. I really need to check out Breaking Bad.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

• Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters)
• Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
• Glenn Close (Damages)
• Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)
• Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men)
• Holly Hunter (Saving Grace)

Yay Elizabeth Moss! Happy Dance for Mad Men. Where the hell are Mary McDonnell and Connie Britton? Sally Field? Really? Bros and Hos needs to end, even if I do love Scotty and Sarah. Except for Glenn Close and Elizabeth Moss, this category is boring. Hopefully FNL will get some love SOME day.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• William Shatner (Boston Legal)
• Christian Clemeson (Boston Legal)
• Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
• William Hurt (Damages)
• Michael Emerson (Lost)
• John Slattery (Mad Men)

Yay Michael Emerson. If you replaced the Boston Legal names with someone who actually deserves it, I'd be happy with this list. If Shatner wins I'm going to be very, very, very angry.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Cherry Jones (24)
• Rose Byrne (Damages)
• Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Dianne Weist (In Treatment)
• Hope Davis (In Treatment)

Sandra Oh didn't DO anything this season on Grey's Anatomy. And Rose Byrne I think was much better last season. Not having seen In Treatment, I'm going to go with Chandra Wilson. She wasn't as strong as last year, but she'sreally the only watchable part of that mess lately (occasionally Callie is good, but I'm so done with Izzie).

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Jermain Clement (Flight of the Conchords)
• Tony Shaloub (Monk)
• Steve Carell (The Office)
• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
• Charlie Sheen (Two & a Half Men)
• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

Yay Jim Parsons! Boo Tony Shaloub and Charlie Sheen. Where is Zach Levi on this list? Why hasn't Monk ended already?

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• Julia Louise Dreyfuss (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
• Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Show)
• Tina Fey (30 Rock)
• Toni Collette (The United States of Tara)
• Mary Louise Parker (Weeds)

Having never seen New Adventures of Old Christine I'm not devastated by any of this. I'm glad Toni Collette got a nomination, and I hope she wins it.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Tracey Morgan (30 Rock)
• Jack McBrayer (30 Rock)
• Kevin Dillon (Entourage)
• Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
• Rainn Wilson (The Office)
• Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Neil Patrick Harris, all the way. I would have liked Michael Urie to get something, but I'm not surprised he didn't. Tracey Morgan isn't the best part of that show, but go Jack McBrayer, who is the third funniest thing there (next to Baldwin and Fey). If Kevin Dillon wins in place of Jeremy Piven, I will throw something at the TV. And why is Jon Cryer supporting if Charlie Sheen isn't? Aren't they BOTH the Two and a Half Men?

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)
• Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies)
• Amy Poehler (SNL)
• Kristin Wiig (SNL)
• Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
• Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds)

Kristin Wiig is hysterical, but KRISTIN CHENOWITH! My other two picks would never have been nominated, even if I think they're funnier than Elizabeth Perkins on Weeds. All in all I support this list, although VDub wasn't as good this season, but that's not so much her fault as the shit writing on Betty.

Emmy Dream Ballot 2009

So apparently they're announcing the Emmy ballot on Thursday? These things sneak up on you. It's no secret that I LOVE the Emmy's, because they are the awards show I know the most about. I'm a TV aficionado (as Kristen, Brian's sister-in-law, now introduces me to people). So if they are coming up, then I want to list some of the people I think deserve to be nominated for each of the categories.

Best Drama Series

Mad Men
Lost?
Friday Night Lights
Battlestar Galactica

From what I hear, Big Love and True Blood are also great, as is Breaking Bad. I'm kind of behind these last few months. But I did finish season 2 of Mad Men, which was excellent, and Friday Night Lights had its best season EVER. Last season was kind of crap with the stupid murder subplot, but everyone was on this season. It was such a joy to watch every week. BSG is over, and should have been nominated ten times over. The last half of the fourth season I thought was more consistently strong than the series had been since season 1. Yes, there were some missteps but it was great. Lost really sucked me in with all the time travel stuff, but I'm not sure it deserves an Emmy yet. I feel like they should give it an emmy at the end of it's run. Overall I'd love for Friday Night Lights to win, but BSG can't be nominated again.

Best Comedy Series

Better Off Ted
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
How I Met Your Mother
United States of Tara
Pushing Daisies

I hate the Office. I say this having never actually watched the office. But still I hate the office. I don't like Steve Carell, and I could care less about Jim and Pam. And in fact I kind of hate all sitcoms, except these four. Better Off Ted is black comedy brilliance and deserves to be recognized for it. 30 Rock is hysterical and has deserved its wins. I'm not sure BBT and HIMYM deserve an actual award, but they should be nominated. Definitely BBT over HIMYM, if I had to choose. Tara was new and innovative, although not exactly Laugh Out Loud funny. Not Weeds, last season was depressing and dark and frankly not that funny.

Best Reality Program

Amazing Race
So You Think You Can Dance
RuPaul's Drag Race

Top Model will never be nominated because it's garbage. Runway has been off the air too long I think. Race was fantastic this year, a true return to form. Dance is always good, although I still think season 3 was the best I've seen. Certainly this season isn't doing me any wonders. I don't think Drag Race will ever be nominated, but it was such a GREAT reality show. It had all of the pieces a good reality show needed, and it was moving. When Ongina announced he was positive? Insane (although in hindsight probably staged).

Best Actor: Drama

Kyle Chandler
John Hamm
Ian McShane

Other than that I don't know. Some people will say Olmos, but I never really enjoyed watching him. Chandler is freaking incredible in FNL and deserves a nomination, if not the whole freaking award. John Hamm is of course amazing. Ian McShane probably won't be nominated, but holy hell he is the best part of that show. Kings as a whole was weak, I admit, despite my love of it, but every scene Silas is in is Great TV. Other than that, who else is there? Anyone from Lost I feel should be "Supporting", and even then I can name only one character I would actually nominate. You'd think with all the TV I watch more would jump out at me.

Best Actress: Drama

Connie Britton
January Jones
Elizabeth Moss
Mary McDonnell

Any of these women deserve it, and if you don't agree, just watch the freaking shows. Each one of them was amazing to watch. I feel Big Love would round out the category, but again, behind. Glenn Close was also very good in Damages, but as a whole Damages was better last season.

Best Supporting Actor: Drama

Michael Emmerson
Bryan Batt (Sal from Mad Men)

Whoever else they nominate, Michael Emmerson deserves it. He was incredible to watch. While I love Mad Men, I didn't think any of those guys did great, although I could go with a nom for Vincent Kartheiser. Maybe also Taylor Kitsch from FNL.

Best Supporting Actress: Drama

Christina Hendricks
Adrienne Palicki

I don't know. That's all I've got. I loved Christina's performance so much I can't suggest others. Adrienne did a good job of showing the shit Tyra had to fight. Katee Sackhoff wasn't so bad on BSG, and I really liked her ending arc. Same with Kate Vernon. I should probably put them on here.

Best Actor: Comedy

Lee Pace
Alec Baldwin
Zach Levi
Jim Parsons

I would love for Lee Pace to win for Daisies, but I doubt he will. I also doubt he'll be nominated but oh how he should be. He and Chenowith MAKE that show. Baldwin is of course hysterical, hence his past win. How awesome would a Zach Levi win be? He'd give Chuck renewed energy, and he does a really good job in the show, so it wouldn't be undeserved. Really though, if Jim Parsons is nominated, he SO deserves the win. Without him on BBT, the show would die. If Tony Shaloub or James Spader are nominated, I'm sending a bomb. Just saying.

Best Actress: Comedy

Tina Fey
Toni Colette

If Toni is nominated, I'd think she'd be hard to beat, as she's playing five different characters, each different but amusing. And she can play humor and drama all in the same scene. That takes real acting chops. Tina Fey is freaking hilarious, and I wouldn't be upset if she won.

Best Supporting Actor: Comedy

Neil Patrick Harris
Michael Urie
Keir Gilchrist

I stole these from Low Resolution, but I agree with all of them. Neil Patrick Harris has been nominated numerous times and a win on top of his hosting gig would be amazing. Michael Urie deserves a nod, as he was the only watchable thing on Ugly Better (well, him and Amanda, but I'm getting to her). Keir did a great job as a gay teen dealing with his mother's shit, and he deserves a nom just for that scene where he burns down the shed.

Best Supporting Actress: Comedy

Kristin Chenowith
Portia de Rossi
Jane Lynch

Kristin deserves it, as she was far and away the best thing about Pushing Daisies. Every scene she was in was excellent. Portia is hysterical on Better Off Ted, and that makes me happy. I didn't watch all of Party Down, but I love Jane Lynch in everything she does.

So that's it. Not full lists by any stretch, but my ideas on names that shouldn't be ignored. We'll see how right I am.

Oscar Picks!

So I love the Oscars a lot, cause it's a huge deal. Above and beyond fashion, I enjoy seeing all the stars. So below are my picks for the big categories:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

This is the first year I've actually seen all 5 of the nominees before the show starts. I think Milk and the Reader were really good, but Slumdog was a more enjoyable watching experience. Frost/Nixon was very interesting but not as good as Milk. I would be content if Milk won, but if Benjamin Button wins I will freak the hell out. That movie was pretentious Shite.

Best Actor, Leading: Sean Penn

I thought Frank Langella did a good job as Nixon, but Sean Penn was absolutely fantastic as Harvey Milk. Lots of people think Mickey Rourke is going to win, but I can't stand Mickey Rourke, and I don't think he deserves credit for a comeback because I keep telling myself it's not happening.

Best Actor, Supporting: Heath Ledger

Note that I don't think Ledger should win, but I think he will win. Not that I didn't very much enjoy his performance, but I'm kind of done with all the "oh noes he died" shit. I didn't enjoy Brokeback Mountain enough, I guess. Robert Downey, Jr. definitely shouldn't win (and I have no clue why he was even nominated. Was it seriously the black face?). I haven't seen Revolutionary Road, so I can't really judge that. Josh Brolin was good, but not amazing. Same with Hoffman. I guess by default I'd vote for Ledger. Nevermind then.

Best Actress, Leading: Kate Winslet

Winslet made the Reader fantastic, and frankly she is at her peak right now. If she can't get the Oscar now, when can she get it? Meryl Streep was excellent in Doubt, but I'd like to see it go to someone new. Not that I'd be upset if Meryl won at all. I haven't seen the other three, but from what I've heard this makes the most sense. I've heard Angelina is so-so in the Changeling, and I've heard Anne is good but I'm still expecting/hoping Winslet will win.

Best Actress, Supporting: Viola Davis

In this category, I chose who I want to win, although I don't think she will. I thought her performance in Doubt was absolutely fantastic and moving. I haven't seen Vicky Cristina Barcelona because I don't like Woody Allen, but I wouldn't be surprised if Penelope Cruz won. I don't care for her really, and I don't know why. Amy Adams is a terrific actress but I wouldn't give it to her for Doubt, because she is better than that role (which was very good, nonetheless). I'm not voting for Marisa Tomei because she was in Mickey Rourke's comeback movie and I've already stated how I feel about that. I think it's exciting that this category is so up in the air.

The other categories just aren't so important, I think. Hollywood people care about Best Director, but I just don't. I think Slumdog will get that, though. Best Animated has to go to Wall-E. As far as I'm concerned that movie should have gotten a best pic nom instead of Frost/Nixon. Best song I want to be one of the songs from Slumdog, and all the art and art direction shit I can't be bothered with.

I'm so excited! I'll post my final score off the official Oscar Ballot, to see how well I do. Brian always does better than me, but maybe this year. Maybe!

PS - What the hell is wrong with Lisa Rinna's upper lip? Botox gone wrong!

Golden Globes Part 2: TV

Since work is going nowhere fast, time to finish what I started.

Best Television Series - Drama: I have not seen In Treatment, but I have not heard enough critical acclaim to make it worth my time when there's so much else to watch. And I have to say I don't quite understand why House is on this list. House is an entertaining show, and the acting is good, but it's not AMAZING the way Mad Men or Friday Night Lights is, or even as engaging as Dexter or Damages. As for True Blood, I couldn't quite get into it, although I've heard later episodes are better. That being said my vote goes to Mad Men, which is just amazing (even though I haven't seen season 2 yet, I trust it's amazing). My vote would go to Friday Night Lights if the idiots ever made a proper decision and nominated it.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: Law and Order should not be in an awards show, that's just my feeling about that. I love Sally Field, but I don't think she deserves this either. My vote goes to January Jones, who manages to portray the hopelessness of the housewife in the 1960s perfectly. All this Mad Men talk is making me want to watch the second season. Connie Britton would take my vote if she had been nominated. FNL gets cheated every fucking year.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: Why the hell is Jonathon Rhys Myers on this list? Tudors season 2 was crap, and all he did was play batshit crazy, which I think he might be. And again, I enjoy House but I don't think he really needs to win this award when compared with John Hamm or Michael C Hall or, had he been nominated, Kyle Chandler. Again with the FNL love. And I normally hate football.

Best Television Show - Musical or Comedy: 30 Rock by default. Weeds is entertaining, but hardly "Best Comedy". I hate the Office simply because I hate Steve Carrell. I know I'm in the minority on this. Californication and Entourage I don't watch. But 30 Rock is just so funny, with Tina Fey's deadpans and pretty much everything Alec Baldwin says.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: I love Christina Applegate in Samantha Who?, but I'm going to go with Tina Fey, for the reasons mentioned above. America Ferrera does a good job, but the highlight of Betty is the under-appreciated supporting cast. Without Marc and Amanda and Hilda and Justin, that show would be about one-eighth as good. Vanessa Williams is fantastic, but she gets attention. I have no idea why Debra Messing was even nominated other than her name, and Mary Louise Parker I think is an amazing actress, but I don't think she deserves the award over Tina Fey in a comedy category.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin for reasons mentioned above. He is hysterical in 30 Rock. And what the fuck is Tony Shaloub doing being nominated for anything? Monk is so 2003. That shit needs to end, and he needs to stop taking nominations from people that really deserve them. I can't think of who that might be, but certainly not him.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: I never watch these but usually wish I did. John Adams gets my vote simply because I've seen it. And I'm done with election drama a la Recount.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: What a long category name. Laura Linney because I like her, and have heard nothing about Judi Dench's performance. And frankly Dame Judi probably won't even bother goign to the awards because she literally has better things to do. Like being a Dame.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Definitely NOT Keifer. What the fuck was the 24 movie doing getting him nominated for this? Hmm. I guess Paul Giamatti. This is a dartboard category. Meaning I could hang the list on a wall, throw darts at it, and do almost as well as I'm doing now.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: This category seems horribly unfair for all of the supporting actresses and actors on TV. Comedy against Drama against miniseries? Ridiculous. While I love Sarah, I don't think Rachel Griffiths deserves this. She barely did anything last year. I can't imagine Melissa George did anything fantastic, so I'll go with Diane Wiest, because I think she's a terrific actress. Not to hate on Ms.George, she was in Alias, but I hate her current arc on Grey's Anatomy, so I'm holding that against her.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: Here is my problem. I desperately want Neil Patrick Harris to win, not only because I have a huge crush on him, but also because I think he makes "How I Met Your Mother." I enjoy the show, but he is far and away the best thing about it. I'm also really, really fucking tired of Jeremy Piven winning, because I've seen a fair bit of Entourage and I just don't like it. But apparently I need to give In Treatment a try because it's all over this shit.

It's so weird choosing some of these categories, because they were included in the Emmys back in September. Like Recount. I will probably get most of these wrong, although I'm damned good with the Emmys. Unlike the Oscars, where Brian's choices always kick my ass. But we shall see! May the best (hah! Right, like that's how this shit works) contender win!

Golden Globes Part 1: Movies

I don't know if anyone knows this or not, but I love awards shows. I make a big to-do about the Emmy's and the Oscars, and I even enjoy they're less important sidekick the Golden Globes. In fact part of me almost likes it more because you can see the celebrities all getting a little tipsy, and it's fun to see TV and Movie stars in the same place. Sometimes I think the Oscars takes itself too seriously. Anyway, in honor of the Globes show this weekend, I'm going to write down my votes for all the categories. If you want the nominees, look here.

Best Motion Picture - Drama: I've only seen Benjamin Button, and I know I don't want that to win. I get the feeling from what I've heard that Slumdog should win. I really hate all of these overly thinky movies, like Revolutionary Road, and it amuses me that the lead in Slumdog was on Skins.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: Meryl Streep. Because she's Meryl Streep. If not her, then Anne Hathaway cause I also like her. I wouldn't be disappointed if Kate Winslet won, but as I said I hate the kind of movie that she was in.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: Again, definitely not Brad Pitt. He was chewing far too much scenery. From all accounts Sean Penn is excellent, but I have yet to watch the damned movie. All of these choices may change as I find more screeners (or more to the point watch the ones I have). Oh, also, I do not want Mickey Rourke to win at all.

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Burn After Reading was simply not funny. You could see where they were trying to go for a satire, but it missed the mark. I blame the crap acting of Brad Pitt and George Clooney. The cast of that movie should have done better. In Bruges was amusing, although very dark. Mamma Mia I thought was excellent but I would be surprised if it won, as it's a bit silly.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep or Emma Thompson, purely because of who they are. Meryl I thought did a fantastic job in Mamma Mia. Frances Mcdormand was horrible. I haven't seen the other two, so who am I to judge.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: I loved James Franco in Pineapple Express. It was so different from his usual brooding self and I really enjoyed it. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson did alright, but they were better as a team than individually. I don't like Javier Bardem after he creeped me out in No Country for Old Men, and I'm over Dustin Hoffman in a general sense.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: I have no idea whatsoever in this category, so I'm going to pick Amy Adams because I like her a lot, and Doubt seems interesting. In general I'm also voting against Vicky Christina Barcelona and The Wrestler just because.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Tropic Thunder was amusing because it was so crazy, but Robert Downey Jr. doesn't really deserve it. Tom Cruise was really amusing, but only becasue he was crass and wore a fat suit, neither of which require a great deal of acting. Heath Ledger was really good in his role, I do have to say, so I would probably like it to go to him.

Best Animated Feature Film: I've not seen Bolt, but I can't imagine it being better than Wall-E, which was one of my favorite films from 2008. Kung Fu Panda was enjoyable, but Wall-E by far is my favorite.

Best Foreign Language Film: I think this is a stupid category, so I'm refraining from choosing. Of all the films in the entire rest of the world, these 5 were deemed the best? It's stupid.

Best Director - Motion Picture: Meh. I have no idea. I love movies and TV like nobodies business, but I hardly ever think "The direction here is fantastic". Lets go with Danny Boyle, just cause. I liked the cinematography of Benjamin Button more than the direction, which I felt allowed Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett to over-act. And the set-up scenes through the years felt obvious and forced. And I feel like the other three movies, I could envision how most of the scenes are set up, which automatically makes the director replaceable.

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: Not to rail on it again, but Benjamin Button was far too long. That's a sign of sloppy writing. And what the hell was with Katrina in the background? I never understood. I'll split my vote between Doubt and Slumdog Millionaire until I've watched them.

Best Original Score - Motion Picture: Eh? Again, no clue. Lets give this one to Benjamin Button as a consolation prize for being an over-rated film.

Best Original Song: No idea about any of these songs, other than I didnt' like the one from Wall-E. Lets go with "Once in a Lifetime" because Beyonce has gotten all crazy and she might stab me if I don't.

Those are all the movie categories. I'll tackle TV, which I know a hell of a lot more about, at a later date.

Emmys

Today I spent the whole morning watching the Preshow and the Emmy's. I love awards shows I've decided, but I hate Ryan Seacrest. I thought the opening number was hysterical, but I don't like when they "pretend" like these cartoon characters are on the stage. it just looks forced. Put them on the screen, it's just easier. And next year ditch the theater in-the-round. It was disorienting and confusing. And they always focused on one side, ti's not like the actually rotated the center of focus. As for the winners, I have to say I was disappointed by almost all of them. I'm so so happy America Ferera (sp) won, but James Spader? The Sopranos? yuck. I was glad ricky gervais won, seeing as I hate Steve Carrell. And who knew there were so many damned "miniseries/special" categories. NO ONE CARES. Also, please refrain from the sleazy comments about hayden panettiere turning 18. We got it the first 3 times, now drop it. Especially having neil patrick harris make the joke. Or maybe that's the only way they can make it slightly less sleazy. (speaking of, no one asked him about his boyfriend being at the awards, yet every other guy was up there with their wives) And was it ok to return to the audience after your award? Cause really it made Tony Bennett look senile. Oh, and the censoring. What the fuck was that about? I thought the director had fucked up, and it wasn't until later when Sally Field said "God-damned" that i realized what was going on. So yeah, i'm disappointed. But I'm hoping Ellen's coverage and some of the post-party coverage is more interesting. I'll let you know what i dig up.