2010 primetime emmy awards

Emmys are here again. Here are a few thoughts while I'm watching....

Right away, that might be the best Emmy opening ever. I loved all of it. Jon Hamm dancing on stage with the Glee kids and Hurley? Love love love.

Up first is comedy - and I'm a sucker for a montage.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Eric Stonestreet
I could not be happier about Eric's win. His performance is really so amazing in every episode. I do think Neil Patrick Harris is still owed recognition for Barney Stinson, but I'm really glad to see Modern Family receive a much-deserved award.

Fellow nominees:
Chris Colfer, Glee
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Modern Family goes back to back with another award for best comedy writing.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jane Lynch
So so so perfect. This award really couldn't have gone to anyone else this year. She did a great job with her speech and looks lovely.

Fellow Nominees:
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Man

Betty White in SNL and Neil Patrick Harris in Glee won for best guest role in a comedy yesterday. Glad for NPH, but sad Mike O'Malley didn't win for his portrayal of Kurt's dad in Glee. And Glee picked up its first award of the night for comedy director, Ryan Murphy. Well deserved.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons
Best Emmys ever! So happy for him. He works so hard and that character is one of the best on comedic television right now.

Fellow Nominees:
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Matthew Morrison, Glee
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Steve Carell, The Office
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

No repeat winners yet - is this unprecedented?

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Edie Falco
I'll admit that I haven't seen the show, but I've heard great things, and I'm glad to see her in another great role.

Fellow Nominees:
Lea Michelle, Glee
Julie Louis-Dreyfus, Old Christine
Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Toni Collette, United States of Tara

Brief focus on reality programming...the only award presented was Best Reality-Competition series, which went to Top Chef after what I believe was a nine-year reign for Amazing Race. It's the year of breaking streaks!

And onto drama...

First award went to writing for Mad Men. Matthew Weiner was guaranteed some hardware tonight.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Aaron Paul
I think it's time for me to add Breaking Bad to the Netflix queue. I would have liked a last-chance trophy for Terry O'Quinn, but oh well.

Fellow Nominees:
Martin Short, Damages
Terry O'Quinn, Lost
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery, Mad Men
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Archie Penjabi
She definitely wasn't my prediction, but great to see her win. Her performance is very subtle in The Good Wife, so I'm glad she was recognized. But I still love Joanie best of all.

Fellow Nominees:
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice
Rose Byrne, Damages
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men

Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston
Coach Taylor would tell me to be respectful, but inside I'm kicking tires at Riggins Riggs.

Fellow Nominees:
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Hugh Laurie, House
Matthew Fox, Lost
Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Guest actor and actress in a drama series went to John Lithgow in Dexter and Ann Margaret in Law & Order: SVU. No surprises there. Best dramatic direction went to Steve Shill for Dexter.

Musical tribute to 24, Lost, and Law & Order was pretty funny. I'll admit that Jimmy Fallon is an excellent mimic.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kyra Sedgwick
Tammy Taylor, you're my girl.

Fellow Nominees:
Glenn Close, Damages
Connie Briton, Friday Night Lights
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
January Jones, Mad Men

Switching gears toward the final approach...variety, music, and comedy specials.

I have to say, that variety montage was not Leno-friendly. Not that I'm complaining. Looking back I realize how much material that situation provided for all other late night comedians except for him.

Summary of the variety awards:

• Best variety special went to the Tony Awards. Bored, but really nice speech by that dude who I don't know.
• Best variety direction went to Bucky Gunts for the Vancouver Olympics opening ceremony. Huge job, so more power to him. If I'm not mistaken, this is NBC's first award of the night (on its own network). Wah wah.
• The Daily Show wins for variety series for the 3rd year in a row. Still glad Conan was nominated, but it was probably never going to happen.

AMEN to everything George Clooney said in his acceptance speech for the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.

Sorry, skipping the mini-series/TV movie category. Lovely, lovely. Claire Danes looks beautiful, and I definitely need to see that Temple film. Al Pacino is starting to look like a caricature of himself.

Outstanding Drama Series: Mad Men
Third consecutive year, and I can't argue with that. Still the most mesmerizing show on my TV every week.

Fellow Nominees:
True Blood
Lost
Dexter
Breaking Bad
The Good Wife

Outstanding Comedy Series: Modern Family
Yes! So happy about this one. Such a great show. Watch this show! Also, I love Manny's outfit. Pimp.

Fellow Nominees:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee
Nurse Jackie
The Office
30 Rock

That's it! Good job Jimmy!

nbc fall preview show

Excited for fall television? Most of the shows are back in full swing taping their new seasons - yipee! We'll get into the detailed schedule in the next couple of weeks, but in the meantime, here's a handy little promotional fall preview from NBC:

south america is a long way from dillion, texas

Are we ready to see Matt QB#7 Saracen in another role? Well, we're going to have to be. Zach Gilford has been cast as a series regular in a new fall show called Off the Map.

If you haven't heard about it, Off the Map is a new ABC drama coming in September by Shonda Rhimes - creator and excecutive producer of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. That's right, Shonda will have THREE medical dramas on primetime next season. For better or worse, she has pretty much cornered the market on this genre, you have to admit.

Gilford will play a plastic surgeon joining a team of doctors at medical clinic in a small town in South America. A plastic surgeon? Isn't Matt Saracen - I mean Zach Gilford - a little young to be a medical school graduate?

I wasn't particularly excited for another medical drama, but a bit more intrigued with this new addition. What say you? Ready to see him outside of Dillion?

Editor's note: That's probably not the most relevant photo for this story, but I love it. So tough.

much belated thoughts on 2010 emmy noms

Since I haven't been writing about many shows lately, why not do a post about almost every show on primetime television? Here are my thoughts on the 2010 Emmy nominations (nearly a month late, but who's counting?).

Programming note: the Emmys will be broadcast on August 29th on NBC. Jimmy Fallon will host. He's no Neil Patrick Harris (last year). I've always liked Jimmy Fallon in sort of an indefinable way. I like SNL, I like the Red Sox, he seems nice and normal and cute. What's not to like, right? I don't know. I just have no interest in watching his late show. I don't find him that funny, and he always seems just a little too awestruck by all of his guests. It borders on disingenuous. Am I alone in this? I wish he had stayed out of the hosting game and just played the funny, lovable best friend in comedies for the rest of his life.

Anyway, on to the nominations...

Outstanding Comedy Series
30 Rock has won for the last three (maybe four?) years. Time for some new blood, and that new blood is Modern Family! The best comedy BY FAR last season. I can't wait for it to come back. Glad to see Glee get a nod, although I still have trouble seeing them in the straight comedy category.

Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO
Glee, FOX
Modern Family, ABC
Nurse Jackie, Showtime
The Office, NBC
30 Rock, NBC (won last 3 years)

Outstanding Drama Series
I'm happy with all of the nominations in this category - a good variety that shows the strengths of both cable and network dramas this year. Not a surprise, but I'm happy to see Lost get some recognition for its final season. I wouldn't even mind a win even though I'm pretty sure that won't happen. Mad Men is likely to get a third consecutive trophy, and I can't argue with that.

Breaking Bad, AMC
Dexter, Showtime
The Good Wife, CBS
Lost, ABC
Mad Men, AMC (won last 2 years)
True Blood, HBO

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
I hate to say it, but I think it's time to end the reign of Jack Donaghy. I can't even remember the last non-Baldwin that won in this category. Steve Carell has never won - perhaps the recent press around his expiring contract will inspire some votes. He completely deserves it. Obvious props to the amazing Jim Parsons, but he has plenty of time to collect some trophies. And I don't think Schuester deserves it over any of these guys yet - with the exception of Monk, who just won't GO AWAY.

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory
Larry David as Himself, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester, Glee
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk
Steve Carell as Michael Scott, The Office
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock (won last 2 years)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
COACH TAYLOR FOR THE WIN!

Bryan Cranston as Walter White, Breaking Bad (won last 2 years)
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan, Dexter
Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor, Friday Night Lights
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, House
Matthew Fox as Jack Shephard, Lost
Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Lea Michele gives a Broadway-worthy performance every week, and it will probably go to one of the Showtime ladies, but I wouldn't mind a nod to Amy Poehler for a superior second season of Parks & Rec.

Lea Michele as Rachel Berry, Glee
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell, Old Christine
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Parks And Recreation
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, 30 Rock
Toni Collette as Tara Gregson, United States Of Tara (won last year)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
TAMI TAYLOR FOR THE WIN!

Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, The Closer
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes, Damages (won last 2 years)
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor, Friday Night Lights
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, The Good Wife
Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson, Law & Order: SVU
January Jones as Betty Draper, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
SO happy to see a much-deserved nod to Chris Colfer. I find it impossible to choose between the men of Modern Family (leaning a little toward Ty), so I'll pick NPH. Please give him a trophy before HIMYM officially goes down the tubes (who still says that and what does it even mean?).

Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel, Glee
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker, Modern Family
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy, Modern Family
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, Two And A Half Men (won last year)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Tough one! I hope Andre Braugher's nomination brings more eyes to Men of a Certain Age. That show is really so good. I wouldn't mind a repeat trophy for Michael Emerson one bit. As much as I love everything that comes out of John Slattery's mouth on Mad Men, but I don't think you can compare his work to that of Terry O'Quinn. He could use some credit for sure.

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, Breaking Bad
Martin Short as Leonard Winstone, Damages
Terry O'Quinn as John Locke, Lost
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus, Lost (won last year)
John Slattery as Roger Sterling, Mad Men
Andre Braugher as Owen, Men Of A Certain Age

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
I love me some Sofia Vergara, whose comedic hops may go overlooked on Modern Family. Gloria is perfection. But my heart belongs to Sue Sylvester on this one. Also, does Two and a Half Men have naked pictures of the entire voting pool?

Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester, Glee
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Modern Family
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Modern Family
Kristen Wiig as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper, Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Great to see some recognition for a USA show that isn't Monk. I like all of the ladies from The Good Wife and Mad Men, but I think Elisabeth Moss is most deserving this year. Amazing performances from her last season.

Sharon Gless as Madeline Westen, Burn Notice
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons, Damages
Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma, The Good Wife
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart, The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris, Mad Men
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Mad Men

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
Stick it to 'em Conan.

The Colbert Report, Comedy Central
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central (won last 2 years)
Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO
Saturday Night Live, NBC
The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien, NBC

Outstanding Reality Program
I'm consistently amused by Antiques Roadshow always getting nominated and relieved that Housewives are nowhere on this list. Kathy for the win.

Antiques Roadshow, PBS
Dirty Jobs, Discovery Channel
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, ABC
Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List, Bravo
MythBusters, Discovery Channel
Undercover Boss, CBS

Outstanding Reality – Competition Program
The Amazing Race has won SEVEN years in a row. Ehh why not? Keep it going.

The Amazing Race, CBS
American Idol, FOX
Dancing With The Stars, ABC
Project Runway, Lifetime
Top Chef, Bravo

Guest Roles
I won't list all of the nominations, but here's who I'd like to see win among the guest actor and actress nominees this year:

Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper, Mad Men
Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet Burke, Lost
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Mike O'Malley as Burt Hummel, Glee
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Kristin Chenoweth as April Rhodes, Glee