2010 Emmy Awards

     Below are links to a series of articles that I did for the 62nd Emmys.

Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor, and Lead Actress

Outstanding Drama Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress


Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actor, and Lead Actress

Outstanding Comedy Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress


Outstanding Guest Actors in Comedy and Drama Series




My Final List of Emmy Picks

Review of the 2010 Emmy Broadcast

2010 Emmys: Guest Actors and Actresses

    The Emmy nominations for this year are out. This is television's biggest awards show, and as a television reviewer, I couldn't help but be excited. Sure, there were some snubs, but there were also some pleasant surprises. With lots of time left until the statues are handed out on August 29th, there is plenty of time to examine who's up for what. In this fifth in a series of articles, I'll look at the the guest star awards.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Mike O'Malley, Glee "Wheels"; Neil Patrick Harris, Glee, "Dream On"; Fred Willard, Modern Family, "Travels With Scout"; Eli Wallach, Nurse Jackie, "Chicken Soup"; Jon Hamm, 30 Rock, "Emmanuelle Goes to Dinosaur Land"; Will Arnett, 30 Rock, "Into the Crevasse".  Mike O'Malley deserves this award the most.  His turn as the father who doesn't hate his gay son, and tries everything he can do make him feel accepted, was fantastic.  Definitely some of my favorite scenes in season one.  That being said, Eli was also great, and Fred Willard could always use a little more credit.  Honestly, I wouldn't be disappointed by anyone on this list.  It's a great group.  But O'Malley, all the way.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory, "The Maternal Congruence"; Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives, "The Chase"; Kristen Chenoweth, Glee, "The Rhodes Not Taken"; Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live, "Host: Tina Fey"; Betty White, Saturday Night Live, "Host: Betty White"; Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock, "The Moms"; Jane Lynch, Two and a Half Men, "818-JKLPUZO".  I love me some Lynch and some Chenoweth and some Stritch and some Fey, but let's clear those out of this cluttered category right now, because I don't think they'll win.  With White's momentum, including the groundswell facebook campaign that got her the gig, I see her as the favorite.  However, Baranski gave my favorite performance of the above choice (disclosure: I did not see Lynch's because that's a terrible show).  I also like Joosten quite a bit, as she's won before, I don't want to discount her.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Beau Bridges, The Closer, "Make Over"; Ted Danson, Damages, "The Next One's Gonna Go In Your Throat"; John Lithgow, Dexter, "Road Kill"; Alan Cumming, The Good Wife, "Fleas"; Dylan Baker, The Good Wife, "Bad"; Robert Morse, Mad Men, "Shut the Door, Have a Seat"; Gregory Itzin, 24, "1:00 PM - 2:00 PM".  All I can say is tough, tough, tough.  Lithgow's buzz makes me lean towards him, although I haven't watched it yet.  I am buzzing through Dexter as fast as I can, but I just started the series two weeks ago!  Itzin was wonderful, as always, and 24 just couldn't resist bringing him back again for good reason.  My third choice would be Cumming.  But again, tough category filled with very talented men.  This is one I am very unsure about my choices.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Mary Kay Place, Big Love, "The Might and The Strong"; Sissy Spacek, Big Love, "End of Days"; Shirley Jones, The Cleaner, "Does Everybody Have a Drink?"; Lily Tomlin, Damages, "Your Secrets Are Safe"; Ann-Margret, Law & Order: SVU, "Bedtime"; Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost, "The End".  I hate to admit it, but I only saw two of the above performances: Tomlin and Mitchell.  Both were excellent, both were talked about.  I favor Tomlin a little more.  However, Jones has been absent from television a long time, as has Ann-Margret, so my instincts are telling me these two legends may be battling it out.  We'll just have to wait and see.

     The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Sunday, August 29th at 8pm on NBC.

2010 Emmys: Comedy Part 2

    The Emmy nominations for this year are out. This is television's biggest awards show, and as a television reviewer, I couldn't help but be excited. Sure, there were some snubs, but there were also some pleasant surprises. With lots of time left until the statues are handed out on August 29th, there is plenty of time to examine who's up for what. In this fourth in a series of articles, I'll look at the the supporting player categories for Comedies.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Chris Colfer, Glee (Fox), Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother (CBS), Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family (ABC), Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family, (ABC), Ty Burrell, Modern Family (ABC), Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men (CBS).  So tough.  I have been lobbying for NPH for years, but now that Jeremy Piven has finally dropped off the list, and HIMYM had such a lackluster year, I just can't bring myself to support him for the award this time.  Cryer is a joke (just like his series), and should not be on this list.  People either love or hate the show, and I firmly fall into the second category.  Instead, Ed O'Neill, the one Modern Family adult that did not get a nomination, should be on here.  Of the MF guys, Stonestreet is my first instinct, but as soon as I consider Burrell's work, I go into deadlock.  I think the former has a better chance of winning, but the latter is just as deserving.  As is Ferguson, don't get me wrong.  What's working against his character is that he seems so toned down compared to the others.  I am a big fan of Colfer.  He's my favorite member of the Glee club, and I'm thrilled to see him get the nod.  But up against comedy veterans, this looks like a MF win.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jane Lynch, Glee (Fox), Julie Bowen, Modern Family (CBS), Sofia Vergara, Modern Family (CBS), Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live (NBC), Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock (NBC), Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men (CBS). Jane Lynch, hands down.  The comedy goddess has been overlooked for many an award, but as Sue Sylvester, she is a powerhouse that cannot be stopped, nor should she be.  If the award is stolen from her (and if she doesn't win, it will be a crime), it will go to one of the Modern Family ladies, both equally deserving, and had Lynch not been on television this year, they would stand a real chance.  Wiig is carrying SNL by herself these days, but it's leading to a little bit of overexposure, which coupled with bad writing, will probably sink her ship.  It's nice to see Krakowski get a nod.  I often view her as pushed out of the spotlight by the many other hams she works with, but in retrospect, she does hold her own.  I like the actress Holland Taylor, but why she would even consent to being on such a show, I do not know, and cannot in good conscience write anything even suggesting that Two and a Half Men might deserve the slightest praise.

     The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Sunday, August 29th at 8pm on NBC.

2010 Emmys: Comedy

    Last week, the Emmy nominations for this year were released. This is television's biggest awards show, and as a television reviewer, I couldn't help but be excited. Sure, there were some snubs, but there were also some pleasant surprises. With 51 days left until the statues are handed out on August 29th, there is plenty of time to examine who's up for what. In this third in a series of articles, I'll look at the major categories for Comedies.

Outstanding Comedy Series: Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), Glee (Fox), Modern Family (ABC), Nurse Jackie (Showtime), The Office (NBC), 30 Rock (NBC).  I hate to be a hater, because I love NBC's Thursdays, but Cougar Town deserves to make this list more than the last two.  I would even argue that Chuck should be here.  But of the nominees listed, all are excellent show.  Most people believe that there are only two that have a real chance of winning, though: Glee and Modern Family.  One is a charming, fresh, and original dramedy (with musical numbers!), while the other has perfected the art of sitcom.  Some would argue they belong in two separate categories, and I certainly see their point.  Glee blurs the line with what we would consider a comedy, however, I still think it will probably win.  It's just been too big a phenomenon not to.  Family should still take other awards, making both camps reasonably happy.  Props to CYE for being a nominee, though.  The Seinfeld reunion was a high point of the series.  And I adore Nurse Jackie, but wonder why it isn't considered a drama.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), Matthew Morrison, Glee (Fox), Tony Shalhoub, Monk (USA), Steve Carell, The Office (NBC), Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC).  This may be Parsons's year... if Morrison doesn't swipe it out from under him.  I think Parsons does the comedy game better, and so I am rooting for him, but I also think Glee's popularity may give Morrison a boost.  Baldwin is still funny, but I think it's time for someone else to have a turn.  Similarly, Shalhoub was wonderful in the role, but I hope nostalgia for his final season doesn't put him above more deserving competitors.  Poor Carell should have won at some point, but not this year.  And while I'm gratified to see David make the list, as I frequently laugh out loud at CYE, he's essentially playing himself.  I don't know that that deserves an award more than Parsons or Morrison.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Lea Michele, Glee (Fox), Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS), Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC), Tina Fey, 30 Rock (NBC), Toni Collette, United States of Tara (Showtime).  Tough category.  My instinct is Michele will take it, but I could see Falco, too.  Again, not sure why she's in the comedy category.  Did Showtime just think the competition would be less fierce?  'Cause it's not.  I'd like to see Julia get it, because it is completely unfair that CBS canceled her show, and perhaps it would garner more interest and a late save from another network if she did, though I think that unlikely.  On a like vain, NBC is holding Parks and Rec until mid-season, so perhaps Poehler's win would give it a needed boost.  It certainly deserves to have higher ratings.

     The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Sunday, August 29th at 8pm on NBC.

2010 Emmys: Drama

    Yesterday, the Emmy nominations for this year were released.  This is television's biggest awards show, and as a television reviewer, I couldn't help but be excited.  Sure, there were some snubs, but there were also some pleasant surprises.  With 51 days left until the statues are handed out on August 29th, there is plenty of time to examine who's up for what.  In this first in a series of articles, I'll look at the the big categories for Dramas.

Outstanding Drama Series: Breaking Bad (AMC), Dexter (Showtime), The Good Wife (CBS), Lost (ABC), Mad Men (AMC), True Blood (HBO).  Mad Men is favored to win for the third year in a row, so this category probably won't be much of a surprise.  However, The Good Wife got a lot of nominations, and seems to be quite the darling this year, so it could stage an upset.  It's a shame that Lost probably doesn't have a chance because it's a brilliant show that has garnered few major awards over it's six year run, despite the fact that it deserves them.  The other shows on this list are great shows, but considering they weren't able to break past Mad Men the last two years, and there weren't any gigantic, ground shaking changes, any more so than on MM, they aren't likely to do it this year either.  Too bad Friday Night Lights got the snub here.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC), Michael C. Hall, Dexter (Showtime), Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights (NBC / DirecTV), Hugh Laurie, House (Fox), Matthew Fox, Lost (ABC), Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC).  This list pairs pretty closely with the one above.  I am most pleased with the long overdue inclusion of Chandler, but as he hasn't even garnered a nomination for the role before, I don't think it likely.  Cranston has already taken the award the past two years.  In my opinion, Laurie most deserves it.  He took Dr. House to new levels, yet again, this past season, and it's time he was recognized for it.  Hall not so long ago valiantly fought (and beat into remission) cancer while filming his show, and had some really exciting twists this past year on screen, so I could see him taking it.  Of all of the talented actors involved in Lost, Fox is not at the top of my list at all.  It's a shame he earned a nod while so many of his more deserving cast mates did not.  That being said, I'll take anything the Emmys will give Lost, as it's been so woefully underrepresented.  This is one category, though, that any of the nominees would be deserving choices.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer (TNT), Glenn Close, Damages (FX), Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights (NBC / DirecTV), Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS), Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC), January Jones, Mad Men (AMC).  Half of this list is new this year!  That sure makes things exciting.  And there's some variety of shows and networks that weren't in the above two categories.  I hope this doesn't mean Emmy voters think women can't carry a Best Drama show.  I would disagree vehemently with that.  Close is the previous winner, but I don't know that she should win again.  Sure, she was fantastic, but with so many deserving actresses out there, I hate to see the same people win over and over, and other loose out.  But Damages has likely been prematurely canceled, so she may win it out of a sense of completion.  Britton, a first time nominee, would be my first choice, though I don't think her likely for the win.  Jones can star pensively with the best of them, but I don't think that is enough to earn her a statue.  Marguiles may be the favorite, with her new show getting so much attention, although Hargitay is long overdue, and has been nominated before without the win, so it could be time to make it up to her.  If Sedgwick wins, I'm not sure I can respect the Emmy voters' opinions anymore.

     The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Sunday, August 29th at 8pm on NBC.