Critics' Choice Television Awards Nominees

The Broadcast Television Journalists Association have decided that we need more precursor award shows leading up to the Emmy Awards and thus presenting the Critics' Choice Television Awards! I say bring it on especially if this helps in any way Emmy voters pick more interesting and generally better nominations. And for the most part, this group definitely gave us a wonderful array of shows and actors for its inaugural award show. The nominees are below...

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Fringe
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Justified
The Killing
Mad Men
The Walking Dead

Not much to complain here as they included two of my favorite shows of the year, The Good Wife and Fringe. The latter is especially welcome as it doesn't get nearly enough mainstream praise that it deserves. I'm rooting for either one to win, but critics will probably opt for some on cable or premium channels. Can Mad Men hold off some of the new favorites?

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
William H. Macy, Shameless
Timothy Olyphant, Justified

Interesting to see Hugh Laurie snubbed, but since I don't watch House, I don't really care. There aren't really any bad choices here, but I think I'll root for Kyle Chandler or Michael C. Hall, the former because he's a sentimental favorite and the latter because he went through some crazy acting acrobatics this year.

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Anna Torv, Fringe

Oh, how I wish this would be the exact same lineup at the Emmys! Look how glorious each and every character and actress listed! I'm so happy Anna Torv was recognized, because as I said before her show and everyone involved deserve all the kudos and awards thrown at them. I'd probably pick her if I was voting, but with Marguilies and Moss in the line-up, it's IMPOSSIBLE to choose. Don't even know who they'd pick to win.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Walton Goggins, Justified
Shawn Hatosy, Southland
John Noble, Fringe
Michael Pitt, Boardwalk Empire
John Slattery, Mad Men

Good solid choices here as well and I'm especially tickled by Alan Cumming's nomination since in a cast full of insanely talented people, he really does stand out. Go John Noble, who is probably a slight favorite, but I'm not really sure!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Michelle Forbes, The Killing
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Margo Martindale, Justified
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Chloë Sevigny, Big Love

I sound like a broken record already, but I love these nominations. I'm a bit sad that they didn't have room for Julia Stiles' amazing work on Dexter, but I wouldn't know who to kick out from this line-up. Christina Hendricks aka YoSaffBridge is a sentimental favorite, but Forbes, Sevigny, or Panjabi will probably win.

BEST COMEDY SERIES
Archer
The Big Bang Theory
Community
Glee
Louie
The Middle
Modern Family
The Office
Parks and Recreation
30 Rock

Hm. Now I know How I Met Your Mother wasn't perfect this season, but it's definitely better than the increasingly tired 30 Rock, the mess that is Glee, and the an aging The Office. Same deal with Castle. Where is it?! But with all that said, I'm not too butthurt over it, especially since Parks & Rec, Community, and Modern Family all deserve their nominations. I'm pulling for one of those shows to win (Parks & Rec!).

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Louis C.K., Louie
Charlie Day, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Joel McHale, Community
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

A list without Nathan Fillion is not a good list even though I appreciate the inclusion of McHale and Parsons. I'd probably vote for Carell to get it since he was damn good at his final season of the show and he's probably the sentimental favorite for this very reason.

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
Courteney Cox, Cougar Town
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Patricia Heaton, The Middle
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Was Tina Collette not considered? Was her show not qualified? I'm generally okay with these nominations and especially happy that Courtney Cox was recognized (fuck you Emmys!). I'm rooting for Amy Poehler here, but I can see any of these ladies take home the prize to be honest.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Danny Pudi, Community
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

This category is STACKED and I'm sure they could've included a few more worhty names. Chris Colfer probably should've been included, but really I wouldn't know who to remove from the list. I'd also add Adam Scott, Danny Glover, and Jason Segal. Offerman could just steal this award from the Modern men. He definitely can.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Jane Lynch, Glee
Busy Philipps, Cougar Town
Eden Sher, The Middle
Sofía Vergara, Modern Family

Since I wasn't such a fan of Lynch's Sue this year, I'd actually wish she would be replaced by Naya Rivera or Heather Morris. Or even Alyson Hannigan or any of the ladies from Community or Big Bang Theory. But I'm generally fine of these nominees and happy to see Busy Philipps recognized. I'm sure one of the Modern ladies will win.

BEST REALITY SERIES
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Hoarders
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Sister Wives
Undercover Boss

I watch a total of ZERO from this list. So... yeah good luck to all.

BEST REALITY SERIES — COMPETITION
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef

The only show I watched this season was The Amazing Race, but God knows it's no longer the most hip show out there. I wouldn't mind seeing it lose to Top Chef.

BEST REALITY SHOW HOST
Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
Ty Pennington, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Mike Rowe, Dirty Jobs
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

Cat Deeley is the best host here. There is no competition. Also where is Phil Keoghan? I demand a recount!

BEST TALK SHOW
Chelsea Lately
The Daily Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Oprah Winfrey Show

Will they give it to Oprah since this is the last time they'll be able to do it? Or will they actually give it to a show that deserves it like The Daily Show or Ellen? We'll see.

Happy Thanksgiving!

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving! Second, a bit of self-promotion. Earlier this month I decided that I just wasn't stretched thin enough so I decided to get a tumblr account. Mostly it was so I could more easily follow people there, but also because it enabled me to use the little Photoshop skills I have. Plus lots of pretty pictures.


Anyways, if you have a tumblr feel free to follow or ask me a question or whatever. If you have a tumblr let me know so I can follow you. In the meantime, hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving. Or if you don't celebrate it... happy Thursday!

Fact: The two images used in this entry are my own creations and are on my tumblr.

Wednesday TV Report

Who else was caught completely off-guard by the sudden somber turn that Cougar Town took last night?


I mean there we were going through the episode with the shows signature slapstick humor and suddenly things get real with Smith and Laurie breaking up. What hit the moment home was Busy Phillips crying and Courtney Cox (who weirdly enough announced her separation with her long-time husband a few days earlier) comforting her. It was a nice heartfelt moment in a show that usually goes wacky for most of its laughs. The first few episodes so far has shown that this show knows exactly what it is now, a kooky and hilarious ensemble show, and they're delivering it week after week.

The other half of ABC comedy power hour is of course Modern Family and it was yet another great episode. I had three favorite moments. The first is the meeting of the siblings at the gym where in the midst of Mitchell doing "troga" (treadmill + yoga) they decide to help each other with their respective problems with their partners. The second moment is the hilarious freak out by Alex during her final phone call with the "popular" girl from her class. Finally, the third moment was the touching and organic way the show sneaked in a Mitchell/Cam foamy kiss. The rest of the episode was also solid and the first few episodes have more or less confirmed why this show is one of the best comedies out there right now.

Even though it was preempted last night, just want to quickly give The Whole Truth a positive shout-out. It's a show I shouldn't find interesting, but week after week I tell myself I'll only see the first five minutes and before you know it I've seen the whole episode. Most of it I think has to do with Rob Morrow and Maura Tierney. Unfortunately I wish I was as thrilled with NBC's Undercovers as I am with the three shows I just wrote about. The two main leads are gorgeous and I do like their chemistry. I'm also warming up to the supporting players, but I just can't help thinking that I've seen this type of show already and it was done better (think Alias, Chuck, Covert Affairs). I like the overarching mystery of their secretive past as well as the "real" reason they were both activated, but I need more to keep me interested.

Now it's time to talk about ratings. Modern Family, like Glee, is a bonafide hit and will be a staple in the schedule for years to come. Cougar Town, probably helped by a great lead-in is also locked for renewal. The new shows, however, I'll be surprised if they survived the season. Both Undercovers and The Whole Truth are pretty much dead in the water with Undercovers in a slightly better position since NO SHOWS are doing well on NBC. But if you're a fan of either show, try not to get too attached.

Birthday Girl: Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow, my favorite Friends alum, celebrates her 47th birthday today. Like Meryl Streep, she graduated from my alma mater and I actually spoke to her once. She came out of a meeting. I was in a computer lab close to her and could tell she was frustrated at her phone. I went up to her and told her the reception sucked here. She snickered at that and I then blurted out how much of a fan I was of her. Then she had to go. Epic meeting of minds, I know.

In any case, despite that awkward exchange, I still think she's fabulous. Since Friends, she's been doing bit roles in TV and movies, but I'm looking forward to her next big project that would bring her to the screens more regularly.

Kudrow is currently headlining a web series, Web Therapy, that she started with her long-time friend Don Roos (director of The Opposite of Sex and Happy Endings). I discovered the series earlier this month via A Blog Next Door and I actually just finished watching the third and most recent season a few minutes ago.


Each season contains 15 episodes with the episodes each lasting only about 5-15 minutes. Kudrow plays a therapist who one day decided that a 3-minute therapy sessions over the internet are vastly better and preferable over the standard 50-minute in-office session. It's hilarious! Just dark comedy gold!

Never mind that Kudrow's Fiona Wallice is a hoot in her delusional obliviousness, but the guest stars are just perfection. I mean look at some of the names of those who have appeared on the series so far: Jane Lynch, Courtney Cox, Victor Garber, Alan Cumming, Dan Bucatinsky, Molly Shannon, Tim Bagley, Mike McDonald, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and a few more. Whew! So go check it out!

Happy Turkey Day!

Last night's episode of Cougar Town has got to be one of the best episodes for the series so far. The show is always good when it's less about Courtney Cox's struggle with her age and more about her wacky friends and her wonderful relationship with her son. And last night they were all invited for Thanksgiving!

Gotta say, it was quite comforting seeing Courtney Cox prepare Thanksgiving dinner in prime time again. Granted it was no "shimmying while wearing an impossibly large frozen turkey on your head with over-sized glasses," but it was still good.


Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!