End-Of-Year: 2015 TV Winners

Slightly behind schedule, because I'm me, but after nearly two weeks since I posted my favorite TV shows, here are my picks for my favorite performances of 2015! Starting with my pick for best ensemble...

BEST ENSEMBLE: Sense8
Runner-Up: Orange is the New Black
Other Nominees: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fargo, Fresh Off the Boat, Game of Thrones, Jane the Virgin, Mad Men, Parks & Recreation, Veep

The cast of each of these shows are fantastic and so picking a favorite from among them is actually quite ridiculous. But I gave it Sense8 which made use of its globe-spanning cast to such unique effect that even though they were mostly separated from each other by long distances, it all still gelled together as a whole. My runner-up is of course the wonderfully female-skewed ensemble of Orange is the New Black which somehow just keeps getting better and better every season. The rest of the shows I've singled out are not to be lumped as honorable mentions since all of them really take pride in creating an overall sense of community with their casts.

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA: Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Runner-Up: Justin Theroux, The Leftovers
Other Nominees:Charlie Cox, Daredevil
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans

The Hannibal boys were my top two picks last year which is probably why I decided to leave them off my list in spite of a final season that really got into their twisted relationship. Instead, I opted for newcomer Malek whose approachable strangeness is a perfect fit for the show, both giving off a coldness that's tempered with real beauty. Runner-up went to Theroux who anchored his own share of crazy (he literally died and went to limbo twice) in the bravura sophomore season of his show. Mazel tov to Hamm's final season, Cox's ability to act in those tight costumes, Odenkirk's new spin to a familiar character, and Rhys' chameleon-esque talents.

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA: Krysten Ritter, Jessica Jones
Runner-Up: Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Other Nominees:
Hayley Atwell, Agent Carter
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

I honestly didn't know Ritter had it in her, which is my fault because her previous work most notably Apartment 23 and Breaking Bad showed she's more than capable at caustic realness and depth of emotion, which she deploys to brilliant effect in her show. Henson, in the meantime, gleefully plays one of the breakout characters of last year and is consistently the best part of her show. Shout out to Davis' courtroom dramatics, Maslany's TV-defying sister act, Moss' heartfelt goodbyes, and Atwell's ability to snark/fight in perfect hair and makeup.

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY: Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
Runner-Up: Adam Scott, Parks & Recreation
Other Nominees:
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Jonathan Groff, Looking
Randall Park, Fresh off the Boat
Joshua Sasse, Galavant

This was an interesting category for me, because it's usually such a BUMMER category when it comes to traditional award shows. It's gotten better with the recent Amazon 1-2 punch of Jeffrey Tambor in Transparent and Gael Garcia Bernal in Mozart Jungle (both NOT on my list because I haven't seen their sophomore seasons), but still lacking. My list, of course, shows what COULD BE and I wish more people would branch out a bit. My pick this year goes to Middleditch, whose show is popular and yet he hasn't been able to break through himself even though he's SO GOOD at the awkward-bumbling-genius role. Of course there's perennial favorite of mine Scott who, like most of the members of his cast, whisked into the sunset with absolute skill and class. Big props to Sasse's mad singing skills, Park's unrecognized hilarity, Ansari's delightful meanderings, and Groff's adorable cluelessness.

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY: Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Runner-Up: Aya Cash, You're the Worst
Other Nominees:
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat

Unlike its male counterpart, this category is ALWAYS SO DAMN COMPETITIVE to the point that two years running and I still haven't made room for the AWESOMENESS of the Broad City ladies. But looking at my final short list and you can see the immense talent on display. Rodriguez was my runner-up last year, but she was certainly THE breakout actress of 2014 and has only solidified her status as one of the best actresses working today this past year. Meanwhile Cash catapulted herself in runner-up position by deftly handling a depression story arc that could've been made a mess if it weren't for her excellent performance. Give it up also for Louis-Dreyfus gut-busting intensity, Wu's pitch-perfect line deliveries, Kemper's unabashed positivity, and Poehler's presidential exit.

Now comes to Supporting/Limited categories for which I've decided to shortlist 10 people per category as opposed to just 6 with the Lead. This is #PeakTV people and there are A LOT of people doing amazing work. Rather than seeing this as a Everyone Gets a Trophy, see this as a Look at How Fantastic A Lot of People Are. And go...

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA: Miguel Angel Silvestre, Sense8
Runner-Up: James D'Arcy, Agent Carter/Broadchurch
Other Nominees:
Aml Ameen, Sense8
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Burn Gorman, TURN
Joshua Jackson, The Affair
Matt McGorry, How to Get Away with Murder
Ari Millen, Orphan Black
Jussie Smollett, Empire
Martin Wallström, Mr. Robot

First, a bit of housekeeping. I'm considering all the main Sense8 characters as "supporting" the same way the Modern Family cast consider themselves that for awards. It's a bit of category fraud in my part, but I can live with it. With that said, Silvestre as the hot-machismo-soap-opera-stud on the outside but hot-mess-of-a-hopeless-sweetheart on the inside Lito is my top pick. Second place goes to D'Arcy playing two polar opposite characters in two very different shows (well they're both two GOOD shows). Also loving McGorry's dance moves, Millen's ability to keep up with Maslany, Banks' quiet intensity, Jackson's fiery arc, Gorman's unexpected redemption, Ameen's ridiculous smile, Smollett's coming out, and Wallström's own brand of crazy.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA: Maura Tierney, The Affair
Runner-Up: Jamie Clayton, Sense8
Other Nominees:
Calista Flockhart, Supergirl
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Regina King, The Leftovers
Charlotte Rampling, Broadchurch
Molly Parker, House of Cards
Lana Parrilla, Once Upon a Time
Jean Smart, Fargo
Holly Taylor, The Americans

There were SO MANY choices in this category that I actually forced myself to not give one show more than two nods (or else you'd see more Sense8 ladies probably). Speaking of that show, Clayton was my runner-up invoking such genuine realness and vulnerability to her character. Tierney was my top pick since in a show that's all about The Acting, she seems to really play it in such a natural and effective way even when she's going Big and Dramatic. Big props as well to Flockhart's boss-level attitude, King's strong presence, Rampling's ball of pain and regret, Parker's combativeness, Headey's shame shame shamefulness, Taylor's revelatory story line, Smart's wisecracks, and Parrilla's unexpected Savior Moment.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY: Titus Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Runner-Up: Andre Braugher, Brooklyn 99
Other Nominees:
Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin
Brett Dier, Jane the Virgin
Lamorne Morris, New Girl
Timothy Omundson, Galavant
Jeremy Allen White, Shameless
Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo
Zach Woods, Silicon Valley
Steve Zissis, Togetherness

This was a fun list to put together, because with every name I just start smiling or laughing. Certainly the top spot was a no-brainer as Burgess came out, so to speak, with all the glitter and pinot noir that he deserves and more. My winner two years ago and runner-up last year Braugher isn't too shabby as his Holt character gets more and more in touch with his ridiculous side. Shout out as well to Camil and Dier's endlessly fun bromance, Morris hot mess hijinks, White's brooding intensity, Woods' uncomfortable cadness, Zissis' confidence in his schlubness, Woodbine's unspoken threats, and Omundson's glorious hair.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY: Taryn Manning, Orange is the New Black
Runner-Up: Yael Grobas, Jane the Virgin
Other Nominees:
Donna Lynne Champlin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Kether Donohue, You're the Worst
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Allison Janney, Mom
Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Adrienne C. Moore, Orange is the New Black
Chelsea Peretti, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Lauren Weedman, Looking

The top two spots are held by actresses playing messed-up hard-to-love (actually VERY easy-to-love) women who keeps strong despite their circumstances. Manning in particular, thanks to her show's writers as well, has been able to really delve deeper into a character that was honestly intolerable just a couple of seasons ago. Grobas' meanwhile could've easily been stuck in such a one-note role and yet the show is able to take advantage of her great presence to make her such a complicated and fascinating character. All the love as well to Dunst's Minnesotan accent, Krakowski's TV comeback, Moore's touching Jewish conversion plot-line, Peretti's everything, Weedman's soulfulness, Champlin's voice of conscience, Janney's ability to hit funny/sad so effortlessly, and Donohue's line delivery of "New Phone, Who Dis?"

BEST LIMITED ROLE, ACTOR: BD Wong, Mr. Robot
Runner-Up: Alfonso Herrera, Sense8
Other Nominees:
Raul Esparza, Hannibal
Noel Fisher, Shameless
Hugh Laurie, Veep
Ki Hong Lee, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Lars Mikkelsen, House of Cards
Nick Offerman, Fargo
David Hyde Pierce, The Good Wife
Conrad Ricamora, How to Get Away with Murder

Wong had two very short scenes in the entirety of the show's first season run and yet he made such a huge impact to not only the mythology of the show, but also to its overall strangeness. Then there's Sylvestre's (see above) other half and yes I couldn't not single him out in this small way. Shout out to Ricamora's ability to stay alive, Offerman's Reagan reactions, Laurie's unassuming appeal, Fisher's touching coming out, Esparza's face-twisting role, Lee's clueless adorability, Pierce's one-on-one with Margulies, and Mikkelsen's dark presence.

BEST LIMITED ROLE, ACTRESS: Freema Agyeman, Sense8
Runner-Up: Rosario Dawson, Daredevil/Jessica Jones
Other Nominees:
Tovah Feldshuh, Walking Dead/Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Kathryn Hahn, Parks & Recreation
Eréndira Ibarra, Sense8
Margo Martindale, The Americans/The Good Wife
Cristin Milioti, Fargo
Lois Smith, The Americans
Liv Tyler, The Leftovers
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder

Agyeman has been a favorite of mine ever since her Doctor Who days and I was so happy to see her on TV again and her character in Sense8 is in line with all of the other wonderful, kick-ass ladies she is known for. Dawson in the meantime is playing double-duty as one character in two shows and excelling in both. Let's give her a starring role soon, okay Marvel? And finally much love to Hahn's absolute disgust, Martindale's professionalism, Feldshuh's whiplash of two roles, Ibarra's penchant for gay porn, Milioti's AND Smith's grace in death, Tyson's age-defying presence, and Tyler's violent transformation.

And scene. So now all that is left is my ranked list of my Top 35 TV Shows of 2015. Based on my picks above and last week, it's easy enough to figure out my favorites.

Golden Globes: TV Nominations

The Golden Globes are this Sunday and so I just wanted to give brief thoughts on the nominations and give some half-hearted predictions. First the TV nominations!

Best TV Series, Drama

• Empire
• Game of Thrones
• Mr. Robot
• Narcos
• Outlander

God bless the Globes love for new things. It just keeps things fresh. I think the only repeat from last year is this year's Emmy champ Game of Thrones. Weirdly enough I don't think it'll win here though. I'll place my bet with Empire or Mr. Robot. But new shows mean older shows like Mad Men, The Good Wife or The Americans don't get deserved love. Or how about The Leftovers?

Will Win: Empire
Should Win: Mr. Robot

Best Actor, Drama

• Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
• Wagner Moura, Narcos
• Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

It's been years since the Globes has honored Mad Men so will they repeat the miracle at the Emmys to give Hamm a farewell win or will they honor one of the new kids on the block? I personally think Malek is the frontrunner here and SHOULD win, but I can easily see Moura or Odenkirk take it as well.

Will Win: Rami Malek
Should Win: Rami Malek

Best Actress, Drama

• Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
• Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
• Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
• Taraji P. Henson, Empire
• Robin Wright, House of Cards

Last year they didn't nominate the previous year's winner (Tatiana Maslany) and they do the same this year not nominating Ruth Wilson. With that said, even with the quirky choices (Outlander and Penny Dreadful? Wow!), like the Emmys this is Davis vs. Henson and either one could win. I do think Davis edges Henson out since she's more of a MOVIE STAR and also they probably regret NOT picking her last year.

Will Win: Viola Davis
Should Win: Viola Davis

Best TV Series, Comedy

• Casual
• Mozart in the Jungle
• Orange Is the New Black
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent
• Veep

What did I say about keeping it fresh? Despite a severe lack of network TV love (Parks and Rec, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, black-ish, Fresh Off the Boat), this is an inspired list that makes the Emmys and even SAG look so tired. Last year's winner Transparent looks likely to win again, but I'm hoping Veep or Orange is the New Black could win their first.

Will Win: Transparent
Should Win: Orange is the New Black

Best Actor, Comedy

• Aziz Ansari, Master of None
• Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
• Rob Lowe, The Grinder
• Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

This has been such a weak category usually, but that's mostly because of award bodies' inability to think outside the box. So at least the Globes have done that specially with the inclusion of Ansari, Bernal, and Stewart. Of course they all will still likely lose to Tambor.

Will Win: Jeffrey Tambor
Should Win: Aziz Ansari

Best Actress, Comedy

• Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
• Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Even without Amy Poehler for her farewell season or Ellie Kemper or Constance Wu or the Broad City girls, I am in love with this category. Kudos for them nominating last year's winner again Rodriguez and I would very much love her to repeat, but it's more likely Louis-Dreyfus will finally win her first Globe for this show. Newcomer Bloom (that's two for the CW!) and Tomlin could surprise though.

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Should Win: Gina Rodriguez

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie

• American Crime
• American Horror Story: Hotel
• Fargo
• Flesh and Bone
• Wolf Hall

I've only seen Fargo and it was amazing so I'm rooting for it. It's probably the likely winner as well, but I have no idea.

Will Win: Fargo
Should Win: Fargo

Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie

• Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero
• Patrick Wilson, Fargo
• Idris Elba, Luther
• David Oyelowo, Nightingale
• Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Sorry to be crass, but man this is one fuckable category. And the funny thing is I have no earthly idea who will win. By default, I'm rooting for Wilson since his is the only performance I've seen, but Isaac has Star Wars heat right now and is everyone's boyfriend. Then again Elba. Also Oyelowo. Also Rylance. I DON'T KNOW!

Will Win: Idris Elba
Should Win: Patrick Wilson

Best Actress, Limited Series or TV Movie

• Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
• Queen Latifah, Bessie
• Felicity Huffman, American Crime
• Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone
• Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel

As much as I would like for Dunst to win this for her super fun role, this is obviously going to be a battle between a Queen and a Lady. One is a recent Emmy winner while the other is Lady Gaga. I just think the Globes won't be able to help themselves and vote for Gaga.

Will Win: Lady Gaga
Should Win: Kirsten Dunst

Best Supporting Actor

• Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
• Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
• Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
• Tobias Menzies, Outlander
• Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

I haven't seen many of these, but I think these nods are still great. Again with all the new fresh names. I have no idea who will win or even should win honestly.

Will Win: Ben Mendelsohn
Should Win: Alan Cumming

Best Supporting Actress

• Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
• Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
• Regina King, American Crime
• Judith Light, Transparent
• Maura Tierney, The Affair

Not sure why Froggatt keeps getting nominated, but even with that, this list is pretty great. Tierney's and Emmy winner King's nominations are pretty inspired and I hope either one wins. I love you still, Uzo!

Will Win: Regina King
Should Win: Maura Tierney

Check out my thoughts/prediction for the film nominations, here.

End-Of-Year: Favorite 2014 TV Shows, Part 2

Happy Monday! So, I already picked my favorite TV performances as well as listed Part 1 of my TV rankings. As we head into the second month of 2015, I can now present to you...

My Top Fifteen TV Shows of 2014

15. The Americans - Everything I loved about the show in its freshman season--the cool Cold War spy stuff, the subtle period stylings, the interplay between work and family--was still around in its sophomore season. But this time around the actors are even better with even crazier, more emotionally hefty storylines that revolved around family and what that actually entails when lies and secrets take over. I would also be remiss if I didn't praise the phenomenal work that Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are both doing, in and out of their ridiculous wigs.

14. The Leftovers - This unique post-apocalyptic tale based on the novel of the same name seemed like a tough sell. It dealt with a world suffering from the effects of the disappearance of 2% of the world's population. It's a tough sell, because it's undeniably bleak and its initial focus on one small town created the added sense of claustrophobia. Weirdly, all of that worked for me and while it wasn't a perfect show by any means I was still awestruck by the imaginative storytelling and the commitment of the cast to bring this world alive in their small ways. This show wasn't for everyone, but I couldn't stop thinking about it.

13. In the Flesh - Its first season was a top 10 pick for me last year and while this second season didn't reach the emotional high of the previous season, it still packed a wallop. The ebb and flow of the town's feelings to the PDS (or rotters) among them was still a great source of drama as we continue to see this world through Kieran's eyes. A little bit of romance and a little bit of a tragic end makes me even more disappointed that we're not getting a third season.

12. Faking It - This MTV show was a pleasant discovery via Tumblr and I'm so glad I tuned in. It revolves around two girls who are best, best friends who pretend to be lesbians to gain popularity at their super liberal high school only for one of the girls to realize she actually is a lesbian and is in love with her best friend. The concept is ridiculous befitting the show's mostly irreverent, sarcastic tone and yet most of its storylines, including the complicated relationship between the two leads, are handled with surprising deft and heart.

11. Parks and Recreation - I'm writing this in the midst of the series' final season (spoiler alert: they are killing it), so I may be biased but I still thought the latter half of season six was damn good. Maybe it's because no matter what I just enjoy hanging out so much with this show and its cast so even a weak episode or plot line here or there doesn't matter much. Plus the two-part finale was one for the ages with the Unity Concert, Ben and Leslie's trip to San Francisco, the Michelle Obama cameo, and of course the now infamous time.

10. Fargo - The movie is an all-time best so it was pretty brave of them to try and adapt it for television. Thankfully they just took the feel of the place and the characters and made it work for television to fantastic results. The technical stuff like directing/writing/cinematography are all top-notch, but I think it's the cast that really made this show work anchored by Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, and Martin Freeman making all of its quirky characters and dark comedy quite accessible.

9. The Comeback - Even though I'm a HUGE Lisa Kudrow fan, I admit that I didn't watch the first iteration of The Comeback a decade ago until this past year in preparation to see, well... its comeback. And both seasons are truly remarkable in chronicling every cringe-worthy misadventures of an older actress trying to get her mojo back. Kudrow and company don't miss a beat in the most recent season keeping the tone consistent with the first, but also displaying different and evolving stakes. The finale was a thing of beauty and, if we don't get any more of Valerie Cherish, a perfect series finale.

8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine - One of my favorite new shows last season maintained its high quality through the end of its freshman season and into this new season. The cast is still wonderful together and separately and it was enjoyable seeing some of the evolving characters and relationships. The handle on Boyle's character is especially inspired taking his early obsession with Rosa and segueing it with a thing with Gina. They also are giving Andre Braugher more to do as befitting his awesomeness. "BOOM! Did it both ways! No regrets!"

7. Veep - This group of potty-mouthed misfits continues to make me howl with laughter headlined by the always wonderful and game Julia-Louis Dreyfus. That bathroom scene alone with Tony Hale was one of the funniest things on TV all year. How this show does what it does in ten half-hour episodes per season is amazing to me and its brand of political satire is just going to be that much more needed in the years to come. I can't even imagine what they have in store next.

6. Shameless - I'm fine with this show changing its categorization to comedy especially if it means people are paying more attention to this lovely gem of a show. I do find it amusing that they did this during the emotionally bleakest season they ever had with Frank suffering from liver disease, Fiona going to jail, Lip struggling at college, and Ian spiraling. There are darkly comedic moments throughout, but drama/comedy really doesn't matter. This underrated show is simply great TV filled with a superbly talented cast. Everyone should watch it.

5. The Good Wife - Oh boy, all of us thinking that this show was just going to rest on its laurels had a shock coming in early 2014 when they unexpectedly (understatement) killed one its lead actors in dramatic fashion sending not only fans reeling but the characters as well--a harder Alicia, a lonelier Diane, a lost Kalinda, etc. This most recent season isn't kidding around either with Alicia running for state's attorney, Cary in jail, Diane leaving her own firm, and Kalinda... well it's the beginning of the end for her sadly. Perhaps the show is biting more than it can chew, but it's still been a thrilling ride.

4. Game of Thrones - I was excited to see what the post-Red Wedding season of this show would look like and it's pretty much more drama and more death! From Joffrey's Purple Wedding death to the epic battle on the Wall, it was a season of chess pieces moving and getting their heads smashed in, literally. Like every season of this show, there are new characters and new plot threads which could feel overwhelming. Taken as a whole though, it's still one of the most beautiful and ambitious shows on the small screens today. It helps that the actors are just as great as the locales they shoot in.

3. Hannibal - *BEST DRAMA* I respected, more than love, this show's first season, but something just clicked for me in the second season. Perhaps it was Hugh Dancy's Will going toe to toe with Mads Mikkelsen's brilliant portrayal of the title character and it all finally feeling like a fair (and bloody) fight. The deadly chess game these two played on each other as well as on the mostly oblivious people around them was a joy to witness and this isn't even mentioning the strong supporting characters and superb technical aspects of the show. With regards to the latter, no show has displayed food and crimes scenes in a more beautiful, grotesque way.

2. Jane the Virgin - *BEST NEW SHOW* There's always one show every season that just pleasantly surprises and for me this was it. I just didn't have any high hopes about a telenovela-inspired show on the CW about a virgin who gets accidentally pregnant. Its strong pilot sold me. It's hard to put into words my love for this small show. It's like someone mashed up everything that is wonderful about Ugly Betty, Pushing Daisies, and Gilmore Girls and cast an amazing leading lady surrounded by a talented cast who can handle both the sudsy overdramatics and the sweet, quiet human moments. It also has, hands down, the best voice-over narrator in the history of television.

1. Orange is the New Black - *BEST COMEDY* It's hard to argue that this show broke ground when it debut in 2013 and last year it took advantage of all of that buzz to deliver an excellent sophomore season making my previously favorite new show to my favorite show overall. The diverse and large predominantly female ensemble was a continued highlight including a lead character who felt more at home, a new villain that really rocked the boat and added real stakes, and the many, many supporting and background characters that were duly given plenty of moments to shine and grow.

Final Note: In terms of the tally of my top 35, HBO comes out ahead with 6 shows including 4 in my top 15. Showtime and ABC tie with 4 a piece while FOX and FX has 3 each. Also in my list are shows from the following networks: Comedy Central, the CW, BBC America, History, PBS, AMC, and NBC. New shows, not including The Comeback, number at 12 while 2 shows have been canceled (Enlisted, In the Flesh) and another 2 will be ending their runs this year (Mad Men, Parks and Recreation).

Golden Globes Pick Boyhood & First-Time Winners

If I'm being honest, this was probably the least successful hosting stint of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes (which still means it's better than average, just not as great as what they've done the past couple of years). I'm sure some if it was due to their North Korea bit with Margaret Cho falling flat a bit as well as people's uncomfortableness with the Bill Cosby jokes, but to Fey and Poehler they had to go there so to speak and knowing it was their last time hosting gave them the freedom to do whatever. They still managed to make a brilliant joke at Cecil B. Demille recipient George Clooney's expense and their "Who'd You Rather" skit is already a classic, so it was all worth it. So, the winners...

Best Motion Picture, Drama: Boyhood
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Best Director: Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Best Actress, Drama: Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Best Actress, Comedy or Musical: Amy Adams, Big Eyes
Best Actor, Drama: Eddie Redmayne, Theory of Everything
Best Actor, Comedy or Musical: Michael Keaton, Birdman
Best Supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Best Supporting Actor: J.K, Simmons, Whiplash
Best Animated Film: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Best Foreign Language Film: Leviathan
Best Screenplay: Birdman
Best Score: Theory of Everything
Best Song: "Glory," Selma

Boyhood led with 3 wins picking up Best Drama Film, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress followed by Birdman and Theory of Everything which both picked up two awards each, one for their leading actors and another for Screenplay and Score respectively. The Grand Budapest Hotel was the surprise winner for Best Comedy/Musical over Birdman while one of Oscars' front-runners The Imitation Game went home empty-handed. J.K. Simmons continued his awards season dominance by picking up Supporting Actor. Julianne Moore and Amy Adams picked up the Best Actress awards solidifying one as the front-runner (Moore) and the other as possible spoiler to the short list (Adams). Selma might yet figure importantly in the Oscar race, but its momentum this awards season is sorely lacking. Their win in Original Song, however, gave them an opportunity to talk about the film in relation to current events and that's not nothing. Finally, How to Train Your Dragon 2 won Best Animated Film in a bit of an upset to the presumed front-runner The LEGO Movie. I went 8 out of 14 with my predictions thinking the HFPA would pick Birdman and Cumberbatch among a few other misses.

Best TV Series, Drama: The Affair
Best TV Series, Comedy: Transparent
Best Actress, Drama: Ruth Wilson, The Affair
Best Actress, Comedy: Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Best Actor, Drama: Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Best Actor, Comedy: Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie: Fargo
Best Actress, Mini/TV Movie: Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
Best Actor, Mini/TV Movie: Billy Bob Thorton, Fargo
Best Supporting Actress: Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Best Supporting Actor: Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart

On the TV side, the big winners were new series and first-time winners. In fact, every single acting award went to first-time winners from the CW's first Golden Globe win ever with Gina Rodriguez picking up Best Comedy Actress (her win and speech were the highlights of the night) to 8-time nominee Kevin Spacey finally winning his first Golden Globe. The HFPA really went niche this year honoring not only Netflix and the CW, but Amazon as well with two wins for its ground-breaking show Transparent for Best Comedy and Best Comedy Actor. Showtime's freshman series The Affair also picked up two awards for Best Drama and Best Drama Actress. Fargo faced stiff competition, but came out on top over True Detective and The Normal Heart winning Best Mini-Series/TV Movie and winning Best Actor for Billy Bob Thorton (notably beating Matthew McConaughey). The Normal Heart did walk away with one award for Matt Bomer as Downton Abbey and The Honorable Woman also pick up an award each. I did horribly in my predictions this year getting only 4 out of 11 correctly, but two female-created shows winning the top two awards plus acting wins with roles dealing with race, trans, gay, and sexual abuse issues? As Fey/Poehler made the crowd chant tonight... TV *IS* BETTER.

End-Of-Year: 2014 TV Winners

2015 has been a week old and there are already a few of TV shows and performances that have set the bar for the upcoming year. With that said below are my top performances of the year in their respective categories starting off with my pick for Best Ensemble...

Best Ensemble: Jane the Virgin
Runner-Up: Orange is the New Black
Other Nominees: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fargo, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, The Leftovers, Parks and Recreation, Shameless, Veep

The cast of freshman show Jane the Virgin is from top to bottom excellent. From the delightful title character played by Gina Rodriguez to the wonderful unseen narrator. The women are the MVPs and yet the men are pretty damn wonderful as well in what could've been trickier roles. In any case, I realize I had to pick this cast considering I wanted to nominate ALL of them below and I nearly did. Meanwhile my pick last year Orange is the New Black is still the prime example of diverse female characters on the air (or streaming, in this case) right now and their sophomore season just solidified how great they all are.

Best Actor, Drama: Hugh Dancy, Hannibal
Runner-Up: Mads Mikkelsen, Hannibal
Other Nominees:
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Luke Pasqualino, The Musketeers
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

The one-two combination of Dancy and Mikkelsen enabled the sophomore season of Hannibal to reach the next level as their escalating cat and mouse games really heat up. Mikkelsen has been predictably delicious as the cannibal mastermind, but it's Dancy who really dug into a much darker place to match and even surpass his co-star last year. Hamm and Rhys expectantly did well in their solid shows by falling headlong into their fatherly ennui while Spacey chews scenery like no one else. Finally, Pasqualino is pretty and charming befitting someone playing d'Artagnan. Honorable mentions go to the McConaughey/Harrelson team in True Detective and Justin Theroux's penchant for shirtlessness and not wearing underwear in The Leftovers.

Best Actress, Drama: Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Runner-Up: Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Other Nominees:
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Keri Russell, The Americans
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Davis' line delivery alone of her show's title in the pilot is enough to push her to the top of this stacked category, but she also followed that up with her wig-removing crackling delivery of "Why is your penis on a dead girl's phone?" that had everyone talking. Meanwhile Maslany yet again does double, triple, sextuple, octuple duties playing god knows how many characters and does it so superbly. It's literal sorcery! Margulies went through a ringer this past year with her character going through a loss and building herself up to an almost different character while Wright delved deeper into her character's dark past in order to forge ahead even stronger. Russell and Moss continue to excel as well. Honorable mention goes to Ruth Wilson doing her best to make us believe that anyone could find Dominic West more attractive than Joshua Jackson in The Affair.

Best Actor, Comedy: Chris Messina, The Mindy Project
Runner-Up: Jonathan Groff, Looking
Other Nominees:
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation
Martin Freeman, Fargo
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley

I honestly think I'm giving Messina the win just for this scene alone as he channels his stripper past for all of our delights. But his elevated role on the show as Mindy's now boyfriend has been a wonderful delight through and through. Groff, meanwhile, like the other nominees, are playing a version of awkward/dorky that I find very endearing and it's nice to see this from him especially after his slight miscasting in Glee a few years ago. Samberg is a lovable doofus, Scott is sexily dorky, Middleditch is funnily awkward, and Freeman is hilariously disturbed. Honorable mentions go to the new and older Doctor Peter Capaldi, the queen bees of Vicious Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi, and the horse-riding sexily dorky king himself John Cho in Selfie.

Best Actress, Comedy: Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Runner-Up: Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Other Nominees:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Emmy Rossum, Shameless
Rita Volk, Faking It

To be honest, this category is as close as to a 6-way tie for me as it gets since these six wonderful actresses deliver six such indelible and incredible performances that I really hesitated picking a winner, but Kudrow's biting and welcome return to television takes my top honor especially after that absolutely breathtaking (series?) finale. Of course, I can't talk enough about how fantastic newcomer Rodriguez is on her show which seems like the perfect match of actor and program, both so full of heart and charm. I've talked about the awesomeness of Rossum, Poehler, and Louis-Dreyfus before (all previous winners of mine) so I'll just say watch Faking It if you haven't and you'll see how great Volk is in it as well. Honorable mentions go to the very funny ladies of Broad City and Tracee Ellis Ross' colorful Rainbow on Black-ish.

Best Supporting Actor, Drama: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Runner-Up: Dylan O'Brien, Teen Wolf
Other Nominees:
George Blagden, Vikings

Matt Czuchry, The Good Wife
Jack Falahee, How to Get Away With Murder
Joshua Jackson, The Affair

Yes, I know what you're thinking. I just created a Guys I'd Like to Fuck List. There are some very, very attractive men here not going to lie. My top pick is of course the brilliant Dinklage who was constantly on the defensive this past season until he went on the offensive and blew everyone away. O'Brien was my next pick since I highly enjoyed his time possessed by an evil spirit enabling the actor to really stretch himself in new, fun ways. As for the others... all talented, all cute. Blagden was crucified, Jackson was cuckold, Czuchry was framed, and Falahee was rimmed... a lot. Honorable mentions go to Jordan Gavaris' ass, Josh Charles' dramatics, Robin Lord Taylor's limp, and Iain De Caestecker's hallucinations.

Best Supporting Actress, Drama: Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead
Runner-Up: Hayden Panettiere, Nashville
Other Nominees:
Annaleigh Ashford, Masters of Sex
Carrie Coon, The Leftovers
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Katheryn Winnick, Vikings

Sure McBride played such as bad-ass hero in the fifth season premiere, but it was her gut-wrenching scenes in the late fourth season episode "The Grove" which haunted me all year. She's also been a consistent highlight this season and it's been great seeing her character's development most of all. Then there's Panettiere who is literally the best thing about her show and she handles all of its soapiness with such real emotion that you just feel for her. Ashford's role was thankfully expanded this season though I wish she was actually in more while Williams, Coon, and Winnick all displayed such resiliency amidst sucky circumstances. Honorable mentions go to the most sympathetic Evil Queen Lana Parilla in Once Upon a Time, the fiercest fish Jada Pinkett Smith in Gotham, and the liveliest zombie Emily Bevan in In The Flesh.

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy: Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin
Runner-Up: Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Other Nominees:
Reid Scott, Veep
Jeremy Allen White, Shameless
Michael J. Willett, Faking It
Parker Young, Enlisted

Braugher should get all of the awards, but he's had a season and a half to delight us all with his increasingly more expressive Captain Holt so that's why I gave this to Camil who, in just a handful of episodes, turned what could have been such an irritating one-dimensional character into someone completely opposite of that. He has great writers, of course, but there's just something so natural and straightforward in how he plays his ego-driven telenovela superstar making it so much fun to watch. White really doesn't belong in the Comedy category, but he was SO affecting this season that I would've nominated him in Best Actress. Young, Willett, and Scott are witty bon-mots machines in already fantastic shows. Honorable mentions go to steamy Raúl Castillo in Looking, Tony Hale's bathroom scene in Veep, and Billy Bob Thornton's weird hair in Fargo.

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy: Cristin Milioti, How I Met Your Mother
Runner-Up: Samira Wiley, Orange if the New Black
Other Nominees:
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Andrea Navedo, Jane the Virgin
Chelsea Peretti, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Lorraine Toussaint, Orange if the New Black

While the final season of HIMYM was largely a failed experiment, it at least gave us Milioti. My favorite episodes last year where ones that featured her, especially the 200th episode where we saw 9-years worth of her stories condensed in one beautiful, way-too short episode. As I was making my picks for this category, I realize I could've easily filled this up with actresses from Jane the Virgin, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Orange is the New Black. I split the difference picking one for each show (two for OITNB). Wiley is my MVP last year as she really stepped up though Toussaint came so close playing such a great villain. Navedo's scenes with Gina Rodriguez are my favorite aspects in that show and Peretti is always, always a highlight. Chlumsky as Selina's campaign manager was expectantly hilarious. Honorable mentions goes to ALL of the other ladies from the aforementioned shows, because seriously wow.

Best Limited Role, Actor: Pedro Pascal, Game of Thrones
Runner-Up: Michiel Huisman, Orphan Black/Games of Thrones/Nashville
Other Nominees:
Noel Fisher, Shameless
Anthony Mendez, Jane the Virgin
Conrad Ricamora, How to Get Away With Murder
Andrew Scott, Sherlock

Damn, I made a sex list again. I mean, yes all of these men caught my attention for one reason or another. Pascal was the easy top pick for me as he was unforgettable in the role, but Huisman did his best appearing briefly in three shows the past year with hot and bothered ladies in his wake. Mendez's role as the unseen, but sassy narrator in Jane the Virgin is a delight as is Ricamora's brief (usually shirtless) scenes in his show. Scott probably appeared not even 30 seconds all season and yet he still made the requisite impact. Fisher's character's evolution was my favorite part of the show last year. Honorable mentions goes to the Super Bowl Prince in New Girl, Michael Pitt eating his face on Hannibal, and Russell Tovey's huge... ears in Looking.

Best Limited Role, Actress: Julianne Nicholson, Masters of Sex
Runner-Up: Gillian Anderson, Hannibal
Other Nominees:
Ann Dowd, True Detective/Masters of Sex/The Leftovers
Rhea Perlman, The Mindy Project
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife/True Blood
Barbara Rosenblat, Orange is the New Black

We get to the final category and like last year I'm giving it to a veteran actress playing sick on Masters of Sex. Nicholson's plight wasn't any less harrowing than last year's Allison Janney and I truly was so emotionally attached to her character that when she left midway through the season I kinda stopped caring about the show. My runner-up I think only appeared in two episodes, but her brief scenes with the two leads crackled and popped all the same. Preston is an old-hat in this category and every day I wonder why no one has given her a leading role of her own. Perlman is as refreshing an addition to her show's ensemble as Rosenblat is needed. Finally, Dowd was busy, busy, busy this year with three very different and complicated characters. Honorable mentions go to the other ladies--"alive" or dead--on Hannibal, Palicki's heroic hair flip on Agents of SHIELD, Natalie Dormer's mischievous half smile, and Kate Walsh for sexily slaying it on Fargo.

Whew! And now all is left is my ranked list of TV shows which I hope to get posted before this weekend's Golden Globes. Refresh your memories on my pick for Best Drama, Comedy, and New Show here. Happy watching all!

Golden Globes: TV Nominations

Like last year, the Hollywood Foreign Press' penchant for honoring the newest, shiniest things actually paid off with some much needed new shows and faces appearing in their TV nominations. Let's take a look...

Best TV Series, Drama

• The Affair
• Downton Abbey
• Game of Thrones
• The Good Wife
• House of Cards

It's a bit sad to see last year's nominee Masters of Sex not make it back, but I guess it's somewhat fitting that fellow extra marital affair Showtime show took its place. I probably would ditch Downton Abbey to get The Americans some damn recognition or Mad Men... has everyone forgotten about Mad Men? At least The Good Wife makes it in here after being snubbed by the SAGs yesterday.

Best Actor, Drama

• Clive Owen, The Knick
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
• James Spader, The Blacklist
• Dominic West, The Affair

With last year's winner Bryan Cranston out of the competition, this is a wide open race. Though again, I grieve for Jon Hamm whose show seem to have fallen out of award bodies' graces or something just when they could all be winning acting awards finally! I'd think Spacey, as an Oscar winner, is the favorite here but I don't really know.

Best Actress, Drama

• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Ruth Wilson, The Affair
• Robin Wright, House of Cards

Nice to see Wilson, who was just fabulous in Luther, get some kudos. It also makes total sense for them to nominate Davis and I'm just shocked her show didn't go more love from the HFPA. The other nominees are solid, but it's a bit hard to accept it totally when just last year they nominated Tatiana Maslany! Maybe, she can only be nominated for one major award every year (GG last year, SAG this year).

Best TV Series, Comedy

• Girls
• Jane the Virgin
• Orange Is The New Black
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent

Yup, hell has finally frozen over. I mean this is a major awards show and neither Big Bang Theory nor Modern Family is nominated... anywhere! Not even in the acting categories. I honestly never thought I'd see the day. It's also fantastic that this category is mostly made up of new shows including my favorite one this season Jane the Virgin, which is also the very first show from the CW honored with a Golden Globe nod. Transparent, meanwhile, is the first show from Amazon to get a nod. It's all very cool, but I am still lighting a candle for the non-nomination of Parks and Recreation and last year's surprise champ Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Best Actor, Comedy

• Louis C.K., Louie
• Don Cheadle, House of Lies
• Ricky Gervais, Derek
• William H. Macy, Shameless
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Cheadle is the only repeat nominee here so even though this category is usually my least favorite at least the HFPA is mixing it up. Shameless' genre switch to comedy is paying dividends for Macy and I hear nothing but praise for Tambor (my pick to win). Last year's winner Andy Samberg was curiously left out.

Best Actress, Comedy

• Lena Dunham, Girls
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
• Taylor Schilling, Orange Is The New Black

I can't even be mad that last year's winner (see a pattern here?) Amy Poehler is not nominated, because GINA FUCKING RODRIGUEZ got nominated. She and her show are absolutely delightful and I know people say that the Golden Globes don't really matter, but tell that to someone like Gina who's breaking through right now on a new show from a little seen network. This is everything to her right now and I'm so happy for her.

Best Mini-Series Or TV Movie

• Fargo
• The Missing
• The Normal Heart
• True Detective
• Olive Kitteridge

Other than those new and fresh nominees up above, one of the reasons why I was happy with the HFPA today was because they corrected what the Emmys and the SAG got so very wrong i.e. placed True Detective under Miniseries rather than a Drama Series. NOW I'm interested by the competition amongst it, The Normal Heart, and Fargo. The latter leads all TV shows with 5 nods and I think I'm rooting for it. It's going to be a real race though.

Best Actor, Mini-Series or TV Movie

• Martin Freeman, Fargo
• Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart
• Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo
• Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
• Woody Harrelson, True Detective

Weird that Sherlock (and thus Benedict Cumberbatch) wasn't nominated, but maybe it wasn't eligible? That said, this is a fun category. McConaughey and Harrelson may be the frontrunner, but I would count out any of the others at all.

Best Actress, Mini-Series or TV Movie

• Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
• Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
• Frances O'Connor, The Missing
• Allison Tolman, Fargo

Though I've seen all of them in other roles, the only nominated role I've actually seen is Tolman's and she's fabulous in it so I hope she wins. And she's finally in the right category as well! How some people thought she was a supporting character on the show confuses me.

Best Supporting Actor

• Matt Bomer, The Normal Heart
• Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
• Colin Hanks, Fargo
• Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
• Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Nice to see Bomer and Hanks nominated and of course they would fine a way to nominate Murray. Cumming is fantastic of course, but I actually think his co-star Matt Czuchry would have been a better choice. Of course this category should be split or at least expand to ten nominees because combining genres is just plain ridiculous.

Best Supporting Actress

• Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black
• Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
• Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
• Allison Janney, Mom
• Michelle Monaghan, True Detective

Yeah, I guess this is fine. I mean I'm actually SUPER HAPPY that Aduba picks up her first Golden Globe nod and Janney is unstoppable, but again this category could've been expanded to ten and it would still not be enough room!

My thoughts on the film nominations to come tomorrow once I've slept on them. They weren't nearly as exciting as the TV ones though.

AFI Top Ten Films/TV Programs of 2014

Early tomorrow morning will be the announcement of the SAG Awards nominees and the following day will be the Golden Globes nominations so awards season is ramping up! well the American Film Institute (see the jury this year) chimed in with their picks of their favorites in film and TV this year. They are...

MOVIES OF THE YEAR

• American Sniper
• Birdman
• Boyhood
• Foxcatcher
• The Imitation Game
• Interstellar
• Into the Woods
• Nightcrawler
• Selma
• Unbroken
• Whiplash

This year the group has picked 11 films to honor and it's mostly the usual suspects give or take Into the Woods and perhaps American Sniper and Unbroken, all of which by the way has NOT been seen by the general audience because year-end film awards don't care about the audience at all. Neither here nor there though! I am curious at the momentum for a film like American Sniper as well as the lack of one for Gone Girl, which unrelatedly is looking to make over $165 million. Also missing is The Grand Budapest Hotel (came out forever ago), Wild (but it's about a woman), Theory of Everything (it's TOO British/not eligible?) and NBR's top pick A Most Violent Year (yeah, I don't know).

TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR

• The Americans
• Fargo
• Game of Thrones
• How to Get Away With Murder
• Jane the Virgin
• The Knick
• Mad Men
• Orange is the New Black
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent

The absence of The Good Wife is giving me an allergic reaction, but this list is not baf at all. At least they didn't include True Detective, right? I haven't seen The Knick, Silicon Valley, and Transparent, but the other freshman shows on the list are excellent especially Jane the Virgin which is probably my favorite new show this year. Nice to see a couple of last year's freshman class hold fort (The Americans and Orange is the New Black) as well as some old standbys in Game of Thrones and Mad Men. Like last year, I'm just going to assume Orphan Black isn't "American" enough for this group.

Pilot Thoughts: The Flash and Jane the Virgin

When I decided that I was done with Supernatural after last season, I was relieved to have at least one broadcast channel that I didn't have to mind. Well, the CW had their own plans because they brought me right back in with a couple of new shows featuring strong lead actors...

The Flash is CW banking on the success of their other current DC comic book hero show Arrow, but it's this very reason why I was first hesitant to check it out. I only mildly liked the Arrow pilot and only managed to see a handful of episodes before stopping (though it apparently got much better) and the people who created the show are the same as the ones working on The Flash. Fortunately, the show is less Batman in tone like Arrow and more like Spider-Man (films) i.e. more fun and even a little cheesy. Grant Gustin as Barry Allen is practically playing Peter Parker as a CSI with his own Mary Jane and dead relatives. He's the best part of the pilot for me, easily selling the comedic and dramatic moments he's given and to skillfully balance the science nerd and hero in-the-making personas. The origin story and the world building was substantial, but easy-to-follow for a newcomer like me (even one who doesn't watch Arrow). The cast is okay to good with Tom Cavanaugh and Jesse L. Martin as the standouts as Barry two father figures while his real father, played by 90s Flash actor John Wesley Shipp is in jail. Some of the dialogue was awkward and corny (that roof pep talk with the Green Arrow was cringe-worthy), but at least the special effects were spot-on. Good first outing!

Grade: B
Willingess to continue: I like this pilot more than Arrow's pilot so I think I'll stick around if only to find out what the deal is with that newspaper from the future!

Jane the Virgin is a show that feels like it shouldn't be on the CW with all of its supernatural/fantasy/comic book shows and yet it is and I hope for its success more than any new show of the season, because we need more shows like this. It revolves around 23-yo Jane Villanueva, played by the revelatory Gina Rodriguez, who has been raised to value her virginity above all else, and who in the pilot gets accidentally inseminated causing her to become pregnant. The concept is the "stuff of telenovelas" as the show states, but the overwhelming charm of the writing and the acting transcends the ridiculousness of it all. In that way, it reminded me of Ugly Betty which was also adapted from a telenovela and also led by a strong actress. This show, however, already feels more grounded even with all of the twists and turns the pilot takes. It's not perfect and there are some characters that definitely need work (the cheating wife, the mega-star father), but the show did well to perfectly cast its lead and I'm loving the fun sudsiness of it all already.

Grade: A-
Willingness to continue: Uh, yes. I mean I watched Ugly Betty to its bitter end so what do you think?