The Emmys: By the TV Lass

After a short hiatus and a masters degree, the TV lass is back in action and ready to take on Fall Premiere season, which is about to get into full swing. 

I thought the best way to be welcomed back would be an Emmy competition.  Below I have added in my comments and my picks for the Emmy winner and where it actually should have went.  I am looking forward to Sunday night, and all the new shows I get to overload on my DVR.

Happy TV viewing Everyone!!!!!

Drama Series

Wow, I really don't know which to choose.

"Breaking Bad" ---My choice

"Boardwalk Empire"

"Downton Abbey"----Could see this winning with all its momentum.

"Game of Thrones"

"Homeland"---Could also see this getting it, but it is the first season.

"Mad Men"---If Mad Men gets it, it would be the fifth straight win and an accomplishment.

Actress in a Drama

Claire Danes, "Homeland"---I would love to see Claire accept it pregnant.

Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"---My choice, she deserves it.

Glenn Close, "Damages"

Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"

Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"

Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"

Actor in a Drama

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"---My choice.

Damian Lewis, "Homeland"----Could also be a winner.

Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"---If Jon Hamm doesn't win now, I don't think he'll ever win for this role.

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"

Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"

Supporting Actress in a Drama

Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"---I have been choosing her for years, still sticking with it.

Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"

Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"

Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"

Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"

Supporting Actor in a Drama

Giancarlo Esposito, "Breaking Bad"---My choice, his acting was impeccable.

Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"

Brendan Coyle, "Downton Abbey"

Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"

Jared Harris, "Mad Men"

Comedy Series

"Curb Your Enthusiasm"

"Girls"---My choice.  How could it not be?

"Veep"

"Modern Family"

"The Big Bang Theory"

"30 Rock"

Actress in a Comedy

I hope Amy gets them together to do something fun.

Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"---My choice. 

Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"

Lena Dunham, "Girls"

Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly"

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"---Probably going to get it.

Actor in a Comedy

Jon Cryer, "Two And A Half Men"

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"----My choice, I really loved him in this series.

Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

Louis C.K., "Louie"

Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"

Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"---My choice, I think she needs to be recognized.

Kathryn Joosten, "Desperate Housewives"

Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"

Mayim Bialik, "Big Bang Theory"----Probably going to get it.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"

Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"

Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

Max Greenfield, "The New Girl"

Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"---Stefon forever, my choice.

Reality Competition Program

"So You Think You Can Dance"

"The Amazing Race"

"Dancing With The Stars"

"Top Chef"---My choice, the only one I really watch.

"The Voice"

Host for Reality Competition Program

Cat Deeley "So You Think You Can Dance"

Phil Keoghan "The Amazing Race"

Ryan Seacrest "American Idol"

Betty White "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"----People love her.

Tom Bergeron "Dancing With The Stars"

Movie or Miniseries Series

"American Horror Story"

"Game Change"

"Hatfields & McCoys"

"Luther"

"Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia"---My choice, I love Martin Freeman.

"Hemingway & Gellhorn"----I couldn't even get through this and I am a Hemingway fan.

Actress in a Movie or Miniseries

Connie Britton, "American Horror Story"---My choice for FNL.

Julianne Moore, "Game Change"---Toss up

Nicole Kidman, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"---Toss up

Emma Thompson, "The Song of Lunch"

Ashley Judd, "Missing"----Really who watched Missing???

Actor in a Movie or Miniseries

Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys"

Bill Paxton, "Hatfields & McCoys"

Woody Harrelson, "Game Change"

Clive Owen, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"

Idris Elba, "Luther"

Benedict Cumberbatch, "Sherlock: A Scandel In Belgravia"----My choice.

Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries

Mare Winningham, "Hatfields & McCoys"

Frances Conroy, "American Horror Story"

Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"

Sarah Paulson, "Game Change"---My choice.

Judy Davis, "Page Eight"

Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries

Tom Berenger, "Hatfields & McCoys"

Denis O'Hare, "American Horror Story"

David Strathairn, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"

Ed Harris, "Game Change"---He was good.

Martin Freeman, "Sherlock: A Scandel In Belgravia"---My choice.

Mad Men: Finale

Suicide and vacuousness have been themes this season culminating in the loss of Lane Pryce.  His absence is felt everywhere.   Especially in the board meeting, where we see Joan taking over his responsibilities in her blue suit.  Her office clothes are becoming more and more like menswear, and yet still deeply feminine.  It makes her look strong, and she is taking her role of partner serious.  I cannot wait to see how Tom and Lorenzo interpret this fuller.

Melancholy, doom, and gloom have been mentioned throughout this episode especially with Pete Campbell by both his wife and his mistress.  Where does this leave him in life?  What will make him happy? Maybe next season when he has his apartment in the city he will be happy.

Later in the episode Megan is very depressed over her lack of work as an actress, even her husband won't give her a commercial.  She proceeds to get very drunk and tell Don her deepest darkest thoughts.  All while her mom goes off to have a romp with Roger Sterling.

Don is haunted through the episode by his dead brother.  He finally interacts with him while at the dentist and under the influence of nitrous.  Drugs have definitely infiltrated the world of Mad Men.  Roger is obviously on LSD at the end of the episode.

This episode was the first time in a long time we've heard Don Draper order an old fashioned.  Does this mean he has returned to his old ways?  By giving Megan what she wants, can he take what he wants from life?  Matt Weiner has a lot to tackle next season, and we are all looking forward to it.

True Blood: Season Premiere

True Blood is back!  I am not as excited as I was last year, or the year before.  But still I will blog about it as much as my schedule allows. :)

The writer's had a lot to tackle in this first episode of the season.  All of this content makes it difficult to tackle for any blogger.  I'll do my best, and I may focus on the characters and story lines I care about most.

The over arching theme of the episode was people returning whether they were wanted or not.  Tara returned in the end, but she was not the version they expected.  Terry had an old Marine friend, Patrick, played by Scott Foley return; and he was significantly unwanted.

Russell Edgington has returned, and it is best for the series.  He makes such a great villain.

Even people we have never seen before such as Erik's sister has returned, and it was a very gross introduction to her.

Unfortunately for Jason Stackhouse, Rev. Newland has returned but as a gay vampire expressing his undying love for him.  Jason handled it more kindly than expected.

Erik and Bill find themselves in very deep trouble with the Vampire administration, and they leave Jessica to become Queen of Louisiana.  It is amusing to see her trying to form her identity still, and to make choices any young woman would make even as a vampire.  She is impulsive and demanding, so it'll be interesting to see if Jason is able to win her over.

We were left without one return, and it was of Jesus.  He will probably come back later on in the season, and it will be interesting to see how LaFayette is further changed by the magic inside him.

Mad Men: Commissions and Fees

I have watched last week's episode multiple times.  It is one of the best episode's of the season.  Christina Hendricks acting was exquisite, and it should be her episode that she submits for her Emmy nomination.

I am not going to lie.  I wanted to put up this post earlier, but I had a beer festival this weekend, and I needed my sleep on Sunday night.  I ended up watching Mad Men after work.  I did stay up late enough to see Don fire Lane, and to have Roger set up the Dow meeting.  I really loved the scene with Ken and Roger.  It's obvious Ken isn't aware how much Roger dislikes Pete, and I cannot wait to see how this new combination plays out.

Roger and Don get the meeting at Dow, and Don blows them out of the water.  One of the best speeches he's given this season.  As a someone who manages vendors for a living, I would be reevaluating my current firm.

Poor Sally Draper, she has a mother that acts like a child.  The one time a young girl needs her mother, she runs to her.  Betty is surprisingly compassionate, and I was actually quite shocked by her reaction.  But it is only because it reinforced Sally's need of her, Betty is at all times self serving.  Sally didn't want Megan, Sally wanted her mother.  Betty was totally undeserving of this, considering her juvenile reaction to Sally's attitude.  Sadly, Betty is not confident in her role as Sally's mother to know that she'll always need her.

The consequences of Lane's embezzlement have finally caught up with him.  The whole time he was writing that check, I thought about how he should just ask for it.  But he made his bed, and Don sternly made him lie in it.  When he arrived home to find his wife had bought him a car, this irony is something that happens in real life.  Even though you think you've hit bottom, you can still go lower.  Even his first attempt at suicide didn't work.  Unfortunately, Lane did find a way to kill himself at the office.  He chose the permanent solution to a temporary situation.  Everything in life is temporary, and he could have started over. Don knows this.

Joan found Lane in his office, but Don is the one who knew a man couldn't be left like that.  I wonder how Don is going to handle Lane's choice in this situation.  From the previews, you can usually never tell what's going to happen next.  But it looks like some letters arrive possibly revealing the indiscretions of the firm.  I really hope Lane didn't do that before he committed suicide, I wouldn't think he was that vengeful.  But oh what a revenge that would be. 

Mad Men: The Other Woman

Last week's episode left us wanting more scenes with Don and Joan.  The bonding between the two characters at the bar revealed the better side of Don.  He respects and cares about Joan, and I think that was a little unexpected.  Especially since we haven't really seen them together since the lawn mower episode. Don also knows when he wouldn't be enough for a woman, like Joan.  She sees right through him and intimidates him.  In the end, he's the only one who stands up for her, and he seeks her out to tell her this. 

Pete is a conniving asshole for letting Joan think that all the partners were on board with the arrangement for her to sleep with the Jaguar executive to win the account.  They could have won it on creative alone.  Because Don finally has returned to work.  Don's talent is why we fell in love with this show, going back to the first season with the Kodak Carousel campaign.  He is a genius.  He's becoming out of touch, and Ginsberg is the young, hungry creative talent.  The Jaguar campaign is Ginsberg's idea, but Don's presentation was out of this world.

It is too bad how Don is treating Peggy.  I would have resign on the spot if my boss threw money in my face.  I do not know how she didn't cry.  I also don't know how she got through her resignation speech or how she didn't take more money to stay with SCDP.  As we all know in real life, the grass isn't always greener.  I am interested in seeing how this plays out for Peggy.  I don't think she made the right decision.

Until next week, only two episodes left.  I can't wait to read Tom and Lorenzo's article on the wardrobe.  I now notice what the characters are wearing, and what message is being conveyed.  Megan is dressing and acting more and more like a petulant child.  When Joan agreed to the arrangement for Jaguar she was in a solid brown dress, by accepting the arrangement had she essentially become emotionally is dead.

And yes we all want Greg to die in Vietnam, please let this happen Matt Weiner!