Emmy Competition 2012

Alright, my competitive streak has hit me and I'm here to hopefully be the foil and pick more winners than The TV Lass.  On Sunday night I will be switching between the Patriots game (go Pats!) and the Emmys - thank god for DVR!  Granted I don't watch as much tv as she does - but here are my kind of educated and totally emotional picks:

Drama Series

"Breaking Bad"

"Boardwalk Empire"

"Downton Abbey" Downton could win but is it really deserved for it's weak second season?

"Game of Thrones"

"Homeland"  My pick - but would be happy with Mad Men winning too.

"Mad Men"

Actress in a Drama

Claire Danes, "Homeland"  - My pick.  She was amazing as Carrie and Emmy voters have liked her for years.

Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" - Doesn't really deserve, she was barely on the show after she left SCDP

Glenn Close, "Damages"

Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"

Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"

Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey" - Spoiler?

Actor in a Drama

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"

Damian Lewis, "Homeland" - My pick, and I can't wait for season 2.  Even the President watches - Emmy voters will award the talented new-comer.

Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"

Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"

Supporting Actress in a Drama

Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey" - I have a feeling that Maggie will win, but I would love for Christina Hendricks to win.

Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"

Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"

Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"

Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey" - Mrs. Byaaates (I just love saying Byaaaates like she does.)

Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"

Supporting Actor in a Drama

Giancarlo Esposito, "Breaking Bad"

Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"

Brendan Coyle, "Downton Abbey"

Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"

Jared Harris, "Mad Men" - I hope Jared wins, his last two episodes were really great.

Comedy Series - Let me rant for a second:  How on EARTH were Louie and Parks and Rec not nominated??  They are the best comedies on TV!  This is ridiculous...

"Curb Your Enthusiasm"

"Girls" - I guess this is my pick, although it is undeserved.  Louie should absolutely be the winner of best comedy.

"Veep" 

"Modern Family"

"The Big Bang Theory"

"30 Rock"

Actress in a Comedy

Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation" - I hope that she's finally rewarded, and to make up for not nominating P&R for best comedy.  I don't see it happening though.

Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep" - Emmys love Julia Louis Dreyfus - she is my pick.

Lena Dunham, "Girls"

Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly"

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl" 

Actor in a Comedy

Jon Cryer, "Two And A Half Men"

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"

Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

Louis C.K., "Louie" - No one else on this list deserves it half as much as Louis CK.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"

Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live" - My choice, especially now that she has left the show.

Kathryn Joosten, "Desperate Housewives"

Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"

Mayim Bialik, "Big Bang Theory" 

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" - The choice for Emmy voters who want to "look cool"?  I hope it's one of the non-Modern Family guys.

Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live" 

Reality Competition Program

"So You Think You Can Dance"

"The Amazing Race" - My choice again - the best competition show on TV.

"Dancing With The Stars"

"Top Chef"

"The Voice"

Host for Reality Competition Program

Cat Deeley "So You Think You Can Dance"

Phil Keoghan "The Amazing Race" - My choice

Ryan Seacrest "American Idol"

Betty White "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

Tom Bergeron "Dancing With The Stars"

Movie or Miniseries Series

"American Horror Story"

"Game Change" - My choice - especially in the year of another presidential election.

"Hatfields & McCoys"

"Luther"

"Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia"

"Hemingway & Gellhorn" 

Actress in a Movie or Miniseries

Connie Britton, "American Horror Story"

Julianne Moore, "Game Change" - My choice -it will likely be one of the movie stars.

Nicole Kidman, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"

Emma Thompson, "The Song of Lunch"

Ashley Judd, "Missing" 

Actor in a Movie or Miniseries

Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys"

Bill Paxton, "Hatfields & McCoys"

Woody Harrelson, "Game Change" - My choice, mainly because this is the only one I saw.

Clive Owen, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"

Idris Elba, "Luther"

Benedict Cumberbatch, "Sherlock: A Scandel In Belgravia" 

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, again it's the only one I've seen.

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" - My choice

Martin Freeman, "Sherlock: A Scandel In Belgravia" 

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.