Friday, September 14, 2007

I actually got my first comment from a total stranger yesterday. :-) I think it might actually be spam or just someone who REALLY likes Viva Laughlin, but I digress. Anyway, the rest of my day yesterday was pretty sedate. I got one of the last three reports done for the month, and the goal today is to get the second one in the can, too. Unfortunately, I actually have meetings this morning. So, it is not looking good. Also, last night I made it to the end of the Monon trail on my bike (that is 146th Street for those keeping track). I am pretty excited about making it, but I have to say my legs were jello for most of the ride south of 30th street.

Yesterday I talked about my TV addiction, and since the Emmy Awards are on Sunday, I figured I would indulge myself in some prognostication of the bigger categories. In a former web life, I ran a website completely dedicated to awards shows across the spectrum of entertainment (Movies, Television, Music, and Theater), and for now, the website is still active over at http://www.awardsavenue.com. I have to say that while I am a TV junkie, the Emmys are by far my least favorite awards ceremony. Since TV is the only major awards situation where you have shows that are eligible every year, you get a lot of lazy voters who vote for shows well past their prime. Plus, they seem loath to honor any sort of shows that hint of sci-fi or the supernatural. They have snubbed Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, and even such terrestrial fare as Gilmore Girls, even though they were/are consistently the best written, acted, and directed shows on television. I don't want to sound like some fan boy crazy person, but it is the truth. This year, it seemed to be even worse.

DRAMA SERIES

Boston Legal, ABC
Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Heroes, NBC
House, Fox
The Sopranos, HBO

Will win: The Sopranos - voters can't resist honoring this one last time
Should Win: Grey's Anatomy - even with the uneven year, it was great.

I love Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, and Heroes, and I would love for any one of them to win. Boston Legal is practically a comedy, and frankly, I am surprised it is here. Grey's won last year, and I don't think it is going to repeat. It is possible, but with the controversy behind the scenes and just a lackluster back half of the season, I think its goose is cooked. Heroes is just too new. Of course, the same could have been said for Lost, but I do not think it has the same cache as that one. The Sopranos had a weak season (from what I've read), but since this is its final season, I see it getting the valedictory. Where the heck is Battlestar Galactica!

COMEDY SERIES

Entourage, HBO
The Office, NBC
30 Rock, NBC
Two and a Half Men, CBS
Ugly Betty, ABC

Will Win: 30 Rock
Should Win: Ugly Betty

Honestly, I do not consistantly watch any of these shows, except for Ugly Betty. I do know they tend to honor the true sitcoms here, not the hour long dramedy, but I still think Betty is the best of the bunch. I have been amused by The Office and 30 Rock the few times I have seen them, but I honestly think the art of the 30 minute situation comedy is lost on me. At least they don't have laugh tracks....I'm looking at you Two and a Half Men. However, Emmy has awarded struggling shows that have the buzz before (Arrested Development), and 30 Rock is in desperate need. I would be okay with it beating Ugly Betty.

DRAMA

Actor

James Gandolfini, The Sopranos, HBO
Hugh Laurie, House, Fox
Denis Leary, Rescue Me, FX
James Spader, Boston Legal, ABC
Kiefer Sutherland, 24, Fox

Will/Should Win: Gandolfini

James Ganolfini is a lock for this. I have no other attachement to anyone, as much as I love James Spader.

Actress

Patricia Arquette, Medium, NBC
Minnie Driver, The Riches, FX
Edie Falco, The Sopranos, HBO
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters, ABC
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU, NBC
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer, TNT

Will Win: Field
Should Win: Field

This is a tough one. Arquette, Falco, and Hargitay have all won in the past, and Falco has the same valedictory claim as the rest of The Sopranos. However, I think Sally Field has a lot going for her because she is a woman of a certain age in a sea of voters who are also of a certain age. They really cannot resist honoring movie stars who come down to visit. Plus, I love her.

Supporting actor

William Shatner, Boston Legal, ABC
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Masi Oka, Heroes, NBC
Terry O'Quinn, Lost, ABC
Michael Emerson, Lost, ABC
Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos, HBO

Will Win: Oka
Should Win: The Entire Lost Cast

My heart is with O'Quinn and Emerson, but I think they're going to cancel each other out. If the Academy wants to make a statement about homophobia, then they will give it for Knight (not that he is not deserving otherwise). Shatner is a favorite, but I think this could end up a boring Soprano's back slap category. Unless, Oka gets the nod. He was certainly the breakout star of Heroes.

Supporting actress

Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters, ABC
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Aida Turturro, The Sopranos, HBO
Lorraine Bracco, The Sopranos, HBO

Will Win: Heigl
Should Win: Pick One...AND The Entire Lost Cast

Seriously...pick one. I would take any one of the Grey's women and certainly Rachel Griffiths. However, depending on which episodes they submitted for Heigl, I think this is her year. She did some wonderful work (and some really crappy work).

COMEDY

Actor

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, NBC
Steve Carell, The Office, NBC
Ricky Gervais, Extras, HBO
Tony Shalhoub, Monk, USA
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men, CBS

Will/Should Win: Baldwin

Actress

America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, ABC
Tina Fey, 30 Rock, NBC
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives, ABC
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Old Christine, CBS
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds, Showtime

Will/Should Win: Ferrera

Supporting actor

Kevin Dillon, Entourage, HBO
Jeremy Piven, Entourage, HBO
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother, CBS
Rainn Wilson, The Office, NBC
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men, CBS

Will Win: Wilson
Should Win: Harris

Supporting actress

Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men, CBS
Jenna Fischer, The Office, NBC
Jaime Pressly, My Name Is Earl, NBC
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men, CBS
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty, ABC
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds, Showtime

Will/Should Win: Williams

REALITY COMPETITION

American Idol, Fox
Dancing With the Stars, ABC
Project Runway, Bravo
The Amazing Race, CBS
Top Chef, Bravo

Will/Should Win: Project Runway

I watch all of these. To me, Project Runway is by far the best, but Amazing Race has won every year lately. American Idol just wasn't that good this year. So, I am sticking with Runway.