Rumor has it that Zachary Quinto (Sylar on Heroes) is about to be cast as Spock in J.J. Abrams’ new Star Trek movie (tentatively scheduled to be released on Christmas Day 2008).
Based on the eyebrows alone, I think it’s a homerun.
There is a story in the upcoming issue of ESPN The Magazine called “ Is Cabrera Living Too Large?” It is about the weight that Florida Marlins star Miguel Cabrera has gained over the last four years. That’s right, an entire article about a man who has packed on a few extra lbs. and how his financial future might be impacted by it.
We don’t see that very often.
Is it wrong that this article made me happy?
In the interest of research and comparison, I’ve put together the photos above of Cabrera a few years ago vs. Cabrera this season. It’s just like US Weekly might do for their Tarts of the Week..on the rare occasion that the skinny minnies eat sandwiches.
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I abandoned the pilot episode of Ugly Betty when it debuted last year. It didn’t strike a chord right away, so it was not deemed TiVO-worthy. Due to consistent raves across the board from friends and fellow bloggers, not to mention the many Emmy nominations that the show has earned, I have decided to reconsider my original assessment and commit to watching the show. I might be late to the game, but I have a front row seat and time on my hands. Right now I am purchasing all of Season 1 on iTunes.
I liked America Ferrara in Lords of Dogtown, I love Ashley Jensen on Extras, and I was excited to learn that Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under) will be joining the cast for Season 2. And I look forward to watching Eric Mabius in a role far removed from his stint on The L Word; his character’s departure from that show was disturbing and that is the image of him that lingers.
Do you watch it? Will it be worth my $35?
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I love television, but I’m not one of those people who sets my alarm to wake up ugly early to watch or listen to the nominee announcement show. I might be obsessed with certain shows, but I have to draw the line somewhere. Perhaps if I were a professional blogger, I’d make that commitment. Alas, I have an 8:30-5:30 job and like to sleep.
There were 43 pages of Emmy nominations to sift through, so grab a latte and hang tight for a long read. I will address the major categories…and a few minor ones.
I always debate (with myself, of course) whether to post predictions about who I WANT to win vs. who I think WILL win. I’m going with my heart this year, and rooting for my favorites.
Let’s get started.
DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Grey’s Anatomy
Heroes
House
The Sopranos
The most outrageous snub in this category, by far, is Lost. It is maddening that Boston Legal is there. And let’s be honest, Grey’s Anatomy is an entertaining primetime soap, and last season the off-set drama was far more interesting than the onscreen storylines.
Frankly, even though I loved The Sopranos, I am kind of relieved that this was the last season. It will be one less series that Lost has to contend with next year.
My vote goes to Heroes, the best new show of 2007 by a landslide.
COMEDY SERIES
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Ugly Betty
Two and Half Men
With the exception of the last one, what a great category! I really like 30 Rock, but The Office is consistently brilliant and gets my vote every year.
ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal
Kiefer Sutherland, 24
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
You’re telling me that freaking James Spader is a better actor than Matthew Fox? Did the people with voting abilities not watch Lost this season, especially the second half? This is the one that makes me insane. And for crying out loud, where is Michael C. Hall’s nomination for Dexter? Is there a more charming and chilling character out there (besides Ben on Lost)?
The obvious vote here would be for Gandolfini, and although this wasn’t the strongest season of The Sopranos, he will probably win. For me, it’s a toss up between Leary and Laurie.
SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Michael Emerson, Lost
Terry O’Quinn, Lost
Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos
T.R. Knight, Grey’s Anatomy
Masi Oka, Heroes
With the exception of The Shat, this might be the best set yet. To me, it’s Emerson in a slam dunk. He saved the first half of Lost, and continues to be one of the creepiest characters on the small screen. If the voters lean on pure sentiment, then Imperioli gets the win. I love Heroes and Hiro, but it’s not his time. Yet.
ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Patricia Arquette, Medium
I am very happy for Minnie Driver, because she nails it on The Riches. And Sally Field is fantastic in Brothers and Sisters. But I’m giving this one to Edie Falco for those first few episodes while Tony was in a coma. Unbelievable acting.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy
Katherine Heigl, Grey’s Anatomy
Aida Turturro, The Sopranos
Lorraine Bracco, The Sopranos
Seriously? Turturro and Bracco made very brief and uneventful appearances during the final season of The Sopranos. I would have loved to see Elizabeth Mitchell’s name there instead, as she was the most compelling new character on Lost and my favorite supporting actress by a mile. So I’ll root for Wilson, because Dr. Bailey is the best part of Grey’s. Griffiths deserves to be the dark horse candidate to beat the Grey’s and Sopranos ladies.
ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives
Mary Louise Parker, Weeds
I have a feeling that Ferrera will win (to complete her awards trifeca; she’s already won the Golden Globe and SAG Award), but I’m all for Tina Fey and Mary Louise Parker. I love Felicity Huffman, and she was the only reason I watched Desperate Housewives, but I abandoned that show early last season.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men
Jenna Fischer, The Office
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Jaime Pressly, My Name is Earl
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
I’m sorry, but this one belongs to Jenna Fischer. I heart Pam Beesley. The end.
ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Steve Carell, The Office
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
We get it, Emmy committee. You love Tony Shalhoub. Yes, he’s great, but no, we’re not watching. In addition, here are a few things I don’t understand about Charlie Sheen.
1. He the highest paid sitcom star on the air.
2. His off-camera crazytown behavior (see: 9/11 conspiracy theories, divorce details about threatening kids, porn, prostitution, gambling and drugs) has not affected his popularity one iota. Why is it that the media crucifies so many other celebrities for less egregious offenses?!
I’m on the Steve Carell bandwagon, although Alec Baldwin is 30 Rock. Unlike the disgustingly untouchable Sheen, however, the voters may be distracted by Baldwin’s recently publicized personal issues with his daughter.
SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office
I love Piven, but it might be Wilson’s turn. Doogie is the dark horse candidate to win this category.
REALITY SHOW – COMPETITION
Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
Bravo, Bravo. I’m all for Top Chef or Project Runway.
REALITY SHOW
Antiques Roadshow
The Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
Penn & Teller: Bull–
Again, I’m going with Bravo. Yeah, yeah, Extreme Makeover is touching and makes me cry. But Kathy Griffin makes me cry with laughter. Which I prefer.
WRITING, DRAMA SERIES
Battlestar Galactica: “Occupation/Precipice”
Lost: “Through The Looking Glass”
The Sopranos: “Kennedy And Heidi”
The Sopranos: “The Second Coming”
The Sopranos: “Made In America”
A very tough category indeed. Although the script for The Sopranos episode called “Kennedy and Heidi” was borderline genius, I have to side with Lost once again.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE, VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM
Ellen DeGeneres, “79th Annual Academy Awards”
Stephen Colbert, “The Colbert Report”
Jon Stewart, “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart”
David Letterman, “Late Show With David Letterman”
Tony Bennett, “Tony Bennett: An American Classic”
Look, I know people who swear by Colbert and Stewart. But I’m with Ellen all the way to the podium.
WRITING, COMEDY SERIES
Extras, “Daniel Radcliffe”
The Office, “Gay Witch Hunt”
The Office, “The Negotiation”
30 Rock, “Tracy Does Conan,”
30 Rock, “Jack-Tor”
These nominees rule. They all deserve it. If you haven’t seen Harry Potter’s dirty little appearance on Extras, run out right now and rent it. Classic. But, and this should be no surprise, my vote is for the “Gay Witch Hunt” episode of The Office. No other show, sitcom or otherwise, has the capability to make you equally and simultaneously amused and uncomfortable.
RANDOM CATEGORIES
My beloved and prematurely canceled Deadwood garnered Cinematography, Costume, Hairstyling and Sound Mixing nominations. Why couldn’t the voters show Ian McShane & co. the same love that The Sopranos earned?
Ever since Six Feet Under, I’ve been intrigued by clever opening titles. So I was very excited to see that Dexter
You just know that in the Original Music and Lyrics category, Justin Timberlake’s Digital Short ‘Dick in a Box’ is going to win. Even though both of the Scrubs songs were awesome, there hasn’t been a more catchy song/skit from SNL in YEARS.
SNUBS THAT STING
Hello, Friday Night Lights anyone? Why it was not nominated for Best Drama baffles my mind. But the lack of recognition for Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton is just sad. They are the best couple on television, with chemistry that leaps out and off of the screen.
Um, Lost. You know how I feel about that one. I just don’t get it. There isn’t a better produced, filmed or written show on network television.
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Phew. Thanks for sticking with me. I’m sure that after I let some of these nominations settle in my clouded brain, I’ll have more vitriol for the undeserving and outrage for the underappreciated.
was nominated for both Main Title Design and Original Main Title Theme Music.