RESCHEDULING RUMOR: NEW DAY & TIMESLOT FOR ‘LOST’ IN 2008?
There are online rumblings that Season 4 of Lost will air on Monday nights at 8pm beginning in February of next year.
As someone who races to blog about the show immediately following each episode, I welcome the earlier time slot.
Even though they’re on different networks, this change could create a Must-See Monday line-up of Lost at 8pm on ABC and Heroes at 9pm on NBC.
Thoughts?
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THE EMMYS: PISS. MOAN. BITCH. BOO. HISS.
I just got back from vacation, which was quite relaxing…until I turned on the Emmy Awards last night. Just like last year, I found myself screaming at the TV on many occasions. But this time I was in a hotel room. In Vancouver. Where they aired the entire event without censoring any comments. I heart Canada.
Let’s jump right in, shall we?
Dear Emmy Voters,
According to the official website, over 13,000 of you representing “television professionals from every field” comprise the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
However, after watching the Emmy Awards last night, I am convinced that very few of you who are eligible to vote actually watch television. Or at least more than the single screener episodes that are mailed to you.
You got 4 out of 5 nominations right for Outstanding Drama Series. But Boston Legal instead of Lost or Friday Night Lights?? Similar to Desperate Housewives, that show is neither comedy nor drama; it is a quirky hybrid in the spirit of Ally McBeal. And no one watches it. Except for you, vague members of the Academy. Shows like Boston Legal simply confuse, clutter and clog major categories, resulting in serious snubs for far more deserving series’ and performances. Which brings me to…
James Spader for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. COME ON. Over James Gandolfini? It is painfully clear that you have a soft spot for Boston Legal. Case in point: William Shatner’s infuriating prior victories for the same damn show. Is Spader replacing Shatner as your perennial sentimental favorite? Is he your Tony Shalhoub or Doris Roberts? Are you trying to alienate and/or annoy dedicated viewers of shows that receive critical acclaim by torturing us with nominations for inferior performances? Can you seriously say with great conviction that Spader deserved this more than Tony Soprano’s swan song season or the incredibly underrated/extremely complicated Denis Leary on Rescue Me? In my opinion, Kyle Chandler or Matthew Fox should have been nominated in place of Spader. If you had watched more than one episode of Lost last season, you would have chosen Fox; he was the anchor and the intensity that revived the second half. If you had jumped on the Friday Night Lights train along with most critics, you would have recognized Chandler for his integral role as coach and father figure to an entire town.
Yours in frustration,
Jo
Moving on…
As much as I appreciate Jaime Pressly as Joy on My Name is Earl, I was rooting for Jenna Fischer as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. I believe there is genius in subtle comedy, and she is the master of that domain as Pam on The Office.
And now, for the positive notes.
30 Rock
My heart is with The Office, but the Outstanding Comedy Series statue for 30 Rock is the icing on the cake from their last-minute reprieve. Tina Fey is quite talented, and I’m a big fan.
Ricky Gervais
What a pleasant surprise for Lead Actor in Comedy Series. Although Alec Baldwin steals the show on 30 Rock and Steve Carell is fantastic on The Office, Gervais is hysterical on Extras. And frankly, I was just relieved that it didn’t go to Shalhoub and Sheen.
Katherine Heigl
She and Chandra Wilson are why I still tune in to Grey’s Anatomy. Although I was rooting for Rachel Griffiths for Brothers and Sisters, I am more than satisfied that Heigl won for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Izzie is far more compelling than the character after whom the show is named…the one who should have perished in the water during sweeps.
Terry O’Quinn
I’ve said from the beginning that Lost lives and breathes by and through John Locke, that O’Quinn’s character is more important to the entire series than the island itself. Sweet victory for a VERY deserving actor. And his competition in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series was fierce; the statue could have easily wound up in the hands of Lost‘s evil Ben (Michael Emerson) or The Sopranos’ tragic Christopher (Michael Imperioli).
The Sopranos
Those last few episodes of the final season really sealed their status as one of the best shows in the history of television, and they truly were an Outstanding Drama.
Writing – Comedy
There was pure comedy gold throughout the small screen last season. As much as I loved Harry Potter’s cameo on Extras, I vividly remember how brilliant and laugh-out-loud funny The Office was. So I applaud Greg Daniels’ win for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, for his ‘Gay Witch Hunt’ script.
Random Observations
- Where was Drea de Matteo (Adrianna) last night when everyone who has ever appeared on The Sopranos reunited on stage? I still believe that Adrianna was alive and would resurface…don’t stop believin’?
- Why don’t they hire Rainn Wilson to host one of these things? If they’re too afraid to hand over the hosting duties to the openly liberal Stewart or Colbert, then save us from Seacrest and give the mic to a funny everyman or woman.
Look, I’m not a member of any voting academy and I don’t claim to be an expert. I might come across as a bitter couch potato, but I’m just a passionate fan of television and high quality programming. And I am living off of vacation vapors at the moment. So please excuse me if I seem snarky or cranky, or if any spelling errors made their way into this post.
Good night.
FADE TO BLACK…
I am about to go on vacation, so there will not be any posts here for two weeks. That gives you plenty of time to catch up on older entries and peruse/make fun of my insane Lost theories, leave comments, or play the silly movie game. Or not.
My mind has already wandered far. I have been thinking about vacation movies, or at least the ones which feature traveling and/or beautiful locales. So here you go.
- 50 First Dates & Blue Crush (aloha)
- Amelie (the Paris I would like to see, not the one I experienced many years ago)
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (fabulous!)
- Brokeback Mountain (quite possibly the most visually stunning setting ever for a film)
- Cocktail (although Tommy wouldn’t be in my tropical paradise)
- Dirty Dancing & A Walk on the Moon (for family cabin camping and drama in the Catskills)
- Little Miss Sunshine (the van of my childhood was more spacious and reliable)
- National Lampoon’s European Vacation (I prefer it to the original)
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (sans the stalker/murder stuff)
- Under the Tuscan Sun (I heart Italy)
Obviously there are far more that would fit this list. By all means, please remind me what I’m missing!
Soon I will be firmly planted in a deck chair aboard a giant ship headed to Alaska, bundled up, photographing glaciers, listening to my iPod and drinking hot chocolate…with Kahlua. No cell, no email, no blog. Yikes. Good times!
Bon voyage.
SCENE IT, REDUX: TEST YOUR MOVIE MOJO, WIN A DVD
Last month I posted the montage below, and no one even tried to guess. So I’ve decided to entice you and encourage participation – the winner of this little quiz will receive either the Friday Night Lights, Season 1 DVD set OR the DVD of their choice from among the movies depicted in the montage.
Just be the first person to correctly identify the 16 movies AND at least 1 actor in each scene below. Please leave your answers as comments, and thank you for playing!
CURBING MY ENTHUSIASM: THE FALL TV SEASON IS UPON US
Below is
how my fall TV schedule is shaping up. After the upfronts in May, I briefly wrote about most of these
shows, and after watching online previews, here is what has been deemed
TiVO-worthy in my house.
Sunday
Viva
Laughlin (8pm, CBS) – Premieres 10/21/07
Dexter
(9pm, SHO) – Premieres 9/30/07
Brothers
and Sisters (10pm, ABC) – Premieres 9/20/07
Curb Your
Enthusiasm (10pm, HBO) – Premieres 9/9/07
Chuck
(NBC, 8pm) – Premieres 9/24/07
Heroes
(NBC, 9pm) – Premieres 9/24/07
Weeds
(SHO, 10pm) – Currently airing
Bones (FOX,
8pm) – Premieres 9/25/07
House
(FOX, 9pm) – Premieres 9/25/07
Reaper
(CW, 9pm) – Premieres 9/25/07
Cane
(CBS, 10pm) – Premieres 9/25/07
Wednesday
Pushing
Daisies (8pm, ABC) – Premieres 10/3/07
Private
Practice (9pm, ABC) – Premieres 9/26/07
Bionic Woman
(9pm, NBC) – Premieres 9/26/07
Dirty
Sexy Money (10pm, ABC) – Premieres 9/26/07
Ugly
Betty (8pm, ABC) – Premieres 9/27/07
30 Rock
(8:30pm, NBC) – Premieres 10/4/07
The
Office (9pm, NBC) – Premieres 9/27/07
Grey’s
Anatomy (9pm, ABC) – Premieres 9/27/07
It’s
Always Sunny in
(10pm, FX) – Premieres 9/13/07
Friday
Night Lights (9pm, NBC) – Premieres 10/5/07
Men in
Trees (10pm, ABC) – Premieres 10/12/07
Later Date
Eli Stone
(ABC) – TBD 2008
Lipstick
Jungle (NBC) – 01/08
Lost
(ABC) – 02/08
Miss/Guided
(ABC) – TBD 2008
Medium
(NBC) – 01/08
Project
Runway (Bravo) -11/07
The Sarah
Connor Chronicles (FOX) – 01/08
Swingtown
(CBS) – TBD 2008
I’m sure that once I become emotionally invested in a new series, the network will prematurely yank it. I have become a jaded viewer with guarded enthusiasm for the next big thing on television. But I will be tuning in regardless, with my TiVO on overdrive.
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OUT OF OFFICE: NBC v. iTUNES (UPDATED)
Once again, the fans are getting hosed. Because of what is being labeled a ‘contract dispute,’ NBC shows will no longer be available on iTunes.
So should you not have a DVR/TiVO or somehow miss an episode of The Office, Heroes, Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock, etc…you’re screwed.
Just last year, NBC was thrilled with iTunes, giving them credit for the surge in ratings that The Office experienced after the series was made available for digital download.
I feel like this is strike 2 against The Office; earlier this year it was announced that the show will air opposite and compete with Grey’s Anatomy on Thursday nights at 9pm. Insert large sigh here.
I would be very interested to hear what the cast and crew have to say about the iTunes situation. And I’m sure we will. Here are a few great sites that are either solely dedicated to or cover The Office news extensively:
Enjoy the long holiday weekend. And thanks for stopping by.
UPDATE (9/4/07)
Now you will be able to purchase NBC shows through Amazon.com’s Unbox, to watch on your PC or TV. For more information: Amazon Unbox and Amazon Unbox on TiVO.
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