I Am A TV Junkie

Emmys.com Video -- Melissa McCarthy is Desperate, Joel McHale Knows What That's Like

 

Watch this above and then bookmark this, the link for the UStream.tv webcast of the Emmy nominations, which happens tomorrow at 5:30 eastern.

Do it!

Video -- Blah blah blah Emmy Awards blah blah blah

See, even Emmy herself had to take a nap. And honestly, can you blame her? She's holding the world up above her head all the time and she's bound to get tired.

Me too. 

I watched it, it was ... well it came in under three hours, that's something, right?

I dunno, kinda dull for me. None of the shows I really love got the call to come to the stage.

Truest words spoken on the Emmy stage? Edie Falco saying, "I'm not funny." Neither is her show. It's great TV but it's just not a comedy. How about separating the acting nominees into half hour and hour long show categories?

Edie talks to Jason Kennedy from E! about that issue and more, watch by clicking this link.

On top of that, let's think about asking the voters to watch more than one episode of the nominated shows and performances.

It's not like they don't have the time, they work in TV they don't dig ditches for a living.

Opening number was fine. Watch it by clicking this. Cory Monteith has lost a bunch of weight over the summer, I betcha we see him shirtless this season on Glee. Jon Hamm shimmying? I need that on a constant video loop. Hamm singing? I don't think that was him, though I DO think it was Joel McHale singing, which places another tool in his box. 

Hehehe, I said tool and box.

Fallon is at his best when he gets a group of people together, on his show or on this show. Which says a lot about Fallon.

One more thing, because I don't really care much about who won and lost (except, for some strange reason, John Noble from Fringe, who didn't get nominated AGAIN!) ... What's up with not wearing a tie, Emmy nominees? You got nominated for an Emmy and in some cases won one, Eric Stonestreet. Put on a damn tie! Have some respect.

That's all. You can tell me what you liked and didn't in the comment section.

Creative Arts Emmys -- Follow Them Via Twitter

Broadcasting and Cable's BC Beat Twitter account has it all for you. Click this and it all appears right before your eyes. Yeah, right here!

That guy pictured above won one. He's on a boat, he's on a bike, he's hold an Emmy!

I know, that's an awfully big Emmy. He's an awfully big guy!

Video -- Glee's Chris Colfer, Emmy Nominee, Gets Around!

You might even say that Chris is a little bit of a celebration slut.

That's right, I said it!

I mean, he talks to The Hollywood Reporter about his Emmy nomination (LINK) and then ... he turns around and does the same with the Los Angeles Times (LINK).

And ... E! News' Kristin Dos Santos (LINK).

And TV Guide, but at least this time it's part of a group thing ... wait, a group thing? Like I said, SLUT! See that one at this link.

More, including a Kurt Hummel lookbook, after the jump.

Emmys -- John Noble, Robbed Again!

You might remember this image, I used it last year at just around the same time.

You see, I don't really care much about Emmys or any award in the entertainment field, but I really deep down in my heart believe that this performance on this show needs to be noticed and acknowledged.

Because it's an outstanding performance, it comes from a mature actor who hasn't found that big vehicle in his career until now and it's ... just ... mwah ... beautiful.

Oh, whatev. Here's all the nominations ... (PDF) (Drop-down menu)

I was kinda delighted that Conan's Tonight Show got nods instead of Jawboy. Does that make me a bad person?

More on the Emmy noms later in the day.

Video -- Emmy Noms Tomorrow Morning, But Before They Do That Just Let Me Say ...

... if this man pictured above doesn't get a nomination for Outstanding Performance By a Supporting Actor in a Drama the nominating academy members can all suck it.

SUCK IT!!!

John Noble, no matter what happens thanks for all the great stuff on Fringe this past year and we look forward to more, Emmy nomination or not.

But you certainly deserve one. And I'd give you the statue, too.

Watch this (LINK) and this (LINK) if you disagree, then reassess.

Our TV pals Joel McHale and Sofia Vergara (a fetching couple) will make the announcements tomorrow at some ungodly hour (5:40 Pacific?) and you can see it on the Today Show or wherever (E! maybe) then.

Hollywood Reporter Video -- Ray Romano Gets High in So Many Different Places

To which Jon Hamm asks, "Griffith Park?"

No I'm not kidding, you can watch it for yourself, click this link.

Note to you, readers ... don't get high in Griffith Park in LA, kids play there. If there's a Merry Go Round someplace, you shouldn't be getting high there.

Not to worry, Ray isn't getting high in Griffith Park. He was talking about acting to the Hollywood Reporter with some other guys (Alex Skarsgard, Bryan Cranston, Matthew Fox, the very lovely -- and eyeglass-wearing -- Matt Bomer) who might be up for Emmys in the Outstanding Actor in a Drama category.

Romano? Yeah Romano, did you watch any of Men of a Certain Age? Because he tore it up and I didn't expect that, either. But he did.

Bomer? I love the guy but the role is a little too lightweight I think for the Emmy voters. Cranston, yes. Hamm, yes. Skarsgard? Lead actor? That's a bit of a stretch.

Finally from the group there's Fox, who I think might have harshed his chances at a nom earlier this year by making such a big deal about saying he was no longer gonna do TV. TV people don't like hearing that, makes them feel  less than.

(Plus, I don't see Matthew Fox bringing anything to your local movie screen that isn't already being provided by other actors. If he gets roles I think it'll be because he comes in at a lower price point and those roles won't rise to the level of Oscar bait, certainly.)

For those of you who didn't partake, here's a clip of Ray from the show, click this. No embed code but the link will take you to the clip's YouTube page.

Modern Family's Sofia Vergara and our Joel McHale (yes, ours. Or at least mine in the sense that I have not missed one episode of The Soup, ever, even when it was called the WTF Awards) announce the nominees on the morning of July 8, Emmys handed out in Hollywood on August 29 hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC.

Here's the Emmy site link, have at it!

Video -- Evil Supervillian Interrupts Emmycast, Laughs Ominously, Predicts Disaster

So he can't get a break from the Evil League of Evil, that ominous laugh is really working for him these days at least.

"A lot of guys ignore the laugh, and that's about standards."

Special appearance by Penny, Captain Hammer and Moist.

Watch Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog at this link. Buy swag at this link.

Five Emmy Red Carpet Clips -- Seth MacFarlane, Potty Mouth and More ...

My favorite E! Emmy red carpet moments included:

• Seth Mac Farlane (Family Guy) dropping the F-bombs.
• Lost's Michael Emerson and wife Carrie Preston from True Blood -- that voice isn't put on, he sounds creepy here, too.
• True Blood star Stephen Moyer on proposing to co-star Anna Paquin.
• Olivia Wilde from House looking extraordinary, as usual.
• Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Jennifer Westveldt, looking like they were plucked off the top of a cake. Like a bride and groom, but there is a shot missing from this interview. At one point on the broadcast they panned from bottom to top on Jon and I swear the cameraman lingered at his crotch. I am not making that up.

All those clips ... after the jump. Sorry about all the pre-roll ads.

Video -- Emmy Watch: Making Sure Kanye Doesn't Show Up; Neil Patrick Harris Interview; Picks

Because he probably thinks he knows who should win Emmys, too.

I was out at Janet and Jim's last night and the VMAs came on at 10 and I got all pissed off all over again. One thing was different ... apparently what the live broadcast didn't have was about five words from Taylor on the south side of Kanye's outburst that they edited in for rebroadcast. Poor girl sounds awfully shaken by the event and then just leaves the stage.

Fuck Kanye. He better not show up at the Emmys. Sooner or later someone's gonna beat the shit outta him and at the Emmys that just might be Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser or the guy from More to Love could just sit on him. The truth is he's not that big a guy, Kanye, and he could probably be very easily subdued if someone had the will to do it.

That's why he picks on teenage girls. Pussy.

Not to worry, Neil Patrick Harris, eagle eye that he is, will be on the lookout for rushes from the audience. Won't you, Neil? Sure you will.

More, including a clip, after the jump.

Emmy Preview Video -- TV.com Emmy Poll Closes Soon, Get Clickin'!

Detail from my ballot, the drama show nominees. Mad Men should win, but I think with the academy the bloom has come off the rose and Fox's House will get the nod for some very innovative TV this past season.

No, I don't watch House regularly, but enough that I sense this will happen.

Click over to the TV.com Emmy poll and get your ballot done before the big day (Sunday, starts at 8 eastern on CBS).

Detail from my ballot on comedy nominees after the jump with explainers and a preview promo clip from NPH.

2 Clips -- Emmys Already Given Away (to Tina Fey and more) and Emmy Gets in Bed With Twitter

Award for Tina Fey (guest actress comedy)? Done.

Award for Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List? Shock of shocks, Intervention finally beats Kathy. You can be sure next season Kathy will be holding an intervention for her mom and her box o'wine addiction, where or not she needs it. Gotta pump of the drama on the show apparently to get the Emmy these days.

And, they bought copious online fyc advertising this year.

(Personally, I can't imagine why anyone would watch Intervention. My sis watches the show occasionally and the one time I sat with her and attempted it I felt anxious and like I shouldn't know this much about people I don't really know. What ever happened to private matters staying private? Does everything need to happen on the teevee machine?)

All the nominees from the creative arts Emmys are posted at this link and the entries with the statue next to them are the winners.

Little Dorrit (image right) from the BBC and PBS/WGBH Boston won four awards including casting for a miniseries, art direction, cinematography and costumes.

Sixteen Emmys were given to HBO, including three for Grey Gardens, a casting award for True Blood and three awards out of eight noms for Generation Kill.

About the acting awards, besides Fey ...

Justin Timberlake. Justin? Yeah, apparently for the SNL episode he hosted that was just rerun by NBC last night. You know, the episode where almost every sketch had a gay stereotype in it, often played by Justin? He beat Steve Martin, Alan Alda, Beau Bridges and Jon Hamm in the category. I have to ask ... is the academy made up of 20-something girls? Do they not watch 30 Rock? Is this just the craziest thing you've ever seen?

Michael J. Fox for his arc on Rescue Me on FX. I don't watch the show. Extended clip from YouTube at this link.

Ellen Burstyn. AGAIN. "I know!" But this time the Oscar winner was in the show for more than, what was it, 48 seconds the last time on the HBO Scarsdale Diet Doctor movie Mrs. Harris? Here she wins for her Law & Order: SVU gig as Elliot's mom with bipolar disorder, Bernadette Stabler.

Finally, Dan Castellanetta won the voice acting award for playing Homer Simpson, his fourth in as many nominations.

After the jump, watch Tina Fey as Sarah Palin yet another time and then watch Neil Patrick Harris suck up to Twitter. Apparently the show has an official Tweeter this year.

It's a time suck, people. Why are you still doing this Twitter thing?

The primetime awards are a week from tonight on CBS, 8 pm.

Ray Richmond at TheWrap.com -- Give George Carlin His Emmy, NOW!

Ray gets after it:

The “George Carlin: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize” special that aired in February on PBS, and celebrated the great comedian’s life through clips and live tributes from his contemporaries, is nominated for an Emmy this year in the Outstanding Special Class Program category.

This is the grouping where they toss all of the shows the TV Academy brass don’t know what else to do with, resulting in some very strange bedfellows indeed. Yet it represents a chance for Emmy voters to reverse a longtime crime, even if it wouldn’t technically count as a win for Carlin since it’s a mere special surrounding his receiving, after death, the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for Humor.

He's right, it's time. It's been time, for a while now.

Click the link for more, check the Carlin performance clip after the jumperoo from the special.

Ben Silverman's Crowing About Emmy Noms, While NBC Loses More Money

I am getting tired of this guy. You?

(No, not the  little person worth $45 million to the left, I'm talking about Ben Silverman.)

First of all, he's always beaming about the success of House. If House is such a great show by NBC-Uni, why didn't NBC pick it up for their air, huh?

(Actually, I believe it was Scott Sassa who passed on House. Because they already had ER, but why couldn't they have two medical shows? They are certainly very different animals, the two shows are.)

Back to Ben, this week he decided to get all vermklempt to the press about the 67 Primetime Emmy nominations that NBC got this week.

First of all, 67 noms doesn't mean 67 Emmys. It certainly won't happen, in fact. And, my contention is that NBC got those 67 noms despite Silverman, not because of him.

(And a number of the noms are in the same categories. Click here and check how many NBC shows and performances are up against each other, especially in the comedy category. In some categories they have all five or six noms.)

He gave all kinds of airtime to shows that had not a chance of garnering Emmys. Can you say Kath & Kim? Crusoe? Knight Rider?

(At least the NBC adaptation of The IT Crowd -- yes, I'm still pissed off about that -- would have gotten a nomination for writing, as long as they brought Graham Linehan over to script the pilot.)

(Molly Shannon, I love you but you got screwed on this one. You too, Selma Blair, and you John Michael Higgins, who makes me laugh more in those DirecTV commercials than in any single episode of K&K. Not his fault, he had nothin' to work with.)

Meanwhile, the broadcast division is losing money, only being held up by the cable end run by the always-refreshed looking Bonnie Hammer:

Broadcast television, which includes the NBC network, TV stations and its in-house television production studio, contributed $1.4 billion in revenue, which was 9% lower than a year earlier. Operating profit was $100 million lower than last year's second quarter. The company spent more money developing programming and "local media continues to be down," Sherin said.

(snip)

Cable television was another story. Sherin said those channels contributed $1.2 billion in revenue, up 3% over last year, for an operating profit of $595 million. That was 7% higher than in 2008.

So, if anyone should crow, it's the woman with no discernable crow's feet, Bonnie Hammer. Her cable operations are going great guns with Royal Pains, Burn Notice, Warehouse 13 and lots of other genre content across her entities, including USA, Bravo, Syfy (Ugh, that rebranding!) and Oxygen, among others.

Video -- John Noble From Fringe: Crime Victim

It's stunning. Stunning to me that John Noble was not recognized for his work on Fringe.

Genre show bias rears its ugly head again. Damn.

(The same could be said about the ommision of EVERY Battlestar Galactica performer. Sackhoff not nominated? Olmos? McDonnell? There's a crime spree going on, folks!)

I know that I'm usually railing about giving out awards for the arts, but show business runs on PR and awards and nominations are great PR for show. Fringe is heading into a tough season of competition against The Office and Grey's Anatomy, CSI and Supernatural (notable only because of the genre, certainly they're not putting up the big numbers).

At least Aaron Paul got a nod for Breaking Bad, very deserving. You gotta wonder if working on both BB and Big Love was a help to his chances. Certainly the academy members had more opportunity to see him.

And while I watch neither Lost not Damages season two, I still think Noble's work in a very tough role, straddling the comedic and the dramatic the way he does, was stellar.

And that's why I posting the final episode of the first season of Fringe, all of it, after the jump for you to watch in case you're not clued in.

For newbies, it's also the first appearance on the show by the ellusive William Bell, played by Leonard Nimoy. Click over the fold, eat it up gang.

Before Tomorrow Morning, 10 Emmy Thoughts

1) John Noble in Fringe. If it doesn't happen Walter Bishop's gonna cook up something in his lab and dose everyone at the Academy. And I'll help.

2) Elisabeth Moss -- See my Mad Men post today for her scene with Pete from the finale and tell me she doesn't deserve a nom.

3) Michael Glouberman's episode of Better Off Ted, Racial Insensitivity, was pointed satire and a laugh riot. If no one else gets nominated he'd better.

4) Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad. Need I say more?

5) Personally, I would get a kick out of Billie Piper getting a nom of Secret Diary, but it's a long long longshot.

6) Everyone and anyone connected with True Blood. Especially Rutina Wesley and Nelsan Ellis.

7) Jimmy Smits for his season on Dexter. A revelation, really.

8) Someone besides Tina winning comedy actress. I know she's an Emmy darling but is she really the outstanding actress in a comedy? Others (Christina Applegate for instance) carry their shows.

9) Tracy Morgan needs a nomination. C'mon, people, give it!

10) Idris Elba for guest actor in a comedy for his turn as Michael Scott's nemesis in The Office.

By the time you read this the nominations will be announced, probably. I hope I did well. What did you think of the list, who would you add, who would you dump?

Comment section, gang. USE IT!

Kathy Griffin To Host "The Schmemmys" Recorded for E! Special Sept. 19

Of course, the regular of "real" Emmys, as Kathy calls them, will be the next night, Sunday the 20th on CBS with Neil Patrick Harris hosting, but The Schmemmys are all Kathy.

Good luck Shmemmys. Is there anyone out there who would like a nice older guy who can handle himself in a sophisticated group to be their plus one?

(Good, I'll call Michael Richards, I just hope he doesn't run into those Real Housewives of Atlanta, I don't think they'd get along.)

Kathy hasn't been on E! since they threw her under the bus a few years ago. Not to worry, Kathy's won a slew of Emmys since (which she picks up annually at the Schmemmys) and her show is currently in its fifth season, and this season is all about her climbing out from under rocks and scratching her way up the circuit with the help of celebrities including this past week Gloria Estefan while touring South Beach and Star Island.

Rosie O'Donnell, who recurs on My Life on the D-List (almost as much as Kathy's mom, actually) lives across the street from Gloria. Diddy, down the street. The realtor? Former Major Leaguer and out Miami man about town Billy Bean, who gladly participated in the shenanigans when Kathy wanted to offer under $2 mil for one of those remarkable homes.

Actually it was $1.75 on a home they say was worth between $17-20 mil. For that kind of money, it better be stocked with a celebrity chef and a celebrity in the bedroom.

Or, Billy Bean. Always my dream to bed a former major leaguer.

And since I'm not gonna get the chance with Kirk Gibson ...

You can click the icon below and read some reviews of the book whose jacket graces this post, and if you buy the book, $.015 per sale goes to my fund to replace my DVD-VHS dual deck from Go Video with a new Blu-Ray player.

And at this rate, by the time that happens I'll be experiencing media by having a chip planted in my brain.

Two Three Things I'm Asking For From the Universe -- Please Help!

Okay, I want three things. I thought it was just two but I realized it's three.

1) I would love it if there was someone out there in my world, from the blog or my friends in the industry or wherever who could get me five or ten minutes on the phone with Neil Patrick Harris before he hosts the Emmys in September, just to do a little preview interview and maybe ask a question or two about Barney and Robin's future on HIMYM.

2) Joan Rivers was the first person who ever paid me to write. I was a sophomore in college  (1979-80) and my pal Jim Renehan and I used to sell one-liners to her. She's being roasted by Comedy Central this year with host Kathy Griffin. I would like to be there. I'll even bring my own chair if I must. If there's food I promise to eat first. I'll even do all my breathing ahead of time so that the stars can be properly oxygenated.

3) This isn't just something for me, this is for all of us ... I want Time Warner Cable to make some sort of announcement about picking up BBC America in HD. Actually, I just want them to do it, NOW!!! What up with not telling my friendly cable TV customer service rep what's going on? You could save a bunch of sci fi fans serious worry if you'd just ... I dunno, send us all an email to the effect? Or something like that.

If you can help or guide me in the proper direction, write to me at the address above.

Thanks.

Reported: Emmy Awards Closing In on Neil Patrick Harris as Host

Well, after the bang up job he did at the Tonys this was pretty much expected, though I thought there was a chance that our TV pal Craig Ferguson might get the nod, too.

Either way is good for me. Craig will have another chance in four years. We'll all be here in four years, right?

Neil would be the first openly-gay Emmy host who's a man. Ellen Degeneres was the first lesbian to host.

Hibberd at THR:

The two-time Emmy nominee is fresh off a well-received performance hosting CBS' Tonys telecast in June, and took the stage in May for a segment at the network's upfront presentation. In April, Harris hosted the TVLand Awards, which is owned by CBS parent company Viacom.

The 61st annual Emmys will be telecast on Sept. 20. The move could help promote "How I Met Your Mother" in the fall, which is moving to a less protected time slot opening the network's Monday night comedy block.

HIMYM will do fine opening the night for CBS this Fall. I think last season really cemented the show's viability. That's something I wouldn't worry about. Plus, the show will be able to spend more time on their female cast this year, hopefully, assuming neither gets pregnant again.

Watch Neil from the Tony broadcast last month in a clip after the jump singing the closing number, for which he'll probably get another Emmy nomination.

The Emmys air on September 20 on CBS. No, really, the 20th. They changed it. Again.

True Blood: Emmy Winner Zeljko Ivanek Guests as Vampire Judge, Upcoming as Heroes' "Hunter"

 

When I was in high school Zeljko Ivanek was a young actor working a lot on Broadway. And he had a foreign name. And I was reading those theatre listings in the NY Times like they were the Rosetta Stone.

So I always remember Zeljko Ivanek.

But I hadn't seen him in years until he showed up in Damages as Ray Fiske, the creepy consigliere to Ted Danson's even creepier Arthur Frobisher, he of the hookers and blow in the back seat of the limo crowd. And Ivanek beat Danson for the Emmy for supporting actor in a drama.

Even creepier? Last night on True Blood as the vampire judge that rules on Bill Compton's murder of a fellow vampire to save Sookie Stackhouse.

(You can watch the whole episode right now at HBO if you like. Here's the link.)

It's also been announced that Ivanek will recur in a few episodes of Heroes after the holidays as The Hunter. Since the chapter in the (failing) saga is being called Fugitives, a guy called The Hunter must be a big part of the action, don't you think?

Well, I guess we should see about whether or not the show will survive long enough to show us this chapter. Because if I'm an NBC honcho and I'm seeing the cheapie shows that are rating higher than Heroes, I'm starting to look around for a lower cost option.

Maybe an hour of grass growing? Paint drying?

Watch Ivanek work with Stephen Moyer in a clip from the tribunal scene after the jump. Very creepy. Somewhat suitable for work (with the volume down) but not for the kiddies.

It's after the jump.

International Emmy Nominees Announced Includes New Torchwood Actress Cohu

And there's a Torchwood connection to one of the nominees, but casual fans of the show wouldn't quite know that. Yet.

But about the awards, you can find a list of nominees at this link. One of those nominees is Lucy Cohu, a British actress, for her performance in the Channel 4 UK series Forgiven.

Lucy is cast in the five-part Torchwood miniseries that is just beginning to wind down shooting in Cardiff and environs, and was seen a couple years ago in a Showtime series called Meadowlands that aired in the UK as Cape Wrath. Apparently, Showtime's brass didn't think Americans would get the reference to the actual Cape Wrath.

Forgiven is a drama about child sexual abuse and from what I've read online very well done and very disturbing. I was gonna post a clip, but nothing seems appropriate for a post about awards, certainly.

BTW, these awards honor only programming outside the US, so don't feel dissed that none of your shows got nominated.

The UK version of Life on Mars got its second nomination (it won in 2006), The IT Crowd was nominated, and UK shows had a total of 40 nominations.

The list of nominees is at this link. Awards presented this November 24.

Two 30 Rock Clips, Deleted Scene From S2 and Preview of S3 (Which Premieres Online on 10/23)

You know, that show that Tina Fey does in between her Sarah Palin impersonations.

First of all, you need to know that the season premiere of the show will preview online starting October 23 (a little bit of an early B-day present for you pal Joe, apparently).

And today, you can run like the dickens (a phrase I've never seen in print before this moment) and pick up your Season Two DVD box set ($26.99 from Amazon) with deleted scenes like the one after the jump where Jack goes to interview for a job with a small start up (or is it a hippie commune in Brooklyn?).

Another deleted scene on YouTube right now for your viewing features Kenneth and Jenna.

Of course, you might have heard in the last few days about Tina's book deal as well. Ms. Fey will get eight figures (that's millions of dollars, split between her and her agents, managers, attorneys, and gray market Mallomars dealer) to write a book about ... about what, exactly?

NY Times:

Her impressions of Ms. Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, on “SNL” have helped drive ratings for that show’s first four episodes up 49 percent this season compared to those for last year, and in September Ms. Fey won an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her work in “30 Rock.” Representatives for Ms. Fey and Little, Brown would not say what the book is about, when it will be published or how much it sold for; they said the deal included a gift to the nonprofit group Books for Kids to build school libraries in the New York area.

The show's other performance Emmy winner, Alec Baldwin, has a book out on divorce and fathers called A Promise to Ourselves which is already on stands.

Clips after the jump.

Emmy Winner Bryan Cranston On Location in New Mexico Razzed By Costars

Dan Mayfield in the Albuquerque Journal (with a hat tip to Liz in New Mexico, thanks honey!):

Things have changed on the set of "Breaking Bad" since Bryan Cranston won his Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama last week.

"He just sits in his trailer and polishes it. He touches up the Emmy more than his makeup," his co-star Anna Gunn, said. "He wants me to call him Bri-Emmy, but I refuse to."

Of course, Gunn was joking. Cranston, the star of the show and the first to win an acting Emmy for a New Mexico-made production, has a reputation for being the nicest guy in TV, and it shows on the set. He jokes, eats bagels with mounds of cream cheese and sings Bonnie Tyler songs with the crew.

He let all the cast and crew members take pictures with his Emmy earlier this week. He keeps it in his trailer and will pull it out at the drop of a hat, like a kid with a new toy.

You see, it would have been all well and good if Jon Hamm would have gotten the Emmy for Mad Men, but Bryan Cranston has been entertaining us for over 26 years.

And, honestly, I think that's why he got the Emmy. The voters have seen Cranston do a lot of things before, but he's never played anyone like Walter White.

(Frankly, I never saw Jon Hamm in my life until Mad Men debuted.)

Plus, doesn't he deserve something for listening to his TV wife scream at him for years on Malcolm? Just for the hearing loss he should get something, dontcha think?

You can see him in action on the show by clicking over to the Breaking Bad website at AMCTV.com and watching the pilot. I would bet before season two starts they will run the seven eps that they made before the strike last season. And it's also running right now on Sundays at midnight, so get the DVR working for another option.

Or, just lay off the Ambien. That's probably a good idea anyway. Wouldn't wanna wake up laying in front of the fridge with a chocolate cake smeared all over you face.

Or would you?

Take Variety's Poll Re: Emmy Hosting, Bad? or Just Horrible?

Actually, those aren't the choices. But they should be.

Video -- Ricky Gervais Hilariously Gets His Emmy Back From Steve Carell

No more set up required. You must watch this.

LINK

Video -- Tina Fey's Daughter Saw Sarah Palin on TV and Thought It Was Her

That's a riot, unless you're Tina Fey. She wasn't so thrilled.

And there's more, from winner Paul Giamatti (for HBO's John Adams), the cast of Mad Men, Bryan Cranston and Glenn Close for Damages.

LINK

Tina's Writing Win for 30 Rock -- Write Hulu and Makes Them Post the Ep Online!

I have  a three-minute replay, but not the episode. But you can help me get the whole episode posted up at Hulu by sending email to ...

... content@hulu.com.

Make sure you mention the episode title, Cooter, season two, episode 15, and the original air date was May 8, 2008.

Because I really wanna see the ep again before the Fall premiere.

LINK

Is It Stephen Colbert's Emmy Year?

(UPDATE: I meant Don Rickles. I really did. Bennett was last year. Rickles is this year. And it WAS Rickles who won. More of the project he won for at this link.)

I dunno, Tony Bennett is in his category. And the TV academy likes a good crooner.

So do I, of course, but c'mon, Stephen is out there every night with new material, and he's brilliant! Can't he get a little Emmy love?

LINK

Why I'm Not Live Blogging The Emmys

Well ...

a) I think it's lame. But it's not the real reason why, its ...

b) I can't see it live. That's right, of the award shows on network TV only the Oscars are live in the West. Isn't it time that the network airing the Emmys aired it live in the place where most TV is still made? Or at least the place where the agreements to make TV are made?

Also, I like it when stuff ends earlier than later.

So, no calling me with results. That also means only very specific web browsing and no radio or cable news (the crawl).

Because if you don't have the surprise aspect it's just pretty people jumping up and down, walking, crying, waxing poetic (or at least attempting to) and lots of hair and jewelry.

And Seacrest. Always the Seacrest.

Isn't there a spray for that?

Emmy Comedy Watch, As In "Watch Them Screw It All Up!"

Watch the Academy give the comedy series award to Two And a Half Men. Go ahead, just watch them do it.

It's a show they understand, I think that's the reason. And they know who Charlie Sheen is. Personally, I would vote for 30 Rock but I think the winner this season has to be The Office, not only for it's quality but because it was the most valuable comedy on any network's schedule.

They run it whenever they can, back to back, on nights other than Thursdays, in marathons ... what other show filled in the way The Office did this season?

 And, despite that I consider 30 Rock to be a more palatable show to watch (because sometimes the Dunder-Mifflin gang just makes me squirm beyond what I can handle), I feel like there was more heavy lifting done by The Office. And that's the only reason.

The other shows? Curb? Entourage? Well, I just can't handle much of Larry David and Entourage just never did anything for me. I don't really consider Entourage a comedy. Maybe because it doesn't make me laugh?

I would love to see the comedy actress statue go to Christina Applegate, but not because of her recent medical issues but because she's the title character and in almost every scene and charms me right outta my sock.

And I love you, Tina, but like you, I consider you a writer first.

Now, about those actors, my only choices here are Carell and Baldwin. No, not Charlie Sheen. Really, really not Charlie Sheen. Steve, Alec ... either one.

Supporting Actor? I would be very very nice to see our Neil (Patrick Harris) win an award and thank David. Because I like a little romance with my Emmy.

Finally, and not because I watch the show but because I love her in a way only a middle aged gay man could love her, Holland Taylor. I am convinced that the only reason people watch that damn show is for her. I think she's just great. If I could get a reel every week with just her scenes in it, I would watch it.

Too bad she and Conchata Ferrell can't get their own spinoff. I'd watch that.

And, regarding the chances for Stewart, Colbert, Conan, etc ... I think Tony Bennett's getting it this year. I guess he'll be one of Colbert's guests this week.

There's Emmy stuff all over TV today, starting with E!, I believe, so if you really need to hear those folk wax expansive on the events of the day, head over there.

But I'm using the time to catch up on my DVR.

Where's My Pre-Emmy Post? Right Here, But Does It Matter?

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Why? Because the Emmys are shit.

Okay, they're fun to watch, and I will (despite the error of a reality host-hosted show) but the categories are all screwed up and the people who decide who wins (with the exception of you, Jennifer) are old crotchety dustballs that still gasp when they read or hear the word shit.

Which would mean they've already gasped twice at this post.

Creative Arts awards were already given. Click this for more.

I will say this, though, David Bianculli at Broadcasting & Cable hits it on the head with this:

Emmy and Mad Men could be perfect bedfellows. Mad Men is up for the top prize of Best Drama Series, in a fun, competitive field against, among others, ratings-winning stalwarts such as ABC's Lost and Fox's House, and FX's Damages and Showtime's dark and compelling Dexter. And if it wins, few faces would soak in the spotlight quite like Jon Hamm, who's up for a Best Actor in a Drama Series Emmy as the series' centerpiece, Don Draper.

A win by Mad Men or Hamm would help the Emmys do one of the things it does best: help break new shows on the verge of bigger ratings. Granted, with basic cable fare dominating the nominations as never before, there are fewer big-rated series to bring in the larger rooting crowd. But the competition between hot and more established choices will be one of many good storylines that could bring viewers to the night. And the Emmys could use all the help it can get.

Thing is, I don't really see it happening this year, despite how much fun it would be. Well, maybe Jon Hamm, but the show? I love the show, but I certainly look more forward to Dexter than Mad Men. Furthermore, I would vote for Michael C. Hall over Hamm.

Sorry Deb and Roberta, but it's true.

And it would be great to see the surging Showtime win some bling.

BTW, I watched the Dexter third season premiere last night and it is ... well, WOW! Jimmy Smits? Amazing! The set up for this season? Ripe with possibilities. And Rita? Horny and hungry. Think about that, Rita is horny and hungry.

I'll have more tomorrow about Dex. In the meantime, watch the Emmys, have a great time, but don't think that it actually celebrates the best in television.

It tries to, if that makes you feel any better.

It would also be a big surprise, to everyone but me, if Damages took away the Best Drama statue.

Hell, maybe I'll write about the comedy category before the weekend. It is the big event of the week.

Laurence Fishburne, Instantly the Most Notable African-American Actor on TV

Stage, big screen, and now he moves right into the plum role on the most consistently high rated drama on television this season on CSI in episode nine of this season.

But, did you know that Laurence Fishburne's previous series work includes what's coming in a clip after the jump? Well, although most of my audience will, the public at large more than likely doesn't know of or remember the television oeuvre of Mr. Fishburne.

And, yes, I'm gonna make you click past the jump, and even if you know, it's a short but great clip.

And it co-star's, among others, a talking globe.

Do it, it's a holiday, live it up. 

Broadcasting & Cable:

Fishburne will be introduced in the ninth episode of what will be the ninth season for the CBS crime procedural. His character, a former pathologist and college lecturer on criminalistics, will cross paths with the CSI team and eventually join the Las Vegas Crime Lab.

"CBS asked us, 'Who's at the top of your dream list?'” CSI executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said in a statement. "Without hesitation, we said, ‘Laurence Fishburne.’ He is a powerful and intense actor with an incredible range. We had the opportunity to see Mr. Fishburne in Thurgood on Broadway a few weeks ago, and it was a truly profound experience.”

They continued, “Mr. Fishburne is also a talented writer and director. If you distill CSI down to its essence, it's a collaboration, and we are so looking forward to collaborating with Mr. Fishburne. For all of us at CSI, this is truly a dream."

BTW, William Petersen and Fishburne will be presenting together come September 21 at the Emmy Awards.

Guess Who Can't Go To The Emmys Because They Don't Have the Cash?

It's General Motors!

Can't afford the gas for the limo ("Ha Ha," said Nelson Muntz, "your tragedy is ironic!)!

Actually, they can't afford the ad rates, per Cynthia Littleton and Daniel Frankel in Variety.

Of course, if they had any vision at all, if they were paying attention at all to their product lines filled with gas-guzzling vehicles and how they conflicted with the burgeoning economies of India and China which with unrest in the Mideast, they might not have this problem.

They also wouldn't have had this problem if they hadn't been so supportive of Republican politicians; yes, those Republican politcians that are to blame for much of said unrest; over the last few years.

According to OpenSecrets.org, totalling all election cycles since the 1990 Congressional races, the automotive industry PACs and their employees have sent only 25% for their campaign cash to Democrats, but 75% to Republicans who, as a party, overwhelming oppose increased CAFE standards.

Thing is, it's that same group that's in bed with the oil companies that are making money as fast as GM is losing it, and a few of the Republicans, like for instance Phil Gramm who was the McCain campaign's econ guy till he got thrown out for insulting our collective intelligence, is responsible for the Enron loophole that allows the speculators in the oil market to drive that price up as high as it is, making GM's vehicle lineup so unbuyable.

Seems like our collective intelligence continues to be insulted, however, by corporate America and their enablers in Washington.

One of a million ways it's all really screwed up.

And karma's a bitch sometimes.

That extra 2 to 4 mph doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore, huh. Spend a little and you might have made enough to "go to the Emmys."

A Sweet Sixteen Noms for AMC's Mad Men

Great news for the guy or gal at AMC that's charged with putting together the next round of show promos.

The nominations are in:

Art Direction (obviously, 2 noms for the pilot and episode Shoot), Casting (definitely), Cinematography (certainly), Costumes (natch) Directing, Drama Series, Guest Actor (Robert Morse), Hairstyling (Fabulous), Lead Actor (Jon Hamm), Title Design (Almost a lock to win), Makeup, Prosthetic Makeup, Supporting Actor (John Slattery), Writing (2 nominations for Matthew Weiner for the pilot and episode, The Wheel).

Surprisingly, no nominations for the female performers, though I would bet that Elisabeth Moss is thinking about why she decided to enter the lead actress category. I mean it's fine and all, but she didn't really think she had a chance against Glenn Close, did she?

I mean, the role was written for Glenn, basically. How do you do battle against that?

Still, Christine Hendricks should have gotten a nod in the supporting category, and she didn't either.

These nominations should be the stuff that brings more eyes to the most underwatched show of the 2007-8 TV season.

Six Noms, Including Writing, For BSG, McDonnell Snubbed

The writing nomination came for Michael Angeli's script for Six of One, which isn't the ep I would have put up, so maybe I'm wrong? Me, wrong?

I still think Sine Qua Non or Faith are stronger, but my opinion means nothing.

I just don't get how they pass over Mary McDonnell. Especially in this the final season of the show, where she's done such beautifully disciplined work. Also, an actress of a certain age playing a cancer patient, even in a genre show, is brave.

So is not getting your face stretched out over your cheekbones till you look like a cat, like a lot of her contemporaries.

That's just very disappointing. I think a lot of it has to do with genre snobs snubbing what they think is just a scifi show that geeks watch. How wrong can an Emmy voter be?

Well, very wrong, actually.

Six nominations total for BSG.

Sarah Silverman (who's no longer f**king Jimmy Kimmel) Ironically Nominated for F**king Matt Damon

Yes, this got an Emmy nod for best song, and it's up against two song from Flight on the Conchords, a song from a Disney Channel show (HA!) and Jordan Peele's "Fitty" song from Mad TV this season.

But none of them just broke up with the person who was the intended recipient of their nominated song, so they don't get posted and Sarah does.

Sadly, no nom for Sarah for her self-titled Comedy Central show. He got into the final round of voting, but then came of short.

LINK

Oops! First Big Snub on the Emmy List I've Seen So Far, Ashley Jensen in Extras

UPDATE: I'm sorry, she entered the supporting category and got a nomination, oops! Well, watch the clip anyway, because she was brilliant.

Really, Ashley was heartbreaking in the Extras Christmas special and show finale as Maggie Jacobs gave up so many of her dreams and found herself cleaning toilets in an office building ... and I'll tell you there were moments etched on her face that I will never ever forget.

And all this from a show with so many comedic elements. That's what made the show so notable.

The nominees in the lead actress, mini or movie, are:

Phylicia Rashad, Raisin in the Sun
Catherine Keener, An American Crime
Susan Sarrandon, Bernard & Doris
Dame Judi Dench, Cranford
Laura Linney, John Adams

And I continue to search through the nominations for newsworthy stuff, they are at this link.

After the jump, a comedic moment from the show where Clive Owen takes some salt and rubs it in some wounds, Maggie's wounds. He's brutal.

UPDATED: No Emmy Awards for Britney or Mary-Kate, As If!

Note to Natalie Finn at E!, you don't get an Emmy nomination just for showing up.

She writes:

Britney Spears' hyped two-episode appearance on How I Met Your Mother didn't catch the eye of Emmy voters, who left her off their list of semifinalists for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, per the latest round of Emmy scoopage from the L.A. Times' Gold Derby blog.

Spears shouldn't feel too snubbed, though—fellow twentysomething Mary-Kate Olsen, who played a pot-dealing proselytizer on Weeds, didn't make the cut, either. And she's been acting all her life!

Yeah, neither of them were really much good. Britney's not an actress, and she won't ever be, she just doesn't know herself or the real world well enough to convey any genuine emotion on cue.

And how could one possibly be the richest little weird-looking "paintings of kids with giant eyes" girl act like a normal young adult? What could Mary-Kate really know about typical human beings and their lives?

Also, that thing that the Olsens did for many years wasn't really acting, it was something that included them making audible sounds on cue, but it's hardly the equivalent of studying with Stanislavski.

The problem with casting walking, talking magazine covers in projects where they have to act like "regular people" is that these people have no idea what that is.

UPDATE: Top eleven semi-finalist in a list after the jump.

Tom O'Neil is a Veritable Fountain of Emmy Nomination News

Just wanted to let you know that a lot of Emmy stuff is happening, and you can click over to Tom O'Neil at the Los Angeles Times' The Envelope and particularly his Gold Derby blog for all the haps.

The latest? All kinds of Battlestar Galactica snubs in the supporting categories, but I'll let Tom fill you in.

And Tom, I'm using your graphic (above) because you don't have a logo. Get a logo!

Emmy Top Tens in Drama & Comedy Announced

And here they are, with a hat tip to the AP and the TV Academy, in alphabetical order.

Comedy:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• Family Guy
• Flight of the Conchords
• The Office
• Pushing Daisies
• 30 Rock
• Two and a Half Men
• Ugly Betty
• Weeds

Drama:

• Boston Legal
• Damages
• Dexter
• Friday Night Lights
• Grey’s Anatomy
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men
• The Tudors
• The Wire

And many of the shows that I watch regularly are once again not listed. Hey, not everyone can have taste as good as mine.

Now what happens is that a blue ribbon panel (meaning many old and established Academy members, I think -- not such a good thing, btw) choose the top five in each category and then everybody gets their screeners.

I'll try to fill you in on what episodes each show submitted for consideration as I find out.

Creative Arts Daytime Emmys Are "Giada-riffic" With Three Statues

You know I love me some Giada on a weekend morning, and weeknights in early fringe, too. Three awards for Everyday Italian.

(Do they even call the dinner hour early fringe in the TV business anymore?)

I know, there are Giada haters, and to them I say ... (appropriate schoolyard noise indicating I don't care what they think).

I mean, have you had her risotto? It's the bomb.

And, we can congratulate the gang at PBS' Curious George (one of my 49-year-old sister's favorite shows, it's calming at the end of the day) on their award for children's animated show.

And, that out lesbian that I don't watch on TV anymore because she crossed her union's picket line? Her show gets a bunch of awards and will get more during the award show primetime broadcast, which will happen on June 20.

List of creative arts winners at this link.

BTW, Trebek got the game show hosting award.

Heigl Turns Down Emmy Consideration, Makes No Friends For It I'm Sure

You know, you just don't do this kind of thing, and you don't give this reason, which she gave Tom O'Neil at the LA Times' Gold Derby blog:

"I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention," she tells Gold Derby. "In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials."

Meanwhile, Emmy wins, even Emmy nominations, turn into audience for the show which turns into ratings which in turn turns into money that ABC pays her to do her job.

Can you see now that this was not a good thing to do? Also, Shonda Rhimes and the folks in the Grey's writers' room must have loved the comment, which was really obviously a calculated coordinated statement by her press people.

Piss off your show creator, flip off the network, just make sure that your next movie is more in the Knocked Up boxoffice range and not so much the 27 Dresses range.

And remember, the vast majority of America probably still can't pick you out from a lineup of five attractive blondes.

And you know, I finally watched Knocked Up the other day. Fun movie, but honestly it was mostly Seth and Paul Rudd's movie, despite her being the one who was with child.

Then again, every Paul Rudd movie is Paul Rudd's movie.

International Emmy Awards Noms Announced

The list is here, and I would trumpet a few of the nominations, but you don't know any of these shows.

US shows are not eligible for nomination. I wouldn't even begin to be able to tell you how they would fare against these shows.

One of the nominated shows is from David Wailliams and Matt Lucas. It's Little Britain Abroad, a Christmas special this year produced by the BBC.

Other than that, haven't seen anything even adjacent to the nominees.

New Clothes Off Our Back Auction Now with Emmy, Teen Choice Items

From their press release:

Bid now on red carpet clothing and accessories from your favorite celebrities!

Our 6th annual Emmy auction features donations from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Minnie Driver, Eva Longoria, Billy Baldwin and your favorite women from “The Sopranos” – Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco and Aida Turturro. We also have chairs, tables and a commode from the Architectural Digest Greenroom at the 59th Emmy Awards.

Celebrities at the Teen Choice Awards signed on to support children’s charities by donating the clothes off their back. Auction lots from Lauren Conrad, David Boreanaz, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Steve Carell and more are currently up for bid.

Ever wanted to truly dress like the stars? Your chance is here! Little Black Dress Wines is getting in the spirit of awards season by hosting a Little Black Dress Celebrity Dress Auction exclusively benefiting the Clothes Off Our Back Foundation. Bid now on the ‘little black dresses’ of some of the most famous women of the small screen and personally-signed bottles of the “official wine of award season” -- Little Black Dress Wines.

We also have items from the MTV Video Music Awards, Swag Suites (gift bags) and celebrity signed platinum cuffs and Cate Adair wallets.

More items continue to be added!

Proceeds from the auction benefits America's Second Harvest (the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization), The Art of Elysium (which enriches the lives of artist and critically ill children), World Education (focusing on girls' scholarship programs in Africa), LIFEbeat (The Music Industry Fights AIDS) and autism research.

To bid on items, log onto clothesoffourback.org.

Kristin from E! with Hayden & Kristen Bell from Heroes

You know them both, here they are on the Emmy red carpet.

My favorite Kristen Bell fan site is right here.

LINK

News to be had from this clip:

• Masi Oka lives in the same building where they house the American Idol contestants
• Kristen's ability in Heroes has something to do with electricity
• Adrian Pasdar is still a porn star, or so he says
• Leonard Roberts is a fan of Cameo's Word Up

And for good measure, here's our favorite cheerleader with The Seacrest, who is still being inappropriate, you know, to show how into chicks he is.

LINK

Seacrest, give it a rest.

BTW, it looks like Hayden may be ready to do something with HaydenPanettiere.com soon. Right now, the URL is redirecting to her Myspace page. Check it from time to time if you're a fan.

Actual Half-Hour Sitcom Wins Emmy Comedy Statue

And wasn't that a thrill to see Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, the cast, Lorne and whoever else take the stage in the round to thank the cameras directly but not many members of the Academy who were seated so that they could act as a backdrop for the procedings?

And, the episode submitted for Outstanding Comedy was Hard Ball, the episode from which springs my favorite line of the series, "Yeah, suck it! I do read the paper!"

Hey, let's watch the clip again.

LINK

Thank you Emmy voters for a moment of clarity. And once again, Ugly Betty is not a comedy.

The EMMY AWARD-WINNING 30 Rock returns on October 4 with special guest Jerry Seinfeld.

If you don't watch, I'm gonna hunt you down and ... nah, that sounds like soooo much work.

Absolutely every post I have written about the show is at this link.

Sally Field Uncensored Emmy Video!

Hat tip to Huffington Post.

Emmy Telecast Pounded by NFL Pats v. Chargers

Broadcasting & Cable:

The overnight Nielsen numbers will change slightly when the national numbers come in, but not enough to change the order of finish, which had NBC averaging a 4.8/13 in the 18-49 demo for a lopsided game dominated by the New England Patriots.

(snip)

Fox averaged a 4/11 in the demo for its all-Emmy lineup, including a pre-show at 7-8. The 8-11 Emmy braodcast averaged a 4.3/11, down sharply from NBC's Emmy broadcast last year, which averaged a 5.2/13, although NBC's was a late August broadcast that had not football to contend with. NBC had moved it back because it was launching the samd Sunday night football game that did a number on Fox's broadcast.

I have to say, they didn't miss a whole lot. Short of letting you know who won in the various categories, the show didn't do too much to entertain. Even the Stewie and Brian opening was flat. Could it be that the usual Family Guy edge had to be trimmed back by the powers that be at Fox? Because it was just kinda lame.

At least it relieved us from the torture of watching "The Seacrest" singing or being funny or ... well, feeling like he was there to entertain us, which is not his strong suit. But you would think that someone who has done as much live TV as him would have been able to shepherd the show in at under three hours, and he certainly didn't succeed there.

The theater-in-the-round thing, besides making me think a lot about the Westbury Music Fair, basically translated into having half of the nominees sitting on stage. I don't think that was the point of it, but that's what it did.

"The Seacrest" is Heterosexual, He Really Is

It's so obvious that Ryan is straight.

Look how interested he is in Hayden Panettiere turning 18.

(Cough, cough)

LINK

Well, good thing they put the Pivs on the other side of the stage. Very good thing. I wouldn't put anything past this guy, and on a night he wins an award, the bad behavior probably just amps up a notch or two (or ten).

Emmys on Fox, Where Dissent is Quashed

And what a strange, clumsy way to cut away from the person speaking.

"Hey, let's just cut to an aerial shot of the crowd and completely cut sound, this way nothing that anyone says at the Emmys can conflict with the narrative," put forth by the brainiacs at the Fox Noise Channel. In other words, nothing that would offend Bill-O.

We wouldn't want that "enemy of freedom" Sally Field, Emmy winner from Brothers and Sisters to inflict pain on our "beautiful minds" to talk about mothers worrying about their sons on the battlefield now, would we?

We wouldn't want that "sitcom plot killer" Ray Romano to tell the audience the most widely-known secret in the comic universe, that the lead characters on Back to You have a child together out of wedlock.

And we certainly wouldn't want that potty mouth Katherine Heigl to (Hi-gel? Do you live in a barn, celebrity who's apparently never heard the woman's name even though she was in one of the top grossing comedy films of the year) to sully your abysmally produced lamefest by saying a single dirty word.

James Hibberd has more at his blog at TV Week.

LINK