Did you watch the Emmys last night? Overall, I thought it was a pretty good show. A little fashion, a few funny sketches, some awkward Charlie Sheen time, and Jane Lynch doing a nice job hosting and performing in some funny pre-recorded bits. While the show played it pretty safe and by the book (i.e. it ran on time and Ricky Gervais didn’t host) there were a few upsets/surprises that kept me interested till the end.
I was especially happy with all the top acting wins -- Jim Parsons and Melissa McCarthy who are personal favorites of mine, along with Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife (which I love), and Kyle Chandler for FNL (which I also love). Also, very pleased with Peter Dinklage's win for Game of Thrones (which I predicted even before he was nominated…okay not a stretch if you'd seen the show).
I was also really thrilled that Jason Katims won the big writing award for FNL. As an aspiring writer of TV drama, this is an award whose winners and nominees I really take note of (sometimes even more so than the best show nominees and winners) and considering I've loved the writing on FNL, and the fact that the show has been severely under appreciated (awards wise), and the fact that I really like Katims' other show, Parenthood, it’s so nice to see him get the recognition he deserves. To me, that win was probably the best surprise of the night.
On that note, I think I was surprised all night by how much the cable networks seemed to falter compared to the amount of nominations they got. I mean sure, HBO can’t win them all, but the broadcast networks really seemed to hold their own. First, there was the big loss by nominations juggernaut Mildred Pierce. While Kate Winslet still won for playing the title role (and looked lovely doing it) the show lost out to a PBS show.
On the comedy side, Modern Family clearly dominated, winning acting awards in both categories it was heavily nominated as well as winning for directing, writing, and the show itself. As I mentioned before, the other acting awards in comedy both went to shows on CBS. If you’re a comedy writer who really wants to write a cable style dramedy right now…I’d say, that's cool and maybe you're going to have the next big thing, but maybe also make sure you have a good network friendly comedy in your portfolio because that’s clearly what’s hot (both critically and ratings wise) right now.
On the drama side, broadcast network (and former network) shows also made strong showings, with my personal favorite FNL getting two big awards for acting and writing, and Julianna Margulies nabbing the well deserved best actress award.
Now, maybe these couple of wins don’t seem like a lot when you consider the supporting actor nods, directing, and best show all went to non-broadcast network shows, but when you also consider how many nominations a network like HBO or a show like Mad Men gets every year, I’d say the broadcast networks did a pretty darn good job not letting any one cable show run away with it (hey, even Matt Weiner seemed surprised Mad Men won...I was right there with him, I thought for a second that FNL was going to pull off the big upset and take it).
Overall, despite the Mad Men win, I still felt like the Academy's choices really made the point that a show doesn’t have to be on basic or even pay cable to have the best writing and the best leading roles for actors (two things I think a lot of viewers and critics have not felt the past few years).
I guess a win by Mad Men must still feel good for some networks (cough, ABC and NBC, cough) who doubled down on 1960s shows this upcoming season (Pan Am and Playboy Club). I guess we'll see if the solid Emmy performance of broadcast network shows (and somewhat faltering Emmy performance of cable shows) affects the ongoing TV development season but...I'm just saying...I’d love to see every network go after the next FNL or Good Wife just as hard as they went after the next Mad Men. Make it happen broadcast networks. Make it happen.
EDIT: Just saw this article from Deadline which talks about broadcast networks great Emmy performance this year... check it out!
Showing posts with label Award Shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Award Shows. Show all posts
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
2011 Emmy Noms: The Good, The Bad, and The Snubly
Primetime Emmy noms came out this morning! Huzzah! While I know some people just roll their eyes at awards shows and insist they are a joke/all fixed/just another chance for Hollywood peeps to pretend they’re more important than they are, I think the Emmys are a pretty solid way to judge what new shows are hot and what old shows still attract attention. This can be useful information when say, deciding to write your next spec (hmmm maybe a Justified?) or when deciding to write a pilot (the fact that Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire are both nominated for best drama makes me feel solid about tackling a “period piece” for my next pilot).
So, how did the Emmys do? I present (in my opinion…and probably my opinion only): The Good, The Bad, and The Snubly:
THE GOOD
Overall, I thought most of the nominations looked pretty good…much more to like than not to like.
Best Drama - So excited to see three shows I’ve pushed and profiled on this blog get three of the six drama nomination spots: Friday Night Lights, The Good Wife, and Game of Thrones. All the shows are awesome (or were awesome…as FNL is now finito). Not that these shows are huge surprise noms, but I'm still glad.
FNL - FNL’s writing and acting nominations are much deserved as well...Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, and Jason Katims…I heart you all for this show.
Michael J. Fox – Heck yeah! Michael J. Fox always knocks it out of the park when he’s on The Good Wife…well deserved guest actor nomination.
Peter Dinklage - Not surprised at all to see Peter Dinklage nominated for GOT, as I said earlier this week, I think he is awesome and will/should win.
Mireille Enos – I haven’t watch The Killing (it looks scary!) but Mireille Enos was one of my favorite actors on Big Love…so happy to see her having so much success.
Melissa McCarthy - I’m not a huge comedy nut, and I don’t even watch Mike & Molly (though I’ve read the pilot and thought it was a solid and funny sitcom) but Melissa McCarthy’s nomination makes me happy. I think she’s a star and she’s hilarious (she steals every scene she’s in, in Bridesmaids).
Jim Parsons – I know TBBT isn’t for everyone and some people find it tired, but I freakin’ love Jim Parsons, so there.
Louis C.K. - Happy for the Louie related noms…every ep of the show that I've seen has cracked me up.
Matt LeBlanc - I haven't seen any of this show because I don't have Showtime, but as a huge fan of Friends from back in the day, I'm happy to see Matt move past Joey.
No Walking Dead - I don't have a grudge against this show, I swear (hey, I watched the whole first season) but as I wrote earlier this year, I thought the show was lacking in some areas.
South Park – Not that Trey Parker and Matt Stone need more awards considering the success of Book of Mormon, but I thought "Crack Baby Athletic Association" was one of the best episodes of TV I’ve watched in the past year…period...and I’m admittedly not a big comedy show watcher. Glad to see them get nominated for this episode, hope they win.
THE BAD
Mariska – Ah, the obligatory Mariska Hargitay nomination…seems a bit silly at this point, no? No issue with Ms. Hargitay’s acting and all, but on a procedural the plot is always gonna take center stage, not the characters (or actors playing them). Ms. Hargitay might be a star and a great actress, but I think her Emmy nomination usually comes at the expense of snubbing another worthy actress. Also, if you’re gonna nominate her, what about Christopher Meloni (who is btw an AMAZING actor, both comedy and drama).
Modern Family Cast - I’ve only seen a few episodes of Modern Family and I like it, I really do, but seriously, EVERY SINGLE principle cast member nominated for an Emmy? Maybe if I was a hardcore fan I’d feel differently.
Glee – I watch Glee every week and I really enjoy it, I do, but I felt Glee was pretty mediocre at times this season and not all that funny when it was at its best. I dunno, best comedy seems a bit much. I’m down with acting nominations for the talented cast and guest actors, but the show as a whole was lacking in some ways this season or the plots just came out of nowhere/went nowhere at times.
Jon Cryer – I love you Duckie, but I feel like this nomination has a heck of a lot more to do with snubbing Charlie Sheen than the quality of Two and a Half Men as of late.
THE SNUBLY
Justified - I don’t watch Justified, but all my friends tell me it’s the best darn show on TV. The show got several acting nominations but was itself not nominated for best drama in favor of longer running favorites like Dexter and Mad Men. Snubbed or not snubbed?
Breaking Bad - Where was Breaking Bad in the nominations? This is the other “best show on TV” that I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only watched a few episodes of. Is the lack of nominations due to some schedule thing…like the show not airing a season during the nominations period? EDIT: Took 5 seconds to look this up because it was bugging me and yeah, duh, the show has been on a hiatus...guess if I watched it more than once a year I would have known.
Parenthood - No nominations for Parenthood. I know some people find the show hard to connect with because it’s a serial without an obvious and clear driving goal (similar to my issue with The Walking Dead). Unlike Walking Dead, however, I always feel like I can relate to the sometimes mundane sometimes more serious family issues on the show…and yeah I like it a lot, especially the performances of Peter Krause, Dax Shephard (who is very surprising), and the wonderful Max Burkholder. Plus Lauren Graham…always good. Maybe like FNL, this show will pick up awards steam in time (if it continues to stick around).
Community and Raising Hope - Even though I’m admittedly not a huge comedy person, I’ve seen several eps of both of these shows and thought they were both great and very very funny. I think either probably deserves that Glee spot in the best comedy category.
And that's that...we'll see who wins, who cries, and who dresses like a hot mess when the show airs on 9/18. I'll also, no doubt, be rooting for some of my reality favorites that night like...Top Chef, SYTYCD (Cat Deeley!), and yeah...Idol...I guess...is it possible to simultaneously love and hate a show you watch every episode of?
She's got the whole world, in her hands!
So, how did the Emmys do? I present (in my opinion…and probably my opinion only): The Good, The Bad, and The Snubly:
THE GOOD
Overall, I thought most of the nominations looked pretty good…much more to like than not to like.
Best Drama - So excited to see three shows I’ve pushed and profiled on this blog get three of the six drama nomination spots: Friday Night Lights, The Good Wife, and Game of Thrones. All the shows are awesome (or were awesome…as FNL is now finito). Not that these shows are huge surprise noms, but I'm still glad.
FNL - FNL’s writing and acting nominations are much deserved as well...Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, and Jason Katims…I heart you all for this show.
Michael J. Fox – Heck yeah! Michael J. Fox always knocks it out of the park when he’s on The Good Wife…well deserved guest actor nomination.
Peter Dinklage - Not surprised at all to see Peter Dinklage nominated for GOT, as I said earlier this week, I think he is awesome and will/should win.
Mireille Enos – I haven’t watch The Killing (it looks scary!) but Mireille Enos was one of my favorite actors on Big Love…so happy to see her having so much success.
Melissa McCarthy - I’m not a huge comedy nut, and I don’t even watch Mike & Molly (though I’ve read the pilot and thought it was a solid and funny sitcom) but Melissa McCarthy’s nomination makes me happy. I think she’s a star and she’s hilarious (she steals every scene she’s in, in Bridesmaids).
Jim Parsons – I know TBBT isn’t for everyone and some people find it tired, but I freakin’ love Jim Parsons, so there.
Louis C.K. - Happy for the Louie related noms…every ep of the show that I've seen has cracked me up.
Matt LeBlanc - I haven't seen any of this show because I don't have Showtime, but as a huge fan of Friends from back in the day, I'm happy to see Matt move past Joey.
No Walking Dead - I don't have a grudge against this show, I swear (hey, I watched the whole first season) but as I wrote earlier this year, I thought the show was lacking in some areas.
South Park – Not that Trey Parker and Matt Stone need more awards considering the success of Book of Mormon, but I thought "Crack Baby Athletic Association" was one of the best episodes of TV I’ve watched in the past year…period...and I’m admittedly not a big comedy show watcher. Glad to see them get nominated for this episode, hope they win.
THE BAD
Mariska – Ah, the obligatory Mariska Hargitay nomination…seems a bit silly at this point, no? No issue with Ms. Hargitay’s acting and all, but on a procedural the plot is always gonna take center stage, not the characters (or actors playing them). Ms. Hargitay might be a star and a great actress, but I think her Emmy nomination usually comes at the expense of snubbing another worthy actress. Also, if you’re gonna nominate her, what about Christopher Meloni (who is btw an AMAZING actor, both comedy and drama).
Modern Family Cast - I’ve only seen a few episodes of Modern Family and I like it, I really do, but seriously, EVERY SINGLE principle cast member nominated for an Emmy? Maybe if I was a hardcore fan I’d feel differently.
Glee – I watch Glee every week and I really enjoy it, I do, but I felt Glee was pretty mediocre at times this season and not all that funny when it was at its best. I dunno, best comedy seems a bit much. I’m down with acting nominations for the talented cast and guest actors, but the show as a whole was lacking in some ways this season or the plots just came out of nowhere/went nowhere at times.
Jon Cryer – I love you Duckie, but I feel like this nomination has a heck of a lot more to do with snubbing Charlie Sheen than the quality of Two and a Half Men as of late.
THE SNUBLY
Justified - I don’t watch Justified, but all my friends tell me it’s the best darn show on TV. The show got several acting nominations but was itself not nominated for best drama in favor of longer running favorites like Dexter and Mad Men. Snubbed or not snubbed?
Breaking Bad - Where was Breaking Bad in the nominations? This is the other “best show on TV” that I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only watched a few episodes of. Is the lack of nominations due to some schedule thing…like the show not airing a season during the nominations period? EDIT: Took 5 seconds to look this up because it was bugging me and yeah, duh, the show has been on a hiatus...guess if I watched it more than once a year I would have known.
Parenthood - No nominations for Parenthood. I know some people find the show hard to connect with because it’s a serial without an obvious and clear driving goal (similar to my issue with The Walking Dead). Unlike Walking Dead, however, I always feel like I can relate to the sometimes mundane sometimes more serious family issues on the show…and yeah I like it a lot, especially the performances of Peter Krause, Dax Shephard (who is very surprising), and the wonderful Max Burkholder. Plus Lauren Graham…always good. Maybe like FNL, this show will pick up awards steam in time (if it continues to stick around).
Community and Raising Hope - Even though I’m admittedly not a huge comedy person, I’ve seen several eps of both of these shows and thought they were both great and very very funny. I think either probably deserves that Glee spot in the best comedy category.
And that's that...we'll see who wins, who cries, and who dresses like a hot mess when the show airs on 9/18. I'll also, no doubt, be rooting for some of my reality favorites that night like...Top Chef, SYTYCD (Cat Deeley!), and yeah...Idol...I guess...is it possible to simultaneously love and hate a show you watch every episode of?
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