Great Thursday Night Debuts

I'm hoping everyone caught The Office, Community and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia last night (or at least DVRed them). 

The Office started off with a great opening segment with Michael, Dwight and Andy performing their attempts at parkour, which Jim described accurately as a phenomena way past it's prime.  Overall the episode was great when Michael was involved, including his string of "rumors" about everyone in the office.  Particularly funny was Andy's bi-curiousness.  Thankfully, it appears the show hasn't dropped off...yet.

Community was making its premiere tonight and here's the one thing that needs to be taken away from the show.  You can't expect laugh out loud situations as the character development is the driving force for at least a few more episodes.  Give this show some time, I think it has a lot of potential.  I liked the pop culture references (one character being referred to as Slumdog Millionaire, playing Bejeweled on the iPhone) and I believe the supporting cast plays well off each other.  Keep watching...

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is absolutely one of the top 3 comedies on television right now.  The writing and improvisation for this show is amazing and typically their episode plots are topical and relevant.  Last night was no exception when the gang dealt with the housing collapse and Dee attempted to become a surrogate mother.  The best part of the episode was Dennis & Mac becoming the good realtor, bad realtor team of Honey & Vinegar.  This premise alone made me chuckle and seeing it in action truly had me laughing out loud. 

Undoubtedly, Thursday night is the best night of comedy on television and only gets better once 30 Rock returns.  Keep watching people!

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards Predictions - Part 2

With the Emmy Awards show premiering this weekend, I think it's time to offer my final predictions for the acting categories.  I left out the nominees from the Miniseries/Made for TV movie category because I haven't seen them and wouldn't want to give a uneducated guess.  I have already given my picks for the series categories, which can be found here.  Quickly wanted to give my biggest surprises/disappointments; once again no nomination for Justin Kirk (Weeds) and True Blood receiving no nominations.  Truly a shame.  On with the predictions!

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Simon Baker - The Mentalist
• Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment
• Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
• Michael C. Hall - Dexter
• Jon Hamm - Mad Men
• Hugh Laurie - House

I think it's a 3 way race between Cranston, Hall and Hamm.  Cranston surprised some last year and walked away with the prize, but I'm not sure he'll be able to pull it off again.  The buzz surrounding Mad Men puts Hamm as the front runner in my mind and I think he'll be holding a statue on Sunday.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Glenn Close - Damages
• Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
• Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: SVU
• Holly Hunter - Saving Grace
• Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men
• Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

A rather dull category when you consider that every nominee is the same from last year with only the addition of Moss.  Close won last year and you have to consider her the favorite.  I'd like to see Hunter up there, but I think Close will win again.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
• Steve Carell - The Office
• Jermaine Clement - Flight of the Conchords
• Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory
• Tony Shalhoub - Monk
• Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men

This is by far the most talented category if you throw out Sheen.  Last year Baldwin won as 30 Rock dominated the entire night.  My heart goes out to Carell who I think has taken a well established character in the UK series and has completely made it his own.  I think he finally gets his due on Sunday.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
• Toni Collette - United States of Tara
• Tina Fey - 30 Rock
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Mary-Louis Parker - Weeds
• Sarah Silverman - The Sarah Silverman Program

Lots of wonderful ladies here, but how the votes are cast is a question.  Are we looking for an actress who is funny, or a great performance on a show that's considered a comedy.  In the former we would have Silverman or Fey or Dreyfus, but the later would have to be Parker or Collette.  I strictly on an acting basis that Collette should win and upset Fey.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Christian Clemenson - Boston Legal
• Michael Emerson - Lost
• William Hurt - Damages
• Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad
• William Shatner - Boston Legal
• John Slattery - Mad Men

Slattery and Emerson are the front runners in my mind.  But I think Emerson finally gets his props for the brilliant portrayal of the creepy and tormented Benjamin Linus as Lost's final season begins in early 2010. 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Rose Byrne - Damages
• Hope Davis - In Treatment
• Cherry Jones - 24
• Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy
• Dianne Wiest - In Treatment
• Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy

Wiest (an Oscar winner) absolutely holds the best of odds of repeating from last year.  I just don't see any others in this category that will best her.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men
• Kevin Dillon - Entourage
• Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
• Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock
• Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock
• Rainn Wilson - The Office

Again, throw out Cryer and this category is stacked.  Jeremy Piven won last year for Entourage, and I'm slightly surprised he wasn't nominated again.  NPH is hosting the award show so that my help or hurt his chances.  The 30 Rock guys sort of cancel each other out so I think it has to go to either Dillon (easily the best actor on Entourage) or Wilson as Dwight Schrute.  I'll have my fingers crossed for Dillon.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies
• Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock
• Elizabeth Perkins - Weeds
• Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live
• Kristen Wiig - Saturday Night Live
• Vanessa L. Williams - Ugly Betty

I absolutely love Kristen Wiig, but I don't see her winning.  I think Elizabeth Perkins finally gets notice and Weeds finally wins something.

Catch the Primetime Emmy's at 8:00pm EST September 20, 2009 on CBS.

Another Intriguing Show from FX

FX is seriously on fire. 

As an avid sports fan I like shows portraying the real world, behind the scenes of professional sports.  Unfortunately, we don't see too many dramatic shows exposing this untapped reservoir.  The last good one I can remember has to be the short lived Playmakers on ESPN.  It gave you a behind the scenes look into the world of professional football.  It might have been a little too close to reality as rumors circulated that the National Football League had ESPN squash the show.  But here comes a series from FX dealing with the world of college basketball, via Variety:

FX is hot on hoops, having picked up a drama project from exec producer Don Cheadle that chronicles the glory and the seedy side of college basketball.

March will revolve around a corrupt college basketball program that cheats its way to the "March Madness" NCAA basketball tournament. Project will be told through the eyes of the college coach, whose idealistic approach to the job has slowly been eroded by the compromises he's forced to make.

Having Don Cheadle as well as Peter Segal and Joel Silverman attached only helps boost this shows credentials.  FX just picked up the series so no one has been cast as yet.  Keep an eye out for this one.

FX is Bringing the Goods

FX has quickly branded itself as one of the best cable networks on television.  Already with hits including The Shield, Damages, Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me it appears they are attempting to bring more original programming to the fold.  Variety.com reports:

FX is getting serious about its comedy slate, giving series orders to two half-hour laffers.  The League revolves around a group of longtime guy friends who participate in a fantasy football league. Louie stars comic Louis CK as a standup comic and newly single dad raising two daughters in New York City.

While The League could be a good idea that is poorly executed, I think it deserves a shot.  If they can accurately portray the sometimes hilarious, sometimes ridiculous dynamics of fantasy football patrons they may have gold.  Although I'm not sure how much juice they can squeeze from this concept.  As for Louie, Louis CK borders on comic genius and his short lived Lucky Louie show on HBO showed his potential.  I have high hopes and expectations for this one.  Throw in the return of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and it looks to be a great fall for FX.

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards Predictions - Part 1

While the Emmy Award show isn't for another month, I though I'd take some time and throw out some predictions of who the winners will be. In this first part I will discuss the shows that have been nominated.  In future posts I'll take a closer look at the individual categories.

Outstanding Drama Series

• Big Love
• Breaking Bad
• Damages
• Dexter
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men

I'll be honest and let you know that I have never watched Damages or House, but I don't think they really stand a chance anyway.  Mad Men pulled out the win last year and I can't see why it shouldn't be the front runner this year.  Dexter may get some more love this year as I think it's gaining some more buzz.  Lost is an amazing show on the way out and while Big Love & Breaking Bad are truly wonderful programs, they are niche shows which don't have the same wide following as Mad Men.

Outstanding Comedy Series

• 30 Rock
• Entourage
• Family Guy
• Flight of the Conchords
• How I Met Your Mother
• The Office
• Weeds

Wow, what a packed category!  I am a fan of all of these shows, but 30 Rock is the critics darling.  It really is a shame, but I don't see 30 Rock not winning.  Entourage just doesn't have enough to be truly appreciated by the critics; Family Guy is completely hit or miss now; Flight of the Conchords is still building their fan base; How I Met Your Mother is an under appreciated gem on broadcast television; Weeds has dramatically fallen off since Season 3.  The Office has the most legitimate chance of upsetting 30 Rock, but I just don't see it happening.

Outstanding Miniseries

• Generation Kill
• Little Dorrit

I would truly be shocked if Generation Kill doesn't win.

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
• Late Show with David Letterman
• Real Time with Bill Maher
• Saturday Night Live

This category has the same list of nominees from last year where The Daily Show won.  The Colbert Report has the best chance of taking over for The Daily Show, but it's a spin off and I think that will have something to do with how the votes are cast.  SNL has really been good the past few years, but not amazing.  Real Time with Bill Maher is just too political and the Late Show is what it has been for the past six or seven years.

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing with the Stars
• Project Runway
• Top Chef

Undoubtedly the best of this category is The Amazing Race and I think it will definitely repeat from last year.  Drama, action and great character development is something you'd expect from a dramatic series but you get the same from a reality program.  The rest of the nominees just don't have the same overall appeal.

Outstanding Reality Program

• Antiques Roadshow
• Dirty Jobs
• Dog Whisperer
• Intervention
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

This is a new category this year for the Emmy's.  I've watched all of these shows at some point, except the Kathy Griffin show because I find her very irritating.  All are great shows in their own right, but I'll have to give the nod to Intervention.  An absolutely riveting show that quickly brings you in and keeps you interested to the very end.  The raw human emotions exhibited in this show won't allow you to turn away.


I'll have my predictions for the acting and writing categories in the coming weeks...

The Cop Drama At Its Best

One of the more successful cable TV-series, "The Shield", will begin its seventh and final season in late 2007 or early 2008. The FX cable network which airs The Shield has been responsible for several critically acclaimed shows, but none as popular as this

The Shield depicts the lives of several varying ranks of police officers in the Los Angeles Police Department. Set in the fictionalized Farmington district of LA, the main character Vic Mackey is head of the Strike team which also includes Curtis Lemansky, Shane Vendrell and Ronnie Gardocki; a group of detectives responsible for gang related crimes. In addition we follow two patrol officers (Danielle "Danny" Sofer & Julien Lowe), the captain of Vic’s department (David Aceveda), as well as two traditional detectives (Claudette Wyms & Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach). From the first season we understand Vic and his team are effective and widely respected, but are corrupt and Captain Aceveda is looking to bring them down. In the first episode Vic is informed that one of his Strike team members, Terry Crowley, is in cahoots with Captain Aceveda and they are attempting to catch the Strike team in some illegal activities. Vic murders Crowley to save the team and claims he was gunned down by a drug dealer. This one incident will become an integral point for the entire series.

In addition to the Strike team, we see the day to day jobs of two patrol officers, Sofer and Lowe. Lowe is a rookie and receives tough love from his veteran training officer, Sofer. Their focus lies on the encounters seen daily by the foot soldiers of the LAPD, from shoplifting to domestic abuse to indecent exposure. The story lines provided by these two run from comical to bizarre, but also tend to last only from episode to episode.

The last two main characters I will discuss are detectives Wyms and Wagenbach. You can tell from the onset these two share an interesting and humorous dynamic. Wyms, the tough black female, and Wagenbach, the stuck-up know-it-all, are perfect foils for one another. While Wagenbach is a great detective, he is usually the object of jokes from Mackey and others in the Strike team. Wyms and Wagenbach are typically involved with story lines that can encompass several episodes. A recurring theme is that of Wagenbach’s desire to catch a serial killer and a serial rapist. Their dynamic shows the classical side of detective work, a stark contrast to that of the Strike team.

The Shield makes itself a unique police drama due to its ability to incorporate a realistic life on the gang occupied streets of LA. One reason I find the show so enthralling is that with each episode you will have a new character plot line in addition to continuation of stories from the previous episode and the even previous seasons. All the stories could make the show complicated and confusing, but creator Shawn Ryan and the writing staff do an excellent job of keeping the viewer interested. They create something new for one specific episode as well as providing fresh information about what happened on last week’s show. In addition to the crime plotlines, we are frequently taken into the personal lives of the characters. Vic Mackey constantly has to switch off his hard-ass demeanor once at home with his family. We are sympathetic to Mackey despite his corrupt behavior when we see he is usually doing it to better his family. The personal lives of officers Lowe and Sofer are critical parts of what real life struggles must be dealt with in any work environment.

After producing six seasons, The Shield, has redefined the TV cop drama. I have only approached a few of the characters brought to life on the show. Throughout the years, we see several members of the Farmington division rise to different ranks within the LAPD and beyond. Dozens of more characters play important parts in the Strike team’s continuing attempt to avoid exposure of their corruption. Through the five plus years on television, the show has been able to present realistic, dramatic and exciting conflicts. It is a shame to see this show end, but I am glad I was there to see it all go down.