Exquisite, or The Life of a Star

PART II: DRAMA, OR MAD WORLD

These categories were filled with some obvious choices, but also many WTF moments. Blah, blah, blah…here we go.

Outstanding Supporting Actor: Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, Breaking Bad

This was an obvious choice for me. The category was not so strong, honestly. Also, having seen everyone’s reels, Aaron Paul was FANTASTIC in his. This guy may be young, but he is certainly one of television’s most brilliant actors. Paul won’t be in the category next year because of the ridiculously planned break that the show is taking, but whenever he does come back, look for Aaron Paul to be a major force in this category. He’s just so good it’s ridiculous.

Outstanding Supporting Actress:

Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma, The Good Wife

This category is one of the WTF moments…look, I am a HUGE fan of The Good Wife, but, based on the reels, this award should not have been Panjabi’s. I love her and her character, but Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks, Sharon Gless from Burn Notice and The Good Wife’s own Christine Baranski had better reels. I do, however, think that Archie Panjabi’s work on the first season of the show as a whole was Emmy-worthy. In the end, I guess that this win shows that Academy voters do actually watch the shows they vote on. Reassuring, I suppose.

Outstanding Lead Actor: Bryan Cranston as Walter White, Breaking Bad

The Lead Actor race was incredibly difficult this year…so, the Academy went with the safe choice, the one that they have chosen for 3 years in a row now. Don’t get me wrong, Cranston is brilliant in Breaking Bad, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: that award belongs to Michael C. Hall. His reel was legitimately the reason that the Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actor was created. We’ll get them next year, Michael, no worries. Bryan Cranston will be ineligible…

Outstanding Lead Actress: Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Johnson, The Closer

BOOOOOOO. This should have gone to Julianna Murgulies in The Good Wife or January Jones in Mad Men. That’s all I have to say.

Outstanding Writing: Mad Men—“Shut the Door, Have a Seat.”

This was another obvious win for me. This episode completely dismantled the entire series up to that point, but still managed to be effective and comprehensive. The other nominees, save for “The Son” from Friday Night Lights, were just okay. In any case, Mad Men is such an amazingly written show. No one was gonna beat it.

Outstanding Direction: Dexter—“The Getaway”

Not gonna lie, I was surprised by this win. I expected a win for LOST. Still, I was thrilled for the win because Dexter was definitely one of the shows that deserved to win more Emmys than it ever does. This show is brilliant. “The Getaway” was a brilliantly directed episode. Sorry, LOST…maybe next time. What’s that? There is no next time? Thank God.

Outstanding Drama Series: Mad Men

I saw the six episodes that each of the six Outstanding Drama Series nominees (Breaking Bad, Dexter, LOST, Mad Men, The Good Wife, True Blood) submitted. There was no question that Mad Men was the best. The show looks gorgeous, is written and directed beautifully, and has stellar performances. Mad Men simply could not have been stopped in this category. I do have to say that, with the exception of LOST, each of the nominees in this category submitted six fantastic episodes. These are truly outstanding drama series.

That’s all for now. Be back soon with the final section: PART III: WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT YEAR, OR ANTI-INCUMBENT SENTIMENT

Maddddddd Heartzzzzzzzzz

Ok, I lifted the Mad Men and Modern Family title thing from E! Online, but I think it’s certainly funny enough to reuse.

Anyone who knows me knows that I take television very seriously and I definitely take the Emmys very seriously. In fact, I plan for each year’s Primetime Emmy Awards beginning the morning after the ceremony the year before. More on the 2011 Emmys later, but this first entry is about the comedy categories.

PART I-COMEDY, OR THE DAWN OF THE MODERN ERA

Supporting Actor: Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker, Modern Family

This was a painfully obvious category. Based on the reels, but also on the season as a whole, the only other nominee who stood a chance was Ty Burrell. Burrell chose the wrong reel, so that left Stonestreet in a category all by himself. I so approve of this win.

Supporting Actress: Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester, Glee

This category was easier than Supporting Actor, but the category was filled with fantastic performances. I honestly would have been fine with any of the women, with the exception of Holland Taylor, winning. If Glee proved anything this season, it’s that Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series is going to be a tough category for many years to come.

Lead Actor: Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

Parsons’ win was an interesting choice by the Academy. To be fair, I would have voted for Parsons because he is an outstanding talent, but Parsons beat out several heavyweights to win this award. Many people are upset about Steve Carell losing AGAIN for The Office (an award he has never won), but I am almost certain that the Academy will soften up to Carell next year for his final season on The Office. Also, I’m not sure how much longer Alec Baldwin will hang around on 30 Rock if he’s not winning Emmys any more. More on 30 Rock later though.

Lead Actress: Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, Nurse Jackie

I’m not gonna pull an Edie Falco/Taylor Swift here and pretend to be surprised. The Academy loves her and now she has a fourth Emmy to prove it. La-di-frickin-da. This should have been Tina Fey’s or Toni Collette’s Emmy. Whatever.

Writing: Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, Modern Family: “Pilot”

I am thrilled for this win because the writers for this show are BRILLIANT, but I am in the minority in that I think Modern Family had a weak pilot compared to the rest of its season. For that reason, I would have voted for the Glee pilot or perhaps 30 Rock’s “Anna Howard Shaw Day.” I’m sure that these two episodes were not far behind in the winner in the final tally.

Directing: Ryan Murphy, Glee: “Pilot: Director’s Cut”

This was an obvious win for me. Glee’s pilot was superbly written, but even more superbly directed. I still get chills when I see the camera fly over Princess Lea and Cory Monteith’s hands during “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Also, I still cry at the end of Glee’s pilot, but I’m pretty sure that’s for a different reason…moving on.

Outstanding Comedy Series: Modern Family

This was another interesting, but deserved win for me. I’ve said before that I thought that, based on reels, this was a solid 3-way race between Glee, Modern Family, and 30 Rock. I still do believe this, but based on the all-important buzz factor, 30 Rock didn’t stand a chance. 30 Rock had a good season, but it was sub-par for that show, plus it has won the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy for the last 3 years. The reel, however, was AMAZING. Glee started with great promise, but was probably the least consistently good show on television. At the end of the day, you’ve got to love those crazy, singing kids, though right? Luckily for Glee, they chose 6 very solid and touching episodes for the reel. Unfortunately, Modern Family was more consistent throughout the season and proved it with the episodes chosen for the reel. My heart was with Glee, a show that made be laugh myself hoarse and bawl my eyes out. Still, Modern Family, was definitely the Outstanding Comedy Series of this season.

Side Note: Glee’s loss despite being the most buzzed about new show on television reminds me of the travesty of Desperate Housewives losing the same award to Everybody Loves Raymond in 2005, or the similarly upsetting situation of Grey’s Anatomy losing to 24 and The Sopranos in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

That was COMEDY! Yay…

Next, PART II: DRAMA, OR MAD WORLD

Maddddd Heartzzzzz

This show is amazing…EVERY SINGLE WEEK. It’s seriously like Gossip Girl mixed with Desperate Housewives. DELICIOUS. The show follows four friends as they cope with the disappearance and apparent death of their best friend, Alison. There’s one catch: the girls keep receiving mysterious text messages about the most intimate details of their lives from the dead best friend!

My personal favorite of the girls, Spencer Hastings, is the one furthest to the left. Although the press shot makes her look rather aloof, Spencer is anything but! She is a perfectionist, but has more than her fair share of drama!

Next favorite, the blonde, Hanna Marin is sassy and an emotional wreck, but I love her! Also, the actress who plays Hanna, Ashley Benson, used to be on Days of our Lives.

Emily Fields is the girl on the far right. She is confused about most things, but specifically her sexuality. I love a good lesbo story as much as anyone, but the creepy guy down the street had more chemistry with the actress, Shay Mitchell, than the girl who Emily is involved with. Still, Emily adds a certain humanity that the other girls definitely lack; Emily is the most down-to-Earth.

Finally, Aria Montgomery…the girl who is telling you to be quiet. Not my favorite, but she has started to grow on me. She’s sort of the ridiculously naive and self-righteous lead female character, every television show needs one.

This show is FULL OF SECRETS and a MOST RIDICULOUSLY, DELICIOUSLY ENTERTAINING MYSTERY. The show airs on ABC Family on Tuesday nights @8/7c and is also available on the ABC Family website and Hulu.

CHECK IT OUT.

Mad Heartzzzzz

Next season on Broadway is shaping up to be something brilliant! There are so many super-hyped shows with amazing creative teams and casts that I want to move to New York to see every single one of them!

Some Highlights:

BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, an emo rock musical chronicling the life and times of the 7th American President, a Tennessean, I might add.

SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of one of my favorite films boasts one of the best scores of the last 10 years and Patina Miller, a star who will change Broadway and musical comedy forever.

YANK!, a WWII love story with a classic, Golden Age score. Oh, did I mention that it’s a gay WWII love story with a classic, Golden Age score?

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, PATTI. BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL. PATTI. SHERIE RENE SCOTT. PATTI. de’Adre Aziza. PATTI…PATTI.

LEAP OF FAITH, Raul Esparza is backkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!! (Please excuse my fangirlishness.) Brooke Shields is in it as well! Also, the score is by the same team that brought us Sister Act the Musical.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, the stage adaptation of the Tom Hanks-Leonardo DiCaprio film has the same creative team as Hairspray and will star Aaron Tveit (finally starring, where he belongs), Kerry Butler (the cutest performer on Broadway), Tom Wopat (I forgive you for Sondheim on Sondheim), and NORBERT LEO BUTZ…whom I love. Quick side story: my best friend’s dad is really good friends with Norbie’s dad (missed connection? I think so…for now.).

PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, the stage adaptation of one of the most popular Australian films of all time follows the fabulous journey of two drag queens and one fierce tranny through the desert. Yes, the score does include I Will Survive and Finally (It Has Happened to Me), among other draggy drag drag songs. Will Swenson (yes, that Will Swenson) stars. ELEGANZA EXTRAVAGANZA. Thank you, RuPaul.

SPIDERMAN, TURN OFF THE DARK, FINALLY. FINALLY. FINALLY. The Julie Taymor-directed and designed, Bono and The Edge-scored musical is FINALLY happening. Even though this sounds like a gigantic disaster, I want to see it. It will be GORGEOUS…and sound really good too.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, Kander and Ebb’s last musical…for real this time. SuStro directs and choreographs. It’s a piece about the super-tragic effects of racism. Unfortunately, Brandon Victor Dixon has left the show for a Ray Charles musical, but he has been replaced by one of my favorite always-chorus-members Joshua Henry. Colman Domingo also stars.

THAT’S JUST THE NEW MUSICALS! More on revivals later. What an exciting season this will be!

I am at the beach. There are no tar balls. Just a beach. Oh, and my family.

This place is gorgeous, though. I haven’t posted anything in a while, but luckily I have enough time now to do this more often?

More to come…

Mad Heartzzzzzz

Hello, my babies! I have finally become a part of the blogosphere. This blog will be comprised of the random parts that make up my life. I’ll tell funny stories. I’ll tell boring stories. I’ll tell you about things I love. I’ll tell you about things I hate. Let’s take this super-crazy journey together.

What do you say? Shall we dance? So we shall.