The Closer Season 4 Premiere

My beloved summer show has finally come back to me. And what a glorious reunion it was.

The greatest part about The Closer is that it always leaves me craving more. That's why it's so difficult to only have 13 episodes in a season- it's only around for 3 months before it's gone again. Luckily, for the past 2 years they have been doing 2-hour specials in December. Because they have so long to work on them, these episodes tend to be the best.

Anyways, Monday night's episode was great. Brenda had to find out whether a forest fire that killed 3 people was an act of arson. This provided an opportunity for the wonderfully creepy Billy Kroelig to return. Played by Jason O'Mara, Kroelig likes to soak young women in alcohol and set them on fire- and he's never been caught. He is the only murderer who has ever been able to get to Brenda. Whenever he's around, you can just see the tension in her body and the fear in her eyes. Perhaps it's because he's the only criminal who she hasn't been able to catch, the only one who might be smarter than our brilliant Chief Johnson. In the premiere, he didn't even start the fire (that was done by a firefighter played by Charmed's Leo Krause), but that was irrelevant. Maybe for the first time ever, I didn't care who had committed the murder. Kroelig absolutely gave me chills when he took Brenda to the place where the fire started and said that he could still smell the burning flesh.

As for the rest of the season, I hope to see some good storylines for the supporting characters, especially Chief Pope (J.K. Simmons), Sergeant Gabriel (Corey Reynolds), and Lieutenant Provenza (G.W. Bailey). Also, I can't wait to see Frances Sternhagen and Barry Corbin again. As Brenda's parents, Willie Ray and Clay Johnson, they are absolutely perfect. I think they're coming back for 4 episodes. Maybe Brenda and Fritz will finally move into their new house and/or get married...?

Saying Bye to the Emmys

Feel free to disregard my previous post about how I still care about the Emmys. I no longer do, and here are the reasons why:

1) Mary McDonnell was not nominated for Battlestar. Those Academy voters are lame Sci-Fi haters. Well, guess what, Academy?! I hate you!

2) Two and a Half Men got 7 nominations.

3) Marcia Cross got snubbed. Again.

4) The lack of Friday Night Lights anywhere on this list makes me sick. Kyle Chandler was overlooked, and yet 3-time winner James Spader was nominated. Okay, first of all, I still don't think Boston Legal should be in the Drama category. And secondly, we get the message. Why don't you marry James Spader if you love him so much?!

I wish the best of luck to Michael Emerson, Kyra Sedgwick, Rainn Wilson, and everyone from John Adams. If winning this award is important to you guys, I hope you get it. As for me, I am shunning the Emmys forever. (Shunning...It's an Amish technique. It's like slapping someone with silence.)

For anyone who cares to see the list of nominees, here it is:

COMEDY SERIES
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Will Arnett, 30 Rock
Shelley Berman, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Steve Buscemi, 30 Rock
Tim Conway, 30 Rock
Rip Torn, 30 Rock

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives
Edie Falco, 30 Rock
Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Sarah Silverman, Monk
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock

DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ted Danson, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Charles Durning, Rescue Me
Robert Morse, Mad Men
Oliver Platt, Nip/Tuck
Stanley Tucci, ER
Glynn Turman, In Treatment
Robin Williams, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ellen Burstyn, Big Love
Diahann Carroll, Grey's Anatomy
Sharon Gless, Nip/Tuck
Anjelica Huston, Medium
Cynthia Nixon, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

MINISERIES
The Andromeda Strain
Cranford
John Adams
Tin Man

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Bernard and Doris
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
A Raisin In The Sun
Recount

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Ralph Fiennes, Bernard And Doris
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Paul Giamatti, John Adams
Kevin Spacey, Recount
Tom Wilkinson, Recount

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Judi Dench, Cranford
Catherine Keener, An American Crime
Laura Linney, John Adams
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Susan Sarandon, Bernard And Doris

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Bob Balaban, Recount
Stephen Dillane, John Adams
Denis Leary, Recount
David Morse, John Adams
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Laura Dern, Recount
Ashley Jensen, Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
Alfre Woodard, Pictures Of Hollis Woods

My Inner Struggle: E! Online's Kristin vs. EW's Michael Ausiello

This post will seem insignificant to people who don't understand why it matters which television journalist I read. Well, let me tell you- it's a big deal! I have my sites that I go to daily to see what is up in the tv world. First and foremost, I check out EW.com. Entertainment Weekly is pretty much the embodiment of everything that I love. Sure, I have a subscription to the magazine. Couldn't I just wait until my mail comes on Friday and read all the articles and news there? WRONG. The website includes 1) awesome little video interviews/previews/etc., 2) recaps of my shows (yes, I already watched them myself, but that's not the point! I like to see what other people think! That's the whole point of this blog entry!), and 3) useless entertainment tidbits that don't make it into the magazine but that I enjoy nonetheless.

Next, I head on over to Whedonesque.com where I can find out any information regarding anyone in the whole Whedon-verse. Seriously, it's insane how on top of things people are over there. Whenever Joss, or somebody involved with Buffy/Angel/Firefly/Astonishing X-Men, has the slightest activity in their life, it gets linked. Or if somebody mentions any of the above in an article, linked. As I have learned these past few months, becoming a fan of Whedon's works is a lifelong experience.

Finally, I peruse Watch with Kristin at E! Online. She has been my primary source of tv scoop for the past 3 years or so. Her relationships with actors and show runners are incredible, so she gets to go on all these super sweet set visits. She puts out a "Spoiler Chat" where she answers fan questions about casting and upcoming storylines, which I have been reading weekly for a long time.

Well, here comes my dilemma: Michael Ausiello, who used to write the tv scoop over at TV Guide.com, has moved to EW. I never used to read him because he is Kristin's "frenemy," as she calls him. They are each other's competition, and I like to be loyal to my peeps. A couple years ago, I did read his column one time just to see what he was like, but I found his attitude to be obnoxious. Now, however, he has become a big part of what I read everyday at EW. He and Kristin report the same things, and I now find his attitude hilarious and his writing superior. This, by itself, wouldn't be enough to make me switch, but in the past 6 months or so, I have found myself increasingly frustrated with Kristin's attention to ridiculous shows. I know that she genuinely loves LOST, The Office, and many of the other shows that I love. But, she also pays a ridiculous amount of attention to shows like One Tree Hill. I get that her readers want coverage. Give them scoop, but don't showcase a lame teenage soap opera with no redeeming qualities! Ausiello, on the other hand, will criticize/ignore awful television, no matter what his readers think. In this case, I feel like I ought to be open-minded and willing to accept that my needs might have changed, rather than trying to be stubbornly loyal to a column that I don't enjoy very much anymore. That is not to say that I won't ever see what's new on "Watch with Kristin" or whether she has any awesome new interviews. But I think my official source for tv news is going to be http://ausiellofiles.ew.com

I have included below (as the first videos ever to be embedded in my blog!) the first installment of "Ausiello TV," as well as one of my favorite "Watch with Kristin" shows.





Just for the record: I'm writing a seemingly pointless blog post like this one because I head to Europe in 18 days. I've only got a couple more entries left to do before I go, and I know how much I (and you!) will miss this blog while I'm gone. So I want to get in as much as I can before J.R.'s Television Thoughts for Your Everyday Life takes a 3-month hiatus. Anyways, that's the reason...

The Bachelorette + So You Think You Can Dance

Oh, reality television- you are the one thing that can humble me from my occasional tv snobbery. Example: ME "I can't believe you watch that show. Why don't you get some standards?" MY SISTER "Hey, how was The Bachelorette last night?" ME "Point taken." But, for reals, without this stuff that has zero importance in my life and offers no valuable insights into anything except how INSANE people can be, I would be completely adrift with nothing to watch on a weekly basis. Waiting for stuff to return is hard. Especially when your summer shows don't start up until summer's almost over! (You know who you are, The Closer and Mad Men with your ridiculous premiere dates of July 14th and 27th.) What am I supposed to do for the entire month of June? Have a life that doesn't revolve around television?! That's a ludicrous suggestion...

I watched The Bachelorette these past 2 months because I was in the habit after the glory days that were The Bachelor: London Calling. I didn't know who DeAnna was because I hadn't watched Brad's season, but I did enjoy the Trista and Ryan season of The Bachelorette so I thought I'd give this one a try. I kinda wish I hadn't, though, because it resulted in disappointment and heartache for me on more than one occasion! For starters, I was very attached to Brian, the high school football coach from Texas. He was manly, which was a big plus, and he also seemed to be very kind and mature. I saw a lot of potential with him (for myself, but for DeAnna, too, if she had just given him a chance!). Then there was Graham... What is there to say? He was gorgeous. She had more chemistry with him than...something with a lot of chemistry. She let him go after the hometown dates with the last 4 guys. He gave her a letter when they said goodbye. I don't know what it said. I don't want to know what it said. Somehow, that would make everything that they went through mean less. Once it was down to Jason and Jesse, I hoped she would pick Jason, the single dad from Seattle. Instead, she accepted the proposal from the snowboarder who says "rad" way too often. The makings of a long-lasting, adult relationship, I'm sure... Honestly, I don't know how I survived DeAnna's constant crying and emotional outbreaks and repeated speeches about knowing what they went through and wanting them to open up and blah blah blah. I think it just got to the point where I had to watch it because I needed to know what happened to these people. In hindsight, neither DeAnna nor any of the guys filled the void in my life left by the charming Brit, Matt Grant. I think I can safely say that I have been cured of my fascination with this type of show and will never watch it again.

I can't say the same for So You Think You Can Dance because that show is great. I watched a little bit of Season 2 and thought Benji was the most amazing dancer I had ever seen. Season 4 has been equally as amazing and exciting. It's dancing in the purest form: all the contestants are so talented, and they just get better every week. The judges are interesting- granted, Mary Murphy is a hysterical crazy lady, but at least she knows what she's talking about. Nigel Lythgoe is the token British guy. He's harsh, but that just makes his praise worth more. And he does a great Michael Caine impression! The guest judges are choreographers, which makes them awesome. My favorite couple in the beginning was Kherington and Twitch because I loved their energy. They're not the best dancers in the group, but I have fun watching their routines. I still like them, but their spot as my number 1 couple has been taken by Katee and Joshua. Like, whoa. They are simply phenomenal. Their Hip Hop routine was deep and beautiful, their Broadway routine rocked my face off, their Samba was, like, the hottest thing I've ever seen, and their Mia Michaels-choreographed Contemporary routine was way cool. I mean, I didn't really understand it, but there were some freaking sweet moves in there!

SYTYCD is the one reality show that I am not ashamed to watch and will continue to enjoy for years to come.




Joshua & Katee- Samba


Joshua & Katee- Broadway


Joshua & Katee- Bollywood


Joshua- Solo

John Adams

Fittingly, I spent the past week watching the 7-episode HBO miniseries, John Adams. Paul Giamatti starred as the Founding Father who worked tirelessly to secure liberty for this nation and then spent the greater part of his life ensuring that liberty would be maintained for future generations. Among the last words of the finale are these: "Oh, Posterity, you will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope that you will make a good use of it." There were moments like this throughout the series that made me reflect on how much I freakin' love America
(See: Picture ----->).

The episodes each chronicled important chapters in Adams' life: his defense of the British soldiers after the Boston massacre, his role as a Massachusetts delegate in the first Continental Congress, his time as Minister to France and England, his term as the 2nd President of the United States, and, finally, his quiet later years on his farm, Peacefield. Giamatti was stellar as the brilliant yet flawed Adams, but I was most taken in by the character of Abigail Adams and Laura Linney's portrayal of her. I had no idea of the role that she played in her husband's life- with her strength and intelligence, she advised and supported him in everything that he did, and it is certainly because of her that he was such a spectacular individual.

In addition to inspiring patriotism in every fiber of my being, I marveled at the beauty of this series. Their attention to detail in recreating 18th century America and Europe was incredible. From the costumes to the sets, everything was perfect (And I have that on good authority: David McCullough, the historian who wrote the book on which the series was based, said that in the "Making of" featurette). My absolute favorite part, though, was that they didn't try to romanticize anything. At the end of the first episode, a man gets tarred and feathered in the streets of Boston. The people, too, were shown as they realistically were. Benjamin Franklin was a crackpot as well as a genius. Thomas Jefferson made many mistakes in his life full of distinction and legacies. The Founding Fathers were great men, but they were men. Their judgment was not infallible, and still they managed to establish a nation of freedom and justice that his lasted for more than two centuries under the Constitution that they wrote. We've had problems and been forced to adapt, but the fundamental ideas, for which they sacrificed so much, remain constant.

This series was television at its finest- television that transcends art and make-believe and becomes a window. In this case, it was a window into the most crucial period in our nation's history. Happy Independence Day, people.

Hoping for the Best: The 2008 Emmy Awards

In spite of last year's pathetic excuse for Emmys, I cannot help but care about the outcomes this year. It would take at least one more year of glaring omissions from the nominations and ridiculous results for the winners to make me stop placing any value in the most prestigious award show for my favorite medium. Every year, I enjoy watching the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors' Guild Awards, but the greatest hope I have for my beloved television shows/actors/writers/producers/etc., is that they be recognized for their achievements by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. For some reason, those awards hold the most weight. So even though the 2007 Emmys were the most disgraceful spectacle I have ever beheld, I anxiously await the Fall, knowing that not every one of my favorites will end up winning but hoping that excellence will be championed.

One sign that perhaps my hope is not futile: the press release from the ATAS this week revealing their shortlists for the Best Comedy and Drama categories. Obviously this is not the final list of nominees - these will be whittled down to 5- but for the first time ever, it looks like The Wire might have a shot at winning. The critically-acclaimed HBO show throws a spotlight on a group of Baltimore cops trying to infiltrate a drug ring, as well as the criminals on the other side, addressing social and economic issues in the process. After its fifth and final season wrapped up in March, Emmy finally seems to be taking notice (the only other nomination to date for the show was one for Best Writing in 2005). I feel a little silly at the moment... I haven't even watched The Wire yet (it's on my list!), but here I am passionately ranting about its merits. I just strongly believe that the Emmys should reward high-quality work, and this list of finalists for the 2 biggest categories seems like a good sign to me that the awards show this year could get back on track.

TOP 10 COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" ("The Bat Mitzvah")
"Entourage" ("The Day F***ers")
"Family Guy" ("Padre de Famila")
"Flight of the Conchords" ("Sally Returns")
"The Office" ("Local Ad")
"Pushing Daisies" ("Pie-lette")
"30 Rock" ("Cooter")
"Two and a Half Men" ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")
"Ugly Betty" ("Something Wicked This Way Comes")
"Weeds" ("Go").

[I actually did not love the "Local Ad" episode. I didn't think it was nearly as funny as "Chair Model." "Something Wicked This Way Comes" was a good episode in an overall not so good season of Ugly Betty. I'd be thrilled with a win for either Weeds or Flight of the Conchords. Or Pushing Daisies, obviously, but I don't think it's got much of a chance for a shortened first season.]

TOP 10 DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
"Boston Legal" ("The Court Supreme")
"Damages" (Pilot)
"Dexter" ("The Dark Defender")
"Friday Night Lights" ("Leave No One Behind")
"Grey’s Anatomy" ("Freedom, Parts 1 and 2")
"House" ("Frozen")
"Lost" ("The Constant")
"Mad Men" (Pilot, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes")
"The Tudors" (#205)
"The Wire" (Series finale, "30")

[Although I would be pleased if The Wire took this one, "The Constant" was the most beautifully written episode of LOST possibly ever. And seeing as that's my favorite show on tv right now, I hope they can add another award to the one they earned for the first season.]

TOP 10 BEST DRAMA ACTOR FINALISTS
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 4")
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights ("Last Day of Summer")
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad ("Pilot")
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
Michael C. Hall, Dexter ("There's Something About Harry")
Jon Hamm, Mad Men ("The Wheel")
Eddie Izzard, The Riches ("Last Temptation of Wayne")
Hugh Laurie, House ("House's Head")
Denis Leary, Rescue Me ("Babyface")
James Spader, Boston Legal ("The Court Supreme")

[Note: These are all very talented men, but, I'm sorry, no one deserves this award more than Michael C. Hall. That's not my opinion, that's a fact.]

TOP 10 BEST DRAMA ACTRESS FINALISTS
Patricia Arquette, Medium ( "Aftertaste")
Glenn Close, Damages ("Pilot")
Minnie Driver, The Riches ("Dead Calm")
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters ("History Repeating")
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit ("Undercover")
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace ("Tacos, Tulips, Duck and Spices")
Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men ("The Hobo Code")
Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica ("Faith")
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer ("Manhunt")
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Big Love ("Take Me As I Am")

[OHMYGOSH! It's about time they took notice of McDonnell's depth and amazing-ness. "Faith" was an absolutely mind-blowing episode and showcased her ability like never before. I can't imagine them overlooking her performance, even though I thought "Manhunt" was the best episode of The Closer that I had ever seen.]

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTOR FINALISTS
Naveen Andrews, Lost ("The Economist")
Bruce Dern, Big Love ("Good Guys and Bad Guys")
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal ("Roe vs. Wade, The Musical")
Ted Danson, Damages ("Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker")
Michael Emerson, Lost ("The Shape of Things to Come")
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages ("I Hate These People")
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
William Shatner, Boston Legal ("Mad About You")
John Slattery, Mad Men ( "Long Weekend")
Blair Underwood, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 6")
Jake Weber, Medium ("Wicked Game, Part 1")

[And the Emmy goes to...Michael Emerson. (Anything else would be a crime against mankind.)]

TOP 11 (?) BEST SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTRESS FINALISTS
Jane Alexander, Tell Me You Love Me (Episode 10)
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal ("The Mighty Rogues")
Rose Byrne, Damages ("Because I Know Patty")
Jill Clayburgh, Dirty Sexy Money ("The Watch")
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice ("Identity")
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters ("Domestic Issues")
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men ("Babylon")
S. Epatha Merkerson, Law and Order ("Bottomless")
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy ("The Becoming")
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment" ("Paul and Gina: Week ?")
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" ("Lay Your Hands on Me")

[Nothing really to say about this one... I have no contenders in this race.]

TOP 7 BEST COMEDY ACTOR FINALISTS (3 have yet to be decided, which probably means that the 5 nominees will come from these 7 guys)
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
Steve Carell, The Office ("Goodbye, Toby")
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Bat Mitzvah")
David Duchovny, Californication ("The Last Waltz")
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies ("Pie-lette")
Tony Shalhoub, Monk ("Mr. Monk and the Naked Man")
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men ("Is There a Mrs. Waffles?")

[I'm completely biased- I think Steve Carell is the funniest person alive- but I still think this one belongs to him.]

TOP 10 BEST COMEDY ACTRESS FINALISTS
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? ("The Restraining Order")
Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives ("Now You Know")
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty ("Odor in the Court")
Tina Fey, 30 Rock ("Sandwich Day")
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies ("Bitter Sweets")
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives ("Now I Know, Don't Be Scared")
Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives ("In Buddy's Eyes")
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine ("One and a Half Men")
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program ("Bored of the Rings")

[Hmm... This is a tough one. Anna Friel is adorable as the Pie Maker's darling, Chuck. But, Christina Applegate is outstanding as the amnesiac, Samantha Newly. Or, Marcia Cross, whose Bree has become by far the most interesting housewife on Wisteria Lane. I'd be pleased with any of those three.]

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTOR FINALISTS
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men ("Meander to Your Dander")
Kevin Dillon, Entourage ("The Dream Team")
Justin Kirk, Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother ("The Goat")
John Krasinski, The Office ("Branch Wars")
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock ("Episode 210")
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock ("Secrets and Lies")
Jeremy Piven, Entourage ("The Day F***ers")
Fred Willard, Back to You ("Cradle to Grave")
Rainn Wilson, The Office ("Money")

[As much as I looooooove John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson excelled in "Money." Dwight hosting Jim and Pam at Schrute Farms was the most hilarious, enjoyable Office experience of Season 4. Nevertheless, I am aware that the competition here is intense- especially from the 2 Entourage boys, the 2 30 Rock boys, and HIMYM's Harris. As long as that damn Jeremy Piven doesn't win again, I'll survive. Alright! We get it! Ari Gold is hilarious! Can we move on, please?]

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTRESS FINALISTS
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies ("Girth")
Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men ("Fish in a Drawer")
Jenna Fischer, The Office ("Fun Run")
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock ("The Collection")
Judith Light, Ugly Betty ("I See Me, ICU")
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds ("Risk")
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live ("Tina Fey")
Jean Smart, Samantha Who? ("The Girlfriend")
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men ("Media Room Slash Dungeon")
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty ("Bananas for Betty")

[Chenoweth's Olive Snook is a unique comedic character that certainly merits the award, but I doubt it will be hers. I am pretty much against Two and a Half Men on principle, so I'm hoping for a win for either Jean Smart or Jane Krakowski.]

TOP 11 GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives ("Distant Past")
Edie Falco, 30 Rock ("Episode 210")
Vivica A. Fox, Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Rat Dog")
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives ("Welcome to Kanagawa")
Annie Potts, Ugly Betty ("Zero Worship")
Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
Shirley Knight, Desperate Housewives ("If There's Anything I Can't Stand")
Jane Lynch, Two and a Half Men ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")
Amy Ryan, The Office ("Goodbye Toby")
Sarah Silverman, Monk ("Mr. Monk and His Biggest Fan")
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock ("LudaChristmas")

[Both Falco and Ryan rocked (and, hopefully, will continue to rock on 30 Rock and The Office), but Silverman's one episode on Monk was memorable and ginormously funny.]

TOP 10 GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
Keith Carradine, Dexter ("Morning Comes")
Charles Durning, Rescue Me ("Yaz")
Danny Glover, Brothers and Sisters ("The Feast of Epiphany")
Robert Morse, Mad Men ("Nixon vs. Kennedy")
Peter O'Toole, The Tudors ("Episode 208")
Oliver Platt, Nip/Tuck ("Carly Summers")
Peter Riegert, Damages ("Do You Regret What We Did?")
Stanley Tucci, E.R. ("The War Comes Home")
Glynn Turman, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 8")
Robin Williams, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit ("Authority")

[I've got no clue here, really. If I had to guess, I'd say either Charlie Durning or Peter O'Toole because, you know... they're super old.]

Angel

When I decided to watch Buffy from the beginning, there was never a doubt in my mind that I would watch Angel, too. If you're going to commit to something, you've got to do it all the way - even if that commitment meant watching 254 episodes of television, by far my greatest undertaking ever. I think my assumption about Angel was that it would just be an extension of Buffy. I knew I would enjoy it because I love the character of Angel pretty much more than life itself. But, at the same time, a Buffy show without Giles and Willow and Xander (and Buffy, too - she's kind of important) is not Buffy at all. I realized that this is the wrong attitude to take because Angel is a very different show. It's similar in that it has Joss Whedon's Midas touch, and sometimes the stories would crossover, but Angel was wonderful in its own right. It dealt more with redemption, what it means to be a hero, and choice - how our choices define us, and how they always have consequences.
My Top 10 Favorite Episodes:
1) "The Magic Bullet" (written by Jeffrey Bell), episode 4.19- Fred is the only one who has seen Jasmine's true form, so she works to break the spell that her friends are under before free will disappears from the world.
2) "A Hole in the World" (written by Joss Whedon), episode 5.15- Angel and Spike travel to England to try to save Fred from a virus that is working through her body to make way for the ancient demon, Illyria.
3) "I Will Remember You" (written by David Greenwalt & Jeannine Renshaw), episode 1.08- Buffy comes to L.A., and a demon attacks that turns Angel human. They spend one happy day together before Angel sacrifices his humanity to continue the good fight.
4) "Not Fade Away" (written by Joss Whedon & Jeffrey Bell), episode 5.22- Angel and the gang prepare for war against Wolfram & Hart's "Senior Partners." Understanding that some of them will probably die, everyone lives their perfect last day.
5) "Through the Looking Glass" (written by Tim Minear), episode 2.21- Cordelia serves as princess of Pylea while Wesley, Gunn, and Lorne try to find a portal back to L.A. "Numfar, do the dance of joy!"
6) "Orpheus" (written by Mere Smith), episode 4.15- With Faith and Angelus in comas after their great battle, Willow comes to help Wesley, Fred, Lorne, and Gunn restore Angel's soul while possessed Cordelia seeks to undermine their efforts.
7) "Lullaby" (written by Tim Minear), episode 3.09- Angel tries to protect Darla and his unborn son from their old enemy, Holtz, as well as various other evil forces.
8) "You're Welcome" (written by David Fury), episode 5.12- Cordelia awakens from her coma to help Angel one last time against Lindsey who is trying to summon a demon that will destroy Angel.
9) "Disharmony" (written by David Fury), episode 2.17- Cordelia gets a visit from her high school friend, Harmony, as the Angel Investigations team looks into a vampire cult.
10) "Sense and Sensitivity" (written by Tim Minear), episode 1.06- The normally brooding Angel gets infected by a sensitivity stick courtesy of Wolfram & Hart that forces him to share all his feelings.


Spike fights Puppet Angel