Blackout is a pop culture junkie who wants to spread his addiction of television and film to as many people as possible. If you're planning on sitting in front of a screen, you might as well watch the good stuff.
So here’s my quick recap of this year’s Emmy Awards. I did pretty well with supporting acting and writing predictions but tanked on the lead acting and directing awards. Still some great surprises and only minimal disappointments.
FIVE HIGHLIGHTS:
1 The Glee-rific intro was fantastic. Loved the cameos from various television stars, even the dissing of Kate. Fallon did a nice Boss impersonation. Loved Fallon’s hand in Tina Fey’s face. What a great energetic way to start the show.
2 Ricky Gervais is the best award presenter ever! Loved the utter glee he showed over actually getting to read the name Bucky Gunts.
3 Jimmy Fallon does a perfect job of saying good-bye to three long running shows. Loved the 24 DVD remark, loved the old school Boyz II Men for Law & Order and enjoyed the confusion line of Lost’s Green Day farewell.
4 The surprise wins for Aaron Paul and for Jim Parsons. So, I guess third season’s the charm.
5Modern Family winning a bunch of awards. Very well deserved guys.
FIVE LOWLIGHTS:
1 Edie Falco winning for best comedic actress. Even she admits she’s not funny.
2 Writers and directors answering questions didn’t work for me (though I did like the Old Spice shout out and the six toes.) Why didn’t they show each nominees performance instead? I guess it’s in an effort to end of time, which it did.
3 The Twitter entries were beyond stupid.
4Colbert Report losing to Daily Show yet again. At least Stephen Colbert got a best performer Emmy this year but it was presented at the Creative Arts ceremony.
5No variety show writing staff intros as they also got their awards at the Creative Arts ceremony too. These are usually a very fun part of the show. Boo.
THE WINNERS:
Drama Series: Mad Men (Predicted)
Comedy Series: Modern Family (Predicted & Wanted)
Variety Series: The Daily Show
Reality Series: Top Chef
Lead Actor in Drama:Bryan Cranston
Lead Actress in Drama: Kyra Sedgwick
Lead Actor in Comedy:Jim Parsons (Wanted)
Lead Actress in Comedy: Edie Falco (Boo)
Supp. Actor in Drama: Aaron Paul (Wanted)
Supp.Actress in Drama: Archie Panjabi (Predicted)
Supp. Actor in Comedy: Eric Stonestreet (Predicted)
Supp. Actress in Comedy: Jane Lynch (Predicted & Wanted)
Writing for Drama: Mad Men – Shut the Door….(Predicted)
Writing for Comedy:Modern Family – Pilot (Predicted & Wanted)
Directing for Drama:Dexter – The Getaway
Directing for Comedy: Glee – Pilot
Too bad for Lost. I hope Steve Carell can take one home next year.
The Emmys are a couple of days away. I didn’t do that well with my Creative Arts Emmy hopes. CSI beat Flash Forward for cinematography; Nurse Jackie robbed Parks & Recreation with their title music. Bored to Death got best main title sequence which I’m not too sad about since Bored has a cool intro. Mike O’Malley lost to NPH for Guest Actor. Happy that Neil Patrick Harris finally has an Emmy but wish it was for his Barney role. Happily Old Spice won best commercial and deservedly so. Anyway, here are my predictions for the upcoming primetime telecast on Sunday. Just like previous years, I play to win but am happy if the one I want to win takes the statue. Also, I don’t predict miniseries or made-for-TV movies but if you’re a gambler go with The Pacific for miniseries and Temple Grandin for movie. Here now are the fearless predictions:
Drama Series
Breaking Bad | Dexter | The Good Wife | Lost | Mad Men | True Blood
WILL WIN: Mad Men (voters still like it)
WANT TO WIN: Lost (nice way to end series)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: True Blood (not yet)
Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm | Glee | Modern Family | Nurse Jackie | The Office | 30 Rock
WILL WIN: Modern Family (best of the year)
WANT TO WIN: Modern Family (best of the year)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Nurse Jackie (not that funny)
Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Colbert Report | Daily Show| Real Time with Bill Maher | SNL| Tonight Show: Conan O’Brien
WILL WIN: Colbert Report (Iraq & Olympic stuff)
WANT TO WIN: Colbert Report (it’s his year)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Bill Maher (don’t like him)
Reality – Competition Program
Amazing Race | American Idol | Dancing with the Stars | Project Runway | Top Chef
WILL WIN: Amazing Race (why wreck a streak)
WANT TO WIN: Amazing Race (love it)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: American Idol (boring)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Breaking Bad:Bryan Cranston | Dexter:Michael C. Hall | Friday Night Lights:Kyle Chandler | House:Hugh Laurie | Lost:Matthew Fox | Mad Men:Jon Hamm
WILL WIN: Michael C Hall (great season)
WANT TO WIN: Kyle Chandler (most deserving)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: All are deserving
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
The Closer:Kyra Sedgwick | Damages:Glenn Close | Friday Night Lights:Connie Britton | The Good Wife: Julianna Margulies | Law & Order: SVU:Mariska Hargitay | Mad Men:January Jones
WILL WIN: Julianna Margulies (good role)
WANT TO WIN: Connie Britton (for past years)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Mariska Hargitay (won too often)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory:Jim Parsons | Curb Your Enthusiasm:Larry David | Glee:Matthew Morrison | Monk:Tony Shalhoub | The Office:Steve Carell | 30 Rock:Alec Baldwin
WILL WIN: Alec Baldwin (predictable voters)
WANT TO WIN: Jim Parsons (makes the show)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Tony Shalhoub (won too often)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Glee:Lea Michele | The New Adventures Of Old Christine: Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Nurse Jackie:Edie Falco | Parks &Recreation:Amy Poehler | 30 Rock:Tina Fey | United States Of Tara:Toni Collette
WILL WIN: Toni Collette (multiple roles in one)
WANT TO WIN: Amy Poehler (such an improvement)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Edie Falco (again not funny)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Breaking Bad:Aaron Paul | Damages:Martin Short | Lost:Terry O'Quinn | Lost:Michael Emerson | Mad Men:John Slattery | Men Of A Certain Age: Andre Braugher
WILL WIN: Michael Emerson (creepy & emotional)
WANT TO WIN: Aaron Paul (such a heart-wrenching role)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Andre Braugher (too new)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Burn Notice:Sharon Gless | Damages:Rose Byrne | The Good Wife:Archie Panjabi | The Good Wife: Christine Baranski | Mad Men:Christina Hendricks | Mad Men:Elisabeth Moss
WILL WIN: Archie Panjabi (hear she’s good)
WANT TO WIN: Christina Hendricks (great moments this year)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Don’t Care
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Glee:Chris Colfer | How I Met Your Mother:Neil Patrick Harris | Modern Family:Jesse Tyler Ferguson | Modern Family:Eric Stonestreet | Modern Family:Ty Burrell | Two And A Half Men:Jon Cryer
WILL WIN: Eric Stonestreet (over the top)
WANT TO WIN: Ty Burrell (breakout role for him)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Jon Cryer (others are far funnier)
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Glee:Jane Lynch | Modern Family:Julie Bowen | Modern Family:Sofia Vergara | SNL:Kristen Wiig | 30 Rock:Jane Krakowski |Two And A Half Men:Holland Taylor
WILL WIN: Jane Lynch (easily stands out)
WANT TO WIN: Jane Lynch (great role)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Holland Taylor (barely on)
Writing for a Drama Series
Friday Night Lights • The Son | The Good Wife • Pilot | Lost • The End | Mad Men • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency | Mad Men • Shut The Door. Have A Seat
WILL WIN: Mad Men • Shut The Door. Have A Seat (like usual)
WANT TO WIN: Lost (I liked the ending)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: The Good Wife (don’t watch it)
Writing for a Comedy Series
Glee • Pilot | Modern Family • Pilot | The Office • Niagara | 30 Rock • Anna Howard Shaw Day | 30 Rock • Lee Marvin Vs. Derek Jeter
WILL WIN: Modern Family (critical darling)
WANT TO WIN: Modern Family (won me over instantly)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: 30 Rock (won too often)
Directing for a Drama Series
Breaking Bad • One Minute | Dexter • The Getaway | Lost • The End | Mad Men • Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency | Treme • Do You Know What it Means
WILL WIN: Mad Men (usually wins)
WANT TO WIN: Breaking Bad (fantastic ending)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Treme (didn’t see)
Directing for a Comedy Series
Glee • Pilot | Glee • Wheels | Modern Family • Pilot | Nurse Jackie • Pilot | 30 Rock • I Do Do
WILL WIN: Modern Family (see writing)
WANT TO WIN: Modern Family (see writing)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Nurse Jackie (blah from what I saw)
Let’s see how I do. I’ll post after the Emmys with the results and commentary.
RATING:PG-13 for sexual content, language and violence
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 52 minutes
STARRING: Michael Cera (Juno, Youth in Revolt)
Mary Elizabeth Windstead (Live Free or Die Hard)
DIRECTOR:Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead)
WRITERS: Edgar Wright(Hot Fuzz)
Michael Bacall (newcomer)
PLOT: Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes. Action ensues.
FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I went in with pretty low expectations but wound up leaving having had a very fun time at the movies. Almost makes me want to pick up the graphic novels it’s based on. The dialogue between characters is very quick and witty.
2 I thought I would get annoyed by Cera’s typecast ‘lovable shy geek’ persona but it worked really well throughout the film. Very well cast as Pilgrim. Winstead is cool and sweet as Ramona Flowers. This was a very well casted film.
3 Taking cues from the graphic novel, I loved the text explanations of characters, the written sound effects and the split screen fun. Wright does a great job pulling us out of reality and into this comic/indie music/videogame world. Beautifully shot and crazily edited. Fun times.
4 Even though they chopped out a lot of the six volume graphic novel, I still think the film is a tad too long. There is too much lag time between bouts with the evil exes. And a couple fights go on too long. But I wasn’t too bothered by it.
5 Happy that the film embraces the fact that the story takes place in Toronto. And even has Ontario-ian Michael Cera for Canadian cred. Wish there wasn’t so much snow though. Way to feed the American stereotype.
