2020 Emmy Awards Wrap Up

 

It was an interesting show to say the least. I did okay with 16 out of 22 categories (I count predicted and wanted as wins). Jimmy Kimmel did a pretty good job as host. I enjoyed all their Covid safety measures (loved Jason Bateman bit and the fire extinguisher bit). The DJ was useless; he kept stumbling and added nothing to the show. Get a better DJ with some personality. I thought some parts of the show went quicker as we didn’t have to wait for winners to get on stage and prepare to talk. As usual, I’m annoyed when they speed through nominees (this year it was the supporting categories and the lead drama) It was interesting and strange to see some of the backgrounds for the nominees (Little Fires Everywhere New Year’s Party? Okay.) Felt bad for the ‘losers’ whose kids stayed up for the show on video. I appreciated the layout for the In Memorium segment; I liked the use of stages. There weren’t any acceptance speeches that stood out to me but I thought the political comments were running a bit long. I get it. Everyone should vote. In regards to the winners, I was happy to see Schitt’s Creek sweep the comedy category. They got a total of nine Emmys – a record for a comedy in a single year. Not bad for a Canadian comedy. (I should probably watch the show now). I was also happy that Watchmen and Succession got a lot of love (though still annoyed that Better Call Saul is shafted every time). I was impressed how the award show adapted to this weird time.  Here are some of the winners of the night:

THE WINNERS:

Drama Series: Succession (Predicted)
Comedy Series: Schitt’s Creek (Predicted)
Limited Series: Watchmen (Predicted & Wanted)
Television Movie: Bad Education
Variety Talk Series: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Predicted & Wanted)
Variety Sketch Series: SNL (Predicted & Wanted)
Lead Actor [Drama]: Jeremy Strong (Succession) (Predicted)
Lead Actress [Drama]: Zendaya (Euphoria)
Lead Actor [Comedy]: Eugene Levy (Schitt’s Creek) (Wanted)
Lead Actress [Comedy]: Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) (Predicted & Wanted)
Lead Actor [Limited]: Mark Ruffalo (I Know This Much is True) (Predicted)  
Lead Actress [Limited]: Regina King (Watchmen) (Predicted & Wanted)
Supp. Actor [Drama]: Billy Cruddup (Morning Show) (Predicted)
Supp. Actress [Drama]: Julia Garner (Ozark) (Wanted)   
Supp. Actor [Comedy]: Daniel Levy (Schitt’s Creek)
Supp. Actress [Comedy]: Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek)
Supp. Actor [Limited]: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen)
Supp. Actress [Limited]: Uzo Aduba (Mrs. America)
Writing [Drama]: Succession – This Is Not For Tears (Predicted)
Writing [Comedy]: Schitt’s Creek – Happy Ending  (Predicted)   
Writing [Limited]: Watchmen – This Extraordinary Being (Predicted & Wanted)  
Writing [Variety]: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Predicted)  

2020 Emmy Awards Predictions

 

The Emmys are this Sunday. I haven’t seen a bunch of the shows and miniseries nominated this year which could prove detrimental. There’s just too much out there to keep track of it all. Will be an interesting ceremony as they are doing it remotely. Let’s see how that works. For the Primetime Emmys predictions, it’s same as past years: I play to win but am happy if the one I want to win takes the statue. Here now are the predictions and outright guesses:

Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul | The Crown | The Handmaid’s Tale | Killing Eve | The Mandalorian | Ozark | Stranger Things | Succession
WILL WIN: Succession (It was a strong second season for the show)
WANT TO WIN: Better Call Saul (Why is this show so overlooked?)

Outstanding Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dead To Me | The Good Place | Insecure | The Kominsky Method | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Schitt’s Creek | What We Do In The Shadow
WILL WIN: Schitt’s Creek (Been getting more popular since Netflix)
WANT TO WIN: The Good Place (It needs some love for its final season)

Outstanding Limited Series
Little Fires Everywhere | Mrs. America | Unbelievable | Unorthodox | Watchmen
WILL WIN: Watchmen (A masterpiece)
WANT TO WIN: Watchmen (One of my favourites of last year)

Outstanding Television Movie
American Son | Bad Education | Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings | El Camino | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
WILL WIN: American Son (Just a big guess.)
WANT TO WIN: El Camino (Loved learning more about Jesse Pinkman)

Outstanding Variety Talk Series
Daily Show with Trevor Noah | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | Jimmy Kimmel Live | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert  
WILL WIN: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (He’s on a roll)
WANT TO WIN: Last Week Tonight (It’s appointment television for me)

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
A Black Lady Sketch Show | Drunk History | SNL
WILL WIN: SNL (This show is 45 and still funny)
WANT TO WIN: SNL (Hands down)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
The Morning Show: Steve Carell | Ozark: Jason Bateman | Pose: Billy Porter | Succession: Brian Cox | Succession: Jeremy Strong | This Is Us: Sterling K Brown
WILL WIN: Jeremy Strong (He’s the main reason I watch the show)
WANT TO WIN: Steve Carell (Since he didn’t win any for The Office)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
The Crown: Olivia Coleman | Euphoria: Zendaya | Killing Eve: Jodie Comer | Killing Eve: Sandra Oh | The Morning Show:  Jennifer Aniston | Ozark: Laura Linney
WILL WIN: Laura Linney (I hate the character but she plays it well)
WANT TO WIN: Jennifer Aniston (I liked what she did with this role)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Black Monday: Don Cheadle | Black-ish: Anthony Anderson | The Good Place: Ted Danson | The Kominsky Method: Michael Douglas | Ramy: Ramy Youssef | Schitt’s Creek: Eugene Levy
WILL WIN: Ramy Youssef (He got the Golden Globe, so why not)
WANT TO WIN: Eugene Levy (Would love to see this guy get an Emmy)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Black-ish : Tracee Ellis Ross | Dead To Me: Christina Applegate | Dead To Me: Linda Cardellini | Insecure: Issa Rae | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Rachel Brosnahan | Schitt’s Creek: Catherine O’Hara
WILL WIN: Catherine O’Hara (Thinking Schitt’s Creek is going to do well)
WANT TO WIN: Catherine O’Hara (I’ll root for the Canadian)

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Bad Education: Hugh Jackman | Hollywood: Jeremy Pope | I Know This Much Is True: Mark Ruffalo | Normal People: Paul Mescal | Watchmen: Jeremy Irons
WILL WIN: Mark Ruffalo (He played dual roles)
WANT TO WIN: Mark Ruffalo (Didn’t see it but like the actor)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Little Fires Everywhere: Kerry Washington | Mrs. America: Cate Blanchett | Self Made: Octavia Spencer | Unorthodox: Shira Haas | Watchmen: Regina King
WILL WIN: Regina King (She was so strong on the show)
WANT TO WIN: Regina King (She’s great in all she does)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Better Call Saul: Giancarlo Esposito | The Handmaid’s Tale: Bradley Whitford | The Morning Show: Billy Crudup | The Morning Show: Mark Duplass | Succession: Nicholas Braun | Succession: Kieran Culkin | Succession: Matthew Macfadyen | Westworld: Jeffrey Wright
WILL WIN: Billy Crudup (He played the slimy exec so well)
WANT TO WIN: Kieran Culkin (He’s the other reason I watch the show)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Big Little Lies: Laura Dern | Big Little Lies: Meryl Streep | The Crown: Helena Bonham Carter | The Handmaid’s Tale: Samira Wiley | Killing Eve: Fiona Shaw | Ozark: Julia Garner | Succession: Sarah Snook | Westworld: Thandie Newton
WILL WIN: Helena Bonham Carter (She’s a big name with a flashy role)
WANT TO WIN: Julia Garner (Always feel bad for her on Ozark)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Andre Braugher | The Good Place: William Jackson Harper | The Kominsky Method: Alan Arkin | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Sterling K. Brown | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Tony Shalhoub | Ramy: Mahershala Ali | SNL: Kenan Thompson | Schitt’s Creek: Daniel Levy
WILL WIN: Tony Shalhoub (He always wins)
WANT TO WIN: Kenan Thompson (17 seasons and still going strong)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
GLOW: Betty Gilpin | The Good Place: D’Arcy Carden | Insecure: Yvonne Orji | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Alex Borstein | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Marin Hinkle | SNL: Kate McKinnon | SNL: Cecily Strong | Schitt’s Creek: Annie Murphy
WILL WIN: Alex Borstein (Though I really don’t want her to)
WANT TO WIN: Cecily Strong (Kate should share)

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Hollywood: Dylan McDermott | Hollywood: Jim Parsons | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Titus Burgess | Watchmen: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II | Watchmen: Jovan Adepo | Watchmen: Louis Gossett Jr.
WILL WIN: Jim Parsons (Emmys like this guy)
WANT TO WIN: Louis Gossett Jr. (More the show than the guy)

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Hollywood: Holland Taylor | Mrs. America: Uzo Aduba | Mrs, America: Margo Marindale | Mrs. America: Tracey Ullman | Unbelievable: Toni Collette | Watchmen: Jean Smart
WILL WIN: Toni Collette (Just guessing here)
WANT TO WIN: Jean Smart (I like the show)

Writing for a Drama Series
Better Call Saul • Bad Choice Road | Better Call Saul • Bagman | The Crown • Aberfan| Ozark • All In | Ozark • Boss Fight | Ozark • Fire Pink | Succession • This Is Not For Tears
WILL WIN: Succession-This Is Not for Tears (Such a great ending)
WANT TO WIN: Better Call Saul-Bagman (Rivals best Breaking Bad eps.)

Writing for a Comedy Series
The Good Place • Whenever You’re Ready | The Great • The Great (Pilot) | Schitt’s Creek • Happy Ending | Schitt’s Creek • The Presidential Suite | What We Do In The Shadows • Collaboration | What We Do In The Shadows • Ghosts | What We Do In The Shadows • On the Run
WILL WIN: Schitt’s Creek-Happy Ending (Assuming it wins other things)
WANT TO WIN: The Good Place-Whenever You’re Ready (A great finale)

Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special
Mrs. America • Shirley | Normal People • Episode 3 | Unbelievable • Episode 1 | Unorthodox • Part 1 | Watchmen • This Extraordinary Being
WILL WIN: Watchmen-This Extraordinary Being (#Black Lives Matter)
WANT TO WIN: Watchmen-This Extraordinary Being (So well done)

Writing for a Variety Series
The Daily Show | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee  | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Late Night with Seth Meyers
WILL WIN: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Emmys love his work)
WANT TO WIN: Late Night with Seth Meyers (Love his A Closer Look)

Let’s see how I do. I’ll post after the Emmys with the results and commentary.

Film: Tenet

 

GENRE: Sci-Fi, Action
RATING: PG-13 for violence and brief strong language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 30 minutes
STARRING: John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman, Ballers)
Robert Pattinson (Twilight); Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby)
DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan (Dark Knight, Dunkirk, Insomnia)
WRITER: Nolan (Inception, Interstellar, Memento, The Prestige)
PLOT: An operative will have to go beyond real time to save the world. 
I think.  

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was eagerly anticipating this film.  

STORY STUFF: I think I’m pretty intelligent and can figure out movie plots but this one was a challenge for me. There were numerous times at the end of scenes where I would think “what the hell is going on?” The opening sequence is visually interesting but I had no idea what was happening. Didn’t help that valuable dialogue was spoken behind masks (go figure) while overpowering music drowned stuff out. I purposefully avoided learning about the plot of the film as I wanted to be surprised by the twists. And there were some genuine surprises. I think I should read a detailed plot synopsis and watch the film again so I can fully appreciate the intricate writing of Nolan. The basic premise is understandable but the exposition of how this time stuff works needs way more detail.

ACTING STUFF: I’m really enjoying the work of Washington. I loved him in BlacKklansman. Just realized he is Denzel’s son which makes perfect sense. He is awesome as the lead in this film. I am not a fan of Pattinson but was surprised that I actually liked his character and what he brought to the film. Kenneth Branagh was a bit much. His accent and character just seemed too super-villainy to be taken seriously.  

ARTISTIC STUFF: Since time moves forward and backward, there are some really cool effects in this film. Pretty trippy to see some things move backward while others move forward at the same time. If you enjoy the speaker-rattling bass found in Nolan films, you won’t be disappointed in the score. I’m not a fan. Also the sound mixing needed work as mentioned earlier.

VERDICT: Three and a half stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You want a good post-film discussion on what happened.
UPCOMING REVIEW: Wonder Woman 1984