Educational TV

At dinner with my family tonight, my 3 year old niece was wearing a shirt that said "Grandpa's TV Buddy". Since Papa keeps her almost every Friday, I knew there was some truth to that statement, so I decided to ask her about it. I asked her what her favorite show was and she responded,

"Hannah Down Hannah"

What she means is Hannah Montana. Man, is that Miley Cyrus everywhere. She's even bigger than Britney was in Britney's heyday. I only hope that the pressure of stardom at such a young age doesn't drive poor Miley to explode in some teen pregnancy scandal or heroin overdose in a couple of years. That seems to be about the only way these things end anymore.

But back to the TV. I quicky found out that the niece isn't the only one who gets to pick the shows to watch on Friday. I asked her what Papa's favorite show was and she responded,

"He likes the one where the bad boys shoot people."

Apparently Papa and the niece watch a lot of Cops as well. Glad to see Papa is broadening her viewing habits and not pigeonholing her into watching only toons.

Pick Me Up

I've been a little under the weather this week and have been a little stressed about work. I'm trying to prep for my biggest trial I've yet to have and every time I prepare witness questions, my brain turns to mush.

I stumbled upon this old video from 2000 that I love. I remember watching the Tonight Show the night this was on. Angie Harmon is a fantastic actress, and I would watch her in almost anything. The almost comes in because try as I might, I can't stand that new show she's on now. Get her back to Law and Order stat. Or better yet, bring her over to SVU. It would be the meshing of 2 good things.

Anyway, back to the video. The following is the video of Angie's now husband, Jason Sehorn, proposing to her on the Tonight Show. It brings a smile to my face, so I thought I'd share.



Now, back to expert witness testimony prep.

Emmy Post-Mortem

Wow. I did an impressively bad job and only got 3 out of 11 right. Luckily I didn't put any money on this.

While I enjoyed her acceptance speech, Katherine Heigl annoyed the bejeezus out of me this season on Greys. Appropos that she would win. And I was shocked that Terry O'Quinn took home a deserved award. Full shut out for the Sopranos actors? Did not see that one at all. Steve Carrell was robbed again, but if it had to go to anyone, it might as well go to the creator of the whole Office realm.

Did not like the circular stage. Also, did not like that they barely showed any of the nominees all night. No reaction shots, no nomination shots. It was pretty bland. Had I not known it was on Fox, I could have guessed it based on the look of the show. Blech.

Emmy Predicts

With the Emmys about 5 hours away, I thought I'd be remiss if I didn't actually give a shot at Emmy Predictions. I mean, I do watch a LOT of TV. Granted, most people won't read this post until well after the Emmys. You'll just have to settle for laughing and pointing when I'm completely wrong on my picks. (Though, I have been pretty good with the Oscars the last couple of years, but that may not necessarily translate here.)

Series, Drama
Boston Legal
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
House
Sopranos

Should win? Heroes
Will Win? Sopranos

House is a good show, but not it's best season. Grey's Anatomy suffered the 3rd season fizzle. Boston Legal, a drama? Please. Heroes, is arguably, one of the better shows on TV this last season. I didn't give it a shot until about halfway through the season, but enjoyed it when I did. It's different enough, but, unlike Lost, it actually gives answers and doesn't drag out for episode after episode. The Emmys do have a habit of rewarding the good new shows (see Lost), but the overhyped, overplayed swan song of the Sopranos is going to make this the most predictable category of the night. It's won almost every award it's been up for the past decade. And, don't forget, since it's on cable and not network TV, it's obviously better quality *eyeroll*.

Series, Comedy
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty

Should win? The Office
Will win? Ugly Betty

My love for the Office knows no bounds. After a shaky part of the second season, (even though it won the Emmy last year), it really grew this year into the smartest comedy on TV. I don't care what you say, I'm not going to believe otherwise. The combination of the writers, the actors and the directors are all heads and shoulders above any other group on TV. But I don't expect a repeat. I have tried to watch episodes of the other shows, but either hated them (Entourage, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men) or didn't care enough to make it appointment TV (Ugly Betty). And, in fact, the second funniest comedy on TV, How I Met Your Mother, was grossly overlooked. I expect the hype that is Ugly Betty (see previous comment about Emmys loving new cult shows) to carry it to this win.

Actor, Drama
James Spader, Boston Legal
Hugh Laurie, House
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Kiefer Sutherland, 24

Should win? Hugh Laurie
Will win? James Gandolfini

Even in it's less than best season, Hugh Laurie still shines. He is House and no other actor could pull off. He's witty, caustic, American-accented, and perfect in the role. Sadly, though he deserves to win, he's going to suffer through watching this one go, one last time, to James Gandolfini. I've watched the Sopranos. I wasn't impressed. I haven't seen 24 or Rescue Me, so I can't really comment on that. But James Spader? Again, that show is not a drama and it is not quality television. I like James Spader, but he needs to go away and give his spot to Matthew Fox or Chris Meloni, again, other grossly overlooked actors.

Actress, Drama
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Kyra Sedgwick, the Closer
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Edie Falco, The Sopranos

Should Win? Kyra Sedgwick
Will win? Kyra Sedgwick or Edie Falco

Admittedly, I don't watch any of these shows, save SVU. Mariska got her due last year and she's not going to be close this year. Kyra Sedgwick completely carries The Closer, which is highly rated by my parents and critics alike. She should pull this off, but given the exit of The Sopranos, you can't count out Edie Falco. If I were forced to pick between the two, I say Edie Falco takes it by a nose.

Actor, Comedy
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Tony Shaloub, Monk
Steve Carrell, The Office
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Should win? Steve Carrell
Will win? Steve Carrell

I'm going out on a limb on this one. Steve Carrell was robbed last year by Tony Shaloub, and everyone knew it, including Tony Shaloub. Those things are not easily forgotten. I'm holding my hope for him this year. A lot of people are calling Alec Baldwin claiming that he's going to take it, but I'm not certain his off camera personality and the fact that his show is a ratings underdog won't hurt him. Plus, though I don't watch the show, a lot of people seem convinced he should have been in the supporting actor category. Monk is past it's prime and Two and a Half Men is not funny. Ricky Gervais has a small shot, but I'm not certain he's mainstream enough to swing this vote.

Actress, Comedy

Will win? America Ferrera

I'm not even bothering to type out the other nominees, because if America Ferrera doesn't walk away with this award, I'll eat my computer. This one's not even close.

Supporting Actor, Drama
William Shatner, Boston Legal
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy
Masi Oka, Heroes
Michael Emerson, Lost
Terry O'Quinn, Lost
Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos

Should win? Michael Emerson
Will Win? T.R. Knight or Masi Oka

Michael Emerson's Ben is the only redeeming quality of a poor season of Lost. He's perfect in that role. But, given how Lost was shut out in many other categories, I don't expect many votes thrown his way. Michael Imperioli should have the backing of the Sopranos exit, but I don't think they'll take this category. T.R. Knight has dealt with a lot of publicity and may get a sympathy vote. I sincerely don't think the show was up to par this year, but he did have one or two shining moments. Masi Oka is the standout on a new cult show. I'm going to give this to Masi, by a nose. I've heard he's a great guy, as is T.R. so either walking away with this will be fine with me.

Supporting Actress, Drama
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Aida Turtorro, The Sopranos
Lorainne Bracco, The Sopranos

Should win? Chandra Wilson
Will win? Sandra Oh or Lorainne Bracco

Again, I'm getting redundant, but the Sopranos could carry this one too. Sandra Oh is about the least talented of the suppporting Grey's actresses. Her performance is so one note, but for some reason, people love her. It will be a crime if either Heigl or Oh take this over Chandra, the true star of that show. At least Ellen Pompeo's smarmy performance wasn't nominated in any category. Sandra Oh should easily have been replaced with Elizabeth Mitchell, who gave an outstanding performance on an otherwise dying Lost. I'm giving the nose to Emmy darling Lorainne Bracco in this one. I just feel the record setting Sopranos will exit taking 3 of the 4 acting awards.

Supporting Actor, Comedy
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Should win? John Krasinski. What, he wasn't nominated? Seriously, NPH
Will win? Rainn Wilson

Ok, I think Rainn Wilson's character is so one note and over the top and really think this nomination should have gone to John Krasinski. I'm more a fan of the straight man as it were. But hopefully he'll get his due. The Emmys do like over the top performances in their supporting actor cast (see Sean Hayes, David Hyde Pierce) so I'm giving him the edge. However, I'm really pulling for Neil Patrick Harris. NPH carries that show and gives it the funny. He's over the top, but not in the same way. And for all the fear in the media that his coming out would ruin the character, NPH's Barney is the greatest womanizing character on TV. I probably care more about the supporting comedy categories than any other. I'll be OK, with a Rainn win, but since How I Met Your Mother is always facing possible cancellation, I wish NPH would get his due this year. Also, don't count out a possible repeat of Jeremy Piven. But I'm thinking he won't carry it this year.

Supporting Actress, Comedy
Jaime Pressley, My Name is Earl
Jenna Fischer, The Office
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds

Should win? Jenna Fischer
Will win? Elizabeth Perkins

Again, Emmy voters love cable shows. Jenna Fischer really stood out this season on The Office, but it's too much to hope that she would take this one. I also think Jaime Pressley may have a shot, because, again, see the over the top discussion from above. The others are pretty much interchangeable. As long as either Perkins, Fischer, or Pressley win this one, I'm ok with it.

Writing, Comedy

Should win? Anyone from The Office

I don't know who the nominees are, but I'm pretty sure than 2 of them are teams from The Office. And they will be well deserved.

Interested to see how I did? We'll check the scorecard tonight.

Summertime... and the TV is boring.

Inevitably, summertime offers me the most free time. It just sucks that it also offers the least amount of quality TV. I don't want to spend all night in front of the TV, but if there were at least 3 shows a week to watch, I'd be happy. I suffered through a terrible season of SYTYCD and have even been reluctantly watching my first season of Big Brother. It's nothing to write home about either.

In expanding my TV horizons, I have a few new shows which I can tolerate. The first is the ABCFamily show "Greek." It's predictable and pounds every possible fraternity/sorority stereotype into the ground. Over and over. But it's watchable. And Jacob Zachar, who plays geeky little brother Rusty, is adorkable. To give you a little synopsis, Casey (the girl) is dating Evan, head of the popular fraternity, who cheats on her during rush week, with a pledge. She also used to date Cappie, slacker president of the party fraternity and rival to her current boyfriend. When her geeky brother Rusty shows up at the same college, decides to go greek, and joins slacker Cappie's frat, Casey is none too pleased. I don't really like any of the girls in this show, but eh.



Next, a far better show, USA Network's "Burn Notice." Micheal Westin (Jeffrey Donovan, the slimy guy from Hitch) is a former government agent who is "burned" when someone turns on him. The government abandons him with no identity, no money, no job history, etc. While trying to find out who burned him, he also puts his spy knowledge to good use by helping everyday citizens get out of binds. He's dumped in a city with his gun-loving ex, his friend who's reporting on him to the FBI, and his mother. I usually abhor narration in a show, but whether it's the voice or the content, it really works on this show. If my parents aren't watching this show, they really should. It's up their alley and both of their daughters are hooked. Unfortunately they'll have to wait a couple of weeks until the US Open is over and USA goes back to regular programming.

Uno Mas!

Last summer, I was in love with the show, So You Think You Can Dance. It was appointment TV at its finest. This year, not to parse my words, but it sucks. I can barely stand to tune in from week to week. They're really killed it for me.



Luckily, I do have a new summer love. It's the show My Boys. It ran for about a dozen episodes during the winter last year and I got hooked. And now it's back. It's one of the rare shows my sister and I both adore. So you know it must be good. If you haven't caught it yet, tune in Monday nights at 10:00 on TBS and enjoy. Jim Gaffigan really steals the show, though the other, mostly unknown, actors can each hold their own. Here's hoping for a successful run so we get more.

Boo.

I'm around. I promise. Not much to report. I work. I sleep. I watch TV. That's about it.

Back later with more to say. Until then. Watch So You Think You Can Dance

And go see License to Wed. Sure, it's getting panned by the critics. But it's funny. Trust me. If you can overlook the miscasting of a couple of the supporting actors. It's much funnier than Knocked Up, which critics are drooling all over themselves for.

The Long Goodbye

My favorite time of the TV year has to be season premiere month. Least favorite? Easily this week as most shows wrap up the year and head to rerun season. I hate how most shows will leave with a cliffhanger that I won't remember come September. And I hate how every stinking commercial tauts the season finale as the most shocking thing to happen EVER. So far this year, House, Lost and Heroes have all claimed to be putting forth the most amazingly incomprehensible specimen of TV programming since the invention of TV for their finales. Which means that each will likely suck.

And along with the season finales also come the inevitable series finales. Some may come out of the blue. For instance, I love the show How I Met Your Mother. I won't find out for a couple more days if it's coming back. It's had 2 great seasons, but rumor has it that some CBS execs don't exactly love it. So until then, I'm keeping it in my DVR in case it's the last episode of that wonderful show. It sits nicely next to the Robin Sparkles episode that will not be deleted until I have Season 2 dvds.

And there's the show that's had a long eventful run but must come to an end. Sometimes I watch series finales of shows I never even watched an episode of (The OC). And I'm saddened. Or I catch the last episode of a show that I liked in the early years but abandoned long before the end (Alias, Dawson's Creek).

Tonight I had to say a tortured farewell to Gilmore Girls. It's been a long 7 years. I have a very distinct emotional attachment to the show, which I actually will not discuss here as it is a little more than I would like to share with the anonymous public. Suffice to say that I loved the show for the first two seasons. I was lukewarm about Season 3, didn't watch 4, but got sucked back into Season 5 and had to catch up on what I'd missed on DVD. Then Season 6 started the decline to what was a barely tolerable Season 7. But I watched. Reluctantly. Because when you've invested that many years in the show, you feel obligated to finish it out come hell or high water. At last, it is finished. I won't deny that I'm a bit sad at it's passing. I also won't deny that I'm thankful I won't have to stare at episode titles in my DVR for weeks past their viewing wondering if I should actually go through with watching or just read the TWOP mini recap and delete. But I made it and now say a fond farewell to GG. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. There have been much better shows to come before you (SportsNight), and there will be many to follow.

Deadly Obsession

How true is it that you can have hundreds of channels on your TV and still have nothing to watch? I used to hate it when I lived with antennae TV and on Saturday mornings, 4 of my 5 channels would be showing golf. The kicker was when the 5th was showing a movie about golf. The stars certainly aligned for that one.

There are some shows I only watch when I'm completely bored and there's nothing else on. A few years ago, my roommate and I could get sucked into a Real World marathon and lose an entire day to that lame vacuum of a show. It's an addiction, really. Luckily I'm over that show for the most part.

My new channel of obsessiveness is the Discovery Channel. I can watch any show on that channel and get sucked in. The last few weeks have been "How It's Made." A great 30 minute show that will detail how they make toilet paper, or mattresses, or garage doors. It's fascinating. This past week, the show has been "Deadliest Catch." It's an hour long reality drama following fishing boats during king crab season. The fisherman can make about $20,000 for five day's work. They also can die when a stray rope knocks them overboard into freezing water. Just last week they showed a Coast Guard rescue of a crew of an overturned ship. They pulled one from the water alive, 2 who didn't make it, and a 4th who was never found. The show covers pretty much everything I hate: Reality shows, cold, seafood, boats, open waters. Yet, I love the show. For a preview of what the show entails, you can check out the clip below.

Peyton Night Live

So, everyone in Indiana knows that Peyton Manning hosted SNL last night. For the most part, I think he did well with what he was given. SNL had been picking up in the past few weeks, but I thought most of the sketches last night left a lot to be desired. Peyton wasn't as stunted as other sports stars have been, and he seemed to have a nice flow. But I still wasn't impressed. My top 3 moments from last night were as follows (I'll insert the videos as I find them.)

3. The Idol spoof of Sanjaya and crying girl.

2. Seth Meyers had a line during Weekend Update that had me rolling. It went like this (paraphrased, of course): "A cat in New Jersey recently received the first ever hip replacement in a cat. The procedure only cost a couple thousand more than the standard practice: Total cat replacement."

1. The United Way spoof with Peyton.


All in all, these seemed to be mostly the only funny parts of the whole night. Did anyone else think that the opening monologue piece where they talked about the mom being a disappointment for not playing in the NFL might have been written for Peyton's older brother? Though, that would have been too low a blow since the brother probably would have been there if not for the congenital health problem. I just found it slightly odd that they didn't mention Cooper in the monologue, when he was there at the end presenting Peyton with the birthday cake.

Just what I need, another TV obsession.

Ok, I'll get to Heroes in a moment. But first, I was growing extremely sick and tired of those commercials for the Black Donnellys. Every time the TV was on NBC this week, I had to see another preview. A mob show. I get it. Enough.

Lucky for me, when Heroes ended tonight, I couldn't find anything better on TV, and left the channel on. Seriously. The Black Donnellys? Fan-friggin-tastic. So good. I don't know if the show can live up to the pilot, but I certainly hope so. If you didn't catch it tonight, they're re-airing the pilot on Thursday at 10. It's definitely worth it. I really thought I was going to hate it, so don't let those thoughts dissuade you.

Now, Heroes is one spectacular piece of television itself. Unlike Lost, when Heroes says they will answer some questions, they do. They've already progressed the storyline further in half a season that Lost has been able to do in 3 seasons. At the beginning of the season of Heroes, I didn't think I would like it, mainly because comic book shows are not my thing. I don't like X-Men or Superman, or Spiderman. But Heroes I like. Do yourself a favor and catch it either in reruns or wait until the DVDs. It may be one of those shows that plays well on DVD when you can watch multiple episodes.