Today, the Television Academy announced their top ten finalists in Comedy and Drama Series. This list will be whittled down to five this weekend, when voters go to screenings of submitted episodes. The nominees are announced on July 17th by my imaginary BFF Neil Patrick Harris and Minnie Driver.
And of course, being me, I have some issues with some of the inclusions and exclusions in these top tens. How I WISH I could vote! Let's take a look at the lists:
Top Ten Best Comedy Series:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
The Office
Pushing Daisies
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty
Weeds
1) Will someone PLEASE explain the appeal of Two and a Half Men to me??????? Seriously, I don't think I know anyone who watches it, yet it is the number one sitcom on TV. I do not get it, and I really wish someone would explain to me why it's funny, cause the snippets I have seen do nothing for me.
2) Hand in Hand with that...WHY do they not show any love for my beloved How I Met Your Mother?!?!?! Are they not submitting the right episodes? I think it (along with the Office) is among one of the best comedy ensembles on television, and has definitely filled the void that Friends left when it went off the air. It certainly deserves to make at least the Top Ten comedy series on the air. And you will hear me screaming in agony on July 17 if NPH doesn't get his supporting actor nod.
3) A HUGE snub definitely goes to Desperate Housewives, which in my opinion had a season equal to its much ballyhooed first season. I was watching with fervor again, and the show and Actresses had their mojo back. What happened?
4) Two much buzzed about new sitcoms failed to make the cut as well: The Big Bang Theory (which I do not watch, but hear is great) and the delightful Samantha Who. I would imagine both shows submitted their pilot episodes, as many new series do. Samantha Who should at least pick up a leading actress nom for Christina Applegate, who is just incandescent as Sam.
5) Um, it is QUITE huge that an animated series made the top ten.
My final five predictions: 30 Rock, The Office, Entourage, Pushing Daisies, and (UGH!! WHY?!) Two and a Half Men. Weeds could be a spoiler, but never has a non-HBO cable show gotten a series nom. Will that change this year?
Top Ten Best Drama Series:
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Grey's Anatomy
House
Lost
Mad Men
The Tudors
The Wire
1) Remember what I just said about non-HBO cable series? Yeah, that is probably going to change this year, with 4 of the 10 nominees being non-HBO cable shows. Golden Globe winning Mad Men has a great shot, as well as the buzzy Dexter, which got a nice fan boost by being aired on CBS during the writer's strike.
2) The oft-nommed too much Sopranos is finally gone, which most likely leaves a slot open for a new show to come in. I think 4 of the slots are locked pretty solidly. More on that in a moment.
3) WHERE IS BROTHERS AND SISTERS?!?!?!
4) Very nice to see ratings challenged Friday Night Lights make the cut. It really is a wonderful show, especially the first season. The second season was hampered a bit by some silly subplots that were a ploy to get ratings (they didn't work). But the acting on the show, especially by leads Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Coach and Mrs. Taylor, is probably what got this show through. Yay for them.
5) Lost better effing make the final 5, which it hasn't done since WINNING in its first season. Season 4 was spectacular, and they submitted the instant classic episode "The Constant", so I have to figure it's chances are pretty solid.
6) Grey's Anatomy submitted their two hour season finale, which was classic Grey's in top form. It should also pick up a handful of acting nominations, especially in the supporting categories.
My Predicted Final Five: I am pretty certain that Lost, House, and Grey's Anatomy are locks. Mad Men looks good after it's Globe win, and I expect some love to finally be shown to Dexter.
Tom O'Neill, who writes for the LA Times, usually finds out the acting top tens and posts them. If he does, I will be blogging about those. I have some faves I am dying to see make the cut. We shall see...
"I Saw the TV Glow" leads the 16th annual Dorian Award nominations
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by Nathaniel R
I SAW THE TV GLOW © A24
Oopsie. While celebrating Paul Newman's centennial we forgot to mention
another round of nominations. This time i...
3 hours ago
3 comments:
a.) Two and A Half Men continues to do well because they have a laugh-track, thusly cuing the unthinking populas to laugh along and to be convinced what they are seeing is funny. They are not smart enough for "The Office". Period.
b.) Why is Ugly Betty on this list at all? Cute show? Yes. Fun to watch? Sometimes. Predictable? Definately. Hilariously funny? No.
c.) Grey's Anatomy sucks big fat donkey balls and should not be on the best drama list - AT ALL! I'm over it (although Kim you will swear up and down I would have cried over these past few episodes - whatever). I'm over the cast, I'm over Kathrine H. and her diva act, I'm over dark-and-twisty, I'm over lesbian elevator kissing, I'm over George NEVER HAVING AN EFFING CLUE, I'm over the too-sweet-for-sugar-sister, I'm over people being shocked at blood in a freaking hospital and not knowing what to do!, I'm over the hype, I'm over self-created drama, I'm over the victim mentality ... have I mentioned I'm over it?
I would write a clever ending here but seriously thinking about Grey's has made me pissy and now I have to go track down a large cookie!
a) At least Two and a Half Men hasn't won yet. The Office and 30 Rock have. That is why I have SOME faith.
b) Ugly Betty gets in on the merit of its cast, who are so committed to the silly material they make it work.
c) You can have your opinion on Grey's and I can have mine. I still think the season finale was on par with anything that made me love Grey's in the first place.
I wasn't interested in Brad Pitt circa T&L or circa now either, so I tend to have the opinion of the minority. I can live with that.
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