Uninspired

I keep meaning to update this blog, I have just been left with nothing to say. In short, this television season has overall left me uninspired. Last season there was a flurry of new and amazing shows; The Good Wife, Glee, Modern Family and Community to name a few. This season? I like Raising Hope, but I wouldn't be completely heartbroken if it were cancelled. I did thoroughly enjoy Boardwalk Empire and am eagerly awaiting its return. Otherwise? Ehh.

Glee hit a major sophomore slump. It's doing a fantastic job of touching upon oft ignored topics (homophobia and sex education among them), but it has become so self-aware that it seems like Ryan Murphy and the writers aren't putting the same amount of care into storytelling. They know that no matter what songs they include, no matter how relevant to the plot, will jump to the top of the charts, and the witty, sarcastic and at times touching dialogue has overall fell really flat. And enough with the stunt themes. Rocky Horror? Yeah, that added a lot (please note the sarcasm font). I know that this show can be good, it's just seeming like more of a chore to watch it weekly.

My DVR is much emptier than last year, when I was making painful cuts and sacrifices. Monday is all but completely open, save for How I Met Your Mother (which is currently on an upswing, but that's not saying much) and Castle (which is also more like background TV for me right now, unfortunately). House didn't make the cut. Neither did Lie to Me, which became tediously formulaic.

Another sacrifice which was a bit more painful to make was Private Practice. Even with the heartbreaking Season Finale (seriously, Shonda Rhimes knows how to kill off characters), I just couldn't bring myself to care enough- especially on Thursdays, where my DVR is already pulling double duty. Even with the buzz that some of the plotlines have gotten so far, it's not enough to make me pull up past episodes on Hulu. Still, it's not all bad. The Good Wife just keeps getting better, and Julianna Margulies and Archie Panjabi deserve every single award they receive for their roles. I don't know of a better show for actresses on network TV right now. Fringe is still soaring creatively, despite it's criminally small ratings. On a completely different note, Parks and Recreation just gets better and better. Community is bold, irreverant and completely fantastic. Even though The Office isn't as laugh out loud funny as it has been, it's a show with a lot of heart, and has even made me cry this season (once more than Grey's Anatomy has). Speaking of Grey's, this season has been leaps and bounds better than last year, and they've really revived the spirit of the show. Even though the musical episode wasn't the best episode ever (and I liked it the first time I saw it, when it was on Scrubs), it was a bold creative move that worked as a one-off.

In short, there's still plenty to occupy my time. But there were a lot of missed opportunities this season (I'm looking at you, Off the Map). Some of the pilots seem to be promising, but we'll see what gets picked up. In the meantime, I have some long overdue cable viewing (Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad...).

Community Season 2 Premiere: Too Smart for It's Own Good?

Community had it's second season premiere tonight, and has already proven that it will not fall into a sophomore slump in terms of quality. Showing that self-referential comedy can be done correctly (may want to pay attention Glee, you just came off as smug), it fell right back to it's trademarked ability to satire pop-culture while making it relevant and fresh.

It says something about both the writers and cast where Betty White and Chevy Chase had some of the least funny moments of the premiere. Danny Pudi's Abed is one of the greatest characters on television today.

Second season started out great, and easily gets an A, but I fear that it's a bit too quick and referential for its own good. It was definitely strong enough to make the cut following NBC's The Jay Leno Show disaster last season, but it may not be able to keep its audience for a third season pick up.

Raising Hope Review

Fox's Raising Hope premiered Tuesday, September 21st. Despite a slow and at times awkward exposition (was I supposed to laugh at a character being electrocuted?), it found its footing.

It's a bit "so offensive you laugh first and then blush second" mixed in with a bit of hick/southern/down-home/trailer-trash humor last seen on creator Greg Garcia's My Name is Earl and you have a show that can easily get a second season pick up as long as it doesn't alienate it's audience. It's going to be a fine line, and Garcia needs to be careful not to spend too long in proving how ignorant lead character Jimmy is about raising a baby. That will get old, quick.

From what I've seen so far, this seems to be one of the more promising comedy offerings this season. Not sure how promising that is! After the premiere I'd give it a B. Episode 2 and 3 will better tell whether this show will get a coveted spot on my stretched-thin DVR, or whether I won't even bother to Hulu the season if I'm home sick.

Emmy Response

So, I love award shows. Emmy's, Tony's, Oscar's and of course, The Drunken Globes (which are probably my favorite). Since the Primetime Emmy nom's were announced today, I figured now's as good a time as any to start my TV/Film/Pop Culture Blog.

Overall: I'm very happy with the love for Modern Family, Glee, and The Good Wife. Speaking of the latter, it probably features some of the strongest female characters on Television, and I'm thrilled that Julianna Margulis, Christine Baranski and Archie Punjabi all received the recognition they deserve.

For me the biggest snub is Fringe. John Noble has given multiple beautiful, heartbreaking performances in the show's second season, and there were many times that while watching I called out for him to get an Emmy nom. I don't know any other television actor who can convey as much when his character isn't speaking than Noble can.

So here's the list of nominees (from Emmys.org) and my predictions for each.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory, CBS

Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO

Matthew Morrison, Glee, Fox

Tony Shaloub, Monk, USA

Steve Carell, The Office, NBC

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, NBC

While Jim Parsons makes Big Bang Theory what it is, Alec will probably once again take this one home.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad, AMC

Michael C. Hall, Dexter, Showtime

Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights, DirecTV

Hugh Laurie, House, FOX

Matthew Fox, Lost, ABC

Jon Hamm, Mad Men, HBO

This is one of the hardest for me to pick. Emmy loves Bryan Cranston, and Hugh Laurie and Michael C. Hall each had outstanding performances this season. I think Michael C. Hall may add the Emmy to his Golden Globe for his work on Season 4 as America's Favorite Serial Killer.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Lea Michele, Glee, FOX

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine, CBS

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie, Showtime

Amy Poehler, Parks And Recreation, NBC

Tina Fey, 30 Rock, NBC

Toni Collette, United States of Tara, Showtime

Either Fey or Collette will take this one, I'm leaning towards Toni Collette receiving yet another award for this/these role/roles.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer, TNT

Glen Glose, Damages, FX

Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights, DirecTV

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife, CBS

Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC

January Jones, Mad Men, AMC

Julianna Margulies is the best actress on television right now. I say that with no reservations. Her performance as Alicia Florrick is so nuanced, so wonderful, she deserves the award to join her Golden Globe for this show's first season.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family, ABC
Chris Colfer, Glee, Fox
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother, CBS
Jesse Tyler Fergusen, Modern Family, ABC
Ty Burrell, Modern Family, ABC
Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men, CBS

Ugh. It will probably go to Jon Cryer again. Ugh. Although Eric Stonestreet has the funniest character, He, Fergusen and Burrell will probably split votes.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad, AMC
Martin Short, Damages, FX
Terry O'Quinn, Lost, ABC
Michael Emerson, Lost, ABC
John Slattery, Mad Men, AMC
Andre Braugher, Men Of A Certain Age, TNT

I'm honestly a bit lost on this one, and I don't watch any of these shows, but I'll go with either Slattery or O'Quinn. My second biggest snub overall is this category; where are the men of The Good Wife?

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy
Jane Lynch, Glee, Fox
Julie Bowen, Modern Family, ABC
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family, ABC
Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live, NBC
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock, NBC
Holland Taylor, Two And A Half Men, CBS

Jane Lynch. No need to get into this one. I can't even pick who I think could upset her.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Sharon Gless, Burn Notice, USA
Rose Burn, Damages, FX
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife, CBS
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife, CBS
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men, AMC
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men, AMC

A bit of a shock that neither Sandra Oh or Chandra Wilson received nods for Grey's Anatomy, but to be honest, this season kinda sucked, with the exception of the unbelievably amazing and heartbreaking season finale. My vote would go to Christine Baranski, but I wouldn't be surprised if Hendricks or Moss brings Emmy home.

Guest Acting Predictions (yup, too much work to type these all out):
John Lithgow is a total lock for his role in Dexter.
The guest actor in a comedy will likely go to Jon Hamm or Will Arnett for 30 Rock, although it's nice to see Mike O'Malley get some love.
If Betty White doesn't win for SNL, I'll really be shocked. The internet gave her the hosting gig, and she didn't disappoint.
I'm really unsure of guest actress in a drama, but I'll go with Elizabeth Mitchell from Lost.

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Glee
Modern Family
30 Rock
The Office
Nurse Jackie
Curb Your Enthusiasm

This one will probably go to 30 Rock, but Glee could be an upset.

Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
Lost
True Blood

Mad Men could easily win for the third straight year, although I wouldn't be surprised with a Dexter upset. The Good Wife is the strongest broadcast offering in years, but it may not have the momentum that Men does.

That's all she wrote... for now.