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Alias, Desperate Housewives, Jack & Bobby, Law & Order: SVU, Nip Tuck, TV Awards: Golden Globes
Monday 01.17.2005
MattM || 02:34 AM
Congratulations to the Golden Globe for giving a much deserved award to both Desperate Housewives and Nip/Tuck. Even more impressively was the Golden Globe for Teri Hatcher. Talk about something I never saw coming in a zillion years. This actress' career was dead and over with. She was stuck doing Radio Shack commericals with Howie Long. I never figured her much for an actress but she has absolutely shone in this series and deserves her award. Yet as per usual there is the smoking crack award. Naming Mariska Hargitay of SVU as best acrtress in drama over Joely Richardson, Jennifer Garner, Christine Lahti, and Edie Falco (that is the deserving order) is an absolute joke. First off she isn't that good of an actress to begin with. Secondly she is on a mediocre show. And finally she is least deserving of any of those nominees. How she got nominated is beyond me. Still congrats to the Golden Globe for getting so many things right.
Alias, Angel, Boomtown, Buffy, Smallville, TV Awards: Matt's Awards
Sunday 06.01.2003
MattM || 12:09 AM
So here we are at end of a wretched TV season. Which I so correctly predicted. This season I would say is the worst ever but next year shapes up to be even worse. Every new show save Boomtown that was worth a damn got cancelled. Even Boomtown I give slim odds of making it past mid season of its second year. Returning shows went down in flames such as Friends, 24, all the L&Os (all they had been sliding badly for years), Enterprise, and on and on. This season SUCKED. On the bright side it sure makes handing out the awards pretty easy when you only have one choice instead of the myrid number of choices I had last year. So here we go:
Best New Show: Lets see the nominees are Boomtown.....John Doe oops that got cancelled uh how about Haunted oops no thats gone too.......lets see now uh um Firefly? nope never mind....uh ok Fastlane right? hahahahahahaha what that got cancelled to? Truely I think the second best new show might be 8 Simple Rules thats how pathetic this competition is for the award. Boomtown clearly wins this in a Regan/Mondale fashion. Novel idea a show that makes you think has gripping character development and solid dialogue mixed into good to great cases. No wonder its going to fail. Nice to Graham Yost no longer be the bus guy and really come into his own. The actors on this show did an awesome job on this show. There are no honorable mentions for this category as there is no other good new show that survived but honorable mention would have gone to John Doe if only FOX hadn't cancelled that.
Best Season For a Returning Show: Now this is a slightly more interesting field. Although most of the year shows sucked three really stood out. Smallville, Alias, and Angel. The award has to go to Alias. Last years winner of the Best New Show makes it for Best Returning Show because from start to finish (despiste my gripes) it was an excellent outstanding show. I don't think there is a bad actor on this show despite the fact that half of them came from Felicity (wonder when Keri Russell will turn up as the invincible secert agent who gets beaten when Garner cuts her hair off). I really was nervous about the direction of the show but they handled everything perfectly and kepts us guessing and on the edge of our seats the whole way. The ending shocker was by far the biggest surprise and most unforeseen twist any show could have put on us. Honorable Mention goes to Smallville which was shaky at times but by the end of the season had pulled it all together and was simply outstanding. Ditto for Angel but I think Smallville was just a little bit better.
Favorite New Lead: Well I was ready to do a shocker here and give it to Dominic Purcell but so much for that idea. So now I have to go to a show that really has two deserving people on it but in the end due to the finish about the baby I give it to Donnie Wahlberg. Nice to see the Earthy member of NKOTB make it. His performance although at times outshone by his co-stars from start to finish delivered a gripping and interesting character. The whole thing about his marriage and the baby was played perfectly by him. It was realistic it was fascinating and it was right on the mark. Honorable mention of course goes to his co-star Neil McDonough who was just as fascinating all year long. It was a real contrast to see one blowing up his family and one almost losing it but finding a way back home.
Favorite Returning Lead: This was a pretty weak field but much like Boomtown there was only one real performance that stood out for me. Sarah Michelle Geller in her farwell performance on Buffy. Having to play a dual role of a good and evil character was remarkable enough but also to show a heroine finally grow, take and fully accept her role, and most of all despite setbacks come out guns blazing in a heroic ending/beginning. Although her work has always been outstanding and this award is as much a nod to the last 6 years as it is for this year I think based purely on this year she still would have won it. She is an outstanding young actor that could play any part she wanted and shine. If only she would stop doing Scooby Doo movies. Honorable Mention does go to Jennifer Garner who is clearly establishing herself as one of the best actors on TV.
Favorite New Show Supporting Role: Another for John Doe but I guess not since the show is gone. So lets see....um well there isn't anyone on new shows I can give this too because John Forsythe was the only one in contention here. So I am going to have to make a huge reach here. The winner is Emily Procter. Yes she was consistenly in the shadows never given a chance to really show what she could do on CSI:Miami but the finale showed just how good she is and what she can bring to that show. Honorable mentions go to no one.
Favorite Returning Show Supporting Role: This one was pretty easy for me. Victor Garber from start to finish of Alias this season is what makes that show really work. He does such a fantastic job of playing a very conflicted man who can't let anything pierce his shield. I really believe that despite Garner's talents the show would not work if it were not for him. She might be the heart and soul but he is the backbone and strength of Alias. Honorable Mentions go to Nathan Fillion for his creepy Caleb, Gina Torres for giving us Shiny Happy People, and although its a streach to call her supporting because she is somewhere between leading and support I think Marg Helgenberger was outstanding this year as well.
Biggest Surprise of The TV Season: Was just how amazingly right I was when I called this year as being a horrible year for TV. I did not want to be right. I would have much preferred to be wrong but instead I was dead on. This season we lose Buffy, Firefly, John Doe, The Agency, Birds of Prey, Girls Club, Haunted, Miracles, and Mister Sterling. On top of that Sorkin leaves West Wing. Friends, ER, Third Watch, and 24 suffer huge drop offs from last year. Other shows didn't bounce back and got worse L&O all three of them, Boston Public, and The Practice. Networks execs are stupid and thats a given but the quality of writing is dipping dramatically. The sad thing is I expect next year to be even worse. I just hope this time I am really really really wrong.
2002-2003 Season, Birds of Prey, Boomtown, Haunted, John Doe, TV Awards: Mid-Season Awards, 12/11/02
Sunday 12.08.2002
MattM || 12:13 AM
I won't be quite as extensive as my sister who I suspect is trying to pile on entries since I have pulled to almost 200 ahead of her. So in short I will only be covering new shows here. My apologies for the last minute edits and changes but since all shows before christmas should be considered I have had a few surprises come in.
Biggest Surprise of the Fall Season: John Doe. Clearly a horrible concept but pulled off brillently by the actors and writers. Totally shocked me although Haunted probably would have won this award but well UPN in its stupidity cancelled that.
Best New Show: Boomtown. Due to the myrid number of cancellation this was a very easy choice to make. This series might even be in the top three for best hours on TV but I never put anything there until after it has been through at least 1 1/2 seasons.
Best Job by an Actor in a New Series: Neal McDonough clearly wins this award after his show stopping performance in Boomtown's The David McNorris Show. Much like Michael Rosenbaum did last year in Smallville he shows a man fighting both his good and evil side in a constant battle. He doesn't want to be his dad but his ambition blinds him and suddenly he is. Still honorable mentions have to go to Matthew Fox, Donnie Walburg, Dominic Purcell, Ashley Scott, and Nathon Fillion.
Biggest Disappointment: Dinotopia. The mini-series really surprised me in how good it was. Then they announced this show and I had high hopes for the series but it was just plain unwatchable. A new cast of inferior actors and writing that belonged in campy syndicated shows like beastmaster and sheena of the jungle this clearly wins this award.
Worst New Show: MDs. Great cast and the most horriffic writing ever to be seen on TV. So bad it was actually funny and the DAMMN IT line in that horrible accent will live on forever.
Worst Cancellation: Again another easy one but still to note that this has to be the worst year I have ever seen for shows getting axed for no good reason but the winner is Haunted. This could have been a great staple show for UPN if they had only given it a chance to find an audience in a less demending of a time slot.
Stupidest Network: Fox who could easily have had 8 shows and been my second most watched network but by seasons end could have as few as 2 or 3 and be ranked with WB and UPN.
[alice ttlg adds] LOL! Yes my brother has a big ego! But I hold the keys and I can reduce his count to a mere dozen whenever I please! ::evil cackle:: (December 8, 2002 06:52 PM)
[MattM adds] Ah yes leave it to my incredibly mature older sister to pull that stunt. Don't matter though I have scoreboard as anyone can see so change the numbers all you like. SCOREBOARD and goodnight!! (December 9, 2002 12:14 AM)
TV Awards: The Emmy Awards
Monday 09.23.2002
MattM || 06:20 AM
The Emmy Awards are a joke for the most part, granted. If you need proof of this, look at Law and Order nomination for best drama series or the lack of WB and UPN shows even granted consideration. That being said, a tip of the hat to the Emmy people for getting four awards right last night. Michael Chiklis was a genuine surprise to get the award but extremely well deserved, in addition, Jennifer Aniston, Allison Janney, and Friends all deserved their awards for having outstanding years. I think that if the Emmys got smart, they would stop letting 500 year old "experts" do the nominations. How about a baseball style nomination process? Give part of the vote to the fans, part of the vote to the critics and part of the vote to the "experts". I think that would open things up.
It is nice to see FOX finally getting some acknowledgment as the fourth major network and gives some hope that WB and UPN can get up there as well. Also, it strikes me as a bit unfair that HBO and Showtime get Emmy nods when they can do things that regular broadcast can not. They should have their own catagories or the broadcasts should be allowed to do more. Of course HBO and Showtime can get better actors and shows. They can pay more and they can give more artistic freedom. My final note on this broadcast, it is very nice to see Peter Krause get a nomination on Six Feet Under. Although I do not watch that show, I do know what a high quality actor he is and the great job he did on the all too short lived show, Sports Night which will forever in my book go down as the best show ever cancelled.
[alice ttlg adds] Pretty much mirrors my thoughts, I was really glad to see Jennifer Aniston win, she did an excellent job last year and Alison Janney has been better and better each year on West Wing. Hopefully Michael Chiklis' win will open the way for more shows on cable and on WB and UPN to get more notice, more nominations and more awards. Granted there isn't always much in the way of quality shows on WB and UPN but the good shows they do have (Buffy, Angel, Smallville) deserve to get recognized for their efforts. (September 23, 2002 07:05 PM)
24, Buffy, Dark Angel, Friends, Philly, Smallville, TV Awards, The Shield, Third Watch: Matt's Awards
Friday 06.07.2002
MattM || 01:05 AM
So here we are at the conclusion of a terrific television season with many, many highlights, something I don't have alot of hope for this coming season. So after watching all the shows (sorry, Witchblade, you're a summer series, see you next year), here are my own little Emmy awards. Personally, I think the Emmy judges wouldn't know good TV if it came up and bit them on the ass so, without further ado, here's my own categories and thoughts on this season.
Best New Show: This year this was hugely tough because of an influx of terrific new shows. Next year, I think, it will be tough to find one good one. This year, it came down to three shows: Alias, Smallville, and The Shield. I wrestled with this question in my mind for the last couple weeks, I feel so torn because I love each of those shows. However, in the end I give the award to The Shield, for the intrigue and characters and realism. This was a top notch show that reminds me of NYPD Blue in its first season. I think this show will grow into an elite show eventually. Honorable mention, though, I give to Alias for keeping us on the edge of our seats and guessing the whole way.
Best Season for a Returning Show: Another super tough decision that came down to two shows, Third Watch and Friends. In end, though I give it to Friends even if the last 5 minutes of the season finale killed me. Shows are not supposed to last 8 seasons and be this good yet Friends is a show that, with an unworkable formula, continues to defy the odds and norms. No show like this has ever worked before or since. Very few shows last 8 seasons without jumping the shark. Yet this was a steller season handling a pregancy that destroys all other shows and yet they made me laugh as hard as I did in the first few seasons. Honerable mention here goes to the most improved show Third Watch. The September 11th attack was horrible but may have actually given this show a new life. Always searching for its place, it finally did without overhyping or overdoing the attack. While Law and Order choose to ignore it, Third Watch played it just perfect and found itself.
Favorite New Lead: This one was pretty easy from start to finish. Jennifer Garner for her work as Sydney Bristow was fascinating to watch and terrific acting throughout a breakthrough season. Honorable Mention goes to Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer although the show sometimes lagged and his "longest day of my life" thing was overdone, his acting throughout was a consistently high level, his best work since the Lost Boys.
Favorite Returning Lead: If someone had told me I would have given this nod to Jennifer Aniston, I would have laughed. Yet despite her being my least favorite actor on the series her performance this year was truly nop notch. Through out Friends' history, it's always been a balance but this year she really made the show go. Never straying to far into baby stupidity, she played her character perfect and made me laugh more at her lines then anyone else's. "Horny bitch" and "Sluts R Us" are lines that will live forever in my head. Honorable mention here goes to Sarah Michelle Gellar for playing a lost and reluctantly brought back Buffy. Although the Spuffy love stuff made me recoil, the job she did was perfect and realistic of someone who just didn't want to be there.
Favorite New Supporting Role: This one was easy. No doubt at all that Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor wins here. At times, he stole the show. Still the season finale clinched this for him. Seeing the part of the good Lex die and the evil Lex grow and all done with no lines whatsoever was one of the best acting jobs of the season. He wins this one in a landslide. Honorable mention here goes to Sarah Lively as Nina Meyers who we all thought was so good and fooled us for the entire year.
Favorite Returning Supporting Role: This goes to one of my favorite characters on all of TV. Allison Janney gave yet another reason why I watch West Wing. Forget the men on this show, the women are fascinating to watch all by themselves. The press conferences and her job and then caring about a reporter who had ripped the Bartlett administration was absolutely awesome to watch. Honorable mention here goes to another Allison, this time Allison Hannigan on Buffy for the struggles of Willow and her dealing with addiction and loss and the dark side.
Lastly, before I wrap this up, I want to say farewell to series that should not have been cancelled. Fox once again shows just how truly stupid they are by canceling two great series in Titus and Dark Angel. Also, Philly should have been given more time although its last few shows were just average. Overall, a great season for TV but dark days are ahead.
[alicettlg adds] Wow, my brother can be amazingly detailed! :) Couple of thoughts to add, I'd have to give the award for best new show to Alias, The Shield just didn't do it for me like Alias, it had a good start tho, got some promising stuff and I look forward to the second season. Best returning show, I'd have to say Friends, too, Third Watch was very good and ER was right up there too but Friends did a great job all season. (and Matt, Seinfeld! Seinfeld! That's the other show like Friends that lasted a long time and was really about nothing, like Friends is about nothing.) I'd give honorable mention to favorite new supporting role to Michael Vartan for his role on Alias, with Nina a close third. But Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor was absolutely brilliant and that season finale! I'm more on pins and needles about what happens with Lex and his dad than I am about Clark saving Lana! And West Wing women being fascinating, you betcha! One of the few shows to write both male *and* female roles intelligently *and* to show women working alongside men, doing the same good job and wow, look at that, they're NOT all sleeping with each other! Ain't that amazing?!! :) (September 6, 2002 05:17 PM)
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