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July 11, 2006

HOT TOPICS!!!

Dish with the LC

We’re starting something a little different here at the LC today that we'll do every so often – our own version of dish on the interesting, maybe controversial, sometimes maddening things going on in the world today. For example, the EMMY NOMINATIONS (What? did you think we were going to discuss debt forgiveness in third world countries? Um, maybe next week . . . )

Anyway, we had quite the heated chat about the Emmy nods and we’d love, love, LOVE to have your input – so please chime in!!

HOT TOPICS: THE EMMY NOMINATIONS

Alesia (A): Betcha Ellen Pompeo is seriously pissed. Two years in a row, Sandra Oh gets the nom and she doesn't. It's not Yang's Anatomy. :) I have to agree with the noms, though - Sandra Oh is incredible in that role.

Lani (L): Oh. My. God.

First of all, y’all know I’m a big TV geek, so I take these things rather... well... personally. Basically, all that to say, expect a little spittle.

Just a little.

So. This year. FINALLY, they were changing the way the Academy votes (through panels rather than ballots) so that previously overlooked worthies could finally get the recognition they deserve. Unfortunately, it turned out that previously overlooked people who should have stayed overlooked are now suddenly... looked. I mean, Kevin James of King of Queens is getting a nomination??? Is this the year of the Bizarro Emmy? This is serious WTF territory. Not to mention that LOST - which got a gazillion noms last year and won most of them, deservedly so – wasn’t even on the best drama roster? How, how, how, how is that possible? It’s quite possibly the best-written show on television and how, how, how, how?

Let’s not even talk about . . .

Battlestar Gallactica, right up there with LOST in the quality of writing, and... crickets. I mean, the whole reason why they futzed with the system is because of shows like Battlestar Gallactica which the critics love – deservedly so – and which never get the time of day. Did anyone even see James Callis as Gaius Baltar? Did they accidentally use that DVD as a coaster for the massive quantities of cocktails they must have been swilling during the vote? Because that is the only explanation for how, how, how, how Battlestar and Callis got overlooked.

And while TWO AND A HALF MEN – Two and a Half Men, for chrissakes – gets nominations, where the hell is Veronica Mars? Gilmore girls had a crap season, so I can understand the snub this year (although in previous seasons, it should have gotten noticed) but Lauren Graham deserved a nod over Stockard freaking Channing. Not that I don’t love me my Stockard, but come on.

Happily, there were a few things the panels didn’t totally screw the pooch on. Jean Smart was spanking Emmy’s ass all year on 24; she better win. And all the 24 nominations are totally deserved. Also, The Office was nominated for Best Comedy – which admittedly means less now that shows like Two and a Half Men are in the running – and Steve Carell got a nod for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, so a couple of things went right.

But, gah. Two and a Half Men. Apparently, the new Emmy panels were smoking two and a half crack pipes.

Eileen (E): Lani, I hear your pain.

Where indeed is Veronica Mars? Can no one appreciate the fine line the writers walk to advance the overall arc of the season's mystery each week while giving Veronica a second smaller and often seemingly unrelated mystery to solve each week? I don't even want to talk about Gilmore Girls. Even in a bad GG season, it's better written and better acted than almost anything else out there.

And what about Everybody Hates Chris and My Name is Earl? Two sitcoms where I can't always predict exactly what's going to happen next. That's fabulous. That deserves recognition. I was happy that Jaime Pressly got the supporting actress nod for My Name is Earl. I suppose I should be content with that and the outstanding writing nomination, but there should have been more. Plus, NO ONE FROM WILL AND GRACE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ANYTHING. Except maybe the guest actress thing for Blythe Danner, because I've always thought that Blythe Danner was just about the coolest thing ever. Anyway, I can't stand it if Will and Grace is even on in the house. Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes aren't funny. They're irritating. There's a difference, people!

Whitney (W): I just put THE OFFICE in our Netflix Queue . . . I couldn't bring myself to watch it, because the BBC version was simply one of the best television series ever, and nothing that ripped it off could make me happy. But, I've now heard so many good things about the American version of the show, I've decided to give it a try.

And I wouldn't mind if it was Yang's Anatomy . . . Sandra Oh is, by far, the best part of the show. Well, except for Miranda. She's pretty damn good, too. And Preston Burke, gotta love him. And, find, I'll just admit it . . . I'm a McDreamy girl. I think it was his trailer that did it for me. That's one sweet ass trailer. I'm trying to talk George into getting one, and parking it in the driveway, for me to use as an office. Practical? No. But cool as hell.

A: Sorry, but McDreamy is a slut. Never telling her he was married? Screwing Meredith while his wife, with whom he's supposed to be reconciling, is downstairs??? I'm sorry. You are honest with the woman to whom you're married. You end the marriage BEFORE you screw around. I'm a little picky about stuff like that. I can't stand him. Why would she want him when she could have Chris O'Donnell??

E: Sandra Oh is always incredible. I love her. She had a great recurring role on Judging Amy a few years ago, too. She's just brilliant. Oh, and I forgot about Kathy Griffin in My Life on the D List.. I love the mix of her brassiness and her vulnerability.

A: Okay, I have to add that I'm not surprised that neither Desperate Housewives nor any of its cast were nominated - this season was such a disappointment after last season. Did you guys even bother to watch? I admit to dropping out about halfway through and only sporadically catching shows. I ADORE Felicity Huffman, but they gave her a crap role this year.

Beth (B): Well, all I have to say is that Jennifer Garner (Alias) was robbed--AGAIN. Listen, I will grant you that Alias sucked this season--J.J. Abrams jumped ship for Lost, then Mission Impossible: III, and the writing didn't even make sense and the series finale was a DISGRACE--but should the actors be punished for that? No, no they should not. Jennifer Garner did an amazing job with what they gave her, and she is due, people! They OWE her for kicking ass and taking names for the past 5 years. Hmph.

Love Sandra Oh, though, and Chandra Wilson from Grey's.

A: heh. I feel the same way. every time i discover a truly great show (Firefly, anyone?), it either gets axed or goes downhill in a spectacular manner. I have to admit I am also kind of shocked/freaked/envious that you all seem to have way much more time than I do. sheesh. i have never seen a single episode of Lost, Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, or several others you mentioned.

I need to quit this writing gig and watch tv more. less stressful, too!!!

E: Honestly, though, very few series can hold my attention for more than a season or two. I used to soldier on out of loyalty. Now I jump ship when they jump shark. The ones that break my heart are the ones that get cancelled before they really get started. Wonderfalls, anyone? Firefly?

L: Yes – WHERE has the Jennifer Garner love been? I mean, Alias post-season three has sucked like a souped-up Hoover, but Jennifer has always been amazing. She can pull out accents and personas like crazy, and I can’t imagine acting with that kind of bad (post-season 3) writing can be easy.

Now, Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh absolutely deserve the nominations. I adore Chandra; Miranda Bailey is my hero. Whitney – The Office is amazing. The first six episodes – basically, the entire first season – it’s kind of a pale imitation of the British one, but in season two, it really comes into it’s own, and I prefer it to the original. I’m absolutely insane about it and can’t wait for the new season.

A: Lani, I am not surprised you like Bailey. Heh. And on The Office – can you believe that kiss??? She’s nuts if she marries that clod.

W: I watched the whole second season of DH, but I agree, it was truly dreadful. I was mostly watching it out of habit.

I'm also a LOST fan, but I thought this season didn't even come close to last season's greatness.

L: Yes, and HOW did Alfre Woodard get a nomination? Now, I love her and I think she’s fabulous, but they gave her NOTHING this season. Every third episode she gave her son in the basement some ice cream. That was it. And she gets a nomination for THAT?

Oh, yes. EHC and MNIE absolutely should have gotten nominations! And Tichina Arnold – the mother on Everybody Hates Chris – is phenomenal.

B: I LOVE "My Life On the D-List". TiVo it faithfully. Maybe it is funnier if you've lived in Hollywood?

L: I haven’t seen it. Kathy Griffin is a bit cloying to me. If she has a vulnerable side, it sounds interesting. Might give it a try.

E: I recommend only teensy tiny doses. Even a full show can get wearisome, but some of the little bits are hysterical.

Michelle (M): [Chiming in late from a bit of a time zone delay) Ah, the Emmys.

In Europe we don't get all the great American series until usually at least a season after they have been aired in America (which makes sense, but I can still sulk about it).

So, I have a suggestion for the bigwigs at the European Union (EU - kind of like the Federal Government of Europe) who spend their time pondering such weighty issues as the percentage of meat a sausage should contain in order for it to be called a sausage (rather than a cylindrical shaped meat-based food item), or how curvy the angle on a banana should be (I am not kidding), and this is it. If the great minds of the EU were to negotiate with the American
networks so that we could get the current season over here at the same time, millions of Europeans would be
very happy, indeed (this one would be, at any rate). Plus the EU's popularity rating would shoot through
the sky.

But I still think that Hugh Laurie should win every category, even though he hasn't been nominated, which
I just don't understand. House is hot! (Even though I haven't seen the second season yet). Except for best supporting actress in a drama: I would choose Sandra Oh, because she's fabulous! (I confess - have actually
seen the first part of season one of Grey's Anatomy, thanks to Teenager #1, who brought her DVD over here with her.)

A: Ah. House!! Insert dreamy sigh here. hee.

So what do YOU think, Chicklets? What are your favorite shows that you think got robbed? Which noms were you thrilled to see?

Posted by Alesia at 7:27 AM | Comments (14)

Comments

Posted by: Brian at July 11, 2006 9:00 AM

Posted by: Sheri at July 11, 2006 9:23 AM

Posted by: Alesia Holliday at July 11, 2006 10:35 AM

Posted by: Heather Cook at July 11, 2006 11:08 AM

Posted by: Heather Cook at July 11, 2006 11:08 AM

Posted by: Eileen at July 11, 2006 11:40 AM

Posted by: Whitney at July 11, 2006 12:14 PM

Posted by: Michelle C at July 11, 2006 12:15 PM

Posted by: Beth at July 11, 2006 12:48 PM

Posted by: Eileen at July 11, 2006 2:24 PM

Posted by: brittney at July 11, 2006 3:23 PM

Posted by: Sheri at July 11, 2006 9:55 PM

Posted by: Dia at July 11, 2006 9:59 PM

Posted by: Lani at July 12, 2006 6:49 AM