And the winner is...

SOUND MIXING

Avatar - Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson

The Hurt Locker - Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett

Inglourious Basterds - Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano

Star Trek - Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Why do all the young presenters sound so miserable? Also, Paul N.J. Ottosson wins two in a row? Not bad.

And the winner is...

SOUND EDITING

Avatar - Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

The Hurt Locker - Paul N.J. Ottosson

Inglourious Basterds - Wylie Stateman

Star Trek - Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin

Up - Michael Silvers and Tom Myers


Oooh... I think I called this one. I did call this one!

Salute to Horror

Why are Kristen and Taylor speaking in a monotone? Is this how they are when they act?

And, while I'm not a fan of the horror genre, I do understand that it has its place in movie history. That said, so do the winners of the Governor's Awards. So, we're getting a horror retrospective (intro'd by a pointless bit by Alec and Steve) instead of devoting the five minutes to entertainment legends? I call foul!

Precious clips

This movie was brutal. While I still think Avatar will win and want The Hurt Locker to win, I wouldn't be upset if Precious won. It was not enjoyable to view this movie, but I'm glad I did. The acting was great. The writing was fabulous. It felt (unfortunately) real.

And the winner is...

COSTUME DESIGN

Bright Star - Janet Patterson

Coco before Chanel - Catherine Leterrier

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Monique Prudhomme

Nine - Colleen Atwood

The Young Victoria - Sandy Powell

Did not see any of these movies, but you never bet against the Victorians when it comes to costume. Wow, she started a bit harsh (having won 2 already), but she pulled it out by dedicating it to the costume designers who work in modern looking films. Though she's still keeping it.

And the winner is...

ART DIRECTION

Avatar - art direction Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; set decoration Kim Sinclair

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - art direction Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; set decoration Caroline Smith

Nine - art direction John Myhre; set decoration Gordon Sim

Sherlock Holmes - art direction Sarah Greenwood; set decoration Katie Spencer

The Young Victoria - art direction Patrice Vermette; set decoration Maggie Gray

And the first of the design/tech awards goes to Avatar. I'm not surprised. Whoah... I see a tv movie made of Robert Stromberg's life.

An Education

While I liked this film, I would be surprised if it won. It was an enjoyable, but soft film (even when the protagonist was at her nadir). And the Best Picture winners generally stand for something more.

And the winner is...

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Penélope Cruz in Nine

Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart

Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Good for Mo'Nique. She had a hell of a performance.

Shout out to Hattie McDaniel. nice. Not sure that I understand the point about performance over politics. Clearly, I'm missing something.

Booo... Hisss...

Horrified that the Academy Awards shunted the Governor's Awards to a non-televised event.

2009 Governors Awards

On November 14, four extraordinary individuals were honored at the Academy’s inaugural Governors Awards event. Producer-executive John Calley received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, and Honorary Awards went to actress Lauren Bacall, producer-director Roger Corman and cinematographer Gordon Willis.

I hope that the Thalberg Award winner, John Calley, gets his own televised piece.

And the winner is...

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

District 9 - written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

An Education - screenplay by Nick Hornby

In the Loop - screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire - screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher

Up in the Air - screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner


Oooh, I think I called that one. Also, is he the first African American to win a writing Oscar?

A Serious Man

I'm still not sure I get this movie. Though, I think it's because I didn't realize it was a Coen Brothers movie when I saw it. And, no I don't know how that happened. It was quite an enjoyable and funny film though. Though, if I weren't in a theater-ful of New York Jews (or at least over 50 percent Jewish), I don't know that it would have garnered half the laughs it did in Murray Hill. While I really liked it (heck, it had Wolowitz from Big Bang Theory), I don't think it's Best Picture material.

And the winner is...

MAKEUP

Il Divo - Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano

Star Trek - Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow

The Young Victoria - Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Okay, Ben Stiller, you realize that every second you're babbling, some winner doesn't get to thank his agent, right?


Also, I was hoping this would win cause... aliens!

And the Winner is...

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

The Door - Juanita Wilson and James Flynn

Instead of Abracadabra - Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström

Kavi - Gregg Helvey

Miracle Fish - Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey

The New Tenants - Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Okay, I know nothing about this one either. And the old guy didn't get to speak? People, you need to time out your thank yous to 15 seconds, that way if there are more than one of you, everyone gets a chance to speak.

And the Winner is...

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)

China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province - Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill

The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner - Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher

The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant - Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

Music by Prudence - Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett

Rabbit à la Berlin - Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

I'll admit it, I know nothing about this category. Though all of the nominees looked good. And, I wish they named the two folks talking, cause that was hard core the way the woman just interrupted the dude. And the music not only plays them off, but the camera pulls back? Wow, that is cold. I haven't been paying attention, but is that the way all of the winners have been played off?

And the winner is...

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

French Roast - Fabrice O. Joubert

Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty - Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell

The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte) - Javier Recio Gracia

Logorama - Nicolas Schmerkin

A Matter of Loaf and Death - Nick Park

Huh... I would have assumed Nick Park would win, because doesn't he always win those? Though, Schmerkin's (great name, btw) picture looked pretty.

Blind Side clip

I admit it, I am a sucker for these movies, even though I wish I weren't. I just like when wealthy folks do something to change the course of a life. At the same time, I get a bit uncomfortable when it's a white person changing the course of an African American. But, this had the benefit of being based on a true story. and, it's such a great story, too. I would not be upset if this movie wins. Surprised, but not upset.

District 9 clips

Okay, this and the Blind Side clip will be out of order...

Now, this was the one movie nominated for Best Picture that I didn't end up seeing. But, based on the clips I saw, I do regret that and will be rectifying that as soon as possible. Is the movie out on DVD yet? Must add it to my Netflix queue.

Up clips...

Man, this was a good movie. I just wish I could have seen it in 3-D. It was winsome and heartwarming and suspenseful and sad and beautiful.

John Hughes retrospective?

With Molly Ringwald and Matthew Broderick. Okay. Is this in addition to the death montage? Or, instead of? Because, I love John Hughes, and I think his work is pretty much genius. He made movies for an entire generation. But is this demeaning the work of other folks who passed away? But, man, he made some great movies. Some Kind of Wonderful, Ferris Beuller, 16 Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, etc., etc., etc.

And now, the Breakfast Club, Ducky and Macauley Culkin giving a shout out to John Hughes' family. Wow, Matthew Broderick looked younger when he was quoting Ferris.

And the winner is...

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

The Hurt Locker - written by Mark Boal

Inglourious Basterds - written by Quentin Tarantino

The Messenger - written by Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman

A Serious Man - written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Up - screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

I LOVED the interplay between Tina Fey and Robert Downey, Jr. They were funny and looked like they may have even rehearsed. Or, possibly read what they would be doing beforehand.

Also, I liked that Up pretty much did what tina Fey said all acting would be. Something that the writers (or directors) could fix on a laptop alone.

Mark Boal won for The Hurt Locker. I did not expect that, but I am happy he won. It was a grand movie. And Kathryn Bigelow gets a shout-out, as do the troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan (and Mark's dad).

And the winner is...

Okay, from afar, both Amanda Seyfried and Miley Cyrus looked like they were wearing wedding dresses.

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

Almost There from The Princess and the Frog - music and lyrics by Randy Newman

Down in New Orleans from The Princess and the Frog - music and lyrics by Randy Newman

Loin de Paname from Paris 36 - music by Reinhardt Wagner, lyrics by Frank Thomas

Take It All from Nine - music and lyrics by Maury Yeston

The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart) from Crazy Heart - music and lyrics by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

I really do need to see this movie.

Did they thank the guy whose estate they were suing? or, the guy whose estate was suing T-Bone?

Best Animated Feature Film...

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Coraline - Henry Selick

Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson

The Princess and the Frog - John Musker and Ron Clements

The Secret of Kells - Tomm Moore

Up - Pete Docter

And, I'm 2 for 2. Aww, I'm glad. This was one of the films I wanted to be right about. What a great movie. From the beginning of the film to the end (the credits matched the picture on the screen - it took me a few credits to get it, but I finally did).

Uhhh okay...

Cameron couldn't remember that she was talking to Steve Carrell and not Jude Law? Really?

Though I do like the bit they are introducing. The animated characters talking about how glad they were to be nominated. Very cute and not a little bit of work.

Squirrel!

Who blinked?

I'm guessing Cablevision blinked. With the number of folks just on facebook who threatened to go call Fios tomorrow. Then again, it could be ABC who blinked, realizing that without the Cablevision eyes for the Oscars, the ratings would go down and they would owe the advertisers. Thoughts?

ABC and Cablevision reached a deal...

Does this mean the Oscars will be joined in progress in cablevision homes?

Best Supporting Actor...

And the winner is:

Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon
'Invictus'
Woody Harrelson
'The Messenger'
Christopher Plummer
'The Last Station'
Stanley Tucci
'The Lovely Bones'
Christoph Waltz
'Inglourious Basterds'

These clips are kind of long. I wonder how much this telecast is going to run over?

Ha! I'm 1 for 1.

Also, I thought they were going to stop doing the "And the Winner is..." in lieu of And the Oscar goes to...

And Christoph is speaking in metaphors.

Alec and Steve... together again...

Any comments on Alec's most recent with the paparazzi?

Guess not.

And, poor Meryl. Most losses. She is the Lucci of Oscars. Except for the fact that she actually won a few.

Okay, they're actually kind of funny. Look, there's that Damn Helen Mirren. No Steve, that's the Dame Helen Mirren.

Steve Martin pulling out The Jerk. What a Call-back.

Okay, I'm kind of digging these one-liners. It's somewhat different for the Oscars.

Though, even if people are drawn in by the Oscars, how much are the ratings going to suffer due to the ABC-Cablevision fiasco?

George Clooney does not look happy. But, it might be a bit.

Okay, it's a bit. Still, was he supposed to be glowering whenever the camera went to him?

Taylor did not look like he expected to be on camera.

Neil Patrick Harris can do it all...

Even introduce the Oscar hosts.

In a Vegas style musical number that brings to mind the songs from Crosby-Hope films.

I like it. But, then it's NPH. That's a given.

And we're off...

Apparently looking at the Best Actor/Actress nominees.

Aww... Carey Mulligan looks so nervous. And Gabourey is just strutting. I like it.

Not sure of the point of this exercise is though...

And now they're off.

10 Best Picture Nominees

So, in the Red Carpet Show they were discussing the last time the Academy nominated 10 movies for Best Picture. It was in 1943. These were the films...

WINNER: Casablanca (Warner Bros.)
For Whom the Bell Tolls (Paramount)
Heaven Can Wait (Twentieth Century-Fox)
The Human Comedy (MGM)
In Which We Serve (Two Cities; United Artists)
Madame Curie (MGM)
The More the Merrier (Columbia)
The Ox-Bow Incident (Twentieth Century-Fox)
The Song of Bernadette (Twentieth Century-Fox)
Watch on the Rhine (Warner Bros.)

A number of these are still considered classics today. I'm wondering which of the 10 films nominated for tonight will still be watched/discussed in 60+ years.

Time for the Red Carpet pre-show...

Let the inanity begin!

Bye-bye Barbara...

This was Barbara Walter's last time hosting her Barbara Walter's Academy Awards special. After 29 years. I wonder whose decision that was... ABC's or hers.

Liveblogging the Oscars

In case there was some doubt, I will be live-blogging the Oscars tonight. You can thank too much Sangria during brunch for that one.

It's a Wonderful Time for Oscars...

It's nearly time for the 82nd Academy Awards presentation. Yay! So exciting. Actually, it's not that exciting this year. I'm not sure why. I think because I'm afraid that it's a forgone conclusion that Avatar will win the Best Picture trophy, and I really hope it doesn't. Now, don't get me wrong. It's a very good movie with great special effects and very well directed. That is why they have the Best Director and Best Special Effects categories. Avatar is visually stimulating, but as far as the story goes, it is severely lacking. I hope The Hurt Locker wins, but I wouldn't be upset if Precious wins.

Other choices

ACTOR LEADING
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

ACTOR SUPPORTING
Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

LEADING ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”


FEATURE ANIMATED
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up

ART DIRECTION
Avatar
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon

COSTUME DESIGN
Bright Star
Coco before Chanel
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnasus
Nine
The Young Victoria

DIRECTING
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel
‘Push’ by Sapphire
Up in the Air

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Burma VJ
The Cove
Food, Inc.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
Music by Prudence
Rabbit à la Berlin

FILM EDITING
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Ajami
El Secreto de Sus Ojos
The Milk of Sorrow
Un Prophète
The White Ribbon

MAKE UP
Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
Avatar
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Hurt Locker
Sherlock Holmes
Up

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog”
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog”
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36”
“Take It All” from “Nine”
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart”

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
French Roast
Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty
The Lady and the Reaper
(La Dama y la Muerte)
Logorama

SHORT FILM (LIVE-ACTION)
A Matter of Loaf and Death
The Door
Instead of Abracadabra
Kavi
Miracle Fish
The New Tenants

SOUND EDITING
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Up

SOUND MIXING
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar
District 9
Star Trek

SCREENPLAY (ADAPTED)
An Education
In the Loop
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Up in the Air

SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL)
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the
Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

Music skins

So, it’s no secret that I’m an Obama fan. A little less than I was on election night on at the inauguration, but when I think what might have been, I just tell myself that I’m sure the president has a fan. I’m also a fan of my Iphone. It’s what I always dreamed of when I was younger creating the perfect technological advancement. A gadget that is a phone, computer, video player and television (thank you slingbox app)? Assuming I’m always someplace that has wifi, I’m pretty much set. And, now with my Iphone, I can show my Obama-love (or my Mets fandom or my Tupac appreciation) through Music skins - an easily removable decal you can stick on the back of your Iphone (or Blackberry, Palm, Ipod, any number of cel phones, e-readers or personal computers). There are an impressive number of decals to choose from, and the choices encompass a large breadth of the music world (though, no Bruce Springsteen, I’m sorry to say), fashion, art, and media. You can also upload your own image (assuming you own the rights). The decals are easy to take on and off and seem quite durable. I am quite happy with my Obama skin, so until they come out with a Springsteen skin, I don’t have cause to remove it. Prices range from $15 (for phones) to $35 (for game consoles).

Full disclosure: I received my music skin gratis, but that had no bearing on whether I liked it or not.

Picture coming soon.

PICTURE OF THE DAY...

61st Emmy Awards wrap-up

Okay, Neil Patrick Harris should host every award show. Aside from the opening number, there were few watercooler moments, but it moved quickly and was mostly moderately enjoyable, with a dash of highly enjoyable here and there.

there were some surprises, like Kristin Chenoweth winning Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy and Cherry Jones winning Best Supporting Actress in a drama, but there lots more, yeah, we expected that like Grey Gardens winning.

The In Memorium was tasteful and better than last year in that you could at least see who had passed away, rather than just guessing.

Though I do wish there was a lot more Neil Patrick Harris. He seemed to disappear after the Dr. Horrible bit. Maybe, the Emmys were just taking to heart the axiom to always leave them wanting more, but I wanted more NPH, dagnabit! I also thought the Dr. Horrible bit should have been a little longer.

In short, good show. After the success of his hosting gig on the Tonys and Emmys, dare I hope the Oscars will be making calls to his agent in the morning?

Best Drama Series

And, Sigourney Weaver (who still looks amazing) presents...

Argues that we're experiencing a golden age of tv drama...

Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

Wow, only two of these shows are on broadcast tv.

And the Emmy goes to Mad Men. I approve. The show received 16 nominations this year. Wow. that's a lot. Matthew Weiner does not sound like an ass, which is nice when you've won as many times as he has. Thanks his management and then thanks the cast/crew to the extent that he tells the teleprompter that he'll wrap up in just a moment. Says that he works as hard as he does for the viewers.

NPH signs out by congratulating the winners, telling the losers to hold their heads high and saying that he hopes to see us on broadcast television next year.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Yay Bob Newhart! Apparently, Tina Fey is going to kiss him. And, he gives a slightly rambling speech about his first foray into television - a Variety show 48 years ago. But, he's Bob Newhart, so I'll forgive him. Slight

30 Rock
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchord
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
Weeds

30 Rock wins! And, Tina Fey accepts on behalf of the show. She thanks everyone involved with the show. Thanks the folks at NBC for keeping them "on the air even though they are so much more expensive than a talk show." Hah!

And, the interactive award for Best Breakthrough is: Bill when he first meets Sookie (True Blood). Okay, that was weird. They start to announce it. Show a clip and then don't follow up with the name of the winner for like 15 seconds. Odd.

There have been a couple of these technical hiccups throughout the telecast. Otherwise, it's been pretty smooth sailing, even though NPH disappeared for much of the second half of the show. Oh, Neil Patrick Harris, how you make the tv a happier place.

Best Actor in a Drama series

Dana Delaney, a little bit naughty announcing the Best Lead Actor in a Drama

Simon Baker
Gabriel Byrne
Bryan Cranston
Michael C Hall
Jon Hamm
Hugh Laurie

And Bryan Cranston won! Wow... to go from Malcolm in the Middle to Breaking Bad. Comedy... Drama... is there nothing this man can't do? And, I didn't recall that he won last year. thanks the network and the competition. And, being glad that Glenn Close is a woman.

Best Lead Actress in a Drama

Simon Baker (with that killer accent) gives out the award.

Glenn Close - Damages
Sally Field - Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay - L&O: SVU
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

I feel like they had more time for these clips than other awards.

Glenn Close won for Damages. I'm not surprised, though I was hoping Elisabeth Moss would win. Another good speech. Gives props to the writers and the entertainment community.

Direction/Writing for a Dramatic Series

Oh, the singer of "I Will Remember You" was Sarah Mclachlan

In the creative emmys, they gave out awards for Outstanding Guest Actress/Actor for a Dramatic series...

Guest Actress
Brenda Blethlyn
Carol Burnett
Ellen Burstyn
CCH Pounder

Guest Actor
Ed Asner
Ernest Borgnine
Ted Danson
Michael J. fox
Jimmy Smits

Won by Ellen Burstyn and Michael J. Fox who presented the next award... Outstanding Direction for a drama series...

The winner was Rod Holcombe for ER. He couldn't be there, so they accepted the award on his behalf.

They also gave out the awards for Outstanding Writing for a Dramatic series:
How dramatic was writing for a dramatic series. Funny bits showing how dramatic or not dramatic it is to be in a room with the same people for 12 hours a day for 7 months.

The winner was a writing duo for Mad Men. Yay... I like that show.

Matthew Weiner is funny. Thanks the cast/crew, the folks at AMC and Lion's Gate for giving him complete creative freedom. Also, gives some advice to aspiring writers. They are the guys at Starbucks.

In Memorium

Okay, it started out weird, with just the singer, and it took them too long to actually have a close up on the screen so you can see who passed away. And, I wish they would hold off on the applause until it had completely finished. But, this was done well. At least, much better than last year.

Man, we lost a ton of great actors/directors/producers this year.

Okay, this was nice with the singer.

Dramas

Juliet!! Man, that scene from Lost always kills me.

LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell are presenting for Outstanding Supporting Actor

Christian Clemenson
Michale Emerson
William Hurt
William Hurt
William Shatner
John Slattery

And, Michael Emerson from Lost won! Yay... He's fabulous in a spooky, spooky way. And, thank goodness neither of the fellows from Boston Legal won (though fine actors, both. And, whoever is next to his wife was clearly texting.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama series
Rose Byren
Hope Davis
Cherry Davis
Sandra Oh
Dianne Wiest
Chandra Wilson

And, Cherry Jones won for 24! Wait, where's her partner? Oh! She's in play in New York. That's okay. Wait, she didn't thank her partner, Sarah Paulson. I worry.

Best Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program

And Ricky Gervais is talking. He's funny. And svelt, as I learned from watching the Daily Show last week.

I like how Tom Hanks pokes fun at himself in just the reaction shots.

Where did NPH go? We miss you!

Outstanding variety, Music or Comedy Program
Colbert Report
Daily Show
Late Show
Real Time with Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

And the winner is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I'm glad he won, cause his show had a great year, but I'd like to hear Colbert's acceptance speech one of these years.

And Stewart gives props to Neil Patrick Harris. Love it.

And then Jon thanks everybody for letting him come up there and then go backstage to watch a football game. Love it!

Oooh... best song or lyrics...

Colbert's song from his Christmas special
2009 Espys
opening song from Oscars
Flight of the Conchords - Carol Brown
SNL - Motherlover

Hugh Jackman opening number from the Oscars won. Whoah... did not see that one coming.

"This is the first musical number written for a Wolverine." Oh, John Hodgeman.

Variety

And, in the Variety medley... of course they included the crotch shot of Springsteen at the Superbowl half-time show. That's okay, I still have that saved on my DVR.

Wow... TV clearly puts on a good show.

Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kylee Cuoco introducing directing in a vareity, comedy show, etc...

that was a funny montage, but my closed captioning made it impossible to see who the nominees were. But, the winner was...

Bruce Gowers - American Idol

Writing for a vaiety show
I love this part... the funny picture over the names of the nominated writers...
The Colbert Report's writers were filmed in front of Letterman's studios
Jon Stewart's writers were said as if it were a monster car rally
Late Show with David Letterman got Billy Crystal to sing the names of Letterman's writers.
SNL had Brian Williams to say the names

Okay, I feel like there have been better bits in the past.

The Daily Show won. Yay! And the writer who spoke claimed not to have anything to say since George W. Bush left the White House. I'm glad.

More Movies and Miniseries

Keifer Sutherland and Anna Torv

Outstanding made for Television Movie
Coco Chanel
Grey Gardens
Into the Storm
Prayers for Bobby
Taking Chance

The Emmy goes to Grey Gardens. Alright, I thought we would be looking a more wins by Into the Storm, but they were beaten by the HBO cousin, Grey Gardens. The producer kind of sounds like he's hyperventilating.

Outstanding Mini-series
Generation Kill
Little Dorrit


And there is a 50-50 chance at victory. And the BBC series wins again, as Little Dorrit takes the trophy. If there are only two nominees, they should really consider getting rid of the category.

And, I'm clearly going to have to watch both this and Grey Gardens.

Up next:
Variety!

DR. HORRIBLE

It's Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer interrupting the accountants spiel. Wait, was that the end of the bit? Gah! Too short!!

Alec Baldwin
Lead Actress in a Movie or Minis-series
Drew Barrymore
Shirley Maclaine
Sigourney Weaver
Jessica Lange
Chandra Wilson

And Jessica Lange wins for Grey Gardens. All of these ladies are kind of awesome, so I can't be sad. And, she tears up while thanking Drew Barrymore. Oh, that's sweet. "And to mothers and daughters."

Okay, another commercial.

I really hope there's another bit with Dr. Horrible. cause that was too short.

Best Actor/in movie/miniseries

Ohhh... Kate Wash and Chandra Wilson giving out the awards. I those two, even if I no longer heart their shows.

Kevin Bacon
Kenneth Branagh
Brendan Gleeson
Kevin Kline
Sir Ian McKellan
Keifer Sutherland

And Brendan Gleeson wins for Into the Storm. It seems like this category is always won by Brits. And, here is another Brit (or is he Irish?). I'm clearly going to have to see this HBO movie. Awww... the director let Brendan's mom see a cut of the film before she passed away. That was awfully nice. And shout out to Janet McTeer who is pretty awesome. And another nice/tasteful speech.

Patrica Arquette and Jennifer Love Hewitt - oy... poor gals. Not a good bit. Even Patricia knew that.

Too fast and too many names to write the various nominees for Best Writing/Direction in a Movie/Miniseries...

Outstanding Writing

Andrew Davies won for Little Dorrit
He couldn't be there to accept, so let's go on to the next award...

Outstanding Directing
Dearbhla Wash wins for Little Dorrit

Supporting actor/actress in a movie/miniseries

Even digging NPH's one-liners. Played the six degree game with the two folks up next, and couldn't come up with one. The couple was Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgewick. Ha!

Supporting Actress in a movie/miniseries
Shoreh Aghdashloo
Marcia Gay Harden
Janet McTeer
Jeanne Tripplehorne
Cicely Tyson

Shoreh Aghdashloo won for House of Sadaam.

Okay, I didn't call this one, but I feel the movie category is so hard to guess. I generally give it to whatever was on HBO, but it seems like every year, every movie is from HBO. And, maybe it was accent, but I her acceptance speech was classy...

Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries
Tom Courtnay
Len Cariou
Ken Howard
Bob Newhart
Andy Serkis

And the winner is Ken Howard - I feel like he had a professional writer work on his speech. It was nice, though the laugh lines were a bit soft.

And, Ken Howard had a kidney transplant? Huh... I did not know that. He looks good.

And, happy birthday to Ken's wife.

Movies and Mini-series up next, but first...

a brief interlude for football.

The Giants just took a 10-7 lead, off of a Tony Romo interception.

1:04 left in the first quarter.

Let's go G-Men.

Best Reality show - Competition

Tracey Morgan is giving the award for Best Reality Competition Show

Can't believe the reality show he's on with Tina and Alec wasn't nominated. Thinks the fix was in.

The nominees are:
Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

And The Amazing Race wins for the fiftieth year in a row. Seriously, has there been a year in which this category existed that Amazing Race did not win? I know it's only been a category for a short while, but I can't think of when it didn't win. And, the producers are having the same problem. I think it keeps winning because it actually seems different year to year, while the other shows seem exactly the same.

Next year, Dance Your Ass off wins!

New genre: Reality

Ahhh... in the clips, they used my favorite quote from Real Housewives: New Jersey... "We are think as thieves."

Can not wait for that show to come back...

And, another musical interlude by dancers from Dancing with the Stars (I think).

Jon Cryer and Hayden Panitierre are giving the award for Outstanding Host for Reality or Reality Competition

Phil Keoghan
Tom Bergeron
Jeff Probst
Tom and Padma
Heidi Klum

The winner is Jeff Probst

Gave props to NPH for how to host the Emmys. I like it.

And he quotes Joseph Cambell... Wow, Probst has some downtime while hosting Survivor

And, he just zipped through that. Just like Hayden and Jon zipped through the names of the nominees. I wonder if 60 minutes in, they're running long.

Loving the little Emmy tidbits...

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series...

Rob Lowe bragging about Dr. Vegas. Chose that over Grey's Anatomy. Go to him for career advice. That was funny.

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
Steve Carell - The Office
Jemaine Clement - Flight of the Conchords
Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shaloub - Monk
Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men

Alec Baldwin wins for 30 Rock. You know, I knew it was coming, but I was still hoping for Jim Parsons.

Alec Baldwin would change the Emmy to look like Rob Lowe.

Wondering if he's going to mention his daughter?

Thanks Tina and the cast/crew, along with Lorne Michaels who he calls the greatest boss who always believed in him.

And, he did not mention his daughter. Well, that kind of sucks.

Family Guy bit...

It looks like they're using the bit when Stewie was Brian's loan-shark, except Where's my Emmy instead of Where's my Money?

Still funny.

Bit with Jon Cryer...

Funny. though sort of reminiscent of Stephen Colbert's attitude the last two years when he didn't win.

Gossip Girls Blake Lively and Leighton Meester recapping some of the Creative Awards Emmys.

Tina Fey won for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (SNL)
Justin Timberlake won for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (SNL)

Both thanked Lorne Michaels, though Tina Fey did her thanking comedically.

Best director in a comedy series - asked what the funniest thing about being an emmy nominee was.

The winner was...

Jeffrey Blitz - The Office (and Blake can't say his name)

Neil Patrick Harris is sad...

He didn't win. I'm sad. He didn't win.

Justin Timberlake is giving the award for:
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Gave applause line for Bea Arthur and had to wait for the applause. Oh, Emmy audience. You make me sad.

Christina Applegate - Samantha Who
Toni Collete - United States of Tara
Tina Fey - 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss
Mary Louise Parker - Weeds
Sarah Silverman - The Sarah Silverman Program

The Emmy Goes to... Toni Collette for the United States of Tara.

Okay, I'm a little bit surprised. I've only seen one

Insanely confronting? What does that mean?

Acknowledging fellow nominees... I think she's the first one to do that tonight. Huh... Classy acceptance speech. Very thankful, but it's an award show, so it's to be expected.

Also, awesome accent.

Amy Poehler and Julie Louis-Dreyfuss

presenting for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Jon Cryer - 2 and a 1/2 Men
Kevin Dillon - Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock
Tracey Morgan - 30 Rock
Rainn Wilson - The Office

The Emmy goes to... Jon Cryer - 2 and a half Men.

Seriously?

Kevin Dillon did not look happy.

Exploring the Vast Wasteland is not happy.

Though, I really liked Jon Cryer's acceptance speech.

John Hodgeman is doing the color commentary

He is a funny, funny man.

The rest of the cast of How I Met Your Mother is presenting Best Writing in a Comedy series...

Four nods for episodes of 30 Rock
1 nod for episodes of Flight of the Conchords

And those are the nominees for the category...

And the Emmy goes to:
Matt Hubbard - 30 Rock - Reunion

I really thought there was a chance that Flight of the Conchords would win due to 30 Rock splitting the vote four ways. But I like 30 Rock, so I can't be sad at the outcome.

And, he gave a nice acceptance speech.

TV's Biggest fan... is put behind two Harlem Globetrotters. NPH promises better seats. Meh... And NPH agrees.

To vote in the breakthrough performance...

go to www.tv.com/breakthrough

The finalists are:

Gossip Girl - Chuck says I love you to Blair
True Blood - Bill meets Sookie
American Idol - Kris Allen wins

These seem to be moments, rather than breakthrough performances, but I won't quibble.

It's Comedy tonight...

Tina Fey and Jon Hamm distributing the first award...

Supporting Actress in a Comedy...

And something wacky is happening with the glasses... And Vanessa Williams is not playing along with the glasses.

Yay!! Kristin Chenoweth won!! Did not call that one!

Actually, I wanted her to win, but I just assumed that she wouldn't. I mean, her show was cancelled.

Blaming Amy Poehler for the glasses.

Putting herself out for a new job.

Okay, she has to stop crying.

And she thanked NPH. Mad props to that. Boy is she short. She barely comes up to Tina's shoulder.

That's what I'm talking about...

Compare the reaction to that opening with last year's opening. Not even a contest. Neil Patrick Harris is just awesome.

Ahhh... it was written by the guys who did Neil Patrick Harris' final song on the Tonys earlier this year. Also, the guys who did Hairspray. Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Neil Patrick Harris is now going off on the lack of theme songs. Which... true.

Also, got in a Kanye dig. But, a good one.

So apparently, they're splitting up the show by genre instead of a mix-mash by category...

First genre... Comedy!

Put down the remote...

Oxygen!

John Krasinski is really tall...

And Ryan Seacrest is really not.

Red Carpet coverage on E

Okay, it's kind of inane, but shout out to Nene from Real Hosuewives: Atlanta on Bravo.

T-116 minutes until the 2009 Primetime Emmys.

Yes, I am expecting good things from this Awards Ceremony. And, my picks are below... Note: These are just the main categories. I'll probably get to the slightly less main categories within the live-blog itself. And, this seems to be a particularly strong year in that there were few categories where there were clear-cut winners. And, in several categories, I basically had to flip a coin. Though I will say that sometimes I went with my heart and not my head (see: Jim Parsons for Big Bang Theory over Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock).

I am not at all sure what happened to the formatting, but I refuse to delve into html hell while I'm recovering from a migraine. It's still readable, so that's good enough for me.

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All • Song Title: Much Worse Things •

2. Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

How I Met Your Mother • Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson

3. Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Saturday Night Live • Kristen Wiig as Various Characters

I really wanted to choose Kristen Chenoweth for Pushing Daisies, but it was on so

infrequently through the latter portion of the season, that I just don't think the

votes are there. But, get Ms. Chenoweth on tv or back on the Broadway stage

post-haste.

4. Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Yeah, this was another flipping the coin thing. Michael Emerson was fabulous as

Ben in Lost, but John Slattery steals every scene he's in. So, expecting Mad Men

to come home with several trophies, I'm giving it to Mr. Slattery.

Mad Men • John Slattery as Roger Sterling

5. Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Another go with the heart or head thing. I Cherry Jones in everything she does. Seriously,

the lady is an amazing actress. Also, I dig how she used to ride her bicycle to the theater

when she was in The Heiress. But, since that really has nothing to do with her performance

on 24 (though, she had the chops), I'll go with my head and choose Chandra Wilson on Grey's

because Emmy likes her and let's face it, she was one of the only things worth watching

on the ABC drama this season.

Grey's Anatomy • Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey

6. Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

I really, really want Jim Parsons to win. Talk about a breakout character. He's fabulous. But, he's a first-time nominee against the powerhouse that is Alec Baldwin. So, while Mr. Baldwin will probably win, I'm still choosing Jim Parsons, because The Big Bang Theory should win something, dagnabit!

The Big Bang Theory • Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper

7. Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Mad Men • Jon Hamm as Don Draper

8. Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

30 Rock • Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

9. Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Damages • Glenn Close as Patty Hewes

10. Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

The Amazing Race • Phil Keoghan, Host

11. Outstanding Reality – Competition Program

The Amazing Race • CBS

12. Outstanding Made For Television Movie

Grey Gardens • HBO

13. Outstanding Comedy Series

How I Met Your Mother • CBS

30 Rock • NBC

14. Outstanding Drama Series

Mad Men • AMC

15. Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

This is like choosing between two children (or which one of my nieces and nephews is my favorite). I just can't. So, instead, I say that the 11P-12A hour on Comedy Central will win. Thank you.

The Colbert Report • Comedy Central

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central

Please note: the photo is from http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/primetimeawards.php

From the Ausiello Files at ew.com...

Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris will "headline a Dr. Horrible-themed production number about midway through Sunday’s ceremony."

If you haven't seen Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along blog, starring Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion and written/directed by Joss Whedon during last year's writer's strike, you have missed a pop culture touchstone. Also, if you missed NPH hosting this year's Tony Awards, you also missed something grand. Basically, if Mr. Harris is going to be singing a little ditty, you owe it to yourself to watch. His song recapping the Emmys (written by the talented team who gave us Hairspray - Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman) made up for a rather lackluster telecast (not NPH's fault - he just wasn't on screen enough).

While I don't think the Primetime Emmys are in danger of being relegated to the interwebs, like their Daytime counterparts, and it's not like it has to be that spectacular a show to improve upon last year's travesty (hosted by reality tv hosts), I do have high hopes that we're going to see something special tonight.

Almost time for the 2009 Primetime Emmys!

Can you feel the excitement in the air? Not just because we get to see what hilarity Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will come up with, but because Neil Patrick Harris is following up his amazing Tony hosting gig with hosting the Primetime Emmy Awards. Let's face it, the man can host an awards show.

As I've done once or twice in the past, I will attempt to Live-Blog the ceremonies, but I warn you, it's up against the Giants-Cowboys, so my attention may be split.

Below, please find a list of the (major) nominees for your edification. Please note that major is just what Entertainment Weekly and every other site that created an easily cut/pasteable list of the Emmy nominees, but they didn't include the writing/directing awards, even though the portion of the awards when they announce the nominees for best writing of a variety, music or comedy program is among my favorite of the awards.

COMEDY

BEST COMEDY SERIES
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Weeds

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock
Rainn Wilson, The Office

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alan Alda, 30 Rock
Beau Bridges, Desperate Housewives
Jon Hamm, 30 Rock
Steve Martin, 30 Rock
Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jennifer Aniston, 30 Rock
Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory
Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live
Gena Rowlands, Monk
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock
Betty White, My Name Is Earl

DRAMA

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
Michael Emerson, Lost
William Hurt, Damages
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Rose Byrne, Damages
Hope Davis, In Treatment
Cherry Jones, 24
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Edward Asner, CSI: NY
Ted Danson, Damages
Ernest Borgnine, ER
Michael J. Fox, Rescue Me
Jimmy Smits, Dexter

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Brenda Blethyn, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Carol Burnett, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Ellen Burstyn, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Sharon Lawrence, Grey’s Anatomy
CCH Pounder, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

REALITY

REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Padma Lakshmi (Host) and Tom Colicchio (Co-Host), Top Chef
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

REALITY SERIES
Antiques Roadshow
Dirty Jobs
Dog Whisperer
Intervention
Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List
MythBusters

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SPECIAL
Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush
Ricky Gervais: Out of England
Kathy Griffin: She’ll Cut a Bitch
The Kennedy Center Honors
Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger

MINISERIES OR MOVIE

MINISERIES
Generation Kill
Little Dorrit

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Coco Chanel
Grey Gardens
Into The Storm
Prayers For Bobby
Taking Chance

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Kenneth Branagh, Wallander: One Step Behind
Kevin Kline, Cyrano de Bergerac (Great Performances)
Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm
Sir Ian McKellen, King Lear (Great Performances)
Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Redemption

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens
Shirley MacLaine, Coco Chanel
Sigourney Weaver, Prayers For Bobby
Chandra Wilson, Accidental Friendship

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Len Cariou, Into the Storm
Tom Courtenay, Little Dorrit
Ken Howard, Grey Gardens
Bob Newhart, The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice
Andy Serkis, Little Dorrit

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Shohreh Aghdashloo, House Of Saddam
Marcia Gay Harden, The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation)
Janet McTeer, Into The Storm
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Grey Gardens
Cicely Tyson, Relative Stranger

Emmy nominations....

Entourage was nominated again? Really? But, no Big Bang Theory? Seriously? Sigh...

Picture of the Day - 12/31/08

In this the last day of 2008, I'm putting up a shot I took during my staycation (five glorious days where I went nowhere and made plans with nobody). It was swell. I spent some time at Grand Central Station (aka Grand Central Terminal), playing with the shutter speed of my digital camera, trying to turn people into shadows. Here's one of my attempts.

Picture of the Day

So, in anticipation of getting this blog back to some semblance of regularity, I thought I'd start by bringing back the Picture of Day.



This was taken in Central Park on Christmas Day. I decided to eschew the movie and Chinese food and instead went for a walk. There was a woman feeding the birds by one of the ponds near 76th Street(or so), and I snapped this while the bird was coming in for a landing.

Marlon Brando must be spinning in his grave...

Brooke Shields is going to be interviewed by James Lipton for Inside the Actors' Studio. Really? I mean, really??If you're interested it will be airing on Monday at 8P on Bravo.

Okay, props to the Emmy director...

They didn't cut Don Rickles off.

Poor Stephen Colbert...

First he loses to Barry Manilow, then Tony Bennett and now... Don Rickles.

Though, I can't wait to see him guest on Colbert's show.

And, I can't begrudge Mr. Warmth's victory. The mean's a legend...

If they cut him off, there's no redemption for theses awards shows.

For shame!

The Emmy's cut Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris' bit? I am APPALLED!

Watching the Emmys...

Well, I'm flipping back and forth between the Emmys and the last Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.

What was up with the award winner of Best Writer for a Miniseries movie or a Dramatic special getting cut off (and going to commercial!) within 20 seconds of speaking. Ridiculous. Ahhh... Kirk Ellis for John Adams "Independence" was the winner.

Mighty twitchy trigger fingers on the director this year. If a winner even remotely goes towards politics, the music starts up.

Though, I do like that a number of the winner are telling people to make sure they vote on Nov. 4.

Be sure to watch Costas Now on HBO (all this month)

Last night I had the most enjoyable baseball night of my life (while not physically being at a game). Bob Costas was doing a live taping of Costas Now at the Skirball Center at NYU and through the fortune of being on the Syracuse alumni list, I got tickets to go. It was billed as a Town Hall on the state of baseball today.

He had on current all-stars (Evan Langoria, Jimmy Rollins, and a pitcher for the Tigers whose name I'm blanking on) talking about the state of the game today from a players perspective. Rollins had some great stuff to say about the decline of African Americans playing and took the booing from the Met fans in attendance, in stride.

Former all-stars (Dave Winfield, Steve Palmer, and Pete Rose by satellite), talked about the game in their day and the Hall of Fame (whether Rose deserves to be in it and Bonds and McGuire). Andy Van Slyke and Arte Moreno spoke about today's game from a coach/owner perspective.

But, the kicker was the end of the program when Costas interviewed Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. They were supposed to have the last 30 minutes of a 90 minute program (with another 5 minutes of conversation on HBO.com), but they kept talking so much that, after the fact, the show decided to make that section it's own episode, so we got close to an hour of conversation between Aaron, Mays and Costas. Plus, a few asides were thrown in b y Bob Gibson from the audience. It was just amazing. They spoke about playing in the Negro Leagues, as well as how it was playing for MLB baseball when they were either unable to stay in certain hotels or when the hotels were finally integrated, they got the worst rooms. They talked drugs (both amphetamines and steroids) and Barry Bonds. They talked about the most intimidating pitcher they faced... Gibson with Don Drysdale a close second. It was fabulous. They got 3 standing ovations in the 60 minutes. Costas was clearly having a ball.

So, if you like baseball, check it out. And tomorrow night, Billy Joel at Shea. Life is grand.

My greatest live baseball game experience

Baseball season starts soon! Well, in two days anyway if you're a Mets fan. Negative a couple days if you're a Red Sox fan. Of course, I am talking about the start of the new baseball season. And, let's just talk a minute about how ridiculous starting the season in Japan was. Exactly who watched that game? The Japanese and insomniacs. Regardless of who is playing, I love watching the first game of the season. But, because it was a day game, it was the middle of the night even for folks on the West Coast. Just one more of Bud Sielig's bad ideas for the American pasttime. Yay Commish!

So, since the Mets opening game is a day game, I decided to DVR it and while looking for the game on my program guide, I saw that they were airing the 9/21/01 game on Mets Classics. This was the first baseball game in New York after 9/11. And, it remains the greatest baseball game I ever saw live (and this includes World Series games, division playoff clinches and my first live game ever).

A little backstory... My sister and her (then) fiancee were supposed to get married a week and a half after 9/11, but because they both worked in finance in NYC, they knew people who were directly affected by the attacks. They decided to postpone their wedding until the following month because they weren't in a celebratory mood and knew most of their guests would feel the same way. When I found out that the first Mets game was going to be on 9/21/01, I decided to take them to the game, as we are all huge Mets fans and I thought this might help them forget the disappointment/horror of the prior 10 days for at least a couple of hours.

Of course, the pre-game ceremony did everything they could do to remind us of the horror, but it was more to pay tribute to the victims and the heroes (the Fire Department, Police Department and EMS workers - not however Rudy Giuliani no matter what the television broadcast might have wanted us to believe). There was the moment of sllence, the bagpipe rendition of America the beautiful, the singing of G-d Bless America by Diana Ross, the throwing out of the first pitch by members of the FDNY, NYPD, EMS and Port Authority Police Department, another moment of silence, the National Anthem sung by Marc Anthony, and finally the shaking of hands by the Mets and Atlanta Braves before the game started.

And then the game started. It was a low scoring game which only added to the collective funk in the stadium. While everyone got up for the ubiquitous USA chants, it was like we weren't sure how excited we should be for the game itself. Just days before, Shea Stadium had been used as donation sorting site for the rescue effort. When the wind shifted, you could still smell the ash for the WTC site.

The Mets wore hats with the logos of the different rescue departments (hats they would wear until the end of the season and which they wear on the anniversary of 9/11).

Bruce Chen was the starting pitcher for the Mets, while Staten Island native Jason Marquis started for the Braves. Rey Sanchez got the first hit for the Braves in the third inning, and the following inning the Braves scored the first run of the game (scored by Chipper "Larry" Jones). That was when it seemed like the crowd first really got into that not only was this baseball, but baseball against the BRAVES. The derisive Larry chants got started in earnest this inning (though they had been shouted since his first at-bat) and, in my Left Field section we got on Larry everytime he took the field.

The Mets tied the score in the bottom half of the inning, when Mike Piazza scored on a Tsuyoshi Shinjo sacrifice. And that's were scoring paused until the 8th inning. In the 7th inning we had the first instance of the singing of G-d Bless America (by Liza Minnelli). The Braves scored again in the top half of the 8th inning and there was again a lull in the ballpark. But, then Fonzie (Edgardo Alfonzo) worked out a walk in the bottom of the 8th, bringing Piazza with one out and the Braves up 1-0. Desi Relaford pitch ran for Fonzie, but it turned out to be a moot point, as with one out at 10:29 p.m., he got a hold of a 0-1 pitch that he hit out of the ballpark. The Mets took a 3-2 lead, and Shea went crazy. It was cathartic. Shea Stadium was actually jumping from the sheer weight of people bouncing with glee. Armando Benitez who got the Mets out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 8th returned to pitch the 9th and got Keith Lockhart to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Yes, when we got back on the 7 train and saw the gaping hole where the World Trade Center used to stand, the pain and sadness came flooding back, but for a few brief minutes, we forgot the pain and the uncertainty. Baseball again made us innocent and happy.

The New York Yankees went to the World Series that year, and people all over the media would say that their success was helping the city heal. But on 9/21/01, it was the New York Mets that started the healing process for those 40,000 fans at Shea. They made it okay to cheer for something as insignificant as a baseball game.

The Russell Girl

The Hallmark Hall of Fame umbrella series has a history of putting out some of the most beautifully schmaltzy made for tv movies. And the latest entrant into that series, The Russell Girl is a grand addition. Starring Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia) and Jennifer Ehle (BBC's Pride & Prejudice), this is a small story of a girl's inner turmoil over a years ago incidence that not only affected her life, but the lives of her neighbors.

Tamblyn stars in the title role, and she embodies the role of someone who just brings so much on herself. When she was in high school, she babysat for the MOrriyssey's across the street and through a serious of unfortunate events, tragedy happens. Sarah can't forgive herself and as soon as possible, she moves to Chicago to get away from the past. Mrs. Morriessey (Ehle) also can't forgive shadow, but really she can't forgive anyone, herself included.

While in Chicago, Sarah learns she developed leukemia and before dealing with medical issue, she decides to go home for the first time in a long time. Her mom is so excited to see her, that she doesn't care why she's home. Her father is worried, as he realizes that she has never recovered emotionally from the earlier tragedy. Sarah elects not to tell her family about her illness.

Sarah's appearance in the house across the street does not sit well with Mrs. Morrissey as all of her old thoughts and feelings bubbled to the surface, distressing her husband and teenage sons. She develops severe migraines that keep her from some of her sons' important events. And Sara does not make things easier as she clearly wants to talk, but doesn't really know what to say.

A lot of what happens is coincidence. Mrs. Morrissey is the first person to realize that Sarah is sick because she keeps running into the girl in town as symptoms keep popping up.

But, the acting (as is often the case with shmaltz) really makes the movie work. Both Tamblyn and Ehle keep their performances small, but that adds to the intimacy. And the supporting cast, Matt Czerny as Mr. Morrissey and Tim Dekay as Mr. Russell brought a sense of caring to the role. They clearly wanted to be their for their wife (in Morrissey's case) and daughter (in Russell's case), but it was never clear what the right thing to do was. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio has a harder role, as she plays Sarah's mother who goes through most of the film in a chipper mood wearing blinders. Everyone watching knows that she needs to take the blinders off to really see what is happening with Sarah. Mastrantonio plays the role fine, it's just pretty thankless until the end when she finally gets her chance to say what she thinks.


The DVD is going to be distributed through the Hallmark Gold Crown stores on Feb. 1. And, I might just have to get a copy. Though, I'm afraid something will be lost with the excision of the Hallmark commercials. Some of the commercials can bring me to tears faster than a sappy movie.

Spamming...

Since this blog just got its first spam, I think that's a nudge for me to start posting again. Point taken.

And, to all spammers... please don't. Just don't. It's annoying and it's not going to make me use your widget. Ever.

Heroes

Alright, I suppose I should admit up front that I wasn't what one might call a religious viewer of Heroes last year. I watched the first four episodes and really enjoyed them, but then real life took over and it became too complicated a series to follow. It's the same problem I had with Lost last season. Since I really enjoyed the first episode this season, I suppose I'll have to catch up on Season 1 through the DVDs.

I watched the first episode with Seema, who as an avid viewer of Season 1, had to deal with my non-stop questions. Not that she actually answered any of them. But I'd paid enough attention to the various pop culture shows that discussed the show that I had a pretty good idea as to what was going on.

Heroes is, above all, a fun show. It's very reminiscent of (depending on your age) comic books or the old kiddie serials you used to be able to catch in movie theaters back in the 30s and 40s. The actors, for the most part are great, and due to its serial nature, the viewer gets a chance to really get to know the characters and to form an attachment to them. Like Lost (which, yes, I know did get better at the end of last season), Heroes ended the season with plenty of questions and while none were really answered with the first episode we got the sense of moving forward. And, we got the addition of David Anders (fka Sark from Alias)... In addition to Sark, we have the new friend of Claire's who can fly, the immigrants from South America, one of whom seems to have the ability to kill people, which does not mesh well for her religious upbringing. And, we have Hiro! Who remains as adorable as ever.

All, in all, I can't wait for episode 2.

Bleh...

Pardon me if I seem bitter during these posts, but I'm a Mets fan. I hope you understand.

And a new tv season begins...

I admit it. I was one of those crazy kids who didn't mind the end of the August. I liked September because I liked going back to school. What can I say? I liked the learning. And now that I'm no longer in school (though sometimes a PhD does sound nice), I look forward to September because that is when the new television series starts. And yes, in this age of 888 channels new programming can be found 52 weeks a year on cable, but there is definitely something special about broadcast series. It's not that the shows are all better, it's more that there's a history there.

Due to a friend staying with me, I was unable to watch much television over the past week, so I had a ton of shows queued up in my DVR. Due to the limitations on my Time Warner Scientific Atlanta DVR box, I was not able to cover everything in the first week, but I did what could.

This is what I watched over the last week (though really over the last few hours)...

Heroes
House
Ugly Betty
Journeyman
The Simpsons
Family Guy
K-Ville (episode 2)
Grey's Anatomy
Private Practice
Chuck
Big Shots
The Office
Without a Trace
Law & Order: SVU

Picture of the Day...

After I graduated from college, in lieu of traveling across Europe, I decided that what I really wanted to do was see America. So, I convinced my parents to let me drive across country as part of my plan to settle in Los Angeles. Here is just one image from that trek...




(c) Kerri L.Berney 2007

Copyright...

Please note that all photos on this page are (c) Kerri L. Berney 2007.