Whine & Cheese

Express Lane: Issue 45

Edie Falco Nurses Showtime Comedy - 'Carm' jumps the HBO ship and morphs into a NYC nurse for a 1/2 hour "dark comedy." (2/21/08)

Apple sings as American Idol sponsor - Starting with the Top 24, iTunes will sell music and video - but to remain 'fair and balanced' they will not release sales figures or rankings... also expect a lot of Apple hawking ala big sponsors Ford, Coca Cola, and AT&T.

Showtime Cultivates 'Weeds' in June - Mary Louise Parker & Co. are back two months earlier than usual... guess we'd better get to finishing last season (which ended in October... whoops!).  (2/13/08)

Return dates for 30  TV shows ... and how many new episodes to expect -- nice to have it all in one place! (2/13/08)

Franklin Slams Beyonce Grammy Intro - Apparently there's room for only one "queen" in music industry and it ain't Tina Turner according to Aretha. (2/12/08)

Grammys '08 Review

Last night, we just got around to watching the last hour or so of Sunday night's Grammy Awards.  As I have hinted around here, I am increasingly becoming out-of-touch with the "popular" music these days... and thus the Grammys seem to become less relevant to me with each passing year. 

But given that this year's show seemed particularly packed with performances and interesting match-ups (lots of duets), I figured I'd give it a watch... here are some thoughts (in no particular order and not including all the performances from the show... but I'm guessing you'll be glad it that it's not all-inclusive by the time you get to end of this post)...

American Idol 4 winner Carrie Underwood was one of the first performers of the night singing her multi-nominated revenge anthem, Before He Cheats.  I always thought Carrie was a bit vanilla, so when this song came out, I was glad to hear her do something with a bit of an edge... plus it gives her a chance to sex it up a bit, which visually she does quite well.  That said, she is not the best live performer and by the time the night was over she seemed like the proverbial babe in the woos... though I don't think this "nice girl" is totally comfortable with the trampy look.

Speaking of trampy, ever since she got engaged to my "other boyfriend" (Josh Duhamel) Fergie seems to have been trying to tone down the skank factor.  I recently saw her on The View and she was quite enjoyable and down-to-earth... and while I was not familiar with the song ("Finally") she sang on the Grammys, it made me think she really does have a voice.  Ok, I knew she could sing... but its hard to respect vocals when the lyrics speak of one's "humps" or being "Fergielicious."  Though when I read of this  Fergie-John Legend duet was it silly of me to think that Legend might sing?!

Allow me to be serious for one minute here...  Aretha Franklin is clearly one of our nation's greatest treasures... so isn't it time for an intervention regarding her weight?!   I really do worry about her (well, "worry" in the sense that she is a celebrity who does not have any impact on my day to day life).

I am confused about whether or not I should be worried about Amy Winehouse.  Despite all the buzz and the real-life drama(s), I am not terribly familiar with her. I am not even sure I had heard her big hit, Rehab, prior to Grammys.  But, based on this performance, I don't "get" her.  I guess there's the whole tortured artist/free-spirit thing... but it was all very strange and even a bit disturbing.

This will likely make me sound like a grumpy old man... but while I have enjoyed some Foo Fighters songs in the past, a lot their stuff just seems like a whole lot of yelling and noise to me... and/or just an excuse for front-man Dave Grohl to get all of his hair in his face and shake it away.

On the other spectrum of being viewed as an old man, I was knocked out by the duet of The Prayer by Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli.  Goose-bumps throughout and I can kind of understand why people cry at operas over just the sheer beauty of the voices.

The blockbuster duet of the night award seems to have gone to Beyonce and Tina Turner.  I lamented last week about the advanced age of some of my favorite gay-cons... but if Tina is showing them/us what 68 (68!!!!) years old looks like... well, bring it on!!  Most especially, if you can look that good in a tin-foil bustier and capri pants.  But while I certainly think she is both talented and beautiful, I questioned whether Beyonce is really the soul diva heir apparent to the likes of Aretha, Diana Ross, Tina... it certainly seems she is being groomed that way... but I am really not sure...

If anything, I think it is Alicia Keys who is more deserving of that mantle... though the whole songwriter / musician part of her resume might ultimately disqualify her.  While she was a tad burdened with a "duet" with the still very dead Frank Sinatra to open the show... she absolutely killed it with her current hit, No One... later joined by John Mayer (I couldn't help but wonder how many folks were thinking about those pictures of him in that Borat thong that's making the rounds on the Internets).

Express Lane: Issue 37

Chaka Khan, Bebe Winans and LaKisha Jones to Join Broadway's Color Purple - This may be worth a trip back to NYC!  Chaka and Bebe to play Sophia and Harpo with last season's 'Idol' standout "Kiki" as the church soloist who opens the show --  but also subbing for Khan as Sophia for matinée performances. (9/26/07)

Kiefer Sutherland arrested on DUI in LA - The following took place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. (9/25/07)

Carrie & Co. Kick Off "Sex" Shoot - I'm not the only gay guy who's been salivating over a slew of production pix that have already hit the Web since filming on 'SatC: The Movie' began filming this week on the streets of NY. (9/21/07)

'24' Plans Premiere Date, Shocking Resurrection - SPOILER ALERT:  Do NOT click the link if you don't want to know who is surprisingly still alive tho never got the "silent clock" treatment. The show returns on January 13th with the action shifting from LA to DC. (9/19/07)

HBO Is 'Reclaiming History' - Me thinks we'll be watching this 10-part mini-series debunking JFK conspiracies. (9/18/07)

Stupid Feud of the Week: Manilow vs. Hasselbot - 'The View' will just have to smile without Barry as the crooner skips the ABC gal chat-fest due to Elisabeth's "dangerous and offensive" political views.  (9/18/07)

Emmys Backstage: Stars Get Sassy - Lots of good stuff here, but if you're wondering what happened during the cutaway during Sally Field's acceptance speech it was this line: 'And let's face it, if the mothers ruled the world, there would be no goddamn wars in the first place' (9/17/07)

Get Your Emmy Nominations

The Emmy nominations were announced this morning. 

This year there was the promise of something new as blue-ribbon panels picked the final nominees from the top ten vote-getters from the Academy's general membership.  I don't know how much "new" there is, but there were some surprises... and, of course, some major overlooks (in my humble opinion)...

The Sopranos - The show gets the expected nod for  Best Drama, but the big surprises were the absence of the usually slam-dunk nods for James Gandolfini and Edie Falco.  Now I am not familiar with all the shows/actors, but I found it particularly insane that the wooden Geena Davis, for Commander In Chief, earned a spot over Falco.  Michael Imperioli did get a nod for Supporting Actor.

Desperate Housewives - I agree the show has slipped in its sophomore season... but last year's winner for Best Comedy was pretty much shut-out in the major categories.  None of the leading ladies were nominated (including last year's winner, Felicity Huffman). If anything, I thought the lone non-nominee last year, Eva Longoria, might get one this time around.  Craziest?  The only major acting nod was Best Supporting Actress for ... Alfre Woodard?!?!  I love Alfre, but the Applewhite storyline is what I felt really dragged down this entire season.

Six Feet Under - It seems like such a long time ago since we said goodbye to the Fisher clan, but the stellar final season was just eligible for this round of Emmys.  While I hoped it would earn a final Best Drama nod, it did not... Peter Krause and Frances Conroy earned lead nominations... but none for Michael C. Hall and Lauren Ambrose, both who broke my heart (multiple times) over those last few episodes.

Lost - As with Housewives, last year's winner for Best Drama was totally shut out of major nominations this year... no acting nominations, lead or supporting... only Henry Ian Cusick (Desmond) earned a "guest actor in a drama series" nomination.

The Comeback - One the nominations that made me the happiest... Lisa Kudrow for Best Actress in a Comedy series.  Valerie Cherish may have got the shaft, but at least Lisa knows she's being heard.

The Office - Earned nods for Best Comedy as well as for Steve Carell.  But no Emmy love for Jim and Pam (John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer) in the supporting categories.

My Name Is Earl - Perhaps eclipsed by The Office, I felt the freshmen comedy was a bit slighted.  No nominations for Best Comedy or Jason Lee or Ethan Suplee -- but all is well in Best Supporting Actress-land with a well-deserved nod to Jamie Pressly.

Arrested Development - The show eked out one more nod for Best Comedy series... but was on the short-end when it came to acting.  Only Will Arnett (Gob) squeaked in for supporting.  Where or where was my Jessica Walter nomination?!?

Will & Grace - Also, in its last hurrah.  The show fails to be up for Best Comedy... but 3/4's of the cast are nominated one more time (sorry Eric McCormack).

The West Wing - Gets its last (and, in my opinion, well-deserved) nod for Best Drama... with the usual suspects nominated in the acting categories... Sheen in lead, Janney in lead, and Alda in support.

24 - The show with the most nominations, including Best Drama.  Now while I think that this is technically a very good show, it's not one I watch for its fine acting.  Nevertheless, Kiefer gets a lead acting nod... and the devilish First Family, Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart, earn nods in support.   What no Chloe?!   Guess we need a "best comedic performance in a drama series" category for Mary Lynn Rajskub.

Weeds - A very good show over at Showtime... didn't expect a Best Comedy nod, but thought the deliciously sly Mary Louise Parker (and Award show fave) would make the cut for Lead Actress, she did not... the only major nod was Elizabeth Perkins in support.

Scrubs - Ok, I am thrilled for the Best Comedy nod... but WTF?!!!? Where are the acting nominations?!?!   Zach Braff made it onto the list last year, so I thought we were past all of this... and again, it is just inexcusable that John C. McGinley has never been nominated as Dr. Cox.

For the full list of nominess... and to see if your favorites have been nominated from the few shows I do not watch (i.e. the very much nominated Grey's Anatomy)... go here:
Yahoo! TV - Coverage of The 58th Annual Emmy Awards

A more "easy on the eyes" list can be found here:
EW.com | Here are the Emmy nominees

Golden Globe Thoughts

Just some random thoughts about last night's Golden Globes... and thank goodness for TiVo, we watched the last two hours of the 24 premiere "finale"... and then it was off to back-up TiVo where I managed to "watch" the 3-hour GG telecast in approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes!   Nice!

Great to see Brokeback Mountain as the big winner of the evening.  Seems like it would take a fairly big upset to not have a repeat wins in the same categories (Picture, Director, Screenplay, Song) come Oscar time.  One award that I really would have liked to have seen the movie win is Best Score... just hearing those few pangs of music brought me right back into the film... and I am getting a tad tired of John Williams always winning in this category... is there really a detectable difference from his sweeping, epic, soaring scores from one movie to the next?

Also was thrilled to see Felicity Huffman take home Best Actress for Transamerica (I am assuming it'll eventually get to Phoenix).  Will be interesting to see if she'll be able to take the Oscar as well.  I think her current Desperate Housewives gig hurts her "street cred" .. but then again, Helen Hunt won the Oscar not too far removed from her televison sitcom career.  And really what other alternative is there in this category?  Somehow (and having nothing to do with her actual performance) I don't think its quite time to hear the phase... Academy Award Winner Reese Witherspoon.

Speaking of DH, if you thought Mary Louise Parker's win in the Best Actress in a Comedy was an upset or surprise, you obviously have not watched Weeds.  MLP is a revelation in this role and a most deserving winner... that said, I would not rule out the probability that a split among the 4 Housewives was at least partially responsible ... and very nice to hear MLP give a shout-out to the late John Spencer at the end of her speech.

I watch and enjoy Commander In Chief... but Best Actress in a Drama for Geena Davis?  This show is not exactly a bastion of fine acting (I'd say even the far superior Donald Sutherland is more scenery-chewing than anything else)... so this one surprised me a bit.  Backstage, Davis said of her Presidential stoicism ... "I'm so in character that I don't know what my face is doing."  Umm, Geena we've noticed.  That said, a great and funny acceptance speech.

Tough call for me in the Best Actor in a Comedy... so many deserving nominees... Zach Braff, Steve Carrell, and Jason Lee.  My heart, of course, belongs to Braff... but I would not have been disappointed with a win by the others... but Carrell's acceptance speech was one the best in recent memory, so for that reason alone I am glad that Carrell took home the Globe.  (UPDATE:  I transcribed Carell's speech!  Click here to read!)

Golden Nods

The Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning, so thought I'd post my gut take on the nominees.

However, I will not say anything about the film categories.  Why?  Well, wanna guess how many of the films and performances I have seen .... 0.  That's right none, zippo, nil.  Oh well.

Ok, so here we go with the television categories... and you know I watch television!

Drama Series: Commander in Chief, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Prison Break, Rome
Watch all of these except Grey's... a pretty good list, nice to see Prison Break earn a nod... but my head-scratcher is Commander in Chief.  Now I watch it and enjoy it, but when all is said and done it is not a very high quality show... it has improved over time... but it still well below the far superior West Wing.  And where or where is Six Feet Under (totally shut out) for its brilliant final season!?!

Actress, Drama: Patricia Arquette (Medium), Glenn Close (The Shield), Geena Davis (Commander in Chief), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Polly Walker (Rome)
Now this one I am not as familiar with... only Davis (ditto my comments above to her likeable but somewhat stilted performace) and Walker... and thrilled with that nod, Walker's devilish Atia certainly made Rome far more watchable.

Actor, Drama: Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Matthew Fox (Lost), Hugh Laurie (House), Wentworth Miller (Prison Break),  Kiefer Sutherland (24)
Fox, Miller and Sutherland are those who I know about... that said, I really don't consider any of them superb actors... but they are nice to look at.

Series, Musical or Comedy: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, Everybody Hates Chris, My Name is Earl, Weeds
Don't watch Chris... add me to the list who don't get all the fuss about Curb... and otherwise a pretty good list... though I would have gladly replaced Entourage with either Scrubs or Arrested Development. Nice to see the Showtime series Weeds get a well-deserved nod.

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, and Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), Mary-Louis Parker (Weeds)
Well, not too much fun when one show dominates a category... but at least Eva didn't get left out this time around... she gets my "most improved" Housewife award this year (though not quite sure what season got nominated).  I love Felicity and Marcia... but I would not be disappointed at all if the vote gets split and MLP walks away with the award.   My replacement... knock out Hatcher for Lisa Kudrow's brilliant Valerie Cherish on HBO's The Comeback.

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Zach Braff (Scrubs), Steve Carell (The Office), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jason Lee (My Name is Earl), Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)
Definitely happy about Braff, Carell, and Lee... nice to see "smart" sitcoms like Scrubs, Office, and Earl get some attention.

Now one of my huge Golden Globe pet-peeves is the supporting actor nominations... they are one of the few (only!) awards that break films out by drama and comedy... but when it comes to supporting roles in television they lump to together dramas, comedies... plus television mini-series and movies... which makes absolutely no sense to me. 

So you have the likes of Paul Newman (mini-series) up against Jeremy Piven (comedy) up against Donald Sutherland (drama)... just crazy!

Here are the nominations... but the people left off these lists are just far too many to mention!

Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Candice Bergen (Boston Legal), Camryn Manheim (Elvis), Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy), Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds), Joanne Woodward (Empire Falls)

Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Naveen Andrews (Lost), Paul Newman (Empire Falls), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Randy Quaid (Elvis), Donald Sutherland (Commander in Chief)

For a list of all the nominees... including the unmentioned film nods, you can check out the full list here.

Emmy Roll Call

Emmy nominations out this morning... as expected, a lot of new faces thanks to the departure of such Emmy regulars as Frasier, Friends, and Sex and The City... and the lack of qualifying season for The Sopranos. 

So my thoughts on the major categories (shows we watch are in blue)

Comedy Series
Arrested Development
Desperate Housewives
Everybody Loves Raymond
Scrubs
Will & Grace
Pretty pleased here... W&G is just a shadow of what it used to be... though it says something about the sad state of sitcoms that I can't think of a replacement for it.  Hurray, for Scrubs first ever nomination in this category!  Though I suspect Raymond (in its final year) will probably win most of the comedy categories.

Drama Series
Deadwood
Lost
Six Feet Under
24
The West Wing
Again, not too much to quibble with...

Lead Actor - Comedy Series
Jason Bateman (Arrested Development)
Zach Braff (Scrubs)
Eric McCormack (Will & Grace)
Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond)
Tony Shaloub (Monk)
Hurray for Zach Braff... first time nominee...

Lead Actor - Drama Series
Hank Azaria - Huff
James Spader - The Practice
Hugh Laurie - House
Kiefer Sutherland - 24
Ian McShane - Deadwood
Well can't provide too much input here... my notably missing are Matthew Fox (Lost), Martin Sheen (West Wing), Peter Krause & Michael C Hall (SFU).

Lead Actress - Comedy Series
Marcia Cross - Desperate Housewives
Teri Hatcher - Desperate Housewives
Patricia Heaton - Everybody Loves Raymond
Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives
Jane Kaczmarek - Malcom in the Middle
As suspected the Desperate Housewives dominate... and Sex and The City syndrome as Eva Langoria begins what I suspect will be a repeated journey of being the the lone non-nominee (ala SatC's Kristen Davis).  Although she is just adorable, personally I think Teri Hatcher is a bit over-rated (is she a better actress than her Lois Lane days?). Debra Messing is bumped and, once again, is the only W&G cast member not to receive a nomination.

Lead Actress - Drama Series
Jennifer Garner - Alias
Patricia Arquette - Medium
Mariska Hargitay - Law and Order: SVU
Glenn Close - The Shield
Frances Conroy - Six Feet Under
Like the actor category, not a whole lot for me to comment on here... is this the first year that WW's Allison Janney has not been nominated?  Granted she would have been the biggest of dark horses... but I would have liked Christine Lahti in here for the ill-fated Jack & Bobby.

Supporting Actor - Comedy Series
Jeffrey Tambor - Arrested Development
Brad Garrett - Everybody Loves Raymond
Peter Boyle - Everybody Loves Raymond
Jeremy Piven - Entourage
Sean Hayes - Will & Grace
A pretty crowded category here, with a lot of omissions... guess we'll have to wait until next year when the Raymond supporting duo drops out of the running.  But where or where is John C. McGinley, Dr. Cox on Scrubs?!?!  I think I would put him ahead of even Zach Braff as a more deserving nominee!  Also missing... any of the Arrested Development guys (even before Tambor IMHO)... Will Arnett (Gob), David Cross (Tobias), Michael Cera (George Michael), and Tony Hale (Buster)... also no Desperate Housewives men make the cut (granted their roles are less comedic).

Supporting Actor - Drama Series
William Shatner - Boston Legal
Terry O'Quinn - Lost
Naveen Andrews - Lost
Oliver Platt - Huff
Alan Alda - The West Wing
Glad to see some of the Lost guys here (and probably the two most worthy nominees)... notable absentees... Alda gets here on his rep, but what about the regulars from West Wing... or heck, even the much more seen Jimmy Smits?

Supporting Actress - Comedy Series
Doris Roberts - Everybody Loves Raymond
Jessica Walter - Arrrested Development
Holland Taylor - Two and a Half Men
Conchata Ferrell - Two and a Half Men
Megan Mullally - Will & Grace
Kind of strange than none of acting noms from Two and Half Men are men... but anyhow.  Jessica Walter was the name I was looking for on this list... so, for that, I am pleased.  Sadly no Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) other gals from Arrested Development Portia de Rossi (Lindsay) or Alia Shawkat (Maeby)... or even Nicolette Sheridan from DH.

Supporting Actress - Drama Series
Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy
Tyne Daly - Judging Amy
Blythe Danner - Huff
CCH Pounder - The Shield
Stockard Channing - The West Wing
Not too familiar with the noms here... and, though I love her, probably would not have included Stockard.  My notable absentees... Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) and Yunjin Kim (Sun from Lost)... and heck why not Mary Lynn Rasjkub (Chloe from 24).

So who are you glad to see on the list? Any of your favorites not make it?

No Grammy For Me

Well, perhaps my pop culture junkie card should be revoked.  I (we) chose not even to watch the Grammys last night -- or even record it on "back-up" TiVo.  I have felt increasingly out of touch with the music scene of late.  The signs have been there.  For instance, this weekend I caught part of the VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown and have to admit I was not aware of the artist or song on probably half of them.  Likewise, when the Grammy nominations were announced a few months ago - my reaction to Kanye West being the most nominated artist was... who??  Yes, I had never heard of the guy before. 

I don't know when or why this has happened.  We can still click on the 80s music channel on our cable line-up and I can play "name the tune" with scary recollection.  But I guess over time, "popular" music has moved into a direction that doesn't fit my tastes.  Though it could be that since I started working from home I am rarely in a car these days -- and the car radio is the most common place to be exposed to new music.

The morning after, I don't have any real regrets for missing the Grammys.  Ray Charles predictably swept the awards -- as with most award shows, "winning" has rarely anything to do with the nominated product.  Now don't get me wrong, I love me some Ray Charles (I don't hesitate to say -- and bring up at any given opportunity -- that actually seeing Charles sing "America The Beautiful" at the 2001 World Series is right up there among the great moments of my life) but he certainly would not have had the Grammy haul for this latest album if he was still with us. 

So what did we watch?  We kept to the "normal" Sunday night schedule of Arrested Development and Desperate Housewives.  Arrested had its usual raucous episode with the funniest moments being Tobias' endless riff of gay double entendres, while it was another stellar display of Bree quotables on Housewives.  The whole rough sex conversations betweeen Bree & Rex were a hoot!  From the "escape" words of "Boise" and "Palestine" to sending handcuff "once through the dishwasher" -- it was pretty darn classic.  A new gardener is on the way at the Solis household next week -- hopefully that'll lighten up Gabrielle a bit... she is back to being pretty darn unlikeable (again).

Golden [Yawn!] Globes

Eek... I was feeling quite out of touch watching last night's Golden Globe awards.  Now I full admit to not being quite the movie-goer I used to be, but even the television awards left me out in the cold... c'mon I watch ALOT of television (and some of it that I would consider "good") so how could I possibly be so out of the loop?

So hurray for Jason Bateman (actor/comedy) from Arrested Development and Teri Hatcher (actress/comedy) and Desperate Housewives (comedy)...but beyond I had a serious lack of interest.  No Nip/Tuck, no Deadwood, No L&O: Anything, no Boston Legal, no made-for-television movies (broadcast, cable or otherwise)!

So here are my random thoughts:

Did ABC pay for all the Desperate Housewives' cast to get mist tanning?  All the ladies looked overly-sprayed on... or are they just trying to mummify them just in case they are in need of another hit show?

Renee Zellweger and Charlize Theron look better as blondes.

Was Nicole Kidman pissed that she pretty much had to scooch in everytime one of the winner inevitably had to navigate their way on the stage... and was there directional lighting on the floor to tell winners how to get up there?!

Funniest moment -- Scrubs' Zach Braff in the background after Teri Hatcher's win... she kissed everyone but seemed to miss Zach who just threw his arms up in "hey you missed me" fashion

Has Lisa Marie Presley had botox or is she just incapable of facial expressions... and Mick Jagger did the music for the movie Alfie... that was some news to me!

I just do not get the Globes television supporting acting category.  They nice split the movies between drama and comedy/musical... and likewise for the lead acting television nods...  but they lump all TV series and movie supporting actors into one category.  So you have Angelica Huston for a movie competing against Nicolette Sheridan competing against Drea de Matteo...and Sean Hayes up against Michael Imperioli... apples and oranges indeed!

Emmy Recap

Some thoughts about last night's Emmy Awards:

Overall, pretty happy with the winners from last night...seemed like the right mix of rewarding the new, saying goodbye, and making up for some lost time.

Angels in America -- Were there any doubts that this would win and win and win?! Well deserved all around...though I am starting to think Al Pacino is losing it a bit.

Arrested Development - One of the big surprises of the night...usually the Emmys don't reward new or different. I like the show...I am not a huge crazed fanatic about it (I save that for my beloved Scrubs...umm with Sex and the City, Frasier and Friends all off the air...how about at least a nomination next year Academy, okay?!) but I do enjoy watching it and really appreciate its originality. The award will hopefully get more people watching -- though it will (hopefully) never be/become mainstream.

The Sopranos - If The West Wing won Best Drama again I think there was going to be a revolt among critics and even some fans (though I am not one of those who think WW has gone that terribly awry since Sorkin left)... so it was great to see The Sopranos finally get the big one. Surprised that neither James Gandolfini and Edie Falco did not take home the lead awards -- with the acting nods instead going to Michael Imperioli (minor upset of co-star Steve Buscemi?) and Drea de Matteo -- though I am having my doubts that either of these two are great actors. Imperioli victory speech did not stray too far from something that would come out of Christapha's mouth, while de Matteo is pretty much playing a warmed up version of Adriana on Joey.

The West Wing - Again not surprised over the virtual shut-out... well, with the exception of Alison Janney's 4th trophy -- but what was the deal about getting the other nominees to get up on the stage? Poor Mariska Hargitay fell for it...and ended up in a pretty awkward situation. My heart has a special place for C.J., but given success of The Sopranos last night I would have liked the broom to have swept Falco back up to the podium.

Sex and The City - Would have been my choice for Best Comedy (given the nominees), but was glad to see both Sarah Jessica Parker and especially Cynthia Nixon win for the first time. Was figuring Doris Roberts would win yet again thanks to a Sex-split, but thankfully that did not happen... Doris should pick up her Emmy next year for the last year of Raymond and Sex-less competition.

Frasier - Again not the biggest surprises that Kelsey Grammar and David Hyde Pierce took home the Emmys for their last season of work. A mild surprise that Grammar did win...as many predicted a posthumous nod to John Ritter. For those of you who were confused about Grammar being nominated for 3 shows as Dr. Frasier Crane -- the tough show to come up with was NBC's Wings -- where he guest-starred (and was nominated for as a guest acting Emmy). Ok Academy... with Pierce out of the running next year... [deadhorse] time to nominate John C. McGinley for Scrubs [/deadhorse].

The Amazing Race -- Woo Hoo!!! In the second year of this category, it seemed highly improbable that TAR would repeat as Outstanding Reality Competition Program. Once again it was up against the powerhouses of Survivor and American Idol... but this time around it was also up against reality buzz show of the year, The Apprentice... with the Trumpster in attendance, could TAR possibly do it again!? Yes! You're Philimanated! Did you happen to catch Mirna on the stage after the Awards were over?! Wonder who she pushed out of the way to get front and center!

2004 MIA Emmy Nomination List

The Emmy nominations came out this morning. For the most part it was the usual (and admittedly, for the most part, deserving) suspects leading the pack: The Sopranos,West Wing, Sex and the City. As expected, Angels In America dominated the mini-series/movie category with 21 nominations. At quick glance it looks as if the all of the primary cast of Angels earned nods (including 4 of the 5 best supporting actor spots).

So who's missing?

Scrubs
What does this show have to do to earning a best comedy series nomination or any acting nods? I would have easily substituted Scrubs in for the once-again nominated Will & Grace (isn't it a sign when Jack & Karen get nominated, but not the two leads?), but heck even Friends in its final season could not bump out its Thursday night comrade. I think it would be tough for Zach Braff to crack into the lead actor category, but there is no excuse that John C. McGinley has never been nominated for his role as Dr. Cox.

Arrested Development
The freshman comedy broke through into the best comedy series category but only earned one acting nomination in the supporting actor category (Jeffrey Tambor the jailed patriarch of the Bluth family). Granted this is pretty groundbreaking, but I would have liked to have seen more...like David Cross (Tobias) or Will Arnett (Gob)...and most deserving Jessica Walter (Lucille)...but with the 3 Sex ladies (incl. Kristin Davis finally earning her first nod) plus Megan Mullally and Doris Roberts, the supporting actress category was pretty impenetrable this year.

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
This category is filled with big names (Christina Applegate, Eileen Brennan, Georgia Engel, Cloris Leachman, and Laura Linney) but I offer up two more... Minnie Driver as Lorraine on Will & Grace (John Cleese was nominated as a guest actor) and why not Liza Minelli as Lucille 2 on Arrested Development?!

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
No additions here...but a happy shout-out for first-time nominee Drea de Matteo (as Adriana on Sopranos) and a second nod for Janel Maloney (as Donna on West Wing), who joins her castmate Stockard Channing. I think Drea has the edge here, but I would not discount that Tyne Daly gets another frickin' statue.

I'm A Grammys Granny ... and some "Sex"

I really do not have to say about last night's Grammy Awards.  Although I consider myself a pop culture maven, "popular" music is one area that I have woefully fallen behind on in the past decade or so.  I am aware the existence of such "it" acts as OutKast, ColdPlay, and Evanescence...but don't expect me to be able to name them if I hear one of their songs.  My feelings of being reaaally old were confirmed about 10 minutes in the show when it was mentioned that Prince & Beyonce's Purple Rain medley was in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the movie/album... 20 years... ouch!!  If I really want to age myself, let me say that I had that album on vinyl!

All in all, I really did not see much of the show...opting to move over to Sex and the City...some quick thoughts... Kristen Johnston's fall was pretty out of character for the show, would expect that out of Six Feet Under not Sex... although I know episodes are not timed to be this week/following week, Charlotte's "Elizabeth Taylor" had the shortest gestation period ever (dog or not!)...and finally Miranda really needed to physically (as opposed to just verbally) slap Carrie into some sense about Paris and "the Russian."  With the other ladies' "end" fairly wrapped up, I fear that Carrie's story is going to be too rushed to completion... I am still holding out that Carrie is single and back in NYC two weeks [sniffle!] from now.

Back to the Grammys...

I thought yet another apology from Justin Timberlake was totally not necessary... now I read that the Grammy organizers insisted on the on-air apology if he was to be part of the show...even worse!  Would it not have been more in the spirit of "moving on" if the whole thing was not even mentioned?  It was bad enough that the show was weighed down in a whole "walking-on-eggshells" tone but now I have to see Timberlake apologizing (again!) ad nauseum for the next few days.  Let the guy bask in winning a damn Grammy and let this now wildly-overblown incident go away.  It makes me wish there were some new details on Britney's Vegas wedding.

And what is going on with Celine Dion's hair?  Is it short and platinum blonde or back to somewhat lengthy and brunette?  Last week during Oprah's 50th birthday parties (don't get me started on the millions shelled out for at least five lavish celebrations), Celine showed up with her Vegas blond hair...but last night during the Luther Vandross tribute (kudos for her not "diva-ing" out, well at least not on camera, during technical "failures") she was back to the "old" Celine-look.  Personally, I prefer her as a brunette... but I am curious if she was wearing a wig last night?