Category Archives: Fav TV

2012 Emmy Nominations: Heights and Slights

Posted on July 20, 2012 | 4 comments

Oh how I love the Emmy’s. Maybe you’ve noticed I’m not afraid to admit TV has been my joy since I was old enough to work a remote (back then it had only 6 buttons and we called it a “clicker.”)  Today the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the Emmy nominations for best in shows.

Who will be walking the red carpet with head held high and who got snubbed? For the full list of nominations click this link.

Here’s my take:

–I’m thrilled that “Girls” was recognized for outstanding comedy series, lead actress, director, and writer after just 10 short but brilliant episodes. Judd Apatow produces but it’s my new hero– the amazing 26-year-old Lena Dunham— who writes, directs, produces and stars in this HBO comedy about 20-something girls in NYC. It’s “Sex in the City” meets “Manhattan” meets “Juno” and it’s my favorite new show on TV.

“Girls”/HBO

I’m rooting for Merritt Wever to win best supporting actress for her exceptional work on Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.”  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to rewind a scene because I was laughing my ass off and couldn’t hear the next line. Wever has created one of the most unique characters on TV in Zoey. She takes kooky to a whole new level. Is it weird that I want her to move in with my family? I’m pulling for you and your cartoon scrubs Merritt. You go girl!

Merritt Wever as Zoey on
“Nurse Jackie”/Showtime

One show that’s sure to dominate in the comedy category is “Modern Family.”  Wilson and I crack up at the characters and the writing is clever without any cheap or obvious tricks. Almost every actor on the show is nominated– with good reason as they’re all irrepressibly talented– but Eric Stonestreet as Cameron is beyond.  I also love Julie Bowen as Claire and the timing of Sofia Vergara’s Gloria…but they’re up against Merritt so I’m going to hope for a “MF” win in the best comedy  and writing categories.

As for lead actress in a comedy series, it’s like Sophie’s Choice for me among Lena Dunham, Edie Falco as “Nurse Jackie” and Queen of Quirk Zooey Deschanel for Fox’s “New Girl.” All formidable dames who own their characters.

I hope Jimmy Fallon wins for hosting “SNL”— one of the funniest 90 minutes I’ve seen in a long while. The gifted Kristin Wiig was also nominated for her scores of oddball characters on “SNL”– good luck Target lady!

For Outstanding Drama, I was happy to see HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” nominated for several awards. The scripts are excellent and the art direction sublime but it’s still no “Mad Men.”  Of course, Jon Hamm is up for best lead actor and on the drama writing slate, “MM” got 3 of the 5 nods.

Mad Men/AMC

Nominees for Outstanding Children’s Program include: “Degrassi,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “iCarly,” “Victorious,” and “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Really?! Outstanding?! Mr Rogers is rolling over in his grave.

I was surprised to see that “American Idol”  was not recognized in the best reality show category. I doubt those two dance shows and “Project Runway” have more to offer but apparently there was enough room for “The Voice”  in this contest. But the always reliable, affable, and consumately professional Ryan Seacrest will get a shot at best reality host. What number do I text to vote for you Ryan?

Also snubbed was one of my all-time favs, “How I Met Your Mother.”  How is Neil Patrick Harris overlooked for his brilliant turn as Barney and how are the writers not rewarded for consistently funny, creative scripts and believable characters? Tsk, tsk Academy.

In other Emmy injustices…. Hugh Laurie got no love in his last season on “House,” “Glee” was undernominated and the dashing and dastardly Timothy Olyphant was overlooked for FX’s “Justified.”  But the one that knocked the plasma outta me was the Academy not recognizing  “Mad Men’s”    John Slattery. It’s enough to drive me to drink.

You can see more snubs here and here.

Where will I be when the Emmy’s are handed out on September 23rd?  Curled up on the couch in front of the tube, with a giant bowl of popcorn and chocolate almonds, clutching my cell phone and laptop so I can text friends and follow the action on Twitter.

I wasn’t playing when I told you I was a TV geek.

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Mad Men Season Finale Review

Posted on June 25, 2012 | Comments Off on Mad Men Season Finale Review

Were you disappointed or intrigued by the Mad Men  season finale?

(Spoiler alert! Don’t read on if you haven’t seen it yet. But  I gave you plenty of time to watch it on your DVR.)

I’ve been a fan of dashing, deceptive Don Draper since the beginning. It’s one of the few shows that transports me to another place and makes an hour feel like a New York minute. After an insufferably long hiatus, the show came back with big developments for all its characters as it winds down to the series finale next year.  The plot twists were unexpected, the dialog tight and intense, and the art direction brilliant.

Although I dreaded the finale (like a kid at Disneyland, I never want it to end)  I liked how it summarized each character’s journey this season and left the audience wondering what’s next for Don.

While some whiners complained the finale lacked the weight of the previous episode where Lane hanged himself in his office,  they don’t understand story arc. Lane’s suicide was the season’s climax and the finale served as the denouement, wrapping up each character’s story and perhaps giving some clues to what might happen next season and how the series will end.

The Cast of “Mad Men”/ AMC

Here’s what I liked about the finale:

Pete getting punched in the face –twice! Although some say his speech at the bedside of his former lover in her room at a mental hospital made him sympathetic, I still think he’s a creepy, selfish prick. But I guess many can relate to the feeling of seemingly having it all — wife, baby, professional success, house in the burbs– and still wondering why you’re not happy.

The silhouette shot from the back, of the partners looking out the windows in  the new office space was dramatic and telling. Unlike earlier in the season when the firm was on shaky ground, now it’s full of possibilities.

Don and Peggy running into each other at the movies. They were finally able to appreciate each other as colleagues and not boss and employee. Their fondness and mutual respect was palpable, yet classically reserved.

Don walking away from Megan and into a bar. Aesthetically it was a cool shot but I loved the symbolism. It was hard to read his face when he watched Megan’s audition film, but then he went out of his comfort zone to recommend her for the job.  Why? Does he think it’s over and this is his way of giving her a career to sustain her? Does he think she has talent and deserved the shot or does he just want to please her out of guilt because he’s moving on? If he’s done, I didn’t see that coming.

Who says cliffhangers have to hit you over the head? Wondering how Don will answer the question, “Are you alone?” is enough to keep me guessing all summer.

Show creator and writer Matthew Weiner directed the season finale and talked about some of his choices in an interesting interview with The New York Times. You can read it here.

Let me know your thoughts on the finale in the comments.

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My Summer TV Picks

Posted on May 29, 2012 | 6 comments

Summer TV used to be rerun city. Now the digital TV world is my oyster and I’m always looking for the next pearl.  It’s the end of May so season finales are over and I can finally catch up on all the TV I missed while watching other TV, plus add some new gems. It’s challenging to find time to watch so many shows, but a girl can try.

(Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a show hoarder. I see a promo for a show I like and immediately set up a recording. Then I can’t erase that program until I’ve watched it.  This drives Wilson crazy but he’s a patient man and accepts my disease.)

Both my DVR’s are at about 90% full with backlogs of favorites. The bevy of modern viewing options is surely feeding my addiction but I’m thrilled to have so many choices and not be limited to the old September to May TV season. I’ll barrel through my DVR stockpile, and then check out what’s available on OnDemand and my iPad.

I also poked around the web in search of promising new shows premiering this summer.  Of the scores of possibilities, very few caught my eye. Here are a few I’ll check out to see if they pass the test to get into my regular watching rotation.

Sam Waterston & Jeff Daniels star in “The Newsroom”

–“The Newsroom”/HBO                                                                                 

Aaron Sorkin, the guy responsible for three of my favorites—“Sports Night,” “West Wing” and “Studio 60”– has created a show for HBO set in a cable newsroom.  I happened to work in a cable newsroom for 11 years so I can’t wait to see what snappy dialogue and political message Sorkin has in store. The cast—led by Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, and Olivia Munn—also has great potential. Premieres 6/24.

—Anger Management/FX                                                                        

This could be a complete disaster—but like a bad car wreck, who can turn away? A presumably humbler Charlie Sheen plays a therapist with anger issues himself in this half-hour comedy.  The premise doesn’t thrill me but I’ll tune in just to see how they handle the irony. Premieres 6/28.

—Beverly Hills Nannies/ABC Family                                                          

This could be my summer guilty pleasure. I hate to admit it, but I’m fascinated by extremely wealthy people so eager to be famous, they’re willing to have their family life filmed for entertainment.  I’ll enjoy ogling the homes while looking down my nose at egomaniacs in designer shoes and handbags, planning six-figure kids’ birthday parties.  Premieres 7/11.

The cast of “Beverly Hills Nannies”

Told you it was slim pickins.  But that’s ok, because I’ll have more time to read. I’m dying to catch up on the “Hunger Games” trilogy this summer too.

Below are shows on my “catch up” list.  I completely missed out or only saw a few episodes but want to start from the beginning. Let me know in the comments if there are any I should skip or add to my summer schedule.

—Smash/NBC

—The Killing/AMC

—Downton Abbey/PBS

—Veep/HBO

Happy summer viewing!

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Idol Finales Past

Posted on May 25, 2012 | 2 comments

So my boy Phillip won Idol, richly deserved. I read that his original song “Home” was number 1 on iTunes yesterday and several other songs of his were in the top 100.  Can’t wait to see what he does after the tour.

The finale was a little wacky: heavy on the cheese factor and low on entertainment. JLo and Aerosmith went on one song too long, not sure how Neil Diamond was relevant, and the gooey group songs are always overdone. My favorite moment of the night was Jennifer Holliday and Jessica belting out “I am Telling You” from “Dreamgirls.”  My kids kept asking who the creepy lady with the big mouth was, but I didn’t care how weird she looked, that song gave me chills. They both had so much soul and power, it was crazy. I watched it at least four times.

“Idol” finales are always special for me because they bring me back to my time as a Fox TV news producer, when I went to LA for a week every May to cover them. We would create a huge tented setup for the contestants and judges to do interviews and for reporters from stations all across the country to do live shots about the show.

The hours were insane but I loved every minute. I dug into my archives to find these photos I took from the “Idol” Season 6 finale. Enjoy!

  

Remember these faces? from Idol Season 5

Paula doing interviews

Simon swarmed

I interviewed Mandisa– remember her?

Runner up Katherine McPhee now stars on NBC’s “Smash”

Season 6 Winner Taylor Hicks with hometown Birmingham, AL reporter showing the love

My moment with Taylor

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Idol Finale Predictions

Posted on May 22, 2012 | 4 comments

Phil Phillips and Jessica Sanchez Faced Off in the Idol Finale

Just finished watching “Idol” and wanted to make my predictions before the big finale tomorrow night. It was tough to hear tonight because of the enormous, rowdy crowd but the judges’ input was almost irrelevant at this point.

Jessica belted it out with her power voice and command of the stage. She was styled well and seemed to enjoy the moment. She killed Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” but I didn’t love her second two forgettable song choices. While I admire her talent, I don’t feel anything when she sings. Still, there’s no denying her amazing pipes and presence.

Phillip’s first song , “Stand By Me” was Phil-ified but understated, which worried me. But he came back with a funky version of Billy Joel’s “Moving Out, ” which I loved, and then won the crowd over with his last song, “Home.” I felt like I was watching VH1’s Storytellers. He has an intensity and vulnerability when he sings– it’s like I’m peeking deep into his soul and feeling how much he loves the music.

courtesy Idolater.com

I’ve rooted for Phillip since his audition and am not surprised he’s in the finale. In fact, I went back to my original Idol post from March 19th and found this nugget:

My Idol predictions:  In the next few weeks we’ll lose Elise, Erika, and hopefully Deandre…soon to be followed by Heejun. Then it will get dicey and anyone could go but I’m going to say Phil, Colton, Jessica, and Joshua will be in the top four.  A great finale would be Phil vs. Jessica but I’ll have to weigh in again on the finale after a few more weeks.  

My money’s still on my boy, Phil. I hope all those teenaged girls who make up the “Idol” voting majority dial his numbers til their little fingers hurt.

Let’s face it, both Jessica and Phillip– and even Joshua– will all get record deals, so they’ve already won.  Win or lose tomorrow night, their lives are forever changed.

Who do you think will win? Tell me in the comments.

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My Take on Idol: The Year of the Voice

Posted on May 19, 2012 | 4 comments

The talent on this year’s Idol has awed even a longtime, loyal fan like me. Usually the bottom 5 is obvious. But this year, the contestants are so gifted and varied; it was really a crapshoot, which makes it more compelling to watch. Here’s my take on the last few weeks:

Surprises:

—Joshua Missing the Finale.  That was the toughest final 3 I can remember but I’m shocked that after all the praise and reverence (not to mention that “No More Drama” performance)  he was the one to go. The only thing I can point to is maybe his home visit wasn’t as emotional as Jessica’s and Phillip’s. Idol fans are suckers for weepy reunions.

—Colton’s early exit.  He was so unique in his style and talent, and teen girls—the majority of Idol voters– loved him. Did people make assumptions that he didn’t need votes that week?  I hope he’s the Chris Daughtry of this season and makes it big regardless of his exit place.

—Hollie’s longevity. Although she does have an incredible voice and she’s a looker (amazing what eye makeup can do) her lack of passion or stage presence made her an easy target. Yet she stayed and stayed and actually got better each week. It will be interesting to see how she does in the cruel real world of music once the Idol halo lifts.

—Lack of Criticism. I know these kids are singing their faces off, but these last few weeks have been a puff fest. “The best ever on this stage” has been thrown around more than necessary and the standing ovations started to look like squat drills. Makes me miss Simon. Jimmy Iovine can be brutal but someone has to keep these guys hungry and striving to improve.

—Randy’s blazers!! WTF? Yo dawg, one day he’s a circus clown, the next he’s a used car salesman. And the lapel pins! Bizarre. But I’ll give him credit for owning his look.

Joshua Ledet Doesn’t Make Final 2

No surprise:

—Joshua and Jessica were outstanding. I’ve gotten goosebumps so many times I’ve taken to wearing a sweater on performance nights. Joshua’s “This is a Man’s World” and Jessica’s “ I’m Telling You” were full of fire and heart, not to mention range.  I still can’t believe Jessica’s only 16.

—Phil Phillips’ artistry. He might not have the power pipes of his competitors but I love how he Phill-ifies every song and adds that crazy squint and heel sway dance move.

—J Lo Still My Fav Judge. I officially have a girl crush. It’s not fair that she can wear her hair in 10 different ways and pull off gold sequins. I also like her emotion. Am I naïve to think she really cares about these kids and takes pride in their accomplishments? Her comments are thoughtful and intimate.

Overall, it’s been an enjoyable season. However, this 2-hour format does not work for me.  Every Wednesday show dragged for 2 hours. Do we need each contestant singing multiple songs? And please, no more duets! Listen up, Nigel: I have a full plate of shows on my DVR and asking me to commit 3 hours a week is too much.

And yet….can’t wait for the four-hour finale next week!

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Give HBO’s Girls a Whirl

Posted on May 8, 2012 | 4 comments

I had two reactions when I watched the pilot for the new HBO show, “Girls,” last night. One was deep and instant love: the writing, the characters, the New York City backdrop, and the edgy approach.

But I also hated myself for not being as talented or as young as creator, director, writer, executive producer, and actress Lena Dunham. Oh to be 24 and have the creativity, confidence, and discipline to write about how confusing it is to be 24.

Dunham wrote an indie movie called “Tiny Furniture” (now on my must-see list) that was well-received and caught the attention of Judd Apatow, who is also an executive producer of “Girls.” When Apatow heard she was talking to HBO about a show on young girls navigating friendship, work, and sex in New York, he got on board.

Executive Producer Judd Apatow with the stars of “Girls” Mamet, Kirke, Dunham, and Williams

Many have compared the half-hour comedy to “Sex and the City,” and I love how “Girls” embraces the comparison and pays homage with a reference in the first episode to which character is a “Charlotte” and which is a “Carrie.” There’s also a scene at the end of the pilot where Dunham’s character, Hannah, walks down a Manhattan street and fades into the crowd, similar to the opening sequence of “SATC.”

The show has received a lot of attention in a few short weeks, some praising its unique voice and some critical of its narrow characters and lack of diversity. There has also been buzz because all the actresses are children of the famous. Dunham’s mother is an artist, while Allison Williams is the daughter of NBC news anchor Brian Williams, Zosia Mamet is the daughter of actress Lindsay Crause and writer David Mamet, and Jemimia Kirke is the daughter of Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke.

I could care less who their parents are as long as they keep up the realistic dialogue that makes me laugh and remember the uncertainty, fear, and self absorbancy that marked my 20’s in New York.

Keep it coming Girls. I’m in.

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Today Show: Right Stuff or Light Fluff?

Posted on April 25, 2012 | 2 comments

“Today” / NBC/Universal

I was happy to hear that reality TV stars Giuliana and Bill Rancic are having a baby via surrogate. They’ve had a long (and over-documented) journey to parenthood, with fertility problems and Giuliana’s surprise breast cancer diagnosis last year. They seem like nice people (although perhaps oddly willing to publicize their most personal and painful experiences on national television) who deserve the joy of starting a family.

This is the kind of news you would expect to hear at a family dinner or on a personal phone call from a friend. But in our twisted world where reality stars make their living off sharing intimate details, we might expect to hear it on an entertainment show or Twitter.

Yet NBC promoted the hell out of the “exclusive” all morning, before the sit-down interview with the couple in the 8:00am hour.

Is this the best “Today” can do for news and information? I could see a 30 second voice-over at the end of the news segment, or a live interview with the Rancics on the fourth hour of “Today,” which is dedicated to entertainment and family stories.  But with everything going on in the world, with all the resources of the number one morning show, with the amazing staff that show requires, this tidbit was worth several minutes in the second hour of the show?

It’s just one of many examples of entertainment and pop culture stories taking over news shows. I’m old school because I’ve worked in news since my first college internship in 1988.  Back then, this kind of fluff would never be pitched for fear of ridicule.

But standards have changed and these stories score high ratings so news shows are under pressure to cater to our lowbrow interest in the Duggers’ 20th baby, Mel Gibson’s latest rant, and every Kate Middleton outfit.

I only have 30 minutes to absorb the news before I start my day. I prefer my newscasts to explain world events and introduce me to newsmakers that inspire change. What’s going on in Afghanistan? Tell me the latest medical breakthrough or a great story about teachers.

I hate that complaining makes me sound like an out-of-touch old-timer. I lap up celebrity gossip as much as the next teenaged girl, but can’t we keep it in the pages of People and Gawker?

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Low Moments of Parenthood

Posted on April 23, 2012 | 9 comments

Raising kids is the best job in the world, right? How about the parts that aren’t so rosy?  I had a rock bottom behavior incident with my kids recently that brought out all my worst traits.

I’m risking humiliation and scorn in sharing it with you to open a dialogue and maybe even laugh about those inevitable low moments in parenting, when you’re glad you can’t get fired from the job.

I’m not—and have never been—a morning person, so the school prep routine is always a challenging time for our family. Wilson gets up and does his thing and walks 8-year-old Aden to school most mornings. But the bulk of the grooming, feeding, cleaning, and lunch-making duties for my boys (ages 6, 8 and 12) are up to me.

As you may have noticed, I watch a load of TV. But keeping up with the bountiful shows in our repertoire often keeps us up late.  It’s not unusual for me to slip into REM on the couch and instead of going to bed,  pushing through to my third wind to sneak in another episode of  “Mad Men” or “How I Met Your Mother.”

But my passion for programs bites me in the ass when I have to get up at 7am to get the kids off to school.  Although I know better, I don’t make lunches the night before, nor do I go through the backpacks as thoroughly as I should when the kids get home. So our mornings are always chaotic, rushed, and loud.

On one recent morning when 12-year-old picky Jacob was making sassy complaints about the lack of lunch options at Carpool Candy Café, I started to lose patience.  The next 20 minutes before I pushed them out the door with my ranting and raving is a bit of a blur.  I’m pretty sure someone spilled juice, two of them avoiding taking their vitamins, and one asked me to sign a permission slip without time to read the fine print.

What I do remember is being blindingly angry. The potential for bad behavior was as high as my blood pressure, so I stomped dramatically upstairs and into my room to try to breathe through the aggravation.  Poor Wilson was caught on my warpath as I started screaming at him about the unmitigated gall of our ungrateful and smart-mouthed children.  Not knowing the first thing to do to calm me down when I’m in this state, he stared at me wide-eyed as I blew past him into the bathroom.

At that moment I needed to show the world how furious I was about the injustice of a spurned salami sandwich.  With gleaming eyes and heaving breath, I looked frantically around for a place to sit and brood, and spied the toilet. All my rage and frustration came to a head (so to speak) as I slammed the toilet lid down with all my mommy strength.

 

The Cracked Commode

Imagine my horror when it broke in half! I burst into tears as I realized my ironically childish lack of control caused me to damage the toilet.  It was not only embarrassing, but created an annoying and expensive errand to fix.

How’s that for low?

Wilson– either understanding and forgiving or too scared to make it worse– told me it was all ok. The kids had already moved on and when I saw them after school, they had no memory of the crime.

I, however, am reminded of how quickly and easily I can lose it over inconsequential things… every time I have to pee.

This is only one in a series of low moments in my parenting journey.  Can you top a cracked can? Please share your embarrassing stories in the comments.

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RIP Dick Clark

Posted on April 20, 2012 | 1 comment

This is how I’ll remember Dick Clark

I was sorry to hear about Dick Clark’s death this week and wasn’t surprised by the outpouring of sympathy and respect that followed.  Dick was as big a part of my Saturday morning routine as pancakes and bacon. I remember lazy days, lounging around in my Holly Hobbie nightgown, watching “American Bandstand” with my brother while my dad read the paper and my mom cleaned the kitchen.

I loved seeing the kids dancing with their fancy disco clothes and toothy TV smiles.  I was listening to Donna Summer and Bee Gees LP’s on our stereo and making up dance moves to “Grease” back then so “American Bandstand” had everything  a preteen girl could want.

And who didn’t watch Dick every New Year’s Rockin Eve? There was something comforting about seeing the ball drop with him, whether I was stuck home with my parents, making a fool of myself after too many cocktails in my 20’s, or– in recent years– gathered with a bunch of friends and our kids in front of the TV.

He was a pop culture icon that I might have taken for granted, especially in the post stroke years when I wondered why he still chose to be on TV.  Now that he’s gone, I realize that his enduring presence in music and TV was the backdrop and soundtrack for many memories, all of them fond.

I love Ryan Seacrest, but there was only one Dick Clark. I’ll miss him.

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