They’re Here… My Big Bold 2012 Emmy WINNER Predictions…

Sunday night is TV’s biggest night as the Emmy Awards are announced on ABC in a ceremony hosted by a nominee himself, the hilarious Jimmy Kimmel… If history is any indication, Mad Men and Modern Family will repeat as the Drama and Comedy winners. However, I have a feeling we are in for a shakeup this year, especially on the Drama side. It’s the most competitive year in ages with four drama series all boasting a strong shot to win while we should see some new comedy acting winners as well… With that said, take a look at my big bold Emmy winner predictions below and watch the big show Sunday night!

 

My Big Bold 2012 Emmy Award Winner Predictions~

Drama Series:
Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, Mad Men
Will win: Downton Abbey
Should win: Breaking Bad
~ spoiler: Homeland
* this category is fierce. I feel like Mad Men will finally lose the crown, but I won’t be surprised if it grabs one more victory. However, Abbey appeals to all demos of the voting group and should prevail over the classic but violent and dark Bad. If those three all split the vote, the very deserving Homeland or the big winner from the Creative Arts ceremony, Game of Thrones, could pull an upset.

Comedy Series:
30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Girls Louie, Modern Family, Veep
Will & Should win: Modern Family
~ spoiler: The Big Bang Theory
* where on Earth is Parks and Recreation in this lineup??!!

Lead Actor Drama:
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Steven Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Damian Lewis (Homeland)
Will & Should win: Bryan Cranston (you just can’t deny him)
~spoiler: Damian Lewis

Lead Actress Drama:
Kathy Bates (Harry’s Law), Glenn Close (Damages), Clare Danes (Homeland), Michelle Dockrey (Downton Abbey), Juliana Marguiles (The Good Wife), Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Will & Should win: Clare Danes (this is the night’s most obvious winner. She has it by a mile)
~ spoiler: if I have to pick one… Juliana Marguiles

Lead Actor Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Don Cheadle (House of Lies), Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Louie C.K. (Louie), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Will win: Jim Parsons
Should win: Garrett Dillahaunt (Raising Hope) or Adam Scott (Parks and Rec), but they weren’t nominated, blergh!
~spoiler: Jon Cryer (don’t underestimate this guy and he has a funny tape)

Lead Actress Comedy:
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl), Lena Dunham (Girls), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Julia Louis Dreyfuss (Veep), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)
Will win: Julia Louis Dreyfuss (and a very deserving winner at that)
Should win: Amy Poehler (it was her best season yet. She was hilarious and heartwarming but Dreyfuss may just slide by her in the tightest race of the night)
~spoiler: Zooey Deschanel

Supporting Actor Drama Series:
Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Jared Harris (Mad Men), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Will & Should win: Giancarlo Esposito
~spoiler: Peter Dinklage

Supporting Actress Drama:
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife), Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey), Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Archie Penjabi (The Good Wife), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Will win: Maggie Smith
Should win: Anna Gunn
~ spoiler: Christina Hendricks

Supporting Actor Comedy:
Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Max Greenfield (New Girl), Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live), Ed O’Neil (Modern Family), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Will & Should win: Max Greenfield (and he will likely split the Modern Family vote)
~spoiler: Ed O’Neil (he seems like the Modern Family choice this year even though Jesse Tyler Ferguson had the strongest season)

Supporting Actress Comedy:
Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Merritt Weaver (Nurse Jackie), Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
Will win: Sofia Vergara
Should win: Kristen Wiig
~spoiler: Kristen Wiig or Julie Bowen
* this one should be close with any of them having a shot at the win except for the delightful Weaver or the dearly departed Joosten whose nomination is the prize.

Reality Competition Series:
The Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, The Voice
Will win: The Amazing Race
Should win: So You Think You Can Dance
~spoiler: Top Chef

Reality Competition Host:
Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars), Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance), Phil Koeghan (The Amazing Race), Ryan Seacrest (American Idol), Betty White (Off Your Rockers)
Will & Should win: Cat Deeley
~spoiler: Ryan Seacreset

Made for TV Movie/Miniseries:
American Horror Story, Game Change, The Hatfields & the McCoys, Hemingway & Gelhorn, Luther, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia
Will & Should win: Game Change
~ spoiler: American Horror Story

Lead Actor TV Movie/Miniseries:
Kevin Costner (Hatfields & McCoys), Benedict Cumberpatch (Sherlock), Idris Elba (Luther), Woody Harrelson (Game Change), Clive Owen (Hemingway & Gelhorn), Bill Paxton (Hatfields & McCoys)
Will & Should win: Woody Harrelson
~ spoiler: Bill Paxton

Lead Actress TV Movie/Miniseries:
Connie Britton (American Horror Story), Ashley Judd (Missing), Nicole Kidman (Hemingway & Gelhorn), Julianne Moore (Game Change), Emma Thompson (The Song of Lunch)
Will & Should win: Julianne Moore
~ spoiler: Nicole Kidman

Supporting Actor TV Movie/Miniseries:
Tom Berenger (Hatfields & McCoys), Martin Freeman (Sherlock), Ed Harris (Game Change), Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story), David Strathairn (Hemingway & Gelhorn)
Will win: Ed Harris
Should win: Denis O’Hare
~spoiler: Tom Berenger

Supporting Actress TV Movie/Miniseries:
Frances Conroy (American Horror Story), Judy Davis (Page Eight), Jessica Lange (American Horror Story), Sarah Paulson (Game Change), Mare Winningham (Hatfields & McCoys)
Will win: Jessica Lange (she pretty much has it in the bag)
Should win: Sarah Paulson

And there you have it… my big bold Emmy winner predictions… Do you agree? Am I crazy? Let me know and watch the big show on Sunday night.

Chris Colfer Gets “Struck By Lightning”

Not one to rest on his laurels, Golden Globe winner and two-time Emmy nominee Chris Colfer is parlaying his Glee success into a movie career. His first feature, Struck by Lightening, is due in theaters this summer and not only does he star in it, but he wrote it. Hello multi-talent! Colfer plays a high school student who blackmails his fellow schoolmates into writing stories for his literary magazine, all in the hopes of getting into a great college. The first trailer is out and it looks pretty hilarious and Colfer is definitely showing us some new colors. Check out the clip below which also features Bridesmaids standout Rebel Wilson, Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland, Dermot Mulroney, Christina Hendricks, Allie Grant (Suburgatory), Angela Kinsey (The Office), and Emmy/Golden Globe/SAG Award winner Allison Janney. And watch an all new Glee tonight as the kids head into the Sectionals competition for the winter finale episode.

Struck By Lightning

My Current Obsession~ the Music from “Drive”

I finally caught up with one of the best, most innovative, surprising and simply awesome films of the year this week, Drive. I am kicking myself for not having seen it when it hit theaters in September because it’s just fantastic. This film starring Ryan Gosling (who’s reaped Critics Choice and Independent Spirit Award nominations for his performance) as a stunt driver who gets wrapped up in the dark crime underworld of LA got raves from critics when it was released. However, it only did so so at the box office. That’s unfortunate because it’s one of the best films of 2012. Carey Mulligan is wonderful as the woman Gosling chooses to protect from some scary circumstances and Golden Globe/Independent Spirit/Critics Choice nominee Albert Brooks is stunning as an evil mob boss plus great turns by Emmy winner Bryan Cranston, Emmy nominee Christina Hendricks, Ron Pearlman and Oscar Isaac. The movie has brilliant direction (by Independent Spirit/Critics Choice nominee Nicholas Winding Refn), editing and cinematography and one incredible element that has also received great notice~ the music. The soundtrack and score are reminiscent of 80′s new wave classics and they will stick in your head. The music is available on iTunes and other digital outlets now and I highly recommend you get it. So, take a listen to some choice cuts from the wonderful soundtrack to the film Drive which hits dvd next month. Oh and the film gets an “A” grade by the way.

The music from Drive….

“A Real Hero”- College featuring Electric Youth

“Nightcall”- Kavinsky

“Under Your Spell”- Desire

And here’s the trailer for the best most unsung film of 2011: Drive

Check out the 1st Annual Critic’s Choice TV Award Winners

When I heard about the first annual Critic’s Choice TV Awards honoring the best in television, I was very excited. I thought “hey, maybe these guys will get it right where the Emmys get it wrong.” Then, I saw their nominees with shows like The Killing, Game of Thrones, Parks and Recreation, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Justified and Fringe and names like Cat Deeley, Martha Plimpton, Courtney Cox, Anna Torv, Shawn Hatosy, and Nick Offerman on the list and I was overjoyed. Some great programs and actors were finally getting their due recognition…. That is, until today’s Awards ceremony…. You see, several of the old guard still picked up awards like…
SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT

Don’t read further if you don’t want to know and would rather find out when the show airs this Wednesday 6/22 at 8pm on Reelz channel…

…. when several of the old guard like Tina Fey, Mad Men and Juliana Marguiles all won. Now, don’t get me wrong. They’re all quite deserving, I was just hoping that maybe someone like Mirielles Enos from The Killing might win. But, hey at least she was nominated… And there were three really awesome winners: Busy Phillips (Cougar Town), John Noble (Fringe) and Margo Martindale (Justified). I can only pray that they will at least get Emmy nominations, let alone a win. Progress takes time people…. Anywho, take a look at the full list of winners below and catch the show on Wednesday which is hosted by the brilliant (and unfortunately loser to Mike Rowe, what?!) Cat Deeley which will also feature a tribute to Danny DeVito.

2011 Critic’s Choice TV Award Winners
Drama Series: Mad Men
Lead Actor Drama: Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Lead Actress Drama: Juliana Marguiles (The Good Wife)
Supporting Actor Drama: John Noble (Fringe)
Supporting Actress Drama: TIE~ Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) & Margo Martindale (Justified)
Comedy Series: Modern Family
Lead Actor Comedy: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Lead Actress Comedy: Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Supporting Actor Comedy: Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Supporting Actress Comedy: Busy Phillips (Cougar Town)
Reality Competition Show: American Idol
Reality Series: TIE~ Hoarders & The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Reality Host: Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs)
Talk Show: Daily Show with Jon Stewart

“Company” is the Best Movie of 2011~ See it while you can!

What does it say about the state of affairs in the movie biz when I state that the best movie of 2011 so far is a staged musical? Yes, it’s a filmed stage production not a mega blockbuster or a thoughtful indie. Instead, it’s the utterly brilliant, moving and hilarious New York Philharmonic filmed presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical Company starring a wonderful Neil Patrick Harris who brings a deep emotional resonance to his role along with his usual comic genius. The Emmy winning  actor and recent Tony host plays Bobby, a confirmed bachelor who can’t commit to a relationship who is surrounded by his best friends all of whom are married. The show takes place during his surprise 35th birthday party and features vignette flashbacks to Bobby’s past with three girlfriends and each of the couples. All of the interactions, songs and bits are seamlessly woven together by a brilliant ensemble cast including Tony winner Anika Noni Rose (Caroline or Change, Dreamgirls), Emmy winner Jon Cryer (Two and A Half Men) and Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report), plus Tony nominees Craig Bierko (The Music Man), Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope), a hilarious Jennifer Laura Thompson (Urinetown) and Emmy nominee Christina Hendricks (Mad Men). However the two standout supporting cast members are a hysterical Katie Finneran (two-time Tony winner for Promises, Promises and Noises Off) and the iconic Patti LuPone (two-time Tony winner for Gypsy and Evita) who utterly destroys the classic tune “The Ladies who Lunch”. I can’t say enough about this amazing production with great direction by Lonny Price and a wonderful book by George Furth. I only wish it were playing in theatres longer. It currently only has two more days on-screen: 6/19 and 6/21. I urge you to rush out and see this incredible theatrical experience at your local theatre ASAP. You won’t regret it. For more on the show and to get tickets, click here and check out the trailer for Company below.
Company~ grade: A+

Company

10 Things I Guarantee will happen at the Emmys

The big night is almost here as the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences hands out its primetime Emmy Awads tomorrow night. I’ve already told you about the Creative Arts Emmy winners from last week and given you my predictions for the big winners. Now, I’m gonna give you one more little morsel to get ready for the show… With that said, here are 10 things I guarantee will happen on Emmy night…. Take a look and watch the show on NBC tomorrow night to see if I’m right.

Ten Things I guarantee will happen at the Emmys…

1. True Blood will lose Best Drama Series~ the academy showed they are hip by nominating the show but there’s not a fairies chance in werewolf/vampire/maenad hell that it can win.

2. Jane Lynch (Glee) will win Supporting Actress Comedy Series~ she’s the funniest actress in the funniest role on TV right now. She’s paid her dues and everyone loves her. An overnight success that’s two decades in the making. A slam dunk.

3. Jimmy Fallon will disappoint as a Host~ his fan base is young and hip and advertisers like that. However, it’s also small and his hit and miss on his own program. I like him but honesty is he gonna translate to a mass audience? No. Otherwise, his movie career would’ve taken off and he wouldn’t be in Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson’s shadows.

4. Tina Fey will be the funniest presenter~ whether she’s presenting or winning, she kills it. And she’ll do it again. I just hope she presents after she loses best actress in a Comedy cuz you know she’ll bring the angry funny.

5. Neil Patrick Harris & Betty White will steal the show~ they both just won Guest Actor in a Comedy Series and couldn’t be hotter in Hollywood. Put them together to present and you have a hilarious match made in gay heaven, oops, I mean entertainment heaven.

6. Christina Hendricks will end up on the Worst Dressed List~ the Mad Men has what some consider a “full” figure. Really she’s just gorgeous and actually might eat a chip every now and then. However, her curves always get her into fashion trouble with the fashionistas regardless of whether she looks great or not.

7. Anna Paquin & Stephen Moyer will be way too touchy feely~ the True Blood stars are newlyweds and can’t seem to keep their hands off each other on or off-screen.

8. If Chris Colfer wins, you will bawl~ the surprise Glee supporting actor nominee is so charming, intelligent and funny in person, he’s certain to give a great speech that will touch the outsider in everyone.

9. You will realize you didn’t see 95% of the TV Movie/Miniseries nominees~ I watch everything and I still haven’t seen Return to Cranford or Endgame…. Yes, those are real movies…

10. I throw someone out a window if Tony Shaloub wins~ the Monk star already has 3 wins and 7 nominations. Enough already! However, he had a great tape submission and he’s well liked in the community. It could happen unfortunately…