CBS Bets On Laughs with their 2013 Fall Schedule

Apparently CBS is ready to make Thursday night “Must See TV” again as they attempt to conquer the night NBC owned with hit comedies for decades with their first two-hour comedy block this fall. Joining hits The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men on the night will be the new Robin Williams/Sarah Michelle Gellar comedy The Crazy Ones and the Wil Arnett-starrer The Millers. Those comedies will lead into Elementary for a fun night of TV. It’s the biggest move for the network which is pretty darn stable throughout the rest of its schedule… However, they will have their first split season serialized dramas on Monday nights with Hostages and Intelligence sharing the 10pm slot and displacing Hawaii Five-O to Fridays…. Other news was the cancellation of long-running utility player Rules of Engagement and holding Mike & Molly for midseason…. For more on the new CBS schedule head here or to Deadline.com and check out the new schedule below.

CBS 2013 Fall Schedule~

MONDAY
8-8:30 PM – How I Met Your Mother
8:30-9 PM – WE ARE MEN (new buddy comedy about divorced guys with Jerry O’Connell, Kal Penn and Tony Shaloub)
9-9:30 PM – 2 Broke Girls
9:30-10 PM – MOM (new comedy with Anna Farris as a recovering addict working in Napa Valley co-starring Allison Janney)
10-11 PM – HOSTAGES (a new thriller about a family taken hostage starring Toni Collette and Dylan McDermott) / INTELLIGENCE (Midseason~ A new drama thriller with Josh Holloway and Marg Helgenberger)

TUESDAY
8-9 PM – NCIS
9-10 PM – NCIS: Los Angeles
10-11 PM – Person Of Interest (NT)

WEDNESDAY
8-9 PM – Survivor
9-10 PM – Criminal Minds
10-11 – CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

THURSDAY
8-8:30 PM – The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9 PM – THE MILLERS (new family comedy with Wil Arnett, Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges)
9-9:30 PM – THE CRAZY ONES (new single camera workplace comedy with Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar as high-powered Ad Exec Partners who are also father and daughter)
9:30-10 PM – Two And A Half Men (NT)
10-11 PM – Elementary

FRIDAY
8-9 PM – Undercover Boss
9-10 PM – Hawaii Five-0 (NT)
10-11 PM – Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8-8:30 PM – COMEDYTIME SATURDAY
8:30-9 PM – COMEDYTIME SATURDAY
9-10 PM – Crimetime Saturday
10-11 PM – 48 Hours

SUNDAY
7-8 PM – 60 Minutes
8-9 PM – The Amazing Race
9-10 PM – The Good Wife
10-11 PM – The Mentalist

Returning midseason: Mike & Molly, Reckless (a new legal drama), and Friends with Better Lives (a new ensemble comedy with James Van Der Beek and Brooklyn Decker).

Cancelled: Rules of Engagement, Partners, The Golden Boy, Vegas, CSI: NY

My Big Bold 2011 Emmy Winner Predictions

This Sunday Sept 18th is television’s big night, the Emmy Awards honoring the best on the tube in the past year. Emmy winner Jane Lynch (Glee) is up for another award this year and is our fearless host for the show that airs live at 8pm on the East coast (5pm for ya’ll on my side of the country). It should be a great show and we could see a wide variety of winners. However, I think the two big races will look like repeats from last year with Modern Family and Mad Men repeating in the Comedy and Drama categories… So, who else do I think will and should win? Take a look at my big bold perhaps clueless Emmy winner predictions below and watch the big show on Sunday night on Fox.

My Big Bold 2011 Emmy Winner Predictions~

Drama Series:
Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men
Will win: Mad Men
Should win: The Good Wife
Spoiler: Boardwalk Empire

Comedy Series:
The Big Bang Theory, Glee, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock
Will & Should win: Modern Family
Spoiler: Parks and Recreation

Lead Actor Drama Series:
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Timothy Olyphant (Justified)
Will win: Jon Hamm
Should win: Michael C. Hall (hello, he’s never won, what???… yeah, it’s just my personal thing. However, apparently Jon Hamm really does deserve it for his submission episode “The Suitcase”)
Spoiler: Steve Buscemi

Lead Actress Drama Series:
Kathy Bates (Harry’s Law), Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), Mirielle Enos (The Killing), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU), Juliana Marguiles (The Good Wife), Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Will & Should win: Juliana Marguiles
Spoiler: Elizabeth Moss

Lead Actor Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carrell (The Office), Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), Louis C.K. (Louie), Matt LeBlanc (Episodes), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Will & Should win: Steve Carrell
Spoiler: Jim Parsons

Lead Actress Comedy Series:
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Laura Linney (The Big C), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly), Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Will & Should win: Amy Poehler (yes, I’m going out on a big limb here)
Spoiler (and a very deserving one): Laura Linney (she’s never lost an Emmy race mind you… but she already has 3 of em!)

Supporting Actor Drama Series:
Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age), Josh Charles (The Good Wife), Alan Cumming (The Good Wife), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Walter Goggins (Justified), John Slattery (Mad Men)
Will win: Alan Cumming
Should win: Peter Dinklage
Spoiler: Walter Goggins
~this one is a serious horse race. Any of them could prevail

Supporting Actress Drama Series:
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife), Michelle Forbes (The Killing), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empiret), Margo Martindale (Justified), Archie Penjabi (The Good Wife)
Will & Should win: Margo Martindale
(I have a soft spot for Michelle Forbes though and would be thrilled if she pulled off an upset)
Spoiler: Archie Penjabi

Supporting Actor Comedy Series:
Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Chris Colfer (Glee), Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Ed O’Neil (Modern Family), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Will win: Ty Burrell
Should win: Chris Colfer
Spoiler: Eric Stonestreet (seriously, it could be anyone but Cryer and I’d be happy)

Supporting Actress Comedy Series:
Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Jane Lynch (Glee), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live), Betty White (Hot in Cleveland)
Will win: Betty White
Should win: Julie Bowen (even though White is still super awesome)
Spoiler: Jane Lynch (she has an amazing episode submission dealing with the softer side of Sue Sylvester and her sister’s death)

TV Movie/Miniseries:
Cinema Verite, Donwtown Abbey, The Kennedys, Mildred Pierce, The Pillars of the Earth, Too Big Too Fail
Will win: Downtown Abbey
Should win: Cinema Verite
Spoiler: Mildred Pierce (it was the most nominated program of the year by the way and that always helps)

Lead Actor TV Movie/Miniseries:
Idris Elba (Luther), Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood), William Hurt (Too Big To Fail),Greg Kinnear (The Kennedys), Barry Pepper (The Kennedys), Edgar Ramirez (Carlos),
Will win: William Hurt
Should win: Barry Pepper
Spoiler: Edgar Ramirez

Lead Actress TV Movie/Miniseries:
Taraji P. Henson (Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story), Diane Lane (Cinema Verite), Jean Marsh (Upstairs Downstairs), Elizabeth McGovern (Downtown Abbey), Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)
Will win: Kate Winslet
Should win: Diane Lane

Supporting Actor TV Movie/Miniseries:
Bryan O’Byrne (Mildred Pierce), Paul Giamatti (Too Big to Fail), Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce), Tom Wilkinson (The Kennedys), James Woods (Too Big To Fail)
Will win: James Woods
Should win: Tom Wilkinson
Spoiler: Guy Pearce

Supporting Actress TV Movie/Miniseries:
Eileen Atkins (Upstairs Downstairs), Melissa Leo (Mildred Pierce), Maggie Smith (Downtown Abbey), Mare Winningham (Mildred Pierce), Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce)
Will & Should win: Maggie Smith
Spoiler: Evan Rachel Wood

Reality Competition Show:
American Idol, Amazing Race, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef
Will win: American Idol (they’ve never won and this feels like their best chance or they will probably never win)
Should win: Project Runway or So You Think You Can Dance
Spoiler: Top Chef

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

Parks & Recreation, Game of Thrones and Justified win over the Television Critics Nominations

It seemed like just last week that I was telling you about the great TV programs and actors that critics were cheering this season. Oh wait, it was as I told you about the first annual Critic’s Choice TV Award nominees… And now a week later, the other critics group, the Television Critics Association weighs in with its nominees for its annual kudos-fest. Leading the way was HBO’s fantastic fantasy show Game of Thrones with 4 nominations including program of the year followed by three noms apiece for the awesomely hilarious Parks and Recreation and the underrated drama Justified. Five great actors from those shows were also singled out: Peter Dinklage, Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Margo Martindale,and Timothy Olyphant. Other new programs getting shout outs included Boardwalk Empire and The Killing. Take a look at all the nominees and what a worthy bunch they are. (Ok, except for one~ the nomination for The Voice for Outstanding Reality Programming is clearly a joke since that show is a disastrous, albeit entertaining mess). And for more on the TCA’s, head to their website here.

2011 Television Critics Association Award Nominees:

Program of the Year
“Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)
“Friday Night Lights” (DirecTV/NBC)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Justified” (FX)
“Parks and Recreation” (NBC)

Outstanding New Program
“Boardwalk Empire” (HBO)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Terriers” (FX)
“The Killing” (AMC)
“Walking Dead” (AMC)

Outstanding Achievement in Drama
“Friday Night Lights” (DirecTV/NBC)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Justified” (FX)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“The Good Wife” (CBS)

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
“Community” (NBC)
“Louie” (FX)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Parks and Recreation” (NBC)
“Raising Hope” (FOX)

Individual Achievement in Drama
Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire,” HBO)
Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones,” HBO)
Jon Hamm (“Mad Men,” AMC)
Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife,” CBS)
Margo Martindale (“Justified”, FX)
Timothy Olyphant (“Justified,” FX)

Individual Achievement in Comedy
Ty Burrell (“Modern Family,” ABC)
Louis C.K. (“Louis,” FX)
Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation,” NBC)
Amy Poehler (“Parks and Recreation,” NBC)
Danny Pudi (“Community,” NBC)
Jon Stewart (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central)

Outstanding Achievement in News and Information

“If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise” (HBO)
“Restrepo” (National Geographic Channel)
“60 Minutes” (CBS)
“The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC)
“30 for 30” (ESPN)

Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming

“Amazing Race” (CBS)
“Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations” (Travel Channel)
“Survivor” (CBS)
“The Voice” (NBC)
“Top Chef: All Stars” (Bravo)

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming

“A Children’s Garden of Poetry” (HBO)
“iCarly” (Nickelodeon)
“Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” (Nickelodeon)
“R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour” (The Hub)
“Sesame Street” (PBS)
“Yo Gabba Gabba” (Nick Jr.)

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials

“Cineme Verite” (HBO)
“Downton Abbey: Masterpiece” (PBS)
“Mildred Pierce” (HBO)
“Sherlock: Masterpiece” (PBS)
“Too Big to Fail” (HBO)

Career Achievement Award

Steven Bochco
Dick Ebersol
Cloris Leachman
David Letterman
William Shatner
Oprah Winfrey

Heritage Award

“All in the Family”
“Freaks and Geeks”
“The Dick Van Dyke Show”
“Twin Peaks”