tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3476443099217937055..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Emmy nominations 2007By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41919647259537912382007-08-07T13:31:00.000-07:002007-08-07T13:31:00.000-07:00Hey Ken,A friend just sent me your site/blog. Gues...Hey Ken,<BR/><BR/>A friend just sent me your site/blog. Guess he figured we'd be simpatico. From what I've seen so far, he's right. You taste barometer is on, open to a variety of tones and approaches, as long as they are smart and unforced. To which I say, yay.<BR/><BR/>Few things, random and less so. One, I went to high school with Nancy Travis's brother, Gordon. Or, as we called him in Chatham, Flash, for reasons both athletic and semi-perverse. Two, I am a Larry Gelbart fanatic - "Tootsie" is sublimely written - were you there during his M*A*S*H tenure? Always wondered what Gelbart is like. (Side note: Have no comparison to the original Hooker solo duo but they were always a guilty pleasure when I was a kid) Third, do you watch "The Wire"? Judging by what you like, you'll love it. It has no equal. And lastly, have you seen these new Christopher Guest videos? My tech geek friend just sent them to me. The guy can make anything work, it seems...<BR/><BR/>http://youtube.com/watch?v=TgT2LyA2WFc&mode=related&search=<BR/><BR/>Anyway, Ken, keep fighting the good fight.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>TJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61871074118501236572007-07-26T04:58:00.000-07:002007-07-26T04:58:00.000-07:00I am really disappointed about Dexter getting snub...I am really disappointed about Dexter getting snubbed, I wonder if the subject matter was just too disturbing for some. <BR/><BR/>Michael C Hall was amazing and deserved to win but for him not to be nominated is a joke. To see James Spader instead of him is a slap in the face. <BR/><BR/>The Wire seems to be the most underrated show in the history of television. It has created a world unlike anything seen before but has only one nomination in its first 4 years. <BR/><BR/>When the best shows on TV are ignored it tends to lend credence that the Emmy's have become irrelevant.Author Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10193579168434783700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22266444334354812302007-07-22T15:56:00.000-07:002007-07-22T15:56:00.000-07:00The Wire is filmed in Bawlmer with a majority Afri...The Wire is filmed in Bawlmer with a majority African-American cast. Hence one nomination over it's entire rune.<BR/><BR/>Hell, even the critics gave it to the comic book show over The Wire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-87183732678199461822007-07-22T15:12:00.000-07:002007-07-22T15:12:00.000-07:00The Wire didn't get any nominations because it is ...<I>The Wire</I> didn't get any nominations because it is full of black people who aren't Morgan Freeman, and the story arcs over an entire season. It is the best show on television and <B>no</B> nominations means they aren't paying attention.SomeGuyInVAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10028094400707407814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43380350165046900052007-07-22T14:19:00.000-07:002007-07-22T14:19:00.000-07:00Just to add... It really should be Colbert's year ...Just to add... It really should be Colbert's year because The Colbert Report has been constantly funny all year. The Daily Show is still good, but it has had more ups and downs in the last year since Ben Karlin left.Brain Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16111528495838668207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30242243512268306472007-07-22T14:17:00.000-07:002007-07-22T14:17:00.000-07:00I'm so pleased with all the love The Office is get...I'm so pleased with all the love The Office is getting. It is well deserved even if I preferred Season 2 to Season 3. Jenna Fischer indeed deserves to win.Brain Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16111528495838668207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42460004181617844632007-07-21T06:12:00.000-07:002007-07-21T06:12:00.000-07:00But but but...I Love Studio 60. Scratch that, love...But but but...I Love Studio 60. Scratch that, loved Studio 60. *sniffle*The Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12330337589176622484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12919334931385587842007-07-20T19:58:00.000-07:002007-07-20T19:58:00.000-07:00bijfuzI knew Jay Leno fairly well 27 years ago, an...bijfuzI knew Jay Leno fairly well 27 years ago, and he was a really nice guy then; sweet, smart and very generous. (Letterman was also very generous, always the first to pull cash from his own pocket when someone needed money.) Jay was also considered the stand-up's stand-up, one of the sharpest, funniest men on the Comedy Store stage. He also hated football, and you were NOT allowed to turn a football game on in his home.<BR/><BR/>Nowadays, as a comic, he's been pandering for a decade and a half to the lowest-common demographic, doing comedy for the stupid, which is why his ratings are so high. (The dumb outnumber the smart. Somehow his "Jaywalking" morons are flattered by having their vacuity pointed out on national TV.) He's become, at least on air, a tireless sports buff, and he's bent over backwards to install Ahnold in the California Governor's mansion, a sin he still has to awnser for, though it shows the lie of his pretence of non-partisan fairness. (Letterman doesn't pretend non-partisan fairness. He's out to get Bush, and may he please succeed.) I don't know what Jay's like as a person anymore, but if he's as transformed offstage as he is on, then he's become Voldemort.<BR/><BR/>His political humor has become rooted in the most-common public perceptions: Bush is dumb, Bill Clinton chases skirt, Hilary is a ball-breaker. It's thr far-opposite end from Jon Stewart's insightful political humor. Jay has become predictable and tiresome.<BR/><BR/>I catch one Leno monologue a week, Mondays, because HEADLINES remains funny. The rest of the time I watch Letterman, who still amuses me daily. I can't take Jimmy Kimmel, as I am unable to rub the stain of THE MAN SHOW from my mind. Conan is terrific on the rare days that I'm still watching network after Letterman. Actually, I tend to switch Letterman off when the first guest comes out unless it's someone I really love, and slip in a DVD, as I've had enough chatter by then. I overdosed on celebrity interviews a long, long time ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70536547802556652262007-07-20T19:03:00.000-07:002007-07-20T19:03:00.000-07:00Jay Leno has never been funny on the Tonight Show....Jay Leno has never been funny on the Tonight Show. He giggles after every joke, trying to make the unfunny funny. His band is mediocre. And his interviews make Larry King look like Terry Gross. <BR/><BR/>Jay always struck me as a nice guy, but I've heard lots of stories to the contrary. <BR/><BR/>Conan and Jimmy Kimmel both do funnier stuff than either Letterman or Leno.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923161793979910495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65273943628944618602007-07-20T16:46:00.000-07:002007-07-20T16:46:00.000-07:00Jeremy Piven, by many accounts, has gotten a large...Jeremy Piven, by many accounts, has gotten a large head since "Entourage" became a, ahem, "hit". Note his falling out with longtime friend, John Cusack, and his silly feud with Stephen Dorff. He may have been perfectly fine on "Ellen", but has gotten full of himself since then. He sure as hell comes off poorly on talk shows.<BR/><BR/>As for Jay Leno - yes, he's not the broadcaster than Letterman is, but he's gotten a lot more crap than he's deserved over the years. People completely wrote him off when Letterman premiered, and yet here he is 14 years later, in first place. He does have some funny bits. Sure, a lot of it is mediocre, but I blame NBC as much as Leno. And wait until Conan takes over and the ratings decrease by 50%; NBC will sure as hell miss Leno then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8447893281387813752007-07-20T16:39:00.000-07:002007-07-20T16:39:00.000-07:00"I thought it was politically correct to criticize..."I thought it was politically correct to criticize how Sandra Oh looks. Sandra looks like she sprouted from the womb half formed."<BR/><BR/>Crutnacker, I'm guessing you didn't notice you omitted the "in" from "incorrect" until after you posted. I do that all the time. But your description of Miss Oh would right be on the nose if she had a nose. She's the only actress I've ever seen who needs a reverse nose job; she needs one added to her flat, blank face. MAybe this season she'll cheer up no longer having to play being in love with Isaiah Washington. (Good riddence to bad rubbish.)<BR/><BR/>"How many nominations did Rome receive?" I didn't count them, but actually it got quite a lot of nominations.<BR/><BR/>"d mcewan must have only watched the pilot of The Riches...it got better."<BR/><BR/>Mary, you are right. I watched the first episode, and when the second one came around, I taped it, and could not muster the desire to ever watch it, and taped over it. I'll take your word for it having improved. A friend of mine, also a big Eddie Izzard fan, asked me to tape the first one for him, as he doesn't get the station, and after the first episode he said, "Don't bother with next week's." Also some friends of mine in New York who were looking forward to it (And who went to see Eddie in JOE EGG on Broadway and raved about how great he was in it) emailed me after the first episode of THE RICHES that they wouldn't be bothering to tune in again either. In fact I don't know anyone personally who watched it past the pilot.<BR/><BR/>"the reason Eddie Izzard didn't get a nom was not because he didn't slip into a dress" Did anyone suggest that was the real reason? Ken joked about it costing him "Best Actress" and I didn't even suggest it.<BR/><BR/>"As long as media snobs who insist on seeing actors as one-note (yes Brits can play American white trash, just as gay can play straight and pretty can play homely, etc., etc., etc. --- it's called acting) will allow themselves to consider him outside the cross-dressing box, he may have a chance next year"<BR/><BR/>Mary, I am a HUGE Eddie Izzard fan. I have all his stand-up DVDs. I have his CDs. I've met him. I have a picture of us together on my living room wall. I've been to see him perform live from the front row. I've seen all his movies, even his unfotunate non-role as Sir Sean Connery's henchman in the Godawful THE AVENGERS. I was looking forward to THE RICHES, and I hated it. I know he is a fine actor, beyond his gratuitous frocks, but there is still such a thing as miscasting, and THE RICHES is a mind-boggling example of miscasting.<BR/><BR/>And I know that some Brits can play Americans (Peter Sellers in LOLITA & DR. STRANGELOVE, both English movies.). I also know that there exist LOTS of American actors who could have played THE RICHES and been far more believable than Minnie & Eddie. We need Brits coming over here and taking work from American actors? MY NAME IS EARL can't employ all of them, you know. Ever seen a British series, made in Britain, with two Americans playing Brits? Me neither.<BR/><BR/>I see there's a Best Song catagory this year (!), and that MY DICK IN A BOX is nominated! (And about 8 people are nominated for writing it.) Oh I so hope they perform it on the show, and that it wins. I'd love to see Celine Dion sing it.<BR/><BR/>"I've never understood all the hate for 'Two and a Half Men'."<BR/><BR/>Not hate, just noting that it's hardly Emmy-worthy, particularly with MY NAME IS EARL omitted. You can be a LOT better than ACCORDING TO JIM without reaching Emmy levels. Pheonix is closer to New York City than Los Angeles is, but that doesn't mean it's in New York State.<BR/><BR/>LIVE FROM STUDIO 60 got a directing nomination. Don't bet the rent on it winning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53049285881596595212007-07-20T14:32:00.000-07:002007-07-20T14:32:00.000-07:00Why does Letterman keep getting nods? His show st...Why does Letterman keep getting nods? His show stopped being award-worthy eons ago. True, Jay's stuff is often like a chain restaurant... huge mediocre portions... but some of his bits are funnier than Letterman's. Letterman's "this isn't funny, and isn't that funny" schtick grew tired pre-bypass. He's still the more consummate broadcaster than Jay, and his interviews hark back more to Johnny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90110545061601508172007-07-20T14:16:00.000-07:002007-07-20T14:16:00.000-07:00the wire = no nominationstelevision academy = deve...the wire = no nominations<BR/><BR/>television academy = developmentally disabled, racist, lazy limousine liberalsUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09911768536289861172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78433479587940155312007-07-20T11:58:00.000-07:002007-07-20T11:58:00.000-07:00Sorkin recently stated that he blames himself and ...Sorkin recently stated that he blames himself and his miscalculations for Studio 60's failure. I'm a little surprised he didn't try and find a way to blame the snide comments about it in this blog. :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-12243460895186951402007-07-20T11:28:00.000-07:002007-07-20T11:28:00.000-07:00Good to hear BSG got some nods, though James Calli...Good to hear BSG got some nods, though James Callis should be up for best supporting actor, seeing as how he manages to play a crazy, messianic genocidal person form outer space who is in love with a robot and still be a sympathetic character.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57382289759307037552007-07-20T11:24:00.000-07:002007-07-20T11:24:00.000-07:00Dunno if Jeremy Piven is an asshole or not, but he...Dunno if Jeremy Piven is an asshole or not, but he owes me his life. Several years ago, he dashed in front of my car while crossing a street in Santa Monica, and only my quick reflexes kept him from becoming one with the asphalt. <BR/><BR/>Agree with jerry about My Name is Earl, even if it did have a couple of dud episodes this season. Glad Jaime Pressley picked up another nod, but where's Ethan Suplee? He's one of the great prime time dimwits, if not quite up there with Coach and Woody.<BR/><BR/>I like Boston Legal. Even though it's always been uneven, this was a particularly strong season for them. Spader and Shatner are gold together, and Christian Clemenson matches them as "Hands" Espenson. He's the one unfamiliar name in the Guest Actor category, but I believe he's won it before.<BR/><BR/>I predicted the Isaiah Washington controversy would land T. R. Knight his first nomination, even though his Grey's character, like every other character on the show this season, has become dull, unlikeable or both. Heigl should have been nominated last season for her Denny arc. This year, she was just annoying (loved her in Knocked Up though).<BR/><BR/>Agree with mark p. that Desperate Housewives had a solid season, but Emmy clearly fell out of love with it after season one. Second year in a row that only Huffman has been nominated among the leads.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-56454856466472629122007-07-20T09:46:00.000-07:002007-07-20T09:46:00.000-07:00d mcewan must have only watched the pilot of The R...d mcewan must have only watched the pilot of The Riches...it got better. And the reason Eddie Izzard didn't get a nom was not because he didn't slip into a dress, it was because he kept slipping out of his American accent. That also improved as the season went on.<BR/><BR/>As long as media snobs who insist on seeing actors as one-note (yes Brits can play American white trash, just as gay can play straight and pretty can play homely, etc., etc., etc. --- it's called acting) will allow themselves to consider him outside the cross-dressing box, he may have a chance next year.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04422220428199916271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4001197619711139882007-07-20T08:20:00.000-07:002007-07-20T08:20:00.000-07:004 noms for Battlestar Gallactica, though I don't t...4 noms for Battlestar Gallactica, though I don't think of any them will be televised. Sound editing, visual effects, writing, and directing. (though maybe writing is? I can't remember)Dante Kleinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15352526035841213773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85699069580805974292007-07-20T08:18:00.000-07:002007-07-20T08:18:00.000-07:00I can't understand why "My Name is Earl" doesn't q...I can't understand why "My Name is Earl" doesn't qualify as Best Comedy series. Its funny, unpredictable, and the paralyzing, sneering cynicism of this modern age is constantly undermined and subverted a gentleness and heart rarely glimpsed on television.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03105191430879033352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9299043801855951232007-07-20T07:45:00.000-07:002007-07-20T07:45:00.000-07:00The minute Elaine Stritch appeared on 30 Rock I sh...The minute Elaine Stritch appeared on 30 Rock I shouted "Emmy!" at the tv.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4890478128017725902007-07-20T06:59:00.000-07:002007-07-20T06:59:00.000-07:00I've never understood all the hate for "Two and a ...I've never understood all the hate for "Two and a Half Men." My taste in comedies is on the "Office", "Frasier", "Cheers" (Diane years, especially), "Arrested Development", "Simpsons" (first 8 years) side, and no, it's not in that category. It's a much broader show. But I think Sheen, Cryer, and the rest of the cast are doing great work with sharp material. It's funny, but it's just not subtle stuff. It's leagues ahead of "According to Jim" or "George Lopez". It deserves every nomination it got. Although how Sheen is a lead and Cryer is a supporting actor I'll never understand. The show wouldn't work without both of them. Sheen needs someone to play off of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47167365406670256932007-07-20T06:02:00.000-07:002007-07-20T06:02:00.000-07:00What? No noms for Scott Baio????At the very least...What? No noms for Scott Baio????<BR/><BR/>At the very least you'd think Erin Moran could've snagged "Best Actress most in need of emotional and physical support"....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9110070213294806912007-07-20T04:41:00.000-07:002007-07-20T04:41:00.000-07:00Hey Ken don't forget Thomas Haden Church and Tony ...Hey Ken don't forget Thomas Haden Church and Tony Shalhoub were both nominated this year (along with Tim Daly)<BR/> elaineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63953076482570629362007-07-20T04:37:00.000-07:002007-07-20T04:37:00.000-07:00Hey, you can learn a lot about people watching SNL...Hey, you can learn a lot about people watching SNL. Or is it you can learn a lot about people who watch SNL. Honestly though, there seemed to be some tension in the room when he was hosting beyond the fact that the show wasn't getting many laughs. I've never met Piven, never will. He's John Cusack's good friend, so I can believe he's a good guy (based on my viewing of Cusack's SNL episode). <BR/><BR/>I thought it was politically correct to criticize how Sandra Oh looks. Sandra looks like she sprouted from the womb half formed.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923161793979910495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8782493220485797842007-07-20T03:26:00.000-07:002007-07-20T03:26:00.000-07:00How many nominations did Rome receive? It is the b...How many nominations did Rome receive? It is the best drama ever written, filmed and acted. Did Polly Walker get a nod? Or Ray Stevenson? How about James Purefoy? And as bad as the Sopranos sucked this last season, it still got nominations galore. These nominations, along with the entire reality show genre, prove once again: people have no taste.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com