Paying the Piper (Perabo): Golden Globes Nominations Announced

Oh, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, you do love to make me laugh.

The HFPA this morning announced their nominations for the 68th Annual Golden Globes, which will be telecast on Sunday, January 16th. Among the recipients, such worthy nominees as Mad Men, The Good Wife, Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, and others.

But as always, the voting board--which tends to be relentlessly populist and/or follows certain Emmy trends--went off-track completely in some categories, such as the nomination of Piper Perabo.

Yes, Piper Perabo.

The star of USA's espionage drama Covert Affairs was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series, where she will be competing against the likes of The Good Wife's Julianna Margulies, Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss, Sons of Anarchy's Katey Sagal, and The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick. It's really a case of which one of these things just doesn't belong?

It's not a slam against Perabo or her USA series, but it's also indicative of the fact that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association often determines their nomination process in a method that would confound most of us.

Surely, there were other dramatic performances this year that stood out over that of Perabo? Where was the nomination for, say, Connie Britton? For January Jones? For Anna Torv? For Anna Paquin? Glenn Close? Rose Byrne? The sister-wives of Big Love?

(Then again, this same voting body also gave three nominations to the cinematic trainwreck that is The Tourist, so all logic has sort of flown out of the window by now.)

The musical or comedy category contained not a risk at all. No mention made of Community, Parks and Recreation, or Party Down.

I don't want to appear ungrateful because there were some pleasant nominations to be had. I'm extremely chuffed that Elisabeth Moss received recognition for her amazing performance this season on Mad Men ("The Suitcase" alone should have locked this), that Luther's Idris Elba landed a nom, that some love was given to HBO's Temple Grandin and Return to Cranford, and that The Good Wife also received some love as well. (I'm a little amused that The Walking Dead managed to crack the best drama series after its ratings success, but that they opted not to recognize, say, Lost's final season as a result.)

And then there are the categories in which the same names come up time and time again: Best Actor, I'm looking at you. I'm pleased that Steve Buscemi cracked the category for his turn as Nucky Thompson on HBO's Boardwalk Empire, but it does get repetitive to have largely the same names crop up year after year. (I love Buscemi, but my support goes again to Jon Hamm.)

And the categories that smush together a panoply of supporting actors from various genres to compete against each other: Eric Stonestreet competing against Chris Noth and David Strathairn? Only at the Golden Globes, really, where head-scratching is just part of the package...

The full list of television-related nominees can be found below.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions, HBO Entertainment
b. DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Showtime, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company
c. THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)
CBS Television Studios
d. MAD MEN (AMC)
Lionsgate Television
e. THE WALKING DEAD (AMC)
AMC

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. JULIANNA MARGULIES - THE GOOD WIFE
b. ELISABETH MOSS - MAD MEN
c. PIPER PERABO - COVERT AFFAIRS
d. KATEY SAGAL - SONS OF ANARCHY
e. KYRA SEDGWICK - THE CLOSER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. STEVE BUSCEMI - BOARDWALK EMPIRE
b. BRYAN CRANSTON - BREAKING BAD
c. MICHAEL C. HALL - DEXTER
d. JON HAMM - MAD MEN
e. HUGH LAURIE - HOUSE

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. 30 ROCK (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little
Stranger Inc.
b. THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
Warner Bros. Television
c. THE BIG C (SHOWTIME)
Showtime, Sony Pictures Television, Perkins Street Productions, Farm Kid, Original Film
d. GLEE (FOX)
Ryan Murphy Television, Twentieth Century Fox Television
e. MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
Twentieth Century Fox Television
f. NURSE JACKIE (SHOWTIME)
Showtime, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber, Caryn Mandabach Productions

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. TONI COLLETTE - UNITED STATES OF TARA
b. EDIE FALCO - NURSE JACKIE
c. TINA FEY - 30 ROCK
d. LAURA LINNEY - THE BIG C
e. LEA MICHELE - GLEE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. ALEC BALDWIN - 30 ROCK
b. STEVE CARELL - THE OFFICE
c. THOMAS JANE - HUNG
d. MATTHEW MORRISON - GLEE
e. JIM PARSONS - THE BIG BANG THEORY

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. CARLOS (SUNDANCE CHANNEL)
Sundance Channel
b. THE PACIFIC (HBO)
Playtone and DreamWorks in association with HBO Films
c. PILLARS OF THE EARTH (STARZ)
Starz, Tandem Communications, Muse Entertainment Scott Free Films
d. TEMPLE GRANDIN (HBO)
A Ruby Films, Gerson Saines Production, HBO Films
e. YOU DON’T KNOW JACK (HBO)
Bee Holder, Cine Mosaic and Levinson/Fontana Productions, HBO Films

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. HAYLEY ATWELL - PILLARS OF THE EARTH
b. CLAIRE DANES - TEMPLE GRANDIN
c. JUDI DENCH - RETURN TO CRANFORD
d. ROMOLA GARAI - EMMA
e. JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT - THE CLIENT LIST

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. IDRIS ELBA - LUTHER
b. IAN MCSHANE - PILLARS OF THE EARTH
c. AL PACINO - YOU DON’T KNOW JACK
d. DENNIS QUAID - THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
e. EDGAR RAMIREZ - CARLOS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. HOPE DAVIS - THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
b. JANE LYNCH - GLEE
c. KELLY MACDONALD - BOARDWALK EMPIRE
d. JULIA STILES - DEXTER
e. SOFIA VERGARA - MODERN FAMILY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. SCOTT CAAN - HAWAII FIVE-O
b. CHRIS COLFER - GLEE
c. CHRIS NOTH - THE GOOD WIFE
d. ERIC STONESTREET - MODERN FAMILY
e. DAVID STRATHAIRN - TEMPLE GRANDIN

What's your take on the Golden Globe nominations? Which category surprised you the most? Who deserves to win? And who should go home empty-handed? Head to the comments section to discuss.

Channel Surfing: Tamsin Greig Lands Episodes, Steve Carell Looks to Leave The Office, History Casts The Kennedys, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

Cast changes are afoot at Showtime's upcoming Matt LeBlanc-led comedy Episodes, with Thomas Haden Church pulling out of the project due to a scheduling conflict with a film and Claire Forlani being recast after the recent table read earlier this week. But with Forlani out, Showtime has had the luck of landing British actress Tamsin Greig (Black Books, Green Wing, Love Soup) to replace her. [Editor: I think Greig is a much better fit and is a comedy genius. Showtime is beyond lucky to have nabbed her. Grieg's Black Books character, Fran Katzenjammer, remains a perennial favorite.] Greig will step into Forlani's role, as the female half of a husband-and-wife writing team whose British series is adapted for American television... and ruined in the process. Showtime has ordered seven episodes of the series, which is created by David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, who executive produce alongside Jimmy Mulville. (Variety)

Steve Carell has announced his intention to leave The Office after one more season. Speaking to BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright, Carell said that his contract with the Universal Media Studios-produced comedy goes "through next year" and then went on to say, "I think it will probably be my last year." NBC isn't commenting though it's thought likely that The Office wouldn't continue without Carell on board as Michael Scott. [Editor: in fact, it's the perfect opportunity to wrap up the series.] "This could be a negotiating ploy, but honestly, I don't think so in this case," an unnamed insider told E! Online's Megan Masters. (Office Tally via E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

History Channel has unveiled the cast for its upcoming eight-hour controversial miniseries The Kennedys, which will star Greg Kinnear, Katie Holmes (as Jacqueline Kennedy, no less!), Barry Pepper, and Tom Wilkinson. Project, which will air in 2011, is executive produced by Joel Surnow, Jonathan Koch, and Steve Michaels, with Steve Kronish writing and Jon Cassar directing. The mini will dramatize the "the personal relationships between the Kennedy clan -- including John's and Bobby's tumultuous relationship with their father," according to Variety's Michael Schneider. (Variety)

Ricky Gervais will once again host NBC's Golden Globes telecast, the network has announced. Despite the fact that the 68th Annual Golden Globes don't air until next January, NBC took the unusual step of announcing that Gervais would return... nine months ahead of broadcast. "I can't believe they invited me back after awful things I said," said Gervais in a statement. "Let's see how far I can go this time." NBC's Paul Telegdy, meanwhile, compared Gervais to an unstoppable force of nature. "As viewers discovered with our last awards telecast, Ricky's surprising and unpredictable humor is a great fit for the Globes which will continue as a live event across the nation," said Telegdy. "He's a true force of nature with a wicked sense of humor who always keeps everyone on their toes waiting for the unexpected."(Hollywood Reporter)

SPOILER! Don't expect any sense of closure for Katherine Heigl's character on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, according to series creator Shonda Rhimes. "It’s going to linger," Rhimes told Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. "And I actually feel good about it lingering because [it means] Alex is left with unfinished business. And that’s going to be very interesting for his character." Meanwhile, Rhimes isn't spilling about the game-changing season finale for Greys. "The events of the finale itself change the game," she told Ausiello. "Whether anyone lives or anyone dies is not really necessarily the point of it." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Jimmy Fallon is said to be at the top of the list for potential hosts for this year's Primetime Emmy Awards, a group that's also said to include Jerry Seinfeld and duo Tina Fey and Steve Carell. NBC will announce the host officially, but it's widely thought that Fallon, who hosts the Peacock's Late Night franchise, will announce the host next week. (Variety)

ABC has ordered six episodes of US adaptation of Russian game show The Six, in which contestants must work together in order to solve logic-based puzzles in under a minute. Project, from Merv Griffin Entertainment, will be hosted by Vernon Kay and production will get underway this summer. (Hollywood Reporter)

HBO has signed a three-year overall deal with Entourage creator/executive producer Doug Ellin, under which he will develop new projects for the pay cabler and remain aboard Entourage for its seventh and eighth seasons. Ellin already has two projects in development at HBO: a political comedy about a man working for a former US president after he leaves office (written by Ben Schwerin) and a female-skewing project with Ally Musika. (Variety)

Spike has ordered a pilot presentation for comedy Kings By Night, which will revolve around three men who start a casino in their workplace at night. Project, written by Ben and Dan Newmark and directed by Richie Keen, will be produced by FremantleMedia. (Deadline.com)

ABC Studios has signed a two-year overall deal with former Better Off Ted writers Kat Likkel and John Hoberg, under which they will develop new projects for the studio and join the writing staff of a new or existing series. (Variety)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has a first look image of Jack Bauer from the series finale of FOX's 24, which is set to air May 24th. The photo depicts a backpack-clad Jack Bauer raising his gun at... who knows, really? (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Additionally, Ausiello also has a first look image of the Smallville season finale, airing May 14th, which features a rain-slicked showdown between Clark and Zod. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Comcast and General Electric are optimistic that the NBC Universal deal will be closed by the end of the calendar year. (Variety)

Dr. Drew Pinsky and Howard Lapides are launching their own shingle, Dr. Drew Productions, which will be based in Los Angeles and focus on developing "high-quality reality television projects." (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

E! has ordered six episodes of documentary What's Eating You?, which will take a look at both common and extreme examples of eating disorders and air this fall on the cabler. (Examples are said to include ""a woman who eats a roll of toilet paper dipped in pickle juice every night before bed; another who lives in seclusion and feels compelled to eat twigs, pencil erasers and super-glue; and an aspiring model whose body is so starved that she physically smells because her body literally is eating itself alive.") (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

Salary negotiations are set to get underway for four cast members on CBS' NCIS, including Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, and Sean Murray, each of whom are looking to increase their episodic paycheck before the series returns in the fall for its eighth season. "The real question is how much CBS is willing to pay the four stars moving forward: Deadline.com is reporting that the company dangled low-ball offers, which stalled negotiations," writes Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice. "Representatives for CBS declined to comment." (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

The cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey will be answering fans questions during a live premiere party that will be hosted by Andy Cohen and will be streamed on Bravotv.com and Ustream.tv. (TVGuide.com)

TLC has ordered a fourth season of L.A. Ink. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Wet, Wet, Wet: The 67th Golden Globe Awards

Just a few quick words about last night's Golden Globes.

I spent the evening watching the (thankfully) live telecast from home and then went over to the Beverly Hilton for HBO's Golden Globes after-party at Circa 55. As usual, HBO did an incredible job transforming the outdoor space (right at the poolside)... but, rather sadly, the network's handiwork was undone by the weather, rendering the glass-enclosed firepits and open-air seating unusable.

But the party must go on and it was moved under the tents and inside Circa 55 itself, where executives, celebrities, and bon vivants sipped Copper-tinis and Moet et Chandon champagne. Those celebrities included Mad Men's January Jones and Entourage's Jeremy Piven, Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet, Big Love's Chloe Sevigny (Golden Globe-winner Chloe Sevigny, I should say), Ginnifer Goodwin, and Mary Kay Place, True Blood's Anna Camp, Hung's Natalie Zea (with whom I chatted about her role in FX's upcoming drama series Justified), Grace Jones, and many, many others. Spotted at the Hilton on the way into the party: Tina Fey, the cast of Glee, White Collar's Tim DeKay, Busy Philipps, Aaron Paul (of HBO's Big Love and AMC's Breaking Bad), Flipping Out's Jenny Pulos, True Blood's Kristin Bauer, Mad Men's Christina Hendricks (and husband Geoffrey Arend), and... I'm forgetting a ton of others. (Forgive me, I'm still recovering.)

As for the actual telecast itself, it was a mixed bag, really.

I thought that Ricky Gervais' self-deprecating opening bit was absolutely hysterical but there was too little Gervais sprinkled throughout the ceremony, which seemed oddly stiff and rudderless at the same time. After the Hollywood Foreign Press Association made such a big deal about hiring a host for the awards telecast (the first time since 1995), it was odd that the evening seemed so, well, hostless.

I think that Gervais' humor, despite the copious amounts of alcohol flowing at the relatively more laid-back Golden Globes, is perhaps more suited for the Emmys in the end, where his seemingly impromptu comedy killed last fall. Here, there are so many categories to cover in two mediums, a host of celebrity presenters, and a hell of a lot of confusion. I didn't quite feel like Gervais had the MC role over the entire evening but rather just offered a comedic introduction to the evening's festivities.

As for the television awards themselves, I was happy to see both Alec Baldwin and Chloe Sevigny take home statuettes for their respective work in 30 Rock and Big Love. Considering that Big Love got shut out in the other categories--losing Best TV Drama to AMC's Mad Men--I was glad to see that Sevigny was recognized for her honest and soul-baring performance on the last season of Big Love.

I figured that Glee and Mad Men would take home the top prizes in their categories as well, so I wasn't surprised, though I was hoping that Modern Family would have won for Best TV Comedy. Yes, Glee fuses together comedy and music (thus making it perhaps the first honest double contender in the comedy or musical category) but Modern Family definitely deserved to win for its winning comedic chops.

Was happy to see Michael C. Hall win for Showtime's Dexter (would have loved to see Bill Paxton win an award for a change) as well as that for John Lithgow, but I was surprised by Julianna Margulies' win... but then again the HFPA does love to give awards to new series and The Good Wife was the only new drama in that category. Additionally, I was pulling for Edie Falco to win for Best Actress (Comedy) but that accolade went to Toni Collette. Still, very happy with the love very deservedly heaped on Grey Gardens, which won for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Drew Barrymore's amazing turn as Little Edie Beale. (Which, incidentally, must be seen and heard to be believed.)

What did you think of the awards? Who were you happy to see win and who would you have rather had take home the statue? Which winner surprised you the most? And who had the best ensemble? Discuss.

HFPA Announces 2010 Golden Globes Nominations: "Glee," "Big Love," "Damages," "Dexter," "Mad Men," "30 Rock" Get Love

Another December, another batch of Golden Globe nominations. I got up very early on this very brisk Los Angeles morning to watch the nominations live as they were announced on-air by John Krasinski, Diane Kruger, and Justin Timberlake. (The latter of whom stole the show a little bit with his comment to Krasinski, "Someone's gonna have a good night tonight," after Emily Blunt earned a nomination for her role in The Young Victoria.)

But onto the nominations themselves. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association this morning announced its nominees for the 2010 Golden Globes, which will be handed out at a live telecast on NBC on January 17th.

Glee was the clear favorite this year, walking away with four nominations this morning, followed closely by 30 Rock, Big Love, Damages, Mad Men, and Dexter, each of which garnered three nominations in their respective categories, along with telepics Georgia O'Keeffe and Grey Gardens.

I'm thrilled, first off, that so many fantastic dramas got selected by the HFPA for recognition. While Lost was missing from the big picture (though Michael Emerson landed a supporting actor nod), Big Love earned a spot in the Best Television Series - Drama category and nominations for series leads Bill Paxton and Chloe Sevigny. Given that the third season of the HBO drama series was so phenomenal and so absolutely perfect, I wish that more of the cast had been recognized for what was the series' very best to date. Still, I'm beyond thrilled that both Paxton and Sevigny (who had an amazing season) were singled out for praise. (If you can't tell, I think that Big Love doesn't get nearly as many kudos as it should.)

Big Love has some tough competition in the category, however, going up against HBO's True Blood, Showtime's Dexter, AMC's Mad Men, and FOX's House. (Still, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that it pulls off a win.)

More thoughts on the nominations below, along with the full list of television nominees.

The acting awards in the drama category look particularly fierce with Glenn Close, January Jones, Julianna Margulies, Anna Paquin, and Kyra Sedgwick landing nominations for their lead roles. I'm glad to see that Jones in particular landed a nom for her performance this season on Mad Men and, while each of these ladies are extremely talented, I'm again irked that neither Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks landed a nomination. I was happy to see that Jon Hamm did received a nomination for his work on Mad Men; he's up against Simon Baker, Michael C. Hall, Hugh Laurie, and the aforementioned Bill Paxton.

On the comedy side, beyond excited that ABC's Modern Family got a nomination for its first season (which launched earlier this fall). I fully expected them to select the mockumentary comedy. Likewise, the inclusion of stalwarts 30 Rock, The Office, and Entourage didn't come as a surprise. While I love 30 Rock, I'm going to be rooting wholeheartedly for Modern Family to take the prize next month.

The Hollywood Foreign Press poured some love on Glee, nominating it not just for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical but also for Best Actor - Comedy or Musical (Matthew Morrison), Best Actress - Comedy or Musical (Lea Michele), and Best Supporting Actress (Jane Lynch). Michele will go up against Toni Collette for United States of Tara, Courteney Cox for Cougar Town, Edie Falco for Nurse Jackie, and Tina Fey for 30 Rock. (I have to say that I'm pulling for Falco, who turned in a bravura performance this year in the stunning Nurse Jackie.)

As for Morrison, he'll have some very tough competition from Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (The Office), David Duchovny (Californication), and Thomas Jane (Hung). (The latter of which is also joined by co-star Jane Adams, who landed a nomination for Supporting Actress.)

All in all, quite a few expected veteran series and actors landing nominations this year and a few newbies (Glee, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Hung) sneaking into the mix. But some interesting (read: head-scratching) snubs from the HFPA as well: Sons of Anarchy, In Treatment, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad all failed to garner nominations, while Lost got just one (for Emerson). Hmmm... the list goes on. (I'd get more indigent but then I remember that it's the Golden Globes.)

A full list of the Golden Globe nominees in the television categories can be found below.

5. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
a. BIG LOVE (HBO)
Anima Sola and Playtone in association with HBO Entertainment
b. DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde
Phillips Productions
c. HOUSE (FOX)
Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z
Productions and Bad Hat Harry
d. MAD MEN (AMC)
AMC
e. TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Entertainment in association with HBO Entertainment

16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
DRAMA
a. GLENN CLOSE - DAMAGES
b. JANUARY JONES - MAD MEN
c. JULIANNA MARGULIES - THE GOOD WIFE
d. ANNA PAQUIN - TRUE BLOOD
e. KYRA SEDGWICK - THE CLOSER

17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
a. SIMON BAKER - THE MENTALIST
b. MICHAEL C. HALL - DEXTER
c. JON HAMM - MAD MEN
d. HUGH LAURIE - HOUSE
e. BILL PAXTON - BIG LOVE

18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a. 30 ROCK (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little
Stranger Inc.
b. ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO
Entertainment
c. GLEE (FOX)
Twentieth Century Fox Television
d. MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
Twentieth Century Fox Television
e. THE OFFICE (NBC)
Universal Media Studios, Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC

19. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a. TONI COLLETTE - UNITED STATES OF TARA
b. COURTENEY COX - COUGAR TOWN
c. EDIE FALCO - NURSE JACKIE
d. TINA FEY - 30 ROCK
e. LEA MICHELE - GLEE

20. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a. ALEC BALDWIN - 30 ROCK
b. STEVE CARELL - THE OFFICE
c. DAVID DUCHOVNY - CALIFORNICATION
d. THOMAS JANE - HUNG
e. MATTHEW MORRISON - GLEE

21. BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. GEORGIA O'KEEFFE (LIFETIME TELEVISION)
Sony Pictures Television
b. GREY GARDENS (HBO)
Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
c. INTO THE STORM (HBO)
Scott Free and Rainmark Films Production in association with the BBC and HBO
Films
d. LITTLE DORRIT (PBS)
Masterpiece/BBC Co-production
e. TAKING CHANCE (HBO)
Motion Picture Corporation of America and Civil Dawn Pictures in association
with HBO Films

22. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION
PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. JOAN ALLEN - GEORGIA O'KEEFFE
b. DREW BARRYMORE - GREY GARDENS
c. JESSICA LANGE - GREY GARDENS
d. ANNA PAQUIN - THE COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA
SENDLER
e. SIGOURNEY WEAVER - PRAYERS FOR BOBBY

23. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION
PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. KEVIN BACON - TAKING CHANCE
b. KENNETH BRANAGH - WALLANDER: ONE STEP BEHIND
c. CHIWETEL EJIOFOR - ENDGAME
d. BRENDAN GLEESON - INTO THE STORM
e. JEREMY IRONS - GEORGIA O'KEEFFE

24. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A
SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. JANE ADAMS - HUNG
b. ROSE BYRNE - DAMAGES
c. JANE LYNCH - GLEE
d. JANET McTEER - INTO THE STORM
e. CHLOË SEVIGNY - BIG LOVE

25. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES,
MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
a. MICHAEL EMERSON - LOST
b. NEIL PATRICK HARRIS - HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
c. WILLIAM HURT - DAMAGES
d. JOHN LITHGOW - DEXTER
e. JEREMY PIVEN - ENTOURAGE

What do you think of the nominees? Who will you be rooting for come next month to take home the statue? Who do you think should have been nominated and who do you hope goes home empty-handed? Discuss.

The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards, hosted by Ricky Gervais, will air on NBC on January 17th at 5 PM PST and 8 PM EST.

Channel Surfing: "Bones" Flashback in the Cards for 100th Episode, Maggie Grace Finds "Lost" Again, Ricky Gervais to Host the Golden Globes, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Bones' 100th episode will in fact be a flashback episode to reveal the first time that Emily Deschanel's Temperance Brennan and David Boreanaz's Seeley Booth worked together. "We’ll be there for the first time those two personalities clashed, Bones executive producer Stephen Nathan told Ausiello. "Events will conspire to make them come out of the case hating each other and vowing that they will never work together again... We’ll also see the introduction of Angela and the genesis of her friendship with Brennan." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Maggie Grace is confirmed to be returning for Lost's sixth and final season, according to TV Guide Magazine. She'll return to Oahu next month to reprise her role as Shannon Rutherford, who was last seen on the series in 2005. "Producers had invited Maggie back earlier, but the busy actress had to wait for shooting to conclude on a string of three film projects, including the role she just wrapped as Cameron Diaz’s kid sister in Knight & Day, also starring Tom Cruise," writes TV Guide's Will Keck. "I’m hearing Shannon may be cut into an episode shot earlier this fall with brother Boone, played by Ian Somerhalder." (TV Guide)

Ricky Gervais will host the 67th Annual Golden Globes award telecast, slated to air January 17th on NBC. The attachment of Gervais marks the first time since 1995 that the awards show has utilized a host. The Los Angeles Times' Denise Martin talks to Gervais about his upcoming stint. "I don't know! Maybe I'm cheap?" said Gervais when asked why he was asked to host the Golden Globes. "They're saving on presenters now because they all need goody bags," he said with a giggle. "No, no, someone must have said, 'Is there like a fat shmuck from Britain who doesn't know our ways and would think this is a real honor? Who'd do it for a giant pizza?' My agent overheard them..." (Los Angeles Times)

Microsoft has pulled its sponsorship of Seth MacFarlane's upcoming FOX comedy special Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show. The commercial-free special is still slated to air on November 8th, even without Microsoft on board and the network will announce another sponsor closer to broadcast. "We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of Family Guy, but after reviewing an early version of the variety show, it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand," said a Microsoft spokeswoman in a statement. "We continue to have a good partnership with Fox, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas. We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent." (Variety)

TNT has given a pilot order to drama Delta Blues, about a Memphis policeman who moonlights as an Elvis impersonator and who lives with his mother. Project, from Warner Horizon and Smokehouse Pictures, is written by Liz Garcia and Josh Harto, who executive produce with George Clooney and Grant Heslov. (Hollywood Reporter)

Chazz Palminteri (Bullets Over Broadway) will guest star on an upcoming episode of ABC comedy Modern Family, where he will play a friend of Ed O'Neill's Jay. (TVGuide.com)

FOX has given a pilot script order to Ravens Parish, a family adventure story about "a man and his teenage son who return to their rural Mississippi hometown in search of a fabled cavern hidden beneath a nearby swamp that allegedly holds hidden treasure." Project, from 20th Century Fox Television and Generate, will be written/executive produced by Dan McDermott (Eagle Eye), who has a first-look deal at the studio. Generate's Peter Aronson and Jordan Levin are also on board to executive produce. Project shouldn't be confused with the network's similarly-themed The Mysteries of Oak Island, also about treasure-hunting family members; FOX is said to be looking for a scripted series with wide appeal to schedule alongside American Idol. (Hollywood Reporter)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Phil Morris will return to the CW's Smallville to reprise his role as Martian Manhunter in the upcoming "Society" two-part episode written by Geoff Johns, which sees the arrival of such Justice Society members as Doctor Fate, Stargirl, and Hawkman. The two episodes are slated to air in 2010. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Did you miss Nathan Fillion's Halloween shout-out to Firefly's Captain Mal on last night's episode of ABC's Castle? Fret not as you can catch the clip here. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

Augusten Burroughs has teamed up with Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Films to develop several television projects based around his work, including a Showtime comedy based on his memoir "Dry" and a drama at CBS entitled The Nature of Fire, about male firefighters who are forced to work with a female arson investigator. Both projects will be written by Borroughs and produced by CBS Television Studios. (Variety)

Sherri Saum (In Treatment) has been cast in a recurring role on the CW's Gossip Girl, where she will play Holland Kemble, "a powerful business executive-turned-Upper East Side trophy wife and could be trouble for Lily (Kelly Rutherford) and Rufus (Matthew Settle)." (Hollywood Reporter)

James Van Der Beek will guest star in an upcoming episode of ABC's crime procedural The Forgotten, where he will play a financier who is questioned by The Forgotten Network. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Comedy Central has ordered an animated project called Hounds, which will star comedian Ron White as the voice of Chicken, described as "a countrified Yoda with a bottle of Jack and a bag of weed, an opinionated Southern philosopher who considers himself the center of the universe." Chris Thompson will write the pilot script. Elsewhere at the cabler, Joey Kern (The Sasquatch Gang) has replaced Jonathan Sadowski in supernatural comedy pilot Ghosts/Aliens. (Hollywood Reporter)

MGM Domestic Television has acquired syndication rights to Discovery's quiz show Cash Cab and plans to get it on broadcast networks by next fall. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

"Deal With It, Cate Blanchett!": "30 Rock," "John Adams," and "Mad Men" Among TV Winners at Golden Globes

Is it just me or was it positively inspirational to see 30 Rock rack up so many statuettes last night at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards?

The NBC comedy, which many predicted would be canceled as soon as it launched, racked up three awards including Best TV Comedy, Best Actress in TV Comedy (Tina Fey), and Best Actor in a TV Comedy (Alec Baldwin), all three of the categories in which it was nominated. Likewise, HBO's miniseries John Adams cliched all seven awards in all of its nominated categories (go Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Wikinson!) and Mad Men took home the top spot for TV Drama... even though series leads Jon Hamm and January Jones were cruelly overlooked for their superlative performances this season.

What did I think of the awards and what burning questions do I still have? Let's discuss.

I'm not quite sure why Jeff Zucker looked quite so displeased when 30 Rock took home the award for Best TV Comedy but the man could barely muster a smile for the comedy series' first Golden Globe best series win, despite the fact that it airs on NBC. I loved that Alec Baldwin had to whisper to Tracy Morgan to remember to thank Zucker but, having given a stink-eye like that, don't look for Zucker to get many more kudos from Fey and Company in the future.

Was it just me or was Morgan's acceptance speech for 30 Rock's win the very best acceptance speech of all time? Sure, my heart melted to see Kate Winslet win not just once but twice last night (after years of going home empty-handed) and Sally Hawkens' shocked I love you's were absolutely adorable, but Morgan brought down the house with his tongue-in-cheek (and stream-of-consciousness) speech.

"Tina Fey and I had an agreement that if Barack Obama won, I would speak for the show from now on," said Morgan. "Welcome to post-racial America. I’m the face of post-racial America. Deal with it, Cate Blanchett!"

Um, wow. I was rolling on the floor.

Second best acceptance speech then has got to go to 30 Rock producer/star/writer Tina Fey:



"If you ever start to feel too good about yourself, they have this thing called the Internet, and you can find a lot of people there who don’t like you. I’d like to address some of them now. BabsonLaCrosse, you can suck it. Dianefan, you can suck it. Cougar-Letter, you can really suck it, because you’ve been after me all year." (If she had worked in "by the hammer of Thor," she'd have clinched the best speech.)

Was anyone else shifting uncomfortably in their seats when Baldwin mentioned his daughter Ireland and how she makes him laugh at home?

I was really upset that Anna Paquin took home the award for Best Actress, TV Drama over the vastly overlooked January Jones. I was thrilled that the HFPA finally recognized that amazing talents of Jones, who along with the other women of Mad Men typically seem to be absent from the awards races... so what was up with Paquin's win for True Blood? Could things be shifting back in HBO's favor once again? (And, to my friends at HBO, congratulations on sweeping awards.)

Did anyone notice a man climbing over a wall during NBC's ludicrously awkward red carpet pre-show? What was up with that?

I keep forgetting that Kate Winslet is married to Sam Mendes... and not Leonardo DiCaprio.

Loved that Laura Dern thanked Recount writer Danny Strong (a.k.a. Jonathan from Buffy) during her acceptance speech and made a political statement ("I will cherish this as a reminder of the extraordinary, incredible outpouring of people who demanded their voice be heard in this last election so we can look forward to an amazing change in this country.") to boot.

How hysterical was Ricky Gervais last night as he poked fun at the Hollywood Foreign Press for not nominating him for Ghost Town and bemoaned the lack of gag reels on Holocaust films? If there's one person you can rely on to crack some off-color jokes and make everyone stop drinking and eating for two seconds to pay attention, it's Ricky. (Whereas I thought that Sasha Baron Cohen's jab at the breakdown of Madonna and Guy Ritchie's marriage went a little too far over the line.) And I thought that his way of getting everyone's attention was a hell of a lot more funny than Jennifer Lopez ("Mama's talking"). Genius.

All in all, another reminder of why the Globes are a boozy, unpredictable affair where anything can happen and a lively antidote to the more staid, predictable, and at times painfully slow Emmys and Oscars.

A full list of the winners of last night's 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards can be found here.

Golden Globe Nominations Handed Out: Much Love for "30 Rock" and "Mad Men," None for "Lost"

Another December, another batch of Golden Globe nominations. This year, however, there's at least hope that the show will go on. (If you remember, last year's telecast was plagued by, uh, issues even greater than force majeure: namely the 100-day WGA strike in which everyone boycotted NBC's Golden Globe telecast, resulting in a 3-hour press conference to announce the winners.)

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association this morning announced its nominees for the 2009 Golden Globes, which will be handed out at a live telecast on NBC on January 11th.

While I am beyond thrilled that Mad Men and 30 Rock got some much needed love, with 30 Rock justly landing nominations for Best Comedy, Best Actress in a Comedy (Tina Fey), and Best Actor in a Comedy (Alec Baldwin), I'm pleased as punch that an awards committee has finally given recognition to Mad Men's January Jones, who landed her first nomination as the embattled Betty Draper on AMC's period drama.

The women of Mad Men have been wrongfully overlooked time and time again during award season, so I am happy that someone has finally gotten it right for a change. And while I wish that Jones could have been joined by her fellow female stars of Mad Men like Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks, I was happy to see that Jon Hamm also received a nomination to boot.

I do take umbrage however with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association offering a nomination for Best Drama Series to HBO's True Blood over the far superior (and creatively reinvigorated) Season Four of Lost. Or as one Televisionary reader emailed me: "I'm sorry, I know I watch the show, but seriously? True Blood gets a nomination over Lost???"

I understand that Alan Ball is still much beloved for HBO's Six Feet Under and True Blood has found itself a core fan base of devoted watchers but Lost was such a superior series this year in absolutely every respect that it's actually offensive to find it left off the nominee list. One need only watch the superlative episode "The Constant" to see that Lost's absence from the list is an egregious error.

A full list of the Golden Globe nominees in the television categories can be found after the jump.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Showtime/John Goldwyn Productions/The Colleton Company/Clyde Phillips Productions

b. HOUSE (FOX)
Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions

c. IN TREATMENT (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

d. MAD MEN (AMC)
Lionsgate Television

e. TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. SALLY FIELD BROTHERS AND SISTERS

b. MARISKA HARGITAY LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS
UNIT

c. JANUARY JONES MAD MEN

d. ANNA PAQUIN TRUE BLOOD

e. KYRA SEDGWICK THE CLOSER


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. GABRIEL BYRNE IN TREATMENT

b. MICHAEL C. HALL DEXTER

c. JON HAMM MAD MEN

d. HUGH LAURIE HOUSE

e. JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS THE TUDORS



BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. 30 ROCK (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little
Stranger Inc.

b. CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then...

c. ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

d. THE OFFICE (NBC)
Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios

e. WEEDS (SHOWTIME)
Lionsgate Television


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. CHRISTINA APPLEGATE SAMANTHA WHO?

b. AMERICA FERRERA UGLY BETTY

c. TINA FEY 30 ROCK

d. DEBRA MESSING THE STARTER WIFE

e. MARY-LOUISE PARKER WEEDS


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. ALEC BALDWIN 30 ROCK

b. STEVE CARELL THE OFFICE

c. KEVIN CONNOLLY ENTOURAGE

d. DAVID DUCHOVNY CALIFORNICATION

e. TONY SHALHOUB MONK


BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. A RAISIN IN THE SUN (ABC)
Sony Pictures Television

b. BERNARD AND DORIS (HBO)
Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

c. CRANFORD (PBS)
A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.

d. JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
Playtone in association with HBO Films

e. RECOUNT (HBO)
Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. JUDI DENCH CRANFORD

b. CATHERINE KEENER AN AMERICAN CRIME

c. LAURA LINNEY JOHN ADAMS

d. SHIRLEY MACLAINE COCO CHANEL

e. SUSAN SARANDON BERNARD AND DORIS


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. RALPH FIENNES BERNARD AND DORIS

b. PAUL GIAMATTI JOHN ADAMS

c. KEVIN SPACEY RECOUNT

d. KIEFER SUTHERLAND 24: REDEMPTION

e. TOM WILKINSON RECOUNT



BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. EILEEN ATKINS CRANFORD

b. LAURA DERN RECOUNT

c. MELISSA GEORGE IN TREATMENT

d. RACHEL GRIFFITHS BROTHERS AND SISTERS

e. DIANNE WIEST IN TREATMENT


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. NEIL PATRICK HARRIS HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

b. DENIS LEARY RECOUNT

c. JEREMY PIVEN ENTOURAGE

d. BLAIR UNDERWOOD IN TREATMENT

e. TOM WILKINSON JOHN ADAMS

What do you think of the nominees? Who will you be rooting for come next month to take home the statue? Who do you think should have been nominated and who do you hope goes home empty-handed? Discuss.

Golden Globe winners will be announced on Sunday, January 11th at 8 pm ET/PT on NBC.

Without Fanfare, Golden Globes Winners Revealed

After all of the verboten red carpets, will-they-or-won't-they picketing, and anti-climactic decisions about televised press conferences, I wasn't even going to write about the winners of this year's Golden Globe awards.

Of course, being the complete and utter television junkie that I am, I couldn't help but go online to find out who the winners were.

At least there were a few pleasant surprises, though there was, sadly, no love for Televisionary obsession Pushing Daisies, which depressed me a bit, but I can't fault Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's sublimely brilliant Extras for walking away with the top comedy prize, especially after its heartbreaking series finale, an astute meditation on the price of fame.

While Mad Men has its devoted adherents, I was hoping that somehow Damages would be crowned the winner in the television drama race... or, through some strange stroke of luck, that Big Love would find itself the prettiest girl at the prom. No such luck, though the gang at Lionsgate must be whooping and hollering about their win for AMC's Mad Men... and for series lead Jon Hamm, who beat out Michael C. Hall, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Bill Paxton for the crown. (Take that, Henry VIII!)

Fortunately, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association shined their love upon Damages' luminous lead, the divinely talented Glenn Close, who walked away (well, metaphorically, anyway) with the statuette for best performance by an actress in a television series. Her Patty Hewes is manipulative, secretive, and breathtakingly ruthless, and in the hands of a virtuoso actor like Close, impossible to tear your eyes away from.

By the hammer of Thor! On the comedy side, I am thrilled that the brilliant Tina Fey beat out Christina Applegate, America Ferrera, Anna Friel, and Mary-Louise Parker for best actress for 30 Rock. If the series--or, hell, Alec Baldwin--couldn't walk away with a prize, I am glad that Fey, the series' moral and spiritual linchpin (not to mention its creator), didn't end up empty-handed.

As for Californication's David Duchovny, who won the best actor in a comedy race, I'm just flat out surprised, to say the least, especially as he was in the category with Alec Baldwin, Steve Carell, Ricky Gervais, and Lee Pace. Just... astonishing. While I like Duchovny, I would have been pleased as punch had any of his competitors won.

Finally: the less said about Jeremy Piven winning, the better.

For a complete list of the winners of the 2008 Golden Globes, click here.

Golden Globes Not So Golden

All anyone has been talking about for the last 24 hours here in Hollywood is whether or not the Golden Globes would in fact go on.

The discussion, of course, reached its zenith yesterday following a protracted back-and-forth between the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, dick clark prods (the production company producing the ceremony), NBC, and the WGA.

The answer? There will be something on Sunday night that has to do with the Golden Globes, but don't expect any pomp, circumstance, or likely even any acceptance speeches.

When dick clark prods was unable to secure a WGA waiver for the event, the various elements involved in Sunday's award show tried to reach a proposition that would grant them the necessary waiver, one that involved a mix of elements, such as a red carpet pre-show, a press conference/announcement "ceremony," and party-based telecasts.

After the WGA threatened to picket this proposed three-hour block of Golden Globes coverage, the HFPA announced at the end of day yesterday that it has scrapped the entire affair, canceling the televised reception and champagne dinner at the Hilton.

NBC will instead go ahead with a one-hour NBC News magazine-format show that will at least reveal the winners of the 65th Annual Golden Globe awards.

"We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007's outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television," HFPA president Jorge Camara said in a prepared statement. "We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year's Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled."

So if you're wondering whether Kiera Knightley will be rewarded for her luminous turn in Atonement, you'll find out one way or another, but don't count on hearing her teary acceptance speech any time soon. Same too for the lovely cast of ABC's brilliant forensic fairy tale Pushing Daisies, which is up for several kudos this year.

And lest you think that, like those violins playing as the Titanic sank, the party will go on, think again. The studio after-parties, those fixtures of the Golden Globes, have also been canceled. So far, NBC Universal-Focus, HBO, and Warner Bros. have all scrapped their soirees, with Fox Searchlight and the Weinstein Co. likely to do so as well.

Meanwhile, all eyes are now on the February 24th date of the Oscars, the next likely awards show showdown. Will the organizers of the Academy Awards be able to secure a WGA waiver in time? My gut says hell no.

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: NCIS (CBS); The Biggest Loser (NBC; 8-10 pm); One Tree Hill (CW); Just for Laughs/Just for Laughs (ABC); Bones (FOX)

9 pm: People's Choice Awards (CBS; 9-11 pm); One Tree Hill (CW); According to Jim/Carpoolers (ABC); House (FOX)

10 pm: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC); Boston Legal (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Bones.

On tonight's repeat, here' s the perfect opportunity to jump into Bones with a reairing of the series' pilot, in which forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) is tasked by the FBI to assist Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) on a murder case involving the body of a missing intern who was involved with a married senator.

9 pm: Life on Mars on BBC America.

Season Two of the brilliant UK import Life on Mars continues tonight with a brand-new episode. On tonight's installment, Sam investigates the murder of an Asian man and finds himself disquieted by Gene's bigoted reaction; meanwhile, Gene is determined to find the source of the heroin trade in Manchester at any cost and Sam receives a shocking message from the future..

"Pushing Daisies," "30 Rock," "Damages" Get Some Golden Globe Love

Ah, awards season is upon us, but I can't seem to muster the same enthusiasm this year, what with the strike still going on and no sign of resolution anywhere to turn to.

Still, it's a little bit of comfort to know that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, in handing out their nominations, did decide to include some of my favorite series this year around, including Pushing Daisies, Big Love, 30 Rock, and Damages. So thanks to the HFPA for recognizing creative genius and innovative television. My hat is off to you!

So which series and actors got nominated and which ones got left out in the cold? Below is a list of the TV award categories and their nominations, along with my reactions to the major categories.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:

BIG LOVE (HBO)
DAMAGES (FX NETWORKS)
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC)
HOUSE (FOX)
MAD MEN (AMC)
THE TUDORS (SHOWTIME)

While I loves me some Big Love (and I am absolutely pickled that the HBO polygamy drama has gotten some much-deserved recognition), I do have to shout at the top of my lungs for my near-obsession with FX's serpentine legal thriller Damages, a first-rate Shakespearean drama about about greed, power, and the never-ending battle between might and right.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:

PATRICIA ARQUETTE - MEDIUM
GLENN CLOSE - DAMAGES
MINNIE DRIVER - THE RICHES
EDIE FALCO - THE SOPRANOS
SALLY FIELD - BROTHERS & SISTERS
HOLLY HUNTER - SAVING GRACE
KYRA SEDGWICK - THE CLOSER

Will The Sopranos' swan song season give Edie Falco yet another statuette to polish? Possibly, but I am hoping that the award gods instead smile down upon the virtuoso performance by Glenn Close this season on Damages, a layered, complex portrayal of a woman so driven by rage and the need to live that she not only destroys everything around her but stamps out little pieces of her own soul. If Patty Hewes doesn't want away a winner when the envelope is opened, I will be a sad, sad boy.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA:

MICHAEL C. HALL - DEXTER
JON HAMM - MAD MEN
HUGH LAURIE - HOUSE
JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS - THE TUDORS
BILL PAXTON - BIG LOVE

While others might push for Mad Men's John Hamm, my thoughts of who I'd like to win this category are Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton, Bill Paxton.

Could I be any clearer?

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

30 ROCK (NBC)
CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
EXTRAS (HBO)
PUSHING DAISIES (ABC)

Another difficult category to pick one single favorite from, what with some of my absolutely favorite series--30 Rock, Pushing Daisies, Extras--represented here. I'd absolutely love it if Pushing Daisies got some award-season love (god knows the Emmys wouldn't chance it), but 30 Rock is hands-down the funniest comedy on television right now. Gee, makes me wish that there were separate half-hour and one-hour comedy categories, but at the same time I'm happy that for once Ugly Betty won't walk away with this award. Slight edge to 30 Rock, but Pushing Daisies' quirky sensibilities could win out here. And don't discount Extras, which concludes its hilarious (if all too brief) run this month.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE - SAMANTHA WHO?
AMERICA FERRERA - UGLY BETTY
TINA FEY - 30 ROCK
ANNA FRIEL - PUSHING DAISIES
MARY-LOUISE PARKER - WEEDS

America Ferrera will likely win for Ugly Betty, but I'd rather they instead bestow this award on one of two extremely talented actresses: either Pushing Daisies' delightfully wry Anna Friel or 30 Rock's embattled Tina Fey; both turn in gorgeous, hilarious performances, but manage to keep their characters likable and grounded. Come on, HFPA, do something daring and surprise us (pleasantly) for a change...

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL:

ALEC BALDWIN - 30 ROCK
STEVE CARELL - THE OFFICE
DAVID DUCHOVNY - CALIFORNICATION
RICKY GERVAIS - EXTRAS
LEE PACE - PUSHING DAISIES

Wowzers, this is a hard category to pick just one winner. In fact, I'd probably be okay if any of these extremely talented men walk away with the statuette, between 30 Rock's Baldwin, The Office's Carell (here in competition with Extras' Ricky Gervais, no less!), and Californication's Duchovny. But really, I have to ask the HFPA to share some love with the Pie Maker himself, Pushing Daisies' Lee Pace, whose wit, charm, and facility for rapid-fire banter has instantly endeared Ned and his special gift to me.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:

ROSE BYRNE - DAMAGES
RACHEL GRIFFITHS - BROTHERS & SISTERS
KATHERINE HEIGL - GREY’S ANATOMY
SAMANTHA MORTON - LONGFORD
ANNA PAQUIN - BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE
JAIME PRESSLY - MY NAME IS EARL

Can I just say how sick and tired I am of Katherine Heigl? If I have to sit through one more commercial or product integration message about 27 Dresses, I think I will pull out all of my hair. While some might give the edge to Izzie--Grey's Anatomy is extremely popular around the world--or Rachel Griffiths, I do have to put in a good word for Damages' Rose Byrne. Her performance as naive Ellen Parsons this season was a thing of beauty to watch, as she transformed before our eyes from trusting innocent to scheming shark, all under the guidance and manipulation of Patty Hewes. You can literally pinpoint the moment when her world comes crumbling down around her.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:

TED DANSON - DAMAGES
KEVIN DILLON - ENTOURAGE
JEREMY PIVEN - ENTOURAGE
ANDY SERKIS - LONGFORD
WILLIAM SHATNER - BOSTON LEGAL
DONALD SUTHERLAND - DIRTY SEXY MONEY

As much as I love Dirty Sexy Money (and Sutherland's surly, introspective magnate Tripp Darling), the edge here definitely goes to Damages' Ted Danson, who turned in a career-defining role as crooked fat cat billionaire Arthur Frobisher, a role that was shaded by uncertainty, fear, loathing, and an innate drive to win his war, no matter who got killed along the way. It's a bravura performance that has all but erased the memory of his last meaty role: womanizing Sam on Cheers, but in the best possible way.

So what do you think of the nominations? Who deserves to win, who got overlooked, and who will ultimately walk away with the top honors? Discuss.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: China (CBS); The Office (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); 30 Rock/Saturday Night Live Christmas (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Big Shots (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Ugly Betty.

On tonight's repeat episode ("Family/Affair"), Henry returns to Mode but Betty is distracted by Wilhelmina's offer to help solve Ignacio's immigration problem, if Betty keeps shtum about her affair with her bodyguard, an offer that tests Betty's loyalties to Daniel.

8 pm: The Office.

On tonight's repeat episode from Season Three ("Benihana Christmas"), Dunder-Mifflin Scanton ends up split down the middle when an argument among the members of the Party Planning Committee leads to two office Christmas parties. Meanwhile, Michael gets dumped by Carol (and right at the holidays too!) and invites the menfolk of Dunder-Mifflin to down their sorrows.

9 pm: 30 Rock.

On tonight's strangely untitled episode, the staff of TGS with Tracy Jordan celebrates their annual Luda Christmas party, Tracy finds his merriment derailed by a court-mandated alcohol monitoring bracelet, and Liz spends time with her parents and her brother Mitch (Andy Richter), who suffers from memory loss due to a decades-old skiing accident, and Jack receives a surprise visit from his mother Colleen.

9:30-11 pm: Saturday Night Live Christmas.

Because we all could do with some levity right now; take a trip down memory lane as the Not Ready for Primetime Players present some of their most memorable holiday-themed sketches.

Reaction Shots: Seeing Red After the Golden Globes

Another year, another awards show snafu.

It's getting hard to keep track of the slights, overthrows, and sure things that have become sure fire also-rans. But one thing is for sure with this year's Golden Globes, while white may have been the color du jour for many of the ladies' attire, plenty were seeing red.

The Golden Globes has always been a rare beast. Handed out to the US entertainment community by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, it's one of the few televised awards shows that's table, rather than theatre, seating, enabling stars the chance to stay in one's cups publicly, and combines film along with television awards in one single ceremony, allowing members of those rarefied worlds the opportunity to mingle and coalesce over a catered meal.

It also manages at times to get it so right (Helen Mirren for The Queen) and so wrong (no Steve Carell or The Office), sometimes at the very same moment. While I thought that the TV nominations managed to capture a certain slice of the zeitgeist this year, I can't say I was altogether pleased (that's an understatement) with the way that last night turned out.

So just who walked home with the statuettes last night? Let's take a look.

Series, Drama: Grey's Anatomy

Seriously? Grey's Anatomy won? I know the series has its ardent fans, but I'm simply blown away by the fact that the soapy medical drama picked up the award over fellow nominees Lost, 24, Big Love, and Heroes. (Who has two thumbs and doesn't watch Grey's? This guy.) I thought for sure that either Lost or 24 would walk away the victor, but given the (unjustified, to me anyway) backlash against Lost, I thought it would be more likely Jack Bauer and CTU skipping up to the podium to claim the prize. I'm just really speechless, especially coming off what many believed to be 24's finest year yet.

Actress, Drama: Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

I figured that Sedgwick would walk away wedded with a statuette this year. (She, along with Jennifer Garner, Salma Hayek, fellow nominee Ellen Pompeo, and Kate Winslet were all stunning in sleek white gowns.) While I was thrilled to see Evie Lilly get a nomination, I knew that the Hollywood Foreign Press would sooner volunteer for Dharma experiment duty than give a Lostie a major acting prize.

Actor, Drama: Hugh Laurie, House

Another overturn here for many who figured that 24's Kiefer Sutherland was a virtual lock for the prize. While I adore Hugh Laurie (any fan of House should watch Laurie in Jeeves & Wooster just to see the sheer mind-boggling scope of his range), I figured that this would be the year for the dashing CTU operative Jack Bauer.

Series, Musical or Comedy: Ugly Betty

Here's where I get really, really, really irate. I love Ugly Betty. I really do. It's a fun, silly, surreal trip of a television series that's part melodramatic camp, part Devil Wears Prada, and part tour of a particularly posh nuthouse. But to award it the top comedy prize over The Office? Sheer madness. To me, Ugly Betty is a soap first and a comedy second, while The Office is coming off of the critical and ratings success of its superlative second year. It is a comedy that rivals no others on television today and this category in particular stirred up some righteous indignation within me.

Not since Desperate Housewives' appearance in the comedy category has something made me so angry, not because the show that won was a bad show (because it's not at all) but because a 1-hour series shouldn't be competing with half-hours. Period.

I was worried that Ugly Betty, with its franchise series on the air in nearly every territory in the free world, would win out over The Office. This is, after all, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. But I hoped that logic rather than familiarity would win out in the end. The Office is a brilliant, sometimes cringe-inducing half-hour of comedic gold, brought to life by its talented cast and crew and should have walked away with the statuette last night. There I've said it. I'm angry and I'm not going to take it anymore. Give me liberty or give me death. But don't say that The Office isn't the most deserving comedy on TV.

Actress, Musical or Comedy: America Ferrera, Ugly Betty

Again, color me shocked and surprised. While I love Ferrera's turn as Ugly's sartorially-challenged Betty Suarez, I am blown away by the fact that they selected her above Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Mary-Louise Parker (especially since her Betty is the LEAST funny thing about the series). I was really rooting for Louis-Dreyfus, whose turn as Christine Campbell harkens back to Mary Tyler Moore and erases that dreaded Seinfeld curse. Plus, Old Christine could use some mainstream cred. Still, I'd rather Ferrera walk away with the honor than one of the Housewives. (Shudder.)

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

I really want to cry. I really do. Alec Baldwin is one of the reasons I can't get 30 Rock off of my mind grapes (his Jack Donaghy is uproariously stony faced and deadpan), but his performance could be viewed as entirely one-note compared with that of Steve Carell. Where's the love for The Office? If the series couldn't walk away with the top comedy award, I was at least hoping that Carell would get the go-ahead from the HFPA. Can anyone think of a more vibrant, challenging comedic character than Michael Scott?

Miniseries or movie: Elizabeth I

For me, I was hoping it would come down to Elizabeth I or Bleak House, but I would have given the edge to Bleak House, a labyrinthine adaptation of a serpentine novel of illness, deceit, and corruption in 19th century England presented here as a half-hour serial of such brilliance, depth, and beauty that it overwhelms your senses completely. It's the trippiest story of coincidences and chance encounters that rivals even Lost for its interconnectedness and one that's impossible to get out of your head.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Helen Mirren, Elizabeth I

I was rooting for Mirren for her turn as another monarch in The Queen, I had hoped that Gillian Anderson would be singled out here for her dynamic turn as the icy Lady Dedlock in Bleak House. Still, if you're going to lose, it doesn't hurt to lose out to Helen Mirren, nominated against herself in this category for two very different, though equally stunning, roles in Elizabeth I and Prime Suspect.

And there you have it. Wrapping up the awards: Bill Nighy won Best Actor, Miniseries or Movie for Gideon's Daughter; Emily Blunt for Supporting Actress for Gideon's Daughter; and Jeremy Irons brought home the statuette for his role in Elizabeth I.

All in all, I had hoped for more from this year's Golden Globes. While I can't really fault the HFPA for handing out awards to newcomers and underdogs (remember: Ugly Betty was originally destined for the trash heap of Friday nights before it caught on), I'm terribly, terribly saddened by its oversight regarding The Office.

Still, there's always the hope of a repeat win at this year's Emmys this fall, right?

What's On Tonight

8 pm: NCIS (CBS); Dateline (NBC); Gilmore Girls (CW); America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC; 8-10 pm); American Idol (FOX; 8-10 pm); Wicked Wicked Games (MyNet)

9 pm: The Unit (CBS); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC); Veronica Mars (CW); Watch Over Me (MyNet)

10 pm: 48 Hours Mystery (CBS); Law & Order: SVU (NBC); Boston Legal (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: American Idol.

Simon, Randy, and Crazy--I mean, Paula Abdul--begin their search for the next great American Idol, but first the show's producers want them to sit through some truly ear-splinteringly bad auditions, starting tonight. Tune in for the music, stay for the humiliation.

9 pm: Veronica Mars.

On tonight's repeat episode of Veronica Mars ("Spit & Eggs"): Mac finally returns from what must have been the most grueling school "project" of all time, Veronica runs really fast to some cool music, Parker screams rape, and the rapist is finally unmasked... but not before one character goes to the college campus in the sky. Only one week to go (finally) until new episodes!

Golden Globe Nominations Revealed: Love for "Big Love," "The Office," "Lost," and "24"

I woke up early this morning in order to catch the Golden Globe nominations (which are announced at 5 am here on the West Coast). Well, okay, I overslept a little bit but 5 am is pretty darn early for me!

Read on to get my thoughts on the major category nominations and click here to get the full list of both feature film and television nominees.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

24 (FOX) - Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television i.a.w. Real Time Prods.
BIG LOVE (HBO) - Anima Sola and Playtone Prods. i.a.w. HBO Entertainment
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC) - Touchstone Television
HEROES (NBC) - NBC Universal Television Studios i.a.w. Tailwind Prods.
LOST (ABC) - Touchstone Television

As expected, drama bigwigs 24, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, and Heroes are duking it out with newcomer Big Love (easily one of my favorite new series of the year), which I'm pleased as punch to see nominated in this category. Not everyone loves the polygamists in HBO's gripping drama, but we here in the Televisionary household can't get enough of the Henrickson clan. Still, if I had to pick a winner in this category, it would have to come down to Televisionary Obsession #1: Lost. There I've said it.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

PATRICIA ARQUETTE - MEDIUM
EDIE FALCO - THE SOPRANOS
EVANGELINE LILLY - LOST
ELLEN POMPEO - GREY’S ANATOMY
KYRA SEDGWICK - THE CLOSER

Evangeline Lilly all the way for me, I'm afraid. While there's no question that all five of these women named are gorgeously talented actors, my heart lies with the enigmatic Kate and it's heartening to see her get singled out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. You've come a long way from Canadian dating commercials, Evangeline, though you've got some steep competition here. Let's just hope the voters were impressed enough with your recent performance as a captive of the Others to take home the statuette.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

PATRICK DEMPSEY - GREY’S ANATOMY
MICHAEL C. HALL - DEXTER
HUGH LAURIE - HOUSE
BILL PAXTON - BIG LOVE
KIEFER SUTHERLAND - 24

Seriously, some good nominations here. (Interesting that there's no repeat nod for Matthew Fox this year.) I'm happy to see Michael C. Hall here for Showtime's serial killer drama Dexter and even more happy to see Bill Paxton here for Big Love. But as for who will take home the Golden Globe? Sorry McDreamy, but it's probably Jack Bauer.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Touchstone Television
ENTOURAGE (HBO) - Leverage and Closest to the Hole Prods. i.a.w. HBO Entertainment
THE OFFICE (NBC) - Deedle Dee Prods. with Reveille i.a.w. NBC Universal Television Studio
UGLY BETTY (ABC) - Touchstone Television
WEEDS (SHOWTIME) - Showtime i.a.w. Lionsgate Television and Tilted Prods., Inc.

All I can say is THANK GOD that The Office was nominated. I was actually all worked up earlier today when I thought for a split second that this awe-inspiring comedy was snubbed. Fortunately, I think that was a fever dream brought on by all of the Christmas cookies I ingested last night. Whew.

I'm not happy to see Desperate Housewives here again, as I have a seriously hard time accepting that DH is a comedy (an unfunny dramedy, at best) and if one one-hour series had to be included in this category, I would have rather it had been newcomer Ugly Betty (also nominated here), which IS a comedy, just of the one-hour variety. Entourage and Weeds are always safe bets for nominations, though I was hoping that Scrubs or 30 Rock would somehow manage to pull a nomination. While I like My Name is Earl, my love for the series has dwindled this season, a pale shadow of its former self. Fittingly, the series was snubbed this year.

If you couldn't guess, I'm rooting with all of my heart for the gang at Dunder-Mifflin to trounce the ladies of Wisteria Lane and to take home the prize for The Office.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

MARCIA CROSS - DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
AMERICA FERRERA - UGLY BETTY
FELICITY HUFFMAN - DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS - THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
MARY-LOUISE PARKER - WEEDS

Tough race in this category, though I am thrilled to see that only two of the Housewives were nominated. (Not going to be a good day in the Hatcher household, methinks.) I love Mary-Louise Parker's bravura turn as Nancy Botwin on Weeds, but am thrilled that both Old Christine's Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Ugly Betty's America Ferrera received nods this morning, making this race a lot more interesting than last year's category, in which all four main Housewives were nominated, alongside MLP.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

ALEC BALDWIN - 30 ROCK
ZACH BRAFF - SCRUBS
STEVE CARRELL - THE OFFICE
JASON LEE - MY NAME IS EARL
TONY SHALHOUB - MONK

It's obvious that I'm rooting for The Office's Steve Carrell to win for his always hilarious, always painful performance as Michael Scott on the NBC comedy. (While things in this world are always uncertain, the one constant is that I'm pulling for The Office.) But I couldn't be happier to see 30 Rock get some love in the form of a nomination for Alec Baldwin who can casually toss off some bon mots like "You have the confidence of a much younger woman" and have it read as both astonishingly mean and whimsically complimentary. Zach Braff fortunately gets a nod for his consistently funny performance as J.D. on Scrubs. Scrubs never gets enough love and I'm hoping its new berth on NBC's relaunched Thursday night comedy lineup changes this.

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BLEAK HOUSE (PBS) - BBC and WGBH Boston Prod. i.a.w. Deep Indigo
BROKEN TRAIL (AMC) - Butchers Run Films and Once Upon a Time Films i.a.w. Sony Pictures Television
ELIZABETH I (HBO) - Company Pictures and Channel 4 i.a.w. HBO Films
MRS. HARRIS (HBO) - Killer Films, Number 9 Films and John Wells Prod. i.a.w. HBO Films
PRIME SUSPECT: THE FINAL ACT (PBS) - Granada and WGBH-Boston Prod.

Tough call, but I am going to go for the deliriously beautiful and gripping Bleak House.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

GILLIAN ANDERSON - BLEAK HOUSE
ANNETTE BENING - MRS. HARRIS
HELEN MIRREN - ELIZABETH I
HELEN MIRREN - PRIME SUSPECT: THE FINAL ACT
SOPHIE OKONEDO - TSUNAMI, THE AFTERMATH

It's tough competing against yourself, but Helen Mirren did turn in two magnificent performances this year. Still, I think it will come down to one of her turns or Gillian Anderson's vulnerable performance as Lady Dedlock in Bleak House.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

EMILY BLUNT - GIDEON’S DAUGHTER
TONI COLLETTE - TSUNAMI, THE AFTERMATH
KATHERINE HEIGL - GREY’S ANATOMY
SARAH PAULSON - STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
ELIZABETH PERKINS - WEEDS

Come on, Elizabeth Perkins!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

THOMAS HADEN CHURCH - BROKEN TRAIL
JEREMY IRONS - ELIZABETH I
JUSTIN KIRK - WEEDS
MASI OKA - HEROES
JEREMY PIVEN - ENTOURAGE

It's got to be Weeds' Justin Kirk, or I'm not coming into work the next day. His fiercely funny performance as Nancy's brother Andy invigorated the pot dramedy's second second and he even managed to steal the show away from Mary-Louise Parker, no mean feat.

So who do you think will win the Golden Globes? Who deserved their noms, who didn't, and who was wrongfully snubbed?

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: Cook Islands (CBS); The Office (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); 'Til Death/The War at Home (FOX); Wicked Wicked Games (MyNet)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Scrubs/30 Rock (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); The O.C. (FOX); Watch Over Me (MyNet)

10 pm: Shark (CBS); ER (NBC); Men in Trees (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8-9 pm: The Office.

It's a full hour of the best comedy on television: The Office. On the third season Christmas special ("A Benihana Christmas"), written by the talented Jen Celotta, Dunder-Mifflin ends up split down the middle when an argument among the members of the Party Planning Committee leads to two office Christmas parties. Meanwhile, Michael gets dumped by Carol (and right at the holidays too!) and invites the menfolk of Dunder-Mifflin to down their sorrows.

9 pm: Scrubs.

Finally! Scrubs is back on NBC's schedule, where it belongs. And on tonight's episode ("My Best Coffee"), J.D. discovers that he and Kim (Elizabeth Banks) are actually quite compatible, after all, while Carla must decide whether or not to return to work now that the baby ihas been born.

9:30 pm: 30 Rock.

On tonight's episode ("The Break-Up") of the show that coined the term "mind grapes," Liz finally dumps her beeper-salesman boyfriend (Dean Winters) and tries to enter the the dating world of Manhattan with Jenna, while Jack has some romantic issues of hios own when he begins seeing a high-ranking government official.

10 pm: Afterlife on BBC America.

It's the third episode of the supernatural thriller Afterlife, starring Leslie Sharp and Andrew Lincoln, on BBC America. On tonight's episode, socially awkward Daniel has a particularly horrifying first date. And I don't mean your run-of-the-mill first date horror, but true, palpable horror.