Game of Thrones is beloved by viewers and critics alike. But the Emmy-nominated HBO fantasy drama is also a surprising favorite in the writers’ rooms of TV comedies around Hollywood. I talk to sitcom writers about why they’re obsessed with the sex-and-magic-laden drama, and how the show informs their own narratives.
At The Daily Beast, you can read my latest feature, "Why Comedy Writers Love HBO's Game of Thrones," in which I talk to writers from Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, and Community about why they love HBO's Game of Thrones, nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Drama.
Fox’s upcoming sitcom The Mindy Project, created by and starring Mindy Kaling, deconstructs the romantic comedy fantasies of its lead character, an ob-gyn whose disappointment in the dating world stems from her obsessive viewing of Nora Ephron films.
At the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in July, Kaling was candid about the role that When Harry Met Sally and other rom-coms would play on the show, but also revealed the show might feature shoutouts to HBO’s Game of Thrones, which is nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Drama.
“My writing staff, they are just obsessed with Game of Thrones,” Kaling said. “The show could just have Game of Thrones references: dragons, stealing eggs of dragon babies… You might see a lot—more than your average show—of Game of Thrones references.”
Yet the writers of The Mindy Project are not the only scribes who have fallen under the spell of the ferocious Game of Thrones, which depicts the struggle for control of the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
“It’s a violent, strange show with lots of sex in it,” Kaling went on to say.
Writers’ rooms—where the plots of television shows are “broken,” in industry parlance—often revolve around discussions of other shows, particularly ones that have a significant hold on the cultural conversation, whether it be Breaking Bad, Mad Men, or Homeland.
“A comedy writers’ room is like a really great dinner party with the smartest and funniest people you’ve ever met,” Parks and Recreation co-executive producer Alexandra Rushfield wrote in an email. Their typical conversations? “The presidential campaign. Whatever articles or books people are reading. Taking wagers on crazy statistics, like how much all the casts in the world combined might weigh. General heckling of co-workers.”
And TV shows such as Game of Thrones that viewers can debate endlessly. Modern Family executive producer Danny Zuker likened Game of Thrones to Lost in terms of the volume of discussion and passionate debate that the show engenders. It’s certainly immersive: five massive novels, two seasons of television, maps, online forums, family trees. Game of Thrones is a show that provokes—or even forces—viewer evaluation, deconstruction, and discussion.
“Many writers that I know are into it,” said Zuker over lunch on the Fox lot. “The setting of the world probably appeals to that nerd that is in most writers… I never played Dungeons & Dragons, but I get why the most disaffected kids who are intelligent and creative did, because in that world you could be powerful…. I basically just described comedy writers.”
With the 2011-12 television season in full swing and the cancellation orders stacking up, Jace Lacob rounds up the season’s winners (Revenge! Homeland!), losers (Man Up! Whitney!), and draws.
Over at The Daily Beast, you can read my latest story, "Fall TV Report Card: The Winners and Losers," in which I offer up not a critic's list, or a Best of 2011 TV list, but a business story selecting the winners and losers (as well as draws) for the first half of the 2011-12 television season. (Those selections are in the gallery.)
With the 2011-12 television season well underway, it’s become increasingly clear that this isn’t the best fall the broadcasters have ever had. Back in May, when the networks touted their new offerings to advertisers, it appeared they were trying to take some risks with their programming.
But the opposite is true: most of those shows featured what the networks hoped were built-in audiences for retro brand settings (Pan Am! The Playboy Club!) or remakes of vintage television (Charlie’s Angels, it’s back to pop-culture heaven for you), but viewers largely stayed away from these and many of the new fall shows.
Those claiming that viewers’ attention is elsewhere, such as on the Internet, likely don’t have a response for the oversize audience for things like AMC’s The Walking Dead, now the highest-rated cable show on the air, or the first post–Charlie Sheen episode of CBS’s Two and a Half Men. (The latter could be due to sampling, but the show has remained consistently in the range of 14 million to 16 million viewers since then.) It seems as though people are watching television, but they’re increasingly just not that excited about what’s airing on the broadcasters. (Just look at the declining fortunes of once-invulnerable reality franchise The Biggest Loser.) Which is downright worrisome, as the networks have to replace aging series and churn out new and zeitgeist-grabbing programming on a yearly basis. And sorry, Fox, but that wasn’t The X Factor, despite the nonstop hype.
It is known: Game of Thrones is the winner of this year's Outstanding New Program by the TCA.
As a member of the venerable Television Critics Association (TCA), I joined the professional journalists' organization this evening for the annual TCA Awards, which are always a fantastic evening celebrating the best of television.
At the ceremony (which, as per TCA tradition, are not be televised), Parks and Recreation's Nick Offerman was on hand as the host of the evening, which saw awards given out to Game of Thrones (Outstanding New Program), Friday Night Lights (Program of the Year), Mad Men (Outstanding Achievement in Drama), Modern Family (Outstanding Achievement in Comedy), Sherlock (Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials), and The Amazing Race, among others.
Individual winners included Mad Men's Jon Hamm, Parks and Recreation's Offerman, Modern Family's Ty Burrell, and Oprah Winfrey, who was the recipient of a career achievement award.
The full list of TCA Award winners (as well as the official press release) can be found below.
THE TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES
2011 TCA AWARDS WINNERS
DirecTV/NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” Named Program of The Year
HBO’s “Game of Thrones” Wins Outstanding New Program
“Mad Men,” “Modern Family,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Restrepo,”
“Sherlock,”
“Sesame Street” and “Amazing Race” are honored along with
Oprah Winfrey and “The Dick Van Dyke Show”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Television Critics Association (TCA) tonight recognized the top programs and actors of the 2010-2011 television season at its 27th Annual TCA Awards presentation. Nick Offerman, star of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” hosted the annual invitation-only event, held at The Beverly Hilton hotel in conjunction with the TCA’s summer press tour. The non-televised ceremony bestowed awards in 12 categories to recipients in comedy, drama, reality, miniseries, news and youth programming.
Members of the TCA, a media organization of more than 200 professional TV critics and journalists from the United States and Canada, voted HBO’s “Game of Thrones” this season’s “Outstanding New Program” and honored the final season of DirecTV/NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” with its award for “Program of The Year.”
Winning its second consecutive TCA Award, ABC’s “Modern Family” took home the award for “Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.” AMC’s “Mad Men” received the award for “Outstanding Achievement in Drama,” its third in this category, having previously won the distinction in 2008 and 2009.
The award for “Individual Achievement in Drama” went to actor Jon Hamm (Don Draper, of AMC’s “Mad Men”) while actor/host Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson, of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”) shared the honor of “Individual Achievement in Comedy” with fellow actor Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy, of ABC’s “Modern Family”).
While PBS Masterpiece’s “Sherlock” emerged victorious in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials,” CBS’s “Amazing Race” received the organization’s first award for “Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming.”
The TCA also recognized PBS’s “Sesame Street” with an award for “Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming,” and the National Geographic Channel documentary “Restrepo” received top honors for “Outstanding Achievement in News & Information.”
In addition to recognizing the year’s finest programming, the TCA bestowed a Heritage Award on CBS’s former series “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961-66) for the cultural and social impact the program has had on society. Carl Reiner, the show’s creator and the recipient of the
2003 TCA Career Achievement Award, was on hand to receive the honor alongside series actors Rose Marie and Larry Mathews.
The non-profit organization also presented Oprah Winfrey with a Career Achievement Award for her influence through 25 seasons of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
2011 TCA Award recipients are as follows:
• Individual Achievement in Drama: Jon Hamm (“Mad Men,” AMC)
• Individual Achievement in Comedy: Ty Burrell (“Modern Family,” ABC) and Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation,” NBC)
• Outstanding Achievement in News and Information:
“Restrepo” (National Geographic Channel)
• Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming: “Amazing Race” (CBS)
• Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming: “Sesame Street” (PBS)
• Outstanding New Program: “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
• Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials: “Masterpiece: Sherlock” (PBS)
• Outstanding Achievement in Drama: “Mad Men” (AMC)
• Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: “Modern Family” (ABC)
• Career Achievement Award: Oprah Winfrey
• Heritage Award: “The Dick Van Dyke Show”
• Program of the Year: “Friday Night Lights” (DirecTV/NBC)
It's that time of year when we bid farewell to the last twelve months and start looking toward the future, but it's also a chance to reflect, to catalogue, and to reminisce as well.
The series selected represent the very best that television had to offer the past twelve months and include such shows as Mad Men, Community, Terriers, Parks and Recreation, The Good Wife, Fringe, Justified, Boardwalk Empire, Friday Night Lights, and Modern Family.
It wasn't easy to whittle down the competition to just ten shows as, despite the overall drain in creativity this calendar year, there were quite a lot of fantastic series. (In fact, one of the very best of the year didn't even air on American television at all: Season Three of BBC One's Ashes to Ashes--including its breathtaking and gut-wrenching series finale--would have made this list if it had been open to overseas programming that hadn't aired within the US during 2010. Additionally, Downton Abbey would have made the list but it's set to air in January on PBS, so will be held until the 2011 list.)
As for other runners-up, that category would include (but wouldn't be limited to) such series as Damages, Party Down, Nurse Jackie, Sherlock, Bored to Death, Better Off Ted, Doctor Who, True Blood, Treme, Big Love, Archer, The Choir, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The IT Crowd, The Life and Times of Tim, Luther, and 30 Rock (for the current season, at least).
But now that the list is (finally) live, I'm curious to hear what you had to say:
What's your take on the best of 2010? Do you agree with my picks for the best of the year and the worst? Head to the comments section to discuss, debate, and analyze, as well as share your own best-of list for 2010.
Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing.
FX has renewed motorcycle drama Sons of Anarchy for a fourth season. Series, which wraps up its third season on November 30th, is the most-watched series in the cable network's history. "Sons of Anarchy is the most popular show FX has ever had, and the No. 1 series in basic cable for our key demographic," said FX president/general manager John Landgraf. "It is also one of the best, most original series on television." (Variety)
Elsewhere, Syfy renewed freshman drama Haven for a second season, with thirteen episodes on tap for next summer. Production is slated to resume in the spring in Nova Scotia on the sophomore season. (Variety)
Robert Kirkman's zombie comic, "The Walking Dead," which is heading to the small screen later this month with AMC's television series of the same name, will also be transformed into a trilogy of original novels, the first of which will be released in 2011. Kirkman will provide the concept and outline for the novels, which will be written by Jay Bonansinga. (Deadline)
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Raymond J. Barry (Lost) has been cast in what appears to be a recurring role on CBS' NCIS: LA, where he will play Branston Cole, an ex-secret agent who has crossed paths with Linda Hunt's Hetty. Barry's character is described as appearing "rail and blind from a stroke he suffered a while back, but he remains vigorous and sarcastic as he lives out the remainder of his days in a retirement home. A man with a long history and a deep well of secrets, he seems to still enjoy the game of espionage and manipulation, leading his handlers down questionable paths.” He'll make his first appearance in November. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck is reporting that Danny Trejo (Machete) will guest star on ABC's Modern Family, where he will play the school janitor in an upcoming episode. "The Modern Family episode finds Claire in charge of an upcoming school dance at the boys' school," writes Keck. "While all the other moms are afraid of Danny's menacing janitor, fearless Claire forms an unlikely bond with the guy." (TV Guide Magazine)
Ryan Seacrest is said to be in talks with CAA and AEG about launching a cable network. "The business venture is in very preliminary stages, but the network's concept is described as music, pop culture and lifestyle oriented," write The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd and Kim Masters. "Seacrest is likely to have some kind of on-air presence in the venture. Unlike Oprah Winfrey's upcoming OWN cable channel, however, Seacrest is expected to operate mainly as an influential partner rather than serve as the face and personality of the network. The channel won't be 'Seacrest TV, but will have its own brand. (Hollywood Reporter)
Rebecca Mader (Lost) is set to guest star on NBC's Law & Order: Los Angeles this season, where she will play a woman named Rebecca. "The fictional Rebecca’s lot in life is to get run over by a car, yet miraculously survive," writes Fancast's Matt Mitovich. (Fancast)
Tina Fey is set to return to Saturday Night Live with a primetime special that will celebrate the women of SNL. She'll be joined by Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler, Nora Dunn, Ana Gasteyer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Laraine Newman, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, and Kristen Wiig. Special is slated to air November 1st at 9 pm ET/PT. (Hollywood Reporter)
Chris D'Elia (Monk) has been cast in TBS' upcoming period comedy series Glory Daze, where he will play Stankowski, described as "as an older, oracle-style figure to the members of a college fraternity." (Variety)
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva is reporting that ABC has given a script order (plus penalty) to an untitled comedy which will star Wilmer Valderrrama (That '70s Show). Project, which hails from Murray and Judah Miller, will have "a musical component" and will be directed by Akiva Schaffer. (Deadline)
Ed Begley Jr. will turn up on Shonda Rhimes' midseason medical drama Off the Map, according to TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck, who reports that the St. Elsewhere veteran will play Hank, a dentist, in the season's fifth episode. (TV Guide Magazine)
Oxygen has renewed Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood for a sixth season and ordered a new Tori-centric reality project entitled Tori and Dean: Storibook Weddings, which will "focus on Spelling's party planning skills while McDermott focuses on the groom's issues leading up to the pair's nuptials." (Variety)
USA has renamed its upcoming legal drama Facing Kate, which will now be entitled Fairly Legal. News was announced via Twitter by USA executive Ted Linhart. (Twitter)
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva is reporting that Sony Pictures Television has signed a two-script deal with writer/actress Stephnie Weir, who wrote ABC comedy pilot Wright vs. Wrong. The first project under the new deal is an ABC comedy pilot that is set at a diner. (Deadline)
Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.
While the focus so far this season has been on early cancellations, FOX yesterday announced the first full season pickup for this woeful fall season, granting comedy Raising Hope a 22-episode order. News comes a week after the network axed drama Lone Star after just two episodes. "With Raising Hope, Greg Garcia captures a smart take on the working-class family with a great mix of wild comedy and a big dose of heart," said Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly. "The show is running like a Swiss clock, and we're very happy with how well audiences have responded so far -- so we're confident it will build an even bigger audience throughout the season." Meanwhile, the fate of timeslot lead-out Running Wilde is still very much up in the air. (Variety)
The news wasn't so good for the crew of NBC's struggling freshman drama Outlaw, as the production grinded to a halt after three low-rated installments, during which ratings tumbled from an initial 10.7 million to just 5 million. NBC still has five completed episodes of Outlaw on the shelf that are still scheduled to air and will make a final decision on the ultimate fate of the legal drama in the next few weeks. Which means that Outlaw hasn't been cancelled. Or at least not yet, anyway. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider, TVGuide.com)
Damn it, Chloe! TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck is reporting that former 24 star Mary-Lynn Rajskub is heading to ABC's Modern Family, where she will guest star as "the old high school girlfriend of then closeted Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson)" on an upcoming episode of the hit ABC family comedy. (TV Guide Magazine)
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that an upcoming episode of NBC's The Office will feature a plot revolving around the employees of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin getting together to watch an episode of Glee. "According to an Office source, no Glee actors will actually appear in the episode," writes Ausiello. "Which means that no, Dwight will not get pantsed by Puck. (Curses!)" (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica) is set to guest star on an upcoming episode of Syfy's Eureka, which returns to the lineup early in 2011. "Got a very cool email today from an old BSG friend, now EP on Eureka," wrote Douglas on Twitter. "He asked me to come play. So, Chief does Eureka, tomorrow. Hells Yeah!" (via Digital Spy)
NBC has given a script order to comedy Party People from executive producer Ben Silverman. Yes, that Ben Silverman. The project, written by David Bickel (who will also executive produce), revolves around "entertainers who work at children's parties," and has been described as "a modern-day Taxi, only with with the under-employed grown-ups dealing with kids birthdays instead of shuttling passengers." (Hollywood Reporter)
UK viewers will get a chance to see Starz's upcoming period drama Camelot, following a deal between GK-tv and UK broadcaster Channel 4. The series, which stars Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green, and Jamie Campbell Bowers, is set to launch on C4 in fall 2011. (Hollywood Reporter)
With ABC having yanked drama My Generation from its Thursday night lineup, the Alphabet has to figure out just what to do with the 8 pm real estate, which it will fill at least for the next few weeks with repeats of Grey's Anatomy. Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice suggests that the network should fill the timeslot with a reality franchise, a thought that I adhere to and had actually been wondering if they would follow through with, as it would be apt counter-programming against the dramas and comedies in the timeslot. "ABC also developed two additional comedies that are waiting in the wings – Mr. Sunshine starring Matthew Perry and Happy Endings from former ABC exec Jamie Tarses — but it seems far more likely the network will take advantage of the fact that no one’s airing a reality show in the timeslot and program its new unscripted show Secret Millionaire, instead," wrote Rice. "The program, which is based on a U.K. format and first premiered on Fox in 2008 and attracted more than 10 million viewers, follows Richie Riches who agree to leave their lavish lifestyles to go undercover in impoverished neighborhoods." Meanwhile, ABC may have to decide what to do with Wednesdays at 10 pm, should it axe the struggling legal drama The Whole Truth, though it's thought that the timeslot would go to Dana Delany's Body of Proof. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)
Lifetime has ordered twelve episodes of docuseries Brighton Beach, which follows a group of Russian-Americans living near beachside Coney Island in Brooklyn. Project, from executive producers Banks Tarver and Ken Druckerman, is expected to launch in 2011. (Hollywood Reporter)
Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.
E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos is reporting that Gwyneth Paltrow is in talks to join the cast of FOX's Glee in a two-episode story arc in which she would play a potential love interest for Matthew Morrison's Will Schuester. "According to rock-solid Glee sources, Gwyneth would play a substitute teacher in two episodes airing in November," writes Dos Santos. "Mr. Schuester gets sick, so Gwyneth's character steps in and takes over the glee club. The kids love her, and Will starts to fall for her... complicating his relationship with Emma (Jayma Mays)... I'm told Glee creator/executive producer/creative badass Ryan Murphy wrote this role expressly for Gwyneth, as the two are friends. If it all comes together, Ryan will be directing her first episode, which begins shooting in two weeks." Should the deal close, Paltrow would appear in two episodes slated to air in November. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)
[Editor: In other Glee news, TVGuide.com's Denise Martin has a set visit feature for Glee, returning tonight for its second season, which you can read here.]
TVGuide.com's Adam Bryant is reporting that Jay Karnes (The Shield) has been cast in a recurring role on Season Two of ABC's V, which returns in November. Karnes will play FBI Agent Chris Boling, who will serve as the new partner for Elizabeth Mitchell's Erica Evans. "The two have some history, having trained together at Quantico," writes Bryant. "However, Bolling quickly begins to suspect Erica may have divided loyalties when it comes to her dedication to the Visitor resistance group, the Fifth Column." Casting marks a reunion between Karnes and former Shield writer/producer Scott Rosenbaum, who serves as V's showrunner. (TVGuide.com)
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva is reporting that NBC has given a put pilot order to espionage drama Legends, from writer Mark Bomback (Live Free or Die Hard) and executive producers Howard Gordon (24) and Jonathan Levin (The Ex-List). Project, from 20th Century Fox Television, is said to be based on a Robert Littell book and revolves around "an CIA operative with an uncanny gift for 'legends' - aka false identities - who is sent on a variety of missions, while simultaneously coping with the possibility that his own identity may be a 'legend' itself." (Deadline, Variety)
Showtime yesterday handed out renewals to dark comedies Weeds and The Big C, which will return for their seventh and second seasons respectively next year. "The unprecedented viewership for both The Big C and Weeds proves that audiences love these shows as much as we do," said Showtime's President of Entertainment David Nevins in a statement. "There are definitely more comedic adventures in store for these fascinating, complex women. For six seasons, we've happily traveled along with Nancy Botwin and we're equally as excited to follow Laura Linney and The Big C team as they chart Cathy's unique journey through such a provocative and personal subject as cancer. We're thrilled that these two signature shows will be returning to the network in 2011." (via press release)
TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck has a first look at Celia Weston playing Barb Tucker, the mother of Eric Stonestreet's Cameron on ABC's Modern Family. "She's somebody who made him the person he is," Stonestreet told Keck about Cameron's mom. "When she comes to the door, she gives me her little puppy kisses. And we find out she called him her 'Little Bomber,' which was actually what my [real-life] grandma called me as a little kid — I think because I was a little gassy." (TV Guide Magazine)
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has details about the now prolonged absence expected to face Olivia Wilde's Thirteen on House this season, given that the actress has booked four major film roles, including one of the leads in Cowboys and Aliens and a newly minted role in The Change Up, starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman. “It’s going to be a while unfortunately,” series creator David Shore. told Ausiello. “We love her but it is going to be a while. It’s going to be this season, but well into this season.... She called us up and said she wanted to do [The Change Up]. And it just so happened that what we had worked out storyline-wise allowed her a couple of extra episodes [off]. So that movie just filled in the gap. There were no further adjustments to her schedule as a result of that.” (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
Elsewhere, Entertainment Weekly has some further details about Community's upcoming zombie-based Halloween episode. “Knowing too much about this particular plot would ruin it, but I promise it’s an awesome, one-off crazy conceptual episode with plot points and effects that are more familiar to horror film fans than our show’s fans,” said creator Dan Harmon. “We’re going over schedule and over budget to get it right,” he adds. “I’ve had to promise to do a few what I call ‘Bottle Episodes,’ where the group never leaves the library, to make up for it.” (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
NBC has ordered a pilot script for an untitled comedy to star comedian Mo Mandel (Strange Brew). Project, from 3 Arts, will revolve around "what a group of twentysomethings do in the last five years of their lives before the Earth is destroyed by a meteor." (Deadline)
ABC's upcoming weight loss reality series Obese has already received an order for a second season... and will undergo a name change to the less provocative Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Six episodes are on tap for the second season, which is being slated for sometime in the 2011-12 season, while Season One is being targeted for midseason, possibly with a March launch. Each episode follows a single person over their year-long weight-loss journey. (Variety)
Disney XD will launch new animated superhero series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! on Wednesday, October 20th at 8:30 pm ET/PT. (via press release)
Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing.
I'm not even a Psych fan and this made me blissfully happy. Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that USA's Psych is staging a Twin Peaks-inspired episode that will also feature original cast members Sheryl Lee, Sherilyn Fenn, Dana Ashbrook, Catherine Coulson, Ray Wise, Lenny Von Dohlen, and Robyn Lively. Um, yes please. The episode, co-written by series star James Roday, will air sometime this fall and will revolve around "a quirky Northern California town that has been rocked by the death of a high school student." Sound familiar? Coulson will even play a "mysterious Woman with Wood," a tongue-in-cheek take on her Log Lady from Twin Peaks. Sign me up. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva is reporting that HBO has given a pilot order to an untitled comedy written/directed by 24-year-old Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture) and executive produced by Judd Apatow and Jenni Konner. Project, which will also star Dunham, revolves around "the assorted humiliations and rare triumphs of a group of girls in their early 20's" and will feature autobiographical elements from Dunham's own life. (Deadline)
Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice is reporting that Parks and Recreation leading lady Amy Poehler will host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on September 25th, with Katy Perry serving as musical guest. Season 36 has added four new players to the mix, including Taran Killam, Paul Brittain, Vanessa Bayer, and Jay Pharoah (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)
[Editor: Will Forte, as widely reported, will not be returning to SNL this season. Jenny Slate, who made headlines for the F-bomb heard 'round the latenight world, is also "not expected to return," according to Variety's Michael Schneider.]
TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck is reporting that Celia Weston (Desperate Housewives) has beat out Delta Burke, Dianne Wiest, and Kathy Bates (along with others) to play Barb Tucker, the mother of Emmy Award winner Eric Stonestreet's Cam, on ABC's Modern Family. Weston is expected to turn up around the holidays for a visit this season. (TV Guide Magazine)
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Alan Ritchson will reprise his role as Arthur "AC" Curry on the final season of the CW's Smallville during November sweeps. "AC was last seen in season 8, when his secret identity was discovered by LuthorCorp," writes Ausiello. "I’m told the Justice Leaguer will resurface in this season’s ninth episode." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
MTV is getting back into the live daytime game with new daily countdown show The Seven, according to The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd, who reports that the show, which will launch September 27th, "presents seven stories that MTV viewers need to know, from Hollywood news, music, sex and fashion to other topics." Project, which will also feature interviews and musical performances, will be executive produced by Steve Tseckares. (Hollywood Reporter)
David Nevins has announced his first piece of development business since he took over as president of Showtime. The project in question is an adaptation of Tom Perrotta's novel "The Wishbones," which Perrotta himself will adapt for the pay cabler. Warner Bros. Television-based project, which will be executive produced by Perrotta and John Wells, revolves around a small-time wedding band with plans of rock n' roll stardom. Wells is no stranger to Showtime: his next series, a US adaptation of UK drama Shameless, is set to launch early next year on the channel. [Editor: Having seen the pilot for the US Shameless--twice, no less--and been raving about it for months since, this is one to keep an eye on.] (Variety)
Don't look for Marc Cherry to pull out the stops this sweeps on ABC's Desperate Housewives. Cherry told TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck that the soap will get back to basics this season and ditch the gimmicks. "I'm not doing another big gimmicky natural disaster this year; I'm trying something different," Cherry said. "My big cliffhanger right before we take our Christmas break will have to do with Paul Young. He has a plan for destroying the neighborhood. There will a shocking cliffhanger that effects everyone's lives, and then right before February sweeps, we're going to kill off one of our characters." (TV Guide Magazine)
HBO has acquired rights to Martin Scorsese's documentary Public Speaking, which focuses on writer Fran Lebowitz and which will air on the pay cabler in November. (via press release)
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that FOX's Bones will feature an episode that's loosely inspired by dance competition series So You Think You Can Dance, as Booth and Brennan tackle a case involving street performers. Episode will feature a guest appearance from So You Think You Can Dance Season Four runner-up Stephen "tWitch" Boss, who will play a murder suspect. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
FOX has renewed culinary competition series Masterchef for a second season. (Variety)
Despite the rumors swirling that Simon Cowell will step down from the UK X-Factor in order to focus his attention on the upcoming US launch of the format, his reps have told The Hollywood Reporter that "no decision has been made." (Hollywood Reporter)
With the 2010 Emmy Awards less than a week away, it's time to take a look at this year's front-runners and weigh the major races that are already underway.
Over at The Daily Beast, you can read my latest feature, "2010 Emmys: Who Will Win This Year?" in which I take a look (via a visual gallery) at who will win the top spots this year and who should be taking home those statuettes come August 29th.
Do you agree with my assessments? Think Julianna Margulies is a lock? Or do you think that I'm wrong and Aaron Paul won't get overlooked for a Best Supporting Actor award? Head to the comments section to discuss and debate and post your take on the major categories.
The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live coast to coast on Sunday, August 29th on NBC.
Just two weeks after making statements at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour about his desire that ABC remove his show from Hulu and ABC.com, Modern Family's co-creator Steve Levitan again fired back at digital platforms earlier this week, following the announcement of a potential IPO for Hulu.
"Some estimate Hulu IPO could bring in $2Bil," wrote Levitan on Twitter. "What will the content providers get? Zero. What is Hulu without content? An empty jukebox."
Levitan's frustration is palpable, particularly when you consider that Hulu and other online platforms like the network's own ABC.com could be siphoning away viewers from the linear broadcast. While that's to be expected in an age of heavy DVR users, time-shifting, and an array of potential platforms from which to consume programming, it fails to address one major issue, said Levitan: these viewers aren't necessarily being counted when looking at the overall ratings for an individual program.
Jace Lacob: You’ve been outspoken about your desire that Modern Family be removed from online sites like Hulu and ABC.com because it further fractures the ratings portrait for the show. Do you think the show would benefit by limiting its availability outside of the linear broadcast?
Steve Levitan: In a weird way, I don’t want to say that I regret those comments but I think that they deserve a finer point. I want as many people to watch our show as possible. All I am saying is that we want credit for that. That’s really it. We want there to be a ratings system that encompasses all viewing on all devices: on broadcast television, on your iPad, on Hulu, on iTunes, on your DVR, whatever it is, because more and more it just seems like there’s a feeling that network comedy is dying because, look, the numbers are down.
But one could argue that, yeah, the numbers are down somewhat because of the fractured nature of the audience but when you start adding up all the different ways that someone can see the show, maybe the story is much more impressive than it appears, across the board. In a lot of ways, this is not just a beef for this show, it’s a note in general, which is to say that we need transparency, we need to know that these shows are reaching— How many millions of people are being missed because they are not being properly counted? It’s not money in my pocket that I’m crowing about here, that somehow I’m get ripped off or whatever.
But when people say, wow, your show gets 10 million viewers each week--or whatever it ended up being--but, boy, ten years ago, 18 million people were watching, that sounds really depressing and you can understand why the networks and the studios are pounding down everyone’s salaries. But when you look at the bigger picture and count all the other ways that people can watch it, the story is better than it appears. The picture it brighter than it appears. So that’s really what my beef is. I am frustrated that I can’t ever get a straight answer as to how many people are watching our show.
Lacob: The system itself would seem to be inherently flawed, given the proliferation of ways that viewers can watch shows. That was the case with Starz and Party Down, where far too many people were watching via Netflix streaming rather than via the linear broadcast on the network.
Levitan: That’s a perfect example, where if you’re giving it away in such a manner that those eyeballs are not being counted, then it’s one tiny notch better than not having those eyeballs at all. That’s a confusing statement. I care about quality television and I know that producing a quality television show along the lines of Lost or Modern Family or you name it, in order to sustain a show like this, it takes enormous resources. One person can’t do this. It’s not throwing up a hilarious 45-second video on YouTube. You have to sustain this over time and that takes a giant investment by a studio. And the only way the studios are going to continue to make those kind of big investments is if they know there’s a payoff at the end and if we continue dilute that big payoff at the end then they’re continue to push down their initial investments. At the end of the day, the quality over a long period of time will begin to dissipate.
That is what concerns me. I don’t want it misunderstood: I value every single one of our fans. I really, really do. It kind of bothered me that I came off as not caring about those people who for some reason can’t watch it the traditional way. I do value those viewers. I just want them to be counted.
Lacob: You’re saying it doesn’t matter how people consume the show, just that they do consume it in some fashion and their viewership should be counted towards the overall figures for the show.
Levitan: Exactly. Look at the reporting practices. Everyone tunes in, that next morning, the numbers are tallied and printed that same day. That’s the big number, that’s the number that people care about and then it’s pretty much forgotten. So all the numbers that drift in over the next week--digital and DVR numbers and all that--that’s a twelfth page story.
Lacob: The overnights are sort of a fait accompli right now.
Levitan: Which is silly when you think about the way that our show is being consumed.
Season Two of Modern Family launches this fall on ABC.
While several of the categories in this year's Primetime Emmy Awards look to be fierce, one of the most hotly anticipated is the Best Comedy category, which will see fellow freshman series Modern Family and Glee compete for the top prize.
Over at The Daily Beast, you can read my latest feature, "Why Modern Family Should Win an Emmy Over Glee," in which I discuss, well, just that, taking a look at whether Glee should be competing in the category, whether it's even a comedy, and whether the FOX musical-comedy stands a chance at winning the Emmy later this month.
I also speak to Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan about the comedy series and whether he's written an acceptance speech or not. (Hint: he hasn't.)
Which show are you rooting for? And what's your take on Glee's status as a comedy? Discuss.
At the arranged coffee break with the cast and creators of ABC's Modern Family, Eric Stonestreet--nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Emmy Award for his star-making turn as Cameron--expressed far too much modesty when discussing his nomination for an actor who is so perfectly cast in a breakout role.
"To actually have people nominate me is beyond my comprehension," said Stonestreet about the Emmy nomination. "I think Ty [Burell] has a great shot at it. I told him from basically episode three that he was going to win the Emmy... But I just want to keep it in the family. I just hope that one of us is fortunate enough to be able to win."
Stonestreet said that he has saved a voicemail message from his father in which tearfully reacted to news of the nomination. "It says everything a 68-year-old Kansas man can say in three words: "Congratulations, Eric. Con-grat-u-lations.' And it's all through tears."
Just don't expect Stonestreet to parade naked down Sunset waving, if he wins the Emmy. "I don't think anybody wants to see me naked," said Stonestreet. "We've created too much fun of a character for us to ever see Cameron's back hair. I don't think anybody ever needs to see that."
"Our first episode is entitled 'Earthquake,'" teased Stonestreet about the second season. "It's a little rumbler that turns into different things for each of the three families."
"I wouldn't say [Cameron] takes it all in stride," said Stonestreet, chuckling. "I think he's a little shaken. It catapults us into something for sure."
Stonestreet said that he's looking forward to getting to know more about Cameron's life in Kansas and his family.
"I'm excited to meet Cam's mom and family," he said. "That's going to be great. I originally wanted Kathy Bates [to play Cam's mom] but with her on The Office, I don't think it was that interesting for her to be on another [comedy]. Then I've thrown out Delta Burke as an idea. I just want someone loving and sweet. Who helped Cameron bloom into the guy that he is is someone down home and loving and fun, like my mom in real life. Maybe she could audition for the part."
Any chance of wedding bells ringing out for Cameron and Mitchell?
"I think that's going to happen," said Stonesteet. "Maybe not with the current legality about it or if that would be a destination, like maybe us going somewhere where gay marriage is legal. But, yeah, in the arc of the show, there's no doubt that that's going to happen but they have to save these great things for another time... There have to be moments [withheld until later] because we want to be on the air for seven years."
"We will get there eventually," he continued. "I just love how they've created Cameron and Mitchell. I'm real proud of the characters."
So how is Stonestreet handling being a cult hero among the gay community?
"I love it," said Stonestreet. "I just always as an actor wanted to play a character and the fact that this character is what people are getting to know me for and how much people have responded to Jesse [Tyler Ferguson] and me and the show is just a lot. To me, it just opened up another area of fans. I have female fans and mom and dad fans and a whole new genre of fans. I get lots of hugs and 'I can't believe you're straight' comments and 'Would you turn gay for me for an hour' kind of things. I'm flattered by all of it."
Then again, Stonestreet said he's just happy to have a job with some security.
"All I've ever wanted was a job," he said. "A job that I knew I could have for more than a day or more than three days. That's been my career for 14 years. Anything on top of having a job, of it being a good show, of it being a critically acclaimed show, being a nominated show, fans, is all icing on the cake. It's just awesome."
"I'm surprised by how much this show means to people," he continued. "Every person in the cast would tell you... we've had crying, heartfelt, emotional moments of 'you are my connection to happiness.' I've literally had a person tell me that she was having an awful year and that our show and me personally were her connection to happiness. That's a really powerful thing to be told. I take that with a great deal of responsibility."
So what's his take on Cameron? "I like to think of Cameron as 'floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee,'" he said. "Like Mohammed Ali-esque in a few ways. I want him to be an expressive person with his body. The shirts, all that stuff helps. I get the opportunity to say the words but I tell our whole crew--the hair, makeup, and costume [departments]--that you have the really awesome opportunity and burden to help bring my character to life because I rely on how my shoes feel when I'm Cameron."
"I get to help pick fabrics and stuff," he continued. "I said from the beginning that I wanted Cameron to be the type of housewife or househusband, if you will, [in this way]. There are housewives across America who wake up and keep their sweatpants and bedclothes on and take care of their kids and then there are housewives who, while their husbands are still home, go curl their hair and put on their makeup. Cameron curls his hair and puts on his makeup. He definitely takes the time to get himself ready so that if anything happens he is ready to go out into the world and be presentable."
Season Two of Modern Family launches this fall on ABC.
ABC took a break from their marathon of sessions today at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour to offer a much needed coffee break with the creators and cast of the ABC hit comedy Modern Family, nominated for 14 Emmy Awards.
The series, produced by 20th Century Fox Television, was one of the bright spots this past season on ABC's schedule and was championed by ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson, who resigned from the network last week amid allegations of an internal probe.
Steve Levitan, co-creator of Modern Family and a long-time friend to McPherson offered a few words about McPherson's departure and his own personal reactions during an informal interview with me and a group of other reporters in the foyer of the ballroom.
"My genuine reaction was, uh, that sucks," he said in regard to McPherson's departure from ABC last week. "I'm sorry to hear it."
"We've had the best of Steve on our show," he continued. "He's a long-time friend. He was a mid-level network executive on Just Shoot Me. We go way back. We took Modern Family to ABC in large part because of Steve and because of that relationship and because he promised us that he would launch us well, which he did."
"He's always been a straight-shooter. While I hear wonderful things about Paul Lee, certainly I'm very sorry, on a personal level, to see Steve go. I like people who shoot from the hip and you knew where you stood with Steve and I respect that."
Meanwhile, Levitan also revealed that Nathan Lane will guest star on Season Two of Modern Family, where he will play the often-mentioned-but-never-seen Pepper, one of Mitchell and Cam's friends.
Season Two of Modern Family launches this fall on ABC.
At an awards ceremony hosted by Parenthood's Dax Shepard this evening in Beverly Hills, the Television Critics Association announced their award winners for 2010 as part of the annual summer press tour held twice a year by the professional organization.
Among the winners: Glee, Modern Family, The Pacific, Lost, Breaking Bad, Jane Lynch, and The Good Wife's Julianna Margulies.
Glee took home the top prizes for both Program of the Year and Outstanding New Program while the FOX musical-comedy's Jane Lynch walked away with the prize for Individual Achievement in Comedy. Her counterpart on the drama side? Julianna Margulies, who walked away with the award for Individual Achievement in Drama.
ABC's Modern Family was named the recipient of Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, while Lost and AMC's Breaking Bad tied for Outstanding Achievement in Drama.
In the other categories, James Garner received the Career Achievement award, while the Heritage Award went to M*A*S*H. The news and information category went to Discovery's Life, Nick Jr.'s Yo Gabba Gabba took home the top prize in Youth Programming, and HBO's World War II mini-series The Pacific was awarded an outstanding achievement prize in the movies, miniseries, and specials division.
UPDATE: Just home from the TCA Awards themselves. The highlights of the evening? Dax Shepard hosting (seriously, I take back every bad thing I've said about Dax over the years) and doing both a pitch-perfect Owen Wilson impression (admonishing a "fat" Luke Wilson for doing those ubiquitous mobile phone TV ads) and Arnold Schwarzenegger to boot; Tom Hank's acceptance speech for The Pacific ("This is the last time I f---ing dress up for you); the entire Television Critics Association singing happy birthday to Modern Family's Rico Rodriguez on his twelfth birthday; Damon Lindelof reading off mean-spirited tweets he received after the Lost series finale; the standing ovation for M*A*S*H; Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan taking some digs at former ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson; and Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan teasing four things that Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester says in the second season premiere of Glee, including "You should’ve gone with the poop cookies, Will." (Yes, seriously.)
The full press release--along with the full list of the winners--can be found below.
THE TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2010 TCA AWARDS WINNERS
Fox’s “Glee” Takes Home Multiple Honors as “Program of the Year,” “Outstanding New Program” and “Individual Achievement in Comedy” for winning actress Jane Lynch “Modern Family,” “The Pacific,” “The Good Wife,” “Life,” “Breaking Bad” and “Lost” are honored along with “M*A*S*H” and James Garner
BEVERLY HILLS – Members of the Television Critics Association (TCA) recognized the top programs and actors representing the 2009-2010 TV season tonight at its 26th Annual TCA Awards, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Dax Shepard, star of NBC’s “Parenthood,” introduced the ceremony that bestowed 11 awards in categories reflecting comedy, drama, miniseries, news and youth programming at its annual event in conjunction with the TCA’s summer press tour.
The biggest winner of the night was Fox’s musical ensemble comedy “Glee” which was the only series to win multiple awards from the 200-plus professional TV critics association, garnering the top honor “Program of the Year,” as well as “Outstanding New Program,” and “Individual Achievement in Comedy,” with lead actress Jane Lynch’s victory.
ABC’s “Modern Family” was voted “Outstanding Achievement in Comedy,” and ABC’s “Lost” and AMC’s “Breaking Bad” tied as the victors in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Drama.”
Nick Jr.’s children’s show “Yo Gabba Gabba” won its second consecutive TCA Award as “Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming,” and Discovery Channel’s “Life” series took the top honors as “Outstanding Achievement in News & Information.”
Julianna Margulies, star of CBS’s “The Good Wife,” received the award for “Individual Achievement in Drama,” and HBO’s World War II miniseries epic “The Pacific” garnered “Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials.”
In addition to recognizing the year’s finest programming, the TCA bestowed a Heritage Award trophy to CBS’ former series “M*A*S*H” for the cultural and social impact that program has had on society.
The organization also presented actor James Garner with a Career Achievement Award for the influence his work has had on the small screen.
2010 TCA Award recipients are as follows: • PROGRAM OF THE YEAR: “Glee” (FOX) • OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM: “Glee” (FOX) • INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY: Jane Lynch, “Glee” (FOX) • OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY: “Modern Family” (ABC) • OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA: TIE - “Lost” (ABC) and “Breaking Bad” (AMC) • INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA: Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife” (CBS) • OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION: “Life” (Discovery) • OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING: “Yo Gabba Gabba” (NICK JR.) • OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES & SPECIALS: “The Pacific” (HBO) • HERITAGE AWARD: “M*A*S*H*” (CBS) • CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: James Garner
ABOUT THE TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION
The Television Critics Association represents more than 200 journalists writing about television for print and online outlets in the United States and Canada. For 26 years the TCA has honored outstanding achievement in television and enduring contributions to the medium’s heritage through the TCA Awards. Membership in the Television Critics Association is open to full-time TV writers at newspapers, magazines, trade publications, news wire services, news syndicates, and text-based Internet news organizations. For additional information on the TCA, please visit www.tvcritics.org
Modern Family's Sofia Vergara and Community's Joel McHale were on hand bright and early this morning to announce the Primetime Emmy Award nominations. (I stayed home to watch E! Online's stream of the press conference rather than drive over there bleary-eyed and unable to conceal my frustration about overlooked performances and series in person.)
While Vergara ultimately walked away with a nomination for supporting actress for Modern Family (as did most of her co-stars, in fact), McHale was sadly shut out of the nominations, as was Community, a real slap in the face (along with that for Parks and Recreation) considering that Community and Parks were both streets ahead of The Office and 30 Rock this season. Grr.
So which series did the best overall? HBO's The Pacific walked away with an impressive 24 nominations, followed closely by FOX's Glee at 19 nods, AMC's Mad Men at 17, and 15 nominations apiece for Temple Grandin, 30 Rock, and You Don't Know Jack. Critical darling Modern Family earned 14 nominations, while Lost scored 12.
While it's unlikely to change FX's decision about keeping the series around, Damages walked away with several key nominations including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama (Glenn Close), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama (Martin Short), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama (Rose Byrne), Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama (Ted Danson), and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama (Lily Tomlin).
Perhaps seeing the final season as a way of addressing past snubs, the TV Academy issued nominations to Matthew Fox, Terry O'Quinn, and Michael Emerson for Lost. (About time.) And, yes, Elizabeth Mitchell even got in on the action, scoring a nomination for guest actress in a drama series for her role as Juliet Burke in the series finale.
So what do I think about the nominations? A list of nominees and reactions for each of the major category can be found below, while you can download the full list of nominees here.
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
62nd Primetime Emmy Award Nominations
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO • HBO Entertainment
Larry David as Himself
Glee • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester
Monk • USA • Universal Cable Productions in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Steve Carell as Michael Scott
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studio
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
This was a fairly predictable category, though I have to yawn again at the inclusion of Tony Shalhoub over such other contenders as Parks and Recreations' Nick Offerman in this category, which tends to feature the same actors over and over again. Fortunately, Matthew Morrison edged out a certain actor from CBS' Two and a Half Men and the Academy realized that we're all tired of Entourage. As for who will win, I'd like to see Larry David walk away with the statuette next month for Curb Your Enthusiasm, really.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television
Bryan Cranston as Walter White
Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
Friday Night Lights • DirecTV • Imagine Entertainment in association with Universal Media Studios and Film 44
Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor
House • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Matthew Fox as Jack Shephard
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Jon Hamm as Don Draper
Now this is a very tough category. I'm extremely pleased to see that the Academy opted to shine a light on the compelling work of Friday Night Lights's Kyle Chandler, whose performance as Eric Taylor is the stuff of legends. (Was Chandler not born to play this role?) But he faces some stiff competition from Matthew Fox, Jon Hamm, Hugh Laurie, Bryan Cranston, and Michael C. Hall. This is going to be a very tight race among some supremely talented actors. I don't even dare to hazard a guess here, though I would love it if Chandler did the nearly impossible and walked away the winner. (Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
A Dog Year • HBO • Duopoly in association with HBO Films
Jeff Bridges as Jon Katz
The Prisoner • AMC • AMC, ITV Productions and Granada
Ian McKellen as Two
The Special Relationship • HBO • A Rainmark and Kennedy/Marshall Production in association with HBO Films
Michael Sheen as Tony Blair
The Special Relationship • HBO • A Rainmark and Kennedy/Marshall Production in association with HBO Films
Dennis Quaid as Bill Clinton
You Don't Know Jack • HBO • Bee Holder, Cine Mosaic and Levinson/Fontana Productions in association with HBO Films
Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian
While I'd love Sheen to be recognized for his role in The Special Relationship, particularly after playing British PM Tony Blair with such incisive nuance for the third time (after The Deal and The Queen), I'd say that Pacino's turn as Jack Kevorkian is the showier role here. Point to Pacino, I think.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Lea Michele as Rachel Berry
The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari's Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell
Nurse Jackie • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber; A Caryn Mandabach Production
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton
Parks And Recreation • NBC • Produced by Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studio
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
United States Of Tara • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Dreamworks Television
Toni Collette as Tara Gregson
Don't get me started on the inclusion of Lea Michele here for Glee. I don't consider the series a comedy on really any level (other than the participation of Jane Lynch), nor do I buy Michele as the "lead actress" of anything other than an ensemble player of a middling musical dramedy. My hope is that Amy Poehler walks away the winner here as Parks and Recreation is the funniest comedy on television right now and was unjustly shut out of the nominations. Should Poehler not get the win, I'd also be ecstatic if Edie Falco took home the win for the darkly funny Nurse Jackie. (Ordinarily, I'd be rooting for Tina Fey but this season of 30 Rock was not the show's best or sharpest.)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
The Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson
Damages • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
Friday Night Lights • DirecTV • Imagine Entertainment in association with Universal Media Studios and Film 44
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios
Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
January Jones as Betty Draper
I am happy to see that someone is recognizing the work that January Jones is doing on Mad Men; for some reason critics and audiences are far too prone to writing off her performance for some reason but her work in Season Three of Mad Men was provocative and powerful, even as Betty Draper became more and more unlikable. I'm thrilled to see Connie Britton listed here for Friday Night Lights as she is more than deserving of a nomination for her stunning turn once again as Tami Taylor. And it's no surprise that Julianna Margulies landed herself a nom for the freshman season of The Good Wife, one of the few breakout hits of the past season, nor that Glenn Close is here for Damages. While I'd love all three women to share the award, that's just not going to happen. If I was a betting man, I'd bet on Margulies for The Good Wife. Though I'd love to hear Britton's acceptance speech, if I'm being heartfelt.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Capturing Mary • HBO • A talkbackTHAMES Production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Maggie Smith as Mary Gilbert
Georgia O'Keeffe • Lifetime • Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Television
Joan Allen as Georgia O’Keeffe
Return To Cranford (Masterpiece) • PBS • BBC/WGBH in association with Chestermead
Dame Judi Dench as Miss Matty
The Special Relationship • HBO • A Rainmark and Kennedy/Marshall Production in association with HBO Films
Hope Davis as Hillary Clinton
Temple Grandin • HBO • A Ruby Films, Gerson Saines Production in association with HBO Films
Claire Danes as Temple Grandin
Two words: Claire Danes. Her performance in Temple Grandin was nothing less than stellar and she not only imbued her turn with heart, strength, and passion, but she also perfectly captured the cadence and rhythm of Grandin herself. (Which I can say, having met and spent time with Temple.) It's a brave and bravura performance that I hope nets the former My So-Called Life star an Emmy Award next month, if there's any justice.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel
How I Met Your Mother • CBS • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
Of the Glee nominations, I'm happy to see Chris Colfer and Jane Lynch represented as they are the only things that kept me watching Glee through its first season. Save Ed O'Neill (wrongly overlooked here), the entire male cast of Modern Family earned themselves nominations. While they are all tops at their game, I actually hope that the Academy gives the win to Eric Stonestreet for his hysterical and heartfelt performance as Cameron. I'm hoping Stonestreet walks away the winner here. (Come on, Eric!)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman
Damages • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions
Martin Short as Leonard Winstone
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Terry O'Quinn as John Locke
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
John Slattery as Roger Sterling
Men Of A Certain Age • TNT • TNT Original Productions
Andre Braugher as Owen
I'm extremely chuffed to see O'Quinn and Emerson nominated here together for their stunning work on Lost. One can't help but feel that the nod isn't just for the final season of Lost but their collective work over the years on the ABC drama series, which wrapped its run in May. Likewise, Short gave a nuanced and compelling turn on Damages, playing against type and yet not becoming a walking creepshow like Darryl Hammond the season before. And it's always gratifying to see Aaron Paul nominated here for his performance as Jessie Pinkman on AMC's Breaking Bad and John Slattery for his work on Mad Men. Tough category to call but I'm going to give this to Paul.
(Still crushed, however, that Fringe's John Noble failed to get a nomination here for his staggering work as Walter Bishop this season.)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Emma (Masterpiece) • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Michael Gambon as Mr. Woodhouse
Hamlet (Great Performances) • PBS • production of Illuminations and Royal
Shakespeare Company for BBC in association with Thirteen for WNET.org and NHK
Patrick Stewart as Ghost / Claudius
Return To Cranford (Masterpiece) • PBS • BBC/WGBH in association with Chestermead
Jonathan Pryce as Mr. Buxton
Temple Grandin • HBO • A Ruby Films, Gerson Saines Production in association with HBO Films
David Strathairn as Dr. Carlock
You Don't Know Jack • HBO • Bee Holder, Cine Mosaic and Levinson/Fontana Productions in association with HBO Films
John Goodman as Neal Nicol
Would love to see Gambon take this one home for Emma as he was absolutely perfect as Mr. Woodhouse. Having said that, I also think that Patrick Stewart may walk away for his turn in Great Performances' Hamlet. Hmmm...
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristen Wiig as Various Characters
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studio
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper
I would be amazed if anyone other than Jane Lynch won here. She's the only real reason, as far as I am concerned, that Glee was even able to sneak into the comedy category. You can engrave that statuette now as far as I'm concerned.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Burn Notice • USA • FOX Television Studios in association with Fuse Entertainment
Sharon Gless as Madeline Westen
Damages • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson
So many worthy actresses competing here. Personally, I'd love for Rose Byrne or Christina Hendricks to win here. Normally, I think Elisabeth Moss is tops but she had a much quieter role this past season on Mad Men while Hendricks' Joan Harris (nee Holloway) and Byrne's Ellen Parsons seized their respective seasons by the throat and never let go. Dare I say that I'm rooting for Hendricks here?
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Alice • Syfy • A Reunion Pictures and Studio Eight Production in association with RHI Entertainment
Kathy Bates as Queen of Hearts
Temple Grandin • HBO • A Ruby Films, Gerson Saines Production in association with HBO Films
Julia Ormond as Eustacia (Temple's Mom)
Temple Grandin • HBO • A Ruby Films, Gerson Saines Production in association with HBO Films
Catherine O'Hara as Aunt Ann
You Don't Know Jack • HBO • Bee Holder, Cine Mosaic and Levinson/Fontana Productions in association with HBO Films
Brenda Vaccaro as Margo Janus
You Don't Know Jack • HBO • Bee Holder, Cine Mosaic and Levinson/Fontana Productions in association with HBO Films
Susan Sarandon as Janet Good
I'd love this to go to Catherine O'Hara. I love when comedic actors go against the grain and turn in dramatic and moving performances. Ormand was also absolutely amazing in HBO's Temple Grandin but there was such a subtlety and dignity to O'Hara's Ann in the biopic that I hope she's recognized... and starts working more and more in the dramatic arena.
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Glee • Wheels • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Mike O'Malley as Burt Hummel
Glee • Dream On • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Neil Patrick Harris as Bryan Ryan
Modern Family • Travels With Scout • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Fred Willard as Frank Dunphy
Nurse Jackie • Chicken Soup • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber; A Caryn Mandabach Production
Eli Wallach as Bernard Zimberg
30 Rock • Emmanuelle Goes To Dinosaur Land • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studio
Jon Hamm as Dr. Drew Baird
30 Rock • Into The Crevasse • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in
association with Universal Media Studio
Will Arnett as Devin Banks
While I'm loath to root for Glee, I'd love to see Mike O'Malley win for his turn as Kurt's surprisingly supportive father Burt.
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
The Closer • Make Over • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television
Beau Bridges as Detective George Andrews
Damages • The Next One's Gonna Go In Your Throat • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions
Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher
Dexter • Road Kill • Showtime • Showtime Presents, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
John Lithgow as Arthur Mitchell
The Good Wife • Fleas • CBS • CBS Productions
Alan Cumming as Eli Gold
The Good Wife • Bad • CBS • CBS Productions
Dylan Baker as Colin Sweeney
Mad Men • Shut The Door. Have A Seat. • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper
24 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM • FOX • Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox TV in association w/ Teakwood Lane Productions
Gregory Itzin as President Charles Logan
Let's be honest: is there any way that John Lithgow won't win for his turn as Trinity on Showtime's Dexter? Granted, there's no way that this was a "guest" role but he's in the category and he is almost certain to walk away with the statue next month. Would be shocked if it played out any other way.
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • The Maternal Congruence • CBS • Chuck Lorre
Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Christine Baranski as Beverly Hofstadter
Desperate Housewives • The Chase • ABC • ABC Studios
Kathryn Joosten as Karen McCluskey
Glee • The Rhodes Not Taken • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Kristin Chenoweth as April Rhodes
Saturday Night Live • Host: Tina Fey • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Tina Fey as Host
Saturday Night Live • Host: Betty White • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Betty White as Host
30 Rock • The Moms • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studio
Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy
Two And A Half Men • 818-JKLPUZO • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jane Lynch as Dr. Linda Freeman
Cough, Betty White, cough. Is there anything this woman can't do?
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Big Love • The Might And The Strong • HBO • Anima Sola Productions and Playtone in association with HBO Entertainment
Mary Kay Place as Adaleen Grant
Big Love • End Of Days • HBO • Anima Sola Productions and Playtone in association with HBO Entertainment
Sissy Spacek as Marilyn Densham
The Cleaner • Does Everybody Have A Drink? • A&E • CBS Paramount Television in association with Once A Frog Productions for A&E Network
Shirley Jones as Lola Zellman
Damages • Your Secrets Are Safe • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions
Lily Tomlin as Marilyn Tobin
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • Bedtime • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios
Ann-Margret as Rita Wills
Lost • The End • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet Burke
I'm beyond thrilled to see Elizabeth Mitchell in this category for her role as Juliet on Lost in the series finale and it really comes down to her and Sissy Spacek for Big Love. For me, anyway. I'd love it to be one of them, though Tomlin also gave a stirring and vicious performance as Marilyn Tobin this past season on Damages. Hmmm...
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
The Amazing Race • CBS • World Race Productions Inc.
Phil Keoghan as Host
American Idol • FOX • FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.
Ryan Seacrest as Host
Dancing With The Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions
Tom Bergeron as Host
Project Runway • Lifetime • The Weinstein Company, Miramax Films, Bunim-Murray Productions and Full Picture
Heidi Klum as Host
Survivor • CBS • SEG Inc.
Jeff Probst as Host
I'm going for Phil Keoghan all the way for The Amazing Race. Hands down the classiest reality show host and he displays more emotion in one eyebrow lift than many actors do in their entire frames.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO • HBO Entertainment
Glee • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Nurse Jackie • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber; A Caryn Mandabach Production
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studio
I have to say that I'm really, really irritated that both Parks and Recreation and Community were shut out of this category while The Office, which suffered through its worst season to date, and 30 Rock, which had a middling one, once again landed spots here. While the Glee nod is not surprising, it also took away a spot from a genuine--and actually funny all the way through--comedy like the two named. I am extremely happy, however, that Modern Family and Nurse Jackie earned nominations here... while HBO's Entourage did not. If there's any justice in the entire world (and Hollywood), Modern Family will be crowned the winner for outstanding comedy. I'm keeping my fingers very tightly crossed.
Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television
Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
True Blood • HBO • Your Face Goes Here Entertainment in association with HBO Entertainment
Five very strong series, each with their own bands of devoted viewers, likely going to the mats for their favorite. Breaking Bad delivered some majorly stunning surprises this season, as did Showtime's Dexter, which ended in a literal bloodbath. As for ABC's Lost, I'm one of the few who didn't think that Season Five of Lost was its strongest season... and I would have liked to have seen FX's Justified earn a spot here. (Also missing: Sons of Anarchy.)I'm pleasantly surprised to see HBO's True Blood here (taking the spot for Big Love, I would imagine) but I did think that the second season of the vampire drama transcended its roots to deliver a season that combined the seductive quality of the supernatural with something profound and powerful.
Having said that, my vote goes to Mad Men for its entirely superlative season, which in true Matthew Weiner fashion, changed up the rules of its game, ending relationships and altering the underlying foundation of the series in more ways than one. I'm once again rooting for the period drama to grab that prize.
Outstanding Miniseries
The Pacific • HBO • Playtone and Dreamworks in association with HBO
Miniseries
Return To Cranford (Masterpiece) • PBS • BBC/WGBH in association with Chestermead
Outstanding Made For Television Movie
Endgame (Masterpiece) • PBS • Channel 4, Target Entertainment Group and
Masterpiece present A Daybreak Pictures Production
Georgia O'Keeffe • Lifetime • Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Television
Moonshot • HISTORY • Produced by Dangerous Films LTD for History
The Special Relationship • HBO • A Rainmark and Kennedy/Marshall Production in association with HBO Films
Temple Grandin • HBO • A Ruby Films, Gerson Saines Production in association with HBO Films
You Don't Know Jack • HBO • Bee Holder, Cine Mosaic and Levinson/Fontana Productions in association with HBO Films
The Pacific may have more ardent supporters, but I'd actually like Temple Grandin to win here. Sometimes it's the smaller films that are just as important as the big-budget miniseries.
What did you think of the nominations? Who earned their nods? Who got wrongly shut out? Who do you think will win? Head to the comments section to discuss.
The Primetime Emmy Awards will be televised live coast-to-coast on Sunday, August 29th on NBC.
The Television Critics Association today announced their short-list nominations for the 2010 TCA Awards, which will be handed out during TCA Summer Press Tour, which kicks off at the end of July.
Among the nominees for Program of the Year, such series as Breaking Bad, Friday Night Lights, Glee, Lost, and Modern Family. In the individual genre categories, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Lost, Sons of Anarchy, and The Good Wife will compete for the top drama prize, while Glee, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, Party Down, and The Big Bang Theory are up for comedy kudos and such talents as Eric Stonestreet, Jane Lynch, Aaron Paul, Katey Segal, Nick Offerman, and many others are up for individual honors.
I'm glad to see so many broadcast network series competing side by side with their cable brethren. It almost gives one hope that the network model isn't completely cracked.
Additionally, this year's TCA Awards is also the first time that I'll be voting, as a newly installed member of the Television Critics Association. I was extremely pleased to see so many of my own personal nominations make the list here and I've already gone ahead and cast my ballot. (You can guess who and what I voted for.)
"Breaking Bad" (AMC) "Lost" (ABC) "Mad Men" (AMC) "Sons of Anarchy" (FX) "The Good Wife" (CBS)
Outstanding Comedy Series:
"Glee" (Fox) "Modern Family" (ABC) "Parks and Recreation" (NBC) "Party Down" (Starz) "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Individual Achievement in Drama:
Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad," AMC) John Lithgow ("Dexter," Showtime) Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife," CBS) Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad," AMC) Katey Sagal ("Sons of Anarchy," FX)
Individual Achievement in Comedy:
Ty Burrell ("Modern Family," ABC) Jane Lynch ("Glee," Fox) Nick Offerman ("Parks and Recreation," NBC) Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory," CBS) Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family," ABC)
Outstanding New Program:
"Glee" (Fox) "Justified" (FX) "Modern Family" (ABC) "Parenthood" (NBC) "The Good Wife" (CBS)
Outstanding Movie, Miniseries or Special:
"Life" (Discovery Channel) "The Pacific" (HBO) "Temple Grandin" (HBO) "Torchwood: Children of Earth" (BBC America) "You Don't Know Jack" (HBO)
Outstanding Achievement in News & Information:
"30 for 30" (ESPN) "America: The Story of Us" (History Channel) "Life" (Discovery Channel) "The Daily Show" (Comedy Central) "The Rachel Maddow Show" (MSNBC)
Where did the broadcasters go wrong this season, and what did they do right? Good question.
Head over to The Daily Beast, where you can read my latest piece, "TV's Winners and Losers," as I break down the network's performance in the 2009-10 season and (via a nifty gallery) take a look at the season's winners--including Modern Family, Chuck, Vampire Diaries, Fringe, Bones, Parenthood, NCIS (and NCIS: Los Angeles), The Good Wife, and others--and the losers (such as FlashForward, Heroes, Melrose Place and medical dramas in general, as well as the draws.
Where did your favorite series end up on the list? And what's your take on the 2009-10 season? Head to the comments section to discuss.
There are very few series that I fall in love with at first sight but Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd's superb comedy Modern Family was one of them, delivering an astute and nuanced portrait of a thoroughly modern family in America. Throughout the twenty-odd episodes that followed, I quickly fell in love with the extended Dunphy-Pritchett clan, looking forward to each Wednesday evening, when I would get a chance to curl up on the couch and spend a half an hour with my favorite television family.
The first season of ABC's deliciously hilarious comedy Modern Family comes to a close tonight with a fantastic episode ("Family Portrait"), written by Ilana Wernick and directed by Jason Winer, that displays the often complex bonds of family and how one's expectations of perfection don't always match up with reality.
The main storyline revolves around Claire (Julie Bowen) as she attempts to create the perfect setting for a family portrait of the entire Dunphy-Pritchett clan, unaware that her family is falling apart around her. Despite being married to Phil (Ty Burrell), as much of a fix-me-up as humanly possible, Claire is once again zeroing in on the tiny imperfections that lurk beneath the surface of her seemingly perfect world: the broken step.
An ongoing in-joke within the first season, the broken step on the staircase in the Dunphy home once again bubbles up, here a major plot point that offers not just a further complication to the ideal picture setting but a symbol of things that can't be fixed. Because, let's be honest, Bowen's Claire is like many married women: she's the uptight calm in the center of the storm, attempting to keep everything moving smoothly but often unable to let go.
Without giving too much away, Claire will most definitely have to let go by the end of the episode, a theme that culminates in a glorious sequence about unity and catharsis, all set amid the most humorously intense family portrait ever televised.
The rest of the episode recounts the hours before the command performance (and the white outfits they all must wear) as Cam (Eric Stonestreet) embarks on a professional music career and performs "Ave Maria" at a wedding (worry not: he's paid "in flowers"), Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) attempts to handle a pigeon loose in the apartment, Haley (Sarah Hyland) keeps an eye on Claire (and on a pimple); Jay (Ed O'Neill) recounts the tumultuous 1960s--and his stint in a barber shop--to Luke (Nolan Gould), and Phil and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) take Manny (Rico Rodriguez) and Alex (Ariel Winter) to a basketball game, where the two adults suffer through an awkward moment.
While each of the storylines are separate, they all come together at the very end of the episode as the family gathers together. Along the way, there are numerous complications, many destroyed objets of kitsch, an appearance by Kobe Bryant, a very uncomfortable kiss, and a painfully hysterical freak-out from Ferguson's Mitchell, set to Cameron's moving performance of "Ave Maria."
Tonight's installment, beautifully acted, written, and directed, offers us lot of laughs and some moments of genuine emotion, even from Hyland's eternally jaded Hayley. "Family Portrait" wasn't meant to be the season finale but works perfectly as a season ender. (Aside: Nolan Gould, via Twitter, sent me a message informing me that it was bumped backwards as the two-part Hawaii vacation was meant to close out the season; editor Ryan Case later told me that the finale would either be this episode or "Hawaii" and the network picked this one.)
But, really, whatever the case, I'm glad that the producers opted to use "Family Portrait" as the season finale for the first season. The final moments sum up so much of what this remarkable series is about, uniting the characters on screen in a way that wasn't accomplished in "Hawaii" (another brilliant outing) and giving us a nice visual that connects with the opening credits each week.
While Claire's idealized family portrait might not turn out the way she anticipated, the result--both for the family and for the audience--is perfect, nonetheless. As Modern Family goes on its extended summer vacation, I dare anyone watching to not feel that the series itself has also achieved perfection. See you in the fall, Dunphys and Pritchetts; you'll be missed in the meantime.
Modern Family's season finale airs tonight at 9 pm ET/PT on ABC.
Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.
Hitfix's Alan Sepinwall has a fantastic (and lengthy) interview with Lost showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse about this week's divisive "Across the Sea" episode and the end of the series. "We told the story the way we wanted to. Like David Chase, we tried to make the show to entertain the audience. That was our primary goal," said Cuse about making the sixth and final season of Lost. "We kind of planned this episode to come at this period of time because we actually wanted to take a break after the deaths of these major characters. It felt like this was the perfect time to take a time out from the main narrative. And since this was the final big mythological episode that we were going to do, we felt like it was a good placement for it, and now we'll roll into the finale. We make no apologies. We planned this to be the way it is. Again, it is funny, because there are a lot of people who are very happy with the show, there's going to be a very vocal group of people who are not happy, and that just kind of comes with the territory. We're making the show the best way we know how to make it, and we stand by it, and we're excited about how it ends and how the journey's unfolded." (Hitfix)
Over at Los Angeles Times, Maria Elena Fernandez has a fantastic piece on Lost's composer Michael Giacchino, who will be conducting a full symphony orchestra at tonight's Lost Live event here in Los Angeles (I'll be attending, of course) and speaks to Lindelof and Cuse about Giacchino's impact on the series. "We've always talked about the central aspect of Lost being character, character, character, and his music is so evocative of a certain moment or person in the show," Lindelof told Fernandez. "If you close your eyes and play 30 seconds of one of Michael's themes, you'd know which character's theme that is." (Los Angeles Times)
Vulture's Josef Adalian is reporting that Heroes is very unlikely to earn a spot on NBC's fall schedule and that all indications are currently pointing towards the superhero drama being deader than a dodo. Previous reports had indicated that the Peacock was considering ordering a final chapter of thirteen episodes but that appears not to be the case any more for the Tim Kring-overseen drama after screening the pilots that they had ordered. "NBC (which declined to comment for this story) is nothing if not appreciative of the few Heroes fans who still care about the saga and doesn't want to leave them hanging," writes Adalian. "While a half-season appears to be out of the question, we hear there's a good chance the network will at least try to find a way to fund a two- or four-hour movie event in order to give some finality to the franchise." (Vulture)
Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice has an interview with 24's Cherry Jones about the "trippy story arc" this season for President Allison Taylor. "By the end of the season, these guys are just this side of brain dead," said Cherry about Howard Gordon and 24's writers. "They have been trying so hard. They don’t have an arc. Most TV shows would have an arc and they would figure out how to nudge everybody in the direction they wanted to go in. These guys look at the performances, look at who they’ve got and try to follow things they think will be the most shocking. The fact that my character has suddenly taken this turn was never anticipated by anyone, but they have to figure out a way to justify it. They and I have managed to do that. I’ve got to hand it to them, they live right on the edge. They don’t take the easy road." (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)
E! Online's Megan Masters takes an early look at Part One of season finale of FOX's Fringe (airing tonight), offering up side-by-side photos of Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and Walter Bishop and their alternate reality counterparts. [Editor: I think that Olivia looks amazing in either reality but her "over there" counterpart has got a smoldering look.] (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)
And here's the promo for the two-part Fringe season finale:
[Editor: FOX and NBC ordered a whole slew of series yesterday afternoon, which you can read about here.]
Former Sopranos star James Gandolfini has been cast opposite Diane Lane and Tim Robbins in HBO's telepic Cinema Verite, a dramatization of the seminal 1970s reality series An American Family, where he will play the series' producer Craig Gilbert. (Robbins and Lane will play Bill and Pat Loud, the married couple at the center of the series.) Project, written by David Seltzer and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, will begin production this summer. (Variety)
BBC One has unveiled the cast of its upcoming eight-part sci-fi drama series Outcasts (created by Ben Richards), which will include Battlestar Galactica's Jamie Bamber, Ashes to Ashes's Daniel Mays, Clash of the Titans' Liam Cunningham, Spooks' Hermione Norris, Being Human's Amy Manson, Small Island's Ashley Walters, Ugly Betty's Eric Mabius, Shameless'Michael Legge, Generation Kill's Langley Kirkwood, Invictus' Patrik Lyster, and Jeanne Kietzmann. Series revolves around a group of human colonists who are attempting to build a new society on a distant planet. Here's how BBC describes the series: "They are a diverse group of individuals who left their old lives behind in extraordinary circumstances; promised a second chance at life they created a society, far away from their home, friends, family... and their pasts. Settled in the town of Forthaven on Carpathia, they are passionate about their jobs, confident of their ideals and optimistic about the future. They work hard to preserve what they've built on this planet they now call home, having embraced all the challenges that come with forging a new beginning.The planet offers the possibility for both corruption and redemption; while they try to avoid the mistakes made on Earth, inevitably our heroes cannot escape the human pitfalls of love, greed, lust, loss, and a longing for those they've left behind. As they continue to work and live together they come to realise this is no ordinary planet... is there a bigger purpose at work? Mystery lurks around them and threatens to risk the fragile peace of Forthaven." (BBC)
Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice is reporting that Steven Spielberg has pre-taped a "special introductory message" that will be played to advertisers at FOX's upfront presentation next week," signifying that his project--the prehistoric drama Terra Nova (which revolves around a family from the future who travels back in time)--has secured a thirteen-episode commitment and will be presented to advertisers even though a single frame of film has yet to be shot. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)
Entourage's executive producers Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson are developing a female-oriented comedy for HBO which will be written by Leah Rachel (with an assist by Emily Montague) that will revolve around a group of female friends in Los Angeles. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva is reporting that Warner Bros. Television is in the final negotiations of a deal with Angus T. Jones that will keep him on CBS' Two and a Half Men for two additional seasons. Still no progress, meanwhile, in the ongoing renegotiation talks between WBTV and series lead Charlie Sheen... (Deadline)
Hitfix's Alan Sepinwall has an interview with Cougar Town co-creator Bill Lawrence about how the series got beyond a thin concept and rickety title... which Lawrence would love to change. "I'd like to (change it), and the studio has been talking about it for three reasons: One, partly as a result of common sense and partly from their research, they find too many instances of testing of people saying they would never watch a show called Cougar Town - 'I don't want to see some show about a 40-year-old woman nailing younger guys' - and then they screen an episode, and people go, 'Oh, I would watch this show,'" said Lawrence. "Second point is simply what you already said, which is you would be hard-pressed to watch the last three episodes of the show and asked anyone for titles - I doubt anyone would say Cougar Town. Third, in a world where ABC and Steve are looking to promote Modern Family and capitalize on it to promote all their new shows next fall, anything you can do to create some kind of dialogue about your existing show is smart and savvy. The reasons not to do it I think solely come down to business reasons." (Hitfix)
Community's Joel McHale and Modern Family's Sofia Vergara will be announcing the primetime Emmy Award nominations on July 8th. (Hollywood Reporter)
Deadline.com's Nellie Andreeva is reporting that FOX has passed on the following projects: Breakout Kings, Breaking In, Tax Men, Strange Brew, Most Likely to Succeed and The Station, while NBC has passed on Matthew Broderick-led comedy Beach Lane. In other pilot news, FX has passed on comedy project Sweat Shop, after filming a pilot. (Deadline)
Lionsgate has acquired international distribution rights to Comedy Central's upcoming series Big Lake, from executive producers Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Chris Henchy. Cabler has given the comedy, which stars Chris Gethard, Chris Parnell, and Horatio Sanz, a ten-episode commitment, with an option to order an additional 90 episodes. (Broadcasting & Cable)
Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing.
Don't expect Mr. Eko to turn up among the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 this season on Lost. Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice is reporting that Adewale Akinnoye-Agbaje will not be returning to ABC's drama series Lost before it wraps up its epic run on May 23rd. "Though the producers wanted to find a reason to bring back the former tailie, EW has learned that a deal could not be reached in time," writes Rice. Akinnoye-Agbaje, who played Nigerian warlord-turned-pious-fake-priest Mr. Eko, had previously made it clear that he would be more than happy to return to Lost, which he departed during the series' third season. "I’m here for [the producers]," Akinnuoye-Agbaje said in an August 2009 interview. "Adewale is open for business. We have had talks about some things they might do for the final season and there are other dead folks coming back allegedly but at the moment it is still a maybe. A strong maybe but I have not shot anything yet or signed any contracts. But I’m hoping." It does appear than time was not on the side of Mr. Eko. Or the smoke monster managed to intervene once more. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)
Variety's Cynthia Littleton has details about Thursday evening's Lost Live: The Final Celebration event here in Los Angeles, during which Michael Giacchino will conduct a full live orchestral performance of the music from Lost for 1800 lucky fans (myself included), which will be followed by a screening of the following week's episode, the series' penultimate. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Colburn School of Performing Arts. We thought it was a great way to connect working musicians with students who are looking to make a living playing music," Giacchino told Variety. "And we want it to be fun -- not all academic and serious. We're celebrating what is quite an amazing ending to a long run." Executive producer Carlton Cuse, meanwhile, wanted a way to pay tribute to Giacchino's enormous contributions to the series and the fans. "Lost is so much about the community that has grown up around the show. It seemed like it would be a great culmination for all of us to watch the (penultimate) episode together and have that shared experience," said Cuse. "I think it's going to be a powerful and emotional evening." (Variety)
Fans of FOX's 24, also set to wrap its run this month, shouldn't expect a happy ending for Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer, according to executive producer Howard Gordon. "[It] leaves him in a compromised place morally, ethically and emotionally," said Gordon. "This show is a tragedy, and to give Jack a happy ending didn't feel authentic..." Meanwhile, a first draft of the script has been written for the big screen version of 24, with a second draft currently being worked on. "We're honoring the series and the creative integrity of (Bauer) and then possibly bringing in a whole new group [of characters]," Gordon said. "What I do think is important is that we do not retread." (Hollywood Reporter)
Shawn Ryan, who took over as showrunner/executive producer of FOX's Lie to Me, has said that he's looking to depart the procedural drama, which is currently on the bubble for a third season renewal. "I had a great year working on the show and helped develop a team that’s ready for more responsibility," wrote Ryan on Twitter. "Time for me to go …When I took gig, I had things in development, nothing in production. Now with Terriers and possibly Ride-Along, too much work... As for timing, this allows studio time to give network succession plan to increase odds of pickup. Still very excited to show you 12 episodes we have in the can. The great Howard Hessman guest stars in one of them." Lie to Me is set to return to the schedule on June 7th. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)
Lifetime is developing a drama spinoff of its series Army Wives, which will revolve around Brigid Brannagh's Pamela, described as "a former police officer whose husband was a Delta Force soldier" who "is now divorced and back in her old job as a Charleston, S.C., cop," according to Variety's Michael Schneider. The potential new series, which will follow Pamela back to Charleston, will be written by Bruce Zimmerman and T.D. Mitchell and executive produced by Mark Gordon and Deb Spera. (Variety)
USA has announced an official launch date for Season Five of dramedy Psych, which will return to the schedule on Wednesday, July 21st at 10 pm ET/PT. (Hollywood Reporter)
In other USA news, Emmanuelle Vaugier (Human Target) has been cast in USA's upcoming espionage drama Covert Affairs, where she will star opposite Piper Perabo and play a "fearless journalist/blogger." Series is set to launch on July 13th. (Hollywood Reporter)
Variety's Rick Kissell is reporting that venerable crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation could be headed to a new timeslot when CBS unveils their new fall schedule network. "All three [CSI] shows remain fairly popular -- and on most weeks they win their hours in total viewers -- but there's no guarantee they will all be on the fall sked. And keeping all three in the same timeslot for a sixth straight fall seems even more unlikely," writes Kissell. "As currently scheduled, each CSI is the beneficiary of some of the Eye's strongest lead-ins, and CBS may feel the time is right to get more production out of those slots." He believes that CBS will leave CSI: Miami on Monday nights, possibly rest CSI: New York during the fall or shift it to Fridays, and either flip CSI and The Mentalist on Thursdays or move it to Fridays as a lead into another drama, such as The Good Wife. (Variety)
A new Facebook campaign has sprung up, perhaps in response to the success of the Betty White/Saturday Night Live grassroots effort, around Modern Family. The group, "Let Cam & Mitchell kiss on Modern Family," is look for just that: an on-screen smooch between Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson: "Cam & Mitchell, the adorable gay couple on ABC's Modern Family, have not been shown sharing even a brief kiss throughout the series' first hit season. ABC isn't afraid of gay characters, so why won't they let them show some love?" (New York Magazine's Vulture)
Classic detective drama Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) is getting another remake, this time for American television as Syfy has handed out a pilot order to an updated version of the project, which revolves around a pair of mismatched detectives, one of whom is a ghost who was killed in the line of duty. Josh Bycel and Jonathan Fener will write the script and executive produce along with Howard Braunstein; project hails from ITV Studios. (Variety)
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Mary Lynn Rajskub will guest star in the June 10th episode of USA's Royal Pains, where she will play the stepdaughter of Christine Ebersole's Mrs. Newberg. "I play a girl who does yoga on diet pills," Rajskub wrote on Twitter. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)
20th Century Fox Television drama development czar Patrick Moran has departed the studio and will be replaced by Michael Thorn, the former NBC executive who was most recently the president of Marty Adelstein's 20th Century Fox-based shingle, Lost Marbles Television. He'll move into the position of SVP of drama development in June, and report to Jennifer Nicholson Salke. "Marty has been a great friend and mentor, but this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Thorn told Variety. "Twentieth has a legacy of developing and producing some of the most creative drama series in TV. To get to be a part of that, and make my own mark, and be able to sell to Fox and the other networks, it was something I couldn't say no to." (Variety)
