This sunday is the announcement of the 65th annual excellence in television awards, the Emmys! Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, who has been seen hosting the Tony’s for the past consecutive years. I usually don’t watch award shows, Musicals are a hit and miss fro me. Plus I feel threatened by anyone who knows more dance moves than me. Wicked was nice..that was elected/won one year…right?
Then you have the Academy Awards which makes everyone mad while breaking Leonardo DiCaprio as a person. Then again on bad days, I like reminding myself that DiCaprio and me are equal in terms of how many Academy awards we have.
But most people watch television, or are at least semi aware of what shows are circulating on prime time and HBO/Showetimes. Because everyone has that friend who gets way into a TV show and lets you know that, because that is all they talk about.I hate the shows where everyone pesters you to watch them, then you do and try and be spiteful, but end up really enjoying it. In my case, Breaking Bad.
The Emmys are very repetitive. Which isn’t bad, a great show’s going to have a great leading and supporting actors. The nominations for Drama and Best and lead/supporting actors and actresses are all from either Breaking Bad, Homeland, Mad Men, Downton Abbey. Exceptions being Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clark for Game of Thrones. Which I think they should just be lead actors, since the show doesn’t have a lead story line…never mind. The Newsroom, Boardwalk Empire and House of Cards got their two cents in to not really mix it up.
The surprise over Kevin Spacey an Robin Wright isn’t really surprising at all in House of Cards. More people are willing to pay under $10 a month for Netflixs rather than cable, and those with cable aren’t as keen to pay $15 to $20 a month for a handful of shows you can only watch 2 months out of the year. Netflixs actually tells me to go outside after marathoning every show they have. I’m an American, I will watch as much as I please. I am not surprised at all that an amazing cast with a decently well written plot (basically Game of Thrones, but with Senators and southern accented Kevin Spacey) is naturally going to get nominated.
For comedy you have the semi same line up from last year of 30 Rock, Veep, Parks and Rec, Girls, Nurse Jackie, Girls, The Big Bang Theory, Louie, and Modern Family. One noticeable absence is Arrested Development. With the mixed reviews from fans on the fourth season, Jason Bateman is the only representation of the show in the comedy category. With 90% of the other listed have multiple actors from the same show competing. Comedy can be taken so seriously.
For best director and writing in a comedy, just reread the above paragraph. The above listed shows are legitimately funny, and the writing makes them all one of the most quotable shows on TV.
Apparently there is a Sundance Channel, because Top of the Lake got nominated for best written miniseries/movie. BBC has The House, and HBO reigns with Behind the Candelabra, Parades End, and Phil Spector. Yeah I got nothing. But hey were nominated. So I’ll assume they’re decent.
Same get up for best miniseries/movie. But adding American Horror Story: Asylum, The Bible, and Political Animals. I love horror and mystery shows, but I can’t get into American Horror Story. Maybe because I just didn’t like the first season, apparently I’m in the minority because it’s looking to be a favorite with 17 nominations. So when I watch Sado/masochistic Nuns I’m weird, but put it on FX with Hell beasts and now it’s grimly artistic. No fair.
It’s nice having a solid line up of shows to appreciate and flood your friends with what you’d personally suggest. Some shows I felt were left out, Hannibals cinematography and writing I thought were very dramatic. He ate people! The other, other, white meat. I’m all for political dramas, but if you can make an abomination look like a Gordan Ramsay meal, bravo.
Another surprising snub was for Tatiana Maslany , who played 7 different characters in the newest Canadian drama, Orphan Black. Statistically, she should have at least gotten a nod for playing 7 different people in the same show. She did it well too, it was like an awkward Tyler Perry show, but decent.
So reality TV has it’s own nomination groupings too…I may watch a 6 seasons television show in a fortnight, but even I have standards. This is why I could never judge an award show, I’m too biased. The nods and nominations are up here, so for a more detailed and less contrived views can be seen. Personally, I’m just looking forward to NPH performance more than the others.