Sunday, September 21, 2008

EMMY *Live-Blogging* (The Broadcast)

If you're a completist (And why wouldn't you be?) you'd want to start here with the arrivals.

8:04
So far it's a dud. (Tough audience right? It's only 4 minutes in) A "holy crap" filled montage of famous TV lines said by famous TV people who didn't originally say them. Followed by Oprah's bizarre affected accent (I so wish she and Madonna would duet). Now it's the hosts of reality shows doing a long "bit" which they claim is not a "bit" at all. LIES. it's all lies.
8:07 Still, I thank them for showing me Heidi Klum in a tux. It's a look she hasn't worked in Project Runway. Why do beautiful women look so sexy in suits?
8:08 Never mind.


Supporting Actor, Comedy: Jeremy Piven Entourage.
Funny, yes. But Emmy, Emmy, Emmy... do the same people really need to win each year. Three years in a row? Spread the wealth baby. Neil Patrick Harris! We wanted to see him lay one on his boyfriend. Academies are always so stingy.

Supporting Actress, Comedy: Jean Smart in Samantha Who?
A good performance but even when they don't repeat (it's the first season) they repeat (like Piven, it's her third win). This Academy is so habitual. They're like chain smokers who can't veer from their favorite brands. But more importantly: Julia Louis Dreyfus dress is hideous. Neon orange + cutouts = rarely a good look for humans.

8:26 Heidi Klum's 4th outfit of the evening. I think I might keep count.
8:27 More Desperate Housewivesszzzzz. They're not Sex & The City. Sigh.

Supporting Actor, Drama: Zeljko Ivanek in Damages
The first time I saw this actor perform was in Mass Appeal (1984) and I was kinda into it and horrified by it at the same time as a young gay boy who didn't know he was that way. So this is his second closet case performance I've seen. I've come to believe that he's an overactor by nature. In fact, though it may be unpopular to say I think everyone on Damages is overdoing it a little bit. It's Overactors Anonymous. I'm not saying the scenery isn't tasty and they shouldn't chew...

8:34 Ricky Gervais is finally bringing a little funny to the show by torturing Steve Carell. 34 minutes in, it was about time. Directing prize the guy who did the Academy Awards. Er, why?
8:45 A dig at Katherine Heigl for her comments about the writing on Grey's Anatomy. That doesn't surprise me but I think more actors should speak their mind when the material isn't great. She's probably kind of a bitchy diva but she was right about her character.

Supporting Actress, Drama: Dianne Wiest In Treatment
She has two EMMYs to go with her two Oscars. [editors note: If TONY is next, she'll be a triple-crowner!] She plays a therapist on this HBO show. I would need less therapy if Academies actually rewarded great actors like her more often.

8:51 Steve Martin. My god I love him. It's probably because when I was a little kid I thought "King Tut" was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. Too bad he hasn't made a good movie in how long?
9:02 Josh Groban is having a psychotic breakdown on stage for your, um, enjoyment. He's basically William Shatner Jr. at this point: Complete Fame Whore.



If not Shatner Jr. perhaps Meryl Streep Jr via Mamma Mia! "Look at me being f-u-n-ny!" I say this because I love Meryl and apparently many of you love Josh. Who knew?

9:08
The Lovely Laura Linney™ wins Actress in a TV movie or miniseries. It's frustrating to me that she has to console herself with EMMYs. What about the Oscar?

9:17 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart wins after a weird intro by way of Laugh-In reunion (Lily Tomlin! ringydingy). So... it's a cliche to say it but sometimes cliches are truths. The Daily Show is the only news show I truly trust. He's a modern hero.
9:19 Heidi's 6th outfit. Something in leopard. Rrrrowr [*does Thomas Hayden Church Sideways hand gesture* --yes, I'm a little tipsy right now]
9:21 Direction of a Comedy goes to Pushing Daisies "Pie-lette" awwww

Too Fey to Function

9:25 Tina Fey wins Best Writing for 30 Rock. I truly enjoy that show but I am a wee bit sad that she probably won't be writing any more movies as funny as Mean Girls while this show is still on.
9:28 Oh blessed commercial break.
9:31 West Wing. It still won't go away! But at least the show is appropriately political tonight. Vote.
9:33 Did this guy (some Academy president) just WELCOME me to the show? I've been watching it for 93 minutes now. What the hell?

<--- 9:40 They either haven't showed Michelle Pfeiffer and her husband yet or I was typing when they did. But they're there. See!
9:43 Supporting Actor in a Mini Series Tom Wilkinson in John Adams. It's cleaning up as many predicted when it first premiered.
9:45 Um yikes. Cop cars are surrounding my building, a helicopter is lighting up the roof.
9:54 Sandra Oh & Patrick Dempsey (who knows from supporting actresses) are here to present Supporting Actress in a MiniSeries. The great Dame Eileen Atkins wins for Cranford.
9:56 The cop cars seem to have left this street but the helicopters are still hovering.

9:57 Kathy Griffin and Don Rickles. "Let's read these funny lines they wrote for us"
9:58 Reaction shot mystery: Why is Adrian Grenier so extremely beautiful to look at for 2 seconds and entirely boring to look at for more than 3?
9:59 Reality Show Competition. 6th consecutive win for Amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
10:01 Sally Field gives the Best MiniSeries prize to John Adams' producer Tom Hanks. "Have you been a good boy?" Oh, please don't remind me that I have to sit through Forrest Gump again in a few weeks for Best Pictures From the Outside In. I love Sally but I just can't go there yet. Please and thanks.

10:08 I absolutely love that they've paired The Chenoweth and NPH but they're not going to let them sing. I am aghast. If I could type nothing but heart symbols until this Broadway pair leaves the screen, I would.
10:17 House gets Best Director. Mad Men gets Best Writing. Do they split the difference and give Drama Series to a third show?
10:23 They've gone back to Mini Series prizes (this night will last forever). Paul Giamatti for John Adams.
10:25 Candice Bergen is wearing an outfit that... it's just. No.

Best Actor, Comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
YES.
Best Actress, Drama: Glenn Close, Damages
There you go bitches. I know so many of you wanted it. My heart was with the unnominated Mary McDonnell [sniffle]. Great speech from Glenn. Shout out to mature sexy complicated women. This category is indeed proof that they can carry shows ("...AND MOVIES!" Nathaniel shouts)

10:30 In Memoriam. [double sniffle]

I kinda really hate that awards shows always end up running out of time. Because what happens is that the "big" winners always get stiffed in terms of attention and time of speeches and "bits" etcetera. Grrr

Best Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
I've actually never heard of this show. But then, I'm a movie guy so... (why am I live blogging this again? Yeah, I don't know either)
Best Actress, Comedy: Tina Fey, 30 Rock

10:44 More Host humor. If Heidi Klum doesn't win this I am going to throw something at the television.
10:50 Best Host goes to Jeff Probst of Survivor fame. That's still on? Haven't they exhausted all the remote islands by now? I threw a piece of popcorn at the screen. I missed. Or maybe it was lodge inside his dimples, hidden from view. I'm pissed for Heidi but when you've got perfect bone structure, designers at your beck and call, Seal, endless money and a hit show, well, she probably doesn't care too much.
10:53 Betty White. She makes me smile.

Best Comedy: 30 Rock / Best Drama: Mad Men
Two very deserving sometimes brilliant shows so even if the rest of their choices were uninspired at least they let the top prizes slip into good hands.

Is it time for the Oscars yet? That was five months long.


Bye Laura!
*

88 comments:

Glendon said...

"What if I just kept talking for 12 minutes? That was the opening"

John T said...

Yeah, that was a terrible opening-glad that PIven pointed it out.

John T said...

Why again is Ryan Seacrest hosting this year? Did the Emmy producers not watch last year? Bring back Conan or Ellen or Jon Stewart-are they all shooting for an Oscars hosting gig? Is that why they all turned it down?

NATHANIEL R said...

you know what's weird about Ryan Seacrests career. Everyone is paying him millions and they don't even get exclusives. Isn't it bizarre? He's still free to do all this stuff on other networks and yet millions.

i don't really get what the people paying him are getting for their money?

Hayden said...

Jean Smart looked pretty fabulous.

NATHANIEL R said...

so far i can't really complain about the winners but they aren't really all that great either.

good shouldn't necessarily win trophies.

give me some great.

Murtada said...

after vanessa l & neil patrick lost, i'm glad zelko won,first good emmy choice

Hayden said...

I really wanted NPH, either Cheno or Poeh-Poeh and Ted Danson to win so far. Oh, well.

Hayden said...

P.S. I loved the Katherine Heigl jab and the Desperate crowd looked like shit on stage together. It was all clashing colors, emaciated cheekbones, and shameless tranny mugging. I don't know which annoyed more--Eva Longoria's trashy smoky eye, Dana Delaney's pasty complexion, Teri Hatcher's deer-in-the-headlights expression, Marcia Cross' "I'm-not-a-lesbian" castmate kiss, Nicolette Sheridan's faux British accent (only Madonna can do that), or Felicity Huffman's severe haircut.

They all lose.

NATHANIEL R said...

But Hayden... how do you really feel?

Hayden said...

Seriously, though. That show jumped the shark the second Flicka accepted her Emmy. After all, that's what made the writers plague Lynette with every affliction imaginable--cancer, pedophilia, bastard children, natural disasters, and that unforgettable supermarket holdup.

I used to be such a huge fan, but methinks it's time to put them all to bed.

Glendon said...

Well done, Hayden.

Anonymous said...

Are you being sarcastic? Because Josh Groban is awesome/adorable and his song medley was probably the best part of the Emmys so far.

Carl Joseph Papa said...

winners suck so far

Cengiz said...

Awww YAY Laura Linney. I [heart] you

Marius said...

Where's Goldie Hawn? Wasn't she in Laugh In?

Anonymous said...

Why has Brad Garrett been on the telecast about 20 times in the past 85 minutes ?!

GO AWAY !

Anonymous said...

I think the Emmy suits Laura more than the Oscar, truthfully. She's far better on the small screen then on the big one, anyway.

He says, having not seen John Adams.

NATHANIEL R said...

Shawn -- it was kind of funny in concept, I'll give it that. It had its moments. I just think he's totally Shatner Jr. He's constantly joking about his image. to the point where what is his image rather than a joke?

i totally see it as Shatner-esque.

Hayden i totally agree. though I might tune in to see how they handle that 5 year jump. What has Battlestar wrought? Or maybe this is more of a ROSEANNE's lottery win thing.

Cengiz said...

Is the writer's strike still going on? Thats the only thing I can think of as to why the show is not good.

NATHANIEL R said...

arkaan I have JOHN ADAMS sitting on my tv and i have yet to watch it. I feel guilt.

Carl Joseph Papa said...

yay for linney. i loved john adams. but i was sorta rooting for susan sarandon

Dame James said...

Don't hate on the Housewives. Season four was fantastic, nearly as good as the first season when everyone fell in love with it. Even when it's as batshit crazy as season three, I will defend that show with my life. On what other show on TV right now are five 40-something actresses given characters as sharply written and comedic without resorting to lame slapstick (95% of the time, anyways)?

Anonymous said...

I have to differ, I enjoyed seeing Josh Groban have some fun. I was impressed.

Marius said...

Flight of the Conchords has to win!

Carl Joseph Papa said...

yay for pushing daisies!!!! yay!!!! yay!!!!

Dame James said...

Dame Judi Dench got robbed. That's all.

Cengiz said...

YAY!!!!! Now they NEED to win Writing

Carl Joseph Papa said...

yay for tina fey wow i love her

Marius said...

Yes, Tina's lovely.

Cengiz said...

She was my 2nd choice. I still would have voted for Pushing Daisies.

Marius said...

Steven is the better performer of the two.

Glendon said...

DID THEY JUST CUT HIM OFF?

Marius said...

Will people shut up about voting. Yes, it's important. We know. They should be trying to entertain us; not educate us about the importance of voting.

John T said...

Anyone know why they awarded Lead Actress in a Miniseries before Supporting-not to downplay Supporting Actresses (they're just as essential, imho), but it's not typical for them to get to go second at an awards show.

NATHANIEL R said...

glendon yes they just cut someone off WHILE he was talking about letting peopel speak in full sentences.

i mean. the levels... that's so the problem. TV won't let people talk. so we only understand stupid politicians now. ARRrrrgggggh

marius there's that yes. But asking an awards show to "entertain" is a tall order ;) i personally think they should have to maybe take off their shirts and LITERALLY pat each other's backs.

For Our Entertainment!

John T said...

Whichever of these hosts actually wins the Emmy should apologize for accepting the hosting gig, and give their Emmy to Kristin Chenoweth.

Oh, and you're right about the Dempsey-Dorian Gray thing.

Cengiz said...

Ummmm what does Audra McDonald have to do to win an Emmy? or get nice good oscar winning roles.

Carl Joseph Papa said...

why does amazing race have to win all the time!!!!?!?!?!?!

Marius said...

Oh, Don, you are comedic gold.

Marius said...

You know, they should have a special award for best entertainment blog. Honestly, I (and many people) get most of my information about tv shows (reviews, pictures, etc.) from blogs. If they give awards for reality television, why not recognize an outstanding blogger/writer.

John T said...

Let's all start an "Emmy for Nathaniel" campaign. Nat, since it's the Emmys, if we could get you one, we could probably get you four or five!!! :)

Anonymous said...

'John Adams' was an eight hour nap.

NATHANIEL R said...

that's so funny John I was JUST trying to explain to The Boyfriend the basic rule of supporting actor/actress comedy wins at the EMMYs. Once you win one, you're good for at least 3. It's just hard to win that first one. After that they'll totally fuck everyone else over just to burden your shelf with more gold.

they. are. weird.

oh and thanks for the sentiment but i don't even get nominated at the Bloggies ;) ha ha so I don't really dream of EMMYs

Glendon said...

For a moment I thought I time traveled and Wayne Brady was now an old man still presenting the nominees.

Carl Joseph Papa said...

oooh house won for directing

Marius said...

You're too good (i.e., too smart) for a bloggie, Nat. I mean, Perez Hilton was nominated for a bloggie. Perez frekin' Hilton. Ugh.

Anyway, who needs a bloggie when you have the attention and respect of the gay blogosphere. :)

Carl Joseph Papa said...

wow alec baldwin won! but i was really hoping that lee pace takes it

Marius said...

Yes, Alec. He deserves the recognition. I think 30 Rock is a tad overrated. But Alec really delivers for the show. Well done!

Carl Joseph Papa said...

oh and glenn close won. as if no one expected that

Anonymous said...

30 Rock deserves EVERY award it receives.

Rob said...

Hahahahaha!

Glenn Close said "Hold it for me!" to America Ferrara when she tried to give her her Emmy!

Marius said...

Amen, Glenn. Amen!

Carl Joseph Papa said...

alec deserved the award i have to agree but i think that lee pace was better. that's just one man opinion :)

John T said...

Yeah, Pushing Daisies deserves every award, period. This show is the best thing on television. Buy the DVD's, watch on October 1st everyone!!!

Roberta Lipp said...

No, seriously? George Carlin died twice?

Marius said...

Awards shows (from the MTV Video Music Awards to the Emmys) all seem dated to me. It's like they're stuck in the early 90s or something. Even CNN gives their reporters and anchors new technology to play with (e.g., John King and his magic monitor; and Rick Sanchez won't shut up about his twitter and facebook accounts). It's the 21st century, people. How about a little innovation?

Marius said...

Agreed, John T.

Carl Joseph Papa said...

oh wow! bryan cranston so deserved that award!

Anonymous said...

Anybody else remember Heath Ledger in the series ROAR? That was the first time I had ever seen him. Maybe it was too long ago (and it was a summer series), so that might explain why he wasn't mentioned IN MEMORIAM.

Carl Joseph Papa said...

YAY for tina fey!!!!

Carl Joseph Papa said...

and may i just say that heidi is damn hot

Marshall said...

The reign of Spader is finally over, mercifully. Wish it'd been Hamm though.

John T said...

Please, please Academy-don't make Ryan Seacrest an Emmy winner. Or Howie Mandel. Or Jeff Probst. Or that other guy. Basically, go with Heidi or nobody.

NATHANIEL R said...

yes i love Jon Hamm but I bet that Golden Globe has made him happy enough. what a ride that show has had thus far.

John T said...

Oh well, at least it wasn't Seacrest.

Carl Joseph Papa said...

mad men wow

Marius said...

What a waste of time.

John T said...

All right, this has convinced me-30 Rock's going into the TiVo, and I have the first disc of Mad Men, Season One going into my Blu-Ray before bed.

Anyone know if they're going to replaying all of Season 2 on AMC when the season is over? They seem to do that quite often on cable.

Anonymous said...

Summary of the show: The beginning stumbled, the middle dragged on, and the ending was rushed. Oh and the 5-host thing was an utter failure.

Thanks Nathaniel for liveblogging.

NATHANIEL R said...

Shawn -- thanks for the summary. It's true. I hope y'all had fun chatting even if the show was kinda lame.

john t -- you won't regret time spent with either. 30 Rock is often so funny that it's actually laugh out loud (rarer than the phrase) and Mad Men... well, you'll see

Anonymous said...

Jeff Probst is actually quite a deserving winner. And I like Survivor, and don't get the bashing.

As for the rest, really - I've seen nothing from this year outside of Pushing Daisies (which I love), Weeds (interesting and Parker is sensational as always) and Flight of the Conchords (an absurdist gem).

Joe Reid said...

Okay, it was a bad show in terms of a show, but in terms of giving awards to people who aren't ridiculously undeserving, it was maybe the best Emmys I've seen in my lifetime. Mad Men, 30 Rock, Tina Fey, Baldwin, Weist, Ivanek, and Laura Linney were all the best in their category. Jean Smart, Glenn Close, and Bryan Cranson are no slouches either. I'm kind of shocked by how well it turned out, winners-wise.

Chris Na Taraja said...

Does anyone know anyone who watches The Amazing Race?! Is it really that amazing? 5 years in a row! COME ON!!!

Anonymous said...

Chris: Yes. My friends and I watch it all the time. And while I wanted Project Runway to win, Amazing Race is still every bit amazing. Plus it makes up for the egregious snub of Phil Keoghan for Best Reality Host.

NATHANIEL R said...

can someone explain to me what the hosts add to these shows though. I get it in the case of Heidi Klum... she's actually doing something more than introducing a challenge.

I'm not sure what the other hosts are contributing exactly other than to say their catchphrases or tell people they've lost?

I've seen AMAZING RACE quite a few times and in no way shape or form could i be convinced that it's a higher quality show than Project Runway or Top Chef (though it is better than AI which is just stale stale stale) and that's just two of its peers .

I don't get it.

and Joe you actually think that Tina Fey is a better lead actress on 30 Rock than Mary Louise Parker on Weeds? say it aint so. You're the MLP champion?

Joe Reid said...

Nathaniel, don't hate me or anything, but I think Heidi Klum might have been the second-least deserving nominee in her category. Yes, she's gorgeous and awesome as a person, but she introduces the challenge, goes away, repeats her spiel, says "auf wiedershen," and that's it. At least with Bergeron and Seacrest, they're kind of operating these three-ring-circus live TV shows. I hate Ryan Seacrest, but I have to admit he does his job reasonably well.

As for MLP, you know I love her, but a) it's hard to compare Weeds and 30 Rock because while they're both comedies, they couldn't be father apart in terms of tone. There's a degree of apples/oranges to it. But while I thought Weeds Season 3 was kind of stuck in neutral for most of those episodes, 30 Rock Season 2 improved, and Tina Fey's comedic acting grew by a leap and a bound. So...yeah, Fey over MLP.

The Jaded Armchair Reviewer said...

But Nathaniel, what DID you throw at the TV screen when Heidi lost?

NATHANIEL R said...

joe the circus operation makes a sort of sense. Thanks

js popcorn, as stated

Literature Crazy said...

Boo to you... Josh Groban was the highlight (at least he's willing to admit he's a parody of himself as opposed to all the other blow-hards who were in attendance).

Anonymous said...

Please don't hate me....because I LOVE her, but Mary Tyler Moore's days of sleeve-less gowns ended long ago.

Tyra should have been nominated & won for reality host. Heidi, love her too....but as an Emmy host, she was horrible.

Anonymous said...

Phylicia Rashad should have won her category. It was "John Adams" rote voting all damn night long. And the one category it actually should have won for (directing), it lost out to "Recount". It's ridiculous how idiosyncratic the Emmys are. Reward a first-timer for an awesome performance (Zeljko Ivanek!), and then hand third Emmys to Jeremy Piven, Laura Linney, and Jean Smart, and SIXTH CONSECUTIVE EMMYS to "The Daily Show" and the boring as all get out "The Amazing Race". It's hard out her for an Emmy fan who actually watches television, b/c these voters routinely don't, and are wholly satisfied with honoring their mediocre favorites year after year after year with few exceptions.

But not to be a total Debbie Downer, the wins for Bryan Cranston, Glenn Close, "Mad Men", "30 Rock", "The Colbert Report", and LA TINA FEY were awesomeness.

NATHANIEL R said...

heather i've added in an extra line to appease those of you who'd like to grope Groban.

peace unto you all

Anonymous said...

Great:

*Glenn Close and Zeljko Ivanek's Win: Damages is one of my favorite series in TV and both deserves the award. Ivanek was awfully underrated in Golden Globes in terms of the famous Danson, who in my opinion Ivanek gives a better performance.

*Mad Men and 30 Rock: Two excellent shows who deserves the EMMYS. Also for Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin

*Eileen Atkins: YAH!!

*The End of Boston Legal Legacy? I hope So... Excellent surprise from Cranston, finnally after three prior nomination for "Malcolm in the Middle"

Many of the winners deserves the award in major or minor degree.

*No Seacrest for EMMYS: YAHHHH!!!!

Good but:

*Laura Linney: I love Linney and her performance is good in John Adams but I'm sorry I prefer Keener or Rashad.

*Jeremy Piven: I know he's funny but when Neil Patrick Harris? He deserved more that EMMY. Oh well, maybe is true that EMMY voters LOVE Entourage!.

*Jean Smart: Only because Vanessa Williams and Amy Poehler lost to her.

Bad:

*WHERE'S HEATH LEDGER? I know it was a long time ago and it was a Fox serie but he was in Roar... F***!!!

*The Amazing Race again???!!! It's the only reality show nominated or waht?

Anonymous said...

GREAT live-blogging!! I only saw about half of the show so appreciated the dead-on recap. The stuff with the reality show hosts scared the bejeesus out of me. Do they REALLY need/deserve an Emmy?

Thrilled at all wins by "Mad Men," though.

PIPER said...

Peter Grosz was one of the writers for the Colbert Report who won an Emmy. He's also in the Sonic commercials I work on.

So glad Fey won. I love her.

John T said...

I think Groban is terribly cute, for some reason I can't really explain.

par3182 said...

that was, by far, the worst awards show i've ever fast forwarded through

(but it coughed up some good winners along the way)