The Return of Jack Bauer and 24

Monday May 5^th marked the highly-anticipated return of an iconic TV show and character to the airwaves.  24: Live Another Day premiered on FOX and brought Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer back to TV. 

24’s real time concept, an entire season of 24 one hour episodes, spanning one day in the storyline was unique and innovative when it premiered.  The pulse pounding storylines about a US Counter Terrorist Unit in post 9/11 America made audiences stand up and take notice and 24 became the talk of TV.

The show aired on FOX from 2001-2010 for 8 seasons and 192 episodes, plus a 2 hour movie in between seasons 6 and 7.  Sutherland won an Emmy,  a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Jack Bauer over the course of the series run. 

In May of 2013, after several failed attempts to bring 24 to the big screen, Fox announced that the show would be returning in a “limited run event series” called 24: Live Another Day.  Fox CEO Kevin Reilly said that the series would essentially represent the twelve "most important" hours of a typical 24 season.  As with the rest of Fox's push into event programming, the production will have "a big scope and top talent and top marketing budgets."

In a press release, Producer Howard Gordon said:  “Jack Bauer has always been an exciting, thrilling character, and I confess that I've missed him. I think the audience has too. The character has evolved through the years, and this new and exciting event series format is perfect to tell the next chapter of his story and continue to reflect how the world is changing. Fans can rest assured that the Jack they know and love will be back.” 

The story will take place 4 years after the events of the show’s final season. Once again, world peace hangs in the balance as the U.S. is about to sign an important treaty with Great Britain. U.S. President James Heller,  played by William Devane, is in London to sign the pact, but the CIA uncovers a threat to assassinate the president.  Jack Bauer, will be forced to come out of hiding in an attempt to thwart the plot.  

All the familiar elements are in place including the digital clock signaling the ends and beginnings of segments to remind us that it's all happening in real time.  But while the 12-part series will still portray the events of a single day in real time, there will be jumps forward between certain episodes.

Whether 24 : Live Another Day will lead to more 24 is yet to be seen.  Producers and actors have all said they would be open to more but the ratings will need to be there.    "I think the show could go on indefinitely," Sutherland said, then added with a tone of doubt in his voice: "I'm not sure how long Jack Bauer could go on."   Sutherland still hopes a 24 feature film will be made one day, but for now is just happy to be back playing Jack again.  “He’s this long-lost friend,” he says. “It was great to see each other again!”

24: Live Another Day airs Monday nights at 9 on FOX. 

Bill’s TV Talk Mailbag

From time to time my column will feature questions asked by readers regarding the world of TV.  Feel free to email me with any questions you may have about TV at BillsTVTalk@gmail.com, and I’ll do my best to answer you and may feature your question in a future column.  Here’s what we got!

Hey Bill, I’m a huge fan of American Horror Story, can you give me any scoop on Season 4? – Sandy from Amesbury, MA

I can tell you a few things about season 4, Sandy.  For starters, it will be called, American Horror Story: Freak Show and will center around a carnival and the people involved, and it will be set in the 1950’s in Florida.  The entire season 3 cast is set to return, and a new big name has been announced as a cast member for season 4.  Who is that big name?  It’s none other than Michael Chiklis, who will be joining the cast as the ex-husband and father of characters played, respectively, by Kathy Bates and Evan Peters.

I really enjoyed Orange Is The New Black‘s first season.  Any idea when we can expect Season 2? – Christina from Lowell, MA

Season 2 will premiere on Netflix on June 6^th, and from what I’m hearing you can expect the show to focus a little bit less on Piper and a little bit more on everyone else this season.   Also, contrary to other rumors out there, Laura Prepon’s character of Alex will be appearing in most of this season’s episodes.

Big fan of Mad Men, so I’m feeling a little bittersweet.  I’m excited for the show to return, but feeling bad that this will be the final season.  What can you tell me about the upcoming final episodes? – Mike from Methuen, MA

Don’t worry Mike.  Even though this is Mad Men’s final season, the season is being split into 2 parts.  The first 7 will air beginning April 13^th, and the rest will air about a year later in the Spring of 2015.  So you will still have the show around for a bit.   I can tell you that you will see  a West Coast branch of Sterling Cooper opening in season 7, and creator Matthew Weiner said that something that happened in the past is likely to "cast a shadow" over the final season.  Wiener said "... as writers we don't just throw stuff away once it's happened. There is a shadow being cast over this whole season that started not just last season, but the first time we met Don Draper."

Please give me some scoop on Parenthood.  I love that show! – Karen from Andover, MA

It appears as though the show isn’t done with the Amber and Ryan story just yet.  Expect to see Ryan return for the season’s final 2 episodes.   Executive Producer Jason Katims said that when Ryan sees Amber again “it’s over very, very dramatic circumstances and incorporates some of our other characters in a rich story… I’m not going to say anything more than that, other than get your Kleenex ready.”

Whatever scoop you can give me about my favorite show Ray Donovan would be appreciated.  Thanks. – Richard from Salem, NH.

The show will have 2 new additions when it returns.  Hank Azaria will be joining the cast as James Cochran, head of the LA division of the FBI, and Hollywood legend Ann Margaret will be coming onboard as June Wilson, who is described as “a major star back in her day who has a history with Ray’s boss Ezra.”  Ray Donovan returns to Showtime on July 13^th at 9 pm.

CBS “Intelligence”: Been There Done That

CBS new series ‘Intelligence’, starring LOST’s Josh Holloway and CSI’s Marg Helgenberger, premiered on January 7^th to decent ratings.  It boasted a good cast, and an interesting premise.    The drama centers on a high tech intelligence operative named Gabriel, played by Holloway, who has a super computer microchip implanted into his brain, and the director of the cyber security agency named Lillian Strand that he works for, played by Helgenberger. 

The show is pretty much your standard procedural.  Show the crime, solve the crime, and catch the bad guys.  The problem is that this premise has been done before, and better.  NBC had a series called Chuck, which ran from 2007-2012.  It was the story of a computer geek who accidentally downloads critical government secrets into his brain, essentially making his mind a super computer.  Sound familiar?  The difference was that Chuck was a nerd and this thing in his brain made him a spy, and that made it interesting.  Gabriel is already a competent spy, much less interesting.

Granted ‘Intelligence’ takes a more serious approach, while ‘Chuck’ was much more light hearted.  But Chuck was much better acted and written.  ‘Chuck’ built a cult like following over its 5 years on the air and stood out from other shows.   ‘Intelligence,’ however, is loaded with your standard clichés and lazy writing, and does nothing to separate itself from other shows of its kind.  There’s just nothing special to it. 

In the pilot, Strand decides that Gabriel needs a bodyguard, so she hires an attractive young brunette from the Secret Service to watch over him.  Let the sexual tension begin.   Cliché #1.    Midway through the episode we find that Gabriel’s co-worker and friend is actually working for the other side.  The Mole.   Cliché #2.  Throw in a fight with a guy twice his size, an unlikely hero saving the day, and mysterious issues surrounding his missing wife and her possibly being a traitor and you have 3 more clichés that Gabriel has to deal with in the first hour. 

It was really good to see Holloway on TV again, but he is wasted in this series.  I’ve never been a big fan of Helgenberger and watching her in this series reminded me why.  I just never find her believable in her roles.  She’s very wooden and dull in this role although, let’s face it, she doesn’t have much to work with.

There are some good action sequences that will attract fans, Holloway is very likable in his role, and the show may get better as it goes along. Ratings have plummeted since the pilot episode, however, this is the type of series that CBS normally turns into a hit, so we will have to see where it goes in the coming weeks.    If you like “Intelligence,” get your fill of it while you can.  My guess is that it will be unlikely to see a 2^nd season. 

With so many choices on TV these days, shows really have to do something to stand out, and ‘Intelligence’ fails to do so.  In fact, it is so unoriginal and boring, that is just blends in with today’s TV landscape and gets lost in the shuffle.  Hopefully Josh Holloway gets a better vehicle to come back to TV in, once this show is put out of its misery. 

My 10 Best TV Shows of 2013

My list of the best that TV had to offer in 2013 was so hard to compile.  There were so many quality programs to choose from this year, so narrowing this list down was a tough task.    You will notice that there are no sitcoms on this list, but unfortunately the crop of comedies on the air right now just didn’t make the cut.  Here are my choices for the best TV shows of 2013. 

10. (tie) Homeland  (SHO) – When I started compiling this list, this show wasn’t on it.  But the final 6 episodes of the season were top notch and propelled Homeland back onto the list.  Claire Danes and Damian Lewis were excellent as always, but this season belonged to Mandy Patinkin and his portrayal of CIA Director Saul Berenson.   The truly gut wrenching finale was one of the year’s best episodes.

10 (tie) Mad Men (AMC) – Mad Men didn’t have its best season, but still better than most series on the air.  Jon Hamm’s Don Draper continues to be one of TV’s greatest characters.  With just 2 short seasons left of this amazing show, I’ll be savoring every episode.

9. The Blacklist (NBC) – The only network series on my list, The Blacklist stars James Spader as one of Americas Most Wanted who now aids the FBI in catching the most dangerous criminals in existence.   Spader is superb in the lead role.

8. Ray Donovan (Showtime) – Liev Schreiber stars in the title role of this exciting series.  Ray Donovan is a Boston raised tough guy, now living in Los Angeles and making his living as a “fixer” for a powerful law firm.  Jon Voight, as Ray’s ex-con father, gives one of the best performances of his career.

7. Masters Of Sex (Showtime) – This freshman series about Masters & Johnson, the the pioneers of the science of human sexuality whose research touched off the sexual revolution, boasts some of the year’s best acting.  Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan, and Beau Bridges are excellent.

6. Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – Even though this show is lower on my list than it was last year, that speaks more to the quality of programming on TV today than any decrease in the quality of this series.  On the contrary, Boardwalk Empire had one of its strongest seasons to date. 

5. Southland (TNT) – TV’s best police show, Southland, ended its 5 year run in April with its finest season yet.  Top notch writing and acting, especially by Michael Cudlitz, who gave one of the year’s best performances. 

4. House of Cards (Netflix) – Kevin Spacey’s top notch performance highlighted this political drama.  The series centers on Senator Frank Underwood who, after getting passed over as Secretary of State, decides to exact revenge on his political enemies. 

3. The Walking Dead (AMC) -  Now in its 4^th season, AMC’s zombie apocalypse drama continued to evolve by adding something to this year’s episodes that it was previously lacking, a great villain. David Morrissey’s performance as The Governor stood out in a great ensemble cast. 

2. Orange Is The New Black (Netflix) – Weeds creator Jenji Kohan created this dramedy that centers on Piper Chapman, played excellently by Taylor Schilling, a woman in her thirties who is sentenced to 15 months in prison.  This engrossing series that mixes dark humor and dramatic storylines, top notch acting and writing was TV best new series of the year. 

My pick for the best show of 2013 is…..

1. Breaking Bad (AMC) – There is just way too much to say about this series in this small space.  Perhaps the finest TV drama ever created, Breaking Bad, came to its immensely satisfying conclusion this year after 5 seasons and 62 episodes.  Vince Gilligan’s epic story of Walter White’s evolution from mild mannered chemistry teacher to hardened gangster intensified its brilliance this year.  Bryan Cranston continued his mesmerizing role as Walter White.  “Ozymandias” was one of the best TV episodes of this or any other series. 

Honorable Mentions:  Modern Family, Bates Motel, The Big Bang Theory, The Americans, Veep

Give the Gift of Classic TV Comedy for Christmas

Christmas is upon us again.  If you’re having trouble deciding what to buy that TV fan on your list, then maybe some Classic TV Comedies will do the trick.  Here is a little guide as to what’s available this holiday season.  All of these sets are available in stores and through Amazon.com.

M*A*S*H  - The Complete Series

This sitcom, set during The Korean War, successfully balanced between comedy and drama, hilarity and tragedy, filled with one liners and gags and also intense set pieces which set the program apart as one of TV’s all time greats.   The series premiered in 1972 and ran for 11 seasons and 256 episodes.  The series finale, which aired February 28, 1983, was watched by more than 125 Million viewers and still remains the most watched episode of a TV series ever.  It was nominated for a staggering 109 Emmy Awards of its run.  Starring Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Harry Morgan, and Loretta Swit.  The set also includes the 1970 film that the series was based on.

Barney Miller – The Complete Series

Set in a New York City police station, this comedy series ran from 1975 to 1982 for 168 episodes, and featured the stories of the detectives of the 12^th Precinct and the day to day life in the squad room.  Over its 8 seasons, it was nominated for an Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series 7 times, finally winning in its final season.   Widely cited by police officers as the most realistic police series ever.  Starring Hal Linden, Max Gail, Jack Soo, Ron Glass, Abe Vigoda, and Steve Landesberg. 

Seinfeld – The Complete Series

Named by TV Guide as the greatest television series of all time. Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, this series about nothing, followed the exploits of Jerry Seinfeld (as a fictional version of himself) and his 3 friends, Kramer, George, and Elaine.   It ran from 1989 to 1998, for 180 episodes.  Through the years of its original run and now in syndication, the show has become a cultural phenomenon.  Spawning catch phrases, merchandise, and many references to the series in popular culture.  Starring Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Everybody Loves Raymond – The Complete Series

Based on the stand up comedy of Ray Romano, this series ran from 1996 to 2005 for 210 episodes.  The show followed the life of sportswriter Ray Barone, and his family life with his wife and 3 kids, while living across the street from his parents.   It was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series for 7 times over its run.  Starring Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Peter Boyle, and Doris Roberts.

Cheers – The Complete Series

This classic sitcom followed the goings on at a popular Boston bar named Cheers.  It ran from 1982-1993 for 270 episodes.  It garnered a record 111 Emmy nominations during it’s time on the air, and won the Outstanding Comedy Series 4 times.  The show struggled in the ratings at first, but by the 3^rd season, it found its footing and remained in the top 10 from season 4, until it went off the air.  Starring Ted Danson, Shelly Long, Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson,  John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Kelsey Grammer, and Kirstie Alley.

Friends – The Complete Series

This series revolved around a circle of friends living in New York City, and ran from 1994 to 2004 for 236 episodes.  It quickly became a critical favorite and commercial success, remaining in the Top 10 of the Nielsen ratings for its entire run.  Starring Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Courtney Cox, and David Schwimmer. 

Hope I gave you some good ideas for that TV lover on your Christmas list. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Survivor - Still The King Of Reality TV

Survivor premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS, and quickly became a TV phenomenon.  It was the first show of its kind.  A competition between 16 Americans, stranded on a deserted island off the coast of Borneo. Together they would learn to live in a self made society, build shelter, ration food, all the while competing for a $1 Million dollar prize.

 

The rules were simple.  The groups were split into two “tribes,” each living in their own camp.  Each week the two tribes would compete against each other in challenges for either rewards or immunity.  Rewards would consist of things like fishing gear, flint to make fire, food, etc.  The immunity challenges determined which tribe would be safe for the week.  The losing tribe would need to visit tribal council and one member of their tribe would be voted out.   After 39 days, a winner would be crowned and awarded the million dollars.

The buzz for the show grew throughout the summer and ratings were surging.  51 million people tuned into the finale to see Richard Hatch crowned the Sole Survivor.  It is still the highest rated episode for any show of its kind. 

One of the keys to the shows continued success is that, over the years, the show has tweaked its format here and there, sometimes having 18 or 20 players, some of them returning players from past seasons. Redemption Island was added.  This was a place that players who were voted out could go and compete for a chance to return to the game after a period of time. 

Since its premiere, other reality competition shows have come and gone, often imitating Survivor’s formula.  Getting a number of contestants together and competing for a cash prize, eliminating one player per week.  But Survivor has endured. 

Another of the keys to the show’s success has been its ability to cast very popular and interesting players.  Rob Mariano, known as Boston Rob to Survivor Fans, has become one of the most popular Survivor players of all time.  He met his wife Amber Brkich on the show, she was a competing player.  They teamed up and she won the $1 million dollar prize on the shows “All Star” edition.  Mariano returned in a later edition to win as well.

A big reason for the show's popularity is its host, Jeff Probst.  Probst is more than just a host, he is part of Survivor.  He has won multiple Emmy’s for his hosting duties.  He is incredibly popular with the fan base.  So much so, that fans could never imagine the show being hosted by someone else.    

It's 27th edition, Blood vs. Water, has just completed and in this edition the show has once again reinvented itself adding yet another twist to its formula.  This time, pitting a tribe of returning players against a tribe consisting of their loved ones.   The show has proven that it can continue to evolve and make changes to keep fans intrigued and interested. 

Survivor shows no signs of slowing down.  It has been renewed for 2 more seasons.  It is a staple of CBS programming and still draws consistent ratings.  Still drawing 10 million viewers per week to a very strong and loyal fan base.  My guess is that the show will continue as long as creator Mark Burnett wants it to.  It is the undisputed King of Reality Competition TV. 

Breaking Bad - An Appreciation

When Breaking Bad premiered in January, 2008 on AMC, there was very little fanfare.  The reviews were good, even excellent to be sure, but the show barely made a blip in the ratings.  The show’s main character of Walter White was played by Bryan Cranston, who previous claim to fame was starring the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.  The rest of the cast was even lesser known than Cranston.  Aaron Paul, playing Jesse Pinkman, was the show’s other main character. 

The show centered on Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.  Fearing that he would die and leave his family with nothing, he hooks up with an old student of his, Jesse Pinkman to produce and sell methamphetamine.  He uses his chemistry knowledge to create a remarkably potent and soon to be, highly sought after, product. 

            The show’s creator, Vince Gilligan, described the show as “Transforming Mr. Chips into Scarface.”   Walt’s fascination with his “talent” and the need to be the best at it, cause him to become a power hungry, ego-driven, criminal mastermind.

            As the show progressed, the buzz grew, and viewers began to take notice.  Binge watching the show on services like Netflix proved a big boom to the show.  Cranston would win 3 Emmy’s (so far) for his role, and Aaron Paul would win 2.  The series has also won a Best Drama Series Emmy award at this year’s ceremony.

            I’m not going to give up too many details here, for those of you who are in the middle of watching it or who plan to watch the series.  Suffice to say, that as the show drew to a close on September 29, 2013, it had become a cultural phenomenon. 

            Ratings for the 5th and final season of the show have skyrocketed.  For example, the 4th season finale drew 1.9 million viewers.  The final episode drew 10.3 million viewers, an astounding 442 % increase.

            Walter White, or more precisely, Cranston’s portrayal of him, became an iconic television character.  A character everyone rooted for at first.  Rooted for him to make a future for his family, and to beat his deadly cancer.  As time went on, and Walt began to get darker, and more evil, fan’s feeling changed.  You weren’t sure whether you hated Walt for what he had become, or still loved him for what he was, and the reason he did it in the first place.   

            Unlike many other series, the show left nothing open to interpretation in its closing moments.  The episode gave closure, not only to the characters, but to the fans as well.  It was an epic, satisfying, conclusion to what many consider to be the greatest drama series of all time.  Maybe the most important show of all time as well.  The show has set the bar for the next generation of television creators, showing them what’s possible and daring them to do even better. 

            There will certainly be good shows in the future, but none as good, as well written, or as well acted as Breaking Bad, and the future of television will be better because of its existence. 

            Thank you to Breaking Bad for giving us 62 hours of the most riveting television drama ever created, I’m so glad I went along for the ride.   If you haven’t already, buckle up and take the ride too. 

My Emmy Predictions

With the Emmy's just hours away, here are my predictions for tonight's ceremony...


Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

This is really a tough category.   I think you might see Tony Hale go home with the gold in this category and he is a worthy winner for 'Veep'.  Ed O'Neill could sneak in with a win here too.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

My pick here would be Mayim Bialik from 'The Big Bang Theory'.  She turned a character who was downright annoying at first, into a very funny and endearing performance.  She's a long shot to be sure, but she is who I would pick.  But as to who I think WILL win?  Look for Julie Bowen to repeat for 'Modern Family'.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

As long as it's not Lena Dunham here, I'll be happy.  My choice would be Julia Louis-Dreyfus to repeat for her brilliant work on 'Veep'.  But I think we may see Amy Poehler get a well deserved win for 'Parks and Recreation'.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Tough category.  My choice would be Jason Bateman for 'Arrested Development'.  He just kills it as Michael Bluth.  Even though the return of AD was a little underwhelming, Bateman was excellent as always. Not only is he my choice but I think he WILL win as well.  Like I said though, tough category.

Best Comedy Series

My choice here would be 'The Big Bang Theory'.  This show has overtaken 'Modern Family' as the funniest show on television and should be rewarded.  However I think we still might see 'Modern Family' repeat as the winner.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

In my opinion, this is between two actors.  Aaron Paul and Jonathan Banks, both for 'Breaking Bad'.  If I was choosing, I would give it to Jonathan Banks, he really deserves it and will not get another nomination for this role, and Aaron Paul has already won twice.  I think Aaron Paul WILL win though and take home his 3rd Emmy for his role as Jesse Pinkman.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Another tough pick, but my choice would be Anna Gunn for 'Breaking Bad'.  She has really come into her own the last year as her character of Skylar White has developed into one of the best female characters on TV.  Gunn is also my choice as to who I think WILL win.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

My choice here is easy.  It would be Vera Farmiga for 'Bates Motel'.  Her performance as Norman Bates mother, Norma, was one of the best performances of the TV season.  I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that she WILL take home the award.  There has been a recent buzz for Kerry Washington to win for 'Scandal' but i just don't see it.  If anything, Claire Danes could repeat for 'Homeland'.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

This is a slam dunk category in my opinion.  Bryan Cranston WILL win his 4th Emmy for his portrayal of the chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin, Walter White.  I will truly be shocked if anyone else wins.

Best Drama Series

It's going to be a 'Breaking Bad' night.  Look for 'Breaking Bad' to take home top honors tonight.  There really is no other choice.  "Breaking Bad' has been in the forefront lately and fresh in voters minds, so it should really be a no-brainer.

That's all everyone, let me know what you think.  Enjoy the show tonight!

Bill's TV Talk Mailbag

From time to time my column will feature questions asked by readers regarding the world of TV.  Feel free to email me with any questions you may have about TV at BillsTVTalk@gmail.com, and I’ll do my best to answer you and may feature your question in a future column.  Here’s what we got!

I really love Magic City on Starz.  The 2^nd season just ended and I can’t wait for it to return.  Any ideas on when it will be returning and can you give me any scoop on Season 3?  - Jo-Ann from Methuen

Unfortunately, Jo-Ann, Magic City’s ratings just weren’t there and Starz has decided to cancel the series after just 2 seasons.  I thought that the series was starting to really hit its stride, so I’m disappointed that we won’t be seeing any more of it.  There was talk of another network stepping in and picking it up, but it seems unlikely.  Check out my Facebook page or Twitter and I will keep you posted!

So far in all of the previews I’ve seen of the 4^th season of The Walking Dead, I haven’t seen The Governor.  Have we seen the last of The Governor or will he be around in season 4? – Michael from Lawrence

Well Michael, I can tell you that he will have a major presence in at least 2 Season 4 episodes.  Both of which are being referred to as “Standalone Governor” episodes.  I don’t have a date on when those episodes will air, but most likely they will be in the first half of Season 4 beginning October 13^th on AMC.

I’d love it if you could give me some scoop on my new favorite show, The Following?  – Tim from Dracut

Tim, I’m sure you remember, when we last left Kevin Bacon’s Ryan, he and Claire were laying critically wounded, stabbed by a disciple of Joe’s.  Well what I can tell you, is that Season 2 will jump forward a whole year after the final episode of Season 1.    Ryan will be completely healed and in great shape.  He will be stronger; he’s running, and no longer with the FBI.  Rumor is that they are looking to cast a new love interest for Ryan, so what does that mean for Claire’s fate?  You’ll just have to tune in, word is that Claire’s fate will be revealed immediately when The Following returns in January on FOX.

I haven’t heard a word about Parenthood, please tell me it hasn’t been cancelled?! – Meg from Haverhill

Meg, not only will Parenthood be back, but it will be back for a full 22 episode season as opposed to the 13 episodes we are used to seeing from it.  When the show returns, on September 26 at 10 on NBC, we can tell you that it will be a much happier season for Kristina and Adam.  The season picks up 6 months after the end of last season, and Kristina will be contemplating a run for office.  Mayor to be exact.  We’ll also see Max working for Ray Romano’s Hank.  If you remember, Hank gave Max a camera at the end of the season, well apparently he’s been using it a lot and has gotten interested in photography.

Love your column!  Anything you can tell me about what’s going to happen on Modern Family? – Annie from North Andover

Thanks Annie.  The show returns for its 5^th season with a one hour episode on Wednesday September 25^th.  This season we’re going to meet more of Cam’s family, specifically his sister.  She’ll appear in the seasons 4^th episode.  The role has yet to be cast, but the character is described as “a big-boned, very non-glamorous farm girl, who has something of an explosive personality.”  Also look for a possible wedding for Mitch and Cam.

Do you have any questions about TV?  Email me at BillsTVTalk@gmail.com.  I will answer all of your questions and will feature some of the questions I receive in a future column.

Follow Bill on Twitter @TVNewsandNotes and on Facebook at TVNewsandNotes

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'Ray Donovan' - Another Winner For Showtime

     Showtime’s newest series, Ray Donovan, which premiered on June 30^th on the premium cable network looks like another winner. 

     The show, about a South Boston transplant working as a fixer for the rich and powerful in Hollywood, stars Liev Schreiber as the title character, and Jon Voight playing his father.   Created by Ann Biderman, the creator of the brilliant ‘Southland’ looks to have come up with another compelling series here. 

     Ray is married to Abby (Paula Malcomson) and together that have 2 children.   Ray also has 2, but soon he discovers he has 3, brothers. 

     Ray’s father Mickey is getting out of prison, in the series premiere, after 20 years, and immediately gets back into a life of crime.  Mickey’s reason for being in prison slowly comes out over the course of the season.  He sets out for California to insert himself into the life of his children.  His sons all allow Mickey back into their lives, except Ray, who threatens to kill him if he comes near his wife and kids. 

     Ray works for LA Powerhouse attorney Lee Drexler (House’s Peter Jacobson), who calls Ray when he needs something “fixed.”  In the first episode Ray is called in to help out a famous athlete who wakes up next to a dead woman who overdosed on drugs.  I won’t spoil it for anyone, but Ray does his job and fixes it so that the athlete’s career isn’t destroyed by this incident.

     Meanwhile, Ray also has to deal with his family, who he has moved across the country from Boston to California, and his wife isn’t too thrilled with it.  She isn’t quite thrilled with Ray’s job choice for that matter either.  The more I watch this show, the more I can see similarities between Abby and another famous TV wife.  Just the scene where Abby bugs Ray to use his connections to get their daughter into a good school has Carmela Soprano written all over it.

     Then Ray’s father shows up and that adds another dimension to this story.  Ray tells Mickey in no uncertain terms, that if comes near his family, he will kill him.  Ray also begs his wife not to allow Mickey into their lives.   Needless to say, Mickey doesn’t stay away, and Abby who has been corresponding with Mickey while he was incarcerated, doesn’t heed Ray’s advice either.

     

Schreiber is compelling as Ray, and Jon Voight gives a tour de force performance as Mickey.  These top notch performances, coupled with great writing, a great supporting cast, and seasoned direction make this show appointment viewing.

My Emmy Nominations Wish List!

The Primetime Emmy nominations will be announced on July 18^th and every year I like to review the past year in TV and give my Emmy Wish List.  This is my list of performances and shows that I really hope get recognized by the Television academy.  The nominations are certain to include people like Jon Hamm for Mad Men,  Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad, and Claire Danes for Homeland, just to name a few.  However, there is always that one performance you really want to be recognized.  So I may not cover every category, just the ones where I really feel the chances of someone being overlooked exists. So here we go.

Monica Potter, Parenthood, NBC -    Monica Potter’s performance as Kristina Braverman and her battle with breast cancer was touching and memorable.  Given that this outstanding series has only received one nomination in the past, I’m trying to be optimistic that Potter will get a nod for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series here.

Michael Cudlitz, Southland, TNT -  The category of Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series is likely to include names like Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad, Mandy Patinkin for Homeland, and Peter Dinklage for Game of Thrones.  This is such a tough category because there literally more than a dozen actors that deserve to be nominated this year.  The one performance that I’m really hoping gets recognized this year is Michael Cudlitz as Officer John Cooper in TNT’s Southland.  Not only does he deserve a nomination, he deserves to win.  This was the best acting job on TV this year, hands down.

Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory, CBS – As far as network shows go, it doesn’t really get any better than The Big Bang Theory.  This comedy has surpassed Modern Family over the last couple of seasons as the funniest show on network TV.  Kaley Cuoco has really become a stand-out among one of TV’s strongest ensembles.

Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel, A&E – As I wrote about in last month’s column, Bates Motel on A&E was one of the more pleasant surprises of this TV season.  A very entertaining series.  One of the main reasons that it was so enjoyable was the performance of Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates, the mother of the psycho himself, Norman Bates.   She steals every scene she is in.  Farmiga isn’t just good in this role, she’s…  insanely good!

Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead, AMC – So far, The Walking Dead, has yet to garner any major nominations in its first 3 seasons.  Not a surprise though because the academy has largely ignored horror/sci-fi series over the years, snubbing shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Fringe.  It’s about time The Walking Dead was recognized and Andrew Lincoln is the cast member that deserves to be nominated.   Lincoln’s performance as Rick Grimes is the glue that holds this show together.  His heartbreaking meltdown after the death of his wife was one of the best acted and most memorable scenes of the year.

Parenthood, NBC & The Walking Dead, AMC – There couldn’t be 2 shows more different than NBC’s Parenthood, and AMC’s The Walking Dead, however they have two things in common.  They are both among TV’s Best Drama Series and so far, neither of these shows has received a Best Drama Series nomination.  They are long overdue.  Parenthood is coming off its best season to date and no series on TV has more heart.  The Walking Dead has defied the odds.  Whoever would have thought that a show about a zombie apocalypse could be so good.   I still think Breaking Bad should win, but I would love to see these two excellent series get some recognition.  

'Bates Motel' - Great performances and smart writing make this mysterious and fun show worth watching

I’ll admit, when I first heard that a TV series prequel to 1960’s ‘Psycho’ was being developed, I was extremely skeptical.    But I decided I would give it a chance.  I’m really glad I did. Not only is this drama filled with great acting performances, but the writing is very sharp and smart.  The series was created by Anthony Cipriano, and comes from Executive Producers Carlton Cuse (Lost), and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights), quite an impressive resume. 

The series chronicles the life of Norman Bates and his mother Norma, prior to the events portrayed in Alfred Hitchcock's big screen adaptation, but adapted to modern day.   Norma purchases the rundown motel located in the coastal Oregon town of White Pine Bay so the family can start a new life after the death of her husband.

As the series unfolds, we learn that the town of White Pine Bay has many secrets, and many strange and intriguing characters.  The creepy goings-on in the lives of the Bates family aren’t the only weird things in this town. 

Now, you would think that the character of Norman Bates would be the focal point of the series, but Norman’s mother is the real star of this show.  Played so brilliantly by actress Vera Fermiga (The Departed, Up In The Air).  Norma steals virtually every scene she appears in.  Fermiga really deserves an Emmy nomination for her work here. 

Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory), plays Norman.  He’s perfect in the role.  He’s exactly as you would imagine Norman Bates to be as a teenager, teetering on the brink between sanity and insanity. 

From Nestor Carbonell (Lost) as the very mysterious Sherriff Romero, to Max Theriot (House at the End of the Street) as Normans stepbrother, Dylan, the show boasts a great cast of supporting characters as well. 

Not a horror fan? Don’t be scared off.  This is hardly horror.  While there are some creepy aspects to it, the show is much more in the mystery/suspense genre than in the horror category.

‘Bates Motel’ just finished its first season on A&E, airing Monday nights at 10pm, and it has been renewed for a 2^nd season.  Do yourself a favor and try and catch up with it in rebroadcasts or On Demand.  You won’t be disappointed.

Today is the Golden Age of TV Drama, Thanks to Cable!

I hear people discuss the “Golden Age of TV” in referring to TV of the past.  They refer to shows like Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, and M*A*S*H, all great shows to be sure.  But they came at a time when shows like that were few and far between.  

                In these days of hundreds of channels, TV viewers are not restricted to NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX, to find good quality TV Drama.  I argue that TODAY is the TV’s Golden Age.    With basic cable channels such as FX, AMC, TNT, A&E, and USA, to name a few, the choices have never been more plentiful.  The same goes for high-quality dramas.  25 years ago, you may have had 2 or 3 excellent dramas on the air in any particular TV season.  Now it’s not uncommon to have that many on in a given week or maybe even a given night.  Don’t get me wrong, broadcast television does offer some quality programming.  In fact I would say that when it comes to comedies, the broadcast networks do it better.    But cable TV is the place to go for drama.

                Shows like The Shield, Breaking Bad, Rescue Me, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans, Damages, Southland, The Wire, Homeland, Game of Thrones,  and The Sopranos all have a couple of things in common.  All of them are critically acclaimed, award-winning, highly respected programs, and all of these shows aired or still air on a cable network.  The list of these cable dramas goes on and on.

                But why does cable offer much better original drama than network TV does in this era?  There are several reasons.  Cable offers less restrictions than broadcast networks do.  Cable allows for more sophisticated and intricate storylines with decidedly adult themes and language.  Cable offers you the feel of watching the quality of a big screen film with every episode.  Groundbreaking shows like The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, or The Walking Dead would never have seen the light of day if it weren’t for cable TV.

                Cable drama series also have seasons of much shorter length.  Whereas a broadcast network drama show such as NCIS produces anywhere from 20-24 episodes a season, cable shows only produce 10-13.  That means less “filler” episodes, episodes that do not really push the story forward but are there merely to fill a quota because the storyline isn’t enough to stretch an entire season.  Cable TV seasons run 3-4 months.  This means that reruns are basically non-existent, and every episode is important.  CBS needs to stretch 24 episodes of NCIS over an 8 month period since the broadcast networks seasons start in September or October and run until May.  That leaves plenty of time for reruns.

                My guess is that you will see the major broadcast networks start following cables lead and give shows 13 episode seasons instead.  This will give them the flexibility of adding more original programming, and more quality writing for each drama series.  Overall, cable drama series provide a much more enjoyable, and satisfying experience for the discernable TV viewer than broadcast networks offer. 

                With the viewing choices growing every day, the broadcast networks will need to step up their game in order to compete for our time and attention, and TV will be better for it.

85th Annual Academy Award Nominations announced!

Here is the complete list of the 85th Academy Award Nominations

Best Picture
“Amour” Nominees to be determined
“Argo” Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, Producers
“Beasts of the Southern Wild” Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, Producers
“Django Unchained” Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin and Pilar Savone, Producers
“Les Misérables” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward and Cameron Mackintosh, Producers
“Life of Pi” Gil Netter, Ang Lee and David Womark, Producers
“Lincoln” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
“Silver Linings Playbook” Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, Producers
“Zero Dark Thirty” Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow and Megan Ellison, Producers

Best Director
“Amour” Michael Haneke
“Beasts of the Southern Wild” Benh Zeitlin
“Life of Pi” Ang Lee
“Lincoln” Steven Spielberg
“Silver Linings Playbook” David O. Russell

Best Actor
Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln”
Hugh Jackman in “Les Misérables”
Joaquin Phoenix in “The Master”
Denzel Washington in “Flight”

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin in “Argo”
Robert De Niro in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “The Master”
Tommy Lee Jones in “Lincoln”
Christoph Waltz in “Django Unchained”

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain in “Zero Dark Thirty”
Jennifer Lawrence in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Emmanuelle Riva in “Amour”
Quvenzhané Wallis in “Beasts of the Southern Wild”
Naomi Watts in “The Impossible”

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams in “The Master”
Sally Field in “Lincoln”
Anne Hathaway in “Les Misérables”
Helen Hunt in “The Sessions”
Jacki Weaver in “Silver Linings Playbook”

Best Animated Feature
“Brave” Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
“Frankenweenie” Tim Burton
“ParaNorman” Sam Fell and Chris Butler
“The Pirates! Band of Misfits” Peter Lord
“Wreck-It Ralph” Rich Moore

Cinematography
“Anna Karenina” Seamus McGarvey
“Django Unchained” Robert Richardson
“Life of Pi” Claudio Miranda
“Lincoln” Janusz Kaminski
“Skyfall” Roger Deakins

Best Adapted Screenplay
“Argo” Screenplay by Chris Terrio
“Beasts of the Southern Wild” Screenplay by Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin
“Life of Pi” Screenplay by David Magee
“Lincoln” Screenplay by Tony Kushner
“Silver Linings Playbook” Screenplay by David O. Russell

Best Original Screenplay
“Amour” Written by Michael Haneke
“Django Unchained” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“Flight” Written by John Gatins
“Moonrise Kingdom” Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
“Zero Dark Thirty” Written by Mark Boal

Costume Design
“Anna Karenina” Jacqueline Durran
“Les Misérables” Paco Delgado
“Lincoln” Joanna Johnston
“Mirror Mirror” Eiko Ishioka
“Snow White and the Huntsman” Colleen Atwood

Best Documentary Feature
“5 Broken Cameras”
Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi
“The Gatekeepers”
Nominees to be determined
“How to Survive a Plague”
Nominees to be determined
“The Invisible War”
Nominees to be determined
“Searching for Sugar Man”
Nominees to be determined

Best Documentary (Short Subject)
“Inocente”
Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine
“Kings Point”
Sari Gilman and Jedd Wider
“Mondays at Racine”
Cynthia Wade and Robin Honan
“Open Heart”
Kief Davidson and Cori Shepherd Stern
“Redemption”
Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill

Film Editing
“Argo” William Goldenberg
“Life of Pi” Tim Squyres
“Lincoln” Michael Kahn
“Silver Linings Playbook” Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers
“Zero Dark Thirty” Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg

Best Foreign Language Film
“Amour” Austria
“Kon-Tiki” Norway
“No” Chile
“A Royal Affair” Denmark
“War Witch” Canada

Makeup
“Hitchcock”
Howard Berger, Peter Montagna and Martin Samuel
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane
“Les Misérables”
Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell

Best Original Score
“Anna Karenina” Dario Marianelli
“Argo” Alexandre Desplat
“Life of Pi” Mychael Danna
“Lincoln” John Williams
“Skyfall” Thomas Newman

Best Original Song
“Before My Time” from “Chasing Ice”
Music and Lyric by J. Ralph
“Everybody Needs A Best Friend” from “Ted”
Music by Walter Murphy; Lyric by Seth MacFarlane
“Pi’s Lullaby” from “Life of Pi”
Music by Mychael Danna; Lyric by Bombay Jayashri
“Skyfall” from “Skyfall”
Music and Lyric by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth
“Suddenly” from “Les Misérables”
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; Lyric by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil

Production Design
“Anna Karenina”
Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
Production Design: Dan Hennah; Set Decoration: Ra Vincent and Simon Bright
“Les Misérables”
Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Anna Lynch-Robinson
“Life of Pi”
Production Design: David Gropman; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
“Lincoln”
Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson

Best Animated Short Film
“Adam and Dog” Minkyu Lee
“Fresh Guacamole” PES
“Head over Heels” Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly
“Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare”” David Silverman
“Paperman” John Kahrs

Best Live Action Short Film
“Asad” Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura
“Buzkashi Boys” Sam French and Ariel Nasr
“Curfew” Shawn Christensen
“Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)” Tom Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele
“Henry” Yan England

Sound Editing
“Argo” Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
“Django Unchained” Wylie Stateman
“Life of Pi” Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton
“Skyfall” Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers
“Zero Dark Thirty” Paul N.J. Ottosson

Sound Mixing
“Argo”
John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Jose Antonio Garcia
“Les Misérables”
Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes
“Life of Pi”
Ron Bartlett, D.M. Hemphill and Drew Kunin
“Lincoln”
Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Ronald Judkins
“Skyfall”
Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell and Stuart Wilson
Achievement in visual effects
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White
“Life of Pi”
Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott
“Marvel’s The Avengers”
Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick
“Prometheus”
Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill
“Snow White and the Huntsman”
Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Philip Brennan, Neil Corbould and Michael Dawson

The awards will be handed out February 24th.

My 10 Best Shows of 2012

Another year has come and gone, and it's been another year of great TV.  As always, I'm not able to watch everything.  So I know I will leave some great shows off the list.  But out of the many shows I watch, I have narrowed that down to what I think are the 10 best shows of the year.  So here we go.

10.  Veep (HBO) - Even if you don't care about politics, this show will give you many laughs.  Smart writing, and an a fun cast.  Great to see Julia Louis Dreyfus back on TV too.  Glad she has a good vehicle like this to show her comedic skills.

9.  The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - One of the few network shows on my list this year.  While it has moved down my list from recent years, the show still provided enough laughs to remain as one of my picks.

8.  Southland (TNT) - Easily TV's best cop show, the series continued to impress in 2012.  The addition of Lucy Liu to an already stellar cast, combined with great storylines, and gritty dialogue made Southland an easy pick for me.

7.  Parenthood (NBC) - I have said it before, but it bears repeating.   There is no other show on TV that has more heart than NBC's Parenthood.  The show never fails to tug at your heartstrings, but does it with such skill, and such believability, that it doesn't feel forced or fake.  For those of you who don't watch it, and are tired of the normal TV fare, and want something that you can watch with your entire family, Parenthood is the show for you.  Peter Krause and Monica Potter have been having tour-de-force seasons among network TV's most stellar cast.

6.  Modern Family (ABC) - Easily TV's funniest sitcom.  It never fails to provide several laugh out loud moments every week.  Ty Burrell's Phil is the funniest character on TV, hands down.  The Matthew Broderick episode this season gave us some of the shows funniest moments.  For a show with such a large cast, to give each of the actors a showcase is no small feat, and Modern Family does it perfectly.

5.  Mad Men (AMC) - AMC's signature drama series had perhaps it's strongest season yet in its 5th year. The show returned from a 17 month layoff and didn't miss a beat.  Christina Hendricks and Jared Harris really stood out this year among an incredible group of actors.

4.  Boardwalk Empire (HBO) - Boardwalk Empire's 3rd season was where the show really hit it's stride.  It had a great villain in Gyp Rosetti, memorably played by Bobby Cannavale.  But more than anything, Jack Huston's performance as disfigured war veteran Richard Harrow was the show's high point this year.

3.  The Walking Dead (AMC) - For those of you who do not watch The Walking Dead, then it is probably hard for you to understand how a show about the zombie apocalypse can be among the years best series.  I would have agreed with you... until I watched it.  Putting aside the incredible blood and guts special effects and edge of your seat action, the shows has rich character driven storylines about survival, friendship, and loss.  A top notch cast and a great villain propelled season 3 of this series into my top 10.

2.  Homeland (SHO) - Now in it's second season, the Emmy winner for best drama series, returned this year determined to show that it's incredible first season was no fluke.  Claire Danes, Mandy Patinkin, and Damien Lewis continue to amaze with their performances each week.  While many critics would have you believe the show tested it's fans with some implausible storylines, the bottom line is that the show has succeeded in giving us a nail-biting thrill ride every episode.

1.  Breaking Bad (AMC) - In the first half of it's final season (The final 8 episodes will air next summer), Breaking Bad continued to demonstrate the qualities that have made it TV's best drama series, and one of the best series ever.  Watching the character of Walter White evolve into the villain he has become has been riveting.  While Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul remain the series greatest assets, giving Jonathan Banks more screen time this season was a stroke of genius.  The mid-season cliffhanger left everyone wondering what will happen next, and I for one can't wait to find out.

Complete List of Emmy Winners!

Well another Emmy night has come and gone.  Overall it was a pretty good show.  I was disappointed that 'Breaking Bad' didn't win more, but I love 'Homeland' as well, so it was easier to take.    Here is the complete list of winners from last night.

— Drama Series: "Homeland," Showtime.

— Actress, Drama Series: Claire Danes, "Homeland," Showtime.

— Actor, Drama Series: Damian Lewis, "Homeland," Showtime.

— Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad," AMC.

— Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey," PBS.

— Writing, Drama Series: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, "Homeland," Showtime.

— Directing, Drama Series: Tim Van Patten, "Boardwalk Empire," HBO.

— Comedy Series: "Modern Family," ABC.

— Actor, Comedy Series: Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men," CBS.

— Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep," HBO.

— Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Julie Bowen, "Modern Family," ABC.

— Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family," ABC.

— Writing, Comedy Series: Louis C.K, "Louie," FX Networks.

— Directing, Comedy Series: Steven Levitan, "Modern Family," ABC.

— Miniseries or Movie: "Game Change," HBO.

— Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Julianne Moore, "Game Change," HBO.

— Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys," History.

— Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story," FX Networks.

— Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Berenger, "Hatfields & McCoys," History.

— Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Jay Roach, "Game Change," HBO.

— Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Danny Strong, "Game Change," HBO.

— Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race," CBS.

— Host, Reality-Competition Program: Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With the Stars," ABC.

— Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central.

— Writing for a Variety Special: Louis C.K., "Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre," FX Networks.

— Directing, Variety, Music or Comedy Special: Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards, CBS.

It's Emmy Night! My Picks!

The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards are being presented tonight and I thought I would weigh in on who I think will take home the honors tonight, or maybe I should say who I think DESERVES to take home the gold.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Lots of tough categories tonight.  In this one I'm going to go with Julie Bowen from 'Modern Family'.  She will be up against her own castmate in Sofia Vergara, but I think Bowen wins here.  Kristen Wiig from 'Saturday Night Live' will have a very good chance as well.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

The supporting categories, I think, will be belong to 'Modern Family'.  In this one, I think Ty Burrell takes home the trophy.  His portrayal of Phil Dunphy is probably the best and funniest part of the show.  Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Ed O'Neill are all also nominated here, I think only O'Neill has a shot at beating Burrell.


Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Another tough one, but I think Amy Poehler is the winner here.   Julia Louis Dreyfus also has a good shot, but Poehler's role in 'Parks and Recreation' seems to be the obvious choice here.

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

While Jim Parson of  'The Big Bang Theory' seems to be the odds-on favorite here, I'm going to go out on a limb and shoot for an upset.  I'm going with Louis C.K. to pull out the win here.  There is just a building buzz surrounding 'Louie' and C.K.'s comedic performance has drawn rave's.  It would be quite a surprise if C.K. pulls this out, but he deserves it.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

In my opinion this category is between 2 people.  Christina Hendricks of 'Mad Men' and Anna Gunn of 'Breaking Bad'.  I know everyone is touting Maggie Smith for 'Downton Abbey' but I'm going with Hendricks here.  Hendricks had a breakout year this year as her character of Joan Holloway became a focal point of several key storylines on 'Mad Men'.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

This category, I hope, will be one of many won by 'Breaking Bad'.  In my opinion, this is down to Aaron Paul or Giancarlo Esposito.  Paul is a past winner, but I think Esposito wins this one.  His performance as Gus Fring on 'Breaking Bad' was one of the best of the last 10 years and one of the greatest villains in TV history.  He should win here.

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Never before has there been such a slam dunk in a category.  No actress has ever been more of a sure thing than Claire Danes will be tonight.  Danes portrayal as bi-polar CIA Agent Carrie Mathison is clearly the performance of the year in 'Homeland.'  If she doesn't win, there should be an investigation.

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Tough one here as well.  Jon Hamm and his portayal of Don Draper on 'Mad Men' have long been overlooked in this category, mainly because of Bryan Cranston on 'Breaking Bad'.  Unfortunately, for Hamm, I think he gets overlooked again.  Bryan Cranston should be the winner here.  The transformation of Walter White from good guy to bad guy has been riveting television, and Cranston should win his 4th Emmy for this role.  In any other year, Damian Lewis might be the favorite and could still pull off the upset.


Best Comedy Series

I think this category is pretty easy to predict as well.  'Modern Family' is far and away the best comedy on network television and should win easily here.


Best Drama Series

Toughest category of the night.  With nominees like 'Breaking Bad,' 'Mad Men,' 'Boardwalk Empire,' and 'Homeland' as well as 'Game of Thrones' and 'Downton Abbey' the makings of an upset are there.  However, I think the best series on TV is 'Breaking Bad' so thats what should win.  I love 'Mad Men' 'Homeland' and 'Boardwalk Empire' too, but 'Breaking Bad' is the king.  Hopefully it goes home the big winner tonight.

That's it.  Those are my picks.   What do you think?  Agree?  Disagree?  What are your picks?  Let me know here or on my Facebook page.  Enjoy the show!

'Survivor: Philippines' Premiere draws 11.2 million viewers

The 25th season of Survivor, this time in the Philippines, debuted last night to 11.2 million viewers.  Up 7% from last September's premiere, and the series best premiere audience in 2 years.

Fans of the show are really going to enjoy this edition. It features a good mix of personalities along with 3 returning favorites, all of whom were medically evacuated at one time and are being given a 2nd shot at the ultimate prize.