Emmy Awards - The Morning After

Last night's Emmy telecast was easily one of the best I'd ever seen. Having Neil Patrick Harris host was a brilliant move on CBS's part, and I think we can assume the next time the network gets the ceremony, NPH will be back as emcee. Whoever hosts next year's ceremony on NBC (most likely their go-to guy Conan O'Brien) has some pretty big shoes to fill. I loved the Dr Horrible bit, with NPH and Nathan Fillion in character. Fillion is entertaining on Castle, but the procedural doesn't fully utilize his charisma and comedic talents. He needs his own half-hour comedy series, preferable on HBO. I enjoyed the presentations by Ricky Gervais (as usual) and Jimmy Fallon (surprisingly). I also loved the fact the Music and Lyrics category was moved to the Primetime Emmys, so the overexposed Justin Timberlake could except an award live, but he lost to the team who wrote Hugh Jackman's opening Oscar number.

While the show itself was great, the actual award winners were all over the place. The night started off with a great win for Supporting Actress in a Comedy, the always adorable Kristin Chenoweth from Pushing Daisies, but any happiness from that win was stripped away once the Supporting Actor in a Comedy trophy went to Jon Cryer. I had predicted a win for him, but mainly as a joke about how bad the Emmys can sometimes be. They proved me right. What is it about NPH that stops them from giving him the prize? I was happy Lost's Emerson picked up the prize for Supporting Actor in a Drama, though my own pick would have been Aaron Paul, and while I love Glenn Close on Damages and Bryan Cranston on Breaking Bad, I kind of wish they hadn't repeated their wins from last year. The same goes for Alec Baldwin and his Best Actor in a Comedy win. Seriously, will Carrell ever get the award. The big prizes for Comedy and Drama Series went to deserving winners 30 Rock and Mad Men. I was worried Mad Men would lose, as it had only picked up one trophy at the Creative Arts Emmys, for hairstyling, and only one other Emmy last night for writing. I thought there could have been a backlash against so much attention being paid toward a cable television series. You know the networks are steamed about being shut out of most categories these last two years, but hey that's what happens when you fill you're schedules with a bunch of crime and medical procedurals.

Emmy Nomination Reactions

The Emmy nominations were announced yesterday morning, and there were a number of surprises, but also a good deal of disappointments - it is the Emmys afterall. In their last chance to award Battlestar Galactica, the Emmy voters decided to ignore it once again, with its only major nomination being for direction. I actually thought the show had a chance of picking up a surprise Drama Series nod, as Star Trek: The Next Generation had received a nomination for it's last season, but alas that was not the case. The really surprising shutout, however, belongs to True Blood, which didn't receive any major nominations. HBO had really been pushing the series, but as I had suspected, it had a problem connecting with the voters, being both a genre show and very, very gay. It didn't even get a writing or direction nom, which is where I thought it would make an appearance, since the Emmys seemed to like Alan Ball. Oh well, better luck next year. Even though I love both series, Mad Men and 30 Rock dominating the writing categories, each getting four out of the five nods, is kind of ridiculous. They're we're a number of other series that deserved at least one writing nod. Anyway, a run through of the major categories:

Best Drama Series:
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

This year they expanded the categories to six nominees, which of course means we wind up with seven nominees. They seriously need to rewrite the rules to prevent ties. Anyway, cable doninated the category with five of the seven nominees. The networks are probably grumbling, but hey, maybe they should do better quality work. Fox should feel lucky it even got the House nod, since it clearly shouldn't be a part of this lineup. Mad Men will win this in a landslide, since I can't figure out what could challenge it, and the series easily deserves the win. A Breaking Bad win would also make me happy, but I don't think it has the same support in the industry.

Lead Actor - Drama:
Simon Baker - The Mentalist
Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment
Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall - Dexter
Jon Hamm - Mad Men
Hugh Laurie - House

I'm almost shocked by the James Spader snub, seeing as it was the final season of Boston Legal and the Emmys have loved the performance for some unknown reason. As for the men who did receive nods, I think all but Michael C. Hall as a chance of winning. If I had to, I'd put my money on Jon Hamm, but then I think that if they wanted to award him, they'd have done it last year. Maybe he's just too pretty for them to reward. My second guess would be Baker, in a surprise similar to Patricia Arquette's bizarre win for the first season of Medium.

Lead Actress - Drama:
Glenn Close - Damages
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: SVU
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

As expected they ignored the two best leading lady performances - Mary McDonnell and January Jones. Damn you Emmy voters! I'm happy for Elisabeth Moss's nod, I just wish they had room for both Mad Men ladies. Did Hargitay need another nomination for a character who hasn't really grown in a while? Expect Close to win again, though I wish it was Moss, just for the scene in the finale where she tells Pete she had his baby.

Supporting Actror - Drama:

Christian Clemenson - Boston Legal

Michael Emerson - Lost

William Hurt - Damages

Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad

William Shatner - Boston Legal
John Slattery - Mad Men

Yippee! Aaron Paul got a well deserved nomination. Of course, the Emmys had to ruin it by giving two nods to the men of Boston Legal. I know, I know - I like to rag on that show, but I find it overly awarded. Paul deserves the win, but I'd be happy with a Emerson, Slattery or Hurt win as well, but since this is the Emmys, expect Shatner to take the prize.

Supporting Actress - Drama:
Rose Byrne - Damages
Hope Davis - In Treatment
Cherry Jones - 24
Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest - In Treatment
Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy

There were some serious surprises in this category, as they ignored previous favorites rachel Griffiths, Candice Bergen, and Katherine Heigl. Unfortunately they also ignored the best supporting actress turn by Marcia Gay Harden, but they voted for Rose Byrne. I like, not love, Byrne on Damages, but in no way is she a supporting character. She is most definitley the lead, as the series centers around her and her relationship with Close's Patty Hewes. Oy. I don't think there's a single front-runner in the category, as any of them could take the prize, but since she won last year, I'll guess Wiest.

Best Comedy Series:
30 Rock
Enourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
Weeds

Again with the seven nominees, but hey, at least they threw out Two and a Half Men. Poor Pushing Daisies - no nod again, even though it was the best comedy series on television. The Emmys also seem to seriously dislike Desperate Housewives. Seven nominees and still no room for the ladies of Wisteria Lane. I actually think that if the show was submitted in the drama categories it would get some nods. Yay for How I Met Your Mother, but boo to Family Guy. I'm a casual viewer of the series, but even I admit this past season sucked, and the fact it has a Best Comedy Series nod while The Simpsons doesn't is a travesty. The Weeds nod I just find weird, as it finally received a nomination for its least successful season. 30 Rock will win, duh!

Best Actor - Comedy:
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
Jermaine Clement - Flight of the Conchords
Tony Shaloub - Monk
Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory
Steve Carrell - The Office
Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men

They ignored his show in the Best Comedy Series category, but they still had to nominate Charlie Sheen, and over Lee Pace no less. Argh. I find it funny they nominated one of the guys from Flight of the Conchords over the other, when it seems a both or neither type situation. Baldwin will win this again, though I think Carrell deserves it this season for the Michael Scott Paper Company plotline.

Lead Actress - Comedy:
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
Toni Collette - The United States of Tara
Tina Fey - 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds
Sarah Silverman - The Sarah Silverman Program

This is a pretty good line up, and I have no real complaints. I just wish they'd found room for Amy Poehler for Parks & Recreation. The Sarah Silverman nomination still has me chuckling. The fact they can appreciate her brand of humor, gives me some hope in the Emmy voters. I'd say Fey easily walks away with this again, seeing as how Emmy voters haven't yet got their love for her out of their systems. I think she may one day be the winningest female actress.

Supporting Actor - Comedy:
Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillion - Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock
Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock
Rainn Wilson - The Office

They really seemed to go gangbusters for 30 Rock this year, with two nominations in this category, but the true shock is Jeremy Piven's omission. I guess the whole fiasco over leaving Speed the Plow because of "food-poisoning" from sushi, actually affected peoples' views of him. This clearly puts the win up for grabs, but I'm leaning towards Harris, as love for him seems to be growing. Plus it would be cool to see the host win an award.

Supporting Actress - Comedy:
Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies
Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock
Elizabeth Perkins - Weeds
Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live
Kristin Wiig - Saturday Night Live
Vanessa Williams - Ugly Betty

Hands down, this is the best set of nominees this year, even without a nod for Jenna Fischer. I'm excited that they finally nominated Krakowski, and that they nominated Wiig and not just Poehler. Since last year's winner, Jean Smart, wasn't even nominated, the trophy can go to anyone. I'd give it to one of the singing ladies, Chenoweth or Krakowksi, but I'm guessing the actual winner will be Poehler for her last season on Saturday Night Live.

Best of the TV Season: Acting

Since the upcoming Emmys will expand their categories to fit six nominees rather than five, I decided to do the same. I'm not exactly sure on category placement for certain shows or actors, so I went my own way - I'll consider Castle a drama and all actors on Southland supporting.

Best Actor - Drama:
Bryan Cranston - Mad Men
Nathan Fillion - Castle
Jon Hamm - Breaking Bad
Edward James Olmos - Battlestar Galactica
Jason O'Mara - Life on Mars
Jeremy Renner - The Unusuals

Best Actress - Drama:
Glenn Close - Damages
Sally Field - Brother & Sisters
January Jones - Mad Men
Mary McDonnell - Battlestar Galactica
Elizabeth Moss - Mad Men
Jill Scott - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Best Supporting Actor - Drama:
Michael Cudlitz - Southland
Michael Emerson - Lost
Lucian Msamati - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
John Noble - Fringe
Dean Norris - Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad

Best Supporting Actress - Drama:
Anna Gunn - Breaking Bad
Marcia Gay Harden - Damages
Christina Hendricks - Mad Men
Regina King - Southland
Anika Noni Rose - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Katee Sackhoff - Battlestar Galactica

Best Actor - Comedy:
Alec Baldwin - Pushing Daisies
Kyle Bornheimer - Worst Week
Steve Carrell - The Office
Charlie Day - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Zachary Levi - Chuck
Lee Pace - Pushing Daisies

Best Actress - Comedy:
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
Tina Fey - 30 Rock
Anna Friel - Pushing Daisies
Eva Longoria Parker - Desperate Housewives
Kaitlin Olson - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Amy Poehler - Parks & Recreation

Best Supporting Actor - Comedy:
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
Hamish Linklater - The New Adventures of Old Christine
Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock
Chi McBride - Pushing Daisies
Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock
Paul Schneider - Parks & Recreation

Best Supporting Actress - Comedy:
Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies
Jenna Fischer - The Office
Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock
Melissa McCarthy - Samantha Who?
Becki Newton - Ugly Betty
Wanda Sykes - The New Adventures of Old Christine

Best of the TV Season: Top 10 (Part 1)

With the season coming to a close, I decided to do a wrap of the best of television, starting with a top ten list. Now keep in mind this is strictly relegated to shows I watch. There were other series which might have factored in, had I actually caught them, including Friday Night Lights, Weeds, Big Love, True Blood, and In Treatment. Take this list with a grain of salt.

10. Southland (NBC)
I debated whether to put Southland or Brothers & Sisters in 1oth place, as they're both uneven series with great highs interrupted by groan inducing moments. Being the fresher series, I went with Southland. Going for it, the show features two great performances from Regina King and Michael Cudlitz (Emmy nods please), and seems to care more about the emotional core of each character, rather than the crimes they try to solve. The series has been compared to other cop series The Wire, Boomtown, which I both loved, and The Shield, which I always found hugely overrated, but I think if were to last through its second, Southland could find its own footing. Don't cancel it NBC!

9. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (HBO)
I'm not generally a fan of detective shows, but this series always left me with a smile on my face. Based upon a series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith, No. 1 Ladies'... follows Precious Ramotswe as she attempts to start a successful detective agency in her home country of Botswana. The series successfully evokes a foreign local, whether or not it's successfully Botswana I couldn't say, since I've never been there, and Precious is such an endearing character, you want to befriend her. Who knew singer Jill Scott could be a genuine TV star? The series also features one of the best love stories on the tube, with the emerging romancing between Precious and her suitor, the mechanic Mr. Matekoni.

8. Lost (ABC)
I will always love Lost. Attempting to solve the larger picture, can easily become an enjoyable obsession, but with that being said, I have to admit this was the series' weakest season. The fact it still remains in my top ten is proof of the show's overall quality. At its worst, Lost is still one of the best programs on television. My problem with this season stems mainly from the separation of the characters into different time periods. The show works best when its competing personalites are interacting/colliding/getting it on with each other. The series also left me cold with it Dharma plotline. I know it was necessary for the larger picture, but I didn't care, and the one Dharma Initiative character that peaked my interest, Amy seems to have been forgotten and of no importance. At least the season finale set up for a great final season. I hope.

7. The Office (NBC)
The Office was always a series I respected more than I loved. I could recognize the quality of its acting and writing, but it was never appointment television for me. That was until this season. What got me hooked? Well Amy Ryan's endearing performance in a recurring role as HR Rep Holly Flax, the hilarious Post-Super Bowl episode, and the Michael Scott Paper Company storyline. It takes really talented writers and actors to successfully carry a plotline over several episodes of a half-hour sitcom, andThe Office managed to accomplish as much with Michael quitting Dunder Mifflin to form his own comapny with a reluctant Pam and Ryan. Because of it, Steve Carrell was able to provide a lot more depth to his bumbling Michael Scott. The scene in which he negotiates the buy out of his company, displaying a never-before-seen, successful, buisnessman side of Michael, alone deserves an Emmy. Seriously Emmy voters, give him one!

6. Damages (FX)
The second season of Damages was a genuine improvement over the first, bringing in fresh blood with William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, and Marcia Gay Harden's boobies. The idea to expand the show with various plotlines and characters that don't necessarily all converge was an upgrade from the previous season's everything-is-connected viewpoint. Glenn Close is still a hoot, adding greater depth to her dragon-lady Patty Hewes, and Rose Byrne is, well... still uneven, but I remain intrigued/baffled by her. I don't believe her to be a great actress, yet I want Rose to contiue acting. The series would have ranked higher on my list, had it not been for the season finale, which seemed to not make sense, and knocked some of the power out of the previous episodes. Oh well.

(to continue later...)

Lost Season Finale

It may sometimes stumple its way through the middle, but Lost knows how to open and close a season. Last night's finale was exciting and fulfilling, but not in the way we've come to expect from previous finales. Usually they wrap up the ongoing storyline of the season, and give a brief introduction to what the next season will entail. So such closure this year. We still don't know if the losties arrive back in the present, and I don't believe the Dharma plotline was wrapped up at all. What happens with Horace, Radzinsky, Dr. Chang, or Amy? Seriously, what happened to Amy? The character seems to have been completely forgotten. Speaking of forgotten characters, Desmond didn't make an appearance at all, his plotline for the season apparently ending a few episodes ago when he survived Ben's attack. And what about Walt; he appeared in every previous finale, so why not this one. Is he still important, because the first few season spent a great deal of time suggesting as much, and where's Claire? Supposedly she's coming back next season, but I thought she'd make an appearance or two during the course of this season. The episode did set up a lot for the final season. We were finally introduced to Jacob and his unknown nemesis, who we didn't even know existed. Locke was revealed to be dead, which raises the question - who's taking the form of Locke? I'm guessing it Jacob's evil nemesis. It's kind of exciting to know the show's writers always had this bigger vision for the series - a battle between a good and evil force. Although, what exactly are these forces - men, gods, demi-gods, personifications - and how much power do they actually have? I cannot wait until next season.

Damn Eloise! That's Just COLD.

Last night was the 100th episode of Lost. Overall it was a good episode, if not great, but it would probably come off better on a second viewing. I still wish the series would take a breather - too much plot, too much exposition. It ultimately concluded with the killing of Daniel Faraday at the hands of his own mother, Eloise Hawking - well, his mother thirty years in the past. His death was a punch in the gut, as you realize his mother knows all along that she kills him in the past, but spends her life trying to ensure her son goes back in time. What exactly are her motivations, and does anyone on this show not have serious parental issues? The start of the episode led you to believe Desmond might be the one killed off, but luckily it wasn' the case. Desmond's demise would have irritated me, since he's been out of the picture for a while now. Daniel's on the other hand, I don't mind. I was never a big fan of the character, and he's played out his part in the big scheme of things, so we can move on. Hopefully in the final three episodes of the season, we'll be seeing more of Desmond and Sun, cause I've been seriously missing them.

Cop Shows, Cop Shows Everywhere

There's literally one popping up every minute! Police dramas, along with doctor and lawyer dramas, are the default television programs for networks when they resist taking risks. To a certain extent, I can't entirely blame the networks, as their choices are dictated by ratings, and currently, viewers are choosing procedurals which wrap up storylines by the end of the episode, rather than programs with plots that last several epsiodes or several seasons. CBS has built an entire schedule around the procedural and you can barely distinguish one mediocre program from another, but it's currently the most watched network, which is disheartening. A few years ago, the floundering ABC gained traction by taking risks with two new series Lost and Desperate Housewives. Being new and refreshing for network television, they became instant hits, appointment viewing and something you could talk about with you're friends/coworkers..."Oh my god! Can you believe what happened last night." Who really talks about what happened on NCIS or CSI the next morning? Over time the ratings slid for the programs - I think mainly because of DVR, internet downloads, and DVD sales - and other serials that came in their wake failed. As a result the networks have decided to fill their open slots which continue to hold up well for CBS. Of those new programs, I've watched ABC's Castle, which seems complacent with its mediocrity and The Unusuals, which I don't entirely get but love Jeremy Renner in, as well as NBC's Southland, which I actually have hope for. The series has an almost Altmanesque feel to it, as it follows the lives of several detectives and police officers in L.A., and while it does have criminal cases that get solved by the end of the episode, it also has a genuine heart about it, caring for its characters and their faults. Plus it has two great performances by usually under-used Regina King and Michael Cudlitz. I actually look forward to where this series is heading.

What lies in the shadow of the statue?

...I don't know, but it's freaking me out!

Why'd You Have to Kill Him Off?

Last night on Lost the character Caesar, portrayed by the underutilized but always sexy Said Taghmaoui, was killed off by a shotgun blash to the chest fired by Ben. Why did he have to be killed off? Why hire an actor like Taghmaoui to have a recurring role on your show, only to kill off his character before he had a chance to do anything important? Since the beginning of the season, I've been waiting with anticipation for his use on the show, and ultimately their was no purpose for his character. The show has a tendency to kill off characters I'm intrigued by early on - Michelle Rodriguez's Ana Lucia, April Grace's Bea Klugh, Zoe Bell's Regina, Marsha Thomason's Naomi and the one most mad about still, Cynthia Watros's Libby. I'm actually surprised they've kept Juliet going as long has she has. As soon as I got into the character, I thought, great she'll be dead by the end of the season, but here we are two season's later with her still kicking around. Over time, however, Juliet has been wasted as a character, mainly used as part of a love-quadrangle with Jack, Sawyer, and Kate. The writers' lack of creating three dimensional female characters is my main problem with the series, and it's probably why most new characters I become interested in are female. I need my strong female characters, and I keep hoping one is just around the bend, but the series has a tendency to fail me. This isn't a slight against the actresses, as a number of them are quite able, and Yunjin Kim and Elizabeth Mitchell in particular, continue to be two of the best actors on the show. Just please let them have better stuff to do!

Sunday Blessings - Matthew Fox

This week's edition of Sunday Blessings is devoted to Matthew Fox, star of the series Lost, which is now more confusing and mind-bending than it ever was. Seriously, I have no idea where the show is headed, but I'm happy to go along for the ride. On the series, Fox plays Jack Shephard, who at one point was the defacto leader of the Losties, but having left the island now has no control over the group, much to his chagrin. The character is kind of screwed up, to put it mildly, but continues to be sexy, because Fox will forever be a hot piece of ass. Sorry to be so blunt, but he is. I was, of course, disappointed last season when he appeared shirtless with his chest hair all gone. Why would you do that? You're a hairy beast! Embrace it. Grow it back! Reportedly, Fox has said once Lost ends he won't do anymore television work, instead focusing on film. Um? Now I don't know if I would ever consider him a movie star. Commanding the small screen is much different than commanding the big screen. Just ask Jennifer Aniston... actually don't because I don't think she gets it either. Fox has never really grabbed my attention in any of his films, and that's saying a lot, considering how hot I find the man. If he wants to be a movie star, nudity might help, at least in my eyes. I'm just putting that out there. Praise Jesus!

Wednesday Night Hotness

Last night's television sure featured a lot of eye-candy. First, 90s hottie Dan Gauthier guest starred as the Ajira co-pilot on Lost, only to be killed five minutes later in the plane crash. Does anyone else remember him popping up on every television series during the mid to late nineties?Life on Mars had Jason O'Mara shirtless with a ton of facial hair and a black eye. Total hotness. Plus the episode allowed him to speak in his actual Irish brogue. The accent, of course. makes me swoon. I'm going to miss this show, particularly O'Mara. On Make Me a Supermodel, my favorite contestant, Jonathan, was first featured wearing football shoulder-pads and then a cod-piece. Sigh. You know everyone keeps going on about how Branden is the hotest guy there, but I'm sorry he's not. At least I don't think so. Way too young for my taste. In the end, I really hope Jonathan takes the prize.

It's Been a While...

I haven't posted all week, and in actuality, I haven't posted much in the past two weeks. Come next week, I should be posting regularly again. This post is specifically about last night's television, which has quickly become my favorite night of television. The night is so worthy of me staying home and watching television live rather than recording my programs - Lost, Life on Mars, Damages, and Top Chef are all worth it. It was nice to see Jeff brought back on Top Chef, even if it only turned out to be for one challenge, and I'm happy to see Carla win the challenge and continue onto the finale. Since they kept Stefan over Fabio in the end, it's now obvious he's going to win. I'd be shocked if he didn't, but I'm still rooting for Carla. Life on Mars had a great episode last night, after having had a series of only decent to good episodes since returning. Before canceling it, I really hope the network allows the show to wrap up its storylines. Nothing, however, beat Lost, which opened with Jack waking up on the island, and flashing back to see how he got to there with the rest of the Oceanic Six. The show, thankfully, seemed to slow its pace down, in order to deal with character development. I also enjoy how it appears the show has gone full circle. The series started with the characters stranded on an island after a plane crash, with flashbacks that detailed how each of them came to be on the plane, and now the characters have arrived back on the island after a "plane crash?," and the show will provide flashbacks of how they got onto the second plane. I love it! It was good to see Said Taghmaoui finally appear on the show. I've like Said since seeing him in Three Kings and have been excited ever since learning he was to appear on the Lost. I can't wait to see what happens or happend with his character. Speaking of character actors I enjoy, Lynn Cohen appeared on Damages last night, as the ailing wife of Patty's go-to-guy/uncle. Hopefully it wasn't a one shot deal.

Sunday Blessings - Daniel Dae Kim

Just a quick write up for today's edition of Sunday Blessings. In honor Jin's return on Lost, I decided to give thanks for Daniel Dae Kim. One half of the couple I consider to be the heart of the series. The other being Sun, played by the marvelous Yunjin Kim, who somehow still doesn't have an Emmy nomination. Lost is known for putting beefcake on display, with shirtless scenes of Josh Holloway, Matthew Fox, Henry Ian Cusick, and Naveen Andrews. Over the course of the series, it's also lost a good deal of hotness, with killing off Ian Somerhalder, Rodrigo Santoro, Dominic Monaghan, and Matthew Fox's chest hair (I think that hurt me the most), so I'm glad Daniel remains on the series. The show continues to be addictive, going full steam ahead and wrapping up all its plot strings. If I have one suggestion about this season, it's that I wish the series would take a breather every once and a while. It's currently very plot heavy, and I always thought what made the series great was its ability to stray from the central plotline and deal with emotional relationships and have comic situations that weren't necessarily important to the great plan of the series. I wish it would interject some of that this season. Anyway, I know I got off track. This was meant to be an appreciation of Daniel Dae Kim's beauty, and isn't he beautiful looking? I'm happy he's back on the show, and here's hoping he shows some more skin this season. Praise Jesus!

Wednesday Night Television

Based on the programs which air that night, Wednesday night should be called OH MY GOD WEDNESDAY. Almost all my favorite TV shows air that night, and at the end of each of them, I'm usually saying, "Oh my God! Oh my God!" Last night was no different. First was Lost, where Jin washed ashore alive, but back in time with a young, pregnant Rousseau and her team. Then, came Life on Mars, where we finally discovered why he had to go into the basement. Although I think the whole episode was botched as a result of them moving around the epsiodes. Whatever. I just hope the network doesn't cancel the show until they can wrap up the storyline. Damages and Top Chef air at the same time as Life on Mars, but luckily they replay later in the evening. I continue to be riveted by Damages. What is going on with that show? Who does she shoot? Top Chef kind of annoyed me again last night, with the elimination of Jamie ovcr Leah and Hosea. Jamie actually knew how to make the dish and what her mistakes were. Hosea and Leah didn't know what they were doing, especially Leah who didn't seem to have a clue. Yet she's still here. Leah should have been bounced a while ago, but I'm guessing the producers want to keep her around with Hosea, hoping something romantic happens between the two. Also, I just want to add, I hope the show gets rid of new judge Toby Young. He doesn't bring any constructive criticism, only thinking of creative ways to insult the food and the chefs. What I liked about the Bravo competition shows was they didn't serve to humiliate their contestants, unlike other reality shows.... cough, American Idol, cough. Now they bring in this guy, and its as if they're trying to emulate the meanness of those programs. Don't go that way, Top Chef! You're better than that.

I Can't Wait! I Can't Wait!