True Blood & Ed Quinn

This is a really shallow post, since I basically just want to mention the hotness of actor Ed Quinn on the current season of True Blood. He's playing the Texan vampire Stan Davis, and in every episode he's dressed in tight black clothing that perfectly accentuates his 6'4'' frame. The preview for next week's episode showed him wearing a cowboy hat, which just does it for me. Sigh. I just hope before the end of his run on the series, we get to see some skin from him - at the very least see him shirtless. In general, I'm becoming more invested in the series and am especially fond of the budding relationship between Hoyt and Jessica, though I fear it will not end well. It's just a hunch.

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.

Sunday Blessings - Thomas Jane

Today's edition of Sunday Blessings is devoted to actor Thomas Jane, star of HBO's new comedy Hung. I have high hopes for the series, and not just for the rugged sex appeal of Jane and the promise of his nudity, though that is a big part. The series co-stars two of my favorite underused actresses, Anne Heche and Jane Adams, who play his ex-wife and his pimp, respectively. Any show that can give these two women great material gets high regards in my book, so fingers crossed. I also hope for the success of the series, as I find Thomas Jane an interesting actor, who never really got his due. After spending most of the nineties appearing in bit parts, Jane flirted with becoming a leading man, starting with Deep Blue Sea, a crap film that was modestly successful. The film led to starring roles in Dreamcatcher, The Sweetest Thing and The Punisher, none of which were of high quality, though The Sweetest Thing always makes me laugh, and none of which did huge box office. Since movie stardom never came, switching gears and focusing on an HBO series, may have been his best career move. Jane can do comedy well, as evidenced by his guest appearance on Arrested Development as himself. I wish the best of luck to him and Hung. The show could make a great pairing with True Blood for a Sunday night male eye-candy extravaganza. Amen.

On My Television Screen

Last night's My Life on the D-List must have been the funniest episode of the series to date. At one point I seriously thought I might pee my pants laughing. This week's celebrity guest was FoodNetwork star Paula Deen, who invited Kathy to spend the night in her Georgian home. During the precedings we were gifted with Kathy accidently wacking Paula in the face with a switch, Paula's dogs pooping and puking all over her house, jokes about Tom's nervous disorder (pulling out his eyebrows and lashes), a drag queen named Paul A. Deen, and Paul Deen uttering the phrase "circle jerk." Hands down, though, the best part was Paula's gay assistant, starting off as this quiet guy in the background, before getting drunk at dinner and turning into an over-the-top Paul Lynde like character. "This is gonna end tragic." After watching the episode (twice in a row, btw) I wish someone would give Paula Deen a reality series of her own.

Also of note, this weekend's episode of True Blood continued a good start to the second season. So far, Michelle Forbes is easily the stand out as Maryann, but Alexander Skarsgard's Eric has become an equally enjoyable character. Thank god they cut his hair; the short, slicked-back look is much sexier on him, and appearing in an ugly tracksuit was a hilarious bonus. The episode also featured a good deal of male shirtlessness, with Bill, Jason, Eggs and Lafayette all bearing their chests. This is by far the gayest show on television.

One Show Opens, Another Closes

Thanks to Tivo, I was finally able to catch up on this past weekend's programming - the season premiere of True Blood and the series finale of Pushing Daisies (cry). True Blood was, of course, deliciously entertaining. We found Lafayette still alive, but chained in a dungeon below Fangtasia, at the mercy of Eric. The sight of Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) with his hair in foil, while killing the redneck, was a hilarious detail. Michelle Forbes is a great addition to the cast - I think I'm going to make "Nobody needed towels," my new catch phrase. Based upon the books, it's unlikely she'll make it to the third season, which always seems to happen with the actress. She also had roles on the second seasons of 24 and Battlestar Galactica, but didn't make it to the third season. I wish just once she'd be a permanent fixture on a series, as I always find her entertaining.

The last episode of Pushing Daisies also aired this weekend, and I'm still saddened by its departure (I'm also mad, damn you ABC!). The series ended on one hell of a cliffhanger, with Vivian discovering Lily had had an affair with her former fiance and Chuck was the result, plus Chuck finally revealed herself to Vivian and Lily, arriving at their doorstep with Ned. Shocker. In a brief epilogue, the series told that Emerson was reunited with his daughter, and Olive fell in love with Randy Mann and opened her own macaroni and cheese restaurant. We were then treated to an aerial tour of Coeur d'Coeurs and all the sights the characters visited throughout the series, ending with Digby running though a field of daisies. I'm gonna miss you Pushing Daisies! At least it's confirmed creator Bryan Fuller will do a twelve issue comic series, which will essentially be the shows third season. Let's pray a movie will also be in the works somewhere down the line.

Sunday Blessings - The Men of True Blood

With the second season of True Blood premiering tonight, this week's edition of Sunday Blessings is devoted to its male cast members. I came to be a fan of the series late in the game... well, very late... well, actually just last weekend when the various HBO channels reran the entire first season, but none-the-less I'm excited for the new season to begin. The series has various elements going for it, but for the purposes of this post, I'm going to focus on its gorgeous actors and their aversion to clothing. Honestly, how much male ass was exposed during its debut season? As for my favorite guy from the cast, that would be Stephen Moyer, who portrays the vampire Bill Compton, lover of Sookie Stackhouse. Facially, the man has some interesting features - I'm guessing its the eyes, sort of always squinting, that does it for me, and I find his not-really-authentic Louisiana accent oddly appealing on the show. Then there's Sam Trammell, who plays the shapeshifting Sam Merlotte, who's adorable in a shaggy sort of way. While Sookie may have freaked out after waking up and finding him naked at the foot of her bed, I would have welcomed the sight. The series also features Alexander Skarsgard as the thousand-year-old Viking vampire Eric Northman. I actually first noticed Alexander last summer, in the great HBO miniseries Generation Kill. He was willing to bare his backside on that series, so hopefully he'll do the same on True Blood. It hasn't happened yet, but I'd attribute it to there never being an appropriate occasion during season 1. This now leads me to Ryan Kwanten, who plays Sookie's brother Jason. Every woman or gay man seems to love Mr. Kwanten, and while the actor is kind of a pretty boy, I still understand the appeal, and I definitly appreciate his constant state of undress on the show. After seeing his bare ass on several occasions, I kind of grew bored with it. "Oh, there's Jason's ass again... hmm... yawn." Ok, I wasn't really that bored, and believe me, I would never want the series to cut down on the amount of time Ryan Kwanten appears naked. Amen.

Stephen Moyer

Sam Trammell

Alexander Skarsgard

Ryan Kwanten

True Blood

Over the weekend I caught up with the first season of HBO's True Blood, which I missed during its initial run this past fall, and I all I can say is I'm hooked. I had previously not watched the series, believing I would have had little interest, but I was wrong. The series has several things going for it - an attractive cast, particularly the men (Stephen Moyer, I want to do bad things with you), well utilized character actors, including Stephen Root, Lizzy Caplan, Adina Porter, and William Sanderson, Anna Paquin's best performance since her Oscar winning role in The Piano, engaging gothic-melodrama storylines, and most importantly, vampires that are both sexy and scary. That last aspect should be a given for any vampire adaptation, yet so few actually are - ahem Underworld franchise. Had I watched the series earlier, it would have factored into my top ten list for the season, as well has getting a nod or two in my acting categories. As a whole, I'd give the first season a B+, and I cannot wait for next Sunday's premiere of season 2, hoping the series will build upon its successful debut.