Sunday, December 30, 2007

The 2007 “My TV” Awards

THE NOMINEES

Best Drama
• Lost
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Brothers & Sisters
• Friday Night Lights
• Prison Break
• Boston Legal
Best Comedy
• Aliens in America
• Desperate Housewives
• How I Met Your Mother
• Samantha Who?
• Ugly Betty
• 30 Rock
• The Office
Best Reality/Game Show
• Big Brother
• Kid Nation
• American Idol
• So You Think You Can Dance
• Identity
Best Actor in a Drama
• Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
• Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters)
• Dave Annabelle (Brothers & Sisters)
• Kevin McKidd (Journeyman)
• Matthew Fox (Lost)
Best Actress in a Drama
• Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice)
• Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters)
• Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters)
• Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
• Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars)
• Evangeline Lily (Lost)
Best Actor in a Comedy
• Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies)
Adhir Kalyan (Aliens in America)
• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
• Zach Braff (Scrubs)
• Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother)
Best Actress in a Comedy
• Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives)
• Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives)
• America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
• Christina Applegate (Samantha Who)
• Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
• Timothy Busfield (Studio 60)
• Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars)
• Michael Emerson (Lost)
• Dominic Monaghan (Lost)
• Paul Adelstein (Prison Break)
• Paul Adelstein (Private Practice)
• Justin Chambers (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Robert Knepper (Prison Break)
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
• Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy)
Yun Jin Kim (Lost)
• Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)
• Emily VanCamp (Brothers & Sisters)
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
• Neil Flynn (Scrubs)
• Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies)
• Kyle McLaughlin (Desperate Housewives)
• Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
• Jason Segal (How I Met Your Mother)
Rainn Wilson (The Office)
• Paul Lieberstein (The Office)
• Michael Urie (Ugly Betty)
• Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty)
• Marc Indelicato (Ugly Betty)
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
• Liza Weil (Gilmore Girls)
• Kelly Bishop (Gilmore Girls)
• Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies)
• Angela Kinsey (The Office)
• Mindy Kaling (The Office)
• Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty)
• Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty)
• Becki Newton (Ugly Betty)
• Allison Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother)
Best Reality Star
• Zach (Kid Nation)
• Sophia (Kid Nation)
• Laurel (Kid Nation)
• Danny (So You Think You Can Dance)
• Sabra (So You Think You Can Dance)
• Jordan (American Idol)
• Eric (Big Brother)
• Jen (Big Brother)
Best Reality Host/Judge
• Cat Deeley (Host- So You Think You Can Dance)
• Nigel Lithgow (Judge- So You Think You Can Dance)
• Mia Michaels (Judge/Choreographer- So You Think You Can Dance)
• Wade Robson (Judge/Choreographer- So You Think You Can Dance)
• Simon Cowell (Judge- American Idol)
• Ryan Seacrest (Host- American Idol)
Best Writing for a Drama
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Lost
• Brothers & Sisters
• Boston Legal
• Veronica Mars
Best Writing for a Comedy
• 30 Rock
• Ugly Betty
• Gilmore Girls
• How I Met Your Mother
• Pushing Daisies
• Desperate Housewives
• Aliens in America
Best Costumes
• Ugly Betty
• Pushing Daisies
• Samantha Who
• Journeyman
• Gossip Girl
Best New Actor
• Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies)
• Kevin McKidd (Journeyman)
• Paul Adelstein (Private Practice)
Adhir Kalyan (Aliens in America)
• Zachary Levi (Chuck)
Best New Actress
• Blake Lively (Gossip Girl)
• Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies)
• Christina Applegate (Samantha Who)
• Gretchen Egolf (Journeyman)
• Amy Brenneman (Private Practice)
Best New Show
• Pushing Daisies
• Private Practice
• Aliens in America
• Gossip Girl
• Samantha Who
Best Network Lineup
• ABC
• NBC
• CBS
• FOX
• The CW
Best Guest Star
• Elizabeth Reaser (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Edward Herrman (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Seth Green (Grey’s Anatomy)
• John Cho (How I Met Your Mother)
• Allison Janney (Studio 60)
• Kristin Chenoweth (Ugly Betty)
• Betty White (Ugly Betty)
• Nina Siemaszko (Private Practice)
• Luke MacFarlane (Brothers & Sisters)
Most Ridiculously Good Looking Male
• Henry Ian Cusack (Lost)
• Daniel Day Kim (Lost)
• Matthew Fox (Lost)
Wentworth Miller (Prison Break)
• Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights)
• Dave Annabelle (Brothers & Sisters)
• Chris Lowell (Private Practice)
• Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl)
• John Krasinski (The Office)
• Luke MacFarlane (Brothers & Sisters)
• Jason Lewis (Brothers & Sisters)
Most Ridiculously Good Looking Female
• Blake Lively (Gossip Girl)
• Adrienne Palicki (Friday Night Lights)
Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights)
• Evangeline Lily (Lost)
Yun Jin Kim (Lost)
• Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)
• Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy/ Private Practice)
Chyler Leigh (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy)
Rebecca Romijn (Ugly Betty)
• Kristin Bell (Veronica Mars)
• Emily VanCamp (Brothers & Sisters)
The Marry- Me Award
• John Krasinski (The Office)
• Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies)
• Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty)
Wentworth Miller (Prison Break)
• Dominic Monaghan (Lost)
The Be-My-Best-Friend Award
• Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters)
• Tina Fey (30 Rock)
• Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty)
• Kristin Bell (Veronica Mars)
• Tina Majorino (Veronica Mars)
• Paul Adelstein (Private Practice)
The Moment of the Year Award
• Betty goes to Henry’s apartment- “Defying Gravity” (Ugly Betty)
• Barney’s “play” (How I Met Your Mother)
• The Walkers jump in the pool (Brothers & Sisters)
• Hilda admits Santos is dead (Ugly Betty)
• Mark comes out to his mother (Ugly Betty)
Lorelai and Rory eat one last breakfast at Luke’s (Gilmore Girls)
• The outdoors wedding (How I Met Your Mother)
• Eva and Alex are reunited (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Christina breaks down (Grey’s Anatomy)
• Bree gets a fork stuck in her fake pregnant belly (Desperate Housewives)
• Katie Lloyd speaks to the church after Joseph Washington’s death (Boston Legal)
• Morgan organizes a religious service (Kid Nation)
• Laurel sings “Amazing Grace” (Kid Nation)
• Zach gives his campaign speech (Kid Nation)
• Danny and Lauren’s top 6 Mia Michaels contemporary routine (SYTYCD)
• Sabra and Neil’s top 6 Mandy Moore jazz routine (SYTYCD)
• Wade Robson’s anti-war solos- “Waiting on the World to Change” (SYTYCD)
• Chuck and Blair’s hookup (Gossip Girl)
• Ned brings Chuck back to life (Pushing Daisies)

Monday, December 17, 2007

Top TV Moments of 2007

Justin in West Side Story while Hilda finds out about Santos’ death on the season 1 finale of Ugly Betty.

Pam walks on hot coals and confesses her feelings in The Office then Jim asking her out in the finale.

The Walkers jumping in the pool in the finale of Brothers & Sisters

Danny’s “We are the Champions” solo and the crowd/judges/his family reaction on So You Think You Can Dance

Betty coming to Henry’s door to the sounds of “Defying Gravity” in the Wicked episode of Ugly Betty

Charlie’s death in the Lost finale

Michael and Sara kiss on the train in Prison Break

Bree gets a BBQ fork stuck in her fake pregnancy belly on Desperate Housewives

the prop guys walk out for Allison Janney’s episode within an episode on Studio 60 (and her and Tim Busfield are on screen together again)

Barney on The Price is Right on HIMYM

the HIMYM wedding

The HIMYM hot/crazy scale

Barney’s play to get back at Lily in HIMYM “moist”

Michael telling Toby he can’t go to The Office beach party

Stewie and Brian’s intro to the Emmys

Meredith helping Christina out of her wedding dress in the finale of Greys

Sophia’s 50,000$ and Zach’s 20,000$ gold stars on Kid Nation

Best Season Finales

TV's Best Season (not series) Finales (off the top of my head and in no particular order)

The West Wing Season 2 (Mrs. Landingham's funeral, "will you be seeking re-election")
The West Wing Season 3 (the war of the roses, Mark Harmon dies, the assassination of Sharif)
Lost Season 3 (charlie's sacrifice, flash forward)
FRIENDS Season 4 (Ross says the wrong name at the wedding)
FRIENDS Season 6 (Monica and Chandler's engagement)
How I Met Your Mother Season 1 (Ted makes it rain)
How I Met Your Mother Season 2 (the wedding)
The Office Season 2 (casino night, Jim and Pam's first kiss)
Gilmore Girls Season 1 (Max's proposal)
Gilmore Girls Season 3 (Rory's graduation)
Buffy Season 2 (killing angel)
Buffy Season 3 (graduation)
Buffy Season 5 (Buffy dies)
Buffy Season 6 (evil willow and the yellow crayon)
Veronica Mars Season 1 (solving the murder, who's at the door?)
Slings & Arrows Season 2 (Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet open)
Brothers & Sisters Season 1 ( the engagement party, goodbye to Justin, jumping in the pool)
Grey's Anatomy Season 1 (Addison's arrival)
Grey's Anatomy Season 2 (Denny's death)
Grey's Anatomy Season 3 (Christina's wedding)
Prison Break Season 1 (breaking out and starting to run)

Best Couples

TV's BEST COUPLES

10) Jin and Sun Kwong (Lost)
9) Miranda Hobbes and Steve Brady (Sex and the City)
8) Danny Kincannon and CJ Craig (The West Wing)
7) Chandler Bing and Monica Geller (FRIENDS)
6) Henry Grubstick and Betty Suarez (Ugly Betty)
5) Niles and Daphne Crane (Frasier)
4) Marshall Ericson and Lily Aldrin (How I Met Your Mother)
3) Eric and Tammy Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
2) Jim Halpert and Pam Beasley (The Office)
1) Paul and Jamie Buchman ( Mad About You)

Honourable Mentions:
Orson and Bree Hodge (Desperate Housewives)
Robert McCallister and Kitty Walker (Brothers & Sisters)

Friday, December 14, 2007

Best First Kisses

Top 10 TV First Kisses. in no particular order

Ross and Rachel in the coffee shop.
Jim and Pam in the season 2 finale after Casino Night
Tim and Dawn in the Office Christmas Special
Nathan and Haley outside Tree Hill High
Dawson and Joey in the season 1 finale by the window
Veronica and Logan at the motel
Michael and Sarah in the infirmary
Buffy and Spike in Once More With Feeling
Sydney and Vaugh after taking down SD6
Rory and Dean in the Supermarket

LOST and Grey's

so Jack's last name is Shepherd. Derek's last name is Shepherd. They are both doctors.

there is only one other doctor on the island. Juliet.

Juliet's last name is Burke, as in Preston Burke.

Both on ABC, both premiering the same season (20004-05), the doctors Shepherd and Burke have 2 homes.

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Buffy Season 2

Disk Five of Buffy Season 2 on DVD

two episodes, back to back feature 3 hollywood actors of the swoon-worthy sort (all before they got famous, all in small to tiny parts)

I Only Have Eyes For You stars Christopher Gorham (later in life to star in Popular, Out of Practice, Ugly Betty and more)

and

Go Fish stars Wentworth Miller (of Prison Break fame in a role that requires him to say "dude" more than once- something he should NEVER do- it just sounds weird from him. he's also playing an unfocused, slightly thick high schooler and let's face it- we all know Wentworth's the smartest guy in the world, it was very weird to see him play Gage- still as beautiful as ever though)

it also features Shane West (later to star in A Walk to Remember and join the cast of ER) in a role with 2 lines. that's right 2 LINES.

let's also thank the buffyverse for not only jump starting these 3 favourites but for also giving us David Boreanaz, Nikki Brandon, James Marsters and for introducing the spectacular Ally Hannigan to the world (not a hot guy like the others but spectacular and completely worth a mention, also anyone who later was on How I Met Your Mother needs to be cheered)

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Best Sophomore Seasons

The Best Sophomore Seasons EVER


1) The West Wing: opening with the brilliance of "in the shadow of 2 gunman" parts 1 and 2, followed by the triumph that is "Galileo", the brilliance that is "Noel" and all culminating in the best season finale of the series "two cathedrals". The best season my favourite show.

2) Ugly Betty: I know it's only just begun but every single episode of this season's Ugly Betty is better than the previous one. Ana Ortiz and Marc Indelicato gave spectacular performances as the grieving family of Santos, Mark is getting a spectacular storyline, Christina's got one too, we went to see Wicked, Betty is in love and we get LOTS of my beloved Christopher Gorham- BRILLIANT!

3) The Office: the season when they really hit their stride (the American version, by the way), flourished from beneath the shadow of David Brent and his comrades and remained fresh and hilarious every week (seasons 3 and 4 could not achieve such a feat). Jim pined while still best friends with Pam (a lovely dynamic), from the season premiere where we were awarded "the dundies", through Christmas and Meredith's flashing, the boat cruise and the heartbreak that accompanied it to the shocking final kiss this season was the best the office ever was.

4) How I Met Your Mother: though the first season tops it overall, the second season of this intensely funny show dished up such brilliant moments as the introduction of "Ted Mosby, architect" and Swarley, a glimpse into casa al Barney, Marshall and Lily's romantic reunion, Barney finding the jelly bean to win thousands of dollars in the Chinese casino game, robin's Canadian pop star music video, the birth of the slap bet, the introduction of Barney's gay, black brother James (Wayne Brady), the Superbowl challenge, Marshall's "bridezilla" hair freak out, Scooter's return, Ted and Robin's saucy breakup and a truly lovely wedding.

5) FRIENDS: the season I will always remember as "the Rachel and Ross season", we pick up with Ross coming back from China with a new girlfriend and follow the epic couple through Rachel's side of the pining, Ross' decision between the 2 women, the "what dreams are made of" kiss in the coffee shop, another short breakup and the happiest of happy endings in "the one with the prom video". while the introduction of "we were on a break" doesn't happen until season 3, the happy part of their relationship all starts here. There are also such wonderful episodes as "the one with the chicken pox", "the one with the baby on the bus", "the one with phoebe's husband" and "the one after the super bowl" with the memorable "in the jungle" moment.

and finally...

6) Buffy the Vampire Slayer: easily the most romantic and one of the most heartbreaking seasons of all time, if "innocence" and the season finale don't make you cry you clearly have no heart at all. Season 2 also serves as the introductions to Oz and Spike (two of my most beloved characters)

breaking my silence just to say...

I'm re-watching Buffy.

I'm currently in the middle of one of the best 2 parters ever- season 2's "surprise" and "innocence"
and I would just like to say...

I LOVE OZ!!!!!! it's far too easy to forget how much one loves Oz. I LOVE OZ!!!!!

also,
I love innocent, nerdy, pre-magic Willow. she's so cute.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

LISTS

I'm resolved not to blog about TV and Film until after the writers strike but that doesn't stop me from posting lists. Inspired by EW's list of best "top of the staircase moments", I present to you my list of lists:

BEST "TOP OF THE STAIRS MOMENTS" in FILM. THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL REVEAL MOMENTS
- Pretty Woman the red dress reveal (Julia's defining breakout moment)
- Eliza Doolittle's appearance at the ball in My Fair Lady
- Princess Diaries: both the before and after makeover reveal and Mia's entrance in her ball gown at the end
- What A Girl Wants: the reveal of Kelly Preston there to support her daughter and remind Colin Firth how much he loves her.
- Keira Knightley's entrance to her wedding as Juliet in Love Actually
-Tracey Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky)'s triumphant entrance from the hairspray can for the finale of the movie musical version of Hairspray
- Jennifer Lopez dazzles Ralph Fiennes in her pink dress and borrowed jewels in Maid in Manhattan
-the first appearance of Guy as Josie's high school ideal in Never Been Kissed
- Aurelia comes into Jamie's view at the restaurant where he has come to propose in Love Actually
- the crowd-parting introductions of Michael and Kimmy in My Best Friend's Wedding as well as Rupert Everitt's heroic swoop-in at the ending.
AND THE BEST "top of the stairs moment" EVER...
-Drew Barrymore as Danielle aka Cinderella's "Breathe, just breathe" memorable entrance to the ball in Ever After.

TV'S STRONGEST LADIES: the tube's boldest and most brilliant bombshells
- Veronica Mars (the smart, sassy and strong sleuth who taught us all that thick skin and a big heart are a powerful combination and that its cool to love your dad)
- Tammi Taylor (this Texan beauty is a prime example of strong modern woman- raising a teenage daughter, coping with a new baby, acting as a mentor to high school students as their guidance counsellor who really cares and keeping her head around the brain-numbing book club women of Dillon while maintaining a strong and equal partnership with her football coach of a husband on Friday Night Lights)
- Lorelai Gilmore of Gilmore girls (pregnant and alone at 16, Lorelai left her privileged life behind and built a new one for her and her expected daughter. She became a successful business owner, beloved friend and the mother of the most successful young girl on TV- that takes unparallelled independence and strength of character)
- Sydney Bristow on Alias (this big-hearted super-spy saved the world more times that I can count while dealing with multiple heartbreaks, the loss of friends and a whole lotta daddy issues. and she did it all in fancy wigs and heels)
- The Walker Women of Brothers & Sisters ( sisters Sarah and Kitty and their mother Nora have their share of problems but are perfect examples of smart, strong, independent women who aren't afraid to speak their minds. They are strong and supportive mothers and high powered career women, unflinchingly brave in the face of their father/husband's death, their brother/son going off to Iraq and the other multitude of obstacles they face in their lives (including divorce, a father's infidelity, a miscarriage, a nephew's infant death, custody battles, a daughter's illness, a loved one's addiction, corporate issues and a presidential campaign)
- Lynette Scavo (this desperate housewife fought cancer while fighting to protect her kids' tree house, fighting to keep the family business afloat, fighting for her marriage, fighting for the loyalty of her friends and fighting her mother. She's tougher than most superheroes while caring more for everyone and everything than for herself)
- Miranda Bailey, Christina Yang and Callie Torres (these brilliant and independent women of Seattle Grace Hospital have fought through the trenches of drama at Grey's Anatomy and come through their respective traumas a head above as the some of the most capable ladies on TV.
- Addison Montgomery (though she's lost some of her luster since joining Private Practice, let us not forget the brilliant, funny and compassionate woman, the best neo-natal surgeon in the country, who still lives beneath her insecurities)
- Betty and Hilda Suarez (Hilda lived through her fiance's death and is still there to restore her sister Betty's faith in the world as the independent Ugly Betty continues to forge her own path through the fashion industry)
- Jamie Buchman (Mad About You's independent career woman showed the world that a woman doesn't have to give up her dreams of a career for her dreams of love. Jamie's sense of self and sense of humour are what made her equal partnership with her husband Paul so enchanting and endearing)
- Kate Hennessy (on 8 Simple Rules, after her husband's death, Kate was able to keep her household running smoothly by juggling a career as a nurse, 2 difficult teenage daughters and a mischievous son seemingly effortlessly. Supermom personified, Kate was the sitcom version of Lorelai... times 3.
- Miranda Hobbes and Samantha Jones (Sex and the City's high-powered career women spoke their minds and were unashamed of their sexuality, intelligence and independent spirits. What sets these women apart, was their abilities, in the end, to bravely open themselves up to relationships that could leave them vulnerable. They were independent and strong yet unafraid of being hurt or left alone).
- Lost's Kate, Sun, Anna Lucia and Libby (2 of these women are/were kick-ass power houses who were known to wield guns and hike into the jungle. they are the heroines, just as strong as the men of the island. The other 2 are perhaps even more impressive in their resourcefulness, intelligence and resilience. Sun shows a constant strength that her small stature doesn't even hint at while Libby's compassion was all that kept Hurley from plunging off a cliff. These 2 women show that you don't have to be an adventurer to be a hero)
AND TV's ULTIMATE KICK-ASS HEROINE...
- Buffy Summers (this vampire slayer, who vanquished evil for seven straight seasons, dressed to impress and never missed an opportunity for a witty remark)


THE TORTURED HEROES OF THE TUBE: they may have their flaws, but these boys have won the hearts of millions over the years
- Alex Karev and Marc Sloan (Grey's ultimate truth tellers, dirty adulterers and big hearted jerks who would scale mountain tops for the ones they love)
- Jin and Sawyer (Charlie may be a rock star drug addict but these Lost boys take the cake on the seeming villains of the group front. Their abusive behaviour towards the other castaways hides their sentimental and deeply wounded selves that we all know are underneath)
- Tim Riggins and Smash Williams ( Friday Night Lights) they get in a fist fight every week, drink like crazy and sleep around but when it comes down to it Smash will fight for the dignity of anyone he cares about in a moments notice, Riggs will go to the end of the earth to save his best friend, be a big brother to a neighbour, save someone from a tornado or humble himself to apologize- these two bad boys are some of the best good boys on TV.
-Pacey Witter (Dawson's best friend who stole his girl. The eternal screw up, the funny sidekick, the big mouthed, under appreciated kid who had an affair with his teacher. Pacey wasn't set up to be a hero, just comic relief with a little sympathy on the side, but he grew to be one of the most loving, compassionate and adored characters on the show. His unwavering loyalty, earnest goodness and mischievous grin were a winning combination)
- Jeffrey Tennant (Slings & Arrow's eccentric artistic director is, well, crazy. but he's also a genius. a genius who turns the festival around, inspires all those around him and ends up marrying the woman of his dreams- sounds like a Shakespearean dramatic hero to me)
- Logan Echolls (this movie star's son started out as a pure antagonist who gained depth and inspired pathos as the series continued until viewers were all rooting for him and Veronica Mars to be together forever)
- Dylan McKay (this 90210 surfer dude spent much of season 1 throwing things and drinking heavily. But Brenda's love tamed him and by the time he graduated high school he had 2 girls fighting over him and an unparallelled knack for his AP English course)
AND THE ULTIMATE LOVEABLE BAD BOY...
- Spike (this high cheekboned, bleached blond, centuries old killer represents perhaps the most dramatic character arc of all time. Journeying from being the cold blooded killing machine Big Bad of season 2, to having a chip implanted in his head in season 4 preventing him from harming humans, to falling in love with Buffy and protecting those she loves in season 5, to being her useful but scorned boy toy in season 6, to attaining a soul and saving the world by sacrificing himself in the series finale, Spike transforms more than any other character I can call to mind. He was one of the most popular characters ever on the series. For someone who's main goal was once to kill our heroine, that his sacrifice 5 years later was as heart wrenching as it was is truly remarkably- Spike really is the ultimate tragically flawed and unexpected hero of TV.