Emmy Noms, who should win and who will win!

None among us is immune to flattery. So when I saw this comment in reply to me on the comment section of tvbythenumbers.com, I was ecstatic.

"You know, a friend of mine was reading the Emmy threads last night and commented that you are the smartest guy on this site. I can see what she means. ;)"

Insert the tossing of roses and thunderous applause.

Needless to say, I was/am ecstatic, and decided to do my own blog post on the subject.

I'm not going to talk about dramas, because, I really only watch 2-4 of them, depending on whether you count Psych and Chuck as dramas or comedies. Nothing I say will really be meaningful here. So, onto our first category.

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Nominations
-Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory)-Shoot me
-Larry David (Curb your Enthusiasm)-Wild Card
-Matthew Morrison (Glee)-What is he doing here?
-Tony Shalhoub (Monk)-Could Win
-Steve Carell (The Office)-My Pick for the Win
-Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)-Will Probably Win

Should've been Nominated
-Aziz Ansari (Parks & Recreation, although he may have submitted as supporting)

Okay, let's look at these noms. First off, I don't watch the Big Bang Theory, but from what I've seen, it's garbage. Anyone could do what Jim Parsons does. If he wins it will be a travesty. Next. I don't watch Curb your Enthusiasm, so I can't really say here, but from clips I've seen it seems like a one-note performance for Larry David, I could be wrong, but whatever. Matthew Morrison of Glee doesn't deserve to be here. There's nothing special about his performance, he's definitely the straight-man of the show, so I can't imagine why he's here, except that the Emmy's love Glee. If he wins, the Emmy's will go down another peg in my book. Tony Shalhoub is sort of a predictable choice at this point, but he hasn't won in a few years. Since this was Monk's final season he could pull off a win, and he would probably deserve it. Although, he's been in that role so long he could do it in his sleep. Steve Carell hasn't won in a few years, which is a shame. I think he delivers the most consistently great performance among any of the nominees, despite a lack-luster year for the show overall. He deserves the win, but probably won't get it due to the show's overall quality. Alec Baldwin from 30 Rock really isn't that great. He's not bad, he does what he needs to, but he's rarely outstanding. Still, he's always believable and funny and isn't a bad choice. Critics have been less ecstatic about 30 Rock this year though, so he could potentially lose out. I'm not sure Aziz Ansari counts as a lead, but I would've liked to see him nominated. He pulls off the total jerk who thinks he's cool perfectly, and knowing what the guy is like in real life makes it all the more funny. Maybe next year Aziz, maybe next year you can bump one of these white guys out of the running.

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Nominations
-Lea Michelle (Glee)-Shoot me.
-Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (New Adventures of Old Christine)-Wild card
-Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)-Could Win
-Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation)-My Pick for the Win
-Tina Fey (30 Rock)-Will probably win
-Toni Colette (United States of Tara)-What is she doing here?

Lea Michelle may be a good singer, but she can't act for beans. She over-acts so badly you'd swear she was acting like she was a bad actress. She's not, she is that bad. If she wins well, you get the idea. I don't watch New Adventures of Old Christine, Nurse Jackie or United States of Tara, but any one of them could win. Apparently, United States of Tara has been a down season for quality, Colette probably won't win it. Tina Fey will probably win, but my pick is definitely Amy Poehler. Amy has turned in a great performance this year, goofy while still compelling, sweet and sour, pitiable yet reliable, she's a joy to watch. That's not to say Tina Fey is bad, but I think she's a much better writer than actress. New Adventures of Old Christine was canceled this year, so Julia-Louis Dreyfuss could upset, and I think that would be cool, even though I've never watched the show. I'd just like to see her tell CBS to "shove it".

Outstanding Comedy Series (Best Picture basically)
Nominations
-Curb Your Enthusiasm-Wild Card
-Glee-Shoot Me
-Modern Family-Could Win
-Nurse Jackie-What is this doing here?
-The Office-Lip Service
-30 Rock-My Pick to win, will probably Win

Snubbed: Parks & Recreation, Community, Psych (although Psych might qualify as Drama)

Since my pick, Parks & Recreation was snubbed in a dastardly plot against quality, I have to go with 30 Rock for the win, and win it most likely will. However, Modern Family has the buzz on its side, and could pull it off. Modern Family has been funny, but it's not rofl hilarious. If it won, it would be a fair choice though. With Curb your Enthusiasm in its last season, it could cause an upset, but I can't speak for the quality of the show. Glee shouldn't even qualify as a comedy. It's a soap opera with a few good jokes and some musical numbers. If it wins, well, you get the idea. Haven't watched Nurse Jackie, but I'm pretty sure it falls more on the drama side of things, won't win. The Office is only here because of the strength of previous seasons, not because of this one. It's here out of habit, not actual quality. If it wins, I will be shocked. Now to the snubs. I am so heartbroken over Parks & Rec getting ignored that I won't say anymore about it. Community is also surprising, as that would've been my second choice. Psych I love, but it probably didn't really deserve it, and could be a drama. But, to quote Phil Collins, they'll be in my heart, no matter what they say.

So there's my views, and this is probably the longest blog post I've ever done. Next year parks & rec! Next year!

Watch this, Not That: Summer Edition

The long-anticipated summer edition of what I so pompously wrote about in spring. Without further ado, watch this not that, summer edition.

Watch This

Iron Man 2 (May 7)
Directed by: Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Zathura, Elf)
Written by: Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Bettany

The surprise hit of 2008, making over $300 million domestically. I was determined to hate the first film, but I just couldn't do it, and I'm at least a little excited for the sequel, due out this Friday. All the major cast is solid, adding Scarlett Johansson (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Prestige), academy award nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Sam Rockwell (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Galaxy Quest), Samuel L. Jackson (Unbreakable, Pulp Fiction) and Don Cheadle (Ocean's 13, Traitor) to replace Terrence Howard. Of concern however, is the change in writers from Mark Fergus and Hawk Otsby (Children of Men), Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Punisher: War Zone), to relative newcomer Justin Theroux (who appeared recently on NBC's "Parks & Recreation"). Also, early word of mouth is largely luke-warm, making this sound like another Spiderman 2 (or for people who liked Spiderman 2, insert Spiderman 3).

Trailer for Iron Man 2 (Even though I know you've already seen it)

The A-Team (June 11)
Directed by: Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces, Narc)
Written by: Brian Bloom, Michael Brandt (Wanted, 3:10 to Yuma), Skip Woods (Hitman, Swordfish)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Sharlto Copley, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

Based on the infamously cheesy 80's TV show of the same name, this movie looks like it has potential for awesomeness. Then again, it might be a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions, but either way I recommend a watch. I haven't seen any of Joe Carnahan's work, but the critics seem to think it was mostly solid. The same goes for writer Michael Brandt, but Skip Woods has a less glowing resume. Liam Neeson is always fantastic, but the rest of the cast seems mediocre at best. The main reason this is on the "watch" list is due to a lack of better stuff out there in mid-June.

Trailer for The A-Team

Toy Story 3 (June 18)
Directed by: Lee Unkrich (Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, Cars)
Written by: Michael Arndt (Litte Miss Sunshine)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Michael Freaking Keaton, Bonnie Hunt, Wallace Shawn

I'm probably the biggest skeptic this film has, most everyone seems excited for it, but I'm not so sure. Lee Unkrich's last film Cars was a phenomenal disappointment for me, and the writers of the original Toy Stories aren't returning. Still, definitely going to see it and recommend that you do to. Plus, Michael Keaton is the man.

Toy Story 3: The Trailer

Despicable Me (July 9)
Directed by: Pierre Coffin (Gary's Fall), Chris Renaud (No time for Nuts)
Written by: Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (Horton Hears a Who, College Road Trip)
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Jason Segel, Ken Jeong, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, Russell Brand, Danny McBride

I love animated films. I really do. So even though it has two new-coming directors, writers of serviceable, but largely uninspired kids films and enough big-name stars to sink any treasure ship, let alone a film, I want to see this. To quote the trailer, "This is garbage! You like this stuff?" Yes, yes I do.

Despicable Me Trailer

Dinner for Shmucks (July 23)
Directed by: Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Austin Powers)
Written by: Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul *Mentioned Above*
Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis

Comedies are perhaps the hardest genre of film to market these days. Making a film stand out as a comedy is incredibly difficult, and there is really no known workable formula for success (unless you're talking Rom Com). Two tactics are big-name stars and an insanely original premise. Neither have a very good success rate. Dinner for Shmucks has both, and I think it looks darn funny. I haven't liked Jay Roach's previous work, it was all a bit too mean-spirited, and I think there may be more of that this time around. Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul don't inspire much confidence either. But I still think this is at least worth a look, queue the trailer.

Roll Film

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (August 10)
Directed by: Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead)
Written by: Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall (Bookies, Maniac)
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Alison Pill

Scott Pilgrim looks like the kind of movie that will either be non-stop total win, or non-stop total fail. However, with Edgar Wright aboard (I've never seen his films, but others rave about them) it looks like win is the order of the day. Still, Michael Macall isn't the one he worked with on his best received films, and Michael Cera hasn't exactly shown diversity in his acting set. I remain open-minded, and will definitely give this one a chance.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The Trailer