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 I realize that it seems all I’ve been blogging about lately is the TV writers’ strike. But, there is so much going on with this story that I’m trying my best to keep you informed. Here’s a look at strike news from around the Web.
The strike could go on until 2008. (Variety)
Former Disney head Michael Eisner calls the writers’ strike stupid. (Reuters)
Shonda Rhimes is refusing to help wrap up episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice that are already in the works. ( Variety) Lost could be postponed until 2009. ( TV Guide) Steve Carell of The Office didn’t show up for work and some of his cast mates followed his lead. (AOL) Strikers hassled Eva Longoria, but she rewarded them with pizza. ( TV Guide) Two and a Half Men and other sitcoms shut down production. ( TV Guide)
 Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria married NBA star Tony Parker in France over the weekend, twice. Once, in a required civil ceremony, and then again, in a lavish ceremony at a French castle.
Longoria’s female co-stars were in attendance, except Marcia Cross, who didn’t want to leave her new twin daughters.
But, it was friend Mario Lopez who started tongues wagging, when he showed up with his Dancing With the Stars partner Karina Smirnoff. The two were rumored to be dating while they were on the show, but had denied it.
For the full story on the Desperate Housewife nuptials, as well as a sketch of Longoria’s amazing gown, check out this link at People. Congratulations, Eva and Tony!
 Dana Delany, of China Beach fame, could end up a desperate housewife.
Delany previously turned down the role of Bree three times, so I’m not sure what could entice her to finally join the primetime soap. Maybe she’s heard about Bree’s delicious cakes.
I know Desperate Housewives has taken a beating from critics the last two seasons, but I still enjoy the show. But, if ABC wants to infuse some new life into it, via new cast members, may I suggest some new male neighbors on Wisteria Lane?
I can think of plenty of faces I would much rather see living next door to the dysfunctional housewives than Delany. How about Ed star Thomas Cavanagh or JAG star David James Elliot? If those guys are too expensive, then how about former General Hospital star Wally Kurth? He sings, he can act, and he has dimples that would make Gaby melt in her stilettos. (Gaby’s portrayer Eva Longoria actually got her start on daytime, too.)
What do you think of Delany joining the housewives? Will you tune in to watch her?
 Grey’s Anatomy, House, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Aniston are just some of the shows and TV stars nominated for this year’s People’s Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. EST, live on CBS.
Fans, you can vote for your favorites in each category at PCAvote.com. Online voters can also register for a chance to win a VIP trip to “The 33rd Annual People’s Choice Awards” at the Web site.
Here is a complete list of nominees, with the television nominees listed first, of course!
TV
Favorite TV Comedy: The King of Queens, My Name is Earl, Two and a Half Men
Favorite TV Comedy, Animated: Family Guy, King of the Hill, The Simpsons
Favorite TV Drama: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grey’s Anatomy, House
Favorite Competition/Reality Show: American Idol, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Favorite Female TV Star: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Eva Longoria, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Favorite Male TV Star: Patrick Dempsey, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland
Favorite Talk Show Host: Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno, Oprah Winfrey
Movies
Favorite Female Movie Star: Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock
Favorite Male Movie Star: Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington
Favorite Leading Lady: Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Scarlett Johansson
Favorite Leading Man: Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn
Favorite Female Action Star: Kate Beckinsale, Halle Berry, Uma Thurman
Favorite Male Action Star: Johnny Depp, Samuel L. Jackson, Jet Li
Favorite On-Screen Match-Up: Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, The Break-Up; Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed; Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Music
Favorite Female Singer: Faith Hill, Shakira, Carrie Underwood
Favorite Male Singer: Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith
Favorite Group: The Black Eyed Peas, Nickelback, The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Favorite R&B Song: Christina Aguilera, “Ain’t No Other Man”; Justin Timberlake, “SexyBack”; Mariah Carey, “Shake It Off”
Favorite Hip-Hop Song: Nelly, “Grillz”; Chamillionaire, “Ridin’”; Eminem, “Shake That”
Favorite Pop Song: Shakira, “Hips Don’t Lie”; Nelly Furtado, “Promiscuous”; Pink, “Stupid Girls”
Favorite Country Song: Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats”; Rascal Flatts, “What Hurts the Most”; Tim McGraw, “When the Stars Go Blue”
Favorite Rock Song: Evanescence, “Call Me When You’re Sober”; Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Dani California”; Bon Jovi, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
Miscellaneous
Favorite Funny Female Star: Ellen DeGeneres, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Queen Latifah
Favorite Funny Male Star: Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Robin Williams
 August 31, 2005
If prison is anything like it’s portrayed on television, then I’m not sure how Martha Stewart made it out alive.
The first new drama of the fall season, Prison Break, debuted Monday, with the show’s leading man getting sent to the hoosegow. The talented Wentworth Miller plays structural engineer Michael Scofield, who gets himself thrown into the pokey, just so he can break out his innocent brother from death row. Scofield’s brother is scheduled for execution for murdering the vice president’s brother.
Prison Break has all of the mandatory ingredients of a prison drama: corrupt guards, squeamish violence, and racial tensions. Why would anyone want to go to a place like that you ask? Well, family loyalty seems to be the answer in this drama.
Scofield undergoes some serious pain to make the sacrifice to free his brother and clear his name. First, our hero goes under the needle for a little body art - make that a lot of body art. (He has more tattoos on his body than a bar full of bikers.) Of course, the tattoos just happen to be a blueprint of the prison. Handy, for the structural engineer who helped design the place, wouldn’t you say?
The premise of this show is unique, unlike anything I’ve seen on television. It gets points for that. The acting is also terrific. Miller shines, as does Dominic Purcell in the role of his incarcerated brother, Lincoln Burrows.
I give it three stars out of four. It made me want to see what happens next. The show is not a wrap-it-up-in-one-week crime drama. It has a long story arc, assuming it survives long enough for the brothers to bust out of prison.
FOX may be getting the jump on the other networks by premiering this show so early in the season. There could be one minor glitch, though. It’s up against powerhouse Monday Night Football.
For those of you who missed the premiere, catch an encore at 8 p.m. on Thursday on FOX. The show’s permanent time slot is 9 p.m. on Mondays.
MTV Video Music Awards - Did you miss the MTV Video Music Awards? If so, here’s a brief rundown of the highlights:
- Green Day and Kelly Clarkson received well-deserved awards.
- Desperate housewife Eva Longoria made a bold fashion statement by presenting an award in a skimpy bathing suit.
- Gangster rappers threatened one another on stage.
- Show host Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, is now known as just “Diddy.”
- And Beavis and Butthead, despite not getting any older or funnier, may be set for a comeback.
Originally published 8/31/05 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.
 July 20, 2005
Ladies and gentleman, the impossible has happened for the cast of Scrubs. After years of being ignored by Emmy voters, the show was finally nominated last week for Best Comedy. No joke.
Scrubs finally got some love from Emmy voters. I know. It seems about as likely as actress Sandra Bullock marrying a mechanic named Jesse James. But sometimes, Tubers, the unthinkable happens.
Not only did Scrubs get nominated, so did the show’s lead actor, Zach Braff, for Best Actor in a Comedy. While I couldn’t be more pleased for Braff, I’m just as ticked that John C. McGinley, cranky Dr. Cox, was once again snubbed. Instead of McGinley, the same familiar names of Brad Garrett, Ray Romano, and Peter Boyle, of Everybody Loves Raymond, and Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack of Will & Grace, were among those nominated in the male comedy acting categories.
The biggest problem with Emmy nominations each year seems to be that the same shows and actors are nominated, even when they’ve had bad years. Yes, Will & Grace I’m talking to you. It’s still my contention that the Emmy nomination process needs overhauled. It seems that Emmy voters vote for names they recognize, which is why we see the same folks over and over again.
Or it could be bribery. Yes, that could explain it.
What they did wrong:
- Will & Grace got 15 nominations. I’m sorry, but when a show resorts to big-name guest stars in most of the episodes, it shouldn’t even be eligible for an Emmy. The guest-star casting sends the message that the core characters and stories aren’t interesting enough to stand on their own.
 - The biggest Emmy snub was the complete shut out of UPN’s Veronica Mars and its star Kristen Bell. I’m convinced Emmy voters aren’t even watching the shows/actors they are nominating. There is no other explanation for this ridiculous oversight. Every TV critic in the free world and thousands of fans have been singing the praises of Veronica this year. The reason: it’s quality television.
- If you want to win an Emmy, you’d better pray your show isn't on The WB or UPN networks. Other egregious omissions are that of Gilmore Girls and its lead actress Lauren Graham from the comedy category, as well as Jack & Bobby actors Matt Long and Christine Lahti from the drama category.
- Desperate Housewives Eva Longoria wasn’t named a nominee in the supporting actor comedy category. She’s the most desperate of all the housewives and just as deserving as her cast mates. And she can mow a lawn in an evening gown and stilettos. Impressive, right?
- Stockard Channing of The West Wing was nominated for her supporting role in a drama. Huh? She was on screen for about two minutes the entire season. Again, I think name recognition is the explanation for this wackiness. Everyone knows Ms. Channing as a theater and award-winning actress, not to mention for her role as Rizzo in Grease. I love Rizzo as much as the next gal, but come on.
- Matthew Fox and Josh Holloway of Lost were not among the supporting actors in the drama category. Tell me how that island would be bearable without Jack and Sawyer to mix it up.
- Nip/Tuck wasn’t nominated for anything. Yes, this show is graphic and sometimes hard to watch, but you won’t see better acting anywhere on television than that of Julian McMahon and Joely Richardson. They deserved acting nominations.
What they did right:
- This year, Emmy voters did take some chances and invited some new folks to the party. Good for them. I’m most pleased about these wonderful actors’ nominations: Naveen Andrews and Terry O’Quinn of Lost and Sandra Oh of Grey’s Anatomy as supporting actors, and Hugh Laurie of House and Patricia Arquette of Medium as lead actors.
- The unique drama Lost earned 12 nominations.
 It’s nice to see creativity rewarded. - Desperate Housewives earned 15 nominations. This show has a fabulous ensemble cast, and I’m happy Emmy voters noticed.
- Denis Leary was nominated for writing the pilot episode of Rescue Me. The pilot was fabulous. However, a jeer within a cheer for omitting Leary from the lead actor category. His portrayal of veteran firefighter Tommy Gavin is brilliant.
- The always enigmatic James Spader and William Shatner of Boston Legal were nominated, despite the show being replaced at the end of the season by Grey’s Anatomy.
- Scrubs actually got on the Emmy ballot this year. With some luck, and perhaps a small bribe, it will take home the award for Best Comedy.
Originally published 7/20/05 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.
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I realize that it seems all I’ve been blogging about lately is the TV writers’ strike. But, there is so much going on with this story that I’m trying my best to keep you informed. Here’s a look at strike news from around the Web.
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