JOpinionated

Emmy Awards 2010: Who Should Win vs. Who Will Win

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-08-27T14:32:00Z

Every year I find it challenging to analyze Emmy nominations, because I tend to choose with my heart on my sleeve. If a character or show resonates with me on an emotional level, I place all hope firmly in their corner.

Of course I am rooting for Lost to win in every category, but if I had to guess - Jack Bender will win for directing, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof will win for writing and Terry O'Quinn will take home the statue for Supporting Actor. However, I have a feeling that even the final season of Lost will be unable to topple the Mad Men juggernaut.

Below I have designated and differentiated. Enjoy!

BEST DRAMA

BEST COMEDY

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (should & will win)
Matthew Fox, Lost
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
January Jones, Mad Men
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (should & will win)
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Rose Byrne, Damages
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (will win)
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife (should win)

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Matthew Morrison, Glee
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (should & will win)
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Toni Collette, The United States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (should & will win)
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Lea Michele, Glee
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Ty Burrell, Modern Family (should win)
Chris Colfer, Glee
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family (will win)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

We'll find out Sunday night just how wrong I am! Who is your top choice in the major categories?

Must-See: The Big C (Series Debut Monday, 8/16)

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-08-12T13:22:00Z

Expect The Unexpected

The very first thing you need to know about The Big C is that it is not a television series about cancer. Yes, The Big C refers to cancer, but the focus of the show is far more about how one woman reacts to her diagnosis than it is about the illness itself. The Big C is a dark comedy that will take you to surprising places with equal humor and poignancy.

In Which My Praise For Laura Linney Knows No End

Laura Linney is perfectly cast as Cathy Jamison, a suburban school teacher who discovers that she has cancer. I have admired her work over the years, particularly in Tales of the City (1993), Primal Fear (1996), Absolute Power (1997), The Truman Show (1998), The House of Mirth (2000), You Can Count on Me (2000), The Life of David Gale (2003), Mystic River (2003), Love Actually (2003), Kinsey (2004) and Breach (2007). Although Linney received an Academy Award nomination for The Savages, I still feel as though she deserved an Oscar for You Can Count on Me. And if you did not see the HBO miniseries John Adams, add it to your queue immediately; Linney won an Emmy for her role as Abigail Adams and it was one of her finest performances to date.

By the way, I highly recommend this this recent New York Times profile of and interview with Linney.

Why The Big C Deserves a Season Pass

Because you will find some of Cathy Jamison's reactions to be quite reasonable, and others to be rather shocking. Because the supporting cast is quirky without being stereotypical or grating. Because you will find yourself wondering what changes you would make in your life under the same circumstances. Because Laura Linney is a familiar, comforting face that will accompany you into potentially unfamiliar territory; a phenomenal actress who radiates warmth and strength on screen. Because we now have the opportunity to spend a half hour a week with Linney and her unparalleled dimples. And because short house robes are bound to make Entertainment Weekly's sidebar column The Shaw Report as an "in" trend after an episode or two.

Roll Credits

The Big C also stars Oliver Platt (Huff) as Jamison's husband, Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) as one of her students, John Benjamin Hickey (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) as her brother, Reid Scott (My Boys) as her doctor, Phyllis Somerville (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as her neighbor and newcomer Gabriel Basso as her son. Idris Elba (The Wire) also makes a guest appearance, and former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon joins the cast later on in the first season.

Series creator/writer Darlene Hunt is also an actress and playwright; she recently appeared on Hung and Parks and Recreation. Executive producer/writer/showrunner Jenny Bicks previously wrote and produced Sex and the City and Men in Trees. Executive producer Neal H. Moritz is primarily known for film but he also produced Tru Calling and Prison Break.

The pilot episode of The Big C was directed by Academy Award winning screenwriter Bill Condon (Gods & Monsters), and future episodes are lensed by a few of my favorite cable television directors, Craig Zisk (United States of Tara, Nip/Tuck, Nurse Jackie, Weeds) and Alan Poul (Six Feet Under).

DVR Details

Linney's talent, the stellar cast and the subject matter, combined with the creative experience above, is exactly why you should tune in when The Big C debuts on Showtime next week (Monday, August 15 at 10:30pm ET) immediately following the season 6 debut of Weeds at 10pm ET. You can also become a fan of the show on Facebook and follow series updates on Twitter.

Of course if you don't want to wait until Monday, you can watch the entire first episode right now on Showtime!

The JOpinionated Podcast, Episode 4

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-07-31T19:45:00Z

In this podcast, I discuss the following shows:

BSG
The Event
Fringe
Glee
Hawaii Five-0
Lost
Mad Men
Persons Unknown
Pretty Little Liars
Rubicon
V
Warehouse 13
Weeds

If you like to win this Mad Men tee (Women's XL), simply leave a comment below, on iTunes or Twitter!

Thank you for listening - as always, I encourage and appreciate your feedback and suggestions.

The JOpinionated Podcast, Episode 3

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-07-05T22:39:00Z

Thank you for patience, pop culture friends!

Here is the third episode of the new podcast, featuring my personal selections in the major categories for the upcoming Emmy Award nominations.

Although I am still working out a few technical issues - I believe this podcast will improve as I record more frequently. Feel free to leave feedback about the content or suggestions for future topics below, on Twitter or iTunes.

The JOpinionated Podcast, Pt 2

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-06-13T16:25:43Z

Clearly there is room for improvement. Here is my second podcast, and although I was able to add an opening song ("Pretty the World" by my good friend & Vanguard recording artist Matt Nathanson), I need to work on my fade in/fade out technique. You will notice that it cuts me off at the end as well. Again, I am very new to this and appreciate your patience!

For now, I am calling it the JOpinionated Podcast. That may change, as will my logo.

In this episode, I briefly discuss BSG, Chuck, FNL, Glee, Justified, Mad Men, Party Down, Persons Unknown, True Blood, Warehouse 13, Comic-Con 2010 and a few new shows (Boardwalk Empire on HBO, Haven on SyFy, Rubicon on AMC).

Thank you in advance for listening, and for any feedback you'd like to leave in the comments below or on Twitter.

By the way, I have submitted my podcast feed to iTunes and am awaiting approval. Once it is available there, I will let you know so that you can subscribe!

The Watch & Jo Show: A New Pop Culture Podcast

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-06-07T00:07:01Z

The name might change, but I am thrilled to introduce a brand new pop culture podcast called The Watch & Jo Show! Now that Lost has ended, I will continue to write about various shows here and on TVsquad and TVovermind. But I felt the need to expand my horizons and audience, so here is my first attempt at a podcast. It does not contain any music yet; this is a very basic and brief introduction. And yes, I promise to infuse more personality in the next episode - I was following an outline and my nerves may have played a role this time around.

Of course I'd LOVE to hear your feedback, as well as what shows you'd like me to cover, etc.

I will try to post this in iTunes as soon as possible, and will be unveiling a new logo soon as well.

Thank you for listening - I look forward to reading your thoughts about episode 1.

Where I've Been, Where I'm Going & What I'm Watching: The Future of This Site

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-05-31T23:46:00Z

As many of you have noticed, I have not posted on this site in two months. Because I am a freelance entertainment writer, my work has been appearing elsewhere - primarily TVovermind and AOLtv. Moving forward, I will still be posting here, especially when analyzing a film or a television series that I am not also covering on another site. And of course my archived articles will remain available here, including my very first batch of Lost posts from several years ago.

Now that Lost has ended its six season run, I have no plans to start another site or focus that much time on one particular series. Although I will be starting Battlestar Galactica from the beginning later this week, I will not be writing about it other than reactionary tweets.

The new slate of Fall 2010 shows looks promising, and I will be posting a list of recommendations and trailers soon. In the meantime, please let me know which current or new shows you'd like me to cover!

Here is an updated list of shows that I already watch, although I admit to being a season behind on a few:

30 Rock
Bones
Breaking Bad
Brothers & Sisters
Burn Notice
Chuck
Community
Cougar Town
Desperate Housewives
Dexter
Entourage
Friday Night Lights
Fringe
Glee
The Good Wife
Grey's Anatomy
House
Hung
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Justified
Mad Men
Medium
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
The Office
Parenthood
Parks & Recreation
Private Practice
Rescue Me
Survivor
Top Chef
Treme
True Blood
United States of Tara
V
Weeds

I appreciate your patience and promise to keep you posted about where to find me and my perspective about the television landscape. If you're not doing so already, I would love for you to follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook.

- Jo

Nurse Jackie & United States of Tara: Spoiler-Free Second Season Previews

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-03-21T16:09:00Z

Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara return for their sophomore seasons on Monday night, March 22. While I did not find that either show needed to improve upon their very impressive debut seasons, I am pleasantly surprised by the slight changes and shifts that both series' have implemented.

NURSE JACKIE

In the first few episodes of Season 2, there are a few revelations on Nurse Jackie involving Jackie's relationships with both her pharmacist boy toy Eddie (Paul Schulze) and her BFF, Dr. O'Hara (delicious & devilish scene-stealer Eve Best).

Edie Falco is delivering an Emmy-worthy performance; her ability to transform and transition Jackie from infuriatingly immoral in one scene to commendably compassionate in the next is unparalleled. I enjoy her scenes with Akalitus (the great Anna Deavere Smith) more than any other character, especially in Season 2 thus far.

I have also grown rather fond of the fabulous Merritt Wever as Jackie's fumbling, earnest sidekick Zoey, who amuses me to no end with her facial expressions and body language. Wever has a talent for subtle physical comedy, and this role appears to have been tailor-made for her.

Twilight fans simply seeking a weekly Cullen fix will be pleased to discover an entirely different side of Peter Facinelli. Unlike the strong women who surround and overwhelm him at the hospital, Dr. Cooper is a vulnerable and sensitive soul who cares what people think about him. His ideals will be tested early on in Season 2, and his inappropriate quirks come into play during a fantastic guest appearance by Barbara Barrie.

UNITED STATES OF TARA

On more than a few occasions just a few episodes into Season 2 of United States of Tara, my eyebrows were raised and my jaw was ajar. Toni Collette, who won the Emmy last year for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, remains on par with Edie Falco in that category. Her range is extraordinary, and that has never been more clear than right now; Tara delves deep into less familiar and uncomfortable territory this season, and Collette handles it beautifully and with ease.

The dynamic and dysfunction of the Gregson family is equally compelling and entertaining, and their interaction is one of my favorite aspects of the show. Disconcerting changes are in store for Tara, which obviously affects everyone in her life. I, for one, am looking forward to just how far her husband Max (John Corbett) will be pushed to and perhaps over the edge this season by her actions and personalities.

United States of Tara features a particularly strong supporting cast, including two of the most well-written teenagers on television. Siblings Marshall (Keir Gilchrist) and Kate (Brie Larson) face their own set of realistic challenges in Season 2, as does Tara's self-centered sister Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt).

Even if you have not watched the first seasons of either show, I highly recommend that you tune in tomorrow night and set your DVRs with season passes for both Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara. These are two examples of original programming at their best, with stellar scripts, casts and surprises that will keep you laughing and intrigued from week to week.

Fringe & V Set Visits: Questions for the Casts?

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-03-13T15:44:00Z

I am heading to Vancouver to visit the set of V on Monday and Fringe on Wednesday, and will have the opportunity to interview members of each cast.

If you'd like to follow along, all of my spoiler-free coverage will be on TVovermind (and of course I will be tweeting frequently). Please feel free to leave any questions you might have for specific characters in the Comments below!

Quick Oscar Picks for 3/7/10

jo@jopinionated.com (JOpinionated) — 2010-03-05T14:05:00Z

File under: better late than never.

Here are my quick picks in the major Academy Award categories for the best of 2009. In years past, I have struggled between choosing those I want to win and those who I think will win. This time, my selections are based on personal favorites in each category (following my heart & not my instinct).

Disclaimer: Before you jump all over me for picking a few dark horses, please note that I have not yet seen all of the nominated films and performances (including The Blind Side, Crazy Heart, Invictus and Precious).

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

BEST DIRECTOR
James Cameron
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Lee Daniels
Jason Reitman
Quentin Tarantino

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air (Jason Reitman)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock
Helen Mirren
Carey Mulligan
Gabourey Sidibe
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz
Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Anna Kendrick
Mo'Nique

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges
George Clooney
Colin Firth
Morgan Freeman
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon
Woody Harrelson
Christopher Plummer
Stanley Tucci
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up

ART DIRECTION
Avatar
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Avatar
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon

FILM EDITING
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious

VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar
District 9
Star Trek

SOUND EDITING
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Up

SOUND MIXING
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

ORIGINAL SCORE
Avatar
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Hurt Locker
Sherlock Holmes
Up (Michael Giacchino)

ORIGINAL SONG
Crazy Heart ("The Weary Kind")
Nine
Paris 36
The Princess and the Frog

To be honest, the most difficult to choose was Cinematography; I've seen 4 out of the 5 nominees, all of which were filmed beautifully.

And although I will finally be seeing A Single Man tonight...to me there have only been two absolutely stunning performances in the Actor categories: Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker and Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds.

Depending on how much champagne is served on Sunday afternoon, I may do a live blog of the Oscar red carpet and ceremony.

So what are YOUR picks for the best of the best in film last year?