My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Drama Series

As you can see, my Dream Emmy Ballot experiment took a backseat to real life. I still want to get these out before the Emmy nomination announcements on July 19, so I'm giving it the old college try. Next up is Outstanding Drama Series.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

Boardwalk Empire
It's a period drama on HBO with a pretty heavy-hitting cast, so I'm pretty sure Boardwalk Empire will be getting another nomination.


Breaking Bad
Even though I'm wildly behind on my Breaking Bad catch-up, and I cannot watch more than one episode at a time, I can see that it's definitely one of the better shows on the air. I don't know if it's the "best" per se because being dark and twisted isn't enough to win me over, but I'm sure I'll get all of the hype once I'm further along. Regardless, not adding Breaking Bad to my ballot would be idiotic.

Game of Thrones
See Boardwalk Empire (sans heavy-hitting cast). Plus, it'd be nice if a genre show could catch on again to be an Emmy staple.

Homeland
This was one of my favorite new shows, so I just had to add it to my dream ballot. The thing is, it's worthy of the love and is a pretty safe bet. I don't know if it has enough juice to topple Mad Men and/or Breaking Bad, but it has a decent chance.

Justified
I'm probably in the minority because I didn't think Season 3 of Justified was better than Season 2, and it wasn't one of the best seasons of a drama, but it was still pretty great. And I actually watched it, so I felt obligated to add it instead of going for something like Downton Abbey.

Mad Men
It's Mad Men, did you really think I wasn't going to include it on my list?

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Drama Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominess be?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

As you can see, my Dream Emmy Ballot experiment took a backseat to real life. I still want to get these out before the Emmy nomination announcements on July 19, so I'm giving it the old college try. Next up is Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. For some reason, this category's always been my blindspot, so my picks may end up being all no-brainers.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

Claire Danes, Homeland
Great stuff from Claire Danes during Homeland's first season, and the early favorite to win the gold. It only made sense adding her to my dream ballot.

Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Don't know anything about this show or her performance, but the Emmys love her, so why not put her on this totally make believe and admittedly uninformed list? Plus, I needed a sixth person, and she made sense.

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
I haven't watched a second of The Good Wife, but Margulies gets nothing but priase, so I decided to include her here.

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
I was new to Mad Men this season, and I was expecting more of Peggy, but even I had to admit that Moss did amazing things with the little screen time she received (like her counting out Roger's money).

Jessica Pare, Mad Men
I didn't hate Megan, and I actually liked most of her arc this season even if it did make her out to be a whiny brat. And, "Zou Bisou Bisou" was one of the most talked about pop culture moments of the season, so she has that to her credit.

Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
I don't know if Season 4 of Sons was Sagal's best to date, but she's deserved so many past nominations that I wanted to make sure I had her on my ballot. At least the Golden Globes had the good sense to honor her.

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominess be?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

As you can see, my Dream Emmy Ballot experiment took a backseat to real life. I still want to get these out before the Emmy nomination announcements on July 19, so I'm giving it the old college try. Next up is Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and this will probably be the least dramatic category of the bunch.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
He's a big-ish name movie star on an HBO drama, so why not put him on the list?

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
He's the lead on the "best" drama ever, so why not put him on the list?

Jon Hamm, Mad Men
He's Jon Hamm and the lead on another one of the "best" dramas ever, so why not put him on the list?

Jason Isaacs, Awake
He's Lucius Malfoy and the lead on a good show that no one watched, so why not put him on the list?

Damian Lewis, Homeland
He's the male lead on one of the best new shows of the season, so why not put him on the list?

Timothy Olyphant, Justified
He's the lead on another one of the "best" dramas ever, so why not put him on the list?

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominess be?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

As you can see, my Dream Emmy Ballot experiment took a backseat to real life. I still want to get these out before the Emmy nomination announcements on July 19, so I'm giving it the old college try. Next up is Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and to be honest it's pretty straightforward.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

Morena Baccarin, Homeland
Like I mentioned before, Homeland was one of my favorite new shows of the season, and while Morena Baccarin's performance was not as captivating as those around her, she started off strong as a women trying to deal with the return of her dead husband after she had finally moved on. It would've been easy to hate Jessica Brody, but Baccarin was able to make her genuinely sympathetic, which wasn't a small feat.

Joelle Carter, Justified
Justified's known for its amazing performances, but one that gets lost in the shuffle is Joelle Carter's Ava Crowder. Now, she didn't have too many standout moments early on, but Ava really came into her own during Season 3, and Carter was the main reason why things worked. Carter may not be as flashy as Walton Goggins or Neal McDonough, but she was just as effective.

Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
While I didn't love everything that happened to Joan Holloway (the whole prostitution angle still feels contrived), Christina Hendricks still nailed it at every turn. Heck, that scene between Joan and Don was by far one of the best things filmed this year, and I credit Hendricks more than I do Jon Hamm. I don't think she's actually going to win the Emmy, but she definitely deserves to be in the mix.

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Every good story needs a good villain, and Lena Headey's Cersei Lannister filled that role quite well during Game of Throne's second season. Some highlights include her speech to Sansa, her multiple clashes with Tyrion, and her story about lions and the rest of the animal kingdom. While I cannot say that she was as good as Dinklage, she was able to hold her own and was a strong second fiddle.

Beth Riesgraf, Leverage
Yes, I know that Leverage doesn't belong on any Emmy lists because it's not dark enough or realistic enough, and it's nothing but a fun, con-man procedural, but that's exactly why I love it and why it should get some recognition. While all five of the Leverage actors make the show work, Beth Riesgraf's Parker takes things to another level and has been the most well-rounded character of the bunch. Plus, she constantly cracks my shit up, and that should be worth something.

Maggie Siff, Sons of Anarchy
Katey Sagal gets the most Emmy buzz, which is well deserved, but Maggie Siff was able to hold her own during Sons' 4th season as Tara usurped the matriarchal role from the aforementioned Sagal's Gemma. It could be argued that Siff was a liability during the show's early seasons, but she's come into her own and cemented herself as a major player in Charming.

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominess be?

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 31: BREAKING MEN

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 31. During this episode, Kristal and I talk about Spartacus ending, Comic-Con, our summer watch project, the finale of Mad Men and the season as a whole, Supernatural and dancing. Oh, and soccer. We did have some technical difficulties, so be prepared for some clicks, pops and rustles. Please pardon the mess, but it's a free podcast, so it should be all good. Check out the breakdown to avoid any possible spoilers.

Episode Breakdown

Intros: Start - 1:29

TV News: 1:30 - 17:00

• Spartacus: 1:30 - 5:41
• San Diego Comic-Con: 5:42 - 17:00

Summer Watching: 17:01 - 26:03

• This Week: Breaking Bad, "Seven Thirty-Seven" (S02E01)
• Next Week: Being Human (U.K.), "Episode One" (S01E01)

What We're Watching: 26:04 - 54:34

• Soccer: 26:04 - 27:32
• Mad Men: 27:33 - 46:52
• Supernatural: 46:53 - 54:34

What We're Looking Forward To: 54:35 - 1:01:35

• Dallas: 54:35 - 56:09
• America's Best Dance Crew: 56:10 - 1:01:35

Closing: 1:01:36 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:

Kristal: @kristal_bailey

Marcos: @poppas2cents

Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion

Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 30: Wrap It Up

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 30. Since most of our shows are done, Kristal and I decided to put together a end-of-the-season wrap-up as well as chatting about what we've been watching and what we're looking forward to. Check out the breakdown to avoid any possible spoilers.

Episode Breakdown

Intros: Start - 1:13

End-of-the-Season Wrap-Up: 1:14 - 31:00

• Favorite New Shows: 1:35 - 6:41
• Most Disappointing New Shows: 6:42 - 11:45
• Most Improved Returning Shows: 11:46 - 18:39
• Most Disappointing Returning Shows: 18:40 - 27:19
• Biggest Surprise of the Season: 27:20 - 30:43

What We're Watching: 31:01 - 58:28

• Glee: 31:01 - 43:07
• Mad Men: 43:08 - 53:20
• Supernatural: 53:21 - 58:28

What We're Looking Forward To: 58:29 - 1:05:49

• Hatfields & McCoys: 59:00 - 1:00:20
• So You Think You Can Dance: 1:00:21 - 1:05:49

Closing: 1:05:50 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:

Kristal: @kristal_bailey

Marcos: @poppas2cents

Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion

Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 26: It's, RAISING MEN

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 26. Since we just put out an episode a few days ago, this one's a little shorter than usual, but it's OK because we still wanted to give something to our loyal listeners. During this episode, Kristal and I spent a lot of time chatting about FOX's renewal of GLEE, NEW GIRL and RAISING HOPE. We also mentioned what we've been watching, and what we're looking forward to. Check out the breakdown if you want to avoid any possible spoilers.

Episode Breakdown

TV News: 1:08 - 11:27

• Glee, New Girl and Raising Hope Renewed

What We're Watching: 11:28 - 32:23

• Community: 11:28 - 13:34
• Grimm: 13:35 - 20:22
• Mad Men: 20:23 - 29:06
• The Finder: 29:07 - 32:23

What We're Looking Forward To: 32:24 - 33:41

• Eureka

Closing: 33:42 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 24: BEING MAD

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 24. Since it was such a short turn around, Kristal and I didn't have a ton of news to talk about, but we did discuss Jimmy Kimmel being named Emmys host, Syfy's original movies, and another online preview of a debuting show. We also chatted about the season premiere of Mad Men, what we think of this season of Being Human, and of course what we're looking forward to. Check out the breakdown for more detail.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:08

TV News: 1:09 - 14:34

• Jimmy Kimmel named host of 2012 Emmys: 1:09 - 6:09
• Syfy Original Movies Line-up: 6:10 - 9:00
• Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 Preview: 9:01 - 14:34

What We're Watching: 14:35 - 36:40

• Mad Men: 14:35 - 31:29
• Being Human: 31:30 - 36:40

What We're Looking Forward To: 36:41 - 38:43

• Spartacus: Vengeance: 36:41 - 37:25
• Game of Thrones: 37:26 - 38:43

Closing: 38:44 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 23: Renewal Interest

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 23. This time around, Kristal and I talked about The Office shake-up, Netflix possibly entering into the "Save Our Show" business, a lot of shows being renewed, and as always what we've been watching and what we're looking forward to. If you don't want to be spoiled, check out the episode breakdown below:

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:09

TV News: 1:10 - 44:45

• The Office Shake-up: 1:10 - 8:40
• Netflix possibly saving Terra Nova and The River, and producing Hemlock Grove: 8:41 - 19:11
• Portlandia Renewed for Season 3: 19:12 - 24:13
• Magic City Renewed for Season 2: 24:14 - 30:32
• Grimm Renewed for Season 2: 30:33 - 37:15
• Smash Renewed for Season 2: 37:16 - 44:45

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 44:46 - 1:07:02

• Bent: 44:46 - 50:09
• The Walking Dead: 50:10 - 1:03:21
• Lost Girl: 1:03:22 - 1:07:02

What We're Looking Forward To: 1:07:03 - 1:12:24

• Mad Men

Closing: 1:12:25 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

Catching Up On: Shows I Want to Watch

I've always been more of a movie watcher over a TV watcher, which is why I've been having to play catch-up with a couple of shows that have been pretty popular over the years.  Since I've started Project Catch-Up I've been exposed to shows like: Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Psych, Friday Night Lights, Bones, The Big Bang Theory, Dexter and few others, but my work is far from done.

Right now, my Netflix queue is jam-packed with shows like:

Supernatural: Maybe it's because of Angel, but I have the feeling that I'll really like this show mostly due to its, demonic and paranormal elements, but also because of the witty and dark humor.

Hustle: I remember hearing about a British con-man show that was going to be on AMC, but for some reason I never started watching it.  Then, Leverage came out, and everyone immediately started comparing it to Hustle, so of course I have to check it out since I'm such a huge fan of the former.

Mad Men: I really just want to see what all of the hype is about...

Dollhouse: I did try to watch Dollhouse when it was actually on the air, but I lost interest after the first two episodes.  I have heard that it gets a lot better, and there was so much hub-bub about "Epitaph One" and "Epitaph Two", that my interest was reignited.

Fringe: I tried to watch most of season 1 of Fringe when it first aired on FOX, but I missed a few episodes which meant I was completely lost.  I caught up in time for season 2, but for some reason Fringe fell off of my TV watching schedule, which is odd since I always watch Bones live.  I'm trying to watch most of the S2 episodes online, but part of me thinks I should just wait until it comes out on Blu-Ray and knock them out at once.

Robin Hood: Seriously, who doesn't like the Robin Hood mythology?

And those are the shows that I can remember off the top of my head.