The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 47: 'Tis the Midseason

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 47. Kristal's back and we talked about the AFI Top 10 List, the Golden Globe nominations, and we checked in on a few new and returning shows now that the first part of the season has wrapped up. As always, refer to the episode breakdown to avoid any spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:27

TV News: 1:28 - 17:10

• AFI's Top Ten TV Shows of 2012: 1:28 - 6:28
• Golden Globe Nominations: 6:29 - 17:10

Midseason Rundown: 17:11 - 54:37

• Go On: 17:40 - 23:31
• The Mindy Project: 23:32 - 29:33
• Nashville: 29:34 - 33:35
• The New Normal: 33:36 - 38:04
• The Walking Dead: 38:05 - 41:20
• New Girl: 41:21 - 46:47
• The Vampire Diaries: 46:48 - 54:37 

What We're Looking Forward To: 54:38 - 56:22

• Homeland and The Voice finales, holiday movies

Closing: 56:23 - End

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


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

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 37: And the Emmy Should Have Gone To...

"The Small Screen Podcast' is back for Episode 37. This time around it's an all Emmys special where we talked about Jimmy Kimmel, the show itself and the winners and losers. Make sure you come back later this week since we'll be putting out another episode more in line with our old groove.

Intros: Start - 1:41

The Emmys: 1:42 - 37:21

Closing: 37:22 - 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

My Two-Cents on the 2012 Emmys

At this point, I think ABC's going to get a reputation for putting on lackluster awards shows because the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards could not compete with what CBS, NBC and even FOX put together over the last couple of years.

The Host
I wasn't too psyched when it was announced that Jimmy Kimmel was tapped to host the night because I'm not super familiar with his late night talk show, but he's been making a name for himself at ABC's upfront presentations, so I was by no means surprised. I just thought ABC could've gone the CBS route and tapped Nathan Fillion to host, but I digress.

Maybe it was my indifference with the host choice, but I didn't feel Kimmel did anything to justify him being there and most of his bits fell woefully flat. That cold open with the actresses was painfully unfunny (even a naked Lena Dunham eating cake couldn't save it), and when you pit it against the musical numbers that kicked off the show the past three years, it was a slow start to a long night. That said, some of his jokes did make me laugh (although I cannot remember them at this moment), but any good will was taken away when he mocked the "In Memoriam" with an ode to himself.

Kimmel wasn't the only dud though as some of the people who are paid to deliver lines couldn't get through their drab attempts at humor, but there were a few minor standouts like Damon Wayans, Jr. and James Van Der Beek pimping an NBC event and Aziz Ansari and Jane Levy's bad English accents.

At the end of the day though, it wasn't about the presenters but Kimmel and while he did his job at directing traffic, he didn't wow me in anyway what-so-ever. ABC's really going to have to go back to the drawing board after two mis-steps in a row.

The Winners and Losers
Some of the winners were the epitome of irony as the Comedy side was so predictable that it wasn't funny, and most of the Drama categories were not very dramatic. Modern Family once again dominated to the point of redundancy, but what else did we expect? I suppose Julia Louis-Dreyfus winning Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy was a bit of surprise, but did we really think the Academy was going to honor Amy Poehler this time around when it's refused to do so in the past?

What will go down as a major upset (to TV snobs like myself but not to the average television watcher) was Jon Cryer winning Outstanding Lead Actor - Comedy for his role on Two and a Half-Men. Think about that for a second. Cryer's beaten the likes of Neil Patrick Harris, Rainn Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Jim Parsons and Louis C.K. He truly is a giant killer... on a horrible show that millions upon millions of people watch. Come to think of it, the only reason he's only a two-time Emmy Award Winner and not four-time winner is because of Modern Family.

As for Drama, much like Amy Poehler's shut out, did we really think that Mad Men would break its acting drought? While I was rooting for Jared Harris and Christina Hendricks to finally put some notches in the win column, it was not to be as Breaking Bad and Downton Abbey kept them from the stage. And should we just give up on the idea of Jon Hamm ever winning for the role of Don Draper?

In what was probably one of the biggest shockers of the night, Homeland's Damian Lewis broke Bryan Cranston's deathgrip on the Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Emmy while also stiff-arming Hamm on his way to collect his prize. To be honest, I was really excited for Lewis' win because it was the first sign of Homeland's coming out party which also included Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Drama Series.

So, not only was Cranston's streak broken, but so was Mad Men's and I'm not too broken up about it. Sure, it was still one of television's best drama, but most feel that Season 5 wasn't its best, and Homeland's freshman season was pretty great.

Other Odds and Ends

• Ellen DeGeneres really needs to host again. Maybe when it's NBC's turn... or when it comes back around to ABC.
• Annoying Twitter Trend of the Night: People saying that Homeland swept when it lost Outstanding Directing - Drama. You can't sweep when you lose one.
• Another Reason Why I'm Probably Going to Skip Modern Family: They went out of their way to make Talking Lily even more insufferable.
• Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey should be nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy for their bits during this otherwise dull telecast. And Tracy Morgan should get zero recognition for participating in that stupid Twitter gag.
• I still like how they break the night into genre chunks, but they once again spent way too much time kissing up to movie stars (and American Horror Story) during the Miniseries/Movie segment.
• Even after FX rigged it so Connie Britton could get a nomination, she still lost to Julianne Moore (Game Change). Mrs. Coach had better hope that Nashville is the hit everyone says it is if she ever wants an Emmy.
• Major Bummer of the Night: Sherlock being shut out. I'm OK with Mad Men going home empty handed but not with Sherlock getting zero love. It's going to suck even more when Elementary cleans up next year.
• CBS should be up next year, and are we all assuming that NPH will host again? I hope so, although I wouldn't mind seeing Craig Ferguson get a crack at it.

So, the 64th Primetime Emmys are in the book and a mediocre host, too many people being played off, ABC turning out the lights on its own show and the lack of any real surprises outside of Homeland's dominance made for uneventul night. Let's hope whichever network gets the gig next year kicks things up a notch.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 36: GO ON, BONES and be GLEE-fully AWKWARD

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 36. With the Emmys and the official start to the fall television season right around the corner, we had a lot to talk about in addition to some interesting news from NBC, Joss Whedon and FX. Of course, we also chatted about what we've been watching and what we're looking forward to. Per usual, check the episode breakdown to avoid any spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:07

TV News: 1:08 - 16:49

• Donald Glover pitching pilot to NBC: 1:08 - 5:35
• Shakira and Usher tapped to sub on The Voice: 5:36 - 8:03
• S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot details: 8:04 - 11:46
• Guillermo Del Toro's The Strain to FX: 11:47 - 16:49 

Emmy Talk: 16:50 - 40:23

• Outstanding Drama Series: 17:26 - 23:04
• Outstanding Comedy Series: 23:05 - 27:27
• Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy: 27:43 - 34:16
• Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama: 34:17 - 40:23

What We're Watching: 40:24 - 1:07:02

• Glee: 40:24 - 50:16
• Awkward: 50:17 - 52:16
• Bones: 52:17 - 57:04
• Go On: 57:05 - 1:02:57
• Revolution: 1:02:59 - 1:07:02

What We're Looking Forward To: 1:07:03 - 1:12:32

• New Girl: 1:07:03 - 1:08:11
• Ben and Kate: 1:08:12 - 1:09:25
• Elementary: 1:09:26 - 1:12:32

Closing: 1:12:32 - 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

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 Comedy 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 Comedy 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.

30 Rock
Like I mentioned earlier, I jumped on the 30 Rock bandwagon late, and I didn't think Season 6 was as good as Season 5, but it was still one of the funniest shows on television. It's going to be weird when 30 Rock's wrapped and we can no longer count on it being nominated for Outstanding Comedy.

Chuck
Of course one of my favorite shows is going to make the cut for my dream Emmy ballot. I know that Chuck will never get any serious Emmy consideration, but it should be congratulated for surviving for as long as it did because this kind of show would have never existed 10 years ago. Low-rated, cult TV shows barely last one season, much less five, so Chuck should get some love for breaking all of the rules.

Glee
Yes, Glee has not been as good as it was during that first 13-episode run, but Season 3 was a vast improvement over Season 2 (which was nominated for Outstanding Comedy), so logic dictates that it should get another nod. Plus, I still find Glee entertaining. which I can't say about some other shows on this list.

Happy Endings
C'mon, of course I had to nominate Happy Endings for Outstanding Comedy since it has the most laughs per episode. Hands down.

Louie
Really, I have Louie on my ballot because of how groundbreaking it is since FX just lets Louis C.K. do whatever he wants. I don't think Louie is the future of television comedies, but that's what makes it special and worthy of as many Emmys as it can get.

Parks and Recreation
I'm a sucker for humor and heart, and Parks and Recreation gets both so right that it's worthy of the title, "Best Comedy on TV."

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Comedy 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 Lead Actress in a Comedy 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 Comedy Series, and this is going to seem a bit by-the-book with a "not-so-surprising" surprise.

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.

Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
What can I say? I'm a fan of Zooey Deschanel and I pretty much enjoyed everything she did on New Girl and never tired of her adorableness. Sure, the show had some bumps early on, and Zooey became less of the draw as Max Greenfield and Jake Johnson took over, but she's still the core and I have zero problems admitting that I felt she was one of the six best comedic performances this year.

Leena Dunham, Girls
I don't really care for Girls, but much like Louis C.K., Leena Dunham deserves to be rewarded for getting her show on the air. Heck, she deserves a nomination just for putting up with all of the half-assed backlash that she had to endure, but also because her show had something to say and worthy of some of the hype even if it really didn't jive with me as a viewer. Plus, she (along with the aforementioned Louis C.K.) was responsible for the overuse of the word "auteur," and that should be worth something.

Tina Fey, 30 Rock
She's Tina Fey. That's all the convincing I need.

Lea Michele, Glee
Go ahead and blame my Glee bias for Lea Michele's inclusion on this list, but I sincerely thought that she had a good third season. Of course Rachel's character had some major missteps this year, (ex. the Christmas episode), but Michele still made her one of the most entertaining characters in my opinion. Glee's strong string of episodes towards the end that really showcased Michele's talents didn't hurt either.

Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
I added Martha Plimpton to my dream ballot for the same reasons I had Garret Dillahunt on my Lead Actor list. Virginia Chance also tip-toes the line of heart warming and absurd, and could easily be a cartoon character, but Plimpton somehow pulls it off and makes it all work.

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation had another strong year, and it was mostly due to Amy Poehler. The whole "Knope for City Council" arc could have been too much to put up with, but Poehler was able to keep things crazy enough, funny enough and squishy enough that it didn't wear out its welcome. Her writing and directing chops were also spot on, and hopefully this will be her year to take home the gold.

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

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy 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 Comedy Series. I decided to have some fun with this one, and some of my nominees might be both shocking and not-so-shocking all at the same time.

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.

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
While I jumped on the 30 Rock bandwagon fairly late, I quickly understood why the show's stars got so much hype, and to be honest Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey are the two main reason I keep watching. Baldwin had another fantastic season as Jack Donaghy figured out what to do about his marriage while keeping his relationship with Liz Lemon the most entertaining thing on television. Baldwin may have conceded his throne to Jim Parsons, but he should be nominated for as long as 30 Rock's on air.

Louis C.K., Louie
I've only watched a handful of Louie episodes, but even I could tell that what Louis C.K.'s doing is something special and he should be given all of the respect and accolades in the world. While I cannot say that I was in love with everything I've seen to date, I can say that C.K. wowed me at every turn, so it was easy for me to include him on my dream Emmy ballot.

Garret Dillahunt, Raising Hope
Raising Hope's not as cutting edge or flashy as some of the "best" comedies on television, but it's become one of the consistently funny ones, and it's largely due to Garret Dillahunt's Burt Chance. I don't really see Dillahunt as a "lead" per se, but since he and Martha Plimpton submitted themselves as such, I went ahead and put him on my list. What's great about Dillahunt's performance is it's broad and slapsticky, but warm and genuine. You really can't beat the combination.

Zachary Levi, Chuck
Hey, it's my dream ballot and if I want to include Chuck on it, then I have every right to. Anyone who reads this silly little blog or listens to my podcast knows how much Chuck has meant to me, so of course I'm going to show it some love on my make believe Emmy ballot. Since Levi was the glue that held Chuck together, it only makes sense to tap him as the show's representative, but he also deserves it.

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Honestly, I really couldn't come up with a sixth person to nominate, so I decided to go with the reigning champion. While I haven't been as big of a fan of Big Bang as I used to be, I still get a kick out of Parson's Sheldon Cooper. I haven't loved it that he's been saddled with Blossom, and I've been upset that we've gotten less and less of him with Penny, but he still makes me laugh more than the other guys on the show.

Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation
I really wasn't a huge fan of Scott's work pre-Parks and Rec (Party Down was overrated, get over it), and he really didn't wow me during the early days of his P&R stint, but he can into his own during this last season. Plus, it can't be easy to be the straight man on a show like Parks, but he did an admirable job and deserves just as much love as Poehler and Offerman.

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy 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?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Supporting 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 Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and to be honest it's pretty much all chalk.

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.

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Dinklage won this award last year, and I don't see why he wouldn't get another nomination despite the fact that he was clearly the lead of season 2. He's not on my dream ballot because he's a safe bet, but because he was one of the few highlights of a rather scattershot season of television, and he deserves the recognition.

Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
Even though I've only watched a handful of Breaking Bad episodes, all I heard from the so-called experts was how good Giancarlo Esposito was during this last season. Since he's pretty much a lock for a nomination, and unlike my decision to add the aforementioned Dinklange, I have Esposito on my list so I can look smart.

Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Homeland was one of my favorite new shows of the 2011-2012 season, and it was mostly due to the fantastic performances. While Claire Danes and Damian Lewis will be getting most of the Emmy love, Mandy Patinkin deserves some too for his portrayal of Saul Berernson.

Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
See my entry for Giancarlo Esposito.

Norman Reedus, The Walking Dead
Much like Peter Dinklage, Norman Reedus was the shining light of a somewhat messy second season. As much crap The Walking Dead got during Season 2, much of it deserved, Norman Reedus' Daryl was rarely on the receiving end of much (if any) of it. Sure, there was the ill-advised pairing with the short-haired lady whose name I cannot remember, but that wasn't Reedus' fault. He should get a nomination just for putting up with that stupid storyline.

John Slattery, Mad Men
While I cannot say that I'm the biggest fan of Mad Men, I fully admit that the acting on the show's phenomenal and every actor's deserving of a nomination. Well, almost... I still cannot get behind Pete Campbell's character no matter who hard Connor from Angel tries. Back to Slattery, he was great so he was a no-brainer for this list.

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Supporting 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 Comedy Series

Nominations for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced on July 19, which means all of the TV experts have been putting out their predictions and/or ideal nominees. Since I fancy myself a wannabe expert, I've decided to put together my own dream Emmy ballots. I've already covered Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, so let's move onto Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy 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.

Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory
I know, she's supposed to be the female lead but apparently she's tired of being shut out of the field so she tossed her name in the Supporting hat. While I jumped off the Big Bang bandwagon as quickly as I jumped on it, Cuoco's still one of the few bright spots on the show and one of the only reasons I keep checking in. Many feel she's been sidelined due to Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik's promotion to regulars, but she's the glue that keeps everything together and deserves some recognition especially since she should've picked up a Lead Actress nomination by now.

Elisha Cuthbert, Happy Endings
One of Happy Endings major successes of Season 2 was figuring out how to write for Elisha Cuthbert. While I didn't hate her character during the first season, she was one of the weakest links, and somehow things changed and she became one of the strongest elements of the show. Alex has become a little too flighty for my liking, but I can't help but burst out laughing every time Cuthbert eats or dances on my television screen. I'm not expecting Happy Endings to get any Emmy love, but one can hope.

Gillian Jacobs, Community
Somewhere along the way it became cool to hate Britta Perry, but I've always had a soft spot for her in spite of her faux bohemian shtick and I thought she had a pretty good run during Season 3. That being said, I do think that Gillian Jacobs benefited from the fact that Donald Glover had a great season because Britta and Troy's hinted at romance was one of the driving sub-plots this year. Regardless, Jacobs did some good work and I'd love it if she got some time in the spotlight.

Zosia Mamet, Girls
I need to come clean and admit that I didn't love Girls, or even liked it all that much, but I did get some serious enjoyment while watching Zosia Mamet's Shoshanna stubble her way towards losing her virginity. It could be argued that Mamet was there purely for comic relief, and I'm fine with that because the show seriously needed some levity to undercut the self-destructive navel gazing. While I fully expect Girls to get a lot of attention from the Emmys, I don't think that Zosia will be at the center of the hub-bub though.

Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation
I had a hard time picking the final entrant on my dream ballot, and I finally gave in to my first instinct and added Plaza because I enjoyed where she took April this season. When Parks and Rec started, April was one of the more one-dimensional characters, but she was given time to grow thanks to her relationships with Andy and Ron, but she became a real human being during this last season when she allowed herself to care about something and Plaza nailed the big moments.

Casey Wilson, Happy Endings
While Elisha Cuthbert was Happy Endings' Most Improved Cast Member, Casey Wilson was the Most Valuable Cast Member because she's what makes the show click thanks to her abbrevs and sad-sack tendencies that make her the most relatalbe of the bunch. Sure, she's just as crazy as the rest, but I don't think this show would be as popular if it wasn't for Casey Wilson. It's just too bad that Emmy voters will not observe the Fiscal Year of Penny.

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

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Since the announcement of nominations for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards is just around the corner (July 19), all of the experts have been putting together their predictions and wish lists of potential nominees. Since I like to pretend that I'm an expert, I've decided to put together my dream ballots that will cover the major acting categories and Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series.

My approach is simple; I'll list my pie in the sky picks along with some legitimate contenders. Since it's so hard to predict these kind of things (mostly because I can't watch that much television), keep in mind that this is just for fun and I have no idea what I'm talking about. Plus, there are more qualified people on the Internet to listen to, so have at it.

Without further ado, here is my dream ballot for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Ty Burrell, Modern Family
I know that I'm not the biggest Modern Family fan (the show hasn't been that great since Season 1), but I still tune in every week mostly because I get a kick out of watching Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy. He's been able to brilliantly combine the absurd with the sweet and has been the only consistent source of any true laughter. He did win the award last year, and I could have left him off my dream ballot for someone else, but I truly believe that Burrell's worthy of all of the praise.

Donald Glover, Community
Many so-called experts will praise Donald Glover's performance during Community's most recent season but will push him aside in favor of Danny Pudi and/or Jim Rash, and I don't quite get it. Sure, Abed had a pretty heavy story arc this go round, and I don't begrudge him the pats on the back, but it baffles me that some feel that Dean Pelton was more effective than Troy this year. In my mind, Season 3 was all about Troy and Abed as they navigated their roles within the group and as each other's best friends, and most of the stand out moments involve one, the other or both, but Troy more so than Abed. In the end, it's a moot point because I don't really see any of them getting a nomination, but deep down I'm rooting for Glover.

Jake Johnson, New Girl
FOX's breakout hit of the season had its own breakout character of the season in the form of Max Greenfield's Schmidt, but I'd give the nod to Jake Johnson if I could rig the Emmy nominations. While I agree that Schmidt was one of the more memorable new characters of the year, I could argue that Nick became the funniest member of the group as time went on. Just watch him rattle off insane lines of dialogue in the "Fancyman," and you'll understand where I'm coming from. In all reality, Greenfield's going to get the most love (along with Zooey Deschanel) and I'll be happy for him, but Johnson's more deserving.

Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation
Some will go on rants about the fact that Nick Offerman has yet to be nominated for his role as Ron Swanson, and it's hard to disagree with them because he's one of the strongest members of a very talented cast. Much like Ty Burrell, Offerman's been able to mix some of the most outrageous lines of dialogue with some genuinely heartfelt moments (albeit in very different ways), and his relationship with Leslie might be one of the best on all of television. While I seriously doubt Offerman will ever get real Emmy recognition, he was a no brainer for my dream ballot.

James Van Der Beek, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
Now, hold on a sec and let me tell you why the Beek should get nominated for an Emmy. I can't say that Apartment 23 was successful during its abbreviated first season, and it definitely has some serious room to grow, but JVDB was the one consistently funny aspects of the entire show. Admittedly, I'm a bit biased since I was a pretty big Dawson's Creek fan back in the day, and I do love it when celebrities can poke fun at themselves, but "James Van Der Beek" made me laugh more than any other character on the air and it was all thanks to the real James Van Der Beek.

Damon Wayans, Jr., Happy Endings
I've never hid my love for ABC's Happy Endings, so it makes sense that it would have a presence on my dream Emmy ballot and I make no apologies at all. Like New Girl, it'd be easy to go with the most out the top character of the bunch and pick Adam Pally for his portrayal of Max, but I'm going outside of the box and picking Damon Wayans, Jr. Don't get me wrong, I love Max, but Brad's probably the most versatile character on the show, and he has so many tools that make me laugh whereas Max can only rely on his brashness. Honestly, I'd be happy if either of them got a nomination, but that's not going to happen any time soon.

So, there you have it. Those would be my top six contender for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominees be?

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 21: GLEE is Lin-credibily Divisive

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 21. This time around, Kristal and I talk about the renewals of Key & Peele, Conan and Archer, the return date for Community, what we're watching, and what we're looking forward to. If you're afraid of spoilers, check out the episode breakdown below.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:25

TV News: 1:26 - 13:24

• Key & Peele Renewed for Season 2: 1:26 - 5:22
• Conan Extended Until 2014: 5:23 - 7:12
• Archer Renewed for Season 4: 7:13 - 9:23
• Community Returns March 15: 9:24 - 13:15

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 13:16 - 43:52

• Hulu's Battleground: 13:25 - 17:41
• Glee: 17:42 - 30:24
• SNL with Maya Rudolph: 30:45 - 38:00
• The Walking Dead: 38:01 - 43:52

What We're Looking Forward To: 43:53 - 49:06

• Oscars: 43:53 - 46:37
• Awake: 46:38 - 49:06

Closing: 46:07 - End

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

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 18: Not ELEMENTARY, My Dear SHERLOCK

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 18. This week, Kristal and I talked about the Oscar nominees and how they'll possible impact the telecast, the fact that The Big Bang Theory beat American Idol in the ratings, the brewing feud between BBC and CBS over Sherlock Holmes, The Office spin-off starring Dwight Schrute, the overabundance of remakes on TV, and of course what we're watching and looking forward to. Check out the episode breakdown below to avoid any spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:43

TV News: 1:43 - 18:29

• The Oscar Nominations: 1:43 - 6:20
• The Big Bang Theory beat American Idol: 6:21 - 9:57
• BBC vs. CBS: The Battle over Sherlock Holmes: 9:58 - 14:48
• The Office spin-off: 14:49 - 18:29

The Topic of the Week - Remakes, Re-imaginings and Rip-Offs: 18:30 - 25:04

What We're Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 25:05 - 42:45

• Chuck: 25:05 - 34:21
• New Girl: 34:22 - 38:10
• Lost Girl: 38:11 - 42:45

What We're Looking Forward To: 42:46 - 45:02

• Chuck Series Finale & Spartacus: Vengeance Premiere: 42:46 - 43:31
• The Walking Dead Season 2, Part 2: 43:32 - 45:02

Closing: 45:03 - End

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

For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 15: Werewolves, and Convicts, and Spies! Oh My...and the Golden Globes

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 15. Even though the holiday lull is upon us, Kristal and I wanted to give you one more podcast before the end of the year. This time around, we talked about the Golden Globe nominations and which shows we're looking forward to once the new year starts.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:27

The Golden Globe Nominations: 1:28 - 26:03

• Best Series - Drama: 1:40 - 5:00
• Best Actress - Drama: 5:01 - 8:22
• Best Actor - Drama: 8:23 - 11:34
• Best Series - Comedy/Musical: 11:35 - 17:47
• Best Actress - Comedy/Musical: 17:48 - 21:59
• Best Actor - Comedy/Musical: 22:00 - 26:03

What We're Looking Forward To: 26:04 - 36:00

• Being Human (Syfy): 27:10 - 32:00
• Archer: 32:01 - 32:59
• Alcatraz: 33:00 - 36:00

Closing: 36:01 - End

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


For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents

2012 Golden Globe Nominations: TV Reactions

The common consensus is that the Hollywood Foreign Press and the Golden Globes are silly entities that prefer style over substance and the new over the established, and it's hard to argue with that assertion after looking at the television nominations for the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards.

Out of all of the categories, Best Television Series - Drama made the most sense as Boardwalk Empire, Homeland, and Game of Thrones all got deserving nominations. Since I didn't watch Boss, I cannot comment on its quality, but it does seem like the kind of show the HFPA would nominate. I know that there are some who were flabbergasted that American Horror Story got the nod over Breaking Bad, Justified, or The Good Wife, but these are the Globes we're talking about, so I wasn't too shocked or appalled. It is what it is.

On the funnier side, Glee and Modern Family were nominated yet again for Best Television Series - Comedy/Musical, and they were joined by Enlightened, Episodes, and New Girl. Honestly, I was a little surprised that Glee was included yet again since the backlash towards the show is so strong, but I'll take it. I just don't think it's going to three-peat. I wasn't too surprised that New Girl got a nomination since it's one of the hottest new shows on TV, but I don't understand all of the love for Episodes. I don't know a thing about Enlightened, but it seems like it's in the same vein as Nurse Jackie and The Big C, so its inclusion was not a shock.

Further proof of the anti-Glee sentiment could be seen in the Best Actor/Actress categories for Comedy as it went from 4 for 4 to being shut out. I understand why Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, and Jane Lynch were not asked back, but I was a little surprised that Golden Globe Winner Chris Colfer didn't get the chance to defend his title.

Speaking of acting, Best Actor - Comedy/Musical has to be the most absurd category of the bunch since only one nominee was deserving, and of course I'm talking about The Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki. Yay sarcasm! I'm totally on board with Alec Baldwin's nom, but the rest of the field doesn't make much sense to me. Yes, the aforementioned Galecki and Episodes' Matt LeBlanc were nominated for the Emmy, but their inclusion didn't make much sense then either.

As for the ladies, I'm OK with those who were nominated for Best Actress - Comedy/Musical (massive props to Zooey Deschanel and Amy Poehler). The Drama race will be interesting since a supporting actress (Madeline Stowe) snuck her way into the leading category, and we got another out-of-nowhere nomination for someone from the USA Network, but at least it wasn't Piper Perabo this time around (I really dislike Covert Affairs). I'm just glad Claire Danes was nominated for Homeland.

Danes' castmate, Damian Lewis, was also nominated for Best Actor - Drama which was well deserved, as was the nominations for Boardwalk Empire's Steve Buscemi and Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston. I even understand Kelsey Grammer's nod for Boss, but I'm not quite sure why Jeremy Irons was invited to the party instead of say Emmy Award Winner Kyle Chandler.

The less I write about the Supporting categories, the better, but all I will write is thank God for Peter Dinklage and Kelly Macdonald. That is all.

Overall, the crop of Golden Globe nominees is uninspired at best. I'm not overly annoyed by those who were recognized over those who weren't because it's hard to take the Globes seriously to begin with. If anything, I'm more annoyed that Ricky Gervais will be hosting again, but that's a rant for another time.

TV Showdown: Battle of the Emmy Opening Numbers

I've only been watching the Emmys regularly for a few years now, but the on-going trend seems to be kicking-off the show with a musical number. Here are the last four memorable performances:

2007: Stewie & Brian Griffin (FOX)

The Family Guy number kicked off the 2007 Emmys, and it's still somewhat decent although I could've done without some of the lower-brow jokes. Then again, it's Family Guy. What do you expect?

2009: Neil Patrick Harris (CBS)

In my opinion, NPH truly kicked off the trend (although I know I'm wrong about this assertion), and it's hard to top his Broadway-style opening number. Plus, I like how it's well executed without being overly produced. Still one of the best awards show moments to date.

2010: Jimmy Fallon (NBC)

It's only been a year, but it's hard to remember a time when it was actually OK to like Glee. The musical dramedy took the world by storm, so it was only natural that the Emmys would riff on one of TV's biggest shows. For my money, Fallon's "Born to Run" sketch brilliantly combined music, comedy, and pop culture which made it a phenom in its own right.

2011: Janey Lynch (FOX)

I've already shared my thoughts on Lynch's opening number, and while it does have its moments, it cannot stand up to NPH or Fallon's. Sorry Sue, but that's how Cos sees it.

Honorable Mention - 2008: Josh Groban (ABC)

I don't know when Groban's medley of TV theme songs took place during the 2008 telecast, but it's impressive none the less. Too bad for him it took place during one of the worst Emmy shows ever.

WINNER: While it's hard to say no to NPH (who should host every awards show from now til the end of time), I'm going to have to give Jimmy Fallon the win, and it has nothing to do with my Glee bias. "Put Down the Remote" may be a better performance, but "Born to Run" has it all.

My Two-Cents on the 2011 Emmys

After two pretty decent shows in 2009 (Neil Patrick Harris on CBS) and 2010 (Jimmy Fallon on NBC), FOX and host Jane Lynch had their work cut-out for them. While I cannot say that the 2011 version of the Primetime Emmyswas as good as its predecessors, it was better than the last time FOX had the gig.

The Host
When I figured out that FOX was up next to broadcast the ceremony, I tried to think of who they would ask to host. I knew it was going to be a FOX personality, and I was praying that they didn't go with Ryan Seacret again, so I was pleasantly surprised when they went with Jane Lynch. It really shouldn't have shocked me after her Outstanding Supporting Actress win for Glee.

Opening up the Emmys with a song-and-dance number has become a tradition, and Lynch's number that took her through the sets of various TV shows was inspired, but it did run a tad too long. By the time it was all said and done, I was ready for the actual show to start. It also didn't help that Lynch had to follow up last year's truly great Glee inspired intro, so anything she did wasn't going to live up to the hype.

Throughout the show, Lynch was able to get in some pretty good jokes (lesbian agenda, Entourage burn, and The Lion King reference), but she left the heavy lifting other performers like The Lonely Island and various pre-taped sketches. It's not fair to keep going back to previous hosts, but NPH's Dr. Horrible bit and Jimmy Fallon's musical moments were still superior compared to everything Lynch gave us. At least she didn't let Twitter write jokes for her.

Criticisms aside, Jane Lynch did a decent enough job and didn't rest on her Glee laurels which was welcomed.