Emmy Winner Predictions 2011: Part 2

Here is part 2 of my Emmy winner prediciton list, let's see if I'm right with any of them this year!

DISCLAIMER:
My personal predictions are typed in the color red...
This is an updated list complete with the winners from last weekend's Creative Arts Emmy's.
* = Already awarded

Outstanding Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory

Glee

Modern Family

The Office

Parks And Recreation

30 Rock

If Glee was to take this Emmy home, it would have happened LAST year! But of course, Modern Family is such a knockout show that of course took home the gold! Modern Family is not only a fantastic comedy based on the performances, but the writing and the message of togetherness and family are so outstanding!

Wildcard: Glee – Even with it’s HORRIBLE second season, there’s still enough spark there to earn themselves an Emmy.

Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

The Big C

Glee

Modern Family

Nurse Jackie

30 Rock

Again, this one has to go to the amazing casting done for Modern Family!

Wildcard: Glee – Glee comes in again at a close second, but a big cast doesn’t almost boast the BEST casting like Modern Family…

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter (The Big Bang Theory)

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Matt LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)

Louis C.K. as Louie (Louie)

Steve Carell as Michael Scott (The Office)

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy (30 Rock)

This definitely wasn’t Steve Carell’s BEST season on the show, but I think it’ll be good enough to earn the sympathy win for it being his last year on the show and all.

Wildcard: Louis C.K. - Off beat, hilarious, and honest. Surprise nomination :)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison (The Big C)

Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn (Mike & Molly)

Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton (Nurse Jackie)

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)

Martha Plimpton as Virginia Chance (Raising Hope)

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon (30 Rock)

Amy Poehler deserves more recognition this year than just another nomination, as great as it already is. She was spot on with her performance and earned her nomination and win this year, hands down.

Wildcard: Melissa McCarthy – Her starring sidekick role in Bridesmaids this summer was a standout! I'm talking Oscars here people! But I also think it pushed her chances even more for her Emmy nomination, and just maybe a win...

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel (Glee)

Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett (Modern Family)

Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett (Modern Family)

Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker (Modern Family)

Jon Cryer as Alan Harper (Two And A Half Men)

As great as Eric Stonestreet was last season, last year the Emmy should have gone to Ty Burrell. This season however, Stonestreet is a bit more deserving with his performance. And thank you for not leaving Ed O’Neill out this time!

Wildcard: Chris Colfer – Even though this is yet another dramedy nomination, it’s a pretty high ranking one at that. He held his own humor, but what drove this nomination was the strong bullying storyline throughout the whole season, not to mention the sweet romance with Blaine.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester (Glee)

Betty White as Elka Ostrovsky (Hot In Cleveland)

Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy (Modern Family)

Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Modern Family)

Kristen Wiig as Various characters (Saturday Night Live)

Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney (30 Rock)

Now comes the year when Sofia Vergara WILL take it from Jane Lynch! She’s always spot on, accent and all, full of spark and spunk, and hilarious from start to finish.

Wildcard: Julie Bowen – Maybe it’s also time to recognize the quiet, frantic humor with Bowen…?

*Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

Idris Elba as Lenny (The Big C)

Nathan Lane as Pepper Saltzman (Modern Family)

Zach Galifianakis, Host (Saturday Night Live)

Justin Timberlake, Host (Saturday Night Live) (ACTUAL WINNER)

Matt Damon as Carol (30 Rock)

Will Arnett as Devin Banks (30 Rock)

*Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

Kristin Chenoweth as April Rhodes (Glee)

Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Beiste (Glee)

Gwyneth Paltrow as Holly Holliday (Glee) (ACTUAL WINNER)

Cloris Leachman as Maw Maw (Raising Hope)

Tina Fey, Host (Saturday Night Live)

Elizabeth Banks as Avery (30 Rock)

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report

Conan

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Real Time With Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live

It’s never really a surprise that Jon Stewart wins, it’s a genius show!

Wildcard: Conan – After the year he’s had, Conan kinda deserves this one too, and the humor is always top notch!

Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report

Conan

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Saturday Night Live

Again, it’s never really a surprise that Jon Stewart wins, but congratulations in advance!

Wildcard: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon – For the thank you notes alone…

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special

Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On

Carrie Fisher In Wishful Drinking

The Kennedy Center Honors

Lady GaGa Presents The Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden

The Pee-Wee Herman Show On Broadway

You’ve got the greats with Bette Midler, Carrie Fisher, and of course the Kennedy Center Honors, but Lady GaGa was the most entertaining and spectacular special out of the bunch.

Wildcard: The Pee-Wee Herman Show On Broadway – Who doesn’t love a little time with Pee-Wee?!!!

*Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics

Family Guy (Christmastime Is Killing Us)

Seth MacFarlane, Ron Jones, & Danny Smith

Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced (An American Prayer - Hymn II?)

Robert Klein & Bob Stein

Saturday Night Live (Jack Sparrow)

Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, & Mike Woods

Saturday Night Live (I Just Had Sex)

Justin Franks, Jerrod Bettis, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, & Jorma Taccone, Lyrics by

Saturday Night Live (Justin Timberlake Monologue) (ACTUAL WINNER)

Katreese Barnes, Seth Meyers, John Lulaney, & Justin Timberlake

Saturday Night Live (3-Way (The Golden Rule))

Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer,  Jorma Taccone, & Justin Timberlake

Emmy Winner Predictions 2011: Part 1

You have to understand first just how much I love me some award shows! Emmy’s, Grammy’s, Golden Globes, Oscar’s, Tony’s, YOU NAME IT! I love to do these winner prediction lists. But y’all know just how much I looooooove TV (after all, I watch so much of it!) Here’s Part 1 of my Emmy winner predictions (Drama and Reality Programs).

DISCLAIMER:
My personal predictions are typed in the color red...
This is an updated list complete with the winners from last weekend's Creative Arts Emmy's.
* = Already awarded

Outstanding Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire

Dexter

Friday Night Lights

Game Of Thrones

The Good Wife

Mad Men

No one can argue that these are all great shows! And with the reigning champion Mad Men kinda shut out of the spotlight for a while until they come back next year, I expect the brilliant Boardwalk Empire to walk away with this one.

Wildcard: Friday Night Lights – who knows, they may feel sentimental since it’s the final season and all…

Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire

Game Of Thrones

The Good Wife

The Killing

Mad Men

Mad Men is such a brilliantly scripted show, suave, sophisticated, etc. Sure, the writing has a little something to do with that, but in my opinion it has to do with the great ensemble of actors reigned in for the show.

Wildcard: The Good Wife – another great show due to its great ensemble

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson (Boardwalk Empire)

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan (Dexter)

Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House (House)

Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens (Justified)

Jon Hamm as Don Draper (Mad Men)

I’m hoping Steve Buscemi sweeps this award show too, since after all he’s already won the Golden Globe and the SAG Award for his dynamite performance on Boardwalk Empire.

Wildcard: Timothy Olyphant – this show is so underestimated, and so is his performance which is why I’m so happy he’s finally nominated and recognized!

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Connie Britton as Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick (The Good Wife)

Kathy Bates as Harriet "Harry" Korn (Harry’s Law)

Mireille Enos as Sarah Linden (The Killing)

Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson (Mad Men)

With Kyra Sedgwick out of the picture, finally the award can go to the rightful one, Julianna Marguiles. That was an upset when they gave it to Sedgwick last year, but hopefully they make up for mistakes (as brilliant as Sedgwick is, Marguiles just shines a little bit more).

Wildcard: Kathy Bates – a successful star on a decent show

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (Game Of Thrones)

Josh Charles as Will Gardner (The Good Wife)

Alan Cumming as Eli Gold (The Good Wife)

Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder (Justified)

John Slattery as Roger Sterling (Mad Men)

Andre Braugher as Owen (Men of a Certain Age)

This one’s a bit more difficult for me to decide, but I’d have to go with Alan Cumming, just because of the stamina and spark he has with any performance, especially for his wit on The Good Wife.

Wildcard: Peter Dinklage – I’ve been a huge fan of his (irony) ever since his Nip/Tuck days

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Kelly Macdonald as Margaret Schroeder (Boardwalk Empire)

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart (The Good Wife)

Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma (The Good Wife)

Margo Martindale as Mags Bennett (Justified)

Michelle Forbes as Mitch Larsen (The Killing)

Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris (Mad Men)

So happy that Justified is getting the love it deserves, and  that goes for Martindale’s breathtaking performance on the show!

Wildcard: Archie Panjabi – another quick wit on The Good Wife, and they may just end up giving it to her again, which I’m totally ok with

*Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

Bruce Dern as Frank Harlow (Big Love)

Beau Bridges as Nick Brody (Brothers & Sisters)

Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning (The Good Wife)

 Paul McCrane as Josh Peyton (Harry’s Law)
Jeremy Davies as Dickie Bennett (Justified)

Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper (Mad Men)

*Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

Mary McDonnell as Capt. Sharon Raydor (The Closer)

Julia Stiles as Lumen Pierce (Dexter)

Loretta Devine as Adele Webber (Grey’s Anatomy) (ACTUAL WINNER)

Randee Heller as Miss Blankenship (Mad Men)

Cara Buono as Faye Miller (Mad Men)

Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson (Shameless)

Alfre Woodard as Ruby Jean Reynolds (True Blood)

*Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race)

Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)

Tom Bergeron (Dancing With The Stars)

Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance)

Jeff Probst (Survivor) (ACTUAL WINNER)

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

The Amazing Race

American Idol

Dancing With The Stars

Project Runway

So You Think You Can Dance

Top Chef

While The Amazing Race always wins because of it’s concept, I have to say that American idol stepped it up this year with the format, the new rules, the judges, and just everything in general! Hoping they get recognized for that this year!

Wildcard: So You Think You Can Dance – another great show that changed up its usual format from before, and certainly is entertaining every season!

*Outstanding Choreography

Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Jive “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” / Viennese Waltz “Hedwigs Theme (Theme from Harry Potter)” / Slow Waltz “My Love”

Mark Ballas, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: “Scars” / “Fallin” / “Outta Your Mind” (ACTUAL WINNER)

Tabitha D'umo, Choreographer

Napoleon D'umo, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Alice in Mia-Land “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” / “When We Dance” / “This Bitter Earth - On The Nature of Daylight” (ACTUAL WINNER)

Mia Michaels, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: “Oh Yeah” / “Boogie Shoes” / “I Surrender”

Mandy Jo Moore, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: “Mad World” / “Sundrenched World” / “Heaven Is A Place On Earth”

Stacey Tookey, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: “Collide” / “How It Ends” / “Fix You”

Travis Wall, Choreographer

Best Thing We Ever Had! (Beyoncé's "4" Review)

4

The Set-Up:

The Queen B is back and more mature than ever! Getting ready to turn 30, it’s easy to hear how far she’s come since her Destiny’s Child days (even her “Single Ladies” days too!) Beyoncé continues to push her own boundaries, coming back harder and stronger after every album, and 4 is certainly no exception to that! It’s a slower-paced, more vulnerable gamble this time around, but have faith in Honey B!

The Play-by-Play:

She’s opened her previous albums with “Crazy in Love”, “Déjà Vu”, and “If I Were a Boy” (all very unique and bass pumping). But Beyoncé changes things up, opening this album with a beautiful ballad “1+1” (obviously dedicated to her husband Jay-Z), filled with so much love and pure honesty. She really lets her emotions work to her advantage. Following the opening number is “I Care”, a powerful, attitude-filled anthem reminiscent of “Halo”. Again, it’s another emotional cut and certainly can be felt from a mile away just from her voice alone. Continuing this slow-paced trend is “I Miss You”, with the music and mood coming off as something that might come from Drake or even Alicia Keys’ Element of Freedom album. Regardless, she wastes no time going from that deep whisper in the beginning and picking up to her booming powerful range. Next up is her second single “Best Thing I Never Had”, something that sounds like a very mature version of “Irreplaceable”. It’s good to hear superstar singer/songwriter/producer Babyface taking charge with the production (I’m always a fan of what he comes up with). Beyoncé shines again showing another emotional side, moving on from the pain and heartbreak she’s endured before apparently. You’d think that with a name like “Party”, it would be one of the more upbeat songs the album has to offer. But it doesn’t even matter here! Beyoncé (with the help of Kanye West and André 3000) takes it back to old school 90’s Hip/Hop and R&B. The obvious sample is from Boyz II Men, but it brings back this same kind of vibe that came with Blackstreet, Brandy, Monica, and even early productions from Babyface. “Rather Die Young” takes the music back a little bit further to 70’s R&B and Soul, sounding very inspired by the songwriting of Stevie Wonder and the voice of Gladys Knight. “Start Over” brings back the fire with a mid-tempo power ballad, crying for a second chance with a love going wrong. Then comes my favorite track off the album “Love on Top”, an overall modern take of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day”. The opening “ba ba ba da” hook sounds inspired by Earth, Wind, & Fire’s “Brazilian Rhyme (Interlude)” from their All ‘n All album. It’s such an uplifting, sunshine-filled track that just puts a smile on everyone’s face and a little skip in their step! “Countdown” brings back the Beyoncé a lot of fans are used to hearing, bringing back the thumping bass-line and power step beat like in “Get Me Bodied” and “Crazy in Love”. So stop complaining all you haters out there! Old-school, thug Beyoncé is still inside of her! “End of Time” is a marching band anthem, declaring even more love and dedication to her significant other. After that power-house block of tracks, things take a little breather in the Diane Warren/Ryan Tedder ballad “I Was Here”. Just when we thought we’d heard all kinds of emotions and moods from Beyoncé on this album, she comes right out the gate with the dynamite first single “Run the World (Girls)” (the underappreciated dynamite single I might add!) You already know my thoughts about this song. Just listen to her stick it to the man and shove her strong femininity in your face! And for all the Target addicts who got their Deluxe Edition, first up is another Earth, Wind, & Fire inspiration in the sweet “Lay Up Under Me”. Following right behind is the 80’s throwback “Schoolin’ Life” that’ll make you bust a move on the dance floor in your Adidas gear and all. Closing out the entire album officially is the bump-and-grind ballad “Dance For You”, a good mix between Ciara’s “Promise” and Beyoncé’s own “Speechless”.

The Point:

In this year dominated by Adele’s brilliant 21 album, Beyoncé follows the trend of doing her own thing and not falling prey to yet another Euro-Dance/Pop song on the radio. She’s vulnerable at her best, powerful with both loud and quiet dynamics, and proves that she holds it all on her own! Beyoncé is still a force to be reckoned with, proving that she has not even come close to losing her musical touch and powerhouse performance skills. TO ALL Y’ALL 4 HATERS CLAIMIN’ THAT IT’S BORING AND A WASTE: (yes that was me trying to sound ghetto) shut the hell up please! This album is still groundbreaking for her (and especially for anything else out there right now to listen to). If you still claim you're a true Beyoncé fan after calling this album a dud, then you need to get yo’ damn priorities straight please!

The Essentials:

I still can’t help but smile when I hear “Love on Top”!

But you can’t deny the Sasha Fierceness in the lead single “Run the World (Girls)”!