Emmy Week 2012: Direction takes DramaticTelevision to a New Level

Last year when talking about the Emmy Awards and their actual nominees I cited the fact this branch of the Academy tends to reward the best, for example this year Parks and Recreation, Community received nominations.  Before I go off on a tangent on why the writers know good writing, let me stick the task at hand.

Television direction, either with or without an Emmy nomination, has gone to a new level.  Throughout the years television series have rarely attracted major motion picture directors, used styles and techniques from major films, which could cost a show lots of extra money, or used beautiful exotic foreign shooting locations, and so much more. That's not to say that there weren't landmark television directors throughout the years who directed both comedies and drama series that broke barriers, or helped with the evolution of television.  (Shows that pushed the boundaries)

Yet when I think about the larger span of television, the most famous television director that always comes to my mind first, resides within the world of directing comedic television, and that person is James Burrows.  Burrows represents the old school style of comedic direction, the typical sitcom with the laugh track, camera styling, and so on.  Throughout most of television history dramatic television had a different persona then it does today, the style and format were more formulaic.  Shows like Hill Street Blues, started to break the barriers.  Yet to my knowledge there were not major directors who were power players the way Burrows was in the comedic world.  This started to change when dramatic series like ER, NYPD Blue, The X-Files, hit the television landscape.  These television shows emphasized a more realistic, grittier side of the television drama that had never been seen before.

Smaller names (but big within the industry) started to pop up in these grittier shows,  like Paris Barclay, Thomas Sclhamme, Vince Gilligan, Alan Taylor, and Laura Innes, to name only a few.  Once shows like ER, NYPD Blue, and many of the other 90s dramas started to fade into the background these directors and many more continued to push the envelope, while the major networks became stagnant.  Many major directors became producers and brought their material to basic and pay cable networks like HBO, Showtime, AMC, and F/X.   These networks were ready to step out on a limb, and to push the envelope even further.

HBO started to pave the way, and their first dramatic series within this realm was Oz.  Oz was a dramatic series about the reality of a maximum security prison.  The show was harsh/realistic, and did things that network television series could do.  HBO started a smart trend with their shows including Oz, which was to release a smaller number of episodes stretching the possibility for more quality programming along with making it possible to do more with their budget.  The show also breaks the fourth wall using Augustus Hill, an inmate as the narrator who addresses the audience, and narrates the underlying tone of the episode.  This show's success proved American audiences had a desire to see more realistic television programming.

HBO took things a step further in 1999.  David Chase created a show about a mobster name Tony Soprano who not only bumps people off, but has panic attacks.  The show and its direction provided episodes that felt like nothing that had ever been on television before.  Men like Tim Van Patten, Allen Coulter, and the above mentioned Alan Taylor made episodes like "Pine Barrens" some of the most memorable for avid fans of the show.  These three men continue to be some of the greatest working television directors today, they have set the tone with their work on The Sopranos, and not only forced other cable/pay cable networks to get on board, but they have also created their own worlds.

In the years after Oz and The Sopranos other networks have caught up to the legacy HBO started.   Using a more realistic undertone to guide a dramatic series.  Showtime started with Queer as Folk (2000) and Soul Food (2000), two dramatic series focusing on minority characters, providing something networks did not offer.  Moving forward the create The L Word (2004), Dexter (2006), The Tudors (2007), and Homeland (2011).

Queer as Folk and The L Word, may have been hyper sexualized, but Showtime was one of the few networks willing to create two different dramas about LGBT folks.  Dexter's dark undertone was too dark for parent company CBS, but the series direction highlights some of the most tense moments as the main character takes the the lives of criminals who should be punished.  As Showtime moved forward with their true dramatic series, having a series like The Tudors proved the period drama could be handled well by a television series, and that the key to this series, and series like this were skillful directors who created the right look and tone.  The same can be said for Homeland, one of the most gripping dramas on television to date.  Homeland pushes further than the network drama 24 did, making the concept of counter terrorism more powerfully formulated than most films have done in recent years.  Homeland is the perfect example of how strong direction has changed the landscape of television today.

AMC has done something similar to both HBO and Showtime, but is not a pay cable network.  While many networks jumped on the reality series band wagon AMC (which does have some reality television) challenged HBOs authority in the world of creating realistic dramas, with strong direction.  The fact that people have to pay for Showtime and HBO provides them with opportunity to show people swearing, show nudity, and show more graphic scenes of any nature.  AMC challenged this notion.

In 2007 AMC launched the series Mad Men about 1960s advertising executives.  The show was an instant hit with critics, and became a series that was can't miss television.  What makes Mad Men different is the fact that it feels like a great film, but is a great emotionally packed television series. Mad Men used the foundation laid by The Sopranos, and took television direction to a whole new level.  After Mad Men came Breaking Bad (2008), which has also challenged the norm, and the most recent season ender is one of the best directed hours of television I have ever seen.  Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan, a director from the 90s uses his dark vision to create a tone when he directs his show he created.  Realism is a trend that breaks in AMCs The Walking Dead about zombies.  Zombie movies have either seemed hokey, or not well written, while this graphic novel turned television series is the exact opposite.  Writing is an important reason for this, but film director Frank Darabont's creation/direction helped make this small screen drama have a big screen feel.

More and more today big screen director's are going to the small screen, and creating or directing for television series, and providing television viewers with more quality programming than ever before.  Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption) created and Directed for The Walking Dead (2010), Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver) is an executive producer, and directed the pilot for Boardwalk Empire (2010), Patty Jenkins (Monster)  has directed two episodes of the AMC drama The Killing (2011),  Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) directed the Starz pilot for the Kelsey Grammer drama Boss (2011), Michael Mann (Heat) directed for was an executive producer for television series Luck (2012) on HBO, and these are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head.  Film directors are taking to the small screen.  Neil Jordan who directed Interview with the Vampire has gone on to work on The Borgias for Showtime stated the following "Hollywood isn't doing anything like this material anymore, with cable, there's this wonderful domain that's emerged for film directors like me who enjoy the kind of material that Hollywood finds too boring for words."

Jordan raises an interesting point about the problem with films, and their lack of variety.  Television, especially cable networks provide a venue for incredible amounts of artistic expression that has lured directors from the bring screen.  Television direction has come a long way from shows like Qunicy, or Marcus Welby M.D.  Looking at those shows then the episode of Game of Thrones from this season entitled "Blackwater" which was directed by Neil Marshall.  "Blackwater" is one of the best directed episodes of television ever, the scale is incredibly large, yet Marshall does not minimize the importance of character development, and the performances from actors like Peter Dinklage.  

There is an artistic inversion going on here.  In the past films provided more opportunities for directors to show their heft because of budget, and more range for freedom of expression.  Television is now the space for this to happen.  There are opportunities within a shortened amount of episodes to tell great stories, and create well directed episodes that allow auteurs to make it work.  

Looking at this year's nominees in Outstanding Directing category is proof that even within ten years television direction has evolved into something special that provides viewers with world, and opportunities they never had before.  Whether we find ourselves lost a post World War I Downton Abbey, or trying to become a kingpin in the drug world on Breaking Bad, these shows prove television direction is a whole new ball game.

The nominees for this year's Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series are:

Boardwalk Empire-To the Lost-Tim Van Patten (HBO)
Breaking Bad-Face Off-Vince Gilligan (AMC)
Downton Abbey-Episode 7-Brian Percival (BBC) 
Homeland-Pilot-Michael Cuesta (Showtime) 
Mad Men-The Other Woman-Phil Abraham (AMC)

Of these the winner should be Homeland, and I have a feeling it will win this award, along with Danes for Lead Actress in a Drama series.  There is of course one interesting statistic about this list and the Outstanding Drama series nominations, not one of them is from a basic cable network.  Throughout the years basic cable shows have ended up on this list, but within the last two years they have been persona non grata.  The problem is that basic network television series are not challenging the norm like they did with Lost, or 24, they are playing it safe and letting other networks (they may own) step up to the plate and put forth creative programming.  As a fan of the direction of television I am not going to complain, I am going to sit back and watch as television gets more and more film directors to direct, create and executive produce shows that are surpassing films today.

2011 Entertainer(s) of the Year: Adele is Entertainer of the Year

1-Adele-My entertainer of the year was a no brainer, Adele.  Adele's tunes simply put are some of the best music produced this year.  Adele's album has been certified gold, and sold 4 million plus copies, and her single "Rolling in the Deep" is the number one single of the year in the US.  Adele is from the UK and her album sales make her the most successful artist within the last ten years.  This woman is an unstoppable force, with a soulful voice.  Adele's "Someone Like You," is also doing well on the singles charts, and i imagine her third single "Set Fire to the Rain" will be another huge hit!  I first heard Adele back in 2004 when she was the free itunes single of the week with her song "Hometown Glory."  I have been hooked ever since, and am proud to make Adele my entertainer of the year.

2-Ryan Gosling-Why him?  This guy is much more than his looks.  Gosling has consistently moved beyond his good looks (should have been named People Magazine's sexiest man alive this year) and moved towards being a strong leading male; he has also taken roles in more off beat films.  Gosling starred in three different films this year and was amazing in each film.  Crazy Stupid Love showed how witty, sarcastic, and funny he can be,  give this man more roles like this!  In Drive Gosling did more with his facial expression than with the actual dialogue.  Drive is one of the more unique films of the year, and Gosling was spell binding in this film.  Neither of those films provided his best performance; his best performance was in Ides of March.  Ides of March has Gosling hitting every range of emotion, and never missing a beat; he provided strong performances in each of these films, and made these movies even better than they could have been!

3-Melissa McCarthy, Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Rose Byrne-These women rock!  Melissa McCarthy is hilarious, while she was great in the Gilmore Girls, 2011 was her year!  McCarthy has Mike and Molly on CBS sitcom.  At this past year's Emmy Awards she won Outstanding Lead Actress in Comedy Series (a huge surprise); her star power is making this show a hit.   Rose Byrne continued her work on the television series Damages and she starred in X-Men: First Class as Moira McTaggert.  Maya Rudolph is a scene stealing talk show host on the NBC sitcom Up All Night. Wiig is the star of Saturday Night Live;she is one the few females on the show and she makes this still a relevant funny variety series.  Then Wiig writes a screenplay for a film and when all four women's powers combine you get the funniest film of the year, Bridesmaids.  These four women are amazing and have provided some incredible laughter, and with Byrne a little bit of drama for 2011.

4-The cast of Game of Thrones-This show was a phenomena.  I came to the game late and watched the entire first season around Thanksgiving, but I was blown away by the talented cast.  The cast does not have a lot of big names, the biggest during the first season are Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey, but together they have created a series that illuminates a mystical world.  Dinklage was honored with the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series; he is great, but this ensemble works like a well oiled machine, and it's hard to single out one person that stands out.  Sure people will have their favorite character(s), but this ensemble provided some of the best acting this year, and made this show more than just a Fantasy show, it brought to life great literature.

5-Jessica Chastain and Viola Davis-These two are both twoof the stars of the hit film The Help, and within that film that are both polar opposites and at odds with each other.  Chastain plays a woman hell bent on creating seperate restrooms for "the help" while Davis plays Abileen of of the maids who works for white families and decides to tell her story.  Their performances in this film are great but both of them did not just take on these roles this year.  Davis has a supporting role in the film that will be released this month Extremely Loud and Incredibly Closewhich looks to provide her with more strong material.  Chastain seems to be in a lot of of films this year; she played the mother in Tree of Life, the wife to Michael Shannon in Taking Shelter (her best performance), and she was in The Debt and Coralanus.  These two women may have been at odds in The Help but they have proved to be two talented actresses.

6-Daniel Radcliffe-Daniel Radcliffe "The boy who lived come to die" was the star of this years highest grossing film (to date).  Radcliffe has been a part of the entire Harry Potter franchise, and as the series came to a close this year, he will ride off into a wonderful career.  Radcliffe started out an unknown more than ten years ago, and today he is one of the most recognizable faces.  Radcliffe not only starred in the most successful film of the year but he also made his way back to Broadway.  Radcliffe played J. Pierpont Finch in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  While Daniel did not receive any award recognition his star power is a presence he and did a lot for the Harry Potter franchise and on the Great White Way this year.

7-Kanye West and Jay-Z-These two men not only put on the Watch the Throne tour, but they hold the throne as two of most influential musicians working.  The combination of their talent on a critically acclaimed album, and then a well attended tour has made this duo unstoppable this year.  Kanye West leads the pack at the Grammy Awards this year with seven nominations, and shares some of these nominations with the Jigga man.  Not only did these two put out one of the best albums of of the year, but their collaboration has spawned some of the best hip hop music in years, and should prove that this is the direction this genre should take.

8-AMC-This network continues to be a beacon for quality television programming.  In 2011 the network won Best Drama series award for Mad Men. This is the fourth year the series has won this prize.  Mad Men has not aired during the 2011 year but helped the network pick up this award.  During 2011 the network brought the first season of The Killing, which followed the murder of Rosie Larson in Seattle.  The Killing was a critical and ratings success, scoring a slew of Emmy nominations, and was picked up for a second season.  The mystery of Rosie Larson continues.  Breaking Bad returned for its fourth season getting continually better (as the show has done throughout its history), and has grown in popularity.  The Walking Dead returned for its second season and has remained the network highest rated show, scoring 6 million viewers on average.  This network has grown into one of the most reliable channels, and has provided some of the best television this year.


9-Michael Fassbender-This guy took 2011 by storm; he had a few relatively small roles but suddenly became a quality leading man this year.  Fassbender played Rochester in Jane Eyre, then played Eric Lensher aka Magneto in X-Men: First Class,  then one of the father's of psychoanalysis Carl Jung in A Dangerous Method, and finally a sex addict Brandon Sullivan in Shame.  Fassbender's four different roles provided him with a tremendous career change and served to be some of the best acting this year.  This man is a marvel, and every film he starred in provided people with something different from his dark action packed turn as Magneto to his exploration of sex addiction.  Fassbender provided some of the best film experiences this year.

10-The cast and crew from All My Children and One Life to 

Live-Laugh at me if you will, but these with both of these show ending this year they pulled together and produced some of the best television they had ever put on in years!  Saying goodbye to Susan Lucci's iconic Erica Kane, classic couple like Angie and Jesse Hubbard, and Tad the Cad Martin on All My Children was incredibly sad.  While One Life to Live is still on the air, its time is coming to an end soon too.  I started watching One Life to Live later than All My Children, but fell in love with some of the characters quickly.  Erika Slezak's Vicki and her multiple personalities, Bo and Nora reuniting finally, and of course Todd Manning and his evil ways.  Both of these shows provided some beautiful send offs, and worked towards providing satisfying endings.  I will be sad to see them off the air, but the provided some of the best entertainment during 2011.

Things in Movies, TV, and Music I am Thankful for This Year

Movies


More films centered on women-Maybe Hollywood will realize that women centered films can be Post to both solid, and money makers.  Two films that come to mind right away are The Help, and Bridesmaids.  Both films were some of, if not the most entertaining films of this year.  Bridesmaids was hilarious, and there were very few central male characters.  The Help was heartfelt and well acted and was focused centrally on the women.Twitter


The Muppet's-I am so happy this group of puppets is back.  I am so happy Jason Segal brought Kermit, Miss. Piggy, Gonzo, Fozie, and Animal back into my life.  The movie was hilarious, and brought out some great celebrity cameos.


Marvel Comic Book Movies-They started with Thor, then there X-Men: First Class (the best) , and closed out with Captain America.  These three films took the time create wonderful stories with great action, and unlike Green Lantern or the Green Hornet they did a good balancing story with action.  The other important part was that the casting was well done, from Michael Fassbender as Magneto to Thomas Hiddleston as Loki (the only awful call was January Jones).

Ryan Gosling- This boy can act!  I have seen quality work from him in the past in Blue Valentine, Half Nelson, and Lars and the Real Girl, but he had three amazing performances this year alone.  Gosling started with the summer film Crazy Stupid Love, where he was both sexy and hilarious.  Then Gosling had his starring role in Drive where he played the sulky stuntman/criminal.  He closed out the year with his best performance in The Ides of March where he started out an ambitious aid to a politician and ended up a bitter sullen victim of the game of politics.

Some great Original Screenplays- Midnight in Paris was romantic hilarious and beautifully written.  The Tree of of Life is ambitious and a revelation.  Martha Marcy May Marlene is dark and thrilling.  Margin Call is one of the most interesting looks at current financial situation.  Taking Shelter is a great look mental illness and how fear of losing things shapes our reality.  Even Bridesmaids (with its flaws) is a hilarious piece of work.  There are still so many great ones to come!Th

TV


AMC- The Network is amazing!  They are currently airing The Walking Dead, which is having a great second season.  The first season of The Killing was addicting.  The fourth season of Break Bad continues the show's pattern of only getting better.  Mad Men will be returning in the new year.  What more could anyone want? This network is great!

Emily Van Camp-I love good soapy drama and she is currently the the headline of one of my biggest addictions this year, Revenge.

The Ensembles from Community and The Good Wife


Community has found their groove again, and NBC is shelving them for a short time?  This show has done such an amazing job evolving and continuing to be funny, and I could watch it over and over again.

The Good Wife's ensemble (including its guest stars) work impeccably together.  The cast is lead by Marguilles but this is not a one woman show.  The directors know how to intertwine stories and bring characters together.

Louis CK and Larry David-I am thankful for bitter sarcastic, dark humor!  Louis CK and Larry David have provided that for me this year.  Louis is a much darker version of Seinfeld, and his humor is so on point.  Meanwhile Curb Your Enthusiasm only has gotten better with Larry moving to New York City.

Music


4-I am thankful Beyonce has decided to to follow her heart, and work on music she wanted to make because it has paid off.  With great songs like "I Care" "I was Here" and her bigger hits "Run the World (Girls)" "The Best I've Never Had" and "Countdown" Beyonce should be proud.

Adele-Her voice is flawless and she can actually sing.  I have always loved this women, and new found popularity is great.  This Best New Artist Grammy winner is one of the best singers I have ever heard!

David Guetta-His DJ'ing and new CD is one of my favorite of the year.  This music is my gym mix and all of these songs are what make me want to just get out there and dance

Gory Matters Here: The Walking Dead Returns

Last Fall a phenomenon hit the small screen and AMC brought to life a graphic about zombies, called The Walking Dead.  The Walking Dead followed a group of people who were attempting to escape zombie attacks and find sanctuary near and in Atlanta.  The genius behind the scenes was creator and executive producer Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile). Tonight the show kicked off the first part of second season with a 90 minute episode entitled "What Lies Ahead."

The first season of the show (only 6 episodes) ended with an explosion and the main cast on a caravan to find sanctuary.  The second season starts with our group on their drive, and they are stopped by a road block of cars.  While they get trapped by this road block a large group of "walkers" approaches the scene.  Everyone climbs under their car, but one of the young girls on the road with group Sofia is found and she is chased into the woods by the "walkers."  The episode centers around the hunt for this young girl and works to attempt to tie up the loose ends from last season.

The first episode was one of the best episodes the show has produced since the pilot.  The show was well paced and set a strong tone for the rest of season two.  The search for Sofia held a lot of emotional context. Rick Grimes (the leader of the pack) took to the rescue.  Meanwhile Dale pretended to fix a radiator so the caravan could continue, while the radiator was already fixed.  Dale's sentiments show the desperation of the cast.  Dale stated that he did not want this action to prevent survival of the many to have an impact the survival on an individual.  Dale's fear was that the group would want to move on from the search for young Sofia.  The Walking Dead is more than a show about zombies.  This show represents the ethical principles of human nature.

What does man and woman do when they are forced to deal with struggle in an extreme circumstances?  There are more television shows and movies that are using symbolic mechanisms to get their message across, and I think The Walking Dead does an amazing job of not only have truly suspenseful moments but it understands its characters and human nature.

This past summer the show fired creator and executive producer Frank Darabont.  Many of the cast, crew, and fans think that AMC has made a huge mistake.  Darabont has put his heart and soul into this show, and there is fear that without him this show will turn into a lifeless mindless, well zombie of a show.  I know that Darabont still had input into the first half of the season so I can understand why this episode was great, but I hope the show stays true to itself with their executive producer.  At the end of tonight's episode I screamed out "No!" and now I am ready for another five episodes this fall.  This is one of the most creative shows to grace television and I hope its strong start is a signal of more greatness to come.