Breaking Bad, and Orange is the New Black lead Writer's Guild Award Nominations (Television)

It should come as no surprise that Breaking Bad score 4 nominations at the Writers Guild Awards (WGA) more than any show this year.  Freshmen Netflix series Orange is the New Black, also received 4 nominations. which received 3 nominations.  Returning series Modern Family and The Simpson both received the next highest total with 3 nominations each.  This is a great slate of nominees, they picked the episodes and series with the best writing this past year.

DRAMA SERIES

Breaking Bad
The Good Wife
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
Orange Is the New Black
Veep

NEW SERIES
The Americans
House of Cards
Masters of Sex
Orange Is the New Black
Ray Donovan

EPISODIC DRAMA
“Buried” (Breaking Bad), Written by Thomas Schnauz
“Confessions” (Breaking Bad), Written by Gennifer Hutchison
“Episode 101” (House of Cards), Teleplay by Beau Willimon
“Granite State” (Breaking Bad), Written by Peter Gould
“Hitting the Fan” (The Good Wife), Written by Robert King & Michelle King
“Pilot” (Masters of Sex), Written by Michelle Ashford

EPISODIC COMEDY
“Career Day” (Modern Family), Written by Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh
“Farm Strong” (Modern Family), Written by Elaine Ko
“Hogcock!” (30 Rock), Written by Jack Burditt & Robert Carlock
“Lesbian Request Denied” (Orange Is the New Black), Written by Sian Heder
“Leslie and Ben” (Parks and Recreation), Written by Michael Schur & Alan Yang
“Pilot” (Orange Is the New Black), Teleplay by Liz Friedman and Jenji Kohan

ANIMATION
“A Test Before Trying” (The Simpsons), Written by Joel H. Cohen
“Game of Tones” (Futurama), Written by Michael Rowe
“Hardly Kirk-ing” (The Simpsons), Written by Tom Gammill & Max Pross
“Murder on the Planet Express” (Futurama), Written by Lew Morton
“Saturday Morning Fun Pit” (Futurama), Written by Patric M. Verrone
“Yolo” (The Simpsons), Written by Michael Nobori

Emmy Week (2013): Time to Liven Up Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards. Can Louis C.K. Save the Day?

For the past 6 years 2 shows have won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards, 30 Rock and  Modern Family.  From 1999 until 2006 only one show repeated their victory and that show was Everybody Loves Raymond.  Between 1999 and 2006 shows like Ally McBeal, Friends, Will & Grace, Sex and the City, Arrested Development, and The Office each took their turn at the podium.  Each of these shows won in a year with critical support, they were the best seasons of their shows history, and deservedly.  The only win I would argue against was Everybody Loves Raymond's repeat, which should have been a repeat win for Arrested Development, or even Desperate Housewives.

As stated above 30 Rock and Modern Family have dominated these categories for six years, and this could be the seventh, this award winner has gotten stale like back to the days of Frasier's 5-peat in the mid to late nineties.  The big question of the week is can comedian Louis C.K. come in and save the day making this category a bit more interesting?

Ove the years only a few shows have repeated in this category, Frasier has the most wins at 5.  There are three shows tied with four wins: All in the Family, Cheers, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.  Four shows have three wins: 30 Rock, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Modern Family, and Taxi.  Seven shows have 2 wins: Everybody Loves Raymond, Get Smart, The Golden Girls, I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Show, Murphy Brown, and The Phil Silvers Show.

Of the 65 years only 20 years have had repeat winners, which is pretty great at creating variety in this category, but we are in a drought.  Both Modern Family and 30 Rock are heavy front runners this year, but there is one upstart who could change it all, and that's Louis C.K. for Louie.

Over the years shows like Louie rarely win in the series category, but do score nominations.  Curb Your Enthusiasm is obviously the closest show to compare.  Curb  has been nominated for 39 Emmy Awards, but only won 2, only one non technical award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.  Louie has just tied Curb's record of two wins, one for writing last year, and one for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.  C.K. himself has been nominated all three the show has been on the air for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, but this is the first year the show has been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.  Can Louis C.K. do what Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld from an HBO series could never do with Curb, win?

Louis C.K. is nominated for nine Emmy Awards this year, and the answer is maybe.  Is there Modern Family fatigue?  The show was nominated for fewer awards this year, and one of their cast members was snubbed for the first time since the first season.  The show also has no writing nominations.  Can 30 Rock swing back for the purpose of sentimentality?  The show won it's first Emmy in 3 years Outstanding Casting, which is fairly rare for a show in its last season.  The only problem is that only two shows have won for their final seasons, and they are Everybody Loves Raymond and Barney Miller.  30 Rock may win win an acting and writing or directing, but not series.

Does this open the door for Louie?  Why not The Big Bang Theory, the most watched show comedy on television?  Bang has no writing or directing nominations, along with some of the other major technical awards that signal a win here.  Girls is too polarizing and has lost its sheen, and while Veep has the clout it did not score a writing or directing nomination in a show where those factors are the most important.

My gut says Modern Family will keep the snooze fest of this category alive, but I am going to go out on a limb, and predict that Louie will shake things up, and pull out a surprise victory in this category.

The 65th Emmy Award Nominations are a Snooze, while Drama Pushes the Envelope with more Game of Thrones, and Netflix Series House of Cards, the Comedy line-up looks and feels Stale than my Bagel this Morning

No Julianna Marguilles for The Good Wife?  Jane Lynch is back for her barely there performances in Glee?  Downton Abbey beats out fresh series like The Americans, and The Newsroom?  Arrested Development, basically snubbed across the board?  To quote Steel Magnolias, "Are you high?"

With those questions posed and my rant over (for the time being) the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominations, had some good, House of Cards scored 9 nominations, including drama series, but leaving Corey Stoll out of Supporting Actor is baffling.  I am happy to see Kerry Washington in the mix for Scandal, and with seven nomination in Drama Lead Actress there is proof that there are so many great dramatic roles for women its hard to narrow down.  With that said I love Connie Britton, and Nashville is fun, but her getting in over Marguilles is a joke.

On the other hand there are signs voters paid attention, just a little, Jonathan Banks, Emilia Clarke, more writing nominations for Breaking Bad, no writing or directing nominations for Mad Men.  I know Down makes it in because older voters are gaga for this show, but it was not that great this past season, and I am a fan.

Now to the Comedy nominees (and I took it easy on drama).  First and foremost props to upping the ante for shows like Louie and Veep, that's the best thing you Academy did in the comedy categories this year.  Louie and Veep received comedy series nominations along with a few acting nominations, the only surprise is that Veep was once again shut out of writing and directing, when that is the shows bread and butter.

Hey Academy, have you heard of this show called New Girl?  It received several major nominations last year, and it you dropped it faster than a clingy partner.  New Girl had it's best season, and you did not even nominate any of its actors, one of the biggest mistakes.

When Jason Bateman's name was announced, my excitement was peaked.  Then comedy series was announced, and no Arrested Development, I shrugged it off assuming there would be a Jessica Walter or Will Arnett nomination to help ease the pain,  but no dice.  I understand this wasn't everything people wanted, but the show was still good, and these performances still were funny, this makes no sense.

Going into the the night American Horror Story: Asylum has 17 nominations (but will lose to Behind the Candelabra), Game of Thrones has 16 nominations, the most for a drama series, 30 Rock leads the Comedy  nominees with 13 nominations, and Modern Family close behind with 12 nominations.  Louis C.K. also set a record for 9 Emmy nominations for one performer.

This set of nominations is a mixed bag, some great things happened like Netflix doing well with House of Cards, Kerry Washington getting in, Veep, and Louie doing well, and some things were just plain lazy, like Glee nominations, and other shows which were just check marked for the name.  I am going to stick with the Television Critics Awards (TCA) nominations and winners from now on if the Emmy Awards remain lazy.

Best Drama
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Bonnevile-Downton Abbey
Bryan Cranston-Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels-The Newsroom
Jon Hamm-Mad Men
Damien Lewis-Homeland
Kevin Spacey-House of Cards

Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Connie Britton-Nashville
Claire Daines-Homeland
Michelle Dockery-Downton Abbey
Vera Farmiga-Bate's Motel
Elisbaeth Moss-Mad Men
Kerry Washington-Scandal
Robin Wright-House of Cards

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks-Breaking Bad
Bobby Cannavale-Boardwalk Empire
Jim Carter-Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage-Game of Thrones
Aaron Paul-Breaking Bad
Mandy Patinkin-Homeland

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Morena Baccarin-Homeland
Christina Baranski-The Good Wife
Emilia Clarke-Game of Thrones
Anna Gunn-Breaking Bad
Christina Hendricks-Mad Men
Maggie Smith-Downton Abbey

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Dan Bucatinsky-Scandal
Michael J. Fox-The Good Wife
Rupert Friend-Homeland
Nathan Lane-The Good Wife
Robert Morse-Mad Men
Harry Hamlin-Mad Men

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Linda Cardellini-Mad Men
Joan Cusack-Shaneless
Jane Fonda-The Newsroom
Margo Martindale-The Americans
Carrie Preston-The Good Wife
Diana Rigg-Game of Thrones

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Breaking Bad-Dead Freight
Breaking Bad-Say My Name
Downton Abbey-Episode 4
Game of Thrones-The Rains of Castamere
Homeland-Q&A

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire-Margate Sands-
Breaking Bad-Gliding Over All
Downton Abbey-Episode 4
Homeland-Q&A-
House of Cards-Chapter One

Best Comedy Series
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Girls
Louie
Modern Family
Veep

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin-30 Rock

Jason Bateman-Arrested Development

Louis C.K.-Louie

Don Cheedle-House of Lies 

Matt LeBlanc-Episodes 

Jim Parsons-The Big Bang Theory 

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Laura Dern-Enlightened 

Lena Dunham-Girls 

Edie Falco-Nurse Jackie 

Tina Fey-30 Rock 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus-Veep

Amy Poehler-Parks and Recreation

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell-Modern Family
Jessie Tyler Fergeuson-Modern Family
Adam Driver-Girls
Tony Hale-Veep
Bill Hader-Saturday Night Live
Ed O'Neil-Modern Family

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik-The Big Bang Theory

Julie Bowen-Modern Family

Anna Chlumsky-Veep

Jane Krakowski-30 Rock

Jane Lynch-Glee 

Sofia Vergara-Modern Family

Merritt Wever-Nurse Jackie

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Bobby Cannavale-Nurse Jackie
Louis C.K.-Saturday Night Live
Will Forte-30 Rock
Bob Newhart-The Big Bang Theory
Nathan Lane-Modern Family
Justin Timberlake-Saturday Night Live

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Dot-Marie Jones-Glee
Melissa Leo-Louie
Melissa McCarthy-Saturday Night Live 

Molly Shannon-Enlightened
Elaine Stritch-30 Rock
Kristin Wiig-Saturday Night Live

Directing in a Comedy Series
Girls-On All Fours-Lena Dunham
Glee-Diva-Paris Barclay
Louie-New Year's Eve-Louis C.K.
Modern Family-Arrested-Gail Mancuso
30 Rock-Hogcock/Last Lunch-Beth McCarthy Miller

Writing in a Comedy Series
Episodes-Episdoe 209-David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik
Louie-Daddy's Girlfriend (Part One)-Louis C.K.
The Office-Finale-Greg Daniels
30 Rock-Hogcock-Robert Carlock and Jack Burditt
30 Rock-Last Lunch-Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield

Best Mini-Series/Movie

American Horror Story: Asylum

Behind the Candelabra 

The Bible

Phil Spector

Political Animals

Top of the Lake 

Lead Actor in a Mini Series/Movie 

Benedict Cumberbatch

Matt Damon-Behind the Candelabra

Douglas-Behind the Candelabra

Tobey Jones-The Girl

Al Pacino-Phil Spector 

Lead Actress in a Mini-Series/Movie

Jessica Lange-American Horror Story: Asylum

Laura Linney-The Big C: Hereafter

Helen Mirren-Phil Spector 

Elisabeth Moss-Top of the Lake 

Sigourney Weaver-Political Animals

Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series/Movie
Scot Bakula-Behind the Cadelabra
James Cromwell-American Horror Story: Asylum
John Benjamin Hickey-The Big C: Hereafter
Zachary Quinto-American Horror Story: Asylum
Tom Mullen-Top of the Lake

Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series/Movie
Ellen Burstyn-Political Animals
Sarah Paulson-American Horror Story: Asylum
Charlotte Rampling-Restless
Imelda Staunton-The Girl
Alfre Woodard-Steel Magnolias

Reality Series 

The Amazing Race 

Dancing with the Stars 

Project Runway

So You Think You Can Dance

Top Chef

The Voice 

 Reality Show Host

Tom Bergeron-Danicing with the Stars

Anthony Bourdain-The Taste 

Cat Deely-So You Think You Can Dance 

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn-Project Runway

Ryan Seacrest-American Idol

Betty White-Off Their Rockers

Best Variety Series

The Colbert Report

The Daily Show 

Late Show with Jimmy Kimmel

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Real Time with Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live 

Emmy Dream Ballot: Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series (2012-2013)

Who would have ever thought David Lynch and Bob Newheart would be, or well should be in the same category for a nomination.  Beyond many interesting inclusions on my dream ballot this year there were two shows who did guest stars right Louie, and Arrested Development.  I do not include Saturday Night Live these are variety performers, not guest stars in a comedy series.

How does or did Louie enhance the role of it's guest stars within season 3?  Louie used  the model of Curb Your Enthusiasm with real life stars like Robin Williams and other comedians, who did not make the list, but they were funny.  Louie also used the crazy girlfriend model, having Louis C.K. date, or look for softened the character, a little, and I emphasize a little.  With edgy, hip women like Parker Posey, and Melissa Leo how could Louie not succeed within this realm?  David Lynch in Late Show Parts 2 and 3 were some of the most brilliant moments from the season.  Louie is an off beat show, these guest stars contributed brilliantly to the quirky humor.

Arrested Development used history, mixed with a few fresh faces to help bring the guest stars into the fold.  One of the best things about this series is the way Development used actors and actresses like Liza Minnelli, Henry Winkley, Scott Baio, Ben Still, Christine Taylor, Ed Begley Jr. and many more within the original run of the series.  Bringing these actors back into the mix for the re-launch, and it worked beautifully, especially Minelli, and Stiller who made my lists.  The other great thing was bringing new blood into the mix, like Ron Howard as more than the narrator, and Isla Fisher playing his daughter.  My favorite were the brief cameos of Kristin Wiig as a young Lucille, in those brief moments she captured everything you imagine a young Lucille would be, and more.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

David Lynch-Louie

Bob Newheart-The Big Bang Theory

Rob Reiner-New Girl

Ben Stiller-Arrested Development

Patton Oswalt-Parks and Recreation

Patrick Wilson-Girls

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Elizabeth Banks-Modern Family

Melissa Leo-Louie

Liza Minelli-Arrested Development

Parker Posey-Louie

Molly Shannon-Enlightened

Kristin Wiig-Arrested Development

ABC puts together a Brand New Tuesday led by Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and Creates One Solid Schedule

Overall, and I have to say this begrudgingly because ABC axed Happy Endings, but they have the Fall 2013 line-up for so far.  Most of their new programming looks promising, and will do well because of fan favorites.  I still am baffled (pissed off) that ABC kept The Neighbors and let go of Happy Endings.  With that said ABC has kept most of their shows on the same night, smart move.  Moving shows around can be jarring.  This network has done well with their shows where they are.  While Sundays are difficult for Once and Revenge the shows have massive followings, so changing them to change them makes no sense.

One of the most interesting things about this line-up is the way Tuesday is brand new!  ABC has started off wisely with Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, which will probably be one of the highest rated shows of the season.  Putting two comedies on after this, which may not get huge numbers was smart!  Well played ABC.  

The mid-season replacements are the returning comedy Suburgatory and the new comedy Mixology,The dramas are all and they are Killer Women, Mind Games, and Ressurection.

Listed below is the fall schedule, with the new shows in caps, the descriptions of the new shows are listed below the schedule.

MONDAY
8/7c Dancing With the Stars
10 pm Castle

TUESDAY
8 pm MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D
9  pm THE GOLDBERGS
9:30 pm TROPHY WIFE
10 pm LUCKY 7

WEDNESDAY

8 pm The Middle
8:30 pm BACK IN THE GAME
9 pm Modern Family
9:30 SUPER FUN NIGHT
10 pm Nashville

THURSDAY
8 pm ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND
9 pm Grey’s Anatomy
10 pm Scandal

FRIDAY
8 pm Last Man Standing
8:30 pm The Neighbors
9 pm Shark Tank
10 pm 20/20

SATURDAY
8 pm Saturday Night College Football

SUNDAY

7 America’s Funniest Home Videos
8 pm Once Upon a Time 

9 pm Revenge
10 pm BETRAYAL

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (Drama)

WHO | Clark Gregg (reprising his Avengers role), Ming-Na (ER), Elizabeth Henstridge (Hollyoaks), Iain De Caestecker (Coronation Street), Brett Dalton (Killing Lincoln), Chloe Bennet (Nashville)

WHAT | The adventures of the agents of a covert, quasi-military peace-keeping organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. (or the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division), which was featured in last summer's Avengers movie.

The Goldbergs (Comedy)

EP | Adam Goldberg
CAST | Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm), George Segal (Don’t Shoot Me), Hayley Orrantia (The X Factor), Sean Giambrone and Troy Gentile (Good Luck Chuck)
This ’80s-set series revolves around an overbearing, hyper-emotional shopaholic with no sense of boundaries and a big mouth. Nonetheless, she’s a very dedicated mom.

Trophy Wife (Comedy)

WHO | Malin Akerman (Suburgatory), Bradley Whitford (The West Wing), Marcia Gay Harden (Damages), Michaela Watkins (Saturday Night Live), Natalie Morales (90210), Ryan Scott Lee (Super 8), Albert Tsai (How I Met Your Mother), Gianna LePera (Modern Family)

WHAT | They say the third time's the charm and reformed party girl Kate (Akerman) is hoping that's true when she becomes Pete's (Whitford) third wife. She fell into his arms (literally) at a karaoke bar and a year later, Kate's got an insta-family complete with three stepchildren and two ex-wives.

Lucky 7 (Drama)
EPs | David Zabel (ER), Jason Richman
CAST | Isiah Whitlock, Jr (The Wire), Matt Long (Private Practice), Stephen Louis Grush (Detroit 1-8-7), Lorraine Bruce (Eden Lake), Anastasia Phillips (Stoked), Summer Bishil (Towelhead), Luis Antonio Ramos (The Ruins), Christine Evangelista (The Joneses)
A show about seven employees of a service station in Queens whose lives are changed in many unexpected ways when they win a lottery jackpot.

Back in the Game (Comedy)

WHO | James Caan (Las Vegas), Ben Koldyke (How I Met Your Mother, Big Love), Maggie Lawson (Psych), Griffin Gluck (Private Practice), Lenora Crichlow (Being Human)

WHAT | When Terry Gannon (Lawson), a recently divorced, single mother, temporarily moves in with her estranged father (Caan), a beer-swilling former baseball player, she reluctantly starts coaching her son's Little League team and is drawn back into the world of sports she vowed to leave behind.

Super Fun Night (Comedy)

EPs | Rebel Wilson, Conan O’Brien, John Riggi
CAST | Wilson (Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect), Lauren Ash (Lost Girl), Liza Lapira (Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23), Kelen Coleman (The Newsroom)
Three nerdy female friends embark on a quest to have super fun every Friday night in the single-cam project (which was originally developed as a multi-cam comedy last spring at CBS).

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (Drama)

WHO | Sophie Lowe, Peter Gadiot, Michael Socha (the UK's Being Human), Emma Rigby (Hollyoaks), the voice of John Lithgow (Third Rock from the Sun)

WHAT | In Victorian England, the young and beautiful Alice (Lowe) tells a tale of a strange new land that exists on the other side of a rabbit hole. An invisible cat, a hookah smoking caterpillar and playing cards that talk are just some of the fantastic things she's seen during this impossible adventure. Surely this troubled girl must be insane and her doctors aim to cure her with a treatment that will make her forget everything. Alice seems ready to put it all behind her, especially the painful memory of the genie she fell in love with and lost forever — the handsome and mysterious Cyrus (Gadiot). But deep down Alice knows this world is real and just in the nick of time, the sardonic Knave of Hearts (Socha) and the irrepressible White Rabbit (Lithgow) arrive to save her from a doomed fate. Together, the trio will take a tumble down the rabbit hole to this Wonderland where nothing is impossible.

Betrayal (Drama)
EP | David Zabel (ER)
CAST | Hannah Ware (Boss), Stuart Townsend (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) , James Cromwell (American Horror Story), Henry Thomas (E.T.), Chris Johnson (The Vampire Diaries), Wendy Moniz (Guiding Light), Elizabeth McLaughlin (The Clique), Braeden Lamasters (Men of a Certain Age)
A beautiful but unhappily married female photographer begins a torrid affair with a lawyer for a powerful family. When he turns out to be defending a murder suspect who is being prosecuted by her husband, the relationship and the case begin a spiraling series of betrayals with cataclysmic results for everyone involved.

Argo Wins Best Ensemble at SAG, Downton Abbey and Modern Family win on Television Side

Tonight Argo stepped even closer to a Best Picture win at the Academy Awards.  Argo has now won Best Picture at the Broadcast Film Critics Association, Golden Globes, Producer's Guild Awards, and here.  At this very moment I can feel many film critics and Oscar pundits switching their Lincoln Best Picture win to Argo.  One of the most intriguing things to me is if Argo wins Best Picture who wins Best Director?  I will be theorizing that one for a while.

In the other film categories Lincoln picked up two trophies one for Best Lead Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), and one for Supporting Actor (Tommy Lee Jones).  Day-Lewis has the Best Actor prize in the bag, and Tommy Lee Jones has a strong shot at the Best Supporting Actor award, but he was not there to accept, so look for missing Christoph Waltz to be a spoiler.

Jennifer Lawrence made the Best Actress category more interesting tonight beating Jessica Chastain, this puts Lawrence out front, but never count out any surprises although with Harvey Weinstein behind her campaign she has the best chance.  Anne Hathaway further proved that her dream she dreamt will come true winning Best Supporting Actress, and I like that she thanked her Dark Knight cast; she gave a much better speech.

On the television side the Comedy Winners remained as stale as day old bread.  Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey whom I love won for Best Actor and Actress, and obviously it was as a parting gift for their great work on 30 Rock.  Modern Family also won for a third year in a row, and while I love their ensemble there are so many other great ensembles out there.  I guess I am just glad Betty White did not win this year or else they would have been the exact same winners as last year.  Baldwin and Modern Family have won together for the last three years, sloppy!

In the mini-series or movie category rubber stamped winner Kevin Costner and Julianne Moore won.  Costner was not present, but neither were any of his competition.  I think this is the first time in all my years of watching award shows where not a single nominee in a category has shown up.

The drama categories finally shook things up for the television world.  Best Actor went to Bryan Cranston he beat out front runner Damien Lewis.  Claire Danes was not nominated last year, but won Best Actress last year.  Downton Abbey won Best Ensemble, and I loved watching the actress who plays Mrs. Hughes accept for the cast; she was too precious.

One of the highlights of the evening was watching Dick Van Dyke get his lifetime achievement award. In watching his film reel, and hearing beautiful but brief acceptance of the award it was a great moment in one of the more boring award shows.