Tune In or Tune Out: Mom (CBS)

Mom (CBS)

Created by: Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory), Eddie Gorodetsky (Two and a Half Men), Gemma Baker (Two and a Half Men)

Starring Anna Faris, Allison Janney, and French Stewart

Chuck Lorre is a machine for CBS, the main now has four sitcoms on the eye network, Two and Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mike and Molly, and now Mom.  The man turns out ratings power houses for this network although Mike and Molly is not the strongest of his series, but both Two and Half Men and The Big Bang Theory have been the highest rated sitcoms for for the last 11 years, which is an incredible feat.  The problem is that Big Bang is the only clever show within the cannon of his sitcoms, does Mom act more like Big Bang or the lack luster Mike and Molly?

Mom centers around three generation of women who all became young mothers in their teenage years.  Anna Faris plays Christy a waitress who had potential but followed in her mothers foot steps getting pregnant young, an alcoholic, and dating married men.  Allison Janney plays Christy's mom Bonnie, and the two have not been in each other's life for many years but come face to face in a Alcoholic's Anonymous.  The show also centers on the new pregnancy of Christy's teen daughter.

The good thing on the side of this show is the talent of both Faris and Janney, they are both incredibly funny women.  The material is dark for a traditional sitcom, and this may have done better in a non traditional format, but when these two interact there is some magic.  I would argue that the show tries too hard to fit within the sitcom world, and that it should loosen up a little to fit the material, and then the show will become more natural.  With Janney and and Faris the show has potential to be something more than just the by the book sitcom.  As a pilot, this was middle of the road, but with the talent on screen this show has potential.

One of the things on this shows side is that Emmy voters still prefer this type of performance, a person has won an acting trophy from a Chuck Lorre sitcom for the last five years including three for Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), two for Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), and one for Melissa McCarthy (Mike and Molly).  I see this show lasting because of the talent of both Faris, and Janney, they are both great.

Tune In-: Giving this show a chance, but mostly for Janney and Faris

Emmy Week (2013) Who Should Have been Nominated?

Every year there are always some gasps about major snubs, and because the Emmy Awards split their categories between drama, and comedy, there are always one or two in each category that should have made the cut in each category, but did not.  Who should have made the cut?

Outstanding Drama Series 

The Good Wife 

The Good Wife was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series for its first two years, but last year it was snubbed, and it became the first year no major broadcast nominees received a nomination.  Wife had a slow start, but built to a terrific finale, and had one of its strongest years creatively.

What would it have replaced, Downton Abbey.  Sorry friends, Downton is good, and addicting drama, but it is not one of the best shows on the air anymore.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Matthew Rhys-The Americans

While the show itself was not amazing, in my opinion the performances from Matthew Rhys and Kerri Russell were out of this world.  Rhys who was great on Brothers & Sisters took things to a whole new level in this show.

Who would he have replaced-Hugh Bonneville-Downton Abbey-While Hugh had a great story line this past season with the death of his daughter and trouble with his marriage he could not hold a candle to the great performance of Rhys.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Tatiana Maslany-Orphan Black

Maslany is a multiple threat, and I mean that literally she plays so many roles on Orphan Black it is hard to keep track of the number.  Maslany is fantastic in all of these roles, and she carried this show on her back with her great performance.

Who would she have replaced-Connie Britton-Nashville-The Emmy Awards have a toner for Britton, and while she deserved her three previous nominations she should have sat this year out.  Nashville is fun, and Britton is great, but Maslany is just miles ahead.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (tie)

Sam Waterston-The Newsroom 

Love or hate the first season of The Newsroom, you can't deny that Charlie Skinner (Waterston) was the heart, which kept this show going.  Waterston is great in this role, and made you feel the passion this man has had for the news all these years.

Who would he have replaced?-Bobby Cannavale-Boardwalk Empire-Again Cannavale is a great actor, and I have admired his career trajectory, but this role was too over the top for me.  I think Waterston's under stated nature grounded his show.

 Corey Stoll-House of Cards

How can you nominate House of Cards for Best Drama, Best Actor, and give it 7 other nominations without a nomination for Corey Stoll.  Stoll was the heart of of this show, and his downward spiral within the DC world of political power was fascinating thanks in great part to this character actor.

Who would he have replaced?-Aaron Paul-Breaking Bad-I know this going to be unpopular, but Paul did not do much at all last season (I would nominate him next year).  In the first half of the last season Jesse Pinkman took a back seat to Mike, and just did not have as much to do; he was still great.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Monica Potter-Parenthood

Potter's cancer story line was one of the most heart wrenching things on television this past year; she was great, and I do not know if there was a moment where the actress did not sell every aspect of dealing with her disease.  What a beautiful performance.

Who would she have replaced-Christina Hendricks-Mad Men-Come on Matthew Weiner Joan is more than window dressing, and you gave her nothing to do this past season.  I get that the show centers around Don, but you lose other characters in the mix, and this year you did not do enough for the talented Ms. Hendricks.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Parks and Recreation

For some reason the Emmy Awards nominated this show one year, and has forgotten about it year after year.  This show continues to be the funniest show on the air, and the Emmy Awards for some reason have not gotten on board with this show.  Leslie Knope come on!

What would this show have replaced-30 Rock-While the show had a great last season, I think Parks never falters the way Rock did, and I would have rather seen the Emmy Awards stop trying to think their cool.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Jake Johnson-New Girl

Nick Miller grew up a little bit, and his relationship with Jess last season was one of the biggest highlights of the season.  Aside from this relationship Nick developed even further, and this is in large part to Jake Johnson's performance.

Who would he have replaced-Matt LeBlanc-Episodes-Another talented actor who has grown, but this show has lost its flavor, and LeBlanc did not do enough to deserve a nomination this time around.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series 

Zooey Deschanel-New Girl

How do you forget this quirky girl?  While the list of six nominees is great this year I can't help but think that without Deschanel there is something missing.  Jess's journey through love, and unemployment this year was touching, and hilarious.

Who would she have replaced-Edie Falco-Nurse Jackie-Falco is a great actress, and the show is solid, but she should have been bumped, because people are just simply voting for her as a name rather than on the talent.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 

Simon Helberg-The Big Bang Theory

How do you ignore Howard ?  Hellberg and the writing have fleshed out this character brilliantly making him less one dimensional hornball and rather a great loving husband, and soon to be father this season.  I am excited to see how that plays out, but there are more men on this show than Parson.

Who would he have replaced-Any of the Modern Family men-Hard to pick, each the show is getting monotonous, and while its hilarious, and good still, they should not have three spots anymore, and its to go in the way of The West Wing, where they fade away slowly.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 

Jessica Walter-Arrested Development

Binge watching, and the Emmy Awards were not kind to Arrested Development, but Walter should have been nominated, her single episode was one of the best of the season; she is great and one of the best television characters of all time.  How and why did she miss out?

Who would she have replaced-Jane Lynch-Glee-Speaking of character fatigue, love Jane Lynch, but how do these voters see this character as anything but one note now.  Ryan Murphy is the only person to blame, because he had no structure to the progression of his character.  In fact I think he makes things up as he goes, but poor Jane Lynch should not be nominated this year.

Emmy Week (2013): HBO Cleans House at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards with Behind the Candelabra, and Boardwalk Empire, Plus Netflix Scores their First Emmy Awards

Once again HBO is the big winner at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the television film Behind the Candelabra was the big winner of the night with 8 wins, Boardwalk Empire was the big winner of the night in the drama categories taking home 4 trophies.  The only problem is Empire was widely ignored in the larger categories this year leaving this race wide open once again.

30 Rock took home its first Emmy win in three years winning Outstanding Casting in a Comedy Series, the shows final season could take home many trophies next Sunday, my thought is that Tina Fey could be honored for writing and acting.  Another winner in the casting category was the Netflix series House of Cards, the show claimed the prize for Outstanding Casting in a Drama Series.  Cards took home two Emmy awards, and proved the power of Netflix.

On the acting side of things The Good Wife took home the Outstanding Guest Actress trophy in a Drama series for the second year in a row, last year it was Martha Plimpton this year it was Carrie Preston, both are great recurring characters on the series.  Dan Bucatinsky surprised providing Scandal with its first win, but Bucatinsky is no stranger to the Emmy Awards; he won for the Special Class Program Web Therapy.

The biggest news of the night is that Bob Newhart, who has never won an Emmy, and i repeat has never won an Emmy, won for his guest role on The Big Bang Theory, all I have to say is finally. Oscar winner Melissa Leo won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her hilarious guest work on Louie.

One of the other big surprises of the night was that the Outstanding Reality Talk Show Host went to Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum, Klum had been nominated before but never won, this was Gunn's first nomination.  The two were nominated together and won together.

ORDER OF EMMYS BESTOWED AT CREATIVE ARTS  

Casting for a Drama Series: "House of Cards"
Casting for a Mini/Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Animated Program: "South Park"
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Melissa Leo ("Louie")
Short-Format Animated Program: "Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant de Triomphe"
Children’s Program: "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee"
Achievement in Animation: (6 honorees announced earlier) "Adventure Time," "Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant deTriomphe," "Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant deTriomphe," "Disney TRON: Uprising," "Dragons: Riders of Berk," "The Simpsons"
Art Direction for Multi-Camera Series: "Master Chef"
Art Direction for Variety or Nonfiction Programming (Tie): Olymphic Games, "Saturday Night Live"
Art Direction for a Mini or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series: "Boardwalk Empire"
Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or a Variety Program: "Supah Ninjas"
Stunt Coordination for Drama series, Movie or Mini: "Revolution"
Picture Editing for Reality Programming: "Deadliest Catch"
Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming: "Mea Maxima Calpa: Silence in the House of God"
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series: "Breaking Bad" ("Gliding Over All")
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series: "The Office" finale
Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series: "How I Met Your Mother"
Single Camera Picture Editing for a Mini or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Picture editing for Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials: "Daily Show"
Hairstyling for a Mini or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra:
Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special: "Saturday Night Live"
Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series: "Boardwalk Empire"
Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Dan Bucatinsky ("Scandal")
Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special: Grammy Awards
Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming: "History of the Eagles"
Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour): "Boardwalk Empire"
Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half Hour) and Animation: "Nurse Jackie"
Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Behind the Candelabra"
Makeup for a Miniseries or a Movie (Non-Prosthetic): "Behind the Candelabra"
Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non--Prosthetic): "Game of Thrones"
Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic): "Saturday Night Live"
Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Programming (Single or Multi-Camera): "Men Who Built America"
Sound Editing for a Series: "Boardwalk Empire"
Special Visual Effects: "Game of Thrones"
Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role: "Banshee"
Voice-Over Performance: Lily Tomlin, "An Apology to Elephants"
Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Behind the Candelabra"
Costumes for a Series: "The Borgias"
Costumes for a Variety Program or a Special: Grammy Awards, "Portlandia," "Men Who Built America" (juried award)
Music Direction: Tony Awards
Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score): "Downton Abbey"
Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Original Dramatic Score): "World Without End"
Original Music and Lyrics: Tony Awards
Original Main Title Theme Music: "Da Vinci's Demons"
Main Title Design: "Da Vinci's Demons"
Outstanding Commercial: "Inspired," Canon
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Bob Newhart, "The Big Bang Theory"
Cinematography for Reality Programming: "The Deadliest Catch"
Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series: "House of Cards"
Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie: "Top of the Lake"
Cinematography for a Nonfiction Programming: "Anthony Boudain: Parts Unknown"
Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Carrie Preston, "The Good Wife"
Direction for Nonfiction Programming: "American Masters"
Writing for Nonfiction Programming: "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God"
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God"
Documentary or Nonfiction Special: "Manhunt: Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden"
Documentary or Nonfiction Series (Tie): "American Masters," "Inside the Actor's Studio"
Informational Series or Special: "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown"
Special Class Programs: Tony Awards
Special Class Programs - Short Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs: "Children's Hospital"
Special Class - Short-Format Nonfiction Programs: "Remembering 9/11"
Interactive Program: "Night of Too Many Stars"
Creative Achievement in Interactive Media: Original Interactive Program: "Lizzie Bennet Diaries"
Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series: "How I Met Your Mother"
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series: "The Big Bang Theory"
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: Tony Awards
Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Series: "The Voice"
Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special: Super Bowl Halftime Show
Directoring for a Variety Special: "Kennedy Center Honors"
Writing for a Variety Special: "Louis C.K.: Oh, My God"
Variety Special: "Kennedy Center Honors"
Reality Host: Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn
Reality Program: "Undercover Boss"

TCA Awards Spread the Wealth Honoring Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Parks and Recreation and More!

This years Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards were what most fans Emmy dreams were made of, series nominees were fresh, and included shows like The Americans, Parks and Recreation, New Girl.  To be fair most of the quality Emmy nominees were also nominated here including Louie, Veep, The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, Homeland, House of Cards, and Breaking Bad.

The acting categories were also filled with many quality performances from actors snubbed at the Emmy Awards, which include: Jake Johnson in New Girl, Monica Potter in Parenthood, Matthew Rhys in The Americans, and Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black.  Vera Farmiga is the one surprise nominee that made the cut here and at the Emmy Awards.

The TCAs decided they were going to spread the wealth, but the "big" winner was Breaking Bad, which won Program of the Year.  While Drama Series went to Game of Thrones, Comedy Series was a tie for Parks and Recreation, and The Big Bang Theory, New Series went to The Americans.  As the categories split winning Program of the Year is a clear sign of the respect this show has attained, and deserves.

Tatiana Maslany showed the Emmy Awards whose boss, and won the Individual Achievement in Drama Award.  Maslany is the fourth woman to win this trophy, the other three were Edie Falco (The Sopranos) Julianna Marguilles (The Good Wife) and Claire Danes (Homeland).  Maslany is one of few women to win this award, and she is the only winner who has never been Emmy nominated, this may change or prove the Emmys do not know a good thing.  Louis CK won the Individual Achievement in a Comedy for a second year in a row.

Listed below is a list of the nominees and winners, and all I can say is I wish the nominees and winners looked like this for Emmy, winners are denoted by * symbol:

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
The Americans, FX
Breaking Bad, AMC* 
Game of Thrones, HBO
House of Cards, Netflix
The Walking Dead, AMC

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
The Americans, FX
Breaking Bad, AMC
Game of Thrones, HBO*
Homeland, Showtime
Mad Men, AMC

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel (A&E)
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America)*
Monica Potter, Parenthood (NBC)
Matthew Rhys, The Americans (FX)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
The Big Bang Theory, CBS*
Louie, FX
New Girl, Fox
Park and Recreation, NBC*
Veep, HBO

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Louis C.K., Louie (FX)*
Lena Dunham, Girls (HBO)
Jake Johnson, New Girl (Fox)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)

NEW PROGRAM
The Americans, FX*
Elementary, CBS
House of Cards, Netflix
The Mindy Project, Fox
Orphan Black, BBC America

OUTSTANDING MOVIE, MINISERIES OR SPECIAL
American Horror Story: Asylum, FX
Behind the Candelabra, HBO*
Downton Abbey, PBS
Rectify, Sundance Channel
Top of the Lake, Sundance Channel

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING
The Amazing Race, CBS
The Glee Project, Oxygen
Shark Tank, ABC*
Survivor, CBS
The Voice, NBC

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Adventure Time, Cartoon Network
Bunheads, ABC Family*
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, PBS
Sesame Street, PBS
Switched at Birth, ABC Family

NEWS AND INFORMATION60 Minutes, CBS
Anderson Cooper 360, CNN
Central Park Five, PBS*
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Comedy Central
Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC

HERITAGE AWARD
All In the Family, CBS*
Lost, ABC
Saturday Night Live, NBC
Star Trek, NBC
Twin Peaks, ABC

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James L. Brooks
James Burrows
Jay Leno
William Shatner
Barbara Walters*