Emmy Dream Ballot: Outstanding Writing and Directing in a Comedy Series (2012-2013)

It's the end of an era.  Two major television comedies, which had a major influence on recent television series ended within the last television cycle, The Office and 30 Rock.  30 Rock ended back in January, and The Office had a huge swan song in May.  Fans, and critics alike are often very critical of the way a show ends, look at Seinfeld.  This series finale had mixed reactions, but has never tarnished the brand of the series, the show is still ranked one of the best of all time.  Many will cite when a show goes out with a whimper or tries too hard, Roseanne, is a good example of this, and the way she pulled the rug out saying the past season or was all within a novel.  Trying too hard to do something that seems cool can fail in a big way.  

This year's series finales were two of the best I have ever seen, they were heart warming, funny, and stayed true to the show's illustrious reputation, and history.  Rarely do you get moments where even when you watch your favorite show ending that make those moments feel complete.  The Golden Girls is the best example, the series finale always makes me cry, in the sense that this show was about four women who found friendship late in life.  I may be getting misty as I write this, but oh well.  Writing and directing a great series finale is a major accomplishment, and both The Office and 30 Rock should be proud of their accomplishment.

On a quick side note Louis C.K. is once again the star within this category, writing and directing a submission, which makes this category.  Amy Poehler and Lena Dunham's are usually cited for their writing, but this year they it's all about their directing some of the best television episodes, and hey Television Academy, I have four females in my directing category, can you at least nominate two?  Or in the words of Bob Barker, "ladies do I hate have two numbers right?"

Outstanding Directing

Arrested Development-Colony Collapse-Mitchell Hurwitz and Troy Miller

Enlightened-The Key-Nicole Holofcener

Girls-It’s About Time-Lena Dunham

Louie-Daddy’s Girlfriend Part 1-Louis C.K.

Parks and Recreation-Leslie and Ben-Amy Poehler

30 Rock-Last Lunch-Beth McCarthy Miller

Outstanding Writing

Arrested Development-A New Attitude-Mitch Hurwitz Jim Vallely

Louie-Daddy’s Girlfriend Part 1-Louis C.K.

New Girl-Virgins-Elizabeth Merriweather

The Office-Finale-Greg Daniels

Parks and Recreation-Emergency Response-Norm Hiscock and Joe Mande

30 Rock- Last Lunch-Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield

Veep-Hostages-Armando Ianucci and Sean Grey

Travels with Kevin Part 14: The City of Brotherly Love (from SCOTUS to Canceled Television Shows)

These past few weeks, I have been outside of the world of popular culture traveling to visit friends, and going to a work conference.  I have not had as much time to go to the movies, and had to catch up on any of my summer shows through my TiVo.

A a few weekends ago I went to visit my friend Dominic in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.  The slogan of the city resonated even more because it was Pride.  Philly was a blast, and Dominic is a great friend.  I watched his softball team play, we drank a lot, ate a lot, everything a vacation should be and more.  Visiting Philly helped continue my tradition of going to a different city for Pride every year. My first Pride was in New York City, then Columbus, then Boston and St. Louis, and finally Philly this year.  My goal is either DC or Chicago next year. As I look back at the fun times in Philadelphia, and Pride itself it has made me me think about what is going on in the country at the moment, and a bit of popular culture.

Any day now the Supreme Court will be ruling on two major cases for LGBT folks, one pertaining to a challenge of Proposition 8 in California, and one pertaining to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  Both of these rulings will have an impact on marriage equality, but in an era when more and more states are passing legislation allowing gay marriage, could striking down either of these challenges be seen as antiquated?  I think so, but no matter which way the court rules I have faith that this country has come along way, and I believe more than ever that my nation is willing to step up to bat to protect me.  Look at Russia and the way they are treating their citizens, and many other countries in Africa, which are proposing laws called "Kill the Gays."  LGBT folks are more vocal and visible than ever before, and the United States is moving in the right direction.

In an ironic twist of fate many shows with lesbian and gay characters were cancelled this May.  This list of shows shows include the following: The New Normal, Go On, Smash, The Office, 1600 Penn, Happy Endings, Don’t Trust the B___ in Apartment 23, 90210, Emily Owens, M.D., The L.A. Complex, Partners, and Southland. 

These shows on many levels tackled issues and stories, which highlighted a diverse array of characterizations. Happy Endings did a great story in one episode where Max (Adam Pally) searched for identity within the gay community showing how fitting, or having someone to connect with matters on all levels.  The New Normal tackled gay fatherhood well, and the struggles parents face.  Go On tackled the subject of loss of a partner, and how important this can be to anyone.

With all of these shows off the air, the battle for representation continues, does LGBT representation matter?  It sure does, especially on network television where the majority of folks can access this material.  In a day when people still need role models, popular culture is an important medium to help spread the word.  I hope television can challenge themselves to work harder to keep quality programming.  I am alright with them canceling 1600 Penn and Partners (they were terrible).

Celebrating The Office: The Dundies Part Two (The Best of The Office)

Dundie for Worst Boss

Winner: Andy Bernard

Runner Up Deangelo Vickers 

Dundie for Best "That's what she said"

The montage below says it all!

Dundie for Best Cold Open

Winner: Fire Drill 

Runner Up: Heeeey

Dundie for best Scranton Guest

Winner: Holly Flax

Celebrating The Office: The Dundies Part One (The Best of The Office)

Michael Scott honored his workers with Dundie awards, like "the whitest sneakers" for Pam, and the hottest in office to Ryan.  The show, its characters etc deserve their own Dundies.

Dundie for Best Jim prank on Dwight

Winner: Jim Impersonates Dwight

Runner Up: Jim faxes Dwight as himself “from the future.” 

Dundie for Best Part from the Party Planning Comittee

Winner: Dwight and Jim's Party for Kelly

Dundie for Best Episode 

The Dinner Party

Runner Up: Casino Night 

Dundie for Most Offensive Work Comment/Situation

Diversity Day:  Everything!

Celebrating The Office Part One: Michael Gary Scott

At the beginning there was Michael Scott, and it was good!  When The Office started back in 2005 Steve Carell was the first boss at the then Dunder Miflin Paper Company.  After seven seasons (137 episodes) Steve Carell said goodbye to his work team/family, and stepped down from boss role.  After sevens seasons of "That's what she said," bad relationships, Dundies, and awkward moments he left, but there are so many great moments, and they honest can't be summed up with words.  Steve Carell's Michael Scott is one of the most memorable characters in television history, and his character has been missed on The Office, here are some of the best quotes, to start off a great tribute week.

Best Michael Scott Quotes

"I am downloading some NP3 music"

"The worst thing about prison was the Dementors"-from 

"You know what they say fool me once strike one, but fool me twice...strike three"

"The suddenly she's not yo ho no mo"

"You don't know me, you've just seen my penis"

"You cannot take the hilarious black guy from the office"

"That has an oaky afterbirth"

"Corporate has made it my responsibility today to put an end to 10,000 years of being weirded out by gays."

These are obviously just a few of the great Michael Scott quotes from seven years.  Carell's send off arc as Michael Scott was one of the best stroy lines I have ever seen within a comedy series.  Part of me wishes the show ended there, namely because i hated Andy as the next boss, but I am excited to see how everything wraps up, especially with a Dwight and Angela wedding, and with Michael Scott returning?  Below is a montage of the best moments with Michael Scott.

Goodbye Michael Scott: Why Do People Leave Their Television Series (and can these shows Succeed)

For the most part comedy series keep their main characters throughout the whole series.  There are times in a series where people have left comedies: Shelley Long left Cheers, Valeria Harper and Cloris Leachman left The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ron Howard left Happy Days, M*A*S*H had a bunch of cast members leave including Gary Burghoof, and McLean Stevenson.  These are not the only folks to leave television comedies at the height of their fame, but these are some of the most memorable.

Over the past few few weeks I have been re-watching The Office (USA).  The show centered around Michael Scott who works as a manager at Dunder Mifflin, a paper company, and the people he supervises.  Throughout the years the show became a true ensemble piece focusing not only on Michael, but Jim and Pam, and their love affair, Dwight and his quirky beet farm, Stanley's cranky attitude, Meredith the drunk, Angela the uptight accountant, Oscar the gay guy, and many more.  While a show can be a great ensemble there are certain characters/actors who are the glue which hold a show together.  Michael Scott is one of those characters, and saying goodbye to his character this week (again) was another painful experience.

Before I relive my pain of losing Steve Carell's Michael Scott, let's look at some of the names above, and examine why those actors leave the show, and how their absence affected their perspective series.

Shelley Long left Cheers for a couple of reasons; she wanted to explore her film career, and based on listening to behind the scenes talk she was mistreated by the cast because of her attitude.  Long acted like Diane off the set, as much she did while on camera.  Diane was a central part of the show; she added the conflict, she was the opposite of all the other characters the refined woman working in the bar.  Diane also added that extra heat with her on and off again relationship with Sam.  The Sam and Diane would they won't they was the talk of everyone, it was "water cooler gossip."

Kelsey Grammer helped ease the transition of a Diane-less Cheers, and the show survived and did quite nicely after she left.  While Diane may have been the center of the show, she certainly was not missed (viewership remained strong).  Long's career took a massive nose dive, and while she gets somewhat small guest work these days (Modern Family) she has not had a steady on screen career since she left the show.

Gary Burghoof, and McLean Stevenson from M*A*S*H had the same career fate as Long, but M*A*S*H lasted much longer after Stevenson left and a year or two after Burghoof.  These characters were important to shows ensemble, but the shows lived on while their careers faded.  Sometimes celebrities think they can do more, but often the reason they are popular is because the of the show itself rather than the star, or even the character.

Some characters may have left their incredibly popular show to go and star in their own series, with the character of the same name.  Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman both left The Mary Tyler Moore Show in order to provide more context for their character.  Harper's show Rhoda was a big hit, and won the actress an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role.  While after this series she was known for diva demands, and booted off the show Hogan Family (they killed her off), the actress had a lot of success.While Cloris Leachman never won an Emmy for her show Phyllis; she is now one of the actors to win the most Primetime Emmy Awards and stars in the hit sitcom Raising Hope.

The situation with Harper and Leachman is a rare occasion, but the reason their parent show remained successful was because Mary still had her workplace, and both Rhoda and Phyllis were part of her outside world.  The creative minds behind Moore's show were brilliant, they created one of the most well balanced television sitcoms of all time.

Let's jump back into the modern example, of Carell leaving The Office.  I personally applaud Carell for leaving this show, while he was on top and the show was reaching its creative downturn.  Throughout his last season the show did a wonderful job wrapping up his stories with his co-workers, with him outsmarting Oscar, outgrowing Todd Packer, and finally getting the girl, Holly. Michael's goodbye episode was one of the saddest sitcom episodes ever, and losing him was like losing your most valuable player.

The Office attempted to build excitement with Will Ferrell as a potential boss, but this was temporary, and failed on all levels.  Then they paraded a variety of potential celebrity managers from Jim Carrey to Ray Romano, and eventually ended up with James Spader, who eventually became the CEO, and was replaced by Andy Bernard (Ed Helms).  While Helm's Andy should have been the original choice the show wasted time with outsiders.

After Carell left show the show has gone on to last two more seasons (this being the second and last).  While the show has lasted two more years fans have seemed to abandon ship.  I gave the show a shot, and have watched episodes here and there, but the show just has never felt the same without Michael.  While the ensemble is still funny, the show should ended two seasons ago, and let go of the thought that they could continue on without their fearless leader in Dunder Mifflin.

With the show ending this year I have grown nostalgic, and for the first time navigate the open waters of a show with Steve Carell all of the way through for the first time.  I am not looking forward this experience, and I will back peddle if I was wrong.  The moral of the story is that shows need to know when its time to say goodbye, rather than allowing actors to leave.  The Mary Tyler Moore Show is one example of this working well, but even the show runners and actors knew that after seven great seasons it was time to throw in the towel, and end on top.

2012's Best and Worst in Television: The Episodes

Best Television Episodes

Community “Basic Lupine Urology” How do you spoof Law and Order by paying homage to the show while making fun of the procedural, ask Community, because they are the master.  I may be a bit biased because to me this is the funniest show on the air, but this show is of the hook.  From a hilarious cross examination by Annie to Abed and Troy switching from good to bad cop, there is no reason to stop this show.

“Troy: How did we get the short straw?

Abed: It's not a short straw. It's a hot potato.

Troy: Yeah, well, it looks pretty cold to me.

Abed: Cold or dead?.

Troy: Survey says...

Abed: We can't both do the zinger.”

Game of Thrones “Black Water” One of the best directed episodes of the year, and that I have ever seen in television history.  The battle mixed with the genuine brilliant story telling is so well done.  Game of Thrones had a solid season, but this episode catapulted the season into greatness.  How this episode was ignored by the Emmy Awards in the directing category is beyond me.  From the action to Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey’s great on screen acting chemistry this was off the hook.

Mad Men-“The Other Woman”- Mad Men had its weakest season (which is not saying much), but there were some episodes that were out of this world amazing.  “The Other Woman” highlighted one of the most difficult stories as Joan gave up her body to help land the Jaguar account, and become a partner.  Joan steals the episodes and her scenes with Pete, Roger, Don, and Lane are brilliant.  Peggy also completes her growth as she steps out of Don’s shadow on her own.

Homeland- Q&A-Cat and mouse finally catch up to one another.  Carrie is finally justified on her opinion when everyone at the CIA finally finds out that Brody was a terrorist.  This episode takes place almost entirely in the interrogation room, and its brilliance is sealed in the final moments when Carrie confronts Bordy.  If you take out Brody’s daughter’s storyline, this is one of the most perfect episodes.

Revenge “Reckoning” The best season finale of last year!  Revenge knows how to ramp up the drama, while this year the show is a bit more like Alias (good and bad thing), the season ender was one of the most exciting episodes of a television series.  With twists and turns, cliffhangers about major deaths, and Emily finally being challenged, there was a lot of good here.

Parks and Recreation “The Debate” -Leslie Knope versus. Bobby Newport in a debate to hilariously end all debates.   This is not the end of her campaign, but one of the funniest moments where these two go toe to toe on the stage.  While this remains the main story, the best side story involves Andy reenacting his favorite films because their cable is out and they can’t watch the debate.   This episode proves this ensemble fires on all cylinders.

Worst Television Episodes

Grey’s Anatomy-“Flight” Enough already Shonda!  Stop needlessly killing your characters in these awful tragic accidents.  Losing both Lexie and Mark has proven to set your show in a downward spiral (no pun intended).  You continue to use major plot devices to drive the story rather than let natural character development occur.  Your fans are getting fatigue with this crazy episodes.

How I Met Your Mother “The Autumn of Breakups”-Wait didn’t Ted and Victoria break up in season one over Robin, and wait didn’t Ted tell Robin he loved her last season, and things ended incredibly bad for Ted?  Don’t we already know Robin ends up with Barney?  Why are writers wasting their time and their fans time with retread story lines over and over and over again.  Pick the mother!!

Glee “Dynamic Duets”- Thwap! Bam! Pow!  Blaine and his super hero club came off and cloying, and odd, rather than a cute way for him to get over Kurt.  Couldn’t they have just had him going through a crisis rather than dress up in spandex in order to be tempted back into the world of the Warblers.  I am tired of this shows absolutely poor character development, and storyline progression.  This episode proved this show needed to pick a steadier direction rather than fracturing the direction of the show to NY, Ohio and wherever else folks may be.  This episode stands as something beyond camp, but just an awful train wreck.

Revolution “Pilot” One of the worst pilots I have watched in years, this show had no charismatic characters and never made me invested in the mystery nor did I care about the journey.  Now I often give most pilots the benefit of the doubt because they are establishing the story, and building at something bigger.  This show looked like all of the most recent Lost wannabe shows like Alcatraz, the re-make of V, etc.  Stop trying too hard!

The Office “Here Comes Treble” This show has fallen so far from grace, and even fans know this show is no longer relevant or even funny (most of the time).  This season’s Halloween episode entitle “Here Comes Treble” is proof.  Trying to combine four or five entertaining stories can be provide even a mess with longer dramatic episodes, so why add this element to a comedy.  No storyline seemed to hit its groove.

Unlikable Television Characters Part 1: The Ruiners

I have recently been watching The Office (USA) again, and I am on the fifth season of the show.  I love the characters on that show for so many different reasons they each have their qualities that makes them an important part of the ensemble.  So you may ask who have I never like that is a part of this show?  While re-watching the fifth season I have been forced the re-live the the awful character Charles Miner played by the talented actor Idris Elba.  Charles Miner was brought in to tear down the economic walls of the company, and create the storyline that gave Michael Scott the chance to have his own paper company.  This plot device forced viewers to deal with a character that was just not funny or like able.  When a character hates Jim and taunts him you know there is a problem with them.  I was glad that this character did not last long, and I think the producers and writers knew he was not meant to last.Elba's character was a minor (no pun intended) character in the history of that show, but he still makes me dread watching the last part of the fifth season of The Office. 

Most of the time I think unlikeable characters can come in the form of characters leaving and new people stepping in, or re-casts of popular characters.  I remember when both Jean Smart and Delta Burke left Designing Women in 1991.  The women both left for different reasons but the show still went on with poor imitations who tried to play similar characters.  Now the replacements were played by the talented, Julia Duffy, Jan Hooks, and Judith Ivey, but those three women just could not fill the shoes of the beloved Charlene (Smart) and Suzanne (Burke).  When those two ladies left "that was the night the lights went out in Georgia!"

I was talking to my friend Eric about Buffy the Vampire Slayer the other day and it "dawned" on me (pun intended) that I loathed Dawn Summers!  Season five of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of my favorite seasons of the show, and Sarah Michelle Gellar just knocked every episode out of the park, especially in the episode where her mother dies (I cry every time I see it).  Dawn turns up at the end up of the first episode in the fifth season "Buffy vs. Dracula" and from then on her whining her my ears and left a bad taste in my mouth.  It could be the actress, I am not a big fan of Michelle Trachtenberg; she is the reason I stopped watching Gossip Girl as well.  The Dawn character was quintessential to the entire fifth season, but the character grated on me.

On another vampire related topic, I strongly dislike the Bill Compton and Sam Merlotte in True Blood.  In the beginning of the series Sookie Stackhouse was poised to be in a love triangle with vampire Bill Compton and shifter (can change into animals) Sam Merlotte.  Now I have only read the first book so my frame of references is mainly the show, but as a fan of the show I can't imagine watching a show that centered around those three characters.  Without giving away too many spoilers and Sookie's current romantic entanglements I will simply focus on these two men, the worst two characters on the show.  Bill is just boring, I find nothing interesting in his vampire character.  They have gone into his back story, but there is no charm or charisma.  On the other hand his counterpart Eric is just an amazing character, and glamours me into appreciating him.  I started out liking Sam, but his evolution into this dark character and his past has made him more unlikeable, and a character that I do not care much about.  I am not interested in his family, or what happens to him.  The only purpose of his character is the fact that he owns the bar.  I did however enjoy the homoerotic dream Sam had about Bill because Sam drank his blood.

I reached out to my friends on facebook, and there were a fewpeople  who talked about the characters on Everybody Loves Raymond.   I have to agree with this, this is one show that I can't watch in syndication.  I find all of the characters incredibly grating (except Frank played by Peter Boyle).  There have been some hilarious moments from this show and the characters have had many funny moments, but I just can't re-watch this show at all.  Many people have different taste in comedy, there are several people out there who probably loathe the characters on 30 Rock, The Office etc and love this show.  I love the characters on Modern Family, but there is just something about this ensemble that as Peter Griffen says "grinds my gears."

My friend Eric and several other people mentioned Kate from Lost.  Kate was probably my least favorite character on Lost; she was also whiney, irritating, I don't get what Jack and Sawyer saw in her character.  Like with many of these characters the likeability factor may be related the the actor and the way they play the character.  I think in this case Evangeline Lilly is the problem; she grew as an actress towards the end of the series and I became a little more impressed with her talent, but I ultimately think that this character could have been much more with a more capable actress.

Jumping the Shark Part 1: The Phantom Menaces

Two things to start: First, I know my blog has been all about movies for the first three months, but sometimes a blogger  just has to change gears in order to keep me writing, second I am tired of television shows lasting past their prime!!!  I was driving home and I heard an ad that had the them song The Office (USA version), and thought "That is one show I am giving up on!"  There is a term for television shows that have gone on too long, and that term is "Jumping the Shark."  The term comes from an episode of Happy Days (1974-1984) when the Fonzie actually jumped over a shark with his motorcycle.  I think the phrase is overused by people, and they try and pinpoint the time when shows "jump the shark" but there are just several shows on the air that need to call it quits.

The Office (NBC, 2005-2013)  I loved watching Michael make a fool of himself, and Jim and Pam make eyes at each other, date, fall in love, get married and have a baby. Then there was Dwight's beet farm, Angela's disapproval, Phyllis and her big jugs, Stanley ornery nature, Kelly being a ditz, Ryan lazy, and of course Andy just being Andy.  The show has a great ensemble with new characters, and now a new boss on the way, but without Steve Carell as Michael Scott, the heart of this show is gone!  I think once Jim and Pam had the baby this show "jumped the shark." Two characters who we all know and love had their happy ending, that's all we needed.  I did love this past season, and seeing Holly and Michael together again, and Michael's last episode was great.  I think the show should have ended, Mary Tyler Moore style with Sabre closing everyone finding new funny jobs, and walking out hugging each other (with Michael).



Desperate Housewives (ABC, 2004-2012)  I remember Marc Cherry saying "I am going to end this show after year 7" and that did not happen we are entering year 8 of this show.  The novelty of this show show wore off after year one, and season two atrocious.  Season 3 was a little better, but this show never found its grove again.  I understand that having a show that is a success is hard to walk away from but the jump in time is where most would say this show "jumped the shark."  I think this show was a one season wonder.  Like Glee the novelty wore off, and the shows quality faded and dipped quickly.  I stopped watching this show the season before the time change and could not happier to have Sunday nights for better shows.

How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 2005-Present)  I am going to paraphrase Jerry Maguire for a second, show me the mother!!! I loved this show in the beginning, it almost realistically describes living in Manhattan (much better than Friends at that) and was just a cute show with a great premise.  Somewhere 6 seasons later we are lost in a tangled mess, and we are no closer to finding the mother of Ted's children.  This show is renewed for two more years, really?! I love Barney and his portrayer Neil Patrick Harris as much as the next as the next person, but even Barney would be telling a fake story to ditch this show.  I don't know if there is a specific moment when this show "jumped the shark" but I am ready to jump ship if they don't do better storytelling.

Grey's Anatomy (ABC-2005-Present)  Cut to Meredith falling in the water drowning, dying, talking to Denny (ugh) and coming back to life, "JUMPING THE SHARK!" I kept watching.  Cut to Izzy having sex in the hospital to a hallucination of Denny because she had a brain tumor "JUMPING THE SHARK!" I kept watching.  I can handle the back and forth romances but this show has been sloppy with that. Lexie to George to Alex to Mark, George with Meredith then Callie then Izzie then on his own.  I gave up this show when they killed off George.  I remember watching the season premiere after that, and stating.  I can't keep going!  The only person I would watch this show for is Sandra Oh, even Chandra Wilson's character lost her spunk.

Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit (NBC, 1999-Present) This show without Stabler and Benson is not SVU!  I think this should have ended a few years ago because the procedural sheen wore off.  Throwing in new characters will not make this show worth watching again.  I think this show jumped the shark when they got rid of Diane Neal. In the beginning this show was about the crime and the character development of the shows actual full time characters.  Today SVU is revolving door for guest stars to score an Emmy nomination.  People like Sharon Stone, Robin Williams, made the show campy rather than something to applaud.  I recently watched the episode with John Stamos and fell as though the show had just lost its emotional heft, and the the guest appearances are a novelty.

Weeds (Showtime, 2005-2012) The premise is great, a suburban mom turns to dealing drugs when her husband dies and leave her with no money.  The first two years of this show was genius, but the plot got tired as they tried to invent even crazier places for Nancy Botwin.  This past season where she and her family were fugitives was terrible, and the season before that was even worse.  Usually Showtime knows when to shut it down, but this show has been a big success for them.  I believe this is the last season, but Nancy and company jumped the shark somewhere around the time when Nancy burns down her whole housing development at the end of season 3.




Ironically most of these shows got their start in 2005, maybe it was something about the year or maybe the shows networks don't know when to give up!  I hope that these shows end soon or that fans revolt and stop watching.

UPDATE:

The Office will close it's doors in May, and How I Met Your Mother will end May 2014 (Desperate Housewives, Weeds have ended).