Dream Emmy Ballot 2014: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Anna Chulmsky as Amy Brookheimer in Veep

I have always liked Amy, but she owned this season the way she owned the campaign manager position. As Amy watched Dan take on the position she sat back watched him crash and burn.  Amy swooped right in, and is one bad ass politico. Amy is one tough cookie; she is ruthless, but cares a lot about her boss.  Amy also has some of the best one liners, and she stings like bee, she sure isn't a butterfly.

Best Amy Quote "If there is a dirty trick I can not stand its honesty."

Marcia Gay Harden as Dr. Diane Buckley in Trophy Wife

It's hard to play the straight person, but Marcia Gay Harden who is better known for her dramatic roles knocked it out of the park as Dr. Diane Buckley.  Diane is Peter's first ex-wife; she is the super serious, scary mom/ex-wife.  Diane's stare was withering, but her intelligent one-liners made Trophy Wife even funnier.  Gay Harden is a true comedic talent, and needs to do more comedy.  Watching Diane who takes everything too seriously become addicted to scandal and act like Olivia Pope was also amazing.

Best Diane quote: "Your husband works for Blackberry, and your worried about me" 

Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy in Modern Family

Haley grew a lot last year when she was kicked out of college, but it was great to watch her fall in love/like with someone who was not only not her type, but exactly like her dad.  Sounds creepy, but it was actually cute.  At the end of the season we watched Haley mature, and find out that there not only are there deeper levels to her, but that she started to like a dork.  Hyland has grown in this role and she is great not only with her one-liners, but tackling the emotional development of her character.

Best Hayley Quote(s): "Wait is fire weather" and "That's a Library? I thought it was a church for a religion that didn't allow make-up"

Allison Janney as Bonnie in Mom

Who would have thought trying to kick drug and alcohol dependency could be funny? Allison Janney helps add a whole new comedic level to dependancy.  This Chuck Lorre comedy is his most serious, and while Janney packs a punch with her comedic timing; she also is a good whipping post for Anna Farris, and new series regular Mimi Kennedy.  Janney is one of the hard working actresses today and while most people know she can handle the dramatics (The West Wing) she has continued to prove her comic timing in her films, and now here.

Best Bonnie Quote: "Oh look a tester tube of vaginal lubricant, why don't they just put a gun in here"

Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro in Girls

How do you describe Shosh, well she is grounded, but unrealistic; she is shallow but love able, and well she's Shosh.  Shoshanna is the scene stealer of the show, and she in this season she was the truth-teller.  In the episodes entitled "Beach House" Shoshanna finally called everyone out for being selfish and narcissitic, while it was a little pot calling the kettle black, this biting moment had one of the funniest deliveries, and that's thanks to Mamet whose speed talking helped make season 3  of Girls even better.

Best Shoshanna Quote:  "Basically it’s been a very sexually adventurous time for me. I’m alternating nights of freedom with nights of academic focus. So at the end of my senior year I will have had both experiences while also still being super well prepared for the professional world."

Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Gina was probably the most unique new character created on television this year, and Chelsea Peretti has done a fantastic job making her one of the funniest receptionist on television since Karen Walker.  While Gina was always out there, she scarred kids into not being turning into future criminals, and was also an interesting case study for psychologists.  Gina was also able to develop her softer side talking about her past with Jake, and showing her vulnerability when her apartment was robbed.

Best Gina Quotes "My mother cried the day I was born because she knew she'd never be prettier than me" and "You look like you are starring in an Albanian version of The Cosby Show"

Runners-Up: Stephanie Beatriz as Detective Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Kaley Cuoco as Penny in The Big Bang Theory, and Alison Brie as Annie in Community 

Dream Emmy Ballot 2014: Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series

What's the key to a strong guest performance in a comedy, sometimes its merely about the 

laughs other times it has to do with their impact, maybe a key scene.  Over the years there have been a variety great guest performance in comedies that have had one or both make their short time on their series memorable.

Some of the funniest performances in both these categories over recent years have come from Arrested Development, there was Henry Winkler, Liza Minelli, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Charlize Theron, Scott Baio, the list goes on.  30 Rock was another show that packed a punch with their guest stars, many of whom were repeat offenders throughout the shows history, like John Hamm, Elaine Stritch, and Steve Buscemi to name a few.  This year Modern Family has started to join the ranks, with that recurring hilarious friend/co-worker like Elizabeth Banks, Nathan Lane, and Rob Riggle.  

Over the last decade or so many shows have blended drama with their comedy.  Ally McBeal was a quirky gal, at a quirky law firm, but she sure did have a lot of drama; she even saw therapist Tracey Ullman.  Desperate Housewives always seemed to have more drama, but their were always a ton of laughs.  There weren't a ton of laughs when Caroline Bixby held up a store, but she had a ton of impact.  In recent years, especially this year Louie and Girls fits within this mold.  Sarah Baker was funny in her episode of Louie, but it was her speech about fat girls that captivated people.  Girls June Squibb's scenes were both funny, and sad, but the woman knows how to sell.

Over the years comedy series have evolved, this year has a been a weaker year in these categories, but here are the dream nominees for these categories.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Sarah Baker-Louie

Linda Cardelinni-New Girl

Eszter Ballnt-Louie 

Mimi Kennedy-Mom

June Squibb-Girls

Lauren Weedman-Looking

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Gary Cole-Veep

Scott Bakula-Looking

Brad Garrett-The Crazy Ones

James Earl Jones-The Big Bang Theory

Nathan Lane-Modern Family

Andrew Rannells-Girls

Dream Emmy Ballot 2014: Outstanding Writing and Directing in a Comedy Series

I will start my  first Dream Emmy Comedy ballot, as I am four episodes deep in the second season of Orange is the Black by stating the show is not a Comedy in my book.  The Golden Globes submitted this shows as a drama, but the producers chose to submit this show as comedy at the Emmy Awards.   I do think Orange is the New Black is the perfect example of the growth of television, nothing completely comedic, nor dramatic.  

I remember over the years, as television raised me, crying when Edith died in All in the Family, or when Dorothy ran in and out of the house, saying goodbye to her best friends, in the last episode of The Golden Girls, or when best friends Will & Grace fought about having a child.  There have always been sad moments in comedic television.  

Yet Orange is the New Black seems to do the opposite of what those classic comedies have done.  Orange is the New Black takes a look in the depths of the souls of these complex women who happen to be prisoners.  Let's take a look what made use laugh this year.

I know you can't not belly laugh as a Vice President curses, while attempting to maintain model political composure.  Selena Meyer is everything you imagine politics to be today. Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid cursing under the breath by trying to do the best politicking.  Veep soared as Selena navigated a Debate, and tried navigate the pro-life/pro-choice debate.

Writing is not everything, and while it sets the tone, the direction keeps up the pace.  Modern Family is always an example of precise direction.  This season felt fresh, as the show focused on the central point of Cam and Mitch's wedding, and while both episodes about the wedding itself were excellent, it was the families trip to Vegas, which showed how veteran Modern Family director, Gail Mancuso, and Emmy winner last year for the show, knows how to go full speed ahead with this cast.

Here is my list of Dream Nominees:

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Brooklyn Nine-Nine-Pilot-Phil Lord & Chris Miller

Community-Geothermal Escapism-Joe Russo
Enlisted-Alive Day-Phill Trail

Looking-Looking for the Future-Andrew Haigh

Modern Family-Las Vegas-Gail Mancuso

Parks and Recreation-Moving Up-Michael Schur

Veep-Debate-Armando Iannucci 

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Broad City-Pussy Weed-Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer

Brooklyn Nine-Nine-The Party-Gil Ozeri & Gabe Liedman,

Girls-Beach House-Lena Dunham, Judd Apatow, and Jenni Konner

Louie-Model-Louis C.K.

Modern Family-Message Received-Steve Levitan

Veep-Alicia-Armando Iannucci & Sean Gray & Ian Martin

Series Finales for Anti-Heroes: Can fans ever be Happy?

Within the last year two series about anti-heroes came to and end, one ending was lauded, the other destroyed,  Breaking Bad was the show applauded, Dexter ended with a gut punch to fans.  This will explore the growth of the anti-hero in television, and the possibility of the eventual disappointment fans have because of the nature of the trajectory of an anti-heroes' path.

Before I discuss the ending of the two most recent shows, let's look at the beginning of the anti-hero era with The Sopranos, and it's main gumba Tony Soprano.  The Sopranos created a mobster like no one before, a tough guy who dealt with anxiety and would sit on a therapists couch.  Who could imagine a man like this spilling his guts to a shrink about what unnerves him as a part of his daily routine with his life as a mafioso boss.  The Sopranos is widely known as one of the best television series of all time, but there is one fact that tarnishes it memory, and some would describe it as "that fucking cut to black."

When The Sopranos its last year was on a critical upswing, the show was bumping off main characters as a way to clean house and push the show toward its much anticipated finale.  As I sat in my parents house and television cut to black I remember yelling down to them, "did we we just lose power?"  At the time there was no twitter, and social was not around to fill in the gaps, or weigh in on the matter.  A few moments later the credits rolled.  I remember feeling puzzled, baffled, what was the meaning of the cut to black? Did Tony die?  I will admit I hated the fade to black in its immediacy, but over the years I have had the opportunity to process and have come to the conclusion that it was a genius way to end the show.

Why do I like the ending, how did I come to that conclusion?  Well I think there is no other way to look at the ending than as Tony's demise, if you watch the last sequence carefully it can all be laid out, seen by watching the precise layout of knowing the show, and the framework they constructed the entire series for the death of characters.  The show was also mainly seen through the POV of Tony, and with this cut to black, it could mean the end of his character.  The show gives you deeper things to think about.  Many still hate the ending, its a divisive one, which lays the groundwork for ending a series about an anti-hero.

So what about our two most recent anti heroes?  Let's start with Breaking Bad's Walter White.  Walter White's journey was a ramp up, each season of the show built to the frenzied finale, it was mainly as a year's journey as a man tries to battle cancer, pay for his treatment and find with the drug underworld to control the meth drug trade in his area.  Like the show, the popularity grew year after year with most people finding the show towards the last 2 or 3 seasons.  In an interview with Entertainment Weekly (EW) series creator Vince Gilligan stated that he started crafting the series finale toward the end of season, and that he had several different permutations building to the end with his writers.  When asked about the pressure to create the perfect series finale Gilligan said the following to EW:

"I love it when a TV show or a movie ends well, but having said that, yeah, we may be reaching a point where maybe there’s a little too much pressure put on the ending of a series. Not to name any names, but I could think of TV series dating back to when I was a little kid that perhaps I didn’t love the last episode so much, but that did not ruin my appreciation for the series as a whole. It is possible to put too much pressure on the ending of a series, and it can be counterproductive at best. On the other hand — I’m being a real devil’s advocate when I say I think it’s a healthy thing for any showrunner and his or her staff of writers to work their damndest to make the best possible ending that they can conceive of. The truth is, every showrunner out there does his or her best to make the show from beginning to end as satisfying as possible. So of course they’re going to try to make the best ending they can. We should applaud the ones that stick the landing, so to speak, but the ones that don’t perhaps end as well as they began, so what? It shouldn't dampen our enthusiasm for those shows." (http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/04/14/vince-gilligan-breaking-bad-finale-better-call-saul/)

As a fan of Breaking Bad, there was only one way the show could end, and it for me the series finale was perfection, the arc of Walter White, his family, and his friends seemed complete.  The reason this series finally and the show seem complete is that Gilligan's mind put together a clear path for his anti-hero, like the perfect three act play the journey of Walter White from beginning to end made sense.

Not every anti-heroes' journey can feel so complete.  Let's take a look at Dexter Morgan next.  Dexter started in 2006, and the show was almost an instant hit, and remains to be Showtime's most watched series. Dexter a forensics blood splatter analyst by day, and avenging murder by night, well and day sometimes. Dexter traps and kills people who get away with crimes they should have been punished for.  Based on books this shows creation made a ton of sense, the concept, the cast, all fit perfectly within the first couple of years

Unlike Breaking Bad, the creative minds behind Dexter changed hands a couple of times, so the direction of the show never seemed to give a fully complete understanding of where the show was going to go next.  The last season of the series is proof that the executive producers did not understand the way complete the journey of an anti-hero.  Throughout the last season Dexter battled his origin, this story arc ended poorly with no emotional oomph.  Dexter's serial killer ex then came into town, and there was a subplot with Dexter's sister Deb, her new line of work, and the new villain that made no sense to the build up to a conclusion.  Then there was that series finale with a hurricane, and Dexter dumping his sister's body where he dumped all of this other victims.  Did Dexter feel like Deb was a victim of his revenge?  Possibly, but the show went off the deep, and producers just lost sight of things.  In an interview with EW the producer's stated they had been thinking about the ending, more the last scene, for a few years, which makes sense.  Dexter ending up alone was perfect.  The rest seemed thrown together, and haphazard, as though there was no understanding of the central focus of every episodes in the show.  If you want a good laugh as a Dexter fan read this interview with EW http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/09/23/dexter-interview-series-finale/.

The anti-heroes' journey is complicated, some have been successful like Walter White, and Tony Soprano, while others fallen flat in the end.  Next year Mad Men will come to an end, will the journey of Don Draper feel complete?  At the finale this past May, it seemed as though Matthew Weiner had put things on the right path. Weiner knows his show and his characters much like Gilligan did.  As more and more shows come to life about anti-heroes there is a lot of pressure to create the perfect ending.  Many people want to watch a "happy ending" but the truth of the matter is that these shows are meant to shed light on the flaws of humanity.  These shows are so prevalent today because people want to see the flaws in others, they want to seek comfort in their own flaws.

As a fan you have to let go, there is no guarantee, that ending will be perfect, I will give fans of Dexter a pass, but when you follow the journey of anti-hero, their ending may dark, complicated, or ambiguous, that's the reason you started the journey.

Dream Emmy Ballot 2014: Outstanding Main Title Design, and Main Title Music

Do you get excited as the different areas pop up in the opening sequence for Game of Thrones.  Do you sing along with the theme song to True Blood.    The opening sequence to a television series have become one of the most interesting aspects of the shows.

The Outstanding Main Title Design has been given out since 1990 to shows like The X-Files (1994),  ER (1995), Dexter (2007), Mad Men (2008), and Game of Thrones (2011).

The Outstanding Main Title Music has been given out since 1988 to shows like Monk (2003 and 2004), Six Feet Under (2002), and Desperate Housewives (2005).

Both of these categories have also seen some surprising snubs for winners and nominations, Weeds, True Blood, and the first American Horror Story did not win in either category.  The title music for Frasier and Friends both lost in their perspective years.  Most of the time these categories pick some odd ball winners, there are also years when there isn't an interesting title design, or title music.

This year is probably one of the weaker years, the standout Main Title Design of my dream nominees are Turn and True Detective.  These two standout the most because not only to the capture the unique elements of the series itself, but they are also creative.

The biggest stand out for music also goes to Turn, you feel that aspect of the classic revolutionary war time, and it fits with the main title design perfectly.  In the sense of an actual song with lyrics Orange is the New Black is also a stand out, and I like the aura of humor/despair the song provides, much like the series.

Outstanding Main Title Design 

American Horror Story: Coven (F/X)

Black Sails (Starz)

Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

True Detective (HBO)

Turn (AMC)

(Turn-AMC)

Outstanding Main Title Music 

Black Sails (Starz)

The Bridge (F/X)

Masters of Sex (Showtime)

Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

Turn (AMC)

(Orange is the New Black-Netflix)

Dream Emmy Ballot 2014: Outstanding Variety Series

In recent years the Outstanding Variety Series Program category has belonged to Jon Stewart; he won this category from 2003 until 2012, when he was finally bested by his former correspondent's show The Colbert Show in 2013.  Stewart and and Colbert are the most respected names in the the late night game, they have a prestige factor within their shows, but will that change this year?

Late night television has started to put up, as videos and skits they do go viral, making for strong water cooler talk at the office.  With the retirement of Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon has made the tonight show relevant again; he and his bits just knock it out of the park.  NBC and CBS have always dominated late night television, but ABC's investment in Jimmy Kimmell has been wise, he a great host, and like Fallon does great segment with celebrities (Mean Tweets), and even goes out into the public to show people just how stupid they sound.

This category rarely changes, and the winners stay consistent, but does Colbert's win last year change this, or will sentimentality reign?  Over the years the other person to win this category just three shy of Stewart's record was The Late Show with David Letterman, with 6 wins.  Letterman and his show have not been nominated since 2009, will his show make a comeback? NBC's The Tonight has only won this prize twice, once with Carson, and once with Leno as host.  NBC will be submitting both the Leno and Fallon version of the show, who will make the cut?  The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as host has not been nominated since 2003, Conan's version was nominated in 2010.

Two other bridesmaids in this category over recent years are both Saturday Night Live, and Real Time with Bill Maher.  Saturday Night Live has been nominated every year in this category since 2003,  over many years on the air they have only won this award twice in 1976, and 1993.  Bill Maher has had two shows in this category, and been nominated every year but never won.  Does Saturday Night Live belong in this category with such uneven material, and can Bill Maher compete with the new blood?

Variety programming quality has only grown, including variety specials, like the recent Maya Rudolph Variety Hour.  With great variety television I think it's time for the the Emmy Awards to bring back the Outstanding Performer in a Variety Series or Special.  Who deserves to be the six nominees this year?

Outstanding Variety Series

The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)

Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)

Portlandia (IFC)

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)