The Dope Box TV Blog

Moments of delight

1. Anna Paquin winning! Since True Blood is a show that people either adore or loathe, I thought she was a long shot. When she won I was embarrassingly over-enthused. After her name was announced, she stole a smooch from Stephen Moyer (who looked quite proud). Sookie and Bill are dating in real life! I’m going exclamation point crazy!!! See what I mean about embarrassing?

2. Ricky Gervais sauntering up to the mic while nursing a beer, and, noticing that the crowd had no interest in quieting, said: “Listen. How rude are you lot? Just ‘cause you’re film stars…Shoosh!” Later, as a nod to Extras (in which Kate had a guest spot), he said: “Well done, Winslet! I told you to do a Holocaust movie. The awards come.”

3. Glenn Close, grinning like a schoolgirl when Johnny Depp was onstage.

4. Patrick Dempsey and Amy Poehler, each rushing to be the first to say ”And the Golden Globe goes to…”

5. Tracy Morgan accepting the award for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy for 30 Rock. “Tina and I had an agreement that if Barack Obama won, I would speak for the show from now on. I’m the face of post-racial America! Deal with it, Cate Blanchett!” After a whisper from Alec Baldwin, Tracy thanked Jerry Zucker and called him “Jay Z,” with the actual Jay Z in the audience.

6. Tina Fey winning Best Actress in a TV series - Musical or Comedy. I loved that Jane Krakowski got to present her with the award. And Tina’s speech: “I’ve always loved the Hollywood Foreign Press. As a kid I had all the Hollywood Foreign Press action figures.” “If you ever start to feel too good about yourself they have this thing called the internet. And you can find a lot of people there who don’t like you. I’d like to address some of them now.” She then proceeded to give screen names and tell folks to “suck it.” Although Kathy Griffin probably has dibs on “suck it” awards speeches, it still made me chuckle.

Head-scratchers and Gripes

1.  Let me just start out by saying I think the supporting actor/actress categories are tripe. They combine series, mini-series, and made-for-TV-movie nominees. There should be a separate category for series actors and television-movie actors. Otherwise, you have people like Neil Patrick Harris (who is the only reason I continue to watch How I Met Your Mother) up against guys like Tom Wilkinson. Come on Hollywood Foreign Press! Give the series television actors a shot!

2. Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama: I was hardcore rooting for Hugh Laurie, Jon Hamm, or Michael C. Hall (three of my Most Watchable Men of 2008) and would have been happy with a Jonathan Rhys-Meyers win as well. But, my awards fears were realized when Gabriel Byrne got the Globe…and wasn’t even there to accept it! When Zac Efron has to accept an award on your behalf it should count as a default and be handed to the runner-up.

3. Miley Cyrus (plus Billy Ray) and the Jonas Brothers? Who let the “virginal” tween acts in?

4. I could have sworn I heard several people booing Shirley MacLaine.

5. Pairing Rainn Wilson (who is hilarious and astute with improv) with Blake Lively was cruel. They should have found her an intellectual equal. Was Elmo not available?

Here is a full list of the winners for the television categories:

Best Television Series - Drama

Dexter

House

In Treatment

Mad Men (Woot! I finally got past the first few boring episodes and loved the rest of the season.)

True Blood

 Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters

Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order

January Jones - Mad Men

Anna Paquin - True Blood (Woot!)

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

 Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment (Boo!)

Michael C. Hall - Dexter

Jon Hamm - Mad Men

Hugh Laurie - House

Jonathan Rhys Meyers - The Tudors

 Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

 30 Rock (Woot!)

Californication

Entourage

The Office

Weeds

 Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?

America Ferrera - Ugly Betty

Tina Fey - 30 Rock (Woot!)

Debra Messing - The Starter Wife

Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds

 Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock (Woot!)

Steve Carell - The Office

Kevin Connolly - Entourage

David Duchovny - Californication

Tony Shalhoub - Monk  

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

A Raisin In The Sun

Bernard And Doris

Cranford

John Adams (Woot!)

Recount

 Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Judi Dench - Cranford

Catherine Keener - An American Crime

Laura Linney - John Adams (Woot!)

Shirley MacLaine - Coco Chanel

Susan Sarandon - Bernard And Doris

 Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Ralph Fiennes - Bernard And Doris

Paul Giamatti - John Adams (Woot!)

Kevin Spacey - Recount

Kiefer Sutherland - 24

Tom Wilkinson - Recount

 Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Eileen Atkins - Cranford

Laura Dern - Recount (Ambivalence!)

Melissa George - In Treatment

Rachel Griffiths - Brothers & Sisters

Dianne Wiest - In Treatment

 Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother

Denis Leary - Recount

Jeremy Piven - Entourage

Blair Underwood - In Treatment  

Tom Wilkinson - John Adams (Semi-woot! See gripe #1)

The Golden Globe nominations were announced today and most of them could have been easily predicted. However, there was a little vampirific surprise in the mix. True Blood got a nom for best drama series and Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse) got best dramatic actress. It would really have been a shocker if they’d been cool enough to nominate Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette). In Treatment dominated. I suppose I should watch it then, huh?

Here are the other TV Series Noms (faves are in bold):

Best Television Series - Drama

Dexter; House; In Treatment; Mad Men; True Blood

Thoughts: While I admit Mad Men has had some truly brilliant moments, they lost me during the beginning of the second season. Watching started to feel like a chore (I have several unwatched episodes on my DVR to prove it). Dexter, House, and True Blood dependably deliver and I never put off watching any of them. I wonder what it says about me that my favorites are all bloodbaths. Pretty sure In Treatment will take the Globe though, since they’ve garnered so many noms.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters

Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order

January Jones – Mad Men

Anna Paquin – True Blood

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer

Thoughts: Sally Field is lovely but she hasn’t done anything surprising or different from her usual bag of tricks. Plus, I’m not sure I can handle another of her speeches. I know people love Mariska but I’m not a Law & Order fan. I can’t comment on the whole second season of Mad Men (see above) but January put me to sleep during the first few eps. Kyra will probably take it but I would get a kick out of Anna winning. Sookie 4 life, y’all!

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment

Michael C. Hall – Dexter

Jon Hamm – Mad Men

Hugh Laurie – House

Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors

Thoughts: If the award was for Hottest Portrayal of a King who had Gout, Jonathan would be the man. Gabriel has a real shot at the win. But I would love to see Hugh or Michael walk away with the Globe. Michael’s genius performance as my favorite sociopath has only gotten space-related awards (Satellite, Saturn) and nobody cares about those. But Hugh deserves the award too, since his character is the axis around which everyone else spins.

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

30 Rock; Californication; Entourage; The Office; Weeds

Thoughts:This is perhaps the most competitive category. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them won. Weeds kept me laughing with its brand of risqué and unexpected humor but I would reckon this is 30 Rock’s year.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who?

America Ferrera – Ugly Betty

Tina Fey – 30 Rock

Debra Messing – The Starter Wife

Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds

Thoughts:Although I enjoy Christina as amnesiac Sam, she’s not the funniest lady on the show. Actually, Jennifer Esposito, Melissa McCarthy, and Jean Smart run comedic circles around her. America is in a similar spot, only to a much larger degree. She seems to setup the jokes for her much funnier cast-mates. The Starter Wife was a bit of a snooze. Tina Fey is on a winning streak I wouldn’t mind seeing continue. And Mary-Louise is dependably and creatively amusing as the drug-dealin’ mama of two.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock

Steve Carell – The Office

Kevin Connolly – Entourage

David Duchovny – Californication

Tony Shalhoub – Monk

Thoughts: Is Monk still on the air?

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Eileen Atkins – Cranford

Laura Dern – Recount

Melissa George – In Treatment

Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters

Dianne Wiest – In Treatment

Thoughts: The smart bet would be for one of the In Treatment gals. Out of the bunch, I’ve only seen Rachel Griffiths performance so I have no input on the others.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother

Denis Leary – Recount

Jeremy Piven – Entourage

Blair Underwood – In Treatment

Tom Wilkinson – John Adams

Thoughts: Another competitive one, I think. All these guys are talented but Neil’s Barney is the highlight of HIMYM for me.

Obvious snubs: Grey’s Anatomy– Even with all the strange plotlines of late, there have been some good performances. I think people may just be too frustrated with the series to even consider it. Also, Lost, Friday Night Lights, Pushing Daisies (cancelled, I know, but fantastic nonetheless).