Best Moments from the 2011 Emmys

The Emmys were on last night, and while the actual show was less than stellar, a few key moments and some well-deserved surprising wins, made it worth watching.

The opening number was way too long. But, once the awkwardness of Jane Lynch singing, wore off, we got to see some great cameos from the casts of The Big Bang Theory, Friday Night Lights, Entourage's Ari and Lloyd, and of course, Jane went back to the 60s to visit the set of Mad Men. Take a look:



Most of last night's winners were predictable, like Jon Stewart, Mad Men for Best Drama, and pretty much the entire cast of Modern Family - you know, the usual. But, when Peter Dinklage won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for his role on Game of Thrones, and Jason Katims was finally recognized by the Academy for the stellar and fantastic writing on Friday Night Lights, we knew it would be an interesting year. And while I have to say that Mrs. Coach (Connie Britton) was robbed, I literally jumped off my couch when Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) won Best Actor in a Drama, which he so rightly deserved. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!



Highlights from Kyle Chandler's acceptance speech included a, "Gosh, almighty", and him finishing his speech off with his signature laugh! Say it with me, 'That was SO Coach Taylor'.

Last but not least, probably the best act of the evening was a prerecorded The Office spoof, which included Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad) visiting Creed at the Scranton branch for a special delivery, and Amy Poehler (speaking Dothraki, might I add), as a new Dunder Mifflin employee!

Full list of last night's Emmy winners.

Entourage: The End

Complex.com

Last night marked the end of our favourite HBO bros after eight (sometimes great, sometimes really bad) seasons, but rumours are already swirling that an Entourage movie is in the works. Even though it'll probably be pretty crappy like the Sex and the City movie was, I'd still watch it.

Entourage started off a force to be reckoned with, revolutionizing the now-overdone 'bromance', genre - a show about the lazy lives of a group of friends to an up-and-coming, but reluctant, movie star. Then as the seasons wore on, with one too many celebirty cameos and a whole lot of repetition, it got kind of tired. For its victory lap season of only eight episodes, Entourage managed to go out with a bang, tying up loose ends while returning our characters to who they were in the beginning, the ones that got us watching in the first place, before they got all serious on us.

So here's to the boys from Queens, who had us hugging it out and shouting "Victory!", every chance we got.

Latest on HBO's Boardwalk Empire & How to Make It in America

Going out to all the HBO fans and addicts (like yours truly!), here's the latest update on the TV shows we are so desperately waiting for.

In case you haven't seen this yet, here's what we can look forward to for the highly anticipated second season of Boardwalk Empire, premiering in September. Looks like Nucky's in for some competition from surrogate son, Jimmy. Although all I'm hoping for is some more screen time for the intriguing and always-captivating, Richard Harrow (Jack Huston).



Plus, season 2 of How to Make It in America gets a second chance to wow us in October. (October 2nd is what I've read.) I think when this one came out last year, we all thought it'd be like 'the new Entourage', but it's a different show and I'm willing to give it another shot to really give me more than just the stellar cast and breathtaking New York scenery.



Speaking of Entourage, it's a bittersweet ending to a ground-breaking television bro-mance that will be missed. Whatever, it's not like I'm shedding too many tears since Entourage will live on in syndication and get extensive replays in my personal DVD collection, that's for sure. The final season, only 8 episodes, starts this Sunday (July 24th) and things are definitely up in the air. Vince's career, Ari's marriage and it looks like Sloan sent back E's engagement ring.

HBO and Showtime 2011 Premiere Dates

The latest HBO 2011 Premiere info for Entourage, Boardwalk Empire and How to Make It in America!

Everyone's favourite spring and summer cable shows are finally coming back to TV! Seriously, I love cable and all, but it's hard to handle the too-short seasons and super-long hiatus between them. The HBO and Showtime networks have released the following premiere dates - so fans, go ahead and set your PVRs to record. Too early? Maybe so, but still...

United States of Tara Season 3 (Showtime) starts March 28, 2011.


Nurse Jackie Season 3 (Showtime) starts March 28, 2011.

HBO's finally confirming that True Blood Season 4 (HBO) will premiere June 26, 2011. Thank God, cuz Waiting Sucks.

Weeds Season 7 (Showtime) starts June 27, 2011.

The unofficial word (as in, not directly from HBO) is that the premiere date for the 8th and final season of Entourage (HBO) is July 24, 2011 and I've heard rumors that How To Make It in America (HBO) will be back for it's second season sometime in April 2011, although, according to Lake Bell (Rachel on HTMIIA), they'll be shooting in NYC for the next three months.




UPDATE: The latest, straight from Bryan Greenberg himself, is that How to Make it in America's season 2 premiere date is sometime in September, 2011.

"a guy trying to keep it together while falling apart" - Californication

New additions to the season 4 Californication cast bring with them, added dysfunction and more misunderstandings to be had. This show's got so many familiar faces now it's like watching an episode of Entourage.

Zoe Kravitz - Yes, that's the genetically blessed daughter of Lenny Kravitz and former Cosby Show good-girl, Lisa Bonet (who now, weirdly goes by the name Lilakoi Moon...huh?). Zoe's the bad-ass, lead singer of Queens of Dogtown, Becca's band, and the daughter of Karen's dreamy, new, blue-eyed beau.

Carla Gugino - You may recognize Hank's new attorney, Abby, as the one-time agent-slash-girlfriend of Vince Chase on Entourage. It was inevitable that she would end up in Hank's bed at some point, since all seemingly-independent and powerful women tend to melt when it comes to him.

Michael Ealy - He's so pretty that I have a hard time looking away from his piercing blue eyes. Making his mark  in Barber Shop, and then later in Beyonce's 'Halo' video, Michael's doing double duty right now on Californication and on The Good Wife (that show's so hot right now).

Rob Lowe - Former brat-packer and West Wing-er, Rob's always kind-of, sort-of around in Hollywood, and is doing a bang-up job as the eccentric and absolutely whacked-out Eddie Nero. His best line so far, "I think we should kill someone tonight. I mean like a hobo or something."

Review: The Fighter Gives Good Vibrations

TheFighterMovie.com

Who would've thought back in the 90s that Marky Mark, underwear model and rapper extraordinaire, would continue to wow us, and not (only) with his washboard abs.

People tend to forget how talented Mark Wahlberg actually is. Not only did he put together the once ground-breaking and hilarious, (now fizzling) Entourage, first to really showcase the bro-mance. But he was also Oscar-nominated in one of the greatest Gangster films ever, The Departed, playing a wise-ass detective and the only man left standing - an amazing accomplishment in a film where everyone else dies. Not to mention, you've officially made it when you get to work with Scorsese on just about anything.

Also starring a barely recognizable Christian Bale and Amy Adams, The Fighter is an intense and uplifting (based on a true) story about Micky “The Irish” Ward and his rise from ‘stepping stone’ boxer to his World Championship win. It's about an underdog overcoming physical and emotional obstacles (including probably the craziest, most dysfunctional family ever seen on film) to do what he loves. But really, at the root of it all was the relationship between two brothers, one always in the shadow of the other. And it's pretty good, too, with a scrappy and gritty feel reminiscent of Rocky.

Christian Bale's performance as big brother Dicky Eklund is jaw-dropping. He's pretty much guaranteed himself an Oscar nomination, for his convincing portrayal of a crack-addicted, washed-up boxer not ready or willing to come to terms with his disappointing life. It's kind of a sad reality that athletes must face once they pass their prime. Many turn to drugs to chase that high from winning, or to mask the disappointment they feel from losing.

We get a hard look at the tough lives of the working class, blue-collar residents of Lowell, Massachusetts and I can see some getting angry with their harsh depiction. At times, you don't know whether it's appropriate to laugh, because parts are actually quite funny (in a sad way), but a crack-head jumping out of a window shouldn't really be funny.

The film opens December 10th. Go see it.

HBOhmygod, I love you just as you are.

In the world of TV, it’s not enough anymore to have a great story.  To survive in today’s environment, networks that are managing to come out on top are keeping up with what people want. 

HBO understands this, that interaction between viewers and the brand only helps to enhance the experience.  They manage to stand out from the crowd and connect with us right where we’re already spending our time, online.

Aside from the usual Facebook pages, they have character blogs and twitter accounts, that completely take on the behaviours of the characters we already love.  If you’re a fan, make sure you take a look at Vampire Jessica's (True Blood) and Lloyd's (Entourage) blogs. We all love to get a little something extra.

Also, fans of foursquare need  to check out my new favourite iPhone app, GetGlue.  HBO’s even gotten involved, giving out badges for ‘checking in’ to certain movies, music, tv shows, etc.  Not going to lie, but as an entertainment geek, I’m already obsessed with checking-in and offering my two cents.  GetGlue, it’s genius.

New movies and shows coming out should take notice, because people are watching!  Even Snoop Dogg, who recently wrote a song and made a music video dedicated to Sookie Stackhouse and the True Blood Gang!



Given that it’s a cable television channel, the buzz they’ve managed to create around True Blood is crazy.  Their poster teasers prior to this season got fans so interested that we were eagerly counting down till the first episode (or maybe it was just me).  And it doesn’t hurt that the product is genuinely good, although I may be biased.

Oh, and just to add to my love of cable tv, I totally got retweeted by the official Weeds Twitter account!  That's pretty cool when you're a fan.

The Beginning of The End.

Entourage is definitely on its way out.  It's a natural course that all shows must go through until finally, they're just done.  Sunday's episode was basically Ari running around like a chicken with his head cut off, E doing absolutely NOTHING at work when he's supposed to be some big-shot agent now.  (On a side note, big shot agent repping Bob Saget?, who hasn't had a hit-anything since Full House?)  And Lloyd, my favourite of Ari's endless past assistants, has even lost his shine with the classic and witty Ari-Lloyd banter taking a backseat to his new job as agent.  And, correct me if I'm wrong, but the biggest thing that happened last episode was Vince cut his hair.  I get that it's a 'big deal' since he's had his Screech-like curly-do since the beginning and we've kind of come to the end here.  Unofficially, of course.  But, really, I think the show has run its course.  Us die-hard fans will keep watching no matter what, but there's only so much time I can spend watching a show where nothing actually happens.  Ahem, Hills fans will know what I'm talking about here.

The problem with Entourage is that all the characters individually are so dynamic and awesome that it's hard, in the ridiculously short half-hour, to really give enough screen time and credit to each character.  Remember back in the show's heyday when Drama first shouted 'VICTORY!' or when Ari first uttered the now infamous term, "Let's Hug it Out, Bitch!"  I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no iconic element to this season so far.  It’s definitely become more about putting in as many famous faces as possible, than really delivering fresh stories each season. 

And on that note, let’s take a little trip with the boys from Queens, to probably one of the most memorable scenes of the series.

Season of Season Finales

Spring has come and almost gone, and with that, a huge lot of network season finales to choose from. To be completely honest, I've almost given up on network TV for its lack of originality and boring storylines. Basically, it's getting harder and harder for these shows to fight for valuable viewership time.

As it happens every year, networks are canceling both new and long-running shows to make way for a new dose of what they call 'originality', and sometimes this makes sense but of course, I don't always agree.

Number one on me OMG moments for the end of this season is 'Grey's Anatomy'. WOW! Looks like Shonda Rhimes still has some things up her sleeve. To quote from Godfather, Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! That two-part season finale literally just revived my love for a show that I've found increasingly boring and uninspiring this season, with too much flip flop of characters and too many new faces trying to over-compensate for the strong absence felt when Katherine Heigl made the worst exit on a show since Judy Winslow from Family Matters walked up the stairs to change her clothes and never came back down.

Anyway, Grey's was amazing, as I said, filled with such suspense, terror, and shocking surprises. Basically it felt like no character was safe and any of them could have lived or died. Got to hand it to the writing - now if only it had been like this all season...

On another note, with the season of season finales comes the season of cancellations.
The only one that stands out for me is CBS' 'Accidentally On Purpose', a funny half-hour comedy with the hilarious Jenna Elfman and the cutest guy on TV, Jon Foster playing her baby daddy. Him alone was enough to keep me tuning in each week, and, although it wasn't exactly the most original story (20-something guy gets 30-something woman pregnant after a one-night stand and they try to make it work), the supporting characters of her cooky sister and awkward brother-in-law, and her boyfriend's under-achieving friends, made for some great comedy.

Also, I just heard that next season will be the last for Steve Carell aka Michael Scott on 'The Office'. Oh the horror, how will I live without it if there's no more 'That's what she said' and unintentional racial and sexist slurs from everyone's favourite regional manager. Wonder if the show will go on without Steve, and if so, I strongly nominate Dwight K. Schrute to take over as the boss. Would make for some fantastic comedy.

Anyway, with the end of network TV seasons, comes the highly anticipated new seasons of 'True Blood' and 'Entourage' on the fabulous HBO. Also, new episodes of 'Nurse Jackie', 'The United States of Tara' are still airing, which means there's still stay-at-home fun to be had this summer.