Creative Arts Winners

Last week, I chose my predictions for the Creative Arts Emmys. I got 47 wrong. However, I got 22 right. They are below:

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

John Lithgow as Arthur Mitchell, Dexter (Showtime)

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

Betty White as Host, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

Jeff Probst as Host, Survivor (CBS)

Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media: Nonfiction

The Jimmy Fallon Digital Experience (LateNightWithJimmyFallon.com)

Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program

Robot Chicken (Cartoon Network)

Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program

Nick News With Linda Ellerbee - The Face Of Courage: Kids Living With Cancer (Nickelodeon

Outstanding Reality Program

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (ABC)

Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music, Or Nonfiction Programming

The 82 Annual Academy Awards (ABC)

Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

Modern Family (ABC)

Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series

Mad Men (AMC)

Outstanding Cinematography For Reality Programming

Survivor (CBS) ["Slay Everyone, Trust No One"]

Outstanding Commercial

The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (Old Spice Body Wash)

Outstanding Short Form Picture Editing

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC) ["6-Bee (Episode 226)"][/i]

Outstanding Picture Editing For A Special (Single Or Multi-Camera)

The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or A Special

Dancing With The Stars (ABC) ["902A"]

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Miniseries Or A Movie

Emma [Masterpiece] (PBS)

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie, Or A Special

The Pacific (HBO) ["Part Five"]

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One-Hour)

Glee (FOX) ["The Power Of Madonna"]

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety, Music Series, Or A Special

The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)

Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

The Pacific (HBO) ["Part Five"]

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series

Dancing With The Stars (ABC) ["Episode 909A"]

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Miniseries, Movie, Or A Special

The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)

When Did Torture and Rape Become OK Mainstream Fare?

Here's what I knew walking into "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Hot A-list actresses were clawing themselves trying to get into the lead role of the remake of this Swedish film. David Fincher, whose "Social Network" movie, about Facebook, is already drawing raves, is going to be directing this remake. And this Swedish movie seemed to come and go without much fanfare, and was now playing at a second-run theatre. One of my friends, who had already seen it, said it was "brilliant."

That was the sum total of what I knew about it. I assumed there was a girl in it who had a dragon tattoo. That's pretty much it.

Now, I realize that most people really know a lot about a movie before they watch it. But this is Hollywood, and I had lived through screener season with this same friend last year, where we saw countless movies without knowing any part of the plot. Most of these were great experiences.

So, at first, as I settled in to this Swedish movie, it seemed like a stylish caper movie. Don't get me wrong, it's exceedingly well done: great writing, great direction, great acting.

But here's the thing. When did it become ok to show violent rapes in movies? Or brutal sadism? Or torture? (In the latter, I'm thinking of the TV show "24" which brought up these same issues with me this season. It has always walked a fine line with exhibiting torture, but this season went especially far. Luckily, with TV I can fast forward through these scenes. In "24," they were trying to extract information, and of course, the only way to do this is through torture. In one scene, one character CUTS OFF another man's hand to get him to talk. Later, one bad guy is attaching electrodes to our hero, Jack Bauer's body. Of course, Jack, being the hero, escapes before he dies from this, but not before serious pain is inflicted. Later in the season, I'm told, Jack comes back to exact revenge and does so by torturing his torturer the same way, but worse.)

When did this become an acceptable mode of dealing with problems? Is it just that we've seen it all, as jaded moviegoers, that we must up the ante by inflicting pain on each other? "No, this guy is REALLY REALLY bad. See how brutally he's raping this woman?"

CAN WE STOP NOW?

Can we please just stop the incessant rape-torture-violence-revenge schematic we seem to be all embroiled in, and perhaps examine an alternate route?

One of the reasons I was (and am) pissed about seeing most of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (I walked out in one of the many "victim is tied up and about to have horrible things done to them" scenes.) is that I consciously and vigorously try to keep this negativity and brutality out of my consciousness. I studiously avoid "serial killer" movies and TV shows, even if that means missing, for example, one of the Best Drama contenders of the year, "Dexter." I don't care how ingeniously some character devises a way to kill someone. The fact is: they are KILLING SOMEONE.

It's not nice, it's not pretty, it's not even humane. I don't care what nice lighting you use to stylize it.

Also, in the case of "24," thankfully finished with its run, the fact of the matter is: Torture doesn't work. People will say anything when they're being tortured. It rarely extracts any kind of useful information.

Worst of all, and back to "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," I really think that spiritually, as a nation, as a world, we need to really, whatever we have to do to get there, walk back from the concept of Revenge as a viable option. The premise being that when someone hurts you, and you come back and hurt them WORSE, the audience cheers.

How about this? How about starting to inform our books and our TV shows and our movies with some humanity?

One of the reasons I continued to watch "24" was that (most of the time anyway, except for that little 'torture' thing) Jack Bauer was a man firmly grounded in morals. He did what was right, for the country, for the world. He might've had to break a few rules along the way, but he was seeing the big picture, so you could look the other way.

What is most disturbing to me, this on the heels of a report that I spoke about in my latest "Whispered Pearls" (WP162*), about the pervasiveness of violence toward women in porn, is that the violence quotient that I'm seeing out there does seem to be increasing. The two men I was seeing "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" with also had no problem at all with the violence exhibited on screen. Images of which I'm still having trouble exorcising from my brain, now days later.

Are men and women different on this? Are men developing an increasingly sadistic, brutal image of their sexuality? Is this really the way men see the world? That revenge and hurting others is the best way out of a bad situation? That is really what's most disturbing to me. Your feedback on this issue would be appreciated. Thanks.


*Whispered Pearls back episodes


PS--One of my readers/viewers just alerted me to the fact that the Swedish book series by Steig Larsson, is actually called: "Milennium: Part 1 - Men Who Hate Women." Boy, is it ever!

Thank you for that update.
******************************

Miche's Creative Arts Emmys Predictions

What are the Creative Arts Emmys, you ask, and why should we care?


Well, lots of people put in a lot of time and effort in their jobs, and it deserves to be recognized. Plus, they can't fit ALL of these awards into one night. They HAD to split it into two. But to me, these Emmys are just as important as the other ones.


Congratulations to everyone who was nominated (and those who weren't). Best of luck to you all.


Here then, are my predictions for the big night (Saturday, August 21, airing on E!).

THE 62ND ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS: CREATIVE ARTS WINNER PREDICTIONS

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

Mike O'Malley as Burt Hummel, Glee (FOX)

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

John Lithgow as Arthur Mitchell, Dexter (Showtime)

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

Betty White as Host, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet Burke, Lost (ABC)

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

Jeff Probst as Host, Survivor (CBS)

Outstanding Voice-Over Performance

Hank Azaria as Moe Syzlak & Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, The Simpsons

Outstanding Animated Program

South Park (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media: Nonfiction

The Jimmy Fallon Digital Experience (LateNightWithJimmyFallon.com)

Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media: Fiction

Glee Hyperpromo And Superfan (Fox.com)

Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program

Robot Chicken (Cartoon Network)

Outstanding Variety, Music, Or Comedy Special

The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)

Outstanding Special Class Program

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (ABC)

Outstanding Children's Program

Hannah Montana (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program

Nick News With Linda Ellerbee - The Face Of Courage: Kids Living With Cancer (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Nonfiction Special

By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama (HBO)

Outstanding Nonfiction Series

American Masters (PBS)

Outstanding Reality Program

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (ABC)

Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking

Patti Smith: Dream Of Life (PBS)

Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming

Bertram van Munster, The Amazing Race (CBS) ["I Think We're Fighting The Germans, Right?"]

Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music, Or Comedy Series

Chuck O'Neil, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) ["Episode 15054"]

Outstanding Writing For Nonfiction Programming

Jenny Ash & Ed Fields, America: The Story Of Us (HISTORY) ["Division"]

Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music, Or Comedy Series

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Art Direction For A Multi-Camera Series

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) ["The Gothowitz Deviation" and "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency"]

Outstanding Art Direction For A Single-Camera Series

Lost (ABC) ["Ab Aeterno"]

Outstanding Art Direction For A Miniseries or A Movie

Georgia O'Keeffe (Lifetime)

Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music, Or Nonfiction Programming

The 82 Annual Academy Awards (ABC)

Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series

Modern Family (ABC)

Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series

Mad Men (AMC)

Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie, Or A Special

Georgia O'Keeffe (Lifetime)

Outstanding Choreography

Dancing With The Stars (ABC) [Routines: "Futuristic Paso Doble/Living on Video" & "Quickstep/Anything Goes"]

Outstanding Cinematography For A Half-Hour Series

Hung (HBO) ["Pilot"]

Outstanding Cinematography For A One-Hour Series

Breaking Bad (AMC) ["No Mas"]

Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries Or A Movie

The Prisoner (AMC) ["Checkmate"]

Outstanding Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming

Whale Wars (Animal Planet) ["The Stuff Of Nightmares"]

Outstanding Cinematography For Reality Programming

Survivor (CBS) ["Slay Everyone, Trust No One"]

Outstanding Commercial

The Man Your Man Could Smell Like (Old Spice Body Wash)

Outstanding Costumes For A Series

Glee (FOX) ["The Power Of Madonna"]

Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie, Or A Special

Emma [Masterpiece] (PBS)

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series

Breaking Bad (AMC) ["No Mas"]

Outstanding Picture Editing For A Comedy Series (Single Or Multi-Camera)

Modern Family (ABC) ["Family Portrait"]

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Miniseries Or A Movie

The Pacific (HBO) ["Part Five"]

Outstanding Short Form Picture Editing

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC) ["6-Bee (Episode 226)"][/i]

Outstanding Picture Editing For A Special (Single Or Multi-Camera)

The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)

Outstanding Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming

Whale Wars (Animal Planet) ["The Stuff Of Nightmares"]

Outstanding Picture Editing For Reality Programming

Survivor (CBS) ["Tonight, We Make Our Move"]

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series

Glee (FOX) ["The Power Of Madonna"]

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or A Special

Dancing With The Stars (ABC) ["902A"]

Outstanding Hairstyling For A Miniseries Or A Movie

Emma [Masterpiece] (PBS)

Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music, Or Comedy Programming

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (ABC)

Outstanding Main Title Design

Human Target (FOX)

Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)

Glee (FOX) ["The Power Of Madonna"]

Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or A Special (Non-Prosthetic)

Dancing With The Stars (ABC) ["901A"]

Outstanding Makeup For A Miniseries Or A Movie (Non-Prosthetic)

Georgia O'Keeffe (Lifetime)

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

True Blood (HBO) ["Scratches"]

Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)

Lost (ABC) ["The End"]

Outstanding Music Composition For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (Original Dramatic Score)

When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story [Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation] (CBS)

Outstanding Music Direction

Celtic Woman: Songs From The Heart (PBS)

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics

Treme (HBO) ["This City"]

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

Human Target (FOX)

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series

Breaking Bad (AMC) ["One Minute"]

Outstanding Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie, Or A Special

The Pacific (HBO) ["Part Five"]

Outstanding Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera)

The Amazing Race (CBS) ["I Think We're Fighting The Germans, Right?"]

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One-Hour)

Glee (FOX) ["The Power Of Madonna"]

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Miniseries Or A Movie

The Pacific (HBO) ["Part Nine"]

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation

The Office (NBC) ["Niagara"]

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety, Music Series, Or A Special

The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)

Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming

Spectacle Elvis Costello With... (Sundance Channel) ["Spectacle Elvis Costello With Bruce Springsteen - Parts 1 & 2"]

Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series

V (ABC) ["Pilot"]

Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special

The Pacific (HBO) ["Part Five"]

Outstanding Stunt Coordination

24 (FOX) ["6:00 PM - 7:00 PM"]

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series

Dancing With The Stars (ABC) ["Episode 909A"]

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Miniseries, Movie, Or A Special

The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert (HBO)