Emmys 2015: A Year of Change

Amazon's Transparent scooped up some big awards on Emmy night

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm passionate about all things Emmy. For years, I slavishly followed all the shows (Comedy and Drama, anyway), usually able to predict Drama stuff pretty well.

But for me, this year is the year the Emmys changed. Not just because old favorites (Breaking Bad) finally stepped down, but because the voting rules changed, the way we all watched TV changed and the tenor of our times changed.

Maybe like most things, the change has been happening incrementally, and I just finally saw it this year, but I did see it this year, in big ways.

Jill Soloway won for Best Directing, Comedy (for Transparent) and accepted her directing award in a pantsuit. All of that was and is landmark to me. Her show is landmark to me. Jeffrey Tambor (who never won for the fantastic Arrested Development, which changed comedy as we know it) was now onstage, accepting for Best Actor in a Comedy for playing the trans parent of the title.

Lisa Cholodenko, another amazing woman, won for directing Olive Kitteridge.

Viola Davis, when she stepped up to accept her landmark Best Actress award for Drama, spoke about the change that is happening. Jeffrey Tambor thanked those who "allowed him to be part of the change." Change which is so desperately needed in our country, is actually happening in our art.

The (dreadful and juvenile) host, Andy Samberg, alluded to it in his opening number, in which he locked himself into a bunker for a year so he could watch every show, and get caught up. It was meant to be funny, but it's truer this year than ever before. I gave up even trying. I used to be able to corral off a few dozen select shows, watch every episode of them, and feel pretty confident that I was prepared come Emmy time. This year, I just gave up.

Transparent, which this year gave Veep a good run for its money for Best Comedy Series, is on Amazon. Many shows are on cable. Some are on Netflix. Few, actually, are on regular network TV. And you could just feel that everywhere. It just wasn't same old, same old at the Emmys.

I mean, sure, some people (some from Veep, Allison Janney) who always win won again. But there's recent winner Kyle Chandler (from Friday Night Lights, which had its own torturous path of where to watch it), now a nominated actor from Bloodline (a Netflix series).

It's all kind of mind-blowing.

I'm just glad that Jon Hamm FINALLY won. But he didn't even thank Bryan Cranston.

***************************************************

THE FABULOUS
All the wins for Transparent, especially Jill Soloway's win
Jon FRIKKIN Hamm FINALLY wins
Peter Dinklage again!!
Inside Amy Schumer wins for Variety Sketch Series
Uzo Aduba wins for Best Supporting Actress for a Drama

THE GREAT
Allison Janney again
Allison Janney's amazing dress!
Allison Janney giving a shoutout to recovery, and that "there is hope"
Padma Latchmi, on the red carpet, when asked her beauty secrets, said: "Happiness and good friends."
Veep finally winning for Comedy Series
Game of Thrones finally winning for Drama Series
Regina King wins for American Crime
Viola Davis wins for Best Actress
Frances McDormand wins for Olive Kitteridge
Richard Jenkins wins for the same
Tracey Morgan returns to give the final award

THE AWESOME
Amy Poehler and Ricky Gervais, both knowing they were going to lose, at least making a bit out of it

THE WHATEVER
The Voice beats Dancing with the Stars. Really?
Bill Murray wins but isn't there to accept

MAKING US SAD
Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, maybe winning for the last time

NOT MAKING US SAD
The In Memoriam segment using AGAIN "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Ugh.

THE WTF????
Andy Samberg. Ugh. Hated everything about him as host.
Jimmy Kimmel's nonsense about cutting up the winner's card and eating it. Ugh.
The voiceover says that this category "will have a new winner," then awards the same person who won last year (although the show was in the Comedy category then)


******************************************************************

Miche's Emmy Wrap-Up

THE FANTASTIC!!!!

Breaking Bad FINALLY wins Best Drama Series

Anna Gunn finally wins an Emmy for her work on Breaking Bad

The stunning "Q&A" (Homeland) won for Best Writing for a Drama Series, even though its writer had died this year :-(

Derek Hough, one of the best choreographers in the universe, winning an Emmy for three mind-blowing amazing dances that he choreographed

The fact that they chose to show Best Choreography as part of the main ceremony

Bob Newhart finally wins an Emmy after 51 years in TV

THE GREAT

The fabulous Carrie Preston won for her work on The Good Wife

Claire Danes won again

A woman director wins for Direction of a Comedy

Jim Parsons and Bob Newhart on a stage together

The London Olympics won for Best Art Direction

Melissa Leo wins for a role in Louie that I hear is pretty scary

Breaking Bad's "Gliding Over All" wins for Best Editing

Game of Thrones wins for VFX

I WAS MOVED

Tony Hale, thanking his theatre roots

Edie Falco, talking about James Gandolfini

Rob Reiner, talking about Jean Stapleton

All the other people who died this year

I Didn't Watch, So I Have No Opinion

Veep and its winners

Nurse Jackie and its winners

All the Behind the Candelabra wins (11 out of 13)

Jeff Daniels beats out Bryan Cranston? and Damien Lewis? and Kevin Spacey? This, I gotta see. (Didn't pick it cause I'm behind on The Newsroom. Oops.)

The OK

Modern Family wins again

Someone other than the Modern Family nominees wins Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy

David Fincher wins for directing the first episode of House of Cards

Colbert Report switches with the always-winning Daily Show

Someone else beats always-winning The Amazing Race

THE BUMMERS

None of the amazing males from Breaking Bad won for their incredible work this year

The WHAT THE F WERE THEY THINKING?

Jokes about sister acts and ping pong balls? Um, really? :-0

EMMYS 2013: It's gonna be a Breaking Bad night

As always, the top contenders in the Emmy Best Drama race are the best of the best. A gentle reminder, those would be: Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, House of Cards and Mad Men.

The way I see it breaking down is like this. Game of Thrones, though spectacular and gasp-inducing is plainly "too violent." I have heard many Emmy voters state that they "won't even watch it" because of its violence. So I consider this to be the longest of longshots at this year's Emmys.

House of Cards, Netflix's first ever entry into this race, is a great show, but considering how gasp-inducing other shows are, I think its honor is the nomination.

Everyone is still trying to figure out what exactly is going on with Mad Men, and it was/is depressing, so I think it doesn't have a shot at this year's Emmy crown.

I want to focus on the two main contenders, last year's winner, Homeland, and almost invariably, next year's winner, Breaking Bad.

Homeland, for those unfamiliar, is almost like a slowed down 24. One episode of 24 stretched out to a season. The conceit of 24, other than that it all took place in one day, was that you never knew who you could trust. The conceit of Homeland is similar, using a question that plagues us every day today: who is really a terrorist, and how can you tell?

The stunning first season (Emmy-winning for Best Drama) started with Officer Brody being a terrorist. Then he wasn't. Then he was. Brilliant. And Carrie, the CIA operative who was tailing him was crazy. Then she wasn't. Then she was. Also brilliant.

But to me, the heart and guts of Homeland came in the middle of the season, the "cabin" episode (actually called "The Weekend"), falling smack in the middle of the season. It gave us the biggest of surprises, that 24 never did. There is LOVE here.

Love, which takes you by surprise, and sweeps you up. Appearing out of nowhere, these two crazy kids are actually in love. And it is the love in this show which makes it, after all else, very hopeful. Love can, after all, save us.

The heart-wrenching episode this season again came smack in the middle. It is also the episode which both actors (Claire Danes and Damien Lewis) submitted for their Emmy. It is nominated for Best Direction and Best Writing, and it was one of the six tapes submitted for Best Drama Series consideration. That tape: "Q&A" is brilliant. I do believe it's going to win Clare Danes another Emmy over a tough field of SIX other competitors. It COULD also win Damien Lewis his second Emmy, but I think not.

I loved this season of Homeland. I was sobbing in the final episode. It could very well win Best Drama Series again for the second year, and I'd be very happy.

But I think it's another show's time for the spotlight.

And in addition to having excellent tapes, AMC was smart about their choices for airing, Showtime is consistently not. Let's look at some facts. The last episode of Homeland (the one at which I was sobbing) aired in mid-December.

Now admittedly, the last episode of Breaking Bad which was in contention (the wondrous "Gliding Over All") aired in September. But what do we have going on when Emmy voters have ballots in their hot little hands? The final eight episodes of Breaking Bad start airing. Breaking Bad is all anyone can talk about. And in this tough fight for Best Drama Series, I believe it's what is going to push Breaking Bad to the top statue tonight.

I also predict that Breaking Bad is going to win Best Actor again for Bryan Cranston (edging out, just barely, the incredible performance by Damien Lewis), an historic THIRD trophy for the amazing work Aaron Paul is doing in Supporting Actor (edging out the equally amazing work by Mandy Patinkin), and I also believe Anna Gunn is going to score her first Emmy for her work on Breaking Bad.

With Direction and Writing categories, it'll be a hand-to-hand tussle between "Q&A" and its Breaking Bad competitors. In Direction, it's up against "Gliding Over All." In Writing, it's beating back both "Say My Name" and "Dead Freight." Writing also has "The Rains of Castamere" (the "Red Wedding" episode) of Game of Thrones. AND Downton Abbey's "Episode 4." A tough category. I still believe "Q&A" will beat them all. We shall see tonight.

In as much as last week was a Behind the Candelabra night (expect it to pick up some big trophies tonight too), I think tonight is really all about Breaking Bad. FINALLY.

**************************
Live Tweeting tonight @ michebella  (and @ michebel if I get in Twitter jail). Join me.

The Golden Globes and the Glory of Ryan Seacrest

It's hard out there for a red-carpet interviewer.

Frankly, most people suck at this job. The newbies, still green behind the ears (I'm looking at you, Ben Lyons) tend to wax synchophantic and get all swoony over the celebs. (Although with the way that E!'s Giuliana Ransic was creaming her jeans over Brad and Angie waving at her, you'd be hard-pressed to remember she's been around awhile.)

Most tend to fall into the vapid vat of "ooh, celebrities, aren't they pretty?" with an occasional twinge of "how does this help my career?" thrown in (Ross Matthews). Which is where the whole "What are you wearing?" debacle originated. When in doubt, ask about their dress.

We can thank (or hate forever) Joan Rivers for that. Rivers, easily the worst red-carpet interviewer in history, who in addition to being vengeful and spiteful and mean, had the annoying habit of forgetting who these damn people were, what they'd been in, what relevance they had to anything, and being long schooled in the comedy of "talk about what you know" started asking about the dresses.

Now, that's all anyone gloms on to. Props in this awards season so far go to Melissa Leo. "What are you wearing?" "My tux," she said non-plussed. I loved her for that.

No, it's a very difficult balance a red-carpet interviewer must walk. If you don't care, you're Joan Rivers. If you care too much, you're Star Jones, and asking everyone to come on The View or ogle her wedding plans.

Truthfully, the red carpet has not been a safe place to walk since Steve Kmetko and Jules Asner held court. Now, THEY knew how to ask the right questions. They knew how to keep the celebritydom in check. Since they've been gone, we've had a vast wasteland of interviewers, most caught up in dress mania, few giving anything of substance at all.

Sam Rubin must be commended as a good interim host. He asks good questions, but even he tends to the fake and air-kissy.

What a surprise, a revelation, even, it was this weekend to see the "my God, this man is everywhere!" host, Ryan Seacrest doing a bang-up job on the red carpet for the Globes. After awhile, I had the unusual sensation of thinking, I really want to hear what Ryan asks this one. Never a comment out of place, never a synchophantic note. All was in order.

He not only appropriately juggled each celebrity (apologizing to Natalie Portman for making a pregnant woman walk up some stairs), he made the most of every moment: bringing Jimmy Fallon and Jason Segal up to sing a song. He knew people's credits (whether because he actually knew, or because he had a great producer whispering in his ear, I don't care—he was on it). It felt real.

I realized when watching him that Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet is the new breed of celebrity interviewer. He made them feel comfortable, being asked inane questions. He even got interesting answers out of them. Because of that, he made us feel comfortable watching, instead of wanting to throw something at the TV. I was grateful to him for that.

Whatever the tenuous balance is: between curiosity about things that are none of our business, and learning more about upcoming projects, and asking how someone is feeling at that moment, Seacrest was really the best in a very long time. In fact, during awards shows, I am normally a maniac with the remote, madly switching back and forth between E! and TVGuide and NBC and whoever else is covering it, because none of them are doing it very well.

Seacrest changed all that. The social-media-friendly celeb interviewer really is on to something here with the tenor and caliber of his interviewing, and I'm truly looking forward to his SAG and Oscar coverage.

*********************************************************

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)