Welcome to Movie and TV land! When it comes to TV, what's wrong with being a couch potato? There are lots of shows to discuss. Some are hugely popular, and others are shows you feel you've discovered yourself.
As for movies, whether they're rented (and you're back to the couch) or you still prefer the movie theater experience, they come in all shapes and sizes. It's all about choice! Don't you want to feel like an expert at Oscar time?
When the 62nd annual Emmy Award nominations were announced on July 8, "Glee" led the pack. Their nominations were: Outstanding Comedy Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Outstanding Director in a Comedy Series
Wow. Emmy-watchers saw a sweep. If you had a comedy on TV, who else would grab so many nominations? Nobody. But "Modern Family" had fewer nominations -- only four, and they won two. Eric Stonestreet (the best and funniest part of the show, just my opinion) won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, and the show ran off with the biggie -- Outstanding Comedy.
The "Glee" winners were Jane Lynch for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy and Neil Patrick Harris (is he everywhere?) for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy. Ryan Murphy also took Outstanding Director in a Comedy Series. Ryan, I liked it better when you directed "Nip/Tuck," but you sure pick winners.
Sorry, Gleeks (hey, I watch it too -- almost to the end), but this makes me sort of proud of my June 10 "Glee" post, http://www.tvtomovies.com/2010/06/10/glee-why.html. The Emmy winner, Jane Lynch, is the highlight of the show. I'm sure the show will go on forever and win more awards and still get on my nerves.
A truly gleeful moment was the presentation of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award to George Clooney. Not just a movie star and former TV superstar, Clooney has been pivotal in attracting attention and contributions to Haiti, Darfur, New Orleans and anywhere else people are suffering. Clooney made a self-deprecating and funny speech and didn't seem completely comfortable with the honor. He spoke for under two minutes. He was also hilarious in the "Modern Family" clip. The guy's a class act.
"Mad Men" won Outstanding Drama Series, and luckily they didn't take the Emmy away because of January Jones's dress. The TV Movie "Temple Grandin" won five awards, and the real Temple Grandin felt she had to stand up and wave every time. "The Daily Show" won its eighth consecutive Emmy for best variety, music or comedy series. Some complained that Conan O'Brien shouldn't have lost for his short-lived Tonight Show gig. Boo hoo.
Back in 1998, the American Film Institute presented 100 Years, 100 Movies. Do you agree with the choices?
Often referred to as the greatest movie of all time, number 1 was Citizen Kane. I very much looked forward to seeing this movie many years ago, but I was disappointed. I find Citizen Kane highly overrated. (Go ahead, write to me.) In Orson Welles's upside-down career, this was his biggest smash. He was 25. Before he died he was making commercials for Paul Masson wine. The obvious top-10 winners included Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and On The Waterfront. The Godfather came in at number 3, made in 1972. The Graduate from 1967 was number 7. It was good to see those two; they were created in recent memory with some actors who are still alive.
A few years later, Some Like it Hot was named the funniest film ever made, again by the AFI. But it came in at number 14. All About Eve has often been called Bette Davis's best performance. You'll find it at number 16. Did you actually sit through Lawrence of Arabia or The Bridge on the River Kwai? They were 5 and 13, respectively. How about Bogie in The African Queen and The Maltese Falcon? Nope, not in the top 10. Numbers 17 and 23. Name your favorite Paul Newman movie. Butch Cassidy came in at 50. And they never named another. Not Hud. Not The Long, Hot Summer. Not Cool Hand Luke. Unbelievably, not Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
James Dean died tragically at 26. He had made three movies. Two out of three made the list. Rebel Without a Cause was 59; Giant was 82. East of Eden didn't appear. Imagine what James Dean's career could have been. Imagine him today at 81.
One of my favorite movies, Yankee Doodle Dandy, just made the list at number 100. Just my opinion, but James Cagney is my favorite actor of all time. That was the only Cagney movie. How about White Heat? Angels with Dirty Faces? The Roaring Twenties?
In 2007, the AFI dropped 23 films from the 1998 list and added four films created between 1996 and 2006. They also went back and added 19 made between 1916 and 1995. Check out the whole list at http://www.filmsite.org/afi100filmsA.html.
Have you had it with the summer shows? Not sure whether you'll see your favorites this fall? Here's a list of some of the shows that made it back to the schedule, and how long you'll have to wait for their premieres.
CBS Criminal Minds (9/22), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (9/23), CSI: Miami (9/21), CSI: NY (9/24), Medium (9/24), NCIS: Los Angeles (9/21), NCIS (9/21), The Good Wife (9/28), The Mentalist (9/23)
Fox Bones (9/17- Renewed for 2 years), Glee (9/21), Human Target (9/24)
NBC Chuck (9/20), Friday Night Lights (10/27 - Renewed for a fifth and final season), Law & Order: SVU (9/22), Parenthood (9/14)
The CW 90210 (9/13), Gossip Girl (9/13), Life Unexpected (9/14), One Tree Hill (9/14), Smallville (9/24), Supernatural (9/24), The Vampire Diaries (9/9)
AMC Breaking Bad and Mad Men: They're already back and will continue.
BRAND NEW Here are some pilots that were picked up. You'd have to be a hermit to check them all out, but try them quickly because bad pilots don't last.
Better Together (ABC); Blue Bloods (CBS); Bob's Burgers (Fox, midseason); Body of Proof (ABC); The Cape (NBC, midseason); Chase (NBC); Criminal Minds spin-off (CBS, midseason); The Defenders (CBS); Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC); The Event (NBC); Friends with Benefits (NBC, midseason); The Good Guys (Fox); Happy Endings (ABC, midseason); Hawaii Five-O (CBS); Hellcats (CW); Lonestar (Fox); Love Bites (NBC); Mike & Molly (CBS); Mixed Signals (Fox, midseason); Mr. Sunshine (ABC, midseason); My Generation (ABC); Nikita (CW); No Ordinary Family (ABC); Off the Map (ABC, midseason); Outlaw (NBC); Outsourced (NBC); Perfect Couples (NBC, midseason); Raising Hope (Fox); Ride-Along (Fox, midseason); Running Wilde (Fox); S#*! My Dad Says (CBS); Terra Nova (Fox, midseason); Undercovers (NBC); The Whole Truth (ABC)
Before a commercial was introduced during the Super Bowl this year, what did you think about Old Spice? An old brand used by old guys who've slapped it on since the Eisenhower administration? All that changed with a new campaign featuring Isaiah Mustafa. He's an irresistible, funny (don't forget hot) 36-year-old man who will stop you from racing through commercials. The first spot, for Old Spice body wash, turned into a YouTube sensation that has been viewed over 3 million times.
Has it (and have subsequent spots with Mustafa) increased Old Spice sales? Are you ready? "According to Nielsen data
provided by Old Spice, overall sales for Old Spice body-wash products are up 11
percent in the last 12 months; up 27 percent in the last six months; up 55
percent in the last three months; and in the last month, with two new TV spots
and the online response videos, up a whopping 107 percent." However, an Adweek columnist recently referred to an aggressive coupon campaign that took place at the same time. Oh! Coupons led to a 107% increase! Uh, sure.
Isaiah Mustafa starts the commercial with "Hello ladies, look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me." What was the best idea in this whole campaign? Appealing to the ladies. And he does. The commercial won a CLIO advertising award (Wieden & Kennedy agency) and is nominated for an Emmy, whose Academy recently added commercials to the nomination list.
Old Spice didn't put Mustafa in front of the camera for the first time. An actor since 2005, he previously owned a restaurant, played in the NFL for four years, and signed an NBC contract that came about from the commercial. He's now making a movie with Jennifer Aniston. Hope he keeps making commercials.
Compared to some summer movies that were supposed to be blockbusters and didn't quite get there, here are just three released in July. Will they pack them in?
Salt - First half-hour is a somewhat confusing fake-out. Just when you finish your popcorn! Offers homage to Bourne films. Jolie plays the title character -- Evelyn Salt -- a CIA agent who, soon after we first meet her, seems to be a spy from the enemy side who, as John le Carré would say, comes in from the cold. Is she a double agent, or do they just think she is? Could she be a Russian spy? Sorcerer's Apprentice - Mirrors precedents ranging from King Arthur and “Fantasia” to “Harry Potter” and “The Matrix.” Balthazar (Nicolas Cage) is the good guy, and Alfred Molina, a Shakespearean-trained actor, is once again a bad guy as Horvath. But could we once see him as an executive or political leader? What, not when he's been such a bad guy in the past? Balthazar needs an assistant and finds a nerdy helpmate. It takes a lot for this movie to be as good as Mickey Mouse.
Inception - If you like mindless entertainment or you fall asleep in the dark and in the theater's comfy chair, this film may not be for you. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, who simply doesn't do bad work. It's intelligent, riveting and unique in concept. It follows the rule of dreams. Dying makes you wake up. Going too far into your mind can put you into limbo. Dreams from memories are dangerous. Yes, there's a lot more information -- mostly what you've never imagined -- and it makes you think. And maybe you'll dream about it that night.
