Two Tivos To Paradise 7.03.09: The Annual Norty Awards Edition
Posted by Al Norton on 07.03.2009
It's time for the third annual Norty Awards, Two Tivos To Paradise's celebration of the top shows and performers that television has to offer. Will Battlestar Galactica go out on top or will Mad Men or Rescue Me win top honors? Can Bryan Cranston and Christina Applegate win two years in a row? Will The Office reign supreme again? Click here for the full list of nominations and winners!
Hello Friends. Here in Boston we are into our second month without consecutive sunny days and it really is starting to get depressing. I mean, it's July already and we haven't really had anything resembling a nice week, let alone a heat wave.
This weekend is a biggie for us as Saturday will be the first night we spend apart from the twins. We are off to a wedding in Long Island and the kids will be with the in-laws in CT. I have been making jokes about Mrs. Tivo freaking out but the closer it gets, the more I think I will be the one going through separation anxiety.
Saturday in the park, I think it was the news of July.
How About A Round Of Applause, A Standing Ovation
It's time for the third annual Norty Awards, the Two Tivos To Paradise version of the Emmys. Since the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences decided to bump the number of nominees in each category to six, we will follow suit. The Emmy nominations will be announced on Thursday the 16th (with full coverage available here the next day). Without further adieu, let's jump right in
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Dule Hill, PSYCH (USA)
Chi McBride, Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Ken Marino, Party Down (Starz)
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock (NBC)
Jason Siegel, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Toughest Omissions: Adam Baldwin (Chuck), John Krazinski (The Office),Hamish Linklater (New Adventures of Old Christine), Rainn Wilson (The Office)
Previous Winners: 2008: Chi McBride, Pushing Daisies; 2007: Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Winner: Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
NPH pulled off a major rarity this season as Barney's love for Robin made him a deeper character without costing him one ounce of what has made him so damn funny. This makes him a two-time Norty winner!
The rest of the nominees are a nice mix of some returning favorites along with some new names, and four of the six on the list could make pretty convincing arguments as to why they should win; Marino and Hill are both excellent but are a slight step behind their fellow nominees.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY
Andrea Anders, Better Off Ted (ABC)
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Portia de Rossi, Better Off Ted (ABC)
Jenna Fischer, The Office (NBC)
Cobie Smulders, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Toughest Omissions: Lizzy Caplan (Party Down), Jennifer Esposito (Samantha Who?), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), Becki Newton (Ugly Betty), Jean Smart (Samantha Who?), Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
Both the ladies from Better Off Ted provided much laughter, and this may have been Jenna Fischer's strongest year on The Office. Cobie Smulders has been taken for granted too long. All that being said, The Nortys operate by the Emmy rules and since they put the SNL cast into the comedy categories (as opposed to the "Best Performance on a Variety Show or Special), I have to go with Wiig, the funniest Lorne Michaels discovery in years. Just Kidding. Just Kidding. Just Kidding. Just Kidding.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA
Michael Emerson, Lost (ABC)
Josh Holloway, Lost (ABC)
Michael Hogan, Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)
Ryan Hurst, Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Ryan Kwanten, True Blood (HBO)
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Toughest Omissions: Justin Chambers (Grey's Anatomy), Jeremy Davies (Lost), Brian Austin Greene (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Kevin McKidd (Grey's Anatomy), Terry O'Quinn (Lost), John Slattery (Mad Men), Jimmy Smits (Dexter)
Previous Winners: 2008: Michael Emerson, Lost; 2007: James Callis, Battlestar Galactica
Winner: Ryan Hurst, Sons of Anarchy
For the third year in a row, this is the toughest category for me. Seriously, there is hardly a drop off between the nominees and the omissions, and that's saying something. Josh Holloway has never been better than this past season of Lost, when Sawyer got to show a more domesticated side of his personality. Aaron Paul and Michael Hogan weren't the leads on their series but they were the glue that held them together.
Those of you who didn't watch Sons of Anarchy missed some of the best season-long story telling TV has seen since The Sopranos, with Hurst's performance as Opie being the lynchpin. It was the audience taking Opie into their hearts, feeling the way he was torn between his family and his old way of life, combined with a brilliantly paced series of events, that led to the final episodes reaching almost epic levels of tragedy. To me this is almost a text book example of supporting acting because without this storyline working, the whole show falls apart. Hurst may be the least known Norty winner this year but he is the most deserving.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Katherine Heigel, Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Katey Sagal, Sons Of Anarchy (FX)
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Chloe Sevigny, Big Love (HBO)
Toughest Omissions: Rose Byrne (Damages), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica)
Previous Winners: 2008: Diana-Maria Riva, Side Order of Life; 2007: Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Winner: Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
This is almost as tough as the supporting actor category, with a ton of really deserving performers this year. I went back and forth on this and at various points in the deliberation had each of the nominees winning.
In the end, Chandra Wilson was the one I kept coming back to, much in the same way that Bailey is the character I keep coming back to on Grey's. There are episodes and seasons of the show that are better than others but the one constant is Bailey (and Wilson), her integrity and honest helping to balance some of the craziness at Seattle Grace, and the more we see of her heart, the more we let her into ours.
BEST LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carrell, The Office (NBC)
Jay Harrington, Better Off Ted (ABC)
Zachary Levi, Chuck (NBC)
Josh Radnor, How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
James Roday, PSYCH (USA)
Toughest Omissions: Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), Adam Scott (Party Down)
Previous Winners: 2008: Josh Radnor, How I Met Your Mother, 2007: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Winner: Steve Carrell, The Office. Carrell got some super material to sink his teeth into this season and pretty much had this award wrapped up after the episode in which he negotiates a buyout of his new paper company along with getting his old job back but the finale, which reunited Michael and Holly, put him over the top.
I am hoping the Emmys take a cue from my list (ok, it's not really going to happen, the least of the reasons being that all the votes are already in) and put some of names on my list on their ballots. At this point it's almost criminal that James Roday hasn't received a nomination, and Josh Radnor and Zachary Levi would be more-than-worthy first time nominees. I mean, does anyone think Charlie Sheen is a better actor than any of these guys?
BEST LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? (ABC)
Toni Collette, United States of Tara (Showtime)
Tina Fey, 30 Rock (NBC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
Mary Louise Parker, Weeds (Showtime)
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation(NBC)
Toughest Omissions: Alexandra Wentworth (Head Case)
Previous Winners: 2008: Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?; 2007: Laura Kightlinger, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman
Winner: Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
With this win Christina Applegate becomes the first performer to win back-to-back Nortys, an honor she more than earned on her now cancelled comedy. There aren't a lot of shows on right now that are sweet, making Applegate's gentle touch that much more effective.
The other ladies in the category all had strong years but all finished a distant second, which is meant more as a compliment to Applegate than anything else. Next year this will be Edie Falco's to lose.
BEST LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA
Benjamin Bratt, The Cleaner (A & E)
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC)
Denis Leary, Rescue Me (FX)
Ian McShane, Kings (NBC)
Bill Paxton, Big Love (HBO)
Toughest Omissions: Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice), Michael C Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Damian Lewis (Life), Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone), Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica)
And just like that we have our second back-to-back winner. To watch Breaking Bad is to be in awe of Bryan Cranston's performance, one that ranks among the best of my lifetime. Walter is a tragic character who hit new lows this year as his dark side took over more and more of his life, the irony of course being that the healthier his body became, the worse shape his soul was in. Watching someone's life self destruct was never so painful nor so beautifully portrayed.
The names on this list, and from the omissions as well, demonstrate the embarrassment of riches that is television acting right now. Based on the last few episodes of Rescue Me it looks like Denis Leary will be the front runner next season. Benjamin Bratt carries his show more than any other actor nominated, and Ian McShane couldn't be bad right now if he tried. When Jon Hamm and Bill Paxton are almost also-ran's, you know there must be some serious quality out there. It is interesting to me that five of the six nominees are from cable shows and the one guy from the big five is on a show that's already been cancelled.
BEST LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA
Regina King, Southland (NBC)
Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (AMC)
Jill Scott, The #1 Ladies Detective Agency (HBO)
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer (TNT)
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Big Love (HBO)
Toughest Omissions: Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), January Jones (Mad Men), Anna Paquin (True Blood)
Previous Winners:2008: Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica; 2007: Minnie Driver, The Riches
Winner: Jill Scott, The # 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Jill Scott is far and away TV's best discovery of the season; an established singer, Scott was phenomenal in her first big acting job. More so than anyone on this list, she was her character through and through. I mean it as the ultimate compliment when I say I have no idea what she's like after watching the series, and also that at this point her presence in a project, any project, would draw my eyes.
Mary McDonnell came very close to winning a second straight Norty, and one of these days Kyra Sedgwick will get one, too. Regina King needed only Southland'sabbreviated first season to remind us that she is a force to be reckoned with.
BEST SERIES, COMEDY 30 Rock, NBC Better Off Ted, ABC Chuck, NBC How I Met Your Mother, CBS The Office, NBC Samantha Who?, ABC
Toughest Omissions: Party Down, Pushing Daisies, PSYCH, Scrubs
Previous Winners: 2008: The Office; 2007: The Office
Winner: Chuck (NBC)
Finally putting all its various pieces together, Chuck hit new highs for entertainment this season especially the second half and thankfully the folks at NBC took notice by renewing it for another year. Part spy thriller, part romantic comedy, part work place farce, Chuck can best be summed up as the love child of James Bond, Ross & Rachel, and the employees of Dunder Mifflin; if that doesn't sound appealing to you, I can't help you.
Better Off Ted proved that a comedy set at an office can be different from The Office and still quite funny in its own right. How I Met Your Mother continues to tickle the funny bone while pulling on heart strings. The Office had some down episodes but The Michael Scott Paper Company arc was both funny and necessary to the development/advancement of the characters.
BEST SERIES, DRAMA Battlestar Galactica, Sci-Fi Big Love, HBO Breaking Bad, AMC Friday Night Lights, NBC Mad Men, AMC Rescue Me, FX
Toughest Omissions: Burn Notice, Life, Lost, Kings, Sons of Anarchy, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Much like the Best Supporting Actress, Drama category, each of these nominees was the winner at various points in my decision making process. In fact, these shows are so good I'd like everyone to take a moment and savor the exceptional quality of dramatic television in the year 2009.
Ok, done savoring? Mad Men's first two seasons can hold their own with the first two seasons of pretty much any show I can think of. This season - much like the entire series was about identity, with Don, Betty, and Peggy each searching to find their place in the world. Even the supporting characters, from Pete to Joan to Roger to Duck, had issues with who they were and the roles they played in the world going on around them. Each encountered their own set of growing pains along the way, with the actors, writers, and incredible costume & set designers making sure the audience went right along for the ride.
And there we have it, the 2009 Norty Awards. Over 30 shows from 13 networks received nominations this year, making it the most diverse group of honorees in Norty history.
Let Freedom Ring, Let The White Dove Sing, Let The Whole World Know That Today Is A Day Of Reckoning
Many networks are taking advantage of the long weekend by running marathon programming. Below is a list of just some of what's available to you over the next couple of days.
TODAY Comedy Central Presents (Comedy Central), 8 am, 14 episodes Law and Order (TNT), 8 am, 9 episodes Deadliest Catch (Discover), 9 am, 18 episodes Cake Boss (TLC), 10 am, 7 episodes NCIS (USA), 11 am, 7 episodes 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's (VH-1), 3 pm, 5 episodes (complete series) What Not To Wear (TLC), 7 pm, 8 episodes Martin (TV One), 8 pm, 48 episodes
SATURDAY The Revolution (History), 8 am, 10 episodes (full series) Sell This House (A & E), 8 am, 8 episodes Deadliest Catch (Discovery), 9 am, 18 episodes Extreme (Travel), 9 am, 13 episodes
James Bond Marathon (USA), 9 am Sister, Sister (BET), 9 am, 38 episodes Leave It To Beaver (TV Land), 11 am, 8 episodes Grease & Grease 2 (Bravo), 1 pm The Andy Griffith Show (TV Land), 3 pm, 10 episodes Ocean Force (Tru TV), 3 pm, 8 episodes Rosanne (TV Land), 8 pm, 23 episodes
TV Pick Of The Week
If you're July 4th plans get rained out, or maybe you are just feeling anti-social, there are still some television viewing options that will capture the spirit of the holiday. The all-Williams sister final of Wimbledon begins at 9 am on NBC, and a half hour later on Versus you can catch stage one of the Tour de France. ESPN has coverage of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at 11 am, which is a great way to kick off a diet as after watching you will not want to eat anything. For mid-day viewing you can check out some of the marathons listed above, which will take you through to the various music and firework celebration being offered at night. PBS has A Capitol 4th, hosted by Jimmy Smits and featuring Barry Manilow. CBS as the Boston Pops Fireworks Celebration, with host Craig Ferguson welcoming Neil Diamond to the Hatch Shell. Over on NBC, Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber play host to Rob Thomas, Jewel, and the cast of West Side Story on Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular.
There's a little something for everyone this July 4th!
Hope You Need My Love, Babe, Just Like I Need You
Here is some other noteworthy programming of the next seven days
*NBC serves up the Wimbledon men's final Sunday at 9 am.
*Find out which of your favorite players made the team on Sunday when TBS airs The 2009 MLB All-Star Selection Show at 1 pm.
*Sportsnation debuts on ESPN Monday at 4 pm, a new daily show where Michelle Beadle and Colin Coward take calls, emails, tweets, and telegrams from sports fans about the issues of the day.
*ABC Family's new 10 Things I Hate About You premieres Tuesday at 8 pm. Yes, it's an adaptation of the movie. The best news may be that Larry Miller is still playing the Dad.
*I gave Warehouse 13 a very positive review last week but wanted to remind you that it debuts Tuesday at 9 pm on SyFy.
*The new season of Ghost Hunters: International kicks off Wednesday at 9 pm on SyFy.
*Neil Patrick Harris stops by Top Chef: Masters Wednesday at 10 pm on Bravo.
*Will Dailey, the official singer-songwriter of TTTP, performs on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Wednesday night (technically Thursday morning) at 12:35.
*I take great pride in never having seen a full episode of Big Brother but as your humble servant I feel it my duty to let you know its 11th season begins Thursday at 8 pm on CBS.
Two Tivos To Paradise, Weekly Update 30 Days, 30 Rock, The Academy, American Idol, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Antiques Roadshow, Best Day Ever, Best Week Ever, Better Off Ted, Big Love, Bones, Breaking Bad, Brothers And Sisters, Burn Notice, Cake Boss, Celebrity Apprentice, Chopped, The Chris Isaak Hour, Chuck, The Closer, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Daddy's Girls, Damages, The Deadliest Catch, Desperate Housewives, Destination Truth, Dirty Sexy Money, The Dish, Entourage, Eureka, Everybody Hates Chris, Flipping Out, Gary Unmarried, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, The Hills, House, How I Met Your Mother, Iron Chef America, Jon & Kate + Eight, Last Comic Standing, Last Restaurant Standing, Law And Order, Law And Order: Criminal Intent, Law And Order: Special Victims Unit, Lost, Mad Men, Make Me A Supermodel, Man v. Food, Medium, The New Adventures Of Old Christine, Next Food Network Star, Nip/Tuck, The Office, One Tree Hill, Paranormal State, Party Down, Private Practice, Project Runway, Pushing Daisies, Psych, Real Time With Bill Maher, Rescue Me, Rules Of Engagement, Run's House, Samantha Who?, Sanctuary, Saturday Night Live, Scrubs, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Shear Genius, Skins, So You Think You Can Dance?, Sons of Anarchy, The Soup, Southland, Sports Soup, Step It Up and Dance, Supernatural, Table For 12, Top Chef, Top Chef: Masters, Top Design, Torchwood, True Blood, Ugly Betty, Warehouse 13, Web Soup, Will Work for Food
People Love You When They Know You're Leaving Soon
Here ends another edition of Two Tivos To Paradise. Feel free to starting flaming away in the comments section below I know all you fans of i>The Shield must have steam coming out of your ears. For the record, I didn't think it was a bad show, it just didn't do anything for me so I stopped watching regularly. It's a series I respected more than enjoyed.
Next week is our big anniversary column, featuring even more celebrity guest appearances than last year's record breaking 100th edition.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend celebrating Independence Day. Please take a moment or two and remember all the troops throughout the world, putting their lives on the line for their country every day.
Feedback is encouraged at twotivostoparadise@yahoo.com as well via the comments section below.
Sources for this week's column include Daily Variety, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and Hollywood Reporter (plus the web sites for those publications) as well as Aintit.cool.com.
No big bang theory love at all? The xmas episode alone was one of the funniest things on TV in years!!!
Posted By: jushin53 (Guest) on July 02, 2009 at 11:15 PM
NINETEEN HOURS OF SISTER SISTER???? WHAT THE FUCK???
Posted By: Dan (Guest) on July 02, 2009 at 11:15 PM
No Dexter at all? Really?
Posted By: Appalled (Guest) on July 02, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Absolutely no mention of the big bang theory??...shocking, esp after the excellent run the show had in its second season...
Posted By: basitzd (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:25 AM
No mention of Entourage? House? 24? Or my favorite show Smallville? :) I guess it is to each his own cause I don't see what the big deal with 30 Rock is after trying to watch it. But that's me.. Nice to see Psych get some nods at least. Thanks for the Big Brother report, no really ha!
Posted By: TiVo saved my life, sad I know (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 02:42 AM
Seeing as I'm sure you watch more television than the average Emmy voter, I put more stock into your Emmy Award winners and nominations than I do in the actual ceremony itself.
Posted By: Rob (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 08:58 AM
Count me as another person surprised by the exclusion of The Big Bang Theory. One of the funniest shows on tv in a long time.
And Kristin Wiig...seriously???? Yikes.
Posted By: Guest#0618 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 12:13 PM
No mention of Entourage? House? 24? Or my favorite show Smallville? :) I guess it is to each his own cause I don't see what the big deal with 30 Rock is after trying to watch it. But that's me.. Nice to see Psych get some nods at least. Thanks for the Big Brother report, no really ha!
Posted By: TiVo saved my life, sad I know
most of the ones that were nominated were shows that"is really cool" or"cutting edge" but the sad thing is"NOONE FUCKING WATCHES THEM"
Posted By: Guest#1830 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 01:15 PM
I've watched multiple episodes of The Big Bang Theory and I still don't get its appeal. I mean, it's not a bad show, but it reminds me of Two and a Half Men in that it's basically the same jokes each week. When I compare it to its line-up mate How I Met Your Mother its like night and day, both for laughs and for the genuine affection you feel for the characters.
Posted By: ArmandF (Registered) on July 03, 2009 at 02:16 PM
I'm not surprised by no mention of Big Bang as you wrote it off after only 3 episodes I believe. It has been consistently one of the funniest tv shows in the past two years. You should give it another try.
Also, I don't care how great the other 6 dramas were you had listed for best show, Lost deserves to be in the top 6 without a doubt.
Posted By: xugreatone (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 03:01 PM
I know right? 19 hours of Sister Sister just isn't enough for me either.
Posted By: Guest#6556 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 04:45 PM
where is the love for Jim Pearsons as Sheldon Cooper or Big Bang Theory. He is the best tv character on tv right now.
Posted By: Scott Liedle (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 06:19 PM
No love for Walton Goggins as Shane Vendrell?! BULLSHIT!!!
Posted By: Guest#2206 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 06:26 PM
I can't believe how Psych gets left out by everyone. Best show on TV.
Posted By: Guest#2443 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 06:42 PM
I'm not a gear head, and have never had a huge love of cars...but one f the hands down funniest shows on television that you seriously need to check out is Top Gear on BBC
Posted By: null2099 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 10:08 PM
No mention of The Shield. This past last season was one of the most intense of any drama. No acting nods for Chiklis, Walton Goggins, or CCH Pounder either. Either this show didn't qualify for this year's awards or you have no credibility
Posted By: Lemonhead (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Michael Emerson, Lost
Hugh Laurie , House
come on guys, don't make a list unless you watch the shows
Posted By: Guest#2758 (Guest) on July 03, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Comedy is subjective and The Big Bang Theory simply does nothing for me. How many episodes do I need to watch before I am allowed to give up on it? 3 episodes is 66 minutes - that strikes me as enough of an investment before moving in.
To respond to other comments quickly: There are over 30 shows nominated for awards, so to suggest I am only picking the "cool, edgy" shows, or not watching enough to be a good judge, is just not accurate. FYI - Michael Emerson is nominated (he won last year).
Dan - your Sister Sister comment made me laugh out loud.
Posted By: Al Norton (Guest) on July 04, 2009 at 03:26 PM
I back the proposal for checking out Top Gear... and don't understand why Americans didn't get Life On Mars...
Posted By: Bungle (Guest) on July 04, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Truthfully I have recently found myself complaining about the lack of quality shows on TV over the past year, But obviously I have poor memory because there were a ton on your list that I simply forgot about so thanks for reminding me. In fact there were so many good shows and performances over the last year I don't think I good have picked a hands down winner in any of the categories. A suggestion maybe add a cameo category or something for next year as Kristin Bells cameo on Party Down was absolutely hilarious. I too enjoy the Big Bang Theory but I relaize not all shows are for everyone.
Posted By: Uncle Jimbo (Guest) on July 07, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Love that you picked Chuck as the best comedy series. Haven't missed an episode yet and it just keeps getting better.
Posted By: M ONeill (Guest) on July 08, 2009 at 07:11 PM
