Village Vidiot: TV

I'm still reeling over the fact that Jim Parson's didn't win for "The Big Bang Theory" and that "Generation Kill" didn't win best miniseries, but the Emmys broadcast continues.

I appreciate that the ceremony is moving at a brisk pace and they've kept the skits to a minimum. I also like that they allowed the nominees for the directing awards and writing awards a way to introduce themselves, which has led to some of the funniest bits so far.

- They just gave an award for the opening number for the Academy Awards earlier this year. Do you care?

- The hilarious Ricky Gervais (the British version of "The Office") is now on stage and he's doing what he does best, making everyone laugh.

The Emmy for best vareity, music or comedy series goes to "The Daily Show." Jon Stewart is accepting. It was the year of the political comedy series with "The Colbert Report" and "Saturday Night Live" having a field day with their political satire. If only all years were as good as the ones they had in 2008.

- Now it's the drama portion of the broadcast. A montage of the year's best one-hour series unspools including clips from "NCIS," "House," Criminal Minds," "The Mentalist," "24," "CSI," "Battlestar Galactica," "Law & Order," "Grey's Anatomy," "True Blood," "Lost." The best of them, "Mad Men," got the smallest mention in that montage.

- Now, best supporting actor in a drama. And the winner is Michael Emerson for "Lost." And he probably gave the most gracious speech of the night.

- Best supporting actress in a drama. And the Emmy goes to . . . Cherry Jones for "24." A shocker, especially since her character was one of the worst in the series' history. But Jones is an outstanding actor both on the stage and the screen.

- Now it's one of my favorite portions of  any awards ceremony - the memorial to those in entertainment who passed away in the last year. They're showing clips of Karl Malden, James Whitmore, Henry Gibson, Pat Hingle, Dom Deluise, writer Dominick Dunne, actor Robert Prosky, impersonator Fred Travalina, David Carradine, writer Michael Crichton, Ricardo Montalban, Ed McMahon, columnist Army Archerd, "MASH" writer Larry Gelbart, and of course Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Walter Cronkite and Patrick Swayze. And the montage is running to a live performance by Sarah McLachlan.

I think of it as the one time Hollywood is actually humbled, which is why I consider these kinds of tributes some of the best moments in awards ceremonies.

- The next category is best directing in a drama. And the winner is . . . Rod Holcomb for "ER." But you knew that.

- Now best writing in a drama. Gee, four nominations go to "Mad Men." I wonder who is going to win.

And the winner is . . . "Mad Men." You knew that too, didn't you? Then again, it is one of the finest written television shows on the air, period.

- Lead actress in a drama series is up next. These are the kinds of roles for actresses you don't see in movie theaters. It's probably Glenn Close for "Damages." We'll see.

And the Emmy goes to . . . Glenn Close for "Damages." It's the second win for her in a row for the series. Maybe this will make up for the five or so nominations for an Oscar she's never won.

- It's now coming down to the wire. It's best lead actor  in a drama series. Is it going to be Hugh Laurie's year for "House"?

And the Emmy goes to Bryan Cranston! Wow, a pleasant surprise. It's his second Emmy for playing the high school teacher, Walt, in the wonderful AMC show "Breaking Bad. I really thought it was finally going to Laurie. But Cranston has created one of the most complicated, original characters on TV.

Now for the final two awards: Best Drama and Best Comedy series.

Legendary comic actor Bob Newhart takes the stage to hand out the comedy honor. I swear, he never ages, and he's being as funny as he ever was. A true television giant.

Now for the award for best comedy series. It's probably "30 Rock." And so it is. The show received 22 nominations this year, and I still believe it's one of the most overrated shows on television (what, you say!?!?!) There's better comedies on TV right now that have never won the award, including "Entourage," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Big Bang Theory," "The Office" (maybe not the last season though), to name several.

Just one category left after the commercial (by the way, the Apple commercials are as great as ever), Best Drama Series.

Before the ads are over, I must say it's going to be "Mad Men," which would be great. But I wouldn't mind if "Big Love" or "Breaking Bad" won either. All three have had incredible seasons this last year, and there is nothing on broadcast television that can even come close to what these dramas are doing week in and week out.

- Sigourney Weaver is handing out the final award of the evening.

And the winner is . . . "Mad Men" Yeesss!! Matthew Weiner's drama, which takes the top honor for the second year in a row, is about Madison Avenue advertising executives in the 1960s and has the sharpest writing of any TV show. Congratulations to the true successor to "The Sopranos."

So ends the 61st Annual Emmy Awards. Not a bad presentation considering it has to give out the most awards of any ceremony that's broadcast on TV. It was brisk, stayed on point and didn't go over it's three hour running time (thank heavens).

Now that the program is over, I'm going to turn on the DVR to watch what I really wanted to see - tonight's episode of "Mad Men."

More blogging of the Emmy Awards . . .

So far, as winner Jeff Probst just said, "This is how you host the Emmy Awards," Neil Patrick Harris is doing a good job. No wonder producers picked him after doing the creative Emmys and the Tony's last year.

- Best reality competition show. Only one show, "The Amazing Race," has ever won this award since they introduced it in 2002.

And the Emmy goes to . . . "The Amazing Race." Several thousand people storm the stage to accept the Emmy, including producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who is also won of the biggest movie producers in Hollywood. Neil notes it's, "upsets at every turn."

- Next category is best supporting actress in a miniseries or movie.

and the emmy goes to . . . Shohreh Aghdashloo for "House of Saddam."

Now, best supporting actor in a miniseries or movie.

The winner is Ken Howard, a well-known character actor (who starred in the old series "The White Shadow") for "Grey Gardens."

- Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie.

And the winner is Brendan Gleason as Sir Winston Churchill for HBO's "Into the Storm." He's very deserving of the award considering he's the best thing in the movie.

- Outstanding writing for a miniseries or movie. I'm rooting for "Generation Kill."

And the Emmy goes to . . . ugh, "Little Dorrit."

The next cagetory is best directing in a miniseries or movie. Again, I'm hoping it's HBO's "Generation Kill."

And the Emmy goes to, again, "Little Dorrit."

- Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris' famous Internet show) takes over the screen while the Emmy accountants read the rules. He talks about Web only entertainment in a funny sketch. A hilarious moment and one of the few sketches during the ceremony.

- Lead actress in a miniseries or movie. Big list of nominees including Jessica Lange and Shirley MacLaine.

And the winner is Jessica Lange for "Grey Gardens." She says it was a great part, and "they don't come around that often for me anymore," which is sadly true not only for great actresses like her but for any female actor above the age of 30. Some of the best thespians working in Hollywood are actresses like Lange, Holly Hunter, Glenn Close and others over the age of 40 who can't get good roles in movies. So many of them are turning to television where once in awhile parts are available for older actresses. Here's hoping she gets even more gifted parts like the one she was just honored with.

- Best Made for TV Movie. And the Emmy goes to . . . "Grey Gardens," which makes it three for three for the fact-based movie starring Lange and Drew Barrymore. HBO must be ecstatic.

- Now for best miniseries. I'm really hoping it's "Generation Kill," which so far lost its first two emmy categories. But there's only two nominees in this category.

And the Emmy goes to . . . aaaaagggghhhhhh!! "Little Dorrit." That's a complete shut out of "Generation Kill," which was my No. 1 show of last year. Robbed! ROBBED!! I tell ya.

- Now a montage of the year's variety shows and special programs, leading up to the best variety, musical and comedy program.

- but first, best directing in a variety, musical or comedy program. And the winner is "American Idol"!! It's his seventh nomination and first win, so I suppose the poor guy deserves it.

- now the bestwriting in a music, comedy or variety series. I'm thinking it's "The Daily Show" after a national election last year that produced a lot of news worth satirizing.

and the winner is . . . "The Daily Show"!!! Very deserving and not very surprising. Is there a time Jon Stewart didn't win this award?

My blogging of the 61st Emmy Awards continues.

So far, it's moving pretty fast. The speeches so far have been short and to the point. Producers must have really put the hammer down on the nominees to keep it brief.

- Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series is next. "30 Rock" has three nominations in this category. Hmmm. I wonder who's going to win.

It's Matt Hubbard for "30 Rock." Gee, who would have guessed.

- Amy Poehler and Julia Louis Dreyfus are on stage to give out best supporting actor in a comedy series.

And the winner is . . . WHAT!! Jon Cryer for "Two and a Half Men." First of all, why isn't he nominated for best actor since he's one of the two main stars with Charlie Sheen? But he's a likeable actor and I'm glad he won. He's probably the first surprise win of the night.

- Already, outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. Oddly, Justin Timberlake is giving out the award. Sarah Silverman is sporting a new mustache!!

And the winner is . . . Toni Collette (pictured above) for "The United States of Tara," the Showtime series by writer Diablo Cody ("Juno").

- best directing in a comedy series went to Jeffrey Blitz for "The Office."

Man, did you see the stunning red dress worn by that actress from "The Gossip Girl"? The front was cut down to her belly button, and it was slit in the front that went from her ankles all the way up to her . . . belly button again! Welcome to Hollywood.

- Lead actor in a comedy series is up. Rob Lowe is presenting. I sure h0pe it's Jim Parsons from 'The Big Bang Theory."

and the winner is . . . AAAAUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!! It's Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock." He did give a nice, short speech though.

- A very funny and VERY violent "Family Guy" clip has Stewie beating up the dog for not voting for the show for best comedy. I think the Parents Television Council is going to be all over this tomorrow morning.

- A montage on the year in reality TV. The fact is, it was the year of just about all reality. There seemingly was more reality programming this last year than scripted shows. A bit of irony here at the Emmys.

To top off the montage, two dancers from "Dancing With the Stars" perform on stage. Rats! It's not any of the  Utah ballroom dancers, of which there are two performing this next season that starts Monday.

- It's now outstanding host for reality competition series. Last year, Jeff Probst won for "Survivor."

And the Emmy goes to . . . Jeff Probst again! He deserves the award. But he quotes Joseph Campbell in his speech. A bit strange.

More blogging to come.

Yes, I have no life. Case in point - I'm sitting in front of my television Sunday night to watch the Emmy Awards and blog about what has become one of the more controversial Emmys in awhile.

For one, writer and directors were protesting the awards when producers originally thought they would edit down some of the categories on the fly to cut down on time. Bad idea. Since then, producers have changed their tune, and all of the winners will get equal due.

So here goes. It's 7 p.m., and the awards are underway. Here's my thoughts thus far. . .

- Host Neil Patrick Harris takes the stage with a song and dance number about TV. Not bad. But let's face it, the guy can do comedy, but he can't really sing.

"Here's hoping Kanye West likes '30 Rock.'" Funny.

- He's now showing off the stage, the moving sets, the control room that's right there on the stage. He says the show will be handed out in five parts. First up, comedy.

- Film clips of comedy shows. "Family Guy," "The Office, "Ugly Betty," "Desperate Housewives," "Entourage" (yeah), "The Big Bang Theory" (double yeah!), "Scrubs," Tina Fey on the toilet.

- First award, Tina Fey and Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") take the stage to give out supporting actress in a comedy. Whoa, nominee Kristen Chenoweth has some wild 2009 glasses. Amy Poehler has an eye patch! Kristen Wiig has a monocle. Ahh, Vanessa Williams decided not to wear anything.

And the winner is . . . Kristen Chenoweth for "Pushing Daisies." Man, she's tiny. "I'm unemployed now, so I would like to be on 'Mad Men.'" Good luck to that. Nice speech.

Yikes! During a split screen of happenings behind the screen, host Harris is yelling at someone! Is that a joke??? Hard to tell.

Keep reading as I blog throughout the broadcast.

3-D TV is comin' at ya next year.

Three television manufacturers are working on new TV sets that will produce 3-D images with the use of special glasses that require new television technology.

Gee, and we've only just started buying high definition televisions.

According to this CNN story, Sony and Panasonic are introducing new sets next year, and JVC is working on the technology as well.

The problem still remains, however, many people complain of headaches with 3D and those glasses, which will use polarized lenses and not the horrible old red and blue glasses.

But 3-D is all the rage in movies right now. I for one am not a fan of the tech. After 10 minutes of the wow factor, you begin to forget you're watching in 3-D, and you either get sucked into the story or not, just like a regular movie.

They should just invest all of that time and money in making better movies and TV shows. I think the 3-D that works is one that doesn't require glasses. We'll see.

Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek, who won for "Coal Miner's Daughter," has been cast in the new season of HBO"s "Big Love," playing a Washington lobbyist.

She will begin appearing in the third episode for a multi-episode arc, according to the Los Angeles Times.

As far as I know, this is the first time Spacek, who has been nominated for an Oscar a whopping six times for such movies as "Carrie," "Crimes of the Heart" and "In the Bedroom," has appeared in a continuing television series.

The fourth season, which follows the best season the show has ever had, begins next January. I can't wait.

Sure, "The Jay Leno Show's" ratings took a 62 percent dip from Monday to Tuesday night, but he came back for Wednesday night's show with 13 million viewers, 2 million more than the night before.

According to the Washington Post, that may be due to Susan Boyle singing on the finale of "America's Got Talent,' where they named country singer Kevin Skinner the winner.

Still, the important thing to remember with Jay's ratings is that he's winning the time slot in overall viewers and in the key 18-to-49 demos so far.

The real contest, however, is next week. How well will he do when many of the new one-hour dramas debut next week along with some returning dramas at that hour, including "The Mentalist," "Grey's Anatomy," and "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY"?

Henry Gibson, a very funny character actor that just about anyone will recognize, passed away Monday night in his home after a battle with cancer. He was 73.

He was one of the original cast members of the comedy variety show "Laugh-In" and was last seen in the series "Boston Legal." Here's the obituary from The Los Angeles Times.

I most remember this talented actor from his brief stint in the "Blues Brothers" movie where he played a neo-Nazi fanatic after the brothers.

Here he is in a clip from an episode of "Wonder Woman" in which he played a supervillain.