Andy's TV Awards
Since the Andy Movie Awards 2005 were such a big hit, and because we all know I know more than those who give out awards, I've decided to do the Emmy's one better, and list MY nominees and winners for the past TV season. Of course, unlike the Oscars, where I make a concerted effort to see all Oscar-baiting movies, I didn't see every show of last year, or even all the critically acclaimed ones. Unlike the Academy, I'm basing my awards on all the episodes I've seen from last season of a particular show, instead of just one or two episodes that were submitted.
To be nominated, I had to have seen at least part of last season's shows of the series. Thus, 24 and Arrested Development, two shows I've seen on DVD and enjoy, are not nominated because I haven't seen season five and three respectively. Other critically-acclaimed shows that I do not watch include The Sopranos, House, Curb Your Enthusiasm, any CSI or Law & Order shows (actually, no procedurals at all), The Office, Six Feet Under, The Shield, or Boston Legal. Despite not having seen any of those shows, I still think I did a better job than the Emmy people.
NOTE: I'll only being doing major categories, and for two of them, I won't have nominees. Because I'm not judging single episodes (too hard), I won't be doing any writing or directing awards. Also, no mini-series or TV movies.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Kevin Dillon for Entourage
Donald Faison for Scrubs
Neil Patrick Harris for How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven for Entourage
Ethan Suplee for My Name is Earl
Because I'm not a big believer in rewarding crap shows like Will & Grace, and I thought Malcolm in the Middle had been canceled years ago, my picks are much different than the Emmys. Actually, all my picks are different than the Emmys, so I won't waste time writing about how different things are here than there. Donald Faison was the best part of Scrubs in what was a down season. I truly believe him to be the show's unsung MVP. Neil Patrick Harris is the best part of How I Met Your Mother, getting all the best lines and stealing every scene. Only he doesn't do it as effectively as Jeremy Piven in Entourage.
The award goes to...
Jeremy Piven for Entourage
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Alyson Hannigan for How I Met Your Mother
Elizabeth Perkins for Weeds
Jaime Pressly for My Name Is Earl
Judy Reyes for Scrubs
Nadine Velazquez for My Name Is Earl
I'm happy that I was able to get five nominees in this category, but Hannigan and Velazquez are mostly just throw-ins (although I like them both). Here's the thing: I've only seen 5 comedies from last season. Anyway, Judy Reyes does a good job playing off of Faison, but was dragged down by Scrubs' sub-par season, so this is a two-horse race (both of whom are also nominated in the real award show). Elizabeth Perkins brought a lot of depth to her character, with Celia starting the season as the evil PTA bitch, and ending it as a sympathetic, almost warm character. But... Jaime Pressly is awesome in Earl, shocking me with her comic range and abilities I didn't think she possessed.
The award goes to...
Jaime Pressly for My Name Is Earl
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
The nominees are...
Enrico Colantoni for Veronica Mars
Ciarán Hinds for Rome
Terry O'Quinn for Lost
Jimmy Smits for The West Wing
Isaiah Washington for Grey's Anatomy
Honestly, the toughest part of this process is deciding who's a supporting actor and who's not in ensemble casts. I did my best, but there may be some disagreement about these divisions. I figure all of Lost other than Jack, Kate, and Sawyer are supporting, but Locke is borderline. Ah well, he's my fifth nominee anyway, as I wasn't that impressed by the show this season. Ciarán Hinds, who I also nominated in the similar movie awards category earlier this year, was pretty great as Julius Caesar, but I could've also nominated other guys from that show here as well. For me, the winner in this category was pretty easy to select, the best dad on television.
The award goes to...
Enrico Colantoni for Veronica Mars
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
The nominees are...
Yoon-Jin Kim for Lost
Sandra Oh for Grey's Anatomy
Janel Moloney for The West Wing
Amanda Seyfried for Big Love
Polly Walker for Rome
Again, this was tough to populate, as it's tough to decide things like which of the wives of Big Love are leading, and which are supporting? I decided that they were all leading (although I was leaning towards nominating Ginnifer Goodwin here), and instead nominated Amanda Seyfried who did an excellent job as the oldest daughter caught in the madness of plural marriage. Sandra Oh will probably win the Emmy, as voters there and at Golden Globes love her, but I just like her and think she is just as solid as the rest of the cast, but not head and shoulders better. Polly Walker was awesome as Julie Cooper Atia of the Julii, and I thought Sun's (Yoon-Jin Kim) flashbacks last season were the few that didn't bug me. In the end, I think Janel Moloney stepped things up the most in the final season of The West Wing, and if the Academy isn't going to recognise her for her great work over this and the past seven seasons, then I will.
The award goes to...
Janel Moloney for The West Wing
Best Reality Competition Program:
The nominees are...
The Amazing Race
America's Next Top Model
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
Survivor
I actually only watch three of these, but I managed to stop flipping on the other two a couple times (mostly for Stacey Keibler on Dancing with the Stars). Since reality shows generally run two seasons in the span of a year (or in ANTM's case "cycles"), I'm basing my vote on both seasons (if I watched them). Both Amazing Races of the past year sucked in varying degrees, ANTM is too silly to win, so Survivor gets it with one pretty good season, and one average one.
The award goes to...
Survivor
Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
This award comes down to two shows: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or The Colbert Report. No need to fill this with other nominees. It's a tough choice, but I gotta go with Colbert, who has taken what I thought would be a limiting premise and spun it into comic gold. What's really impressive is that he's been able to work recurring themes and ongoing storylines into the show.
The award goes to...
The Colbert Report
Best Actress in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Remember when I said I've only seen five comedies from last year? Well, only two of them have what can be considered a lead actress, and only one of them deserves to win (the other is Sarah Chalke from Scrubs).
The award goes to...
Mary Louise Parker for Weeds
Best Actor in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Zach Braff for Scrubs
Kevin Connolly for Entourage
Adrian Grenier for Entourage
Jason Lee for My Name Is Earl
Josh Radnor for How I Met Your Mother
I guess I need to watch more comedies. If only I didn't miss Arrested Development! Cause Zach Braff was fucking terrible this year, and Adrian Grenier is decent, but not as good as Jason Bateman in what I've seen of AD, and probably not as good as Steve Carell in The Office (from what I hear). I'm enjoying Josh Radnor as an affable lead, but there's really only one choice here. I knew Jason Lee would be worth watching on TV, and he's only exceeded my expectations.
The award goes to...
Jason Lee for My Name Is Earl
Best Actor in a Dramatic Series:
The nominees are...
Patrick Dempsey for Grey's Anatomy
Jason Dohring for Veronica Mars
Wentworth Miller for Prison Break
Bill Paxton for Big Love
Bradley Whitford for The West Wing
I'm not really sure if Patrick Dempsey or Jason Dohring are even considered lead actors, but I'm putting them here anyway, because they should be. But... they're not gonna win, so let's move on. Miller is the fifth nominee, who undeniably powers the show, but it's kind of a silly show. Bradley Whitford was the true leading man of the seventh season of The West Wing, while Martin Sheen (who got an Emmy nomination) was a part-time player. I'd like to give him the award, but Big Love is too good a show and Bill Paxton is excellent in it as its true leading man (of course, he wasn't nominated... because the Academy sucks).
The award goes to...
Bill Paxton for Big Love
Best Actress in a Dramatic Series:
The nominees are...
Kristen Bell for Veronica Mars
Allison Janney for The West Wing
Ellen Pompeo for Grey's Anatomy
Chloë Sevigny for Big Love
Jeanne Tripplehorn for Big Love
Allison Janney wasn't in all of this season, but in what she was in, she brought her A game (as with all seven seasons). Jeanne Tripplehorn was probably the most appealing part of Big Love, whereas Chloë Sevigny had the thankless job of playing the bitch wife (but still brought a lot of humanity to the role). They cancel each other out. I think Ellen Pompeo doesn't get enough credit for being the anchor of Grey's Anatomy, but that doesn't mean she deserves a prestigious Andy TV Award. No, that award can only go to Kristen Bell, star and title character of the best show on TV.
The award goes to...
Kristen Bell for Veronica Mars
Best Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Entourage
How I Met Your Mother
My Name Is Earl
Scrubs
Weeds
So these are the illustrious five, with How I Met Your Mother just joining the group in summer re-runs (I did check out the first few episodes of Everybody Hates Chris, but it didn't grab me). Of these five, How I Met Your Mother isn't in contention because I've only seen a few, and Scrubs is the weak link. Weeds is a tough call, because its a pseudo-comedy, so I'm not sure if that gives it an advantage because it's more serious. I love Entourage's "Aquaman" season, and am tempted by it, and am surprised at how much life they've gotten out My Name Is Earl's concept. It should be good for years. This is my toughest call...
The award goes to...
Entourage
Best Dramatic Series:
The nominees are...
Big Love
Grey's Anatomy
Rome
Veronica Mars
The West Wing
Since I watch more dramas than comedies, I was actually able to leave shows out of this one! Yay! I'm sad to see how far Lost had fallen, but I feel fine not nominating it. Grey's Anatomy made huge strides in its second season, changing from a show based around Meredith Grey to a fun ensemble with a great balance of comedy, drama, and action. If I was going solely on single episodes, I might've given the award to them for their post-Super Bowl show. But I'm not, and they're the fifth nominee. The West Wing had a great comeback season to close it out, using their final season to their advantage to create real drama with the election of a new president (instead of the foregone conclusion of Bartlet's re-election in season four). Rome and Big Love have made me an HBO believer, but... I already said what the best show on TV was.
The award goes to...
Veronica Mars
So, there you go. I admit, this one isn't as complete as my movie one, as I'm forced to nominate every comedy I've seen. But, my watching the show is a stamp of approval on its own (well, not in the case of The O.C.), and while the nominees might not be as impressive, I'm pretty confident in my ability to choose winners here.
To be nominated, I had to have seen at least part of last season's shows of the series. Thus, 24 and Arrested Development, two shows I've seen on DVD and enjoy, are not nominated because I haven't seen season five and three respectively. Other critically-acclaimed shows that I do not watch include The Sopranos, House, Curb Your Enthusiasm, any CSI or Law & Order shows (actually, no procedurals at all), The Office, Six Feet Under, The Shield, or Boston Legal. Despite not having seen any of those shows, I still think I did a better job than the Emmy people.
NOTE: I'll only being doing major categories, and for two of them, I won't have nominees. Because I'm not judging single episodes (too hard), I won't be doing any writing or directing awards. Also, no mini-series or TV movies.
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Kevin Dillon for Entourage
Donald Faison for Scrubs
Neil Patrick Harris for How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven for Entourage
Ethan Suplee for My Name is Earl
Because I'm not a big believer in rewarding crap shows like Will & Grace, and I thought Malcolm in the Middle had been canceled years ago, my picks are much different than the Emmys. Actually, all my picks are different than the Emmys, so I won't waste time writing about how different things are here than there. Donald Faison was the best part of Scrubs in what was a down season. I truly believe him to be the show's unsung MVP. Neil Patrick Harris is the best part of How I Met Your Mother, getting all the best lines and stealing every scene. Only he doesn't do it as effectively as Jeremy Piven in Entourage.
The award goes to...
Jeremy Piven for Entourage
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Alyson Hannigan for How I Met Your Mother
Elizabeth Perkins for Weeds
Jaime Pressly for My Name Is Earl
Judy Reyes for Scrubs
Nadine Velazquez for My Name Is Earl
I'm happy that I was able to get five nominees in this category, but Hannigan and Velazquez are mostly just throw-ins (although I like them both). Here's the thing: I've only seen 5 comedies from last season. Anyway, Judy Reyes does a good job playing off of Faison, but was dragged down by Scrubs' sub-par season, so this is a two-horse race (both of whom are also nominated in the real award show). Elizabeth Perkins brought a lot of depth to her character, with Celia starting the season as the evil PTA bitch, and ending it as a sympathetic, almost warm character. But... Jaime Pressly is awesome in Earl, shocking me with her comic range and abilities I didn't think she possessed.
The award goes to...
Jaime Pressly for My Name Is Earl
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
The nominees are...
Enrico Colantoni for Veronica Mars
Ciarán Hinds for Rome
Terry O'Quinn for Lost
Jimmy Smits for The West Wing
Isaiah Washington for Grey's Anatomy
Honestly, the toughest part of this process is deciding who's a supporting actor and who's not in ensemble casts. I did my best, but there may be some disagreement about these divisions. I figure all of Lost other than Jack, Kate, and Sawyer are supporting, but Locke is borderline. Ah well, he's my fifth nominee anyway, as I wasn't that impressed by the show this season. Ciarán Hinds, who I also nominated in the similar movie awards category earlier this year, was pretty great as Julius Caesar, but I could've also nominated other guys from that show here as well. For me, the winner in this category was pretty easy to select, the best dad on television.
The award goes to...
Enrico Colantoni for Veronica Mars
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
The nominees are...
Yoon-Jin Kim for Lost
Sandra Oh for Grey's Anatomy
Janel Moloney for The West Wing
Amanda Seyfried for Big Love
Polly Walker for Rome
Again, this was tough to populate, as it's tough to decide things like which of the wives of Big Love are leading, and which are supporting? I decided that they were all leading (although I was leaning towards nominating Ginnifer Goodwin here), and instead nominated Amanda Seyfried who did an excellent job as the oldest daughter caught in the madness of plural marriage. Sandra Oh will probably win the Emmy, as voters there and at Golden Globes love her, but I just like her and think she is just as solid as the rest of the cast, but not head and shoulders better. Polly Walker was awesome as Julie Cooper Atia of the Julii, and I thought Sun's (Yoon-Jin Kim) flashbacks last season were the few that didn't bug me. In the end, I think Janel Moloney stepped things up the most in the final season of The West Wing, and if the Academy isn't going to recognise her for her great work over this and the past seven seasons, then I will.
The award goes to...
Janel Moloney for The West Wing
Best Reality Competition Program:
The nominees are...
The Amazing Race
America's Next Top Model
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
Survivor
I actually only watch three of these, but I managed to stop flipping on the other two a couple times (mostly for Stacey Keibler on Dancing with the Stars). Since reality shows generally run two seasons in the span of a year (or in ANTM's case "cycles"), I'm basing my vote on both seasons (if I watched them). Both Amazing Races of the past year sucked in varying degrees, ANTM is too silly to win, so Survivor gets it with one pretty good season, and one average one.
The award goes to...
Survivor
Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
This award comes down to two shows: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or The Colbert Report. No need to fill this with other nominees. It's a tough choice, but I gotta go with Colbert, who has taken what I thought would be a limiting premise and spun it into comic gold. What's really impressive is that he's been able to work recurring themes and ongoing storylines into the show.
The award goes to...
The Colbert Report
Best Actress in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Remember when I said I've only seen five comedies from last year? Well, only two of them have what can be considered a lead actress, and only one of them deserves to win (the other is Sarah Chalke from Scrubs).
The award goes to...
Mary Louise Parker for Weeds
Best Actor in a Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Zach Braff for Scrubs
Kevin Connolly for Entourage
Adrian Grenier for Entourage
Jason Lee for My Name Is Earl
Josh Radnor for How I Met Your Mother
I guess I need to watch more comedies. If only I didn't miss Arrested Development! Cause Zach Braff was fucking terrible this year, and Adrian Grenier is decent, but not as good as Jason Bateman in what I've seen of AD, and probably not as good as Steve Carell in The Office (from what I hear). I'm enjoying Josh Radnor as an affable lead, but there's really only one choice here. I knew Jason Lee would be worth watching on TV, and he's only exceeded my expectations.
The award goes to...
Jason Lee for My Name Is Earl
Best Actor in a Dramatic Series:
The nominees are...
Patrick Dempsey for Grey's Anatomy
Jason Dohring for Veronica Mars
Wentworth Miller for Prison Break
Bill Paxton for Big Love
Bradley Whitford for The West Wing
I'm not really sure if Patrick Dempsey or Jason Dohring are even considered lead actors, but I'm putting them here anyway, because they should be. But... they're not gonna win, so let's move on. Miller is the fifth nominee, who undeniably powers the show, but it's kind of a silly show. Bradley Whitford was the true leading man of the seventh season of The West Wing, while Martin Sheen (who got an Emmy nomination) was a part-time player. I'd like to give him the award, but Big Love is too good a show and Bill Paxton is excellent in it as its true leading man (of course, he wasn't nominated... because the Academy sucks).
The award goes to...
Bill Paxton for Big Love
Best Actress in a Dramatic Series:
The nominees are...
Kristen Bell for Veronica Mars
Allison Janney for The West Wing
Ellen Pompeo for Grey's Anatomy
Chloë Sevigny for Big Love
Jeanne Tripplehorn for Big Love
Allison Janney wasn't in all of this season, but in what she was in, she brought her A game (as with all seven seasons). Jeanne Tripplehorn was probably the most appealing part of Big Love, whereas Chloë Sevigny had the thankless job of playing the bitch wife (but still brought a lot of humanity to the role). They cancel each other out. I think Ellen Pompeo doesn't get enough credit for being the anchor of Grey's Anatomy, but that doesn't mean she deserves a prestigious Andy TV Award. No, that award can only go to Kristen Bell, star and title character of the best show on TV.
The award goes to...
Kristen Bell for Veronica Mars
Best Comedy Series:
The nominees are...
Entourage
How I Met Your Mother
My Name Is Earl
Scrubs
Weeds
So these are the illustrious five, with How I Met Your Mother just joining the group in summer re-runs (I did check out the first few episodes of Everybody Hates Chris, but it didn't grab me). Of these five, How I Met Your Mother isn't in contention because I've only seen a few, and Scrubs is the weak link. Weeds is a tough call, because its a pseudo-comedy, so I'm not sure if that gives it an advantage because it's more serious. I love Entourage's "Aquaman" season, and am tempted by it, and am surprised at how much life they've gotten out My Name Is Earl's concept. It should be good for years. This is my toughest call...
The award goes to...
Entourage
Best Dramatic Series:
The nominees are...
Big Love
Grey's Anatomy
Rome
Veronica Mars
The West Wing
Since I watch more dramas than comedies, I was actually able to leave shows out of this one! Yay! I'm sad to see how far Lost had fallen, but I feel fine not nominating it. Grey's Anatomy made huge strides in its second season, changing from a show based around Meredith Grey to a fun ensemble with a great balance of comedy, drama, and action. If I was going solely on single episodes, I might've given the award to them for their post-Super Bowl show. But I'm not, and they're the fifth nominee. The West Wing had a great comeback season to close it out, using their final season to their advantage to create real drama with the election of a new president (instead of the foregone conclusion of Bartlet's re-election in season four). Rome and Big Love have made me an HBO believer, but... I already said what the best show on TV was.
The award goes to...
Veronica Mars
So, there you go. I admit, this one isn't as complete as my movie one, as I'm forced to nominate every comedy I've seen. But, my watching the show is a stamp of approval on its own (well, not in the case of The O.C.), and while the nominees might not be as impressive, I'm pretty confident in my ability to choose winners here.