I was looking forward to it. The Red Carpet, the clothes, the shoes, the jewelry, the hair. Always my favorite part! And all those Sopranos nominations! If there were any justice in the world, they would win them all. In fact, it was almost ridiculous to have other candidates in the categories where The Sopranos were nominated.

So it didn't turn out that way. Loooooooong show. Green show; green "red carpet" made of recycled bottles. Green "blue carpet" inside the theater which Ryan Seacrest (not ready to host a show) reminded us about the inherent goodness of the "Hollywood Community." Today the "Hollywood Community" will be back to squandering lumber, paint, and props as usual but last night they were a mellow self-congratulatory shade of Kermit Green.

Theater-in-the-round! Whadda mess. With a trap door yet. Gimmicky. Who were the cartoon characters that opened the show with a Billy Crystal without the wit/humor modus operandi? Embarrassing.

Actors. Yeah, the guy in the hot pink shirt and the black sequined tie (snappy, I'll admit) beat out my boy Michael Imperioli just as the show began. I knew trouble was brewing. You're telling me the bald guy from "Lost" was BETTER than Michael Imperioli???!!!! Whoever it was who beat out both Janice Turturro and Lorraine Bracco as Supporting Actress (Hy-JELL or Hy-GELL) was a little more tolerable since there could have been a split vote in that category. Best Actress in a Drama Series -- I'm soooooooo sure that Sally the Flying Gidget Osteo-arthritic Nun was far superior to Edie Carmela Falco. The brilliance of Sally's acceptance speech serves to understate her talents. I was dosing off when I heard the word "James" and assumed it was Gandolfini who had won. Wrong James. James Spader in his best days of "Pretty in Pink" or as a 12-stepper in Seinfeld could compete with James Gandolfini in The Sopranos????!!!! Oh, the outrage!

Okay, The Sopranos won the Big One but to have shut out the actors was too wrong-headed for words.

I was very happy to see Helen Mirren win for Prime Suspect 7 even though I have not yet seen it myself. Missed it last fall but will get the DVD this week I hope. I have been a major fan of Jane Tennison from the beginning so I was pleased to see that show getting a nice share of awards.

Tony Bennett still bores me. Yeah, he looks good for 80-something but I just don't get him. Maybe I've never forgiven him for dissing The Sopranos by denying every request for one of his sons. Speaking of music and The Sopranos, how ridiculous was that "tribute to The Sopranos" by the "Jersey Boys?" How exactly is a group of guys from a musical play about Frankie Valli, who in later life played a minor role on The Sopranos, a tribute to The Sopranos? Uh, they're from New Jersey and so is Frankie? No, I think it was because they had little satellite video monitors floating around the clever theater in the round set-up playing Sopranos moments. That had nothing to do with the lyrics in the songs that the Jersey Boys were belting out. Oh, and the retro dancers on the stage! Yikes, it was embarrassing.

Okay. What was good? Lots of fabulous gowns. I thought Eva Longoria looked perfect. Liked Terry Hatcher's dress a lot too but as the evening wore on and on and on, the bodice seemed to shift so that when she was finally on stage as a presenter, I could have sworn I caught a discoloration of a nipple popping out from the right side. Speaking of nipples, Salman Rushdie's wife. Ex-wife. Vanessa Williams pale green feathers almost worked and probably would have been perfect on her maybe 10 years ago. Felicity Huffman's hot pink gown was pretty nice. Marcia Cross looked FABULOUS with that Grecian gown, long turquoise earrings against her red hair. I really hadn't noticed that the Desperate Housewives were among my favorites! Many of the actresses were unfamiliar entities to me but I did enjoy lotsa fashion choices last night if little else about the actual Emmy show.

Hey, no awards for Entourage either? What's with Emmy voters -- don't they have cable?

Anybody else watch the WHOLE thing? My condolences.

Susan

PS I totally forgot that the fabulous Jeremy Piven from Entourage won an Emmy.   

Wait, the Sopranos requested one of Tony Bennett's "sons"?  What, are they Rumplestiltskin all of a sudden?! And WHICH son was it? Better they should just "ax" for one of his many songs...

And WHICH son was it?

The one with the united colors.

I was watching Sunday Night Football and forgot all about it, so when the game became a blowout I switched over and then caught up online with the current list of winners... 

In the round? Yeah, my sentiments exactly.   

Actors - I really like Michael Imperiloi but I haven't watched Sopranos since like maybe season 4, but I have always liked Terry O Quinn, he really is a great actor (loved his work on Millennium and he had a great guest appearance on Homicide) so I was happy to see his name on the list of winners (Sorry, Susan.) I was very, very happy to see Jeremy Piven (Chicago native) FINALLY won one. Okay, why can't Hugh Laurie win an Emmy, he is clearly the best actor of the five (At least, the Golden Spheres like him)and he always has the best acceptance speeches. Hell, I would have even been pleased if James Gandolfini won, how he ALWAYS gets snubbed is beyond me. I was very surprised that Sally Field won, I would have put money on Edie Falco (who also was on Homicde for 5 episodes and was awesome) and if not her then Kyra Sedgwick only because I love The Closer.     

Series: No surprise the Sopranos won best drama series but House is still the best drama on television and has been since it first came on the air. Sorry again, Susan. I know how much you love the Sopranos. I promise I will catch up and watch the rest of the seasons. I'll probably just start over from the beginning. I know a lot of people think House is formulaic and it is very, but the writers have done a fabulous job mixing up the storylines of the characters and in doing so have kept a formulaic show fresh. Very much looking forward to the new season. I was happy to see Heroes nominated for best drama series. I just recently got into it and think it's groovy, but wouldn't Big Love had been eligible for this year's awards. If not, it should defnitely get a nod next year. Comedies: I don't think there is a funnier show than The Office.     

Fashion: I was surprised how many good looking gowns there were this year that I saw. Usually, in my opinion, it was just a select few. My question is how many of the gowns were "green"?  

Lotsa red. Lotsa poiple. White. The (yawn) obligatory black were there too) Yep, many beautiful gowns and plenty of good hair-dos. I read one fashionista describing the pulled back hair of some of the young women like Heigel and Hayden whatshername as wearing "dowdy mother-of-the-bride buns." Hahaha. How true.

Smokey, I cannot seriously entertain the prospect that House, which I did watch when it first came on the air, is in the same ball park or league as The Sopranos. I mean, I'm choking on my Perrier with the mere notion of that.

It's not just me but in nearly every article I've read about The Sopranos there is usually a sentence that reads something like this:

Widely critically acclaimed and considered the finest television series of all time...

However enjoyable, witty, well-acted any of the others may be, I'm afraid nothing has the depth and breadth of The Sopranos and nothing will be probably decades to come. Hate to be such an absolutist about it but within 84 of those 86 episodes lie more truth and honesty about the human condition than any show about obscure medical conditions could ever encapsulate. And I like Hugh Laurie too. Probably more than I like the inarticulate James Gandolfini. But Tony Soprano versus Dr. House?! Don't make me gargle-laugh.

Then again, I could be wrong.

Hahahaha. Just kidding. Not a chance. Sopranos forevah!

Susan

PS I think Jeremy Piven won last year or the year before. Entourage is FANTASTIC too. Watched four episodes consecutively last night catching up with this season. Perfect illustration of the topsy turvy world of filmmaking, actors, "geniuses" and 10 percenters. I'm loving it! Everyone I talk to in the "business" claims they can't watch it. Too painful.

PPS  I was hoping someone would wear one of these Chinese fashions that Angel had posted recently.  Probably uncomfortable on a hot day but pretty cute!  I can see Eva Longoria in this one. 

Smokey, I cannot seriously entertain the prospect that House, which I did watch when it first came on the air, is in the same ball park or league as The Sopranos. I mean, I'm choking on my Perrier with the mere notion of that.

The non-formulaic parts of House would probably only fill 3 or 4 episodes of 22 total if separated and edited together.

Other than that it's mostly like this:
Beginning:
A scene where we meet a person that we come to believe is the one who is supposed to get sick, but lo and behold, it turns out it's a different person that pukes blood or whatever.
Middle:
We have no idea what's wrong with this person.
End:
One of House's "friends" is talking:
-...I can't believe it, that guy is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
*House stares into nowhere*
House:
- Of course... wolf... LUPUS!
That last part will never happen because someone always throws out lupus as a possible cause of the patient's symptoms.

Finding an episode that isn't like a variation of that is like trying to find an episode of Rescue Me that doesn't end with a musical montage.

Now all we need to accompany this synopsis is the Booth-designed "House" DVD artwork!

Uh, oh, I hope we haven't ruffled Smokey's feathers.  I'm holding my breath waiting for his retort.  Be gentle, Smokey.  (even if we're not)  You have to admit, that was funny!

Susan 

Well, Susan, you saved yourself by saying you like Hugh Laurie. So, you agree he should have won instead of James Spader. I knew the snide comments would rain down when I made the comments about House and that's fine and no one can dish out the biting sarcasm like Booth. Another thing about House I enjoy is the relationship between House and Robert Sean Leonard's character because the dialogue is usually hilarious and well written and I was always surprised Omar Epps was never nominated for a supporting Actor Emmy, because his work over the last two seasons (especially season two) was quite good. Okay, your passion about the Sorpanos and it's breadth, width, length and the abilitity to alter time and space is the same way I feel about Six Feet Under (and Homicide: Life on the Street for that matter). Okay, I know Booth likes Homicide so let's hear the comments about SFU.

p.s. I am still going to watch the Sopranos over from the beginning. And now that Sopranos are defunct (except for the obligatory appearance at a theater near you) the reign of Dr. Gregory House can begin. That is if the theory that Tony was wacked is correct. What are your thoughts are that, by the way.               

p.p.s that's Hayden Panettiere

That is if the theory that Tony was wacked is correct. What are your thoughts are that, by the way.

Lupus.



It's interesting that by just using an American accent Hugh Laurie manages to escape the baggage of his portrayals of moronic aristocrats.

And now that Sopranos are defunct (except for the obligatory appearance at a theater near you)

Let's put a stop to that rumor right now! T'ain't gonna happen. At least if David Chase has anything to do with it. S'over. 86 episodes bookended by College and Made in America. The end. And yes, Tony was whacked. The best overview on the subject was written by Bob Harris, a screenwriter-blogger I was unfamiliar with until the Sopranos finale. To remove any hint of ambiguity, it's titled "Tony Soprano Didn't Just Get Whacked; He Practically Got a Funeral." Here's a link if you want to read it but I recommend you print it, save it and only read it after watching the series over again from the beginning. (that's a wonderful endeavor to undertake, btw!) http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/1406/1/

Just checked out the rumor mill and see this, which doesn't really count as "A Sopranos movie" so much as a pre-pre-prequel inspired by the type of characters who would have been ancestors to Tony's family.

 NIKKI FINK'S HOLLYWOOD

May 10, 2007

Everyone talks about a Sopranos movie, but only creator-writer-director-producer David Chase can make it happen. There's news on that front. Chase himself just told MTV News that a recent conversation with fellow HBO alum, Oz producer Tom Fontana, may have provided the inspiration he needs. Fontana "said you could do a story about the Sopranos’ grandparents first coming to this country. I had never thought about that. That was interesting to me.”

What a change. Because just as the HBO series' swan song was starting, I checked in with his longtime manager and producer Brad Grey (who now runs a small Hollywood studio called Paramount) to find out the status of the movie. "He has no plans for it right now. David would have to come up with an idea he'd really love that was interesting enough for him to try to do. He's not there." Maybe things have changed. Though this Italian immigrant experience has been done to death, Chase could give it a fresh slant.

One month later, just after the airing of the final episode, Chase answered the question like this:

"I don't think about (a movie) much," he told the paper. "I never say never. An idea could pop into my head where I would go, `Wow, that would make a great movie,' but I doubt it.

"I'm not being coy," he added. "If something appeared that really made a good Sopranos movie and you could invest in it and everybody else wanted to do it, I would do it. But I think we've kind of said it and done it."

I'm sticking with the "not likely" characterization but WHO knows?  I remember sometime after Woodstock when The Who proclaimed they would never, ever, ever perform "Tommy" again.   

To be fair I never could really watch "House." From my perspective, it's about my knee-jerk reaction against hospital shows. When "House" first aired, I was hoping it was about an interior designer. I don't like television or movies (or books or magazine/newspaper articles) about illness, particularly the terminal variety and avoid them like heart attacks.  Or strokes. Cancer too. Or the Bubonic plague. It's a prejudice, I know, but whatever real life encounters I have had with doctors, illness, and hospitals has been ample for me and I'm not interested in dwelling on it for entertainment. Okay, okay, I have been reminded that a significant amount of Sopranos screen time is devoted to hospital rooms and there was more than one terminal disease. Well, I'm nothing if not inconsistent, okay?

"Six Feet Under." I really liked the show. Really liked the main characters. Loved the premise!  But then somewhere along the way, I began to drift away. There was that wife of Nate's who would later go missing. Did not like her whiny self. Brenda's mom annoyed me too. Then there was that whole brain tumor thing. Seizures. Surgery. Hospitals. See above...

The final episode gets extra points for being one of the finest series endings of all time.

Susan

Everyday I inspire a Lipnick quote from Susan is a good day.

Tom Fontana...hmm...that name sounds familiar, oh yeah, he was one of the executive producers of Homicide: Life on the Street...yeah, I know, Barry Levinson was involved with Oz too. Here's another interesting stat. On of the creators of House was Paul Attanasio who was an intregal part of Homicide. Enough of that nonsense.

Back to Six Feet Under. The first two seasons, especially the second season were superb. The third was good in fits and starts. The even numbered episodes 2, 4, 6 & 8 were quite good. After Brenda's father passed away in episode 8 it started to pick up steam and the last 4 episodes recaptured some of the shows early brilliance and the season premiere of season 4 not only has my favroite scene from the series (Nate in the desert at the end of the episode)but also the final two seasons the show redeemed itself and I thought was were fantastic and yes, the series finale stands as the greatest series finale ever to be seen on television.        

Hayden Panettiere and the rest of the Heroes return on Monday!! I haven't been as excited for a second season since Carnivale. Both shows have a great cast of eclectic characters and a multi-layered mythology, which will be retraced to its past some more since Volume Two is titled Generations.  I'll have to miss it since I am gonna so see The Chemical Brothers, but I'll catch it on TV links as soon as possible. And speaking of of highly anticipated second seasons (and a SFU connection) Dexter starts up again really soon if it hasn't already. My sister. who lovingly hooked a brother up with season 2 of Big Love will be doing the same with Dexter.    

And incidentally, House premieres on Tuesday. Susan, I do have a question. Did you ever watch St. Elsewhere back in the day? Or did your aversion to medical shows date that far back? House and Elsewhere are the only two medical shows I have ever really taken a fancy to.      

p.s. As soon as I get caught up on the last two episodes of The Closer, season 3. I will begin my re-watching of The Sopranos.

Susan, I do have a question. Did you ever watch St. Elsewhere back in the day? Or did your aversion to medical shows date that far back? House and Elsewhere are the only two medical shows I have ever really taken a fancy to.

Good question, Smokey. Yes, I did watch St. Elsewhere pretty regularly. I'm trying to remember why I liked that show.  The theme song is playing in my head right now.  The cast was great.  Howie Mandel, Denzel, Ed Begley, and the persecuted David Morse.  I also watched Doogie Howser! As a kid, I also watched Ben Casey AND Dr. Kildare AND that show with Robert Young -- Medical Center?  The difference is that those shows were not very realistic stories or realistic patients. And yes, I had had fewer real life encounters with hospitals so watching was not as likely to plant the seeds for any medical student syndrome = ie the hypochrondria of worrying "I've got that!" with each new disease.  There's a part of my mind that is very suggestible. That little corner of gray matter that can be tweaked by watching a cinematic vomit scene.  It's a weak little corner and I need to protect it from bombardment.   If it is not my own health I worry about when watching/reading "health" stories, it is my family or friends' health. When Clinton had heart surgery, I started feeling like my arteries were clogged. I'm only serious.  We're the same age, after all.  It could be happening to me!   Every single day there's some TV "news" story lead-in that asks, "Are you at risk for ___________???" Stay tuned! If I am not quick on the remote, I'll be sure to discover someone close to me is "at risk" for whatever it is.  When you shop, pay a bill, go to the bank, post office or just about anywhere these days, there is some illness to fight. You can't even buy a pair of sunglasses without a pink ribbon or a "donate to the MD walk" reminder.  I like to be the master of choosing my own charities without prompts from the bank teller or the cashier at Costco.   What can I say? I think it is a combination of things -- a total 24-7 immersion in health warnings, solicitations for donations, plus my increasing psychological vulnerability around such issues that pushes me far away from including doctors/medical/disease/illness in my entertainment menu.  In an era where medical advances can save so many people from the ravages of the past, it's hard to grasp the preoccupation with the threats but I think it has something to do with a hope of living forever.   Susan 

There's a part of my mind that is very suggestible. That little corner of gray matter that can be tweaked by watching a cinematic vomit scene. It's a weak little corner and I need to protect it from bombardment.

I understand what you're saying. The difference between House and most other hospital shows is that it focuses on actual diseases, and therefore it has an air of "oh god, there are so many things that can go wrong with the body", while shows like ER focus more on shootings or people getting stabbed with AIDS needles.

I have an interest in the human body, and that includes the various diseases that can befall it, and its various marvelously repugnant liquids and processes.
House is the best medical show on TV, I think.

And whenever you feel susceptible to some televised illness, just repeat to yourself; it's not tumor, it's not a tumor, it's not a tumor.

Hahaha, it might be a tumor but it's surely not a toomah!  Ahnold looked pretty good then.

In the department of What Can Go Wrong With the Body Human, the New York Times magazine section runs a weekly column on obscure diseases.  I hate it too.  I hate it almost as much as I hate the weekly SECTION (!!!) of the LA Times called "HEALTH."  (The LA Times can no longer afford to provide a pull-out movie schedule but they can devote an entire section to the religion of HEALTH) Anyway, the NYT has a story of some misdiagnosed, mistreated disease or syndrome that they chronicle from the onset of symptoms to ultimate correct diagnosis.  I hate it.  My eyes glaze over.  I try to avoid it.  I can almost smell the Lysol that almost (but never really) camoflauges the sundry human odors on any hospital corridor when I accidentally read from that column. 

Hey, remember the lyrics to TB Sheets by Van Morrison?  If you do, you're starting to get the picture.  

FEH. Give me murder and mayhem anyday.  I'll take a decapitation over a Katy Couric colonoscopy when given the option.

Heh, heh, how about those Emmys, huh?

Susan 

Have you been watching the new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Susan? I think it's been pretty good so far.

I missed Sunday's episode because we were watching Ken Burn's War!  Will catch it OnDemand tonight though.  The first episode needed to be funnier, I thought.  It had all the elements for hilarity.  The second caught up with the humor potential.  I laughed out loud throughout the "ejaculate" and "anonymous" episode.  Looking forward to tonight! 

It's just good to have the show back on the air.  Larry David makes me laugh just to look at him.  Knowing he and the little lady have split up makes me like him all the more.  She's such a pill.

Susan 

I found the third episode to be the funniest of the season so far. Little orphan Funkhauser made me laugh pretty hard.

Very funny stuff! Did I tell you my husband went to high school with Little Orphan Funkhauser? Said he was always a funny guy. (Albert Brooks nee Einstein is the younger brother) The cast is sooooo good.

Those roadside memorials are something else. It's hard to remember when they first made their appearance. As I recall, they started out as markers for gang shootings.  There'd be a l'il cross, maybe a photo of the Dearly Departed and a candle in a jar with the Virgin of Guadelupe. If it was a stray bullet that killed a child, a teddy bear. About 20 years ago two college students were kidnapped from UCLA and taken up to Mulholland, shot to death for their car. Two crosses were up there until ground was broken for the Mike Millken High School. I've mentioned the cross with ribbons, bows and plastic flowers along the Mulholland Drive exit on the 405 that is STILL in place for Bill Cosby's murdered son. They have a section in our local Ralph's market where you can buy these memorial candles just in case someone gets murdered in your neighborhood. Usually young. Usually poor. Usually murders. Usually shootings. It is a Larry David special touch to have a memorial for a traffic accident, of a well-to-do elderly woman, in a wheelchair yet, along the heavily trafficked San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood! Hilariously incongruous but demonstrating the permeating sensibility of the public memorial. Does this have anything at all to do with the Andy Warhol quarter hour? 

Susan

Does this have anything at all to do with the Andy Warhol quarter hour?

Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds would definitely be playing during a memorial montage, that's for sure.