Colm Currie
Writing things so you don't have to
Walter White, Family Man
Before you read on, I should tell you (since I don’t want to receive any death threats) that this contains spoilers up to and including the most recent Breaking Bad episode, Granite State. If you’re not up to speed and don’t wish to have the show spoiled for you, you continue reading at your own risk. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Emmy Picks, Predictions, Unsung Heroes & Oh-No-Nos – 2013
I did one of these last year, and it was so popular I felt I just had to write another one, ahead of the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards tonight. So, here we go.
1. Outstanding Comedy Series
This may sound a lot like what I said last year, but firmer. I quite like Modern Family, but in my view it has never been the strongest sitcom on TV, and that has never been more true than this year. The fourth season felt really laggy and repetitive, with genuine laughs few and far between. It’s won this award for all three previous seasons, and I really hope this is the year that ends that streak, because it just doesn’t deserve it this year. 30 Rock had a very strong final season, and would be my choice for the award, but Louie and Veep were also excellent. I’ve written extensively on Girls before, both here and here, and have warmed up to it after a second viewing a couple of months ago when I was supposed to be writing my dissertation (I filed it very loosely under ‘research’). However, while I think it’s quite a good show and provokes a lot of thought, it’s still not very funny. There’s a good bit of gentle humour, but I think it has too few laugh-out-loud moments to be called an outstanding comedy series. It’s a long way funnier than The Big Bang Theory, although that’s not saying much. Still no nod for Parks & Recreation or It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, which makes The Big Bang Theory‘s inclusion even more of a joke than it already is.
My Pick – 30 Rock
My Prediction – Veep
My Unsung Hero – It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
My Oh-No-No – The Big Bang Theory
2. Outstanding Drama Series
We now come to a category not included in my breakdown last year, mainly because I hadn’t seen enough of the nominated drama series to know what I was talking about. Of the six shows nominated in this category this year, I have now seen four in full, so I’m comfortable telling you my opinions on which should be getting the awards.
You’ll likely not be shocked by my selecting Breaking Bad as the rightful winner. I haven’t seen anything of its quality since The Sopranos, although I also love Mad Men, but felt its most recent season was below par. It took me several episodes to get into House Of Cards, but once I did, I had a great old time. All three of Netflix’s eligible original series (if we include Arrested Development, which I do) are up for Emmys this year, which is a fantastic and fully deserved achievement in their first year of producing original content. Breaking Badstill tips the scale for me, but House Of Cards was an excellent piece of television. Homelandis probably the favourite to take this one home, as it did last year. While I like it, it’s not up there with the other three for me. There are a number of things I love about America, and a number of others on which I’m not so keen, and Homeland incorporates too many of the latter category for my liking. It’s a good series, but I wouldn’t call it outstanding, certainly not alongside its fellow nominees.
I’ve never properly watched Downton Abbey, but I’ve seen enough of it to know it’s not for me, although I can see why people would like it. As for Game Of Thrones, everything I know or think I know about it makes me hate it (perhaps irrationally), and I refuse to watch it. Don’t tell me I shouldn’t, don’t tell me it’s great, I refuse.
My Pick – Breaking Bad
My Prediction – Homeland
My Unsung Hero – None
My Oh-No-No – Game Of Thrones
3. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
While I think it’s something close to a crime that Jason Bateman never won this award during the original run of Arrested Development, I wouldn’t give it to him this year. Not that he wasn’t great (I did have a couple of issues with his character, which I’ll probably discuss another time), but Alec Baldwin was again fantastic in 30 Rock. He’s won it several times before, of course, and I think he deserves another to add to his collection. Whether he’ll get it is another issue, particularly given the relationship the media has with Baldwin, which could go against him, rightly or wrongly (hint: wrongly). Louis C.K. was also excellent in Louie, and Matt LeBlanc rather impressed me in Episodes, so I wouldn’t be disappointed to see it go to either of them, or Bateman. Meanwhile, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia goes from strength to strength, apparently unnoticed. I think Charlie Day deserves at least a nomination for the last season, but apparently not.
My Pick – Alec Baldwin
My Prediction – Jim Parsons
My Unsung Hero – Charlie Day
My Oh-No-No – Jim Parsons
4. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
This would have been a much tougher decision for me to make a year ago, but not so now: it should go to Bryan Cranston. As I said above, I felt the sixth season of Mad Men was weaker than those which had gone before it, and I wasn’t too happy with the direction (or lack thereof) Jon Hamm’s character seemed to be taking. He’s an excellent actor, but I don’t think he turned in a top performance this year. Damian Lewis was pretty good in Homeland, but not as good as Kevin Spacey in House Of Cards, or so I thought. Both play characters of whose allegiances the viewers are often unsure, which is very difficult to do, but I thought Spacey did this more convincingly.
My Pick – Bryan Cranston
My Prediction – Damian Lewis
My Unsung Hero – None
My Oh-No-No – None
5. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
One thing I did like about the most recent season of Mad Men was the fall and rise of Peggy Olson. She wasn’t a character I had previously ‘got;’ there was a lot of fuss made about her in some quarters, and I didn’t understand why. I didn’t dislike her, I just wasn’t especially fond of her. However, I really liked her arc in season six, and thought Elisabeth Moss was brilliant in her portrayal, so she’s my shout for this one. I think Claire Danes will probably win, which would also be fine; I’ve always liked her, and she was particularly good in her nominated episode (as was Lewis). I’m not sure how many actors can be nominated in the ‘lead’ category for one show, so I don’t know if she’d be in this category or the supporting one, but I thought Kate Mara was outstanding in House Of Cards. She had almost as much screen time as Robin Wright, maybe more, and I felt she did more with her character.
My Pick – Elisabeth Moss
My Prediction – Claire Danes
My Unsung Hero – Kate Mara
My Oh-No-No – None
6. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell’s character Phil Dunphy has long been my favourite thing about Modern Family, and he was again the best thing in season four. I suspect he’ll take home the award, but I’d prefer to see it go to Tony Hale, who was outstanding in Veep. He was also at the top of his game in Arrested Development; I’ve never been a big fan of Buster particularly (he’s good, but not my favourite character by some way), but I thought his episode (Off The Hook) was one of the strongest of the new season. This is largely irrelevant, since the role for which he’s nominated is the Vice-President’s bagman in Veep, but I’ll reiterate for the avoidance of doubt: he was braw. He seems to have struck up some great chemistry with his boss (the always wonderful Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and he’s my pick of the bunch this year.
Nick Offerman has once again been snubbed, which I can scarcely believe. His role as Ron Swanson on Parks And Recreation has consistently been one of the best things on television for the last four years. Will Arnett and David Cross could both quite easily have had a nomination for their roles as Gob and Tobias on Arrested Development, but were also overlooked.
My Oh-No-No for this category has to be Ed O’Neill. I don’t have a major problem with him, but Jay is among the least amusing characters on Modern Family, and I thought his season four I’m-not-sure-if-I’m-ready-to-be-a-dad-again storyline was three of the worst things comedy can be: unoriginal, predictable and repetitive. One can only work with the script one has, but it’s difficult to justify his inclusion among the nominees when some top performances (see above) have been left out.
My Pick – Tony Hale
My Prediction – Ty Burrell
My Unsung Hero – Nick Offerman
My Oh-No-No – Ed O’Neill
7. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks. Need I say more? Okay, I will. Jonathan Banks, as Mike Ehrmantraut on Breaking Bad, was absolutely phenomenal. A terrifying man, and one who is not without sin himself, he somehow managed to be far more likeable than most of the similarly evil characters on the show. He’s menacing, yet somehow warm at the same time. I’d give it to him, but I suspect the winner will be Mandy Patinkin for his role as Saul Berenson on Homeland. Saul is a character who I didn’t particularly like at first, but has grown on me, and was my favourite thing about the second season. I wouldn’t be too displeased if he were to win, but Banks is my preferred choice by some margin.
Two more Breaking Bad actors have somehow been omitted from this category: Bob Odenkirk and Dean Norris. While I’d still give it to Banks ahead of either, I think both these guys are long overdue for a nomination. For his work in the second half of season five, I’d be amazed if Norris were to be overlooked for next year’s awards. Odenkirk pips him to the much-coveted unsung hero spot this year, but both have been consistently good (and funny, which isn’t easy in an increasingly dark series) throughout the last few seasons.
My Pick – Jonathan Banks
My Prediction – Mandy Patinkin
My Unsung Hero – Bob Odenkirk
My Oh-No-No – Peter Dinklage
Although none of its series or actors made my picks (or predictions), I think it would be great for Netflix to win something. If not this year, I’m sure it’ll receive more nominations for next year; the first season of Orange Is The New Black is eligible for the 66th Emmys, while House Of Cards and Hemlock Grove are both coming back, and they may make more Arrested Development (although that would probably be a couple of years away yet). I’ve really enjoyed their original content so far, as well as it providing easy access to a lot of other great stuff, and I think they deserve some recognition. Netflix is changing the way we watch TV, some think for better, others think for worse. I personally love what Netflix is doing, and it’s a huge achievement for them to have garnered the first Emmy nominations for original online-only television.
My Favourite TV Lawyers
Characters on television constantly seem to get themselves into scrapes, binds, pickles and other tricky situations, which require them to contact their lawyers to sort everything out for them. Often, lawyers – along with private investigators, accountants and general problem solvers – make for some of the best recurring/supporting characters on TV. They can be wacky or straight, shady or clean, brilliant or terrible, it doesn’t matter. Here are my favourites, in reverse order. Spoilers possible; read on at your own risk.
7. Wayne Jarvis (Arrested Development)
Wayne is not the first (or is he? It’s all in how you look at it) lawyer from Arrested Development to make this list. When you have a family as dysfunctional as the Bluths, with a matriarch as cunning and corrupt as Lucille, you’re bound to require the services of more than one lawyer. Unfortunately for the Bluths, Wayne was not on their side, although Michael did attempt to secure his services before he took over the prosecution side. An excessively serious man, Wayne was more than a match for Barry Zuckerkorn and Bob Loblaw, although he may be best remembered for presenting a photograph of desert as evidence, only for Barry to declare, “Those are balls.”
Played by: John Michael Higgins
Finest moment: Being the worst audience participant Cirque Du Soleil ever had
6. Maggie Lizer (Arrested Development)
A fantastic character who appeared in only a handful of episodes. Maggie “Lizer-ass-off,” as she dubs herself, lives up to her name, pretending to be blind when she first meets Michael, trying to take advantage of him to learn more about his family, who she is prosecuting. When she returns in the second season, her pregnancy is real, but at the centre of another web of lies. Despite his own shortcomings, Michael realises he is too honest to be with a woman like Maggie, who may well be a compulsive liar, but is certainly a great lawyer.
Played by: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Finest moment: Having to pretend to be unable to see Tobias as he prowls around her house with his ‘cat-like’ agility
5. Ted Buckland (Scrubs)
Despite his appearance and general demeanour suggesting the contrary, Ted actually appears to have fairly comprehensive knowledge of malpractice law. Unfortunately, his general nervousness and social incompetency do not help him in his legal abilities, and spends much of his time as a servant to Dr. Kelso. His deadpan outlook on life and perpetual bad luck are usually funny, often verging on sad, but walking that very fine line rather well. The fact that his job is probably one of the more depressing within the legal community – attempting to prevent mistreated patients or patients who have suffered accidents in the hospital from suing said hospital – probably doesn’t help.
Played by: Sam Lloyd
Finest moment: At the start of an important meeting, his hands slip on a table due to being overly sweaty, and he knocks himself unconscious as a result
4. Barry Zuckerkorn (Arrested Development)
Another lawyer from the OC (we’re not calling it that), Barry represents the Bluths for years, until they can take no more and bring in Bob Loblaw to replace him. He’s generally a nice chap, but not the best when it comes to preparing (e.g. reading plea bargains, finding out the name of Gob’s wife before their divorce hearing, familiarising himself with the case before a trial). It is implied that he has something of a haphazard, disturbing private life, which doesn’t mix well when practicing law. Still, he’s easily the coolest dude in town, and if he ever finds himself on the wrong end of the law, he can always take to the sea.
Played by: Henry Winkler
Finest moment: “Wow. You should be the lawyer!”
3. Saul Goodman (Breaking Bad)
Quite possibly the most competent lawyer on the list, although his dress sense leaves something to be desired. As Jesse so perfectly puts it in Saul’s first episode (Better Call Saul!), “When the going gets tough, you don’t want a criminal lawyer, you want a criminal lawyer,” and Saul Goodman is definitely that. With a network of shady contacts, a series of hugely enjoyable TV adverts and a desk drawer full of mobile phones, Saul certainly knows what he’s doing when it comes to living within – and not occasionally bending – the law. He’s got plenty of experience in the field, which I hope we’ll see more of after the show ends later this month, with the announcement this week that a proposed spin-off for Saul is moving forward.
Played by: Bob Odenkirk
Finest moment: Any time Saul bursts into a room, usually during an interrogation, he’s at his best
2. Jackie Chiles (Seinfeld)
Jackie first appears in the seventh season as a man for Kramer to approach whenever he has a ridiculous problem. His first episode sees him throwing out adjectives to describe his overreaction to Kramer’s being burnt by a coffee he tried to sneak into a cinema, setting up appointments with Dr. Bison, doing all the legwork, before Kramer ruins everything by applying a balm he was given by the Maestro. Further involvements include a lawsuit against candy bar heiress Sue-Ellen Mishke for walking around with no top on and ruining Kramer’s golf swing, and attacking the tobacco companies after Kramer’s face is ruined by over-exposure to cigarette smoke. He does all of this in a hilariously over-the-top, Johnnie Cochran style manner, delivering almost every line as though it’s his smoking gun in his current case. Like Saul, Jackie seems to be a good lawyer, but the fact that we only see him managing Kramer’s ludicrous claims doesn’t help our impression of him.
Played by: Phil Morris
Finest moment: His wicked smile as he remarks that he’s been wanting a piece of the tobacco companies for years
1. Lionel Hutz (The Simpsons)
Just about every bad lawyer stereotype in the book comes from, or was at least perfected by, Lionel Hutz. How he makes a living as a lawyer is a complete mystery (“I move for a bad court thingy,” “That’s why you’re the judge and I’m the law talking guy,” “Kids, help,” etc.), and he seems to have been pretty lucky to stay out of jail himself. He doesn’t have the most secure housing situation, or working situation, sometimes seen to operate out of phoneboxes and live in less than ideal establishments. Yet apparently, he’s the only lawyer a lot of people in Springfield can afford (the blue-haired lawyer is but a pipe dream for most residents), so he gets by, although he doesn’t win many cases. With the death of voice actor Phil Hartman in 1998, The Simpsons retired Hutz and his other recurring character Troy McClure. This is not the sole reason the show subsequently slid downhill, but it was certainly a factor, as both characters (particularly Hutz) served up a lot of laughs during the glory years.
Played by: Phil Hartman
Finest moment: He has many, but I think his accepting a Bart and Lisa babysitting gig in Marge On The Lam, and everything he says and does during said gig, sums up most of what was great about him.
My Seven Favourite Simpsons Episodes
As I’ve already documented, this has been an incredibly difficult list to make. I will therefore not complicate it any further by saying which of these are better than which others, but simply list them in alphabetical order. Here goes nothing: Read More
Seven reasons why Netflix is the perfect platform for the return of ‘Arrested Development’
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that Arrested Development is coming back next month. The 26th of May 2013, to be precise, with 15 brand new episodes, all of which will debut on Netflix at 00.01 (Pacific Time), which will be 08.01 in the UK. The internet is excited.
Arrested Development first appeared in 2003, and aired 53 episodes before being cancelled in 2006. Its ratings never matched its brilliance, nor do they match its current popularity, with perhaps millions of people (myself included) having subsequently discovered the sitcom on DVD. For many, it is the greatest sitcom of all time. That is high praise indeed, with which I don’t fully agree, but it’s easily in my top five, and it’s by far the cleverest. I’m very much looking forward to its return.
The main difference this time around will be, rather than airing a week apart on Fox, the entire series will be available to watch at once (in theory; I have no idea what high demand will do to Netflix’s server). While I’m still a tad skeptical about this “new TV,” I think it’s the perfect fit for this particular show. Here’s why. Read More
On Girls and Undeserved Hype
Like almost no other TV series, Girls has an ability to polarise opinions to the extreme. If you’re with a medium-large group of people, and express your thoughts on the show, you’ll likely see that group split into three sub-groups: those who strongly agree, those who strongly disagree, and those who haven’t seen it.
“So where do you fit into this, Colm?” I hear you ask. “Love it, hate it or haven’t seen it?” None; I am the exception that tests the rule. I have seen it, and I think it’s okay. In no way exceptional, but better than plenty of stuff which somehow gets on TV these days. Is that enough to save me from the wrath from the lovers and the haters?
On Girls and Social Responsibility
Disclaimer #1 – This is about the TV series Girls, and in no way applies to the social responsibility I think young females in general do or do not have.
Disclaimer #2 – This is not about the quality of, lack thereof, or hype surrounding said TV series, so don’t go mad or anything. Save that for the next one.
I’ve seen a couple of Internet writings recently about the apparent decline in safe sex among the characters on Girls. During the first season, condoms were a fairly major talking point, most memorably “the stuff that gets up around the sides.” However, more recently some characters have been shown not to use condoms when having sex with relative strangers. Natalia told Adam she was on the pill, which protects against unwanted pregnancy, of course, but not against STDs, which are often bad for you.
Image: hellogiggles.com
While I agree that it’s interesting that a show which talked about condom use quite extensively is now doing the opposite, several people seem to be raging about how this will influence impressionable young people. It’s saying that it’s cool not to use condoms, or you don’t have to, or that’s what these glamorous New York types are up to now. Read More
Emmy Picks, Predictions, Unsung Heroes & Oh-No-Nos – 2012
It is a well-documented fact that I watch too much television. In the last couple of years, I have discovered that the quality of American television is higher than I had expected, and it is possible that we are entering (or perhaps exiting) a second golden age of US sitcom. I hope it’s the former, but I fear it may in fact be the latter. In any case, I’m pretty well versed in what’s happening in American TV (especially comedy) just now.
Next Sunday will see the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony take place, presumably in Los Angeles. It is likely that some awards will be given to the wrong people, at least in my opinion. In case anyone cares, here are some of my garbled thoughts on who will win and who should win.
Colm Currie 