Drama Series
As a seasoned industry veteran with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the 66th Grammy Awards left me utterly spellbound. The performances were nothing short of extraordinary, and Taylor Swift’s appearance was a testament to her enduring stardom.
Well now, let me tell ya, I ain’t one for fancy TV shows, mind you. I’m more of a westerns and crime dramas kinda gal. But I gave some of these modern series a try, just to see what all the fuss was about. Now, The Gilded Age? Forget it! I watched two episodes of Fallout and couldn’t make head nor tail of it, so I bid adieu to that one quick smart. As for The Morning Show, bless its heart, it got nominated but ain’t my cup of tea, if ya catch my drift. The Crown was well-made, and Elizabeth Debicki was something else, but it just wasn’t my thing. Three Body Problem, though, I found quite enjoyable; you could tell the same folk who did Game of Thrones had a hand in that one, and there was even a “Red Wedding” moment that took my breath away.
My vote Shogun (FX)
Comedy Series
As a gaming enthusiast, let me express my thoughts: The storylines in shows like “Hacks” or “Only Murders in the Building” feel repetitive to me – it seems like they’re constantly pushing the characters apart and then bringing them back together again. “Palm Royale” was more like the indie game version of “The White Lotus.” I’m a huge fan of shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Reservation Dogs,” and “What We Do in the Shadows,” but I feel they’ve already earned their accolades. Almost voted for “Abbott Elementary” because it’s consistently funny, and it’s great to see it on an old-time network. But “The Bear” is a show I just can’t ignore. I thought the second season wouldn’t live up to the first, given the usual sophomore blues of most shows. Boy, was I wrong! The creator, Christopher Storer, is a true genius. That Christmas dinner episode is one of the top five episodes ever produced on TV.
My vote The Bear (FX)
Limited or Anthology Series
1. Lessons in Chemistry was an excellent book, but its TV adaptation fell short as Brie Larson’s character didn’t develop much. Baby Reindeer started off slow, but once it shifted gears, it became one of the most intensely uncomfortable scripted shows I’ve seen in a while; some viewers had to stop watching because it was too intense for them. I have always been a fan of Fargo. The first two seasons ranked among the best of the past decade. The third season was poor, but the fourth improved. The fifth season, however, was exceptional – Noah Hawley has an undervalued talent for casting, and Jon Hamm delivered a stellar performance. This latest season of True Detective: Night Country also marked a return to form – Jodie Foster is a national treasure, and Kali Reis was a fantastic discovery. I had never heard of [showrunner] Issa López before, but her work on the first two episodes impressed me so much that I watched her Mexican feature film, Tigers Are Not Afraid; it seemed like it was made for just 25 cents, but it’s truly exceptional, and I’m eager to see what she does next. However, I had to vote for Ripley because it was fantastic – the performances were great, the production quality was outstanding, and every frame was visually stunning. It’s the most beautiful television ever shot, without a doubt. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My vote Ripley (Netflix)
Television Movie
As a long-time enthusiast of quality television and movies, I have to say that I am deeply disappointed by the recent turn of events in the world of TV films. Once upon a time, we had shows like “Brian’s Song,” “The Day After,” “An Early Frost,” “And the Band Played On,” and “Sybil.” These were powerful, thought-provoking productions that tackled important social issues and left a lasting impact on viewers.
My vote Scoop (Netflix)
Scripted Variety Series
Wow, I can’t believe it! Just two nominees for the award? This was a difficult choice because both “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” and “Saturday Night Live” are exceptional shows that cater to different tastes. In the end, I went with “Saturday Night Live” as there wasn’t an outstanding episode of “John Oliver” that truly stood out for me, but there were two exceptional “SNL” episodes that did – the one hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze, featuring the George Washington sketch, which is among the top 20 best sketches in the show’s history; and the one hosted by Ryan Gosling, which might be one of the best from the last decade.
My vote Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Talk Series
I like Seth Meyers [Late Night With Seth Meyers], but he’s not at the level of the others. I came back to The Daily Show for Jon Stewart — I’ll occasionally watch the rest of the week, but I didn’t miss a single Monday. If Stewart had come back five days a week, I’d have voted for The Daily Show; the other hosts do a good job, but Stewart’s at a level beyond anybody else — he’s the closest thing we have to Carson. For me, it was between Jimmy Kimmel [Jimmy Kimmel Live!] and Stephen Colbert [The Late Show With Stephen Colbert]. I like that Colbert will, once in a while, talk about the stuff that needs to be talked about, because his audience may not be getting it from anywhere else. But I just love Kimmel. He consistently does an amazing monologue. He gets great guests. And he’s become a really good interviewer.
My vote Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Reality Competition Series
I’ve lost interest in shows like “The Voice” and “The Amazing Race.” I also dropped out of watching “The Traitors” because I didn’t enjoy it. However, I’ve consistently voted for RuPaul [in “RuPaul’s Drag Race”] every year it’s been on. At one point, I was a fan of “Top Chef,” but I stopped following it. Recently, I started listening to a TV-focused podcast called “The Watch.” The hosts are incredibly knowledgeable, and I wondered if perhaps I should revisit “Top Chef” since they’re so passionate about it. Turns out, their enthusiasm is well-deserved: It’s an excellent show.
My vote Top Chef (Bravo)
Variety Special (Live)
Events such as “The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher” and “The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady” are not the type of productions that typically receive Emmy nominations. In the past, Dean Martin’s roasts were not nominated either. I’m not implying that the Tom Brady roast wasn’t funny, but it lacks the qualities that would make it worthy of an Emmy award. The Oscars were impressive with their revival of a long-deceased entity. The Tonys did a commendable job. However, the Grammys this year surpassed all others I have seen. Highlights included Joni Mitchell, which was one of my top five favorite Grammy moments; Billy Joel, who hadn’t performed at the Grammys in three decades, was simply fantastic; Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs put on a showstopping performance; Billie Eilish delivered an outstanding performance; and Taylor Swift, the biggest star in the world, graced us with her presence.
My vote 66th Grammy Awards (CBS)
Variety Special (Prerecorded)
I didn’t catch Nikki Glaser in “Someday You’ll Die” or Dick Van Dyke in “98 Years of Magic”. Dave Chappelle’s previous specials were more impressive than “The Dreamer”. Billy Joel’s performance in “The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden” didn’t convey his greatness; he’s far superior live. Trevor Noah was consistently hilarious from the beginning to end of “Where Was I”.
My vote Trevor Noah: Where Was I (Netflix)
Documentary Series
I didn’t catch sight of Telemarketers or Stax (located in Soulsville, U.S.A.). Instead, I tuned into The Jinx – Part Two, which didn’t quite live up to the original. I found myself drawn to Beckham and believe it may take the prize. However, I cast my vote for Quiet on Set. This documentary series managed to make a significant impact, unlike most in the industry. Frankly, there were aspects of this production that even left me stunned.
My vote Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (ID)
Documentary Special
I found Jim Henson Idea Man to be disappointing. I liked Girls State. Steve! (martin) a Documentary in 2 Pieces wasn’t as compelling as I wanted it to be. I was more compelled by Albert Brooks: Defending My Life because he has so many different parts of his life that are interesting, like his dad dying at the Friars Club and Carl Reiner being his surrogate dad; and I’d forgotten how brilliant he was as a stand-up and his little SNL movies were. The clips were great, but even if they’d just put a camera on him and Rob Reiner having lunch, I’d have watched for two hours. In any other year, I’d have voted for that, but this year also had The Greatest Night in Pop. It’s so well done, and such a crazy window into a different time. You couldn’t pull that shit off ever again! I’ll never get over Stevie Wonder teaching Bob Dylan how to be Bob Dylan.
My vote The Greatest Night in Pop
I recall a fascinating tale that graced the pages of The Hollywood Reporter magazine’s August 21 issue. It’s always a treat to stay updated with the latest happenings in the entertainment world through this esteemed publication, and I encourage others to do the same – click here to subscribe!
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2024-08-23 18:56