TV Happenings

First, the unbelievably great, and unexpected, news: Fringe was renewed for a fourth season. Not only that, but it also got a full 22 episode order. I certainly wasn't counting on this happening, no matter how fervent the fanbase is or (percentage-wise) what a great bump it gets when the DVR numbers come in. But it makes me happy, as this is the show I most look forward to each week. Huzzah.

Other favorites getting renewals: Futurama, for two more 13 episode seasons on Comedy Central. Justified, which is having a fantastic sophomore season, getting a third. Also on FX, the laugh out loud Archer, getting a third (of 16 eps!). The two NBC comedies I care most about, Parks and Rec and Community, also got picked up. Plus, from the Beeb, we'll get more Luther and more Sherlock - now if only DirecTV will add HD service for BBCA (and AMC, dammit!), all will be right in the world. Usually, renewal season is filled with heartbreak and anger, but hell, looking at that list of shows, I really don't have a lot to complain about (other than not getting any more shaggy dog detective stories from Terriers).

I'm also excited, to various degrees, about some upcoming premieres. Friday, we have Camelot on Starz. This story has been told a billion times, and it seems I've watched most of them. I'll check it out, if for no other reason than "Eva Green as Morgan Le Fay." Sunday, we have The Killing on AMC. It appears to be a well-acted, well-cast murder mystery, with a Rubicon feel to it. I'm okay with that, as long as they stick the landing much better. Over on Showtime, Jeremy Irons headlines The Borgias. The tagline cracks me up: "Sex. Power. Murder. Amen." I'm assuming it's just a church documentary. Doctor Who returns the third week in April, finally airing in relative harmony with the showings across the pond. And speaking of Pond...I'll be in my bunk. Torchwood debuts on Starz in July with another long form story - "Miracle Day," on which no one on earth dies anymore. If it's anything like the stellar "Children of Earth" (which I expect, given the talent in front of and behind the camera), it should be a highlight of the summer.

Then, on April 17th, we have the big one: Game of Thrones on HBO. I was interested, but perhaps slightly skeptical, when I got the first book on my Kindle. But sweet snarky imps, was it good. I'm about a quarter way into the second book now, and have already downloaded the entire series. The log line of "Sopranos in Middle Earth" really is apt. And as much as I love Tolkien, GoT is a much more interesting page-turner. Murders. Wars. Sex. Incest. Betrayals. Mysteries. Terrific world-building. Three dimensional female characters. All without 50 pages written in Elvish about some damned forest or characters changing names nine times.

Other TV Quickies:

• I loves me some Supernatural, and I'm glad to have it back on the air, but it has been a little hit-and-miss this year, no? (Though the "meta" episode was screamingly funny).
• Big Love ended. Glad I stuck with it after that awful season 4. To me, the highlight was the three sister wives riding in Barb's new Mini Cooper. That, and the fact that I will never, ever re-sod another man's lawn (not a euphemism).
• Poor V. So much talent, particularly the two lead actresses, stranded in a poorly-written vehicle that would feel at home on NBC paired with Heroes. Sigh.
• Nurse Jackie is coming back this week, but I can't really muster any enthusiasm to watch. If not for Zoey or Coop, I might not even check out the premiere.
• No Ordinary Family is a great example of why people who don't understand comics and superheroes shouldn't be writing shows in the genre. Someone with superspeed and lightning-fast reflexes gets stabbed in their living room? A mind reader gets duped? Really? At least Lucy Lawless is having fun and just killing it as the villain.
• Another lament: Stargate Universe, just like Caprica, is just now getting good once it was already canceled.
• I certainly don't need to add another procedural to my viewing rotation, but I will be checking out Body of Proof, because Dana Delany is the hottest 55 year old on the planet, and I've had a major crush on her since China Beach (hell, I suffered through Rosie O'Donnell in dominatrix gear to see Delany in Exit to Eden. That's commitment).
• How many of you Browncoats, despite having seen every episode at least 10 times and owning the series on DVD, have been watching the Firefly reruns on Sunday on the Science Channel? Not just me, huh?
• Late to the party: Thanks to AMC's late night reruns, I'm now almost all caught up on Breaking Bad. HOLY SHIT IS THIS SHOW GOOD. Definitely moved into top tier of my currently in-production favorites. And all that scoffing I did about Bryan Cranston constantly taking the Emmy over Hamm, Laurie, Hall, et al? Uh, nevermind. Also, via Netflix, I've just started the delightful Canadian import Slings & Arrows. If you like farce, The Bard, whimsy and a tone that parallels Northern Exposure, check it out. I'm just about done with the first season, and I'm thoroughly entertained.

So, what have you been watching, and what are you looking forward to?

I'll take potpourri for $7,100, Alex

Time for a linky roundup, y'all.

Great piece about the trailers for the new Star Wars games. I'm not much of a gamer today, but I would certainly watch a film or show developed by the people behind the creation of these trailers and games (and really, watch 'em in HD/Widescreen).

In honor of World Cup coverage, the 10 Most Annoying Sounds. Two of my personal annoyances not on the list: children in any way, shape or form, and the sound from when someone rubs their fingers across a fold of paper. That last one happens all the time in office environments, and makes me cringe, then makes me stabby.

Anyone else get caught up watching the Buffy marathon of Top 30 Viewer's Choice Best Episodes on Sunday? I did. If you're curious, here's the whole list. Not bad choices, and I think there are still a LOT of Spike fans out there.

Speaking of the Buffster, here's where you can find Whedonverse writers on your tube.

And one more: someone else joins the cult (Unreality). It's also fun reading "new to me" writeups on the Buffyverse from Cultural Learnings, and the AV Club.

You tell 'em, Stephen.

22 Fictional Characters Whose Names You Don't Know. (What does it say about me that I knew over half?)

What's a good foundation for law and government?

Dennis the Peasant: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

Arthur: Be quiet!

Dennis the Peasant: You can't expect to wield supreme power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!

Neither is talking, flaming shrubbery.

Absolutely adorable video of new Doctor (Matt Smith) and Companion (Karen Gillan) interviewing each other.

Dawgs fans could have told Cowboys fans this type of thing was coming.

Good thing Lady Gaga didn't go see Dr. Gregory House, because it's NEVER that.

Please (insert deity here), make this happen.

I lost my passion for American Idol this season, and Simon leaving certainly won't help rekindle it next year. But #3 on this list might do the trick.

I'll take potpourri for $7,000, Alex

Time for a new collection of miscellanea:

Mind-boggling infographic depicting the character timelines of Pulp Fiction.

Riker and Troi pitch a Star Trek: TNG sitcom.

Though it would take forever to play a game, this Rube Goldberg D&D 20 sided die rolling contraption is pretty cool.

For those of you inclined to partake of the hippy lettuce, here's an assortment of MacGyvered "devices."

The Top 50 "Women of Whedon." A few thoughts...Aly Hannigan at 50? Er, no. Definitely top 10. Ditto Olivia Williams. Bai Ling? Fucking Bai Ling, who "starred" in the worst eps of two of my favorite series ("Stranger in a Strange Land," and "She")??? Michelle Trachtenberg over Christina Hendricks? Really? I might re-order the top 3, but hard to argue with them.

Similarly, here's a take on the Top 25 Women of Lost (there's a link to Lost beefcake for the ladies, too). Personally, I would put Charlotte and Penny in the top 3 with their choice for #1, who is also my choice for hottest Lostie.

List of Top 10 Lost characters.

40 Best Cartoon Characters of All Time.

An awesome visual illusion.

The Geek Alphabet.

A good list of "Hey, It's That Guys"

If I was Hamlet, what I would do on a whiteboard.

Actually, this sounds like a fair swap.

Montage of every single Lost death scene. (Er...SPOILERS).

Who is to blame for American Idol sucking this season? 5 possible culprits. (Hard to argue with those, though ultimately, "the producers" bear a lot of responsibility for many of these).

15 TV show remakes that were utter disasters.

Top 6 Whedon character deaths.

Tim Gunn evaluates superhero costumes, part 2.

Top 10 things Hollywood things computers can do.

This doesn't seem at all surprising to me.

It's probably time for a new BlackBerry, but I'm not sure there's anything out there that has the perfect "form and function" to compete with my 2 year old Bold 9000. (Which has the best handheld keyboard ever invented by man, but could use some serious memory upgrades). Here's a look at a potentially new "slider," which has a REAL keyboard (a must) and a bigass screen. (But is the keyboard like the 9000's, or is it based on the smaller 9700?) Also, though I don't RIM has any intention of actually making this device, I know it would be on my wish list.

Greatest Hits

Howdy!

Playing around with Google Analytics, I've noticed a big traffic spike and influx of new readers over the past couple of months. Those of you checking out TNRLM for the first time probably haven't dug around in the archives that much. And for a variety of reasons, the posting lately hasn't been as prolific as it was in days past. So to save you the hassle of wandering around through over 1,000 posts, here's a quick list of the blog's "greatest hits." These are pulled from Analytics (for the most part), and as you might imagine, posts with the highest traffic are generally those that have been linked elsewhere (probably on UGA or TV focused sites). I don't know that these are necessarily the most interesting or well-composed pieces per se, but there are a wide range of subjects covered, so enjoy:

Just how bad was the 2009 UGA defense historically, when compared to D units from years past?

Hurley from Lost wearing a Dawgs sweatshirt.

Plot developments on V and FlashForward in handy chart form.

My ratings for every episode and season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Here's another post on the same subject, with a link to the entire spreadsheet of episode detail.

Thoughts on the series finale of Battlestar Galactica, "Daybreak." (Spoilers, of course, if you haven't seen it).

From the end of last year, my contest asking you to identify my favorite TV characters of 2009.

Tully on the short-lived TV show Drive had the same car that I did as a teenager!

My Emmy Wishlist for last year in the major categories. (Notes: that link is to a master page that will take you to the individual category analysis. Also, when I reformatted the blog recently, some of the historic pages now look like crap).

My rant about the fake baby on Glee. (Whew. So glad we're past that one now).

Link to a roundup of posts with the label "The Canon." (That's were I list and rank things. Who doesn't love lists?)

My take on VH-1's Greatest Songs of the 90s.

In honor Valentine's Day, I put together a list of my Top 10 Childhood Crushes.

My favorite REM songs.

A rare political post.

OCD DVD organization.

Memories of the UGA / Auburn "Hose Bowl"

43 Random Things About Me

Thoughts on Time's 100 Best TV Shows of All Time

I think I'll try brevity...and other musings

The posting around these parts has slowed down the last couple of months, and I wish I could put my finger on exactly why. It's not like I haven't been writing or haven't had anything to say. I put together over 6,000 words on the Lost season premiere, but it lacked and thematic connective tissue, so I scrapped it (and really, if you're a Lostie, by now you've already read everything there is to digest about "LA X"). I had a nice piece called "diary of a nervous breakdown," but it didn't really have a resolution, so into the trash it went. I kept a journal on my adventures with satellite reception during The Snowpocalypse, but it was depressing (and still ongoing), so it never made it out of draft. I got halfway through a post-mortem on the flawed but brilliant Dollhouse, but never finished. I started a write up on my experiences and opinions regarding two touchstone TV series that I only recently got around to viewing (The Wire and Friday Night Lights), but I bailed about halfway though the writing. (Spoiler Alert: I really liked them). I also had a post put together on my inability to cancel my subscription to the Baltimore Sun, but it's also not resolved (Spoiler Alert: I quit paying, told them I didn't want it, but I'm still getting it! Yay! More coverage of lacrosse, the Ravens and overpriced and ineffectual government! Of course, the latter part I know, since I just watched The Wire). I was assembling a running diary and professional analysis of the Super Bowl commercials, but lost interest when it turned out that 90% of them (charitably) sucked out loud and should be considered a waste of money. (Does it say anything about the ads that the only two I remember clearly a week later are the Tebow ad, more for the pre-airing controversy and the fact that I despise this overhyped, simple-minded, uninformed future NFL washout with every fiber of my being, and which happily enough, was one of the least watched aired all game; and the borderline misogynistic Dodge ad, which didn't really make me want a Dodge as much as it did make me chuckle because it was brilliantly narrated by an Emmy-worthy actor who plays a serial killer?)

So is it just frustration? Busy with other things? Twittering too much? Getting started with topics that require more verbosity and scope than I can muster at the present, and over-shooting my mood? Not sure.

Therefore, for sanity's sake, and for those of you who still show up here with some regularity (thanks to all ten of you!), I'll try to push through this cloud of ennui, get my shit together, and not try to write Ulysses or Atlas Shrugged every time I have a thought on a TV show or a reaction to the new Domino's pizza (Spoiler Alert: it's better!)

In that spirit, a few musings:

What the fuck is wrong with people? Better Off Ted (presumably) aired its last episode, and ABC can't find a home for it on the schedule. Another riotously hilarious comedy, Archer (on FX) is drawing less 1 million viewers. Don't people know funny anymore?

Speaking of which, who's with me in thinking that the best of NBC's Thursday comedies are now Parks & Recreation and Community? 30 Rock still makes me laugh on occasion. And I've never been a big fan of the "cringe comedy" of The Office. (Though unlike many fans, I don't think Jim and Pam have turned into insufferably smug assholes. I just automatically tune out a show when it becomes all about PREGNANCY and BABIES. Though those subjects do usually turn people into insufferably smug assholes. Ugh).

I have no interest whatsoever in watching the Olympics. I think I got turned off a while ago by all the prepackaged "human interest" stories that made every athlete out to be some kind of Dickensian urchin overcoming adversity. (Which is the same reason I don't watch Idol until they get to the finals, and even then fast forward to the singing and Cowell comments. I don't like to watch "real" people, except when they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. I only like fictional people saying things that are scripted for them).

I have an exchange program going on with someone dear who shares 99% of my taste in and appreciation of quality television programming (this is the person who turned me on to The Wire). My well received recommendations thus far have included BSG, Spaced and The Middleman. Shows I'm considering for the next suggestion: Farscape, Supernatural, Buffy and Friday Night Lights. What would you pimp out next?

So glad Lost is back. All the hardship I've had to go through to watch both episodes (part of The Snowpocalypse story) has been worth it. (New all-purpose addition to pop culture quotage: "I'll be in the food court if you need me.")

Why is Caprica not getting better ratings? This show is rich, extraordinarily well written and well acted and thought provoking. Don't let any possible bitter taste you have over the ending of BSG (which, naturally, I have a complex relationship with) keep you from watching. It's not in space, it's different, but it's FRAKKIN' GOOD.

Okay, I didn't exactly succeed with my goal of brevity. But I'll be back soon.

I'll take potpourri for $6,900, Alex

In honor of gluttony, football and the subjugation of indigenous peoples, how about an overstuffed potpourri roundup?

A Buffy quiz. Oddly, when I took it, I thought I was a perfect 20 for 20. However, there appeared to be one or two of the "correct" answers coded incorrectly. See how you do and if you have any complaints.

A really good list of the 15 Best Sci-Fi movies of the Aughts.

10 sci-fi books that should be made into movies.

A good podcast interview with Alexis Denisof (Buffy & Angel's Wesley, also appearing on Dollhouse for a return engagement soon as Sen. Perrin). Starts around 23 minutes in.

20 movie inspired band names.

10 Best "Box Office Bombs" of the Aughts. (And I FLOVE 6 of them).

Mo Ryan chats with the lovely and talented Morena Baccarin. (And wasn't the V finale pretty cool? Still not at Lost or BSG levels, but improving, no?)

Cinematical takes another look at the disappointing X-Files movie. (which, for the record, I thought was a great character study and beautifully shot, and would have made a great episode).

Interesting viewer take on the "Wheels" episode of Glee in an "Ask Matt" column from TV Guide (scroll about halfway down). I'm so sick of politically correct bullshit. So actor Kevin McHale has to be in a wheelchair to play a character in a wheelchair? Really? I can't believe people raised a stink about this. I'm disappointed Morena Baccarin doesn't eat rodents in real life. How horrible that Stephen Moyer doesn't subsist only on blood. Wait, Terry O'Quinn wasn't really healed by a magical island? Oh, however can he play this role? Jim Parsons isn't a physicist? Sam Waterson isn't a lawyer? Zach Levi doesn't have a computer in his head? Bill Paxton doesn't have three wives? How can we believe this??? What about the verisimilitude?

SI's big college football survey is pretty damned interesting. Check out the SEC section.

Interview with cast and creator of one of the best, and most underrated, sci-fi shows out there, Farscape.

Funny, how times change on TV.

A goodbye to Dollhouse, including a link to a stupendously wrongheaded assessment of Whedon by Lisa De Moraes.

30 killer closing movie lines.

I love Richard Dawkins and I love Hermione Granger, but.......ew.

Movie marquee FAIL.

Roland Emmerich is a schlockmeister supreme, but I like his take on organized religion.

AV Club's Best TV Shows of the Aughts. And their list of the Best Episodes (from shows not on the "Best Show" list).

Terry Gilliam, who was one of many auteurs once attached to filming Watchmen, offers his thoughts on Zack Snyder's adaptation. (See my thoughts on the "Ultimate Cut" here).

The NY Times ethicist wishes for a more reasonable dialogue about religion.

Is Kirk Cameron Dr. Horrible? (I find a more compelling argument for the Freeze Ray).

Uni-Watch looks at the 9 worst sports uniforms ever (My eyes! My eyes!) Further down, you will find a link to some fan suggestions for improved NFL unis for teams that have junked theirs up. I particularly like the suggestion for the Falcons. (Please, no more white on white. I hate white on white).

Paste has their take on the 20 Best TV shows of the Aughts. Their readers compile a list, too.

Paste also has a list of the 10 Best Internet Memes of the Aughts.

Will JJ Abrams take on one of my favorite childhood toys - The Micronauts - as a big screen movie? (It was also an underrated Marvel comic, too).

Speaking of "toy movies," the Peter Berg Battleship movie suddenly sounds much more interesting.

I haven't yet seen Transformers 2, but this FAQ makes me want to revel in its awfulness.

Discover looks at the 5 Best and 5 Worst "science-based" movies.

Yes, all the Browncoats squeed when Castle donned his Halloween costume. But did you see something else in the background?

Did anyone else realize that Anthony Stewart Head auditioned for The Devil on Reaper (a role that eventually went to, and was well played by, Ray Wise)?

Gallery of an artist who paints dolls to look like famous characters and actors. Astonishing.

15 Funniest Animated Sports GIFs.

IMDB's Top 250 Movies of All Time, plotted on a map.

The 10 Most Cliched Character Types in Sci-Fi.


That should be enough to keep you busy as you watch bad football, overeat and overimbibe, and nod in and out of consciousness on your couch. Happy Turkey Day, Y'all!

I'll take potpourri for $6,800, Alex

Don't forget to set your clocks back tomorrow. It's cheaper than building a DeLorean, and where the hell can you find a flux capacitor these days?

Best and Worst Dollhouse "imprints."

15 Celebrity Halloween suggestions.

7 Questions that keep physicists up at night.

Speaking of Dollhouse, here's a fun quiz. (And yes, I got 15 of 15 correct. And yes, I'm a geek).

Interesting recounting of 10 artists who hate their biggest hits.

Orci and Kurtzman (of Trek, Fringe and sadly, Transformers fame) are producing a new movie based on the legendary pulp character Doc Savage. I loved those novels as a kid, and think in the right hands, this could be awesome. Even better? Shane Black is writing the script.

TWOP Gallery of the biggest nerds/brains on television.

Aaaaah! Eye bleach. Celebrity cameltoes.

A great compilation: the definitive list of cliched dialogue. (See how many you recognize and chuckle all the way through. Aside: at a weekly trivial contest, we were asked for the "five words spoken most frequently in motion picture history." I'm not sure how this was determined, but the correct answer was #3 on this list).

A Q&A with Lost producer Damon Lindelof.

Also from Pop Candy, 5 things you should know about Caprica, the BSG spinoff starting soon.

The 20 Worst Sequels to Good Movies.

Timmy Tebow is up for a scholar athlete award. I'm assuming his studies don't include any history, science or other classes that might date the earth more than 6.000 years. Speaking of little perfect Timmy, someone at the Red & Black is probably going to be kidnapped and burned alive for heresy.

An awesome collection of badass Batman illustrations.

Great piece from HitFix about watching Dollhouse.

The WSJ talks to the gorgeous Morena Baccarin, about V (which starts next week! Set your TiVos!)

A lengthy, and fascinating, AICN chat with Lance Henrickson.

A nice graphic guide to twist endings.

Okay, they are actually making a $175 figurine based on one of the worst scenes from the awful Indiana Jones sequel? Really? What's next? Figurines based on the "coarse sand" sweet talking from the Star Wars prequels? Of Malin Ackerman reciting dialogue from Watchmen? A collectible depicting the entirety of Transformers 2? Nuke the fridge indeed.

By now, everyone has seen the stunning pix of January Jones in GQ. Huffington Post has some hard hitting journalism determining whether or not her tits were airbrushed.

Larry David feels just like I do about his BlackBerry. And kids.

Even if you're not a dog person, you'll still mist up watching this.

Brilliant but Canceled: Sci-fi and supernatural shows killed before their time.

Good list of the 10 Funniest X-Files episodes. (Their #1 is mine also, and still makes me laugh).

10 Best Rock Anthems.

Your How I Met Your Mother translator.

For old nerds: 10 Best (and 6 worst) TSR games that weren't Dungeons and Dragons. (Yep, I had 7 of the "best" and fortunately, none of the "worst").

That was nerdy. This? Well, judge for yourself. It's a dude covering Eminem songs. In Klingon.

I'll take potpourri for $6,700, Alex

I might have Jedi Swine Flu, since my midichlorian count is low.

Well, it's been a while since we did a roundup of fun stuff from around the interwebs. Here we go:

Total Sci-Fi Online lists the 100 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time.

Total Film has the recipe to make a Hitchcock movie.

7 Greatest Butlers in nerd-dom.

I don't necessarily agree with the list, but Den of Geek! has an interesting take on the 10 Best episodes of Angel.

9 Great movie monologues.

A great NY Times contributor op-ed about the NIH appointment. (and a more thorough follow up).

AMC lists the Top 10 Close Encounters of the Scintillating Kind.

Empire lists 10 Rules for Time Travel.

God, does this bring back memories. 10 Horrible Paintings from Atari 2600 Game Boxes. I think I had most of those (except soccer. It's lame even in a video game).

I think we all know my stance on this, but maybe prayer does work.

40 Best College Football Villains.

50 Greatest Movie Sequels. (Really?)

The A to Z of Quentin Tarantino.

Speaking of A to Z, this is just AWESOME.

For TV Nerds: The 100 Most Iconic TV Openings.

Sam Beckett's 10 strangest Leaps.

The best sci-fi show you've never seen. (Man, this was good. I was sad when it didn't make it to series)

20 Best Monty Python sketches, with video! Speaking of which, is everyone else setting their TiVos for the 6 hour Python documentary on IFC next week? If you're not, you should, dammit.

9 movies that always make guys cry. Yep.

Hey, someone actually raises a question about the Tebow cult. How refreshing. Related: what athletes are going to burn in hell?

Top 10 Scandals in College Sports (proud my alma mater -- of the "how many points is a three point shot worth?" fame -- shows up here. Thanks, Harrick!)

Empire's 100 Sexiest Movie Stars (50 guys, 40 gals. And Grace Kelly, my eternal #1, is only #40 on the list? For shame, voters).

I'll take potpourri for $6,700, Alex

Brought to you in panoramic THX vistaview 3-D blogovision

This Jason Whitlock column has to be read to be believed. I guess he's a James Bond fan. (Though it is immeasurably delectable to see yet another sanctimonious hypocrite -- a coach who brings a priest on road trips -- get exposed for the fuckshovel he is).

Video interviews with the stars of the enjoyable new Syfy show Warehouse 13. Joanne Kelly is ADORABLE. And for the ladies, there's some Eddie McClintock (who humorously relates of always being mistaken for Craig Sheffer and David Boreanaz. And tells of Sam Rockwell chatting him for a while, before asking "so is Buffy really hot?")

More video fun for guys and gals! E! chats with the stars of Castle (also equally adorable), and Nathan suggests a Dr. Horrible sequel is in the writing stages. (I'm still hoping for an Emmy performance, though Nathan actually gets that question and says nope, but it could be a subterfuge).

I wax and wane with fashion trends, but now I'm fucking old and just don't give a damn. So it's nice to know that I'm "hip!" Guess I'll order those chili cheese fries.

Mayor? Hell, with this platform, Brad Pitt for motherfucking PRESIDENT.

Den of Geek lists the 25 Best Blockbuster Sequels of All Time. Some of their choices are a little dodgy, but it's hard to argue with their first and second selections from a geek perspective.

A cute and informative graphic of the 10 levels of communication intimacy.

Mental Floss says you can judge a book by its cover.

Top 20 shows cancelled by FOX before their time. C'mon y'all, what else would be number one? (And of these, I watched 17, was passionate about 12 and have 5 entire runs on DVD. Fuck your mother, FOX).

Pajiba looks at the Most Heinous Page to Screen Adaptations. Really hard to argue with any of these, though I enjoyed both Dresden Files and The Stand for what they were. I think another post should examine casting/writing/directing for a new version of The Stand, which should air on HBO/Showtime/Starz.

Oscar worthy horror movie performances.

I had bunk beds with Star Wars sheets. But DAYUM this is awesome. (And I always preferred the Y-Wing to the X-Wing. Not having this makes me feel like an abused child).

The 10 Greatest "Screaming Lines" in movies. You'll know more than you think.

Technology proves it - shut the fuck up Paula. (I can generally figure out who "looks beautiful up there" and "made it their own" without 4 minutes of incoherent babbling).

Hysterical parody of Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP.

Speaking of shows FOX canceled, who wouldn't want this in their closet?

NFL predictions for all 32 times, as characters from Lost. (Perhaps my neighbors will wonder why I'm screaming "WAAAAAAAALLLLLT!!!!) during Sunday afternoons.

Times Online lists the 10 Most Historically Inaccurate Movies of All Time. (Basically, if you want the truth, don't involve Mel Gibson, though surprisingly, The Passion isn't on the list).

Great Vanity Fair read on Mad Men. (Coming back Sunday! Who else is psyched as hell? And how about that doubleheader -- True Blood and Mad Men back to back? Frakkin' awesome).

Kinda related, I had a twitter exchange with the estimable Mo Ryan (the Chicago Trib's TV critic) about True Blood, and offered the idea (which she seemed to agree with) that True Blood is very reminiscent of Syfy's cult classic Farscape. Inherently preposterous scenario about characters in a fantastical situation with over the top, operatic theatrics, but which is grounded (and made all the more enjoyable) by performances that take the material seriously and play it completely poker-faced. Both shows may have "campy" appeal, but they embrace yet also transcend that label because the people involved treat the show and characters with respect. Thoughts?

I'm always wary when a show adds a baby. But Dexter might be an exception:



7 Greatest Butlers in Nerdom.

It would have been out of place in Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, but wouldn't the other four movies have been significantly improved with this sequence?

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Finally, the epic conclusion of The Middleman never made it to the tube in a produced version. But the creator and cast did a table read at Comic-Con, which is now online in its entirety. If you were a fan, you owe it to yourself to watch it, because it's EPIC. The entire playlist can be found on youtube here, but here's the first part (of 7) to get you started:

I'll take potpourri for $6,300, Alex

What a real warp capable ship would look like.

TWOP is kicking off the Tubeys!

Torchwood Season 4 is ready to go, after this summer's 5 part miniseries. (I've missed you, Gwen).

Brennan is unlikely to get knocked up on Bones next season. Thank Zeus! After that clusterfuck of a finale, an out of character and preggo Bones might have driven the show from the Season Pass list.

A well crafted and slightly sympathetic "retro review" of Trek's worst movie, The Final Frontier.

A list of the 15 best sci-fi cliffhangers.

Intrepid Dawg Chronicler David Hale took twitter questions for Coach Richt. You'll see a familiar handle on the list of questioners, though sadly, I didn't get the answer I wanted.

Anyone see these pictures of Heather Graham and think of Marty Feldman? (Hint: it's not about her eyes).

Joss tells EW that Dollhouse will be back with a vengeance

Great list of sci-fi composers.

And then the Lord said, "show your cooter to the masses."

Did y'all hear about this fucking freaky Final Destination situation regarding an almost passenger on Air France 447? Spooky.

NPR assembled a list of the least appropriate wedding songs. Jezebel added a few, too.

Anthony Stewart Head talks about Ripper, Merlin and Buffy.

What words to we look up most often on dictionary.com? Related, what words do online readers of the NY Times look up?

Are these the top 10 lines from Ghostbusters (which is doing surprisingly well in my flickchart rankings, BTW. And has Sigourney Weaver ever looked better than in this movie? This "subcreature" will step right up, thankyouverymuch).

Something here rhymes with "funt."

Lita Ford will be played by the "mama" of the Cylons in the new Runaways movie.

Shia LaBouf no longer interested in playing Yorick Brown in the Y: The Last Man movie. Whew, we dodged one there. Not a fit for me at all. Does he bother everyone else? How about Anton Yelchin? Or Joseph Gordon Levitt? Ryan Reynolds, if younger, would have been PERFECT. Also, even moreso than Watchmen, Y is much better suited to an HBO or Showtime miniseries than a movie. If you haven't yet read Y, get thee to a comic book store (or bookstore) NOW.

Are these the 52 best natural racks of all time? And while it's not exactly "natural," enjoy the fact that Xtina doesn't really care for undergarments.

Televisionary chats with Virtuality co-creator Michael Taylor.

Honest network taglines. Hee!

Jezebel ponders the fact that Sienna Miller gets another Vogue cover. Also, modern feminists are very against the concept of "slut shaming." (While I consider myself very pro-feminist, I have mixed feelings about that third wave tenet, for lots of personal reasons and experiences. Still, is it out of bounds to "shame" an English trollop who's very clearly humping and frolicking nakedly for the paparazzi with a married man who has kids back home?) Granted, Sienna was kind of cute on Keen Eddie, but GI Joe looks like a steaming pile of shit.

Very funny "embarrassing celebrity red carpet moments." Just click it and giggle.

11 terminally typecast actors.

Earth gets billion year life extension. Whew. Guess I won't worry too much about driving an SUV or recycling.

I'll take potpourri for $6,200, Alex

Let's take a break from our Emmy shortlisting, and roll around in some miscellany. Sound good?

If you haven't yet seen Veronica Mars, get thee to the WB.com, where you can watch the entire first season for free online (only until June 29th). This show is awesome, of course.

Galactica Sitrep has an interview with a leading roboticist, discussing Cylons. It's a fascinating read, but one thing that stuck out to me (sowing the seeds of my dissatisfaction with not only a major show plot thread, but the WTF of the ending):

What don't you like about the show?

This may put me in a bad light with Middle America, but the God angle – the fact that the cylons have a god – I really find that to be grating.

I haven't yet seen The Hangover, but I want to. Just watching the trailers, one question that popped up in my mind is "how do they do Ed Helms' missing tooth?" Make up? Digital effects? The answer is more straightforward than you think.

No matter how much they prayed, God couldn't save Tommy Tuberville's job. Maybe the staff should have been praying to the Almighty Bobby Lowder.

I never caught the Jeff Francouer quote "If OBP is so important, they why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?", which is hilarious. Some enterprising soul put together a t-shirt in Jeff's honor. Remember a couple of years ago, with an SI cover and universal adoration? Seems like a long time ago.

I was watching an old Quantum Leap episode the other day (the one where Sam helps out Marilyn Monroe), and the guy they had play Clark Gable was spot on. I kept thinking, "where have I seen him before?" Turns out, he's played Gable before in other productions, but equally as geeky, he was the legendary Dash Riprock! AND, he showed up at the "Shindig" on Firefly!

The absolute best, and funniest, things you will ever read on gay marriage. From SI's Jeff Pearlman.

Alan Tudyk chats about Dollhouse, V and Wash.

Land of the Lost isn't doing so well at the box office this weekend. Related, are these the 25 funniest Will Ferrell characters?

Whatever happened to TV theme songs?

Burn Notice triumphantly last Thursday. Alan Sepinwall chats with BN creator Matt Nix. Sepinwall also has great chats with In Treatment showrunner Warren Leight and Party Down creators Rob Thomas and John Enborn.

Good news for V. X-Files and Angel vet Jeff Bell takes over as showrunner.

Speaking of showrunners, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles honcho Josh Friedman takes to his blog to lament the cancelation of his show. Poignant and funny stuff.

12 million year old hominid with human features found in Spain. Wait, I thought the universe was only 6,000 years old? Obviously, another case of the devil manipulating carbon dating and fossils.

The twenty sexiest ugly people.

Mountain range discovered under Antarctic, that's been untouched for over 14 million years. Obviously, another case of Old Scratch duping scientists and geologists!

I'm not a videogame guy, but holy shit, does this new Beatles Rock Band game look awesome. Hell, the trailer is a work of art itself.

Children flying first class? Having long been a traveler who appreciates (and sometimes needs) that upgrade, I would have to offer an emphatic NO. (Unless the flight is Air France 447, Oceanic 815 or Ajira 316).

100 movie cliches that just won't die.

Dark UFO put up the results of their Lost season 5 Awards. Pretty interesting.

Great news! New Better Off Teds will be airing starting June 23rd.

Potential covers for the DVD release of The Middleman. Add this to your amazon wish list posthaste!

Dexter adds a new foil for season 4.

Fun with underage strippers back in Georgia. I think we all know how this story ends.

Profiles in awkwardness: EW's "Idolatry" interviews Danny Gokey (if you're watched, or read, any of the Idolatry pieces in EW this year, you know they're big fans of the Gokester). How can you be on a music show, and not fucking know what band Michael McDonald was in?

Yes, she's annoying. Yes, her live singing leaves a lot to be desired. But these Katy Perry pics? I'll be in my bunk.

Cinematical looks at 7 female TV stars who should be in more movies.

50 dirty text acronyms every parent should know. Suddenly, my BlackBerry feels lonely.

Not only has God been forsaking the Auburn coaching staff, but apparently he's been busy elsewhere during the NBA Finals, since Orlando Magic player, and team dancer impregnator, Dwight Howard assured the media that the Magic would beat the Lakers because of the almighty. Evidently, even divine intervention can't prevent Kobe from scoring 40. No word on whether Howard will start drawing pentagrams and reading Aleister Crowley if the Magic lose.

I'll take potpourri for $3,300, Alex

Settle in for a long (and interesting!) collection of news, miscellany and tidbits, y'all. My Google notebook floweth over.

In addition to starring in an upcoming Dick Wolf show, Starbuck will guest on Law & Order.

I'm sure you've seen the teaser for the next season of Lost. Here are the titles for the first 6 eps!

I don't have a dog in the hunt in the World Series, but this could almost make me pull for the Phils.

How is the universe going to end? (I thought it may have happened when Arrested Development got cancelled, during the first half of the Bama game, or when my house got destroyed by itinerant, trollopy gypsies, but here are some alternate theories).

5 best Atari 2600 games! Man, I loved the faux wood paneled console, and a controller with just a joystick and a button.

The 25 cheesiest hits of the 70s. Awesome.

Stewie Mandel has something nice to say about Dawgs fans.

Hot new SMG photoshoot. Yowza.

Speaking of which, here's a "where are they now" feature about the cast of Buffy.

Effete party boys weep. Zima is no more.

Funny fake Twitter feeds.

If you don't like the hockey team, unleash the dildos!

I assume these are very popular in Columbus, GA.

When you're a former stripper and drug addict, of course Simon Cowell is to blame. (Paula just said "you really took that 8-ball and made it yours, and wrapped it in a rainbow of your special you-ness.")

A completely geeky BSG home computer.

Perhaps someone didn't get this early learnin' in the art of making checklists.

This makes me want to ride a bus. Or donate money to a bus advertising campaign.

Christina Hendricks in black. Nice. Speaking of space vixens, I was watching a random episode of Numb3rs this week, and caught the gorgeous Morena Baccarin (now with cute as pie short hair) in a guest starring role. As a hooker. (though one without her own shuttle or mysterious syringe). In a Whedonverse connection, DB Woodside (Robin Wood) was also in the ep.

Mad Men, in delightful illustrations. (Season finale tomorrow!) And play Mad Men Jeopardy!

A must see: "Truthful TV Title Cards." Funny.

Top 10 obscure Google tricks. How many did you know? (I knew 2).

Okay, now that the CrackBerry has FINALLY announced a release date for my beloved Bold, they tease us with an upcoming model that has a full qwerty keyboard AND a touchscreen. Dammit.

"Global warming?" Still crap.

Sheriff Carter gets a new love interest on Eureka, and it's Mindy O'Dell!

I've turned several friends on to the fantastic political website, 538, which blends statistical baseball analytical principles with polling and electoral college wonkery. Here's a great profile of the man behind it all, Nate Silver.

20 most awesome sci-fi theme songs.

Who is playing for the massive government bailout? Probably not most taxpayers. On a related note, I think the founding fathers had it right: "Madison and others therefore made it a "first object of government" to protect personal property from unjust confiscation." That "unjust confiscation" also includes the imperial federal government, too, asshats. Who wants to dump tea in a harbor with me?

The 10 least intimidating college mascots. Aaaaah! A duck! With no pants! And no one knows what the fuck a "hokie" is. At least the tree gets drunk on a regular basis. Of course, there's always college's BEST mascot as a counterbalance.

A sci-fi version of the Odyssey. When I was a kid, and writing and illustrating my own comic books, I did the exact same thing, in graphic novel format. I should have copyrighted that shit.

The GOP has to get its ass kicked, in order to return to a party of reason. Hopefully, the coming electoral debacle will spur the party of low taxes and limited government to return to its roots, and ditch the neocons and theocrats.

Passing out grades for the summer TV season

The fall television season is upon us, so it's time to take a quick look back at the boys of summer, television-style.

First and foremost, I'm sure you're probably sick of reading about my undying love affair with The Middleman. Unless, of course, you're a fellow fan of the Middledude and Dub-Dub. I watch a LOT of TV, and this was by far the most inventive, original and entertaining show I've seen in ages. Though not a clone of a Whedon program, it still has the same sensibility, in that it wholly creates its own universe, style and patter, and completely immerses you. It wasn't a perfect fit for ABC Family, and didn't pull the ratings it could (and should) have, so who knows if we'll be treated to another season of one of the most brilliant concoctions to grace the boob tube. If you've ever trusted my recommendations, please treat yourself to a viewing of The Middleman. A+

In Plain Sight was okay. In a summer without much going on, it made for a passable procedural with an intriguing concept, a solid lead performance and a star character in the making (Marshall!). I was bored with the family drama, though the whole "box of letters" bit at the end was a bit heartwarming. And for some bizarre reason, I was mesmerized by Mary's dimwitted, skank of a sister. (Evidently, I just have a soft spot for that type). On a related note, said sister will soon be showing up on Bones as a love interest for Angela. B-

Despite the interesting premise and setting, I still have all the eppies of Swingtown TiVod. Unwatched. Incomplete.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl coasted by entirely on the charms of star Billie Piper. If you're a fan of her Rose Tyler, it made for a mildly diverting 20 minutes. It wasn't sexy enough to be erotic, funny enough to make you laugh or dramatic enough to move you. But if you like saucy chicks with an overbite who once rode in the Tardis, it'll do. C

I'm still halfway through the latest season of Weeds. I enjoy this show when I watch it, yet I don't rush home to fire up the TiVo to make sure I catch the latest ep. Maybe my TiVo is telling me something. Incomplete.

At this stage of the game, I really don't expect that much from Monk. I smile at the fully realized central character, and enjoy his "here's what happened" as much as Columbo's "one more question." However, I think the summer season showed an uptick in the quality of the show, despite the mysteries being even easier to figure out. I was dreading the "Monk is hypnotized into thinking he's a child" finale, which actually surprised me by making me laugh out loud. And the 100th episode, where they revisited his 100 cases solved via a tabloid TV show conceit was particularly inspired. B

Psych strayed from the formula a bit this season, offering more insight into Shawn's background and childhood, and actually became a richer show while still offering the requisite silliness and pop culture riffs. Juliet is an underrated hottie and my only complaint was the lack of screen time for Lassiter. B+

I haven't yet watched the season finale of Burn Notice, so I'm not sure exactly how they wrapped up the season long arc with Six, er Carla, and her machinations of Michael. But the second season built on everything that we liked about the show in the first place (action, droll voice-overs, spycraft 101, deadpan humor, plenty of Bruce Campbell's Sam Axe) and delivered an even better showing. A

Law & Order: CI had an uneven summer. Some of the plot twists were patently ridiculous and it was clear that the departing Chris Noth was phoning it in. D'onfrio is always interesting, however, and I welcomed the return of the eminently adorable Megan Wheeler as Logan's partner. Next season, she'll be paired with Jeff Goldblum (of the underwatched and underappreciated Raines) who should bring an extra level of quirk to the show. I like the acerbic Eric Bogosian as the captain, and the season finale, featuring the return of Bobby's brilliant mentor and his longtime nemesis Nicole Wallace, was spectacular. B

Eureka, thus far, has been hit and miss. Many have objected to the blatant product placement from Degree, but working in the marketing field, I certainly understand the advantages of having some extra cabbage to support the show, and it doesn't bother me. I adore Ever Carradine, but don't really see what she adds to the show and I've found the whole "corporate conspiracy" with Eva a bit tedious. They also said goodbye to one of my favorite Eureka characters (and his dry, withering wit) Nathan Stark. Still, Colin Ferguson's anchoring performance keeps me tuned in, but I was hoping for more. C+

I gave up on Saving Grace. I appreciate the skill, fearlessness and ferocity of Holly Hunter's performance, but the whole show just kind of loses me. A bunch of rednecks getting drunk and solving crimes, infused with a bit of the supernatural? Damn, it sounds good, but it just doesn't work for me. D

We're still in the middle of Mad Men's run, but Holy Shit! is this show good. Easily among the top five shows on television, Mad Men continues to be a hallmark of stellar and subtle acting, writing, storytelling, directing and production values. A trenchant commentary on social mores, gender relations and commerce, Mad Men is a classic for the ages and absolutely must watch television every single week. A+

The Closer was all over the map this season, and in a good way. (Yes, as a southerner, I'm still bugged by Brenda Leigh's accent). We've had harrowing, heart-wrenching episodes and frothy, funny episodes (like the one with Provenza being hired as an undercover hit man) and they all pretty much delivered a solid, well-crafted hour of procedural entertainment. The ensemble is among TV's best, and I can never get enough JK Simmons on my tube. A

I've always watched the Stargate shows, though I've never been as passionate about them as I am with other genre fare, like Firefly, Trek, BSG, Farscape and the like. Still, it saddened me a little when Stargate Atlantis got cancelled, even though I understand the economics behind it. For an hour of sci-fi escape, you could do worse (Painkiller Jane, anyone? Or Flash Gordon? Arrrrggh). McKay (especially), Keller, Zelenka, Beckett, Ronin and the newly added Woolsey are all entertaining characters, even if Sheppard's hair bugs me (could Footloose's Ren have been in the military? Don't think so. Get thee to an interstellar Flowbee). But the replicator-redux storylines, along with the totally boring villains (how could you make "space-vampires" less interesting?) made this less than appointment viewing. C+

I'll take potpourri for $2,500, Alex

Science proves that "beer goggles" are real. Everyone who went to college goes "duh."

It seems like every week, I find some reference to a retro toy and say, "yeah, I had that one too." Here's an Enterprise bridge playset from 1975. What's odd, is that this would have never happened in today's marketing climate. Can you see some guy sitting a board room, and saying "Let's introduce a line of action figures for kids based on a TV show that got canceled 3 years ago!" When I was a kid, my dad was indifferent to the gazillions of action figures I had (except maybe the early, militarily "accurate" GI Joes), but he took a noted interest in all the Trek toys. I definitely credit Sam for inspiring and encouraging my Trek fandom.

This sounds like a winner. Alien abduction story by underpraised director Whit Stillman? Cool.

I never realized this. Longtime character actor Matt Winston (Enterprise, John From Cincinnati) is the son of recently departed special effects pioneer and guru Stan Winston.

Sadly, this would attract me, too. As would the t-shirt they reference.

TRON's lightcycle race Sweded. Astonishingly effective.

For those who haven't yet become part of the Lost cult, here's your chance. Skiffy will begin airing the show from the beginning in Monday night 4 hour blocks, starting September 15.

CBS wants all the SEC it can get.

How many of the most common 100 English language words can you guess in 5 minutes? (I only got 35).

The Woodman talks about 12 of his previous flicks.

Awesome movie quiz. Guess the flick by poster font. (I got 38).

Awwww. Loyal dog story. (I'll fill up the feeder and fountain, and empty the litterbox and send out a twitter message before I decide to end it all).

So Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip didn't work because of post 9/11 anger? And I always thought it was because we had kidnapping and hostage stories in a show about TV sketch comedy show. And because it wasn't funny. Here was my take on the initial pitch meeting with the NBC execs. Despite all of Sorkin's misguided pomposity, I still have an undying love for SportsNight.

Robert Downey Jr. is a Marvel "company man." Fuck DC Comics.

This makes me sport wood.

A guide to all the pop-culture references from last Monday's episode of the best show you're not watching. (and I mean "you're" as in Nielsen families, apparently. Not brilliant readers of TNRLM, who I'm sure have taken my exhortations to heart and regularly tune in). And a critic makes the case for this unique, wonderful show.

Sadly, I've known vapid, hypocritical skanks like this, too.

And people say that West Virginia is full of backwards, uneducated hicks. Yeah, the DMV is a circle of Hell, but this is just stupefyingly asinine.

Sigh. Why can't the government let you keep more of you own money, regardless of whether or not you subject the world to a mewling infant?

Any chance this won't suck?

Play Star Trek, 20 Questions.

An awesome Fred / Illyria image.

A very good analysis of Mad Men's "The Benefactor."

Darth Vader and stormtroopers do "Thriller." And Boba Fett does Flashdance.

Hey, TNRLM, what did you think of the 2008 Emmy nominations?

Well, headline, I'm glad you asked. As regular TNRLM readers know, I watch an inordinate amount of television. ("inordinate" means "excessive," so I guess it depends how you define "excessive." Of course, it also means "unrestrained," which I like better, since there's no one restraining what the hell I watch. And besides, what the frak else have I got to do?).

Below is a list of the Emmy noms in the major categories, and my thoughts on them, along with who I would nominate. First, I'll gladly admit a couple of blind spots. Two shows that consistently show up on critics' lists that I don't watch are Friday Night Lights and The Wire. Given my love of great writing, I probably should, but I've just never had an interest. As a rule, I loathe shows with too many kids (unless there's something supernatural involved, like Buffy or Reaper), and for whatever reason, I never got into The Wire when it started airing. Perhaps I might catch it on HBO reruns or DVD or something, since I live so close to the setting now, though from what I know about the storylines, I might be afraid to leave my house. (And that would be different how?). Also, I was all predisposed to love Pushing Daisies, but that kicked off right around the time of my move north, and I was saddled for three months with a barely functioning "DVR" from the douchewits at Comcast, so I missed it.

That said, here we go...

Best Drama
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

I can't express enough disbelief, and joy, that Mad Men got nominated. It is without question one of the best dramas on TV, and I'm glad it made the cut. Lost had a very, very stong season, perhaps its best, and deserves a place. Dexter, which I only just recently caught up on, was just as good as the landmark first season, if not better. House was uneven this year, but should still find a place among the top 6 dramas. I didn't watch Damages, and really, I can't understand the ongoing love for Boston Legal. The glaring omission here is Battlestar Galactica, continuing Emmy's snub of sci-fi and supernatural (with the welcome exception of Lost). I think many of the voters just can't get past the name, much like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Also, they typically make a judgment based on one episode, and when you have such serialized storytelling, they just can't grasp the impact and nuance of the show based on such a small sample (though BSG did get a writing nod, among a few other smaller noms). In Treatment was also mesmerizing television, but the format may have been too much for some voters. Personally I loved it and think several of the actors deserve some Emmy love. Big Love had a superb season and deserves a place at the table.

TNRLM's Picks: Mad Men, Lost, House, Battlestar Galactica, Dexter, Big Love

Lead Actor, Drama
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal

Spader graciously accepted his award last year, and isn't it time to just let him go off into the sunset with kudos for his portrayal of Alan Shore? I love the noms for Byrne and Hamm, whose new shows were among my choices for the best of the year. Both Hall and Laurie do extraordinary work making flawed characters supremely appealing. Sadly, I gave up on Breaking Bad, but thought what I saw of Cranston was quite good. You could also make a good case for Matthew Fox (Lost), who continues to add depths to the portrayal of a conflicted leader, and whose "off island" escapades were truly heartbreaking. Edward James Olmos is the rock (along with Mary McDonnell) of the best ensemble on TV, and did stellar work as BSG wound down to brutal end of the season. Vincent D'Onofrio (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) continues to fly under the radar, but had some emotional storylines to go along with his bag of quirk this year. And two stars from the Beeb deserve recognition. John Barrowman adds the right shading to some of the overwrought silliness on Torchwood (though he can be delightfully silly, also), and David Tennant is simply electric as The Doctor.

TNRLM's Picks: Jon Hamm, Hugh Laurie, Michael C. Hall, Gabriel Byrne, Edward James Olmos, David Tennant (Doctor Who)

Lead Actress, Drama
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

A solid category. I didn't watch Damages nor Brothers & Sisters, but I have no problems with Hunter and Sedgwick, though The Closer is really the much stronger show (that also has a superb ensemble). With enough slots, I would give a nomination to all three of the wives on Big Love (Chloe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin and Jeanne Tripplehorn) who invest us all so deeply in such an unusual and uncomfortable situation. And how can you not recognize Mary McDonnell here? Shame, Emmy, shame.

TNRLM's Picks: Mary McDonnell, Kyra Sedgwick, Holly Hunter, Chloe Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Supporting Actor, Drama
Ted Danson, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

Talk about an embarrassment of riches. Michael Emerson pwns your ass. Slattery was a weaselly silver fox, with a great role to play. God knows I love The Shat, but enough with the Boston Legal adulation. How would you classify Reaper? Comedy or Drama? Hard to say, but I'll put Ray Wise in here for the can't miss role of the year. Has the devil ever been this much fun? I hate to keep banging the BSG drum here, but both James Callis and Michael Hogan do such fantastic work that they have to be recognized. What about Henry Ian Cusick? Desmond wasn't on this season of Lost an extraordinary amount, but his work in "The Constant" deserves a little gold statue. And don't forget about Robert Sean Leonard on House, or Blair Underwood and Josh Charles from In Treatment. With a tough category like this, I doubt Bruce Campbell would get a nod for Burn Notice, but I certainly welcome him on my screen every Thursday.

TNRLM's Picks: James Callis, Michael Hogan, Ray Wise, Henry Ian Cusick, Michael Emerson, John Slattery

Supporting Actress, Drama
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

Of these, I would only wholeheartedly agree with Wiest, who was wonderful as Paul's complicated fellow shrink. Also on the same show, Michell Forbes (awesome last year as Admiral Cain on BSG's "Razor") was fantastic as Paul's wife. Was Anne Dudek in House enough to qualify here? Cutthroat Bitch was one of my favorite characters all of last year. (if we can't consider her supporting, then I would happily substitue Yunjin Kim from Lost). Jennifer Carpenter from Dexter was adorable as the sister of the moonlighting serial killer, who was recovering from the trauma of almost being killed last season by the Ice Truck Killer, finding her confidence on the force and experiencing a little May - September romance with Keith Carradine's FBI agent. Christina Hendricks was brassy, sexy office queen bee Joan on Mad Men, and should get recognized also. But no one gave a more revelatory, unexpected and brilliant performance this year than Mia Wasikowska as the damaged gymnast on In Treatment.

TNRLM's Picks: Mia Wasikowska, Dianne Wiest, Anne Dudek, Jennifer Carpenter, Michelle Forbes, Christina Hendricks

Best Comedy
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
Two and a Half Men

Hey, I like Entourage as much as the next guy, but last season was a flop just like Medellin. 30 Rock and The Office are no brainers. Do we still classify Desperate Housewives as a comedy? If so, I thought it rebounded from an awful prior season to have a very strong one. The best new comedy on TV was Big Bang Theory, that poked fun at the geeks, while still showing them a lot of love, a tough balancing act that was artfully, and most important, hilariously, handled. No love for How I Met Your Mother? Another shame, especially since they had to resort to stunt casting Britney Freaking Spears just to get some eyeballs on this wonderful comedy. Pickings are slim for sitcoms, but I also really enjoyed Samantha Who.

TNRLM's Picks: The Office, 30 Rock, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Samantha Who?

Lead Actor, Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Tony Shaloub is approaching Gandolfini and Spader territory, getting nominated year after year, and not allowing a little fresh blood into the contest. Though the quality of Monk has slipped over the years, the quality of Shaloub's committed performance hasn't, but time for something new, eh? Can't comment on the quality of Pace on Daisies, but I loved him on the late, lamented Wonderfalls. Carrell and Baldwin are no-brainers, and they should go ahead and start etching Baldwin's name on the trophy. But tragically overlooked in the nominations was Big Bang's Jim Parsons, a stupendously funny bundle of arrogance, neuroses and perfectionism. Can we classify Chuck as a comedy? I have a hard time with shows like Reaper and Chuck, as they could go either way. To split the difference, I'll call Chuck a comedy so we can slot the delightful Zachary Levi in here. James Roday and Dule Hill from Psych could also merit consideration.

TNRLM's Picks: Alec Baldwin, Steve Carrell, Jim Parsons, Zachary Levi, John Krasinski

Lead Actress, Comedy
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

I'm fine with Applegate, Parker and Fey. If we call Desperate Housewives a comedy, then Dana Delany deserves some credit for bringing that show back to life. It's hard to pick between the two ladies on HIMYM, but I'll go with Alyson Hannigan in a close call.

TNRLM's Picks: Christina Applegate, Mary Louise-Parker, Tina Fey, Dana Delany, Alyson Hannigan

Supporting Actor, Comedy
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office

Harris is an obvious choice (and winner). And BTW, I'm still blown away by Dr. Horrible. Wilson is also very good as the sycophantic and unstable Dwight. I would add Justin Kirk from Weeds, Jack McBrayer from 30 Rock, and if we're calling Chuck a comedy, the deadpan and dangerous Adam Baldwin.

TNRLM's Picks: Rainn Wilson, Neil Patrick Harris, Justin Kirk, Jack McBrayer, Adam Baldwin

Supporting Actress, Comedy
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Sadly, I can't comment firsthand on the Daisies gals. It's nice to see Poehler recognized for her work on the otherwise usually unwatchable SNL. No Jenna Fischer here? Why not? Smart is good in anything she does (remember her nutty first lady on 24?), and if I can fudge a bit and put Hannigan on lead actress from HIMYM, and Cobie Smulders as supporting, I will. Maggie Lawson was also delightful on Psych, as was Traylor Howard on Monk.

TNRLM's Picks: Jean Smart, Jenna Fischer, Amy Poehler, Cobie Smulders (and probably someone from Daisies, but I can't vouch for it personally, though I'm sure they are deserving).

Best Reality Competition
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

Sigh. Except for blogging about Idol, I think "reality" is a blight on the face of humanity. Don't care.

Reality Host
Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Howie Mandel, Deal or No Deal
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

Ditto.

Well, TNRLMers, agree or disagree? Who did we leave out?