easternepiphany:

1. This is a rip-off of a Jeff Winger line, but probably the number one reason I love Britta so much is that she cares about people so much that it makes her puke. All she wants to do is take care of people (especially misfits like her one-eyed cats, not to mention the entire study group) and she will put herself on the line to do so. I admire that quality in a person so much.
2. She is a giant freaking mess. She doesn’t know what she’s doing in her life, but she’s trying. She will buy the wrong textbook for class, she will have secret sex with her best friend, and she will stand up in the middle of a school dance and pronounce her non love for someone. She does crazy things but her intentions are always usually good.
3. “That woman is a hurricane.” I don’t think I need to elaborate on that one.
4. She has a conflicting desire to both grow up and become a responsible adult and to stay young and reckless. I think this is such a common feeling in people. Britta wants to get her life together, declare a major, and be a contributing member of society. But she also wants to revert back to her anarchist days, save the world, and run around fighting authority. She is being pulled between two worlds and she wants both equally and at the same time.
5. She cares what people think of her and she really lets everyone know it. I think everyone, no matter what they may say or argue, want to be liked and want others to think that they’re a good person. Britta wants that so badly, she wants to be validated, and maybe that’s because she didn’t get it when she was younger or whatever, but I think deep down, everyone wants to be validated. Britta is everyone to the nth degree.

devonbanks:

I would like to preface this by saying I am a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Unless you’re a Nickelback or Two and a Half Men fan, I believe that your taste is completely valid and most forms of art are subjective and that it’s difficult to say something is “better” than something else. I’d also say that I am a Modern Family fan and I do think it’s a funny, great show. But I really, truly, at the bottom of my cold black heart don’t understand how the past season of this show against past season of Parks can even be compared.

Modern Family is really only held up by its cast at this point. The actors are all wonderful (and I think Ty Burrell was totally deserving) but I think the material they have been given this season was subpar. Every episode was essentially the same plot, only with small details switched around:

• Claire is neurotic and Phil tries to calm her down the rest of the episode
• Mitchell does something mean that makes Cameron upset and tries to make up for it the rest of the episode
• Gloria does something dumb and Jay complains about it the rest of the episode
• Haley is slutty and clueless
• Alex is bitchy and smart
• Luke is dumb
• Manny is precocious

While a lot of this can lead to funny moments, it began to feel repetitive and stale. I think the writers need to create more of an arc for some of characters, because right now it seems they’re all stuck in the mud, with no plot or character development to help propel them forward. While episodic plots are fine, it can lead to the same thing just happening every episode, with similar lessons being learned each time and that just makes the audience bored. This, I believe, was the major failing of the season and why I felt unimpressed by it. Obviously there is nothing wrong with having a TV show that doesn’t have overarching plot lines or themes, but I feel as if this did no favors to Modern Family and ultimately was why I was let down.

On the other hand, Parks and Recreation had an incredible season. The word “flawless” is thrown out a lot on Tumblr but I think it is incredibly apt in describing it. Even when people discuss really great seasons of television, (season 1 of Lost comes to mind, but I may be biased) there are usually a few not-so-great episode they ignore or some weird plot arcs that they dismiss. Parks had none of these. Each of those 16 episodes were either great or fantastic. I can’t think of even one that was just “okay.” The writers truly crafted a season in which the characters grew and changed and developed. It was not just them reacting to the plot, but the plot pushing them forward and changing them. Leslie Knope went from deputy Parks director to potential mayoral candidate. Ben Wyatt went from “Mean Ben” to “Numbers Robot” to being “worth the risk.” Tom Haverford went from someone who only cared about when there was a boy’s sale and Dillards to starting his own company.  I could go on. This show is not about what is happening but who it is happening too, and that’s why I love it. You care about ALL of these characters so much, and only want the best for them. The writers treat their characters as real human beings, not just objects with which to create funny moments, and that to me is what makes a show great. To have them all have these personal narratives throughout one season is outstanding, in my opinion, and the writers did an incredible job.

I understand there is a lot more politicking to the Emmy’s that we don’t see, but I truly think it was wrong that Modern Family won over Parks and Recreation. I know I’m biased and feel free to comment on it, but I just had to get this off my chest.



EMMYS 2011 - OUTSTANDING LEAD DRAMA ACTRESS NOMINEES

Julianna Margulies – Nominated for the role of Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife. This is Margulies’ eighth Emmy nomination, and second for The Good Wife. She has an Emmy that she won in 2004 for ER, along with a Golden Globe in 2010. Margulies also possess eight SAG Awards (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011), four of which are individual, and four of which are for the ER ensemble. It did not take Margulies long to find success once she started acting, and is largely known for her multi-award winning role as Carol Hathaway in ER for six years. After her departure from ER, Margulies acted in various TV miniseries and movies before landing yet another award winning role on The Good Wife.

Elisabeth Moss – Nominated for the role of Peggy Olson in Mad Men. This is Moss’ third Emmy nomination, all for playing Peggy Olson. She also has two SAG awards that she won for her performance in the Mad Men ensemble, in 2009 and 2010. Since she began acting in 1990, Moss has appeared in various TV shows and movies. Besides Mad Men, Moss is most well known for her role in The West Wing as First Daughter Zoey Bartlet.

Mariska Hargitay – Nominated for the role of Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU. This is Hargitay’s eighth consecutive Emmy nomination for this role. She also has won Emmy win, in 2006. As for other awards, Hargitay received a Golden Globe in 2005. She has been working consistently on SVU since 1999. Prior to that, Hargitay appeared in numerous films and television shows.

Kathy Bates – Nominated for the role of Harriet Korn in Harry’s Law. This is her eighth Emmy nomination, with the other nominations being for various lead actress, guest actress, and supporting actress roles. Bates has also won two Golden Globes (1991 and 1997) two SAG Awards (1997 and 1999). She also has an Oscar, which she won in 1991. Bates has been acting since 1971, but rose to prominence for her role in Misery in 1990. Since then she has put together an extremely well decorated acting career, though many different and successful movies and television series, such as Titanic, Ambulance Girl, Six Feet Under, About Schmidt, Annie, and Primary Colors.

Connie Britton – Nominated for the role of Tami Taylor in Friday Night Lights. This is Britton’s second Emmy nomination, both times for playing Tami Taylor. Britton originally worked in theater in New York before landing roles in films and TV shows, which she has been doing since 1995. Other than Friday Night Lights, Britton’s most notable roles include Spin City, 24, and a couple episodes of The West Wing.

Mireille Enos – Nominated for the role of Sarah Linden in The Killing. This is her first Emmy nomination. Besides receiving recognition for this series, she is most well known for her role in HBO’s Big Love, which is the only other major project she has worked on.

EMMYS 2011 - OUTSTANDING LEAD DRAMA ACTOR NOMINEES

Jon Hamm – Nominated for the role of Don Draper in Mad Men. This is Hamm’s sixth individual Emmy nomination, fourth for the role of Don Draper. Hamm also has a Golden Globe (2008), and two SAG awards (2009 and 2010) for the Mad Men ensemble as a whole. Hamm’s breakthrough into worldwide recognition came with his role in Mad Men - he previously worked in minor roles in various television shows and movies. Since Mad Men Hamm has been in a number of Hollywood films, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, Bridesmaids, and Sucker Punch. 

Michael C. Hall – Nominated for the role of Dexter Morgan in Dexter. This is Hall’s fifth Emmy nomination, with four of said nominations being for this particular role. In 2010 he won the Golden Globe and SAG Award for playing Dexter, and has two more SAG Awards (2003 and 2004) for his part in the Six Feet Under ensemble. Hall also has an extensive theater background, having moved from theater to television when he started for HBO’s Six Feet Under in 2001. He has yet to stray far from the television industry into the movie industry, and instead has worked on a number of theater projects during his series’ hiatuses, such as starring in Broadway’s Chicago and the off-broadway play Mr. Marmalade.

Kyle Chandler – Nominated for the role of Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights. This is Chandler’s third Emmy nomination, and second for the Eric Taylor role. Chandler is best known for his roles in various television shows and movies since 1988. Most notable is his Emmy-nominated stint on Grey’s Anatomy, and his role in J.J. Abrams’ and Steven Spielberg’s 2011 film Super 8. 

Steve Buscemi – Nominated for the role of Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire. This is Buscemi’s fourth Emmy nomination, and first for this role. In 2011 he won the Golden Globe and SAG award for playing Nucky Thompson, and also received the SAG Award for his performance in the Boardwalk Empire ensemble. He is a well-known actor, having appeared in many successful Hollywood and indie films (many of which are by the Coen brothers), such as Resevoir Dogs, Big Fish, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski.

Hugh Laurie – Nominated for the role of Gregory House in House. This is Laurie’s sixth individual Emmy nomination, all for this role. He has also won two Golden Globes (2006 and 2007) and two SAG Awards (2007 and 2009). He first became well known in Britain for being one half of the ‘Fry and Laurie’ double act, in which he worked closely with friend Stephen Fry from 1987 to 1999. He has appeared in many British television projects over the course of the years. However, he has become well known in the United States for his role as Dr. House, for which he is now the highest paid actor on television.

Timothy Olyphant – Nominated for the role of Raylan Givens in Justified. This is Olyphant’s first Emmy nomination. He began acting in 1995, having appeared in many various television shows and movies. Other than for Justified, Olyphant is perhaps most well known for his roles in Deadwood and Damages.

EMMYS 2011 - BEST DRAMA NOMINEES

The Good Wife (2009) is a law drama that shows a different side of the courtroom and the law firm, now in its second season. With Peter Florrick’s campaign heating up, Alicia is forced more into the spotlight to show support for her husband. While she is trying to support him, she also discovers secrets that end up changing her feelings on many issues, both personal and professional. Whereas the critics liked the generally liked the first season, they seemed to love the second season even more, giving it better reviews. The general audience received it better as well, especially as the show started to reveal more. The second season ends on a cliffhanger which will lead to both good and bad things for Alicia.

Dexter (2006) is the story of a likeable Miami forensics expert who moonlights as a serial killer of those who arguably deserve it. Now in the fifth season, Dexter Morgan grapples with the shocking season four finale while trying to put himself back together again. In addition to raising his son and working full-time, Dexter befriends a young woman named Lumen, with her own tortured past, and tries to help her achieve retribution. While the viewers were at an all time high, it was not as well received by the critics and is not one of the series strongest seasons. The subject material of the season, however, allowed for the series to delve into new and fresh territory, and was as well-acted as ever.

Mad Men (2007) is a period drama set in the 1960s, in its fourth season. With the new changes set forth to the ad agency, it is up to the employees of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce to get the company going again. It gave the characters (and many viewers) a fresh start where they could see how the company came together. Along with changes in the work place, each character was also faced with their own personal struggles that they needed to face. Although the critics loved this season, many other viewers were iffy about the season as a whole. Many story lines caused viewers to question the direction of the show, and the possible changes that lay ahead for the seasons to come.

Game of Thrones (2011) takes place in the world of Westeros, where kings, queens, knights, and renegades battle for control of the throne. The first season primarily follows House Stark, House Lannister, and the remaining members of House Targaryen, as the realm falls to pieces and the houses go to war. The first season was fairly well received by the critics, with soaring numbers of viewers. It is one of the most ambitious television projects around, having been adapted from the book series by George R. R. Martin, and is the first television series to depict a fantasy medieval story on such a wide scale and in such a well-done way.

Friday Night Lights (2006) is a sports drama about a high school football coach and his family and team. With most of the original cast gone, and Julie in college, the writers were able to start fresh as well as bring the series to a close. They showed Eric finally getting in his groove of coaching the East Dillon Lions, and it showed Tami getting back her old job as guidance counselor. Although the show never had the highest viewership, it did have the fan following and critical following that it needed to succeed, and stay on the air for 5 seasons.

Boardwalk Empire (2010) takes place in the 1920’s and chronicles the life of gangster and politician Nucky Thompson, the ‘undisputed ruler’ of Atlantic City. It has received extremely favorable review from the critics, and is especially well praised for it’s accurate and detailed depiction of the time period. However, it didn’t sit right with many common viewers, coming off as boring, too complex, having too many subplots, and feeling like a rip-off of The Sorpranos. It also lacks a cult following and the mass of passionate fans that other drama nominees possess.

With the Emmys coming up this Sunday, we’ve decided to break it down for you! We’re going to be providing a small description of all the nominees, each category as separate post. And then, when we’re done, we’re going to give two (and sometimes 3) nominees who deserve the win, in one big post. 

Stay tuned!

slacktides:

Hey, so… I wrote an article. About Dexter. And it’s been published. Do me a favor and read and reblog. Tweet it. Put it on FB. Spread it around! It would mean a lot to me :)

With the premiere of the sixth season of Dexter fast approaching, we figured it prudent to inform readers why exactly they should continue to watch Showtime’s hit series Dexter – and we’ve got some very strong reasons indeed.

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

10. It’s going to be action packed

If we can infer one thing from the teaser trailer, it’s that season six very well may be the most exciting season to date. There was nonstop action, a plethora of intense cut-scenes, and, get this – that teaser was made from only the first four episodes. If the first four episodes have that much power in them, one can only imagine what’s to come in the last two thirds of the season.

9. We’ll be seeing a new type of big bad

Dexter has given television some of its best villains to date, each very different and uniquely terrifying. The sixth season will be no exception, and will introduce one of the series’ most gruesome killers yet. The executive producers say he’ll be more along the lines of the infamous zodiac killer – someone who actually believes that what he is doing is right, and that he is serving a higher purpose…. not because he is plagued by a need to kill, and doing it just because he can. It’s a refreshing, thrilling, and enticing perspective on killers – but what exactly is Dexter (played by Michael C. Hall) going to do about this guy? With someone as remorseless as our new killer, Dexter’s chase for him is vying to be one the most paralyzing and intense storylines yet.

8. The loss of boring subplots, and the addition of fresh ones

It seems the writers got the memo – time to fix the mess of boring subplots. Arguably of the least interesting aspects of season five was the ailing marriage of Angel Batista (played by David Zayas) and Maria La Guerta (played by Lauren Velez). There was just so much going on that these two were the least of our worries, and at times the subplot even became a nuisance. All they did was argue, and their conversations never exactly got them anywhere. But as we kick off season six, time has passed, and we find out that their relationship has ended in an amicable divorce. A genius move, in fact – it means no screen time for their irrelevant relationship, and more screen time for the things that matter. As if that wasn’t awesome enough, it seems that there will be some much more interesting subplots added to the formula. For example, Vince Masuka (played by C.S. Lee), who has gone five seasons as the shows biggest perv and coimc relief, has a genuine storyline this year. He will be getting a love interest, in the form of female intern Ryan Chambers (played by Brea Grant), in what is sure to be a hilariously raunchy relationship. More fresh subplots come in the form of tons of new baddies for Dexter, who, judging by the trailer, seems to kill more people in the first couple of episodes than he did all of season five.

7. “Demented Daddy Dexter”

Having a child thrown into the works in the beginning of the third season was certainly a huge surprise, and it’s been quite interesting to see how Dexter dealt with the situation, between deciding to be there for him, attempting to be a good father, and then attempting to raise the child by himself. Thus far, Harrison Morgan has been too young to say a word and too young to show a personality, but that’s about to change. This year will be even more interesting in the world of “Demented Daddy Dexter” – since a year has passed, Harrison can now talk some, shows the beginnings of a personality, and is off to preschool. It’s an entirely new dynamic for the pair. Based on last season, it’s clear how much Dexter loves his son, and the fact that his son will be more of a character than a fixture now means that we’re in for a treat. Their relationship will undoubtedly going to grow by leaps and bounds, likely growing into something incredibly beautiful.

6. The microscope on one of TV’s most dynamic brother/sister duos

At the end of the fourth season of Dexter, Dexter’s sister Deb Morgan (played by Jennifer Carpenter) discovered one of Dexter’s biggest secrets: that her ex-fiancé, the Ice Truck Killer, was Dexter’s biological brother.  Many fans were looking forward to seeing how this was going to be dealt with during the following season, but the death of Dexter’s wife Rita Morgan (played by Julie Benz) put things on hold and the issue was never addressed. In fact, Dexter and Deb did not have much communication at all. But this season, it has been confirmed that there will be a microscope on their relationship. And thank God for that – the two have one of the best sibling relationships on TV. They are all the other has got left of their family, and under the surface of their witty banter, they have a masterfully crafted, deeply intimate connection to one another (re: the parking lot scene in season four, episode five). Deb always calls Dexter on his bullshit, and Dexter helps to ground her often-erratic behavior, so in turn they balance each other perfectly. Thus, it is always a joy to watch scenes including the both of them. But as time goes on, we get closer and closer to answering the inevitable question that we’ve been facing since the beginning of the series: will Deb ever find out who Dexter truly is, and what will happen when she does? This could very well be the season it goes down, and keeping in mind the talents of Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter, it is not something to miss.

5. The overall theme: What is faith?

Harrison is getting older, and Harrison is getting smarter, so Dexter’s got to start thinking long term about how he wants to raise his son. For Dexter, this raises the question of religion – or more specifically, what is faith, what does it mean? Let’s think about the journey that brought Dexter to this question: seasons one through four, Dexter was inching towards ridding himself of the ‘need’ for his dark passenger. But the end of season four showed him that you can’t have it all, and that it’s a part of who he is, never going away. Season five was about rehabilitating him, more or less, and accepting his need. So season six it seems, ventures into the “What is my purpose on this earth?” territory. Because whether you believe in God or not, we all find ourselves wondering what our purpose in life is. Hence the question of faith that Dexter is wrestling with: “What am I here for?” It is such a universally puzzling question to everyone on this planet, and I can preemptively say that Dexter’s exploration and interpretation of this subject will definitely be one worth watching.

4. The additions of the talented Edward James Olmos, Colin Hanks, and Mos

Perhaps one of the most crippling things about season five was the addition of guest star Julia Stiles. Unfortunately, she is one of those actresses that have many fans who rabidly love her, and many people who rabidly hate her. It risked (and actually did end up) alienating some fans. Basically, picking an actress that people have so many preconceived notions about for a show like this is just not a great idea. This year, however, we see the additions of Edward James Olmos, Colin Hanks, and Mos (formerly Mos Def), among others. There are countless reasons to be excited for these guest stars – Olmos’ career is decorated with nominations and awards, Colin Hanks is the unarguably talented son of industry legend Tom Hanks, and Mos, although a rapper, even has an Emmy nomination under his belt. With these choices, the show doesn’t risk alienating so many fans, and instead is simply drawing in new ones. And based on that trailer, it looks like these three are doing quite the excellent job, bringing lots of fresh stuff to the table.

3. The change in showrunner

After the completion of season four, which quickly became known as having one of television’s most shocking season finales, we received an additional shock – Clyde Phillips, showrunner for the first four seasons, stepped down, and was replaced by newcomer Chip Johannessan. Now, no offense to Chip, but he may not have been the best man for the job. Having come off of series such as 24, Moonlight, Beverly Hills,and 90210, Dexter was completely foreign territory. The result? Season five, whether you loved it or hated it, truly felt like a different show. But soon after season five it was announced that Johannessan was stepping down, to be replaced by Scott Buck – the wisest move they could have possibly made. Honestly, Buck probably should have been the man who got the job in the first place… for those of you who don’t know, Buck is no newcomer to Dexter – he has been with the show since it’s second season, and is responsible for some of the series’ best episodes. Buck also worked with Michael C. Hall previously on Six Feet Under, where he also wrote some of that series’ best episodes. Simply put, he knows what he’s doing, and he’s going to deliver.

2. “I’m feeling like my old self again.”

You heard it right – Dexter Morgan is going back to his roots. He’s come a long way in five seasons, but a year has passed since then, and he’s had time to repair himself from much of the emotional trauma that the death of Rita and loss of Lumen (played by Julia Stiles) has put on him. He will in no way be forgetting or ignoring all the personal progress he’s made regarding his humanity, but he has decided to back to what truly makes him Dexter; to start over again, after all of this heartache.  So whereas season five was unusually dark, season six will be a completely departure from this. It’s going back to the Dexter we know and love – that man who is one of television’s most deliciously sarcastic, witty, dark, paralyzing, clever, terrifying, loveable and unique characters in existence.

1. Michael C. Hall, the man himself

And here we have it: the five-time Emmy nominee, star, and executive producer of Dexter, Michael C. Hall. An incredibly gifted actor, Hall is widely known as one of the best in the industry, his name being a staple of any awards ballot. No matter the season, Hall has consistently portrayed the character of Dexter Morgan to the point of perfection, and you can 110% count on him to continue doing so. Truly, no one could do it better. His handle on his character is unparalleled in the business, and – lets be honest here – is what makes the story of America’s favorite serial killer so damn good.  And that in and of itself is reason enough to watch.

Sick of intolerance and immaturity in your fandoms? Then you’ve come to the right place, because we are too. Here you will find what every fandom needs more of: real, intellectual and well-informed TV feelings, from real, passionate TV fans. 

Clearly we’re just getting started, here. In time we plan to have many series present on our blog. But for now, we’re going to be talking about these ones to get things started:

• Mad Men
• Dexter
• Game of Thrones
• Six Feet Under
• The Good Wife
• Parks and Recreation
• Castle
• Doctor Who

Check back soon for our ideal Emmy 2011 winners!