Wednesday, September 12, 2001
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Wednesday, September 12, 2001 |
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The Emmys are coming, the Emmys are coming
By MICHAEL
BOYLAN The Emmy Awards will be broadcast this Sunday evening and I won't be watching. I love TV and TV stars are often very funny (thanks to their publicists or that teleprompter that keeps telling them to hurry up so Peabo Bryson can sing his medley of favorite television theme songs) but I will have better things to do. Here are my picks, most of which weren't nominated in the first place, followed by who should win among the nominees. Best Comedy Series - "That's My Bush" - I am totally serious about this pick. Each episode improved on the preceding episode and the cast had excellent chemistry and comic timing. Envisioned by Trey Parker and Matt Stone as a spoof and salute of sitcom conventions, "That's My Bush" made Bush an affable family man whose good intentions often collided with hilarious goof-ups. Parker and Stone, best known for South Park, pointed their sharp sword of satire at both the left and the right, often suggesting that the two political sides find a middle ground and compromise. Comedy Central chose not to renew the show due to an enormous budget, but Parker and Stone are writing the script for a movie version that will also be a spoof of action films as President Bush saves America when China invades. Of the shows nominated ("Sex and The City," "Will and Grace," "Frasier," "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Everybody Loves Raymond") my vote goes for "Malcolm in the Middle." It is a fresh comedy that portrays middle class life in a real light and there are rarely the neat and tidy endings that other family-oriented sitcoms offer. Jane Kaczmarek, who portrays Lois, Malcolm's mother, is a delight week in and week out. Best Dramatic Series - "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" - Again, I am totally serious about this pick. Buffy has been a critically acclaimed series since it first aired, but it has been neglected every year by the Emmys. This year their ignorance is a travesty. This year Buffy gained a lot of levity as she and her friends had to deal with the death of her mother. The episode "The Body" did not deal with the supernatural but rather with the reality of people passing on and how to cope. I am a fan of "The Sopranos" and "The West Wing" but neither show had an episode that hit as hard as Buffy this year. Let's not forget, as you read this, the character of Buffy sacrificed her life to save the world at the end of the season, and will begin this season in the grave. Of the shows nominated ("ER," "The West Wing," "Law and Order," "The Practice" and "The Sopranos") "The Sopranos" should win. It is a well written, spectacularly acted program that is professionally done. Now, a quick round up of the other categories and my picks for the winners. Best Actor in a Comedy - Kelsey Grammer for "Frasier." Yes, this show is getting old, but none of the other nominees truly deserve the award. He is still one of the shining spots of the show and deserves the recognition. It is too bad they can't nominate Homer Simpson. Sean Hayes, who plays Jack on "Will and Grace," will win for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy and rightly so. They ought to call the show "Karen and Jack," as they are the only funny things on the rapidly slipping series. Best Actress in a Comedy Series should go to Sarah Jessica Parker for her portrayal of Carrie on "Sex and the City." She is always solid and frequently funny. Giving this award to Grace or Raymond's wife on "Everybody Loves Raymond" would prove that the people who nominate actors for the Emmys have really stopped trying. Megan Mulally who plays Karen will easily walk away with the award for Best Supporting Actress on a Comedy. Now, I will hurry through the drama awards. James Gandolfini and Edie Falco should win for their portrayals of Tony and Carmela Soprano, which would give "The Sopranos" Best Actor and Actress on a Dramatic Series, and Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney should win Best Supporting Actor and Actress for their portrayals of Josh Lyman and C.J. Cragg on "The West Wing." The Emmys will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m.
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