The 2009 Primetime Emmys

Emmy-viewing stream of consciousness. From Orillia.

• I heart Neil Patrick Harris. So much. Opening number = success.
  
• Tina Fey looks abso-freaking-lutely amazing. Better every year.
  
• Neil said "dagnabbit." Officially my favorite person EVER. For now.
  
• "Here's hoping Kanye West likes 30 Rock."
• Tina Fey and Jon Hamm. Together. The way things should be.
• "Comedy is just drama with less smoking."
• All the Supporting Actress nominees are wearing hilarious eyewear. I don't know why. But I like it. (Amy Poehler's idea, apparently.)
  
• Kristin Chenoweth is adorable! "I'm unemployed now, so I'd like to be on Mad Men. I also like The Office and 24." I think we'd be friends.
• Comedy writing....30 Rock. I weep for Flight of the Conchords. But I'm still happy. Happy weeping.
• Jon Cryer wins?! Oh, Duckie.
• Justin Timberlake should quit music and become a regular SNL member. Just sayin'.
• Toni Collette: "This is insanely confronting." WHAT?! But okay.
• Blake and Leighton cannot dress themselves. They're better in fiction.
• Rob Lowe. Turned down Grey's Anatomy for Dr. Vegas. Ha!
• I love Steve Carell.
  
• Alec Baldwin?! Again?! I still love Steve Carell. And Jemaine Clement.
• Reality TV. Hmm. Jeff Probst. I approve. Sort of.
• Jeff just told me to do what I'm doing. The whole "go for your dream" thing. Thanks, Jeff.
  
• The Amazing Race. I can live with that. (Anyone wanna be my partner for next season's race? I'm good with heights if you agree to eat the weird-animal testicles.)
• Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. Sigh. If I ever end up married to someone I need to walk a red carpet with, I hope we're like them.
  
• I want to watch Grey Gardens. Let's have a Little Edie party, shall we?
• Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer make an appearance. I heart everyone.
• Jessica Lange. I still want to see Grey Gardens.
• I've never understood the Kiefer Sutherland appeal. Maybe I should watch more 24.
• Grey Gardens. Okay, okay, I get it. I'll watch it.
• I should probably watch Little Dorritt too.
• Jon Stewart's writers win. As they should.
  
• The Oscars' opening number just won an Emmy. "This is ridiculous." I'm still impressed with Hugh Jackman's song-and-dance skills.
• Ricky Gervais. He should host the Academy Awards. Or anything. Maybe just host a dinner party and invite me.
• Yay for The Daily Show. Jon Stewart can join Ricky and I for dinner.
• MICHAEL EMERSON!!!!!! Please watch Lost, folks. Please. One season left.
  
• Cherry Jones. Supertalent.
• In Memoriam. Sarah McLachlin is exquisite. And there are too many deaths. I don't like it. Stop the dying, folks. (RIP Michael Crichton. Patrick Swayze. David Carradine. Natasha Richardson. Paul Newman. Ed McMahon. Farrah Fawcett. Bea Arthur. Walter Cronkite. Michael Jackson....)
• The Mad Men writers win. I would toast them, but my Diet Coke is empty. As is my ice-cream bowl. Someone, get me more ice cream!
• Glenn Close is a glorious example of how to age. I'd be happy to look that elegant...tomorrow.
• Glasses. Everyone is wearing them. EVERYONE. So I'm halfway to an Emmy already.
• Bryan Cranston. Two years in a row. For a show I've never seen. "I feel like Cinderfella."
• Bob Newhart = wonderful.
• Best Comedy: 30 Rock. Tina Fey forever. I want her dress. And her career.
• Sigourney. I like that she wore red with red hair. (So did Debra Messing. Also gorgeous.) Two thumbs up.
• Best Drama: Mad Men. Cheers.

The end. You have no idea what just happened. So let me sum up:

• Neil Patrick Harris makes me want to hug the world.
• Writers who win awards make me want to write and win awards. Or write and win paychecks.

For the Love of Billy

Billy Elliot swept the Tony Awards last night, and made history as its three young rotating leads shared the award for best actor. (Oh, and Angela Lansbury won too. Just for being made of pure awesome, I believe.)

In honor of such a cuddly occasion, I bring you the angry dance.

Everyone should dance when they're angry. Just like Bret.



And the award to best host goes to....Neil Patrick Harris. I want him to play me in the story of my life. Maybe.

Oscar Watch

The Academy Award nominations were announced today. Here's the list. You'll notice that The Dark Knight was not nominated for Best Picture. Nor was Wall-E. Bruce Springsteen was not nominated for Best Original Song. Clint Eastwood was not nominated for Best Actor. Sally Hawkins was not nominated for Best Actress.

But Slumdog Millionaire grabbed a pile of nods, so I'm quite content. Not as many as Benjamin Button, though....

One year ago today, Heath Ledger died. On the anniversary of his death, he's nominated for an Oscar. Life is weird.

Aside: The Dark Knight is coming back to the IMAX near me. Should I go? Should you go with me?

For those of you who haven't seen The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (I actually quite enjoyed it, although the surreal concept makes it pretty impossible to relate to on a gut level. And I like to be sucker-punched at the movies), watch this. If you've seen Forrest Gump, you've seen Benjamin Button.

Yes, there are spoilers. You are warned.

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos

There Will Be Blog: Predictions

My father is a wise man. Over the years, he has imparted ridiculous amounts of insight and knowledge, including the following treasures:

• The WWF is scripted.
• Gneiss is a rock. Pronounced “nice.” Which makes it frustrating when you’re a little kid and you want your one-time-geologist father to tell you what kind of rock you’re holding. “That’s nice, Nadine” is all you hear.
• Hitchhiking through Morocco solo is totally safe.
• The Academy Awards are political.

I kept this last point in mind as I filled out my ballot at work. Of course, I also chose to take some risks (somewhat calculated) in the more technical categories, knowing that if there are any upsets and I’m right, I could be raking in the dough. Plus, what’s the point if you’re not having fun? Not that I don’t want to win. I still have my handbag named Oscar from two years ago. He would like a new friend.

*crossing fingers for surprise Transformers victories*

My predictions:

Best Motion Picture	No Country for Old Men
Actor	Daniel Day-Lewis
Actress	Julie Christie
Supporting Actor	Javier Bardem
Supporting Actress	Cate Blanchett
Director	Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)
Original Screenplay	Juno
Adapted Screenplay	No Country for Old Men
Cinematography	No Country for Old Men
Editing	No Country for Old Men
Art Direction	There Will Be Blood
Costume Design	Atonement
Makeup	La Môme (La Vie En Rose)
Original Score	Atonement
Original Song	“Falling Slowly” - Once
Sound Mixing	Transformers
Sound Editing	Transformers
Visual Effects	Transformers
Animated Feature	Ratatouille
Foreign Language Film	Fälscher, Die
Documentary, Feature	No End in Sight
Documentary, Short	Sari’s Mother
Short Film, Animated	I Met the Walrus
Short Film, Live Action	Tanghi argentini

Really, it's all about the fashion. Perhaps the predictions should be best-dressed related:

• Daniel Day-Lewis will be quirky/European handsome. Longish gelled hair.
  
• Johnny Depp will be quirky to an even greater degree. Hobo-Euro-chic.
  
• Cate Blanchett will make everyone want to be pregnant. And she'll be in couture.
• Ellen Page will probably be in black. A little edgy. Young. Very ingenue.
• Angelina Jolie will wear something loose, sparking more rumors of pregnancy.
• George Clooney will keep channeling Cary Grant.
• Julie Christie will be in pants. Or Diane Keaton-ish. Nothing frilly.
• Tilda Swinton will be tall.
• If Tom Cruise is there, he will be short.
  
• Ben Mulroney will have helmet head.