Friday, September 20, 2013

2013 Emmy Preview - Drama/Miscellany


The Emmy awards are this weekend (Monday Australian time) - so here's a handy print list of Simon Miraudo (@simonmiraudo) and Andrew Williams' (@DrewWilliams9) predictions in the drama categories:

(This is the print version, but you can listen to all these predictions in audio form at the link at the bottom of the article. Also, there are a few instances of category cheating here and there, God forbid we should mess with the unimpeachable sanctity of Emmy categorisation.)

Outstanding Drama Series

Nominees:

Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

Simon:
Will Win: Homeland
Should Win: Mad Men

Andrew:
Will Win: Homeland
Should Win: Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Morena Baccarin as Jessica Brody (Homeland)
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart (The Good Wife)
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
Anna Gunn as Skyler White (Breaking Bad)
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris (Mad Men)
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey)

Simon
Will Win: Maggie Smith
Should Win: Christina Hendricks

Would have nominated:
Linda Cardellini as Sylvia Rosen (Mad Men)
Anna Gunn as Skyler White (Breaking Bad)
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris (Mad Men)
Olivia Munn as Sloan Sabbith (The Newsroom)
Kiernan Shipka as Sally Draper (Mad Men)
Morgan Saylor as Dana Brody (Homeland)

Andrew
Will Win: Maggie Smith
Should Win: Christina Hendricks

Would have nominated:
Anna Gunn as Skyler White (Breaking Bad)
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris (Mad Men)
Kiernan Shipka as Sally Draper (Mad Men)
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
Morena Baccarin as Jessica Brody (Homeland)
Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant (Scandal)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad)
Bobby Cannavale as Gyp Rosetti (Boardwalk Empire)
Jim Carter as Charles Carson (Downton Abbey)
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson (Homeland)

Simon:
Will Win: Aaron Paul
Should Win: Jonathan Banks

Would have nominated:
Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad)
James Wolk as Bob Benson (Mad Men)
Corey Stoll as Peter Russo (House of Cards)
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson (Homeland)

Andrew:
Will Win: Aaron Paul
Should Win: Aaron Paul

Would have nominated:
Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut (Breaking Bad)
Dean Norris as Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad)
Noah Emmerich as Stan Beeman (The Americans)
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson (Homeland)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes (Nashville)
Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison (Homeland)
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley (Downton Abbey)
Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates (Bates Motel)
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson (Mad Men)
Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope (Scandal)
Robin Wright as Claire Underwood (House of Cards)

Simon:
Will Win: Claire Danes
Should Win: Elisabeth Moss

Would have nominated:
Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison (Homeland)
Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates (Bates Motel)
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson (Mad Men)
Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings (The Americans)
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark (Game of Thrones)
Tatiana Maslany as Various Characters (Orphan Black)

Andrew:
Will Win: Claire Danes
Should Win: Claire Danes

Would have nominated:
Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison (Homeland)
Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates (Bates Motel)
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson (Mad Men)
Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings (The Americans)
Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope (Scandal)
Tatiana Maslany as Various Characters (Orphan Black)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Nominees:

Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley (Downton Abbey)
Bryan Cranston as Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy (The Newsroom)
Jon Hamm as Don Draper (Mad Men)
Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody (Homeland)
Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood (House of Cards)

Simon:
Will Win: Damian Lewis
Should Win: Jon Hamm

Would have nominated:
Bryan Cranston as Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Hugh Dancy as Will Graham (Homeland)
Jon Hamm as Don Draper (Mad Men)
Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody (Homeland)
Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal)
Kevin Spacey in Frank Underwood (House of Cards)

Andrew:
Will Win: Damian Lewis
Should Win: Damian Lewis

Would have nominated:
Bryan Cranston as Walter White (Breaking Bad)
Hugh Dancy as Will Graham (Homeland)
Jon Hamm as Don Draper (Mad Men)
Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody (Homeland)
Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter (Hannibal)
Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes (Elementary)

MISCELLANY

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Nominees:

Benedict Cumberbatch as Christopher Tietjens (Parade's End)
Matt Damon as Scott Thorson (Behind the Candelabra)
Michael Douglas as Liberace (Behind the Candelabra)
Toby Jones as Alfred Hitchcock (The Girl)
Al Pacino as Phil Spector (Phil Spector)

Simon:
Will Win: Michael Douglas
Should Win: Matt Damon

Andrew:
Will Win: Michael Douglas
Should Win: Matt Damon

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Nominees:

Jessica Lange as Sister Jude (American Horror Story: Asylum)
Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison (The Big C: Hereafter)
Helen Mirren as Linda Kenney Baden (Phil Spector)
Elisabeth Moss as Det. Robin Griffin (Top of the Lake)
Sigourney Weaver as Elaine Barrish Hammond (Political Animals)

Simon:
Will Win: Jessica Lange
Should Win: Elisabeth Moss

Andrew:
Will Win: Jessica Lange
Should Win: Elisabeth Moss

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

Nominees:

American Horror Story: Asylum
Behind the Candelabra
The Bible
Phil Spector
Political Animals
Top of the Lake

Simon:
Will Win: Behind the Candelabra
Should Win: Behind the Candelabra

Andrew:
Will Win: Behind the Candelabra
Should Win: Behind the Candelabra

Outstanding Variety Series

Nominees:

The Colbert Report
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Real Time with Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

Simon
Will Win: The Daily Show
Should Win: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Andrew:
Will Win: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Should Win: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon


2013 Emmy Awards Preview - Comedy


The Emmy awards are this weekend (Monday Australian time) - so here's a handy print list of Simon Miraudo (@simonmiraudo) and Andrew Williams' (@DrewWilliams9) predictions in the comedy categories (drama coming soon!):

(This is the print version, but you can listen to all these predictions in audio form at the link at the bottom of the article. Also, there are a few instances of category cheating here and there, God forbid we should mess with the unimpeachable sanctity of Emmy categorisation.)

Outstanding Comedy Series

Nominees:

30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Girls
Louie
Modern Family
Veep

Simon:
Will win: Girls
Should win: Louie

Andrew:
Will win: Veep
Should win: Louie

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees

Mayim Bialik as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler (The Big Bang Theory)
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy (Modern Family)
Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer (Veep)
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney (30 Rock)
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester (Glee)
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Modern Family)
Merritt Wever as Zoey Barkow (Nurse Jackie)

Simon:

Will Win: Julie Bowen
Should Win: Jane Krakowski

Would have nominated:
Eliza Coupe as Jane Kerkovich-Williams (Happy Endings)
Elisha Cuthbert as Alex Kerkovich (Happy Endings)
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney (30 Rock)
Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro (Girls)
Kate Mckinnon as Various Characters (Saturday Night Live)
Parker Posey as Liz (Louie)

Andrew:

Will Win: Julie Bowen
Should Win: Sofia Vergara

Would have nominated:
Eliza Coupe as Jane Kerkovich-Williams (Happy Endings)
Elisha Cuthbert as Alex Kerkovich (Happy Endings)
Kate Mckinnon as Various Characters (Saturday Night Live)
Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate (Parks and Recreation)
Zosia Mamet as Shoshanna Shapiro (Girls)
Sarah Hyland as Haley Dunphy (Modern Family)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
Adam Driver as Adam Sackler (Girls)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett (Modern Family)
Bill Hader as Various Characters (Saturday Night Live)
Tony Hale as Gary Walsh (Veep)
Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett (Modern Family)

Simon:

Will Win: Bill Hader
Should Win: Adam Driver

Would have nominated:
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
Max Greenfield as Schmidt (New Girl)
Bill Hader as Various Characters (Saturday Night Live)
Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson (Parks & Recreation)
Damon Wayans Jnr as Brad Williams (Happy Endings)
Mike White as Tyler (Enlightened)

Andrew

Will Win: Ty Burrell
Should Win: Bill Hader

Would have nominated:
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
Max Greenfield as Schmidt (New Girl)
Bill Hader as Various Characters (Saturday Night Live)
Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation)
Daman Wayans Jnr as Brad Williams (Happy Endings)
Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy (Modern Family)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe (Enlightened)
Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath (Girls)
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton (Nurse Jackie)
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon (30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer (Veep)
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)

Simon

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Should Win: Laura Dern

Would have nominated:
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon (30 Rock)
Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe (Enlightened)
Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day (New Girl)
Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath (Girls)
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope (Parks & Recreation)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer (Veep)

Andrew

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Should Win: Amy Poehler

Would have nominated:
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon (Girls)
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)
Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe (Enlightened)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer (Veep)
Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day (New Girl)
Dakota Johnson as Kate Fox (Ben & Kate)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy (30 Rock)
Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth (Arrested Development)
Louis C.K. as Louie (Louie)
Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan (House of Lies)
Matt LeBlanc as Himself (Episodes)
Jim Parsons as Dr Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)

Simon

Will Win: Jim Parsons
Should Win: Louis C.K.

Would have nominated:
Jake Johnson as Nick Miller (New Girl)
Louis C.K. as Louie (Louie)
Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt (Parks & Recreation)
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy (30 Rock)
Adam Driver as Adam Sackler (Girls)
Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker (The Thick of it)

Andrew

Will Win: Alec Baldwin
Should Win: Alec Baldwin

Would have nominated:
Jake Johnson as Nick Miller (New Girl)
Louis C.K. as Louie (Louie)
Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt (Parks and Recreation)
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy (30 Rock)
Matthew Perry as Ryan King (Go On)


Friday, February 1, 2013

TV REVIEW - THE DR BLAKE MYSTERIES

The ABC does a lot of very fine work. Last year, they produced the two best local shows on Australian television (Rake and Redfern Now), so we can forgive them a mediocre murder mystery series every now and again. Last year gave us the distinctly average Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, which buried sub-standard case-of-the-week stories under a period setting and a charming lead performance by Essie Davis. I was hoping The Dr Blake Mysteries would have a bit more spark to it, but it’s just a second foray into the unimpressive. The ABC has clearly decided there’s a niche on Friday nights for fall-asleep-if-you-want-to television, and they’re going to make it theirs.


TV REVIEW - ELEMENTARY



The natural reaction when one finds out about the new CBS procedural Elementary (Sunday, 8:30pm, Channel 10) is a cynical one; surely this idea of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes will be hopelessly inferior to the BBC’s Sherlock? Throw in the casting of Lucy Liu as Dr Joan Watson and the cacophony of cynicism only grew louder, with some critics and fans assuming that Watson and Holmes might be more than just friends as soon as the writers run out of other plot lines. Sherlock Holmes fans might not agree on everything, but they’re pretty consistently against Holmes and Watson having sex with each other.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Comic Book of the Week: Hawkeye #7



Serialisation can be an interesting beast, especially when it comes to comic books. I normally struggle with television shows or comic books without at least an element of serialisation to keep me coming back, week after week. Which is why the fact that I love Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye as much as I do is such a remarkable achievement. Fraction doesn’t need plot twists or over-the-top villains with convoluted schemes to keep us coming back week after week – he’s created two outstanding lead characters that do the job for him.

The Podcasting Couch - Django Unchained


The (Pod) Casting Couch reviews the new Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained and introduces a brand new segment - Movie Warrior! Featuring Shannon Harvey (@SJHarvey77), Quickflix critic Simon Miraudo (@quickflix, @simonmiraudo), Stephanie Lee (@stephinitelee) and Andrew Williams (@DrewWilliams9).
If you would like to give us feedback or suggest a Feature Four/Movie Warrior topic,  please e-mail us at thepodcastingcouch@gmail.com, tweet us at @podcastingcouch, or comment at boxseattv.podbean.com!
Links - Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepodcouch, Shannon's websitewww.chocbomb.com.au and Simon & Andrew's reviews at www.quickflix.com.au/news
THE MOVIE WARRIOR (MARVEL COMICS EDITION) BRACKET


1. THE AVENGERS
vs.
16. (WILDCARD) BLADE 2

8. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
vs.
9. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

5. CAPTAIN AMERICA
vs.
12. IRON MAN 2

4. X-MEN 2
vs.
13. SPIDER-MAN 3

3. IRON MAN
vs.
14. HULK

6. SPIDER-MAN
vs.
11. X-MEN

7. THOR
vs.
10. THE INCREDIBLE HULK

15. (WILDCARD) GHOST RIDER
vs.
2. SPIDER-MAN 2

Friday, January 18, 2013

The (Pod) Casting Couch: Les Miserables/Gangster Squad



The (Pod) Casting Couch reviews big-budget musical adaptation Les Miserables,Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad and lists our Most Anticipated Films for 2013! Featuring Shannon Harvey (@SJHarvey77), Quickflix critic Simon Miraudo (@quickflix, @simonmiraudo), Stephanie Lee (@stephinitelee) and Andrew Williams (@DrewWilliams9).

(Quick note: There are a few minor audio volume issues early in the podcast but they iron themselves out. Stick with it!)
If you would like to give us feedback, tell us your most anticipated film for 2013 or suggest a Feature Four topic,  please e-mail us at thepodcastingcouch@gmail.com, tweet us at @podcastingcouch, or comment at boxseattv.podbean.com!
Links - Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepodcouch, Shannon's websitewww.chocbomb.com.au and Simon & Andrew's reviews at www.quickflix.com.au/news