"State of the Race" (Emmys): May 27th

Welcome back to the next edition of "State of the Race"! In the last post, I covered the series and lead acting races, so now it's time to show some love to the supporting actors and actresses. So let's get started...

Best Drama Supporting Actor

1. Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad

2. Peter Dinklage - Game of Thrones

3. Mandy Patinkin - Homeland

4. Dean Norris - Breaking Bad

5. Josh Charles - The Good Wife

6. Jeff Perry - Scandal

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7. Jon Voight - Ray Donovan

8. Jeffrey Wright - Boardwalk Empire

9. Jim Carter - Downton Abbey

10. Charles Dance - Game of Thrones

This is a tough category to predict. After last year's win for Bobby Cannavale on Boardwalk Empire, I've learned my lesson that, truly, anything can happen in the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series race. That's why I'm predicting we'll get at least one major "WTF" nominee this year considering the number of bonafide contenders. Who should consider themselves safe? Aaron Paul, a three-time nominee and two-time winner, will likely make it in one last time for Breaking Bad, and I slot him in the #1 spot just because this is an easy category for voters to reward the show. It faces stiffer competition in the Drama Series and Drama Actor categories, but here, there are few actors biting at Paul's ankles. Sure, his performance in the last season was great, but I think the earlier seasons for which he was rewarded were better. That might change especially considering my #2 pick has yet to complete his season. Peter Dinklage will get the nomination since I'm expecting Game of Thrones to continue to make a bigger splash at these awards. His storyline is really starting to pick up now, so he might move to the #1 spot soon, but it's too soon to judge. He has an Emmy already for season one, and as the show's most memorable character, I wouldn't be surprised to see him snag another one, potentially even this year. Mandy Patinkin should honestly be in the lead acting category because he really stepped up this year due to the large absence of Damian Lewis for a good chunk of the season. Alas, he is here, and while he does have heft and screentime that can contribute to a win, there's just a lack of love for Homeland in general anymore and that might cost him. Also remember that Patinkin couldn't get a nomination during the show's freshman season, for which it won Best Drama Series. It could've just been a regretful snub, but now that the show is getting less love, let's hope that Patinkin's performance, one of the bright spots of the season, isn't forgotten. It's always crazy to hypothesize two actors or actresses from the same show getting nominated in the same category, but when it's a show like Breaking Bad, it's no big deal. Breaking Bad has had two nominated actors in this category twice (Giancarlo Esposito and Jonathan Banks), and this year, it looks like Dean Norris might fit the bill. He had a breakout season (ironically during the show's final stretch), his character is easily the most likable (sure, you can like Walter White, but Hank is the actual good guy on the show), and another factor that plays into Norris' favor is that his other show, Under the Dome, airs during the summer when Emmy voters are casting their ballots. That kind of presence (and Under the Dome has a big presence as last summer's biggest hit) shouldn't be forgotten or ignored. Josh Charles, nominated for season two of The Good Wife, had an absolutely stellar season. The Emmy buzz for Charles kicked off early in the season, but his place in the race was nearly solidified after That Thing That Happened In The Middle of The Season (again, no spoilers). Charles is just as deserving for love as Margulies and the series itself, and a second nomination would be a fantastic reward. However, returning to the category three years later is a tough task, so there are obstacles to overcome. Beyond those five contenders, it is truly a toss-up for the final slot. Again, this is not the strongest year for this category, so who might slither on in? It could be Charles Dance if Emmy voters wanna drop some more love to their favorite fantasy series, but his character hasn't done as much as last year when he was snubbed in the guest category. Jim Carter surprised everyone with a second nomination last year, but buzz for Downton Abbey is near non-existent, and this category needs a shake-up. Jeffrey Wright has gained some buzz for his performance on Boardwalk Empire, and the show did win for a different actor in this category last year, but if you thought Downton Abbey had little buzz, Boardwalk Empire has even less. Jon Voight won this category at the Golden Globes, although I view that win more as a "biggest name in the category" victory than actual performance. Still, there's a good chance he could get in because of name and the fact that Ray Donovan's second season airs this summer (see my above explanation with Norris and Under the Dome). But I'm not confident in picking Voight yet, so I'm going out on a very long, unstable limb and giving the sixth slot (for now) to Jeff Perry for Scandal. This is an actor's show, and while the performances are over-the-top, they are attention getters. Scandal is huge right now, and after last year's win in the guest category for Dan Bucatinsky, it's now known that voters recognize actors other than Kerry Washington. With no real sixth option, Perry could surprise, especially after a baity season and being a fan favorite.


Best Drama Supporting Actress

1. Anna Gunn - Breaking Bad

2. Christine Baranski - The Good Wife

3. Maggie Smith - Downton Abbey

4. Emilia Clarke - Game of Thrones

5. Christina Hendricks - Mad Men

6. Michelle Monahan - True Detective

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7.  Bellamy Young - Scandal

8. Monica Potter - Parenthood

9. Lena Headey - Game of Thrones

10. Archie Panjabi - The Good Wife

Here is a pool of contenders with a lot of returning nominees. The first five contenders are all previous nominees and look to be solidly back in the race this year. Anna Gunn had another sensational season on Breaking Bad and I'd say she's good for a second win, but she faces a few threats. Christine Baranski had another fantastic season on The Good Wife, her strongest in a while, and tasked with multiple baity storylines this season, she has no shortage of episodes to pick for a tape. While she isn't as explosive as Gunn, her understated performance and piercing gaze contrasts enough to attract votes her way. Of course, Maggie Smith will probably be back in the race (whether or not you consider that fair is a personal opinion), but she won't win another award for this performance, I think. Emilia Clarke plays probably the most popular character on Game of Thrones, but she faces the major problem of lack of screentime. Although Danaerys is well-liked by most viewers, she usually only gets one or two scenes an episode, and while that was enough for a nomination last year, Clarke is going to need something similar to the big moment in her tape from last year to solidify her place in the race. I still think she's in. Christina Hendricks hasn't received any high notices so far this season on Mad Men, and support for the show is waning, so she's at risk to be dropped, but I have her in for now. In the final slot, I have Michelle Monahan for True Detective, who made an easy task of filling the final slot once True Detective moved to the Drama race. Monahan was a likely nominee for Miniseries/TV Movie Supporting Actress, so I think she'll appear here too, which would be well deserved since Monahan was usually hidden by her bigger and better co-stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Still, if there's one category where there is guaranteed to be a shock nominee, it's here. In the past four years, no more than four nominees in this category have returned the next year (and of those four nominees, Christine Baranski and Christina Hendricks were nominated each of the past four years). With that in mind, it's possible that one of my top five won't make it back next year to keep with tradition. But since I'm not ready to take that risk yet, I'll list the contenders with the best chance of sneaking in. Bellamy Young is a breakout star on Scandal, and while she's usually hidden by the love for Kerry Washington, she's been building up praise during these past two seasons. Her role allows her to be dirty, sneaky, funny, and boozy, a perfect Emmy concoction. She's got a great shot of sneaking in. Monica Potter was egregiously snubbed last season for the performance of the 2012-2013 TV season, and while her storyline this year was not as great as her cancer storyline last year, Potter is consistently the MVP of the large Parenthood ensemble, and after accumulating a Golden Globe nod, the Emmys might nominate her this year as an apology for being late to the party. While Emilia Clarke looks to be nominated for Game of Thrones, her co-star with much more screentime could sneak in and steal her thunder: Lena Headey. No spoilers, of course, but Headey has been outstanding this season and is the epitome of the character you love to hate. To round out the top ten contenders, I'm going with Archie Panjabi for The Good Wife. A winner in the show's first season and then nominated twice afterward, Panjabi was dropped last year, and for good reason; her character's story nosedived last year, but a rebound might help Panjabi. She's not as fun or essential to the show as she was for her win, but she'd still be a deserving nominee.


Best Comedy Supporting Actor

1. Ty Burrell - Modern Family

2. Tony Hale - Veep

3. Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family

4. Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Modern Family

5. Andre Braugher - Brooklyn Nine-Nine

6. Adam Driver - Girls

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7. Ed O'Neill - Modern Family

8. Timothy Simons - Veep

9. Taran Killam - Saturday Night Live

10. Christopher Evan Welch - Silicon Valley

This one is a bit of a tough category, if only because it's possible there will be no change in last year's line-up. I have Burrell in first, but only because it's basically guaranteed Modern Family will, at the very least, get one nomination in this category and he's the most likely. I don't know if he'll grab a win this year, though. Hot on his tail is last year's victor, Tony Hale, who continues to shine on Veep, but has actually taken a backseat to some of his other co-stars this season. But the Emmys very rarely change the stars they nominate from a series from year to year, so unless they add another Veep actor to the crowded line-up, Hale will most likely be the sole representative for the series in this category again. Eric Stonestreet's snub last year was a bit of a shocker, considering he's the Modern Family actor with the best track record for the show, but I have a feeling voters just assumed he would get in and thus didn't vote for him in order to throw support behind other actors. I don't think the same mistake will be made this year, but if it is and Stonestreet isn't nominated again, that would be an indicator that Emmy voters are not only moving past him, but possibly the show as a whole, even if they snag the lion's share of nominations in this category. But if anyone from Modern Family is deserving of the nomination this year, it is undoubtedly Jesse Tyler Ferguson who has had a great season. He's kind of the straight man of the show (ironically, his character is gay), but he had a few breakout moments this season that would make him deserving of the win. With the right combination of tapes from him and other actors from his show nominated, he could be the third Modern Family actor to win this category. The best shot at a new nominee in this category is Andre Braugher, who, although not considered by fans as one of the strongest characters on the show, is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and also has a history of Emmy love with seven nominations, two of which he garnered wins. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is also the season's hottest new comedy, so that has a lot going for Braugher, who isn't really known for his comedic work, so this would be a change of pace. The final slot, currently, is going to Adam Driver, who would be returning for a second nomination. Although the buzz for Girls has undoubtedly died down, I still think Driver was the strongest part of this season and he can still get a nomination, and it may seem like reaching, but name recognition after coming off being cast in the newest Star Wars movie might work in his favor. But that might be pushing it. There are some other actors fighting for a slot. I have Ed O'Neill outside the ring currently because last year proved voters aren't afraid to drop a Modern Family actor, and if I'm being honest, O'Neill, despite his veteran status, seems like an easy drop. His character is probably the least flashy, and I didn't think he was entirely impressive this season, although he did have his moments. I have a feeling he'll still get in, but I'm not ready to pull the trigger. As discussed earlier, Tony Hale will probably be the only nominee in this category for Veep, but if voters are paying attention to this season, they'd see that nominations would also be warranted for Matt Walsh and Reid Scott, but above them all is Timothy Simons who really has had a breakout season with his love-to-hate-him character's change of job. Simons probably can't break into the crowded category and overcome his co-star, but if he did, it would show that voters are really paying attention to Veep and overall buzz for the actor. I didn't realize until a few weeks ago that, after a rule change that allowed Saturday Night Live actors to be eligible in the Comedy categories despite the show competing for Best Variety Series, an SNL cast member has been nominated in one of the two supporting categories. While the ladies dominated with nominations for Amy Poehler from 2008 to 2009 and Kristen Wiig from 2009 to 2012, Bill Hader grabbed two nominations from 2012 to 2013. Now that Hader is off the show, there's a chance a SNL male cast member could take his spot (although the same thing did not happen last year when Wiig's spot was up for grabs). However, if any male SNL cast member is taking that spot, it's Taran Killam, undoubtedly the strongest male actor in a cast currently dominated by ladies like Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant and Vanessa Bayer. But Killam still isn't a huge star in the likes of Hader, Poehler, and Wiig, so while he might one day land a nomination, he still has time to go. The final slot goes to a bit of a wildcard. Christopher Evan Welch is easily my favorite part of Silicon Valley, but tragically, he died after only shooting five episodes of the series. However, due to his billing, Welch must compete here rather than in the guest acting category. Because the show doesn't have a lot of buzz and the lack of Welch's presence in the second half of the season, he probably can't get a nomination, but a show of support for an actor's untimely passing could do tricky things and land the biggest surprise nomination of the year.




Best Comedy Supporting Actress

1. Julie Bowen - Modern Family

2. Allison Janney - Mom

3. Mayim Bialik - The Big Bang Theory

4. Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

5. Anna Chlumsky - Veep

6. Kate Mulgrew - Orange Is The New Black

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7. Merritt Wever - Nurse Jackie

8. Haley Cuoco-Sweeting - The Big Bang Theory

9. Jane Lynch - Glee

10. Chelsea Peretti - Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Much like its male counterpart, this category might see very little overturn, but a few shocks in terms of who doesn't return for a nomination. Much like putting Ty Burrell in first place in the male race, I have Julie Bowen in first because I don't see her losing her nomination. But this was not a great season for Bowen, in that she didn't have that many great storylines that would be worthy of an Emmy win. But a nomination still seems likely. A win might be in the cards, however, for a new nominee on a freshman show, but far from an Emmy stranger. Allison Janney has been making a splash in comedic series and movies the past few years, but she's never been nominated for a comedic work, which could change due to her standout role on Mom. In six nominations for The West Wing, Janney won four times, but can she return for a nomination on a new show, let alone a win? We'll have to wait and see, but I think yes. Her competition, likely, is Mayim Bialik, who would be going on her third nomination for The Big Bang Theory, and with buzz for the show at an all-time high, and no clear-cut winner, Bialik might claim the trophy this year as the show's strongest female voice. Sofia Vergara was really shortchanged on an Emmy last year, not at the fault of voters, but the show's writers who did not Vergara the shining material a pregnancy, like the one her character experienced last year, would have warranted. That said, Vergara is still doing a fine job on the show and would be deserving of the nomination, but her time to win an Emmy for Modern Family is running out. Anna Chlumsky, the straight man of Veep, surprised with a nomination last year, and she'll probably return this year. She isn't the wacky, outrageous character that is often rewarded here, but she does distinctly stand out in the Veep ensemble, and with no other female supporting players making a play for the win (Veep writers: give Sufe Bradshaw more material!!), she'll be back. For the final spot, name recognition and a hot new show could land Kate Mulgrew a nomination. Although there are other actresses who might be more worthy of a nomination in this large ensemble, the easiest to pick out is likely Mulgrew, whose claim to fame is a stint in the late 1990s on Star Trek: Voyager. The show's large female ensemble is competing in either supporting or guest categories (minus Taylor Schilling), and the staggering number of actresses might make it hard for any one to make it in. Still, I'm taking Mulgrew in the top tier. Just missing out? Meritt Wever was last year's biggest surprise winner (I seriously had her ranked last), but that non-speech was the most memorable bit of the Emmys. After a win like that for a role on a show no one is really praising anymore, I wouldn't be surprised to see her get her win and get dropped. It's happened before, and with so many deserving actresses, I think it's entirely likely. I've said it multiple times in my past two posts, but I think there might be a swell of praise for The Big Bang Theory, and in this category, that might be good news for Haley Cuoco-Sweeting, who would be getting her first Emmy nomination. I'll personally say that Cuoco-Sweeting has only gotten better as the show has gone on, so a nomination would be very welcome. Jane Lynch, a previous winner in this category, took everyone by surprise last year with a nomination for Glee, a show most people thought the Emmys were over, and after this year, I'd say that's still the case. But Lynch is well-liked and very popular, and weirder things have happened. But it would be robbing a more deserving actress, say...Chelsea Peretti of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The breakout character of Brooklyn Nine-Nine is Peretti's Gina, who is extremely weird and divisive, almost in the vein of Jane Krakowski's Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock. Peretti would be following a great path in that comparison, as Krakowski earned four nominations for that role over 30 Rock's run. But even Krakowski missed out on a nomination in her first year, so maybe it's better luck next year, Peretti.

"State of the Race" (Emmys): May 19th

"State of the Race" is my column to give predictions on upcoming awards ceremonies. I will provide a ranked list of the nominees and commentary, and I will update once a week. With two months before Emmy nominations are announced, let's take a look at how the race is shaping up.

Best Drama Series
1. Breaking Bad
2. True Detective
3. House of Cards
4. Game of Thrones
5. The Good Wife
6. Mad Men
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7. Downton Abbey
8. Homeland
9. Masters of Sex
10. Scandal

This is a pretty tight race for the win -- for the nomination, it's a less severe story. The top four (Breaking Bad, True Detective, House of Cards, and Game of Thrones) are practically guaranteed nominations. They are the hottest dramas on TV and are universally praised. Breaking Bad is the reigning champ, and this season (the final eight episodes of the series) is stronger than the season it won for last year. True Detective was assumed to be the frontrunner in the Miniseries categories, but then swapped over to the Drama categories, making for an exciting race. House of Cards is coming off of a hot second season and Game of Thrones is in the midst of it's biggest season yet. For the last two spots, there is more competition. Honestly, any of the remaining shows on the list could take the last two spots. Scandal is the hottest show on network TV right now, but it is extremely over-the-top so while the Emmys might embrace the acting (Kerry Washington was nominated last year and guest star Dan Bucatinsky won a guest acting Emmy), they might not go for it in the series race. Masters of Sex was primed as the year's hottest newcomer, but airing last fall, it may not be remembered. Homeland won this award two years ago, but in a saddening fall from grace, the show was not well received in its third season. If the Emmys refuse to give up a solid contender that won this award, it may make it back in there to critics' chagrin, but with the high quality of so many dramas, it doesn't seem likely. Downton Abbey seems to somehow slide into this race, but I think it'll just miss the cut for the last two spots. So who gets it? The Good Wife, a show in its fifth season, experienced a huge creative turnaround this year with shocking storylines, amazing performances, and high caliber writing and directing, and although this is a show that was dropped in this category after its second season, the serious buzz that has spanned the whole television season should grab the series a spot among cable TV's best as the lone representative of network TV dramas. Finally, I'm expecting Mad Men to make it into the race once again. Although this show is absolutely nowhere near the Emmy powerhouse it was in its first few years, I just don't see the Emmys dropping this show. I think it'll finish out its run next year with nominations for every season (whether they're deserved or not is another matter).

Best Comedy Series
1. Modern Family
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. Veep
4. Louie
5. Orange Is The New Black
6. Girls
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7. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
8. Silicon Valley
9. Parks and Recreation
10. Shameless

This is shaping up to be quite an interesting race. To start, this race really comes down to the first eight contenders. Numbers nine and ten (Parks and Recreation & Shameless) have a slight chance of making it into the list of nominees, but this won't be their time. So of the eight contenders left, what's to say of them? Modern Family is the four-time reigning champ, so it's pretty much all but assured a nomination. Many people say that the show's wins for the third and fourth season are not warranted, but even doubters will agree that Modern Family had a return to form this season, so it is possible they'll get a fifth win and becoming the comedy series with the most wins in this category. Who are its competitors? The Big Bang Theory has grown over the course of its run and is now not only the top comedy series, but top scripted show on television this season. The show has blown up and is the broadest hit on a network television station since Friends. Remember that Friends was a show that had to wait until its eighth season to win this prize, and with Big Bang in its seventh, it is possible it could follow the same path, especially if voters are tired of Modern Family. Both shows will have to compete with a monster of a different kind: Veep. Cable television's best shot at a win in this category comes from the HBO comedy which is on a hot streak and has a chance to breakthrough with a victory this year. Louie is back this year, although the season was not expected to premiere in time for this year's Emmy season. But alas, much like Veep, Louie is airing as Emmy discussions are heating up, and it looks good for a nomination since this season has maintained good reviews. I personally don't see this as the kind of show that will win the Best Comedy Series Emmy, but it should be good for a nomination. Orange Is The New Black will be the most curious show to keep an eye on this Emmy season. The show is competing in the Comedy categories after submitting in the Drama categories at other awards shows such as the Golden Globes (where it only garnered one nomination for Best Actress) and the Screen Actors Guild Awards (where it received no nominations). The problem is that many don't agree with the definition of this prison saga as a comedy, but I think it'll get a nomination, and if they do, they might even surprise with a serious run for the win. Girls is a two-time nominee in this category, and after a Homeland-type critical decline in favor of the show in the second season, this third season was a bit more well received (although I actually prefer season two to seasons one and three). I'm predicting Girls to make the cut, so what shows are peeking in from the outside? Brooklyn Nine-Nine just won two Golden Globes including Best Comedy Series and is network TV's hottest new comedy, but it's small audience means it may not have enough word of mouth to garner a nomination, despite praise for the show across the board. Silicon Valley has the plum post-Game of Thrones spot on HBO and leads into Veep, and when reviews first surfaced for the show, the word was that HBO would have a broad hit on its hands, but that hasn't been exactly the case. The show has garnered favorable reaction, but not show-stopping praise as expected from initial reviews. Still, critical praise could boost the show into the top six.

Best Drama Actor
1. Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
2. Kevin Spacey - House of Cards
3. Matthew McConaughey - True Detective
4. Jon Hamm - Mad Men
5. James Spader - The Blacklist
6. Woody Harrelson - True Detective
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7. Michael Sheen - Masters of Sex
8. Jeff Daniels - The Newsroom
9. Damian Lewis - Homeland
10. Matthew Rhys - The Americans

What a category this year, especially when you consider the two previous winners of this award are ranked in the lower tier of this analysis. Bryan Cranston, of course, ranks in the top spot, and it would seem almost impossible for him to lose this award considering his stellar performance in the last few episodes of the series. However, he does face extremely rough competition. Kevin Spacey is absolutely deserving of an Emmy for his performance on House of Cards, but because he does not often get the show-stopping, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink scenes that Cranston has, he might have to wait until next year when Cranston is not in his way. Still, a third contender can make a run for the trophy. True Detective, which as stated above was not expected to compete in the Drama categories, is making a serious threat to the Best Drama Actor award with not one, but two performances. This year's Oscar winner for Best Actor, Matthew McConaughey, might pick up a matching Emmy with his chilling performance in the HBO series. He certainly has the buzz and star power to match (and maybe even triumph) Cranston and Spacey, and his performance is every bit as transformative as the role he won his Academy Award for in Dallas Buyers Club. However, McConaughey's co-star Woody Harrelson is also competing in this category, and with the majority of the buzz going to McConaughey, it's possible Harrelson could be (unfairly) snubbed, but I've got a good feeling he'll make it in, which would be very impressive for the show. Jon Hamm is a utility nominee, and he'll likely make the lineup once again, although he'll be a bridesmaid once again. Maybe next year in the show's final season he can finally eke out a win. James Spader is the star of network TV's hottest new drama, The Blacklist, and with acclaim plus three Emmy wins, he should take a spot at the nominee's table. But who might surprise and snatch a spot? Michael Sheen's performance on Masters of Sex is understated, but outstanding, and if the show had a little more buzz, he might make it into the lineup. Jeff Daniels won last year in a surprise victory, but with praise for The Newsroom almost non-existent and many great performances looking to be noticed, it might be one-and-done for Daniels (don't worry, it's happened plenty of other times before). Damian Lewis won this prize in Homeland's first season and looked to take it again last year, but it is a new story this time around with his character having very minimal presence this season. In fact, many are confused as to why Showtime submitted him in this category. Since he didn't play a huge part in this season of Homeland, I don't think he'll land a nomination, but if he does happen to sneak in, you can really never say never when it comes to Homeland. Finally, Matthew Rhys, half of the leading couple on FX's The Americans, has an outside chance, but since buzz for the show isn't as high as last season, and because of the show's lack of a presence in last year's nominations, it is a very small shot at a nomination.

Best Drama Actress
1. Robin Wright - House of Cards
2. Claire Danes - Homeland
3. Kerry Washington - Scandal
4. Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife
5. Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men
6. Tatiana Maslany - Orphan Black
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7. Vera Farmiga - Bates Motel
8. Lizzy Caplan - Masters of Sex
9. Keri Russell - The Americans
10. Michelle Dockery - Downton Abbey

This is another exciting race that could see a lot of variety and some well-deserved nominations. In fact, any combination of these ladies could end up being announced on nomination day, and potentially (much like last year), we may see more than six nominees in this category. Robin Wright is riding a wave of buzz right now after snatching House of Cards' first acting award with the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series this January, and with it came a larger and fiercer presence in the second season of House of Cards. She has a great storyline that is begging for an Emmy win, but of course, it's not that simple. She's got three-time champion (and winner of this category for the past two years) Claire Danes, whose show might have seen a decrease in buzz, but her performance remains its strongest component. Especially if voters don't give the show its due in other categories, Danes can still get a third Emmy for this role. The buzziest potential nominee might just be Kerry Washington, whose soap drama requires a lot from her. I mean, I sometimes get exhausted listening to her spew out those awesome monologues. Add in the fact that Washington was pregnant for most of this season and Scandal's rising buzz, and it's possible that the Emmys might give this award to TV's It girl (and the first African-American to win this category). Julianna Margulies was shockingly snubbed last year despite seven nominees, but that shouldn't be the case this year. Along with the rise in buzz for The Good Wife, Margulies has gotten huge praise for her portrayal, especially after That Thing That Happened In The Middle Of The Season (no spoilers here). She might even make a run at the big prize itself. Elisabeth Moss is much like Jon Hamm in terms of getting the nomination, but never the win, and I think she'll make it back into the race this year, although I haven't heard much about her performance this season. The last spot (as with most spots in this race) could really go to anyone, but I'm going out on a limb and saying Tatiana Maslany will make a huge breakthrough. Orphan Black is a show with defeaning buzz, and there was outrage last year when Maslany wasn't honored. What makes Maslany's snub interesting is that it wasn't for one performance, but eight! Maslany plays all versions of a group of clones, with distinct accents and quirks to utter perfection. However, the Emmys have never taken kindly to sci-fi shows, largely why many think Maslany was snubbed, plus the show airs on BBC America, a network largely ignored by the Emmys. But her name is on everyone's tongue this year and I think Emmy voters will take notice this time around. However, she's got some people hot on her heels. Vera Farmiga, a nominee last year, turned in an equally impressive performance this season on Bates Motel and could show up once again. Lizzy Caplan got a lot of buzz for playing a headstrong woman going against stereotypes on Masters of Sex, but buzz has died down. Keri Russell is another actress who will suffer from lack of buzz for her show/performance, and finally, Michelle Dockery has been seen as a filler nominee these past few years, and I think this year may be the year we don't hear her name, but if it's in favor of these fine performances, that works for me.

Best Comedy Actor
1. Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory
2. Louis CK - Louie
3. Andy Samberg - Brooklyn Nine-Nine
4. Don Cheadle - House of Lies
5. Thomas Middleditch - Silicon Valley
6. Johnny Galecki - The Big Bang Theory
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7. Robin Williams - The Crazy Ones
8. Matt LeBlanc - Episodes
9. William H. Macy - Shameless
10. Michael J. Fox - The Michael J. Fox Show

This might actually be one of the hardest categories to predict just because of how weak it is. In fact, I would say the only locks in this category are the top two actors. Jim Parsons is a three-time winner in this category and the undeniable frontrunner. With a fourth win this year, Parsons would tie Michael J. Fox, Kelsey Grammar and Carroll O'Connor for the most wins in this category. Since The Big Bang Theory isn't slowing down anytime soon and Parsons certainly isn't facing a lot of major competition, it could happen. There are a few factors that stand in his way. Louis CK is back in the race, but I'm not sure he'll ever win an acting award for Louie. He has already won for directing, and a writing win will likely happen at some point in the show's run, but I'm just not sure it's the kind of performance that wins this category. However, he will most likely get another nomination. Andy Samberg is another one to watch out for. Samberg took him the Best Comedy Actor Golden Globe in a surprise win, and the only thing that hurts him is that Brooklyn Nine-Nine isn't a big new hit, but rather has a small audience. Regardless, he should get in on name recognition in addition to the fact that it's just a good performance. He might even surprise and win here too if his tape and buzz match up perfectly. Don Cheadle is a name that has popped up way too many times on this list. As someone who has watched House of Lies episodes purely for analyzing the tapes, it is absolutely nothing special in my opinion and Cheadle shouldn't be nominated. But the lack of competition means that name-checking will once again come into play and we should expect Cheadle to get another unwarranted nomination. Really, beyond that, it is anybody's guess. Michael J. Fox looked to have this award locked up back in the beginning of the season, and then something happened...his show bombed. With The Michael J. Fox Show long forgotten, I doubt he'll pop up here (but a guest nom for The Good Wife is definitely not out of the question). William H. Macy does a great job on Shameless (I'm in the middle of my bingewatch and I just finished season two), and while the show competed in the Drama categories during its first three seasons, it is now in the Comedy categories. The lack of competition and the switch could work in Macy's favor, but it's really too hard to say right now which is why I think he'll miss out. Matt LeBlanc is in another Don Cheadle-type situation where he really shouldn't be getting nominated for his show, but he will just because. But I'm not predicting him this year...I think voters are gonna try and shake things up in this category. One way to do that would be nominating Robin Williams. In the same way that Michael J. Fox could've been a lock, many said the same thing about Williams. But while The Crazy Ones didn't get axed halfway through the season, it did get canned by CBS after the season finished airing. As buzz died down during the season and the show is one-and-done, the Emmys would be making a big statement by nominating Williams, but I don't see it happening. So who do I think can make it in? Right now, I'm going with two fresh faces to the category. Thomas Middleditch is the lead of Silicon Valley, a show that was supposed to make a big splash, but now appears to be waning. I think it's possible, however, that the Emmys give Silicon Valley a bone and throw Middleditch a nomination, and in a category where there's barely any high-caliber competition, it could certainly happen. And for a bit of an "out there" pick, I'm going with Johnny Galecki, nominating him alongside his co-star Parsons. While Parsons has always gotten the Emmy love for the show (minus his on-screen girlfriend Mayim Bialik), Galecki is well-respected and built a strong case for himself. With the show's broad appeal at an all-time high, this could be the year Galecki finally slips into the race, and let's be honest -- if it came at the expense of nominations for Cheadle and LeBlanc, that would not be the worst thing.

Best Comedy Actress
1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep
2. Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation
3. Lena Dunham - Girls
4. Taylor Schilling - Orange Is The New Black
5. Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie
6. Anna Faris - Mom
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7. Melissa McCarthy - Mike and Molly
8. Zooey Deschanel - New Girl
9. Emmy Rossum - Shameless
10. Laurie Metcalf - Getting On

A category with a lot of ladies who could grab the award, but will probably fall victim to one Lady Dreyfus. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is absolutely guaranteed a nomination and (most likely) a win for a third time for her portrayal of Selina Meyer on Veep. With the show on fire, and Louis-Dreyfus doing a lot of press for the new season, she's bigger than ever and the same can be said of the character, whose character is in the middle of a great campaign arc. Who will join her in the nomination circle? Amy Poehler, who beat Louis-Dreyfus for the Golden Globe (although that's probably more to do with her hosting the ceremony with Tina Fey), can probably count on another nomination, but with next season being her last, she has limited opportunities to avoid becoming another Steve Carell (beloved actor who never won for an acclaimed role). Lena Dunham's acting on Girls has only gotten better this season, and it's probably the show's best shot at a major nomination this year since it teeters on the edge in other categories. Her performance is ballsy, but compared to the broad humor of Poehler and Louis-Dreyfus, I don't know if it can win (perhaps with the right tape). Taylor Schilling stands a good shot at being the lone acting representative for Orange Is The New Black because of the large ensemble, but it would be a very deserved nomination. Edie Falco will likely get another nomination for Nurse Jackie, but the show is past its heyday and she's already got a win, so she'll have to settle for more nominations. Joining Schilling as newcomers to this category (which is losing two nominees from cancelled/finished shows last year in Laura Dern from Enlightened and Tina Fey from 30 Rock) could be Anna Faris from Mom. Yes, she's a movie actress who made the small screen transition but the surprising development of Mom from dirty humor sitcom to heartwarming, thoughtful comedy showed that Faris has the chops and could get a nomination. Who could miss out? Two previous nominees who missed the boat last year, Melissa McCarthy and Zooey Deschanel, could sneak back in, but my guess is that they're done. Many attribute McCarthy's win and second nomination to the success of Bridesmaids, but while she's only become a bigger star since then, it's really just obvious that a nomination for her would be a name-check for a beloved comedic actress. Zooey Deschanel (who was robbed of a second season nomination) won't get back into the race this year if Emmy voters take into consideration the decline in quality of New Girl from its outstanding second season. Two cable ladies might get an outside shot. Emmy Rossum is in the same boat as co-star William H. Macy, and while she would be a deserving nominee, it's not possible to say if Emmy voters will adore Shameless now that it is considered a comedy. Finally, Laurie Metcalf has name recognition going for her, but with many saying her placement is category fraud and virtually no buzz surrounding her show, it is an outside shot.

I'll be back next week to discuss the supporting categories, so check back next Monday for the next "State of the Race!"

Evan

State of the Race (Oscars): January 24th

"State of the Race" is my column to give predictions on upcoming awards ceremonies. I will provide a ranked list of the nominees and commentary, and I will update once a week. To start off, with a little over a month before the ceremony, I'll provide my thoughts on this year's Oscars race.

BEST PICTURE
1. American Hustle
2. 12 Years a Slave
3. Gravity
4. The Wolf of Wall Street
5. Captain Phillips
6. Dallas Buyers Club
7. Her
8. Philomena
9. Nebraska

Essentially, this is a three-way race. The race for Best Picture has essentially narrowed down to American Hustle, Gravity and 12 Years a Slave. Each film has received universal praise and a great number of precursor awards from critics groups. American Hustle took the Golden Globe for Best Comedy, while 12 Years a Slave took Best Drama at the same ceremony. Less than a week later, the Screen Actors Guild award gave its' Best Ensemble reward (their equivalent to Best Picture) to American Hustle, further launching that movie's status as frontrunner after a strong showing days earlier at the Academy Awards nomination announcement, leading all films with 10 nominations (Gravity and Slave, by comparison, had one less nomination with 9). Many thought that sealed the deal for AH, but then the Producers Guild of America handed out their yearly honors and threw everyone for a loop when they announced their Best Picture award ended in a tie between Gravity and 12 Years a Slave. Now the race is wide open, the first time that has happened in quite some time. Personally, I'm thrilled. With all of these precursor awards and predictability being the way it is nowadays, I am looking forward to an Oscar night where the big award is really up in the air. For now, I'm giving the edge to AH because it seems like the Academy just really loved that movie (it awarded it four acting nominations, only the fifteenth film in history to do so). 12 Years a Slave still has a great chance, as does Gravity (a little less likely because a space film has never won Best Picture, but there's a first for everything, right?). The next big precursor is the Directors Guild of America awards, which are being handed out this weekend. Alfonso Cuaron is expected to win for his (excuse the pun) out-of-this-world work on Gravity, but if David O. Russell for American Hustle or Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave takes the award, either film could experience a huge push. As for the rest of the films in the category, there's a very minimal chance of any of them winning, but if I had to rank them, that's where they'd go. The Wolf of Wall Street had some early controversy, but that seems to be setting aside, plus the Academy really liked the movie given a surprise nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Captain Phillips and Dallas Buyers Club were also both well-liked, but have better shots at being rewarded elsewhere. Her, an early-season frontrunner, will need a lot more buzz in the coming weeks to get anywhere near the top. Philomena was a movie that was really well-recieved by voters, but probably not enough to get it a victory. Same for Nebraska, but Philomena was definitely a less-divise film so it has a slightly better chance. Regardless, this race is definitely down to the top three, and it is the most exciting Best Picture race in recent history.

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
2. Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
3. David O. Russell for American Hustle
4. Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street
5. Alexander Payne for Nebraska

Again, this race seems to be down to the top three contenders. As I stated above, Cuaron seems very likely to win the DGA award this weekend which would solidify his frontrunner status. Cuaron had such a huge hand in getting this movie made, developing the technology to make it possible, and even with the technical achievements, he still made a realistically human film that puts him ahead of McQueen and Russell. Still, it's possible those other two can take the Best Director prize, especially since Best Picture and Best Director have not matched only 23 times (out of 85 years). I'll give the edge to McQueen, mostly because Russell has been praised for being an "actor's director," so I imagine his work would have a better chance of being celebrated in the acting categories via one of AH's four nominated actors and actresses. Scorsese and Payne don't have a really great chance, and again, that probably has to do with less overall buzz for their films. I have Scorsese ahead of Payne because Scorsese's film is just a little more exciting, and that helps over a film like Nebraska.

BEST ACTOR
1. Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club
2. Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street
3. Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave
4. Bruce Dern for Nebraska
5. Christian Bale for American Hustle

I called way back in November that McConaughey could be a dark horse in this race, but now he has assumed the role of frontrunner. After picking up the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award, McConaughey is on a hot streak, and with buzz for his film picking up, his chances are only bettered. It would seem that McConaughey is a good bet for the award, although he is definitely not a lock. In fact, this race is pretty close. DiCaprio is second for me, just because his performance (from what I've heard) really makes the movie the powerhouse it is, and Lord knows DiCaprio is overdue for some recognition, so maybe this is his year. Then again, Ejiofor had a lot of early buzz in this category, and there is a very good chance that if 12 Years makes a resurgence in the Best Picture and Best Director categories, that could help Ejiofor out tremendously. Dern's performance has been triumphed for months now, and many liked to think he was a frontrunner, but I never thought that performance would compare to the showier ones in this category. Still, it is hard to deny Dern's likability and his legacy in the industry can earn him votes. Bale snuck into this competitive category over other likelier nominees like Tom Hanks for Captain Phillips and Robert Redford for All Is Lost, but Bale obviously has a heck of a performance on his hands, but in a tough category like this, he needed precursor wins and more buzz to get to the top, so he probably won't prevail here.

BEST ACTRESS
1. Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine
2. Sandra Bullock for Gravity
3. Judi Dench for Philomena
4. Amy Adams for American Hustle
5. Meryl Streep for August: Osage County

Unlike Best Actor, this race seems to have a pretty clear frontrunner who will likely win on Oscar night. Blanchett has collected almost every single precursor award and this category has never been out of her grip since the beginning of the season, so she seems to be a very likely win here. Her closest competitor is Bullock, who could see some residual love thrown her way if Gravity picks up Best Picture and/or Best Director. Bullock's performance, it should also be reminded, is the most physical of any performance here, and the most demanding performance (physically and emotionally) this year. I can totally see the Academy going for that (although her lack of precursor love won't help). Dench seems to be placed solidly in third, but again, I don't see her winning. She is Philomena's best shot at a win, but I'm not confident she'll get anywhere close. A lot of people think Adams is a threat to take the statue, I guess because of her Globes victory of Streep, but this was a performance many were not sure would even get nominated (RIP Emma Thompson's should-been-guaranteed Oscar nom for Saving Mr. Banks). So I wouldn't place her in the top tier. Maybe some residual love for American Hustle, but for now, I'm keeping here in fourth. And Streep is another nominee who many weren't sure if she would make it, and since the movie has the least amount of buzz here, she's at the bottom of the barrel (I'm sure her three previous Oscars will comfort her).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club
2. Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave
3. Bradley Cooper for American Hustle
4. Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips
5. Jonah Hill for The Wolf of Wall Street

The closest thing to a guarantee for this year's Oscars. Leto has dominated the awards scene and I don't see him stopping here. It's the bravest performance, the most transformative, and the most important. Next in line is Fassbender, who was seen as Leto's main competitor, but since Leto has won every award, Fassbender's buzz has likewise fallen. In addition to his public announcement that he would not campaign for this award, I don't see him overthrowing Leto at the last second. Cooper is riding the wave of love for AH, but his nomination was definitely one of the more expected nominations for the film (as opposed to Bale and Adams). He could also ride the wave of buzz to move higher on the list, but not over Leto. Abdi is nominated for his feature film debut, a huge accomplishment, and as Captain's sole acting nomination, it is quite a feat. He definitely has a big arc in the movie, but I don't think he'll get past these other guys. Finally, Hill was this year's WTF nominee after getting nearly no pre-Oscars nomination recognition. This may show that the Academy really does like his film, but I don't think it proves that he's a frontrunner. Leto all the way.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1. Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave
2. Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle
3. Julia Roberts for August: Osage County
4. June Squibb for Nebraska
5. Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine

Probably the bardest acting category to predict, this one is Nyong'o vs. Lawrence. There are a lot of factors going into this race. Nyong'o is the fresh new face. She is nominated for her feature film debut, a bright young African American actress who has a fearless performance in a major contender for Best Picture. She is primarily going up against Jennifer Lawrence, last year's winner for Best Actress for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook. Lawrence is still Hollywood's "It" girl, following the success of The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, and her turn in American Hustle, the highlight of the film for many moviegoers. Lawrence is still extremely big, so a win here would attract a lot of attention, especially if it is a second win for an actress who is only 23 and who won her first Oscar just last year. Those factors could easily work against Lawrence. To put things into even more perspective, the performances are polar opposites. Nyong'o is silent and triumphant, using her moments of weakness to let her talent shine. Lawrence is the kind of scene-chewer that you'd expect to rack up awards. Lawrence took the Golden Globe, Nyong'o took the SAG. This one still doesn't have a clear conclusion. This is the nail-bitter of the season. I'm giving the edge to Nyong'o for now, just because I think there might be a stigma against Lawrence for voters who'd want to reward this young actress two years in a row. There are three other actresses in this race. The only one semi-close to Nyong'o and Lawrence is Roberts, whose fearless performance is her grand return to the Academy Awards (her last nomination came in 2000 when she won Best Actress for Erin Brockovich). She'll need a little more buzz if she wants a shot at the win. Squibb is the veteran here; much like her co-star Dern, she's getting buzz late in life for this spirited performance. Unlike Dern, she has less buzz and less of a chance against two younger stars. Hawkins was a bit of a surprise nominee (although yours truly picked her), and she's not strong enough to take the award.

Check back next week for more Oscar buzz-tracking ahead of Hollywood's biggest night!!

Evan

What I'm Doing in...January!

This is the "What I'm Doing in..." feature. I'll do this once a month, providing updates on what movies I've seen, TV shows I'm obsessed with, and albums I can't stop listening to. Check it out!

MOVIES:
As you all know, awards season is upon us. For entertainment junkies like me, this is the closest thing we get to Christmas outside of December, and I love it. In recent years, I've tried to make really good attempts at catching a majority of the year's big awards players, and this year is no different. I've watched a bunch of them lately, so I'll just give a quick run-down of what I've seen recently and what I thought of it. You might be surprised...

AMERICAN HUSTLE: I started off my winter break by seeing this one with my dad, and I had sky-high expectations. They were mostly met. David O. Russell does a great job of telling characters' stories, and it's no surprise that this film and his hit from last year, Silver Linings Playbook, joined an elite group of movies to earn nominations in all four acting categories. Everything about the movie was great, although I was a bit confused in the beginning. Production value, hair and make up, it was all great. The performances are what I loved the most here. I thought Amy Adams and Christian Bale were pretty good, but the movie's best performances for me were from Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Of course, I love me some JLaw, and I was blown away by her performance here. All the buzz is absolutely worth it. But Cooper really impressed the hell out of me here. I really enjoyed his performance in Playbook last year, but I thought he was outright phenomenal here. All in all, a great movie that is much deserving of its buzz as a possible Best Picture contender.

FROZEN: I loved this movie. This threw me back to the Disney classics, reminding me of my two favorite "heyday Disney" movies, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. First of all, it is a beautiful movie, it just looks great. The voice cast is really great. Kristen Bell plays nerdy so well and Josh Gad really killed it as Olaf, who is guaranteed to become a Disney staple. The music is what launched this movie into the stratosphere. If Idina Menzel's performance of "Let It Go" does not take the Oscar for Best Original Song, there will have been a serious injustice. The rest of the movie's songs are great, but I've admittedly had "Let It Go" on constant replay since I saw the movie about a month ago. Not only is this my favorite animated movie of the year, but it is among my overall favorites of the year.

DESPICABLE ME 2: I didn't see the first one and didn't have a major desire to see this one, but the whole family sat down to watch it so I figured I would check it out. I ended up being the only one who stayed awake for the whole thing. It was a really cute movie, and those Minions aren't that annoying, which is good. It's not spectacular and seeing it right after seeing Frozen probably killed any admiration I would've had for this movie, but it was still pretty good, I thought.

PRISONERS: This one hasn't really racked up any awards love this season, although it did get a much-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography. Man, it's such a shame because one of this year's darkest movies deserves a lot of attention right now. This movie is very dark, very depressing. It takes the life right out of you. It is tense and scary in a very real way, and it stuck with me for a while. I wish Hugh Jackman was getting more buzz, because I think his performance here rivals what he did in Les Miserables last year. I would recommend you check this movie out if you want a twisty, dark thriller.

SAVING MR. BANKS: A movie that was unfairly ignored by the Academy Awards. It only landed one nomination for Best Score, but really deserved more than that. A lot of people say the movie is overly cheesy and gooey, but that completely worked for me because I really loved this movie. The story was a difficult one to convey, but it was done with ease here. Emma Thompson absolutely shined here and her snub was the most difficult pill for me to swallow on Oscar nominations morning. Tom Hanks didn't generate a whole lot of buzz for his performance in this movie, but he was pretty good. Colin Farrell surprised the hell out of me, and I thought he was pretty darn awesome in this movie. This was a feel-good kind of movie that reminded me of The Help and I'd recommend it to just about anybody.

FRUITVALE STATION: A movie that started out this summer with substantial buzz, but ended up dying out by the end of the year. I wasn't the biggest fan of this movie, but I did think the story was thin until the real action kicked in with about a half hour left. Michael B. Jordan, whom I've followed since his performance on the TV series Friday Night Lights, turned in a really great performance, and the movie has an unabashedly realistic feel, but it feels like not much is happening until the train station drama begins. The movie gets better from there, but I can see why the movie was ignored by a majority of film-rewarding bodies.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY: ...or as I like to call it, Screaming: The Movie. This is an actor showcase kind of movie. The screenplay exists to give almost every character their big "moment." The movie didn't have a whole lot of momentum going into awards season after some initial hesitation, but I liked it overall. Meryl Streep was really good, but my favorite performance was from Julia Roberts, who was fearless and unforgiving as the tired daughter. Julianne Nicholson turned in a subtle, phenomenal performance that should be recognized. I've seen this online, but man...I can only imagine what David O. Russell would've done with this movie.

BLUE JASMINE: I've admittedly only seen one other Woody Allen movie before this one, and that would be Midnight in Paris, a movie that I really really loved. I was less impressed with this movie. Best Actress frontrunner Cate Blanchett is absolutely the best part of the movie, but I'm not even sure if she's worthy of the award, although her frontrunner status makes it look like my opinion won't matter anyway. Supporting Actress nominee Sally Hawkins was just okay, but I wasn't wildly impressed by the performance. There were other better supporting performances that got no recognition this year. The screenplay is good, but after the genius that was Midnight in Paris, this was slightly disappointing.

ENOUGH SAID: No Oscar nominations for this movie, but some Golden Globes and SAG love for this romantic comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini. The screenplay is pretty good, but these two actors sell it really well. Louis-Dreyfus gives a fantastic performance, the complete opposite of her current role on the TV series Veep. Gandolfini is also very good, a total opposite of what you might expect from him. I can see how this movie didn't get Oscar noms, but a cute movie nonetheless.

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB: This movie houses two of this year's biggest performances, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto. After seeing both actors take the Golden Globes and SAGs, I knew I had to watch the movie sooner rather than later, and I must say I was certainly impressed. Leto is fearless in this role, and it is a hell of a role to tackle, so his frontrunner status is well-deserved. But I was even more impressed by McConaughey who absolutely disappeared in the role. You don't see the romantic comedy guy from the early 2000s in this performance. Instead, it's like watching a veteran actor give a masterclass. If both actors take the Oscar, I will be extremely content.

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS: Well, it definitely could've been called "Take A Dump on My Face" and that would've been entirely appropriate. The cinematography here is even bleak, and it matches the tone of the rest of the movie. Oscar Isaac is fantastic, and those vocals (which were apparently live) are phenomenal. The music was my favorite part of the movie. The movie was pretty much ignored at the Oscars, which is fine because it does get a little slow toward the middle which brings the whole movie down a notch, but overall it was a solid attempt.

I still have a few more movies I need to watch including 12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, Her, Philomena, and Rush. I also still have to see Anchorman 2 and The Conjuring for purely entertainment reasons. Then I will be able to judge my favorite of 2014.

TELEVISION:
Don't worry, if you're not watching a certain show on TV, there's a good chance I probably am. Here is what I'm currently loving:

THE GOOD WIFE: What a resurgence! TGW, in its fifth season, is better now than it has ever been, and the arc of the season has brought the show back to life. If you've never watched an episode of The Good Wife, you could start right at the beginning of Season 5 and enjoy the hell out of yourself. The show got some renewed Golden Globes love, and my sincere hope is that the Emmys take notice of what a kick-ass season the show has had. It is definitely one of my favorite dramas on the air right now.

REVENGE: A huge favorite of mine during its first season, we can all agree that quality went downhill last season. But a change of show runner has lit a fire under this show and it is back to its origin season excellence. Emily's latest mess has had quite a few juicy turns, and this season is really just a lot of fun to watch. The latest developments in Emily and Daniel's relationship is amazing to watch, quite a few jaw drops from yours truly. If you passed on this season after being disappointed by the confusion of Season 2, get back on this train, fast.

MOM: It is by no means one of the best comedies on television, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better mother/daughter duo on TV right now than Allison Janney and Anna Faris. These two are knocking it out of the park and I'm hoping Emmys are watching and getting ready to reward them with nominations. The show has focused less on Faris' character's work life and more on her interaction with her family, including her mother, played to utter perfection by Janney who could honestly win awards for years to come in this role.

THE BLACKLIST: One of the best new shows of the 2013-2014 season, I didn't start the season until Thanksgiving break, but I got through it in two days. It is addictive and smart, the kind of show that blows up right from the start, which has happened with this one. James Spader is fantastic, and he got that much-deserved Golden Globes nomination. Last night's episode featured a big twist that I can't wait to see unfold in the weeks to come, and if you haven't watched an episode yet, start from the beginning and get caught up in a matter of days.

THE MINDY PROJECT: I was as disappointed as everyone else when this show didn't love up to its potential last season. Things started changing toward the end of the season and now, Season 2 has had a huge turn-around. Sophomore slumps be damned! This show is hotter than ever. Mindy Kaling and her team have finally fully realized their characters and the episodes couldn't be funnier. The ratings are low, but hopefully Fox keeps faith that this show is still growing and delivering huge laughs every week.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE: The newest series to win the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Series, this new show is one that is superiorly confident of itself, which is awesome. Andy Samberg leads a great ensemble featuring standouts Joe Lo Truglio and Chelsea Peretti (her mere presence makes me howl). This reminds me of the greatness The Office and Parks and Recreation had in their heyday. I know a lot of people don't love Samberg, but I would encourage you to check out this show anyway, I don't think you'll regret it.

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN: Oh lord, where do I even start? I liked season one, I loved season two...what words do I even use to describe this witch-themed season?! Wednesday nights are the highlight of my TV-watching week and every episode gives me anxiety and life itself. Everyone is out-doing themselves this season. Jessica Lange is as good as ever, Kathy Bates is doing great work in a smaller role, and Emma Roberts, who I didn't really respect as an actress before this, has impressed the absolute hell out of me playing the perfect bitch. The star of the season, though, is Angela Bassett. Give her all of the awards. I've never watched a performance like this and known instinctively that the actor/actress was having the time of their life. It's okay, Angela, your experience is my gain.

SCANDAL: What more is there to say about this show?! If you watch Scandal, you know that every episode is an emotional roller coaster and what the writers have done this season is what most shows never fulfill in a whole run. The show, like AHS, is just immense fun to watch and the actors are having a great time. I don't know how much longer we need to wait for Kerry Washington to get some kind of award for the show, so let's get that handled!

BREAKING BAD: My final entry is a bit out of place, but I just started bingeing on BB at the beginning of the new year. I'm through the first three seasons, and I'm definitely seeing why people love this show so much. It really is very well done, and apparently the final two seasons are the best so I'm even more excited to finish things up. I'll let you know my thoughts on the last two seasons when I finish (hopefully within the next few weeks).

MUSIC:
Music is a constant in my life, so here are some artists/albums I've been loving on in January...

THE DRIFT by Michelle Chamuel and Arjun Singh: Michelle Chamuel, as fans of The Voice know, came in second place on the reality competition, but has been working her tail off on multiple projects. This one is an EDM-influenced EP that I cannot stop listening to. First single, "Not Now," got me really interested with its dark undertones and relatable lyrics, in addition to that unrelenting bass. The whole EP is just as good, the highlight being the ethereal banger "Floating," which needs to be used in a TV show, like, yesterday.

TRIBUTE by John Newman: You might've heard his single, "Love Me Again," which is working its way up the charts as we speak, but I encourage you to check out his entire album. It has a big band sound and he has such a distinctive voice that you can't help but not be drawn in. The British reign of pop music continues with Newman, who can deliver a real foot-stomper like "Losing Sleep," and can reign in those emotions and put exactly what you're feeling into words, like the beautiful closing ballad "Down the Line."

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? by A Great Big World: "Say Something" is currently one of the biggest songs of the moment, but the rest of the debut album from A Great Big World is much, much happier. The band's music is just infectious and fun to listen to. Opener "Rockstar" is a great jam, but the restrained moments like "I Don't Wanna Love Somebody Else" and "You'll Be Okay" are standouts. Just skip over "Say Something" to keep yourself in a happy place!


So that's what I'm loving on this month...let me know in the comments section what movies you've loved, TV shows you're bingeing on, and what albums are on repeat for you! I'd love to see what you're all excited about :)

Evan

I'm Back!

Well, I'm back at it again! After many attempts to launch and re-launch (and re-launch) this blog, I'm here once again, but I'm definitely bringing a new approach to how I run things. I'm not going to update the blog every day, maybe once a week, with a broad overview of things I like in the world of entertainment. Maybe I'll do an album or movie review here and there, but we'll see. My main purpose is to get writing again, and I'm really excited about that prospect.

Oscar season is upon us, and my hope is to do at least one column a week on the Oscar race. Definitely look forward to that. Otherwise, keep checking back and checking my Twitter @evan_cuneo for updates on when I'm posting! Thanks for coming back and I hope you'll return :)