Emmy Nomination Analysis: Best Actor in a Drama Series

CATEGORY: Best Actor in a Drama Series

NOMINEES: Hugh Bonneville for Downton Abbey, Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire, Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad, Michael C. Hall for Dexter, Jon Hamm for Mad Men, Damian Lewis for Homeland

ANALYSIS: Previously, I had not seen anyone's tapes (shocker, I know!). First, in Bonneville's tape, he's dealing with some kind of affair with a maid, or at least that's what I picked up on. The problem is, once again, that the enormous ensemble doesn't provide for a lot of screen time for these nominated actors, although Bonneville is definitely one of the show's biggest stars, and his character seems fairly important so his screw time is a bit more impressive than others on this show. However, in a category driven by performances from actors who own their shows, I don't know if that's doing him any favors. However, there is another actor in this category who doesn't really own the show: Buscemi. Yes, he's certainly the lead, but his fingerprints aren't all over the episode like some of the other stars. He does the same thing Bonneville does as ring leader, sort of overseeing the action of the episode, but he also gets a pretty good storyline in the death of his father. At first, his tough guy exterior disables him from showing any true emotion about the loss, but when he finally comes face to face with his father's casket, it's heartbreaking and it's Emmy bait. I'd say his chances are a bit better than Bonneville's. However, both prove superior to the category's surprise nominee: Hall. He definitely wasn't expected to get another nomination this year as Dexter as kind of fallen off the Emmy radar. His episode doesn't prove that he had stellar work worth an Emmy this year. He takes a road trip to Nebraska to confront a killer (that's what I got from it), and he's able to be a little relaxed, but when he's working, the performance is just okay. He doesn't get a big scene that justifies his nomination, and he's not a threat at all. If anything, he's a little better than your average leading man on your stereotypical procedural drama. That cannot be said of Jon Hamm, who at this point should adopt the motto "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride," after being nominated here four times and never winning. Could this be the year? Well...maybe. He's got a really good episode, and from what I've seen of Mad Men (only a few episodes here and there), he's in his Don Draper element. He's got a pitch scene that the Emmy voters really seem to love about Mad Men, and his final scene with Elisabeth Moss shows the character's dark side. It's a great episode, but the competition may prove to be hard to overcome. As you may be aware, I spent the past couple of days watching the first season of Homeland and I was completely impressed. I know Claire Danes gets a lot of the attention, but I hope Emmy voters give the same respect to Lewis. He's so awesome on this show, and particularly in this tape. For those who may be watching the first season, I'll try not to spoil anything but his performance is intense, nerve wracking, raw, personal, emotional, it's all packed into one hell of a tape. Personal bias aside, Lewis should deserve the same level of recognition his female co-star is sure to receive, and I hope he gets it. The only person standing in his way is the man who has owned this category for the three years: Bryan Cranston. After being ineligible last year (leading the way to my favorite Emmy win ever for Kyle Chandler's flawless performance on Friday Night Lights), Cranston is back again this year in the search for the Emmy. In his episode, I wasn't utterly impressed to start, but things started rolling with an intense car accident and a kidnapping in a desert. It wasn't until the final moments of the episode that I realized why Cranston had a good shot at getting his fourth Emmy for this performance. In the final episode, he is looking through his hidden stack of money to find some of it gone. His wife appears and reveals to have given it away. Cranston freaks out at first, but it leads to a haunting laugh that reverberates through the last two minutes of the episode. It's intense and freaky, you don't feel comfortable, and Cranston is all in. Honestly, the Emmys love Cranston so much that I could just see them giving him the Emmy because he's been gone for a year and they just can't resist giving it to him.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Damian Lewis' performance has everything: terror, excitement, horror, frustration, tenderness, emotion, etc. It would be so upsetting to see Danes walk away with an Emmy, but not Lewis for a performance that is just as good, if not better.

WHO WILL WIN: Sometimes, when the Emmys love someone, they really love someone. I think that relationship exists between the Academy and Bryan Cranston. Not that it is not deserved, but it would appear Cranston will walk away with another Emmy, meaning he has won the award for every season of Breaking Bad to air so far (and with a fifth season just wrapping up, he'll be eligible once again come next year).

RANKINGS:
1. Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
2. Damian Lewis - Homeland
3. Jon Hamm - Mad Men
4. Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire
5. Hugh Bonneville - Downton Abbey
6. Michael C. Hall - Dexter

What do you think? Can Lewis beat out perennial frontrunner Cranston? Can Hamm break the Mad Men curse that threatens to plague his show's fellow nominees? Can Buscemi love run over with an Emmy win? Will the Emmy worship of Downton Abbey present Bonneville with a surprise win? Or could Hall pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year? Let me know what you think below!

Evan

Fall First Look: House at the End of the Street

What do you get when you combine a fresh horror story and the year's biggest breakout star? You get this fall's most hotly anticipated scary movie, House at the End of the Street. Jennifer Lawrence is fresh off The Hunger Games with this horror movie that is due in theaters September 21st. End of the Street is the story of a daughter (Lawrence) and mother (Elizabeth Shue) who move into a new house, only to find out about the tragedy that occurred next door: a young girl murdered her family, save for her brother (Max Thieriot) , who still resides in the neighborhood. When Lawrence's character befriends the boy, strange things start happening and it seems the past is rearing its' ugly head once more. Ever since the explosion of Paranormal Activity, horror movies have become event films and this one is certain to attract a healthy audience. While it could certainly suffer from bad reviews, that hasn't stopped scary movies from opening big in the past (Remember that awful movie The Devil Inside? It scared the crap out of audiences and made a huge $33.7 million in it's opening weekend.) so House could be a big hit, especially since it seems to be aiming for young audiences by focusing the story on Lawrence and Thieriot. Speaking of, Lawrence, who shot this movie before The Hunger Games was released in March, has suddenly become one of the hottest stars in Hollywood, and don't be fooled if her name alone attracts moviegoers. Early word on the movie says not to be fooled by the trailer, which makes this movie look like a simple scary film. There are some comparisons to the high-concept horror thriller The Cabin in the Woods which impressed audiences early this spring, and I can believe it. I have a feeling Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence wouldn't have done this movie if she didn't have faith that the story was strong. With the movie coming out in late September, it'll play throughout the month of October, the best time for scary at the cinema. If reviews are good, Lawrence's star power is strong, and audiences are craving a horror movie (and after late August releases The Apparition and The Possession, there won't be one for a few weeks), I think House at the End of the Street could be a surprise fall hit.

Check out the trailer for House at the End of the Street below and let me know your thoughts in the comment section:

Evan

Song of the Week - August 16th - Relax My Beloved by Alex Clare

Hello everyone, it's Thursday so that means it's time for Song of the Week! This week, my pick is a little out there, but stick with me. My choice this week is...

Relax My Beloved by Alex Clare

I know a lot of you are like "HUH?!" but trust me on this one. You may not know Alex Clare by name, but I guarantee you've heard his hit single "Too Close," whether on the radio or on the Microsoft commercials for Internet Explorer 9. "And it feels like I am just too close to love you," that song. Well, I recently looked further into Alex Clare's music and his style is particularly interesting. He combines electronica and dubstep with soul and R&B music. The sound comes out pretty incredible and unlike anything you've heard before. This particular song, my pick of the week, is my favorite song on his debut album, The Lateness of the Hour. It's a slow jam, with the focus on the soul sound, but with a hint of dubstep, the song takes on a whole other level. It's not just a slow, ballad-like song anymore. It's suspenseful, it's thought provoking, it's incredible. It should also be noted that Clare writes all his own lyrics, and the lyrics here characterize the struggle of a relationship rocked by emotional distance: "Then maybe again we would weep like we've done a thousand times before/ Don't turn your back on me, or shout as you walk out the door." The song was so powerful that the Queen Bee herself, Beyonce, tried to get the rights to the song for her last album "4," but Clare said the song was too personal for him to give to another artist. But don't be too upset, he's working with the pop star on her next album. Give Relax My Beloved a listen and let me know what you think about this moody lullaby. Leave me feedback below in the comments section!

Evan

Fall First Look: Babel by Mumford and Sons

If you follow my Song of the Week posts, you know that last week I selected the new Mumford and Sons song I Will Wait as my pick. If you loved that song, you'll be happy to hear that the band's new album, Babel, is hitting stores September 25th! After becoming a sleeper hit two years ago, Sigh No More launched the band to worldwide fame. The band received two Grammy nominations in 2011 for Best New Artist and Best Rock Song (for breakout hit Little Lion Man). They scored a nomination in the latter category again in 2012 for The Cabe, which was also nominated for Best Rock Performance, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. Still, it's been two years since we've had original Mumford and Sons music. This June, we got a taste of new stuff with Learn Me Right, the Mumford collaboration with Birdy for the Disney-Pixar movie Brave. The band has insisted the music on the new album will sound very similar to the old album, which should please old fans that fell in love with that sound. As one of this fall's most anticipated music releases, sales will most likely be sky high, a total opposite of the slow burn of Sigh No More. Are you loving the new single? Excited for Babel? Sad that the band's sound won't change in the new album? Let me know below!

In case you missed it last week, here's the audio of Mumford and Son's new single, I Will Wait:

Fall First Look: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

September 21st will be a very special day for 90's kids around the world. After it's 1992 publication, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a coming-of-age novel by Stephen Chbosky, is finally making its silver screen debut. Often considered one of the best modern novels written about those memorable high school years, Perks is about a freshman named Charlie who is taken under the wing of two seniors, Patrick and Sam, and their group of friends as he is ushered into a world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The book has been considered a rite of passage among teenagers, and I finally got a chance to read it last winter when I found out about the movie plans for the book. Needless to say, this adaptation is one of the most anticipated projects of the fall that doesn't involve mystical creatures or singing war heroes (ten points to anyone who can guess which movies I'm hinting at). The best part about the project is that Chbosky himself wrote and directed it, something he revealed to Entertainment Weekly he has been hoping to do for years after the book came out. Harry Potter fans are also looking forward to the movie as it marks Emma Watson's first post-HP film, playing the role of Sam. Rounding out the rest of the talented cast is Logan Lerman as Charlie, Ezra Miller as Patrick, Mae Whitman (totally underrated on NBC's Parenthood) as Mary Elizabeth, Paul Rudd as Charlie's teacher Bill, The Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev as Charlie's sister Candace, Melanie Lynskey as Charlie's Aunt Helen, and American Horror Story's Dylan McDermott and Private Practice's Kate Walsh as Charlie's parents. When the trailer debuted this summer at the MTV Movie Awards, it caused an Internet sensation, treading on Twitter and racking up millions of views. The movie is only in limited release this fall, but you can bet that loads of teenagers and young adults (who are now twenty years older than they were when the book first came out) will be lining up to see their favorite book come to life. I know I'll be there! Are you excited for Perks? What are you looking forward to seeing in the screen to page transition? Let me know below!

Check out the official trailer for The Perks of Being a Wallflower:

Evan

Fall First Look: Red by Taylor Swift

In case you've been living under a rock, country princess Taylor Swift announced on Monday that she is releasing a new album this fall. Titled "Red," the star's fourth studio album will be released October 22nd (the cover art is above). Asked about the album's title, Taylor said the album explores many emotions ranging from "intense love, intense frustration, jealousy, confusion," and "in my mind all those emotions are red." Taylor has stated that the theme of this album is "Moving On" and that's certainly evident in the first single off the album, titled "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," an anthem for scorned lovers that have been screwed over too many times. The album itself has 16 tracks, not including bonus tracks for the deluxe version, and she confirmed that one of the songs is a duet with Ed Sheeran (a flawless British redhead who's album, +, made a splash earlier this summer). Taylor expressed hopes to do a world tour for Red after the success of the Speak Now tour. On the flipside, fans are extremely excited for the album (Taylor Swift, "Red," and We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together were all worldwide trending topics on Twitter on Monday and Tuesday). Critics, who saw promise in Taylor's work for The Hunger Games soundtrack with songs like Safe and Sound and Eyes Open, are split on hopes for the new album, as it appears Swift is heading in a poppier direction with a country twang. She's working with Max Martin (who produced the first single), Shellback, and Mark Foster of Foster the People, so there's clearly a wide range of sounds popping up here. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together was released late Monday night and set a new iTunes record for fastest ascent to the #1 spot, taking a little under 50 minutes to reach the peak spot, and it still has not left that spot. The song is already getting huge spins at local country and pop stations, with some stations guaranteeing the song to be played at the top of the hour, every hour all week. At it's current pace, a debut in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 seems likely, and it'll be interesting to see if the song carries momentum as we head into the fall. Regardless, fans around the world are anxious for the arrival of what is sure to be this fall's hottest album, Red from Taylor Swift.

Check out the official lyric video for We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together below:

Evan

The Glee Project Recap: Glee-ality

Ahhhhh, it's here! The final recap of the second season of The Glee Project has arrived. I was so stinking excited going into tonight's episode and genuinely invested in seeing who would win, more than I can say for last year's finale. Also reassuring? The insistence that there would only be one winner, not an Oprah-style finale like last year ("You get a guest spot on Glee! You get a guest spot on Glee!").  Anyway, let's get cracking!

The first few minutes are spent gushing over the current state of things. In short, OH EM GEE IT'S THE FINALE WE MADE IT WE'RE SO CLOSE TO GLEE. The end. Robert comes in and announces the theme: Glee-ality. I guess we still can't find Mr. Ulrich and the crew a dictionary. The final homework assignment is You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray, which is good because it's a great song to sing and act. Before he leaves, Robert ushers in some "amazing backup vocalists," and surprise surprise, it's the rest of the contenders. "We're back, bitches!" proclaims Charlie. Oh Charlie. I can't say I really missed you. On the other hand, Nellie Veitenheimer is on my TV again and I couldn't be happier.

On the day of the homework assignment, Robert introduces the final mentor of the season, Chris Colfer. Everyone dies, Chris smiles, Robert gushes. The homework assignment starts like rapidfire and it's awesome and exciting! Blake sounds very good and he's dance-y (see, I can make up words too!). Aylin's voice doesn't fit with this song at all, but with all the moving she does, she sounds good. Ali steals the whole show and gets more screentime than the other two contenders. Chris loved Blake's dancing, Aylin's ability to sound clear during movement, and Ali's great characterization, so he picks all three as his homework winners. Robert and Chris announce the final music video, set to the song Tonight Tonight by Hot Chelle Rae. In my head, I really thought they'd pick an anthemic Glee staple song like We Are Young (a lot of people forget that was the first exposure that song ever got, two months before it's big placement at the Super Bowl). Still, everyone is very excited. Robert also mentions that each contender will get to pick their own Last Chance performance song.

In the choreography session with Zach and Brooke, Mr. Woodlee confirms what we've known in our hearts all season: There are no Heather Morris' in this crew. Rather, the choreography is just some simple line dancing. Wheelchair-bound Ali struggles a little bit, understandably, but when she's partnered up with Michael (hey Calculus boy!), she's back on track. At the end of the session, Zach demands a group hug. Daw.

Next, it's vocals with The Glee Project's resident sass queen, Nikki Anders! She's anticipating a fun day in the studio. It starts off rocky with Blake struggling to hit high notes on the chorus (but those notes are totally not in his range at all, baritones unite!) and everyone understandably accepts this. On the rest of his parts, he sounds great and Nikki says "If anyone can sell a party song, it's Blake." Nikki asks Aylin to sing without looking at the words, and she actually sounds better. Aylin's voice is "very cool," says Nikki, and I totally agree. Ali sounds spunky and awesome and she hopes that makes up for her inability to really sell the choreography. The eliminated girls (minus Taryn, who (un)memorably left in the beginning of the second episode) and guys each get group studio sessions to sing in the background. Nellie rocks neon yellow, Mario pulls off shades indoors.

In the one-on-one-on-one-on-one with Chris, the contestants gush over their last song opportunities and Chris says they've gotta sell it. At the video shoot, Robert calls this the "conclusion to the longest audition process ever." Nikki loves Aylin's pop voice and says she'd be a great addition to Glee, but Zach worries about the backlash she would receive. Zach calls Blake the most consistent contender and Nikki is excited about the different kinds of characters she thinks he could pull off. Ali gets to play the promiscuous bitch that co-creater Ian Brennan pictured. Nikki says Ali is a "consummate professional," but Zach worries that Ali's theater background might make people think she's overacting. Music video director Erik White introduces one of last year's winners, Damian McGinty, to the shoot, and I can understand about 45% of what he says at first. Whoops.

The actual video is a lot of fun and, sorry underclassmen, NOTHING like a real prom. Honestly, all three of them look awesome in the video. In particular, I really love Ali being the mean flirty girl, she's hilarious. Damian shows up in the video and...it's just funny, honestly. Reember when he was touted as Glee's next big star? Then, he showed up and did nothing for a whole season and ended up having his contract not be renewed. Yeah, so anyway...Lily looks awesome and KILLS IT on the dance floor. She's invited to my wedding. There's only one good shot of Nellie in the video. Rawr. The final video shoot is a wrap, and tomorrow is the big day.

The mentors meet with the final three and tell them about the glory that lies ahead for the winner of the competition, because now Samuel Larsen and Damian McGinty are huge stars (sorry, I'm still bitter that Lindsay Pearce lost!). Anyway, the contestants reveal their final song choices. Aylin is going bold by picking Rolling in the Deep by Adele, and at first, I scream because I am so tired of reality show stars thinking they can tackle this monster of a song, but Aylin's voice is strong, so we'll see. Ali says her song will be Popular from the musical Wicked, and it's a perfect choice! Blake picks I'll Be by Edwin McCain, and I don't know that song, so *crickets*. We see the final three rehearse and repeat the same old, same old about "I'm so close, I want this so bad." It would honestly be hilarious to see one of them be like "Eh, whatever."

The cast mentors and the fellow contestants pile in with the writers, Ian Brennan, his hair, Ryan Murphy, Robert, Zach, and Nikki. Ryan welcomes everyone to the finale. Dianna Agron's hair looks amazing. Amber Riley is perfect. Darren Criss loves gray. First is Ali and her charm intoxicates everyone in the audience. Her final performance is full of energy and her acting is awesome. The final note is so unexpected, but it's awesome and everyone loves it. Ryan says he loves her optimism and I have to agree. He says it is impossible to root against her. Next is Blake, and he is just so confident when he's on stage. Between the cool mic trick, Intense Violinist Lady, Michael's crazy eyes, Nellie's smirk, and his perfect vocal, it's a total win. And if that weren't enough, Blake reveals that he wrote a little poem to explain how he's different from other people. About halfway through the poem, I realize that poem probably just won him the competition. He reveals he's half-Cuban (and America goes "HUH?!"), and makes eternally sad Robert and made-of-steel Nikki cry. He basically says he's the "every guy" we can all relate to, but can Ryan really believe that? Methinks, yes. Finally, Aylin is out last, Charlie can't contain his excitement. Aylin sounds pretty good at the start, and the chorus kicks in and I'm so happy -- she's hitting the notes and actually sounding good! Amber Riley is loving what she hears and if Amber likes it, America likes it. Aylin says Ryan can trust her to handle the pressure and he says she's an inspiration. Running off stage, she exclaims "I remembered all the words!" and it makes me chuckle.

Next, Ryan asks the Glee cast members who they liked. Darren says Ali has the extra spark, Dianna says "you can't teach what [Ali] has," and Grant Gustin says Ali is his choice. Ali Adler, the writer, says that Blake became a man, and Roberto Something-Or-Other also likes Blake. Michael Hitchcock loves them all (who doesn't), but he sides with Team Ali. Quick side note: Finally remembered that Mr. Hitchcock played Kristen Wiig's boss in Bridesmaids. He's now 34% cooler. Samuel was deeply immersed in Ali's performance, and Erik says Blake was the best to work with. Then, tragedy strikes. Tragedy = Charlie. Upset by the lack of love for his girl, Charlie gets emotional while convincing Ryan that she deserves to win. It's so awful to watch that I don't hear most of what he's saying because I'm screaming "THIS IS SO UNCOMFORTABLE!" Everyone's reactions, particularly Abraham's and Lily's are LOL worthy. But the outburst gets Queen Amber talking and she was impressed that Aylin tackled an Adele song. Damian says he either likes Ali or Aylin, but I can't tell because of the DAMN ACCENT. Ryan lets the cast and contenders go while him, Ian, Ian's hair, Robert, Zach, and Nikki deliberate. Zach says Ali is Glee and Nikki says she's inspiring. Ryan is impressed by Queen Amber's approval of Aylin, proving once and for all that Queen Amber owns Glee. Ian is once again attracted to the story Aylin can provide. Zach says Blake has the most character potential of the three finalists and Robert thinks he's a star. Ryan says he's shocked because "I normally come into these things with a very clear idea," and in my head I'm like, "Really? Last year you had a clear idea that the final four would all win The Glee Project? That's interesting," because I'm sarcastic and rude and honest and hilarious.

But before we know it, everyone is back, including Blake, Ali, and Aylin, to hear the final decision. Ryan says he went back and forth and compliments each contender again and again. He says the show is changing this year and there is a need for "a really specific talent, and a very specific person." Ryan admired Blake's leadership and "leading man quality." He loves Ali's optimism and admires her Broadway talent. Finally, he says Aylin embodies Glee and once again mentions Queen Amber's approval. But, the moment is here. The winner of The Glee Project is...

Blake Jenner!!!!!!!

Everyone seems genuinely very happy for him, and so am I. Beyond Nellie and Shanna, Blake was my favorite contender this season, he's a star, and he should fit just fine into the show. In fact, I'm going out on a limb to say his arrival will rival the pandemonium that broke out upon Darren Criss' first appearance on the show. As everyone comes on stage to congratulate one another, I love Dianna's hug for Ali, as well as Lily's jump for Blake (she seems genuinely happy, yay Lily!) and Michael and Blake's bro hug (a bromance for the ages).

Well that's that! We have a winner and the next big Glee star, Blake. I can't wait to see him this season, and it's another reason to look forward to the fourth season of Glee which starts in a little over a month. I'm also very excited to see what other opportunities some of the other contestants get, particularly Nellie, Shanna, Aylin, and Ali. I'm sad this is my last recap of The Glee Project, season two, but now it just means we're closer to the fourth season of the new and revamped Glee, which hopefully takes a step up from last season. But now it's time to see what you thought! Did you think Blake deserved to win? Were Ali or Aylin robbed? Whose career are you most excited to follow? Let me know below!

Evan