While one part of my TV nerd heart has been bored to tears by the dearth of new content on the boob tube these days, another part of it has been a little relieved to have a bit of a break after a very busy season and before what's looking to be an exciting fall. I love TV as much as the next guy, but having as much as 8 or 9 shows in one night can be a little daunting after a while. As we head into yet another light weekend for new content, I started looking to see what I actually had to watch.

First off, I'm still on my Queer as Folk marathon. After a few unintended pauses, I'm toward the end of season 4 of the 5 season long show (it's so good, you guys), so it shouldn't be too long before I get to say goodbye to Brian, Michael, Emmett, Ted, and Justin. I'd like to be finished with season 4 by Sunday-ish and then power through the final 13 episodes next week.

If that doesn't catch my fancy, I'm a little behind on the scripted shows I watch that are still running. I'm intentionally holding off on watching The Killing for maybe another episode (a slower show like The Killing works better for me as a sit-down-and-watch-4-episodes-in-a-row kind of watch) and I'm an episode behind on Nurse Jackie, so if I manage to make a little progress in Queer as Folk, I may try to barrel through my Sidereel account some.

Last but not least, I have to mention that Ray LaMontagne is having his VH1 Storytellers tonight and seeing as how this is probably my favorite music-related show on TV, I'm all about it. The last one I saw was Cee-Lo's episode, which was quite entertaining, so hearing some gorgeous folk/soul music on a warm Friday night sounds like a good way to wind down the day.

For those curious, there's only one more episode of Storytellers from this batch of episode, as r&b crooner Maxwell will be revisiting his impressive catalog of hits next Friday at 11:00.

So tell me: what will you be watching this weekend? Will you be catching up on a network show you fell behind on or trying out something brand new? What's the next summer show you're excited to see premiere?

What Are You Watching This Weekend? (June 11th-12th)

We’ve spent nearly three seasons following around masterful escape artist, drug addict, and wonderful nurse Jackie Peyton, a buzzsaw with a pixie cut with double lives and double-double lives. How she manages to keep everything straight and think on her toes as well as she does, I’ll never know, but what I do know is that the walls are finally starting to close in on our favorite junkie. After a couple of false starts toward getting Jackie clean, her stunt with Kelly and the unaccounted for medicine may come back to bite her in the butt, as this week found suspicion gathering with next week featuring Jackie being suspended.

It’ll be interesting to see how the show handles this development. Season three has been slow-ish in terms of plot development, though progress has been made, and to see Jackie actually have to face serious concrete consequences for her often heinous actions would be worth the near misses. I don’t know if the show will go fully go down the path of having Jackie repent for her ways, mostly because the entire show is hinged on having her be this monster, but I think we may get to see even more chinks in the increasingly rusty armor that Jackie has been lugging around. She's wearing down right now, both physically and mentally, and we see that with her actions (walking down a road filled with traffic, leaving her emergency stash for Kevin to find, etc.).

While some will rightfully decry Jackie Peyton as being a whole lot of things, she's not been as irredeemable as she has been in the past. She recognizes her problem and she's taking steps to correct it, though going cold turkey after constantly popping anything you can get your hands off isn't exactly looking like a successful way to beat drug addiction. I would watch Edie Falco read the dictionary for 30 minutes a week, so letting her delve into the psychology of someone so damaged and desperate should make the final few episodes of this season a sight to behold.

Do you think Jackie will face any consequences this season? How do you think the season will end? Are you excited that it got renewed for a fourth season?

Nurse Jackie: Will Jackie Finally Face Consequences?

Showtime has just announced that the Emmy-winning The United States of Tara will not be returning for a fourth season next year. The series follows the life of Tara (played by Toni Collette), a suburban housewife and mother coping with dissociated identity disorder.

Whenever she is stressed, she transitions into one of her alternate personalities: wild and flirty teenager T; 1950s housewife Alice; and male, loud, beer-drinking  Vietnam vet Buck and Gimme. Toni Collette received two Emmy nominations (one win) and a Golden Globe Award for playing the part

In a more positive note, Showtime also chose to renew Nurse Jackie for a fourth season and the epic drama, The Borgias,  for a second season.

Showtime Cancels The United States Of Tara; Nurse Jackie And The Borgias Renewed

We’re now at a point in Nurse Jackie that feels like the calm before the storm. Jackie seems to have blunted whatever impact there was to be had during the season two finale when O’Hara and Kevin confronted her about her drug abuse. Though there was a slight threat of both of Jackie’s worlds being rocked by that kind of betrayal, she seems to have gotten her best friend talking to her again and her husband is over the moon at the prospect of her going to AA/NA meetings.

To put it simply, Jackie Peyton is the master manipulator to end all master manipulators and the first six episodes of season three have been sort of a long-form reset button for our favorite pill popping nurse. But how long can it last? Will Jackie break this season?

Considering how messy the first two finales were, something big will be going down in the next six episodes of the Showtime dark comedy (yes, it's a comedy; it's been quite funny this season). Season one had the did-she-or-didn’t-she overdose cliffhanger to go with season two’s botched intervention, so there’s bound to be something major in the pipeline. I don’t mind the show undoing some of what happened last season if the season three finale is as effective as I think it can be (and if they stay with what happens there through more than a couple of episodes next season, should the show be renewed), but I do want to see some serious mucking up of Jackie’s life.

If it were up to me, I’d want to see Jackie putting meetings/treatment on her already overstuffed platter or I’d want to see Jackie completely bottom out thanks to the mysterious man she’s encountered twice this season already. Should Jackie go to meetings and try to get treatment, it’d give her one more secret to hide from her co-workers, plus it’d be interesting to watch her “do battle” with various counselors and fellow patients. She seems to think she can get sober by herself and to have her deal with people trying to tell her what to do would really put her on the defensive. Having Jackie truly bottom out, on the other hand, could set the series up for so many good plotlines in the future. Not only would the fall itself be remarkable to watch, but seeing Jackie have to hide it from everyone and pick up the pieces afterward would give Edie Falco the weighty material that she seems to thrive on.

There seems to be fear of change with some Showtime shows, so they tend to keep their anti-heroes on a continual loop of abuse-intended recovery-abuse for the duration of the show. I’d point out that Weeds burned down the original incarnation of their show in season three and we’re heading into season seven this summer, so all is not lost by changing the dynamic of the show. I love Nurse Jackie and I think it has some absolutely brilliant performances, but I hope the rest of season three reaches even farther and puts our anti-heroine in uncomfortable situations that she can’t instantly wriggle herself free from.

Have you been enjoying Nurse Jackie this season? What do you hope happens the rest of season three? What role do you think Kelly will play?

Nurse Jackie: Will Jackie Break?

Jackie Peyton seemingly had avoided the collateral damage that could have resulted from last season’s forced intervention by Kevin and Dr. O’Hara. Though she had a fight with her husband over responsibility and her best friend is too exasperated to speak with her, she still has her job, her kids, and her relationship with co-worker Eddie, so all is not lost in the world of Nurse Jackie.

Which is why the presence of Kev’s sister Tunie, previously unseen and unmentioned, is so intriguing. Jackie may be a master manipulator who knows how to read people and turn an argument around on someone with a legitimate reason to be mad at her, but she’s got her control over people in her everyday life down to a science; Tunie isn’t under Jackie’s spell and now that she’s been set up on a date with Eddie, Jackie’s world is about to become a little more rocky. Tunie’s an unknown variable that could break season three wide open (in the best way), but what will be the fallout of her actions?

The one I’m most looking forward to is that she could occupy Eddie long enough to really rattle Jackie and send her back to the “therapist” she met that specializes in bringing addicts to rock bottom. I could see Jackie being so distraught at the thought of losing something she thought she had so much control over that she wants her physicality to match her current emotional state and she decides to hit rock bottom. Amping up Jackie’s drug issues wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world; it’d put both of Jackie’s lives (as nurse/Eddie’s lover and mom/Kevin’s wife) seriously on edge and will hopefully set her up to have to pay the piper after two+ years of avoiding paying for her actions.

Plus, what if Tunie’s thing with Eddie makes Jackie visibly jealous and Kev starts noticing? He knows about Jackie’s drug use, but he’s still clueless as ever about their affair and having him find out would be an awesome watch.

On the other hand, Tunie’s presence could have a different effect on the show’s chemistry. If she and Eddie don’t hit it off, it could make Eddie and Jackie grow closer in the process, distancing Jackie from Kevin even more. At least right now, I don’t think Tunie is a plant from Kevin to keep an eye on Jackie (even post-intervention, he doesn’t seem that suspicious of her), but if, say, she happens to walk in and see a romantic “moment” between Eddie and Jackie, I could see her telling Kev and then skipping town. Tunie may seem like plot device, but if she’s utilized correctly, she can take the show to places it hasn’t been before.

Man, do I love a lady who can work the word “buttknuckle” into a conversation with the ease that Tooney did in her debut episode. I think any way the show can work in another obstacle for Jackie should be utilized, mostly because I like seeing Edie Falco’s mind working to figure out how to get herself out of a jam scot free, so I’m very much down for seeing Tooney (inadvertently) stir things up.

Nurse Jackie airs tonight on Showtime at 10:00.

Nurse Jackie: What's Up with Tunie?

I feel like I probably know the answer to the primary question of this post. We all know that the Golden Globe Awards are a crock, especially when in reference to television. I originally wanted to write a post discussing whether or not it was worthwhile to even predict the outcome of the Golden Globe Awards’ television side, but then realized that would basically be a 250-word column featuring me saying “not really” in various ways. Critics and scholars complain a lot about the Emmys, but at least they follow a certain kind of logic and structure and outside of the HFPA’s love for sexy women, the Globes don’t work inside any sort of framework.

The Globes happen in the middle of the official television season (as opposed to the Emmy’s clearer position at the beginning of a new season with a reflection on the past one) and for the most part, the Globes do a bit of zeitgeist chasing. Glee was a big winner last year, as was Dexter in its most-talked about season right as Michael C. Hall’s cancer issues came about. I’m not saying the HFPA just picked Hall because he had cancer and it thus made a good story to run the next morning, but I really wouldn’t put it past them. Hall definitely deserves some praise for his work on Dexter, but I think you understand what I’m saying. When the Golden Globes nominated Piper Perabo for her work on Covert Affairs I think they did all the work for me in terms of explaining their logic and process, but if I were to distill it into bullet points it would probably be something like this:

• Attractive women = good choices
• Popular things, sexy things = good choices
• Things on cable, especially pay cable = good choices

That’s basically it. Those are the three criteria I am using to determine my “picks” for Sunday’s Golden Globes. I am not expecting to be correct with most of these and in fact if I end up being mostly correct, there’s probably something wrong with the HFPA. That means they’ve gotten complacent or listened to reason or something, which is unfortunate.

So far, I’ve tackled the two supporting categories and the four lead categories. Today, I’m finishing off my highly educated predictions with the two series categories.

Golden Globes Predictions: Series Categories

I feel like I probably know the answer to the primary question of this post. We all know that the Golden Globe Awards are a crock, especially when in reference to television. I originally wanted to write a post discussing whether or not it was worthwhile to even predict the outcome of the Golden Globe Awards’ television side, but then realized that would basically be a 250-word column featuring me saying “not really” in various ways. Critics and scholars complain a lot about the Emmys, but at least they follow a certain kind of logic and structure and outside of the HFPA’s love for sexy women, the Globes don’t work inside any sort of framework.

The Globes happen in the middle of the official television season (as opposed to the Emmy’s clearer position at the beginning of a new season with a reflection on the past one) and for the most part, the Globes do a bit of zeitgeist chasing. Glee was a big winner last year, as was Dexter in its most-talked about season right as Michael C. Hall’s cancer issues came about. I’m not saying the HFPA just picked Hall because he had cancer and it thus made a good story to run the next morning, but I really wouldn’t put it past them. Hall definitely deserves some praise for his work on Dexter, but I think you understand what I’m saying. When the Golden Globes nominated Piper Perabo for her work on Covert Affairs I think they did all the work for me in terms of explaining their logic and process, but if I were to distill it into bullet points it would probably be something like this:

• Attractive women = good choices
• Popular things, sexy things = good choices
• Things on cable, especially pay cable = good choices

That’s basically it. Those are the three criteria I am using to determine my “picks” for Sunday’s Golden Globes. I am not expecting to be correct with most of these and in fact if I end up being mostly correct, there’s probably something wrong with the HFPA. That means they’ve gotten complacent or listened to reason or something, which is unfortunate.

Yesterday, I handled the supporting categories. Today, the four lead categories.

Golden Globes Predictions: Lead Categories

If today's Screen Actors' Guild Awards announcement is any indication, the Betty White resurgence of the last couple of years is still as alive and as vibrant as she is, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

On the heels of her 2010 SAG Lifetime Achievement award, White's performance on the TVLand sitcom Hot in Cleveland has helped garner herself a SAG nomination in, not one but, TWO categories: Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy series and, in somewhat of a surprise, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for the entire Hot in Cleveland cast.

These nominations are set to make for a very interesting race, particularly in the suddenly "eyes-on" Comedy Actress category as the still-Golden Girl attempts to break Tina Fey's (30Rock) three year winning streak, as well as face off against recent Emmy winners Jane Lynch (Glee) and Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) in the same category. White herself is also coming off of an Emmy win for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

Interesting race, indeed. It almost makes me feel a little sorry for the also nominated Sophia Vergara (Modern Family) at this point.

Will Fey be able to sustain her reign as Comedy Queen, or will White's seemingly endless magic carpet ride take her sweeping across the SAG stage twice again, especially considering she's largely a supporting character on her show?

Personally, I'm hoping for the latter, because then perhaps we'll get another classic speech like this:

Betty White Still a 'Hot' Commodity

In case you didn’t know (because I sure as heck didn’t until I saw something the latest Entertainment Weekly), the Primetime Emmy Awards air on Sunday, August 29 on NBC. In the glow of some great nominations and not too many ridiculous slights (I’m resigned to the fact that Sons of Anarchy won’t get its due), the whole thing kind of sneaked up on us, didn’t it? Thankfully, I have enough time to spew out a bunch of predictions before the actual ceremony airs. I’ll be discussing one category a day all week, covering who I think will win and who I think should win.

Here we are at the end of our glorious journey. The Emmys are tomorrow! Are you excited? Can you feel the buzz in the air? Yeah…

Outstanding Drama Series

Nominees:

• True Blood
• Lost
• Breaking Bad
• Mad Men
• The Good Wife
• Dexter

What won’t happen: The biggest award of the night might seem like an interesting race on paper, but I’m not so sure it is. I don’t have any major problems with these nominees (I really liked season two of True Blood), but it’s perhaps only a three-series race. Though I liked True Blood S2, there is hopefully no way in hell it wins this award. I can’t imagine the Emmy voters would be stupid enough to stoop low enough to vote for the HBO series. Moreover, despite my love for Lost, the sixth season wasn’t strong enough to warrant a victory over some of these other series. It’s possible the voters could give it one final send off, but it’s less likely with the quality issues.

What could happen: I know I said it was a three-series race, but there’s a major groundswell of support for season four of Dexter and especially Michael C. Hall, so it is kinda-sorta possible that the Showtime series is in this thing. Additionally, there is a lot of buzz for The Good Wife as well, as if the voters want to re-crown broadcast television or something. I think the CBS series has a chance, but the nomination might be just enough of a coronation in 2010. Into the future, The Good Wife will be a major force to be reckoned with.

What should happen: Breaking Bad is the best series on television right now, by a larger margin than even I would have thought before its third season began. But then the AMC unspooled one of the best, most amazingly consistent full seasons I have ever seen in my short time on this earth. I think it’s time that the deserving king be crowned.

What will happen: Breaking Bad is right there, but the Emmy voters love its AMC brother Mad Men. It appeals to the older and younger voters alike, and despite a weak-for-its-standards third season, the powerful episodes are damn good and sure-fire victory-bait. There are chances something else like Breaking Bad or The Good Wife slips away with the win, but I can’t see it. Unfortunately.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Nominees:

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Glee
• 30 Rock
  
• Modern Family
• Nurse Jackie
• The Office

What won’t happen: Just like it’s drama counterpart, the Comedy Series race will surely come down to three series. I could be wishful thinking, but I cannot imagine, in any way whatsoever, that Nurse Jackie wins this thing. It’s disappointing that the mediocre Showtime series was even nominated over a slew of other, more worthy series (Parks and Recreation, Community, Party Down, etc.) so I’m going to refuse to believe that it has a chance of winning. Also in the loser’s circle? The Office. The NBC comedy is coming over a major down year, is lacking buzz and doesn’t deserve to be nominated either. Let’s just move on.

What could happen: If the Seinfeld thing had a major effect on the voter’s minds that it could last over a year, then Curb Your Enthusiasm could win. 30 Rock is the big, dominating elephant in the room, and despite the Glee-Modern Family face-off that’s being built up in the press (and by me), there isn’t a whole lot the NBC comedy did to lose.

What should happen: However, this award is coming down to Modern Family and Glee. In that battle, I have to go with the ABC comedy, for so many reasons, but perhaps the most important one being that, you know, it’s actually funny. Glee has a number of great and emotional moments, but it doesn’t really deserve to be in this category and thus definitely doesn’t deserve to win.

What will happen: I’m getting more and more terrified that Glee will actually win this thing, but I’m sticking to my guns. Modern Family takes this one home.

2010 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series

In case you didn’t know (because I sure as heck didn’t until I saw something the latest Entertainment Weekly), the Primetime Emmy Awards air on Sunday, August 29 on NBC. In the glow of some great nominations and not too many ridiculous slights (I’m resigned to the fact that Sons of Anarchy won’t get its due), the whole thing kind of sneaked up on us, didn’t it? Thankfully, I have enough time to spew out a bunch of predictions before the actual ceremony airs. I’ll be discussing one category a day all week, covering who I think will win and who I think should win.

Into the lead categories now, as we tackle the fickle Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Comedy Series categories.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

• Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Matthew Morrison, Glee
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
• Tony Shaloub, Monk

What won’t happen: This looks like a stacked category on paper, but there are not actually too many of these fellas that have a chance of winning the award (Obviously, only one wins, but you know what I mean). In fact, two of the bigger names here, Larry David and Steve Carell, don’t have much of a shot in winning. It’s a shame that neither performer has won this award before, but this year won’t bring any change to that. David had some buzz for the most recent and Seinfeld-centric season of Curb, but it finished almost a year ago, so I don’t think the voters are going to remember that far back (cut them some slack, they’re old). Carell is always a threat, but coming off a weak and buzz-less season of The Office and having a final year on the series coming up, he’s a nearly a sure-fire winner for 2011. But this year, I don’t think so.

What could happen: With those two out of the picture, any of the other four gentleman has a shot at winning this thing. Matthew Morrison is definitely the least deserving of the four (and the six, and the other people whose spot he stole like Joel McHale or Adam Scott), but if that much-discussed Glee wave catches on and the voters are charmed by his glorious rapping abilities, he just might win. And we just might have to burn down the theater. Alec Baldwin is a repeat winner looking for three in a row, and there’s also really no reason why the voters wouldn’t pick him again. He was fine this year, but Alec Baldwin fine is still damn good.

What should happen: I’ve gone on record with my ambivalence towards The Big Bang Theory, but Jim Parsons is awesome as Sheldon and the only reason I occasionally tune in to the CBS megahit. With Carell on a down year and Baldwin hangover, I think it’s time to pass the torch a little bit. He was nominated last year and unofficially “paid his dues,” so let’s just give it to him.

What will happen: Unfortunately, it looks like we’re headed towards another victory for Tony Shaloub. The Monk stars victories in 2003, 2005 and 2006 were frustrating and one of the reasons I hate the Emmys, but for various reasons, I’m more okay with his swan song victory that’s to come this Sunday. He was very good in the final, two-hour episode that finally resolved the series’ mystery, and really was always good, even if we did hate that he beat out “edgier” performers. After this he’ll be gone, so we can all move on, at least.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominees:

• Lea Michelle, Glee
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Toni Collette, The United States of Tara
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

What won’t happen: At first glance, this category looks wide open as well, but I’m not so sure. The only thing I am sure about depresses me the most: Amy Poehler will not win. She’s a past nominee for her work on SNL, so it’s obvious the voters like her, but not enough to overcome the perception that Parks and Recreation isn’t any good and not enough to overcome her counterparts with meatier material. Sad-face.

What could happen: Aside from Poehler, I can concoct situations where any of these fine ladies end the night a winner. Julia Louis-Dreyfus could easily grab the award as a goodbye for her fine work on canceled CBS sitcom, especially considering she’s a former winner. And like Matthew Morrison (and probably even more possible), Lea Michelle could surprise if Glee destroys multiple categories. Tina Fey is always a major threat, like Louis-Dreyfus she’s a former winner and an Emmy favorite. Her submitted episode is always hilarious, so I would be far from shocked if she wins either.

What should happen: Poehler!

What will happen: Of course, even those this is the “Comedy” category, it’s going to come down to two performances that are more dramatic than comedic, as the Showtime ladies Edie Falco and Toni Collette will face-off for the victory. Collette deservedly won last year and didn’t do anything to be knocked off her pedestal — playing multiple characters will do that for you. However, Falco is a three-time winner and multiple-nominee for her work on The Sopranos and is able to submit the pilot episode of Nurse Jackie. I’ve assumed she’d have this award in the bag since the series premiered, and there’s no reason to change my mind now.

2010 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series

In case you didn’t know (because I sure as heck didn’t until I saw something the latest Entertainment Weekly), the Primetime Emmy Awards air on Sunday, August 29 on NBC. In the glow of some great nominations and not too many ridiculous slights (I’m resigned to the fact that Sons of Anarchy won’t get its due), the whole thing kind of sneaked up on us, didn’t it? Thankfully, I have enough time to spew out a bunch of predictions before the actual ceremony airs. I’ll be discussing one category a day all week, covering who I think will win and who I think should win.

Let’s get started with the two directing categories.

Directing for a Drama Series

Nominees:

• Michelle MacLaren (Breaking Bad, “One Minute”)
• Steve Shill (Dexter, “The Getaway”)
• Jack Bender (Lost, “The End”)
• Lesli Linka Glatter (Mad Men, “Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency”)
• Agnieszka Holland (Treme, “Do You Know What It Means”)

What won’t happen: Good for Treme and Agnieszka Hollan for getting a major nomination, but that’s all it is. And despite the intensity and general awesomeness of “One Minute,” I have to say the same thing about Michelle MacLaren.

What could happen: There seems to be a groundswell of support for Dexter after its popular fourth season and there is a possibility that that swell could turn into a wave of victories that extends all the way to this category. In that case, Steve Shill isn’t totally out of the race. Mad Men has been nominated three years in a row, but hasn’t won yet. That could change, but it’s an outside chance.

What should happen: Jack Bender finally gets recognized for his stellar work on Lost. Bender’s been nominated three times now (the other two came for the second and third season finales), but there is absolutely no question that “The End” is his strongest and most defining work on the series. It feels just as big as the J.J. Abrams-helmed pilot. Lost probably won’t take any other of the major awards, so let’s hope it at least grabs this one on its way out of television.

What will happen: Bender takes it, though Shill and Linka Glatter might surprise.

Directing for a Comedy Series

Nominees:

• Don Scardino (30 Rock, “I Do Do”)
• Ryan Murphy (Glee, “Pilot”)
• Paris Barclay (Glee, “Wheels”)
• Jason Winer (Modern Family, “Pilot”)
• Allen Coulter (Nurse Jackie, “Pilot”)

What won’t happen: Allen Coulter, thanks for playing, but you’re not stepping anywhere near this award. TheNurse Jackie pilot is fine, but not distinctive enough, especially with this group of heavy hitters. And much likeMad Men, 30 Rock has been nominated in this category every season (and took a ridiculous three spots last year), but never actually won it. So with buzz for Rock down and two big-time newbies to deal with, Don Scardino doesn’t really have a chance to walk away with the award, either.

What could happen: If the obviously flashier Glee episodes see their votes split in two, the wave for Modern Family gets really big or a combination of both, Jason Winer could very easily take this one. The Modern Familypilot isn’t revolutionary, but it’s well-executed on every level that I can think of.

What should happen: There are going to be a lot of Glee-Modern Family battles, but this is the one that Glee has the biggest advantage, thanks to its subject matter and ability to go bigger. However, despite the conventional wisdom that leans towards picking pilots as winners, Paris Barclay’s work on “Wheels” is wonderful and it is most definitely one of the 2-3 best episodes the series did during season one.

What will happen: I still believe that Glee ends up on top of the battle with Modern Family, but Ryan Murphy takes home the award for his fine work on the pilot episode. I don’t necessarily want or need anymore Ryan Murphy on my television or people talking about Ryan Murphy on my television, but he’s deserving and I’d rather have Glee win here than anywhere else.

Tomorrow: Writing categories!

2010 Emmy Predictions: Directing for Drama and Comedy Series

Believe it or not, folks, but half of 2010 has already come and gone. These first six months of the new decade have been filled with great television -- both new shows and old have already premiered new seasons. That's why I've taken it upon myself to call out the top five new and returning shows of 2010, as well as the top five new and returning shows that I'm most anticipating for the year's second half. As always, keep in mind that this article is entirely an opinion piece and that any and all opinions are from a first-person perspective. If you disagree with any of my choices, feel free to discuss that in the comments section (or better yet, head to the forums with your thoughts).

Here's your key for the rest of the article by page number:

1. Introduction (You are here)
2. Top 5 New Shows
3. Top 5 Returning Shows
4. Top 5 Anticipated New Shows
5. Top 5 Anticipated Returning Shows

Read on, enjoy, and give me your feedback.

5 for '10: The Best of Half of 2010

]]> http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/5-for-10-the-best-of-half-of-2010/25613/feed/ 3 http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/junkies-five-television-addicts-we-root-fo/20516?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=junkies-five-television-addicts-we-root-fo http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/junkies-five-television-addicts-we-root-fo/20516#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:36:46 +0000 Sam McPherson http://www.tvovermind.com/?p=20516

Junkies: Five Television Addicts We Root For

Addiction to any substance, is of course, a terrible thing. But the internal struggle and conflict it creates usually results in deeply developed characters and enjoyable television. Recent television has brought these tortured people to the limelight, and highlights their struggle with addiction. Sometimes they are main characters and the addiction takes the forefront, while [...]

Junkies: Five Television Addicts We Root For

]]> Junkies: Five Television Addicts We Root For

Addiction to any substance, is of course, a terrible thing. But the internal struggle and conflict it creates usually results in deeply developed characters and enjoyable television. Recent television has brought these tortured people to the limelight, and highlights their struggle with addiction. Sometimes they are main characters and the addiction takes the forefront, while other times the characters are peripheral and their addiction makes the background of the series much more layered.

With two shows returning this month featuring troubled addicts in the main cast, it's time to take a look back at the best characters from recent television who have been addicts, and whose journey we have followed along with, whether it led to their redemption or demise. Because without these characters, quite a few characters on television wouldn't contain the same level of realism that we have come to expect.

Next: A nurse with a penchant for deception>>

Junkies: Five Television Addicts We Root For

]]> http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/junkies-five-television-addicts-we-root-fo/20516/feed/ 2 http://www.tvovermind.com/nurse-jackie/new-nurse-jackie-season-2-poster/17486?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-nurse-jackie-season-2-poster http://www.tvovermind.com/nurse-jackie/new-nurse-jackie-season-2-poster/17486#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:31:17 +0000 Sam McPherson http://www.tvovermind.com/?p=17486

New 'Nurse Jackie' Season 2 Poster

Remember the promotional poster for Nurse Jackie's first season? You should -- it was plastered over almost every advertisement bar on the internet. It featured Jacke star Edie Falco brandishing a syringe like a middle finger, with the tagline "Life is full of little pricks." That phrase obviously has a double meaning. The same goes [...]

New 'Nurse Jackie' Season 2 Poster

]]> New 'Nurse Jackie' Season 2 Poster

Remember the promotional poster for Nurse Jackie's first season? You should -- it was plastered over almost every advertisement bar on the internet. It featured Jacke star Edie Falco brandishing a syringe like a middle finger, with the tagline "Life is full of little pricks." That phrase obviously has a double meaning.

The same goes for the season two promotional photo. This time, though, the syringes (along with pills, pill bottles, and thermometers) outline Jackie's head in a halo. The tagline is "Holy shift." Get it?

Nurse Jackie will return to Showtime on March 22 to begin its second season. Here's the poster for your reading pleasure:

New 'Nurse Jackie' Season 2 Poster

]]> http://www.tvovermind.com/nurse-jackie/new-nurse-jackie-season-2-poster/17486/feed/ 2 http://www.tvovermind.com/the-tudors/showtime-sets-2010-return-dates-for-several-shows/12897?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=showtime-sets-2010-return-dates-for-several-shows http://www.tvovermind.com/the-tudors/showtime-sets-2010-return-dates-for-several-shows/12897#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:38:28 +0000 Clarissa http://www.tvovermind.com/?p=12897

Showtime Sets 2010 Return Dates for Several Shows

Missing The Tudors? Want to know when the new show Nurse Jackie will return for its second season? Showtime has posted the release dates for five of its shows that will be returning in the late winter and early spring of 2010.

Showtime Sets 2010 Return Dates for Several Shows

]]> Showtime Sets 2010 Return Dates for Several Shows

Missing The Tudors?  Want to know when the new show Nurse Jackie will return for its second season?

Showtime has posted the release dates for five of its shows that will be returning in the late winter and early spring of 2010:

Secret Diary of a Call Girl - January 25

Tracey Ullman's State of the Union - January 25

Nurse Jackie - March 22

United States of Tara - March 22

The Tudors - April 11

Source: THR Feed

Showtime Sets 2010 Return Dates for Several Shows

]]> http://www.tvovermind.com/the-tudors/showtime-sets-2010-return-dates-for-several-shows/12897/feed/ 2 http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/nurse-jackie-1-12-health-care-and-cinema-recap/8229?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nurse-jackie-1-12-health-care-and-cinema-recap http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/nurse-jackie-1-12-health-care-and-cinema-recap/8229#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:42:08 +0000 Sam McPherson http://www.tvovermind.com/?p=8229

Nurse Jackie 1.12 -- "Health Care and Cinema" recap

Season one of Nurse Jackie is already gone; tonight's episode was the finale. And it ended on such a strange note, that I'm interested to see where season two goes. It was actually the most overall strange episode of Jackie yet. Not much was resolved, but the rising action just continued right on up to [...]

Nurse Jackie 1.12 -- "Health Care and Cinema" recap

]]> Nurse Jackie 1.12 -- "Health Care and Cinema" recap

Season one of Nurse Jackie is already gone; tonight's episode was the finale. And it ended on such a strange note, that I'm interested to see where season two goes. It was actually the most overall strange episode of Jackie yet. Not much was resolved, but the rising action just continued right on up to the trippy closing moments of the episode.

The episode begins with Jackie and Kevin at the bar. Jackie is complaining about Jenny Flynn, the woman at the dance class who caused the scene with Jackie. Jackie reveals that she knows that Jenny and Kevin used to date, but Kevin insists it was only for two weeks when they were sixteen. Jackie worries about Grace's reaction to the entire Jenny Flynn situation, but Kevin reassures her that Grace will soon see that Jackie was just trying to help.

Kevin then tells Jackie that he's got a surprise for her when she gets off work, and so she'll have to come to the bar at midnight to recieve it. Jackie is delighted, musing "Who is luckier than me?"

As Jackie leaves, she is looked on from afar by Eddie, who saw her with Kevin and her daughters the previous night. As Eddie enters the bar, Jackie turns around. She doesn't see Eddie, however, and continues on her way, a troubled look on her face. Eddie, meanwhile, sits down at the bar, and Kevin invites him to have a drink, even though the bar isn't supposed to open for another hour. Eddie decides he wants a beer.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Akalitus talks to the comatose Nutterman, eventually grasping his hand. Zoey notices this but says nothing. Jackie, meanwhile, goes to the hospital, and stops by the pill-o-matix to get some pain medication, but is only able to score Tylenol. "Blow me," she deadpans disappointedly.

As she's leaving the room, she is stopped by Akalitus outside the elevator. Akalitus informs her that she is opening up the Nutterman case for investigation, and she'll need to question Jackie and Zoey in her office in five minutes. However, as soon as Akalitus gets in the elevator, it gets stuck, stranding her alone. Jackie continues on to the nurse's station, which is swamped with phone calls. Zoey is talking to Nutterman, telling him her name and apologizing for her mistake which put him into the coma.

Jackie finally calls Zoey over for some help. Akalitus calls the nurse's station from her cell phone in the elevator, but is put on hold by Zoey. She calls again, loudly telling Zoey her name. Zoey hangs up anyway, unfazed. Jackie notices that Zoey is wearing grey scrubs, and Zoey informs her that they are because she's in "mourning" for her mistake. Jackie doesn't like the scrubs. Zoey ignores another call from Akalitus, and asks Jackie if there's going to be an investigation into the Nutterman coma. Jackie says yes, but advises her not to call the elevator repairman just yet.

Coop then comes up to Jackie, telling her that he knows that she broke her own finger. Though she is shocked that he knows this, Jackie feigns ignorance and follows him to discuss it in privacy. He tells her that she broke her finger just to get some alone time with him, because of their "chemistry." Jackie calls him a moron, but kisses him once more. He's confused by this -- very confused.

Meanwhile, Zoey talks to Thor and Mo-Mo about her scrubs. Neither of them like the scrubs. In the middle of their discussion, a tall, skinny girl (heralded by Mo-Mo as "America's next top model") walks into the clinic. Taking off her hoodie, she reveals a large piece of hair missing from her scalp. Mo-Mo and Thor are unsympathetic, but Zoey suggests a hair stylist that she knows who will fix the girl's hair. The girl wants Zoey as a nurse, but since Zoey cannot treat patients, she is stuck with Mo-Mo and Thor.

Meanwhile, at the bar, Eddie asks Kevin about Jackie, pretending that he doesn't know her. He tells Kevin that he himself is in a relationship with a marrried woman who has two children. Kevin sympathizes, but Eddie tells him that he has "no idea."

Akalitus remains stuck in the elevator, and slowly begins to grow stir-crazy.She begins talking to herself, pretending as though she is at a meeting, and talks about herself and Nutterman. "It's been a great year for healthcare...and cinema," she crows to an invisible audience.

O'Hara informs Jackie that she's going to break the law -- she's having her mother shipped in from London, just so she can see her with her own eyes. Because she can't handle the paperwork, she is admitting her mother as a Jane Doe.

Jackie tries to get the pill-o-matix to give her something stronger, but it refuses to cooperate. She calls Eddie for help, but he's still at the bar, and ignoresher call once he sees that it's her. Jackie, frustrated, leaves.

Back at the nurse's station, Jackie continues to beg Zoey to change, but Zoey refuses, hypothetically wondering what Nutterman's reaction would be if he saw her wearing happily decorated scrubs after she'd put him into a coma. Jackie thinks that it won't be a big issue. Zoey thinks it is, however, and wants to apologize to Nutterman, and admit that she made a mistake. Jackie tries to assure Zoey that it would be selfish to tell Nutterman, because it would only make herself feel better.

Coop, meanwhile, talks to Mo-Mo about Jackie while they're treating a man whose intestine has popped out of his stomach. Mo-Mo is unaware that it's Jackie who Coop is talking about, and expresses his own regrets about a man who he likes who is not into him.

Jackie calls Eddie once more, but he ignores her, and instead continues talking to Kevin about Jackie. Kevin shows Eddie the wedding band he's gotten for Jackie. Eddie begins to drink more.

The elevator maintenance men finally get Akalitus out of the elevator. As she walks hurriedly out, she complains that they were "not prompt." Jackie, meanwhile, tries to reset the pill-o-matix, but instead sets off its alarm. She leaves when it doesn't stop blaring.

While O'Hara waits for her mother to arrive, Coop decides to help out Mo-Mo by taking a picture of them kissing in order to make Mo-Mo's crush jealous. Jackie walks by, throwing an offhand comment about Coop, to which Coop tries to save face. Mo-Mo realizes that Coop is talking about Jackie.

Meanwhile, Nutterman wakes up, though he has no memory of any cinema except Showgirls. ("I broke him," Zoey whimpers.) He does, however, remember exactly what Zoey said to him while he was in the coma, and he notices the bright new scrubs that Zoey is wearing, though she tries to tell him that she had previously been wearing grey ones.

Meanwhile, Eddie shows up at the hospital, drunk. He causes a scene, shouting profanities. Jackie tries to calm him down, but can't. Akalitus asks him to leave, and when he is stubborn, she threatens to call security. He agrees to leave, but not before telling Jackie that he's met Kevin. Jackie, astonished, flees to the pill-o-matix machine, taking out three vials of morphene. Sneaking into a private room, Jackie takes all three vials before lying down on the floor.

She blinks, and discovers that she has been dressed in completely new nurse attire, much like the ones pictured left. The room is bathed in a white glow. Looking to her left, she sees an idyllic family -- Kevin and her two daughters -- waving at her.She begins singing "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" in a drowsy voice inside her head.

However, her hallucination is broken when she sees a rat in the fluorescent light above her. She watches it circle the light twice, and then wonders aloud: "Did anyone else see that."

And that's the end of the season. It's not the most satisfying end, mind you, but as Peter Facinelli so aptly described the finale, "I can say that nothing gets tied up in a neat little bow for the end of this season. It's like life. The end of the day is not wrapped up in a neat little package. You have to wait to tomorrow to see how today really was. That's how it is with this show."

Nurse Jackie will return for a second season in 2010.

Nurse Jackie 1.12 -- "Health Care and Cinema" recap

]]> http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/nurse-jackie-1-12-health-care-and-cinema-recap/8229/feed/ 0 http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/nurse-jackie-1-11-pill-o-matix-recap/7872?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nurse-jackie-1-11-pill-o-matix-recap http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/nurse-jackie-1-11-pill-o-matix-recap/7872#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:29:43 +0000 Sam McPherson http://www.tvovermind.com/?p=7872

Nurse Jackie 1.11 -- "Pill O-Matix" recap

Though not as good as last week's installment as far as laughs go, the penultimate episode of Nurse Jackie's first season was still one of the better things on television this week. However, like all shows featuring adultry, it's all got to unravel eventually -- and for Jackie, that's quickly happening. The episode opened with [...]

Nurse Jackie 1.11 -- "Pill O-Matix" recap

]]> Nurse Jackie 1.11 -- "Pill O-Matix" recap

Though not as good as last week's installment as far as laughs go, the penultimate episode of Nurse Jackie's first season was still one of the better things on television this week. However, like all shows featuring adultry, it's all got to unravel eventually -- and for Jackie, that's quickly happening.

The episode opened with Jackie spending time with her family. Kevin and Fiona have  a "secret plan" for Jackie while she takes Grace to her tap class. Fiona almost spills the beans, but is shushed quickly by Kevin. For such a small performance, Daisy Tahan does a wonderful job as Jackie's cute youngest daughter.

While at tap class, Jackie gets into an argument with a fellow mom because her daughter is running into Grace. Jackie tries to tell the girl to back off, despite Grace's pleas, eventually getting into a verbal fight with the girls mother, "saying the f word" to her, and leaving with an embarrassed and angry Grace.

Meanwhile, Kevin and Fiona are looking at rings to replace the wedding band that Jackie had sawed off last week. Kevin opts to get her a diamond ring, which he and Fiona will use to surprise Jackie. I'm surprised that the jeweler didn't tell Kevin that the ring had been sawed off, which he should have been able to tell if he was any kind of jeweler at all.

Meanwhile, Jackie arrives at the hospital for the orientation for the new Pill O-Matix (apparently the Pixus was scrapped in favor of this "better" machine). Eddie is present, and though Akalitus expresses regret for firing him, she makes him watch the orientation of his replacement.

Meanwhile, Coop begins asking Zoey what Jackie likes, to which Zoey humorously replies with a list of mundane things, including gum, and coffee. Coop inquires as to whether Jackie is seeing someone, and Zoey replies that she thinks so. Coop still thinks that Zoey's "thinking so" is still plenty of reason for hope. However, his girlfriend arrives at the doorway in an elaborate fur coat, and "just happened to be in town."

Coop painstakingly breaks up with her outside the hospital in favor of Jackie, refusing her offers of allowing him to see other people. She walks away, leaving him, as O'Hara and Jackie look on. He waves sheepishly, prompting peals of laughter from O'Hara as Jackie disgustedly goes back inside.

Coop brings Jackie  a vase of flowers and some gum, a sweet but annoyingly stubborn gesture which he refuses, leaving her the stuff before leaving. Before Jackie can do anything, however, a movie critic is brought in, having fallen and broken his arm while crossing the street while on his laptop.

Jackie doesn't think that this man has the best taste, telling him that she actually liked Hotel for Dogs, which the critic called the worst film of the year. They argue back and forth, and the dislikable critic doesn't earn any points with Jackie.

Jackie returns the vase and gum to Coop, despite his argument, and leaves. As she does, Eddie walks into the hallway, running into Akalitus, who tells him that she's looking for another position to put him in, perhaps in a smaller pharmacy, like oncology.

Akalitus then goes to meet the critic, and the two surprisingly hit it off, despite them both being very contrary people. After finding out that he's single, Akalitus shows interest, but walks away.

Meanwhile, Eddie shows Jackie a new glitch he has found in the Pill O-Matix -- unplugging the computer will cause the system to reset, and Jackie will be able to get whatever she wants out of the cabinet. He assures her that everything will be fine, and that he'll still see her outside the hospital. He wants to meet her kid, and he wants her to meet his mom. He's a very nice guy, and it's sad to see him get played like this by Jackie. The two then proceed to have sex on top of the Pill O-Matix.

Later, the critic is complaining of the pain, but Zoey accidentally overdoses him during a conversation with Jackie about the film The Guardian, causing him to go into a coma. Zoey is sent away to the bathroom, and is told that she's being taken off the floor. She'll be able to answer the phone, but that's about it. Akalitus then walks in and orders Zoey to go to her office. She's obviously angry about her potential love interest being thrown into a coma.

Meanwhile, Mo-Mo deals with a patient who has a spider in his ear. The experience is unpleasant for everyone involved, even after the spider is flushed out; the patient complains that he feels something crawling in his other ear too.

Later, Thor and M0-Mo take Zoey out for dinner, trying to reassure her that she'll be okay, and that the experience with the movie critic will end up improving her nursing skills. Zoey suddenly has the epiphany that Thor is gay, but this seems to be the only revelation she has during their dinner.

Meanwhile, Jackie returns to the bar, bringing back some flowers from Coop's gift (the only part of it she didn't throw away) to her two daughters. Fiona is appreciative, but Grace is still resentful to Jackie for the incident at the dancing class. As Jackie hugs Kevin and looks over her daughters, Eddie is shown looking in from the window -- the jig is up for Jackie! Eddie walks away into the dark snow, ending the episode.

It was a rather good one, and there's plenty of foreshadowing to be found. The rather random discussion about O'Hara's mother sets us up for an appearance from the reason for O'Hara's woes, and of course the payoff of Eddie finding out about Jackie's family will be something to watch, come next week in the season one finale of Nurse Jackie, which will be titled "Health Care and Cinema."

Nurse Jackie 1.11 -- "Pill O-Matix" recap

]]> http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/nurse-jackie-1-11-pill-o-matix-recap/7872/feed/ 0 http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/addicted-to-the-afflicted-nurse-jackie/5288?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=addicted-to-the-afflicted-nurse-jackie http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/addicted-to-the-afflicted-nurse-jackie/5288#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:42:11 +0000 Jo Garfein http://www.tvovermind.com/?p=5288

Addicted to the Afflicted: Nurse Jackie Review

There is a fine line between bitter and seasoned. As a veteran ER nurse, Jackie Peyton both toes and blurs that line. Nurse Jackie, the new Monday night series on Showtime, provides a rather refreshing perspective and premise among the others populating the relatively drab summer television landscape.  The show successfully illuminates the somber reality [...]

Addicted to the Afflicted: Nurse Jackie Review

]]> Addicted to the Afflicted: Nurse Jackie Review

There is a fine line between bitter and seasoned. As a veteran ER nurse, Jackie Peyton both toes and blurs that line.

Nurse Jackie, the new Monday night series on Showtime, provides a rather refreshing perspective and premise among the others populating the relatively drab summer television landscape.  The show successfully illuminates the somber reality of hospital relationships and life in the emergency room, miles beyond the brightly lit ER or the jovial environment of Scrubs. The tone is dark, but not sinister; there is enough levity to balance the bleak.

Edie Falco is nothing short of mesmerizing as Jackie. Most of us are quite familiar with her strong screen presence from six seasons on The Sopranos, but I am thrilled to be able to now watch a show centered directly around her week after week.  There are very few actresses of her caliber who could fill these sturdy white shoes, let alone those who would go near a role as raw and risky as Jackie. To be frank, I already see Emmy potential for Falco (her biggest competition may come from fellow Showtime lead Toni Collette for The United States of Tara).

By the way, Sopranos fans will enjoy the fact that Father Phil has reunited with Carmela (actor Paul Schulze plays the hospital pharmacist on Nurse Jackie)!  Other familiar faces on Nurse Jackie include Peter Facinelli (to the delight of squealing Twilight fanatics everywhere), Merritt Weaver (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) and Anna Deveare Smith (The West Wing).

After only one episode, I am hooked and will be setting my TiVO for the season. I appreciate the character development and surprising turns that boldly unfold in the pilot, and look forward to an unpredictable and enjoyable summer with Nurse Jackie.

[Jo is a pop culture writer who loves television and covers Lost extensively. She will also be tuning in to The Cleaner, Entourage, Hung, True Blood and Weeds during the next few months while impatiently awaiting the return of Mad Men.]

Addicted to the Afflicted: Nurse Jackie Review

]]> http://www.tvovermind.com/tv-news/addicted-to-the-afflicted-nurse-jackie/5288/feed/ 0