Monday, September 21, 2009

The Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then... Even More Aggressive Mediocrity Post.

With thanks to the producers of Californication for the title.


About 40 minutes ago E! finished relaying the Emmys c/o CBS. I got up just in time to miss Hayden Panettiere on the red carpet, thus setting the tone for the dull nature of the rest of the show. Not because of Neil Patrick Harris (actually a vast improvement on last year's hosts), and certainly not because of his opening number by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman ("(Christina Hendricks) could turn a gay man straight... oh wait, there's Jon Hamm"). Not because of the lack of visual entertainment from the presenters - my girl Hayden ("You know her as the voice of Fairy Princess Willow in Scooby-Doo And The Goblin King") and Blake "The Leg And Cleavage Show" Lively excepted. No, the problem was the spectacular lack of shocks - plus I can sympathise with anyone watching and wondering "Who? What?" No offence, but when a BBC/PBS miniseries of a Dickens novel - Little Dorrit - is one of the biggest winners at a TV awards show the word "boring" somehow comes to mind. And as for all the repeat wins...


And who else noticed that practically all the in-vision "presenters coming up" bits were for people who were either on CBS shows or shows linked to the corporate owners (like the Gossip Girls, courtesy the CW - partly owned by CBS)? Still, no complaints about the E! feed including part of the CBS promo for CSI: Miami accompanying the end credits. Or about Kristin Chenoweth (as opposed to Wizards of Waverly Place) winning. Which brings us to...

Outstanding Comedy Series: 30 Rock, Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey, Marci Klein, David Miner and Robert Carlock, executive producers; John Riggi, Jack Burditt and Ron Weiner, co-executive producers; Matt Hubbard and Jeff Richmond, supervising producers; Don Scardino and Jerry Kupfer, producers (NBC)
Outstanding Drama Series: Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, executive producer; Scott Hornbacher, co-executive producer; André Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton and Lisa Albert, supervising producers (AMC)
Outstanding Miniseries: Little Dorrit, Anne Pivcevic and Rebecca Eaton, executive producers; Lisa Osborne, producer (PBS)
Outstanding Made For Television Movie: Grey Gardens, Lucy Barzun Donnelly, Rachael Horovitz and Michael Sucsy, executive producers; David Coatsworth, produced by (HBO)
Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Jon Stewart, host/executive producer; David Javerbaum, Rory Albanese and Josh Lieb, executive producers; Kahane Corn, co-executive producer; Jennifer Flanz, Jim Margolis, Steve Bodow and Adam Lowitt, supervising producers; Jill Katz, producer (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special: The Kennedy Center Honors, George Stevens and Michael Stevens, producers (CBS)
Outstanding Special Class Program: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Dick Ebersol, executive producer; David Neal, producer (NBC)
Outstanding Special Class - Short-format Live-Action Entertainment Program: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Joss Whedon, Michael Boretz and David Burns, producers (drhorrible.com)
Outstanding Special Class - Short-format Nonfiction Program: Writer's Draft, Kenny Rhodes, producer (Fox Movie Channel)
Outstanding Children's Program: Wizards Of Waverly Place, Todd J. Greenwald, Peter Murrieta, Vince Cheung and Ben Montanio, executive producers; Matt Goldman, co-executive producer; Greg A. Hampson, produced by (Disney Channel)
Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program: Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? With Maria Shriver, Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver, executive producers; Veronica Brady, supervising producer; Eamon Harrington and John Watkin, produced by; John Hoffman, series producer (HBO), and "Coming Home: When Parents Return from War," Nick News With Linda Ellerbee, Linda Ellerbee and Rolfe Tessem, executive producers; Wally Berger, supervising producer; Mark Lyons, producer; Martin Toub, produced by (Nickelodeon)
Outstanding Nonfiction Special: 102 Minutes That Changed America, Greg Jacobs, Jon Siskel and Susan Werbe, executive producers; Nicole Rittenmeyer, producer (History)Outstanding Nonfiction Series: American Masters, Susan Lacy, executive producer; Prudence Glass, series producer; Julie Sacks, supervising producer; Judy Kinberg, producer (PBS)
Outstanding Reality Program: Intervention, Gary Benz, Michael Branton, Sam Mettler, Dan Partland, Robert Sharenow and Colleen Conway, executive producers; Jeff Grogan, supervising producer; Trisha Kirk Redding and Sarah Skibitzke, producers; Kurt Schemper, produced by (A&E)
Outstanding Reality - Competition Program: The Amazing Race, Bertram van Munster, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and Hayma "Screech" Washington, executive producers; Elise Doganieri, Amy Nabseth Chacon and Mark Vertullo, co-executive producers; Matt Schmidt, Jarratt Carson and Evan Weinstein, supervising producers; Giselle Parets, Michael Norton and Patrick Cariaga, senior producers; Phil Keoghan, producer (CBS)
Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour): "Margaritaville," South Park, Trey Parker, executive producer/writer/director; Matt Stone and Anne Garefino, executive producers; Frank C. Agnone II, supervising producer; Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell, Erica Rivinoja, Vernon Chatman and Bill Hader, producers; Ryan Quincy, director of animation (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or more): "Destination Imagination," Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, Craig McCracken, executive producer/story by/directed by; Brian Miller, executive producer; Jennifer Pelphrey, supervising producer; Ryan Slater, producer; Michelle Papandrew, animation producer; Lauren Faust and Tim McKeon, written by/story by; Darrick Bachmann, Ed Baker, Vaughn Tada and Alex Kirwin, story by; Rob Renzetti, story by/directed by; Robert Alvarez and Eric Pringle, animation direction (Cartoon Network)
Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking: The Memory Loss Tapes, Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver, executive producers; John Hoffman, series producer; Shari Cookson and Nick Doob, produced by (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie: Brendan Gleeson, Into The Storm (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series: Toni Collette, United States Of Tara (Showtime)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series: Glenn Close, Damages (FX)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie: Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series: Jon Cryer, Two And A Half Men (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series: Michael Emerson, Lost (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie: Ken Howard, Grey Gardens (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series: Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series: Cherry Jones, 24 (FOX)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: Shohreh Aghdashloo, House Of Saddam (HBO)
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series: Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series: Michael J. Fox, Rescue Me (FX)
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series: Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series: Ellen Burstyn, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
Outstanding Voice-Over Performance: Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, "Father Knows Worst," The Simpsons (FOX)
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program: Jeff Probst, Survivor (CBS)
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series: Jeff Blitz, "Stress Relief," The Office (NBC)
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series: Rod Holcomb, "And In The End...", ER (NBC)
Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series: Bruce Gowers, show 833 (The Final Three), American Idol (FOX)
Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Special: Bucky Gunts, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony (NBC)
Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special: Dearbhla Walsh, Little Dorrit, Part 1 (PBS)
Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming: Marina Zenovich, Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired (HBO)
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Matt Hubbard, "Reunion," 30 Rock (NBC)
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Kater Gordon and Matthew Weiner, "Meditations In An Emergency," Mad Men (AMC)
Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series: Steve Bodow, head writer; Jon Stewart, David Javerbaum, Josh Lieb, Rory Albanese, Kevin Bleyer, Jason Ross, Tim Carvell, John Oliver, Sam Means, Rob Kutner, J.R. Havlan, Rich Blomquist, Wyatt Cenac, Elliott Kalan and Rachel Axler, writers, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Special: Chris Rock, Chris Rock - Kill The Messenger (HBO)
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: Andrew Davies, Little Dorrit (PBS)
Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming: Joe Bini, P.G. Morgan and Marina Zenovich, Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired (HBO)
Outstanding Art Direction For A Multi-Camera Series: Stephan G. Olson, production designer; Susan Eschelbach, set decorator, "Shelter Island" and "Not A Father's Day," How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Outstanding Art Direction For A Single-Camera Series: Michael Wylie, production designer; Ken Creber, art director; Halina Siwolop, set decorator, "Dim Sum Lose Some," Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Outstanding Art Direction For A Miniseries Or Movie: Kalina Ivanov, production designer; Brandt Gordon, art director; Norma Jean Sanders, set decorator, Grey Gardens (HBO), and James Merifield, production designer; Paul Ghirardani, art director; Deborah Wilson, set decorator, Little Dorrit (PBS)
Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music Or Nonfiction Programming: Keith Ian Raywood and Scott M. Storey, production designers; Star Theodus Kahn and James Pearse Connelly, art directors, 2008 MTV Video Music Awards (MTV), and Andy Walmsley, production designer; James Yarnell, art director, episode 821, American Idol (FOX)
Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series: Jennifer McNamara, 30 Rock (NBC)
Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series: Junie Lowry Johnson, CSA and Libby Goldstein, True Blood (HBO)
Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special: Rachel Freck, casting director, Little Dorrit (PBS)
Outstanding Choreography: Rob Ashford, "Musicals Are Back," 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC), and Tyce Diorio, "Adam and Eve/Silence," So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
Outstanding Cinematography For A Half-Hour Series: Michael Weaver, "In Utero," Californication (Showtime)
Outstanding Cinematography For A One Hour Series: Ousama Rawi, B.S.C., C.S.C., episode 303, The Tudors (Showtime)
Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie: Lukas Strebel, Little Dorrit, Part 1 (PBS)
Outstanding Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming: Todd Liebler and Zach Zamboni, "Laos," Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel Channel)
Outstanding Cinematography For Reality Programming: Derek Carver, director of photography; Michael Applebaum, John Armstrong, Marc Bennett and Eric Freeburg, camera operators, "What Did I Sign Up For?," Out Of The Wild: The Alaska Experiment (Discovery Channel)
Outstanding Commercial: "Heist," Wieden + Kennedy, ad agency; Psyop, production company (Coca-Cola)
Outstanding Costumes For A Series: Robert Blackman, costume designer; Carol Kunz, costume supervisor, "Bzzzzzzzzz!," Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special: Barbara Kidd, costume designer; Marion Weise, costume supervisor, Little Dorrit, Part 3 (PBS)
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series: Lynne Willingham, "ABQ," Breaking Bad (AMC)
Outstanding Picture Editing For A Comedy Series (Single Or Multi-Camera): Ken Eluto, A.C.E., "Apollo, Apollo," 30 Rock (NBC)
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Miniseries Or A Movie: Lee Percy, A.C.E. and Brian A. Kates, A.C.E., Taking Chance (HBO)
Outstanding Short Form Picture Editing: Kyle Cooper, "Best Motion Picture Montage"; Hal Honigsberg, editor, 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC), and David Brodie and Andy Grieve, Stand Up To Cancer (ABC/CBS/NBC)
Outstanding Picture Editing For A Special (Single Or Multi-Camera): Michael D. Schultz, Chris Rock - Kill The Messenger (HBO)
Outstanding Picture Editing For Nonfiction Programming: Joe Beshenkovsky, "John Smith," This American Life (Showtime)
Outstanding Picture Editing For Reality Programming: Jamie Pedroza, Mary DeChambres, Spiro C. Lampros, Richie Edelson, Maris Berzins, Matthew Moul and Steve Lichtenstein, finale (part 1), Project Runway (Bravo)
Outstanding Hairstyling For A Single-Camera Series: Gloria Ponce, department head hairstylist; Katherine Rees, key hairstylist; Marilyn Phillips and Michele Payne, additional hairstylists, "The Gold Violin," Mad Men (AMC)
Outstanding Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special: Mary Guerrero, department head hairstylist; Cynthia Romo, key hairstylist; Jennifer Mazursky and Maria Valdivia, additional hairstylists, episode 709, Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
Outstanding Hairstyling For A Miniseries Or A Movie: Jenny Fifield-Arbour, department head hairstylist; Nancy E. Warren, hairstylist, Grey Gardens (HBO)
Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media - Nonfiction: The Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Digital Experience (NBC.com)
Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media - Fiction: The Dharma Initiative (ABC.com)
Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming: Kieran Healy, lighting designer; Joshua Hutchings and George Harvey, lighting directors, finale, American Idol (FOX)
Outstanding Main Title Design: Jamie Caliri, director/director of photography/editor/main digital compositor; Dave Finkel and Brett Baer, creators, United States Of Tara (Showtime)
Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic): Todd A. McIntosh, department head makeup artist; David Martin DeLeon, key makeup artist; Steven Anderson, additional makeup artist, "Dim Sum Lose Some," Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special (Non-Prosthetic): Jennifer Aspinall, department head makeup artist; Alexei O'Brien, David Williams and Heather Mages, additional makeup artists, episode 1405, MADtv (FOX)
Outstanding Makeup For A Miniseries Or A Movie (Non-Prosthetic): Trefor Proud, department head makeup artist, The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler (Hallmark Hall Of Fame Presentation) (CBS)
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special: Vivian Baker, special makeup effects department head; Linda Dowds, department head makeup artist; Bill Corso, prosthetic designer; Sean Samson, special makeup effects artist, Grey Gardens (HBO)
Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score): Joe LoDuca, "Prophecy," Legend Of The Seeker (Syndicated)
Outstanding Music Composition For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (Original Dramatic Score): Howard Goodall, Into The Storm (HBO)
Outstanding Music Direction: William Ross, Streisand: The Concert (CBS)
Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics: William Ross and John Kimbrough, music; Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, lyrics, Hugh Jackman Opening Number, 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music: John Williams, Great Performances (PBS)
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series: Daniel Colman, supervising sound editor/sound designer; Jack Levy, supervising sound editor; Vince Balunas, dialogue/ADR editor; Sam Lewis, sound effects editor; Michael Baber, music editor; Doug Maddik and Rick Partlow, foley artists, "Daybreak (Part 2)", Battlestar Galactica (Syfy)
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special: Stefan Henrix, supervising sound editor; Graham Headicar, Jack Whittaker and Lee Walpole, sound effects editors; Becki Ponting and Jennifer Ralston, MPSE, supervising ADR editors; Iain Eyre, dialogue editor; Andre Schmidt, ADR editor; Virginia Thorn, sound editor; Andy Kennedy, sound designer; Pete Burgis and Andi Derrick, foley artists, "The Cradle Of Civilization," Generation Kill (HBO)
Outstanding Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera): Seth Skundrick, sound designer, 102 Minutes That Changed America (History)
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour): Von Varga, production sound mixer; Richard Weingart and Gerry Lentz, re-recording mixers, "House Divided," House, M.D. (FOX)
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Miniseries Or A Movie: Colin Nicolson, production mixer; Paul Hamblin and Martin Jensen, re-recording mixers, "The Cradle Of Civilization," Generation Kill (HBO)
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation: Tom Stasinis, production mixer; Dennis Kirk and Bill Jackson, re-recording mixers, "Pie," Entourage (HBO), and Jon Ailetcher, C.A.S., sound mixer; Fred Tator, C.A.S. and Chris Philp, C.A.S., re-recording mixers, "Three Coolers," Weeds (Showtime)
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Or Music Series Or Special: Ed Greene, audio director; Dan Wallin, orchestra mixer; Robert Douglass, audience sweetener; Patrick Baltzell, house P.A. mixer; Pablo Munguia, music playback mixer; Mike Parker, monitor mixer; Brian Riordan, Adrian Ordonez, Connor Moore and Mark Edmondson, pre-production packages mixers, 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC), and Tom Holmes and Eric Johnston, audio mixers; Mikael Stewart and Ron Reaves, PA mixers; John Harris and Eric Schilling, music mixers; Michael Parker and Tom Pesa, monitor mixers; Bob LaMasney, audience sweetener; Paul Sandweiss, re-recording mixer, The 51st Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)
Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming: Damon Trotta, re-recording mixer, 102 Minutes That Changed America (History)
Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series: Mark Scott Spatny, visual effects producer; Eric Grenaudier, visual effects supervisor; Gary D'Amico, special effects supervisor; Michael Cook, lead CG artist; Daniel Kumiega, lead CG animator; Chris Martin, compositing supervisor; Meliza Fermin, Ryan Wieber and Diego Galtieri, lead visual effects compositors, "The Second Coming/The Butterfly Effect," Heroes (NBC)
Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special: Adam McInnes, visual effects supervisor; Courtney Vanderslice-Law, Antony Bluff, Paul Edwards and Ken Dailey, visual effects producers; Stephane Paris, CGI supervisor; David Sewell and Stuart Partridge, lead visual effects compositors; Jean-Paul Rovela, lead CGI artist, "The Cradle Of Civilization," Generation Kill (HBO)
Outstanding Stunt Coordination: Merritt Yohnka, "Chuck Versus The First Date," Chuck (NBC)
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series: Shiran Stotland and Rick Edwards, technical directors; Bill Chaikowski, Greg Smith, John Repczynski, George Prince, Danny Bonilla, Alex Hernandez, Dave Eastwood, Bobby Highton, Ken Patterson, Ken Dahlquist, Diane Biederbeck, Danny Webb, Dave Plakos, Steve Thiel and Mike Tribble, camera; Chris Gray, video control, episode 834A, American Idol (FOX)
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special: Robert La Macchia and Kris Castro, technical directors; John Murphy, Ed Austin, David Adkins, Ken Cavali, Frank Grisanti, Cody Alexander, Jim Wachter, John Pinto, Tim O'Neill, Mike Harvath, James Mansfield, Nick Utley, Brian Phraner, Dan Beard, Rick Fox, Eric Eisenstein, Kevin Kellogg, Gary D'Amaro, Andy Italiano, Richard Leible Jr., Rick Rice, Kenny Woo, Mike Wimberley, Tore Livia, Joe Debonis, Marc Tippy and Dave Manton, camera operators; Jerry Hochman, senior video control, Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony (NBC)
Governors' Award: Sheila Nevins, HBO Documentary Films President
Breakthrough Performance (voted by viewers): True Blood (HBO)


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