2012 Emmys

As far as the Red Carpet coverage went, the main headline seemed to be how hot it was in Hollywood this weekend. The stars of television were sweating buckets. I enjoyed Jimmy Fallon's well wishes to host Jimmy Kimmel as well as Kristen Wiig's comments about missing SNL. I am not certain why she made her departure but the sentiment was appreciated. Nominee Amy Poehler looked stunning in a black dress with a plunging neckline. When I Googled for a picture of said dress I was horrified to see the Poehler and Will Arnett have separated -- a) where have I been and b) what a bummer. Jon Hamm's much talked about navy tux looked black. Tina Fey looked gorgeous in a dark red dress with gold and black collar detail. Many comediennes looked fantastic in deep red tones including Mayim Bialik and Kat Dennings. Bright yellow was another winning color for the ladies. The light gold dress Christina Hendricks wore was a big miss -- the usually hot Hendricks looked unremarkable. Hendricks did confirm on the Red Carpet that she will re-team with her Drive costar Ryan Gosling in his directorial debut film (How To Catch A Monster, which is not expected until 2014).

The opening sketch that featured actresses back stage consoling a nervous Jimmy Kimmel was hilarious. Memorably included were Zooey Deschanel, Christina Hendricks, Mindy Kaling, Kathy Bates, Martha Plimpton, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, various reality tv hosts and Ellen DeGeneres.

Kimmel's monologue did not open with a bang but as he warmed up to topical issues it became very amusing. One winning line, "Being a Republican in Hollywood is like being a Chick a fil sandwich on the snack table at Glee," was particularly funny.

The awards began with the comedy section and this was certainly my favorite portion of the show. The year in comedy montage was awesome. Louis CK and Amy Poehler presented the first category and the nod to CK's appearance on Poehler's Parks and Rec was appreciated. The bit about the child actor who plays Lily on Modern Family being a holy terror was hilarious. Jon Cryer's win for Best Actor in a Comedy seemed just as off base as Steve Carell's loss in the category last year. His humorous acceptance speech that there had been a mistake and that he could not have possibly won partially made up for it.

Claire Danes continued on her victory streak at the Emmys for Homeland. She won previously at the Golden Globes for the role and in the previous season for Temple Grandin at both the Golden Globes and the Emmys.

During the variety and miniseries segments there were some comedic highlights. Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert tackled Jon Stewart after his win was announced. Ricky Gervais presented and was reliably entertaining, keeping in tone with his reputation. When Julianne Moore won for her portrayal of Sarah Palin in Game Change she commented that it was validating because Palin gave her a big thumbs down. Who knew Tom Hanks produced Game Change? Well delightfully so because we were able to hear him speak when it won Best Miniseries or Movie.

The main awards, Best Drama and Best Comedy, went to Homeland and Modern Family respectively.

And the winners...
Outstanding comedy series: Modern Family
Outstanding drama series: Homeland
Outstanding miniseries or movie: Game Change
Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie: Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Outstanding directing for a miniseries or movie: Jay Roach, Game Change
Outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie: Julianne Moore, Game Change
Outstanding writing for a miniseries or movie: Danny Strong, Game Change
Outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie: Tom Berenger, Hatfields & McCoys
Outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Outstanding variety series: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Outstanding directing for a variety special: Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards
Outstanding writing for a variety special: Louis C.K., Louie C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Claire Danes, Homeland
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Damian Lewis, Homeland
Outstanding directing for a drama series: Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire
Outstanding supporting actress in a drama: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Outstanding writing for a drama series: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, Homeland
Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Outstanding host for a reality show: Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
Outstanding reality-competition program: The Amazing Race
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Outstanding directing in a comedy series: Steve Levitan, Modern Family
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series: Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Outstanding writing for a comedy series: Louis C.K., Louie
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series: Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Liebster Blog Awards

The Amateur Reviews blog nominated me and below are my 11 answers to their 11 questions.
The rules for the Liebster Blog Awards are:

1. Tell 11 things about yourself
2. Answer 11 questions the blogger who awarded you asked
3. Pass the award to 11 people
4. Give them 11 questions
5. Tell them about the award
6. Don't award people who are recipients already

The questions I received from Amateur Reviews and my answers:
1. Favourite James Bond and film?
Sean Connery is the best all time Bond without question. The best Bond film is 2006's Casino Royale because it completely reinvented the series for the 21st Century.

2. What film has the best sound track ever?
My favorite soundtrack is Good Will Hunting -- and this is a seriously tough question for me to answer because I love movie soundtracks.

3. If you could cast one leading lady and one leading man who would they be?
Tom Hanks and Keri Russell. Hanks was an instant answer though my leading lady took a little more thought.

4. Which is the film you secretly love, but feel you should hate?
The Wedding Date -- rom com drivel but for some reason I like it.

5. If you had the casting vote at the last Academy Awards, which film would you have win best picture?
This year if I was in the Academy, The Help would have won Best Picture. While I am at it, Demian Bichir would have won Best Actor for A Better Life.

6. Who would you chose to play you in a biopic of your life?
Alicia Silverstone.

7. What is your favourite movie scene of all time?
This is the question I struggled most with and really had to think about. I wanted it to be one that just came to me. This was the first one I thought of and I have decided on: the graveside scene in Steel Magnolias. It always makes me cry no matter how many times I have seen it and it ends in humor.

8. In your opinion, who is the most overrated director ever?
James Cameron. He makes Blockbusters, not amazing movies.

9. Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings?
Harry Potter.

10. If you could only ever watch comedies or action films for the rest of you life which would it be?
Comedies -- without a doubt.

11. What was the last movie that made you cry?
Hope Springs. I cry easy at the movies and that's ok.

I nominate:
http://200movies1woman.com/
http://nevertooearlymoviepredictions.blogspot.com/
http://www.themoviesnob.net/
http://thereelperspectives.wordpress.com/
http://whydidibuythismovie.blogspot.com/
http://shazahm.blogspot.com/
http://keepingplacewithkate.blogspot.com/

A couple are not movie specific bloggers but I want to see their answers!!

My 11 questions for my nominees:
1. What is your all time favorite movie quote?
2. If you could only watch one movie at home ever again, which one would you select?
3. What are your desert island top five movies?
4. Which movie in the last ten years is your favorite?
5. Which movie that was made before you were born is your favorite?
6. What actor or actress do you wish you were friends with because you just like them so much?
7. Who is in your top five?
8. What is your favorite movie adaptation of a book that you have read?
9. What movie has not yet been released but you can NOT wait to see?
10. What is your first recollection of going to the movie theater?
11. If you had a job in Hollywood, what would you want it to be?

11 movie thoughts from me:
1. Auntie Mame is my all time favorite movie.
2. Going to the movies is literally the best thing ever.
3. Oscar Season is like Christmas to me.
4. I have an embarrassing number of DVDs though I do not have blue ray or a flat screen tv.
5. I can watch When Harry Met Sally, Clueless, Steel Magnolias, and Field of Dreams over and over and over again.
6. This summer I have actually read more books than movies I have watched.
7. After the 2012 Oscars, I no longer subscribe to Entertainment Weekly but read online only.
8. People who say going to the movies is a bad date are silly. Going to the theater is never bad.
9. More theaters should serve beer. Regal and Cinemark really need to get on board.
10. I know everyone likes things like pizza and music but the way I love movies is truly a unique personality trait.
11. After this exercise, I am so glad I have plans to see two movies this holiday weekend!