My Predictions

Hello dear friends.  I hope that you enjoyed a great weekend.  The Mister and I spent most of our time strolling nurseries ordering shrubs and perennials for the back yard.  We also went out for a great lunch on the water.  For as long as I live, I will never take being so close to the water for granted.

Can you guess whose lunch belongs to whom?

I guess someone, who will remain nameless, has not started his post cruise diet...

Another highlight...Chowdah got a makeover.  Poor Chow says it is too short and all the kids at puppy school are going to make fun of him.  I told him what my mother always told me when kids made fun of my "new look."  They're just jealous.

*****

This is my first annual Emmy Prediction post.  I admit to my flaws - I haven't seen half of the shows nominated.  But ignorance has never kept me from voicing my opinion before.  Ask the Mister.

Very excited to see Seth Meyers at the helm.  I think he is a very talented writer and comedian.  If the commercials are any indication of the temperature of the show, it will be red hot.  Last time I was this passionate about the Emmys, Tina and Amy were the hosts.  

DRAMA SERIES

“Breaking Bad” (AMC)

“Downton Abbey” (PBS)

“Game of Thrones” (HBO)

“Mad Men” (AMC)

“True Detective” (HBO)

“House of Cards” (Netflix)

Who will probably win:

Who should win:

I realize that I am in the minority here, but after watching Breaking Bad for 20 minutes, I had to turn it off.  

The Mister and I binge watched House Of Cards.  It was close to the best two weeks of our lives.  Ok, I may exaggerate a tad. We were enthralled by the twists and turns of this political drama.  

If I didn't know better I would swear it was a reality series.

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)

Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom” (HBO)

Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards” (Netflix)

Jon Hamm, “Mad Men” (AMC)

Matthew McConaughey, “True Detective” (HBO)

Woody Harrelson, “True Detective” (HBO)

Who will probably win:

Bryan Cranston

Who should win:

Kevin Spacey

Bryan Cranston is a great actor.  So are Jeff Daniels and Jon Hamm - and they are also are the leads in very entertaining shows.  

Can't say the same about the other two nominees, though.

Kevin Spacey owns his character, Frank Underwood.   He is so comfortable and convincing in his role of a sleazy politician, I wonder if he is considering taking the plunge in real life.  

I hope not.  
I would have to vote for him.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)

Claire Danes, “Homeland” (Showtime)

Robin Wright, “House of Cards” (Netflix)

Kerry Washington, “Scandal” (ABC)

Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife” (CBS)

Lizzy Caplan, “Masters of Sex” (Sho)

Who will probably win:

Claire Danes

Who should win:

Robin Penn

I think that Claire Danes did a wonderful job as the lead character in Homeland.  I just think that she has won in the past and it's time to share the glory.

I also think that Michelle Dockery, Kerry Washington, and Julianna Margulies are worthy contenders.  But not this year.
  

Robin Penn absolutely rocks the role of cool, collected, and conniving Claire Underwood.  An added plus - she looks stunning in her gorgeous wardrobe. 

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan” (Showtime)

Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)

Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland” (Showtime)

Josh Charles, “The Good Wife” (CBS)

Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)

Jim Carter, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)

Who will probably win:

Who should win:

Game of Thrones is another popular series.  Huge following. Not sure it's my kind of thing, though.  But what do I know?

Ray Donovan is another series that the Mister and I spent countless nights with the summer.  It stars Liev Schreiber as a "fixer" for a top lawyer for the stars in Hollywood.  Liev is sexy and great in the role.  But Jon Voight, Angelina's Dad in real life, steals the show as Liev's Dad.  I think he's the dark horse in this race, but you never know.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)

Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)

Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)

Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife” (CBS)

Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men” (AMC)

Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey” (PBS)

Who will probably win:

Lena Headey

Who should win:

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith has won a million awards.  I think she deserves another one.

COMEDY SERIES

“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)

“Louie” (FX)

“Modern Family” (ABC)

“Veep” (HBO)

“Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)

“Silicon Valley” (HBO)

Who will probably win:

Who should win:

This is comedy at its best.  Between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her incredibly talented entourage, it is a true winner in my book.

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)

Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes” (Showtime)

Don Cheadle, “House of Lies” (Showtime)

Louis C.K., “Louie” (FX); William H. Macy

“Shameless” (Showtime)

Ricky Gervais, “Derek” (Netflix)

I've never watched any of these shows so I don't care who wins.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Lena Dunham, “Girls” (HBO)

Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime)

Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation” (NBC)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep” (HBO)

Melissa McCarthy, “Mike and Molly” (CBS)

Taylor Schilling, “Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix)

Who will probably win:

Lena Dunham

Who should win:

JLD

Girls is very popular with the twenty-to-thirty year old age group.  No question about it - it's very entertaining.  The Mister even watched a couple of episodes with me, although he will never admit it.

But my girl, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is brilliant as a neurotic, hyper-sensitive, narcissistic Presidential candidate.  Every word she utters makes me uncomfortable.  Kind of like Larry David or George of Seinfeld.  It's that kind of humor that makes me want a front row seat to the next time she puts her foot in her mouth.   

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Adam Driver, “Girls” (HBO)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family” (ABC)

Fred Armisen, “Portlandia” (IFC)

Ty Burrell, “Modern Family” (ABC)

Tony Hale, “Veep” (HBO)

Andre Braugher, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox).

Who will probably win:

Fred Armisen

Who should win:

Tony Hale

I haven't watched Portlandia but it has been getting a lot of press.  Looks like my kind of show.  Now I have to figure out when it is on and where to find IFC.  I know I must have it.  I can get 30,000 channels and can never find what show I am looking for.  Another casualty of moving.  I could find a channel blindfolded in Texas. 

The entire cast of Veep is exceptional. And Tony Hale is so awkwardly eye catching, I want to ask him for lunch and just revel in his quirkiness. 

The cast's reaction to Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character's  eccentricities is one of the keys that makes this show worth watching.  If you put the show on mute and only watched the supporting cast's facial expressions, you would still get hooked on this show. 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)

Julie Bowen, “Modern Family” (ABC)

Anna Chlumsky, “Veep” (HBO)

Allison Janney, “Mom” (CBS)

Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Kate Mulgrew, “Orange Is the New Black” (Netflix).

Who will probably win:

Julie Bowen

Who should win: 

Anna Chlumsky

Ditto last answer.  Anna Chlumsky is classic in her understated performance in Veep.

I wouldn't mind Julie Bowen winning, either.  Just worried she is getting too skinny.  That's what Hollywood will do to you.    Julie, take my advice and eat a donut.  Life is so much more fun when you're not hungry. 

Now I'm off to get ready for the red carpet.

I would love to hear who you think will win and why.   I can even be convinced to go back and watch Breaking Bad.  Maybe.


Happy Monday!

My Favorite Family Has Done It Again!

How come my parents were never this much fun?

My girls are probably thinking the same thing!

Have a great weekend!

All Aboard!

Happy Thursday, dear friends!  It's almost Friday!  I cannot believe how the summer is flying by!

This is my second installment of our summer holiday.  Doesn't that sound European?  I've become so cultured I literally can't stand myself.

The next day my Italian boyfriend, Luca, picked us up and bid us arrevederci.  I leave another broken heart in my tracks. 

This is Celebrity's newest ship and we could really tell.  It was absolutely pristine. 

Sista and I only sail on Celebrity ships because we are celebrities in our own minds.    

View from our room.

When we boarded ship, we had a great lunch awaiting our rooms to be ready.  The staff was extremely organized and delivered our baggage to our rooms within two hours of arrival.

The pilot boat helps us leave the dock and leads us out to sea.

The Mister and B-I-L making sure the ship captain doesn't make a wrong turn.  We had rooms next door to each other and we had the partition taken down so that we could have one large balcony.

Bon Voyage ala Madras style.

Next up... wrist ware that wards away seasickness.

We're on our way!

Cocktails and jazz music at 8pm.  Nef #2, my #2, and our father who art in Austin, Wild Bill, in his favorite mode of transportation... the almighty scooter.

Sista and #1 Nef.

Wild Bill and his second favorite daughter.

The Angelina and Brad of the ship.

B-I-L moving in on Brad's territory.  I smell ship fight!

Angelina and one of her 18 kids.

Best looking studs on board.  Outside of Wild Bill, that is.

Cheers!