Talk TV with Matthew Gilbert
Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert was online Monday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. to dish about this year's Emmy Awards. The ceremony was hosted by Ryan Seacrest in Los Angeles.
The transcript follows.
Matthew_Gilbert: Good morning. Anyone else have an Emmy hangover?
JediFonger__Guest_: morning. i don't think most of new england watched emmy's, they were watching patrios.
Matthew_Gilbert: The Patriots? Is that some kind of TV miniseries about George Washington?
nomadgirl__Guest_: I have to wonder if the judges actually *saw* Bury My Heart.... it was awful, but won many awards!
Matthew_Gilbert: I agree nomad. I suspect there was some political correctness involved in the decision making. Because that movie was a stink bomb.
Toeknee__Guest_: Hi Matt. I'll admit I haven't seen her show, but was Sally Field really deserving? I mean, I like her - I REALLY like her - but, I find it hard to believe she turned in as good of a performance as Edie Falco or Kyra Sedgwick. And did you ever find out what she said at the end of her speech (which was censored by FOX)? I figured it must have been anti-Bush in nature, because "fair and balanced" FOX would never allow such a statement on their airwaves.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yo Toe. I think Sally Field overacts on Bros and Sisters, but you know how Hollywood works. They like her, really like her, and TV people love having a two-time Oscar winner on prime time.
Matthew_Gilbert: She is in no way as good as Edie or Kyra, but that doesn't much matter when it comes to awards in Hollywood.
nomadgirl__Guest_: and... don't get me started on Sally Field winning!
Matthew_Gilbert: OK, nomad.
Matthew_Gilbert: But I'm already started.
Matthew_Gilbert: And her comment that got bleeped out was about how if mothers ruled the world there would be no "goddam" war in Iraq.
Matthew_Gilbert: Supposedly the cut-away (wasn't truly a bleep -- bleeping doesn't stop lip reading) was for the bad word. But you never know when it comes to Fox Nation.
KMA__Guest_: What is Emmy's facination with James Spader and/or the sleazy attorney archetype?
Matthew_Gilbert: I KNOW! I just don't get it. James Spader has now won three Emmys for "Boston Legal" -- that's as many as James Gandolfini has won for "The Sopranos." It's bizarre.
Matthew_Gilbert: And Hugh Laurie? The guy is AMAZING on House.
Matthew_Gilbert: But no, James Spader. Gimme a break.
Matthew_Gilbert: With all due respect to Mr. Spader.
porchmoses__Guest_: dont u gat tired? matthew?
Matthew_Gilbert: Never, porchmoses. Never.
Matthew_Gilbert: Nauseous, yes.
KMA__Guest_: Yeah, any one of the Best Actors noms would have been better. And Boston Legal is a comedy, don't you think?
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah, Boston Legal is kind of a comedy. It's a farce. It's also past its prime.
MMPJ__Guest_: I was disappointed for Dennis Leary - when is he every going to get some respect?
Matthew_Gilbert: I agree, MMPJ. But you know, he's probably too anarchic and polically incorrect on "Rescue Me" for the voters to embrace him.
LostFan789__Guest_: How awesome was it for Terry O'Quinn to win! About time they recognized the actors on Lost.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah, it was nice to see O'Quinn get some love. But Michael Emerson might have been more deserving, don't you think? His eyes. His freaking EYES. Did you see him in the audience? The eyes...
Toeknee__Guest_: I'm certainly glad to see Lost get some recognition, and Terry O'quinn was great. But I think Michael Emerson was a bit more deserving. (Although I'm mostly glad Shatner didn't win - didn't he win that award last year?)
Matthew_Gilbert: Well what DO YOU KNOW? Toe, we're on the same page. And the same webpage.
Matthew_Gilbert: No Shat didn't win last year.
Matthew_Gilbert: It was the very deserving Alan Alda, who continues to amaze me.
nomadgirl__Guest_: I'm guessing after last night, they won't do a circular stage anymore. Almost every one up there clearly hated it.
Matthew_Gilbert: They hated it, but I really liked it. It made the stage feel less empty, seeing all those faces. And I think the TV audience is more important than the auditorium audience, don't you...?
h_freeman__h_freeman_: Could Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have been any more awesome in attempting to give that award to Steve Carell?
Matthew_Gilbert: That was a great few minutes there. I loved their routine about the night's Green theme. And then giving it to Carell, and seeing Carell run to the stage, was great, like a little Daily Show reunion. And Carell deserved it more than Ricky Gervais, who is low key in Extras so that the crazies around him can shine.
catnap__Guest_: I am just disappointed that Friday Night Lights wasn't nominated for anything major. I think it is one of the best shows on tv - and it would have been nice for it to get some attention.
Matthew_Gilbert: Oh get over it.
Matthew_Gilbert: Kidding.
Matthew_Gilbert: I can't get over it, for sure. The best network show on TV last season, and the Emmys totally ignored it. Perfect.
Matthew_Gilbert: Then, later, when the show is creatively failing and about to be pulled off the air, the Emmy voters will discover it and lavish it with awards.
Matthew_Gilbert: Oy.
LostFan789__Guest_: Hugh Laurie should win every year. Period. Now let's move on.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yes.
Matthew_Gilbert: He is our very own Sherlock Holmes, M.D.
Matthew_Gilbert: Sherlock in the House.
ricky__Guest_: What about 39 Rock? Was it even nominated for anything. It's the best.
Matthew_Gilbert: A Patriots fan, I take it?
fendawg: Hey Matthew, I was really happy that Tina Fey and 30 Rock had some wins. She and the show are very funny, even though they only have dozens of viewers.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah, me too. The 30 Rock win was the best moment of the night, in terms of awards.
Matthew_Gilbert: I love it that Tina Fey is such a natural as a TV heroine. I didn't expect it.
Toeknee__Guest_: If it's ok to ask about a show that has nothing at all to do with the Emmy's??John from Cincinnatti - being that the show will not be renewed, has David Milch offered up an explanation as to what it was about, who John was, what's the deal with the bird, etc?
Matthew_Gilbert: Yes, a momentary detour is fine, Toe. Miltch spoke to me in a dream, and he told me, "It will all be clear when time has passed and the birds of flight have gone asunder and the world ends but doesn't end." A paraphrase, of course.
Sox_Fan_2__Guest_: Jeremy Piven's Ari definitely makes that show, but I was really pulling for Neil Patrick Harris or Rainn Wilson.
Matthew_Gilbert: Me too, Sox Fan. Piven's great and all, but I do think Ari is losing some of his Ariness. Neil Patrick Harris is just fantastic.
h_freeman__h_freeman_: Yeah, if I was going to give an award to Extras, it would have been for best writing for that Daniel Radcliffe episode.
Matthew_Gilbert: I agree, that was a great episode. The David Bowie one, too. It's a cool little show, but Gervais did not deserve that award. Carell or Baldwin shoulda had it.
Matthew_Gilbert: Baldwin doesn't deserve the Father of the Year award, but he should have taken that statue last night. He's great on 30 Rock, and he mixes with the other actors brilliantly.
nomadgirl__Guest_: What about Studio 60? I'm still sad it was yanked.
Matthew_Gilbert: Talk about "dozens of viewers." That show was ignored by everyone. I still contend that Studio 60 would have worked better, both creatively and in the ratings, if it had been a 1970s period piece.
JediFonger__Guest_: do you feel like these awards are masturbatory in nature? nearly every industry and profession has their own awards as well, just not as vain =P
Matthew_Gilbert: Oh you are such a cynic. These poor souls are slaving away in Hollywood for a pittance -- a PITTANCE I telly you -- and yet you would deny them a morsel of love and acceptance from the people of America. Shame on you. Shame.
catnap__Guest_: I thought the Scrubs musical should have won for best writing. It was hilarious.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah, that was a brilliant episode. For some reason, the Emmy people don't "get" Scrubs, you know? They're still grieving the departure of Everybody Loves Raymond.
LostFan789__Guest_: I'm glad Heroes didn't win. After the way the season fell apart at the end, there's no way it should've been nominated ahead of Lost (which ended on a great note).
Matthew_Gilbert: Me too. I'm really MAD at Heroes these days. It started off so promisingly, and now it's just a whole mess of gimmickry and promotion. Focus, Kring.
krisg__Guest_: What did you think of Seacrest as host? Or, should I say, the guy who introduced all the entertainment of the night?
Matthew_Gilbert: He was not commanding and he was vanilla. But because expectations were so profoundly low, he almost seemed good.
Matthew_Gilbert: Fox wanted him to keep American Idol on our minds.
Sox_Fan_2__Guest_: I thought the whole Kanye West bit was pretty lame. Even Rainn Wilson couldn't save it from itself.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah. Kanye is making some really wrong moves these days.
JediFonger__Guest_: you still watching mad men? i'm still luvin it, it's very refreshing. any hopes of emmy's for that series?
Matthew_Gilbert: MAD MEN ROCKS. It is without a doubt the best show that no one -- or very few -- are watching (is watching? I need an editor). I don't see Emmys in its future, because it's going under the radar. But it deserves lots of kudos.
shell__Guest_: What about Ugly Betty? Don't you think some of the story line focusing on Daniel's father is just absurd? I think that show would work better without the film noir attempts.
Matthew_Gilbert: Oh yeah, Betty gets silly as can be with its "dark secrets" stuff. But the show is so playful and campy it's irresistible.
rrr__Guest_: I have to disagree with your assessment of the stage, it was a dumb idea. I think it will be gone next year.
Matthew_Gilbert: How DARE you rrr.
JediFonger__Guest_: are there talks of springtime midseason replacements yet?
Matthew_Gilbert: You are SO behind, jedi. We're way beyond midseason replacements and talking about next summer's shows.
fendawg: I agree on Baldwin. He really is one of the best actors out there. He is up there with Dustin Hoffman. Look at his roles in 30 Rock and the Cooler, could they be more varied?
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah, and remember Miami Blues? Way way back? He was great in that. I do fear that he thinks TV is a little beneath him, though. I sometimes wonder if he expected 30 Rock to fail and get cancelled, and now he is trapped.
baldguy__Guest_: Was it me or were the actors showing a lot less cleavage this year?
Matthew_Gilbert: Your hair must have been in your eyes, baldguy.
Matthew_Gilbert: Ellen Pompeo's sternum made its annual appearance.
JediFonger__Guest_: matt, have you seen house of payne by tyler perry? is it worth catching when it comes out on DVD?
Matthew_Gilbert: Yah. Nah.
JediFonger__Guest_: do people really watch the emmy's? how many people? i hope it's not more than 1 person ;).
Matthew_Gilbert: The ratings were down last year, to about 16 million. I haven't seen last night's numbers yet... But I think there were at least 2, jedi.
soup__Guest_: Poor CBS. Did they win anything? (Well, I guess there was the Amazing Race.) Are they officially the network of fuddy-duddies? Which, btw, was about the only level last night's ceremonies reached. So, so boring.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah, CBS did not do that well, did it. Rules of Engagement was ROBBED.
KateAustin__Guest_: Matt, what do you think about Seinfeld returning to Thursday night for that guest spot on 30Rock...also how are you liking the new season of Curb?
Matthew_Gilbert: Anything that will bring some attention to 30 Rock is probably a good thing. Plus, the show is kind of about NBC, so it kind of makes sense that Seinfeld would show up.
Matthew_Gilbert: Michael Richards will not show up.
Matthew_Gilbert: I'm liking Curb a lot. Hey, it's not what it was when it first came on the air. But it still makes me laugh. The whole hurricane family thing is great.
fendawg: 13 days until Dexter!
Matthew_Gilbert: I'VE SEEN THE FIRST FOUR EPISODES. THEY ARE GREAT.
Matthew_Gilbert: I REPEAT: THEY ARE GREAT.
Matthew_Gilbert: I had doubts that they could match the first season, but I do believe they have.
JediFonger__Guest___Guest_: Dexter=another series robbed of awards it so desperately and right deserves. there's no JUSTICE in the world!!!
Matthew_Gilbert: Yes indeed. Michael C. Hall is great.
Matthew_Gilbert: As servilia chanted on Rome, I CALL OUT FOR JUSTICE...
Matthew_Gilbert: Folks, thanks for showing up. See you in a couple of weeks. \MG
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