Season and Series Premieres are Upon Us

The 2010-2011 primetime TV season started this week! Per Michael Ausiello's fall cheat sheet, here are the premiere dates I care about.

September 9th, Wednesday: The Vampire Diaries - 8 PM on The CW

September 20th, Monday:

• How I Met Your Mother - 8 PM on CBS
• House - 8 PM on FOX
• The Event - 9 PM on NBC
• Mike & Molly - 9:30 PM on CBS
• Castle - 10 PM on ABC
• Hawaii Five-O - 10 PM on CBS

September 21st, Tuesday:

• Glee - 8 PM on FOX
• Running Wilde - 9:30 PM on FOX

September 22nd, Wednesday (also the sixth anniversary of Oceanic Flight 815's crash - that is, the date the LOST's pilot episode aired):

• The Middle - 8 PM on ABC
• Undercovers - 8 PM on NBC
• Better With You - 8:30 PM on ABC
• Modern Family - 9 PM on ABC
• Criminal Minds - 9 PM on CBS
• Cougar Town - 9:30 PM on ABC
• The Defenders - 10 PM on CBS

September 23rd, Thursday:

• The Big Bang Theory - 8 PM on CBS
• 30 Rock - 8:30 PM on NBC
• Fringe - 9 PM on FOX

September 24th, Friday: CSI: NY - 9 PM on CBS

September 26th, Sunday: The Amazing Race - 8 PM on CBS

September 28th, Tuesday:

• No Ordinary Family - 9 PM on ABC
• The Good Wife - 10 PM on CBS

October 3rd, Sunday: CSI: Miami - 10 PM on CBS

Because of the excellent new shows (e.g. Glee, The Vampire Diaries, Modern Family, Cougar Town, et cetera) and creatively rocking returning shows (e.g. LOST, Fringe, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, et cetera), I had a full TV viewing schedule last year. Will it be the same this season?

This year, Mondays through Thursdays will continue to be crowded. For example, I still won't be able to watch original broadcasts of new House episodes because of HIMYM. Also, V may come back at the same timeslot as last year's, which means it will be up against The Good Wife. The Emmy-winning Modern Family will still be on the same timeslot as Criminal Minds, which means I have to wait for new episodes to air on A&E, unless Modern Family is a repeat or something. Lastly, I was relieved that FlashForward's cancellation meant that I could watch original broadcasts of new The Vampire Diaries episodes - that is, until CBS moved The Big Bang Theory to 8 PM on Thursdays.

I hope either CTV will air either series at 7 PM PDT or PST so I can watch the other at 8 PM or MuchMusic will air TVD on Fridays at 5 PM PDT or PST. Paging CTV or MuchMusic!


Because LOST has ended, Fringe is now my "main" show. That means I may actually write more decent blog posts about Fringe. Hehe. I can also study the glyph codes so I can guess the word or phrase by the end of the episodes. Maybe take notes too. Whaddya think?

*Sigh* I still miss LOST.

LOST Editors Win Emmy!

Congratulations to Stephen Semel, Mark J. Goldman, Christopher Nelson, and Henk Van Eeghan for winning the Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series award!!!

I was so happy when I saw their names on the Creative Arts Emmy Awards winner sheet. On LOST Auction weekend, no less.

It sucks, though, that Elizabeth Mitchell lost in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series category. Also that Michael Giacchino lost in the Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) category. And that LOST, well, lost in the Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour), Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series, and Outstanding Special Class Programs categories.

FlashForward's stunt specialist Danny Weselis also won the Outstanding Stunt Coordination award for his work on the pilot. Take that, ABC! Also, Neil Patrick Harris won the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series award. Betty White won the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series award. Heck, even the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony won two awards: Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For a Variety, Music, or Comedy Programming and Outstanding Musical Direction.

Congratulations to all the winners at the Creative Arts Emmy! I hope LOST wins more at the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on August 29th.

Snap Emmy Judgments from a West-Coaster

It's Emmy day!!!

Of course, West-Coasters are usually the last to know in North America about award show winners. So tweeting or changing my Facebook status as winners are announced is obviously futile. Plus my Twitter timeline and my Facebook news feed would be very spoiler-iffic.

I am still holding out hope that LOST will win something, considering it went 0-for-2 (Single-Camera Picture Editing and Sound Mixing) at the Creative Emmys that was held last week.

Snap reactions to the winners:

UNTELEVISED AWARDS

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special: The 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors
Didn't see this one. Congrats anyway!

Outstanding Reality Program: Intervention
Well-deserved. It's a show who tries to help addicts and the like turn their lives around and live a better life.

COMEDY

Outstanding Supporting Actress: Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies

I was hoping for Kristen Wiig or Amy Poehler. They were extraordinarily good. They were both robbed!

Outstanding Supporting Actor: Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

NEIL PATRICK HARRIS WAS ROBBED!!! 'Nuff said.

Outstanding Lead Actress: Toni Collette, United States of Tara

Well, she plays four characters in her show. That is all I need to know. I would be happy if Tina Fey or Julia Louis-Dreyfuss won, but I'm so happy for Toni!

Outstanding Guest Actress: Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live

She's awesome. 'Nuff said.

Outstanding Guest Actor: Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live

Eh. Whatever. Kidding. They said he was hilarious, so I'll just take their word for it. (Who's "they"? *Wink wink*)

Outstanding Lead Actor: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Oh. My. Gosh. JIM PARSONS WAS ROBBED!!!

Outstanding Director: Jeff Blitz, The Office
Congrats!

Outstanding Writer: Matt Hubbard, 30 Rock
I think I saw the "Reunion" episode for which he won. That was an awesome episode. Congrats!

REALITY

Outstanding Reality or Reality-Competition Host: Jeff Probst, Survivor

Congrats, Jeff. (Y'all know I'm not a fan of reality shows.)

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: The Amazing Race

I can never get tired of this show. Booyah!

TV MOVIES/MINISERIES

Outstanding Supporting Actress: Shohreh Agdashloo, House of Saddam

Wow. I know this actress is good. She sounds like she's wheezing, though. Just sayin'.

Outstanding Supporting Actor: Ken Howard, Grey Gardens

Congrats, Mr. Howard. (Don't know him, sorry.) I love the end of his acceptance speech - when he dedicated his award to his wife, who's celebrating her birthday today. Called her Sunshine too. I want a man just like that.

Outstanding Lead Actor: Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm

Congrats, Mr. Gleeson.

Outstanding Writer(s): Andrew Davies, Little Dorrit

Writers rule! (He wasn't there, so Jennifer Love Hewitt and Patricia Arquette accepted the award on his behalf.)

Outstanding Director: Dearbhla Walsh, Little Dorrit

Congrats, Ms. Walsh. Love your name.

Outstanding Lead Actress: Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens

Congrats, Ms. Lange!

Outstanding Made-for-TV Movie: Grey Gardens

Well, it's the most buzzed-about TV movie. Congrats!!!

Outstanding Miniseries: Little Dorrit

Congrats!!!

VARIETY

Outstanding Director: Bruce Gowers, American Idol

Congrats, Mr. Gowers. (I didn't see that episode. Duh, LOST was on.)

Outstanding Writer(s): The Team from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

OMG, The Daily Show is probably one of the best shows ever produced. They all deserve it. Congrats!!!

Outstanding Original Music & Lyrics: The Team from the 81st Annual Academy Awards, Hugh Jackman Opening Number
Uhm, hello? The most fun Oscar opening number EVER! I love you, Hugh Jackman - and Anne Hathaway.

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
WOOHOO!!!

DRAMA

Outstanding Supporting Actor: Michael Emerson, LOST

OH. MY. GOSH. HE FINALLY WON! HE WASN'T ROBBED THIS TIME!!! YAY!!! (I'm crying, BTW.)

Outstanding Supporting Actress: Cherry Jones, 24
Congrats!!!

Outstanding Guest Actress:  Ellen Burstyn, Law and Order: SVU
I love her! Congrats!

Outstanding Guest Actor: Michael J. Fox, Rescue Me
Dude's awesome. Congrats!!!

Outstanding Director: Rod Holcomb, ER
He's not there!

Outstanding Writer(s): Kater Gordon & Matthew Weiner, Mad Men
Oh, crap. How can you not recognise Damon and Carlton? The Emmy voters suck.

Outstanding Lead Actress: Glenn Close, Damages
She's freaking awesome. Congrats!!!

Outstanding Lead Actor: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
OMG, he won again. Congrats!!!

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance: When Bill and Sookie met, True Blood
I was hoping Kris Allen's surprise win in American Idol would win, but I guess a lot more people have gone True Blood-crazy. Whatever.

FINAL TWO

Outstanding Comedy Series: 30 Rock
OMFG, How I Met Your Mother was ROBBED!!!

Outstanding Drama Series: Mad Men
UNFAIR! UNFAIR! LOST WAS ROBBED!!! THE EMMY VOTERS REALLY, TRULY SUCK!!!

There you have it. Let's hope LOST gets more love next year.

Nevertheless, congratulations, Michael Emerson!!! You rock!

Wait a minute... Check this out:

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media (Fiction): The Dharma Initiative, DharmaWantsYou.com
I count this a win for LOST, since this was supposed to be a LOST ARG anyway. Yay!

See? Expect the worst, but hope for the best!

The Fall Season is Upon Us

Primetime TV programming, that is.

New and returning primetime shows start premiering next week. To help us all out, EW.com's Michael Ausiello - with a little help from EW intern Aly Semigran - posted a fall premiere schedule.

Here are the ones that matter to me:

September 9, Wednesday - Glee - 9 PM on FOX
September 10, Thursday - The Vampire Diaries - 8 PM on The CW
September 17, Thursday

• Fringe - 9 PM on FOX
• The Office - 9 PM on NBC

September 21, Monday

• House - 8 PM on FOX
• How I Met Your Mother - 8 PM on CBS
• The Big Bang Theory - 9:30 PM on CBS
• CSI: Miami - 10 PM on CBS

September 22, Tuesday - The Good Wife - 10 PM on CBS
September 23, Wednesday

• The New Adventures of Old Christine - 8 PM on CBS
• Gary Unmarried - 8:30 PM on CBS
• Criminal Minds - 9 PM on CBS
• CSI: NY - 10 PM on CBS

September 24, Thursday - FlashForward - 8 PM on ABC
September 27, Sunday - The Amazing Race - 8 PM on CBS
October 9, Friday - Ugly Betty - 8 PM on ABC
October 15, Thursday - 30 Rock - 9:30 PM on NBC
November 3, Tuesday - V - 8 PM on ABC

Obviously, I am most excited about the return of Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, The Office, Glee, and 30 Rock. I am also looking forward to the series premieres of The Vampire Diaries (Ian Somerhalder! Paul Wesley!), Flash Forward (Joseph Fiennes! Sonya Walger! Dominic Monaghan!), V (Elizabeth Mitchell!), and The Good Wife.

Obviously, LOST will be my top priority once it comes back in 2010. So, assuming it will come back on Wednesdays at 9 PM, I will have to say goodbye to either Glee or Criminal Minds. There's always iTunes and reruns.

By the way, The Futon Critic also has a colourful grid for the Fall 2009 schedule. Check it out, if you'd like.

Which of the new and returning shows are you watching?

Fringe Casts New FBI Agent Role

EW.com reports that actress Meghan Markle has been cast as Fringe's new FBI agent. Her character is still unnamed, but the website describes her as "an attractive, brash and quick-witted junior FBI agent". The character is rumoured to replace Kirk Acevedo's character Agent Charlie Francis. Kirk Acevedo was "let go" in May, just after the Season 1 finale.

Wait.. Isn't Jasika Nicole's character a junior FBI agent as well? Hmmm... This new character sounds like a cross between Astrid Farnsworth and Charlie Francis to me. What are the creators planning now, in terms of Astrid's story arc?

Anyway, I don't remember this actress anywhere, although I might have seen her on Deal or No Deal (as one of the briefcase models), on the CSI:NY episode 3x07, or on 90210's pilot episode (which was the first and last 90210 episode I watched).

Well, as long as the casting changes reflect a freakin' awesome Season 2 overall story arc, it's fine by me. I'd miss Kirk, though, and his level-headed Charlie Francis, when I watch each episode in which he doesn't appear.

Bathtubs and Laptops Still Don't Mix

Someone loves Twitter a tad too much. Well, loved. She's dead.

A teenage Romanian girl died while reportedly plugging her laptop into an electrical outlet in the bathtub. She was updating her Twitter status ("tweeting" or "tweetering") while in the bath. It is unclear what exactly happened, but we know from watching too much CSI that the electric shock killed her. And she was only 17.

OK, I love Twitter, but I'm not obsessed enough to bring my computer in the tub - or shower, as I'm not really a soak-in-the-tub kind of girl - to update my status. I've learnt that social networking can wait while I'm in the bathroom, for example.

I wonder what her last tweet was. Has anyone found this girl on Twitter?

Anyhoo, just a friendly reminder, people: bringing your computer in the bathtub is a stupid idea. It will kill you.

Thank God for House and The Dark Knight!

I gotta say this now:

FRINGE WAS ROBBED!!!

But, of course, I am biased. It is my favourite new show, and I cannot get enough of it! Personally, The Mentalist has nothing on Fringe.

Anyway, as much as I loathe popularity-contest type of awards or shows, I was so glad Hugh Laurie (as Male TV Star), House (TV Drama), Carrie Underwood (Female Singer, Country Song for "Last Name," and Star Under 35), Robin Williams (Scene-Stealing Guest Star), Tina Fey (Funny Female Star), Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (Online Sensation), and Gary Unmarried (New TV Comedy) won!

I was also glad for The Dark Knight, which won all the categories for which it was nominated. Duh. Although I am torn between The Dark Knight and Iron Man as the best movie of 2008, I think The Dark Knight is very deserving of all the awards and recognition it is getting.

But still...

FRINGE WAS ROBBED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOST: 4th Year, 8 Emmy Nominations

The morning that we've been waiting for has come and gone. The following are LOST's nominations for the 2008 Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as the other nominees:

Outstanding Cinematography For A One-Hour Series
Lost • The Constant • ABC • ABC Studios
John Bartley, A.S.C., C.S.C., Director of Photography

The Others: Battlestar Galactica (Stephen McNutt), Breaking Bad (John Toll), Dexter (Romeo Tirone), Mad Men (Phil Abraham), Rescue Me (Tom Houghton)


Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
Lost • There’s No Place Like Home (Parts 2 & 3) • ABC • ABC Studios
Henk Van Eeghen, Editor
Robert Florio, Editor
Mark J. Goldman, Editor
Stephen Semel, Editor

The Others: Battlestar Galactica (Julius Ramsay), Boston Legal (Philip Neel), Breaking Bad (Lynne Willingham), Heroes (Scott Boyd), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Paul Karasick)


Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Lost • The Constant • ABC • ABC Studios
Michael Giacchiano, Music By

The Others: Family Guy (Ronald Neal Jones), House (Jon Ehrlich & Jason Derlatka), Little People, Big World (Joey Newman), Pushing Daisies (Jim Dooley), The Simpsons (Alf Clausen)


Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Lost • ABC • ABC Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben

The Others: William Shatner (Boston Legal), Ted Danson (Damages), Zeljko Ivanek (Damages), John Slattery (Mad Men)

Outstanding Drama Series
Lost • ABC • ABC Studios

The Others: Boston Legal (ABC), Damages (FX), Dexter (Showtime), House (FOX), Mad Men (AMC)


Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series
Lost • The Shape Of Things To Come • ABC • ABC Studios
Thomas deGorter, M.P.S.E., Supervising Sound Editor
Paula Fairfield, M.P.S.E., Sound Editor
Carla Murray, M.P.S.E., Sound Editor
Maciek Malish, M.P.S.E., Sound Editor
Lloyd Jay Keiser, Sound Editor
Joseph Schultz, Sound Editor
Jim Bailey, Foley Artist
Cynthia Merril, Foley Artist
Alex Levy, Music Editor

The Others: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, ER, Smallville, Supernatural


Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One-Hour)
Lost • Meet Kevin Johnson • ABC • ABC Studios
Robert Anderson, Production Mixer
Frank Morrone, Re-Recording Mixer
Scott Weber, Re-Recording Mixer

The Others: Battlestar Galactica, Boston Legal, Burn Notice, Dexter


Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs
Lost: Missing Pieces • ABC.com • ABC.com / ABC Studios
Damon Lindelof, Executive Producer
Carlton Cuse, Executive Producer
Barry Jossen, Executive Producer

The Others: Battlestar Galactica - Razor Featurette #4 (Sci Fi Channel.com), Friday Night Lights: Spotlight on Austin (NBC.com), Sarah Silverman Program Nugget (Comedycentral.com), 30 Rock: Kenneth The Web Page (NBC.com)

Finally... LOST is back in the Outstanding Drama Series race. I was afraid that Grey's Anatomy's immense popularity would knock LOST out of the final list of nominees. Phew! Also, I totally rejoiced when I saw Michael Emerson's name in the Outstanding Supporting Actor nominee list. Woo hoo! He absolutely deserves the nomination. I'm just curious why Henry Ian Cusick isn't nominated for "The Constant"... Or Sonya Walger for her guest spot as Penelope Widmore; she was good in "The Constant". Heck, even Alan Dale probably should have been nominated.

And why in the world isn't LOST nominated in the writing and directing categories???

Yeah, well. That's life...

But I'm glad there's a category for mobisodes/webisodes. I didn't even know there was one.

Let's see how LOST fares at the ceremonies on 21 September at 8/7 central. Keep your fingers crossed and/or hands clasped in prayer.

I Wish I Were Calleigh Duquesne

The recent episodes of CSI: Miami have made me very happy. It seems that my favourite pairing (Eric/Calleigh) has made some progress in their relationship.

Take a look at my favourite CSI: Miami moment so far. This was taken from episode "All In," the conclusion of Calleigh Duquesne's abduction story arc.




Gaaahhhh! That was a major "kilig" moment!

Here is my second-favourite CSI: Miami scene.




Did you see Eric Delko's face? He looked so pissed off. It's like he was sending this message to Calleigh's abductor: "I will kill you for endangering Calleigh Duquesne." Fan-tas-tic!

Oh, one more thing: remember the initial CBS promos for the return of CSI: Miami after the strike? The one where they showed Calleigh wearing a wedding veil and Eric gazing at her with the smile that only Eric Delko could give? Yeah, a major fake-out. It turned out Eric and Calleigh were just recreating the scene! Here is the scene from "You May Now Kill The Bride" anyway:




Woohoo!

On the other hand, my favourite CSI: NY pairing (Danny/Lindsay) is having a rough patch in their "relationship"! I've always thought them perfect for each other, although I haven't seen every step in the progression of their relationship. (LOST is my top priority, and Season 3 of both LOST and CSI: NY were on the same time slot - Wednesdays at 10 PM). According to the season three finale article from Wikipedia, Danny and Lindsay woke up on the pool table and a flashback showed that they slept with each other (yes, on the pool table).




(By the way, thanks to YouTube user DrBrennan for letting me use this clip.)

Which should be great for them, right? Well, in the episode "Child's Play" (4x11), the son of Danny's neighbour was killed. In his grief and guilt, he slept with his neighbour, Rikki. The morning-after was depicted in the episode "Right Next Door" (aired on 9 April 2008). In the same episode, Danny declined Lindsay's lunch-date invitation, which hurt Lindsay. As shown in the following clip, she admitted that she has fallen in love with Danny and she confessed that she was mad at herself for that. She told Danny she has to figure out how to "let that go".





Dang! Where are they gonna go from here? Is it really the end for them? I hope not.

Five days till the next CSI: NY episode (and hopefully the next installment in the Danny/Lindsay love story)!

While I'm at it... THIRTEEN DAYS till the return of LOST!