LOST Snubbed at the Emmys

If y'all followed me on Twitter - or if you're my Facebook friend - you'd know how I felt about this year's Primetime Emmy Awards. Particularly the last 10 minutes.

Apart from last week's Creative Emmys win for the LOST editing team, the show was shut out of the major categories. Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad took the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award, instead of either Michael Emerson or Terry O'Quinn (who deserved another Emmy for his dual role in Season 6, as Flocke/The Man in Black and Sideways John Locke). Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad achieved a three-peat on the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series race, beating Matthew Fox, who was phenomenal as Jack Shephard during the final season. Taking the Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series award, Matthew Weiner and Erin Levy's writing for Mad Men beat Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse's excellent crafting of the LOST series finale. Steve Shill's directing of an episode of Dexter earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, beating Jack Bender's incredible direction of the series finale. The most painful loss is in the Outstanding Drama Series category, which Mad Men won.

I would be very happy if I woke up from this horrible nightmare or if I found out that LOST won all the awards for which it is nominated in an alternate timeline.

*Sigh*

The night started well, actually. Glee's Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Amber Reilly, Chris Colfer, 30 Rock's Tina Fey, LOST's Jorge Garcia, and The Vampire Diaries's Nina Dobrev were included in Jimmy Fallon's opening number. That was fun. Then Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Then Glee's Jane Lynch won the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy. Then Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory - so deservedly - won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy. Archie Panjabi of The Good Wife surprisingly won the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series award.

Thankfully, the rest of the LOST fandom on Twitter complained about the Emmy snubs as much as I did. And after the Outstanding Drama Series upset, we comforted ourselves with the fact that LOST will remain the best drama series for us in 2010 and for the six years it was on air.

I know I said that I'll be happy with the 13 nominations even if LOST didn't win anything. Of course, one win out of 13 is better than nothing. But this is the last time the Emmy voters could honour LOST for its greatness. There'll be no more chance for them to honour the series with another Outstanding Drama Series award, because the show is done. The Emmys even staged a funny musical tribute for shows that just ended, including LOST. That is not enough to recognize a show like LOST.

You have no idea how much I cried after the Emmy telecast. I am incredibly sad that the Emmy voters failed to recognize LOST for the outstanding show that it was. Even Modern Family's Outstanding Comedy Series win didn't ease the pain of LOST being snubbed tonight.

LOST was robbed tonight.

Oh, well.

To make us all laugh after tonight's depressive Emmy Awards, I leave you with the Season 6 bloopers from the Season 6 DVD/Blu-ray set. Thanks to user glennD for making the video embeddable.

Black

You Are Black

You are a serious and thoughtful person. You spend a lot of time in quiet reflection. You are a friend of the honesty, and you don't sugar coat anything. You prefer the truth in all its complexity. While you may relate to the color black, it doesn't necessarily mean you're a dark person. You just don't hide from the dark side of life. If anything, you tend to be sophisticated and classic. You don't follow trends, and you have your own style of doing things.

Are You Black or Orange?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

I'm Weird and I'm Proud of It

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

'Nuff said.

Glee and Julianna Margulies Triumph at Golden Globes

John Lithgow and Chloe Sevigny may have beaten Michael Emerson (LOST's Benjamin Linus) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother's Barney Stinson) and Jane Lynch (Glee's Sue Sylvester), respectively, but two upsets made me very, very, very happy.

Julianna Margulies, lead of my favourite Tuesday drama The Good Wife, beat Glenn Close (Damages), January Jones (Mad Men), Anna Paquin (True Blood) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama award. That is freaking awesome. Especially when she kissed George Clooney (who played her ER husband) on the way to the stage. Everyone was saying January Jones would win, but Julianna did. Congrats!!!

On the other hand, Glee - the little show that could - beat 30 Rock, Modern Family, Entourage, and The Office for the Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical award. Woo hoo!!! Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, and Jane Lynch may have lost in their individual categories, but their awesome show won the big award. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!

Other winners that made me smile are:

• Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire) - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
• Toni Collette (United States of Tara) - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
• Michael Giacchino (Up) - Best Original Score - Motion Picture
• Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia) - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
• Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air) - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
• Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
• Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

I would have loved to see The Hurt Locker, Up in the Air, Inglourious Basterds, or Precious win the Best Motion Picture - Drama award, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Association shockingly chose Avatar. I'm sure it's awesome, but more awesome than the other films in the category? Really? Also, Kathryn Bigelow or Quentin Tarantino should have won Best Director - Motion Picture.

On the comedy side, I was hoping for (500) Days of Summer or Julie & Julia, but The Hangover won instead. Oh, well.

I wish that some Golden Globes nominees weren't lumped in their categories, as a comedic performance by a certain actor is a different animal from another actor's dramatic performance.

Thank God for hotties Matthew Fox (whose Jack Shephard was totally out-bearded by William Hurt and Jon Hamm), Matt Damon (who sadly lost his two categories), Matthew Morrison, Joshua Jackson, and George Clooney!

Lastly, LOST'd be better recognized next year or else... (Hehehehe.) And, oh, Jim Parsons, John Noble, and Jane Lynch.

Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

Goodbye, 2009!

While 2008 was a year of healing and 2010 is a year of hope, 2009 was a difficult year. It was difficult for everyone affected by the recession, but it was especially difficult for me.

I started seriously looking for my own place, even without enough money. I didn't - still don't - have much support from my family because they don't think I'm mature enough to live on my own. I lost one unit I liked because my brother took forever to definitely refuse to help me. Every time I mention the words "condo" or "condo hunt," my mom and my sister wig out. It is painful that other people support me in this matter, while my own family doesn't.

Then the government of British Columbia announced that it is harmonizing the Goods & Service Tax (GST, at 5%) with the Provincial Sales Tax (PST, at 7%), thus creating the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST, at 12%). It is effective starting July 1, 2010. The HST announcement led to a surge in real estate sales, reducing the inventory and turning the real estate market into a seller's market - which means, it's not helping me at all. The government is insisting that HST is good for the economy, but more British Columbians disagree with it than those who accept it. For more information about the HST opposition, please go to this site.

Also, the recession's effect on the construction industry affected my work days and my salary. To prevent more layoffs, my employer entered us in the Work Share Program and cut our working days by one or two days. Employment Insurance is paying us for those days, but it does reduce the money I put into savings, part of which is for the condo hunting.

The above may not match other people's difficult experiences this year (e.g. the Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana victims in the Philippines, among others), but these were very difficult and painful for me. This is just half of all the pain I experienced in 2009, at least those I can talk about without getting chewed out.

These difficulties did teach me/remind me of a few things:

• God has control and sovereignty in my life. I can't impose my will on His.
• Everything happens for a reason and that God answers prayers in His time.
• God does not give me trials that are beyond me. He has gone through everything He makes me go through.

In 2010:

• I will have a better quiet, devotional time. I usually do it in the morning, before I leave for work, but I feel it's not enough.
• I will register for more editing or writing courses to develop my skills. I'm not sure about the SFU Certificate in Editing program anymore, because it will cost me at least $4,000.
• I will write more - and edit more.
• I will change my sleeping habits for the better. The more sleep, the better.
  
• I will improve my time-management skills.
• I will spend less and save more. Except, of course, if it relates to LOST. *Wink wink*
• I will fix that emotional unavailability thing.
• I will make other necessary changes in my life. *Wink wink*

Lord, I thank You for all the obvious blessings and blessings-in-disguise You bestowed upon me in 2009. *Sigh* More of the same for 2010? Hmmm...

Goodbye, 2009! Hello, 2010!

Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

The Golden Globes? Not So Golden. (Hmph!)

Well, LOST scored only one nomination: Michael Emerson for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television. Congratulations, Michael! (Hmmm... Me thinks the Emmy win helped. That is, aside from the awesomeness that is Michael Emerson. Hehehehe...)

But, yeah, only one nomination. *Sniff sniff*

The good thing about the year's Golden Globe TV nominations? Glee is nominated for four - FOUR! - categories!!! The series is up against 30 Rock, Entourage, Modern Family, and The Office for the Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical award. Matthew Morrison (Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical), Lea Michele (Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical), and Jane Lynch (Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television) are also nominated. Jane Lynch better win or else... (Mwahahahahaha)

I'm happy that Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama and that Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) is nominated in Michael Emerson's category. Yay!

Oh, one more thing: Where are John Noble (Fringe) and Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)? Hmmmm...

LOST better be nominated next year! If not, I will summon the Smoke Monster! Hehehehehe...

FOX Hates Gleeks Who are Also LOST Addicts Without DVRs

According to Entertainment Weekly's Kate Ward, FOX has announced its mid-season schedule. Two items caught my eye and made my blood boil:

• Glee's fall finale airs on December 9th, and my favourite new comedy will return on April 13th, same time period.

If you look at your calendars, April 13th is a Tuesday! A TUESDAY!!! As I reported last Thursday, LOST's final season premieres on February 2nd - also a Tuesday. I was so happy then, because Glee and LOST won't conflict with each other. Now FOX ruined it by moving Glee to LOST Day (and time period)! What the heck??? Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• After Fringe's winter finale on February 4th, it will return on April 1st.

This one actually isn't so bad, definitely not like the first one. It pisses me off that Fringe will take a seven-week hiatus. Since it's returning on the same weeknight (i.e. Thursday), it didn't make me react like the first one. But still.

I wonder if FOX scheduling executives can still change their minds and keep Glee on Wednesdays. Hmmmm...

There's a Reason I Don't Like Baseball...

... And that is baseball's interruption of Fringe.

Grrrr!

For at least two weeks, there will be no new Fringe episode due to post-season baseball. According to FringeTelevision's calendar, Fox will re-air the Season 2 premiere, "A New Day In The Old Town," on October 22nd IF there's no ALCS Game 5. The next week, October 29th, there will be no episode at all due to World Series Game 2. The following week, November 5th, episode 2x06 ("Earthling") may be aired IF there's no World Series Game 7. If so, episode 2x06 will be aired on November 12th. That's four weeks after the last new episode. FOUR WEEKS!

My Geek Thursday (FlashForward at 8pm and Fringe at 9pm) will be incomplete for at least one week. Three, if I discount the rerun of the Season 2 premiere and if there's World Series Game 7.

It would have been better if Fringe Season 2 episodes were available on Canadian iTunes Store...

God could possibly have arranged this so I can focus on Assignment 4 (the last one!). Possible, right?

*Sigh* Oh well...

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!

Kelly Clarkson Gives Kanye West a Butt-Whoopin'

Kelly Clarkson posted a butt-whoopin' entry regarding Kanye West's egotistical behaviour last Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Actually, it was more like an open letter to Kanye - a badass one.

I love this part of the letter (in verbatim - i.e. EXPLICIT LANGUAGE WARNING):

What happened to you as a child?? Did you not get hugged enough?? Something must have happened to make you this way and I think we’re all just curious as to what would make a grown man go on national television and make a talented artist, let alone teenager, feel like shit. I mean, I’ve seen you do some pretty shitty things, but you just keep amazing me with your tactless, asshole ways. It’s absolutely fascinating how much I don’t like you. I like everyone. I even like my asshole ex that cheated on me over you…which is pretty odd since I don’t even personally know you. The best part of this evening is that you weren’t even up for THIS award and yet you still have a problem with the outcome. Is winning a moon man that much of a life goal?? You can have mine if it will shut you up. Is it that important, really??

You go, girl!

She posted this yesterday at 4:16 AM, so she must have been holding it in since 6:30ish Sunday night. She could also be discussing it with her friends and decided to post this letter afterwards. Either way, this is full of the things that I omitted (e.g. the curse words) from my own blog post.

She ended her post with this:

Taylor Swift, you outsell him ….that’s why he’s bitter. You know I love your work! Keep it up girl!

I wouldn't be surprised if this were true - that Kanye may have been bitter about a teenage country singer outselling him.

I do think Kanye's childhood and upbringing may have something to do with his egotistical behaviour, but I think he was over-indulged or over-hugged when he was a kid. He didn't lack anything other than a whole lot of money. I think he was loved too much. This, in turn, made him believe that only his opinion matters.

I will say it again because it is most likely true: he may have apologized to everyone he pissed off, but he will do this again. He will ruin someone's moment again because he doesn't agree with it. His ego demands it.

Taylor Swift Found a New Fan

I'm sure you've seen, or at least heard of, what transpired tonight at the MTV Video Music Awards. If you haven't, then here it is: Kanye West dissed Taylor Swift for beating Beyonce Knowles in the Female Video category.

I wasn't a fan of Taylor Swift's until tonight. I mean, the girl was shocked that she won in the first place. A country singer winning a Moon Man is an achievement by itself. Who does Kanye West think he is by dismissing that and ranting that Beyonce should have won? Oh, right. Kanye thinks he's the most awesome person that ever lived. Please. Dude, Beyonce herself was horrified at Kanye's idiotic actions.

I must admit I wanted either Beyonce or Kelly Clarkson to win. I even shouted "Robbed!" when she was going up the stage. BUT I immediately repented of that when Kanye went up and dissed her. I mean, WTF, Kanye?!

Anyway, Taylor fought back by doing a great job in performing her song You Belong With Me, the video that won her the Moon Man.

When Beyonce won the Video of the Year award for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), she more than made up for Kanye's idiocy by giving Taylor a chance to finish her acceptance speech, which Kanye rudely interrupted. Although I still prefer Kelly Rowland over Beyonce, I have more respect for her now than I had before. B is a real class act. (Taylor too, of course.)

One more thing: Because Kanye West pissed me off so much, I decided to buy Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me off iTunes. Ha!

One last thing: Has anyone noticed that when other musicians record Kanye's songs - e.g. Kris Allen's Heartless and the Glee Cast's Gold Digger - they sound so much better? Have you?

Thank God Kanye was kicked out of Radio City Music Hall. Also, word around Twitter that he apologized for his idiotic and egotistical actions. But I don't believe him. He'll do this again. I just know he will.

An Evil, Evil World

I just learned that an old friend of mine from grade school was shot dead last Sunday, August 16th.

According to my classmates, he was shot in the torso somewhere in Antipolo City, Rizal Province (which borders my birthplace). I guess that someone got himself or herself a gun and decided to shoot someone. Or the killer was probably having a psychotic episode and mistook him for someone threatening. Either way, it was unfortunate that my old friend was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

He was a generally nice, soft-spoken guy. He was this tall, mestizo hottie and many girls had a crush on him. (Yes, that included me. ) I do not remember him getting on the periodic Top 10 in class, but I think he got decent grades. He was also a lot of fun.

So, the world just lost a decent guy because someone made the wrong, wrong, wrong choice. Is that unfair or what?

*Sigh*

I know God has a reason for letting a nobody (my grade school best friend's words, not mine) take my old friend's life. He may have completed his mission here on earth. His death may help change gun laws in the Philippines (keep your fingers crossed!). I don't know why God let him die, but I do know that God will punish the killer either in the culprit's lifetime or on Judgement Day.

My friend's senseless death makes me wish that Judgement Day would come soon. I cannot take any more of this evil, evil world.

Fancy a Cup of Tea?

The Brits have been doing it right all along: a cup of tea can calm you down more than any other food or beverage after being in a stressful situation.

A psychologist at City University London, Dr. Malcolm Cross and his team gave 42 (OMG, one of The Numbers!) volunteers a mental arithmetic exam. Afterward, they gave half of the volunteers a cup of tea and a glass of water to the other half. The latter group's anxiety levels, comparable to those before the exam, rose by 25 percent. On the other hand, the former group's anxiety levels were four percent less than before the exam!

Whoa.

I used to be a mainly coffee and pop drinker, but I have started drinking herbal and green tea. There are even times when I prefer tea over coffee.

I just had a very stressful week: I got tons of filing to do - work orders, old progress billing folders, and all that crap - while I was still doing the month-end A/R entries for July. Very overwhelming and I was tempted to just pack my bags and go home more than once.

I should probably bring a mug or start bringing a thermos to work so I can have tea when I'm stressed out (which is most of the time). Unfortunately, I am way too busy to take both my morning and afternoon coffee break. I just have no time!

Hmmm... Maybe I can just drink tea after dinner? We'll see about that...

LOST Gets Five Emmy Nods

Hello from warm and sunny San Jose, California! It is six days into our road trip and this is the first time I've had a chance to go on an actual computer. (I have been living on my BlackBerry and iPod Touch.)

I did not even know that the Emmy Awards nominations were going to be announced this morning. I must have forgotten it because of all the fun I'm having. Hehehehe...

It's nice to see that LOST is nominated for five awards:

Outstanding Drama Series
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
Lost • The Incident • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Stephen Semel, Editor
Mark Goldman, Editor
Chris Nelson, Editor

Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour)
Lost • The Incident • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Robert Anderson, Production Sound Mixer
Ken King, Production Sound Mixer
Scott Weber, Re-Recording Mixer
Frank Morrone, Re-Recording Mixer

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Michael Emerson, as Ben Linus

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Lost • The Incident • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Carlton Cuse, Writer
Damon Lindelof, Writer

Like the previous years, I really hope that LOST wins any of the major awards (best drama, best supporting actor - drama, and best writing - drama). LOST's win for the sound mixing in the Creative Emmys last year was nice, but Michael Emerson was robbed in the supporting drama actor category.

I just have one question: how come Josh Holloway and Elizabeth Mitchell were snubbed? They were both amazing in Season 5, especially in the last several episodes, yet they aren't nominated. Evangeline Lilly also did a great job in "Whatever Happened, Happened" (her best acting yet). Jeremy Davies was also fantastic in Season 5. Nevertheless, congratulations to Michael Emerson for his Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series nomination!

I am so glad that Darlton's writing for the season 5 finale, "The Incident," was recognized. Congrats, Damon and Carlton! It's a shame, though, that Jack Bender's directing went unrecognized.

I am also glad that How I Met Your Mother (Outstanding Comedy Series), Neil Patrick Harris (Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series), Jim Parsons (Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series), Phil Keoghan (Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program), Fringe (Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series), and Sandra Oh & Chandra Wilson (Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series) are nominated. Yay!

And I was pleasantly surprised to see this:

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media - Fiction
The Dharma Initiative • DharmaWantsYou.com
ABC Entertainment Marketing

Oh yeah!

Walk On Golden Ears Bridge Day!

We walked along Golden Ears Bridge this afternoon. And I survived it even though I was experiencing cramps! BOO-YAH!

Well, I wore flip flops, because no matter what I wear, my feet will hurt like bloody-murder anyway. We had to ascend the bridge's slope a good half hour. I knew tip-toeing would have helped me, but I was stubborn. So my feet started to hurt ten minutes into the walk.

On our way back, we saw this band. I don't know their name and I cannot understand what they were singing - it was in a different language. But it had a great rhythm and very danceable.



You'll see that we left before the song ended and continued with our walk back. The band finished the song about a minute and a half after we walked on. Ain't that ironic?

So we got on the crowded bus back to R. E. Mountain Secondary School and went to Tim Hortons. Unfortunately, it took forever, because there was only one person - a church mate of ours - manning the store. I paid $16, but we finally gave up and left, so I lost $7 - two large iced capps. Oh, well.

Overall, I had fun, even though my feet were - and still are - killing me. It was a good, albeit painful, walk. I proved I was not anti-social (hehe). We saw a bunch of people we know (the fab five from Walnut Grove Park & Ride, our former church mate, and three current church mates). I broke a sweat (which I immediately replaced with iced capp). Lastly, I saw a bunch of cute shirtless guys... Kidding!

iTunes Hates LOST and Fringe

Of course, I'm exaggerating. (The title is also a parody of the way some publications sensationalize news items.)

But downloading LOST Season 5 and Fringe Season 1 from the Canadian iTunes Store has been very frustrating!

It's been more than a week since I bought LOST S5 and Fringe S1, but I still haven't been able to download both the HD and Standard Definition versions. I keep getting this error message:

Unable to check for available downloads. The network connection timed out.

Make sure your network settings are correct and your connection is active, then try again.

So, I did. Still doesn't work. I tried every kind of troubleshooting I know and the ones that iTunes Support suggested, but nothing has worked so far. I even tried buying and downloading songs and applications, and then attempting to download the episodes, but it has not worked.

Most recently, I tried buying How I Met Your Mother's Season 4 finale ("The Leap," because I relate to it) to see if it works. As of 8:15am, both the HD and SD versions are downloading nicely and steadily.

Crap.

I just thought of this: It could be the amount of time it will take to download the HD and SD versions of LOST S5 and Fringe S1. HIMYM's Season 4 finale will take approximately three hours to download; that's just the HD version of one episode. Think of how long 78 episodes (one SD for each HD episode) will take. Nonetheless, I should have been able to download the episodes, even if it takes forever.

*Sigh* I wish iTunes Store would just refund the amount I paid for the order, so I can retry it.

My B'Day Wish: Extra Strength Tylenol!

I had imagined my 26th B'Day to be the same old thing that my B'Days have been. Take last year's for consideration: I woke up and my mom handed me my gift. I had breakfast and went to Metropolis at Metrotown to do a little shopping. After spending $108 on clothes and what-not (it's true, I'm not kidding), I went home and waited for everyone to come home so we could have my B'Day dinner. Boring as it was, it was fine.

Except that I'm sick this year. Actually, I've been ill since Saturday, May 23rd. I've been coughing, running a fever, and sneezing for six days now. And my co-workers are freaking out and blaming me for their little sniffles, little sneezes, and little coughs.

Seriously. Worst B'Day ever.

But all was not lost. People cared enough to greet me on Facebook - and my best friend didn't forget my B'Day this time! (Hehe.) Some are still sending me belated birthday greetings! A few people even sent cards!

I got great gifts too. My mom gave me an emerald-and-diamond ring a few weeks ago, and then she gave me clothes too. My sister gave me my very first Coach purse when they came back from Orlando, FL a couple of months ago; she said that was my early birthday gift. My niece and nephew/godson gave me Lipstick Jungle Season 2 DVD set (because The Big Bang Theory Season 2 DVD and Fringe Season 1 DVD aren't released yet) and a digital photo frame/key chain. Then the C's gave me my very first Guess purse, a Salvatore Ferragamo perfume, and a little poem/note from Miss KC.

We had spaghetti carbonara, baked chicken, two sets of pizza, and Pepsi. Then my niece took the DQ ice-cream cake for dessert.

Yes, they didn't listen to me when I said I don't want an ice-cream cake for my B'Day. No LOST-themed cake for this B'Day girl! (Humour me, it was my B'Day.)

Eh. Whatever. I was already having the worst B'Day ever.

The best B'Day gift ever? Ironically, it came in the form of a non-B'Day gift: a bottle of Extra Strength Tylenol!!!

I took one caplet and I fell asleep at around 9:30pm. When I woke up at midnight, I felt slightly better, although it still took me two hours to get back to sleep. When I woke up at 5:30am, there were less coughing fits, which lasted the whole day!

Anyway... Overall, I had a fine B'Day. It wasn't as great as my 25th or my 21st, but it will do. I'll just think of my Guess purse and Salvatore Ferragamo perfume.

Thanks, Vancouver Canucks

Sorry, Canuck fans. The Vancouver Canucks lost last night to the Chicago Blackhawks by two goals. The Canucks' season is finally over. So sad.



Actually, I didn't even watch the final game. I had a feeling it'd be all over last night. According to my sister, they lost their focus once they beat St. Louis Blues in four games.

However, they reached Round 2 of the playoffs, so that is commendable in itself. Congratulations, Northwest Division Champs! Better luck next year. Better yet, play better! See you guys in the fall.

Condo Hunt: HGTV Canada Contest and Rockport Update

I love HGTV Canada's TD Canada Trust First-Timer Mondays. I get to watch two episodes of Property Virgins, House Hunters, and Income Property (yes, the one with the hottie host).

Also, there is an open contest sponsored by TD Canada Trust, where a lucky person - hopefully, me - will win $25,000 for renovating, redecorating, or purchasing a home. Dude, $25,000! I can pay $20,000 downpayment and have enough money for closing costs.

Of course, I entered and I am now fervently praying that I win. If I did, then I don't have to get a little financial help from my brother. Yay!

Speaking of which, I don't think he wants to lend me any money. We've been e-mailing each other about it, and I have answered most of his probing questions so far. Apparently, he's still not satisfied. Actually, he did say he can lend me some, but when I asked him to raise the amount, he doesn't want to lend me money anymore. His apparent unwillingness to help me out is negatively affecting my hopes of getting the Rockport unit. It's taking him forever to directly tell me either yes or no. In turn, it's taking me forever to register an offer on the property. I just heard from my realtor that someone has put an offer on the unit yesterday.

Oh, well. If that buyer gets the place, then I guess it's just not mean to be. But, where else can I find a great place that is close to transit, Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, my doctor, and my dentist? Argh!

Stay tuned.

Update - 2 May 2009, 07:08
It's official: my bro said no. Oh, well...

There's a Thief in the LOST Fandom... GET HIM!!!

Oh, this is truly horrible: Erika Olson's recaps are being used word-for-word by a YouTube LOST vlogger!!!

Last Thursday, E, one of the top LOST bloggers, told her Facebook friends and Twitter followers that she was very upset that someone "has been using [her] recaps as their own". I thought, "Who the heck would even dare do that?" E has a copyright statement at the bottom of her blog; so this guy either never scrolled down to the very bottom or ignored it. Well, according to Oxford dictionary, the word ignore means "to disregard intentionally" (the emphasis is mine). Seeing as how Seanie B reportedly brushed E off in her attempts to personally confront this thief, the best bet is that he ignored the copyright statement. I can't believe this guy has the balls to produce a LOST recap vlog (or video blog), take E's words from her own blog, read it out (or memorize it), and claim the recap as his. Whatta SCUMBAG!!!! And his fake-recaps are featured on TVGuide??? UGH!!!!

Of course, everyone who commented on her Facebook status/Twitter update suggested one, two, or all of the following:

• Confront the thief - which she did, unsuccessfully;
• Report him to YouTube;
• Sue him; or
• Sic the Smoke Monster on him.

Fortunately, DocArzt published this piece on his blog. Hopefully, this will inform the LOST fandom, and the rest of the world wide web, that original ideas are being passed of as someone else's own, and it is wrong. This is plagiarism and it's a crime, plain and simple. The fact that he refused to admit that what he's doing is wrong and criminal makes my blood boil.

I seriously wonder how this guy can live with himself, knowing that he is stealing someone else's ideas and denying that it is wrong. Shame on him!

If you think that this guy is a scumbag for plagiarizing E's work, then please spread the word through Facebook, Twitter, your own blogs or websites, and the method of communication of your choice. Also, please Digg DocArzt's article on this matter and keep it on the forefront of Digg's home page. Let us all stand up against plagiarism, among other cybercrimes.

P.S. The title of this post is NOT - I repeat, NOT - meant to encourage mob mentality and doing harm to this jerk. It is only meant to get everyone - LOST fans, anti-plagiarists, media, everyone else - to unite against this crime.