Girlfriends & The Game 1.29.07

Last night's episode of Girlfriends was directed by Debbie Allen. 'Nuf said.

Just a few thoughts, though: I like how Lynn and Monica are bonding. But how funny was it when she had to bear witness to Monica and William getting their freak on while she hid behind the bar!

And what's up with Joan and the bathroom? She's a woman of a certain age, who's dated her share of men and has even been engaged a time or two, so what's the deal? She was acting like this was her first serious relationship. And she had the nerve to quote some outdated rule from a women's magazine that you have to leave some things to "mystery." It just seemed so retro, but at least we had a chance to see more of Richard T. Jones, which in my book, is always a good thing!

But, for a second there I thought "old Joan" was coming back when Aaron disclosed more of his personal life and upbringing. I (and other women I know) could learn a few lessons from this show. Sometimes God puts men in your life who don't come in the exact packaging that you hoped for.

And Maya's situation proved to me that I don't think I can raise a son. I would have the same issues she's having with Jabari. I loved it when she said to Darnell (notice how he was wearing a Sabers T-shirt - great tie-in to The Game, Mara!): "I'm telling you, that little girl over there has sex in her eyes."

I was more than a bit confused by last night's episode of The Game.

First of all, I thought that Derwin and Melanie were already engaged. But, apparently not, because he planned to propose since he thought she might be pregnant. I have always been skeptical of their relationship - they just don't seem to be a good fit or have much in common - and that was even more apparent last night. Based on their conversation in her brand-new, fully-loaded Toyota Camry, I get the impression that Melanie wants out of this relationship (LOL that her password is I_Hate_San_Diego). I guess being the girlfriend of a professional athlete is more than she bargained for.

Continuity was definitely missing last night. We're in the playoffs, right? But there was no mention of the game being a playoff game. And there was no mention of Kelly's breakdown. Perhaps this episode was shot out of order. And what's going on with Tasha and Coach T? Their storyline has completely fallen off the radar.

Despite some uneveness, this episode was still pretty funny, mostly because of Kelly. Here are some of my favorite lines:

Kelly to Melanie about her "lesbian lumberjack" look:

"Some of the girls are getting together for drinks after the game and the bar has a strict dress code. No ugly!"

And then after she spills the beans about Derwin's halftime proposal plans, she tells Melanie:

"I know it's too late to get down to an acceptable television weight."

But the kicker of the evening was Jason's recap of his proposal to Kelly, at his uncle Ned's funeral. "I realized life was too short." Too funny! I'm glad he redeemed himself a little with a more heartfelt and sweet proposal at the end.

Screen Actors Guild Award Recap

This must be the year of Black and Brown folks, since we are holding it down so lovely at the award shows so far this year.

Congratulations to the big winners from last night's SAG Awards:


Forest Whittaker - Male Actor in a Leading Role - The Last King of Scotland (with his beautiful wife Keisha)


Eddie Murphy - Male Actor in Supporting Role - Dreamgirls


Jennifer Hudson - Female Actor in Supporting Role - Dreamgirls
With this win, I think Jennifer's Oscar is on lock. Take that, Beyonce - who was a no-show last night. Jealous much?


America Ferrera - Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Ugly Betty

And my favorite winner (and acceptance speech):


Chanda Wilson - Female Actor in Drama Series - Grey's Anatomy

along with the cast of Grey's Anatomy for Ensemble in a Drama Series


I'm mad that Ellen Pompeo seemed to draw a blank on Isaiah Washington even being a member of the cast (is that a sign of things to come?), but Chandra truly set it off in her acceptance speech, with the quote of the evening:

"It's about those 10 cast members sitting over there and the other one in rehab. Y'all just hold me together."

Thank you and goodnight!

Gabrielle Union to play herself in new role.

Sorta kinda. As part of her new production deal with ABC, Gabrielle Union will play a model-turned-recording artist and fiancée of a star wide receiver in ABC's adaptation of the U.K.'s Footballer$ Wives. A campy mix of Dallas and Desperate Housewives that premiered in 2002, Wives focuses on three ordinary women whose lives are transformed by the celebrity and fortune that come with marriage to soccer superstars. The ABC adaption will focus on American football aka the National Football League.

It shouldn't be a stretch for Gabrielle since she was married to an NFL player,


Chris Howard

and was recently linked to Minnesota Vikings star


Darren Sharper (yes, UPGRADE!). But good for her. Glad to see her getting work, and on TV, where we need more Black women. Gabby sure has a thing for athletes, but who can blame her? She dated NBA star Jason Kidd in college and is currently rumored to be getting close to Yankee captain Derek Jeter. Go get it, girl!

But, what does this mean for my beloved The Game on CW? Not good, if you ask me. Two shows about women involved in the lives of NFL players. What are the odds?

Crazy Black Man Alert!

So, the good White folks at ABC have Isaiah Washington thinking he's crazy now. Yes, Isaiah checked into "rehab" today. I wonder if it's the same facility Lindsay Lohan is using. This man does not need rehab. He's not an alcoholic, or a drug addict or any other kind of addict. Yes, he was wrong for calling his costar a "faggot" and then making a public denial while repeating the slur again. He needs "media training," not "rehab." But, it seems like it went down like this - ABC told him that he would either be fired or he had to get a "psychological assessment." I guess Isaiah said, "I'll take 'keep my job' for $100, Alex!" and will gladly play the "crazy Black man" role White folks love to hate. Hmmm...did Kramer go to "rehab" after his racially-charged tirade a few weeks back during which he repeatedly said the work "nigger"? No, I don't think so. Anyways, here's the story from Life & Style Weekly, which broke the story earlier today:

Grey’s Anatomy star Isaiah Washington has entered a residential treatment facility in an effort to quell the controversy surrounding his anti-gay remarks — and save his job, Life & Style has learned exclusively. According to an insider, Isaiah, who issued an apology for his statements on Jan. 18, agreed to undergo a psychological assessment after talks with ABC executives. The married 43-year-old father of three was spotted entering the facility at 9 a.m. today (Jan. 24).

And in a statement released today, Isaiah, confirms this saying, “With the support of my family and friends, I have begun counseling. I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again. I appreciate the fact that I have been given this opportunity and I remain committed to transforming my negative actions into positive results, personally and professionally.”

Isaiah, who plays Dr. Preston Burke on the show, became embroiled in controversy for making a homophobic remark about Grey’s castmate T.R. Knight during an on-set argument last fall. (T.R., 33, publicly announced that he is gay after the incident.) The controversy reignited after the Jan. 15 Golden Globe Awards, at which Isaiah denied ever making the comment — but used the anti-gay slur in his denial.

“ABC has told him he must enter a program to examine why he would say such hateful words,” the insider says.

Meanwhile, during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Jan. 17, T.R. confirmed what Isaiah had said last fall — and expressed surprise at his co-star’s attempted denial. Isaiah issued his apology the next day, saying, “I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I’ve asked for help.”

Isaiah’s cast mates have been vocal about the controversy. “I feel really sad,” Kate Walsh has said. “I just trust that our show will deal with it in the way it sees fit.” Katherine Heigl called the situation “tense,” adding, “I think it’ll work out and I’m hopeful that it’s handled properly.”

Reps for Isaiah and ABC were not immediately available for comment.


And finally, Grey's Anatomy creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes spoke out on the situation today, obviously trying to keep her job as well:

"I speak for all the executive producers here at Grey's Anatomy when I say that Isaiah Washington's use of such a disturbing word was a shocking and dismaying event that insulted not only gays and lesbians everywhere but anyone who has ever struggled for respect in a world that is not always accepting of difference.

We’ve been working within the Grey’s family as well as with ABC and Touchstone Television to address the issue in a way that underscores the gravity of the situation while giving us all a foundation for healing. We applaud and encourage Isaiah's realization that he needs help and his subsequent choice to seek immediate treatment for his behavioral issues.

We appreciate the support the fans have always given our show, particularly during this stressful time. Creatively, we continue to strive to make the best television we can with the hope that our show reflects the talent, hard work and professionalism of our cast and crew."

I highly doubt that this is last we've heard in the Isiahgate saga. As always, stay tuned...

Studio 60 1.22.07

I was equally overjoyed by the return of Studio 60 last night. I'm in love with this show. It's a brilliantly written and acted show. Of course it has it's off moments, but no show is ever perfect. Even Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy can disappoint but that shouldn't detract from the fact that these are all great shows. I think that the critics need to back off and give this show a chance.

Now, with that said, my favorite scene from last night's episode is when Jordan's assistant Kevin come into her office to take breakfast orders because as Jordan remarks: "I've taken to dining in my office as my eating habits evoke giggles from my subordinates." After rattling off a laundry list that includes everything from "very crispy bacon" to a last minute addition of pancakes, he leaves and immediately returns bearing a tray with cold cereal:

Jordan: Oh, food. Great.
Hallie: He got your order wrong.
Jordan: No, this is what I eat while I'm waiting for the food.

LOL

I'm intrigued by the tension between Darius and Simon even more than the romantic liaisons between Matt and Harriet and Danny and Jordan. I can see why Darius passed off Simon's idea. He obviously doesn't want to get pigeon-holed into being the "Black guy who can only write for the Black characters." It's the same way some people think that in the TV industry "only Black writers can write for Black TV shows." Of course, it's not valid , but that's often the reality. I admire the way Studio 60 bluntly confronts the issue of race (the only other show that has similarly tackled race so well is The Game) from Simon's plea to Matt to hire a Black writer to begin with, to the Hurricane Katrina tribute and now the precarious relationship between Darius and Simon. I'm curious to see how this will play out in upcoming episodes.

Girlfriends & The Game

I was overjoyed to finally have new episodes of Girlfriends and The Game last night, and boy oh boy, were they worth the wait!

First up, Girlfriends.

I definitely sympathized with Lynn last night. She worked hard and put in the effort, but she still felt like she ended right back where she started. But, as Monica wisely pointed out to her, no, she's not at that same place. How many people can say that they've had a chance to work with Big Boi, whom some would call a musical genius? Lynn is right where she needs to be and all of these experiences are building toward a major pay off. I'm like Lynn. I also need instant results, but you know the saying, "good things come to those who wait." I actually had tears in my eyes when Monica, Joan and Maya came to see Lynn perform at the coffee house. That's what being "girlfriends" is all about - unconditional support no matter what. And I must admit, I was somewhat hesitant to Monica becoming the "fourth" girlfriend. However, she's really grown on me, and I don’t see her as Toni’s replacement, but instead as a unique individual. She's funny and has a bit of a rough edge, but still a kind heart underneath it all. My favorite moment from last night was when after her pep talk, Lynn asked her when did she become so wise, and Monica responded, “I've always been wise but you just weren't worthy!”

My second favorite moment was between Darnell and Maya. Once again, as a married couple, they blow me away. I know if must be a struggle for Darnell to swallow his pride and work at the car garage he started for a man he doesn’t even like, but he's doing it for his family. And he knows that he can’t quit because he’s not a quitter. It was cute how at first he didn’t have a plan but by arguing with Maya a plan developed to take the garage’s clients and open his own shop. It sounds like a good move.

And a big thank you to Maya for addressing the etiquette of bottled water. You do defeat the purpose of “bottled water” when you pour it over “tap water ice cubes.”

The Game was on point last night. Where do I even begin?

As I said in my previous Mid Season Awards post, Brittany Daniel (Kelly) is a superb actress and she shined last night. I was literally screaming at the TV, wishing I could jump into it a wrap my hands around Jason’s throat. Like Tasha said, he was being an a**hole, but at least by the end of the episode we learned why he is the way he is. I can’t say I was stunned by how he was treating Kelly last night, since we’ve seen his pattern of behavior all season, but my heart still went out to her, since I know there are a lot of real women who live this life of “quiet desperation.” Kelly and Jason need to meet Maya and Darnell.

Knowing how Kelly had been literally killing herself to prepare the house for his parents, I was so angry with Jason for not defending her. Then when she comes to him to try to talk, he gives her the “after the playoffs” shove-off. And he has the nerve to yell at her for not having his bag packed on time and demanding that she curl her hair for the game. No wonder Kelly had a breakdown. But Jason leaving the game and coming to her hospital bedside did not make it all better, at least in my book. Kelly definitely needs to find her voice and that was a perfect opportunity for her to lay it on the line to Jason. Instead, she takes his act of leaving mid-game as a sign that he’s on her side and loves her. Maybe so, but that still wouldn’t be good enough for me.

So, we learned that Jason’s father is a former football player who squandered all his money, so that’s why Jason is so desperate to be so miserly with his own money. Like his dad said, “You’re trying so hard to not be like me you’re killing your wife.” I hope that was the wakeup call Jason needed to come to his senses.

At least we had Derwin and Melanie to keep things light in the midst of this heavy material. My favorite line was Melanie’s response to Tasha listing all her family members who were coming into town for the playoff games: “Until you got to Ted, I didn’t know you were talking about people.” I almost fell off my bed because I was laughing so hard. And then Derwin got fed up with the obsession about this butt and finally screams “Can we leave my a** out of it?”

So, now that the Sabers have made it to the second round of the playoffs, is a Super Bowl episode right around the corner? I heard that former NFL receiver and Dancing with the Stars twirler Jerry Rice will make a guest appearance playing himself on an upcoming episode, titled "The Iceman Cometh," airing the day after the Super Bowl, on Monday, Feb. 5. On the show he will offer encouragement and the wisdom of a retired football star to the "Rookie," Derwin.

CW News

Moving away from Isaiah Washington and his foolishness (the latest development—he fired his publicist over the weekend. Who knew he even had the one the way he was carrying on?) to good news from the CW Network.

FINALLY...new episodes of Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends and The Game are on TONIGHT!!!

Also, the CW has picked up Everybody Hates Chris for a third season. Congratulations! I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for Girlfriends and The Game, but we probably will not know the fate of those shows for a few more months.

And, following in the footsteps of other networks, you can now watch episodes of your favorite shows (Beauty and the Geek, Supernatural, Veronica Mars, One Tree Hill, Everybody Hates Chris, All of Us, Girlfriends and The Game) for free and with limited commercial interruption on the network's website, http://www.cwtv.com/. I just checked it out and watched a few minutes of a past episode of The Game. Very cool!

Here are pics from the CW TCA Winter Press Tour Party:

The cast of Everybody Hates Chris


The lovely ladies of The Game


Keesha Sharp (Monica) of Girlfriends

Isaiah Speaks

This just in...Isaiah Washington just released the following statement:

"I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on Grey's Anatomy. I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help.

I know the power of words, especially those that demean. I realize that by using one filled with disrespect I have hurt more than T.R. and my colleagues. With one word, I've hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted. I welcome the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I’ve opened.

T.R.'s courage throughout this entire episode speaks to his tremendous character. I hold his talent, and T.R. as a person, in high esteem. I know a mere apology will not end this, and I intend to let my future actions prove my sincerity."

I wonder exactly what type of "help" he's seeking? And when he says, "By repeating the word Monday night..." does that mean he finally admits that he did use the slur in reference to his co-star T.R. Knight as opposed to what he said Monday night at the Golden Globes? This sounds like a stop-gap to a much larger issue that has yet to be resolved. Stay tuned...

Grey's Saga Continues

I am very disappointed in Isaiah Washington. I don't know what's worse - him calling his co-star T.R. Knight a faggot or his adamant refusal to accept responsibility for his hateful words and actions. During the celebratory press conference following their win for Best Drama at the Golden Globes, Isaiah took it upon himself to grab the microphone to say that he never called T.R. a faggot. It never happened, he boasted. The look on the faces of the rest of the cast on the stage was telling. But I wonder how he would feel if, let's say, McDreamy called him a "nigger." And even more shocking is Shonda Rhimes unwavering support of Isaiah. At some point, that is going to come back to bite her. I wouldn't be surprised if ABC is putting pressure on her to cut Isaiah from the show. Dr. Burke's days on Grey's Anatomy may be numbered.

ETA: I knew this was coming. ABC released a statement today (1.18.07) saying they are "greatly dismayed" by Isaiah's actions. Go figure! Here's the full statement:

"We are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, language that he himself deemed 'unfortunate' in his public apology issued at the time of the original incident. We have a long-standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees, and his actions are being addressed."

Stay tuned...because I'm sure there is much more to come.

About last night...

I know, I'm a day late and a dollar short with my review on The Hills and Dancelife, but I only saw these episodes in their entirety last night since I watched the Golden Globes Monday night.

The Hills picked up right where it left off...with Lauren playing the fool for Jason. First of all, now that they're broken up, why is she using her gas to drive to his house to return his belongings? Girl, please! He should have come to your house to pick them up off the curb while you weren't home. And then she had the nerve to get all teary-eyed, while he was (as always) so nonchalant about her. I loved when Heidi told Lauren that the "best thing about Jason is you." But, I predict that before this season is over, those two crazy kids will get back together. Lisa Love is my new favorite cast member. Her pointed questions to Lauren were so wicked, she gives Miranda Priestly of The Devil Wears Prada a run for her money! Lisa to Lauren: "You'll always be known as the girl who didn't choose Paris. Do you regret it? How did that beach house with your boyfriend work out?" Ouch! It was a fascinating insight to the male psyche to see how Spencer blatantly played Audrina and Heidi. He even took each girl to the same Mexican restaurant on consecutive nights. Player, player! Too bad Heidi fell victim to the okey-doke and may be pregnant. For some reason, I thought she was smarter than that.

Dancelife seemed particularly scripted. What a coincidence that the day of the big J. Lo audition, Jersey's car broke down. And what a coincidence that when she finally shows up at the audition, she runs into Staci and Celestina. And what a coincidence that Blake shows up at Nolan's denim store. I could do less with the dialogue and more with the dancing, which was amazing. And who knew J. Lo had such a potty mouth?!?

And Dirt is getting better. I was on the fence after the first episode, but now, I'm hooked. Last night's episode was on point. Eliminating the kooky special effects and pulling back from schizo paparazzi Don's life, were much needed improvements. I particularly liked how the episode ended, with Lucy standing alone in her big apartment, with no one to share in her excitment and success. It's still not in the same caliber as Nip/Tuck, but it's cool.

The Golden Globes Award Recap

I thought it was a fitting tribute to the day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that Blacks and Latinos cleaned up at the Golden Globe Awards last night:


Jennifer Hudson. Best Supporting Actress. Dreamgirls.


Eddie Murphy. Best Supporting Actor. Dreamgirls.


Forest Whitaker. Best Actor. The Last King of Scotland.


Shonda Rhimes, as creator and executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy for Best Drama.


Salma Hayek, as executive producer of Ugly Betty for Best Comedy.


America Ferrera for Best Actress in a Comedy.

All these awards were richly deserved and America’s acceptance speech was so sweet and even brought tears to my eyes.

But, I had some issues with the show last night.

The production quality was lacking. I realize that this is the only awards show that is not presented in the traditional format, but I was tried of looking at the camera men running around the tables.

I’ve finally come to the conclusion that I don’t particularly like Jamie Foxx. He came up on stage, obviously salty than he was the only one not nominated for Dreamgirls, and proceeded to give shout-outs from the stage like he was calling in to a radio show. Déclassé.


Fashion-wise, overall, everyone looked nice with a few major exceptions:

There was too much black. To me, wearing black to an awards show is playing it too safe. Yes, I’m talking about you Katherine Heigel and Hilary Swank.



I like to see color, i.e. Jada Pinkett-Smith.



Beyonce looked and acted like a slut. Plus, her look boooorrrriiinnnnggg! We’ve seen the same hair and dress on her many times before. The Golden Globes should have been her coming out party as a sexy, sophisticated and serious actress. Instead, she looked like she missed the turn on the freeway for Hooker’s Lane.


My best dressed is a three-way-tie between America Ferrera in a purple jewel-tone, Toni Colette in a striking sea blue, and Drew Barrymore in a sweet pale pink. Beautiful colors.



I’ll give Cameron Diaz a pass since I know she’s going through a recent breakup, but ladies, please know that the first time you see you ex post-breakup, you have to come like you’ve never come before. Cameron, obviously, didn’t realize this.


Who ever let Vanessa Williams leave the house with a poodle strapped to the back of her head is clearly not her friend.


And I’m tired of everyone wearing the same dress, just in different colors. I know Marchesa is the hot designer of the moment, but why did, at least by my count, five people, including J.Lo have on Marchesa dresses?!? It seems like Eva Longoria and Sara Ramirez fell victim to the okey-doke.

News & Notes...

Over at HBO, Kanye West is set to star in a reality series directed by Borat's Larry Charles and focused on a day in the singer's hectic life. I say, "Who cares?"


Also at HBO, Ruben Santiago-Hudson is penning a drama series based on his autobiographical play and film, Lackawanna Blues. Per Reuters, Law & Order's S. Epatha Merkerson has not been approached to reprise her big-screen role as Nanny. This could be hot, but not without Epatha. It would be a nice change for her from the drudgery of Law & Order. I hope Ruben has enough sense to reach out to her.


And in H.A.M news...Being Bobby Brown is officially ghost. The Bravo flack just didn't find the show all that fascinating without Whitney. Go figure!

NAACP Image Award Nominees!

Yesterday, three of my favorite TV actors - Vanessa Williams, Chandra Wilson and Isaiah Washington - announced the nominees for the 38th NAACP Image Awards, which will be telecast live on FOX on March 2, 2007 at 8pm.

Surprisingly, CBS leads with a total of 19 nominations, followed by The CW with 17. Everybody Hates Chris received 8 nominations, including the directing category. Girlfriends received 6 nominations, including the directing and writing categories.

And the nominees are (in the TV categories only!):
[**My picks are in BOLD**]

COMEDY

Outstanding Comedy Series
“All of Us” (CW)
“The Bernie Mac Show” (FOX)
“Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)
“Girlfriends” (CW)
“Ugly Betty” (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Bernie Mac – “The Bernie Mac Show” (FOX)
Donald Faison – “Scrubs” (NBC)
Duane Martin – “All of Us” (CW)
George Lopez – “George Lopez” (ABC)
Tyler James Williams – “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
America Ferrera – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
Maya Rudolph – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Raven-Symoné – “That’s So Raven” (Disney Channel)
Tichina Arnold – “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)
Tracee Ellis Ross – “Girlfriends” (CW)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Antonio Fargas –“Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)
Reggie Hayes – “Girlfriends” (CW)
Romany Malco – “Weeds” (Showtime)
Terry Crews – “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)
Victor Williams – “The King of Queens” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Dee Dee Davis – “The Bernie Mac Show” (FOX)
LisaRaye McCoy Misick – “All of Us” (CW)
Telma Hopkins – “Half & Half” (UPN)
Vanessa L. Williams – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
Whoopi Goldberg – “Everybody Hates Chris” (CW)

DRAMA

Outstanding Drama Series
“24” (FOX)
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
“Heroes” (NBC)
“The Unit” (CBS)
“The Wire” (HBO)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Dennis Haysbert – “The Unit” (CBS)
Hill Harper – “CSI: New York” (CBS)
Isaiah Washington – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
Jesse L. Martin – “Law & Order” (NBC)
Michael K. Williams – “The Wire” (HBO)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
CCH Pounder – “The Shield” (FX)
Jennifer Beals – “The L Word” (Showtime)
Kimberly Elise – “Close To Home” (CBS)
Regina Taylor – “The Unit” (CBS)
Roselyn Sanchez – “Without A Trace” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Gary Dourdan – “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS)
Glynn Turman – “The Wire” (HBO)
James Pickens, Jr. – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
Omar Epps – “House” (FOX)
Wendell Pierce – “The Wire” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Chandra Wilson – “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
Khandi Alexander – “CSI: Miami” (CBS)
Marianne Jean-Baptiste – “Without A Trace” (CBS)
S. Epatha Merkerson – “Law & Order” (NBC)
Sanaa Lathan – “Nip/Tuck” (FX)

MOVIE, MINI-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
“Life is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story” (Lifetime)
“Sleeper Cell: American Terror” (Showtime)
“Tsunami, The Aftermath” (HBO)
“Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till” (Court TV)
“When The Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” (HBO)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Andre Braugher – “Thief” (FX)
Chiwetel Ejiofor – “Tsunami, The Aftermath” (HBO)
Clarence Williams III – “Mystery Woman” (Hallmark)
Kadeem Hardison – “Life is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story” (Lifetime)
Michael Ealy – “Sleeper Cell: American Terror” (Showtime)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Aisha Tyler – “For One Night” (Lifetime)
Fantasia Barrino – “Life is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story” (Lifetime)
Loretta Devine – “Life is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story” (Lifetime)
Patti LaBelle – “Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy” (Lifetime)
Sophie Okonedo – “Tsunami, The Aftermath” (HBO)

DAYTIME DRAMA

Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Antonio Sabato Jr. – “The Bold & The Beautiful” (CBS)
Bryton McClure – “The Young And The Restless” (CBS)
James Reynolds – “Days of Our Lives” (NBC)
Kristoff St. John – “The Young And The Restless” (CBS)
Michael B. Jordan – “All My Children” (ABC)

Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Christel Khalil – “The Young And The Restless” (CBS)
Davetta Sherwood – “The Young And The Restless” (CBS)
Renee Elise Goldsberry – “One Life to Live” (ABC)
Tracey Ross – “Passions” (NBC)
Yvonna Wright – “Guiding Light” (CBS)

NEWS, TALK OR INFORMATION

Outstanding News, Talk or Information - Series or Special
“Biography: Barack Obama” (Biography Channel)
“Crisis in Darfur” (NBC)
“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (HBO Sports)
“Tavis Smiley: Katrina – One Year Later” (PBS)
“The Tyra Banks Show” (Syndicated)

REALITY

Outstanding Reality Series
“American Idol” (FOX)
“America’s Next Top Model” (CW)
“Black. White.” (FX)
“Dancing With The Stars” (ABC)
“Run’s House” (MTV)

VARIETY

Outstanding Variety - Series or Special
“2006 Black Movie Awards – A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present, and Future” (TNT)
“BET Awards 2006” (BET)
“Cedric The Entertainer: Taking You Higher” (HBO)
“An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder” (Syndicated)
“Jamie Foxx: Unpredictable” (NBC)

YOUTH/CHILDREN

Outstanding Children’s Program
“The Backyardigans” (Nick, Jr.)
“Dora The Explorer” (Nickelodeon)
“High School Musical” (Disney Channel)
“Romeo!” (Nickelodeon)
“That’s So Raven” (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children’s Program - Series or Special
Corbin Bleu – “High School Musical” (Disney Channel)
Kathleen Hurley – “Dora The Explorer” (Nickelodeon)
Kyle Massey – “That’s So Raven” (Disney Channel)
Raven-Symoné – “That’s So Raven” (Disney Channel)
Romeo – “Romeo!” (Nickelodeon)

WRITING

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Kenny Smith – The Game (CW) “The Trey Wiggs Episode”
Mara Brock Akil – Girlfriends (CW) “ After the Storm”
Regina Y. Hicks – Girlfriends (CW) “I’ll Have a Blueline Christmas”
Royale Watkins – All Of Us (UPN) “ The –N- Word”
Silvio Horta – Ugly Betty (ABC) “Pilot”

Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
Aaron Rahsaan Thomas – Friday Night Lights (NBC) “Full Hearts”
Janine Sherman-Barrois – ER (NBC) “Darfur”
Naren Chankar – CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) “Killer”
Shonda Rhimes – Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) “It’s the End of the World”
Steven Maeda – Daybreak (ABC) “What if He Lets Her Go”

DIRECTING

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Ali LeRoi – Everybody Hates Chris (CW) “Everybody Hates Elections”
Kenneth Whittingham – The Office (NBC) “Michael’s Birthday”
Lauren Breiting – According to Jim (ABC) “The Stick”
Millicent Shelton – Everybody Hates Chris (UPN) “Everybody Hates Valentine’s Day”
Salim Akil – Girlfriends (UPN) “The Game”

Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series
Anthony Hemingway – Close to Home (CBS) “Prodigal Son”
Craig Ross, Jr. – Bones (FOX) “Aliens in a Spaceship”
Karen Gaviola – Lost (ABC) “The Whole Truth”
Paris Barclay – Cold Case (CBS) “ Saving Sammy”
Seith Mann – The Wire (HBO) “Homerooms”

Tia Mowry, star of The Game, is engaged!

Congratulations to Tia Mowry and her fiance, actor Cory Hardrict! It's about time - on The Tyra Banks Show, she said they had been dating for eight years. Here's a photo of them (with Tia flashing the ring) at the premiere of Stomp The Yard last night in L.A.

Lincoln Heights 1.8.07

So, did anyone else catch this new series on ABC Family last night? Unfortunately, this time slot is going to be a problem. 7pm? I'm barely dragging myself through the door from work at the time, but lucky for me, the premiere re-aired at 10pm.

First of all, it was so refreshing to see a regular Black family on TV. And the premise of the show is timely, as a lot of middle-class African-Americans are choosing to buy fixer-upers and move back to the 'hood, so to speak, as we've particularly seen in some areas of Washington, D.C., Chicago, Harlem, Cincinnati and Oakland.

I loved that these were not the stereotypical characters we often see in family dramas - the "rebellious and promiscuous" teenage daughter, the "confused" middle child or the "strung out on rap music and on-the-brink of gang life" son. Here, we have well-developed characters that are not far from the norm. Cassie, the teenage daughter who doing her best to set an example for her siblings, Lizzie, the middle daughter who just wants some playing time on the basketball court, and Taylor, a diabetic son (nice touch) who doesn't talk Ebonically and loves his sister. That was the overwhelming sense I got from this show - love. How rare on TV to find a cast of family members who actually love each other (I haven't seen ABC's Brothers and Sisters, so I don't know what goes on there).

The relationship between mom and dad (Jen and Eddie) reminds me of Claire and Cliff on The Cosby Show. They talk to each other nicely; care for one another; and wants nothing more than for the other to be happy.

But, I guess you can tell with all this "love" floating around, the show would be sappy. And yes, it does have its cheesy moments - like when Edie takes Lizze and Taylor for a ride "around the old neighborhood" - but its never corny. You're rooting for this family to win - or at least I was.

There were many touches of realism to ground the story - Eddie is a cop moving into a neighborhood where cops are disliked and not trusted; neighbors who are not welcoming with open arms (but do eventually come around) and mainstream/White friends who can't understand why'd you ever want to move back to the 'hood. I wish they hadn't killed off Darnell. I was looking forward to him and Eddie learning to like one another and teaming up to patrol the neighborhood, but I sense that the repercussions of Darnell's death will reverberate and have lasting repercussions for Eddie and his family.

This show is very genuine and honest - it can be a bit earnest at times, but hey, it's ABC Family. The acting was fine, though Jen was so sullen in the beginning. She didn't crack a smile until near the end of the episode and we didn't really get a glimpse of her personality until she helped Taylor out of his money troubles, which was very clever. Charles, Cassie's love interest, seems like a nice guy, and I can appreciate his backstory of going to the "brig" for protecting his mom from an abusive husband.

Overall, I liked it. I wonder how it's going to fare on ABC Family. I hope it gets a fair shot. This is actaully the type of show I'd like to see on CW. But on the other hand...I've seen more promotion of Lincoln Heights, including a humongous billboard right outside of New York City's Penn Station, than I've seen of any show on the CW.

Power Failure

I was not a happy camper Monday morning.

My electricity went out at exactly 8:30pm Sunday night (thank you PSE&G of NJ!). So, that means:

1. I missed the second-half of the repeat episode of Cold Case. (Who killed the actor? My bets were on his girlfriend.)

2. I missed the new episode of Cold Case.

3. I missed the new episode of Desperate Housewives.

4. I missed the season premiere of The Apprentice: LA. (Though I was still on the fence about watching because Trump has really turned me off with his recent Rosie bashing tirades.)

5. I missed the repeat episodes of Rome on HBO. (Is anyone else as excited as I am for the upcoming new season next Sunday?)

Has this happened to anyone else - where the power (or cable/satellite) company has put a wrench in your TV-watching plans? Please share.

Screen Actors Guild Nominations Are Here!

Here are the nominees for the 13th Annual SAG Awards, announced this morning:

TV Drama, Lead Actor
James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), James Spader (Boston Legal), Kiefer Sutherland (24)

TV Drama, Lead Actress
Patricia Arquette (Medium), Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy)

TV Drama, Ensemble
24, Boston Legal, Deadwood, Grey's Anatomy, The Sopranos

TV Comedy, Lead Actor
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (The Office), Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

TV Comedy, Lead Actress
America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Megan Mullally (Will & Grace), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl)

TV Comedy, Ensemble
Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office, Ugly Betty, Weeds

TV-movie/Miniseries, Actor
Thomas Haden Church (Broken Trail), Robert Duvall (Broken Trail), Jeremy Irons (Elizabeth I), William H. Macy (Nightmares & Dreamscapes), Matthew Perry (The Ron Clark Story)

TV-movie/Miniseries, Actress
Annette Bening (Mrs. Harris), Shirley Jones (Hidden Places), Cloris Leachman (Mrs. Harris), Helen Mirren (Elizabeth I), Greta Scacchi (Broken Trail)

The awards will be handed out on Jan. 28, simulcast on TNT and TBS.

Dirt 1.2.07

Well, last night was the series premiere of Dirt on FX. The early reviews were right...it really wasn't that good, but I wouldn't say it was horrible either. I had such high hopes for this show, particularly since FX was plugging it incessantly during Nip/Tuck and I was hooked just off those commercial and I'd love to see Courteney Cox do well. But where was the sizzle last night?

*The opening was flat and dull.
*If Courteney is playing a bitch, then she needs to let loose and do it (she should call Vanessa Williams for some pointers on how she does it on Ugly Betty). I felt like she was holding back and trying to hard.
*I was a bit taken aback by the "rawness" of the sex scenes, particularly the hot tub scene with Rick Fox, the hooker and the dildo!
*I could have done without the special effects concerning the schizophrenic photographer. I also wish they had pulled back from his storyline and focused more on Lucy's character.
*One cute moment was when she intercepted the text messages her employees were sending back-and-forth.
*But the one scene that really gave me hope was when Lucy played Julia's sex tape for Holt. This was one part where it came SO CLOSE to getting it right. I really loved this dialogue:
Holt: I just wanted to be an actor.
Lucy: No, you wanted to be famous. There's a big difference.

Though I was somewhat disappointed, I'm willing to stick with it to see if it gets any better.

Las Vegas Star Engaged

I'm happy to report that my favorite actor on Las Vegas got engaged on New Year's Eve. Congratulations Vanessa Marcil. Some of you may remember her from her days as a soap siren on General Hospital or her two-year stint on Beverly Hills 90210, where she hooked up with her baby-daddy, co-star Brian Austin Green. She was rumored to have been married tothe famnous child actor Corey Feldman. No word on who the luck guy is this time, but TVnista wishes her the best. She's basically the only reason (other than Josh Duhamel) that I still watch Las Vegas!).


And 'tis the season for engagements, because former co-host on The View, Lisa Ling also got engaged over the holidays to Paul Song, a Chicago-area doctor. They plan to marry later this year. Good for her! Lisa is now a correspondent for National Geographic and I was lucky enough to have a chance to meet her at a taping of The View back in 2000. Lisa and I got way back to Channel One days. What ya'll know about that, huh?

Breaking O.C. News...

This just in from Fox: "The sun will set for the last time on The O.C. when the series ends its four-season run Thursday, Feb. 22, at 9 pm/ET." All-new episodes will air from the series' Jan. 4 return through its forever finale.

"This feels like the best time to bring the show to its close,” series creator Josh Schwartz said in a statement. “Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than on top [creatively]. It has been an amazing experience and a great run. For a certain audience, at a certain time, The O.C. has meant something. For that we are grateful."

All I can say is Wow! I was an avid watcher of The O.C. until this season. As much as I hated to admit it, it just wasn't the same without Marisa and since it was up against some stiff competition, namely Grey's Anatomy and CSI, it really didn't stand a chance. At the times that I have tuned in over the past few weeks, I've been disappointed. I don't like what they did to Summer's character and I was truly disgusted by Ryan's hookup with Taylor. I guess I just missed the sizzle and tension between Ryan and Marisa. Honestly, The O.C. suffered from the "college curse." The same thing happened when Saved By the Bell and Beverly Hills 90210 tried to keep things going past the high school years. It just wasn't the same. R.I.P. to The O.C.


But in other O.C. news...R&B crooner Chris Brown will guest-star on tomorrow's episode!

Mid-Season Preview: What to Watch

Happy New Year! We're now at the half-way mark of the Fall 2006 season. We said goodbye to a few new shows, notably several ABC rejects - Six Degrees, The Nine and Day Break, as well as other shows that barely aired one episode before getting the ax, like Smith and 3lbs.. So with the new year, the networks are giving it the "old college try" again with some new shows to entice us, as well as some returning favorites. Here's what TVnista is looking forward to this month:


The Knights of Prosperity (debuts Wednesday, Jan. 3 @ 9pm, ABC)
Premise: A gang of social misfits (two janitors, a cab driver, a waitress, a security guard and a geeky intern) decide their path to the American Dream lies in robbing Mick Jagger's penthouse.
Why We'll Watch: Sofia Vergara. I've been a fan of hers since the cheesy 2003 romantic-comedy Chasing Papi, where she displayed a dazzling personality and great comedic acting chops. She recently starred on another ABC show from last season, Hot Properties, where she out shined her co-stars, including Gail O'Grady. I expect the same from her here.



Dirt (debuts Tuesday, Jan. 2 @ 10pm, FX)
Premise: The saga of a tabloid editor (Courteney Cox) who fancies herself a journalist, and her schizo paparazzo, who will do anything to get the photos.
Why We'll Watch : If well-executed, this show could be good, very good, in fact. I'll admit it, one of my guilty pleasures is reading those celeb tabloid magazines, so wouldn't it be cool to see what goes on behind-the-scenes. I'm particularly curious to see what level of interaction these tabloid editors have with the celebrity subjects they cover - I'm sure there's a lot of give and take. Based on the commercials I saw that aired during Nip/Tuck, it looks good, but I've heard otherwise. Courteney Cox was my favorite "Friend" so I'd like to see her do well.


Lincoln Heights (debuts Monday, Jan. 8 @ 7pm, ABC Family)
Premise: An African-American cop brings his suburban family back to live the tough inner-city neighborhood that he grew up in.
Why We'll Watch: Finally, a show about an African-American family. I'm excited. The casting looks solid: Russell Hornsby and Nikki Micheaux star as Eddie and Jenn Sutton, along with their three children, including Erica Hubbard (you may remember her from Akeelah and the Bee) as their teenage daughter Cassie, who may have a case of "Jungle Fever" on her hands. Let's be sure to support this show!


Dancelife(debuts Monday, Jan. 15 @ 10:30pm, MTV)
Premise: The 8-episode series, executive-produced by former Fly Girl Jennifer Lopez follows the lives of six dancers trying to achieve their dreams and break into the grueling and unforgiving world of professional dance.
Why We'll Watch: One word - J.Lo. 'Nuf said.


The Hills (returns Monday, Jan. 15 @ 10pm, MTV)
Why We'll Watch: Based on the preview, it looks like Lauren "L.C." Conrad is finally over her deadbeat boyfriend Jason and is moving on with Brody Jenner. But her best friend and roommate Heidi Montag still can't stay away from the drama - did I catch a glimpse of an EPT test in her hand?