The Nice Girls Guide to the Golden Globes

The Golden Globes are upon us! The awards show that honors movies and television is generally the most fun of the season, thanks in large part to the dinner party format, and the free booze at every table. This year Ricky Gervais is hosting the ceremony, which must have broadcaster NBC quaking in their boots, or at least keeping a finger hovering over the “censor” button. Are you ready for the party? Here’s a Nice Girls guide to who’s nominated in several of the television categories.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama

Glenn Close – Portraying tough litigator Patty Hewes in the dark FX series Damages, Glenn has brought to life this complicated, multi-layered lawyer who has a great deal of deep dark secrets and less than stellar attributes. Yet, she has made Patty a character for which the audience almost wants to pity while being terrified of what move she’ll play next. Competition in this category will be fierce and any of these talented actresses could walk away with the statuette. - Rueben

January Jones – As the Nordic Betty Draper, January Jones took on many different facets to the housewife this season on Mad Men. Much of her story focused on her pregnancy before shifting to how Betty would react to more proof of her husband’s infidelities. Into this mix, Betty found herself falling for another man, who comforted her following her father’s death and in her aspirations to be more like the model wife Don needed. The season closed with Betty, baby and her new man on a trip to Nevada so that she can start anew—away from Don Draper and the life she created in Ossining. - Louise

Julianna Margulies – Continuing a red-hot streak of accolades for her performance as Alicia Florrick, the wife of a state attorney accused of corruption turned junior litigator at a prestigious law firm in the series The Good Wife, Julianna Margulies received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama. For anyone who saw the pilot episode, or any episode since, this comes as no surprise. Not only has the show become a break-out success with an average of 14 million viewers, it managed to crack the Top 10 of the most watched shows for 2009. It is Julianna’s electrifying and finely nuanced performance combined with a cracker-jack twisty backstory that keeps the viewers glued to their screens. Competing against four other very talented women, this is a highly competitive category and Julianna is the dark-horse contender. – Tiffany

Anna Paquin -  This year Anna adds two nominations for Golden Globes. One for Best Actress in a Television Drama, is for her role as Sookie Stackhouse on HBO’s hit series, True Blood, and one for her lead role in the television movie The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.  The film told the story of the woman who is credited with saving the lives of 2,500 Jewish children during World War II. Last year, Anna took home the Globe for Best Performance By An Actress in a Television Series – Drama, also for True Blood. Anna demonstrates her incredible range as an actress in the role of Sookie Stackhouse, a mind-reading waitress who falls in love with a vampire in Louisiana, during a time when vampires are allowed to “live” among humans. Sookie’s life becomes a roller-coaster ride of fun, danger, heartbreak and terror, and Anna makes you feel each emotion vividly. – BethAnne

Kyra Sedgwick – Headlining another season of her hit show The Closer, Kyra had the chance to play with some strong emotions as Brenda balanced solving high profile crimes with being a newlywed, losing a beloved pet, and housing a rebellious niece. Her breakdown over Kitty’s death was a powerful revelation for a character who must avoid emotional attachments in her work. Playing opposite her real life daughter, Sosie Bacon, in an arc that saw Brenda try to help her troubled niece provided even more character development. Kyra’s strong presence has made Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson a force to contend with professionally and privately. - Melissa

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama

Simon Baker – Receiving his second Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in the series “The Mentalist,” and on the heels of his Emmy nomination for the same role, Simon Baker is once again being recognized for his outstanding performance with a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama. Simon’s performance is credited for launching “The Mentalist” on to the Nielsen Top 10 for 2008, ranking at #5 behind the reality series juggernauts “American Idol” and “Dancing With the Stars,” and ranking #1 of all scripted shows in 2008. The combination of devil-may-care façade concealing the boiling rage beneath is riveting and keeps the viewers guessing as to when all those suppressed emotions will erupt. Besides the complex duality, it is a pure joy to watch the impish glee with which he unmasks criminals and foils their devious plots. However, despite the overwhelming mass popularity, Simon remains a long-shot in this category. - Tiffany

John Hamm – Jon Hamm’s portrayal of Don Draper has only become more cool and calculated as the series entered the third season. Don’s charm failed for a short time, before he fell back into another woman’s welcome embrace. He also befriended hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, who didn’t settle for any of the pitches he heard all year long. By the end of the season, Don has witnessed his marriage’s complete destruction, as well as the destruction of Sterling Cooper he had conceived. In the ashes of ruined marriage, Draper forged a new company, one that is certain to provide for more dramatic moments for Hamm next season. - Louise

Also nominated: Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Bill Paxton (Big Love)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Comedy

Courteney Cox – Long time television favorite, Courteney Cox received her first Golden Globe nomination for her zany, but lovable portrayal of Jules Cobb in the series Cougar Town. Following her much-loved role as Monica Gellar Bing on the series Friends, Courteney has worked hard to capture the attention and love of viewers once again. It is her undaunted approach to physical comedy and willingness to do anything for a laugh that stands out. If there is a word for her performance it is “fearless.” - Tiffany

Lea Michele - Bursting onto the television landscape as Rachel, the talented high school student focused on stardom in Glee, Broadway-trained Lea has quickly emerged as a critical and fan favorite. In what is already an impressive ensemble cast, Lea shines as she manages to balance the confusion, selfishness, and angst of teenage life with charm, humor, and a really nice set of pipes. - Melissa

Also nominated: Tina Fey (30 Rock), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Toni Collette (United States of Tara)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Rose Byrne – Not to be outdone by her senior partner, Rose Bryne is also picked up a nomination for her role on Damages. Her role as Ellen Parsons is not only riveting to watch as each layer of her character’s life is peeled back as the story unravels but also heartbreaking to witness as those layers are laid to waste by the firm for which she works. Her nuanced performance is stunning to behold and must hold up against the other fine actresses also nominated for this award. - Rueben

Jane Lynch – Her acerbic wit and dry delivery have served Jane well in countless roles, but America really sat up and took notice when she appeared on their screens and told them nothing was harder than living with Hepatitis. As cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on Glee, Jane never fails to steal a scene. But just when you think there’s no redeeming Sue Sylvester, a beautiful scene comes along featuring her sister. It’s a role that almost became a caricature, but Jane’s skill is keeping her character from crossing that line. And that’s how Sue sees it. - Melissa

Also nominated: Jane Adams (Hung), Janet McTeer (Into the Storm), Chloë Sevigny (Big Love)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris – He’s a suit-loving, scotch drinking man who loves to flirt and bed women all around New York City, but he’s also a man committed to helping his hapless friends into finding something better. Two sides of one man: Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris in CBS’s comedy series How I Met Your Mother, which tells two children how their father found their mother. Much more than be said about Barney, who loves his laser tag and a good cigar, but recently it has been the story of his love for friend Robin Scherbatsky that’s captured viewers. From a sort of one-off character with a singular purpose, Barney, and Harris, have managed to capture the admiration and devotion of millions of viewers. - Louise

William Hurt – William Hurt has been nominated for his role as duplicitous Daniel Purcell in the FX series Damages. First introduced as the loving family man who loses his wife to a presumed home invasion, the viewers slowly come to learn that not only was he was involved in the planning of his wife’s death, but also dirty dealings in his professional life, which gain the attention of Patty Hewes and her firm. - Rueben

Michael Emerson – Playing the evil minded Benjamin Linus on the ABC series Lost, Michael Emerson has taken what was to be a short-term character contained within a much longer story arch from this mind-bending series, and termed into one of the most-watchable bad guys in television history. Benjamin Linus is a contradiction in terms, but as deftly portrayed by Michael, the audience almost feels sorry for him while routing for the survivors on the island to defeat him in any way they can. – Rueben

Also nominated: John Lithgow (Dexter), Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Glee – After a much ballyhooed preview last spring, Glee emerged as both a critical and viewer success story in its freshman season. Initially lauded for combining high school angst, musical numbers, and devilish wit, the show has begun to show a more poignant, sensitive side in recent episodes, proving that it has both style and substance. - Melissa

Modern Family – Right in the midst of its extraordinary freshman year, Modern Family nabbed a surprise Golden Globe nomination. Literally one day after the L.A. Times deemed it “overrated,” the nomination was a wonderful affirmation of Modern Family’s ingenuity and outrageous comedy — and best yet, nicely emphasized the LA Times’ clearly erroneous assessment. Adored by the mass television audience and raved about by virtually all of the television critics in an era where family comedy was thought to be on the decline, Modern Family has delighted in proving this misguided belief wrong. Its unique documentary-style story-telling and hair-raisingly funny situation comedy has nailed the top tier of comedic television. It also showcases the wide-range and array of talent brought by its cast and writers, which blend beautifully together to bring us thirty minutes of primetime joy with each new episode. - Tiffany

Also nominated: 30 Rock, Entourage, The Office

Best Television Series – Drama

Mad Men – In its third season Mad Men set to define the decade so many people still think of as a watershed in American history. From the first episode of the season, Matt Weiner set the seeds of the diaster that befell 1963: The Kennedy Assassination. Along the way, the folks at Sterling Cooper had a number of other headaches—competing interests to be head of Accounts, sexual awakening, and more than a few crumbling marriages. The bigger challenge came for the Draper family, as Don’s infidelities were made public and Betty became aware of what her life had become. Don finally met with a man who’s approval he could never count on in the business world—Conrad Hilton—who kept the ad man on his toes (and off looking at hotels) more than a few times. - Louise

True Blood – HBO’s hit series, True Blood, has picked up two nominations for Best Television Drama and Best Actress in a Television Drama (Anna Paquin).  Since its premiere in 2008, the show has become one of the most watched and talked about television series. Created by Alan Ball and based on the popular Southern Vampire Mysteries, written by Charlaine Harris, this show boasts an ensemble cast of some of the brightest talents out there, including Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard, Sam Trammell and Ryan Kwanten. The show started out with modest numbers, but by the end of season two, had become the most watched HBO program since The Sopranos, and has garnered numerous awards for music, writing and acting in its two-season run. The third season premieres in June. - Liz

Also nominated: Big Love, Dexter, House

The Golden Globes air tonight, January 17, on NBC.

Holiday Wished from Melissa, BethAnne, Louise, Rueben and Tiffany

Your Nice Girls wish to send you holiday wishes from our houses to yours. Have a safe, healthy and prosperous holiday, and we will be here in 2010 with all the latest news from television’s finest and our favorites.

Fresh Faces for Fall

With the bulk of the fall shows on the major networks ready to either debut or make their season premieres this week, we here at NiceGirls thought it would be a good idea to focus on some of the fresh new faces that will be gracing our TV screens. Some of these newcomers have been ‘around for awhile’ (but still are only somewhat recognized by audiences) while some are getting their first big break with new or returning series.

Rueben’s Fresh Faces for Fall

Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) – This new series will debut on CBS on Tuesday, September 22 at 10 PM. Archie Panjabi, best known for her role as Pinky in the big screen movie Bend It Like Beckham, plays Kalinda, the in-house investigator for the law firm featured prominently in the series. (CBS)

Zachary Knighton (FlashForward) – Making its series premiere on ABC on Thursday, September 24 at 8 PM, this much-anticipated series chronicles the events that take place after every person on the planet blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, seeing glimpses of their lives 6 months in the future. Zachary will play Dr. Bryce Varley.  He was last seen in the horror movie The Hitcher with Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill). (ABC)

Christine Woods (FlashForward) – Newcomer Christine Woods will also star in FlashForward when it debuts on ABC on September 24 at 8 PM, playing FBI agent Janis Hawk. She had a recurring role in the short-lived series Welcome to the Captain. (ABC)

Tabrett Bethell (Legend of the Seeker) – Tabrett will be joining the syndicated series Legend of the Seeker when it returns for its second season on November 7 (check your local listings for time and channel), portraying the Mord Sith, Cara, who will be a new traveling companion to Richard, Kahlan and Zed. Tabrett has two Australian films and theatre work under her belt; but this is her first big TV role. (Syndicated)

Agam Darshi (Sanctuary) – Agam will portray Kate Freelander, a swindler, con artist and theif who finds an unlikely alliance with Dr. Magnus (Amanda Tapping) on Sanctuary, which returns for its second season on Syfy on October 9 at 10 PM.  She has previously been see in the box office movie Snakes on a Plane. (SyFy)

Christopher J. Hanke (Three Rivers) – As an accomplished theater actor, Christopher has performed on Broadway in numerous plays, including Rent and Cry Baby.  But , this is his first foray into television.  He will play Ryan Abbot, an inexperienced new transplant coordinator for the preeminent transplant hospital in the country, located in Pittsburgh for which provides the show its name.  Three Rivers will have its series premiere on October 4 at 9 PM. (CBS)

David Blue (Stargate Universe) – Being best known for his recurring roles on Ugly Betty and Moonlight, David will be seen in the much-hyped Syfy series Stargate Universe, starring as Eli Wallace a technology wunderkid brought into the Stargate world to held solve a power dilemma within the Chevrons; the codes which allow the Stargates to operate.  Stargate Universe will debut on October 2 at 9 PM. (SyFy)

Katie Cassidy (Melrose Place) – Being an actor is part of Katie’s heritage, being the daughter of 70’s hunk David Cassidy, niece to Shaun and Patrick Cassidy and granddaughter of legendary screen actress Shirley Jones. Most recently seen in the short-lived CBS series Harper’s Island, Katie can now be seen as Ella Simms, a publicist who wants to the reach the top at any cost.  Melrose Place can currently be seen on the CW on Tuesday nights at 9 PM. (the CW)

Travis Van Winkle (90210) – Travis will portray Jamie, a football player and frat boy who crosses paths with Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord) on 90210, which airs on Tuesday nights on the CW at 8 PM.  Travis was previously seen in the spoof movie Meet the Spartans. (the CW)

Kevin McHale (Glee) – Playing Artie Abrams, the bespecled, guiltar-wielding, wheelchair bound glee club member, Kevin McHale has the unenviable task of playing against type (so to speak); but he does it will aplomb and, well, glee.  Check out this new series on Wednesday nights on FOX at 9 PM. (FOX)

Smith Cho (Ugly Betty) – Korean actress Smith Cho is expected to portray Betty’s new officemate when Ugly Betty returns to ABC on October 9 at 8 PM.  She will also be seen in the mid-season comedy 100 Questions.  Her previous work was on the short-lived NBC series Knight Rider. (ABC)

Chris Colfer (Glee) – This fresh faced 19-year-old from Fresno has been thrust into the limelight by his portrayal of loveable, talented effeminate Kurt Hummel on the ridiculously silly and addictive FOX series Glee, which airs on Wednesday nights at 9 PM.  This is Chris’ first big break into the business. (FOX)

Daniela Ruah (NCIS: Los Angeles) – A well-known actress in Portugal, Daniela stars as Special Agent Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, which debuts on Tuesday, September 22 at 9 PM on CBS.  The series delves into the world of undercover surveillance through a division of NCIS known as the Office of Special Projects.  This is Daniela’s first big American role. (CBS)

Maiara Walsh (Desperate Housewives) – Playing Ana Solis, the sexy, conniving niece of Carlos Solis (Ricardo Chavira) on Desperate Housewives, Maiara has been made a series regular this season (after appearing in 3 episodes last season).  The series will return for its 6th season on Sunday, September 27 at 9 PM.  Her previous work was on the Disney Channel’s series Cory in the House. (ABC)

Dawn Olivieri (Heroes) – Dawn will portray carnival worker Lydia, who is an empath with mysterious body tattoos that move and change, on Heroes when it returns to NBC on Monday, September 21 at 8 PM. S he made guest appearances on shows like Stargate Atlantis, Knight Rider and My Boys, but this is her first major TV role. (NBC)

Jurnee Smollett (Friday Night Lights) – When the critically-acclaimed series Friday Night Lights returns to DirecTV for its fourth season on Wednesday, October 28, Jurnee Smollet will join as a recurring cast member, playing Jess, the daughter of a onetime NFL hopeful who knows the game and helps raise her siblings with the help of her father.  She was last seen as Samantha in the box office movie The Great Debaters. (DirecTV/NBC)

Aimee Garcia (Trauma) – Aimee will star as helicopter pilot and former Iraqi vet Marisa Benez in Trauma, which debuts on NBC on Monday, September 28 at 9 PM.  The series focuses on medical first responders in San Francisco who reach emergency victims by land, sea and air.  Aimee is probably best known for her role of Veronica in The George Lopez Show. (NBC)

Logan Huffman (V) – Starring in the remake of the 80’s classic series V about out-of-this-world visitors whose ships descend on major cities around the globe, declaring they come in peace – which will debut on ABC on Tuesday, November 3 at 8 PM -newcomer Logan Huffman will portray Tyler Evans, son of Elizabeth Mitchell’s (Lost) character, FBI agent Erica Evans.  Logan was last seen in the independent movie Lymelife. (ABC)

Bethanne’s Fresh Fall Faces

Mark Pelligrino (Supernatural) – Mark is on board for Supernatural’s fifth season playing Lucifer. Mark appeared in the show’s season premiere on Sept. 10th on the CW. We do not yet know if this will be Supernatural’s final season, but we do know that this season is the most highly anticipated of all for the show. Lucifer is loose in the world and it will be up to the boys to gather the forces together that will defeat him.

Willie Garson (White Collar) – Although he’s recognizable as one of Carrie’s BFF’s on Sex and the City, White Collar marks Willie Garson’s first regular role on a series. Willie plays Mozzie, Neal Caffrey’s best friend on the show. He has deep connections in the criminal underworld and can get just about anything for Neal, from classified secrets to cutting edge technology. (USA)

Steven R. McQueen (The Vampire Diaries) – Steven plays Jeremy Gilbert, Elena’s brother on the show. Jeremy is a troubled teen on a dangerous and self-destructive path since the death of his parents. (CW)

Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries) – Nina is Elena Gilbert on the CW’s new hit series. Still reeling from a tragic incident, Elena heads into the new school year hoping to just look normal, even if she doesn’t feel normal. Instead, she becomes the focus of the two vampire brothers, Damon (Paul Wesley) and Stefan (Iam Somerhalder). (CW)

Jamie Ray Newman (Eastwick) - Jamie will play Kat Gardener on the ABC series Eastwick, premiering Sept. 23rd. Kat wants a change in her life. A nurse, she possesses natural healing abilities and has an uncanny green thumb. But her powers can be destructive too, as she discovers when Raymond, her unemployed husband who spends his days observing life from a hammock with a can of beer, becomes their unintentional target. (ABC)

Emmy Spotlight: Comedic Timing

The Emmys are coming! The Emmys are coming! This week the Nice Girls will preview some of the contenders for Emmys in a variety of categories, focusing on our faves.

Outstanding Comedy Series:

30 Rock (NBC)

A cooky workplace comedy, 30 Rock is saved from being mundane by Tina Fey’s sharp wit and a cast of actors with incredible comic timing. Sometimes the show veers toward abject absurdity, and I could do with less of Tracy Morgan’s character, but somehow by the end of each episode there’s been at least one belly laugh and a couple of “sing it sister” yells from my couch. - Melissa

Weeds (Showtime)

Weeds‘ forth season found Mary and her family settling into life outside of Majestic, while continuing to work with Guillermo and his friends.  Setting up a front as a maternity store, Nancy constantly questioned the goods coming into the store before meeting someone higher up in the chain—Esteban Reyes, Mayor of Tijuana. - Louise

Also nominated: How I Met Your Mother (CBS), Entourage (HBO), The Office (NBC), Flight of Conchords (HBO), Family Guy (FOX)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series:

Nobody felt moved to write about this category for some reason.  Probably because the Academy recognized Charlie Sheen again, dampening any enthusiasm we could muster. Here’s hoping Jim Parsons pulls out the win. - Melissa

Also nominated: Charlie Sheen (Two And A Half Men), Tony Shaloub (Monk), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Steve Carrell (The Office)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series:

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (ABC)

As title character Samantha, Christina Applegate had to play both evil, pre-amnesia Samantha and nice, trying-to-do-the-right-thing Samantha. It could have been a cloying performance. In fact, the premise itself had me rolling my eyes during the first season of the show, sure that it was awful. Then I watched a couple of reruns and realized that in the capable hands of Applegate, this woman was someone I wanted to follow as she navigated life without the benefit of past experience to draw upon. Too bad ABC didn’t agree and cancelled the show. - Melissa

Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds (Showtime)

Nancy Botwin’s life has gone to hell, numerous times, and each time she rises from the ashes (literally in the case of how season four started).  While Nancy’s life is constantly changing, Mary-Louise Parker grounds the role with a well-placed joke amidst all of the insanity.  Now facing life without a second husband and in a new city, the role of Nancy evolved with the changing conditions, just like she always done. – Louise

Also nominated: Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Toni Collette (The United States of Tara), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series:

Kevin Dillon – Entourage (HBO)
Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

I think Johnny Drama and Barney would get along well if they were ever to meet. Drama, the older, but less respected brother to Vincent Chase on Entourage, has a hard time winning respect amongst his group, and Hollywood at large. On the other side, there’s Barney Stinson, the man who knows everything about dressing right, sleeping with all the right women, and still being “Awesome!”. -Louise

Also nominated: Jon Cryer (Two And A Half Men), Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock)

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series:

Vanessa Williams – Ugly Betty (ABC)

Receiving her 3rd nomination for her portrayal as the vacillating villain Wilhelmina Slater, Vanessa Williams scored a nomination for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.”  As Wilhelmina, Williams glows with effervescent beauty and can whip out razor-sharp one-liners with comedic timing that few other actors can match.  She is an outstanding comedian that elevates the show by her presence.  Book-ending her nomination, the series also received a nomination for “Outstanding Costumes for a Series” — all of which were probably worn by Ms. Williams who always looked like the trend-setting fashion plate she gloriously portrayed. - Tiffany

Kristin Chenoweth – Pushing Daisies (ABC)

Oh Olive Snook, you adorable, pint-sized ball of sass, how I will miss you. Nominated for the cancelled gloriousness that was Pushing Daisies, Kristin Chenoweth was a force to be reckoned with on a show that demanded performances both larger-than-life and almost impossibly intimate. She put her famed vocal chords to good use with a few music numbers, worked through her unrequited feelings for the Pie Maker, became an apprentice detective with Emerson, found a good friend in Chuck, and true love with a taxidermist. With a reel like hers, I imagine the other nominees are attending the ceremony for the free food afterwards. -Melissa

Elizabeth Perkins – Weeds (Showtime)

No matter what, Celia is the one woman you know, who you really wish you didn’t. In the fourth season of Weeds, Celia found her way down to Del Mar, following her trip to jail after being accused of the last grow house. After arriving in Del Mar, Celia manages to work with Nancy later in the season, while still harboring resentment against her youngest daughter and husband. - Louise

Also nominated: Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), Amy Poehler (SNL), Kristin Wiig (SNL)

Emmy Spotlight: Oh, the Drama

The Emmys are coming! The Emmys are coming! This week the Nice Girls will preview some of the contenders for Emmys in a variety of categories, focusing on our faves.

Outstanding Drama Series:

Mad Men (AMC)

Though, I never find the time to talk about how this show moves me each week, it goes without saying that Mad Men has captured the attention of the critics. In the show’s sophomore season, the audience saw that while some things changed around Sterling Cooper (Peggy’s absence and later rise to more than a junior copywriter), most things stayed the same (Don’s philandering ways). In between all of that, more about the lives of the rest of the company came into focus—Pete and Trudy’s baby woes, Peggy’s family issues—all of which ended with the season looking at the Bay of Pigs confrontation. Only time will tell before we know how the critics really responded to the second season. -Louise

Also nominated: Big Love, Dexter, Breaking Bad, Lost, House, Damages

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series:

Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)

Don Draper—the man men want to emulate women want to sleep with—continues  captivate the  audience. Most of the second season found Don trying to find himself, and reconcile the man he is to everyone with the man he was (Dick Whitman). Throughout the season Hamm worked with Don’s flaws, allowing the audience to empathize with a man we should all detest. -Louise

Simon Baker – The Mentalist (CBS)

In its debut year, The Mentalist scored a major Emmy nomination for its lead, Simon Baker, who was nominated for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.” The Mentalist is a television series based on a fictional California Bureau of Investigations which enlists the aid of a former fraudulent psychic, Patrick Jane (played by Baker). Jane is a valuable asset to CBI as his keen intellect and powers of observation often allow him to pinpoint the culprit of crimes quicker than through conventional crime-fighting techniques. Jane also has a personal motivation, as in quid pro quo for his unique talents, he is given the aid of CBI in tracking down the serial killer, Red John, who killed his wife and daughter. As portrayed by Baker, Jane is playful, cocky and yet endearing all at once. Watching Baker so fully embody such a rich, diverse and fun character is riveting and he has full earned the Emmy nomination. -Tiffany

Also nominated: Hugh Laurie (House), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series:

Holly Hunter – Saving Grace (TNT)

Previously nominated in the “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series” in 2007 and 2008, this year marks the 3rd consecutive nomination for Holly Hunter, star of the TNT series Saving Grace. In Saving Grace, Hunter plays Grace Hanadarko, a police detective in Oklahoma City who balances the challenges of her grueling professional life against her hard-living and hard-loving lifestyle, while under the protection and guidance of her last chance angel, Earl. Hunter is riveting as she effortlessly slides between Grace’s free-wheeling personal life and tough-as-nails, no-holds barred professional life. One minute she is carefree and the next she has flipped the villain on his back. Hunter’s portrayal is fearless and makes her the perfect match for such a complex and intriguing character. -Tiffany

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

One of the nominees in this category is Kyra Sedgwick, who stars as Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson in TNT’s acclaimed series The Closer.  As one of a handful of “older” actresses in a lead role in a prominent hit cable series, Kyra and her fellow nominees – which include Holly Hunter (Saving Grace), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Glenn Close (Damages) and (youngster) Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) – will be in a tough “battle” for the golden statuette.  It is anyone’s guess who will receive the honor of this award, but I sure wouldn’t want to be an academy voter, as this category is simply too difficult to choose just one. -Rueben

Also nominated: Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Glenn Close (Damages), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series:

John Slattery – Mad Men (AMC)

Roger Sterling is an ass, but one that somehow it’s impossible to look away from as he does something stupid. In the second season, we watched as Roger had one last boys’ night with a departing member of the company before ending his twenty-plus-year marriage and wanting to marry one of the girls from the secretarial pool. -Louise

Also nominated: William Shatner (Boston Legal), Christian Clemenson (Boston Legal), William Hurt (Damages), Michael Emerson (Lost), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series:

We don’t watch any of these series, so by default our vote goes to the always wonderful Dianne Wiest (In Treatment). -Melissa

Also nominated: Cherry Jones (24), Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy), Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy), Rose Byrne (Damages), Hope Davis (In Treatment)

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series:

Mad Men – “A Night To Remember” (AMC): Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner
Mad Men – “Six Month Leave” (AMC): Andre Jacquemetton, Maria
Jacquemetton, Matthew Weiner
Mad Men – “The Jet Set” (AMC): Matthew Weiner
Mad Men – “Meditations In An Emergency” (AMC): Kater Gordon, Matthew Weiner

The writing of Mad Men weaves a series of tapestries where some small string from early in the season will pay off into the larger piece through a collection of carefully dropped lines in each episode. With the help of the rest of the writers, Matthew Weiner has managed to work the myriad storylines into a season that takes all thirteen episodes to fully understand. -Louise

Musings on Los Angeles, PaleyFest, and Nice Boys

Wow, what a week! I do so enjoy visiting Los Angeles and getting up close and personal with our favorite shows, but it’s nice to be home again. We’ll be reporting more from the PaleyFest panels later in the week (in case you missed the live reports on Twitter), so in the meantime here are some random thoughts on L.A., PaleyFest, and the week in general.

• If you have the opportunity to attend a Paley event, do it! They’re well-organized and fairly intimate in size, so it feels like you’re sitting in a big living room with other fans. The moderators have prepared questions, but the fans do get a chance to ask their own during the Q&A session.
• Be sure your camera takes good photos without the flash. No flash photography is allowed during the panels, which we knew going in, but what we didn’t expect is for my camera to die completely and BethAnne’s to insist on using the flash. I think she managed to get one decent photo, from The Mentalist.
• Get a GPS unit. Bring your own, rent one with your car (we used Budget; nice Grand Prix for cheap!), or buy one while you’re out here. We used Google Maps on my phone a lot, but it doesn’t have the surface street feature, so we ended up on the freeway a lot. And by “freeway”, we mean “parking lot”. Also, I have a horrible sense of direction out here, so we ended up touring a lot more of L.A. than we intended. Sorry, BethAnne!
• The Warner Bros. VIP tour is still the best one for the money. We toured the sets of Chuck, The Mentalist, and The Big Bang Theory, plus a bunch of back lots. Everyone is done filming for the season, so we could roam around pretty freely. Be sure to tell your tour guide if you’re a fan of a particular WB show; they’ll do their best to get you on the set!
• Half the fun of PaleyFest is meeting up with fellow fans and bloggers, including Whores and Addicts.
• Owain Yeoman is way hotter in person than he is as Agent Rigsby on The Mentalist. Also, he’s hilarious. Definitely Nice Boy material.

I also wanted to mention, for fans of The Ex List, that Elizabeth Reaser is in Vancouver right now to film the next Twilight movie, New Moon. LaineyGossip.com has some exclusive photos of her arriving at the airport there. I’m not a Twilight fan, but it’s nice to have her involved with something so successful. Here’s hoping it brings her back to the small screen soon!

Love Is In the Air

Ah, spring. When a young man’s fancy turns to love. And apparently so do the networks. The jolt of romance from the pilot episode of the new Cupid – how adorable were the Irish man and the reporter?!? – left me grinning. Which is good, because the Trevor/Claire dynamic isn’t working for me just yet. Yet, I find myself looking forward to the next episode for some good old fashioned romance.

Cupid isn’t the only show winning hearts and stealing kisses. On Chuck, the relationship between Chuck and Sarah is deepening and growing to the point that by the time Sarah caressed Chuck’s face at the end of last week’s episode, I was so invested in the two of them that I cheered for what to a new viewer might seem like a simple touch. It wasn’t simple, dear new viewer. Oh no, that was the culmination of more than 18 months of Chuck slowly breaking down Sarah’s walls. It can only get better from here.

Then I watched Bones and saw a completely different kind of love as Cam reconnected with her sort of ex-step-daughter (it’s complicated). The yearning for that mother-daughter relationship from the both of them was so poignant, so powerful, that I had tears in my eyes at the end of the episode.

Speaking of sweet, Friday’s episode fo Dollhouse brought us Sierra and Victor coming together, albeit briefly, as Victor’s desire to protect Sierra allowed her to trust him enough for a stolen kiss. Dr. Saunders might believe that the two of them have achieved closure and won’t pursue each other further, back in their Doll state, but I have my doubts on that score.

Love conquers all, right? Or at least stirs things up as we head toward our season finales.

Michael Cassidy Leaves ‘Privileged’; Louise Mourns

Ausiello just posted the news that Michael Cassidy, aka Charlie, is leaving Privileged for “creative and budgetary” reasons. While showrunner Rina Mimoun confirms that Charlie will be leaving – heading back to college – in the season’s 15th episode, she promises “some hot and heavy kissing” before he takes off. Hmmm…Charlie and Megan, sitting in a tree?

Mimoun also says the door is open for Charlie to return next season, if there is a next season. Did you hear that Louise? This is not necessarily permanent!

Lipstick Jungle Returns in New Timeslot

Zap2It is reporting that Lipstick Jungle will return Wed., Sept. 24, in a new timeslot. Set your calendars for that date at 10 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. CST, following the new Knight Rider series.

Photos: EW’s Vavoom Up Front Party and More

We’ve added some photos from the recent Entertainment Weekly Vavoom Up Front Party in our gallery, along with some pictures of Lindsay Price at the grand opening of “Cream”. Take a look!

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