10 Finalists for Best Animated Short

These are the ten finalists, of which five will be nominated, for the Best Animated Short Film. There is a Disney entry, and a lot of great short films in the bunch, so it will surely be an interesting year:

Feral
Daniel Sousa, director, and Dan Golden, music and sound design (Daniel Sousa)

Get a Horse!
Lauren MacMullan, director, and Dorothy McKim, producer (Walt Disney Feature Animation)

Gloria Victoria
Theodore Ushev, director (National Film Board of Canada)

Hollow Land
Uri Kranot and Michelle Kranot, directors (Dansk Tegnefilm, Les Films de
l’Arlequin and the National Film Board of Canada)

The Missing Scarf
Eoin Duffy, director, and Jamie Hogan, producer (Belly Creative Inc.)

Mr. Hublot
Laurent Witz, director, and Alexandre Espigares, co-director (Zeilt Productions)

Possessions
Shuhei Morita, director (Sunrise Inc.)

Requiem for Romance
Jonathan Ng, director (Kungfu Romance Productions Inc.)

Room on the Broom
Max Lang and Jan Lachauer, directors (Magic Light Pictures)

Subconscious Password
Chris Landreth, director (National Film Board of Canada with the participation of Seneca College Animation Arts Centre and Copperheart Entertainment)

The 47th Country Music Association (CMA) Award Winners

Entertainer of the Year
George Strait

Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert

Vocal Group of the Year
Little Big Town

Album of the Year
Based on a True Story, Blake Shelton, Scott Hendricks (producer)

New Artist of the Year
Kacey Musgraves

Vocal Duo of the Year
Florida Georgia Line

Song of the Year
"I Drive Your Truck," Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary

Single of the Year
"Cruise," Florida Georgia Line, Joey Moi (producer)

Musical Event
Highway Don't Care," Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

Music Video
"Highway Don't Care," Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Shane Drake (director)

Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally

2014 Cinema Eye Nominations

One of the few looks at the Documentary Race heading into the season, the Cinema Eye Honors are always an interesting bunch of nominations. Here are this year's nominees:

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NONFICTION FEATURE FILMMAKING

The Act of Killing
After Tiller
Cutie and the Boxer
Leviathan
Stories We Tell

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION
The Act of Killing
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer

After Tiller
Directed by Martha Shane and Lana Wilson

First Cousin Once Removed
Directed by Alan Berliner

Leviathan
Directed by Lucien Castaing-Taylor & Véréna Paravel

The Machine Which Makes Everything Disappear
Directed by Tinatin Gurchiani

Stories We Tell
Directed by Sarah Polley

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
The Act of Killing
Edited by Janus Billeskov Jansen

First Cousin Once Removed
Edited by Alan Berliner

Let the Fire Burn
Edited by Nels Bangerter

Leviathan
Edited by Lucien Castaing-Taylor & Véréna Paravel

Our Nixon
Edited by Francisco Bello

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
The Act of Killing
Signe Byrge Sørensen

After Tiller
Martha Shane and Lana Wilson

Dirty Wars
Anthony Arnove, Brenda Coughlin and Jeremy Scahill

Expedition to the End of the World
Michael Haslund-Christensen

The Square
Karim Amer

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
12 O’Clock Boys
Cinematography by Lotfy Nathan

Cutie and the Boxer
Cinematography by Zachary Heinzerling

Dirty Wars
Cinematography by Richard Rowley

Elena
Cinematography by Janice D’avila, Will Etchebehere and Miguel Vassy

Expedition to the End of the World
Cinematography by Martin Munch

Leviathan
Cinematography by Lucien Castaing-Taylor & Véréna Paravel

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NONFICTION FILMS MADE FOR TELEVISION
The Crash Reel
Gideon’s Army
Homegoings
Inventing David Geffen
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Which Way Is the Front Line From Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington

AUDIENCE CHOICE PRIZE
20 Feet From Stardom
The Act of Killing
Blackfish
The Crash Reel
Cutie and the Boxer
Muscle Shoals
Rafea: Solar Mama
Sound City
The Square
Stories We Tell

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN A DEBUT FEATURE FILM
12 O’Clock Boys
Directed by Lotfy Nathan

After Tiller
Directed by Martha Shane and Lana Wilson

Cutie and the Boxer
Directed by Zachary Heinzerling

Let the Fire Burn
Directed by Jason Osder

The Machine Which Makes Everything Disappear
Directed by Tinatin Gurchiani

Sofia’s Last Ambulance
Directed by Ilian Metev

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
A Band Called Death
Score by Sam Retzer & Tim Boland

Blackfish
Score by Jeff Beal

Cutie and the Boxer
Score by Yasuaki Shimizu

Expedition to the End of the World
Score by Mads Heldtberg

Narco Cultura
Score by Jeremy Turner

Teenage
Score by Bradford Cox

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GRAPHIC DESIGN OR ANIMATION
Cutie and the Boxer
Graphics by Art Jail

Far Out Isn’t Far Enough
Graphics by Rick Cikowski & Brandon Dumlao

The Fruit Hunters
Graphics by Brandon Blommaert & Fred Casia

Inequality for All
Graphics by Brian Oakes

Maidentrip
Graphics by Margot Tsakiri-Scanatovits & Daniel Chester

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
Graphics by Maryanne Butler & Marc Smith

SPOTLIGHT AWARD
Bending Steel
Directed by Dave Carroll

Fuck for Forest
Directed by Michal Marczak

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction
Directed by Sophie Huber

The Last Station
Directed by Cristian Soto and Catalina Vergara

The Search for Emak Bakia
Directed by Oskar Algeria

Valentine Road
Directed by Marta Cunningham

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NONFICTION SHORT FILMMAKING
Da Vinci
Director: Yuri Ancarani

Death of a Prisoner
Director: Laura Poitras

Outlawed in Pakistan
Director: Habiba Nosheen, Hilke Schellmann

Reindeer
Director: Eva Weber

SLOMO
Director: Josh Izenberg

A Story for the Modlins
Director: Sergio Oksman

19 Finalists in Animated Feature Race

This race is incredibly weak compared to last year's, but there are still enough big contenders. The early reviews on Frozen could signal an early frontrunner, but never forget Pixar and their latest entry Monsters University. I also expect The Wind Rises to easily make it in, especially if it is Miyazaki's last film. So that leaves two slots. The bigger studios have some weak efforts this year in Epic and The Croods, although they both did well enough to make it in. I expect GKIDS to get back in after missing the cut this year, and several options, especially Ernest and Celestine are in the mix. Take a look at the 19 that have submitted and start making your predictions today!

"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2"
"The Croods"
"Despicable Me 2"
"Epic"
"Ernest and Celestine"
"The Fake"
"Free Birds"
"Frozen"
"Khumba"
"The Legend of Sarila"
"A Letter to Momo"
"Monsters University"
"O Apóstolo"
"Planes"
"Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie – Rebellion"
"Rio: 2096 A Story of Love and Fury"
"The Smurfs 2"
"Turbo"
"The Wind Rises"

People's Choice Award Nominees

Of course, these are basically the populist choices of the year, although the inclusions of Lee Daniel's The Butler, Gravity, Sandra Bullock, and Oprah Winfrey definitely help the causes of the more popular Oscar contenders. The full list is below:

Favorite Movie
Despicable Me 2
Fast & Furious 6
Iron Man 3
Monsters University
Star Trek Into Darkness

Favorite Movie Actor
Channing Tatum
Hugh Jackman
Johnny Depp
Leonardo DiCaprio
Robert Downey Jr.

Favorite Movie Actress
Gwyneth Paltrow
Jennifer Aniston
Melissa McCarthy
Sandra Bullock
Scarlett Johansson

Favorite Movie Duo
Chris Pine & Zachary Quinto (Star Trek Into Darkness)
Jennifer Aniston & Jason Sudeikis (We’re the Millers)
Robert Downey Jr. & Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man 3)
Sandra Bullock & George Clooney (Gravity)
Sandra Bullock & Melissa McCarthy (The Heat)

Favorite Action Movie
Fast & Furious 6
Iron Man 3
Star Trek Into Darkness
The Wolverine
World War Z

Favorite Action Movie Star
Brad Pitt
Channing Tatum
Hugh Jackman
Robert Downey Jr.
Vin Diesel

Favorite Comedic Movie
Grown Ups 2
The Hangover Part III
The Heat
Instructions Not Included
We’re the Millers

Favorite Comedic Movie Actor
Adam Sandler
Bradley Cooper
Chris Rock
James Franco
Zach Galifianakis

Favorite Comedic Movie Actress
Emma Watson
Jennifer Aniston
Melissa McCarthy
Sandra Bullock
Scarlett Johansson

Favorite Dramatic Movie
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Prisoners

Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor
Channing Tatum
Chris Hemsworth
Hugh Jackman
Leonardo DiCaprio
Ryan Gosling

Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress
Amy Adams
Emma Stone
Halle Berry
Oprah Winfrey
Sandra Bullock

Favorite Family Movie
Despicable Me 2
Monsters University
Oz the Great and Powerful
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
The Smurfs 2

Favorite Horror Movie
Carrie
The Conjuring
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters
Insidious: Chapter 2
Mama

Favorite Thriller Movie
A Good Day to Die Hard
The Call
Now You See Me
Red 2
White House Down

Favorite Network TV Comedy
2 Broke Girls
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
How I Met Your Mother
Modern Family

Favorite Comedic TV Actor
Chris Colfer
Darren Criss
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jim Parsons
Neil Patrick Harris

Favorite Comedic TV Actress
Jane Lynch
Kaley Cuoco
Lea Michele
Melissa McCarthy
Zooey Deschanel

Favorite Network TV Drama
Chicago Fire
The Good Wife
Grey’s Anatomy
Nashville
Parenthood

Favorite Dramatic TV Actor
Jim Caviezel
Josh Charles
Kevin Bacon
Mark Harmon
Patrick Dempsey

Favorite Dramatic TV Actress
Julianna Margulies
Mariska Hargitay
Pauley Perrette
Sandra Oh
Stana Katic

Favorite Actor in a New TV Series
Andy Samberg
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Joseph Morgan
Michael J. Fox
Robin Williams

Favorite Actress in a New TV Series
Allison Janney
Anna Faris
Ming-Na Wen
Rebel Wilson
Sarah Michelle Gellar

Favorite TV Crime Drama
Bones
Castle
Criminal Minds
The Mentalist
NCIS

Favorite Competition TV Show
America’s Got Talent
Dancing with the Stars
MasterChef
The Voice
The X Factor

Favorite Cable TV Comedy
Awkward.
Cougar Town
Hot in Cleveland
Melissa & Joey
Psych

Favorite Cable TV Drama
Downton Abbey
Pretty Little Liars
Sons of Anarchy
The Walking Dead
White Collar

Favorite Premium Cable TV Show
Californication
Game of Thrones
Girls
Homeland
True Blood

Favorite Cable TV Actress
Angie Harmon
Claire Danes
Courteney Cox
Lucy Hale
Maggie Smith

Favorite TV Anti-Hero
Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Norman Bates (Bates Motel)
Rick Grimes (The Walking Dead)
Walter White (Breaking Bad)

Favorite TV Bromance
Blaine & Sam (Glee)
Ryan & Esposito (Castle)
Sam, Dean & Castiel (Supernatural)
Sheldon, Leonard, Howard & Raj (The Big Bang Theory)
Ted, Marshall & Barney (How I Met Your Mother)

Favorite TV Gal Pals
Caroline & Max (2 Broke Girls)
Lily & Robin (How I Met Your Mother)
Meredith & Cristina (Grey’s Anatomy)
Penny, Bernadette & Amy (The Big Bang Theory)
Rachel & Santana (Glee)

Favorite On-Screen Chemistry
Castle & Beckett (Castle)
Damon & Elena (The Vampire Diaries)
Derek & Meredith (Grey’s Anatomy)
Emma & Hook (Once Upon A Time)
Kurt & Blaine (Glee)

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show
Beauty and the Beast
Once Upon A Time
Supernatural
The Vampire Diaries
The Walking Dead

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor
Andrew Lincoln
Ian Somerhalder
Jared Padalecki
Jensen Ackles
Stephen Amell

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress
Emilia Clarke
Ginnifer Goodwin
Kristin Kruek
Nina Dobrev
Tatiana Maslany

Favorite TV Movie/Miniseries
American Horror Story
Behind the Candelabra
The Bible
Sharknado
The White Queen

Favorite Daytime TV Host(s)
Ellen DeGeneres
Kelly Ripa & Michael Strahan
Dr. Phil McGraw
Rachael Ray
Steve Harvey

Favorite New Talk Show Host
Arsenio Hall
Bethenny Frankel
Jenny McCarthy
Queen Latifah
Ross Mathews

Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host
Conan O’Brien
David Letterman
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Kimmel
Stephen Colbert

Favorite Streaming Series
Arrested Development
Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis
House of Cards
Losing It with John Stamos
Orange Is the New Black

Favorite Series We Miss Most
30 Rock
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Fringe
The Office

Favorite New TV Comedy
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Crazy Ones
Dads
The Goldbergs
The Michael J. Fox Show
The Millers
Mom
Sean Saves the World
Super Fun Night
Trophy Wife

Favorite New TV Drama
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Betrayal
The Blacklist
Dracula
Hostages
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
The Originals
Reign
Sleepy Hollow
The Tomorrow People

Favorite Male Artist
Avicii
Blake Shelton
Bruno Mars
Justin Timberlake
Michael Bublé

Favorite Female Artist
Britney Spears
Demi Lovato
Katy Perry
P!nk
Selena Gomez

Favorite Breakout Artist
Ariana Grande
Austin Mahone
Icona Pop
Imagine Dragons
Lorde

Favorite Pop Artist
Britney Spears
Bruno Mars
Demi Lovato
Justin Timberlake
Katy Perry

Favorite Country Artist
The Band Perry
Blake Shelton
Carrie Underwood
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift

Favorite Country Music Icon
Alan Jackson
George Strait
Tim McGraw
Toby Keith
Willie Nelson

Favorite Hip-Hop Artist
Drake
Jay Z
Kanye West
Lil Wayne
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Favorite R&B Artist
Alicia Keys
Ciara
Justin Timberlake
Rihanna
Robin Thicke

Favorite Band
Imagine Dragons
Maroon 5
One Direction
OneRepublic
Paramore

Favorite Alternative Band
Fall Out Boy
Imagine Dragons
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Paramore

Favorite Song
Just Give Me A Reason (P!nk feat. Nate Ruess)
Mirrors (Justin Timberlake)
Radioactive (Imagine Dragons)
Roar (Katy Perry)
When I Was Your Man (Bruno Mars)

Favorite Album
The 20/20 Experience (Justin Timberlake)
Bangerz (Miley Cyrus)
Based on a True Story… (Blake Shelton)
Blurred Lines (Robin Thicke)
To Be Loved (Michael Bublé)

Favorite Music Video
Best Song Ever (One Direction)
Heart Attack (Demi Lovato)
Just Give Me A Reason (P!nk feat. Nate Ruess)
Roar (Katy Perry)
Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus)

Favorite Music Fan Following
Britney Army (Britney Spears)
Directioners (One Direction)
KatyCats (Katy Perry)
Little Monsters (Lady Gaga)
Lovatics (Demi Lovato)

Grammy Preview: Best New Artist

So it is time to start looking at this year's Grammy race, as the nominees will be announced in about a month. So the first category is Best New Artist

Contenders
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Emeli Sande
Kendrick Lamar
Imagine Dragons
Ariana Grande
Kacey Musgraves
Florida Georgia Line
Ellie Golding
Lorde
ASAP Rocky
Lana Del Rey
Phillip Phillips
The Weekend
Of Monsters and Men
Haim
Avicii
Icona Pop
Austin Mahone
The National
Karmin
Capital Cities
Labrinth
Zedd
Randy Houser

Commentary - Actually a lot of big names this year, it could be a race where contenders come out of nowhere. Of course there are always curveballs here. It looks like there could be some eligibility issues with Ellie Golding (Is she technically eligible?) If she is, then I will include her on final predictions, but for now I am leaving her off. Emeli Sande should probably not be eligible, but of course the Recording Academy always fudges the rules. That being said, she is immensly talented, and is probably has the classy aspect that goes over better with the music industry voters. Two hip-hop artist have a great shot here, as both sold well, and did well with music critics. If there is only one spot for rap artists then Macklemore and Ryan Lewis will probably be the frontrunners, but I think that Kendrick Lamar has a great shot too. Imagine Dragons did really well at this year's VMA's and would be a high profile choice. Country has several choices, lead by Kacey Musgraves and Florida Georgia Line, the former being much more deserving. Don't forget electronica either with Avicii and Zedd. Lana Del Rey has had a lot of success, but I don't think that her style (or her botched SNL performance) are palatable. also watch out for Lorde, Phillip Phillips, ASAP Rocky, Karmin and The Weekend, who all have decent exposure and buzz. Currently, here are my predictions:

Imagine Dragons
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Emeli Sande

New SAG Poll in Sidebar

I have said before that I think that current Best Picture frontrunners Captain Phillips and Gravity will eventually find a stumble, and I think that it will be at the SAG Awards. Either too many newcomers or only two actors, will most likely hurt them with SAG voters. Instead look for films like Blue Jasmine, Saving Mr. Banks, or even outside shots like Inside Llewyn Davis, Enough Said, and Prisoners, all of which have large casts to make more of an impact. Or will the power of Captain Phillips and Gravity be able to overcome this handicap? Now you can decide, by picking your five favorites for the SAG nominations in the new poll in the sidebar! Enjoy!

The Oscar Narrative - First Best Original Song Predictions

So I usually avoid this category for a while, just to see which contenders will emerge. Of course, once the elgibility list is released, that will probably shuffle around some contenders, but for now here are my predictions:

Best Original Song
Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez "Frozen - Let it Go"
Lana Del Rey and Rick Howels "The Great Gatsby - Young and Beautiful"
Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T-Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen "Inside Llewyn Davis - Please Mr. Kennedy"
Lenny Kravitz "Lee Daniel's The Butler - You and I Ain't Nothin' No More"
Keith McMasters, Fantasia Barrino, Kassim VonRico Washington, and Abel Terry "Lee Daniel's The Butler" - In the Middle of the Night"

Other Contenders
All is Lost - Amen
Anchorman 2 - Doby
August: Osage County - Last Mile Home
The Croods - Shine Your Way
Despicable Me 2 - Happy
Despicable Me 2 - Just a Cloud Away
Epic - Rise Up
Ernest & Celestine - Ernest and Celestine's Song
The Great Gatsby - Over the Love
Her - The Moon Song
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Atlas
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - Ordinary Love
Oz The Great and Powerful - Almost Home
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - Stay Alive
Short Term 12 - So You Know What It's Like
Stoker - Becomes the Color
The Way Way Back - Go Where the Love Is
The Way Way Back - For the Time Being

Commentary - There don't seem to be an incredible amount of strong entries this year, and so far there doesn't seem to be a Skyfall-esque frontrunner that will dominate the season. Right now, I am going with more obvious choices based on past history, and the names involved. Other big contenders on the blogosphere right now each seem to have a handicap. Amen from All is Lost is played over the final credits and doesn't seem to have that quality the music branch looks for. The Moon Song is quirky, in my opinion, but may be too far from the norm for voters. And Short Term 12's So You Know What It's Like would be a great nominee, but the film has to hit enough Academy voters to be considered in any categories. Also, there are a LOT of contenders from animated films, which tend to do well in this category. Frozen's Idina Menzel led Let it Go has Disney behind it, so expect it to be nominated, but the others will have to distinguish themselves somehow in order to make the cut. Films have always been able to get more than one nominee in, and Lee Daniel's The Butler, which is getting buzz across several categories, has two big opportunties. One is sung by Grammy winner Fantasia, who is also a writer, and the other is crafted by one of the stars of the film Lenny Kravitz, and performed by the legendary Gladys Knight. The film is chocked full of music, new and old, that helps capture the theme of the scene they are playing in. This really helps in this category where they have moved more towards songs that actually have impact on the film's story or characters. A recent winner T Bone Burnett is looking to return to the race with his song, along with Justin Timberlake, and several other writers, entitled Please Mr. Kennedy. It is definitely a big moment in a music-themed film, so it could definitely be a contender, although some of those writers will probably be dropped. Finally, the Lana Del Rey tune from The Great Gatsby is getting a lot of push. I think her style may factor against her, but it definitely has the buzz.

Top 100 Television Shows Since 2000: Part X

10. Parks and Recreation (2009-2013) - Underrated is a word that is unfortunately used way too often (including this particular blogger who fully admits his guilt). But this show, as well as the next one, should have their pictures next to underrated in the dictionary. Parks & Recreation definitely has enough of a cult following to have survived so many seasons, but it has never found a mass audience, and despite a few nominations each year, it has never really amassed Emmy recognition. But for now six seasons, Parks & Recreation has been one of my favorite, oh hell who am I kidding it won two Awards Psychic Television Awards in a row, my favorite television comedy. Taking on the now popular mockumentary-style, Parks & Recreation is a quirky, loveable, and laugh-out-loud funny series led by stellar writing and an outstanding cast whose
chemistry has become so infectious over the years. Of course many of the great comedies from the last decade or so had all of those components, so what makes Parks & Rec. different? First of all, the main characters are original, fun, and play off of each other so well, from Aubrey Plaza's sullen and scary April, to Chris Pratt's ridiculous Andy, Rashida Jones' supporting Ann, Aziz Ansari's swagger-obssessed Tom, to my personal favorite Nick Offerman's government-hating, yet department-leading Ron Swanson. But for me, there are two major things that make Parks & Recreation so much better than most of the television comedies on the air today. First, the writing is absolutely exceptional. For all of its zany moments, there are so many sly and subtle cutaways, plenty of tender, heartfelt moments, and it never has to reach too far for the obvious comedy. Most importantly, the storylines have grown, as have our characters, over the seasons, creating wonderful character development, and people to root for, as their lives change and grow. But the real star here is Amy Poehler. We all knew she was a talent from her SNL days, but her over-the-top, government-loving, Joe-Biden-obsessed Leslie Knope is her finest creation yet. We root for her to win, we understand her strengths and her flaws, and we all at some point identify with her. Whatever happens to Parks & Rec (it seems to always be on the chopping block at NBC), we should all be grateful we had a few years in Pawnee with our beloved friends.

9. Friday Night Lights (2006-2011) - It took several seasons, an NBC cancellation, and an eventual end for many of us, including fans and Emmy voters, to finally realize just how great Friday Night Lights really was. Once again, underrated seems like the appropriate term. Friday Night Lights is the continued story of a high school football team in a small town in Texas, where Friday nights are as
important as Sunday mornings. Take it from someone who grew up in the South, the town shuts down, and the people come out of the wood work to go watch some Friday night football. But Friday Night Lights is not another rehash of every football movie made in the last fifty years. In fact, by the end of the pilot, you realize that the football takes a back seat to the characters, their families, their relationships, and their lives. Led by the incredible duo of Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler, both of whom create warm, flawed, and wonderfully deep characters, Friday Night Lights is populated by a talented actors, young and old, that all work incredibly hard to find deeper meaning in their characters. So what sets Friday Night Lights apart from the rest of the great dramas of the last thirteen years? What makes it something special? Well first, it is one of the most authentic, realistic, and human television shows to ever hit a broadcast network. After a while, you forget that you are watching professional actors. You really feel as if you are their feeling their pain and their triumphs, and if you are there in Texas living your life right alongside theirs. It is an extraordinary accomplishment, and it does so by simply trying to be ordinary. But in the end, what makes this particular show so great is hard to put into words. There is just something magical, something sincere about Friday Night Lights, the whole package put together just lights up the screen, tugs at you. It leaves your eyes clear and your heart full.

8. Gilmore Girls (2000-2007) - When I was a teenager, and Gilmore Girls was on television, I avoided it like the plague. What would a male like me get out of a show about a mother and a daughter? Well, about two years ago, I finally decided to bite the bullet, pop in my sister's DVDs and see what all the fuss was about. A show that is claimed to be one of the best in a decade of excellent television shows, had to be given the time of day. Boy, am I glad that I did. Yes, the central story is about an unusual mother and daughter team, Lorelai and Rory, who are more like sisters, and who have built themselves a wonderfully unique and quirky life in the small, cozy town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. And while I am sure that mothers and daughters get more out of it than other viewers, you don't have to be either, or a girl for that matter, to appreciate the wonderfully funny and
emotional television phenomenon that was Gilmore Girls. Amy Sherman-Palladino's quirky sensibility, incredible casting, and lightning-fast, pop-culture-soaked, dialogue adds plenty of laughs to make Gilmore Girls a wonderfully funny comedy. However, at just the right moments, she adds dashes of emotion, of real life, real struggles with family, work, and school to round it out, and make it hit you in a way that most comedies can never effectively do. It doesn't hurt when you have the likes of Edward Herrmann, Alexis Bledel, Liza Weil, Liz Torres, Sally Struthers, Scott Gordon-Patterson, and countless other character actors that populated the screen, and created memorable and wonderfully quirky characters. But in the end, three stars truly emerged. The first is Melissa McCarthy, as the funny, caring, and kooky Sookie, she became all of our best friends, not just Lorelai's, and launched herself into a stunning new career that has now netted an Oscar nomination and an Emmy. The second is the great Kelly Bishop, who created one of the best characters on television in a while with her uptight, overbearing, and subtlely loving Emily. And finally, no one can forget Lauren Graham, whose Lorelei is one of the best written females in a television comedy in years, and her back and forth with Kelly Bishop were some of the best moments of the show. Rory and Lorelei were the show's center, but Lorelei and Emily's struggle was probably the most intriguing thanks in large part to the talent of its stars. Overall, there was no show quite like Gilmore Girls on the air. It was a true original that has yet to be replaced.

7. Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) - When they decided to remake the 70's classic Battlestar Galactica, I think most science fiction fans were exasperated and probably skeptical at another remake. More importantly, I am sure they feared that it would never live up to their inflated expectations, as most sequels fail to do. But they did not just reboot the storyline, they made key changes to characters, added in a huge dose of more modern computer technology, and most importantly, found something beneath the surface of the original to create one of the most effective dramas on television, and most likely the most engaging and best science fiction series in television history. Battlestar Galactica is first and foremost an engaging and entertaining science fiction adventure, chocked full of incredible battle sequences that feature cinema qualiy special effects,
makeup, and cinematography. But beneath its obvious exterior, is one of the most complex dramas on modern television. Every character is so well-drawn, deep with emotional complexity, and full of modern human duality. No character is perfectly good, and no character is always evil. Each character goes through a range of difficult decisions, each character understand that sometimes they must cross those blurred lines of good and evil to accomplish what must be done. It doesn't hurt when you have a group of talented actors, way above the norm that is required in most sci-fi adventures, led by Edward James Olmos, and the criminally under-rewarded Mary McDonnell, who proves to be the show's emotional center. In the end what makes Battlestar Galactica so real, and so effective despite its unbelievable premise, is that it is ultimately the story of human survival, how tough times and faced exctinction can challenge our moral sensibilities, and our strength of self and character. These deep and complex issues are handled with grace, without bogging down the storyline. Battlestar Galactica has all of the pop and flash, but also all of the substance. That is a credit to the incredible group of writers, who did eventually earn some Emmy recognition, as well as their directing counterparts who beautifully put their vision onto the screen. There has never been anything quite like Battlestar Galactica on television, and I don't know if anything in the near future will be able to top it.

6. Angels in America (2003) - Angels in America was a work of art that seemed to only be fit for the drama of the stage. Tony Kushner's epic, two-part, Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece was eventually going to be adapted for one of the screens, and that thought made many critics, and fans nervous. But combine Kushner's own writing hand to adapted his own work, in his own vision, with the always magnificent directing skills of Oscar, Tony, and Emmy award winner Mike Nichols, and something special was brewing. And then we saw the cast. Legends like Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and Emma Thompson, alongside incredible television and character actors like Mary-Louise Parker, Jeffrey Wright, Justin Kirk, and James Cromwell. The stage was set, and now all they had to do was make it work. Not only did they make it work, they made it extraordinary. Definitely the best that short-form television has offered since 2000, and alongside Roots, the best miniseries to ever grace the small screen. It was an epic, emotionally powerful, and brilliant adapted series, that perfectly captured the message, the struggle, and the theatrical quality of Kushner's original work. The obvious talents of Nichols and Kushner are on display, but I think both of them pushed the boundaries of their visions
on this one, because there is something so powerful, so perfect, that clearly the level of vision and hard work on the part of these two men was beyond any norm. And of course, none of it would have been possible without the cast. Of course giants like Streep, Thompson, and Pacino all nailed their roles with gusto, but the lesser known of the cast all held their own. Particularly Kirk and Parker, who both proved their talents. But for me, the one most effective was Jeffrey Wright. In his brilliant performance, he captured the heart and soul of Angels in America. His struggle, and the struggle of all on the screen, was not just fantastic, but it was also essential. This is a story that every human being on this planet needs to see. We need to see how disease, particularly this devastating one, impacts our friends, our family, and our world. We need to see how people are treated differently because of their illness, their sexuality, or their mistakes. This is a story that generations from now will still view as the heart-breaking, important, and timeless classic that it is.

The Oscar Narrative: First SAG Ensemble Predictions

Best Ensemble
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Lee Daniel's The Butler
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

Commentary - The SAG Awards have become more and more important over the years, and it seems to come down to either SAG or BAFTA winners for the four acting Oscars. I am not currently going to make predictions in those four SAG categories, because I would probably just pick the twenty I am already picking for the Oscars at this moment (See the sidebar for current predictions). But the SAG Ensemble award is an interesting one this year, especially if you consider the current Oscar race. 12 Years a Slave is most likely the frontrunner, and I cannot see the actors passing up the opportunity to honor the slew of talent in this film. But the next two in line, at this point, seem to be Gravity and Captain Phillips. Gravity is of particular interest. It has joined the now long line of effects-driven films that have made deep marks into the Oscars over the last several years including: Avatar, Inception, Hugo, and last year's Life of Pi. All of these films won several technical Oscars, were nominated (or won) for Best Director, and all lost Best Picture in the end. I think Gravity will do better than them in one instance, and that is that it will most likely earn an acting nomination, both here at SAG, and at the Oscars. That may seem small, but it is a huge advantage for Gravity, as it means it has surpassed the overall strength of those before it, all of whom were ignored by the actors. But I think that both Gravity and Captain Phillips may not be as strong after the SAG nominations are announced. I still think they are major Oscar contenders, and rules are meant to be broken, we see it time and time again. But I think that both films will have trouble landing that coveted SAG Ensemble nomination. No film since Braveheart (which was very early on in SAG's history), has won Best Picture without at least an ensemble nomination. Captain Phillips' cast features most unknowns. Gravity's cast consists of two people. And while Bullock, Hanks, and Clooney, are all bankable and beloved actors, who give great performances, but can they carry their entire films to ensemble nods? I am not convinced at this point. Instead, I am looking to the multiple ensemble-driven films this year that may be more up the SAG alley. First, there are the unseen contenders that have Oscar written all over them, American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall St. If both are as good as they currently look, then their large casts, packed full of SAG winners and nominees, will be in the mix. But what about the other two slots? I think that despite mixed critical reviews, August: Osage County and Lee Daniel's The Butler are probably more competitive here than some of the other, maybe bigger, Oscar contenders simply because of the names on their casts. Of course time will tell. We are six weeks away till SAG announces, and until then, we'll have to wait and see.