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TV Gal Puts Out a Call for Categories
(Monday, June 07 08:02 AM)
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LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - One thing I've learned over my seven years (can you believe that?) of writing this column is that you can't make everyone happy. Perhaps I love shows you don't and am infuriatingly indifferent to shows you adore (honestly, I'm surprised fans of "Enterprise" are still speaking to me). Maybe I talk to much about actors you can't stand or not enough about your favorite stars. So once a year I try to rectify this situation with the Amy Awards where you control every aspect of the awards. You pick the categories, you pick the nominees, and you pick the winners. Me? I simply tally the results: Here's the 2004 Amy Awards schedule. |
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June 14, 2004: The announcement of the 12 Amy Award categories
June 21, 2004: The announcement of the Amy Award nominees
June 28, 2004: The announcement of the Amy Award winners This year to save me from carpal tunnel syndrome, we are going to try something a little different. You have until Friday, June 11 at 5 p.m. to post your Amy Award category suggestions to the TV Gal message boards. You will basically be voting for categories via the message board. So if you see a category you like post to that topic. The categories with the most postings will be the final 12 categories. Now remember this isn't the award show for boring categories like Best Actress, so be creative and be fun. To get you started, here are sample categories from previous Amy Awards -- "I Want that Hour (or Half-hour) of My Life Back aka Worst Episode of the Season" and "Get Off My Show aka Worst Guest Star." So let's get this party started. Post your categories to the TV Gal message board and tune in next week for the announcement of the 2004 Amy Award categories and the call for nominations. New TV ShowsGone are the lazy days of summer, when network executives sat back and watched all their viewers flee to the cable channels. This June television programming really is busting out all over and for some reason all the good shows are airing Tuesday at 9 p.m. Even in the summer, the networks torture us and test the limitations of our TIVO/VCR set-up. A look at this week's new shows: "The Jury" (premiering Tuesday at 8 p.m. on FOX): Quick. Can you name one of my favorite series of all time? Sure, you know about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," but did you know about my love for "Homicide: Life on the Streets"? The series ended in 1999, but I am still haunted by its storylines (the murder of Adena Watson) and its characters. Andre Braugher created one of television's best characters in Detective Frank Pembleton (he could have a Best Character Ever face-off with Dennis Franz). And there has never been a more disturbing villain than Luther Mahoney brilliantly played by the superb Eric Todd Dellums. So I'm delighted to tell you that "The Jury" is from executive producers Tom Fontana, Barry Levinson (who also stars as Judge Horatio Hawthorne), and James Yoshimura, the same team that was behind "Homicide." Anyone who has ever been part of a jury will find "The Jury" instantly recognizable. Things are not as clear cut as they seem on "Law & Order" and jurors can be ornery, emotional and often intimidating. The series begins with the jury heading off to deliberations and then flashes back as the evidence is introduced and examined. In the final moments of the episode, after the jury renders its verdict, the actual events are shown. Sometimes the jury's verdict is correct, sometimes not so much. With its quirky, unique characters and not-always-what-they-seem criminals, "The Jury" certainly doesn't seem like a FOX summer series (the schizophrenic network is like this strange riddle: what network can green light both "The Jury" and a second season "The Swan"?). Plus, you get to see two of my favorite they-deserve-their-own-show actors. Adam Busch, best known as Warren on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," is the singing bailiff Steve Dixon. Billy Burke, who romanced Lorelai on "Gilmore Girls" and terrorized Kim on "24" last season, is ADA John Ranguso. Right now the show could use a little less talk and a little more action. But I'm already kind of hooked. On the TV Gal scale of 1 to 5 VCRs (graded on a curve due to the summer programming factor), I'm giving it 4 VCRs."Blow Out" (premiering Tuesday at 9 p.m. on Bravo): Now, you know I wasn't a fan of "The Restaurant." That David vs. Goliath story would have been far more compelling if the David of the story were a sympathetic character. It was impossible to root for the cocky, smarmy Rocco DiSpirito. That's not the case with Jonathan Antin who is opening Jonathan Salon in Beverly Hills. Antin has attitude to spare, and, yes, there's plenty of product placement (watch him open his business with the American Express card, look at the staff wearing LensCrafter glasses). He's also a relentless flirt, checking out ladies on the street and making a move on the hair stylist he doesn't hire. But despite his healthy ego, there is something innately likable and sympathetic about Antin. You'll be rooting for him to succeed. And even when he tiffs with his staff, it's clear that he cares about them. This was the missing piece in "The Restaurant." Highlight of Week Ahead
All times listed are Eastern Time for June 7 to 13If you missed the fifth season finale of "The Sopranos," HBO gives you plenty of chances to catch up. The finale will repeat Monday at 10 on HBO2, Wednesday at 9 p.m. on HBO, and Friday at 9 p.m. on HBO 2. Although Steve Buscemi's death was certainly anti-climatic (before the season even started, I was convinced that he wouldn't live to see season 6) and I'm upset that Carmela didn't show more concern for Adriana (they dragged out her unavoidable death, let's hope they don't drag out Carmela finding out the truth). But there were many things about the finale that I loved. Tony and Christopher discussed Adriana's death, not with any remorse or regret, but only with concern about what the FBI might know. Also the thought of A.J. going into event planning and his parents' reaction to it was highly amusing. This wasn't my favorite "Sopranos" season and part of me still feels like not enough happened and that too much precious time was wasted on the dream sequence episode (although I did love getting to see all the dear-departed). But you can't deny it is still one of the best series on television. Bring on season six.Jay Mohr hosts a second season of "The Last Comic Standing" beginning Tuesday at 8 p.m. on NBC. Okay, now you know "Summerland" (Tuesday, WB, 9 p.m.) is a show tailor made for me to love. It's produced by Aaron Spelling (who I'm loyal to no matter what), has a great cast (I'm so happy to see Faux Francie again), and just the kind of cheesy, tug-on-the heartstrings plot lines perfect for summer. All that plus C. Thomas Howell guest stars on this week's episode. When I was 14 years old, I loved C. Thomas Howell. My bedroom walls were covered with pictures of him and I would watch "The Outsiders" over and over and over again. I still don't understand why he didn't become a bigger movie star. But then I guess nothing gold can stay.It's my plan to ignore reality schlock like "The Ultimate Love Test" (Wednesday, ABC, 10 p.m.). Does that work for everybody else?Lindsay Lohan host "The MTV Movie Awards" (Thursday at 9 p.m.). The awards were taped this past Saturday so we already know the winners, but that so isn't why we watch. There will be movie spoofs and D12 was on hand to sing my favorite song. "Six Feet Under" returns for a fourth season Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO. Remember we'll be seeing Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn on "Buffy") as a young singer Keith is assigned to protect and Mena Suvari as Claire's new friend. Also one of my favorite actors Justin Theroux is back as Brenda's potential love interest. Here are the things I would like to see happen this season. Decide who Keith is (Is he the sweet, loving boyfriend of season one? The devoted uncle and father-figure of season two? Or the angry, abusive ex-cop of season three? Sure, people change and evolve over time, but I didn't even recognize Keith last year). Find Claire a normal boyfriend (between Gabe, Billy and Russell, the girl hasn't had it easy). And for heaven's sake let's have Ruth act at least slightly sane. That's all for today. I'm off to catch up on all the celebrity and TV gossip (paging the new Mrs. Marc Anthony). But I'll be back next week announce the 2004 Amy Awards categories and to talk about the cleaned-up "Sex and the City" reruns hitting TBS, reviews of "Quintuplets," "The Simple Life 2," "North Shore," and the return of "Monk." Have question, seen a familiar face, have an inside scoop or want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com by clicking on my byline at the top of my column. |
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What categories do you think should be part of the 2004 Amy Awards? Post your suggestions to TV Gal message board.
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