An Emmy blog that almost didn't happen...

Before I go to my pseudo live blogging, let me tell you what a panic attack feels like. I am watching the red carpet show for a few minutes, ready for the big show, planning to watch Big Brother and then watch Emmy's and blog while fforwarding. As I start to watch BB I realize Emmy's are not taping. Switch to channel 4 and now grey screen -- DVR melt down. My heart sinks, my pulse is racing. Deep breaths, let's unplug the box and let it reboot. Reboot takes 10 LONG, AGONIZING MINUTES. Then go to channel 4, grey screen. Call Time Warner with tears in my eyes - it is now 8:15. My technical support reboots as the clock tick tocks on and on. At 8:24 box is working and Emmy's are on. And I am told I may have to turn in my box for a new one and I will lose anything on my box. My life is stressful.

Okay, so I jump on with Jane Lynch winning Supp Actress Comedy Series. No question she should have. I can't believe I missed the opening number.

Interlude with Modern Family being asked to change the show -- cameo by Clooney was great, but believe it or not, this cast and the characters are so funny, they don't even need a celebrity cameo.

Ryan Murphy wins for directing Glee, comedy series. Love his shout out to supporting arts education, did not need his shout out to Tom Ford for his peacock blue suit.

Best Actor in a Comedy -- Tough category, thought it would go to Alec Baldwin but Neil Patrick Harris should have been nominated and won. However, Jim Parsons wins -- critics of EW love him, I've never watched the show, but am glad it is not Tony Shalhoub for Monk.

JF makes a great quip about NPH needing 3 names as a sign of insecurity, and then NPH comes out and proves why he is hysterical, thanking the academy for asking a gay man to host the Emmy's two years in a row.

Edie Falco explains exactly what is wrong with the Emmy's - she wins for comedic actress and she thinks she is not funny. Really the comedy category was between Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Julia Louis Dreyfus in my opinion. What makes Lea Michele amazing is not her comedic talent, it is her voice and acting ability - more dramatic than comedic. I guess the category is Lead Actress IN a comedy series, but I just wish comedy was against comedy and drama was against drama and Mariska Hargitay would stop being nominated at all in any category. Don't get me wrong, I did want Lea nominated -- I guess I really just could care less about Edie Falco and Toni Colette and they should be in a category with Tony Shalhoub and Mariska Hargitay. I actually think Amy Poehler was unbelievable this season and should have won.

Can we talk about how excited I am about the new show with Will Arnett and Keri Russell? Now Reality Program -- Amazing Race, American Idol, DWTS, Project Runway and Top Chef wins. This is always Amazing Race's category but upset this year by Top Chef. Great program. I always think Survivor should win this as it is the best reality competition program on TV. And not this year, but other years, AI should have won for capturing the attention of the world.

These Oprah farewell season commercials are making me cry.

Jimmy Fallon singing with Julianna Margulies - funny. Re-cap on dramas and Lost gets the biggest applause with Friday Night Lights second -- take that CSI.

Drama Series writing -- I know everyone loves Matthew Weiner - as do I, but this one should be Lost's Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof all the way -- that finale episode was one of the best scripts ever (look back on my re-cap blog for all the quoting I did). Matthew wins, which is not bad at all - his writing is so right on, but I do think he is full of himself. I just wanted that for the Lost team. Bad job producers with that cut-off of Weiner as he said he is insecure -- that is certainly not going to help, is it?

Supporting Actor Drama -- I don't watch Breaking Bad, but I have read great things about Aaron Paul. For me, this should have been Terry O'Quinn -- his fake Locke / Sideways Locke was incredible. Wow I am really going to miss Lost.

John Hodgman from Daily Show is that commentator in the voiceovers. He just said he was glad Aaron Paul gave him a hug on the carpet. Whaa? Wow AMC is the new HBO.

Jimmy reads tweets about the upcoming presenters. Emily Deschanel who is as gorgeous as her sister, wears the same Marchesa dress everyone has been wearing this year. Best Supporting Actress Drama -- Christine Baranski and Archie Panjabi for The Good Wife, Sharon Gless for Burn Notice, Rose Byrnes for Damages, Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men. Only watch Mad Men, so I give it to Christina Hendricks for last season. Although Archie is one of my people and I loved her in Bend it Like Beckham (she was the older sister). Yes, my people wins an Emmy. Archie looks beautiful and I love that she prepared to deliver a smart, simple speech - well done.

Edie Falco comes out and I don't feel bad for making fun of her because her intro was bad. Best Actor Drama. KYLE CHANDLER, MATTHEW FOX, JON HAMM - and Bryan Cranston wins. I love Kyle Chandler so much. Nothing against Bryan Cranston - he is humble and smart. And I am so glad Kyle was nominated finally. But I do get that feeling that Emmy voters tend to find something, latch on and keep voting for it. I don't feel they are picking from the submitted tapes. Just my opinion. I wish I could be the sole voter. Then it would all make sense to me.

This is going too fast and now we will have an hour of miniseries garbage. Arggh.

So as they go to guest actor and actress in drama series, let me give props to Betty White and NPH winning for guest acting in comedy on SNL and Glee respectively. John Lithgow and Ann Margaret win for guest acting drama and come out to present Director, Drama. Directors from LOST, Mad Men, Treme, Breaking Bad, Dexter are nominated and prove they are not comedic writers while answering a dumb question. Dexter director wins. Whatever, should have been Lost.

Jimmy pretends to be Elton and sings Candle in the Wind to 24. Hilar. Then he becomes Boyz II Men to say good bye to Law and Order. He gave a shout out to Mariska Hargitay. Then he is Billie Joe Armstrong for Lost. HYSTERICAL. I think the audience really likes him. Good for Jimmy -- he is a good guy. And I am not just saying that because once he held my hand, for a few minutes.

Matthew Morrison and Tina Fey come out. She usually makes her presenters look good by being so funny. Lead Actress Drama -- CONNIE BRITTON, Glenn Close, Mariska WhytheF-tay, Kyra Sedgewick, JANUARY JONES, Julianna Margulies. Kyra Sedgewick wins. WHY WHY WHY. Hands down should have been Connie Britton. She is complaining about the microphone being too low -- shut it Kyra and get off stage. No one cares. They might as well have given it to Mariska. I would have expected Julianna who has had a big year and OF COURSE wanted Connie, and even could have seen January because she had a great season. Again, Emmy messes up.

Variety is actually a HUGE category this year with the Leno / Conan madness. Wow Jeff Probst is short. Writing for Variety / Music / Special. Tony Awards win, whatever.

Ricky Gervais comes out who is always funny. Laughing out Loud at his Mel Gibson comments. Then he brings out beer to the audience. Directing Variety / Music / Special Winter Olympics Opening wins. Then the big one -- writing for series where Conan was nominated for Tonight Show, but John Stewart wins.

Bob Hope Humanitarian Award goes to Geroge Clooney - presented by Julianna Margulies (awww). I love the George uses TV to bring the world together. Standing Ovation. Love that he reflected upon Bob Hope and used comedy.

Now mini series stuff - don't care. But John Krasinski pulled out a great moment - he is the next Clooney.

Let me take a fashion break -- with a quick peruse of the carpet pics, the ones that stand out are - Sofia Vergara in Carolina Herrera for the best fitted dress, Keri Russell in a sweet simple pink dress that looks like Halston?, Of course Connie Britton in liquid blue metallic something, Julianna Margulies in L'Wren Scott, and I loved Diana Aggron in Carolina Herrera as well. For men, all I need to say is Jon Hamm.

Jewel sings for In Memoriam. She has got a gorgeous voice, but this was not necessary.

Maura Tierney looks great. Presenting miniseries -- fforwarding. Claire Danes wins -- she doesn't look like Claire Danes - she looks like January Jones. Wow, she sounds so different - It's crazy that she is older yet sounds stupider. For serious? Who says that?

Alexander Skaarsgard, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer come out, Wow Skaarsgard is hot. As I just finished season 1, I kept wondering if he is the son of Stellan and now I googled, and he is. One question in my life answered. Please cut off Al Pacino -- haven't you had enough time in your life to thank people? They are afraid to cut him off.

The Jimmy Fallon / Tom Selleck bit was funny. I think Jimmy has done a great job -- kept things moving.

Best Drama -- Breaking Bad, Dexter, The Good Wife, LOST, MAD MEN, True Blood. Winner is MAD MEN. I'm totally cool with that especially knowing how amazing this season has been great. LOVE that he started with the end of the speech earlier. You know what? I was thinking January looked crazy, but now after seeing it this many times, I'm liking the look -- I like that she does something different - she doesn't look like her character and she doesn't go traditional long chiffon dress as most of these TV actors do. I'm not hating her Versace.

Best Comedy -- 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Glee, Modern Family, Nurse Jackie, The Office. Modern Family Wins -- Very deserving. It is so very funny.

So of the night, Jane Lynch, Mad Men for series and Modern Family for series are the only ones I agreed with. But I agree with Jimmy Fallon and I enjoyed watching the commercials for Outsourced and hope it celebrates the humor of my people, not the stereotypes.

Okay, so please let me know how the show opened - I am praying for some youtube clips tomorrow. As we celebrate the 5 years that have passed since Katrina, let me say that I too can rise above in the face of adversity -- in this case a DVR on the fritz, not even one bit similar to Katrina, but I still wanted to make that comparison so you can understand my pain.

Good night TV lovers. Just remember -- you can hate the Emmy choices, but still love your obsessions...

A summer of pop culture

So I know it has been a while, but a summer that began without much hope in the pop culture arena, has finally found its groove. The season of American Idol proved to lack chemistry, early Summer blockbusters fizzled (Iron Man 2, Knight and Day) and TV was an empty empty landscape. I'm going to highlight some of my summer treats and get into more detail soon.

Luckily I started my summer with lots of fun music -- my summer concert series included every country star under the sun in Nashville, Bon Jovi opening Giants Stadium, Lady Antebellum hitting the Nokia Theater and Sugarland in Jersey with fantastic seats -- All incredible. What has been rotating in my ears this summer? I can't deny the infectious "California Girls" by Katy Perry (which plays in loop with Jason DeRulo's In My Head (hee hee guilty pleasure)) plus John Mayer's Battle Studies is a really great album, a journey of love and pain. And then mid-summer Sugarland put out "Stuck Like Glue" an upbeat, catchy ditty from the upcoming new album that once again is totally stuck in my head (like glue ha, ha). And now the new Eminem / Rihanna song is so strong - so happy to have him back.

Movie wise -- got to see Inception and The Kids are All Right - definitely the two best of the year so far. I want to see The Other Guys and the new Jennifer Aniston / Jason Bateman plus Eat Pray love - read the book, should see the movie. Very much looking forward to Fall for films -- will create my hit list soon.

TV this summer started slow -- Friday Night Lights recently ended another SPECTACULAR season. Thrilled Coach Eric and Tami Taylor were nominated for Emmy's and this season with the death of Matt's father and Tim finding his happiness and letting it go for his brother was an absolute tear jerker. The addition of Vince and his mother plus Becky proved that the show with the leadership of Eric and Tami can bring any additional characters into the mix and succeed.

Mad Men is really hitting a stride this season -- the unraveling of Don's life -- he was always portrayed as this cool, unflappable guy and now he is shown drunk, in his sad apartment, hiring prostitutes and needing his job to define his character. It is depressing, but also has more of a sense of humor and levity for moments. But I want Don to hit his stride again -- not sure that's what Matthew Weiner is planning though -- I think it will get a lot messier before it cleans up.

I truly enjoyed Bettheny Getting Married -- she is funny. Very quick-witted and honest. It was light and easy fare. On the other hand, I cringed through Real Housewives of New Jersey. The people are too crazy - and it got dangerous and weird. Not fun like it should be. Good for Dina for leaving the show. These women are freaks.

Also watched Teen Mom -- best show to educate teens on abstinence. Man, these girls really have it rough - can't wait for Dr Drew to get his hands on them. Boston Med was fantastic -- a real documentary style about the Boston Hospitals -- highly recommend that you download this series if you haven't seen it. Hope it comes back - and shout out to my fellow Indian Americans -- practically every doctor featured was Indian. My people are smart.

Also watching Top Chef but have dropped Project Runway - I'm over it. Also watching True Blood on DVD -- only on season 1 people, but I know everybody loves it, so hoping it'll catch on.

I have been watching Jersey Shore -- I did not think this season would be any good and actually did not even start watching it til last week. It isn't as shocking as last time, but there are some hysterical moments -- provided mostly by The Situation and Snookie. Let me sum it up with this -- Mike the Situation called the restaurant to order food for delivery -- "Can I get your name for the delivery?" "Situation" "Excuse me?" "Situation" "That's your name?" "Yes, S-I-T-U-A-T-I-O-N, Situation" "Okay, whatever dude." Hysterical. And when Snookie dropped the chicken out of the fridge and didn't know how to clean it up? Or when she couldn't scoop the ice cream from the case at work because she is too short? So funny. Could care less about the drama, but the funny moments are funny.

Then there is this season of Big Brother - my biggest guilty pleasure. This group of losers is so hysterical that I can't even explain without laughing. I'll have to devote a blog to it soon to give you the full description. But if you watch, I'm rooting for Britney or Ragan -- Matt who is lying that his wife has a disease and Brendon who fell in love with Rachel on the show both need to go home, stat.

Okay folks, that is a little dose to get this blog back in action. Note the new counter so I can see how many of you are reading this or sharing it!

Since I just unleashed all of my guilty pleasures, please remember, don't be ashamed of your obsessions.