Take Out Stories: The Blizzard of 95

We travel back to December of 1995, when a holiday trip to Ohio turned into an adventure as we found ourselves right smack in the middle of The Blizzard of 95.

Enjoy and stay warm.


Donna & Tony

PS: Yes Defiance, Ohio is a real place.

Eartha Kitt

She was perhaps best known her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby" and for her role as Catwoman in the 1960s Batman TV series, and for .

Eartha Kitt started her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company and made her film debut with them in Casbah (1948). A talented singer with a distinctive voice, her hits include "Let's Do It", "C'est si bon", "Just an Old Fashioned Girl", "Monotonous", "Je cherche un homme", "Love for Sale", "I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch", "Uska Dara", "Mink, Schmink", "Under the Bridges of Paris", and her most recognizable hit, "Santa Baby". Kitt's unique style was enhanced as she became fluent in the French language during her years performing in Europe. She had some skill in other languages too, which she demonstrates with finesse in many of the live recordings of her cabaret performances.

In 1950, Orson Welles gave her her first starring role, as Helen of Troy in his staging of Dr. Faustus. A few years later, she was cast in the revue New Faces of 1952 introducing "Monotonous" and "Bal, Petit Bal," two songs with which she continues to be identified. In 1954, 20th Century Fox filmed a version of the revue simply titled New Faces. Welles and Kitt allegedly had a torrid affair during her run in Shinbone Alley, which earned her the nickname by Welles as "the most exciting woman in the world." In 1958, Kitt made her feature film debut opposite Sidney Poitier in The Mark of the Hawk. Throughout the rest of the 1950s and early 1960s, Kitt would work on and off in film, television and on nightclub stages. In 1964, Kitt helped open the Circle Star Theater in San Carlos, California. Also in the 1960s, the television series Batman, featured her as Catwoman after Julie Newmar left the role.



In 1968, however, Kitt encountered a substantial professional setback after she made anti-war statements during a White House luncheon. It was reported that she made First Lady Lady Bird Johnson cry. The public reaction to Kitt's statements was much more extreme, both for and against her statements. Professionally exiled from the U.S., she devoted her energies to overseas performances.

In 1984, she returned to hit music with a disco song, "Where Is My Man", the first certified Gold record of her career. "Where Is My Man" reached the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #36 the song also made the Top 10 on the US Billboard dance chart, where it reached #7. Kitt found new audiences in nightclubs across the UK and the US, including a whole new generation of gay male fans, and she responded by frequently giving benefit performances in support of HIV/AIDS organizations. Her 1989 follow-up hit "Cha-Cha Heels" (featuring Bronski Beat), and originally intended to be recorded by Divine, received a positive response from UK dance clubs and reached #32 in the UK charts.

To quote Eartha Kitt, "The river is constantly turning and bending and you never know where it's going to go and where you'll wind up. Following the bend in the river and staying on your own path means that you are on the right track. Don't let anyone deter you from that".

Goodnight Catwoman

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

A little Christmas music

Jose Feliciano's christmas song live in Denmark in 1973


David Bowie & Bing Crosby recorded in 1977.


Stay Tuned & Merry Christmas


Tony & Donna Figueroa

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry "The First Lady of 'Trek'"

Actress Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died in her home in Bel-Air at the age of 76.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was associated with Star Trek from the beginning. In the first TV pilot, she played the role of the first officer, but after executives changes were made, she did not reprise that role in the second TV pilot. She instead played the role of Nurse Christine Chapel and the voice of the USS Enterprise's computer (She also was the voice of the Starship Enterprise's computer for six of the 10 Star Trek movies as well as the 11th movie which is due out next year). Barrett-Roddenberry also played the recurring role of Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Barrett-Roddenberry's acting career also included guest appearances on The Untouchables and The Lucy Show.

Several years after her husband's death, Barrett-Roddenberry discovered a pilot script and notes he had written for a series in the '70s the project became Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict and began airing in syndication in 1997 with Majel Barrett-Roddenberry playing a recurring role and acting as an executive producer. She later was an executive producer of the syndicated Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda.



Barrett-Roddenberry attended her first Star Trek convention in 1972 and said "You know, when the conventions started out, I'd attend four or five a month but after a while, it got where there was no time for anything else. You'd just travel from city to city, making the same speech, answering the same questions."

Good Night Mrs. Roddenberry
Now you and Gene can explore "The Undiscovered Country"

Stay Tuned


Tony Figueroa

Robert Prosky

Robert Prosky, the actor best known as Sgt. Stan Jablonski on on the TV crime drama Hill Street Blues, has died of complications from a heart procedure at the age of 77. He stepped on the role the desk sergeant in Hill Street Blues after the death of Michael Conrad in 1984.

Mr. Prosky appeared in more than 200 plays on Broadway and with Arena Stage, a regional theater company in Washington. On Broadway, Prosky's credits included Glengarry Glen Ross and A View from the Bridge. He also completed a long run in Michael Frayn's play Democracy.
More recently, Prosky appeared with two of his sons in Arthur Miller's play, The Price, in Philadelphia. He appeared in 38 films including Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Man Walking and The Natural. A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Prosky studied economics at Temple University and served in the U.S. Air Force.

His son Stefan Prosky said Tuesday. "Everybody knows him as a fairly famous actor. My brothers and I know him as a marvelous father."

To quote Sgt. Stan Jablonski "Let's do it to them before they do it to us".

Good Night Mr Prosky

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Paul Benedict

I will always remember Paul Benedict as the Mad Painter on Sesame Street. Look for Stockard Channing.

But Paul Benedict will best be known as the actor who played the wacky English neighbor Harry Bentley on the sitcom The Jeffersons, Mr. Benedict died at at the age of 70. Benedict's oversized jaw and angular features were partly attributed to acromegaly, a pituitary disorder, he underwent medical treatment to prevent the disease from spreading and used his facial features for comic effect. Benedict stared in films like The Goodbye Girl (1977), The Man with Two Brains (1983) This Is Spinal Tap (1984), The Addams Family (1991) and the Christopher Guest comedies Waiting for Guffman (1997) and A Mighty Wind (2003).

After growing up in Boston (not England), Benedict attended the city's Suffolk University and began his acting career in the 1960s in the Theatre Company of Boston, performing alongside such future stars as Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino.On Broadway, he appeared opposite Pacino in Eugene O'Neill's two-character play Hughie in 1996 and played the mayor in a 2000 revival of The Music Man. His breakthrough show as a director was Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune in 1987, closely followed by The Kathy & Mo Show: Parallel Lives in 1989, both two-person sleepers that became off-Broadway hits.

To quote Paul Benedict, "I try to make each of the characters different. I think the trick is to cement in the reality, to make it logical and real to yourself. Once there's a reality, I think you can make it as crazy as you want it to be".

Good Night Mr. Benedict


Stay Tuned



Tony Figueroa

Take Out Stories: Dinner, Dykes & Damnation

This Podcast offering comes from an actual event that took place several years ago. We were reminded of this story in light of recent events.

Enjoy, but don't forget to say Grace.

Donna & Tony

Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White

This is not really a book review but more of a gift giving suggestion.

Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White is the story about the first interracial comedy team Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen. Tim & Tom started in Chicago nightclubs then went on the road for five years. They worked all over America at a time of racial unrest, riots and assassinations. They faced racist heckling, threats, and even violence (Tim had a cigarette put out in his face). As a team they never had the success that they would later have in their solo careers. They were just ahead of their time.

I just finished the book (written with Ron Rapoport) and it hit home... Literally. As some of you remember my wife Donna and I did a show (Guess Who's Coming To...) that we performed at Fringe Theatre Festivals in 2006.

I think we have come a long way but we still have a way to go and it is true that the more things change the more they stay the same... I just never had a cigarette put out in my face. You can imagine that we would like to have a chance to meet Tim & Tom when they appear somewhere not only to sign my book but also to get their thoughts about an interracial couple performing together.

If you or a friend like stories about, Comedy, The Civil Rights Movement, Race Relations, Television and all things Show Biz this is the book for you and it makes a great gift. Amazon.com: Tim and Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White: Tim Reid, Tom Dreesen, Ron Rapoport: Books With people cutting back on holiday spending the book is reasonably priced. Please consider this recommendation before you hit the malls on Black Friday (No pun intended).

Happy Thanksgiving


Tony & Donna Figueroa

Two words... Mission Accomplished

This Election Day I popped open my bottle of champagne, toasted with friends and know what HOPE taste like. The bottle of Jack Daniel’s will be re-gifted. I also had some Rolling Rock beer in honor of Tim Russert.

To President Elect Obama I want to quote Tim Russert, "Go get ‘em".

To the rest of us I want to quote Alan Brady (Carl Reiner on The Dick Van Dyke Show episode Coast-to- Coast Big Mouth), "Oh, happy days are here again!"

Stay Tuned and God bless America


Tony & Donna Figueroa

Election 2008.

This Election Day I want to pause for a moment and reflect on our last Election Day. Sherman set the Wayback machine to November 2nd 2004. The exit polls were optimistic. We invited some friends over to watch the returns. I bought a bottle of champagne and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Depending on who won the election, one of those bottles would be opened. Every time Ohio was mentioned on the news, everyone in the room gave my wife Donna (A Cincinnati girl) a dirty look. I could have started a drinking game where every time a pundit said Ohio, Battleground State or "Too close to call", we would have to take a shot.

The next day we were off to the Red State of Ohio to visit my wife’s family. It seemed like a good idea at the time. We’d leave the day after Election Day. How complicated could it be? A few days after I booked the flight online, we started hearing things like "Ohio is gonna be the next Florida". When we arrived in Ohio, I called my mom back in California who was devastated by the election results. She wanted to know if we were participating in the recount protests at the Cincinnati Board of Elections. This was the first we'd heard of any such protest. The local media (TV and print) had not mentioned anything about them. The newscasters sounded like they were in that Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life". It's very good that you made Bush win Anthony. Now wish the Democrats into the cornfield. (The story takes place in Peaksville, Ohio by the way)



On the first afternoon in Cincinnati, we were visited Donna’s Republican Stepford wife sister and her 2 boys, ages 3 and 5. Donna’s sister mentioned that her older boy Mathew had participated in a mock election in his kindergarten class. I asked him, "So Matthew who did you vote for?" Mathew said with pride, "I voted for George Bush!". His mother pointed out that John Kerry won in his class. So, I guess there is hope for America's youth. I was reading a newspaper when Matthew climbed into my lap. There was a photograph of George W in the paper, so I asked him who that was. "I don't know," said Mathew. I returned, "Well you voted for him silly." Mathew paused then said with pride, "George Bush". Then I pointed out another photo. "Who's that?" I said. Mathew said with pride, "George Bush". I said, "No", and had the boy look at the photo again. After studying the picture Mathew said, "I don't know". The man in the picture looks like an older version of Mathew. "His name is Barack Obama' I told him, "Maybe when you're old enough to vote in the real election, you'll be voting for him". Then Donna's sister chimed in with, "Well Matthew don't vote for him. He's a democrat". Donna erupted, "Excuse me?" She then backtracked with, "Oh ...uh Matthew ...Just vote your heart." So that was the problem, many people in OHIO voted with their hearts and not their brains!

A few days later on Veteran’s Day we were going to watch Saving Private Ryan, but the Cincinnati ABC affiliate refused to air the movie because the "F" word was used twice. The same channel whose newscasters presented the Bush victory as a great thing was now afraid to air Saving Private Ryan for fear of what the Bush appointed FCC chairman might do. This is crazy. If someone from my Blue State of California said something critical of the current war, someone from the Red State of Ohio would say, "YOU DON’T SUPPORT THE TROOPS!" But I think you insult our troops by not showing a great film that honors everyone who has ever served our country because the "F" word is used and our kids might hear it. This ABC affiliate seems to be okay with our kids seeing all the blood and guts. So instead we went to see Lewis Black in concert. It was like every freethinking liberal in Ohio was there. If you ever get to see Lewis Black Live in concert, go. He opened the show responding to the Cincinnati ABC affiliate not showing Saving Private Ryan with something like, "YOU PEOPLE ARE F***ING NUTS!" or was he responding to the way people in Cincinnati put chili on spaghetti? No one in the audience thought his language was indecent, given the context in which it was presented. We are entering very dangerous territory when we look at a great piece of filmmaking like Saving Private Ryan, or a brilliant comedian like Lewis Black and just take inventory of the words and not pay attention to the context.

In defense of my wife's hometown and home state, there are many kind generous people there. Many wondered how Bush had carried Ohio. Something for us to remember. There are a lot of people in the red states who think like people in the blue states. In the airport gift shop, I saw a little stuffed winged pig with the motto, "Ohio... Where pigs fly." After gathering our luggage at LAX, we stepped outside to find a cab. I took a deep breath, and gagged. It was great to be home.

For this Election Day I’ve purchased a bottle of champagne and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Depending on who wins, one of those bottles will be opened. I will also be having some Rolling Rock beer in honor of Tim Russert.

To quote Tim Russert’s dad Big Russ, "Only in America".

Stay Tuned And

Tony & Donna Figueroa

Never Judge A Show by It's Pilot: Life On Mars

Last time I wrote about how and why we either hit or miss the mark when doing an American version of a foreign television show (Never Judge A Show by It's Pilot: Kath & Kim). This time we seemed to have gotten it right with Life On Mars. At least I hope we did.

This American version of Life On Mars (Based on the BBC Drama of the same name) is one of the few shows I wanted to see this FALL 2007 Part II season. In the interest of full disclosure I want to copy and paste what I wrote last year when I reviewed Journeyman, "Anyone who knows me knows that I love time travel stories. A couple of years ago I even attempted to write a pilot about a man who could travel through time. So when I heard about the new NBC drama Journeyman, a show about a man who has the ability to go back in time, I was there." I felt the same way when I heard about Life On Mars. To counter my time travel optimism I have to express concerns since there is a fifty-fifty chance that we Americans will screw this show up.

Prior to watching the pilot I watched the pilot of the BBC show on BBC America (BBC America provides subtitles with the broadcast when the accents get too thick). The show centers on Greater Manchester Police DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Sam Tyler (John Simm) who is hit by a car in 2006 and winds in 1973. The title of the show is taken from the David Bowie song Life on Mars? that is playing on the iPod in Sam's Jeep Grand Cherokee. After awaking in 1973 Sam hears the song playing on an 8-track tape in a Rover P6. There (or should it be then?) Sam works for Manchester and Salford Police CID (Criminal Investigation Department) as a DI (Detective Inspectors) under DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister). Sam deals with culture shock working through the differences between his 2006 by the book approach to police work and the 1973 rouge methods of his new colleagues. Sam does get messages from his own time through electronic devices. On his down time Sam also investigates possibilities as to why he is in 1973 with the help of the only person who he can truly confide in WPC (Woman Police Constable) Annie Cartwright (Liz White). Sam is not sure if he is insane, in a coma, or if he really has traveled back in time. I liked the British pilot. There were elements from Back to the Future, Quantum Leap, Journeyman and Mark Twain’s novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

I watched the American version of the show (Out Here in the Fields) and it was true to the original. Jason O'Mara, is Detective Sam Tyler. Harvey Keitel plays Lieutenant Gene Hunt. Gretchen Mol plays Annie "No Nuts" Norris (not Cartwright) a member of the Policewomen's Bureau. Michael Imperioli plays Detective Ray Carling and Lisa Bonet is Tyler's 2008 girl friend, Maya Daniels. The sprit of the BBC version is alive and well here. I read that the show originally shot a pilot (Hit and Run ) set in Los Angeles but that pilot was scrapped in favor of New York. As a person who lived in Los Angeles in 1973 and as much as I would have loved the nostalgia factor, New York is the better location. New York is grittier. Having the show set in New York also allowed a more touching moment where Sam realizes that he is in 1973 when he sees the newly built World Trade Center. The same scene in the BBC version was a more humorous "I don’t think we’re in Kansas" moment. The detectives at the 125th precinct all have the same goal to clean the streets of criminals. Sam Tyler has professional ethics that fall somewhere between Joe Friday (Dragnet) and Barney Miller , in contrast to Lieutenant Gene Hunt and Detective Ray Carling who are more like Dirty Harry and don’t mind playing dirty while cleaning the streets. I liked the show but as you know by now I never judge a show by it’s pilot.

The next episode (The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler) has the detectives at the 125th precinct in the middle of an investigation involving robbery-homicides at check-cashing stores. Later Sam, while at the 125, writes on a chalkboard every reason he can think of as to why he is in 1973. Sam feels that until he figures out why he is in 1973 he must do what he does best and that is to catch bad guys. I as a viewer know that I won’t have an answer to the time travel question for awhile but the case that Sam is currently working on does hold my interest. I believe the intent here is to have a show that will appeal to a large audience and not just science fiction fans. I liked the episode but remember I opened this article with, "This time we seemed to have gotten it right with Life On Mars. At least I hope we did.". I still have some concerns for the show's longevity. The BBC series ran for only 2 (English) seasons totaling 16 episodes (List of episodes) then a spun off Ashes to Ashes. We do up to 22 episodes in one of our seasons. Can the plot last that long? The audience will eventually want to know how and why Sam went back in time. Does the audience want to know the time travel logistics early on so they can follow the story? In today’s world of instant gratification, will the audience keep tuning in unless all is revealed? I guess only time will tell.

To quote Gene Hunt (Harvey Keitel): If I'd wanted to be this bored, I'd go to Mass with the missus and her miserable mother.

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Never Judge A Show by It's Pilot: Kath & Kim

We in America have invented some of the greatest things in the world like the car, the telephone and the television. It seem that many of our creations have had good runs as an American made product often people in other countries take our ideas and make them better and cheaper. Still we are very good at the creative part. The American Sitcom had a great run in the 1950s & 60s (Thanks in great part to Desi Arnaz) and then things started to get stagnant. Really, how many times can you do and episode around a bad report card or the boss coming to dinner on short notice. In the 1970s we had a sitcom renascence thanks to people like Norman Lear, adding controversial issues to his sitcom All in the Family, that was based on Johnny Speight's British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part. Then Ray Galton and Alan Simpson's British sitcom Steptoe and Son, was adapted for American Television as Sanford and Son and a few years later the sexy British sitcom Man About the House (Created by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke) was adapted for American television as Three's Company. Now we have a good track record in taking a foreign product and successfully make it our own. How did we do this? We killed all the sacred cows. We talked about social issues. We laughed at our faults. We were topical. We did what the creators of the British versions of these shows did and that was to take the attitude that nothing is sacred then laugh at themselves. In other words they were successful by not playing it safe.

What happened? Somehow the sacred cows are back and they are now on steroids. Today Archie Bunker would be accused of glamorizing bigotry. The Sweathogs (Welcome Back, Kotter) would be accused of glamorizing remedial education or mocking inner city youth. M*A*S*H today would be seen a product of liberal Hollywood elitists who don’t represent the real America and hate the troops. In other words we are playing it safe. The Office and Ugly Betty (Both Reveille Productions) seem to be the exception to the rule.

Kath & Kim is American adaptation of an popular Australian television series starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair and produced by Reveille Productions in association with Universal Media Studio. I saw the pilot. Molly Shannon is Kath Day the forty-something mother and Selma Blair is Kim her self-absorbed daughter. John Michael Higgins plays Kath’s boyfriend Phil Knight a sandwich shop owner, and Mikey Day plays Kim’s newly separated husband Craig, who works at the electronics store Circuit Surplus. The actors are great and they are doing the best they can with the material they have. I really like the characters and they would be perfect if they were in an eight minute sketch on Saturday Night Live. For a situation comedy the plot and the characters are not fully developed. Sometimes I see a character on a show and say, "I know that person" here I see the character’s and say, "I know that type". All four characters see them selves as big fish but don’t see that they are in a small bowl let alone a pond. Molly Shannon and Selma Blair are great at making entrances and exits. In my opinion they are both too pretty for these parts. You also really believe that these two think that reading People magazine and watching TMZ is keeping up on current events. Kim not only sees her self as a trophy wife but also think that being a trophy wife is something to aspire to. Again, you know the type.

One of the reasons I never judge a show by it’s pilot is that often the pilot has dedicated the entire episode to setting up the premise of the series. Here Kath is in love with Phil, while Kim gets separated from her husband of six weeks. When Kim decides to move back home, it hinders Kath's new romance and mayhem ensues... No wait, mayhem does not ensue and there lies the problem. I saw the next episode. Kath wants to promote her home salon business. Phil helps her out by standing up to the mall hierarchy and getting her a booth at the mall’s prom event. Kim, while working as Kath’s hair model, gets Craig fired from his job at Circuit Surplus. They talk about pop culture not social issues. We laughed (or didn’t laugh) at the faults of people we don’t identify with. The characters show their ignorance to anything topical and sadly I think viewers can identify with that and not get the joke. We did not do what the creators of the Australian versions of the show did, and that was to take the attitude that nothing is sacred then laugh at themselves. In other words this new American version has played it safe.

To quote Kim, "Well, I didn't sign up for cooking dinner or being interested in how somebody's day was. I'm a trophy wife! Like Miliana Trump and Mrs. Larry King Live."

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Ron Howard's Call To Action

I love this for many reasons.

Stay Tuned & VOTE

Tony Figueroa


Ron Howard wants to talk about the election.
So does Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler.

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

FALL 2007 Part II

Well it's fall again and normally I will write several articles dedicated to the basic idea that I never judge a show by it's pilot, but this fall is different. I don't feel like this is Fall 2008 but more like Fall 2007 part II. It is hard to believe that it was almost a year ago (Nov. 5th 2007) when the Writers Guild of America went on strike. From that point I decided to suspend reviewing any new shows out of a sense of fairness and solidarity. I felt that saying something critical about someone’s show during the strike was kicking someone when they were down. As my readers know, I love television the same way others love movies or music, and even though I was saddened to see the TV season cut short I stood by the writers. I felt that it was important to remind my readers that nothing happens in Hollywood until a writer types the words FADE IN.

The shows I didn't review last fall or Fall 2007 Part I were Life, Pushing Daisies and Samantha Who?. These three shows are all back this season and my favorite show from last fall or Fall 2007 Part I, Journeyman, was canceled but thanks to the strike at least every episode was aired.

Here is my

FALL 2007 PART I

Scorecard.

The Big Bang Theory. Still on the air.
I said, "Sweet characters and cleaver dialogue do not a sitcom make".

K-Ville. Off the air.
I said, "I think that it is great that eighty percent of the show’s crew is from the local talent pool. I am curious what the people of New Orleans and the New Orleans Police Department thinks of the show".

Cane. Off the air.
I said, "The show should have a broad appeal. It has many of the classic elements of good story telling, man vs. man, brother vs. brother, father vs. son, all set in front of a Latin background. I am optimistic that the show won't resort to some of the stereotypical soap opera conventions like evil twins, people returning from the dead and whole seasons being dismissed as a dream".

Journeyman. Off the air.
I said, "The show has an appeal beyond the science fiction crowd. The only thing about the show that is predictable is that is unpredictable. Other new shows should take a lesson from Journeyman. Start with a good story and build on that".

Bionic Woman. Off the air.
There is one element to the show that I will freely admit to having mixed feelings about and that is the blurry line between who the good guys and the bad guys are. I like that the heroes have baggage. I'm sure that there are viewers that want to see the good guys wearing white hats and the bad guys wearing black hats (Toy companies like straight out good guys and bad guys when it comes to marketing action figures).

Reaper. Still on the air.
I said, "The best way to describe the show is Maynard G. Crebs from Dobie Gillis meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a hint of Ghost Busters".

Back to You. Off the air.
I said, "I was hoping for something more comparable to Murphy Brown or The Mary Tyler Moore Show but instead this reminded me more of Good Morning, Miami, especially the Latina character Montana Diaz Herrera (Ayda Field)".

Cavemen. Off the air.
I said, "I saw the pilot and I can hear my college television production teacher say, "What’s the point?" First you have to buy into the premise that cavemen have lived among us since the beginning of time. The opening credits features a montage of cavemen throughout history. Anything would be better than the chosen premise, time warp, thawed from an iceberg or cloned caveman DNA".

Chuck. Still on the air.
I said, "I watched the pilot. The episode opens on the night of Chuck’s birthday party. Chuck’s sister has invited lots of women for Chuck to meet but I don’t see this guy needing his sister’s help getting laid". And "Zachary Levi is a very talented actor. I liked him on Less Than Perfect, but I don’t see him as a good fit for this show".

As for Samantha Who?, Pushing Daisies and Life:

Samantha Who?: I was quite surprised and impressed with the show. My first impression from the promotional material was this would be a female version of My Name Is Earl. In fact my first reaction was, "Why didn't they call it My name is Girl". Christina Applegate has incredible star power and is likable, cute and willing to fall on her face for a laugh.

Pushing Daisies: This is a fun macabre escape from reality. I use it as a mental sorbet after watching the news.

Life: Damien Lewis is one of the finest actors on TV today. He has created a character that viewers sympathize with but you don’t necessarily want to have a beer with him and at times you just want to smack him. I see an Emmy in Damien Lewis' future.

For Fall 2007 Part II there are only two shows that I really have an interest in checking out and reviewing. Strangely enough both are American versions of foreign shows. From England Life On Mars and from Australia Kath & Kim but most of my TV viewing is fall dedicated to watching 2008 Election coverage. As always I watch the pilot and the first episode following the pilot. My gut tells me that Life On Mars will have a following but I don't see Kath & Kim lasting past Christmas.

To quote Dennis Miller, "Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong".

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Edie Adams

Edie Adams, the actress and singer and wife of comedian Ernie Kovacs, has died at the age of 81 from pneumonia and cancer. Ms. Adams won a Tony Award for playing Daisy Mae on Broadway in Li'l Abner.

She was born Elizabeth Edith Enke in 1927 in Kingston, Pa., and grew up in Tenafly, N.J. She first attracted notice on the TV show "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts." Kovacs was then performing his innovative comedy show on a Philadelphia TV station, and his director saw her and invited her to audition. With her innocent face and refreshing manner, Adams became the ideal partner for Kovacs' far-out humor. They eloped to Mexico City in 1954.

She and Kovacs moved to Hollywood in the late 1950s, and both became active in films.
In Billy Wilder's classic "The Apartment," the 1960 Oscar winner for best picture, Adams played the spurned secretary to philandering businessman Fred MacMurray.
Among her other movies were "Lover Come Back," "Call Me Bwana" (with Bob Hope), the all-star comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (as Sid Caesar's wife), "Under the Yum Yum Tree," "The Best Man" and "The Honey Pot."

Edie sings "That's All" in the episode, Lucy Meets the Moustache of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.

In early 1962 Kovacs crashed his car into a light pole, dying instantly. Adams now a widow was faced with debts of $520,000, trouble with the Internal Revenue Service and a nasty custody battle over Kovacs' daughters, Betty and Kippie, from his first marriage. She and Kovacs also had a daughter Mia, born in 1959 (Mia Kovacs was killed at 22 in a 1982 car accident). Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin and other stars organized a TV special to raise money for her and her daughters.
"Adams said, "No, I can take care of my own children." For a solid year, she worked continuously. After her widowhood, she had two brief marriages to photographer Martin Mills and trumpeter Pete Candoli.


In the 1980s and 1990s, she made appearances on such TV shows as "Murder, She Wrote" and "Designing Women." She also played Tommy Chong's mother, Mrs. Tempest Stoner, in the first Cheech and Chong movie, "Up in Smoke," in 1978.

Over the years, she strove to keep Kovacs' comedic legacy alive by buying rights to his TV shows and repackaging them for television and videocassettes.

To quote Ms. Adams, "Here was this guy with the big mustache, the big cigar and the silly hat, I thought, `I don't know what this is, but it's for me."

I heard that Ernie used to have a light up sign outside his home office that said "NOT NOW!" So if anyone in heaven tonight sees a sign that says "NOT NOW!", please do not disturb the happy reunion.

Good Night Mr. & Mrs Kovacs.

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Edie Adams' - Archive of American Television Interview

Finally! A reason to vote for McCain!!

The SHATNER AWARD goes to Carly Fiorina

On December 20th 1986, William Shatner was the guest host on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. In his opening monologue Mr. Shatner mentions that one of the most interesting aspects of the STAR TREK phenomenon has to be the conventions. The monologue dissolves into a sketch set at the16th Annual STAR TREK Convention being held in a convention room of a local Holiday Inn. The highlight of the sketch is when Mr. Shatner growing tired of the Trekker’s nerdish questions says,

"You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a colossal waste of time!"

A meeting of the SHATNER AWARD committee was held at the Don Knotts room of the Burbank Holiday Inn, September 22nd 2008 at 7:48 P.M. As always the SHATNER AWARD committee was informed that in order to be compliant with Robert's Rules of Order they must use actual dates instead of STAR DATES.

In accordance with out bylaws The SHATNER AWARD will be given to those individuals or groups who need to be told to, "GET A LIFE!" because "IT'S JUST A TV SHOW".

• New Business: McCain campaign surrogate Carly Fiorina called Tina Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live "disrespectful" and "sexist."
  
  

Based on this video where Ms. Fiorina said that the skit "continues the line of argument that is disrespectful in the extreme, and yes, I would say, sexist in the sense that just because Sarah Palin has different views than Hillary Clinton does not mean that she lacks substance." We proudly present Carly Fiorina The SHATNER AWARD for needing to be told to, "GET A LIFE!" because "IT'S JUST A TV SHOW".

The motion passed by a vote of 14 yes, 02 no and 01 GET A LIFE.

The Shatner Award committee has attempted to contact Carly Fiorina but she seems to have disappeared.

Respectfully submitted

Tony Figueroa,
Committee Chair

And the Emmys went to...

60th Primetime Emmy Awards

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
JEREMY PIVEN as Ari Gold HBO
Entourage

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
JEAN SMART as Regina Newly ABC
Samantha Who?

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
ŽELJKO IVANEK as Ray Fiske FX NETWORKS
Damages

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
LOUIS J. HORVITZ ABC
80th Annual Academy Awards

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
DIANNE WIEST as Dr. Gina Toll HBO
In Treatment

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
Tom Purcell, Head Writer COMEDY CENTRAL
Stephen Colbert, Writer
Allison Silverman, Writer
Richard Dahm, Writer
Michael Brumm, Writer
Rob Dubbin, Writer
Eric Drysdale, Writer
Peter Gwinn, Writer
Jay Katsir, Writer
Laura Krafft, Writer
Frank Lesser, Writer
Glenn Eichler, Writer
Peter Grosz, Writer
Bryan Adams, Writer
Barry Julien, Writer
Meredith Scardino, Writer
The Colbert Report

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
LAURA LINNEY as Abigail Adams HBO
John Adams

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART COMEDY CENTRAL
Jon Stewart, Executive Producer
David Javerbaum, Executive Producer
Rory Albanese, Co-Executive Producer
Kahane Corn, Co-Executive Producer
Josh Lieb, Co-Executive Producer
Jim Margolis, Supervising Producer
Jennifer Flanz, Supervising Producer

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
BARRY SONNENFELD ABC
Pushing Daisies
Pie-Lette

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
TINA FEY NBC
30 Rock
Cooter

OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
RECOUNT HBO
Paula Weinstein, Executive Producer
Len Amato, Executive Producer
Sydney Pollack, Executive Producer
Jay Roach, Executive Producer
Michael Hausman, Produced by

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
TOM WILKINSON as Benjamin Franklin HBO
John Adams

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
JAY ROACH HBO
Recount

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
KIRK ELLIS HBO
John Adams
Independence

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
DAME EILEEN ATKINS as Miss Deborah Jenkyns PBS
Cranford (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
THE AMAZING RACE CBS
Jerry Bruckheimer, Executive Producer
Bertram van Munster, Executive Producer
Jonathan Littman, Executive Producer
Hayma "Screech" Washington, Executive Producer
Amy Nabseth Chacon, Co-Executive Producer
Elise Doganieri, Co-Executive Producer
Bill Pruitt, Supervising Producer
Matt Schmidt, Supervising Producer
Mark Vertullo, Supervising Producer
Jarratt Carson, Senior Producer
Giselle Parets, Senior Producer
Phil Keoghan, Producer

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES
JOHN ADAMS HBO
Tom Hanks, Executive Producer
Gary Goetzman, Executive Producer
Kirk Ellis, Co-Executive Producer
Frank Doelger, Co-Executive Producer
David Coatsworth, Produced by
Steven Shareshian, Produced by

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM
DON RICKLES HBO
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
GREG YAITANES FOX
House
House’s Head

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
MATTHEW WEINER AMC
Mad Men
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Pilot)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
PAUL GIAMATTI as John Adams HBO
John Adams


OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
ALEC BALDWIN as Jack Donaghy NBC
30 Rock

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
GLENN CLOSE as Patty Hewes FX NETWORKS
Damages

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
BRYAN CRANSTON as Walt White AMC
Breaking Bad

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
TINA FEY as Liz Lemon NBC
30 Rock

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
JEFF PROBST CBS
Survivor

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
30 ROCK NBC
Lorne Michaels, Executive Producer
Tina Fey, Executive Producer
Marci Klein, Executive Producer
David Miner, Executive Producer
Robert Carlock, Executive Producer
John Riggi, Co-Executive Producer
Jack Burditt, Co-Executive Producer
Jeff Richmond, Producer
Don Scardino, Producer
Jerry Kupfer, Producer

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
MAD MEN AMC
Matthew Weiner, Executive Producer
Tom Palmer, Co-Executive Producer
Scott Hornbacher, Producer
Lisa Albert, Producer
Andre Jacquemetton, Producer
Maria Jacquemetton, Producer

9/11: Seven Years Later

The Dream

Last night we saw the first act of a 45 year old dream that looks like it was directed by Frank Capra and written by Aaron Sorkin.

To quote Tim Russert's Dad Big Russ, "What a country!"

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Bernie Mac

The rumors of the of death of Bernard Jeffrey (Bernie Mac) are sadly not exaggerated.

“I'm an ordinary guy with an extraordinary job.”
Bernie Mac

I just wanted write a few things about this comedic icon. I admired Bernie Mac as a comedian and I found his somewhat biographical sitcom The Bernie Mac Show very inspiring. Not only was he able to take a real event from his life (becoming guardian over his sister's three children after she enters rehab) he was able to do this successful single camera sitcom with out a laugh track. Please note that this was before My name is Earl and The Office. On the show he was able to use his stand up skills and break the forth wall to communicate his thoughts to the audience who he affectingly addressed as America. Often times when stand up comic is given a sitcom they are plugged into situations that are stale, unoriginal or just not a good fit. Bernie Mac made sure that his sitcom alter ego and the show's story line were true to himself and his life.

I have one more Bernie Mac Quote, "When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters on the grill, get the ice-cold beer and the cigars - that's heaven here on earth".

Good Night Bernie Mac enjoy the beer and the cigars in heaven and I will do the same on earth in your honor.

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Ad

This is an ad for The Paris Hilton Presidential Campaign.
Paid for by Funny Or Die.

So There!

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Janet Jackson Fine Thrown Out

I just got this E-mail today from TV Watch

From Broadcasting & Cable
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the fine against CBS stations for their airing of the Janet Jackson Super Bowl reveal.
That was the incident that prompted the Federal Communications Commission's crackdown on broadcast content, under pressure from Congress.
The court concluded that the FCC was arbitrary and capricious in changing a decades-old policy of not holding fleeting nudity indecent.
It also concluded that the commission could not hold broadcasters to strict liability, which means that they could not be held "vicariously liable" for actions they did not take on their own. That means that stations could not be liable for an action they could not foresee.
Read the Full Story

I got this E-mail from Parents Television Council

PTC Condemns Court Decision Overturning Super Bowl Striptease Indecency Fine
The Parents Television Council responded to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that threw out the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fine given to CBS for airing Janet Jackson's breast during the 2004 Super Bowl, which shocked millions of unsuspecting families and children. The PTC and its 1.3 million members led the charge to clean up the airwaves by calling on the FCC to levy a hefty fine against CBS and its affiliates for violating the federal indecency law over this so-called "wardrobe malfunction," and the FCC rightly levied a fine. "Once again, a three-judge panel has hijacked the will of the American people -- not to mention the intent of the Congress acting on behalf of the public interest - when it comes to indecent content on the public airwaves. While we are not surprised that the legal venue hand-picked by CBS would rule in favor of the network, the court's opinion goes beyond judicial activism; it borders on judicial stupidity," said Tim Winter, president of the PTC, which filed an amicus brief in the case. "If a striptease during the Super Bowl in front of 90 million people -- including millions of children -- doesn't fit the parameters of broadcast indecency, then what does? If the Court thinks that the event wasn't shocking enough, even though it was the single largest news story for weeks when the nation was at war, then what is shocking enough?" ► Read More

I will now be short, sweet and to the point. IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON. We have given to much time and ink to one breast. People are loosing their houses. Gas is almost $5.00 a gallon. We are still fighting two wars and we will be selecting a new Commander and Chief in less than 100 days. IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON. So lets take one last look at the breast and then never speak of it again.

To quote William Shatner on SNL, "GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show!"

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

PS: This goes for Charlotte Ross' 1.4 Million-Dollar buttocks too.

Judge Judy taping interrupted by earthquake

JULY 29, 2008 Broadcast on Los Angeles' KCAL CH9

This is my Stand Up on the subject of Earthquakes

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

Emmy nominations

Congratulations to all the nominees

COMEDY SERIES
"Entourage," HBO, Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
"The Office,"NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"30 Rock," NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio"Two And A Half Men," CBS, Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
"Ugly Betty," ABC, ABC Studios

DRAMA SERIES
"Boston Legal," ABC, David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
"Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, ABC Studios
"Heroes," NBC, Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"House," Fox • Heel and Toe Productions, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"The Sopranos," HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

MINISERIES
“Broken Trail,” AMC, Once Upon a Time Films in association with Butcher’s Run Films
"Prime Suspect: The Final Act” (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, ITV Productions and WGBH Boston co-production
"The Starter Wife,” USA,Hay Pop Pty Limited in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, for NBC Universal Television Studio

MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
“Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee,”HBO, Wolf Film/Traveler’s Rest Film in association with HBO Films
“Inside The Twin Towers,” Discovery Channel, A Dangerous Films Productions for BBC / RTL / France 2 and Discovery Channel in association with Blakeway Productions
“Longford,” HBO • A Granada Production in association with Channel 4 and HBO Films
“The Ron Clark Story,” TNT, Granada America and MAGNA Global Entertainment“Why I Wore Lipstick To My Mastectomy,” Lifetime, Produced by Grossbart Kent for Lifetime Television

REALITY
"Antiques Roadshow," PBS, WGBH Educational Foundation
"Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan," National Geographic, Produced by MPH Entertainment, Inc. in association with Emery/Sumner Productions for the National Geographic Channel
"Extreme Makeover Home Edition," ABC, Endemol USA
"Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List," Bravo, Picture This Television, Bravo
"Penn & Teller: Bullshit!," Showtime, Showtime Presents in association with Penn & Teller, A Division of Buggs and Rudy Discount Corporation, Star Price Productions, The Wolper Organization

REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
"The Amazing Race," CBS, Amazing Race Productions Inc. and Touchstone Television Productions, LLC in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and WorldRace Productions, Inc.
"American Idol," Fox, FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.
"Dancing With The Stars," ABC, BBC Worldwide Productions, LLC
"Project Runway," Bravo, Magical Elves for The Weinstein Company/Miramax, Full Picture, Bravo
"Top Chef," Bravo, Magical Elves, Bravo

ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman, "Extras," HBO, BBC and HBO Entertainment
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, "Monk," USA, NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone
Steve Carell as Michael Scott, "The Office," NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, "30 Rock," NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, "Two And A Half Men," CBS, Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

ACTOR IN A DRAMA
James Spader as Alan Shore, "Boston Legal," ABC, David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, "House," Fox. Heel and Toe Productions, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with NBC Universal Television
Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin, "Rescue Me," FX. Produced by Apostle, the Cloudland Company and DreamWorks Television in association with Sony Pictures Television
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, "The Sopranos, HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, "24, Fox, Imagine Television & 20th Century Fox Television in association with Realtime Productions

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Robert Duvall as Prentice "Print" Ritter, "Broken Trail," AMC, Once Upon a Time Films in association with Butcher’s Run Films
Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone, "Jesse Stone: Sea Change," CBS, TWS Productions II and Brandman Productions, Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television
Jim Broadbent as Lord Longford, "Longford," HBO, A Granada Production in association with Channel 4 and HBO Films
William H. Macy as Clyde Umney & Sam Landry, "Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From The Stories Of Stephen King - Umney’s Last Case," TNT • Ostar Productions
Matthew Perry as Ron Clark, "The Ron Clark Story," TNT, Granada America and MAGNA Global Entertainment

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, "Desperate Housewives," ABC, ABC Studios
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell, "The New Adventures Of Old Christine," CBS, Kari’s Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, "30 Rock," NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, "Ugly Betty," ABC, ABC Studios
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin, "Weeds," Showtime, Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sally Field as Nora Walker, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC, ABC StudiosKyra Sedgwick as Dep. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, "The Closer: Slippin’," TNT, The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC, A Wolf Films Production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Patricia Arquette as Allison Dubois, "Medium," NBC, CBS Paramount Television, Grammnet, Picturemaker Productions
Minnie Driver as Dahlia Malloy, "The Riches," FX, FX Productions and Fox Television Studios
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano, "The Sopranos," HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Queen Latifah as Ana, "Life Support," HBO, Foxx/King Entertainment, Flavor Unit Films, Urban Romances and Shelby Stone Productions in association with HBO Films
Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre)," PBS, ITV Productions and WGBH Boston co-production
Mary-Louise Parker as Zenia Arden, "The Robber Bride," Oxygen, Working Title TV and Shaftesbury Films
Debra Messing as Molly Kagan, "The Starter Wife," USA. Hay Pop Pty Limited in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, for NBC Universal Television Studio
Gena Rowlands as Melissa Eisenbloom, "What If God Were The Sun," Lifetime, By Fox Television Studios, JECO Productions and Old Beantown Films for Lifetime Television

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama, "Entourage," HBO, Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold, "Entourage," HBO, Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson, "How I Met Your Mother," CBS, Twentieth Century Fox
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, "The Office," NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, "Two And A Half Men," CBS, Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
William Shatner as Denny Crane, "Boston Legal," ABC, David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, "The Sopranos," HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
T.R. Knight as George, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, ABC Studios
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura, "Heroes," NBC, Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Michael Emerson as Ben, "Lost," ABC, ABC StudiosTerry O’Quinn as John Locke, "Lost," ABC, ABC Studios

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Thomas Haden Church as Tom Harte, "Broken Trail," AMC, Once Upon a Time Films in association with Butcher’s Run Films
August Schellenberg as Sitting Bull, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO, Wolf Film/Traveler’s Rest Film in association with HBO Films
Aidan Quinn as Senator Dawes, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO, Wolf Film/Traveler’s Rest Film in association with HBO Films
Edward Asner as Luke Spelman, "The Christmas Card," Hallmark, RHI Entertainment presents an Alpine Medien Production in association with Larry Levinson Productions
Joe Mantegna as Lou Manahan, "The Starter Wife," USA, Hay Pop Pty Limited in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, for NBC Universal Television Studio

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner. "My Name Is Earl," NBC, Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly. "The Office," NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper. "Two And A Half Men," CBS, Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Conchata Ferrell as Berta. "Two And A Half Men," CBS, Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater. "Ugly Betty," ABC, ABC Studios
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes, "Weeds," Showtime. Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC, ABC Studios
Katherine Heigl as Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, ABC Studios
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, ABC Studios,
Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano, "The Sopranos," HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi, "The Sopranos," HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Greta Scacchi as Nola Johns, "Broken Trail," AMC, Once Upon a Time Films in association with Butcher’s Run Films
Anna Paquin as Elaine Goodale, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee," HBO, Wolf Film/Traveler’s Rest Film in association with HBO Films
Samantha Morton as Myra Hindley, "Longford," HBO, A Granada Production in association with Channel 4 and HBO Films
Judy Davis as Joan McAllister, "The Starter Wife," USA, Hay Pop Pty Limited in association with McGibbon/Parriott Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment, for NBC Universal Television Studio
Toni Collette as Kathy Graham, "Tsunami, The Aftermath," HBO, A Kudos Film and Television Production in association with the BBC and HBO Films

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Martin Landau as Bob Ryan, "Entourage," HBO, Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Sir Ian McKellen as Himself, "Extras, HBO, BBC and HBO Entertainment
Stanley Tucci as David Ruskin, "Monk, "USA, NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone
Giovanni Ribisi as Ralph Mariano, "My Name Is Earl," NBC, Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Beau Bridges as Carl Hickey, "My Name is Earl," NBC, Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Christian Clemenson as Jerry “Hands” Espenson, "Boston Legal," ABC, David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Forest Whitaker as Curtis Ames, "ER, NBC, Constant c Productions, Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television
David Morse as Michael Tritter, "House, Fox, Heel and Toe Productions, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Tim Daly as J.T. Dolan, "The Sopranos, HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
John Goodman as Judge Robert Bebe, "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, NBC, Shoe Money Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
Eli Wallach as Eli Weintraub, "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, NBC, Shoe Money Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Dixie Carter as Gloria Hodge, "Desperate Housewives," ABC, ABC Studios
Laurie Metcalf as Carolyn Bigsby, "Desperate Housewives," ABC, ABC Studios
Elaine Stritch as Colleen Donaghy, "30 Rock," NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Judith Light as Claire Meade , "Ugly Betty," ABC, ABC StudiosSalma Hayek as Sofia Reyes, "Ugly Betty," ABC, ABC Studios

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Kate Burton as Ellis Grey, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, ABC Studios
Elizabeth Reaser as Jane Doe, "Grey’s Anatomy," ABC, ABC Studios
Marcia Gay Harden as Star Morrison, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC, A Wolf Films Production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Leslie Caron as Lorraine Chalmers, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC, A Wolf Films Production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Jean Smart as Martha Logan, "24," Fox, Imagine Television & 20th Century Fox Television in association with Realtime Productions

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM
Ellen Degeneres, "79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, Central Productions with Busboy Productions and Sparina Productions
Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central, Central Productions LLC and Hello Doggie, Inc.
David Letterman, "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS, Worldwide Pants, Inc.
Tony Bennett, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC, RPM TV Productions, Inc.

DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY
Julian Farino, "Entourage: One Day In The Valley," HBO, Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, "Extras: Orlando Bloom," HBO, BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ken Kwapis, "The Office: Gay Witch Hunt," NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Will Mackenzie, "Scrubs: My Musical," NBC, ABC Studios
Scott Ellis, "30 Rock: The Breakup," NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Richard Shepard, "Ugly Betty: Pilot," ABC, ABC Studios

DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA
Felix Alcala, Director "Battlestar Galactica: Exodus, Part 2," Sci Fi Channel • R+D TV in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Bill D’Elia, "Boston Legal: Son of the Defender," ABC, David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Peter Berg, "Friday Night Lights: Pilot", NBC, Imagine Television, Film 44 in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
David Semel, "Heroes: Genesis, NBC," Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television StudioJack Bender, "Lost: Through the Looking Glass," ABC, ABC Studios
Alan Taylor, "The Sopranos: Kennedy And Heidi," HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Thomas Schlamme, "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip: Pilot," NBC, Shoe Money Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television

DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
Bruce Gowers, "American Idol: The Finale, Fox, FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.
Jim Hoskinson, "The Colbert Report: Show #2161, Comedy Central, Central Productions with Busboy Productions and Sparina Productions
Chuck O’Neil, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Show #12061, Comedy Central, Central Productions LLC and Hello Doggie, Inc.
Don Roy King, "Saturday Night Live: Host: Alec Baldwin, NBC, SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway VideoRob Marshall, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic, NBC, RPM TV Productions, Inc.

DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Walter Hill, "Broken Trail: Part 1 & Part 2, AMC, Once Upon a Time Films in association with Butcher’s Run FilmsYves Simoneau, "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, HBO, Wolf Film/Traveler’s Rest Film in association with HBO Films
Susanna White, "Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, A BBC/WGBH Boston Co-Production
Philip Martin, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, ITV Productions and WGBH Boston co-production
Bharat Nalluri, "Tsunami, The Aftermath: Part 1 & Part 2, HBO, A Kudos Film and Television Production in association with the BBC and HBO Films

DIRECTING FOR NONFICTION PROGRAMMING
Rory Kennedy, "Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib," HBO, Moxie Firecracker Productions in association with HBO Documentary Films and The Fledgling Fund
Kevin Burns, "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed," The History Channel, Prometheus Entertainment for The History Channel
Lauren Greenfield, "Thin," HBO, HBO Documentary Films in association with Actual Reality
Christopher Wilcha, "This American Life: God’s Close-Up," Showtime, Showtime Presents in association with Chicago Public Radio, Killer Films, Inc., Left/Right, Inc.
Spike Lee, "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," HBO, 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks in association with HBO Documentary Films

VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
"The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, Central Productions with Busboy Productions and Sparina Production
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,”Comedy Central, Central Productions LLC and Hello Doggie, Inc.
“Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” NBC, Conaco, Broadway Video, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS, Worldwide Pants, Inc.
"Real Time With Bill Maher," HBO, Kid Love Productions and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL
"The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner," Comedy Central, Tenth Planet in association with Comedy Central
"The Kennedy Center Honors: A National Celebration Of The Performing Arts," CBS, A George Stevens, Jr. Presentation for Kennedy Center Television Productions
"Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed," HBO, Rickmill Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
"Tony Bennett: An American Classic," NBC, RPM TV Productions, Inc.
"A Tribute To James Taylor (Great Performances)," PBS, A Production of Warner Music Group in association with Thirteen/WNET New York
"Wanda Sykes: Sick And Tired," HBO, A Sykes Entertainment / Music Link Productions and Images Entertainment in association with HBO Entertainment

SPECIAL CLASS PROGRAM
"79th Annual Academy Awards," ABC, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
"The 64th Golden Globe Awards," NBC, Dick Clark Productions, Inc.
"Jerry Seinfeld - The Comedy Award," HBO, The Comedy Festival
"Prince Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show," CBS, Don Mischer Productions in association with NFL Network and White Cherry Entertainment
"The 60th Annual Tony Awards (2006)," CBS, White Cherry Entertainment in association with Tony Awards Productions

WRITING FOR A COMEDY
"Extras: Daniel Radcliffe," Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, HBO, BBC and HBO Entertainment,
"The Office: Gay Witch Hunt," Greg Daniels, NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio,
"The Office: The Negotiation," Michael Schur NBC, Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"30 Rock: Tracy Does Conan," Tina Fey NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio.
"30 Rock: Jack-Tor," Robert Carlock NBC, Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio

WRITING FOR A DRAMA
"Battlestar Galactica: Occupation/Precipice," Ronald D. Moore Sci Fi Channel • R+D TV in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"Lost: Through The Looking Glass," Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse ABC, ABC Studios
"The Sopranos: Kennedy And Heidi," Matthew Weiner, David Chase HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
"The Sopranos: The Second Coming," Terence Winter HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
"The Sopranos: Made In America," David Chase HBO, Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM
"The Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert, Allison Silverman, Richard Dahm, Michael Brumm, Rob Dubbin, Eric Drysdale, Peter Gwinn, Jay Katsir, Laura Krafft, Frank Lesser, Comedy Central, Central Productions with Busboy Productions and Sparina Productions
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Rachel Axler, Kevin Bleyer, Rich Blomquist, Steve Bodow, Tim Carvell, J.R. Havlan, Scott Jacobson, David Javerbaum, Ben Karlin, Rob Kutner, Josh Lieb, Sam Means, Jason Reich, Jason Ross, Jon Stewart Comedy Central, Central Productions LLC and Hello Doggie, Inc.
"Late Night With Conan O’Brien," Mike Sweeney, Head Writer; Chris Albers, Jose Arroyo, Dan Cronin, Kevin Dorff, Daniel J. Goor, Michael Gordon, Berkley Johnson, Brian Kiley, Michael Koman, Tim Harrod, Brian McCann, Guy Nicolucci, Conan O’Brien, Andrew Weinberg, writers NBC, Conaco, Broadway Video, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
"Late Show With David Letterman," Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel, head writers; Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland, Steve Young, Lee Ellenberg, Matt Roberts, Jeremy Weiner, Joe Grossman, Meredith Scardino, Bill Scheft, Aaron Blitzstein, Bob Borden, Frank Sebastiano, David Letterman, writers CBS, Worldwide Pants, Inc.
"Real Time With Bill Maher," Billy Martin, Head Writer; David Feldman, Matt Gunn, Brian Jacobsmeyer, Jay Jaroch, Chris Kelly, Bill Maher, Jonathan Schmock, Danny Vermont, Scott Carter, writers HBO, Kid Love Productions and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment