Monday, September 22, 2008

DESERVING

Congrats to the entire team working on AMC's brilliant show MAD MEN, which deservedly won the Best Drama Emmy last night. This is the best show on television right now, and it easily ranks as one of my personal favorite shows of all time. My only disappointment was that John Hamm didn't take the Emmy for best actor and John Slattery didn't take the Emmy for best supporting actor. Maybe next year. In any event, the show's win is big for AMC and the show in general. Still registering as a cult-sized hit, the Emmy win should boost the show's ratings a bit through the rest of the currently-running stellar second season. But what it will really do is fuel the sales and renting of the second season's inevitable DVD release, which would hopefully result in a larger audience for the third season.

Appointment television for me is as follows: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, MAD MEN, LOST, ENTOURAGE, THE SHIELD, RESCUE ME, IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, SOUTH PARK, THE OFFICE, 30 ROCK, TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, 24, CALIFORNICATION, and CSI.

It's a crime that FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS was snubbed, yet again, for a best drama nomination. When will people realize that this is one of the best shows around? And Kyle Chandler, who plays the head coach, definitely needs to score an Emmy in the next year or so. His work has been nothing short of phenomenal.

MAD MEN is just amazing. From the layered writing to the pitch-perfect performances to the stylish direction and sumptuous production values, the show transports the viewer back to the 60's with creative flair and narrative force not seen by me since the days of DEADWOOD and THE SOPRANOS. Those shows dealt with different eras and different modes of storytelling, but the attention to detail in both the big and small elements are the same.

If you haven't gotten into MAD MEN yet, I highly reccommend that you pick up the first season on DVD and then catch up with the second season via ON-DEMAND. Eight second-season episodes have aired so far, with the ninth set for air next Sunday. It's a masterpiece of television, and it's the first time in a long time where the Emmy for best drama has gone to the truly deserving program.

3 comments:

Wayne said...

Looks like your good taste extends to the smaller screen as well, Nick. MAD MEN is terrific television, and I was glad to see it win, and also wish that Hamm had taken his category, as I'm not a big BREAKING BAD fan. "Hear hear" also for FNL. It's abysmal what's happening to that marvelous piece of television. And, of course, the Emmys had one last chance to honor THE WIRE, and blew it.

Also, yay 30 ROCK.

Actionman said...

Sadly, I haven't gotten involved with The Wire yet, but it's a TV priority of mine for the near future.

FNL needs some love...and it's gonna be hard to wait till February for new eps to air after their exclusive run on Direct TV starts next month...so annoying...

Yeah, Breaking Bad didn't do much for me, but Cranston is a nice guy and a solid actor so that's cool for him. But Hamm should've taken the gold. I have a feeling that next year will be his year to win.

On another note: have you seen Burn After Reading yet? Curious to hear your thoughts...

I want to check it out again but will probably just buy it on DVD. Also, if you haven't seen it yet, I implore you to check out The Fall.

Wayne said...

Given your tastes, I'd wager that THE WIRE is going to be a slam-dunk with you.

I hate to say it, but I'm not sure I can just sit idly by as FNL is playing on Direct TV. I may have to hit the torrents, and then just be sure to watch them again when they play in Feb. so they can get the ratings. That show has gotten seriously screwed. Would have been nice if they had actually finished season 2 before they started talking about how they were going to fail Season 3 (ratings, not creatively) FNL, Freaks & Geeks, and Arrested Development would probably have a lot to talk about if they met at a party.

I hate to say it, but I haven't been out to see the Coen Bros. just yet. It's the next thing I see, but I've just been a little swamped, and haven't made it out yet.

On your recommendation and some equally enthusiastic ones from a couple of buddies, THE FALL is sitting at the top of my queue. Need to get through the last season of THE SHIELD.