TV with MeeVee

Comedy Actor Emmy Semis And More

The Golden Derby continues to roll out the Emmy semi-finalist lists that the Academy supposedly tries to keep secret. Today it's the lists for best actor in a comedy and best supporting actress in a comedy/comedy.

As usual, I'll boldface the ones I think are going to get one of the five nominations in each category, and make a few snarky comments in italics.

BEST LEAD COMEDY ACTOR

• Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"- Mandatory, and the funniest on the list, including Carell.
• Steve Carell, "The Office"- Mandatory.
• Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"- If he was any different off-camera, but...is this really acting?
• David Duchovny, "Californication" - Loved the pilot but this show just seems like it does the same thing every week.
• Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies" - A likely nominee, but not overtly funny enough to win this category.
• Tony Shalhoub, "Monk" - Nominated the last five years, won three. Give someone else a chance.
• Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men" - He's really funny. But will Hollywood vote for an old-school sitcom performance like this? And will his ugly divorce life turn voters off?

The blog only has seven of the 10 actors. Who else will fill out the category? My guesses: Zach Braff of "Scrubs," Jason Lee of "My Name Is Earl," and a surprise, Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory." But who gets the fifth nom? I have not a clue. Lot of buzz about Parsons, though.

Weekend TV Reviews: Gandolfini's Veterans, "Torchwood's" Aliens, And Hating "Tell Me You Love Me"

Two new series, a new documentary and a returning hit all premiere this weekend.  One is heart-rending and excellent, a must-see. One is pretty damn good. One is torture. And one is Larry David. We'll take 'em in  that order.

"Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq," a documentary bowing Sunday on HBO, looks at the lives of soldiers who were horribly wounded on the battlefield there - fatally so, in any other war. Their Alive Day is the day modern medical care saved them. But now they have to cope with the horrible physical and mental consequences of their survival. Amputations, disfigurement, brutal pain and scorching memories. They tell their stories in their own words, and the show is brilliantly and simply produced with a dark stage and two chairs. Each soldier takes a turn facing actor James Gandolfini, who gently encourages them and asks simple, direct questions. (Gandolfini also produced.) The focus is 100% on the soldiers, and the simplicity only intensifies the impact of their words.

Larry David Is Jesus. Who knew?

One of the best parts of attending press tour is watching funny people answer questions. To see people like David Letterman fencing with a room full of reporters can be hilarious - and it's also fascinating to see the great ones at work, like watching Tiger Woods golf or Michael Jordan shoot hoops, from up close. Yesterday's appearance by "Seinfeld" co-creator and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator and star Larry David was one of those times. With "Curb" co-stars Jeff Garlin and Cheryl Hines at his side, he came to play…

Reporter: …and what made you come back for another season?
Larry: Every season that I do is my last season. That's the only way I can get through the season. (Audience laughter) If I thought that I had to come back and do it again, I would never do it in the first place. (Laughter) So the way I trick myself is to tell everybody that it's my last season. And then after it's over, I go, Oh, maybe I'll do another one. (Laughter)

Reporter: I'm wondering how many groups do you hear from each season as being offended?
Larry: OK, you know what? Nobody who watches the show is offended. I haven't heard anything. On "Seinfeld," which was on commercial television, you know, I'd get thousands of letters every week about people who were offended from every group. But on 'Curb' we get nothing. Nobody seems to be offended except for the people who just hate me in general. (Laughter)

Same reporter: One last question, do you think you've-
Larry: Make it two? Why do you get two? (Laughter) Fuck this guy. There's a lot of people here. (Laughter) Shut up! That's enough from you! (Laughter)