Say it ain't so!!!

Fox isn't renewing King of the Hill for its 14th season. Looks like the 13th was an unlucky number.

I freaking love King of the Hill. Hank Hill is very much like Dad Grace and his wisdom, like that of Dad Grace, is short and simple. My all time favorite Hank Hill quote comes from an episode where Dale and Nancy have a renewal of their vows and Hank is charged with inviting Dale's estranged gay dad.

Hank takes the invitation from Nancy and sighs. "With the joy of responsibility comes the burden of obligation," Hank says.

How true, Hank. How true.

Maybe now they'll put seasons 7 through 13 on DVD.

SG on TV: SG's Emmy Picks

I'm getting tired of talking politics 24-7. At least for the moment. So let's talk about some really important issues--the Emmys.

First off, how did they sneak up on me? It seems just yesterday the noms came out and I tried to make a predictions post and the damn Blogger software f'ed it up.

Second of all, I wonder what Mr. CVD is doing Sunday night.

Anyhow, for the much anticipated SG Emmy Picks. There are two winners in each category--or at least up to two. I note who should win and who will win. Oftentimes I don't get my way.

And for those Emmy buffs that read this--I know it's not all the categories, but let's be honest--no one gives a shit about sound editing.

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Outstanding Comedy
We were once again rocked by 30 Rock, the funniest show on TV

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office Should win
30 Rock Will win
Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Drama
The simpler time of Mad Men proved to be dazzlingly complex

Mad Men Will Win
House
Lost Tie for should win (Lost managed to take a sinking ship and turn it back into a can't-miss show...I mean, who wasn't talking about the Island disappearing and who was in the coffin?!?!)
Dexter Tie for should win (Dexter is an amazing show I discovered this year and it managed to stay away from the Sophomore Slump--that alone deserves an Emmy)
Boston Legal
Damages

Outstanding Actor, Drama
James Spader, Boston Legal

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Hugh Laurie, House
Jon Hamm, Mad Men Will win--the Emmys are going to make love to this show
Michael C. Hall, Dexter Should win (I love Hugh Laurie and he delivered another great performance, but damn if Michael C. Hall isn't a chameleon!)
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment

Outstanding Actress, Drama

Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Glenn Close, Damages Will win and probably should--she's taken a show to new heights allegedly
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama

Michael Emerson, Lost Should win--anyone who isn't haunted by Emerson's portrayl of Ben has no soul. That's a fact.
John Slattery, Mad Men Will win--see my earlier comment about the Emmy's making love to MadMen
Željko Ivanek, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Ted Danson, Damages

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama

Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment Will/Should--I've heard amazing things about this show and her part in it--I can't wait to watch it OnDemand
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters

Outstanding Actor, Comedy

Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock Will win--30 Rock is a "smart" show and therefore will win--it's a given
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Steve Carell, The Office Should win--Carell's never faltering performance as Michael Scott is a gem
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies

Outstanding Actress, Comedy

America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine Will win because people love her
Tina Fey, 30 Rock Might win because of a smart show
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? Might win because of a cancer vote boost (don't hate me for saying it, you know you were thinking it.

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy

Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother Will win--he has a lot of cache lately
Rainn Wilson, The Office Again, if you don't love Wilson as Dwight Schrute, you have no soul--didn't you see him crying over Angela this season!?!?
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Kevin Dillon, Entourage

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy

Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live Will probably win--again, cache and to be honest, I don't see anyone else in here who should
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies

Outstanding Reality Competition

Project Runway Should win--this show is more interesting than most reality shows in that it's actually based on talent
Dancing With the Stars
The Amazing Race Will win--it always does
American Idol

Outstanding Reality Show Host

Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Howie Mandel, Deal or No Deal
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol Will win...sadly, probably should (I still hate Seacrest though)
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars

Four's A Crowd--Idol Adds a Fourth Judge

Turns out that Nigel Lithgow's departure brings in another arrival, only on the judging scene. It was announced today that American Idol is adding a fourth judge to join Hot Simon, Dawg Randy and Crazy Paula.

Who is this fourth? Songwriter Kara DioGuardi.

Not famous yet, Kara? Just wait. America will hate you soon enough.

Personally, I think they should have added an average-Jane judge. I know one qualified person.

And the waiting begins

I guess this gives me time to catch up on the last few seasons. I was a huge X-Files fan until...well, until I started having more to do and less time to watch it and it started getting screwy. Then it got good again and I was screwed.

But the second movie is finally in production. And I couldn't be happier.

"We've been waiting five years for this, Dawg."

There's just sumptin 'bout David Duchovony that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Like when we used to climb the rope in gym class... Gillian Anderson ain't bad herself and I'm not even into chicks.

Again with the Sopranos fever?

Not directly related, but the Detroit Free Press published this article yesterday about the five best and five worst TV series endings. It's a great read.

I couldn't agree more about the Six Feet Under ending. That show was custom made for a good ending. Everything about it was perfect--the music, the background of Claire driving to New York in her new Prius. The finality of it all is what the show conveyed--and we were able to think about our lives in a new way that night (or whenever you actually saw it).

So, for your viewing pleasure...

Don't Stop

I've not been a true Sopranos loyalist since it's start. It's always been there in my life--my dad is a huge fan, so is Garrett. I love the show, though. It's always been so real and raw. I guess my only reliable excuse for not being so loyal is that the seasons started and ended when they pleased--often spending months, if not well over a year, in hiatus.

My mind has been going over last night's finale again and again. I've listened to and read various commentaries on it. I, too, thought my cable box died out when the screen went to black in the middle of a great Journey song. But alas, like many things in life, we didn't get the closure we so desperately wanted. Instead, we were left to fend for ourselves.

The more I think about the episode, the more I think about how good it really was. Tony was there, surrounded by the details of his life and business, slowly learning that everyone that once surrounded him like a barricade from hell, was now alone. Even his trusted confidante, Paulie, wouldn't take his latest gig...and Tony was left to fend for himself. Everyone that had been there from the beginning--Sil, Vito, Christopher--were gone. And he started to see his life change. He knew he was about to be indicted. His career was, needless to say, a mess.

His personal life wasn't faring much better. For all the time he sat across from Dr. Melfi, he still wasn't able to do anything but manipulate his son's shrink...or at least try to. No matter how much he claimed to do, Tony never let go of his personal demons.

And so, last night, though the screen faded to black, Tony's life hadn't come to a natural close. I truly believe that he was shot. The show, like everything else in Tony's life, was viewed from his perspective (at least 90% of the time). Let's face it--he got America to love a bad guy by being so self-centered. In his last few moments, he was finally at ease with that fact. His son was back to being a narcissistic asshole. His daughter remained perfect in his eyes. His wife was loyal to the end.


Life isn't wrapped in tidy little packages. So this time, art did immitate life. Although we all were left feeling unfulfilled, Tony's life ended much as we saw it when we first set eyes on him: dirty, gritty and raw. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Lost

Last night was another good episode of Lost--nothing as explosive as last week, but it was very good nevertheless.

I really love that show. There are so many reasons to like it--the mysticism, the amazingly hot cast, the well-written and well-thought-out plots. The show has gotten even better since we got the HD television. To see the scenery of Oahu like that is amazing--and it's really what it looks like. Of course seeing it in person is a whole other experience. If I ever go back there, I want to take some Lost tour where they show you the beaches they film on in particular.

If I were stranded on a beautiful deserted island I think I might enjoy it. For about five minutes until I had to go to the bathroom. And don't even get me started on the Others...I'd be done with that BS immediately. Talk about people needing to cut the games.