The most obvious similarity is that both comedies share the great Ed Helms (The Office, Knocked Up), who seems to be flourish as an “average guy who leaves town and succumbs to the wild life”.

As popular as it was, the DailyHelping wasn’t a big fan of “The Hangover”.  Some of the humor was inspired, other parts fell short. A so-so comedy that seemed to come out at the right time and it proved to be one of the years blockbuster comedies.  Plans for a sequel set in Thailand has already made some news about dropping the troubled Mel Gibson from a signature cameo role.  (Liam Neeson has stepped in).

Look for Cedar Rapids, stay for the insurance conference, the chlorine, the booze, hookers and John C. Reilly. It’s a much better hangover.  Enjoy…

DailyHelping is happy to weigh in on these fine nominees.

DRAMA SERIES
“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Dexter” (Showtime)
“The Good Wife” (CBS)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“True Blood” (HBO)

All in all, some quality shows are here, but HBO’s “Treme” should be here rather than “True Blood”.  “Sons of Anarchy” is a fantastic show for those who miss “The Sopranos” and terrific writing for anti-heroes. Lost should get an award for knowing when to shut it down.  “Mad Men” will probably win and Breaking Bad should win.

COMEDY SERIES
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
“Glee” (Fox)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Nurse Jackie” (Showtime)
“The Office” (NBC)
“30 Rock” (NBC)

“Glee” has earned this spot and the Rookie of the Year award. Who would have predicted a show about a high school glee club would become Must-See television for it’s night. The President has even mentioned his appreciation of the show.  “Nurse Jackie” hasn’t generated the kind of buzz that “Weeds” or “Dexter” generates.  Modern Family is runner up Rookie of the Year and was a critical favorite from it’s opening pilot.  “The Office” is losing it’s star (Carrell) and so is “30 Rock” (Baldwin), but this wasn’t a particularly strong season for either one.  “Curb Your Enthusiasm” had the Seinfeld reunion but “Glee” looks like a feel-good winner.

MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
“Emma” (Masterpiece)
“Georgia O’Keeffe” (Lifetime)
“The Pacific” (HBO)
“Temple Grandin” (HBO)
“You Don’t Know Jack” (HBO)

“The Pacific” is going to win this category and it’s well deserved.  Surprisingly graphic in it’s violence, this is a classic series that will get it’s due once it’s more accessible on DVD.  “You Don’t Know Jack” had some good publicity but it’s a show piece for Pacino and he’s going to get his award later in the show.

ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Jim Parsons – “Big Bang Theory”
Larry David – “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Matthew Morrison – “Glee”
Tony Shalhoub – “Monk”
Steve Carell – “The Office”
Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock”

Monk? Was it really on this past year?  If so it joins “The Office” and “30 Rock” as shows that are losing their big draws (not that Tina Fey isn’t a remarkable talent in her own right).  Baldwin is the reigning winner here and could very realistically find himself with another Emmy on his way out the door.

ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Bryan Cranston – “Breaking Bad”
Michael C. Hall – “Dexter”
Kyle Chandler = “Friday Night Lights”
Hugh Laurie – “House”
Matthew Fox – “Lost”
Jon Hamm – “Mad Men”

There are a lot of people who are happy to see “Friday Night Lights get some love.  It’s as far as it goes, but getting noticed this year seems to be gratifying for a good number of critics and fans. Hugh Laurie and Matthew Fox deserved their nominations but this is all about John Hamm, Michael C. Hall and Bryan Cranston.  Hall’s season was eclipsed by his well publicized battle with Leukemia, disclosed as he collected a Golden Globe Award.   Cranston will win and should win. He’s benefiting from a particularly strong season but his performances are in a league of their own.  Dexter deserves an award for last season and it will come in the Guest star in a dramatic series category. John Lithgow will win that one hands down and it will be a nod to a terrific show that is finally getting some attention.

As for those who deserved to be nominated but were overlooked, Timothy Olyphant in the fantastic “Justified” and Ron Pearlman from “Son’s of Anarchy”.  Count on seeing both in this category next year. Ray Romano in “Men of a Certain Age” would have been nice to see here too.

“Monk”? Really?

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Lea Michele – “Glee”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – “The New Adventures Of Old Christine”
Edie Falco – “Nurse Jackie”
Amy Poehler – “Parks And Recreation”
Tina Fey – “30 Rock”
Toni Collette – “United States Of Tara”

“Parks and Recreation” has overtaken it’s mentor, “The Office” with a very strong season. Amy Poehler will win this year because Edie Falco and Toni Collette will cancel each other out with much darker, less seen performances.  Tina Fey could take this if Poehler doesn’t. Julia Louise-Dreyfus was actually better this year in “Curb Your Enthusiasm” playing herself.

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Kyra Sedgwick – “The Closer”
Glenn Close – “Damages”
Connie Britton – “Friday Night Lights”
Julianna Margulies – “The Good Wife”
Mariska Hargitay – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
January Jones – “Mad Men”

Julianna Margulies in “The Good Wife” could be a sleeper here in keeping with this season’s strong showing by new shows. Mariska Hargitay is here out of respect for the “Law and Order” franchise. She’s a long time favorite and this nomination is comparable to retiring an athlete’s jersey.  Connie Britton is more love for “Friday Night Lights”.  Glen Close and Kyra Sedgwik are a toss up here. January Jones will win this category another time soon and often.  Katy Segal from “Sons of Anarchy” should be here and will be here next year.  (It’s great that both Bundy’s from “Married With Children” have had such a good year on their respective shows)

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Jeff Bridges – “A Dog Year”
Ian McKellen – “The Prisoner”
Michael Sheen – “The Special Relationship”
Dennis Quaid – “The Special Relationship”
Al Pacino – “You Don’t Know Jack

Most people think that former Prime Minister Tony Blair looks like Michael Sheen and not the other way around. His work in “The Queen” as well as “The Special Relationship” make it hard to think the man is acting. If you haven’t seen this HBO movie, make the effort if for no other reason than to see Sheen and Quaid as Blair and Clinton. Quaid is very entertaining.  This however is all about Pacino. It’s an over the top performance. Hammy and yet convincing. This is a slam dunk.

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Maggie Smith – “Capturing Mary”
Joan Allen – “Georgia O’Keeffe”Dame Judi Dench – “Return To Cranford”
Hope Davis – “The Special Relationship”
Claire Danes – “Temple Grandin”

The DailyHelping has nothing here. Didn’t see anything here and don’t know that we will.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Chris Colfer – “Glee”
Neil Patrick Harris – “How I Met Your Mother”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson – “Modern Family”
Eric Stonestreet – “Modern Family”
Ty Burrell – “Modern Family”

Neil Patrick Harris is the only recognizable name here and he’s not likely to win. The Modern Family nominees are good PR for the show’s second season, but that’s all that’s going to come of the evening.  The kid from Glee, Chris Colfer is a perfect stand-out representative from the ensemble.  He’s going to win for a lot of reasons not the least of which is his

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Aaron Paul – “Breaking Bad”
Martin Short – “Damages”
Terry O’Quinn – “Lost”
Michael Emerson – “Lost”
John Slattery – “Mad Men”
Andre Braugher – “Men Of A Certain Age”

Aaron Paul and Andre Braugher turned in the best performances and either one will win here.  Short plays against type in a dramatic but still hammy performance and it feels like one of those roles that will get you a nomination but not a win.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Michael Gambon – “Emma”
Patrick Stewart – “Hamlet”
Jonathan Pryce – “Return To Cranford”
David Strathairn – “Temple Grandin”
John Goodman – “You Don’t Know Jack”

Once again a category that poses something of a mystery save Goodman’s performance in “You Don’t Know Jack” . Patrick Stewart in Hamlet sounds like something for the Tony Awards. Everyone in this list of nominees are outstanding performers and it’ s probably going to be a deserving win.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Jane Lynch – “Glee”

Julie Bowen – “Modern Family”

Sofia Vergara – “Modern Family”

Kristen Wiig – “Saturday Night Live”
Jane Krakowski – “30 Rock”
Holland Taylor – “Two And A Half Men”

Jane Lynch’s win in this category will be part of Glee’s wonderful evening. She’s a terrific character actress whose enjoying Glee’s popularity and is one of the few few familiar faces on this very popular show.  Kristen Wiig is one of the few unspoiled resources on Saturday Night Live. She isn’t a hit every time and one can’t help but think there are bigger and better things for her in movies.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sharon Gless – “Burn Notice”
Rose Byrne – “Damages”
Archie Panjabi – “The Good Wife”
Christine Baranski – “The Good Wife”
Christina Hendricks – “Mad Men”
Elisabeth Moss – “Mad Men”

Christina Hendricks is a big favorite here at DailyHelping and so any discussion about the Emmy awards would be biased and a conflict of interests.  Her arrival on the Red Carpet on Emmy night is one of the more eagerly awaited moments of the night.  Seeing Sharon Gless from “Burn Notice” is pretty cool. It’s a show that you wouldn’t expect to see among these nominees, not that it’s a bad show..on the contrary, but it’s a real honor for this action show.

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central)
“Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien” (NBC)

There is some sweet justice in seeing Conan here and not Jay. The real story would be if Conan’s show won. The way things have worked out for NBC through the whole debacle, all that’s left is an Emmy win for Conan.  This one will go to “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”.  This is a show that has raised the bar on contemporary comedic satire and it’s going to continue to set the standard for as long as it wants to.  Saturday Night Live used to have this kind of clout.

Stop by your local bookstore or library and pick up Joshua Farris’s brilliantly funny first novel, Then We Came to the End.  If you like The Office (British or American version), can recite lines from Office Space, then you’re going to love reading this book. Set at the end of the 90′s tech boom, the book follows a modestly successful Chicago Ad agency through economic uncertainty that seems quite familiar.  The characters are superbly constructed and the novel is made up of a series of compelling little tales.

There’s an edge to this book and it provides more than a few emotional punches. The humor doesn’t come cheaply and a few cubicle cliche’s are turned on their ear.

Voted one of 2007′s top ten novels of the year by Time magazine and the New York Times, Then We Came to the End, is also going to be one of the best you read in 2009.

You’re welcome.

This is an American adaptation of a BBC favorite (think: The Office).  It ran on  BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007 and subsequently won their British Academy  Television Awards as well as their Emmy.  As you would expect there is the usual debate as to whether the Americanized version holds up to the original and no less than the British television critics acknowledge that ABC and the show’s producers got it right.

The American version takes place in New York City.  A detective, Sam Tyler (played by Jason O’Mara)  is seriously injured while hunting a serial killer.  He regains consciousness in 1973.  Is he a time traveler? Is he living within the confines of a coma? Is he dead?  There are  many wonderful red herrings and legitimate clues when the two worlds overlap.  In some ways it’s all  reminiscent of my old favorite, Twin Peaks.  (don’t let that scare you away). The characters are unique in that the lines between good guy and bad guy tend to blur.  Funny, at times violent, insightful, compelling…the show has it all.

The differences between 1973 and 2009 are obviously huge. No computers, no faxes, no cell phones, no DNA or policewomen, to name a few.  The cast is terrific.  Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli (Christopher on the Sopranos fame) and Gretchen Mol. (Robert Klein’s turn as a mobster was fantastic in earlier episodes). The music, the clothes, the cars, the hair and through the magic of special effects…New York, itself looks seedy and explosive and truly provides a refreshing backdrop.  (I think Mad Men mines the same creative well by re-creating life a few decades back).

There have been 8 episodes shown thus far.  ABC offers these online for you to watch for free.  There are five new episodes that will begin their run tomorrow night and the network ordered up four additional episodes.

Give this show a chance.  Start from the beginning if you can and see if you agree with me. Life on Mars is definitely worth watching.

I won’t bore you with reviews of the nominees but I do want to go on the record with my choices for some of the major awards.  If you have any opinions to the contrary, or agree…you’re certainly welcome to share your thoughts.

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

A Raisin in the Sun
Bernard and Doris
Cranford
John Adams
Recount

I’ve seen only two of these, but I feel pretty comfortable that John Adams is going to take this one. If you haven’t seen this HBO historical drama, then get ye to the video store.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Kevin Connolly, Entourage
David Duchovny, Californication
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock. This is going to be a big year for 30 Rock and Baldwin is a huge reason why viewers are finally tuning in to what may be television’s funniest show.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Debra Messing, The Starter Wife
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

This has been an amazing year for Tina Fey and a Golden Globe is going to be just one more well-deserved accolade.

TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
The Office
Weeds

The Office and Entourage are viable,  but the night is going to belong to 30 Rock.

ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors

I will admit not to being a fan of Mad Men. I was tempted when I heard the creator and lead writers were from the Sopranos, but I just couldn’t get attached.  Dexter is getting some publicity but when all is said and done, this is the foriegn press voting here and they love Hugh Laurie. It’s not that he doesn’t deserve his award, but I think Dexter has the buzz, just not enough to win here.

ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA

Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
January Jones, Mad Men
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

I know little about any of these shows. My pick is purely out of the blue based on a hunch. Go with the Closer’s Kyra Sedgwich here. Anna Paquin is a wild card here because True Blood is quickly developing some fans.

TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA

Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood

I don’t know that the rest of the world is excited by Mad Men. Maybe I’m underestimating the global appetite, but I think blood is going to be the deciding factor. Vampires or serial killer; I’m going to give the edge to True Blood.  HBO could use the boost.

DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road

Boyle worked with a co-director (Indian director), Loveleen Tanden, to help with an all-Indian cast. Even with the help, there’s no denying the accomplishment here.  I’ll acknowledge that I was disappointed with Benjamin Button and a big part of that is I’m huge fan of David Fincher. This was just not a good story for someone with his abilities.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Want a real sleeper here? Viola Davis. She had less than ten minutes in a movie starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.  In a film filled with dramatic flourish, Ms Davis provided the most powerful performance.  Marisa Tomei is who I’d like to win.  She’s part of The Wrestler’s underdog popularity and I don’t know anyone who wasn’t impressed with that body.

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger will win this and will probably win the Oscar, come Spring.  Sentiment aside, this is the kind of role that defines a career and it’s a shame he couldn’t follow up with something more worthwhile than Terry Gilliams, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.  As for Tom Cruise, I will admit it was a great cameo but I don’t think he belongs in this category. I don’t see Hoffman’s role as a supporting role either, but it won’t matter anyway.

ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey

I haven’t seen Last Chance Harvey but I think I’d have heard some scuttlebutt about Thompson’s performance if there was a chance here.  Sally Hawkins drove people crazy with her perkiness, McDormand was pretty dreary and Meryl Streep sings ABBA.  That leaves Rebecca Hall. She was actually terrific in a very good Woody Allen movie. That would usually do it but again, this is the foriegn press doing the judging.  How can you compete with ABBA?  I think Meryl’s going to dance away with this one.

ACTOR, COMEDY OR Musical
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey

Not a lot of people saw In Bruges. It was a very original movie with more violence than you would expect. It also took place in Europe and this was a pretty popular movie overseas where here it qualified for art house distribution.  With all that said, everone like Bardem and he carries the movie. I think this is going to be the one award that Vicky Cristina Barcelona wins all evening.

BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Mamma Mia has sold a lot of DVD’s overseas. It was a critical hit over there, where over here people were being warned that Pierce Brosnan would be singing.  I really liked Vicky Cristina Barcelona and it was primarily a foriegn film save for the director and his muse,  Scarlett Johansson.  One of the big differences between the Golden Globes and the Oscars is that Mamma Mia coud win this.

ACTRESS, DRAMA
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

These are all very good nominees but I think you have to go with Anne Hathaway here.  I also think that if she wins here, she will draw more attention to Rachel Getting Married, and that will enhance her chances for a big Oscar night.  The foriegn press loves Angelina Jolie and this was a great role for her, but her bright red lips stole the movie and I think that Hathaway has the buzz.

ACTOR, DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

This is all about Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke.  I also think it will boil down to these two come Oscar-time as well.  Since this is the Hollywood Forigen Press, I’m going to say Mickey Rourke is going to not only win, but get one of those sentimental, standing ovations.  He’s a come back story that everyone likes to hear about…despite the fact that he was his own worst enemy for many years and primarily the reason he disappeared in the first place. He’s also been talking smack to anyone who will listen about Sean Penn’s performance as Harvey Milk.  This guy needs to just shut up and accept the awards that are coming his way, deservedly so. If you haven’t seen The Wrestler, you should do so soon.  It’s a brutal look at Professional wrestling, but it’s also as gritty a performance as anyone is going to see in a very long time.  (More on this movie in an upcoming post).

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog will win this.  If you haven’t seen this movie, do so soon.  Also, don’t be so quick to leave the theatre. The closing credits are pure Bollywood, and it’s fantastic.  My sense is that this is going to be the big award for Slumdog Millionaire.  The Oscars are going to boil down to Milk and The Wrestler and maybe even Batman, but the Golden Globes are all about entertainment and that’s what Slumdog delivers.