Richard Discovers the Fountain of Youth

Well, you can't say that The 4400 isn't full of surprises! Isabelle is back to being a toddler??!! I'm not even sure how I feel about this development, but it is pretty cool. Plus, there's a 4400 who can make you younger? Yet another awesome ability. And Richard's back!! I've missed him this season, so it was good to see him (even if he was kidnapping Isabelle and returning her to a much younger state). Interesting Isabelle developments and the return of Richard aside, this episode was a little blah for me. Maybe it was the lack of NTAC involvement holding this one back (Tom and Diana just seemed like wallpaper this week) -- I'm not sure. This just didn't feel like the awesome 4400 episodes that I've come to expect. No Maia, no Marco, no 4400 or promicin positive focus left me feeling a little ambiguous this week. BUT, I am curious to see how this Tom thing plays out. He had the mole removed, but of course it grew back. It seems like it's only a matter of time before the future begins controlling him and/or using him for their advantage. That coupled with Isabelle's sudden transformation kept me hooked.

There was also an interesting Tess and Kevin side story. Her schizophrenia had gotten out of control and she was holding a diner hostage (by making them dance). I was feeling tired just watching those poor people dance for two days straight! Luckily, Shawn stepped in and cured Tess before they all keeled over dead of exhaustion. And the best part -- it looks like both Kevin and Tess are going to play a bigger role now. Otherwise, I think that was everything that happened this week. Yup, nothing else occurred during the hour. Just those two stories to keep us occupied. Oh wait, Tom and Meghan slept together. Well, at least that's over. No more annoying build-up. You know, I'm pretty sure I could get past her not being Alana if it weren't for the fact that she's his boss!! It's bugging me for some reason. Woman in power sleeps with her subordinate -blah, blah, blah. I don't remember Dennis Ryland getting' it on with Diana. Thankfully! Oh well, this too shall pass.

If you missed last night's episode, check out the 2-minute replay at the show's official site.

UPDATE: Bell's Not Getting 'Lost'

Well, our prayers to the TV gods were not answered this time. TV Guide's Mike Ausiello is now reporting that PTR fave Kristen Bell WILL NOT be joining the cast of ABC's Lost when it returns next winter. And we can all blame it on Hawaii. Or is it Broadway? From his Ausiello Report:

Did Kristen Bell say no to Lost because she's planning a trip to Broadway? That's the buzz along the Great White Way. One of my Broadway moles tells me that Bell could be replacing Laura Bell Bundy in Legally Blonde this February. K.Bell, who was forced to turn down the lead in the new musical Xanadu due to her Veronica Mars duties, recently visited the show (click here to see pics) and a casting agent for the musical recently told TheaterMania.com that they are considering "adding a TV-based name to the cast in the not too distant future." And even the assertion from Bell's rep that her client "has no plans to do Legally Blonde at this time" would seem to leave open the possibility of a February start -- and it would certainly explain why she was reluctant to make another TV commitment (i.e. Lost). Just some food for thought. My original story follows...

The greatest casting coup of the century was apparently not meant to be: A spokesperson for Kristen Bell, responding to my report in Wednesday's AA, notified me late last night that my BFF won't be joining Lost next season. Although her rep didn't provide a reason, I did a little digging and my sources say Bell -- who was formally approached by Lost execs this week -- turned down the gig primarily because she didn't want to relocate to Hawaii.

Bummer. If she's heading to Broadway early next year, though, I'm so there! (Photo courtesy Kristen Bell:: Online)

'Champ' on PARADE

I just wrote this week about Resurrecting the Champ's publicity tour being in full swing, and next thing you know, star (and PTR fave) Kathryn Morris pops up in the August 12th issue of PARADE magazine (inserted into your favorite Sunday paper). The article is posted over at the magazine's site ahead of its weekend release. In it, she talks about the film's premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. "It really shook up the dads in the audience," she tells the magazine. "They were all crying." Meanwhile, her hit CBS show Cold Case is set to kick off its fifth season this fall, and it's women who are more touched by her work on the small screen. "I feel so fortunate," Kathryn said. "It’s incredible to have an audience so devoted and loyal. Cold Case is on all over the world. I get letters from girls and young women in Germany, Slovenia, Paris." Check out more with Kathryn in this week's issue of PARADE magazine in your local paper or click on over to the magazine's site. You can also check out their exclusive web photo gallery (including the photo above). Here are a couple highlights:



Resurrecting the Champ hits theaters August 24th. Special thanks to PTR Staff Writer LillyKat for the heads up.

The Countdown Returns!

My apologies for the unscheduled week off last Thursday. We were moving and the Internet was not up and running at the new place. I'm back, and so is the countdown. But before we get to this week's entries, here's a look at the rules for this year's winners. I ended up with 30 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. All of the shows and their episodes are from NETWORK television only, meaning that I did not take any cable series into consideration (since I only watch a few and felt that it would be unfair). All episodes aired between September 2006 and June 2007. Each episode that made the final list moved me in some way; either by making me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out or just left me with that "wow" feeling that stays with you for a few days. So basically, it's completely subjective! Since this is a summer-long countdown to the number 1 episode, I will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in on Thursdays to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a look at numbers 15-13.

15: "Collision" - Heroes
What happens when fabulous characters who were previously isolated begin to come together? A fabulous episode of NBC's biggest hit from this past season. We knew their stories would have to intersect at some point, but it was fun to watch it unfold. The episode's best scene was its last. While Peter and Mohinder ride the New York subway, everything suddenly stops. Peter is the only one not frozen in time. Enter a sword-wielding Hiro, and suddenly things become a little clearer. He comes bearing an important message for the special powers chameleon: "Save the Cheerleader. Save the World." And thus the season's most popular catchphrase began. What does it mean and how does it work? That's for future episodes to reveal, but the new path is intriguing enough to keep us all hooked for the ride. Written by Bryan Fuller and directed by Ernest Dickerson. (Photo courtesy nbc.com)

14: "Fallout" - Jericho
This episode makes the list for a single scene. The powerful ending moments were disturbing, upsetting and shocking. It's stamped into my memory, which is saying a lot since I tend to retain all sorts of useless TV greatness. You probably know by now that the tiny town of Jericho, Kansas gets cut off from the rest of the world after a series of nuclear attacks elsewhere. But at this point in the season, it wasn't clear how many attacks and which cities had been struck. Thanks to government agent Robert Hawkins and his highly skilled abilities, we find out how dire the situation has become. Robert picks up a radio transmission and secretly writes down the list of names he hears. The closing scene simply shows a map of the U.S., and Robert placing pushpins into the cities that were hit. With each pushpin, the audience begins to think about the loved one they would have lost, and as the scene fades to black, more pushpins keep coming. And so do our emotions. Written by Stephen Chbosky and directed by Jon Turteltaub.

13: "Gilmore Girls Only" - Gilmore Girls
ROADTRIP!!! And who doesn't love a roadtrip that includes Lorelei, Rory and Emily?? As you can imagine, this episode makes the list for its comic relief. Everything from Emily's driving to Lorelei's choice of hotel (and Emily's reaction to it) had me laughing in true Gilmore style. Of course, it wasn't all fun and games, especially once the gang reached North Carolina and Mia's wedding. Things got tense when Emily realized how close her daughter and granddaughter were to their surrogate mother/grandmother. And it went from bad to worse once Lorelei found out that Emily visited Mia 5 years prior. Add an unwelcome surprise visit from Logan, and you have the usual Gilmore mix of hilarity and emotional drama. Written by David Babcock and directed by Lee Shallat-Chemel. (Photo courtesy Gilmore Girls Screencaps)

So, there's a look at episodes 15-13 on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Be sure to come back next week when the countdown breaks the Top 10!!

'Damages' is Strong on All Counts

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Extraordinary. Thrilling. Captivating. Engaging. Addicting. Clever. Unpredictable. Amazing. First rate.

You could pull up any recent review of FX’s new original series, Damages, starring Emmy Award® winner Glenn Close, and find any one of the above descriptors.

I prefer just one: brilliant.

It’s Patty Hewes’ world.

And we’re just watching it.

The show centers on Hewes, known as the “nation’s most revered and reviled high stakes litigator.” She is currently in the middle of a class action lawsuit targeting one of the country’s most wealthy and allegedly corrupt CEO’s.

Can we say Kenneth Lay and Enron?

And yet, nothing about this show is been there, done that.

Patty Hewes was made for Glenn Close. And vice versa.

There is no other actress on the face of this planet who does more with one piercing stare than Close. It’s like you want to confess even if you have done nothing wrong. Beautifully subtle, unwaveringly powerful, wickedly smart and unbelievably manipulative: Patty Hewes gets what she wants, when she wants it, no matter what the cost. And yet, she’s also a wife and a mother – more confident in the former than the latter as she struggles to figure out her rebellious teenage son. She is cleverly balanced between the obsessive nature of her work, and the responsibilities of her home. Close is flawless in bringing this sophisticatedly layered character to life.

But aside from Close, the rest of the cast is equally impressive:

Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons – the young, just-out-of law school protégé hired for what she thinks is a once in a lifetime chance to work at Hewes and Associates only to find out her future sister-in-law might be a potential witness to the current case. So much for thinking she was hired on her merits alone.

Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher – the villainous CEO of which Hewes and Associates is going after on behalf of the former employees, all of whom lost everything just as he gained another quadzillion dollars selling his stock before the company tanked. Danson is genius – cold blooded while simultaneously trying to maintain some sense of dignity to his family as they are raked over the coals as a result of the case.

Tate Donovan as Tom Shayes – a fit-like-a-glove role as Patty’s right hand man. He was made to look like he was fired in the pilot, but one learns quickly nothing is what it appears on this show. He’s still on the Hewes payroll as Patty’s personal informant conducting surveillance on Ellen’s “key witness” future sister-in-law. So much for that law degree.

Zeljko Ivanek as Ray Fiske – Frobisher’s Southern gentleman attorney who is slow on the drawl, quick on the wit and smooth on the handling of all of Frobisher’s get-me-out-of-this-now demands. Cold Case viewers will remember him as the very compelling John Doe from the third season episode "One Night." He is equally as good here.

Anastasia Griffith as Katie Connor – Ellen’s fiancé’s sister who is a little bit naughty, a little bit nice, and in the middle of a mess. She seems to have made a deal with the devil, with Frobisher as the investor in her restaurant. Oh, and don’t forget the confidentiality agreement she was forced to sign as to her dealings with Frobisher on a catering job down in Florida. What a tangled web we weave.

Noah Bean as David Connor – Ellen’s fiancé and young resident doctor who is just trying to figure out how his sister has ended up in the crosshairs of such a high stakes case.

As if the cast weren’t solid enough, the show’s flashback storytelling keeps you guessing almost by the minute. It’s impossible not to be gripped by what appears to be Ellen – bloodied, beaten, sitting in a police precinct exam room, being asked why she killed her fiancé while viewing flashes of her ransacked apartment, then cutting to six months ago, when she was the new up and comer alongside Patty, delving deep into the Frobisher case, trying to find the links between sister-in-law and smarmy CEO.

It’s an addicting slow burn.

You want to know what the heck happened to Ellen, and yet you only get these tiny little snippets spread across each episode. It’s like the flashbacks are the present, and the present is the flashback.

Brilliant.

This week’s episode found Patty receiving a grenade as a care package. Nice. Her husband received one, too. At first, you think it’s Frobisher; there is a devilish scene between him and Fiske that seems to reaffirm this. Then, come to find out, Patty’s son has been spending a little too much time muckraking on the Internet. Who knew you could buy grenades online?

In light of the death threat (when isn’t a grenade sent through mail a death threat?), we learn Patty was slashed a while back. She won a case; a man lost his power – always a dangerous thing, says Patty. “Someone always pays.”

So, she ends up getting her own former Secret Service Agent for protection, and sending her son to a military-like tough love camp to kick some sense into him. (This kid was actually kidnapped to prove the point ... thrown into the van ... the works ...)

Oh, lest we should forget she also had Ellen miss her engagement party just so that Ellen could hand deliver the case brief to the judge and of which would allow her to test Ellen’s “priorities.”

Not the first time Patty has gotten the better of Ellen.

Won’t be the last.

If you haven’t yet tuned into this show, do.

It holds its own not only for its originality but also for its never-know-what’s-coming-around-the-corner approach. You have no idea who is really responsible for what, and who is trying to get the best of whom.

Did we say brilliant, yet?

New episodes air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. You can also have fun visiting the Hewes and Associates Official Web Site.

Bell to Get 'Lost?'

If this news comes to fruition, I might just forgive all of the unfair atrocities in the world of TV (NOT the Emmys, though). According to TVGuide's Mike Ausiello, Kristen Bell might be heading to ABC's Lost!!! Here's what he has so far:

Question: Have you spoken to Darlton about having Kristen Bell on Lost? If you pull this off, I swear (and you have this in writing, with AA witnesses) that I will send you one case of Diet Raspberry Snapple for every episode of Lost that Kristen appears on. Hope you're up for the challenge!— Erin

Ausiello: You better get busy clipping them there Snapple coupons, Erin. And while you're at it, slap on a pair of Depends, 'cause this is the kind of exclusive casting prattle that causes mass piddling: I can tell you for a fact that Kristen's name has been brought up with regard to the new role of Charlotte, the hot twentysomething who is said to be "precocious, loquacious and funny... a very successful academic who also knows how to handle herself in the real world." Yep, sounds like our Kristen! The only question now is whether my in-demand BFF is ready to jump back into another series. And, if so, will the financial toll wrought by all those Snapple purchases force Erin to declare bankruptcy? Please, God, let the answer be "Yes!" to all of the above!

Please, please, please let this be true!! Let's all collectively cross our fingers and say our prayers to the TV gods tonight. (Photo courtesy Kristen Bell:: Online)

‘The Closer’ Surprises

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

I was wrong.

Totally.

Poor Brenda Leigh Johnson has been officially diagnosed with early onset menopause. She is not, as some of us (okay, me) thought, pregnant.

Whew! Glad we got that out of the way.

And yet, word of warning: by no means should you assume that this diagnosis – and the subsequent blubbery that followed it (“This isn’t supposed to be happening. I’m 100 years too young.”) – was the central focus of this episode.

Nor was it Fritz’s beautifully worded, loving and tender proposal to Brenda whilst in the doctor’s office. (“I’ve arrived at that place where I can’t imagine my life without you.” Awww … have we mentioned lately how much we love Fritz? Well, we do. I ask again: why can’t Detective Lilly Rush find a Fritz?)

It wasn’t even the fabulous S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order) guest starring as Brenda’s no-nonsense doctor. On being fully into menopause herself, she has one of the best lines ever on that awkward state women find themselves in after a certain age: “I haven’t slept in three years, and I keep a fan in my purse.”

Rather, this episode was about a serial killer.

The PCH Killer to be exact.

Appropriately titled “Manhunt,” the team is called to investigate the murder of a young Deputy District Attorney’s wife who is found on the beach - beaten, tortured and marked by a serial killer who has remerged after almost a 10-year absence.

His MO: he kills three women in nine days (three days apart).

DDA’s wife was #2.

Clock’s running.

There was an obvious sense of urgency – of desperation almost – on Brenda’s part to try and stop the killing of the third victim.

We remember the memo: do not mess with, stall, irritate, obstruct or lie to Brenda Leigh Johnson when she’s investigating a murder – and especially when she’s trying to prevent one from happening. (“There is a woman’s life at stake here. Do not test me on this, sir.”)

It seems DDA and his wife were a bit … how should we say … open with their marriage. They belonged to an S&M sex club called The Verge. Wife was into things hubby wasn’t. Enter Lucas D. Jones. He was one of those fit, military types DDA wife liked whilst frequenting The Verge and of who was apparently into everything – torture, bondage, murder.

There have been some tense moments on The Closer, and when Brenda goes to the boat house to talk to Jones, you just got the sense something was going to go wrong - the isolation of the location and ominousness as she approached; her observing all of the inflatable dingy rafts and scuba tanks (which she had determined the killer was using to kill the women off shore, then bring the bodies up onto the beach); the cattle prod batteries (a preferred signature on the bodies of the victims).

Jones had no intention of going quietly.

And I don’t think we’ve yet seen Brenda in such a potential life-threatening situation. I could not help but think (as Jones came around the corner to stun her with the cattle prod), “Man, I hope that last minute call to Lieutenant Provenza requesting back-up went through.”

Suffice it to say not only is Brenda bad-ass tough, she’s a dang good shot, too (even with Jones seeming to do his best Michael Myers / Jason Voorhees impression as he continued to come at Brenda with multiple gun shot wounds to the chest).

Brenda: “Killing someone is not my idea of closing a case.”
Fritz: “You kept that guy from killing someone … Melinda Trent … Remember that name.”

All’s well that end’s well.

Or as Brenda says, “I’m so glad not to be dating ever again.”

So am I.

New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m. on TNT.

‘Grace’ Tones it Down, Starts to Come Around

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

So, I guess there is some truth to the old saying: “Third time’s a charm.”

After two weeks of wondering why I should continue to watch Saving Grace, last night’s episode finally had some substance for me. Now, I preface this by saying I’m not totally loving this show like I do The Closer or Damages (which will be coming to PTR this week). But, I could at least watch this episode without a) rolling my eyes; b) being completely repulsed.

This, by most counts, was a toned down ep – only one romp around the bedroom with married partner Ham, yet without the romp roadmap, and just a quick glimpse of … well, another HHWM: Holly Hunter Wardrobe Malfunction (thanks to RichE over at Look Again for coining that phrase).

No, this one actually had Grace taking care of her nephew for a good portion of the ep, serving as the well experienced aunt helping him to get up the courage to go to his first kissing party, all the while trying to solve the murder of a guy found in a sleazy motel.

Esther the maid is suspected at first. Turns out she’s innocent, but not before she claims sanctuary inside – GASP – a church.

There was some serious irony in having Grace going in/out of the church to talk to Esther – which Grace accomplished both legally and illegally

Breaking and entering anyone?

Apparently, violating one’s declared right to sanctuary inside a church is a bit of a political no-no.

But of course, Grace is above the political games. Or so she thinks.

Enter new the new Captain. Captain Kate Perry (played by Lorraine Toussaint … we remember Lieutenant Yukon was killed last week).

Seems she and Grace go way back – to Vice. Best buds, apparently. And it would seem Grace’s reputation continues to precede her (Perry: “Who are the [jerks] and who are you screwing?”)

I’ve always liked Lorraine Toussaint. She’s one of those great character actors that you might not know precisely by name, but you recognize her instantly. She brings a strong presence to the immediate scene. This is a welcome addition to the show.

Anyhoooo, the friendly-go-way-back-on-the-job chemistry she has with Grace is good. Real. Something interesting to watch. It also potentially offers us someone else who is going to hold Grace accountable. Or at least try. (She does seem to let Grace get away with … well, being Grace. We’ll see if this offers up any potential conflict of interest and/or tests their relationship. On the surface, it seems very strong.)

And then there were our EMs: Earl Moments.

He finally loses his temper with Grace.

Feeling bad, he goes to confession.

To Grace’s Catholic priest brother, Jerry.

It’s bad enough that Esther is holed up inside the church, but Jerry runs through this episode as another constant reminder to Grace of all the reasons why she does indeed have no belief in God or the Church.

Then again, he doesn’t believe in Angel Earl, either.

Kind of ironic.

All in all, I can say I did like this episode. The case was a little boring, but the fact it centered around the supposed suspect taking refuge inside a church was clever. The introduction of Captain Perry was also a big plus as former Lieutenant Yukon was … well, a bit of curmudgeon.

And to close it all out … there was just a hint – tiny and subtle – that maybe, just maybe, Grace is starting to believe in Earl.

As in, they might actually get along one of these days.

New episodes air Mondays at 10 p.m. on TNT.

No Way Out on 'The 4400'

This close. We were this close to getting rid of Megan last night, but it was all a dream. I knew her "death" was too good to be true, so I didn't get my hopes too far up. I want to like her, I really do, but I wind up rolling my eyes when she's involved in the story (for the record, I have nothing against the actress). On the plus side, I can now say with complete confidence that my dislike for her comes from her ability to take story lines away from more worthy characters. Apart from the Megan "Non-Death," I found this episode to be pretty awesome. I just love how this show manages to do something different every week. It keeps me guessing and interested. Four seasons in, and it's still packed with originality. This week, the writers managed to get all of the main characters together for the entire hour -- not a small feat considering the different paths they're on. One of Marco's crew had taken the promicin shot and developed a whammy of an ability. He dreams a virtual reality where people from different sides have to work together in order to overcome an obstacle. Once the obstacle is neutralized, the "game" ends and everyone wakes up back in the real world. Ideally, the teamwork in the virtual reality forms bonds that carry over to the real world, but this was going to be a tall order for a group that includes NTAC, Jordan Collier and Isabelle Tyler. In the end, they managed to put their differences aside for the greater good, but this doesn't mean that things will change in reality. Although, Jordan called Tom to let him know that Shawn was OK, and Tom actually referred to him as "Jordan" instead of Collier. Baby steps.

I know a lot of you are still smarting over Diana and Marco's break-up last season, so last night's little heart-to-heart between these two was a nice olive branch from the show. Personally, I think they make great friends, but not-so-great lovers. And Maia was right; things have been (understandably) awkward since Diana dumped him. Meatloaf is a nice launching point for a return to their friendship, though. LOVED Diana's "knock it off" look toward Maia when she kept pushing the conversation about the awkwardness between her mother and Marco. In fact, LOVED everything about the continued Diana/Maia dynamic this week. The second Maia began cozying up to Isabelle and Shawn, Diana was right there to make sure the girl who threatened her daughter wasn't working closely with her. Don't mess with Diana when she's in "mommy mode."

If you missed last night's episode, check out the 2-minute replay at the show's official site.

NASCAR 'Champ'

With Resurrecting the Champ (starring PTR fave Kathryn Morris) set to hit theaters later this month, the publicity is shifting into high gear. Enter Exhibit A: The NAPA Autoparts 200 Busch race this weekend in Montreal Canada. An ad for the movie was placed on driver Stanton Barrett's car and star Kathryn Morris got to be a part of the team, even attending the drivers' meeting. So why promote a boxing film on a stock car? Other than the obvious publicity, Morris just happens to be dating Barrett's brother David, the supervising producer on her hit CBS series Cold Case. More from Sporting News:

Actress Kathryn Morris from the CBS drama "Cold Case" was also on hand for the drivers' meeting. Morris' upcoming movie "Resurrecting The Champ" was advertised on the hood of Stanton Barrett's Chevrolet.

"I saw it on the hood of the car and I couldn't believe it," Morris said. "It was like when you're watching on TV and you see the big McDonald's symbol -- there it was."

Morris is dating Stanton Barrett's brother, David, the supervising producer on "Cold Case."

"Let me just say when you become part of a NASCAR family going to the grocery store or driving a country road is a completely different experience," Morris said

Resurrecting the Champ hits theaters August 24th. For more on the film, click on over to the official site. Meanwhile, Cold Case kicks off its 5th season on September 23rd on CBS.

Thanks to RichE at Look Again for the heads up.

Still Falling from ‘Grace’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

So after being somewhat less-than-impressed with the pilot episode of Saving Grace last week, I was hoping for some redemption this week.

Guess I’ll have to wait until the third episode.

I confess I’m not feeling Grace at all.

If last week’s opening scene wasn’t still being talked about (which it is), this week’s should be right up there with the “Um, ‘kay” factor: she’s out hunting with married partner Ham on their off day (convenient); she ends up getting a kill (of course); she then decides she needs to get her rocks off with Ham yet again (what else is new); so hey, let’s do it right here next to the dead animal carcass (yummy), and while we’re at it, why don’t I stick my finger in the dead animal’s blood and smear it on your face as we start to go at it.

Ugh.

Even my co-worker (whose dad is a hunter) found that one to be totally out in left field.

However, because I’m finding Grace so repulsive, I’m starting to get why Angel Earl has been sent to her.

Poor Angel Earl.

There was a case this week … something about a love triangle between the victim, his wife and his business partner. Guess victim (Bo) found out wife (Belle) was having an affair with the business partner (Dudley), yet didn’t feel like granting her a divorce. Business partner wasn’t too happy with that.

Enter a crime of passion.

But to be quite honest, I lost track of the case.

In between Grace wrestling with Angel Earl at the Old Coliseum in Athens (one of those close-your-eyes-Dorothy-and-click-your-heels-together-three-times trips that were made famous last week to prove the power of his existence); to her constant why-is-this-happening-to-me self talk that sounds emotionless and trite (“I don’t believe there’s a God who cares that I’m sleeping with a married man.”); to finding out that she’s also slept with Butch (another detective on her team), which, when partner Ham finds out, starts a pissing contest of grand proportions (literally, at the bar, in the men’s room, at the urinals); to her taking home yet another faceless stranger from said bar for a night of romping; or, to her practically have an orgasm every time Angel Earl shows off his golden glow complete with full wing display … well, it’s hard to remember there is police work going on or why anyone should care about this woman.

But that’s what God is for, right?

Thank goodness for Laura San Giacomo’s Rhetta (Grace’s friend and medical examiner). If it wasn’t for her no-nonsense, quick-wit, God-has-chosen-you-Grace-deal-with-it stance, there would be no reason for me to continue watching this show. I thought she was hysterical when she pushed Grace to bring her one of Earl’s feathers for examination, or that she’s started an “Earl File” (“Every time he takes you somewhere, I want you to bring me something.”). For me, she steals the scenes that she is in.

And, thank goodness for Angel Earl. Leon Rippy is dialed into this lovable, yet slightly unkept tobacco-chewing-could’ve-had-a-Harley-in-his-other-life Angel. You actually feel kind of bad for him that he has to deal with Grace given she is hell bent on being his biggest pain in the rear.

Case in point: this week, he asked her to talk to Ham about breaking it off.

But where does she end up?

In the shower with Ham at the end of the episode.

Now, granted, this episode did end on a surprisingly shocking note – Grace’s boss Lieutenant is shot in the squad room by his degenerate brother (Pup). Pup had been called in to give the name of an informant to help with the case, and he was promised a pair of shoes and $50 for his troubles. When the boss Lieutenant doesn’t give up the $50 for fear Pup would do something-less-than-honorable with it …

BAM!

Hence the Ham and Grace shower scene.

If this was supposed to be tender, I didn’t find it to be. Her alone would’ve worked better, left to clean herself off after being splattered with blood from the shooting, perhaps finally showing that maybe she does actually give a care about someone other than herself, or that perhaps it could be her dead on the squad room floor one of these days.

Unfortunately, by this time, I was looking forward to watching a rerun of Season 2’s Cold Case (which followed Grace).

We’ll see what next week holds.

New episodes air Monday’s at 10 p.m. on TNT.

Say it Ain't So on 'The Closer'

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Every once in a while, The Closer delivers one of those episodes where you find yourself caring less about the actual case being solved and more about Brenda’s well being.

Last night was one of those episodes.

You just wanted to give ol’ Brenda Leigh a hug.

Or an ice pack.

In the seventh episode of the third season, titled “Four to Eight,” the team is called to investigate the murder of two gang members. This is something the squad has dealt with before – the on-going war between two fairly well-known Los Angeles gangs (the One Fives and the Catorces). This time, though, it came down to an overly protective father (Carlos) trying desperately to keep his son (Miguel) out of gang life – even though that is what Miguel actually wanted for himself, especially once his cousin (Angel) turned up as one of the murder victims.

Turns out Dad decided to take matters into his own hands, killing cousin Angel to prevent his gang influence from getting to Miguel. As Dad saw it, Miguel was supposed to be one of those “good boys” who was going to get out of the endless cycle of gang violence that plagued the neighborhood in which he grew up – in which kids have to be looked after from “4 p.m. to 8 p.m.” Never mind that cousin Angel was actually trying to prevent Miguel from joining the Catorces, and that Miguel was going to join no matter what his father had tried to do to prevent that from happening.

Love is blind.

Blood is thicker than water.

But murder is still murder.

Family or otherwise.

And yet, with all that was going on as it pertained to this case, you couldn’t help but be worried about ol’ Brenda.

Talk about needing to take a sick day.

Seems those fevers, sweats, mood swings and just all-around awkward state of flux that we first witnessed last week intensified this week, which finally forced Brenda to get herself to the doctor.

Only to be told she’ll need to have additional tests run.

Uh-oh.

There were, of course, some well-placed humorous moments as it pertained to Brenda’s health: self-diagnosing herself via an Internet medical site – a lá WebMD – and deciding to attribute all her symptoms to stress whilst Fritz lies flu-ridden on the couch with Brenda’s failed attempt at making him soup gooped in a pot on the coffee table (perhaps she and Cold Case's Detective Lilly Rush have exchanged cooking techniques?); sweating to death in the interrogation room whilst investigating Miguel’s mother (“It’s like an oven in here!”); stripping down to her bra to change shirts in her office given she kept sweating through all of them on what seemed to be an hourly basis; Lieutenant Provenza questioning, “There’s something wrong with her,” and Lieutenant Flynn warning, “So who here is going to ask her about it?”

But all in all, there was an ominous sense about Brenda’s well-being. Even Lieutenant Tao had to ask, “Chief, are you OK? You just don’t seem like yourself lately.”

And she isn’t.

But more than that, she just does not want to say what is wrong.

Even though she already knows.

“I don’t want to talk about it right now. If there’s one thing my job has taught me is that everything changes when you say it out loud.”

Send ice packs and chocolate candy bars to:
Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
c/o Priority Homicide
Los Angeles Police Department

New episodes air Monday’s at 9 p.m. on TNT.

Collier's City of Promises

Did anyone else do a double take when we saw Tom having dinner at Diana's?? It was totally unexpected and I think it threw me off the rest of the episode. Like Tom, I'm sure her reasoning was pity, but she never did clarify that point. Whatever the reasoning, it was a cute scene that further developed the importance of their friendship outside their partnership. Later, Tom took a beating for Diana so she could sneak into Promise City to retrieve Maia. Wouldn't Jordan Collier just love to get his hands on Maia on a more permanent basis? He seemed to have her drinking the Kool-Aid by the end of her brief stay. She was even singing his praises to her mother later. I figured she was lying about the war, but this does beg the question whether she has lied in the past (most notably with Ben). I don't think she has, and this one occasion certainly seems justified, but it is an interesting development. Speaking of Maia, I can't seem to get over how grown up she has gotten since last season! She's morphing into a teenager before our eyes, and I can't believe it. Her relationship with Diana has morphed as well into more of a real mother/daughter one. I'm such a fan of their scenes together, so tonight's multiple moments were a real treat. LOVED the phone call when Maia told Diana that she needed to save Jordan (never mind the Enhanced Soldiers assigned to kill him), and Diana tells her that she'll do what she can. It was such a great scene because they easily could have been discussing something mundane like getting Maia out of an activity at school, but this is The 4400, so they were discussing soldiers with abilities taking out a man who seems to have become a Christ-like figure for those with promicin pumping through their veins. Good stuff.

I saw the Tom/Megan thing coming from about 20 miles ahead (apparently Diana did as well), so no surprises there. I don't know why, but I just can't accept Megan. She has the lack of authority problem, but it's something more than that -- something I can't put my finger on. She takes up time that other, more interesting characters could have -- maybe that's the problem, who knows. In any event, Tom and Megan - blah. I think I have a hard time seeing Tom with anyone other than Alana anyway (sorta like if they were trying to pair Diana up with someone other than Ben). I am enjoying the complicated relationship between Tom and Kyle. Kyle is Jordan's closest advisor. He's making sure that White Light's prophecy is carried out, and yet, his father is part of an organization designed to stop it. But, Kyle holds nothing against his father -- instead, he sets out to change his mind. When he tells his father how important he is to the movement, he adds, "And not just to me." Tough times for Tom; good television for the rest of us.

If you missed last night's episode, check out the 2-minute replay at the show's official site.

Reid Scott Talks About the Return of 'My Boys'

When TBS' My Boys finished the first part of its freshman season this past winter, things were up in the air for PJ (Jordana Spiro) and her best buddies. The Chicago sports writer was hitting home runs writing about the beloved Cubs, but striking out when it came to her love life. Perhaps the biggest potential mistake was the kiss she shared with her best friend Brendan (Reid Scott). Monday night, the show begins the second half of its successful freshman season and Pass the Remote had an opportunity to speak with star Reid Scott via email (thanks to the good folks at Sony Pictures Television, which co-produces the comedy) about the show's winning formula, what the second half holds, and the future of Brendan and PJ. PTR presents... 5 Questions with Reid Scott.

PTR: My Boys is one of those sitcoms where, as a viewer, you can sit down and laugh for the entire half-hour. Why do you think it works so well?

SCOTT: I think it works so well because the characters are so real. As an audience member I think you can identify so closely with these characters that it's almost like laughing along with your own buddies, and yourself.

PTR: A lot of viewers want to see Brendan and PJ together. How do you feel about them as a romantic couple?

SCOTT: Yeah, I've heard that a lot, that's cool. I think Brendan and PJ are those singular kind of friends that have such chemistry it just makes sense. As far as romance goes, you'll just have to watch and see.

PTR: Do you guys get to travel to Chicago to shoot on location, or is the show shot entirely in Hollywood?

SCOTT: We shoot mainly in LA although we've actually been lucky enough to shoot some in Chicago both seasons. We were there in the middle of June this time around and had a blast. That is one fun town.

PTR: You've done some guest spots/recurring roles on network television, but My Boys is on cable. Lately, it seems that a lot of the edgier, more character-focused series are popping up on the latter. As an actor, do you see a difference between the work on network and cable? Is there more artistic freedom with either?

SCOTT: I think that the edgier stuff is ending up on cable mostly because cable is in the position to take the chances. TBS for example is trying to build an audience. When you're trying to do that you don't want to serve up the same old stuff that the networks are dishing out, you need to mix it up a little. And in turn, it seems the networks are following cable's lead and turning up their own edge dial a bit. And yeah, there is a bit more artistic freedom on cable right now. You don't have so many cooks in the kitchen, so to speak. When there are a lot fewer execs looking over your shoulder you really get to play more. That's what we as a cast all love about My Boys. We've got a great staff of writers, we get top notch directors and guest stars, our producers are all genius...we take our work seriously but when we all get together it's play time.

PTR: And finally, what sort of changes are in store for your character this season (that you can share)? What can we expect overall for the series this season?

SCOTT: This season all the characters are really opened up. We get to see sides of everyone that we didn't see last time. As for Brendan, without giving too much away, let's just say he really gets to explore his darker side. Some funny stuff...

My Boys kicks off the second half of its first season this Monday night on TBS (10 p.m.) with back-to-back episodes. Look for special guest star Nicole Sullivan (King of Queens, Scrubs) in a role that TV Guide raves in the July 30th issue, "Cheers to Nicole Sullivan for shooting a hysterical guest arc on My Boys while she was pregnant." You can catch up on the episodes you missed at tbs.com or catch the marathon this Sunday beginning at 10 am on TBS.

Best Episodes Continues with 'Cops,' Voodoo & Greek Week

After a week off to cover the nominations for The Awards That Shall Not Be Mentioned, we're back and continuing with the summer-long countdown of The Best Episodes of the Season. But before we get to this week's entries, here's a look at the rules for this year's winners. I ended up with 30 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. All of the shows and their episodes are from NETWORK television only, meaning that I did not take any cable series into consideration (since I only watch a few and felt that it would be unfair). All episodes aired between September 2006 and June 2007. Each episode that made the final list moved me in some way; either by making me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out or just left me with that "wow" feeling that stays with you for a few days. So basically, it's completely subjective! Since this is a summer-long countdown to the number 1 episode, I will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in on Thursdays to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a look at numbers 18-16.

18: "Our Cops is On" - My Name is Earl
Earl used to be a low-life criminal, so it's no surprise that he and his buddies all wound up on an episode of Cops. After all, it was destined to happen, but who knew that it was going to be this funny? From the bumbling cops to Earl stealing the cop car to Kenny pretending to be straight on TV and everything in between, this episode was packed with classic moments. Of course, it also served to further prove how far Earl has come since his days as a hardened criminal and all-around lousy guy. But it wasn't just Earl who had changed. It seemed that everyone around him had become a slightly better person. Perhaps, one good deed does lead to another. Written by Timothy Stack and directed by Ken Wittingham. (Photo courtesy nbc.com)

17: "Git 'Er Done" - Friday Night Lights
With a show of this caliber, pretty much every episode could make this list, but how fair would that be to all of the other wonderful programs on TV? So, brilliant episodes like this one shone bright enough to stand out among all the other amazing hours this season. It's decision time for Coach Taylor as he deliberates between the dedicated Matt Seracen and the talented Ray "Voodoo" Tatum for the starting quarterback position. The only problem, he can't make up his mind. In a classic scene, he pops in to talk to his guidance counselor wife and asks her for some, well, guidance. When she gives him her opinion, he wants to know if it's his wife talking or her guidance counselor alter ego. During the big game, Voodoo gets the start, but his blatant disregard for Coach Taylor's plays gets him kicked out of the game and off the team. In the closing moments while the team is celebrating its big win, Coach Taylor gets some bad news regarding Voodoo's initial eligibility, casting a cloud of doubt over the victory. Written by John Zinman and Patrick Massett and directed by Mark Piznarski. (Photo courtesy nbc.com)

16: "My Big Fat Greek Rush Week" - Veronica Mars
If you watch a lot of television and movies, then you know all sorority girls are dumb, sleep around, like to say "like," and throw massive parties that encourage underage drinking, right? Of course, they also have tons of money, drive nice cars and LOVE to shop. Well, that's the stereotype anyway. Apparently, Veronica Mars watches a lot of television and movies. She was thrilled to get her first big assignment from the school paper because it meant exposing these girls and their social groups, but in the end, she wound up quitting the paper due to her own code of ethics and how they conflicted with the editor's. Turns out, the sorority girls were hiding something, but it had nothing to do with the aforementioned stereotypes. They were growing marijuana to help their house mother cope with the side effects of her cancer treatments. With Veronica's story published, the marijuana was confiscated, the house mother lost her job, and Veronica was left with a huge feeling of remorse. Throw in a hilarious scene where Veronica runs into Dick and an awesome social experiment with students posing as inmates and guards and you have another perfect hour on Mars. Written by Diane Ruggiero and directed by John T. Kretchmer. (Photo courtesy vm-caps.com)

So, there's a look at episodes 18-16 on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Be sure to come back next week to find out which episodes are next on the countdown!!

Welcome to ‘Grace’ Land

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

So, Holly Hunter was right: you don’t often open a television series whereby the first scene has the lead female police detective in bed with her married partner, having more-than-an-intense interlude, only to have him decide he “can’t do this anymore” right before she could … well, finish?

Welcome to Saving Grace.

After much hullabaloo (and what seemed like an every-other-commercial promotional campaign by TNT for the past four months), Saving Grace, starring Academy Award® winner Holly Hunter, premiered last night.

And, I confess I am still not sure what I think about it.

I say this as someone who was really keen on this series when I first heard about it. I thought, “Holly Hunter, female cop show, on TNT (home to The Closer and, of course, re-runs of Cold Case), it should be good.”

It is arguably the edgiest and most racy piece of original series television programming TNT has done (it’s earned a TVMA rating, and thus, gets the whole “may not be not appropriate for some viewers” warning not to mention the 10 p.m. time slot on Mondays).

As billed by TNT, the show itself revolves around Grace Hanadarko, “a tormented, fast-living Oklahoma City police detective who, despite being at the top of her field, takes self-destruction to new heights in need of turning her life around.”

Read: she makes Lilly Rush look like she’s got her stuff together.

Read: she makes Brenda Leigh Johnson look like Secretary of State.

Except, I left last night’s episode thinking, “And …?”

Like something was missing.

Like a reason to really care about Grace’s struggle, seeing as what was mostly on display was Grace drinking, smoking, being insubordinate, banging her partner all the while not quite believing that Last Chance Angel Earl (played by Leon Rippy) had been sent down from the Heavens to give her – you guessed it – one last chance to get her life on the right track (apparently, that is Angel Earl’s specialty, along with chewing tobacco), and to truly test her faith (which, of course, she does not have).

I found myself caring more about her partner, Ham Dewey (played by Kenneth Johnson, who Cold Case viewers will remember as Joseph, and The Shield viewers will remember as Lem), than Grace, especially given his wife was not shy about beating him up and throwing him out for having the affair with Grace (an interesting twist on the wife being the abuser). I was even more interested in Laura San Giacomo’s small but entertaining scenes as Grace’s good friend and medical examiner, Rhetta, who Grace confides in to try and determine if God staged a drunk driving accident to a) get her attention, and b) then sent Angel Earl down to whisk her off to the Grand Canyon to prove the point.

Clay dust in the boots not withstanding.

I almost forgot this is a cop show, and as such, there was an actual case to be solved: a missing 10-year-old girl.

Now, I get that pilot episodes are suppose to establish the premise of a show.

And this is about Grace.

Hunter has said it numerous times herself in all of the promotional interviews (the show is “totally dangerous,” it’s not like anything on television, “it’s her life,” etc., etc.)

Sure, okay.

But, her life doesn’t seem all that interesting right now.

Just out of control – which isn’t necessarily all that compelling of a reason to care about her.

Lilly is all about the victims not being forgotten. Honorable.

Brenda is all about solving the murder and getting justice. Commendable.

Grace is … drunk all the time and too hot to handle?

“So, I'm supposed to do what? Change my life? Go to church? Be nice to people?”

Yup.

Pretty much.

New episodes air Monday’s at 10 p.m. on TNT.

Stupid is as Stupid Does on ‘The Closer’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Cold medicine - check.

Gun – check.

Badge – check.

Haz Mat suit – huh?

It was bring your Haz Mat (Hazardous Materials) suit to work this week over on The Closer as LAPD Priority Homicide tried to solve the murder of a personal trainer whilst simultaneously completing their WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) training to secure a federal subsidy to ease those ever-present budget woes.

Oh, and did we mention Brenda wasn’t feeling all that well, either?

The sixth episode of season three, aptly titled “Dumb Luck”, hit the ground running and did not let up.

Literally.

In the opening title sequence, we find Brenda lying down in the parking lot of where said personal trainer was killed, a few parking stalls over, trying to calm herself from what appears to be a nasty bout with the flu.

Sudafed anyone?

The case, as it turns out, was Botox Barbie: The Sequel.

We remember, a few episodes back, BB was an unfortunate victim. Last night, she ended up being the perpetrator.

And wow, who knew someone could actually sound so ditzy-stupid.

Convincingly.

It was a case of hire a buffed-out-to-the-max trainer to kill the well off husband so BB can continue to screw around and have dead hubby’s millions. After all, “I think guys just wanna have sex with me.”

Gee, ya’ think?

Problem was, Buffed Out Bob got the date wrong.

Not to mention the victim.

Doh!

There were some absolutely priceless moments of dialogue in this episode: from Lieutenant Flynn observing Brenda lying down in the parking lot (“I’d recognize those legs anywhere.”); to Botox Barbie not quite comprehending the word “murder” (“Murdered? Hmmm, you mean, like, someone actually killed him?”); to Brenda’s outrage at WMD training having to involve her entire squad (“There are 5 people wandering around my murder room in noisy plastic suits …”); to the valet who witnessed the murder (“I can’t say anything more until I floss.”).

Just. Plain. Brilliant.

I can’t determine what was more hysterical: the squad captive in the murder room for 8 hours and conducting the entire investigation wandering around looking like Martians from 2001: A Space Odyssey (complete with only two-way radio communication to Brenda who, of course, was not in a suit) …

OR

… Brenda in a constant state of flux (fevers, chills, hot flashes, headaches, nausea, crying at the drop of a hat) due to what was supposed to be a cold/flu.

And by “supposed to,” I mean … well, let’s just say that by the end of the ep, those symptoms were looking a whole lot more hormone-inspired than flu-like.

Can we say knocked up?

Stay tuned.

New episodes air Monday’s at 9 p.m. on TNT.

'The 4400' Get Marked

The 4400 is on fire this season! Some weeks it's "Freak-of-the-Week" (promicin positives or 4400: original flavor alike), others it's Tom almost getting a heaping helping of promicin, and yet others, it's conspiracies surrounding a group from the future known as "The Marked." I'll admit it -- I never knew whether to believe Peck's theory or not. This show kept me guessing this week, and for that, I have a huge smile on my face. I like when shows catch me off guard and leave me wondering where it's all leading. I never thought it was leading to Tom as an agent of this rogue future group. "When we need him, he'll be there for us," said the fictional head of the fictional dominating software company in the world (LOVED the Microsoft allusions). Once again, poor Tom. The man cannot catch a break. I wasn't surprised to learn that Matthew was a member of "The Marked." I had theorized for a while that Isabelle was the creation of the future, but not the same future as the one who sent the 4400 back to stop the catastrophe. And Matthew was always there guiding her down a seemingly evil path and ensuring that his group's work was carried out and the 4400 were destroyed. This week's episode tied it all together with a very interesting turn of events.

There were a lot of excellent things going on in this one. First, the hilarious low-low-low-low budget films from Peck coupled with NTAC's reaction to them. I think Diana had me cracking up the most because she just couldn't get past how much they sucked. Second, Diana's "Play it Cool" act in the software CEO's office. The way she laughed when he mentioned that he always hoped Jeff Goldblum would play him in a feature film had me laughing as well. And then there was her description of the film and the revealing ear check. Nice comic relief this week. Third, the Jordan and Shawn reunion draped in cloak and dagger. I know Jordan assured Shawn and Kyle that he had nothing to do with the councilman's stroke, but I'm still suspicious. Fourth, Shawn's unexpected healing session with the councilman. I was wondering what would happen since Maia predicted that he would round up the 4400 concentration camp-style. The end cleared this up. Finally, the suspenseful parking garage showdown between Diana and an assumed assailant who turned out to be none other than the missing Peck. For someone so petite, she's pretty menacing when she's coming at you with a gun! As if this week's outing wasn't awesome enough, they had to throw in the history-laced comment from Marco that Diana's visit to his place was the first in a long time. Oh, you gotta love The 4400.

If you missed last night's episode, check out the 2-minute replay at the show's official site.

Emmy Noms: 'Friday Night' Slights

I promised myself and the TV gods that I would swear off the Emmys forever if TV's best show, Friday Night Lights, didn't receive nominations for Best Drama and Best Actor and Actress. Well it's Thursday, nominations are out, and guess what?? The Academy didn't nominate the show in any of the aforementioned categories, so I am officially done with these awards. As TV Guide's Matt Roush pointed out months ago, this year's nominations would serve as the litmus test for their future importance. Lights won a Peabody - considered the Pulitzer of broadcast - and yet, didn't receive nominations in any of the biggest categories. How can that be??? How can Kyle Chandler (who's turning out the best work in television) not get an acting nom? Or Connie Britton?? It blows my mind. Anyway, now that the awards have been exposed for the sham that they are, I can move on and not dwell on all of the deserving actors, actresses and shows that never get a nod. Here's a rundown of this year's nominations:

Outstanding Comedy Series
30 Rock · NBC
Entourage · HBO
The Office · NBC
Two And A Half Men · CBS
Ugly Betty · ABC

Outstanding Drama Series
Boston Legal · ABC
Grey's Anatomy · ABC
Heroes · NBC
House · Fox
The Sopranos · HBO

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
Ricky Gervais - Extras
Tony Shalhoub - Monk
Steve Carell - The Office
Charlie Shean - Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Kiefer Sutherland - 24
James Spader - Boston Legal
Hugh Lurie - House
Denis Leary - Rescue Me
James Gandolfini - The Sopranos

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Tina Fey - 30 Rock
Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis- Dreyfus - The New Adventures Of Old Christine
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Patricia Arquette - Medium
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer
Minnie Driver - The Riches
Edie Falco - The Sopranos

Click on over to The Futon Critic for more nominations. The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards air September 16th on Fox.

PTR's 2007 Ultimate Emmy Ballot

Wouldn't it be awesome if we, the fans, ruled the world of television awards (not just The People's Choice Awards)? Our favorites wouldn't be forsaken time after time and the less worthy wouldn't continue to dominate the nominations just because they're Emmy voters' faves. Alas, we are not. So, this should be another unfair Emmy season as we've come to expect. Tomorrow, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will announce its 2007 Emmy nominations at 8:40 a.m. (EST) with the help of Jon Cryer and Kyra Sedgwick. But before we get to the real nominations, let's have some fun with our own Emmy ballot. Here's a look at who/what would get nominations if I ruled The Academy.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actor in a Comedy
Zach Braff Scrubs
Jason Lee My Name is Earl
Steve Carell The Office
James Roday Psych
Donald Faison Scrubs

Newcomer James Roday makes my list this year after a hilarious first season of USA Network's latest hit. He and Dule Hill are the reason this show works as well as it does. In fact, Psych wouldn't be as funny as it is without Roday's "psychic moments" and excellent delivery. Braff is one of my faves, Carell is always funny, Lee brings a nice blend of comedy and heart to his role, and Faison completes Braff as TV's best buddy duo. Once again, Scrubs' John C. McGinley is way overdue for a nod in the best supporting category, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for him as well.


PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actress in a Comedy
Jaime Pressly My Name is Earl
Lauren Graham Gilmore Girls
Sarah Chalke Scrubs
Jordana Spiro My Boys
America Ferrera Ugly Betty

Pressly will probably enter in the supporting category, but I wouldn't mind seeing her in this one. She's the funniest part of Earl, and no one does white trash as well as she. Meanwhile, Graham is long overdue and this is her last chance for Girls. How much you wanna bet The Academy still doesn't nominate her?? Chalke is delightful as the OCD, neurotic Eliot and Spiro is the adorable new kid on the block whose blend of delivery and emotion give her TBS comedy its extra charm. Ferrera is perfect as Betty.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actor in a Drama
Kyle Chandler Friday Night Lights
Jason Dohring Veronica Mars
Christopher Meloni Law & Order: SVU
Corey Reynolds The Closer
Matthew Fox Lost

No one was as good as Chandler this season. He was truly amazing week after week as the caring, conflicted, fired up, subdued, kind, perfect and flawed coach of the Dillon Panthers and husband and father at home. He deserved a standing ovation at the end of each outing, so I can only hope that The Academy will give him the recognition he deserves. Dohring continued with his intense, emotional portrayal of Logan, Meloni heated things up in the interrogation room and at home, Reynolds is the heart of The Closer and Fox once again brought his A-game to Lost (even when the writers didn't).

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actress in a Drama
Kristen Bell Veronica Mars
Kathryn Morris Cold Case
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer
Connie Britton Friday Night Lights
Jacqueline McKenzie The 4400

I included McKenzie this year because she blew me away last season in "Gone" (parts 1 and 2) and "Blink." The former dealt with the disappearance of Diana's adopted daughter. McKenzie was absolutely flawless as the distressed mother who would rather die than go on without her daughter. In the latter, Diana and Tom accidentally end up under the influence of a new drug called blink (manufactured from a 4400's ability). The effects of the drug cause its taker to hallucinate and see someone with whom they had unfinished business. For Diana, that meant an old fiance who cheated on her days before their pending nuptials. She was once again flawless in this one as Diana came to terms with the scars of her past and how they affect her future. Sedgwick and Bell are always amazing, Britton blew me away as the wonderful Tami Taylor, and Morris took her nuanced performance of the beautifully flawed Lilly Rush to new heights this season. Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet) should get a best supporting nod.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Comedy
Scrubs
My Name is Earl
The Office
My Boys
Ugly Betty

When is Scrubs finally going to break through and get a nom? It's just getting to be ridiculous at this point. In addition to being hilarious, this show has heart and excellent storytelling and it brings something different to the television sitcom table. Meanwhile, Earl's second season wasn't as funny as its first, but it was still a strong year for the comedy. The Office continued with its off-brand of humor, while new kids Betty and My Boys burst onto the scene with plenty of laughs and originality to restore our faith in the television sitcom.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Drama
Friday Night Lights
Veronica Mars
The Closer
Cold Case
Lost

I debated over whether to include Lost this year, but in the end, it wound up on my list. After all, the first half of the season was terrible, but the second half was classic Lost. And when this show returns to its classic self, it embodies everything that makes television so good. Case enjoyed its best season ever and should be rewarded for its heart wrenching drama and beautiful storytelling, Veronica may have lost some of its charm, but the show was still amazing, The Closer is powerful, and then there's TV's best drama - Friday Night Lights. If this show and its amazing leads don't get noms, then I'm so over the Emmys. TV doesn't get any better than Lights.

So, there are my picks for some of the Emmy categories. Do you agree? Disagree? Who/what would you include on your lists? Drop me a comment with your ultimate ballot. And don't forget that the real Emmy nominations will be out tomorrow! I'll have my reaction on each category tomorrow afternoon here at PTR.