Sunday, August 23, 2009

Best Actress - TV Comedy - 2009

Today I am going to reflect on the recent Emmy snubs that occurred. So many talented and comedic performances were obvious this year. And with the year we have been having, from the Economic crisis to the annoying "random" appearances from the 2 most idiotic human beings alive (and for once I do not mean George W and Elvis' ghost), Heidi and Spencer Pratt, commonly referred to as Speidi, we have needed comedy in our lives more than ever.

So, on this brisk Sunday morning, as I review the nominees for 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series' I am taken aback, because for the fifth straight year the same GREAT comedic performance, from one of the TOP comedies on television has been snubbed.

yes people, SNUBBED!!!

This is the very reason I have created this award. It is actresses such as this recipient that seem to be of no real concern to the Acadamy. Sometimes I feel that if you win one year, you should be ineligible the following year, giving a chance for someone else to be recognized. Do you think Mary Louise Parker likes getting nominated for an Emmy every year and then losing? Remember in the 90's when it seemed it was always Candace Bergen winning for 'Murphy Brown", and then the reoccurring winner flame was handed to Helen Hunt for "Mad About You" (which I do agree with Helen Hunt winning, I loved her as Jamie Buchman)? Just think how different the award season would have been if Mrs. Bergen or Ms. Hunt were not eligible to be nominated because they had won the previous year?

I look at this Snubbie recipient as possibly the finest comedic actress on prime time television. She not only delivers the well-scripted lines with humor and passion, but she also seems to get the best lines because the writers know she is a true comic force. And especially with her storyline this past season, she should have been awarded an Emmy Nomination.

The recipient of the 2009 Best Actress Snubbie - TV Comedy is:

Eva Longoria-Parker - Desperate Housewives, Gabrielle Solis

(Pausing for clapping, hooting and hollering)

Yes, she does deserve it more than Marcia Cross (the second funniest housewife on DH. Mrs. Cross does well with her material, but the writers are making her a bit too much into a caricature of a Stepford Wife) and Allyson Hannigan (loved her at Band Camp, is a great witch, but she is not the comedic force behind How I Met Your Mother). Why does Eva Longoria-Parker deserve the Snubbie this year. Well, I will tell you. Because I said So!

Let us look back 5 years ago and remember when Desperate Housewives began and all Gabrielle Solis was doing was sleeping with the gardner and shopping. Look forward those 5 years (10 in Housewives lore) and she is a mother who had not lost the pregnancy weight, poor and a bad haircut. This season when Gabrielle wanted to fit into the dress and she began the boot camp workout, it was hysterical to see her go through the struggles so many people go through.

Also, the beginning of the season was some of her best work, especially when she was covertly trying to get her daughter to exercise by having her chase the car. Most people would view that as a horrific parent, but we all know Gabrielle and know why she does it that way. Cause her crazy mother would too (FYI - perfect casting of Maria Conchito Alonso as Gabrielle's mother!).

Therefore - I must bestow this season's Snubbie to Eva. She is beauty, comedy and talent in a small package. Whever you are Eva, just know I think you should have been nominated (and won too!!)!


Thank you for reading my blog about 2009 Best Actress TV Comedy Snubbie award. Next week, Best Supporting Actress Snub.


Sunday, August 16, 2009

The First Award goes to...

What is a Snub? A snub is when someone has gone above and beyond to make the viewer smile, laugh, cry or all of the above, and they are not recognized when the nominations are handed out. One might say, "But Joe, how about the one's that lose the award, only one person (or in the case of a very random tie, i.e.. 1968 Best Actress - Katherine Hepburn: A Lion In Winter & Barbra Streisand: Funny Girl) can win?" Well, my questioning reader, they are...the loser. As most losers are quoted as saying, "It was an honor to be nominated." Bullshit. You wanted to win. Admit it. At least Kathy Griffin does not hide behind the lie of nomination honors, she says it like it is; she wants to win. And she deserves to win every time. So, as you can tell, Kathy Griffin is not getting this award. Yet :)

What is a Snubbie? A Snubbie is my way of saying, 'You were great. You were awesome. Why the fuck were you not nominated?". So, each awards season I am going to be handing out my own awards, to those that were snubbed. To those actors, directors, writers and more that were ignored, or maybe just almost on the list. Hopefully, in some small way, if perchance they find their way to this little ode to them, they will see that someone did laugh at the joke, cry during the scene, or clap at the end of the movie.

My expectation is to award 'The Snubbie' to those who are not recognized during the season of awards. I will go through each award season and after nominations are announced, I will make my own award designations. In between awards nomination announcements, I will be honoring those from the past that have been snubbed.

However, my first award is going to be the Lifetime Achievement Snub: Best Actress. This woman was never, ever, nominated for an Academy Award. This is a HUGE omission in the Academy's legacy of acknowledging the work of a truly gifted actress. She was snubbed. Repeatedly. I mean, seriously, did they even watch her movies? I think so. They made a ton of money for the studios. She was, and is still to this day, one the most recognized women in the world. Yes, I am speaking about...Zsa Zsa Gabor. Just kidding, it is Marilyn Monroe.

Gentleman Prefer Blondes - snubbed
Bus Stop - snubbed
The Prince & The Showgirl - snubbed
Some Like It Hot - snubbed
The Seven Year Itch - snubbed
The Misfits - snubbed
How To Marry a Millionaire - snubbed

Not once did the Academy think she was worth of a nomination. Why is that? Was she too good for being someone that beautiful? No one will ever know why she was not one of the lucky five to be recognized for her excellent achievement on film, but she will always be a woman that I recognize as having had some of the best films in history. There are many reasons why 'Some Like It Hot' is considered to be one of the best comedies of all time, and one of the very integral reasons is Marilyn Monroe as Sugar.

Marilyn made Sugar almost child-like in her drive to find a rich husband. Her innocence was mirrored with sexuality. She did not need to be naked to show she was sexy, and she did not to have a pie thrown in her face to show she was funny.

She was a truly gifted comedian, especially in films such as 'How To Marry a Millionaire' and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'. She was given excellent scripts and delivered every time. I laugh every time I hear her say , "I'm not marrying him for his money, I'm marrying him for your money.". A Gem!

Therefore, I bestow the first Lifetime Achievement Snubbie Award: Best Actress to Marilyn Monroe. Wherever you are, just know I think you should have won :)

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Thank you for reading my first blog. If you know of anyone that was snubbed and want to see if I agree and will award them a Snubbie of their own, please let me know. I will award the 2009 Snubbies for the best snubs in television next.