Golden Globes: Cable continues to dominate

The good thing about DVR's? You can whip past all the commercials and awards fluff to see exactly what you need from a given telecast.

The bad thing? Day-after commentaries tend to lose quite a bit of luster when you've skipped past three-fourths of the ceremony.

And with that, here are your TV winners from last night's Golden Globes.

In the short amount of time we saw host Ricky Gervais, he appeared comfortable and quite funny. Also, thumbs up to "Mad Men" for another sterling win in the Best Drama category. And since we're currently playing catch-up with Showtime's "Dexter" on DVD, we were happy to see Michael C. Hall (right) rewarded -- especially since he's being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Coupled with John Lithgow's victory, we have high hopes for Season 4 when it's eventually released on DVD.

Series, drama: “Mad Men,” AMC.

Actor, drama: Michael C. Hall, “Dexter.”

Actress, drama: Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife.”

Series, musical or comedy: “Glee,” Fox.

Actor, musical or comedy: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock.”

Actress, musical or comedy: Toni Collette, “United States of Tara.”

Miniseries or movie: “Grey Gardens,” HBO.

Actor, miniseries or movie: Kevin Bacon, “Taking Chance.”

Actress, miniseries or movie: Drew Barrymore, “Grey Gardens.”

Supporting actor, series, miniseries or movie: John Lithgow, “Dexter.”

Supporting actress, series, miniseries or movie: Chloe Sevigny, “Big Love.”

-- Channel Surfing staff

'Modern Family,' 'Glee' shake up Golden Globes a bit

Television often takes a back seat to movie nominations during Golden Globes time. And this year's crop of shows aren't so diverse that they're going to create any bold headlines.

As per the custom, cable dramas continue to dominate, though much is being made of comedy's resurgence -- something we've noted on Channel Surfing thanks to ABC's "Modern Family," which nabbed a Best Series nomination. Fellow newbie, "Glee," (which we haven't been so hot on, though Jane Lynch should own her category) also made a nice dent with a similar nod.

Other than that, nothing terribly exciting. Or at least nothing that can compare with the awesomeness of our Best TV Show of the Decade contest (hint, vote, hint.)

Series, Drama: “Big Love,” HBO; “Dexter,” Showtime; “House,” Fox; “Mad Men,” AMC; “True Blood, HBO

Actor, Drama: Simon Baker, “The Mentalist”; Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”; Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”; Hugh Laurie, “House”; Bill Paxton, “Big Love”

Actress, Drama: Glenn Close, “Damages”; January Jones, “Mad Men”; Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”; Anna Paquin, “True Blood”; Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”

Series, Musical or Comedy: “30 Rock,” NBC; “Entourage,” HBO; “Glee,” Fox; “Modern Family,” ABC; “The Office,” NBC

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”; Steve Carell, “The Office”; David Duchovny, “Californication”; Thomas Jane, “Hung”; Matthew Morrison, “Glee”

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Toni Collette, “United States of Tara”; Courteney Cox, “Cougar Town”; Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”; Tina Fey, “30 Rock”; Lea Michele, “Glee”

Miniseries or Movie: “Georgia O’Keeffe,” Lifetime Television; “Grey Gardens,” HBO; “Into the Storm,” HBO; “Little Dorrit,” PBS; “Taking Chance,” HBO

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Joan Allen, “Georgia O’Keeffe”; Drew Barrymore, “Grey Gardens”; Jessica Lange, “Grey Gardens”; Anna Paquin, “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler”; Sigourney Weaver, “Prayers for Bobby”

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Bacon, “Taking Chance”; Kenneth Branagh, “Wallander: One Step Behind”; Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Endgame”; Brendan Gleeson, “Into the Storm”; Jeremy Irons, “Georgia O’Keeffe”

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jane Adams, “Hung”; Rose Byrne, “Damages”; Jane Lynch, “Glee”; Janet McTeer, “Into the Storm”; Chloe Sevigny, “Big Love"

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Michael Emerson, “Lost”; Neil Patrick Harris, “How I Met Your Mother”; William Hurt, “Damages”; John Lithgow, “Dexter”; Jeremy Piven, “Entourage”

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Golden Globes had some BIG moments, beginning with Drew's hair

The obvious priority of last night's viewing was the long-awaited premiere of "24.'' After all, you miss Jack and he'll kick your a--. (More on that after tonight's second "two-hour event,'' but let's just say Jack is sooo back and Tony's soooo ... dirty!) But for us awards-show junkies, it was impossible to stay away from the unchaperoned celeb party that is the Golden Globes. After devouring a full-hour of pre-show red carpet cheesiness courtesy of Ryan Seacrest on E!, I couldn't help but circle back and run through the three hours of actual awards on TiVo.

Random thoughts from what went down:

What was up with Drew Barrymore's hair? Big! Huge! Plus, it looked like she slept on it the night before.

And what was up with Renee Zellweger's hair? Made her look like she was 50.

Totally fun to see Brangelina blow off Ryan Seacrest, wasn't it? He spotted them on the carpet and flew off his assigned platform in pursuit. "Brad?'' "Angelina?'' No response -- not even a flinch -- as they posed for photogs right in front of him, just as a bouncer in a tuxedo scolded Ryan for stepping into a restricted area. Good stuff.

Was it wrong to root for Mickey Rourke to win for "The Wrestler'' just so he could have a crack at the microphone? He didn't disappoint. Multiple utterances of the word "balls,'' the finger from his director and a shoutout to his dogs, which was oddly touching.

Ricky Gervais is funny. He should get his own awards show to host. Maybe take one away from Jimmy Kimmel.

Would someone please give Miley Cyrus a little PR training. Not only did we get her on the carpet with Seacrest, but Mom and Dad, too. First, she joked that the secret to being such a tight family was that she gets beat and then whined that all she got for her 16th birthday was her mom's "used Porsche.''

Was it just me or did presenter Drew Barrymore announce "The Tudors'' as "The Tudor''? Maybe it was the hairspray fumes.

Kate Winslet seldom disappoints -- on screen, at the microphone, on the carpet, at the table with Leo, whom she made tear up with her acceptance speech for "Revolutionary Road.'' It was all very Jack and Rose. Plus, bonus points for trying to thank the other women she was nominated with but then couldn't remember the "other one,'' who just happened to be Angelina. Ha.

Ditto for Laura Linney on the seldom-disappoints thing.

You see that creepy shot of Marc Anthony stroking J.Lo's arm at the table? She didn't look happy. Didn't look happy on the red carpet earlier, either. We're just sayin'...

Anybody else immediately think "thoughtless little pig'' when Alec Baldwin thanked his daughter Ireland in his speech? Didn't want to think it -- it just kind of happened.

Tina Fey looked kind of miffed when Tracy Morgan delivered the WHOLE acceptance speech for "30 Rock,'' didn't you think?

After her endearing acceptance speech, here's hoping Sally Hawkins' "Happy-Go-Lucky'' makes it to a Green Bay movie theater.

Celebs we barely recognized: a skinny, disheveled Paul Giamatti and a dark and hairy Sting.

Celebs we missed during the camera rounds at the tables: Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jack Nicholson.

-- Kendra Meinert, kmeinert@greenbaypressgazette.com

TV Potpourri: 'Gossip,' 'Runway' and 'Daisies'! Oh my!

Catch up on the latest and greatest in TV this week ... It's TV Potpourri! Mmm, springtime fresh!

“Look who’s coming?”
“Gossip Girl” — Looks like Georgina is heading back to the upper eastside. Michelle Trachtenberg will be back as the manipulative ice queen later this season. Also, calling all hotties? “GG” is prowling the streets — er, modeling studios — looking for a cousin for Nate.

The yet-to-be-cast character is in his 20s and described as wealthy (duh!), confident (shocker!), politically minded (OK, you got me there) and extremely good-looking (yahoo!).

Cousin Kip Vanderbilt — yes, dead serious, that’s his name — will be arriving sometime this season. And sorry Queen B, this one’s married. Hmm, actually that probably wouldn’t stop you.

“Make it work”
“Project Runway” — Good news! It seems production for the sixth season of “PR” is moving right along. OK, so they still don’t know when, and er, where it will air but c’mon people, they’re filming! Woo! Papa Tim Gunn told New York Magazine that “Project Runway” will be filming at crème de la crème Fashion Week on Feb. 20.

Thanks Papa Gunn for giving us a reason to believe they’re “making it work.”

“Inauguration Station”
Can’t afford a trip to Washington, D.C. for the big inauguration? No problem.
The Disney-ABC Television Group will broadcast two presidential inaugural events — “Kids Inaugural: We Are the Future” on Jan. 19, a 90-minute concert in Washington (OMG! I hope the Jonas Bros. will be there! … ugh) and “Neighborhood Inaugural Ball,” on Jan. 20, President-elect Barack Obama’s first stop as Hottie in Chief, er, I mean, Commander in Chief.

“Paid for Sex in ‘The City?’”
"The City" — If you’ve been watching “The Hills” spin-off “The City,” well first of all, you’re like me and are a cheap sell for pretty people and drama-rama, but secondly, you probably have crafted an opinion of one Mr. Nevan Donahue. (Seriously, what kind of name is that? Rich people, who gets ‘em?)

The cousin of Blair-Waldorf-wanna-be Olivia Palermo (who’s a whole ‘nother issue) is in more heat than just his latest ranting about a fine for spitting on a subway. (Talk about Richie Rich giving it to the lower class.)

According to the NY Post: According to the clerk at the Palm Beach Courthouse, Donahue, 28, has a warrant out for his arrest for failing to meet terms of his probation after he was busted last year for trying to pick up a prostitute. Donahue was given probation and told to complete 75 hours of community service after his initial arrest. A warrant was put out for Donahue’s arrest after he failed to put in the hours.

Really? Him? Even sidestepping the obvious, um, seriously? Let’s see if his art dealer father can get him out of this one.

“Pushing Heroes with Daisies?”
OK, not really — the sheer physics of that is near impossible, but point being Swoosie Kurtz is reuniting with her former “Daisies” boss, Bryan Fuller, on “Heroes,” according to the Ausiello Files.

The actress will guest star in an April episode of “Heroes”, written by Fuller, himself.

Last words …
The 66th annual Golden Globe Awards air Sunday night and “American Idol” returns next week. Do we care? Meh, not really.

-- Sara Boyd, sboyd2@greenbaypressgazette.com

Golden Globes (yawn) nominations (yawn) announced

Last year's Golden Globes telecast was scuttled by a little thing called the writers' strike. This year ... well, you can't really tell the difference between one awards season and another because THE SAME PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS NOMINATED FOR STINKIN' AWARDS.

Sorry (ahem), just had to get that off my chest.

Anyway, here's a prediction that "Mad Men" and "30 Rock" sweep the majors. And "True Blood" and "Californication?" Have you ever met anyone talk excitedly about either of those shows?

Here's the roll call on the TV side ...

TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA

Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood

PERFORMANCE BY AN 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

PERFORMANCE BY AN 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

TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
The Office
Weeds

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

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

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL

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

MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

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

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Judi Dench, Cranford
Catherine Keener, An American Crime
Laura Linney, John Adams
Shirley MacLaine, Coco Chanel
Susan Sarandon, Bernard and Doris

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Ralph Fiennes, Bernard and Doris
Paul Giamatti, John Adams
Kevin Spacey, Recount
Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Redemption
Tom Wilkinson, Recount

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Laura Dern, Recount
Melissa George, In Treatment
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Denis Leary, Recount
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Blair Underwood, In Treatment
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

It's not pretty out there, TV fans

It's ugly out there, kids, and no, I'm not talking about the snow, and the snow, and the snow and ...

I'm talkin' TV land, where the harsh reality of the writers' strike is finally starting to settle in, like a chronic winter cold and all the unpleasantries, annoyances and bad tastes that come with it. Anyone have a box of Kleenex and the first season of "Weeds'' on DVD?

It was bound to happen sooner or later, and by the looks of my pathetic TiVo menu, later has arrived. Rather cruel of it to happen right smack in the middle of the dregs of winter, don't you think? That time of year when even people who think they don't watch much TV are exposed for the channel-surfing, time-wasting, reality-watching frauds that they are.

So how bad is it? Let's recap recent activity, or lack thereof:

No Golden Globes. The awards season is in shambles. In case there was any doubt, Sunday's Golden Globes press conference was a pitiful reminder. Jack Nicholson mugging for the cameras at a table with a lot of wine in a room full of Hollywood stars: party! Entertainment TV anchors reading the names of winners in between clips: less fun than even the constant parade of talking heads dissecting the lastest presidential primary. Just goes to show what those of us who live for awards season already knew, that it's not whether you win or lose, it's who you wear, who you show up with and who you thank in your speech. Someone, anyone, please save Oscar Night on Feb. 24!

No "24.'' For those of us who live and die (and die, only to live again) by Jack Bauer, January is our month. Our holiday calendar goes something like this: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Two-Night "24'' Premiere. But not this year. With the show shelved because of the strike, we're forced instead to endure the torture of FOX endlessly hyping 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles'' during its NFL playoff broadcasts. Pfff. A painful reminder that if there wasn't a strike and Kiefer Sutherland wasn't in jail and "24'' wasn't MIA, that maybe, just maybe, FOX would've choppered Jack into Green Bay on Sunday for a spot on the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show from Lambeau Field.

Return of "American Idol.'' Good news for those who love it, the equivalent of two-night root canal for those of us who hate it. It rolled out this week with its traditional early auditions of karaoke castoffs embarrassing themselves before the judges and the nation -- a k a "Freak Week.'' Had the misfortune of catching exactly 2 minutes of it on Tuesday, just enough time to see a rejected wannabe in hideous green glitter eyeshadow flip off the cameras as she vowed revenge by making it in "actressing'' instead. That'll be enough "Idol'' to hold me all season, thanks.

Return of "Rock of Love.'' A recession? Soaring gas prices? Stagnant housing market? Hey, what the world needs right now is "Rock of Love 2''! VH1 shamelessly went back to the Bret Michaels well -- which isn't real deep -- one more time for Round II of this reality sleazefest. Same drill as last time, but with the skank factor ratcheted up. Loved the intro on Sunday's premiere with the chronically bandana-ed Michaels describing rock 'n' roll as his "b---- goddess.'' And how about scary Angelique, who looks like a Botox experiment gone bad, getting a VIP pass?

Hey, wait a minute, why I am even watching this?

'Tis the season, I guess.

-- Kendra Meinert, kmeinert@greenbaypressgazette.com

And the Golden Globe goes to... no one

Forget the inappropriate Red Carpet interviews, the repeated query of "who are you wearing?" and the awkward cutaways of the losers when the winners are announced. The Golden Globes awards show - scheduled for this Sunday - has been scuttled in favor of a one-hour "press conference" starting at 8 p.m. on NBC that will announce the winners.

The first casualty of the writers strike - thanks to an unscripted show and the lack of actors willing to cross the picket lines - the cancellation of the Globes begs the question of what will happen to the Academy Awards next month if the strike continues. Bigger question yet: what are Ryan Seacrest and Joan Rivers going to do?

Speaking of the writers strike, here's a fascinating collection of essays from various TV and film writers including Bill Lawrence ("Scrubs") and Greg Berlanti ("Brothers and Sisters") called "Why We Write." Aside from a peek into television’s creative minds, it's nice to know they love DVR as much as the rest of us mortal folk. Here's an excerpt of an enjoyable entry from Greg Garcia, the creator of "My Name is Earl:"

"The first few days of the strike were great for catching up on my shows. My TiVo was bubbling over with new episodes of "Dexter," "Family Guy," "Friday Night Lights," "30 Rock," and a whole bunch of other shows I’m not going to admit to watching. One by one they were watched and deleted. And now my TiVo is empty. I fear that as the strike goes on my TiVo may try to eat itself to stay alive. Nothing is more depressing than going through the guide for the next few weeks and seeing shows like "American Gladiators," "Clash of the Choirs," "Duel," and "Celebrity Apprentice." I’m not gonna watch that foolishness."

Amen.

--Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

Is that a Golden Globe in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

Strange but true: despite its inherent greatness, "Perfect Strangers" never won a Golden Globe for best comedy. However, according to Wikipedia, "Golden Girls" won three straight from 1986 to 1988. Golden Globes? "Golden Girls?" Coincidence ... I think not.

More on the wild and wacky antics of Balki Bartokomous and his stuffed sheep, Dmitri, later. But for now, this wouldn't be a proper TV blog without listing the Globe nominees from today. There isn't a whole lot of uproar over the choices -- I mean, it's a TV awards show, not a nativity scene at Green Bay's City Hall ... oh SNAP! -- but Ken Tucker over at Entertainment Weekly seems to be wholly unimpressed by the inclusion of "Pushing Daisies."

Those are fighting words, Ken. Take it back! You'll be getting a pie at your door in the coming days, and trust me, you won't want to eat what's inside ...

BEST DRAMA TV SERIES
Big Love
Damages
Grey's Anatomy
Mad Men
The Tudors

BEST MUSICAL OR COMEDY TV SERIES
30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
Extras
Pushing Daisies

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Bill Paxton, Big Love
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR COMEDY TV SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
David Duchovny, Californication
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR COMEDY TV SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE
Ted Danson, Damages
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Andy Serkis, Longford
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Donald Sutherland, Dirty Sexy Money

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TV MOVIE
Rose Byrne, Damages
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Samantha Morton, Longford
Anna Paquin, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Jaime Pressly, My Name Is Earl

And just because Adam tortured me by posting the "Perfect Strangers" theme -- which regrettably, stayed in my head all day -- I will fight fire with fire.

That's right, Reinhard. Watch the clip. Oh, it burns! It BURNS!

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com