I love food. This is most visibly apparent by my bulging waistline and the constant rivulet of saliva traversing down the bottom right side of my face. Yup, I love food. I love eating it. I love smelling it. I love talking about it. I love dreaming about it... Okay, not really. I usually have nightmares about food, in that I never actually get to eat in any of my dreams involving food (usually served buffet style), but I digress.
Most importantly, I have found that I love cooking food. More accurately, I have rediscovered a love of cooking. When I was young, I would watch cooking shows on TV. Julia Child was my favorite (and, perhaps, my first), and I would madly transcribe the recipes as she reeled them off with such delight. I never got to try any of those recipes, but I eventually became quite the consummate baker during high school. That was driven mostly by my insatiable adolescent appetite. I would come home craving an after-school snack, so I'd bake some biscuits. Or some cookies. Or a cake!
As an adult, I lost the will to cook for myself, but never the love. Two of my proudest domestic moments from early on were making homemade cranberry sorbet and pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving at my friends' house and, the next year, making a full Thanksgiving meal for four at my own apartment (with vegetarian accommodations, even!).
Over the past few years, I have come full circle, once again feverishly copying recipes. Thankfully, 20 years of technological advances have allowed me to jump from manually transcribing Julia Child to Googling a recipe, then simply cutting and pasting it into a document. (This has led to a serious recipe collecting addiction that blasts the Pokemon craze out of the freakin' water.) I've also been able to test -- and modify -- several great recipes, for both traditional homemade fare and restaurant-quality items. This is where I stand right now and where you, dear reader (because I assume there's only one of you), reap the benefit of my trial and error.
I have long wanted to add a food component to this blog. Food is as integral to a culture as its politics or religion(s) (or lack, thereof). Like any institution, it influences and is influenced by its people, their history and their surroundings. It brings us together -- and, when there's only one donut left, can tear us apart. It is entertainment; it is culture. And, of course, that is what I write about and explore.
So, welcome to the Corner Table! My current project is cataloging the 753 recipes I have saved on my computer (I told you I was addicted) and coming up with a successful system that will ultimately allow me to more easily access my recipes for whatever need I am trying to meet. This may take awhile, so that's probably what I'll focus on for the moment. But once I'm up and running again, I aim to delve into my foodie adventures. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.
So, slap on your rib bib, grab a wet nap and let's do this!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
"Look, Mom! I Got a Golden Globe!"
The above quote is brought to you by Melissa Leo, winner of Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter. And that, my friends, encapsulates what awards shows are supposed to be about. There were a few great moments like that during the show, but, honestly, most of it was forced and hackneyed. I'm lookin' at you, weird intro with Jimmy Fallon and January Jones, and I'm not entirely sure about what to make of Robert DeNiro's speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
Now, this is the first time since, I guess, high school that I've watched an awards show without a drink or five in my hand. Are they always this difficult to sit through? And, I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until someone listens to me: For the love of god, post your thank-you lists to your personal websites! Other than your partner, parents and children, I don't want to hear it. If you have to thank your housekeeper and the Korean lady who scours the callouses from the soles of your feet, do it somewhere else. That's why blogs were invented.
Besides Leo's speech, other great acceptances were Jim Parsons and Chris Colfer. Both were deserving of their wins, and both were stunned and sincere in their speeches. Jim Parsons was especially adorable, as he gratefully accepted the award from his co-star Kaley Cuoco. Chris Colfer's speech was somewhat de rigeur in its social commentary, but still amazing with his final declaration to the naysayers: "Screw you!" (Also, on E!'s After-Party, he claimed that he's going to sleep with the award for a week, just to know that it's real. "Usually, when I win one of these, I wake up." Cute!)
Chris Colfer was only one aspect of a fairly gay night. The gays really cleaned up, y'all! Besides the nominations of several gay men and women and gay-themed or -friendly fare, Colfer's co-star Jane Lynch won and thanked her wife and children. Annette Bening won for her fantastic portrayal of a lesbian partner and co-parent (recognizing her co-star, Julianne Moore), and The Kids Are All Right won for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical. I was ecstatic for every single one of these wins. Though, let's be honest here. I would have been happy for anyone but Burlesque. If Burlesque had won, I would have performed seppuku right then and there. And, then there's Glee. Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical.
Really?
I love Glee, and I've stood by it, even during this horrid season. But the HFPA is seriously going to sit there and tell me that Glee is a better show than The Big C, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory and 30 Rock? Honestly? You're going to stand by that? Alright. Moving on, then.
Speaking of The Big C, I'd like to take this moment to apologize for my earlier comment about Laura Linney's absence. It wasn't really meant to be funny to begin with, just an observation, but I also hadn't realized that her father passed away this weekend, which is why she couldn't be at the ceremony. That's got to be a terrible thing to deal with, regardless, but especially during what should be a celebratory time for her.
Finally, I'd like to address the topic of Ricky Gervais. I'm quite surprised that they brought him back, honestly. But I appreciated his humor, and, frankly, I think the audience were pretty poor sports about it. Maybe they weren't drunk enough, I don't know. But I think he was just this side of the line, and it worked for me. I'm sure he's done for on the awards shows circuit, though.
Well, kids. That's it. Those were the Globes. Not terribly intriguing or entertaining. My biggest take-away is that I really have to bone up before the Oscars. I definitely have to go to AMC's annual Best Picture marathon. But my Netflix is still going to be pretty busy as I scope out other nominees.
Thanks for reading, everyone. I really appreciate it.
Now for my favorite quotes:
Runner-Up: "You may remember him from the film as the guy when he's asked 'Would you sleep with that girl,' he says, 'Pssh! No.' He's such a good actor. He totally wanted to sleep with me." -- Natalie Portman, acknowledging her babydaddy
Quote of the Night: "There's gotta be an easier way to get a standing ovation." -- Michael Douglas
Now, this is the first time since, I guess, high school that I've watched an awards show without a drink or five in my hand. Are they always this difficult to sit through? And, I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until someone listens to me: For the love of god, post your thank-you lists to your personal websites! Other than your partner, parents and children, I don't want to hear it. If you have to thank your housekeeper and the Korean lady who scours the callouses from the soles of your feet, do it somewhere else. That's why blogs were invented.
Besides Leo's speech, other great acceptances were Jim Parsons and Chris Colfer. Both were deserving of their wins, and both were stunned and sincere in their speeches. Jim Parsons was especially adorable, as he gratefully accepted the award from his co-star Kaley Cuoco. Chris Colfer's speech was somewhat de rigeur in its social commentary, but still amazing with his final declaration to the naysayers: "Screw you!" (Also, on E!'s After-Party, he claimed that he's going to sleep with the award for a week, just to know that it's real. "Usually, when I win one of these, I wake up." Cute!)
Chris Colfer was only one aspect of a fairly gay night. The gays really cleaned up, y'all! Besides the nominations of several gay men and women and gay-themed or -friendly fare, Colfer's co-star Jane Lynch won and thanked her wife and children. Annette Bening won for her fantastic portrayal of a lesbian partner and co-parent (recognizing her co-star, Julianne Moore), and The Kids Are All Right won for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical. I was ecstatic for every single one of these wins. Though, let's be honest here. I would have been happy for anyone but Burlesque. If Burlesque had won, I would have performed seppuku right then and there. And, then there's Glee. Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical.
Really?
I love Glee, and I've stood by it, even during this horrid season. But the HFPA is seriously going to sit there and tell me that Glee is a better show than The Big C, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory and 30 Rock? Honestly? You're going to stand by that? Alright. Moving on, then.
Speaking of The Big C, I'd like to take this moment to apologize for my earlier comment about Laura Linney's absence. It wasn't really meant to be funny to begin with, just an observation, but I also hadn't realized that her father passed away this weekend, which is why she couldn't be at the ceremony. That's got to be a terrible thing to deal with, regardless, but especially during what should be a celebratory time for her.
Finally, I'd like to address the topic of Ricky Gervais. I'm quite surprised that they brought him back, honestly. But I appreciated his humor, and, frankly, I think the audience were pretty poor sports about it. Maybe they weren't drunk enough, I don't know. But I think he was just this side of the line, and it worked for me. I'm sure he's done for on the awards shows circuit, though.
Well, kids. That's it. Those were the Globes. Not terribly intriguing or entertaining. My biggest take-away is that I really have to bone up before the Oscars. I definitely have to go to AMC's annual Best Picture marathon. But my Netflix is still going to be pretty busy as I scope out other nominees.
Thanks for reading, everyone. I really appreciate it.
Now for my favorite quotes:
Runner-Up: "You may remember him from the film as the guy when he's asked 'Would you sleep with that girl,' he says, 'Pssh! No.' He's such a good actor. He totally wanted to sleep with me." -- Natalie Portman, acknowledging her babydaddy
Quote of the Night: "There's gotta be an easier way to get a standing ovation." -- Michael Douglas
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Around the Globes in 180 Minutes
The main event...
8:03 - Thank god for alcohol, eh, Ricky? I'm actually enjoying him, but the audience might need a few snootfuls to loosen up.
8:05 - I didn't see Geoffrey Rush on the red carpet. Very Marshall-Erikson-getting-married.
Ooh! Shot of the countdown clock.
8:14 - And the computer's attitude continues...
I really enjoyed how happy Ed O'Neill was for Katey Sagal. That was sweet. (And a great call from the director to grab that shot.)
8:17 - This annoys me every year: Miss Golden Globe. Isn't it time to allow some sons to help present at the Globes?
8:25 - Chris Colfer FTW!!! You'll excuse me for a moment. I can't see my screen through the tears.
8:30 - Remember when Michelle Pfeiffer was interesting? That was before Botox.
8:48 - I do believe that Diane Warren was just mouthing, "Oh, shit. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod..."
8:50 - Trent Reznor beat out both Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman for Best Score? That, my friends, is the very definition of an upset.
8:58 - "Toy Story 3"? I think the word you're looking for is "Dur."
9:04 - Jesse Tyler Ferguson just snapped a shot with Jenna Ushkowitz from "Glee" on his iPhone. I am seriously going to steal him away from his boyfriend. Sorry, NPH, I have a new TV crush. You had your chance, and you missed out.
9:11 - Al Pacino wins for Best Actor in a TV Movie and gets a standing ovation -- except for Paul Giamatti, whom he has to push past. Nice one.
9:20 - Did L'Oreal run that commercial because JLo was a presenter tonight or because most of the audience is women? These are the things I wonder. (And, yes, obviously, it's both. Leave me be.)
9:24 - Good call getting Zac Efron to present the gay movie. Bad call on that crew cut.
9:39 - There are Helen Mirren and her boobs! I can't go through a GG or Oscars broadcast without them.
9:48 - Jim Parsons! So deserving.
10:14 - That's Darren Aronofsky? Nice pornstache.
10:16 - I really wish award winners would stop telling their kids to go to bed. It's trite.
10:18 - Glee wins, and gays and misfits around the country break out into ear-splitting song.
But, seriously. Did the whole cast have to go on stage? Gimme a break.
10:54 - What a beautiful moment of support for Michael Douglas. "There's gotta be an easier way to get a standing ovation."
8:03 - Thank god for alcohol, eh, Ricky? I'm actually enjoying him, but the audience might need a few snootfuls to loosen up.
8:05 - I didn't see Geoffrey Rush on the red carpet. Very Marshall-Erikson-getting-married.
Ooh! Shot of the countdown clock.
8:14 - And the computer's attitude continues...
I really enjoyed how happy Ed O'Neill was for Katey Sagal. That was sweet. (And a great call from the director to grab that shot.)
8:17 - This annoys me every year: Miss Golden Globe. Isn't it time to allow some sons to help present at the Globes?
8:25 - Chris Colfer FTW!!! You'll excuse me for a moment. I can't see my screen through the tears.
8:30 - Remember when Michelle Pfeiffer was interesting? That was before Botox.
8:48 - I do believe that Diane Warren was just mouthing, "Oh, shit. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod..."
8:50 - Trent Reznor beat out both Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman for Best Score? That, my friends, is the very definition of an upset.
8:58 - "Toy Story 3"? I think the word you're looking for is "Dur."
9:04 - Jesse Tyler Ferguson just snapped a shot with Jenna Ushkowitz from "Glee" on his iPhone. I am seriously going to steal him away from his boyfriend. Sorry, NPH, I have a new TV crush. You had your chance, and you missed out.
9:11 - Al Pacino wins for Best Actor in a TV Movie and gets a standing ovation -- except for Paul Giamatti, whom he has to push past. Nice one.
9:20 - Did L'Oreal run that commercial because JLo was a presenter tonight or because most of the audience is women? These are the things I wonder. (And, yes, obviously, it's both. Leave me be.)
9:24 - Good call getting Zac Efron to present the gay movie. Bad call on that crew cut.
9:39 - There are Helen Mirren and her boobs! I can't go through a GG or Oscars broadcast without them.
9:48 - Jim Parsons! So deserving.
10:14 - That's Darren Aronofsky? Nice pornstache.
10:16 - I really wish award winners would stop telling their kids to go to bed. It's trite.
10:18 - Glee wins, and gays and misfits around the country break out into ear-splitting song.
But, seriously. Did the whole cast have to go on stage? Gimme a break.
10:54 - What a beautiful moment of support for Michael Douglas. "There's gotta be an easier way to get a standing ovation."
Kickin' 'Em in the Globes
Oh, the Golden Globes. The tipsy uncle of the awards show season. So much fun, and often a good predictor of how the Emmys and Oscars will go.
Okay! So, after some technical difficulties, we're up and running. And away we go!
Red Carpet
6:19 - Playing catch-up:
Olivia Wild's dress was amazing.
I'm in love with the 360 cam.
Good lord, I'm always amazed by how short Seacrest is.
Poor Kelly Osbourne and George What's-his-face are stumbling all over themselves.
I will drive a pencil through my temples if I hear "babybump" one more time.
6:21 - Note to self: Closed captioning will do you no good tonight.
6:28 - Yeesh. Mark Salling looks like a little boy in his tux.
6:30 - Alec Baldwin/Jim Parsons "tension". Quick, in a fight, who kicks whose ass?
6:34 - "Lei" jokes? Really? Well, it is E!
6:35 - Elisabeth Moss!!! She looks gorgeous. I love that green on her. I read that she is/was married to Fred Armisen from SNL. What an odd pairing.
6:37 - There goes Helena Bonham-Carter in the background, looking insane as usual. But I love her.
6:43 - Sarah Hyland is so adorable! She's phenomenal on Modern Family. "I'm sorry you hate me. I don't know you." Awesome.
6:45 - What's up with all the ponytails tonight? Are people worried that they're going to get too smashed tonight to deal with their hair once they get home?
6:47 - Yay! Jesse Tyler Ferguson! I am so in love with him. Frotch!
6:48 - And pull out to show Matt Bomer. Two queers on screen at once. Is that allowed on primetime?
6:53 - Wondering whether my popcorn will last through the show. Probably not.
6:55 - So it looks like Jane Krakowski and Natalie Portman decided to show off the bellies.
Also? No more Limo Cam. Annoying.
6:56 - Is Lea Michele going to prom? Did her mom and dad lift curfew tonight?
6:57 - Not liking the flower on Natalie's dress. But her hair is simple and beautiful. And that necklace is divine.
6:58 - Jason Segel and Jimmy Fallon sharing a stage? What bizarro world is this? Oh, god. That was... something.
7:06 - Count me among the people who didn't realize that Emma Stone was a natural blonde. She's been either brunette or a redhead in everything I've seen her in. Is it weird to say that I don't like her natural hair color? She looks washed out.
7:10 - Switched over to NBC. Sandra Bullock's looking good. I guess it's Ryan Reynold's Canadian lovin'.
I'll bet you Chris Colfer's sick of answering "What's it like to be a gay role model?"
7:12 - Back on E! What's going on with the Biebs? I must have missed why he's here.
7:14 - "The two Janes." Heh. I like the sparkle at the bottom of Jane Lynch's gown. But again with unnecessary floral embellishments!
7:22 - More freakiness with my computer...
Michael Douglas looks quite well, and he's making jokes. That's great to see.
I didn't like Sofia Vergara's dress when I first saw it, but close-up, it's uniquely beautiful.
Um... What happened to the 360 cam?
7:26 - Just caught a glimpse of Christina Aguilera. It's Booblesque!
7:27 - It's so weird to me that Mila Kunis of That 70s Show and Family Guy fame is nominated for a GG. Just goes to show you how people can be underestimated.
And another shot of Elisabeth Moss. I love her, really. But, what's with all the camera attention?
7:32 - A lot of pink/flesh-toney gowns tonight. Eh.
7:40 - I freaking LOVE Halle Berry's dress! So sassy and sexy.
Halle as Aretha? Hm... I think that Jennifer Hudson would beat a girl down. But that voice is too unique. They'd have to dub in the vocals no matter who the actress was.
7:42 - Not fond of Anne Hathaway's dress. Not in the least.
7:53 - And, unlike his friend HBC, Johnny Depp actually look not-insane for a change.
Vavoom, January Jones!!!
Okay! So, after some technical difficulties, we're up and running. And away we go!
Red Carpet
6:19 - Playing catch-up:
Olivia Wild's dress was amazing.
I'm in love with the 360 cam.
Good lord, I'm always amazed by how short Seacrest is.
Poor Kelly Osbourne and George What's-his-face are stumbling all over themselves.
I will drive a pencil through my temples if I hear "babybump" one more time.
6:21 - Note to self: Closed captioning will do you no good tonight.
6:28 - Yeesh. Mark Salling looks like a little boy in his tux.
6:30 - Alec Baldwin/Jim Parsons "tension". Quick, in a fight, who kicks whose ass?
6:34 - "Lei" jokes? Really? Well, it is E!
6:35 - Elisabeth Moss!!! She looks gorgeous. I love that green on her. I read that she is/was married to Fred Armisen from SNL. What an odd pairing.
6:37 - There goes Helena Bonham-Carter in the background, looking insane as usual. But I love her.
6:43 - Sarah Hyland is so adorable! She's phenomenal on Modern Family. "I'm sorry you hate me. I don't know you." Awesome.
6:45 - What's up with all the ponytails tonight? Are people worried that they're going to get too smashed tonight to deal with their hair once they get home?
6:47 - Yay! Jesse Tyler Ferguson! I am so in love with him. Frotch!
6:48 - And pull out to show Matt Bomer. Two queers on screen at once. Is that allowed on primetime?
6:53 - Wondering whether my popcorn will last through the show. Probably not.
6:55 - So it looks like Jane Krakowski and Natalie Portman decided to show off the bellies.
Also? No more Limo Cam. Annoying.
6:56 - Is Lea Michele going to prom? Did her mom and dad lift curfew tonight?
6:57 - Not liking the flower on Natalie's dress. But her hair is simple and beautiful. And that necklace is divine.
6:58 - Jason Segel and Jimmy Fallon sharing a stage? What bizarro world is this? Oh, god. That was... something.
7:06 - Count me among the people who didn't realize that Emma Stone was a natural blonde. She's been either brunette or a redhead in everything I've seen her in. Is it weird to say that I don't like her natural hair color? She looks washed out.
7:10 - Switched over to NBC. Sandra Bullock's looking good. I guess it's Ryan Reynold's Canadian lovin'.
I'll bet you Chris Colfer's sick of answering "What's it like to be a gay role model?"
7:12 - Back on E! What's going on with the Biebs? I must have missed why he's here.
7:14 - "The two Janes." Heh. I like the sparkle at the bottom of Jane Lynch's gown. But again with unnecessary floral embellishments!
7:22 - More freakiness with my computer...
Michael Douglas looks quite well, and he's making jokes. That's great to see.
I didn't like Sofia Vergara's dress when I first saw it, but close-up, it's uniquely beautiful.
Um... What happened to the 360 cam?
7:26 - Just caught a glimpse of Christina Aguilera. It's Booblesque!
7:27 - It's so weird to me that Mila Kunis of That 70s Show and Family Guy fame is nominated for a GG. Just goes to show you how people can be underestimated.
And another shot of Elisabeth Moss. I love her, really. But, what's with all the camera attention?
7:32 - A lot of pink/flesh-toney gowns tonight. Eh.
7:40 - I freaking LOVE Halle Berry's dress! So sassy and sexy.
Halle as Aretha? Hm... I think that Jennifer Hudson would beat a girl down. But that voice is too unique. They'd have to dub in the vocals no matter who the actress was.
7:42 - Not fond of Anne Hathaway's dress. Not in the least.
7:53 - And, unlike his friend HBC, Johnny Depp actually look not-insane for a change.
Vavoom, January Jones!!!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Yumsy in My Tumsy
Better late than never, right? Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday ever, end of story. I love it because it's secular, it doesn't involve presents, and it involves tons of food and alcohol. It is a uniquely North American holiday, celebrated only in Canada and the United States. Contrary to all the Claymation presentations you saw as a child, it was actually a tradition brought over from England. One that the English no longer even think about. So, yes, it's ours now, and ours alone. Well, ours with Canada.
So, to answer the comment of one lone reader, Thanksgiving wasn't actually that hard for me. It was time-consuming, but not hard.
I made all of the sides the night before. I think, of the sides, the dressing was the most difficult, simply because of all the sauteeing involved. The broccoli casserole was annoying, really. I love cheese and everything that it brings to a dish, but having to work with it is a bear. Cheese doesn't give easily, and you really need to dig in to make it melt and stir properly. And believe me when I say that six cups of rice is more than any normal human can handle.
I also really hate standing over a stove, which is why, in my everyday life, I make a lot of casseroles and meatloaves. So the apple reduction made me question my purpose in life. But it turned out to be my favorite part of my holiday meal.
I have to thank Fresh Direct for so many of my ingredients. In my neighborhood, pork tenderloin isn't a food and goes for $10.50 per half hour in a back alley. And brining is something you do to some dude who takes your parking spot.
I may be doing the same thing for New Year's Eve. Cooking, I mean. It will be much simpler than Thanksgiving, but my love of flavors and ingenuity will still be present.
So, to answer the comment of one lone reader, Thanksgiving wasn't actually that hard for me. It was time-consuming, but not hard.
I made all of the sides the night before. I think, of the sides, the dressing was the most difficult, simply because of all the sauteeing involved. The broccoli casserole was annoying, really. I love cheese and everything that it brings to a dish, but having to work with it is a bear. Cheese doesn't give easily, and you really need to dig in to make it melt and stir properly. And believe me when I say that six cups of rice is more than any normal human can handle.
I also really hate standing over a stove, which is why, in my everyday life, I make a lot of casseroles and meatloaves. So the apple reduction made me question my purpose in life. But it turned out to be my favorite part of my holiday meal.
I have to thank Fresh Direct for so many of my ingredients. In my neighborhood, pork tenderloin isn't a food and goes for $10.50 per half hour in a back alley. And brining is something you do to some dude who takes your parking spot.
I may be doing the same thing for New Year's Eve. Cooking, I mean. It will be much simpler than Thanksgiving, but my love of flavors and ingenuity will still be present.
Friday, November 26, 2010
My Favorite Holiday, People
I know I'm bitter and evil, but there's a gooey center to me. Please take in what I made for Thanksgiving. Yes, I made all of it.
1. Orange-Thyme Turkey
2. Cornbread Dressing
3. Broccoli-Rice Casserole
4. Spiced Yams
5. Homemade Cranberry Sauce
6. Pork Tenderloins with Apple Cider Reduction
7. Death by Chocolate Cookie
1. Orange-Thyme Turkey
2. Cornbread Dressing
3. Broccoli-Rice Casserole
4. Spiced Yams
5. Homemade Cranberry Sauce
6. Pork Tenderloins with Apple Cider Reduction
7. Death by Chocolate Cookie
Friday, July 16, 2010
And the Award Goes To...
The Emmys are fast approaching. The celebration of my favorite medium. I know I've had some harsh words, and I stand by them. But, still, I am obligated by my passion for television -- and my membership in gaydom -- to watch the awards ceremony.
However, for quite some time, I've had a minor complaint. For at least the past decade or so, shows like "Ally McBeal" and "Desperate Housewives" have blurred the lines between genres. Not fully dramas, not fully comedies. "Dramedies," if you will. These hybrid shows are enjoyable and usually well-written and well-acted, which is why they keep getting nominated for Emmys.
And there's the problem: How do you classify these programs and their actors for the purposes of Emmy nominations?
Well, as it stands, they get shuffled under "comedy," but that doesn't really work. Take, for example, the DH ladies. Teri Hatcher makes sense as a comedic actress nominee because her role is primarily for laughs. An argument could even be made that the same goes for Felicity Huffman, but certainly not Marcia Cross. Cross's shining moments are in her dramatic scenes, and Huffman excels in both drama and comedy.
This year, I'm delighted to see so many of the "Glee" stars nominated, as well as the show itself. But the problem rises again, specifically with the two nominees for whom I am rooting the hardest (and who are least likely to win, if we're being honest). Chris Colfer and Mike O'Malley as Kurt Hummel and his father Burt. Both are amazing in their roles, and, of course, both have their comic moments which they milk for all they're worth. But what they truly deserve to be honored for are those heart-wrenching father/son moments. And it seems inadequate, at best, to judge them alongside true comic performances by the likes of Jon Hamm on "30 Rock," Neil Patrick Harris or the stars of "Modern Family".
The nominations of "United States of Tara" and "Nurse Jackie" and their cast members are likewise perplexing. Even more than "Glee," these shows tend towards the dramatic. One would be generous in defining them as "dark comedies."
These hybrids have had to do a dance to decide in which category to submit reels, and they seem to always define themselves as comedies. The cynical part of me wants to say that TPTB believe that comedy is an easier category to win. (The laden awards shelf over at "Desperate Housewives" HQ supports my cynicism.) Another part of me, however, says that they just don't know what else to do. Err on the side of caution and all that.
I have long proposed a separate category altogether. But no one listens to me, so...
However, for quite some time, I've had a minor complaint. For at least the past decade or so, shows like "Ally McBeal" and "Desperate Housewives" have blurred the lines between genres. Not fully dramas, not fully comedies. "Dramedies," if you will. These hybrid shows are enjoyable and usually well-written and well-acted, which is why they keep getting nominated for Emmys.
And there's the problem: How do you classify these programs and their actors for the purposes of Emmy nominations?
Well, as it stands, they get shuffled under "comedy," but that doesn't really work. Take, for example, the DH ladies. Teri Hatcher makes sense as a comedic actress nominee because her role is primarily for laughs. An argument could even be made that the same goes for Felicity Huffman, but certainly not Marcia Cross. Cross's shining moments are in her dramatic scenes, and Huffman excels in both drama and comedy.
This year, I'm delighted to see so many of the "Glee" stars nominated, as well as the show itself. But the problem rises again, specifically with the two nominees for whom I am rooting the hardest (and who are least likely to win, if we're being honest). Chris Colfer and Mike O'Malley as Kurt Hummel and his father Burt. Both are amazing in their roles, and, of course, both have their comic moments which they milk for all they're worth. But what they truly deserve to be honored for are those heart-wrenching father/son moments. And it seems inadequate, at best, to judge them alongside true comic performances by the likes of Jon Hamm on "30 Rock," Neil Patrick Harris or the stars of "Modern Family".
The nominations of "United States of Tara" and "Nurse Jackie" and their cast members are likewise perplexing. Even more than "Glee," these shows tend towards the dramatic. One would be generous in defining them as "dark comedies."
These hybrids have had to do a dance to decide in which category to submit reels, and they seem to always define themselves as comedies. The cynical part of me wants to say that TPTB believe that comedy is an easier category to win. (The laden awards shelf over at "Desperate Housewives" HQ supports my cynicism.) Another part of me, however, says that they just don't know what else to do. Err on the side of caution and all that.
I have long proposed a separate category altogether. But no one listens to me, so...
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