TV with Abe

What I’m Watching: Glee

2012-02-02T09:00:00.002-05:00

Glee: Season 3, Episode 11 “Michael” (C)

It’s strange to have these themes of college and marriage couched in an episode that’s supposed to be all about Michael Jackson. I’m not overly familiar with Jackson’s entire repertoire, so this episode was only mildly amusing in that respect for me. What was most concerning, however, is the fact that Blaine had to get eye surgery and no one felt the need to tell a grown-up that Sebastian purposely attacked him with a rock salt-spiked slushie. This goes far beyond any issues of fair competition and winning competitions with musical spirit – Sebastian seriously injured him, and the fact that everyone is treating their not reporting him as “taking the high road” is very much flawed. In terms of characters, Sebastian was always aggressive, flirting with Blaine right in front of Kurt after telling him he’d be fine cheating, but for him to be so physically violent and rude doesn’t quite track. The Warblers were never such a nemesis for New Directions, and despite their impressive skills, I think they’re among the weaker competition that the group has had in terms of storytelling. Santana is definitely good to defend any of her wronged friends, and Artie did a great job of that as well. I enjoyed Puck’s comment that Blaine was like a modern day eggs benedict. Quinn managed to pull herself together and get into Yale, which is a positive development, while Kurt and Rachel are still in the running for NYADA and have more hurdles to overcome later. Hopefully Finn’s impulsive proposal and Rachel’s acceptance won’t lead to their undoing now that she still has her sights set on NYC.

Take Three: Alcatraz

2012-02-01T21:00:00.001-05:00

Alcatraz: Season 1, Episode 4 “Cal Sweeney” (B+)

This is a perfectly fine episode, but there’s something missing, whether it’s the magic or the music, or both, that was present in the first two-hour block. It’s still a strong and immensely watchable show, but I think we need a bit more of the mythology and the mystery on a regular basis. This week, we do get what could be seen as the lightest villain since the very first hour in some ways, though his weapon of choice bears an alarming resemblance to Anton Chigurh’s from “No Country for Old Men.” This was also the first case where I recognized the actor cast as the bad guy, and that would be Eric Johnson, who a decade ago played Clark Kent’s nemesis Whitney in the freshman season of “Smallville.” His vault robbing and seduction of female tellers was a fitting modus operandi, and Johnson pulled off the role well. The hostage situation worked out well for all parties involved, as Rebecca managed to school him in the modern invention of the seatbelt and even score herself two clues, one physical and one more functional: the key and the fact that he was following someone else’s orders. Back in Alcatraz in the 1960s, Sweeney’s protégé seems to be involved in something shady with the warden and the keys, so let’s hope this show provides more than just clues to whatever’s going on. Emerson seems to be making good progress at gathering the pieces, but I think that Rebecca and Doc may just allow their curiosity to drive them in a more productive investigation.

What I’m Watching: Californication

2012-02-01T15:00:00.002-05:00

Californication: Season 5, Episode 4 “Waiting for the Miracle” (B+)

This show has seen its fair share of dinner parties, but this one might take the cake. On no other show do such explicit discussions about sexuality and sexual partners take place, let alone at the dinner table! What’s different this time around is that Hank is more uncomfortable than usual, since he very often is in the middle of at least two women that want his affection, but this time he didn’t feel that way. Natalie Zea is one of my favorite television actresses, and it’s good to see her pile back on the crazy here as a cross between her characters on “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Justified” with all the foul-mouthed sex talk that pay cable will allow. But what Zea did here was show that Carrie was more than just a nut, getting to the bottom of Hank’s inability to commit: his lingering feelings for Karen. All joking flirtation aside, it’s true that Hank can’t get over his love for Karen, and she knows that he’ll always feel that way too. I’m not sure where this will send Hank, but I suppose it’s sort of a way of setting him free upon the world to continue his sexual conquest of every woman in Los Angeles, regardless of marital status, age, and whatever else. I’m glad that Hank came to the defense of the absent Charlie, who was off having an unexpected and unfulfilling sexual experience of his own with Mary, played by Gillian Vigman in a humorous guest spot.

What I’m Watching: House of Lies

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

House of Lies: Season 1, Episode 4 “Mini-Mogul” (B+)

This episode gives us quite a few revelations, the most interesting of which have to do not with Marty but with Jeannie, who proves to be even more deceitful and amoral than Marty. The big bombshell is that Jeannie is engaged, to Michael Rady, who starred in “Swingtown” and “Melrose Place.” The information is presented in such a subtle way that it’s shocking, without much attention paid to it by Jeannie, and immediately disregarded with the removal of her ring before her team arrives. Meeting up with Nick Stahl and having a one-night stand was one thing, but to hear her come clean about the fact that she’s engaged signifies that she’s fully aware of what she’s doing, and doesn’t find anything wrong with it. Stahl’s Kurt does a good job of pointing out that she always wants to be in control, and she’s definitely a hard person to decrypt. I’m so happy that Kristen Bell has this part, and it’s also intriguing to see this show become more of a drama occasionally rather than just a straight comedy. Roscoe coming to work with Marty makes for a melancholy situation in which Marty proves himself to be a bad father and then berates his ex-wife repeatedly in voicemails for being a bad mother. Fortunately, Doug managed to dig into his inner nerd and actually help Roscoe, telling him that everything works out for the best in the end. It was an unexpectedly sweet moment, proving that Doug is in fact good for something.

What I’m Watching: The Good Wife

2012-01-31T21:00:00.000-05:00

The Good Wife: Season 3, Episode 14 “Another Ham Sandwich” (B+)

Will’s indictment was something that was a long time coming, and in one sense, it’s over so quickly, and in another, it’s going to have a lasting impact. Wendy is one fierce prosecutor, and it’s clear that Cary has some moral issues with Wendy using the information he told her against Alicia, who is hardly his favorite person in the world. Will did a spectacular job of handling his testimony, and Dana is sure to be furious at Kalinda for a while going forward after she and Will played her. Alicia walking in and daring Wendy to arrest her was rather awesome, and the defense did a superb job of saying Peter’s name enough times to cast suspicion away from Will and onto him. Peter got to vent his share of anger, both at Alicia for sleeping with Will and at Wendy for calling Alicia in to testify. Everything to do with Eli in this hour was absolutely fantastic. Stacie Hall is a terrific nemesis for Eli, and there’s nothing better than adding chemistry and flirtation to a rivalry. It seemed like Eli had the upper hand for a while, thanks to Caitlin’s realization about the GLAC meeting, but Eli’s ex-wife, who I hope we’ll see again, is definitely his Achilles’ heel. Eli’s hatred for David Lee is quite possibly my favorite part of the show, and I’m glad to see that David didn’t take Eli’s abuse of his niece lying down, knocking books off his desk and then threatening to sabotage Peter’s campaign with his knowledge of Alicia’s divorce inclinations.

What I’m Watching: Shameless

2012-01-31T15:00:00.002-05:00

Shameless: Season 2, Episode 4 “A Beautiful Mess” (B+)

How nice it is for every child in the extended Gallagher family to have a friend. With so much stress, it’s no surprise that Debs has developed a rash, and it’s fun to see her try to find appropriate friends to invite over, starting with her chess buddy who clearly likes her, and a promiscuous fifteen-year-old who’s been held back and wants to get with Lip, who fortunately is smart enough to throw her off of him. Carl’s friend Hank seems to be the object of Debs’ affection, and I do hope that we get to see the R-rated movie trip. Even Ethel gets a love interest, as Kevin’s basketball kid Malik also has a child and is up for coming over for a play date. There was some switching of sibling allegiances in this hour, with Lip having sex with Mandy during the party and then sending her to Jody to try to get him to slip and sleep with her. That seems to have been the boiling point for Karen, who reveals that she’s pregnant with Lip’s child, which is certain to make him refuse to give up on her. Frank put so much effort into trying to scare Sheila off the streets, highlighting by his one-armed friend’s visit that scared Jody and his gun training with Mickey. The most unusual guilty party in this episode was Fiona, who was the subject of much screaming and yelling as Craig’s wife came by with her baby to beat her up and then ultimately came back with her husband to resolve the situation. Frank has never been prouder of his eldest daughter.

What I’m Watching: Once Upon a Time

2012-01-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Once Upon a Time: Season 1, Episode 11 “Fruit of the Poisonous Tree” (C+)

You’d think that Emma would have at least a little tact. Sure, it’s possible to let anger drive your actions, but for someone already in a precarious position that she ascended to quite quickly, she doesn’t seem to be thinking very much in any situation, trusting just about anyone, be it Mr. Gold or Sidney, only bothering to verify the accuracy of their claims once it’s far too late. The story of how the Magic Mirror got to be trapped within it once again underscores the fact that Regina is pure evil, faking affection for the kindly Genie and tricking him into murdering the king for her. I’m pleased to see Richard Schiff back on television, here and in another Sunday night series, Showtime’s “House of Lies.” As tends to be the case on this show, it appears this will be his only appearance, as he’s officially dead and therefore won’t be popping up in Storybrooke anytime soon. Given what we’ve seen of the Magic Mirror in previous episode, it’s clear that he just never learns his lesson, coming later to trust the Queen once again, and Sidney is acting in exactly the same manner, doing anything he can to make Regina happy. That can’t possibly end well, but by the time he realizes that she’s just using him, Emma won’t be able to trust him anymore. Mary Margaret’s secret romance with David is being rather comic, as evidenced by her giggly affirmation of Sidney’s claim that doing the right thing can be validated even if achieved by the wrong means.

What I’m Watching: Chuck (Series Finale)

2012-01-30T21:00:00.002-05:00

There are certain things that you can expect from a series finale, especially one that has been given ample time to prepare for such an event. Usually, one hero finds him or herself in a state totally unlike normal, and often a minor villain from the show’s history becomes a major player to defeat in the show’s final hours. That was the case here, with Sarah unable to remember her past and Quinn suddenly identified as the number one threat against humanity. What’s sad in some ways is that Sarah still isn’t herself by two-hour-episode’s end, which is somewhat sweet since Chuck is working so hard to make her remember but also disappointing since their fairy tale home doesn’t happen in the way any expected it would. It was endearing that Chuck put the glasses on one last time so that he could save Beckman, but it really should have been used to restore Sarah's memory. There was also a strange reference to futuristic technology, much like the Intersect itself, actually, with Morgan’s discovery of the invisibility cloak at DARPA, which was fun if not rather unprecedented on this show. Ellie crashing the car with Sarah in it and Casey telling Beckman to shut up because they were saving her were amusing moments that had probably been building for a long time. This finale did exhibit other welcome telltale signs of characters being aware of the end as Ellie and Awesome were wooed by a Chicago hospital, Morgan and Alex moving in together, and Casey heading off to find Gertrude. Jeff and Lester’s fate was particularly fun, as they got to prevent the bomb from going off by making horrible music, resulting in a visit from a VIP that forced them to consider leaving the Buy More. And, though it will be a long time before they’re back to normal, Chuck did get the girl, and a few choice flashbacks to their important moments were sweet. As a finale, this was a fun episode, though maybe not the greatest one the show has ever produced. I’ve enjoyed this show thoroughly throughout its five years, and looking back, I’ve actually reviewed almost every episode (with a few missing) since the pilot, way back on September 24, 2007. A retrospective feature could well be in order for this show that hit its high point in the middle but never slipped back down after that. It’s been a great five years.

Series finale: B+
Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Yvonne Strahovski
Series grade: B+
Series MVP: Adam Baldwin
Best season: Seasons 2 & 3
Best episode: “Chuck Versus the Colonel”

Take Three: The Finder

2012-01-30T15:00:00.000-05:00

The Finder: Season 1, Episode 3 “A Cinderella Story” (B+)

This show continues to be a blast, featuring genuinely intriguing and complex cases, with Walter using his token peculiar methodologies to uncover a surprising villain in this shoe-centric serial killing spree. I’m thrilled to report that this show is improving steadily in the ratings, and I do hope that FOX deems it worthy of staying on the air since I’m definitely enjoying it immensely. I was pleased to see Ian Reed Kesler, usually cast as a womanizing slimeball, as numbers geek Ira, and I didn’t even recognize Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, seen in the later seasons of “Prison Break” as bad girl Lisa. This episode was functioning on multiple levels, which made the search for Cinderella hardly the most interesting part of the hour. Leo is a great comic character, especially as played by the deep-voiced Michael Clarke Duncan, evident in the reenactment of what happened on the boat, but I like the fact that he also has some depth to him. His chance encounter with the man responsible for the death of his wife and daughter led to some real rage on his part and an elaboration of his relationship with Willa. Her literal “going to bat” for him was endearing in its own violent way, and I like that Walter is fully aware that she’s only sticking around until she figures out how to get into his safe. If I’ve learned anything from this episode, it’s that saying your password out loud while typing it isn’t a terribly good way of preserving security.

What I’m Watching: Parks & Recreation

2012-01-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

Parks & Recreation: Season 4, Episode 13 “Bowling For Votes” (B+)

Only on this show could a focus group come up with comments so ridiculous, and only Leslie Knope could become so obsessed with something insignificant like a person saying that she wouldn’t be great at bowling. The free bowling night was highly amusing for both games that it presented, and I love how Ben and Leslie consistently manage to get themselves into silly situations that become far too public. Ben punching Leslie’s bowling buddy was completely unexpected, and it was great how they spun it, with Leslie jokingly threatening reporters that she would have her boyfriend punch them. Ron and Ann’s horror at Tom’s bowling form was terrific, and Tom’s reaction to Ron crushing his finger was priceless: “Owwww! My fingie!” Jerry running the phone campaign was an odd choice, and it was great to hear how each person managed to mess up their calls. Jerry giving someone his social security number and Andy saying that they couldn’t accept donations over $50 were particularly humorous. April wanting to beat Chris to ruin his happiness was entertaining, and it’s always a treat when April gets serious and actually shows some affection for someone. Giving Chris the three movie tickets and a slight hug was very endearing, and I’m glad that Chris is able to have some happiness after not being able to find a positive spin on his breakup with Millicent, a plotline that was good for a few laughs but didn’t ultimately produce all that much story material in the long term.

Final SAG Winner Predictions

2012-01-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

Tonight on TNT and TBS, we have the SAG Awards, which tend to be more exciting for their film picks but also have some value for TV for the ensemble awards they hand out. The two big questions are: which show is going to win Best Ensemble in a Drama Series, and can Steve Carell dethrone five-time reigning champ Alec Baldwin? It’s sure to be a decently enjoyable ceremony, and here are my final predictions. Film picks can be found here.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Steve Carell (The Office)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
James Woods (Too Big to Fail)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Game of Thrones

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Modern Family

What I’m Watching: 30 Rock

2012-01-29T15:00:00.001-05:00

30 Rock: Season 6, Episodes 3 & 4 “Idiots Are People Three!” & “The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell” (B)

This double-header was entertaining if a bit wacky in the style that this show often employs. The first episode, following up on last week’s cliffhanger, had some truly funny moments, highlighted by Liz negating all of Criss’ comments, particularly the fact that Yale, not, Wesleyan, is the Harvard of central Connecticut. Learning that she says cholesterol wrong and doesn’t use tab closures on cereal boxes was amusing, and I enjoyed Jack’s invocation of the Titanic as the highest-grossing movie of all time rather than a sinking ship. Devon Banks’ appearances are always fun, and his attempted blackmail and visit to Cathy with Jack were enjoyable. The Kelsey Grammer plotline didn’t do much for me other than a few chuckles at his one-man Abraham Lincoln show. Tracy and Denise writing Liz’s apology proved to be less funny than her actual rant, which berated idiots for being responsible for the Golden Globes and the fact that there will likely be an “Entourage” movie. In episode two, Jenna’s MLK movie trailer was preposterous, and having Liz get splashed by PETA so that she could pose in front of the Outback sign was a little ridiculous too. Liz hanging out with herself was a welcome wake-up call to the fact that she needs vain idiots in her life, and the same was true for Jack’s attempt to replace the program with a computer system completely familiar with failed NBC sitcoms. Tracy’s misinterpreted “Give to charity? Please no! Presents!” was hilarious, and I also smiled at the fourth-wall reference to Maulik Pancholy’s role on “Whitney,” though we haven’t seen him in a while as Jack’s frazzled assistant now that he has so many other parts.

What I’m Watching: Royal Pains

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Royal Pains: Season 3, Episode 12 “Some Pig” (B+)

This episode was all about relationships, with Jill trying her best to move on while being courted by Jack, Hank and Divya being passive-aggressive with each other, and Evan and Paige both freaking out a bit about the impending start of their lives. I’m consistently impressed by Tom Cavanagh’s grace on screen, so comfortable in the energetic roles that he tends to play. His flirtation with Jill was entertaining, and he also does drama well, as he did on “Scrubs” with the death of his father and here with the discovery first of his lupus diagnosis and then that it was much more serious than they had initially thought. For the sake of the show, I’m glad it means that Cavanagh will likely be around for a while, and I hope things don’t end too tragically for him. Jill doesn’t seem to be getting any closer to leaving, though I’d be happy if they brought back Anastasia Griffith’s Dr. Emily Peck to be Hank’s love interest. It made sense for Hank and Divya to be made at each other due to their close relationship, but I’m happy that it lasted just one episode, so that they can get back to working together well and healing sick people. Evan getting hives because he’s nervous was highly amusing, and Paige realizing that she too was nervous because she was getting too into playing house was cute. Those two make a fabulous couple, and I’m eager to see their relationship progress as their wedding looms closer.

Pilot Review: Touch

2012-01-28T21:00:00.003-05:00

Touch (FOX)
Premiered January 25th at 9pm

Many expected this show to be just like one of two popular series from the past decade: “24” or “Heroes,” one with the same star, the other with the same creator. Somewhat fortunately, it’s neither of those, and instead it’s something completely different, intriguing in its own right but in need of a bit of tweaking before it becomes fully engaging. Having the silent Jake narrate his life and explain that he’s never spoken a word is a strong device, permitting some clarification of aspects that confuse his father and the rest of the world without giving too much away. Despite being unable to resist some fighting in Grand Central, Kiefer Sutherland proved quite quickly that baggage handler Martin Bohm is no Jack Bauer, describing his fear of heights and taking a punch without properly defending himself. Kiefer is great in the role, though I’m less impressed by the part that’s been given to Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who was entertaining both in her stint on “Undercovers” and in her supporting turn in the film “Larry Crowne.” This episode was all over the place in many ways, featuring guest stars such as Titus Welliver, also underused as the lottery-winning fireman, and it’s completely unclear just where this show is heading. What I do like is the energy of the show, with Kiefer’s Martin and Gugu’s Clea becoming enthralled by whatever it is that Jake’s doing in bringing people together. I’m not sure what kinds of staying power this show will have, but I’m definitely intrigued to see another installment.

How will it work as a series? There were so many unconnected threads in this episode that only partially came together that I think it’s going to be hard to follow it on a weekly basis, and I’m not sure it’s enticing enough just yet to commit on a long-term basis. It actually seemed like a supernatural type of procedural, and hopefully will have the opportunity to feature an extraordinary guest cast.
How long will it last? The pilot opened strong, and though it won’t be back until March when it assumes the post-“House” slot on Monday nights, I’m sure that FOX will want to invest in another Kiefer hit. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be the most critically-beloved show, I think that FOX will let it see out the rest of the season, and maybe even a second one depending on how it does.

Pilot grade: B

What I’m Watching: White Collar

2012-01-27T15:00:00.001-05:00

White Collar: Season 3, Episode 12 “Upper West Side Story” (B+)

The fears that I expressed last week have been fully assuaged by this fantastically fun hour, in which the rapport between Neal and Peter is generally back to normal, with only fleeting and flickering mentions of Keller. To kick off this week’s especially terrific plotline was Graham Phillips, best known as troublesome child Zach Florrick on “The Good Wife,” here considerably more buttoned-up but ready to raise trouble by revealing an illegal side operation within the bursar’s office at his prep school. He also brought with him an Emmy-nominated guest star from that show, Dylan Baker, to play the suspicious party, and it’s always a pleasure to see Baker on screen, albeit this time in a much less vicious role than the one he recently played on season four of “Damages.” Neal’s decision to pose as a substitute teacher was great, and I loved Peter’s layered back-and-forth with him in front of the class. Pulling off a caper – or rather, not quite pulling it off – during the tutoring session with Chloe was a superb use of this cast, and I fully enjoyed every moment of it, especially the incorporation of Evan. With the treasure out of mind, Mozzie was much more fun than he’s been in a while, excitedly running off to get his quill and then refusing to admit that he was in the room when Peter was there. His comments on Evan’s presentation style (positive) and clothing style (negative) were amusing as well. A thoroughly entertaining and worthwhile installment!

What I’m Watching: Justified

2012-01-27T09:00:00.002-05:00

Justified: Season 3, Episode 2 “Cut Ties” (B+)

This episode didn’t feature a single appearance by Neal McDonough’s shady character introduced last week, but what a handful of guest stars in his absence! I like how Carla Gugino got to play a character named Karen who is generally assumed to be Karen Sisco, another Elmore Leonard character who had her own short-lived TV show several years back. If Winona weren’t in the picture, Karen would be a perfect romantic fit for Raylan, and I hope she returns for another guest spot. Mykelti Williamson, an alumnus of Graham Yost’s “Boomtown” just like McDonough, is a fantastic follow-up villain for the series after Mags Bennett, so calm about his cruelty that it’s alarming. I look forward to seeing how everything comes together with both villains later this season. Other familiar faces included Frank John Hughes, a “Boomtown” guest star and recurring player on the final season of “24,” as the duplicitous Terry Powe, and FX regular Todd Stashwick as the prison guard who allowed Boyd some face-to-face time with a terrified Dickie. Raylan was smart about getting Boyd released after realizing his plan, though now Boyd has learned enough to be directly involved in the malicious business dealings sure to take place this season. I enjoyed Boyd’s response to Raylan’s sincere request for advice, reminding him that he is sleeping with his dead wife’s mistress and murderess. The most compelling and unexpected component of this episode was Art’s anger over the death of his friend and his methodical intimidation of his captive to discern the truth. Rachel also did a strong job of keeping her charges safe and taking out the bad guys.

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

The competition: The Big Bang Theory, Glee, Modern Family, The Office, 30 Rock

For your information: “The Big Bang Theory” is the only new nominee, and each of the other four nominees has won before: “Modern Family” last year, “Glee” in 2009, “30 Rock” in 2008, and “The Office” in 2007 and 2006. “Modern Family” has four performers nominated, “30 Rock” has two, and “The Office” has one.

Who should win: “Modern Family”

Who will win: I expect that “Modern Family” will repeat.

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Ensemble in a Drama Series

2012-01-26T21:00:00.000-05:00

The competition: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife

For your information: “Boardwalk Empire” is the only one of this bunch that has ever won, for its first season last year. “Dexter” is on its fourth nomination, and “The Good Wife” is on its third. “Breaking Bad” is here for the first time for its fourth season, and freshman series “Game of Thrones” is another newbie. Last year, “Boardwalk Empire” joined “The Sopranos” as exceptions to the rule that freshman series don’t win this award.

Who should win: “Breaking Bad,” but they’re all great except for “Dexter”

Who will win: I said “The Good Wife” last year, and it doesn’t seem that it’s going to win this time either, so I’ll go for “Game of Thrones.”

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series

2012-01-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

The competition: Julie Bowen’s frazzled mother (Modern Family), Edie Falco’s pill-popping nurse (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey’s nerdy TV writer (30 Rock), Sofia Vergara’s Colombian wife (Modern Family), and Betty White’s wise-cracking scene-stealer (Hot in Cleveland).

For your information: White won this award last year. Fey won three times in a row before that. Falco won three times in the drama category for “The Sopranos” and returns in this category for the third year in a row. Vergara was nominated last year, and she’s joined by costar Bowen, who won the Emmy last year. Supporting actresses do sometimes win in this category, like Christine Baranski, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lisa Kudrow, and Megan Mullally.

Who should win: Bowen or Vergara

Who will win: I’m thinking it will be Bowen.

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Male Actor in a Comedy Series

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

The competition: Alec Baldwin’s conservative TV boss (30 Rock), Ty Burrell’s goofy dad (Modern Family), Steve Carell’s wacky manager (The Office), Jon Cryer’s excitable chiropractor (Two and a Half Men), and Eric Stonestreet’s flamboyant stay-at-home dad (Modern Family).

For your information: Alec Baldwin has won this award for the past five years, creating a fearsome precedent. With Carell’s sixth nomination, this is his final chance to win the award. Emmy winner Burrell is back for round two, while both Stonestreet and Cryer receive their first-ever SAG nomination. Both have won Emmys for Best Supporting Actor. This award does sometimes go to supporting actors, as Jason Alexander, David Hyde Pierce, Robert Downey Jr., and Sean Hayes have won in the past.

Who should win: Carell, Burell, or Stonestreet

Who will win: I think Carell may finally be able to dethrone Baldwin.

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Female Actor in a Drama Series

2012-01-26T03:00:00.000-05:00

The competition: Kathy Bates’ strong-willed lawyer (Harry’s Law), Glenn Close’s vicious lawyer (Damages), Jessica Lange’s creepy neighbor (American Horror Story), Julianna Margulies’ hard-working lawyer and mother (The Good Wife), and Kyra Sedgwick’s deputy police chief (The Closer).

For your information: Margulies has won the past two years, and also won in 1997 and 1998 for “ER.” This is Close’s fourth consecutive nomination, and she won for “The Lion in Winter” in 2004. She is also nominated for her lead performance in the film “Albert Nobbs” this year. Sedgwick has been nominated every year since 2005 but has never won. Bates won in the miniseries or TV movie category in 1996 and won a film SAG award in 1998. She has been nominated once more for both TV and film work. Lange has been nominated twice before, once for film and television. Since its inception in 1994, only two supporting actresses have won this award, and both were from “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Who should win: Margulies or Sedgwick

Who will win: Supporting actress Lange, but it could be any of them.

SAG Winner Predictions: Best Male Actor in a Drama Series

2012-01-25T21:00:00.003-05:00

The competition: Patrick J. Adams’ degreeless law genius (Suits), Steve Buscemi’s Atlantic City gangster (Boardwalk Empire), Kyle Chandler’s devoted coach (Friday Night Lights), Bryan Cranston’s meth cooker (Breaking Bad), and Michael C. Hall’s kind-hearted serial killer (Dexter).

For your information: Buscemi won this award last year, and Hall won the year before. This is Cranston’s third nomination, and though he has won three consecutive Emmys, he has yet to win a SAG award. Chandler won the Emmy last year for his performance in the final series of “Friday Night Lights,” and this is the first nomination for freshman series star Adams. Since its inception in 1994, this award has gone to the same performer twice on many occasions - Dennis Franz, Anthony Edwards, James Gandolfini (three times, actually), Martin Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, and Hugh Laurie, so don’t count a repeat win by Buscemi.

Who should win: Buscemi, Cranston, and Hall are all great choices

Who will win: Given that “Breaking Bad” finally cracked the Best Ensemble category and had arguably its strongest season yet, I think it’s time for Cranston to win.

Round Two: Alcatraz

2012-01-25T15:00:00.002-05:00

Alcatraz: Season 1, Episode 3 “Kit Nelson” (B+)

After such an amazing premiere, it stands to reason that the next outing would have to be underwhelming. While this third installment lacks some of the magic and mystery present in the two-hour pilot, it does demonstrate that the format works well, and that this show is committed to showcasing dark villains. Nelson was a different kind of bad guy than the two we’ve previously seen because everyone in Alcatraz hated him due to his particular modus operandi. His father’s visit took him back to the first time he may or may not have killed someone, and I think that it’s good that this show tries to probe deep into what makes its killers tick, making it both a sci-fi show and a crime show. Featuring Nelson also made it possible to see how sadistic and cruel Warden James can be, forcing him to reveal whether or not he killed his brother before leaving him to his fate. In the present, Doc proved his worth by deducing that Nelson was on the loose after hearing about Dylan’s kidnapping on the police scanner, and then continued to excel by going around from diner to diner in search of cherry pie. His run-in with Nelson and Dylan was intense, and he did a good job of trying to be subtle, as did Rebecca when she finally arrived. Emerson is always the one to pull the trigger and to irk Doc and Rebecca by being too callous about the criminals and their victims, and something tells me that the twosome is going do some digging and find out what they can without informing their shadowy boss.

What I’m Watching: Californication

2012-01-25T09:00:00.003-05:00

Californication: Season 5, Episode 3 “Boys and Girls” (B+)

It’s intriguing that Hank still thinks that he’s going to be able to leave L.A, but this is definitely the most compelling reason why he’s decided to stay, especially after Becca compared her cheating boyfriend to him. Perhaps more than ever before, Hank has gotten himself in way over his head, both in terms of his relationship with her daughter, who will likely eventually find out about his indirect complicity in the assault on Tyler, and with Kali throwing herself at him while he does his best to hold out. Samurai Apocalypse is already having some fun with Hank and coming at him with a gun, and I’m sure he won’t be pleased once Hank inevitably slips and they get caught. Hank’s also still not against putting the moves on Karen even though she’s in a relationship with someone he doesn’t seem to mind all that much, and she’s not doing as good a job of rejecting his advances as she should be. While he might not be considered the worst of the three parents, Charlie isn’t doing a terrific job of taking care of his young son, and he may just have offended Lizzie enough to cause some problems there. Charlie’s such an entertaining character, and you’d think that it would be hard for such a sex-obsessed, whiny guy to be incredibly likeable. This cast of characters truly is wild, and it’s hard to find such deplorable people whose lives are so fully engaging and enthralling time and time again.

Take Three: House of Lies

2012-01-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

House of Lies: Season 1, Episode 3 “Microphallus” (B+)

There’s no arguing that this show has found a good home on Showtime, in the comedy of other series willing to indulge in open conversation about sexual matters and other such scandalous topics like “Californication” and “Weeds.” The return of Greg Norbert from the pilot as the potential new owner of the firm makes things quite interesting, and Marty sure doesn’t back down, purposely antagonizing him after being threatened. The clients of the week were also an intriguing bunch, including Alan Dale in yet another position of great power. The truly fascinating folks, however, were the couple that invited Marty and Jeannie over, where Marty could have some far-out fun with the wife while Jeannie learned surprising things about her toes. I like that this show holds all of its characters equally accountable and open to mockery, with both parties agreeing never to discuss what transpired inside the house. Doug seems like the go-to punching bag, while Clyde, aside from his masterful storytelling last week, is more of a wingman. I’m enjoying the brief moments in which Marty’s son appears, in this installment to explain that he’s attracted to both a boy and a girl, deciding to invite both over rather than choose. The show has a dark side, though, which is equally compelling, as Marty wakes up from a nightmare on the anniversary of his mother’s death and then gets told by Skip that he might in fact be out because he’s not in this business to make friends. That final shot of him maniacally driving the valet car, frightening even Clyde, is haunting, and gives this show an unexpected edge in terms of its dramatic impact.