What I’m Watching: Heroes

Heroes: Season 4, Episode 15 “Close to You” (F)

I wasn’t quite sure who the supposed leader of the carnival was supposed to be, and for a while I worried that it might be either Matt or Hiro, two choices which would both have resulted in complete disaster. Fortunately, it’s an only slightly less idiotic character, Peter, who seems to have the most sense out of anyone, even if he’s a bit quick to break cellos at the first sign of suspicion. The presence of some of the recurring characters on this show is becoming terribly distracting. Even though she is a credited series regular, Angela Petrelli has never felt like a legitimate personage for the show, and her cold greeting of Emma felt very off. Lauren’s continued involvement in Noah’s off-the-books, completely unsponsored one-man battle against the carnival doesn’t make much sense, though it’s good to have someone around as a sounding board for him, and it really shouldn’t be Matt, especially given his uselessness in this episode. Hiro talking in garbled comic book speak went on way too long, and the notion that the institution medication affects the strength of powers isn’t terribly exciting. At least Ando, who finally gets a chance to use his own powers and be cool too, was able to rescue both Hiro and Suresh from their various predicaments. Their arrival at Noah’s apartment was very comic, and both frustrating and satisfying. It was always my belief that this show could succeed if it assembled its heroes together like the X-Men. With a thrilling five characters in the same room at one time and the likely cooperation of Matt, Peter, and maybe even Emma, this show could well become a little less awful. But then there’s Claire, who still hasn’t been knocked off her high horse and isn’t doing anyone any good. Maybe Sylar will just kill her. That would be fine.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actress

The competition: Jane Adams’ inexperienced pimp (Hung), Rose Byrne’s hard-working lawyer (Damages), Jane Lynch’s tyrannical cheerleading coach (Glee), Janet McTeer’s Clementine Churchill (Into the Storm), and Chloe Sevigny’s one of many wives (Big Love).
For your information: The only returning nominee is Byrne, who wasn’t nominated last year because her show didn’t air. Both Janes star on freshman series, and are first-time Globe nominees. Only once in the past six years has the star of a weekly TV series won this award (Sandra Oh for “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2005).
Who should win: Either Jane
Who will win: While McTeer could keep the trend going, it’s unlikely she’ll be able to beat Lynch.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor

The competition: Michael Emerson’s duplicitous island chief (Lost), Neil Patrick Harris’ ridiculous playboy (How I Met Your Mother), William Hurt’s unreliable witness (Damages), John Lithgow’s Trinity Killer (Dexter), and Jeremy Piven’s high-strung agent (Entourage).
For your information: This is the first time since 2004 that only comedy and drama series were represented in this category. This is Piven’s sixth straight nomination. He won two years ago. Neil Patrick Harris is a returning nominee from last year. This is Emerson’s first mention, and he won an Emmy this year for the role. Lithgow was new to this season of “Dexter,” and he has three previous nods and one win for “3rd Rock from the Sun.” This is Hurt’s first TV nomination after four film nominations over the past twenty years.
Who should win: Emerson or Lithgow
Who will win: Hard to say, but I think it will be Lithgow.

What I’m Watching: Chuck (Season Premiere)

Chuck: Season 3, Episodes 1, 2 & 3 “Chuck Versus The Pink Slip,” “Chuck Versus The Three Words” & “Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte” (B+)

This excess of Chuck as he returns from an eight-month hiatus is pretty exciting, and it certainly gets thing started up again. There’s a sense that these episodes are a bit plodding and silly and that thing have yet to actually really get going, but they’re still quality entertainment. Seeing a bearded Chuck eating nothing but cheese balls was rather depressing, though now he’s back on his feet, and that’s great. His reactions to his newfound abilities are almost as gratifying and exciting as the powers themselves, and Zachary Levi continues to do a spectacular job of playing Chuck. It’s weird to see Emmett kicked off the show so violently, though I suppose the fact that it’s underplayed and that no one except Casey knows what really happened makes it easier for the show to move on and bring Chuck, Morgan, and Big Mike back without wasting any time. The disappearance of Anna, which I believe is due to budgetary reasons, has been explained away nicely and quickly, allowing Morgan to return to being a loveable, single loser all by himself. Morgan’s courtship of Karina was a bit iffy, but ultimately the episode worked. That’s how I feel about all three of these episodes. Ultimately, they’re much more worthwhile than not, though it hasn’t quite reached the peak of excitement achieved at the end of last season. The end of the third episode, with Captain Awesome’s abduction, was a nice way to end this "Chuck" overdose and keep things, well, awesome. None of the three episodes left me with much to say other than “welcome back, Chuck!” Oh, and that Adam Baldwin is pretty cool.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

The competition: Joan Allen (Georgia O’Keeffe), Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens), Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens), Anna Paquin (The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler), and Sigourney Weaver (Prayers for Bobby).
For your information: Barrymore, Lange, and Weaver were all nominated for the Emmy this past year, and Lange won. This is Lange’s fifth TV nod, and she won once before. Barrymore has one TV nod, and Weaver won twice in the same year for her film work. Paquin won last year for “True Blood,” and is nominated again for that role this year.
Who should win: I haven’t seen any of these either, unfortunately.
Who will win: Maybe Allen, but I think it will be the other “Grey Gardens” lady, Barrymore.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie

The competition: Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance), Kenneth Branagh (Wallander: One Step Behind), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Endgame), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), and Jeremy Irons (Georgia O’Keeffe).
For your information: Bacon, Branagh, and Gleeson were all nominated for the Emmy this past year, and Gleeson took it home. Irons is the only Globe winner among the nominees, winning in 2006 for his work in “Elizabeth I.”
Who should win: I’ve seen none of these, sadly.
Who will win: I’ll guess Gleeson.

What I’m Watching: Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives: Season 6, Episode 12 “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” (B-)

There are good and bad parts in this episode, and the split is about equal. To begin with the less impressive elements, my suspicions from last week have been all but confirmed concerning the survival of Orson and the death of Karl. The renewed relationship between Bree and Orson is just as miserable as ever, and their last scene is almost an exact recreation of the first time Orson demanded Bree make him dinner because he was hungry. Bree won’t find any salvation from trying to help Orson get by, and the show won’t be able to milk any laughs out of it either. It wasn’t funny the first time, and it’s just going to be all the more painful the second time around. Bree’s confession scene was funny, but that’s only because her admitting her transgressions is something new that we haven’t seen before. Lynette’s storyline, which is far more appropriately dramatic, also feels terribly recycled. Obviously this is just the latest tragedy (and child) for Lynette and Tom, but this feels like the umpteenth conversation about who’s going back to work, and the fact that Lynette is still surprised that Tom likes working too is a serious stretch. There’s also considerable hyperbole at play here, with Tom writing the best proposal ever on his first day and Carlos making an immediate decision that he wants to keep him there for good. Overplaying things works a bit better for Mike and Susan, whose strip club fiasco is entertaining and doesn’t go on too long. Carlos and Gaby get a nice dramatic plotline of their own, and hearing Juanita react in an extremely surprised manner to being Mexican was quite amusing. On the side, there was also the unfortunate departure of Julia and the reincorporation of Ana. It’s good that the Bolens will be brought back into focus again, since the identity of Julie’s attacker is still unknown (though there are certainly suspects) and if the show can’t have Julie, they should definitely hold on to Ana. Weird but funny moment of the episode: Lee and Mrs. McCluskey getting distracted by the shared fantasy of Tom Scavo in shorts.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition: Toni Collette’s multiple-personality mother on “The United States of Tara,” Courteney Cox’s real estate agent on “Cougar Town,” Edie Falco’s dedicated nurse on “Nurse Jackie,” Tina Fey’s harried television writer on “30 Rock,” and Lea Michele’s singing perfectionist on “Glee.”
For your information: Fey is the only returning nominee, and all four newbies are from freshman shows. Fey has won the past two years. Falco has seven previous nods and two wins for “The Sopranos.” Collette has one TV movie nod, and this is the first nomination for the other two.
Who should win: Fey is great, but so is Michele
Who will win: A lot of competition. I think it will be the uber-popular Michele.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Comedy/Musical

The competition: Alec Baldwin’s sarcastic TV executive on “30 Rock,” Steve Carrell’s hapless manager on “The Office,” David Duchovny’s sex-addicted writer on “Californication,” Thomas Jane’s prostitute-in-training on “Hung,” and Matthew Morrison’s show choir director on “Glee.”
For your information: All three returning nominees have one before: Baldwin in 2006 and 2008, Duchovny in 2007, and Carrell in 2005. This is the first year on the air for both of the other two’s shows.
Who should win: Anyone but Morrison
Who will win: In an ideal world, it would be Jane, but all of the buzz for his show should guide Morrison to a win.

The Beginning of the End: Dollhouse

Dollhouse: Season 2, Episode 11 “Getting Closer” (A-)

So it’s certainly awful that this show got cancelled, but wow. I’m so ridiculously excited for the next two episodes, and this installment just showed me that there’s real reason to be excited. This show is plummeting towards its end, and things are getting crazy, which is absolutely spectacular and so incredibly thrilling. This episode was fantastically melodramatic in the same way that “Twin Peaks” was, adding to its intensity by being utterly over-the-top in its depiction of sentimentality and the fate of the world. This episode is great for the ground it covers but also drops two major bombs in terms of shocking, entirely unexpected revelations. We’ll get to those. First, the story of Caroline and Bennett is wonderful to know, and it’s great that Bennett was so deeply and crucially incorporated into everything though she was only introduced a few episodes ago. A moment of silence is required for Bennett Halverson, expertly portrayed by the most reliable of Joss Whedon regulars who delivered, in my opinion, her best performance yet in this episode. River Tam was amazing, sure, but this was even better. Now on the other two twists. Before another Whedon brunette came and stole the show, Amy Acker was the best part of this series. Having Whisky back was a great thing, and her betrayal and execution of Bennett only seconds after she and Topher finally had a moment was stunning and completely shocking. It’s just like a similar twist at the end of the first season of another sci-fi series, only this one really came out of nowhere. It makes much more sense once the second twist was revealed, which is that Boyd is the man at the top of Rossum. That’s pretty hard to believe considering he was the one truly good, nice guy through all of this, and having him be in charge of everything doesn’t really compute. Still, I’m so intrigued that I just have to know what happens. I can’t possibly wait until Friday to find out.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actress in a TV Series – Drama

The competition: Glenn Close’s cutthroat attorney on “Damages,” January Jones’ scorned wife on “Mad Men,” Julianna Marguiles’ disgraced wife and lawyer on “The Good Wife,” Anna Paquin’s mind-reading waitress on “True Blood,” and Kyra Sedgwick’s stubborn deputy chief on “The Closer.”
For your information: Close won two years ago when her show was last eligible. Hargitay and Sedgwick have each won once before. Paquin won last year, and this is the first year of Marguiles’ show.
Who should win: Jones or Sedgwick
Who will win: This category often favors stars of new shows, and I think Marguiles should easily win.

What I’m Watching: Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty: Season 4, Episode 10 “The Passion of the Betty” (B+)

It’s nice that, whatever obstacle may present itself, the terrific couple that is Matt and Betty can move forward in a positive and strong way. Betty’s presentation of the paintings she hadn’t seen was clearly an ill-fated plan, but I suspected that they weren’t actually done by him rather than imagining them as his outlet for expressing his distaste for Betty after they broke up. Matt’s new turn to unemployment may prove to be a bit of a lull, but hopefully he’ll find something fun to do and be able to, as Betty had hoped, find his passion. I did enjoy the opening montage to convey the amount of time they were spending together. It was great to see so much of Hilda in this episode, and while this might be Santos all over again, it’s good that Bobby is trying to take an active role in supporting Hilda and her baby. Hopefully Ignacio will come around in time too. This was a very good episode for Claire Meade, who had the two men in her life apologizing to her and then turned the tables on Cal by using the blackmail from Wilhelmina against him. It’s so wonderful to see Becki Newton excelling as usual at physical comedy in all of her interactions with Marc and Wilhelmina. Marc’s boyfriend arc can’t work it well, but it could be fun while it lasts. The opening scene with Jesse Tyler Ferguson was somewhat entertaining but didn’t quite feel right since, only an hour earlier, he was on “Modern Family” playing a decidedly not straight man.

Golden Globe Winner Predictions: Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama

The competition: Simon Baker’s phony psychic on “The Mentalist,” Michael C. Hall’s serial killer on “Dexter”, Hugh Laurie’s cranky doctor on “House”, Jon Hamm’s advertising man on “Mad Men,” and Bill Paxton’s very married man on “Big Love.”
For your information: This is the first nomination for Baker, and the other four are returning nominees. Hamm won two years ago, and Laurie won twice before that. This is Paxton’s third nomination for the third year of his show, even though it hasn’t aired every calendar year.
Who should win: Hall or Hamm
Who will win: Baker probably won’t win on his first show, while this could finally be the year that the unrewarded Hall finally gets his due.

What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 11 “Up All Night” (B+)

This episode certainly isn’t what I expected give the title, which has been used for episodes of both “30 Rock” and “Friends” and probably others (if you know of any, please comment). The two I’ve seen have featured lengthy nights where all the characters bond and get to know each other, whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. In this case, three men on the show do spend their whole night together and become much closer, even if that relationship is only fleeting. It’s amusing to see Jay be so hostile initially to Javier and then get suckered in by his charms, and to see Gloria yelling furiously about it all. Cameron and Mitchell’s disagreement about how much affection and comfort to show their baby was entertaining, and the culmination of the whole thing with Mitchell getting hurt was pretty funny. As always, Phil’s storyline tends to be the strongest. The attractive town firemen, and the incorporation of Cameron and Mitchell into that plotline at the very end, are a fantastic phenomenon that creates a great scenario where Claire has to feel guilty for getting dressed up while Phil was in terrible physical pain. I particularly love how the narration works so well to build up to surprises in this show, with Phil discussing his 20-year holdout for a robot with emotions being instantly shattered by his sad announcement of “goodbye, robot” as not one but four attractive women pop out of a room to reveal how much time Phil spent flirting with them while he was in the hospital. A bonus funny moment was Phil trying to transmit all of the PIN numbers to his son while about to pass out from the anesthesia.

What I'm Watching: Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted: Season 2, Episodes 6 & 7 “Beating A Dead Workforce” & “Change We Can’t Believe In” (B+)

Two episodes of this show in one night is definitely a fantastic gift for the new year. Of course it means that the season will be over all the sooner (to make way for the return of “Lost” in the 9pm timeslot), but it should be great while it lasts. The first episode was full of terrific laughs, and the second wasn’t too shabby either. I enjoy Veronica’s relationship with Ted, and the banal way they interact. When Ted rounded the corner and spotted Veronica, her response of “you’re always coming to me with a problem” was hilarious and truly fitting for their dynamic. Her subsequent rant about praising her like a celebrity pop star was a little weird but still fun. Ted’s attempts to find a kindly counterpart to the horror of Stephen King with Stephen the Clown and a poorly-conceived effort to put Steven Seagal into that category were great. All of Veronica’s lines were spot-on, especially “he may not have been alive when we hired him” as the company’s defense for the employee’s untimely death. I laughed out loud at her inability to comprehend his name while announcing it, unwilling to toss out the Carl in his name despite the fact that it was Gordon Jenkins, no Carl. Other memorable quotes from Veronica in the first episode include: “this cartoon resonates with my experience of office life, but through a comical lens,” “the future is a cake which may never come,” and the whole “the moment is gone…savor it…it’s gone” manipulation of a rather violent Andrea. The second installment was enjoyable in the way that it allowed unprecedented interaction between Phil, Lem, and Veronica and her ill-fated efforts to separate them into two people so that she would only have to deal with one of them ever. Seeing how people find Ted and Andrea obnoxious is always a plus too.