The TV Chick

NBC Comedies are back! I have missed them! And the shows are full of great guest stars this week. On Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler’s hilarious husband, Will Arnett guest stars as a MRI technician. I love that this show brings in spouses–first Megan Mullally and now Will Arnett. Who’s next?

Also, Jack Black is guest-starring on Community, as a student who wants to be part of the “in-crowd.” (In other words, Joel McHale and his crew).

And if that’s not enough, James Franco appears on 30 Rock! Check out these video sneak peeks and be sure to tune in tomorrow night on NBC starting at 8 pm for this amazing Thursday night line-up.

Parks and Recreation:

Leslie goes to get an MRI, and Will Arnett plays the MRI technician:

Amy Poehler talks about working with her husband, Will Arnett on Parks and Recreation:

More videos…

While there’s a bit of a lull in TV news today, here are some great videos from tonight’s NBC comedies to hold you over.

Megan Mullally (adore her) guest stars on an all new Parks & Recreation with her real-life husband Nick Offerman. They talk about the episode here:
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Meet Tammy Swanson (Ron’s Ex):

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And, Brian Williams guest stars on an all new 30 Rock. He is absolutely hilarious (no, seriously), so I’m excited to see his guest appearance. Check out a behind the scenes video here:

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I have to admit, I wasn’t as keen on 30 Rock towards the end of last season as everyone else seemed to be. However, I was excited to check out the first two episodes of season four, aptly titled “Season Four” and “Into the Crevasse.”

Season Four centers around TGS becoming more relatable to the general public. Each cast member plays a part in this plan (concocted by Jack of course). Jenna becomes a country singer, Tracy tries to make friends with “commoners,” and Liz and Pete are sent on a mission to find a new cast member. Liz and Pete end up getting caught sneaking out together, which results in a hilarious scene with Pete’s wife (played by the former SNL writer, the lovely Paula Pell). Meanwhile, Kenneth leads a page strike. This episode had a few hilarious moments, but overall, it came across as very meta. I don’t want to spoil too much, but the opening scene involves some of the cast eating in an Asian Fusion restaurant called “Season Four.”

Into the Crevasse centers around Devin (guest star Will Arnett) trying to sabotage Jack and his career. In addition, all of the cast is angry at Liz over a book she wrote. Will Arnett is incredibly hilarious in this role. There was even scenes where he was hanging out with the Obama children (you’ll have to watch to find out why). I enjoy the interplay between Alec Baldwin and Will Arnett, which is what made this episode very enjoyable and funny. It was a definite improvement over the season premiere.

I love the cast of this show, and I think they are all incredibly talented and hilarious. But sometimes, week to week, the show can be a bit over the top. However, the 2nd episode was a huge improvement over the first, so I hope that it will continue to improve throughout the season.

30 Rock premieres tonight at 9:30 pm.

Drama Series:

• Breaking Bad
• Big Love
• Lost
• Dexter
• Damages
• House

No real surprises here, good nominations all around.

Comedy Series:

• Entourage
• Family Guy
• Flight of the Conchords
• How I Met Your Mother
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Weeds

Family Guy has been nominated before, but it’s a little strange to see it in a category with How I Met Your Mother. Flight of the Conchords is a nice surprise.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Sally Field (Brothers and Sisters)
• Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
• Glen Close (Damages)
• Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: SVU)
• Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
• Holly Hunter (Saving Grace)

My main girls are nominated again! Also, glad to see Holly Hunter up there for Saving Grace.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
• Michael C Hall (Dexter)
• Hugh Laurie (House)
• Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
• Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
• Simon Baker (The Mentalist)

I had hoped for a 2 year in a row Gabriel Byrne nomination and I got it! Here’s to hoping he wins, but there is definitely some stiff competition.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Julia-Louis Dreyfuss (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
• Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
• Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program)
• Tina Fey (3o Rock)
• Tony Collette (United States of Tara)
• Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)

This category has some much-deserving funny ladies. Sarah Silverman is maybe the most surprising, but very well deserved. I’d love to see her or Toni Collette pull out a win!

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Jermaine Clement (Flight of The Conchords)
• Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
• Steve Carell (The Office)
• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
• Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)
• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)

All very funny men…my guess would be Jim Parsons takes home the statue. He was so cute when Chandra Wilson announced his nomination.

Made for TV Movie:

• Coco Chanel
• Grey Gardens
• Into the Storm
• Prayers For Bobby
• Taking Chance

Grey Gardens! Also, Prayers For Bobby was pretty great, so I’m happy to see it nominated.

Lead Actress/Miniseries:

• Shirley MacLaine (Coco Chanel)
• Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens)
• Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens)
• Sigourney Weaver (Prayers For Bobby)
• Chandra Wilson (Accidental Friendship)

It’s nice to see some great, seasoned actresses in this category.

Lead Actor/Miniseries:

• Kevin Kline (Cyrano de Bergerac: Great Performances)
• Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm)
• Sir Ian McKellan (King Lear: Great Performances)
• Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance)
• Kiefer Sutherland (24: redemption)
• Kevin Brannagh (Wallander: One Step Behind)

Along the same lines, some incredibly actors in this category too!

Reality Competition Program:

• Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing With The Stars
• Project Runway
• Top Chef

It’s nice to see the Bravo shows represented…I am pulling for one of those to win!

Outstanding Variety, Music, Comedy Series:

• Colbert Report
• The Daily Show
• Late Show with David Letterman
• Real Time with Bill Maher
• Saturday Night Live

Solid choices (pretty much the same as every year).

No supporting categories announced live, which is a little surprising, but here are more categories worth discussing:

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Tracy Morgan (30 Rock)
• Jack McBrayer (30 Rock)
• Kevin Dillon (Entourage)
• Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
• Rainn Wilson (The Office)
• Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

While I am thrilled for Neil Patrick Harris, I think he should have been nominated in the Lead Actor category. I’m obviously hoping he wins, because Barney Stinson is one of the best things to happen to television, but who knows. Jack McBrayer gets a very deserving nomination here as well…very happy for him.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)
• Kristen Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies)
• Kristen Wiig (SNL), Amy Poehler (SNL)
• Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
• Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds)

I am thrilled to see two ladies from SNL nominated (I totally called Amy Poehler’s nomination). However, I’m sad that Jenna Fischer didn’t get a nod. There’s always next year!

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:

• Cherry Jones (24)
• Rose Byrne (Damages)
• Sandra Oh (Greys Anatomy)
• Chandra Wilson (Greys Anatomy)
• Dianne Wiest (In Treatment)
• Hope Davis (In Treatment)

Dianne Wiest and Hope Davis were phenomenal on In Treatment…so here’s to hoping one of them wins (get it, hoping?)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Jon Hamm (30 Rock)
• Steve Martin (30 Rock)
• Alan Alda (30 Rock)
• Beau Bridges (Desperate Housewives)
• Justin Timberlake (SNL)

All of these actors are great, but I am most excited to see Justin Timberlake nominated. He is one of the best SNL hosts out there, and I’m glad to see him recognized.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Jennifer Aniston (3o Rock)
• Elaine Stritch (30 Rock)
• Gena Rowlands (Monk)
• Betty White (My Name is Earl)
• Tina Fey (SNL-Presidential Bash 2008)
• Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory)

I totally called it. Apparently, I was not out in left field when suggesting Tina Fey needed to be recognized somehow for her Sarah Palin performances. Way to go, TV Academy, you did well!

So overall, most nominations weren’t surprising, but there were a few good (and not so good ones). I was really excited to see Dr. Horrible’s Sing A Long Blog nominated as well as Motherlover (SNL–sequel to Dick In A Box). I look forward to Emmy night!

So in the spirit of TV Squad’s Emmy wish list, I thought I’d post some thoughts of my own. I will be making a big post tomorrow (possibly live-blogging, or close to it) about the nominees, but I thought I’d list some hopes and wishes for tomorrow.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Jenna Fischer is one of my choices. She had a great season on The Office, and she really deserves a nod. The Jim/Pam moments this season were amazing.

But, I would love to see Amy Poehler get a nomination. Last year, she was nominated–which was a first for Saturday Night Live–and I think she deserves to be recognized again. She may have only been there for half a season, but lest we forget this…

Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Now this choice might seem a little out in left field. But, I think Tina Fey (for SNL) should be nominated in this category. She wouldn’t qualify for the Supporting Actress category for Saturday Night Live, because she wasn’t technically a part of the cast. However, her performances as Sarah Palin were absolutely brilliant. And I think the Academy should recognize this in some way. I know she will probably get a nomination for 30 Rock, which is well deserved, but I think Sarah Palin was her real niche this year.

Lead Actress in a Drama: I would like to see my main girls Kyra Sedgwick and Mariska Hargitay get nominated, and from what I’ve seen in the past, they are pretty much locked in. But, usually someone else comes and takes the award away from these deserving leading ladies.

Lead Actor in a Drama: In Treatment is a wonderful show, and I want to see Gabriel Byrne get nominated in this category for playing Dr. Paul Weston. In fact, I’d love to see all the cast members nominated in their relative categories.

Lead Actor in a Comedy: Neil Patrick Harris is one of the best actors out there and not to mention hilarious. Wouldn’t it be great to finally see him get his due while also doubling as a host on the same night? I am crossing my fingers for a legen…wait for it…dary night.

Outstanding Made For Television Movie: Grey Gardens. I’m calling it right now. Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange were quirky and fantastic.

In terms of shows in general, of course I want The Office to get nominated, as well as How I Met Your Mother, In Treatment and 30 Rock. I think it was a great year for television, and I look forward to hearing who the nominees are bright and early tomorrow morning.