Tag Archives: awards

Gatiss and Moffat, Who’s Your Favourite Child?

A series of shots with Benedict Cumberbatch as BBC Sherlock Holmes and Matt Smith as Dr. Who competing for popularity

Well, this could be a bit awkward.

In case you’ve missed the news, both Sherlock and Dr. Who, as well as Benedict Cumberbatch and Matt Smith, are going head to head in the National Television Awards competition. The winners will be announced on 23 January, 2013. I confess as much as I like Matt Smith and The Doctor from time to time (no pun intended), I’m rooting for Sherlock and Benedict Cumberbatch (although, I have some friends who are in a real fehklumpt (I was going to use “feshmeckle” but can’t find out how to spell it correctly in Yiddish), because they are true fans of both the shows and the men).

My reasons for supporting Sherlock are beautifully explained in a Los Angeles Times article for which I’ll simply include the following excerpt:

For the generations of men who have wondered what it is women want, this year has made it fairly obvious. We want a man of devastating intelligence, cerebrally and physically nimble, whose vast store of arcane knowledge is foundation for a super-human ability to solve problems and the fascinating, frustrating wall that protects a tender heart.

We want Sherlock Holmes.

Ask Jack Nicholson to Lend You His Axe, Sherlock

Close-up of Benedict Cumberbatch as BBC Sherlock Holmes making a funny angry face

American Academy of Arts & Sciences, heeeere’s Sherlock!

[For those too young to get this joke because they haven’t seen The Shining, please check out the brief film clip at the bottom of the post. It is classic cinema that you should see.]

As I feared the anti-British, anti-Sherlock backlash has begun and the provincial, parochial minds of the members of the American Academy of Television Arts & Sciences have shown just how stupid and petty they can be. Yes, I know they dropped the American part several years ago, but I’m old enough to remember when they used the word and tonight they demonstrated that they very much still think in terms of protecting the local business. There is a strong industry push to protect and promote the new CBS police procedural Sherlock Holmes as well as “buy American” in general.

But then  it’s never been known for being very good at recognizing quality and keeping politics (and business) out of the voting. I mean they actually have awards for “reality” television! Seriously? Where exactly is the art of Jersey Shore or Survivor or any of the rest of that category? And the only science is watching Darwinism in action — or inaction in many shows causing me to weep for the future of the species. Curb Your Enthusiasm beat The Big Bang Theory? Really? And they expect me to have any respect for the Emmy Awards. Obviously, much of what is best on television right now is too cerebral for the academy membership. Do not be surprised to see Honey BooBoo winning next season.

So I offer sincere apologizes to:

  • Team Sherlock (Best Miniseries or TV Movie)
  • Steven Moffat (Best Writing Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Benedict Cumberbatch (Best Actor Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Martin Freeman (Best Supporting Actor Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Paul McGuigan (Best Directing Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Arwel Wyn Jones, Dafydd Shurmer & Joelle Rumbelow (Art Direction for Miniseries or Movie)
  • Kate Rhodes James (Casting for Miniseries or Movie)
  • Fabian Wagner (Cinematography for Miniseries or Movie)
  • Sarah Arthur & Ceri Walford (Costumes for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Charlie Phillips (Single Camera Picture Editing for Miniseries or Movie)
  • David Arnold & Michael Price (Music Composition for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Jeremy Child & Doug Sinclair (Sound Editing for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Howard Bargroff (Sound Mixing for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)

When people ask why I don’t have TV reception and have no interest in getting cable, this will go a long way to explaining why.

Our Fingers Are Crossed, Sherlock

Benedict Cumberbatch as BBC Sherlock Holmes in his blue bathrobe looking thoughtful

Now where did I put the Emmy ballots I nicked off those American actors? I may need to go to my mind palace.

I don’t have TV reception so I’ll have to hang out on Twitter to get the news when the tweets start, but here’s hoping the membership has at least some good taste and good sense, Sherlock. (I’m assuming Parade’s End will be heavily represented next year so we get see Benedict Cumberbatch in another lovely tux. Anyone know if Martin Freeman will make this year’s Emmy Awards?)

###Update: Twitter reports Martin Freeman WILL be attending the awards. Hopefully, with his lovely wife. Looking forward to photos of Team Sherlock and a big win.

 

What Can We Deduce About the Critics, Sherlock?

Lara Pulver as Irene Adler in the BBC series Sherlock seated naked with a questioning expression

This didn’t win an award? Really? Are the voters all gay?

While I could understand the BAFTA choice because of the intensity of the winning material and performance, I was completely surprised by the Critic’s Choice loss. I mean this is Hollywood! And the performance was delightful — not to mention the visuals. (Okay, there is the hair. I don’t understand the hair. An Audrey Hepburn up do I would have understood, but the bat wings…)