Ravings of the Loquacious Madman

I haven’t watched the Grammy Awards in over a decade. To be honest, it has to do with Bonnie Raitt winning best rock album and Soundgarden winning best metal years ago. Mismatched categories and undeserving artists made the show unwatchable for me. After this year, I think I’ll be adding the Emmys to my unwatchable list. I’m all for Family Guy being nominated in the Outstanding Comedy Series category, but I would call for Senate hearings to investigate some major oversights. I’ll break it down.

Outstanding Drama Series: One question. Where in the hell is The Shield?! For seven years, it was the best dramatic series on television. It never jumped the shark. It never had a down season. And I am to believe that the season of Damages was more outstanding than the last season of The Shield. For heaven’s sake, Family Meeting was one of the greatest season or series finales in history.

Outstanding Comedy Series: I have no major disagreement with the nominees, though I am left asking where are Psych and Monk.  These too shows have made USA the network it is.  Perhaps Monk has had its time in the spotlight, but Psych is an outstanding comedy.

Outstanding lead actor in a dramatic series: I am to seriously believe that Simon Baker is more deserving of an award than Michael Chiklis?  Really?  What were the voters smoking when they cast their ballots?

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Kudos for including Tony Shalhoub for Monk, but James Roday runs rings around Charlie Sheen in comedic timing.

Outstanding lead actress in a dramatic series:  Anna Paquin should be front and center in this category.  She has done a tremendous job as the lead in True Blood.

Outstanding supporting actor in a dramatic series:  What is the lust affair with Lost and Damages?  Did the voters suffer brain damage and forget Walton Goggins’ amazing performance of Shane Vendrell in the last season of The Shield?

Where is Battlestar Galactica?  Despite the genre, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell are conspicuously missing from the list of nominees.  Rescue Me is an excellent drama, but no love from the voters?

Wake me up when these awards shows become less about shock value and move back into rewarding the best works of art.  I may not always agree with the Oscars, but I cannot recall a time that so many deserving performances were completely ignored.