A blog about societal, cultural, and civilizational collapse, and how to stave it off or survive it. Named after the legendary character "Crazy Eddie" in Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle's "The Mote in God's Eye." Expect news and views about culture, politics, economics, technology, and science fiction.
Embattled Congressman George Santos isn't impressed with his late-nite impersonators. Comedian Jon Lovitz even did his best Santos impression on "The Tonight Show." But apparently, Santos doesn't find any of this funny. He tweeted: "I have now been enshrined in late-night TV history with all these impersonations, but they are all terrible so far." Lovitz responded by saying "My pathological liar character can’t hold a candle to you!"
Congressman George Santos (Jon Lovitz) stops by the Tonight Show to put rumors about him to bed, like him lying about working for Goldman Sachs and being Jewish.
Lovitz didn't have to do much more to update his pathological liar character from "Saturday Night Live" other than wear the right clothes and glasses and make the wheels spinning in the character's head less obvious to get Santos right. All he needed was an updated version of "Morgan Fairchild, yeah, that's the ticket" when asked if he's dating anyone to completely link his old character to Santos. He did refer to another of his characters, The Critic, when he said "it stinks!" Yes, it does, but it's funny.
Follow over the jump for two of the impersonators, including Bowen Yang, who dragged Santos in SNL's first show of 2023, talking about their experiences impersonating the Representative.
The 71st annual Primetime Emmy Awards nominations were revealed Tuesday, with returning drama series champ Game of Thrones back in the mix in a record way.
The HBO epic, which wrapped its final season this year, set a new benchmark with 32 total nominations, the most for any program in a single season (beating NYPD Blue‘s previous mark). The series returns to the Best Drama series fight and also scored lead acting noms for Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke, along with a slew of supporting noms — seven of the 12 slots in those categories went to GoT actors including Peter Dinklage returning to defend his title.
Game of Thrones led all television shows with nine nominations and was named the best fantasy series on television for its finale season. The Game of Thrones cast also dominated acting categories in its medium. Emilia Clarke, who portrayed Daenerys Targaryen on the HBO series, won the best television actress award. Peter Dinklage won best supporting actor on television for his role as Tyrion Lannister, besting a field of nominees that included his on-screen brother, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
The prize for best younger actor on television went to Maisie Williams, who portrayed Ayra Stark, the girl warrior of destiny on the fantasy series based on the books of George R.R. Martin.
The Nominees for Outstanding Drama Series are Better Call Saul, Bodyguard, Game of Thrones, Killing Eve, Ozark, Pose, Succession, and This Is Us.
My personal favorite is "Ozark," which turned into a very political show during its second season after being a crime drama in the vein of "Breaking Bad" during its first, but that doesn't mean it's going to win. Instead, I'm sure "Game of Thrones" will win this award one last time, repeating last year's victory. That's despite the Television Critics Association voting for "Better Call Saul" for Outstanding Achievement in Drama while nominating "The Good Fight" instead of "Game of Thrones."
Both "Game of Thrones" and "Ozark" are explicitly about government and politics, but so are "Bodyguard" and "Killing Eve," while "Better Call Saul" is government-adjacent as it takes place in the court system and "Pose" makes a politically significant social point. As for "Succession" and "This Is Us," they're both about family dynamics, although even "Succession" is also about politics as the clip above shows.
The Nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series are Bob Odenkirk, Kit Harington, Jason Bateman, Billy Porter, Sterling K. Brown, and Milo Ventimiglia.
Once again, my personal favorite is Jason Bateman of "Ozark," but I don't think he'll win. I'm also not sure that there will be enough "Game of Thrones" enthusiasm to sweep Kit Harington onstage to accept the award; he couldn't even beat Sam Heughan of "Outlander" at the Saturn Awards. Instead, I'm going with the only previous winner for the same role, Sterling K. Brown, who won this award two years ago.
The Nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series are Emilia Clarke, Robin Wright, Viola Davis, Jodie Comer, Sandra Oh, Laura Linney, and Mandy Moore.
If it were up to me, I'd vote for Laura Linney {"Ozark"), Sandra Oh ("Killing Eve"), Viola Davis ("How to Get Away with Murder"), or Robin Wright ("House of Cards"), in that order. I even voted for Sandra Oh at the Saturn Awards. I doubt the Television Academy voters agree with me. On the one hand, Viola Davis is the only previous winner for the same role, winning four years ago. On the other hand, Emilia Clarke might just get swept onto the stage. On the gripping hand, a lot of people thought Sandra Oh should have won last year and did win a Golden Globe, so my second choice has a chance, even if her co-star Jodie Comer might split the vote.
The Nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series are Jonathan Banks, Giancarlo Esposito, Alfie Allen, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Michael Kelly, and Chris Sullivan.
The Nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series are Gwendoline Christie, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Fiona Shaw, and Julia Garner.
The only one I considered voting for at the Saturn Awards was Maisie Williams and that because Julia Garner from "Ozark" wasn't nominated but I don't think either are favored. Instead, I expect Lena Heady will win.
Game of Thrones (Episode: "The Iron Throne"), Directed by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss (HBO) Game of Thrones (Episode: "The Last of the Starks"), Directed by David Nutter (HBO) Game of Thrones (Episode: "The Long Night"), Directed by Miguel Sapochnik (HBO) The Handmaid's Tale (Episode: "Holly"), Directed by Daina Reid (Hulu) Killing Eve (Episode: "Desperate Times"), Directed by Lisa Brühlmann (BBC America) Ozark (Episode: "Reparations"), Directed by Jason Bateman (Netflix) Succession (Episode: "Celebration"), Directed by Adam McKay (HBO)
Better Call Saul (Episode: "Winner"), Written by Peter Gould and Thomas Schnauz (AMC) Bodyguard (Episode: "Episode 1"), Written by Jed Mercurio (Netflix) Game of Thrones (Episode: "The Iron Throne"), Written by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss (HBO) The Handmaid's Tale (Episode: "Holly"), Written by Bruce Miller and Kira Snyder (Hulu) Killing Eve (Episode: "Nice and Neat"), Written by Emerald Fennell (BBC America) Succession (Episode: "Nobody Is Ever Missing"), Written by Jesse Armstrong (HBO)
The 2016 U.S. presidential campaign season may seem stranger than fiction, but is it really that bad? It could be worse, compared to other American presidents who exist in the reality of our smartphones and televisions.
I don't know if the fictional presidents would be worse. Selina Meyer is not any worse than Trump in competence and character and she has better staff. Plus, she's a Democrat. Fitzgerald Grant also has better staff and really does try to make things better for Americans. Frank Underwood is a very evil man, but he's also very competent and knows he has to at least been seen trying to make things better for the mass of people, even as he's killing off rival politicians. None of them are my favorite TV President. That honor goes to Tom Kirkman of "Designated Survivor." He is the most decent character of the bunch and he's been learning fast on the job. Watching him is the next best thing to watching Josiah Bartlett from "The West Wing."*
In the comments, I ask my readers to name their favorite fictional U.S. President. If I get enough nominations, I'll post my readers' favorites.
While "Veep" may be more realistic, it's a comedy. Today is for drama and the leading political drama that isn't also science fiction is "House of Cards," the other nominated series besides "Veep" that portrays a fictional past or present president.* It is well behind "Veep" with only six nominations. The other nominated drama series with political themes are "The Americans" and "Mr. Robot" with four nominations each, "Homeland" with three nominations, "Orange is the New Black" with two nominations, and "The Good Fight" with one.
Follow over the jump for the nominations of all the dramas with political or governmental themes.
