News ranging from awesome to depressing

Lots of interesting TV tidbits this week, ranging from stories that induce expletives of joy, to ones that induce expletives of severe anger.

Let's start with the mind-blowingly good news: DON DRAPER MAY BE COMING TO 30 ROCK. Yes, according to Ausiello at EW, Jon Hamm may be joining the show for a multi-episode arc as a love interest for Liz Lemon. What have we done right to deserve this?

Also exciting is the announcement that Reiko Aylesworth, who played Michelle on 24 for a while, is coming to Lost, which, while we're on the topic, is coming back with a two hour premiere on Wednesday, January 21. Mark your calenders/DVRs.

But alas, all is not well in TV land. One of the finest shows on TV perches on the edge of cancellation and things look bleaker for it by the day. The silver lining? PD overseer Bryan Fuller said in an interview that if the show is canceled, he'd come back to work for Heroes. Fuller wrote for Heroes in season one (the good season) and was responsible for Company Man, which is pretty easily the best hour that show has ever produced. Of course, I'd rather have more Pushing Daisies (and I'm beginning to think that Heroes may be beyond fixing), but its good to know that Fuller will have something to do should the worst happen.

But the worst news of all may be about a show that hasn't even debuted yet. Fox announced their January schedule and among the news was the fact that Dollhouse will be moving to Fridays along with ratings challenged Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Dollhouse is the new Joss Whedon TV show and, after seeing Fox mistreat Firefly, its not very reassuring to see them give Dollhouse the exact same timeslot, a time which is normally death for TV shows. Add to that the fact that Dollhouse scraped its pilot and shot a new one (just like Firefly) and I'm beginning to get the feeling that this show may not last more than six episodes.

Always Sunny Interview/Preview

The guys from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia stopped by the AV Club for a nice interview that included a previews of Season 4. Here are a few highlights:
Charlie Day (Charlie): "Wait 'til this season. There'll be some more music coming. There's a musical on the way. Charlie's opus. And the gang performs it."
Glenn Howerton (Dennis): "We have a very exciting episode called, "Mac and Charlie Die." I'm excited about that one. Pretty epic episode. We've also got an entire episode where we try and sell Paddy's [Pub] as a historical monument in Philadelphia. And so, in order to prove that Paddy's has a tremendous amount of historical significance for the birth of our nation, we actually flash back to the year 1776. Almost the entire episode takes place in the year 1776. So it'll basically be our characters in corsets, and baggy half-pants, and flowing shirts. [Laughs.] Pointy hats, and things like that."

Be sure to read the entire interview here and catch the Season Premiere of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia this Thursday on FX.

My Emmy Thoughts

So these are long overdue (as is my review of Mad Men, coming in the next couple of days), but here are my thoughts on the Emmy nominees:

1.) I agree with everything Mike said (except I'd vote for Alec Baldwin over Steve Carrell)

2.) Snubs: Several snubs angered me. Its embarassing that after five great seasons The Wire just got one nod for writing. Also, I was upset to see Pushing Daisies and Flight of the Conchords beaten by Two and a Half Men. And I foolishly got my hopes up after Mary McDonnell made the Top 10 that she'd get a nomination, but alas Battlestar is set in space and thus will not win an Emmy for anything ever.

3.) Best Writing, Drama: I agree that The Constant was ripped off, but this category still ruled.

4.) This American Life was nominated! Best Non-Fiction Series!

5.) My Picks (I'll just cover Drama since Mike already took care of the comedies):

Series: Lost (Mad Men is just all kinds of brilliant and Damages was a riveting ride this year, but Lost was on top of its game and produced some of the most compelling TV ever)

Actor: Jon Hamm (I haven't seen Bryan Cranston, but I doubt he approaches the depth and subtlety of Jon Hamm; just see The Wheel. Also, if James Spader wins I'm driving to Los Angeles and beating the crap out of the Emmy voters)

Actress: Glenn Close (So evil...)

Supporting Actor: Michael Emerson (In any other year I'd vote for Zejiko Ivanek, who was quietly powerful on Damages, but Michael Emerson basically dominated Lost and is hands down the best actor on television right now)

Supporting Actress: Dianne Weist (I guess. Honestly all these nominees suck. No love for Christina Henricks or Elizabeth Moss from Mad Men? Katee Sackhoff? Elizabeth Mitchell? Kristen Bell?)

Writing: The Wire (A token victory for a show that deserved much more. But it'd be nice to see any of the five win)

Directing: House (Mad Men is stylish and cool, and Damages' Pilot sets the dark and ominous tone well, but whenever House deviates from its formula, the results are usually stellar and House's Head was no different)

Lost and How I Met Your Mother Updates

First off, at ComicCon, Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse said that it was about time Lost fans got some answers, and that in the shows final 34 hours spread over the next two seasons, they intend to deliver. Furthermore, they said they're hoping that they can bring back Mr. Ecko. If you're a Lost fan and that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will.

As for How I Met Your Mother, it was announced that Sarah Chalke is coming back for a multi-series arc for next season. It was previously revealed that two responses to Ted's proposal were shot. Just some food for thought.

Amy Pohler and Emmy Nods

Big news first: SNL's Amy Pohler has announced that she will star, presumably as the boss, on NBC's spin-off of The Office. Though details are still coming out, Pohler told the AP that she was involved in the show, but due to ongoing negotiations with NBC-Universal. On her SNL career, Pohler is expected to be part of SNL's primetime election shows this fall, but there is no word as to whether or not she will continue into the spring.

Now on to the Emmy Nods:
1. LOST IS BACK
Personally, I think Lost deserves Best Drama, though the other noms deserve it as well. This has been the best year since Season 1. If Michael Emerson doesn't win Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, then I will lose all my faith in the Emmys.
2. HOORAY FOR COMEDY WRITERS
The nominees for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series are pretty darn good. They include two episodes of 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby" and "Cooter"), Flight of the Conchords ("Yoko"), Pushing Daisies ("Pie-Lette") and The Office ("The Dinner Party"). This year is a group of stellar nominees, no Two and Half Men or Big Bang Theory (man, I think I hate CBS). Those are all deserving shows and the writing on them has been superb. Whoever wins, deserves it big time.
3. SNUBS
Now I know I gave props to Lost for its nods, but the biggest one missing was Best Writing in a Drama Series. Seriously, "The Constant" was one of best hours of television I've ever seen, and it not getting nominated is a travesty. I also think How I Met Your Mother deserved a nomination for Best Comedy. I think Season 2 was their best so far, but after rewatching the past season, there is no doubt in my mind that it deserved the spot taken by the horrendous Two and Half Men. In a similar vein, Tracy Morgan should have John Cryer's nom for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He was absolutely hilarious all season long and John Cryer, well, as you can guess, I hate Two and a Half Men.
4. WHO SHOULD WIN FOR COMEDY (Michael's Picks)
Comedy Series: 30 Rock
Actor in a Comedy Series: Steve Carrell
Actress in a Comedy Series: Tiny Fey (see: her eating an entire sandwich for a gag)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Neil Patrick Harris
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Amy Pohler (funniest SNL cast member, period)
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Will Arnett (about time he got a nod)
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Edie Falco
(I don't watch enough of the Dramas to weigh in. Perhaps Jon will take that one.)