Finally … A Real Awards Show

Hungry for a real awards show? Tired of watching canned bits with no red carpet and no opportunity to laugh at what people are wearing? I sure am. Sometimes by this time in the season we’re a little overrun with the awards shows, but this time we’re hungering for them after being denied them thanks to the Writers Guild Strike. With even the possibility of an Oscars telecast up in the air, we get the Screen Actors Guild Awards tonight, being broadcast on both TBS and TNT.

It goes to figure that the only broadcast officially approved by the Writers Guild is one that is honoring the best of yet another union, The Screen Actors Guild. The Writers Guild put their foot down earlier, against allowing any of the SAG members from appearing onscreen in a telecast, even if it was to present or accept an award, leading to very lackluster People’s Choice and Golden Globe Awards. Despite tapping Jon Stewart to appear as host for the Academy Awards, no one is quite sure what kind of a telecast it will be. The SAG Awards usually don’t garner a lot of interest, but expect them to this year, since they seem to be the only show in town.

Up for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture are 3:10 to Yuma, American Gangster, Hairspray, Into the Wild, and No Country For Old Men. The only film I’ve seen of these, Hairspray, I do think they have a good ensemble. Any group that can get John Travolta to convincingly play a heavy older woman … but it could easily go to No Country For Old Men or American Gangster.

The Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor In a Leading Role nominations look similar to that of the Oscars, as they offer up George Clooney for Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood, Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl, Emile Kirsch for Into the Wild, and Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises. Could SAG actually give it to Clooney? Also echoing the Oscars are the Male Supporting Role nominees, with Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones for No Country For Old Men, Hal Holbrook for Into the Wild, and Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton. This one is up for grabs.

Angelina Jolie was snubbed by the Oscars for her role in A Mighty Heart, but SAG is offering her a nomination, along with Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Julie Christie for Away From Her, Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose, and Ellen Page for Juno. Would love to see the young Miss Page take it. As with the Oscars, Blanchett is offered a nomination here in a supporting role as well for her part in I’m Not There, as are Ruby Dee for American Gangster, Catherine Keener for Into the Wild, Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone, and Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton. I wonder if Blanchett will pick up a supporting role award from one awards show, and a lead actress role from the other.

As with the Golden Globes, many of the television awards are being offered to shows in cable. Up for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series are that of Boston Legal, The Closer, Gray’s Anatomy, Mad Men, and The Sopranos. I’m thinking with the series finale last year, it will go to The Sopranos. The same award for a Comedy Series includes a few more network shows, with the nominees of 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office, and Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty was the new thing last year and took a lot of awards, so I’m thinking it might go to 30 Rock.

I think Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series will go to either James Gandolfini for The Sopranos or Hugh Laurie for House. The other nominees are Michael C. Hall for Dexter, Jon Hamm for Mad Men, and James Spader for Boston Legal. I’m going to go with either Jeremy Piven for Entourage or Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock for Comedic Series Actor, with the other nominees being Steve Carrell of The Office, Ricky Gravies for Extras, and Tony Shalhoub for Monk.

As for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, I don’t think Gandolfini’s female counterpart, Edie Falcon will take it. I think it will go to an old pro, either Glenn Close for Damages or Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters, with the other nominees being Holly Hunter for Saving Grace and Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer. Just as Ugly Betty was taking awards last year as a new series, I think Samantha Who? could take Female Actor in a Comedy, with Christina Appellate being a strong possibility. The other nominees are America Ferrari for Ugly Betty, Tina Fey for 30 Rock, Mary-Louise Parker for Weeds, and Vanessa Williams for Ugly Betty. Vanessa Williams could take it in surprise win, and maybe it would make up for her giving up on Miss America.

At this point, though, I really don’t think it matters who wins the Screen Actors Guild Awards. I think it’s just important that we get to see an awards show, as that’s what winter/early spring is usually all about. After this, the only other awards show to look forward to is The Westminster Dog Show.

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