I hope you enjoyed my month of awards! Check back here regularly starting September 7 for a revamped blog with new daily features.
Here's a recap of all the awards, check below this post for each individual award post!
Outstanding Drama Series: The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Comedy Series: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series: Mrs. America (FX on Hulu)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Steve Carell, The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Ted Danson, The Good Place (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series: Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America (FX on Hulu)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series: Russell Crowe, The Loudest Voice (Showtime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Julia Garner, Ozark (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Kieran Culkin, Succession (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series: Lexi Underwood, Mrs. America (Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series: John Turturro, The Plot Against America (HBO)
Outstanding Directing of a Drama Series: Ken Olin, This is Us "So Long Marianne" (NBC)
Outstanding Directing of a Comedy Series: Daniel Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel "Marvelous Radio" (Amazon)
Outstanding Directing of a Limited/Anthology Series: Deepa Mehta, Little America "The Manager" (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Writing of a Drama Series: Jesse Armstrong, Succession "This is Not for Tears" (HBO)
Outstanding Writing of a Comedy Series: Michael Schur, The Good Place "Whenever You're Ready" (NBC)
Outstanding Writing of a Limited/Anthology Series: Shannon Houston, Little Fires Everywhere "The Uncanny" (Hulu)
Outstanding Guest Actor or Actress in a Drama Series: Phylicia Rashad, This is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Guest Actor or Actress in a Comedy Series: Fred Willard, Space Force (Netflix)
Outstanding Guest Actor or Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series: Uchenna "Conphidance" Echeazu, Little America (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Technical Design of a Drama Series: Euphoria (HBO)
Outstanding Technical Design of a Comedy Series: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
Outstanding Technical Design of a Limited/Anthology Series: Mrs. America (FX on Hulu)
Nominations by Show:
15 nominations: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
12 nominations: The Morning Show
11 nominations: Little Fires Everywhere
10 nominations: Mrs. America, This is Us
8 nominations: Succession
7 nominations: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, Ozark
6 nominations: The Crown, Little America
5 nominations: Dead to Me, Hollywood, Never Have I Ever, The Plot Against America, The Politician, Pose, Unbelievable
4 nominations: Euphoria, High Fidelity
3 nominations: The Loudest Voice, Modern Love, Ramy, Superstore, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
2 nominations: 9-1-1, Big Little Lies, Bless This Mess, The Conners, Defending Jacob, For All Mankind, Hunters, The Kominsky Method, Mixed-ish, Modern Family, Shrill, Space Force
1 nomination: Black-ish, God Friended Me, I Know This Much is True, Law & Order: SVU, Looking for Alaska, Prodigal Son, Quiz, Tell Me A Story
0 nominations: 9-1-1: Lone Star, All Rise, American Housewife, Blue Bloods, Carol's Second Act, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Criminal Minds, Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Evil, FBI: Most Wanted, Fresh Off the Boat, The Goldbergs, Grown-ish, Mindhunter, Mom, The Neighborhood, Party of Five, Perfect Harmony, Saturday Night Live, Schooled, Single Parents, Tommy, The Unicorn, Young Sheldon
Nominations by Network:
42 nominations: Netflix
31 nominations: NBC
22 nominations: Apple TV+
21 nominations: Hulu
20 nominations: Amazon, HBO
10 nominations: FX on Hulu
9 nominations: ABC
5 nominations: FX
3 nominations: FOX, Showtime
1 nomination: AMC, CBS, CBS All Access
0 nominations: Freeform
Wins by Show
5 wins: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
3 wins: The Morning Show, Mrs. America
2 wins: The Good Place, Little America, Little Fires Everywhere, Succession, This is Us
1 win: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Euphoria, The Loudest Voice, Ozark, The Plot Against America, Space Force
0 wins (of shows with nominations): 9-1-1, Black-ish, Bless This Mess, The Conners, The Crown, Dead to Me, Defending Jacob, For All Mankind, God Friended Me, High Fidelity, Hollywood, Hunters, I Know This Much is True, The Kominsky Method, Law & Order: SVU, Looking for Alaska, Mixed-ish, Modern Family, Modern Love, Never Have I Ever, The Politician, Pose, Prodigal Son, Quiz, Ramy, Shrill, Superstore, Tell Me A Story, Unbelievable, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Wins by Network
5 wins: Amazon, Apple TV+, NBC
4 wins: HBO
3 wins: FX on Hulu
2 wins: Hulu, Netflix
1 win: Showtime
0 wins (of networks with nominations): ABC, AMC, CBS, CBS All Access, FX, FOX
Coming in September: A revamped blog with new daily features!
Friday, July 31, 2020
Thursday, July 30, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Drama Series
This is the final award, Outstanding Drama Series!
The nominees are:
THE CROWN (Netflix)
EUPHORIA (HBO)
THE MORNING SHOW (Apple TV+)
OZARK (Netflix)
POSE (FX)
SUCCESSION (HBO)
THIS IS US (NBC)
And the Winner Is...
THE MORNING SHOW
Apple TV+
This was a tough choice for me and one I spent a lot of time thinking about because I don't think any of these shows were perfect but they were all so good. I ultimately went with the one that kept me most engrossed through the whole season and that was The Morning Show, which also built momentum as the season went along. I know it had its share of critics when it premiered (accompanied by an insane amount of hype) but I had the luxury of watching it months later. Maybe it was lower expectations based on what I had heard, but it far exceeded my expectations. The show could so easily have been all about catfights between Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon's characters or a complete redux of the Matt Lauer scandal on Today. And while the show did have elements of both of those things, it never quite went where I thought it was going to go. With top notch production quality and really, really strong acting performances, I would say that Apple TV+'s first major scripted foray was a rousing success and I'm really looking forward to season two.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Each of the other nominees had some really compelling reasons that made them threats. This is Us did some of its best work of the whole series in the middle of the season especially with the three parter centered on the triplets, but I thought the beginning and end of the season were not as strong (to be fair, they have to do more episodes than the other nominees). Ozark made big improvements on season two and kept the action moving much more. The Crown navigated a really tricky transition as its much acclaimed cast from the first two seasons were all replaced by actors to play older versions of the same characters. To pull that off is impressive. Succession took a big step forward in its second season with really great characterization. I thought Pose was maybe not quite as strong as its first season but it built momentum as the season went along and had some real standout moments. Finally, the only other newbie was Euphoria, which was unlike anything else and had some really compelling stories and visuals.
Check back tomorrow for a final recap!
The nominees are:
THE CROWN (Netflix)
EUPHORIA (HBO)
THE MORNING SHOW (Apple TV+)
OZARK (Netflix)
POSE (FX)
SUCCESSION (HBO)
THIS IS US (NBC)
And the Winner Is...
THE MORNING SHOW
Apple TV+
This was a tough choice for me and one I spent a lot of time thinking about because I don't think any of these shows were perfect but they were all so good. I ultimately went with the one that kept me most engrossed through the whole season and that was The Morning Show, which also built momentum as the season went along. I know it had its share of critics when it premiered (accompanied by an insane amount of hype) but I had the luxury of watching it months later. Maybe it was lower expectations based on what I had heard, but it far exceeded my expectations. The show could so easily have been all about catfights between Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon's characters or a complete redux of the Matt Lauer scandal on Today. And while the show did have elements of both of those things, it never quite went where I thought it was going to go. With top notch production quality and really, really strong acting performances, I would say that Apple TV+'s first major scripted foray was a rousing success and I'm really looking forward to season two.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Each of the other nominees had some really compelling reasons that made them threats. This is Us did some of its best work of the whole series in the middle of the season especially with the three parter centered on the triplets, but I thought the beginning and end of the season were not as strong (to be fair, they have to do more episodes than the other nominees). Ozark made big improvements on season two and kept the action moving much more. The Crown navigated a really tricky transition as its much acclaimed cast from the first two seasons were all replaced by actors to play older versions of the same characters. To pull that off is impressive. Succession took a big step forward in its second season with really great characterization. I thought Pose was maybe not quite as strong as its first season but it built momentum as the season went along and had some real standout moments. Finally, the only other newbie was Euphoria, which was unlike anything else and had some really compelling stories and visuals.
Check back tomorrow for a final recap!
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Comedy Series
Today's award is Outstanding Comedy Series!
The nominees are:
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (NBC)
THE CONNERS (ABC)
DEAD TO ME (Netflix)
HIGH FIDELITY (Hulu)
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (Amazon)
MIXED-ISH (ABC)
NEVER HAVE I EVER (Netflix)
SUPERSTORE (NBC)
And the Winner Is...
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
Amazon
I'm sure this winner won't surprise you if you've been following the nominations and winners so far. I thought season three of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was excellent in every way. After a second season that sort of lost its way after the great Catskills arc, I thought taking Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) on the road for season three was a wonderful idea. It gave the show a breath of fresh air, some fun new characters and stunning visuals. I wasn't sure about building up Jane Lynch's character but that ended up being a stroke of brilliance as Lynch was up to the task and it built up Alex Borstein's Susie character more too. Putting Midge and Joel's parents together allowed for many funny moments and, perhaps most impressively, the show really found a way to use Joel (Michael Zegen) well. Seen by many as an unnecessary character, the show really found a way to make his stories more relevant and more interesting. So I thought season three was brilliant from start to finish and I can't wait for season four, whenever that can happen!
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
There were a lot of great comedy seasons and the nominees ranged from brand new shows to long time veterans. Among long time veterans, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has had new life since arriving on NBC. I thought the show was losing steam in its FOX run but it has been as sharp as ever the last two seasons. Superstore turned in another great season and has perhaps become TV's best ensemble. That ensemble will be challenged with the departure of America Ferrera next season. There were also two sophomore shows. I thought the second season of Dead to Me wasn't quite as strong as the first but still had some delightfully dark comedic moments. Season two of The Conners gelled more for the ensemble as they have really figured out what the show wants to be without Roseanne. Finally, there were three newbies on the list. High Fidelity had a real specific point of view and was an underrated gem of the past year. Never Have I Ever was a poignant coming of age show that had a real distinct voice with a breakout performance from its lead. Finally, Mixed-ish was one of the feel good shows of the year. As the other 80s-themed ABC sitcom, The Goldbergs, has gotten sort of tired, this one brought a ton of heart and humor with a new point of view on the decade.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Drama Series!
The nominees are:
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (NBC)
THE CONNERS (ABC)
DEAD TO ME (Netflix)
HIGH FIDELITY (Hulu)
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (Amazon)
MIXED-ISH (ABC)
NEVER HAVE I EVER (Netflix)
SUPERSTORE (NBC)
And the Winner Is...
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
Amazon
I'm sure this winner won't surprise you if you've been following the nominations and winners so far. I thought season three of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was excellent in every way. After a second season that sort of lost its way after the great Catskills arc, I thought taking Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) on the road for season three was a wonderful idea. It gave the show a breath of fresh air, some fun new characters and stunning visuals. I wasn't sure about building up Jane Lynch's character but that ended up being a stroke of brilliance as Lynch was up to the task and it built up Alex Borstein's Susie character more too. Putting Midge and Joel's parents together allowed for many funny moments and, perhaps most impressively, the show really found a way to use Joel (Michael Zegen) well. Seen by many as an unnecessary character, the show really found a way to make his stories more relevant and more interesting. So I thought season three was brilliant from start to finish and I can't wait for season four, whenever that can happen!
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
There were a lot of great comedy seasons and the nominees ranged from brand new shows to long time veterans. Among long time veterans, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has had new life since arriving on NBC. I thought the show was losing steam in its FOX run but it has been as sharp as ever the last two seasons. Superstore turned in another great season and has perhaps become TV's best ensemble. That ensemble will be challenged with the departure of America Ferrera next season. There were also two sophomore shows. I thought the second season of Dead to Me wasn't quite as strong as the first but still had some delightfully dark comedic moments. Season two of The Conners gelled more for the ensemble as they have really figured out what the show wants to be without Roseanne. Finally, there were three newbies on the list. High Fidelity had a real specific point of view and was an underrated gem of the past year. Never Have I Ever was a poignant coming of age show that had a real distinct voice with a breakout performance from its lead. Finally, Mixed-ish was one of the feel good shows of the year. As the other 80s-themed ABC sitcom, The Goldbergs, has gotten sort of tired, this one brought a ton of heart and humor with a new point of view on the decade.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Drama Series!
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series
We've gotten to the big ones! Today's award is Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series!
The nominees are:
DEFENDING JACOB (Apple TV+)
LITTLE AMERICA (Apple TV+)
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE (Hulu)
THE LOUDEST VOICE (Showtime)
MRS. AMERICA (FX on Hulu)
UNBELIEVABLE (Netflix)
And the Winner Is...
MRS. AMERICA
FX on Hulu
This was probably the toughest decision of all the awards for me with so many worthy contenders that are so different, they are hard to compare. After a lot of thought, my winner is Mrs. America, which had it all. The story was compelling and unique, the acting was top notch, the technical design was beautiful. Most importantly, it had a really distinct voice. Sure, the casting was incredible if you look at pictures of the real life figures in the ERA debate, but every performance went so far beyond just an imitation. The story was told in such an interesting way from differing perspectives. Framing it around Phyllis Schlafly might have been seen by some as humanizing an enemy, but I would disagree with that assessment. I think it framed an era that has been discussed a lot in a totally new way. Schlalfly, like all the real life figures portrayed in Mrs. America, were complicated people that weren't as black and white as history has started to make them. Sometimes shows that have a prestige feel before they even debut can end up being disappointing but that was not true with Mrs. America. It was one of the most slickly produced and well thought out shows of the year.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
This was a great year to start doing these awards because the Limited/Anthology series were extremely strong. The two that put up the biggest fight for the win were Little Fires Everywhere and Little America. Little Fires was a very compelling show that was expertly acted. It just felt like it had a little bit less of a distinct voice than Mrs. America. Little America had some absolutely beautiful episodes. Like any episodic anthology show, it is tough to make every single episode a standout though. But at its best, Little America was as good as anything on TV this year. There were other strong contenders too. Unbelievable took what could have been just another crime drama and instead gave it so much humanity and depth. The Loudest Voice has been derided by some, but I think it was a very interesting look at a media empire that has caused so much of the current division in American politics. Finally, Defending Jacob was also a notch above a traditional murder/crime drama with a difficult look at a family falling apart.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Comedy Series!
The nominees are:
DEFENDING JACOB (Apple TV+)
LITTLE AMERICA (Apple TV+)
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE (Hulu)
THE LOUDEST VOICE (Showtime)
MRS. AMERICA (FX on Hulu)
UNBELIEVABLE (Netflix)
And the Winner Is...
MRS. AMERICA
FX on Hulu
This was probably the toughest decision of all the awards for me with so many worthy contenders that are so different, they are hard to compare. After a lot of thought, my winner is Mrs. America, which had it all. The story was compelling and unique, the acting was top notch, the technical design was beautiful. Most importantly, it had a really distinct voice. Sure, the casting was incredible if you look at pictures of the real life figures in the ERA debate, but every performance went so far beyond just an imitation. The story was told in such an interesting way from differing perspectives. Framing it around Phyllis Schlafly might have been seen by some as humanizing an enemy, but I would disagree with that assessment. I think it framed an era that has been discussed a lot in a totally new way. Schlalfly, like all the real life figures portrayed in Mrs. America, were complicated people that weren't as black and white as history has started to make them. Sometimes shows that have a prestige feel before they even debut can end up being disappointing but that was not true with Mrs. America. It was one of the most slickly produced and well thought out shows of the year.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
This was a great year to start doing these awards because the Limited/Anthology series were extremely strong. The two that put up the biggest fight for the win were Little Fires Everywhere and Little America. Little Fires was a very compelling show that was expertly acted. It just felt like it had a little bit less of a distinct voice than Mrs. America. Little America had some absolutely beautiful episodes. Like any episodic anthology show, it is tough to make every single episode a standout though. But at its best, Little America was as good as anything on TV this year. There were other strong contenders too. Unbelievable took what could have been just another crime drama and instead gave it so much humanity and depth. The Loudest Voice has been derided by some, but I think it was a very interesting look at a media empire that has caused so much of the current division in American politics. Finally, Defending Jacob was also a notch above a traditional murder/crime drama with a difficult look at a family falling apart.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Comedy Series!
Monday, July 27, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Today's award is Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series!
The nominees are:
JENNIFER ANISTON as Alex Levy in The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
OLIVIA COLMAN as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown (Netflix)
LAURA LINNEY as Wendy Byrde in Ozark (Netflix)
MANDY MOORE as Rebecca Pearson in This is Us (NBC)
MJ RODRIGUEZ as Blanca Rodriguez in Pose (FX)
REESE WITHERSPOON as Bradley Jackson in The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
ZENDAYA as Rue Bennett in Euphoria (HBO)
And the Winner Is...
JENNIFER ANISTON
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
In another very competitive category for actresses, Jennifer Aniston takes the award for her acclaimed turn on the first season of The Morning Show. Regardless of what you think about The Morning Show, I think it should be pretty clear that this one of Aniston's best projects in a long time, perhaps since Friends. She was captivating as Alex Levy. She could be a villain, a sympathetic character, and a crusader all within an episode. It looked at first like she was playing a type, a nasty and powerful celebrity who felt like she was owed everything while fighting with the up and coming new anchor and protecting the old one. But Aniston made the character so much more than that. It's hard for a character like that to be someone to root for especially because Alex Levy certainly has her flaws, but Aniston expertly walked that line and created a very winning performance. She's hands down the best part of The Morning Show.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Aniston's The Morning Show co-star Reese Witherspoon is among the nominees here. Considering her strong but similar characters in Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere (which I watched before The Morning Show), it was refreshing to see her in a very different role. If I had been doing these awards every year, I guarantee you Mandy Moore would already have some wins. She continues to do excellent work playing a character in so many different stages of life. Mj Rodriguez turned in another good performance in the second season of Pose with an arc that built as the season went along. Olivia Colman had the challenging task of stepping into the shoes of the acclaimed Claire Foy on The Crown but did it beautifully with a stoic and strong performance. Zendaya is the absolute star of Euphoria and took what could have been a mess of a TV show and gave it a very distinct voice and perspective. The biggest threat to Aniston though was Laura Linney, who really took over the third season of Ozark with a powerful performance in a season that really centered on her character more than any other.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series!
The nominees are:
JENNIFER ANISTON as Alex Levy in The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
OLIVIA COLMAN as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown (Netflix)
LAURA LINNEY as Wendy Byrde in Ozark (Netflix)
MANDY MOORE as Rebecca Pearson in This is Us (NBC)
MJ RODRIGUEZ as Blanca Rodriguez in Pose (FX)
REESE WITHERSPOON as Bradley Jackson in The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
ZENDAYA as Rue Bennett in Euphoria (HBO)
And the Winner Is...
JENNIFER ANISTON
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
In another very competitive category for actresses, Jennifer Aniston takes the award for her acclaimed turn on the first season of The Morning Show. Regardless of what you think about The Morning Show, I think it should be pretty clear that this one of Aniston's best projects in a long time, perhaps since Friends. She was captivating as Alex Levy. She could be a villain, a sympathetic character, and a crusader all within an episode. It looked at first like she was playing a type, a nasty and powerful celebrity who felt like she was owed everything while fighting with the up and coming new anchor and protecting the old one. But Aniston made the character so much more than that. It's hard for a character like that to be someone to root for especially because Alex Levy certainly has her flaws, but Aniston expertly walked that line and created a very winning performance. She's hands down the best part of The Morning Show.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Aniston's The Morning Show co-star Reese Witherspoon is among the nominees here. Considering her strong but similar characters in Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere (which I watched before The Morning Show), it was refreshing to see her in a very different role. If I had been doing these awards every year, I guarantee you Mandy Moore would already have some wins. She continues to do excellent work playing a character in so many different stages of life. Mj Rodriguez turned in another good performance in the second season of Pose with an arc that built as the season went along. Olivia Colman had the challenging task of stepping into the shoes of the acclaimed Claire Foy on The Crown but did it beautifully with a stoic and strong performance. Zendaya is the absolute star of Euphoria and took what could have been a mess of a TV show and gave it a very distinct voice and perspective. The biggest threat to Aniston though was Laura Linney, who really took over the third season of Ozark with a powerful performance in a season that really centered on her character more than any other.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series!
Sunday, July 26, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Today's award is Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series!
The nominees are:
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE as Jen Harding in Dead to Me (Netflix)
KRISTEN BELL as Eleanor Shellstrop in The Good Place (NBC)
RACHEL BROSNAHAN as Midge Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
AIDY BRYANT as Annie Easton in Shrill (Hulu)
LINDA CARDELLINI as Judy Hale in Dead to Me (Netflix)
ZOE KRAVITZ as Robyn Brooks in High Fidelity (Hulu)
JANE LEVY as Zoey in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN as Devi in Never Have I Ever (Netflix)
And the Winner Is...
RACHEL BROSNAHAN
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
The actress categories are tough this year but my award goes to the titular character in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Mrs. Maisel is smartly written and beautifully directed, and it has a tremendous supporting cast (as evidenced by my nominations). But none of it wouldn't work if Mrs. Maisel herself wasn't so marvelous. Rachel Brosnahan. Brosnahan is the perfect person for the role with her witty and quick timing and 60s-era glamour. Her season three performance took her on a comedy tour around the country which allowed for her to do even more stand-up performances (no easy feat either considering Brosnahan did not come from a stand-up background). She also had tremendous rapport with her newest cast-mates Leroy McClain and Sterling K. Brown and a highlight of the season was her anger and steadfast refusal to read an ad she disagreed with for the radio. Brosnahan makes every scene she's in better even when the focus is on one of her many quirky fellow cast members. It's such a winning performance, three seasons running.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Another strong category. Two slots belonged to the stars of Dead to Me. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are really elevating that show with their performances. They are like a modern day Lucy and Ethel except in a really dark comedy. They both deserve to be nominated because it's hard to imagine the show with only one. Kristen Bell gave another strong performance in the final season of The Good Place as her character took control of her destiny (literally). Aidy Bryant took a step forward in the second season of Shrill with a more clearly defined character. There were also three actresses from new shows. Jane Levy was hands down the best part of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and her charm really carried an otherwise bizarre premise. Zoe Kravitz found a great role for herself in High Fidelity and was a complicated yet very realistic character. Finally, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is a rising star and had a breakout performance in Never Have I Ever as the very headstrong Devi.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series!
The nominees are:
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE as Jen Harding in Dead to Me (Netflix)
KRISTEN BELL as Eleanor Shellstrop in The Good Place (NBC)
RACHEL BROSNAHAN as Midge Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
AIDY BRYANT as Annie Easton in Shrill (Hulu)
LINDA CARDELLINI as Judy Hale in Dead to Me (Netflix)
ZOE KRAVITZ as Robyn Brooks in High Fidelity (Hulu)
JANE LEVY as Zoey in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN as Devi in Never Have I Ever (Netflix)
And the Winner Is...
RACHEL BROSNAHAN
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
The actress categories are tough this year but my award goes to the titular character in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Mrs. Maisel is smartly written and beautifully directed, and it has a tremendous supporting cast (as evidenced by my nominations). But none of it wouldn't work if Mrs. Maisel herself wasn't so marvelous. Rachel Brosnahan. Brosnahan is the perfect person for the role with her witty and quick timing and 60s-era glamour. Her season three performance took her on a comedy tour around the country which allowed for her to do even more stand-up performances (no easy feat either considering Brosnahan did not come from a stand-up background). She also had tremendous rapport with her newest cast-mates Leroy McClain and Sterling K. Brown and a highlight of the season was her anger and steadfast refusal to read an ad she disagreed with for the radio. Brosnahan makes every scene she's in better even when the focus is on one of her many quirky fellow cast members. It's such a winning performance, three seasons running.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Another strong category. Two slots belonged to the stars of Dead to Me. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are really elevating that show with their performances. They are like a modern day Lucy and Ethel except in a really dark comedy. They both deserve to be nominated because it's hard to imagine the show with only one. Kristen Bell gave another strong performance in the final season of The Good Place as her character took control of her destiny (literally). Aidy Bryant took a step forward in the second season of Shrill with a more clearly defined character. There were also three actresses from new shows. Jane Levy was hands down the best part of Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and her charm really carried an otherwise bizarre premise. Zoe Kravitz found a great role for herself in High Fidelity and was a complicated yet very realistic character. Finally, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is a rising star and had a breakout performance in Never Have I Ever as the very headstrong Devi.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series!
Saturday, July 25, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series
Today's award is Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series!
The nominees are:
CATE BLANCHETT as Phyllis Schlafly in Mrs. America (FX on Hulu)
KAITLYN DEVER as Marie Adler in Unbelievable (Netflix)
KRISTINE FROSETH as Alaska Young in Looking For Alaska (Hulu)
KERRY WASHINGTON as Mia Warren in Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
MERRITT WEVER as Detective Karen Duvall in Unbelievable (Netflix)
REESE WITHERSPOON as Elena Richardson in Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
And the Winner Is...
CATE BLANCHETT
Mrs. America (FX on Hulu)
This was a STACKED category but also a fairly easily decision because I think Cate Blanchett may have given the performance of the year. There's nothing easy about playing a lead character based on a real life figure and seen as a villain by not only many other characters on the show but also by at least half the audience. And yet, being the lead, she also had to be somewhat sympathetic at times even if we weren't supposed to be sympathetic to her views. But Blanchett could do it all. Her Phyllis Schlafly went so far beyond a good impression (though it was that too). Blanchett walked that balancing line so carefully. Never once did I agree with what her character was doing and yet by the very end, I felt sorry for the character especially in the final minutes of the limited series. Blanchett could convey so much with just her facial expressions or her eyes. It's a masterful and memorable performance.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
As I mentioned, this was a stacked category with several actresses who would have been shoo-ins among a lesser field. The two veteran stars of Little Fires Everywhere were excellent and perfect foils for each other. Reese Witherspoon took a role that was similar to her Big Little Lies role but added more depth to the character and was very strong in the finale. Kerry Washington brought a ton of depth to her role and expertly conveyed her character's complicated past in the present setting. Similarly, there were two standout female leads in Unbelievable. Kaitlyn Dever was a revelation in the very difficult role of a rape victim and she very powerfully conveyed the brokenness in her character from that horrific event. Merritt Wever was in more of a standard role as a detective but brought a tremendous amount of depth and care to the character. Finally, Kristine Froseth may be a surprise here but I thought her turn as the title character in Looking for Alaska was the best thing about that limited series as she played the tortured soul well.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series!
The nominees are:
CATE BLANCHETT as Phyllis Schlafly in Mrs. America (FX on Hulu)
KAITLYN DEVER as Marie Adler in Unbelievable (Netflix)
KRISTINE FROSETH as Alaska Young in Looking For Alaska (Hulu)
KERRY WASHINGTON as Mia Warren in Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
MERRITT WEVER as Detective Karen Duvall in Unbelievable (Netflix)
REESE WITHERSPOON as Elena Richardson in Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
And the Winner Is...
CATE BLANCHETT
Mrs. America (FX on Hulu)
This was a STACKED category but also a fairly easily decision because I think Cate Blanchett may have given the performance of the year. There's nothing easy about playing a lead character based on a real life figure and seen as a villain by not only many other characters on the show but also by at least half the audience. And yet, being the lead, she also had to be somewhat sympathetic at times even if we weren't supposed to be sympathetic to her views. But Blanchett could do it all. Her Phyllis Schlafly went so far beyond a good impression (though it was that too). Blanchett walked that balancing line so carefully. Never once did I agree with what her character was doing and yet by the very end, I felt sorry for the character especially in the final minutes of the limited series. Blanchett could convey so much with just her facial expressions or her eyes. It's a masterful and memorable performance.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
As I mentioned, this was a stacked category with several actresses who would have been shoo-ins among a lesser field. The two veteran stars of Little Fires Everywhere were excellent and perfect foils for each other. Reese Witherspoon took a role that was similar to her Big Little Lies role but added more depth to the character and was very strong in the finale. Kerry Washington brought a ton of depth to her role and expertly conveyed her character's complicated past in the present setting. Similarly, there were two standout female leads in Unbelievable. Kaitlyn Dever was a revelation in the very difficult role of a rape victim and she very powerfully conveyed the brokenness in her character from that horrific event. Merritt Wever was in more of a standard role as a detective but brought a tremendous amount of depth and care to the character. Finally, Kristine Froseth may be a surprise here but I thought her turn as the title character in Looking for Alaska was the best thing about that limited series as she played the tortured soul well.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series!
Friday, July 24, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Today's category is Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series!
The nominees are:
JASON BATEMAN as Marty Byrde in Ozark (Netflix)
STERLING K. BROWN as Randall Pearson in This is Us (NBC)
STEVE CARELL as Mitch Kessler in The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
BRIAN COX as Logan Roy in Succession (HBO)
JUSTIN HARTLEY as Kevin Pearson in This is Us (NBC)
BILLY PORTER as Pray Tell in Pose (FX)
JEREMY STRONG as Kendall Roy in Succession (HBO)
And the Winner Is...
STEVE CARELL
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
I will admit, I am a big fan of Steve Carell. Michael Scott is my all time favorite TV character. But I wouldn't give this award to him just because I like him or past roles. He was excellent in The Morning Show in a role that was very difficult. Playing the "Matt Lauer" role, Carell had to be both the charming and charismatic TV personality that America woke up with for decades and also the monster who abused his power time and time again. It worked because Carell seems like such a genuine person all the time and we have gotten to know that through interviews and other events. So to see him be such a terrible person on screen made it all the more compelling and devastating. He was not a sympathetic character and he wasn't supposed to be but he wasn't an outright villain. That wouldn't have worked. Carell made it work thanks to his personality and expert acting skill at playing against type.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Probably a lot of critics would vote for Jeremy Strong who had a very strong season in Succession as a very complicated character. He was excellent in everything he did, especially in the season finale, but I just found Carell more compelling. Strong's Succession co-star Brian Cox was also excellent as his Logan Roy became a more three dimensional character in the second season. Jason Bateman continues to be strong in Ozark even if his on-screen wife had the meatier role this season. I love that he brings his trademark snark even to a much more serious role. Billy Porter turned in another great season on Pose especially in his eulogy scene in the fourth episode. Finally, the two This is Us actors in the category had interesting seasons. Sterling K. Brown continues to be one of the show's MVPs but his character had some real unlikable moments this season. Of course he played it well. On the other hand, Justin Hartley has been the less acclaimed member of the "Big Three" but I think he has gotten better each season and season four was his best one yet with some really great performances and arcs. Honestly, I considered him pretty seriously for the win.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series!
The nominees are:
JASON BATEMAN as Marty Byrde in Ozark (Netflix)
STERLING K. BROWN as Randall Pearson in This is Us (NBC)
STEVE CARELL as Mitch Kessler in The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
BRIAN COX as Logan Roy in Succession (HBO)
JUSTIN HARTLEY as Kevin Pearson in This is Us (NBC)
BILLY PORTER as Pray Tell in Pose (FX)
JEREMY STRONG as Kendall Roy in Succession (HBO)
And the Winner Is...
STEVE CARELL
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
I will admit, I am a big fan of Steve Carell. Michael Scott is my all time favorite TV character. But I wouldn't give this award to him just because I like him or past roles. He was excellent in The Morning Show in a role that was very difficult. Playing the "Matt Lauer" role, Carell had to be both the charming and charismatic TV personality that America woke up with for decades and also the monster who abused his power time and time again. It worked because Carell seems like such a genuine person all the time and we have gotten to know that through interviews and other events. So to see him be such a terrible person on screen made it all the more compelling and devastating. He was not a sympathetic character and he wasn't supposed to be but he wasn't an outright villain. That wouldn't have worked. Carell made it work thanks to his personality and expert acting skill at playing against type.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Probably a lot of critics would vote for Jeremy Strong who had a very strong season in Succession as a very complicated character. He was excellent in everything he did, especially in the season finale, but I just found Carell more compelling. Strong's Succession co-star Brian Cox was also excellent as his Logan Roy became a more three dimensional character in the second season. Jason Bateman continues to be strong in Ozark even if his on-screen wife had the meatier role this season. I love that he brings his trademark snark even to a much more serious role. Billy Porter turned in another great season on Pose especially in his eulogy scene in the fourth episode. Finally, the two This is Us actors in the category had interesting seasons. Sterling K. Brown continues to be one of the show's MVPs but his character had some real unlikable moments this season. Of course he played it well. On the other hand, Justin Hartley has been the less acclaimed member of the "Big Three" but I think he has gotten better each season and season four was his best one yet with some really great performances and arcs. Honestly, I considered him pretty seriously for the win.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series!
Thursday, July 23, 2020
BENJAMONSTER AWARDS: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Today's award is Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series!
The nominees are:
ANTHONY ANDERSON as Andre Johnson in Black-ish (ABC)
TED DANSON as Michael in The Good Place (NBC)
MICHAEL DOUGLAS as Sandy Kominsky in The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
JOHN GOODMAN as Dan Conner in The Conners (ABC)
BEN PLATT as Payton Hobart in The Politician (Netflix)
ANDY SAMBERG as Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
DAX SHEPARD as Mike in Bless This Mess (ABC)
RAMY YOUSSEF as Ramy in Ramy (Hulu)
And the Winner Is...
TED DANSON
The Good Place (NBC)
This was an interesting category because there are many veteran actors in here (only one was part of a brand new show). I'm not sure any of them had their best season ever but they were all rock solid and strong. I went with Ted Danson for his final season of The Good Place. Danson is a TV legend and has made each part his own from the suave Sam on Cheers to the grumpy Becker on Becker to the wildly goofy Michael on The Good Place. He had such a wonderful closing arc for his goofy and endearing character. When The Good Place meandered a bit early in its final season, Danson continued to be excellent every moment he was on screen. The character went through so many incarnations but he was so easy to root for in the end thanks to Danson's portrayal.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
As I mentioned, this is a category full of rock solid veterans but many have maybe had their breakout season a different year (and probably several would have one in previous years if I had been doing these awards every year). The only star of a new show represented is Ben Platt who was interesting and complex as a character that could have been very easy to hate in The Politician (I haven't watched season two yet). I thought Black-ish had an uneven season but Anthony Anderson was easily the strongest part of it. Dax Shepard really shined in the underrated and sadly now cancelled Bless This Mess. John Goodman has really come into his own and taken control since Roseanne Barr's departure on The Conners. Michael Douglas brings his movie star charm to a vulnerable performance in The Kominsky Method. Andy Samberg turned in another great year with some very funny moments in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Finally, Ramy Youssef had a very interesting second season on Ramy that has his fingerprints over every aspect of that series.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series!
The nominees are:
ANTHONY ANDERSON as Andre Johnson in Black-ish (ABC)
TED DANSON as Michael in The Good Place (NBC)
MICHAEL DOUGLAS as Sandy Kominsky in The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
JOHN GOODMAN as Dan Conner in The Conners (ABC)
BEN PLATT as Payton Hobart in The Politician (Netflix)
ANDY SAMBERG as Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
DAX SHEPARD as Mike in Bless This Mess (ABC)
RAMY YOUSSEF as Ramy in Ramy (Hulu)
And the Winner Is...
TED DANSON
The Good Place (NBC)
This was an interesting category because there are many veteran actors in here (only one was part of a brand new show). I'm not sure any of them had their best season ever but they were all rock solid and strong. I went with Ted Danson for his final season of The Good Place. Danson is a TV legend and has made each part his own from the suave Sam on Cheers to the grumpy Becker on Becker to the wildly goofy Michael on The Good Place. He had such a wonderful closing arc for his goofy and endearing character. When The Good Place meandered a bit early in its final season, Danson continued to be excellent every moment he was on screen. The character went through so many incarnations but he was so easy to root for in the end thanks to Danson's portrayal.
Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
As I mentioned, this is a category full of rock solid veterans but many have maybe had their breakout season a different year (and probably several would have one in previous years if I had been doing these awards every year). The only star of a new show represented is Ben Platt who was interesting and complex as a character that could have been very easy to hate in The Politician (I haven't watched season two yet). I thought Black-ish had an uneven season but Anthony Anderson was easily the strongest part of it. Dax Shepard really shined in the underrated and sadly now cancelled Bless This Mess. John Goodman has really come into his own and taken control since Roseanne Barr's departure on The Conners. Michael Douglas brings his movie star charm to a vulnerable performance in The Kominsky Method. Andy Samberg turned in another great year with some very funny moments in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Finally, Ramy Youssef had a very interesting second season on Ramy that has his fingerprints over every aspect of that series.
Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series!
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