the emmys

Josh Groban: Emmy Laughingstock or Accidental Genius?

8:35AM STV | By most accounts, Emmy viewers lost track of the broadcast’s lows somewhere after hitting bottom during Josh Groban’s infamous TV Theme Lightning Round — a four-minute, 26-song medley comprising some of television history’s most celebrated opening themes. It helped if they had lyrics; there was no Seinfeld, Hill Street Blues, Taxi or Night Court, for starters, but The X-Files was nevertheless featured prominently and notoriously, so who knows? And really, who cares? Despite valid complaints about set-list omissions from Family Ties to The Monkees, it’s essential, as with any performance art, to judge Groban’s number on its own terms. Even if those terms include Fresh Prince of Bel Air. More »

Emmy Nomination Hell! 10 Plots and Subplots to Watch After Today’s Big Announcements

1:10AM Defamer Hollywood | The world awoke this morning to the chirping of little birds resembling Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris, perched at a podium in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, announcing nominations for the 60th Emmy Awards. While most rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, we sat bolt upright as usual and sprinted to the window, our furious note-taking chronicling a few snubs, surprises and plenty of the conventional wisdom we’ve come to expect from the annual ritual. More »