It’s only a matter of weeks now until the excellent Damages returns to our screens here in the UK, with Glenn Close as Patty Hewes, the most cut-throat lawyer ever, and her sort-of protégé, Ellen Parsons, played by Rose Byrne.
Season three has just started in the US, and it’s already shaping up to be a cracker. Tate Donovan will be back as Patty’s dubious sidekick, Tom Shaye, and the big celebrity guest stars are Lily Tomlin, Martin Short and Campbell Scott as the defendants badly in need of defending after Patty goes after them.
Here’s the trailer for season three; and also a fabulous video rounding up all you need to know from seasons one and two, in case you missed any of them!
CSI NY celebrates in style as the show reaches its 100th episode; Criminal Minds is back on our screens but we’re not giving anything away about the outcome of last season’s explosive cliffhanger; and we chat to Damages star Rose Byrne about what it’s really like working with Glenn Close.
All this, plus of course our essential guide to the best movies and sport, TV Spy’s weekly round-up of what’s happening in all the big US dramas, and a week’s worth of full television listings.
“Get ready,” advises Glenn Close’s terrifying Patty Hewes - and you’d better, because the new season of Damages is getting closer! Fans of the first season - who are easily identifiable by an absence of fingernails after all those cliffhangers - will be delighted to hear that Season Two looks to be just as enthralling.
Far removed from the fresh-faced law school graduate of episode one, the revenge-consumed, hardened Ellen now has Patty in her sights - but who else will be making a reappearance? For a mouthwatering taste of what’s to come check out these latest trailers - it looks like there are going to be more twists than a Slinky on a helter-skelter!
The first series of Damages was, quite simply, one of the best things we’ve seen all year, so needless to say, we’re all rather excited here at TV Spy Towers about the prospect of a second series.
It begins in the States at the beginning of January and, all things being equal, we understand it should be shown here on BBC1 soon after (we’re hearing mid-February at the moment, but don’t quote us on that).
As and when we hear anything more, we will, of course, let you know. But in the meantime, check out this shiny new trailer which recently aired in America…
There were celebrations all round for US comedy 30 Rock and historical drama John Adams, who had bagged 20 awards between them by the culmination of the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles last night.
30 Rock’s Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin scooped gongs for best Actress and Actor, Comedy Series, while their hit show was voted best Comedy for the second year running.
John Adams - which premieres on More4 next week - took home a total of 13 (yes 13!) trophies including best Miniseries and Miniseries Actor and Actress for Paul Giamatti and co-star Laura Linney.
Other big winners included Damages, which won Glenn Close the Actress, Drama Series award. “It really has been the ride of my career,” she revealed at the ceremony. “This was as good as any part you would find in a feature film.”
Meanwhile, Bryan Cranston won Actor, Drama Series for his role as Walter H. White in Breaking Bad, which debuts on FX on Sunday.
Other major winners included Mad Men which scooped best Drama Series and Jeremy Piven who took home Supporting Actor, Comedy Series for his genius portrayal of slimy agent Ari Gold in Entourage.
Here’s a clip of Tina Fey and actress Amy Poehler presenting the first award of the evening to Piven…
And here are the main winners..
• Drama Series: ‘Mad Men’
• Comedy Series: ‘30 Rock’
• Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, ‘Breaking Bad’
Talking of adverts - as we were in the previous post, blog-fans - the cream of US acting talent are climbing over each other to be part of the long-running and legendary ‘got milk’ campaign…
Well, now, via Los Angeles Times writer Tom O’Neil’s hugely impressive Gold Derby blog, we are picking up news on the Drama Supporting Actor and Comedy Actress categories, too.
The biggest surprise in the drama actor category is that last year’s winner, Terry O’Quinn (Locke in Lost), has been snubbed. On the plus side, his co-stars Naveen Andrews (Sayid) and Michael Emerson (Ben) are included.
In the comedy actress category, there’s a trio of Desperate Housewives: Marcia Cross, Eva Longaria Parker and Felicity Huffman. The only lead cast member missing is Teri Hatcher, who has obviously done something to annoy the Emmy judges (mugging endlessly for the cameras, perhaps?). Also, rather thrillingly, our very own Anna Friel is there for Pushing Daisies. Go Anna!
We should make it clear that neither shortlist has yet been confirmed by the Emmys’ organisers, but Tom O’Neil has an enviable track record on these matters and is right more often than not.
Five from each category will make the final voting list. The names marked in red are the ones we reckon should make the final list. Let us know if you agree…
Drama Supporting Actor
• Naveen Andrews, Lost
• Bruce Dern, Big Love
• Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
• Ted Danson, Damages
• Michael Emerson, Lost
• Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
• T.R. Knight, Grey’s Anatomy
• William Shatner, Boston Legal
• John Slattery, Mad Men
• Blair Underwood, In Treatment
• Jake Weber, Medium
Best Comedy Actress
• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
• Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives
• America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies
• Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives
• Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
• Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
The final list of nominations for this year’s Emmys won’t be announced until 17 July, but, for the first time ever, the awards’ organisers, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, has revealed the top 10 finalists for this year’s drama and comedy series awards. Five from each category will make the final voting list.
Notable absentees are Battlestar Galactica in the drama category and My Name is Earl in comedy, but we’d love to hear what you think. The programmes marked in red are the ones we reckon should make the final list…
Drama
• Boston Legal
• Damages
• Dexter
• Friday Night Lights
• Grey’s Anatomy
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men
• The Tudors
• The Wire
Comedy
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• Family Guy
• Flight of the Conchords
• The Office
• Pushing Daisies
• 30 Rock
• Two and a Half Men
• Ugly Betty
• Weeds
