Monday, January 18, 2010

THE 2009 TOOBITS AWARDS (FINALE!)

So here we are, down to the last batch of the 2009 Toobits Awards.....

BEST NEW TV SERIES
COMEDY:
'Better Off Ted' & 'Modern Family' (TIE)
This was way too close to call. The shows have different tempos and attitudes but both succeeded in their main O'Bjective: to make me, watching alone at home, laugh out loud. And they did that several times each episode.

DRAMA:
'No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'
What a breath of fresh air this was, even if it was hot and dusty but especially because it took place in Africa. Not once did the show lean on the old stand-by of a murder investigation and was more concerned with character than the mystery. I'm hoping this will come back with a second season, but if not, there's always the series of books about Precious and her friends....

BEST TV MOVIE
"Virtuality"
Granted, it left us dangling at the end with no resolution because it was meant to be a pilot for a TV show which never materialized. Still, it had interesting characters with intriguing "lives" in virtual reality and a central mystery that should have been explored further. There was enough there to justify this award for the way it helped expand the vision of life in Toobworld.

BEST MINI-SERIES
'Torchwood: Children Of Earth'
Devastating and probably the bravest piece of TV writing I've ever seen. I can't picture any TV network in America allowing their main character to make the decision that Captain Jack Harkness faced by the end.....

BEST ONLINE TELEVISION
Paul McCartney, 7/16/09 "rooftop" concert at Ed Sullivan Theatre (I was there!)
Susan Boyles, 'Britain's Got Talent'
BEST COMMERCIAL
"Alec In Huluwood"
WORST COMMERCIAL
Boost Mobile - the girl with long-haired armpits
Disgusting!

BEST PUBLIC SERVICE COMMERCIAL
The cast of 'Monk' warning about heart disease, in memory of cast member Stanley Kamel who passed away suddenly.
BEST IMPORT
Comedy:
'Kingdom'
Drama:
'Murdoch Mysteries'
With both of these, I was late with the introductions. But better late than never, as they each made me feel welcome to the worlds they depicted. With 'Murdoch Mysteries', it was the Toronto of the Victorian era, while 'Kingdom' took place in one of those small towns of Toobworld filled with the eccentricities I take delight in.

BEST EPISODE, ANY GENRE
'Torchwood: Children Of Earth' - "Day Five"
BEST EPISODES
DRAMA:
'MAD MEN' - "Close The Door, Have A Seat"
DRAMADY:
'Chuck' - "Chuck vs. The Colonel"
COMEDY:
'Modern Family' - "Fizbo"
BEST TWO-PART EPISODE
'Lost' - "The Incident (1&2)
BEST MOVIE THAT SHOULD BE ADAPTED INTO A TV SHOW
"Avatar"
And not just because it's an incredible world that should be seen on a weekly basis. It's more because of the motion capture technology which could be used to revolutionize the look of the aliens that could be introduced on shows like 'Star Trek' and 'Doctor Who'. No more need for those stupid forehead molds or Zastupnevich zippers running up the back!

And ladies and gentlemen, I do believe that's a wrap on the 2009 Toobits Awards. Thanks for checking them out! Onwards and upwards! In fact, we've already got several candidates for a lot of the major awards and we're not even out of January yet. So stay tuned!
BCnU!

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