Gail: Hi, everybody. What a busy morning with the Emmy nominations coming out, with so many extra nominees in each category. I hope some of you want to give a shout-out to your favorites who did get nominated or lament the fact that others were passed over again. I say yay to Jon Hamm, nominated twice, and to “Mad Men,” which racked up four of the five drama writing nominations, with the other going to my equally beloved “Lost.” So let’s get started.

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ptz: Gail, You asked for fall previews to watch and comment about. How about “The Good Wife”? Will the topic really sustain more than one season?
Thanks
Gail: This is the CBS drama with Julianna Margulies as a political wife whose husband goes to jail. Timely, huh? Chris Noth plays the husband, and I love the scene in which she slaps him. Don’t you always want to see one of those “supportive” political wives show what they’re really feeling? Margulies does some of her best work here, with the premise being that she has to go back to work as a lawyer to support the family after he’s jailed. Seems to me as if it could sustain with that, especially if Chris gets out.
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Debbie: Hi Gail! Love your articles! Am I alone, but I just love the new show
“Royal Pains”!!! The show is “pretty”, and even though it is predictable in a way, it is just mindless entertainment! I love it. Have you heard anything about how it is doing? Thanks Gail!
Gail: I like it too; it’s not quite a guilty pleasure, because it’s not trashy, but it’s certainly light and fun for summer. And it’s doing really well in the ratings.
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Billy fan: You called the season finale of Pitchmen the series finale. Were you just guessing that because Billy Mays died, or do you know something?
Gail: Everybody, even Discovery, probably assumed that “Pitchmen” would end after star Billy Mays died, but the network just announced this week that a second season has been ordered. Mays’ son, Billy Mays III, is on board.
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Marianne: Do you know if there will be another season of Lincoln Heights on ABC and when?
Gail: “Lincoln Heights” is on ABC Family, not ABC. It returns Sept. 14.
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TJU: We have a Dish Network DVR at home and recorded the 2-part mini-series “Diamonds” on ABC Sunday May 24th & 26th. We didn’t get around to watching this until last week. Our recording of part 2 stopped near the halfway point, much to our disappointment. We thought this was due to a thunderstorm, etc., which can disrupt satellite signals if severe. Then I went online to see if ABC had plans to re-air “Diamonds.” During my Internet travels I came upon this blog (link below) where a woman from Chicago wrote that her viewing of part 2 was also stopped at the halfway point. It isn’t clear if she was watching live or a recording.
Since someone in the Chicago area also experienced a problem with this program, surely a widespread transmission outage would have gotten back to ABC by now and a re-air could be in the works. We thought the mini-series was fairly well done and have started watching “The Philanthropist” which also stars James Purefoy as a result. I am especially curios as to how the young geologist in Alaska succeeds in prospecting for diamonds despite her infuriating boss. Any info you are able to dig up on “Diamonds” (no pun intended) would be received with great interest. Thanks!
Gail: I don’t know what to tell you. Anybody else watch “Diamonds” and have that problem? I can tell you it’s not out on DVD yet but probably will be sometime. Or you could browse the Internet and look for a recap.
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Jamie B.: Hi, Gail. Do you know anything about a miniseries called Storm starring the one and only Dawson of Dawson’s Creek?
Gail: Have you noticed the rash of disaster miniseries this summer? “The Storm” airs July 26 and Aug. 2 on NBC and stars James Van Der Beek of “Dawson’s Creek” as a scientist determined to stop a billionaire (Treat Williams) from terminating a potentially disastrous experiment with climate. David James Elliott (”JAG”) also stars.
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The Soap Goddess: I am thrilled that Big Love received an Emmy nomination this year. What’s your thoughts in this category? I kow you are unbiased since you are neutral on Mad Men.
Gail: I have big love for “Big Love” and am excited it was nominated. I don’t think it’s the best drama on TV, though. That, of course, is “Mad Men.” Or “Lost.” “Lost” was great this season. I’d also put nominee “Breaking Bad” a skosh ahead of “Big Love.”
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suzyjax: I was reading through the complete list of Emmy noms and find it surprising (or maybe odd) that Big Bang Theory is nominated in almost all of the tecnical categories for comedy, but not in Outstanding Comedy? Was it a matter of not picking their best episode to submit?
Gail: Could be. Also, comedy’s very subjective, and “Big Bang Theory” can seem dumb until you watch a few episodes and begin to get it.
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suzyjax: I meant to add to my last that I am tickled that Jim Parsons is nominated! However, I am surprised that he is in LEAD category and not supporting. At least I won’t have to choose between him and Neil Patrick Harris. (Or Jack McBrayer for that matter)
Gail: Sorry I had to delete the HTML earlier; it doesn’t transmit here. But I’ll post the official link to the complete Emmy nomination list on Tube Talk this afternoon.

Parsons is in the lead actor category because that’s where he/the show submitted him. I guess he is the lead actor as much as Johnny Galecki. I expect Alec Baldwin to win in that category, unless Tony Shalhoub pulls off an upset. In the supporting actor race, this is funny: Jeremy Piven’s not nominated, which means NPH will probably win. But “How I Met Your Mother” creator Craig Thomas, told Michael Ausiello at EW.com he’s still afraid Piven will somehow win.
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garricks: Congratulations to all of the Emmy nominees, especially Jon Hamm and Jim Parsons! I am disappointed that “True Blood” didn’t fare better, though. Who do you think was unfairly passed over? “According to Jim”?
Gail: Definitely “Jim.” Also “Judging Amy.” I’m not 100 percent sure “Friday Night Lights” was eligible because of the time frame in which it aired, but if so, it was robbed; likewise Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. You know I’m not a fan of “True Blood,” and although I could accept the argument that the writing is good and the production is well-executed, I think the acting is horrible. I know they’re going for campy Southern Gothic, but it’s a big miss with me.

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Dave: I am now and have always been an admirer of Carol Burnett. Having said that, I can not believe she was nominated for her performance on an episode of L&O SVU. She was absolutely
terrible in that role.
Gail: I didn’t see the episode, so can’t judge whether she was worthy. You have to think, though, that she was nominated because she’s Carol Burnett. Those guest-performer nominations always go to really famous people.

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Chuck: Jim Parsons!!!! Emmy!!!!!! I’m so excited. Does he have any chance to win?
Gail: It’s an honor just to be nominated, remember? But there have been bigger surprises than Jim Parsons beating Alec Baldwin, Steve Carell and Charlie Sheen, among others.
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itsme: nothing for the sheild??!!! i will not watch the award show. no respect for it anymore
Gail: “The Shield” should definitely have been nominated for its final season. But really — you had respect for the Emmys before? The nominees and winners are always so random, the only reason to pay attention is to argue with them.
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Joan Nenninger Petralia: Ms. Pennington,
Yeh! Eric Nenninger, my handsome son, stared in HBO’s Generation Kill which is Emmy’s nomination for Best Miniseries!!! He played the crazy officer who ran around shooting cars and making crazy decisions putting everyone in danger; what an actor!! He graduated from Ladue High School and went on to American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasedena, Ca. where he graduated. He also stared in that great movie Jeeper Creepers 2 and was on Malcolm In The Middle for a couple of years. He lives in LA with his beautiful wife, Angel and my smart, handsome grandson, James.

Joan
Gail: Joan, you remember I wrote a big story about Eric when “Generation Kill” premiered, right? You just wanted to get in another plug for him, didn’t you? And that’s a mom’s prerogative.

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Jennie Benz: Cat Deeley from SYTYCD was robbed. Why do the Emmies continuously overlook her? Every year, it’s the same over-rated hosts - Seacrest, Probst, Heidi Klum…
Gail: I find Cat Deely really annoying. There you have it. You love her, as many fans of “So You Think You Can Dance” do, but the Emmy nominators may feel otherwise.
It’s not the same-old same-old this year, though. Both Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio from “Top Chef” were nominated (although, arguably, he’s not the host. And my pal Phil Keoghan of “The Amazing Race” made the list this year. I just wish the producers would give Phil more to do, considering that he’s hilarious in real life. Maybe the scene this season in which he rushed to the aid of the contestant who fainted helped him break through.
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PamE: I am thrilled with the Emmy nominations for Amy Poehler and Kristen Wiig for Saturday Night Live. Especially the nomination for Justin Timberlake, also. I was shocked that Survivor wasn’t on the Reality Series list, but nice to see our beloved Top Chef.
Gail: Notice that the shows nominated under “reality competition” are real competitions. “Survivor” is more of an “outwit, outlast” show and doesn’t really seem to fit. There’s also the “reality” category, with “Antiques Roadshow” up against “Kathy Griffin” and “The Dog Whisperer” — odd. At least the Emmys finally recognize the popularity (and quantity) of reality shows. The rumored “reality judge” category didn’t turn out to be true, however.
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garricks: “I just wish the producers would give Phil more to do…”

Like running around in Russia in his underwear? That episode was hilarious!
Gail: Yes!
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suzyjax: What are your thoughts on Comedy Series? I love How I Met Your Mother, it is one of my favorites. However, it has its serial elements and doesn’t do as well as a stand-alone eppys as 30 Rock. The latter is also the King (Queen considering Fey as head writer?) of the great/memorable lines.
I can’t believe Weeds is even still in comedy category. It’s so dark. I think someone gets killed each week.
Gail: I think the funniest show on TV is “30 Rock.” Not a big fan of “Weeds” either as comedy or drama. It’s definitely one of those that falls between the categories. I do like “How I Met Your Mother,” but I don’t think it will win, unless the Neil Patrick Harris popularity groundswell carries it along.
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The Soap Goddess: So, Gail. Tell us about the exciting things you got in the mail this week!
Gail: Well, I got the season premiere of “Flipping Out,” which I’m looking forward to. The whole gang judged on “Top Chef Masters” last night — you don’t think that was cross-promotion from Bravo or anything, do you? And I got that IFC miniseries with Chris Kattan, “Bollywood Hero,” in which he plays himself starring in a Bollywood musical called “Peculiar Dancing Boy.” It came in a tote bag with that logo on it. This morning, Hershey Kisses were delivered to someone not me….

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Matt: I just have to say that it’s a crime that neither the Shield, Michael Chiklis or Walton Goggins got nominated. Walton Goggins especially deserved it for what he did during the final season.
Gail: Walton Goggins is nominated for a Television Critics Association award, as is “The Shield,” if that makes you feel any better. The Emmys have never liked “The Shield,” and I’m not sure why. It’s very dark, but so is “Damages.”
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Steve M.: Gail-As you probally know by now.I’m not a big fan of network TV.This is one of the reasons why I paid Charter about $75.00 a month for cable TV.For quite a while it seems like some of of the HD channels are breaking up so bad that they are unabled to be viewed.There could be a number of reasons this is happening,but the bottom line is I fell like I’m not getting what I am paying for.You would think with the problems Charter is having they would be working double time to fixed these problems.
Gail: Is Charter the only option open to you? How about DirecTV or Dish? How about ATT’s UVerse, which will get to most neighborhoods soon? You might also consider doing as some do and delaying cable viewing until the DVD comes out, or downloading from iTunes.
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PamE: Back to the Reality Series category, it is shocking that they left out the popular Deadliest Catch.

I, too, am rooting for The Philman for Reality Competition host. He is so great!
Gail: When they add a Reality Fishing category, “Deadliest Catch” will certainly make the cut.
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garricks: Gail, how was your hour in bed with Paul McCartney and David Letterman last night?
Gail: You had to go and spoil it; now I’m picturing Dave joining us, which is not what I had in mind. But back to the show. During the interview, Paul seemed a little loopy, and I kept thinking about what nips and tucks the Cute Beatle might get. When he was performing on the roof of the marquee, though, it was “The Ed Sullivan Show” all over again.
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Chick: Thanks for all your great work. It sure looks like you get to do a lot of fun stuff

A suggestion: I’d get more value out of listing USA and/or TNT rather than IND, say, especially in the Summer with all the great Summer series that are on now.
Gail: You’re referring to the daily listings in the Everyday pullout. The only channels that are listed are local. There are too many cable channels to list, and it wouldn’t be fair to choose some at random, because no two people would agree. I do highlight a lot of cable shows in my daily TV picks, just above the listings, though.
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Avery: This may be out of your expertise .I live in north jefferson county and since the change over in signals we have not been able to get kmovs signal.I have the converter boxes and a roof top antenna. We get all the other local channels just fine.Also we live high on a hill so the signal is not being blocked. Do you know of anyone who might have an answer?
Gail: As far as I know, KMOV is up to full power. You might call the station and ask for the chief engineer, who could have suggestions about your antenna and its positioning.
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Zuckie: Please tell me who I must write to about the awful promo for Big Brother on Sunday evening…the woman was falling out of her dress and her breasts were there for all to see…It is a program I would never watch regardless of the ad, but my grandchildren turn to all programs regardless of age.
Gail: On CBS.com, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and look for a “contact us” section. More people complain about offensive promos than about offensive programs.
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Gail: That’s it for today, guys. I’ll have the transcript up on Tube Talk shortly. Remember, no chat next week; I’ll be entertaining out-of-town company. But we’ll meet back here on Thursday, July 30