Kristin Chenoweth Wins Emmy

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Kristin Chenoweth Wins Emmy

The 61st annual Emmys were held this Sunday. There were several repeat winners as well as many first-time winners.

One first-time winner was Kristin Chenoweth, who got the award for supporting actress in a comedy for the now-cancelled "Pushing Daisies."

Chenoweth said, "They remembered a show that got canceled that I've never been more proud to be on. I'd much rather be on that than something that lasts a long time that I don't care about."

Other winning actresses included Toni Collette for best actress in a comedy, Glenn Close for best actress in a drama, and Jessica Lange for her work on "Grey Gardens."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Handicapping the Emmys

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Handicapping the Emmys

It's getting close to Emmy nomination time, so the Los Angeles Times is picking who they expect to receive nominations. Today they look at lead comedy actress.

This year, Tom O'Neil expects all five of last year's nominees to return when nominations are announced on July 16.

Those nominees were Christina Applegate of "Samantha Who?", America Ferrera from "Ugly Betty," Julia Louis-Dreyfus from "The New Adventures of Old Christine," and Mary-Louise Parker of "Weeds."

Those are in addition to last year's winner, Tina Fey from "30 Rock."

However, this year there will be six nominees. Additionally, nominees will be chosen by a popular vote.

O'Neil thinks that means Amy Poehler of "Parks and Recreation" has a good chance, as she's immensely popular, even if her show isn't.

He also thinks Toni Collette of "The United States of Tara" may get the nomination, as shows and movies dealing with multiple personality disorder often are recognized by the academy.

This possibility was highlighted in an earlier post on this blog.

Finally, O'Neil says that there is a chance for 2005 winner Felicity Huffman of "Desperate Housewives" again this year, but points out that she wasn't nominated last year.

Gina Wilhelm Actress

How TV and Movies Differ

Gina Wilhelm Actress - How TV and Movies Differ

Toni Collette is a very successful actress. She's starred in many films, receiving an Oscar nomination and winning a number of other international film awards.

None of that prepared her to star on a television show-playing four people, no less.

As mentioned in an earlier post to this blog, Collette stars in "The United States of Tara," playing a woman with mulitple personality disorder.

When filming a movie, she only has to play a character for a few months at most. Starring in a TV series is completely different.

Taping for TV has a rapid pace, but requires a great deal of stamina to maintain a single character for such a long time. Even playing four characters requires stamina and concentration.

To let off steam after taping one intense scene recently, Collette let off steam by jumping into a swimming pool fully clothed (she did at remember to remove her microphone first).

Holly Hunter has been experiencing similar stresses with her show, "Saving Grace." She's done 40 episodes of that program.

She points out that she's spent 40 hours with her character. In any other previous project, she says the most she'd done was two.

Hunter appreciates that spending so much time with a single character can "deepen the acting experience," but she says it's also very complicated.

Anna Gunn agrees that acting for television can be very intense. Gunn is on "Breaking Bad" on AMC, which also stars Bryan Cranston.

She taped a huge confrontation scene with Cranston earlier this season. When it got done, she felt completely drained.

When they finished, Cranston put his hands on her shoulders to make sure she was all right. "That's the kind of stuff I really need."

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Chances are Good for Awards for "The United States of Tara"

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Chances are Good for Awards for "The United States of Tara"

"The United States of Tara" will air on Showtime starting Saturday, January 18, at 10 pm.

Gina Wilhelm Actress has noticed something of late on her Facebook account. There are ads for "The United States of Tara" everywhere.

Apparently, regardless of what comedy show I watch, it means I'll like "The United States of Tara."

"Scrubs?" Yup. "30 Rock?" Check. "The Simpsons?" You betcha. "The Daily Show?" Unbelievably, yes.

Now, it could just be that Gina Wilhelm Actress has astonishingly good taste in Funny, and the advertising is meant to imply that "The United States of Tara" is also Funny.

Otherwise, it's hard to say how a straight sit-com about a woman with multiple personality disorder is reminiscent of two workplace comedies, America's favorite animated dysfunctionals, and a comedy news parody.

"The United States of Tara" will air on Showtime starring actress Toni Collette as the aforementioned woman. In addition to her main personality, she's also a brooding teen, a '50s housewife, and a good ole boy.

Showtime has done well in terms of garnering awards lately. Last year David Duchovny won a Golden Globe for his work in "Californication," which was also nominated for best comedy series.

Duchovny and the show both received nominations this year. Mary-Louise Parker has been nominated the last two years in a row for her work on "Weeds." The program itself has also been nominated.

"Dexter" and its star, Michael C. Hall, have both been nominated for the last two years.

On top of that, cable shows not aired on HBO are getting more and more recognition at the Emmys.

Additionally, movies about people with multiple personalities are frequently well represented at award time. Joanne Woodward won an Oscar for her performance in "The Three Faces of Eve."

Sally Field won an Emmy for her turn in "Sybil," upsetting Jane Alexander, who was supposed to be a shoe-in.

Finally, Collette herself has won a number of critics' and other types of awards. She has also received numerous nominations for Emmys, Oscars, and Golden Globes.

Perhaps she and Showtime are hoping that this combination will get her the "major" awards that have just eluded her so far.

Gina Wilhelm Actress