Caught the Emmys on Monday night. It was the 60th Anniversary. It starts out promising with all the stars reciting famous TV lines/catchphrases.

But then…was it just me, or was this show trying so hard to be liked it was clumsily falling all over itself. Awkward. This show was one awkward moment after another.

The opening with the reality show hosts was lame…they had no opening. Until Heidi Klum’s tear-away suit came off. So, this is an open to a show to celebrate 60 years of TV?

Hmmm. 

Oh no, Jeremy Piven wins the Best Supporting Actor in Comedy series for “Entourage.” GAD! This is what I HATE about the Emmys! Three years in a row! Arrrgh! Even more omnious.

Jean Smart wins for Best Supporting Actress in a comedy series for “Samantha Who?” Okay, that makes up for it a little bit (as long as she doesn’t win the next three years in a row.) 

I was looking forward to the Josh Groban theme song montage. He was fine, funny actually. But it left me wanting more…it was rapid fire but seemed a little thin. And I was a little put off that the beautiful theme from M*A*S*H titled ”Suicide is Painless” was turned into a chorus line kick finale. Not right. Not appropriate (especiallly when showing scenes from the show behind the kickers.) 

Thank god Stephen Colbert’s writing staff won the Writing Emmy. And The Daily Show won as Best Variety Show, again. (This is one time I don’t mind the repeat wins.)

The hosts with the Trophy

 Glad Barry Sonnefeld won an Emmy for Directing the pilot for “Pushing Daisies!” YEA!!!

 And Tina Fey won a writing Emmy for “30 Rock.”

Oh, “The Amazing Race” wins as best Reality Show…for the SIXTH TIME!!!! You have got to be KIDDING ME!

But then “John Adams” wins as Best MiniSeries. And Tom Hanks accepts as the Producer. And the cool part…Sally Field (his mom in Forrest Gump) gives him the trophy. Hanks is worth seeing for his smart acceptance speech.

Alec Baldwin wins as best actor in a Comedy for “30 Rock.” That’s good. And then a shocker…Bryan Cranston (remember him as the dad on Malcolm in the Middle?) wins best Actor for Drama for “Breaking Bad!” WOW…

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series…goes to Tina Fey. I called it in my previous post (though I was hoping for a Christina Applegate win.)

Jimmy Kimmel gets to have some real fun as he gets to have some reality fun in awarding the Reality Host Emmy. (Even making them wait until AFTER the commerical to find out who won!) Nice comedy bit  by someone who knew how to pull it off. Oh, and Jeff Probst wins it. Even better, he tells the audience that Kimmel warned the hosts the opening bit wouldn’t work.

Mary Tyler Moore and Betty White announce Best Comedy Series: “30 Rock.” (Two in a row.)

And Tom Selleck announces the Best Drama: “Mad Men.” That’s a good call.

Even better the show is over on time at 11:00pm.

***** 

A Gold Medal and the Mirror Ball all in one year?

The new season of “Dancing with the Stars” kicks off on Monday evening.This season starts with 13 couples competing. And in an interesting twist, the 13 couples have to perform two dances in their first week! Wow! Talk about amping the pressure. One dance on Monday, another dance on Tuesday night and then the votes count out the first couple on Wednesday night.

By the end of each season, we all get so accustomed to watching the amatuer dancers performing some amazing moves. So its always a little refreshing to watch the first few weeks, before they learn the moves…(and often, lose the weight! Maybe this show should be called “Dancing with the Biggest Loser!”)

Last season, I predicted Kristi Yamaguchi as the likely winner from the start. Wasn’t too hard as she had some dancing (albeit ice dancing) experience on her resume.

This season? It’s anyone’s guess. My gut has Beach Volleyball Olympic Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor

Watch out for Cloris...

 being a threat. She’s an athlete; she’s lean and competitive; and she’s used to performing under pressure (and with little clothes on!) Sounds like a potential “Dancing” Champion! But this season, it could be anyone taking home the Mirror Ball trophy.

Things to watch for:

82 year old Cloris Leachman can be pretty frank. I’ve heard Tom Bergeron joking how he is looking forward to her comments as she can be pretty colorful.

Anyone partnered with Cheryl Burke (Olympian Maurice Greene) or Julianne Hough (Hanna Montana co-star Cody Linley) will be competitors. There is a reason these two ladies have each taken home the trophy twice.

Can Kim Kardashian do anything besides be famous? My guess is we might be surprised by her moves.

Enjoy the show’s three night premiere event beginning Monday night at 8:00PM on ABC and RTV 6.