Autumn 2012: What I'll Be Watching

It's that time of year again; the tantalising brink of the autumn/fall season, where the TV networks premiere their brand new shows, together with returning favourites. As always, it promises to be a very busy time of year, and I probably won't be covering as much as usual. Instead, I'll sample the majority of pilots, write about the ones I have a strong reaction to, and then watch a few more episodes to determine if they're worth persevering with. Only the most interesting shows will become regularly reviewed here, as I just don't have the time to plough through everything.

Primetime Emmy Awards 2012: Nominees

The nominations have been announced for the Primetime Emmy Awards 2012, and it makes for interesting reading. Below is a list of the major nominees, together with thoughts from my good self under each category. Obviously, I don't watch everything on US TV, so some of this is down to gut instinct and wishful thinking...

Outstanding Comedy Series

• The Big Bang Theory
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Girls
• Modern Family
• 30 Rock
• Veep

Thoughts: I'd like Girls to win because it's new and, to be frank, most US awards show are tedious because a good 90% of the nominees are cut-and-paste from last year.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Lena Dunham – Girls
• Melissa McCarthy – Mike & Molly
• Zooey Deschanel – New Girl
• Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie
• Amy Poehler – Parks & Recreation
• Tina Fey – 30 Rock
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

Thoughts: Claiming Nurse Jackie's a comedy is one thing, but claiming Edie Falco's in any way funny on that show is another thing entirely. I can envisage Julia Louis-Dreyfus winning, because of residual Seinfeld love, despite the fact she was the fourth funniest person on Veep.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory
• Larry David – Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Don Cheadle – House of Lies
• Louis C.K – Louis
• Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
• Jon Cryer – Two & A Half Men

Thoughts: Louis C.K should win, obviously, but Jim Parsons probably will because more people watch Big Bang Theory and it's easier to laugh at geek stereotypes.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory
• Kathryn Joosten – Desperate Housewives
• Julie Bowen – Modern Family
• Sofia Vergara – Modern Family
• Merritt Weaver – Nurse Jackie
• Kristen Wiig – Saturday Night Live

Thoughts: I'm not best placed to say, but Merritt Weaver is the only thing that even makes me understand why Nurse Jackie gets nominated in comedy categories, so give it to her. She's fun.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Ed O'Neill – Modern Family
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson – Modern Family
• Ty Burrell – Modern Family
• Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family
• Max Greenfield – New Girl
• Bill Hader – Saturday Night Live

Thoughts: The Modern Family award will most likely go to... oh, throw a dart.

Outstanding Drama Series

• Boardwalk Empire
• Breaking Bad
• Downton Abbey
• Game Of Thrones
• Homeland
• Mad Men

Thoughts: Finally! Americans have woken up and realized Downton Abbey is a TV series, not a miniseries. This has huge repercussions, as you'll see later. Breaking Bad is the best show on TV, so one hopes this is a no-brainer. Interesting that none of these dramas are on mainstream networks.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Glenn Close – Damages
• Michelle Dockery – Downton Abbey
• Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife
• Kathy Bates – Harry's Law
• Claire Danes – Homeland
• Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men

Thoughts: Oh, Claire Danes, for sure. Michelle Dockery? America really needs to get over its UK period drama fetish. She's fine, but... God.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire
• Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad
• Michael C. Hall – Dexter
• Hugh Bonneville – Downton Abbey
• Damian Lewis – Homeland
• Jon Hamm – Mad Men

Thoughts: Bryan Cranston, duh. How is Michael C. Hall still getting nominated for Dexter? Hugh Bonneville? Oh, Lord. Jon Hamm's my #2.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Anna Gunn – Breaking Bad
• Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey
• Joanne Froggatt – Downton Abbey
• Archie Panjabi – The Good Wife
• Christine Baranski – The Good Wife
• Christina Hendricks – Mad Men

Thoughts: See, they've gone Downton crazy this year! I'm going to say Christine Baranski, because I've seen her play drama and comedy and she's terrific at both. Christina Hendricks is lovely, but I don't see why she gets nominated. Unless Emmy voters just want to see her on the red carpet.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

• Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad
• Giancarlo Esposito – Breaking Bad
• Brendan Coyle – Downton Abbey
• Jim Carter – Downton Abbey
• Peter Dinklage – Game Of Thrones
• Jared Harris – Mad Men

Thoughts: Ordinarily, Peter Dinklage would be my pick, but the Emmy's have come good and given Giancarlo Esposito a nomination. So he's my pick, because he was absolutely astonishingly good in Breaking Bad's fourth season.

Outstanding Guest Actor in Comedy

• Michael J. Fox - Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Greg Kinnear - Modern Family
• Bobby Cannavale - Nurse Jackie
• Jimmy Fallon - Saturday Night Live
• Will Arnett - 30 Rock
• Jon Hamm - 30 Rock

Thoughts: I can't judge this one, sorry...

Outstanding Guest Actress in Comedy

• Dot-Marie Jones - Glee
• Maya Rudolph - Saturday Night Live
• Melissa McCarthy - Saturday Night Live
• Elizabeth Banks - 30 Rock
• Margaret Cho - 30 Rock
• Kathy Bates - Two and a Half Men

Thoughts: Or this one.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

• Mark Margolis, Breaking Bad
• Dylan Baker, The Good Wife
• Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
• Jeremy Davies, Justified
• Ben Feldman, Mad Men
• Jason Ritter, Parenthood

Thoughts: Excellent category. I'd love for Mark Margolis to win, considering his performance was 99% communicated with a glare because his character in Breaking Bad could't talk. But I'd be happy with anyone else, except for Jason Ritter in Parenthood (which I haven't seen).

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

• Martha Plimpton, The Good Wife
• Loretta Devine, Grey's Anatomy
• Jean Smart, Harry's Law
• Julia Ormond, Mad Men
• Joan Cusack, Shameless
• Uma Thurman, Smash

Thoughts: I can only really comment on Martha Plimpton and Julia Ormond here, who were fine but nothing Emmy-worthy. Was Uma Thurman worth the nomination for Smash?

Outstanding Reality Show Host

• Tom Bergeron - Dancing With the Stars
• Cat Deeley - So You Think You Can Dance
• Phil Keoghan - The Amazing Race
• Ryan Seacrest - American Idol
• Betty White - Betty White's Off Their Rockers

Thoughts: This is a genuine category? Oh. Umm, Cat Deeley to win. I like her.

Outstanding Reality Series Competition

• The Amazing Race
• Dancing With the Stars
• Project Runway
• So You Think You Can Dance
• Top Chef
• The Voice

Thoughts: From what I hear, The Voice or Dancing With The Stars have this sewn up.

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
• Real Time With Bill Maher
• Saturday Night Live

Thoughts: I don't watch any of these regularly, but tend to find The Colbert Report funniest.

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

• American Horror Story
• Game Change
• Hatfields & McCoys
• Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Luther
• Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia

Thoughts: Oh, now the Emmy's think Sherlock isn't a TV series. Give it a few years and they'll learn – but, okay, the paucity of episodes means it's a hard one to categorize. I'd pick Sherlock here because it's more fun and creative, but wouldn't mind Luther winning.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Connie Britton – American Horror Story
• Julianne Moore – Game Change
• Nicole Kidman - Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Ashley Judd – Missing
• Emma Thompson - The Song Of Lunch

Thoughts: I can't judge this one, but my gut says Julianne Moore.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Woody Harrelson – Game Change
• Kevin Costner - Hatfields & McCoys
• Bill Paxton - Hatfields & McCoys
• Clive Owen - Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Idris Elba – Luther
• Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia

Thoughts: It has to be Cumberbatch, followed by Elba. Patriotism, see.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Frances Conroy - American Horror Story
• Jessica Lange - American Horror Story
• Sarah Paulson – Game Change
• Mare Winningham - Hatfields & McCoys
• Judy Davis – Page Eight

Thoughts: Jessica Lange was the standout of American Horror Story, in a role that's practically revived her career. Disliked the show, by and large, but she was great.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Denis O'Hare - American Horror Story
• Ed Harris - Game Change
• Tom Berenger - Hatfields & McCoys
• David Strathairn - Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Martin Freeman - Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia

Thoughts: Denis O'Hare? He's great, but his role on American Horror Story was negligible. I actually thought Watson's role in series 2 of Sherlock was noticeably weaker, but I haven't seen the others, so will have to go with Martin Freeman.

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

• Tim Van Patten - Boardwalk Empire
• Vince Gilligan - Breaking Bad
• Brian Percival - Downton Abbey
• Michael Cuesta - Homeland
• Phil Abraham - Mad Men

Thoughts: Hmmm, tricky. I think there's more involved with directing Boardwalk Empire, so Tim Van Patten gets my hypothetical vote.

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Julian Fellowes - Downton Abbey
• Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon & Gideon Raff - Homeland
• Semi Chellas & Matthew Weiner - Mad Men
• Andre Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton - Mad Men
• Erin Lev & Matthew Weiner - Mad Men

Thoughts: Julian Fellowes? Haha. He had terrible problems with Downton Abbey series 2. Just give it to one of the Mad Men posse.

Overall thoughts

A strong showing for British shows (Luther, Downton Abbey, Sherlock) and the actors involved in them (but not the writers?), plus some love shown for excellent dramas like Mad Men and Breaking Bad. It's just a tragedy Community doesn't feature anywhere—being not only the funniest show on TV, but one with the best comedy ensemble I've seen in years.

The Emmy 2012 winners will be announced on 23 September at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, with host Jimmy Kimmel. The complete list of nominees can be read here.

Dan's Top 10 TV Shows of 2011

2011's nearly over, so it's time for my traditional end-of-year Top 10 list. Below you'll find my 10 favourite television shows (drama/comedy) that aired the majority of their episodes in 2011.

Rules:

• Given the aforementioned "majority rule", my list can include US dramas that actually started in Sep-Dec 2010, provided they finished around Apr-Jun 2011. If a TV show aired 50% of its season in 2011, it counts.
• This list is my subjective opinion, with results drawn from the TV shows I happened to watch over the past year or so. I don't doubt there were brilliant shows I missed that deserved a place here, or shows I didn't stick with long enough to watch them improve and deserve inclusion, but my Top 10 is purely based on what I saw from beginning to end, on either a US or UK schedule.

And now, the list...

10. Boardwalk Empire

(Season 2) It's fair to say Boardwalk Empire's first season, while brilliant in many ways, had definite storytelling problems. The biggest being its slothful pace and difficulty to make audiences care about many of the characters and events. I'm so pleased the writers took stock of the situation and made clever changes this year, which led to a far more satisfying and rewarding drama. It was easier to understand what was going on, character's allegiances were much clearer, there was more emphasis on stirring action, it contained truly brutal violence (a scalping and garroting proved particularly memorable), the brilliant Michael Kenneth Williams was given more to do as the clenched Chalky White, new characters were introduced who worked nicely (like Charlie Cox's beguiling-yet-ruthless IRA hitman), and the excellent Jack Huston was afford extra opportunities to give depth to his facially-disfigured character Richard Harrow. It's still not the crown jewel HBO wants it to be, but the writers' confidence is growing and things are taking shape. HBO / SKY ATLANTIC (premiere review)

9. Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena

Prequels have earned a bad reputation on the big screen, but Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena showed how to do one very well on the small-screen. The fact this miniseries only came to exist because the late Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with cancer is amazing, because it's far from the lazy placeholder it could have been. Over a lean, mean half-dozen episodes, Gods introduced a few new characters and provided juicy back-story for the old favourites. There's nothing deep about Spartacus, but it's also far from the mindless, bloodthirsty spectacle it appears to be at first glance. I like things that feel very unique, and despite influences from many different sources (particularly the appropriation of 300's visual style), there's nothing else on television like Spartacus. It's irreverent, violent, sexy, shocking, and usually provides more raw drama in an hour than other shows manage in a whole season. While it's on, there's few other shows I'm more excited to sit down and watch. STARZ / SKY1 (review archive)

8. Justified

(Season 2) Yet another improvement this year was Justified, which realised its serialised stories were of greater appeal than most of the standalones, so course-corrected for its second season. This year had more of an ongoing story involving a criminal family led by Mags (Margo Martindale in Emmy-winning form), and the way the story built over time led to very impressive and dramatic payoff in the latter-third. The show proved it didn't have to keep relying on Timothy Olyphant's charisma and swagger as Raylen Givens, as the writers found firm and convincing ways to expand the show. FX / FIVE USA (premiere review)

7. Doctor Who

(Series 6) Here's the thing with Doctor Who: even when it has a weak year in some ways, it remains one of the most entertaining and appealing sci-fi shows around. There's just such a lot of heart and passion on display it's wonderful to just sit back and let it rinse your brain. Most of the episodes not written by Steven Moffat felt redundant this year (a fault of the decision to make series 6 more serialised than ever before), but a few were perhaps the most memorable—like Neil Gaiman's outstanding "The Doctor's Wife". The storytelling was epic this year, but not always handled in a satisfyingly way, with too much emphasis on the interminable River Song mystery. There was also concern from fans who started to think Moffat's tenure is too scary/complex for younger minds. The debate rages on, but it's probably worth mentioning that Douglas Adams once claimed Doctor Who should be "simple enough for adults and complicated enough for children". Anyway, I think a bigger problem is that Moffat enjoys biting off more than he can chew, and adores the challenge of getting himself out of narrative corners. When he manages it with aplomb, there's nothing more cathartic and joyful to watch unfold... but when he doesn't, the feeling of disappointment can really sting. Series 6 overreached, but I'm glad it's aiming for the stars. BBC1 / BBC AMERICA (review archive)

6. Fringe

(Season 3) The season that stopped trying to appeal to newcomers and instead aimed to please and delight the fanbase, Fringe's third season was a fantastic example of a show finding its voice in maturity. By slitting the show between two universes, it gained depth and intrigue on two fronts, and simultaneously allowed the actors to explore alternate versions of their existing characters. Anna Torv bloomed before our eyes because she was finally given the material she clearly craved as "Fauxlivia", and the show galloped through its year having a great deal of fun with its hard sci-fi premises. The only reason Fringe isn't slightly higher on my list is because the final batch of episodes floundered to some extent, and setup an idea that's proven to be problematic in season 4, but its breathtaking first half makes it a worthy chart entry. FOX / SKY1 (review archive)

5. Louie

(Season 2) This micro-budget comedy from US comedian Louie C.K is one of the best things on TV because there's just so much creative freedom on show. FX have such a low financial stake that ratings don't matter quite so much, so Louie can create a quasi-autobiographical world that pushes the boundaries of what people expect from a comedy... even a black comedy. Bookended by footage of his stand-up, each episode is like a fantastic indie movie that isn't afraid to challenge various conventions. It's Curb Your Enthusiasm with added piss and vinegar. The second season was a huge improvement on the first, covering such things as Louie's racist great aunt, having sex with Joan Rivers, the shocking decapitation of a homeless man, a defence of masturbation, the suicide of a fellow comedian, a trip to Afghanistan to perform for the troops, and a wonderful twist on the rom-com cliché of the "airport farewell". FX

4. Game Of Thrones

(Season 1) It took time to warm up and for audiences to get to grips with the sheer abundance of characters, but HBO's Game Of Thrones became must-see television by its sixth episode. Readers of George R.R Martin's books were in heaven much earlier, of course, which is a benefit of already knowing these characters and the fictional realm of Westeros. For newcomers, it took some faith to get through hours of what appeared to be a glum and magic-free Lord Of The Rings. But I'm glad I stuck with it, as the second half was so much stronger and included some of 2011's most jaw-dropping TV moments (including the untimely death of a very significant character). Perhaps the best thing about Thrones is the feeling that season 2 can only get better, now that the exposition's been dealt with and we're fully immersed in these characters' lives, with a real understanding of what makes them all tick. HBO / SKY ATLANTIC (pilot review)

3. Community

(Season 2) The absolute best comedy on television, no question, but I'm speaking as someone who gets most of its references. The problem Community has is that it' plays to the geeks very blatantly, as those people are on the same wavelength as the people writing the scripts, and the TV-obsessed character of Abed (Danny Pudi). It must look like bright, zany gibberish to anyone who doesn't know RoboCop's Prime Directives or what a Vogon is, but I was pleased this show refused to become more accessible to the masses. Just like Fringe's third year, Dan Harmon's team decided to amplify everything fans enjoyed about season 1, which meant more in-jokes and feverish pop-culture creativity. What other TV shows does a Tarantino special that owes more to '80s arthouse darling Dinner With Andre? Or could make a tense and exciting episode from people sat around a table playing Dragons & Dungeons? Or goes to the trouble of making a fake "clip show"? Or has the gumption and budget to produce a fully stop-motion animated Christmas special? Only Community. NBC (review archive)

2. Homeland

(Season 1) This was on my radar for 2011 given its compelling premise and inclusion of so many former-24 writers, but I never expected Homeland to be quite so brilliant. Based on an Israeli series called Prisoners Of War, this cable series told the story of an American PoW rescued from Iraq and flown home to be with his family, who comes under suspicion from a committed CIA operative of being a brainwashed terrorist now working for the people who captured him. Beautifully acted by Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, with fine support from Mandy Patinkin and David Harewood, Homeland kept the plot moving in a plausible and invigorating way, while refusing to treat the audiences like idiots. The "thinking man's 24" is a phrase I've used a lot to describe this show, but that's exactly what it is. The perfect spy thriller for the Obama era. SHOWTIME (review archive)

1. Breaking Bad

(Season 4) How do you follow a third season that was showered with Emmy nominations? You make a better season, that's how. I know some people had concerns about its measured pace for the first five episodes, and others didn't like how Walt (Bryan Cranston) wasn't quite the centre of the Breaking Bad universe this year, but I had no real complaints. Unlike the terrific third season, this year kept building and building every week, until it exploded with a run of four-star episodes all the way to the staggering finale. Of particular note was Giancarlo Esposito's magnificent performance as druglord Gus, who brought a startling amount of depth and magnetism to his larger role on the show. But, really, everything was firing on all cylinders. Even the show's female characters were given better material, particularly in the first half of the year. Plus, without spoiling anything, this season contained one of the most astonishing and indelible images I saw on TV all year, which is almost reason enough to put this incredible show in my #1 spot for the second year running. AMC (review archive)

Honourable mentions, alphabetically: Being Human (series 3), Black Mirror, Fresh Meat (series 1), The Good Wife (season 2), Luther (series 2), Strike Back (series 2) & This Is England '88.

What do you think? In the comments below, free to grumble about my picks, leave your own alternative Top 10s, or suggest a few small-screen gems that I missed.

Review: BOARDWALK EMPIRE, 2.1 - "21"

written by Terence Winter / directed by Tim Van Patten
starring Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Pitt, Michael Shannon & Shea Whigham

The opening of Boardwalk Empire's second season included a handy recap of season 1, where half the summary was taken from the pilot, and rest from just a smattering of the episodes that followed. This appeared to confirm most people's belief the first season was bloated and dragged its heels mid-season. Boardwalk Empire is a sumptuous HBO production with first-rate performances, so you can overlook some issues in the short-term, but it was definitely a season that had problems the writers need to iron out. There was a serious lack of action for what many people want from a Prohibition era gangster epic, and not enough emotional moments shining through. Thankfully, some of that is fixed with showrunner Terence Winter's season 2 premiere, delivering an hour that felt more assured about itself.

There was a more readily entertaining feel to "21", so that the hour passed by without getting bogged down in itself. It was a wise idea to enhance the profile of black bootlegger Chalky (The Wire's Michael Kenneth Williams), who steals every scene he's in. Here, Chalky White's bootlegging business was attacked by the Ku Klux Klan with a vehicle-mounted machine gun, which managed the tricky task of making Chalky look both human (the fear etched his face when a Klansman pointed a rifle at his head) and a composed badass (his considered one-shot response to the retreating KKK, killing one of the fleeing attackers).

The fallout of this bloody attack also gave treasurer Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) some great material, as he told Chalky he can't retaliate because that will cause a race-war for the city's black community. And, to remind us of Nucky's duplicitous nature, there was a great moment of editing where Nucky gave rousing speeches at two opposing meetings: rallying a black congregation and promising to bring them justice, while later condemning the blacks to a room full of white voters. Buscemi's at his best when the two sides of Nucky's character come into conflict, or he reveals himself to be a disingenuous schemer.

As of last season's finale, we know that Nucky's protégé Jimmy (Michael Pitt) and his Sheriff brother Eli (Shea Whigham) have sided with his mentor Commodore Kaestner (Dabney Coleman), who in one great scene recalls the tale of how he hunted and killed a formidable bear that now stands stuffed in his front room. Clearly The Commodore views Nucky as the next animal he'll be stalking as political prey, ready to eliminate him to retake control of Atlantic City.

One character that had problems last year was FBI Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon), who was enjoyably relentless in his pursuit of illegal booze, yet slightly too overbearing and repetitive. His character remained fascinating, though, as Shannon's a screen presence you can't take your eyes off. Perhaps as an intentional way to prevent Van Alden becoming too odd and dislikeable, the premiere actually gave him some of the funniest moments. His anniversary dinner with his wife saw a softer side to his nature (giving her a beautiful brooch as a present), before he exploded into fury when the restaurant manager unwisely alluded to there being alcohol on the premises (having remained composed for as long as possible). But rather than spoil the moment, Van Alden's wife found it all a big turn on, as this was possibly the first time she's seen her husband's authoritative side. After a very funny moment where the squeaking springs of a double-bed was revealed to be pernickety Van Alden testing the mattress for faults, they shared a rare moment of intimacy.

The premiere wasn't brilliant, but it felt much easier to watch and follow. We had a year of setup last season, so it feels like we can move forward with more purpose and confidence now. It helps that there's clearer definition when it comes to various character's allegiances and plans, plus a loose theme of parental bonding. Jimmy's trying to recapture his lost youth with "Uncle Nucky" through his son (teaching him to shoot guns), and Nucky trying to be step-father to Margaret's (Kelly Macdonald) naughty son Teddy (who's scared of father-figures and just expects beatings from them).

I won't be reviewing Boardwalk Empire every week, as there sadly doesn't appear to be enough of a following here to justify my time and effort. (It can be dispiriting enough writing about my favourite show, Breaking Bad, and seeing those reviews sometimes attract zero comment.) I'm not blaming anyone, because an audience is an audience, and DMD simply appears to attract people who prefer other genres. But it's a show I'll continue to watch with interest, as it could really become something special once the writers get a grasp on what works and what doesn't.

Asides

• Great to see the weird family dynamic at Jimmy's home, where his wife Angela (Aleksa Pallodino) now lives with their son and his youthful mother Gillian (Gretchen Mol). One of the creepier elements of this show is the potentially Oedipal relationship Jimmy has with his mother (often kissing her full on the lips), and there was a brilliantly icky moment when Jimmy's mother admitted to her daughter-in-law that, when Jimmy was a baby, she'd kiss his "winkie".
• One of the most memorable characters last season was disfigured war hero Richard Harrow (Jack Huston), who now works for Jimmy as a one-eyed sniper, half his missing face hidden behind a mask painted to give the illusion of a normal face. I was glad to see him back, and apparently jealous of Jimmy's family life. He even spends his free time pasting photos of families into a scrapbook. Shall we remain sympathetic towards Richard and his behaviour, or is he going to crack this season?

25 September 2011 / HBO

Trailer: BOARDWALK EMPIRE, season 2

HBO have released a great trailer for the second season of their gangster epic Boardwalk Empire, and it all looks extremely promising. I enjoyed the first season, but it seemed to lose focus in the middle-section and, at times, felt like they were telling a six-part story over an indulgent 12-hours. This trailer appears to promise more action, rivalries, crime and drama, but then again those are the kinds of things that always make it into trailers. Still, I'm optimistic Boardwalk Empire will learn from its mistakes last season, and obviously maintain its many good points--such as the wonderful performances from Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Pitt and Michael Shannon.

Boardwalk Empire is expected to return to HBO this September.

Video: 'Boardwalk Empire' VFX Breakdowns

Boardwalk Empire VFX Breakdowns of Season 1 from Brainstorm Digital on Vimeo.

My recent greenscreen post went down well, so here's another incredible special-effects showreel, brought to my attention by @TVSatelliteWeek. This four-minute video shows you how the 1920's world of Boardwalk Empire was created, using greenscreen to extend the sets they built. A word of warning: about halfway through there's footage of a significant character who joins the show mid-season, whose CGI-assisted facial disfigurement is a key part of his character's unnerving presence. You may consider those shots a spoiler if you haven't seen all of Boardwalk Empire's first season yet. It's unfortunately the preview frame Vimeo has grabbed (see above), but there's nothing I can do about that.

'Boardwalk Empire': what did you think?

Sky Atlantic launched last night, with Boardwalk Empire as its crown jewel at 9pm, followed by Blue Bloods as 10.30pm. What did you think? I don't get Sky Atlantic myself, so I can't offer my opinion on the channel, but a friend told me Boardwalk Empire was spoiled by the advert breaks. The episodes run to a full hour on HBO, so will every episode be stretched to 80-mins to accommodate ads on Sky? That doesn't sound too good! Of course, most people watching will have Sky+ so they'll probably never watch live and instead fast-forward through any commercials, so does it really matter these days?

If you have an opinion to share about Sky Atlantic or Boardwalk Empire's premiere (directed by Martin Scorsese, no less) then please do so below. I reviewed Boardwalk's pilot last year, which I thought was marvelous, but this morning's reviews from British critics are mixed. Is the problem partly the fact it was overhyped by Sky, or is Boardwalk Empire simply overrated?

'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' 1.2 - "The Ivory Tower"

[SPOILERS] Not as whip-smart or memorable as the extravagant premiere, "The Ivory Tower" nevertheless told a more comprehensible story and is slowly building its 1920s world, while introducing more characters. Shows like this don't quite take hold with me until I'm au fait with the major players and understand everyone's perspectives, hopes, and desires -- so Boardwalk Empire still has a way to go before I feel connected and desperate to see what happens next, but it's doing a good job cementing the foundations.

Nucky (Steve Buscemi) is definitely corrupt, taking cuts from Atlantic City businesses, but he's cannier than his peers in Chicago and New York, recognizing the value of potential female voters and the black community. Agent Nelson Van Alden (Michael Shannon) is investigating the death of Mr Schroeder, whom he believes has been made a scapegoat in the alcohol stickup, and has already got the measure of Nucky after a brief meeting in his office. Nucky realizes as much, so asked his sheriff brother Eli (Shea Whigham) to make the necessary arrangements to cover his crimes -- which includes manipulating Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) into towing the party line about her innocent husband being involved in the robbery.

I'm enjoying how the action sometimes shifts to Chicago and New York, as I wasn't expecting this series to be so broad in scope, but giving Nucky some rivals is a great move. Here we got to see more of the shrewd NYC boss Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlberg), who scared Chicago mobster Jim Colosimo's assassin into revealing who ordered the hit, and later called Nucky and inferred he was behind it (which he might have been, but it's not certain). Clearly the two men are going to be enemies from hereon in, with Rothstein looking to avenge the death of a comrade.

We also met some vital support figures in the lives of Nucky and his subordinate Jimmy (Michael Pitt). Nucky has his elderly mentor Louis Kaestner (Dabney Coleman), a Commodore of the Ku Klux Klan; unsurprisingly, a narrow-minded racist who takes pleasure in belittling his black maid's knowledge of business, claiming her lack of knowledge proves the uselessness of a female vote. But Nucky's more enlightened as a protégé, knowing that the key to his continuing success as Atlantic City's treasurer is to keep women and the black population sweet. He may use public funds to line his gilded cage (or Ivory Tower, as the title has it), but he knows that you have to keep the public on-side to keep that position of power.

For Jimmy, we meet Gillian (Gretchen Mol), a showgirl who at first appears to be a lover that Jimmy's seeing behind his wife's back, but in fact turns out to be his young mother. I'm not convinced the age gap works to that fact, however. Writer Terrence Winter says Gillian was pregnant at the age of 13, but that still doesn't quite sit right for me because Mol's nearly 40 and Pitt's nearly 30. If Pitt looked five years younger, or Mol five years older, it would be easier to accept. Still, the misdirection worked, and I was convinced Jimmy was seeing someone behind his wife's back (do you really let your mother give you a leg-hug embrace?). And Mol's fantastic casting because she's one of those people who look like they belong in a period setting.

The relationship between Margaret and Nucky also took some steps forward, which is currently one of the more interesting elements of the series for me. Margaret's so sweet and sympathetic you can't help but want the best for her, and Nucky clearly means her no harm (hearing she's well-read seems to only increase his affection for her), but trouble will surely follow if Margaret becomes a fixture. Interestingly, she also has the attention of Agent Van Alden, so is caught in the middle of the show's most obvious symbols of good and bad.

Also good to get a sense that Nucky's a darker character than he seemed in the premiere, with him forcing Jimmy to handover $3000 that was missing from his cut of the liquor robbery, forcing Jimmy to steal from his own mother because he's already spent the cash on luxuries. And having been given the money, Nucky pointedly gambled it away in front of Jimmy on a roulette wheel, pushing the idea that trying to cheat Nucky has bad consequences, and losing $3k on roulette is nothing compared to what might happen. Right now, Jimmy's so eager to please Nucky, ultimately pursuing a way to get some of Nucky's lifestyle for himself, that I'm guessing it's a lesson he'll learn. Nucky's certainly willing to show a stronger, crueler side if he feels threatened.

Overall, it's still early days, but the promise of the premiere wasn't washed away by this second episode. It wasn't as good, but it was easier to follow and the script is doing a good job driving the story forward while enriching characters and introducing new faces. There were times where you felt a little overwhelmed with information overload last week, but "The Ivory Tower" was much easier to slip into, and I'm already very interested in the lives of Nucky, Jimmy and Margaret.

Asides

• Margaret is seen reading Henry James's "The Ivory Tower" in hospital, which explains this episode's title. It was an unfinished novel by the author, about two dying millionaires and their corrupting influence on other people. Clearly a relevant theme with Boardwalk Empire.
• Jimmy's friendship with Al Capone (Stephen Graham) last week doesn't appear to have lasted, as Capone was quick to avoid Jimmy asking for cash as a favour over the phone.
• Amusing scene with Jimmy having bought a "vacuum sweeper" and its noise frightening his young son.
• Does anyone else think Michael Shannon (Van Alden) sounds exactly like Rod Sterling of The Twilight Zone fame?

WRITER: Terence Winter
DIRECTOR: Timothy Van Patten
TRANSMISSION: 26 September 2010 - HBO

'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' 1.1 - "Boardwalk Empire"

Today over at Obsessed With Film: I review the feature-length opening episode of HBO's period gangster epic BOARDWALK EMPIRE, starring Steve Buscemi and directed by Martin Scorsese...

"This confluence of writer Terence Winter (The Sopranos) and director Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas) is as prosperous, satisfying, and exciting as you could hope. HBO’s crime epic Boardwalk Empire begins with a fascinating and beautifully-crafted 75-minute drama that introduces Atlantic City (circa 1920), the coastal town’s feted treasurer Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, and people whose lives will be changed by the onset of Prohibition..." Continue reading...

HBO give 'Boardwalk Empire' second season

HBO's Boardwalk Empire has only aired one feature-length episode, but an incredible average of 4.8m people tuned in, making it the network's biggest hit for six years. Consequently, HBO have already awarded it a second season. Full press release below:

HBO RENEWS BOARDWALK EMPIRE FOR SECOND SEASON

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2010 – Following resounding critical approval and high viewer numbers for the series' Sept. 19 debut, HBO has renewed BOARDWALK EMPIRE for a second season, it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming.

"All the ingredients aligned for this one, from Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson's initial pitch, to Martin Scorsese's enormous contributions as director and executive producer, to the genius of Terry Winter and the expertise of Tim Van Patten, to a stellar cast led by Steve Buscemi," said Lombardo. "The response from the media and our viewers has been nothing short of amazing."

From Terence Winter, Emmy® Award-winning writer of "The Sopranos" and Academy Award®-winning director Martin Scorsese, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is set in Atlantic City at the dawn of Prohibition, when the sale of alcohol became illegal throughout the United States.

Among the early critical raves, People called the show "not-to-be-missed," hailing Steve Buscemi's "brilliant, brutally funny performance," while USA Today observed that BOARDWALK EMPIRE “looks to be the season’s best new show on any outlet." The Philadelphia Inquirer said the series "stands at the pinnacle of TV achievement," with the New York Observer noting, "It's really, really good."

The Sept. 19 premiere of BOARDWALK EMPIRE averaged 4.8 million viewers during the 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) airing to score HBO's largest premiere of any program in over six years (since March 21, 2004 -– "Deadwood" with "The Sopranos" as lead-in). With additional plays at 10:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., BOARDWALK EMPIRE was watched by a combined 7.1 million viewers for the night.

Season one credits: Created by Terence Winter, BOARDWALK EMPIRE is executive produced by Terence Winter, Martin Scorsese, Tim Van Patten, Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg; co-executive producers, Gene Kelly and Lawrence Konner; producers (series), Rudd Simmons and Rick Yorn; producer (pilot), David Coatsworth; supervising producers, Howard Korder and Margaret Nagle.

Incidentally, my review of Boardwalk Empire's premiere should be posted at Obsessed With Film tomorrow, linked to from here.

Sky delay 'Boardwalk Empire'?

If this article about Boardwalk Empire in The Independent is to be believed, it appears Sky aren't planning to show HBO's new period gangster series until 2011. My guess is they're going to try and boost subsciptions to Sky Movies by premiering Boardwalk Empire on Sky Premiere, rather than Sky1, as they did The Pacific earlier this year. I wouldn't be surprised if Boardwalk likewise debuts on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, too. But while that's all speculation on my part, it seems likely British fans will be waiting months for Sky to air this highly-anticipated HBO series. If this is indicative of Sky's exclusive HBO deal, it's a disappointing first step. I certainly won't be waiting...

Boardwalk Empire: Trailer 2

Preview Trailer #2

Well, I can't wait. Can you? Boardwalk Empire is scheduled to debut on HBO this autumn.