American Horror Story Coven's Delphine LaLaurie & The Axeman Are Actual Historical Real Killers

Currently I think my favorite show currently on TV may be FX's American Horror Story: Coven. Wednesday, 10/9 C.

I find the hour viewing American Horror Story: Coven goes by faster than any other show I am currently viewing, thus indicating I must find American Horror Story: Coven entertaining.

Entertaining and educational.

The first episode of the 3rd iteration of American Horror Story started off in the early 1800s with Kathy Bates being a human horror, torturing, terrorizing, maiming and being a racist pig via a character named Marie Delphine LaLaurie.

Well.

I was quite surprised when I learned that Marie Delphine LaLaurie is an actual historical character who actually did the type stuff we have seen depicted in American Horror Story: Coven, well, except for being risen from the dead and brought alive in to the present time where she reacts in horror to learn that America has a black president.

Below is a blurb from the Wikipedia Delphine LaLaurie article, and below that more surprising reality horror from American Horror Story: Coven...

Marie Delphine LaLaurie (c. 1775 – c. 1842), more commonly known as Madame LaLaurie, was a Louisiana-born socialite and serial killer known for her involvement in the torture and murder of slaves.

Born in New Orleans, LaLaurie married three times over the course of her life. She maintained a prominent position in the social circles of New Orleans until April 10, 1834, when rescuers responding to a fire at her Royal Street mansion discovered bound slaves within the house who showed evidence of torture over a long period. LaLaurie's house was subsequently sacked by an outraged mob of New Orleans citizens, and it is thought that she fled to Paris, where she is believed to have died.

The latest episode of American Horror Story: Coven's first segment was set in 1919, showing the Axeman of New Orleans terrorizing the town with random ax murders, culminating in a night were the Axeman, via a letter to a local newspaper, warned the locals that they'd better be playing jazz music on a certain night or face ax annihilation.

Well, imagine my surprise at finding a Wikipedia article titled Axeman of New Orleans, which details the serial killer crime spree of a never caught murderer, including the following blurb...

"The Axeman" was not caught or identified at the time, and his crime spree stopped as mysteriously as it had started. The murderer's identity remains unknown to this day, although various possible identifications of varying plausibility have been proposed. Most notoriously, on March 13, 1919, a letter purporting to be from the Axeman was published in the newspapers saying that he would kill again at 15 minutes past midnight on the night of March 19, but would spare the occupants of any place where a jazz band was playing. That night all of New Orleans's dance halls were filled to capacity, and professional and amateur bands played jazz at parties at hundreds of houses around town. There were no murders that night.

The night of no murders on the Axeman's jazz night, was the night depicted on American Horror Story: Coven with the witches luring the Axeman into their lair by playing a non-jazz recording, where the coven then murdered the Axeman, thus ending his axed reign of terror.

I can find no Wikipedia article about an actual witches coven in New Orleans, or any speculation that it actually was a coven of witches who did in the Axeman.....

The X Factor Voting Blunder Caused An Un-Bloated Not Overly Produced New Competition Show

One would think after years of reality tv shows having viewers vote for contestants that the voting methods would have been perfected by now.

However, a couple weeks ago Dancing with the Stars had a voting snafu which resulted in no one getting kicked out of the glittery ballroom, that week.

And now, this week, I went to watch the DVRed X Factor results show to have the annoying Mario Lopez informing viewers that due to a blunder with the voting the previous night's excruciating Motown night would not count, and that rather than booting anyone, the acts would all act again, with a new song.

To me this resulted in a vastly improved X Factor.

Rather than a bloated two  hours, it was a fast  paced one hour. With no time to come up with tacky production numbers, with backup singers and dancers and way too many flashing lights, this was X Factor-lite.

Like I said, vastly improved. Maybe X Factor has accidentally come up with a production formula that works.

But, it may be too late to save this show. Apparently the ratings have tanked.

X Factor has never done well in the ratings, never on a par with the other singing competitions, as in fellow Fox show, American Idol, or NBC's The Voice.

I have heard no mention made of the X Factor winner winning a $5 million dollar contract, unlike its previous two seasons.

I am not the only viewer to note that neither The X Factor or The Voice has found a singer who has gone on to have a hit record, be in a movie or another TV show. I think the first X Factor winner was in a commercial, during the Super Bowl, which may have been the last time the public has seen her.

American Idol has given the world Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Kris Allen, Kellie Pickler, Adam Lambert, Jordan Sparks, Scotty McCreery and Phillip Phillips, and likely others I am not remembering right now.

I don't seem to go a day without hearing Phillip Phillips on the radio.

Fast forwarding through The Voice's result show, last night, it does not appear, to me, that that show has found an American Idol type popstar, this year.

It will be interesting to see how American Idol does this year, after last year's version, which is widely regarding as a dud. Because it was.

Cher Successfully Adds Being A Dancing With The Stars Judge To Her Resume With Brant Daugherty Leaving The Ballroom

That is Cher sitting in Len Goodman's chair this 8th week of Dancing with the Stars.

I had no idea that being an expert judge of ballroom dancing was among Cher's amazingly varied talents. The show open with Cher descending from above, singing Believe, wearing a mini-skirt.

A few decades ago there was a lame joke, often  repeated, that two things would survive a nuclear holocaust, those being cockroaches and Cher.

Cher is now in her 6th decade in show business. Cher is 67 years old. Cher is the youngest looking person in their 60s I have ever seen. Cher has won Emmys, Grammys, Golden Globes, Oscars and multiple other show business awards around the world.

Is Cher currently the most famous celebrity, world-wide? If not Cher, who is it?

The studio audience was loving everything that Cher said, including a moment that got bleeped whilst commenting on Elizabeth Berkley.

Dancing with the Stars has suffered a drop in the Nielsen ratings, what with being up against NBC's The Voice. I suspect this week's Cher episode will see a bump up in the ratings.

Cher's critique of Brant Daugherty was basically that she liked his smile. So, along with the other judges, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, Cher gave Brant a 9.

A total of 27 did not save Brant Daugherty and partner Peta Murgatroyd from being the pair asked to leave the ballroom this week.

Singing With The Vienna Boy's Choir Eliminates Tim & Danny From The Amazing Race

When first I met Tim & Danny on Season 23 of The Amazing Race I figured the Oklahoma team would not be long for the race, particularly when we saw them already having trouble simply getting to LAX in Los Angeles.

I did not expect the Tim & Danny team to become my favorite, but they did. I was not pleased to have Phil eliminate them from the race this week.

I was particularly displeased because the elimination was due to a very unfair Roadblock that had Tim singing a song, in German, with the Vienna Boy's Choir.

And the song had to be in tune.

I am totally tone deaf. If I had been doing that Roadblock I would have been in last place, after Tim.

At 23 iterations of The Amazing Race I can see why I've grown a bit jaded about it. The wonder of seeing places in the world I've never seen before has faded. Mostly due to the fact that the race does not seem to go anywhere totally surprising too often anymore.

In earlier seasons of The Amazing Race I seem to remember things like teams driving on to a ferry in Gibraltar, then driving across North Africa, following route markers. That type thing does not happen anymore, or so  rarely I am not remembering the last time.

Too often, now, too much of the hour is spent on airport drama. Like that awful leg that eliminated the amusing footballers, Chester & Ephraim, unable to catch a plane break, arriving days late in Portugal.

And then there is the, what seems to me to be, over use of taxis. Show the driver the clue, ask if he can drive them there. Get a bad taxi driver and you're out of luck.

And then there are the challenges. This latest episode, in addition to singing with the Vienna Boy's Choir, had teams putting on a mask, then finding matching masks among a big herd of waltzing Austrians. Boring.

The Fast Forward turned into a dud for Jason & Amy with the strong wind making bungee jumping impossible.

The most entertaining part of the episode was, at Marie's instigation, Tim & Marie stealing Jason & Amy's taxi. That resulted in some amusing verbal fisticuffs when both teams arrived at the Pit Stop mat at the same time.

Tim & Marie are now my favorite for the win. Marie is reality TV gold. And Tim is her funny good-natured  foil.  I also like the ER doctors, Travis & Nichole.  I really don't want the Afghanimals, Leo & Jamal, to win the million bucks, but I can see where it would be amusing if they did.

Colton Cumbie & Me Quit Survivor

Well, I am done with Survivor for now.

Ever since Survivor started bringing back people who'd previously been on the show, be it in an all star type deal or some fans vs. favorites type deal or some other type returning person deal I have not liked it.

I won't watch Survivor again unless it returns to its original format of casting people who have not been on Survivor before.

I did not like the current Blood vs. Water idea at all, not when I first heard of it, and liked it even less when I viewed the reality.

And then, in the latest episode, it being my final time of watching Survivor, unless Survivor reforms itself, creepy drama king, Colton Cumbie, had a crying fit and quit, saying he did not like his tribe, along with other boo hoo hoo blather.

Jeff Probst was visibly quite annoyed at Colton, calling him selfish and revealing that Colton had faked his appendicitis attack when he quit on Survivor One World.

Which had me thinking why did the Survivor producers think it a good idea to have this guy back on the island? Did they not know that the vast majority of viewers found Colton to be real bad television?

I have not seen the Nielsen ratings since Survivor started up again. I'd be surprised if Survivor is still in the Top 20.

Survivor Blood vs. Water With Redemption Island Not Off To A Good Start

My DVR remembers to auto-record a dozen or more shows that I have previously set  to record. Like when a new season of The Amazing Race, American Horror Story, Top Chef or Dancing with the Stars starts up, the show gets recorded.

Except for Survivor.

Is my DVR trying to tell me something? Like maybe it is time to quit watching Survivor?


On Wednesday when I saw a promo for Survivor I realized Survivor had started up again, so I checked to see if the DVR was scheduled to record it. It was not. So I set the DVR to record Survivor with me thinking the September 25 episode was the season premiere of Survivor: Blood vs. Water.

Last night when I fired up the TV for my nightly pre-sleep brain numbing I hit the play button on Survivor. I was sitting there thinking what an odd beginning, thinking Jeff Probst was telling me what had already happened, prior to starting up the new season. I was a couple minutes into this before I realized I was watching a re-cap and that the new season must have premiered the previous Wednesday and I was watching a re-cap of that episode.

I probably should not be admitting to these type confusions.

I do not like the Blood vs. Water premise. Once again half the people on the show have already been on Survivor. Did Rupert really need to be on again? Having asked that I will say it was sort of satisfying to see Rupert be the first one cast off the island.

I only remembered about half of the returnees, with most of those who I remembered not being anyone I really wanted to see again. Like the annoying gay bully boy, Colton.

And why Redemption Island again? Do the Survivor producers not check in on what the viewers think about their various twists?

Last night I made it through the Immunity Challenge and then went in to fast forward mode. I had not been hooked in to caring which of the returnee's wife, husband, mother, brother, uncle, niece, girlfriend, sister, cousin, father, aunt or grandma got the boot to Redemption Island.

Is Survivor never going to have a return to its original format of casting all new people? How many times has Rupert played the game now? Three? Four?

I think Survivor may be near the end of its long run. I suspect this season will see a big drop in the ratings. I may be one of those who contribute to the drop....

Why Was There No In Memoriam Larry Hagman Tribute During The 65th Emmy Awards Telecast?

I made it through a few minutes past the 90 minute mark of Sunday's 65th Annual Emmy Awards telecast.

I usually find Neil Patrick Harris to be amusing when he is in host mode. But, last night, not so much. The middle of the show, at the 90 minute mark dance production number's finish, is when I hit the TV off button.

I did not know til this morning that Larry Hagman did not get a featured "In Memoriam" tribute.  I saw the Jean Stapleton, Jonathon Winters and Cory Monteith tributes.

Even before learning of the Larry Hagman snub/flub I was sort of appalled that Cory Monteith was featured, what with him being on TV a very short time, as in his big break came in only 2009, in Glee. Cory Monteith did not have a long, storied career. He was an addict who died from an alcohol/heroin overdose.

Meanwhile, Larry Hagman was a TV giant. One of TV's all time most popular stars. Larry Hagman was already well known and well like after 5 seasons with his first hit, I Dream of Jeannie. Followed, about a decade later, with one of the most popular, worldwide, TV shows of all time.

Dallas.

Larry Hagman's character on Dallas, J.R. Ewing, may be the most well know fictional TV character of all time.

Dallas was the #1 show in America for years. Dallas was the #1 show worldwide for much of its run.

The "Who Shot J.R.?" Dallas episode got one of the highest ratings of all time.

And then, in this century, Larry Hagman came back to TV, on TNT, in a well-received re-boot of Dallas, where both Larry Hagman and J.R. Ewing died in the re-booted Dallas second season, which was in this year's Emmy season.

And yet no mention made of Larry Hagman at Sunday night's Emmy telecast.

Appalling.

Larry Hagman should have been nominated for an Emmy this year. In addition to an "In Memoriam" tribute.

Season 3 Premieres With A New Improved Version Of The X Factor

I did not realize the third season of The X Factor was premiering last night til I saw my DVR was recording it.

I thought I'd cancelled my DVR's recording of The X Factor, last season, after I tired of it.

I don't know if it is too soon to judge such a thing, but judging from the premiere episode it appears that The X Factor has fixed a lot of what made this show annoying to watch.

The show seemed fast paced, well edited, little filler. Little pointless chatter. Much less flash and noise.

The new judges, Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio, seem eons better, on first exposure, than Brittney Spears and L.A. Reid.

Particularly L.A. Reid. Mr. Reid was just not a good television presence.

Also dumped is Khloe Kardashian. Leaving Mario Lopez as the sole host, with Mario being very subdued and barely a presence.

The dynamic between Simon Cowell and three female fellow judges seems to have a pleasant feel to it. So far.

Is the 3rd attempt the charm? Will The X Factor finally become the hit that Simon Cowell was so sure it was going to be? Time will tell. But, just judging from episode number one of season three, it would seem that The X Factor may have fine tuned itself sufficiently to finally draw more viewers than it repels.

I did not adjust the settings on my DVR after viewing last night's The X Factor episode....

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo's Season Two Finale Tonight

Over the past year or two I have heard the name "Honey Boo Boo" mentioned many a time. I knew Honey Boo Boo was on a Reality TV Show on TLC, also known as The Learning Channel.

But, til last Wednesday, I had not watched an episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

Yikes!

Just the title of the episode I watched was enough cause for a Yikes!

Stress Poops was the title.

Apparently Honey Boo Boo's mother, known as Mama June, suffers from extreme gastro intestinal distress when under stress. The stress in this case was getting ready for her commitment ceremony with baby daddy Sugar Bear.

I consulted the Internet to learn that the episode of Honey Boo Boo that I watched was the next to last episode of season two of Honey Boo Boo. With the season finale of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo coming at you tonight, Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 10/9c.

Honey Boo Boo's actual name is Alana Thompson. Alana and her interesting family came to fame via another TLC show called Toddlers & Tiaras.

Helping Honey Boo Boo show us the joys of American rural life we have her stay-at-home mother, June "Mama June" Shannon and her papa, Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson, who mines chalk. Then there are Honey Boo Boo's three sisters: Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon, 12, Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, 15 and Anna "Chickadee" Shannon, 17.

Apparently Anna Chickadee birthed a daughter, Kaitlyn Shannon, during the first season Honey Boo Boo finale. I wondered whose baby the baby was that had to get rescued from the bathroom where Mama June was spending a lot of time doing her stress pooping. Now I realize it was the mother of the baby who did the rescue.

I may watch the season two Honey Boo Boo finale. I did find the one and only episode I viewed to be entertaining. I don't recollect ever listening to so much discussion about roadkill and how one makes sure one is buying an authentic coon rather than a cat being passed of as a coon.

I guess this is the type educational material one should expect to learn when one is watching The Learning Channel...

Dancing with the Stars Season 17 Premieres with Valerie Harper in a New One Night Two-Hour Format on Monday, September 16 at 8|7c

Above you are looking at the "Stars" who will be dancing on Season 17 of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

Usually I only know who about half of the "Stars" are.

This time I am familiar with all but one of the dancing women. I have no idea who Christina Milian is.

Of the dancing men I only know of half of the six. I have no idea who Keyshawn Johnson, Brant Daugherty or Corbin Bleu are.

This season Dancing with the Stars has one of the biggest stars in TV history dancing. Valerie Harper of Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda fame.

The Rhoda and Joe wedding episode of Rhoda remains one of the most watched TV episodes in TV history, with something like 52 million viewers watching.

I suspect the ratings for Dancing with the Stars will be up this season due to Valerie Harper being one of those dancing.

Just a couple months ago Valerie Harper was in the news with the announcement that she had a very serious rare brain cancer with a very dire prognosis. Chemotherapy and radiation has reduced the cancer, with the result being that Valerie Harper is currently in good enough health to do some heavy duty dancing.

Below is the entire DWTS CAST & PARTNERS.......

Amber Riley & Derek Hough
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi & Sasha Farber
Leah Remini & Tony Dovolani
Christina Milian & Mark Ballas
Valerie Harper & Tristan MacManus
Elizabeth Berkley & Val Chmerkovskiy

Jack Osbourne & Cheryl Burke
Bill Engval & Emma Slater
Keyshawn Johnson & Sharna Burgess
Bill Nye & Tyne Stecklein
Brant Daugherty & Peta Murgatroyd
Corbin Bleu & Karina Smirnoff

Dancing with the Stars Premieres in a New One Night, Two-Hour Format on Monday, September 16 at 8|7c

Why Are So Many People Objecting To Ben Affleck Being Batman?

I am not understanding the brouhaha being bandied about due to Ben Affleck being cast to play Batman in the next Batman movie.

If Michael Keaton and George Clooney could be Bruce Wayne and Batman, why not Ben Affleck?

Ben Affleck looks like a square-jawed superhero. He is 6 feet 4. That is way taller than Michael Keaton and George Clooney.

After Ben Affleck was announced as the new Batman #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck became the top trending Twitter hash tag, with Tweeters suggesting others would make a better Batman than Ben, people like "the guy who played the Beaver on Leave it to Beaver."

Being Batman will not be the first time Ben Affleck has been a superhero in a movie. In 2003 he was a Marvel Comic blind crime fighter in "Daredevil." In 2006 Ben Affleck had the George Reeves/Superman role in "Hollywoodland."

After the Ben Affleck Batman announcement was made a petition quickly popped up on Change.org under the heading "Remove Ben Affleck as Batman/ Bruce Wayne."

This is one of those petition deals where, supposedly, President Obama has agreed to weigh in on the issue if the petition gets over 100,000 signatures.

This had Rush Limbaugh, on his Friday radio show, suggesting that his listeners sign the petition, because Rush thought it would be amusing to have the president faced with having to weigh in on such a serious issue.

On this rare occasion I was in agreement with Rush Limbaugh, as in so many people getting so worked up over Ben Affleck being cast as Batman, to the point of thinking this issue warranted a presidential intervention, is some sort of sad indicator of something not being quite right in the minds of way too many people, what with there being such a plethora of actual, real serious issues one might want the president to worry about before he concerns himself with Ben Affleck's movie roles....

Bruce Jenner Should Divorce Wife Kris & Quit Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Last night whilst peacefully consuming a stuffed burrito, whilst channel chasing, I came upon Keeping up with the Kardashians on the E network.

I was aware there was a reality tv show about the Kardashian family. I knew Bruce Jenner was married to Kris Kardashian who had reproduced multiple times with Robert Kardashian, creating creatures like Kim, Khloe, Rob and Kourtney Kardashian.

I knew Bruce Jenner had a kid, Brody, from a previous wife. I did not know there were other Bruce kids, Kendall and Kylie, from a previous marriage, which were blended into the bizarre Kardashian family.

Kim and Rob Kardashian have danced on Dancing with the Stars. I found them to be perfectly pleasant people in dance mode. There mother, Kris, showed up to watch them dance. And comment. I did not find Kris to be as pleasant as her kids.

I do not know if the Keeping up with the Kardashians episode I saw last night was new, or a repeat. What I do know is, I was appalled, appalled I tell you, at these vapid, shallow, stupid people.

I lasted 10 minutes before I had to chase to another channel.

How can these people be paid millions of dollars? Does this fact go to the heart of what is currently wrong with America?

During the 10 minutes that I lasted, the Kardashians and Jenners were on vacation at some cool looking location in Mexico. I would have been in bliss to be at this location.

Apparently it is a big deal for a combined vacation to occur where all Bruce's kids are there, along with the Kardashian kids. During my 10 minutes Bruce's kid  named Kendall was having herself an emotional crisis.

The thing that really struck me as pathetic was Kris Jenner. The mother of this brood. As if it were some great act of imaginative mayhem, Kris suggested her girls engage the Jenners in a Kardashian family tradition, with Kris saying something like they'd show those damn Jenners how Kardashian's vacay.

And then we learned jumping in a pool in your expensive evening wear clothing is that wild and crazy traditional thing the Kardashians do on vacay that will show those damn Jenners a thing or two.

To his credit, Bruce wanted no part of it.

And so the Kardashians jumped in the pool, acting as if this was the most fun thing imaginable.

Then the now wet Kris chased Bruce around. When he would have no part of it, Kris poutingly said, "Some people just don't know how to have fun."

Bruce, if you are reading this. Divorce this awful woman at once. You deserve better....

A New Improved Project Runway Is Back With Season 12

It seems like quite recently Project Runway Season 11 came to an end, because it was fairly recent, as in Michelle Franklin won Season 11 on April 25, beating the designer I wanted to win, that being the Native American from Taos, Patricia Michaels.

On Friday, July 19, I was surprised to see my DVR had recorded a new episode of Project Runway the night before. Huh? I wondered. Hadn't Project Runway just had a finale?

Well, time flies.

Project Runway Season 12 started up July 18. Now, 2 weeks in, so far, this is being an entertaining edition of Project Runway, with an amusing cast of characters, I mean, designers.

Project Runway is among my many guilty TV pleasures. I find it amusing watching the designers make something to wear, whilst working under stressful conditions, or with stressful material. Like the first episode of Season 12 where clothing had to be made from parachute material.

This new iteration of Project Runway has made several changes. I'll see if I can remember them.

One big change is rather than giving the designer's a set amount of money to spend on a challenge, they've been given a debit type account with $4,000 to spend how they want, through out the season.

Tim Gunn now sits with the judges, but not voting on the results.

The designs now come down the runway without the judges being told whose design they are looking at.

The judges now get close up to the top three and bottom three for a detailed examination, where before they only saw the designs from their judging seats. This close up exam has made for some amusing observations.

Another change is Project Runway has borrowed "The Save" from American Idol. Tim Gunn can save one designer, once during the season, from being told by Heidi Klum that they are out.

And speaking of Heidi Klum. Heidi seems to be somehow rejuvenated, more animated, more amusing, more feisty and even more good-looking, if that is possible.

Every time Heidi Klum uses the word "boobies" it causes me an  inner giggle.

There is a very goofy designer this season, first name Timothy.  A total fruitcake who is all about being green with fashion. He does not buy fabric at MOOD. He rummages through the MOOD trash. On the most recent episode the judges, particularly Heidi, were appalled at Timothy's weird design that did not allow for the use of a bra, which caused Zac Posen to comment something along the line that the design would be too prone to nipple slippage, with Heidi mentioning something about "boobies".

I don't think Timothy will be winning Project Runway Season 12.

2013 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations

The 2013 Emmy Awards Nominations were announced within the past day or two, near as I can tell.

The 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, September 22, 8ET/5PT.

I know Neil Patrick Harris help make the Nominations announcements, and I think he will be hosting the live awards show.

I don't remember which of the ubiquitous awards show it was that I watched Neil Patrick Harris host before, but I do remember he did a really good job.

I have seen very few of the nominated shows or the actors and actresses who act in them. Very few. Going down the list of nominated actors and actresses I've watched Vera Farmiga in "Bates Motel", Christine Baranski, in "The Good Wife," Jason Bateman in "Arrested Development", Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik in "The Big Bang Theory", Michael Douglas, Matt Damon and Scott Bakula in "Behind the Candelabra" and Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, James Cromwell and Zachary Quinto in "American Horror Story: Asylum".

That is it for the actors and actresses I've seen acting in the nominated shows.

As for the nominated shows that I've watched "The Big Bang Theory", "The Amazing Race", "Dancing With the Stars", "Project Runway", "Top Chef", some of "The Voice", "American Horror Story: Asylum" and "Behind the Candelabra".

Clearly, I watch too much Reality TV and not enough Quality TV.

Below is the list of 2013 Emmy Award Nominations...

Outstanding Drama Series
» "Breaking Bad"
» "Downton Abbey"
» "Game of Thrones"
» "Homeland"
» "House of Cards"
» "Mad Men"

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
» Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
» Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
» Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
» Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
» Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
» Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
» Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"
» Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
» Claire Danes, "Homeland"
» Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
» Elizabeth Moss, "Peggy Olson"
» Connie Britton, "Nashville"
» Kerry Washington, "Scandal"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
» Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"
» Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
» Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
» Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
» Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
» Ann Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
» Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
» Emilia Clark, "Game of Thrones"
» Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
» Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"

Outstanding Comedy Series
» "The Big Bang Theory"
» "Girls"
» "Louie"
» "Modern Family"
» "30 Rock"
» "Veep"

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
» Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
» Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
» Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
» Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
» Louis C.K., "Louie"
» Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
» Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
» Lena Dunham, "Girls"
» Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
» Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
» Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
» Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
» Adam Driver, "Girls"
» Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
» Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"
» Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
» Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"
» Tony Hale, "Veep"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
» Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
» Jane Lynch, "Glee"
» Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
» Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
» Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"
» Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"

Outstanding Reality Show Competition
» "The Amazing Race"
» "Dancing With the Stars"
» "Project Runway"
» "So You Think You Can Dance"
» "Top Chef"
» "The Voice"

Outstanding TV Miniseries or Movie
» "American Horror Story: Asylum"
» "Behind the Candelabra"
» "The Bible"
» "Phil Spector"
» "Political Animals"
» "Top of the Lake"

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
» Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
» Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
» Toby Jones, "The Girl"
» Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"
» Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
» Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
» Laura Linney, "The Big C"
» Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
» Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals"
» Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
» James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
» Zachary Quinto, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
» Scott Bakula, "Behind the Candelabra"
» John Benjamin Hickey, "The Big C"
» Peter Mullan, "Top of the Lake"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
» Sarah Paulson, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
» Imelda Staunton, "The Girl"
» Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals"
» Charlotte Rampling, "Restless"
» Alfre Woodard, "Steel Magnolias"

Naked & Afraid On The Discovery Channel Had Me Afraid But Not Naked

Watching Nik Wallenda successfully tightrope across a side canyon of the Grand Canyon, Sunday night on the Discovery Channel, I was not too afraid that he'd fall off the wire. What with the constantly praying to Jesus and God it would have just way too ironic had this stunt gone tragically awry.

The end of Skywire Live segued directly into Naked & Afraid.

Nik Wallenda had the common sense to keep his clothes on whilst walking the Skywire.

Keeping their clothes on was not the case on Naked & Afraid. I knew the premise of this show was that two people, a male and a female, who did not know each other, would be dropped off in a wilderness location, naked, with only one survival item.

But, I figured there would be a lot of pixelation to protect viewers from viewing any nakedness. I figured wrong. The fronts of both were blurred, with the female top front blurred, while the male's front top was left unblurred. But, the backside view of both was left totally unblurred, totally naked.

That is til the female fashioned a primitive covering out of vegetation.

I think this show might be a bigger viewer draw if it cast mactors, like Survivor is prone to do. Mactor is a term that means model/actor.

The wilderness location is a Costa Rican jungle. The episode opened showing one of the show's producers getting med-evacuated after getting bit by one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. Apparently the Costa Rican jungle has a lot of these snakes.

It did  not take long for the male to almost step on one.

Barefooted.

I don't see how these people can possibly last the duration, I think it is 21 days. Foraging for food, shivering in rain, avoiding getting snakebit, angry monkeys.

I was sort of exhausted from watching the Nik Wallenda tightroping across the canyon extravaganza, so I hit the pause button before the end of the first episode of Naked & Afraid. I'll finish watching the episode later today. And then I'll decide if I want to record the series.

Tonight on the Discovery Channel Nik Wallenda Walks a Tightrope Across Little Colorado River Gorge Near Grand Canyon

Tonight, Sunday, June 23, 2013, on the Discovery Channel, Nik Wallenda of the Flying Wallenda Family fame is going to walk a tightrope, live, across what is being promoted as the Grand Canyon.

However, what Nik Wallenda will actually be attempting to cross is a tightrope 1,500 feet, give or take a foot or two, above  the Little Colorado River Gorge in a canyon that connects to the Grand Canyon.

The Discovery Channel is broadcasting the Wallenda skywalk, almost live, with a 10 second delay. Wallenda will be wired with two cameras, one looking down and one looking straight ahead.

Wind gusts of around 30 mph are predicted. Wallenda has successfully walked wires in strong wind. However, if a thunderstorm shows up within a 15-mile radius, that will stop the walk.

Skywire Live takes place in the Navajo Nation. During the 2 hour broadcast highlights of the Navajo Nation will be shown, places such as Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly and Window Rock, which is the capital city of the Navajo Nation.

Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for May 20 - May 26

The Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for Nielsen Rating's Top 20 for for May 20 - May 26. The first number is the ranking, the second number is the season average, then the show name and network. The last number represents the number of viewers in millions. An asterisk * indicates a tie.

Rank	Show name	Network	Viewers in millions	Season-to-date average (in millions)
1.	Dancing With the Stars Results	ABC	15.2	13.8
2.	Dancing With the Stars	ABC	15.0	14.9
3.	Criminal Minds	CBS	11.0	12.3
4.	The Voice (Mon.)	NBC	10.8	14.3
5.	The Voice (Tue.)	NBC	10.2	13.5
6.	Modern Family	ABC	10.0	12.4
7.	Big Bang Theory	CBS	9.1	18.5
8.	Hawaii Five-0	CBS	9.0	10.5
9.	Tornado Coverage (Tue., 8:00)	NBC	8.2	--
10.	Mike & Molly	CBS	7.9	10.3
*	NCIS: Los Angeles	CBS	7.9	--
12.	NCIS	CBS	7.8	--
13.	The Middle	ABC	7.7	8.4
*	Two and a Half Men	CBS	7.7	13.7
15.	Big Bang Theory	CBS	7.5	--
16.	NCIS	CBS	7.2	--
17.	NASCAR: Coca-Cola 600	Fox	7.1	7.1
18.	Person of Interest	CBS	6.9	15.9
19.	Law & Order: SVU	NBC	6.7	7.4
20.	Motive	ABC	6.5	--

Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Show for May 13 - May 19

The Nielsen Rating's Top 20 TV Shows for Nielsen Rating's Top 20 for for May 13 - May 19. The first number is the ranking, the second number is the season average, then the show name and network. The last number represents the number of viewers in millions. An asterisk * indicates a tie.

Rank	Show name	Network	Viewers in millions	Season-to-date average (in millions)
1.	NCIS	CBS	18.8	21.3
2.	Big Bang Theory	CBS	15.5	18.7
3.	American Idol (Thu.)	Fox	14.3	14.6
4.	NCIS: Los Angeles	CBS	13.5	17.3
5.	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	13.3	14.8
6.	American Idol (Wed.)	Fox	12.1	15.0
7.	Dancing With the Stars Results	ABC	11.9	13.6
8.	Big Bang Theory	CBS	11.8	--
9.	The Voice (Mon.)	NBC	11.3	14.4
10.	Castle	ABC	11.2	12.3
11.	Criminal Minds	CBS	10.6	12.2
12.	The Voice (Tue.)	NBC	10.5	13.5
13.	60 Minutes	CBS	10.2	12.4
14.	Modern Family	ABC	10.0	12.4
15.	Billboard Music Awards	ABC	9.5	--
*	CSI	CBS	9.5	11.6
17.	Scandal	ABC	9.1	8.5
18.	Elementary	CBS	9.0	12.7
*	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	9.0	11.1
20.	2 Broke Girls	CBS	8.9	10.6