And now one of our favorite shows is doing its own take on the medium.
"I love those specials," says "Community's" creator and executive producer Dan Harmon. "They have huge emotional value to me, because most of them are on the theme of awkward people realizing that it's okay for them to be awkward. That's what the 'Community' version of it is, as well."
In the holiday episode, Abed (played by Danny Pudi) wakes to find himself in a stop motion winter wonderland. The gang soon joins him for what ultimately becomes an exploration of Abed's brain.
"It's a weird art form. It's about being meticulous, but also being completely off-the-wall," Harmon explains. "And that's very Abed. The idea of stop motion animation - total control over a completely creative environment - and what that says about him."
It's amazing just how spot-on the clay versions of the cast really are and Harmon says that it took a bit of serendipity and a lot of thought to capture each character's stop motion doppelganger.
"You're making a million arbitrary choices in the likenesses of these characters," he says. "What is it about Joel McHale on 'Community,' not on 'The Soup,' that's popping out about the character? When you look at the doll for Jeff Winger, if you split-screen them next to Joel McHale, obviously you're not looking at the same face. But, what is it? Is it the angle of the eyebrows or is it spiky hair? The kind of expression on his face? We were very excited about those opportunities."
To us, "Community" is like a TV sitcom test lab, which gives a nod to "the rules" while at the same time challenging their boundaries. Somehow the show makes action thrillers, space themes and zombie movie lore work while still preserving the characters' storylines. Harmon promises the Christmas episode was conceived in the same vein.
"Doing your story in a different medium is a great way to send a signal to the audience that, hey, these guys are real," he says. "Because look how consistent they are, even if you put them in outer space or have them be stop motion for an episode."
"Community's" stop motion animated Christmas episode airs Thursday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, Modern Family and Boardwalk Empire lead the pack with the most nominations -- though fan favorites like "Friday Night Lights," "Lost" and "The Good Wife" are each represented as well.
Recent years have seen WGAs go to "Mad Men," "30 Rock" and "House."
Here's a partial list of this year's contenders:
Dramatic Series
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Breaking Bad"
"Dexter"
"Friday Night Lights"
"Mad Men"
Comedy Series
"30 Rock"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"Nurse Jackie"
"The Office"
New Series
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Justified"
"Men of a Certain Age"
"Treme"
"The Walking Dead"
Episodic Drama
"Boom" ("The Good Wife")
"The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" ("Mad Men")
"The End" ("Lost")
"Help Me" ("House")
"I.F.T." ("Breaking Bad")
"I See You" ("Breaking Bad")
Episodic Comedy
"Anna Howard Shaw Day" ("30 Rock")
"Earthquake" ("Modern Family")
"Nightmayor" ("The Sarah Silverman Program")
"Starry Night" ("Modern Family")
"When It Rains, It Pours" ("30 Rock")
"Wuphf.com" ("The Office")
Long Form, Original
"The Special Relationship"
"You Don't Know Jack"
Long Form, Adaptation
"The Pacific," "Part Four,"
"The Pacific," "Part Eight,"
"The Pillars of the Earth"
"Temple Grandin"
Animation
"Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences" ("Futurama")
"Moe Letter Blues" ("The Simpsons")
"O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" ("The Simpsons")
"The Prisoner of Brenda" ("Futurama")
"Treasure Hunt" ("Back at the Barnyard")
Comedy/Variety, Series
"Penn & Teller: Bullshit!"
"Saturday Night Live"
"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
Comedy/Variety, Specials
"The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3-D On Ice!"
"Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards"
Daytime Serials
"As the World Turns"
"General Hospital"
"One Life to Live"
The WGA has the complete list, including categories for news, promos and children's programming.
In "By the Light of the Moon," Tyler Lockwood, Mystic Falls' resident bully with a heart of gold, transforms into a werewolf in an excruciating scene that took two days to shoot.
If you're anything like us, you're anticipating Mystic Falls' next full moon with an unsettling blend of excitement and dread. We couldn't wait to find out what happens, so Zap2it hit the show's Atlanta set this week -- with our shaky flip video camera in tow -- to get the scoop from the cast.
There is one thing that everyone from Michael Trevino's co-stars to showrunners Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec agreed on unanimously: this is Trevino's episode to shine, and it's a story that's been well-earned.
"Though the promos have focused heavily on the 'triangle' drama, honestly the episode really belongs to Michael Trevino, Tyler, as we watch him go through the most harrowing experience of his life," Plec says, referring to the CW's episode trailer, which may not do the actual plot of the episode much justice.
I chatted with Trevino about his character's journey from the resident one-dimensional bully to the emotionally layered Tyler we'll see on screen this week.
"Last year, Tyler would show up, get into a fight, and then leave for a few episodes," Trevino says. While we're sure those choreographed brawl scenes had their merits, this season, he gets to stretch the limits of his talent and training as an actor.
In fact, the transformation was Trevino's most challenging experience as an actor. "By far," he says. "In all the TV stuff that I've done, guest stars and recurring, the two days of shooting the transformation scene by far was the hardest, most challenging I've ever done."
Luckily, Trevino didn't have to go it alone. Marcos Siega, former supervising producer, returned to "The Vampire Diaries" while they filmed this important hour. Trevino found comfort in Siega's presence.
"It's not only a difficult scene because you're not in your comfort zone, you know?" he says. "Your shirt's off, and this and that. There's all these different elements, so just to have that relationship where you totally 100% trust that person, that was Marcos."
He was also joined on set by co-star Candice Accola.
"It was a very beautiful, painfully beautiful day at work," she says. "You'd walk on set and the tone was set. Everyone was there to work. It was very serious. Everything that he was doing was so beautiful, creatively, that it was a very intense two days. They put him through the ringer. He went for it, he went there, and I think it's going to make for a great, shining moment for Trevino. I think it's a great episode for him."
Tyler will never be the same after this transformation, and not just because once a month he'll wolf out. The changes he goes through will alter his relationships with his friends and make him question his place in Mystic Falls as the two monster species collide.
Ian Somerhalder says that the heart of Tyler's story is whether or not he can step up, accept his fate, and do what it takes to protect his home and his family. "Or what's left of his family, the poor guy," Somerhalder adds. "We killed his dad, we killed his uncle. I think we need to figure out, first of all, what Tyler wants. My guess, hopefully, is that he realizes that this is his home. This is where it all started and where it should end."
Watch the video below for more from Trevino, Accola, and Somerhalder -- including some scoop on Damon's relationship with a new female character and just what separates a Lockwood werewolf from a "True Blood" wolf.
Ty Burrell says that we can look forward to his character Phil Dunphy and wife Claire (Julie Bowen) getting amorous, but we're not the only ones to witness the action.
"This week we're taping an episode where the kids walk in on us while we're having sex," tells Ty. "It's a full 22-minute sex scene. Actually, it's sitcom sex, definitely appropriate."
We didn't really expect ABC to go too racy with their Emmy-winning show with "family" in the title, but we do expect the subject to turn to the birds and the bees.
"There's a difficult chat with the kids," Burrell confirms. "Phil comes through with shining colors as usual."
Burrell won't be getting quite that much action on Wednesday's (Dec. 8) episode. In "Dance Dance Revelation," Manny and Luke (Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould) have their first school dance, and Phil and Jay (Ed O'Neill) accompany them to the mall to prepare. Fans of the show know that Jay isn't Phil's biggest fan, and we guess the mall is not where Jay is happiest.
"They take the boys out shopping and it comes to a head," Burrell reveals. "It's part of the ongoing struggle between Jay and Phil about respect and whether or not Phil deserves it or not. His manhood is threatened as usual."
Burrell also shares how he's like Phil, thoughts on his co-stars and a telenovela he's working on with Rodriguez.
Are you an early adopter of technology like Phil?
Ty Burrell: No I'm really not. I'm not a Luddite, but I'm not like up on what's the newest, coolest thing. Of course Steve Levitan from our show is. That's where our storylines generate. He basically tells me if I'm anywhere close if I'm trying to operate a computer with a rock and a flame.
What's the fanciest piece of technology you own?
Burrell: I have an iPad. I mainly work on scripts with it honestly. There are a couple of apps on there that allow you to make notes on the PDF so you can score a script. It's made it really easy actually to not need paper except for certain situations. I think the show in general has gotten pretty far at being paperless. It's pretty cool.
As a new parent, what's one trait you'd take from Phil's parenting skills?
Burrell: I think one of positivity. He's kind of a militantly positive guy. He's sort of relentless. If I am that positive parent, I will be extremely grateful. I'll be very glad if that happens.
Although Phil and Jay don't get along, how is it working with O'Neill?
Burrell: It's amazing. I can't say enough good things about him. He's always been sort of a paterfamilias for us both onscreen and off. I love working with him because he's a total pro. He's not one of those guys who has a lot of ups and downs. You can kind of count on Ed being there all that time whether you're working late into the night or early in the morning or whatever is going on in any of our private lives. He's really one for coming to work to work. Throw in the fact that he's a genius. He's so effortless as a performer. It's just a lot of fun.
Do you feel the partnership with Julie Bowen that Phil and Claire have?
Burrell: I've been describing her most recently as the ultimate teammate. She has an incredible amount of skill as a comedian but she's got your back as far as trying to negotiate teams. She's just not one of those people that increases the challenge so to speak. The scenes are enough of a challenge to figure out for everyone, to try to basically get the genius writing to come across. She's not ever one to add to that challenge. She's just really an awesome.
Who's the biggest jokester on set?
Burrell: Probably Rico. Rico is, contrary to his character, a true joyful kid. He loves to run around doing jokes and bits and stuff. It adds a ton of life to the set. He and I were working on a sort of telenovela, Latin American soap opera. We've got an episode essentially worked out. Eventually we'll have three or four episodes hopefully. We'll have a side job. We don't write it down. We just sort of memorize these scenes between these two incredibly dramatic long-lost relatives.
Do the actors who play your screen kids (Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould) respect you?
Burrell: I think it's fairly typical. I think they look on us with pity like any kid would with an adult. They can see that we're slowly decomposing.
Last week, the whole gang's Thanksgiving was interrupted by the Portland police bursting in to take Tasha (Ksenia Solo) into custody after she hit Trey, Lux's former foster father.
When the state department decides to press charges against Tasha, the whole family rallies around her to support her. When Zap2it last spoke to Britt Robertson, she told us firmly that despite her recent preoccupation with Eric (Shawn Sipos), Tasha is still one of the most important people in Lux's life.
"They're each other's beginning," Robertson says. "Tasha's the one person in Lux's life that I think she really, really, completely trusts. She's been Lux's family since she was seven years old. You'll see in the next episode that their relationship continues to grow. Despite all of their mistakes, they'll always be there for each other."
When Lux is asked to testify in Tasha's case, she hesitates, concerned that revealing the truth about her time in foster care will push Eric away and make her family look at her differently. The lengths that Lux goes to to keep her past in the past may not only jeopardize her relationships, but could land Tasha in a federal penitentiary.
Lux's testimony is so shocking that a courtroom brawl breaks out -- but the person who lands the first punch will surprise you. The hits just keep on coming after that. If you think things have settled down, don't get too comfortable - there's a reveal in the final moments of the episode that could prove to be devastating to one of our favorite characters.
We don't want to give too much away, but suffice to say that "Stand Taken" is easily the series' most powerful episode. You'll see characters you thought you knew in an entirely different light. Robertson and Kristoffer Polaha in particular give performances that are subtly heartbreaking - arguably the best of their respective careers.
Basically, if you don't cry... we think you should get your tear ducts examined.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOICucUcKSc&feature=player_embedded
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Photo/Video credit: CW
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Prior to the season finale of "Boardwalk Empire" Sunday night (Dec. 5), HBO aired a 10-minute making-of/preview special for "Game of Thrones." It was the usual mix of teaser footage, behind-the-scenes info and talking heads with the cast and crew -- but it was also the first extended look fans have gotten at the show.
The video -- which features interview segments with author George R.R. Martin, whose novels form the basis of the series, as well as creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss -- is at the end of the post. But we also wanted to share a few new photos HBO has posted of the cast. Up above is Sean Bean ("The Lord of the Rings") as Eddard "Ned" Stark, and below is Lena Headey ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") Cersei Lannister:
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ("New Amsterdam") plays Cersei's brother Jaime:
Peter Dinklage as the third of the Lannister siblings, Tyrion:
Emilia Clarke is Daenerys Targaryen:
Here's the video, in which you'll also see (among others) Harry Lloyd as Daenerys' brother Viserys, Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon and, briefly, "The Wire's" Aiden Gillenas Littlefinger. "Game of Thrones" premieres in April.
He's not talking about himself. O'Neill was the only adult member of the show's cast not nominated for an Emmy, but the winner in his category -- outstanding supporting actor in a comedy -- was one of his castmates,Eric Stonestreet. O'Neill does, however, think that his on-screen wife, Sofia Vergara, deserved the comedy supporting actress over Jane Lynch of "Glee."
"I love Jane, honestly I do," O'Neill told a group of international reporters at a recent press conference, according to TV Guide Canada. "I'm dying to star in one of Christopher Guest's movies alongside her, but I don't think she should have gotten the Emmy for that part. [Her character Sue Sylvester] is just a one-note character."
Vergara and Julie Bowen were both nominated in the category this year, but O'Neill gives the nod to his TV wife over his TV daughter: "Sofia is just so, so funny," he says of Vergara. "I don't think people realize how hilarious she is. She's so sharp with her wit, it's amazing."
We don't really have a beef with Lynch winning the award -- and wouldn't have with Vergara either; both are great in their roles. What do you think of O'Neill's comments?
The AMC drama finished its six-episode freshman season Sunday night (Dec. 5), drawing more than 6 million total viewers in the 10 p.m. hour. With repeat airings at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., the total audience number swells to 8.1 million.
The real boast, however, is the 4 million viewers in the 18-49 adult demo, the largest of any drama in basic cable history.
Overall, the season averaged 3.5 million in the 18-49 demo, the best average of any basic cable drama going back to 1993.
In the series finale, the group of survivors discover that their sanctuary at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not the paradise they imagined.
"The Walking Dead" has been renewed for a second 13-episode season.
ABC can't handle the The (Whole) Truth. Although the network was going to burn off the remainder of the legal drama's 13 episodes, they've reconsidered and decided to run reruns of Modern Family and Cougar Town in its place on Dec. 8, 15 and 29. Once Jan. 12 rolls around, midseason replacement "Off the Map" will debut in that slot. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Have an appetite for satiric pop culture news? You're in luck. Joel McHale has signed a new two-year deal with E! as host of The Soup so we'll still get a double dose of Joel-y goodness with him over on NBC's Community. He'll also host the upcoming Independent Spirit Awards on Feb. 26. [Deadline]
Neil Patrick Harris will continue to add to his extraordinary hosting resume with the Spike TV Video Game Awards on Dec. 11. Oh, and he does have video game cred. He's the star of "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions." [Spike TV]
Be Good Johnny Weir is skating from Sundance to Logo. Its first season will re-air in early 2011 and then its new season is aiming for that summer. The cable net has also greenlit two other series -- "Pretty Hurts" about a Beverly Hills "lip injector" and "Setup Squad" about a NYC dating service that provides wingmen or -women. [THR]
Move over "Boardwalk Empire," Starz is committing to 10 episodes of "Magic City," set in a Miami hotel during the time when Fidel Castro takes control of Cuba and shuts down gambling in Havana. Where's a decadent, sleazy gambler to go? Miami! [Deadline]
On Sunday's (Dec. 5) holiday episode, the show concludes with an all-puppet segment that features the "Firework" singer.
It's a nod to The Muppets, not only The Muppet Show but also "Sesame Street," the PBS children's show that had yanked Perry's music video with Elmo from its broadcast because of negative attention paid to her low-cut dress.
The tone and dialogue is classic "Muppet Show," and when the Mr. Burns puppet celebrates, he echoes Kermit's stiff armed, head back posture. "Yay!" It's all a little disturbing, but we do like Grandpa Simpson and his pal Jasper Beardly playing the Statler and Waldorf roles in the balcony.
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