My Most Anticipated Movies of 2012-13, Penn State, and Instagram

 RANDOM THOUGHTS: 

The following were on my mind between Monday, July 16th and Monday, July 23rd:

-Comic-Con 2012 is over, which means that it's time for my annual Most Anticipated Movies list, in which I reveal which films I am looking forward to the most in the next twelve months. I started this feature back in the summer of '09 during the very early days of its site, and now we're into the fourth year of this thing. Now, normally, this column would take place in early August, but I figured to do it a bit earlier this time around. This year's list has everything, from future blockbusters to expected Oscar contenders, so let's get started!

15. "World War Z" (06/21/2013)

This is a film that I'm interested in seeing not so much because of the content but because of how much I really want to see the end result of its many problems behind the scenes. Directed by Marc Forster ("Finding Neverland," "Quantum of Solace") and starring Brad Pitt (who is also listed as the film's executive producer), news from this zombie apocalypse horror film has made the entire project sound like a catastrophe, from its many "significant re-shoots" to the script having to be re-written by "Lost" creator Damon Lindelof to even news of Pitt giving Forster the silent treatment on set. Even the release date of this film has been pushed back many times, from an initial release date in December to when it's expected to release now, next summer. So, will this "Terra Nova" of the film industry turn out to be a pleasant surprise once the final product is finished, or will the events off-screen translate on the screen as well? We'll find out soon enough.

14. "To the Wonder" (No Official Release Date; Expected in Late 2012)

Two time Academy Award nominated director Terrence Malick is a man known to take its time when it comes to making movies, sometimes even taking twenty years to make his next film (like he did in between 1978's "Days of Heaven" and 1998's "The Thin Red Line"). This is why it's such a pleasant surprise to hear news of a new Malick film expected to be released just over a year after the previous effort, as is the case with "To the Wonder." Fresh off what is arguably his masterpiece (the Oscar nominated "The Tree of Life"), the films star Ben Affleck as Neil, a philanderer who ends up agreeing to a green card marriage with an Eastern European woman, only to have that complicated with feelings for a longtime acquaintance named Jane (played by Rachel McAdams). "To the Wonder" also co-stars such famous names as Javier Bardem, Michael Sheen, Jessica Chastai, and Rachel Weisz, and is rumored to be more experimental than "The Tree of Life," which is really saying something.  

13. "Cloud Atlas" (10/26/2012)

The upcoming book adaptation boasts a very impressive cast (Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, and Susan Sarandon, among others), and is a co-effort between "Run Lola Run" director Tom Tykwer and The Wachowski brothers.  Honestly, that's good enough to get me interested, even if it isn't the movie that I want to see on the very date it's premiering...

12. "Skyfall" (10/26/2012)

 ...This is because on the same date of the "Cloud Atlas" premiere, the brand-new James Bond film "Skyfall" will his theaters as well. As someone who's of the opinion that the films with Daniel Craig have seen some of the best in the 007 franchise in years, there was no doubt about my excitement to see it from the beginning it was announced. The fact that it also stars Javier Bardem and features Sam Mendes as the director is just the icing on the cake.

11. "Pacific Rim" (07/12/2013)

It's Guillermo Del Torro's upcoming giant robots vs. giant monsters epic, and he's bringing along his friends Ron Pearlman, Idris Elba, Charlie Hunman, and...Charlie Day?!?! Well, in that case, I certainly hope that this fiction world happens to have kitten mittens in them!

10. "Looper" (09/28/2012)

A sci-fi with an intriguing premise: what happened when a 2047 "looper" (people who kill and dispose enemies of a mafia in 2077) named Joseph Simmons is ordered to kill a version of himself from thirty years into the future, yet allows him to escape free. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis star as the two Simmons', with Gordon-Levitt reportedly having to need three hours of prosthetic make-up a day while on set in order to play his part. Rian Johnson is the director, and while I have yet to watch any of his previous work (most notably "Brick" and "The Brothers Blossom"), I've heard some pretty positive things about them. Honestly, I would not be surprised if, when 2012 is over, it's this film and not the hyped up "Prometheus" as this year's most memorable work of science fiction.

9. "Lincoln" (11/09/2012)

After spending the past summer vampire hunting, the 16th president of the United States returns to the big screen, hopefully this time in a much more...historically accurate portrayal. Based on the biography by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Steven Spielberg is set to present a film recounting the final months of the legendary executive's life, from the Union victory of the Civil War and abolition of all slaves to him tragic death at the hands of John Wilkes Booth. Daniel Day-Lewis will star as Lincoln in a role that will almost assuredly land him his fifth Oscar nomination and perhaps his unprecedented third Oscar victory. The film is going to receive a ton of critical acclaim and will be mentioned a lot during awards season, so I'm probably gonna watch it just to see what all the fuss will be.

8. "Zero Dark Thirty" (12/19/2012)

Nearly three years after winning Best Director for "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow returns to the big screen to present this film about the special operations team sent to kill Osama bin Laden in May 2011. The film should be worth the time to watch, if only to watch film co-star Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights") nod his head in disapproval and provide a stern, but caring lecture to the Al Qaeda members at the compound (before he guns them down, of course).

 7. "Argo" (10/12/2012)

Ben Affleck directs this film about the rescue mission to save six U.S. foreign service members in Tehran during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, a film which also includes Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler as his co-stars. Honestly, Affleck's previous work as director ("Gone, Baby, Gone," "The Town") are good enough to convince me that this film might be good, and the really well-done trailer certainly is a plus. 

6. "Man of Steel" (06/14/2013)

It's Superman, back on the big screen, with Christopher Nolan as one of the masterminds behind the story. What more needs to be said about why I can't wait for it?

5. "Monsters University" (06/21/2013)

Pixar's back in the sequel game yet again. This time, it's the beloved "Monsters, Inc." who will be the next to follow down that path (with "Finding Nemo 2" and "Toy Story 4" in the works, apparently). The film is planned as a prequel, as we follow the adventures of Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) during their college days as they plan to become scarers of the corporation of which they end of meeting "Boo" in the first film. Hopefully this film should convince me that Pixar is able to make a great non-"Toy Story" sequel after the failure that was "Cars 2."

4. "Life of Pi" (11/21/2012)

Oscar buzz has been associated with this film adaptation of the 2001 book of the same name ever since ten minutes of footage was first shown to CinemaCon earlier this year, and whether or not the finished product ends up meeting these incredibly high expectations, one thing is for sure: will Ang Lee, that could always be a possibility.

3. "Django Unchained" (12/25/2012)

I've been waiting for this film to come out ever since the title was leaked to the press. How could I not? Quentin Tarantino, one of my favorite directors, has written and directed this film, almost everyone that I've heard who has read the script loves it and calls it one of Tarantino's best work to date, and the cast is solid (Jamie Foxx, Leonard DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Walton Goggins, and Samuel L. Jackson, to name a few). The only thing to convince me in not being so very excited would be the teaser trailer, but I am confident that this trailer is just like the trailer for "Hugo" last year, which misled in its quality. But, yeah, I have a good feeling on where I'm spending my Christmas.

2. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (12/14/2012)

Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth to adapt the "Lord of the Rings" prequel into the big screen. That's...pretty much it.

1. "The Master" (10/12/2012)

If you're going to release a film that would make me more excited than "The Hobbit" and f*cking Quentin Tarantino, you're gonna have to have a few things. First, another great director needs to be involved (P.T. Anderson). Second, there needs to be some great actors (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams). Third, the premise of the film has to be interesting (Hoffman's character forms a religious cult post-WWII). And finally, there needs to be at least some chance that it will Oscar-level great (the film has received all that and then some). "The Master" has all of these things.

-Geez, no wonder Warner Bros. decided to pull this trailer from theaters. It's like all those "Spider-Man" movie poster with the Twin Towers post 9/11. It just wouldn't be right. I obviously wouldn't pull this scene from the actual film, though. Seems like a very pivotal moment in it to be taken away.

- I wonder if the NCAA punishments given to Penn State were too much. I mean, sure, what Jerry Sandusky and the individuals who kept his horrendous discretions a secret did were terrible. That said, I don't think it makes sense to punish them this harshly, especially since it mostly hurts people who had no involvement in the events that led up to the $60M fines and the vacating of 14 years of win. It just seems like the NCAA was just punishing Penn State the institution, and not Penn State the football program, which in itself did nothing wrong where cheating and illegal gifts to recruits are concerned.

-To the people who think that the terrible shooting in Aurora would've been prevented if there were more people with guns: So, you really think that in a smoke filled room with people running away in panic, you would have been able to use a gun to easily shoot at a moving targets without getting innocent civilians hurt as well? Yeah,. that makes sense.

-To the Kodak company, I bet that the popularity of Instagram feels like a slap in the face.

See you next Monday!

Sincerely,

Your pal: mj15

 If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you just have any suggestions or tips for my next blog entry, e-mail me at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mails are greatly appreciated.

2012 Emmy Predictions (Part One), Fred Willard, and the Tragic Aurora Shootings

The second season of "Downton Abbey" dominated the majority of its drama contemporaries with 16 nominations, the same as it did in the miniseries category the year before.

On Thursday morning, the nominations for this year's upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards were announced, ending weeks of anticipation with yet another slate of no-brainers, general surprises, and awards snubs. Previous Emmy favorites like "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "Modern Family," "30 Rock" and "Downton Abbey" led the pack in nominees, while newcomers such as "American Horror Story" (a miniseries, apparently) and "Homeland were honored as well.Here at The mj15 Blog, it has been our tradition since its conception to break down each of the major categories and select a winner, and this year is no different (although it will be the last time), even if the actual award givings aren't for another two months. So, let's get right down to it. ...

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Will Win: "Mad Men"  



Remember how I said in last year's Emmys prediction column that there would come a time when the reign of "Mad Men" over this category would finally be brought to an end? Well, this September might be the time when this actually happens. Not only is "Breaking Bad" back in the field with 13 nominations of its own, but now you have "Homeland" entering the field, the freshman darling who already picked up the Golden Globe and Critics Choice TV award for this category, among others. Plus, the show only picked up one other award last year besides Outstanding Drama Series, and that was only the award for the best hairstyling (the lowest amount of awards the show has ever received at the Emmys), so there's also the possibility that maybe the ATAS is getting tired of rewarding this series after four seasons.

And yet, despite all of this, I still think that this series is still going to come away as the victor for the fifth year in the row. To quote Alan Sepinwall, the show is "the perfect Emmy storm: nostalgic enough for the older voters to latch onto, cool enough for the younger voters, great enough for both." Besides, it's not like this season was that bad for it to not re-claim its crown at this year's Emmys. As a matter of fact, I thought that this season was pretty great: experimental, dark yet filled with plenty of laughs, moving, and showing its writers at their most confident.

Should Win: "Breaking Bad"
If there was a season of television that I found to be better than the fifth season of "Mad Men," it would have to be the brilliant fourth season of "Breaking Bad." Simply a remarkable piece of television all around, from its superb acting to its unbeatable tension. If there was any year for the show to come away from the primetime telecast with anything other than a few acting awards, it would be this one.

Other Thoughts:
a. A truly landmark year in the history of the Emmys, as this was the first time ever that the nominations for Outstanding Drama Series did not include a show from the four major broadcast networks (CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX), which is a bit of a surprise considering how many thought that "The Good Wife" might get one. Instead, this year's nominees all come mostly from the cable networks and PBS.
b. Overall, I'd say that the Emmys got it largely right to the point where I'm not even bothered by the inclusion of "Downton Abbey" over, say, the third season of "Justified." Better to have "Downton Abbey" then a show like "Dexter," which would have definitely angered me.
c. If "Mad Men" wins, it will become the first time ever that a series has won this category five times. Currently, the show remains tied with "Hill Street Blues," "L.A. Law" and "The West Wing" at four, so if you're one of those people who enjoys rooting for history, a victory for "Mad Men" would be it.
d. If I were to officially rank the shows nominated based on the chances they have of winning in September, I would have to go with "Mad Men" and "Homeland" neck-and-neck at the top, followed by "Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Boardwalk Empire" and finally "Game of Thrones." Now, if we're talking about ranking each of these shows based on quality, I would have to go:
1. "Breaking Bad" season four
2. "Mad Men" season five
3. "Homeland" season one
(small gap)
4. "Boardwalk Empire" season two
5. "Game of Thrones" season two
(large gap)
6. "Downton Abbey" series two

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Will Win: "Modern Family"
Considering how this show picked up more nominations than any other in its category, I have a good feeling that the continued strong support by the ATAS will propel it to a third straight victory. All in all, this is like taking "Schindler's List" to win Best Picture in '94: a lock.

Should Win: "Veep"
BECAUSE IT'S F*CKING PRIMORDIAL, and also because I thought it was the best freshman comedy of the season. In eight episodes this season, "The Thick of It" creator Armando Ianucci and Simon Blackwell gave a very entertaining, yet cynical, look at American politics through the office of a fictional female vice president. The writing was sharp, the work by the actors were superb, and the show's various swearing were so good, they were downright poetic.

Other Thoughts:
a.  Another one of the nominees that I think deserves a win, besides "Veep," would have to be "30 Rock." The show has had itself a bit of a renaissance since season five, and this season saw some of the funniest episodes they have ever aired, including "Leap Day" and "Live From Studio 6H."
b. How does a show like "Louie" not pick up a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series when it did end up getting nominations for Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series? Does the ATAS have some unwritten rule to not give an FX series Outstanding Comedy/Outstanding Drama nomination no matter how good they are? And for that matter, why does a show like 'Veep" get nominated with less nominations in other categories than "Louie"? The Primetime Emmys, ladies and gentlemen!
c. It's really amazing to see how different the nominees look this year compared to last year. Three comedies nominated from 2011 have not gotten a repeat, all of them replaced by the HBO Big Three of 'Curb,' "Girls," and "Veep." Two of the shows ("The Office," "Glee") have even been shut off from the major categories (deservedly so). But what really surprised me about this year's list was the exclusion of "Parks and Recreation."I thought the show would be just as popular among the voters as last year, especially since the accessibility of the show still remains the same. I know that the show's fourth season was a step down from its third, but then again pretty much everything would be because season three was so goddamn amazing. Overall, season four was still very good and continued the show's claim as one of the medium's bests.
d. [obligatory "Where's 'Community'? mention despite coming to the conclusion long ago that the ATAS voters just don't like the show, period, and I'm just gonna have to accept it].

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Will and Should Win: Bryan Cranston as Walter White in "Breaking Bad"
When Bryan Cranston steps up to the podium during the telecast to receive what will be his record-tying fourth Emmy in this category, there should be only two words uttered by him: "I won."

Other Thoughts:
a. Poor Jon Hamm. He acted his guts out the past five years as Don Draper without once receiving an Emmy. Even last year, with Cranston actually not eligible to get a nomination and with "The Suitcase" as his terrific submission episode, he still managed to lose to Kyle Chandler. I'm starting to think that his best chance of winning will come two years from now after "Mad Men" wraps up its final season as a career-achievement prize, and even that's not guaranteed (just look at what happened to Steve Carell last year).
b. Besides Cranston and Hamm, Damien Lewis seems like the only other nominee with a really good chance of winning. But then again, I predicted last year that Kyle Chandler will definitely not win the category, and looked at how that turned out!
c. Really surprised to not see Kelsey Grammer nominated for his role in "Boss," Despite his big celebrity status, his Golden Globe victory in January, and his performance on the series being the showy type that Emmy voters seem to love, he still could not beat out Hugh Boneville and the ATAS' even greater love of "Downton Abbey."
d. Speaking of non-nominees, Timothy Olyphant also did not receive a nomination for his work on "Justified" despite his nomination last season, although this came to me more as a disappointment than as a surprise.
e. A big telltale sign as to who might win Outstanding Drama might come in this category. If Damien Lewis upsets Bryan Cranston to win it, I think that's as good of a sign as any that the Emmys loved "Homeland" enough to give it the evening's big prize.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Will and Should Win: Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in "Homeland"
It feels like this category has been locked up for Danes ever since the airing of the pilot, when her performance was pointed out as one of the episode's highlights. Overall, Carrie from "Homeland" has been such a fantastic character for Danes to portray her acting chops, a character who's complex, intelligent, tough, caring, somewhat crazy, and a whole other fascinating traits rolled into one. Along with the great job by the writing staff, Danes has helped turn "Homeland's" lead into arguably the best female character on television, and I have a very strong feeling that the ATAS will reward her portrayal just as the Golden Globes and a ton of other award bodies have done in the past year.

Other Thoughts: 
a. Overall, not a lot of ton in this category. Along with Danes, you've got some past winners (Julianna Margulies and Glenn Close), a woman who has already been nominated for the category twice before and will continue to be nominated for a few more after this one (Elisabeth Moss), the lead actress from a show the ATAS adores (Michelle Dockery), and an actress who, even though starred in a critically panned series, has a prestigious enough name that it would've been a surprise if she didn't get nominated (Kathy Bates). One big thing to note is the lack of Mariska Hargitay, who isn't nominated in the category for the first time since 2004. However, the Emmys apparently wanted to give accolades to "Downton Abbey" really bad, and if that meant dropping the SVU star in favor of the British series' female lead, then so be it.
b. Just because there weren't any surprises, doesn't mean that there weren't any disappointments. I still would've preferred Emily Rossum to be included from her work on "Shameless," who essentially carries the series at this point, or Anna Torv for her work on "Fringe."

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Will Win: Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in "The Big Bang Theory"
If the Emmys' love is so strong for Parsons that it stopped Steve Carell from what many thought would've been (and should've been) a farewell Emmy from his work on "The Office" last year, what makes you think that it will get any weaker this year without any real threats outside of maybe Alec Baldwin?

Should Win: Louis C.K. as Louie in "Louie"
Some people may overlook the comedian's work on camera in the show, claiming it's nothing special because he's writing his own material to work with and essentially playing himself. However, many of these people seem to forget that it can be pretty tough for most people to portray a character with honest depth and emotion as well as being funny, something that C.K. was able to do really well in season 2 of "Louie" (and one that the ATAS thankfully recognized).

Other Thoughts:
a. Past nominees dominate the category yet again, with three of last year's six nominees (Parsons, C.K., Baldwin) getting another invitation to the show, along with a five time nominee who wasn't nominated in 2011 only because of his absence on air that season (Larry David), and someone who's a rookie in this category but a five time nominee (and 2009 winner) in supporting acting (Jon Cryer). The one newcomer is Don Cheadle, which either tells me that the ATAS actually found his work on "House of Lies" or because of his star power and former Oscar nomination. Somehow, I doubt that it's the former. If "Episodes" had actually aired during the eligibility period, I would've guaranteed you that Matt Leblanc would've gotten another nomination as well.
b. Another year, another snub for Joel McHale, who once again strutted his stuff this past season on "Community" yet gets no recognition in return. Hopefully, this year the Emmys don't decide to give him a consolation prize the equivalent of last year's, when he was part of the "Emmingtons."
c. Other notable non-nominees: Adam Scott for "Parks and Recreation," Garret Dilahunt from "Raising Hope," Elijah Wood for "Wilfred," Zachary Levi for "Chuck," and last year's nominee Johnny Galecki.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer in "Veep"
A former winner for her work on "The New Adventures of Old Christine," Louis-Dreyfus this year was the star of HBO's edgy political comedy about the life of a U.S. vice president. What really impressed me about Louis-Dreyfus was the way in which she was able to wonderfully deliver Armando Ianucci's signature dialogue, all while standing out in a series of many stand out actors. She also played the various sides of the Meyer character perfectly, sometimes within seconds of each other. But then again, isn't being a politician these days much like being an actor?

Should Win: Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation"
Because the fact that she has yet to win one already is a travesty.

Other Thoughts:
As mentioned, this field is arguably the strongest among all the acting categories, one that includes a maximum seven nominees, including four former winners. Each of these ladies deserve the nomination for their work, making this one of the few categories where the awards show actually got everything right.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Will and Should Win: Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring in "Breaking Bad"  
Once you take away the gender difference, Esposito is basically this year's Margo Martindale, who won Best Supporting Actress for her work on "Justified" last year. Like Martindale, Esposito is nominated for his first ever Emmy Award after a season of electrifying the small screen by portraying one of the most memorable TV villains of the past ten years. Like Martindale, this is the only chance for the ATAS voters to honor Esposito for his acting in that role. And despite the fact that this year's Supporting Actor category is much tougher than last year's Supporting Actress category, as I still think that he, like Martindale, will come out on top as the victor, a fate completely unlike the character that they played ended up having.

Other Thoughts:
a. Another reason that I think Esposito is going to win is because the Emmy voters have already honored the two men that is his strongest competitors with trophies, Peter Dinklage (2011) and Aaron Paul (2010). Not only that, but both Dinklage and Paul will still have a few more years to pick up Emmys for portraying Tyrion Lannister and Jesse Pinkman respectively. Then again, I used this same logic to pick Steve Carell last year, so this way of thinking hasn't always been rock solid when it comes to predicting such things.
b. This is another category in which the ATAS decided to express their love for "Downton Abbey," giving away a third of their nominations to both Jim Carter and Brendan Coyle. As a result, this led to some questionable snubs, including Walton Goggins, Mandy Patinkin, Andre Braugher, Michael Pitt, John Slattery, Vince Kartheiser, and much more.
c. Once again, I specifically highlight that John Noble failed to get nominated yet again this year, probably because the majority of those who voters had never watched a single episode of "Fringe," and once again, I am going to use this as a reflection on just how much the world sucks.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Will Win: Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham in "Downton Abbey"
Considering how she won an acting role for the same character last year back when "Downton Abbey" was still considered to be a mini-series, I doubt that the Emmy voters aren't going to give her the accolades this year, albeit in a category with greater competition.

Should Win: Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris in "Mad Men"
Without hesitation, I thought that Hendricks knocked it out of the park this season over all the other nominees, especially in the episode that she'll probably decide to submit ("The Other Woman").

Other Thoughts:
a. Great to see Anna Gunn nominated for the first time for her work on "Breaking Bad." In a show dominated by a lot of great acting, her seems to have been the most underrated in the first four seasons.
b. I'm kind of surprised by the lack of "Game of Thrones" representation in this category, particularly because the Emmys enjoy the show and because both Maisie Williams and Lena Headey were two of the second season's strong points.
c. Then again, that's pretty much my only complaint in this category. Kind of the weakest among all of the other acting awards in terms of pure talent, if you ask me.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Will Win: Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy in "Modern Family"
I was switching back and forth between Burrell and co-star Ed O'Neill with this one, because while Burrell won last year and will come into the ceremony as the favorite again this year, there's still a chance that the ATAS might continue spreading their "Modern Family" love by deciding to give a fourth different actor an award this time, as if they were filling out some kind of check list. In the end, I've decided to go with inertia on this one and pick Burrell to repeat.

Should Win: Bill Hader on "Saturday Night Live"
Truly, the MVP of the show for me these past few seasons, a guy who has had the ability to make me love with something as simple as his facial expressions. Always consistent, he's also acted as the savior of many sketches that probably would've sucked without him. He won't win, but it's at least good to see that he's finally been recognized.

Other Thoughts:
a. I'll say it last year and I'll say it again: "Modern Family" does not deserve four nominations in this category. The fact that two-thirds of the nominees are filled up by this one show, while more deserving actors like Nick Offerman weren't able to get in just doesn't make sense.
b. But seriously, how could the Emmy voters look at Nick Offerman's work as the remarkable Ron Swanson since the second season on and decide that he hasn't had one of the six best performances of any supporting actor in any of those years? I hate everything.
c. But wait! My rage at the nominations for this category aren't done yet! Let us not also forget about such talented people not being recognized such as Jim Rash, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr. Tony Hale, Rob McElhenney, and Adam Driver. I'm not saying that you could make a list of six actors better than the ones that were nominated, but...well, actually, that's exactly what I'm saying.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Will and Should Win: Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy in "Modern Family"
Same situation as with the Supporting Actor category. I really don't feel like elaborating more on it.

Other Thoughts:
a. Overall, this is the category that I probably will care the least about heading into the ceremony. A lot of performances that I liked but didn't love, with no real rooting interest.
b. Don't be so surprised also if Mayim Bialik wins it for her work on "The Big Bang Theory." She also another actress on a comedy beloved by many.

And that's going to do it for part one! Be sure to stop by again later on this week for part two. In the meantime, here's the best of the best from the past week that was...

END OF THE WEEK:

Story of the Week: 12 Shot Dead, 58 Wounded in Aurora Movie Theater During "The Dark Knight Rises" Premier
A senseless tragedy caused by a sick individual to dozens of innocent people.

Unfortunately Timed Movie Trailer of the Week: "Gangster Squad"
The trailer was pulled from screening immediately after this occured (it even aired in Aurora minutes before the shooting) despite appearing for many weeks prior, and rumor has it that Warner Bros. has even decided to shift back the release date until next year, all because of the scene with the movie theater shooting spree. Can't say that I disagree with this.

Video of the Week: "Parking Woman celebrated by drunk german fans"
She maneuvers! She parks! And the crowd goes wild!



Person of the Week: Actor Fred Willard
A few days before the tragic shooting in Aurora, Willard was responsible for the week's most memorable movie theater news when the actor was arrested when he decided to go all Paul Reubens and masturbated in a theater screening a pornographic film.  This poses a really interesting question: does Fred Willard know about the Internet?

And that's the way it was! See you later, everyone!
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15





  If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you just have any suggestions or tips for my next blog entry, e-mail me at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mails are greatly appreciated.

End of the Half-Year 2012: Part 4- Here Are Some People Who Did Interesting Stuff

Welcome back to End of the Half-Year 2012! In case you missed the previous three installments, click here, here, and here. The following is part four, in which I list some of the most memorable individuals to make headlines in 2012's first half. Enjoy.

I'll get into my vote for Person of the Half-Year in a few paragraphs. In the meantime, here are these year's Runner-ups, with a short reasoning for their placement on the list...

Lebron James

In addition to all the various MVPs and millions of accumulated wealth, the eight time All-Star finally added the previously elusive NBA championship to his legacy when his Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games this past June. James also earned himself a spot on the US Men's National Basketball Team, which will soon be competing to win the nation's second straight gold medal.

Barack Obama

Another year, another year of headlines for the nation's 44th President. This year, it's been one in which the Commander-in-Chief used executive privilege on documents relating to "Operation Fast and Furious," leading Congress to an extension of payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits, announcing his plan to give 800,000 young illegal immigrant working permits in an effort to keep them in the U.S. rather than deport them, becoming the first incumbent president to come out in support of gay marriage, singing both Al Green and LMFAO songs, failing at implementing the Buffett Rule, and being asked by Amanda Bynes to arrest the officer that gave her a DUI. All the while, Obama spent the year preparing and running a re-election campaign for the November general election against Republican candidate Mitt Romney, one which finds the two candidates neck-and-neck in the polls. 

Rick Santorum

The process that led to Rick Santorum becoming the top anti-Romney conservative candidate in this year's Republican presidential primary was one that involved a long line of predecessors in 2011, from Michelle Bachmann to Rick Perry to Herman Cain to even Newt Gingrich. But once all of these individuals momentum inevitably faded, due to reasons ranging from infidelity accusations to just simply being replaced by newer, shinier candidates, it was Santorum, who was a dark horse during most of that stretch, who made his move and slowly built up a level of support over the course of late December that grew as 2012 approached. The process paid off when, in January, Satorum surprised everyone by defeating Mitt Romney in the Iowa caucus. Then in February, Santorum made headlines again with runaway victories in Colorado and Minnesota, while also finishing just three points behind Romney in Michigan, leaving many to wonder if he might actually challenge the former governor Massachusetts throughout the primary all the way to a brokered convention in Tampa.

And while this possibility remained all throughout March, with Santorum picking up wins in seven states, it came to an end in April. Romney defeated Santorum in both Wisconsin and Maryland, and fearing the possibility of losing his home state of Pennsylvania, the former Senator announced the suspension of his campaign on April 10th, paving the way for Romney to become the party's nominee.

Joss Whedon

The Year of the Whedon began in April when a movie that he co-wrote, the horror film "The Cabin the Woods" that explores the genre archetype as much as it pays homage to them, premiered to positive reviews. At roughly the same period of time, the long-anticipated superhero movie "The Avengers," which he co-wrote and directed, also premiered as a smash hit, to the point that it has since become the third highest grossing film of all-time. As if that weren't enough, his modern interpretation of Shakespeare's classic "Much Ado About Nothing" has announced it's official place in the upcoming Toronto Film Festival, with distribution sure to arrive. Not a bad year at all for a man with an already well-established track record ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," "Firefly").

Jamie Dimon

The current CEO of JPMorgan Chase made headlines when he reported that the company had lost $2 billion in finances in trade that were supposed to hedge the bank's overall credit risk. This put the CEO in hot water, which led to a congressional hearing back in June and investigation by the FBI, the SEC, and the Federal Reserve, all of which had yet to release an official report.

Louis C.K.

Between the critically-acclaimed "Louie" still being critically acclaimed in its third season and the announcement in June that he would only sell tickets for his newest stand-up tour only on his website for a flat rate of $45 (cutting out all middlemen in the process), I'd say that this man's reputation has changed from revered artist to revered comedy savior...at least until the inevitable backlash in 2014.

Eli Manning

While his brother Peyton spent the past NFL offseason getting acquainted with his newest team, the Denver Broncos, after being kicked out of the Indianapolis Colts in favor of youngblood Andrew Luck, Eli spent the offseason celebrating his second career Super Bowl ring and Super Bowl MVP after leading his New York Giants in a victory over the New England Patriots, yet again in last minute fashion.

Ron Paul

In what will probably be the last political campaign the libertarian 76 year old ever takes part in, he managed to be one of the top performers in this year's Republican presidential primaries, despite not actually winning a single state. Among some of his accomplishments, Paul placed third in January's Iowa caucus, with only 3% fewer votes than eventual winner Rick Santorum, finished less than two hundred votes shy of defeating Mitt Romney in the Maine primary, and ended up with the third most delegates out of all the candidates. Despite all of this, Paul was still not able to ensure a speaking spot at the upcoming Republican National Convention when he push over a critical threshold of delegates during the GOP convention in Nebraska.

Rudy Eugene

Getting killed with multiple gunshots by police while eating a homeless man's face off and high on bath salts is not the way you want to be remembered, as millions will probably remember Eugene by thanks to his May incident in Miami of the very same nature, but it sure is one hell of a way to go out!

Newt Gingrich

Besides yet again resurrecting his campaign from the dead in January thanks to a key victory in the South Carolina primary, the former Speaker of the House's 2012 will also be remembered for, among other things, sticking in the Republican presidential primary for as long as possible despite knowing full-well that he was costing Rick Santorum more of the anti-Romney/anti-Paul that might have gained him advantages in states such as Michigan and Ohio, and promising to build the U.S. the world's first moon colony in a speech before the Florida primaries.

Anthony Davis

AP National Player of the Year, leader of Kentucky's first national championship basketball team 14 years, the NCAA Tournament's MOP award, and 1st pick in the NBA draft...yep, I'd say that this was a pretty good year for the 19 year old Chicagoan.

Carl Rae Jepsen

"Call Me Maybe," Jepsen's song of innocent lust and romance, became a phenomenon this past spring and has since become one of the summer's top hits, placing number one on the charts, serving as the inspiration of several viral lip-dubs, and even being touted as one of the year's perfect pop songs.

Mike Trout

When the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim entered the 2012 MLB season, most of the conversation went towards Albert Pujols, the team's $254 million man who they signed over the offseason after a sensational 11 years in St. Louis. Little did we know that by the season's halfway point, most of the talk would shift towards Mike Trout,  the 20 year old outfielder who is currently having a rookie season to remember: a .354 average (1st in the AL), over 70 runs scored (1st in ML) and 30 stolen bases (also 1st in ML). Since the Angels first called up Trout on April 28th, the team has also had a winning record of 36-26 while being greatly improved from their slow start in April, which has many people calling Trout one of the season's early MVP candidates.

Daniel Tosh

Thanks to him, maybe people will now know that asking if it would be funny if a female audience member were raped by five guys is absolutely not.

Eric Holder

As the U.S.'s Attorney General under Obama, Holder was held in Congress this past June after he failed to release important documentations relating to an investigation on Operation Fast and Furious, the questionable ATF operation that sent firearms to Mexican drug cartels.

Wouter De Backer

Better known by many through his stage name Gotye, the Belgium born singer finally broke big in the United States in 2012, thanks in large part to his hit song "Somebody That I Used to Know," which was listed as the #1 song on the Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks and has collective over 250 million hits on YouTube since January.

Chen Guangcheng

The Chinese civil rights activists, famous for his stance against the country's excessive enforcement of the one-child policy, sparked a diplomat controversy this spring when he fled from his house arrest into the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. After negotiations between the two nation, Chen left the embassy grounds on the conditions of his safety and the right to travel to the U.S. with visa, which he eventually did a month later.

Robert Bales

16 dead, 6 wounded. These are the casualties that U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales caused upon the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan's Khandahar province this past March, currently the only suspect involved in these senseless acts of violence. Bales is currently in the process of preparing for trial nearly four months after the U.S. Secretary of Defense announced that he would be tried.

Jason Russell

March proved to be a pretty big month for the co-founder of Invisible Children. On March 5th, the campaign "Kony 2012," an effort to indict Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony, began when this video of which he directed appeared virally and instantly began to receive intense exposure. Over 80 million people watched the thirty minute film on YouTube, making it one of the most viewed videos in Internet history through such a short span of time. Several thousand joined in the cause, and although anything has yet to happen to Kony, the movement's target, resolutions have been created by the U.S. Congress while the African Union has even sent 5,000 military troops in search of the man. But creating a popular humanitarian fad wasn't the only thing Russell did to make the news. Nearly ten days after "Kony 2012" began, Russell was taken by police into a local San Diego hospital after he was found naked, screaming incoherently, and reportedly masturbating in public. Could it be that the waning support of "Kony 2012" could be tied with this. Possibly not, but that ain't gonna stop me from correlating the two!

Bashar al-Assad

Even despite the massive protests that has lasted over the year, the Syrian President has yet to step down as the country is still in a violent Civil War that has reportedly cost the death of 20,000 individuals in the area (including 14,000 civilians). In a two year time period that has include the end of dictatorial reigns in countries such as Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia, it appears that this man will keep doing whatever it takes in order to not him onto the list of fallen leaders during the Arab Spring.

Vladimir Putin/Francois Hollande

After spending the last four years as Russia's Prime Minister, Putin returned to his previous role as the nation's president despite several anti-Putin demonstrations across cities such as Moscow and amidst reports by several officials of potential voting fraud. A few days before Putin was sworn into office at the Kremln, Francois Hollande of the Socialist Party also had a big victory of his own, defeating incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in France's presidential election.

Frank Ocean

A year after the release of his breakthrough mixtape "Nostalgia, Ultra," the member of OFWGKTA made even more of a name for himself when "Channel Orange" came out, instantly becoming one of the year's most critically acclaimed albums. In addition, Ocean made big headlines regarding his personal life when he wrote a letter on his Tumblr blog recounting his strong affections four years ago to a man, a big story in the world of hip-hop that has had a notorious background of homophobia that has led such artists as Jay-Z and fellow OFWGKTA member Tyler the Creator to come out in support of his announcement.

Scott Walker 

In one of this year's most closely followed elections, the Wisconsin governor defeated his opponent, Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett in a re-call to keep his seat, a re-call election that came in response over his collective bargaining dispute the year prior.

Jeremy Lin

When then Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni decided to place Jeremy Lin in the starting line-up at point guard, not many people thought of the decision but an act of desperation for a team trying to stay afloat in playoff contention. After all, Lin was a man who was previously cut by two other teams and had yet to make an impression of any kind in this league. But making an impression is what he would end up doing, as Lin would help the Knicks win his first seven games as a starter. On top of all that, Lin would also break the record for most points score in NBA history during a player's first five starts, lead the team to a 10-3 record heading into the All-Star break and becoming the new toast of town in New York in what would be called "Linsanity." Unfortunately, the year of Jeremy Lin's time with the Knicks that year would not prove to be as great. In late March, Lin would take season-ending knee surgery, making him unable to play in the postseason and then, just recently, the Knicks failed to match to an offer sheet made by the Houston Rockets that would keep him in New York.

David Milch

The man had everything he could want with "Luck," including the ability to tell a story about one of his passions (horse racing) as well as a list of great actors who would help bring his vision to life (including Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte). The man even had his show renewed for a second season after the series' first two episodes aired! But then news came out about two horses dying on set in the making of the first season, and once a third horse died as the second episode of season two was made, HBO decided to take action, abruptly cancelling the series for good.

George Zimmerman

Before the evening of February 26th, this neighborhood watch member of Samford, Florida probably had no idea who 17 year old Trayvon Martin was. By the time the night was over, Martin would be someone who Zimmerman would forever be intertwined for what will be the rest of his life, as he would end up facing trial for killing Martin minutes after notifying authorities of his suspicious presence in the neighborhood, a trial that is still months away from reaching its conclusion.

Kate Upton 

Despite her struggles of being an obvious fat chick, the 20 year old Michigan native overcame her deficit by becoming this year Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover while increasing her profile as a model/cat daddy instructor.

Gregg Williams/Sean Payton/Mickey Loomis/Jonathan Vilma/Anthony Hargrove/Scott Fujita

These six individuals, all involved with the New Orleans Saints during the 2009 and 2010 season, all received separate punishments from the National Football League after investigators confirmed that there had been bounties implemented in the organization, by far the most severe in the league's 92 year history. Williams, the team's former defensive coordinator who used these bounties, was suspended indefinitely. Payton, the team's head coach, and defensive end Jonathan Vilma were each suspended for the entire 2012 season. Loomis, the team's general manager, along with Hargrove and Fujita, both Saints defenders at the time of the bounties, were also suspended but between 6-8 games.

John G. Roberts

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court made one of the biggest decisions in his judicial career this past June, siding with the office of President Obama in considering the controversial 2010 Affordable Care Act to be constitutional, under the basis of it being considered a tax. Roberts' swing vote proved to be the key in the Supreme Court ruling a 5-4 majority in favor of the bill, a shocking turn of events as he has had a history of being a notoriously conservative siding judge.

And now, it's time for the big reveal you've all been waiting for. After much deliberation, The mj15's Blog's selection for the 2012 Person of the Half-Year is...

 MITT ROMNEY!

A pretty obvious choice, I know, but who else did you expect? After months of fighting off surges in the polls from a colorful list of characters ranging from Rick Perry and Herman Cain to Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, Romney finally earned the title of the Republican party's presumptive nominee for president, surpassing the necessary 1,144 delegate count this past May. Years of hard work, and millions of dollars in campaign donations raised had finally paid off. Now all he has left to win the Oval Office is to defeat incumbent Barack Obama this November. Will the former Massachusetts governor work his Mormon charm just well enough to gain the 270 electoral votes needed to accomplish his dream? We shall find out very soon.

And with that, this brings us to the conclusion of End of the Half-Year. I don't know if the Mayans are right and whether the world will end this December, but I hope that this year at least does close out with a bang (and with the Olympics, the presidential election, and movies such as "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Master" coming out, I have a good feeling that it will). As always, thanks for the taking the time for reading, and feel free to leave your thoughts on People of the Year for 2012's first half in the comments. I'll be back tomorrow for part one of my three part predictions column on the 2012 Emmys, featuring a brand-new "End of the Week" to go along with it. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your Saturday!

Sincerely,

Your pal: mj15

If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you just have any suggestions or tips for my next blog entry, e-mail me at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mails are greatly appreciated.

End of the Half-Year 2012: Part 3- The Half-Year's Best...

Welcome back to End of the Half-Year 2012. In case you missed parts one and two, click here and here. The following is part three, in which I give out random accolades in several different categories. Enjoy.

Words of the Half-Year:

"YOLO"

"Instagram'd"

"Primary"

"Obamacare"

"Eurozone"
"GIF"
"Mommy Porn"
"

Quotes of the Half-Year:

-"To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes me want to throw up. What kind of country do we live in where only people of non-faith can come in the public square and make their case? That makes me throw up. And that should make every American [throw up].":Rick Santorum, reacting to a 1960 John F. Kennedy speech about religion not playing a role in poliitcs

-"Hola, me llamo Roberto...Si. Yo soy fiesta": New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in an interview with ESPN Deportes.

-"With today's announcement it is time for us to move forward, to implement and when necessary improve on this law.": Barack Obama, in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.

-"What's the George Costanza line? 'When they're applauding, you sit down?'": Mitt Romney, incorrectly quoting "Seinfeld" in a February debate.

-"Wouldn't it be funny if that girl got raped by by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now?": Comedian Daniel Tosh, responding to a female heckler who questioned whether rape is funny during a performance.

-"4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together...By the time I realized that I was in love, it was malignant...": Musician Frank Ocean, in a blog post talking about his love affair with a man.

-"Hey, I just met you/And this is crazy/But here's my number/So call me, maybe?": Musician Carly Rae Jepsen in her smash hit song.

-"Ah, shit, I still haven’t called my fucking Mom.  Mom, Happy Mother’s Day.  I got fired. Yes, Mom.  AGAIN.": "Community" creator Dan Harmon, in a Tumblr post regarding his firing from the show by Sony.

-"Let's hurry home and follow the earthquake news. And don't forget to order your favorite KFC menus.": KFC Thailand's Facebook post on the same day as residents were bracing for a tsunami following the April earthquake in Indonesia.\

-"Historically, the policier and the family comedy were two distinct categories. Then, in 1990, Kindergarten Cop gave us all a lesson in genre revisionism.": Criterion Collection's explanation for selecting "Kindergarten Cop" in an April Fools joke.

-"I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was...I'll bet you money, if he didn't have that hoodie on, that nutty neighborhood watch guy wouldn't have responded in that violent and aggressive way": FOX News correspondent Geraldo Rivera, regarding the murder of Trayvon Martin, who wore a dark hoodie before getting killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida.
-"What a snob!": Rick Santorum, again, this time commenting on President Obama's wish to have every American receive a college education.

-"Who do you think you are? I am!": PBA bowler Pete Webber, after winning a tournament.

-"Sister Maya, was this an act of malice?" "No, Brother West. It was an act of whimsy": A line of dialogue from the Maya Angelou prank show sketch on "Saturday Night Live"

On-Air Mistake of the Half-Year: CNN and FOX News Getting the Affordable Health Care Act Ruling Wrong

Thankfully, Will McAvoy will set the errors of their ways on "The Newsroom" two years from now!

Magazine Cover of the Half-Year: TIME's Breast-Feeding Mother

I like how the baby is apparently just an accessory to the mother in this photo. At least we know who is the one who should really matter in this picture.

TV Shows of the Half-Year: 

"30 Rock"

"Archer"

"Bob's Burgers"

"Community"

"Game of Thrones"

"Girls"

"Happy Endings"

"Justified"

"The Legend of Korra"

"Luck"

"Mad Men"

"Parks &Recreation"

"Sherlock"

"Spartacus: Vengeance"

"Veep"

Movies of the Half-Year: 

"The Avengers"

"Bernie"

"Beasts of the Southern Wild"

"Cabin in the Woods"

"The Deep Blue Sea"

"The Hunger Games"

"The Kid With A Bike"

 "Moonrise Kingdom"

"Once Upon a Time in Anatolia"

"Ted"

"This is Not a Film"

Pop Culture Trend of the Half-Year: Dead Celebrity "Holograms"

Despite being dead for over fifteen years, the late rapper/hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur made headlines at this year's Coachella music festival when he was "resurrected" via a 2-D video projection in which he got to perform "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" along with his friend Snoop Dogg. The performance became a big sensation, which immediately led to some crafty businessmen deciding to make profit off of it with hologram performances of other famous dead celebrities. Among those who have been rumored to get the Tupac treatment have included Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Freddy Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrisson.Will the novelty of seeing 2Pac perform on stage at Coachella lead to a trend that becomes profitable just as much as it was buzzworthy, or will it fail as part of America's interest in it having been quickly waned? For the love of God, I hope it's the latter.

Album of the Half-Year: Frank Ocean, "Channel Orange"

A stunning debut album from a man who has instantly become one of the most talented musicians of his generation. Compassionate, engrossing, and above all else, really damn good to listen to.

-Runner-ups:

Fiona Apple, "The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw..."

Japandroids, "Celebration Rock"

EI-P, "Cancer for Cure"

Killer Mike, "R.A.P. Music"

Bruce Springsteen, "Wrecking Ball"

Beach House, "Bloom"

Usher, "Looking 4 Myself"

Chromatics, "Kill for Love"

The Shins, "Port of Morrow"

Cloud Nothings, "Attack on Memory"

Jack White, "Blunderbuss"

Neil Young and Crazy Horse, "Americana"

Sleigh Bells, "Reign of Terror"

Songs of the Half-Year:(Note: the following are songs listed not necessarily because of quality, but because of its popularity and relevance in the year's first six months)

Gotye, "Somebody That I Used to Know"

fun., "We Are Young"

Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me, Maybe?"

Wiz Khalifa, "Young, Wild, and Free" (ft. Snoop Dogg)

Katy Perry, "Part of Me"

One Direction, "What Makes You Beautiful"

Kanye West & Jay-Z, "Niggas in Paris" 

Justin Bieber, "Boyfriend"

Video Games of the Half-Year: 

"Diablo III"

"Max Payne 3"

"Mass Effect 3"

"SSX"

"Waking Mars"

"Fez"

"Journey"

"Street Fighter X Tekken"

"Final Fantasy XIII-2"

Billboards of the Half-Year: 

A Wife's Divorce Message to Cheating Husband 

Woman Buys Billboard in New Jersey to Attract Tyler Perry

Internet Meme of the Half-Year: "Cat Breading"

It seems like the more I'm on the Internet, the less I understand it. Cat in point: cat breading, the popular meme that blew up in the winter that feature, you guessed it, people putting pieces of bread on their cat's face. It's this year's planking, meaning that it will be this year's sensation that future generations will look at us in judgment the way that we look at the success of Pet Rocks in the 1970s. But, hey, at least the cats look adorable!

-Runner-ups:

"Drunk Baby"

"Texts from Hillary"

"2/10, Would Not Bang"

"Sudden Clarity Clarence"

"Story Time Jesus"

"Extremely Photogenic Guy"

"What People Think I Do Versus What I Really Do"

"Inappropriate Timing Bill Clinton"

"Evil Cows"

"Almost Politically Correct Redneck"

"1990s Problems"

Comebacks of the Half-Year: 

-Sports: Adam Dunn

When you're a baseball player who finished the previous season hitting a pathetic .159 in 415 at bats, hitting just above the Mendoza line would've been considered an improvement. Thankfully for Adam Dunn and his Chicago White Sox, he has been able to not only hit above .200 this season, but the power hitting that the team expected when they gave him that $44 million contract two years ago has returned as well. So far this season, Dunn remains in top five in the American League in home runs and RBIs, and remains one of the key reasons for Chicago remaining in playoff contention as of this point.

-Entertainment: Boy Bands

Just when you thought the boy band craze died out in the early 2000s with the disbanding of hit groups NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, they finally managed to get right back into relevancy this year thanks to the success of three bands: One Direction (who hit #1 in the US charts and in eight other country after hitting it big in the UK), The Wanted (another UK import whose song "Glad You Came" went as high as #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts), and Big Time Rush (the American group created for the purposes of a Nickelodeon TV show whose popularity continues to escalate). How long this resurrection of the boy band lasts remains to be seen, but I'm sure that there are plenty children of the '90s who are feeling some proud nostalgia about it, even if they definitely won't acknowledge any of these current bands' superiority over those during the original heyday.

-Business: Digitally Filtered Photos

Case in point: Instagram, which launched in 2010 yet whose popularity has skyrocketed over the past few months, to the point that Facebook ended up buying it for $1 billion this past November and its new Android app saw a million downloads in less than three days.

Product of the Half-Year: The Samsung Galaxy S III

Released this past May, the Galaxy S III instantly became one of the most acclaimed smart phones to date, with its large HD screen, light and slick design, Ice Cream operating system, and 4G data speed. Some have even went as far as calling it the best phone in the world, although with the iPhone 5 set to be released in a few weeks, I think it's safe to say that this phone's reign with the title might come to an abrupt end.

Craigslist Ad of the Year: 1995 Pontiac Grand Am GT- $700 (Everett) 
I just love everything about this: the graph, the enormous price cut, the guarantee that it will be a pussy magnet, etc. This man made something that thousands of people do weekly (advertise their old car) and made a show of it. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade!

Politicians of the Half-Year: 

Barack Obama

Mitt Romney

Rick Santorum

Newt Gingrich

Ron Paul

Gary R. Herbert

Scott Walker

Corey Brooker (how I can not include him? The man is a rising star of the Democratic party AND a hero)

Initial Public Offering of the Half-Year: Facebook

One of the most anticipated new stocks in year officially hit the NASDAQ in May when Facebook finally became available for the public to own a piece. Millions were rushing to get a stock of the company, while many involved with the company earned millions of dollars to their bank accounts in less than a day. Yet, it seemed like that happiness for the company on the morning of May 18th lasted for only a short time. Shortly before 11 a.m. on that Friday the company's stock rose from their initial price of $38 to $45, a lower estimate than expected, then back down to $42 and all the way down to $34 before making a late rally to get back to its original price. Things did not go so well the following Monday, falling to as low as $33, and even then the worst wasn't over, with stock prices falling to as low as $25 in the beginning of June. The company has since managed to climb back a bit, but stock prices have yet to reach over $34 since the first day of trading. On May 23rd, Facebook's poor results even resulted in legal consequences, with several banks announcing that they were suing the social network site (as well as backers JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs) for lying about what the actual stock price should've been and for concealing very important information in the IPO lead-up.

Social Networking Site of the Half-Year: Twitter

Once again, Twitter's popularity seems to continue to increase without yet reaching its peak. Looks like in the ever lasting battle for social media supremacy, it's the site that only allows its users to share statuses in under 140 characters that seems to be on top in both relevancy and hipness.

Future Technology Announcement of the Half-Year: Google's "Project Glass"

Great, just what we need, another object that distracts us from walking/driving!

Downfall of the Half-Year: The Penn State Football Program

Even after Jerry Sandusky's horrific rape allegation was released to the public and even after the university fired several individuals (including head football coach Joe Paterno) for covering up his indiscretions, the worst was yet to come for the institution. Three weeks after Sandusky was acquitted on 45 of his 48 charges and sentenced to a minimum of 60 years in prison, an internal report headed by former FBI director Louis Freeh was released officially concluding that Paterno, university President Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz had all decided to cover-up Sandusky's action on fear of bad publicity. Apparently, school leaders "empowered Sandusky to attract potential victims to the campus and football events by allowing him to have continued, unrestricted and unsupervised access," access that provided Sandusky "with the very currency that enabled him to attract his victims." And now, according to reports, it seems as if the NCAA is planning on punishing the university based on the report with unprecedented penalties unlike any others given before. (UPDATE 07/23: $60M worth of fines, a 4 year bowl ban, a loss of scholarships, and the loss of all wins from 1998-2011, to be exact).

Trickery of the Half-Year: New York Yankees Outfielder DeWayne Wise

for faking this catch in a game against the Cleveland Indians this past June, despite it being later revealed as a drop in the stands in which the ball was actually caught by a fan 10 feet away from him. Between this and the famous catch he made to save Mark Buehrle's perfect game three years ago, I can only imagine what this journeyman ballplayer will do as a follow-up.

Book of the Half-Year: The "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy by E.L. James

Since being released in June of last year, this erotic novel about a couple's BDSM relationship has sold 31 million copies and has even surpassed the "Harry Potter" series as the fastest selling paperback books of all-time, with a potential movie deal in place. It's also gotten so popular that it's even convinced a book company to alter classic works of literature in order to match its erotic nature, in case you need any more reason to hate the general public. So, yeah, score one for mommy porn, I guess...

Drought of the Half-Year: The Record Drought in the U.S. 

Record-high temperatures all across the nation along with very little rain to combat it has resulted in one of the worst food droughts of many people's lifetime, one which has resulted in the loss of 30% of the country's essential corn crops and one that is likely to raise food prices in 2013.

Support of the Half-Year: Barack Obama Becomes 1st US President to Come Out in Support of Gay Marriage

Animal of the Half-Year:  Meow the Cat

In April, Meow charmed countless Americans with its incredibly large figure once he was surrendered to a New Mexico animal shelter after its elderly owners were no longer able to take care of it, only to tragically pass away of the very thing that made it famous the following May.

Celebrity Divorce of the Half-Year: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Oh, no, not TomKat! Now the only famous celebrity nicknames we have left are going to be Brangelina and Kanim Karwestshian!

Short Lived Social Activist Campaign of the Half-Year: Kony 2012

From 80 million hits in one week to one embarrassing story involving its director and barely no mention in the news since...almost all of that occurring in a one month span.

Deaths of the Half-Year (people): Hey, this may not shock you, but the first half of 2012 saw many famous people pass away. These individuals included: Whitney Houston, Etta James, Wislawa Szymborska, Ben Gazarra, Ernest Borgnine, Andy Griffith, Mike Wallace, Dick Clark, Andrew Breitbart, Levon Helm, Maurice Sendak, Ray Bradbury, Donna Summer, Robin Gibb, Rodney King, Nora Ephron, Celeste Horn, Richard D. Zanuck, and so much more.

Death of the Half-Year (product): The Encyclopedia Brittanica Printed Edition

After 244 years, the famous English language encyclopedia announced that it will no longer be printed newer edititions, deciding to solely focus on their online version, Encyclopedia Brittanica Online.

Sports Moments of the Half-Year:

-Spain Defeats Italy to win the UEFA European Championship

For the first time ever, a national team has won three straight major tournaments (the 2008 EURO, the 2010 World Cup, and 2012 EURO). If this isn't the greatest team of all time, then they at least belong in the discussion.

-The New York Giants Win Super Bowl XLVI

Am I the only one whose weirded out about now considering Eli Manning to be a future Hall of Famer?

-The Los Angeles Kings Win the Stanley Cup

No. 8 seed to begin the tournament, but No. 1 when all was said and done.

-The Miami Heat Win the NBA Championship

I hate how this has suddenly become less hilarious because of the title.

-No. 15 seeds Norfolk State and Lehigh Beat No. 2 seeds Missouri and Duke in 1st Round of NCAA Tournament

I don't think I was ever as pleased to see my bracket destroyed as I was on that Friday night.

-Kentuky wins the NCAA Basketball Tournament

Knowing Calipari's past, I give it five years before the Wildcats vacate this title.

-Alabama wins the BCS National Championship

Apparently, it's much easier to win the BCS these days than it is to win the SEC.

-BCS Announces College Football Playoff Beginning in 2014

About damn time.

-Bubba Watson Defeats Louis Oosthuizen in a Playoff to Win the Masters

Makes you wonder how far this tournament would've gone had Oosthuizen not made that double eagle of his.

-Linsanity

His quarter-year success reward? A return back to Houston.

-Peyton Manning Signs with Denver Broncos; Denver Trades Tim Tebow to the New York Jets

I think Denver made a good decision, don't you?

-Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer All Win Major Championships in Tennis

Meanwhile, Andy Murray keeps asking when is his turn to shine.

-Baylor Women Finish 40-0,Win NCAA Tournament

The best record in NCAA basketball history, and they get a very prestigious title to show for it.

Stories of the Half-Year:

-The Most Electable: Mitt Romney Receives Enough Delegates to Earn Presumptive Party Nomination

It took several months and battle with several surprising competitors that were seriously challenging him, from Bachmann to Perry to Cain to Gingrich to Santorum, but the Republican party nomination is finally going to go to the former Massachusetts governor.

-The Most Democratic: Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood Wins Egypt's Presidential Election

It was the first democratic election following the 2011 uprising, yet one that hasn't even begun to settle the divide among the country's many opposing internal sides.

-The Other Most Democratic: Scott Walker Retains Wisconsin Governorship in Recall Election

If anything this, election also deserves the top prize for Most Exaggerated Responses of the Half-Year. All over the night of the election, the reactions ranged from this being the end of democracy as we know it to the end of unions forever to even the beginning of Obama's demise.

-The Strangest Work of Art: A Portrait of Rick Santorum Made Entirely of Gay Porn Stills

A Santorum made up of people creating santorums. How...poignant?

-The Most Scientific: CERN Institute Discovers Particle That Might Be the Higgs Boson

I would praise the Lord for this discovery, but I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the idea of worshipping particles.

-The Worst Kept Secret of an Institution With "Secret" in Their News: The U.S. Secret Service Prostitution Scandal

Looks like we found out who services the Service.

-The Best Nudist: Man Arrested for Masturbating on Highway Naked with Toy Gun in Butt

Kinky.

-Speaking of Naked and In a Car...: Naked Texas Cowgirl, 18, Arrested in Slow Speed Police Chase

Sounds like the plot for the worst adult film in years.

-The Deadliest: Syrian Death Toll Rises to 17,000 and Counting Since 2011 Presidential Uprising

Sad as it is to say, not everything about the Arab Spring can end as smoothly as they did in Egypt and Tunisia.

-The Stupidest Brawl: The June Fight Between Drake and Chris Brown

It must be so nice for someone to feud with another in a club with dozens of their entourage members interfering for them.

-The Stupidest Controversy: The Rainbow Oreo Cookie Ad
The only thing that should be controversial about it is the fact that this delicious looking cookie is not actually available in stores right this very moment.

-The Biggest Government Wagging of Finger: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Held in Contempt By Congress

I bet the people who voted for this decided on it (wait for it)...fast, and furiously.

-The Most Questionable Way to Go: Woman Dies of Starvation Due to Sunlight-Only Diet

The man who was simultaneously on an air-only diet did not like his chances after hearing this news.

-Man's Best Evidence of An Impending Zombie Apocalypse: Miami Homeless Man Has Face Eaten by Man High on Bath Salts

Worst. "The Walking Dead" Re-enactment. Ever.

-The One To Restore Your Fate in Humanity: Kentucky Man Buys Everything at K-Mart, Then Donates to Charity

"What, you couldn't buy everything from a Wal-Mart, too?"-Really bitter person

-The Most Catastrophic (U.S.):  The Colorado and Utah Wildfires

-The Most Catastrophic: 8.6 Magntiude Earthquake Hits Area in Indonesia

Look on the bright side: it caused five deaths, but at least that's far less casualties than during the 2004 earthquake.

-Worst Parenting by a Politician: British PM David Cameron Leaves Daughter at Local Pub

[cue Labour Party members making jokes about how this isn't even Cameron's 10th dumbest mistake as Prime Minister]

-Yet Another Sad Story of Multiple Deaths in the Middle East: U.S. Sergeant Kills 16 Afghan Civilians, 9 of Them Children

-The Most Unintentionally Hilarious Compliment: Colorado Gov. Accidentally Calls Lt. Governor a "Sex Machine" to Children

I'm not sure which is worse, this "mistake" or the Vermont governor being chased home by bears. Either way, both do not look good coming out of those news reports.

-The Most Supreme (Court, That Is): The Affordable Health Care Act is Ruled Constitutional As a Tax

Pretty big decision, no?

And...that's gonna do it! As always, if you felt that there was either something that I felt out or something that I wrongly included, please feel free to express your opinion in the comments. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the exciting conclusion to End of the Half-Year 2012. Otherwise, enjoy the rest of your evening.

Sincerely,

Your pal: mj15

  If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you just have any suggestions or tips for my next blog entry, e-mail me at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mails are greatly appreciated.