Helen Mirren wins 3rd Primetime Emmy Awards 2006

Dame Helen Mirren won her third Primetime Emmy at the 58th ceremony held August 27, 2006. She took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her performance in Elizabeth I, a miniseries aired on HBO. It was her ninth nomination.

Gillian Anderson was also nominated for the same award for her performance in Bleak House.

Megan Mullaly won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Will & Grace.

Jeremy Irons won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Elizabeth I.

The wonderful Cloris Leachman won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her appearance in Malcolm in the Middle.

When comedy becomes reality

The other day, I watched an episode of Not Necessarily the News, an HBO comedy that poked fun at the government during the 1980s.  I enjoyed this series because of its satire, snarky attitude and political commentary disguised as comedy.  (Also Mitch Laurence was gorgeous!). This episode aired in April 1983 and I was expecting that although still funny, that it had not aged well either.

To my utter surprise, I realized how many things HAVE NOT changed.  Among the skits in this episode:

1. A celebrity for president, who has trouble pronouncing words and reading teleprompters
2. A vacuous first lady who though pretty, doesn't have much going on upstairs.
3. Dioxin Dolly, a character formulated after then EPA Administrator Anne Gorusch who gutted the program in favor of corporate interests
4. A news flash about Russian missiles heading to the US that turns out to be a false alarm.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  And it's scary