by Preston Tolliver
It’s been six years since Walter White rigged a military-grade machine gun to a remote-controlled swivel and killed a group of meth-peddling Nazis in a fashion so gruesome that it would make each of the Inglorious Basterds proud. The final season of “Breaking Bad” marked the end of most of the series’ main characters; who wasn’t dead had their stories wrapped up in a neat, bloody bow. White, the Nazis, “that dead-eyed Opie fuck” Todd and the entire Heisenberg meth empire were left dead in a hail of bullets and pseudoephedrine. Those left alive were arguably the worse for it: the fates of Skyler, Walt Jr., Marie and even Saul Goodman were sealed by the time the credits rolled for the last time. The only character who lacked closure was Jesse Pinkman, who was last seen speeding down the highway after gaining his freedom from Walt’s slaughter. 
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With “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie,” Aaron Paul has gone from co-star of “Breaking Bad” to the lead of his own movie, reprising his role of Pinkman in a film that details the events immediately following - and preceding - the carnage at Uncle Jack and Co.’s hideout. Paul is joined by other actors who represented different stages of Pinkman’s growth throughout the series: Matt Jones and Charles Baker are back as Badger and Skinny Pete, respectively, along with the late Robert Forster and a couple of cameos from Jonathan Banks and Bryan Cranston; and working immediately opposite is Jesse Plemons in his role again as Todd, who, though dead since the “Breaking Bad” finale, is still alive and well in Pinkman’s story. 

There are a couple rules we’ve learned in television. The first is that if you don’t see someone die, then you can’t count them dead. Anything short of seeing a person’s ghost exit in their body leaves the possibility of a return. The final shot of the “Breaking Bad” series was ambiguous enough to leave audiences guessing if Heisenberg - despite his mortal gunshot wound and the cancer that had been killing him for years and the tons of armed cops heading in for him - would make his way out of that meth lab. The other rule is that if someone is lucky enough to ride off into the sunset, it’s generally the viewer’s responsibility to determine what’s next. Television is great in the way that it gives a visual interpretation of a story so we don’t have to strain our imaginative brain cells, but it’s even greater when it forces us to anyway. The way the series ended with Pinkman screaming (in grief or relief, we should never know) as he sped off from the cage that left him a shell of the person he was at the beginning of the show wasn’t just fodder for fan-fiction sites the world over. It was an invitation from creator Vince Gilligan for viewers to write their own ending for the character. 

With “El Camino,” Gilligan again takes the role of storyteller to answer all those will he/won’t he/how can he questions. Sure, the final scene of the film still leaves some of Pinkman’s fate to the imagination, but the icy road he exits on is a lot more linear than that dark New Mexico highway. 

That’s not to say that the film isn’t bad or even a good extension of the series - Gilligan and Paul are still able to captivate an audience as well as they could six years ago - but perhaps the best ending for Jesse Pinkman was no ending at all. 

by Preston Tolliver
It’s been nearly 20 years since the last episode of WCW Nitro (and any wrestling program, for that matter) aired on TNT, and with it the last gasp of the only real competition to Vince McMahon’s sports entertainment behemoth, WWE. It was the end of an era that brought about weekly ratings wars between McMahon and Ted Turner, as the two traded figurative blows while their performers traded literal (sort of) ones in the ring. 
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Since then, McMahon’s ratings competition has been null, and his product has suffered for it; after all, competition brings out the best in people. McMahon’s quest to increase his shows’ number of casual fans - the channel surfers scrolling through their guide to find something better to watch on a Friday night than whatever comes on Friday nights - has left the lifelong fans wanting more.

Now, for the first time in 18 years, McMahon has to step up his game again. Sure, there have been other wrestling promotions since the fall of WCW - TNA/Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling - but none ever threatened to pull the mainstream wrestling fan away from WWE. With All Elite Wrestling’s debut Wednesday, Cody Rhodes and Shahid Khan have given McMahon a foe worthy of going toe to toe against. McMahon and WWE were seemingly prepared for their new competitor’s debut - the company’s C-show (and preferred show for the longtime wrestling purists), NXT, made its debut on USA a couple weeks ago.

On Friday, months of anticipation and planning culminated in the premier of Friday Night Smackdown on Fox - the result of the company’s first broadcast network deal. However, for all the money that McMahon must make per second in T-shirt sales and TV contracts, he’s never been so out of touch with what his most loyal fans want, and he proved that by turning what was supposed to be a landmark week for the company into a colossal disappointment, rife with weird booking and storylines about infidelity. McMahon has traded entertainment for wrestling fans for cheap tactics to get a new audience - the kind of audience he hopes MMA standouts Tyson Fury and Cain Velasquez will bring with their debuts on WWE television Friday. 

For the wrestling fans who have chomped at the bit for years for less entertainment and more sports in their sports entertainment, there’s AEW and NXT, the latter of which is, while operating under the WWE flag, run by McMahon’s son-in-law and former WWE champion, Paul “Triple H” Levesque. That McMahon has allowed his flagship shows - Smackdown and Monday Night Raw - become rivaled by another program he owns (but has little involvement in) shows not just that he doesn’t know what his fans want. He simply doesn’t care anymore. 

While WWE fell flat in its “premier week,” a new era of professional wrestling is upon us. AEW Dynamite premiered not with the whimper of the WWE shows, but with the bang that its own name promised, and at least Levesque and the talent under his wing recognized that there’s a new war again. While Monday and Friday nights will remain dull for wrestling loyalists, Wednesday nights have both a new life and an old; it’ll be a struggle not to flip between USA and TNT like we did 20 years ago (unless you have DVR and have mastered the art of dancing around spoilers on Twitter). Wrestling is good again, even if WWE’s flagship shows aren’t. And that’s more than we could say a week ago. 

by Julian Spivey
The 71st Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 22 on Fox at 7 p.m. Below are 10 shows and actors I’d like to most see take home the honors on Sunday night. 

Best Drama Series: This Is Us
I must start by saying that “This Is Us” is the only series nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category I’ve seen. I’ve never seen a single episode of “Better Call Saul,” “Bodyguard,” “Game of Thrones,” “Killing Eve,” “Ozark,” “Pose” or “Succession.” “This Is Us” is one of my favorite shows, period, on television so I’ll be rooting for it on Sunday, even though I believe “Game of Thrones” will win, even if many of the shows fans seemingly despised the final season. If not ‘GOT’ I think “Succession” may surprise people. Critics say it’s currently the best drama on TV, even if it doesn’t seem to be watched by the masses. If “This Is Us” were somehow to win it would be the first time a drama on a network won, the award since “24” on Fox in 2006.  

Best Comedy Series: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
I binged both seasons of Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” earlier this summer and I now understand why it was winning so many awards last year and why so many love it. It’s amazing. The series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino is a show that gives its brilliant cast a lot of scenery to chew and the writing staff provides a non-stop laugh riot. There are so many comedies I love in this category with “Barry,” “Fleabag,” “The Good Place” and the final season of “Veep” all worthy, but my vote would go to ‘Mrs. Maisel.’  

Best Variety Series Talk: Late Show with Stephen Colbert
It took a few years after the departure of David Letterman, but the ‘Late Show’ is back to being my go-to late night variety talk show after a few years of claiming “Late Night with Seth Meyers” as my favorite. Meyers, who’s show has irritatingly never been nominated in this category, is still terrific but its constant political related humor has simply become something I can’t do as much these days – that’s more Donald Trump’s fault than Meyers’. ‘Late Show’ host Stephen Colbert does a lot of politics, of course, on his show too, but he’s also the best interviewer currently on any variety talk show making his show overall the most appealing. Look for “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” on HBO to win its fourth consecutive award, though. 

Best Actor, Drama: Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us)
The only other nominee in this category I’ve seen besides Milo Ventimiglia on “This Is Us” is his co-star Sterling K. Brown. Brown won this honor a couple of years ago for the first season of “This Is Us,” so I’m hoping this year is Ventimiglia’s turn. Ventimiglia’s turn as Pearson family patriarch Jack has been one of the most heartwarming and heartbreaking performances on television since the series began. This category seems wide open this year, but if I had to make a bet, I’d go with Billy Porter of FX’s “Pose.” 

Best Actress, Drama: Mandy Moore (This Is Us)
I’m thrilled that Mandy Moore has finally been nominated for her performance on “This Is Us” after three terrific seasons and being snubbed for the first two. Her performance as Rebecca Pearson in two different eras, the only major cast member who has to do this on the show, is remarkable and she’s constantly leaving viewers teary-eyed. 

Best Actor, Comedy: Ted Danson (The Good Place)
Last year’s winner Bill Hader is freakin’ fantastic in HBO’s “Barry.” It wouldn’t be a shock to see him win this again and I’d say he’s the front-runner. I’d also love to see multiple-time nominee Anthony Anderson win an Emmy for his hilarious role as Andre Johnson on ABC’s “black-ish.” But, the actor I’m most hoping wins this weekend is Ted Danson for his giddy performance of Michael on “The Good Place.” Danson is consistently laugh-out-loud funny on the series. 

​Best Actress, Comedy: Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won the Emmy for every season of “Veep” thus far and it would be remarkable to see her complete the sweep and do it again for the show’s seventh season. It would be historical and likely never happen again for someone to win that many Emmys for one character. Louis-Dreyfus’ performance as Selina Meyer is one of the top-five all-time great female comedy performances, but if we’re just going by the work in their most recent seasons (as it’s supposed to be) I’m taking Rachel Brosnahan’s turn in season two of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” over Louis-Dreyfus in the final season of “Veep.” I’d likely take Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s performance in the second season of “Fleabag” over it, as well. Brosnahan, last year’s winner when there wasn’t a season of “Veep” eligible, is perfection as Maisel. Louis-Dreyfus vs. Brosnahan is the most interesting competition of the evening for me. 

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy: Stephen Root (Barry)
It’s remarkable to me that Stephen Root has never been nominated for an Emmy Award. Hell, he should’ve been nominated more than 20 years ago for his terrific performance in the highly underrated NBC series “NewsRadio.” Root has finally been nominated for his role as Fuches, essentially the devil in Barry’s life, on “Barry.” I hope it’s time one of Hollywood’s finest character actors is honored on the big stage. However, this is always one of the hardest categories to pick from and Root has competition in co-stars Henry Winkler, who won this category last year, and Anthony Carrigan, who’s NoHo Hank is outrageously funny. It wouldn’t surprise me if the three cost each other votes. If that happens, I’d love to see Tony Shalhoub win for his performance on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy: Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
This one’s hard for me because I think Alex Borstein is the most-worthy for her second season performance as Susie Myerson on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” but she won the award last year and there’s other actresses in the category who I love. Anna Chlumsky has been amazing as Amy Brookheimer on “Veep” for seven seasons and hasn’t won yet. If she loses, she’d go 0-for-6 for the series, which would be a shame. I also love Sarah Goldberg’s performance in “Barry”, and she gave an amazing monologue in a season two episode that I just new would get her nominated. I’m going with Borstein because of worthiness, but I won’t be upset at all if Chlumsky finally takes it.  

Best Writing, Comedy: “ronny/lily” (Barry)
The first time I saw the second season “Barry” episode of “ronny/lily,” written by show creators Alec Berg and Bill Hader, I almost hyperventilated by laughing so much and so hard. It’s one of the funniest episodes of television I’ve ever seen and the best episode of TV I’ve seen in 2019. Get to it right now if you haven’t seen it!​

Monday, September 16 

Dancing with the Stars (ABC) - 7 p.m. 

Monday, September 23

The Voice (NBC), 7 p.m.
The Neighborhood (CBS), 7 p.m.
9-1-1 (Fox), 7 p.m.
Bob (Hearts) Abishola (CBS), 7:30 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
All Rise (CBS), 8 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
Prodigal Son (Fox), 8 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
Bluff City Law (NBC), 9 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
Bull (CBS), 9 p.m.
The Good Doctor (ABC), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, September 24

NCIS (CBS), 7 p.m.
The Resident (Fox), 7 p.m.
The Conners (ABC), 7 p.m.
Bless This Mess (ABC), 7:30 p.m.
This Is Us (NBC), 8 p.m.
FBI (CBS), 8 p.m.
Empire (Fox), 8 p.m.
Mixed-ish (ABC), 8 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
Black-ish (ABC), 8:30 p.m.
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), 9 p.m.
New Amsterdam (NBC), 9 p.m.
Emergence (ABC), 9 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)

Wednesday, September 25

Chicago Med (NBC), 7 p.m.
Survivor (CBS), 7 p.m.
The Masked Singer (Fox), 7 p.m.
The Goldbergs (ABC), 7 p.m.
Schooled (ABC), 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Fire (NBC), 8 p.m.
Modern Family (ABC), 8 p.m.
Single Parents (ABC), 8:30 p.m.
Chicago P.D. (NBC), 9 p.m.
Stumptown (ABC), 9 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)

Thursday, September 26

Superstore (NBC), 7 p.m.
Young Sheldon (CBS), 7 p.m.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), 7 p.m.
Perfect Harmony (NBC), 7:30 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
The Unicorn (CBS), 7:30 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
The Good Place (NBC), 8 p.m.
Mom (CBS), 8 p.m.
A Million Little Things (ABC), 8 p.m.
Sunnyside (NBC), 8:30 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
Carol’s Second Act (CBS), 8:30 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC), 9 p.m.
Evil (CBS), 9 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
How to Get Away with Murder (ABC), 9 p.m.

Friday, September 27

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS), 7 p.m.
American Housewife (ABC), 7 p.m.
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC), 7:30 p.m.
Magnum P.I. (CBS), 8 p.m.
Blue Bloods (CBS), 9 p.m.

Sunday, September 29

The Simpsons (Fox), 7 p.m.
God Friended Me (CBS), 7:30 p.m.
Bless the Harts (Fox), 7:30 p.m. (SERIES PREMIERE)
Bob’s Burgers (Fox), 8 p.m.
Shark Tank (ABC), 8 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), 8:30 p.m.
Family Guy (Fox), 8:30 p.m.
The Rookie (ABC), 9 p.m.

Thursday, October 3

The Blacklist (NBC), 7 p.m. 

Sunday, October 6

Madam Secretary (CBS), 9 p.m. 

by Alea Jeremiah 
Netflix’s “Stranger Things” is back for it’s third chapter and you better believe the pressure was on for the Duffer Brothers. The show had millions hooked from season one but in my opinion, it’s gained a significant amount of fans throughout the years. Everyone was patiently waiting for season three … about a year longer than it should’ve been released. Having the release date so far from season two definitely had me nervous. But as I sat down to binge the entire thing, I was not disappointed.
 
Unlike the two previous chapters, we are taking place during the summer of 1985. This already means the fashion is great as well as the music. A brand new mall is the focus of the Hawkins locals and it’s as retro as it gets. Throughout the season all of our beloved characters are going through their own separate things. Mike and Elle are dealing with their newfound relationship which isn’t all rainbows. Max and Elle are becoming closer and it’s honestly the cutest friendship you’ll ever see. Dustin is off with Steve and his new coworker Robin, and Joyce and Hopper are in their own sort of emotional limbo. Can’t forget Jonathan and Nancy, they’re off at The Hawkins Post doing internships.
 
This season really shows a big coming of age for the boys. They aren’t little kids anymore, they’re growing up, getting into relationships. This is heartbreaking for Will to experience because of everything he went through the past couple of years. It’s not so easy for him to move on and mature as quickly as the others. He struggles to accept the fact that all four of them aren’t just playing D&D in Mike’s basement like they used to.
 
One major player season three brought in was the Russians. You find out pretty early that the Russians are doing some sort of work on what looks like to be the portal that Elle closed back in season two. And where better for them to do this than right under the brand new mall. Some of this is a lot of information to process and can get kind of confusing but if you’re paying attention you shouldn’t have a problem.
 
The one character that shines out in this season, in an evil way, is Max’s brother Billy. You can see if you watched the trailers that the Mindflayer is back in Hawkins and is using Billy to do his bidding. I thought this was interesting because it kind of gave a human body to the Mindflayer rather than a spider-looking figure. You do learn a whole lot about Billy’s past and why he is the way he is and let me tell you, it is quite heavy.
 
Without going into too many spoilers or minor details, everyone is doing their own thing and each of their paths eventually connect in the end for the biggest battle in the show’s history thus far. When I watched the last two episodes of season two I thought there was no way they could top it. And that is exactly what they did.
 
The performances this season were nothing but excellent, not too surprised given everyone has been incredible the entire run. Like I mentioned before, Dacre Montgomery as Billy was one of the highlights of the show, he was an absolute scene stealer. I also loved the scenes between Dustin, Steve and Robin. Bringing in a new member might’ve been kind of risky but it worked so well. She fit the dynamic and I hope they plan on using her a lot more in future seasons. The visuals were stunning and the soundtrack was really great.
 
Overall, I was not disappointed with this season at all and I don’t think I would change a thing. If you haven’t watched yet, please do so! And bring tissues!

*p.s. stay tuned for an after credit scene during the final episode*

by Julian Spivey
I was thrilled by some of the surprising Emmy Award nominations this season – especially the nominations for Stephen Root and Anthony Carrigan for HBO’s comedy “Barry.” But as there are every year there were a handful of snubs that really got my goat.

Here are my five biggest Emmy nomination snubs: 

1. Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us)
I understand it’s hard to get nominated in any drama acting category this year when the academy was trying to get every freaking actor who’s ever been on “Game of Thrones” nominated, but I must say I’m shocked Susan Kelechi Watson didn’t received a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her excellent role as Beth Pearson in season three of NBC’s “This Is Us.” One could argue she gave the best performance on that series this past season and yet four other cast members received nominations and she didn’t. 

2. “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC)

I understand there are more talk shows on television now than ever, but I continue to be stunned that NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” snubbed year-in-and-year-out for Outstanding Variety Talk Series. The show is better than “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC) and “Late, Late Show with James Corden” (CBS) and yet those two received nominations over it. At least the excellent ‘Late Night’ writing staff continues to be recognized with an Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series nomination for the third straight year. 

3. D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place)

NBC’s critically-acclaimed comedy “The Good Place” has been getting some Emmy love with Ted Danson receiving a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and the show finally receiving a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, but the snub of D’Arcy Carden who plays Janet in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series is frankly hurtful. For years Carden has been a force on the series and it really felt like this would be the year for her to breakthrough with a nomination. 

4. Andre Braugher (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which aired its first four seasons on Fox and its past season on NBC, has always gotten the snub by the Emmys, which Andre Braugher pretty much being the only person affiliated with the show ever receiving a nomination … but, even those days seem over. Braugher is still doing amazingly hilarious work as police Captain Raymond Holt on the series, but the category is just chocked full of talent the academy couldn’t find a spot for him this year. 

5. Lily Tomlin & Jane Fonda (Grace & Frankie)

Lily Tomlin had been nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the first four seasons of Netflix’s underrated comedy series “Grace & Frankie” and two years ago she was joined in the category by her co-star Jane Fonda. This year it seems the academy is done with the series as neither received a nomination, despite their work in the show’s fifth season being up to par, if not better than seasons before.  

Previous Wins: 2018

Previous Wins: 2015 & 2018

Previous Wins: 2018

Previous Wins: 2017 & 2018

Previous Wins: 2018

Previous Nominations: 2017 & 2018

Previous Nominations: 2018

Previous Nominations: 2018 (The Good Doctor) & 2012 (NCIS)

Previous Nominations: 2018

Previous Wins: 2015 & 2018

Previous Nominations: 2017 & 2018 

Previous Nominations: None

Previous Nominations: 2018 (Empire)

Previous Nominations: None 

Previous Nominations: 2017 (Late Show with Stephen Colbert)

Previous Wins: "Memphis" (2017)

Previous Nominations: None

“Cheers” got off to a slow start – such a slow start, in fact, that it was nearly canceled after its first season ranked 74th out of 77 shows in the Nielsen ratings. Had that show debuted today like that it would’ve been a goner immediately. But thankfully NBC gave it a second chance and “Cheers,” about bartender Sam Malone (played by this year’s Broady winner for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, Ted Danson, in his first TV starring role) and the crazy supporting characters that frequent his establishment, eventually caught in. It caught on so well that it would spend much of its run in the Nielsen top 10 and its series finale in 1993 is the fourth most watched TV finale of all-time. Part of the greatness of “Cheers” was the love-hate relationship between Sam and Diane (Shelley Long) that became one of TV’s all-time greatest will-they-or-won’t-theys. Also, every single character of the supporting cast from George Wendt’s beloved drunkard Norm, to Rhea Perlman’s suffer no fools waitress Carla, John Ratzenberger’s know-it-all-without-actually-knowing-much mailman Cliff and others were perfectly written. “Cheers” won 28 Emmy Awards during its run from 1982-1993, including Best Comedy Series four times. Six different members of the cast won acting Emmys. In 2002, TV Guide named “Cheers” as the 18th greatest TV show of all-time. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked it as the 20th greatest show of all-time.  And, television critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz in their 2016 book TV (The Book) ranked “Cheers” as the fourth greatest television show of all-time. 

​Mary Tyler Moore is likely television’s second great female comedy pioneer after 2016 Broady Award Hall of Fame recipient Lucille Ball. Moore starred in not one, but two great classic television sitcoms and showed the world in her second show “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” that women on television could be more than just stay-at-home mothers and housewives. From 1961-1966 Moore co-starred with Dick Van Dyke on CBS’ “The Dick Van Dyke Show” as Laura Petrie, the stay-at-home mom and wife of Van Dyke’s comedy writer Rob Petrie. Moore would win two Emmy awards for her performance on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and upon receiving her first she would remark, “I know this will never happen again.” Moore would finish her career with seven Emmy wins. In the ‘70s it was Moore’s time to shine with a show featuring her own name in the title – “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” aired on CBS from 1970-1977 and featured Moore as Mary Richards, an unmarried independent woman (controversial for the time) focused more on her career as a television producer than family life. This show would win 29 Emmy Awards, which at the time was a record, including three years in a row for Outstanding Comedy Series. Moore would continue to act for years, including an Oscar-nominated performance in the 1980 Best Picture winner “Ordinary People.” Moore died at age 80 in 2017. 

“Fight or Flight” – 9-1-1 (Fox) – Writer: Kristen Reidel 

"Bastien Moreau" – The Blacklist (NBC) – Writers: Jon Bokenkamp, John Eisendrath & Lukas Reiter
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"Rassvet" – The Blacklist (NBC) – Writer: Sean Hennen

“The Day Before” – A Million Little Things (ABC) – Writer: Ashley Sims

“The Worst of Conditions” – SEAL Team (CBS) – Writer: Holly Harold

“Say Again Your Last” – SEAL Team (CBS) - Writer: Dana Greenblatt

“Luna” – New Amsterdam (NBC) – Writer: Peter Horton
​
“Nine Bucks” – This Is Us (NBC) – Writers: Dan Fogelman, Issac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger

“Sometimes” – This Is Us (NBC) – Writer: Bekah Brunstetter
​
“The Waiting Room” – This Is Us (NBC) - Writer: Bekah Brunstetter

“Black Like Us” – Black-ish (ABC) – Writer: Peter Saji

“Don’t You be My Neighbor” – Black-ish (ABC) – Writer: Kenny Smith

“Honeymoon” – Brooklyn Nine Nine (NBC) – Writer: Neil Campbell

“The Crime Scene” – Brooklyn Nine Nine (NBC) – Writer: Justin Noble

“Hitchcock & Scully” – Brooklyn Nine Nine (NBC) – Writer: Lang Fisher

“Janet(s)” – The Good Place (NBC) – Writers: Josh Siegal & Dylan Morgan

“Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By” – The Good Place (NBC) – Writer: Andrew Law

“Blizzard” – Superstore (NBC) – Writer: Dayo Adesokan

5th Anniversary Episode – The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC) – Head Writer: Amy Ozols
​
“Jack’s Big Gay Wedding” – Will & Grace (NBC) – Writers: Alex Herschlag & Suzanne Martin 

Winner Announced Sunday, June 23

​Winner Announced Sunday, June 23

by Preston Tolliver
“Game of Thrones” has mastered the art of tricking its viewers (or readers, if you were into that sort of thing before the books stopped for the long winter) into thinking that the characters who matter least matter most. It’s why we were shocked when (spoiler alert) Ned lost his head, or when Robb got stabbed a thousand times in some serious “Et tu, Roose?” fashion. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that as the show barrels toward its end, its two main protagonists – or those who have seemed over the last eight seasons to be its main protagonists – are the least compelling characters headed into the final episodes.
​
Still, they deserve a bit of credit getting us to where we are, through the Great War and to the last one. But while they’re in the top five, they’re not the best characters (they didn’t even crack the top three). Their stories kept us interested for years but fizzled out with a few yards to go to the end zone. Others, though, – the top three, specifically – have run the distance. 

10. Bran Stark

Bran’s story hasn’t gotten the airtime it deserves (it was even left entirely off one season), but his influence on the world cannot be understated. Ever stoned, he is the know-all be-all Three-Eyed Raven and could be much more interesting than showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss have let him be.

9. Ned Stark

The hero we thought would carry us through the series, who had his capa detated in the ninth episode of the first season. 

8. Jamie Lannister

“The things we do for love.” It’s no easy feat that a guy who hooks up with his sister and pushes a kid out of a window (and that’s just in the first episode!) is one of the more beloved heroes of the story headed toward its end, yet here we are.

7. Tyrion Lannister

The quick-witted imp who drinks and knows things. Despite all the dragons and ice zombies and giants, Peter Dinklage made dialogue the most exciting part of the show.

6. Petyr Baelish

Chaos is a ladder: without Littlefinger, none of this happens. Gendry probably gets the Iron Throne after Robert dies, Cersei and Jamie and their beautiful, blonde-headed incest children are cast out of King’s Landing and all of Westeros is happy. That doesn’t sound quite as good.

5. Daenerys Targaryen

“Game of Thrones” has been largely about the destines of two people: Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow. Fire and Ice. Daenerys’ character arc is an example of what happens when reality gets in the way of destiny. Who started as the Breaker of Chains and could become the carpet-bomber of King’s Landing (not that that wouldn’t be understandable), and Emilia Clarke has captured that transition perfectly.

4. Jon Snow

The mystery surrounding Jon Snow’s lineage was the most compelling story in all of “Game of Thrones” until it was answered. Everyone’s suspicions of who his parents were and what that meant for the Seven Kingdoms was answered (albeit long after everyone watching had figured it out), and the payoff flared out quicker than a firecracker tossed in the river. The prince we were promised since the beginning – the one we’ve long thought, anyway – went from main dude to main dude in the last season-and-a-half, but still, the character of Jon Snow deserves credit for keeping us invested in the story for as long as he did.

3. Sansa Stark

The “little bird” turned Lady of Winterfell has survived the worst of Westeros and has become stronger in spite of it. A child in the beginning who wanted nothing more than to be a princess or a lady, who found tortured throughout the series by most of the people she was surrounded by, Sansa has now become the moral center of the show. Daenerys has seemed destined for the throne, but she’s also vengeful; Jon has seemed like the savior of mankind, but he’s kind of dense; and yeah, Arya’s cool, but she’s also a psychopath. Amidst the chaos of the world and the people around her, there’s Sansa Stark, using the lessons she learned – for better or worse – to be the leader Daenerys should have been.

2. Arya Stark

“Game of Thrones” has had its share of inconsistencies in the last few seasons, but one constant has been the growth of Arya Stark, from young tomboy to no one to savior of all of Westeros. Each of the main protagonists have undergone a transformation throughout the series, but none more so than Arya, and while the story has often seemed like it was about the identities and mysteries and destinies therein of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, it’s always been the story of the never-lady of Winterfell.

1. Cersei Lannister

Cersei Lannister isn’t a despicable villain in the way that her son or Ramsey Bolton were. Where they became drunk on the power they were given and rushed to their barbarity, Cersei holds her liquor a little better. She’s still impulsive, but methodical. There’s a rationality to her irrational crimes against the people of Westeros, a psyche to be delved into beyond a character who just wants to rule (whether that be over a single subject or an entire people). Getting the Iron Throne – or in her case, keeping a grasp on it – is a game that Cersei has played unafraid to sacrifice every other piece to keep the queen on the board. 

by Aprille Hanson

As the nerd comedy “The Big Bang Theory” gets ready to wrap up, it’s a final goodbye to an incredible cast that’s made us laugh for 12 seasons. The main characters have all changed significantly since the show began -- here’s how they rank:
 
8. Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman)
Stuart, the owner of the comic book store, is a character on the outskirts of the main friend group, but seems to always pop up here and there, trying hard to fit in. He’s that character who is easily forgotten, but he has provided that laughable Charlie Brown-esque attitude to the show once Raj stepped up in confidence. While not an important character by any stretch, it’s been nice to see him get some wins.
 
7. Bernadette Wolowitz (Melissa Rauch)
A tiny spitfire with the squeaky voice, Bernadette packs a punch. If you go back and watch the beginning of the series, you’ll see just how much of an immature pig Howard was and his transformation is almost solely because of his relationship with Bernie. Her character added such a nice balance to the show, making Penny not the lone gorgeous wolf in the nerdy bunch. She is not only beautiful, but smart and is the one woman on the show that seemingly has it all -- a great job, husband, kids, career and an amazing group of friends. She went from waitressing with Penny at the Cheesecake Factory to pay off graduate school debts to being a microbiologist with a Ph.D at a pharmaceutical company. Her character not only provided more humor, but really added to the show.
 
6. Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar)
In the beginning of the series, fans were introduced to the nerdy Indian scientist Raj, who had a complicated issue -- he could not talk to women or around women. Then, they found out he could when he was drunk. I don’t know if the creators intended it to be this way throughout the series, not realizing how big of a hit the show would be and how long it’d last, but eventually, that storyline fell away. He soon became the character who couldn’t make a relationship work. He became the one character that seemingly couldn’t catch a break in the girlfriend department -- hell, even Stuart landed a comic-loving lady. Raj’s character went from a neurotic weirdo to a confident, suave scientist and while not one of the best characters, he’s certainly beloved. 
 
5. Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg)
Oh short, piggish Howard Wolowitz who wanted nothing more than to get into the pants of any girl that would let him -- and there were few. All the characters have been transformed, but if you had told me at the beginning of the series that this magic-loving tiny man would become this loving husband and father, I would have been shocked. I love how the writers evolved his character because he could have easily remained one dimensional. But instead, we watched him find love with Bernadette that turned him into a man, heartache when his mother passed and seeing him become an astronaut.
 
4. Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik)
The robotic awkwardness of Amy Farrah Fowler when her character debuted was so perfect for Sheldon, it was pretty magical. But like Sheldon, she has evolved into a more confident friend and now wife. The way Amy handles Sheldon with both love and at times tough love is something to admire. She truly was the girl that waited for not only Sheldon to catch up to her level of love for him, but did eventually demand the respect she deserved. For a long while, it was hard to watch their relationship because, as so many in her life did, he seemed to walk all over her. Her character added another dimension to the show -- not the gorgeous one, but an intelligent woman who could go to toe-to-toe with any of the science-driven guys. She’s a beautiful-hearted neurobiologist who I hope gets that Nobel Prize.  
 
3. Penny Hofstadter (Kaley Cuoco)
In the early episodes, Penny was the stereotypical ditzy blonde, who dates the hot guys and is pursuing an acting career while working as a waitress. Everything changes for her when she moves across the hall from two nerds. Fans have watched Penny grow into a strong, career-driven, hilarious woman, leaving behind the dumb guys for her husband Leonard. From someone who used to be the popular girl, she’s the odd-man out on paper in this group of friends, but still fits right in. As one of the original three, she’s one of the most beloved and unique characters in the cast and by far the most relatable. It’s nice to see a pretty girl naturally end up with a genius and not have it seem like a big joke anymore.
 
2. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons)
Sheldon Cooper is the most unique character on “The Big Bang Theory.” In the beginning, he was a socially awkward genius there to provide the sidekick humor to the main love story of Leonard and Penny. Even in the pilot, he delivered one of the best lines of the series –

“Leonard: Our babies will be smart and beautiful; Sheldon: Not to mention imaginary.” He was kind of the genius version of Barney Fife to Leonard’s Andy Taylor.
 
After the first season, things evolved and Sheldon, because of his beloved bluntness, became the main character, even spinning off a series “Young Sheldon.” What made his character truly lovable though was when he asked Amy Farrah Fowler to marry him. It’s something that never would have happened in season one. The writers did a phenomenal job with his painstakingly slow progression toward love that never once betrayed who he was or made me as a fan think, “Oh, they made him move too fast,” from dating Amy, to their first kiss, to sleeping together. Everything was slow moving and it was beautiful to watch it unfold. The final season has really been the best time for his character because for so long, he truly treated Amy terribly and while the laugh track would play on, I just didn’t find it funny. Now, his love is so effortless and Parsons has handled this progression with Sheldon flawlessly. From “Bazinga” to “soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur,” Sheldon Cooper has become a part of pop culture and TV history.
 
1. Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki)
OK, calm down and put away the proverbial pitchforks, i.e., your fingers ready to type in angry comments about how it’s insanity that Sheldon Cooper is not ranked No. 1. I get it. But let’s remember that “The Big Bang Theory” began as a love story -- a pretty girl moves in across the hall from two nerds and one, Leonard, instantly falls in love with her. Galecki played this nerd trying desperately to show how much he cared for Penny so wonderfully that all the fans were rooting for this David in a string of Goliath boyfriends Penny wasted her time with. I remember at each point in their up and down relationship how much I rooted for Leonard. I wanted him to not just win Penny’s love, but to see the two of them be on equal respectful footing. And it happened -- it’s not so much the nerd marrying the pretty girl, but two people who are genuinely good together. Their love story is just more impactful and endearing to the show than even Sheldon and Amy. Leonard’s character has balanced Sheldon’s over-the-top neuroses with smart humor and has just been the most consistently hilarious character throughout the show’s run. He will not be remembered as the most popular character on the show for most, but he is the best all around.