Summertime TV Blues

Edna: Margie, I tell you what, I hate this time of year when our regular TV shows go on summer hiatus. We have to wait on pins and needles all summer, wondering how the story is going to take up where it left off. But it also leaves us with a lot of extra time on our hands over the summer months.

I don't want to sit around staring at your pruney face all summer, so I'm going to pick a few summer TV shows to watch instead. What do you think?

Margie: I think you're a dingbat and you talk too much while I'm watching TV. I did watch that new makeover show last night. It's about weight loss. That trainer, Chris Powell, made my eyes pop out but I wasn't pleased to learn that the girl was only losing weight to have that surgery. I thought she'd lose the weight all on her own.

I'm going to be watching Persons Unknown on NBC.  It's about about strangers coming together to solve the puzzle of their lives. Guess who is the puzzle of my life, sister?

Edna: It's nice to hear you acknowledge that I am mysterious and an enigma. You, however, are an open book...the kind you want to give away to Goodwill after reading the first few pages.

You know, I'm really looking forward to Falling Skies on TNT (Sunday June 19 at 9PM EST). It's about aliens, which should be good and scary. It also has that nice young man from ER, although he looks a lot scruffier in this show.

Mr. Noah "Scruffy" Wyle

Edna:  When I want a laugh, I'm going to watch Necessary Roughness on USA (Wednesday June 29 at 10PM EST). It's about a psychologist and a bunch of young football players in tight pants. That sounds like it might be up your alley, Margie.

Margie: Edna, I hope the skies fall on your big head. I'll watch those football players while you go to the psychologist.

Edna:  Margie, I think you're the one who needs a psychologist.  I just checked the interwebs and that Persons Unknown show you want to watch was on LAST summer, and it was canceled!  I swan, you're either off your meds or you've been tippling again.  

Margie:  Speaking of Necessary Roughness I think it's time for me to go oil my pistol.

LOST, for the last time

Beth: You can't go anywhere on the Internet this week without stumbling over a blog post about the end of LOST. I guess I don't really need to contribute to the hype, but I'd like to at least share a few of my thoughts about the show's ending.

In 2004, when LOST premiered, it was unlike any other television show I'd ever seen. I didn't start watching right from the beginning; if I remember correctly, it was on at the same time as another show I watched regularly, although for the life of me I can't recall now what it was. But I was hooked as soon as I saw that group of survivors on that beautiful beach, as soon as I saw Sawyer shoot that polar bear, as soon as I saw Locke with that somehow sinister orange slice in his mouth. There are people who say that the magic of LOST is in its mythology, but I disagree. The real magic of LOST, for me, has always been in the complexity of its characters. On LOST, as in life, no one is ever all good or all bad. Rather, there are an infinite number of shades of gray. That's what kept me coming back week after week, and what has kept me hanging on to the very, final end.

It's been a 6-year journey to get to this point. LOST has had its ups and downs, and to my mind it never quite regained its footing after the giddy excitement of the first couple of seasons. I think the show suffered after JJ Abrams left, although it's still likely one of the best shows on television. Even when I've been annoyed with the show this season (for reasons I won't start to list here or I'll never stop), I've stuck around because I have been in this for the long haul. LOST has been more than just a show, it's been the medium through which I've made some wonderful friends, truly some of the most fabulous people I know. It's been the medium through which I learned something new with almost every episode; this show requires more concentration than anything I've ever watched outside of a documentary. It's been the medium through which I became part of a larger entity: the LOST nation. This is a group of fans whose attention to detail would put even the most anal retentive person to shame. And I have been proud to be one of their number since the fall of 2004.

It's been equal parts thrilling, frustrating, exhilarating, and exhausting to be a LOST fan. And by Sunday night, it will all be over. But oh, what a ride it's been.

Bittersweet Tuesday

Edna: Margie, I don't mind telling you today that while I'm excited, I'm also a little bit sad.

Margie: Why is that, Edna? Is it because I ate your last can of sardines?

Edna: Oh please, those are your sardines, and any day you get rid of a can of them is cause for celebration. No, I'm of mixed feelings today because the 6th season of LOST starts tonight. I'm so excited for it to start up again, but I'm sad because it's the last season ever of one of my favorite shows. What am I going to do when it goes off the air?

Margie: Glory be! We can go back to playing cards when this season is over. Does this mean you'll be taking those Sawyer posters off your bedroom walls?

Edna: You hush up about those posters, those are between me and my honey-bunny Sawyer.

Stuff about LOST is all over the Internet lately, but maybe our readers will like this video from ABC that recaps the last five seasons of the show. No spoilers here, folks!

LOST Untangled: 5 Seasons in 5 Minutes

Edna: On second thought, watching that might confuse everyone. Just watch the season 6 premiere tonight on ABC at 9PM EST. I'll be tuned in with my bowl of popcorn and my stupid sister on mute.

Margie: I'll be doing my nails.

Edna's Fun Friday: Mon cher Gilles has returned!

Edna: Yes, I know, I've posted about Mr. Gilles Marini before when he was still a contestant on last season's Dancing With the Stars. So why bring him up now, you ask? Well, I have been mourning the loss of mon cher Gilles on the TV every week since last season ended. So, I'm pleased to tell you all that he has a guest spot on the ABC show Brothers & Sisters, starting this Sunday night! My lands, I haven't been this excited since mon cher Gilles almost won the DWTS dancing trophy.

Here's a promo clip from ABC for Sunday night's episode:


And in case you needed a reminder of Mr. Marini in action on DWTS...


Have mercy!

TV Spin-Offs

Margie: Edna, remember when we used to love the variety of shows on TV? Nowadays, if people love a show, there is sure to be a spin-off. Just look at NCIS and all those CSI shows. I hear Criminal Minds is going to spin-off too.

Edna: Well now, sometimes spin-off shows can be a good thing. I used to love that Laverne and Shirley, and that was a spin-off from Happy Days. And what about Maude? That was a spin-off from All in the Family.

Unfortunately, it seems like the quality of the spin-off shows is not what it used to be. I think it's like when you make a clone of something: a copy is almost never going to be as good as the original.

Margie: For once, sister, you may be right. That's why I think it's time for me to have a spin-off of the basement. See, this is called Margie and Edna's and I want just a Margie one.

How do you like that? This one will be better than the original.

Edna: Pfft. Better than the original, you say? You're welcome to try, but I'm betting all you'll come up with is the blogging equivalent of Joanie Loves Chachi.

Margie: Edna, I didn't like them and I don't like you. When Margie's Nekkid Men blog opens don't even show your face over there.

Margie's Manly Men? Margie's Basement Men? I've got to go think about this.

Edna: Oh good grief, that's what you want a new blog for? To fill it up with nekkid men? Well go on ahead, then. At least that way you'll keep that smuttiness off of THIS blog.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Margie.

Margie: Edna, would you like to exchange links?

The 2nd Annual M&E Awards

The Primetime Emmy Awards are coming up this Sunday night, and as usual we don't fully agree with all the choices the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has made. So, in what has become a tradition here in the Basement, we present to you our very own...

M&E AWARDS

Hottest male lead on a new show: Nathan Fillion
(Castle, ABC)

Show that was finally (thankfully) put out of its misery: According to Jim (ABC)

Worst new show (now canceled and none too soon):
Kath and Kim (NBC)

Shows that shouldn't have been canceled
but, sadly, were:
Pushing Daisies (ABC), Samantha Who? (ABC)

Best last-minute show renewal choice: Chuck (NBC)

Sweetest voice: Jensen Ackles
(Supernatural, The CW)

Sweetest Voice runner up: Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement, CBS; The Venture Bros., adultswim)

Show that made us want to turn on all the lights in the house:
Harper's Island (CBS)

Most exciting show: Sons of Anarchy (FX)

Best reality show: 2-way tie
Margie's Choice: The Biggest Loser

Edna's Choice: Dancing With the Stars

Cutest non-couple that should be a couple: Penny and Leonard (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)

Oddest Romantic Coupling: Sawyer and Juliet
(LOST, ABC)

Most nail-biting season finale: Lucifer's summoning on Supernatural (The CW)

Show that is quickly surpassing LOST as being confusing as all get-out: Fringe (Fox)

Emmy wrap-up

Edna: Margie, that sure was a dull awards show Sunday night. That's 3 hours of my life I'd like back, why did we watch the whole thing?

Margie: It surely was dull. If you hadn't misplaced the remote and if we both hadn't been so full of cake we couldn't move, then we could have changed the channel.

Edna: Margie, you were sitting on the remote, I didn't lose it. I should have hauled myself off the couch and changed the channel to something more interesting. We're old women and we can't afford to waste the time we have left on such idiocy.

And we barely got any of our predictions right, which just burns my biscuits! What's wrong with these Emmy voters?

Margie: I'll tell you what's wrong, Edna. The voters couldn't pour urine out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel. They just vote for who they like. They surely didn't vote for the best shows or the best people.

Edna: Now Margie, that seems a little harsh. But maybe you're just sulking because you didn't get any of your guesses right? Cousin T and I each got 2 of ours right, I guess we're just more observant than you are.

Margie: Edna, I guess you can just hush. The only reason I'm sulking is because Supernatural is the very best drama on TV and my Jensen is certainly the best actor.

Besides, why would I trust you? You always cheat at Jeopardy too.

Edna: I'm sure that I don't know what you're suggesting. If anyone wants to look at the correct predictions we made, they can just look at our posts from last week. And a full list of the Emmy winners can be found here. So you can just kiss my tushie, Margie.

Edna does the Emmys!

Edna: Here are my Emmy picks for this year, we'll see if I'm right about these come next week. Hold on to your bloomers and stay with me folks, this is a long one.


Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Nominees: Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk (Monk, USA); Steve Carell as Michael Scott (The Office, NBC); Lee Pace as Ned (Pushing Daisies, ABC); Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy (30 Rock, NBC); Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper (Two And A Half Men, CBS)

Edna's Pick: Steve Carell as Michael Scott (The Office, NBC). This was a tough choice for me, because I just love that Pushing Daisies show. But I think that Mr. Carell is a hoot, even if he is awkward on his show, poor dear. Sometimes I have to cover my eyes because he's so hard to watch. But I still think he's funnier than the rest of the men in this category.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Nominees: James Spader as Alan Shore (Boston Legal, ABC); Bryan Cranston as Walt White (Breaking Bad, AMC); Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan (Dexter, Showtime); Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House (House, FOX); Gabriel Byrne as Paul (In Treatment, HBO); Jon Hamm as Don Draper (Mad Men, AMC)

Edna's Pick: James Spader as Alan Shore (Boston Legal, ABC). Here's where I have some harsh words for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, because I don't watch any of these shows! Where are the nominees from LOST? Supernatural? What about Chuck? (Is that even a drama?) Maybe I just don't watch enough dramas.

Be that as it may, I picked James Spader because he was so delightfully wicked in that "Pretty in Pink" movie. I told Margie then that boy would be going places, and I'll be darned if I wasn't right.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Nominees: Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell (The New Adventures Of Old Christine, CBS); Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly (Samantha Who? ABC); Tina Fey as Liz Lemon (30 Rock, NBC); America Ferrera as Betty Suarez (Ugly Betty, ABC); Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin (Weeds, Showtime)

Edna's Pick: Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly (Samantha Who? ABC). Who would have thought when little Miss Applegate started out on TV, she'd grow up to be so funny and talented? Samantha Who? was one of my favorite new shows last year, and she was one of the main reasons why.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Nominees: Sally Field as Nora Holden-Walker (Brothers & Sisters, ABC); Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (The Closer, TNT); Glenn Close as Patty Hewes (Damages, FX Networks); Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC); Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko (Saving Grace, TNT)

Edna's Pick: Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC). Now, I was tempted to pick Sally Field because I just love her so much, and she's still as perky as anything even at her age. But I couldn't rightly do that since I've never even watched her show, it just wouldn't be honest. So I went with Miss Hargitay; I have watched her on this show before, even though I'm not a regular viewer, and she's very good. And I saw her accept an award a while back and she thanked her daddy, which was very sweet. I have a soft spot for girls who love their daddies, that is the truth.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Nominees: Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold (Entourage, HBO); Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama (Entourage, HBO); Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother, CBS). Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute (The Office, NBC). Jon Cryer as Alan Harper (Two And A Half Men, CBS).

Edna's Pick: Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother, CBS). Two words: Doogie Howser. Two more words: he's funny. Need I say more?

I wanted to pick Rainn Wilson, because he's funny on The Office, but his character is just too darn creepy. I also feel a little bad for not picking Jon Cryer, because he was so cute as Duckie back in the 1980s. But I can only use "Pretty in Pink" nostalgia as a voting technique so many times, I suppose.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Nominees: William Shatner as Denny Crane (Boston Legal, ABC); Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher (Damages, FX Networks); Zeljko Ivanek as Ray Fiske (Damages, FX Networks); Michael Emerson as Ben (Lost, ABC); John Slattery as Roger Sterling (Mad Men, AMC)

Edna's Pick: Michael Emerson as Ben (Lost, ABC). Well now, this is more like it, somebody from LOST! Mind you, I would have picked him even if I had seen any of the other shows in this category, which I have not. Because Mr. Emerson is so creepy as Ben (and creepy is much better suited to a drama than a comedy).

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Nominees: Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook (Pushing Daisies, ABC); Jean Smart as Regina Newly (Samantha Who? ABC); Amy Poehler as Performer (Saturday Night Live, NBC); Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper (Two And A Half Men, CBS); Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater (Ugly Betty, ABC)

Edna's Pick: Jean Smart as Regina Newly (Samantha Who? ABC). You know,this was a tough choice too. I like that little Miss Chenoweth, but she's not nearly as funny as Jean Smart, who I have just adored since her "Designing Women" days. She has gotten funnier and funnier in each new project I've seen her in, and that's just wonderful.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Nominees: Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt (Boston Legal, ABC); Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Walker-Whedon (Brothers & Sisters, ABC); Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey (Grey’s Anatomy, ABC); Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang (Grey’s Anatomy, ABC); Dianne Wiest as Dr. Gina Toll (In Treatment, HBO)

Edna's Pick: I abstain from this category; of the shows on the list, I've only ever seen Grey's Anatomy and I hated it.

Oh, all right, if I must choose someone, it would have to be Dianne Wiest as Dr. Gina Toll (In Treatment, HBO). I choose her because she's had quite the acting chops in everything I've ever seen her in (even though the poor dear never seems to know how to do her hair quite right. Have you ever noticed that? Every single thing she's ever been in, she's had bad hair, bless her heart. Lucky for her, bad hair never cost anyone an acting job--or an award, for that matter. The woman does have 2 Oscars, you know.)

Outstanding Comedy Series
Nominees: Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO; Entourage. HBO; The Office, NBC; 30 Rock, NBC; Two And A Half Men, CBS

Edna's Pick: The Office, NBC. I do love watching this show, it's very amusing. It reminds me of when I used to be a receptionist at the salt mine back in my younger days. I think I was a little bit like that cute Pam who answers the phones. I even had handsome and attentive young men hanging around my desk all day, just like she does.

Outstanding Drama Series
Nominees: Boston Legal, ABC; Damages, FX Networks; Dexter, Showtime; House, FOX; Lost, ABC; Mad Men, AMC

Edna's Pick: Lost, ABC. If you've been paying any attention at all, this should not be a surprise to you. Despite what those silly critics might say, I think this show gets better and better every season. Even if it gives me a headache every time I watch it from trying to keep track of all the little details and mysteries. And there's way too much time to wait between seasons, but that's not the show's fault.

Let me tell you though, if Supernatural or Jericho had gotten a nomination in this category, all bets would be off.


There you have it, dear readers, my picks for this year's major Emmy categories. There are a lot more categories I could talk about, but I think you all have had enough of my nattering on. Don't forget to watch the show on Sunday, then check back here on Tuesday to see if I was right. I bet I get more right than dumb old Margie, who only likes to watch TV shows with handsome men in them.

Margie's Favorite TV Shows

While Edna has gone to the market I'm going to talk about what I want to talk about. She's so bossy and she always tells me what to say and not say to people.
I'll fool her today because I want to talk about my favorite TV shows.


5. Witchblade- this is about some strange girl( played by Yancy Butler) who has a sword with special powers. Lordy, I'm glad Edna never got one of those. I think this show was on around 2001 on TNT which was owned by that odd man who married Jane Fonda. I met Jane once but it was during all that Vietnam war stuff. Jane has a brother named Peter Fonda and I'd much rather have met him.



4. The Golden Girls- is about four friends - Dorothy (Beatrice Arthur), Rose (Betty White), Blanche (Rue McClanahan) and Sophia (Estelle Getty) - who move in together in Miami.

You may wonder why this show has such appeal for me. Well, Edna is Blanche made over. My sister, like Blanche, does think she's God's gift to men. That makes both of them amusing to watch.

I'm more like Dorothy. I'm a former librarian and I'm smart about life and men. Nobody fools me.

3. The Waltons- John Boy was such a cutie. I loved them all though. If this show was on CBS today it probably wouldn't last 3 episodes. Remember the Baldwin sisters? They had the Recipe but I've got Special Tea.

What good memories I have of The Waltons. A real family show. Goodnight John Boy.

2. Leave It To Beaver-debuted on CBS on October 4, 1957. I dearly loved Tony Dow. He was perfect for the role. It was a wonderful family show and I still watch reruns today. That mom was unusual because she cleaned house in her dress, high heels, and jewelry.

I wonder if Tony would like the basement?

1. Knots Landing-this was my very favorite and I never missed it. They modeled the character of Abby (Donna Mills) after me. She's beautiful and gorgeous, and she got every man she wanted and some she didn't. Nobody made a fool out of her. Of course, she was like Edna in one way; she stole her friend's husbands.



Oops, I hear Edna stumbling in. She must have stopped by Bailey's. Goodbye for now, my friends.

Special Tea

Margie: Edna, I've been thinking about my Special Tea recipe. It's been in the family for a long time but you and I don't have children so we need to pass it down to someone who will treasure it.

Read it and tell me who you think we should give it to.

Edna: Margie, I think it's safer if you keep that recipe under lock and key. You know that the church ladies have been dying to get that recipe for their annual fund raising cookbook, but they just can't hold their special tea. You don't want to be responsible for all of those God-fearing folk going on four-day benders, do you?

Margie: I suppose you're right, Edna. Let's go make some Special Tea, shall we?

2 cups sweet red wine
2 cups strong tea
2/3 cup rum
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup rye whiskey
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup gin
1/3 cup brandy
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 bottle dry champagne

Mix all ingredients except champagne. Cover and Refrigerate for several days. Stir in champagne just before serving. Makes 20 servings.

Welcome To Our Basement

Hello friends and neighbors,

We are Margie and Edna. We have lived in Jericho, Kansas all our lives but we've decided it's time for us to branch out beyond our beloved town.

We'll still keep you informed of all the gossip-I mean the goings on here in town-but we're also going to talk about anything and everything else.

Well, Edna may want to air her dirty laundry (there's plenty of it) but I'm not. I have my sterling reputation to uphold. Edna's reputation has been sullied since we were school girls.

Edna, do you want to add any of your dumb words to my pretty speech?

Margie, the only thing I want to add is that our readers know the truth about me and the truth about you, and I trust them enough to realize those truths: I am perfect and you are a shameless hussy.

Lord, give me the strength to spend even more time with my sister without killing her. Thank you, Amen.