Axiom’s Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy

The Hulu Awards return this week after their Winter hiatus and now we head into the home stretch.  First, the Round 3 Nominations:

Best Action TV Series:
Some of these don’t really qualify as “Action” series in my book.  For example, Journeyman was a pretty decent series, but it was more of a Science Fiction/Drama.  For my voting, I will focus on the shows with heavier action elements.

1. 24 – While I am not a devoted follower of the show, I have watched it and enjoyed it.  This one definitely lives up to the “Action” label.
2. The Crow: Stairway to Heaven – Probably not too many people remember this rather well done one-season wonder.  Imagine if you will that Kurt Cobain did not commit suicide but instead became a goth/grunge superhero and you will get a good idea of what to expect.
3. Chuck – This one is good fun and delivers on the action.  And Yvonne Strahovski is pretty nice to look at as well.
4. Blankslate – This web-series original from the makers of Satacracy 88 is a bit amateurish in its acting and directing, but definitely worth a look.  And if you sign up at http://itsallinyourhands.ning.com/Blankslate, you can vote on the direction the series will follow.
5. Burn Notice – Not great, but not bad either.  And it has Bruce Campbell as one of its regulars which is always a plus for any show.

Best Classic Movie:
For the Hulu Awards, “Classic” pretty much means “Black and White”.  This category had a very odd dichotomy among its choices.  It was either well known classics like Some Like it Hot and Pride of the Yankees or Sci Fi/Horror B, C, and D Movies, so making a choice was quite difficult.  I mean, I want to give a nod to Night of the Living Dead, but how do you really compare that cheesy Midnight Movie classic to something like Pride of the Yankees (and how do you factor in Z-Movie MST3K candidates like Atom Age Vampire)?  So consider my votes as a bit of a split category.  The first two acknowledge the more traditional fare while the second two have more fun with the genre entries.

1. Some Like it Hot – An all-time comedy classic and one of Marilyn Monroe’s best performances.
2. Pride of the Yankees – A sports movie classic, and you know you felt those tears start to well up at the end of the movie.
3. Night of the Living Dead – George Romero’s original kicked off the Zombie/Vampire sub-genre in film (which later expanded to video games and comics).  It’s micro-budget and amateurish cinematography only lends to the air of creepiness about the film.
4. Carnival of Souls – A lost cult classic that that Romero cites as an early influence.  Hampered a bit by mundane acting and directing, but it has an interesting enough story at its core.  Sort of like an extended Twilight Zone or Thriller episode.

Best Web Original:
I am sorry that some of the web-series that we voted on earlier (like Devil’s Trade and Gemini Division) are not in this category as well because I would have liked to give them a nod here.  However, that would not change my top vote.

1. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog – Years from now, I believe that Joss Whedon’s internet experiment will be considered a pivotal point in the evolution of web-only original productions.  On a shoestring budget and with no corporate meddling he and the talent he recruited created a work of art.  If you have not seen this yet, set aside the time, it’s well worth it.  You can read my full review of Dr. Horrible at this link: http://axiomsedge-scifi.blogspot.com/2008/08/review-dr-horribles-sing-along-blog.html
2. Comedy Gumbo – Like any sketch show, it has its hits and misses, but averaging around 4 – 6 minutes per episode means that it moves along a quick pace.  At times this show had me laughing out loud.

Worst Web Original:
The great thing about original series produced for the web is that they allow for a good deal of creative freedom without the yoke of corporate executives interfering and attempting to create a product for mass consumption.  This can generate a lot of creative energy and produce some exciting (even if a bit amateurish) productions.  It can also lead to some very, very bad output.  That’s okay, I am willing to wade through the mire to get to the gems like Dr. Horrible.

1. Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show – Um . . . um . . . um . . . maybe I’m just not in on the joke or something, but . . . um . . .  this show is bad, I mean real bad.  I endured two episodes.  Please, please tell me I never have to do that again . . .
2. Dating Brad Garrett – Who cares?  Who cares who he is dating? Garrett may be a pretty funny comedian, but he seems to be somewhat of a jerk as a person.  I feel sorry for those women.
3. Funnysodes – Okay, I get that this is an outlet for new talent and that we can expect these clips to lack a more professional polish.  But the acting is real bad and they just aren’t very funny (maybe they should change the name to just ’sodes).  They need to go watch a few installments of Comedy Gumbo to get a better idea of how to go about this.

Round 2 Categories:

Best Cooking/Food Show
Okay, it looks like Hulu got the problem fixed and 30 Minute Meals is back.  So I will include that one in my list of Round 2 nominations and bump my number 5 Round 3 nominee Chef’s Kitchen.

1. Good Eats
2. 30 Minute Meals
3. Great Cocktails
4. Everyday Italian
5. Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger

Best Travel/Leisure Show
I have to include five choices here, so I will include my four Round 3 nominations that made it through then tack on Any Given Latitude which is at least tolerable

1. Three Sheets
2. After hours with Daniel
3. Uncorked
4. Destination Truth
5. Any Given Latitude

Worst Reality Show
Come on!  I only get to pick five here?  You sure I can’t pick at least ten, or twenty?  I did decide to change around my Round 3 nominations and move up that Denise Richards debacle into the top 5.

1. Living Lohan
2. Pam: Girl on the Loose
3. The Girls Next Door
4. Denise Richards: It’s Complicated
5. Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood

Round 1 Nominations:

Best Anime:
Now, back to some more worthy candidates:

Death Note – I have to admit that I was torn between this and the seminal Astro Boy, but I really do enjoy this one.  It has an intriguing premise and presents some rather gripping stories.

Best Cartoon Series (non-Anime):

The Simpsons – Seems like a pretty obvious choice.  Can’t argue too much with a show that has managed to stay funny for two decades now.

Best Animated Short:

Nun Fight Club – I considered giving the nod to the Terry Gilliam-ish Carnivore Reflux, but this was the funnier of the two.

(Editor’s Note: The general public can participate in the nominations as well. Go to the links above for any or all of the categories you are interested in and cast your vote for the shows you think should win. All of the general votes will be tallied up and count as one panelist in deciding the final winners. PSW)