James Spader

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James Spader: TV Guide News

Today's Preview: Boston Legal Goes to High Court | Roush Dispatch | 4/22/2008
However much some of us tend to wring our hands about it, there’s a reason ABC’s Boston Legal scores those Emmy nominations year after year that often make us wonder what the voters are smoking. Several of those Emmy-bait moments occurred a week ago, in an episode about a right-to-die case involving Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) and her father suffering from Alzheimer dementia, with Alan Shore (James Spader) making his usual impassioned case for his client. What made this argument... read more
SAG Goes Mad for Men | Roush Dispatch | 12/20/2007
I suppose I could dwell on the fact that a major Hollywood guild has once again ignored the very existence of TV's finest acting ensemble, Friday Night Lights — in favor of the mugging and posturing on Boston Legal. As they'd say on another SAG favorite, Grey's Anatomy: Seriously? Is it wrong to want to form our own picket line?Also: What's up with snubbing Pushing Daisies and its fantastical cast?And yet the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, announced Thursday morning, did shower... read more
When Emmy Winners Attack! | The Joy of Sets | 9/26/2007
OK, first off, how freakin’ hilarious was The Bachelor Monday night? Holy human desperation, I loved it! And Hillary from my hometown made the first cut. Represent, Philly ‘ho!Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk last week’s Emmys. Yes, the in-the-round stage was a hot circular mess and why so many statues went to TV-movies, I’ll never know. It’s not like any of the good Sci Fi Originals get nominated. Hello, Mansquito? So robbed. But Seacrest... read more
The New Season: Busy Enough for You? | Roush Dispatch | 9/25/2007
Already playing catch-up on only the second day of the official TV season. Geez, how will we ever survive Wednesdays and Thursdays? (Pause here for a silent prayer to the powers that protect my DVRs.)Anyway, the biggest news on Monday was how Heroes would bounce back from a first-season finale that disappointed many (I was not among them, but then, my expectations for this uneven show haven’t always been all that high). I was mostly enthralled, once I got over yet another tedious Mohinder... read more
Ask Matt | 9/21/2007
I'm probably one of many writing in about this, but you'll have to suffer through one more. I've seen only a few episodes of Boston Legal, enough to know that I didn't really enjoy the show but can see how people would like the characters. I even respect James Spader's work. He was excellent on The Practice way back when, and I'm assuming he's carried at least some of that over to the spin-off. But really, Emmy-worthy? This is even his second win, isn't it? I just don't understand it. Never ... read more
Ask Matt | 9/21/2007
I realize you are disappointed with the many Emmy nominations for Boston Legal and even more disappointed with James Spader's win. But really, your diatribes against the show are beginning to sound like a vendetta! Why not accept that appreciation for any show is highly subjective? Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's devoid of value. read more
Ask Ausiello | 9/19/2007
James Spader? Again? Seriously? What the #%@?! read more
Emmys: Bravo to Winners, Boo to Show | Roush Dispatch | 9/17/2007
And some people worried that getting Ryan Seacrest to host this year’s Emmy telecast was going to be the producers’ worst idea. That’s before we got a look at the set, an unwieldy and unappealing theater-in-the-round setup that looked more suitable for the new American Gladiators revival than for an awards show. The nominees, half of whom saw only the backs of the various presenters and performers, had a deer-in-the-headlights look every time Seacrest approached them or the... read more
No Round of Applause for "Emmys-in-the-round" | Today's News: Our Take | 9/17/2007
It kinda looked cool when first unveiled, but the "theater in the round" approach to this year's Emmy Awards telecast drew decidedly mixed reactions from those who partook in the festivities. "It was very disconcerting... the way they had the theater set up," James Spader (Boston Legal) said after grabbing gold for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. "So many people you wanted to be addressing were behind you. Literally all of my bosses were sitting behind me, and so were the other nominees."Conan... read more
Emmy Spreads the Love to Sopranos, 30 Rock | Today's News: Our Take | 9/17/2007
I pity the fool who wagered on a send-off Sopranos landslide in their office Emmy pool. Although the HBO hit walked away with best-drama, writing and directing statuettes, Boston Legal barrister James Spader beat James Gandolfini for best actor, while Brothers & Sisters mom Sally Field won best actress over Edie Falco.On the lighter side, 30 Rock took best comedy, Ugly Betty star America Ferrera won best actress, and Extras mastermind Ricky Gervais was awarded best actor. (OK, Steve Carell... read more
Live Emmy Blog | Emmys Live Blog: Watching the Big Show! | 9/17/2007
10:51: William Shatner and Debra Messing halfheartedly joke that they were going to do a duet, but she wouldn't carry his love child? I know. I didn't get it either.10:52: Yay! America Ferrera wins Best Actress, Comedy! And her boyfriend is cute, too! Oh, the whole Betty cast is in the bad seats except for her. Embarrassing.10:53: Y'know, everybody always says America's really beautiful, but uh, she's really just not Betty is all. 10:54: Jimmy Smits and Kate Walsh are plugging their new series.... read more
Ask Matt | 7/27/2007
Love your column, but at times your bias shows itself: Someone needs to come to the defense of Boston Legal after the drubbing it has earned over the past week. It's unduly harsh, and everyone (including you) needs to understand that people have different tastes. It seems that this show is being attacked because it took a spot over Friday Night Lights and Lost. But over the last three seasons, Boston Legal has been appointment television for me. Sure, it's not on par with Picket Fences or The... read more
Ask Matt | 7/23/2007
It should no longer be called the Emmys, but the Dummies. No nods for Friday Night Lights? James Spader over Kyle Chandl read more
Lights Out at the Emmys | Roush Dispatch | 7/19/2007
Remember how Charlie Brown used to end up on his back every time he went to kick the football after Lucy pulled it away? Well, that was me, in the pre-dawn of Thursday morning at the TV Academy building in North Hollywood, as the first Emmy category (for best drama series) was read aloud. Amid a gaggle of impatient media crews and anxious publicists, I once again felt sucker-punched by the cluelessly inexplicable whims of the Emmy nomination process. (Go here for a list of nominees.)The... read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 7/5/2006
On TV, read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 7/4/2006
On TV, read more
Ask Matt | 5/1/2006
Boston Legal is a well- read more
TV Guide Interviews & Features | 4/25/2006
The big buzz surrounding read more
Ask Matt | 4/10/2006
I noticed that you have mentioned quite a few times in your column that Hugh Laurie should win an Emmy. I think n read more
Ask Matt | 3/10/2006
I can't believe they killed Edgar on read more