What a gift!

The Columbus Museum announced today that it acquired a fabulous collection of American drawings, including, "Portrait of Gladys Thayer" by Abbott Handerson Thayer (above). It's pencil on white woven paper, and created in 1897.

If you saw the exhibit, "Tracing the Nation," earlier this year, you know what an exceptional collection of drawings this is.

The collection was originally owned by Paul Magriel, who was a visionary collector. He bought American drawings during the 1960s and early 1970s when these works were accessible and affordable. 

It was later purchased by Claire and Joseph Flom of New York City.

The collection includes 105 drawings and features artists like Thayer, Raphael Peale, Henry Inman, Sanford R. Gifford, Jasper F. Cropsey, Winslow Homer, William Paxton, Theodore Robinson, William Glackens and Ben Shahn.

The media include pencil, charcoal, watercolor, gouache, pastel, ink and silverpoint.

I didn't realize it, or either I forgot, that when the exhibit was here, it was the first time it had been on display. Ever.

The collection was made possible by members of the museum's 105 Society and a grant from the Mildred Miller Fort Foundation.

Another thing I didn't realize is that even though the museum has collected drawings since it opened in 1953, the bulk of the drawing collection dates back to 2002. That's when the museum acquired the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Philip L. Brewer of Columbus. The collection became an exhibit called "Lines of Discovery: 225 Years of American Drawings." 

With the acquisition of the Magriel/Flom collection, our own museum becomes a force in the United States as far as American drawings go.

Pretty cool, huh?

Project Runway

I really thought Jennifer would be going home because her dress was so "matronly." I kept hearing that over and over, but it was Emily who was sent home.

I thought Terri would win, but it was Kenley's poufy skirted dress that won.

I am never right about what Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and Heidi Klum will pick as the winner and loser.

I guess I'm not as fashion-conscious as I think I am.

A new blog

Sally Morgan, a friend of mine from the Columbus Jazz Society and the Columbus Museum (she does graphics work for both), sent me a link to a blog she's started on www.intowncolumbus.com

The photos she posted on the home page look distorted, but they look fine on Sally's page.

It's got interesting information written by the Wynnton/Midtown/Lakebottom residents.

And then there are links to people who live out on Lake Harding and Southern football fans.

Take a look.

"Design Star"

Again, I apologize. I really do watch reality TV.

"Design Star" is another show I watch.

And I swear I can't decide whether Matt or Jennifer should win.

Both of them did such a wonderful job on their final challenge.

They went to New Orleans and renovated three rooms of two families' homes.

I really would have to close my eyes and throw a dart to pick my favorite one.

This is one competition that I really wouldn't mind if both won.

I guess I'll find out soon enough.

The Next Food Network Star

OK. So I lied. I guess I watch a lot more reality TV than I thought I did.

"The Next Food Network Star" was named last night and I was so glad it was Aaron McCargo Jr.

I was so hoping that Lisa Garza would not win. She was just annoying.

But I noticed that just winning this show doesn't mean anything. This was the fourth season and while Aaron's show won't be on yet, only one of the previous winners is on TV. That's Guy Fieri, who does "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and "Guy's Big Bite." Go figure.

I hope Aaron will have a successful run with his series, "Big Daddy's House." Or is it "Big Daddy's Kitchen"?

What a weekend!

I don't know what I ate Friday, but I was in the bathroom all night and Saturday felt really, really yucky.

I missed a party for some co-workers who retired recently, and I hate that. But with the heat and threat of rain and my queasy stomach, I thought it was better to stay home.

My mother, sister and I went out for a little while grocery shopping and to look for a pressure cooker at Kohl's. That was it for me Saturday.

Today, I spent the day lying around on the sofa.

But I got up to have dinner with friends, which didn't really happen. And then I went to see "The X-Files: I Want to Believe."

It's getting real mixed reviews, but I liked it.

I had a question about something, and I e-mailed my friend Tom Ford, who was the visual effects producer on the movie. He'll know the answer. I hope.

The trailers were many. And a bunch of them showed tractor-trailers rolling over and exploding. Is that a trend in movies? Who started it? And there wasn't a single movie I wanted to see. Really. I'm not into blood and mayhem. But then again, I don't like sappy movies, either.

Just getting picky in my old age, I guess.

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)"

You have five more chances to see "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)."

I would suggest you go see it.

The Chattahoochee Shakespeare Co. is presenting this hilarious show at the Liberty Theatre, 821 Eighth Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; and 7:30 p.m. July 31-Aug. 2.

I went tonight and there were maybe 50 people there. But everyone there had a great time.

The three actors — Alyssa Farmer, Ethan Everett and Trey Perkins  act out all the roles. And they whiz through all 37 of Shakespeare plays in 90 minutes. The section act is all "Hamlet." Including backward.

It truly is hysterical. I guarantee you'll have a great time.

Go see the play. It's only $8, so it costs less than a movie.

Why me?

It's ironic that I've been to two meetings this week that involve exercise.

If you know me, the only exercise I get is walking from the parking garage to the office and back.

The first was the Chattahoochee Paddling Club. These people paddle their canoes and kayaks up and down the Chattahoochee River and other rivers in the Southeast.

I've been kayaking once. I did it. Do I want to do it again? No.

Will I do it for a story. Probably. But it just seems to hot right now.

Anyway, the CPC's next trip is Aug. 1-2 and it involves paddling from West Point Lake to Blanton Creek Park on Lake Harding. I don't know how many miles that is, but when Frank Bue kept stressing the dangers of three low-head dams ... Like that made me want to go!

I might go if I could just sit in a boat and someone else did all the work. Yeah, that will work.

I'm meeting with John Woodward, who is the president of the club in the morning. I'll find out more about what they do then. You'll see the story in next week's To Do.

The other meeting was today and it was for the Downtown Duathlon. It's a two-mile run, followed by a 17-mile bicycle ride and ending with another two-mile run.

Will I do this one? No, of course not.

It's in the planning stages and is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 25.

The run begins on the 1000 block of Broadway and will cross Dillingham Street Bridge, go down the Phenix City Riverwalk, go across the 14th Street Bridge and somehow loop around the TSYS campus and ends back on the 1000 block of Broadway. 

The bicycle ride starts on the 1000 block of Broadway, then somewhere cross over to Veterans Parkway to the Columbus Civic Center and down toward the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus to the Chattahoochee Riverwalk access. The route will take the Riverwalk to Oxbow Environmental Learning Center and return to downtown Columbus.

The committee is still working out the safest route so both the run and the bike ride routes are still tentative ones.

There's a lot to do like setting the entry fees, creating a logo, soliciting money and finding volunteers.

I may volunteer.

Then I remember a race that I watched years ago. I remember Louise Smith, our former food editor, and Guerry Clegg, a former sportswriter/sports columnist, were there. So was a friend of Louise's from Miami.

We were at the end of Front Avenue near Louise's house. We were just there with Bloody Marys in our hands and ready to cheer the runners. The first runner came and yelled which way? 

We said we didn't know. Finally, after a second, Louise's friend, said, "That way!"

The runners went that way.

It turned out that they were supposed to go back up Front Avenue and then cross over to Broadway.

Hey, it wasn't our fault. The race organizers should have had volunteers stationed there. Those volunteers showed up AFTER we sent the runners the wrong way.

I'm sure the Downtown Duathlon folks will not make this mistake.

More on these two events as I get them.

OMG! I've got to go on a diet!

A skirt that was loose on my last year will not even close today.

That is not a good thing.

And did you see those pictures of me from Japan?

Of course, most of my relatives wear a size 2 or 4, so I look huge next to them.

So I guess I'm back on that diet, which I hated. But I lost almost 20 lbs. in six months. Of course, I've slowly gained back 10 lbs.

And when you're 5-feet-tall, a pound can make a difference. Being 55 doesn't help either. It seems it takes forever to get motivated to do anything.

So if you see me at an ice cream counter or reaching for a candy bar, slap me!

I'll need everyone's help.

Am I dumb, or what?

I have a laptop and wireless connection.

So why am I not blogging during the shows I watch?

Not thinking.

Last night's ESPYs show was great! I wasn't sure about Justin Timberlake as the host, but he was brilliant. He was very engaging and funny. And certainly not afraid of making fun of himself.

The other Sunday show I watch is "Design Star." Now, it's just Matt and Jennifer left. Just like this season's "Project Runway," I really didn't like any of these people, so I really don't care which one wins. I know that I just saw the first "Project Runway," so maybe I'll find a designer I like.

My buddy Troy Heard scolded me that I need to update my personal pages. I signed up for MySpace and FaceBook. And that's about that.

Maybe I'll get to work on those pages ... some day.

Tom "Hollywood" Ford is the visual effects producer on "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." So did he tell me what it's about?

No. He signed an NDA or non-disclosure agreement. Actually, he signed two NDAs. The first when he started working on the movie. The second when he got to read the well-guarded script. He had to read it in the office of the executive vice president's of production.

I bet he wasn't really supposed to tell me that he was working on the film.

But he knew I was a fan of the series. He made me watch the pilot, and I was hooked.

Back in March, I get a call from Tom. I knew he was in his car because I could hear traffic.

I asked where he was going. He said he was going to Malibu.

Malibu?

I knew he wanted me to ask why he was going to Malibu.

"I'm going to Chris Carter's house," was his answer.

I must have shrieked, "You're working on the 'The X-Files' movie?"

I could tell he had a huge grin on his face. I just knew it.

I talked to him this morning and he told me he absolutely loved the experience, even though it was hard work.

I spoke to co-writer and co-producer Frank Spotnitz last week. I asked him how annoying Tom was.

He laughed and said he was a joy to work with.

It's a real mutual admiration society.

I can't wait to see the movie Friday.

I'll see you at the theater.

"Sex and the City"

When the movie opened, I was in Japan, and missed going to see it the first night with all my friends.

Then I got very busy.

I knew that it was closing at Carmike 15 last night, and it was down to one showing a day at 10 p.m.

So I went last night and there were about 20 other people there, including one man who came in, sat down in the front and stayed for the whole movie.

I loved it. I should have found some of my other friends earlier and gone to see it.

My editor said she could see it 10 times in the theater. I should have called her last night because her husband was out-of-town. And I could have called some other people I know.

Oh, well.

Now I've got to see "Journey to the Center of the Earth." The rest of my family don't have to work, so they all went to see it last week. Buggers.

I've got to see the 3-D version, so I've got to figure out what time to go.

And I've got to see "The Dark Knight."

As I left the theater this morning about 12:30 a.m., the parking lot was full, just like it is on a Saturday. My colleage Brad Barnes said four theaters sold out last night.

I can't wait to see this one.

"The X-Files: I Want to Believe" opens next Friday. I did a phone interview with Frank Spotnitz, the co-writer and co-producer of the movie. He didn't even give me any clues about the movie except that it's more about the relationship between Mulder and Scully.

I've got to see that one.

Then there's the new "Mummy" movie opening next week. Since I haven't seen the others, I'm not too sure about this one.

I did see "Wall-E." It was really good. I haven't seen the new "Indiana Jones" movie.

I guess I'll be catching up on movies in the next few weeks.

"Project Runway" and Emmy nominations

OK. I watched "Project Runway" last night as it started its fifth season on Bravo. I think it's even the final season on Bravo before it moves to another network.

I didn't really make a connection with any of the designers this time. In previous seasons, I found one that I liked immediately and another that I disliked immediately.

This time was a little ho-hum.

I hope it gets better.

I still wish my friend Ralph Wimberley would go on the show. He'd be so good.

I watched the nominations for the 2008 Emmy Awards this morning. I thought Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris were hilarious. They were announcing the major nominees.

When they came to the new category of Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program and they started to name them, Chenoweth said she had a date with Jeff Probst, the host of "Survivor." Harris asked if she had a second date. No, she said. "He's marrying someone else."

When they were announcing the nominees of Outstanding Reality-Competition Show, Chenoweth turned to Harris and said, "We should do this," referring to "The Amazing Race." Harris agreed immediately that they should pair up. For "American Idol," she said she could do that. Yes, she can. She won Tony Awards for "He's a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and "Wicked."

And Chenoweth and Harris found out that they were nominated for being supporting actors in "Pushing Daisies" and "How I Met Your Mother," respectively.

The show with the most nominations is "John Adams" on HBO with 23, followed by NBC's "30 Rock" with 17 nominations and AMC's "Mad Men" with 16.

You can watch the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on ABC on Sept. 21.

Here are the nominees:

Outstanding Drama Series
• Boston Legal
• Damages
• Dexter
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men

Outstanding Comedy Series
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• James Spader, Boston Legal
• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• Hugh Laurie, House
• Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
• Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
• Glenn Close, Damages
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Holly Hunter, Saving Grace

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Charlie Sheen, Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
• Ralph Fiennes, Bernard and Doris
• Ricky Gervais, Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
• Paul Giamatti, John Adams
• Kevin Spacey, Recount
• Tom Wilkinson, Recount

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
• Catherine Keener, An American Crime
• Susan Sarandon, Bernard And Doris
• Judi Dench, Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre)
• Laura Linney, John Adams
• Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• William Shatner, Boston Legal
• Ted Danson, Damages
• Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
• Michael Emerson, Lost
• John Slattery, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
• Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
• Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy
• Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
• Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• Jeremy Piven, Entourage
• Kevin Dillon, Entourage
• Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
• Rainn Wilson, The Office
• Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
• Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
• Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
• Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
• Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
FOX

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
• David Morse, John Adams
• Stephen Dillane, John Adams
• Tom Wilkinson, John Adams
• Denis Leary, Recount
• Bob Balaban, Recount

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
• Eileen Atkins, Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre)
• Ashley Jensen, Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
• Alfre Woodard, Pictures of Hollis Woods (Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation)
• Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
• Laura Dern, Recount

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
• Stanely Tucci, ER
• Glynn Turman, In Treatment
• Robin Williams, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Robert Morse, Mad Men
• Oliver Platt, Nip/Tuck
• Charles Durning, Rescue Me

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
• Shelley Berman, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Rip Torn, 30 Rock
• Will Arnett, 30 Rock
• Steve Buscemi, 30 Rock
• Tim Conway, 30 Rock

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
• Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives
• Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
• Sarah Silverman, Monk
• Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock
• Edie Falco, 30 Rock
• Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
• Ellen Burstyn, Big Love
• Dihann Carroll, Grey’s Anatomy
• Cynthia Nixon, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Anjelica Huston, Medium
• Sharon Gless, Nip/Tuck

Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
• Jon Stewart, host; 80th Annual Academy Awards
• Stephen Colbert, host; The Colbert Report
• David Letterman, host; Late Show With David Letterman
• Don Rickles, performer; Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
• Tina Fey, host; Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Reality Program
• Antiques Roadshow
• Dirty Jobs
• Extreme Makeover Home Edition
• Intervention
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing With the Stars
• Project Runway
• Top Chef

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
• Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
• Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
• Howie Mandel, Deal Or No Deal
• Heidi Klum, Project Runway
• Jeff Probst, Survivor

Outstanding Miniseries
• The Andromeda Strain
• Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre)
• John Adams
• Tin Man

Outstanding Made for Television Movie
• Bernard And Doris
• Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
• The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
• A Raisin In The Sun
• Recount

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
• Late Show With David Letterman
• Real Time With Bill Maher
• Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)
• Creature Comforts America
• King of the Hill
• Robot Chicken
• The Simpsons
• SpongeBob SquarePants

Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour Or More)
• Blue Harvest (Family Guy)
• Imaginationland (South Park)
• Justice League: The New Frontier

Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series
• How I Met Your Mother
• The New Adventures Of Old Christine

Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series
• Dexter
• Heroes
• Mad Men (two nominations: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "Shoot")
• Pushing Daisies
• Ugly Betty

Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Movie
• The Andromeda Strain
• John Adams
• Recount
• Tin Man

Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• 50th Annual Grammy Award
• Hell’s Kitchen
• MADtv
• 2007 MTV Video Music Awards

Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
• Californication
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Pushing Daisies
• 30 Rock
• Ugly Betty

Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
• Brothers & Sisters
• Damages
• Friday Night Lights
• Mad Men
• The Tudors

Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
• The Bronx Is Burning
• The Company
• Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre)
• John Adams
• Recount

Outstanding Choreography
• Dancing With the Stars; Routine: Mambo / "Para Los Rumberos"; Choreographer: Julianne Hough
• High School Musical 2; Routines: "What Time Is It?", "Fabulous", "Work This Out", "I Don’t Dance", "You Are the Music In Me", "For One"; Choreographer: Kenny Ortega
• So You Think You Can Dance; Routine: Hummingbird and Flower / “The Chairman’s Waltz”; Choreographer: Wade Robson
• So You Think You Can Dance; Routine: Transformers / “Fuego”; Choreographer: Shane Sparks
• So You Think You Can Dance; Routine: Table / “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”; Choreographer: Mandy Moore

Outstanding Cinematography for a Half-Hour Series
• According to Jim
• Californication
• In Treatment
• My Name Is Earl
• Scrubs
• 30 Rock

Outstanding Cinematography for a One-Hour Series
• Battlestar Galactica
• Breaking Bad
• Dexter
• Lost
• Mad Men
• Rescue Me

Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie
• The Andromeda Strain, Part 1
• Bernard And Doris
• The Company
• John Adams, "Don’t Tread on Me"
• John Adams, "Independence"
• Sense & Sensibility (Masterpiece Theatre), Part 1

Outstanding Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming
• Autism: The Musical
• Deadliest Catch
• Ice Road Truckers
• Meerkat Manor
• This American Life

Outstanding Cinematography for Reality Programming
• The Amazing Race
• Carrier
• Project Runway
• Survivor
• Top Chef

Outstanding Commercial
• "Brother of the Bride," Hallmark
• "Carrier Pigeons," FedEx
• "Delivery," Travelers
• "It’s Mine," Coca-Cola
• "Swear Jar," Bud Light

Outstanding Costumes for a Series
• Desperate Housewives
• Mad Men
• Pushing Daisies
• The Tudors
• Ugly Betty

Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
• Bernard and Doris
• Comanche Moon
• Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre)
• John Adam
• Tin Man

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
• Entourage
• Flight of the Conchords
• The Office, "Money (Parts 1 & 2)"
• The Office, "Goodbye, Toby"
• Pushing Daisies
• 30 Rock

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Boston Legal
• Breaking Bad
• Damages
• House
• Mad Men

Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• The Colbert Report
• Company (Great Performances)
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
• Saturday Night Live; Host: Tina Fey

Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
• Bernard and Doris
• The Company
• Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
• John Adams
• Recount

Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming
• The Amazing Race
• Autism: The Musical
• Project Runway
• This American Life
• The War

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series
• Battlestar Galactica
• Boston Legal
• Breaking Bad
• Heroes
• Lost
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Comedy Series (Single Or Multi-Camera)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• The Office
• Pushing Daisies
• 30 Rock
• Weeds

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie
• The Andromeda Strain, Part 1
• Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
• John Adams
• Recount
• Tin Man, Part 1

Outstanding Picture Editing of Clip Packages for Talk, Performance, Award or a Reality-Competition Program
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• American Idol
• Dancing With the Stars
• Jimmy Kimmel Live; "After The Academy Awards (I’m F***ing Ben Affleck)"
• Jimmy Kimmel Live; "5th Year Anniversary Show (I’m F***ing Matt Damon)"

Outstanding Picture Editing for a Special (Single or Multi-Camera)
• The AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Al Pacino
• Company (Great Performances)
• Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveShow
• Movies Rock
• We Love Ella! A Tribute to the First Lady of Song (Great Performances)

Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming
• AFI’s 100 Years...100 Movies—10th Anniversary Edition
• Autism: The Musical
• Deadliest Catch
• This American Life
• The War

Outstanding Picture Editing for Reality Programming
• The Amazing Race
• Extreme Makeover Home Edition
• Project Runway
• Survivor
• Top Chef

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series
• Desperate Housewives
• Dirty Sexy Money
• Mad Men
• Pushing Daisies
• Tracey Ullman’s State Of The Union
• Ugly Betty

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or a Special
• Dancing With the Stars
• Saturday Night Live; Host: Tina Fey
• Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Movie
• Bernard and Doris
• Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre)
• John Adams
• Tin Man

Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For VMC Programming
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• Dancing With the Stars
• 50th Annual Grammy Awards
• Late Night With Conan O’Brien
• Late Show With David Letterman

Outstanding Main Title Design
• Bernard and Doris
• Chuck
• The Company
• Mad Men
• New Amsterdam

Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Mad Men
• Pushing Daisies
• Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union

Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or a Special (Non-Prosthetic)
• Dancing With the Stars
• MADtv
• So You Think You Can Dance
• Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries or a Movie (Non-Prosthetic)
• The Andromeda Strain
• Comanche Moon
• John Adams
• Tin Man

Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special
• Grey’s Anatomy
• John Adams
• Mad Men
• Pushing Daisies
• Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union

Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
• Family Guy
• House
• Little People, Big World
• Lost
• Pushing Daisies
• The Simpsons

Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Original Dramatic Score)
• Bernard and Doris
• The Company
• John Adams
• Masters of Science Fiction
• Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom’s for One More Day
• Sense & Sensibility (Masterpiece Theatre)

Outstanding Music Direction
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• Barry Manilow: Songs From the Seventies
• Christmas In Washington
• 50th Annual Grammy Awards
• Movies Rock

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics
• Disney Phineas and Ferb, Song: “I Ain’t Got No Rhythm”
• Flight of the Conchords, Song: “The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)”
• Flight of the Conchords, Song: “Inner City Pressure”
• Jimmy Kimmel Live, Song: “I’m F***ing Matt Damon”
• MADtv, Song: “Sad Fitty Cent”

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
• Canterbury’s Law
• Disney Phineas And Ferb
• Kid Nation
• Pirate Master
• Saving Grace

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special
• Bill Maher: The Decider
• George Carlin: It’s Bad for Ya!
• James Taylor: One Man Band (Great Performances)
• Kathy Griffin: Straight to Hell
• The Kennedy Center Honors
• Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project

Outstanding Children’s Program
• Classical Baby (I’m Grown Up Now): The Poetry Show
• Hannah Montana
• High School Musical 2
• Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: The Untouchable Kids of India
• The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody

Outstanding Nonfiction Special
• AFI’s 100 Years...100 Movies—10th Anniversary Edition
• Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq
• Autism: The Musical
• Pioneers Of Television—Late Night: Johnny, Jack, Steve, And Merv
• The Pixar Story

Outstanding Nonfiction Series
• American Masters
• Biography
• Deadliest Catch
• Inside the Actors Studio
• This American Life

Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking
• Oswald’s Ghost (American Experience)
• Walt Whitman (American Experience)
• White Light/Black Rain

Outstanding Writing For Nonfiction Programming
• Intervention
• Life After People
• This American Life
• Walt Whitman (American Experience)
• The War

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• ER
• Lost
• Smallville
• Supernatural

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
• The Andromeda Strain
• Comanche Moon
• John Adams
• Tin Man

Outstanding Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera)
• Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq
• The Amazing Race
• American Masters, Les Paul: Chasing Sound
• Autism: The Musical
• Life After People
• The War

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Or Drama Series (One-Hour)
• Battlestar Galactica
• Boston Legal
• Burn Notice
• Dexter
• Lost

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie
• The Andromeda Strain, Part 1
• Comanche Moon, Part 2
• John Adams, "Join Or Die"
• John Adams, "Don’t Tread On Me"
• Tin Man, Part 1

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation
• Entourage
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Two and a Half Men
• Weeds

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety, Music Series or a Special
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• American Idol
• 50th Annual Grammy Awards
• Late Night With Conan O’Brien
• Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show

Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera)
• The Amazing Race
• American Masters
• Deadliest Catch
• The War

Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series
• Battlestar Galactica
• Heroes
• Human Body: Pushing The Limits
• Jericho
• Stargate Atlantis
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
• Comanche Moon, Part 1
• The Company, Part 2
• John Adams, "Join Or Die"
• Life After People
• Tin Man, Part 1

Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Chuck
• Criminal Minds
• CSI: NY
• NCIS
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series
• Dancing With the Stars
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Late Night With Conan O’Brien
• Late Show With David Letterman
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• American Idol, "Idol Gives Back"
• 50th Annual Grammy Awards
• Hansel and Gretel (Great Performances At The Met)
• Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/Loveshow

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
• Flight of the Conchords, "Yoko"
• The Office, "Dinner Party"
• Pushing Daisies, "Pie-Lette"
• 30 Rock, "Rosemary’s Baby"
• 30 Rock, "Cooter"

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
• Battlestar Galactica, "Six Of One"
• Damages, "Pilot"
• Mad Men, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
• Mad Men, "The Wheel"
• The Wire, "30"

Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
• Late Night With Conan O’Brien
• Late Show With David Letterman
• Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
• Bernard and Doris
• Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre)
• Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
• John Adams
• Recount

Outstanding Special Class—Not Exclusively Made for Television
Variety, Music, Comedy Event Programs
• Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago (Great Performances)

Outstanding Special Class—Classical Music/Dance Programs
• New York City Opera: Madama Butterfly (Live From Lincoln Center)

Outstanding Special Class—Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs
• Battlestar Galactica
• Friday Night Lights: Spotlight on Austin
• Lost: Missing Pieces
• Sarah Silverman Program Nugget
• 30 Rock: Kenneth The Web Page

Outstanding Special Class—Short-Format Animated Programs
• Camp Lazlo
• Chowder

Outstanding Special Class—Short-Format Nonfiction Programs
• Deadliest Catch: The Real Dutch
• Great Moments From The Campaign Trail
• Jay Leno’s Garage

Outstanding Special Class Program—Awards Programs
• 80th Annual Academy Awards
• The 61st Annual Tony Awards

Chris Elwood

Chris and Jenni in happier times.


I've been watching "Flipping Out" on Bravo since it began last year.

It features Chris Elwood, who graduated from Pacelli High School. I've known him since he was a teen-ager. We were both in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" at the Springer Opera House in 1991.

Last night's episode was very disturbing. Chris gets fired and his wife, Jenni, is heartbroken.

Then it turns out Chris moves out and they've split up.

I e-mailed Chris to see if it's true because sometimes these shows are scripted.

He said the show was taped back in March, and yes, they had split up.

That's too bad because I'd interviewed both of them and I really liked Jenni.

I guess that's what happens. I'm sorry for both of them.

I love ramen

I check the Mainichi Shimbun Web site almost every day. It's a Japanese newspaper that has an English edition.

There's a story about how ramn has become the food of the moment in New York City. The link is http://mdn.mainichi.jp/culture/features/news/20080702p2g00m0fe005000c.html

When I was in Japan in 1992, I ate ramen at a different ramenya (ramen store) almost every day. And I'd buy different instant ramen at grocery stores and sometimes eat them at night.

I didn't eat as much ramen during my 1998 visit, and even fewer times this last time.

It's my favorite dish in the whole world. When I tell people that, they look at me funny. That's because most of you only know the ramen you find in American grocery stores. A real bowl of rame in a ramenya is a whole different story.

I keep telling my mother that maybe I'll open a ramen shop downtown when I retired from the Ledger-Enquirer.

That's just too much work. I'll wait for someone else to open up a Japanese noodle shop. But I'm warning you now: It better be good.

My travelogue ends

I'm finally finished posting my day-by-day accounting of my trip. And I finished posting the pictures I wanted to share.

When we got back, I had an e-mail from Kurt Schmitz, the meteorologist from WTVM 9. He and his wife, Kazue, had been in Japan the same time we were.

He said, wouldn't it have been funny to see each other there?

It turned out we kept missing each other by a day in Nikko and Kyoto. But we went to the very same places!

We've decided we're going to get together some night and look at our pictures.

My family and I had a great time. We made our cousins promise to visit us soon. They said it would be in two years. But you know what? Two years will go by in a flash.

I have one more picture to share.

It's my favorite.

When we were in Asakusa the second time, we split up and said we'd meet each other at a designated time and place. My mother and I went and along the way, we saw some sumo wrestlers.

Cheryl said it was funny when they ran into the young athletes. Fred, who never wants to be in pictures, wanted his picture taken with the sumo wrestlers.

It turned out that he was about the same size as two of them. The third? See for yourself.

Photos from Japan, Part 18. What you can see in a Japanese house.

Cheryl took these pictures of some very Japanese features in every house we visited. This happens to be in our rental house.


This is the shower. There are little buckets that you fill with water to get wet. Then you turn off the water, soap up and shampoo your hair. Then you rinse off using the hand-held shower. Because this is an older house, there wasn't a stand-up shower. My brother was so glad to get to the hotel in Kyoto! It's a great way to conserve water, though. You only run the water to get wet and rinse off. It's not running the entire time you're in the shower. Which is good when it's warm. In the winter, it's not so good.

After you've scrubbed off all the dead skin on your body and rinsed off thoroughly, you can take a bath if you want. But it's just to soak in. The tub is deep and filled with very hot water. Because you're clean when you get in, the whole family can soak before dumping the water and refilling the tub.

This is just as you enter the bath/shower room. The sink is to the left. The washer connection is next to it. The door on the right leads into the bath/shower.

This is the toilet in our rented house. Toilets are in a separate room from the bath/shower room. The little faucet on top is where you wash your hands as it fills the tank. It's ingenious.

A public toilet. Almost all of the public toilets we visited were very clean.

In Japan, even the most modern homes have foyers where you leave your shoes. You either walk barefooted or put on slippers in the house.

Photos from Japan, Part 17. A little bit of America in Japan.

There are a lot of familiar American companies in Japan. Everywhere we went, there was a McDonald's or Wendy's or Shakey's Pizza or Domino's Pizza or KFC. There are even Aflac offices in a lot of places we visited.


There are Aflac offices wherever you look, too. This one is right across from the Minami Kashiwa train station.

Fred found Col. Sanders in Kashiwa!

If you look very carefully, there's a McDonald's. It's the second storefront just to the left of the big Chinese restaurant on the corner. There are McDonald's restaurants everywhere. And many of them are open 24 hours. This was taken from the Minami Kashiwa train station.

Where's the beef? It's in Japan.

Yup. A 7-11.

I had to take this picture of a huge billboard in Shinjuku of the Japanese version of "Gossip Girl."

Photos from Japan, Part 16. My goofy family.

Cheryl took most of these pictures of our family doing goofy — and not-so-goofy — things. Every time I see these, it brings back more memories.

When we got to Edo Mura (Edo Wonderland), it wasn't raining. But by the time we sat down to have lunch, it began pouring. Tsune-chan borrowed the paper parasol from the restaurant, walked to the van and brought back all the umbrellas.

It seemed Tsune-chan didn't trust us to tell waitresses what we wanted to eat. So everywhere we went, he would take our orders and then tell the waitress. Maybe you can tell that Fred needed help with his order, while John was pondering what he wanted. We thought it was sweet. The waitress (top right), thought it was funny.

Something made my mother laugh. Probably watching the antics of her children and her nieces and nephews at dinner the last Sunday we were in Japan.

Fred and Mommy trying to decide how many dollars to exchange to yen.

This big boy is Hiroshi, our cousin Noriko's youngest child. He's trying to be a hip hop music producer and is working in a studio right now. Of course, that's Fred and Cheryl. We were at the airport the day we left. It was the first time we saw Hiroshi in the three weeks we were in Japan.

In Kyoto, Fred and Cheryl persuaded these two girls to pose for this picture. When I told my mother it was unusual for girls this age to be dressed in kimonos, she said they might be maiko. She might be right. The maiko are geisha in training and are 20 or younger.

At many of the shrines, visitors can pay 100-200 yen and get a printed fortune. Fred is trying to decide which fortune is the best. This is in Asakusa, which is a huge tourist destination, so the fortunes are written in Japanese and English.

I don't know why, but the Japanese pose for pictures flashing the "V" sign. I mean, everywhere we went. My usually dignified Uncle Hide in a multi-colored clown wig!

Even these doofuses — John, Fred and Jessica.

Jessica, Cheryl and Eri. See what I mean about the "V" sign?

Cheryl and Fred goofing around at the spa in Nasu.

These three guys are historical figures and my mother tried to explain it to me the other night, but it went in one ear and out the other. The middle guy (not my brother Fred) is someone very important to the shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa. The other two guys are his sidekicks. Well, they're more important than that. This was at a rest area near Mita, and apparently, there are statues of these guys everywhere. But most of the guy in the middle (again, not my brother).

Photos from Japan, Part 15. Food.

Cheryl took all these photos of food. At one point, Fred said all we did was eat. But we truly did a lot of eating. "We've been eating ever since we got here," he said. And this is a guy who loves to eat. He did complain a lot about the lack of meat in the Japanese diet.

These are types of eki-ben that is available at this train station. Eki-ben is literally "station bento" or lunch boxes sold at train stations.

We had Chinese food once in a neighborhood just next to Asakusa. It was very, very good.

Jessica's lunch, somewhere in Japan. How can I tell? No sign of meat. Of course, she gave the egg to someone because she's a vegan.

In Asakusa, you can buy fresh, hand-made rice crackers. They are soooo good.

Here's my mother eating a stick of a Japanese delicacy that I cannot describe. The little ball that she's eating is something I cannot stomach. In fact, I ate the first one before I realized what it was and I had to spit it out. Yuck. But she loves it.

This is my pork shoga-yaki lunch. It's ginger pork and it was delicious.

Outside almost every restaurant in Japan, there is a display of the food that is served. This one is obviously sushi. Oh, and the display is plastic.

Various kinds of sake. I bought a bottle and we drank it that night at dinner when we got home.

Tai-yaki. The "tai" comes from the fish-shaped outer layer. The "yaki" means fried. This one is filled with veggies.

The best meal I had in Japan, hands-down. This was the all-tofu lunch. And it was absolutely yummy.


I think this is Fred's udon lunch at the Dragon Bridge.

Photos from Japan, Part 14. Outdoor vendors.

Outdoor vendors at a rest area somewhere between Tokyo and Nikko.


Ice cream stand.

Potatoes on a stick.

Pigs in blankets, corn dogs and meat-and-potato croquettes.

Photos from Japan, Part 13. Rice paddies.

If there was a small plot of land, there were rice paddies planted. I can't remember where these first three were. Cheryl took a lot of pictures of them, and here are four of them.





Rice paddy on the way to our uncle's cemetery in Kobe.

Photos from Japan, Part 12. More random scenes.

Some random scenes from Japan through Cheryl's eyes.


You've seen these in our grocery stores. These little prizes are in Jusco, our favorite grocery store in Japan.



This is the tatami maker right around the corner from where we were staying. Apparently, hand-made tatami mats are rare these days. He was always very pleasant when we walked by.

On our way to Hiromi and Tsune-chan's house, we passed this scarecrow. Tsune-chan said it was world-famous. Somehow, it hasn't become famous in America.

I can't remember what train station this was, but it was decorated with these mosaic murals for each month. They were very pretty.

Photos from Japan, Part 11. Random scenes.

Cheryl took most of these pictures of random things in Japan.


This is what you see from the platform at the Shin Kashiwa train station.

Every city has its own design for manhole covers. Some of them are very pretty, like this one.

Another manhole cover.

This pretty little scene is in the Gion or geisha district in Kyoto.

This is a fire hydrant. Don't ask me how it works. Cheryl thought it was very unusual, so she took this picture.

Patty, John, Cheryl and Jessica went to do our laundry one day at this coin laundry. Cheryl saw schoolkids and had to take their picture.

These are the big refrigerators. Really. It's still much smaller than the standard fridges we have here. And the one in our rented house was the size of one of the dorm fridges.

We have dollar stores, they have 100-yen stores. This one is in Kobe.

The trash gods in Chiba are very strict. The pink bag on the left is for table scraps and paper or things that can be burned. The yellow bag is for recycled items like aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass and cans.

Unlike here in the States, where you put your trash out in front of your yard, there's a certain spot to put your trash. This was our neighborhood spot. And this is just for things that can be recycled.