Gina Rodriguez

8 Things For Which I Am Thankful…

These are the mostly television related things that I am most thankful for this year. It has been another year of ups and downs and this is what helps get me through it all.

1. No Tomorrow
I wrote an entire post about why I think you should be watching this awesome new CW show, but mostly it just makes me laugh a lot. It is genuine and uplifting, and it is the show that I currently look forward to the most each week. I have actually decided that I am most like Kareema, only she says things out loud and I just think them, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Either way, it has been a great escape these last few months, and I appreciate that more than ever.



2. Lin-Manuel Miranda
Not only do I pretty much have the Hamilton Soundtrack, the Hamilton Mixtape, and the Moana Soundtrack all on repeat right now, but following Lin-Manuel on social media is the best decision I have ever made. Every day, he posts a ‘good morning’ and a ‘good night’ message, and they are always hopeful and encouraging. He is genuine, thoughtful, and supportive, and I just appreciate him. This awesome song from Moana was written by Miranda and sung by Dwayne Johnson:



3. Alfred James Band
When I lived in Philadelphia, I became friends with the Alfred James Band, and even though we have lost touch a bit since I moved to Texas, I was ridiculously excited when they released their second album recently. I had missed hearing these songs, and the album was everything I hoped it would be. I was especially surprised and touched after learning that one of the songs was written for me, and it reminded me that no matter where you go in life, a part of everyone you’ve ever met stays with you forever. You can listen to and download ‘Forgotten,’ as well as the rest of the album here:

4. Gilmore Girls
I probably will not have a chance to watch all four parts of the revival this weekend, but I am so excited!! A part of me is actually a little sad about it, only because I know that once I watch them, then it’s really over. The four words will have been spoken, and there will be no more. But I know that it will be amazing to be back in Stars Hollow with these characters and, for that, I am grateful.

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8 Emmy Snubs…

There were a few happy surprises this morning (Tatiana Maslany!) but also a lot of disappointment. I know that there is just too much good television on right now, and it is not possible for every single person to be recognized, but here are just a few of the shows and actors that I wish had received nominations. It was difficult to find good videos for some of these performances, so there are a few links to TVLine’s Dream Emmy Nominations where they have embedded videos.

Fair warning: there are a few spoilers.

1. Shameless
This is one of the most underrated shows on television and last season was no exception. While William H. Macy was recognized for his performance as Frank Gallagher, Cameron Monaghan’s Ian was phenomenal this year as he slowly began to accept his bipolar diagnosis.



2. Outlander
The performances given by Sam Heughan, Caitroina Balfe and Tobias Menzes in the last two episodes of the first season were intense and profound. I am actually baffled that not a single one of them was nominated. If I could have included my favorite clip, it would have been the scene where Jamie says goodbye to Claire before she leaves him in Wentworth Prison with Black Jack. Instead, this clip is from the middle of the season when Jamie breaks down after having saved Claire.

3. Jane The Virgin
This was by far my favorite new show last year. It is moving and hilarious and filled with surprises. Gina Rodriguez and Jaime Camil in particular were revelations. Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for her role as Jane, so I was hoping she might get recognized again, but alas, I was wrong. Camil was more of a long-shot, but I was still disappointed. I was happily surprised to see Anthony Mendez get nominated for Best Narrator. I did not even know that was a category until this year. This is the clip where Jane calls Rogelio ‘Dad’ for the first time.

4. Justified
When this show started, I did not think that the characters of Ava and Boyd would be people that I cared so much about. Walton Goggins and Joelle Carter brought them to life in such a fantastic way that, no matter how horribly they behaved, you always rooted for them until the very end, even when they were at odds with each other. In this clip Ava tells Boyd that she has been informing to Raylan.

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