Holiday Poolies Watch- Action

I'm a little late on my first of the month timeline for these now bi-monthly Poolies Watch posts, but as the saying goes "better late than clever." That's not it? Well either way, the 2011 Poolies Ballots are six months away, which means the season is six months over. Here we'll take a look at how the awards are stacking up so far, with who's in, who's out, and who's awful. Next up are the action awards. As always, if you think a show or character deserves more credit, or any at all, feel free to leave a comment. You don't want to end up like Mags last year, trying to illegally write in Tom Haverford for the Arthur Spooner Award. Also spit any performances you've liked at me on Twitter via @quietpool.

The Sopranos Award

Seriously, is there anyone still into The Event? New Yorkers? Because I feel like this thing has fallen off quickly. I mean I’m still watching it, and enjoying it to some extent, but the boredom is killing me. I hesitate to replace it (or True Blood) with Hawaii Five-0 because the latter is a run-of-the-mill procedural, but I definitely look forward to Hawaii Five-0 more than The Event at this point. I really loved the three episodes of Sherlock’s first season (the first and third especially), but I don’t think that short of a run is going to be enough to get it in.

Definites
Chuck
Sons of Anarchy
Dexter

In For Now
Justified
Boardwalk Empire
Terriers
The Walking Dead
The Mentalist
The Event
True Blood

Outside Looking In
Hawaii Five-0
Sherlock
Human Target
Persons Unknown
No Ordinary Family
Covert Affairs
Nikita
Rubicon

The Frank Pembleton Award

Alex O'Loughlin on Hawaii Five-0

This is a category that is up for grabs my friends. With the two Losties that won the previous years for this Poolie relaxing somewhere on a tropical island, it’s time for somebody to take over as the top lead character in an action series. Morgan has been unsurprisingly hilarious this season of Chuck, but my other two definite have just as much of a shot at my number one vote. If Raylan Givens, and Justified overall, is anywhere as good as last season, I’m giving him the edge. Well so much for Scott Caan earning a nomination for two separate shows this year. He has not proven to be as good on Hawaii Five-0 as he was on Entourage, or even as good as his own partner on the new show. Alex O’Loughlin has been studding it up in the tropics thus far.

Definites
Jackson Teller- Sons of Anarchy
Raylan Givens- Justified
Morgan Grimes- Chuck

In For Now
Chuck Bartowski- Chuck
Patrick Jane- The Mentalist
Sherlock Holmes- Sherlock
Hank Dolworth- Terriers
Dexter Morgan- Dexter
Steve McGarrett- Hawaii Five-0
Britt Pollack- Terriers

Outside Looking In
Danny Williams- Hawaii Five-0
Eric Northman- True Blood
Jimmy Darmody- Boardwalk Empire
Rick Grimes- The Walking Dead
Christopher Chance- Human Target
Nucky Thompson- Boardwalk Empire

The Desmond Hume Award

Wayne Rigsby and Kimbal Cho

How did this category lose all of its luster? Most of these action shows have such gigantic ensemble casts, that no one gets enough screen time. That’s how. Although Opie, like the rest of his SAMCRO supporting cast, didn’t get that much time to strut his stuff, he is such an absolute stud that I’ve moved him into the definites. I would also have Boyd Crowder in that sub-section, except only the final two eps of season one of Justified count for this year’s Poolies. Once season two kicks off in February, he’ll be right up there with the big guns. I wanted to love Al Capone on Boardwalk Empire, and he might impress as the final episodes come in, but he has yet to do enough to earn a spot.

Definites
John Casey- Chuck
Opie Winston- Sons of Anarchy

In For Now
Boyd Crowder- Justified
Auggie Anderson- Covert Affairs
Kimbal Cho- The Mentalist
Joey Quinn- Dexter
Jimmy O’Phelan- Sons of Anarchy
Lester Patel- Chuck
Billy Blackham- Persons Unknown
Devon Woodcomb- Chuck

Outside Looking In
Bobby Munson- Sons of Anarchy
Al Capone- Boardwalk Empire
Russell Edgington- True Blood
Chibs Telford- Sons of Anarchy
Wayne Rigsby- The Mentalist
Vince Masuka- Dexter
Jeffrey Barnes- Chuck

The Samantha Marquez Award

Leila Buchanan and Sean Walker

What a weak group of ladies. Really? Leila from The Event and Katie from Terriers would be nominated if the season ended right now? What a joke. There isn't a single female character in Boardwalk Empire or The Walking Dead that I enjoy. If Sarah Walker doesn't go three for three come this June, I will be shocked.

Definites
Sarah Walker- Chuck
Deb Morgan- Dexter

In For Now
Ava Crowder- Justified
Annie Walker- Covert Affairs
Teresa Lisbon- The Mentalist
Luman Pierce- Dexter
Jessica Hamby- True Blood
Tara Knowles- Sons of Anarchy
Leila Buchanan- The Event
Katie Nichols- Terriers

Outside Looking In
Ellie Bartowski- Chuck
Winona Hawkins- Justified
Grace Van Pelt- The Mentalist
Kona Kalkua- Hawaii Five-0
Gemma Teller- Sons of Anarchy

The Teri Bauer Award

The Van Aldens

This list is riddled with True Blooders. What a terrible season you must have had, when neither Bill or Sookie were awful enough to be as bad as the four currently in the hunt for nominations. If I were to vote right now though, my number one slot would probably go to Van Alden from Boardwalk. This guys is the absolute worst, right? If I thought Rubicon deserved more than one nomination I'd put up the whole squad. Just garbage.

Definites
Tara Thornton- True Blood
Erika Taylor- Persons Unknown
Nelson Van Alden- Boardwalk Empire

In For Now
Moira- Persons Unknown
Franklin Mott- True Blood
Angel Batista- Dexter
Lucy Danziger- Boardwalk Empire
Liam O'Neill- Sons of Anarchy
Maria Laguerta- Dexter
Miles Fiedler- Rubicon

Outside Looking In
Talbot- True Blood
Liam Ulrich- Persons Unknown
Jesus Velasquez- True Blood
Margareet Schroeder- Boardwalk Empire
Kale Ingram- Rubicon

The “Through the Looking Glass” Award
Only half way through the season and we're already leaving great episodes off the table here. Honestly, because it will get left out of the series award, I'm pretty sure Sherlock's premiere is a definite here. No, “Chuck vs. the First Fight”, no Dexter, no Boardwalk, no Terriers. Can I lengthen this to 10 nominees, but leave drama and comedy at five? No, but I should.

In For Now
Breaking Bad- “Full Measure” - 313
Justified- “Bulletville” - 113
The Walking Dead- “Days Gone By” - 101
Sherlock- “A Study In Pink” - 101
Sons of Anarchy- “NS” - 313