Spring Poolies Watch- Drama

With only two months left in the Poolies season, it's time to take another look at how things are shaking out before the final ballots are released on June 1st. Here's your chance to agree or disagree with the chairman in order to give whatever show or character tickled your fancy this year a shot at glory. First up are the drama awards, let's take a look around the pool...

The Dynasty Award for Best Drama Series

Definites
Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, Treme, Lights Out, Parenthood, and Jonas. These shows won't need to be discussed before the final ballots come out in June. The only reason to bring up Treme is because it only aired a couple episodes of last season during this year's voting period. If the early part of season two is similar to what we saw in season one, I'm confident it makes the cut. Parenthood is really coming on as one of my favorites as of late, and although I continue to get made fun of for my love of all things Jonas, this series was great for so many reasons.

In For Now
Californication, Greek, Entourage, and 90210. This is where the discussion begins. Cali has had a bit of a down season in comparing it to last year, while Entourage definitely had an uptick in quality. Greek, in its final season, was good but unimpressive. And while I'm always a sucker for 90210, does its great female character hi-jinx make up for its complete lack of quality acting or writing?

Outside Looking In
Shameless, House, Glee, One Tree Hill, Men of a Certain Age, Gossip Girl, and Hellcats. I have heard from Jaydon that he is not enjoying House, which makes it easier to keep it out, but I'm not sure how others still feel about the old favorite. Shameless and Glee are the only other two that are worth mentioning, in that one I find interesting at times, and the other is a pop phenomenon. If Men of Age had more than six episodes it definitely would have been in the conversation.

The Dr. Doug Ross Award for Best Lead Character in a Drama Series

Definites
Don Draper (Mad Men), Greg House (House), Cappie Jones (Greek), Ari Gold (Entourage), Joe Lucas (Jonas), and Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights). As we get closer to the actual ballot, the amount of definites has to increase. Although House the show has deteriorated into a series I let pile up on my hard drive, House the character is still fun to watch. The rest need no explanation.

In For Now
Hank Moody (Californication), Davis McAlary (Treme), Adam Braverman (Parenthood), and Patrick Leary (Lights Out). The two I am most concerned about are Davis and Patrick here. Davis, of course, because I haven't seen him in forever. He might come back later this month as a complete idiot, as many others found him during the first season. And Patrick, did he do enough to secure himself a spot on the ballot?

Outside Looking In
Antoine Batiste (Treme), Joe Tranelli (Men of a Certain Age), Julian Baker (One Tree Hill), Vincent Chase (Entourage), and Johnny Leary (Lights Out). Now that I'm looking at this list of those on the outside, I'm not sure there is much to worry about for the current nominees. Again, Ray Romano's Joe suffers from only six episodes of material. Also, who knows who might come out of the woodwork as a lead character in the start of Treme's second season?

The Noah Hunter Award for Best Supporting Character in a Drama Series

Definites
Roger Sterling (Mad Men), Scott Lavin (Entourage), Ornette Howard (Friday Night Lights), Chase Adams (One Tree Hill), and Buddy Garrity (Friday Night Lights). I had a tough time figuring out how all the FNL guys would shake out, but at the end of the day, Riggins, Saracen and the rest of the old crew didn't have enough screen time to warrant a nomination, so Buddy is the beneficiary.

In For Now
Dale Kettlewell (Greek), Noah Puckerman (Glee), Robert Chase (House), Alex (Parenthood), and Albert Lambreaux (Treme). The Big Chief will depend on what happens throughout April and May, as will Alex, depending on if Vince Howard's doppelganger comes back at all to Parenthood. Since I'm behind on House, Dr. Chase could be back to his old terrible self for all I know, but he was killing it to start so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Outside Looking In
James Wilson (House), Ed Romeo (Lights Out), Beaver Beudreaux (Greek), Billy Riggins (Friday Night Lights), Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl), Max Braverman (Parenthood), and Chuck Scolnik (One Tree Hill). After the first Ed Romeo episode of Lights Out, I was prepared to make him a definite. That was until they shipped him out after his second ep. Now the only thing keeping him alive is a surprise return in the finale. Anybody else from this group catching somebody's fancy?

The Veronica Mars Award for Best Female Character in a Drama Series

Definites
Macy Misa (Jonas), Sue Sylvester (Glee), Naomi Clark (90210), Peggy Olsen (Mad Men), Alex Dupre (One Tree Hill), and Stella Malone (Jonas). Now these aren't my six favorites in the category per say, in fact as of now, I'll be voting for two others ahead of this group, but these are the ones that have secured spots. There is a difference.

In For Now
Annie (Treme), Rebecca Logan (Greek), Santana Lopez (Glee), and Adrianna Tate Duncan (90210). Although Adrianna is going to receive my vote if she continues the way she has, 90210 can be so eratic with its characters, that I don't think she is definitely on the ballot. Treme continues to keep things up the air for Annie, and Santana hinges on how much screen time she gets.

Outside Looking In
Savannah Munroe (Hellcats), Ashleigh Howard (Greek), Brooke Davis (One Tree Hill), Becky Sproles (Friday Night Lights), Fiona Gallagher (Shameless), Brittany Pierce (Glee), and Blaire Waldorf (Gossip Girl). There really just are so many avenues to go here. As you notice, the two time defending champion Julie Taylor (Friday Night Lights) has yet to be mentioned. That is because she was the worst this season, and I'm afraid that if I give her a courtesy nomination, some idiot voters will give her the award for a second straight undeserved time.

The Marissa Cooper Award for the Character You Love to Hate in a Drama Series

Definites
Kurt Hummell (Glee), Tanya Skagle (Hung), Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights), Turtle (Entourage), Erin Silver (90210), and Artie Abrams (Glee). Wow do I hate all of these people. It's rare to see an Entourage guy up here whose name is not Eric Murphy, but Turtle definitely outdid him this season. The thing about Glee and 90210 is that there are so many people I hate, that it's tough to decide between them all.

In For Now
Serena van der Woodson (Gossip Girl), Haddie Braverman (Parenthood), Quinn James (One Tree Hill), and Calvin Owens (Greek). While I may hate these four as much as the other six, for some reason I feel as if they may not deserve it as much as the others. Well that is except for Quinn, who absolutely deserves to be nominated for being terrible.

Outside Looking In
Julie Taylor (Friday Night Lights), Clay Evans (One Tree Hill), Dixon Wilson (90210), Will Schuester (Glee), Marcy Runkle (Californication), Ian Gallagher (Shameless), Camille Braverman (Parenthood), and Lisa Cuddy (House). This list could go on and on, and I won't even take into consideration those that I detest like Meredith Grey (Grey's Anatomy) and Kitty Walker (Brothers and Sisters) because their shows don't deserve nominations.

The "One Wedding and a Funeral" Award for Best Drama Episode of the Year

In For Now
Mad Men 407 - "The Suitcase"
Friday Night Lights 513 - "Always"
Treme 108 - "All on a Mardis Gras Day"
Jonas 213 - "Band of Brothers"
One Tree Hill 813 - "The Other Half of Me"

Outside Looking In
Parenthood 217 - "Do Not Sleep With Your Autistic Nephew's Therapist"
Greek 410 - "Legacy"
Entourage 710 - "Lose Yourself"

Surprisingly, I have found more stand out episodes in this than in action so far. I have a tough time keeping both the Parenthood and Greek ep off of the ballot.