The Dr. Doug Ross Award- Lead Character Drama

Named For: Dr. Doug Ross played by George Clooney in ER (NBC)
Awarded To: Best lead character in a drama series from
June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: Tim Riggins- Friday Night Lights

Place. Character (Show) Points (My Vote)

10. Adam Braverman (Parenthood) 4 points (5th)

9. Joe Tranelli (Men of a Certain Age) 5 points

8. Ben Epstein (How to Make it in America) 9 points

7. Don Draper (Mad Men) 10 points

6. Cappie (Greek) 10 points (3rd)

5. Hank Moody (Californication) 10 points (2nd)

4. Johnny Chase (Entourage) 13 points

3. Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights) 17 points

Runner-Up
2. Tim Riggins (Friday Night Lights) 28 points (1st)

and the Poolie goes to...
1. Greg House (House, MD)
31 points (4th)

Here with his thoughts on Greg House is Poolie voter, Larry...

The differential on House: After completing his sixth year at Princeton Plainsboro last month, Greg House has cemented his place among all-time great television characters, because no character has done more with less. His employees are boring and unlikable, yet he manages to get the most out of them (best example: Chase and Wilson going speed dating with House). Only one other recurring character (Wilson) brings anything to the table, and even that is entirely dependant on his interactions with House. The procedural nature of the show doesn’t help either because it makes for a predictable plot (let’s get a quick CT and a lumbar puncture). The format worked for the first few seasons, but by season six (maybe even five) the repetitiveness has started to wear on people (how many times can the team test for sarcoidosis?). Normally this is a show I would have stopped following by now, but because of House’s character I still tune in. That’s what makes him great. It’s also nice to see a TV character hate everyone. It’s beautiful, actually.

House’s performance in season six parallel’s A-Rod’s 2003 MVP season with the Rangers (with House only lacking the Lance Bass-ian flamboyancy). A-Rod was clearly the best player in the league, yet his team managed to win less than half their games. House had a similar success rate, only managing a few memorable episodes this season. Maybe House’s team didn’t “win” enough, but at the end of the day this is an individual award, and he carried a show through its sixth season, where without him it wouldn’t have made two. If he somehow takes these other idiots supporting characters to the promised land (Dynasty Award), you might as well name the award after him.

by Larry Avitabile

Poolies Watch- Dr. Doug Ross Award

It's always tricky figuring out which dudes to put in as a lead character and which to call supporting characters. I definitely give more people the lead moniker than normal awards shows do. With Greg House leaving the category, Tim Riggins, last year's winner, will see much more breathing room. That is if he ends up in the category after this season. Friday Night Lights hasn't started yet and I don't know how much of Riggins we will see. That being said, he currently leads the pack of nominees heading into this season's Dr. Doug Ross Award.

In For Now
Cappie- Greek
Chuck Bass- Gossip Girl
Dan Humphrey- Gossip Girl
Don Draper- Mad Men
Eric Taylor- Friday Night Lights
Hank Moody- Californication
Johnny Chase- Entourage
Julian Baker- One Tree Hill
Liam Court- 90210
Tim Riggins- Friday Night Lights

Moving Johnny Drama up this year, from supporting character may give Riggins a new challenge. Personally, I like Cappie as one of the top two in the group, but not many people have jumped on the Greek bandwagon (except for Ty).

Outside Looking In
Derek Shephard- Grey's Anatomy
Justin Walker- Brothers and Sisters
Nathan Scott- One Tree Hill
Walter White- Breaking Bad
David Breck- Melrose Place

I really only seeing Nathan Scott challenging for a spot out of this group, but the wild card will be Friday Night Lights characters that step up. Whether it is Saracen staying on as a lead character or JD McCoy stepping up to the plate, I feel someone from Dillon, Texas will be in the mix.

Who else deserves a nod?

The Dr. Doug Ross Award (2009)

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

Rank. Character (Show)- Total Points...(My Rank)
10th. Derek Shephard (Grey's Anatomy)- 0 points

9th. Walter White (Breaking Bad)- 4 points

8th. Nathan Scott (One Tree Hill)- 5 points...(2nd)

7th. Vincent Chase (Entourage)- 7 points

6th. Don Draper (Mad Men)- 7 points...(5th)

5th. Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)- 9 points

4th. Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)- 10 points

3rd. Matt Saracen (Friday Night Lights)- 11 points...(1st)

Runner-Up
2nd. Greg House (House, MD)- 20 points...(4th)

The Poolie Goes To
1st. Tim Riggins (Friday Night Lights)- 23 points...(3rd)
And now with some words on Tim Riggins here is Mags...

__________________________________________

Tom Brady. Think about this guy. He is the best player on one of the most successful American pro sports franchises in the past decade. Brady’s got millions of dollars from football alone, not to mention the money he must be making from those sick Stetson cologne advertisements. Let’s just say he is easily a billionaire. He also dates one of the hottest chicks on the planet. Now what does this have to do with (the most prestigious television awards ever) The Poolies? Well, your winner for Best Lead Character in a Drama goes to Friday Night Lights’ own Tim Riggins.

Now you see it. The best player on the sweetest high school football team in Texas. Riggins might not be a billionaire yet, but he’s got everything else Tom Brady has, and more. Aside from being a damn good looking dude, Riggins has charm for days. All the shorties at Dillon High School are actually in love with him. Despite showing up to practice drunk or hung over the majority of the time, Riggins has managed to be a damn good running back. After a state championship win and the graduation of their offensive star, Smash Williams, Riggins became a workhorse for the Panthers, as well as for Friday Night Lights. He currently dates the hottest chick on the show, Lyla Garrity, and is about to head to college on a football scholarship. While juggling all that, he still manages to find the time to regularly pull off really bone-headed moves with his brother. Riggins carries FNL at times and it’s easy to see why the fans voted for him here. Congratulations, Riggins.