Our Thomas Jefferson Stephen Dillane Didn't Win --

Waaaa! I figured that Wilkinson's more flashy Ben Franklin might win, but we sure wanted the amazing Stephen Dillane to triumph for John Adams in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. But congrats to Wilkinson, of course!

Jay Roach just won as Outstanding Directing for Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special for Recount from HBO. Good exhortation to people to "keep your elections honest..." Expected...hoped...for John Adams win.

Outstanding Writing for Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Kirk Ellis for the Independence segment of John Adams. Well-deserved award, with a nice jab about politicians using complete sentences.... They cut him off for a commercial, unfortunately. Wanted Gervais and Merchant, but this is a great choice, of course.

More Emmy Results

Dang it. Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale didn't win, but the great and important Recount from HBO did for Outstanding Made for Television Movie.

Nice bit by Martin Sheen urging people to exercise their right to vote.

HBO's "Recount" -- Perfect for Memorial Day

I hope you caught the premiere of the HBO TV movie Recount last night (Sunday). If you missed it, don't despair; there are many encores on the schedule and if you're lucky enough to have HBO on Demand you can find it there, too.

Why do I hope you watched it, and why is it perfect for Memorial Day? Because it will cause you to reflect upon the state of the nation, to put your notion of love of country up against the notion of self-interest, and figure out which way
America is going.

It's quite a story, Recount is, all about the disputed 2000 Florida Presidential election results, and what happened behind-the-scenes that made us wake up one morning with George Bush as President-elect. Depending upon your politics you will think that was a very good thing, or it still depresses you. (I am still very depressed.)

I haven't even given you the good news about Recount, which is that the production is terrific. The cast is impressive -- Kevin Spacey, Dennis Leary, Ed Begley Jr., Tom Wilkinson,Laura Dern, Bob Balaban, John Hurt -- and you most certainly won't be bored.

In this current election year, as the very mechanisms of voting are still in many ways as fallible -- if not more -- as in 2000, it just doesn't feel good to think your country might not be even be able to pull off a fair election process. (If you are further interested in the issue, I recommend the chilling HBO Documentary Hacking Democracy which has some additional plays coming up very soon. If Recount doesn't sadden you, this doc certainly will.)

I'll climb down from my soapbox now, but don't forget to watch Recount, will you?