2014 Miniseries, Reality TV, and Extra Bennys Announced!

Best Miniseries

The category of Best Miniseries was a pretty easy one to decide. I've truly enjoyed Freakshow and Over the Garden Wall was an innovative, artfully done experience, but this was Fargo and True Detective's year. Both were phenomenal, but due to a lame ending, True Detective is barely edged out by Fargo.

Best Lead Male Actor (Miniseries)

Once again we find ourselves overwhelmed with True Detective and Fargo. This was by far the hardest category to decide. The first to be marked off were Elijah Wood and Woody Harrelson (bad day for people with "wood" in their names). Harrelson's character didn't have quite as much to work with as McConaughey and Wood was a voice actor who, although great, never reached the heights of his competitors. This left the enigmatic Thornton, the nervously commanding Freeman, and the existential McConaughey. In the end, I thought Freeman put on the best show, being able to be nervous, headstrong, high-strung, and quasi-threatening all at the same time. However, in all honesty all three men deserve an award. 

Best Lead Female Actor (Miniseries)

Best Supporting Male Actor (Miniseries)

When I first had the idea for the Bennys and started to compile a list of nominees, I thought this category would undoubtedly go to Fargo. However, once Freakshow got going, it became clear that there would be competition. I've always been a fan of Denis O'Hare since he played the mad Vampire King on True Blood. Letting him spread his villainous wings and fly on this season of AHS was a fantastic idea and won him the award. 

Best Supporting Female Actor (Miniseries)

This category would have definitely gone to Frances Conroy had her character stuck around a little longer. Conroy is always fantastic, and so I kept expecting her character to actually do something. Alas, she essentially twiddled her thumbs nervously for eight episodes before having her son shoot her. The same went with Bates. For eight episodes I waited around for her character to get a driving plotline. She got death instead. Thus, Michelle Monaghan, always an interesting side character on True Detective takes the Benny. 

Best Writing for a Miniseries

At this point you may think that I'm just a Fargo fanboy. You wouldn't be particularly wrong. However, it is worth pointing out just how fantastic the writing on Fargo's pilot, "The Crocodile's Dilemma" is. In one hour and a half episode, it introduces us to our four leads, several important side characters, and the overall plot. There's major character development in just the first hour, leading to a shocking death and a shocking development. There's foreshadowing, there's symbols, and there's intrigue. Truly amazing writing. 

Best Directing for a Miniseries

This one was a toughie. Cary Joji Fukunaga was one of the reasons True Detective was so masterful, bringing darkness and an eerie mood to the already dark script. His work on the fourth episode, "Who Goes There" was among his best. The episode ended with an eight minute long tracking shot, showing the escape from an undercover drugbust. It was terrifying, kept the viewer on the edge of their seat, and beautiful in its own way. With that shot alone, it beats out the competition. 

Best Reality TV Show

Was there ever even a thought of competition?

Best New Show

Best Opening Sequence