Martha Plimpton is no stranger to awards shows, having been nominated three consecutive times at the Tony Awards (2007-2009), and twice at the Primetime Emmys. As one of this year's Best Comedy Actress nominees for her new FOX series "Raising Hope," Plimpton took part in a very well-received comedy bit. As their names were called, each contender ran up on stage and nervously clutched hands, pageant style, as they hilariously awaited the announcement of the winner from presenters Rob Lowe and Sofia Vergara. 

In a video chat with Gold Derby, she recalls that the idea came out of a dinner conversation with fellow nominee Amy Poehler a few weeks prior to the ceremony. "She said, 'I've got it!" Martha pauses. "Pageant! Yes! And we'll get a tiara, and roses ... and we'll all stand up there, nobody will know what the hell is going on, it will be perfect!" Planning was easy according to Martha because "everybody was so game." The response from the audience was unexpected. "When everybody stood up, it was one of the most exciting, thrilling, touching experiences of my professional life. I just could not believe the company I was in."

Now that season two of "Raising Hope" is well under way, Martha says, "the stakes are raised a little more" for her as she is "more invested" in keeping the show fresh and successful. She doesn't take working on a network television series lightly. "Yes, it's gruelling, yes the hours are very very long, but the truth is, it's far more pleasurable doing this for 70 hours a week than it is for a lot of other things."

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As for the possibility of more nominations, Martha is just happy to go along for the ride. "Listen, any kind of recognition from your peers or people in your own industry is a tremendously validating thing", she admits. "There are so many actors, and so many professionals, doing such extraordinary work, that it's almost a shame to have to nominate only a few. Maybe that's why I feel like, what we did at the Emmys this year was so great, because in a way, we got to sort of honor each other and show each other how much we appreciate one another."

Over they years, television has produced many such memorable moments as family and friends gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

1. "The Bob Newhart Show" - "Over the River and Through the Woods" (1975)
Bob, Jerry, Howard and Mr. Carlin get completely drunk while spending the holiday at Bob's apartment while Emily is visiting her family.  Enjoy special moments of ordering Chinese food for Thanksgiving.

2. "WKRP in Cincinnati" - "Turkeys Away" (1978)
Les reports Hindenburg-style from a shopping center parking lot as Mr. Carlson's top secret Thanksgiving promotion involves dropping live turkeys from a helicopter.

3. "Cheers" - "Thanksgiving Orphans (1986)
Everyone spends Thanksgiving at Carla's house, including Diane dressed as a pilgrim woman, where it all ends up with a big food fight by the end of dinner.

4. "The West Wing" - "The Indians in the Lobby" (2001)
While two Indians formally protest in the White House lobby, the highlight is when President Bartlet has an extended and funny conversation on the Butterball hotline.

5. "Friends" - "The One with Chandler in a Box" (1997)
Even though there are many great Thanksgiving episodes for this series, my favorite is the one where Joey is so mad with Chandler that he sentences him to several hours in a big wooden box while the other friends celebrate the holiday.

6. "Northern Exposure" - "Thanksgiving" (1992)
The Indian "Day of the Dead" tradition of throwing tomatoes at white people especially gets under Joel's skin. The finale with the big meal is particularly touching.

7. "Gilmore Girls" - "Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving" (2002)
Lorelai and Rory overcommit themselves to four different Thanksgiving celebrations, with Lane, then Sookie, then Luke and finally the formal dinner with the Gilmores.

8. "Bewitched" - "Samantha's Thankgiving to Remember" (1967)
There's nothing more authentic than an original Thanksgiving with actual Pilgrims and Indians. Ironically, Darren is the one put on trial for being a witch.

9. "The Cosby Show" - "Cliff's Wet Adventure" (1989)
How many more trips into the rain for grocery items will Cliff make?

10. "Saturday Night Live" - "Paul Simon/George Harrison" (1976)
Paul Simon, who hosted the second-ever episode of "SNL" in October of 1975, returned the following fall as both emcee and musical guest. The highlight of that episode -- his rendition of "Still Crazy After All These Years" dressed as a turkey.

For Gabriel Macht, his new USA Network show "Suits" had particular charms he was seeking for a return to television. "I wanted to look at material that was really smart and had a vision of what it was and was slightly different from other stuff on television," revealed Macht in a video interview with senior editors Rob Licuria and Chris Beachum.

Macht plays Harvey Specter, a senior partner at a top New York law firm who decides to hire an extremely bright associate (Patrick J. Adams) even though his office isn't aware that the young man is actually a college dropout and not the Harvard graduate they wanted. Macht calls Specter a man with: "a real steel armour...that was Steve McQueen meets Cary Grant in this modern version. He was a man's man that could talk his way out of anything and underneath, deep inside, he got's a bit of a heart."

His first television series with a regular starring role was "The Others," a short-lived science fiction NBC program in 2000 produced by Steven Spielberg. He followed that with a 12-year film career that included a starring role in the 2008 action movie "The Spirit" plus roles in "Behind Enemy Lines," "Bad Company," "The Recruit," "A Love Song for Bobby Long," "The Good Shepherd," "Middle Men," and "Love and Other Drugs" before making the decision to return to TV.

Maureen Ryan (AOL) praised Macht in her review of the show, saying, "he has an amused sparkle in his eye that lets you know that he's enjoying his performance as a corner-office big shot just as much as you are. ... Macht and Adams are appealing performers, especially Macht". And Glenn Garvin (Miami Herald) raved that the show, "is far more than a whimsical caper show. Beneath its cuttingly funny dialogue lurk complex emotional edges."

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Macht could find himself a Golden Globe nominee next month. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has been kind to USA Network shows. Piper Perabo ("Covert Affairs") reaped a Best Drama Actress bid last year while Tony Shalhoub ("Monk") received five Best Comedy Actor nods and won the prize in 2003.

It's been quite a busy year for Connie Britton. In February, the final episode of "Friday Night Lights" aired on DirecTV and in July she earned her second consecutive Emmy bid for Best Drama Actress. Now she headlines the new hit FX series "American Horror Story" opposite Dylan McDermott and Jessica Lange.

These two shows couldn't be more different. "Friday Night Lights" was a heartwarming family drama about a football-obsessed Texas town while "American Horror Story" is an eerie drama set in a haunted house. As Connie explains to Gold Derby senior editor Adam Waldowski, "'Friday Night Lights' was such an amazing, complete experience, so I just wanted to do something that was just gonna go in the other direction. And 'American Horror Story' has done that in every way possible."

The transition from playing an assertive guidance counselor on "Friday Night Lights" to a neglected housewife with a cheating husband on "American Horror Story" has attracted critics' attention. Slant Magazine's Philip Maciak raves, "Britton plays Vivian Harmon with the same intelligence, grit, and effortless sex appeal she brought to her role as Mrs. Coach, pushing here into a darker representation of female strength."

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"American Horror Story" could sweep the Globes given how well co-creator Ryan Murphy's shows "Nip/Tuck" and "Glee" have fared with the HFPA in the past. Connie, who could reap dual Best Drama Actress bids says, "If that were to happen, it would be incredible. But I would be happy with them considering either one of the shows."

On Nov. 9 at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Gold Derby editor Tom O'Neil emceeded a Q&A discussion of new Starz TV series "Boss" with lead actor Kelsey Grammer, costars Connie Nielsen, Kathleen Robinson, Hannah Ware, Jeff Hephner, producer/director Gus Van Sant and series creator/writer Farhad Safinia.

Even with all of its recent awards success, one of the most surprising snubs so far for top-rated laffer "The Big Bang Theory" has been with the Screen Actors Guild. Neither the show nor two-time Emmy champ Jim Parsons has even been nominated for a SAG Award.

In a video chat with senior editors Rob Licuria and Chris Beachum, Kaley Cuoco revealed, "First and foremost, I look at our show as an incredible ensemble. I think that would be the highest honor or all, to nab one of those as an ensemble. It's no one-person show, and everyone gives their all."

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Cuoco plays Penny, the aspiring actress living across the hall from nerdy scientists Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Parsons). While she has yet to reap any Emmy or Globe recognition, Cuoco just received a People's Choice Award nod this week and will be hosting the ceremony for CBS in January.

The audience is meeting more of the relatives of the show's core characters. Penny's father was played by Keith Carradine last season, but her mother has yet to make an appearance. Cuoco said her "ultimate dream" would be for Lisa Kudrow ("Friends") to play her mom. 

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On Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET), Gold Derby editor Tom O'Neil will moderate a Q&A with the cast and creators of new Starz TV series "Boss." The event will be live-streamed on Gold Derby's home page. Featured: Kelsey Grammer (as Chicago Mayor Thomas M. Kane), Farhad Safinia (Creator/Writer), Gus Van Sant (Executive Producer/ Director), Connie Nielsen (Meredith Kane), Hannah Ware (Emma Kane), Jeff Hephner (Ben Zajac), Kathleen Robertson (Kitty O'Neil).

Michael Emerson traded in his role of a creepy know-it-all on "Lost" island for the role of a creepy know-it-all on Manhattan island. But will Emmy voters follow the popular actor to his well-received new CBS procedural "Person of Interest"? At first glance, things don't look very good.

It's no secret that of all the genres on television, crime procedurals receive the least amount of awards love. In fact, other than a pair of leading ladies -- Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") and Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") -- it has been over a decade since a whodunnit series prevailed in any of the lead or supporting acting categories at the Emmys. Emerson would be contending in the Drama Supporting Actor race, and the last time a crime show performer prevailed here was in 1998, when Gordon Clapp won for "NYPD Blue."

Emerson is a two-time Emmy winner, so it's clear Emmy voters are a fan. However, both of these trophies came for playing duplicitous villains, and on "Person of Interest" Emerson portrays Harold Finch, a sympathetic computer programmer who tries to stop crimes before they happen. In other words, he's finally playing a good guy! It's still a mystery whether the Emmys will accept Emerson in this new positive light.

His first Emmy win came for portraying a serial killer on "The Practice" (2001) in the Drama Guest Actor race. Emerson was virtually unknown when he played William Hinks, and his triumph over much more well-known actors -- James Cromwell ("ER"), Patrick Dempsey ("Once and Again"), Rene Auberjonois ("The Practice") and Oliver Platt ("The West Wing") -- was a huge vote of confidence from the television academy.

Eight years later, he took to the stage again after winning the Drama Supporting Actor race for "Lost" (2009). Accepting the award for the episode "Dead is Dead," Emerson declared that playing the villainous character Benjamin Linus was the role of his lifetime.

Below, watch the clip of Emerson claiming his 2009 Emmy for "Lost."

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Step aside, Don Draper. This year at the Golden Globes it's time to make room for... Walter White?

"Mad Men" is the undefeated Emmy champ (2008-2011) and three-time winner of the Golden Globe for Best Drama Series. However, the critically acclaimed AMC program went so long without airing an episode that they can't be nominated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. this year.

Unlike the Emmy Awards, which evaluate TV episodes from June to May, the Globes follow the same calendar year eligibility as other kudocasts such as the Academy Awards. The last episode of "Mad Men" aired way back on October 17, 2010, and with the fifth season not slated to begin until early 2012, that means there won't be any nominations for TV's most lauded drama.

While many networks would see this as bad news, for AMC, it's merely a chance to promote another one of their series to the HFPA: "Breaking Bad." The wonderfully dark drama about a chemistry teacher-turned-meth manufacturer has done well at the Emmys, particularly in the acting categories (three triumphs by Lead Actor Bryan Cranston and one win by Supporting Actor Aarol Paul), however the Golden Globes have only presented the show with a single nomination over the course of its first three seasons. That nod went to Cranston, who, along with "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm, lost the most recent Lead Actor race to Steve Buscemi ("Boardwalk Empire").

Speaking of "Boardwalk Empire," that's the series that stole the crown from "Mad Men" last year, preventing it from winning four consecutive Globes in the top drama race. "Boardwalk Empire" is still a major contender this time around, especially with its top competitor forced to sit out. If "Breaking Bad" finally breaks through in the top category -- and trust us, it deserves to based on such an incredible season -- that means there are a trio of slots left to fill.

Last year the other three Best Drama nominees were "The Walking Dead," "The Good Wife" and "Dexter," and all three are still in the race now. Other top dramas to look out for include former nominees "True Blood" and "House" and new series such as "Game of Thrones," "The Killing" and "American Horror Story," the latter of which has a leg up on the competition thanks to its creator, Golden Globe favorite Ryan Murphy ("Nip/Tuck," "Glee").

Below, watch the clip of Matthew Weiner accepting the 2010 Golden Globe for "Mad Men."

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