A year or so ago, my parents were singing the praises of CBS's Monday night comedy lineup, most notably "Two and a Half Men," and their new favorite show, "The Big Bang Theory." Not being a big fan of the "Men," I was dubious about "Bang" as well. But one Monday night, I decided to give it a try. Mom, Dad ... I will never doubt you again (well, except for "Men.").

This tale of uber-nerds struggling to function in the world outside of astro-physics has slowly been winning over converts like me -- and rising in the ratings -- in its second season. So, for those of you who think a show about scientists, where the storylines center around trips to the comic book store, Dr. George Smoot (look him up on your Google-nets, kids) and a waste-management module for the International Space Station, couldn't possibly be funny, take it from my Mom and Dad, it is. It also features some of the smartest writing in television. Period.

At the center of this nerd-fest is Dr. Sheldon Cooper, brilliantly played by Jim Parsons. Parsons gives depth and humanity to what could have become an Urkel-esque caricature of a nerd. Despite his many obsessions and insufferable personality ticks, Parsons still makes Sheldon likable.

So, when it comes to the nominees for best lead actor in comedy you don't need to play a game of rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock to come up with the winner -- it's Parsons.

And while you are at it, Academy, please don't forget "The Big Bang Theory" and Kaley Cuoco when you announce the nominees for best comedy and lead comedic actress on July 16. The writing and the cast make this the funniest show on TV. And Cuoco's Penny is more than just a pretty face. 

Here are the other nominations I'd like to see. With any luck, the Academy will agree.

Best comedy
"The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
"Flight of the Conchords" (HBO) 
"Family Guy" (Fox)
"How I Met Your Mother" (CBS)
"30 Rock" (NBC)

Lead actor in a comedy
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Jemaine Clement, "Flight of the Conchords"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"

Lead actress in a comedy
Kaley Cuoco, "The Big Bang Theory"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Eva Longoria Parker, "Desperate Housewives"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

And one more thing, Academy, make sure Craig Ferguson is among your nominees for best host of a comedy or variety show. "The Scottish Conan guy," who is on after David Letterman, is the brightest light on late-night TV. No band, no sidekick. Just his own imagination. And singing puppets.

Which shows and stars make you laugh? Who do you think is Emmy-worthy this year?

George Clooney, who rose to entertainment fame and prominence as Dr. Doug Ross in the first few seasons of NBC's "ER," returned to the drama Thursday night to help the vaunted series move toward its conclusion in April.

Clooney was featured in a storyline that also featured the return of his longtime paramour Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies), Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle) in a tale of donor organs, history and decisions that change lives.

NBC

It's been a long time since Dr. Doug Ross was seen on "ER."

Clooney spends half the episode talking a grandmother (played by Susan Sarandon) into donating the organs of her brain-dead grandson to needy patients, which includes Dr. Carter, who is awaiting a kidney.

Overall, for all the hype, the end result was less than thrilling. After all the drama that swirled around Dr. Ross' return -- it was a pretty flat return. Once the organs had been harvested, both he and Hathaway were only seen again in a passing moment, once they learned the organs had been successfully used (but never learned one of those organs went to old-time friend Dr. Carter). Did the storyline help the overall conclusion to the series finale? Yes. Was it worth the heralded wait? Ahhhhh ...

On a final note, as someone who lives in Seattle, there was one big faux pas that stuck out. Margulies, as Hathaway, who is now affliated with the organ donor network -- calls Spokane (pronounced Spo-CAN), Spo-CAIN -- please. If she's been living in Seattle for the past 5 years or so, she won't make that mistake (and the show producers shouldn't have either).

What did you think of Clooney's return to "ER"? Was it worth the wait, or did you also ask yourself  "is that all there is?"

In the spring, I met up with a group of girlfriends for dinner and drinks before going to see the "Sex And The City: The Movie." Being a big fan of the HBO series, I was looking forward to the film. Two hours into the two-and-a-half hour flick, I thought, eh, it's OK and it's a bit too long.

During my recent staycation, I watched the movie again on DVD. This time around, I still thought it was too long, but instead of being OK I now think it's a load of crap.

AP file

Only Charlotte, left, comes off as sympathetic in "Sex and the City: The Movie"

First off, I loved all four of the main characters, each different, but each fantastic in her own unique way. Samantha, the utter id who did it all her way, Charlotte, the eternal optimist, Miranda, the cynical career woman and Carrie, the voice of reason with the pathological shopping problem.

After watching the movie again, the only one I liked was Charlotte. She was the only one who remained true to her character, confessing that she found something she loved about her life and her marriage everyday.

Miranda was turned into the worst version of her sometimes bitter self -- unforgivingly judgmental, angry and utterly unyielding. Samantha turns to food to suppress her primal instincts because she just can't be a one-guy gal. And finally Carrie, who ditches the quiet restrained wedding she was going to have with twice-divorced Mr. Big for a Page Six extravaganza because of "the dress."

OK, the characters were always more or less two-dimensional representations of archetypes. In the movie, those types are whittled down to a sliver. When did the writers lose their respect for these ladies?

I'm growing increasingly dismayed by how women are portrayed in movies. Watch the trailers for these two upcoming movies -- "Bride Wars" and "He's Just Not That Into You." According to "Bride Wars," women are so self-absorbed and petty that they would battle with and lose a best friend rather than pick another day to hold a wedding.

And yet Hollywood keeps churning out this junk. Why? Because we women spend money to see it! I'm guilty -- I saw "Sex And The City" twice!

Does anyone else share my dismay about the portrayal of women in films? Anyone else think "Sex And The City" was more like hate mail than a love letter?

As the entertainment editor at msnbc.com, it's my job to keep up on the latest celebrity news, from Heather Locklear's arrest to Britney's tour plans, possible move to New York, continuing court appearances ... well, you get the idea. And while gossip and celebrity news are not the only stories we produce for our section, it is among the most viewed content on the entire msnbc.com site.

So each day, I troll through the various celebrity news Web sites and blogs. For the most part, it's entertaining, and occasionally informative. It also can be disturbing, and has upon occasion forced me to question my role in this ever-expanding area of "news."

Wednesday morning, I stumbled upon this link on TMZ.com. It's just your garden variety paparazzi chasing a celeb (in this case, Keanu Reeves) down the street, yelling remarks at him as he tries to go to an appointment, pick up his dry cleaning, what have you. It was the remarks, however, that caught my ear. Insidious, hostile, cheap shots solely intended to provoke a reaction from Reeves, resulting in (Tah-duh!) a brilliant video moment that would equal a big payday for the photographers in hot pursuit. Reeves did not take the bait, but I wondered aloud to one of my colleagues, "How does he keep from popping that jerk in the mouth?"

For many in Hollywood, this scenario is all too familiar. Some celebs seek it out, while others take it as part of their daily lives, and bite their tongues and keep moving.

The paparazzi are doing this because magazines will buy the photos, because YouTube will get millions of clicks on the video, because you will buy it, read it, watch it -- because it sells.

Hey, I read it too, and I'm not trying to put myself out of a job, but it does give you pause. Msnbc.com does not buy paparazzi photos or video, but we often cover the stories that bloom from such encounters. We get comments from readers all the time saying they are tired of reading about the tawdry details of celebrity lives. The high number of clicks on such stories would seem to indicate otherwise.

So during this election season, if you are really tired of it, vote with your mouse, and your wallet. 

I awakened early this morning to the news that comedian Bernie Mac had died at age 50 of pneumonia. Mac, born Bernard McCullough, was hospitalized late last week and, despite suffering from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease, he was expected to be released and to recover. All of which made this morning's news that much more surprising and sad.

In the Entertainment news business, we are forced to prepare for the passing of stars. We prepare slide shows, write tributes and the like so that when the unhappy moment occurs, we are ready. I was not ready for this.

We are never ready when someone, even someone we only knew a little, or in this case, from his body of work and public persona, dies unexpectedly. It reminds us of our own mortality, and the randomness of life.

Six weeks ago, I participated in a triathlon in Sunriver, Ore. It was a hot day and as I waited on the banks of the reservoir before the start of my swim wave, I chatted with some of my fellow 40-44-year-old age groupers, commenting on the unexpected warmth of the water (if 65 degrees counts as warm) and helping some zip up their wetsuits. 

About a quarter of the way through my mile swim, a jet ski sped from the shore out to the swimmers -- an indication of someone in distress. About two-thirds of the way through, word started spreading among the swimmers that the swimmer in distress had died. As I ran out of the water and ran for my bike, I couldn't help but wonder if he was one of the men I had spoken to before the race. Did I help him zip up his wetsuit? Even if I hadn't, he had been standing there next to me, nervous with anticipation, waiting, like me, to begin this great exercise in adrenaline, sweat and release. An event that can make you feel so alive. Just like that -- gone. I haven't really shaken those thoughts yet.

So on this Saturday morning, as we remember Bernie Mac, his great body of work (I know I loved "The Bernie Mac Show" and his work in the "Ocean's" movies) and the depth of sadness being felt by the family who loved him, please remember Patrick Findlay, an age grouper from Renton, Wa., who also left a body of work and a family who loved him. And make the most of the fabulous day -- each and every one of them is precious, and fabulous.

The photos of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's twins, Knox and Vivienne, hit the newsstands on Monday in the latest issue of People magazine (the cover photo went live on the magazine's Web site Sunday afternoon and can be seen here). People paid a reported $15 million for the photos, which will be featured in a 19-page spread in the magazine.

The magazine's editors hope interest in the celebrity babies will be strong enough that folks will plunk down their diminishing discretionary dollars to buy the issue. Will you? Do you plan to buy the latest issue of the celebrity magazine? Or will you merely look at the photos while standing in the check-out line instead of buying a copy?

Much has been made of Katherine Heigl's comments that she wasn't worthy of an Emmy nomination this year because the "Grey's Anatomy" writers didn't give her an Emmy-worthy storyline to work with. Mark Harris makes a very thoughtful argument in defense of Heigl in the July 25 issue of Entertainment Weekly (page 18 if you have a copy. I'd post a link but EW.com doesn't have it up yet). Some have argued that the comment was a ploy by Heigl to get herself written off the show so she can pursue her movie career (hopefully with movies much better than "27 Dresses"). Rumor has it that the "Grey's" writers will give Heigl her wish -- they are going to give her character, Dr. Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, a fatal brain tumor. All I can say to that is ... YES!

It has nothing to do with Heigl's comments. I tend to agree with Harris' assessment -- an actress who speaks her mind is far more interesting and refreshing than one who keeps quiet and plays it safe. Nor has it anything to do with Heigl herself. Good luck to you!

AP file

I hate Izzie Stevens and think that she (and to a lesser extent most of the women characters on the show) makes "Grey's" unwatchable. She's a basket case. If she isn't killing the man she loves in order to save him (ever hear of the Hippocratic oath?), she's seducing her married best friend George (don't get me started on that character) or freaking out in the O.R., E.R., cafeteria -- everywhere. If she were my doctor, I'd report her to the AMA.

Now before you tell me "it's just a TV show, you can't take this literally, you have to suspend your imagination," let me tell you, that isn't a problem for me.

I had no problem believing Gerard Butler was Leonidas, King of Sparta. I believe that Gerard Butler's charm made "P.S. I Love You" a movie worth watching more than once much less just once. I believe Gerard Butler has been waiting his entire life to meet and fall in love with a 43-year-old entertainment journalist. See, I can suspend reality.

But Izzie Stevens lacks charm, lacks a brain, lacks anything resembling the maturity or compassion necessary to be a doctor, even a fake one on TV that viewers are expected to connect with, or dare I say, believe in, week after week. I've tried to watch "Grey's," but 10 minutes of Izzie has me reaching for the remote.

Heigl's right -- give Izzie something decent to do and say, or please, put her out of her misery.

For those of you who didn't notice (and judging by the comments we've seen, more than a few of you have), we've made some changes to Test Pattern in the past few weeks.

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper was the sole author of this blog for the past several years. While she was on maternity leave, we wondered what we would do about Test Pattern, and it was suggested -- by Gael -- that we make it a section-wide blog. And that's exactly what we did.

So now, instead of just sending the funny, bizarre, infuriating and thoughtful items we spot on the Internet to each other, we're sharing them with you. Our internal musings have become the fodder for posts, from Anna Chan's confessions of a band girlfriend to Paige Newman's dismay about Gil Grissom's depature from "CSI" to Kurt Schlosser's love of watching people fall. And while Gael now will only be writing one post per week, for those of you who want more of her unique perspective, check out her own blog, Pop Culture Junk Mail.

I hope you enjoy the wider (or as we say here at msnbc.com, fuller) spectrum of opinions and tastes. And I look forward to sharing more of my musings in the future.

Denise Hazlick
Entertainment editor