For Your Consideration: Stars Who Deserve Daytime Emmy Nominations

Choosing Daytime Emmy nominees is certainly not a science.

The rules instituted by the Academy of Arts and Sciences change as often as most of us change our clothes.

This year, the drama series performer pre-nominees were voted on by all members of the Academy based on one, four-minute reel. Once the pre-nominations were announced each performer submits a reel consisting of their beat work from any two episodes from Jan. 1-Dec. 31 of last year. One other stipulation is the reel cannot exceed 20 minutes.

Smart idea, as in the past some excellent reels were likely ignored as they went in excess of 35 and 40 minutes.

In this day and age of channel surfing and short attention spans, 20 minutes may be too much, 40 minutes is out of the question.

While I could write an entirely separate column on the many insane rules the Daytime Emmys possess, I'll spare you and for now just make my predictions of the five performers in each category who I think are deserving of a nomination. Keep in mind, this is not a prediction of who Academy members may actually nominate when the nominations are announced on March 24, but, simply, my own handicap of wbo deserves to be included in the elite five.

Also, keep in mind that once the final nominations are announced, we will be privilege to what the nominees actually submitted for final judging. This list is just based on who - among the pre-nominees - should get the nod.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES -

ERIC BRAEDEN - (Victor, The Young and the Restless.) Braeden had his best year in recent memory as the character once again became a force to be reckoned with. Although politics have often kept him off this list, he scored a well-deserved prenom and has the material to make it through the final round - if he submits wisely.

JUSTIN HARTLEY (Adam, The Young and the Restless.) The best recast in daytime history. Enough said.

MAURICE BENARD (Sonny, General Hospital.) Although, he's not one of my personal favorites, Benard had a Emmy-caliber year, especially if he chooses reels that include Emmy winners Laura Wright and Maura West.

CHRISTIAN LeBLANC (Michael, The Young and the Restless.) Although his cancer story was abruptly ended, he has the necessary reels that could win him a fourth Emmy.

ANTHONY GEARY (ex-Luke, General Hospital.) The ALL-TIME leader in Emmy wins, Geary has to be the odds-on favorite to nab a ninth Trophy with his split personality storyline. Unless, of course, voters were turned off by the negative comments he made against the genre when he retired from the industry last summer, that is.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS -

KASSIE DePAIVA (ex-Eve, Days of Our Lives.) Daytime vet DePAIVA has only received one prior nomination in her daytime career that spans some 30 years. She is a slam dunk, for me, to score her second nod as the grieving mother who slept with her daughter's boyfriend. Soap cliche? Definitely, but DePaiva was mesmerizing.

MAURA WEST (Ava, General Hospital.) The defending champ in this category, West could be poised for a repeat ,especially if she submitted her courtroom scenes with Maurice Benard.

FINOLA HUGHES (Anna, General Hospital.) Hughes often doesn't submit wisely, which makes her an iffy choice on my list, but if she submits anything surrounding Duke's death, she should be in the running.

MELISSA CLAIR EGAN (Chelsea, The Young and the Restless.) Egan probably had the best, most consistent, overall year of all daytime actresses, but that doesn't always translate into a nomination. It's all about the reel.

For my final spot, "the all-about the reel' comment really comes into play,  making it a tie for me between LAURA WRIGHT (Carly, General Hospital.) & GINA TOGNONI (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless.) Both know how to choose reels and one of them - or both - could usurp either Egan or Hughes on the list.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS ( in order of my preference based on their year and what they 'may have' submitted.)

LAURALEE BELL (Christine, The Young and the Restless.)

LINSEY GODFREY (Caroline, The Bold and the Beautiful.)

KELLY SULLIVAN (Sage, The Young and the Restless.)

PEGGY McCAY (Caroline, Days of Our Lives.)

JESSICA COLLINS (ex-Avery, The Young and the Restless.)

I should note the latter two deserve a nomination just for turning some awful storylines into semi-watchable gold.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR -

JACOB YOUNG (Rick, The Bold and the Beautiful.)

DOMINIC ZAPROGNA (Dante, General Hospital.)

SEAN BLAKEMORE ( Shawn, General Hospital.)

BRYTON JAMES ( Devon, The Young and the Restless.)

WALLY KURTH (Justin, Days of Our Lives.)

It should be noted that conspicuously absent in any of the actress categories is Karla Mosely, who if nodded for her tremendous performance as the transgendered Maya on 'B&B' would easily be my favorite. That she was not even pre-nommed was a snub of Beverlee McKinsey proportions. And if you don't know who Bev is, then why are you even reading this column, anyway!

Also, the younger categories are such jokes that I'll save my comments and votes until the final noms come out. I will say that if Camryn Grimes (Y&R) GH's Tequan Richmond and Bryan Craig and DAYS' Camilla Banas, Tru O'Brien and Casey Moss don't make the final cut, then the categories are not just a joke anymore, they are totally absurd.

Check back next month when I cast my votes for the actual finalists and see how well I did with my nominations votes.

Breaking News - Agent for Drouin Requests Trade

BLACK MONDAY WILL TAKE MANY NFL COACHES ON THE HOT SEAT ENTIRELY OFF THE STOVE

By Allan Brown

Who Will Survive Monday's Likely Coaching Bloodbath?

Shoppers have their Black Friday and NFL fans have their own special day, better known as Black Monday.

While the two days couldn't be any more different in theory, they do both share a few similarities.

Black Friday is the day shoppers wait for all year long even if it means staying up all night and becoming stressed as they wait in those endless lines at the mall.

There's stress and endless waiting on Black Monday, too. Many fans - myself included, I actually always take that day off from my 9 to 5 job - wait impatiently as they are glued to their favorite sports channel awaiting not the best deal, but, rather, the news they may either be happy to hear or dread to receive.

You see it just depends on if the person is a fan of a particular head coach, who's job is on the line with his NFL team, or  they, instead, can't stand their leader and hope his days with the squad are over.

That stress is only intensified for the handful of coaches who await to hear their ultimate fate.

And there's a big pay day involved in both dates. Merchants make huge amounts of money on Black Friday and coaches, especially those with long-term contracts, get their own pay out on Black Monday when their teams are required to honor the original terms of the contract they made with said coach just to get him out the door.

Heck, at one point, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were paying money to three coaches and other teams have faced similar situations when a coach who was signed with so much fan fare fails to deliver on his pledge to take his team to the NFL promised land.

The similarities end there.

While Black Friday is the beginning, the start of a holiday season where businesses see a good 50 percent of their profits come in a five-week span, Black Monday signifies an ending, rather than a beginning.

It's the end of the road for each coach whose job status is decided on that first day after the end of the NFL's regular season.

Once the final regular season game is played in Green Bay tomorrow night comes the dark and then the hardest part of the process arrives.

It's decision time.

As the dark turns into dawn, Black Monday finally arrives.

The wait, the anticipation and the stress that both fans and coaches alike feel as they anxiously, maybe even nervously, await for Black Monday to commence can't actually be described, but is certainly palpable for all involved.

For the Eagles Chip Kelly, Black Monday came a week early as he was fired from Philadelphia last week after most pre-season prognosticators believed his team would be in contention for a Super Bowl ring, rather than an early draft pick.

The Miami Dolphins gave Joe Philbin the heave ho early on after his team, which had all the makings defensively of a contender, flat lined and was even more deflated than the New England Patriots playoff footballs. His interim successor, Dan Campbell, showed promise in his initial outings at the helm, but in the end wasn't any better than his successor.

The Titans Mike Mularkey, who replaced Ken Whisenhunt, mid-season, isn't likely to remain in Nashville, either, as his 2-6 record as interim coach probably isn't enough to keep him there when he has the talents of a future superstar quarterback, Marcus Mariota, waiting to properly be groomed to greatness.

So who will join Kelly and the other two already fired and temporarily replaced coaches? Who will no longer be with their team by the end of Black Monday?

There are some coaches who are so firmly on the hot seat that they must be on fire. Then there are others who may be on the back burner but are certainly in danger of losing their job. And there are still some others who maybe should be gone, but will likely remain with their team once the dust settles Monday evening.

The four coaches who are almost certainly gone by daybreak Tuesday morning are Chuck Pagano, Tom Coughlin, Mike Pettine and Mike McCoy.

It was only last season that Pagano lead his Colts to the AFC title game - you remember the now infamous Deflategate game - but his luck - not to mention his star quarterback Andrew Luck, who has been sidelined with injuries for a good part of the season - seems to have run out.

Not helping matters is that Pagano turned down a contract extension earlier in the year and his working relationship with Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson is rumored to have reached the breaking point.

Even if the Colts miraculously get a playoff berth Sunday, Pagano is still likely to eventually be gone, as a failed defense - in addition to the problems at quarterback - resulted in the worst season in Indy in four years.

Coughlin is also on the hot seat. That's nothing new for the Giants head coach who has been on this list more times than the Yankees have won World Championship rings, but this time it appears he's out in New York. The big question with Coughlin is will the front office fire him or let the 69-year-old coach, who won two Super Bowls in his tenure in East Rutherford, retire with the grace and dignity that his overall coaching record deserves?

Either way, he's probably gone.

So is Pettine, who has only had two years with the Cleveland Browns and who many think should be given a second chance.

He won't get one, because that's just how the Browns front office rolls.

And the recently dumped Kelly has to be considered to be a leading candidate for the Cleveland job. That actually might be a good fit for the team's always under fire sophomore quarterback, Johnny Manziel, who, himself, could be out of the Dawg Pound after another season filled with more soap operaish plot twists off the field instead of triumphs on it.

Still, I contend a Kelly/Manziel partnership might just be what the always-struggling Browns need to ignite their winning ways of the 80s once more. When Kelly was head coach at the University of Oregon, he heavily recruited the future Heisman Trophy winner and the head coach certainly knows something about tutoring strong QBs and developing an explosive offense. Of course you wouldn't necessarily know that by watching him in the City of Brotherly Love this season.

What the Browns really need is a complete overhaul in the front office and former quarterback Bernie Kosar, in my opinion, is just who the team should tap to lead that charge. Beloved in Cleveland and definitely a leader who could bring a certain amount of respectability and publicity to the team just from his hiring, he would be the perfect administrative signal caller for the squad. Kosar definitely knows football, has business and sports ownership experience, is outspoken and wouldn't be afraid to make the changes needed to make the squad relevant in the AFC North and beyond.

As for McCoy, a possible move to Los Angeles by the Chargers decreases his chances of him retaining his position. Plus, a coach who only wins four games with such talent as rookie Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead and future Hall of Famer Phillip Rivers probably needs to get his walking papers.

If the Rams move to LA, too, that might actually save Jeff Fisher's job, as he is a native Los Angelan and keeping him at the helm might be a good marketing tool even his record in St. Louis has been overwhelmingly mediocre, at best. His status, isn't hot, but is certainly questionable as the regular season ends.

Other coaches who could get that dreaded call to the GM's office Monday are Detroit's Jim Caldwell and the Atlanta Falcons Dan Quinn. Both certainly aren't guaranteed another year in their respective cities, though it would seem Caldwell might be given another year for rebounding the Lions to a 6-9 current record after a horrendous 1-7 start.

As for Quinn, he is likely safe, too, as he has posted an 8-7 record in his first season as head coach, but that mark is certainly a tad deceiving as the team was the Lions in reverse. After getting off to a 5-0 start, they have won only three games in the waning weeks of the season and signal caller Matt Ryan's output has been disappointing, to say the least, leading some to speculate that, perhaps, Quinn isn't the best fit for the Falcons.

Probably not safe, though, is the 49ers Jim Tomsula, who inherited a declining San Francisco team and turned it into a mess. Although, not entirely his fault, as the squad lost some key cogs like Frank Gore, Chris Culliver, Michael Crabtree, Patrick Willis and Anthony Davis, Tomsula had some mighty big shoes to fill when he replaced Jim Harbaugh. He has failed miserably. The dismal play of the once promising Colin Kaepernick at quarterback hasn't helped matters, either. Few teams are in such desperate need of a reboot as the team on the City by the Bay.

New Orleans Sean Payton could be gone, as it's been a long year for the Saints coach and a long time - seven years - since the team won its only Super Bowl under his guidance. With one year remaining on his contract, it's likely he stays, though, Payton, himself, may go to upper management and asked to be released. His status is definitely one to watch on Monday or shortly thereafter.

Two other coaches are apparently safe, but aren't without their detractors. Dallas' Jason Garrett appears to keep his job only because he is owner Jerry Jones' golden boy, or even yes man. He continues to remain as coach of America's Team for some reason - and it's certainly not because of his overall mediocre 41-31 record since being hired in 2010.

While Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis has helped resurrect division championships and playoff appearances for the Bengals, he certainly isn't the coach I would want to lead my team in the post season. If the squad loses in the first round of the playoffs for the seventh time since he came on board in 2003, I'd say - and many desperate-for-a-Lombardi Trophy Cincy fan might agree - that he should be gone. That's extremely unlikely to happen, though - the firing, that is, not the probable first-round playoff loss.

To round out the list of potential coaching changes, it would be remiss of me not to include Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay.

Although the cries of the Buccaneer faithful to oust Lovie after only two seasons in Tampa hasn't reached anywhere near the level of the hysteria - complete with signs in the stadium and overhead airplane banners - to fire former Head Coach Greg Schiano, the sentiment, among many, is still there.

Posting a disappointing 8-22 record after two seasons, Smith could logically be replaced with offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who would be a better fit for a team lead by the promising rookie quarterback Jameis Winston.

That change, however, may have to wait at least one more season, though.

And who knows keeping Lovie, a defensive-minded coach who I would have never hired in the first place, could end up reaping dividends for the Bucs in the near future. I'm skeptical of that, but with Winston's leadership off the field, as well as his better-than-anticipated play on it, it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

Always of the mindset that the Bucs should have hired an offensive genius as head coach, instead of an only slightly better-than-average Smith, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and reward him with at least one more season.

After all, the Buccaneers don't want to go down that road of paying more than one head coach another time.

And Smith - with the help of Koetter and Winston - could prove the naysayers wrong.

He could end up being another Ron Rivera.

You know him.

He's the Carolina Panthers Head Coach who just a year or two ago was on the hot seat himself and now is the leading candidate to be named Head Coach of the Year.

Stranger things have happened.

One thing's for sure, though.

Monday promises to be 'Must See TV' of the sports channel variety for those of us who take Black Monday as seriously as the avid shoppers take Black Friday.

LIGHTNING ROUND OUT GOOD, BAD AND SOMETIMES DOWNRIGHT UGLY SEASON

By Allan Brown

So close and yet so far.

When Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Steven Stamkos had his picture taken next to the Prince of Wales Trophy last May, he stood near the award, but far enough away as not to touch it.

You see, there's a superstition around the NHL that if you touch the trophy, given annual to the champions of the Eastern Conference, you will automatically lose in the Stanley Cup Final.

Of course, even with Stamkos standing a noticeable distance away from the Prince of Wales Trophy, the Lightning fell to the Chicago Blackhawks, four games to two in the Cup Final.

So close and yet so far.

Close enough to the promised land to actually begin to think of hoisting Lord Stanley's trophy and take a victory lap around the ice at Amalie Arena, yet far enough away from thinking of drinking celebratory champagne from the fabled Cup.

So close and yet so far.

Those six little words best sum up the past year for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In my last Lightning blog, I had some fun and named my annual Five Most Intriguing Bolts of the Year. In doing so, I also gave kudos and some statistical recaps for some of the best players on the Tampa Bay roster. In Part Two of my year-end review, I stick strictly to the numbers.

And those numbers reiterate that the Bolts are, yes, so close and yet so far from becoming an elite NHL franchise.

Of course, Stamkos lead the team in scoring, and although his 43 goals in 2014-15 were down from previous campaigns, the All-Star center didn't need as many goals, as his teammates really stepped up to make the Lightning the ultimate cohesive squad that led the league in goals scored.

Players like J.T. Brown Alex Killorn came into their own this past calendar year, with Killer netting the game-winning goal against the New York Rangers that put the Lightning into the Stanley Cup Final.

Of course, any review of the Lightning's performance this past year would be remiss without mentioning their league-leading scoring - which was lead by their second line, affectionately known as 'The Triplets' - or their deep playoff run that saw them get thisclose to the promised land.

Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov have all suffered injuries this season, tempering their numbers from last year, but it is worth mentioning their collective 75 goals and 126 assists from the last campaign that saw them all in the Lightning's top three among assists with Johnny and Kuch also among the top three players in goals scored, with Palat following close behind in fourth.

Mixing that second line up in this current season at some points was a necessity and, at other times, a failed attempt by Head Coach Jon Cooper to shake things up when the other lines weren't scoring. Clearly, when healthy that line needs to remain intact, as they provide the Bolts with the best chance at repeating as Eastern Conference champions in May.

As the new season started in October, the Lightning certainly seemed poised to take that final step in the franchise turnaround that began over five years ago when businessman Jeff Vinik purchased the team and reinvigorated it with a new logo, a newly remodeled arena and - most importantly - a new front office.

Yet despite keeping the team virtually intact - only left winger Brenden Morrow failed to return to the club this season - the 2015-16 Bolts seemed very far away from the squad that almost won it all in June.

Be it multiple injuries, plain burnout from a playoffs-shortened summer vacation or just that other teams have now gotten wind of Cooper's style of play, the Lightning have struggled in the first part of this season.

But in keeping with the spirit of this holiday season, there had seemed to be a Christmas miracle of late, as the Bolts had won seven of their last 10 games. Yet, two of their last three contests before the Christmas break were both debacles with Coach Coop and the gang definitely playing Ebeneezer Scrooge for the Lightning faithful. Sandwiched in between one of their better games of the season, a thumping of Ottawa, came a loss to the league-leading Capitals in a game where Tampa had a 3-0 lead, only to fall to Alex Ovechkin & Company 5-3 via a dreadful third period of play. That was nothing compared to Tuesday night's embarrassing loss to a not even that good Vancouver Canucks team. In that final game before the three-day blackout known as the NHL holiday break, the Bolts sunk to an all-time low and were an absolutely abhorrent 1 for 10 on the power play.

Despite everything, the Lightning are still only six points behind the injury-plagued Montreal Canadians, who lead the Atlantic Division with 43 points. But when you compare that record to the Capitals 52 points, which leads the Eastern Conference, the Bolts look pretty much like they are on life support. Entering the break, Tampa Bay has a 17-15-3 record, which puts them in sixth place in their division. Thank the Hockey Gods for that recent 70 percent win percentage, or they could have easily been out of the division race before the new year even started.

So as the calendar year comes to an end, it's safe to say the Lightning have had an up and down 12 months that saw them almost reach the pinnacle of success and win the Stanley Cup for the first time in 11 years. Unfortunately, the delirium fans felt this past season was tempered by the current campaign, which has seen the team somewhat floundering and its fans coming back down to earth.

So close and yet so far.

HAPPY NEW  YEAR! SEE YOU IN 2016, UNDER REVIEW!

Universal Disaster - A Review of Miss Universe

By Allan Brown

Having watched pageants since the 1970s and having served as a volunteer, director and judge for various systems since my college days, I thought I had seen it all.

I hadn't.

However, after last night's debacle at the Miss Universe competition, I can safely say that my pageant experience has come full circle.

Miss Colombia had the shortest reign of any announced winner in the 64 years of the pageant, with the crown sitting on her head for roughly 90 seconds before emcee Steve Harvey announced to the capacity crowd in Las Vegas that he had read the wrong name and Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, was actually the new Miss Universe.

Talk about embarrassing.

And so capped a three-hour disaster of a show that - due to the gaffe in the crowning - will certainly go down in the annals of pageant history as the most memorable one.

Unfortunately, it should be recorded in pageant history as the worst one ever televised, as well.

Growing up in the pageant glory days of the 1970s and '80s, my standards for what makes a good Miss Universe competition are pretty high.

And ending aside, Sunday night's pageant didn't even come close to living up to my expectations.

Granted, the pageants of the 70s and 80s were all glitz, all glamour and appealed to a certain sensibility and audience that, no doubt, Fox-TV, which broadcast the 64th Annual Pageant for the first time, could care less about attracting.

However, turning a pageant into a reality show, complete with a viewer vote, cheapens the competition and the esteemed history it has established in the past six decades.

From the opening number - oh, wait, there wasn't one - to the final crowning, or crownings as was the case, this pageant was a complete and total disaster.

Not having a grand, glitzy opening isn't exactly new for the pageant, which pretty much eliminated that aspect of the show in 2002, still
this year's pageant was completely devoid of anything even remotely close to the traditional opening  numbers that made these shows so enjoyable and highly rated in their heyday. At least we did get to see a closeup look at each of the 80 delegates national costumes.

Which brings us to pageant problem #1, don't pander to a lower common denominator. Don't runaway from what made these contests so popular in the first place. In other words, don't try to be something you're not. It's a beauty pageant, for God's sake, not American Idol or America's Next Top Model. Embrace the history and celebrate it. TPTB just don't get it. They have a built-in audience already, don't alienate them. Give them, give us,  what we want - a glamorous, beauty pageant, not some endless video montage telling us each contestant's sob story.

Eliminating the videos and behind the scenes nonsense could have easily made this a much more manageable two-hour telecast, as opposed to the boring, drawn out three-hour yawn fest that this pageant ultimately became.

Hiring a host who actually knew the history of the pageant and was passionate about it would be the second way to keep the audience. Granted, Harvey is a popular, affable emcee, whose daily talk show I enjoy, but he was all wrong for this gig and that was evident from the get go. He appeared nervous and awkward as master of ceremonies for such a prestigious event.

Of course employing the right emcee has been a problem for this particular pageant for 28 years. Not since 1987 when animal rights activist Bob Barker retired from his hosting duties - amid a controversy over the winner receiving a fur coat as a prize - the organization has had a difficult time finding a worthy successor.

While I contend that Andy Cohen came closest to achieving the same sensibility and zest for the job that Barker had, the selection of Harvey sounded like a good idea on paper, but failed miserably in execution on the television screen. I mean, really, I can't even phantom Barker yelling through the screen the way Harvey did even at the top of the show, let alone make some of the unclassy quips he made throughout the telecast.

As color commentator, Roslyn Sanchez was even worse than Harvey was as master of ceremonies. I long for the days when Ali Landry and Julie Moran sat in the skybox high above the goings on on the stage and gave actual commentary on the proceedings, but maybe, that's just me.

As for allowing the viewers to actually vote for each delegate during every round of the competition - as opposed to helping to put an eliminated contestant back into it as they have done in the past - it might sound like a good idea, but, in reality, is actually a terrible one. And I don't know if this was a universal problem, but, despite numerous attempts, I couldn't even log on to vote anyway.

In Latin countries, pageants are a religion. Likewise, the Philippines is a hugely pageant-obsessed Island Nation and the USA, where the MUO is based, is hardly devoid of strong pageant followers. This new innovation just doesn't seem fair to me, as it puts smaller nations   - or even larger ones where the countrymen could care less about pageants - at an extreme disadvantage.

But enough with the negative aesthetics of the show, now onto the actual competition.

Putting aside that it took the better part of 40 minutes to call out a top 15, the actual selections were pretty darn good. Eleven of the eventual 15 had been mentioned in my pre-pageant blog, with only Mexico and South Africa coming as a complete surprise to me. While I didn't include either Japan or Indonesia in my choices, both had generated positive buzz since arriving in Las Vegas and neither was a huge shock to get the call as a quarterfinalist.

For the first round of elimination, the quarterfinalists competed in swimsuits of different designs, some of which were extremely unflattering on their obviously well-toned bodies. My favorites in swimsuit were Colombia, USA, Australia and Dominican Republic. I felt some favorites like Miss Venezuela and Miss Philippines might be hurt just a little in this segment of the show.

Perhaps, I was wrong, as both made it forward to the next round and competed in the top 10 evening gown competition.

Both redeemed themselves nicely in that segment, and both changed their preliminary gowns and were in my top 5 of that area of judging. Of note, Miss Philippines' red preliminary gown was one of my favorites and rumor has it her handlers changed her final night gown to blue to match the Miss Universe crown. Talk about confidence. Of course, in the end they were right, weren't they? So what do I know. And, I did love her final blue gown, just not quite as much as the red one, though.

Of note in this area of the judging was Miss USA's gown. Not known for choosing great evening wear, Olivia Jordan saved the best for last - her final pageant - a gorgeous white gown custom made for her by a bridal designer. Elegant and very sexy, it was the perfect gown for her, though her extremely pale choice in lipstick color was certainly questionable.

In the end I had Philippines, USA, Colombia, Australia and Venezuela as best in gown.

With the exception of Venezuela that would end up being your final five. Miss France ultimately joined the other four and advanced to the next round.

While I thought Colombia and Philippines easily made the final three after nailing their top five question, I thought USA's answer might be her undoing.

Uncharacteristically nervous, Jordan waffled on her gun control answer and I thought it might cost her a spot in the top 3.

It didn't.

So following a final question where USA, Colombia and Philippines all answered the relatively easy question of why they should be the next Miss Universe, it was time for the judges final vote.

Which brings me to the celebrity panel of judges. Only four were selected for the final night and all from the USA. Please bring back the days of 9-11 judges all from different nations. This is an international competition, after all.

I did enjoy the final twist of having the eliminated contestants participate in the final vote, though, as who knows the young women better than their competitors?

Entering the final vote, I felt Colombia was probably the most well-rouned of the three, as USA faltered in her first-round answer and honestly Philippines swimsuit was pretty bad and this is, after all, a beauty pageant.

Still, I felt that since Philippines made it that far, she was the likely winner. I will say, though, that whenever I judge I always take into account the totality of the young woman and I felt that should hurt Pia, and to a lesser extent Olivia - in the final vote.

So when Colombia was first announced as the winner, I felt the judges did the right thing and took into account everything they had seen all evening.

In the end, they didn't.

Miss Philippines bad swimsuit didn't cost her the title.

Steve Harvey's YouTube moment of a faux pas to the worst extreme, though, almost did.

All in all, Miss Universe 2015 was a pageant to remember.

Unfortunately, though, it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

'TWAS THE LIGHT(NING) BLOG BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?

THE FIVE MOST INTRIGUING BOLTS OF THE YEAR

By Allan Brown

'Twas the week before Christmas and, well, you know the drill.

Among other things, stockings are being hung on the chimney with care.

For fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning, though, its not with the hope that St. Nick soon would be there.

Instead, members of Bolts Nation only want one thing in their stocking and that's a copy of the new contract that Captain Steven Stamkos will hopefully sign to keep him with the team for at least another five years.

And the constant media attention the Stamkos contract negotiations has received has been far more interesting, far more intriguing, than any cable drama plot point that a group of Hollywood writers could ever create.

In next week's Part Two of my Lightning holiday editions of Under Review, I'll provide a statistical recap of the calendar year that was for the Lightning, but for this Christmas blog, I'm not necessarily focusing heavily on those with the best statistics.

For the week before the goodies in everyone's Christmas stockings are unwrapped and devoured, it's time to pretty much put the numbers aside and to just have a little fun.

It's time to honor a few members of the Lightning who deserve special kudos and perhaps a Santa cap, rather than the traditional star that's awarded to a player who's had an exceptional game.

While much of the Bolts recent success can be credited to a cohesive the team that has raised its level of competition and has been committed to getting the job done, this blog has nothing to do with that.

We're not playing by the numbers, now.

The focus of this blog is to not honor the team for its accomplishments this past year, but, rather, to signal out five players who I deem as 'The Most Intriguing Bolts of the Year.'

Since my lead gives it away, yes, Stamkos is on the list.

However, we will get to Stammer, the intriguing contract negotiations that have dominated the media and the questions about it that have followed the Captain wherever he goes a little later on in this blog.

In keeping with my Christmas tradition, this ranking doesn't necessarily list the most talented players. While performance is certainly considered and each inclusion is definitely a vital cog in the Lightning's engine, this is a compilation of the five players - who for varied reasons - I'd most like to have at my holiday dinner table. These are the players, who statistics aside, have that something extra that makes them special, that makes them intriguing.

In the past, I've accorded both Head Coach Jon Cooper and General Manager Steve Yzerman the honor of being on this list, but this year, I'm going strictly with players. Each member of this list is fascinating in his own right and has definitely contributed to the fabric of this current incarnation of the team.

So, with apologies to Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov - otherwise known as 'the Triplets' - who collectively just missed making my list at Number 6, here are those I'd most like to break bread with at my Christmas dinner table, 'The Five Most Intriguing Bolts of the Year.'

5. J.T. BROWN - Granted, Brown might make my list solely because he is the only Lightning player who follows me on Twitter. However, all kidding aside, his growth as a player this season merits inclusion all on its own.

An admitted fan of Brown's since his AHL days with the Lightning's affiliate team, the Syracuse Crunch, his recent numbers and maturity have been wonderful to watch. In fact, it's only been 12 weeks into the new campaign and he has already equaled his goal and assists output from all last season. He also is currently tied for first place with Anton Stralman in the team's plus/minus statistic at 10. In addition to his increased numbers, anyone who witnessed that fabulous 'Saturday Night Fight' last week versus Nate Schmidt of the Washington Capitals would likely put him on this list in a special category all his own.

A hip, trendy guy - just witness his frosted locks he started sporting this season - any person who meets his eventual wife via Twitter deserves a mention as intriguing for that feat alone.

4. BRIAN BOYLE - The center is easy to dismiss on a team full of stars, but don't underestimate Boyle, who was signed by the Bolts to a three-year contract last year after five years with the New York Rangers. He may have been underappreciated in the Big Apple - heck, he might not even get his due here - but he's a solid, gritty player who never surrenders. Currently ranked third among Lightning players with 8 goals, he is more than half way to exceeding his scoring total from last season and his 6-7 frame makes him an imposing player - and a terrific threat when a fight erupts - on the ice.

Boyle excels on the power play, is strong in faceoffs and is a tremendous blocker. His blue collar roots and approachable personality off the ice have made him a favorite of his teammates, just as his aggressive play on it has endeared him to the squad, as well.

He makes the list not only because of his rapidly improving, threatening play, but because he just seems to be an all-around good guy who would be the life of the party if he was at your Christmas soiree. It's safe to say that he wasn't given his full due for what he did contribute to the Rangers, but as a Bolt, he is gaining in popularity and deserves a spot on this list. I would love to hear his tales from New York and see how he compares playing in two drastically different hockey cities.

3. RYAN CALLAHAN - Much of the credit for Boyle deciding to sign on the dotted line in Tampa has to be given to the #3 player on my list.

Callahan came to town in that now infamous March 2014 trade with the Rangers, where NY obtained the services of the Bolts former Captain, Marty St. Louis.

No doubt that the Lightning got the long end of the stick on that deal.

St. Louis has since retired and Callahan keeps trekking on, doing exactly what he was brought to Tampa to do. His punishing style of play has helped keep the Lightning in many a game this season and he has provided an important, veteran leadership role to the team, both attributes that you just can't put a price tag on.

One needs only to look at Callahan's return to the squad just days after having an emergency appendectomy late in the second round of the playoffs last spring as proof of this guy's tough determination and metal.

While, admittedly, Callahan is my favorite player and he would make this list regardless of his numbers, the aggressive right winger's contributions to the team - which go way beyond his 24 goals and 54 points he posted last season - are immeasurable. Plus, I'm sure as a dinner guest, he would endear everyone with not only his tales of an already-storied career - which has seen him play for the USA in two Olympic Winter Games - but with his Irish blarney, as well.

A Captain in New York and an alternate one in Tampa, Cally's pressers following Bolts games are always informative, often witty and prove why he has had a leadership role in both cities.

A strong addition to the Bolts, securing Callahan to a six-year deal following his first half season in Tampa in 2014 was certainly one of Yzerman's best moves.

2. BEN BISHOP - #BishPlease, why wouldn't the Bolts star goaltender be on this list?

A Vezina Trophy Finalist, for the most outstanding goalie in the league, two seasons ago, Bishop helped lead the team to its first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 11 years this past season. While his numbers were down slightly in 2014-15, you just can't underestimate how important he was to the team's success last year.

Having now long surpassed the franchise record for Most Career Wins, Bishop often gets attacked in social media for letting in an occasional soft goal or for moving too far away from the crease, yet the Lightning's current yoyo season might have already been in the toilet if not for his sturdy, dependable play between the pipes.

While statistics weren't a huge factor in a player making my list, I would certainly be remiss not to mention Bishop's stellar numbers to date this season.

His current 2.00 goals against average rank him second in the NHL, behind only the hottest goaltender in the league this season, Braden Holtby of the Capitals. Additionally, Bishop's .928 save percentage also places him in the top 10 in the league in that statistic. As we are well into the second third of the season, both of those numbers place Bishop on par with his Vezina-nominated year.

And Bishop can't be mentioned without using his #BishPlease social media tag that has become his trademark and is the battle cry Bolts fans shout out when the team is in desperate need of an extraordinary save from the star goaltender.

At 6-7, Bishop is a formidable figure on and off the ice and seems like a genuinely good guy, one definitely worthy of inclusion on this list.

If you're counting you know we're now up to the #1 player on the list.

1. STEVEN STAMKOS - The Captain and one of the NHL's elite goal scorers, Stamkos doesn't earn the top spot for either reason.

Instead, he's 'The Most Intriguing Bolt of the Year' for a reason that transcends his play on the ice. Of course, anyone familiar with hockey or the Lightning are already aware of just what that reason is.

In two words - Contract Talks.

Will Stamkos, who is arguably the face of the franchise as well as its leader, still be playing in Hockey Paradise this time next year? That is the question on the minds of almost anyone in Bolts Nation. And that is the main reason Stammer is the Most Intriguing Lightning Player of the Year.

Nearing the end of a five-year deal worth roughly $37.5 million, Yzerman is undoubtedly going to have to pony up a lot more than that by July 1 to keep the NHL All-Star this time around.

The question is just how much does the center actually want and will Yzerman forsake other members of the team to keep Stammer in Hockey Paradise?

Although neither party has commented on contract talks, its safe to assume Stamkos would likely need to earn roughly $10 million per year to remain here.

The team most frequently mentioned when Stamkos' possible relocation comes up is, of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs. That makes sense since the star is a native of Markham, Ontario, just 32 minutes North of Toronto.

Stamkos grew up a Maple Leafs fan and Toronto would certainly seem to be an inviting place for him to land for a number of reasons, not the least of which would be the location from his hometown.

Playing in Toronto would also likely garner Stamkos additional monies that he wouldn't receive in Tampa. Hockey is the national past time of Canada and he would not only be an even bigger star North of the Border, but the endorsement deals he would gain by playing in the Mother Land of the sport would likely be considerably more lucrative when compared to the extra money he is currently making while playing for the Bolts.

The biggest part of the equation for Stamkos would be is he willing to leave a team that is primed to be a Cup contender right now for one that looks to not be a real threat in the foreseeable future? Sure, the Maple Leafs signing of former Detroit head Coach Mike Babcock in the offseason is a definite sign that Toronto is  attempting to become a real contender. Realistically, however, most concede it will take at least five years, though, before that happens.

Is Stamkos willing to move to Toronto and give the Leafs the time it will likely take for them to actually contend for Lord Stanley's Cup or is being on a team with a real chance to win sooner, rather than later, more important than money?

Adding fuel to the fire are not only recent reports that Montreal might actually be a player in this possible bidding war, but also the apparent unwillingness of either Stamkos or Yzerman to have sealed a deal this past summer. Most had assumed the contract would have been signed in the off season, as opposed to becoming a distraction for both the Captain and the team in this current season.

The failure of either party to settle on a contract before the puck had dropped in the 2015-16 campaign, to me, clearly indicates that the two are miles apart in the negotiations. And Stamkos recently liking a Twitter post with a reference to him possibly going to Toronto - the second time, by the way, that such an occurrence has happened - has made uneasy Lightning fans even more uncomfortable.

Additional food for fodder in this touchy subject is could Cooper's insistence to often play the Captain as a winger when Stamkos clearly prefers playing center also be contributing to the discussion?

Not wanting to dampen anyone's holiday, I can't help, though, but to speculate myself on what the eventual outcome of this quandary will actually be. Let's be honest, if the negotiations were even relatively close, a deal would have already been reached. Unfortunately, Lightning fans have good reason to be concerned about losing their Captain before the puck drops on the 2016-17 season next October.

Whatever the eventual outcome is, this mini-soap opera has certainly fascinated hockey fans of all teams and has made Stamkos an even more intriguing figure than he had been when solely considering his superior ability on the ice.

So, there you have it, my 'Five Most Intriguing Bolts of the Year.'

As for Stamkos, who was known as Stammer Claus in a local sports radio promotion a few years ago, hopefully his Christmas gift - even if its a late one - to the Lightning fans will be the signing of a new contract.

If Stamkos doesn't ultimately re-sign, that move and his inclusion on this list would be like sticking a lump of coal in the Christmas stocking of everyone in Bolts Nation.

While it may seem premature to speculate on something that doesn't legally have to be settled for seven months,, July really isn't that far away. No doubt, these contract negotiations, which are front and center discussions on every sports media outlet around, will continue to dominate the hockey headlines until an ultimate decision is reached. The magnitude of the decision and the importance of Stamkos as an elite player have made this story even bigger than it would be for just an ordinary NHL center.

And even as Bolts fans hang the stockings over the chimney with care this holiday season, it's safe to say that most are doing so with a tad amount of trepidation, as they wonder if come July the Captain still will be there.

Come back next week for Part Two of my holiday Lightning blog, which will review the highs and lows of the team over the past 12 months.

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM UNDER REVIEW!

Beauty and Glamour Prevail as a Miss Universe Crown's At Stake in Vegas - A Cheat Sheet to Watch the Pageant

By Allan Brown

It's not every day that 80 of the most beautiful women in the Universe gather in one place.

Instead, it generally only happens for two weeks once a year.

Annually, the most glamorous beauties in the world convene at the site of the traditional pageant that supposedly crowns the most beautiful woman of them all and she is bestowed the title of Miss Universe.

This year, Las Vegas hosts the 64th annual Miss Universe Pageant. And what happens in Vegas will definitely not stay in Vegas, as the pageant will be televised to an estimated 1 billion people in some 190 countries and the winner will embark on a year-long reign fit for, well, a queen.

In the U.S., the Pageant will be televised on December 20 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Fox, which broadcasts the event for the first time. The past 12 contests had been televised on NBC and for the 43 years before that, CBS was the television home for the contest.

The WME/IMG talent agency bought the pageant from Donald Trump earlier this year amid threats of withdrawal from many Latin countries following comments by the Republican frontrunner for the presidential nomination that America should ban illegal Mexican immigrants from coming into the country.

NBC bowed out of televising the event and Fox eventually picked it up after WME/IMG acquired the pageant.

Putting aside all the controversy that has led up to the event, the delegates have made various appearances throughout Vegas in the two weeks leading up to the pageant.

And, prior to the live finals, each candidate will have faced a preliminary panel of celebrity judges, who will have analyzed them in swimsuit, evening gown and preliminary one-on-one interviews.

Only the elite will make it to the final round Sunday.

Choosing 15 quarterfinalists is a difficult - some would say impossible - task, but the panel will do it.

To give you armchair judges at home a little leg up on the rest of the audience, here are some of the contestants to look out for entering the final night of competition.

After 40+ years of watching and following the pageant, I feel that while I may not actually be an expert, I am certainly somewhat knowledgeable on what makes a strong Miss Universe candidate.

Of course, this is certainly not an exhaustive - nor probably even accurate list -  but, rather, a compilation of those who, in my opinion, have been standing out thus far in the competition.

Any list of prohibitive favorites would have to include both Miss USA and Venezuela. They have won the pageant a combined 15 times, with the U.S. holding a 8-7 edge in victories.

This year's contenders from the two countries are on this list not just because of the sash factor, but, rather, because they are legitimate contenders to succeed Paulina Vega of Colombia and ascend to the Miss Universe throne.

Oklahoma's Olivia Jordan, the reigning Miss USA, won her national title in large part due to her answer to the two final questions. A brilliant speaker and seasoned pageant competitor, if she makes it to the final five at Miss Universe, it's likely to be a slam dunk for her to capture the international title.

However, one can never rule out a contestant from Venezuela and this year's queen, Mariana Jimenez, is no exception. Stunningly gorgeous with a classic sense of style, she is reminiscent of the country's 2007 titleholder, Ly Jonaitas, who probably should have won Miss Universe eight years ago.

If either of the two frontrunners should falter, there are plenty of other prohibitive favorites waiting in the wings to capture the crown.

Latin beauties do amazingly well in the pageant, for the sole reason being that winning a title in those countries puts the victor on the fast track to instant celebrity. From the moment they are crowned, they have access to the best coaches and designers in their country. Seldom is a Latin-American beauty unprepared when she arrives at the Big Dance.

Six of the last 10 winners have been from Latin America and one of them could easily take home a seventh title in as many years next week.

If Miss Venezuela fails to win it, Miss Colombia could easily make it a back-to-back victory for her country. This year's representative was actually crowned late last year before Vega won her Universe crown and many thought that Ariadna Gutierrez was even more stunning than Paulina. A country winning two years in a row is rare, but, certainly not unheard of. Still only once in the past 6-and-a-half decades has it actually happened. The country who did it? You guessed it, Venezuela with consecutive victories in 2008 and 2009.

As for other strong Latin contestants, the Misses Peru, Dominican Republic and Brazil seem to lead the pack, with the latter having the slight disadvantage of having won her national title just days before arriving in Vegas. Brazil, though, has been strong of late, making the top 5 three of the last four years.

Like I previously said, pageants are not just for fun in Latin America, they are a well-run business and a winner of a pageant in that region is automatically a strong contender for any international crown.

Another Latina is a strong contender, though this one is from Europe, Miss Spain, has certainly turned heads since her national crowning and looks fierce in Vegas. Perhaps Carla Garcia will succeed where the last two winners from her country - both favorites entering their respective pageants - have failed, with the country finishing as 1st runner up in 2013 and a disappointing and surprising top 10 last year.

If Europe is to win its first Miss Universe title in 13 years, they couldn't ask for a stronger group of contestants to represent the continent. In addition to Miss Spain, Belgium, Great Britain, France and Denmark have sent extremely strong contenders with many thinking France's Flora Quequerol as the best of the bunch.

Still, there's something about Denmark's Cecilie Wellemberg that screams winner to me, even though the nation has never had a Miss Universe and has only placed twice in the past 49 years. Something tells me that's about to change this year.

Other strong contestants from Europe include the Misses Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine and Russia.

Asia is also particularly strong this year and the perennial stronghold nation of the Philippines is not even the best of the lot from that continent. While I think Pia Wurtzbach will at least make the 15 from that island nation, both Miss Vietnam and Miss Thailand may be stronger contestants, with Vietnam actually one of the odds-on favorites to win the crown

And Miss Thailand has already generated lots of headlines on her own with her controversial 'tuk-tuk' national costume, which was made to represent a replica of a motorized rickshaw. Even without Trump at the helm, those MUO pageants love to stir up controversy each year, don't they?

If any of the above-mentioned delegates falter during  Wednesday's preliminary competition, there are several delegates who are anxiously awaiting to pick up the pieces - or the winner's scepter - when December 20 gets here.

Those delegates who are bubbling just below some of the more heavily favored contenders include Australia, Poland, India and one who I actually think has an extremely good chance of advancing far into the competition despite her sash, and she would be Miss Curacao.

Just for the record, any of the young women I've spotlighted in this column would make an excellent and gorgeous Miss Universe and I think all - for different and varied reasons - are legitimate contenders. However, if I had to select a

pre-pageant top five, I could give you four: USA, Denmark, France and Vietnam. The other spot to me is wide open. Maybe Curacao.

I wouldn't, however, be all that surprised if that fifth spot was occupied by Miss Venezuela.

After all, I'd never wager too much against a country that's already captured seven crowns and that hopes to tie the USA with an eighth one next week.

For photos of all this year's Miss Universe delegates, go to www.MissUniverse.com and click on the contestants link.