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By Rachel Bennett

Television Editor & Columnist

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Happy (almost) Thanksgiving, readers!

As you all are counting your blessings — which probably include your family, friends and health — tomorrow, don’t forget to also count your under-appreciated TV blessings. They may not seem like much, but life really wouldn’t be the same without them.

To help get you started, here are the top 10 TV blessings for which I’m thankful:

10. The primetime soap is alive and well

We really have ABC to thank for this one, as its series Revenge and Nashville are proof that primetime soaps can be borderline ridiculous yet critically acclaimed. These shows may not be up for an Emmy anytime soon, but boy, are they fun to watch. The main performers for each (Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe on Revenge, and Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere on Nashville) are excellent as backstabbing foes, and the twisty plots keep...

Of all Sunday night's Emmy wins, none offer a more intriguing glimpse at TV's future than Louis C.K.'s Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre. That's because the concert special wasn't produced by any TV studio, nor was it even initially meant to air on TV. It was made by C.K. for his fans, who paid $5 to download it directly from his website.  Photos: Emmy Awards 2012: Red Carpet Arrival Photos   Edited and released just four weeks after the Nov. 2011 show it captures, the Live

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Remember how Louis C.K. released an hour-long, self-funded comedy special directly to all his fans all around the world all at once by way of his website and a $5 DRM-free download? And remember how Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater generated more than $1.1 million in sales and only cost the comedian roughly $170,000 to produce, so he was able to come away with far more cash (a huge chunk of which he donated) than he ever would’ve had he created the program via traditional means with cable television for a partner? And then remember how fellow comedian Aziz Ansari saw C.K’s success and then replicated the model for his own comedy special and distributed a DRM-free version of Dangerously Delicious directly to his fans with the help of Vhx.TV? If you don’t remember them FX and Comedy Central certainly do. The cable networks recently announced...

Louis C.K. is having a pretty good week; Instagram is having an absolutely fantastic month. The comedian, who was honored with four Comedy Awards on Saturday, was named the Webby's Person of the Year on Tuesday morning for leading the charge in digital distribution with his $5, direct download comedy special, Live From the Beacon Theater. Meanwhile, the photo editing and sharing service, which was bought by Facebook for $1 billion last month, won the Webby Breakout of the Year Award (which may, at this point, be understating the case). The Webbys, the annual awards from the International Academy

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Back in December, when Louis C.K. self-released his stand-up special "Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater," I wondered which entertainer might be equipped to follow in his footsteps, cut out the middle man and take their product directly to the public. Well, the next one to try is a familiar face around these parts: Aziz Ansari, aka Tom Haverford on "Parks and Recreation," who's self-releasing his new stand-up special "Dangerously Delicious" via his website, AzizAnsari.com, under much the same model C.K. used with "Live at the Beacon." He paid to have it produced, is charging $5 for it, etc. I...

This year marks the second annual Comedy Awards ceremony, which celebrates the best comedies of the year. The event is set to take place on April 28 at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, and will air nationwide May 6 on Comedy Central.

And the nominees are...

Comedy Film

"The Artist"

"Bridesmaids"

"Crazy, Stupid, Love."

"Horrible Bosses"

"Midnight in Paris"

Performance by an Actor - Film

Jason Bateman, "Horrible Bosses"

Steve Carell, "Crazy, Stupid, Love."

Jean Dujardin,...

Comedy Central announced the nominees for the second annual Comedy Awards earlier today and it was no laughing matter.

"Bridesmaids" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love." are about to face off in a two-way race for the most lauded flick, as each landed five nominations in the film categories.

"Midnight in Paris" followed with four nods, while "The Artist" and "Horrible Bosses" were close behind with three nominations each.

Considering its massive box office and award season success, the nominations for "Bridesmaids" — which include Comedy Film, Comedy Director - Film (Paul Feig), Comedy Screenplay and two nods in the Performance By an Actress - Film category (Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy) — are no surprise. At least, not as big a surprise as someone pooping in a sink.

Despite critical acclaim, however, "Crazy, Stupid, Love." failed to gain much traction, making its haul of five nominations, including one in every non-animation category, even more impressive.

The Second Annual Comedy Awards announced its 2012 nominees on Tuesday morning, recognizing the best that comedy has offered in TV and film over the last year. The Viacom-produced event will be taped on Saturday, April 28 at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, and will premiere on Comedy Central on May 6.

Leading the nominations are "Modern Family," "30 Rock," “Bridesmaids” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” with five nominations each.

One new category this year, Best Club Comic, recognizes the best stand-up comedians who do not typically play large theaters and do not have a regular role on a TV series. Those nominees are Ted Alexandro, Hannibal Buress, Pete Holmes, Anthony Jeselnik, Moshe Kasher, John Mulaney, Kumail Nanjiani, Chelsea Peretti, Amy Schumer and Rory Scovel.

The nominees are selected by the award's Board of Directors Comedy Central indicated includes the likes of Carol Burnett, Stephen Colbert, Budd Friedman, Brad Grey, Caroline Hirsch, Jamie Masada.

The oft-overlooked Parks and Recreation and relative newbie Happy Endings muscled their way through the crowd of usual suspects to score major nominations for the second annual The Comedy Awards, to be held April 28 and then air May 6 on Comedy Central.

As typical, Modern Family and 30 Rock led the pack with five nominations each, including for Best Series, Directing and Writing, while Curb Your Enthusiasm collected four nods.

Parks and Rec, though, landed in three races, including Best Actress (for Amy Poehler). Happy Endings, meanwhile, drew a single yet significant nod, for Best Series.

Here’s the complete rundown of...

Series Modern Family and 30 Rock, features Bridesmaids and Crazy, Stupid, Love and Louis C.K. landed the most nominations, five each, at the 2nd annual Comedy Awards. Modern Family, which won best comedy series last year, is back in contention in the top TV category along with 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm (4 total nominations), Parks and Recreation (3) and surprise nominee Happy Endings. Louis C.K.’s five nominations include 3 for his FX series Louie (best performance by an actor in a comedy series, best sketch/alternative comedy series, best comedy writing) one for his special Louis C.K.: Live at the Beacon Theater and one for best stand-up tour. (Louie got a total of 4 noms, including best directing.) On the film side, Bridesmaids and Crazy, Stupid, Love. will suare off in the best film category against Midnight in Paris and Horrible Bosses (4 total nominations each) and the Oscar-winning The Artist (3). This year’s Comedy...