Emmy nominations: The good news

July 19, 04:48 PM

Now that all the complaints are out of my system, it must be said: My rage at the Emmy nominees is nowhere near the white-hot level it was at this time last year.

In fact, the TV academy did a number of nice things Thursday morning, particularly in some of the supporting-actor and the nonfiction/reality categories. So while I'm still baffled by the complete exclusion of The Wire and The Shield and the near-total snub of Friday Night Lights (OK, so the complaints aren't totally out of my system), there are definitely things to like. The full list of nominees, by the way, can be found here.

To wit:

Cheers for the 10 nominations for 30 Rock, including a rare writing-acting-producing trifecta for Tina Fey. The idea that the Emmys can give a show a ratings boost hasn't really borne out in recent years, but it'd be nice if this show won a couple trophies and got a bump because of it.

The nomination for How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris is, to borrow a word, awesome. The comedy supporting actor category is a pretty strong one, actually, with first-timers Rainn Wilson (The Office) and Kevin Dillon (Entourage) also in the mix. Hooray, too, for Jenna Fischer (The Office) and the fabulously bitchy Vanessa Williams of Ugly Betty in the comedy supporting actress field.

Good crop of guest-acting nominees too: Ian McKellen on Extras, Martin Landau on Entourage, Judith Light and Salma Hayek on Ugly Betty, Forest Whitaker on ER and Beau Bridges and Giovanni Ribisi on My Name Is Earl. I'm especially glad, though, to see nominations for Kate Burton and Elizabeth Reaser for their work on Grey's Anatomy. For a significant stretch of the season Reaser's Jane Doe/Ava character was the most interesting thing on the show, and Burton seemed to raise everyone's game when she was on screen.

Though Battlestar Galactica didn't sniff an acting or series nod, it got well-deserved writing and directing nominations, the former for its third-season premiere and the latter for "Exodus, Part 2." The drama-writing finalists are a pretty spectacular lot, also featuring the Lost season finale and three of the final four Sopranos episodes: "Kennedy and Heidi" (Christopher's death), "The Second Coming" (AJ's suicide attempt, Tony's beating of Phil's guy Coco) and the finale "Made in America." I might have subbed in "The Blue Comet" or the season opener "Soprano Home Movies" for "The Second Coming," but that's really just quibbling.

It probably won't be featured in the main Emmy telecast, but I'm thrilled that Spike Lee's powerhouse documentary about Hurricane Katrina, When the Levees Broke, got six nominations, including one for "exceptional merit in nonfiction filmmaking." It was one of the more extraordinary things on television in the past year, as was the PBS film Jonestown, which is nominated in the same category.

Is this the year something other than The Amazing Race wins the reality-competition series Emmy? American Idol and Dancing with the Stars are giant hits, but it'd be nice to see either of the Bravo entries, Project Runway or Top Chef, get some recognition; both shows are well put-together.

in Emmys

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Comments (10)

Comments

WHAT?? Where's GERALD MCRANEY for his role as George Hearst in DEADWOOD.
OR, his role as Johnston Green in JERICHO????
All I can say is HUGH LAURIE had better win this year after being totally snubbed last year!!!
It will be the only reason I watch the show.

Lily | Jul 19, 2007 7:04:03 PM | #

I'm so glad 30 Rock got what it deserved! I really hope it takes a few home.

Kathleen | Jul 19, 2007 7:57:24 PM | #

I think I'm most excited about Top Chef being nominated. That's quickly become one of my top reality shows, and who can't like Padma??

Harris | Jul 19, 2007 9:08:34 PM | #

Didn't I read somewhere that one of the producer of American Idol is now involved with producing the Emmys? If that's true, watch for AI to win for the ridiculous category of reality show.

Linda | Jul 20, 2007 4:41:38 AM | #

So great to see Judith Light be nominated. A fantastic actress.

Carol | Jul 20, 2007 6:57:49 AM | #

Seeing Conchata Ferrel up for 2 1/2 Men was the most exciting. That is one underrated actress who's been doing this a long time.

Mark | Jul 20, 2007 11:15:34 AM | #

"WHAT?? Where's GERALD MCRANEY for his role as George Hearst in DEADWOOD.
OR, his role as Johnston Green in JERICHO????"

Lily, it's easy... his role in "Jericho" isn't worthy of even a nomination, I don't see anything that outstanding about it. Infact I just don't get the mania surrounding the entire show. Yes I do watch the show, but at times it can be a bit slow... one of those shows where I can take it or leave it. I wasn't that upset when it was originally canceled. Hopefully it improves greatly in it's new chance CBS is giving it.

One network reprive from the cancelation bin that I'm very happy with though is ABC's "According to Jim". Seriously, I do like the show alot.

Steve | Jul 20, 2007 11:20:12 AM | #

Glad to see once again the recognition 2 1/2 men is getting. Jon and Charlie are very well deserving of their work. And Conchata ferrel (berta) has done a great job so far. She is probably due for an emmy in the near future. Hopefully it wins this time to avenge being shut out a year ago!

shaun | Jul 20, 2007 6:25:07 PM | #

CONGRATS to HUGH LAURIE and HOUSE!!! Fingers crossed for a win!!
Too bad GERALD MCRANEY wasn't nominated for DEADWOOD. He was really great in the role of George Hearst. Or DEADWOOD for that matter.

Grace | Jul 22, 2007 9:48:37 PM | #

The Emmys never change, which is to say, they never fix what is wrong. Between industry politics and the huge increase in the number of shows due to cable, it is a c**p shoot.

Long ago, one of the hundreds of tiny throwaway jokes on The Simpsons that make it so wonderful said it all: An article in a newspaper Bart is reading is entitled, "Emmys and Grammys Merge."

Always Thus | Jul 23, 2007 10:04:26 AM | #