Emmy Reactions

September 16, 09:22 PM

Oh, Emmy voters. Even when you make sense, you still perplex me.

Sunday (Sept. 16) night's 59th Primetime Emmy Awards (blogged about in minute detail here) offered the usual reasons to approach the Television Academy with both admiration and confusion.

On one hand, how could you be so hip and savvy to give 30 Rock the outstanding comedy series prize? How could you be so open to new shows that you'd welcome actors from Brothers & Sisters (Sally Field) and Ugly Betty (America Ferrera) into the winners' circle? How could you very correctly identify award-worthy work from people like Terry O'Quinn and Ricky Gervais?

How could you do those things right (or close to right) and still push the default option so many times? In short, how can you just keep giving Emmys to The Amazing Race?

Don't get me wrong. I love The Amazing Race. At times I've loved The Amazing Race like a celebutard loves a diminutive purse-dog, or like those guys from Carls Jr. love flat buns. In a general sense, it's absolutely one of the very best reality competition shows on TV. But last year was not the best of year's for The Amazing Race, as the show combined a lackluster fall season with a spring all-stars campaign. If ever there was a year for some other show to beat The Amazing Race in the reality competition category, it was this once. American Idol gave tens of millions to charity. Top Chef and Project Runway added Bravo's patina of quality. And Dancing With the Stars had people dancing with the stars. But no, another win for The Amazing Race.

And there's another win for The Daily Show in the variety, music or comedy series category, even though The Colbert Report has been reliably funnier for over a year now. And there's another win for James Spader, just because he gave a long, impassioned speech at the end of his submission episode, even though James Galdolfini was an utter titan on The Sopranos this season (and Hugh Laurie and Denis Leary eventually deserve Emmys too). And as much as we used to love Jeremy Piven's Ari Gold on Entourage, wouldn't Rainn Wilson, Kevin Dillon or particularly Neil Patrick Harris have been more deserving supporting actor winners, particularly given how bad Entourage has been lately?

Complacency doesn't always make things wrong. For example, will anybody ever regret an award vote cast for Helen Mirren? Well, yes. I suspect anybody who tries to get her recognition for the upcoming National Treasure 2 will look a little silly, but you can't go wrong with Mirren and Prime Suspect. And even if Judy Davis already has two Emmys (and Samantha Morton was unbelievably good in Longford), giving her another won't cause any harm.

The winner in the night's biggest category, outstanding drama series, was a foregone conclusion. Yes, it might sound a wee bit hypocritical to criticize Emmy voters for complacency, while also taking no issue with yet another win for The Sopranos. The funny thing is that thanks to the long-term tyranny of The West Wing in the outstanding drama series category, The Sopranos only had one previous series win. The final season of The Sopranos came in two halves and while the first half may have been disappointing, this year's episodes delivered (even if you're one of those resolution-needy people who hated the finale).

Oh sure, the Emmy voters tried to make it look like that Sopranos win wasn't so inevitable at all. Smart money had both Gandolfini and Edie Falco has favorites as well and they both had to clap for other people. Those upsets could have set the stage for an even bigger surprise, for a win for... What? Grey's Anatomy for a season in which the show's soapy misadventures were even clunkier than usual? I was happy to see Katherine Heigl win, even if she probably could have taken the high road and not made a joke about the announcer blundering her name. No, even as TV's second most watched scripted show, Grey's just wasn't going to stop the HBO juggernaut. Once the Emmy voters weren't smart enough to nominate The Wire or Friday Night Lights, how could they beat sending one of finest shows in the medium's history off into the ether in the manner to which it has become accustomed.

What'd you think of this year's Emmy winners? What did the voters get right? And what did they get wrong?

in Emmys

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Comments (54)

Comments

No nominations and thus no awards for HBO's The Wire, a far better show than The Sopranos. Why is that? Is it just too "hard" to watch for the folks who vote on the awards? Too depressing? Not escapist enough? I am really baffled.

George Burdell | Sep 16, 2007 10:21:28 PM | #

Who the heck votes for the winners? They barely got any right!

Kevin | Sep 16, 2007 11:12:43 PM | #

The Colbert Report was absolutely robbed, although I'm thrilled for The Daily Show, which I also adore. I'm more disappointed that they lost the writing Emmy to Conan.

On the other hand, just think of all the comedic mileage Colbert is going to get out of losing to Tony Bennett! *And* 2006 Emmy thief Barry Manilow's set to be on the Report this week!

Jess | Sep 16, 2007 11:14:11 PM | #

It seemed to me that The Office cast stole the show. How desperate did Fox have to be to look towards an NBC show to get laughs?

George | Sep 17, 2007 12:15:20 AM | #

Why has Spader won three times? He's won no other awards for TV drama.

Fred | Sep 17, 2007 12:15:26 AM | #

Maybe it was Neil’s role on this show as a Canadian Necropheliac that kept him from winning?
http://www.powerloafing.com

Sid | Sep 17, 2007 4:31:14 AM | #

I'm sure she enjoys the plaudits, but my comment is essentially the following: she's DAME Helen Mirren, get it right.

Hannah | Sep 17, 2007 4:37:02 AM | #

America, yay. James Spader, boo. Giving Gervais's award to Steve Carell and commencing with the three-man hug? Awesome! 30 Rock, even better. All in all, the Emmys had some good moments, but the whole weird seat thing and whole Seacrest thing made it just...strange. And someone tell Katherine Heigl to seem less mean? Is it just me?

Shirley | Sep 17, 2007 6:38:50 AM | #

Dear Zap2It:

WE DON'T FREAKING CARE ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!!!! STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!!! WE DON'T CARE IF IT WAS ROBBED, IGNORED, BADLY SCHEDULED, OR WHATEVER. I'M REALLY SICK OF HEARING ABOUT IT. NO ONE WATCHES IT FOR WHATEVER REASON, SO JUST DROP IT OKAY?

SICK OF FNL | Sep 17, 2007 6:40:05 AM | #

two and a half men got robbed, how have they not won anything they are the highest rate comedy on tv. Charlie sheen, jon cryer, and the show should've won. They are so underappreciated. Even the supporting actresses are so funny they didn't even get one mention in the recap. Same thing with Hereos 10 times better than sopranos come on masi oka and heroes should've won it was the highest rated new show.

Men and heroes fan | Sep 17, 2007 7:10:16 AM | #

James Spader??? Is this a joke. It makes me sick. He had no business even being nominated!!! What a huge disappointment!

TJ | Sep 17, 2007 7:25:11 AM | #

Daniel, I think you're (sadly) right on both The Amazing Race and The Daily Show, which are frustrating wins that, unfortunately, I can't really argue with. Even as TAR went through some rough patches, and even as the Daily Show has been eclipsed by Colbert by a fair margin, their long-term goodwill is too powerful for me to dislike the choices. Clearly the Emmy voters feel the same.

I think it's also important to note that ABC took half of the Big 8 Acting categories (O'Quinn, Field, Spader, Ferrera). After getting snubbed out last year in the post-Housewives/Lost era, it is clear that ABC is back in Emmy's good graces even without an Ugly Betty Comedy win. Which, of course, deserved to go to 30 Rock in every possible way.

Myles | Sep 17, 2007 8:01:23 AM | #

I think the whole tv industry is a mess. Young people have tuned in on the internet to such an extent that it really doesn't matter who wins or losses.

tv viewer | Sep 17, 2007 8:22:57 AM | #

James Spader completely deserved the Emmy. His character doesn't make just one impassioned speech to submit for awards, he is out there every week on Boston Legal making statements that are compelling enough to deliver a political/social message from the writers that coming out of almost anyone elses mouth would put the majority of people to sleep. Instead he stands up there and delivers messages about the war and other current events in a way that make him earn every one of those awards.
I know that not everyone has to agree with my point of view, but at least get your facts right that on Boston Legal his character performs consistently and NOT just for one submission tape.

Scottie | Sep 17, 2007 8:27:12 AM | #

agree with tj on the amazing race and the daily show... don't forget heigl in the ABC wins either... 5 of the 8 wins went to ABC.

victorious | Sep 17, 2007 8:38:45 AM | #

I'm not qualified to speak about most of these shows, but I think it's truly unfair that Stephen Colbert didn't win anything. I'm also a big fan of Jon Stewart, but the Daily Show has increasingly relied on lowball humor - and segments similar to the ones it's been using for years - to get laughs. And although it's fantastic to see a real musician win public recognition for once, Tony Bennett's work on his NBC special (which already won two awards by the way) wasn't even close to what Colbert brings to the table on a 4-nights-a-week basis. Colbert's energy and comedic gifts are too great to be overlooked. Methinks Tony owes Stephen a duet on the Report!

sean | Sep 17, 2007 8:40:38 AM | #

I wasn't very surprised or baffled by the winners at last night's Emmys. It seems that most award shows are predictable. The winners are the ones with the most hype, not necessarily the ones who deserve the award the most.

However, I was pretty shocked that Spader won for Best Actor. I thought for sure that Gandolfini had a lock, or maybe Hugh Laurie would be the dark horse. The Emmy voters certainly do love to give awards to David Kelly's projects, even if I think his shows are overrated!

Paige | Sep 17, 2007 8:56:41 AM | #

James Spader's win was certainly deserved, he consistently delivers dramatic & when called for comedy on the turn of a dime. The other actors in the category are pretty one-dimensional, a thug, a one-note cranky doctor, recovering alchoholic firefighter, all of whom perform the same every week, just different words.

Karen | Sep 17, 2007 9:41:02 AM | #

Who cares - no nominations for Lauren Graham in 7 years of Gilmore Girls - the awards are a joke.

Steve77 | Sep 17, 2007 9:52:56 AM | #

I agree with most of what you said Daniel. In some respects I wish these actors could not be nominated again if they won the year before. I really wanted to see Neil Patrick Harris win. His Barney on "How I met you Mother" is great - he is the reason to watch. Finally, Katherine Heigl....really? She is one of the reasons I stopped watching "Greys...." she is just plan annoying.

Tom | Sep 17, 2007 10:06:40 AM | #

Not the Amazing Race AGAIN! I realize that its a hard show to film but encouraging American's to go out and act like ugly American's maybe shouldn't be rewarded.

As much as I hate to say it Idol has changed the fabric of American music, Go look at the charts and see how many past contestants are there. TV changing a whole industry. (oh yeah and Paula's HOT!)

Ben | Sep 17, 2007 10:19:54 AM | #

Won't argue w/the Daily Show win (Mr. Stewart and Mr. Colbert BOTH need a host Emmy one day...), but The Amazing Race... really?

And it was just time for Jaime Pressly to win, and I'm very happy for her.

Fred V | Sep 17, 2007 10:43:50 AM | #

I'm disappointed Kyra Sedgwick lost to Sally Fields in the Best Actress in a Drama.

Not a fan of Grey's but you are right about Katherine Heigl taking the high road with the bad pronuciation.

DG | Sep 17, 2007 11:39:43 AM | #

I am tired of people griping about the Amazing Race. It's not about encouragin g people to be ugly. It's about overcoming fears and obstacles to win the race. American Idol is just a crappy karoake variety show with too much cheese to digest.

James Myers | Sep 17, 2007 12:17:17 PM | #

Classless Katherine "Hi-jull" needs to just shut it. Mariska Hargitay's name is mispronounced all the time, but being the class act that she is, she lets it go. I am starting to wonder if she went to T.R. Knight's defense because she is a good friend or because she just can't keep her trap shut.

Dee | Sep 17, 2007 12:23:51 PM | #

i , for the life of me, can't figure out 30Rock. Not only is it unfunny, it downright boring. The office to me is s0-s0. As dor Dee, Katherine h. is a very classy person. l,eave her alone you idiot.

gregg | Sep 17, 2007 1:05:30 PM | #

i , for the life of me, can't figure out 30Rock. Not only is it unfunny, it downright boring. The office to me is s0-s0. As dor Dee, Katherine h. is a very classy person. l,eave her alone you idiot.

gregg | Sep 17, 2007 1:05:45 PM | #

Given the choices within each category most of the winners you could make a case for (except for Spader). The real errors were in the nomination process.

pablo | Sep 17, 2007 1:42:51 PM | #

Amazing Race deserves it's win. It is the best of the reality genre. Idol should be included in the best soap category.

everwood | Sep 17, 2007 4:28:27 PM | #

I think Kyra Sedwick and J.K. Simmons were overlooked this year.

deb | Sep 17, 2007 4:39:55 PM | #

I think a lot of these wins are sympathy things. The jokes were boring. I don't get Sally Field winning. Heck, she is a mom and plays a mom. He's had so many awards it's just a day at the office. James Spader, he's a hard worker. I remember him from movies I felt sorry for him because he seems like he felt guilty. There were so many good actors, especially Hugh Laurie. Oh well, there's next year.

Lisa | Sep 17, 2007 6:31:11 PM | #

Emmy voters are about as interested in art as the Grammys, but I was on the moon about "30 Rock"'s win for Best Comedy! At least they got one or two awards right!

Cat | Sep 17, 2007 6:36:46 PM | #

I really don't care who wins at the Emmy's every year. Nothing I watch ever gets a nomination much less a win, so I just watch it to see what happens and to see the memorium tribute every year anyway.

penny | Sep 17, 2007 9:45:22 PM | #

These are just people, people like us. I don't think any of them deserve an award for doing a job they are overly paid to do. Doctor's, nurses, caretakers, paramedics and teachers deserve rewards and high pay, not a bunch of actors. Kathy Griffin is an idiot with a useless show.

Fedup | Sep 18, 2007 6:53:26 AM | #

JENNA FISCHER WAS ROBBED

mike | Sep 18, 2007 6:54:40 AM | #

Okay y does every one hate Katherine Heigl. i might be a bit bias cause i like her but i dint think that was too rude her and i am a person who let people let me call me a different name my whole 4 years of college. i just think that it was more of a thing she thought might be funny to say on stage and well it wasnt but no reason to hate her!!!

zac | Sep 18, 2007 7:28:36 AM | #

Got some great ideas. See what y'all think of it.
Have the 'Emmy Awards' on PBS. Commercial free.
Reduce the time from 3 hours to just 1 hour.
Finally, get rid of the dull speeches.

Steve | Sep 18, 2007 10:39:41 AM | #

I think that most of television has changed and not for the better. Now we have shows like "The Closer" with "Kyra Sedgwick" staring in them; and few more new shows coming back into the line-up; things are starting to look up again. Kyra deserved to win she is unbelievable is the series. I only watched the show the first time because I was looking for something different other than a repreat. Now I watch all her repeats. The rest of the supporting cast also makes the show.

Diane Hill | Sep 18, 2007 10:48:46 AM | #

Here's a good rundown from sunday:

Good News
1. It was really awesome to see james spader get the emmy for boston legal. Why do people seem shocked? I'm not. He plays one of the best characters on television on one of the best shows on television. And for the second time in four years he beats out james gandolfini! Ha ha HA! Real good.
1. I don't watch B+S but it does seem fitting that Sally Field won another emmy. She's been doing this a long time, and has multiple emmys and oscars. Appearently she still has it at 60(?), and she will probably work until she's 100.
2. Very nice for America Ferrera to win. I don't watch Ugly Betty either, but she's just hot and must do a good job at playing an ugly woman. When that show began last year, I could kind of see it coming. And it's hardly a surpise.
3. Ryan Seacrest did a great job as host and hope he is welcomed back. But he looked as gay as can be in that Henry VII outfit.
4. Best moment of the night was when the show opened with Brian and Stewie singing about television. Absolutely brilliant! The people at family guy are utter geniouses. I can't wait for the star wars episode this sunday at 9/8c on FOX.
5. Idol gives back, for its charity contribution, was well deserved. A huge impact. And Al Gore winning for Current, hardly a surprise. When does he get his Grammy and Tony?

That's all.

shaun | Sep 18, 2007 2:12:24 PM | #

Bad News
1. Where do I begin? Oh yeah...How the f*** does 2 1/2 Men get left out?!? You don't earn seven noms for nothing! It is hard work and they get nothing to show for it! I have been a Charlie Sheen fan for many years, from his movies to his current show. He is overdue for an emmy win. Ricky Gervais. Pbbt! And Jon Cryer is one of the funniest supporting actors on a series. I don't know how you can beat them. 2.5 Men had better win next year or the academy will continue to rot in shame.
2. The sopranos?? I said it was time to put a whacking on them and they slipped through the cracks to win best drama. At least the actors got shut out, which is consolation, and they have won enough. But spread the wealth!
3. 30 rock?? A show with 4 or 5 people watching wins best comedy? That show won't stick around too long, probably just a few years. I don't get it. I predict this now: 30 rock is the new arrested development! A show with a small audience, critically acclaimed, and wins the top award in its first season. At least I understood AD.
3. The Amazing DISgrace. That f***king show has won five emmys in a row. Between sopranos and Race I haven't seen this many cheaters since the New England Patriots! Idol is the biggest show in the universe, especially after Idol Gives Back, which was important and inspirational. I'll take AI, thank you.
4. Why all the censoring of speeches? This is america. people can say what they want. It ruins the entertainment for us.
5. Such frustration. Next thing you know, an NFL star acquitted of murder will get arrested in my hometown of vegas for armed robbery. OOPS!

I feel much better!

P.S. Jeremy Piven again? Man..

Shaun | Sep 18, 2007 2:28:06 PM | #

You can never disagree with The Daily Show winning because though the COlbert Report is funny, it is still NOT nearly as funny as the Daily Show.

randy | Sep 18, 2007 2:55:19 PM | #

After seeing all those five second delays because of people cursing, they need to rename the FCC Freaking Crybaby Censors! Yeah, that makes more sense to me. Thanks a lot janet jackson.

shaun | Sep 18, 2007 4:57:36 PM | #

I agree with the comments about Katherine Heigl. How utterly unbecoming, classless, & rude of her to belabor the point about her name. Instead of thanking her mother so much, she might want to ask her mother why she didn't teach her daughter any manners. It's very bad form to correct someone's pronounciation/grammer in public, and you can't get much more public than a nationally televised awards show. She made it worse by bringing it up again, thanking the person for pronouncing it correctly. What a diva.

Way to go - Gervais, O'Quinn, and The Amazing Race!

Boo to the wins for Sopranos, Spader, and Pressly. What a joke.

Sanchez | Sep 18, 2007 6:33:14 PM | #

Idol/Smidol...go the AMAZING RACE...took fortitude and courage to win.

Jill from Western Australia | Sep 18, 2007 10:52:18 PM | #

screw the amazing race. D*** in a box wins which is probably the Best. Video. Ever.

shaun | Sep 18, 2007 11:26:27 PM | #

2 1/2 men was totally robbed again! :(

shaun | Sep 18, 2007 11:27:26 PM | #

i was most disappointed that sally field was cut off for making a statement about ending the war. i know it was aired on fox so i shouldn't be surprised.

carrie | Sep 20, 2007 12:32:18 PM | #

Hate to see Kyra overlooked as she's the great and absolute lead in the most succesfull drama in cable network. I love her performance. Mirren deserves the award only because Jane Tennison is a classic tv personality. American Idol might be dull but it has a great production backstage. And of course Tony Soprano rules, and only could fail sometimes with House. And of course Steve Carrel must get an Emmy a.s.a.p.
Why the L word is not nominated ever???

Nico | Sep 21, 2007 12:59:48 PM | #

It's just a show. Why are you all wasting you time with this? It dosen't make any sence to be a Monday morning quarterback over a stupid awards show with a loser of a host on a waste of a network. For those of you that have boo's for people get over it you will never be able to do anything about it. Why can't all of you idiots be happy for the people that won and let them enjoy it? One last thing I have to say is what a joke the host was. Where's Johnny or Bob, or annyone, He made me change the channel after the first 2 minutes. Have a good day

scott | Sep 22, 2007 12:26:23 AM | #

Hey Scott

This is a blog about TV so yes, we talk about TV. Obviously, you're on the wrong website nobody's making you stay.

For my two pennies worth, I wish the Emmy's would stop rewarding the same people for playing the same part every year. Unless a character has gone through a major change Ari from Entourage, The Amazing Rac et al have already been given plaudits now move on. Time to encourage the newbies like Neil Patrick Harris and Dancing with the Stars. The Emmys should stop rewarding their old has beens and go with what the people who actually watch TV want - that'll be a novelty!

Sirius | Sep 23, 2007 11:13:47 AM | #

Hey Scott

This is a blog about TV so yes, we talk about TV. Obviously, you're on the wrong website nobody's making you stay.

Sirius | Sep 23, 2007 11:13:48 AM | #

Was thrilled Helen Mirren won
again and glad for Sally Field
and America Ferrera. James
Spader is always good and he
certainly deserved to win too.

Dennis | Oct 4, 2007 2:14:07 PM | #

Connie Brittan of Friday Night Lights needs recognition for her great work. She is incredible! My jaw has dropped more than once over her intensity and depth.

curtis | Oct 7, 2007 2:49:08 AM | #

The Amazing Race won again because it deserved to win. It's the best show on TV.

Dan | Oct 17, 2007 10:50:00 AM | #