When it comes to evaluating the overall merits of an Emmy nomination slate, I like to refer to what I call the TW/AtJ Index. The TW/AtJ Index, of course, refers to the proportion of nominations received by The Wire versus According to Jim.

For 2008, the TW/AtJ Index, which compares relative nods for TV's most critically acclaimed series and TV's most critically maligned series, was a solid 1:1. David Simon and Ed Burns' nod for scripting the series finale of The Wire was only the second nomination in the HBO drama's five-season history. Meanwhile, According to Jim DP George Mooradian received a multi-camera cinematography nomination for the third consecutive year.

Yes, the lifetime TW/AtJ Index stands at a disconcerting 2:3. So take that into consideration if ever you feel the slightest inclination to take the Emmys too seriously.

As sad as it is to see The Wire end its run with a lone paltry nomination, the 2008 Emmy nominations, announced on Thursday (July 17) morning, were actually fairly satisfying if you happen to believe -- as I do -- that Mad Men was TV's finest show over the past year. Matt Weiner's groundbreaking AMC period drama received an overall series nod, acting nominations for Jon Hamm and John Slattery, plus every imaginable form of technical recognition. In all, Mad Men led the drama field with 16 nominations, all deserved.

It was also extremely satisfying to see Dexter break through in the main dramatic categories. While the Showtime killer drama won Emmys last year for title design and editing, it was marginalized to technical categories. This year, Dexter -- my third favorite show of the year, behind Mad Men and The Wire -- received a drama series nod plus another for Michael C. Hall, whose performance in the title role may be TV's best.

The utter apathy toward The Wire was, frankly, to be expected. The idiotic staged nomination procedure requires voters to judge an entire series' quality on the basis of a single episode and even I can admit that out-of-context not Wire episode would make a lick of sense. That's why a show like Damages, which never returned to the high level of its outstanding pilot, still comes across as a fine nominee. If all you'd seen of Damages was that one intriguing episode, you'd never need to know about the five or six episodes of total wheel-spinning and red herrings in the middle of the season. For that FX series, the nominations for Glenn Close, Ted Danson and especially Zeljko Ivanek were on-the-money.

Throw in the usual nominations for House, plus the return of Lost to the series field (albeit absent for writing and mostly ignored for acting) and it's hard for me to get upset about the drama choices.

And fans of The Wire can just curl up in the corner with devotees of Battlestar Galactica and Friday Night Lights in trying to take solace in random and scattered below-the-line nominations.

It's on the comedy side that I start getting frustrated.

The most recent season of Entourage was dreadful. A show that once mined dark, biting humor from its masturbatory self-indulgence descended into pure, humor-free self-indulgence last year. Should Entourage return next season back in top form, I'll welcome it back, but with Pushing Daisies waiting in the wings with writing, directing and acting nominations, how did the ABC fantasy dramedy miss out on that last series spot? At least the Emmy voters had love for Lee Pace and Kristin Chenoweth, but leaving out Anna Friel and Chi McBride was a miss.

The only Entourage nomination I'm not begrudging is Kevin Dillon's. As much as the Cannes-based finale irked me, Johnny Drama had a good arc in the episode. But Jeremy Piven? Again? I'd have been happy to replace Piven with John Krasinski, Jack McBrayer and, particularly, Justin Kirk from the Emmy shortlist.

In a time where quality television comedy remains in short supply, 30 Rock is still as good as it gets, pumping up its 17 nominations by dominating the guest actor categories. But how was Matthew Broderick left off for his eponymous turn in the "Cooter" episode, which scored Tina Fey a writing nomination? And is there any chance Carrie Fisher loses in the guest actress category? I hope not.

I'd question the logic of the myriad Two and a Half Men nominations, but it's TV's most popular comedy and folks love that show. It's not my cup of tea, but in a thin field, a little populist celebration is fine by me.

And a special closing kudos to The CW, which can now start calling itself the best sound edited network on television! The netlet saw both Supernatural and Smallville pick up series sound editing nominations, while no other network received more than one nod in the category. Time to pop the corks in CW-ville!

The only problem? The netlet didn't receive a single other nomination. Not one. That means no salutes for the costumes on Gossip Girl or Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model hosting or for the opening credit sequence of Farmer Wants a Wife or for Ray Wise's supporting performance in Reaper. That's not a good showing for a network that TV critics keep trying to treat as the equal of NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX.

Stay tuned, because in my next Emmy blog post, I'm going to look at some of the more interesting tidbits from the nomination field.

Your thoughts?

And check out Zap2it's Emmy Award Coverage.

Comments

I totally agree that Ray Wise's supporting performance from Reaper deserved a nom. And what about BSG?? Are they blind? I'd be willing to concede that this season has moved at a snail's pace until the last couple episodes leading to the "mid-season" finale, but it is still one of the best shows on television. Speaking of well done shows, I am sooo happy to see Dexter get the attention it deserves! And for my last two cents...I am quite disappointed that Californication didn't get any noms. Dan, I know you probably disagree on this one, but then I think the last time we all agreed on what we wanted to watch was when we tried to get through all the Friday the 13th movies in high school! I still haven't seen Chapter 4...

Cheers,
Sarah

Sarah J | Jul 17, 2008 2:24:36 PM | #

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What SHOULD be:

SUPERNATURAL, Best Drama

Jensen Ackles, Best Actor

What? CW show? Won't ever happen? Right, just the same old, same old, never giving recognition for superior television or truly outstanding acting. Which proves what I've always suspected--the Emmys are just a popularity contest!

Robin | Jul 17, 2008 4:21:25 PM | #

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How come some low-rated shows - like 30 Rock, Mad Men, and Damages - recieve a lot of nominations and others - the trinity of The Wire, BSG, and Friday Night Lights - do not receive any major ones.

Kevin | Jul 17, 2008 7:17:30 PM | #

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I don't get this "Mad Men" craze, its an OK show but the best drama? By cable standards its a mild show at best.

johnd | Jul 17, 2008 9:01:25 PM | #

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pushing daisies is the best show on tv....why dont they show reruns??????....I MISS IT SO BAD

Jim | Jul 17, 2008 9:49:26 PM | #

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I am mostly upset that Friday Night Lights made the Top 10 and not the Top 6. Also Kyle Chandley and Connie Britton were once again overlooked. I agree about the Wire as well. Boston Legal again? Seriously?

Jim | Jul 17, 2008 11:06:45 PM | #

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I cannot believe that Friday Night Lights and The Wire were shut out again. Two great dramas. The acting in FNL by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton is some of the best done on tv. And Boston Legal again? James Spader again? That show is terrible!

Jim | Jul 17, 2008 11:09:53 PM | #

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These nominations are a complete joke. Plenty of deserving actors were snubbed and the Best Comedy category is no pun intended, laughable. Instead of the garbage that got chosen, they should have nominated Monk, Psych, How I Met Your Mother, Samantha Who?, and Ugly Betty, with Desperate Housewives and The Big Bang Theory as runners up if they choose more than 5 shows. Likewise, Amy Poehler took a slot from actresses who are MILLIONS funnier than her, such as Traylor Howard, Maggie Lawson, Alyson Hannigan, and Cobie Smulders. One of the reasons I STOPPED watching SNL is because of that no talent waste of space.
In the drama category, do they think Hugh Laurie is starring in a one man show?? Why haven't Omar Epps and Robert Sean Leonard been recognized?
For those people griping about CW shows being ignored, maybe it's because they don't fit in the drama or comedy genre. A category for best Science Fiction themed series should have been introduced decades ago, when shows like Star Trek and Twilight Zone were developed. The whole system needs overhauling, big time; but then again, I can't even get the shows I want to get nominated when I vote for the PCA awards, and I'm a member.

KB | Jul 17, 2008 11:23:54 PM | #

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I'm shocked at Cat Deeley's ommission in the reality show host category.

Rishi | Jul 18, 2008 1:06:19 AM | #

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Like Johnd, I don't get Mad Men. I've tried to watch and get involved, but it hasn't happened. I turn it on when I'm trying to go to bed.

Awards shows have never given quality sci-fi like BSG the recognition it deserves. I'm still shocked the best movie Oscar went to Lord of the Rings.

Tim | Jul 18, 2008 9:39:23 AM | #

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HOUSE AND HUGH! I don't care who wins anything else!

Ari | Jul 18, 2008 10:04:20 AM | #

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Where do I begin? Well in the drama category, I am happy to see Boston Legal nominated again. Spader always does a good job and he and Shatner are an amzing duo. BL gets noms because it deserves to be there. Now, I'll be ok if Spader doesn't win this time because he's won 3 times. I can live b/c it can win for another category on the show.

I like that 2.5 Men keeps getting nominated, but it gets tiring when you are in the party each year but walk away empty-handed. They are due to win a major emmy someday, and Sheen and Cryer have to be considered over others such as Jeremy Piven, and Tony Shaloub (3 freakin' times already!). And 30 Rock got 17 noms? Seriously? The voters were way too generous with that one. How can you give that many when only 5-6 million people watch it? I think they have a lot of favoritism toward NBC like they always seem to do. But at least Amy Pohler got a nod for SNL. It's a little surprising, but something different. She's very funny and talented, and there aren't too many millions funnier than her.

Finally, will someone please hand the Emmy to another show besides Amazing Race? Every year I believe it won't win, but it keeps winning. :( I would think American Idol is due after all this time. And Ryan Seacrest for reality host over the others.

Shaun | Jul 22, 2008 11:59:26 PM | #

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Lost should win this year hands down. What it did in the middle of this writer's strike was close to brilliant, and the fact that the show didn't get nominated for writing is plain absurd. They needed to throw in a best actor nod to Matthew Fox and a supporting actor nod to Henry Ian Cusick to make the Emmys not as laughable as they already are. They have proved over and over that this show is a joke. so why does it still irritate me? Play fair, and you may get more viewers, not to mention a little more respect from the public. Hollywood has become our puppet, and I think it's time we let our puppet know what we want.

Colleen | Sep 21, 2008 10:18:47 AM | #

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