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Emmys: Or perhaps not
Foolish, foolish me. Here I was thinking that the Emmys, after releasing the short lists for best comedy and drama series, might be on the way to an interesting year. The mix of breakout newcomers and deserving veterans was solid, and there weren't more than a couple head-scratching inclusions or bewildering snubs.
Then the lists of finalists for the acting nominations started leaking out, and there went my hopes. There are plenty of deserving people on those top-10 lists, but this year's ceremony is shaping up to be just another predictable contest between folks who've been there many times before.
Sigh.
You can pore over the lists in greater detail at the LA Times' trophy-obsessed Gold Derby blog (none of the names are official, but the site has received pretty good information from its TV academy moles in the past). While there are some pleasant surprises (hooray Mary McDonnell!), the thinking among voters this year doesn't look much different than in years past.
A few quick thoughts:
We'll say it again: Hooray Mary McDonnell! Her work on Battlestar Galactica has been stellar for some time now, so here's hoping she might sneak into the final five (get it? Final five?). This, in fact, might be the strongest group among any of the acting top 10s, with heavy hitters like Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) and Glenn Close (Damages) joining the likes of Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss, Big Love's Jeanne Tripplehorn and The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick.
Another pretty solid crowd, albeit a little more predictable. It's a cable-heavy list, with two stars of AMC shows (Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad and Jon Hamm of Mad Men) joining Denis Leary (Rescue Me), Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment), Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Eddie Izzard (The Riches). James Spader and Patrick Dempsey also made the list, though I'm hard-pressed to come up with any standout moments from Dempsey's McDreamy this past season. And Spader pretty much always seems to be there, doesn't he?
What's it gonna take for the Emmys to notice Connie Britton? The star of Friday Night Lights submitted her name in this category this year, figuring the roster of better-known names in the lead race might squeeze her out. It seemed like a shrewd move -- except she's not on the list. FNL's second season wasn't as good as its first for several reasons, but Britton's ultra-real performance was never one of them. (At least her TV husband, Kyle Chandler, is still in the running.)
January Jones' subtle work on Mad Men didn't get recognized either, though fortunately her co-star, Christina Hendricks, did make the list. Also happy to see Chandra Wilson, consistently the best part of Grey's Anatomy, and Dianne Wiest's prickly In Treatment shrink make the first cut.
The big -- and very puzzling -- news here is that Lost's Terry O'Quinn, who won the award last year, didn't make the cut this year. For real? Castmates Naveen Andrews and Michael Emerson did, and that's good, as are the inclusion of Ted Danson and Zeljko Ivanek from Damages, John Slattery from Mad Men and Blair Underwood from In Treatment. But no Donald Sutherland (Dirty Sexy Money), no singin'-and-dancin' Victor Garber (Eli Stone), and no one at all from The Wire? Come now.
Happy to see Christina Applegate and Anna Friel in the top 10, along with Tina Fey and surprise finalist Sarah Silverman. Everyone else? Eh -- seen it before.
Two of the season's finest comedic performances, Chi McBride on Pushing Daisies and Ray Wise on Reaper, are not on the list. Along with the seemingly rote inclusion of two guys from the no-longer-funny Entourage (Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon) makes this among the weakest of the top 10s (as of this posting, the lists for comedy supporting actress and comedy lead actor hadn't been leaked). That said, a nominee group of Neil Patrick Harris, Justin Kirk, the crazy/brilliant Tracy Morgan, Jack McBrayer and John Krasinski would be pretty awesome. But what are the odds of that?
Your thoughts on the leaked lists? Does the predictability of some of the acting choices make you less excited, or is everyone there a deserving possible nominee?
I actually want to comment on the repetitive nature of the Emmys since people complain about it a lot.
In regards to the acting nominations: There are a lot of amazing actors on tv that deserve recognition, too many to have the same people get recognized year after year. Do I mind a brilliant actor being nominated 2 or 3 times for a show he/she was on for 7 years? No. I don't think it should be "one shot and you're out". But as I said, in the acting categories, there are many people who deserve recognition. I don't care if James Spader is amazing on Boston Legal, does he really need to be nominated (and then win) EVERY year? I'm also not that bothered by Terry O'Quinn not making the list. I'm a huge fan of Lost and of him, but he won last year. And he deserved it. He's no less of an actor this year, but he didn't have as great of a showcase as he's had in previous years. I'd love to see Naveen Andrews or Michael Emerson get some recognition too. They're every bit as good.
However, I don't feel the same way about the best comedy / best drama categories. There really aren't as many options here. So repetition doesn't bother me IF shows that are getting nominated deserve it. Unfortunately, with the Emmys that's not always the case.
Natalie | Jul 2, 2008 8:17:32 PM | #,,, what's even worse is ...
30 Rock was not only nominated but will (of course) win.
No one actually watches it of course since it's simply a BAD show.
About 16 or 17 years ago, the late Leo McKern was nominated for the British series Rumpole of the Bailey. There have been a few other British series actors nominated since then. I feel the shortlists are too American-centric and should include UK actors whose shows have aired in the US. David Tennant's work on Doctor Who continues to be superior to most of the acting I've seen on US TV, and James Nesbitt's work on Jekyll was also incredible. Eve Myles, meanwhile, deserves a nod for her work on Torchwood.
Alex | Jul 3, 2008 5:36:46 AM | #If the award is for the best performance of the year, how can you not give it to that performance whether or not the actor has won before???
KR | Jul 3, 2008 11:46:24 AM | #James Spader SHOULD always be there. He turns in one phenomenal performance after another.
Sue | Jul 3, 2008 1:22:28 PM | #Alan Shore and Denny Crane win every year because they are the best characters on TV. Sorry reality, but it doesn't work!!!!
Alan Sheldon | Jul 3, 2008 11:56:04 PM | #I am sick of seeing cable tv dominate the Emmys. I feel cable channels such as TNT,USA,HBO,Showtime,Amc....they should all have their own Emmys because it is not fair that the basic cable networks are always getting snubbed. Majority of people have basic cable, though many do not have HBO or Showtime and do not get to see those shows.
Scott | Jul 4, 2008 3:43:31 PM | #I'm glad to see that Sue and Alan Sheldon both get it. When you can turn in one or two great performances, you are a legitimate contender and deserve to be in the thick of it. When you have the best, then you should expect to win. And I'm proud that Boston Legal is a winner.
Shaun | Jul 5, 2008 1:53:45 AM | #Ok I must say that I am sick and tired of Sci-Fi shows not being nominated for anything. In my mind if someone is acting against say a green screen and reacting to something that isnt there and still manage to knock it out of the park week after week how is that not better acting than someone who has another person in the room. Each week on Supernatural Jensen Ackles hits homerooms..not one episode..every episode. Mary McDonnell does as well. And the Emmy's fail to recognize, year after year. The same thing happened with Sarah Michelle Gellar, the episode that was submitted for her emmy "The Body" there was no better acting by a female that season than she was in that episode. And she didnt get a nomination. I defy anyone to watch that episode and not be moved to tears by her performance and she got overlooked. I would like to see Dexter's Michael C Hall win finally. You cant get much more dramatic than a serial killer, I mean come on! Steve Carell deserves to win an emmy and Jenna Fisher knocked it out of the park in Fun Run, her episode selection. I guess we'll just have to wait til July 17th...
jason | Jul 7, 2008 3:59:33 PM | #Sarah Silverman might be the worst person on that list. She can't act, she's not funny she's offensive as all hell. If she gets nominated she will probably win.
sam | Jul 8, 2008 8:50:00 AM | #Since when are the Emmys anything but complete bullshit? This is nothing new. All of the awards shows are not based on actual merit, it's all 'political' and based on who knows whom and all that Hollywood crap. I mean, that piece of garbage "Crash" won a Best Picture Oscar. That movie was laughably bad, but Hollywood loves to congratulate itself.
So, 'fringe' shows like the always stellar (sorry couldn't resist) "Battlestar Galactica" get very little love (hooray for Mary McDonnell though) while shows like Grey's Anatomy get
handjobs from the Emmy committee even though it's been irretrievably bad of late. Tanj.
P.S.: Yay Sarah Silverman! Keep offending those 100 IQ types, girl!
Siansonea | Jul 8, 2008 2:30:34 PM | #Will someone please kill the awful Boston Legal! Bad acting...bad writing...bad show.
ES | Jul 17, 2008 2:30:59 AM | #
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