If I picked the Emmys . . .

There's a part of me who will never get over that they ignored "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" during its seven year run. How can I respect an award show that pretended as if one of the greatest prime time dramas didn't even exist? (Grrrr . . . argh!)

But then they do things like recognize "Mad Men" in its first season and name "Arrested Development" Outstanding comedy in 2004. Like I always say the Emmys giveth and they taketh away. They nominate Neil Patrick Harris, yet ignore "Veronica Mars." They saw early on the brilliance of "Lost" yet almost completely shut it out last season.

Who knows what they'll have to say this Thursday at 8:35 a.m. (EST) when Chandra Wilson and Jim Parsons announce the nominees for the 61 Primetime Emmy Awards. One can only hope that their love affair with "Boston Legal" has come to an end (I liked the show but there was no need, I repeat no need, for that show to dominate the nominations).

These days I'm feeling more optimistic about the Emmys. After all they are being hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. So I thought why not create my own Emmy ballot? I put everyone where I thought they belonged -- making my own independent decisions about who is a supporting or lead actor or actress and what's a comedy and what's a drama.

If I ruled the world or at least the Emmys, here's who I would nominate for the 2009 Emmy Awards:

Outstanding Comedy Series

"30 Rock"

"How I Met Your Mother"

"My Boys"

"The Office"

"Samantha Who?"

Outstanding Drama Series

"Damages"

"Eli Stone"

"Friday Night Lights"

"Lost"

"Mad Men"

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Jay Harrington, "Better Off Ted"

Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Terry Crews, "Everybody Hates Chris"

Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Tichina Arnold, "Everybody Hates Chris"

Toni Collette, "The United States of Tara"

Jordana Spiro, "My Boys"

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Josh Holloway, "Lost"

Jonny Lee Miller, "Eli Stone"

Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights

Jason O'Mara, "Life on Mars"

Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights"

Joanna Garcia, "Privileged"

January Jones, "Mad Men"

Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

Glenn Close, "Damages"

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"

John C. McGinley, "Scrubs"

Jason Segel, "How I Met Your Mother"

Scott Michael Foster, "Greek"

Jamie Kaler, "My Boys"

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Portia de Rossi, "Better Off Ted"

Jennifer Esposito, "Samantha Who?"

Jean Smart, "Samantha Who?"

Jenna Fischer, "The Office"

Rosemarie DeWitt, "The United States of Tara"

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Taylor Kitsch, "Friday Night Lights"

Zach Gilford, "Friday Night Lights"

Robert Sean Leonard, "House"

Terry O'Quinn, "Lost"

Michael Emerson, "Lost"

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Lisa Edelstein, "House"

Elizabeth Mitchell, "Lost"

Cherry Jones, "24"

Annie Wersching, "24"

Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"

How about you? Who would you nominate for the 2009 Emmy Awards? Will you be watching Thursday morning? Talk about it below.

Highlights of the Weeks Ahead

All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for July 13-19

Okay I know Amy on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" (Monday, ABC Family, 8 p.m.) is supposed to be a cranky overtired teenager but they are making her so unlikable this season. It's probably realistic but doesn't exactly make for a protagonist we can root for. It's hard to understand why Ben or anyone else for that matter wants to be with her. Now that I've gotten that complaint out of the way, let's talk about this whole Grace feels that she's responsible for her father's death situation. Do you understand the point of this story line? It's really not working for me. I might be able to handle it if it didn't involve everyone in town talking about the great sex Grace and Jack had. What do you think?

It's quite an interesting episode of "The Closer" tonight (Monday, TNT, 9 p.m.) I think you'll be able to figure out very early on the episode's big reveal (pay close attention to the characters' names) but it's still entertaining.

You definitely want to see this episode of "Nurse Jackie" (Monday, Showtime, 10:30 p.m.). We learn a lot more abou Coop and it features both Blythe Danner and Swoosie Kurtz as guest stars.

As a precursor to the "All-Star Game," you can see stars, including St. Louis natives Jon Hamm and Jenna Fischer, play in the "All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game" Monday night at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.

By the way, you'll hear me cheering when Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield gets put into the "Major League Baseball's 80 All-Star Game" Tuesday at 8 p.m. on FOX.

I think I've told you the story of when I was about nine years old and I didn't open my last Christmas present for almost two months. That way I could postpone the holiday being over (I'm sure you can see the logic in this). That's kind of what I've got going on with "Eli Stone." I still haven't watched the series finale. That way, in my mind, the show isn't officially over. I still have one more episode to watch. We'll see how long I can hold out on this one. In the meantime, "Dirty Sexy Money" returns to the schedule this Saturday at 10 p.m. How long has the show been off the schedule? Well in this week's episode, the Darlings are celebrating Thanksgiving. Samaire Armstrong returns as prodigal daughter Juliet.

I'm so curious. Did you like "Drop Dead Diva" (Sunday, Lifetime, 9 p.m.)? I hope you watched the premiere. Because it also included the first sneak peak of "Project Runway." I can't believe that after all this time the premiere is STILL a month away. The new season of "Project Runway" premieres on August 20.

So do you get the feeling that not much is happening on "Army Wives" (Sunday, Lifetime, 10 p.m.)? Aside from Frank and Denise's divorce (which has been a great story arc for Catherine Bell), the story lines seem so minor. Pamela moves to a new house. Roxy reopens the bar and gets mad at Trevor for getting a dog. I like the tension between Claudia Joy and Emmalyn but even that has been on the back burner for weeks. The only character who has really benefitted from this season is Roland. A show like "Army Wives" needs more drama, don't you think?

That's all for today. I'm back on Wednesday this week's familiar faces and with reviews of the new series "Dark Blue" and the second season premiere of "Leverage." Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.

Follow me on Twitter.