ew: 50 biggest emmy snubs

Entertainment Weekly recently made a list of the 50 Biggest Emmy Snubs. Below are shocking snubs I agree with from the 26-50 range.

40. James Callis, Battlestar Galactica -- possibly my favorite character on TV
36. Michael Cera, Arrested Development -- who else can make loving your cousin so adorably cute?
34. David Cross, Arrested Development -- three words: "I blue myself!"
30. Matthew Fox, Lost -- he is the male version of Mary-Louise Parker

And now from the 25 Biggest Snubs section:

25. Sports Night -- somehow this Sorkin gem didn't win anything
23. My So-Called Life -- teen angst at its best and most well articulated (I heart Angela and Brian)
22. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- spouting off sarcasm is not as easy as it looks
16. Kristin Davis, Sex and the City -- when Miranda tells Charlotte she's keeping the baby, Davis gave the best reaction I've ever seen on TV
15. Battlestar Galactica -- IT'S THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION
11. The Wire -- this show is mentioned in the same breath of BSG as the best show on television
7. Norman Fell, Three's Company -- I've never seen another misogynist homophobic landlord I've loved so much
4. Lauren Graham, Gilmore Girls -- seriously, this was a major oversight
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- IT WAS THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION

And now for my thoughts on the Emmys...

I enjoyed Oprah's opening, especially the clever pun that television entertains, educates, and inspires us, bringing our live into high definition. Aww. Indeed.

They should never do multiple hosts again, especially with Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, or Ryan Seacrest. I don't know why this concept is so alien to award show directors, but I would actually rather watch three hours of acceptance speeches than a bunch of mediocre sketches that don't make me laugh. Don Rickles had the moment of the evening when he kept going off script. That's a comic legend -- let him host the show next year! But if not him, then get Ricky Gervais and Steve Carrell to co-host. Their playful taunting was the only fun moment of the evening (besides Rickles), and it was again unscripted. I could watch them engaged in a staring contest all night. But then Gervais's introduction leads into... a montage of past winners? Wait a second. The show is constantly reminding us that speeches should be kept short and that they don't want to run out of time, and then they show past winners unable to find words during their speeches? Umm, no.

I was also unimpressed with Klum's strip at the beginning. She came out in a power suit, masculine and still sexy, and William Shatner had to literally rip her clothes off to objectify her as a sexual object. I read that Klum changed her outfit over 70 times, and that's just absurd. I understand that designers want to advertise their designs, but -- and this is blasphemous -- award shows should not be about the clothes... UNLESS it's about costume design.

I enjoyed Laura Linney's acceptance speech. It was short, to the point, and she managed to thank "all the community organizers who help form our country." That's my girl.

Major Winners:

Lead Actor in a Comedy – Alec Baldwin!!!
Lead Actress in a Drama – Glenn Close
Lead Actor in a Drama – Brian Cranston
Lead Actress in a Comedy – Tina Fey
Best Comedy – 30 Rock
Best Drama – Mad Men!!!

Glenn Close gave a great line when she said of her fellow nominees, "I think we're proving that complicated, powerful, mature women are sexy in high entertainment and can carry a show." And although Cranston was a long shot, I'm glad that the Emmys finally decided not to overlook him because he really is a fantastic actor. But Jon Hamm's day is coming, I promise you. (Also, Christina Hendricks, who plays Joan Holloway, should definitely be nominated, especially for last Sunday's episode.) And Baldwin was ever-so gracious and grateful, and I'm so happy he won. And yay for Mad Men winning best drama show (technically it's "Outstanding Drama Series").

emmy love

I know, I know. I'm postponing my top five BSG moments, but that's because I haven't found any good pictures for those moments. So perhaps I'll post it without pictures. At any rate, the Emmys are on Sunday, and I wanted to go through who I think should, but not necessarily who will win. You can see the full list of nominees here.


Outstanding Comedy Series: As much as I adore The Office, Season 2 of 30 Rock is absolutely hysterical. "Rosemary's Baby" showed us Alec Baldwin's true genius, and the whole Uncanny Valley-porn-video game plot at the end of the season was comedy gold. None of the other nominees come anywhere close to the brilliance of this show.
Lead Actor in a Comedy: No contest. Alec Baldwin. Every single line of dialogue is amazing, and he throws some of them away. His insults to Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) are so natural and his character is so full of power that I can't help but drop my jaw when he's on the screen. How has Baldwin not been doing comedy all these years?
Lead Actress in a Comedy: This one is actually a tough one. The stereotype is that women aren't funny, and yet I'm having a hard time discerning who deserves this award more. Well, I can rule out America Ferrera because playing a stereotype is never interesting, and I can take Mary-Louise Parker out of the running because I consider her role dramatic (Weeds is really a drama with comedic elements, at least this last season has been). I do think Julia Louis-Dreyfus has done a lot with her role on The New Adventures of Old Christine and I do enjoy Tina Fey on 30 Rock, but I have to go with Christina Applegate. Although I don't like the show all that much (the characters are annoying), she is both physically and verbally funny. She knows just the right intonation with her dialogue, and her slapstick pratfalls are also unexpectedly funny. I'm good with any of them winning, really, but Applegate plays Sam unlike anyone else. She is both clumsy and ditsy, and yet I still believe her when her character needs to be serious or smart.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Hmm... this one isn't tough at all. Neil Patrick Harris's over-the-top Barney was given some really fantastic material this season, especially with his Bro-Code-breaking hook-up with Robin. How many catchphrases has this character created? A win for NPH would be legen--wait for it--dary!
Supporting Actress in a Comedy: This one's a coin toss between Kristen Chenoweth and Jean Smart. I've been a fan of Smart's for years (she brought a lot to a minor role in Garden State), but honestly, she really only plays two characters. Chenoweth could be overlooked because perky characters tend to be, but Chenoweth brings so much heart and sadness to her perky character that it's hard not to fall in love with her and say, "Chuck who?"
Guest Actor in a Comedy: Four out of the five nominees are for 30 Rock, but is there really any question that short-robed Will Arnett is the clear winner?
Guest Actress in a Comedy: Again, three out of the six were nominated for 30 Rock, and I'm going to have to go with Edie Falco on this one. I know, I'm biased for 30 Rock, but Falco was able to hold her own against Baldwin, and that is no small feat. She was funny and a great role model for women. Double awesome!


Outstanding Drama Series: Lost was better this year, but it still wasn't anywhere near Emmy-winning. And Dexter's second season was still fantastic, although not as great as the first. But Mad Men should take this award home. It's a wonderful period piece with infinitely intriguing characters, and although the episodic plots aren't that captivating, you keep coming back for more because you can relate to these characters. No one is wholly good or wholly bad (even our protagonist!), and that's very interesting to watch unfold during the weeks.
Lead Actor in a Drama: Can you believe Hugh Laurie hasn't won an Emmy for this yet? He won a Golden Globe, but he's long overdue for the Emmy. As much as I love Jon Hamm's portrayal of Don Draper on Mad Men, this award should go to Hugh Laurie because 1) he's long overdue and 2) the interactions with his new interns really gave Laurie a new playing field in which to create his role of the ultimate bastard boss. Giving roses The Bachelor-style to returning interns was just beautiful. But if it isn't Laurie, I certainly hope it's Michael C. Hall for Dexter. I think his complex character is oversimplified by many critics, and Hall brings such a creepy and yet sexy mystique to the role.
Lead Actress in a Drama: Meh. Boring. None of these roles interest me...? Actually, none of these shows interest me...
Supporting Actor in a Drama: Hmm... this one's a bit tricky. I think Michael Emerson should have won for Lost Season 2 (or even Season 3) but not necessarily this last season. And I love John Slattery on Mad Men even though he's only in it for a few scenes each episode. Still, no matter how short your stay, the question is if it's memorable. My vote's for Slattery. There's an episode where he's in the hospital crying to his wife, apologizing and telling her he loves her, and it just breaks my heart. He brings so much depth to a crooked, despicable character.
Supporting Actress in a Drama: This one's easy. Chandra Wilson deserves the win for Grey's Anatomy. She owns every scene she's in, and she's the only actress on that show that I never catch acting. She is Dr. Bailey.
Guest Actor in a Drama: I don't watch ER (I've been maybe seen fifteen episodes in the entire series), but I don't have an opinion about the other nominees, so my vote is for Stanley Tucci. He's fantastic in everything he's in, and I doubt that ER is any different.
Guest Actress in a Drama: Umm... absolutely no clue...


Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series: Although I prefer The Daily Show to The Colbert Report, I think this win really belongs to the latter. TDS's correspondents just aren't funny anymore (although Samantha Bee's "lady brain" bit had me in stitches!), and Colbert carries his show on his own. He's beyond witty, and Colbert really shines brightest during the interviews. He's taking his "character" less seriously now, and I think he's in as much as awe of his popularity as the rest of the country is. If he suggested that every newborn be named after him, I guarantee that at least 100 Stephen Colberts would be born the very next day.
Outstanding Made-for-TV Movie: Although I adore Extras, I don't think an extended last episode counts as a Made-for-TV movie. This category is dominated by the awesomeness that was Recount.
Actor in a Miniseries: Like I even have to think about it... Kevin Spacey for Recount.
Actress in a Miniseries: She brought warmth and heart to her role in A Raisin in the Sun, and the Emmys would be blind if they didn't pick Phylicia Rashad.
Supporting Actor in a Miniseries: Again, like I even have to think about it... Denis Leary in Recount.
Supporting Actress in a Miniseries: I did enjoy Laura Dern as Katherine Harris in Recount (and would be quite happy if she won), but my heart belongs to Audra McDonald's performance in A Raisin in the Sun. There are few people who should be nominated for everything they do (even breathing!), but McDonald is one of them. Except for Private Practice -- she's wasted on that sub-par show.

emmys: most memorable moment

Which TV moment is most memorable? The Emmys will air next Sunday, and during the show, they will show the top five clips in the categories of comedy or drama. You can vote for comedy here and for drama here. And I know you're just dying to see what I voted for... and yes, I voted twice.

Comedy:
First choice: I Love Lucy, the infamous chocolate assembly sketch.
Second choice: Friends, the one where Ross finds out that Rachel likes him and they fight because he's with Julie now, but then he comes back to the window at Central Perk with his puppy dog eyes and she opens the door, knowing full well what's about to happen... sigh, I remember when this aired, and it was so terribly romantic. Obviously this was before I became jaded.

Drama:
First choice: ER, the scene where Doug says goodbye to Nurse Carol. This scene breaks my heart. Juliana Margulies does so much with so little. There are only two sentences spoken between them, and yet, the scene says so much. I never got into ER, but I did know that this was a true television relationship.
Second choice: Lost, when the hatch blows up and the sky turns purple! Oh man, Desmond loves Penny! Desmond, nooo!

Side note for Drama: They included the clip from Grey's Anatomy where Kyle Chandler's bomb-squad guy blows up, but I think the scene with Christina Ricci's character is so much more fascinating. Ricci freaks out because her hand is holding on to a bomb, and Meredith is trying to calm her down. Then Ricci freaks out, retracts her hand, and leaves the room... but nothing blows up. Why? Because Meredith instinctively put her in hand on the bomb, thus putting her life in danger. These two actresses shared an emotionally charged scene, and it surpasses the explosive clip on this list.

emmy nominations 2008

Finally, the official 2008 Emmy ballot has arrived. Some thoughts...

* Two and a Half Men for Best Comedy? Seriously? And why did the potential list have so much more potential? Where's New Adventures of Old Christine? And I thought Curb Your Enthusiasm went off the air years ago. How can it be nominated?

* The Best Lead Actor in a Drama category has newcomers Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment, Jon Hamm (Mad Men), and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), but my vote still goes for Michael C. Hall's Dexter. He makes loving a serial murder so easy! But how in the world is Charlie Sheen nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy? He's the new John Travolta. Completely creepy and has overstayed his welcome. And, speaking of creepy, Michael Emerson better win Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. I seem to get crushes on creepy characters... like Leoben Conoy.

* Amy Pohler is nominated for SNL in the Supporting Actress for a Comedy? That seems like cheating, simply because SNL is a variety show. Pohler gets to play multiple characters, whereas other actresses must work with one character. I love her to death (and am super excited about her possibly joining The Office spin-off), but I want Kristin Chenowith to win for Pushing Daisies, and since Pohler left SNL, her chances of winning are increased. Also, I would love to see Will Arnett and Carrie Fisher win for Guest Actors for 30 Rock. In fact, 30 Rock should also win for Outstanding Cast. And where is Tracey Morgan's name on this list?

* Recount should win for anything it's nominated for. Namely, Kevin Spacey should win Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, and Denis Leary's performance trumps any of the multiple John Adams actors. He was fantastic! It should also win Outstanding Television Movie, Best Casting, Outstanding Directing, and, of course, Danny Strong's script should win for Best Writing.

* I'm still confused as to why the Extras finale counts as a miniseries or movie, but I would love to see Ashley Jensen take home the prize for Supporting Actress. Although, Laura Dern as Katherine Harris in Recount was also a great caricature... Also, Kathy Griffin should win another emmy for My Life on the D-List. Her standup his hit-or-miss (depends if you like celebrity gossip), but her casual everyday interactions with people are some of the funniest moments I've ever seen. She is whip-smart and always has a clever anecdote.

* Jon Stewart should win it all. Forget Best Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (which is where SNL belongs). He should win Best Actress, Best Actor (he did play a convincing Guantanamo Elmo), and Guest Actor.

* Project Runway should win Best Reality Series. Like those other options even exist...

* And if Battlestar doesn't win for Cinematography, I will... be upset.

* Why are the Writing categories all the way down at the bottom of the list? After stunt coordination, sound mixing, and hairstyling? At least Diablo Cody put screenwriters back on the map, but come on, these shows wouldn't exist without the writers and we'd all be stuck with mind-numbingly bad reality programs. Writers should be just as important as the actors... so maybe if the writers punched up their speeches and made them shorter (why do writers insist on being long-winded and wordy?), then people will start to pay attention. They should take notes from Hugh Laurie. He should win just so he can give more speeches.

And if anyone's interested, E! Online wrote a statistical surprises breakdown of the list, calling Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lily the "Ellen Pompeos of Lost" (having never been nominated) and noting that 30 has a record 17 nominations for a comedy series.

emmy ballot

This year's official Emmy ballot has been released. A few thoughts:

* I'm excited to see that Jemaine Clement is nominated for Best Actor for the side-splitting Flight of the Conchords, but isn't it a bit like Larry David being nominated as "himself"? How much acting is really going on? Alec Baldwin deserves to win again this year. And Patrick Dempsey is nominated for Grey's Anatomy? To use Shonda Rimes's word: Seriously? Also, I hope Emily Deschanel (Bones) wins for Lead Actress in a Drama. She can do comedy and drama better than anyone.

* If genre definitions are fading/blurring/becoming extinct, shouldn't genres be left out of the category? Entourage and Chuck as comedies? They both have pretty dramatic elements, so perhaps the category should be "Best Primarily Comedy Series" and Eli Stone can be nominated for "Best For-The-Most-Part Drama Series." In fact, I think David Boreanaz should be nominated as Agent Seely Booth for "Best Comedic Actor;" his show may be dramatic, but his character is hell-arious.

* Why are Josh Malina, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Chad Michael Murray, Zac Efron, Anna Friel, or Teri Hatcher even on the list? And short-lived Big Shots and Miss Guided are on the list...? And why is Nathan Fillion (as much as I love him) a Supporting Actor and not a Guest Star for Desperate Housewives?

* BATTLESTAR LOVE: Edward James Olmos is nominated (perhaps as the first atheist character to ever be nominated?), as is his other half, Mary McDonnell. (Note: Season 4's Mid-Season Finale airs tomorrow at 10pm on Sci-Fi!)

* I heart Adam Baldwin. He's why I watch Chuck (like with the "intimate moments" scene). Give him the Most Awesomest Awesome that Ever Awesomed Award. Also, Neil Flynn steals every scene he's in, so give him proper credit. Although Justin Kirk was pretty fantastic on Weeds... as was Jack McBrayer on 30 Rock... oh, no. This one's a tough call, but I really, really heart Adam Baldwin.

* Will Arnett should win for his guest spot on 30 Rock (his short robe should win its own award), and I do hope Kristin Chenoweth wins.

* How is the Special Series Finale of Extras in the Miniseries or Movie category?