July 6, 2006
My Thoughts On The Emmy Picks
So, my first thought after the Emmy nominations were announced this morning was this: Did the folks at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences get a sneak peek at my Emmy column before voting?
I have to wonder. Really, I do. On Wednesday, I listed my picks of worthy shows and performers I thought wouldn't get any Emmy love. Included in that list were The West Wing, The New Adventures of Old Christine's Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit's Mariska Hargitay and The King of Queens' Kevin James.
Lo and behold, all of those picks were nominated. Perhaps I have more clout in the TV universe than I thought. Reality check: I don't. But it's nice to think that I do.
Hearing James' name called was the most surprising. I'm sure James felt the same way. Now, let's be clear: He has no chance of winning considering he's up against such popular favorites as The Office's Steve Carell, Monk's Tony Shalhoub and Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David. But in James' case, finally getting some major league recognition is a win itself.
Good to see The West Wing nomination. The show's last season was also on of its best. My hunch is NBC's long-running White House drama will take the gold over House, Grey's Anatomy, The Sopranos and 24.
As for the other nominations, here are a few quick thoughts:
The Desperate Housewives gals are shutout: Talk about a shocker. Sure, Housewives' second season wasn't nearly as entertaining as the first. Still, Marcia Cross did some fine work as troubled mom Bree and Eva Longoria fired off some of TV's funniest one-liners. At least the cast won't be catfighting this year about who won and who didn't.
Why was Alfre Woodard nominated?: The last time I checked, Woodard's Betty Applewhite appeared in only three minutes worth of scenes on Desperate Housewives. OK, it was more than that, but it sure felt that way. Woodard never gelled with the rest of the cast and was grossly underserved. We all know Woodard is a fine actress who has won Emmys before. But she certainly doesn't deserve one now.
Lost gets lost: After winning Best Drama last year, Lost wasn't even nominated this season. Perhaps the nomination got, uh, lost in the hatch.
Forest Whitaker was robbed: Every year there's one major Emmy snub. This year it's Whitaker. The man was brilliant as an intense Internal Affairs detective on The Shield. Is it too late to bump Boston Legal's William Shatner off the list? His bumbling Denny Crane has long worked my last nerve.
My Name Is Earl was robbed, too: No love for Jason Lee? And none for the show? Yet, Two and a Half Men, a mildly amusing comedy, is nominated. Go figure. Sometimes these anonymous Academy voters make me ill. At least the supremely funny Jaime Pressly was recognized.
Lisa Kudrow must have friends at the Academy: How else can you explain why Kudrow, who starred in HBO's dismal comedy, The Comeback, earned a nomination? I mean, her show was so awful, Kudrow's submission tape should've been mailed back as soon as the Academy received it. All I can say is it must be nice to have influential friends in high places.
I was looking forward to the Emmy nominations this year. I even turned on the television at the office, forcing my coworkers to listen to the announcements. And if they weren't irritated enough at having to listen to the announcements instead of their usual shows, they had to endure my screams, mumbles, and curses at the Emmy voters.
(1) Why was CSI shut out again? The number one show in America (except when AI is on) couldn't bring in the best drama or best ensemble cast? For years they were at least nominated, but lately they've been snubbed out, and forced to take in nods for cinematography and sound editing. What is that? At least give them main title theme credits or theme song. The number one show in America should be treated with more respect. Come on! Even David Caruso gets more respect than that.
(2) No Gandolfini? No Chilkis? No Laurie? Actors that took their game to another level last season were taken down by Krause, Meloni, Sheen, Leary, and Sutherland. The last two I can understand. They're performances this year were ridiculously amazing, and Sheen was a pity nod, but Krause's show had a terrible ending. Meloni didn't have the same feeling that he used to this season, but he deserves something after so long. Now I know that this is one of the hardest categories to bring down to five, but where were the stars. Those actors that bring a show to that Emmy worthy level. Gandolfini, Chilkis, Laurie, Olmos, Miller, Paxton, Haysbert, LaPaglia. Petersen, O'Quinn, McMahon, Whitaker, and anyone from "The Wire".
(3) I know that the short cartoon category is an odd one, but where was "Avatar"? Haven't seen it? Find some kids and watch it.
(4) Why does ABC keep trying to pass of "Desperate Housewives" as a comedy? Does ABC know what a comedy is? They did the same thing to "Boston Legal", calling it a drama.
(5) Kevin James's nod was a very welcome surprise. That show is great.
(6) Falco should have been given a nod.
(7) Alec Baldwin rocks! Oh, and so does Stephen Colbert.
Posted by: Rachel at July 8, 2006 8:59 PMI was looking forward to the Emmy nominations this year. I even turned on the television at the office, forcing my coworkers to listen to the announcements. And if they weren't irritated enough at having to listen to the announcements instead of their usual shows, they had to endure my screams, mumbles, and curses at the Emmy voters.
(1) Why was CSI shut out again? The number one show in America (except when AI is on) couldn't bring in the best drama or best ensemble cast? For years they were at least nominated, but lately they've been snubbed out, and forced to take in nods for cinematography and sound editing. What is that? At least give them main title theme credits or theme song. The number one show in America should be treated with more respect. Come on! Even David Caruso gets more respect than that.
(2) No Gandolfini? No Chilkis? No Laurie? Actors that took their game to another level last season were taken down by Krause, Meloni, Sheen, Leary, and Sutherland. The last two I can understand. They're performances this year were ridiculously amazing, and Sheen was a pity nod, but Krause's show had a terrible ending. Meloni didn't have the same feeling that he used to this season, but he deserves something after so long. Now I know that this is one of the hardest categories to bring down to five, but where were the stars. Those actors that bring a show to that Emmy worthy level. Gandolfini, Chilkis, Laurie, Olmos, Miller, Paxton, Haysbert, LaPaglia. Petersen, O'Quinn, McMahon, Whitaker, and anyone from "The Wire".
(3) I know that the short cartoon category is an odd one, but where was "Avatar"? Haven't seen it? Find some kids and watch it.
(4) Why does ABC keep trying to pass of "Desperate Housewives" as a comedy? Does ABC know what a comedy is? They did the same thing to "Boston Legal", calling it a drama.
(5) Kevin James's nod was a very welcome surprise. That show is great.
(6) Falco should have been given a nod.
(7) Alec Baldwin rocks! Oh, and so does Stephen Colbert.
Posted by: Rachel at July 8, 2006 8:58 PMScrubs' zach braff? or any of the supporting staff
My name is earl and Jason Lee ?!
I still don't see how desperate housewives is a comedy. if they wanted to shake up the nominations this year that would have made sense.
Also whats with the "blue ribbon panel" pickin the nominees? sounds like it takes the power away from the voters.
BSG's two supporting actors should have gotten nods (i'm forgetting their names but the tall blonde and the vice president dr.)
That Comeback show was awful!!!!
Kevin James? eh.
Posted by: Dave T. at July 7, 2006 5:25 PMOk. 'The Comeback'. An intellectual masterpiece. You must not have seen, or completely missed the point of the show! A well deserved nomination for Lisa Kudrow.
Posted by: Dan at July 6, 2006 5:11 PMOk. 'The Comeback'. An intellectual masterpiece. You must not have seen, or completely missed the point of the show! A well deserved nomination for Lisa Kudrow.
Posted by: Dan at July 6, 2006 5:09 PMHarold Perrineau from Lost is a major snub!
Posted by: Aaron at July 6, 2006 5:08 PMSo glad Hargitay got another, But meloni?? ugh
Posted by: Kelly p at July 6, 2006 11:28 AMI know it wasn't really expected, but the lack of Battlestar Galactica in the Best Drama category is a travesty! That show is better than anything else on TV.
Posted by: Ferdinand at July 6, 2006 11:12 AM
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