Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2010 > July > 09 > Entry
Dear Emmy voters: WTF (why the face?)
Did you hear that “Friday Night Lights” was nominated for four Emmy awards Thursday? If you missed it, scroll down: Thursday was all “FNL” all the time on the ol’ TV Blog.
In addition to my front page wrap-up in today’s Austin American-Statesman, I conducted interviews with casting nominee Beth Sepko (she was also nominated for her work on the HBO film “Temple Grandin,” also shot locally) and “FNL” star Connie Britton, who plays principal Tami Taylor on the family football drama.
In all my excitement about “FNL” finally getting some much-deserved recognition, I didn’t have a chance to comment on the rest of the nominations. So here are some more or less random thoughts:
Emmy voters aren’t stupid.
Even they found a way to ride Betty White’s coattails, nominating the Snickers Super Bowl commercial that kick-started her career, leading to a fan-demanded hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live” (she was nominated for that, too) and a new sitcom, “Hot in Cleveland,” on TV Land.
Emmy voters are stupid.
Where was John Noble’s name in the Best Supporting Actor category? The “Fringe” star turned in one of the most complex, compelling characterizations of the year as Walter on “Fringe” — easily one of the top five. Sure, you’ve got to appreciate the nods for Michael Emerson and Terry O’Quinn on “Lost,” even if the show’s final season was one of its weakest. And John Slattery’s Roger Sterling (“Mad Men”) is brilliant. But Noble can go toe-to-toe with any of them. Somebody tweeted that Noble’s work must have been nominated in the alternate universe. If you get that reference, you know why Noble deserved the nomination. If you’re scratching your head, start watching “Fringe.” If you’re still reading, I love you.
Emmy voters have a sense of humor.
Those present during the live nominations audibly gasped when “The Tonight Show” nabbed a nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series. “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.” Who was fired from “The Tonight Show.” Conan’s writers couldn’t have crafted a more perfect punch line to last season’s late night TV debacle. The only way it will be sweeter is if Conan wins.
Emmy voters have no sense of humor.
One of the first things I did after opening up the full list of Emmy nominations was to run a search for the term “Community” so that I could see how many nominations the stunningly original and hilarious NBC Thursday night comedy had nabbed. My word processor returned the saddest sentence ever written: “Word has finished searching the document. The search item was not found.” Really? “Community” might have taken half a season to find its footing, but it delivered the most hilarious and creative comedy of the entire year — and that’s no small feat when you realize that Chevy Chase is in the cast. Almost anyone else in the ensemble could have gotten acting nods and the writing and direction in the “Modern Warfare” episode — the one about paintball — was the best of any half-hour comedy in years. Yes, “Modern Family” deserves to win and, yes, “Nurse Jackie” is a nice (and deserving) surprise. But “The Office” is nearly unwatchable and “30 Rock” has seen better days, too. And then there’s “Glee.”
What’s the deal with “Glee?”
I will admit that I’m no longer a fan. I appreciated the novelty of the series in its initial half season. But since its return this spring, the show has become tedious and repetitive. The acting is fine, but most of the characterizations are so one-note (no pun intended) that it just can’t be that hard to do. And the writing is awful: a good show creates plots that work in service to the characters. “Glee’s” characters are bent and twisted in contortions even the cheerios couldn’t pull off to serve its increasingly tortured, convoluted, repetitive and stupid plotlines. It’s never a good sign when I start forwarding through musical numbers and Sue’s 500th joke about Will Schuester’s hair, and I can only justify freeze-framing the picture and staring at Jayma Mays for so long before my family starts asking questions. 19 nominations? Outstanding Comedy? (Is “Glee” supposed to be funny?) Inexplicable.
What’s the deal with Tony Shalhoub?
He’s been nominated seven times and he’s taken home three statues for his portrayal of Adrian Monk. Enough is enough. “Monk” was past its prime years ago and his perennial nominations have led Emmy voters to stiff more worthy nominees. This year it’s “Community’s” Joel McHale. Shalhoub’s continued recognition is the big joke and secret shame of the Emmys. Since “Monk” has been cancelled, it will be interesting to see how the Academy members manage to nominate him for this character again next year (come on — you know they’ll find a way).
Comments
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By Dale Roe
July 9, 2010 10:41 AM | Link to this
Thanks, Wendy. Chevy used to be referenced as being kind of a pompous jerk, but perhaps he's mellowed with age. I've never met him, so I can't say. I thought you had a good point when you posted somewhere that, on occasion, "Community" actually manages to make him funny (or at least tolerable). He's definitely the show's weakest link, I agree.
By Wendy Fox Weber
July 9, 2010 10:34 AM | Link to this
Loved the line about Chevy Chase. Does anyone like him?