Outstanding Comedy Series
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
Two And A Half Men
Thoughts on the nominees: I think Entourage had a lackluster year & don’t think it deserves to be here. I’m also one of the people that is so over The Office.
Who should be on this list: How I Met Your Mother had another stellar year. Although Neil Patrick Harris stands out to a lot of people the show works because of the comic ability & chemistry between the whole cast. Pushing Daisies is one of those rare occasions when American tv viewers actually support a quirky, funny show with heart. This is one of the shows that I’ve missed the most.
Outstanding Drama Series
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
Thoughts on the nominees: Boston Legal, really? I do not watch Damages, Dexter or Mad Men. All three received critical acclaim this year. I’ll be watching Mad Men shortly & my brother Matthew swears by Dexter. I’m excited that Lost has returned to this category but I’m a little confused by House. I know the season ended really strong, but I don’t know if the show was one of the best dramas on tv.
Who Should be on this list: Brothers & Sisters was amazing this year. I love the whole Walker clan (even Tommy) and was glued to the television to find out if Rebecca really was a Walker. In addition, Love Kevin, love him to death I’m a pit peeved he didn’t get nominated! Friday Night Lights is a spectacular show. At first I fought the power of this show, I wasn’t interested in another teeny bopper soap drama. But FNL is not that at all. This is a character driven drama. The students, coaches, teachers, they are not one dimensional. I will say that the whole Tyra-Landry storyline probably robbed this otherwise stupendous show of some well deserved recognition. Also, I didn’t watch The Wire but from what I’ve heard this show was vastly underrated & should have gotten some Emmy love.
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality - Competition Program
American Idol Ryan Seacrest, Host
Dancing With The Stars Tom Bergeron, Host
Deal Or No Deal Howie Mandel, Host
Project Runway Heidi Klum, Host
Survivor Jeff Probst, Host
Thoughts on the nominees: I would argue that Deal or No Deal is more of a game show than a Reality Competition Program. So I would nix Mandel. Other than that, I can’t really argue with this list. Although Seacrest is the front runner, he would not be my choice as the winner (I’m still a little mad at him for being so cruel to Michael Johns.) Bergeron is hysterical on DWTS. He’s always cracking jokes at the absurdity of the entire show. Love it. Heidi Klum is also incredible, but I would argue that she brings more entertainment value as a judge than as a host, plus how can you call Heidi a host & not give some credit to Tim Gunn? That leaves (as the survivor fanatics call him) Jiffy Pop, who SHOULD win this hands down. Somewhere along Survivor’s 16? 17? Seasons Probst started to give the contestants hell. He’ll call you out at tribal council about something happened back at camp. CAREFUL! If you roll your eyes while one of your tribes mates is talking he’ll call on you next. He has been brutal to those that have quit the game and even makes the occasional snide remark. Probst is everything a good host should be. He brings something indispensible to the show without trying to make himself the center of attention (I’m looking at you Seacrest).
Who Should be on this list: If we booted Howie you’d either need to add The Amazing Race’s Phil (who I don’t think really brings anything to the show except for some amusing facial gestures) and my new favorite Cat Deely. Cat is the host of “So You Think You Can Dance”. So by now you know I’m obsessed with this show but Cat rules. She often tries to defend contestants to the judges, consoles them after an ugly review and was recently seen getting down on her hands and knees (in a designer dress!) and putting Chelsie’s toe back into her show AND I can feel her empathy for the contestants. I think she really has a bond with the dancers & often says/does what I’d do if I was on the stage.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
30 Rock Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
Monk Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
Pushing Daisies Lee Pace as Ned
The Office Steve Carell as Michael Scott
Two And A Half Men Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper
Thoughts on the nominees: Love Baldwin, pleasantly surprised about Lee Pace. Sooooooo over Tony Shaloub and Steve Carell. I don’t watch Two & a Half Men but people love it.
Who Should be on this list: Zachary Levi (Chuck). Obviously if the show is named after you, you’ve got to be strong. Levi’s Chuck is simultaneously silly, awkward & bold as he tries to deal with this new life that has been thrust upon him. One of my top shows from 2007 and Levi was a big reason why.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal James Spader as Alan Shore
Breaking Bad Bryan Cranston as Walt White
Dexter Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
House Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House
In Treatment Gabriel Byrne as Paul
Mad Men Jon Hamm as Don Draper
Thoughts on the nominees: So Hugh Laurie consistently does a good job, but I don’t think this year was any different than years past, although I guess I can’t gripe when he hasn’t won yet. I didn’t watch Breaking Bad, but I loved Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle and I don’t think he ever got nominated for that. The final three nominees I can’t fairly comment on as I haven’t seen those shows either…although who watches Dexter loves the show & Michael C. Hall (but I still love him from Six Feet Under).
Who Should be on this list: Kylie Chandler has been stellar as Coach Eric Taylor. This year the Taylor’s faced new adversity with the new job, baby & Julie acting like a big hussy. Coach has been robbed! Again I’ll also say that The Wire should have gotten some love in this category too.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
30 Rock Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
Samantha Who? Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly
The New Adventures Of Old Christine Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell
Ugly Betty America Ferrera as Betty Suarez
Weeds Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin
Thoughts on the nominees: I watch 3 of the 5 shows. Christina Applegate is simply charming in Samantha Who? and Mary Louise Parker rocks as Nancy Botwin, but I’m going with Fey who has improved immensely from last year & is the heart and soul of 30 Rock.
Who Should be on this list: I think it is interesting that none of the women of Wisteria Lane made it this year. I would have expected to see Bree. I also would have liked a little love for Men In Trees. Anne Heche was perfect as the delightful Marin Frist. For the love of God you cancelled her show, at least give the woman an Emmy nomination!!!
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters Sally Field as Nora Holden-Walker
Damages Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson
Saving Grace Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko
The Closer Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson
Thoughts on the nominees: Four of the five women here are bonafide movie stars. I think sometimes the name catches the Emmy voter’s eye more than the performance and really I’m only thinking of Holly Hunter here. Everyone else has tremendous buzz about their performances.
Who Should be on this list: I would have liked to see Connie Britton from FNL. When she slapped Julie I cheered out loud.
Outstanding Reality-competition Program
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
The Amazing Race
Thoughts on the nominees: These are the most “respectable” of the genre. Runway was (say it with me) Fierce last year!
Who Should be on this list: I limit my reality intake, the only other shows I watch that would be classified as reality would be Deadliest Catch & So You Think You Can Dance. And actually, Deadliest Catch wouldn’t qualify since it isn’t a competition program.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Entourage Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold
Entourage Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama
How I Met Your Mother Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
The Office Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute
Two And A Half Men Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
Thoughts on the nominees: Although I think Piven & Dillon are great, Entourage had a lackluster season. Rainn Wilson is still amusing on The Office & how can I say anything bad about Duckie? But hells yeah Neil Patrick Harris!
Who Should be on this list: The one glaring omission in my eyes is Chi McBride. He brings so much to Pushing Daisies. I almost think that the show would be too saccharine without him.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal William Shatner as Denny Crane
Damages Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher
Damages Zeljko Ivanek as Ray Fiske
Lost Michael Emerson as Ben
Mad Men John Slattery as Roger Sterling
Thoughts on the nominees: Aside from Shatner (who I’m so bored with) I think this is a pretty decent list. As I’ve said, I watched neither Damages nor Mad Men, but both shows received a lot of buzz. Ben Rules!
Who Should be on this list: Kevin from Brothers & Sisters. He had some great storylines this year & some awesome lines. I nearly fell out of my chair when Justin confessed to Kevin that he had feelings for Rebecca. Plus, the proposal to Scotty was amazing. It was so heartfelt, I think I may have shed a tear.
Riggins, FNL. I love Riggins. How can you not? The bad boy with the heart of gold that just smolders on the screen. I don’t know if he is the best actor on FNL, but I know I always remember his scenes.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Pushing Daisies Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook
Samantha Who? Jean Smart as Regina Newly
Saturday Night Live Amy Poehler, Performer
Two And A Half Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper
Ugly Betty Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater
Thoughts on the nominees: A decent list. I’m pulling for Chenoweth.
Who Should be on this list: Jennifer Esposito, Samantha Who. Esposito’s Andrea is fantastically shallow, self centered and catty; but in a good way. She’s the constant reminder of what “Bad Sam” was.
Dana Delaney, Desperate Housewives. DH was infinitely better this year and a lot of the credit goes to Katherine’s arrival on Wisteria Lane. From clashing with Bree to the resolution of her mystery, Delaney was increbile.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Boston Legal Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt
Brothers & Sisters Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Walker-Whedon
Grey's Anatomy Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey
Grey's Anatomy Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang
In Treatment Dianne Wiest as Dr. Gina Toll
Thoughts on the nominees: Sandra Oh? Really? But Cristina was so whiny & boring this year. Sure she had a few stand out scenes but for the most part, Blah. I don’t watch Boston Legal or In Treatment and I think Chandra Wilson & Rachel Griffiths have both been consistently strong.
Who Should be on this list: I should just add a disclaimer that although I am watching this show, I am not up to the most recent season. That being said, Mary McDonnell (President Roslin) and Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck) have been consistently tremendous. I can’t imagine that the quality of either actress’ work has declined. Give some love to the Sci-Fi channel!
