Before you read this, you should familiarize yourself with this year’s Emmy Nominations.
Let’s talk about award shows. They’re kind of dumb. With so many of them out there they run the danger of becoming pandering, sponsor infested, self-congratulating love fests (the People’s Choice Awards anyone?). I often get excited about the big three (Oscars, Tony’s, and Emmys) but can’t remember the last time the actual show lived up to my excitement. The Oscars have fallen flat in the past couple years because there just aren’t as many great movies coming out. We didn’t know how good we had it way back in 2007. The Tony’s are a yawn because very few people have the time or money to see all of the shows that get nominated. On top of that, they gave out awards to big celebrities like Scarlett Johannson and Denzel Washington which alienated die hard theatre fans instead of attracting the fair-weather ones.
But then there’s the mysterious beast that is the Primetime Emmy Awards. There’s certainly no shortage of good programming on television and some form of TV is available to watch at virtually no charge to you, the American citizen. And yet, I find the Emmys to be the most boring of all. So what is the issue there? It is the voting academy’s refusal to recognize anybody new or interesting. I cite last year’s best supporting actor winner, Jon Cryer. Now I’m not the biggest Two and A Half Men fan. That is to say I would rather scratch off my own skin than watch an entire episode. BUT, I do recognize that it is a popular program and that it has a large following of fans. But to those fans, I ask, have you ever been watching that show, spied Mr. Cryer, and said to yourself “Get that man an award for acting”? If you have, I’d love to you hear your thoughts on Proust and Milton as well.
Compare him instead to his competitors in the category that year: Neil Patrick Harris for HIMYM, Rainn Wilson for The Office, Kevin Dillon for Entourage, and Tracy Morgan and Jack McBrayer for 30 Rock. Morgan and McBrayer steal every scene they’re in on 30 Rock. Maybe give it a rest on throwing statues at Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin and recognize that show’s stellar supporting cast. Poor Kevin Dillon is probably the only person on Entourage that provides laughs anymore. That show is a comedy right? As the scores of rabid Neil Patrick Harris fans will tell you, NPH is one of the hardest working men in Hollywood and pumps out consistently good performances. And Dwight Mother Fucking Schrute…Need I say more?
I guess my thesis here is, let’s shake things up a bit. I’m not saying any of these awards should be given to someone who doesn’t deserve it. What I’m saying is that there are so MANY deserving people that it’s a shame to see the academy play it so safe. If the viewers start seeing their favorites take home awards, more will watch. If they can’t tell the difference between one year and the next, there’s no reason for them to come back.
But enough of my pessimistic ramblings…let’s get on with the predictions:
Supporting Actor in a Drama
Who I Want to Win: Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman for Breaking Bad. While I’m bummed his costar Dean Norris did not receive a nomination as well, I really hope Aaron Paul can take home the statue for his VERY troubled meth cooking apprentice on BB. Best stuff: Ep 3.7: One Minute and Ep 3.10: Fly.
Who Will Win: Honestly I think Paul has this one in the bag with John Slattery as Roger Sterling for Mad Men posing the only real threat. Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson from Lost are great don’t get me wrong but this was not their best season by any means. Martin Short for Damages is the under dog but the academy does love comedians taking dramatic turns...like Mr. Paul's costar, Bryan Cranston.
Supporting Actress in a Drama
Who I Want to Win: Honestly I don’t watch any of these shows regularly. So let’s say Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson for Mad Men because she was Zooey Bartlett.
Who Will Win: One of the girls from The Good Wife because it’s on CBS.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Who I Want to Win: Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel for Glee. This nomination was a welcome surprise. I have said time and again that Mr. Colfer is the best singer and actor on that show and his character constantly provides the most well thought out and realistic story lines. So I’ll be pulling for him. Best Stuff: Ep 1.3: Preggers and Ep 1.18: Laryngitis.
Who Will Win: Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson for How I Met Your Mother. Let’s face it, he’s due. It would be a welcome win, but good lord if they give it to Cryer again I might have to be put down.
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Who I Want to Win: The Women of The Office. What’s that? NONE of them are nominated…again? Then I guess I’ll go with Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester for Glee. The woman is consistently hilarious on an otherwise laughless show while still nailing every single dramatic moment she is given. An actress of lesser talent would not have turned this character into the fan favorite she has become. Best Stuff: Ep 1.9: Wheels (that was just a really effing good episode) and Ep 1.22: Journey.
Who Will Win: Lynch has a great chance but Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett for Modern Family is the mainstream pick. Also, I’m happy to see Julie Bowen, an old favorite of mine from NBC’s Ed land a nod for Modern Family as well.
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Who I Want to Win: While I love him and the show he stars on so much, I’d be a hypocrite if I said Bryan Cranston as Walter White for Breaking Bad for the third year running. In the spirit of shaking things up but giving it to someone equally deserving, I’m going to say Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor for Friday Night Lights. The show has been killed and saved so many times it’s fun to root for an underdog. Best Stuff: Ep 4.10: I Can’t.
Who Will Win: Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan for Dexter. He’s never won an Emmy for this role but he just came off a killer season. See what I did there?
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Who I Want to Win: DON’T CARE. Seriously, dramatic roles for women have been sucking across all media lately.
Who Will Win: Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick for The Good Wife. Leave a comment if you or anyone you know actually watches her show regularly. I’m curious if anyone does.
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Who I Want to Win: To be honest, Steve Carrell should have won this award for any of The Office’s previous 5 seasons. However I believe that Michael Scott was at his most shrill this year and didn’t delight me the way he used to. That being said, that’s not really Mr. Carrell’s fault so what the hell, give it to him. Best Stuff: Ep 6.9: Murder and Ep 6.20: Happy Hour. It would also be cool to see Larry David take the prize just because I’m really interested to see what a thank you speech from him sounds like.
Who Will Win: Probably Baldwin again.
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Who I Want to Win: Because they got completely snubbed everywhere else I want Amy Poehler to win it for the Parks & Rec team. She is the mother tree of a flawless ensemble cast that branches off of her.
Who Will Win: Probably Tina Fey or Toni Collette again at which point I will turn off the television.
Best Series – Comedy
Who I Want to Win: Curb Your Enthusiasm. In what was arguably its best season ever, Larry David and Co gave us a Seinfeld reunion, an amazing spoof of West Side Story of all things, the murder of a black swan, and some of the best skewering of classic sitcom tropes we’ll ever see. Who hasn’t taken two handicapped dates to the same party? Well no one. Except Larry. Best Eps: 7.5: Denise Handicapped, 7.7: The Black Swan, and 7.10: Seinfeld.
Who Will Win: Either Glee or 30 Rock. My money is on Glee because even though it is not the best show on TV it is the most popular and if it wins, viewers will indeed be satisfied like I said before.
Best Series – Drama
BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD
BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD BREAKING BAD
I defy you to come up with a show that performed as well on every level like this one did this season. Game. Set. Match.
Other surprises and disappointments:
-As I mentioned Parks & Rec got a raw deal but then again none of you are watching it ARE YOU?
-Community also got the old goose egg. I would’ve liked to see some writing nods for this show…let’s hope the SAG awards will find a way to recognize the amazing cast.
-No writing nods for Breaking Bad? Hm. Ok. It’s not like every script they produce is the most thought provoking and contextually layered writing to appear on basic cable TV ever.
-Very cool that Mike O’Malley snagged a nom for his guest appearances on Glee. The guy deserves it too. Never thought I’d see “Emmy Nominee Mike O’Malley” in print. Good for him.
-Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien got nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series. A nice little “F U” to NBC. It’ll never be enough though.
-I’m sure I’ll have more to say after the Emmy’s so tune in for that.
Hope you care,
Danny
