The Emmys Are Here! The Emmys Are Here!

This morning at some ungodly hour the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy nominations were announced by past Emmy winners Brad Garrett and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (herself an Emmy contender for The New Adventures of Old Christine). After year after year of hearing the same old tired series get nominated, a major revamp has been put in place to help the voting process along. A committee of Emmy voting members was assembled and they whittled down the huge entries in each category to about 10 – 15 potential nominees. Then the entire Academy votes the top five from that smaller list. The theory is that lazy voters (you know who you are!) won’t just mindlessly check the Will & Grace box if they aren’t overwhelmed with 25-plus nominees in every category. It’s a great theory, but did it help the shows it was supposed to — like Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls and Battlestar Galactica? Find out after the jump.(In a bit of overeager writing, both Umnata and B-Side wrote Emmy analyses. Hence, some patchwork editing…)

Outstanding Comedy Series

Arrested Development
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Office
Scrubs
Two and a Half Men

What they Got Right
Arrested Development might have been unjustly cancelled, but it went out at the top of its game. Scrubs came back in January with its best season ever and The Office is the funniest show on television. They also took the high road and didn’t encourage Marc Cherry’s bad behavior by nominating Desperate Housewives.

What they Got Wrong
I could’ve done without Curb Your Enthusiasm, but I know lots of people who love it. But Two and a Half Men? Every time I watch that show I feel like I’m missing out on some big secret, because I just don’t think it’s all that funny. I would’ve liked to see some new blood in there, like Entrourage, Gilmore Girls, Weeds or How I Met Your Mother.

Ridiculously Early Prediction
The Office. It’s just got to be the Office.

B-Side adds: Sure, I would have liked more love for Everybody Hates Chris, but you can’t really argue with these noms.

J-Unit adds: Scrubs may have been worth an Emmy nomination, but My Name Is Earl is clearly the better comedy at this stage of the game. Best bet? Remove Curb, which people should ignore even if it was the only thing playing on a non-stop flight to China.

Outstanding Drama Series

Grey’s Anatomy
House
The Sopranos
24
The West Wing

What they Got Right
Mostly everything. Grey’s Anatomy is the most buzzed about show of last year, House and 24 both hit creative highs, and an okay season of The Sopranos is still better than 95% of other things that are on television. The West Wing, while I’m not a huge fan, I have to admit, went out on a high note.

What They Got Wrong
Lost not being nominated for it’s incredible second season is a huge shock (it won this category last year). Battlestar Galactica and Veronica Mars had little to no hope of making it through to the final five, but with the new voting system a nerd can hope, can’t he?

Ridiculously Early PredictionGrey’s is coming off with the most hype and the show just keeps getting better and better.

B-Side adds: I’m sure Lost fans are bawling right now. But I’m not a Lost fan; so these noms don’t bother me!

J-Unit adds: Keeping The West Wing among the top shows is a joke in my mind. The Sopranos had better acting than the worth of the series this year. Since the Emmys are usually two or three years behind, look for a Veronica Mars nomination in 2010.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Larry David – Curb Your Enthusiasm
Kevin James – The King of Queens
Tony Shaloub – Monk
Steve Carell – The Office
Charlie Sheen – Two and a Half Men

What they Got Right
All hail Steve Carrell, the funniest man on the planet. I’m also kind of tickled that Kevin James has gotten his first Emmy nod.

What they Got Wrong
The problem is, Tony Shaloub and Larry David are so great in their roles, that it’s hard to say they shouldn’t get the nominations, even if the new voting system is supposed to limit these old standards. Quality is quality. Charlie Sheen, however, is a bit puzzling. Is there a large faction of coked out whores in the voting pool? Where is Zach Braff, Jason Bateman and Jason Lee?

Ridiculously Early Prediction
Steve Carrell because he totally rules.

B-Side adds: Nice variety here. Steve Carell should walk away with this one, and while I’m not a big fan of King of Queens, I’m glad that the voters mixed it up with Kevin James’ nomination. Probably should have gone to Zach Braff though.

J-Unit adds: I’m not sure Larry David was as strong this year as some of the others. Would have nixed David and Charlie Sheen (if you prefer internet porn to Denise Richards, you don’t deserve the hardware) and inserted two of the Braff, Bateman, and Lee three.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Christopher Meloni – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Denis Leary – Rescue Me
Peter Krause – Six Feet Under
Kiefer Sutherland – 24
Martin Sheen – The West Wing

What they Got Right
Christopher Meloni & Denis Leary are what this new voting system are all about. Also, Kiefer Sutherland, had his best year(day) on 24 this season.

What they Got Wrong
Martin Sheen, seriously? Who are the people on The West Wing blowing to get all these nominations. And where is Anthony LaPlaglia and Matthew Fox? No James Gandolfini? People were certainly split on his Kevin Finity storyline, but not on his performance. Hugh Laurie not getting nominated as Dr. House is probably this year’s biggest snub.

Ridiculously Early Prediction
Denis Leary, in an upset, a long way from singing I’m an Asshole.

B-Side adds: Again, nice variety — especially with Christopher Meloni and Denis Leary sneaking in there. Biggest omission: Hugh Laurie for House. He should have won the whole damn thing. Where’s his nom? Major robbery.

J-Unit adds: Nice to see Rescue Me get some love, but Martin Sheen is only up there because Hollywood thinks people need practice to vote for a Democrat in the White House. I would have added Hugh Laurie.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy

Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback
Jane Kaczmarek – Malcolm in the Middle
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – The New Adventures of Old Christine
Stockard Channing – Out of Practice
Debra Messing – Will & Grace

What they Got Right
It’s great to see Lisa Kudrow nominated for the painfully, awkwardly and unjustly cancelled The Comeback. Jane Kaczamarek and Debra Messing went out on highnotes on their cancelled shows (points to Messing for playing a pregnant chaaracted that we don’t see give a wacky birth). Also nice to see Louis-Dreyfus here. Plus, no Desperate Housewives! Yay!!

What They Got Wrong

Stockard Channing, is the best actress in any scene she’s in, but I can’t figure out how she got a nomination for a mediocre, cancelled show and Golden Globe winner Mary-Louis Parker (Weeds) and perennially snubbed Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) missed the boat. This new voting system, was specifically supposed to help them out and practically invented for Graham.

Ridiculously Early Prediction
I’d love to see Kaczmarek finally get some Emmy love (always the nominee never the winner), but I think Louis-Dreyfus will win and smash the Seinfeld curse with her second big golden statue.

B-Side adds: A random collection of women for this category. Tichina Arnold from Everybody Hates Chris deserved a nom, but since she’s black and on UPN, it’ll probably take a few years for that to happen. I guess we should just be happy that none of the Desperate Housewives infiltrated the list again this year.

J-Unit adds: Have to say that this is one of the weaker categories. Lisa Kudrow perhaps, but Stockard Channing is a joke. Love Jance Kaczmarek, but her and fellow perennial nominee Debra Messing get in on past reputation. Hopefully Kaczmarek wins so we can see Bradley Whitford cry and then make fun of him.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer
Geena Davis – Commander in Chief
Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Frances Conroy – Six Feet Under
Allison Janney – The West Wing

What they Got Right
Mariska is oft-nominated, but is always great. Geena Davis’ show might have been maligned, but she never lost her polish. Kyra Sedgwick plays my least favorite character on television, but she plays her great. They also didn’t nominate Ellen Pompeo for her wildly uneven performance as Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy (honestly, after that whole I’m SORRY George scene, could you reasonably justify an acting nomination for her?)

What they Got Wrong

Allison Janney has won too many times for this show, and it wasn’t even about her this year. Edie Falco not getting a nod for her performance in the first three episodes of the season alone, rivals Dr. House’s MIA nomination for biggest snub. And don’t even get me started on perfect Kristen Bell not making it to the final dance as Veronica Mars. I said, don’t get me started!

Ridiculously Early Prediction
Kyra Sedgwick is the closest thing there is to a lock this year.

B-Side adds: Another boring collection of performances, but then again, there are slim pickings. I think Kyra Sedgwick is fairly overrated, but I respect the variety in her nomination. Also, Edie Falco deserved another nod this season, but since she’s won about thirty-four times, I’m sure it’s no big deal for her.

J-Unit adds: The Closer has plenty of buzz, but Geena Davis and Allison Janney nominations are a consolation prize so they can have an easier time finding work after their cancelled shows. Edie is the biggest snub for me in this category even though she has won before. I’ll tattoo Veronica Mars on my ass if they ever nominate Kristen Bell.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Will Arnett – Arrested Development
Jeremy Piven – Entourage
Bryan Cranston – Malcolm in the Middle
Jon Cryer – Two and a Half Men
Sean Hayes – Will & Grace

What they Got Right
Will Arnett, Jeremy Piven and Bryan Cranston. Any of them deserve their first ever win.

What They Got Wrong
Donald Faison (Scrubs) for his air guitar performance and Poison dance moves alone. Also, where is Jeffrey Tambor? I would’ve nominated the kid on Two and a Half Men rather than Ducky, and Sean Hayes performance on Will & Grace, hasn’t been fresh or funny in 5 years. No Neil Patrick Harris (Barney, How I Met Your Mother) of John Krasinski (Jim, The Office) two of the season’s true breakout stars.

Ridiculously Early Prediction
Bryan Cranston, in his show’s final year.

B-Side adds: Now this is what I’m talking about. Will Arnett vs. Jeremy Piven? Could be a classic showdown (I side with Arnett). Plus, you can’t overlook the tireless work of Bryan Cranston. I would have liked Terry Crews from Everybody Hates Chris in there too, but again, the whole black/UPN thing really works against him.

J-Unit adds: This is a tough category. Give me a break Sean Hayes, John Krasinski would have been so much better as would Jeffrey Tambor

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

William Shatner – Boston Legal
Oliver Platt – Huff
Michael Imperioli – The Sopranos
Gregory Itzin – 24
Alan Alda – The West Wing

What they Got Right
Finally, The West Wing gets a nomination that it deserves with the inclusion of TV legend Alda. It’s also a pleasure to see Gregory Itzin in the final five.

What they Got Wrong

Oliver Platt is uneven and over the top in Huff. I love Michael Imperioli but many (including me) were expecting Joe Gannascoli to get the nomination for his performance as Vito. I would’ve liked to have seen Edgar from 24 and/or Burke from Grey’s to sneak in here. The real optimist in me was holding out from Daddy Mars to also make the cut. Also, not Lost-ies. Where is Sawyer, Sayid, Locke and Ecko? Maybe they cancelled themselves out.

Ridiculously Early Prediction
Gregory Itzin can’t be denied as the devious President of the United States.

B-Side adds: More good nominations. I just wanted Gregory Itzin to get a nod. Everything else is just icing on the cake. But whither the nod for Louis Lombardi? Edgar Stiles’ epic death scene was one for the ages! No one else can clutch a heart and stare blankly with the same sort of gravitas!

J-Unit adds: Great list here, but Michael Imperioli was not the best on the show this year, and William Shatner is not so groundbreaking that he needed another nom. I’m not a fan of Lost but I figured that the show should have had at least one nomination in this category, and Isaiah Washington as Burke would have been a welcome surprise.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Cheryl Hines – Curb Your Enthusiasm
Alfre Woodard – Desperate Housewives
Jamie Pressly – My Name Is Earl
Elizabeth Perkins – Weeds
Megan Mullally – Will & Grace

What they Got Right
Jamie Pressly gave a revelatory performance (we knew she was hot, but who knew she was funny!?!? Anyone who saw Not Another Teen Movie, that’s who!) on My Name Is Earl this season, possibly the funniest performance on television this year. Great to see Elizabeth Perkins make the cut.

What they Got Wrong
No Sarah Chalke! Ridiculous. It’s odd to me that of all the Desperate Housewives to get singled out this year, Alfre Woodard is the one, especially with all of the bad press the show, and her storyline, specifically, received. Also no love for the sweet and wonderful Jenna Fischer (Pam, The Office).

Ridiculously Early Prediction
Jamie Pressly was IT for me this season.

B-Side adds: Who would have thought Alfre Woodard would be the lone standard-bearer for Desperate Housewives. She’s a great actress though; so I’m not too surprised. Also glad that the Academy didn’t overlook Jaime Pressly just because she’s young and surgically enhanced. Additionally, I’d happily sub out Megan Mullally for Jessica Walter (Arrested Development) any day.

J-Unit adds: Megan Mullaly, Cheryl Hines? Their best work in these series was behind them. Add another vote for Jenna Fisher for me, and just for kicks, why not throw in Carolyn Kepcher? The Appretnice is the best comedy out there! My vote is for Jamie Pressley.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Candice Bergen – Boston Legal
Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy
Chandra Wilson – Grey’s Anatomy
Blythe Danner – Huff
Jean Smart – 24

What they Got Right
Everything. I love every single nominee! Chandra Wilson’s nomination is my my most pleasant surprise by far.

What they Got Wrong
They didn’t add a sixth slot for Katherine Hiegl as Izzie on Grey’s Anatomy.

Ridiculously Early Prediction
It’s Sandra Oh’s to lose.

B-Side adds: Another strong selection of supporting performances. Jean Smart has my heart, but I can always save a little love for Sandra Oh. Mary Lynn Rajskub is still nowhere to be found sadly.

J-Unit: I can’t complain of any drama category where there is no West Wing represented. Jean Smart really deserves this award, but I won’t complain if it goes to Sandrah Oh.

B-Side also adds…

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Late Night With Conan O’Brien
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher

Probably the tightest race of all.

Outstanding Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow
The Dog Whisperer
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List
Penn & Teller: Bullshit

Talk about an eclectic bunch. I’m extremely excited that Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List earned a nom. I think it’s actually one of the best reality shows out there and deserves to win this category. Of course, then Kathy wouldn’t be able to grouse about the D-List quite as much. But if she loses to The Dog Whisperer, well, then she’ll have plenty of new material.

J-Unit: What an uninspired list? If Kathy wins, will she now have to change the name of her show to “My Life on the Once Won and Emmy and am Now Washed Up List”?

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Survivor

Oooh! Tough selection. I love that the Academy allowed five noms in this category, but I sincerely don’t know why Dancing with the Stars is in there. There are so many better choices (America’s Next Top Model, Top Chef, BIG BROTHER 6 to name a few), but then again, one can never underestimate the allure of Master P’s dancing. Doesn’t matter. Amazing Race or Project Runway will deservedly win (I’m rooting for Runway this year).

J-Unit: Why no ANTM? Completely stupid, and Big Brother always gets shafted. In a down year for Amazing Race, us blog geeks will go crazy if Project Runway is picked. And we would get to see a pregnant Heidi Klum accept the award!

So there we have it this year’s Emmy nominations. See the full list of nominees here. What do you think? Who are you happy to see getting their big day and who do you wish you’d see up on stage?