Justin Kirk puts on a great performance as Andy on Weeds, and the fact that his character is consistently written doesn't hurt. And Krasinski had so much to do on The Office this year: he got to impersonate Dwight, he spent an entire season mock-proposing to Pam, and he had to sit through one of the most uncomfortable dinner parties ever. You have to reward that kind of range.
But honestly, in what world does Tracy Morgan not win this Emmy, much less not get nominated? Every single time he's onscreen during 30 Rock, I laugh until I cry. He has arguably the best dialogue on television and he's the perfect sidekick to Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. I could fill the rest of this article with clips of Tracy Morgan being awesome, but I will not.
Okay, maybe one:
By the way, the quote "I called his pitbull a gaywad on 106 & Park" has a surprising number of uses throughout a normal day, if you look for them.
Supporting Actress:
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
The List Should Read:
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies Melora Hardin, The Office
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who? Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men Amy Pietz, Aliens In America
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Yes, I realize that I was one of about thirteen people that watched Aliens in America, but that show was really well written, and Pietz's mom was the glue that tied the whole thing together; she was the perfect Midwestern mom, and she put on a great performance. I know that the whole world loves Pushing Daisies, but personally I find it tiresome, if you want me to be honest. I get that it's supposed to be whimsical and everything, but it mostly just wears me out, especially Chenoweth's character. I haven't seen enough Two and a Half Men to adequately judge Taylor's performance, but I know what Pohler and Vanessa Williams both deserve to be on the list. Melora Hardin put on an amazing performance as Jan this year, particularly in the Dinner Party episode, which was one of the most uncomfortable (and phenomenal) things I have ever seen on television. And Elizabeth Perkins is consistently cutthroat and on-point as Celia on Weeds, even though last season constituted a slight drop in quality. I would argue that Jane Krakowski should be on this list as well, but she was almost absent from 30 Rock this year.
DRAMA CATEGORIES
Best Drama:
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
The List Should Read:
Boston Legal Battlestar Galactica
Damages The Wire
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
Can someone tell me why Boston Legal keeps showing up on this list? I realize that the elderly people that constitute the Emmy Voting Committee love William Shatner and everything, but: come on. It was played like two years ago. And while Damages had some excellent acting, it just wasn't that good overall. It knew where it was going, but not how to get there, and it lost a lot of direction around the middle of the season. It sat on my DVR for a long, long time before I finally watched the rest of it, which is never a good sign. The only reason I'm going to continue to watch it next season is because they've made some amazing casting decisions (Timothy Olyphant? William Hurt? Sign me up!) and Glenn Close is admittedly awesome.
Kudos to the Emmy committee for including Mad Men, my favorite show of 2007, on the list. Dexter was some pretty forward thinking as well. House definitely deserves a spot on this list for putting on it's best season to date, from the intern hiring round in the fall to the amazing Amber/Wilson storyline at the end of the season. It had the best season finale I've seen since the end of Six Feet Under.
That said, where the fuck is Battlestar on the list? They eliminated all the stupid filler episodes by showing only a half-season at a time, every single member of the cast put on performances that have no peer, and the cinematography, direction and writing is all some of the best on TV. I realize that The Wire didn't have its best season this year, but it's still The Wire, meaning that it's better than 99% of everything else on TV, including Boston Legal. Seriously, WTF? And before anyone says anything about Friday Night Lights, I love that show, but overall it was off this season.
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Comments (6)
You're right. Most of the nominations are ridiculous. But Holland Taylor is a marvel, and deserves her recognition. She's way above much of the material she's given.
1 of 6 | Posted by cattyfan | Posted on July 17, 2008 3:44 PM
I'm so glad you took the time to give us an honest list of deserving Emmy nominations.
Thanks for including "Big Love' which was extremely entertaining this season.
There are so many good show now that really need the recognition they deserve, Breaking Bad being one of many and yes Dexter does belong there.
I'm disappointed tho, nothing about the Reality Show categories! Survivor wasn't even on the list and the last two seasons have been the best reality TV ever.
Glad you shared Schoonie.
2 of 6 | Posted by chooch850 | Posted on July 17, 2008 4:37 PM
this was great. good calls. i liked ted danson in damages, though, and he made me kinda scared for mary steenbergen.
also i agree about big love getting the shaft. the show can get kinda dumb (dude, you have three wives, are you really gonna fall in love with a diner waitress? don't you have enough going on?) the actresses on it KILL.
boston legal is dumbfounding.
3 of 6 | Posted by flipit | Posted on July 17, 2008 8:49 PM
Damn, cattyfan, you beat me to it. I was totally going to defend Holland Taylor! My daughter watches the show constantly (and that's not just a euphemism for "I watch the show constantly", I swear I'm in my studio when she does it but I can still hear it) and Holland Taylor kills me every time.
4 of 6 | Posted by kizarny | Posted on July 18, 2008 7:12 AM
I do think Chandra Wilson does really well as Dr. Bailey on Grey's (& I don't watch BSG so those folks you added mean nothing to me).
Heidi Klum was nominated as a reality show host. Seriously?? Do other people think she's a good host? My husband and I just make fun of her.
5 of 6 | Posted by rt12345 | Posted on July 18, 2008 7:20 AM
I honestly didn't believe you when you said Hugh Laurie hadn't yet won an Emmy, so I looked it up, and YOU'RE RIGHT. WTF? Best actor on TV, hands down, in my opinion. I also thought tha Cut-throat Bitch deserved a nod, as well as Wilson. Great acting all around on House.
6 of 6 | Posted by Pegster | Posted on July 18, 2008 2:26 PM