Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. For some reason, those awards hold the most weight. So even though the 2007 Emmys were the most disgraceful spectacle I have ever beheld, I anxiously await the Fall, knowing that not every one of my favorites will end up winning but hoping that excellence will be championed.One sign that perhaps my hope is not futile: the press release from the ATAS this week revealing their shortlists for the Best Comedy and Drama categories. Obviously this is not the final list of nominees - these will be whittled down to 5- but for the first time ever, it looks like The Wire might have a shot at winning. The critically-acclaimed HBO show throws a spotlight on a group of Baltimore cops trying to infiltrate a drug ring, as well as the criminals on the other side, addressing social and economic issues in the process. After its fifth and final season wrapped up in March, Emmy finally seems to be taking notice (the only other nomination to date for the show was one for Best Writing in 2005). I feel a little silly at the moment... I haven't even watched The Wire yet (it's on my list!), but here I am passionately ranting about its merits. I just strongly believe that the Emmys should reward high-quality work, and this list of finalists for the 2 biggest categories seems like a good sign to me that the awards show this year could get back on track.
TOP 10 COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" ("The Bat Mitzvah")
"Entourage" ("The Day F***ers")
"Family Guy" ("Padre de Famila")
"Flight of the Conchords" ("Sally Returns")
"The Office" ("Local Ad")
"Pushing Daisies" ("Pie-lette")
"30 Rock" ("Cooter")
"Two and a Half Men" ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")
"Ugly Betty" ("Something Wicked This Way Comes")
"Weeds" ("Go").
[I actually did not love the "Local Ad" episode. I didn't think it was nearly as funny as "Chair Model." "Something Wicked This Way Comes" was a good episode in an overall not so good season of Ugly Betty. I'd be thrilled with a win for either Weeds or Flight of the Conchords. Or Pushing Daisies, obviously, but I don't think it's got much of a chance for a shortened first season.]
TOP 10 DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
"Boston Legal" ("The Court Supreme")
"Damages" (Pilot)
"Dexter" ("The Dark Defender")
"Friday Night Lights" ("Leave No One Behind")
"Grey’s Anatomy" ("Freedom, Parts 1 and 2")
"House" ("Frozen")
"Lost" ("The Constant")
"Mad Men" (Pilot, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes")
"The Tudors" (#205)
"The Wire" (Series finale, "30")
TOP 10 BEST DRAMA ACTOR FINALISTS
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 4")
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights ("Last Day of Summer")
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad ("Pilot")
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
Michael C. Hall, Dexter ("There's Something About Harry")
Jon Hamm, Mad Men ("The Wheel")
Eddie Izzard, The Riches ("Last Temptation of Wayne")
Hugh Laurie, House ("House's Head")
Denis Leary, Rescue Me ("Babyface")
James Spader, Boston Legal ("The Court Supreme")
[Note: These are all very talented men, but, I'm sorry, no one deserves this award more than Michael C. Hall. That's not my opinion, that's a fact.]
TOP 10 BEST DRAMA ACTRESS FINALISTS
Patricia Arquette, Medium ( "Aftertaste")
Glenn Close, Damages ("Pilot")
Minnie Driver, The Riches ("Dead Calm")
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters ("History Repeating")
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit ("Undercover")
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace ("Tacos, Tulips, Duck and Spices")
Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men ("The Hobo Code")
Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica ("Faith")
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer ("Manhunt")
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Big Love ("Take Me As I Am")
[OHMYGOSH! It's about time they took notice of McDonnell's depth and amazing-ness. "Faith" was an absolutely mind-blowing episode and showcased her ability like never before. I can't imagine them overlooking her performance, even though I thought "Manhunt" was the best episode of The Closer that I had ever seen.]
TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTOR FINALISTSNaveen Andrews, Lost ("The Economist")
Bruce Dern, Big Love ("Good Guys and Bad Guys")
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal ("Roe vs. Wade, The Musical")
Ted Danson, Damages ("Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker")
Michael Emerson, Lost ("The Shape of Things to Come")
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages ("I Hate These People")
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
William Shatner, Boston Legal ("Mad About You")
John Slattery, Mad Men ( "Long Weekend")
Blair Underwood, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 6")
Jake Weber, Medium ("Wicked Game, Part 1")
[And the Emmy goes to...Michael Emerson. (Anything else would be a crime against mankind.)]
TOP 11 (?) BEST SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTRESS FINALISTS
Jane Alexander, Tell Me You Love Me (Episode 10)
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal ("The Mighty Rogues")
Rose Byrne, Damages ("Because I Know Patty")
Jill Clayburgh, Dirty Sexy Money ("The Watch")
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice ("Identity")
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters ("Domestic Issues")
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men ("Babylon")
S. Epatha Merkerson, Law and Order ("Bottomless")
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy ("The Becoming")
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment" ("Paul and Gina: Week ?")
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" ("Lay Your Hands on Me")
[Nothing really to say about this one... I have no contenders in this race.]
TOP 7 BEST COMEDY ACTOR FINALISTS (3 have yet to be decided, which probably means that the 5 nominees will come from these 7 guys)
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
Steve Carell, The Office ("Goodbye, Toby")
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Bat Mitzvah")
David Duchovny, Californication ("The Last Waltz")
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies ("Pie-lette")
Tony Shalhoub, Monk ("Mr. Monk and the Naked Man")
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men ("Is There a Mrs. Waffles?")
[I'm completely biased- I think Steve Carell is the funniest person alive- but I still think this one belongs to him.]
TOP 10 BEST COMEDY ACTRESS FINALISTS
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? ("The Restraining Order")
Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives ("Now You Know")
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty ("Odor in the Court")
Tina Fey, 30 Rock ("Sandwich Day")
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies ("Bitter Sweets")
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives ("Now I Know, Don't Be Scared")
Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives ("In Buddy's Eyes")
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine ("One and a Half Men")
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program ("Bored of the Rings")
[Hmm... This is a tough one. Anna Friel is adorable as the Pie Maker's darling, Chuck. But, Christina Applegate is outstanding as the amnesiac, Samantha Newly. Or, Marcia Cross, whose Bree has become by far the most interesting housewife on Wisteria Lane. I'd be pleased with any of those three.]
TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTOR FINALISTS
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men ("Meander to Your Dander")
Kevin Dillon, Entourage ("The Dream Team")
Justin Kirk, Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother ("The Goat")
John Krasinski, The Office ("Branch Wars")
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock ("Episode 210")
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock ("Secrets and Lies")
Jeremy Piven, Entourage ("The Day F***ers")
Fred Willard, Back to You ("Cradle to Grave")
Rainn Wilson, The Office ("Money")
[As much as I looooooove John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson excelled in "Money." Dwight hosting Jim and Pam at Schrute Farms was the most hilarious, enjoyable Office experience of Season 4. Nevertheless, I am aware that the competition here is intense- especially from the 2 Entourage boys, the 2 30 Rock boys, and HIMYM's Harris. As long as that damn Jeremy Piven doesn't win again, I'll survive. Alright! We get it! Ari Gold is hilarious! Can we move on, please?]
TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTRESS FINALISTS
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies ("Girth")
Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men ("Fish in a Drawer")
Jenna Fischer, The Office ("Fun Run")
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock ("The Collection")
Judith Light, Ugly Betty ("I See Me, ICU")
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds ("Risk")
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live ("Tina Fey")
Jean Smart, Samantha Who? ("The Girlfriend")
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men ("Media Room Slash Dungeon")
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty ("Bananas for Betty")
[Chenoweth's Olive Snook is a unique comedic character that certainly merits the award, but I doubt it will be hers. I am pretty much against Two and a Half Men on principle, so I'm hoping for a win for either Jean Smart or Jane Krakowski.]
TOP 11 GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives ("Distant Past")
Edie Falco, 30 Rock ("Episode 210")
Vivica A. Fox, Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Rat Dog")
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives ("Welcome to Kanagawa")
Annie Potts, Ugly Betty ("Zero Worship")
Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
Shirley Knight, Desperate Housewives ("If There's Anything I Can't Stand")
Jane Lynch, Two and a Half Men ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")
Amy Ryan, The Office ("Goodbye Toby")
Sarah Silverman, Monk ("Mr. Monk and His Biggest Fan")
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock ("LudaChristmas")
[Both Falco and Ryan rocked (and, hopefully, will continue to rock on 30 Rock and The Office), but Silverman's one episode on Monk was memorable and ginormously funny.]
TOP 10 GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
Keith Carradine, Dexter ("Morning Comes")
Charles Durning, Rescue Me ("Yaz")
Danny Glover, Brothers and Sisters ("The Feast of Epiphany")
Robert Morse, Mad Men ("Nixon vs. Kennedy")
Peter O'Toole, The Tudors ("Episode 208")
Oliver Platt, Nip/Tuck ("Carly Summers")
Peter Riegert, Damages ("Do You Regret What We Did?")
Stanley Tucci, E.R. ("The War Comes Home")
Glynn Turman, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 8")
Robin Williams, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit ("Authority")
[I've got no clue here, really. If I had to guess, I'd say either Charlie Durning or Peter O'Toole because, you know... they're super old.]
1 comment:
can you post the short lists for the acting categories?
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