Annual Emmy Noms Rant

OUTSTANDING DRAMA

• Breaking Bad
• Downton Abbey
• Game of Thrones
• True Detective
• House of Cards
• Mad Men

The Good Wife should be on this list, and it should win. Ok Breaking Bad should win. Or Game of Thrones, because Breaking Bad didn't really deserve it last year (SORRY). But what other series has hit a creative high like The Good Wife in SEASON FIVE, over a TWENTY-TWO EPISODE season? This past season of TGW was its best yet, and it was one hundred percent, without a doubt, better than Downton Abbey, House of Cards, and - yes, I'll go there - Mad Men and True Detective.

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex
• Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Kerry Washington, Scandal
• Robin Wright, House of Cards

Tatiana Maslany is once again snubbed for flawlessly playing six+ roles on Orphan Black, but seeing as no Emmy voter has seen the show it's hard to get too worked up.

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
• Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
• Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
• Woody Harrelson, True Detective

Why bother nominating anyone other than Bryan Cranston? I guess Matt McC could pull an upset, but I'm not feeling it.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

• Josh Charles, The Good Wife
• Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
• Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
• Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
• Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
• Mandy Patinkin, Homeland

Josh Charles SOB CRY WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH. Hey, Branson the Butler got nominated for Downton! That's fun.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

• Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
• Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
• Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
• Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
• Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey

Maggie Smith is nominated for Downton every year. And I guess, technically, every year she is the best supporting actress on TV. But considering that she never shows up to the ceremony, perhaps we could give someone else a chance? 

Anyway, I think Anna Gunn will get this one again, although my heart belongs to Christine Baranski.

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

• Jane Fonda, The Newsroom
• Allison Janney, Masters of Sex
• Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones
• Kate Mara, House of Cards
• Kate Burton, Scandal
• Margot Martindale, The Americans 

Kate Mara LOL.

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA

• Robert Morse, Mad Men
• Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex
• Paul Giamatti, Downton Abbey
• Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards
• Dylan Baker, The Good Wife
• Joe Morton, Scandal

We're going to nominate Paul Giamatti for wandering around Downton Abbey in a suit and ignore Pedro Pascal's epic battle on Game of Thrones? What? No.

UPDATE: I'm not sure which season of GoT is nominated... Pascal might be eligible next year. Too lazy to look it up, sorry.

Anyway, Dylan Baker is SO CREEPY on The Good Wife and it's GREAT.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY

• Big Bang Theory
• Louie
• Modern Family
• Orange Is the New Black
• Silicon Valley
• Veep 

Whatever, sure. I liked Silicon Valley a lot. Is Louie a comedy, or just a half-hour suicide note? I think The Big Bang Theory might actually win this year.

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• Lena Dunham, Girls
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
• Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
• Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black

Again, whatever. Sure. Go Amy.

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Louis CK, Louie
• Don Cheadle, House of Lies
• Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
• William H. Macy, Shameless
• Ricky Gervais, Derek

Can you tell I stopped watching sitcoms?

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• Julie Bowen, Modern Family
• Allison Janney, Mom
• Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is The New Black
• Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
• Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
• Anna Chlumsky, Veep

KATE MCKINNON?!?!?!?!? HAVE THE EMMYS ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING RIGHT????? Kate McK is a treasure. I DARE you to be in a bad mood watching this. Just try.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Adam Driver, Girls
• Andrew Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
• Fred Armisen, Portlandia
• Tony Hale, Veep

Like Louie, is Girls ALSO a half-hour suicide note? Adam Driver was pretty compelling this season, actually.

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

• Natasha Lyonne, Orange Is The New Black
• Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black
• Laverne Cox, Orange Is The New Black
• Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live
• Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
• Joan Cusack, Shameless

Clearly the entire cast of Orange is the New Black were submitted as guest actors in order to escape the Modern Family Supporting Actress juggernaut. I approve. Get Crazy Eyes a statue, and let's get ready for conservatives to get up in arms over a trans woman being nominated in the female category. Yeah!

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Nathan Lane, Modern Family
• Steven Buscemi, Portlandia
• Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live
• Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live
• Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory
• Gary Cole, Veep

Can you get me those TPS reports?

Goop Goes to the Emmys!

Says Gwyneth of this photo, taken at a slightly awkward angle:

I live for Tina Fey and I love Kenneth from 30 Rock! Wait ... why does my arm look like that and since when do I have 9 chins?

Is this is to show us that Gwyneth has the same "Ahhhhh I look horrible!" reaction to pictures of herself that we do?  A pretend cry for help for her fictional body dysmorphic disorder?  Is a pre-emptive strike at us for realizing that Tina Fey looks awesome in this picture?

In any case, I think this is the last "scrapbook" edition of GOOP where GP snaps away with her BlackBerry rather than bringing along dear friend Mario Testino.

Your Friends Are Second

It was a good weekend to be my friend, particularly if your name ends in "ie."

First, Brie had a giant, above-the-fold front page travel article in the Times about traveling the outlaw road of Patagonia, also featuring her photographs.  What?!  That's pretty exciting.

And then if that weren't enough, Hallie went and WON AN EMMY.

Seriously, I know the coolest girls.  The smartest, loveliest, funniest, best-at-writing ladies in all the land!

Emmy Noms

Last year I got so mad about the Emmy nominations.  (You don't have to go back and read the post.  It isn't that great and I never fixed the formatting; just believe me when I say I was mad).  Entourage had been nominated YET AGAIN for best comedy, and House was still tricking people into thinking it was very deep. This year, however, the voters seem to have wised up.  The nominees are...


Comedy Series
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Glee”
“Modern Family”
“Nurse Jackie”
“The Office”
“30 Rock”


So Curb, Glee (!), and Modern Family have replaced the spiraling Entourage, Weeds, and - I hate to say it - less and less watchable How I Met Your Mother.  Note to HIMYM: your time is ending.  Introduce the mother already.  


This is good stuff!  I don't really think Nurse Jackie is a comedy, but whatever, it's a good list.

Drama
“Breaking Bad”
“Dexter”
“The Good Wife”
“Lost”
“Mad Men”
“True Blood”

Yeah, I know I'm at least fifteen years younger than The Good Wife's target demo, but every actor on it is excellent.  And while I personally think that Lost was a boring mess, I can't begrudge it a slot in the final season.  And they didn't nominate House!  Or Big Love!  (I think the badness of last season's formerly AWESOME show Big Love is borderline unforgivable.  Okay?  And when it comes to TV, I can forgive a lot).

Good work, Emmy people.  But if Jane Lynch doesn't win for Glee, I'm taking it all back.

OMG Ahhhhh Yay

Betty White to host 'SNL' in May

By James Hibberd

March 11, 2010, 01:26 PM ET

"Golden Girls" actress Betty White will host NBC's "Saturday Night Live" for the first time in her seven-decade career during May sweeps.

The six-time Emmy winner will take the stage live from New York on May 8.

"I can't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day weekend than with Betty White," said Lorne Michaels, creator of SNL.

White recently received the 2010 SAG Lifetime Achievement Award and appeared in the 2009 film "The Proposal."

EMMY NOMS

The 2009 Emmy Nominations were just announced. In the past, the Emmys have served as a reliable barometer of what is mediocre (remember when 4 of 5 best actress noms were for the Desperate Housewives ladies? ). So let's see who made the cut for 2009:

Dramas

Outstanding Drama Series

Big Love • HBO

Breaking Bad • AMC

Damages • FX Networks

Dexter • Showtime

House • FOX

Lost • ABC

Mad Men • AMC

Beggars can't totally be choosers... at least Greys' is off the list. But Lost? Was it even on the air last year? HOUSE? House is a BAD SHOW. I could watch Hugh Laurie read a phone book, but the storylines are predictable and trite. Like, hey, House and Cuddy are arguing about whether or not to do a risky prodecure! Who do you think'll win??? I agree with Ameet, who loves Chuck, when he says that Chuck's self-awareness of being a totally dumb show allows him to enjoy it more, whereas House's pretensions of being a thought-provoking serious drama is just infuriating. Bingo.

Anyway, Big Love just finished an amazing season, so that's my (pretend vote).

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters • ABC Sally Field, as Nora Walker

Damages • FX Glenn Close, as Patty Hewes

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC Studios Mariska Hargitay, as Detective Olivia Benson

Mad Men • AMC Elisabeth Moss, as Peggy Olson

Saving Grace • TN Holly Hunter, as Grace Hanadarko

The Closer • TNT Kyra Sedgwick, as Brenda Leigh Johnson

Is this the same list as last year? Where's Chloe Sevigny from Big Love on this list? What about President Roslin? Why are we rewarding Glenn Close for whatever she did to her face?

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Breaking Bad • AMC Bryan Cranston, as Walter White

Dexter • Showtime Michael C. Hall, as Dexter Morgan

House • FOX Hugh Laurie, as Dr. Gregory House

In Treatment • HBO Gabriel Byrne, as Paul

Mad Men • AMC Jon Hamm, as Don Draper

The Mentalist • CBS Simon Baker, as Patrick Jane

Looks pretty good. Simon Baker?

Comedies

Outstanding Comedy Series

30 Rock • NBC

Entourage • HBO

Family Guy • FOX

Flight Of The Conchords • HBO

How I Met Your Mother • CBS

The Office • NBC

Weeds • Showtime Excited to see HIMYM make the cut! Although: Emmy voters: memo: Entourage is not good anymore. It just isn't. It's okay. Let's move on. Although, alert: Jeremy Piven was shut out this year! FINALLY! Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • NBC Alec Baldwin, as Jack Donaghy Flight Of The Conchords • HBO Jemaine Clement, as Jemaine Monk • USA Tony Shalhoub, as Adrian Monk The Big Bang Theory • CBS Jim Parsons, as Sheldon Cooper The Office • NBC Steve Carell, as Michael Scott Two And A Half Men • CBS Charlie Sheen, as Charlie Harper Poor Brett, first of all. Can the nominating commitee even tell him and Jemaine apart? Which member of the nominating commitee is still not over his crush on Tony Shalhoub? Alec'll win anyway. He wins everything. (Except divorce settlements). The supporting noms are even better: Tracy Morgan, Kenneth the Page, NPH, Dwight Schrute, and people other than Ari Gold. YES. Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • NBC Tina Fey, as Liz Lemon Samantha Who? • ABC Christina Applegate, as Samantha Newly The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as Christine The Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central Sarah Silverman, as Sarah Silverman United States Of Tara • Showtime Toni Collette, as Tara Gregson Weeds • Showtime Mary-Louise Parker, as Nancy Botwin Weeds isn't a comedy anymore! It's actually really somber! But Sarah, way to represent. Jane Krakowski was nominated as a supporting actress for 30 Rock and I hope she wins. Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • Gavin Volure • NBC Steve Martin, as Gavin Volure 30 Rock • The Bubble • NBC Jon Hamm, as Dr. Drew Baird 30 Rock • Mamma Mia • NBC Alan Alda, as Milton Greene Desperate Housewives • The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened • ABC Beau Bridges, as Eli Boggs Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake • NBC Justin Timberlake, as Various Characters As much as I love Jon Hamm... JustinTimberlakeJu stinTimberlakeJustin Timberlake Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series 30 Rock • The One With The Cast Of 'Night Court' • NBC Jennifer Aniston, as Claire 30 Rock • Christmas Special • NBC Elaine Stritch, as Colleen Donaghy Monk • Mr. Monk And The Lady Next Door • USA Gena Rowlands, as Marge My Name Is Earl • Witch Lady • NBC Betty White, as Crazy Witch Lady Saturday Night Live • Presidential Bash 2008 • NBC Tina Fey, as Governor Sarah Palin (Spoof) The Big Bang Theory • The Maternal Capacitance • CBS Christine Baranski, as Beverly Hofstadter Yes. Tina Fey has been nominated for acting twice. That's my girl!