By Christian
Well, the Emmys happened. I have to admit that I hardly ever come away from the Emmys or Oscars feeling satisfied. There's always something shocking, but most of it is usually rather confusing. So I decided to do a brief run-down on the winners (of most of the categories), with some brief, uninformed comments.
Full disclosure: I haven't seen anywhere near all of the shows and actors nominated, so these opinions are clearly skewed. In the comments, let us know who you think got snubbed and who deserved those little trophies! [Winners are in bold]
Outstanding Drama Series:
-Boardwalk Empire
-Dexter
-Friday Night Lights
-Game of Thrones
-The Good Wife
-Mad Men
For me, there is no arguing with this one. Mad Men continues to grow and evolve and sharpen everything that it does so well. This only makes me eager for the next season.
Outstanding Comedy Series:
-Big Bang Theory
-Glee
-Modern Family
-The Office
-Parks and Recreation
-30 Rock
While Modern Family is better than most shows on TV, I can’t say it’s better than 30 Rock or Parks and Rec. 30 Rock just might be waning a bit in its old age, but Parks and Recreation is on top of its game right now. The writers and actors have tightened up the characters and it’s really starting to roll. Also, I would argue that Community is better than any of these shows. It’s unlike any sitcom, it has an amazing ensemble cast, and most importantly, it (much like 30 Rock) completely trusts in its audience. It writes smart every time. The fact that Big Bang Theory and Glee are even on the air at this point is shocking.
Outstanding Actress in a Drama:
-Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
-Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
-Mireille Enos, The Killing
-Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU
-Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
-Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Again, I’m a little surprised. I haven’t seen all of the contenders, and of the ones I have seen, none seem like award-worthy performances, so hat’s off to the lady from ER, I guess.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama:
-Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
-Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
-Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
-Margo Martindale, Justified
-Michelle Forbes, The Killing
-Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
This is a tough one, because I loved the first season of Justified, but haven’t seen the second (come on, Netflix, get a move on). Having said that, I can’t imagine anyone being better than Kelly Macdonald in Boardwalk Empire. I assumed that no one else could come close (Michelle Forbes just cried in every episode of The Killing, Christina Hendricks plays a pretty one-note character on Mad Men, and I haven’t seen The Good Wife). If anything, this gets me more excited for the second season of Justified.
Outstanding Actor in a Drama:
-Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
-Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
-Michael C. Hall, Dexter
-John Hamm, Mad Men
-Hugh Laurie, House
-Timothy Olyphant, Justified
Here’s another one that I can’t completely cry foul on, because I’ve only seen the first season of Friday Night Lights. But Hugh Laurie has done some amazing work to create a character on House, and I’m a big fan of John Hamm. Congrats to Kyle Chandler, but I have to wonder if this is one of those last-season nods. Also, Timothy Olyphant is great on Justified, but I never would expect him to win an award for it.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama:
-Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
-Josh Charles, The Good Wife
-Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
-Walton Goggins, Justified
-John Slattery, Mad Men
-Andrew Braugher, Men of a Certain Age
My only comment on this is that television doesn’t get any better than when Rodger Sterling is talking. That’s my statement.
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy:
-Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
-Tina Fey, 30 Rock
-Laura Linney, The Big C
-Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
-Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
-Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
I loved Bridesmades, but I still don’t think I’m ever going to watch Mike & Molly. Also, do people realize Tina Fey AND Amy Poehler were nominated here?
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy:
-Jane Lynch, Glee
-Betty White, Hot In Cleveland
-Julie Bowen, Modern Family
-Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
-Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
-Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Julie Bowen is funny. She was great in Happy Gilmore. She’s great on Modern Family. But come on, folks. Kristen Wiig is probably the best female cast member SNL has ever had. Yes, I’m aware for the nominees in the previous category, and all they've done. I stand by my statement.
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy:
-Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
-Louis C.K., Louie
-Steve Carrell, The Office
-Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
-Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
-Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
I’ve made my love for Louis C.K. and his brilliant show, Louie, absolutely clear. And his show just wouldn’t work without his outstanding acting. So this is a total snub, in my opinion. Also, I will reiterate my shock at finding out that Big Bang Theory is still on the air. I’m really dumbfounded. I assumed they’d give it to Carrell as a farewell, too.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy:
-Chris Colfer, Glee
-Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
-Ed O'Neill, Modern Family
-Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
-Ty Burrell, Modern Family
-Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
We get it, Emmys, you’re really into Modern Family (THREE ACTORS NOMINATED, HERE). And it’s a funny show. But I would pick any cast member from the criminally snubbed Community (namely Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, or Chevy Chase) or Parks and Recreation (Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, even Rob Lowe), or Fred Armisen from SNL, over anyone on Modern Family, any day.
Outstanding Variety, Comedy Or Musical Series:
-The Colbert Report
-Conan
-The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
-Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
-Real Time With Bill Maher
-Saturday Night Live
The Daily Show is important television. So is Colbert. And I really mean that. Important. But honestly, I was pulling for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Late Night has really carved out a place for itself, relying on unrestrained adlibbing, bizarre one-off bits, game show parodies, short films, sketch comedy, a stacked writing staff, and The Legendary Roots Crew. It’s hard to pick a winner, I suppose, but I would love to see Jimmy get credit for the fantastic job he’s doing.
Outstanding Reality Show:
-The Amazing Race
-American Idol
-Dancing With the Stars
-Project Runway
-So You Think You Can Dance
-Top Chef
This is a thing?
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Mini-series or Movie:
-Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
-Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
-Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
-Taraji P. Henson, Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
-Jean Marsh, Upstairs Downstairs
Okay, so Mildred Pierce was the only Mini-series I watched this year, but I wanted to mention it because of how fantastic Kate Winslet was. I don’t know how she doesn’t have a dozen Oscars by now. She’s perfect in every role. So if you didn’t watch Mildred Pierce, find out how to do so, and do so, soon.
Biggest snub: the fact that Community wasn't nominated for anything. A travesty.
Alright, let's have it out in the comments! Who deserved it?? Who didn't??
Tags: tv
About