If you haven't heard yet, the Emmy Awards are approaching. The nominees have been announce and I find my self feeling the same why I always do about them, mostly disappointed. Year after year the Emmy Awards have neglected to recognize some of the most talented television actors and the most creative television shows. Don't get me wrong, there are always some very talented people recognized, but there is an equal number of actors and shows that go unrecognized every year. This is my assessment of this years nominations. If you haven't seen a list of the nominees, here is a link: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/emmys/la-et-st-emmy-nominations-2012-list-20120718,0,521498.htmlstory
Comedy Series:
What they got right:
The short answer? Not much. So many good shows have been left off of this list and in their place are a mass of HBO and CBS shows that are about as funny as getting a paper cut. The best show nominated in this category is hands down 30 Rock, but we all know it has no chance of taking home this award. I will give partial credit to Modern Family. It tries harder than HBO or CBS to actually be a smart show, and being produced by Steven Levitan (creator of the hilarious show Just Shoot Me) it has its bright spots. Not my personal favorite, but certainly a better nominee than the other four contenders.
What they got wrong:
A better question might be what didn't they get wrong? How about almost completely ignoring the funniest network, NBC? Community and Parks and Recreation both should have received nominations in this category. Along with 30 Rock they are arguably the funniest, most witty, shows on TV. Another show that was ignored is Fox's New Girl, a show much more original and clever than most of this years nominees. I would add that ABC's Cougar Town is also worthy of a nomination, but I've resigned to the fact that the Emmy's don't like good comedy.
Comedy Actor:
What they got right:
One name. Alec Baldwin. He's hilarious on 30 Rock. He should, and just might, win this award.
What they got wrong:
Just about everything else. Nick Offerman and Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation both deserve nominations in this category. So does Joel McHale from Community. Can I just point out how ridiculous it is that Jon Cryer is nominated in this category again. Nobody has ever watched Two and a Half Men because they thought he was funny. People watch that show despite the fact that he's on there. I mean I know Charlie Sheen said some mean things about him, but can we stop throwing him pity nominations? Also Jim Parsons is probably the most overrated actor on the most overrated show on television.
Comedy Actress:
What they got right:
Surprisingly more than they did with the other comedy categories. First of all, there is Tina Fey, who is clearly the funniest comedian of our time male or female. If you removed Fey's perfectly crafted Liz Lemon and her writing voice from 30 Rock, there would be no show. I was also glad to see that despite ignoring Parks and Recreation as a show, they did nominate Amy Poehler, who is the heart of the show. Finally, it was encouraging to see the Emmy's recognize Zooey Deschanel's work on New Girl. While not quite on Fey and Poehler's level, Deschanel has really crafted a funny and quirky character that deserves this nomination.
What they got wrong:
Can we please all jump off of the Julia Louis-Dryfus is funny bandwagon? We all know it's not true, and yet we keep supporting her horrible decisions with nominations. I would add that Courtney Cox perfectly portrays the highly functional drunk that is Jules Cobb on Cougar Town.
Supporting Comedy Actor:
What they got right:
I will throw a bone to Max Greenfield and Eric Stonestreet on this one. Both give solid enough performances on their shows to warrant this nomination, but not a win in my opinion.
What they got wrong:
Rob Lowe from Parks and Recreation definitely deserves a nomination in this category. Community's Donald Glover and Danny Pudi both deserve nominations as well. In fact I personally think that Danny Pudi should be winning this award and am baffled as to how the Emmy's can nominate Jim Parsons and not Danny Pudi. Pudi plays a very similar role as Parsons, but performs the role ten times better.
Supporting Comedy Actress:
What they got right:
Julie Bowen. That's about it. While I have stated that I'm not a huge fan of the show, 90% of the times it has made me laugh are because of Bowen's performance.
What they got wrong:
So much. Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, and Yvette Nicole Brown all give wonderfully hilarious performances on Community. Aubrey Plaza is perfect on Parks and Recreation. Perhaps the biggest snub of all? Busy Phillips on Cougar Town. She plays Laurie Keller perfectly and somehow makes TV's biggest "tease" one of the most lovable and charming characters out there.
Drama Series:
What they got right:
Downton Abbey. I'm not a big fan of period pieces, but I have to say that this show is on top of its game. The characters are intriguing and the plot lines keep you watching.
What they got wrong:
I was livid when I saw the nominations and The Good Wife wasn't on there. It is hands down more intriguing than any other drama on television. Not to mention it does so without the gimmicks that so many of the dramas these days have to rely on. No, Alicia Florrick isn't a drug maker or a philandering ad salesman,
she's a hard working lawyer fighting to keep her family in tact.
Drama Actress:
What they got right/wrong:
I'm putting these two together cause honestly there isn't much that they missed here. Juliana Margulies and Michelle Dockery are both excellent nominations deserving of a win. If I could add one nominee it would be Ellen Pompeo, who I feel has always been under appreciated on Grey's Anatomy.
Drama Actor:
What they got right:
Hugh Bonneville is perfect on Downton Abbey. His performance always balances out the more extreme characters on the show and keeps it from going off of the deep end like so many other dramas.
What they got wrong:
Josh Charles took a more active role on The Good Wife this past seasons, ironically as his character took a less active role in his law firm. I feel that his performance has gotten better and he deserved a nomination in this category.
Supporting Drama Actress:
What they got right:
The nominations of Maggie Smith and Joanne Froggatt for Downton Abbey, and Archie Panjabi and Christine Branski for The Good Wife are more than enough to make me content with this category. If one of these four women doesn't win the award, it's a real crime.
Supporting Drama Actor:
What they got right:
Brendan Coyle and Jim Carter both deserve their nominations for Downton Abbey.
What they got wrong:
Allen Cummings and Matt Czuchry both deserve nominations for The Good Wife. Cummings is especially great as the cunning and manipulative political adviser Eli Gold.
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