30 Rock rules the Emmy Nomination Roost this year with an astounding 22 nominations. I won't be able to look at a winged woman holding a giant atom without thinking of Tina Fey. On the drama side of things, Mad Men made it's mark with a whooping 16 noms, bringing its total to a ridiculous 32 nominations since it entered contention. To give you an idea of how awesome the Emmy folks think Mad Men is, it is the only show nominated for Outstanding Writing besides LOST, which snared a single nomination in the category. Now, for the major 2009 Emmy Nominations, and our reaction.
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Entourage • Tree Trippers • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in
association with HBO Entertainment
Julian Farino, Director
Flight Of The Conchords • The Tough Brets • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in
association with HBO Entertainment
James Bobin, Director
The Office • Stress Relief • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Jeff Blitz, Director
30 Rock • Apollo, Apollo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association
with Universal Media Studios
Millicent Shelton, Director
30 Rock • Reunion • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with
Universal Media Studios
Beth McCarthy, Director
30 Rock • Generalissimo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association
with Universal Media Studios
Todd Holland, Director
Let's just make a rule here. Any show that dominates a category like this is probably going to win - even if they lose. Seriously. It would almost seem like a consolation prize. "Sorry we only liked one of your episodes, Entourage, here's a nice gold statue to make up for it." 30 Rock seems like a lock here [ed's not: Thank you captain obvious], but Flight of the Conchords could pull an upset. Stop laughing, I meant that.
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Battlestar Galactica • Daybreak (Part 2) • Syfy • R&D TV in association with Universal
Cable Productions
Michael Rymer, Director
Boston Legal • Made In China/Last Call • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in
association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Bill D'Elia, Director
Damages • Trust Me • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Todd A. Kessler, Director
ER • And In The End • NBC • Constant c Productions, Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Rod Holcomb, Director
Mad Men • The Jet Set • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Phil Abraham, Director
As smug as it makes me feel to see Battlestar Galactica in a major category like this, I have to say... bad choice! "Here's your motivation... you have none, God did it all. Just walk around and look really serious." Kudos to the Emmy publicists for getting the SyFy thing right, though. Damages should, by all things holy and coveted in the film-making curriculum, win this category.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner
Bros. Television
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
Flight Of The Conchords • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Jemaine Clement as Jemaine
Monk • USA • Universal Cable Productions in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Steve Carell as Michael Scott
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper
Wow, this almost looks like a "got nominated a bazillion times before" club meeting. I gotta say, I hope Tony Shaloub, Jemaine Clement, or Jim Parsons win just to wash away the 'Cliche' after taste. Seriously, everybody here is brilliant - but there are definitely some unsung talents that acted their hearts out that could have outclassed this category.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Bryan Cranston as Walter White
Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions,
The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
House • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z
Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House
In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Gabriel Byrne as Paul
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Jon Hamm as Don Draper
The Mentalist • CBS • Warner Bros. Television
Simon Baker as Patrick Jane
Color me six shades of conflicted. Every last actor here rocked my world last season. I'm a little surprised to see Simon Baker, but hey - the guy has chops. I wouldn't lay money on any of these contenders though, anyone of them could clinch this.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari's Logo Here in association with
Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine
Samantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios
Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly
The Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central • Central Productions/Eleven Eleven
O'Clock Productions/Oil Factory Inc.
Sarah Silverman as Sarah Silverman
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
United States Of Tara • Showtime • Showtime presents in association with DreamWorks Television
Toni Collette as Tara Gregson
Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin
All I have to say is keep your eyes on Collette, girls. Collette has her work cut out for her with Tara Gregson, and she nails the multiple personality thing with ease. I loathed the concept initially, because Eddie Murphy has made that whole one-actor-many-characters thing so passe. Then I watched it and realized it was as much about the multiverse of personality as it was the very strange and meaningful worldview that developed in the family and community around here. That is where the magic happens. Collette deserves to be dominating this category, one nomination for each of her characters.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Sally Field as Nora Walker
The Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros.
Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal
Media Studios
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson
Saving Grace • TNT • Fox Television
Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko
I have no horse in this race. I feel a little bit robbed that Mary-Louise Parker is in Comedy and not Drama, but that is the price of Dramedy. Oh, and Katherine Heigl - that humility looks GREAT on you.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with
HBO Entertainment
Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama
How I Met Your Mother • CBS • 20th Century Fox Television
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with
Universal Media Studios
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Jack McBrayer as Kenneth Parcell
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
Who was the wise-guy who nominated the host? Seriously though, Cryer has been reduced to schtick as most of the others have - it wouldn't be a surprise to see the ever fresh Neil Patrick Harris snare this. He is the only one that seems to move with an undeniable inner energy to do something new. The others are more sustaining a pre-established brilliance.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth
Century Fox Television
William Shatner as Denny Crane
Boston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth
Century Fox Television
Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson
Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
William Hurt as Daniel Purcell
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
John Slattery as Roger Sterling
Pardon me, Emmy voters... it is time to get your head out of your asses. Michael Emerson has crafted a bench-mark performance as Ben Linus. "Ben Linus" now appears on the sinister/ambiguous/geeky-yet-dangerous/scary yard stick. I honestly can't figure out why you people have not galvanized his brilliance with an Emmy - and no, the other ones don't count any more. Frankly, the time to do the right thing has passed, at this point giving Emerson the Emmy would be more of an act of contrition. As a matter of fact, upgrade it to outstanding lead, just because.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in
association with Warner Bros. Television
Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Amy Poehler as Various Characters
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristin Wiig as Various Characters
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater
Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes
Some actresses work their butts off to project an identity, some just radiate. Vanessa Williams radiates. On that note, Elizabeth Perkins works it on so many levels - too bad she'll ultimately lose to either Amy Poehler or Jane Krakowski.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons
Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Sandra Oh as Dr. Christina Yang
Grey's Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey
In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Dianne Wiest as Gina
In Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in
association with HBO Entertainment
Hope Davis as Mia
24 • FOX • Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television in association with
Teakwood Lane Productions
Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor
I honestly expected more from Cherry Jones. Not to be too much of a Wednesday's child about it, but woe is us - she gave us a pretty wimpy woman president, but ultimately that is how she was written. Given the political happenings of recent memory, though, it would be interesting to see if the significance of her character carries any weight.
The Emmy Statue
[...] The Emmy nominations are in, and LOST has scored big in some key categories. Some Losties will be disappointed, for sure, as some key favorites were denied yet again – no Josh Holloway, or Elizabeth Mitchell, sadly – and unthinkably there was no Outstanding Director nods, but I’d say chances are looking pretty good for LOST to bring some statues home. Let’s take a look and assess the competition. [...]