Emmy Noms
So, the Emmy nominations were announced today.
Hmmm.
I think that the NATAS people must be very limited in what they actually watch--since they nominate the same crap year after year. Do they only watch "Friends" and "Malcolm in the Middle"? Jeez.
So who deserved it? Who didn't? Who got left out, again?
Actors first.
Actor, Comedy Series: Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO; Matt LeBlanc, Friends, NBC; Bernie Mac, The Bernie Mac Show, Fox; Eric McCormack, Will & Grace, NBC; Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Tony Shalhoub, Monk, USA.
This list only makes sense in a universe where Scrubs doesn't exist. Do we live in that universe? Didn't think so.
OK, I can't speak to Larry David or Bernie Mac because I don't watch their shows. The first is a little to high-concept for my taste and the second a little broad. But I will assume that they did fine work, since I can't dispute it. Matt Le Blanc also did fine work--the subtlety of his performance the last couple of years is just about all that's kept Friends watchable. And Tony Shaloub just makes me smile, so I can't argue with his nomination either. Eric McCormack, though, has been phoning it in for a couple of seasons now and Ray Romano just can't act. He's funny, yes, but he. can't. act. Those things, "is funny" and "can act" are not the same thing, but you could have fooled the academy.
In their places, I would substitute John C. McGinley and, well...can I say John C. McGinley twice? That he is not nominated is the second-biggest travesty of the year. He is funny, yes and can act, a powerful combination.
Actress, Comedy Series: Jennifer Aniston, Friends, NBC; Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle, Fox; Debra Messing, Will & Grace, NBC; Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City, HBO.
I don't have much to say here. I would like to see Lauren Graham nominated in this category and would put her in place of Debra Messing--guilty of the same phoning-in as her co-star--or Jane Kaczmarek, whose performance is a little hysterical--and not in the good way--for me. But Lauren Graham is on a small show on a fringe network, so I am not holding my breath.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Peter Boyle, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Bryan Cranston, Malcolm in the Middle, Fox; Brad Garrett, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Sean Hayes, Will & Grace, NBC; John Mahoney, Frasier, NBC; David Hyde Pierce, Frasier, NBC.
Let's see. Well, I'd like to see Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson here, but see above re: small show/fringe network. I'd also like some of the other scrubs boys to see some love--especially Ken Jenkins. I would probably drop Boyle and Cranston in favor of those two. I haven't ever liked Cranston--well, since his early work on Loving, anyway. And Boyle, well, I just like him less than the others. Don't really know why. I suppose that an argument could be made for John Mahoney phoning it in, but I just find his work more compelling than Boyle's.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Kim Cattrall, Sex and the City, HBO; Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO; Megan Mullally, Will & Grace, NBC; Cynthia Nixon, Sex and the City, HBO; Doris Roberts, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS.
First, let's scrap Doris Roberts. I know she's old. I know she's well-liked. She's also grating and--while she may be able to act, she is not funny. And, last I checked, this was a comedy award. I have no qualms with Kim Cattrall or Cynthia Nixon other than the fact that I think it's a cheat that they submit themselves in the supporting category when they get just as much screentime as Sarah Jessica Parker. I also think that one of them--probably Cattrall--should likely switch off in alternate years with Kristin Davis, who hasn't yet been nominated. She's as strong as the others, except that her role isn't as flashy. So, you know, no soup for her, which isn't quite fair. I know nothing about Cheryl Hines, so we'll leave her be. And, I think that Megan Mullally is brilliant. She should win.
Actor, Drama Series: Michael Chiklis, The Shield, FX; James Gandolfini, The Sopranos, HBO; Peter Krause, Six Feet Under, HBO; Martin Sheen, The West Wing, NBC; Kiefer Sutherland, 24, Fox.
This is where things start to get really dicey, cause all these guys can act. And not just act--they can really ACT. But so can Gale Harold. And so can David Boreanaz. And so can James Marsters. I don't want to choose, but I will. If I can't have all eight in this category, I'll take Harold, who did the best work I saw last year and Marsters, who wasn't far behind. I'll take Chiklis, because he never makes the safe choice and makes it work anyway. I'll take Krause, because--well, because he rocks and he can also do comedy, which isn't strictly a consideration, but it shows how well-rounded he is. And, for number 5, I'm going to have to go Sheen. I think that Kiefer did a good job but the material isn't all that demanding--it's not a lot more than Speed, you know, except not on a bus. And, hell, even Keanu Reeves was believable in Speed. And that leaves us with Gandolfini. No one cheered louder than me when he won the first Emmy a couple years back. But he's been playing it too safe with Tony Soprano. Don't get me wrong--he's great. But he gave the 6th or 7th best performance last year. And with the Emmy's, only 1-5 count.
Actress, Drama Series: Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under, HBO; Edie Falco, The Sopranos, HBO; Jennifer Garner, Alias, ABC; Marg Helgenberger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS; Allison Janney, The West Wing, NBC.
I know I'm biased. I know that I can't see this clearly. But that this category has never made room for Sarah Michelle Gellar is unbelievable. I like Marg Helgenberger, but she's not doing terribly challenging work. Jennifer Garner falls into the "Keanu" category (see Kiefer Sutherland). Sure, she's charming and I root for my girl Sydney every week. But it's not great work. And we shouldn't reward good work. This is about great, catch in your throat, can't breathe work. Work that has been done by Gellar for seven years.
Problem is, there aren't exactly a lot of other female leads to choose from. For me, I'd go with Conroy, Janney, Falco, Gellar, for sure. Helgenberger, maybe. Unless I could think of someone better. Garner, no.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Victor Garber, Alias, ABC; Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos, HBO; Joe Pantoliano, The Sopranos, HBO; John Spencer, The West Wing, NBC; Bradley Whitford, The West Wing, NBC.
I don't think I have anything to say here. I mean, sure, there are others: Nathan Fillion, for his dastardly turn on Buffy, Nick Brendon, Peter Page...but these nominees do a-list work. Nothing more to see here.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Lauren Ambrose, Six Feet Under, HBO; Stockard Channing, The West Wing, NBC; Tyne Daly, Judging Amy, CBS; Rachel Griffiths, Six Feet Under, HBO; Lena Olin, Alias, ABC.
Again, we shouldn't be talking about good work. We should be talking about great work. And I defy anyone to hear Alyson Hannigan's character call out for her dead lover--Tara!--without flinching. It's that kind of performance that the academy should seek out, not Lena Olin's wooden turn as an ice-queen mother-spy. Not Stockard Channings harpie first lady.
I'd go Hannigan, Ambrose--who did gorgeous work last year, Griffiths, Daly and Janelle Maloney. Janelle Maloney, you say?! Find me an actress that can take scraps and turn them into 9-couse meals like she can. I dare you.
Comedy Series:Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO; Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Friends, NBC; Sex and the City, HBO; Will & Grace, NBC.
Except for subbing Scrubs--best comedy on TV right now--for the torpid 'Everybody Loves Raymond', I'll leave this one alone. And, again, I'll make a plug for Gilmore Girls, knowing that it won't get me anywhere. I might put that in place of Friends. Or Curb Your Enthusiasm. I don't watch it, but I can't imagine that it's as good as GG.
Drama Series: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS; Six Feet Under, HBO; The Sopranos, HBO; 24, Fox; The West Wing, NBC.
CSI is good television. But it's just not at this level. Yes, it's wicked popular. But it's like comparing John Grisham and John Irving. It's out of its league. West Wing and Sopranos had sub-par years. And, I'm sorry--where's Buffy? That no one in NATAS recognizes its quality is the only proof I need that the system is busted.
I'd go, Buffy, SFU, 24, The Shield and Firefly
Hmmm.
I think that the NATAS people must be very limited in what they actually watch--since they nominate the same crap year after year. Do they only watch "Friends" and "Malcolm in the Middle"? Jeez.
So who deserved it? Who didn't? Who got left out, again?
Actors first.
Actor, Comedy Series: Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO; Matt LeBlanc, Friends, NBC; Bernie Mac, The Bernie Mac Show, Fox; Eric McCormack, Will & Grace, NBC; Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Tony Shalhoub, Monk, USA.
This list only makes sense in a universe where Scrubs doesn't exist. Do we live in that universe? Didn't think so.
OK, I can't speak to Larry David or Bernie Mac because I don't watch their shows. The first is a little to high-concept for my taste and the second a little broad. But I will assume that they did fine work, since I can't dispute it. Matt Le Blanc also did fine work--the subtlety of his performance the last couple of years is just about all that's kept Friends watchable. And Tony Shaloub just makes me smile, so I can't argue with his nomination either. Eric McCormack, though, has been phoning it in for a couple of seasons now and Ray Romano just can't act. He's funny, yes, but he. can't. act. Those things, "is funny" and "can act" are not the same thing, but you could have fooled the academy.
In their places, I would substitute John C. McGinley and, well...can I say John C. McGinley twice? That he is not nominated is the second-biggest travesty of the year. He is funny, yes and can act, a powerful combination.
Actress, Comedy Series: Jennifer Aniston, Friends, NBC; Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle, Fox; Debra Messing, Will & Grace, NBC; Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City, HBO.
I don't have much to say here. I would like to see Lauren Graham nominated in this category and would put her in place of Debra Messing--guilty of the same phoning-in as her co-star--or Jane Kaczmarek, whose performance is a little hysterical--and not in the good way--for me. But Lauren Graham is on a small show on a fringe network, so I am not holding my breath.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Peter Boyle, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Bryan Cranston, Malcolm in the Middle, Fox; Brad Garrett, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Sean Hayes, Will & Grace, NBC; John Mahoney, Frasier, NBC; David Hyde Pierce, Frasier, NBC.
Let's see. Well, I'd like to see Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson here, but see above re: small show/fringe network. I'd also like some of the other scrubs boys to see some love--especially Ken Jenkins. I would probably drop Boyle and Cranston in favor of those two. I haven't ever liked Cranston--well, since his early work on Loving, anyway. And Boyle, well, I just like him less than the others. Don't really know why. I suppose that an argument could be made for John Mahoney phoning it in, but I just find his work more compelling than Boyle's.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Kim Cattrall, Sex and the City, HBO; Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO; Megan Mullally, Will & Grace, NBC; Cynthia Nixon, Sex and the City, HBO; Doris Roberts, Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS.
First, let's scrap Doris Roberts. I know she's old. I know she's well-liked. She's also grating and--while she may be able to act, she is not funny. And, last I checked, this was a comedy award. I have no qualms with Kim Cattrall or Cynthia Nixon other than the fact that I think it's a cheat that they submit themselves in the supporting category when they get just as much screentime as Sarah Jessica Parker. I also think that one of them--probably Cattrall--should likely switch off in alternate years with Kristin Davis, who hasn't yet been nominated. She's as strong as the others, except that her role isn't as flashy. So, you know, no soup for her, which isn't quite fair. I know nothing about Cheryl Hines, so we'll leave her be. And, I think that Megan Mullally is brilliant. She should win.
Actor, Drama Series: Michael Chiklis, The Shield, FX; James Gandolfini, The Sopranos, HBO; Peter Krause, Six Feet Under, HBO; Martin Sheen, The West Wing, NBC; Kiefer Sutherland, 24, Fox.
This is where things start to get really dicey, cause all these guys can act. And not just act--they can really ACT. But so can Gale Harold. And so can David Boreanaz. And so can James Marsters. I don't want to choose, but I will. If I can't have all eight in this category, I'll take Harold, who did the best work I saw last year and Marsters, who wasn't far behind. I'll take Chiklis, because he never makes the safe choice and makes it work anyway. I'll take Krause, because--well, because he rocks and he can also do comedy, which isn't strictly a consideration, but it shows how well-rounded he is. And, for number 5, I'm going to have to go Sheen. I think that Kiefer did a good job but the material isn't all that demanding--it's not a lot more than Speed, you know, except not on a bus. And, hell, even Keanu Reeves was believable in Speed. And that leaves us with Gandolfini. No one cheered louder than me when he won the first Emmy a couple years back. But he's been playing it too safe with Tony Soprano. Don't get me wrong--he's great. But he gave the 6th or 7th best performance last year. And with the Emmy's, only 1-5 count.
Actress, Drama Series: Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under, HBO; Edie Falco, The Sopranos, HBO; Jennifer Garner, Alias, ABC; Marg Helgenberger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS; Allison Janney, The West Wing, NBC.
I know I'm biased. I know that I can't see this clearly. But that this category has never made room for Sarah Michelle Gellar is unbelievable. I like Marg Helgenberger, but she's not doing terribly challenging work. Jennifer Garner falls into the "Keanu" category (see Kiefer Sutherland). Sure, she's charming and I root for my girl Sydney every week. But it's not great work. And we shouldn't reward good work. This is about great, catch in your throat, can't breathe work. Work that has been done by Gellar for seven years.
Problem is, there aren't exactly a lot of other female leads to choose from. For me, I'd go with Conroy, Janney, Falco, Gellar, for sure. Helgenberger, maybe. Unless I could think of someone better. Garner, no.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Victor Garber, Alias, ABC; Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos, HBO; Joe Pantoliano, The Sopranos, HBO; John Spencer, The West Wing, NBC; Bradley Whitford, The West Wing, NBC.
I don't think I have anything to say here. I mean, sure, there are others: Nathan Fillion, for his dastardly turn on Buffy, Nick Brendon, Peter Page...but these nominees do a-list work. Nothing more to see here.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Lauren Ambrose, Six Feet Under, HBO; Stockard Channing, The West Wing, NBC; Tyne Daly, Judging Amy, CBS; Rachel Griffiths, Six Feet Under, HBO; Lena Olin, Alias, ABC.
Again, we shouldn't be talking about good work. We should be talking about great work. And I defy anyone to hear Alyson Hannigan's character call out for her dead lover--Tara!--without flinching. It's that kind of performance that the academy should seek out, not Lena Olin's wooden turn as an ice-queen mother-spy. Not Stockard Channings harpie first lady.
I'd go Hannigan, Ambrose--who did gorgeous work last year, Griffiths, Daly and Janelle Maloney. Janelle Maloney, you say?! Find me an actress that can take scraps and turn them into 9-couse meals like she can. I dare you.
Comedy Series:Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO; Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS; Friends, NBC; Sex and the City, HBO; Will & Grace, NBC.
Except for subbing Scrubs--best comedy on TV right now--for the torpid 'Everybody Loves Raymond', I'll leave this one alone. And, again, I'll make a plug for Gilmore Girls, knowing that it won't get me anywhere. I might put that in place of Friends. Or Curb Your Enthusiasm. I don't watch it, but I can't imagine that it's as good as GG.
Drama Series: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS; Six Feet Under, HBO; The Sopranos, HBO; 24, Fox; The West Wing, NBC.
CSI is good television. But it's just not at this level. Yes, it's wicked popular. But it's like comparing John Grisham and John Irving. It's out of its league. West Wing and Sopranos had sub-par years. And, I'm sorry--where's Buffy? That no one in NATAS recognizes its quality is the only proof I need that the system is busted.
I'd go, Buffy, SFU, 24, The Shield and Firefly