Encore Emmy Ballot: Dramas (Pt. 1)

Ryan and I still are doing our Emmy predictions, but I'm back with my own personal ballots - now headed over to the drama categories. If you love Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, United States of Tara or even Mad Men look out below...

        

OUTSTANDING CASTING

Nominees:

-Boardwalk Empire

-Big Love

-The Good Wife

-The Killing

-Mad Men

-True Blood

Johnny Lee Miller and Julia Stiles alone would secure Dexter a mention here. The two period dramas, Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire, both depend on casting the players to participate in their businesses – one legal, and the other not so much. Regardless of where you stand on The Killing its excellent casting was imperative to its run through this past season but The Good Wife and True Blood rule this category. Both have expansive casts and both depend so much on getting the right people to play opposite their regulars. And both succeed.

Runners-Up: Parenthood / Dexter / United States of Tara

             

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR

Nominees:

-Eddie Izzard in United States of Tara

-Zach Grenier in The Good Wife

-Jonny Lee Miller in Dexter as Jordan Chase

-Denis O’Hare in True Blood as Russell

-Dallas Roberts in The Good Wife

-Peter Weller in Dexter

Sure, Miller’s Jordan Chase was the real villain on the past season of Dexter but Weller’s Liddy was just as distressing. Dexter is a show that often thrives on its guests and both men were worthy foes to Dexter. Both Roberts and Grenier have that sarcastic charm that works so excellently on The Good Wife. The entire fiasco with Derek Bond was brilliant for two reasons, giving Baranski material and allowing Grenier to work all the caustic witticisms the writers could come up with and other than Panjabi Roberts is the best actor to bring out the warmth in Margulies. At first Izzard seemed intent on playing his character in broad strokes but the closer it got to his exist the more personal his performance became leading to that phenomenal performance in “Bryce Will Play” and everything about Russell was superlative. A villain for the ages.

Runners-Up: Kevin in The Closer; Michael J. Fox in The Good Wife; Dennis O’Hare in The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS

Nominees:

-Frances Conroy in United States of Tara

-Mary McDonnell in The Closer

-Gretchen Mol in Boardwalk Empire

-Mamie Gummer in The Good Wife

-Alfre Woodard in True Blood

-Anika Noni Rose in The Good Wife

This category is always filled with greatness. Mol and Woodward both play mothers but they’re worlds apart. Woodard does well as Lafayette's mom, her few scenes she manages to create an affecting relationship with Ellis. Mol does the same with Pitt in Boardwalk Empire. She plays a more significant character, with a number of facets, but it’s her work as an atypical mother precipitating a slight oedipal arc which is strongest. McDonnell and Rose both play working women in high positions. One of the great things about The Good Wife is how they steered clear of making Rose’s Wendy a villain without making her two perfect. Rose does wonderfully in her scenes and manages to play well against the big names in the cast – her scenes with Margulies are especially taut. The same goes for McDonnell who’s best when opposite Sedgwick. Gummer might not be her mother, but she’s a fine actress and her interesting quirks have made her work incredibly well in the fabric of The Good Wife. Conroy’s done a few guest spots this season, but it’s her work opposite the Gregson clan that was most memorable. In fact, the entire of “Crunchy Ice” seemed dedicated to giving her more to do and she succeeded excellently.

Runners-Up: Evan Rachel Wood in True Blood / Mary Kay Place in Big Love / Frances Conroy in Grey’s Anatomy / Mary Beth Peil in The Good Wife / Doris Roberts in Grey’s Anatomy

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nominees:

-Alan Cumming in The Good Wife as Eli Gould for “Wrongful Termination”

-Keir Cilchrist in United States of Tara for “Crunchy Ice”

-Vincent Kartheiser in Mad Men for “The Rejected”

-Ryan Kwanten in True Blood for “Trouble”

-Michael Shannon in Boardwalk Empire for “Paris Green”

-Sam Trammell in True Blood for “Hitting the Ground”

True Blood has such an expansive cast (and a principally male ensemble) that the actors have little time to make their mark. Kwanten and Trammell have been most effective for the past season. Watching Kwanten do his usual dance between melodrama and comedy continues to be interesting and Trammell has never been as interesting as he was this past season dealing with a family from hell. Kartheiser continues to be underrated on Mad Men but he’s been incredible in season 4. Pete can be arrogant without losing his humanity and Kartheiser makes his attempts to balance his work and family more than a repeat of Don’s issues. I’ve not been especially fond of Marshall this season, but Gilchrist has been phenomenal. Sure, he was good in the New York episodes and dealing with Lionel’s death but it’s the confrontation with Bryce that I remember most. Shannon reaches a new level of creepy on Boardwalk Empire when he gets religious fever and Eli Gould is, as always, untouchable.

Runners-Up: Joel Kinnaman in The Killing / Sam Jaegar in Parenthood / Justin Chambers in Grey’s Anatomy / Billy Campbell in The Killing / Brent Sexton in The Killing

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominees:

- Christine Hendricks in Mad Men for “The Good News”

- Brie Larson inUnited States of Tara for “Wheels”

- Kelly MacDonald in Boardwalk Empire for “Belle Femme”

- Sandra Oh in Grey’s Anatomy as Cristina Yang for “That’s Me, Trying”

- Archie Panjabi in The Good Wife for “Getting Off”

- Chloe Sevigny in Big Love as Nicolette Grant for “The Noose Tightens”

Brie Larson is the one member of the show whose comedic work has been more plentiful than her dramatic work this season but that doesn’t mean she’s not adept at both. Is there any sibling relationship more beautiful than Kate and Marshall? Brie manages to work that arc while being incomparable in what could have been a rote romance with Evan and on the topic of rote Cristina’s journey on Grey’s Anatomy this season could have fallen flat with a lesser actor but Oh is such a brilliant thespian (where, oh where, is her Emmy) that it lands with resounding force. I was uncertain of MacDonald in the first few episodes of Boardwalk Empire, but somewhere around the halfway point the series realised how to use her and she became astonishing trouncing Buscemi in their scenes together. The Roger/Joan fiasco seemed a bit too reprisal last season, but unlike Slattery Hendricks managed to make it works as moments of poignant development for her character, “The Good News” depends on her. It’s so tough to choose between Sevigny and Panjabi. Both play women with issues revealing their true selves, and both ruled their shows. In both cases I loved them most when their walls came down. Kalinda was continuously excellent, but that breakdown in the elevator in the penultimate episode is the stuff Emmy’s are made of as was Nicolette’s breakdown with Bill. They’re both difficult to understand, performed by excellent women.

Runners-Up: Julia Stiles in Dexter/ Rosemarie DeWitt in United States of Tara / Michelle Forbes in The Killing / Christine Baranski in The Good Wife / Ginnifer Goodwin in Big Love; Monica Potter in Parenthood

         

What are your drama favourites? Who wins in the supporting categories for you?

Emmy Chatter: Lead Actors

Why is that the lead actors’ races seem so boring to us? Is it because the pickings are slim or is it because we know Emmy is lazy in their choices? Ryan and I are back with my predictions, the Outstanding Lead Actors. We start off predicting and end up veering into discussions on Web Therapy and excel spread-sheets.
       
Andrew: So, the lead actors. It's in theory the top acting category, but I find the pickings really slim. Or is it just me?

Ryan: No, it's not just you. My long-list is not really that long to be honest.

Ryan: But I think most of that is also due to the Emmys sticking to the same 5-6 guys as much as they can whenever they can.

Andrew: Exactly. Because there are some great actors coming to mind, but I just know that Emmy is never going to nominate them.

Ryan: Most definitely. With that said, in Comedy and Drama there are people who aren't eligible or their shows ended, so they HAVE to pick new-ish people.

Andrew: So, which of the two to start with. Which is weaker, drama or comedy?

Ryan: Don't know about weaker per se, but let's start with Comedy first.

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy

Ryan: There are three locks, no?

Andrew: Parsons, Carrell and Baldwin?

Are these three poised for a nomination?

Ryan: Exactly. Last year's winner, sentimental favourite, and loved by the Emmys.

Andrew: Yup, yup, yup. I can already see that this is going to be one tepid discussion. (I'm sure our personal lists will be way more fun.)

Ryan: Most definitely. Though it will be interesting to see where the Emmys will go to fill the other spots. Would it be 2 or 3 more spots?

Andrew: Generally, it's six per category (for serial acting). I know you're not a fan of Morrison, but considering the weak field of persons they'd actually nominate I'd say he deserves a nod (and will probably get one).

Ryan: Ha! Actually when I was making my predictions I came up with five choices leaving out Morrison so I guess he could take that sixth spot for me. I wonder if the Emmys are still high on Glee though in general. I'd wish they'd branch out a bit more like Joel McHale even though he isn't the funniest in his cast.

Andrew :I think I'll save my thoughts on Glee acting for when we meet a particular category, but I think Morrison deserves credit for making a lot poor writing decisions work (most notably “Rocky Horror Glee Show” which he sort of sold).

Ryan: Yeah, I guess. I think I've just developed a sense of apathy towards Morrison's character which is sad.

Andrew: Heretic! And, incidentally, I'm wondering if McHale could get a nomination (although I like to pretend Community is just Glover and Brie.)

Ryan: It really all depends on if they think that Community was snubbed last year. Zero nominations in all categories! Which was especially stingy since they asked McHale to announce the nominations last year!

Andrew: AND Community was BRILLIANT last season, much better than this one.

Ryan: Yes, exactly I was just going to say that if this season had built up on the goodwill the first one had, then it'd almost be a no-brainer. But speaking of a brilliant show... Parks & Recreation... any thoughts on Rob Lowe's lead campaign?

Andrew: I think it's both brilliant and ridiculous...just like his character actually. It might work, and then again it might not, but maybe it might. On the topic of freakish submissions, I finished watching Episodes Season One and Matt LeBlanc is nowhere NEAR a lead actor. I have a feeling one of them will get in, but I'm not sure which...

Ryan: That's a bit weird. At least from the commercials I've seen it looked like LeBlanc's star vehicle post-Friends (because Joey never ever existed).

Andrew: (Drea de Mateo was ridiculously wasted on Joey. Ugh.) Nope, the Brits are the lead. The show is HILARIOUS, but Matt's hardly the draw for me. But, eh, he's a name actor. And, why has Duchovney never gotten an Emmy nod? I didn't watch this last Californication season, but he's great and he has a Golden Globe.

Ryan: Yeah, plus we already said it's a weak field. I was even tempted to put it Matthew Perry for the not-so-good Mr. Sunshine just for name recognition alone.

Andrew: Why haven't Perry and Kudrow gotten better post Friends shows? They're brilliant (PS. off topic, but have you heard Web Therapy is coming to the small screen?)

Ryan: I actually sort of dug The Comeback and Sunset Strip. They were both flawed, but at least Kudrow and Perry were damn watchable.

Andrew: Yeah, they were good but they both got cancelled well before their time!

Ryan: And yes, I can't wait to see how Web Therapy on TV. I need to catch up on the web series!

Andrew: Wow, we sort of derailed this conversation, that's how boring these men are. Okay, what do your nods look like?


Ryan: My predictions:
Alec Baldwin 30 Rock
Louis C.K. Louie
Steve Carrell The Office
Matt LeBlanc Episodes
Joel McHale Community
Jim Parsons The Big Bang Theory
And yes, I'd rather be wrong than predict Matthew Morrison.

Andrew: To quote Sue, “your resentment is delicious!” So, you see Louie making it? I've never seen it.

Ryan: Never seen it either, but critics are loving it. And again, weak category.

Andrew: My predictions:
Alec Baldwin 30 Rock
Steve Carrell The Office
Rob Lowe Parks and Recreation
Matthew Morrison Glee
Joel McHale Community
Jim Parsons The Big Bang Theory

Ryan: Rob Lowe! Delicious. Literally. Okay, Drama.

Outstanding Actor in a Drama

Ryan: This field is a bit more interesting. Maybe? Not really.

Andrew :Haha. What do you think of the field, generally? I think great potential nominees. Shame, Emmy hates them.

Ryan: Pretty much what I'm thinking too. Like Comedy, I see three locks. Buscemi, Hall, and Hamm.

Andrew: God, I want Hall to win so badly. Seriously, my mouth was on the floor when he lost last year? I mean cancer, a SAG, a Globe and the man STILL can't win an Emmy? Egads.

What does he have to do to win an Emmy?

Ryan: Yeah, I love love love Bryan Cranston and his character Walt in Breaking Bad, but he did not need to win a third time and certainly should NOT have won over Hall last year. I was so... confused!
Andrew: I mean, Rita died DAMN IT! Ugh. Okay, moving on - I'm getting caught up. Who do we see joining him? I say Chandler, easy as pie. (Not that pie is easy, but whatever.)

Ryan: Is it that easy really? I mean it was a great (and awesome) breakthrough for him and Britton to be nominated last year, but will they repeat? I guess in this case, Emmys complacency should help for once.

Andrew: I just feel like Chandler is EVERYWHERE now and the Super 8 (which I DID NOT LIKE) I just feel like he's in. I don't know. But then, Paxton has never been nominated (WTF??????) and his show ended too...

Ryan: Kind of odd to see Chloe Sevigny the only person to get noticed from that show, but neither here nor there.

Andrew: (and Sevigny did not get Emmy love, but I'm not even going there...not for now)

Ryan: Other than Buscemi, any other new blood? There's a lot of talk about Timothy Olyphant for Justified.

Andrew: I've never seen Justified, I love Olyphant but I'm a terrible fan...for some reason I think he could be easily snubbed...it's sort of half-and-half from where I sit. Same goes for William H. Macy in Shameless.

Ryan: And Sean Bean in Game of Thrones. Lots of maybes, who knows, we'll see...

Andrew: And Hugh Laurie in House. Geez, this category is actually looking packed.

Ryan: Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment is a former nominee.

Andrew: Irons for The Borgias, Byrne for In Treatment, Leary for Rescue Me. Wow...this is interesting.

Ryan: Yeah, plenty of people could be nominated it seems!

Andrew: I'm going to go ahead and lay down my picks; even though I have a feeling I'll be devastatingly wrong.

Ryan: Half of our picks will at least be right!

Andrew: (Always the optimist). Predictions:
Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire
Gabriel Byrne in In Treatment
Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall in Dexter
Jon Hamm in Mad Men
Bill Paxton in Big Love
I sort of feel Chandler and Paxton won't both be nominated, but I don't know which to chuck out. Paxton was great this last season, but then....he's always been good...Ugh.

Ryan: Wow, we both snubbed Hugh Laurie. Very interesting. My predictions:
Steve Carrell
Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights
Michael C. Hall in Dexter
Jon Hamm in Mad Men
William H. Macy in Shameless
Timothy Olyphant in Justified
Um, Wow not Carrell... Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire.

Andrew: Ha. Now THAT'S a weird slip.

Ryan: Well Steve Carrell did make me cry this season! Bastard.

Andrew: I'm actually kind of sure that Paxton WON'T be nominated, but I don't want to predict him not getting in. I'd feel responsible if he doesn't...

Ryan: We have our own battles. Mine is not predicting Morrison, yours is predicting Paxton. We're good.

Andrew: So, hmm. The men are done. I'm having way more fun making up my fake ballots.

Ryan: I'll need to look over the list again to make my own picks, but yeah it'll definitely be way more fun.


Excel Sheets,
Andrew: When I say I'm neurotic, I'm not kidding. I've been making my spreadsheet since January. I have an entire excel sheet dedicated to my ballot.

Ryan: That is impressive. The closest thing I've done similar to that would be to keep an on-going list of movies I see and rank them relative to each other as soon as I see them so that by year's end, the list would be done. Oh and I also list all of the critic awards pre-Oscars to track down front-runners and whatnot.

Andrew: (I have another excel document for movies.)

Ryan: Of course you do!

Andrew: This is so screwed up.

Ryan: It's what we do. We all have our little obsessions.

Andrew: My own awards are more fun because I choose my own categories, wherever I see fit. Like when we discuss the supporting actors next (tomorrow?) you'll see how random some of the submissions are.

Ryan: I've looked them over already though nothing really looked out of place for me. I'm sure you'll point them out though.

Andrew: I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not…

Ryan: I'm not! For me, it was just funny seeing people submit themselves as if they have a chance to actually get nominated. So hilarious. Oh man now I sound overly pretentious... but seriously, some of these people... no.
              
We can’t give away the entire conversation. Supporting Actors are next, but what do you think of our predictions for the Lead Actor Ballot? Are we crazy for snubbing Laurie? Is Ryan crazy for snubbing Morrison?

Emmy Chatter: Writing and Directing (Drama Series)

Remember two years ago when Mad Men took up four of the five writing nominations at the Emmy? We sure do. Ryan (of Sorta That Guy) and I started Emmy predictions with the guest performers early in the week. We return, this time focusing on the potential writing and directing nominees. These categories are notoriously difficult to predict, but this conversation was a lot of fan to predict.

Ryan: But off the bat, I've never even tackled predicting Writing/Directing nominees before because it's hard.

Andrew: It IS hard to predict. You were saying on twitter that it’s exasperating when shows submit like a dozen episodes, and even though I know they want to give themselves as much chances, I wonder if they really expect double nods.

Ryan: It doesn't help that the Emmys LOVE to give multiple nods. I remember two years ago how ridiculously it was that Mad Men got 4 of the 5 nominations. Love the show, but that is excessive.

How many nods is Mad Men getting this year?

Andrew: Well, imagine what it's like for people like me who DON'T love the show. They get a wee bit out of hand when they love you.

Ryan: Well with that said, shall we dive into Writing for a Drama then?

Andrew: Indeed, and since we're talking about Mad Men, they've won each year for the past three years. 2 nods the first season, 4 the second, 2 the third. How much do we see them getting this year and for what?

Ryan: At most 3 nominations for "The Suitcase" "Walfdorf Stories" and "Tomorrowland." I'm confident that "The Suitcase" will get nominated though.

Andrew: Really, because if we have any legitimate precursor for this category it's the WGA and the nominated MAD MEN episode there was "Chrysanthemum and the Sword"...which they won for...

Ryan: Hm. Maybe I should've paid more attention to the precursors! Well, then it'll be that and "The Suitcase." Or you know, maybe they'll get 4 nominations. Who knows anymore? The thing is there are a lot of new shows that they might want to honour.

Andrew: If there's a third, I'm thinking either "Tomorrowland" or "Beautiful Girls", but really they go crazy over some episodes. My favourite episode of the season was "The Good News", but I'm not a true fan. Sigh.

Ryan: Well as for new shows, Boardwalk Empire is the big one, but there's also Game of Thrones, Shameless, and The Walking Dead.

Andrew: Has Shameless been well received? That one seems to have escaped me.

Ryan: I'm not sure how well-received Shameless is actually, but it's HBO so it almost feel automatic for it to be in the running. And The Killing, which submitted almost every episode ever.

Any chance of The Killing making it in?

Andrew: Ha, I loved that The Killing did that. Probably just to fuck with voters. What really surprises me about the submissions for writing is that Boardwalk Empire really throws me for a loop when they submit almost every episode but NOT the pilot. And pilots of great shows are almost always the go-to for nominations. So I don't know which Boardwalk Empire episode to wager for a nod.

Ryan: Especially since Boardwalk Empire's "Pilot" is the front-runner for Directing. Um, Martin Scorsese thank you very much.

Andrew: (Yup, he's the frontrunner. But, you're pre-empting me. ha. ha) I figure the season finale is the best bet for a nod.

Ryan: I agree, but I don't really watch the show so I don't know. Also I was wrong about Shameless, it's on Showtime, not HBO. Its chances actually dropped because of that.

Andrew: You are mean.

Ryan: I'm going purely by nominating history of the Emmy's. They love HBO.

Andrew: Friday Night Lights and The Good Wife both got writing nods last season. Are they coming back?

Ryan: That's funny since I was going to ask you if there are any non-cable shows that would make it in.

Andrew: Let me get this out of the way now, I don't get Friday Night Lights. I'm trying so hard to get through the final season, and it's well made but I just can't love it. I'm barely mustering up a liking.

Ryan: I actually quite love it, except for the final season. Something's just been off about it, but then again I saw all of Friday Night Lights in 2 weeks a few months ago.

Andrew: Well, they submitted one episode which means all the fans have one horse to bet on. A nod you think?

Ryan: It's a great strategy definitely, but who knows. Everyone else does seem to love it, so its finale "Always" has a shot. As for The Good Wife, I'd say "VIP Treatment."

Andrew: Before we actually predict, I HAVE to ask. As someone who loves The Good Wife what do you think of the submissions? I think that there are some pretty egregious snubs in terms of submissions neither "Getting Off" nor "Ham Sandwich"? Or "Breaking Up" which I thought was a fair episode but excellently written. But, I guess of the lot "VIP Treatment" is the best bet.

Ryan: The episodes you mentioned are damn good, but that's the thing about this show, almost every episode is perfectly written. That's why I actually respect that they took the "less is more" route over the alternative.

Andrew: I do respect them for that. I'm a Dexter fan but it's never gotten a writing nod. Odd isn't it?

Ryan: Yeah and I have no idea how to explain it. They're okay with violence (The Sopranos), so who knows?

Andrew: I don't get that; and some critics weren't a fan of this season so I guess it's not a lock for a nod. I think it's time we show our hands; this is going to be fun. I'll go first.

Ryan: Do we really have to predict now, because I have 12 episodes on my long list and I have no idea how to pick 5-6 of them. I really, really don't. Guess I'll look at yours and decide.

Andrew: Pick blindly. (And you only have 5 choices.)

Ryan: Even better.

Andrew: My picks:
Boardwalk Empire “A Return to Normalcy”
The Good Wife “VIP Treatment”
The Killing “Pilot”
Mad Men “The Chrysanthemum and the Sword”
Mad Men “The Suitcase”

Ryan: My predictions are actually the exact same as yours, except I'm wavering on The Killing's Pilot. BUT my alternatives to that would be episodes from genre shows aka Game of Thrones"Baelor" and The Walking Dead"Days Gone By." So... I'm going to go with…
Boardwalk Empire “A Return to Normalcy”
The Good Wife “VIP Treatment”
Game of Thrones “Baelor”
Mad Men “The Chrysanthemum and the Sword”
Mad Men “The Suitcase”

Andrew: I, too, am wavering on The Killing, people have started to hate it so it could easily get ignored. And I don't see Game of Thrones getting love. I'd be pissed on principal if they do, because they ignored The Tudors back in the name which I find criminal.

Ryan: That's exactly why I'm wavering on The Killing. The buzz just seems to not be on its favour now, while Game of Thrones is riding some good ones.

Andrew: But the Emmy's are weird, they kept nominating Two and a Half Men without a care in the world. So, who knows?

Ryan: I'm predicting a shut out for that show this year. But maybe its wishful thinking. Also, that's jumping ahead a bit. Shall we go to Directing? Any front-runners?

Andrew: Hah. I'm already dreaming about how awesome Martin's speech will be.


Ryan: He's so locked, it's funny. I'm looking forward to seeing it. And I will definitely see that episode before the Emmy's. This category is a bit more forgiving on genre shows, so I'm predicting Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, and maybe even Fringe could get in. The latter is DEFINITELY wishful thinking on my part.

Andrew: I have Game of Thrones there too.

Ryan: Three episodes though. Which one has the better chance?

Andrew: I say the pilot, for obvious reasons. Dexter will probably make it too. It won last year, and Shill directed "Everything is Ilumenated" which seems to have a good chance.

Ryan: I was thinking the pilot, too. And yes, definitely on "Everything Is Illumenated" since as you said, it’s last year's winner.

Andrew: Although, I'd think "Hop a Freighter" is a more obvious choice...

Ryan: And how about the perennial winner Mad Men? I keep saying "The Suitcase" because it was my personal favorite episode of the season, but I'm not sure. Especially since Matt Weiner did "Tomorrowland" and last year nominee Lesli Linka Glatter did "The Chrysanthemum And The Sword." Also I say "winner" though it hasn't won a directing award, has it?

Andrew: They've never won for directing, and probably might not...it could be any number of nods for them, though...but one is what I’m assuming...

Ryan: Any thoughts on the chances of "These Arms of Mine" for Grey's Anatomy? The direction of that episode was front and centre as they had to make it look like a documentary.

Andrew: But they've started hating on the show, they didn't even nominate Sandra last year. So I don't want to be hasty.

Ryan: Yeah, even as an on-off-on again fan of the show, I thought it was insane they didn't get any love for their chilling finale last year.

Andrew: I concur. Emmy's are really random that way.

Ryan: Another nominee last year, Agnieskza Holland could be nominated for her work on The Killing. But who knows?

Andrew: Show your hand, sir. Before you do, though, the DGA nominated Dexter, Mad Men, Lost, Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire.

Ryan: Thank you sir for that. Okay...
Boardwalk Empire “Pilot
Dexter “Everything is Illumenated”
Game of Thrones “Winter is Coming”
Mad Men “The Suitcase”
The Walking Dead “Days Gone By”

Andrew: Seriously? That's my line-up which is really random.

Ryan: So you were thinking The Walking Dead, too, though? That one was the surprising consensus to me.

Andrew: (I erred it was actually The Walking Dead and not Game of Thrones which got DGA love. Game of Thrones hadn’t come out yet.) I'm going crap it up and say "Hop A Freighter" instead of “Everything is Illumenated” instead for DEXTER.
Boardwalk Empire “Pilot
Dexter “Hop A Freighter”
Game of Thrones “Winter is Coming”
Mad Men “The Suitcase”
The Walking Dead “Days Gone By”
           
And...Darabont (The Walking Dead) is an Oscar nominee. But, really who knows?
               
Any predictions on the writing and directing for drama categories? Scorsese for the win? Mad Men to rule and conquer?

TV (Four Months) in Review: September – December

Now that Dexter has wrapped up its fifth season I’m officially worried about what TV show I’m going to look forward to every week. As brilliant as cable shows are it really does suck that they only offer about 12 episodes per season. I didn’t offer up an official review of “The Big One” but it was just as awesome as you’d expect from the show – including Lumen’s departure and Dexter’s reaction.

Good god, can they PLEASE give Michael C. Hall his Emmy now? It’s getting ridiculous. With the Golden Globe nomination for Julia Stiles I wonder if they’re going to push her in the supporting category instead of fraudulently espousing her in the Guest Category like John Lithgow did last year. Truly, I’d prefer her go in the guest category just to assure her a win – but I think she’s good enough to be a serious threat in the supporting category, so who knows? With Dexter gone, though, at least Parks & Recreation (my favourite comedy) is coming back in January – so maybe the brilliance of Amy Poehler will be able to make up for the lack of Dexter Morgan.

           

We’re officially at the halfway point for shows on network TV and (and at the end of the season for cable shows like Mad Men and Dexter) – here’s how I’d rank them thus far.

Eligible (14 shows): Brothers & Sisters, Burn Notice, The Closer, Community, Desperate Housewives, Dexter, Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, Mad Men, Modern Family, The Office, Parenthood, 30 Rock

Guest Players (Male)

Alan Alda in 30 Rock

Johnny Lee Miller in Dexter

Timothy Olyphant in The Office

Reid Ewing in Modern Family

Peter Weller in Dexter

I was sort of hoping that Olyphant would turn into a recurring guest on The Office, but yeah Johnny Lee Miller sort of steamrolled everyone.

        

Guest Players (Female)

Carol Burnett in Glee

Emily Bergl in Desperate Housewives

Gwyneth Paltrow in Glee

Romy Rosemont in Glee

Amy Ryan in The Office

Everyone will remember Paltrow and Burnett, but it sucks that Romy Rosemont is never remembered for being completely awesome as Mrs. Hudson.
            

Actor in a Comedy

Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock

Ty Burrell in Modern Family

Steve Carrell in The Office

Jesse Tyler Ferguson in Modern Family

Matthew Morrison in Glee

Ty slowly emerged as my favourite player on Modern Family as the season progressed, his exchanges with Dylan in "Mother Tucker" were priceless.
            

Actor in a Drama

Michael C. Hall in Dexter

John Hamm in Mad Men

Sam Jaegar in Parenthood

Peter Krause in Parenthood

Matthew Rhys in Brothers & Sisters

Jaegar and Krause will probably never be remembered by ANY awards' show. Michael C. Hall is just in a league of his own, though. One of these days I'll have to check out Breaking Bad.
         

Actress in a Comedy

Julie Bowen in Modern Family

Alison Brie in Community

Jane Krakowski in 30 Rock

Jane Lynch in Glee

Lea Michele in Glee

I get annoyed when Tina Fey keeps getting that individual SAG nod over Krakowski. Grrr.
               

Actress in a Drama

January Jones in Mad Men

Elizabeth Moss in Mad Men

Sandra Oh in Grey’s Anatomy

Monica Potter in Parenthood

Kyra Sedgwick in The Closer

Julia Stiles in Dexter

And Kyra Sedgwick continues to be absolutely brilliant...

WRITING (Comedy)

“Classy Christmas” The Office (Mindy Kaling)

“Furt” Glee (Ryan Murphy)

“Halloween” Modern Family (Jeffrey Richman)

“Christmas Attack Zone” 30 Rock (Tracey Wigfield)

WRITING (Drama)

“Circle Us” Dexter (Scott Buck)

“Hop A Freighter” Dexter (Scott Buck, Karen Campbell, Tim Schlattman)

“The Big Bang” The Closer (James Duff, Mike Berchem)

“Happy Thanksgiving” Parenthood (David Hudgins)

DIRECTING (comedy)

“Grilled Cheesus” Glee (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)

“Halloween” Modern Family (Michael Spiller)

“Classy Christmas” The Office (Rain Wilson)

“Chain Reaction of Mental Anguish” 30 Rock (Ken Wittingham)

DIRECTING (drama)

“Circle Us” Dexter (John Dahl)

“Hop A Freighter Dexter (John Dahl)

“Take It” Dexter (Romeo Tirone)

“These Arms of Mine” Grey’s Anatomy (Stephen Cragg)

BEST SHOW

The Closer

Dexter

Glee

Modern Family

Parenthood

The Office

Weird Things Over the Months

• Three of the four Modern Family men get cited by the Globes and SAG combined, and the one missing is Jesse Tyler Ferguson? Weirdest TV related thing that happened this past week. (And not too sure about Vergara>Bowen either)
• On that note, glad to see Glee’s recognised but the individual SAG nod for Colfer really annoyed me (and I like his acting most of the time).
• Finally caught up on Mad Men when I should have been studying for exams. Glad to see Moss nominated for a SAG, but I was particularly impressed with January Jones this past season...
• Will any awards’ race ever give Parenthood a break? Probably my favourite thing on NBC this past three months.
• I didn’t watch any Cougar Town since September. I feel a bit guilty. Is it still funny? Should I get on that (again)?

So, from September to December 2010 – what’s the best thing that happened on TV for you?