Emmy Thoughts

Here are my random thoughts on last night's Emmys. If you want to know all the winners, go here.

The whole bit with the five reality show hosts was death.

Jeremy Piven won for supporting actor in a comedy. He does a great job in a flashy role that's practically designed to win Emmys, but isn't it time for someone else? This is his third in a row. Any of the other nominees, especially Kevin Dillon and Rainn Wilson, deserve it at least as much. This just shows the Acadmey should adopt my rule that once you win an Emmy for a role, no more nominations.

Zeljko Ivanek's win for supporting actor in a drama was a huge disappointment, considering you had both Michael Emerson and John Slattery doing astounding work at a level rarely seen on TV.

Best director for a variety show once again goes--over a whole lot more interesting work--to the guy who does the Oscars. What is it with the Emmys that they keep giving awards to the Oscars?

The filmed gags for best variety show writers has become the most reliably entertaining bit on the Emmys. Not as great as in previous years, but still some good stuff.

The Laugh-In tribute with the original cast members recreating old bits four decades down the line was kinda creepy.

Barry Sonnenfeld won for comedy direction. I don't think this is just movie envy. I'm not a fan of Pushing Daisies, but there's no question the pilot was eye-popping.

Tina Fey, TV's newest darling, won for writing a decent but not especially outstanding episode of 30 Rock. Guess she deserved it as much as--but not more than--anyone else.

Don Rickles ended up getting two standing ovations. Fair enough, since he not only deserved his Emmy, but was actually funny.

The Amazing Race won the reality show award for the sixth time in a row! I'd rather they didn't give this award at all, but as long as it exists, how about spreading the wealth?

Bit of a surprise that Greg Yaitanes won for directing an episode (not a particularly good one) of House. House deserves more Emmys than it gets, but Mad Men or Breaking Bad deserved a win in this category.

Matthew Weiner won an Emmy for writing an episode of Mad Men, but it was for the wrong episode. He won for the pilot and not for the far better (and nominated) season finale.

Alec Baldwin won an Emmy for 30 Rock. It's about time, as his performance on that show is one of the wonders of TV.

During the In Memoriam section, it sounded like they were playing "Whiter Shade Of Pale." Is that a suitable song?

Perhaps the upset of the night was Bryan Cranston for lead actor in a drama. While it's ridiculous that Hugh Laurie has never won, it's hard to complain about Cranston. At least it wasn't James Spader. Cranton's head was shaved so I assume they're working on season two.

Tina Fey won for lead actress in a comedy. Okay, I guess, though she's often the sensible one that everyone else bounces off--not the kind of role that often wins.

30 Rock won for best comedy. I think it deserved it, but that's the second year in a row, and if one of the other nominees wins next year, that'd be fine.

Mad Men won for best drama. I guess this is its year. It was fun to see the cast looking contemporary. It really didn't deserve to beat Lost, which is a cut above, but Mad Men is interesting enough that the award wasn't an insult.