Emmy Enemy

Some good Emmy nominations, that was inevitable, but overall, disappointing. The TV Academy is too in love with some shows, and isn't willing to broaden its outlook for others.

Let's look at the major categories.

Lead actor in a comedy. I like Jim Parsons from Big Bang, but why do we keep getting Tony Shalhoub? For that matter, I got nothing against Larry David, Alec Baldwin and and Steve Carell, but there are other names available, and it's time to nominate some. Though by other names, I don't mean anyone in Glee.

Same goes for lead comedy actress. Fey, Poehler and Louis-Dreyfuss. Let's try someone new. But not anyone from Glee, and not big names like Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie is a comedy?--you could have fooled me) and Toni Collette.

Lead actor in a drama. Pretty good. Sure, many of the same names, but Cranston, Hamm and Laurie honestly deserve it (and really it's time for Laurie). Also, we finally get Matthew Fox. He probably doesn't deserve to win, but he did step up this season, and any Lost this year is better than no Lost.

Lead actress in a drama seems weaker to me, but then, I don't watch most of the shows.

There are six nominees for best comedy, but there was still no room for Community (much less Party Down--there's a pipe dream). For that matter, no Big Bang or Family Guy. Yet the Academy kept sprinkling love on Modern Family (probably deserved) and Glee (don't think it should get anything). Curb, Office and Rock, of course. But it's absurd that Nurse Jackie is taking up space where a good show should be.

Best drama is more like it. I'm surprised to see The Good Wife, and there's no room for House, but good old Mad Men and Breaking Bad are there. And, deservedly or not, the final season of Lost gets a nod. Since I think it deserved the last five Emmys in this category, I won't complain if it sneaks out a win here.

Lead actor and actress in a miniseries shows you the problem with the TV people. They're so jealous of movies that when names condescends to do television, they get nominated. Thus the ten nominees: Ian McKellen, Jeff Bridges, Michael Sheen, Dennis Quaid, Al Pacino, Dame Judi Dench, Claire Danes, Maggie Smith, Hope Davis and Joan Allen. Lot of Oscars and Tony nominations there--but are they really the best performances?

Speaking of which, The Pacific has the pedigree and production values to win an awful lot of Emmys--too many.

I don't care about best reality show, but I sure hope The Amazing Race doesn't win again.

Fascinating variety show category. Colbert, Daily Show, Maher and SNL getting perhaps more respect than they deserve. And the fifth slot goes to...not Leno, not even Letterman, but The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien. Whether he deserves it or not, that's a fun nomination. Be great to see the speech he'll make if he wins.

Let's get to the supporting roles, which is where you often get the best nominees.

Supporting actor in a comedy series. Half of the six are from Modern Family, which is too many, especially the guys playing Mitchell and Cameron...yet no love for Ed O'Neill. Then there's Neil Patrick Harris, Jon Cryer and (ugh) another Glee guy (no one from Glee should get this, but especially not Kurt Hummel). They could replace all these guys with better choices. Shockingly, no names from 30 Rock, The Office or Entourage. Just as bad, no names from Big Bang, Parks And Recreation, Community and Party Down. This category is horrible.

Supporting actress in a comedy. Jane Lynch, of course. (Not that she deserves it. I find her overdone role on Glee as tiresome as the rest of the show. She was better on Party Down.) Kristen Wiig, Holland Taylor, Jane Krakowski and two babes from Modern Family. No one from Community, Party Down or The Office.

Supporting actor in a drama. A lot to be pleased about. Don't know Martin Short's work in Damages, or Andre Braugher's in Men Of A Certain Age (that's a drama?--I guess if Glee is a comedy...), but both are fine actors. The other four I heartily endorse. We get Lost's two previous winners, Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson. (O'Quinn's nomination is for playing John Locke--shouldn't that be for MIB and altaLocke?) They've had better seasons, but hey, why not? Then there's the fine John Slattery from Mad Men and the equally fine Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad. What's not to like?

Supporting actress in a drama. Most I don't know, but good to see both Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men. Both better than January Jones, who gets her nomination for lead actress. No love for Lost here--didn't they like crazy Claire?

Comedy writing (I used to know nominees, but not this season). Predictable--two for 30 Rock, one for The Office ("Niagara"--weak episode), the Modern Family pilot and the quite weak Glee pilot. Where's Community's paintball episode? Or Party Down's Steve Guttenberg party? Or quite a few others. Little to root for here.

Dramatic writing. Nominations for The Good Wife and (alas) Friday Night Lights. This leaves room for the two best Mad Men episodes and the Lost finale. But what about Breaking Bad?