Emmys: Glee-ful; Modern Family-fest
As expected, "Glee" gets a big tip of the hat, and so does "Modern Family," in the just-announced 62nd Emmy Awards.
But surprises? The old girl had a couple or three of those in store, too.
Here's one: "Modern Family" scored FIVE supporting actor nods, which is a record for a single series, I believe.
Another that you won't see from the list below: "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" gets a nod for best comedy/variety. This means . . . Conan will have to turn up at the ceremony which will be telecast by NBC AND hosted by Jimmy Fallon.
Oh, the glories of Emmy.
To the list . . . my analysis follows . . .
Outstanding Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO
Glee • FOX •
Modern Family, ABC
Nurse Jackie • Showtime
The Office • NBC •
30 Rock • NBC •
(Quick thought: Nothing for "Entourage," which is a suprise, certainly, while "Curb" waltzes in. I think the brilliant Seinfeld arc made all the differerence. Nevertheless, the big battle is between "Glee" and "Mod Family" and it COULD go either way. I'd be shocked if "Rock" re-ups. This is the most competitive category of them all.)
Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC •
Dexter • Showtime •
The Good Wife • CBS •
Lost • ABC •
Mad Men • AMC •
True Blood • HBO
(Quick thought: Well, I love the addition of "True Blood" and fully expected it, too. But if you know me, and you probably don't --- I think "Breaking Bad" is far and away the greatest series on TV of the decade so far. Sure, I'd love to see "Lost" score in August, and who wouldn't, but if the gods of Emmy are fair and reasonable and smart -- often they are not -- then "Bad" is your winner.)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Matthew Morrison (Glee)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
(Quick thought: What the heck. Nothing here raises an eyebrow even a micromilimeter. It is ridiculously obvious, though I totally overlooked Tony Shalhoub in my list yesterday. Silly me - Emmy is a sentamentalist at heart. Baldwin is frontrunner but don't be surprised to see any of the others pop up either in Aug.)
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Hugh Laurie (House)
Matthew Fox (Lost)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
(Quick thought: The inclusion of Chandler is one of high points of the entire Emmy list, with Britton, below. This is perfect, and he was/is perfect on one of TV's classic series. Fox is a surprise - I love the guy of course, and that final scene, with his eyes closing, and Walt's dog laying next to him, could certainly end up surprising us all in Aug. But again, Cranston is just unbeatable - probably.)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Lea Michele (Glee)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Old Christine)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Toni Collette (United States of Tara)
(Quick thought: I didn't quite expect Poehler but I know a lot of Emmy forecast lists had her name up here. She deserves to be here, without question. Michele, to my mind, should iwn. Sings/dances and had a stupendous freshman season. )
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)
January Jones (Mad Men)
(Quick thought: January Jones? JANUARY JONES!!?? Well, OK. Why not. Sure. Give her a nod. God bless her. But Close probably repeats.)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel
How I Met Your Mother • CBS • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
(Quick thought: Ed O'Neill SHOULD have been on this list either as a best actor or supporting. I wonder if perhaps the show had entered him in the best actor category and he just got boxed out because of the strength of the field. But THREE hits for "Family," which will likely win, but don't count out Colfer. I can't see Harris winning - but that's personal. I just think Barney is a tired cliche.)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman
Damages • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions
Martin Short as Leonard Winstone
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Terry O'Quinn as John Locke
Lost • ABC • Grass Skirts Productions, LLC in association with ABC Network and Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
John Slattery as Roger Sterling
Men Of A Certain Age • TNT • TNT Original Productions
Andre Braugher as Owen
(Quick thought: Braugher gets "Men of a Certain Age's" nose in the tent. I thought Romano might score, but I was wrong. This is a great competitive category - maybe the strongest of the lot. Everyone here is terrific, and I can't even begin to guess who should win. Short? As the sleazey lawyer to the billionaire? He was almost TOO good.)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Glee • FOX • A Ryan Murphy TV Production in association with 20th Century Fox TV
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy
Modern Family • ABC • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristen Wiig as Various Characters
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studio
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney
Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper
(Quick thought: Jane Lynch wins, hands down. Interesting to see that Wiig - who is wonderful - got stuck in here. NBC must have engineered that.)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Burn Notice • USA • FOX Television Studios in association with Fuse Entertainment
Sharon Gless as Madeline Westen
Damages • FX Networks • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma
The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Productions
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson
(Quick thought: Another strong category and beats me who comes up roses, pun intended. If this is "Damages" last season, then I would give it to Byrne, but Gless is inspired too and I think that on some level, the Academy wants to get her up there and give her a standing O in August. That's exactly what may happen. We will see.)
Analysis: And dear friends, as promised, The Meaning of it All. Emmys ARE important because they indicate shifts in fortunes and tastes - both for shows and for the empires that front them. There is certainly a familar cast of characters here but slightly less than familiar too. But tastes have shifted, empires have moved.
Example: "True Blood" enters the best show pantheon - a possible boost for even greater audience interest in our blood-sucking brethren, and nothing for Charlie Sheen - please read nothing into the close juxtapostion with words "blood sucking." He had a bad year, with the exception of scoring a zillion-dollar contract for what may be his last season. But the best actor Emmy nod will likely never come now. And to be honest, should it? I don't think so.
But "Modern Family" is the biggest winner this morning. While Ed O'Neill was left out in the cold, a total of five cast members scored best supporting actors nominations which is almost certainly a record in the history of the history of the awards. In fact, this is an indication that "Family" could actually edge out "Glee" for best comedy this August, IF sheer numbers are an indication.
