It is nearly time for the fall season of television to begin, but before that happens, the TV elite prepare to recognize the best of the best at the 2007 Emmy Awards. The Emmys, hosted this year by Ryan Seacrest will air on September 16th.
As is also true every year, there is controversy concerning the nominees. The Emmys have come under fire several times over the years with accusations that the award roster seems to honor only an elite few. That begs the question “Is Emmy a snob?” I don’t really think so. I think, for the most part, those nominated are the most deserving.
I was actually pretty impressed with the number of first time nominees this year. Sure there were a few repeats but I think that is to be understood. But it does make me wonder what an actor or actress has to do to get an Emmy nod. There are those that, no matter how hard they try or how excellent their work is, just can’t quite get Emmy’s attention.
Who got loft out in 2007? Let’s analyze some of the most popular categories and see who might have been overlooked:
Nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series this year are:
Tony Shalhoub as the obsessive-compulsive Adrian Monk on “Monk”;
Steve Carrel as Michael Scott the eccentric boss of “The Office”;
Alec Baldwin as the oddly weird Jack Donaghy of “30 Rock”;
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper of “Two And A Half Men”; and
Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman from “Extras”.
There is no denying this is a list of talented individuals, but is it complete? Is this the very best that comedy television has to offer? I’m sorry to say that it probably is. The comedy sitcom just isn’t what it used to be.
I have to admit that I’m still scratching my head over Sheen being nominated as the “lead” actor and Cryer as the “supporting” actor of “Two And A Half Men”. Last time I looked they carried the show together. The truth is that this is a ploy to try to gain nominations for both actors. I resent it, though, because it causes other deserving actors to be ignored.
Nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for 2007 are:
James Spader as the eternally strange Alan Shore of “Boston Legal”;
Hugh Laurie as the curmudgeon Dr. Gregory House of “House”;
Denis Leary as the seriously demented Tommy Gavin of “Rescue Me”;
Kiefer Sutherland as the overworked action hero Jack Baur of “24”; and
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano of “The Sopranos.
Here we go again. Spader gets a “lead” actor nod and Shatner the “supporting” nomination. Perhaps it is time for Emmy to add a new category like “Outstanding Acting Team” in order to clear the way for single nominations that really make sense. Stacking the deck just isn’t fair.
This was an excellent year for “Lost” and Matthew Fox’s work as its lead has never been better. Yet he lost out to other actors who didn’t have as good a year. And what about Anthony Michael Hall’s outstanding work in the “Dead Zone?” Perhaps he must have a “vision” of his nomination so that it can finally happen.
While I’m at let me air a pet peeve of mine. Just because a show is going off the air should not be a reason for it to sweep every major category. That’s particularly true when its final year is far less impressive than previous years. Sorry, but I don’t think “The Sopranos” deserved so much Emmy attention in 2007, especially when it shut out even better shows.
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series nominees this year are:
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo on “Desperate Housewives”;
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine in “The New Adventures Of Old Christine”;
Tina Fey as the heavily put upon Liz Lemon of “30 Rock”;
America Ferrera as the lovable Betty Suarez in “Ugly Betty”; and
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin of “Weeds”.
I love Felicity Huffman and there is no denying that her work on “Desperate Housewives” is first class. However, how can the continually stellar performances of Marcia Cross and Terri Hatcher be overlooked? Yes, Huffman had a stronger story this year but Cross and Hatcher did a lot with what little screen time they were allowed. It is, after all, an ensemble cast. Move over, Felicity, and let someone else have a turn.
While I’m on the subject of actresses taken for granted, why is that Lauren Graham of “The Gilmore Girls” never got the recognition she deserved? It seems that award nominations are stacked against certain actors and shows. Some of the best work today isn’t being done on the major networks.
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series nominees for 2007 were:
Sally Field as sassy mother Nora Walker in “Brothers & Sisters”;
Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson of “The Closer”;
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson of “Law & Order: SVU”;
Patricia Arquette as psychic crime fighter Allison Dubois in “Medium”;
Minnie Driver as the spitfire gypsy Dahlia Malloy in “The Riches”; and
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano of “The Sopranos”.
Field, Sedgwick, Arquette, and Driver more than deserve their Emmy nods. If I had my way, it would be a four-way tie because they are all that good. While I love Hargitay and firmly believe she is one of television’s finest actresses, this wasn’t her best year and she didn’t deserve a coveted spot on the list.
There were other performances that were more deserving of an Emmy nod this year than either Hargitay or Falco. While I personally don’t care for some of the content of the show, the fact is that Courtney Cox’s performance as Lucy Spiller of “Dirt” was a revelation. Who knew that America’s sweetheart could realistically portray someone so seriously down and dirty? Her tour de force performance deserved Emmy recognition.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominees include:
Kevin Dillion as Johnny Drama of “Entourage”;
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold of “Entourage”;
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson in “How I Met Your Mother”;
Rainn Wilson as semi-loser Dwight Schrute in “The Office”; and
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, in “Two And A Half Men”.
I’ve no real complaints about this category other than questioning the “supporting” category for Cryer’s character. Overall, it is a decent reflection of the best this category has to offer.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series nominees:
William Shatner as gun toting Denny Crane of “Boston Legal”;
T.R. Night as the lovable George of “Grey’s Anatomy”;
Masi Oka as the adorable Hiro Nakamura of “Heroes”;
Michael Emerson as the psychotically scary Ben of “Lost”;
Terry O’Quinn as the anti-hero John Locke of “Lost”; and
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti in “The Sopranos”.
I’m not unhappy with the nominees in this category, per se, but Shatner can now play his character in his sleep. It might be time to either step-it-up or move over to make room for other gifted actors.
Both T.R. Night and Masi Oka are definitely deserving of recognition for their work this year. Their respective shows simply wouldn’t be the same without them. The same can be said for Terry O’Quinn of “Lost.”
I can take Imperioli or leave him and, for this year, I would have left him in favor of Ian Hart as the schizophrenic Don Konkey of “Dirt.” He was so convincing that he was often difficult to watch. His portrayal as well as that of Michael Emerson in “Lost” was nothing short of brilliant.
Nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Jaime Pressley as the unforgettable Joy Turner in “My Name Is Earl”;
Jenna Fishcer as Pam Beesly in “The Office”;
Holland Taylor as disturbing Evelyn Harper of “Two And A Half Men”;
Conchata Ferrell as Berta in “Two And A Half Men”;
Vanessa Williams as decadent Wihelmina Slater of “Ugly Betty”; and
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes of “Weeds”.
I have absolutely no complaints about this category. I will say, however, that I think it is past time for Elizabeth Perkins to get her just due.
Nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series are:
Rachel Griffiths as the oldest daughter of “Brothers & Sisters”;
Katherine Heigl as the centerfold doctor of “Grey’s Anatomy”;
Chandra Wilson as the mother hen of “Grey’s Anatomy”;
Sandra Oh as the doctor with little heart on “Grey’s Anatomy;
Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano on “The Sopranos”; and
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on “The Sopranos.”
I have to wonder why nominate Griffiths and ignore Flockhart? They both had strong stories this year and are equally fine actresses. And while I’m a big fan of “Grey’s Anatomy”, I don’t believe all three actresses deserved a nod this year. This was definitely Oh’s best work so far. The nomination should have been hers alone. Instead, the three actresses will likely cancel each other out and open the way for someone far less deserving.
Outstanding Comedy Series nominations went to:
“Entourage”;
“The Office”;
“30 Rock”;
“Two And A Half Men”; and
“Ugly Betty.”
I question how “Two And A Half Men” landed this nomination when “How I Met Your Mother” and “Everybody Hates Chris” are funnier shows. But overall, let’s face it, comedy just isn’t what it used to be.
Outstanding Drama Series nominations went to:
“Boston Legal”;
“Grey’s Anatomy”;
“Heroes”;
“House”; and
“The Sopranos.”
I’m a big fan of most of these shows, but I think there could have been other nominations. “Lost” more than deserved an Emmy nod this year. The stories were far superior to last year. I suspect what hurt them, however, was the long break between their fall and spring shows. Some fans simply got tired of waiting.
I also have to ask why the controversial, but undeniably well done “Nip/Tuck” is constantly overlooked. This year the series pulled out all of the stops to deliver some of their strongest work yet.
While they certainly aren’t main stream, I also question why certain shows of superior caliber are constantly ignored. “Smallville” is one show that keeps getting better with each passing year, yet it has never been recognized for its quality.
“Supernatural” is also expertly done and features two stellar young actors; all of which never get a nod. Then, of course, there is the amazing “Battlestar Galactica,” a show that perhaps provides more social commentary on today’s world than any other. Yet, it too is always panned.
Hopefully, some time in the near future, Emmy will get her act together and find a better way of making sure that outstanding actors and actresses aren’t automatically overlooked. I find it difficult to believe that only a handful of thespians are worthy of receiving the award. It’s time to find a way to diversify.
