Below are the nominees for the major categories of the Emmys nominations released earlier today. I will post my thoughts and picks in the near future, but needless to say, the Emmy voters got more right than usual, but why do people who hate television so much get to select what is the best of television?
Best Drama
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
Best Comedy
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Weeds
Best Television Mini Series
Generation Kill
Little Dorrit
Best Television Movie
Coco Chanel
Grey Gardens
Into The Storm
Prayers for Bobby
Taking Chance
Best Reality Competition Series
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
Best Reality Series
Antiques Roadshow
Dirty Jobs
Dog Whisperer
Intervention
Kathy Griffin: My Life On the D List
Mythbusters
Best Variety, Music, or Comedy Special
Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush
Ricky Gervais: Out Of England
Kathy Griffin: She’ll Cut A Bitch
The Kennedy Center Honors
Chris Rock: Kill The Messenger
Best Variety, Music, or Comedy Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Late Show with David Letterman
Real Time with Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
Best Actor Drama
Simon Baker The Mentalist
Gabriel Byrne In Treatment
Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall Dexter
Jon Hamm Mad Men
Hugh Laurie House
Best Actor Comedy
Alec Baldwin 30 Rock
Steve Carrell The Office
Jermaine Clement Flight of the Conchords
Jim Parsons The Big Bang Theory
Tony Shaloub Monk
Charlie Sheen Two And A Half Men
Best Actor Mini Series or Movie
Kevin Bacon Taking Chance
Kenneth Branagh Wallander: One Step Behind
Kevin Kline Cyrano de Bergerac: Great Performances
Brendan Gleeson Into The Storm
Sir Ian McKellan King Lear: Great Performances
Keifer Sutherland 24: Redemption
Best Actress Drama
Glenn Close Damages
Sally Field Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter Saving Grace
Elisabeth Moss Mad Men
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer
Best Actress Comedy
Christina Applegate Samantha Who?
Toni Colette United States of Tara
Julia Louis- Dreyfus The New Adventures of Old Christine
Tina Fey 30 Rock
Mary Louise Parker Weeds
Sarah Silverman The Sarah Silverman Program
Best Actress Mini Series or Movie
Drew Barrymore Grey Gardens
Jessica Lange Grey Gardens
Shirley MacLaine Coco Chanel
Sigourney Weaver Prayers For Bobby
Chandra Wilson Accidental Friendship
Best Reality Host
Tom Bergeron Dancing With the Stars
Phil Keoghan The Amazing Race
Heidi Klum Project Runway
Padma Lakshimi and Tom Colicchio Top Chef
Jeff Probst Survivor
Ryan Seacrest American Idol
Best Supporting Actor Drama
Christian Clemenson Boston Legal
Michael Emerson Lost
William Hurt Damages
Aaron Paul Breaking Bad
William Shatner Boston Legal
John Slattery Mad Men
Best Supporting Actor Comedy
Jon Cryer Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris How I Met Your Mother
Jack McBrayer 30 Rock
Tracy Morgan 30 Rock
Rainn Wilson The Office
Best Supporting Actor Mini Series or Movie
Len Cariou Into The Storm
Tom Courteney Little Dorrit
Ken Howard Grey Gardens
Bob Newhart The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice
Andy Serkis Little Dorrit
Best Supporting Actress Drama
Rose Byrne Damages
Hope Davis In Treatment
Cherry Jones 24
Sandra Oh Grey’s Anatomy
Dianne Weist In Treatment
Chandra Wilson Grey’s Anatomy
Best Supporting Actress Comedy
Kristen Chenoweth Pushing Daisies
Jane Krakowski 30 Rock
Elizabeth Perkins Weeds
Amy Poehler Saturday Night Live
Kristin Wiig Saturday Night Live
Vanessa L. Williams Ugly Betty
Best Supporting Actress Mini Series or Movie
Shohreh Aghdashloo House of Saddam
Marcia Gay Harden The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler
Janet McTeer Into The Storm
Jeanne Triplehorn Grey Gardens
Cicely Tyson Relative Stranger
Best Actor in a Guest Role Drama
Ed Asner ER
Ted Danson Damages
Ernest Borgnine ER
Michael J. Fox Rescue Me
Jimmy Smits Dexter
Best Actor in a Guest Role Comedy
Alan Alda 30 Rock
Beau Bridges Desperate Housewives
Jon Hamm 30 Rock
Steve Martin 30 Rock
Justin Timberlake Saturday Night Live
Best Actress in a Guest Role Drama
Brenda Blethyn Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Carol Burnett Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Ellen Burstyn Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Sharon Lawrence Grey’s Anatomy
CCH Pounder No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Best Actress in a Guest Role Comedy
Jennifer Aniston 30 Rock
Christine Baranski The Big Bang Theory
Tina Fey Saturday Night Live
Gena Rowlands Monk
Elaine Stritch 30 Rock
Betty White My Name Is Earl
The Top Ten Television Shows And Moments of 2008
Posted in big bang theory, commentary, criminal minds, house, how i met your mother, Just saying..., television, year end lists, tagged american idol, big bang theory, criminal minds, csi, flashpoint, house, how i met your mother, life on mars, project runway, television, top chef, top ten list, year end lists on December 20, 2008| 4 Comments »
10. The season nine premiere of CSI
I stopped watching after Tarantino made a mark and other shows popped up. But the news Gary Dourdan was leaving was enough to make me tune in and see the cast actually act for what seems like the first time in four seasons. Emotionally charged, and William Peterson reminding me that at one point, he was an awesome actor.
9. Flashpoint
Every once in a while, a Canadian television show gets it right. this is one of those occasions. The thrilling SWAT team drama dazzles with it’s complex moral dilemmas, and Hugh Dillon is amazing as the aging hot shot with a chip on his shoulder. And Toronto is fucking TORONTO!
8. Top Chef
Food. Reality show. Anthony Bourdain. Knives. I’m surprised that no one has died. And did I mention food?
7. American Idol Season 7
The talent was astonishing even if the show itself was not. The gaffes made by Paula and clearly biased Randy made the show more controversial, and the Davids made it more exciting than most hockey games.
6. Project Runway
Like Top Chef, only with fabric swatches, and Tim Gunn, who is my hero for being able to put up with Kenley as well as he did. And Kenley was the best villain on television this year.
5. Life On Mars
As someone who loved the original BBC series, I was sure I would hate what ABC would do. I don’t. On the contrary, it’s the only new show I love this year. P.S.- best supporting role this year to Michael Imperioli’s ‘stache.
4. House Season Finale Parts 1 & 2
The first part, ” House’s Head”, was more of House trying to self destruct while looking for answers, but the second part ” Wilson’s Heart” is probably the shows greatest emotional moment.
3. How I Met Your Mother
It just keeps getting funnier. Not to mention Barney is still scum, but he’s evolving scum. And Marshall is still sweet, but he’s working for a huge corporate entity. And Lily is still the trash talking kindergarten teacher, but is contemplating motherhood. Robin is still more guy than the guys, but she’s lost in a sea of self doubt. And Ted? Well, he’s still searching for the mother. Some things just do not change.
2. The Big Bang Theory
It started off odd with a sperm bank, but it found it’s stride and is now the most consistently funny sitcom on television. Jim Parsons as Sheldon is possibly the funniest character on television.
1. Criminal Minds
The show has quickly become the best police drama on television. Exquisite acting and well thought out story lines make for the best hour on TV.
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