Friday, July 17, 2009

Why the Emmys Are So, Like, 2008

Here's my beef with the Emmys: they like comfortable nominations. Sure, they throw us off with surprise "new shows," but they've already sanctioned the winner for the next five years. And people get nominated for doing the same thing on shows that never change.

30 Rock is now bearing the Overkill Torch previously held by The West Wing and Frasier. It received somewhere around 730 nominations this year, including Best Appearance by a Squirrel on his Lunch Break. Tough category, that: tied with Mad Men, which has as many nominations as cigarettes smoked last season. Both are quality shows, but c'mon, can't we spread the love? Does anybody win if we reward the same people?

Mad Men, at least, is only on Year Two, and neither Don Draper (oh yeah, his real name's Jon Hamm) nor Elizabeth Moss hold a golden statue yet (be generous, Emmy voters!). But see, Mad Men just illustrates how ridiculous the Emmys are this year--and in general:

1. Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Out of 5 nominations, Mad Men holds 4. Which to vote for? Worst outcome: they cancel out and Lost wins!

2. Usual suspects abound. If Mariska Hargitay beats out Glenn Close or Moss from Mad Men for playing the same. exact. show. every. week. I will lose faith in television. Is there an unwritten rule that we have to send Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hugh Laurie, and 2.5 Men to the gala every year? And surely we've moved past "hey, William Shatner has talent!" to reward other worthy Supporting Actors.

3. Seven nominees for Comedy and Drama Series! A harbinger of Oscars to come? In a season of Big Love, Breaking Bad, Damages, Dexter, and Mad Men, who needs old-timers like House and Lost?

4. Reality Program and Reality Competition Program are, in fact, two separate categories. We Generation Y'ers just want everybody to win an Emmy. Except for solid repeat nominees (call them the Lansburys) like Michael C. Hall, Mary Louise Parker, and Neil Patrick Harris.

5. Tina Fey will now be able to win 4 Emmys. She will have so many that Sarah Palin will see them from her house.

3 comments:

teppler2 said...

Seems like AMC & Showtime are going to down Emmy's like a frat boy downs shots & women.

Don't get me wrong, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Mad Men, & (overlooked) Weeds are damn good shows & do deserve them.

I wonder if True Blood was nominated for anything for I vote for that.

The End.

J.A.G. said...

No True Blood love at the Ems. HBO is probably okay with that, though, since it's single-handedly reviving their ratings.

Suzanne said...

You stole my blog! I completely agree. The writing categories are laughable! I'm livid that True Blood didn't even get a nom for Paquin.

I'm really excited for Toni Collette (ever seen US of Tara? she's brilliant.), but I doubt she will get past Tina Fey.

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