About a month ago, I wrote a blog post about my fantasy Emmy nominations. (You can find it here.) And while I knew, of course, that the real nominations wouldn’t be a carbon copy of my dream list, I didn’t expect today’s announcements to be so far off what I was hoping for. Let’s run through the list and talk about how mad we are, shall we?
DRAMA
Series: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, Mad Men
This is pretty much what I expected. I don’t love Boardwalk Empire and would personally replace it with Parenthood, but I knew that was a pipe dream.
Lead Actor: Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire, Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad, Michael C. Hall for Dexter, Hugh Bonneville for Downton Abbey, Damian Lewis for Homeland, Jon Hamm for Mad Men
No surprises here.
Lead Actress: Glenn Close for Damages, Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey, Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife, Kathy Bates for Harry’s Law, Claire Danes for Homeland, Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men
I know we all love Kathy Bates, but really, Harry’s Law? Come on. I was surprised that Jessica Pare didn’t get a nod, and obviously I would have loved to see Lauren Graham up there. But again, Parenthood = pipe dream.
Supporting Actor: Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad, Giancarlo Esposito for Breaking Bad, Brendan Coyle for Downton Abbey, Jim Carter for Downton Abbey, Peter Dinklage for Game of Thrones, Jared Harris for Mad Men
No John Slattery? Are you people screwing with me? I know it was Jared Harris’s last season on Mad Men, but Slattery had an incredibly strong season. I would have picked him to win, and therefore think he deserves the nomination over anyone else included.
Supporting Actress: Anna Gunn for Breaking Bad, Maggie Smith for Downton Abbey, Joanne Froggatt for Downton Abbey, Archie Panjabi for The Good Wife, Christine Baranski for The Good Wife, Christina Hendricks for Mad Men
No Kiernan Shipka or Maise Williams. I guess it’s not a good year to be either of the two best tween actresses on the planet.
Writing:Downton Abbey (“Episode 7″, written by Julian Fellowes), Homeland (“Pilot”. written by Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff), Mad Men (“The Other Woman” written by Semi Chellas, Matthew Weiner), Mad Men “Commissions And Fees”, written by Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton), Mad Men “Far Away Places”, written by Erin Levy, Matthew Weiner)
I love Mad Men and don’t watch Breaking Bad (yet), but I have a feeling some people will be irked to see three episodes for Mad Men and none for Breaking Bad.
COMEDY
This is where things really went awry.
Series: The Big Bang Theory, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Girls, Modern Family, 30 Rock, Veep
No Parks and Recreation? Are you KIDDING ME??? This is an absolute disgrace.
Lead Actor: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock, Don Cheadle for House of Lies, Louis C.K. for Louie, Jon Cryer for Two and a Half Men, Larry David for Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory
Don Cheadle? Really? The Emmys need to get over their infatuation with flashy movies stars switching to the small screen. And why does John Cryer ALWAYS get nominated for the worst show on TV? What about Rob Lowe or Adam Scott or Joel McHale or Zachary Levi? There are so many better options!
Lead Actress: Zooey Deschanel for New Girl, Lena Dunham for Girls, Edie Falco for Nurse Jackie, Tina Fey for 30 Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Veep, Melissa McCarthy for Mike & Molly, Amy Poehler for Parks and Recreation
I can take some comfort in knowing that Amy Poehler is still nominated I suppose.
Supporting Actor: Ed O’Neill for Modern Family, Jesse Tyler Ferguson for Modern Family, Ty Burrell for Modern Family, Eric Stonestreet for Modern Family, Max Greenfield for The New Girl, Bill Hader for Saturday Night Live
This is the category that always infuriates me most. The actors from Modern Family are taking up FOUR of the six spots, and the show had a pretty weak season. Besides, Ed O’Neill should probably be submitted for lead. It just seems so unfair. I’m livid that Nick Offerman is here, and as much as I enjoy Hader on SNL I’d much rather see one of the many other guys from the many great sitcoms on TV have that slot.
Supporting Actress: Mayim Bialik for The Big Bang Theory, Kathryn Joosten for Desperate Housewives, Julie Bowen for Modern Family, Sofia Vergara for Modern Family, Merritt Wever for Nurse Jackie, Kristen Wiig for Saturday Night Live
In this category, my wish list was Alison Brie on Community, Ellie Kemper on The Office, Busy Phillips on Cougar Town, Aubrey Plaza on Parks and Recreation, Casey Wilson on Happy Endings. None of these women scored nominations. I might punch someone.
Writing: Community (“Remedial Chaos Theory”, written by Chris McKenna), Girls (“Pilot”, written by Lena Dunham), Louie (“Pregnant”, written by Louie C.K.), Parks And Recreation “The Debate”, written by Amy Poehler), Parks And Recreation (“Win, Lose, Or Draw” written by Michael Schur)
How could Parks and Recreation be the only show to have two episodes nominated for writing, yet not be included in Best Comedy? It makes zero sense. And, you’ll notice, no writing nominations for Modern Family. Yet the Emmys seem to think it’s the greatest show on earth.
What do you guys think? What snub makes you the angriest? I joked on Twitter that I’m boycotting the Emmys, but we all know I’m made up of lies and empty threats. So check back on the blog as we get closer to the awards for predictions from me and guest blogger Allison, and info on the annual Emmy Awards Prediction Contest!
I am so infuriated right now I can’t even come up with any kind of intelligent response.
The supporting noms – I’m a fan of most of them. YAY Jared Harris (agree with your thoughts on Slattery, but I do adore Harris), YAAAAAAY Mayim Bialik, and YAAAAAAY Schmidt.
I can’t understand how certain characters and shows keep getting nominated waaaaaay past their time. Jon Cryer should’ve been out years ago (no offense Ducky), Cheadle getting in is ridiculous (it should’ve gone to Levi just for his work in the finale!…but yes, there’s like 6 better options than those two). Absolutely livid about Modern Family taking up so many spots that should’ve gone to Nick Offerman or Neil Patrick Harris or Danny Pudi. Fucking a. Busy Phillips, Courteney Cox, Christa Miller, and Dan Byrd all deserved noms of some sort, as did the show for Best Comedy.
RAAAAAAAGE. So much rage, the longer I think on things.
Also – SERIOUSLY? NOTHING FOR REVENGE?!!! I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD DRAMAS OUT THERE, BUT SERIOUSLY?! NOTHING AT ALL?!?!!!!!
I would say the things I disliked the most (so far), are
1) Modern Family monopolizing the Supporting Actor (Comedy) Section.
2) Jon Cryer being included where Two and a Half Men had its worst season yet, and he could not cover for the only great thing the show had, Charlie Sheen’s humour and personality.
3) Walking Dead was not given any consideration at all… just made me tear up a little.
I would like to say I really enjoyed House of Lies… but I wouldn’t say Don Cheadle was my favorite choice for Actor in a Comedy. His performance was great, and I loved it, but he didn’t make the show humorous for me. The rest did that. He was more of a train-wreck you couldn’t help but love watching, while the other cast members had the jokes and funny personalities. Just me though. You know how I love to root for the shows that ultimately perish one or two season in…
Last one, I promise: this one wasn’t surprising, but she’s more than earned her due – Eden Sher of The Middle. In any one else’s hands, the characters would be an annoying loser child, but Sher has made her so loveable that you can’t help but always root for her, even when she’s got the most insane idea going in her head. Also, The Middle in general. Not sure if you’ve watched it any, but it had it’s best season and the opening of “The Map” alone should’ve gotten it a nomination. It’s so realistic in its portrayal of middle class living that you have to wonder if the writers have stuck a camera in your home.
The rage just keeps on coming….
Grossed out with the Jon Cryer and Larry David noms. It’s like they’re contractually obligated to nominate them as long as the shows are airing a la Kelsey Grammar for Frasier.
John Slattery not getting the nod is an absolute disgrace, Roger Sterling is one of the best written and best acted roles on TV today. I know it was Jared Harris´ swan song, but really.
I don´t watch a lot of sitcoms actually only Modern Family and Mike and Molly but it is infuriating that MF hogged 4 out of 7 spots. Ed O´Neill should be lead actor and nominated but all 4 of them, really, it´s like they are afraid to have a stand out on this show. I love this show but nominating every single adult actor in a meh season makes it all meaningless. (it is meaningless anyway).
And I love Melissa McCarthy and thought last award season she really got her due, but to keep nominating her – Mike and Molly is cute but it is not any kind of ground breaking comedy and if anyone on that show is going to get nominated let it be Swoosie Kurtz in best supporting actress. Melissa got the nod because last year she was the awards darling.
And why the hell does the Good Wife keep getting nominated, does anyone even watch that, it´s soccer mom tv at best. Same with Two and a Half Men, why does it keep getting nominated, it´s not a great show and without Charlie Sheen it is nothing. Yeah okay it gets ratings but only because there are no lack of idiots sitting in front of their tv drinking Budweiser and watching Two and a Half Men.
It seems like the Academy keeps nominating these safe choices, Dexter did not have a good year, Michael C. Hall is excellent but the material wasn´t there this past season. Same with Edie Falco, she´s a wonderful actress but come on, Nurse Jackie is not that good.
It was nice to see Elisabeth Moss get nominated although I don´t think she had the material this season either.
The only nomination that really made me happy was Lena Dunham for Girls.
Yaaaaaawn might as well just run repeats of the last 5 Emmy shows (save alot of $ and botox shots) Same people same shows blah blah. Looks like all cable tv channels TNT USA TBS which have great shows and great actors who can act circles around Alec (I married a 12 year old) Baldwin. Shame on you Emmy!
It makes me happy that Veep and Louis Dreyfuss are nominated but I am also happy for Harris–GREAT season. IN terms of Modern Family–I never got that show. Sorry. Lots of actors with loads of charisma, granted, but the writing is weak. I think its Hollywood’s self congratulatory inclusiveness that keeps getting nominated.
And it is a CRIME that John Slattery is overlooked. That guy chews up the screen