Wednesday, September 17, 2008

EMMY PICKS AND NODS

TV's biggest night, the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, is Sunday night. Being a big TV fan, I wanted to weigh in with my picks on some of the major categories as well as sound off on who I feel was overlooked for a nomination. I don't list all the nominees, so if you want to see them the list is on the Emmy site. Here goes...

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
MY PICK

The Office - It was a near toss-up for me between this and "30 Rock". Both had great seasons and both already have this Emmy. But I have to say that the characters I look forward to seeing most are the employees of Dunder-Mifflin. Pam and Jim's overnight at Dwight's beet farm, Michael and Jan's disastrous dinner party, creating their own Scranton branch commercial and the season finale all rate superb comic marks.

OVERLOOKED

Flight of the Conchords - I never laugh harder than at the misadventures of this New Zealand music duo, Bret and Jemaine. Highlights of the season include Bret getting advice from an ethereal David Bowie, blowing their managers money with their "rock star antics", and their big break recording a song for a greeting card.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
MY PICK
Boston Legal - Of the six nominees, this is the only drama that I watch, so it's an easy pick. I enjoyed the revamped cast, particularly the addition of John Larroquette, playing the sane voice in a legal firm of misfits. William Shatneer always delights as Denny Crane, though not so his close pal Alan Shore, who's liberal nonsense-laden closing arguments are often fast-forward-worthy.

OVERLOOKED
The Wire - Readers of this blog know that I'm a big fan of "The Wire", and it's not just because I'm a white guy. If you watched the last season, you might enjoy the Wire Webcasts that I did with fellow blogger Jeff Miller. This was the best drama of last year and the most engaging show of the past decade.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
MY PICK

STEVE CARELL as Michael Scott on "The Office" - This three-time nominee is a large part of why I picked the show for best comedy. His character is inept, shallow, and likable all at the same time, doing and saying things almost every episode that most people in the real world could be fired for.




OVERLOOKED

LARRY DAVID as Himself on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" - Emmy has awarded other actors for basically playing themselves, e.g. Ray Romano, so why not David? He is more nuanced than mere neurotic and more complicated than callous curmudgeon. Like Carell, David manages to be a likable hero while exhibiting qualities that others despise.

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
MY PICK

TINA FEY as Liz Lemon on "30 Rock" - Third nomination time should be the charm for this generation's Mary Richards and every nerd's dream girl. While like Richards, Lemon is surrounded by oddity, it's the portrayal of her personal and professional vulnerability that is the heart of the show.



OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
MY PICK

RAINN WILSON as Dwight Schrute on "The Office" - I don't really know much about Rainn Wilson, but I assume he's nothing like Dwight Schrute. Ergo, the fact that he is so totally Dwight Schrute on the show is an apex in acting. Give that man an Emmy!




OVERLOOKED

TOM PETTY as Lucky on "King of the Hill" - Petty's role of recurring character Lucky expanded this season with his engagement to Luann. He's also matured this season, realizing he can no longer live off insurance settlements as a professional 'slip and fall' man. Many people will dismiss the show because it's a cartoon, but this is the best family comedy on TV.


RHYS DARBY as Murray on "Flight of the Conchords" - Darby's Murray, the Conchords' naive, flustered and beleaguered manager, steals the show. Just his presence in a scene cracks me up in anticipation of what he'll do next.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
MY PICK

I really don't have a pick here since I don't watch any of the nominated shows, and I only caught "SNL" spottingly. I just find it interesting that Amy Poehler is eligible for this category when the show is in a different category. I can't think of another time when an SNL cast member was up for an individual Emmy (any help, dear readers?).



OVERLOOKED

JENNA FISCHER as Pam Beesly on "The Office" - I just checked the list of nominees again because I was sure I had this wrong. This is an Emmy error for this one-time nominee. There's not a false move anywhere, and Pam is the character I think most viewers trust and identify with.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

MY PICK

WILLIAM SHATNER as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal" - aw, just keep giving this guy Emmys. He's fun to watch. You can almost hear the internal groans of the audience when he wins, and that's fun too.

OVERLOOKED
ALMOST ANYBODY FROM "THE WIRE"

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

MY PICK

CANDICE BERGEN as Shirley Schmidt on "Boston Legal" - ok, this is kind of a punk call, because I don't watch the other shows and because she's already got five of the darned things. Should how many Emmys an actor already has affect your voting decisions? It shouldn't, it should be about their work for the nominated season, but it does. That first win doesn't really count anyway. She was up against three of the 'Golden Girls'. They split the 'Golden Girl' vote! It was ample room for someone else to get in. Anyway, can you tell this is the spot where I lost my notes?

OVERLOOKED

FELICIA PEARSON as Felicia "Snoop" Pearson on "The Wire" - One of the few gangsters on the show that lived the hard life she is portraying. I thought she was a guy the first time I saw her, which I guess is the point. She handles herself as a man to make it in a man's world. While you may think it's easy to play a version of yourself, she wasn't an actress before this role and it doesn't show.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the Emmys. I'd say 'see you on the red carpet', but that jerk Seacrest had me banned.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You've never laughed harder than when you watch "Flight of the Conchords"? That's strange. I've never cracked a smile when watching that show.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more with your picks. Especially with "The Office" and Steve Carell as top winners. Most Definitely!

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ericka.tidetogo@gmail.com