I Don’t Need No Emmy in My Life to Make Me Happy

[The title of this post comes from the beautiful and touching "Emmy Song" written and performed by the one and only Ellen DeGeneres.]

So I know I’m about a week late with this but I wanted to give my take on this year’s Emmy nominations. The Emmys are my favorite award show for many reasons. 1) They deal exclusively with TV 2) They have recently fallen on my birthday weekend and 3) My cousin has won a few Therefore I am more invested in the Emmys than any other award show. This year I was surprised, shocked, happy and dismayed by what I saw when the nominations came out last week. Let’s delve deeper into these emotions, shall we?

Surprised

• Many categories have been expanded to include as many as seven nominees which is quite a lot more than the requisite five. I bet the nominees are upset that they have to compete with more people and to me it makes the award less prestigious if it is open to more nominees. This system also allows for seemingly mediocre or undeserving shows/actors to be nominated. (For more see: Shocked) Are the Emmy’s trying to be like the Oscars who recently announced there will be TEN Best Picture nominees this year?

Shocked

• FAMILY GUY!?! I know I am not the first one to express shock over this one but COME ON. Family Guy is the first animated series to be nominated for Best Comedy Series since The Flintstones in 1961. I mean The Simpsons has never been a Best Comedy nominee. I don’t hate Family Guy, but at the same time I’m not one of their crazy cult fans either. Its a fine show but definitely does not deserve an Emmy for Best Comedy. What comedy would I put in its place?  It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Without a doubt. However, despite this, the rest of the Outstanding Comedy category is great. (For more see: Happy)
• TONY SHALOUB AGAIN!? Monk has been on the air for eight seasons and lead actor Tony Shaloub has been nominated six times for Best Actor in a Comedy Series and won twice. I mean I don’t doubt that Monk is a good show and Shaloub does a good job, but again there are much funnier and deserving actors in this category. GIVE THE OTHERS A CHANCE FOR ONCE.
• JENNIFER ANISTON?!  30 Rock has perfected the art of the celebrity cameo. It astounds me the caliber of stars they get on that show. And it seems that nearly every one of this season’s guests were nominated in the Guest Appearance category. However, Salma Hayek who had a multi-episode arc was missing from the list and Jennifer Aniston who gave a forgettable (while over the top) performance made the cut. I just don’t get it.

Happy

• This has nothing to do with the nominees, but I am beyond happy that Neil Patrick Harris is hosting this year. He did a great job at the Tonys in June and as far as I’m concerned he can do no wrong. The only way I’d be happier would be if Ellen was hosting. But thats sooo 2001.
• Jeremy Piven isn’t nominated! Now don’t get me wrong. I love Entourage and think it would be nothing without Piven and the brilliance of Ari Gold. However, he has won many times in a row now for Best Supporting Actor and the torch needs to be passed to someone else. Like for example, Neil Patrick Harris? His portrayal of Barney Stinson in the wonderful “How I Met Your Mother” is LEGEND (wait for it) DARY. Hopefully this will be his year.
• The entire Outstanding Comedy Series category (minus Family Guy). Finally Two and a Half Men is gone from the category and each of the shows nominated are funny and brilliantly written and acted. Flight of the Conchords is deservingly getting Emmy recognition and How I Met Your Mother is finally being regarded as more than just the Barney Stinson show. Although that smells like a spin off to me.

Dismayed

• If you were to ask me what my favorite show on (network) TV was it would hands down have to be Friday Night Lights.  It is the only show where I consisntently laugh and cry at least once during the course of an episode. The acting is unreal, the stories are compelling and realistic and I think part of the reason why is does so poorly in the ratings (besides its Friday night timeslot) is the fact that the Emmys have not recognized its quality. I know that Emmys can’t always aid ailing programs (see: Arrested Development), but I think it could help a little. Thank goodness it was renewed for two more seasons. Maybe by then the Emmys will have gotten their act together.

Feel free to comment on your feelings on the nominees if you have any. The awards are Sunday September 20th (the day before my birthday) and they are sure to be entertaining if nothing else. (Especially if Family Guy wins…)

July 23, 2009. Uncategorized.