So much to talk about! Let’s start with comedy…
Nominees are ranked in order of likelihood of winning:
Best Comedy:
- Glee
- Modern Family
- 30 Rock
- Nurse Jackie
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- The Office
It’s likely that Glee or Modern Family will knock 30 Rock from its current status of Emmy-superstardom (it’s won 3 times for its first 3 seasons). All three have had ups and downs this season. Whereas Modern Family owes much of its comedy to dysfunctional family single camera shows (like Arrested Development) and mockumentary style interviews (like The Office), Glee is wholly original. It has reinvented the teen comedy and done what so many others have failed trying to do: create a popular musical TV show.
Overlooked:
Party Down
It’s a shame that Party Down never got any attention. In fact, I didn’t hear about it until it was almost over. The posters in New York made it look like a catering reality show (boring…) until you look closer and realize there’s a plethora of comedy icons in the cast and in recurring guest spots. Fortunately, you can view all of the episodes on Netflix on demand. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Should Win:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Yes, Glee may have reinvented musical television, but Curb quietly reinvented the “sitcom reunion” this season by having the cast of Seinfeld do a meta-reunion on the show. The results were hilarious both by Seinfeld standards and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David seemed to be poking fun at both shows he’s created and the world of entertainment in general. He’s delivered years of excellent entertainment and I wish he could finally get rewarded for it.
Lead Actress (Comedy)
- Edie Falco of Nurse Jackie
- Amy Poehler of Parks and Recreation
- Toni Collette of The United States of Tara
- Tina Fey of 30 Rock
- Lea Michele of Glee
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus of The New Adventures of Old Christine
I’m really happy with this list, although I do think Courtney Cox Arquette should have gotten her due. Oh well…she has next year since Old Christine has been cancelled. Edie Falco is an Emmy favorite, but I would watch out for Amy Poehler whose comedy chops hold up Parks and Recreation (or The Office 2 as I call it). If voters remember that she was once holding together another show (SNL), they might feel obliged to recognize her.
Lead Actor (Comedy)
- Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory
- Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock
- Tony Shalhoub of Monk
- Steve Carrell of The Office
- Larry David of Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Matthew Morrison of Glee
That’s right. I think Jim Parsons will win for his work on Big Bang Theory. One of the few traditional sitcoms still around, Big Bang Theory has gotten momentum over the years with help from great guest stars like the nominated Christine Baranski. While Alec Baldwin is a favorite, I just don’t think this will be 30 Rock’s year.
Should Win:
Tony Shalhoub
I know he’s already won three times, but there’s a reason: he’s really, really good. His earlier wins came from his amazing gifts at neurosis, psychosis, body parts out of control, and general paranoia—comedy gold! But as the series ended, Mr. Shalhoub gave us a side of Mr. Monk we had not seen—shades of pain and loss and a reason for his debilitating neuroses. In the series finale, he finally found the killer of his wife in what can only be described as a heartbreaking, yet hilarious performance.
Supporting Actress (Comedy)
- Jane Lynch of Glee
- Kristin Wiig of Saturday Night Live
- Sophia Vergara of Modern Family
- Julie Bowen of Modern Family
- Jane Krakowski of 30 Rock
- Holland Taylor of Two and a Half Men
These women are all deserving and if there’s one sure thing this season, it is that Jane Lynch will take home this trophy—and deservingly so!
Overlooked:
Vanessa Williams, Elizabeth Perkins, and Jane Adams
Hung was less than a breakout success, so it’s not surprising that Jane Adams got snubbed for her work in the series. Still, I think she single-handedly makes the show worth watching. Look out for her in the future.
Ms. Williams and Ms. Perkins, however, will have no future for their respective characters on Ugly Betty and Weeds. It’s a shame because they were two of my favorites to watch out of any actors on any show. Oh well. A great actor cannot overcome the negativity of a show past its prime.
Supporting Actor (Comedy)
- Neil Patrick Harris of How I Met Your Mother
- Ty Burrell of Modern Family
- Chris Colfer of Glee
- Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family
- John Cryer of Two and a Half Men
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family
While Ty Burrell is by far my favorite this year, I think the Modern Family actors will split the vote allowing NPH to finally get the Emmy he’s deserved. I have no problem with this as I’m sure Modern Family will have many seasons of Emmy love in the future.
Chris Colfer
Hooray for Chris Colfer making the cut this year. Episodes of Glee that focused on him were the best of the season, probably because Ryan Murphy relates closest to the character. He gave us inner struggle as he came out to his friends and father and comedy gold with his snarky, deadpan lines.
Snubbed:
Ed O’Neill
The patriarch of two beloved sitcoms (Modern Family and Married with Children) was the one to recommend all the actors submit themselves in the Supporting category. It seems to me if he had submitted in the Lead Actor category, he would have been nominated over Matthew Morrison, but then again, what do I know about Hollywood politics? There’s always next year, Mr Bundy…I mean, Mr. O’Neill…
Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms
Again, it’s tough to be on a show past its prime. And with Steve Carrell possibly (likely? definitely?) leaving The Office after next season, it’s unlikely that these two beloved comics will get the Emmy love they deserve.
Tracy Morgan
Perhaps Tracy Morgan isn’t the greatest actor on 30 Rock or the sharpest comedian, but he did give his best performances in the show’s four year history. His impersonation of Monique in Precious was hilarious as was his desire to win the coveted EGOT, which I suppose will be out of reach for both Tracy Jordan and Tracy Morgan.
Guest Actress (Comedy)
- Betty White of Saturday Night Live
- Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live
- Kristen Chenoweth of Glee (episode “The Rhodes Not Taken”)
- Elaine Stritch of 30 Rock (episode “The Moms”)
- Christine Baranski of Big Bang Theory (episode “The Maternal Congruence)
- Kathryn Joosten of Desperate Housewives (episode “The Chase)
Betty White is IT right now. And that’s fine. Her work on SNL was very funny. I can’t wait to watch her Emmy speech.
SHAME ON THE NOMINATORS:
Catherine O’Hara’s performance on Curb Your Enthusiasm as the title character from the episode “Funkhouser’s Crazy Sister” was my favorite performance this year. She took a small part and ran with it. Every moment she was on screen, she physically embodied an absurd, interesting, and hilarious character—named Bam Bam by the way. Shame on the nominators for the snub.
Guest Actor (Comedy)
- Neil Patrick Harris of Glee (episode “Dream On”)
- Mike O’Malley of Glee (episode “Wheels”)
- Fred Willard of Modern Family (episode “Travels with Scout”)
- Eli Wallach of Nurse Jackie (episode “Chicken Soup”)
- Jon Hamm of 30 Rock (episode “Emmanuelle Goes to Dinosaur Land”)
- Will Arnett of 30 Rock (episode “Into the Crevasse”)
That’s right. I’m predicting a double Neil Patrick Harris win. And that should finally make fans of NPH and How I Met Your Mother happy. His episode of Glee was focused almost exclusively on him, which voters of guest actor usually like. Plus, he can singer better than most (if not all) of the regular cast of Glee. His snappy exchanges with nemesis Will (Matthew Morrison) were hilarious.
Snubs:
I have to say that I really thought Jon Hamm would get the nomination for Saturday Night Live as his part in 30 Rock was rather small this season. If anyone got nominated from 30 Rock, I thought it would certainly be Michael Sheen as the bumbling British non-love of Liz Lemon’s life. I only hope we’ll see more of him in the future. And what of Jason Alexander? He was the best used of the Seinfeld gang on their meta-reunion on Curb.
