Emmys!

Emmy nominations were announced at the crack of dawn this morning. Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show was nominated (*updated: 4 nominations) for best variety, music or comedy series, whereas Jay Leno's version was not. Not surprising is the nom for Glee, not only as best comedy series, but also for best actress (Lea Michele) and supporting actress (Jane Lynch). Modern Family and Nurse Jackie are added to the comedy line up alongside perennials The Office, 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Now in it's 35th year, Saturday Night Live has surpassed the record for most Emmy nominations with 126, a distinction previously held by ER's 124. (SNL's nomination was for Betty White's show.) It's nice to see Amy Poehler get a nomination for best actress in a comedy for Parks and Recreation, but why do I think the aforementioned Michele will beat her? The love for Glee has been fierce this year.

This blog's favorite heavy hitting dramas Breaking Bad and Mad Men were righteously nominated for best in their genre with leads Bryan Cranston and Jon Hamm given the nod for best actor. Aaron Paul got some love with a nomination in the best supporting actor category, an honor in itself, but he deserves a win for his incredible slow burn performance. John Slattery is in the same category as well as...Martin Short for Damages? Interesting.

Seeing Elisabeth Moss and Cristina Hendricks get recognized for Mad Men just makes me smile. Too bad there are no even draws or co-wins. Those ladies light up the screen. Nice to see Connie Britton get best actress nomination, but sad to see her show Friday Night Lights get a pass.

The deliciously stylish and riveting Mad Men might have to take a back seat to insanely brilliant Breaking Bad for the ultimate prize - Best Drama. Both seasons were powerful in story, performance and build up to season finales that left me reeling in different ways. (Mad Men's season finisher made me jump for joy, while Breaking Bad's left me dumbstruck and dazed.) But Cranston's show may end up bringing home the whole enchilada this year. It was explosive, surprising, meticulous in pace and character build, suspense and horror. Perhaps the best television drama I've ever seen. Also nominated for best drama are shows rarely covered on this site, Lost, Dexter, True Blood, The Good Wife mostly due to the fact they've never interested me; however, it's not to say they do not deserve a run at the Emmy. Each drama has a chance, and with Lost causing a major stir this year over their final series and finale, it's a worthy contender. Nevertheless, I predict Breaking Bad is going to run away with the top trophy.

This site doesn't usually get into reality TV, unless it's absolutely hilarious like The Housewives series or Kell on Earth. (I have a secret passion for TLC's Say Yes to the Dress), but I do get a kick out of seeing Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D List get another nomination. It's actually a pretty fun show, although I could have done without her trip to Wasilla and the tired preening over Levi Johnston as featured in one episode. That joke lived beyond its 30 second sell by date, and for me, those 30 seconds were mildly amusing at best. Lets move on from the Palin family tree, please. But still...good for her.

The 62nd Prime Time Emmy Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon and held on Sunday, August 29th at 8pm ET/5pm PT on NBC.

Here is a short list of nominees. For complete list, check out www.emmys.com/nominations.

Comedy Series
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Glee”
“Modern Family”
“Nurse Jackie”
“The Office”
“30 Rock”

Lead Actress in a Comedy
Lea Michele, “Glee”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “The New Adventures of Old Christine”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”
Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Toni Colette, “The United States of Tara”

Lead Actor in a Comedy
Jim Parsons,”Big Bang Theory”
Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Matthew Morrison, “Glee”
Tony Shalhoub, “Monk”
Steve Carell, “The Office”
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock

Variety, Music or Comedy Series
“The Colbert Report”
“The Daily Show”
“Real Time With Bill Maher”
“Saturday Night Live”
“The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien”

Lead Actor in a Drama
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”
Kyle Chandler, “Friday Night Lights”
Hugh Laurie, “House”
Matthew Fox, “Lost”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”

Lead Actress in a Drama
Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”
Glenn Close, “Damages”
Connie Britton, “Friday Night Lights”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
January Jones, “Mad Men”

Drama
“Breaking Bad”
“Dexter”
“The Good Wife”
“Lost”
“Mad Men”
“True Blood”

Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Chris Colfer, “Glee”
Neil Patrick Harris, “How I Met Your Mother”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family”
Eric Stonestreet, “Modern Family”
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Jon Cryer, “Two and a Half Men”

Supporting Actor In a Drama
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
Martin Short, “Damages”
Terry O’Quinn, “Lost”
Michael Emerson, “Lost”
John Slattery, “Mad Men”
Andre Braugher, “Men of a Certain Age”

Supporting Actress In a Comedy
Jane Lynch, “Glee”
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”
Kristen Wiig, “Saturday Night Live”
Jane Krakowski, “30 Rock”
Holland Taylor, “Two and a Half Men”

Supporting Actress in a Drama
Sharon Gless, “Burn Notice”
Rose Byrne, “Damages”
Archie Panjabi, “The Good Wife”
Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”

The 61st Annual Emmy Nominations: Some Awesome Surprises...Some Not...

The 2009 Emmy Awards were announced today, and there are some massive surprises and kudos to go all around. Yes, the nominees tend to be a bit dumb (Entourage? Shaloub? Again?), but sometimes it hits the mark. Some well deserved newbies are going to be up for the big prize this year, especially in the comedy category. Flight of the Conchords is finally getting some love by being nominated alongside perennial Best Comedy Show favorites such as 30 Rock, The Office, Weeds, Entourage, with Jemaine Clement getting a nom for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. Jack McBrayer, the lovably hilarious Kenneth Parcel of 30 Rock joins Tracy Morgan in the Best Supporting Actor Comedy Series category. Some SNL ladies are getting attention with Amy Poehler and Kristin Wiig listed in the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category. And Sarah Silverman getting the Best Actress in a Comedy award? Yes! She's tremendously hilarious, and her show is outrageously fun. She might have a tough time alongside the formidable Tina Fey, listed in the same group, but I'm pulling for that Silverman chick.

In the world of television Drama, it's a pleasure to see Elisabeth Moss get nominated for Best Actress in a Drama for her portrayal of Peggy in Mad Men. She's a scene stealer, sublime in content, heart breaking as a whole, yet uplifting in her strength. Mad Men also received a nomination for Best Drama.

Another well deserved nomination is Aaron Paul, whose remarkable work on Breaking Bad demanded he be a shoe in for not just a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, but the full blown winner in the category. He's up against some veterans like William Hurt and William Shattner, so hopefully voters will recognize Paul's subtle and emotionally charged performance.

Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore were also nominated for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Grey Gardens. They were stunning as Big and Little Edie Beale.

Boo. Ed Helms didn't get nominated.

Wow. 30 Rock hit a record with 22 nominations. I love the show, but isn't this Tina Fey and 30 Rock worship a bit too much?

The 61st Annual Emmy Awards will be held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 20th. It will air on CBS with host Neil Patrick Harris.

Here's the List of Nominees:

DRAMA SERIES:
"Big Love," HBO
"Breaking Bad," AMC
"Damages," FX
"Dexter," Showtime
"House," Fox
"Lost," ABC
"Mad Men," AMC

COMEDY SERIES:
"Entourage," HBO
"Family Guy," Fox
"How I Met Your Mother," CBS
"Flight of the Conchords," HBO
"The Office," NBC
"30 Rock," NBC
"Weeds," Showtime

ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES:
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist"
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House"

ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES:
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit"
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES:
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"
Toni Collette, "United States of Tara"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"
Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program"

ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES:
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Jemaine Clement, "Flight of the Conchords"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men"

SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES:
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
Jack McBrayer, "30 Rock"
Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock"
Rainn Wilson, "The Office"

SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES:
Christian Clemenson, "Boston Legal"
Michael Emerson, "Lost"
William Hurt, "Damages"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
William Shatner, "Boston Legal"
John Slattery, "Mad Men"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES:
Rose Byrne, "Damages"
Hope Davis, "In Treatment"
Cherry Jones, "24"
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy"
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment"
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES:
Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies"
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"
Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds"
Kristin Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"

WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES:
James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, "Flight of the Conchords"
Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock, "30 Rock"
Robert Carlock, "30 Rock"
Matt Hubbard, "30 Rock"
Ron Weiner, "30 Rock"



Source: LA Times