What To Expect From the Emmys

E: I’m no where near as obsessive about TV awards as I am about movie ones, but I’m moderately excited to see the Prime Time Emmys tonight. As I’ve mentioned before, Neil Patrick Harris is hosting, which means singing. And even better, it’s going to mean a Dr. Horrible production number! Yep, you just read that right. Dr. Horrible, live! Way to up the hipness factor, Emmy! They’re burying it in the middle of the telecast, so you’re either going to have to watch the whole thing, or depend on some grainy Youtube action Monday morning.

I should warn you that the Emmys have a billion categories, and I will not be looking at them all. (Think I’m kidding? They don’t announce the hair and make up awards on the telecast, use of prosthetics, or the cinematography in single or multiple camera series awards, either; oddly those tend to be the only places that shows I love, like Battlestar Galactica and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, have gotten nominated. They even have a category for commercials. Seriously.) I’m just going to pull out a few and comment on them. Oh, and hey, did I mention that the Emmys don’t do the whole 5 nominee thing any more? It’s mostly 6 or 7, depending. Unless we’re talking the mini-series category, where there are only two nominees. Right.

One other element I’m looking forward to this year? There’s going to be some of sort of homage to dancing shows, coordinated by the folks from So You Think You Can Dance. Woohoo! That ought to be a lot of fun. For, you know, me.

And without further ado, here’s a look at the major categories and my thoughts on them (highly personal, thoroughly biased, and no where near as scholarly and thorough as my Oscar notes will be). Still, enjoy! You might have rooting interests you weren’t even aware of – and if not, it should still be worth watching for the clothes. Look after the cut for the stars who’ll be wearing them.

Drama Series:
“Big Love,’’ HBO; “Breaking Bad,’’ AMC; “Damages,’’ FX Networks; “Dexter,’’ Showtime; “House,’’ Fox; “Lost,’’ ABC; “Mad Men,’’ AMC.

Do you believe this? Lost is the only show from a major network! Badly done, networks, badly done. The nets could compete a little when it was just HBO offering prestige programming, but now that so many channels have gotten in on the action, they must be feeling the burn. Mad Men seems likely to continue their streak, but who knows. I think perhaps I’m just going to be here for the dresses.

[BWT, I'm an idiot.  FOX is clearly a broadcast network. Sorry!]

Actor, Drama Series:
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad’’; Michael C. Hall, “Dexter’’ ; Hugh Laurie, “House,’’ ; Gabriel Byrne, “In Treatment’’ ; Jon Hamm, “Mad Men’’; Simon Baker, “The Mentalist.’’

Good show, Simon Baker! Cranston has been the winner of choice lately (and good for him), but Ham, Laurie and Byrne are critical darlings as well.

Actress, Drama Series:
Sally Field, “Brothers & Sisters’’ ; Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer’’; Glenn Close, “Damages’’; Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’’; Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men’’; Holly Hunter, “Saving Grace.“

Notice how the field is stacked with movie stars? Oscar nominees, most of them, even. Isn’t it interesting that the veil between TV and film has been ripped apart? A lot of serious movie actors who’d never dream of doing TV before do it now. It’s no accident that most of them are women over a certain age; with the proliferation of smart cable shows, there are better roles being written for women (specifically for them, in some cases) on TV than in the movies.

Glenn Close won last year and – in true Emmy fashion – seems likely to repeat. I’ve heard positive things about the show and she’s certainly a good enough actress to merit it, but all the repetitions are rather yawn-worthy. Wouldn’t it be cool to see Elizabeth Moss sneak in there? Loved her as first daughter Zoe Bartlet on The West Wing, understand she’s brilliant here, and certainly the name most in need of attention. The winner I’m really bored with is Hargitay; Emmy voters can’t get enough of her. Perhaps it’s time for perpetual nominee/bridesmaid Sedgewick to take home the statuette? New blood, please!

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.”

For a woman who watches a lot of TV, I have seen very little of these. I honestly cannot believe that William Shatner keeps getting nominated (and WINNING) for this show. With apologies to my brother-in-law, who’s a big fan, Boston Legal has always looked underwhelming to me. I am thrilled that the show is off the air, and this is the last time its cast can be nominated. (Shatner is an icon, and I love James Spader. Just considering their competition – yick.) I’m hoping to see Slattery or the ever creepy Emerson rewarded here. I understand Aaron Paul is genius, though.

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.”

Well, of course I really like the Grey’s Anatomy girls, and since that’s the only show of these I watch, I’d have to be rooting for them. Love Dianne Wiest, Hope Davis and Cherry Jones, though, so it’s only Rose Byrne that I can’t give even a general opinion on.

Comedy Series:
“Entourage,’’ HBO; “Family Guy,’’ Fox; “Flight of the Conchords,’’ HBO; “How I Met Your Mother,’’ CBS; “The Office,’’ NBC; “30 Rock,’’ NBC; “Weeds,’’ Showtime.

Comedy fares a bit better at the networks; only 3 of the 7 are cable shows. Unsurprisingly, however, I don’t watch any of these shows, so I’m perfectly reconciled with seeing 30 Rock win AGAIN. I love Tina Fey, and I love that NBC kept the show on the air when it wasn’t getting the big ratings. Of course, surprises are much more pleasant.

Actor, Comedy Series:
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory’’; Jemaine Clement, “Flight of the Conchords’’; Tony Shalhoub, “Monk’’ ; Steve Carell, “The Office’’; Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock’’; Charlie Sheen, “Two and a Half Men.’’

Hello, calling Alec Baldwin? Please accept your next Emmy.

Actress, Comedy Series:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “The New Adventures of Old Christine’’; Christina Applegate, “Samantha Who?’’; Sarah Silverman, “The Sarah Silverman Program,’’ ; Tina Fey, “30 Rock’’; Toni Collette, “United States of Tara’’; Mary-Louise Parker, “Weeds.’’

Um, Tina Fey? Can anyone beat you? (And, uh, The Sarah Silverman Program was what, exactly?)

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.”

I’d love to see Wilson or Harris take this. Is Cryer the safe bet? I don’t know. I love the Duckman, so I guess that wouldn’t be so bad.

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.”

Chenoweth or Williams, all the way! I’d love to see either one of those, love it! I’m sort of weirded out by the SNL inclusions, though. I mean, it’s not the same thing, is it? Even if it’s comedy? Not that I’m unhappy to see people recognized, it’s just – weird.

Miniseries:
“Generation Kill,” HBO; “Little Dorrit,” PBS

Now, our family loved Little Dorrit (I’m including here my parents as well as my sister and I; I doubt M watched – shame on you, M!) but I’ve heard that Generation Kill is a slam dunk. HBO is a bear – expensive, and there frankly is very little on, but what’s on tends to be so damn beloved! We got it one year for Band of Brothers, but all that was on when that ended was The Sopranos and Sex and the City. (Well, and Wit, which was amazing, but just one movie.) And Tony Soprano just doesn’t do it for me. Anyhoo, I understand that Generation Kill is a shoo in. The only consolation to our costume drama-lovin’ hearts is that it was written and directed by nominee Susanna White, who also directed Jane Eyre and Bleak House. (True tangent; at a huge family reunion a few years ago, our Dad was chatting with the English wife of a somewhat distant cousin, whom, it turned out, had a roommate Susanna who made films for the BBC. “Oh,” says Dad, “it’s not Susanna White!” And it was. I was in the hospital having a baby at the time, but I wish I’d been there just to see the boggled look on her face at my Dad being the fan of an English TV director.)

In case you were wondering, there’s some sort of insane math that ended with their only being the two nominees. Very warped. I know there aren’t a lot of miniseries made anymore, but geez, people!

Outstanding Made-For-Television Movie:
Coco Chanel, Grey Gardens, Into the Storm, Prayers For Bobby, Taking Chance

Grey Gardens – based on a famous documentary about reclusive socialites/Jackie O relatives – seems the likely winner here. Of course I’ve seen none of them.

Actor, Miniseries or Movie:
Kevin Bacon, “Taking Chance”; Kenneth Branagh, “Wallander: One Step Behind”; Brendan Gleeson, “Into the Storm”; Kevin Kline, “Cyrano de Bergerac”; Ian McKellen, “King Lear”; Kiefer Sutherland, “24: Redemption.”

Well, my Anglophile heart leaps of course to Sir Ian McKellen and Kenneth Branagh. Of these all I’ve seen is Wallander, and PBS is my default rooting position.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie:
Drew Barrymore, “Grey Gardens”; Jessica Lange, “Grey Gardens”; Shirley MacLaine, “Coco Chanel”; Sigourney Weaver, “Prayers for Bobby”; Chandra Wilson, “Accidental Friendship”

I love seeing Wilson get two nods, but I’m inclined to think it’ll be one of the ladies from Grey Gardens. Big Edith or little Edith? How about a tie? How exciting would that be!

Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie:
Shohreh Aghdashloo, “House of Saddam”; Marcia Gay Harden, “The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler”; Janet McTeer, “Into the Storm”; Jeanne Tripplehorn, “Grey Gardens”; Cicely Tyson, “Relative Stranger”

Do you folks know Shoreh Aghdashloo? Gosh is she awesome. She’s got such a presence! Not to mention this lovely, velvet gravel voice. I’m a fan of Janet McTeer and Marcia Gay Harden, too, but I’d love to see Shoreh take this. Perhaps she was robbed of the Oscar for The House of Sand and Fog, but I’ll say one thing; she’s gotten a career out of the nomination, and that’s more than most unknowns can say when after that spotlight goes away.

Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie:
Len Cariou, “Into the Storm”; Tom Courtenay, “Little Dorrit”; Ken Howard, “Grey Gardens”; Bob Newhart, “The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice”; Andy Serkis, “Little Dorrit”

Go Tom Courtenay! Even if I’d rather it was Russell Tovey or Eddie Marsan getting a nod from Little Dorrit, it’d be almost as good to see Mr. Dorrit honored. And man, does Andy Serkis excel at playing evil weasels. Shiver. (C: Oh come on, I love Serkis as much as the next LOTR fan, but his performance in this was high-camp ridiculousness. Why do they always nominate the familiar names, instead of the people – Tovey in this case – who truly stole the show?) Also, I seriously can’t believe there was Emmy-worthy work in one of the Librarian films.

Reality-Competition Program:
“The Amazing Race,” CBS; “American Idol,” FOX; “Dancing With The Stars,” ABC; “Project Runway,” Bravo; “Top Chef,” Bravo

Top Chef! Top Chef Top Chef Top Chef! (AI and Project Runway‘d be okay too. Down with the Amazing Race monopoly! I hate it when one show has a stranglehold on a category.)

Reality Show Host:
Tom Bergeron, “Dancing With The Stars”; Phil Keoghan, “The Amazing Race“; Heidi Klum, “Project Runway”; Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio,” Top Chef”; Jeff Probst, “Surivor”; Ryan Seacrest, “American Idol.”

Each of these people does a fine job (Bergeron is pun-happy, Seacrest is perky, Tom and Padma are incisive, tough and fair, Phil and Heidi are sly, and Jeff the granddaddy and likely repeat winner), but none of them can touch the best host on TV, Cat Deeley. How could they not even nominate her? When will you get your due, Cat? Why, Emmy, why?

Really, though, I’m just relieved that the hosts aren’t hosting again. Last year was an unmitigated disaster.

Reality Program:
“Antiques Roadshow,” PBS; “Dirty Jobs,” Discovery Channel; “Dog Whisperer,” National Geographic: “Intervention,” A&E; “Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List,” Bravo; “Mythbusters,” Discovery

When in doubt, root for PBS! Or Mythbusters – how awesome are those guys? Almost as cool as the blokes ton Top Gear. I think Kathy Griffin has won this before, and with Emmy, you can usually expect this year’s winner and last year’s winner to look suspiciously familiar. Sigh.