I’m not going to pretend like I’ve seen all these shows, because not even the people who legitimately vote for the actual awards have seen all these shows. But here are my thoughts won the winners, the snubs, and the awards in general.
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
Winner: The Daily Show
No doubt this is a good show, but doesn’t it always win? They show throw a bone to The Colbert Report, which has a much harder job than Jon Stewart & Company because in addition to dissecting world news and political happenings, they have to put a mocking spin on it. Jon Stewart does great interviews, sure, but so does Colbert, and Stewart isn’t handicapped by having to pretend he’s staunchly supporting the opposing viewpoint.
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special
Winner: Game Change
Congrats to all of these shows for getting good reviews despite being totally off my radar – aside from Hatfields & McCoys, which I knew was on television and had anticipated, and yet I had no idea when or where to watch it. I’ll catch each of these on Netflix and I’m sure I’ll enjoy at least three of them.
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Winner: Homeland
Despite three episodes of Mad Men getting nominated, none of them wins? Not a single episode of Breaking Bad gets noticed? Not necessarily gripes, just interesting observations, like the fact that not a single show from regular network television is on there. Perhaps they need a separate category.
And how awkward would it be if “Commissions and Fees” had won, the only episode nominated for Mad Men which didn’t include writing involvement from show creator Matthew Weiner?
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Winner: Louie
Perhaps the acting on this show isn’t top notch, but it’s great to see that the writing on Louie is getting some notice. It’s one of the best shows on television and it’s because of the writing.
Nice to see a cross-section of shows in this category, with extended cable, premium cable and network television all accounted for. How interesting that Big Bang Theory and Modern Family, which get lauded and bring home awards in other categories, aren’t even present here.
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
Winner: Saturday Night Live
Even after watching every episode of SportsNight and Studio 60, I won’t pretend to be able to differentiate one television director from another, but I can only imagine how tough it is to do the job on SNL.
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Winner: Game Change
When they like something, they really like something, eh?
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Winner: Boardwalk Empire
Given the creative forces behind that show, you’d hope they’d have good directing.
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Winner: Modern Family
Oh sure, a cut-and-dry sitcom having better directing than an episode of Louie set in a war zone (“Duckling”)? Why not…
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
Winner: Tom Bergeron for “Dancing With the Stars”
Did he make you think that any of the contestants were actually “stars” aside from the athletes? Then I guess he’s doing a great job.
Phil Keoghan probably doesn’t even care if he gets nominated. He gets to travel to all the cool locations with “The Amazing Race” without having to play a game to get there, nor does he have to deal with annoying/abrasive co-hosts like some of the others do. Unless he gets air sick, he’s got one of the best gigs on television.
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
Winner: The Amazing Race
As it’s the only one of the nominees I’ll actually watch, I’d say they picked the right one.
Where’s the love for CHOPPED and FACE OFF? Are they really less deserving than watching past-their-prime / B-list folks learning to dance?
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Winner: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
At what point is this no longer considered a “variety” or “comedy” series and just called a news program? They often do a better job of investigating more relevant stories than things like 60 Minutes.
I’m hoping the W. Kamau Bell show continues long enough to get noticed in this category, because it’s certainly a show that gets watched before being deleted from my DVR. Every. Week.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Winner: Jessica Lange for American Horror Story
I guess when they change up the cast and the location and the premise of the show each season, maybe American Horror Story IS more of a miniseries. Not sure I understand the sustainability of it, but I wouldn’t imagine The Twilight Zone working well in today’s television climate, either, and I’d probably be wrong there, as well.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Winner: Maggie Smith
Given how annoying I find Skyler White this season, I’m glad the award didn’t go to Anna Gunn.
Christina Hendricks is talented, but her character isn’t nearly as good as it was before, and is arguably less interesting than Megan Draper. At least January Jones wasn’t nominated…
As a primary contributor here at GuysNation, I’m not sure that I should have any interest in a show called The Good Wife, but I do, and Archie Panjabi is deserving of her nomination. That show needs a different title… though it’s a bit late for that.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Yvette Nicole Brown
Winner: Julie Bowen for Modern Family
I would’ve liked to see Yvette Nicole Brown get nominated, as her portrayal of the complex Shirley on COMMUNITY is deserving.
Since when did DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES become a comedy?
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Winner: Tom Berenger for Hatfields & McCoys
Nice to see Martin Freeman get some notice for his work on SHERLOCK. He’s an underrated actor who would seriously benefit from having “Emmy Winner” attached to his name.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Winner: Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad
I’m not saying they should give out awards based on the potential for being able to award an actor in subsequent years, but Aaron Paul won this award two years ago, and there’s no chance that Giancarlo Esposito and Jared Harris are going to be potential nominees for their respective characters for 2013, both of whom could deserve the win.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner: Eric Stonestreet for Modern Family
Sure, it’s a good show, but does Modern Family REALLY deserve to get four of the six nominations? COMMUNITY isn’t represented here, neither is The Big Bang Theory, nor How I Met Your Mother? Huge disappointment.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Winner: Julianne Moore for Game Change
Let’s hope the love for Connie Britton continues next year with this show she’s going to be in, even if it is Country-music centric. Even if she is just nominated, I want her show to be decent so I’m not JUST watching it for her.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Winner: Claire Danes for Homeland
Some people just seem to be made for television.
Elisabeth Moss… a lead actress? I need to take another look at the criteria, because to me, there is no “Lead Actress” on Mad Men. Is she really a more central part of that show than Christina Hendricks’ Joan Harris or Jessica Pare’s Megan Draper?
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus for VEEP
Remember that question about certain people being made for television…?
No one from COMMUNITY? Not sure which of them I’d consider to be the “Lead”, if any, but each of them brings a dynamic perspective.
No nomination for Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco? I guess now that she’s no longer trying to convince us that a hottie could fall in love with Johnny Galecki’s Leonard, her performances don’t take as much effort.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Winner: Kevin Costner for Hatfields & McCoys
So let me get this straight… “Hatfields & McCoys”, “Luther”, “Game Change”, “Sherlock” and “Hemingway & Gellhorn” were good…? Message received, Emmys.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Winner: Damian Lewis for Homeland
As a huge fan of his work on LIFE, I’m glad to see he got the big win.
Fun to see that not a single network television show got on the list of nominees. I guess the Emmys don’t like Law & Order type shows.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Winner: Jon Cryer for Two And A Half Men
Really?
Seriously?
And that’s just my reaction to that show still being on television…
I guess it is nice to see someone other than Jim Parsons win the award.
To know whether or not Louis C.K. deserves the nomination, I’d really have to know how much his character differs from his persona. Though, I probably never would’ve nominated Jerry Seinfeld either.
Outstanding Miniseries or Made For Television
Winner: Game Change
But seriously, Luthor and Sherlock were also-rans this year.
Outstanding Drama Series
Winner: Homeland
So… Homeland’s worth watching. That’s the message we take from this.
Not surprisingly, another category without any network television nominees. My Netflix queue is growing…
Outstanding Comedy Series
Winner: Modern Family
Wait, you mean a show that dominated the nominations in the major acting categories somehow finds a way to win the award?
That’s almost as shocking as the fact that Curb Your Enthusiasm is still on television.
Does Dan Harmon blow his lid if COMMUNITY gets nominated next year, now that he’s no longer at the helm of the great show he so excellently guided halfway to #SixSeasonsAndAMovie?
Other Thoughts
Do any of the guys reading this actually care what people wore to the awards ceremony?
What are the odds that NEWSROOM dominates next year? Probably about equal odds that it gets canceled after a second season…
With Louie getting well deserved praise, is there a chance that The League, Wilfred or It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia are ever going to get any nominations? And what of The Walking Dead, with Breaking Bad and Mad Men both being higher priorities for AMC?
Would it help or hurt the show to add about a half-dozen nominees to each category? It might be a bit more watered down, but at least more of the quality programing would get noticed.
