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SUNDAY PM: Best line tonight at the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards was from Tina Fey who said "We want to thank our friends at NBC for keeping us on the air ... even though we are so much more expensive than a talk show." Neat bitchslap, Tina. 
Considering this is the 3rd win for 30 Rock in the "Comedy Series" category and the show won 5 Emmys overall Sunday night, she can probably ask Jeff Zucker to bear her next child (without the epidural). Speaking of pain and the broadcast itself, Neil Patrick Harris (aka Mr. "Put Down The Remote") was less annoying than most hosts. But let me just say that The Family Guy clip of Stewie beating that poor dog senseless and drowning him in the toilet bowl ("Where's my Emmy? Where's my Emmy?) perfectly replicates what I'd like to do mentally to Don Mischer and all the other torturers who put on this crapfest tonight. A total of 10 TV and cable networks collected the 28 TV awards handed out Sunday night. In all, the broadcast networks claimed 13 Emmys and the cable networks or pay channels HBO, Showtime, FX, Comedy Central, AMC, A&E collected 11, and PBS received 3. Between the Creative Arts and Primetime Emmys ceremonies, the Emmy scorecard was HBO 21, NBC 16, ABC 11, Fox 10, CBS 9, PBS 9, and so on. 
But they carry an asterisk because of this year's expansion of major-category nominees to field 6 and as many as 7 contenders apiece for comedy and drama. HBO cleaned up biggest for the 9th year in a row. But NBC immediately put out this message to journalists: We may be the last place broadcast network, but we're the most awarded. Said tonight's press release: "It was another huge night for NBC Universal at the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards as the NBC network again won 16 combined Emmys, including five for "30 Rock," which was the most-honored series on any broadcast or cable network at this year's awards. "30 Rock" also claimed its third back-to-back win as Outstanding Comedy Series giving NBC a win in that category for the past four years. NBC also tied HBO for the most wins of the evening with five." Meanwhile, the CBS bigwigs must have been dying when the Dallas/Giants game on NBC caught fire from the starting kick-off. The long-running rivalry went down to the wire and, at one point, the two teams were separated by only one point in the 4th quarter until a field goal with the clock showing 0:00 determined the winner. Up against that, Emmy ratings could sink even lower than the 2008 ceremony, which was the least watched ever with an audience of only 12.3 million.
5 PM: I won't be live-blogging the Emmys because I'm still ill, and the jackasses at the Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences and CBS don't carry the awards show live in all U.S. time zones (and I, like an idiot, don't have satellite TV). Nevertheless, I'll be commenting from the comfort of my sick bed as the winners and losers are announced on the Internet. Don't read on if you think ATAS always gets it right. My own feeling is that Emmys too often go not just to the people and productions who don't deserve them, but only to HBO because Richard Plepler holds for ransom every voter's firstborn or Chihuahua. So here's our chance to piss and moan and even praise (the latter only if necessary):
DRAMA SERIES
Mad Men (AMC)
Everyone knows I'm deeply biased when it comes to Mad Men. Because even with its non-sequitur storylines and permanent loose ends, creator Matthew Weiner makes up for those annoyances with surprise twists and turns. But Mad Men's back-to-back Emmys in this prestigious of all categories showcase the stupidity of the Hollywood execs who produce and program television. Here they have gold in their hands and yet treat it like dirt. Remember how Lionsgate tried to replace Matthew after he and his CAA agents asked for a raise? Or when AMC tried to shorten the show in order to squeeze in a few more commercials? That Weiner had the balls to fight back and stick it out and make TV his way is what Emmy voters rewarded twice. Which is why Matthew schooled the awards audience Sunday night: "I may be the only person in the room with complete creative freedom. That’s why the show is so good." It's a lesson Hollywood high-ups in television should learn.
COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock (NBC)
This is such a safe "critic-approved" selection that I sometimes wonder if the Emmy voters think there's a hidden camera trained on their ballots. I'm sorry, but 30 Rock isn't the laugh riot everybody thinks it is (or at least the 25 viewers who actually watch it weekly judging by the still-low ratings). But since these are TV awards, voted on by TV people, in a TV-dominated town, then a sitcom sending up TV is to them a hoot and a half. Get over it already. After all, the sitcom is a dying genre. You exhausted comedic premises like friends and families and now network TV. Go forth and find yucks in more original arenas. Like showbiz bloggers who get flamed for saying they don't like 30 Rock. I would have given the Emmy to The Family Guy. For no other reason than it would have pissed off viewers a lot more than even that inexplicable clip of Brian The Pup as a bloody pulp. Poor Choice.
ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC)
He was the critics' favorite. I would have given it this year to Dexter's Michael C. Hall. But Showtime has the most dimwitted and dysfunctional marketing/PR known to mankind and execs don't know how to promote their shows at awards time. I bet they've never even taken a hostage. Neutral.
ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, Damages (FX)
Great actress, great choice, great show. So much unlike Brothers & Sisters' past winner Sally Field who sucks out the air of every scene she's in. FX was lucky and clever to cast Glenn. Great Choice.
ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
Toni Collette, United States of Tara (Showtime)
STOP THE PRESSES! (Or should I say, KILL THE MOUSE!) I can't believe that Showtime won an Emmy. And without holding hostage the voters' firstborn or Chihuahua. Toni Collette was the only reason to watch this series (certainly not Diablo Cody's writing). Then again, Colette is usually the only reason to watch the motion pictures she's in, too. My problem with this series was that it was so damn obvious and in-your-face. There was no subtlety possible because of the corny premise, and yet Colette fought against that as she always does. She also was aided by a terrific cast. The show wouldn't have worked, in fact it would have been god-awful, had Toni not elevated the material. Good Choice. Especially because showbiz can't give every award to Tina Fey, right?
ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (NBC)
ATAS voters, you're only encouraging him. Baldwin isn't that good in it. Or maybe it's just an age/failure thing. Potential movie leading man who never achieved superstar status, who used to be hot and now isn't, is enough of a sad story that his peers want to reward him. (As Alec said to presenter Rob Lowe, "I'd trade this to look like him, I really would, actually.") On the other hand, The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons should have won. But he's a newcomer to the TV scene. And his career is just beginning, not on its last legs. Is that the reason, voters? IS IT? Poor Choice.
SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Michael Emerson, Lost (ABC)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Cherry Jones, 24 (Fox)
SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men (CBS)
This must have been a sop to Les Moonves for hosting the Emmys and changing the date again, and again, and again as he and ATAS played football with the awards show. Jon Cryer is a mediocre actor on a misogynist sitcom that America watches, and Nielsen meters in the Top 10, for reasons that completely escape me. (Sorry Chuck Lorre, but you're crying all the way to the bank so I can't feel sorry for you.) That Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris didn't win for How I Met Your Mother when he week in and week out carries that show on his Hugo Boss'ed back is beyond me. Next To Neil, Jon is disabled. Poor Choice.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies (ABC)
I watched maybe a nanosecond of Pushing Daisies so I'm in no position to judge. Although Kristin was a fresh face on the old West Wing and is still a delight on Broadway. I would have awarded the Emmy to Vanessa Williams on Ugly Betty because I love how much she obviously enjoys playing mean. And nothing -- no humiliating pratfall, no inane situation, no wimpy dialogue -- ever seems to be beneath her. Neutral.
WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Matt Hubbard, "Reunion", 30 Rock (NBC)
Of the five nominations, 4 were writers from 30 Rock. How's that fair? Especially when writers on other networks who aren't writing television about television don't have as much home-grown material. Both Ben Silverman and Jeff Zucker are probably getting royalties from last season's shows. Fixed.
WRITING FOR A DRAMA
Kater Gordon, Matthew Weiner, "Meditations In An Emergency", Mad Men (AMC)
Women watch more scripted television than men, yet the vast majority of writing staffs on those shows are dominated by white males. Not this one, which has a predominantly female writing staff who overperfomed in this category. Good Choice.
WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
Steve Bodow, Jon Stewart, David Javerbaum, Josh Lieb, Rory Albanese, Kevin Bleyer, Jason Ross, Tim Carvell, John Oliver, Sam Means, Rob Kutner, J.R. Havlan, Rich Blomquist, Wyatt Cenac, Elliott Kalan, Rachel Axler, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
If you're a liberal, this is deserved. If you're a conservative, it's a plot by those goddamn Hollywood socialists who worship The Messiah (aka President Obama) and hate god-fearing real Americans. Count me in the former category. Good Choice.
WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Andrew Davies, Little Dorrit (PBS)
DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Dearbhla Walsh, "Part 1", Little Dorrit - "Part 1" (PBS)
DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
Bruce Gowers, "The Final Three", American Idol (Fox)
ORIGINAL MUSIC AND LYRICS
"Hugh Jackman Opening Number", 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC)
The ATAS voters must be kidding. Or else deaf, dumb, blind, and Broadway bound. Because here's what I wrote during that debacle: "OHMYGAWD, it's not the Oscars: IT'S THE TONY'S! Worst Academy Awards opening ever. None of these lyrics are funny. Alan Carr's showstopper of Snow White and Rob Lowe (remember how our jaws went slack?) is starting to look like a masterpiece in comparison. I really feel sorry for Jackman having to perform this crapfest number. Maybe he'll just keep the Wolverine suit on for the rest of the year so no one will recognize him." Poor Choice.
VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Rod Holcomb, "And In The End", ER (NBC)
This direction of the ER final episode brought together many complex storylines: of love and lost, medical drama, and everything else that mattered to the long-running series. Most of all, it reminded people like me who'd stopped following the show years ago why we'd watched in the first place. Good Choice.
DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Jeff Blitz, The Office (NBC)
Well at least it's not for 30 Rock. Then again, TV direction for The Office kinda consists only of watching the UK version and copying it. (Here's hoping Jeff Blitz doesn't know where I live...) Neutral.
REALITY HOST
Jeff Probst, Survivor (CBS)
Given that there were no less than 4 hosts who shouldn't be on television, much less Reality TV (and, yes, one of them is the Viscount of Vapidity, Ryan Seacrest), this shouldn't have been too hard a category to judge. That said, how could the ATAS voters not recognize true genius in the bizarre way that Top Chef's Tom Colicchio holds his knife and fork and tastes the food in front of him? On the other hand, Jeff Probst has the good sense to stay upwind of all those dirty and stinky Survivor contestants, but also the bad manners to tell them exactly why he's doing it. Neutral.
REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race (CBS)
For a 7th straight year, this travelog tournament has won this category. And I simply don't get it. First, every other scene depicts the last-place couple in some new kind of airport hell. I can't stomach my own arguments with airline personnel much less watch other people have them. How is this entertainment? And the cameras work hard to catch every last ounce of Ugly American behavior around the world. Yet no one to date has died doing a challenge or been thrown into a Midnight Express-like foreign jail to rot. Again, how is this entertainment? There's much more maiming and manacling on Top Chef worth watching. Poor Choice.
REALITY PROGRAM
Intervention (A&E)
MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE
Grey Gardens (HBO)
ACTOR, MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm (HBO)
The Gathering Storm and Into The Storm were two of HBO's least hyped movies, and probably that's why they're among my favorites from the PR-centric pay channel. In the first, Albert Finney played Winston Churchill as an old man. Then Brendan Gleeson played Churchill younger even though it was a later time period. But he made me forget all about Finney. Which is saying a lot. Good Choice.
ACTRESS, MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens (HBO)
I know for certain that Hollywood has a Jessica Lange law: it says that, whenever she's in something that's not a dumbass movie she did just for the money, just give her an award. Don't watch it. Just hand her the Oscar or Emmy. (Remember how she won the Academy Award for Blue Sky, a film no one saw?) Well, I tried to see Grey Gardens, but I defy anyone to sit through that grim biopic. I truly believe that's what ATAS voters did as well (although they might not have stomped on the DVD screener like I did). Nah, they just invoked the Jessica Lange rule. Neutral.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Saddam (BBC/HBO)
SUPPORTING ACTOR, MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Ken Howard, Grey Gardens (HBO)
MINISERIES
Little Dorrit (PBS)
GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Not even a bitch on wheels like me would question Tina's selection for that impersonization of her Alaskan doppelganger, witch in heels Sarah Palin. Good Choice.
GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Anyone who's seen Justin Timberlake in SNL skits like "Dick In A Box", "Give It On Up To Homelessville", "The Barry Gibb Talk Show", and "Mother Lover" knows he's hilarious. (Even if those movies he's done tanked big-time like Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan, and The Love Guru.) Good Choice.
GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Michael J. Fox, Rescue Me (FX)
GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ellen Burstyn, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
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I hope that True Blood is nominated for Best Drama and that Alexander Skarsgard wins in the best supporting actor category.
Dream on.
Keep Dreaming Mad Man True Blood is the best show on TV. Period. It’s funny, scary and even profound. It’s wat TV is supposed to be.
I’m rooting for Nurse Jackie as well.
Spoiler alert: ny 3 Dallas 0
Geez, tell us how you really feel about Diablo, Nikki. I agree, Toni Collette is an amazing actress, and she brings these characters to life, but it all starts with the writing: Diablo Cody’s writing. Without the writing there would be no show: period. Let’s give respect where it’s due, why don’t we?
This is another embarrasing awards show..Neil Patrick Harris is out of his element here..I thought he was overrated as Tony host, but it seemed like he did a genius job on the Tonys only because anyone with a lively pulse can put a spring into the step of those antiquated awards.
CBS has the funniest host on television, that being Craig Ferguson, on their network. Why he wasn’t asked to host is beyond me.
It’s still amazing that the Emmy’s aren’t broadcast live on the West Coast….and Nikki, perhaps its time you get a satellite dish that gives you East Coast Feeds.
RC
It’s hard to believe “Big Bang” isn’t even considered the Best Comedy. I guess the Emmy voters are just so robotic every year that anything better or new just doesn’t compute.
Lucky for us Left Coasters, we don’t even have to watch the show to see the results. Very cool.
Big Bang is the funniest wittiest show in network TV. 30 Rock is overrated crap. and I don’t know about you, but Tina Fey is really annoying me these days.
BTW Leno, Letterman, Conan, John Stewart is the new king of talkshows. Go home, fossils.
Direct TV offers the East Coast feed of NBC for $5.99 a month but that’s all that’s available. CBS & ABC east coast feeds are blocked now. I believe the only way to get live feeds is to have one of those humongous satellites in your back yard, and you pretty much have to live in the remote desert for that to make sense.
Cynicism? Don’t you mean bitchiness? But that’s why we love you, Nikki.
Finally, someone tells it like it is about Baldwin.
It *is* a great game! God Bless Neil Patrick Harris at the start of the emmys for reminding me it was on!
What a horrible, unfunny telecast. Jesus, is this written for no one under 70?
And – You love football TOO ?!?!?!
I was right … YOU ARE THE BABE! (And you are right, the game is awesome!)
Nikki
Do you belive all TV comedy is weak or do you think there are actually better comedies than 30 Rock? The Office and maybe The Sarah Silverman program are really the only other shows in the conversation. How I Met Your Mother is solid but just not up there with those top 3. By the way I hope you would agree that it’s amazing that CBS is a viable network. Watching the promos during the Emmys I am embarassed for them to be producing any of these shows except HIMYM.
anybody count how many times CAA got a thanks?
glad to see Bryan Cranston recognized for his take-it-up-a-notch perf in Breaking Bad. That show from cute/meh in the first season to riveting must-see in the second, and he’s a huge reason why.
Also, the best written comedy on the air is Party Down and it got zilch for nominations, so Jim Parsons is in good company as far as snubs go. I love Alec, but the dude is running on fumes.
I like 30 Rock and all, but it’s a live action cartoon. That’s NOT a swipe, I swear – I love a good live action cartoon but I find that other than offering some good jokes, the show is wholly comprised of characters that are way too arch and silly to relate to or care about. It’s an extremely superficial experience. Which is fine, I watch, I laugh, I watch again. But is that where the Emmy should go?
Ohhhhhh…that hurts! Ouch!
(The football game final, not the haters on the blog.)
REMEMBER.
In Hollywood – the more they hate you – the more you know you are on the right track.
(Isn’t it funny how Hollywood types like to ignore a project’s popularity as determined by the audience – the very people who pay their salaries – the very people they are supposed to be working for.)
Keep up the cynicism.
You’re the ONLY person we can trust … because you are REAL. Hope you feel better soon,
You’re the best,
Michael
Was Pushing Daises even on last season. Come on now.
Yes, ABC trotted out about 10 episodes and then cancelled it. They had three eps left that they’d already filmed so they ran them on Saturday nights in July. It was a fun, cute show and Chenowith was excellent in it… but it should have been on a cable channel.. it just wasn’t the right feel for a network show.
30 Rock is SOOOOOOOO overrated. Some things happen every episode. So boring and predictable. I don’t think the emmy academy watches television.
Yes, Pushing Daisies was on. For about 3 episodes before ABC killed it…
This is the 10th year I have NOT watched the Emmys on television, but just watched and read on the Internet.
Gotta admit, the show certainly moves a lot faster for me this way!
;P
Nikki, why the hate for 30 Rock? All my friends update their facebook statuses after the show. It can’t be THAT low rated. Better then ANYTHING on CBS which consists of a lame 90’s style sitcom or a mediocre murder mystery drama.
I’m glad Intervention won. It’s a brilliant show.
I have posted here before that people should try to get a hold of a recording of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade ASSSSCAT show that appeared on Bravo about five years ago or so. Make sure that it is not the one that was released on DVD several years ago.
The Bravo one really shows Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts at their best, much like the Armando Diaz shows that they appeared in at IO in Chicago in the mid 90s.
Otherwise, I swear that Lorne Michaels is holding NBC hostage, and I would love to know how.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a good show. I do not know how many people watch it though.
How I Met Your Mother is a brilliant show.
PS Did Community> suck as bad as I think?
Yes, Community was un-good.
You got that right. I was soooooo disappointed in it.
I liked it, but then I like both Joel McHale and John Oliver.
Could you be more wrong about 30 Rock? The show is brilliant and deserves every award its getting.
It’s still a crime Battlestar Galatica was passed over in its final season. Best television drama I’ve ever seen. This last season was perfection.
Yeah, until the final episode destroyed its brilliance. Now I won’t even recommend the series to anyone. Why set them up for such a supreme disappointment?
Angels my ass. Moore fell victim to the Chris Carter I’ll-just-make-it-up-as-I-go-along syndrome.
So glad that Michael Emerson won, since that was the only reason I watched.
Dear Matthew Weiner:
You actually said in reference to winning a Writing Emmy: “I have more creative freedom than anyone else in this room.”
And then in reference to winning Best Drama Emmy: “Wow, the election and now this.”
I have never seen a more overt public display of hubris/arrogance in my life.
Get over yourself. Quick.
Totally agree with this post. Matthew Weiner you’re NO David Chase. While I love period shows, they usually have to make sense. I also prefer close ended shows that I can watch without the serialization. This is an example of a show with great details, but poor stories. And I can’t believe I’m saying this but, if this is what happens without network supervision, Matthew Weiner needs a few D girls to slap him up side the head.
NOTHING HAPPENS in this show. NOTHING. I was kind of hoping that the baby would need a blood transfusion. And it’s blood wouldn’t match Mom OR Dad. Meaning that it was sired by her one night stand in the bar. That would be interesting. But NOTHING EVER HAPPENS here. Just illusions of things. Like last week’s episode with the guy wheeling his wife out of the hospital and refusing to look at Don. WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT? Or, shall I say, all the drama is off screen. Dangling, like participles in the wind. Seasons 1 and 2 Don Draper was a sex addict. Now he never has sex. Is he cured? The show, like it’s show runner, is so taken with itself, it doesn’t think it needs to answer the big questions. I think it does.
Well said. I love the show — in spite of itself. The first season was great, but since then it’s been all downhill. Storywise, it’s a hot mess. A dull, hot mess.
Clearly this is what happens when a guy like Matt Weiner gets “more creative control than anyone in the room. That’s why the show’s so good.”
Who says that?
Did you watch last night’s Mad Men? Because something happened. It was kind of out of step for the show and totally awesome. Sterling has never been so hilarious.
Gosh Michelle,
Sorry Mad Men isn’t the ultra-predictable soap opera you wish it was.
The new Melrose Place is starting up soon. Maybe that will have the hackneyed plot devices you seem to crave.
brad12c,
Craig Ferguson was asked to host. He turned it down.
30 Rock? Again? Tina Fey acts by sticking her hands in her pockets and is a connect-the-dots-comedy writer. Tracy Morgan, as himself or as Tracy Jordan, is repulsive. Jane Krakowski’s chin–I can’t take my eyes off that thing–is more distracting than her overacting. No way I can top Nikki’s insight on why Alec Baldwin won. I don’t like the show and I don’t understand why anyone else does either.
Why not just rename your blog IHATENBC.COM cause it’s so obvious that everything here is more colorfully colored by your unrelenting rage at the peacock. Did you once get some rancid meatloaf at the NBC commissary or something? You’re not the only one. Mooooooooooooove on.
30 Rock is a legitimately brilliant show and you can’t find a better half hour on TV, period. If you don’t get it then you don’t get TV. I guess it’s unfortunate that TV’s two best comedies, 30 Rock and The Office, are on NBC but the Finke hates NBC so instead they clearly suck.
If the half-hour comedy is dying then you’re the one happily polishing the grim reaper’s scythe.
Sorry, gotta disagree with you re 30 ROCK. It doesn’t do the one thing I ask for in a comedy – make me laugh.
I agree w/ a good portion of the snark, but I loves me some Michael Emerson, and am glad he finally won. Likeways Cherry Jones.
Thought David Simon & Ed Burns should’ve won for “Generation Kill,” which I haven’t even seen, to make up for the shocking exclusion of “The Wire.”
The thing that bugged me even more than 30 Rock’s 4 nominations in comedy was Mad Men’s 4 noms in drama, and I say that as a fan. But come on–no nominations for BSG? Dexter? Damages?
4 writing nomination for 30 Rock is wrong, 4 writing nomination fo Mad Men is Good Choice. Why? Both are unfair, in the same level, and maybe more in drama because there is much more good competition.
Alec Baldwin has had a hugw career and he just worked with Scorcese. ALEC HATED LOS ANGELES. He took the job to move home to New York City. 3o Rock is a huge hit on Networks that only wanted Reality. It single handedly saved the sitcom and No amount of insults will take away his emmy.
Alec is funny. Entourage is Great, and Tarantino is a god. Period
You are insane, _30 Rock_ is hilarious and well-deserving of its love. I still want to go to there.
Also, for most of 2008 _Daily Show_ was OK, but since the election Stewart has devolved into idol worship and his Obama commemorative kneepads have worn patches into the carpet.
This is a webpost about an awards show. Keep your politics to yourself.
Superstars come and go, Nikki. Actor last, and Alec Baldwin is an actor.
Nikki -
You LIKE MAD MEN, (a show with no stories run by a man with massive ego) but you couldn’t sit through GREY GARDENS? I don’t think you like/appreciate true female fare. I watched GREY GARDENS over and over again. I found it compelling, interesting, and very true to period details. Everyone I know (with taste) writers/directors/actors loved it. They thought the performances were brilliant.
I’m no questioning your taste level. Sorry to say. But like you, being honest!
I love ‘true female fare’(conspicuously absent from television). I’d have tuned in to see DB or JL roll a dried turd across the floor with her nose if I thought the storyline was compelling enough, but I’m tired of the trials and tribulations of the rich and famous. Let them eat cake. ;D
RE: MATT WEINER’S COMMENT: “I may be the only person in the room with complete creative freedom. That’s why the show is so good.” HONESTLY. EVERYONE I WAS WATCHING WITH DID A SPIT TAKE. NOTE TO MR. W – YOUR SHOW IS NOT SO GOOD. MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY DON’T WATCH. WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT MANY MORE TUNED IN TO SEE WHAT ALL THE HUBBUB WAS ABOUT ON YOUR PREMIERE EPISODE THIS YEAR. THEY TUNED OUT EVERY WEEK AFTER. HERE’S A TIP, YOU NEED HELP. NO MAN IS AN ISLAND, AND IF YOU KEEP BELIEVING YOU ARE THE BE ALL AND THE END ALL THEN YOU’LL HAVE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE – NIKKI FINKE. A LITTLE NETWORK HELP MIGHT BRING IN THE WOMEN.
I LOVE PERIOD SHOWS. BUT YOURS FRUSTRATE ME. HOW ABOUT WE SEE THE SHOW FROM THE WOMAN’S POINT OF VIEW? SLAHERTTY’S NEW WIFE, OR MISS OLSENS YEARNING FOR A KID (PRESUMABLY SHE HAS SOME FEELINGS FOR KIDS) OR BETSY STILL NOT QUITE TRUSTING DON? HOW ABOUT WE GET JOAN INTO TELEVISION SINCE SHE WATCHES IT AND DID SO WELL ON THAT EARLY ASSIGNMENT. YOU’VE POINTED OUT ALREADY THAT A SECRETARY CAN’T MOVE UP. WE UNDERSTAND. BUT ISN’T THE DRAMA IN THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES THEY DO.
I LONG FOR ANOTHER PERIOD SHOW THAT ACTUALLY HAS STORIES. NOTE TO NETWORKS – DO A PERIOD DRAMA WITH STORIES. WOMEN (OTHER THAN NIKKI) WILL NOT ONLY LOVE BUT WILL WATCH. REMAKE THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, MONA LISA SMILE, OR THE GROUP. DO DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES SET IN THE 50′S WHEN THEY REALLY WERE DESPERATE.
AND NIKKI, FOR THE RECORD, I LOVED GREY GARDENS. WHEN I READ THAT YOU COULDN’T GET THROUGH IT ALL I WAS STUNNED. DID YOU LIKE THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE? MONA LISA SMILE? THE GROUP? DO YOU LIKE DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES? I DON’T THINK YOU LOVE FEMALE PERIOD PIECES. BUT I ALSO DON’T THINK YOU ARE TYPICAL OF THE FEMALE AUDIENCE. SO GO ON WORSHIPPING MAD MEN. I’LL SIT AND WAIT FOR THE NETWORKS (WITH HELP FROM THEIR EXECS) MAKE THEIR OWN ATTEMPT.
GREENBURG TO ROSENSWAIG
I hardly know where to begin in commenting upon the comments posted by GREENBURG TO ROSENSWAIG.
Perhaps I should start by saying that, unlike a number who have posted here, I am neither in the business nor can I claim to have developed the perfect way of watching and digesting television or movies or whatever. Don’t get me wrong, folks: I love television– love the hell out of it. And, for someone without a self-appointed title in watching, I dare say that, as a mere amateur, I am fairly proficient at operating the remote control and stopping when I see something that amuses the pea brain inside my tapered little head.
Still, it is with great trepidation that I take on the task of addressing the above poser (er, poster) when I ask the following:
What the hell are you talking about?
This little passage really got my attention:
“I LOVE PERIOD SHOWS. BUT YOURS FRUSTRATE ME. HOW ABOUT WE SEE THE SHOW FROM THE WOMAN’S POINT OF VIEW? SLAHERTTY’S NEW WIFE, OR MISS OLSENS YEARNING FOR A KID (PRESUMABLY SHE HAS SOME FEELINGS FOR KIDS) OR BETSY STILL NOT QUITE TRUSTING DON? HOW ABOUT WE GET JOAN INTO TELEVISION SINCE SHE WATCHES IT AND DID SO WELL ON THAT EARLY ASSIGNMENT. YOU’VE POINTED OUT ALREADY THAT A SECRETARY CAN’T MOVE UP. WE UNDERSTAND. BUT ISN’T THE DRAMA IN THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES THEY DO.”
This bit of ‘wisdom’ comes exactly one paragraph after ROSENKRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN chides Weiner by saying “your show is not so good”. So, if I am anywhere near correct here, the way to fix a show that just won the Emmy would be to make it a different show entirely, and tell all the stories from the points of view of the women involved? Really?
Now I’m doing a spit take…
The show is called MAD MEN, and it is a show about the business/political/personality conflicts in an ad agency, isn’t it? In and around that, there are any number of women characters, ranging from those who are mere window dressing to those who are emerging as rather forceful and assertive players to be taken seriously. Am I at least somewhat right so far?
Remember, the show is also set way back in 1963, when things were just a wee bit different– which perhaps explains to a degree why things in the office, and therefore on the show (as it stands now)are a bit more patriarchal! For better or worse,that was how it was back then– so if you like period pieces as much as you say you do, then stop carping and at least try and appreciate the attempt to show that particular period in a fairly realistic light!
Okay, so it wasn’t the most enlightened time: Men tended to subjugated women a bit, and the women kinda tended to let it happen, and that sucks– but, again, that’s what was going on; and you think tweaking the show into being something it isn’t and reflecting something 1963 did NOT will somehow make it better?
Just who do you think will tune into see MAD MEN now retooled and retitled as STRONG YEARNING CHILDLESS WOMEN WITH AMBITIONS WHO ARE SUSPICIOUS AND GOOD AT WATCHING TELEVISION?!!!! Again, it’s a show about the people that work at an ad agency, not the video for ‘Til Tuesday’s “Voices Carry”….
At least if you were gonna pitch an idea (and that’s really what this was, wasn’t it? you using the comments section here to hopefully get discovered via a quick pitch, right?) to ruin MAD MEN, why not make it somewhat original and so absurdly self-destructive a cry for help that maybe someone tosses you a development deal bone to keep you from harming yourself?
Maybe Queen Latifah does a three episode guest arc as a back-sassin’ genie who pops out of an expensive bottle of Draper’s vodka, and proceeds to turn the office upside down with her straight talking no-fussin’ ways. And pretty soon all the women on the show are openly brooding, yearning and speaking eloquent soliloquies about their woefully unfulfilled needs….
Riveting.
I figure a three episode arc should be just enough time for Weiner and Co. to clear out their offices ahead of the torch and pitchfork-bearing mobs, and for the city maintenance crews to hose down the sidewalks after more than a few AMC suits lob themselves out of their office windows.
Now, go pitch your stuff to Lifetime and Oxygen and see how long it takes them to call security…
Chris Checkman
“HOW ABOUT WE SEE THE SHOW FROM THE WOMAN’S POINT OF VIEW?”
Ms. GtoR How about we don’t. How about TV in general is so estrogen laden anywhere we can find some respite it is welcome. In fact most of the crap involving these hysterical women is a distraction as it is. The attraction of the show involves the ad business and the office intrigue. Forget the soap opera crap and the “woman’s point of view”. That’s exactly the kind of mentality that ruined other shows like The Unit and JAG.
This is a pretty funny post if it is a parody, if it’s for real…time to have your lithium level adjusted.
As for Weiner, he makes the effort to call out the work of his crew and cast, and damn if I wouldn’t be crowing if I had my name on the best written, best looking show on television. He fought to make this show the way it is and deserves credit for his vision and perseverance.
Also his statement is in the context of an industry that loves to tell its writers to do stupid things like put a giant spider in the third act…movies have been fucked by execs who think in four quadrant terms, whereas television is experiencing something of a renaissance because executives have put trust in creators with a vision (Sopranos, etc.)
“HOW ABOUT WE SEE THE SHOW FROM THE WOMAN’S POINT OF VIEW?”
How about we not. The best part of the show is the excitement of the ad business and the office intrigue set in that decade. The schizophrenia the networks inject into shows to attract women with “soap opera story lines” detracts from the main stories and often leads to an overall weakening of the show. In some cases it leads to their downfall. Look what happened to The Unit and JAG when they did that. If it’s the woman’s point of view you need there is plenty of that all over TV as it is and you always have Lifetime. Cant we have a few safe havens?
I agree, Michael C. Hall should have won for Dexter.
Respectfully disagree with your comments re AMAZING RACES’s win. It’s the only ‘reality’ show that I’ve seen that is not about backstabbing and/or screwing over the contestants. What I don’t get is the popularity of competitive cooking shows. While the viewer can evaluate the presentation from their living room, there’s no way to judge the most important aspect – taste!
Overall, as usual, the Emmys got it mostly wrong in my opinion, but I thought NPH was a terrific host. He’ll be a hard act to follow next year.
Cranston more than deserved his win. Breaking Bad was easily the best program last year. It got hurt that it’s season had already wrapped up at the time the nominations were announced, while Mad Men season 3 was receiving reams of press. Of course, Mad Men’s “lawnmower/foot” scene will now be hailed as the most groundbreaking moment on television ever…
It probably didn’t help Hall that he married the actress who plays his sister on the program. Not fair to ding him for that, but let’s not pretend that didn’t swing a few votes.
Intervention: Because it’s just plain impossible to make Mondays any more depressing than they already are.
Re: AMAZING RACE’S 7TH STRAIGHT WIN
Here’s what’s going on… THE AMAZING RACE has the longest crew list of anything other show in reality TV. I’m talking pages upon pages. All of these people are members of the voting Academy. And, of course, they all vote for their own show. It’s a crew numbers game. As long as AMAZING RACE remains on the air, it will always win in this category, regardless of how superior and more inventive another show might be. Thankfully, the voters recognized the genius and REAL REALITY behind INTERVENTION, and gave it the award it so richly deserved.
hurray for michael emerson!
Congrats to “Little Dorrit”, an unbelievably good mini-series. As someone who has never been a Dickens fan, I had to eat my words that they made an incredible piece from what is considered one of his lesser novels no less.
Since Nikki is very fond of using ratings as the sole metric of worthiness, it’s interesting that she never mentions that Mad Men isn’t exactly burning up the ratings. In fact, I believe it has LOWER ratings than 30 Rock.
You call 30 ROCK’s 4 out of 5 writing nominations “unfair” and “fixed”, yet praise the selection of MAD MEN, which also received an unfair 4 of 5 writing nominations. Wow, talk about prejudiced and no credibility as a journalist! Not to mention if you’re talking “overrated,” Mad Men should be at the top of that list.
…but I shouldnt be surprised. Every single opinion in this article is completely wrong, just as it was with the Oscar telecast. (Hugh was GREAT)
Yeah, who cares. Jefferey Donovan was snubbed again. Don’t Give A Fuck about the Emmys.
Holy shit! I am so glad to read this. I was about to post the same thing. Donovan is like Bruce Willis and Sean Connery rolled into one.
And the show itself is fantastic.
This is the first year that I didn’t watch the Emmys (I didn’t even Tivo it) I realized that I just don’t give a damn.
The Oscars will soon be irrelevant too. Ten Best Pictures? Bullshit.
How does Generation Kill not win for Best Miniseries?
I guess its not surprising since the award show that’s supposed to recognize the best in television refused to nominate the best show on television, The Wire, also written by David Simon and Ed Burns; but at some point the refusal to recognize the best turns the Emmys into something of a joke.
What’s with all the 30 Rock hatred? By far the funniest show on network television. I’m assuming Nikki and the haters all love Two and a Half Men or Big Bang Theory? Are you kidding? Welcome to the 21st century, where sitcoms make you laugh without a laugh track! Well, the good ones do… 30 Rock could’ve shared two of its writing noms with the Office I suppose, but, beyond that, network TV is a wasteland for comedy.
Yes, i love Two and a Half Men and <Big Bang Theory for the simple reason that they make me laugh. Laugh track or not, 30 Rock does not. It’s jus that simple for me when it comes to comedies.
“By far the funniest show on network television”
Well, EMMY awards/nominations aren’t supposed to be given only to network television shows. Entourage, Hung, Nurse Jackie, Californication, etc etc etc.
I have enjoyed your analysis and admired your dogged pursuit of real news in entertainment, but I have to say something in describing Palin as “Witch in heels”. How ironic. Tina Fey, and yourself, claiming to be open-minded progressive feminists but unleash your hatred towards any woman who doesn’t goosestep to the groupthink mindset that all women (as well as minorities & gays) should have. Exactly what did Palin do to warrant such hate? Not have an abortion?
I’m no fan of Hillary Clinton but I wouldn’t describe her as a witch. I agree with your view of “Two & 1/2 Men” as misogynist, but would it be acceptable if the show only treated conservative women badly?
“Exactly what did Palin do to warrant such hate? ”
what rock have you been hiding under for the past couple of years? that woman stirred up so much hatred at her rallies it’s not even funny, and we’re still living with her nut job followers using the same lines and racism towards Obama daily. and stop with the abortion line already. that’s all you guys have. I was a special education teacher for years and would never think about having an abortion because my child had special needs, which would be my choice. My dislike of sarah palin has nothing to do with her choices to have a baby. she is an ass backward, polarizing figure. she levels the most absurd claims towards her opponents and then cries sexism and unfair treatment every chance she gets.
Come on, Nikki! How can you be so right about so much, and then say that Damages is a good show! Except for the opening credit sequence, which is very well done, the show plays like a 40’s camp melodrama. Granted, this opinion is all based on the first season, one in which I painfully sat through ten episodes before I decided the show fit into the “life’s too short to sit through this” category.
They should thank their lucky stars every day that they have Glenn Close to bring all of those good actors to slum on the show, because without her overplaying what little she has to do or say, they have nothing. Rose Byrne is a doe-eyed, empty vessel – much like the show itself. And F/X wonders why no one watches? But hey, let’s pick it up again, season after season!
Baldwin deserved his Emmy, he’s got fantastic comedic timing and is consistently funny whenever he’s on 30 Rock. Big Bang Theory is old school sitcom crap that has A to B jokes, and while I think Jim Parsons is talented he can’t even shine in this canned laugh crap fest.
You should watch Pushing Daisies… Picture all the same reasons you like Mad Men, but as a comedy!
Oh, blasphemy to mention that pretentious piece of crap that is Pushing Daisies at the same level as Mad Men.
Pushing Daisies was just Fuller going on, and on about his one single theme, death, but now in glorious technicolor. There was no Tony Colette there saving it from it’s platitude. It catered to a pretentious, yet dimwitted audience, that believed that the quirkiness was deliberate, and not plain bad writing, and bad acting. If I wanted to watch people acting cute I would watching the spelling bee. Grown-ups acting cutesy, are just pandering to the audience in the cheapest way, and because they can’t act.
If Chenoweth was anything remarkable in the show, she would have been getting more and more scenes, and the show would still be here for people to watch on the strength of her performance. It isn’t, she didn’t deserve the Emmy.
Giants v Cowboys was a great game!
I think the comments are way off base. 30 Rock is brilliant – best comedy since Arrested Development. Alec Baldwin is a comedic genius – who cares if he did not fulfull his A list potential. I doubt Emmy voters are giving him a sympathy award since he is supposed to be a real prick.
YAY Michael Emerson!!! He is amazing on Lost and deserves every bit of attention he gets for his great work.
Does no one else think Weeds is the best show on TV? Best acting? Best writing?
crapfest – perfectly said. No worries about live blogging – are you kidding me?, it was painful even watching on delay w/fast forward. A new host would be a big plus, Harris was not bad, but is that the new standard? I think I would rather watch reruns of Judge Judy, at least it would be more entertaining.
Aw, Nikki come on. I like 30 Rock, its just like the Muppet Show but Miss Piggy was definitely more attractive.
Amazing, I disagree with Nikki on pretty much everything.
30 Rock is hilarious, and I don’t even work in the industry or anything even close to it. The Amazing Race, especially its most recent season, is superb and your description of it just shows how you’ve never watched more than maybe five minutes of it. Pushing Daisies was the most unique and ingenious show on TV, which is why it was cancelled. I’m just really glad it got some recognition.
Not to mention that you failed to riff on the worst result of the night: American Idol director Bruce Gowers winning for Outstanding Directing of a Musical, Variety, or Comedy Series. The man is a horrible director, as the performance and results shows constantly run overtime by several minutes, including one time this season when Adam Lambert’s entire performance was cut off my people’s DVRs. Yet he wins an Emmy for best director for maybe the one episode he directed this season where things might have just barely finished on time. Awful
My 2 cents:
‘30 Rock’ is hit + miss. Don’t know that it’s Emmy-worthy though. The fervent adoration for it is hard to believe. Tina Fey works better as a writer. I’m personally sick of her, and her smug grin. Baldwin’s great. Sure, he’s ballooned up since his Beetlejuice days, but so what?! He does comedy very well.
And he impersonation of Palin was hardly groundbreaking… waaaay overrated.
I wish ‘Family Guy’ had won. It truly seems to pack more inventive, clever, rude, funny moments into one show, than anything else.
Most people getting cable, probably get the cheapest base package that doesn’t include Showtime or HBO. I’m one of them. $100/month is enough for me, without adding more stations I have little time for.
I have never watched an entire episode of 30 ROCK, the show doesn’t grab my attention, that and Tina Fey is in it.
I use to like 2 and half Men but the premise is getting old, Charlie gets laid, again, and Allen complains about something. The story is getting old.
Jeff Blitz was nominated for an Oscar for his documentary film debut, “Spellbound”. He’s no lightweight.
Season 2 of Mad Men was good, they deserve it. But season three has taken a nose dive. When I’m find myself suddenly doing dishes or checking my email during the show, there’s a problem. People are blinded by the cool sets and costumes, but there is no story this season. No sex, no relationships, no secrets, no motivation, no drama…there’s not even any advertising campaigns????? And unfortunately Don just stands there with a strange frown on his face in every scene. Sorry Mad Men, I tried, but you lost me.
the ego on mathew wiener makes me want to barf. horrendous. his show is not all that.
I’m very happy that “Little Dorrit” won several awards! They really deserve them!! It’s rare that a “clean” (no foul language, no nudity and sex)movie recieves many awards, especially since it’s a well-known classic!
Alec Baldwin (and Tina Scarface Fey for that matter) are about as funny as cancer. No idea why people would give even a single award to that dreck. God knows nobody except those on the show watch it.
Oh and Nikki? Did Sally Field steal your man in a past life? Cut you off in traffic? Grabbed the last sweater during a sale at Saks or something? I’m stunned that you constantly go after that woman like a dog with a bone. Come on. Tell us the story.
What kind of sad, lonely, and despicable human being do u have to be, “Dorothy”, to refer to Tina Fey as “scarface” in such a pejorative way? You are a disgusting and cowardly human being saying such a loathsome thing and, all the while, hiding behind your anonimity.
What a cretin you must be.
“God knows nobody except those on the show watch it.”
I’m not on the show, but I watch it. Does that mean there’s no God?
30 Rock has failed to produce even one memorable episode in 3 seasons.
On top of that, it is a ratings disaster. Notice how they constantly delay the start of the season, hoping somehow to con the public into thinking it is something special. It isn’t.
I also thought that excluding Jeremy Piven from the Supporting Actor category would open up the door for Harris, who would be a
deserving winner. It now appears that Harris wasn’t the 2nd choice in years that Piven won, Cryer was.
Um, I’ve got news for all of you 30 Rock lovers. NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR LAME SNOB FEST.
You can say all the nasty things you want about CBS sitcoms, but they bring in TWICE the ratings as 30 Rock & The Office. And to all the Big Bang Theory haters, IT’S NOT A LAUGH TRACK. The show is actually FUNNY, therefore the studio audience laughs. Sheesh.
Lame snob fest? Hardly. 30 Rock’s characters are decidedly down to earth. Perhaps you find offense with anything that is not lowbrow enough for you I understand.
Perhaps you need to reconfigure that satelitte dish, the one thats larger than, and sits on the roof of your trailer.
Be commercial all you want… but don’t expect awards. And don’t be a sour grape… Obviously you don’t get quality shows.
Mad Men deserves any awards they give it! Although that speech by Weiner was cringe-worthy. And 30 Rock really is funny, but I’m tired of seeing Tina Fey give speeches.
Dexter should have been represented here, the execution (no pun intended) on that show is brilliant.
Okay, I’m one of those emmy voters. This year I was in the blue ribbon peer panel that ‘judged’ the Reality competition category.
Some facts: 1.) the large crew can help the show get nominated, but if you work on a show in the category you cannot ‘judge’ that category for the award. 2.) The award is based on one episode chosen by the production – judges view the episodes submitted and decide their placement for the show.
Surprisingly I had seen every single selected episode, despite watching only one show regularly. After this everything is based on individual preference. . Think of the 30 Rock is trash/great argument going on here, it is like the Three Stooges. You either like them or you don’t doesn’t make either point of view better then the other, but back to the Reality shows. For me Amazing Race stood up the best. It held my interest and engaged me emotionally. It was followed by Project Runway. Least successful was American Idol – they choose their finale and that may be a mistake as show feels twice as long as it should be and with little focus on the contestants, no matter how many guests perform.
As for Little Dorrit it was a superb adaptation of a classic book. But this is one where that preference thing is obvious. I would never have chosen to judge in this category. I don’t do war movies or prison movies – I figured out war and prison was hell at a very young age. Sure, I can look at them and get the quality of the production but they will never truly captivate me, because I distance myself from the start. Is that wrong. No. Just as not liking sprawling family dramas doesn’t mean your taste resides somewhere south of center either. This just means that the preferences of the group leaned toward one thing more then the other.
Operation Repo. funniest show on tv. Hands down.
I’m not sure how you can dislike Jon Cryer winning Best Supporting Actor in a comedy series and then say that Jim Parsons should have won Best Actor in a comedy series. “The Big Bang Theory” is just a retooled “Two and a Half Men”. It’s even created by the same guy.
He just changed the little boy to a blonde woman and changed the Charlie Sheen role from ladies man to anti-ladies man.
“If you’re a liberal, this is deserved. If you’re a conservative, it’s a plot by those goddamn Hollywood socialists who worship The Messiah (aka President Obama) and hate god-fearing real Americans. Count me in the former category.”
Do you really think you have to let us know that you’re in the former category? Everything you write, including your cliched characterizations of conservatives, makes that pretty clear. “Count me in the former category” is about as necessary as Rush Limbaugh’s letting us know that he’s a Republican.
It is so clear you don’t watch much TV Nikki. I’m not sure it is your area of expertise to be writing about. You are so clear on matters concerning film. TV is a whole other animal. It works nothing like film in every respect. You should also learn how the ATAS works so you can comment on the voting.
I would prefer you write about the 85 white male nominees for writing of a variety show. 3-4 women among the five shows. Letterman and Conan don’t have a single female on their writing staff. Neither does Jay Leno.
And Matt Weiner hires women only in baby writing positions. There are no upper level female writers on his staff. Same work hours but they are paid less. Upper level writing spots are reserved for men.
30 Rock is the only sitcom nominated about a woman. Grey Gardens was also about a mother and daughter…women love you Nikki. You should love them back. It is so hard for women to work in this business at all much less have shows with female characters get made. The stories made about them are all written by men.
Thank you for pointing this out and it’s truly revolting. In any other industry rampant sexism and discrimination this would be outrageous and unacceptable but for some reason it’s the TV industry and they’ve been getting away with it from day one.
Women should boycott these shows until more women get a real voice or at least fair opportunities on them.
Most of the stories on 30 Rock are not really about the show-within-the-show, but are rather character driven. Its a farce to be sure, but has many laugh out loud moments.
You can say all the nasty things you want about CBS sitcoms, but they bring in TWICE the ratings as 30 Rock & The Office. And to all the Big Bang Theory haters, IT’S NOT A LAUGH TRACK. The show is actually FUNNY, therefore the studio audience laughs. Sheesh.
—-
Tim, seriously, if you are laughing at ANY CBS comedies then you have gauze on your head and are waiting for medication under your tongue. This is by the numbers garbage — they’re all the same — pretty people trying to get laid. There is no imagination to a CBS Comedy. None.
Can someone please explain to me how Californication ends up with no writing nominations?
Hooray for the extended praise Mad Men is receiving. I don’t mind the slow stories because it’s full of interesting ideas. It’s the only show that has something to say. As a young person, who enjoys thinking, that’s all I’m really looking for. You can clog the airwaves with all that other filler, just as long as you give me one little glimpse of something special!
To me, the Emmys will be illegitimate from here on in because of the total snubbing of the brilliant final season of “The Shield”. Where was Best Drama? Best Actor for Chikilis? Best Supporting noms for Walton Goggins and CCH Pounder? Unlike “Damages” (another FX show), people actually watched “The Shield”.
Why does Matthew Weiner keep congratulating himself?
Mad Men is not The Sopranos. Six Feet Under or In Treatment..
And it has a miniscule audience..
And you’re wrong about “Grey Gardens.”
Let’s be honest here for a moment. The only reason 30 Rock got so many nominations and awards is because Tina Fey relentlessly mocked Sarah Palin during the election. If Tina hadn’t done that, the liberal media wouldn’t be gushing over her left and right and handing her every award in the land as if she was the second coming of Lucille Ball.
To the Emmy voter who voted for The Amazing Race…I hate you.
GO TO IMDB.COM Research the nominees in your categories voters! That show has won 7 straight Emmys in its category! I dont care how much interest it held for you, Project Runway and Top Chef are fanastic competition shows who both deserve their first wins!
And Nikke, you are crazy in your comments about Grey Gardens and Lange.
Lange and Barrymore were terrific together and mark my words, their performances will be better than whatever 20 something cute flavor of the moment thing that ends up winning that Oscar in Feb.
tim Are you actually trying to use ratings as a sign of quality in a show? People watch American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. Jay Leno got ratings on the Tonight Show for years. People as a whole have horrible taste. If you don’t like 30 Rock or The Office that is fine but low ratings is a very weak argument for whether a show is good or not.
actually, yes, I am. if a show’s writing/acting/directing goes above the heads of the viewing public, then the show is a failure in my opinion. aren’t the big 3 broadcasters aiming to cast a wide net? save the snobbery for cable.
and what may be “horrible taste” to you, may be loved by many.
oh, and the big bang theory not only has the critics on its side, it has viewership. that’s more than can be said for those nbc shows…
Tim, so by your metric, Mad Men is an artistically unworthy show because it’s ratings are lower than 30 Rock?
So your nominated drama shows would have been (going by ratings)
CSI
NCIS
CSI Miami
Criminal Minds
Grey’s Anatomy
CSI New York
Do you see the problem here?
Yes, Weiner’s rep took a bit of hit for the “election” and “creative control” comments. However, the show has the content to back up the control claim, plus he did stare down Lionsgate and AMC on two big battle-fronts in the past year. He’s gotta feel a little bulletproof.
If you noticed, during the writer’s nomination package, or in the opening credits of “MM” many weeks, Weiner collaborates with women quite often on penning episodes of the show. And while the misogeny of the era gets its fair due, characters like Joan and Peggy are very three-dimensionally written & portrayed. I’ve also found that men and women seem to watch and react to the show very differently. For me, I see the show as pretty loaded against Betty, and women of my accquaintance easily side with her challenges and concerns.
The enigmatic nature of “MM” is my second favorite thing about the show – the first being the clever use of real events in the show and to mark time.
So while Weiner gets hit with a stack of “tool points” for Sunday night, he delivers the goods to back it up.
Why does “Rescue Me” get ignored every year. It is the best show on TV. Too adult? Too quirky? Too many real complicatd people? Glad to see they at least acknowledged Michael J. Fox, who played so against type it was scary (and good).
You suck. Do you work for ABC or CBS?
I totally disagree with your opinion of “Grey Gardens.” I thought it was one of the best productions I’ve seen on TV all year.
As a journalist, I thought the writing superb, and the acting first class. Both Lange and Barrymore deserved an award for a job well done – especially Drew, who proved, at last, she was worthy of the name Barrymore.
In “Grey Gardens,” just two characters carried the entire movie, a feat you usually only see in a Broadway production; and it’s something that requires excellent writing and acting skills.
Try watching it again.
Maybe you’re right and the voters just don’t watch TV.
For instance, I tend to watch only news programming and haven’t seen the vast majority of the shows nominated. The only first-run sitcom that I’ve seen and can stand (and isn’t animated) is 30 Rock, which I find absolutely hilarious. And as a fan of the documentary (and semi-sequel,) I tuned into Grey Gardens and absolutely loved it. In fact, I think it brought a depth to the story that made me love the original films even more.
“NOTHING HAPPENS in this show. NOTHING. I was kind of hoping that the baby would need a blood transfusion. And it’s blood wouldn’t match Mom OR Dad. Meaning that it was sired by her one night stand in the bar. That would be interesting.”
Are you stupid or crazy? Betty was ALREADY pregnant when she had her one night stand.
The Venture Brothers should’ve won something, at the very least as a nod to the tragic deaths of H.E.L.P.eR. and henchmen 21. The Guild of Calamitous Intent should pay a visit to ATAS to find out who is responsible for this heinous oversight. Come on, how many shows reference Lydia Lunch?
Jim Parsons kicks Alec Baldwins wrinkled old ass although I love both shows.
Watched football, not the Emmys. Relied on Nikki for the story. Didn’t see anything about the following: NCIS, Cold Case, The Mentalist, Bill Envall, Raising The Bar, or The Closer. Sure, football is king, but most would have watched reruns of Gilligan’s Island instead of the Emmys. Hey, TV people, you are irrelevant. We don’t care about or like you. We make the decisions and turn the channels. The writers, actors, and studio/money groups are incestuous…but only until the money runs out. We’re not watching…I said we’re not watching.