The regular 2007-2008 season has come to its end, I’m about 90 percent caught up with my DVR backlog, and Friday was apparently the deadline for TV shows to submit their sample episodes for Emmy consideration. This, of course, means it’s time for my annual rant about Vanessa (L. Yeah) Williams deserving an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her role as Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty blog post about which actors and series deserve a little love when the Emmy nominations are revealed on July 17.
My wish list starts with Damages‘ Zeljko Ivanek (left), whose heartbreaking portrayal of a morally dubious, sexually conflicted attorney might get overlooked by Emmy voters, considering his FX series last aired in October and featured standout performances by a couple of bigger names — Glenn Close and Ted Danson — who seem more likely to get kudos. But seriously, I’m calling 911 and reporting a felony crime if Ivanek’s name doesn’t get included for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. Similarly, much deserved recognition for the aforementioned (and absolutely sublime) Ms. Williams and headliner America Ferrera on Ugly Betty might lead to a snub for Ana Ortiz (right), despite the fact that her season 2 work as Hilda Suarez went from heartbreaking to hilarious and back — often in the course of a single scene — and even though her reaction shots are among the best in primetime.
Also on my dream nominations list: the consistently gripping Battlestar Galactica for Best Drama (it’s time to do the right thing, Emmy voters!); Chandra Wilson, whose mix of brass and brains makes Grey’s Anatomy bearable even in its most indulgent moments; Jake Weber, the quiet balance to Patricia Arquette’s more ballyhooed genius on Medium; Lost’s Yunjin Kim (for that helicopter scene alone); and Mia Wasikowska for HBO’s In Treatment (I’m only a few episodes in, but my word, she’s tremendous, as you can see in the clip I’ve embedded after the jump).
Okay, your turn: Which actors, writers, and shows deserve Emmynominations? Speak now, or forfeit the right to gripe when the Academyof Television Arts and Sciences inevitably gets it wrong next month.
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If Michael Emerson doesn’t WIN an Emmy this year I’m throwing my television out the window.
I really love me some Yunjin Kim, but Michael Emerson should win the Emmy. Not just be nominated, but win. He’s the best thing on TV today.
Henry Cavill from “The Tudors” for best supporting actor!
I say it every year but I’ll say it again – The Wire has the best cast, the most engrossing stories and the most overall truth on television. The Emmys lost all respect in my eyes when they failed to nominate The Wire’s fourth season for anything – the best single season of television by any show ever. I fully expect them to snub the fifth season but any show that actually wins Best Drama, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing, etc. should know that they are still merely a runner-up.
Supporting Actress Drama – Yunjin Kim – Lost
Lead Actor Drama – Damien Lewis – Life
Supporting Actor Drama – Vincent Kartheiser – Mad Men
Lead Actor Comedy – Lee Pace – Pushing Daisies
Supporting Actor Drama – Micheal Emerson – Lost
The one that I am most adament about is Vincent K.
Michael Emmerson. Ben’s response to Locke when told he just killed everyone on the ship….”So?” Judith Light as Mrs. Meade.
Agreed on the Michael Emerson comments. He’s quietly become one of the best actors on television. I’d also put up January Jones as Best Supporting Actress in Mad Men. Oh, and why not Weeds for Best Comedy? Or Dana Delaney for Best Comedy Actress?
Oh, and THE WIRE!!! I know I’m setting myself up for heartbreak, AGAIN, but I just have to put it out there in case the Emmy gods here me. THE WIRE!!!!!!
I’d love to see Aliens in America, Pushing Daisies, and The Office get a ridiculous amount of notice. LOST, too, but that one seems more obvious.
I have a list of about a dozen, but most important to me would be recognition for Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, who do the best, most lived-in acting on television.
Come on Slezak, I love you like a brother, but THE WIRE! THE WIRE!VTHE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE!THE WIRE! (Even if it wasn’t the best of the 5 seasons.) Omar, McNulty, Bunk, Michael, Dukie and BUBBLES!!!
I should have added Mad Men and FNL to my rant.
Jim Parsons MUST be nominated for best lead actor comedy. Big Bang Theory is, hands down, the funniest show on tv right now.
I always say Lost has the deepest talent of any cast, and Slezak you are right, this year was YUNJIN KIM’s chance to show how incredible she is.
friday night lights is one of the best-written, best-acted shows on television! it must be on the list of nominees.
Michael Emerson. He actually got me on Ben’s side in the finale, until that brilliant little “So?” snapped me out of it. He deserves the recognition.
Michael Emerson deserves an Emmy for his role of Ben Linus on Lost. His performance in the episode the Shape of Things to Come was brilliant.
I also think that Lost and BSG as the two best shows on tv should be nominated for best drama.
The Lost episodes titled the Constant, the Shape of Things to Come and There is no Place Like Home should be nominated for writing.
For the reality hosting nom-
Cat Deeley- SYTYCD
Seacrest-
Probst-
Chris Harrison- for the reunion shows alone
We all know Hugh Laurie is a given (rightfully so!), but come on Emmys! Show some love to Robert Sean Leonard. Please!
Ray Wise on Reaper. I know Reaper’s on The CW, which pretty much rules out any possibility of him getting nominated. Also BSG! Katee Sackhoff is brilliant and I’d love for the show to get nominated for Best Drama.
Totally agree w/ Chandra Wilson & Yunjin Kim. I turned to my s.o. after the helicopter scene & said that she should get a nom. Wilson & Sandra Oh are the best parts about Grey’s. I’d also love to see Chi McBride nominated for Pushing Daisies- he kept the show from being too too sweet, but was hilarious.
I totally agree- BSG deserves an Emmy nod somewhere… whether it is the entire show itself or some of the characters!
How about Dana Delaney for helping save “Desperate Housewives”?
Also, I’d like to see Ed Helms pick up a supporting actor in a comedy nom because he stole every single scene he was in this year.
In the drama categories, I would LOVE to see “The Wire” get a “Drama Series” nod in its final season (last chance Emmy voters) and Clark Johnson get some recognition for his AMAZING work. His weary editor really stood out in an incredible cast.
I also thought Jorge Garcia did some Emmy-worthy work in “The Beginning of the End” (the season premiere), but I understand if he’s not nominated since the “Lost” cast is so loaded.
Definitely the dad from Malcolm in the Middle (I forget his name) on Breaking Bad, especially after playing second fiddle to the mom on Malcolm all those years… He is both heartbreaking and hilarious on a daring and groundbreaking show.
Absolutely BSG! And acting nominations for Edward James Olmos & Mary McDonnell.
Natalie Dormer from The Tudors.
Loved Donald Sutherland on Dirty Sexy Money, but since that show ended early due to the strike, I suppose there’s no chance.
I’ll throw my voice behind the yells for “The Wire” to finally. Freaking. Get nominated. FOR SOMETHING. Are Emmy voters just not watching the show? I’m not sure where the breakdown in communications is here–but its time to rectify it and pay homage as this show bows out.
Also: Mary McDonnell from “Battlestar Galactica”, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton from “Friday Night Lights”. Please.
FNL!!!!!!!!!
Jenna Fischer!
Dana Delany all the way for bringing so much life to Desperate Housewives.
I’m all over the place, so forgive me:
Comedy actors:
Paul Lieberstein (Toby) on “The Office”
Jason Earles (Jackson) on “Hannah Montana”
Reality Host:
Tom Bergeron “DWTS”- there is no contest, unless…
Joel McHale “The Soup” – if he counts
Reality Show/Documentary:
The First 48