The results of EW.com's first annual EWwys, honoring the shows and actors that coulda/shoulda been nominated in Emmys 10 major categories but weren't, are in. You'll find their margins of victory in our gallery of winners (that Best Drama race was T-I-G-H-T). After the jump, the rundown of EWwy recipients, as voted by you, the readers...
Look, I didn't want to have to run another photo of Ugly Betty's Vanessa L. Williams on PopWatch this week -- okay, that's a blatant lie -- but after she got snubbed by Emmy tonight for the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy statuette, I had no choice but to vent. No disrespect to Jean Smart, who's a terrific actress, but let me just say that Samantha Who? rhymes with "get a clue!" I know, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I just finished four hours of grueling live blogging, my brain aches a little, and nothing makes sense in a world where the woman who has given us two seasons of Wilhelmina Slater awesomeness still doesn't have a freakin' Emmy! So yeah, Vanessa (L. Yeah) Williams is my pick for the biggest Emmy snub of 2008. (First runner-up goes to Lost, naturally. The show's total shutout on the Emmy telecast was completely screwy, though a well-dressed birdie tells me the ABC drama could still take home a little something from EWwy when those winners are announced right here on EW.com at 10 a.m. EDT today.)
It wasn't all bad, though. I let out a little "squeee!" when under-the-radar (but totally worthy) Zeljko Ivanek took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for his work on Damages. When you look at this fine character actor's IMDb page, you realize he's been in pretty much everything, without ever managing to become a household name. And so a night that finds him taking home one of his industry's most prestigious prizes can't be all bad. Not to mention that shows with small (but passionate) audiences like Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, In Treatment, Damages, and Mad Men got the kind of recognition that -- while it doesn't always lead to increased audiences -- can help to keep the Grim Reaper at bay for an extra season or two.
Anyhow, I'm wondering what you all thought of the 2008 Emmys telecast. What were the biggest snubs? Which winners had you cheering from your living room? Vent or celebrate or do a little of both on our message boards right now!
And if you're hungry for more Emmy fare, check out EW's complete list of Emmy winners, a groovy gallery of celebrity photos (that you can buy on eBay!) taken at EW's Emmy party, a big, juicy lineup of Emmy red-carpet videos courtesy of Michael Ausiello, our PopWatch live blog of the Emmy ceremony and the painful E! pre-show, and much more coverage (updated all day Monday) at EW's Emmy HQ. Plus, after the jump, see what happened when The Office's John Krasinski and Lost's Evangeline Lilly got together at the Emmys to talk romance on their shows. Fun!
On Monday night, while attending ABC's premiere party for season 3 of Ugly Betty, I made contact with the No. 1 person on my Celebrities I Want to Meet Before I Die List. Yes, PopWatchers, I got to shake hands with Vanessa (L. Yeah) Williams. Unfortunately, my hand was not the only thing that shook. Other affected limbs included knees, elbows, ankles, jaw, spleen, and, well, let's just say I resembled a sheltered and skittish Chihuahua who suddenly finds himself on the 10-yard line during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. I blurted something about her "Did you just gesture at me when you said Kwanzaa?" line on Betty, my deep appreciation of her classic Comfort Zone disc, and my outrage over her lack of a richly deserved Emmy. For her part, L. Yeah was totally gracious and sweet, which is to say she did not call security. (Good thing my colleague Michael Ausiello was there on official business, and snagged an official interview with Williams and a chat with her fellow Emmy nominee America Ferrera -- do click and watch 'em, people!)
Anyhow, I bring up my hellaciously somewhat embarrassing encounter because this Saturday, Sept. 20, EW will be hosting its annual Emmy party in Los Angeles. I've had a sneak peek at the likely guest list, and suffice to say there are more than a few A-list TV stars (and Emmy nominees) (and EWwy nominees) who are planning to attend. We'll have roving reporters (including Mr. Ausiello) in attendance, and we're hoping you'll do our work for us help us brainstorm some questions for the stars of your favorite shows. Yeah, I know, I can't share the guest list (my boss says it's strictly verboten!) but dream big. In a week where I got to meet the woman who plays Wilhelmina Slater, anything is possible. Let's just hope you (and your questions) manage to be a little more eloquent than yours truly.
So let's hear it: If you could meet any current TV actor at our party, who would it be, and what would you ask him or her? (Check EW.com on Sunday and Monday for video from the EW party to see if your questions made the cut!)
For William Shatner, scoring an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama has become an annual occurrence as predictable as geese heading south for the winter, Will Smith opening at No. 1 on July 4th weekend, and drug stores displaying Christmas merchandise at increasingly ungodly dates. (I kid you not: I saw a rack of hideous, holiday-themed plush toys at my local Duane Reade this morning. Rated Argh!)
But I've got exciting news for those of you who've ever been frustrated by the way the Emmys reward the same old nominees year after year after blasted, stinkin' year: Shatner and his Boston Legal cohorts all got snubbed in the first annual EWwy Awards, EW.com's brand new TV awards recognizing the great shows and performers who, for whatever reason, can't seem to get any love from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
We chose four nominees in every category from your passionate rants on our PopWatch message boards, then EW TV critics Gillian Flynn and Ken Tucker rounded out each list with a fifth "critics' choice" selection.
Click here to vote for the EWwys in five drama divisions -- the battle for best series is super-close; Battlestar Galactica, Bones, Friday Night Lights, and The Wire are all within reach of the coveted Golden Ewe trophy -- then come back to EW.com tomorrow when we'll reveal the nominees in five comedy races. The EWwy polls close Sept. 17, and every vote counts -- even Mr. Shatner's.
Also, a note to the Emmy-obsessed: If you haven't already, check out EW.com's Emmy Headquarters, where you'll find the complete list of this year's major nominees, our hella fun Emmy predictions game (in which you can challenge our own Scoop Doggy Dogg Michael Ausiello for prognostication supremacy), and even a gallery of the best and worst moments from last year's Emmy telecast! Enjoy!
