How do I feel after the Emmys?
It's hard for me to describe how I'm feeling, post-Emmys. There was a lot to like but still many unanswered questions. So let me break it down.
Pro: Right off the bat, host Conan O'Brian hits a home run with his opening riff on TV's hot shows. Although this is besides the fact that Lost was not nominated and perhaps in poor taste after the real-life plane crash in Kentucky, but this was all planned weeks in advance, so what are people going to do, complain? Oh yes they are, and did. But besides that, with Hurley sheepishly explaining to O'Brian that he wasn't invited to the Emmy's, Dwight blaming Jim for having O'Brian drop through the ceiling, Chloe and Jack telling O'Brian to get off the secure CTU line, House diagnosing all of O'Brian's unusual physical characteristics, and O'Brian being painted as a sexual predator on Dateline, I thought it was a non-stop riot.
Con: The "new and improved" nominating process was put in place to shake up the fields, and allow newer, fresher faces to get in on the excitement. Everyone cheered as they thought people like Lauren Graham, Kristen Bell and John McGinley would finally get some recognition. And to some extent, it worked. Denis Leary got a much deserved nod, as did Steve Carell, Kyra Sedgwick, Jean Smart and Stephen Colbert. But none of them won anything. And where were the Lost boys, Hugh Laurie, and the girls of Wisteria Lane (not that I watched them, but last year, they had 3 of the 5 Lead Actress nods). I realize you can't have everybody you want, but sometimes you just have to shake your head.
Pro: 24 finally gets some real respect. After 5 seasons, at least 3 great ones, Kiefer gets to take home the hardware. He was the only one of the five actors nominated to return from last year. The West Wing was the only other drama show to return. So it's about time it got some props, right? Even in a year that picked Grey's Anatomy (which went home empty-handed by the way) over Lost.
Con: Barry Manilow? Barry Freakin' Manilow?! Stephen Colbert lost out to the Copa Cabana? That's a huge disgrace, and he knows it. Even Jon Stewart, accepting his fourth straight Best Variety Show award (over The Colbert Report) said they'd made a mistake. My guess is, Barry Manilow is going On Notice.
Pro: Although, the aforementioned slight gave Colbert and Stewart some hilarious material when they presented the award for reality programming, which in Colbert's own words, "rots the minds of our children and gives solace to our enemies."
Con: Tony Shalhoub picks up his third Best Actor in a Comedy Series... for Monk. Does anyone even watch that show? Give it to the expertly moronic Steve Carell, the nasally neurotic Larry David, hell, even the ironically sleazy Charlie Sheen. But who is this Tony Shalhoub?
Pro: Hooray for The Office! I have to admit, I was torn as to who to root for. I still mourn the loss of Arrested Development, and another win would have made for a lovely "fuck you" to FOX for cancelling it. I continue to enjoy how Scrubs keeps puttering along quietly, making nice, smart, warm comedy. It's like the new Frasier. I wondered why rookie My Name is Earl wasn't on this list, seeing as the pilot won for Best Directing and Writing, and I'm envisioning Jason Lee's name in Kevin James' place for next year. But I do love The Office, and I'm glad it's out of the shadow of it's British predecessor, so it can be it's own beast.
Con: Julia Louis-Dreyfus wins Best Actress in a Comedy. This is not to take away from her win, which for all I know, may be well deserved. But Jane Kaczmarek toiled away at Malcolm in the Middle for seven seasons, made it funny, was nominated every year, and never won. Julia's show has just started, so give it to her next year. She's the only one on the list that will still be there.
Pro: Jeremy Piven wins Best Supporting Actor. Well deserved for infusing Ari Gold with the bitterness and quiet rage that makes him unmissable. Very short speech and a couple days growth on his face. He seemed a little out of it.
Con: This is a very reserved Con. Although I want to make it clear that have not, nor will I ever watch a single episode of American Idol, it probably should have won for Reality Competition. I much prefer The Amazing Race, but there should be some prize for having the most popular show on TV.
Pro: Bob Newhart, good sport. As part of an ongoing gag, meant to hold winners accountable for lengthy speeches, Conan brought out TV legend Newhart, encased in a glass tube with "three hours of air," to which Newhart immediately stared wide-eyed and began looking for a way out. Near the end, he was brought out to present the Best Comedy Series award, because "a majority of callers wanted you to live." Yes, a whole 52% of callers asked for his release, 42% did not and 6% called to say they had no opinion.
All in all, I think it was successful show, if your initials weren't ABC or CBS. Strangely, fourth-place network NBC did quite well, and they were hosting the show. Last year, the Emmys were on ABC, when Lost and Desperate Housewives ruled supreme. Coincidence? Or the uncovering of a vast network conspiracy to skew the results of Emmy voters? And while you're all thinking about that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff.
Pro: Right off the bat, host Conan O'Brian hits a home run with his opening riff on TV's hot shows. Although this is besides the fact that Lost was not nominated and perhaps in poor taste after the real-life plane crash in Kentucky, but this was all planned weeks in advance, so what are people going to do, complain? Oh yes they are, and did. But besides that, with Hurley sheepishly explaining to O'Brian that he wasn't invited to the Emmy's, Dwight blaming Jim for having O'Brian drop through the ceiling, Chloe and Jack telling O'Brian to get off the secure CTU line, House diagnosing all of O'Brian's unusual physical characteristics, and O'Brian being painted as a sexual predator on Dateline, I thought it was a non-stop riot.
Con: The "new and improved" nominating process was put in place to shake up the fields, and allow newer, fresher faces to get in on the excitement. Everyone cheered as they thought people like Lauren Graham, Kristen Bell and John McGinley would finally get some recognition. And to some extent, it worked. Denis Leary got a much deserved nod, as did Steve Carell, Kyra Sedgwick, Jean Smart and Stephen Colbert. But none of them won anything. And where were the Lost boys, Hugh Laurie, and the girls of Wisteria Lane (not that I watched them, but last year, they had 3 of the 5 Lead Actress nods). I realize you can't have everybody you want, but sometimes you just have to shake your head.
Pro: 24 finally gets some real respect. After 5 seasons, at least 3 great ones, Kiefer gets to take home the hardware. He was the only one of the five actors nominated to return from last year. The West Wing was the only other drama show to return. So it's about time it got some props, right? Even in a year that picked Grey's Anatomy (which went home empty-handed by the way) over Lost.
Con: Barry Manilow? Barry Freakin' Manilow?! Stephen Colbert lost out to the Copa Cabana? That's a huge disgrace, and he knows it. Even Jon Stewart, accepting his fourth straight Best Variety Show award (over The Colbert Report) said they'd made a mistake. My guess is, Barry Manilow is going On Notice.
Pro: Although, the aforementioned slight gave Colbert and Stewart some hilarious material when they presented the award for reality programming, which in Colbert's own words, "rots the minds of our children and gives solace to our enemies."
Con: Tony Shalhoub picks up his third Best Actor in a Comedy Series... for Monk. Does anyone even watch that show? Give it to the expertly moronic Steve Carell, the nasally neurotic Larry David, hell, even the ironically sleazy Charlie Sheen. But who is this Tony Shalhoub?
Pro: Hooray for The Office! I have to admit, I was torn as to who to root for. I still mourn the loss of Arrested Development, and another win would have made for a lovely "fuck you" to FOX for cancelling it. I continue to enjoy how Scrubs keeps puttering along quietly, making nice, smart, warm comedy. It's like the new Frasier. I wondered why rookie My Name is Earl wasn't on this list, seeing as the pilot won for Best Directing and Writing, and I'm envisioning Jason Lee's name in Kevin James' place for next year. But I do love The Office, and I'm glad it's out of the shadow of it's British predecessor, so it can be it's own beast.
Con: Julia Louis-Dreyfus wins Best Actress in a Comedy. This is not to take away from her win, which for all I know, may be well deserved. But Jane Kaczmarek toiled away at Malcolm in the Middle for seven seasons, made it funny, was nominated every year, and never won. Julia's show has just started, so give it to her next year. She's the only one on the list that will still be there.
Pro: Jeremy Piven wins Best Supporting Actor. Well deserved for infusing Ari Gold with the bitterness and quiet rage that makes him unmissable. Very short speech and a couple days growth on his face. He seemed a little out of it.
Con: This is a very reserved Con. Although I want to make it clear that have not, nor will I ever watch a single episode of American Idol, it probably should have won for Reality Competition. I much prefer The Amazing Race, but there should be some prize for having the most popular show on TV.
Pro: Bob Newhart, good sport. As part of an ongoing gag, meant to hold winners accountable for lengthy speeches, Conan brought out TV legend Newhart, encased in a glass tube with "three hours of air," to which Newhart immediately stared wide-eyed and began looking for a way out. Near the end, he was brought out to present the Best Comedy Series award, because "a majority of callers wanted you to live." Yes, a whole 52% of callers asked for his release, 42% did not and 6% called to say they had no opinion.
All in all, I think it was successful show, if your initials weren't ABC or CBS. Strangely, fourth-place network NBC did quite well, and they were hosting the show. Last year, the Emmys were on ABC, when Lost and Desperate Housewives ruled supreme. Coincidence? Or the uncovering of a vast network conspiracy to skew the results of Emmy voters? And while you're all thinking about that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff.
posted by The Man in Charge at
3:33 AM
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