Wednesday, July 02, 2008

More Emmy Leaks

Goldderby.com continues to lead the media in getting out the Emmy semifinalists. They leaked three categories yesterday, including Best Supporting Actor (Drama), Supporting Actress (Drama) and Lead Actress (Comedy).

Among the semifinalists are, for Supporting Actor:
Naveen Andrews, Lost
Bruce Dern, Big Love
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
Ted Danson, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men
Blair Underwood, In Treatment
Jake Weber, Medium

In May, I singled out Danson, Emerson and Slattery as very deserving nominees, so I'm glad to see them there. Last year's winner, Terry O'Quinn of "Lost," isn't nominated this year. Whether it was his choice or the Academy's is unknown (though I'm guessing he's not pulling a Katherine Heigl and blaming the writers for weak storylines). Why "Medium" and "Boston Legal" continue to get Emmy love will always be a mystery to me, but nice call by the voters on the always-reliable Ivanek, a longtime favorite for me since his "Homicide" days.

For Supporting Actress, Drama:
Jane Alexander, Tell Me You Love Me
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rose Byrne, Damages
Jill Clayburgh, Dirty Sexy Money
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
S. Epatha Merkerson, Law & Order
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

Connie Britton, who last year submitted herself as a lead, went the supporting actress route this year and was left off the list, which is a shame. Griffiths, Oh and Wilson aren't surprises, though it remains to be seen whether the "Grey's" actresses will be helped or hindered by the Heigl controversy. Byrne is in a tough spot; no way she submits herself against Glenn Close as a lead, but at the same time, the whole series is from her character's perspective, so she's hardly supporting, either.

Bergen, Alexander, Clayburgh, Gless and Wiest (and probably Merkerson) are long-time Academy favorites, so they may comprise the entire list of finalists. I noted Hendricks in the May blog, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

For Lead Actress, Comedy:
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives
Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program

I had hoped/figured Ferrera (last year's winner), Louis-Dreyfus, Fey and Friel for nominations, so those are some good picks. The "Desperate" ladies aren't really a surprise, though Cross has been the one I think who has shined the most since the series began. I figured Applegate and Parker would get some support as well. The big surprise is Silverman, whose show is kind of a cross between sitcom and variety. Will the Emmy voters risk what she might say during a live acceptance speech?

I'll post more nominations when they are leaked.

SAG NEWS: The contract between SAG and the studios expired yesterday at midnight with no new deal in place, but we're still a long way away from a work stoppage. The studios presented SAG with a proposal, which the actors' union will take a few days to study.

But SAG is in a tough spot, since some big name actors like Tom Hanks are pushing for a deal while others like Jack Nicholson want to keep negotiating, dividing the rank and file down the middle. In addition, with deals signed by the Writers', Producers' and Directors' guilds, and a tentative deal reached with the other actors' union, AFTRA, the framework for a deal with SAG is in place, leaving not a lot of wriggle room. Hopefully, the two sides will come together soon.

R.I.P. DON S. DAVIS: The veteran character-actor, who died Monday from a heart attack, was 65. Davis was a familiar face in a lot of TV series, including "Twin Peaks," "The X-Files" and "Stargate SG-1." If you think he played a lot of military officers, there's probably a reason -- Davis served as a U.S. Army officer before becoming an actor.

WEDNESDAY'S BEST BETS: "Nova" is beginning a new "ScienceNow" series (PBS, 9 p.m.) throughout the summer that looks at various new scientific issues. Tonight's installment centers on genetic profiling.

Everything else is so-called reality fare, so pick what you will.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Connie Britton should have submitted herself as a lead, but it wouldn't matter, because God Forbid the emmy voters will ever pay any attention to shows such as "Friday Night Lights", "The Wire" or "Battlestar Galactica".

From the "leaked" lists, here would be the five off each I would pick:

Best Supporting Actor, Drama:

John Slattery, Naveen Andrews, Ted Danson, Michael Emerson and Zelko Ivanek.

Now I don't watch "Damages" (I hated the show after 3 episodes and was bored to tears to keep watching) but Danson's performance has been a well publicized success story. I always like Ivanek.

I also have NO EFFING IDEA why anyone having anything to do with "Boston Legal" or "Medium" should EVER be anywhere near any Emmy list.

Best Supporting Actress:

Sharon Gless, Christina Hendricks & Rachel Griffiths.

Gosh, after that, I don't care. That's a horrible list. S. Epatha Merkeson - REALLY? You nominate her or freaking Sandra Oh from stupid "Grey's Anatomy" but you can't find any emmy love for Britton or any of those unbelieveable talented and sexy "Battlestar" ladies? What a joke.

I HATE the Emmys.

Best Lead Actress, Comedy:

America Ferrerra, Tina Fey, Anna Friel, Marcia Cross and Julia Louis Dreyfuss.

Those last two actresses, I don't watch their shows,but the critical acclaim for both is pretty staunch.

I, too, would like to see a Sarah Silverman emmy speech and if it at all involves her telling the emmy voters to go and do something with themselves in a lake, I am ALL for it.

Phillip Ramati said...

Well, The Wire was submitted for Best Series and may make the cut. I've long past given up hope that BSG will ever get any nominations.

The comedy list is probably the best in terms of listing the most deserving, and the Supporting Actor list has so many deserving people that there is no way to nominate them all, but I thought the Emmys might spread the wealth a bit.