First of all, I’d just like to say that it’s cruel of both “True Blood” and “Mad Men” to air new episodes on the same night as the Emmy Awards, especially when neither show is sending out advance screeners anymore. Yes, I’m a big whiner, and I don’t care. It’s 11 PM, the Emmys have just wrapped up, and now I’ve got to go blog both shows. I’m sorry, but there’s no way around it: this sucks.
Okay, enough of my bitching. Let’s talk about the Emmys.
As far as I’m concerned, Jimmy Fallon did a fine job as host. The “Glee”-inspired opening segment was awesome: Jon Hamm ruled that bit with his sweet-ass dance moves, but Joel McHale leaping in front the camera was pretty awesome, too, and once they switched over to the live performance, I laughed out loud at just how happy Randy Jackson seemed to be to get to play in front of the audience. Sometimes you forget that the guy’s got some serious studio-musician street cred.
The minstrel-in-the-aisles bit was hit or miss, but Stephen Colbert was hilarious, and I was pleasantly surprised at Kim Kardashian’s performance. Jimmy’s quick quip at Conan’s expense was pretty funny, too. I wasn’t as big a fan of the farewells to “24,” “Law & Order,” and “Lost,” mostly because all I could think was, “This kind of takes away from the seriousness of the farewells to the folks in the industry who really have died.” The segment with the “Modern Family” cast meeting with the network was hysterical, though.
And now on to the awards!
* Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series:
My pick: Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Winner: Eric Stonestreet, “Modern Family”
Obviously, I was wrong about Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson splitting the vote, but I’m happy with anyone from “Modern Family” winning.
* Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, “Modern Family”
* Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series:
My pick: Jane Lynch, “Glee”
Winner: Jane Lynch, “Glee”
No one else ever had a chance. She might not have been the voice of “Glee,” but she was definitely the face of it.
* Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Betty White, “Saturday Night Live”
* Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Neil Patrick Harris, “Glee”
* Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Ryan Murphy, “Glee”
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
My pick: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Winner: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
I couldn’t be happier. Sheldon is such a fantastic comedic invention, but, more importantly, Jim’s a really nice guy.
* Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
My pick: Lea Michele, “Glee”
Winner: Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Didn’t see this one coming, although I know other critics predicted it. Again, no complaints here: I love “Nurse Jackie.” (In a perfect world, Merritt Wever would’ve pulled a Supporting Actress nod for playing Zoe on the show.)
* Outstanding Reality – Competition Program: “Top Chef”
* Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Matthew Weiner and Erin Levy, “Mad Men”
* Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
My pick: Terry O’Quinn, “Lost”
Winner: Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
In my defense, I said in the write-up, “This is certifiably the single hardest category for me, because there’s literally no one in the running who I wouldn’t like to see take home the award,” then made a point of saying, “Aaron Paul’s work this year as Jesse worked his way through rehab while dealing with emotional trauma was outstanding.”
* Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series:
My pick: Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Winner: Archie Panjabi, “The Good Wife”
Another one I didn’t expect, but one I’m glad to see. Great show.
* Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series:
My pick: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Winner: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Bryan Cranston is awesome. That is all.
* Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ann-Margret, “Law & Order: SVU”
* Guest Actor in a Drama Series: John Lithgow, “Dexter”
* Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Steve Shill (“Dexter”)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series:
My pick: Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Winner: Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”
The best part, of course, is that January Jones didn’t take home the win, but, honestly, I love “The Closer,” and it’s about time it received some Emmy love.
* Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: Dave Boone and Paul Greenberg, “The 2009 Tony Awards”
* Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: Bucky Gunts, “Vancouver 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies”
* Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series:
My pick: “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”
Winner: “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”
I still wish I could’ve heard Conan’s acceptance speech, though.
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie:
My pick: Brenda Vaccaro, “You Don’t Know Jack”
Winner: Julia Ormond, “Temple Grandin”
No complaints, only surprise that Julia and Catherine O’Hara didn’t split the vote.
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie:
My pick: David Strathairn, “Temple Grandin.”
Winner: David Strathairn, “Temple Grandin”
A strong performance by a consistently strong actor, but I’m pleasantly surprised that he won, since – unlike some of his peers in the category – it wasn’t necessary a showy role.
* Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie: Adam Maser, “You Don’t Know Jack”
* Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie:
My pick: Claire Danes, “Temple Grandin”
Winner: Claire Danes, “Temple Grandin”
I couldn’t be happier for Claire or for the film. She did a lot of hard work to capture the spirit of Temple Grandin, and it really paid off.
* Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Movie: Mick Jackson, “Temple Grandin”
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie:
My pick: Al Pacino, “You Don’t Know Jack”
Winner: Al Pacino, “You Don’t Know Jack”
I’ll just say what I’ve said to everyone about this movie: I actually forgot that I was watching Al Pacino, and I can’t remember the last time I did that during a Pacino performance. Well earned, sir.
* Outstanding Miniseries:
My pick: “The Pacific”
Winner: “The Pacific”
Tom Hanks’ speech was funnier at the TCA Awards. I’m just sayin’.
Outstanding Made for Television Movie:
My pick: “Temple Grandin”
Winner: “Temple Grandin”
To have it win on Temple Grandin’s birthday…? Serendipity.
Outstanding Drama Series:
My pick: “Breaking Bad”
Winner: “Mad Men”
Well, given that I’m heading from this piece straight over to write my “Mad Men” blog, you can imagine that I have no real complaints about this selection, but the same time, I’m aware that I’m currently watching the Emmys while TiVo’ing “Mad Men,” whereas if “Breaking Bad” was on, I’m pretty sure I’d be TiVo’ing the Emmys.
Outstanding Comedy Series:
My Pick: “Modern Family”
Winner: “Modern Family”
Okay, maybe…just maybe…it’s funnier than “Community.”
But I still think “Community” is a damned funny show.
See you next year, everybody!