By Dantzler Smith

From 1998 to 2002 The Late Show with David Letterman won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series five straight times. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has won the award every year from 2003 to 2009, that’s seven years running. Clearly Emmy voters in this category seem happy to build dynasties by heaping praise on the same show year after year. However, just as is the case with sports, dynasties eventually collapse and someone new walks away with the trophy. So the question in this category is whether or not there is a challenger who can upset the John Wooden UCLA-like dynasty of The Daily Show?

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – The defending champs didn’t have a national election to cover and the only major legislative topic open for ridicule was health care, which doesn’t particularly lend itself to high comedy. Still, The Daily Show proved yet again that it can whip up a satirical feast from even the most meager of ingredients. From cutting barbs launched at politicians holding up heath care to their hysterical coverage of the British elections and on to the BP oil spill, which they managed to lampoon in a way that made oil covered seagulls slightly less depressing, Jon Stewart and company didn’t seem to skip a beat. Thus, the defending champs made a great case for consecutive win number 8. The only way they will lose is if one of the challengers has raised their game above The Daily Show’s high standards. My odds would be 1:5

The Colbert Report – Can the student defeat the master? Steven Colbert has made it his mission to derail Jon Stewart’s gravy train and if ever he had the chance this is the year. Colbert sponsored the US Olympic Speed Skating team and took his act to the Olympics themselves. That coverage of the Winter Olympics was certainly funny and it might have been a big enough event to lure in Emmy voters who typically go for the status quo of The Daily Show. And of course there were a bevy of great and hilarious interviews, which has quickly become Colbert’s distinguishing virtue. Throw in the usual strong fanbase and their massive internet presence and The Colbert Report appears to be the greatest threat to The Daily Show’s dominance. My odds would be 2:1

Real Time with Bill Maher – Believe it or not, I think this show is the best long shot or sleeper pick. First of all, I watch this show religiously (which is ironic given Maher’s disdain for religion) so maybe I’m biased but I truly believe that this is the best example of substantive political dialogue on television, period. Sure Maher has his own political views and agenda, but he’s open about that from the get-go and does a good job of allowing his guest panel to share their own views without letting them go into a painfully long and practiced diatribe. In other words, Bill Maher is the only political pundit on TV who isn’t afraid to call B.S. on someone. The trouble with Real Time is that given its format as a panel show the quality of each episode depends on whether or not the panel was good or bad. If a longwinded politician or some bleary eyed partisan monopolizes the conversation then the show struggles. Still, Bill’s monologues and New Rules are consistently great week in and week out. The Emmy voters tend to agree with Maher’s politics so if they want to abandon the political satire genre in favor or something more substantive Maher could sneak in as a surprise winner. My odds would be 5:1

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien – I guess the nominating committee was on Team Coco. Look, I’ve been a fan of Conan for a long time now but can’t we all admit that when he moved to the 11:30 spot the show simply wasn’t as good as it used to be? And yet everyone is willing to forget those lackluster months because the final week of his show was absolutely spectacular. If the entire lifetime of Conan’s Tonight Show had been as funny as the final week, he would have won this category hands down. As it is, Conan’s best chance for a win is as a sympathy vote. Almost everyone outside of the NBC board rooms thought the situation was handled terribly and as a result Conan has become this great sympathetic hero, remembered primarily for the last week of his Tonight Show (which was both funny and emotional) and all those great years as the king of the 12:30 slot. While I love the fact that his nomination is like a thumb in the eye of NBC, who will be broadcasting the Emmys, I get the feeling that Jeff Zucker would burn the building down before he’d let Conan O’Brien win the award on ‘his’ network. My odds would be 12:1

Saturday Night Live – Really? SNL got nominated, really? Seth Meyers writes like Stevie Wonder sees. And really, shouldn’t the January Jones episode alone disqualify SNL from getting nominated? At the end of the day this show has two good bits and the rest is just filler, I mean really? Joking aside (and I use the term ‘joking’ loosely), just as iTunes has corroded the need for bands to make quality albums so long as there are one or two downloadable songs on there, Hulu has allowed SNL to sneak into people’s conscious as something that is funny because everyone watches the two sketches that were good on the Monday after the show aired and then ignore the fact that if those were the only two funny parts then the other 90% of the hour was filled with dreck. My odds would be 1000:1

Road to the Emmys Series

July 5: Nomination Preview Podcast – Lilit Marcus, Andrew Payne, Rebecca Rose, and Phil Wallace

July 8: Nomination Analysis Podcast – Rebecca Rose, Dantzler Smith, Phil Wallace, and Bryce Van Kooten

July 12: Outstanding Host: Reality Show or Reality Competition – Adam Spunberg

July 14: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Adam Spunberg

July 15: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 19: Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 21: Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Gene Williams

July 26: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – Savanna New

July 28: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series – Dantzler Smith

August 2: Outstanding Reality Program – Gene Williams

August 4: Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Savanna New

August 7: Outstanding Made for TV Movie – Savanna New

August 8: Outstanding Miniseries – Adam Spunberg

August 9: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Colin Campbell

August 10: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 11: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Rebecca Rose

August 12: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 16: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Phil Wallace

August 17: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Steve Neumann

August 18: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 19: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Bryce Van Kooten

August 23: Outstanding Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 25: Outstanding Drama Series – Adam Spunberg

August 29: 62nd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards

Hope for Haiti Now

By Savanna New

Relegated to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special category does not usually receive as much attention as its peers, despite always showcasing a collection of both critically and popularly acclaimed programs. Specials are somewhat of an odd breed, as they tend to cater to specific sets of people (fans of a particular musician or comedian, for example) and, due to their “one night only” status, are not as publicly visible as regular series. In many ways, though, the award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special can be viewed as an especially great achievement, given the time and effort required to create a single televised event that runs its course within a few hours and lives on only in DVD form. Second chances here are rare (unless you are The Kennedy Center Honors).

The six specials nominated this year are fairly diverse, as you will see, but the networks represented are not. HBO clearly dominates, having produced four out of the six nominees.

The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert (HBO)

Forget silver; what better way to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame than by  bringing together an impressive bunch of music legends for a two-night concert series at Madison Square Garden? The concerts were recorded live on October 29 and 30, and HBO did a fantastic job of distilling this epic event into a four-hour televised special.  The concerts featured an illustrious line-up that truly captured the evolution of rock and roll from the 1950s to today: Aretha Franklin, Simon and Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, the Jeff Beck Group, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, U2 and Metallica. These performers were accompanied by an equally iconic set of guest artists that included, among others, the Black-Eyed Peas, Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Lee Lewis and James Taylor.

Bill Maher …But I’m Not Wrong (HBO)

…But I’m Not Wrong, an evening of comedy centered around hot button political and social issues ranging from the Tea Party movement and Sarah Palin to Tiger Woods and healthcare, marks the ever-irreverent Bill Maher’s ninth stand-up special. Widely hailed as the “biggest loser” of the Emmys, Bill Maher has received a total of 22 nominations over the last 15 years but has yet to win a single award. With four more nominations this year, Maher has a chance to either finally proclaim victory, or add to an already laughably large number of losses.

Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction (HBO)

Filmed in Washington, D.C., at one of the stops on his one-man Weapons of Self Destruction tour, HBO’s next entry sees two-time Emmy winner Robin Williams in his first televised comedy special in nearly a decade. Like Bill Maher, Williams tackles a variety of politically charged topics, but he also delves into some of his own personal experiences (such as his battle with alcoholism and recent open-heart surgery), adding a more introspective flavor to his humor.

Wanda Sykes: I’ma Be Me (HBO)

Rounding out the comedy nominees this year is the undeniably outspoken and often controversial Wanda Sykes, whose trademark frank humor takes center stage in her HBO special I’ma Be Me. Sykes previously won an Emmy in 1999 for her writing work on The Chris Rock Show. Leaving no subject taboo, Sykes draws upon an endless stream of material in I’ma Be Me, including Barack Obama, Somali pirates, Michael Jackson, life as a black lesbian and her first bikini wax.

Hope for Haiti Now (Tenth Planet Productions and MTV)

One of only two non-HBO-produced nominees in this category this year, charity telethon Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief originally aired on January 22. Co-hosted by Wyclef Jean, Anderson Cooper and George Clooney (who will be receiving the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award this year for his abundant charity work), Hope for Haiti Now raised a staggering $61 million through donations received over the phone, online, by mail and via text message. Broadcast from New York, Los Angeles, London and Haiti, this international event included performances by an impressive array of singers and bands, an assemblage of moving speeches and a miles-long celebrity phone bank.

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)

Frequently lauded (its awards roster includes six Emmys, seven Writers Guild awards and the Peabody Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television), The Kennedy Center Honors has emerged as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special five times in the past, winning as recently as last year. The Honors have been doled out since the late 1970s, and the ceremony celebrating the latest Honorees (performing artists who have made lasting contributions to American culture) is the culminating event of a weekend-long series of gala luncheons and dinners. This year’s Kennedy Center Honors, broadcast on December 9, was hosted by Caroline Kennedy and honored new Honorees Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen. Performers and presenters included Melissa Etheridge, Jack Black, Harry Connick, Jr., Meryl Streep, Sharon Stone, Ben Stiller and Glee’s Matthew Morrison.

Prediction

Given the fact that The Kennedy Center Honors has won so many times in the past, it would be nice to see another special shine this year. I can’t help but predict that the three comedy nominees will cancel each other out (sorry, Bill Maher), leaving The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert and Hope for Haiti Now as top contenders. While both specials have received a great deal of praise and possess a uniquely historical, once-in-a-lifetime significance, it is virtually impossible to compare the two. The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert was a large-scale event celebrating the 60-year history of rock and roll, while Hope for Haiti Now was quickly organized and televised a mere 10 days after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, its mission one of pure philanthropy and altruism rather than entertainment. The impact of Hope for Haiti Now can’t be ignored, and I think it has the best chance of winning the Emmy.

Road to the Emmys Series

July 5: Nomination Preview Podcast – Lilit Marcus, Andrew Payne, Rebecca Rose, and Phil Wallace

July 8: Nomination Analysis Podcast – Rebecca Rose, Dantzler Smith, Phil Wallace, and Bryce Van Kooten

July 12: Outstanding Host: Reality Show or Reality Competition – Adam Spunberg

July 14: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Adam Spunberg

July 15: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 19: Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 21: Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Gene Williams

July 26: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – Savanna New

July 28: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series – Dantzler Smith

August 2: Outstanding Reality Program – Gene Williams

August 4: Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Savanna New

August 7: Outstanding Made for TV Movie – Savanna New

August 8: Outstanding Miniseries – Adam Spunberg

August 9: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Colin Campbell

August 10: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 11: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Rebecca Rose

August 12: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 16: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Phil Wallace

August 17: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Steve Neumann

August 18: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 19: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Bryce Van Kooten

August 23: Outstanding Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 25: Outstanding Drama Series – Adam Spunberg

August 29: 62nd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards

By Louis Allred

In looking at this year’s nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series, we find that four of them fit the usual concept of what a television comedy is. Until recently, nominees were often classical, three-camera sitcoms, a format that goes unrepresented this year (mainly because there are so few left on TV right now). But the new vogue of single-camera comedies fills out the ranks with four of the six nominations (30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Modern Family, and The Office). The remaining two, however, don’t fit as neatly into the category, raising the question: What qualifies as a comedy anymore?

Glee, on runtime alone, is one of the odd ducks, being the only hour-long show nominated this year. This isn’t entirely without precedent; Weeds was nominated last year, and the past decade also had Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives on the list. There have been rare nominations of hour-long Comedies throughout Emmy history, but they were usually variety shows. Love American Style was nominated twice, but that show had a very “sitcom” sensibility to it. The recent nominees have more in common with standard hour-long dramas than sitcoms, often blending dramatic storylines with humor. The trendsetter for this new wave was Ally McBeal; its nomination in 1998 drew debate as to whether it belonged in Comedy, debate that still continues with the current batch of nominees.

Glee dances this line as well, mixing humor (Sue Sylvester, need I say more?) with often weighty drama (teen pregnancy, struggling with homosexuality, divorce). As mentioned in the Variety article, Ally McBeal seemed to be chosen for Comedy almost as if they flipped a coin. Glee seems the same way, though one can easily make a case that it belongs in Comedy. Despite its dramatic tendencies, the mood of the show is usually light, and most of the dramatic issues presented are, if not solved, at least handled by episode’s end. Plus, there are the songs, and as creator Ryan Murphy notes, “This genre is never called ‘musical drama.’ We’re a comedy.”

Nurse Jackie is a thornier issue. I doubt anyone would dispute calling it the most dramatic of the Comedy nominees this year. The lead character is a gruff, pill-popping (or snorting) ER nurse who swears like mad and suffers no fool. Apart from her drug use, she also juggles a home life (strained due to her job) and an affair with a pharmacist who supplies her the pills (an affair that quickly went south this season). On top of all that, we get a non-stop stream of patients with grievous injuries and terminal diseases. Most don’t make it through an episode.

Laughing yet?

Honestly, though, the Comedy category is probably the better home for Nurse Jackie. Structurally, it’s a half-hour show, and from the early 60s on, there hasn’t been a half-hour show nominated for Drama. More importantly, despite the material, it does have a distinct comedic tone, pitch-black as it may be. Jackie’s interplay with the other characters is funny, and the dramatic plots often take humorous turns. In one episode, where Jackie assists a cancer patient, her suggestion to use medical marijuana riles the uptight Dr. Cooper, who reacts in a typically petulant way, and the patient’s introduction to weed is played for laughs. All of this acts as a buffer against the fact that the guy is dying, and probably soon. For all the drama involved, there are plenty of laughs on the show, probably enough to tip the ratio toward the Comedy side.

So again we ask, “What qualifies as a comedy anymore?” In the earlier days of Lucille Ball and Dick van Dyke, it was more cut-and-dry. You had an audience, a ridiculous situation, and jokes, jokes, jokes. The recent wave of Comedy nominees sometimes toe the drama line, covering serious matters with more effort and more often than a sitcom’s occasional “very special episode.” It sometimes feels like Comedy has become more of a “dumping ground” for shows the Academy – and producers themselves – have trouble classifying. But the decisions have been sound, I think. Glee, like Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives, has a sense of camp that keeps the drama from getting too serious. And Nurse Jackie, bleak as it is, finds the humor in any situation it covers.

This will be a continuous debate as shows cross-pollinate genres and tones. Down the line, the Academy may split show nominations even further, or just give up and have one category like the Oscars. Who knows? But, as it stands now, shows like Glee and Nurse Jackie are best served in the Comedy category.

At least until the “Best Musical Set in High School” and “Best Dark Hospital Comedy” categories are approved. They’re locks for those.

By Gene Williams

This year’s Emmys race for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries is brought to you by HBO and BBC, oh yeah and Lifetime too. Over ten years cable juggernaut HBO, has won seven times in this category, awarding Emmys to actresses such as Halle Berry, Helen Mirren, Laura Linney and last year’s winner Jessica Lange. This year HBO has another commanding lead with three of its films nominated, with PBS and Lifetime each with one film nomination.

It’s been fifteen years since we have seen Claire Danes at the Primetime Emmys at that time for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Drama as Angela Chase in 90’s teen-drama My So-Called Life. This year Emmy recognizes Danes in HBO’s Temple Grandin who plays the title character. This biopic of ranch handler Temple Grandin tells her story and practices for humane handling of livestock on cattle ranches and slaughterhouses, while overcoming obstacles as a woman with autism. Gaining mostly positive reviews Danes’ portrayal of Grandin is a stand out in this category, as this film touches on the seldom mentioned topic of Autism. Temple Grandin received 10 nominations and David Strathairn is also nominated for Supporting Actor for the film.

This year Lifetime has eleven chances to earn its first Primetime Emmy in the networks 26-year history, thanks to Oscar and Emmy nominee Joan Allen. This year Lifetime presents to us the life of acclaimed American painter Georgia O’Keeffe, known for her vibrant works of flowers, rocks, and animal bones. This film is more of a two person film which focuses on O’Keeffe’s relationship and her love of husband Alfred Stieglitz, played by highly acclaimed Jeremy Irons, who by the way is unfortunately snubbed this year for his performance. Allen receives the only acting nomination of nine for Georgia O’Keeffe.

As former first lady, Hillary Clinton, Hope Davis stars in HBO’s history drama The Special Relationship. The film follows the relationship between the Blair’s and Clintons during the 90’s and early part of 2000’s. The film receiving mainly mixed reviews in regards to Michael Sheen’s Tony Blair. Davis anchors the film putting her superb acting abilities to use. Her portrayal of Mia in HBO’s In Treatment should get her notice by academy voters, showcasing her versatility as an actress. Davis is also joined by fellow nominees Dennis Quaid and Michael Sheen. The Special Relationship receives a total of five nominations.

Shakespeare in Love (1999) was the first time I have ever seen a film with Dame Judi Dench. I enjoyed her Academy Award winning portrayal of Queen Elisabeth. This year the Emmys recognize Dench in PBS’s drama Return to Cranford, a follow up to 2008’s Cranford. In the many years of excellent acting it’s hard to comprehend that Dench has only one Academy Award and been nominated for two Primetime Emmy in her fifty years in the business.  Losing to Laura Linney as Abigail Adams in John Adams two years ago, I don’t think this is a year that Denche’s Matty Jenkyns will see Emmy gold. Return to Cranford is up for seven nominations including Outstanding Miniseries.

Lastly, HBO’s Capturing Mary receives its sole Emmy nomination in Maggie Smith who plays Mary Gilbert, former journalist and socialite who recounts her memories of her childhood home. Smith is a great character actress playing mostly strong elderly heroines, but unfortunately I think this category goes to the two other HBO nominated films. Smith anchors the film but that’s all I see as significant in this film.

So it’s a race between Danes and Davis. My prediction for Emmy gold is Danes edging out Davis, mainly because of her portrayal of Temple. It’s a unique biopic that raises awareness for Autism, proclaiming that this is not a debilitating disease; people with the disease can still succeed with passion and love for what you do in life. The real life Temple, now in her early sixties is an acclaimed professor at Colorado State University, and activist in Autism Spectrum Disorder, who promotes early intervention to address autism. I hope to see a win for Danes as she deserved to be given this role and deserves to win.

Road to the Emmys Series

July 5: Nomination Preview Podcast – Lilit Marcus, Andrew Payne, Rebecca Rose, and Phil Wallace

July 8: Nomination Analysis Podcast – Rebecca Rose, Dantzler Smith, Phil Wallace, and Bryce Van Kooten

July 12: Outstanding Host: Reality Show or Reality Competition – Adam Spunberg

July 14: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Adam Spunberg

July 15: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 19: Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 21: Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Gene Williams

July 26: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – Savanna New

July 28: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series – Dantzler Smith

August 2: Outstanding Reality Program – Gene Williams

August 4: Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Savanna New

August 7: Outstanding Made for TV Movie – Savanna New

August 8: Outstanding Miniseries – Adam Spunberg

August 9: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Colin Campbell

August 10: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 11: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Rebecca Rose

August 12: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 16: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Phil Wallace

August 17: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Steve Neumann

August 18: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 19: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Bryce Van Kooten

August 23: Outstanding Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 25: Outstanding Drama Series – Adam Spunberg

August 29: 62nd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards

By Phil Wallace

Some major names have earned nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie. The group includes two Oscar winners (Al Pacino and Jeff Bridges), two other Oscar nominees (Ian McKellen and Michael Sheen), and another well-known Hollywood actor (Dennis Quaid). While all of these actors had excellent performances, Pacino is a heavy favorite to win his second Emmy. Here is a closer look at the nominees:

Jeff Bridges, A Dog Year – Bridges is riding high after winning the Oscar for Best Actor earlier this year in Crazy Heart. Can Bridges make it two-for-two in major awards? Don’t count on it. A Dog Year was supposed to make it to be a theatrical feature three years ago, but never made it to the silver screen. HBO released it as a TV movie with little fanfare, and its reviews rivaled that of a Hallmark TV special. Bridges does a solid job of portraying a man who talks to dogs, but in many respects the dogs are the real stars of the picture.

Ian McKellen, The Prisoner – This is McKellen’s fifth Emmy nomination and he has yet to win. This time around McKellen stars in a six-part AMC miniseries remake of the famous 1960s British TV show, and his performance is nothing short of remarkable. Starring as the leader of the other-worldy village, McKellen makes The Prisoner a chilling and fascinating thriller. Widely-respected in Hollywood, McKellen is one of the strongest contenders in this category.

Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack – Pacino won his first Emmy in 2004 for Angels in America. This year, his role of Jack Kevorkian in the Barry Levinson-directed HBO movie, seems tailor-made for another Emmy. Pacino won plaudits for nailing all of Kevorkian’s quirks and exposing the human side of “Dr. Death.” The Academy has a long history of rewarding top actors who dare to take on challenging and controversial roles. Pacino looks to be joining that elite company.

Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship – Quaid doesn’t venture into TV very often, but it’s a good thing he made The Special Relationship. Quaid doesn’t quite look like Bill Clinton, and you’re never quite convinced it’s him, but he has many of the mannerisms down. This is his first significant awards nomination of any kind. Still, it’s hard to say that Quaid has outshined the competition, and he may lose some votes to Michael Sheen.

Michael Sheen, The Special Relationship – Alright, we get it. Sheen looks like Tony Blair and can play a great Tony Blair. This is the third time Sheen has played the former British Prime Minister, have also done so in The Deal (2003) and The Queen (2006). While Sheen is always great, the fact that he’s playing the same character in a third different film will probably derail his Emmy hopes.

Prediction: This award appears to be Al Pacino’s to lose. If you want to pick an underdog though, then give some consideration to Ian McKellen.

Road to the Emmys Series

July 5: Nomination Preview Podcast – Lilit Marcus, Andrew Payne, Rebecca Rose, and Phil Wallace

July 8: Nomination Analysis Podcast – Rebecca Rose, Dantzler Smith, Phil Wallace, and Bryce Van Kooten

July 12: Outstanding Host: Reality Show or Reality Competition – Adam Spunberg

July 14: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Adam Spunberg

July 15: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 19: Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 21: Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Gene Williams

July 26: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – Savanna New

July 28: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series – Dantzler Smith

August 2: Outstanding Reality Program – Gene Williams

August 4: Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Savanna New

August 7: Outstanding Made for TV Movie – Savanna New

August 8: Outstanding Miniseries – Adam Spunberg

August 9: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Colin Campbell

August 10: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 11: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Rebecca Rose

August 12: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 16: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Phil Wallace

August 17: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Steve Neumann

August 18: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 19: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Bryce Van Kooten

August 23: Outstanding Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 25: Outstanding Drama Series – Adam Spunberg

August 29: 62nd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards

Michael Gambon in Emma

By Phil Wallace

The nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie have a decidedly British bent. Three of the five nominees hail from the United Kingdom, and all three of them appeared in productions that were released in England first. This year’s award is considered wide-open, but AwardsPicks will do its best to help you with your Emmy pool. Here are the nominees:

Michael Gambon, Emma – Best known these days for playing Albus Dumbledore, Gambon plays Emma’s father, Mr. Woodside, in the latest adaptation of this Jane Austen novel. As a four-part BBC miniseries, Gambon has a bit more material to work with than some of the other nominees in this category. Gambon has one Emmy nomination to his credit, but most of his other honors come in theater. Widely respected by his peers, this role could be enough to put Gambon on top. His performance was extremely well reviewed and he may very well be the favorite in this category.

John Goodman in You Don't Know Jack

Jonathan Pryce, Return to Cranford – A surprise nominee, Pryce is the biggest underdog in this race. A respected British actor, he simply has the wrong role to win an Emmy. This miniseries which is a sequel of Cranford, is known for its leading ladies, such as Judi Dench. Pryce does not appear to have distinguished himself enough to beat out the others in this strong group of nominees.

Patrick Stewart, Hamlet – Stewart wins bonus points for playing both King Claudius and the ghost of the late King Hamlet in this modern dress version of Hamlet. Stewart has been doing Shakespeare for virtually his entire career, and could probably do an excellent job of playing these roles without a single rehearsal. This is Stewart’s fourth Emmy nomination, and he was surprisingly never nominated for his role as Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Could this be the year?

David Strathairn in Temple Grandin

Prediction: Strathairn deserves to win one of these years, but this isn’t it. That’s even with three British nominees potentially canceling each other out. Pryce is a longshot at best. Goodman also deserves more recognition, but it’s hard to see him breaking through. While Stewart is always phenomenal, this particular version of Hamlet hasn’t gotten as much publicity as some of the others. And besides, how many versions of Hamlet do we really need anyways?

Michael Gambon’s performance was the best reviewed of these five, and he’s long overdue for a statuette. Pick him in your pool and thank me later.

Road to the Emmys Series

July 5: Nomination Preview Podcast – Lilit Marcus, Andrew Payne, Rebecca Rose, and Phil Wallace

July 8: Nomination Analysis Podcast – Rebecca Rose, Dantzler Smith, Phil Wallace, and Bryce Van Kooten

July 12: Outstanding Host: Reality Show or Reality Competition – Adam Spunberg

July 14: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Adam Spunberg

July 15: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 19: Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 21: Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Gene Williams

July 26: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – Savanna New

July 28: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series – Dantzler Smith

August 2: Outstanding Reality Program – Gene Williams

August 4: Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Savanna New

August 7: Outstanding Made for TV Movie – Savanna New

August 8: Outstanding Miniseries – Adam Spunberg

August 9: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Colin Campbell

August 10: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 11: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Rebecca Rose

August 12: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 16: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Phil Wallace

August 17: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Steve Neumann

August 18: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 19: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Bryce Van Kooten

August 23: Outstanding Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 25: Outstanding Drama Series – Adam Spunberg

August 29: 62nd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards

Party Down on Starz

By Dantzler Smith

The Emmys are typically behind the times when it comes to nominating television shows for awards. This simply won’t do if you are a hipster because the key to being a trendsetter is being ahead of the curve and in dissonance with the general public. A true hipster finds diamonds in the ruff like The Hold Steady or The Black Keys before they gain popular acceptance. Thus, if you are a fauxhemian who watches television shows (which is something most fauxhemians don’t do, but that fact therein means that doing it is actually counter to the counter culture and therefore “cool”) then you need to seek out television shows that are undervalued by the ‘lamestream media’. So I present you, the afore mentioned hipster, with a list of TV shows that fly under the radar of the general public but nevertheless produce quality work just like MGMT or Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Comedy

NBC's Community

Party Down – This show got cancelled and we all know that garnering commercial disapproval is a prerequisite for the Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuy set. Personally I thought the show struggled to find its pace, but when it hit the right notes it really hit the right notes. Probably the television equivalent of The Cold War Kids.

Parks and Recreation – The first season was so bad that people bailed out on it, satisfied to call it a failed clone of The Office. But the second season really picked up its own vibe and turned out to be a really good entity of its own. Thus, I’d compare it to Wilco in that all the pieces for a great band/show were there in the beginning (Wilco was formed after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo) but it took some time to really sort out how to best express themselves.

Archer – The Simpsons and Family Guy are the old guard of animated TV, but Archer is the show that is taking what its predecessors have done and pushing the envelope even further. It’s not so obscure that it’s on Adult Swim, but it’s not mainstream either because it’s on FX. It’s The Strokes of animated TV.

Californication – What could be more appealing to a hipster than a show about a writer who drinks all the time and has promiscuous sex? Unfortunately the first season of this show was great and the preceding seasons have gotten progressively worse, which mimics the steady decline of a band like The Killers. Personally I love this show, but then again I listen to Sam’s Town while I’m at the gym.

Drama

Treme – When you listen to The Hold Steady you know you’re going to be treated to remarkable prose. You can have the same super high expectation for anything David Simon does. On the other hand, Treme had some moments that were good but not great, which, as is the case with subpar Hold Steady songs, is infuriating not because the episode or song is bad per se, but because you know the writer is capable of so much more.

FX's Sons of Anarchy

Justified – Timothy Olyphant as a sheriff, where have I seen that before? This show is basically a far less complicated and present-day version of Deadwood. The fact that it modernizes a traditional formula, the Western, reminds me of a band like Trampled by Turtles who play slightly modernized traditional bluegrass for bohemian audiences.

Friday Night Lights – This is a show that should be popular among jocks and mainstream American since it’s about a high school football team. However, it has gone surprisingly unnoticed by the general public and, until this year, Emmy voters. Still, this show should be more popular than it is and in that way it’s like Weezer, a band that everyone should like but a band that too many people overlook.

Dexter – This show is gaining popularity and Emmy nods so you need to jump on the bandwagon quickly. At first Michael C. Hall was the only bright spot for this show but recently Jennifer Carpenter and Julie Benz have come into their own, not to mention the John Lithgow guest spots. Still Hall is the obvious star the way that even though everyone in The New Pornographers is good, Neko Case is unavoidably the focal point.

The miniseries genre has not been America’s forte, at least not as long as the BBC continues to churn out quality renditions of classic novels.  The results speak for themselves; BBC productions garner steady international acclaim while showings on TNT, A&E, etc. are lucky to get noticed.  At one time, PBS set the American standard, but now HBO leads the west-of-the-Atlantic field by a wide margin.  Consistently dominant, HBO strikes again with four of the five nominees in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category.

HBO often recruits recognizable actors for its miniseries productions, valuing quality over expense.  Susan Sarandon was precisely that in You Don’t Know Jack, a portrait of euthanasia-endorser Jack Kevorkian.  Sarandon’s work as Janet Good, a key aide to Kevorkian, has gotten favorable reviews, with critics praising her subtlety and nuance.  Not only is she a big name among the nominees, but the positive reception should make her one of the favorites.

Also nominated from You Don’t Know Jack is Brenda Vaccaro, who played Kevorkian’s sister with selfless determination.  Vaccaro will have a difficult time overtaking her celebrity co-star, but general opinion seems to endorse her performance.  It could be argued that her contributions were more vital than Sarandon’s, and a win is certainly within possibility, but the odds have to favor Sarandon, simply based on reputation.

Temple Grandin is the other HBO production to claim two nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress: Julia Ormond and Catherine O’Hara.  Critics adored Temple Grandin, the biopic of an autistic woman (played by Claire Danes) who defied the odds and made advancements in the livestock handling industry.  Ormond once dazzled the big screen in Legends of the Fall and Sabrina, but she has been surprisingly absent of late.  Her limited role as Grandin’s resolute mother could put her back on the map, especially if she wins the Emmy.  General consensus is that she made the most of her screen time and could very well come home with the statuette.

Catherine O’Hara, another well-known actress, plays the aunt who introduces Temple to the livestock industry. Much like Ormond, nobody has anything negative to say about O’Hara.  Both candidates are worthy of their nominations and probably have about an equal chance of winning.  It is worth noting, however, that Temple Grandin was universally loved, whereas You Don’t Know Jack had its fair share of detractors.  That could also play in Ormond and O’Hara’s favor.

Lastly, we have the inexhaustible Kathy Bates in SyFy’s Alice, an unconventional remake of the famous Alice in Wonderland tale.   This is a huge accomplishment for SyFy just to get to the Emmys, just as it was a major steal to lure Kathy Bates.  Bates is compelling in any role she plays, but was she given enough material to deserve a victory?  Some reviewers enjoyed her interpretation, but others wanted to see more complexity.  The Academy Award winner will always stand a chance, but there are a few variables working against her.

My prediction is Sarandon, but Ormond and O’Hara were both excellent in a spectacular miniseries.  Consider this one contest where anyone could win.

Road to the Emmys Series

July 5: Nomination Preview Podcast – Lilit Marcus, Andrew Payne, Rebecca Rose, and Phil Wallace

July 8: Nomination Analysis Podcast – Rebecca Rose, Dantzler Smith, Phil Wallace, and Bryce Van Kooten

July 12: Outstanding Host: Reality Show or Reality Competition – Adam Spunberg

July 14: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Adam Spunberg

July 15: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 19: Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 21: Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Gene Williams

July 26: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – Savanna New

July 28: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series – Dantzler Smith

August 2: Outstanding Reality Program – Gene Williams

August 4: Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Savanna New

August 7: Outstanding Made for TV Movie – Savanna New

August 8: Outstanding Miniseries – Adam Spunberg

August 9: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Colin Campbell

August 10: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 11: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Rebecca Rose

August 12: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 16: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Phil Wallace

August 17: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Steve Neumann

August 18: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 19: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Bryce Van Kooten

August 23: Outstanding Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 25: Outstanding Drama Series – Adam Spunberg

August 29: 62nd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards

Whether people want to accept it or not, reality shows are as much a part of the television universe as sitcoms, scripted dramas, and late night comedy, if not more.  Cheaper to produce, networks such as MTV, VH1, and Bravo have made reality television the main course of their programming, and the numbers continue to support the wisdom of their decisions.  Perhaps some of these shows are train wrecks waiting to happen, but viewers delight in the pitfalls of their peers, just as they celebrate contest winners or the search for America’s best fill-in-the-blank.

Hosting these shows is more difficult than it looks, especially behind the scenes.  A successful host exhibits charm when needed, prevents the show from turning chaotic, becomes friendly with the cast while also maintaining its respect, and knows when not to make the show about him/her instead of the contestants.  Think of how Dodgers broadcasting legend, Vin Scully, famously stayed silent as Kirk Gibson trotted around the bases in the 1988 World Series; that restraint, along with the erudite commentary that followed, earned him enormous praise.  He let the moment play out, then shared some unforgettable words.  The challenge is similar for reality hosts (and really, seeking to emulate Scully is almost always a wise move.  If you can, then “the impossible has happened!”).

The Emmys added the Reality Host category in 2008 in response to the growth of reality programming.  As part of the splash, they had the reality hosts serve as the Emmys hosts, a decision ultimately met with a lukewarm response.  To have waited for 2008 was a bit tardy, but we should still condone their willingness to adhere to modern trends and act on it; some other awards shows are not nearly as flexible.

Jeff Probst of Survivor was the inaugural recipient, a fitting choice considering how he pioneered the reality revolution.  He then won it again in 2009.  The five candidates for 2010 were also nominated in 2009, except 2009 included Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio from Top Chef.  Who knows what culinary catastrophe made them the unfortunate victims of an Emmys downsizing.

The nominees:

The Emmys have not been afraid to award the same nominee year after year, so Jeff Probst has an excellent chance of winning yet again.  He always does a commendable job, mixing in a nice heterogeneousness of practical observation and emotional catalyst; for example, he often asks questions that stir the pot but also steers the dialogue away from too much melodrama.  Probst was a star long before his Emmy, but that he continues to guide Survivor competently is remarkable.  Show business is not supposed to be a permanent gig.

We also have to acknowledge the challenge of going to these remote islands, weathering many of the hardships that plague the show’s contestants while keeping everything in order.  Based on his respectability and everyday workmanship, consider him a slight favorite.

Tom Bergeron has developed a familiarity with American audiences, having displayed his grinning face on their tubes for many years.  Dancing With the Stars is immensely popular, which should bode well for his chances.  Dance requires flair, and Bergeron is no stranger to dressing things up with some extra panache.

That being said, I am not his biggest fan.  Probst, for instance, brings a certain genuineness to the role that Bergeron simply does not.  His jokes are clearly staged, he laughs in a fake way, he panders to the audience far too much.  First and foremost, he is a showman, and while that behavior might bring in good ratings, I would rather it be exhibited in Vegas than a quality TV program.  I hope he loses, but he is a strong contender.

My personal choice would be the illustrious Phil Keoghan from The Amazing Race.  Keoghan is the epitome of class, always treating the pairs of travelers with respect and stressing the cultural richness of each stop.  He offers as much enthusiasm for a country like Burkina Faso as he would for Italy or France, and he does so with a humble wordliness.  Imagine the arduousness of journeying from one international city to the next, prepping each leg on an instant’s notice without room for error.  We all focus on the travelers’ obstacles, but Keoghan suffers through many of the same ordeals.  He is unheralded.

He also just seems like an incredibly nice guy (which – if he isn’t – is a testament to his effectiveness as a host).  When you factor in how much the Emmys have loved The Amazing Race over the years, I see Keoghan as a dark horse candidate to take home the prize.

And then there’s Ryan Seacrest.  What to say about the guy?  He knows how to work a crowd, appeases his target audience, and appears to enjoy the glamour of his position without taking it for granted.  His odds depend on the direction the Emmys want to take this year; if it’s about appealing to Generation X and Y iTunes junkies, he has as strong a chance as anyone.  If quality and professionalism are more the focal point, then I expect he would fall below Keoghan or Probst.

I do not mean to criticize Seacrest too forcefully, because he is excellent at what he does.  It would just be improper to put him in the same league as some of the other contestants, at least in my opinion.  American Idol is also in a little slump (although still widely popular) after suffering through a down year.  That could hurt him as well.

Lastly, we have Heidi Klum from Project Runway, the only woman to make the grade this year (and she was pregnant! That has to count for something).  Project Runway is a well-regarded show and Klum is very likable.  Thousands of Americans hinge on her “in” or “out” declarations, which have become a marketable trademark for her and the network.  She handles the role professionally and gracefully.

The biggest knock against her would be the extent of her influence.  How much does she really bring to Project Runway, even if she does it well?  On Survivor, Probst is critical to the show’s development and Keoghan’s exertions are ever associated with The Amazing Race’s tone.  She would be fun to root for, and to have worked through pregnancy is astounding, but I don’t think she is quite as deserving as the aforementioned two.

The important thing to realize is that this particular award is still young, so we have little basis for making educated predictions.  Any one of the five could home with the prize, with a minor advantage to Jeff Probst to repeat again.

Additional Mention: Andy Cohen may not be an on-the-scene host, but his influence is everywhere on the Real Housewives shows.  Based on his weekly “aftershows” alone, he ought to get some recognition.  Also, if Tim Gunn could qualify for a host award, he would deserve some acclaim too.

Extra note: If you want to see a phenomenal host, rent the first season of The Mole and watch Anderson Cooper before he became a CNN celebrity.  He was superb.

Road to the Emmys Series

July 5: Nomination Preview Podcast – Lilit Marcus, Andrew Payne, Rebecca Rose, and Phil Wallace

July 8: Nomination Analysis Podcast – Rebecca Rose, Dantzler Smith, Phil Wallace, and Bryce Van Kooten

July 12: Outstanding Host: Reality Show or Reality Competition – Adam Spunberg

July 14: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Adam Spunberg

July 15: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 19: Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie – Phil Wallace

July 21: Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Gene Williams

July 26: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special – Savanna New

July 28: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series – Dantzler Smith

August 2: Outstanding Reality Program – Gene Williams

August 4: Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Savanna New

August 7: Outstanding Made for TV Movie – Savanna New

August 8: Outstanding Miniseries – Adam Spunberg

August 9: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Colin Campbell

August 10: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 11: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Rebecca Rose

August 12: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 16: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Phil Wallace

August 17: Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series – Steve Neumann

August 18: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – Andrew Payne

August 19: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Bryce Van Kooten

August 23: Outstanding Comedy Series – Kit Bowen

August 25: Outstanding Drama Series – Adam Spunberg

August 29: 62nd Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards