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Emmys 2008: An Early
Look
By Kelly
Doucette
Pushing Daisies is
among the top contenders in the Best Comedy Series race
Despite the industry
disaster that was the 2007-2008 WGA strike, the 2008 Emmy awards is
destined to become one of the best races in Emmy history. While some
shows have seemed to slack in quality this season, new shows popped up
that blew them out of the water.
This also happens to be a
wonderful year for celebrity guest stars, ranging in talent from
Robin Williams (LAW & ORDER: SVU) to Peter O’Toole (THE
TUDORS). Let’s take a look at some of the possible nominees. (I will
make my predictions based on early buzz and their overall work as
episodes submissions are still being confirmed at this point).
Best Actor in a
Leading Role in a Drama Series
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Hugh Laurie, House, M.D.
James Spader, Boston Legal
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors
For this particular
category, there are several favorites (Hugh Laurie, James
Spader), two former nominees for different shows (Michael C. Hall,
Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and one newbie (Jon Hamm). Spader,
Hamm, and Laurie are all likely bets. So far, Spader
has won three Emmys out of three nominations. The only year he has not
won, 2006, he was not even nominated. His episode submission, THE COURT
SUPREME, is a particularly strong episode in which Alan leaps at the
opportunity to present an appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of a
mentally challenged man sentenced to death for the sexual assault of a
young girl. Then again, also in this category we have a do-good serial
killer (Michael C. Hall as DEXTER); a sexist, narcissistic
advertiser (Jon Hamm in MAD MEN), a sarcastic,
wise-cracking doctor (Hugh Laurie in HOUSE) and a corrupt
king (Jonathan Rhys Meyers in THE TUDORS).
Best Actress in a
Leading Role in a Drama Series
Glenn Close, Damages
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Calista Flockhart, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
It is not uncommon for
some Emmys categories to have six nominees and this year proves to be no
different. I predict the winner will be Golden Globe recipient Glenn
Close, in her third series nomination after a 2002 nod for her
guest-star work on WILL & GRACE and a 2005 bid as Best Actress
for THE SHIELD. Her brutally honest lawyer Patty Hewes is
unrelenting in her dialogue and presentation. Also in the running are
Mariska Hargitay, especially powerful for the episode in which she
goes undercover in a woman’s prison to investigate allegations of abuse
of a girl’s mother by a parole officer. Look also for perennial
favorites Calista Flockhart, who outshined co-star Sally Field
in several episodes this season; Holly Hunter as a problem-ridden
detective given a second chance by a guardian angel, Kyra Sedgwick
as an outspoken detective and Patricia Arquette as a doting
mother, wife, and paranormal detective.
Dramatic Supporting
Categories
Michael Emerson, Lost
Terry O’Quinn, Lost
Ted Danson, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men
Rose Byrne, Damages
January Jones, Mad Men
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy
Maria Doyle Kennedy, The Tudors
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
I foresee a lack of
support for this season of GREY’S ANATOMY. T.R. Knight,
Sandra Oh, and Katherine Heigl have not been at the top of
their game and Chandra Wilson has been wonderful in just an
episode or two. I instead foresee an insertion of popularity in favor of
MAD MEN and DAMAGES. Previous Emmy winner Michael
Emerson (2001 – Guest Actor – THE PRACTICE), who was
nominated last year for his work on LOST, is back at the top of
his game this season. Also on my list are veteran actors John
Slattery, Ted Danson with his first nomination since winning
for the final season of CHEERS in 1993 and blonde bombshell
January Jones (of AMERICAN WEDDING fame) in a role that has
completely changed the outlook of her career. Also stay tuned for this
week’s (May 3rd) episode of BROTHERS AND SISTERS in which we see
Rachel Griffiths dealing with her company’s significant financial
crisis. It could very well boost her support for some much-deserving
Emmy love.
Best Actor in a
Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
David Duchovny, Californication
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Yet another tough
category to predict. While I absolutely adored the pilot of
CALIFORNICATION and was happy to see Duchovny winning the
Golden Globe, I feel that this is Baldwin’s year, having been
snubbed last season despite winning the corresponding SAG and Golden
Globe Awards. However, Pace and Duchovny have one
advantage: their shows are hour-long and with more air time, comes more
awards glory (probably explaining Steve Carell’s shocking 2006
loss to MONK’S Tony Shalhoub. David will also
return to the race for the final season of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
(after having been off the air for nearly two years). And where is
Shalhoub you ask? I feel he will eventually be nominated but I would
rather see any of the above fill his place.
Best Actress in a
Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives
While I would love to see
Fey add an Emmy to her already-impressive awards season, I have a
feeling she may be robbed in favor of critical darling and possible
[surprise] winner Applegate. Last year, we had Fey's co-star
Alec Baldwin winning the Golden Globe and SAG before losing the Emmy
to a surprise winner, Extra’s Ricky Gervais. Why couldn’t
this happen to Fey this year? Last year’s winner Ferrera
is also safe, turning in yet another season filled with well-tuned
performances. I feel that this category will have only five nominees.
However, will the fifth nominee be 2008-awards season darling Parker
or critical favorite Huffman?
Comedic Supporting
Categories
Rainn Wilson, The
Office
Tony Plana, Ugly Betty
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Jack MacBrayer, 30 Rock
Neal Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jenna Fischer, The Office
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Vanessa L. Williams, Ugly Betty
Jaime Pressly, My Name Is Earl
Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm
What a fantastic group of
people I have picked for these categories. The only person I feel will
be snubbed will be Tony Plana who, despite winning the 2006
Golden Satellite in this category, is a much underrated actor. His
performance in the Betty birthday episode was subtle and all-so-natural
and charming despite being a bit limited. I have a very good feeling
though that Vanessa Williams will pull through with a wonderful
assortment of episode submissions to select from. It also doesn’t hurt
that her show is an hour long, besting both Jaime Pressly and
Jenna Fischer. I have a feeling that many will feel Jennifer
Esposito is more worthy of a nod than veteran Emmy winner Jean
Smart in SAMANTHA WHO? but I could not help but laugh at her
performance in the opening minutes of the pilot episode, the only
episode of the series I have watched thus far. I also have the feeling
Piven will yet again be victorious and much deservedly so.
However, I feel it is time to honor someone else, at least just for this
year. While I predict Vanessa Williams and Jeremy Piven to
win, I secretly hope that Cheryl Hines and Neil Patrick Harris
win, two very unrewarded actors.
Best Television Series
Categories
30 Rock
Ugly Betty
The Office
Pushing Daisies
Two and a Half Men
Dexter
Mad Men
Damages
Boston Legal
Grey’s Anatomy
There are just so many quality shows with so many quality performances
that the Emmys just have to spread the wealth. While I could go without
a GREY’S ANATOMY nomination this year, it hasn’t exactly been the best
array of episodes quite yet, it will be nice to see it stay afloat.
Unlike comedies of recent, 30 ROCK will be the first since FRASIER in
1997 and 1998 to score back-to-back victories with a much better
sophomore season than its freshman season. The only series standing in
its way is last year’s snubbed dramedy UGLY BETTY, which may finally enjoy some
glory in this category. Also look for carbon-cut-out MAD MEN win for
drama, with a possible upset in Showtime’s murderously fun thriller
DEXTER
or even long-been-snubbed GREY’S ANATOMY in a make-up victory of sorts.
My possible substitutes are LOST or even HOUSE, M.D. instead of
DAMAGES
and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM or CALIFORNICATION
for TWO AND A HALF MEN.
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