TV Academy Shines Emmy Love on "Big Love," "30 Rock," "Mad Men," "Lost," "Damages"

I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised this early morning in Los Angeles.

The Emmy nominees were announced this morning and I have to commend them for showering such love onto diverse and unique series such as Big Love, Mad Men, 30 Rock, Breaking Bad, Little Dorrit, Flight of the Conchords, , and Damages, even though Battlestar Galactica failed to garner a single nomination in the major categories.

Hell, one of the talented troika of female leads on AMC's Mad Men--Elisabeth Moss--even landed a nomination, as did the entire main cast of 30 Rock! So, something's right in Hollywood for a change.

Meanwhile, FOX's Family Guy snagged the first outstanding comedy series nomination for an animated series... in fifty years. (Not since The Flintstones has an animated comedy scored a nomination.) Something which sadly The Simpsons was never able to achieve in its heyday.

So which series and actors landed Emmy nominations? Let's talk about the major categories. (The full list of nominations can be found here.)

Outstanding Drama Series:
Big Love (HBO)
Breaking Bad (FX)
Dexter (Showtime)
House (FOX)
Lost (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC)

I have to say that I'm actually quite pleased overall with the selection here, which shows some love for quirky cable dramas like Big Love, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Dexter while also lauding network hits like Lost and House. I'm not surprised by the inclusion of Lost and the sensational Mad Men but if I'm being totally honest, I'd love to see Big Love, which is coming off of a mind-blowingly sensational third season, walk away with the top prize here.

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Entourage (HBO)
Family Guy (FOX)
Flight Of The Conchords (HBO)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
30 Rock (NBC)
Weeds (Showtime)

Loving the inclusion of Flight of the Conchords, despite a somewhat subpar second season compared to the strength of its freshman year, but I'm glad to see that the quirky Kiwi comedy won over Emmy voters not just here but also in the lead actor in a comedy category as well. And kudos to the cast and crew of How I Met Your Mother for snagging a nom in the highly competitive category here. Ultimately, I'm hoping--and it's rather likely--that 30 Rock once again walks off with the statuette here. It really is, hands-down, the very best comedy on television today.

Outstanding Miniseries:
Generation Kill (HBO)
Little Dorrit (PBS)

Generation Kill might have the HBO imprimatur but I'm rooting for the lush and emotionally resonant Little Dorrit to win here. Would love to see a Dickens adaptation win the mini-series prize and the cast and crew of this PBS/BBC production were absolutely top-notch.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series:
Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Jemaine Clement - Flight Of The Conchords (HBO)
Tony Shalhoub - Monk (USA)
Steve Carell - The Office (NBC)
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock (NBC)
Charlie Sheen - Two And A Half Men (CBS)

I'm blown away by the fact that Jemaine Clement managed to get a nomination here and I almost want Clement to win, just so I can watch what would be a fairly surreal and hysterical acceptance speech. Just... wow. Never would have imagined this. Love that Jim Parsons got nominated and his reaction on the nomination telecast this morning was priceless. The rest of the category is pretty predictable (cough, Tony Shalhoub, cough) but I'm once again putting my money on 30 Rock's incomparable Alec Baldwin. It's what Jack Donaghy would do, after all.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series:
Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad (AMC)
Michael C. Hall - Dexter (Showtime)
Hugh Laurie - House (FOX)
Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment (HBO)
Jon Hamm - Mad Men (AMC)
Simon Baker - The Mentalist (CBS)

As much as I love Bryan Cranston, I have to say that I want Jon Hamm to bring home the win with every iota of my being. His smoldering performance as Don Draper in Season Two of Mad Men was powerful, provocative, and heartbreaking and he anchored the show with a nuanced masculinity and dynamic charisma. As for the others, Laurie and Byrne were expected, but Simon Baker for The Mentalist? Really? Over Bill Paxton for Big Love? Or anyone from Battlestar Galactica? Grr.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures Of Old Christine (CBS)
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who? (ABC)
Sarah Silverman - The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central)
Tina Fey - 30 Rock (NBC)
Toni Collette - United States Of Tara (Showtime)
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds (Showtime)

Two words: Tina Fey. Need I say more?

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series:
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer (TNT)
Glenn Close - Damages (FX)
Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men (AMC)
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace (TNT)

Thank you, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, for--finally!--acknowledging the incredible performance of Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss; her turn as Peggy Olsen this past season was an understated thing of beauty, haunting for her sorrow, inspiring for her strength of character. That fellow femmes January Jones and Christina Hendricks should be overlooked once again is shameful but I do have to credit them for at least shining a much-deserved spotlight on Moss here. Personally, I'd love for her to win. Or for Glenn Close to get the prize for her fearless portrayal of Patty Hewes on FX's Damages, a character who is a seething mess of complexity and anger.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series:
Kevin Dillon - Entourage (HBO)
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Rainn Wilson - The Office (NBC)
Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock (NBC)
Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock (NBC)
Jon Cryer - Two And A Half Men (CBS)

I'm loving the support for NBC's 30 Rock here, with Morgan and McBrayer landed nominations for their roles as Tracy and Kenneth. Wish they could both win, but thinking they'll split the vote, so I'm giving the ubiquitous Neil Patrick Harris the edge here. A very tough category this year and one I'll be watching extremely closely.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series:
William Shatner - Boston Legal (ABC)
Christian Clemenson - Boston Legal (ABC)
Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad (AMC)
William Hurt - Damages (FX)
Michael Emerson - Lost (ABC)
Jon Slattery - Mad Men (AMC)

Tough, tough category here again. I think the Emmy voters tipped their hat a little bit with two nominations for Boston Legal here (would you *really* say that Shatner is supporting?) but I do love the inclusion of Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul (who should be nominated as well for his vastly different turn on Big Love, just for comparison's sake), Michael Emerson, and Jon Slattery, as well as William Hurt. Would love to see Ben Linus take home the win.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series:
Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Kristin Wiig - Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock (NBC)
Vanessa Williams - Ugly Betty (ABC)
Elizabeth Perkins - Weeds (Showtime)

Jane Krakowski doesn't get nearly as much recognition as she should for her role as Jenna on 30 Rock, so I am thrilled to see her get the nomination as I am for someone to remember the beauty and bittersweet sparkle of Pushing Daisies and give Cheno a nod as well. As for who will win, I'm not sure at all but I'd love it to be one of these two. Or one of the SNL team.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series:
Rose Byrne - Damages (FX)
Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Dianne Wiest - In Treatment (HBO)
Hope Davis - In Treatment (HBO)
Cherry Jones - 24 (FOX)

I'm thinking one of the Grey's Anatomy ladies will win this category (though no Katherine Heigl?) but nice to see Byrne get some Emmy love as well.

Outstanding Reality – Competition Program:
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Idol (FOX)
Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Bravo)
Top Chef (Bravo)

As much as I love The Amazing Race, I think it's about time the Academy recognized the genius of culinary competition series Top Chef.

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series:
30 Rock - "Reunion" (NBC): Matt Hubbard
30 Rock - Apollo, Apollo" (NBC): Robert Carlock
30 Rock - "Mamma Mia" (NBC): Ron Weiner
30 Rock - "Kidney Now! (NBC): Jack Burditt, Robert Carlock
Flight Of The Conchords - "Prime Minister" (HBO): James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie

30 Rock has a near monopoly on the comedy writing awards this year and I can't say that I'm surprised. Glad that Conchords got a single nomination here, maybe it will be enough to get the boys back in the writers room for a third go-around (and maybe some more strenuous work on the music this time around), but it's 30 Rock's category to lose. Of the four, I'd love to see "Apollo, Apollo" win for Robert Carlock. I loved that episode.

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series:
Lost - "The Incident" (ABC): Carlton Cuse, Damon Lindelof
Mad Men - "A Night To Remember" (AMC): Robin Veith, Matthew Weiner
Mad Men - "Six Month Leave" (AMC): Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Matthew Weiner
Mad Men - "The Jet Set" (AMC): Matthew Weiner
Mad Men - "Meditations In An Emergency" (AMC): Kater Gordon, Matthew Weiner

Hmm, something tells me that Mad Men is going to win this category. I thought that Cuse and Lindelof's work on Lost's "The Incident" was great but I don't think it will be enough to defeat a one-two (sorry, make that four) punch from the Mad Men writing staff. Which one, however? Not sure. They are all so profoundly beautiful, but I'll go with "Meditations in An Emergency" in a pinch.

So there you have it. Who are you rooting for to walk away with the top prize? Who got snubbed? And who do you wish the Academy would award the Emmy to? Discuss.

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards will be telecast on September 20th on CBS.

Channel Surfing: Zuniga Returns to "Melrose Place," Pileggi and Plimpton on Call for "Grey's," Eliza Coupe "Scrubs" In as Regular, and More

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing.

Daphne Zuniga (One Tree Hill) will reprise her role as photographer Jo Reynolds in the CW's relaunch of soap Melrose Place in at least two episodes. Zuniga will join several other cast members from the original Melrose Place on the CW series this fall, including Thomas Calabro, Josie Bissett, and Laura Leighton. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

Martha Plimpton (ER) has been cast in a multiple-episode story arc next season on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, where she will play the mother of a young patient at Seattle Grace. Her first appearance is set for the sixth season premiere, slated to air September 24th. In other Grey's casting news, Mitch Pileggi (Stargate: Atlantis) will reprise his role as Larry Jennings, the chairman of Seattle Grace's board of directors, in the sixth season premiere. (Hollywood Reporter, TVGuide.com)

Eliza Coupe has been upgraded to series regular on Scrubs next season, which sees the series reboot after the departure of several regulars from the cast. Coupe will reprise her role as hyper-insensitive intern Denise on the ABC Studios-produced series, alongside returning regulars Donald Faison and John C. McGinley. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

NBC has handed out a script order with a sizable penalty to family comedy Nathan vs. Nature, about a heart surgeon who tracks down his birth parents and discovers that, after giving him up for adoption, the couple had three more children that they kept and forms a bond with his newly discovered slacker siblings. Project, from Sony Pictures Television, is written and executive produced by David Guarascio and Moses Port (Just Shoot Me). (Variety)

FX has ordered semi-improvised half-hour comedy pilot The League, about a married man debating fatherhood and his fellow members of a fantasy football league in suburban Chicago, from Curb Your Enthusiasm executive producer Jeff Schaffer and wife Jackie Marcus Schaffer. Project stars Mark Duplass (Humpday), Nick Kroll (I Love You Man), Steve Rannazzisi (Paul Blart: Mall Cop),Katie Aselton (The Puffy Chair), Nadine Velazquez (My Name is Earl), Paul Scheer (Human Giant), Jon Lajoie, and Alina Foley. Leslie Bibb (Iron Man) will guest star. (Hollywood Reporter, Variety)

TBS has ordered ten episodes of new comedy series Are We There Yet?, based on the 2005 feature film of the same name about a single man who starts dating a woman with two kids. Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris) will star. Ali LeRoi (Everybody Hates Chris) will write and executive produce the series, which has an option for ninety additional episodes. Series, from Debmar-Mercury and Cube Vision and executive producers Joe Roth, Ice Cube, and Matt Alvarez, is expected to debut in June 2010. (Variety)

Keegan Michael Key (MADtv) has been cast as a series regular for the second season of CBS' comedy Gary Unmarried, where he will play Clean, a high school friend of Gary (Jay Mohr) whose minor-league baseball career was cut short by a knee injury. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC Studios has signed a first-look deal with Jennifer Garner's Vandalia Films, which intends to develop female-driven projects for the studio. Shingle is run by Garner and Juliana Janes and the company has a first-look deal with Warner Bros. for features. (Variety)

Despite the recent death of Billy Mays, Discovery Channel has ordered a second season of unscripted series Pitchmen. The cabler is said to be developing the format of the second season with Anthony Sullivan, Billy Mays III, and Thom Beers of Original Productions. No air date was announced. (via press release)

Disney Channel has found its lead for its newest comedy: 16-year-old Bridgit Mendler (Jonas), who will play the lead in Good Luck Charlie, about a girl and her brother Casey (Jason Dolley) who must care for their baby sister Charlie after their parents both go back to work full-time. Series is expected to launch early next year. (Hollywood Reporter)

Russell Brand will host MTV's 2009 Video Music Awards for MTV, following his hosting duties last year at the VMAs. (Broadcasting & Cable)

In other awards news, Kathy Griffin will host the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 12th. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Mystery Man in Black from "Lost" Talks, FX Aims for Hit with "Archer," "Harper's Island" Doomed, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

TVGuide.com talks to Lost's Titus Welliver, who played the mysterious man in black seen in the fifth season finale (that many of us are referring to as Esau). "The way that I interpreted it, on a biblical level, is that it's a sort of Cain-and-Abel scenario," said Welliver of the showdown between Jacob and his character. "So by destroying Jacob, what does that prove — that [the man in black] can ultimately have power over the island? Do the castaways become solely his playthings? And why was it so important that he find the loophole to be able to kill Jacob? That moved me in the direction of thinking that if he needs this loophole, there's a greater power than the two of them that they're answering to." (TVGuide.com)

FX has ordered six episodes of animated comedy Archer (working title), about the eccentric employees of an international spy agency, from writer/executive producer Adam Reed. Project, which will launch this fall and be paired with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, features the voices of Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, and Judy Greer. Says Variety's Michael Schneider, "Benjamin plays Sterling Archer, a suave spy who goes by the code name Duchess. Walter plays his mother, while Tyler is his ex-girlfriend, Agent Lana Kane. Greer plays his secretary; Parnell is the spy agency’s comptroller." (Variety)

Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice is reporting that there's no hope for CBS' Harper's Island, citing unnamed insiders who "insist" that there won't be a second season of the serialized slasher series. CBS, meanwhile, wouldn't comment officially on the likelihood of a cancellation. Series was originally intended to be an ongoing franchise where each season would introduce a new killer and a new batch of victims. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

Steven Weber (Brothers & Sisters) and newcomer Ben Schnetzer are in talks to come aboard ABC midseason drama series Happy Town, where they would respectively replace Dean Winters and John Patrick Amedori, who appeared in the original pilot. (Which I reviewed here.) Weber will play John Haplin, scion of the town's founding family who is distraught after the kidnapping years earlier of his daughter by the mysterious "Magic Man." Schnetzer will play John Haplin's son who is himself enmeshed in a star-crossed romance with a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. (Hollywood Reporter)

Modern Family director Jason Winer has signed a new multi-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television, under which he will remain on board ABC's single-camera comedy Modern Family as a director and co-executive producer. He'll direct six additional installments from the series' initial thirteen-episode commitment as well as develop new series for the studio with his writing partner Ryan Raddatz. (Variety)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan talks to Torchwood: Children of Earth star John Barrowman about the event season of the Doctor Who spin-off series. "I say this with my hand on my heart: If I were only asked to be Captain Jack for the next 10 years, I would do it," said Barrowman. "I'm definitely up for [Season] 4, 5, 6, whatever. For as long as they want to do it, I'm there." (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Smallville scribe Drew Z. Greenberg has joined the writing staff of Syfy's Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica, according to showrunner Jane Espenson. (Twitter)

Ryan Seacrest has signed a new contract that will pay out $15 million a year for the next three years that will keep him on board as host of FOX's American Idol through 2012 and make him exclusive to 19 Entertainment/CKX. Simon Cowell is already in the midst of renegotiating his own contract and Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi are all said to be "expected to ink new deals to return next year." (Variety)

Taryn Manning will guest star in the third episode of the CW's Melrose Place, where she will play a singer whose latest music video is directed by Jonah (Michael Rady). (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Los Angeles Times' Liesl Bradner profiles ubiquitous actor Patrick Fischler, who has appeared on the small screen this past year on such high-profile series as Lost, Mad Men, and Southland. "After Mad Men I got a lot of 'How dare you speak to Don Draper like that?'" Fischler said. "People -- mainly women -- were mad at me that I told Don off. I took it as a compliment." (Los Angeles Times)

Showtime has ordered six episodes of half-hour variety series Live Nude Comedy, described as a "mix of stand-up comedy and modern-day burlesque." Project, from Salient Media and The Collective and executive producers Gary Binkow and Michael Green, is hosted by Shannon Elizabeth and will launch on Thursday at midnight ET/PT on the pay cabler. Format will include an audience-participation sketch with Elizabeth, followed by two comedians and two dancers. (Variety)

E! Online's Watch with Kristin is reporting that Michelle Trachtenberg will fulfill her guest turn on the CW's Gossip Girl this fall, despite NBC shifting her midseason medical drama series Mercy to the fall. "Our sources tell us that Michelle Trachtenberg won't miss a beat of Gossip Girl," wrote Team Watch with Kristin. "She's doing everything she was expected to do as of last spring, and Georgina's episodes are good!" (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

HBO and Cinemax have joined Comcast's TV Everywhere initiative, allowing the cable operator to stream its series, movies, and other premium content to 5000 subscribers in the Philadelphia area in a pilot program to start in several weeks' times. The pay cablers join TNT, TBS, and Starz in the test program, which if it is successful, will be made available to Comcast subscribers around the country at no additional cost. (Hollywood Reporter)

It's official (finally!): CBS has announced that Neil Patrick Harris will host the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, to be broadcast live on September 20th. (Variety's Emmy Central)

Cabler VH1 has ordered four episodes of concert series Live and Loud Fridays from Live Nation. Series, which will feature rock performances from venues around the country, will launch this week with Poison and Def Leppard. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: "Robin Hood" Slain by BBC, Hulu Plans September Launch in UK, Neil Patrick Harris to Host Emmys, and More

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing. Hollywood seems more or less shut down already for the Fourth of July weekend, so just a few headlines this morning.

The Beeb has confirmed that it will not be bringing back drama series Robin Hood for a fourth season. The series, which starred Jonas Armstrong in the title role, saw its viewership decline to roughly four million viewers during its third (and now final) season (compared to the 8.6 million who tuned in for the series premiere in 2006). For his part, Armstrong had made it clear that the third season would be his last, stating, "It's been a great thrill, a great ride, but you can't play one part forever." (BBC News)

Hulu has announced plans to launch a UK-based online video service in September and has indicated that it is close to reaching content deals with local broadcasters after offering them equity stakes in the service as well as a share of advertising revenues. Rumors are swirling that Hulu has already approached ITV about a possible stake but that has yet to be confirmed. Service would feature more that 3000 hours of US programming as well as local-grown fare but, due to rights issues, some programs--such as The Simpsons and Heroes--would be unavailable as those rights are tied up elsewhere. (Variety)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that CBS and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has reached a deal with How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris to host the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in September, citing multiple sources. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan takes a look at the metamorphosis on Tuesday of cabler Sci Fi to Syfy and talks to Syfy president Dave Howe about the change, the channel's brand, and its future. "When people understand the rationale, they do get it," Howe told Ryan. "You can’t have a brand called 'Sport' or 'Drama' or 'News.' It’s just not a brand name." "The issue that we’ve always had with Sci Fi is that it only communicates three things: Space, aliens and the future," Howe said later. "That’s the default perception, and that’s a barrier to entry for people who we know like [reality fare such as] Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth..." (The Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Access Hollywood is reporting that Rumer Willis will guest star next season on the CW's 90210, where she will play Gia, a student at West Beverly who works on the school paper, the Blaze News, and is described as "a punky cute lesbian who isn’t afraid to speak her mind." Willis will appear in at least one episode of the series next season. (Access Hollywood)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Christian Slater Gets "Forgotten," Emerson Says No Happy Ending for "Lost," Piper Perabo Engages in "Covert Affairs," and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

Christian Slater (My Own Worst Enemy) is in talks to topline ABC drama series The Forgotten, from Warner Bros. Television and executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer. If the deal closes, Slater would replace Rupert Penry-Jones, who appeared in the original pilot episode as a former cop whose daughter was kidnapped and went missing. Another role--that played in the pilot by Reiko Aylesworth--is also being recast. The series is set to launch Tuesday, September 22nd at 10 pm. (Hollywood Reporter)

Don't look for the series finale of Lost to feature a happy ending, according to series regular Michael Emerson. "I don't think Lost will have a happy ending," Emerson told Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. "It's the end and I think we are going to start seeing more casualties. I would put money on major characters being killed. I believe it will be a sad ending to the show -- or at least bittersweet. I think it will definitely be a series finale for grownups." And Emerson is still trying to make sense of this season's finale. "I killed Jacob... maybe... probably," mused Emerson. "It isn't like we haven't seen plenty of other people be killed and somehow come back. And what does it mean if I did kill him? I Who the hell was he anyway? Obviously, Ben wanted a father. So much of our show is about bad fathers. It is one of our biggest themes. And Jacob disappointed in those final moments. And maybe Jacob made it easy for him. Maybe that was all meant to happen. Is it all ordained? Maybe. And for that matter, can Jacob even be killed? Stay tuned is my response." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Piper Perabo (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) has been cast as the lead in USA's espionage drama pilot Covert Affairs, which has yet to receive a firm greenlight from the cabler (though a pilot order is expected in the next few weeks). Perabo will play Annie Walker, a CIA trainee who joins the agency while still recovering from a relationship with an ex-boyfriend who is of special interest to her spymasters. The search is on to cast male lead Auggie Anderson, a blind tech expert. Project, written by Matt Corman and Chris Ord, comes from Universal Cable Prods. Perabo last year starred in ABC drama pilot The Prince of Motor City. (Hollywood Reporter)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan raves about BBC America's upcoming Torchwood: Children of Earth and talks with series creator Russell T. Davies about what viewers should expect from the five-episode third season "event" and promises more to come in the next few days. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Hilary Duff is joining the cast of CW's Gossip Girl next season in a multiple-episode story arc, where she will play Olivia, an incognito movie star who enrolls at NYU in order to live a simpler life and becomes Vanessa's roommate... and gets romantically entangled with Dan Humphrey. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin, Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) is said to be in talks with CBS and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to host the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in September. (Variety)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan is reporting that there will be not one but two Farscape panels at San Diego Comic-Con later this month. The first, scheduled for Friday, July 24th at 10:15 am, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series and will feature creator Rockne O'Bannon, executive producer Brian Henson, and stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black. The second will focus on the Farscape series of comic books. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Meanwhile, A&E Home Entertainment yesterday announced that they are releasing the entire series of Farscape as a repackaged "series megaset" featuring all four seasons of the series in November. (via press release)

ABC is developing reality competition series The Fast and the Funniest, which follows stand-up comedians as they travel around the country completing various tasks and performing at stops along the way. Series is described as a cross between "Last Comic Standing and The Amazing Race." Casting is underway on the series, which hails from Keep Calm Prods. and executive producers Page Hurwitz and Javier Winnik. (Variety)

Four pilots--ABC's Solving Charlie, This Little Piggy, and Romantically Challenged and CBS' House Rules--remain in contention for midseason slots on their respective schedules after cast options were extended on the pilots. Options on Alyssa Milano, Kyle Bornheimer, and Kelly Stables on Romantically Challenged have been extended; on Solving Charlie, Jimmy Wolk, Dakota Goyo, Brad Henke, and Dania Ramirez have stayed on; on This Little Piggy, only options on Andrea Parker and Rebecca Creskoff have been extended; and on House Rules, most of cast will remain on board, including Zoe McLellan, Eion Bailey, Kristin Bauer, Tawny Cypress, Anna Chlumsky, and Denzel Whitaker. (Hollywood Reporter)

Rocky Carroll will appear in both NCIS and upcoming spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles next season as NCIS director Leon Vance. Carroll is set to appear in at least six episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles' initial thirteen-episode commitment and remains a series regular on NCIS. (TVGuide.com)

NBC will air its two-episode docuseries The Wanted, which centers on "an elite team with intelligence, unconventional warfare and investigative journalism backgrounds as they hunt suspects such as Mullah Krekar, the founder of terrorist organization Ansar Al Islam," on Monday, July 20th and Monday, June 27th at 10 pm ET/PT. (Variety)

Seminal 1990s dramedy Ally McBeal is finally coming to DVD, according to Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch, who writes that both the first season and the entire series are available for pre-order at Amazon. (Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch)

Discovery Channel has given out a series order to unscripted series The Colony, in which ten strangers will spend two months inside an abandoned warehouse complex without electricity, running water, or contact with the outside world and must build a functioning society following a fictional major catastrophe. Series, from Thom Beers Original Productions, is set to launch Tuesday, July 21st at 10 pm. (Broadcasting & Cable)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Mary-Louise Parker to Keep Puffing on "Weeds," "Scrubs" Back to School, Meg Ryan to Guest Star on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. I'm back from vacation so there's loads of television-related headlines to catch up on. Buckle your seatbelts; it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Weeds star Mary-Louise Parker has put those rumors that she's leaving the Showtime comedy series to bed, stating that she's sticking around for quite some time. "Sometimes when I think about the show ending I get sad. I just can't imagine what it's going to be like," Parker told E! Online's Watch with Kristin. "We for sure have one more year, so I don't have to be sad yet. I can smile a little bit longer. I would stay on, but at a certain point it would get a little bit tired. It'd be like, we don't need to see Nancy and Andy running around in their 60s. I think it will depend on how this season goes, as to whether or not it will have a little velocity for staying around a little longer." (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

When Scrubs returns for a ninth season this fall, there will be more change than just some of the regular cast, with the focus of the series shifting from Sacred Heart Hospital to the classroom. "It'll be a lot like Paper Chase as a comedy," series creator Bill Lawrence told Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. "It's going to be a different show. It'll still be life-and-death stakes, but if the show is just Scrubs again in the hospital with a different person's voiceover, it would be a disaster and people would be mad." But there will be some familiar faces, with Donald Faison and John C. McGinley on board as series regulars and Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes, and Ken Jenkins slated to make guest appearances when the medical students are working at Sacred Heart. "Med students in their first three years have to spend anywhere from 10 to 50 percent of their time at a hospital," said Lawrence. "And that's when you'll see some of the [original cast members]. Continuity-wise, Sacred Heart will still exist with those people still working there." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

I'll have what she's having: Meg Ryan will guest star on an upcoming episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. The former When Harry Met Sally star will appear early on in the series' seventh season, which returns to HBO in September. The season will also feature an ongoing storyline that will reunite Larry David with his Seinfeld cast. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

Confirmed: T.R. Knight won't be returning to ABC's Grey's Anatomy this fall following his request to be let out of his multi-year contract. "Leaving Grey's Anatomy was not an easy decision for me to make," said Knight in a statement. "I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to play this character and will miss my fellow cast and crew very much." Series creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes, meanwhile, wished Knight "the best in his future endeavors" and said of the actor: ""He is an incredibly talented actor and a person whose strength of character is admired by all of us." (Variety)

Katherine Heigl, meanwhile, WILL be back next season on Grey's Anatomy, reprising her role as Izzie Stevens, despite a cliffhanger ending that made it seem as though Heigl was off the series for good. Sources close to the production have indicated that Heigl's option has been picked up and she will continue as a regular on the ABC medical drama series. (Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly)

Linda Hunt (The Year of Living Dangerously) has joined the cast of CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles as a series regular; she'll play "an efficient and hard-nosed former film industry technician who now oversees the 'backroom' support staff -- the folks tasked with providing everything from micro surveillance cameras to cars for the team," according to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Clayne Crawford (Jericho) has joined the cast of Day Eight of FOX's 24, where he will play "a bad boy from Dana Walsh's (Katee Sackhoff) past." (Hollywood Reporter)

Showtime has renewed comedy series Tracey Ullman's State of the Union for a third season, with seven new installments set to debut in 2010. (Variety)

Battlestar Galactica's Rick Worthy is reportedly in talks to join the cast of NBC's Heroes, entering its fourth season this fall. If a deal is reached, Worthy will allegedly be playing a Los Angeles cop and the new partner for Greg Grunberg's Matt Parkman. (Digital Spy)

Musical chairs: The Primetime Emmy Awards telecast is back on September 20th, its original ceremony date. The move comes after CBS and the TV Academy moved the telecast to September 13th in order to avoid starting late due to NFL double-header overrun... but failed to take into account that the date clashed with MTV's Video Music Awards. So it's back to September 20th, after all. (Variety's Emmy Central)

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane will recur on ABC's Flash Forward this fall, as will ER's Alex Kingston. MacFarlane plays an FBI agent in the David S. Goyer and Marc Guggenheim-overseen drama series. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

Reville has signed a talent holding deal with actor Bobb'e J. Thompson (30 Rock, Role Models) under which the company will develop a sitcom for the 13-year-old actor. (Variety)

The CW will begin rolling out its fall premieres on September 8th, which will see the second season premiere of 90210 and the series premiere of Melrose Place. Gossip Girl, meanwhile, will swap timeslots with One Tree Hill next season, with the former moving to the 9 pm timeslot; both series will launch their new seasons on September 14th. America's Next Top Model kicks off on September 9th, Vampire Diaries and Supernatural on September 10th, Beautiful Life on September 16th, and Smallville on September 25th. (Hollywood Reporter)

TLC has given a series order to Stager Invasion, which depicts professional stager Lisa Lynch giving frustrated home sellers tips on how to get their houses sold in difficult times. The twelve-episode series will launch June 30th at 8 pm ET/PT. (Variety)

Travel Channel has ordered reality competition series The Streets of America: The Search for America's Worst Driver, in which awful drivers are placed in a series of challenges in order to determine which is really the worst driver. Series, based on an international format and from A. Smith and Co. and Mentorn, will launch in the first quarter of 2010. (Variety)

USA Network has hired Spike executive Bill McGoldrick as SVP of original scripted programming; it's a return for McGoldrick who previously worked at USA. He will report to Jeff Wachtel. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Brian Austen Green Heads to "Hill," "Who" is Getting Married, Famke Janssen Returns to "Nip/Tuck," and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' Brian Austen Green is said to be in "advance talks" to join the cast of the CW's One Tree Hill next season. Should the deal close, he'll be playing Clayton, a Jerry Maguire-esque sports agent representing Nathan (James Laferty) on Season Seven of One Tree Hill. "They're ironing out a few issues," an unnamed insider told Ausiello, "but it's pretty much a done deal." The Hollywood Reporter describes the character as "a brash sports agent who represents Nathan Scott's (James Lafferty) basketball interests and has become a close friend, ally, business partner and advisor to him while also enjoying the spoils that come from being a wealthy, handsome single guy." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

SPOILER! According to a report in Britain's paper The Sun, the final David Tennant Doctor Who special will feature three weddings, with Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) all set to marry. According to unconfirmed reports, Rose would be wedding the half-human duplicate of the Doctor in a parallel universe and Martha would be marrying Rose's former sidekick Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke). As previously reported, Tennant will be dropping by spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures on the eve of Sarah Jane's own wedding. True? Or just wishful thinking? Stay tuned. (The Sun)

Famke Janssen will return to FX drama Nip/Tuck for its seventh and final season. Series creator Ryan Murphy announced that Janssen would reprise her role as transsexual Ava Moore via the series' fan forum. "Just finished the last [Nip/Tuck] script today -- the 100th episode," wrote Murphy in a post to the forum. "The end. Very strange. But I thought I would confirm something here on the forum, since you've all been so great and loyal: Ava Moore (Famke!) returns for the final two episodes." Janssen was last seen on the series in Season Two. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

The Primetime Emmy Awards will shift one week earlier this year, to September 13th. The move comes after CBS announced that they will air an NFL doubleheader that afternoon, which could have affected the start time of the Emmys telecast. Instead, CBS opted not to take a chance and moved the Emmys one week earlier. (Variety's Award Central)

CBS Television Studios has signed a two-year overall deal with Carol Barbee (Jericho, Swingtown), under which she will remain on board as an executive producer/showrunner on CBS' upcoming medical drama Three Rivers. She also executive produced the CW drama The Beautiful Life but will be handing over showrunner reins on that drama to Mike Kelley. (Hollywood Reporter)

NBC's renegotiation talks with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit stars Chris Meloni and Mariska Hartigay are said to be "moving in the right direction," according to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Disney Channel has ordered a fourth season of Hannah Montana and renewed Sonny With a Chance for a second season. Production on Season Four of Hannah Montana, which stars Miley Cyrus, is slated for early 2010. (Variety)

Discovery Channel has revived reality franchise Monster Garage and ordered a new Detroit-set series MG: Motor City, the pilot of which "will feature the team taking a Ford Model T and transforming it into a dragster." A deal for a host has yet to be closed. (Broadcasting & Cable)

Just days before the launch of Season Three of Burn Notice, cabler USA has promoted Alex Sepiol to VP of original scripted series programming. Sepiol, who reports to Jackie de Crinis, had overseen production on both Burn Notice and In Plain Sight. (Variety)

Broadcasting & Cable's Claire Atkinson talks with writer/executive producer Ray Romano about his new TNT dramedy Men of a Certain Age, which will launch in December. "We have more freedom with language and content, but there's not a lot of difference really," said Romano about the move to cable. "It's important to keep these guys as real as possible. There's a little less censorship, and you have fewer people with their hands in the mix, which is also good. It's similar except for my salary and the budgets. That's fine, though; I'm not doing it for the money. I don't want to tell them that." (Broadcasting & Cable)

VH1 has ordered a third season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, featuring Mackenzie Phillips, Dennis Rodman, Tom Sizemore, Heidi Fleiss, Mindi McCready, Lisa D'Amato, Mike Starr, Joey Kovar, and Kari Anne Peniche. Eight episodes are slated to air in early 2010. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Olyphant to Star in Elmore Leonard Pilot for FX, Sneak Peek at 100th Episode of "Lost," Enver Gjokaj Talks "Dollhouse," and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing.

Timothy Olyphant (Damages) has been cast in FX's untitled Elmore Leonard project, which is based on a short story by Leonard entitled "Fire in the Hole." Olyphant will play U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens who returns to his hometown in Kentucky. "He has a certain jaggedness, but he also loves his job," said creator/executive producer Graham Yost. "He is like an anachronism: He wears a hat, cowboy boots and a holster on his hip. It's a little bit like he was born 100 years too late." Project, from Sony Pictures Television and Timberman/Beverly Prods., will be directed by Michael Dinner and will start shooting at the end of May. (Hollywood Reporter)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan has a sneak peek at three scenes from Wednesday evening's 100th episode of ABC's Lost, entitled "The Variable." (Gee, does that title remind you of another famous installment?) All I can say is that this episode looks to pack quite a punch. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Dollhouse star Enver Gjokaj talks to E! Online's Jennifer Godwin about his character, Victor, and about what's coming up on the FOX drama, created by Joss Whedon. "We know he has a military background and that something bad happened," said Gjokaj about Victor. "Joss and I have talked briefly about that, but nothing is official." As for why Victor and Sierra (Dichen Lachman) seem to be propelled towards each other, Gjokaj said, "Pheromones? I'm not sure, but we know it's something deeper, more instinctual than liking her personality, because we don't really have those as dolls. I personally think Joss is asking, "What if there is such a thing as true love?" Something more than a pat psychological answer. What if two souls are attracted to each other even in the absence of memory?" (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Pamela Adelon (Californication) will star opposite Adam Carolla in CBS comedy pilot Ace in the Hole, where she will play the wife of Carolla's character, a nurse and mother of two. Should Ace in the Hole be picked up to series, Adelon would depart Showtime's Californication. Meanwhile, Leslie Bibb (Iron Man) has left NBC's untitled Justin Adler comedy pilot, following a creative shakeup that also saw Adler, the pilot's writer leave the project. Bibb's role is currently being recast. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC announced several additions to its summer schedule, including three installments of news magazine Primetime, Primetime: Family Secrets, Primetime: Crime, and Primetime: The Outsiders, while Primetime: What Would You Do will return for another run. Series will air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 pm ET/PT throughout the summer. The network also has four-hour mini-series Diamonds and Impact, special J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life, and a slew of reality series, including Great American Road Trip, which will now air Tuesdays at 8 pm beginning July 7th, and America's Got Talent, which will kick off with a two-hour opener on June 23rd. (Variety)

Spike is said to be close to signing a deal to acquire off-network cable rights to HBO comedy Entourage, possibly in conjunction with another channel in MTV Networks' stable, likely Comedy Central. Series will become available in 2010. (Broadcasting & Cable)

AMC's Mad Men took home the top prize yesterday at the BAFTA TV awards in London, where it won the trophy for best international series, beating out fellow nominees The Wire, Dexter, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, while Kenneth Branagh drama Wallander beat out Doctor Who, Shameless, and Spooks for the continuing drama prize. (Variety)

The New York Times talks to King of the Hill creator Mike Judge about the long-running FOX animated series wrapping its run after 13 seasons. Judge, who says that he wanted to stop working on the series six or seven years ago, says that there won't be a finale per se. "I’m not sure there will be a final episode this time around," he told the Times' Kathryn Shattuck. We did a final episode back in the first year we thought we were canceled. I was really proud of that last episode, and then when we didn’t get canceled, we had to kind of tweak it and do these different things to make it not seem so final. And I’m not sure there will be any kind of story arc. The thing I think we do well is kind of keeping it the same. I’m a big fan of just classic TV — the old Bob Newhart Show, Leave It to Beaver, The Andy Griffith Show. There was something kind of comforting in that, episode after episode, they didn’t change that much." (New York Times)

NBC is bringing back axed reality competition series The Chopping Block to the schedule. The series, which was pulled from the Peacock's lineup last month, will return on Friday, June 19th at 8 pm and air the five remaining episodes of the series. (Futon Critic)

Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein) have set up production company Points West Pictures, which they hope will develop projects that will place them in front of and behind the camera. Company is in development on three projects, two of which are being written by Westfeldt. (Hollywood Reporter)

William Morris Agency and Endeavor are expected to vote today on a potential merger that would create a major new player on the talent representation scene. The combined joint entity, WME Entertainment, would offer 300 agents, one of the top client rosters, and an annual revenue of roughly $325 million. "The deal could trigger a new wave of consolidation, putting pressure on other smaller agencies to combine or find larger partners," writes The Los Angeles Times' Dawn C. Chmielewski and Meg James. "The last significant talent agency merger was in 2006 when International Creative Management bought the smaller Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency in a move to inject new life into ICM's television business." (Los Angeles Times)

ABC Family has yanked freshman comedy Sophie off of its schedule effective immediately. The cabler will air back-to-back new episodes of fellow first-year comedy Roommates in the 9 pm hour and 10 pm hours on Monday nights beginning tonight, wrapping up its run now on May 4th, rather than June 15th. (Futon Critic)

MTV has given a series order to reality competition series The Stylist, which will pit fashion stylists against one another for a contract with a major agency, from Bunim-Murray. The cabler also ordered 80 additional episodes of dating series Parental Control, bringing the series' six season total to 200 installments. (Hollywood Reporter)

Style has renewed eight series, including Ruby, The Dish, How Do I Look?, Clean House, Split Ends, Clean House Comes Clean, Dress My Nest, and Whose Wedding Is It Anyway. The cabler has several new series in the pipeline including Mothers and Daughters of Dallas and Guiliana & Bill, a docusoap following former Apprentice winner Bill Rancic and his wife Guiliana, an anchor on E! (TV Week)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: FOX to Get "AbFab," Jane Espenson Will Be Showrunner on "Caprica," Lauren Graham, Pilot News, and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing.

FOX has handed out a pilot order to a US remake of BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous, which follows the boozy exploits of PR magnate Edina Monsoon, her magazine editrix best friend Patsy, and Edina's uptight daughter Saffy. US version will be set in LA and the script written by Christine Zander (Less Than Perfect), who will executive produce with Jennifer Saunders, Ian Moffit, Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum, and Kim Tannenbaum. Project will be produced by Sony Pictures Television, Tantamount, and BBC Worldwide Americas. (Variety)

Battlestar Galactica's Jane Espenson will serve as an executive producer on BSG prequel series Caprica and will eventually become the showrunner on the series, slated to air on Sci Fi in 2010. Espenson, whom many fans will know from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gilmore Girls, will take over the reins of Caprica's writers' room from co-creator Ron Moore later this year. Production on Caprica--which will also feature BSG writers Michael Taylor and Ryan Mottesheard, production designer Richard Hudolin, composer Bear McCreary, and special effects supervisor Gary Hutzel--is scheduled to begin in July. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Lauren Graham talks to Michael Ausiello about her upcoming run in Guys & Dolls on Broadway, the likelihood of a Gilmore Girls movie (slim to none), and her new ABC pilot--about an embittered self-help guru--which she says is a much "darker" comedy than Gilmore and features a character who is "deeply flawed." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

In other pilot news, ABC has ordered a two-hour pilot for mystery Happy Town from writers/executive producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg (October Road, Life on Mars). Project is said to be in the same vein as Twin Peaks and is "set in the hamlet of Happy Town, which had enjoyed a seven-year peace after a series of kidnappings until it is hit by another crime." (Hollywood Reporter)

As expected, NBC has given a pilot order to medical drama Trauma, from writer/executive producer Dario Scardapane, that is said to be a "a high-octane emergency medical procedural that takes place out in the field." Project, from Universal Media Studios and Film 44, will also be executive produced by Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey. (Hollywood Reporter)

Disney has renewed syndicated fantasy drama Legend of the Seeker for a second season on Tribune-owned stations. (Variety)

As anticipated, series 30 Rock and Mad Men, and mini-series John Adams swept the television categories at the SAG Awards last night and House's Hugh Laurie and Brothers & Sisters' Sally Field took home individal awards. (Hollywood Reporter)

Shortly after upgrading Sara Gilbert from recurring to series regular status on CBS' The Big Bang Theory, the former Roseanne star has now been bumped back down to recurring on the comedy series. The reason for the about-face is said to be due to the fact that the series' writers couldn't create enough story for her and Johnny Galecki's Leonard. "They couldn't write for her, so they changed her status to recurring," a source told Michael Ausiello. "It's a little mystifying." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Lauren Allen (Dirt, The 4400) will appear in a two-episode story arc on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, where she will play the ex-girlfriend of Kevin McKidd's Dr. Owen Hunt. [Editor's note: the story says ER, but they clearly mean Grey's Anatomy.] (Variety)

Executive producer John Wells is writing the series finale for NBC's ER, which is wrapping its run on April 2nd after fifteen seasons. "You want to try and find the essence of the series," said Wells about writing the finale script. "You want to find the thing that people actually identify with in the series and do something that leaves them feeling satisfied for having spent X number of hours of their lives devoted to watching your ongoing narrative." (Los Angeles Times)

CBS has ordered a pilot presentation for Missing You, an unscripted crime series which follows missing persons investigators as they take on various cases each week. Project will be executive produced by Shaun Cassidy, Ned Nalle, and James Bruce. (Hollywood Reporter)

NBC Universal has signed a deal with American Airlines to provide the carrier with in-flight entertainment. Under the terms of the exclusive two-year deal, NBC Universal will replace CBS and provide American with four 90-minute programs each month beginning March 1st. Content won't be limited to NBC, as the studio will draw from the Peacock as well as Bravo, Sci Fi, USA, Oxygen, MSNBC, films from Universal, and programs from NBC News and NBC Sports. (Variety)

Starz is developing a comedy series based on online series Tom and Sam Are Stuck, from creators Tom Saunders and Sam Laybourne, about a man and his uncle from the future who find themselves trapped in the present day when their time machine fails. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

"Deal With It, Cate Blanchett!": "30 Rock," "John Adams," and "Mad Men" Among TV Winners at Golden Globes

Is it just me or was it positively inspirational to see 30 Rock rack up so many statuettes last night at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards?

The NBC comedy, which many predicted would be canceled as soon as it launched, racked up three awards including Best TV Comedy, Best Actress in TV Comedy (Tina Fey), and Best Actor in a TV Comedy (Alec Baldwin), all three of the categories in which it was nominated. Likewise, HBO's miniseries John Adams cliched all seven awards in all of its nominated categories (go Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Wikinson!) and Mad Men took home the top spot for TV Drama... even though series leads Jon Hamm and January Jones were cruelly overlooked for their superlative performances this season.

What did I think of the awards and what burning questions do I still have? Let's discuss.

I'm not quite sure why Jeff Zucker looked quite so displeased when 30 Rock took home the award for Best TV Comedy but the man could barely muster a smile for the comedy series' first Golden Globe best series win, despite the fact that it airs on NBC. I loved that Alec Baldwin had to whisper to Tracy Morgan to remember to thank Zucker but, having given a stink-eye like that, don't look for Zucker to get many more kudos from Fey and Company in the future.

Was it just me or was Morgan's acceptance speech for 30 Rock's win the very best acceptance speech of all time? Sure, my heart melted to see Kate Winslet win not just once but twice last night (after years of going home empty-handed) and Sally Hawkens' shocked I love you's were absolutely adorable, but Morgan brought down the house with his tongue-in-cheek (and stream-of-consciousness) speech.

"Tina Fey and I had an agreement that if Barack Obama won, I would speak for the show from now on," said Morgan. "Welcome to post-racial America. I’m the face of post-racial America. Deal with it, Cate Blanchett!"

Um, wow. I was rolling on the floor.

Second best acceptance speech then has got to go to 30 Rock producer/star/writer Tina Fey:



"If you ever start to feel too good about yourself, they have this thing called the Internet, and you can find a lot of people there who don’t like you. I’d like to address some of them now. BabsonLaCrosse, you can suck it. Dianefan, you can suck it. Cougar-Letter, you can really suck it, because you’ve been after me all year." (If she had worked in "by the hammer of Thor," she'd have clinched the best speech.)

Was anyone else shifting uncomfortably in their seats when Baldwin mentioned his daughter Ireland and how she makes him laugh at home?

I was really upset that Anna Paquin took home the award for Best Actress, TV Drama over the vastly overlooked January Jones. I was thrilled that the HFPA finally recognized that amazing talents of Jones, who along with the other women of Mad Men typically seem to be absent from the awards races... so what was up with Paquin's win for True Blood? Could things be shifting back in HBO's favor once again? (And, to my friends at HBO, congratulations on sweeping awards.)

Did anyone notice a man climbing over a wall during NBC's ludicrously awkward red carpet pre-show? What was up with that?

I keep forgetting that Kate Winslet is married to Sam Mendes... and not Leonardo DiCaprio.

Loved that Laura Dern thanked Recount writer Danny Strong (a.k.a. Jonathan from Buffy) during her acceptance speech and made a political statement ("I will cherish this as a reminder of the extraordinary, incredible outpouring of people who demanded their voice be heard in this last election so we can look forward to an amazing change in this country.") to boot.

How hysterical was Ricky Gervais last night as he poked fun at the Hollywood Foreign Press for not nominating him for Ghost Town and bemoaned the lack of gag reels on Holocaust films? If there's one person you can rely on to crack some off-color jokes and make everyone stop drinking and eating for two seconds to pay attention, it's Ricky. (Whereas I thought that Sasha Baron Cohen's jab at the breakdown of Madonna and Guy Ritchie's marriage went a little too far over the line.) And I thought that his way of getting everyone's attention was a hell of a lot more funny than Jennifer Lopez ("Mama's talking"). Genius.

All in all, another reminder of why the Globes are a boozy, unpredictable affair where anything can happen and a lively antidote to the more staid, predictable, and at times painfully slow Emmys and Oscars.

A full list of the winners of last night's 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards can be found here.

Golden Globe Nominations Handed Out: Much Love for "30 Rock" and "Mad Men," None for "Lost"

Another December, another batch of Golden Globe nominations. This year, however, there's at least hope that the show will go on. (If you remember, last year's telecast was plagued by, uh, issues even greater than force majeure: namely the 100-day WGA strike in which everyone boycotted NBC's Golden Globe telecast, resulting in a 3-hour press conference to announce the winners.)

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association this morning announced its nominees for the 2009 Golden Globes, which will be handed out at a live telecast on NBC on January 11th.

While I am beyond thrilled that Mad Men and 30 Rock got some much needed love, with 30 Rock justly landing nominations for Best Comedy, Best Actress in a Comedy (Tina Fey), and Best Actor in a Comedy (Alec Baldwin), I'm pleased as punch that an awards committee has finally given recognition to Mad Men's January Jones, who landed her first nomination as the embattled Betty Draper on AMC's period drama.

The women of Mad Men have been wrongfully overlooked time and time again during award season, so I am happy that someone has finally gotten it right for a change. And while I wish that Jones could have been joined by her fellow female stars of Mad Men like Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks, I was happy to see that Jon Hamm also received a nomination to boot.

I do take umbrage however with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association offering a nomination for Best Drama Series to HBO's True Blood over the far superior (and creatively reinvigorated) Season Four of Lost. Or as one Televisionary reader emailed me: "I'm sorry, I know I watch the show, but seriously? True Blood gets a nomination over Lost???"

I understand that Alan Ball is still much beloved for HBO's Six Feet Under and True Blood has found itself a core fan base of devoted watchers but Lost was such a superior series this year in absolutely every respect that it's actually offensive to find it left off the nominee list. One need only watch the superlative episode "The Constant" to see that Lost's absence from the list is an egregious error.

A full list of the Golden Globe nominees in the television categories can be found after the jump.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Showtime/John Goldwyn Productions/The Colleton Company/Clyde Phillips Productions

b. HOUSE (FOX)
Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions

c. IN TREATMENT (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

d. MAD MEN (AMC)
Lionsgate Television

e. TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. SALLY FIELD BROTHERS AND SISTERS

b. MARISKA HARGITAY LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS
UNIT

c. JANUARY JONES MAD MEN

d. ANNA PAQUIN TRUE BLOOD

e. KYRA SEDGWICK THE CLOSER


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

a. GABRIEL BYRNE IN TREATMENT

b. MICHAEL C. HALL DEXTER

c. JON HAMM MAD MEN

d. HUGH LAURIE HOUSE

e. JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS THE TUDORS



BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. 30 ROCK (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little
Stranger Inc.

b. CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then...

c. ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

d. THE OFFICE (NBC)
Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios

e. WEEDS (SHOWTIME)
Lionsgate Television


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. CHRISTINA APPLEGATE SAMANTHA WHO?

b. AMERICA FERRERA UGLY BETTY

c. TINA FEY 30 ROCK

d. DEBRA MESSING THE STARTER WIFE

e. MARY-LOUISE PARKER WEEDS


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. ALEC BALDWIN 30 ROCK

b. STEVE CARELL THE OFFICE

c. KEVIN CONNOLLY ENTOURAGE

d. DAVID DUCHOVNY CALIFORNICATION

e. TONY SHALHOUB MONK


BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. A RAISIN IN THE SUN (ABC)
Sony Pictures Television

b. BERNARD AND DORIS (HBO)
Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films

c. CRANFORD (PBS)
A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.

d. JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
Playtone in association with HBO Films

e. RECOUNT (HBO)
Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. JUDI DENCH CRANFORD

b. CATHERINE KEENER AN AMERICAN CRIME

c. LAURA LINNEY JOHN ADAMS

d. SHIRLEY MACLAINE COCO CHANEL

e. SUSAN SARANDON BERNARD AND DORIS


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. RALPH FIENNES BERNARD AND DORIS

b. PAUL GIAMATTI JOHN ADAMS

c. KEVIN SPACEY RECOUNT

d. KIEFER SUTHERLAND 24: REDEMPTION

e. TOM WILKINSON RECOUNT



BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. EILEEN ATKINS CRANFORD

b. LAURA DERN RECOUNT

c. MELISSA GEORGE IN TREATMENT

d. RACHEL GRIFFITHS BROTHERS AND SISTERS

e. DIANNE WIEST IN TREATMENT


BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

a. NEIL PATRICK HARRIS HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

b. DENIS LEARY RECOUNT

c. JEREMY PIVEN ENTOURAGE

d. BLAIR UNDERWOOD IN TREATMENT

e. TOM WILKINSON JOHN ADAMS

What do you think of the nominees? Who will you be rooting for come next month to take home the statue? Who do you think should have been nominated and who do you hope goes home empty-handed? Discuss.

Golden Globe winners will be announced on Sunday, January 11th at 8 pm ET/PT on NBC.

Reality Bites: The 60th Annual Emmy Awards

You do not cut off Patty Hewes in the middle of an acceptance speech.

Come to think of it, you probably shouldn't be cutting off Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, Tina Fey, Bryan Cranston, and the aforementioned Glenn Close, period.

But that's just what they did on last night's tedious Emmy telecast, focusing instead on the inane chatter among the five nominated reality series hosts and a plethora of pointless and unfunny filler material.

Sure, the 60th Annual Emmy Awards wasn't as big a fiasco as last year's circular stage debacle, though this year came close with the ridiculous time-waste that was the show's opening twelve minutes or so, cheap-looking on-screen graphics for each category, fruitless use of familiar sets, and awkward "repartee" between presenters and our so-called "hosts."

The few high points for me? Ricky Gervais, for one, whose painfully funny (not to mention cringe-worthy) reminiscing of his in absentia win last year for Extras was absolutely spot-on and brilliant; Tommy Smothers finally getting his writing award from Steve Martin; Kathy Griffin forcing the audience to stand up for Don Rickles; Tina and Amy; Colbert and Stewart's prunes vs. plums debate.

And, oh, yes: some actual love for series like 30 Rock, Mad Men, and Damages, all of which prove that television series don't need to be dumbed-down cookie-cutter programs and that there is a place for smart, compelling, and sophisticated programming on American television.

That 30 Rock (which, incidentally, is releasing its sophomore season on DVD on October 7th) managed to take home awards for writing, best actor in a comedy (Alec Baldwin!), best actress in a comedy (Tina Fey!), and best comedy made my evening (despite the uneven pacing and sub par hosting), as did the best drama award for Mad Men and its writing award for series creator Matthew Weiner and Glenn Close and Zeljko Ivanek (yay!) winning for Damages.

But let's face it: the rest of the awards ceremony was pretty awful. You don't waste time at the beginning by dragging out Oprah to make an introduction and then leave five reality hosts filling precious airtime with unfunny nonsense to then later cut off your actual A-list award winners. Who seriously thought that Cranston would win for AMC's Breaking Bad? I was pretty damn surprised, so I would have liked to have let the man actually finish his acceptance speech... instead of watch Jimmy Kimmel take ten minutes to announce the winner of the new best reality host category. (Yawn.) The less said about Josh Groban's musical montage the better.

But then again, maybe what scared the producers of the Emmys was the fear that network television (save, say, 30 Rock) is completely irrelevant to the Emmy awards any more, given that cable television (and not even HBO at that!) has usurped its position as the home for forward-thinking drama. And, no matter how many reality television hosts you serve up as window dressing (really, the best bit was to have Tom Bergeron and William Shatner strip Heidi Klum?), that's the real issue here?

We might be experiencing, to quote the inimitable Tina Fey, a "turkey-burger economy" right now, but I am thankful to Fey, Weiner, and all of the talented actors, writers, and producers out there who continue to create meaningful, challenging, and stimulating work that not only entertains us but also makes us think. I feel vindicated that series like 30 Rock, Mad Men, and Damages took home some statuettes rather than see some other series (I won't name names here) walk away with the top prizes.

But what did you think? Were you happy with the winners? Saddened by those who went home empty-handed? Bored by the entire proceedings? Talk back.

TV Academy Shines Emmy Love on "30 Rock," "Mad Men," "Damages"

After weeks of leaked semi-finalist nominee lists, it's good to finally get a glimpse of which series and actors actually made it onto the ballots, instead of seeing yet another list that showed who could make it to the nomination stage.

The Emmy nominees were announced this morning and I have to commend them for showering such love onto diverse and unique series such as Mad Men, 30 Rock (17 nominations, no less!), and Damages... while also locking some repeat offenders--like Ugly Betty in the comedy category--out in the cold. (Yes, I watch Ugly Betty but should it be competing with such comedy series as 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, or The Office? Hells no, especially when HBO's hysterical Flight of the Conchords didn't even get a mention.)

So which series and actors did land Emmy noms? Let's talk about the major categories.

Outstanding Drama Series:
Mad Men (AMC)
Boston Legal (ABC)
House (FOX)
Lost (ABC)
Damages (FX)
Dexter (Showtime)

I'm actually quite impressed with the selection here as well as the fact that it must be the first year in a long, long time that HBO didn't have a nominee for best drama series in the mix. (Though I do wish that Big Love would start getting some, well, big love from the TV Academy.) Damages and Mad Men made Emmy history as the first basic cable programs to receive nominations in the outstanding drama series category. It's a tough call for me between Lost, Damages, and Mad Men, all of which have had exceptionally good years. The TV Academy does love a comeback story and Lost managed to please on all levels during a season in which the producers creatively reinvigorated the series; Damages dazzled with deft plotting, overlapping storylines, and a dense, complex storyline; Mad Men ambitiously recreated the world of the 1960s, complete with sexism, racism, and the eternal battle of the haves and have-nots that percolated underneath the gorgeous costumes and set pieces. Forced to choose one, I give the edge to Mad Men in the end.

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Entourage (HBO)
The Office (NBC)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)
30 Rock (NBC)

Is there really any doubt in your minds? I'm picking 30 Rock all the way.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
James Spader, Boston Legal
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Hugh Laurie, House
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Again, another tough race to call with some real power-players competing neck and neck here for the title. My money is on Jon Hamm for turning in a performance that was at once self-assured and completely vulernable. The scene at the very end of Mad Men's first season--in which Don Draper sits alone in his house, abandoned by the family he pushed away--was absolutely heartbreaking, powerful, and established Hamm as the one to beat.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

I'd be insane not to put my money on Glenn Close for her role as Damages' cutthroat attorney Patty Hewes, who gives new meaning to the phrase toxic corporate culture. Her tough-as-nails Patty is willing to do anything--from covering up a crime to having her associate murdered--in order to win her crusade against Arthur Frobisher. It's a performance that as rich and layered as any film role as Patty strips away the last vestiges of her very soul in order to defeat her nemesis.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Ted Danson, Damages
Zekjko Ivanek, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery, Mad Men

Um, wow. I really don't know who I'd want to win this category but as long as Shatner doesn't walk away with the statuette, I'd be thrilled. Any of these guys would be an incredible win and represent the cream of the crop on the supporting actor side, from Danson's amazing turn as malevolent Arthur Frobisher to Emerson's turn as Machiavellian Benjamin Linus. Tough race to call.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

Me, I'm just happy to see that Katherine Heigl isn't up for anything for Grey's Anatomy. That's almost enough of a present for me, though I do wish that the ladies of Mad Men--January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, and Christina Hendricks--would have ended up on this nominee list.

Oustanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Steve Carell, The Office
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies

I'm thrilled to bits to see Lee Pace's name up here against such luminaries as Steve Carell, Alec Baldwin, Charlie Sheen, and Tony Shalhoub; his performance as Ned the Pie Maker on Pushing Daisies was a master class in understated comedy, deft wordplay, and simmering desire. Still, I have to say that it's Baldwin's star turn as Jack Donaghy that truly defines the words "lead actor," as he absolutely pulls the cast of 30 Rock to a whole new level.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Tina Fey.
Tina Fey.
Tina Fey.

Need I say more? Sure, Mary-Louise Parker has dazzled with her performance as Nancy Botwin on Weeds but I can't say that I've found Nancy to be particularly sympathetic these days and I'm finding I have a strong aversion to her character lately, while America Fererra's Betty Suarez is now grating on my nerves. Christina Applegate is absolutely adorable on Samantha Who, but she doesn't hold a candle to Fey's self-assured performance as Liz Lemon. What other actress could eat an entire sandwich (with special dipping sauce!) in one take in an outrageous sight gag that underplayed her character's insistent need to stop ex-boyfriend Floyd at the airport gate and still come off as entirely lovable?

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Kevin Dillion, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Hmmm... give it to Rainn Wilson already, won't you?

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

My money's on either Pushing Daisies' Chenoweth, whose Olive is a study in sublimated desire, or SNL's Amy Poehler, who will get her own scripted comedy series next spring on NBC. I'd love Pushing Daisies to walk away with an acting prize and Chenoweth might just find herself singing about the birdhouse in her soul on that Emmy stage.... Or Jean Smart will manage to walk away with the top prize. Hmmm.

Outstanding Mini-Series:
Cranford (PBS)
John Adams (HBO)
The Andromeda Strain (A&E)
Tin Man (Sci Fi)

If you haven't seen Cranford, you've done yourself a major disservice; the PBS mini-series featured a dream cast that included Dame Judi Dench, Philip Glenister, and Michael Gambon and deftly interweaves three novels into a glorious exploration of the war between technological progress and small town England as the railroad tries to make its way to the female-run village of Cranford. Along the way, beloved characters die, couples marry and spat, and a cold dowager discovers the beating of her heart, possibly too late. Brilliant and spellbinding.

Outstanding Reality-Competition Series:
American Idol (FOX)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Bravo)
Amazing Race (CBS)
Top Chef (Bravo)

I have a feeling Amazing Race will walk away with the top honor but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Bravo's Top Chef, which has tranformed culinary competition into a cutthroat, edge-of-your-seat extravaganza.

So there you have it. Who are you rooting for to walk away with the top prize? Who got snubbed? And who do you wish the Academy would award the Emmy to? Discuss.

Jeremy Bentham Snubbed by Emmy Noms Shortlist

The shortlist for the 2008 Emmy Award nominees been announced and I am utterly confounded by the fact that Terry O'Quinn's name is nowhere to be found on the list of eleven supporting actor shortlist nominees.

Sure, Lost is represented with the inclusion of both Michael Emerson and Naveen Andrews, but I thought for sure that, after his brilliant performance this season on Lost as John Locke/Jeremy Bentham, O'Quinn would end up on that shortlist, if not walking off with a full-blown nomination, especially after a storyline that not only gave O'Quinn a chance to shine but also reasserted his character at the forefront of the series' labyrinthine storyline.

Hell, it was his bravura performance at the end of the series' fourth season as alternately fragile/strong Locke that made me fall in love with the character all over again and the man did win the 2007 supporting actor award with good reason.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Andrews and Emerson make it onto the final ballot but I can't help but feel stung after the exclusion of O'Quinn. Sure, I'm thrilled that Ted Danson, Zeljko Ivanek, Bruce Dern, and John Slattery on are on the shortlist, but Medium's Jake Weber? Really???

Color me confused.

"Mad Men" Vs. "The Wire": TCA Announces Nominees and A Few (Pleasant) Surprises

It's that time of year again as the Television Critics Association has announced their nominations for the TCA Awards, which will be handed out on July 19th in Beverly Hills.

Making headlines: AMC's Mad Men has tied HBO's The Wire with the top number of nominations. (For those of you looking for a sign that critics are clearly behind the itty-bitty cabler and the recent Golden Globe winner for Best Drama, there you go.)

This year's group of nominees are quite exciting choices (as seen from the full list below), with some of Televisionary's favorite programs represented, including multiple nominations for Damages, 30 Rock, Lost, Pushing Daisies, and Flight of the Conchords, to name but a few.

The full list of nominees for the TCA Awards is as follows:

Program of the Year:
John Adams Lost Mad Men Ken Burns' The War The Wire

Comedy:
30 Rock The Colbert Report The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Flight of the Conchords The Office

Drama:
Damages Friday Night Lights Lost Mad Men The Wire

Movies, Miniseries, and Specials:
John Adams Masterpiece: Cranford Masterpiece: The Complete Jane Austen Ken Burns' The War A Raisin in the Sun

New Program:
Breaking Bad Damages Flight of the Conchords Mad Men Pushing Daisies

Individual Achievement in Comedy:
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Ray Wise (Reaper)

Individual Achievement in Drama:
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Paul Giamatti (John Adams)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
David Simon (The Wire)

Children's Programming:
Curious George Hannah Montana Word Girl Yo Gabba Gabba

News and Information:
Alive Day Memories This American Life Frontline Nimrod Nation Ken Burns' The War

Heritage Award:
M*A*S*H Roots Saturday Night Live Sesame Street The Wire

Which programs are you rooting for to take home the top prize? And who do you think will win in the nomination showdown between The Wire and Mad Men... and who should? Discuss.

Live from the Death Star: The 59th Annual Emmy Awards

Wow, talk about a boring Emmy Awards. I mean I had my doubts when it was announced that Ryan "I'm about as deep as my spray tan" Seacrest would be hosting, but it's FOX, so who else were they going to get to MC this bloated thing, anyway? Paula Abdul? Hardly. (Please bring Ellen DeGeneres back. Please?)

Whose misguided idea was it to hold the Emmys in a circular stadium? I felt like I was watching a basketball game rather than a TV awards ceremony. Badly, badly done. It looked cheap, tacky, and possibly very fitting with the Emmys' new home on FOX. Plus, that Death Star-designed black disco ball freaked me out. Did you notice how FOX seemed to make it out of the opening Family Guy song and dance relatively unscathed? Hmm, coincidence?

In any event, there were a few bright spots, like the writing award for The Office's Greg Daniels, Helen Mirren winning for the superlative Prime Suspect: The Final Act, and Lost's Terry O'Quinn finally receiving some recognition for the amazing work he does as John Locke. He deserves some time in the spotlight. And, yes, he definitely deserves the paycheck of even the least-paid Wisteria Lane denizen of Desperate Housewives.

Also, thank you, Academy members, for doing something right and giving a statuette to the talented cast and crew at NBC's 30 Rock. More than any other series this year, 30 Rock proved that groundbreaking comedy can air on network television (strange, but true). It also proved that the voters aren't completely out of touch with reality, like they were when they awarded best supporting actor in a comedy to Jeremy Piven. Again. Still, the echoes of Arrested Development's win for best comedy struck a chord in my heart. Here's to hoping 30 Rock doesn't suffer the same fate...

But onto the winners and this jaded writer's reactions for each of the main categories.

Drama Series: The Sopranos.

Yawn. But it was rather predicable that the series--which faded to black with a whimper rather than a bang--would get an awards swan song at the Emmys. Still, a standing ovation for David Chase et al? Was that really necessary, given the flak they got for that unfulfilling ending? At least The Sopranos is now ineligible for any more Emmys. That must count for something, right?

Comedy Series: 30 Rock.

Finally, something to cheer about. (And I really did jump off my couch and holler.) Congrats to Tina Fey, the cast, and the uber-talented crew of this smart, witty, absurd comedy. To all the naysayers out there who predicted the series wouldn't make it through the first season, one giant raspberry in your honor.

The only other series up for consideration that I would have been happy with winning was The Office, but even I will admit that 30 Rock had a significantly stronger season than The Office. And, finally, a voting body that admits that there's no rationale for awarding a top comedy prize to Ugly Betty. Yes, it's a funny series, but it's a melodrama with comedic undertones, NOT a comedy. Hee. I'm still ecstatic about 30 Rock.

Reality-Competition Program: The Amazing Race.

As always, the classiest reality series on television. Now maybe CBS will realize how much its fans are going to miss it this fall and, you know, actually put the next season on the air sooner rather than later. Hmm, word of advice, CBS? Pull the god-awful Kid Nation off your lineup and replace it with Amazing Race, stat.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series: James Spader, Boston Legal.

Meh. I don't know a single person who watches Boston Legal and yet Academy voters seem to love the damn thing. And let's be honest, neither 24 nor Rescue Me had very good seasons. But did you see how the crowd got super-excited when they announced the winner as James and then completely deflated when they followed that with Spader? Teehee.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters.

Sure, I was rooting for The Riches' Minnie Driver to walk away with the award, but the Emmy voters really like Sally Field. They really like her. So I'm okay with Field, in her triumphant return to television, winning the Emmy for her work as matriarch on Brothers & Sisters. And, oh, the word she got bleeped for saying? It was goddamn. Sigh. Cut to large, ominous disco ball...

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Terry O'Quinn, Lost.

Thank you, Emmy gods, for listening for once and giving this award to Terry O'Quinn. The man himself didn't disappoint, bringing us an acceptance speech that was at once touching and hysterical. And, yes, more than a little pointed towards the inequity between the pay scale of the Losties and the ladies of Wisteria Lane.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy.

Oh, Izzy. At least Eva Longoria and the cast of Entourage pronounced Heigl's name correctly when she won the award, as the announcer couldn't seem to do that correctly when they announced her as a presenter. (Nice, guys.) Still, she looked absolutely gorgeous and seemed truly, sincerely shocked.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Ricky Gervais, Extras.

Oh. My. God. I am completely blown away and speechless. I'm a huge Gervais fan but I never, ever expected this, considering that he was up against Steve Carell and Alec Baldin and nominated for a series, which I loved but rarely anyone else seemed to tune in to (Extras). Still, I am ecstatic that Gervais would take home the statue, especially in such distinguished company. I guess there is some love for Andy Millman, after all.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: America Ferrara, Ugly Betty.

It's not a comedy, people. Sigh. I was really, really hoping that this would go to Tina Fey for 30 Rock or Julia Louis-Dreyfus for New Adventures of Old Christine. Or Mary-Louise Parker for Weeds. Sure, Ugly Betty is funny (um, at times) and Ferrara is funny as Betty, but really? I'm quickly losing patience with the Emmy voters again.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, Entourage.

Okay, I've officially had it with the voters. Ask anyone I know that they'll say that Entourage peaked years ago. It was bad enough to give Piven the Emmy last year, but to add insult to injury and do it again this year over, say, Rainn Wilson for The Office? Grr. It just burns me up inside. Enough of Piven, enough already.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jaime Pressly, My Name is Earl.

Question: why was Jaime Pressly quite so... red? Flustered nerves? Sunburn? It's an Emmy mystery. Like Jeremy Piven's award, I'd be happier if she had won this a few years ago. Personally, I'd have rather seen this go to Vanessa Williams or Elizabeth Perkins. It's almost as though the voters were reminiscing about a few seasons back rather than, er, watching the screeners from this season.

And there you have it: another year, another Emmys. Underwhelming, boring, or all over the place? You decide.

Emmy Nominations Unveiled; Lots of Love for "The Office" and "30 Rock"

Can you believe it's that time again? I can. But then again, I got up at the ungodly hour of 5:35 am to see Jon Cryer and Kyra Sedgwick unveil the nominees for the 2007 Emmy Awards this morning.

So who made the cut in some of the top categories? Let's grab a cup of coffee and find out.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Extras • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman

Monk • USA • NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Steve Carell as Michael Scott

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper

This is a seriously tough category, filled with some strong contenders. Who would have ever thought we'd see Extras' Ricky Gervais competing against The Office's Steve Carell, who's playing a character based on a character originally created and performed by.... Ricky Gervais? Likewise, I'm very happy to see that the voicemail incident didn't derail Alec Baldwin's chances at a nomination for his stellar work in 30 Rock. I do want the winner to be one of the three and all three series leads were absolutely superlative this past season. So who has my vote? Steve Carell, by a hair.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
James Spader as Alan Shore

House • Fox • Heel and Toe Productions, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with NBC Universal Television
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House

Rescue Me • FX • Produced by Apostle, the Cloudland Company and DreamWorks Television in association with Sony Pictures Television
Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano

24 • Fox • Imagine Television & 20th Century Fox Television in association with Realtime Productions
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer

While normally Kiefer seems a lock for this category every year, this past season of 24 was so sub-par that I don't see the award going to Jack Bauer. Instead, the Academy will either award it to James Gandolfini for his swan song this past season or do something daring and give it to Denis Leary. Please let it be the latter.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo

The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari’s Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
America Ferrera as Betty Suarez

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

Wow! Only one of the Desperate Housewives made the cut this year! Who would have thunk it? I'm thrilled to see some other talented women in this category, especially 30 Rock's Tina Fey, Old Christine's Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Weeds' Mary-Louise Parker. I do love America Ferrera but wish there were another category for one-hour dramedies (you could nominate all the Desperate Housewives alongside her!). But let's be honest: I'm really pulling for Fey to win this, which would be the perfect momentum with which to start 30 Rock's second season. Come on, Academy, give the woman a break: she not only stars in the series but writes and executive produces it. Shouldn't that count for a lil' something?

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Sally Field as Nora Walker

The Closer • Slippin’ • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Dep. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • A Wolf Films Production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson

Medium • NBC • CBS Paramount Television, Grammnet, Picturemaker Productions
Patricia Arquette as Allison Dubois

The Riches • FX • FX Productions and Fox Television Studios
Minnie Driver as Dahlia Malloy

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano

I'm sure this will end up going to Edie Falco (and there's nothing wrong with that), but I really wish it could go to Minnie Driver, for her amazing performance as addict/Traveler Dahlia Malloy, which was pitch perfect this past season on The Riches, as she catapulted forwards and backwards in her attempts to fit into a buffer's life while longing to return to the only life she's ever known. Heartbreaking and hysterical. But, sigh, no love for Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell?

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold

How I Met Your Mother • CBS • Twentieth Century Fox
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

Um, hello? Rainn Wilson. Is there really another choice in this category? Okay, maybe there is. But I am hoping that the Academy voters finally smile some favor onto Dwight Schrute, who has proven a wily and adept Office employee. Can I get some support on this decision?

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
William Shatner as Denny Crane

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
T.R. Knight as George

Heroes • NBC • Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura

Lost • ABC • ABC Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben

Lost • ABC • ABC Studios
Terry O’Quinn as John Locke

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti

Talk about conflicted; we've got two Losties up for nominations in this category and it's gonna be tough to choose between Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson (hopefully they won't split the vote). I really can't decide between them as both men turned in bravura performances this past season and kept the somewhat listing ship that were the early Season Three episodes of Lost afloat. Slight edge to Michael Emerson for portraying one of the most diabolical and Machiavellian villains on television and for remaining, tantalizingly and brutally, inscrutable, even when his character does heinous things like sell out his people and dump them into a mass grave or shoot Locke. What do you guys think?

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

My Name Is Earl • NBC • Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Conchata Ferrell as Berta

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes

Man, another tough category filled to the brim with talent. I'm rooting for Jenna Fisher for obvious reasons, though failing that, I would be happy if Vanessa Williams or Elizabeth Perkins took home the prize. (I'm hoping the two Two and a Half Men noms cancel one another right out.) Fisher's performance this season on the The Office was funny, wry, and heartfelt, turning Pam from Jim's object of affection to a jealous, jilted would-be lover.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Katherine Heigl as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi

Um, let's just give it to Rachel Griffiths, okay? Just because.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios

Oh, don't make me choose here. This is probably the hardest category for me to choose a top contender because most of these are just simply hysterically funny, well-crafted series that each deserve a shot at the top prize. While I'd normally be voting for The Office, I'm actually going to switch it up a bit and give this category to 30 Rock, which had such a superlative first season. That series has proven that mighty oaks really do spring from little acorns, crafting a pitch perfect episode every week that has me rolling on the floor (a rare feat, trust me).

Outstanding Drama Series

Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios

Heroes • NBC • Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio

House • Fox • Heel and Toe Productions, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

I'm hoping there is backlash against the completely unfulfilling ending of The Sopranos and it doesn't walk away with the win. Other than that, I'm not really rooting for any particular series in this category though I am a bit perturbed that Lost isn't in here, especially given the strength of the second half of the season.

Outstanding Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow • PBS • WGBH Educational Foundation

Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan • National Geographic • Produced by MPH Entertainment, Inc. in association with Emery/Sumner Productions for the National Geographic
Channel

Extreme Makeover Home Edition • ABC • Endemol USA

Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List • Bravo • Picture
This Television, Bravo

Penn & Teller: Bullshit! • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Penn & Teller, A Division of Buggs and Rudy Discount Corporation, Star Price Productions, The Wolper Organization

Cesar's great but let's do Kathy Griffin a favor and vote her series in. With everything she's been through lately, she could use a little emotional lift. Besides, her series is wry, funny, and strangely endearing and she's not afraid to mock herself every single week.

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

The Amazing Race • CBS • Amazing Race Productions Inc. and Touchstone Television Productions, LLC in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and WorldRace Productions, Inc.

American Idol • Fox • FremantleMedia N.A., Inc. & 19TV Ltd.

Dancing With The Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions, LLC

Project Runway • Bravo • Magical Elves for The Weinstein Company/Miramax, Full Picture, Bravo

Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves, Bravo

Wow. For me it's a toss-up between Amazing Race, Project Runway, and Top Chef. If I were forced to make a decision, my gut says to go with... Project Runway this time around. It would be nice to see this taut, polished reality production get some awards love this year.

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series

Extras • Daniel Radcliffe • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais, Writer
Stephen Merchant, Writer

The Office • Gay Witch Hunt • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Greg Daniels, Written by

The Office • The Negotiation • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Michael Schur, Written by

30 Rock • Tracy Does Conan • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Tina Fey, Written by

30 Rock • Jack-Tor • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Robert Carlock, Written by

Seriously, this is a tough one. I'd have given it to 30 Rock had "Fireworks" or "Black Tie" been submitted but for me it's tough fight between The Office's "The Negotiation" or Extras' "Daniel Radcliffe." In the end, I'm going to give it to The Office as "The Negotiation" was one of my favorite episodes this season and was hysterical from start to finish. Well done, Mike.

Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series

Battlestar Galactica • Occupation/Precipice • Sci Fi Channel • R+D TV in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Ronald D. Moore, Written by

Lost • Through The Looking Glass • ABC • ABC Studios
Damon Lindelof, Written by
Carlton Cuse, Written by

The Sopranos • Kennedy And Heidi • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Matthew Weiner, Writer
David Chase, Writer

The Sopranos • The Second Coming • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Terence Winter, Writer

The Sopranos • Made In America • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
David Chase, Writer

It's amazing to see that Battlestar Galactica was even singled out for an Emmy nomination this year (apparently, hell IS freezing over); at least some of the voters have realized how intricately plotted and beautifully written this series is. It might be sci fi but BSG deftly turns a mirror on our own society, providing a metaphor for post-9/11 America while also remaining a kick-ass drama series, week in and week out. "Occupation" and "Precipice" put our beloved characters into something rather akin to occupied Iraq and forced us to ask us what we would do in their situation. Meanwhile, Lost's "Through the Looking Glass" completely exploded all narrative rules, propelling the castaways off of the island and jumping into the "future" after their rescue from that terrible, smoke monster-haunted place. It proved that, in a series filled with plot twists and turns, it could still pull one over on the audience, creatively recharging the series and demolishing all expectations. This was one season finale that left you aching for more and ratcheted up the tension to an 11. Simply an effing brilliant episode.

The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out Sunday, September 16th. Who are you rooting for this year?

"The Office" Wins SAG Award for Best Comedy Ensemble

Get our your Dunder-Mifflin snowglobes and Dwight bobbleheads and prepare to celebrate.

Congrats to the cast of The Office, which took home the top prize tonight at the SAG Awards.

The gang from Scranton scored Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, beating out the Wisteria Lane ladies of Desperate Housewives, those spoiled Hollywood players on Entourage, the fashionistas at Mode on Ugly Betty, and those suburban potheads on Weeds.

It was also especially a good night for Steve Carell, who also managed to snag a win for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for his work in Little Miss Sunshine, along with Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Paul Dano, Alan Arkin, and Toni Collette. Congratulations, Steve. (I hope it makes up a little for getting passed over in favor of 30 Rock's Alec Baldwin AGAIN.)

TV winners included America Ferrera for Ugly Betty (take that, Felicity Huffman), the aforementioned Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock, Chandra Wilson for Grey's Anatomy, Hugh Laurie for House (beating out Kiefer Sutherland again), and Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons (deja vu) for HBO miniseries Elizabeth I.

Not surprisingly, Grey's Anatomy took home the prize for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Other winners on the film side: Helen Mirren for The Queen (hurrah!), Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland (making an Oscar win for Whitaker a very real possibility), and Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson for their supporting roles in Dreamgirls.

What can I say? At least I'm happier than the results of the Golden Globes, especially given The Office's win for best ensemble. Happy days.

Ambivalence, Rather than Anticipation, Over the Emmys

I can't say that I'm really all that excited about the Emmy awards this year, especially after getting all worked up about the mere possibility that traditionally undervalued shows like Battlestar Galactica, Everybody Hates Chris, Gilmore Girls, and Veronica Mars might actually be represented next to 24, The Sopranos, and Grey's Anatomy.

Instead, we all know too well how the latest voting overhaul scheme went (love that Ellen Burstyn still walked away with a nom for a 9-second performance) and it still smarts that Lost was virtually quarantined from the high-profile nominations. (I blame Dharma Foundation nomination-fixing.)

Sure, I'm rooting for The Office to take home the top comedy prize, and according to those mysterious "TV pundits," the gang at Dunder-Mifflin is the "heavy favorite" to do just that, along with Steve Carell for actor in a comedic performance. And wouldn't it would be just desserts if Lisa Kudrow walked away with the top prize for her role has the oft put-upon Valerie Cherish in HBO's cancelled mockumentary series, The Comeback? Not to mention Will Arnett taking one home for the Bluths.

But those bright spots aside, it's hard to work up enthusiasm for an awards show which, while taking place a few scant miles away from my house (literally), is tape-delayed by three whole hours. (Unlike the Oscars which smartly air everywhere simultaneously.) I do believe that Al Gore invented the internet for just these very scenarios, so something tells me I won't be tuning into the telecast at all, not even via my beloved time-altering TiVo.

Also, Sunday is my birthday and, although I was invited to a certain after-party thrown by a certain Emmy-nominated series, I'm toying with the notion of boycotting the Emmys this year altogether. If the Gilmores, the 09'ers, the Colonial Fleet, and those darn castaways aren't invited to sit at the adults' table, I think I might just have to sit this one out.

Besides, it's the season finale of The 4400, which I promise will have more twists and turns (and outright drama) than the entire duration of the Emmy telecast. Trust me on this one.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: The Unit (CBS); Dateline (NBC); What I Like About You/Twins (WB); America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC); Men in Black II (FOX; 8-10 pm); WWE Friday Night SmackDown (UPN)

9 pm: The Unit (CBS); Las Vegas (NBC); Reba/Living with Fran (WB); Kyle XY (ABC)

10 pm: NUMB3RS (CBS); Law & Order (NBC); 20/20 (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

10 pm: The Kumars at No. 42 on BBC America.

The hilarious semi-improvised sitcom/talk show hybrid returns with a new season of celebrity interviews. In the studio tonight: rock legend Alice Cooper and legendary Brit comedian Ronnie Corbett.

10:40 pm: Little Britain on BBC America.

If you missed this outrageous sketch comedy's third season, here's your chance to catch it from the beginning. Roman gets more than he bargained for at a health spa, thanks to ex-wife Bubbles deVere...

New Nominating System, Same Old Emmy Nominations

And the Emmy nominations are... really quite pathetic.

In a year where many thought the Television Academy's new nomination system would buck the trend of recent years and showcase some critically acclaimed but criminally neglected series like Gilmore Girls or Battlestar Galactica, the nominations are painfully boring and middle-of-the-road.

Part of me was hoping that this would be the year that Lauren Graham would finally (finally!) be singled out for recognition or that series like Veronica Mars would get a nod, but the other, more jaded part of me knew that it would most likely be the same old, same old for the stodgy Academy. Still, I couldn't tell you how depressed the nominations made me this morning. (Talk about getting up at the crack of dawn for nothing.)

There were a few bright spots, like Lisa Kudrow getting a nom for her deliriously wacky performance as put-upon actress Valerie Cherish on HBO's sadly missed The Comeback (I think I was one of the only people actually watching it) or My Name is Earl's divine Jaime Pressly, whose Joy makes me howl with laughter on a weekly basis. And of course, I'm thrilled that Steve Carell, The Office, Scrubs, and Arrested Development were singled out.

That said, where are nominations for Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, Battlestar Galactica, or--hell--Lost? Other than a writing nomination and some technical categories, the drama behemoth was altogether shut out of all of the major races. No love for Terry O'Quinn or the other castaways?

Alfre Woodard for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy? Alfre Woodard? Don't get me wrong, I love Alfre to pieces, but was that even a comedic role? A woman locks her mentally disabled son in the basement? Not exactly the funniest thing I've heard all year. And it's become obvious that the once critical darling Desperate Housewives has lost its luster, even in the eyes of the Academy.

I've listed the major categories below as well as my thoughts on the nominations. But it's a dark day here in Hollywood and I can't say that I'm pleased by this "new and improved" nominating system, the outcome of which seems suspiciously similar to the old system...

Outstanding Comedy Series

Arrested Development -- FOX -- Imagine Television and The Hurwitz Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television

Curb Your Enthusiasm -- HBO -- HBO Entertainment

The Office -- NBC -- Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC in association with NBC Universal Television Studios

Scrubs -- NBC -- Touchstone Television

Two And A Half Men -- CBS -- Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions, a Division of WB Studio Enterprises Inc.

>>I'm actually pretty happy with the above, though I'd much rather have seen My Name is Earl get the nomination over CBS' Two and a Half Men, which I've yet to be able to sit through an episode of. If it HAD to be a CBS series, then why not Old Christine or How I Met Your Mother instead?

Outstanding Drama Series

Grey's Anatomy -- ABC -- Touchstone Television

House -- FOX -- Heel and Toe Productions, Shorez Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with Universal Television Studios

The Sopranos -- HBO -- Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

24 -- FOX -- Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television in association with Real Time Productions

The West Wing -- NBC -- John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television

>>Wow. Just really... wow. You mean to tell me that The Sopranos topped the nominations received by Lost?!? I can honestly say that I don't know a single person who has enjoyed watching this past season of The Sopranos and yet it somehow edged out Lost? My blood is boiling. No love for Veronica Mars, Rome, The 4400, Big Love, or Battlestar Galactica, obviously.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Curb Your Enthusiasm -- HBO -- HBO Entertainment
Larry David as Himself

The King Of Queens -- CBS -- Sony Pictures Television
Kevin James as Doug Heffernan

Monk -- USA -- NBC Universal Television Studios in association with Makeville Films and Touchstone Television
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk

The Office -- NBC -- Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC in association with NBC Universal Television Studios
Steve Carell as Michael Scott

Two And A Half Men -- CBS -- Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions, a Division of WB Studio Enterprises Inc.
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper

>>Um, I love Larry David, but I'll definitely be routing for The Office's Steve Carell in this category. Kevin James for King of Queens? Are you people serious? Over Jason Lee or Jason Bateman??? Or John Krasinski?!?

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit -- NBC -- A Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television
Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler

Rescue Me -- FX Network -- Apostle, The Cloudland Company and Dreamworks Television in association with Sony Pictures Television
Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin

Six Feet Under -- HBO -- Actual Size and the Greenblatt/Janollari Studios in association with HBO Entertainment
Peter Krause as Nate Fisher

24 -- FOX - Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television in association with Real Time Productions
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer

The West Wing -- NBC -- John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
Martin Sheen as President Josiah Bartlet

>>One word: predictable.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

The Comeback -- HBO -- Working Class and Is Or Isn't Entertainment in association with HBO Entertainment
Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish

Malcolm In The Middle -- FOX -- Regency Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Jane Kaczmarek as Lois

The New Adventures Of Old Christine -- CBS - Kari's Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell

Out Of Practice -- CBS -- CBS Paramount Network Television
Stockard Channing as Lydia Barnes

Will & Grace - NBC -- KoMut Entertainment in association with NBC Studios and Three Sisters Entertainment
Debra Messing as Grace

>>I'm thrilled to see Lisa Kudrow and Julia Louis-Dreyfus represented here for their work in The Comeback and Old Christine respectively, but Debra Messing again? And I loved Malcolm in the Middle waaay back in the day, but enough with Jane Kaczmarek already, please? Stockard Channing for Out of Practice? I had forgotten that the show had ever existed. Where are Lauren Graham or Jenna Fischer? Or Mary Louise Parker for Weeds?

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

The Closer -- TNT -- Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson

Commander In Chief -- ABC -- Touchstone Television
Geena Davis as Mackenzie Allen

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit -- NBC -- A Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson

Six Feet Under -- HBO -- Actual Size and the Greenblatt/Janollari Studios in association with HBO Entertainment
Frances Conroy as Ruth Fisher

The West Wing -- NBC -- John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg

>>I could have predicted these nominations in my sleep. Talk about being unoriginal. These were the five best dramatic performances of the year? Um, did anyone actually see Mary McDonnell's performance in Battlestar Galactica? Anyone? Something is rotten in the state of Denmark...

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Arrested Development -- FOX -- Imagine Television and The Hurwitz Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Will Arnett as Gob Bluth

Entourage -- HBO -- Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold

Malcolm In The Middle -- FOX -- Regency Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Bryan Cranston as Hal

Two And A Half Men - CBS -- Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television Productions, a Division of WB Studio Enterprises Inc.
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

Will & Grace -- NBC -- KoMut Entertainment in association with NBC Studios and Three Sisters Entertainment
Sean Hayes as Jack

>>I am deliriously happy that Arrested Development's Will Arnett got a nomination for his work as sleazy magician Gob Bluth and I definitely hope he walks away with a win. He's the only one of Arrested's immensely talented cast to get a nomination this year. My fingers are crossed so tightly that they're bleeding. Bryan Cranston? Hmmm. Didn't see that one coming, but there seems to be a trend shaping up here with some love being poured onto the recently departed Malcolm. (I am surprised though by his inclusion as I didn't see any of Cranston's annoying campaign ads in the trades this year.) And while Jeremy Piven is hilarious as Entourage's Ari Gold, does anyone else get the sense that he's sort of playing himself? Better question: where's Rainn Wilson?

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Boston Legal -- ABC -- David E. Kelley Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television Studios
William Shatner as Denny Crane

Huff -- Showtime -- Showtime Presents in association with Sony Pictures Television, A Bob Lowry Television Show Production, A 50 Cannon Entertainment Production
Oliver Platt as Russell Tupper

The Sopranos -- HBO -- Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti

24 -- FOX -- Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television in association with Real Time Productions
Gregory Itzin as President Charles Logan

The West Wing -- NBC -- John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
Alan Alda as Arnold Vinick

>>A lot of people I know will be thrilled by Itzin's nomination, but I was really hoping to see Edward James Olmos or Jamie Bamber up here. (Hell, continuing the BSG love, where's James Callis?)

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Curb Your Enthusiasm -- HBO -- HBO Entertainment
Cheryl Hines as Cheryl David

Desperate Housewives -- ABC -- Touchstone Television
Alfre Woodard as Betty Applewhite

My Name Is Earl -- NBC -- An Amigos de Garcia production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Jaime Pressly as Joy

Weeds -- Showtime -- Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes

Will & Grace -- NBC -- KoMut Entertainment in association with NBC Studios and Three Sisters Entertainment
Megan Mullally as Karen

>>J'aime Jaime Pressly. If she doesn't win this, I'll eat my hat. I've made my feelings about Alfre Woodard's nomination abundantly clear already, but I am pleased to see Curb's Cheryl Hines get a nomination as Larry's poor put-upon wife. Still, I am all about Jamie Pressly.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Boston Legal -- ABC -- David E. Kelley Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television Studios
Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt

Grey's Anatomy -- ABC -- Touchstone Television
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang

Grey's Anatomy -- ABC -- Touchstone Television
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey

Huff -- Showtime -- Showtime Presents in association with Sony Pictures Television, A Bob Lowry Television Show Production, A 50 Cannon Entertainment Production
Blythe Danner as Izzy Huffstodt

24 -- FOX -- Imagine Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television in association with Real Time Productions
Jean Smart as First Lady Martha Logan

>>Unless there's an upset, I'll give the win to Sandra Oh. Sadly, it's not a category I'm remotely invested in.

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series

Arrested Development -- "Development Arrested" -- FOX -- Imagine Television and The Hurwitz Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Chuck Tatham, Teleplay by
Jim Vallely, Teleplay by
Richard Day, Story by
Mitchell Hurwitz, Story by

Entourage -- "Exodus" -- HBO -- Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Doug Ellin, Written by

Extras -- "Kate Winslet" -- HBO -- BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais, Written by
Stephen Merchant, Written by

My Name Is Earl -- "Pilot" -- NBC -- An Amigos de Garcia production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Greg Garcia, Written by

The Office -- "Christmas Party" -- NBC -- Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC in association with NBC Universal Television Studios
Michael Schur, Written by

>>I'm actually quite happy with these nominations and pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's Extras (though wish it would have been Scrubs instead). Five of my very favorite comedies and not a King of Queens or Two and a Half Men in the bunch. I'm always happy when AD gets some recognition. Still, I'm definitely routing for The Office's Michael Schur to win this. I bloody love that episode.

Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series

Grey's Anatomy -- "It's the End Of The World, As We Know It (Part 1 & 2)" -- ABC -- Touchstone Television
Shonda Rhimes, Written by

Grey's Anatomy -- "Into You Like A Train" -- ABC -- Touchstone Television
Krista Vernoff, Written by

Lost -- "The 23rd Psalm" -- ABC -- Grass Skirt Productions, LLC in association with Touchstone Television
Carlton Cuse, Written by
Damon Lindelof, Written by

Six Feet Under -- "Everyone's Waiting" -- HBO -- Actual Size and the Greenblatt/Janollari Studios in association with HBO Entertainment
Alan Ball, Written by

The Sopranos -- "Members Only" -- HBO -- Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Terence Winter, Written by

>>For me, it's all about showing some love to Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof for their breathtaking work on Lost this season. If the show can't even get a nomination for Best Drama, the least the Academy can do is to reward the series' toiling architects.

What did you think of the nominations? Which actors and series deserved their nominations? And which ones were wrongfully left in the cold? (Ahem, Kristen Bell.)

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Big Brother 7: All-Stars (CBS); My Name is Earl/The Office (NBC); Smallville (WB); Master of Champions (ABC); That '70s Show/That '70s Show (FOX); Everybody Hates Chris/Love, Inc. (UPN)

9 pm: Rock Star: Supernova (CBS); The Office/The Office (NBC); Supernatural (WB); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); So You Think You Can Dance (FOX); Eve/Cuts (UPN)

10 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); Windfall (NBC); Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8-9 pm: My Name is Earl/The Office.

On tonight's repeat episode ("Broke Joy's Fancy Figurine"), Earl attempts to make up for destroying Joy's beauty pageant figurine by helping Joy's former nemesis and her daughter win a beauty competition. Afterwards, it's a special re-airing of the pilot of The Office ("Pilot"), which is hands down my least favorite episode (too much similarity to the UK original for my taste).

9-10 pm: The Office/The Office.

Lucky me: three back-to-back episodes of The Office tonight. On tonight's second repeat episode of The Office ("Conflict Resolution"), Michael tries to take responsibility of Dunder-Mifflin's conflict resolution away from Human Resources, causing all sorts of chaos. And then a half an hour later, it's the second season finale of The Office ("Casino Night"). You know, the one where Jim and Pam get all smoochy and I pretend I'm not crying.