What Were They Watching!?!?

Posted Jul 6th 2006 2:32PM by TMZ Staff

Today's Emmy nominations announcement was supposed to mark a turning point in Emmy history. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences revised the nomination process to ensure, in part, that some new faces got nods. Did they succeed? There certainly a was a lot of turnover this year, but the new nominees still leave a lot to be desired.

The list of those that didn't get recognized is surprising, for both good and bad reasons. Here are the five things that stood out most to us:

Forget last year...
"Lost," James Spader, Felicity Huffman and Patricia Arquette were all major winners last year - and not nominated this year. Kiefer Sutherland is the only lead actor nominated from last year in the drama category. Tony Shalhoub is the only lead actor nominated from last year in the comedy category.

What happened to the "Housewives"?
The show itself did not deserve to get nominated this year (it doesn't belong in the comedy category, but that's a whole other story). But to not nominate Marcia Cross (the best woman on TV, period) and instead recognize Alfre Woodard is a head-scratcher. Her entire storyline was never done properly and she never fit in with the show. She's a great actress, just not on this show.

"Deadwood" + "The Shield" + "Veronica Mars" + "Big Love" = ???
No major nominations. No Ian McShane (a f**king crime!!!), no Forrest Whitaker (are you kidding!?), no Kristen Bell and no Chloe Sevigny. No respect.

A few bright spots
Denis Leary ("Rescue Me") deserved his actor nod, same for Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart ("24"). "Scrubs" got its second straight nod and "The West Wing" had a great final season. "Splinter Cell" was great (though it has no chance going up against "Into the West") and Steve Carell is certainly as funny as it gets.

Best storylines
Can "The West Wing" pull off one last Emmy win? And what about Allison Janney, Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally and "Arrested Development"? Will "The Sopranos" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" win despite sub-par seasons? Oh, and no James Gandolfini or Edie Falco?

Sorry, one last rant ...
When in the world will the supporting cast of "Scrubs" get nominated? How about "The Shield"? Or "Deadwood"? Or "Rescue Me"? Or Lauren Graham? Or "The Wire" and Michael K. Williams (Omar)? Or Jennifer Love Hewitt? Ok, just kidding.

Filed under: TV, 24, Awards/Awards Shows

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16. Entourage anyone? How was that show overlooked for best comedy?

Same goes for Michael Emerson on LOST. That man is wonderfully evil

Posted at 8:02PM on Jul 6th 2006 by Kristen

17. One of the few things the Academy did right was to nominate Chris Meloni. He is by far the best actor on TV. Certainly better than the others who were nominated. Go Chris!

Posted at 9:26PM on Jul 6th 2006 by S.A.Streeter

18. These nominations are out of touch. No Lauren Graham or Kelly Bishop or even the show itself? (Gilmore Girls)...and what about Veronica Mars - Kristin Bell? What will it take for these talented performers to FINALLY get the recognition they deserve?

Posted at 9:28PM on Jul 6th 2006 by Tracy

19. What about "Girlfriends" from UPN? One of the funnest comedies on tv with one of the BEST UPN station season finales, great actresses, and story lines. I can agree with what people said before because I think the nominating committee is racist. "Everybody hates chris" is a GREAT show and it should have been a crime that "The Wire" was not nominated especially Omar. This is why I don't even watch the Emmys.

Posted at 9:36PM on Jul 6th 2006 by kaykay

20. I was glad to see Mariska Hargitay nominated, and also her co-star Chris Meloni. They both did stellar work this year on "SVU". Personally I was glad to not see a huge nomination wall like last year's for nearly all the Desperate Housewives. I was also glad to see the voters were able to look past "Scully" and nominate Gillian Anderson for "Bleak House".

Posted at 11:30PM on Jul 6th 2006 by Syd

21. These nominations are out of touch. No Lauren Graham or Kelly Bishop or even the show itself? (Gilmore Girls)...and what about Veronica Mars - Kristin Bell? What will it take for these talented performers to FINALLY get the recognition they deserve?

I totally agree with most of the comments above - especially this one! Gilmore Girls is a wonderful show - why is it always overlooked?!?!?! It's an amazing show!

Posted at 12:06AM on Jul 7th 2006 by augustburns2

22. These nominations are out of touch. No Lauren Graham or Kelly Bishop or even the show itself? (Gilmore Girls)...and what about Veronica Mars - Kristin Bell? What will it take for these talented performers to FINALLY get the recognition they deserve?

I totally agree with most of the comments above - especially this one! Gilmore Girls is a wonderful show - why is it always overlooked?!?!?! It's an amazing show!

Posted at 12:06AM on Jul 7th 2006 by augustburns2

23. Just because a show got canceled doesn't mean it was the actor's crappy acting. The public didn't have a feel for the show in general so it got low ratings. Gina Davis is still a great actress and plays her characters extremely well.

Posted at 12:13AM on Jul 7th 2006 by Goggerogger

24. But you have to admit that South Park deserved its nomination for the Tom Cruise"ish" trapped in a closet episode.

Posted at 7:13AM on Jul 7th 2006 by Tipper

25. One more point, Read the entire list of nominations ...Big Love, Entourage and others thought not to be recognized did receive some nominations.

Posted at 7:14AM on Jul 7th 2006 by Tipper

26. Once again the Emmys have overlooked some of the finest performances on TV. TV is no longer just about the networks. Last year it should have been Anthony Anderson on the Shield...this year Forrest Whittaker was phenomenal!! So was everybody on the Shield..the whole cast should have gotten a nod! Michael Williams(OMAR) on the Wire is mesmerizing..you can't wait for the scenes that he is in. Do the people who do the nominations even watch TV?

Posted at 8:52AM on Jul 7th 2006 by deborah farrow

27. Scrubs all the way baby...the deserve it!!!!!

Posted at 9:58AM on Jul 7th 2006 by John

28. This article fails to mention the best show on television that received no nominations for anyone - "Battlestar Galactica". How come every actor that portrayed a president or presidential candidate was nominated for an Emmy but not the best two, Mary McDonnell (Laura Rosslin) and James Callis (Gaius Baltar) from 'Battlestar Galactica"? I mean seriously, Mary McDonnell is putting out some of her best work on the small screen yet Geena Davis gets a nomination for a cancelled show? And Martin Sheen, please, he is a fine actor but on its last legs, he mailed it in each week. Allison Janney, I've loved her since she played 'Ginger' on 'Guiding Light' but a nomination for best actor - her character is a supporting player and her character's story has long been told. And as for James Callis, he portrays one of the most intriquing characters, a completely self motivated anti-hero. He excels in this role and is at least as watchable as Itzen's president Logan. In fact they are playing a very similar role. Did Callis even make the list of 10 for supporting actor, I bet he didn't.

'BSG', 'Rescue Me', 'The Shield', and 'Lost' should have been the easy four to start with for best Drama, yet none made the list. These were the most compelling stories told. 'House' had no business being nominated for drama, but Hugh Laurie sure as hell did for actor.

The other snubs of 'BSG' that sucked (1) Edward James Olmos snubbed (they seem to like verteran actors as long as they aren't on 'science fiction' shows.) (2) No guest actor nominations, at all. Lucy Lawless and Dean Stockwell both should have made their respective categories. The part Dean Stockwell played in "Lay Down Your Burdens" was awesome to watch. I'd take that over 'Henry Gale' any day. That actor shows no range in playing that character, he is playing a variation of the same character he always gets cast at on television. Dean Stockwell is the bomb, especially in the scenes in the jail when he was playing two characters. That's acting. (3) The fact that NONE of the female actors on this show, that doesn't have stereotypical female roles but powerful portrayals of women that are the equals of their male counterparts - is very perplexing. I guess not many real women are Emmy voters. Mary McDonnell, Grace Park, Tricia Helfer, and Katie Sackoff deserve recognition.

That's my gripe.

Posted at 10:42AM on Jul 7th 2006 by Brian

29. HOUSE, still the best, most challenging, most complusive and seriously funny show out there!!!

Hugh Laurie is a must. There is no other character anywhere to match Dr House for his didactic misanthropy. While Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison, Robert Sean Leonard and Lisa Edelstein are all great foils for his cynicism, as well as adding real spark to their roles.

Posted at 10:52AM on Jul 7th 2006 by Tom

30. Half the screen vanishes as soo as the BS on the left opens, making all useless. Now as I type on this overlapping screen I wonder if my comments will even make a difference.

Posted at 11:24AM on Jul 7th 2006 by Martha Carrigan

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