The 2010 Emmys: Anything Can Happen!

It was certainly one of the most surprising Emmy ceremonies in recent history. The awards were all over the place, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Bryan Cranston, Mad Men, and The Daily Show's streaks remained unbroken, while Glenn Close, The Amazing Race, and 30 Rock were finally dethroned. Several newcomers came out on top despite competing against Emmy veterans. Jim Parsons and Aaron Paul became Emmy winners after being robbed last year. Emmy Queen Edie Falco took home her fourth trophy, and the four-time loser Kyra Sedgwick finally won. As always, it was a night full of ups and downs, and that made it an entertaining three hours of television.

The Ups:

Jimmy Fallon & the Opening Sequence
Jimmy Fallon started off on the right foot last night. The show took advantage of the Glee hype and delivered an exciting musical number featuring the likes of Tina Fey, Jorge Garcia, and the hilarious Jon Hamm. Throughout the night, Fallon continued to liven up the awards (though with so many surprises, they didn't necessarily need it) with some clever jokes and a musical tribute to the shows we lost this year. He's no Neil Patrick Harris, but he proved that he can host the show almost as well.

Glee/Modern Family Awards Split
It was nice to see both freshman comedies earn the awards exactly where they deserved them. Modern Family, the more consistently written show, won Outstanding Writing for its pilot, while Glee's pilot, which was more of a visual spectacle, won Outstanding Directing. Then both shows' standout performers, Eric Stonestreet (Family) and Jane Lynch (Glee), won in their respective supporting categories. And in the end the better show, Modern Family, took home the trophy for Outstanding Comedy Series. Well done, Emmys.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Though I could easily argue that Terry O'Quinn deserved the award this year, he's already won for his role on Lost, and it's nice to see someone new win their first Emmy. I haven't seen season three of Breaking Bad yet, but Paul is excellent in the first two seasons, and it is so satisfying to see such a deserving actor accept his reward.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
It was great to see Jim Parsons take home the Emmy over his significantly weaker competition. He's developed an iconic character and single-handedly made The Big Bang Theory a success.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
For once, the Emmys rewarded a subtle performance instead of an over-the-top dramatic hissy fit. Very few people saw this coming, but it was a welcomed upset! I couldn't have been more excited when it happened. Panjabi's win was definitely the highlight of my night because she has created such a complex and memorable character on The Good Wife that I hope to enjoy for many years to come.

The Downs:

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
I'm not going to say that any particular series was more deserving than any other (though The Colbert Report is my favorite). I'm just upset that we all missed the opportunity to hear Conan O'Brien's acceptance speech, which most likely would have been full of clever quips made at NBC's expense.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston is amazing and deserves every single Emmy his has, including the one he won last night. It's just a little disheartening to see him win his third in a row, when everyone else in the category is Emmy-less. This category was the most competitive of the night, and the other nominees are probably happy to know that Breaking Bad will be sitting the awards out next year.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
I've never seen an episode of The Closer, so I'm not going to criticize Kyra Sedgwick's victory (plus, I've heard her episode submission was fantastic). Instead, I'm going to lament the losses of Juliana Margulies, Connie Britton, January Jones, and Glenn Close. All of these women are amazing, and it's hard to understand how any one of them didn't win. Margulies's snub was especially baffling, considering her track record, the buzz for The Good Wife, and her costar's victory. Just as I started rooting for her, she leaves an awards show empty-handed.

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Steve Shill, Dexter, "The Getaway"
Lost left last night's ceremony without a single award. Its final season was definitely not its best, but the show's finale was robbed of this award, which it deserved more than anything else. Unanswered questions aside, the two and a half hour episode was an emotional masterpiece that was expertly directed by Jack Bender.

And now it's time to move on to the 2011 Emmys!

Currently watching:
Dexter Season 2
Episode 1 - It's Alive!

Official 2010 Emmy Predictions

The show is about to finally begin! I've given my insight into each category, so without further ado, here are my final predictions for tonight's ceremony.*

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Spoiler: Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Personal Favorite: Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Oustanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Winner: Matt Hubbard, 30 Rock, "Anna Howard Shaw Day"

Spoiler: Ryan Murphy, Bard Falchuk and Ian Brenna, Glee, "Pilot"

Personal Favorite: Greg Daniels and Mindy Kaling, The Office, "Niagara"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Winner: Jane Lynch, Glee

Spoiler: Julie Bowen, Modern Family

Personal Favorite: Jane Lynch, Glee

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

Winner: Ryan Murphy, Glee, "Pilot"

Spoiler: Jason Winer, Modern Family, "Pilot"

Personal Favorite: Ryan Murphy, Glee, "Pilot"

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Spoiler: Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Personal Favorite: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Winner: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

Spoiler: Toni Collette, United States of Tara

Personal Favorite: Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Winner: Matthew Weiner and Erin Levy, Mad Men, "Shut the Door. Have a Seat."

Spoiler: Robin Veith and Matthew Weiner, Mad Men, "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency"

Personal Favorite: Matthew Weiner and Erin Levy, Mad Men, "Shut the Door. Have a Seat."

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Terry O'Quinn, Lost

Spoiler: Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age

Personal Favorite: Terry O'Quinn, Lost (but only because I haven't gotten to see Aaron Paul in season three of Breaking Bad yet)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Winner: Sharon Gless, Burn Notice

Spoiler: Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Favorite: Arhie Panjabi, The Good Wife

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Spoiler: Michael C. Hall, Dexter

Personal Favorite: Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

Winner: Jack Bender, Lost, "The End"

Spoiler: Lesli Linka Glatter, Mad Men, "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency"

Personal Favorite: Jack Bender, Lost, "The End"

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Winner: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Spoiler: Glenn Close, Damages

Personal Favorite: January Jones, Mad Men

Outstanding Drama Series

Winner: Mad Men

Spoiler: Lost

Personal Favorite: Mad Men

Outstanding Comedy Series

Winner: Modern Family

Spoiler: Glee

Personal Favorite: Modern Family

*I make no guarantees on my predictions. I may act like an expert, but this show is often times impossible to predict.

Currently watching:
The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards

Emmy Nominee Analysis: Lead

The Emmys are almost here! It's time for some final analysis before the awards are handed out tomorrow evening. The lead actors seem to have no clear winner yet, while the lead actress categories are all but locked up. Only time can tell who the final victors will be.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series


Frontrunners:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock ("Don Geiss, America, and Hope") - He's won for the past two years, but this year may be the year another actor can end Baldwin's streak. His episode isn't as strong as his previous two but never count a 30 Rock contender out of the race.
Tony Shalhoub, Monk ("Mr. Monk and the End") - Shalhoub already has three Emmys for playing Monk, and this year's two hour series finale could easily bring him a fourth.

Dark Horse:
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory ("The Pants Alternative") - The man has to win an Emmy eventually. His work is brilliant, and this year he's entered the competition with another very funny episode. Perhaps with 30 Rock buzz dying a little and a lack of other strong competitors, Parsons could take home the trophy tomorrow night.

The Rest:
Steve Carell, The Office ("The Cover Up") - He's never won an Emmy before, so I don't see why the academy would choose to finally award him now after the worst season in The Office's history. Expect him to be a frontrunner next year when he finishes his final season on the show.
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Seinfeld") - Since he's playing himself, he's not really seen as much of an "actor" on his show. However, his episode, featuring the cast of Seinfeld, boosts his chances a little bit.
Matthew Morrison, Glee ("Mash-Up") - His episode submission is absolutely terrible (it includes two rap numbers), he's overshadowed by the younger actors, and he's not very funny. Unless the Emmys go absolutely crazy over Glee this year, he has no chance.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series


Frontrunners:
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie ("Pilot") - She has been predicted to win this Emmy since Showtime announced that Falco would be headlining a new comedy series. Emmy voters loved her on The Sopranos, and that love will carry over to Nurse Jackie.
Toni Collette, United States of Tara ("Torando!") - Collette scored a very deserving win last year and has come back for more. Her episode is probably the strongest of the group, as she rapidly transitions into all of her multiple personalities during a tornado. She could easily take the award from Falco.
Tina Fey, 30 Rock ("Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001") - As long as she's in the running, Tina Fey will always have a solid chance to win. This year she submitted one of her funniest performances ever on a show that the academy has shown lots of love for in the past.

Dark Horse:
Lea Michele, Glee ("Sectionals") - Michele still has a chance to win, since this category has recently seemed to favor newcomers (Felicity Huffman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, America Ferrera, Toni Collette). Also, Glee has received a lot of attention this year, which could help the award go in Michele's favor.

The Rest:
Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation ("Telethon") - Perhaps voters just don't "get" Parks, since they failed to nominate the series, even though it was one of the strongest comedies on television this season. Unlike the other contenders, Poehler doesn't have the necessary support to come out victorious in this race.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine ("I Love What You Do For Me") - She's already been rewarded for this role, and it's unlikely that Emmy voters will choose her canceled series over her strong competitors.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series


Frontrunners:
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad ("Full Measure") - Cranston is undefeated at the Emmys for his role on Breaking Bad. He could easily pull off a threepeat this year with another strong season under his belt.
Michael C. Hall, Dexter ("The Getaway") - He won at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards for this season of Dexter. It looks like this could finally be the year that Hall wins the Emmy he's deserved since the first season of Six Feet Under.
Jon Hamm, Mad Men ("The Gypsy and the Hobo") - Somehow Mad Men has won Outstanding Drama Series two years in a row without ever winning an acting award. Hamm has definitely performed well, but he always gets bested by Cranston. Perhaps his intense episode submission will seal the deal this year.

Dark Horse:
Hugh Laurie, House ("Broken") - Laurie is long overdue, and the dramatic two hour season premiere (which takes places in a mental hospital) is probably his best shot at finally winning.

The Rest:
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights ("East of Dillon") - The man certainly deserves the award, but it seems unlikely to happen since it took the academy four seasons to finally give him a nomination. But we can still hope for a surprise upset!
Matthew Fox, Lost ("The End") - Fox does a great job in the series finale, but the episode is two and a half hours long. His performance could easily be overlooked because of everything else going on in the episode.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series


Frontrunners:
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife ("Threesome") - The woman has it all. She has the buzz. She has the Golden Globe. She has the SAG. She has an Emmy from ER. And most importantly, she deserves all of it.
Glenn Close, Damages ("Your Secrets Are Safe") - Close has dominated this category for the past two years. She's won every year she's been eligible for Damages. This year she faces her toughest competition with a weak episode and a less buzzed about season of Damages. But the woman is unstoppable and could easily take home her third consecutive Emmy.

Dark Horse:
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer ("Maternal Instincts") - Many people believe Sedwick is long overdue for an Emmy, and apparently (I don't watch The Closer) her episode submission this year is her best yet.

Wild Card:
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights ("After the Fall") - Britton has never competed in the Emmys before. Now that the voters will have to watch her in an episode of Friday Night Lights, they won't be able to deny that she talent. Unfortunately, she was nominated in the season that didn't show case her abilities as well as the previous ones. She most likely won't be able to defeat the likes of Margulies and Close, but she still has a chance.

The Rest:
January Jones, Mad Men ("The Gypsy and the Hobo") - Her episode is fantastic and really showcases her abilities as an actress. Still, opinions about her performance are very divided, which prevents her from being as strong of a contender as she should be.
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU ("Perverted") - Hargitay has already won and isn't as popular as she used to be. Several critics question her nomination and believe that she has overstayed her welcome in this category.

Coming Soon: My thoughts on the nominees for Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series

Currently watching:
Sons of Anarchy Season 1
Episode 2 - Seeds

Emmy Wish List: Lead Comedy

The great debate: Are lead comedy categories for the best actors in a comedy series or the funniest actors in a comedy series? Several shows out there are" dramedies" and dark comedies, which means they contain certain elements of drama that sitcoms don't have. How can you compare Mary-Louise Parker to Tina Fey? One is funnier, but does that make her more worthy of an award? So many different types of shows fall under the Comedy label for Emmy season, so I decided to give them all a little representation.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series


Toni Collette, The United States of Tara - The darker second season was not as funny as the first, but it was still great. Collette truly transforms into each of Tara's personalities and makes them all their own individual characters. She may not generate the most laughs out of the women on this list, but she gives the best performance(s).

Portia De Rossi, Better Off Ted - The only reason I decided to watch Ted was because I wanted to see more Portia De Rossi after I finished Arrested Development. I made a good decision. The soulless executive Veronica became the best part of the show and the saddest part of its cancellation.

Tina Fey, 30 Rock - I feel like I don't need to say much because Tina Fey may be the funniest woman to ever walk the face of the earth. If you don't know that by now, then you clearly haven't ever seen 3o Rock or Mean Girls. She consistently brings the funny wherever she goes.

Lea Michele, Glee - She delivers in every way possible: comedy, drama, and musical. She's a choral overachiever who takes herself way too seriously. Though she's probably not everyone's favorite character, no one can deny her talent.

Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds - Though I haven't enjoyed Nancy's stay in Mexico, I still enjoy Parker's performance. She is such a talented dramatic actress, which is why it's a shame that she's trapped in the wrong category. If she were in Drama, she would probably have the Emmy she deserves by now.

Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation - She took a character that had the potential to be really annoying and made her appear kind of adorable. Leslie Knope became the loveable, yet sometimes clueless government official that we all wish we could have in our town.

Honorable Mention: America Ferrera, Ugly Betty & Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series


Alec Baldwin, 3o Rock - The man has never had an off season of 3o Rock. I didn't absolutely love Jack's seemingly endless love triangle (just pick Elizabeth Banks already!), but Baldwin pulled it off hilariously well.

Steve Carell, The Office - This season was definitely the worst in Office history. It was often unfunny and sometimes even painful to watch. But throughout such a sour season, Steve Carell pulled through and continued to give his best as the goofy Michael Scott.

Thomas Jane, Hung - Jane is the Mary-Louise Parker of the men. He's definitely not the funniest, but his more subtle acting style is still enjoyable. The economically-conscious Hung tells the tale of a man who had to become a prostitute in order to support his family and keep his home. Jane made the off-the-wall story a pretty pleasant experience.

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory - Parsons has single-handedly made this show a success. His ridiculously high maintenance Sheldon is what makes The Big Bang Theory so darn funny. Anyone else in the role would just be obnoxious, rather than hysterically obnoxious.

Jason Schwartzman, Bored to Death - I'm not quite sure what it is, but something about Schwartzman made me love Bored to Death. A pot smoking, white wine drinking private detective might not seem too appealing, but the quirky show ended up being a pretty funny half hour.

Adam Scott, Party Down - His dry humor is the perfect balance for the craziness that makes up the rest of the Party Down catering crew. Not only that, but his romance with Lizzy Caplan's Casey became one of the best parts of the series.

Honorable Mention: Jay Harrington, Better Off Ted

Coming Soon: My picks for Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Drama Series

Currently watching:
Six Feet Under Season 3
Episode 4 - Nobody Sleeps