The Emmy nominations are traditionally an occasion for smug vitriol, after voters botch them once again, favoring tired and safe favorites over new televisual excitement. And yet, some of this year’s choices appear to represent a break from old habits: The brand-new and different Glee gets nineteen nominations? The terminally ignored Friday Night Lights is ignored no more? But not so fast with all the happy: The list is peppered with some disappointments to be disgruntled about. So what to think, overall? Are the Emmys finally inching toward relevance? Or did they overlook too many good people? In order to resolve this conundrum, here’s a pros-and-cons list!
Pro: First-time nominations for Friday Night Lights’ Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton
Con: No Nomination for Friday Night Lights’ Zach Gilford. Way to let us down, Facebook.
Pro: The Modern Family cast’s decision to all submit in the Best Supporting Actor category worked out for everyone …
Con: Also, the fact that Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen were both nominated really deflates the alleged tension between them, which, for entirely salacious and tawdry reasons, we are not that happy about.
Con: Also, the fact that Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen were both nominated really deflates the alleged tension between them, which, for entirely salacious and tawdry reasons, we are not that happy about.
Con: Katey Sagal doesn’t get nominated for Sons of Anarchy, which wouldn’t upset us that much, except that with both her and Ed O’Neill getting snubbed, we think the Emmys might be exhibiting a long-standing anti–Married With Children bias, and we can’t abide that.
Pro: Betty White! Not only was she nominated as Guest Actress for hosting Saturday Night Live, but that episode also got six other nominations, including for Hairstyling, Lighting, Makeup, and Writing. And her Snickers ad got a nomination! Everyone raises their game when Betty White is around!
Pro: The Old Spice guy! Isaiah Mustafa’s ad also got nominated for Best Commercial. Without the aid of Betty White!
Pro: Nineteen nominations for Glee!
Pro: Seventeen Nominations for Mad Men!
Pro: Jon Hamm was nominated twice, for Mad Men and 30 Rock, meaning he could appear onstage, in a tux, more than four times throughout the evening! (Presenting; if Mad Men wins; and if he wins twice.)
Pro: Twenty-four nominations for The Pacific!
Con: But it’s only up against one other miniseries (Cranford) in the Best Miniseries category, so it doesn’t seem like it was such a strong year for miniseries.
Con: No nominations for Community. Especially overlooked: Danny Pudi and Donald Glover.
Pro: Lost’s Matthew Fox, Terry O’Quinn, Michael Emerson, and Elizabeth Mitchell all got nominated, even though Mitchell was on for a grand total of ten minutes this season.
Pro: Mad Men has two of the five nominations for Writing in a Drama Series.
Con: Last year it had four of the five!
Pro: Conan’s Tonight Show gets four Emmy nominations, despite not being submitted by NBC. No nominations for Jay Leno’s edition. Take that, Jay!
Con: Conan’s show’s still not on the air. Jay’s is. Take that, Conan!
Pro: True Blood gets a Best Drama nomination.
Con: But its actors, including Anna Paquin and Alexander Skarsgard, don’t get nominated.
Pro: Andre Braugher got nominated for Men of a Certain Age.
Con: His co-star Ray Romano does not. (We swear, this show is better than you think!)
Pro: This is the last year Tony Shalhoub will be nominated for Monk, which ended its run in 2009.
Pro: Nominations for Archie Panjabi, Chris Colfer, Aaron Paul, Kristen Wiig, and Christina Hendricks.
TOTAL TALLY: Pro, 15; Con, 10. Nicely done, Emmys! You recognized deserving actors and shows we actually care about!