Plus: An Emmy Special

This is the most artistically rich period in TV history, and if you don't think so, look at the 2011—12 Emmy nominees. There isn't a citation in the comedy, drama, or mini-series/movie categories that could plausibly be called undeserving. Homeland, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Downton Abbey, American Horror Story, Hatfields & McCoys, Hemingway & Gellhorn, Game Change, and Sherlock: All are worth having opinions on, and the best are extraordinary. It has to be a great era when shows as committed and intelligent as Louie, The Good Wife, Southland, Community, Parks and Recreation, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, and The Borgias can be underrepresented or shut out entirely. This year also saw at least one milestone: For the first time in Emmy history, the best drama category contains not a single broadcast-network series. Cable's recent dominance of the industry’s highest honor continues, and it's hard to imagine the pendulum swinging back. Will FX's gloriously demented American Horror Story trump the History Channel’s smart, somber Hatfields & McCoys for best mini-series? Will Breaking Bad break Mad Men's streak of four straight wins in the best drama category? Will Girls creator Lena Dunham add yet another crown to her growing collection and drive detractors into a frothing rage? Sideshows, all. In one sense, the contest is over. Viewers win. — Matt Zoller Seitz read more [+]