Listen, the Emmys are stupid. I know this. You know this. But every year we hope against hope that the reigning awards show for TV excellence will find some sort of consistency — if not in picking winners, then at least in the nomination process. And every year we end up dazed and flat on our backs: Charlie Brown after another failed kickoff.
With that in mind, the nominations for the 63rd Emmys (see list below) were announced this morning, and more than anything I’m confused by what thought process, if any, governs the actions of the Academies of Television Arts & Sciences. I don’t understand why the excellence of “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” was recognized from their inceptions, while “The Wire” received one nomination during its five-year run on HBO. Emmy voters fall all over themselves to (rightfully) acknowledge “Modern Family,” but have seemingly never heard of “Community.” It’s maddening.
But getting all pissed off about television awards is a pretty goddam meaningless exercise in futility, so instead I’ll focus on the positives: the brilliant Peter Dinklage received a nomination for “Game of Thrones;” the trio at the heart of “Justified’s” excellent second season — Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, and Margo Martindale — each received a nom; and “Friday Night Lights” received due recognition in its final season. I will try not to think about Nick Offerman’s snub or how “Community” was shut out, because I’d prefer not to have a brain embolism at the age of 32.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Archie Panjabi, “The Good Wife”
Margo Martindale, “Justified”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Kelly Macdonald, “Boardwalk Empire”
Christina Baranski, “The Good Wife”
Michelle Forbes, “The Killing”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
Alan Cumming, “The Good Wife”
John Slattery, “Mad Men”
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
Andre Braugher, “Men of a Certain Age”
Walton Goggins, “Justified”
Josh Charles, “The Good Wife”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Betty White, “Hot in Cleveland”
Jane Lynch, “Glee”
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”
Kristen Wiig, “Saturday Night Live”
Jane Krakowski, “30 Rock”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Chris Colfer, “Glee”
Eric Stonestreet, “Modern Family”
Ed O’Neill, “Modern Family”
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Jon Cryer, “Two and a Half Men”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family”
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men”
Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
Connie Britton, “Friday Night Lights”
Kathy Bates, “Harry’s Law”
Mireille Enos, “The Killing”
Outstanding Lead Actor A Drama
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”
Hugh Laurie, “House”
Kyle Chandler, “Friday Night Lights”
Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”
Timothy Olyphant, “Justified”
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy
Laura Linney, “The Big C”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Amy Poehler, “Parks and Recreation”
Melissa McCarthy, “Mike & Molly”
Martha Plimpton, “Raising Hope”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy
Steve Carell, “The Office”
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
Louis C.K., “Louie”
Johnny Galecki, “The Big Bang Theory”
Outstanding Drama Series“Mad Men”
“The Good Wife”
“Dexter”
“Boardwalk Empire”
“Game of Thrones”
“Friday Night Lights”
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Modern Family”
“Glee”
“30 Rock”
“The Office”
“Parks and Recreation”
“The Big Bang Theory”
Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
“Cinema Verite”
“Downton Abbey”
“The Kennedys”
“Mildred Pierce”
“The Pillars of the Earth”
“Too Big to Fail”
Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
Taraji P. Henson, “Taken From Me”
Diane Lane, “Cinema Verite”
Jean March, “Upstairs, Downstairs”
Elizabeth McGovern, “Downton Abbey”
Kate Winslet, “Mildred Pierce”
Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Idris Elba, “Luther”
Laurence Fisburne, “Thurgood”
William Hurt, “Too Big To Fail”
Greg Kinnear, “The Kennedys”
Barry Pepper, “The Kennedys”
Edgar Ramirez, “Carlos”
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Series
Tom Bergeron
Cat Deeley
Phil Keoghan
Jeff Probst
Ryan Seacrest
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
“The Amazing Race”
“American Idol”
“Dancing with the Stars”
“Project Runway”
“So You Think You Can Dance”
“Top Chef”
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
“The Colbert Report”
“Conan”
“The Daily Show”
“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
“Real Time With Bill Maher”
“Saturday Night Live” [compiled by HitFix]
