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]
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Somebody on Twitter said it best: “Somewhere right now Ron Swanson is eating a large breakfast and celebrating that Leslie Knope is getting the spotlight and not he”
You couldn’t leave off one supporting actor in Modern Family to recognize Nick Offerman? Not even one?
Nice seeing Louis C.K. get a nomination.
Holy shit some of those decisions are terrible. I like Modern Family, but all four male leads? If I have to accept that The Good Wife is a good show, I still can’t believe that 5 actors (2 in each supporting category) needed to be nominated above people from other shows. Fuck the Emmys for making me actually complain about TV on the internet.
The lack of Ron Swanson and anyone from Community wouldn’t be so bad if they’d stop nominating Glee and Big Bang Theory.
But overall, this ain’t bad. Tyrion Lannister FTW.
*quietly curses for voters for ignoring John Noble yet again*
Surprisingly solid.
I wish they’d let Dinklage and Goggins fight it out for the Emmy, Thunderdome-style.
I must say, I’m floored that Louis CK is up there. I mean WE love him but it’s not exactly the most accessibly comedy on television.
Also I like what the first commenter said about Ron Swanson.
How the fuck did anyone from The Kennedys earn a nomination when the networks duked it out to bury and obfuscate its very existence?
Dewey will fucking defeat Truman, I know it in my bones.
does anyone actually watch the good wife? the only reason i’ve heard of it is due to train station ads…
best job the emmy nominators did was with the lead actor drama category, i wouldn’t be pissed if any of those nominees one, even though i never really watched friday night lights…but i hope its raylan
“The Office” is obviously is still living on its past reputation. Only explanation getting for it getting a nomination.
Micheal C. Hall deserves to win it at least once. Though I do like Olyphant and have no complaints with Cranston winning the last 3….but Hall absolutely carries that show all by himself. All these other shows have a great supporting cast while Dexter does not.
Other than Community, I think the biggest snub is Tom Wilkenson from the Kennedys. I’m only three episodes in but Wilkinson is crushing it.
@esse like I said I’m only a few episodes in but the show is excellent. Based on what I’ve seen I think pressure from certain groups had more to do with the show getting burried than the quality of the product.
UU, I thought The Office was decent this season. But the only thing about it that deserves an Emmy is Ed Helms.
@Patty, him or Rainn Wilson.
I hope Jon Cryer wins the Emmy so this is complete bullshit.
I hope that if either actress from ‘The Killing’ wins when they open the envelope they tell you to watch next year to see who won.
BTW Michelle Forbes was easily the worst character on this show.
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Series
This is actually an award???
I always ‘ave ta pay two bob extra for a Dinklage & Goggins down at me local knockshop.
Jon Cryer got a nom, Community did not. Jim Parsons got a nom, Nick Offerman did not.
@Burnsy,….this is bullshit. Please take note that half the cast of Modern Family got a nom in the same category as John Cryer, give yah a hint who’s walking away a winner.
“Worst character” is not a category, Paul. If it was, Jeff Winger would be reprazentin’ Community like a pimp!
*waits patiently for teacup to be hurled at head*
Shut up, Spaz.
*high-fives self*
All I know is Whats Happening Now is all out of Reruns.
I like Modern Family, but FOUR best supporting actor nominations? Is this a joke? Nick Offerman and Danny Pudi or Chevy Chase should have gotten two of those.
So… if ALL the adults from Modern Family are supporting actors, does that make the kids the lead actors? O_o
I might even say that Jeremy Davies was better than Goggins on Justified this year, but everyone on that show deserves to be nominated.
Mariska Hargitay? Seriously?
Well, I’m not going to lose my head over it.
90 percent of these nominations are exactly the same as last year.
Jon fucking Cryer getting an Emmy nod is why America can’t have nice things.
Community getting shut out from the major awards is a load of horse shit. I don’t see how the whole damn cast of Modern Family gets a nom and nobody on Community does. Stupid award shows.
Dinklage > Goggins, but it’s oh so close.
@Patty & UU
Steve Carrell deserves an Emmy for his final episode. I cried when he was in that airport.
Saying Archer isn’t Tv’s best animated series is like saying water is poison.
Hold up. Matt LeBlanc’s still alive?
Mariska Hargitay is the new Susan Lucci of the Emmys. Nominated every year, loses every year.
The nominees for outstanding comedy series are a joke right?
They should nominate that ginger kid in Modern Family for “most punchable.”
“does anyone actually watch the good wife?”
Yep. Very good show actually. Having said that, I think the next season will struggle as they have hit their marks. They will need to restart it again sort of.
No John Noble? Meh, The Big Bang Theory and Two and Half Men shows that the Emmys don’t really recognise greatness.
Betty White!?!?! WhoTF is watching that show?
Good to see Idris Elba getting recognized for his excellent work on Luther.
@Drew I watch The Good Wife and it actually is really good. It’s deservering of the nomination.
Most exciting: Friday Night Lights.
Second most exciting: LUTHER!
Is the Walking Dead not eligible for consideration?
@Otto Man
I’ll drink to that Thunderdome match. But only if Dinklage gets to ride Hodor around
But seriously. What the fucking fuck? What ass-clowns approve the nominations for this shit-show?
What about Khandi Alexander for Treme this season?! WTF?
Peter Dinklage deserves an award, sure. WORST BRITISH ACCENT IN A DRAMA. If anyone on GoT deserves an award it’s Mark Addy who KILLED IT in his role.
Very happy to see both leads on FNL get noms. Though they wont win, they both more than certainly deserve it.
Community is just one of those shows that will never get the recognition it deserves…not when LCD shows like Two And A Half Men are around. Sucks for Pudi.
Why do I even care, though? I fucking hate award shows.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
Jesus Christ. That there is Golden Globe-level stupid.
Leslie, you definitely deserve an award. Not this one, this one is mine, but an award of some form.
-Ron Swanson, god among men.
Is The Good Wife a show about some chubby broad cooking, cleaning and raising a family?
Also yaay Louis
+1 to Mutt.
Jon Cryer might not be the best/funniest actor but there could be an argument he deserves an Emmy for somehow holding it together and not going columbine on the set of that putrid show.
This is an ABOMINATION if Ryan Seacrest doesn’t win!!
Coach Taylor FTW!
They’ve only been ignoring Walt Goggins’ outstanding supporting work since 2002, a nomination this year is right on schedule. At least he’s on the list.