So, the nominations came out. While the awards show is probably the most entertaining of all the shows - the combination of the open bar and Ricky Gervais makes for unstoppable laughs - however the nominations themselves drive me a little nuts. I say this every year, so I leave this one complaint to one sentence: supporting nods for TV needs to be separated!!!!! (Sigh)
As for the movie nominations, I honestly can't comment too much because I haven't had a chance to see too many of them. I wish Justin Timberlake would have been up for The Social Network (you hear me, Academy??). The comedy/musical categories are always funny because they are obviously just filler. I'm talking to you The Tourist - I read the reviews. But the Hollywood Foreign Press LOVES Johnny and Angelina so I'm not surprised. And I'm glad to see some love for Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine. Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway for Love and Other Drugs. Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield for Social Network. A lot of names I love, so we'll see how it goes.....
Now on to the TV, since I obviously will have more to say about that. Every year I have three general reactions. I'm excited for certain inclusions, enraged about many exclusions, and dumbfounded by some other inclusion. This year's award for biggest stumper: Jennifer Love Hewitt for The Client List. First, let me say, I'm not anti- JLH. She is charming and not a horrible actress. But were there so few lead actress roles in a Made for TV Movie/Mini-Series that she is needed as obvious filler??
While I'm on the Mini/MforTVM bit - Very excited about Romola Garai being up for Emma. As you may remember I loved that version of Emma, and she was my favorite Emma ever, and that is saying something. However I'm upset that The Pacific didn't get any acting love. Oh well....
Now as for the rest (Comedy/Drama) I think the best way to deal is for me just to make my own ballot. We'll pretend that supporting is separated so I can include that too. I'll include some notes on my thoughts. One other thing to keep in mind - despite appearances, I don't, in fact, watch everything. So there may be people/shows you can't believe I don't have on my list and that may be because I don't watch the show. Sorry. :)
Drama:
Boardwalk Empire
Friday Night Lights
The Good Wife
Mad Men
The Walking Dead
(I'm actually not too disappointed with the list the HFPA assembled, however I did change one. Dexter out, FNL in. If only because FNL is the most deserving show that never gets ANY love. Yes, Mad Men gets a lot of love over and over, but this season deserved it more than any other. If only for the episode, The Briefcase, which may have been the most perfect hour of television. Honorable mentions- Fringe, Justified and Lost. Beyond honorable mentions: Terriers and Rubicon. They were two of the smartest and best acted shows ever on television and it truly saddens me that so few people watched. )
Comedy/Musical:
Chuck
Community
Cougar Town
Modern Family
Park and Recreation
(So this is probably the most difficult category because there are SO many quality comedies on TV right now. I only had one hold over from their list - Modern Family. What I didn't include: BBT, HIMYM and Glee. They are next on my list and very close. Here's why they didn't make my cut: First - the ones on my list make me laugh WAAAY more than these three have this season and never get the love for it (again, besides MF, which is too genius to ignore). Second- BBT, HIMYM and Glee have had rocky seasons so far. But I still love them dearly. Honorary shout out to Raising Hope, a series that is as charming as it is funny - much like Greg Garcia's previous show, My Name is Earl. )
Actor- Drama:
Steve Bucemi (Boardwalk Empire)
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Donal Logue (Terriers)
Timothy Olyphant (Justified)
(So, here's the thing. I hate when people get nominated OVER and OVER for doing the same damn thing. So, Michael C Hall and Hugh Laurie I love you both a lot, but you are out. Byran Cranston, you just win awards repeatedly when other people should so I'm mad at you. Jon Hamm, you made the cut because, again, The Briefcase. Seriously. Outstanding. Steve, Donal and Timothy were beyond amazing in their shows and they are all new. And Kyle has been overlooked so many times that it counts as a travesty. I literally mourn his being snubbed. This will be repeated in a minute with the name changed.)
Actress - Drama
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Anna Torv (Fringe)
Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries)
(Alright let's get that last one out of the way. I know. It's on the CW and therefore doesn't count as real television in the eyes of anyone handing out the awards, but she has been nothing short of perfection this season. And really, they have Piper Perabo up for Covert Affairs. Love her and the show, but COME ON. As for the rest - Julianna and Elisabeth are from their list and deserve to be there so not messing with it. Anna is there for the same reason I put Nina - convincingly playing two different people to the point where I'm starting to believe Hollywood has perfecting cloning and there are two different actresses on screen. And then Connie ----- Connie has been overlooked so many times that it counts as a travesty. I literally mourn his being snubbed. - Told you I'd repeat it)
Actor - Comedy/Musical
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Zachary Levi (Chuck)
Joel McHale (Community)
Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory)
(Only one holdover from the list the HFPA gave us. Jim Parsons is fantastic on BBT, and he can keep his spot. The rest.... Alec and Steve, we know you are awesome, but give the new kids a chance. Thomas Jane - you are great on Hung, but the show is iffy at best and you aren't the one saving it. Matthew Morrison.... It's not your fault. You are amazing. Ah-maze-ing. But they have given you crap this season and Shue has turned into a first class Douche. Look at my list. Those guys are all 1- FUNNY. 2- TALENTED and most importantly 3- Carry a show full of other equally talented people and still manage to stand out. Emmys. I expect you to rectify this in September)
Actress- Comedy/Musical
Courteney Cox (Cougar Town)
Lea Michele (Glee)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Cobie Smulders (HIMYM)
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
(My reasoning on these are basically exactly the same as the ones I had for the previous category. Plus, besides Lea, these girls don't get much in the way of recognition. I still think Tina Fey is one of the greatest things on TV - Liz Lemon is one of my favorite characters ever on televison - but I enjoy putting some new people in there. And these 5 ladies make me laugh A LOT. Plus it is a musical cateogry and does anyone sing like Lea? They may autotune the girl, but she doesn't need it. YouTube her Les Miz stuff.)
Supporting Actor - Drama
Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0)
Josh Charles (The Good Wife)
Alan Cumming (The Good Wife)
Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire)
John Francis Daley (Bones)
(Alright.... I know I'm a little out of left field here with some of these. Scott Caan is the only drama holdover from the Globes. Yes, the show can be a bit cheesy, but I dare you to find someone that says he isn't the best part about that show. He is the show. Well, him and Grace Park in a bikini, but we don't have a category for that. Chris Noth made the list for The Good Wife, but I don't like it. He's good, but not as good as the rest. If I had a sixth slot, Matt Czuchry would be in it. The show may be about the titular "wife" but it's the men on this series that make it amazing. Michael Pitt is my favorite part of BE, so I had to include him. If he qualified, I'd include Jack Huston - the man with half a face - because he is so phenomenal I don't have words. Make him a regular!! As for Sweets.... well, I felt bad not including more Bones love, but it's tough with what is out there. But if I had to choose ONE nod for Bones, it would be for Sweets. Right??)
Supporting Actress - Drama
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Jessica Collins (Rubicon)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
(Hello, my name is Melissa, and I'm addicted to The Good Wife. Sorry. I actually tried not to put both Archie and Christine, but I couldn't help it. They are amazing. Remember how I just said that show is really about the men? I lied, apparently. Anywhoooo. Christina Hendricks is the best part of any moment of Mad Men she is in. Even if she is just standing there. Kelly MacDonald was a constant wonder and surprise on BE, so I have to keep her on the list from the Globes. And Jessica... well I know you won't realize this because you didn't watch Rubicon, fools, but she was a revelation on that show. She conveyed everything with the slightest change in her face. I miss her the most.)
Supporting Actor- Comedy/Musical
Dan Byrd (Cougar Town)
Chris Colfer (Glee)
Garrett Dillahunt (Raising Hope)
Danny Pudi (Community)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
(The only holdover is Chris Colfer because he is wonderful as Kurt. Sometimes Kurt, like Rachel, drives me insane, but I love him and that is in large part thanks to Chris's performance. Moving on, Dan Byrd is the one small bit of sanity on Cougar Town and he plays it to perfection, "Way to go, adults." If I was his mom I'd smother him too. Garrett is just hysterical and it's fun to get to see him be fun on a show again. For those who love him - try finding Book of Daniel, where he played Jesus. Greatest Jesus since Jesus. Jesse is always losing out the love to Eric Stonestreet. Maybe because Eric is straight in real life. Either way, I think Jesse is just as deserving so there he is. And Danny Pudi.... I want someone to argue Danny being on this list. Go ahead. Try it. You can't.)
Supporting Actress - Comedy/Musical
Alison Brie (Community)
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Busy Phillips (Cougar Town)
Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
(Jane and Sofia are both, of course, up for their shows. I can't argue with this because they both make me laugh more than anyone else on either show. Martha Plimpton is so funny and sweet - in a white trash kinda way - on Raising Hope, and as always is the best thing about anything she is in. Maybe I just prefer Annie over Britta, but I love Alison Brie on Community. And then there is Busy Phillips. I ADORE Busy. Hello - Freaks and Geeks, people. I wanted to be best friends with Kim Kelly. I just want to be best friends with Busy Phillips, actually. And her character, Laurie, is the most ridiculous and loveable girl ever.)
This was a lot harder than it looks, and I don't envy the HFPA (or the Emmy's or anyone else) for having to come up with these lists. However, I also don't condone their tendency to be lazy and just do a bunch of repeats until a show gets cancelled.
Who do you want on your list??
