And This Year's Best Drama Is... Some Crappy Show
Ah, the Emmys. As I bitched yesterday, their process is shoddy, their members don't actually watch TV, and their decisions are based on what they've read in the media rather than the merits of the show — "I hear Lost is losing fans because the pacing is slow." "Really? Well, then, that saves me having to watch the episode they sent for nomination."

The complete list is available online, but I'll just put the sections I thought were relevant. All is not lost, however (if we consider getting nominated for an Emmy some high watermark of achievement, which I don't, really) because Lost submitted the season finale for consideration, and now it's up for best direction and best writing. In fact, the most interesting category of the bunch is the best writing category — The Sopranos is up for THREE of them, and then Lost and Battlestar Galactica. What does this say about the Academy? These really are three of the best-written series on television, but they're barely up for anything else. So when it comes to Best Drama, we look at, um, acting, hairstyles... cinematography. Not — heaven forbid — writing.

Without any further ado, here are some of the highlights of the announcements. I've put emphasis on my favourites, or things I saw that were a genuine surprise.

Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)
Avatar: The Last Airbender • City Of Walls And Secrets • Nickelodeon • Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Nominees TBD
Robot Chicken • Lust For Puppets • Cartoon Network • ShadowMachine Films
Nominees TBD
The Simpsons • The Haw-Hawed Couple • Fox • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox
Nominees TBD
South Park • Make Love, Not Warcraft • Comedy Central • Central Productions
Nominees TBD
SpongeBob SquarePants • Bummer Vacation / Wig Struck • Nickelodeon • Nickelodeon Animation Studio in association with United Plankton Pictures, Inc.
Nominees TBD

**Wow, the Academy recognizing something so outside of the mainstream? Colour me surprised.

Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios
Junie Lowry Johnson, CSA, Casting By
Scott Genkinger, CSA, Casting By

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Sheila Jaffe, Casting Director
Georgianne Walken, Casting Director

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Jennifer McNamara, Casting By

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Libby Goldstein, Casting By
Junie Lowry Johnson, Casting By

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Amy McIntyre Britt, Casting By
Anya Colloff, Casting By

**I'm really surprised that The Office isn't here. These ensembles are good, but those people are magical together.

Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Jeanie Bacharach, Casting Director
Gillian O’Neill, Casting Director

Friday Night Lights • NBC • Imagine Television, Film 44 in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Linda Lowy, Casting By
John Brace, Casting By
Beth Sepko, Location Casting By

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Linda Lowy, Casting By
John Brace, Casting By

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip • NBC • Shoe Money Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
Elizabeth Barnes, Casting By
Francine Maisler, Casting By
Liberman/ Patton Casting, Casting By

The Tudors • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Peace Arch Entertainment, Working Title, Reveille Productions Limited, An Ireland-Canada Co-Production
Nuala Moiselle, Casting By
Frank Moiselle, Casting By
Mary Jo Slater, C.S.A., US Casting Consultant
Steve Brooksbank, US Casting Consultant

**Man, so much left out. Yawn.

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Entourage • One Day In The Valley • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Julian Farino, Director

Extras • Orlando Bloom • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais, Director
Stephen Merchant, Director

The Office • Gay Witch Hunt • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Ken Kwapis, Director

Scrubs • My Musical • NBC • ABC Studios
Will Mackenzie, Director

30 Rock • The Breakup • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Scott Ellis, Director

Ugly Betty • Pilot • ABC • ABC Studios
Richard Shepard, Director


Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Battlestar Galactica • Exodus, Part 2 • Sci Fi Channel • R+D TV in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Felix Alcala, Director

Boston Legal • Son of the Defender • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Bill D’Elia, Director

Friday Night Lights • Pilot • NBC • Imagine Television, Film 44 in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Peter Berg, Director

Heroes • Genesis • NBC • Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
David Semel, Director

Lost • Through the Looking Glass • ABC • ABC Studios
Jack Bender, Director

The Sopranos • Kennedy And Heidi • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Alan Taylor, Director

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip • Pilot • NBC • Shoe Money Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television
Thomas Schlamme, Director

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
Dexter • Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
Elena Maganini, Editor

Heroes • Genesis • NBC • Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Michael Murphy, Editor
Donn Aron, Editor
Louise A. Innes, Editor

Lost • Through The Looking Glass • ABC • ABC Studios
Stephen Semel, Editor
Mark J. Goldman, Editor
Henk Van Eeghen, Editor
Christopher Nelson, A.C.E., Editor

The Sopranos • The Second Coming • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Lynne M. Whitlock, Editor

The Sopranos • Soprano Home Movies • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
William B. Stich, A.C.E., Editor


Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Extras • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman

Monk • USA • NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Steve Carell as Michael Scott

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
James Spader as Alan Shore

House • Fox • Heel and Toe Productions, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with NBC Universal Television
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House

Rescue Me • FX • Produced by Apostle, the Cloudland Company and DreamWorks Television in association with Sony Pictures Television
Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano

24 • Fox • Imagine Television & 20th Century Fox Television in association with Realtime Productions
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer

**We saw Matthew Fox deliver his best performance of the series, so it's a shame he's not here.


Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo

The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari’s Logo Here in association with Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
America Ferrera as Betty Suarez

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

**No shockers here. :/

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Sally Field as Nora Walker

The Closer • Slippin’ • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Dep. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • A Wolf Films Production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson

Medium • NBC • CBS Paramount Television, Grammnet, Picturemaker Productions
Patricia Arquette as Allison Dubois

The Riches • FX • FX Productions and Fox Television Studios
Minnie Driver as Dahlia Malloy

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano

**Minnie Driver is a nice surprise; she's awesome in this show. Edie will probably take it.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama

Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold

How I Met Your Mother • CBS • Twentieth Century Fox
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

**Go Dwight!! "Embers...Emmys...Emeril Lagasse."

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
William Shatner as Denny Crane

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
T.R. Knight as George

Heroes • NBC • Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura

Lost • ABC • ABC Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben

Lost • ABC • ABC Studios
Terry O’Quinn as John Locke

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti

**I would LOVE to see Emerson take this one, and it's a thrill to see O'Quinn here, too.


Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
My Name Is Earl • NBC • Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Conchata Ferrell as Berta

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

Weeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lions Gate Television and Tilted Productions
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes


Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Katherine Heigl as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi

**Here's a yawner category...


Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Martin Landau as Bob Ryan

Extras • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment
Sir Ian McKellen as Himself

Monk • USA • NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone
Stanley Tucci as David Ruskin

My Name Is Earl • NBC • Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Giovanni Ribisi as Ralph Mariano

My Name is Earl • NBC • Amigos de Garcia Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Beau Bridges as Carl Hickey

**You know, Martin Landau was great on Entourage, but not nearly as funny as Maury Chaykin.


Outstanding Comedy Series
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Producers TBD

The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Producers TBD

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Producers TBD

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Producers TBD

Ugly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Producers TBD

Outstanding Drama Series
Boston Legal • ABC • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Producers TBD

Grey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Producers TBD

Heroes • NBC • Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Producers TBD

House • Fox • Heel and Toe Productions, Shore Z Productions, Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Producers TBD

The Sopranos • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Producers TBD


Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking
Jonestown: The Life And Death Of Peoples Temple (American Experience) • PBS •
Stanley Nelson, Producer
Sharon Grimberg, Series Producer
Mark Samels, Executive Producer

A Lion In The House (Independent Lens) • PBS •
Steven Bognar, Producer
Julia Reichert, Producer
Sally Jo Fifer, Executive Producer
Lois Vossen, Series Producer

When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts • HBO • 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks in association with HBO Documentary Films
Sam Pollard, Producer
Spike Lee, Producer
Sheila Nevins, Executive Producer
Jacqueline Glover, Supervising Producer

**This is seriously one of the best documentaries I've ever seen; Spike Lee's handled the subject matter brilliantly. I can't recommend this one enough.

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Extras • Daniel Radcliffe • HBO • BBC and HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais, Writer
Stephen Merchant, Writer

The Office • Gay Witch Hunt • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Greg Daniels, Written by

The Office • The Negotiation • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille, LLC, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Michael Schur, Written by

30 Rock • Tracy Does Conan • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Tina Fey, Written by

30 Rock • Jack-Tor • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Robert Carlock, Written by

Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
Battlestar Galactica • Occupation/Precipice • Sci Fi Channel • R+D TV in association with NBC Universal Television Studio
Ronald D. Moore, Written by

Lost • Through The Looking Glass • ABC • ABC Studios
Damon Lindelof, Written by
Carlton Cuse, Written by

The Sopranos • Kennedy And Heidi • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Matthew Weiner, Writer
David Chase, Writer

The Sopranos • The Second Coming • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
Terence Winter, Writer

The Sopranos • Made In America • HBO • Chase Films and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment
David Chase, Writer

**I'm sure Made In America will get it, but a gal can dream!