Emmy nominations 2005

July 20, 2005

Ladies and gentleman, the impossible has happened for the cast of Scrubs. After years of being ignored by Emmy voters, the show was finally nominated last week for Best Comedy. No joke.

Scrubs finally got some love from Emmy voters. I know. It seems about as likely as actress Sandra Bullock marrying a mechanic named Jesse James. But sometimes, Tubers, the unthinkable happens.

Not only did Scrubs get nominated, so did the show’s lead actor, Zach Braff, for Best Actor in a Comedy. While I couldn’t be more pleased for Braff, I’m just as ticked that John C. McGinley, cranky Dr. Cox, was once again snubbed. Instead of McGinley, the same familiar names of Brad Garrett, Ray Romano, and Peter Boyle, of Everybody Loves Raymond, and Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack of Will & Grace, were among those nominated in the male comedy acting categories.

The biggest problem with Emmy nominations each year seems to be that the same shows and actors are nominated, even when they’ve had bad years. Yes, Will & Grace I’m talking to you. It’s still my contention that the Emmy nomination process needs overhauled. It seems that Emmy voters vote for names they recognize, which is why we see the same folks over and over again.

Or it could be bribery. Yes, that could explain it.

What they did wrong:

• Will & Grace got 15 nominations. I’m sorry, but when a show resorts to big-name guest stars in most of the episodes, it shouldn’t even be eligible for an Emmy. The guest-star casting sends the message that the core characters and stories aren’t interesting enough to stand on their own.
• The biggest Emmy snub was the complete shut out of UPN’s Veronica Mars and its star Kristen Bell. I’m convinced Emmy voters aren’t even watching the shows/actors they are nominating. There is no other explanation for this ridiculous oversight. Every TV critic in the free world and thousands of fans have been singing the praises of Veronica this year. The reason: it’s quality television.
• If you want to win an Emmy, you’d better pray your show isn't on The WB or UPN networks. Other egregious omissions are that of Gilmore Girls and its lead actress Lauren Graham from the comedy category, as well as Jack & Bobby actors Matt Long and Christine Lahti from the drama category.
• Desperate Housewives Eva Longoria wasn’t named a nominee in the supporting actor comedy category. She’s the most desperate of all the housewives and just as deserving as her cast mates. And she can mow a lawn in an evening gown and stilettos. Impressive, right?
• Stockard Channing of The West Wing was nominated for her supporting role in a drama. Huh? She was on screen for about two minutes the entire season. Again, I think name recognition is the explanation for this wackiness. Everyone knows Ms. Channing as a theater and award-winning actress, not to mention for her role as Rizzo in Grease. I love Rizzo as much as the next gal, but come on.
• Matthew Fox and Josh Holloway of Lost were not among the supporting actors in the drama category. Tell me how that island would be bearable without Jack and Sawyer to mix it up.
• Nip/Tuck wasn’t nominated for anything. Yes, this show is graphic and sometimes hard to watch, but you won’t see better acting anywhere on television than that of Julian McMahon and Joely Richardson. They deserved acting nominations.
  
  What they did right:
  
• This year, Emmy voters did take some chances and invited some new folks to the party. Good for them. I’m most pleased about these wonderful actors’ nominations: Naveen Andrews and Terry O’Quinn of Lost and Sandra Oh of Grey’s Anatomy as supporting actors, and Hugh Laurie of House and Patricia Arquette of Medium as lead actors.
• The unique drama Lost earned 12 nominations. It’s nice to see creativity rewarded.
• Desperate Housewives earned 15 nominations. This show has a fabulous ensemble cast, and I’m happy Emmy voters noticed.
• Denis Leary was nominated for writing the pilot episode of Rescue Me. The pilot was fabulous. However, a jeer within a cheer for omitting Leary from the lead actor category. His portrayal of veteran firefighter Tommy Gavin is brilliant.
• The always enigmatic James Spader and William Shatner of Boston Legal were nominated, despite the show being replaced at the end of the season by Grey’s Anatomy.
• Scrubs actually got on the Emmy ballot this year. With some luck, and perhaps a small bribe, it will take home the award for Best Comedy.

Originally published 7/20/05 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.

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