Tomorrow morning the nominations will be announced for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Presented below are the nominations I would have picked if I actually had a say in these things. Closer to the actual awards show I'll do another post on who I think should win from the actual nominations. Those actual nominations will, of course, be wildly different then what you are about to read. The Academy and I rarely see eye to eye. I put "dream" in the title for a reason.
I only chose nominations from shows I actually watch. I know Chris Colfer is doing great work on Glee, but since I don't watch that show, I feel like I can't weigh it against the shows I do watch. I also only picked from the nomination ballots (can be found here and here). I don't think Rob Lowe should be in Lead Actor for Parks and Recreation, but that's where he appears on the ballot, so that's where I put him. The names/shows that appear in italics are what I would pick to win out of the six nominated.
Lead Actor – Comedy
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Louis C.K. – Louie
Steve Carell – The Office
Zachary Levi – Chuck
Rob Lowe – Parks and Recreation
Joel McHale – Community
Louis C.K. has crafted a strange character out of his self image in Louie. Steve Carell did some fantastic work in his final episodes (when Will Ferrell wasn't around). Rob Lowe's never-tiring, upbeat Chris Traeger brings him back into funny mode. The others are doing solidly great work on great shows.
Lead Actor – Drama
Sean Bean – Game of Thrones
Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler – Friday Night Lights
Jon Hamm – Mad Men
Donald Logue – Terriers
Timothy Olyphant – Justified
With Breaking Bad out of the running this year, Bryan Cranstan's spot is wide open. Hopefully to his network colleague Jon Hamm, who work as the broken Don Draper this year was a step above the previous seasons. Timothy Olyphant brings intensity like no one's business. Kyle Chandler has crafted one of the most believable characters ever in Friday Night Lights five-year run. Donald Logue was funny, charming, and broken all at the same time in the one season wonder of Terriers. Steve Buscemi and Sean Bean are the stalwarts of their respective programs.
Lead Actress – Comedy
Toni Collette – United States of Tara
Courtney Cox – Cougar Town
Tina Fey – 30 Rock
Mary-Louis Parker – Weeds
Amy Peohler – Parks and Recreation
Unfortunately, I could only find five women whom I felt fit this category. None was more fitting than Amy Peohler. She, in essence, leads the parks department with her love of government and can do attitude, and we are all the better for it. Toni Collette reeks havoc on her family with her multiple personalities. The other women are doing great work on good shows. I wish this category was larger, there are a lot of funny women out there, just not in leading roles.
Lead Actress – Drama
Connie Britton – Friday Night Lights
Lauren Graham – Parenthood
Lena Heady – Game of Thrones
Melissa Leo – Treme
Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men
Anna Torv – Fringe
Elisabeth Moss went toe to toe with Jon Hamm in this season's "The Suitcase" and it was a tour de force. Connie Britton is the second half of the best tv couple ever. Lena Heady is icy, but not without a little audience sympathy as Queen of Westeros. Anna Torv shined playing a double role last season. I will always have a soft spot for Lorelai Gilmore (snubbed form the Emmys for years), but Lauren Graham brings it as a single mom again in Parenthood. Oscar winner Melissa Leo, maybe that will get the attention of the Academy when it comes to the wonderfully sedate Treme.
Supporting Actor – Comedy
Charlie Day – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Donald Glover – Community
Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother
Nick Offerman - Parks and Recreation
Chris Pratt - Parks and Recreation
Danny Pudi – Community
If only I could nominate the entire cast of Parks and Recreation and Community. Nick Offerman and his glorious mustache stand above the rest, though, he's Ron Effing Swanson! Dany Pudi and Donald Glover are both great, but their greatness lies in their unity, it's impossible to chose one over the other. NPH's storyline about his father was one of the few good parts of this last season of How I Met Your Mother, and Charlie Day's never fails to make me laugh.
Supporting Actor – Drama
Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones
Walton Goggins – Justified
Taylor Kitsch – Friday Night Lights
John Noble - Fringe
Michael Pitt – Boardwalk Empire
Michael Raymond-James – Terriers
There are so many more supporting roles than lead, it was a lot harder to pare these down. Walton Goggins was a clear winner, you never really know where the maybe criminal stands, but he says it with complete conviction. Michael Pitt's haunted WWI vet was the best part of Boardwalk Empire and it only looks to get better next season. John Noble never fails to amuse, but he can play sad, creepy, and villain just as well. Peter Dinklage's Tyrion was my favorite part of Game of Thrones. Michael Raymond-James was the second half of the dynamic duo of Terriers. Taylor Kitsch has grown immensely in five years and his final sendoff left me in tears.
Supporting Actress – Comedy
Alison Brie – Community
Busy Phillips – Cougar Town
Aubrey Plaza – Parks and Recreation
Amy Ryan – The Office
Yvonne Strahovski – Chuck
Sofia Vergara – Modern Family
This is where all the good female comedy roles are! It was a tough choice between Alison Brie and Busy Phillips. Both women bring so much to their respective shows, and are willing to always go all in. Aubrey Plaza's minimalism is amazing and in stark contrast to Sofia Vergara's wonderfully over the top. Yvonne Strahovski's Sarah may not be a comedic role, but it's a great part in what is most of the time a comedy. Amy Ryan never fails to please when she shows up on The Office.
Supporting Actress – Drama
Khandi Alexander – Treme
Emilia Clarke – Game of Thrones
Kelly Macdonald – Boardwalk Empire
Margo Martindale – Justified
Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy
Kiernan Shipka – Mad Men
What great things can be said about Margo Martindale's performance that would be exaggeration? Absolutely nothing. It was the best performance I've seen the past year, chilling and ruthless while amiable and loving at the same time. Emilia Clarke showed the growth of her character remarkable. Kiernan Shipka to child acting to another level, what a great find for the Mad Men team. Sandra Oh showed recovery from a trauma in a mostly realistic way on a very unrealistic show. Kelly Macdonald and Khandi Alexander are doing great work on their respective shows.
Comedy Series
Chuck
Community
Cougar Town
Louie
Parks and Recreation
United States of Tara
The highest marks to Parks and Recreation, possibly my favorite show on the air. Community is not far behind in it's unwillingness to conform to any sitcom tropes or to any set forms of storytelling. Louie also plays constantly with form and sometimes becomes completely unfunny, but always exploring humanity and always good. United States of Tara finally showed the toll Tara's illness would have on her family. With Cougar Town and Chuck, I just love spending time with these characters each week.
Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Friday Night Lights
Game of Thrones
Justified
Mad Men
Terriers
"The Suitcase." That is all you need to mention about Mad Men, such an amazing episode. Justified amped up the tension this year with a wonderful villain. Game of Thrones told a complex tale of kings and honor in a gripping fashion. Terriers was a fun detective show that still had the power to punch you in the gut at times. Friday Night Lights' swan song was not without tears. Boardwalk Empire brought the 20's to life and the rise of organized crime in the cinematic way only HBO can do.
So there you have it, all the major categories. If you've made it this far, I'm impressed. Can't wait to see all the snubs and surprise nominations this year!
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