Emmy 2011 - Dream vs Reality

Before the Emmy nominations were announced, I gave my thoughts on what I would have liked to have been nominated in my wonderful dream world.  Now the nominations have been announced and I've had time to think them over.  Let's see how shattered my dreams were this year and I'll give a few thoughts on the real nominations.

All in all, not bad by Emmy standards.  Some head-scratchers, some lazy repeats, but also some surprise wonderful nominations.

Lead Actor - Comedy

Reality Matt LeBlanc - Episodes Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory Johnny Galecki - The Big Bang Theory Louis C.K. - Louie Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock Steve Carrell - The Office

Dream Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock Louis C.K. - Louie Steve Carrell - The Office Zachary Levi - Chuck Rob Lowe - Parks and Recreation Joel McHale - Community

3 of 6, not bad.  I expected Jim Parsons, and from the few episodes I've seen he deserves it.  On the other hand, Leonard has always seemed like the least interesting character on that show.  No knock on Galecki, but I don't think the work he does for that character deserves Emmy consideration.  Never seen anything of Episodes, but I read that Matt LeBlanc was the only tolerable part of that show, and the Emmys love past stars.  I still would have rather seen Joel McHale or Rob Lowe, Levi never had a chance, though.

Lead Actor - Drama

Reality Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire Michael C. Hall - Dexter Kyle Chandler - Friday Night Lights Jon Hamm - Mad Men Hugh Laurie - House Timothy Olyphant - Justified

Dream Sean Bean – Game of Thrones Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire Kyle Chandler – Friday Night Lights Jon Hamm – Mad Men Donald Logue – Terriers Timothy Olyphant – Justified

4 of 6, my best showing.  Not much I can say against these choices.  I gave up on Dexter, but Michael C. Hall was what kept me interested when I was still hanging on.  Same goes for House, super formulaic show, but his character makes it worthwhile.  At least he did, until the show kept saying House was changing then almost immediately went back to his old ways.  Can't knock his performance, though, just the showrunners.

Lead Actress - Comedy

Reality Laura Linney - The Big C Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation Melissa McCarthy - Mike & Molly Martha Plimpton - Raising Hope Tina Fey - 30 Rock

Dream Toni Collette – United States of Tara Courtney Cox – Cougar Town Tina Fey – 30 Rock Mary-Louis Parker – Weeds Amy Peohler – Parks and Recreation

2 of 6, meh.  Apparently academy members like different Showtime heroines than I.  Matt LeBlanc pulls a nom, but nothing for Courtney Cox, c'mon!  Cougar Town is great and Cox has a winning performance.  Amy Poehler made it again, though, so I can't really complain (too much) when the person I feel should win makes the cut (though she has a poor shot at winning).

Lead Actress - Drama

Reality Elizabeth Moss - Mad Men Connie Britton - Friday Night Lights Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: SVU Mireille Enos - The Killing Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife Kathy Bates - Harry's Law

Dream Connie Britton – Friday Night Lights Lauren Graham – Parenthood Lena Heady – Game of Thrones Melissa Leo – Treme Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men Anna Torv – Fringe

2 of 6 again, not great with leading actresses.  My top two made it.  The Killing became very bad, but Enos' performance was good.  The other shows I don't watch, but I've heard bad things about Harry's Law.  That could be a case of Emmy voters love Oscar winners.  Didn't seem to help Melissa Leo any, though.  That could be a case of Emmy voters hate David Simon.

Supporting Actor - Comedy

Reality Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men Chris Colfer - Glee Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Modern Family Ed O'Neill - Modern Family Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family Ty Burrell - Modern Family

Dream 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

0 of 6, yeesh.  This category is a travishamockery!  Every male adult from Modern Family, really?!  The only one I would consider would be Ty Burrell, Phil always cracks me up.  The rest are good and it's a good show, but there are so many other better performances out there, and Modern Family had kind of a down turn this year.  Anyone who has seen any of Parks and Recreation knows that Nick Offerman deserves to win this, but not even nominated.  Also, Jon Cryer?  How does this guy keep getting nominated?  I don't watch Glee, but at least I know Chris Colfer is good, so they got one right.

Supporting Actor - Drama

Reality John Slattery - Mad Men Andre Braugher - Men of a Certain Age Walton Goggins - Justified Peter Dinklage - Game of Thrones Josh Charles - The Good Wife Alan Cumming - The Good Wife

Dream Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones Walton Goggins – Justified Taylor Kitsch – Friday Night Lights John Noble - Fringe Michael Pitt – Boardwalk Empire Michael Raymond-James – Terriers

2 of 6, okay.  Walton Goggins should have been nominated numerous times for The Shield, but the nom here is also sorely deserved.  I can't complain about the ones I didn't choose, by all accounts they're doing good work.  John Slattery particularly cracked me up this past season with his memoirs plotline.

Supporting Actress - Comedy

Reality Jane Lynch - Glee Betty White - Hot in Cleveland Julie Bowen - Modern Family Kristen Wigg - Saturday Night Live Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

Dream Alison Brie – Community Busy Phillips – Cougar Town Aubrey Plaza – Parks and Recreation Amy Ryan – The Office Yvonne Strahovski – Chuck Sofia Vergara – Modern Family

1 of 6, better than 0.  I get the feeling the academy and I have very different tastes in comedy.  Jane Lynch was a lock.  I like Betty White, but that show is just bad.  Kristen Wigg used to be great until the writers starting using her and only her from the female cast of SNL and she started going over the top in everything.  Krokowski's Jenna is usually the weak link of 30 Rock episodes.  Julie Bowen is good, but it's another case of Modern Family oversaturation.

Supporting Actress - Drama

Reality Kelly Macdonald - Boardwalk Empire Christina Hendricks - Mad Men Michelle Forbes - The Killing Archie Panjabi - The Good Wife Margo Martindale - Justified Christine Baranski - The Good Wife

Dream Khandi Alexander – Treme Emilia Clarke – Game of Thrones Kelly Macdonald – Boardwalk Empire Margo Martindale – Justified Sandra Oh – Grey’s Anatomy Kiernan Shipka – Mad Men

2 of 6, seems to be my mean number of correct.  Margo Martindale was nominated, nothing else really matters. Best performance of the year, should easily win, but this being the Emmys, her getting nominated was a surprise.  I also have zero problems with Christine Hendricks, I almost chose her for my dream noms but went with Keirnan Shipka instead.  More Good Wife  people, don't watch but I hear good things.  And another case of a good performance on The Killing from Michelle Forbes despite the plot going way off kilter.

Comedy Series

Reality Glee Parks and Recreation The Office Modern Family 30 Rock The Big Bang Theory

Dream Chuck Community Cougar Town Louie Parks and Recreation United States of Tara

1 of 6, and I don't care. Parks and Recreation was nominated!  I may have only gotten that one right, but getting it right was still a surprise.  It probably has a snowball's chance in hell of winning, but it actually got a nomination.  It may be the best comedy on TV, but Emmys usually go for the more entrenched or super popular.  If it actually wins I may faint from utter shock.

Drama Series

Reality Boardwalk Empire The Good Wife Mad Men Friday Night Lights Dexter Game of Thrones

Dream Boardwalk Empire Friday Night Lights Game of Thrones Justified Mad Men Terriers

4 of 6, good show for the ending.  Another surprise, but well deserved, nod for Friday Night Lights!  They had an excellent final season.  Also a surprise from Game of Thrones.  Fantasy has a tough time breaking into the Emmys, but HBO holds a lot of sway.  Mad Men will probably four-peat, though, and deservedly so.  Season 4 was perhaps their best.