Emmys 2012: 'Homeland,' 'Girls' and 'American Horror Story' lead wave of new nominees
The return of 'Breaking Bad' and relocation of 'Downton Abbey' also led to big changes
"Homeland" co-stars Damian Lewis and Claire Danes were both nominated for Emmys.
Credit: Showtime
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By and large, the easiest way to be nominated for an Emmy is to have already been nominated for an Emmy. If you're lucky, you'll see maybe one or two new nominees per category each year.
In the 2011-12 TV season, though, there was so much obviously outstanding new work — or, in some cases, work by shows that weren't eligible a year ago — that there was more turnover in the nominations than in quite some time.
"Breaking Bad" returned after a year off with 13 nominations, just as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" reclaimed its usual spots after some time away with five nods. "Downton Abbey" was forced by logic to be nominated as a drama rather than a miniseries this year and picked up 16 nominations in the process. Showtime's riveting new thriller "Homeland" couldn't be ignored, with nine nominations overall, including for drama series and stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. HBO's "Veep" and "Girls" were both nominated for outstanding comedy series, with "Girls" creator/star Lena Dunham being nominated as an actress, a writer, a director and a producer. Fellow "girl" rookie Zooey Deschanel was nominated for comedy actress for "New Girl," and Showtime even got Don Cheadle a comedy actor nomination for "House of Lies."
As a bit of karmic balance for the "Downton" category switch, FX figured out an Emmy loophole that somehow allowed "American Horror Story" to be submitted as a miniseries. While it may have struggled to find traction among the other drama series, the minis category is so lightweight that it tied with "Mad Men" for the most nominations this year, at 17. HBO was unable to make the same argument for "Luck," which won't be back next season, and as a result the horse racing drama didn't get a single nomination, not even for Dustin Hoffman. (The TV Academy directed its usual movie star crush on HBO's heavily-panned TV movie "Hemingway & Gellhorn," which got 15 nominations, including for Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen.)
All the new and/or relocated blood sent some recent Emmy favorites packing. "The Office" was shut out completely, and "Glee" got only three minor nominations. After doing well for itself last year, "Justified" was sent back to the minor leagues, with a guest star nod for Jeremy Davies the most prominent of its three. "Parks and Recreation" snuck into the comedy series field a year ago and got bounced out by the arrival of the HBO comedies.
(On the plus side, the comedy series writing category's only nominees were two "Parks" episodes, the "Community" episode with alternate timelines, and the premieres of "Girls" and "Louie" — in other words, the four best comedies on television, even if "Girls" was the only one to also be nominated for outstanding comedy series. I'll just choose to view the winner of that category as the "real" overall winner.)
Of course, the run on shiny new things only went so far. All six of the adult "Modern Family" castmembers were again nominated. "Mad Men," as usual, was at the top of the overall nominations list, with the only notable change being Jared Harris taking co-star John Slattery's usual drama supporting actor slot. (Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks were again nominated; Jessica Paré was not, suggesting that Emmy voters aren't huge fans of Megan Draper, who was the show's female lead this year.)
Will all this new blood in the nominations translate into fresh winners? I would have to think Danes is a lock in her category, and the odds might favor Dunham winning one of her many categories. But I still expect to see "Modern Family" and "Mad Men" walking up to the podium for the big prizes, "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston to again leave his competition in the dust, etc. As with nominations, the easiest way to win an Emmy is to have already won one. Every now and then, though, the new blood is so overwhelmingly the best that it can overcome the usual laziness.
Some other Emmy thoughts:
* "Parks and Rec" co-star Nick Offerman was supposed to announce the nominations with Kerry Washington, but his plane got grounded in the Midwest, and a pajama-clad Jimmy Kimmel took his place. Probably for the best, as the actor playing one of the great sitcom characters of the 21st century was again ignored by the Academy. (Bill Hader from "SNL" and Max Greenfield from "New Girl" took the two non-"Modern Family" slots in that category.)
* Fact: Emmy voters love Betty White. This year, they somehow couldn't make room for her in the comedy supporting actress category for "Hot in Cleveland," but they made it up to her by putting her up for reality show host for "Betty White's Off Their Rockers."
* Another pleasant surprise: one of the comedy actresses who kept White out of her usual category was "Nurse Jackie" sidekick Merritt Wever, who gives one of TV's funniest performances but tends to get overshadowed at awards season by Edie Falco.
* If Jon Hamm couldn't win the drama actor award last year when Cranston was ineligible and Hamm had "The Suitcase" as a submission episode, I'm beginning to suspect his best chance to win a trophy will be for a role other than Don Draper — in this case, for his hilarious, fearless blackface performance in the live "30 Rock" episode.
* History's "Hatfields & McCoys" — an actual miniseries, as opposed to shenanigans involving "American Horror Story," "Missing" (which got a nomination for Ashley Judd), "Luther" and "Sherlock" (which submitted one of its episodes as a movie) — unsurprisingly did very well for itself, with 16 nominations overall, including Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton.
* Despite the arrival of two "Downton Abbey" actresses (Joanna Froggatt and Maggie Smith) into the drama supporting actress category, "Breaking Bad" wife Anna Gunn managed to secure her first Emmy nomination. Also Emmy rookies from that show: Giancarlo Esposito (who will have to beat co-star Aaron Paul and Peter Dinklage from "Game of Thrones," the last two winners) and, as a guest star, Mark Margolis as the silent, enraged Tio Salamanca. Ding. Ding. DING.
I may update with more bullet points as they come to me, but that's it for now. What does everybody else think of the nominations? UPDATE: And some more thoughts:
* This is the first year in Emmy history where none of the outstanding drama series nominees were from one of the major broadcast networks, though PBS is technically an over-the-air channel. With "Friday Night Lights" (which was only kinda-sorta a network show its last few years) over and "The Good Wife" bumped by "Downton" and/or "Breaking Bad," the Big Four got shut out.
* Getting back to reality for a moment, "The Voice" gets nominated and bumps "American Idol" in the process, and that Betty White nomination means that Jeff Probst won't win the hosting category for the fifth straight year.
* BBC America's "The Hour" is yet another show that's submitted as a miniseries but really isn't. That said, it was terrific, and worth far more than just the nomination for Abi Morgan's writing. No Romola Garai? No Dominic West, for either this or "Appropriate Adult"?
* While the two veteran AMC dramas cleaned up as usual, "Hell on Wheels" was only nominated for its theme music and "The Killing" was ignored altogether after getting a bunch of nominations last year.
* Though the "Modern Family" women seem like the comedy supporting actress favorites, I wouldn't count out either the late Kathryn Joosten for sentimental reasons, nor Mayim Bialik, who has a very good chance if she submits the episode that has this scene.
* Neil Marshall not being nominated for directing the "Blackwater" episode of "Game of Thrones" seems silly. I like most of those nominees a lot, but I'd easily bump "Downton Abbey" director Brian Percival for Marshall.
* Glad to see "Bob's Burgers" get nominated for animated series, but what about H. Jon Benjamin's other show? Will "Archer" nom put Emmy voters in the Danger Zone?
* Speaking of animation, I'm beyond pleased that Dan Povenmire was nominated for voicing Dr. Doofenshmirtz, the funniest character on the very funny kids' show "Phineas & Ferb."
* Other than a guest nod for Uma Thurman and the expected composing and choreography nominations, "Smash" was largely ignored.
* Kelsey Grammer was an Emmy favorite in his Frasier Crane days, but he wasn't able to crack the tough drama actor field. In a way, his omission is even more surprising than Hoffman's, in that the way "Luck" ended put a taint on that show above and beyond whatever creative issues voters may have had with it.
* Hardcore Emmy nerditry forces me to note several very interesting contenders for main title design, with "American Horror Story" as the probable (and deserving) favorite, the very cool "Strike Back" credit sequence and the retro dreams of the "Magic City" titles.
Alan Sepinwall may be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com
Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com
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Next 148 CommentsJohn
July 19, 2012 at 9:50AM EST Reply to CommentSo, Dinklage, Aaron Paul or Esposito?
John H. Aaron Paul. Bitch!
July 19, 2012 at 9:56AM ESTTina I'd love it to be Aaron Paul, any year. But Dinklage had a great season on Game of Thrones.
July 19, 2012 at 10:29AM ESTyoungjt80 Breaking Bad is so freaking good. Esposito's terrifyingly cool portrayal of Gus Fring was amazing. The silent cold slaughter in Box Cutter, the badassery in Salud, his superhuman spidey sense in End Times, and of course his last scene in Face Off. He truly is one of the most frightening villians in TV history. Then again, Aaron Paul was amazing as well. The ups and downs Jessie went through (mostly downs) after Gale's murder, his speech in Problem Dog, his time with Mike. Wow. Really tough category.
July 19, 2012 at 11:35AM ESTIreneinidaho I predict that Aaron and Giancarlo will split the votes from BB lovers, leading to the Emmy going to Peter Dinklage. The others? Not a chance.
July 19, 2012 at 3:04PM ESTjRoxy13 I'm so happy about Breaking Bad's nom's, it's hard for me to get mad about the other Emmy misses. I personally would go for Paul, but the Supporting Actor category is almost always a switch-up, and Esposito is also so very deserving.
July 19, 2012 at 4:24PM ESTLee Nothing against Dinklage and Paul, but I hope that Giancarlo Esposito is recognized for his utterly superb work as Gustavo Fring. They certainly gave him a memorable send-off worthy of such a monumental character!
July 20, 2012 at 9:58PM ESTBy the way, I continue to be annoyed at references to Mark Margolis' character as Tio Salamanca. Tio means uncle. His first name is Hector, as in “Is today the day, Hector?" and "Last chance to look at me, Hector."
De Niro Dinklage was amazing as always, but it's between Paul and Esposito, in my opinion because they were the two best and are equally deserving. And they're the top 2 in the competition in that category. Either of them winning would be fine, since, as I said, they're equally deserving.
July 31, 2012 at 4:48PM ESTlaurence2174
July 19, 2012 at 9:50AM EST Reply to CommentArcher got snubbed. Which would join the Writing nominees as the other best comedy on television. What episode of any other show was as funny and tightly-written as Lo Scandalo? NONE! NONE I TELL YOU! It should've been babytown frolics.
ism
July 19, 2012 at 9:50AM EST Reply to CommentAlan, what's the scoop with the 7 nominees for Lead Actress in a Comedy?
sepinwall Must've been a tie for sixth place. It happens.
July 19, 2012 at 10:28AM ESTbmfc1
July 19, 2012 at 9:50AM EST Reply to CommentBetty White gets a nomination for Best Reality Show host over Jeff Probst. Really?
Dezbot Maybe this will open the door for Phil Keoghan to finally win!
July 19, 2012 at 10:37AM ESTlaurence2174 Should've been RuPaul instead.
July 19, 2012 at 11:38AM ESTJim It's a message to Probst to fix that show. The last few have been less than great.
July 19, 2012 at 12:11PM ESTKen Raining
July 19, 2012 at 9:52AM EST Reply to CommentIs it wrong that I'm happiest about the Office being snubbed?
Hayley Absolutely not. I like to pretend that the Office stopped being an actual show around season five and started being a televised car wreck. Save for the Michael Scott farewell episodes.
July 19, 2012 at 10:12AM ESTsajid anwar I'm also glad The Office didn't get any nominations. It just needs to go away. Painful to say, considering it used to be my favorite show.
July 19, 2012 at 11:54AM ESTCol Bat Guano My greatest fear was that Ed Helms would get a best actor nom for Comedy series and then, through a fluke of vote-splitting and inattention, actually win when Carell never did. Thank god it didn't happen.
July 19, 2012 at 5:44PM ESTJames
July 19, 2012 at 9:53AM EST Reply to CommentBob's Burgers is now the Emmy-nominated Bob's Burgers! Much as I love Louis CK, pretty sure that was the nomination that made me happiest.
Kevin Love that show, just ridiculously funny.
July 19, 2012 at 12:01PM ESTJaxemer11
July 19, 2012 at 9:54AM EST Reply to CommentThey nominate 7 lead comedy actresses, but couldn't find room for Nick Offerman? O.K.
Zach L
July 19, 2012 at 9:55AM EST Reply to CommentI'm upset bout Swanson, but least Stefon was nominated and they didn't give the fifth slot to Rico
guest
July 19, 2012 at 9:56AM EST Reply to CommentMr. Sutter will not be pleased...
ANR I cracked up at this comment. So true.
July 19, 2012 at 11:34AM ESTBrendan Noel
July 19, 2012 at 9:56AM EST Reply to CommentNew slogan idea: "The Emmys - Stop trying."
Jaxemer11
July 19, 2012 at 9:57AM EST Reply to CommentWith as stacked as supporting male in drama category was, it is absurd that two guys fom Downton Abbey got nominated. What a joke.
liddy I agree with you completely. This list betrays a total betrayal by the voters of their mandate to consider (watch) the performances of so many brilliant actors. More to the point, it betrays their incompetence to do so.
July 19, 2012 at 10:13AM ESTMoreTears No kidding. I like Downton Abbey. I have seen every episode. But I have no idea who Jim Carter is, and I can't be bothered to look it up.
July 19, 2012 at 10:55AM ESTTina They are fine, but really, Mandy Patinkin should be in there. What a great performance.
July 19, 2012 at 12:09PM ESTADV
July 19, 2012 at 9:57AM EST Reply to CommentAmerican Idol wasn't nominated for the Reality category. No one seems to mention that; I know they've never won but I think the show is at the end of the road (and not just because of the lack of Emmy nomination)
ADV
July 19, 2012 at 9:58AM EST Reply to CommentAmerican Idol wasn't nominated for the Reality category. No one seems to mention that; I know they've never won but I think the show is at the end of the road (and not just because of the lack of Emmy nomination)
marc
July 19, 2012 at 9:59AM EST Reply to CommentCommunity, Parks and Louie are responsible for 4 of the 5 comedy writing nods but none of them is nominated for best comedy? That makes no sense
Tina No sense at all. And how does Louis CK get seven nominations and not break Outstanding Comedy?
July 19, 2012 at 10:44AM ESTWeebeysPlasticFish Does everyone get to vote for writing, or is it just writers voting for fellow writers?
July 19, 2012 at 2:07PM ESTAnother Guest Weebey, I do believe only the writing branch votes for the writing nominations. At least SOMEBODY is paying attention.
July 19, 2012 at 6:05PM ESTEmmyforATorv
July 19, 2012 at 9:59AM EST Reply to Commentleading dtama actress is clearly 4 names already there without having done a thing, with 2 added, 1 known name and another because she is in a luvvy series.
Instead of Bates, Marg, Close, why not Enos, Sagal and most of all Anna Torv.
Anna Torv what she does with so little material is beyond awesome, but it seems that playing an introverted , more loner kind of woman does not get the credit is so much deserves.
SaveFarris
July 19, 2012 at 10:01AM EST Reply to CommentThe nomination for Mark Margolis makes me all happy inside.
Oh, and while Hatfield & McCoys were undoubtedly better, I'd wager every dollar I had that "Game Change" cleans up in all it's categories. Cause ... you know ... [POLITICAL STATEMENT REDACTED].
Cousin Larry Appleton
July 19, 2012 at 10:01AM EST Reply to CommentI don't watch Downton Abbey, but from everything I've heard this 2nd Season was weaker than the 1st. And yet...
Here's my predicted winners:
Mad Men; Modern Family
Cranston, Danes; Parsons, Louis-Dreyfus
Paul, Smith; Burrell, Wiig
Tina I'd say Dinklage and Hendricks over Paul and Smith, but otherwise, great list.
July 19, 2012 at 10:45AM ESTKK
July 19, 2012 at 10:02AM EST Reply to CommentUghh no Parks and Rec and no Nick Offerman is clouding everything else right now!!
I am thrilled for Michelle Dockery as I was previously enraged by the 'elderly statesman' consensus that Elizabeth McGovern would get in over her.
Also super excited for Max Greenfield and Zooey as well as New Girl and Lena!
Even though I know they are long shots I will continue to always be annoyed by the lack of anything for Sons of Anarchy as well as Shameless.
KK Also we can now be sure the Emmys know Parenthood exists because Jason Ritter got nominated as a guest actor! I mean....that's basically like nominating Lauren Graham right???
July 19, 2012 at 10:13AM ESTSaulo
July 19, 2012 at 10:02AM EST Reply to CommentWhat happened with Jeff Probst? He has won 3 awards for hosting Survivor and now was replaced by Betty White???
Hannah Lee Poetic justice?
July 19, 2012 at 12:34PM ESTIf he's half as disrepectful of women and older people as he seems to be, being knocked from contention by Betty White was probably the last thing he expected.
M
July 19, 2012 at 10:04AM EST Reply to CommentThere are definitely some big omissions, but there really aren't too many nominations I'm upset about. Sure Modern Family isn't what it used to be, but it's still one of the better sitcoms on TV, and at least The Office was finally shut out. Some of the mini-series shenanigans are a little unfair, but I won't begrudge AHS or Ashley Judd their nominations given how sparse those categories would otherwise be. And even with that, at least the Academy had the good sense not to nominate Dylan McDermott.
youngjt80 What? You don't like man ass/crying/masturbation scenes? Come on, where else are you going to see that?
July 19, 2012 at 12:38PM ESTrugman11
July 19, 2012 at 10:05AM EST Reply to CommentDo you see the shenanigans with Luck and Missing in the Miniseries categories foreshadowing future like moves? I mean, if Missing was a miniseries, then why not nominate every one and done show as a miniseries. Pan Am, The River, and Bent all off the top of my head could have made the same argument as Missing this year.
Prettok Last year I was hoping Donal Logue would pull this trick.
July 19, 2012 at 10:29AM ESTMike Can we retroactively get Terriers an Emmy?
July 19, 2012 at 10:35AM ESTchris I believe The River actually did submit as a miniseries and was on the ballot.
July 19, 2012 at 11:39AM ESTrugman11 Chris, you're right. I just checked the ballot and Missing and The River were the only two one and done shows I recognized.
July 19, 2012 at 11:53AM ESTLJA Total shenanigans. Missing was a show. Just because it was canceled, it becomes a miniseries? What the what?
July 19, 2012 at 12:38PM ESTmatt s As someone who watched the entire run of both shows i'd just like to say The River was far , far, FAR better then Missing--but then again i did watch all 10 episodes of Missing so who am i to complain? (for what its worth Missing wasn't terrible--but it was fairly lousy--oh man thanks time warner's on demand service!)
July 20, 2012 at 1:10AM ESTThe One Who Knocks
July 19, 2012 at 10:06AM EST Reply to CommentWow, I'm really surprised by Justified not getting any major nominees. I thought for sure Neal McDonough would get one, along with Timothy and one for Best Drama.
Also, I am so over Modern Family. Time to move on from them, Emmy voters.
The One Who Knocks Oh, and count me as one of the people really happy to see all the Downton Abbey nods. I love that show.
July 19, 2012 at 10:22AM ESTmatts kinda surprised Olyphant didn't snag an actor nod--there was way too much competition for the show to get a best drama nod--i mean if The Good Wife couldn't get one--and that's a show that just a couple of years ago would've been a sure bet even in a relatively weak season--as for Mcdonough--it'd be nice to see him get a nod for something given how long he's been bringing the quality even to less then worth it shows (for my money he was probably the best villan they ever had on desperate housewives) but unless he gets his own friday night lights ala kyle chandler he may just be one of these guys destined to not be recognized. Also justified had a very kick ass year--and for my money was prob better then breaking bad or mad men this past year--but what do i know?
July 20, 2012 at 1:15AM ESTAngela I can't believe Justified was ignored.
July 22, 2012 at 8:03PM ESTBreandan
July 19, 2012 at 10:12AM EST Reply to CommentLook, I understand there are a lot of fans of Girls out there (I think it's one of the worst shows I've ever seen and is a pale and banal imitation of Sex & the City, but whatever). But for Girls to get a million and one nods while Parks & Rec was shunned is the kind of crap that makes me want to punch babies. I know, I know, it's just TV and it's just a dumb awards show, but SERIOUSLY.
mcm99 I love Girls and am not particularly fond of Parks & Rec. To each his own and all that.....
July 19, 2012 at 11:37AM ESTjRoxy13 I love both Girls and Parks & Rec, and seriously, The Big Bang Theory is the comedy that should have been booted this year.
July 19, 2012 at 4:13PM ESTmatts Girls was the big shiny new thing this season--there was no way it would be ignored. Ditto Lena Dunham this is her star is born year--and she prob deserves it--its effing hard to get anything made and the fact that she did on her own terms is pretty amazing by itself. that said--yeah i do not think its all that good a show--and hopefully when the buzz about it dies down the nods for it will go back to somewhat bite size proportions. As for Big Bang Theory---like it or hate it--it is heare to stay in this catagory--it is the networks 600 lb gorilla (it beats modern family on a regular basis ratings wise) for however long it remains tv's top sitcom--its in this cat. That said--you do realize there is a year when it will actually win right? I mean even The Office won once--there's no way around it---i think its prob better that Big Bang win for this past season then for a year or two now when it starts getting its past its prime comments---the show was consistently funny this past season for whatever that's worth. (that's assuming you were a fan of the show to begin with of course)
July 20, 2012 at 1:20AM ESTmarc
July 19, 2012 at 10:13AM EST Reply to Commentthey nominated the best 3 episodes of Mad Men. Good job, Emmys!
Chanter Yes! Feels a little like a celebration of the great 5th season.
July 19, 2012 at 4:07PM ESTLisa
July 19, 2012 at 10:14AM EST Reply to CommentI was SO mad about the Parks & Recreation snubs, but then I got a look at the Outstanding Writing category and I feel much better: Amy Poehler for The Debate, Michael Schur for the Parks finale, Louis CK and Remedial Chaos Theory!!
CaptainCanada
July 19, 2012 at 10:14AM EST Reply to CommentIs this the first time that the major broadcast networks have been completely shut out of Best Drama?
sepinwall PBS is technically a broadcast network.
July 19, 2012 at 10:30AM ESTMoreTears Alan -- the person said MAJOR broadcast networks, which excludes both PBS and The CW.
July 19, 2012 at 11:00AM ESTPrettok PBS has been around almost as long as television. How is that not major?
July 19, 2012 at 11:31AM ESTCapt. Canada should have said 'commercial broadcast network'.
MoreTears PBS is not a "major" network because Downton Abbey gets a little over 5 million viewers for them and that is cause to pop open champagne bottles at PBS. The CW execs would be similarly pleased with that size audience. 5 million viewers for a show on a major network makes people employed at said network worry they will be fired.
July 19, 2012 at 11:57AM ESTJared K
July 19, 2012 at 10:16AM EST Reply to CommentI’m very happy about:
1. Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding DING! Breaking Bad shatters the acting nomination field – I think we were all expecting nods for Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, and the show itself – all richly deserved. But to top it off, it also picks up well-deserved nods for Giancarlo Esposito (who I would love to see win this category), Anna Gunn, and Mark Margolis (it’s the year of the silent performer)! Throw in a directing nod for the finale, and you’ve got support both above and below the line! Dare I hope it could win Best Drama? Alas, probably not … based on this field, I see only one show that could topple Mad Men, and it’s no surprise. But still, not a bad haul for the best show on TV.
2. Community gets on the board, if only just – To no one’s surprise, Community was once again shut out of Best Comedy Series and all of the major acting categories (no tidal wave of support for Dan Harmon, apparently). But probably the most pleasant surprise of the morning (for me, anyway) was to see former scribe Chris McKenna’s script for “Remedial Chaos Theory” snag a nomination. Your mileage will vary, I personally thought it was the best episode of comedy I’ve seen this year, as well as one of the best episodes the show has ever done. It won’t win, but it’s nice to see it recognized.
3. Game of Thrones returns to the Series Field – I never had any worries that Peter Dinklage would return to the Supporting Actor field, but I had been growing increasingly worried that Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire would only get one slot between them, and that GoT’s fantasy bent would leave it on the outside despite undeniable quality and increasing popularity. Instead, it was The Good Wife that fell out of the field – leaving the broadcast networks without a representative (that will be big news in all of the trade publications, I’m sure). All in all, this is the best Drama Series field I could have hoped for (I would have replaced Downton with Justified, but that never had a chance). It looks like Game of Thrones has successfully broken the Emmy mold, folks – two noms in two years is no fluke.
4. Damian Lewis joins Claire Danes in the Lead Categories – Homeland wasn’t the juggernaut I thought it might be (no nods for Mandy Patinkin and Morena Baccarin, “The Weekend” failing to join the Pilot in the writing category) but at least voters didn’t see it solely as ‘The Claire Danes Show’. Lewis was every bit as essential to the first season as she was.
5. Sherlock and Luther represent – Look, I know it’s utterly ridiculous that these two ongoing series are competing in the Miniseries category (along with dreck like American Horror Story – take the good with the bad). But Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Idris Elba, and the producers of these two excellent series aren’t to blame for such idiocy. As long as they’re eligible, they might as well be recognized for their excellence.
I’m surprised by:
1. Downton Abbey cleans UP – To be fair, this isn’t too much of a surprise – I always knew this show would do very well. But I scoured more predicted nomination lists than I can count. Almost no one thought that that this show would get FIVE above-the-line acting nominations (or that Dockery would beat out McGovern) and ABSOLUTELY no one predicted Joannne Froggatt for Best Supporting Actress. Good God. For weeks, pundits have been wondering which show, if any, among Breaking Bad, Homeland, and Downton Abbey would emerge as the biggest threat to topple Mad Men. I think they can stop arguing now – we have a winner.
2. Jared Harris gets in over John Slattery – Don’t get me wrong, Harris is very deserving. But even in a year when Roger didn’t get much to do outside of the LSD episode, I thought it was safe to pencil him in until Mad Men went off the air. I guess not.
3. Glee almost completely disappears from the nomination field – Can’t say I’m shedding any tears over this one (if I do, they’re tears of joy). I was expecting the show to fall out of the Best Comedy field, but I thought Jane Lynch would hang on. Not that I’m exactly thrilled with her replacements (I was fancifully hoping for Gillian Jacobs, Aubrey Plaza, or Eliza Coupe), but Glee had no business getting anything more than the Guest Actress nod it received. It’s officially out of the zeitgeist, Ryan Murphy.
4. No nod for five-time winner Kelsey Grammer – The numbers said that no one watched Boss, and statistically speaking that probably included Emmy voters. Numbers don’t lie.
Dr. Dunkenstein
July 19, 2012 at 1:01PM ESTI don't think it's ridiculous for Sherlock to be competing as a miniseries. Yeah, technically it's an ongoing series but it seems just as wrong to be comparing 4 and 1/2 hours of show to something with 12 or 13 or whatever it is for something like the Good Wife. At that length I think it's almost fairer to call Sherlock's second season the second miniseries of Sherlock.
Jared K That's a good point. Given the British model, it really isn't fair to have shows that only air six or seven episodes to have to go up against shows that are capable of providing a much larger body of work. Really, it's the inconsistency that annoys me more than anything else - an anthology series like American Horror Story and cancelled series like The River and Missing can submit as miniseries, but Luck can't? Of course, making sure that there is a distinct category for every conceivable type and class of show isn't really the Emmy's mandate, and me being annoyed by it is my problem, not theirs.
July 19, 2012 at 4:26PM ESTSince I first posted, I've read that Sherlock actually submitted itself as a series of TV movies (hence why all the nominees for the series are designated as being for Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia). If that's true, then it fits the guidelines set for the category. As I said, I'm happy to see it nominated - good TV is good TV, no matter how its presented!
Jared K
July 19, 2012 at 10:18AM EST Reply to CommentI’m realistically disappointed about:
1. Parks and Recreation – Amy Poehler returns, and the series picks up two writing nominations. That’s nice, but it doesn’t excuse Nick Offerman’s continuing to be snubbed (which I expected) and the show falling out of the best comedy field (which I absolutely did not expect). As much as I like both Girls and Veep, I was not expecting both to make the field. The latter show, in particular, had no business beating out both Parks and Louie.
2. Justified mostly disappears – I was kind of expecting this, given the show’s reduced profile sans Margo Martindale, but it’s still disappointing to see Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins go one and done. Happy for Jeremy Davies, but this show deserved more.
3. Lead Actor in a Comedy, particularly Jon Cryer – No Johnny Galecki this year, thankfully, but if there was ever going to be a year when Jon Cryer didn’t get nominated, it would have been this year, when he moved up a category and got lost in the shuffle. I guess it speaks to the thinness of the Lead Actor category, but all that does it make me angry that they couldn’t find room for Joel McHale.
I’m irrationally disappointed about:
1. Emmy Rossum is snubbed – I promised myself I would not get angry about this when it happened. It didn’t work.
2. Modern Family sweeps the acting categories yet again – I like Modern Family more than most people who frequent this blog, but I definitely don’t think it deserves four of the six slots in the Best Supporting Actor field. I’d be happier for Bill Hader and Max Greenfield if they were in the field with just Ty Burrell and Ed O’Neill for instance, rather than extinguishing whatever faint hopes Nick Offerman and Danny Pudi might have had.
alynch
July 19, 2012 at 10:21AM EST Reply to CommentI think the issue with Sherlock is that they're in this sort of eligibility middle ground. With only three episodes, they don't have enough to submit as a series. And since they're in the second season of an ongoing narrative, they were deemed ineligible as a miniseries. So the only thing they could really do is submit individual episodes as TV movies.
I think the same thing happened with Wallander a couple years back.
nicole
July 19, 2012 at 10:27AM EST Reply to CommentHow can a show get two writing nominations and not get into best comedy? I get sometime the writers will nominate otherwise ignored shows (Buffy, The Wire and now Community) but I just don't get the Parks snub since it was nominated last year.
Super happy about Mark Margolis. I kind of figured Anna Gunn and Giancarlo Esposito would get in, but I didn't guess Tio.
Dr. Dunkenstein
July 19, 2012 at 1:02PM ESTBecause writing isn't the only aspect of a television show?
TJ I think the implied point is: Parks and Rec's cast is SO GOOD, that if it's recognized for writing, it surely should be recognized for Best Series, since, you know, even die-hard fans would say the writing isn't always the very best thing about the show.
July 19, 2012 at 2:32PM ESTDr. Dunkenstein Sure, but there's an implied logical inconsistency there that doesn't really exist. I love P&R's cast and don't agree with the Emmys on this one but clearly the Emmy voters aren't in love with the P&R cast as only Amy Poehler has ever received a nod.
July 19, 2012 at 10:38PM EST- 1
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