# Primetime Emmy nominations announced **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829 "2008-07-17T14:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/1 "2008-07-17T14:26:50Z")
_The Wire_ is snubbed again for Best Drama. Sigh. There’s a comprehensive list at [emmys.tv](http://emmys.tv) but here are the big ones: Best Drama series: Boston Legal Damages Dexter House Lost Mad Men Best Comedy series: Curb Your Enthusiasm Entourage The Office 30 Rock Two and a Half Men Best Actor in a Drama: Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad Michael C. Hall - Dexter Hugh Laurie - House James Spader - Boston Legal Best Actress in a Drama: Glenn Close - Damages Holly Hunter - Saving Grace Sally Field - Brothers and Sisters Mariska Hargitay - L&O:SVU Best Actor in a Comedy: Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock Michael Carell - The Office Lee Pace - Pushing Daisies Tony Shalhoub - Monk Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men Best Actress in a Comedy: Tina Fey - 30 Rock America Ferrara - Ugly Betty Julia Louis-Dreyfuss - The New Adventures of Old Christine Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds Christina Applegate - Samantha Who? I’m glad to see Mad Men get nominated, and Cranston – he’s awesome in Breaking Bad. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/2 "2008-07-17T14:51:29Z")
My, what a lackluster list that is. All very safe, predictable and boring. It feels as if it’s the same list as last year. I mean I like Boston Legal, but it certainly doesn’t have the edge it had during seasons 1+2. House is fun, but best drama…? Same goes for Hugh Laurie. Seeing Mad Men nominated is one of the few bright lights. I haven’t seen the show with Byrne yet, but if he’s his usual excellence I’m sure I will enjoy it. I doubt Spader will grab it two consecutive years. Let’s, last year the list went like this (winners in bold): Drama \*\*The Sopranos \*\* Boston Legal Grey’s Anatomy Heroes House Comedy \*\*30 Rock \*\* Entourage The Office Two and a Half Men Ugly Betty Actor drama \*\*James Spader \*\* James Gandolfini Hugh Laurie Denis Leary Kiefer Sutherland Actress drama \*\*Sally Field \*\* Patricia Arquette Minnie Driver Edie Falco Mariska Hargitay Kyra Sedgwick Actor Comedy \*\*Ricky Gervais \*\* Steve Carell Alec Baldwin Tony Shalhoub Charlie Sheen Actress Comedy \*\*America Ferrera \*\* Tina Fey Felicity Huffman Julia Louis-Dreyfus Mary-Louise Parker It \*is \* almost the same list. I read somewhere that \*\*Neil Patrick Harris \*\* was going to present the nominees. That’s ironic, since I think the deserves not only nomination but winning. His Barney in \*How I met your mother \* is the funniest thing on tv right now, one might even say it’s Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/3 "2008-07-17T14:59:50Z")
[QUOTE=Charlie Tan] I read somewhere that \*\*Neil Patrick Harris \*\* was going to present the nominees. That’s ironic, since I think the deserves not only nomination but winning. His Barney in \*How I met your mother \* is the funniest thing on tv right now, one might even say it’s Awesome. [/QUOTE] He did, and he was nominated in the Supporting Actor category. Kristin Chenowith also presented, and was also nominated. Cool, huh? ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/4 "2008-07-17T15:03:21Z")
I’ll admit that I’ve never watched Boston Legal, so maybe someone here can tell me, does it really deserve all these nominations? From the commercials, it seems like a bunch of stupidness. ---
**Author:** ![AlmondJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@AlmondJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlmondJoy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/5 "2008-07-17T15:49:13Z")
I really really hope that Tina Fey wins- i think she deserves it ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/6 "2008-07-17T15:49:37Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] He did, and he was nominated in the Supporting Actor category. Kristin Chenowith also presented, and was also nominated. Cool, huh? [/QUOTE] Supporting? He is the show. I guess only the top billed can’t get lead nomination. What did they do with Friends? Good for him though! [QUOTE=davidw] it seems like a bunch of stupidness. [/QUOTE] It is. That’s the whole point. Dramedy might be a better description, but the emphasis of the show is playing silly buggers. The preachiness is getting higher with each season though, as it seems it always does with David E. Kelly shows. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/7 "2008-07-17T16:22:51Z")
Sigh… I was hoping against hope that someone, ANYone from **Battlestar Galactica** would be nominated. Michael Hogan, Edward James Olmos, James Callis, Mary McDonnell…you’re telling me not one of these performances could be recognized?? Oh well, it’s about what I expected. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/8 "2008-07-17T16:24:35Z")
Nice to see _Pushing Daisies_ in there. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/9 "2008-07-17T16:50:11Z")
The OP omitted Kyra Sedgwick from the Drama Actress nominees. The omission of Jon Hamm of _Mad Men_ is entirely the fault of the Academy’s. 16 nods, but not one for the lead actor? [QUOTE=Charlie Tan] Supporting? He is the show. I guess only the top billed can’t get lead nomination. What did they do with Friends? [/quote] For a few years, they all submitted their names in the Supporting category (Kudrow, Aniston, and Schwimmer were all nominated at one point, with Kudrow winning). Later, after the show got big enough, they all submitted their names in the Lead category (Perry, LeBlanc, and Aniston–again–were all nominated, with Aniston winning in this category). I’ll post more after processing the nominees. But more acting categories, first: Supporting Actor/Drama Ted Danson/_Damages_ Michael Emerson/_Lost_ (“Ben”) Zeliko Ivanek/_Damages_ William Shatner/_Boston Legal_ John Slattery/_Mad Men_ Supporting Actress/Drama Candice Bergen/_Boston Legal_ Rachel Griffiths/_Brothers & Sisters_ Sandra Oh/_Grey’s Anatomy_ Dianne Wiest/_In Treatment_ Chandra Wilson/_Grey’s Anatomy_ Supporting Actor/Comedy Jon Cryer/_Two and a Half Men_ Kevin Dillon/_Entourage_ Neil Patrick Harris/_How I Met Your Mother_ Jeremy Piven/_Entourage_ Rainn Wilson/_The Office_ Supporting Actress/Comedy Kristin Chenoweth/_Pushing Daisies_ Amy Poehler/_Saturday Night Live_ Jean Smart/_Samantha Who?_ Holland Taylor/_Two and a Half Men_ Vanessa Williams/_Ugly Betty_ Guest Actor/Drama Charles Durning/_Rescue Me_ Robert Morse/_Mad Men_ Oliver Platt/_Nip/Tuck_ Stanley Tucci/_ER_ Glynn Turman/_In Treatment_ Robin Williams/_Law & Order: SVU_ Guest Actress/Drama Ellen Burstyn/_Big Love_ Diahann Carroll/_Grey’s Anatomy_ Sharon Gless/_Nip/Tuck_ Anjelica Huston/_Medium_ Cynthia Nixon/_Law & Order: SVU_ Guest Actor/Comedy Will Arnett/_30 Rock_ Steve Buscemi/_30 Rock_ Shelley Berman/_Curb Your Enthusiasm_ Tim Conway/_30 Rock_ Rip Torn/_30 Rock_ Guest Actress/Comedy Polly Bergen/_Desperate Housewives_ Edie Falco/_30 Rock_ Carrie Fisher/_30 Rock_ Kathryn Joosten/_Desperate Housewives_ Sarah Silverman/_Monk_ Elaine Stritch/_30 Rock_ Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program Stephen Colbert/_The Colbert Report_ Tina Fey/_Saturday Night Live_ (Host) David Letterman/_The Late Show_ Don Rickles/_Mr. Warmt: The Don Rickles Project_ Jon Stewart/_80th Annual Academy Awards_ ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/10 "2008-07-17T16:54:36Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] The omission of Jon Hamm of _Mad Men_ is entirely the fault of the Academy’s. 16 nods, but not one for the lead actor? [/QUOTE] My bad. He was nominated but I screwed up and left him off the list. There’s also a new category: Reality Show Host. If I remember right, the nominees were Heidi Klum (sp?), Alan Seacrest, Howie Mandel, Tom Bergeron, and Jeff Probst. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/11 "2008-07-17T16:57:45Z")
[QUOTE=HelloKitty] Sigh… I was hoping against hope that someone, ANYone from **Battlestar Galactica** would be nominated. Michael Hogan, Edward James Olmos, James Callis, Mary McDonnell…you’re telling me not one of these performances could be recognized?? Oh well, it’s about what I expected. [/QUOTE] _Battlestar_ got 5 nominations, including one in the writing category (where it’s up against _The Wire_’s only nod), but no other major categories. ☹ > [@Wile E](#): > > Nice to see Pushing Daisies in there. _Daisies_ got 12 nominations, 3rd highest for all TV series (only _30 Rock_ and _Mad Men_ had more). > [@Charlie Tan](#): > > I doubt Spader will grab it two consecutive years. He’s actually won 3 of the last 4 years, so they clearly love the guy, but they might think Laurie (who’s never won and who’s the only network competitor) may be overdue at this point. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/12 "2008-07-17T17:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] My bad. He was nominated but I screwed up and left him off the list. [/quote] Whew! You listed 5 nominees so I figured you’d included them all. That’s a relief at least! 🙂 > [@](#): > > There’s also a new category: Reality Show Host. If I remember right, the nominees were Heidi Klum (sp?), Alan Seacrest, Howie Mandel, Tom Bergeron, and Jeff Probst. **Ryan** Seacrest, but otherwise, you’re right. Reality Show Nominees: _Antiques Roadshow, Dirty Jobs, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Intervention, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List_ Reality Competition Nominees: _The Amazing Race, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway, Top Chef_ ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/13 "2008-07-17T17:11:30Z")
Best Commercial nominees [Bud Light](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJJL5dxgVaM) (“Swear Jar”) [Coca-Cola](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiMf5cCDy1I) (“It’s Mine”) [FedEx](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFGq0j4u15s) (“Carrier Pigeons”) [Hallmark](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZdIjnkDpMo) (“Brother of the Bride”) [Travelers Insurance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sbczq_iTOU) (“Delivery”) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/14 "2008-07-17T17:38:37Z")
Random thoughts on random categories: -I hoped _The Simpsons_ would put up the “Eternal Moonshine” ep. Of this season, that one was one of the best and the most award-worthy. -The farce is with them: the two animated Star Wars spoofs- the 30min _Robot Chicken_ and the 60min _Family Guy_- both got noms in their respective categories. -Glad to see a nom for Coke’s dueling-Macy-balloons ad, my favorite of Super Bowl LXII. -Two song noms that tickled me- the catchy, goofy theme for _Disney’s Phineas and Ferb_ in theme and “I’m Fucking Matt Damon” in original song. (If “Damon” won, it would be the second year in a row the original song winner’s title couldn’t actually be said on TV, following “Dick in a Box.” -Surprised _High School Musical 2_ didn’t get any song noms, as the first got two. -_Kid Nation_ had a theme song? -Speaking of _Kid Nation_, why the hell wasn’t it nominated for best reality competition? -For the first time in his show’s three-year history, Stephen Colbert is not up against a famous singer in the comedy-variety perfomer award. But he does have tough competition, including Don Rickles, Tina Fey, and Oscar host/Colbert nemisis Jon Stewart. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/15 "2008-07-17T17:52:43Z")
Oops- Super Bowl LXII should be Super Bowl XLII. Don’t panic. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/16 "2008-07-17T17:59:19Z")
Fucking _Wire_. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/17 "2008-07-17T18:10:07Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] I hoped _The Simpsons_ would put up the “Eternal Moonshine” ep. Of this season, that one was one of the best and the most award-worthy. [/quote] For a change, _The Simpsons_ actually aren’t up against _South Park_ this year, since the latter chose to submit the entire Imaginationland multi-parter in the (less competitive) longform animated category. So they could both go home winners, though the Springfield brood is up against 4-time Oscar winner Nick Park and his _Creature Comforts_ series. > [@](#): > > The farce is with them: the two animated Star Wars spoofs- the 30min _Robot Chicken_ and the 60min _Family Guy_- both got noms in their respective categories. As did Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher on _30 Rock_) > [@](#): > > “I’m Fucking Matt Damon” in original song. (If “Damon” won, it would be the second year in a row the original song winner’s title couldn’t actually be said on TV, following “Dick in a Box.” Sarah Silverman is actually up for 3 awards in 3 completely different categories (and networks) > [@](#): > > For the first time in his show’s three-year history, Stephen Colbert is not up against a famous singer in the comedy-variety perfomer award. But he does have tough competition, including Don Rickles, Tina Fey, and Oscar host/Colbert nemisis Jon Stewart. Colbert is also head-to-head against Stewart (again) in the Writing, Directing, and Series competitions (of the Variety/Music/Comedy category). _The Daily Show_ has won the Series category for the last 5 years straight. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/18 "2008-07-17T18:11:40Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] Whew! You listed 5 nominees so I figured you’d included them all. That’s a relief at least! 🙂 **Ryan** Seacrest, but otherwise, you’re right. [/QUOTE] :smack: Next year, I’d better sit back and let somebody else do the thread. **Gadarene** , fucking right. And if they wanted to nominate Glynn Turman, why not nominate him for _The Wire_ instead of _In Treatment_? Simon and Burns must have pissed somebody off. **davidw** , I think _Boston Legal_ deserves the nominations. Some of the plots have some silly aspects (and they might preach a bit) but the characterization is topnotch and the dialogue is great. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/19 "2008-07-17T19:05:43Z")
As usual, I am grumbling a bit about the actors who were omitted. But I’m delighted that Zeljko Ivanek got a nod for his amazing work in _Damages_. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better performance. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829/20 "2008-07-17T19:11:58Z")
_Flight of the Conchords_ got 4 nods: Writing & Directing in a Comedy, plus 2 song nods ([“The Most Beautiful Girl (in the Room)”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmDTSQtK20c) and [Inner City Pressure](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RC0DdrHbGg)) I really like _Chuck_’s [opening credits](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0nJGRnobXE), but I think _Mad Men_ [will take that one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRr-Fb5xQo), too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primetime-emmy-nominations-announced/456829.md?page=2)