The 2009 Emmy nominations came out this morning, bigger and—well, yeah, bigger. To spread the nominee wealth, draw in more fans of more shows (and, maybe, to increase the odds that the broadcast networks won’t get shut out by cable), the major categories were bumped up to six and even seven nominees.
The result: even more nominations for some longtime awards darlings. (30 Rock and Mad Men, in particular, cleaned up.) There were some surprising firsts, notably Family Guy picking up a Best Comedy nomination, as well as some offbeat actor/actress nods, like Sarah Silverman and Jemaine Clement (whose Flight of the Conchords also got a Best Comedy nom). The surprises tended to come from shows in their sophomore seasons or later, though, as very few new series picked up nods.
My first reactions, plus a partial list of nominations (see the full official list here), after the jump:
* Though the Emmys are loath to recognize new shows (with exceptions like Mad Men last year), it’s more understandable this year. Between the strike’s effect on new shows and a weak development season generally, there weren’t many must-nominate freshman series in the eligibility period. It would have been nice, though, to see some love for John Noble of Fringe or Anika Noni Rose of No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
* Simon Baker did get a first-time nomination for The Mentalist. And although the show itself doesn’t exactly push any creative boundaries, it’s a good choice: this show really lives and dies on his sly, alluring performance.
* Even in an expanded field, shows like Friday Night Lights and Battlestar Galactica (relegated mainly to technical categories) are still going to get robbed. Big Love, the best-acted drama on TV, got not a single acting nomination. And as for Chuck? Um, it’s an honor just to be renewed. [Update: Tom Shaw reminds me of the snub of The Shield, which is not just egregious but kind of insane.]
* On the other hand, big woo-hoos! for—Big Love (Best Drama), How I Met Your Mother (comedy), Toni Collette (comedy actress), Elisabeth Moss (drama actress), Aaron Paul (supporting actor, drama), Jack McBrayer (supporting, comedy).
* I’m torn between wanting to applaud the Emmys for recognizing that an animated show can compete for Best Comedy, and slamming it for making Family Guy that show. There’s no reason in a just world that it should get an honor that The Simpsons, King of the Hill or South Park—among others—never did. But then, you could say the same of The Flintstones, the last such nominee, almost 50 years ago. Hopefully we won’t have to wait 50 years for the next one.
* In the nominated-after-their-best seasons-but-better-late-than-never category: Sarah Silverman, Flight of the Conchords (best comedy, Jemaine Clement as comedy actor). Incidentally, Best Song will be a toughie this year, with FOTC’s “Carol Brown” up against “Much Worse Things” from A Colbert Christmas.
* In the totally-expected-but-good-for-them category: The Office and Steve Carrell, pretty much everything Breaking Bad and Mad Men, Michael Emerson, Neil Patrick Harris.
* In the will-be-receiving-Emmy-noms-for-years-after-they’re-dead category: Tony Shalhoub, Mariska Hargitay, Entourage (the series, though I don’t begrudge Kevin Dillon for Johnny Drama), William Shatner.
* I liked both Generation Kill and Little Dorritt, but when we’ve reached the point that we can only nominate two miniseries, should we even have a separate category anymore? In the future, will we start seeing more “limited-run series” (like the upcoming Torchwood: Children of Earth) here?
Well, I’ll see you September 20, when Tina Fey wins everything. In the meantime, a partial list of nominees:
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner
Bros. Television
Jim Parsons as Sheldon CooperFlight Of The Conchords • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Jemaine Clement as JemaineMonk • USA • Universal Cable Productions in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian MonkThe Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
Steve Carell as Michael Scott30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Alec Baldwin as Jack DonaghyTwo And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Charlie Sheen as Charlie HarperOutstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Bryan Cranston as Walter WhiteDexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions,
The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips Productions
Michael C. Hall as Dexter MorganHouse • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z
Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory HouseIn Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Gabriel Byrne as PaulMad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Jon Hamm as Don DraperThe Mentalist • CBS • Warner Bros. Television
Simon Baker as Patrick JaneOutstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS • Kari’s Logo Here in association with
Warner Bros. Television
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as ChristineSamantha Who? • ABC • ABC Studios
Christina Applegate as Samantha NewlyThe Sarah Silverman Program • Comedy Central • Central Productions/Eleven Eleven
O’Clock Productions/Oil Factory Inc.
Sarah Silverman as Sarah Silverman30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Tina Fey as Liz LemonUnited States Of Tara • Showtime • Showtime presents in association with DreamWorks Television
Toni Collette as Tara GregsonWeeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy BotwinOutstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters • ABC • ABC Studios
Sally Field as Nora WalkerThe Closer • TNT • The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros.
Television
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh JohnsonDamages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Glenn Close as Patty HewesLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC • Wolf Films in association with Universal
Media Studios
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia BensonMad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy OlsonSaving Grace • TNT • Fox Television
Holly Hunter as Grace HanadarkoOutstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with
HBO Entertainment
Kevin Dillon as Johnny DramaHow I Met Your Mother • CBS • 20th Century Fox Television
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney StinsonThe Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with
Universal Media Studios
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Jack McBrayer as Kenneth ParcellTwo And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
Jon Cryer as Alan HarperOutstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Boston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth
Century Fox Television
William Shatner as Denny CraneBoston Legal • ABC • A David E. Kelley Production in association with Twentieth
Century Fox Television
Christian Clemenson as Jerry EspensonBreaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Aaron Paul as Jesse PinkmanDamages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
William Hurt as Daniel PurcellLost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Michael Emerson as Ben LinusMad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television
John Slattery as Roger SterlingOutstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Pushing Daisies • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in
association with Warner Bros. Television
Kristin Chenoweth as Olive SnookSaturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Amy Poehler as Various CharactersSaturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Kristin Wiig as Various Characters30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media Studios
Jane Krakowski as Jenna MaroneyUgly Betty • ABC • ABC Studios
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina SlaterWeeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia HodesOutstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Rose Byrne as Ellen ParsonsGrey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Sandra Oh as Dr. Christina YangGrey’s Anatomy • ABC • ABC Studios
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda BaileyIn Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in association with HBO Entertainment
Dianne Wiest as GinaIn Treatment • HBO • Leverage, Closest To The Hole Productions and Sheleg in
association with HBO Entertainment
Hope Davis as Mia24 • FOX • Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox Television in association with
Teakwood Lane Productions
Cherry Jones as President Allison TaylorOutstanding Comedy Series
Entourage • HBO • Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with
HBO EntertainmentFamily Guy • FOX • Fox Television Animation
Flight Of The Conchords • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother • CBS • 20th Century Fox Television
The Office • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions and Reveille LLC in association with Universal Media Studios
30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal
Media StudiosWeeds • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Lionsgate Television and
Tilted Productions, Inc.Outstanding Drama Series
Big Love • HBO • Anima Sola Productions and Playtone in association with HBO Entertainment
Breaking Bad • AMC • High Bridge, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
Damages • FX Networks • FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with John Goldwyn Productions,
The Colleton Company, Clyde Phillips ProductionsHouse • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z
Productions and Bad Hat Harry ProductionsLost • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television