F*ck the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

As usual, the WB and UPN get no love from Emmy, which means Gilmore Girls, Everwood, and, most painfully, Veronica Mars go unrecognized.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
* Jason Bateman (Arrested Development) * Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond) * Tony Shalhoub (Monk) * Zach Braff (Scrubs) * Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) *
I actually don't have many issues with this category. For one thing, I don't watch all that many comedies. However, Jason Bateman, Tony Shalhoub, and Zach Braff are all worthy of many accolades, so thumbs up to these three nominations. I've never been a big fan of Everybody Loves Raymond, and Ray Romano's nom, along with Will McCormack's, smacks of more Emmy "same old, same old" bullshit. But since I can't readily think of more deserving nominees, I won't complain too much. Although I've always liked Jon Cryer, even if I don't watch Two and a Half Men... I also adore Kevin Connelly as Eric on entourage, but it's such an ensemble show that I don't really think of him as a lead. My vote goes to: Bateman or Braff.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
* James Spader (Boston Legal) * Ian McShane (Deadwood) * Hugh Laurie (House) * Hank Azaria (Huff) * Kiefer Sutherland (24) *
Apparently the men's categories just don't rile me as much. I'm particularly thrilled to see Hugh Laurie in the running, and I'll always enjoy Kiefer Sutherland. I wouldn't have minded seeing some FX-love in this category (especially for Julian McMahon or Denis Leary), but none of the other noms made me go "what the hell?!' My vote goes to: Laurie, of course.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
* Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) * Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives) * Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) * Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) * Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle) *
And this is where I start to get pissy. I don't have too much of a problem with the three Desperate Housewives noms, because that's the hot new show this year. Plus, Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, and Felicity Huffman have all done great jobs. But Patricia Heaton and Jane Kaczmarek? These two nominations epitomize everything that is wrong with the Emmys. This is Heaton's 7th consecutive nomination in this category; she has won twice. It is Kaczmarek's 6th consecutive nomination, although she has never won. Lauren Graham definitely should have received one of these nominations. My preference would have been for her to supplant Kaczmarek; Malcolm in the Middle has devolved from clever to shrill. My vote goes to: Cross, who is spot-on every week as Bree Van De Kamp.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
* Jennifer Garner (Alias) * Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) * Patricia Arquette (Medium) * Glenn Close (The Shield) * Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) *
Deep down, I knew it probably wouldn't happen, but I desperately wanted Kristen Bell to receive a nomination as the titular character on Veronica Mars. The fact that she got shafted in favor of Jennifer Fucking Garner is a travesty. Bell delivered a captivating, nuanced performance on a smart, well-written show, while Garner whined, pouted, cried, and made icky faces with her duck lips through another annoying season of Alias. I do enjoy Mariska Hargitay on Law & Order: SVU, but I don't watch Medium, The Shield, or Six Feet Under, so I can't really comment. At least Allison Janney wasn't nominated for the 85th time. My vote goes to: Anyone but Garner. I'm kind of pulling for Glenn Close to give the win to FX, though.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
* Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) * Jeremy Piven (entourage) * Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond) * Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond * Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) *
Ari! Ari! Ari! Okay, I am totally rooting for Jeremy Piven in this category. He steals every scene he's in on entourage. Also, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences lists his character's name as "Ari Jacobs," so apparently I'm not crazy for thinking it wasn't Gold last season. With the exception of Jeffrey Tambor, who has only been nominated once before for Arrested Development, this is another category suffering from Emmy laziness. The other three men combine for a total of 18 nominations in their respective roles, which is absurd. I would have much rather seen the always-wonderful Scott Patterson (Luke), Edward Hermann (Richard), or Yanic Truesdale (Michel) of Gilmore Girls claim a couple of these nominations. Also worthy of contention are Will Arnett (GOB) and David Cross (Tobias) from Arrested Development. All would have been refreshing changes over Peter Boyle (7 consecutive nominations, 0 wins), Brad Garrett (5 nominations, 2 wins), and Sean Hayes (6 consecutive nominations, 1 win). Oh! Ted Levine as Captain Stottlemeyer on Monk would also have been great. My vote goes to: Jeremy Piven, obviously. But I wouldn't mind too much if the caustically funny Boyle finally got a win, since this is his last chance in that role.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
* William Shatner (Boston Legal) * Oliver Platt (Huff) * Naveen Andrews (Lost) * Terry O'Quinn (Lost) *
Huh. I actually don't watch a single one of the shows that the five nominated actors are on. Based on my admittedly limited knowledge of their roles, none of the noms really screams "travesty!" at me. I wouldn't have minded seeing Veronica Mars get some love here, either for Enrico Colantoni or Jason Dohring. But I think the biggest oversight is the fantastic father-son duo of Harold and Bright Abbott on Everwood. Tom Amandes and Chris Pratt own these roles, and both turn in subtle, stellar, heart-wrenching performances week after week. There's a reason every episode of that damn show makes me cry. Some CSI love also would have been nice, epecially for the underrated Paul Guilfoyle as Capt. Jim Brass. My vote goes to: Terry O'Quinn for Lost.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
*Jessica Walter (Arrested Development) * Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) * Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men) * Conchata Ferrell (Two and a Half Men) * Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) *
This is the one--the category in which I most passionately believe a gross disservice is being done year after year. The fact that Doris Roberts has 7 consecutive nominations now, 3 of them wins (with the possibility of a fourth this year), kind of makes me want to hurl. She is my least favorite aspect of Everybody Loves Raymond. And although in the early years of Will & Grace I adored Megan Mullally as Karen, that schtick is tired now. Jessica Walter is a worthy nominee as the Bluth matriarch, and I can't really speak to the two noms from Two and a Half Men (although I've enjoyed both Holland Taylor and Conchata Ferrell in other roles). But to me, this category can never be complete until the marvelous Kelly Bishop is recognized for her work as Emily Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. She brings a combination of heart and edge to a difficult character. She is superb, and always a joy to watch, even when the character's actions are beyond frustrating. Her continued exclusion from this category is unforgivable. My vote goes to: Walter.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
* Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy) * Blythe Danner (Huff) * Tyne Daly (Judging Amy) * CCH Pounder (The Shield) * Stockard Channing (The West Wing) *
One of the few categories that made me grin ecstatically, if only for the inclusion of Sandra Oh. IMO, she is the true star of Grey's Anatomy. I don't watch the other four shows the nominated actresses are on, but as a rule I adore CCH Pounder. And despite my continued apathy that the stick-a-fork-in-it-already West Wing is still on the air, I can never begrudge Stockard Channing the recognition. She rocks. I would have liked to have seen Emily Van Camp get a nom for her stunning work on Everwood, though. My vote goes to: Oh!

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
* Frank Willard (Everybody Loves Raymond) * Victor Garber (Will & Grace) * Jeff Goldblum (Will & Grace) * Bobby Cannavale (Will & Grace) * Alec Baldwin (Will & Grace) *
I only mention this category because I find it highly amusing that four of the five nominees were on Will & Grace. That said, go Victor Garber! You rule, SpyDaddy.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
*Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives) * Lupe Ontiveros (Desperate Housewives) * Georgia Engel (Everybody Loves Raymond) * Cloris Leachman (Malcolm in the Middle) * Blythe Danner (Will & Grace) *
I only mention this category because I want to know how Lupe Ontiveros snagged a nom as Mama Solis on Desperate Housewives. I found the character more annoying than compelling.

Outstanding Comedy Series
* Arrested Development * Desperate Housewives * Everybody Loves Raymond * Scrubs * Will & Grace *
Grr. Again, no love for Gilmore Girls. I guess I should just be grateful Sex and the City and Friends are finally off the air. Amazingly enough, Everybody Loves Raymond and Will & Grace only have one win each (likely thanks to the Frasier juggernaut), but these are their 7th and 6th consecutive nominations, respectively. Desperate Housewives will most likely get the win, but I think Arrested Development and Scrubs are more worthy. Although I love AD, they got the win last year. Rather shockingly, this is the first nomination for Scrubs. My vote goes to: Scrubs. It's long overdue.

Outstanding Drama Series
* Deadwood * Lost * Six Feet Under * 24 * The West Wing *
Why, why, WHY was The West Wing nominated for the sixth consecutive time in this category? They already had a run of back-to-back-to-back-to-back wins, their stranglehold finally broken by The Sopranos last year. In my mind, Veronica Mars, Everwood, Rescue Me, and Nip/Tuck all deserved the nod over that tired show. I'm betting on Lost to get the win here, although I would be okay with 24 snagging the trophy in its 4th attempt. Deadwood could be a dark horse, while I don't believe Six Feet Under has a real chance. My vote goes to: Anyone but The West Wing. Seriously.

So those are my (extensive) thoughts. Agree? Disagree? Don't care?