The TV Addict 

First thing this morning, the nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards were announced and we here at theTVaddict.com knew that your one and only thought – or at least your second one, after, “Who will win for Outstanding Clip-Package Editing” – was “what do the TV Addict and Couch Tater think of the nominees?” And because we’re all about giving you what you want, here’s your chance to be a fly on the wall and listen in on our conversation!

CT: My God, they give away some dumb-ass awards. Outstanding Editing of a Clip Package?

The TV Addict: Um, okay, let’s focus on the big categories, shall we?

CT: Well, then let me just say that I’m thrilled with the Outstanding Supporting Actress category. I love every single one of those women. It’s like a death-match of epic proportions. They might have to settle this one with a mud-wrestling match!

The TV Addict: But come on… Holland Taylor (Evelyn, TWO AND A HALF MEN)… again? Seriously?

CT: Hey, great actress, crappy show.

The TV Addict: Crappy show with, what, four or five major nominations? That’s just wrong.

CT: True dat.

The TV Addict: But I will say that for the most part, voters got it right…

CT: Even though they basically snubbed…

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OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
30 ROCK
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
ENTOURAGE
THE OFFICE
TWO AND A HALF MEN

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
BOSTON LEGAL
DAMAGES
DEXTER
HOUSE
LOST
MAD MEN

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
James Spader [BOSTON LEGAL]
Bryan Cranston [BREAKING BAD]
Michael C. Hall [DEXTER]
Hugh Laurie [HOUSE]
Gabriel Byrne [IN TREATMENT]
John Hamm [MAD MEN]

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sally Field [BROTHERS & SISTERS]
Glenn Close [DAMAGES]
Mariska Hargitay [LAW & ORDER SVU]
Holly Hunter [SAVING GRACE]
Kyra Sedgwick [THE CLOSER]

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Alec Baldwin [30 ROCK]
Tony Shalhoub [MONK]
Lee Pace [PUSHING DAISIES]
Steve Carell [THE OFFICE]
Charlie Sheen [TWO AND A HALF MEN]

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Tina Fey [30 ROCK]
Christina Applegate [SAMANTHA WHO?]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus […OLD CHRISTINE]
America Ferrera [UGLY BETTY]
Mary-Louise Parker [WEEDS]

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Just a quick reminder to all my fellow TV Addicts who may have forgotten. You know, because unlike myself, you have a life outside of the boob tube [Do people still call TV that?]. TheTVaddict.com will be live blogging the 2008 EMMY Nominations tomorrow morning starting at 8:35AM. So set your alarm, grab a coffee and keep your fingers crossed for [insert your favorite show/actor/actress here*]

* Unless of course your favorite show/actor/actres include Tony Shalhoub, Patricia Arquette and/or TWO AND A HALF MEN. All of which, unfortunately, this TV Addict will be rooting against.

Is it just me, or is there something really fishy about the recently leaked list of Top Ten Emmy Semifinalists for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Category?

While I’ve got nothing against any of this years more-than-worthy list of semifinalists. I just can’t help but get the impression that the only pre-requisite one needs in order to score a guest acting Emmy nomination entails being an already established ‘name’ on either the big or small screens.

Just take a look at some of the previous years nominees in both the comedy and drama categories. Or as I like to call it, Groundhog Day — Emmy Style! Charles S. Dutton, John Laroquette, Alec Baldwin, Forest Whitaker and Glenn Close all earned multiple nods while single nominations have been given out to quite a few young up and coming actors you may be familiar with, including Susan Sarandon, David Morse, John Goodman, Patrick Stewart, Ben Stiller, Catherine Helmond and Cloris Leachmen.

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Today’s question of the day: As the flood of EMMY Semifinalists [courtesy of theenvelope.com] continue to leak out, put yourself in an actor’s position. Is there any consolation in knowing that you made it to the final round, before NOT getting nominated for an Emmy? Or would you prefer to just not know! As per usual, this TV Addict’s picks for final five are highlighted in orange.

TOP 10 SEMIFINALISTS: BEST DRAMA ACTOR
Gabriel Byrne, “In Treatment” (”Paul and Gina: Week 4″)
Kyle Chandler, “Friday Night Lights” (”Last Day of Summer”)
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad” (”Pilot”)
Patrick Dempsey, “Grey’s Anatomy” (episode?)
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter” (”There’s Something About Harry”)
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men” (”The Wheel”)
Eddie Izzard, “The Riches” (”Last Temptation of Wayne”)
Hugh Laurie, “House” (”House’s Head”)
Denis Leary, “Rescue Me” (”Babyface”)
James Spader, “Boston Legal” (”The Court Supreme”)

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Marking a first for the Emmys, the Academy of Television and Sciences has just released the Top 10 Finalists in each of this year’s Outstanding Comedy and Drama series categories. Did your favorites make the list? With the glaring exception of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, most of this TV Addict’s certainly did [With my picks highlighted in orange].

Outstanding Comedy Series Finalists
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
ENTOURAGE
FAMILY GUY
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
THE OFFICE
PUSHING DAISIES
30 ROCK
TWO AND A HALF MEN
UGLY BETTY
WEEDS

Outstanding Drama Series Finalists
BOSTON LEGAL
DAMAGES
DEXTER
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
GREY’S ANATOMY
HOUSE
LOST
MAD MEN
THE TUDORS
THE WIRE

Be sure to mark your calendars for July 17. When the Top 10 Shows in each category will be whittled down to five deserving nominees.

Now that we all know who won what and who wore what, the real fun begins as we sit back and look at what worked… and, perhaps more importantly, what didn’t… at last night’s Emmy ceremony. The good news: Ryan Seacrest didn’t exactly ruin the show… thanks to the fact that he was barely on screen. The bad? The show was one of the most schitzophrenic, poorly-directed fiasco’s in recent memory. And yet, somehow, it wasn’t the worst thing we’ve ever seen. If hindsight really is the most accurate of sciences, then everything I’m about to say is dead-on. But let’s see if y’all actually agree!

Whoever thought the whole “in-the-round” staging was a good idea should be taken out behind the woodshed for a thorough thrashing. This whole trend of seating people behind the performers — which has become very popular among Broadway shows such as Xanadu and Spring Awakening — is getting annoying. Is it so that we can look to them for cues on how to react?

Another person deserving of the woodshed treatment is the person who decided to run the clips in those oddly shaped little boxes and allow the sounds of the audience cheering to drown out the dialogue, making the clips completely pointless. Oh, and the person who made the decision that as each clip came up, the corresponding theme music for the show would play, resulting in a mish-mash of sounds and visuals which weren’t pleasing to the eye or ear.

The idea of have the cast of Jersey Boys salute THE SOPRANOS was brilliant… except, of course, for the fact that we at home couldn’t actually see the clips being shown. So instead of a tribute to the television show, we got what amounted to an extended ad for the Broadway play. I don’t know about anyone else, but I spent the whole time thinking, “Hey, I might have to go see that puppy.”

The censors were kept working overtime, what with preventing Sally Field from expressing her opinions about the “God-damned war” or allowing Ray Ramono to say that Frasier was screwing his wife. Funny, cause I’m pretty sure that the kids of SOUTH PARK would be allowed to utter both. Heck, even MTV’s idiots say worse. Over there, only talk of suicide is a censorable offense. But why, instead of simply bleeping out the words that might offend, were we subjected to extended shots of that odd black ball?

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Best Winner: Honestly, could we love UGLY BETTY’s America Ferrera anymore?

Worst Winner: Did the fine folks at Price Waterhouse Cooper get their ‘James’ confused? I would have bet the house on James Gandolfini walking away with a final Emmy thank you for THE SOPRANOS. Spader — sleep with one eye open. The mob never forgets.

Best Presenter Gaffe: Elaine Stritch missing her cue while presenting. Somehow when Stritch messes up, it’s hilarious.

Worst Presenter Gaffe: Katherine Heigl correcting the announcer on the proper pronunciation of her name. Note to Katherine — you’re gorgeous, successful and just won an Emmy. Let’s cut the announcer a little slack.

Best Ryan Seacrest Moment: His hilarious and surprising shot at Paula Abdul. Apparently she likes weed… umm we mean WEEDS, the show.

Worst Ryan Seacrest Moment: Dressing up as a character from Showtime’s THE TUDORS. Note to all future Emmy, Oscar and Grammy hosts. Dressing up in costume was funny once and only once — when Whoopi donned ‘The Queen’s’ dress while hosting the Oscars. It’s time to move on.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jeremy Piven, Entourage

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Terry O’Quinn, Lost

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jaime Pressly, My Name Is Earl

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Thomas Haden Church, Broken Trail

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Katherine Heigl, Grey’s Anatomy

LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Robert Duvall, Broken Trail

MINISERIES
Broken Trail

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SPECIAL
Tony Bennett: An American Classic

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11:09PM: No Brainer of the night. THE SOPRANOS walks away with Outstanding Drama. I’d probably be a bit more emotional had I watched the show.

11:04PM: Tina Fey wants to thank 30 ROCK’s dozens of dozens of viewers. Tina, you’re so welcome. Can’t wait until the second season premiere, which by the way is this October 4 at 8PM. Don’t let 30 ROCK go the way of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. Jump on the bandwagon now!

10:56PM: Shock of the night. James…. waiting for Gandolfini… but no. JAMES SPADER! Seriously. Sleep with one eye open. Gandolfini’s going to be pissed.

10:53PM: America Ferrerra wins…. cue the tear ducts. Mine and hers.

10:41PM: SALLY FIELD and RICKY GERVAIS! Life is Good!

10:39PM: “Ricky Gervais couldn’t be here tonight so instead we’re going to give this to our friend Steve Carrell.” Could I love Stewart, Colbert and Correll anymore?

10:35PM: Colbert and Stewart… thank God… I’m quickly losing Emmy Energy here.

10:20PM: THE OFFICE finally won something. Fellow OFFICE addicts — cancel your suicide plans. It’s all good.

10:13PM: Best line of the night goes to Elaine Stritch. Who’d have thought. “I’m not faking this I really don’t know what the hell is going on.”

10:09PM: TONY BENNETT! Seriously this is getting ridiculous. At least this will give Stewart and Colbert some comedy gold tomorrow night.

10:05PM: Masi Oka’s been spending a little too much time with George Takei. Holy Perfect Annunciation Batman!

9:58PM: Does anyone else vote to cut the EMMY Awards to two hours, and give all the miniseries and movie awards out at the Creative Arts Emmys last week. Seriously, who saw PRIME SUSPECT?

9:55PM: Ryan Seacrest is the Dame Judy Dench of Award Show hosts. He’s had what — 10 minutes of screen time?

9:49PM: How is it that Sally Field at 60ish looks better than most women at thirty?

9:40PM: Jersey Boys or Alvin and the Chipmunks?

9:37PM: Glenn Close, get comfortable. You’re going to be up on stage next year for DAMAGES.

9:26PM: Says Amrie with regards to Tony Bennett’s seemingly unbeatable win streak, “I think he’s got mob connections. it’s the whole sopranos thing.”

9:15PM: David Chase wins what will no doubt be the first of many farewell we love you awards for THE SOPRANOS. I probably should start watching the show.

9:11PM: To quote my friend Emmy Bud: Hayden Panettiere… Prom Queen gone bad? Could Neal Patrick Harris be any cooler?

9:05PM: Rumor Patrol: Anyone else think Milo and Hayden are dating? Amrie does!

8:57PM: Memo to ‘future me.’ If I’m ever nominated for an Emmy against legendary actor Robert Duvall. Don’t waste anytime writing an acceptance speech! Like anyone else had a chance.

8:50PM: Oh Ryan Seacrest is back! Who else forget he was hosting?

8:40PM: Katherin Heigl’s asking price just went up A LOT.

8:29PM: I’m back after enhaling a quick burger and fries. Anyone else thrilled nobody from TWO AND A HALF MEN have won thus far?

8:16PM: TERRY O’QUINN! WOW! That is fantastic ans so well deserved.

8:03PM: FAMILY GUY opens the show by completely slamming television, with special attention to NBC’s struggles… interesting approach. And by interesting, I of course mean somewhat insulting and tastless. I guess the show can only improve from here.

7:49PM: Charlie Sheen just quoted the late great John Spencer…. I will now pause my continual ripping of TWO AND A HALF MEN. Tonight only.

7:43PM: Commercial thoughts. You could not PAY me to eat KFC chicken cheese fries.

7:36PM: Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, hottest couple ever? If nature has a sense of humour, their kids will look really really ugly. Mabye like this.

7:30PM: Not surprisingly, Neal Patrick Harris suited up!

7:25PM: Vanessa Williams looks awesome. A mother a four, probably in her forties, yet looks twenty. Only in Hollywood.

7:20PM: T-Minus forty minutes until showtime. Time for the most important decision you’ll be making all night — No, not your Emmy pics. What food are you ordering/eating at tonight’s party? This TV Addict will be serving food from Toronto’s best burger joint BURGER SHACK.

7:09PM: Kristen Bell… and the cast of HEROES! Bell she has an awesome super power. Yes, soon the world will know what VERONICA MARS fans have known for three years. Kristen Bell = Awesome.

7:03PM: Julia Louis Dreyfus confirms why I”ll never be a supermodel, explaining how she looks so great, “hard work and healthy eating”… d’oh

6:58PM: Portia De Rossi is on Ellen’s arm. Moment of silence for ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.

6:32PM: Kathie Griffin brought Steve Wozniak as her date to the Emmys. For those of you who don’t speak nerd, Wozniak is the founder of APPLE Computer! Question: What is sadder? That I know who Wozniak is, or that Seacrest doesn’t?

6:25PM: Speaking of objectifying woman — How many times is Ryan Seacrest going to sexually harass the woman he’s interviewing? Ryan, we get it. You’re totally straight.

6:23PM: TV Addict Best Dressed List: Could Ali Larter look any better? Forget dual personality, her new superpower — getting dressed.

6:18PM: If you were Rainn Wilson’s Prom Date…. comment below. Yes we’re talking to you Kathie. Is anyone else weirded out by the fact that OFFICE superfan, the woman behind GMMR is also named Kathie. Umm.. Kathie, is there something you’re not telling us?

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