The TV Addict 

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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Throwing an EMMY Party? Here’s everything you need to know to ensure tonight’s big event goes off without a hitch.

1) The EMMYS start at 8PM on FOX.

2) All of theTVaddict.com’s Emmy Predictions can be found by clicking here.

3) The TV Addict will be LIVE BLOGGING tonight’s EMMYS, be sure to drop by and say HI!

4) If TWO AND A HALF MEN walks away with an Emmy tonight, the TV Addict promises to watch every single episode of the Chuck Lorre laugher this coming season.

In anticipation of Sunday’s EMMY Awards, theTVaddict.com crew is proud [or not-so-proud depending on how things turn out] to present our 2007 GUARANTEED EMMY WINNERS [not really guaranteed!]. Check beck regularly throughout the week, as new categories are added. Agree with our picks? disagree completely? Think we take TV a little too seriously! Post your comments below.

Nominees (L to R):Entourage, The Office, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men and Ugly Betty

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