There were a few surprises. Many upsets. Some may say many actors were "robbed" out of awards. Others consider this one of the best Emmy Awards shows in regards to rewarding deserving recipients. I agree and disagree. Why? Let's go through the awards and I'll explain.
First up: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – awarded to Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker, Modern Family). Considering the other nominees and the high esteem that Modern Family has been given lately, this was both surprising and deserved. I wouldn't call myself a true Modern Family fan, but I have watched episodes along the way and have found them to be quite funny and entertaining – especially in regards to Stonestreet's character. It's nice to see a relatively unknown actor rewarded so early on in his high-profile career. However, Jon Cryer and Neil Patrick Harris provided some fierce competition, and I wouldn't have been opposed to seeing either of them take home the Emmy.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – awarded to Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester, Glee). What can I say. I called this one. If Lynch wouldn't have won, I would have held a protest. She has to be one of the funniest characters on TV at the moment, with some of the best lines written for a comedy series – ever. I've seen the other nominees, and none of them compare to the hilarity that ensues when Lynch appears on the screen. She just. never. gets. old. Not to mention the fact that while she's a bully and a tad crazy, she's also multifaceted and draws in a few "Awwwws" from viewers when the scenes involve Sue visiting her sister, who, from what I can tell, lives in an assisted living facility. Lynch is a true gem.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – awarded to Aaron Paul (Jesse, Breaking Bad). I can't say much about this since I've never watched a single minute of Breaking Bad. What I can say is that John Slattery and Terry O'Quinn may have been better picks for this award, so this was a little disappointing.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – awarded to Archie Panjabi (Kalinda, The Good Wife). Who? I think that was a common reaction to this award announcement. Unless you watch The Good Wife (which I don't), you probably don't know anything about her. I was rooting for Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris, Mad Men) to grab this award for many reasons. I'm sure many men out there were hoping for the same. Ha.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – awarded to Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory). I've watched Big Bang Theory enough to know he's been deserving of this award for many years now, so it's nice to see him finally win it. Step aside Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin – your time is up.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – awarded to Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie). Another show I've never seen, though that might change now. Toni Collette has been a strong presence in the comedy world lately, so I wouldn't have been surprised to see her receive this award. As much as I love Lea Michele in Glee, I'm not sure that she's on the same level as Toni Collette or the others. Yes, Michele is funny, but I have a feeling it's more because the show has fantastic writers, and less because of her acting abilities (though her vocals are to die for).
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – awarded to Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad). SO upset about this one. I've heard Cranston was a shoe-in for this award, but I'd like to voice my disappointment, as a fan of all the other shows' stars that were nominated. Kyle Chandler – brilliant in Friday Night Lights. I wouldn't keep watching if it wasn't for him (and Connie Britton). Jon Hamm – come on. No one wears a 1960's suit better than he does in Mad Men – not to mention he plays Don Draper's character like no other could. He's a character you love and hate at the same time, but regardless, you can't stop watching to see what he'll do next (or which sin he'll commit next). Along with John Slattery, he and Hamm have the perfect male drama duo going on. Then there's Michael C. Hall for Dexter. One thing I admire him for is his desire to keep working through his cancer treatment. It made me tear up a bit when he received his Golden Globe award while wearing a black head covering to hide his hair loss from treatment. He doesn't want people to be sorry for him – he wants to be known for his work, and that he certainly is. When I first started watching Dexter, I was very surprised that I felt so much sympathy for a serial killer. But that's what makes him a great actor – he invokes sympathy and compassion from the viewers by playing to the human side of his character, offering moral justification for his murderous exploits. It's hard NOT to like him. And then, I can't forget Hugh Laurie. He plays a cynical, sarcastic, outspoken jerk – and he does it well. House has been a long-time favorite of mine, for the simple reason that I love Laurie's acting. His character says what others are thinking, regardless of whether it's tactful or polite or not. He also has the best eyes in show business, only slightly beating out Josh Lucas for that title. :) The other thing I love about Laurie – you would never be able to tell he's British from his accent on House. I had no clue until I saw him in an interview. It's funny – British actors/actresses seem to get a handle on the American accent quite well...but if you reverse the roles, it's quite the opposite. Americans trying to pull off British accents (convincingly) can often be dreadful to listen to. Even the best of them can't always pull it off. But I digress...the other nominee in this category was Matthew Fox. I could take him or leave him. I was slightly annoyed by the fact that Lost won ZERO awards for it's final season...but I'm not sure Matthew Fox would have been my pick, compared to Terry O'Quinn winning best supporting actor. Sorry, Matthew. You're just not as great as you were in your "Party of Five" days.
So who would I have given the award to, considering I loved most of them? I'll go ahead and pick Hugh Laurie.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series – awarded to Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer). I've seen her in The Closer on a few occasions, and I can't say I was too impressed. She's not bad, but certainly not "outstanding." My choice would have been Connie Britton for Friday Night Lights or January Jones for Mad Men. Britton has been an overlooked actress who deserved an award long ago. Her role on FNL is flawless – she comes off as a "perfect mother, wife and principal," but fans of the show know that she's endured her share of struggles and flaws like any other. Any actress who can portray the kind of depth that she does deserves to be recognized. Fingers crossed for the next award show. As for January Jones, she plays one of those characters you admire at some points, but want to reach into the TV and strangle at other times. She lets her husband walk all over her (granted it was the 1960s, so that happened often, but still...) and seemed to be quite naive in many ways. But she also had an internal fire that she let out once in a while that made me really like her. January Jones plays the role well – she makes you feel for her at times, but also angry at other times. Any actress who can make me feel that way is pretty convincing.
Outstanding Comedy Series – awarded to Modern Family. The only competition Modern Family really had for this award was Glee. Not just because I watch it, but because of the hype that's been built up around both shows, compared to the other nominees. Modern Family and Glee are the two shows that are popular today, for people in all age groups. Very few shows appeal to such a wide variety of viewers like these two shows do. From teens to the "better than 55" crowd, Modern Family and Glee is where it's at.
Outstanding Drama Series – awarded to Mad Men. I can't complain with this one, because it's a very deserving cast of actors, writers, producers, etc. I read an article in "Vanity Fair" a few months ago that explained all of the preparation it takes to film a single episode of Mad Men. They take into consideration the exact day and time of the year in which the episode takes place, and create sets, props and clothing that keeps it as authentic as possible. If the show takes place on January 21st, 1963, they actually go back to the real records from that day in history to find out what the weather was like, so they can film the scenes accordingly, dress the actors accordingly, etc. They also find out what was on TV that day, so if the TV is on in the episode, it's airing something authentic to that day in history. All of the clothing is exact to what they wore in the 1960s, all of the props, from food to furniture and accessories, are rounded up from places all over the world – collectors on ebay, thrift stores, etc – wherever they can find authentic props that were actually from the 1960s. Knowing what really goes into the creation of a single episode of Mad Men makes me appreciate the show even more, and I can't find a single reason why any other show should have won this award. Mad Men simply is outstanding. Not to diminish the talent and creativity involved in Dexter, True Blood and Lost...I love them all...but Mad Men is on an entirely different level.
Finally, to complete a significantly longer post than I originally intended, I'll lump together the "Guest" awards, and comment by saying that they REALLY should have awarded these actors during the live broadcast, and not at an earlier date. I can only imagine the comedy that would have ensued if Neil Patrick Harris and Betty White would have taken the stage together. Each of them won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Actor/Actress in a Comedy Series, for NPH's role on Glee (which was one of my favorites to date) and Betty White's appearance on SNL (her long-awaited and highly anticipated appearance). For the Drama category, the winners were John Lithgow for his role as the Trinity Killer on Dexter (another much-deserving actor) and Ann Margaret's appearance on Law and Order. I haven't seen Ann Margaret in anything since "Grumpy/Grumpier Old Men" (which I loved), so it was great to see her recognized after all these years, even if it was just for a guest appearance.
So, overall, there were some upsets (best actor) and some surprises (Jim Parsons), but I think it was one of the most entertaining Emmy Awards shows that I've seen in recent history. Well done, Emmy Award producers.
Stay Fabulous!
*Jen*
