My TV addiction is easily rivaled by my obsession for award shows, so even though the 60th Annual Emmy Awards don't air until September 21, 2008, nominations will be announced on July 17th so I've already compiled my wish list of potential nominees and those I hope will go on to win on award night.
Comedy Series
"30 Rock", "The Office", and a dark horse which I'd love to see nominated is "Chuck"..."The Office" came back in full force after the writer's strike, and they put on the screen some of the funniest episodes on TV. In my opinion there's no funnier show on the air right now.
Hope wins: "The Office" (Last year's winner: "30 Rock")
Comedy Lead Actor
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" and Steve Carell, "The Office"...I have a soft spot in my heart for Steve Carell's Michael Scott. Carell manages to make the character of Michael Scott so much more than the buffoon and politically incorrect boss, he infuses warmth and heart into the character and ultimately transforms him into the underdog that we all hope wins the day and gets the girl. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is the year Carell gets to take home the prize.
Hope wins: Steve Carell, "The Office" (Last year's winner: Ricky Gervais, "Extras)"
Comedy Lead Actress
Tina Fey, "30 Rock", she's pretty funny as Liz Lemon, plus she gets extra kudos from me for also writing for the show.
Hope wins: Tina Fey, "30 Rock" (Last year's winner: America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty")
Comedy Supporting Actor and Actress
Actor: Joshua Gomez, "Chuck" and Rainn Wilson, "The Office"...I love Rainn Wilson and find him incredibly funny and believable in the role of Dwight.
Actress: Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock" and Melora Hardin, "The Office"...Melora's portrayal of the bitchy and slightly unstable Jan this season has been priceless.
Hope wins: Rainn Wilson, "The Office" and Melora Hardin, "The Office" (Last year's winners: Actor - Jeremy Piven, "Entourage" / Actress - Jaime Pressly, "My Name is Earl")
Drama Series
"Friday Night Lights", "Heroes", "Life", and "House"...The writing on "House" was top-notch this season, in particular, the episode with Mira Sorvino after the Super Bowl and the last three episodes of the season. The cast, especially Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard, gave standout performances during the two episode finale.
Hope wins: "House" (Last year's winner: "The Sopranos" ineligible for 2008)
Drama Lead Actor
Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights", Damian Lewis, "Life" and Hugh Laurie, "House"...Laurie's multi-layered performance as the resident medical genius and Vicodin addict at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is nothing short of brilliant.
Hope wins: Hugh Laurie, "House" (Last year's winner: James Spader, "Boston Legal")
Drama Lead Actress
Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights" and Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"
Hope wins: Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights" (Last year's winner: Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters)"
Drama Supporting Actor and Actress
Actor: Michael Emerson, "Lost" and Robert Sean Leonard, "House"...Michael Emerson is always at his creepy best as Ben. Robert Sean Leonard is always great serving as Dr. Watson to Hugh Laurie's Sherlock Holmes on "House", but he was beyond moving in his performance of Wilson's heartbreaking goodbye to Amber.
Actress: Anne Dudek, "House"...As I've mentioned before, Anne Dudek performed no easy feat in portraying 'cutthroat bitch', the cold-hearted conniving ice queen and then transforming her into Amber, a more caring and tender portrayal of a young woman in love. She managed to pull it off in time to make us weep along with Wilson during her last goodbye.
Hope wins: Robert Sean Leonard, "House" and Anne Dudek, "House" (Last year's winners: Actor - Terry O'Quinn, "Lost" / Actress - Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy")
