Couch Potato: Emmy nominations announced

By: Casey Gillis | The Burg
Published: July 15, 2011

I’ve never been happier to be wrong.

When I wrote my last column, I bemoaned Emmy voters’ sense of complacency and predicted that we’d be getting some boring nominations.

But several of the names that were on my Emmy wish list actually made the cut. Timothy Olyphant. Peter Dinklage. Margo Martindale. Mireille Enos. "Game of Thrones." "Parks and Recreation."

Every single member of "Modern Family’s" talented adult cast was nominated in the supporting actor and actress categories (even Ed O’Neill, who was snubbed last year). They are deserving, sure, but it feels a little excessive. I wish voters had made room for more variety.

"Friday Night Lights" also got some love for its final season in the form of a best drama nomination, as well as acting nods for stars Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton.

Many of the usual, but deserving, suspects were also included. Think Steve Carell, Alec Baldwin, Jim Parsons, Julianna Margulies, Michael C. Hall, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm.

But there were also some surprise nominations: Parsons’ "Big Bang Theory" co-star Johnny Galecki; Louis C.K. for FX’s "Louie;" Josh Charles for CBS’s "The Good Wife;" Martha Plimpton for Fox’s "Raising Hope;" and announcer Melissa McCarthy, whose profile has been rightly raised thanks to her role in both CBS’s "Mike & Molly" and the big-screen smash "Bridesmaids."

I do, however, have a few bones to pick.

Why, oh why, was Nick Offerman left out of the best supporting actor race? How can anyone watch "Parks & Recreation," which earned a best comedy nod, and not want to hand him the trophy right now?

Take out Jon Cryer, who we can only assume got sympathy votes for having to deal with Charlie Sheen, and replace him with Offerman, and I’d be a happy camper.

The same could be said for two of my favorite funny ladies, Busy Philipps and Christa Miller, who are so great on "Cougar Town" and deserved recognition over Jane Krakowski. I’m sorry, but her "30 Rock" character isn’t funny at all.

I also don’t understand why the Emmys would have Joshua Jackson announce the nominations when they refuse to recognize his show, "Fringe?"

Oh, but I quibble.

Today’s nominations were a step in the right direction. Here they are:

Best Comedy
"30 Rock"
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"The Office"
"Parks and Recreation"

Best Drama
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Dexter"
"Friday Night Lights"
"Game of Thrones"
"The Good Wife"
"Mad Men"

Best actor, drama
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights"
Hugh Laurie, "House"
Timothy Olyphant, "Justified"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

Best actress, drama
Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Kathy Bates, "Harry’s Law"
Mireille Enos, "The Killing"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: SVU"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"

Best actor, comedy
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Best actress, comedy
Laura Linney, "The Big C"
Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Martha Plimpton, "Raising Hope"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Best supporting actor, drama
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Josh Charles, "The Good Wife"
Alan Cumming, "The Good Wife"
Walton Goggins, "Justified"
John Slattery, "Mad Men"
Andre Braugher, "Men Of A Certain Age"

Best supporting actress, drama
Kelly Macdonald, "Boardwalk Empire"
Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Margo Martindale, "Justified"
Michelle Forbes, "The Killing"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"

Best supporting actor, comedy
Chris Colfer, "Glee"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Ed O’Neill, "Modern Family"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Jon Cryer, "Two and A Half Men"

Best supporting actress, comedy
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"