The Emmys: Part I - Comedy

As you know, I'm a huge fan of television. What you may not know is I'm also a huge fan of award shows. In preparation for most award shows, I try to become familiar with as many nominees as possible. This makes watching the award show more enjoyable because I can honestly see whether or not a winner deserved to win or if the politics of Hollywood prevailed.

The Emmys is one of my favorite award shows to watch, since it's an award show dedicated to television! Two of my favorite things! :-)

This year's nominees were announced over the summer, and I've been trying to watch as many television episodes, made-for-television movies, etc. as I can to look at each category in a fair way rather than just rooting on my favorite celebrities, which I tend to do anyway. HaHa!

(Just to let you know, I do not subscribe to HBO or Showtime, so I miss out on a lot of great television! I'm trying to save money... The sacrifices one makes! HaHa!)

I'll be utilizing my blog as a means of laying out my thoughts on the nominees, as well as disclosing who I think should win. I don't like to pick who I think will win because I don't want to jinx anybody. Plus, I haven't seen everything, so my choice wouldn't be 100% accurate.

Let's begin with all of the categories related to comedy...

Outstanding Comedy Series

• 30 Rock
• Entourage
• Family Guy
• Flight of The Conchords
  
• How I Met Your Mother
• The Office
• Weeds

Okay... Let me preface my thoughts on this category by saying that I've never seen an episode of Entourage, Flight of The Conchords, or Weeds, and I've only seen two episodes of How I Met Your Mother, which were the ones with Britney Spears. With that being said, I'm a HUGE fan of 30 Rock, Family Guy, and The Office. To be honest, any of the three could win, and I'd be happy, but I'm really pulling for Family Guy. The only other animated series to be nominated in this category was The Flintstones in 1961. I think that it's a very clever and hilarious show, and I would love if it made history by winning. However, I can see this nomination as just a way of showing that the voters want to be seen as more hip this year... Something else, I'm sure, will win.

Who Should Win: Family Guy
Last Year's Winner: 30 Rock

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
• Jemaine Clement - Flight of The Conchords
• Tony Shalhoub - Monk
• Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory
• Steve Carell - The Office
• Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men

I've never watched Flight of The Conchords, as you know, as well as Monk, The Big Bang Theory, or Two and a Half Men. Therefore, I'm only familiar with Alec Baldwin and Steve Carell, who I think are brilliant in their roles on their shows. Mr. Baldwin won last year, so I think that it's Mr. Carell's turn. He's hilarious on The Office and hasn't been rewarded like he should be! Perhaps, the voters will agree...

Who Should Win: Steve Carell (The Office)
Last Year's Winner: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Tina Fey - 30 Rock
• Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Sarah Silverman - The Sarah Silverman Program
• Toni Collette - United States of Tara
• Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds

I've never seen The Sarah Silverman Program, United States of Tara, or Weeds, as you know. I absolutely love the other three shows. Tina Fey won last year, so I don't think that she'll win again. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has previously won for The New Adventures of Old Christine. Personally, I'd LOVE to see Christina Applegate win because Samantha Who?, unfortunately, has been canceled. She was wonderful in the show, and it would be a great way to close that chapter in her autobiography. HaHa! (Even without seeing United States of Tara, I think that Toni Collette could sneak in and win because she portrays a woman with multiple personalities, and she's a brilliant actress anyway!)

Who Should Win: Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
Last Year's Winner: Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock
• Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock
• Kevin Dillon - Entourage
• Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
• Rainn Wilson - The Office
• Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men

As a reminder, I haven't seen Entourage or Two and a Half Men, and I've only seen two episodes of How I Met Your Mother. (Could Neil Patrick Harris win? He is hosting the show, so you never know!) Based on that, I honestly think that it's going to come between Tracy Morgan and Jack McBrayer because 30 Rock has proven to be an Emmy favorite. Both are hilarious on 30 Rock; however, my vote is for Jack McBrayer who is priceless as Kenneth Parcell. (I must say that it's interesting to see Jeremy Piven's name missing from this list. He has won for Entourage many times, so it shocked me to see that he wasn't even nominated this year!)

Who Should Win: Jack McBrayer (30 Rock)
Last Year's Winner: Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock
• Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies
• Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live
• Kristin Wiig - Saturday Night Live
• Vanessa Williams - Ugly Betty
• Elizabeth Perkins - Weeds

I've never seen Pushing Daisies or Weeds, and I'm not an avid watcher of Saturday Night Live. I am familiar with the work of Amy Poehler and Kristin Wiig on the show, though. Both are hilarious, and Kristin Wiig could certainly win in the future. Once again, 30 Rock could prevail and award Jane Krakowski for her hilarious portrayal of Jenna Maroney. However, I have wanted Vanessa Williams to win ever since Ugly Betty premiered. She is absolutely fantastic and deliciously evil as Wilhelmina Slater!

Who Should Win: Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
Last Year's Winner: Jean Smart (Samantha Who?)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

• Steve Martin - 30 Rock ('Gavin Volure')
• Jon Hamm - 30 Rock ('The Bubble')
• Alan Alda - 30 Rock ('Mama Mia')
• Beau Bridges - Desperate Housewives ('The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened')
• Justin Timberlake - Saturday Night Live ('Justin Timberlake')

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Justin Timberlake as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, which stinks because his past appearances have been hilarious! All of the men who guest starred on 30 Rock were hilarious, and Beau Bridges was so touching on that special episode of Desperate Housewives. It's hard to choose because I enjoy all of the nominees... However, I'm going to go with one of my faves!

Who Should Win: Steve Martin (30 Rock)
Last Year's Winner: Tim Conway (30 Rock)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

• Jennifer Aniston - 30 Rock ('The One with The Cast of Night Court')
• Elaine Stritch - 30 Rock ('Christmas Special')
• Gena Rowlands - Monk ('Mr. Monk and The Lady Next Door')
• Betty White - My Name is Earl ('Witch Lady')
• Tina Fey - Saturday Night Live ('Presidential Bash 2008')
• Christina Baranski - The Big Bang Theory ('The Maternal Capacitance')

I didn't see the episodes from Monk, My Name is Earl, and The Big Bang Theory. I only saw a few clips of Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live, so I'm glad that I saw how brilliantly funny she was as Sarah Palin. It wouldn't surprise one bit if she won! (Plus, the voters could reward her for this and allow someone else to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.) I really wish that I would've seen Betty White's performance because she's one of my faves! Elaine Stritch is always hilarious on her recurring role as Colleen Donaghy, and Jennifer Aniston was hilarious as Claire Harper. Still, after all is said and done, I laughed the most at Tina Fey spoofing Sarah Palin. Even if you're a supporter of Sarah Palin, you have to admit that Tina Fey was hilarious!

Who Should Win: Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live)
Last Year's Winner: Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives)

There you have it! Those are my thoughts on the comedy-related categories of The Emmys. Look for future entries on categories relating to drama, reality, mini-series and movies, and variety series and specials.