LITTLE ROCK — Once again last week it was time for the annual HBO victory parade Emmy nomination ceremony.
The premium channel once again was rolling in an embarrassment of riches with a mind-boggling 104 nods for the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
If the really good stuff isn’t on HBO, it’s on cable. Why? The broadcast networks are forced to make broad creative concessions not only to the FCC, but to the need to draw the most eyeballs in order to sell the product to advertisers. It’s a numbers game.
Cable, unfettered by the need to seek the lowest common denominator, consistently scores the best adult entertainment. There are plenty of good network programs, but cable has the more outstanding stuff.
Leading the HBO accolades was the remake of 1945’s Mildred Pierce with Kate Winslet in the starring role. The miniseries garnered a list-leading 21 nominations.
Also on HBO’s brag sheet were two series, Boardwalk Empire (18 nominations) and Game of Thrones (13), and two movies, Cinema Verite and Too Big to Fail.
HBO scored more than twice as many nominations as its closest competitor — CBS with 50.
The networks tapered off from there: NBC (46), Fox (42), ABC (40) and even one for the mini-network The CW. Granted, it was for Sound Editing for Nikita, but a nom’s a nom.
PBS, which is technically a service and not a network, got 43.
BREAKING IT DOWN
But what we really care about is whether our favorite shows and actors got the accolades they so richly, richly deserved. Here’s the list of the major “Outstanding” awards.
Drama: Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men.
Comedy: The Big Bang Theory, Glee, Modern Family, The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock.
Lead actor, drama: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Hugh Laurie, House; Timothy Olyphant, Justified.
Lead actress, drama: Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights; Mireille Enos, The Killing; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU; Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men.
Lead actor, comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Louis C.K., Louie; Steve Carell, The Office; Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory; Matt LeBlanc, Episodes; Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory.
Lead actress, comedy: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Laura Linney, The Big C; Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly; Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation.
Reality competition: American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef.
Miniseries or Movie: Cinema Verite, Downton Abbey, The Kennedys, Mildred Pierce, The Pillars of the Earth, Too Big to Fail.
ABOUT TIME
One of the perennial criticisms of the Emmy nominations is that they are usually a couple of years behind the curve on what’s really outstanding. Each year a number of deserving shows or actors get snubbed and the fans grumble.
One of the most deserving has been Friday Night Lights and its stars Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. It’s gratifying to see the series get recognition even if it was during the final week the series would air.
Mad Men, the drama winner the past three season, is again nominated. But it’s in outstanding company this year, including the best drama on network TV, The Good Wife. It’ll be next spring before Man Men returns.
The Big Bang Theory is a welcome addition to the comedy list, although it took four seasons to make it. Modern Family is on hand to defend its title.
Kathy Bates is a viewer favorite for lead drama actress, although Mireille Enos gave the far more riveting performance.
Plenty of viewers would love to see Steve Carell thanked for his fine service on The Office, and he might just win if Big Bang fans split their votes between Johnny Galecki and last year’s winner, Jim Parsons.
Falco, last year’s comedy actress winner, gave another strong performance this season, but may have competition from another welcome newbie, McCarthy. My personal favorite is Plimpton, who has created a gem as the mom on Fox’s brilliant sitcom Raising Hope.
We’ll find out how it all goes down when Glee’s Jane Lynch hosts the awards show at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 on Fox.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. E-mail:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Weekend, Pages 34 on 07/21/2011