2008 emmys

The 2008 Emmys are this Sunday. I find the Emmys a little odd – the whole nominating oneself concept always makes these awards a little cynical. Bill Cosby famously took himself out of the running back in the day because he didn’t like the concept. But it’s still fun to watch all of the people in the fancy clothes.

Before I get to my picks, the Creative Arts Emmys happened last weekend. These awards are dedicated to the…well, artsy and creative stuff. Here are some highlights:

• Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Cynthia Nixon for Law & Order: SVU
• Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Tim Conway for 30 Rock
• Outstanding Reality Program: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (love it. can’t help it.)
• Outstanding Commercial: “Swear Jar” a Bud Light spot about an office where money collected for employee profanity goes toward the purchase of Bud Light.
• Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics: Jimmy Kimmel Live for the song “I’m F---ing Matt Damon” performed by Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon. (Sidenote: Sarah Silverman accepted the award and said, “I’d like to thank Jimmy Kimmel, who broke my heart” — and then corrected herself — “oh, who’ll always have a place in my heart.” Tear.)
• Other multiple award winners were: John Adams (8), Mad Men (4), 30 Rock (3), Battlestar Galactica (2), Dancing with the Stars (2), Jimmy Kimmel Live (2), and Pushing Daisies (2).

Here are my picks* for Sunday (in bold):
One thing to keep in mind, actors are nominated for particular episodes and series are nominated for the season as a whole. This makes the actor category a little misleading if the episodes don’t do justice to their overall performance throughout the season (or vice versa).

DRAMA SERIES:
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

DRAMA LEAD ACTOR:
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal

DRAMA LEAD ACTRESS:
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Ted Danson, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

COMEDY SERIES:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men

COMEDY LEAD ACTOR:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

COMEDY LEAD ACTRESS:
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office

COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

REALITY COMPETITION:
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

REALITY HOST:
Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Howie Mandell, Deal or No Deal
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

* this is who I want to win, not who I expect to win