2009 emmy nominations

I've had an unforgivable lack of posts this summer. But that is all about to change as the new fall season quickly approaches! The anticipation was given a lovely jolt this morning with the announcement of the 2009 Emmy nominations (by the fabulous duo Chandra Wilson and Jim Parsons no less).

The Emmys will be broadcast on September 20th with Neil Patrick Harris hosting (yay!). This year, they are allowing more than 5 nominees in each category. Most have 6, but some have as many as 7. Seems like a little much, but if it means given more much-needed recognition to quality shows (and it does!), then I'm all for it.

Without further gabber, here are the nominees in the major categories and some of my initial thoughts:

Outstanding Comedy Series
Yay for Family Guy, Flight of the Conchords, and How I Met Your Mother getting in there with the new rule. All very much deserved. The 30 Rock reign will most likely continue, but it would be a great surprise to see any of the others take it, especially the newbies.

Entourage, HBO
Family Guy, FOX
Flight Of The Conchords, HBO
How I Met Your Mother, CBS
The Office, NBC
30 Rock, NBC (won last year)
Weeds, Showtime

Outstanding Drama Series
Another really strong, competitive drama list this year. Mad Men is still going strong, but Dexter had an excellent season. It's doubtful, but I wouldn't mind seeing Lost pull one off after a great season.

Big Love, HBO
Breaking Bad, AMC
Damages, FX Networks
Dexter, Showtime
House, FOX
Lost, ABC
Mad Men, AMC (won last year)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Sheldon Cooper! Best news in the bunch. I love seeing Jim Parsons - and Jemaine actually - on here. Not to take away from the talent, but this list really needed some fresh blood. Vote for Jim!

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory
Jemaine Clement as Jemaine, Flight Of The Conchords
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk
Steve Carell as Michael Scott, The Office
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock (won last year)
Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Michael C. Hall or Jon Hamm (both nominated last year) would be great, but please god someone give an Emmy to Hugh Laurie already. It's getting embarrassing.

Bryan Cranston as Walter White, Breaking Bad (won last year)
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan, Dexter
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, House
Gabriel Byrne as Paul, In Treatment
Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Mad Men
Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, The Mentalist

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Tina Fey still rules the universe, but I've heard great things about Toni Collette. I'd also love to hear Sarah Silverman's acceptance speech.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine, The New Adventures Of Old Christine
Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly, Samantha Who?
Sarah Silverman as Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, 30 Rock (won last year)
Toni Collette as Tara Gregson, United States Of Tara
Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin, Weeds

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
As happy as I am for Elizabeth Moss, I'm shocked not to see January Jones on this list. Guess I have to be happy one of the Mad Men ladies made it. I'm betting Gwen goes home with another.

Sally Field as Nora Walker, Brothers & Sisters
Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, The Closer
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes, Damages (won last year)
Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Mad Men
Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko, Saving Grace

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Where's Jeremy Piven?? I actually haven't seen the last season of Entourage, but the 3-year winner isn't even nominated? Jeremy, Hollywood is putting you in timeout for the mercury poisoning stunt. Sorry dude. Great to see a first nomination for Tracy Morgan, but my vote is for the wonderful and talented NPH.

Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson, How I Met Your Mother
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, The Office
Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan, 30 Rock
Jack McBrayer as Kenneth Parcell, 30 Rock
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper, Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Someone named Zeliko Ivanek from Damages won last year, so this is anyone's game. Shatner may get a swan song award, but I would love to see it go to Michael Emerson who wipes the floor with almost every other actor on Lost. As for John Slattery, always glad to see Mad Men get recognition, but I thought some of the other actors were stronger this year, especially Vincent Kartheiser playing Pete Campbell.

William Shatner as Denny Crane, Boston Legal
Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson, Boston Legal
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, Breaking Bad
William Hurt as Daniel Purcell, Damages
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus, Lost
John Slattery as Roger Sterling, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Last year, it went to Jean Smart in Samantha Who? - she really was great in that show (RIP). Speaking of RIP, yay for Kristin and Pushing Daisies. Long shot, but I would love it. Also great to see SNL giving more funny ladies a shot at Emmys.

Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live
Kristin Wiig as Various Characters, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock
Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater, Ugly Betty
Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes, Weeds

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
I can't contribute too much here because I don't watch Damages, In Treatment or 24. If I had to choose, I think Chandra Wilson eeked ahead of Sandra Oh this season on Grey's.

Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons, Damages
Sandra Oh as Dr. Christina Yang, Grey's Anatomy
Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest as Gina, In Treatment (won last year)
Hope Davis as Mia, In Treatment
Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor, 24

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
Colbert or Stewart probably have it in the bag, but I wouldn't mind seeing it go to Letterman just to stick it to NBC for their stupid Leno decision.

The Colbert Report, Comedy Central
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central (won last year)
Late Show With David Letterman, CBS
Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO
Saturday Night Live, NBC

Outstanding Reality Program
If the dog psychic wins over Kathy, she'll have comedy material for a year.

Antiques Roadshow, PBS
Dirty Jobs, Discovery Channel
Dog Whisperer, NGC
Intervention, A&E
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Bravo (won last year)
MythBusters, Discovery Channel

Outstanding Reality – Competition Program
The Amazing Race continues to dominate for good reason. Project Runway just didn't earn it this year unfortunately, and as much as I love it, American Idol production is a shit show.

The Amazing Race, CBS (won last year)
American Idol, FOX
Dancing With The Stars, ABC
Project Runway, Bravo
Top Chef, Bravo

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
I don't care about this.

Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With The Stars
Heidi Klum, Project Runway
Jeff Probst, Survivor (won last year)
Padma Lakshmi & Tom Colicchio, Top Chef

As a final note, just want to mention a few fun nominees in the guest appearance categories. Justin Timberlake was nominated for just being all around funny on SNL. Jimmy Smits was nominated for his ridiculously disturbing stint on Dexter as was Michael J. Fox for his great work on Rescue Me. For the ladies, I loved Carol Burnett's weirdo character on SVU, Sharon Lawrence as Izzie's mother on Grey's, and Christine Baranski as Leonard's mom on Big Bang Theory. Of course, Tina Fey also got a shout out for her guest appearances on SNL.

If you want to see the full list, from hairstyling to main title editing, you can download it here.