Last week, the 2009 Emmy nominations were announced. Most of my favorite shows aren't the kind that the Emmys go for, so I'm rarely too excited about the list. This year, though, I found one thing to celebrate: "Breaking Bad" actor Aaron Paul's nomination.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last week, the 2009 Emmy nominations were announced. Most of my favorite shows ("Chuck," "Psych," "Burn Notice") aren't the kind that the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences usually recognize, so I'm rarely too excited about the list. This year, though, I found one thing to celebrate: Aaron Paul's nomination for supporting actor for "Breaking Bad."
I didn't see "Breaking Bad," a best drama nominee, last season. I heard good things about it, but never took the time to watch. Surfing through my Video on Demand options earlier this year, I discovered the first season just before season two premiered on AMC. I was hooked from the first episode.
Though Bryan Cranston (nominated for best actor) is the star of the show, I'm drawn more to Paul's character, Jesse, who plays the inept druggie sidekick to Cranston's Walter White. This season, Jesse has shown some real emotional depth. He had some beautifully harrowing moments, which Paul played to perfect dramatic effect, particularly in the stunning episode, "Peekaboo," and the season finale, "ABQ."
Sadly, I doubt he has a chance at winning, but still, I'm thrilled to see him get some recognition.
Here are some other thoughts I had while browsing the nominations list:
There seriously needs to be some new blood in the best actress drama category. The only new face this year is "Mad Men's" Elizabeth Moss and that's only because the categories expanded from five to six nominees. Really, are the pickings that slim? I like "SVU," but, honestly, Mariska Hargitay does not need to be nominated every year (as she has been since 2004). Give someone else some recognition already.
The same goes for Tony Shalhoub. He's been nominated in best actor drama every year since 2003, winning twice. He's a good actor, but I think the novelty of his character (an OCD detective) is what keeps getting him nominated. Hugh Laurie, on the other hand, is amazing and has yet to score a win. I'm not a regular "House" viewer, but even I can see his genius in that role.
Unlike the drama best actress category, I love the comedy supporting actress category. It's nice to see the diversity in it, and all the women truly are great actresses. That said, I hope Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock") or Kristin Wiig ("SNL") wins.
As for supporting actor comedy, give "How I Met Your Mother's" Neil Patrick Harris the award already!
I was surprised to see "Family Guy" in best comedy series. I don't ever remember an animated show in the running (the only other time was "The Flintstones" in 1961), and frankly, I didn't think this season was one of "Family Guy's" best. As many good things as I hear about "Big Bang Theory," I'm surprised it wasn't nominated instead. (I don't watch it because it conflicts with "Chuck.")
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last week, the 2009 Emmy nominations were announced. Most of my favorite shows ("Chuck," "Psych," "Burn Notice") aren't the kind that the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences usually recognize, so I'm rarely too excited about the list. This year, though, I found one thing to celebrate: Aaron Paul's nomination for supporting actor for "Breaking Bad."
I didn't see "Breaking Bad," a best drama nominee, last season. I heard good things about it, but never took the time to watch. Surfing through my Video on Demand options earlier this year, I discovered the first season just before season two premiered on AMC. I was hooked from the first episode.
Though Bryan Cranston (nominated for best actor) is the star of the show, I'm drawn more to Paul's character, Jesse, who plays the inept druggie sidekick to Cranston's Walter White. This season, Jesse has shown some real emotional depth. He had some beautifully harrowing moments, which Paul played to perfect dramatic effect, particularly in the stunning episode, "Peekaboo," and the season finale, "ABQ."
Sadly, I doubt he has a chance at winning, but still, I'm thrilled to see him get some recognition.
Here are some other thoughts I had while browsing the nominations list:
There seriously needs to be some new blood in the best actress drama category. The only new face this year is "Mad Men's" Elizabeth Moss and that's only because the categories expanded from five to six nominees. Really, are the pickings that slim? I like "SVU," but, honestly, Mariska Hargitay does not need to be nominated every year (as she has been since 2004). Give someone else some recognition already.
The same goes for Tony Shalhoub. He's been nominated in best actor drama every year since 2003, winning twice. He's a good actor, but I think the novelty of his character (an OCD detective) is what keeps getting him nominated. Hugh Laurie, on the other hand, is amazing and has yet to score a win. I'm not a regular "House" viewer, but even I can see his genius in that role.
Unlike the drama best actress category, I love the comedy supporting actress category. It's nice to see the diversity in it, and all the women truly are great actresses. That said, I hope Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock") or Kristin Wiig ("SNL") wins.
As for supporting actor comedy, give "How I Met Your Mother's" Neil Patrick Harris the award already!
I was surprised to see "Family Guy" in best comedy series. I don't ever remember an animated show in the running (the only other time was "The Flintstones" in 1961), and frankly, I didn't think this season was one of "Family Guy's" best. As many good things as I hear about "Big Bang Theory," I'm surprised it wasn't nominated instead. (I don't watch it because it conflicts with "Chuck.")
Everybody has a list of would-be nominees. Here's mine: 1. Ray Wise, who was appropriately suave yet sinister as the Devil in "Reaper." Unfortunately, the show was cancelled, so he won't get another chance for a nomination. 2. "Burn Notice" -- both the show itself and Gabrielle Anwar. Her Fi is a sexy, gun-toting badass who can hang with the guys; why not let her compete against the ladies in supporting actress drama? (Besides, is "Grey's Anatomy" really still so good that it deserves two nods in that category?) 3. Dule Hill from "Psych." He and James Roday are pitch-perfect together, and he's a far better second fiddle than "Two and a Half Men's" Jon Cryer, who has been nominated four times. 4. "SVU's" Richard Belzer and Ice-T always provide able back up for Hargitay and Christopher Meloni. They deserve some supporting actor love.
I think there should be an ensemble cast category like in the Screen Actors Guild Awards. There are some cases like "Criminal Minds," and perhaps other crime dramas (which, surprisingly, despite their number and popularity, get almost no love from the Emmys), where it is difficult to single out a specific cast member for recognition, and other cases like "Desperate Housewives," where it really is all of the cast together that makes the show work.
I like that they break the reality categories into competitions and regular reality shows, but I think they should do the same with the host category. Currently, it's just "Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program," and all the nominees are competition hosts. I personally think Jamie and Adam from "MythBusters" deserve a nomination much more than Ryan Seacrest.
I wouldn't have noticed this award if it hadn't been pointed out to me, but New Martinsville native David Williams scored a nomination -- his fifth -- for his makeup work on "MadTV." Look for an interview with him in an upcoming column.
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Series premiere: "More to Love," 9 p.m. Tuesday, Fox (plus-size dating competition).
Season finales: "Fashion Show," 10 p.m. tonight, Bravo, "The Bachelorette," 8 p.m. Monday, ABC ("After the Final Rose" recap, 10 p.m. Tuesday), "Deadliest Catch," 9 p.m. Tuesday, Discovery.
Series finales: "Samantha Who?" 8 p.m. tonight (one hour), ABC; "Kings," 8 p.m. Saturday, NBC.
Special: "The Storm," 9 p.m. Sunday, NBC (disaster movie, part one of two).
Reach Amy Robinson at flips...@wvgazette.com.
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