Supersized Emmys: What If There Were 10 Nominees?
By Zap2it Staff | Friday, June 26, 2009, 7:03 PM
'Friday Night Lights' and 'Big Bang Theory'
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Warner Bros. International Television
If the Oscars are opening up the playing field to 10 nominees for best picture, we thought it's only fair that the Emmys give love to 10 comedies and 10 dramas this year too.
The Emmys is already on its way after all, having expanded its nominees list from five to six recently, but we say, go for the gusto. An even 10 will allow overlooked shows to get some much-deserved recognition and add a little spice to the list of usual suspects.
Check out our picks for the 10 best comedies and dramas.
Outstanding Comedy Series:
30 Rock
Liz tormenting her high school classmates with mean-spirited humor and psyching herself up in the mirror before a social event... Tracy and Jenna butting heads over who has it worse, a white woman or a black man, and somehow incorporating Halle Berry into both arguments... 80's sitcom "Night Court" finally receiving its proper swan song, courtesy of Kenneth and TGS. "30 Rock" takes screwball comedy to a new level, because theres a method to the madness. Often topical, always clever, it has earned a third Emmy win. There is really no competition.
Better Off Ted
Does it have any chance of being nominated in the real Emmy world? Probably not. But in its brief time on the air, "Better Off Ted" has established itself as one of the brighter spots in the TV comedy world -- and the fake ads for Veridian Dynamics are hilarious.
The Big Bang Theory
This show will never be appointment-viewing for us, but for some reason we find ourselves tuning in when it's on rather frequently. Johnny Galecki is a sitcom pro and Jim Parsons is a delight. Plus, savvy geek-baiting guest stars like Summer Glau and Michael Trucco proves that it knows its audience.
Chuck
The nerd-turned-reluctant spy comedy has only won one Emmy for its stuntwork. Really? The stunts are great for all the espionage action we crave in our mundane lives, but they're only one element, however, in the compound that is a wholly satisfying "Chuck." Each episode balances the hilarious with the heartbreaking, the action with the emotion. There's good reason why fans were fired up over the "Save Chuck" campaign. Isn't it time the Emmys noticed?
How I Met Your Mother
Suit up! The show's only Emmy wins (and it has won at least one Emmy each year since 2006) are for behind-the-scenes work. While most sitcoms rely on callow stereotypes, "How I Met Your Mother" is easily a best comedy contender for a season when relationships between the main characters were tested and grew stronger without losing a bit of humor. Also, we finally learned about Ted's goat.
The Office
Some ups and downs in the first half of the season gave way to an incredibly funny (and often very sweet) run to close the year. Anyone who wants to know how not to start a business should watch the Michael Scott Paper Company arc.
Pushing Daisies
This show is so good the last episode has been languishing unwatched on our DVR for weeks because we know once we view it it will be over forever. Sharp, funny, whimsical and romantic there aren't enough accolades to heap upon it. An Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series would be merely a start.
Reaper
Alas, poor "Reaper," we knew you. Although The CW supernatural comedy wasn't renewed, we can't help but hope for some posthumous recognition for a show that starred Ray Wise as his truest self yet: an impish devil. Throw in some consistently wacky dialogue and intriguing plot twists, and you have a show that was reaped before its time was up.
Scrubs
Some marvel that when NBC let "Scrubs" go that wasn't it for the scrappy medical comedy. But not only did it have another season on ABC, it's gearing up for another (the shows' ninth). It was only nominated for Oustanding Comedy Series twice -- in 2005 and 2006 -- but for those who've stuck with it, it remains frequently clever and endearingly goofy.
Weeds
Despite being nominated every year since 2006, "Weeds" has never won an Emmy. While the show's tone has grown darker, especially by pairing mom-turned-drug dealer Nancy Botwin with crime boss Esteban Reyes, the comic undertones have never been lost. Kevin Nealon and Justin Kirk in particular provide ample comic relief, and it's time they were recognized.
Outstanding Drama Series:
Battlestar Galactica
Despite its focus on what it means to be human, "Battlestar Galactica" has only won special effects Emmys for two of its four years of being nominated. The final season featured some of the series' finest performances from its primary cast, especially Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, which deserve more recognition than the show's visual effects.
Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston won an Emmy last year for his breakout performance as a cancer-stricken teacher-turned-drug dealer, but the show around him opened up and deepened this season. And he continues to be great as Walter White.
Dexter
Showtime's drama about a vigilante serial killer who targets other serial killers has garnered numerous Emmy nominations and even won two --for its main title design and single camera editing -- but isn't it high time that the actors got a little recognition? Michael C. Hall as Dexter has already gotten a nod, but Jennifer Carpenter as his mouthy sister Deb has been overlooked, and Jimmy Smits' guest starring turn this past season was amusingly deranged to perfection.
Friday Night Lights
"Friday Night Lights" is often written off as another teen drama when it's so much more. The cast is good, we're not the only ones who think so: The show won an Emmy for casting in 2007, and was nominated for the prize in 2008. Still, the most recent season and its emphasis on what happens when people actually move on in life, deserves an Emmy nod for best drama.
House
Honestly, we wish more shows would take the risk of doing a major cast overhaul every few years. Better to learn about new characters than make old ones act inconsistently to service the plot. This year, Kutner's (Kal Penn) out-of-the-blue suicide episode merits the show a nomination all of its own.
In Treatment
Not many shows could change out the majority of their core cast but remain just as compelling as in the previous season. That "In Treatment" could do that is a testament to its strong writing and the central performances of Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest.
Lost
While "Lost" has been nominated for multiple Emmys each year since 2005 -- and won a number of those, including 2005's Outstanding Drama Series -- the show has only gotten better in terms of acting and plotting. Michael Emerson alone deserves an Emmy nod for his fascinating turn as the morally complex Ben Linus.
Mad Men
After "Mad Men's" critically-lauded first season, which earned them a well-deserved Emmy win, the AMC series could've fallen victim to the often-feared sophomore slump. Instead, the opposite happened. Season 2 exceeded expectations as we watched the career of an ambitious young woman develop despite personal strife and a depressed young housewife find the courage to challenge her husbands indiscretions. And well, there were several other story lines, but these two truly stood out. Compelling, addictive, impeccably written and portrayed.
Rescue Me
After an 18-month hiatus following a somewhat disappointing Season 4, "Rescue Me" returned in April to tell some of its best stories yet. And don't forget the dialogue and performances. This is a dramedy in which guys talk like guys really do and the stuff that comes out of their mouths may not be politically correct or appropriate, but its damn funny. That unapologetic humor, coupled with real issues -- alcoholism, grief, the aftermath of 9/11 -- makes "Rescue Me" television's unsung hero. The show has been nominated for Outstanding Writing, Directing and Lead Actor (Denis Leary) in the past, but is always overlooked when it comes to Outstanding Drama Series. Maybe because it doesnt really fit the category, being such a phenomenal blend of both hilarious and heartbreaking.
The Shield
Michael Chiklis won an Emmy in 2002 for his role as bad cop Vic Mackey, but the show as a whole has never been honored despite a remarkably consistent run over seven seasons. The final season, however, was at times jaw-droppingly good and led to one of the best series finales of the past decade.
TALK ABOUT IT: Which shows do you think deserve to walk away with an Emmy this year?
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