‘Housewives’ no comedy, but is Emmy-worthy

< Prev | 1 | 2

Most popular

• Most viewed

• Top rated

• Most e-mailed

Angry flier uses emergency slide to leave plane

Dateline's most unforgettable 911 calls

FedEx delivers hefty pot package to wrong place

Elk may be culled to battle disease threat

The buck doesn’t stop here; it just keeps falling

Most viewed on msnbc.com

Lead actress, drama
What they got right: Before she has her baby and won’t be able to jump off moving trains anymore, “Alias” star Jennifer Garner needs to win. This is her fourth nomination without taking home a statue and her competition here, though far from lightweight, seems beatable. Without perennial favorite Edie Falco in the race (“The Sopranos” wasn’t eligible), Mrs. Affleck needs to make her move now.

What they got wrong: Joely Richardson of “Nip/Tuck” is in love with two plastic surgeons on “Nip/Tuck,” current flame Dylan Walsh and former beau Julian McMahon. She’s the figurative glue of that show and deserves to be noticed.

Lead actress, comedy
What they got right: This might supply more drama than trying to figure out who Nicollette Sheridan’s character will sleep with next on “Housewives.” Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross are all worthy participants in the battle for best actress honors on TV’s most buzzworthy program. Hatcher would seem to have the edge, as she’s already taken home the Golden Globe and SAG Award.

Story continues below ↓

What they got wrong: So would adding Eva Longoria to the mix really have been such a bad thing? Longoria seems to be the odd women out in all the TV awards races. Probably because she’s the youngest and least experienced of the bunch but sexiness has to count for something, right?

Other winners and losers…
Winner: Showtime. “Huff” did surprisingly well, with nominations for lead Hank Azaria, Blythe Danner and Oliver Platt. Network president Robert Greenblatt gave this series a go-ahead for season two even before the first season had launched and while the ratings have been suspect, the decision now seems like a smart one.

Winner: ABC: The network picked up 51 nominations — 18 more than a year ago. Sure “Housewives” helped raise that number but “Lost” and “Grey’s Anatomy” can’t be overlooked.

Loser: “CSI”: The most watched drama on television got shut out from both the series and acting races. Procedurals traditionally have a tough time finding Emmy respect.

Loser: “The Wire:” Right up there with “Deadwood” as the best show on TV and voted by Entertainment Weekly as such, it’s almost too smart for the room.

Loser: Jimmy Smits: Despite a terrific turn as the Democratic presidential nominee on “The West Wing,” this is the first time in 10 seasons on TV (“L.A. Law” and “NYPD Blue”) he hasn’t been nominated.

Loser: Not even a resurgent “Gilmore Girls” earned the network its sought-after first series or acting nomination.

Stuart Levine is a senior editor at Daily Variety in Los Angeles.

< Prev | 1 | 2