I’m fully aware of how cliche it is to bellyache about the nominee list for any and all awards shows. Yet is it off-limits simply because it’s standard practice? I say no.
As I’m sure you know, nominees were announced this morning for the 63rd annual Emmy Awards. Lots of familiar names, as well as some surprises (both good and bad). It’s that time of year again.
Now, I could argue that leaving The Middle out of the “Outstanding Comedy” category is a travesty (it is). I could also say plenty about how insane it is to waste six nominations on the adults from Modern Family (you could maybe make an argument for three). But comedy is not what brings me here today. Because when an oversight is so egregious as to put into question the relevancy of “Best” awards … well, then nothing else really matters.
You know what I’m talking about: Men of a Certain Age.
I like the idea of a truly ensemble cast submitting themselves as supporting actors (see Friends, Modern Family). Keeping that in mind, here’s how the “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama” category should read:
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
John Slattery, Mad Men
Scott Bakula, Men of a Certain Age
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age (was nominated)
Ray Romano, Men of a Certain Age
and Goggins and Dinklage can battle to the death for the final slot. Josh Charles for The Good Wife? Is that a joke?
As for “Outstanding Drama?” Here goes:
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
The Good Wife
Mad Men
Men of a Certain Age
No offense, but no way has Game of Thrones clawed its way onto that list just yet. Disagree? Fine, throw Mad Men overboard … Men of a Certain Age is the finest thing on TV today.
And it’s not just that it’s enjoyable; MOCA could teach a master class in any number of things, including acting, writing, story crafting … car selling? Maybe not the last, but it’s been ages since television has fielded a show as excellent as this.
Want to create a new category for it? Certainly if the Emmys decide to ever add a writing award Ray Romano should be prepared to bring a truck to the show every year. How about greatest return to TV for an already successful star? Can anyone say nominations for Romano, Bakula, and Braugher once again?
I know not enough of you are watching … is that why the show’s struggling to gain recognition from the critiquing community at large? Not so, as Men of a Certain Age is consistently lauded far and wide as a triumph. So what is it?
Here’s another thought: do the Emmys not know how to find TNT on their cable box? Think about it: most years Kyra Sedgwick — and The Closer itself — is just about the only thing from TNT that ever gets recognition. I’m not saying that popcorn shows like Leverage, Hawthorne, Southland, Memphis Beat, and Rizzoli & Isles are screaming for recognition, but it is interesting that such a successful network — according to certain indicators — should consistently fail to get noted. So too for USA Network … but I digress.
Because it is so good, I know that Men of a Certain Age still has many years to get its due … but does that mean it should get ignored now, even as it rides head-and-shoulders above the competition?
Know what I’m saying, Friday Night Lights fans?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jul 14, 2011 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
Sounds like the ramblings of an obsessed fan. Men of Certain Age in 3 of the 5 slots for supporting actor? It sounds like you only saw one show this year.
BTW, Game of Thrones deserves it accolades
Yeah, I agree with this guy 100%. I’m totally new to this site and the views you expressed here are unbalanced enough not to make me feel compelled to read more.
“Sounds like the ramblings of an obsessed fan.”
Nail on the head. And Game of Thrones is a fine show which acting meets the, ahem, high standard set by ‘The Good Wife’.
And as others say below, Community is the biggest snub this year.
Your ravings do make me want to check out the show, but the biggest mistake the Emmys ever made was pretending that The Wire didn’t exist… for… five… whole… years.
*POST AUTHOR*
I have to agree with you on the travesty that was The Wire‘s continued oversight, but sometimes you have to live in the now, Bob. :)
The best gift you could give yourself is checking out Men of a Certain Age. I think you’ll find yourself enjoying it … immensely.
and it’s canceled
I’m a Friday Night Lights fan, and still don’t really agree with anything you say here :)
Especially the knock on Game of Thrones. Just because it only has run one season, it shouldn’t qualify?
*POST AUTHOR*
I’d be disappointed in you if you did agree with me. ;)
For all the shows I was, let’s say, “disappointed by” for my column, there are those that I had to give up on without even being able to finish an entire episode. I was trying to be nice! :)
So no first season show deserves to be nominated because it hasn’t “earned” the right? Hmmm, Twin Peaks – 14 nominations, more than any other show that year, Mad Men – 10 nominations, The Mary Tyler Moore Show – 8 nominations, Six Feet Under – 17 nominations. Unfortunately, MOCA was probably ignored for many factors – network and ratings chief among them (nothing on TheCW/TheWB/UPN has ever been nominated for Best Series as Buffy fans can remind us). And I believe the show has been cancelled to boot. I don’t buy the argument that GoT doesn’t belong on the list because it’s only been on for one season because first season shows hit the ground running and some are spectacular in season one and some take three seasons to find themselves. I do agree with Ruby that Community‘s snub is egregious, especially because Glee had such a mediocre season of truly awful episodes with a few gems here and there. Full disclosure – I’ve not seen either MOCA or GoT, so I can’t judge the merits of either, but I don’t think a show doesn’t deserve to be Emmy nominated only because it’s been on for one season.
*POST AUTHOR*
It’s not a question of first season or not. Like I said to Ivey, I was just trying to be nice by saying that Game of Thrones hadn’t “clawed its way onto that list just yet”; I couldn’t even get through an episode, so I wasn’t saying it based on “putting its dues in” or not.
That said, of the six choices it’s the most obvious to go if one wanted to insert another. Boardwalk Empire was phenomenal in its first season; I accept that Dexter‘s first rate (even if I don’t like it); same for Friday Night Lights (on both accounts, plus it’s the show’s last chance to boot); The Good Wife wasn’t as good as people say but was definitely one of the six best dramas on TV last year; and apply my Dexter argument to Mad Men too. I didn’t find Game of Thrones to be good, let alone top six. The length of time its been on the air has nothing to do with it. :)
I started watching MOACA the first season, but never finished it. I think it conflicted with another show or two I watched at the time. I’ve heard raves about it. Unfortunately, the buzz is that it is likely to NOT be renewed for another season due to poor ratings.
Did you even watch Game of Thrones? That was one of the best made shows I’ve ever seen. The writing, acting, casting, costumes … everything was spot on. I will be surprised if it doesn’t win.
I don’t think it is anything against TNT shows, because unlike some other networks (CW,Syfy,USA,etc), their shows have been recognized in the past.
*POST AUTHOR*
I gave Game of Thrones a whirl for the weekly column … couldn’t make it through!
It’s confirmed. You pretty much have no taste in television :P
Men of a Certain Age may not be renewed. If you want to see more of this show, tell TNT! https://support.tnt.tv/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=5477
They also ignored my carefully cultivated Comedy nominations, which is just uncool. Limited love for Parks and Rec? No love for Casey Wilson in Happy Endings? Nothing at all for Cougar Town? And by far the worst oversight – no nods for Community.
I can almost maybe kinda sorta get over Scott Caan not getting at least a nod in Best Supporting Actor, since the award should go to Peter Dinklage by a mile, but still. He deserved that nod.
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m definitely the wrong person to commiserate with you on your comedy selections … even just the four you mentioned here I find painful to watch. Sorry! :)
First you say Game of Thrones doesn’t deserve any of its accolades, now you say Community is painful to watch.
Yep. My taste and your taste don’t match at all… and I have a feeling many here match mine more than yours.
I’ve resigned myself to the fact that Aryeh has no taste (complaining about GoT being on the list, pshaw). :p
But I do agree with the general idea of the post that there are a lot of of ridiculous snubs and nominations. 4 out of 6 guest actor spots for Modern Family‽ It’s good, but not even close to that good. And Glee continues to get nods over, well pretty much anything. And Community is completely shut out. I’m ok with the drama nods, even if House didn’t deserve one.
Not trying to pile on Aryeh, but Game of Thrones is brilliant.
And this is from the lady that turns away any time there are “adult situations” on the show … So she thus misses like half of each episode!!!!
(I kid, BSG, because I love)
The degrading stuff is easy to stay away from, who wants to see someone humiliated? Not I. Other parts are important to the overall story. No one expected Dany’s clothes to remain unscathed after the fire. :)
See, I don’t think that showing sex is a bad thing. Sexual politics, whomever or not may be domineering, is interesting to watch play out (And I don’t necessarily mean in the “its dirty to watch” way).
The politics of “it”, is extremely important, feelings get involved, people become vulnerable, show chinks in armour etc. I just gotta be me and not watch those parts.
I would not ask the show to change. I don’t have a problem fast forwarding.
The biggest mistake I think they’ve made is not nominating Denis O’Hare as Russell Edgington. True Blood’s season 3 has many faults, but he is not one of them.
the saddest thing is that Louis CK won’t win for Louie but he could win for his Hilarious special
I feel like the biggest snub was to Community. That’s the most intelligent comedy on TV (in my opinion), and they ignored it for the likes of Glee and The Office? Wow.
Are we going to have another article bitching about how Men of a Certain Age was canceled?
I couldn’t even read the article after that rant. Community should have been nominated for something, anything.