Emmy Memo

The Emmy nominations have been announced. Here are some of the big categories with my bracketed notes:

Outstanding Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television

Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO • HBO Entertainment

Girls • HBO • Apatow Productions and I am Jenni Konner Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Modern Family • ABC • Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Television

Veep • HBO • Dundee Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

[No Office, and Glee-mania seems to be over, but a lot of mainstays, some of which are getting tired.  And when the Emmys pick something new, it's Girls and Veep, neither of which deserve the nod, while Community and Louie go unrecognized, even with six slots in the category.  Very disappointing.]

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Girls • HBO • Apatow Productions and I am Jenni Konner Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath

Mike & Molly • CBS • Bonanza Productions, Inc. in association with Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. and Warner Bros. Television

Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn

New Girl • FOX • Chernin Entertainment in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Zooey Deschanel as Jess Day

Nurse Jackie • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber, A Caryn Mandabach Production

Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton

Parks And Recreation • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Fremulon, 3 Arts and Universal Television

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Television

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon

Veep • HBO • Dundee Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer

[Seven names?  Maybe three of these deserve a nomination.]

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper

Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO • HBO Entertainment

Larry David as Himself

House Of Lies • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Crescendo Productions, Totally Commercial Films, Refugee Productions, Matthew Carnahan Circus Products

Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan

Louie • FX Networks • Pig Newton, Inc. in association with FX Productions

Louis C.K. as Louie

30 Rock • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Television

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy

Two And A Half Men • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions Inc., The Tannenbaum Company in association with Warner Bros. Television

Jon Cryer as Alan Harper

[Some decent names, but not a great list.  And just because Don Cheadle is a fine movie actor doesn't mean he deserves a nod for a crappy TV show.]

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory • CBS • Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television

Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler

Desperate Housewives • ABC • ABC Studios

Kathryn Joosten as Karen McCluskey

Modern Family • ABC • Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy

Modern Family • ABC • Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett

Nurse Jackie • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Lionsgate Television, Jackson Group Entertainment, Madison Grain Elevator, Inc. & Delong Lumber, A Caryn Mandabach Production

Merritt Wever as Zoey Barkow

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video

Kristen Wiig as various characters

[Interesting mix, especially Mayim Bialik as the one choice from Big Bang. Alas, no love for Community.]

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Modern Family • ABC • Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett

Modern Family • ABC • Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett

Modern Family • ABC • Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy

Modern Family • ABC • Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker

New Girl • FOX • Chernin Entertainment in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

Max Greenfield as Schmidt

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video

Bill Hader as various characters

[Complete domination from Modern Family. Come on people, there are other shows.  So Max Greenfield gets noticed, but nothing for Community or Parks & Rec?]

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Community • Remedial Chaos Theory • NBC • A Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap, Russo Brothers production, Universal Television production in association with Sony Pictures Television

Chris McKenna, Written by

Girls • Pilot • HBO • Apatow Productions and I am Jenni Konner Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Lena Dunham, Written by

Louie • Pregnant • FX Networks • Pig Newton, Inc. in association with FX

Productions

Louis C.K., Written by

Parks And Recreation • The Debate • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Fremulon, 3 Arts and Universal Television

Amy Poehler, Written by

Parks And Recreation • Win, Lose, Or Draw • NBC • Deedle-Dee Productions, Fremulon, 3 Arts and Universal Television

Michael Schur, Written by

[Finally, a little love for Community.  If the best half hour of TV in years can't take this, what's the point?]

Outstanding Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire • HBO • Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television

Downton Abbey • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Game Of Thrones • HBO • Bighead, Littlehead, Generator Productions,

Television 360, and Grok Television in association with HBO Entertainment

Homeland • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

[This is the best category.  Boardwalk Empire has never been any good, and Downton Abbey I'm already a bit tired of, but the rest are great.  Perhaps it's time for Mad Men to step aside.  I wouldn't mind if it won, but Breaking Bad or Game Of Thrones probably deserve it more.  A lot of shows didn't make the cut--Luck, Boss, Magic City, The Good Wife, Walking Dead, Justified, The Killing, Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter, True Blood and so on--but that's how it goes.]

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Damages • DirecTV • Sony Pictures Television, FX Productions and KZK Productions

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes

Downton Abbey • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley

The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Television Studios in association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick

Harry's Law • NBC • Bonanza Productions in association with David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television

Kathy Bates as Harriet Korn

Homeland • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21

Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson

[Don't have too much to say here, though it'd be nice to see Claire Danes take it for an amazing job.  Will there be any sentiment for Moss now that she's leaving?]

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire • HBO • Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson

Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television

Bryan Cranston as Walter White

Dexter • Showtime • Showtime Presents, John Goldwyn Productions, The Colleton Company, Devilina Productions

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan

Downton Abbey • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Hugh Bonneville as Robert, Earl of Grantham

Homeland • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21

Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Jon Hamm as Don Draper

[I don't care if he's won three times before, no one else here is even close to Bryan Cranston.  Also, Hugh Laurie has been doing award-worthy work for years as Dr. House, but never won.  Now he's not even nominated for his final year, even though he's better than most of the names on this list.]

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television

Anna Gunn as Skyler White

Downton Abbey • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham

Downton Abbey • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Joanne Froggatt as Anna

The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Television Studios in association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions

Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma

The Good Wife • CBS • CBS Television Studios in association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway Harris

[Some decent choices, but can the voters possibly resist Maggie Smith?]

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman

Breaking Bad • AMC • Sony Pictures Television

Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo 'Gus' Fring

Downton Abbey • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Brendan Coyle as John Bates

Downton Abbey • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Jim Carter as Mr. Carson

Game Of Thrones • HBO • Bighead, Littlehead, Generator Productions, Television 360, and Grok Television in association with HBO Entertainment

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister

Mad Men • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Jared Harris as Lane Pryce

[Some interesting competition, though Jared Harris probably didn't deserve to take John Slattery's Mad Men slot. And where's Mandy Patinkin? People love Dinklage, as they should. The real question is will Paul and Esposito split the Breaking Bad vote. It was Esposito's season, so he's still got a reasonable chance.]

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Downton Abbey • Episode 7 • PBS • A Carnival / Masterpiece Co-Production

Julian Fellowes, Written by

Homeland • Pilot • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21

Alex Gansa, Written by

Howard Gordon, Written by

Gideon Raff, Written by

Mad Men • The Other Woman • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Semi Chellas, Written by

Matthew Weiner, Written by

Mad Men • Commissions And Fees • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Andre Jacquemetton, Written by

Maria Jacquemetton, Written by

Mad Men • Far Away Places • AMC • Lionsgate Television

Erin Levy, Written by

Matthew Weiner, Written by

[Nothing for Breaking Bad?  Surely this is a typo.  While we're at it, how about something for Game Of Thrones--it's the writing that makes the show, not the sets and costumes.  One nomination for Mad Men should have been enough.]

Outstanding Variety Series

The Colbert Report • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC

Jimmy Kimmel Live • ABC • ABC Studios in association with Jackhole Industries, Inc.

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon • NBC • Universal Television and Broadway Video

Real Time With Bill Maher • HBO • Bill Maher Productions and Brad Grey Television in association with HBO Entertainment

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video

[A bit of a catch-all.  Most interesting--no Letterman, no Leno, no Conan.]

Outstanding Animated Program

American Dad! • Hot Water • FOX • Fox Television Animation

Bob's Burgers • BurgerBoss • FOX • BentoBox Entertainment

Futurama • The Tip Of The Zoidberg • Comedy Central • The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television

The Penguins Of Madagascar: The Return Of The Revenge Of Dr. Blowhole • Nickelodeon • Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation

The Simpsons • Holidays Of Future Passed • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20^th Century Fox Television

[A tired category.  Speaking of which, no South Park. (Robot Chicken is nominated in the short-format category.)]

Outstanding Voice-Over Performance

Desperate Housewives • Give Me The Blame / Finishing The Hat • ABC • ABC Studios

Brenda Strong as Mary-Alice Young

Disney Phineas And Ferb: Across The 2^nd Dimension • Disney Channel • Disney Channel

Dan Povenmire as Doctor Doofenshmirtz

Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice • ABC • Walt Disney Animation Studios

Rob Riggle as Noel

Futurama • The Silence Of The Clamps • Comedy Central • The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Television

Maurice LaMarche as Clamps, Donbot, Hyperchicken, Calculon, Hedonismbot, Morbo

The Looney Tunes Show • Double Date • Cartoon Network • Warner Bros. Animation

Kristen Wiig as Lola

The Simpsons • Moe Goes From Rags To Riches • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television

Hank Azaria as Moe Szyslak, Duffman, Mexican Duffman, Carl, Comic Book Guy, Chief Wiggum

[An odd but fascinating category.  Why no Harry Shearer or Billy West?]

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

The Amazing Race • CBS • World Race Productions Inc.

Bertram van Munster, Executive Producer

Elise Doganieri, Executive Producer

Jerry Bruckheimer, Executive Producer

Jonathan Littman, Executive Producer

Mark Vertullo, Executive Producer

Dan Coffie, Co-Executive Producer

Giselle Parets, Co-Executive Producer

Phil Keoghan, Co-Executive Producer

Michael Norton, Supervising Producer

Matt Schmidt, Supervising Producer

Patrick Cariaga, Supervising Producer

Michael Miller, Supervising Producer

Darren Bunkley, Senior Producer

Chad Baron, Senior Producer

Neil Jahss, Senior Producer

Dancing With The Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Conrad Green, Executive Producer

Joe Sungkur, Co-Executive Producer

Ashley Edens-Shaffer, Co-Executive Producer

Kim Kilbey, Supervising Producer

Tara West, Senior Producer

Renana Barkan, Senior Producer

Daniel Martin, Senior Producer

Deena Katz, Senior Producer

Joshua Firosz, Senior Producer

John Birkitt, Producer

Marcy Walton, Producer

Jonty Nash, Producer

Project Runway • Lifetime • The Weinstein Company, Bunim-Murray Productions and Full Picture in association with Lifetime Television

Heidi Klum, Executive Producer

Harvey Weinstein, Executive Producer

Bob Weinstein, Executive Producer

Meryl Poster, Executive Producer

Jonathan Murray, Executive Producer

Sara Rea, Executive Producer

Jane Cha Cutler, Executive Producer

Desiree Gruber, Executive Producer

Rob Sharenow, Executive Producer

Gena McCarthy, Executive Producer

David Hillman, Executive Producer

Barbara Schneeweiss, Executive Producer

Colleen Sands, Co-Executive Producer

Gil Goldschein, Co-Executive Producer

Lisa Fletcher, Supervising Producer

So You Think You Can Dance • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. in association with 19 Entertainment

Barry Adelman, Executive Producer

Simon Fuller, Executive Producer

Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer

James Breen, Co-Executive Producer

Jeff Thacker, Co-Executive Producer

Zoe Brown, Senior Supervising Producer

Mike Yurchuk, Co-Supervising Producer

Dan Sacks, Co-Supervising Producer

Adam Cooper, Senior Producer

Mike Deffina, Senior Producer

Colleen Wagner, Senior Producer

Hope Wilson, Senior Producer

Top Chef • Bravo • Magical Elves

Dan Cutforth, Executive Producer

Jane Lipsitz, Executive Producer

Nan Strait, Executive Producer

Casey Kriley, Executive Producer

Andrew Cohen, Executive Producer

Dave Serwatka, Executive Producer

Erica Ross, Co-Executive Producer

Sue Kolinsky, Co-Executive Producer

Tom Colicchio, Co-Executive Producer

The Voice • NBC • One Three Inc. (a Hearst/Mark Burnett company), Talpa Media USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Television

John de Mol, Executive Producer

Mark Burnett, Executive Producer

Audrey Morrissey, Executive Producer

Stijn Bakkers, Executive Producer

Lee Metzger, Executive Producer

Chad Hines, Co-Executive Producer

Jim Roush, Co-Executive Producer

Amanda Zucker, Co-Executive Producer

Nicolle Yaron, Supervising Producer

Mike Yurchuk, Supervising Producer

Dean Houser, Supervising Producer

Joni Day, Producer

Teddy Valenti, Producer

May Johnson, Producer

David Offenheiser, Producer

Carson Daly, Producer

[Don't have much to add except that American Idol wasn't even nominated.]

Outstanding Nonfiction Special

Bobby Fischer Against The World • HBO • Moxie Firecracker in association with HBO Documentary Films

Sheila Nevins, Executive Producer

Dan Cogan, Executive Producer

Liz Garbus, Produced By

Stanley Buchthal, Produced By

Rory Kennedy, Produced By

Matthew Justus, Produced By

Nancy Abraham, Senior Producer

George Harrison: Living In The Material World • HBO • Grove Street Pictures, Spitfire Pictures, and Sikelia Productions in association with HBO Documentary Films

Margaret Bodde, Executive Producer

Scott Pascucci, Executive Producer For Grove Street

Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Executive Producer For Sikelia Productions

Blair Foster, Supervising Producer

Olivia Harrison, Produced By

Nigel Sinclair, Produced By

Martin Scorsese, Produced By

Gloria: In Her Own Words • HBO • Kunhardt McGee Productions in association with HBO Documentary Films

Dyllan McGee, Executive Producer

Jacqueline Glover, Supervising Producer

Peter Kunhardt, Produced By

Sheila Nevins, Produced By

Paul Simon's Graceland Journey: Under African Skies • A&E • A&E IndieFilms in association with Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Recordings and @Radical.Media

Molly Thompson, Executive Producer

David McKillop, Executive Producer

Robert Debitetto, Executive Producer

Eddie Simon, Executive Producer

Jon Kamen, Producer

Justin Wilkes, Producer

Joe Berlinger, Producer

6 Days To Air: The Making Of South Park • Comedy Central • Presented by Comedy Central

Arthur Bradford, Executive Producer

Jennifer Ollman, Supervising Producer

[Some decent stuff here, but I think the Bobby Fischer show deserves to win over the bigger names of the flashier George Harrison doc.]

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics

The Heart Of Christmas • Song Title: The Heart Of Christmas • GMC • My Three Sons Films, God & Country Entertainment in association with GMC

Matthew West, Music & Lyrics by

Raising Hope • Prodigy / Song Title: Welcome Back To Hope • FOX • Twentieth Century Fox Television

Matthew W. Thompson, Music & Lyrics by

Saturday Night Live • Host: Jason Segel / Song Title: I Can't Believe I'm Hosting • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video

Eli Brueggemann, Music by

Seth Meyers, Lyrics by

John Mulaney, Lyrics by

Smash • Pilot / Song Title: Let Me Be Your Star • NBC • Universal Television in association with DreamWorks Television and Madwoman in the Attic

Marc Shaiman, Music & Lyrics by

Scott Wittman, Music & Lyrics by

65th Annual Tony Awards • Song Title: It's Not Just For Gays Anymore • CBS • White Cherry Entertainment in association with Tony Award Productions

Adam Schlesinger, Music by

David Javerbaum, Lyrics by

[Hmm, nothing for the songs in Community's "Regional Christmas Music."]