2010 Emmy Nominations

Today the 2010 Emmy nominations were announced. Pop culture junkies are already poring over the list for snubs and—less often—happy surprises. The Academy is notorious for out-of-touch nominations and omissions that leave tv critics weeping. Hollywood Suggestion Box wonders: Has the Academy learned anything since last year?



Outstanding Drama Series

2009 Nominations: Mad Men, Big Love, Breaking Bad, Damages, Dexter, House, Lost

2010 Nominations: Breaking Bad, Dexter, The Good Wife, Mad Men, Lost, True Blood

How they compare: 2009's big sin was the omission of The Wire. Otherwise, one has to admit they picked a pretty strong list of contenders. This year, they smartly omitted House, which had a mediocre season (I can't speak to Big Love or Damages, having seen neither show). Friday Night Lights should have gotten in over The Good Wife, but otherwise I'm pretty pleased with this list.

Outstanding Comedy Series

2009 Nominations: 30 Rock, Entourage, Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother, Flight of the Conchords, The Office, Weeds

2010 Nominations: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Glee, Modern Family, Nurse Jackie, The Office, 30 Rock

How they compare: 2009 was quite the grab-bag, both good (Flight of the Conchords) and bad (Entourage, Family Guy). 2010's choices are mostly respectable, although I think The Office had a weak year. Community absolutely deserved a spot. And I hate to say it, but How I Met Your Mother's omission was deserved.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

2009 Nominations: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Simon Baker (The Mentalist)

2010 Nominations: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Hugh Laurie (House), Matthew Fox (Lost), Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

How they compare: This is perhaps my favorite category this year. The 2010 nominees are the best of 2009's group, with two very strong additions in the oft-overlooked Chandler and Fox. Well-played!

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

2009 Nominations: Glenn Close (Damages), Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU), Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Holly Hunter (Saving Grace), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

2010 Nominations: Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Glenn Close (Damages), Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU), January Jones (Mad Men)

How they compare: The real shining light among the 2010 nominees is Connie Britton. Unfortunately, I only watch one other show featuring a nominee in this category, so it's difficult for me to say how deserving this particular group is. I do find it interesting that Jones got a leading nod this year, while Moss was bumped back to supporting actress.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

2009 Nominations: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Steve Carell (The Office), Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)

2010 Nominations: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Matthew Morrison (Glee), Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Steve Carell (The Office), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

How they compare: I wish the Academy had done something this year as interesting as nominating Clement in 2009. I find this list terribly boring—particularly Shalhoub's nomination, which is his 8th consecutive nomination for Monk (he's won 3 times). Joel McHale (Community) would have helped to shake things up a bit, but at least they didn't nominate Charlie Sheen.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

2009 Nominations: Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)

2010 Nominations: Lea Michele (Glee), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Toni Collette (United States of Tara)

How they compare: 2010's seems like the stronger slate to me, with the addition of the Michele from the popular Glee and Poehler from critical darling Parks and Rec. Nothing as interesting as Silverman's 2009 nomination, but since I'm not a Silverman fan, I can't complain. I'm still not convinced Nurse Jackie is a comedy, but Falco is an undeniably strong actress, so I'll go with it.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with this year's contenders. Though there are missteps, as ever—and don't get me started on Zach Gilford's snub in the Guest Actor in a Drama category—there are also plenty of fine actors and actresses to root for. T-minus 52 days until we see if we approve the winners as well.

For a complete list of nominees, visit emmys.tv.