Friday, June 27, 2008

Emmy longlists; no alarms, some surprises

The Academy of TV Arts & Sciences in America has announced 10-strong longlists of contenders for drama and comedy Emmy awards. I'm happy to see quite a few of my favourites on the lists, though there's no guarantee they'll make the five final in either category. Emmy voters are embracing the exceptional dramas to be found on cable, but persist in praising shows past their peak. Here are the lists:

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Grey's Anatomy
House
Lost
Mad Men
The Tudors
The Wire

Great to see The Wire finally getting a little Emmy love, while inclusions for Mad Men and Damages are no surprise. Lost bounced back with a strong season despite the writers' strike, taking the place of sophomore slumper Heroes. But longlist appearances by Boston Legal and the once-compelling Grey's Anatomy defy easy explanation. Missing in action: The Shield, Breaking Bad and Battlestar Galactica.

BEST COMEDY SERIES
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
The Office
Pushing Daisies
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty
Weeds

30 Rock won last year and had another strong year. Flight of the Conchords has that shiny new favourite mojo working, while Family Guy could be the first animated series to crack the best comedy nominations. In fact, I can't argue with many of these choices, though Ugly Betty lost its sheen for me, another sophomore slumper. Missing in action: Desperate Housewives, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother.

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