2008 Emmys: And the Nominees are....

This year’s Emmy nominations are out with lots of our favourite shows getting due acknowledgement from their peers, and guess which aussie made the cut?

What is most significant in this year’s list is the rise of cable-produced shows. Three networks, Showtime, FX and AMC have barrelled their way into the Outstanding Drama category for the first time. Dexter, Damages and Mad Men will all compete with network-produced Boston Legal, Lost and House.

Now that HBO’s Sopranos is no more at least the field will be wide open. Look to Mad Men and Damages to fight this one out. Elbowed out were Grey’s Anatomy, The Wire, Friday Night Lights and The Tudors (all of which made the preliminary shortlist).

In comedy, several of the contenders are widely overlooked in Australia. Only Two and a Half Men enjoys prime focus here, while 30 Rock, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Office are considered ‘cult’ shows. This year Desperate Housewives was ignored in this category, and so too were Flight of the Conchords, Ugly Betty, Family Guy, Weeds and Pushing Daisies.

In acting nominations, Rachel Griffiths scored a nod for Supporting Actress in a Drama series. ‘Rach’ will take on Candice Bergen, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh and Dianne Wiest. In the Lead Actress counterpart Glenn Close will be hard to beat. Sally Field, Kyra Sedgwick, Mariska Hargitay and Holly Hunter will all be trying.

There was disappointing news for the ladies of Wisteria Lane, all snubbed in the acting comedy gongs. Poor Felicity Huffman put in quite a turn this year too, as ‘Lynette’ battling cancer. Instead Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Christina Applegate, Tina Fey, America Ferrera and Mary-Louise Parker bettered them.

In the male categories Actor in a Drama the field includes James Spader, Bryan Cranston, Michael C. Hall, Hugh Laurie, Gabriel Byrne and Jon Hamm. For comedy the tussle is between Tony Shalhoub, Steve Carell, Lee Pace, Alec Baldwin and Charlie Sheen. Shalhoub is a frequent winner here but Alec Baldwin is giving him a run for his money lately.

There’s a mighty battle brewing for the Supporting Actor in a Drama series between William Shatner, Ted Danson, Zeljko Ivanek, Michael Emerson and John Slattery. Shatner is so popular, but Danson was compelling in Damages, virtually reinventing himself. And then there’s the malevolent Michael Emerson in Lost. Good luck picking this winner.

Another snub this year was Survivor, missing in the Reality category. This has been hogged by The Amazing Race for years, which this year is joined by American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, Project Runway, and Top Chef  -the latter both entries by Bravo.

In Australia the 60^th Primetime Emmys will again screen live on Pay-TV.

Arena will air the event at 10am Monday September 22. Black tie is mandatory.

David Knox for Citysearch July, 2008