Nominees! 63rd Emmy Awards

We all (should) know about the Oscars of TV awards and here is this year’s batch of nominees. Staying true to the status of “standard-bearer” for all TV awards shows, the Emmys have again garnered immediate criticism, congratulations, and confusion. Todd Haynes’s Kate Winslet-starring period piece Mildred Pierce leads all programs with 21 nominations. Mad Men leads all drama series with 19 nominations and Boardwalk Empire follows close behind with 18 nominations. Of the comedy series nominees, Modern Family takes first with 16 nominations and 30 Rock finishes a close second with 13 nominations. So, what do you think? Is this moving toward a more balanced field of popular shows, acclaimed pieces, and deserving work, or are the snubs too glaring to approve the field?

Outstanding Drama Series	Outstanding Comedy Series
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) Dexter (Showtime) Friday Night Lights (The 101 Network/NBC) Game of Thrones (HBO) The Good Wife (CBS) Mad Men (AMC)	30 Rock (NBC) The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Glee (Fox) Modern Family (ABC) The Office (NBC) Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Outstanding Miniseries or TV Movie	Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Cinema Verite (HBO) Downton Abbey (PBS) The Kennedys (ReelzChannel) Mildred Pierce (HBO) The Pillars of the Earth (Starz) Too Big to Fail (HBO)	The Colbert Report (Comedy Central) Conan (TBS) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Nominees! 27th TCA Awards

Around since 1984, the Television Critics Association Awards (TCA Awards) plays the awards game a little differently. They honor one individual actor in comedy and drama, not the usual “leading” and “supporting” actors. Fear not though, they do cover the usual “best comedy,” “best drama,” “news program,” “TV movie/miniseries,” and “reality TV” categories. Women stole the show last year, with Jane Lynch and Juliana Marguiles being the winners of the only two individual acting categories. Considering this year’s list of nominees their chances haven’t much improved, with the usual one actress nominated amongst five or so actors in both categories — but with their winning percentage, I’m not sure it matters how many female nominees there are. We’ll see.

Program of the Year

• Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
• Friday Night Lights (DirecTV / NBC)
• Game of Thrones (HBO)
• Justified (FX)
• Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Outstanding New Program

• Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
• Game of Thrones (HBO)
• The Killing (AMC)
• Terriers (FX)
• The Walking Dead (AMC)

Winners!! 1st Critics’ Choice Television Awards

Alright, I guess I’ve taken a little too much time off (my bad — big time), but I just couldn’t let these awards shows escape coverage — especially ones just beginning. This post and the next one contain some older news, but important news nonetheless.