Let's Jump back in with the EMMY Noms

Editor's Note: Well I'm partway back, Dweebpals! Not ALL the way, since I had a very lovely vacation and am now sort of sad and disoriented to be back. (Not sad to be back to YOU, of course, but to be back to work and day-to-day humdrumming). AND I have a head cold, so quite a few brains have been sent into kleenex in the last few days.

So....patience, padawans. Be PATIENT with your QOTD.

Let's get back to things with the EMMY Noms -----

Canceled Series, Newcomers Among Emmy Nominees
'The Sopranos,' 'House,' '24' in Awards Contention
By Christopher Lisotta
Canceled Series, Newcomers Get Prime Time Emmy Nominations

Series that have left the air and perennial cable performer HBO placed among top recipients of nominations for the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

In the outstanding drama series category, HBO's "The Sopranos," ABC’s medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” Fox's "House" and "24" and NBC's cancelled "The West Wing" garnered nominations. Last year’s winner, ABC's “Lost” didn't get a nod. Editor's Note: "Lost" wasn't nominated. "Medium"? "L&O:SVU"? The EMMYs are like the Ice Skating judging before they fixed the rules. Sheesh.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominations at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif.

Canceled shows garnered a number of nominations, with Fox scoring recognition for outstanding comedy with “Arrested Development.” Geena Davis received an outstanding actress in a drama nomination for the ABC's “Commander in Chief.” CBS also received a nomination for “Out of Practice,” with an outstanding actress in a comedy nod for multiple Emmy winner Stockard Channing. HBO got a spot in the same category with Lisa Kudrow for her canceled series “The Comeback.”

While “The Sopranos” got a nomination for drama series, previous winners James Gandolfini and Edie Falco were shut out of the acting categories. HBO saw “Six Feet Under” actors Peter Krause and Francis Conroy get nominations for their work on the funeral home drama. Newcomer Kyra Sedgwick received a nomination in the best actress in a drama series category for TNT’s “The Closer,” while last year’s winner, Patricia Arquette of NBC’s “Medium,” was also shut out.

This year the TV Academy for the first time incorporated a panel into its nominating process to help add some variety to its nominations, which in the past have been criticized as recognizing the same shows over and over.

The new nominating procedure produced some unexpected results, said Diane Gordon, author of the subscriber-based TV e-mail The Surf Report.

“It’s really schizophrenic--they have a foot planted in the old and they are trying to drag into the new,” Ms. Gordon said. “I’m shocked that ‘Lost’ is virtually absent given that it won last season. I’m surprised none of the actors from ‘Grey’s’ got nominated, when the show got nominated. And the same thing for Hugh Laurie -- ‘House’ got nominated, but he didn’t.” Editor's Note: Yeah. Seems like this new committee made things worse? Still not remotely relevant.

Despite a glut of awards shows and a challenge from the Golden Globes, the Prime Time Emmys remain the most coveted TV awards in terms of industry prestige. Last year’s Emmy telecast on CBS scored a 6.1 rating in adults 18 to 49, according to Nielsen Media Research, growing 33 percent from its series low performance in the demographic in 2004.

This year’s nominations follow a tumultuous season for television. The industry was surprised by the January announcement that The WB and UPN were dissolving to form The CW. Both cable networks and broadcasters also have been grappling with how to provide more TV content on the Internet and mobile devices as consumers show growing interest in video games and Web browsing.

An Emmy nomination or win can raise an actor’s profile in Hollywood or help a program struggling in the ratings. Audiences don't always get on board, however, as illustrated by Fox’s comedy “Arrested Development,” which was an Emmys darling but eventually was canceled.

With the retirement of CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” there is no returning winner in the outstanding comedy category. Past winners also didn't get nods in the supporting actor and supporting actress in a comedy categories.

Emmy voters will receive DVDs for at-home judging during the week of July 24. Voters have until August 15 to submit their completed ballots.

The nominations announcement comes about a week earlier than usual, reflecting the Emmys’ move by a few weeks to the last weekend in August. Traditionally the Emmys have been held on a Sunday in mid-September. This year’s broadcaster, NBC, begins its Sunday night NFL football coverage in the fall, which set up a potential schedule conflict.

The primetime Emmy Awards will be presented on Sunday, August 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. NBC will broadcast the show live at 8 p.m. (ET) on the east coast with a tape delay for the west coast. Late night talk show personality Conan O’Brien is scheduled to host the telecast. Editor's NOte: Party at Drewster's? (If we dont' have rehersal?)

Outstanding Drama Nominees:
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
“House” (Fox)
“The Sopranos” HBO
“24” (Fox)
“The West Wing” (NBC)

Outstanding Comedy Nominees:
“Arrested Development” “(Fox)
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Fox)
“The Office” (NBC)
“Scrubs” (NBC)
“Two and a Half Men” (CBS)