Emmy Predictions Part One: Another Big Night for AMC’s “Mad Men” - Ed Martin - MediaBizBloggers

Iamp8217m approaching the annual Emmy Awards from a different perspective this year because for the first time in the twenty years that I have been writing about television programming I donamp8217t care who wins Itamp8217s not that Iamp8217ve lost interest Itamp8217s simply a reflection of the state of the art Yes Iamp8217m calling it art There were so many terrific series on television last year and so many exciting performances that this time around the recognition that really matters came in being nominatedamp160As always there were significant oversights in most categories amp8211 CBSamp8217 The Big Bang Theory and FXamp8217s Damages not being acknowledged with nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Drama Series respectively Katey Sagal of FXamp8217s Sons of Anarchy left off the nominee list for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Josh Holloway of ABCamp8217s Lost Justin Chambers of ABCamp8217s Greyamp8217s Anatomy and John Noble of Foxamp8217s Fringe missing from the nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson not being recognized in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category for their sensational work on Greyamp8217s Anatomy Peter Facinelli of Showtimeamp8217s Nurse Jackie not making the cut for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Seriesamp160But look at the nominees in the drama categories listed below amp8211 and in the comedy categories coming on Friday amp8211 and then tell me it isnamp8217t damn near impossible to single out one show or performer in each that are significantly better than the rest That said itamp8217s time for the increasingly hazardous annual ritual of predicting the shows and performers that will win while also indulging in one last opportunity to state who or what should winamp160Outstanding Drama Seriesamp160Breaking Bad AMCDexter ShowtimeThe Good Wife CBSLost ABCMad Men AMCTrue Blood HBOamp160Prediction and Preference Mad Menamp160Nothing sucks the excitement out of the Emmys faster than for the same show or performer to win year after year after year but thereamp8217s no getting past the fact that AMCamp8217s endlessly engaging period piece is one of those handful of shows in the history of the medium that simply gets better with age While even the best shows begin to ripen and rot by their third or fourth season Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner isnamp8217t afraid to make major changes to his narrative structure each year with consistently spectacular results From what Iamp8217ve seen of Mad Men this summer it wonamp8217t surprise me to see it clock its competitors whatever they might be at the 2011 Emmys tooamp160As much as I support Mad Men AMCamp8217s other redhot drama Breaking Bad may be the winner here because it delivered two of the three best individual hours of television drama during the Emmy eligibility period Those would be One Minute and Fly The other top hour was The Son an emotionally dismantling episode of DirecTVNBCamp8217s Friday Night Lights that towered above all elseamp160All praise for AMCamp8217s dazzling dramatic duo aside Iamp8217ll be equally pleased if CBSamp8217 unashamedly grownup legal drama The Good Wife takes home the prize It certainly deserves whatever love the industry chooses to send its way and a big broadcast win in this allimportant category might silence those insiders who continue to carp about cable programs dominating the Emmys No matter that they generally deserve to do soamp160Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Seriesamp160Kyle Chandler Friday Night Lights DirecTVNBCBryan Cranston Breaking Bad AMCMatthew Fox Lost ABCMichael C Hall Dexter ShowtimeJon Hamm Mad Men AMCHugh Laurie House Foxamp160Prediction Michael C Hall Dexteramp160Preference Jon Hamm Mad Menamp160If Michael C Hall is ever to receive an Emmy for his work on Showtimeamp8217s Dexter it will happen this Sunday because heamp8217s coming off wins at the Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards Hall excitingly stepped up opposite a bonechilling turn by the incomparable John Lithgow as the latest serial killer to invade his characteramp8217s domain But my own choice would be Jon Hamm who like fellow nominees Hall and Hugh Laurie is seriously overdue for recognition here And then thereamp8217s Bryan Cranston as much a potential threepeat winner as Mad Men Itamp8217s not his fault that heamp8217s so fine in the role of a lifetimeamp160Come Sunday I really shouldnamp8217t complain about a win for any of these talented guys over the rest amp8211 and neither should youamp160Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Seriesamp160Connie Britton Friday Night Lights DirecTVNBCGlenn Close Damages FXMariska Hargitay Law ampamp Order Special Victims Unit NBCJanuary Jones Mad Men AMCJulianna Margulies The Good Wife CBSKyra Sedgwick The Closer TNTPrediction Julianna Margulies The Good Wifeamp160Preferences Kyra Sedgwick The Closer Connie Britton Friday Night Lightsamp160If anyone is going to block the formidable Glenn Close from a third consecutive win its Good Wife star Julianna Margulies like Michael C Hall already a Golden Globe and SAG winner for her work during the nomination period Sheamp8217s certainly deserving of the honor but Iamp8217ve been waiting forever for Kyra Sedgwick to take home an Emmy for her uniquely entertaining work on The Closer and for Connie Britton to simply be nominated for her sublime portrayal of a small town working mother on Friday Night Lights so Iamp8217m standing by themamp160Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Seriesamp160Andre Braugher Men of a Certain Age TNTMichael Emerson Lost ABCTerry Oamp8217Quinn Lost ABCAaron Paul Breaking Bad AMCMartin Short Damages FXJohn Slattery Mad Men AMCamp160Prediction Martin Short Damagesamp160Preference Aaron Paul Breaking Badamp160Iamp8217m reasonably certain that the competition here comes down to Martin Shortamp8217s revelatory work on Damages and Aaron Paulamp8217s harrowing and heartbreaking efforts on Breaking Bad Both are excellent choices but Iamp8217m thinking that Emmy voters will lean toward Short because heamp8216s been around a lot longer than Paul and has never done anything quite like his portrayal of a cunning conflicted cutthroat lawyer with daddy issues on FXamp8217s legal drama Then again Breaking Bad has the buzz and Paulamp8217s performance can only be described as searing so Iamp8217m leaning toward him Meanwhile donamp8217t underestimate the big love Emmy voters have for Andre Braugher the best actor on TNTamp8217s Men of a Certain Ageamp160Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Seriesamp160Christine Baranski The Good Wife CBSRose Byrne Damages FXSharon Gless Burn Notice USA NetworkChristina Hendricks Mad Men AMCElisabeth Moss Mad Men AMCArchie Panjabi The Good Wife CBSPrediction Christine Barnaski The Good Wifeamp160Preference Sharon Gless Burn Noticeamp160Christine Baranskiamp8217s elegant controlled razorsharp work in The Good Wife makes for exactly the kind of performance Emmy voters love to honor and I think they will do so But I also think Sharon Glessamp8217 nailtough turn as a mother who insists on being a part of her sonamp8217s dangerous life as a burned spy no matter how personally perilous defines the term amp8220supportingamp8221 A win for her would be almost as surprising as one for Rose Byrne who certainly deserves something for holding her own opposite Glenn Close for three yearsamp160Outstanding Made for Television Movieamp160Endgame PBSGeorgia Oamp8217Keeffe LifetimeMoonshot HistoryThe Special Relationship HBOTemple Grandin HBOYou Donamp8217t Know Jack HBOamp160Prediction and Preference Temple Grandin This HBO biopic was easily the most affecting and illuminating television movie of the seasonamp160Outstanding Miniseriesamp160The Pacific HBOReturn to Cranford PBSamp160Prediction and Preference The Pacific PBSamp8217 Return to Cranford was lovely but HBOamp8217s uncompromising World War II masterpiece was one for the ages More than just the seasonamp8217s best miniseries The Pacific was also the Program of the Year for 2010

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Emmy Predictions Part One: Another Big Night for AMC’s “Mad Men” - Ed Martin - MediaBizBloggers

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