'Family Guy,' 'The Wire,' 'Pushing Daisies,' 'Mad Men' make Emmy lists of top 10 finalists
The Emmys have released the lists of top 10 finalists for best comedy and drama series one day early. Big surprise: the inclusion of "Family Guy," which made the brave move to the comedy category when the academy ruled that the series could submit its special, one-hour season opener ("Blue Harvest," a parody of "Star Trek") in the regular animation program category that permits the side-by-side inclusion of specials and series. Also surprising among the Top 10 finalists: "The Wire", which was snubbed in the past despite being exalted by TV critics.
Missing from the lists are these comedy series that made the top 10 run-off last year and are still on TV: "Desperate Housewives," "My Name Is Earl" and "Scrubs." "Heroes" is the only drama show that's still on TV that appeared on last year's top 10 lists, but is now snubbed.
No non-HBO cable series has ever been nominated for best drama or comedy, but this year it's possible that four could make the list of final five up for best drama: "Damages" (FX), "Mad Men" (AMC) and Showtime's "Dexter" and "The Tudors." In the comedy list there's one non-HBO cable entry: Showtime's "Weeds." Last year the only non-HBO cable series to make the top 10s were Showtime's "Dexter" and "Weeds."
Originally, the TV academy planned to release the top 10 lists in the acting races too, but that idea is temporarily on hold while Academy of Television Arts & Sciences chiefs survey the industry response to this unprecedented release of the program top 10s. In the past, Gold Derby divulged the lists after Emmy judges gave us inside info.
This weekend judging panels will convene at the academy's headquarters in North Hollywood plus the Beverly Hilton Hotel to screen sample episodes submitted by contenders as examples of their best work from the past TV season. Judges will rank the entries 1 (best) to 10, then accountants will combine their scores on an equal 50/50 basis with results of the orginal popular vote to determine the five nominees, which will be announced on July 17. Below, in parens, are the episodes that will be screened this weekend.
What to think of the episode selections? Snoop on what our forum posters are saying — CLICK HERE!
TOP 10 COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" ("The Bat Mitzvah")
"Entourage" ("The Day F***ers")
"Family Guy" ("Padre de Famila")
"Flight of the Conchords" ("Sally Returns")
"The Office" ("Local Ad")
"Pushing Daisies" ("Pie-lette")
"30 Rock" ("Cooter")
"Two and a Half Men" ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")
"Ugly Betty" ("Something Wicked This Way Comes")
"Weeds" ("Go").
TOP 10 DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
"Boston Legal" ("The Court Supreme")
"Damages" (Pilot)
"Dexter" ("The Dark Defender")
"Friday Night Lights" ("Leave No One Behind")
"Grey’s Anatomy" ("Freedom, Parts 1 and 2")
"House" ("Frozen")
"Lost" ("The Constant")
"Mad Men" (Pilot, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes")
"The Tudors" (#205)
"The Wire" (Series finale, "30")
http://youtube.com/watch?v=k8f6DHViNus
An article about the Emmy's snubbing The Wire yet again, a really good read.
Posted by: Dave Ranger | August 01, 2008 at 09:23 AM
You have got to be kidding me. Where's In Treatment?!
Posted by: Yan | July 06, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Grey's anatomy??? AGAIN!! Please enough, the show is a soap, pointless and overrated...
What a joke!
Posted by: Lorenzo | June 30, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Grey's Anatomy!!!!
congratulations! (:
Posted by: diale | June 29, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Seriously, the Academy membership has to stop smoking whatever it is that is helping their glaucoma and stop voting for Weeds.
It is a dreadfully unfunny show that has no business being mentioned in the same sentence as the word "comedy" unless said sentence is "Weeds is not a comedy." It's barely a good drama, and it's pathetic that better shows keep missing the top 10 while Weeds keeps making the cut.
Posted by: Torii | June 28, 2008 at 07:33 PM
Yay!!! I LOVE the Tudors and Dexter!! I can't wait for more.
Posted by: Janice | June 28, 2008 at 11:25 AM
B-I-G L-O-V-E!
One of the best shows last year, though I doubt anything could or should beat Lost.
(Maybe The Wire from what I've heard, but I've never gotten into it.)
Posted by: Ron | June 28, 2008 at 07:59 AM
I've got all my fingers and toes crossed for "Pushing Daisies," the best new show on TV. And hopefully, nominations for Bryan Fuller, Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Kristin Chenoweth and Chi McBride as well!!!!!
Posted by: Pieholer | June 27, 2008 at 04:49 PM
I'm not sure if it's a compliment or an an indictment of the nomination process if the greatest dramatic television series ever, The Wire, finally has a whiff of an Emmy nomination.
Posted by: Mike | June 27, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Once again excellent, non-cable favorites are overlooked,i.e., CSI, NCIS and Law & Order SVU. I take it if it's well-
written and popular, it's not going to be nominated is the rule for Emmy voters.
Maybe like last year, I'll
watch the show for the one or two actors that I like that should be nominated.... then change it.
Posted by: jtbwriter | June 27, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Grey's Anatomy? What?
There are more deserving shows out there!
I'm actually upset that the very deserving HBO drama "Big Love" was not among the final top 10 dramas, because it is one of the best shows out there!!
Posted by: Jake | June 27, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Where is Californication? I thought that was one of the funniest shows in the last year. Also why no love for Desperate Housewives, i thought season four was its best, creatively, comedy wise, since season one.
I do not approve of Boston Legal or Greys Anatomy making the list over more deserving shows, Big Love and Breaking Bad.
Posted by: Chris M | June 27, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Dana Delaney all the way!!!!!!! And Ted Dansen (Damages) and Kevin Dollon (Entourage), and Erick from Entourage, Jennie or Erick from "Gossip Girl," Larry David for "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Amy Ryan for "The Office!" Oh, and Brothers and Sisters!!!!! Nominate Field, and Emily Van Camp.
Posted by: Lee | June 27, 2008 at 01:10 PM
LOST will probably win this year since The Constant was their very best episode EVER and hopefully an Emmy for Henry Ian Cusak will also follow.
I don't understand why Two and a Half Men and Grey's Anatomy continue to be recognized.. ratings don't equal quality.
How can Family Guy beat The Simpsons and South Park?
Posted by: Sharlin | June 27, 2008 at 12:16 PM
i repeat, EPIC. FAIL. hopefully the acting categories will be redeeming.
Posted by: MrEfron | June 27, 2008 at 11:56 AM
It's a wonder why ABC chose to let this be boston legal's last year when it keeps getting emmy love and so-so ratings.
Posted by: jake | June 27, 2008 at 10:14 AM
DH and GG do not deserve nominations.
For DH, there's not a comedy I'd take out in place of it (except for Two and a Half Men, but that's a personal bias and I don't actually watch the show). Or, if they submitted as drama this year, there's no drama I'd take out in place of it. The show didn't have a good season. Part of that was due to the strike but episodes just seemed to grind along. There was very little fun in it.
GG, on the other hand, was very fun. It wasn't always well-acted or properly written (it left plot strings dangling all over the place), but it was fun. But, low-rated shows on networks no one watches about teenagers don't get nominated. Just ask fans of Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and Buffy. And those shows were a step up in quality over Gossip Girl.
Posted by: Wally East | June 27, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Wow, Housewives not even a semifinalist after this sensational season? Hopefully it fares better in the actress department... Dana Delany must get her due. Family Guy... hit-and-miss, but it's a better show than Two and a Half Men, so whatever to all the nay sayers (although it would be a shame for the show to be nominated or win when The Simpsons, a far better and more enduring show, has a goose egg in the main categories).
And what do the Emmy votes see in Boston Legal? In what world does that show deserve a semi-finalist slot over Brothers & Sisters or BSG (which had enough great episodes in this uneven half season to be considered... I mean, Grey's Anatomy is in the grouping with its "look, we're on the upswing" season finale...)
Posted by: Travis | June 27, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Why do I get this sinking feeling that Family Guy will win the Best Comedy Emmy this year? yikes
Posted by: Jack Sparrow | June 26, 2008 at 06:52 PM
No Desperate Housewives in comedy? No Gossip Girl in drama?
EPIC FAIL
Posted by: MrEfron | June 26, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Just shows what a male driven industry it is when it doesn't nominate the best comedy on tv -- the adventures of Old Christine. They didn't even nominate how I met your mother. It's such a boring list of candidates. I hope Lost at least makes it to the top 5.
Posted by: James | June 26, 2008 at 05:44 PM
family guy? really? And a tear shed for no BSG.
Posted by: AJ | June 26, 2008 at 05:07 PM