The 65th Emmy Award Nominations are a Snooze, while Drama Pushes the Envelope with more Game of Thrones, and Netflix Series House of Cards, the Comedy line-up looks and feels Stale than my Bagel this Morning

No Julianna Marguilles for The Good Wife?  Jane Lynch is back for her barely there performances in Glee?  Downton Abbey beats out fresh series like The Americans, and The Newsroom?  Arrested Development, basically snubbed across the board?  To quote Steel Magnolias, "Are you high?"

With those questions posed and my rant over (for the time being) the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominations, had some good, House of Cards scored 9 nominations, including drama series, but leaving Corey Stoll out of Supporting Actor is baffling.  I am happy to see Kerry Washington in the mix for Scandal, and with seven nomination in Drama Lead Actress there is proof that there are so many great dramatic roles for women its hard to narrow down.  With that said I love Connie Britton, and Nashville is fun, but her getting in over Marguilles is a joke.

On the other hand there are signs voters paid attention, just a little, Jonathan Banks, Emilia Clarke, more writing nominations for Breaking Bad, no writing or directing nominations for Mad Men.  I know Down makes it in because older voters are gaga for this show, but it was not that great this past season, and I am a fan.

Now to the Comedy nominees (and I took it easy on drama).  First and foremost props to upping the ante for shows like Louie and Veep, that's the best thing you Academy did in the comedy categories this year.  Louie and Veep received comedy series nominations along with a few acting nominations, the only surprise is that Veep was once again shut out of writing and directing, when that is the shows bread and butter.

Hey Academy, have you heard of this show called New Girl?  It received several major nominations last year, and it you dropped it faster than a clingy partner.  New Girl had it's best season, and you did not even nominate any of its actors, one of the biggest mistakes.

When Jason Bateman's name was announced, my excitement was peaked.  Then comedy series was announced, and no Arrested Development, I shrugged it off assuming there would be a Jessica Walter or Will Arnett nomination to help ease the pain,  but no dice.  I understand this wasn't everything people wanted, but the show was still good, and these performances still were funny, this makes no sense.

Going into the the night American Horror Story: Asylum has 17 nominations (but will lose to Behind the Candelabra), Game of Thrones has 16 nominations, the most for a drama series, 30 Rock leads the Comedy  nominees with 13 nominations, and Modern Family close behind with 12 nominations.  Louis C.K. also set a record for 9 Emmy nominations for one performer.

This set of nominations is a mixed bag, some great things happened like Netflix doing well with House of Cards, Kerry Washington getting in, Veep, and Louie doing well, and some things were just plain lazy, like Glee nominations, and other shows which were just check marked for the name.  I am going to stick with the Television Critics Awards (TCA) nominations and winners from now on if the Emmy Awards remain lazy.

Best Drama
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Hugh Bonnevile-Downton Abbey
Bryan Cranston-Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels-The Newsroom
Jon Hamm-Mad Men
Damien Lewis-Homeland
Kevin Spacey-House of Cards

Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Connie Britton-Nashville
Claire Daines-Homeland
Michelle Dockery-Downton Abbey
Vera Farmiga-Bate's Motel
Elisbaeth Moss-Mad Men
Kerry Washington-Scandal
Robin Wright-House of Cards

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks-Breaking Bad
Bobby Cannavale-Boardwalk Empire
Jim Carter-Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage-Game of Thrones
Aaron Paul-Breaking Bad
Mandy Patinkin-Homeland

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Morena Baccarin-Homeland
Christina Baranski-The Good Wife
Emilia Clarke-Game of Thrones
Anna Gunn-Breaking Bad
Christina Hendricks-Mad Men
Maggie Smith-Downton Abbey

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Dan Bucatinsky-Scandal
Michael J. Fox-The Good Wife
Rupert Friend-Homeland
Nathan Lane-The Good Wife
Robert Morse-Mad Men
Harry Hamlin-Mad Men

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Linda Cardellini-Mad Men
Joan Cusack-Shaneless
Jane Fonda-The Newsroom
Margo Martindale-The Americans
Carrie Preston-The Good Wife
Diana Rigg-Game of Thrones

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Breaking Bad-Dead Freight
Breaking Bad-Say My Name
Downton Abbey-Episode 4
Game of Thrones-The Rains of Castamere
Homeland-Q&A

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire-Margate Sands-
Breaking Bad-Gliding Over All
Downton Abbey-Episode 4
Homeland-Q&A-
House of Cards-Chapter One

Best Comedy Series
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Girls
Louie
Modern Family
Veep

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin-30 Rock

Jason Bateman-Arrested Development

Louis C.K.-Louie

Don Cheedle-House of Lies 

Matt LeBlanc-Episodes 

Jim Parsons-The Big Bang Theory 

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Laura Dern-Enlightened 

Lena Dunham-Girls 

Edie Falco-Nurse Jackie 

Tina Fey-30 Rock 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus-Veep

Amy Poehler-Parks and Recreation

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell-Modern Family
Jessie Tyler Fergeuson-Modern Family
Adam Driver-Girls
Tony Hale-Veep
Bill Hader-Saturday Night Live
Ed O'Neil-Modern Family

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik-The Big Bang Theory

Julie Bowen-Modern Family

Anna Chlumsky-Veep

Jane Krakowski-30 Rock

Jane Lynch-Glee 

Sofia Vergara-Modern Family

Merritt Wever-Nurse Jackie

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Bobby Cannavale-Nurse Jackie
Louis C.K.-Saturday Night Live
Will Forte-30 Rock
Bob Newhart-The Big Bang Theory
Nathan Lane-Modern Family
Justin Timberlake-Saturday Night Live

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Dot-Marie Jones-Glee
Melissa Leo-Louie
Melissa McCarthy-Saturday Night Live 

Molly Shannon-Enlightened
Elaine Stritch-30 Rock
Kristin Wiig-Saturday Night Live

Directing in a Comedy Series
Girls-On All Fours-Lena Dunham
Glee-Diva-Paris Barclay
Louie-New Year's Eve-Louis C.K.
Modern Family-Arrested-Gail Mancuso
30 Rock-Hogcock/Last Lunch-Beth McCarthy Miller

Writing in a Comedy Series
Episodes-Episdoe 209-David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik
Louie-Daddy's Girlfriend (Part One)-Louis C.K.
The Office-Finale-Greg Daniels
30 Rock-Hogcock-Robert Carlock and Jack Burditt
30 Rock-Last Lunch-Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield

Best Mini-Series/Movie

American Horror Story: Asylum

Behind the Candelabra 

The Bible

Phil Spector

Political Animals

Top of the Lake 

Lead Actor in a Mini Series/Movie 

Benedict Cumberbatch

Matt Damon-Behind the Candelabra

Douglas-Behind the Candelabra

Tobey Jones-The Girl

Al Pacino-Phil Spector 

Lead Actress in a Mini-Series/Movie

Jessica Lange-American Horror Story: Asylum

Laura Linney-The Big C: Hereafter

Helen Mirren-Phil Spector 

Elisabeth Moss-Top of the Lake 

Sigourney Weaver-Political Animals

Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series/Movie
Scot Bakula-Behind the Cadelabra
James Cromwell-American Horror Story: Asylum
John Benjamin Hickey-The Big C: Hereafter
Zachary Quinto-American Horror Story: Asylum
Tom Mullen-Top of the Lake

Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series/Movie
Ellen Burstyn-Political Animals
Sarah Paulson-American Horror Story: Asylum
Charlotte Rampling-Restless
Imelda Staunton-The Girl
Alfre Woodard-Steel Magnolias

Reality Series 

The Amazing Race 

Dancing with the Stars 

Project Runway

So You Think You Can Dance

Top Chef

The Voice 

 Reality Show Host

Tom Bergeron-Danicing with the Stars

Anthony Bourdain-The Taste 

Cat Deely-So You Think You Can Dance 

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn-Project Runway

Ryan Seacrest-American Idol

Betty White-Off Their Rockers

Best Variety Series

The Colbert Report

The Daily Show 

Late Show with Jimmy Kimmel

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Real Time with Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live