Dream Emmy Nominees in Other Categories (Mini-Series/Movie, Reality Television, Animated Programming, and Technical Categories)

The Emmy Awards are not just about Comedy and Drama, but they also have many other categories , which contribute to the fabric of primetime television.  Here are some of my dream nominees for variety programming, reality series, animated series, and the mini-series/movie category.  Six days until the nominations are announced!






                                                                                    Outstanding Reality Competition Series
RuPaul's Drag Race-A reality show so different, yet the same as many others that keeps you excited about the action week after week.  RuPaul has made Logo something to be proud of (a rare occasion).  This reality competition program continued to be on fire this season, and glitter bombs the competition into dust.  

Outstanding Reality Host

Cat Deely-So You Think You Can Dance-Deely makes hosting so effortless, and fun, as it should be; she is one of the more natural hosts working today and I appreciate her most.I am not a huge fan of this reality show (mainly because i have an ex that is associated with the show at one point) but Deely makes the reality show fresh with her natural hosting abilities.

Outstanding Variety Series
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon-One of my least favorite SNL cast members who could never keep a straight face for the camera has turned out to be one of the strongest late night hosts.  Fallon is terrific, and he has found his grove in comedy so much so that even when he hosted SNL this year he was actually one of the best hosts of the season.  Most of this can be attributed to his maturity, thanks to great work on this show.




Outstanding Mini-Series/Movie
Sherlock Holmes: Scandal in Belgravia-Although I kind of wish this went into the drama series category like Downton Abbey, I think this is one of the mini-series I have ever watched.  Mark Gattis, and Stevem Moffat constructed the most beautifully brilliant writing combined with great performances.  Choosing this specific "movie"within the second series was brilliant.  Sherlock Holmes versus Irene Adler, the henchwoman of Moriarty.  This was one of the best constructed episodes which explores more emotional levels of Holmes, brilliant!

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series/Movie
Benedict Cumberbatch-Sherlock Holmes: Scandal in Belgravia-One of the best performances I have seen this year.  Holmes is usually cold, full of procedure, and unwilling to open up.  In Belgravia Holmes meets Irene Adler, and this opens up the emotionally raw side of him, letting one of the most touching yet heart wrenching performances commence.  Cumberbatch is brilliant as the typical Sherlock, but also shows more depth.


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini-Series/Movie
Julianne Moore-Game Change-When Tina Fey did her impression, audiences laughed.  When Julianne Moore stepped into these shoes for this film everyone was floored in a different way.  Moore played this polarizing role with passion, without mimicry, and that makes me feel for Palin at times, while walking away from the film hating her.  What a performance!


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series/Movie
Ed Harris-Game Change-What's a nomination for Sarah Palin's portrayer without the man who was actually poised for the White House.  Harris gave a strong performance that was not even close to mimicry; he was strong stoic, and did the repeat loser for the bid for the highest office justice.




Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series/Movie
Frances Conroy-American Horror Story-Lange was the stand out, but Conroy was may be another over looked scene stealer in this category merely because she does not have a big name.  One of my favorite parts of this show was Conroy, I hope she can steal a nomination.

Outstanding Main Title Design
American Horror Story-I recently sited this as one of the best main title designs of all time, hence why it should be nominated and win the Emmy for this category this year.  The design is spooky, and brilliantly ties in the plot of the series.

Outstanding Animated Series
Archer-This is not the traditional animated series, but it's currently the most original on the air, and deserves to win over the tired Simpson's and South Park.  My hope is that the show gets its due and get nominated.

Outstanding Original Song-Lazy Sunday Part 2 performed by Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg-Saturday Night Live-The perfect sequel to part one, and one of the best ways for Samberg and his creative team behind his digital shorts to leave SNL.  The digital shorts made SNL relevant again, and Samberg, the mastermind behind these, had a brilliant sequel.  The first Lazy Sunday short was the first of its kind, and it made me smile to see a sequel.

Game Change Shows the Sharp Change in Focus on Celebrity vs. Quality

Game Change (4 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by Jay Roach (Recount. Austin Powers, Meet the Parents)

Written by Danny Strong (Recount)

Starring: Julianne Moore, Ed Harris, Woody Harrelson, Peter MacNicol, and Sarah Paulson

2008 was an intense political year.  As President Bush was leaving office with some incredibly low numbers the two candidates running for President were trying to change the landscape.  The Democratic candidate Barack Obama had the charm, charisma, and plans that inspired hope in the American people.  Republican Presidential nominee John McCain needed to pick someone who could help him battle with Obama's celebrity.  The McCain team was lacking in female support, and through a google search found Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin came to the center stage of the national political forum.  Yes the book and the film show that Rick Davis googled female Republican office holders

This google search is one of the few shocking behind the scenes revelations in the film Game Change which is based on the book written by John Heillemann and Mark Halperin entitle "Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime."  In the book Heillemann and Halperin focus on the candidates and the behind the scene politics that shaped a "blockbuster" campaign.  2008 was about the celebrity and the hope that the Bursh era could be wiped away.  The book focuses on the negative on every front, from the worry that Hillary Clinton could not control her husband, to McCains rogue tactics that often looked as though he did not care, to John Edwards and his egotistical philandering ways.  No one was off limits in this book, not even the winner of the Presidency.  Obama was cited as controlled and off stage a candidate quick to anger. 

While the book centers on every Presidential candidate the film focuses solely on the McCain/Palin ticket.  Danny Strong who wrote the film Recount about the 2000 election does a great job writing a script that focuses on the not only the candidates themselves, but the behind the scenes mishaps that shaped the campaign strategy.  Strong works with former Recount director Jay Roach to construct a film that cuts together scenes where Palin is interviewed by Couric using the actual footage from the interview,  It is these tactics that give this film strong footing.  This team does a good accurately portraying the ticket team while saving most of its critique for the folks behind the scenes like Steve Schmidt (Woody Harrelson).

Schmidt has taken the lead on this campaign after McCain asked him to, and helps out with vetting the Vice Presidential nominee.  The only problem is Schmidt left most of the work to the other team members when he should have been the one who looked into her just as closely.  Woody Harrelson is one of the strongest performances in this film; he has the best non verbal facial expressions.  Harrelson's Schmidt knows there is problems with this campaign when he realizes that Sarah Palin does not understand the concept of difference between the Queen of England and the Prime Minister or that there is even a Prime Minister.  As Harrelson goes through the motions he along with other people behind the scenes start to realize they not only need to prep Palin but tell her what exactly needs to be said.

Julianne did a lot a of great prep to actually play Palin.  In interviews with both Jon Stewart and Ellen she talked a lot about how she watched clips of her on youtube to get the voice down.  Moore did a great job of not mimicking Palin.  Everyone loved Tina Fey's portrayal (maybe not everyone) but Moore takes it a step further as Fey did a brilliant job for the purpose her sketches Moore did more to create a whole person.  One of the most interesting parts of the film were the meta moments where Moore as Palin watched Tina Fey Fey play Palin. This was incredibly well done, and in these moments Moore shows Palin's vulnerability.  The film gives this woman a fair shake (in my opinion).  Palin does still come across like a nut, but she also has more humanistic qualities.  Palin was overwhelmed by the notoriety, and in this short time not only did she start to lose sanity, but as she moved forward she gained tremendous celebrity and has used this stay famous ever since.

I could talk about Moore, and her portrayal for a while but like within the campaign people should have talked a little bit more about John McCain.  Harris did not try to talk like the man, but he did what this man was about.  McCain wanted to run a good clean campaign, but as celebrity took over and he realized he was not enough of one he played the game.  Harris's face realizes his downward spiral as he is speaking with the older woman in the town forum calling Obama a Muslim; he has has realized he has gone too far and ran a campaign he longer wants to win.

How did politics become something much different in this last election?  Each candidate seemed to make this race about something more than merely the issues.  The American people acted as though the Obama Palin divided was team Jenn or team Angelina, most about celebrity  Game Change does a great job of highlighting how this election changed things within each party and about what people focus on with the candidates.  One of the best moments for me is when Nicolle Wallace (Sarah Paulson) who preps Palin for the couric debate cries into Steve Schmidts arms saying I did not vote.  Wallace is a smart woman who recognized the behind the scenes muck and celebrity made things different and brought a woman to fame that had no business being elected the the Vice Presidency.

The fish made a lasting impression on myself and shows how this election made a lasting impression on the who, what when, where, and why of modern day political elections.