Something on last Weekend's Emmys
September 26, 2012
The sixty-fourth annual Emmy awards took place Sunday night in full form with host Jimmy Kimmel ring leading the stage appearances from today's hottest television personnel. For those occasional prime time viewers that may only catch an episode here or there may find it hard to keep tabs on the many shows getting attention these days. In such a case, the Emmy's can serve as a terrific crash course on what's worth spending a precious hour or two each week fixated to your TV or computer in digital wonderland. Several of the seasoned shows that have led ratings for years have kept a strong audience and were expected to take many awards again at this year's ceremonies, yet most fell short. New comers though proved equally qualified to clinch many nominees among most of the categories.
A simple overview of what the event gives trophies for and how the selection process is conducted is an appropriate precursor for any novice tv viewer. The main categories include four major types of shows, "comedy", "drama", "miniseries or movie" and "variety special". Within each of the first three, the outstanding overall show, lead actor, lead actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, director and writer awards are handed out. The last "variety special" category gives just three trophies for writing, directing and a show's host. Outstanding "reality tv show" and "reality tv competition" also are part of the ceremonies. So calculate the breakdown and you should derive 26 total awards given throughout the evening. *Other areas of TV show recognition are part of the Creative Art's Emmy's awards that were presented September 15 and carry significance in areas like style, casting, production and other off screen categories.
Some shows that had been on the radar as predictable winners, didn't even take a single prize home while a select few had a field day across their respective categories. Two shows that surprised many for coming up empty handed this year was the drama "Mad Men", now in it's sixth season, going 0 for seventeen nominees and the comedic hit "Big Bang Theory." The Madison Avenue dapper gents of 60's marketing shouldn't let their egos rattle them too much though because they've taken best drama four years in a row. Likewise, the CBS science sitcom was nominated for six and walked away empty handed. It has previously won two best lead actor Emmy's yet failed to add anymore as the show is to begin it's sixth and final season September 27.
Taking a lead was Showtime's drama "Homeland" about the CIA operative played by Clara Daines who seeks to uncover terrorist threats in the middle east and takes a love interest in one of her targets in part to match the bipolar tendencies that her character portrays. The show nearly cleaned house in winning four of the seven awards up for grabs including Best Drama, Claire's role as lead actress, Damien Lewis for lead actor, and outstanding writing by the trio of Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff.
The comedy category held high praise for "Modern Family" as it too received four of the seven eligible awards including Outstanding Comedy. Steve Levitan won best directing award. Supporting actor and actress awards went to Eric Stonestreet and Julie Brown.
Call it coincidence but the third major category "Miniseries or Movie", also included four reasons to celebrate for the show "Game Change". Apart from the best overall in it's category, the show's director Jay Roach, lead actress Julianne Moore playing Sarah Palin, and writer Danny Strong were winners on Sunday. The HBO adaptation of a 2010 book documents a behind the scenes agenda of the 2008 presidential campaign between Obama and McCain.
Two other shows managed multiple awards, the first being "Hatfield and McCoy's" cast members Kevin Costner for lead actor and Tom Berenger for Outstanding Supporting actor. The comedy series "Louis" written by stand up sensation Louis C.K. took a trophy for his authorship and also the "Live Performance from the Beacon Theater" won for Outstanding Writing of a Variety Special.
That leaves eight still to be named. Outstanding Lead actress for a comedy awarded Julie Louis Dreyfuss for her role as the vice President in the HBO political show "Veep". That makes three total Emmy's for Dreyfuss who won for "Seinfeld" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" This year's Outstanding Lead actor went to Jon Cryer from "Two and a half Men".
And to finish up the major categories, Jessica Lange of "American Horror Story" got to celebrate for her supporting actress slot in a Miniseries.
Completing the list of winners includes Outstanding Variety Series, received by the always favorable "John Stewart Show". In the reality TV category, Tom Bergeron of "Dancing with the Stars" won for Outstanding Host and lastly "Amazing Race" took the Reality Competition trophy.
The spotlight was of course on many of those not so fortunate to make the stage as the red carpet arrivals caught as much media attention as the awards and lasted for hours. A look at which of these stars are best dressed and sporting who's designer labels is a leisure worth examining. The coverage of celebrity interviews offers a spectacle of candid personalities, revealing bust lines, and glimpses of the star's significant others. So if you haven't already, peak a little more of the action from some of these clips and entertainment sites that you follow.