I thought it might be time for me to a) write a freakin' blog and b) write a freakin' blog that isn't super heavy. "Of what shall I write?" I queried. And then it came to me after reading the latest ever-so-fabulous blog on this year's Emmy nominations from Your TV Tour Guide ..."Well, since I'm taking this acting thing somewhat seriously lately...why don't I weigh in, too?" After all, fair reader, you just KNOW I have something to say about all of THAT. Plus it's just plain frivolous fun. 
Okay well, most of the time. There is some seriously amazing work going on in television right now and anyone who calls the tv an "idiot box" needs to spend one day on a (real) television set to accept their well-deserved arse-kicking. When used properly, television can be a wonderful, creative, exciting, funny, joyful, powerful - and grueling - medium, of which the creators, cast and most certainly crew deserve some respect.
Unless you're responsible for Jersey Shore. Then I would like you to take notice of the hand basket you're in and the deep, fiery abyss at the end of the road you're on.
But I digress. Here are my feelings on this year's nominations. Let me know what you think, too (there is a link to leave a comment at the bottom. Just sayin.).
COMEDY SERIES
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Girls (HBO)
30 Rock (NBC)
Veep (HBO)
Modern Family (ABC)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
So the only show I watch in this group is Modern Family and I love it so I'm gonna root for them, even though the Academy loves its raunchy cable shows and 30 Rock and Big Bang are both quality shows from what I hear from my friends who watch them. And secretly, though I love me some Tina Fey, I'm getting a little burnt out on her and think she should take some time for some sleep at some point before she becomes Tina Feybot.
Who I pick: Modern Family
Who I think will win: Modern Family
Unconscionable snub: The Middle (ABC). I laugh out loud watching that show. Right out loud. Guffaw. And it's all because of the genius actors playing the kids.
LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl)
Lena Dunham (Girls)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Drefus (Veep)
Melissa McCarthy (Mike and Molly)
This is a category in which I almost couldn't care less who wins because I watch none of these shows. Amy Poehler has the career my leetle seester should have (seester's cuter and funnier, trust). Zooey Deschanel is just doing her trademark cute-and-quirky. I love Melissa McCarthy but I can't stand the way in which the lead characters are treated by the people supposedly closest to them on this show so I won't watch it. Lastly, I kinda think Edie Falco should take a note from the Oprah playlist -- it's ok to decline a nomination because you've had enough already -- really, it is! So, whomever wins, more power to ya, sister.
Who I pick: Melissa McCarthy
Who I think will win: Edie Falco
LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)
Louis C.K. (Louie)
Jim Parsons (Big Bang Theory)
Don Cheadle (House of Lies)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Hmmmmm. Another category I don't care about because I don't watch any of these shows. CLEARLY I need to start watching more comedy (and the networks need to start making some worth watching...?). I'm going for Don Cheadle here. He's one cool dude and that's enough for me.
Who I pick: Don Cheadle
Who I think will win: Alec Baldwin
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mayim Bialik (Big Bang Theory)
Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie)
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives)
Well...if we're basing this one on whom I perceive to have the hardest job talent-wise, I'd have to go with Kristen Wiig, taking on half a dozen characters every show. But we're not. I love that Blossom's been nominated after all these years. I hope she wears a snappy hat to the ceremony. BUT...I don't think anyone's going to beat out the late Mrs. McCluskey, and perhaps they shouldn't, because she was so brave as to let us see her without her hair on camera in her final episode, not to mention facing head on playing a part that was foreshadowing the inevitable in her own life.
Who I pick: Kathryn Joosten
Who I think will win: Kathryn Joosten
Unconscionable snub: Eden Sher as Sue Heck (The Middle)
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ed O'Neill (Modern Family)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Eric Stonescreet (Modern Family)
Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live)
Max Greenfield (New Girl)
Seriously with this category? C'MON, ACADEMY!!! I love this show but just how much did ABC pay you?
Who I pick: Bill Hader (hardest job)
Who I think will win: Hell if I know!
Unconscionable snub: Charlie McDermott as Axl Heck (The Middle)
DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Mad Men (AMC)
Homeland (Showtime)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Though I want to see ALL of these shows (I don't have any movie channels and my Netflix is currently on hold for a bit...probably should've mentioned that up front) and I hear they are all exceptional, I'm going with Breaking Bad because I HAVE seen it and I honestly cannot imagine how any show on this earth could possibly be better overall than was this show's fourth season. I mean for realz. Bit my nails to the nubs!
Who I pick: Breaking Bad
Who I think will win: Downton Abbey (British accents always give an edge)
Unconscionable snub(s): Oh let's see...Fringe...The Good Wife...Supernatural...Grimm...Dexter...lots of good stuff going on in drama right now.
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
Kathy Bates (Harry's Law)
Claire Danes (Homeland)
Glenn Close (Damages)
I adore The Good Wife and because I think it was woefully snubbed in the drama series category, I'm pulling for Julianna. Her tight rope between detached lawyer and loving mother is quite something to watch.
Who I pick: Julianna Margulies
Who I think will win: Claire Danes
Unconscionable snub(s): As with every season for the last five, the Academy shamefully overlooked the brilliant, complicated work of Mary McCormack as Mary Shannon on In Plain Sight (and this past was its last season, so it's too late now!).
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Damien Lewis (Homeland)
Alright, I'm a very recent Dexter convert, having raced through six seasons in about a two and a half week span (sleep? what sleep?), so I would be personally tickled to see Michael C. Hall take it. But season six was admittedly not the show's best from a story standpoint nor from a character standpoint (for that I go with season five, though I know many would disagree with me), so I think I have to give the edge to Bryan Cranston for sinking his teeth into some amazing material and basically showing everyone how it's done.
Who I pick: Michael C. Hall or Bryan Cranston (I ain't mad at either of 'em)
Who I think will win: Steve Buscemi (wild guess)
Unconscionable snub: no doubt there are several whose names simply don't come to mind right now...
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Because I'm so incensed that Jennifer Carpenter wasn't nominated for her brilliantly-layered-foul-mouthed-barely-holding-it-together-sister-of-a-serial-killer Deb Morgan in Dexter, I will probably turn off the tv entirely while they are reading this category. Okay, not really. I'll watch (and scream "JENNIFER CARPENTER!!!" at the tv after the presenter reads "And the award goes to...").
Who I pick: Jennifer Carpenter (write in). But if that doesn't work, Archie Panjabi.
Who I think will win: Jennifer Carpenter (write in). But if that doesn't work, it'll probably be Maggie Smith.
Unconscionable snub(s): HAVE I MENTIONED JENNIFER CARPENTER??? BUEHLER? Also, the absolutely luminous Jasika Nicole playing Astrid (Anna/Astro/Adelle/Adelaide/Amy/Amanda, etc.) Farnsworth on Fringe. Her relationship with Walter Bishop is what made me stick with the show in the beginning and her Alternate Astrid confirmed for me what a diverse talent she is.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad)
Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey)
Jim Carter (Downton Abbey)
Jared Harris (Mad Men)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
I don't know whether to root for Aaron Paul's seething, recovering-junkie, broken-hearted cat-toy-to-Walter-White or Giancarlo Esposito's terrifyingly quiet portrayal of drug kingpin Gus Fring. I'd be okay with either. And I wouldn't hate it if Peter Dinklage won, even though I haven't seen the show. I think it's amazing all he has accomplished in his career and I find him incredibly inspiring.
Who I pick: Aaron or Giancarlo
Who I think will win: Jim Carter or Peter Dinklage
Unconscionable snub: John Noble as Walter Bishop in Fringe, Alan Cumming as Elliott Gould in The Good Wife (seriously Academy, in both cases - WAKE UP!!!), and Dean Norris as Hank Schrader in Breaking Bad.
MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Game Change (HBO)
American Horror Story (FX)
Hemingway & Gellhorn (HBO)
Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia - Masterpiece (PBS)
Luther (BBC America)
Hatfields & McCoys (History)
If American Horror Story doesn't win, I will be writing a STRONGLY worded letter to the Academy.
Who I pick: American Horror Story (hands down)
Who I think will win: American Horror Story
Unconscionable snub: Not a clue - there aren't that many, are there?
LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Julianne Moore (Game Change)
Connie Britton (American Horror Story)
Nicole Kidman (Hemingway & Gelhorn)
Emma Thompson (The Song of Lunch - Masterpiece)
Ashley Judd (Missing)
Now, one of my new favorite dramas of the whole year was ABC's Missing, which I didn't expect ANYTHING out of. However, it was actually like watching 24 if it had actual emotion and an unbelievably gorgeous backdrop. I was pleasantly surprised and REALLY aggro when it was cancelled. That said, I am very happy to see Ashley Judd's name on this list -- if ever an actress without kids of her own played a desperate mama lion convincingly, she certainly did.
Who I pick: Ashley Judd
Who I think will win: Nicole Kidman
Unconscionable snub: n/a
LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Woody Harrelson (Game Change)
Clive Owen (Hemingway & Gelhorn)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia - Masterpiece)
Idris Elba (Luther)
Kevin Costner (Hatfields & McCoys)
Bill Paxton (Hatfields & McCoys)
Who WOULDN'T vote for Benedict Cumberbatch, simply because it's such an AMAZING name?
Who I pick: Good ole Ben
Who I think will win: Clive Owen
Unconscionable snub: n/a
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Sarah Paulson (Game Change)
Frances Conroy (American Horror Story)
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)
Judy Davis (Page Eight - Masterpiece)
Mare Winningham (Hatfields & McCoys)
I will always love my Mare for St. Elmo's Fire, but Jessica was so off her rocker in American Horror Story that I can’t imagine anyone else winning. Except maybe Frances Conroy. But I think the edge is Jessica’s.
Who I pick: Jessica Lange
Who I think will win: Jessica Lange
Unconscionable snub: Taissa Farmiga as Violet Harmon in American Horror Story. Quite the convincing depressed, suicidal teenager.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Ed Harris (Game Change)
Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story)
David Strathairn (Hemingway & Gelhorn)
Martin Freeman (Sherlock – Masterpiece)
Tom Berenger (Hatfields & McCoys)
Gotta go with Denis…he freaked me out!
Who I pick: Denis O’Hare
Who I think will win: Not a clue, so I’ll say Ed Harris cuz I lurve him
Unconscionable snub: Even Peters as Tate Langdon in American Horror Story. A very convincing depressed, homicidal teenager.
That’s pretty much the extent of the categories I want to touch on…mostly cuz I’m tired of copying and pasting and I thought this was gonna be a quick blog but it turned out to be never-ending! So let me know what you think. No doubt there’s plenty of tv I missed that should’ve been honored. Guess we’ll see how it all turns out on September 23rd!
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