Looking back at the 2004 Emmy ballot this week was a little bit like digging up your prom photo album when you’re fresh from getting a new haircut.
You’re feeling cool, hip, generally with it.
Then you open the pages to the dark years.
Good God, those haircuts.
You remembered they were bad, but were they really that bad?
Yes, they were.
And so were last year’s Emmy nominations.
By the time you read this, you’ll have turned over a new leaf. The new Emmy Awards ballot will have been announced this morning and you will have forgotten all about last year.
But as I write this – a mere handful of hours back in time from where you are now – it’s a dark, dark scene.
“Everybody Loves Raymond” is that awful bowl-cut.
“The West Wing” is that terrible perm.
“Will &Grace” is the mullet that you never wanted to admit you had.
But after what was undoubtedly the best TV season in several years, we’re in need of an “Extreme Makeover: Emmy Edition.”
If Emmy does the typical new-show snub again, she will have ignored everything that made people excited about watching television again.
And since “The Sopranos,” among others, is out of the running, there’s some space for the new kids to come out and play.
Here’s a look at some of the shows and actors that I can only hope got nods from the Academy this morning:
Drama Series
Out with: “Sopranos,” “Joan of Arcadia” and “West Wing.”
In with: “Lost” and “House,” which relied on strong characters and story lines for awesome freshman performances. My dark horse pick here is Showtime’s “Huff.”
Comedy Series
Out with: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Sex and the City” (ineligible), “Will &Grace” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” (yeah, like that’s gonna happen).
In with: “Desperate Housewives” should win outright but “Gilmore Girls” and “Entourage” should get a bid. Dark horse pick here is NBC’s remake of “The Office,” which was not only good, it was good in the face of potential ridicule.
Best Actor, Comedy
Out with: Everybody. Kelsey Grammer (“Frasier”), Larry David (“Enthusiasm”) and John Ritter (“8 Simple Rules”) aren’t eligible; Matt LeBlanc didn’t cut it on “Joey” and Tony Shaloub lost some luster on “Monk.”
In with: Jason Bateman (“Arrested Development”) and Zach Braff (“Scrubs”) in what’s still a weak category.
Forget everyone else.
Best Actress, Comedy
Out with: Patricia Heaton of “Everybody Loves Raymond” (enough, already!); Jennifer Aniston (“Friends”), Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex”) and Bonnie Hunt (“Life With Bonnie”) are ineligible.
In with: Women rule TV comedy these days. At least three “Housewives” – Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman – ought to be in the mix. Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) should finally get a nod.
Best Actor, Drama
Out with: Martin Sheen of “The West Wing” – is he even on that show anymore? – and Kiefer Sutherland of “24.” I love the show, but the shtick is wearing off. James Gandolfini (“Sopranos”) is ineligible.
In with: If Dennis Leary (“Rescue Me”) and Hugh Laurie (“House”) don’t get nominated, the Emmys are a joke. Michael Chiklis of “The Shield” deserves an Emmy return and find some room for Matthew Fox of “Lost.”
Best Actress, Drama
Out with: Amber Tamblyn (“Joan of Arcadia”), Tyne Daly (“Judging Amy”) and Allison Janney (“The West Wing”). Edie Falco (“Sopranos”) is ineligible.
In with: Kristen Bell is the teenage drama star du jour, playing the pesky girl detective on “Veronica Mars.” Glenn Close brought some steel back into “The Shield” and I see nominations in the future for Patricia Arquette (“Medium”) and Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”).
Victor Balta’s column runs Mondays and Thursdays on the A&E page. Call him at 425-339-3455 or e-mail vbalta@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
