Emmy voters snub serial killer, teen athletes
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - While mob boss Tony Soprano was embraced once again by Emmy voters on Thursday, they apparently drew the line at serial killers.
Michael C. Hall is a critics' favorite for his title role on the Showtime network drama "Dexter," playing a charming forensics investigator who murders criminals by night. But he was one of several noteworthy Emmy prospects who failed to clinch a nomination.
Hall earned a nod in 2002 for his portrayal of the prodigal son who returns to run his family's funeral business on HBO's now-departed hit "Six Feet Under."
Many critics thought he was equally deserving of a mention for his chillingly nuanced role as Dexter Morgan.
Another glaring omission from this year's race, for some Emmy watchers, was the NBC football drama "Friday Night Lights." The freshman show, nearly canceled due to low ratings, was a leading critics' choice for best drama but failed to make the cut except in two minor categories.
Some popular past Emmy winners also failed to secure a spot in the leading categories this year.
Last year's big victor, the Fox espionage thriller "24," was shut out of the top drama contest, as was the 2005 champion, ABC's hit castaway thriller "Lost," which got snubbed for a second year in a row.
The lack of Emmy love for "Lost" was especially surprising in light of revised voting rules designed to address flaws blamed for the show being overlooked last year, said show-business awards pundit Tom O'Neil, host of the Los Angeles Times' Web site www.TheEnvelope.com.
Meanwhile, Fox's smash hit "American Idol" earned seven more nominations on Thursday, including a fifth bid for best reality competition program. It remains to be seen whether it will lose again to CBS rival "The Amazing Race."
O'Neil says "Idol,' whose Emmy tally now stands at zero wins for 22 total nominations, is just three losses away from tying the record held by Bob Newhart's second sitcom, "Newhart," as biggest series loser in Emmy history -- zero wins for 25 nominations.
Still, Hall's failure to land a nomination for "Dexter" was "the single biggest disappointment on the acting side" for many critics, he said.
Not that the voters of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences are unwilling to recognize the work of actors who play morally corrupt or emotionally damaged characters.
James Gandolfini has three best-actor Emmys, and was nominated again this year, for his role as conflicted New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano.
And all four of his latest rivals for best actor in a drama play checkered roles. James Spader stars as an ethically challenged lawyer on "Boston Legal," Hugh Laurie as a pill-popping, grouchy doctor on "House," Denis Leary as firefighter battling all manner of personal demons in "Rescue Me" and Kiefer Sutherland (last year's winner) as a secret agent who tortures people on "24."
'Bury My Heart,' 'Sopranos' top Emmy nods
LOS ANGELES - "The Sopranos," the mob series that went to its grave with a shockingly inconclusive finale, found a happy ending Thursday with 15 Emmy nominations including best drama. The made-for-TV movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" led all nominees with 17 bids.
James Gandolfini, who played the emotionally conflicted mob boss on HBO's "The Sopranos," and Edie Falco, who played his wife, both received top acting nominations.
The other best-drama series were "Boston Legal," "Grey's Anatomy," "House" and freshman sci-fi sensation "Heroes."
"The Sopranos" emerged with the most nominations for a series, followed by "Ugly Betty" with 11 and, with 10 each, sexy medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" and critical favorite "30 Rock."
"Grey's Anatomy," which came through a difficult year in which star Isaiah Washington was fired after twice using an anti-gay slur, wasn't hurt when it came to Emmy bids. Besides best drama series, there were nominations for four supporting cast members and two guest actors.
The miniseries "The Starter Wife" also was a top nominee with 10 bids.
The freshman hit, "Ugly Betty," based on a Colombian telenovela, made it into the ranks of best comedy series nominees. It's joined by "Entourage," "30 Rock," "Two and a Half Men" and last year's winner in the category, "The Office."
"Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera was recognized with a nod for her starring role.
Joining Gandolfini among lead drama series actor nominees were Hugh Laurie of "House," Denis Leary of "Rescue Me," James Spader of "Boston Legal" and last year's winner Kiefer Sutherland of "24." Last year's drama series winner was "24" but it was snubbed this time.
Falco will compete with Patricia Arquette of "Medium," Minnie Driver of "The Riches," Sally Field of "Brothers & Sisters," Kyra Sedgwick of "The Closer" and last year's winner, Mariska Hargitay of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Sedgwick got the news immediately. She helped announce bids for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in a brief ceremony at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre.
"Friday Night Lights," the critically acclaimed but low-rated high school football drama that needed an Emmy boost, failed to gain major nominations.
"The Sopranos," which premiered in January 1999 and had an on-and-off cable run, capped its final episode this year with an ambiguous ending that left fans in the dark about the fate of lead character Tony Soprano, last seen sitting in a diner with his wife and children. A suddenly black screen suggested sudden violence — or not.
The series' other nominees included Michael Imperioli, who received a bid for best supporting dramatic actor for his role as the ill-fated Christopher. Aida Turturro, who played Tony's tough sister Janice, and Lorraine Bracco, who co-starred as his conflicted psychiatrist Dr. Melfi, were nominated for supporting actress.
Along with Ferrera in the lead comedy actress category were Felicity Huffman of "Desperate Housewives," Tina Fey of "30 Rock," Mary-Louise Parker of "Weeds" and last year's winner, Julia Louis-Dreyfus of "The New Adventures of Old Christine."
Their actor counterparts included last year's winner, Tony Shalhoub of "Monk," Ricky Gervais of "Extras," Steve Carell of "The Office," Charlie Sheen of "Two and a Half Men" and Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock."
Like "Grey's" Washington, Baldwin drew unflattering attention this year, in his case because of a leaked recording of an angry telephone call to his daughter, who is caught in a legal dispute with ex-wife Kim Basinger.
In June, judges screening potential nominees for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences made their picks from a list of 10 top contenders for the best drama and best comedy series categories.
The top 10 lists given to the judges were based on polling of the general academy membership. Five nominees in each category ultimately were to be chosen, based on a combination of the panelists' votes and the general polling.
The three-hour Emmy Awards ceremony will be broadcast Sept. 16 by Fox from the Shrine Auditorium.
Other Emmy honors, including those for technical achievement and guest actors and actresses in series, will be given at the creative arts ceremony on Sept. 8.