Greg's Emmy recap...

Yay T.R., Neil, Ellen and Ian - four openly gay performers who got Emmy nominations Thursday morning. But sitting there in the Television Academy theater veeeeery early this morning to watch Kyra Sedgwick and Jon Cryer announce the nominations, I felt a lot of excitement about some of the other nominees - shows that are gay-friendly and performers who are gay faves.
First off: the sensational "Ugly Betty," which has gay characters and a transgender character, got a well-deserved 11 nominations. They include a best actress nod for America Fererra who I'd say is the front-runner, in addition to the first Latina ever nominated in this category. The only other cast member nominated - in the supporting category -was Vanessa Williams for her delicious work as Wilhelmina Slater.
In the guest actress category: the year of Judith Light continues! Judith was nominated for her role as Claire Meade. Next year she will have to compete in the best supporting actress category because she is now a regular cast member. Congrats Judith!!! Among Judith's competition is Salma Hayak, nominated as guest actress for the same show.
i'm rooting for Judith in this category but I'm also thrilled to see Dixie Carter also nominated for her turn as the evil Gloria Hodges on "Desperate Housewives." Dixie, one of the great ladies in showbiz, never got nominated in the seven seasons she spent playing the on and only Julia Sugarbaker on "Designing Women." She was criminally overlooked as was most of the cast except for Delta Burke who got two nods throughout the show's run.
Hooray for Judith and Dixie! To make the category even more interesting: the great Elaine Stritch is nominated for her appearance on "30 Rock."
Dixie's former "Designing" co-star Jean Smart, already a two-time Emmy winner for "Frasier," is nominated yet again in the guest actress-drama category for "24."
OK, on to "Brothers & Sisters." Hooray for Sally Field! She nabbed one of the six spots in the best actress in a drama series category for her consistently wonderful work as Nora Walker in the ABC drama. It marks her seventh Emmy nomination overall. She has won twice [not to mention those two Oscars}. I'd love to see Sally win but I think Kyra Sedgwick should take it for "The Closer." She carries that show and is the reason it's the highest-rated drama in the history of standard cable. Rachel Griffiths, who plays Field's daughter on "Brothers & Sister," earned a well-deserved best supporting actress nomination.

Also of gay interest: "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" nominated again for Outstanding Reality Program, "Project Runway" up for Outstanding Reality Competition, and the "Gay Witch Hunt" episode of "The Office" was nominated for Outstanding Writing
And finally, even though I didn't love "The Starter Wife," I liked parts of it and I like that there was a prominent gay character. Debra Messing, a past Emmy winner for "Will & Grace," was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a miniseries and the series itself was nominated.
Next year, all we need is a nomination for Matthew Rhys for "Brothers & Sisters" and Rex Lee in "Entourage" and I'll be as happy as a clam at high tide.