An award no one may care about, but at least they got the nominees right
Today, I received my ballot for the Television Critics Association's annual TCA Awards, and it must be said, my colleagues (and I) did an exemplary job of picking nominees this year. We can vote for up to two nominees in each category, and there are several where even two doesn't seem generous enough.
Herewith, the nominee:
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
"John Adams" (HBO)
"Lost" (ABC)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
"Ken Burns' The War" (PBS)
"The Wire" (HBO)
As you will see, "Mad Men" is all over the place on this list, so that's what I'm going to predict will win. "The Wire" might squeak in because it was the show's final season and I don't believe that TCA had a much-better record in honoring the show than the Emmys (though it got more nominations from TCA, if memory serves), so, as they say, it's due. Despite a resurgent season, "Lost" may be a bit past its prime to win and both "John Adams" and "The War," good as they were, weren't absolute game-changers in their genres, which is usually what it'd take to win this top prize.
ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
"30 Rock" (NBC)
"The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central)
"The Daily Show" (Comedy Central)
"Flight of the Conchords" (HBO)
"The Office" (NBC)
Well, here's one category "Mad Men" isn't in. It would be hard to declare a grave miscarriage of justice no matter who wins in this category, though everyone has their favorites.
ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
"Damages" (FX)
"Friday Night Lights" (NBC)
"Lost" (ABC)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
"The Wire" (HBO)
Again, a fairly unassailable list, although I kind of think the people who keep beating that "Friday Night Lights" drum should just let it go. That self-defense murder plotline that opened the season really soured it for me. And again, it's probably a toss-up between "Mad Men" and "The Wire."
ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES AND SPECIALS
"John Adams" (HBO)
"Masterpiece: Cranford" (PBS)
"Masterpiece: Jane Austen Collection" (PBS)
"Ken Burns' The War" (PBS)
"A Raisin in the Sun" (ABC)
Flip a coin between "John Adams" and "The War."
NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
"Breaking Bad" (AMC)
"Damages" (FX)
"Flight of the Conchords" (HBO)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
"Pushing Daisies" (ABC)
And again, not a bum pick in the crowd. I voted for two, but if I could've voted for all five, I would have. (Of course, that really wouldn't have accomplished anything, now would it?)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Christina Applegate ("Samantha, Who?")
Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock")
Stephen Colbert ("The Colbert Report")
Tina Fey ("30 Rock")
Ray Wise ("Reaper")
A bit of a surprise nominee, with Ray Wise getting a nod - he's hilarious as the Devil, but that show flew beneath most people's radar this past season. I'm going to guess that Fey and Baldwin will cannibalize each other (that'd make a good episode of that show, actually) and that Colbert will win for his ability to surf so deftly along the top of the Zeitgeist.
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights")
Glenn Close ("Damages")
Paul Giamatti ("John Adams")
Jon Hamm ("Mad Men")
David Simon ("The Wire")
There are more categories, which I won't try to predict (or even bold-face their category titles):
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING
"Curious George" (PBS)
"High School Musical 2" (The Disney Channel)
"Hannah Montana" (Disney Channel)
"Word Girl" (PBS)
"Yo Gabba Gabba" (Nickelodeon)
ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION
"Alive Day Memories" (HBO)
"This American Life" (Showtime)
"Frontline" (PBS)
"Nimrod Nation" (Sundance Channel)
"Ken Burns' The War" (PBS)
HERITAGE AWARD
"M*A*S*H" (CBS)
"Roots" (ABC)
"Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
"Sesame Street" (PBS)
"The Wire" (HBO)
OK, I lied; I'll try this one. This category celebrates TV with an enduring and historic quality and allure. So you'd think it'd be too soon to give it to "The Wire," although they did give it to "The Sopranos" last year. So for me, that puts it between "M*A*S*H" and "Roots" - "SNL's" spotty history disqualifies it, at least against this competition, and since everything on the planet is aimed at kids these days, I'd prefer to see an adult-oriented show take the prize here, which'll no doubt make Oscar all the more Grouchier.
1 Comments
About this blog
David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place.
I watched every episode of every show named in the Best Program category. The Wire is absolutely due, so I'd have no qualms about it winning the top award. But it's a little sad that it would happen in the one year that it probably shouldn't. I thought John Adams and The War were better this year. (That being said, seasons 3 and 4 of The Wire were better than anything I've ever watched on television. And season 1 wasn't far behind).
As far as this nominations go, I just didn't find Mad Men to be on the same level as the other four. Lost came back strong after an inconsistent third season. And The War and John Adams were remarkable.
Glad to see that Weeds and Entourage were NOT given Comedy noms. I watch both and enjoy both, but not too much for the humor. They are entertaining, I just don't find myself laughing all that much (although I laughed even less watching Flight of the Conchords).