We live in an era with a seemingly endless diversity of choices for quality television programming. Yet judging by the results of last night’s Emmy Awards, it would appear that most voting members of the Television Academy only watched one show over the past year.
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Sweep mentality was in full effect at the Emmys this year, as voters bowed down to worship at the throne of ‘Breaking Bad’. Nominated in eight categories, the series took home five trophies, including most of the big ones: Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress (all of which the show had also won previously). Of the three nominations that didn’t<\/em> win, one was lost to another nominee from the same show, so that doesn’t count. The other two (Directing for a Drama Series and Casting for a Drama Series) both went to HBO’s ‘True Detective’, which despite waves of hype turned out to mostly be an also-ran in Emmy’s eyes.<\/p>\n Also shut out from any of the major artistic categories were hot properties ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Orange Is the New Black’. <\/p>\n Ceremony host Seth Meyers was annoyingly smarmy as usual, and delivered his jokes with all the overly-rehearsed awkwardness of an amateur stand-up at Open Mic Night. Highlights of the evening included Bryan Cranston making out with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and a very touching tribute to Robin Williams. I may have given Billy Crystal grief for doing a terrible job hosting the Oscars a couple years ago, but he gave a hell of a eulogy for his friend. <\/p>\n Nominees:<\/p>\n Josh’s day-before prediction: While ‘True Detective’ has tons of buzz, I expect that the Academy won’t be able to resist rewarding the final season of ‘Breaking Bad’ for ending in a fairly satisfying manner. <\/p>\n Actual winner: ‘Breaking Bad’<\/strong> <\/p>\n Nominees:<\/p>\n Josh’s prediction: 2014 is the year of Matthew McConaughey.<\/p>\n Actual winner: Bryan Cranston<\/strong> <\/p>\n Nominees:<\/p>\n Josh’s prediction: I’d love to see this go to Lizzy Caplan, but doubt that will happen. After Diahann Carroll made a spectacle at the ceremony last year by suggesting that anyone who didn’t vote for Kerry Washington was a racist, it wouldn’t surprise me if the voters attempted to make up<\/em> for that this year. On the other hand, they may just play it safe and give the trophy to Claire Danes yet again.<\/p>\n Actual winner: Julianna Marguiles<\/strong> <\/p>\n Nominees:<\/p>\n Josh’s prediction: ‘Modern Family’ has won this award four times in a row. Why would the voters break with tradition now?<\/p>\n Actual winner: ‘Modern Family’<\/strong> <\/p>\n Nominees:<\/p>\n Josh’s prediction: This is a really weak selection of nominees. Honestly, the only one who actually deserves to be in the running here is Louis C.K., and I don’t see him winning. As little as I want to see Jim Parsons claim this prize for the fourth damn time, that’s probably what will happen. <\/p>\n Actual winner: Jim Parsons<\/strong> <\/p>\n Nominees:<\/p>\n Josh’s prediction: Julia Louis-Dreyfus is most deserving, but she’s already won twice before for ‘Veep’, as well as two more times before that (for ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘The New Adventures of Old Christine’ respectively). Emmy obviously loves her. I think it’s time for Amy Poehler (who has astoundingly never won an Emmy) to share the glory.<\/p>\n Actual winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus<\/strong> <\/p>\n Nominees:<\/p>\n Josh’s prediction: I would really like to see ‘Fargo’ take this. Although I was a little ambivalent on the show at first, it developed into something really special.<\/p>\nOutstanding Drama Series<\/h2>\n
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Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama<\/h2>\n
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Outstanding Lead Actress – Drama<\/h2>\n
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Outstanding Comedy Series<\/h2>\n
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Outstanding Lead Actor – Comedy<\/h2>\n
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Outstanding Lead Actress – Comedy<\/h2>\n
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Outstanding Miniseries<\/h2>\n
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