As always with the notoriously crazy Television Academy, you have to take the good with the bad. This year held very few surprises, as the dramas were dominated by critically acclaimed cable series and the comedies dominated by HBO and the two highest rated sitcoms on TV. So that means the niche shows I love so much got slighted once again in favor of CBS. Oy. Can anyone explain to me how Two and a Half Men continues to be nominated? Full list of nominations here.
Biggest Snubs (in order from most to least egregious):
1. Parks and Recreation, Louie, Community for Best Comedy Series
See if this makes any sense to you: These three shows (the top three eligible this year from my Best of 2011 list) take up four of the five slots for best writing, but only the other nominee (Girls) gets nominated for the big prize. Does anyone (other than these voters obviously) think 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family actually had better seasons than these three?
2. Any actors – Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Parks and Recreation
Listen up, voters. Stop embarrassing yourselves and nominate Nick Offerman. This is an absolute disgrace. Ron Swanson is one of the greatest TV characters of all time and you’re blowing it. But even Chris Pratt deserved love this year for his Road House re-enactment alone. And don’t get me started on Aziz Ansari’s slow jams. Yet you nominated the dude from New Girl? Are you out of your minds?
3. Happy Endings for Best Comedy Series
In terms of laughs per minute, this is the funniest show on TV. You’re missing out, voters.
4. Beavis and Butt-head for Best Animated Program
Are you going to look at me with a straight face and say American Dad! is better than this?
5. Joan Rivers – Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Louie
I just don’t understand. This should have been right up the voters’ alley. But this was on Louie, not 30 Rock, so she might as well have been invisible.
Pleasant Surprises (in no particular order):
1. Community nominated for Best Writing for a Comedy Series
Finally! And for the season (and possibly series) highlight “Remedial Chaos Theory.” Woo-hoo!
2. Glee reduced to one minor nomination (and some tech stuff)
So Dot-Marie Jones gets nominated again, this time for doing what Glee defaults to: becoming a heavy-handed PSA with music. Last year, she was the token Woman Succeeding in a Man’s World Despite Opposition. Now, she’s Battered Woman Rising Up.
3. Trashy American Horror Story dominates the usually boring Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie category
Thanks to a loophole that categorizes this as a mini-series (none of the cast will return next year, so this is technically an “anthology”), stuffy British imports and HBO duds have some competition. Not that it deserves to win, I just like the idea of pulpy hits dropping some monocles.
4. Slowing down on the Betty White love (and beating Survivor in the process)
So whether it was the late Kathryn Joosten’s upgrade, Blossom’s big return to TV or some person no one’s ever heard of, Betty White was not nominated this year for TV Land’s rather awful Hot in Cleveland. But she did get nominated for Outstanding Reality Series Host, bumping off long-time champ Jeff Probst.
5. Cooling it with Conan
After two years of sympathy votes, the crickets are chirping over at TBS. The ginger only received a nod for an app. Seriously.