I sincerely hope that none of you put money on who would be nominated for a Golden Globe this year, because you’re probably pretty broke right about now. This year’s list of lucky nominees resembles the result of putting all of the TV shows and actors into a giant hat and picking them out at random, because… Minnie Driver. Seriously. Below is the list of the Golden Globe Nominations for television.
Best Television Series – Drama
Damages
Grey’s Anatomy
House
The Tudors
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Patricia Arquette – Medium
Glenn Close – Damages
Minnie Driver – The Riches
Edie Falco – The Sopranos
Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters
Holly Hunter – Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Jon Hamm – Mad Men
Hugh Laurie – House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors
Bill Paxton – Big Love
Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Californication
Entourage
Extras
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Christina Applegate – Samantha Who?
America Ferrera – Ugly Betty
Tina Fey – 30 Rock
Anna Friel – Pushing Daisies
Mary –Louise Parker – Weeds
Best Performace by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Steve Carell – The Office
David Duchovny – Californication
Ricky Gervais – Extras
Lee Pace – Pushing Daisies
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Rose Byrne – Damages
Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters
Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy
Samantha Morton – Longford
Anna Paquin – Bury my Heart at Wounded-Knee
Jaime Pressly – My Name is Earl
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Ted Danson – Damages
Kevin Dillon – Entourage
Jeremy Piven – Entourage
Andy Serkis – Longford
William Shatner – Boston Legal
Donald Sutherland – Dirty Sexy Money
And let’s talk about Minnie Driver for a second. I’ve never seen The Riches, but I’m sure she’s fine in it. I have however, seen Good Will Hunting and that movie where she was a beauty queen with that curly-haired Pepsi girl. So based on my Minnie Driver knowledge, there is no way you can tell me that she deserves a nomination more than Connie Britton for Friday Night Lights. I’m also sure Holly Hunter is great in Saving Grace, but does her performance hold up next to the hardcore awesome that Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey) can bring to even the most “blah” episode of Grey’s Anatomy (And yes, I know Chandra Wilson would probably end up in the supporting actress category wasteland, but why? She’s generally the best thing that show’s got going.)?
Even the nominations I’m happy about kind of piss me off. I’m thrilled that my favorite new show of the season, Pushing Daisies, scored noms in the Best Comedy category, as well as Best Actor for Lee Pace and Best Actress for Anna Friel—but where’s the supporting actress love for Kristen Chenoweth, whose Olive Snook rocks my world every week?
I’m excited about America Ferrera’s nomination for Ugly Betty, but how could the Hollywood Foreign Press overlook the delicious evilness of Vanessa Williams, Becky Newton and Michael Urie (Wilhelmina, Amanda and Marc)? Jack Donaghy is the greatest role that Alec Baldwin has ever played, but Jack McBrayer’s Kenneth and Tracy Morgan’s Tracy Jordan make 30 Rock for me.
While we’re on the subject of comedies, I want to give Kudos to the HFP for giving 30 Rock and Pushing Daisies nominations. But Californication? Instead of The Office? Instead of How I Met Your Mother? Instead of even Samantha Who? Are you kidding me? Did Showtime give each HFP member a Bentley? Because that’s the only logical explanation behind Californication as best comedy, or The Tudors for best drama over The Sopranos, Friday Night Lights, or Lost. I don’t even watch Battlestar Galactica, but I’m sure it was better than the ridiculous George/Izzie storyline from Grey’s. I’d totally give up its spot to make room for a more deserving show.
I’ve been very vocal in my wish for the writers strike to come to a speedy conclusion, but maybe having it drag on for a little longer wouldn’t be such a bad thing. That way, we can cancel the Globes this year, start fresh the following year and forget this list ever happened. It will be like a bad dream.
So am I way off base? Is Californication the greatest show ever to grace TV screens? Post your disagreements below. Alternatively, feel free to post your love for Bailey, Amanda, Olive, or any other character or show I overlooked.
