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2008 Emmy Awards Wrap-Up

Let Us Never Speak of the Josh Groban Medley Again … Ever / Seth Freilich

Trade News | September 22, 2008 | Comments (25)

Yup, last night’s Emmy’s, not much different than years gone by. Except that it was a little better. For one thing, they actually wrapped it up right on time. For another, they got most of the awards right, from all the John Adams love to Alec Baldwin to the surprising but deserved win for Bryan Cranston, “30 Rock” and “Mad Men,” etc. Of course, there were a couple of wins that were off, but none of them were “you’ve got to be fucking kidding me” things — “The Amazing Race” shouldn’t have beat out “Top Chef” this season, and while Zeljko Ivanek was good on “Damages,” his costar Ted Danson was better, and Jeremy Piven maybe shouldn’t have even been nominated this year.

As for the show itself, there were a few decent bits, like Ricky Gervais, Stewart and Colbert, and Conan’s blessed slam of Skank Cancer. Of course, there were also some fucking train wrecks, some well-intentioned (the “Laugh-In” bit) and some just, uhm, fucking terrible (I’m looking right at you, “Desperate Housewives” women). The five-host orgy was a fucking mess, but whatever with all that, because the honorary Emmy to Tom Smothers was sweet, and we were again reminded that Don Rickles is the man.

If you missed the show and somehow haven’t seen the winners, here’s a rundown on some of what brought home some gold last night. And if you didn’t say all you need to say on last night’s open thread, feel free to sound off some more….

Best Comedy: “30 Rock”

Lead Actress in a Comedy: Tina Fey

Lead Actor in a Comedy: Alec Baldwin

Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Jean Smart

Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Jeremy Piven

Comedy Writing: Tina Fey (“30 Rock”)

Best Drama: “Mad Men”

Lead Actress in a Drama: Glenn Close

Lead Actor in a Drama: Bryan Cranston

Supporting Actress in a Drama: Dianne Wiest

Supporting Actor in a Drama: Zeljko Ivanek

Drama Writing: Mathew Weiner (“Mad Men”)

Best Made for TV Movie: Recount

Best Miniseries: John Adams

Lead Actress in a Miniseries/Movie: Laura Linney

Lead Actor in a Miniseries/Movie: Paul Giamatta

Supporting Actress in a Miniseries/Movie: Eileen Atkins

Supporting Actor in a Miniseries/Movie: Tom Wilkinson

Writing for a Miniseries/Movie: Kirk Ellis (John Adams)

Variety, Music or Comedy Series: “The Daily Show”

Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Don Rickles (natch)

Variety, Music or Comedy Program Writing: Many folks (“The Colbert Report”)

Reality Competition Program: “The Amazing Race”

Reality TV Host: Jeff Probst









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Comments

I go away for a much needed vacation and I come back to find that not only is pajiba looking more and more like thesuperficial.com every day, but that the eloquents are talking about Josh Groban. Where's the real Pajiba and what have you done with it?

Oh, and hi everybody!

Posted by: Sofía at September 22, 2008 9:21 AM

Groban ... I'm afraid to say actually got a chuckle out of me. It had a certain absurdity. Of course it made me hate music but ... ok there's nothing I can say to make up for it.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at September 22, 2008 9:26 AM

I somehow managed to miss the Conan thing altogether. That's sad. Oh well, I guess that's why they invented YouTube.

Don Rickles is completely The Man, and I love Kathy Griffin and the fact that the two of them were paired, but what the hell was she wearing on her head?! I was afraid it was going to jump off and run amok in the audience.

Ruth Buzzi, by the way, and Lily Tomlin both did not look like they had aged a day in the last 40 years in that Laugh-In bit. They looked disturbingly the same. Even Joanne Worley looked pretty good. All three of them looked better than poor Mary Tyler Moore. Yikes! Eat a cookie, for godtopus' sake! And a sandwich! And a big plate of pasta!

Also, I must note that when Heidi Klum was wearing the leopard-print muumuu thing (which... I'm not really sure how I felt about that), her jewels were Fan. Tas. Tic.

Posted by: Anna "Knife Pile" von Beaverplatz at September 22, 2008 9:30 AM

I didn't watch a single minute of the Emmys. I guess I'll eventually need to see clips of Conan, Rickles, and Stewart/Colbert/Gervais.

Posted by: Kolby at September 22, 2008 9:33 AM

But when we talk about Josh Groban it's to equate him with bunny rape, analbortions, and punting infants.

Posted by: jM at September 22, 2008 9:35 AM

Reflections on the Douchebags who run awards shows:

They were in such a fucking rush to let the crappy BITS get in that they kept cutting off any potentially great speeches, like the writer of John Adams, who nevertheless managed to get in a zinger about revering a time when "articulate men articulated ... great ideas in WHOLE SENTENCES..."

Then Tom Hanks, accepting the award for best miniseries -- John Adams again -- reflected that the campaign between Jefferson and Adams was fraught with deception, innuendo, lies, scandal -- and wasn't it great to see how far we've come.

Laura Linney won for Leading Actress in a miniseries and said whenever she looks at her award she will pause and be grateful for the "Community organisers who helped build this nation."

And Paul Giammati won for Leading Actor and said, "See kids, anyone can grow up to play the President. And I mean anyone."

How's that for cutting through the noise? The fucking noise noise noise of the commercials and the stupid host patter and the goddamned stupid BITS and the fucking music playing off the only decent speeches...

Gotta make the doughnuts, gotta make the doughnuts. Fuckin' ABC. The only people who WATCH the fucking awards shows are the people who WANT TO WATCH THE AWARDS SHOW. So LET THEM WATCH IT, you fucking assholes, it's not something to be RUSHED THROUGH, we're all GOING TO BED AFTER IT'S OVER.

You fucking douchebags.

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at September 22, 2008 9:36 AM

This may have been covered in the live thread last night but I'm too lazy to read through it: did anyone notice after they brought out the stereotypical six black singers dressed in choir robes (God Help Me!) to back up Grogan in "Moving on Up", then they brought up two White cops who after their bit CHASED the Black women off the stage waving their truncheons. Seriously. I played it back three times to make sure I had seen it correctly.

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 22, 2008 9:59 AM

A question: is that supposed to be a turd in the picture beside the Emmy trophy? Coz it looks a lot more like an Italian sausage on my screen.

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 22, 2008 10:16 AM

who was the wasted old-dude in the laugh-in bit?

he was awesome.

i thought the theme song medley was supposed to be a joke... the way it started out so over the top. it worked as a comedy bit, but failed pretty hard if it was supposed to be a genuine tribute.

Posted by: celery at September 22, 2008 10:37 AM

30 Rock confuses me. It's a brilliant show with unconventional humor, so how the hell is it popular enough to win an Emmy? Following the track record of other shows like it, I don't know how it isn't canceled by now. Still, I'll drop the cynicism for now. It's winning, good for it, good for Tina Fey, hip hooray.

And yes, Don Rickles kicks ass.

Posted by: Lucas at September 22, 2008 10:39 AM

So long as little Tommy Smothers finally got the love (and I didn't have to watch one Grobanistic moment) I'm at least reasonably happy. I will have to check you tube for Conan though...

Posted by: Megan at September 22, 2008 11:11 AM

I was pleasantly surprised by Dianne Wiest and Bryan Cranston winning. Bryan Cranston was so shocked - he was perennial loser for Malcolm in the Middle- it was endearing. And the crowd really cheered for him so it was a sweet moment.

And Jeff Probst's dimples kill me. I don't even watch Survivor... yummy.

Kathy Griffin was so funny. The stamping and trying not to lose it while Don Rickles (who I thought had died) went all over the place? Hilarious.

That's all I saw of the show. I swear.

BTW has anyone seen an Emmy up close? They're ridiculously large and pointy. You could have a jousting contest with 'em.

Posted by: Amanda47 at September 22, 2008 11:11 AM

Funny you should say that, Amanda47... They are sharp and pointy - not quite right for jousting, but they make for a helluva game of Jarts. That's what I do with my Emmys. All nineteen of them. That I won for being A W E S O M E!

Posted by: Skittimus Maximus at September 22, 2008 11:34 AM

Wait - 'Recount' got best made for TV movie? Yay for Danny Strong!

Posted by: Tarn at September 22, 2008 1:07 PM

I'm a big fan of TV series, but I didn't watch. Actually, didn't even care.

The reason is the same point that amazes me today, when I read the news about last night's ceremony being the least viewed in history: the whole fucking thing is tainted, unworthy of even being mentioned as an "awards ceremony" that should be based on talent and real achievements. And they're blaming the five hosts novelty for the low ratings. Geez... Josh Groban, maybe, but the hosts would never have this sort of impact on the whole show.

Yeah, the winners were kinda better and more deserving. But what's the merit in that, when we recall last year's or previous years' ceremonies? What about things that were nominated and shouldn't even exist in the first place?

I say let it rot...

Posted by: gargumma at September 22, 2008 3:28 PM

I thought the Josh Groban mash-up was funny and silly. I think that was the point...

Posted by: NotBlonde at September 22, 2008 3:29 PM

After reading the list of the first three winners, I was almost fooled into thinking the Emmys mattered, and then I remembered that Grey's Anatomy is consistently nominated as a drama. It's almost vogue to say this now, but only one nomination for the Wire, two over the course of its five seasons? Come on. At the very least Clark Peters deserved a supporting actor nod. Eh fuck it, I guess there really isn't anything more dramatic than four straight years of will they, won't they gut-bumping action between 5 different couples in 42 minutes every week, except that it happens every week.

Posted by: Django at September 22, 2008 3:46 PM

So, is it not cool to like Jeremy Piven then? I've watched the first three seasons of Entourage (they're on TV On Demand over here in the UK, a digital TV service provided by Virgin Media whereby you can watch selected shows whenever you like), and Ari Gold never fails to crack me up.

I don't have to hand in my card, do I?

Posted by: Dill The Devil at September 22, 2008 4:02 PM

Some things I missed while ranting ENDLESSLY last night:

-Mad, mad props to Steve Carrell for not losing it while Ricky Gervais hassled him. HOW did he keep that straight a face? the man didn't move a muscle!

-StewCorBertGASM!

-Conan O'Brien is my new hero. Too bad the bitch wasn't there to see her stupid face.

-Fuck Jeremy Piven. I hate him.

-Heidi Klum should be ashamed of herself. That comedy/drama bit was PAINFUL.

That's it for now I think. Oh, and Brian Cranston looks so much like my dad that it's a bit freaky.

And Josh Groban still owes me a remote. I have to get up and *MOVE* now. Grr.

Posted by: figgy at September 22, 2008 5:04 PM

oh I forgot

-I kiss the feet of the Academy for not giving Seacrest the award. In your face, frost-tips. Do you think he went home and cried into his pillow? I SURE HOPE SO!

Posted by: figgy at September 22, 2008 5:07 PM

I wonder what Tina Fey has had to do to keep 30 Rock on the show. Awards have never kept a show around. I fear it is something horrible.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at September 22, 2008 5:15 PM

Don Rickles? Are you fucking kidding me? Beat out Colbert? Holy shit burgers?
What a bunch of shit!

Posted by: flintlock at September 22, 2008 7:43 PM

I stopped caring about the Emmy's after they snubbed The Wire and its crew, every fucking season unless you include the pity nomination.

Posted by: Devo at September 22, 2008 11:02 PM

30 Rock can lick my balls.

Fucking bullshit.

Posted by: Audiosuede at September 23, 2008 12:47 AM

I don't like 30 rock... but it doesn't bother me that they win. I was expecting more from kathy griffin (why did she act like mike myers with kanye west?).
And, actually, I do think the idea of 5 hosts was good... imagine to see RYAN Seacrest all the show?? what else is he going to destroy?
I know he'd have been the host.. i know
He has the power!

where's steve kmetko?

Posted by: Mario at September 26, 2008 9:29 PM