My Take on the 67th Annual Golden Globe Nominations

John Krasinski, Diane Kruger and Justin Timberlake announced the Nominations for “The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards” back on December 15th. The Golden Globes will be hosted by Ricky Gervais, and will be broadcast live coast to coast Sunday, January 17 on NBC at 8pm EST. I hope you’ll join us for our LIVE chat during the show.

Both Diane Kruger (‘Inglorious Bastards’) and John Krasinski  (‘It’s Complicated’ and ‘The Office’) had their projects nominated, but it was Justin Timberlake who stole the show that morning with all his little quips, the most memorable being when upon announcing Emily Blunt as a nominee for Best Actress in a Drama for ‘Young Victoria’ said, “Somebody’s gonna have a good night tonight!”. Referring to his co-announcer, John Krasinski who is engaged to Blunt (it’s almost easy to write that. Therapy is doing me good.)

Below are the nominations in the TV categories. Big surprises this year with GLEE making some sweet music and MONK being snubbed in its final season. And of course, once again I’ll be bitching about the lack of nominations for FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. What else is new?

Here is my take on each of the TV categories.

Best Comedy

• 30 Rock
• Modern Family
• Entourage
• The Office
• Glee

My Take: Of course I’m excited that THE OFFICE made the cut, but thrilled that MODERN FAMILY is also nominated. Expect to see that show on the list for years to come. Very surprised by GLEE but it seems the HFPA loves their songsters. Bored to death by the nomination of ENTOURAGE. 30 ROCK was expected and deserved. Shocked that NURSE JACKIE didn’t get a nom (although I’m always split if that show is a drama or a comedy. I expect others have the same issue.) I didn’t expect it to happen, but I would have loved to see PARTY DOWN recognized. You can’t tell me that ENTOURAGE is funnier than the PARTY DOWN caterers. And don’t even get me started on the snub of TV’s most watched comedy, the well deserving BIG BANG THEORY.

Best Drama

• Big Love
• Dexter
• House
• Mad Men
• True Blood

My Take: Good thing HOUSE snuck in there as the only show from a major network nominated. Happy to see some of my personal favorites, TRUE BLOOD and MAD MEN, on the list. I don’t watch BIG LOVE or DEXTER but from what I understand both shows deserve the nomination. And of course it wouldn’t be an awards show if FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS wasn’t completely snubbed. I seriously don’t understand why the show never gets the recognition. Maybe next year…oh who am I kidding?

Best Actor (Drama)

• Simon Baker (The Mentalist)
• Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
• Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
• Hugh Laurie (House)
• Bill Paxton (Big Love)

My Take: So many fantastic actors in this mix. All well deserved. Of course I can’t fairly say one is better than the other since I don’t watch all the shows of these actors, but I have to say that based on this year’s season premiere alone, I am thrilled that Hugh Laurie was nominated. Jon Hamm is fantastic on MAD MEN and he was given so much to work with this season. Simon Baker keeps showing up on all the lists, so good for him (The show must have a fabulous publicist…YAY Holly!!) I watched the first two seasons of BIG LOVE and I didn’t find Bill Paxton particularly nomination worthy, but maybe he’s been better as of late.  And there’s no contesting the nomination of Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan. Off the list…yup, FNL’s Kyle Chandler.

Best Actress (Drama)

• Glenn Close (Damages)
• January Jones (Mad Men)
• Julianna Marguiles (The Good Wife)
• Anna Paquin (True Blood)
• Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

My Take: Not surprised to see Glenn Close, Kyra Sedgwick or really January Jones here. All well deserved, especially Jones who was mind blowing on this season of MAD MEN. Surprised to see Julianna Marguiles nominated, but happy for her. I don’t think she brings something especially exciting and new to THE GOOD WIFE, but clearly the HFPA likes her.  Disappointed that Anna Paquin was once again nominated. As much as I love TRUE BLOOD, I find Anna’s Sookie the least enjoyable part of the entire show. And yes, upset that Connie Britton’s name wasn’t called for FNL.

Best Actor (Comedy)

• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
• Steve Carell (The Office)
• David Duchovney (Californication)
• Thomas Jane (Hung)
• Matthew Morrison (Glee)

My Take: Look at you, Mr. Matthew Morrison! I must say I was surprised but very gleeful when I heard the GLEE actor’s name read this morning.  Alec, Steve and I suppose ever David were expected. I was disappointed to see Thomas Jane in the category. I don’t find HUNG very appealing and I’m not sure how he made the cut over Jim Parsons from THE BIG BANG THEORY.  I just don’t understand why Jim didn’t make the list. Ugh. You know I love you Steve, but I’m pulling for Matthew on this one!

Best Actress (Comedy)

• Toni Collette (The United States of Tara)
• Courteney Cox (Cougar Town)
• Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
• Tina Fey (30 Rock)
• Lea Michele (Glee)

My Take: I know you all might think I’m crazy, but I think GLEE’s Lea Michele has a real shot at this award. Edie Falco is probably the strongest competition and her nomination is beyond well deserved, but the HFPA likes putting newbies in the spotlight (Jennifer Garner for ‘Alias’, Keri Russell for ‘Felicity’, Party of Five…remember?). I’d be jumping out of my chair if Lea were to win. Tina Fey is great but it’s kind of the same old, same old for Liz Lemon. Although I enjoy the show, I find Courtney Cox’s COUGAR TOWN character somewhat grating. Toni Collette, one of my favorite film actresses is certainly deserving, but I’m pulling for Lea…or Edie.

Best Supporting Actor

• Michael Emerson (Lost)
• Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
• William Hurt (Damages)
• John Lithgow (Dexter)
• Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

My Take: I think you all know who has my heart in this category (as in life) – Neil Patrick Harris FTW! Unfortunately I don’t see it happening. As long as William Hurt or Jeremy Piven don’t take the award I’ll be fine. I personally found William Hurt the weakest link in the last season of DAMAGES. But he’s a big name film actor so I’m not surprised to see him on the list. Michael Emerson is mesmerizing as Ben Linus on LOST and I’m glad to see his work recognized. And from what I hear, John Lithgow is killing it (get it…killing it) on DEXTER this season. I expect him to win.

Best Supporting Actress

• Jane Adams (Hung)
• Rose Byrne (Damages)
• Jane Lynch (Glee)
• Chloe Sevigny (Big Love)
• Janet McTeer (Sense & Sensibility)

My Take: The way I “C” it, Jane Lynch might just walk away with the award.  Her long and well respected film career might just give her the edge over the other nominations. I would have liked to see Marcia Gay Harden representing DAMAGES in this category over Rose Byrne who I think wasn’t as strong this season as she was in the first. I’ve never been a fan of Chloe Sevigny in anything that she’s done. She just irks me. But I defer to fans of BIG LOVE on her nominations. Janet McTeer was fabulous in SENSE & SENSIBILITY but I don’t think she’s going to be taking it this year against her strong competitors. And Jane Adams from HUNG? She’s the best thing about the show, but still I think it’s crazy that she made this list.  HFPA loves their cable, but don’t give undeserved nominations. I don’t even have to think about this one. I definitely want to see Jane Lynch up on that stage. I’m only disappointed that she wasn’t nominated twice in the same category. I think she also should have been nominated for her role on PARTY DOWN.

YOUR turn to discuss the nominations. Who do YOU want to see walk on to the stage to accept their Golden Globe? Who was snubbed? Who made the cut that shouldn’t have?