Emmy Nominations: The Good, The Bad, The What the Heck?!

As you may have seen, the 2011 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced earlier today. And while there were certainly some amazing nominees, a few have me baffled and a many of the snubs make no sense.

The Good:

• With FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS’ series finale airing Friday night on NBC, the show’s nomination for Outstanding Drama Series and Lead Actor/Actress nods for stars Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler, is a fitting tribute to a great program that was often overlooked.
• Cat Deeley! Finally, the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE host nabbed a well-deserved nomination for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program. Given that the show and many of the choreographers also got Emmy nods, tonight’s live results show could end up being a full-on party.
• THE BIG BANG THEORY!  It’s always a risk when new full-time cast members are brought on to an established series, but Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch (who had previously appeared on the show in a recurring role) ended up being the icing on an already fabulous cake. I’m so glad TBBT was rewarded with a Outstanding Comedy Series nomination, as well as Lead Actor nods for Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki.
• EPISODES?! As much as I adored the Showtime series, I didn’t think it would get a whole lot of Emmy love. Color me surprised that Matt LeBlanc scored a Lead Actor nomination and the series recieved a writing nod for David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik.
• THE KILLING may have gotten raked through the coals by most people for its controversial season finale, but there is no denying the series showcased some fantastic acting during the first year. I’m thrilled Mireille Enos and Michelle Forbes were recognized.

The Bad:

• The continued snub of FRINGE’s John Noble is bordering on inexcusable. Yes, he is technically on a science fiction show, a concept that tends to scare the bajeebus out of Emmy voters, but come on. Noble played six versions of Walter Bishop in season three, something that could have easily veered into cheesy, but he made it work. Over the year, there is no emotion Noble didn’t have to play, whether he was a cold-blooded killer, on LSD, fearing for his son’s life or just assisting in solving crimes of the freaky nature. The notion that the Emmys ignored him again? Ridiculous. (For the record, it’s no secret I love FRINGE and I would have been happy for the series and the other actors to get some Emmy love. But I don’t think any actor moved me as much during the 2010-2011 season as John Noble did.)
• This falls into the “so good it’s bad” category, but MODERN FAMILY’s Ty Burrell, Ed O’Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet all nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series? Oy. Hopefully this isn’t too much of a good thing.
• [UPDATE: I’m blaming the 5 am wake up for neglecting COUGAR TOWN the first time around, and I can’t just let that one go. So we have one more “bad” to add to the list.] COUGAR TOWN. My beloved COUGAR TOWN — which, by the way Emmy voters, is NOT a show about cougars — got snubbed. Many weeks it’s the funniest show on television and this past season was when the series really blossomed. No supporting nomination for Busy Phillips or Christa Miller? Not even a guest star nod for Jennifer Aniston’s spot in the season premiere? Come on, Emmys!

What the Heck?:

• No Emmy love for HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s Neil Patrick Harris? True, if anyone from the cast could have been nominated, I would have given it to Jason Segel — his work this year as Marshall struggled with his father’s death was some of the finest acting the show has seen — but it seemed like NPH would fall into the category of perennial nominee for his role as Barney Stinson.
• From 2007-2010 the Emmy winners for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series came from LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. (The series was also nominated for the category in 2000 and 2002-2005, with a win in 2005.) This year? Not even a nomination. It’s a real shame, because Jennifer Love Hewitt and Elizabeth Mitchell both shined in their guest spots.

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Now that you’ve had some time to dwell on the nominees, which acknowledgments had you giddy? Which snubs broke your heart?

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