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June 13, 2004
Be bold, go cable
By Charlie McCollum
San Jose Mercury-News
TO: THE ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES MEMBERS:
Over the past few days, you've gotten your ballots for this year's Emmy award nominations. You've already been swamped with tapes and DVDs and ``for your consideration'' ads. Now, you've got 10 days to make your picks.
I know that, in some ways, yours is a thankless job. Every year, you guys get beat up by TV writers (myself included) and average viewers for nominating the wrong shows and performers, ignoring the new and the innovative and giving out nominations on past reputation, not current quality. (I won't even get into the final vote and those irritating little glitches like ``The Sopranos'' never having won the Emmy for best drama.)
So, helpful person that I am, here are a few small suggestions as you contemplate whom and what to nominate:
Don't be afraid to go all-cable
A lot of you work for the big broadcast networks, for studios that produce those shows or for outside companies that depend on the networks for much of their work. Plus you have a lot of friends who also depend on the networks for their livelihoods.
That makes the pressure to ensure a heavy network representation among the Emmy nominees pretty intense.
Here's my advice: Don't cave in to that pressure. In your heart of hearts, you know that most of what's really good on TV these days is on cable, and that's true this year more than ever.
Take best drama, just as an example.
There are really only two network dramas worth considering: Fox's ``24'' and CBS's ``Without a Trace.'' It didn't help the networks' cause that they managed to ax (quickly) some of their best stuff: ``Boomtown,'' ``Karen Sisco,'' ``Wonderfalls.''
But the fact remains that everything else that's truly worthy of consideration is cable-produced: ``The Sopranos,'' ``The Wire'' and ``Deadwood'' on HBO, and FX's ``The Shield'' and ``Nip/Tuck.'' You won't embarrass yourself by nominating ``24'' or ``Trace,'' but you would be wrong.
Forget `The West Wing'
Speaking of tough calls, it's time to leave out one of television's most-honored shows.
``West Wing'' has won four straight Emmys for best drama and a fistful of other Emmys for acting, directing and writing. That, however, was when creator Aaron Sorkin was applying his distinctive voice to the White House drama.
But Sorkin departed at the end of last season, and ``West Wing'' is now, at best, merely a solid piece of dramatic work, not one of TV's best. An occasional episode still has some of the old flair, and the series has retained its core cast, one of the best ensembles in television history.
Still, anyone who catches repeats of early ``West Wing'' episodes on Bravo quickly realizes just how much Sorkin's snap, crackle and pop was missed this past year. It's almost like watching two totally different shows.
Try something different
With ``West Wing'' slumping and HBO's ``Six Feet Under'' ineligible this year, there's lots of room to bring in some fresh names to the drama categories.
Over and beyond adding shows such as ``The Shield,'' ``Nip/Tuck'' and ``Deadwood'' for best drama, how about tossing in Ian McShane, the complex bad guy from ``Deadwood,'' and Dylan Walsh, the troubled plastic surgeon from ``Nip/Tuck,'' for best actor? We know Edie Falco of ``The Sopranos'' is a lock for best actress, but newcomers such as Amber Tamblyn of ``Joan of Arcadia'' and Kathryn Morris of ``Cold Case'' are not only worthy but would certainly freshen up the proceedings.
And pay attention to some very good supporting actors who may not immediately come to mind, such as Clea Duvall, the best thing about HBO's ``Carnivale,'' and -- yes -- Adam Brody for his terrific turn on ``The O.C.''
While you're at it, apply the same mindset to comedy.
Acknowledge the fact that both ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' and ``Curb Your Enthusiasm'' had off years. Don't get caught up in any nostalgia wave over the departed ``Friends.'' Its Emmy-worthy season was two years ago, and this season was pretty much sitcom-by-the-numbers. And speaking of comedies whose best years are behind them, don't cast a ballot for ``Will & Grace'' by reflex.
That leaves you lots of room to add new shows (Fox's brilliant ``Arrested Development,'' ``Reno 911!'' on Comedy Central) and to honor an older series that should have been nominated in the past -- CBS's criminally under-appreciated ``The King of Queens.'' Plus there will be slots in the acting categories for the likes of Kerri Kenney from ``Reno,'' the never-nominated Leah Remini from ``King,'' Jason Bateman of ``Arrested'' and even Kelly Ripa from ABC's ``Hope & Faith.''
One note, though: While emphasizing the newcomers, don't forget ``Frasier'' and ``Sex and the City.'' Both had strong final seasons, going out on much higher notes than ``Friends.''
So that's my two cents ``for your consideration.'' And, remember, I'll have my ``whupping'' stick ready for action when the nominations are announced July 15.
Posted by Jo at June 13, 2004 09:27 AM