SAG Nominees

I have decided to condense my reactions to the television SAG nominees to one post because they were simply not too exciting. The film nominations, on the other hand, wow. Check those out. The TV noms bring more of the same kind of people we have been seeing recently at the Emmys and the Golden Globes. The TV movie/mini-series category is uninteresting because "Longford" was completely left off the list, and I have seen none of the other nominated shows (save for the first two hours of "The Starter Wife", and that was far too much as it is). My feeling on the inclusion of Ricky Gervais is that he is fine, maybe sometimes funny, but not over other players. I liked him on the British "Office" and enjoyed it back in 2003 when he won two Golden Globes and felt the need to stay up on stage for a minute even though he had nothing to say. Now, there are just better, funnier performers out there who I feel put in a lot more to their performances. His inclusion at the expense of David Duchovny is unfortunate (the other four nominees in that category were nominated last year). Much to my surprise, Tony Shalhoub is still sticking around, which he definitely deserves to do. I just presumed they would let him go earlier. These nominations do generally adhere to the no-new-fall-network shows rule, with one exception (Christina Applegate). Otherwise, newcomers "Mad Men", "Damages", and "Saving Grace" all made the cut over "Californication" and "The Riches". Of course "Boston Legal" had to be nominated again, but I am ecstatic that the cast of "The Closer" has once again been recognized. I am also thrilled for "30 Rock", which garnered nominations for Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, and the superb cast. And hey, no more "My Name is Earl"! Sure, "Ugly Betty" got three nominations, but we're focusing on the positives, aren't we? I do find it quite funny that John Slattery somehow got two nominations, for his work in the ensembles of both "Mad Men" and "Desperate Housewives". I copied the nominees list direct from the SAG site because they list which character each actor plays. My prediction rate was 24/33, or 73%, which is actually just about the same as my prediction rate for the film nominees. Winner predictions coming closer to the awards, which air January 27th.

The nominees:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
MICHAEL KEATON / James Jesus Angleton – “The Company (TNT)
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – “As You Like It” (HBO)
OLIVER PLATT / George Steinbrenner – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)
SAM SHEPARD / Frank Whiteley – “Ruffian” (ABC)
JOHN TURTURRO / Billy Martin – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ELLEN BURSTYN / Posey Benetto – “Mitch Albom’s For One More Day” (ABC)
DEBRA MESSING / Molly Kagan – “The Starter Wife” (USA)
ANNA PAQUIN / Elaine Goodale – “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” (HBO)
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – “Life Support “ (HBO)
VANESSA REDGRAVE / Woman – “The Fever” (HBO)
GENA ROWLANDS / Melissa Eisenbloom – “What If God Were the Sun?” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan – “Dexter” (Showtime)
JON HAMM / Don Draper – “Mad Men” (AMC)
HUGH LAURIE / Dr. Gregory House – “House” (FOX)
JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore – “Boston Legal” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
GLENN CLOSE / Patty Hewes – “Damages” (FX)
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
SALLY FIELD / Nora Walker – “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC)
HOLLY HUNTER / Grace Hanadarko – “Saving Grace” (TNT)
KYRA SEDGWICK / Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson – “The Closer” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 Rock” (NBC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott – “The Office” (NBC)
RICKY GERVAIS / Andy Millman – “Extras” (NBC)
JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold – “Entourage” (HBO)
TONY SHALHOUB / Adrian Monk – “Monk” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly – “Samantha Who?” (ABC)
AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – “30 Rock” (NBC)
MARY-LOUISE PARKER / Nancy Botwin – “Weeds” (Showtime)
VANESSA WILLIAMS / Wilhelmina Slater – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
THE CLOSER (TNT)
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC)
MAD MEN (AMC)
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
THE OFFICE (NBC)
UGLY BETTY (ABC)