Listed below are the ten semi-finalists for this category. Episodes submitted are listed in parentheses after their names. Beware of minor spoilers for the episodes described. Nominees are pictured in order of likelihood of getting nominated, and listed below alphabetically.
BOSTON LEGAL (The Court Supreme)
Last year’s episode submission, “Angel of Death”, had a dramatic punch which many interpreted as exploitative in its usage of Hurricane Katrina to dramatize its storyline. This year’s episode lacks that seriousness in the way it so recklessly approaches its subject matter. In pretty much the quickest turn of events I’ve ever seen, Alan Shore all of a sudden has the opportunity to argue in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Shore treats it like a joke and hardly even prepares for it. He has a lengthy speech in front of the judges that’s mostly just him talking without really saying anything. I really tried not to let my own dislike for the show bias me too much while watching this episode (obviously it did at least a little), but I’ll still convinced that this is a far weaker submission than last year. This is excellent proof that this show should not be competing in drama categories – the lawyers head to the Supreme Court and don’t even give a damn. William Shatner’s whole role in the episode only supports that argument. The side plotline, involving Jerry and his call girl girlfriend, is uneven at best and does little to help the story along. Unfortunately, however, I’ve heard only good things about the reaction to the show by judging panels, and it’s highly likely it will get nominated. I’m just not sure if I have the heart to bring myself to predict it.
DAMAGES (Pilot)
Submitting a pilot, especially one with buzz as high as this, seems like a good idea. There’s no back story which needs to be quickly summarized or filled in, and this is the basis for the show that got all the hype. It’s a strong pilot to be sure, and certainly better than the show which resulted from it. Even I said that I liked the style of the show in my initial review of the pilot. By the end of the season, however, I was more than tired of it. Luckily for this show, all voters will see is the pilot. The main handicap for “Damages” is the network it airs on: FX. All of the cable network’s previous offerings, “The Shield”, “Nip/Tuck”, “The Riches”– haven’t managed to get nominated (I’m not sure about top tens, as I didn’t follow as closely in recent years). This show has Glenn Close and rave reviews going for it, and I think that the mix of severe drama with lighter comedy should make this an appealing offering that voters won’t be able to pass up. Even with history working against it, “Damages” should easily get nominated.
DEXTER (The Dark Defender)
The popular Showtime drama made the top ten for the second year in a row after failing to make the top five last year. The series went with the finale from last year as opposed to the pilot. This year the show has picked another episode which relies heavily upon a knowledge of the show’s style and previous episodes to really appreciate it (or so I’d assume, given that I did see that episode after watching all the previous installments). That said, it is a pretty terrific episode, certainly my favorite one of the season. The central plotline involves Dexter’s dual personality, perceived by some as the brutal “Bay Harbor Butcher” and by others as the more heroic “The Dark Defender”. Not knowing Dexter may make it hard to sympathize, but I’m hoping that the stellar guest appearances by Keith Carradine and Jaime Murray (well before she became unbearable) will earn it the recognition it deserves. From the reports that Tom O’Neil and others are giving, the judging panels really didn’t like the violence of the show, and that (sadly) should prevent it from getting nominated. To hell with it, I’m going to predict it anyway as a surprise.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (Leave No One Behind)
I’m proud of myself for correctly predicting that “Friday Night Lights” would make the top ten again this year. I’m remembering back to last year when I predicted the show for Best Drama Series and Best Actress (Connie Britton), and then it got almost entirely shutting out, ending up with two paltry nods for directing and casting. And that was after all I heard was buzz for the football drama. I would imagine it ranked very low on the popular vote and while the episode itself is good, it’s hard to get into if you’re not a regular viewer (I say this from personal experience). I can see that it’s a good show, and it has a very intoxicating feel to it. I think this is one show that you need to be a regular viewer to fully appreciate, unlike, say “Grey’s Anatomy” or “House”, where any episode can summarize the tone of the series. Count “Friday Night Lights” out.
GREY’S ANATOMY (Freedom, Parts 1 & 2)
The most important thing to note with respect to two-time nominee “Grey’s Anatomy” is that rumors suggest that judging panels only saw the first half of the two-part season finale as the series’ submission, which could leave anyone with a bad taste in their mouth. As a strict non-fan of the show, I found the submitted episode mildly acceptable, with decent patient plotlines, but overshadowed by the utter annoyance of all of the regular cast members. T.R. Knight runs around squawking while the rest of them yell at each other. Many are predicting that this will be the year “Grey’s Anatomy” misses out on the top prize, and I’m tempted to agree. Its buzz is going down, and it’s easily possible that “House”, “Damages”, “Mad Men”, and “Lost” ranked higher in the popular vote. I wouldn’t be surprised if it did get in, but I think it will miss the mark this year.
HOUSE (Frozen)
“House” has been excessively popular since its very debut, scoring nominations in this category the past two years. Despite the addition of a bunch of new cast members this season, I think it’s still just as strong in terms of popularity. I have even more faith in the show after seeing its fantastic submission. I was never a fan of “House” from the beginning, but I really liked “Frozen”, which has House and his team struggling to diagnose researcher Mira Sorvino, who’s trapped in the South Pole. It’s both funny and moving, and Laurie, who I’ve never loved, turns in an impressive performance. “House” is safe.
LOST (The Constant)
I don’t think it’s too much of an exaggeration to suggest that “Lost” has the largest, most devoted fan base of any show currently on television. That alone assures it an extremely high popular vote ranking, but it’s also an influential detractor. Diehard fans seem to love it no matter what, the trick is hooking in those new to the scene. After winning Best Drama Series with the pilot episode, “Lost” failed to follow-up with two terrific but storyline-centric episodes in “Man of Science, Man of Faith” and “Through the Looking Glass” the following two years after placing in the top ten both times. This year, the episode is not deeply embroiled in the “Lost” universe but instead creates a fascinating time-travel loop with an irresistible and moving love story. I’m going to guess that “Lost” has what it takes to make it in this year.
MAD MEN (Smoke Gets In Your Eyes)
“Mad Men” is probably the most universally-acclaimed series to hit the airwaves since that other multi-Emmy winner that it’s frequently compared to, “The Sopranos”. The pilot, its submission, is excellent and that’s the episode that started all the buzz, which is re-upping at this moment as season two starts in less than two weeks. I can’t see a thing getting in the way of “Mad Men” getting nominated. While it’s true that no non-HBO cable show has ever managed a series nomination, there’s no actual dictating rule that will prevent a show from getting nominated. Once it’s made the top ten, there’s no stopping it. It’s all a question of how the viewer responds. The network doesn’t matter.
THE TUDORS (Episode 205)
This here is a historical epic drama that wasn’t able to hook me in with a somewhat plodding pilot. Emmy voters didn’t seem to love it much either, as it missed out on the top ten for Best Drama Series last year. This year, it’s in, but star Jonathan Rhys-Meyers still isn’t, and only esteemed guest star Peter O’Toole is carrying any buzz. Shows like this haven’t done well in recent years at the Emmys, with “Deadwood” breaking in only once, and “Rome” missing out on a nomination after making the top ten last year. The 1960s may be as far back as voters want to go. I haven’t seen the episode, but I imagine that it’s tough to get into without the backdrop of the whole series as a reference.
THE WIRE (-30-)
“The Wire” is a particularly interesting case. Nearly every person I have ever spoken to or read has said that this is, hands-down, the best show ever. I’ve never gotten into it, but it’s on my list to do someday (this summer if it gets nominated). In all its four seasons on the air, it has managed one sole nomination, for writing back in 2005. Clearly people are eager to reward it, but it’s one of those shows that is acclaimed by everyone who watches it but isn’t watched by enough people to really get noticed. I’ve heard negative reports about the screening of the series finale, which seemed burdensome and lengthy to first-timers. If the popular vote was somehow high enough, which I’m sure it wasn’t, it might stand a shot, but I think this is the end of the line.
Current predictions:
DAMAGES
DEXTER
HOUSE
LOST
MAD MEN
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