Nominees are pictured and listed in alphabetical order. Beware of spoilers for listed episodes.
Rolin Jones, Friday Night Lights (The Son)
Fans of FNL tout this as one of the all-around best episodes of the season. Watching it as a non-regular viewer of the show, I can understand the impact of the episode, which finds one character struggling to mourn the loss of a father he never really got a chance to know. This episode could make for a great consolation prize for the show not winning any Emmys in its first three seasons, but I think, like the football team at East Dillon High, it’s a long shot at best.
Michelle King & Robert King, The Good Wife (Pilot)
Even though I didn’t love it, the pilot of CBS’s new drama really had people talking, and the show earned nine nominations this year. Pilots rarely win in this category (“24” and “Mad Men” are the recent exceptions), but this is exactly the right kind of installment to break that mold. The buzz for lead actress Julianna Margulies and the show’s nod for Best Drama Series will also help considerably.
Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse, Lost (The End, Parts 1 & 2)
Despite earning five nominations over four seasons in this category, ABC’s serial drama has never won an Emmy for writing. Many were unhappy with the events of the finale, and therefore rewarding its writing might seem inappropriate. On the other hand, however, the controversial final installment of “The Sopranos” did manage to win in this category despite those same misgivings. It all depends on whether “Mad Men” still sweeps or nostalgia for this now-deceased show prevails.
Robin Veith & Matthew Weiner, Mad Men (Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency)
Down from four nominations in this category last year, “Mad Men” is now up for two. This episode, also mentioned for directing, is a more comedic and unusual episode for the show. Given the serious series premiere and second season finale that have won in the past, I wouldn’t count on this installment being honored for its writing, especially considering there’s another, stronger choice from the same show available.
Matthew Weiner & Erin Levy, Mad Men (Shut the Door, Have a Seat)
The third season finale was, in my opinion, the best episode of the year. The second season finale took home this prize last year, so that’s a good sign. This episode managed to reinvent the show and send it in a new direction by plucking its primary characters and having them mutiny and start a new independent agency. It’s a daring, entertaining episode that deserves the recognition it will likely get.
Who should win: “Shut the Door, Have a Seat” (my ballot)
Who will win: “Shut the Door, Have a Seat”
Next up: Best Directing for a Comedy Series
3 comments:
Abe, I would not call "Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency" comedic. Unusual, yes, and it has some really funny stuff but it's not comedic. It's a pretty intense episode, and it deals with the uncertainty of a company that seems to be toyed with, and while the lawnmower incident was bizarre, it was pretty dramatic. A guy loses a foot in a dreadful accident. Also, I know you weren't very taken with this, but we also have Sally getting used to the new baby and feeling the ghost of her dead grandfather. That's some pretty heavy stuff. The episode is beautifully written.
In fact, I think "shut the Door, Have a Seat" is a much funnier episode. It has great one-liners from Cooper and Sterling, as well as Pryce getting fired over the phone, and the schemes makes a for more fun. It's a brilliant episode, that's for sure, and it would be great to see it win (since the more dramatic Don-Betty drama in that episode is also beautifully written).
I think even the people who were not satisfied with the Lost finale admit that it's well written, so I would not count that out. It has so many lovely scenes (particularly between Jack, Hurley and Ben).
You raise a few good points, Richter. The word comedic isn't the appropriate one, you're correct. The episode just didn't impress me as much as the season finale. Honestly, though, they're both strong episodes.
Regarding people being unsatisfied with the finale of "Lost," you think that they would take issue with the writing, but I suppose not (and "The Sopranos" proved that).
Fair enough. I was very impressed with "Guy Walks..." (but then, you remembered the comment I made in your review of that episode, so you know that) and I think most people were most impressed with that episode, since it's the one that also was nominated at the guild awards and others. I think the fact that it has a directing nomination may give it an edge. However, I saw the entire third season with my parents recently, and they were both enchanted with "Shut the Door..." and thought the season ended on a real high note, so maybe the Emmys will take that into account (and the fact that it's a season finale may give it an edge as it did last year, even though I thought "Six Month Leave" was a stronger episode).
Post a Comment