The 2011 Emmy nominations were announced from L.A. this morning. If you want the full list, go here. If you want the run-down on what I think you need to know, keep reading.
- Amy Poehler was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Parks & Recreation, and I swear this is her year to win. Her competition includes Tina Fey, Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Laura Linney (The Big C) and Melissa McCarthy (Mike and Molly).
- It pays to be a guest actor on Glee: Kristin Chenoweth, Dot-Marie Jones and Gwyneth Paltrow all got nods for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy. Also noteworthy: Tina Fey's nom in this category for hosting SNL.
- Meanwhile, my husband Matt Damon got a guest actor-comedy nod for his role as Liz Lemon's boyfriend on 30 Rock; Will Arnett got a nod for his role as Jack Donaghy's nemesis; and Elizabeth Banks was recognized on the guest actress side for playing Jack Donaghy's baby mama.
- In the Comedy Series category I'm most excited to see Parks & Recreation. Most of the other nominees are also quite worthy: 30 Rock, The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family and Glee. Can you guess which one I don't support?
- Steve Carell's got one last shot to grab an Outstanding Actor in a Comedy trophy. But there's a few newcomers in that category: Johnny Galecki (Big Bang Theory), Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) and Louis C.K. (Louis) join last year's winner Jim Parsons (BBT) and previous winner Alec Baldwin (30 Rock).
- I'm happy to see Jane Krakowski nominated in the Oustanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy category for 30 Rock. She is so fantastic on that show, and I felt she should've won a trophy for her work years ago. Competition this year comes from Modern Family's Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara, Glee's Jane Lynch, Betty White for Hot In Cleveland, and Kristen Wiig for SNL.
- I'm happy for the cast of Modern Family. I really am. But I'm really not a fan of one show dominating a whole category, which is what happened in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy category. Ed O'Neil gets his first nod alongside Ty Burell, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Glee's Chris Colfer and Two And a Half Men's Jon Cryer round out the category.
- The Outstanding Drama Series category reads like a list of shows I know I should watch, but don't. Joining Dexter (a show I actually do know and love) are Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, The Good Wife, Game of Throne and Friday Night Lights.
- If only Jackie would write a blog post about how great Friday Night Lights is, I would probably be ecstatic that Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton were nominated for Oustanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama Series, respectively. Chandler's up against the usual suspects (Hall, Hamm, Laurie) and new entrants Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) and Timothy Olyphant (Justified). Britton takes on previous winner Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) plus Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Kathy Bates (Harry's Law), Mireille Enos (The Killing) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men).