Oh Heidi, what is that napkin upon you?

Careful Probst, Seal could kick your ass.

Why highlight Desperate Housewives when it’s not nominated, nor are any of the stars? I love ABC but is this simple self-promotion?

Oh ok, the girls on ‘set.’

Am I insane, or is Eva Longoria pregnant?

I like Felicity Huffman’s cute hair.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:

Ted Danson is SO great on Damages.

Michael Emerson NEEDS to win for Lost.

Zeljko Ivanek was also damn good on Damages.

William Shatner. Please no.

John Slattery. Very good actor, but not tonight.

Emmy: Ivanek! Ok, he was stellar, but I truly thought that Emerson deserved this one more than any other nominated actor in any category. Oh well, I’m sure there are future nods for him.

Ricky Gervais – this should be excellent.

I love him.

Montage was cute.

LOL – making fun of Carell. Daddy wants a hug.

Directing: Variety, Music or Comedy…

Louis Horvitz for Academy Awards.

Did Josh Groban have to take uppers in order to cram 30 TV themes into 3 minutes? Time will tell.

This was a lame live-blog. Apologies. Not much to work with outside of Gervais.

Can’t decide how I feel about the overall set.

I do like the Seinfeld diner.

Really? They’re showing the masturbation bet scene. Bold for the hour. Not that anyone knows what they’re talking about.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus looks amazing.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series…

Chenoweth is darling in Pushing Daisies, but I’m not sure it’s her time. Yet!

Amy Poehler…genius. Should win.

Jean Smart. Love her on Samantha Who. She could win too, and deserves it.

Holland Taylor, 2.5 Men. No.

Vanessa Williams. Vamp and camp, but no.

Emmy: Jean Smart!! LOVE IT. Good for her. More people should watch that show.

Smart looks amazing too. Give that woman her own series please. Well, after SW of course. That show makes me laugh out loud.

I am looking forward to Christina Applegate’s appearance. She is quite brave and beautiful.

See you soon…

So here we go.

Ok, montage time.

Helen Mirren? Is she guest-starring on something on the small screen?

Wow, Oprah opens the show. Not too shabby. But why? Don’t they already have 5 co-hosts?

Carell in the front row. His star has risen significantly.

Yes Oprah, you sell books. I’ve never purchased any of them.

The point of Oprah’s intro?

Heidi in a suit – HOT.

No-tie Probst. We get it, you’re jungle casual.

Is Heidi going to talk?

Since when is Deal or No Deal a reality show? Why is Howie Mandel nominated?

This is not going well. Let Project Runway speak.

LOL – Heidi should have hosted alone.

Oh boy, I knew they’d take off her clothes. Yikes.

Thank god for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Save us.

SNL is going to miss AP.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series….

Please lord, not Ducky.

Kevin Dillon, it might be your year.

NPH, I heart you even though I don’t watch HIMYM.

Piven hasn’t met scenery he didn’t find tasty.

Rainn Wilson, perhaps for stealing Angela’s cat.

EMMY: Piven again.

Sigh.  Poor Drama.

I don’t get what he’s talking about. Strange little man.

And now, I pause for commercials. I LOVE TiVO.

Rather than attempt to predict the winners in the major categories (because these are the same people who infuriatingly reward Spader & Shatner year after year, and have now adopted Sheen & Cryer), I’ve selected those shows and individuals who I believe deserve the Emmy this year.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
Two and a Half Men

I don’t think there has been a  more entertaining series or cast since Arrested Development.

LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Steve Carell, The Office
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Comedic timing is everything. A victory for Pace would be just as sweet.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

I do not watch How I Met Your Mother (but I should and I will), and wasn’t that impressed with the nominees in this category. Dillon is underrated in the shadow of Piven.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Mary Louise-Parker, Weeds

What an amazing category; every one of these women should win. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy Applegate in this role; I see more nominations in her future. I would have chosen the consistently stellar Parker, but Weeds is more a comedy of errors than a traditional comedy.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Jean Smart, Samantha Who
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Another tough choice; Poehler is the saving grace of SNL, but Smart could pull an upset victory. She makes me laugh out loud and deserves her own series.

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock (2 episodes)
Flight of the Conchords
Pushing Daisies
The Office

Wow. FotC may steal this one away from 30 Rock.

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

I am not just choosing Lost because it’s my favorite show; I believe that Season 4 was extremely strong across the board (acting, writing, direction, cinematography, etc.), from start to finish. Second choice would be Dexter. I love Mad Men but feel that the current second season is far superior to the first. And I will simply never understand the allure of Boston Legal.

LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
James Spader, Boston Legal
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Hugh Laurie, House
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Jon Hamm, Mad Men

The buzz is for Cranston, but I am absolutely mesmerized by Hall week after week. To be honest, I thought that this was Matthew Fox’s year for Lost; what an omission! Not to mention Kyle Chandler for Friday Night Lights…

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Ted Danson, Damages
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery, Mad Men

If it weren’t for Emerson’s eye-bugging, jaw-dropping role on Lost, my vote would have been for Danson in a heartbeat; his performance was the surprise revelation of the season.

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sallie Field, Brothers & Sisters
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

No question. Glenn Close knocks it out of the park, and she scares me. But where’s the recognition for Connie Britton on FNL?

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

Dr. Bailey is the heart and soul of Grey’s, but frankly I’m surprised by Oh’s nod; she wasn’t given much to work with this season.

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Battlestar Galactica
Damages
Mad Men (2 episodes)
The Wire

Again, where is a nod for Lost? I really tried to get into The Wire, because some critics feel it is one of the best shows of all time, but I lost interest.

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
The Amazing Race
Top Chef

—

Thoughts?

There have been several hot button political issues, people and songs in the spotlight recently, and due to the frequent nature of inquiries directed my way, I thought it was time to address them all. Here and now. Why the hell not? I rarely delve into the personal, but I’m feeling particularly snarky and honest today.

Question 1:
Are you getting married now that it is legal in California?

Answer:
Perhaps. We’ve been together for over 11 years, and don’t want to get married just because we can. That being said, I cried when I saw this video of Ellen & Portia. So beautiful.

Political side note: please vote No on Prop 8 if you are a registered voter in the state of CA.  You may not know me personally, but why deny me the opportunity to finally marry the woman who shares my heart?

Question 2:
What do you think of the song “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry?

Answer:
In college we had a term for what she is boasting about – LUG (lesbian until graduation).  It has become as common as the Freshman 15. Yawn. Although I will admit that the damn song is quite catchy.

Question 3:
Why don’t you write about Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson?

Answer:
For the same reason you will never see me discuss hotel heiresses and the like; because I do not cover celebrity gossip, nor do I have any interest in perpetuating rumors about people. There are plenty of other sites out there to satiate such curiosities.

Question 4:
What do you think about Sarah Palin?

Answer:
As if you have to ask. Although her official stance on gay marriage and benefits for same-sex couples is vague at best, I’m not an idiot. She and McCain will eviscerate the path which people like Ellen and Bill Clinton paved for so many.  And don’t get me started with Palin’s offensive and egregious views on myriad other issues. This is not a political blog, so I’ll stop there.

—

So there you have it, a completely tangential entry which I’m sure I’ll regret in retrospect.