ADVICE FOR EMMY IF IT DITCHES THE FAMILIAR FOR THE DYSFUNCTIONAL, AWARDS SHOW COULD GET IT RIGHT THIS YEAR.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic Forget the predictions. Among the reams of paper the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences spew out in July when the Emmy nominees for the 56th annual awards ceremony were announced was one that declared ``The West Wing'' will win its fifth consecutive trophy for Outstanding Drama Series this Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium. Yes, it was a typo typo - typographical error . Or at least, let's hope it is: ``West Wing'' shouldn't have won in 2002 (when the honor should have gone to ``Six Feet Under'') and it certainly shouldn't have won last year (when ``The Sopranos'' was way overdue), and these days even NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. executives recognize the show needs to do something to lure back viewers, so it darn well better not win again this year. Perhaps - a critic can dream, can't he? - just perhaps, this will be the year the Emmys get it right. And getting it right this year means honoring TV families at their most dysfunctional. Certainly, such a gambit would offer succor to the tenor of the times: As a nation, we're as fractious as we've been in decades. Compared to America's virulent red-state/blue-state dissonance, even television's most tormented families seem as innocent as the Andersons from the '50s sitcom ``Father Knows Best.'' HBO's ``The Sopranos,'' with its ho-hum-routine excellence, may no longer be shockingly brilliant television, but it certainly remains compelling TV. This season shined as Tony (James Gandolfini) and Carmela (Edie Falco) sparred during their separation, then reunited in an uneasy truce - not to mention when Adriana (Drea de Matteo Andrea Donna de Matteo (born January 19, 1972[1]) is an Emmy-winning American actress, perhaps best known for her roles as Adriana La Cerva on the HBO TV series The Sopranos and as Joey Tribbiani's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey. ) got whacked, a turn of events so emotionally upsetting to fans that message boards across the Internet pointed in vain to the fact that she wasn't shown dying on screen as proof that she might live still. Imagine another nominee killing off a supporting character to such outrage - hey, ``24'' does it all the time, and CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. was willing to scratch two supporting players from ``CSI'' simply because they asked for more scratch. As for Outstanding Comedy Series, no sitcom family was as epically - and hilariously - in shambles as the Bluths in Fox's ``Arrested Development,'' a series that may have been ratings-deprived but looks to be the genre's best hope at rejuvenation Rejuvenation Aeson in extreme old age, restored to youth by Medea. [Rom. Myth.: LLEI, I: 322] apples of perpetual youth by tasting the golden apples kept by Idhunn, the gods preserved their youth. [Scand. Myth. . Certainly, voting members of the academy recognize that honoring the departed ``Sex and the City'' or the soon-to-depart ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' will only underscore viewers' impressions that the sitcom is moribund. Honoring ``Arrested Development's'' inspired horrific behavior will signal to viewers that there's still a spark of life Spark of Life is the eighteenth episode in the of the popular American crime drama , set in Las Vegas, Nevada. Summary Grissom, Sara and Greg work a case where a bushfire kills a man and burns a woman, who survived. left in the sitcom - keenly witty, anarchic life, at that. That the series archly referenced such modern-day scandals as Enron and, in its loonily bizarre finale, Halliburton, will likely be lost on most voters and viewers. Yet it remains proof of creator Mitch Hurwitz's oddball - yet, honestly, kookily apolitical - vision. Dysfunction is a given in the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program category - heck, it's absolutely demanded of a successful show's participants. But as fun as the spectacle of contestants bickering can be, it was virtually elevated to an art form in NBC's ``The Apprentice,'' which should easily take home the trophy in this category. Granted, the Emmys rarely reflect what's happening in the rest of the world in the way that the Oscars do on occasion. More to the point, Emmys ignore shows that truly influence the industry. Otherwise, programs like ``Seinfeld,'' ``Friends'' and ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' would have won Emmys much earlier in their history. Meanwhile, ``West Wing'' - which inspired nothing until executive producer Thomas Schlamme left the fold to mold The WB's new, and very good, ``Jack & Bobby'' - would be a mere pretender. ``The Sopranos'' has begat any number of greatly gritty series about rivetingly flawed anti-heroes (consider FX's ``The Shield'' and ``Nip/Tuck'') and would likely take home summary trophies until FX uncorked its best show yet, ``Rescue Me.'' Similarly, the metaphysical melodrama of HBO's ``Six Feet Under'' has likewise inspired shows from ``Dead Like Me'' to this year's Outstanding Drama Series nominee ``Joan of Arcadia Joan of Arcadia is an American television fantasy/family drama, which aired on Fridays, 8-9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS from September 262003 until April 222005. It is currently in syndication with episodes airing in high definition on HDNet. .'' But its inventive creative team has yet to be recognized for its efforts to steer viewers to matters more spiritual. This year, it's safe to say that the Emmys will be apolitically political - HBO's convulsively con·vul·sive adj. 1. Marked by or having the nature of convulsions. 2. Having or producing convulsions. con·vul affecting AIDS drama ``Angels in America'' will, as it has in every previous awards ceremony, sweep every category in which it's nominated. (How could it not, with nominees such as Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and director Mike Nichols?) But its sweep will not, unfortunately, reflect the unrelenting power of ``Angels'' - far fewer viewers related to it than anyone expected. In fact, by HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy standards, ``Angels'' was an outright bomb. By contrast, HBO's underseen Emmy-winning miniseries ``The Corner'' inspired ``The Wire,'' the powerfully straight-faced drama that is a positive portrait of our country's war on terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act yet critical of America's war on drugs. Despite critical acclaim, ``The Wire'' has never won a nomination. Coincidentally, the third season of ``The Wire'' will debut on Sunday, during the Emmys - an almost tacit admission on HBO's behalf that TV's awards shows have virtually nothing to do with actual excellence in programming. Even though the network may sweep the awards ceremony. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke(at)dailynews.com The 56th annual Prime-time Emmy Awards will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Sunday on ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. (Channel 7). Drama Series: ``CSI CSI Crime Scene Investigator CSI CompuServe, Inc. CSI Commodity Systems, Inc. CSI Commodity Systems Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) CSI Crime Scene Investigation (CBS TV show) CSI Christian Schools International : Crime Scene Investigation Crime scene investigation may refer to:
Comedy Series: ``Arrested Development,'' Fox; ``Curb Your Enthusiasm,'' HBO; ``Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond is an American sitcom originally broadcast on CBS from 1996 to 2005. It is one of the most critically acclaimed American sitcoms of its time. ,'' CBS; ``Sex and the City,'' HBO; ``Will & Grace,'' NBC. Miniseries: ``American Family - Journey of Dreams,'' PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, ; ``Angels in America Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is an award winning play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. It has been made into both a television miniseries of the same name and an opera by Peter Eötvös. ,'' HBO; ``Horatio Hornblower,'' A&E; ``Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness (Masterpiece Theatre),'' PBS; ``Traffic: The Miniseries,'' USA. Made for Television Movie: ``And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself,'' HBO; ``Ike: Countdown to D-Day,'' A&E; ``The Lion in Winter,'' Showtime; ``The Reagans,'' Showtime; ``Something the Lord Made,'' HBO. Variety, Music or Comedy Series: ``Chappelle's Show,'' Comedy Central; ``The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,'' Comedy Central; ``Late Night With Conan O'Brien Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an Emmy Award-winning American late night talk show that is syndicated worldwide. The show, hosted by Conan O'Brien, features varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and stand-up comedy performances. ,'' NBC; ``Late Show With David Letterman “Late Show” redirects here. For other uses, see The Late Show. The Late Show with David Letterman is a multiple Emmy Award-winning hour-long weeknight comedy talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City. ,'' CBS; ``Saturday Night Live This article is about the American television series. For the show related to Big Brother (UK), see Saturday Night Live (UK). Saturday Night Live (SNL ,'' NBC. Variety, Music or Comedy Special: ``A&E in Concert: Paul McCartney in Red Square,'' A&E; ``The 76th Annual Academy Awards,'' ABC; ``Chris Rock: Never Scared,'' HBO; ``Elaine Stritch: At Liberty,'' HBO; ``Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now,'' HBO. Reality Program: ``Colonial House,'' PBS; ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,'' ABC; ``Penn & Teller: Bulls--t!'' Showtime; ``Project Greenlight,'' HBO; ``Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,'' Bravo. Reality-Competition Program: ``The Amazing Race,'' CBS; ``American Idol,'' Fox; ``The Apprentice,'' NBC; ``Last Comic Standing Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that premiered in 2003. The objective of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC television network and a special first to air on the cable-TV ,'' NBC; ``Survivor,'' CBS. Lead Actor in a Drama Series: James Gandolfini, ``The Sopranos,'' HBO; Anthony LaPaglia, ``Without a Trace,'' CBS; Martin Sheen, ``The West Wing,'' NBC; James Spader, ``The Practice,'' ABC; Kiefer Sutherland, ``24,'' Fox. Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Jennifer Garner, ``Alias,'' ABC; Mariska Hargitay, ``Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,'' NBC; Amber Tamblyn, ``Joan of Arcadia,'' CBS; Edie Falco, ``The Sopranos,'' HBO; Allison Janney, ``The West Wing,'' NBC. Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Larry David, ``Curb Your Enthusiasm,'' HBO; Kelsey Grammer, ``Frasier,'' NBC; Matt LeBlanc, ``Friends,'' NBC; John Ritter, ``8 Simple Rules,'' ABC; Tony Shalhoub ``Monk,'' USA. Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jennifer Aniston, ``Friends,'' NBC; Patricia Heaton, ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS; Bonnie Hunt, ``Life with Bonnie Life With Bonnie is an ABC television comedy that originally aired from 2002-2004. The show outlined the life of character Bonnie Malloy, who juggled her personal life and a TV talk show position. ,'' CBS; Jane Kaczmarek, ``Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle is a seven-time Emmy-winning,[1] one-time Grammy-winning[1] and seven-time Golden Globe-nominated[1] American sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. ,'' Fox; Sarah Jessica Parker, ``Sex and the City,'' HBO. Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Antonio Banderas, ``And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself,'' HBO; James Brolin, ``The Reagans,'' Showtime; Al Pacino, ``Angels in America,'' HBO; Alan Rickman, ``Something the Lord Made,'' HBO; Mos Def, ``Something the Lord Made,'' HBO. Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Glenn Close, ``The Lion in Winter,'' Showtime; Judy Davis, ``The Reagans,'' Showtime; Helen Mirren, ``Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness (Masterpiece Theatre),'' PBS; Meryl Streep, ``Angels in America,'' HBO; Emma Thompson, ``Angels in America,'' HBO. Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Billy Crystal, ``The 76th Annual Academy Awards,'' ABC; Ellen DeGeneres, ``Ellen DeGeneres Here and Now,'' HBO; Bill Maher, ``Real Time With Bill Maher Real Time with Bill Maher is a talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. Much like his previous show, Politically Incorrect on ABC (and before that, on Comedy Central), Real Time ,'' HBO; Elaine Stritch, ``Elaine Stritch: At Liberty,'' HBO; Tracey Ullman, ``Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales,'' HBO. Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, ``The Sopranos,'' HBO; Brad Dourif, ``Deadwood Deadwood, city (1990 pop. 1,830), seat of Lawrence co., W S.Dak.; settled 1876 after discovery of gold. A Black Hills tourist center, it is also a trade hub for a lumbering, stock-raising, and mining region. ,'' HBO; Victor Garber, ``Alias,'' ABC; Michael Imperioli, ``The Sopranos,'' HBO; John Spencer, ``The West Wing,'' NBC. Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Stockard Channing, ``The West Wing,'' NBC; Tyne Daly, ``Judging Amy,'' CBS; Drea de Matteo, ``The Sopranos,'' HBO; Janel Moloney, ``The West Wing,'' NBC; Robin Weigert, ``Deadwood,'' HBO. Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Peter Boyle, ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS; Brad Garrett, ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS; Sean Hayes, ``Will & Grace,'' NBC; David Hyde Pierce David Hyde Pierce (born April 3, 1959) is a Screen Actors Guild, Tony and Emmy Award-winning American actor, best known for his co-starring role as psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier alongside Kelsey Grammer. , ``Frasier,'' NBC; Jeffrey Tambor, ``Arrested Development,'' Fox. Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kim Cattrall, ``Sex and the City,'' HBO; Kristin Davis, ``Sex and the City,'' HBO; Megan Mullally, ``Will & Grace,'' NBC; ``Cynthia Nixon, ``Sex and the City,'' HBO; Doris Roberts, ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS. Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Justin Kirk, ``Angels in America,'' HBO; William H. Macy, ``Stealing Sinatra,'' Showtime; Patrick Wilson, ``Angels in America,'' HBO; Ben Shenkman, ``Angels in America,'' HBO; Jeffrey Wright, ``Angels in America,'' HBO. Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Julie Andrews, ``Eloise at Christmastime,'' ABC; Anne Heche, ``Gracie's Choice,'' Lifetime; Anjelica Huston, ``Iron Jawed jawed adj. Having a jaw or jaws, especially of a specified kind. Often used in combination: slack-jawed; the jawed fishes. Adj. 1. Angels,'' HBO; Angela Lansbury, ``The Blackwater Lightship lightship, moored vessel bearing lights and other signal devices to guide ships and warn of hazards to navigation. Lightships are generally stationed at points where a lighthouse cannot be erected; they are given distinctive features (e.g. ,'' CBS; Mary-Louise Parker, ``Angels in America,'' HBO. Guest Actor in a Drama Series: James Earl Jones, ``Everwood,'' WB; Martin Landau, ``Without a Trace,'' CBS; Bob Newhart, ``ER,'' NBC; Matthew Perry, ``The West Wing,'' NBC; William Shatner, ``The Practice,'' ABC. Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Louise Fletcher, ``Joan of Arcadia,'' CBS; Marlee Matlin, ``Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,'' NBC; Sharon Stone, ``The Practice,'' ABC; Betty White, ``The Practice,'' ABC; Mare Winningham, ``Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,'' NBC. Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: John Cleese, ``Will & Grace,'' NBC; Danny DeVito, ``Friends,'' NBC; Anthony LaPaglia, ``Frasier,'' NBC; John Turturro, ``Monk,'' USA; Fred Willard, ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS. Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Christina Applegate, ``Friends,'' NBC; Eileen Brennan, ``Will & Grace,'' NBC; Georgia Engel, ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' CBS; Cloris Leachman, ``Malcolm in the Middle,'' Fox; Laura Linney, ``Frasier,'' NBC. CAPTION(S): 6 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) He can DREAM can't he? TV critic David Kronke wishes the Emmy Awards could get it right for once (2) JAMES GANDOLFINI: Lead Actor nominee for ``The Sopranos.'' (3) DREA DE MATTEO: Supporting Actress nominee for ``The Sopranos.'' (4) DONALD TRUMP: Reality-Competition Program nominee ``The Apprentice.'' (5) JASON Jason, in Greek mythology Jason, in Greek mythology, son of Aeson. When Pelias usurped the throne of Iolcus and killed (or imprisoned) Aeson and most of his descendants, Jason was smuggled off to the centaur Chiron, who reared him secretly on Mt. Pelion. BATEMAN, JEFFREY TAMBOR and HENRY WINKLER: Comedy Series nominee ``Arrested Development.'' (6) no caption (Emmy award) ATAS/NATAS Box: (1) 56th annual Prime-Time Emmy Awards (see text) (2) no caption (Winners in the creative arts categories) - Associated Press |
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