[IMG:L]Ugly Betty, 24, House, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, and More!
Before the gown designs are fitted, tuxes are being rented and the acceptance speeches are drafted, Hollywood.com hunted down even more nominees from your favorite shows in the race for that coveted winged trophy at the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
A Beautiful Time For Ugly Betty
The freshman series debuted in fashion in its freshman season with 11 nominations, including the first-ever nod for a Latina actress in a lead role for star America Ferrera, who was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
America Ferrera
Hollywood.com: What do all the Emmy nominations in your show’s first year on the air mean to you?
America Ferrera: We have been so incredibly blessed to be showered with such amazing awards and to be recognized by your own community you realize how much the show means and how warmly it’s received and how the community has taken pride in it. It’s a special acknowledgement and it’s really wonderful to feel like we’re not just reaching far and wide and having great appeal throughout the country, we’re staying true to where the show started and what the show means for the community
HW: How did you find out about the nominations?
AF: I couldn’t sleep, so one of our writers had a gathering at a writer’s home and we all watched it live…It was really exciting. The category of comedy series got really frightening because it goes in alphabetical order and Ugly Betty was the last one, and we were watching it go without announcing our name and finally! That was a great triumph because the show is nothing without every single component that’s part of it, and I’ve been lucky to be the face of the show but honoring the complete show is so wonderful.
Rebecca Romijn
HW: How did the cast celebrate when you got back to work?
Rebecca Romijn: A few of us actually just took a little trip to New York City this weekend to see Patti Lupone in ‘Gypsy’ – she was on Ugly Betty this season. And we also went out to Newark, New Jersey, to see Vanessa [Williams] perform in concert. We ended up going out to dinner and having a very quiet cast Emmy toast, which was a really nice thing to do.
HW: What do you think it means for the show?
RR: Hopefully it draws more positive attention and piques people’s interest and will welcome more viewers and people will love the show as much as we do, so I’m very proud of it.
Ana Ortiz
HW: How did you hear about the nominations?
Ann Ortiz: Honestly, all my relatives from the east called me right away. I was still asleep. Oy! I was supposed to go to the producer’s house for the pancake breakfast and we were all going to watch it together, but I overslept. We were supposed to get there at 4:30 a.m.!
HW: What it meant for in the first year of the show to generate so many supporting roles and guest stars that got all these nominations?
AO: It’s such a dream to be part of an ensemble like this. It’s sort of what you always hope for. There’s something for everyone. Everyone’s character is written so well and so paid attention to. Actors have huge egos and huge insecurities. On our show we don’t have to deal with any of that because each character is so specific and is so well-written for and so well attended to, for lack of a better word. It’s fantastic.
HW: Who do you think is the toughest competition?
AO: I gotta tell you, I don’t know anyone who’s better than Judith Light. America would be the first Latina to ever win a best actress ever, and she has earned it and then some. And Vanessa Williams, I mean, you can’t take your eyes off her when she’s on. I just don’t think you can compete.
[IMG:R]A Shining Hour For 24
An Emmy perennial, the tense action-drama landed six nominations this season, including a lead actor berth for star Kiefer Sutherland, who won last year, and a second nod for guest actress Jean Smart.
Kiefer Sutherland (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series)
HW: What was your reaction to nomination and where were you when you heard?
Kiefer Sutherland: Flattered. I’d gotten up out of bed and I just checked my messages and someone had let me know. I’m flattered. It means everything. To be acknowledged by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences or the Screen Actors Guild or anything like that is flattering, it’s humbling. I can’t really say more than that.
HW: What episode was submitted for the voters’ consideration?
KS: 24. Always go with your last thing.
HW: What do you think of your competition in the category?
KS: Phenomenal actors. Hugh Laurie certainly gives the best speech. I like to listen to him tell a few. He’s very funny. They’re just phenomenal actors. It’s an honor to be a part of it.
Jean Smart (Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series)
HW: Where were you when you found out about the Emmy nomination?
JS: I was bringing my dog home from the vet. Unfortunately he’s very, old and very, very sick. He was having an EKG and I was shopping next door at Gelson’s. I checked my messages and my manager had left me a message.
HW: And how did you feel?
JS: I was really, really happy. Last year, I remember Gregory Itzin and I were talking the night of the Emmys and we said that, truly, one of the reasons we were disappointed in not winning was that we really wanted to get up on stage and have the opportunity to thank each other and thank Kiefer and to thank the cast and producers and things, because it really was an extraordinary experience for both of us. We had a great time and Gregory and I had a wonderful working relationship. We had done a play together 20 years before and hadn’t worked together since. He’s amazing.
Emmy Nominee in the House
The fan-favorite medical drama received four nominations, including one for the not-always-so-good doctor himself, Hugh Laurie, nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
[IMG:L]Hugh Laurie
HW: What would winning the Emmy mean to you?
Hugh Laurie: I’m just too superstitious to even give it a moment’s thought, because if you do, then all is lost. You start dreaming like that, you go crazy, so I’m just pretending like it never happened because it hasn’t and getting on with my job. That’s all I can do.
HW: Is there a little dream in your mind?
HL: Maybe, but I’m keeping that to myself.
HW: And the winner is?
HL: The winner is James Gandolfini, who I’ve always respected.
Lisa Edelstein
HW: What does the Emmy nomination mean for the show?
Lisa Edelstein: It’s important for the show creators. It’s a wonderful acknowledgement for all of us from the industry, but I think the things that really do matter are the individual nominations, like if our makeup artist wins, that’s a really powerful thing for her…I am going to go. I started this season realizing this is one of those fantastic times, so I was already at Level 9
HW: What about choosing a dress for the big night?
LE: I’m horrified. it’s so stressful picking a dress. I have a stylist but it’s still stressful. You want to get the right dress. It’s a lot of pressure. People are very critical. There’s a great opportunity there but also a great risk. There are many beautiful dresses to choose from. I’d like to look at Marchesa again. I wore them last year and it was very successful. It was a beautiful dress. So I’ll see what they’re doing this year. There are a lot of designers I like.
[IMG:R]Emmy Satisfies Desperate Housewives
Another season, another round of nominations (six this time) for the suburban satire – including nod for lead actress Felicity Huffman and guest stars Laurie Metcalf and Dixie Carter – but it’s still a thrill for the creator and stars.
Creator/Executive Producer Marc Cherry
HW: What was your first reaction to the nominations DH received?
Marc Cherry: You know, I was so happy that Dixie Carter got nominated and of course my beloved Felicity got nominated, and Laurie Metcalf who I think is going to win the award. That’s a tough one for me, because I thought Laurie was brilliant in that episode but also Dixie is a dear friend, someone who I love, and they’re competing against each other. So really what I’m kind of hoping for in that category is they tie. But I think we’ve got a good shot to take at least one Emmy home.
HW: What about these guest spots raised the level so high to garner this praise?
MC: We write strong roles for women. There’s not a lot of TV shows that give women kind of the meeting of dramatic and comedic stuff to bite into. That’s kind of what we do on our show. And also, I was smart enough to cast brilliant actresses.
HW: And Felicity Huffman – was there something special about her performance this year raised her bar even higher?
MC: You know what? She submitted the hostage episode and, to my way of thinking, no other actress in that category competed with the work she did in that episode. I thought it was nothing short of brilliant. And also, she’s just an amazing talent anyway. So I’ve got my fingers crossed for her, too.
Teri Hatcher
HW: Have you had a chance to congratulate Felicity yet?
Teri Hatcher: Oh, of course, that morning. Are you kidding?
HW: Were you up at 5 a.m. for the Emmy nominations?
TH: No, I’d been working the day before. I didn’t even remember it was the Emmys, to be honest!
HW: What about this year raised the bar for the writing, Felicity, the guest stars?
TH: Oh, I think there are so many amazing performances on television and I think it’s so great that, when you look at specifically that female category, that there are so many women over 40 that are still pulling off amazing comedic roles. I’m just proud to be part of all that. It’s amazing.
[IMG:L]No Sibling Rivalry On Brothers & Sisters
The first season family drama launched strongly with three nominations, including nods for Rachel Griffiths and previous trophy holder Sally Field, who won for turns on ER and the 1976 telepic Sybil.
Rachel Griffiths (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series)
HW: Where were you when you heard? What was your reaction?
Rachel Griffiths: I was in bed. It’s kind of bitter sweet. The brothers and sisters are so in love with each other on this show, and husbands and wives. It’s weird to be singled out. Despite the fact that everybody was very generous, I just wish it could be shared more.
HW: Do you know which of your episodes was submitted?
RG: Episode Two – That was one of the episodes we were making when we were hearing about the show being “troubled.” I just remember being on the inside going “I am doing the best work of my career.”
HW: What do you think the Emmy will do for you if anything?
RG: Look, it’s nice to be nominated. To be honest I am not really comfortable on the red carpet…When you are in that room or you are on that stage, when I got the Golden Globe, and you are looking down at the most amazing of your peers, who have all achieved an extraordinary amount, that’s when the moment hits you. You think, these people have honored me and that’s pretty amazing. In the end, after I won the Golden Globe I was at class the next morning…Winning a Golden Globe or winning an Emmy doesn’t mean tomorrow’s work is going to be better. So it’s about staying grounded and keeping it interesting.
Sally Field (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series)
HW: Where were you, and how did you find out?
Sally Field: I was in my bed. It was early in the morning, and my 19-year-old son came in to tell me.
HW: How did you feel being singled out for that honor?
SF: I felt glad that the show was recognized – I felt really, really glad about that.
[IMG:R]Boston Legal Goes to Jury
The quirky legal drama scored six nominations this year, including a lead actor nod for James Spader and the second nom for guest star Christian Clemenson, who took home the trophy last year for playing the eccentric Jerry Espenson.
Christian Clemenson (Outstading Guest Actor in a Drama Series)
HW: Were you up in the morning? How did you hear?
Christian Clemenson: Yes, I was up in the morning. My publicist, Richard Hoffman, called me at 5:40 in the morning. I was online. I knew where to find the site and I was madly trying to download but it was like the slowest link ever. Couldn’t get it down and then he had the hard copy, called me up and gave me the great news.
HW: Your category wasn’t announced on live TV?
CC: No, not my category. I watched the television presentation, they announced, the first thing they said was that Boston Legal was nominated for best drama series. So I was already on a high for that, but no, they didn’t announce my category then.
HW: What episode did you submit?
CC: I submitted an episode called “Guys ‘n’ Dolls.” It’s an episode where I represent a department store that’s being sued for selling risqué dolls to children. There’s a lot of Jerry [in it] and there’s a lot of different [sides] of Jerry. There are a lot of scenes with Alan [James Spader], and I think Jerry’s really at his best when he’s with Alan. That’s what made me happy to submit this.
HW: Has the cast done anything to celebrate all the nominations?
CC: We’re working. We have no time to celebrate. The dressing room wing smells of dead flowers at the moment. We have tons of dead bouquets but we’re just working too hard, already making next season, that we don’t have a lot of time to celebrate.
HW: What do you think of your competition in the category?
CC: Oh my God, it’s crazy. Eli Wallach – as long as I’ve loved acting, I’ve loved Eli Wallach. So to be in the category with him – I just can’t get my mind around that. Forest Whitaker – amazing actor. But I’ve got to say, one of my favorite actors in the world: David Morse. The fact that I’m nominated with David Morse is just a great thrill to me.
–Reporting by Fred Topel, Gerri Miller and Emily Christianson
