It’s not so much about which network shows and stars were nominated this year, but which ones weren’t. We tally the totals.
NBC
Among the networks, NBC continues to dominate the Emmy charts this year with 65 nominations–falling far short of HBO’s whopping 124–and with several surprising omissions for two peacock powerhouses that are leaving the airwaves.
Frasier, apparently, is not leaving at the top of its game. Of its 9 nominations, the show didn’t procure a best comedy series nod, although Kelsey Grammer, who plays Frasier Crane in the Seattle-based comedy series, takes home his 10th nomination as leading actor.
Friends, too, failed to get a nod in the comedy category, taking home just 7 nominations, 4 less than the two previous years. It’s received 6 nominations in its 10 years.
However, as a final goodbye for the hit comedy series, Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc each take home leading Emmy nominations for their roles as Rachel and Joey, for the fifth and third times, respectively. It would be Aniston’s second win.
Will & Grace, too, is taking a step back from its usual dominating spot on the comedy charts. Mysteriously, Debra Messing was not nominated this year for her role as Grace, and for the first time, the fab four has gotten less than 11 nominations. Complaining is not an option though, seeing as how 9 noms still might send them home with a few good wins.
The West Wing snatched 12 nominations, and the producers no doubt are keeping their fingers crossed for Martin Sheen, who has been nominated as lead actor in a drama series for all 5 seasons the show has aired, but has never won. The show has won four years in a row, but it remains to be seen how the departure of series creator Aaron Sorkin will affect Emmy voting.
As for the variety, music or comedy series category, NBC takes home 7 nominations total for both Late Night With Conan O’Brien and Saturday Night Live. They have some tough competition this year with Comedy Central’s huge hit and first-time nominee Chappelle’s Show taking home three nominations, and David Letterman’s Late Night, which has remained steady on the charts with at least 2 nominations every year for the past 10 years.
The Apprentice is up for best reality program, taking home 4 Emmy nominations. Standing afloat with just 1 Emmy nomination, Last Comic Standing makes it into the same category as Fox’s American Idol and CBS’ Survivor.
CBS
Receiving 44 nominations as a network, CBS manages to hit second place, trailing NBC for the second year in a row. Everybody Loves Raymond took home 9 nominations, keeping it on the charts for the 6th straight year, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has 4, and newbie Joan of Arcadia brought home 3.
Things just would not be the same at CBS if Everybody Loves Raymond did not walk away with more than a few nods, including best comedy series. Up for her 5th Emmy nom as Ray’s stressed-out wife Debra on the hit comedy series, Patricia Heaton is hoping to take home her 3rd Emmy. Actor, writer and producer Ray Romano was not nominated this year for his role as Ray, ending his five-year nomination streak as leading actor in a comedy series. Doris Roberts as Ray’s controlling mom, Marie, also pulled in a supporting nomination, as did Brad Garrett as Ray’s jealous brother and Peter Boyle as Ray’s careless father.
Joan of Arcadia hits the charts with its very first nomination. Also a notable achievement for the show, Amber Tamblyn, who plays the teenager Joan, snagged her first Emmy nomination as lead actress in a drama series for her first year on the job. Not bad for a newcomer.
Without a Trace‘s Anthony LaPaglia garners two nods, for lead actor in a drama series and for outstanding guest actor for his appearance down the dial on Frasier.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation managed to pull a third consecutive nomination in for the outstanding drama series category.
Once again, without mentioning the reality shows that have been invading our television screens each night, we would be missing out on a huge piece of the entertainment puzzle. The Amazing Race and Survivor remain two top contenders for the coveted reality competition Emmy award.
David Letterman may only make up a small portion of the nominees in this year’s variety, music or comedy category, but he always dominates in a very big way. It is possible that a newcomer might come in and sweep the lead in this year’s competition of the funnies.
ABC
It’s not hard to figure that ABC might be at a standstill with 33 nominations this year, the same as the previous. While none of the ABC shows really made a huge impact, a few choice actors and actresses sure did.
The late John Ritter, who passed away right as the ’03 season began, is remembered with his 6th career nomination for his father on the hit comedy series 8 Simple Rules. If he wins the lead comedy actor category, it will be the second time in his career, having won for the role for which he’s best remembered, the girl-crazy and hilarious Jack on the 1980’s show Three’s Company.
Another family comedy, Life With Bonnie, saw Bonnie Hunt nominated for her first Emmy award as the lead actress in a comedy series.
Jennifer Garner, known has Sydney Bristow on the popular spy show Alias, picked up her 3rd Emmy nomination for leading actress in a drama series. The past three years Garner received the same nomination, but no wins. Could this finally turn the sweet girl-gone-spy into an Emmy award winner?
Something should be said about a show whose sole purpose is to improve the quality of life for a deserving family. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is hosted by the vibrant Ty Pennington, who controls the team of builders and designers with just one week to change an entire house inside and out. This will be the first nomination for the show. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is up against the ever-so-popular Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on Bravo.
FOX
Fox drops from 37 nominations last year to 31 this year.
With 3, Malcolm in the Middle was nominated for the 5th year in a row with 3. Nominated for the 5th year in a row as the quirky mom on Malcolm, Jane Kaczmarek sits in her usual category as lead actress in a drama series. Every year she gets the nomination but she has yet to give a speech.
Like Kaczmarek, Kiefer Sutherland is not new to his nomination category. Sutherland is up for his third consecutive lead actor in a drama series nod for 24, which dropped from 10 noms in the past 2 years to 8. 24 is up against four other heavyweight dramas including The Sopranos on HBO, CSI, Joan of Arcadia, and The West Wing on NBC.
Fox made a good decision when they put Arrested Development on the air–although poorly rated, the comedy has been critically lauded. Up for 7 Emmy awards, the nods include Jeffrey Tambor for best supporting actor and best comedy. Looks like Fox has a good show on its hands–maybe it’ll bring the envelope-pushing network into the winning circle by snatching a few Emmys from the other stations.
In reality, there’s American Idol with 3. Although the very popular talent show has not yet won an Emmy for their efforts to make ordinary people pop stars overnight, there is no telling what might happen this year.
