[IMG:L]The Golden Globe nominations were announced Thursday, and although the TV side wasn’t as shocking as the film side (the Tom Cruise/Tropic Thunder nomination is funnier than his performance!), it wasn’t exactly snub-free. Here’s a breakdown of the big categories.
Click here for the full list of nominations
Best Series – Drama
Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood
The first four are somewhat unsurprising — yes, even the little-seen In Treatment, something a favorite within the award-voting community. Then there’s True Blood. Alan Ball’s love-it-or-loathe-it vampire melodrama ostensibly took the spot that could’ve gone to the most critically acclaimed show ever, The Wire — in its final season, no less — and that is not OK! Also snubbed, albeit to a lesser degree: Lost and Grey’s Anatomy. [PAGEBREAK]
Best Series – Comedy
30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
The Office
Weeds
It’s satisfying to see Two and a Half Men, TV’s most popular and (in my opinion) overrated comedy series, left out of the category. However, it’s dissatisying to not see deserving but less-heralded shows like Samantha Who?, The New Adventures of Old Christine and How I Met Your Mother — the latter of which now has the ratings to match its quality, and thus there’s no excuse for its continued snubbery. Besides, would anybody even notice if Showtime’s Californication and/or Weeds weren’t here? [PAGEBREAK]
Best Actor – Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Kevin Connolly, Entourage
David Duchovny, Californication
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Good God, Golden Globe (and Emmy) voters — it’s enough with the Tony Shalhoub obsession! It’s as if he’s just automatically penciled in every year and there are only four spots truly available in the category. Elsewhere, the Connolly pick took some getting used to, but it’s ultimately justifiable: His performance is the most restrained and realistic on Entourage, and it often keeps the show from becoming downright cartoonish. Duchovny’s inclusion here is somewhat questionable, especially since Lee Pace would’ve been a much better selection for what turned out to be Pushing Daisies‘ last season. [PAGEBREAK]
Best Actress – Comedy
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Debra Messing, The Starter Wife
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Messing’s nomination is a twofold outrage: She doesn’t deserve to be here (sorry, Will & Grace fans), AND she’s taking the place of Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Louis-Dreyfus should probably win this award, and yet she’s not even nominated! What does the Hollywood Foreign Press have against The New Adventures of Old Christine? [PAGEBREAK]
Best Actor – Drama
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors
I wouldn’t really have a problem with Meyers’ nomination for his underrated Tudors performance if Bryan Cranston, who won the Emmy in this category three months ago, wasn’t excluded! It’s pretty safe to say that anyone who wins the Emmy in the same category and during the same awards season is at least deserving of a Globe nom. Sheesh. On the pleasant-surprise side, though, James Spader is out. [PAGEBREAK]
Best Actress – Drama
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
January Jones, Mad Men
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
As with Best Actor in a Drama, this category’s Emmy winner, Glenn Close, isn’t even nominated! It just doesn’t make sense. Also noticeably absent: Saving Grace’s Holly Hunter, who does an amazing job on a not-so-amazing show. The shockers here are January Jones and (especially) Anna Paquin, although the HFPA has clearly professed its love for True Blood with Thursday’s nominations.
