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7/21/2008 3:32 AM

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It's fitting that at the height of vacation season, Emmy nominations are announced. Perhaps the television powers-that-be are hoping that no one will pay attention to the nominees or to the critics who point out omissions and errors.

Under those circumstances, when the cast of "30 Rock" jumps onto the stage to accept another "Best Comedy" award Sept. 21, the few people still bothering to watch the show won't be inclined to whine that the superior "Big Bang Theory" didn't even get a nomination.

Consider this column an opportunity to come prepared to throw popcorn at the plasma TV. That is, if you want to waste the popcorn.

Here's one viewer's rundown of the major categories:

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Best drama

The Good: "Mad Men," "Damages," "Lost."

The Questionable: "Dexter," "Boston Legal" (it's a comedy) and "House" (an off-season)

The Overlooked: "The Wire," "Friday Night Lights," "Brothers and Sisters"

Best comedy

The Good: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Two and One-Half Men"

The Questionable: "The Office," "30 Rock," "Entourage"

The Overlooked: "Big Bang Theory," "Desperate Housewives," "Samantha Who," "Boston Legal,"

Best actor (drama)

The Good: Hugh Laurie ("House"), Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"), John Hamm ("Mad Men"), Gabriel Byrne ("In Treatment")

The Questionable: James Spader ("Boston Legal") - sorry, it's a comedy

The Overlooked: Masi Oka ("Heroes"), Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights"), Michael Emerson ("Lost") " - he's mistakenly in the supporting category when he clearly dominated the series this season

Best actress (drama)

The Good: Glenn Close ("Damages"), Sally Field ("Brothers and Sisters"), Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer)

The Questionable Holly Hunter ("Saving Grace"), Mariska Hargitay (L&O:SVU")

The Overlooked: Dana Delaney and Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives"), Yunjin Kim ("Lost")

Best actor (comedy)

The Good: Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies"), Steve Carrell ("The Office"), Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock")

The Questionable: Tony Shalhoub ("Monk"), Charlie Sheen ("Two and One-Half Men")

The Overlooked: Jim Parson ("Big Bang Theory"), Jon Cryer (Two and One-Half Men") - he's nominated in the supporting category, but he clearly is on equal footing with Sheen

Best actress (ccmedy)

The Good: Mary Louise-Parker ("Weeds"), Christina Applegate ("Samantha Who?) Julie Louis-Dreyfus ("Old Christine," Tina Fey ("30 Rock"), America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty")

The Questionable: All deserving in this category

The Overlooked: Amy Poehler received a nod elsewhere for "Saturday Night Live," but she's truly the star of "SNL," which should be considered a comedy - it's in the variety category because of its musical acts).

With 500 channels from which to choose, it's clear some other great performances and terrific shows were overlooked. But a round of applause, please, for the absence of "Cavemen," "Bionic Woman," "Carpoolers," "Big Shots," "Viva Laughlin," and "Kid Nation," a six-pack of shows we'd need a case of beer to stomach.

Reader mailbag

Joe Nicolella of Washington was one of several readers also associating certain songs with summer:

"Growing up on Grant Street and later in Holiday Hills just off Dewey Ave. in Washington in the '60s and early '70s, I also identified with the references to spending an inordinate - although it didn't seem so then - amount of time outside and NOT in my room as your son and my own kids do.

In preparation for a beach trip in a few weeks, I have begun to rifle through my CD collection searching for songs to make a disc of music that I associate with summer (as well as the beach). A few obligatory songs from Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley will have to be included to appease the kids who, when not mainlining from their iPods, will be tuning in to what Dad has brewing on the car's system. (They associate Buffett and Marley with summer because from the time they were babies I would crank those tunes on the way to Myrtle Beach .) I have in mind as well some War, Sly and the Family Stone, CSNY, Wings, Canned Heat, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, The Specials, and even Stan Getz's "The Girl from Ipanema." It will be an eclectic mix, I think.

But you're right about coming up with recent music that is reminiscent of summer. The Costello song I plan to use ("The Other Side of Summer") hails from the '80s, and will likely be the most "recent" song on the CD unless I decide to add "She Loves the Sunset" from the Old 97's latest release. I think I am forcing myself to find something new so as not to appear stuck somewhere in time. Of course, it could be that the inebriating influence of the house's central air conditioning is interfering with my thought process.

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1 comments

Emmys : 7/25/2008
I am hoping that HUGH LAURIE will finally win BEST ACTOR. FINGERS CROSSED!!

NAncy

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