In an unprecedented move, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has revealed the top 10 finalists for this year’s drama and comedy series competition.
On the drama side, “Boston Legal,” “Damages,” “Dexter,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “House,” “Lost,” “Mad Men,” “The Tudors” and “The Wire” all made the cut. AMC’s Golden Globe winner “Mad Men” is considered one of the early faves among new shows, while Showtime has to be happy to have two dramas in contention.
On the comedy side, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage,” “Family Guy,” “Flight of the Conchords,” “The Office,” “Pushing Daisies,” “30 Rock,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Ugly Betty” and “Weeds” have made the cut. All eyes will be on “Family Guy” to see if the animated comedy can break through Emmy’s traditional coolness toward animated shows in the category.
New comedies getting noticed by the Academy include ABC’s “Daisies” and HBO’s “Conchords.”
Notably missing from the lists: ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” and CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother.” The latter had a strong year creatively but apparently didn’t break through with the older-skewing Academy. Also absent: CBS’ well-received first-year comedy “The Big Bang Theory.”
It’s expected five finalists from each category will make the Emmy cut when nominations are announced July 17. If voting is close, six (or even seven) shows could be selected.
The Academy decided to reveal the finalists in part because the information leaked early last year.
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Comments (7)
What? No Moonlight. Come On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Septbday | June 27, 2008 8:31 AM
what? Big Bang Theory is awesome! I mean, I didn't saw it firts, then, a couple of episodes and it is really good! come on!
and two and a half man is so overrated !
Posted by Nadia | June 27, 2008 11:23 AM
No Californication??
Posted by maddy | June 27, 2008 6:05 PM
no gossip girl!!!!
but more shocking...
No brothers & sisters?????
im all for greys anatomy
Posted by gaby | June 27, 2008 6:28 PM
No CSI? I'm amazed. What's up with forgetting ABC Sunday programming, its a rip-off a rip-off I tell you! Lol but really the Housewives had a better season than last year and I kinda expected Brothers and Sisters not to be nominated, the writing got a little weak after the strike but they'll bounce back, I guarantee it!
Posted by WillyTProductions147 | June 28, 2008 3:43 AM
What this short piece fails to explain is the
Academy voting process.
For those irked that their favs are not on the list, they just did not make the cut with voting Academy members. It does not mean the shows are bad.
Here is how it works:
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences stages and awards the Primetime Emmys covering a wide range of programming and crafts.
There are over 13,000 active members of the Academy, representing 28 different Peer Groups of television occupations.
ALL active members vote on the program ballot.
They are asked to vote only for shows they have actually watched AND consider Emmy worthy.
Once those ballots are tabulated, the top 10 vote earners in both the comedy and drama series
categories are then screened by panels of volunteers FROM the Academy membership at large.
Each panel member ranks the ten shows on a scale of 1-10, best being 10 and least being 1.
The panel votes are weighted against the top vote getters in the general balloting by a value of 50/50. The accounting firm uses that formula to determine the five nominees (more if there are ties) in each category.
Later, after being announced, the nominees are watched my more panels of volunteers, known in the Academy as Blue Ribbon Panels. From votes
of those panels, the Emmy Award is determined and revealed on the national broadcast.
Posted by Camera Operator Jones | June 30, 2008 11:50 AM
Gossip girllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Posted by Monira | June 30, 2008 12:15 PM