Thursday, July 8, 2010; 10:33 AM
NBC got a big smack in the kisser Thursday morning when the TV Academy snubbed the triumphant return of "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" as it unveiled this year's list of Emmy nominees, but fawned over "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" with a nom in the best variety program derby.
On the bright side for the peacock network, CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" got shut out, too.
But broadcast TV overall got a big shot in the arm in the trophy competition, which has increasingly become a celebration of all things cable TV.
Fox's perky new high school musical comedy series "Glee" nabbed the most nominations of any series -- 19 -- including entries for Broadway emigres Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, who each earned best lead acting nods to complement the best comedy series nomination.
In that wider race Glee goes up against ABC's freshman mocumentary comedy "Modern Family" which walked off with 14 noms, including a whopping five for best supporting thespians. The show's expansive ensemble decided collectively to throw their names in the ring as supporters -- not leads. The noms included cast members Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, as well as Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen. Show patriarch Ed O'Neill got snubbed, which is nothing new -- the academy ignored him every year he starred in "Married . . . with Children."
"Glee's" 19-nomination tally does not break the record of 22 noms in a single year set by NBC's "30 Rock" last year. ("30 Rock" nabbed 15 nominations Thursday morning.)
It's safe to go out on the streets: The academy has placated rabid "Lost" fans by giving ABC's canceled cult drama an impressive 12 nominations, including one for best drama series -- a derby in which "Lost" hasn't seen any action in since its first season, when it won that statuette.
In its third decade on the air, "Saturday Night Live" finally became the most nominated program in TV history with a lifetime tally of 126 nominations -- two more than former record holder "ER." "SNL" accomplished this by nabbing another 12 noms at the early morning nomination announcement ceremony at TV academy HQ in North Hollywood. And yes, the NBC late night show has Betty White to thank, she having received one of those 12 noms. Even better, she'll battle Tina Fey, former "SNL" head writer, for best guest host.
The academy abandoned its long-held No Fangs policy to nominate HBO's vampire drama "True Blood" for best drama series, joining "Lost." And, speaking of breakthroughs, CBS actually got shown full respect for its freshman drama "The Good Wife," which was one of few new drama series to break out last season. That includes a nom for best drama, one for star Julianna Margulies, one for supporting actor/louse-of-a-TV-husband Chris Noth, and one for best writing.
All this love for new programming is not to say this year's Emmy broadcast -- moved to August to accommodate NFL football on this year's broadcaster NBC -- won't necessarily be a rerun of last year's (which, in turn was a repeat of the year before).
Three-time best-comedy winner "30 Rock" has been once again nominated in that derby; two-time winner "Mad Men" is up again for best drama series. "Amazing Race," which has had a death grip on the best reality competition series since the category was created, is up again in that race. And Conan's "Tonight Show" faces Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," which has won the best variety show competition the past seven years running. Meanwhile, "30 Rock's" Alec Baldwin, AMC's "Breaking Bad" meth-cooking high school teacher Bryan Cranston, and FX's "Damages" harridan Glenn Close -- all of whom snared their second consecutive best-acting wins last year -- are up again in their respective categories: best comedy actor, drama actor and drama actress.
"Glee" and "Modern Family" face not only "30 Rock" but HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" and NBC's "The Office" in the best comedy race.
Meanwhile, "True Blood," "Lost," and "The Good Wife" make strange bedfellows in the drama series race that also includes AMC's "Breaking Bad" and last year's winner "Mad Men," as well as Showtime's "Dexter."
This year's most nominated program? HBO's World War II epic "The Pacific," produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, with a whopping 24 noms. That, however, does not set a record. The aged miniseries "Roots" still holds that one, with 37 noms.
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