2010 Emmy Awards

Since I am writing this blog about movies and television, I figured I should watch the Emmy Awards show.  Usually, I just read who won the next day, and sometimes I watch Joan Rivers pick apart the fashion with her daughter.  I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the awards show.  Jimmy Fallon hosted, and there were a couple amusing skits.  He opened with the cast of "Glee," and they ran into Betty White giving rap lessons and Sue Sylvester in her Adidas track suit giving Tina Fey a slushie along the way.  It was great when they turned down Kate Gosselin for a spot in their glee club that was desperate for members.  There was also an amusing skit very reminiscent of Jimmy's days on "SNL" where he gave a musical tribute to shows that ended this year.

Here is a list of the winners, in the order in which they were aired:

• Supporting Actor, Comedy - Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"
• Writing, Comedy - Steven Levitan, Christopher L. Llyod, "Modern Family"
• Supporting Actress, Comedy - Jane Lynch, "Glee"
• Guest Actress, Comedy - Betty White, "SNL"
• Guest Actor, Comedy - Neil Patrick Harris, "Glee"
• Director, Comedy - Ryan Murphy, "Glee"
• Actor, Comedy - Jim Parsons, "Big Bang Theory"
• Actress, Comedy- Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
• Reality Show - "Top Chef"
• Writing, Drama - "Mad Men"
• Supporting Actor, Drama - Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
• Supporting Actress, Drama - Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"
• Actor, Drama - Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
• Guest Actress, Drama - Ann-Margaret, "SVU"
• Guest Actor, Drama - John Lithgow, "Dexter"
• Actress, Drama - Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"
• Writing, Variety - "Tony Awards"
• Director, Variety - Bucky Gunts, "Vancouver Olympics"
• Variety Show - "The Daily Show"
• Supporting Actress, Movie - Julia Ormond, "Temple Grandin"
• Supporting Actor, Movie - David Strathairn, "Temple Grandin"
• Writing, Movie - "You Don't Know Jack"
• Actress, Movie - Claire Danes, "Temple Grandin"
• Director, Movie - Mick Jackson, "Temple Grandin"
• Actor, Movie - Al Pacino, "You Don't Know Jack"
• Mini Series - "The Pacific"
• Movie - "Temple Grandin"
• Drama - "Mad Men"
• Comedy - "Modern Family"

In addition, they presented George Clooney with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his work on the television fundraisers for September 11th, the tsunami, and the Haiti earthquake.  Clooney was very humble in his acceptance.

Let me say that I felt like most of these awards were well-deserved.  "Modern Family" is one of the funniest shows to appear on television in the last ten years.  Eric Stonestreet (Cam on "Modern Family") deserved the Emmy, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Jon Cryer, and I feel like "Two and a Half Men" has been unjustly snubbed by the Emmys.  Jane Lynch, hands down, deserved the Emmy for her role as Sue Sylvester in "Glee."  Betty White got an Emmy for her appearance on "SNL."  She's such a comedic gem.  Kyra Sedgwick finally got her first Emmy for her work on "The Closer."

It was very touching to see "Temple Grandin" take home so many Emmys.  I must admit that I haven't seen it yet, but I will add it to the short list.  It was very touching when they brought Temple herself up on stage when they accepted the award.

I will also have to admit that I have never seen "Breaking Bad" or "Mad Men," but they both take home so many Emmys every year.  It amazed me to see Hal from "Malcolm in the Middle" (Bryan Cranston) take home his third Emmy for a drama.  The competition was stiff this year, which was bad for the nominees, but great for those of us who like great television.