What the Emmy nominations were right and wrong (comment)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – I have already said it, but it deserves to be repeated, especially in addition to Thursday's nominations for the 70th annual Emmys: There is no more rewards system designed on this planet. This includes the august Nobel Prize winner, who has a long and well-researched history of questionable calls in several categories.

Mark Twain, who has never won the Nobel Prize for Literature, was not one to exempt when criticizing human madness. After making one of the parades highlighting the weaknesses of his kind, Twain added, "and I do not only walk in this procession, but I carry a banner."

So, yes, absolutely, I did my time this particular procession. This awards edict also includes the Television Critics Association Awards, which I have voted for each year since their inception in 1985. Do these awards have their admirable strengths and annoying weaknesses? Indeed, they do it

The same goes for the Emmy, who, year after year, get things wonderfully well and some things terribly bad. And nowhere are things better and worse than appointments.

Here we are. First of all, without a doubt, there is much to applaud in these appointments. They rightly recognize the brilliance of writing, directing and acting in the showtime miniseries "Patrick Melrose". His five nominations include one for a lead actor in a limited series or film, making Benedict Cumberbatch the immediate and dignified favorite in the category.

Netflix claimed the most nominations with 112, singing HBO with 108. But HBO had the most nominated programs with "Game of Thrones" (22) and "Westworld" (21). In the absence of "Veep" this season, Bill Hader's rookie comedy, "Barry," helped to increase HBO's total.

For his part, Netflix could applaud the nominations for his miniseries "Godless", the superb "USS Callister" episode of "Black Mirror", the second season of "Stranger Things" and the second season of "The Crown", the winner of last year for the exceptional drama series.

Hard to argue with most of these appointments, with the amount of Emmy love shown to the new Amazon comedy series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel", FX's latest season of "The Americans" , Hulu's second season of "The Handmaid's Tale" (20 nominations) and the second season of FX "Atlanta."

There is no doubt that these nominations encompass some of the high-quality programming that the television had to offer during the 2017-2018 season. But Thursday's announcement by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences also gave rise to the scandalous number of insults, omissions and omissions ? Oh yeah.

While Netflix executives have a lot of reasons to celebrate, they have to scratch their heads on the white game for "Mindhunter". The brilliant crime drama could not even get a lead actor nomination for Jonathan Groff or a direct wink for David Fincher, which should have been locks.

"Mindhunter" may be the best drama series on television right now. Emmy voters seem to ignore it. Just as inexplicable is the total number of nominations for the "billion" Showtime, which is becoming "Justified" by that time (a show that still remains off the Emmy radar)

Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti should have to be nominated leading actors in a drama. John Malkovich and Clancy Brown should have been nominated for guest actors in a drama. And "Billions", like "Mindhunter", must be in the running for the best drama with "The Crown" and "Game of Thrones".

There is more – a lot more, actually. Ted Danson has been nominated for the lead actor in a comedy series, but neither his show, "The Good Place" of NBC, nor his co-star, Kristen Bell, have been nominated. It's a comedy that keeps growing and becoming smarter, and it's one of the few scripted network shows that can stand side by side in quality with its cousins ​​of cable and streaming. Where is the recognition?

And speaking of network tariff, how about Freddie Highmore, who carries so impressive drama load every week on ABC's "The Good Doctor"? Maybe Emmy does not care about good network shows with "good" in the title.

Netflix's "GLOW" made a nomination for the best comedy, but his star, Alison Brie, was snubbed in the comedy category. Just as Lewis, Giamatti and Highmore should be in the running for a lead actor in a drama, Brie and Bell should be vying for the lead actress in a comedy.

It was hoped that the Emmys could finally honor Bay Village "The Middle" by Patricia Heaton, who finished her last season in May. It was too much to hope for – far too much.

Then there's TNT's "claws" star, Niecy Nash, who could have been nominated for the lead actress in a comedy or drama. Little Emmy also gave him the cold shoulder

There is even more, but it's pretty indignant for a column. A lot of evidence here, as usual, for what the Emmys are doing right and wrong, setting up the awards ceremony, which will be broadcast at 8 pm. Monday, Sept. 17, on WKYC Channel 3.

One last note, however, about how oddly things can go wrong. The HBO adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451", which could be charitably called mediocre, has received five nominations, including one for the best TV movie. This is quite evidence of a faulty system: a disappointing "451 Fahrenheit" has five nominations and the sensational "Mindhunter" has none.

This scenario could be summarized with a slight variation on another Bradbury title. Make it "Something wacky comes this way."