I've slept on this issue for a week now and it's still bothering me: "Parks & Recreation" not earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy is atrocious. Yep, I'm throwing around strong words.
As somebody who watches a ton of TV, usually at least one or two episodes of every new scripted series on the major and cable networks, I've seen a lot of crap. But I've also seen a lot of great performances and TV shows as a whole. When "Parks & Recreation" first came on the scene, I would've thrown it in the crap category. Then something wonderful happened -- the show found its voice.
If you're reading this blog, you probably read a lot of other TV pieces so I don't really need to get into the whole "How 'Parks & Rec' Found Its Groove" type of discussion. Long story short, it did. The writing gelled, Amy Poehler inserted so much heart into Leslie Knope and Ron Effing Swanson came into his own. Yadda, yadda, yadda, "Parks & Rec" is one of the best comedies -- if not the best -- on TV. So, why wasn't it nominated for an Emmy?
Week after week over this past season, I was consistently moved by "Parks & Rec," both comically and emotionally. The show moved me to tears from laughter when Leslie and her crack campaign team had to strut onto the ice rink to Gloria Estefan's "Get On Your Feet." I became so invested in Leslie and Ben (Adam Scott) -- it was like a soap opera, but with great acting. I cheered when they got back together, got misty when he quit his job for her and ended up rooting for this TV couple harder than I have any other. Yes, "Parks & Rec" consistently moved me more than any other show -- including my favorite dramas -- on TV this year. It was leaps ahead of "30 Rock," which I think, along with "Modern Family," just gets nominated by default. Those shows were not at their strongest this year. There were breakout episodes here and there, but when compared to "Parks & Rec," "30 Rock" and Modern Family" pale in comparison.
Is the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences even watching "Parks" or are they voting based on buzz? I'm seriously wondering that. "Girls"? Lots of buzz. "Veep"? Not as much buzz, but still a decent amount, plus you put Julia Louis-Dreyfus in it and it'll get attention. "Curb Your Enthusiasm"? Always funny, I can't fault them there. "The Big Bang Theory"? Don't get me started.
I'm happy Amy Poehler picked up a nomination for Leslie Knope, but the fact the show itself didn't get one is boggling my mind. Ron Swanson, played expertly by Nick Offerman, has become a TV icon after just four seasons, yet the Academy hasn't given him his due. I applaud Max Greenfield's nomination for this role on "New Girl," it's really deserved. But the four adult males from "Modern Family"? Again, default.
There's nothing we can do about it now, besides write ranty blog posts, but hopefully this will get somebody *cough* Academy voters *cough* to take a look at the show again, remember it for next year or at least honor Amy Poehler with her award.
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Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Melissa McCarthy, "Mike and Molly"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Louis CK, "Louie"
Jon Cryer, "Two and A Half Men"
Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Kathryn Joosten, "Desperate Housewives"
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"
Max Greenfield, "New Girl"
Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Elizabeth Banks, "30 Rock"
Kathy Bates, "Two and A Half Men"
Margaret Cho, "30 Rock"
Dot-Marie Jones, "Glee"
Melissa McCarthy, "Saturday Night Live"
Maya Rudolph, "Saturday Night Live"
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Will Arnett, "30 Rock"
Bobby Cannavale, "Nurse Jackie"
Jimmy Fallon, "Saturday Night Live"
Michael J. Fox, "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Jon Hamm, "30 Rock"
Greg Kinnear, "Modern Family"
Outstanding Comedy Series
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Girls"
"Modern Family"
"30 Rock"
"Veep"
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Juilianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama
Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damien Lewis, "Homeland"
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Joanna Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"
Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
Giancarlo Esposito, "Breaking Bad"
Brendan Coyle, "Downton Abbey"
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Jared Harris, "Mad Men"
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Joan Cusack, "Shameless"
Loretta Devine, "Grey's Anatomy"
Martha Plimpton, "The Good Wife"
Julia Ormond, "Mad Men"
Jean Smart, "Harry's Law"
Uma Thurman, "Smash"
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Dylan Baker, "The Good Wife"
Jeremy Davies, "Justified"
Ben Feldman, "Mad Men"
Michael J. Fox, "The Good Wife"
Mark Margolis, "Breaking Bad"
Jason Ritter, "Parenthood"
Outstanding Drama Series
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"Mad Men"
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or Movie
Connie Britton, "American Horror Story"
Ashley Judd, "Missing"
Nicole Kidman, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"
Julianne Moore, "Game Change"
Emma Thompson, "The Song of Lunch (Masterpiece)"
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or Movie
Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys"
Benedict Cumberbactch, "Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece"
Idris Elba, "Luther"
Woody Harrelson, "Game Change"
Bill Paxton, "Hatfields & McCoys"
Clive Owen, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or Movie
Frances Conroy, "American Horror Story"
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"
Sarah Paulson, "Game Change"
Mare Winningham, "Hatfields & McCoys"
Judy Davis, "Page Eight (Masterpiece)"
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or Movie
Tom Berenger, "Hatfields & McCoys"
Martin Freeman, "Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece)"
Ed Harris, "Game Change"
Denis O'Hare, "American Horror Story"
David Strathairn, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"
Outstanding Miniseries Or Movie
"American Horror Story"
"Game Change"
"Hatfields & McCoys"
"Hemingway & Gellhorn"
"Luther"
"Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece)"
Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"
"The Colbert Report"
"Real Time with Bill Maher"
"Saturday Night Live"
"Jimmy Kimmel Live"
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon"
Outstanding Reality - Competition Program
"So You Think You Can Dance"
"The Amazing Race"
"Dancing With the Stars"
"Top Chef"
"Project Runway"
"The Voice"
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
Cat Deeley, "So You Think You Can Dance"
Phil Keoghan, "The Amazing Race"
Ryan Seacrest, "American Idol"
Betty White, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"
Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With the Stars"
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