Emmy unveils the Best Drama Actor semifinalists
Another day, another list of 10 semifinalists from the Emmys. This time, it’s the Best Actor in a Drama.
There are a lot of the usual suspects on the list (which will be knocked down to five nominees in the next round), including actors from Dexter, Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, and House. One show that’s not represented is Lost. I thought Matthew Fox did some great work this season, especially his drunk/screwed-up scenes.
After the jump, the list of the ten semifinalists (also check out those in contention for Best Actress - Comedy, Best Supporting Actor - Drama, Best Comedy, and Best Drama).
Best Actor - Drama semifinalists
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Hugh Laurie (House)
Denis Leary (Rescue Me)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
James Spader (Boston Legal)
Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy)
Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
Eddie Izzard (The Riches)
So who do you think they missed on this list? Who shouldn’t even be on the list? Great to see Jon Hamm and Michael C. Hall here, and I think they’ll be two of the final five.
Emmy Likes Grey’s Gals, Grande Dames
The women of Lost are nowhere to be found.
None of the eligible female players from ABC’s mind-boggling island mysteryin addition to the XX crew of Battlestar Galactica, women married to Bill Paxton and hardly anyone who solves crimemade it onto the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences’ list of semifinalists for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Not that some pretty fine thesps didn’t make the cut, per the list obtained by the L.A. Times’ Gold Derby blog. But this year it was lawyers, moms, people giving or receiving therapy, people who just plain need therapy and some familiar hot doctors who tickled Emmy voters’ fancy.
Standard 2007, etc. nominees Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson from Grey’s Anatomy scrubbed in as usual, along with Brothers & Sisters sister Rachel Griffiths.
But thanks to the Emmy-eschewing Katherine Heigl and the demise of The Sopranos and its large cast, the path to glory was also cleared for a host of first-timers, including Tell Me You Love Me’s Jane Alexander, Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks and Damage’s Rose Byrnewho despite her central role has apparently been relegated to the sidelines to make way for scene-chewing Lead Actress Glenn Close.
Speaking of which, Connie Britton, who as Friday Night Lights’ Tami Taylor was a semifinalist for Best Actress last year, was bumped into the supporting category this year and then didn’t make the Top 11. (Well, at least the beloved yet painfully underwatched show is still being considered for Best Drama and maybe, just maybe, will squeeze another couple of viewers out of the publicity.)
Veterans Candice Bergen and S. Epatha Merkerson are also in consideration for their respective boss-lady roles on Boston Legal and Law & Order.
Fellow grande dames in the fold are two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest, who plays the therapist’s therapist on HBO’s In Treatment, Dirty Sexy Money matriarch Jill Clayburgh and Burn Notice’s chain-smoking mommy dearest Sharon Gless.
Final nominees for the 60th Annual Emmy Awards will be announced July 17.
Halle Berry: Maxin’ and Relaxin’
Halle Berry: Maxin’ and Relaxin’
With the stress of newfound motherhood, as well as a constantly beckoning movie career, Halle Berry decided to treat herself to a day of rest and relaxation.
The “Monster’s Ball” babe was spotted on her way to the celebrity-friendly Kinera Spa in Los Angeles earlier today looking like she was ready to let all of her tension melt away.
Miss Berry kept it casual in a sleeveless v-neckline white and grey minidress along with a pair of basic flip flops, celebrity shades, and an oversized handbag.
In related news, earlier this week at the 2008 BET Awards, Halle took home the award for Best Actress, while fellow Oscar winner Denzel Washington snagged the Best Actor honors.
Hollywood to Award Reality Show Winner with Starring Movie Role?!
With the success of American Idol, I knew it would be only a matter of time before Hollywood would auction off film roles in reality television shows. VH1 has greenlighted a new reality series called Scream Queens which will involve 10 unknown actresses competing for a “Major Role” in a upcoming horror film from Lionsgate Films. The series will consist of eight hour-long episodes, and is set to premiere in the fall.
The horror genre isn’t taken seriously in the first place, but this is a new low. Giving a starring role to a reality show contestant? Am I wrong? I guess you could argue that it isn’t that much different that Project Greenlight. But for some reason the idea of giving a writer/director the funding to make his movie seems a lot less tacky than this. Maybe because the logic of rewarding a contest winner with a starring role instead of finding the best actress for said role, goes beyond all logic. But I guess that happens all the time in Hollywood…
Source: THR