DALTON HANDS OUT HIS EMMYS
Last week I railed against the injustice of the Emmys not even nominating deserving candidates like The Wire, Battlestar Galactica, Friday Night Lights, The Shield, and all their assorted actors and actresses. But it's not like the Academy is suddenly gonna realize the error of its ways and reward these stellar shows and thespians at Sunday night's ceremony. So this week I'll take a look at who I think should win among the actual nominees.
A few notes before we begin. First off, this is who I think deserves to win, not will win. Predicting actual Emmy winners is close to impossible. Why? Because they often make no sense! Another caveat: Most of these selections will mirror those recently made in our Fall TV Preview Emmy gatefold (look for the online version of it on EW.com later today). Those selections were made by a blue-ribbon panel of experts, hangers on, and custodial staff members — a panel of which I was a member. (Feel free to classify me under any header you deem appropriate.) So with those disclaimers out of the way, off we go!
DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
House
The Sopranos
I'd give it to: THE SOPRANOS
I thought the spring 2006 episodes (technically the first half of season 6) were incredibly uneven with an especially unsatisfying finale, but the ones this year were fantastic. Leave it to The Sopranos to kill a major character (Christopher) in the first five minutes of an episode as opposed to the last five, like every other cookie-cutter show does). And the Bacala death scene in the choo-choo store was staged to perfection. As for the finale, I've already made my thoughts clear — I loved it. If Boston Legal somehow beats it, I may have to pull an A.J. and try to kill myself.
ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Hugh Laurie, House
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
James Spader, Boston Legal
Kiefer Sutherland, 24
I'd give it to: JAMES GANDOLFINI
He can scream, kick, and yell with the best of him, but where Gandolfini's genius really comes through is in his quieter moments. Just listen to way he breathes. He delivers more emotion in one exasperated exhale than most actors do in an entire episode.
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
I'd give it to: SALLY FIELD
I'm not a huge Brothers & Sisters fan — it strikes me a bit as a simplistic soap trying to masquerade as something much more. But there is no denying the greatness of Field, who pulls off playing equal parts persecutor and persecuted.
NEXT PAGE: Dalton's picks for Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and Comedy Series
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