The 2009 Emmy nominees for Best Drama are: Big Love, Damages, Dexter, House, Lost, Breaking Bad, and Mad Men.
I have to start by asking why we have 7 nominated shows? They really couldn’t trim the list to the 5 best of the best dramas? Having 7 nominated shows for best drama looks like they are trying to get as many famous people to come to the awards show as possible. It waters down the category and makes a nomination seem a lot less important. Anyhow, onto the list…
Big Love
I’m sorry, but this show never sucked me in and held onto me. I tried it out for a few episodes and I thought it was okay at best. HBO gets a lot of love at the Emmys, but I think this was the wrong HBO show to get love this year. True Blood (from Six Feet Under‘s Alan Ball) was a series that got better with every episode. It had defined characters and a very interesting world. Everyone knows that the Emmys have a thing against vampires (Buffy never got any love), but they really have to get over their shit. Sorry Big Love fans, but I don’t agree with this nomination.
Damages
I really love this show. For me it is impossible to watch weekly, due to the slow roll out of events and the flashbacks/flashforwards that work towards each other to make each season a complete story. Three episodes in I stopped watching it weekly and TIVOed the rest of the season. Right when it was finished, I watched the episodes back to back in one weekend. It is that good. Once you start watching it, you keep going. Storywise, the show delievers a layered mystery with enough twists and turns (that all stem directly from the story) to keep you guessing. Rose Byrne and Glen Close bring their a-games to every episode.
Dexter
This is another show with such great characters. Michael C. Hall’s Dexter is one of the most intriguing characters on television. We should hate him, but it is impossible. The show walks a very fine line, but walks it well. A very deserved nomination, but I don’t think it will win.
House
This is another well deserved nomination. It is one of only two broadcast shows to make the cut for Best Drama (the other being Lost). The cast is top notch and the stories are engaging and satisfying. It isn’t going to take home the award, but Hugh Laurie is very deserving of a Best Actor statue.
Breaking Bad & Mad Men
I have to be honest here, I have never seen an episode of either of these shows. Breaking Bad doesn’t interest me in the least, and while everything I have heard about Mad Men makes me want to see it, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Either way, no matter how good either of these shows last seasons were, it would not chnge my opinion…
My Pick for Best Drama: Lost
If you read the site regulary, you know about my love for Lost. This past season was easily one of the best seasons of television for any show ever. The focus and narrative flow of the season was perfect, with a completely engaging storyline that never missed a beat. Unlike Damages which is good but hard to watch weekly, with Lost I had to see every episode right when I could. Sadly, I don’t think it will win. While it has taken home Best Drama in the past, the show just aired its second to last season, if anything I think next year’s finale season will have a better shot at taking home the Best Drama award.
What show do you think will take home the Best Drama award? You can click here for a detailed list of Drama and Comedy Series nominations. More opinions and reactions will be posted daily about the 2009 Emmy Awards nominations.
