Emmy Spotlight: Comedic Timing

The Emmys are coming! The Emmys are coming! This week the Nice Girls will preview some of the contenders for Emmys in a variety of categories, focusing on our faves.

Outstanding Comedy Series:

30 Rock (NBC)

A cooky workplace comedy, 30 Rock is saved from being mundane by Tina Fey’s sharp wit and a cast of actors with incredible comic timing. Sometimes the show veers toward abject absurdity, and I could do with less of Tracy Morgan’s character, but somehow by the end of each episode there’s been at least one belly laugh and a couple of “sing it sister” yells from my couch. – Melissa

Weeds competes for the big prize at Sunday's Emmy ceremony

Weeds (Showtime)

Weeds‘ forth season found Mary and her family settling into life outside of Majestic, while continuing to work with Guillermo and his friends.  Setting up a front as a maternity store, Nancy constantly questioned the goods coming into the store before meeting someone higher up in the chain—Esteban Reyes, Mayor of Tijuana. – Louise

Also nominated: How I Met Your Mother (CBS), Entourage (HBO), The Office (NBC), Flight of Conchords (HBO), Family Guy (FOX)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series:

Nobody felt moved to write about this category for some reason.  Probably because the Academy recognized Charlie Sheen again, dampening any enthusiasm we could muster. Here’s hoping Jim Parsons pulls out the win. – Melissa

Also nominated: Charlie Sheen (Two And A Half Men), Tony Shaloub (Monk), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Steve Carrell (The Office)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series:

Christine Applegate is nominated for her role on Samantha Who?

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (ABC)

As title character Samantha, Christina Applegate had to play both evil, pre-amnesia Samantha and nice, trying-to-do-the-right-thing Samantha. It could have been a cloying performance. In fact, the premise itself had me rolling my eyes during the first season of the show, sure that it was awful. Then I watched a couple of reruns and realized that in the capable hands of Applegate, this woman was someone I wanted to follow as she navigated life without the benefit of past experience to draw upon. Too bad ABC didn’t agree and cancelled the show. – Melissa

Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds (Showtime)

Nancy Botwin’s life has gone to hell, numerous times, and each time she rises from the ashes (literally in the case of how season four started).  While Nancy’s life is constantly changing, Mary-Louise Parker grounds the role with a well-placed joke amidst all of the insanity.  Now facing life without a second husband and in a new city, the role of Nancy evolved with the changing conditions, just like she always done. – Louise

Also nominated: Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Toni Collette (The United States of Tara), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series:

Kevin Dillon – Entourage (HBO)
Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

I think Johnny Drama and Barney would get along well if they were ever to meet. Drama, the older, but less respected brother to Vincent Chase on Entourage, has a hard time winning respect amongst his group, and Hollywood at large. On the other side, there’s Barney Stinson, the man who knows everything about dressing right, sleeping with all the right women, and still being “Awesome!”. -Louise

Also nominated: Jon Cryer (Two And A Half Men), Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock)

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series:

Vanessa Williams – Ugly Betty (ABC)

Receiving her 3rd nomination for her portrayal as the vacillating villain Wilhelmina Slater, Vanessa Williams scored a nomination for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.”  As Wilhelmina, Williams glows with effervescent beauty and can whip out razor-sharp one-liners with comedic timing that few other actors can match.  She is an outstanding comedian that elevates the show by her presence.  Book-ending her nomination, the series also received a nomination for “Outstanding Costumes for a Series” — all of which were probably worn by Ms. Williams who always looked like the trend-setting fashion plate she gloriously portrayed. – Tiffany

Kristin Chenoweth could nab an Emmy for the now-cancelled Pushing Daisies.

Kristin Chenoweth – Pushing Daisies (ABC)

Oh Olive Snook, you adorable, pint-sized ball of sass, how I will miss you. Nominated for the cancelled gloriousness that was Pushing Daisies, Kristin Chenoweth was a force to be reckoned with on a show that demanded performances both larger-than-life and almost impossibly intimate. She put her famed vocal chords to good use with a few music numbers, worked through her unrequited feelings for the Pie Maker, became an apprentice detective with Emerson, found a good friend in Chuck, and true love with a taxidermist. With a reel like hers, I imagine the other nominees are attending the ceremony for the free food afterwards. -Melissa

Elizabeth Perkins – Weeds (Showtime)

No matter what, Celia is the one woman you know, who you really wish you didn’t. In the fourth season of Weeds, Celia found her way down to Del Mar, following her trip to jail after being accused of the last grow house. After arriving in Del Mar, Celia manages to work with Nancy later in the season, while still harboring resentment against her youngest daughter and husband. – Louise

Also nominated: Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), Amy Poehler (SNL), Kristin Wiig (SNL)