Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
July 31, 2007

Here are my thoughts on some of the major Emmy award nominations, which were announced recently.

DRAMA SERIES

“Boston Legal,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Heroes,” “House,” “The Sopranos”

I’m fine with all of the nominees except “Boston Legal.”

What about “Lost,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “Without a Trace,” “Cold Case,” or any of the “CSIs”? Maybe with all the carrying on this season, “The View,” should’ve been nominated for “Best Drama,” too.

My choice: “Don’t Stop Believing” in “The Sopranos.”

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

James Gandolfini (“The Sopranos”), Hugh Laurie (“House”), Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”), James Spader (“Boston Legal”), Kiefer Sutherland (“24”)

How about James Woods for “Shark?” People watch the show to see Woods.

My choice: James “I ordered onion rings for the table” Gandolfini.

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Patricia Arquette (“Medium”), Minnie Driver (“The Riches”), Edie Falco (“The Sopranos”), Sally Field (“Brothers and Sisters”), Mariska Hargitay (“Law and Order: SVU”), Kyra Sedgwick (“The Closer”).

I’d love to see Sally Field win, so she can say “You like me, you really like me” again, but it will probably be a “Sopranos” sweep.

COMEDY SERIES

“Entourage,” “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Ugly Betty"

No “Desperate Housewives?”

My choice: “The Office”!

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”), Steve Carell (“The Office”), Ricky Gervais (“Extras”), Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”), Charlie Sheen (“Two and a Half Men”)

Baldwin gets all the critical acclaim, but Carell would get my vote.

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”), Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”), Mary Louise Parker (“Weeds”)

Marcia Cross should’ve been nominated, as “DH” struggled without her when she was on maternity leave. I have the feeling the youngest nominee, Ferrera, will be the upset winner.

REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM

“The Amazing Race,” “American Idol,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Project Runway,” “Top Chef.”

I’d like “Dancing with the Stars” to upset perennial winner “Race.”

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES

“The Colbert Report,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

What do the Emmys have against “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno?” That would be my choice to win.