The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards show has come and gone and, for once, they were surprisingly awesome. Host Neil Patrick Harris was simply delightful and he stole the show. I especially appreciated his brief reprise to his Dr. Horrible role from the online miniseries, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. The callback to the online role teasingly pointed out that the medium of television is rapidly blending with the medium of online video. It's becoming easier and easier to find shows that debut online the same time they do on network TV, and even some that only air online. For this reason, the Emmys will either have to soon evolve or rapidly lose relevance in the coming years. The 2009 awards show, which CBS aired Sept. 20, may end up being its last hurrah.
With all of that in mind, I wanted to take a look at some of this year's winners and losers.
Outstanding Drama
Who won: Mad Men\nWho should have won: Mad Men
Lost is more exciting, Breaking Bad is edgier and House is more popular, but no show is on the up and up quite like Mad Men. It's an adult drama that keeps getting better and more beloved as its third season winds down.
Outstanding Comedy
Who won: 30 Rock\nWho should have won: The Office
I still don't understand the critical adoration of 30 Rock. Yeah, it's gut-bustingly funny and it has a Seinfeld vibe to it, but I can't reason its repeat selection instead of The Office, which had a heartfelt fifth season.
Outstanding Drama Lead Actor
Who won: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad\nWho should have won: Cranston
I suppose Hugh Laurie from House eventually needs to win one of these. John Hamm from Mad Men and Michael C. Hall from Dexter are both show-stealers, too. But it's Cranston's searing conflict with morality and mortality that deserve the trophy.
Outstanding Drama Lead Actress
Who won: Glenn Close, Damages\nWho should have won: Close
It was kind of a down year for actresses in drama, but Close's portrayal of a ruthless lawyer was a no-brainer to win.
Outstanding Comedy Lead Actor
Who won: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock\nWho should have won: Steve Carell, The Office
Won't the Emmys just give Carell his darn trophy already? He's been nominated four times, and this season saw his best acting chops yet. Baldwin is funny but has maybe one or two episodes that require more than deadpan comedy. Tony Shalhoub from Monk is always incredible but he's won this three times already. No need to be greedy.
Outstanding Comedy Lead Actress
Who won: Toni Collette, United States of Tara\nWho should have won: Tina Fey, 30 Rock
One of few awards 30 Rock didn't win is the one it should have. Liz Lemon, the emotional crux of the show, is played spot-on by Fey. Collette is great, as is Mary-Louise Parker from Weeds, but Fey should've repeated.
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