PTR's 2007 Ultimate Emmy Ballot

Wouldn't it be awesome if we, the fans, ruled the world of television awards (not just The People's Choice Awards)? Our favorites wouldn't be forsaken time after time and the less worthy wouldn't continue to dominate the nominations just because they're Emmy voters' faves. Alas, we are not. So, this should be another unfair Emmy season as we've come to expect. Tomorrow, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will announce its 2007 Emmy nominations at 8:40 a.m. (EST) with the help of Jon Cryer and Kyra Sedgwick. But before we get to the real nominations, let's have some fun with our own Emmy ballot. Here's a look at who/what would get nominations if I ruled The Academy.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actor in a Comedy
Zach Braff Scrubs
Jason Lee My Name is Earl
Steve Carell The Office
James Roday Psych
Donald Faison Scrubs

Newcomer James Roday makes my list this year after a hilarious first season of USA Network's latest hit. He and Dule Hill are the reason this show works as well as it does. In fact, Psych wouldn't be as funny as it is without Roday's "psychic moments" and excellent delivery. Braff is one of my faves, Carell is always funny, Lee brings a nice blend of comedy and heart to his role, and Faison completes Braff as TV's best buddy duo. Once again, Scrubs' John C. McGinley is way overdue for a nod in the best supporting category, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for him as well.


PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actress in a Comedy
Jaime Pressly My Name is Earl
Lauren Graham Gilmore Girls
Sarah Chalke Scrubs
Jordana Spiro My Boys
America Ferrera Ugly Betty

Pressly will probably enter in the supporting category, but I wouldn't mind seeing her in this one. She's the funniest part of Earl, and no one does white trash as well as she. Meanwhile, Graham is long overdue and this is her last chance for Girls. How much you wanna bet The Academy still doesn't nominate her?? Chalke is delightful as the OCD, neurotic Eliot and Spiro is the adorable new kid on the block whose blend of delivery and emotion give her TBS comedy its extra charm. Ferrera is perfect as Betty.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actor in a Drama
Kyle Chandler Friday Night Lights
Jason Dohring Veronica Mars
Christopher Meloni Law & Order: SVU
Corey Reynolds The Closer
Matthew Fox Lost

No one was as good as Chandler this season. He was truly amazing week after week as the caring, conflicted, fired up, subdued, kind, perfect and flawed coach of the Dillon Panthers and husband and father at home. He deserved a standing ovation at the end of each outing, so I can only hope that The Academy will give him the recognition he deserves. Dohring continued with his intense, emotional portrayal of Logan, Meloni heated things up in the interrogation room and at home, Reynolds is the heart of The Closer and Fox once again brought his A-game to Lost (even when the writers didn't).

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Actress in a Drama
Kristen Bell Veronica Mars
Kathryn Morris Cold Case
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer
Connie Britton Friday Night Lights
Jacqueline McKenzie The 4400

I included McKenzie this year because she blew me away last season in "Gone" (parts 1 and 2) and "Blink." The former dealt with the disappearance of Diana's adopted daughter. McKenzie was absolutely flawless as the distressed mother who would rather die than go on without her daughter. In the latter, Diana and Tom accidentally end up under the influence of a new drug called blink (manufactured from a 4400's ability). The effects of the drug cause its taker to hallucinate and see someone with whom they had unfinished business. For Diana, that meant an old fiance who cheated on her days before their pending nuptials. She was once again flawless in this one as Diana came to terms with the scars of her past and how they affect her future. Sedgwick and Bell are always amazing, Britton blew me away as the wonderful Tami Taylor, and Morris took her nuanced performance of the beautifully flawed Lilly Rush to new heights this season. Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet) should get a best supporting nod.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Comedy
Scrubs
My Name is Earl
The Office
My Boys
Ugly Betty

When is Scrubs finally going to break through and get a nom? It's just getting to be ridiculous at this point. In addition to being hilarious, this show has heart and excellent storytelling and it brings something different to the television sitcom table. Meanwhile, Earl's second season wasn't as funny as its first, but it was still a strong year for the comedy. The Office continued with its off-brand of humor, while new kids Betty and My Boys burst onto the scene with plenty of laughs and originality to restore our faith in the television sitcom.

PTR's Ultimate Emmy Ballot: Best Drama
Friday Night Lights
Veronica Mars
The Closer
Cold Case
Lost

I debated over whether to include Lost this year, but in the end, it wound up on my list. After all, the first half of the season was terrible, but the second half was classic Lost. And when this show returns to its classic self, it embodies everything that makes television so good. Case enjoyed its best season ever and should be rewarded for its heart wrenching drama and beautiful storytelling, Veronica may have lost some of its charm, but the show was still amazing, The Closer is powerful, and then there's TV's best drama - Friday Night Lights. If this show and its amazing leads don't get noms, then I'm so over the Emmys. TV doesn't get any better than Lights.

So, there are my picks for some of the Emmy categories. Do you agree? Disagree? Who/what would you include on your lists? Drop me a comment with your ultimate ballot. And don't forget that the real Emmy nominations will be out tomorrow! I'll have my reaction on each category tomorrow afternoon here at PTR.