Ten years ago, the networks dominated the Emmy ballots.
Major categories were dotted with shows like CBS' "Mad About You," Fox's "Ally McBeal" and NBC's "Third Rock from the Sun." And while shows like HBO's "Sex and the City" and "Sopranos" do appear on the ballots, it is only now that cable TV has really begun to come into its own.
When the Emmy awards are given out on Sept. 20 on CBS at 8 p.m. odds are a number of them will go to shows that call cable home, a far cry from the award show's past.
For example in 1999, the outstanding drama category consisted of two NBC shows, two ABC shows and an HBO series. This year, of the seven nominees only two ("Lost" and "House") find themselves on network television.
"Although the major broadcast networks are hardly out of the business of 'quality TV,' they have more time to fill and broader tastes to satisfy," says Associated Press television writer Frazier Moore. "And though Emmys are nice for a broadcast network to crow about, they don't typically increase the audience for the show that wins them, or make much difference in how the audience perceives the network."
Major categories were dotted with shows like CBS' "Mad About You," Fox's "Ally McBeal" and NBC's "Third Rock from the Sun." And while shows like HBO's "Sex and the City" and "Sopranos" do appear on the ballots, it is only now that cable TV has really begun to come into its own.
When the Emmy awards are given out on Sept. 20 on CBS at 8 p.m. odds are a number of them will go to shows that call cable home, a far cry from the award show's past.
For example in 1999, the outstanding drama category consisted of two NBC shows, two ABC shows and an HBO series. This year, of the seven nominees only two ("Lost" and "House") find themselves on network television.
"Although the major broadcast networks are hardly out of the business of 'quality TV,' they have more time to fill and broader tastes to satisfy," says Associated Press television writer Frazier Moore. "And though Emmys are nice for a broadcast network to crow about, they don't typically increase the audience for the show that wins them, or make much difference in how the audience perceives the network."
Moore believes that cable networks have more to gain from award-winning
material than the networks. "A network like HBO wants to boost its
subscriptions, not simply viewership," says Moore. "One way to
cultivate an image of quality, and gain subscribers in the process, is
to put on programs that win Emmys."
So will cable television continue to make its mark on the Emmys? Our very own Fanboy gives his predictions.
Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Jemaine Clement, "Flight Of The Conchords" (HBO)
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk" (USA)
Steve Carell, "The Office" (NBC)
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Charlie Sheen, "Two And A Half Men" (CBS)
Fanboy's Pick: Last year saw a "30 Rock" bonanza. This year will see more of the same. Alec Baldwin in a landslide.
Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" (AMC)
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" (Showtime)
Hugh Laurie, "House" (FOX)
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment" (HBO)
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" (AMC)
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist" (CBS)
Fanboy's Pick: Who let Simon Baker in? No chance for the fake psychic as the Emmy will most likely go to "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm. Fingers crossed for Michael C. Hall, however.
Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures Of Old Christine" (CBS)
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" (ABC)
Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program" (Comedy Central)
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Toni Collette, "United States Of Tara" (Showtime)
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds" (Showtime)
Fanboy's Pick: The "30 Rock" party continues with an easy win for Tina Fey.
Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC)
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" (TNT)
Glenn Close, "Damages" (FX)
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC)
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" (AMC)
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace" (TNT)
Fanboy's Pick: I know it's hard to comment on a series you haven't seen but to me, "Damages," "The Closer" and "Saving Grace" are the same show. Look for a "Mad Men" victory again as Elisabeth Moss takes it.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Rose Byrne, "Damages" (FX)
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment" (HBO)
Hope Davis, "In Treatment" (HBO)
Cherry Jones, "24" (FOX)
Fanboy's Pick: It's Dianne Wiest by a nose.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies" (ABC)
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty" (ABC)
Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds" (Showtime)
Fanboy's Pick: What better way for a brilliant show to go away then with an Emmy win? If Jane Krakowski doesn't win for "30 Rock," Kristin Chenoweth takes it home.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
William Shatner, "Boston Legal" (ABC)
Christian Clemenson, "Boston Legal " (ABC)
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad" (AMC)
William Hurt, "Damages" (FX)
Michael Emerson, "Lost" (ABC)
John Slattery, "Mad Men" (AMC)
Fanboy's Pick: It's tough to go against Ben Linus on the island and even harder to root against Michael Emerson of "Lost." So I won't.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage" (HBO)
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS)
Rainn Wilson, "The Office" (NBC)
Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Jack McBrayer, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Jon Cryer, "Two And A Half Men" (CBS)
Fanboy's Pick: "30 Rock." "30 Rock." "30 Rock." Except this time Jack McBrayer finally gets recognized for his hilarious work as Kenneth the page.
Outstanding Comedy Series
"Entourage" (HBO)
"Family Guy" (FOX)
"Flight Of The Conchords" (HBO)
"How I Met Your Mother" (CBS)
"The Office" (NBC)
"30 Rock" (NBC)
"Weeds" (Showtime)
Fanboy's Pick: "Family Guy" makes its first appearance in the comedy series category but it doesn't matter. The "30 Rock" juggernaut marches on.
Outstanding Drama Series
"Big Love" (HBO)
"Breaking Bad" (AMC)
"Damages" (FX)
"Dexter" (Showtime )
"House" (FOX)
"Lost" (ABC)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
Fanboy's Pick: The toughest category of the night by far. If it can't be "Lost" or "Dexter" (and it probably won't) it will be AMC's "Mad Men."
Outstanding Animated Program
"American Dad" (Fox)
"Robot Chicken" (Cartoon Network)
"The Simpsons" (Fox)
"South Park" (Comedy Central)
Fanboy's Pick: With "Family Guy" in the outstanding comedy category, this could be "Robot Chicken's" year. "American Dad" stinks and "The Simpsons" hasn't been funny in a while. "Chicken" narrowly beats out "South Park."
So will cable television continue to make its mark on the Emmys? Our very own Fanboy gives his predictions.
Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Jemaine Clement, "Flight Of The Conchords" (HBO)
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk" (USA)
Steve Carell, "The Office" (NBC)
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Charlie Sheen, "Two And A Half Men" (CBS)
Fanboy's Pick: Last year saw a "30 Rock" bonanza. This year will see more of the same. Alec Baldwin in a landslide.
Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" (AMC)
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" (Showtime)
Hugh Laurie, "House" (FOX)
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment" (HBO)
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" (AMC)
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist" (CBS)
Fanboy's Pick: Who let Simon Baker in? No chance for the fake psychic as the Emmy will most likely go to "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm. Fingers crossed for Michael C. Hall, however.
Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures Of Old Christine" (CBS)
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" (ABC)
Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program" (Comedy Central)
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Toni Collette, "United States Of Tara" (Showtime)
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds" (Showtime)
Fanboy's Pick: The "30 Rock" party continues with an easy win for Tina Fey.
Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC)
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" (TNT)
Glenn Close, "Damages" (FX)
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC)
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" (AMC)
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace" (TNT)
Fanboy's Pick: I know it's hard to comment on a series you haven't seen but to me, "Damages," "The Closer" and "Saving Grace" are the same show. Look for a "Mad Men" victory again as Elisabeth Moss takes it.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Rose Byrne, "Damages" (FX)
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment" (HBO)
Hope Davis, "In Treatment" (HBO)
Cherry Jones, "24" (FOX)
Fanboy's Pick: It's Dianne Wiest by a nose.
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies" (ABC)
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live" (NBC)
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty" (ABC)
Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds" (Showtime)
Fanboy's Pick: What better way for a brilliant show to go away then with an Emmy win? If Jane Krakowski doesn't win for "30 Rock," Kristin Chenoweth takes it home.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
William Shatner, "Boston Legal" (ABC)
Christian Clemenson, "Boston Legal " (ABC)
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad" (AMC)
William Hurt, "Damages" (FX)
Michael Emerson, "Lost" (ABC)
John Slattery, "Mad Men" (AMC)
Fanboy's Pick: It's tough to go against Ben Linus on the island and even harder to root against Michael Emerson of "Lost." So I won't.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage" (HBO)
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS)
Rainn Wilson, "The Office" (NBC)
Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Jack McBrayer, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Jon Cryer, "Two And A Half Men" (CBS)
Fanboy's Pick: "30 Rock." "30 Rock." "30 Rock." Except this time Jack McBrayer finally gets recognized for his hilarious work as Kenneth the page.
Outstanding Comedy Series
"Entourage" (HBO)
"Family Guy" (FOX)
"Flight Of The Conchords" (HBO)
"How I Met Your Mother" (CBS)
"The Office" (NBC)
"30 Rock" (NBC)
"Weeds" (Showtime)
Fanboy's Pick: "Family Guy" makes its first appearance in the comedy series category but it doesn't matter. The "30 Rock" juggernaut marches on.
Outstanding Drama Series
"Big Love" (HBO)
"Breaking Bad" (AMC)
"Damages" (FX)
"Dexter" (Showtime )
"House" (FOX)
"Lost" (ABC)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
Fanboy's Pick: The toughest category of the night by far. If it can't be "Lost" or "Dexter" (and it probably won't) it will be AMC's "Mad Men."
Outstanding Animated Program
"American Dad" (Fox)
"Robot Chicken" (Cartoon Network)
"The Simpsons" (Fox)
"South Park" (Comedy Central)
Fanboy's Pick: With "Family Guy" in the outstanding comedy category, this could be "Robot Chicken's" year. "American Dad" stinks and "The Simpsons" hasn't been funny in a while. "Chicken" narrowly beats out "South Park."
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