No matter what happens I intend to blame Gandolfini (and misere :whistle:) on pure principle.

Hey, I still think Hugh's performance deserves the Emmy more and am most definitely rooting for him, but no one can say that Gandolfini's performance wasn't Emmy-worthy (I saw his tape. God.) But yeah, I also thoroughly intend to blame misere, should anyone but Hugh win :shifty:

::slinks away in shame::

The fact is, that James Gandolfini is a superb actor whose work on The Sopranos is thoroughly deserving of an Emmy. Which is why they gave him 3 of them (2000, 2001, 2003). Kiefer Sutherland, while nowhere near as talented, deserves recognition for his work on 24. And he won in 2006. (oops - thanks galaxygirl) James Spader always gives interesting performances which is why he won Emmy's for his work on The Practice/Boston Legal in 2004 and 2005. Hugh Laurie's work on House is as good as any of the above (and better than most) and he has not won. And if he loses to Denis Leary I am going to California and hurting some people.

Poeia, that is an astute and fair summation that demonstrates well the uncertainty inherent in these types of situations. And can I come to California to :tritter: and :hammer: some :curse: people with you?

Poeia, Kiefer only has one Emmy, been nominated for every season though. I don't think anyone should rule out Spader, if he submitted what I think he submitted, he's going to give Gandolfini and Hugh a run for their money and don't forget that the Emmy voters love David E. Kelley shows. Yes, Boston Legal fan and proud of it, not that I'm expecting any wins though.

the only reason that i think spader is out of the running is because people have grown tired of BL. at least in my opinion they have. it was one of those shows that was the hot new thing and got tons of accolades and now it's gone to the little graveyard where they eventually send all DEK shows. and by "people" i mean critics and voters, not viewers. i think he does some of the best work on television, largely because he's bringing a lot of the character that might not show up on paper. i know it's cool to hate on him in the HL fandom, but he brings it the same way hugh does. kiefer's not going to win because people so hated last season. he got the courtesy nom because people love him so much (and i am one of those people) but i don't think the nomination is based on anything seen on the show last season. gandolfini could/would/should win because he's awesome. the only objectionable thing i've heard in the press is the idea that he should win because he makes an unlikeable character sympathetic which i just found to be such bullshit. not that he doesn't do that, but if that's your distinction between him and the others then you're kind of missing the mark on what the other four guys are doing. i think it's pretty interesting that *all* of them are playing guys like that, to varying degrees. if hugh were not nominated it wouldn't kill me to see leary win because even though "rescue me" lost me totally, i still think he's doing a great job with tommy. he's a talented guy, i just don't think he should take an award over hugh. but, even though i'm jinxing him, i think hugh's gonna win. i do. i didn't really think he would the first time he was nominated and he didn't. i *did* think he was a lock the second time, but maybe i can excuse myself on the technicality that that prediction was based on them giving him the fucking nomination in the first place. but, whatever. i think this is his year to take it, if for no other reason than the consensus inside hollywood seemed to be about the same as that of those of us outside hollywood: he was robbed last year.

if hugh were not nominated it wouldn't kill me to see leary win because even though "rescue me" lost me totally, i still think he's doing a great job with tommy. he's a talented guy, i just don't think he should take an award over hugh. I agree, I love Denis Leary and I think he does a great job on Rescue Me, if Hugh wasn't nominated I would be rooting for him, though I really doubt that he wins. I don't watch 24 or BL, so I can't comment on those actors. Unfortunately, I've seen way more of the Sopranos than I ever wanted to. Ugh, I'm glad that show's over, I know that it's supposed to be this incredible show or something but it just bugs me, as does Gandolfini and I'm sure that once he wins (I'm convinced he will) it's only going to add to my distaste for him.

that's okay. i mean, i never liked marlon brando. at all. everyone raves about "on the waterfront" and, honestly, i never got it. but, i recognize his talent. it's just not my style. i think that's the case of gandolfini for a lot of people as well. i like the guy, but i can recognize that other people might not. he's still talented, though. i really think that's the case for all five of the guys. i know there are many people that i feel that way about, but brando was the first one that popped into my head. that's what really got under my skin that first year hugh was nominated...all of the "spader is awwwwffuuuullll" crap. um, no he's not. he's just not your favorite actor. that's okay. there are people on earth besides hugh laurie and a lot of them are pretty talented, attractive, fun people. amazing, no? and yeah, i know that that's not what you were doing at all and my intention is not to imply that it was, i'm just still, apparently, very bitter about the utter beating that anyone who wasn't hugh laurie took for such a long time. it seems to have stopped for the most part, which is a great relief to me since i *do* like actors who aren't hugh. {g}

I didn't start watching BL until last season and I'll admit that I didn't think Spader and Shatner were as great as my husband(faithful The Practice watcher and claims that Spader saved that show from going completely in the crapper) said they were. That was until I started watching the show. Now I get it, they are fantastic on BL, I never thought I would say this, but Shatner deserved those Emmy's(Spader too, but that's less of a shock lol). BL is must watch tv for me, maybe even more than House is. I'll go and dodge the tomatoes now

I don't see anyone beating on actors who aren't Hugh Laurie (except as a joke and I think we should be allowed that) so ::shrugs:: I would be highly annoyed (can't quite work myself up to honest anger) if Gandolfini were to win because it's The Last Season of Sopranos. If he were to win for his work, that's fine, but the idea that it's worth more because it's that last season makes no sense to me. I'd actually be equally annoyed if Hugh Laurie were to win because voters wanted to award him for being 'robbed' last year. I'd rather see him praised for the good work he's done. Either way, we'll never know the reasons behind the result so it'll all be a moot point come Sunday night.

I don't see anyone beating on actors who aren't Hugh Laurie (except as a joke and I think we should be allowed that) so ::shrugs:: my apologies if i offended you in some way because, yeah, of course people are allowed to make jokes. and they do. and i'm sure you do. and i do. whatever. i didn't say that anyone here was beating up on anyone and i was careful to say that it's not as prevalent as it once was. but, yeah...other actors have taken a *beating* in this fandom. big time. the beginning of season two when the online presence had just about doubled from what it was in the spring was not a good time for any actor that wasn't hugh. I'd actually be equally annoyed if Hugh Laurie were to win because voters wanted to award him for being 'robbed' last year. I'd rather see him praised for the good work he's done. being rewarded for being robbed the previous year when the voters still feel the the actor is worthy is a lot different from voters choosing to reward someone in season twelve when the show is about to go off the air and it's now or never. it's extremely clear that most people don't think that his work is any less than it was last year. a win would not be a pity win. though, to note: i did not say that he was going to win because he was robbed last year. i said that the consensus is that he was robbed last year, meaning that people can't believe he hasn't been recognized already for the work that he does on that show. my *opinion* that he is going to win is based on the idea that people in the industry thought that he should have won last year and probably would have if he'd made it through the nomination process. the small number who participated in that stage didn't put him through and they aren't representative of the larger pool of voters who expressed confusion that they didn't have the opportunity to vote for him. Either way, we'll never know the reasons behind the result so it'll all be a moot point come Sunday night. okay. but plenty of people are just as interested in figuring out the motivations of such things as they are talking about the show or how super dreamy some actor is. it's fun. and there's such a wealth of information out there that while we're certainly not going to know the inner thoughts of every single academy member, we tend to get a good idea of the thought process. it's a fun diversion and fun hobby. if it wasn't, people wouldn't make their predictions and pick the "races" every year.

i recognize his talent. it's just not my style. i think that's the case of gandolfini for a lot of people as well That's me for sure. I know he's talented, that Tony Soprano is considered one of the greatest characters in television history, etc., and I appreciate that, but I just could never get into the show. I know I"m biased but I've seen Hugh play so many varied roles in television and movies, and he has such an amazing range playing comedy, drama, totally different types of characters. I've seen Gandolfini in at least half a dozen other roles besides Tony Soprano, and just didn't think he succeeded in any of the ones I've seen. I know I haven't seen everything he's done, and that he's done a lot of theatre so this probably isn't a valid criticism, but it's like he's great at playing Tony Soprano, but doesn't have much else in his repertoire. Just my opinion based on other roles I"ve seen him in. That being said, I wish I could be as optimistic as you are amy about Hugh's chances Sunday night. I keep telling myself it's not a big deal, it doesn't matter if he loses, don't need the television academy to validate how amazing we know that he is, but still it will hurt to see him lose, as dumb as I know that probably sounds. The nomination's an honor. I know he already has two GG's and the SAG, and two TCA's, but this is the big one. And I so badly want to see him up there hoisting that trophy. He deserves it, he's more than earned it, and I really hate that it would be given to someone just on the basis of "bookending" the character/series, especially when he already has three of them. I'm also really tired of reading so-called experts saying that he isn't going to win because he's playing an unsympathetic character. Please. As I think you said amy, all of the nominees play unsympathetic characters to some extent. And probably none moreso than Gandolfini. At least we'll get to see Hugh in a tux, on the red carpet, and as a presenter. And though I know he probably won't have fun this weekend, from what I've read there's a ton of parties he'll probably be attending both Saturday and Sunday night. Besides the TV Guide party Sunday night where BFTV will be playing, this would be the other one I'd most want to attend: British American Film and Television/ Los Angeles 5th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominees Tea Party Date: September 15 Locatlon, location: Hollywood's historic Wattles Mansion - designed in 1907. Think wood floors, beamed ceilings, a wood-paneled library, sprawling terraced gardens with ponds and fountains. Theme: A proper High Tea party. Warning: do not sip your tea with a spoon left in your cup. It's just not done. Hue and Cry: Traditional. Waterford tea and Wedgewood china. Classic floral arrangements by Alicia's Garden. Bells and Whistles: Celebrity teapots! The public is invited to bid on celeb-designed teapots (by casts of "24," "Medium," "Weeds", 'American Idol," "Big Love," "CSI: Miami, "The Office," The Tudors," "Ugly Betty" and more. Also up for grabs: walk-on TV roles and tickets the 08 "American Idol" finale and post party. All proceeds benefit the Educational Outreach programs of the TV Academy Foundation and BAFTA/LA. Begins Sept 5 at www.charityfolks.com Wining and Dining: mini-scones, Battenburg cake, clotted cream, crustless watercress sandwiches, lots of fresh fruit, and, naturally, pots and pots of tea. Did we mention Grey Goose vodka, Beaulieu wine and bubbly, Dove chocolates and Voss artesian water? Star Count: Every British, Australian, NewZealand and Canadian TV player. Think Hugh Laurie, Jesse Spencer, Ricky Gervais, Simon Cowell, Kiefer Sutherland, Rachel Griffiths and more.

I've seen Gandolfini in at least half a dozen other roles besides Tony Soprano, and just didn't think he succeeded in any of the ones I've seen. I know I haven't seen everything he's done, and that he's done a lot of theatre so this probably isn't a valid criticism, but it's like he's great at playing Tony Soprano, but doesn't have much else in his repertoire. Just my opinion based on other roles I"ve seen him in. this is a weird one, but one of the best things i've seen him in was "the mexican". which is a horrible movie. i'm not even sure *why* it's a horrible movie, but it is. it's like the whole "i can't define p0rnography but i know it when i see it"...i can't put my finger on why the movie is bad, i just know it is. brad pitt is very funny, jk simmons kills me dead every second he's on screen and julia does the petulant thing awesomely. and gandolfini is just so very, very funny. don't see it, though. it's terrible. but, that's still one of my favorite performances from him. I keep telling myself it's not a big deal, it doesn't matter if he loses, don't need the television academy to validate how amazing we know that he is, but still it will hurt to see him lose, as dumb as I know that probably sounds. The nomination's an honor. I know he already has two GG's and the SAG, and two TCA's, but this is the big one. And I so badly want to see him up there hoisting that trophy. i agree. it's not the end of the world if he doesn't win and, in spite of claims to the contrary, he's a grown up and will soldier through the disappointment of not winning. still, even if you don't put much stock into awards, it's still pretty awesome to win and it's nice to be recognized and it would seem wrong in a weird way that he'd have won so many other things and be recognized by so many other people and never win an emmy. Wining and Dining: mini-scones, Battenburg cake, clotted cream, crustless watercress sandwiches, lots of fresh fruit, and, naturally, pots and pots of tea. Did we mention Grey Goose vodka, Beaulieu wine and bubbly, Dove chocolates and Voss artesian water? my god, i'm starving right now.

Just to show that you should never give up hope, it took Ted Danson 7 nominations to finally win for Cheers :wink: Entertainment Weekly is doing their annual should win/will win prediction thing. They think both the Soprano's for best drama and Gandolfini for best actor should and will win. Interestingly enough they don't think Edie Falco will/should win, who's my pick for best actress.