Sunday, September 12, 1999
'Sopranos' may be an offer the Emmys can't refuse
BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It's going to be a mob scene. With The Sopranos leading all series with 16 nominations, expect to hear and see lots about HBO's crime family drama on the 51st Annual Prime-Time Emmy Awards today (8-11 p.m., Channels 19, 45).
James Gandolfini, who stars as New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, was nominated for best drama actor, one of HBO's 74 nominations, second only to NBC (82). ABC is third (58), followed by CBS (46), Fox (33) and A&E (20).
The Sopranos co-stars Edie Falco (Mrs. Soprano) and Lorraine Bracco (her husband's psychiatrist) were honored with best drama actress nominations, while Nancy Marchand (his mother) was nominated as best supporting actress in a drama. Only Ms. Marchand has an Emmy — four of them to be exact — for Lou Grant (1978, '80-82).
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ON THE AIR
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ON THE AIR
• What: 51st Annual Emmy Awards.
• When: 8-11 p.m. today.
• Where: Channels 19, 45.
• Pre-show: Fox coverage starts with the 1999 Emmy Awards Pre-show (7:30 p.m., Channels 19, 45).
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Chances are very good that The Sopranos at least will win the Emmy for best drama writing. Four of the five nominations are for episodes of the HBO program. (The fifth is the NYPD Blue last November in which Jimmy Smits' Bobby Simone died after a failed heart transplant.)
The Sopranos already has made history by becoming the first cable series nominated as TV's best drama. It is up against ER and Law & Order (both NBC) and NYPD Blue and The Practice (both ABC), one of which has won the category since 1995.
Whether The Sopranos can grab the Emmy for best drama won't be known until tonight. After all, this is the Emmys, TV's most unpredictable awards show.
@subhed:Stiff competition
@body:Two years ago, The Larry Sanders Show had 16 nominations — and was shut out. Lonesome Dove, the epic miniseries, had six performers go home empty-handed despite nominations a decade ago for Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Anjelica Huston, Diane Lane and Glenne Headly.
You never know.
Mr. Gandolfini faces stiff competition as best drama actor from Mr. Smits, in his fifth and final nomination for NYPD Blue, and Dennis Franz, whose work without Mr. Smits last season could earn his fourth Emmy in six years as Detective Andy Sipowicz.
What makes the Emmys so difficult to pick is that many of your favorite shows and stars aren't nominated.
The Sopranos bumped off The X-Files (Fox), Homicide: Life on the Street (NBC), Touched by an Angel (CBS), Buffy the Vampire Slayer or 7th Heaven (both WB) from the best drama list.
HBO's Sex in the City was nominated for best comedy, along with Ally McBeal (Fox), Frasier and Friends (both NBC), and a long overdue nod for Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS). But many viewers may be wondering why Drew Carey, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Sports Night, Dharma & Greg (all ABC) or Becker (CBS) didn't make the cut.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), Rick Schroeder (NYPD Blue) and Ted Danson (Becker) are among the many stars who will present an award tonight — but will not be eligible to receive one.
Also not nominated were George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Eriq LaSalle, Gloria Reuben and Laura Innes of ER; David Duchovny of The X-Files; Roma Downey of Touched by an Angel; and Adam Arkin and Hector Elizondo of Chicago Hope.
@subhed:Friendly upset?
@body:
Comedy standouts not eligible for an Emmy include Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally from Will & Grace; Connie Britton from Spin City; Laura San Giacomo and George Segal from Just Shoot Me; the casts of Drew Carey and Sports Night.
The biggest losers were the Friends gang. Only Lisa Kudrow was nominated for comedy supporting actress. Ignored were Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox for their characters' hilarious secret romance, which could result in the series' first Emmy for best comedy series.
A Friends win could be considered somewhat of an upset, because NBC's Frasier has claimed the award for five consecutive years (1994-98). But many critics complained about last fall's Frasier story line when Kelsey Grammer's character was out of work for eight weeks. Frasier producers have conceded that was a tactical error, when Frasier moved into the Thursday Seinfeld slot last fall.
“We made one mistake, but I don't know if that's enough to discount the whole season,” says Christopher Lloyd, a Frasier executive producer and creator. “I think we did some great shows in the second half of the season.”
Was it enough to preserve the streak? Or will Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond take home the trophy?
We'll find out tonight.
John Kiesewetter is Enquirer TV/radio critic. His column appears Monday and Wednesday. Write: 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202; fax: 768-8330.
Kiesewetter's picks for Emmys
