And the Emmy Goes To...

Every year, I kick out a few thoughts on the Emmy award ceremony. Why should this year be any different?

Jeff Probst is apparently too cool for a tie. All the other reality show nominees/hosts wore one in the intro, including Heidi Klum. Probst couldn't be bothered.

And speaking of Heidi Klum -- she, of course, had to change outfits about 47 times throughout the broadcast. All her co-hosts, of course, did not.

William Shatner is still getting women out of their clothes after over forty years on television.

As each category was introduced, they quickly flashed a few names and photos of past winners in the category. A very dreary contest of who's featured and who's left out, if you ask me.

The whole business of rolling out recreations of sets from old television shows, accompanied by lengthy clips from said show, was the height of annoying. Sure, we all love these shows... but that's why we actually watched them when they were on the air. We don't need to watch three minute chunks of them now. Especially when it's sure to cut into the time in which winners get to speak. (And it did.)

Maybe the people who costume the Desperate Housewives on their show should have come up with their dresses for the award show. The consensus among those watching at my place was that only Dana Delaney looked good.

Ricky Gervais was awesome. Funny and awkward. Naturally.

Every year, the guy who directs the Oscars gets nominated for -- and wins -- an Emmy. Then we get to watch him stupidly try to give an acceptance speech and direct the Emmy show at the same time. This needs to stop. Let somebody else win this category, for crying out loud.

Steve Martin was great, as was the tribute to Tommy Smothers, as was the man Tommy Smothers himself.

Sadly, the same could not be said of the all the Laugh-In gang. Lily Tomlin's still got it. Some of the others didn't even look as though they quite knew where they were.

Though they weren't even a fraction as awkward as that Josh Groben TV theme medley. That was like the worst lounge act in Vegas gone horribly, horribly wrong and televised for millions of viewers. Well, it started at millions. I think you could measure people tuning out as the bit rolled on. They should have got Bill Murray to do this bit.

The guy from the Television Academy (that was introduced by Martin Sheen) had comically ridiculous glasses. He looked like he came straight from his jeweler's shop to give his speech.

Christian Slater used to come off like he was doing a Jack Nicholson impression. Now I swear he comes off like he's doing an impression of Christian Slater doing an impression of Jack Nicholson.

Cheers to Stephen Colbert for making an impassioned case for shriveled up old prunes. And to Jon Stewart for managing (though only barely) not to laugh.

Speaking of Colbert, he predicted on his show that he'd lose a performance Emmy for the third year straight to an older, beloved icon of the business. He was right. Rickles!!!

Yeah to Candice Bergen for her loophole in the by-laws to introduce whatever category she wants.

Neat/interesting choice in the "Memoriam montage" to put George Carlin first and last.

The Amazing Race wins reality program again, as it has every year since the category was introduced. Yes, it's that good. It's that much above the baseness of all other reality television. And it starts next Sunday. (Plug over.)

Quite a night for Tina Fey. I'm now convinced that 30 Rock must have started getting good the week after I stopped watching in back in the first season. I've heard great things about it, but I tried it way back then for about a month and never could get on board.

And Mad Men. I've heard good things about that too, but it has slipped through the cracks thus far. Perhaps that needs to change.