2012 Emmy nominations announced

[BillBrasky]

The 2012 Emmy nominations have been announced, and for the first time in a long time, the Best Comedy Series nominations are for the most part all series that ASTers like and enjoy ("The Big Bang Theory" excepted). Not a questionable choice like "Nurse Jackie" or "Glee" in the bunch. Last year's winner "Modern Family" is joined by perennial favorites "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "30 Rock", as well as HBO's two new comedies "Veep" and "Girls". ASTers will probably also be happy to see Louis CK nominated for lead actor in a comedy series, as well as writing and directing nominations for his FX series. "Community" is also nominated for an Emmy this year, with the episode "Remedial Chaos Theory" and its writer Chris McKenna nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.

SNL scored several nominations, with Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader nominated for supporting actress/actor respectively in a comedy series, as well as nominations for Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, and Jimmy Fallon for their SNL hosting stints. "Portlandia" is nominated for the first time for writing in a variety series and best variety series, while "Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theatre" received a nomination in the traditional variety special category against such shows as the 84th Annual Academy Awards and the 69th Annual Golden Globes.

A complete listing of all comedy nominations follows after the jump.

[BillBrasky]

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Girls
30 Rock
Veep
Modern Family
The Big Bang Theory

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Louis C.K., Louie
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Don Cheadle, House of Lies

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Mayim Blalik, The Big Bang Theory

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Ed O'Neill, Modern Family
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Max Greenfield, New Girl

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Kathy Bates, Two and a Half Men
Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live
Elizabeth Banks, 30 Rock
Dot-Marie Jones, Glee
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
Margaret Cho, 30 Rock

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Michael J. Fox, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Bobby Cannavale, Nurse Jackie
Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live
Will Arnett, 30 Rock
Greg Kinnear, Modern Family
Jon Hamm, 30 Rock

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Chris McKenna, Community, "Remedial Chaos Theory"
Lena Dunham, Girls, "Pilot"
Louis C.K., Louie, "Pregnant"
Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation, "The Debate"
Michael Schur, Parks & Recreation, "Win, Lose, Or Draw"

Directing for a Comedy Series
Robert B. Weide, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Palestinian Chicken"
Lena Dunham, Girls, "She Did"
Jake Kasdan, New Girl, "Pilot"
Louis C.K., Louie, "Duckling"
Jason Winer, Modern Family, "Virgin Territory"
Steven Levitan, Modern Family, "Baby on Board"

Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

Writing For A Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Portlandia
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

Animated Program
American Dad, "Hot Water"
The Penguins of Madagascar: The Return of the Revenge of Dr. Blowhole
Futurama, "The Tip of the Zoidberg"
Bob's Burgers, "BurgerBoss"
The Simpsons, "Holidays of Future Passed"

Voice-Over Performance
Dan Povenmire, Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension
Maurice LaMarche, Futurama, "The Silence of the Clamps"
Brenda Strong, Desperate Housewives, " Give Me The Blame / Finishing The Hat"
Hank Azaria, The Simpsons, " Moe Goes From Rags To Riches"
Rob Riggle, Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice
Kristen Wiig, The Looney Tunes Show, "Double Date"

Special Class Programs
84th Annual Academy Awards
The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards
Herbie Hancock, Gustavo Dudamel And The LA Phil Celebrate Gershwin (Great Performances)
Louis C.K. Live At The Beacon Theatre
65th Annual Tony Awards

Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment
The Daily Show Correspondents Explain
Web Therapy
Childrens Hospital
Parks & Recreation: April and Andy's Road Trip
30 Rock: The Webisodes

[BillBrasky]

That's pretty impressive that Modern Family has 4 people nominated in the same category for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. I wonder if that has ever happened before.

[Aaron1933]

That's pretty impressive that Modern Family has 4 people nominated in the same category for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. I wonder if that has ever happened before.

I don't know that the word is "impressive." I would have said "dumb."

[aenemaTron]

Haha, good luck Margaret Cho! That would be great.

[BillBrasky]

Well, I would put Ed O'Neill in the Best Actor category, but I remember during their first season he said he didn't want to be put into that category. There really isn't a lead actor on that show, focus is divided pretty evenly among all the cast members.

[DiscoInferiorityComplex]

That's pretty impressive that Modern Family has 4 people nominated in the same category for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. I wonder if that has ever happened before.

The last time was all the way back in 2011.

[BillBrasky]

Haha, yes, I realized that, I mean previous to this show though.

[Itslikeimsayin]

So Louis CK is a great actor, great writer and great director, but the show all this happens on is only meh? I hate when that happens. How the fuck does the show not get nominated for Best Comedy Series as well? I absolutely loved Veep but it's about half as good as Louie.

[pollymaepry]

The Emmys are stupid I've stopped getting mad....until Big Bang Theory and Modern Family wins everything.

[JKwac]

That's pretty impressive that Modern Family has 4 people nominated in the same category for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. I wonder if that has ever happened before.

I know in the '80s there was a year that all five Supporting Actor in a Drama nominees were from Hill Street Blues. As for Comedy though, Cheers came close with Wendt, Ratzenberger, Colasanto/Harrelson, and Grammer all getting nominations but never four at the same time.

[JDiddy]

They didn't name Parks & Rec and Nick Offerman as nominees because they already won right? Right?

[mueXog]

[ImAScooby]

I know it was a long shot, but I was a little disappointed that there were no comedy nomination for Happy Endings. Adam Pally and Damon Wayans Jr. were both deserving as hell this year.

[BillBrasky]

The Emmys are stupid I've stopped getting mad....until Big Bang Theory and Modern Family wins everything.

This really doesn't need to be said yet again, but Modern Family is still a really good show. I don't subscribe to the theory that just because something's popular that that automatically means it's bad. For example, I watched the first season of Big Bang Theory and found it for the most part enjoyable, but as the show went on it got increasingly Chuck Lorre-ish and started becoming incredibly pandering to the live studio audience for cheap, obvious laughs.

Modern Family though, just because it's mainstream-ish and centers around a family, I think a lot of people overlook how subversive and clever the writing is. There is so much talent there behind the scenes, Christopher Lloyd who was a big force behind "Frasier" and Steve Levitan who wrote for "The Larry Sanders Show" and co-created "Just Shoot Me" and "Greg the Bunny". There are several ex-"Arrested Development" writers on staff too. I would say that MF is the spiritual descendant of AD, in terms of the amount of callbacks and running gags they've created within the show's universe (Phil and the broken step!) Hurwitz tried with "Running Wilde", but that show ultimately failed because the characters weren't very likeable and the show didn't have much heart.

With MF, I think they've done a great job of creating a show that is on the one hand faithful to the old timey sitcom tropes that older audience members appreciate, while also using the format and language of today's newer single-camera sitcoms (the to-camera interviews, etc.) that make the show seem fresh and current. This is why I hope it wins again this year, if they're not going to nominate "Parks & Rec" or "Community" then I think MF is the best of all the sitcoms on this list.

[Couldn'tThinkOfaName]

Bill Brasky likes Modern Family.

[BillBrasky]

Bill Brasky likes Modern Family.

Now let's discuss why everyone else doesn't like it.

(I expect a 3,000 word essay from pollymaeprey on why she thinks it's bad)

[ImAScooby]

Modern Family was fantastic for the first 2 seasons. This season, not so much. I did find the Mitch and Cam storyline in the finale very moving though, so I'm not ready to give up on it just yet. I think the problem is that it just isn't in the same league as the show's that got the shaft this year, like Parks, Community, and Louie, but the Emmy voters seem to be head over heels in love with it.

[JDiddy]

I know it was a long shot, but I was a little disappointed that there were no comedy nomination for Happy Endings. Adam Pally and Damon Wayans Jr. were both deserving as hell this year.

My third favorite comedy behind Parks and Louie. I'm the only person I know that watches it, and it's a damned shame.

And Scooby nailed it on Modern Family. I felt like the writers kind of mailed it in this year. But all the actors are deserved of their praise.

[Newt Floss]

My favorite comedy behind Parks and Louie.

There's a show called Parks and Louie?? Why am I just now hearing about this?