THE GOOD: Melissa Leo will be able to recycle her controversial self-published “For You Consideration” campaign thanks to her Outstanding Supporting Actress in a MiniSeries nomination for her work in MILDRED PIERCE! But seriously folks, after spending the better part of the past hour perusing the 2011 Emmy Nominations, nothing — outside of nods for FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS’ Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton that is — puts a smile on this TV Addict’s face like seeing fresh faces getting some much deserved recognition. Be it Louie C.K for his self-titled FX series, RAISING HOPE’s Martha Plimpton, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE’s Cat Deeley, THE KILLING’s Miereille Enos and Michelle Forbes and anything and everything associated with THE GOOD WIFE, GAME OF THRONES and JUSTIFIED, it’s hard to argue with a large portion of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’s choices. Hard, but not impossible, which brings us to…
THE BAD: If the utter lack of love for the entirety of USA Network’s schedule is any indication, characters are not welcome on Emmy night. Also not welcome: Zombies (THE WALKING DEAD), science fiction (FRINGE, DOCTOR WHO), dysfunctional family drama (PARENTHOOD, MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE), friends with beverages (COUGAR TOWN, SHAMELESS), biker gangs (SONS OF ANARCHY) and outside-the-box thinking (COMMUNITY). Oh, and is just us, or does a nomination for Betty White not scream so 2010?.
THE UGLY: GLEE’s Chris Colfer… you just got nominated for your second consecutive Emmy, what are you going to do next? Talk about your bad timing! Also falling under the category of “Ugly” is our apparent inability to take shots at perennial punching bag Jon Cryer. Suffice it to say, after the year he’s endured, we actually find ourselves rooting for the guy, despite our disdain for TWO AND A HALF MEN. Oh, and finally, although the general consensus seems to be that this past season wasn’t 30 ROCK’s strongest, the category of “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series” is not complete without America’s sweetheart Tina Fey. We’re just sayin’ 
