SubscribeSneak peek inside HBO's Emmys campaign box
Right now HBO is shipping out its Emmy campaign box to the 14,000 members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Presentation is simple, understated and efficient: two bound volumes measuring about 7 inches square, containing 13 disks each. In between each program sleeve is a cloudy, transparent sheet with a few quotes from major media. One of the three quotes before the "Entourage" section, for example, is a cheer from the Wall Street Journal: "Smart, sharp and funny . . . It's a total blast."
Facing each DVD sleeve is a list of who should be considered for which category. "Entourage" rascals Kevin Connolly and Adrian Grenier are shooting for lead comedy actor. "Rome" touts these lead performers: James Purefoy, Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker and Lindsay Duncan. "Deadwood" leads: Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker. "Sopranos" leads: just James Gandolfini and Edie Falco. "The Wire" - only Michael K. Williams. "Extras" - only Ricky Gervais. "Lucky Louie" - Louis C.K., Pamela Adlon. Also program category placement. Contrary to rumor, "Comic Relief" aims for that grab-bag "special class" category, not variety/comedy.
The box is much like the one HBO shipped last year. "We decided to keep the package simple and not too builky again," says a HBO spokesman. "We just made a few, small improvements."
BOUND VOLUME (13 Discs)
"Sopranos" — "Sopranos Home Movies," "Stage 5"
"Entourage" — "One Day in the Valley," "Three's Company," "I Wanna Be Sedated," "Sorry, Ari"
"The Wire" — "That's Got His Own," "Final Grades"
"Deadwood" — "A Two-Headed Beast," "The Catbird Seat"
"Rome" — "Philippi," De Patra Vostro (About Your Father)"
"Extras" — "Orlando Bloom," "David Bowie," "Daniel Radcliffe," "Chris Martin," "Ian McKellen," "Jonathan Ross, Robert Lindsay and Robert De Niro"
"Lucky Louie" — "Pilot," "Flowers for Kim," "Discipline," "Kim Moves Out"
"Real Time with Bill Maher" — "Sept. 8, 2006 - Guests: P.J. O'Rourke, Rob Thomas, Joan Walsh, David Gregory, Benjamin Netanyahu." "Oct. 6, 2006 - Guests: Richard Clarke, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Robin Williams, Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Sen. John Kerry, Chris Matthews"
"When the Levees Broke" (2 disks)
"Ghosts of Abu Ghraib"
"Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs & Blockbusters"
"The Music in Me: Children's Recitals"
BOUND VOLUME (13 Disks)
"Life Support"
"Longford"
"Angel Rodriguez"
"Tsunami: The Aftermath"
"Comic Relief 2006: Help New Orleans Laugh"
"Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed"
"Dane Cook: Vicious Circle"
"Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired"
"Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin'"
"George Lopez: America's Mexican"
"Louis C.K.: Shameless"
"Cedric the Entertainer: Taking You Higher"
"Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles, Part 1"
(L.A. Times photos by Tom O'Neil)
What a shame that Kevin Connolly was not nominated for an emmy! I think he plays Eric Murphy with such an understated manner, that he goes unnoticed in a crowd of comics. He is the straight man to Kevin Dillon, Jeremy Piven, and Jerry Ferrara. Kevin Connolly is Bud Abbott. It takes a great straight man in comedy to make your co-stars look so great. I hope Kevin Connolly takes Kevin Dillon and Jeremy Piven's emmy nods, and Jeremy's win, as a sign of how successful he is at making these guys look great.
Adrian Grenier is also overlooked, because people don't realize how brilliant he truly is.... he is nothing like the old Vince Chase- big spender, womanizing, looking for a good time. Adrian Grenier has a lot more substance than that, and it has started to show thru in Season 3B and 4 of Entourage.
Can't wait until Season 5. Hope the boys get a chance as Season 4 emmys next year, because both Kevin Connolly and Adrian Grenier put in stellar performances in Season 4. Unfortunately, sometimes these guys were all the drama in the comedy. I wonder if that confuses the committee.
Posted by: kevin connolly and adrian grenier overlooked | September 23, 2007 at 07:51 AM
There's a risk that McKidd, Purefoy and Stevenson will cancel each other out. Of the three Purefoy desrerves to make the short list.
I'm assuming the Rome supporting actor nominations are Bamber,Menzies and Woods. As "Philippi's" been highlighted I'd say its between Bamber and Menzies to get a shot of a nomination. Two great death scenes.
Posted by: John | April 24, 2007 at 08:13 AM
Michael K. Williams going lead for "The Wire"? I didn't think he had a chance anyway, but he's the strangest person from that cast to see competing as a lead actor. I might have expected Aiden Gillen, who was much more prominent as a mayoral candidate, to go that route, but not Williams.
James Purefoy may be out of luck. I would have submitted him as a supporting actor, but if Emmy voters take the time to screen "De Patra Vostro," then he's got a fighting chance of making the top ten. And if he submits that episode -- how could he not, it's his big, bold, tragic farewell -- then he could sneak his way into a nomination. The odds are against him, though.
Posted by: Daniel | April 19, 2007 at 02:34 PM
Tom, when you are done with that, I'll be more than happy to take that off your hands - unofficially of course - I am sure you don't need that taking up space in your home.
Posted by: Jefferson | April 19, 2007 at 10:31 AM