Upcoming Emmy diva smackdown: 'Nurse Jackie' vs. 'United States of Tara'
Showtime aired Season 2 debuts of two major Emmy contenders last night: "Nurse Jackie" and "United States of Tara" to largely positive response.
USA Today's Robert Bianco gave "Nurse Jackie" a wild rave, claiming that the series about a pill-addicted nurse has "certified Edie Falco's rank as a star of the first magnitude, through a performance that is beautifully spare and completely free of all visible signs of vanity."
Zap2It says that "United States of Tara" – about a woman (Toni Collette) with multiple personalites'' -- "seems as though the series is ready to hit its stride."
Variety has some quibbles: "Both shows feature compelling female leads in showcase roles, but in each case the complementary ensemble isn't quite so compelling. Calling them 'comedies,' moreover, is really a misnomer, since they function more like half-hour dramas, with an occasional laugh thrown in."
But classifying both shows as comedies is shrewd Emmy positioning that's paid off. Toni Collette won best comedy actress at last year's Emmys plus the Golden Globes, but lost to Tina Fey ("30 Rock") at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Fey won the Emmy for comedy actress in 2008.) Falco was nominated at the recent Globes and SAG contest too, but not the last Emmys. "Nurse Jackie" wasn't yet eligible. That means that Falco will have two seasons of "Nurse Jackie" to consider when she decides which sample episode to submit to Emmy judges.
Watch the episodes on line: "Nurse Jackie" and "United States of Tara." Previews below.
NURSE JACKIE
UNITED STATES OF TARA
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Photos: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
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Eddie Falco is so butch in that role...oops it's Edie! But will like to see Amy Bi-Poehler and Courtney Cox-s_K_r and Sarah the Silver-Man and Tina Tammy-Fey up the award too....har, har...
Posted by: Cisco | March 24, 2010 at 02:31 PM
Wish the Emmys would find some way to create that dramedy category. I love both actresses (especially Falco) but it is ridiculous to compare Tara/multiple personalities/Jackie and Liz Lemon/Leslie Knope
Posted by: che | March 24, 2010 at 04:19 AM
Good performances, but neither is a comedic performance and perhaps should not be up for the Comedy category. The nominees in Comedy should be judged for comedic performances--not drama. Multiple personalities shows range, but not comedy. Tina Fey, Amy Pohler, Paticia Heaton, and Courtney Cox should get the lead actress in a comedy. And, IMAO, Amy should get the win.
Posted by: CK | March 23, 2010 at 07:44 PM
The 6 I'd like to see nominated:
Tina Fey
Toni Collette
Edie Falco
Sarah Silverman
Courtney Cox
Amy Poehler
...although I can't decide who I want to win!
Posted by: GoMe! | March 23, 2010 at 02:51 PM