The 57th Annual Emmy Awards

Sunday night the Emmys were handed out during a so-so ceremony that was actually the most watched since 2002. I was excited because Ellen DeGeneres, whom I adore, was presenting again, but this time she didn't shine like back in 2001, when she presented after the show had been rescheduled three times due to the 9/11 attacks.

The worst thing was certainly the introduction of the Emmy-Idol, where TV personalities sang four TV themes, competing for the best act. Donald Trump and Megan Mullally won, but that isn't saying much. The whole idea was terrible and hopefully DOA. It's also absolutely ridiculous that shows like these, perennially criticized for running overtime, introduce dumb sing-alongs that have absolutely nothing to do with any TV show nominated (not even American Idol) instead of focusing on the shows at hand. Isn't anyone with originality and imagination still around in the entertainment industry?!

As for the winners and losers... Everybody Loves Raymond and Lost won the top categories (comedy and drama) and I can't really complain. Coming off its final season run, Raymond's only real competition was Desperate Housewives (which can try again next year,) since Will & Grace is on a constant decline, and nobody really watches Scrubs and Arrested Development (although both are supposedly very good.)

Lost beat out Deadwood (I'm sure it's great,) and 24 without bothering me at all. It deserves more than those two shows. As for The West Wing and Six Feet Under, I love both of those shows and last season (the last one for Under unfortunately) they both shined for me. Still, Lost was great and totally original. So many shows are already trying to copy its success (we'll see how successfully.)

Acting categories winners:

• Tony Shalhoub (Monk); probably the most deserving here; I'm glad it didn't go to Ray Romano by default just because it was his show's last season. Bateman is very good too, but no one watches his show.
  


• James Spader (Boston Legal); I don't watch the show, but the way he strolled on the stage to hand out an award last night made me want to strangle him!! I think he's a good actor, and so are all the nominees, but I think Ian Shane deserved it more here; or Hugh Laurie.
  


• Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives); she beat out Teri Hatcher (deservedly) and Marcia Cross (I say tie here); again, I'm glad Patricia Heaton didn't get it for the same reason why Romano didn't get it. As for Kaczmarek, her show is slowly dying (Fox moved it to Friday night, which is the equivalent of mercy killing in TV land,) plus, she has Bradley Whitford to look at, who needs an Emmy!!
  


• Patricia Arquette (Medium); again, I don't watch the show, but I was shocked, especially when the list included Glenn Close (didn't watch her, but c'mon, it's Glenn fracking Close) and Frances Conroy (spectacular as always.) Both Jennifer Garner and Mariska Hargitay always receive high praises too, so, Patricia must be very, very, very good. Maybe I should check Medium out.
  


• Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond); well, he's definitely good, but winning again... I think it's because it was the last season (and CBS now needs a spin off, so they all voted for him, I'm sure); both Jeffrey Tambor and Jeremy Piven (so cute) were probably more deserving; Sean Hayes is always over the top, even for me!!
  


• William Shatner (Boston Legal); don't watch the show; I guess he's good, but I also think the Academy has a soft spot for him (the comeback kid;) Alan Alda, Terry O'Quinn, and Naveen Andrews (ahhh, Naveen...) were all fantastic, and therefore deserving. Oliver Platt is a good actor too, so I just hope Shatner deserved this one.
  


• Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond); another win for Raymond, although she's always really good, and her career is probably now over for good. I love Megan Mullally's Karen Walker, but I can't complain.
  


• Blythe Danner (Huff); well, what can I say, Blythe is one of my favorite actresses, and she's great, always. The list here was all top notch too. My guess, she deserved it. Plus, she was nominated three times last night (that has got to be a record,) so how bad would it have been to go home empty handed!
  

Guest acting wins were good choices too. Bobby Cannavale was one of four nominations for Will & Grace (4 out of 5, gosh, how can you lose, right?) and deserved to win even just for the kiss he shared with Eric McCormack (awww...) and Kathryn Joosten always chews the scenery, whatever she does (loved her in The West Wing, love her in Desperate Housewives.) Ray Liotta and Amanda Plummer are two very good actors, so I'm happy there too.

Other winners were Geoffrey Rush (gosh, I have to watch The Life and Death of Peter Sellers,) who's already won everything available with that role, S. Epatha Merkenson (who gave the funniest speech of the night,) Paul Newman (I missed this movie,) and Jane Alexander (I'll try to watch Warm Springs in October.)

Surprise win: Warm Springs over The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, which, like his star, had won everything available up to now. Springs must be very good though. Puzzling win: The Lost Prince (Masterpiece Theatre) over both Empire Falls (I haven't seen it, but it's an HBO production, so you can't really go wrong there) and The 4400, which I really liked. I mean, who even saw Prince??! Who even heard of Prince??!

Finally, I was very pleased that The Amazing Race, the best reality show ever, beat out ratings champions like American Idol, The Apprentice, and Survivor. Project Runway, on the other hand, was very good too. One of my favorites.

Overall, good choices.