The envelope, please...

Sunday's The Primetime Emmy Awards. Every year, I volunteer to vote on them. It's my way of giving back for having been given one oh-so many years ago. So far this year, I'm 0 for 2 as the Sound Editing awards have already been handed out. Of all the categories I voted for, the "Sound Editing for a Series" category was, far and away, the toughest one to decide (it was won by "Smallville" season opener with the "Fortess of Solitude" construction, two Kryptonian villains, and an appearance by the "Phantom Zone"), as every choice had spectacular work done for them. I also voted for Best Comedy Series and Best Drama Series, which were mixed bags.

It's a privilege to do this, even though it's not a lot of fun to critically watch 20 to 30 hours of television when you have to. Then, also, you get to read all the bitching and moaning from experts (where did I put that "eye-rolling" icon?) who have to weigh-in about what a farce the whole thing is because "blah-blah-blah" didn't get nominated and "blah-blah-blah" was, instead (nobody agrees about which "blah-blah-blah" is deserving, of course, hence the whole notion of trying to please everybody or come to a consensus goes out the window) and what idiots all the voters are. It's a staple of awards shows. In fact, I think the same article template is used for the Oscars and Grammys. Sure beats being creative.

Still, this year did raise an eyebrow or two. Every year, there's at least one of the Comedy nominees that doesn't offer up a single laugh. That's expected. But, nominating "Two and a Half Men?" Really? Where was "My Name is Earl," which was genuinely funny and fresh, and was even liked by the critics (and consistently, which takes some doing!). "Everybody Hates Chris" (just the title of that one makes me laugh), another genuinely funny show...where was it?

In the drama category, there was one absence that was keenly felt: "Battlestar Galactica." Just saying the name tells you why it wasn't nominated. It's science fiction. Add to that, the inevitable association with the earlier, crappy version of it (which this show has always had to prevail against) and it's doomed to even be considered.* Which is too bad (and especially when the rest of the shows on television seem to be either "slab" or "reality" shows). I've yet to see an episode that isn't compelling, complicated, extraordinarily well-acted, or pushes envelopes and buttons, in ways that make you think and make you uncomfortable. It consistently considers things that only in the context of science-fiction could you get away with. But it's not just good science fiction. It's good story-telling. And it stays with you for days. It's a television show that haunts. That's rare for tv, but to do so consistently, as it does, that's really something extraordinary, whatever genre it represents.

To not give that recognition goes against the reason for giving awards in the first place.

So say we all.

*Every year, I get "screeners" of shows in elaborate packaging to garner attention from Academy members. This year, one came in an elegant severe black box. It opened up to a booklet that had page after page of glowing reviews and praise, it just seemed to go on and on. And only when you'd read the last page could you open the package and see the DVD's...and it was the entire season of "Battlestar Galactica." The weight, and sheer volume of praise for the show was ample evidence of quality and should have been argument enough to watch what all the fuss was about. But, again, there was no nomination. What will this show have to do?