The Force is Strong With The Emmys.
Today, nominations for the 60th annual Primetime Academy Awards were made. The complete list can be found here.
Among the notable animated highlights, both Star Wars-themed episodes of fan-favorite shows, Fox/[adult swim]'s Family Guy and [adult swim]'s Robot Chicken (I know Cartoon Network are livid about the main network's name is mentioned in the category instead of the block network, but a nomination's a nomination), were nominated for Outstanding Animated Program, but won't compete against each other. Family Guy is nominated in the category for shows an hour or more while Robot Chicken is in the category for shows under an hour. It must give Cartoon Network and TNT a little pause about the Clone Wars series coming next month (plus, the microseries is already a two-time Emmy winner). Also, Justice League: The New Frontier was nominated, which I believe is the first time an on-demand presentation is a nominee.
One last note. The Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad with floats of Underdog and Stewie Griffin "running" around town to grab a Coke also got nominated for Outstanding Commercial.
And here are the nominees (animation-related nominees in bold):
Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)
Creature Comforts America • Don't Choke To Death, Please • CBS • Aardman Animations production in association with The Gotham Group
King Of The Hill • Death Picks Cotton • FOX • 20th Century Fox Television in association with 3 Arts Entertainment, Deedle-Dee Productions & Judgemental Films
Robot Chicken • Robot Chicken: Star Wars • Cartoon Network • ShadowMachine Films
SpongeBob SquarePants • Inmates of Summer / Two Faces of Squidward • Nickelodeon • Nickelodeon with United Plankton Pictures, Inc.
The Simpsons • Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox
Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour or More)
Blue Harvest (Family Guy) • FOX • Fuzzy Door Productions in association with Fox Television Animation Studios
Imaginationland (South Park) • Comedy Central • Central Productions
Justice League: The New Frontier • Warner Bros. on demand • Warner Bros. Animation
Outstanding Special Class - Short-format Animated Programs
Camp Lazlo • Lazlo's First Crush • Cartoon Network • Cartoon Network Studios
Chowder • Burple Nurples • Cartoon Network • Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Commercial
Brother Of The Bride - Hallmark
PYTKA, Production Company
Leo Burnett, Ad Agency
Carrier Pigeons - FedEx
MJZ, Production Company
BBDO New York, Ad Agency
Delivery - Travelers
MJZ, Production Company
Fallon, Ad Agency
It's Mine - Coca Cola
MJZ, Production Company
Wieden + Kennedy, Ad Agency
Swear Jar - Bud Light
Hungry Man, Production Company
DDB Chicago, Ad Agency
Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics
Disney's Phineas And Ferb • Song: 'I Ain't Got No Rhythm' • Disney Channel • Walt Disney TV Animation in association with Disney Channel
Flight Of The Conchords • Song: 'The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)' • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Flight Of The Conchords • Song: 'Inner City Pressure' • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel Live • Song: 'I'm F***ing Matt Damon' • ABC • Jackhole Industries in association with ABC Studios
MADtv • Song: 'Sad Fitty Cent' • FOX • Girl Group Company
Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (original Dramatic Score)
Family Guy • Lois Kills Stewie • FOX • Fuzzy Door Productions in association with Fox Television Animation Studios
House • Guardian Angels • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
Little People, Big World • Roloff Road Trip: Grand Canyon • TLC • Gay Rosenthal Productions in association with TLC
Lost • The Constant • ABC • ABC Studios
Pushing Daisies • Pigeon • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
The Simpsons • Treehouse of Horror XVIII • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox
My early picks/who will probably win:
Outstanding Animated Program (less than 1hr):
Robot Chicken/The Simpsons - If Creature Comforts USA wins, that'll be an upset for sure, but Robot Chicken beating all the nominations would be a true upset. KOTH could be the spoiler in the end. A little ticked that Avatar couldn't at least get a nomination this year, but that's probably Nick's own fault. You know, delaying episodes could make people forget it's on. The Simpsons is a safe bet, but the episode nominated was actually a pretty innovative one this season.
Outstanding Animated Program (1hr or more):
Family Guy/South Park - I'm not picking JL because it wasn't on a traditional channel, but I would be happy if they won. More critical buzz has swarmed around the Imaginationland episode like flies around scat. Readers already know I'm not a South Park fan, so I'll say no more. However, I'd love for Blue Harvest to squash the smug arrogance of Trey and Matt just this once.
Outstanding Special Class - Animation Short:
Chowder/Chowder - It's a fan favorite. It's a critical favorite. Cartoon Network will be pushing for this show's win.
Among the notable animated highlights, both Star Wars-themed episodes of fan-favorite shows, Fox/[adult swim]'s Family Guy and [adult swim]'s Robot Chicken (I know Cartoon Network are livid about the main network's name is mentioned in the category instead of the block network, but a nomination's a nomination), were nominated for Outstanding Animated Program, but won't compete against each other. Family Guy is nominated in the category for shows an hour or more while Robot Chicken is in the category for shows under an hour. It must give Cartoon Network and TNT a little pause about the Clone Wars series coming next month (plus, the microseries is already a two-time Emmy winner). Also, Justice League: The New Frontier was nominated, which I believe is the first time an on-demand presentation is a nominee.
One last note. The Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad with floats of Underdog and Stewie Griffin "running" around town to grab a Coke also got nominated for Outstanding Commercial.
And here are the nominees (animation-related nominees in bold):
Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)
Creature Comforts America • Don't Choke To Death, Please • CBS • Aardman Animations production in association with The Gotham Group
King Of The Hill • Death Picks Cotton • FOX • 20th Century Fox Television in association with 3 Arts Entertainment, Deedle-Dee Productions & Judgemental Films
Robot Chicken • Robot Chicken: Star Wars • Cartoon Network • ShadowMachine Films
SpongeBob SquarePants • Inmates of Summer / Two Faces of Squidward • Nickelodeon • Nickelodeon with United Plankton Pictures, Inc.
The Simpsons • Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox
Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour or More)
Blue Harvest (Family Guy) • FOX • Fuzzy Door Productions in association with Fox Television Animation Studios
Imaginationland (South Park) • Comedy Central • Central Productions
Justice League: The New Frontier • Warner Bros. on demand • Warner Bros. Animation
Outstanding Special Class - Short-format Animated Programs
Camp Lazlo • Lazlo's First Crush • Cartoon Network • Cartoon Network Studios
Chowder • Burple Nurples • Cartoon Network • Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Commercial
Brother Of The Bride - Hallmark
PYTKA, Production Company
Leo Burnett, Ad Agency
Carrier Pigeons - FedEx
MJZ, Production Company
BBDO New York, Ad Agency
Delivery - Travelers
MJZ, Production Company
Fallon, Ad Agency
It's Mine - Coca Cola
MJZ, Production Company
Wieden + Kennedy, Ad Agency
Swear Jar - Bud Light
Hungry Man, Production Company
DDB Chicago, Ad Agency
Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics
Disney's Phineas And Ferb • Song: 'I Ain't Got No Rhythm' • Disney Channel • Walt Disney TV Animation in association with Disney Channel
Flight Of The Conchords • Song: 'The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)' • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Flight Of The Conchords • Song: 'Inner City Pressure' • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in association with HBO Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel Live • Song: 'I'm F***ing Matt Damon' • ABC • Jackhole Industries in association with ABC Studios
MADtv • Song: 'Sad Fitty Cent' • FOX • Girl Group Company
Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (original Dramatic Score)
Family Guy • Lois Kills Stewie • FOX • Fuzzy Door Productions in association with Fox Television Animation Studios
House • Guardian Angels • FOX • Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
Little People, Big World • Roloff Road Trip: Grand Canyon • TLC • Gay Rosenthal Productions in association with TLC
Lost • The Constant • ABC • ABC Studios
Pushing Daisies • Pigeon • ABC • Living Dead Guy Productions, The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television
The Simpsons • Treehouse of Horror XVIII • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox
My early picks/who will probably win:
Outstanding Animated Program (less than 1hr):
Robot Chicken/The Simpsons - If Creature Comforts USA wins, that'll be an upset for sure, but Robot Chicken beating all the nominations would be a true upset. KOTH could be the spoiler in the end. A little ticked that Avatar couldn't at least get a nomination this year, but that's probably Nick's own fault. You know, delaying episodes could make people forget it's on. The Simpsons is a safe bet, but the episode nominated was actually a pretty innovative one this season.
Outstanding Animated Program (1hr or more):
Family Guy/South Park - I'm not picking JL because it wasn't on a traditional channel, but I would be happy if they won. More critical buzz has swarmed around the Imaginationland episode like flies around scat. Readers already know I'm not a South Park fan, so I'll say no more. However, I'd love for Blue Harvest to squash the smug arrogance of Trey and Matt just this once.
Outstanding Special Class - Animation Short:
Chowder/Chowder - It's a fan favorite. It's a critical favorite. Cartoon Network will be pushing for this show's win.
Comments
Really happy for Justice League: NF. The team deserves it. Movie didn't talk down for kids (hell, I doubt it was even made for the kids). Animation left quite a bit to be desired, but the story and the voice performances more than made up for the story's shortcomings.
Ah, another set of Emmy nods for Family Guy. Is it just me, or am I the only one gettin' tired of seeing them nominated in more than two categories?
We're seeing Robot Chicken at awards time again, deservedly so.
And where the hell is Avatar? Talk about injustice. . .
ENOCH