As we all know, ER's buzz has skyrocketed. Since this has been a relatively dim TV season for series television, I'm wondering if ER will score some major nods after years of being ignored.
There's been no official word yet if Angela Bassett will be thrown in lead or supporting. However, if nominated in lead, could Bassett become the first black actress to win Lead Drama Actress? How many black actresses have been nominated in that category? Aren't Regina Taylor ("I'll Fly Away," 1992 & 1993) and Alfre Woodard ("St. Elsewhere," 1986) the only two who've been nominated?
Anyway, if Bassett is swept up in ER's buzz and gets nominated in lead than she may be a strong threat to win.
She has some factors that are already in her corner such as...
1) No black actress has ever won Lead Drama Actress at the Emmys. It's been almost 20 years since a black actress was even nominated in the category. Much like Halle Berry's Oscar win, if the media gets ahold of this info then it could help Bassett score extra votes.
2) Let's face it; Emmy voters get off on nominating/awarding Oscar nominees/winners. How else can we explain that ridiculous nod that Ellen Burstyn received a few years ago for a 15 second performance?
3) Most, if not all of Bassett's likely competition---Close, Field, Hunter, Hargitay, Arquette---have already won Emmys and their names may all be interchangeable with voters if they don't have knockout tapes or buzz. Kyra Sedgwick is overdue to win, but she always submits crap tapes. Will this year be any different?
4) I don't watch ER, but according to my roommate, Bassett has some excellent tapes that could win her the Emmy.
5) The fresh faced nominees who have the potential to break into the Lead Drama Actress category---Anna Paquin, January Jones, maybe Elizabeth Moss---are longshots to win if they are nominated. Paquin is on a show about vampires and we know how Emmy voters have a bias against vampire shows (notice how Sarah Michelle Gellar never earned a nod for "Buffy"). Jones and Moss don't have the name recognition to pull off a win yet; they got defeated at the Globe and SAG awards this year. Both will need knockout tapes to be competitive.
I would imagine her tape would be "Heal Thyself", the flashback episode with Anthony Edwards. She was outstanding and has been very good all season. I think maybe the system last year would've given her a better shot. She might've made the top 10 and gotten her tape seen. I don't know if she'll make a top 6 popular vote. There is certainly more buzz surrounding ER these days, for a variety of reasons, but is it enough? I'm just not sure. I don't think you're off your rocker, however.
Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over— an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.
Originally posted by DoubleD: 3) Most, if not all of Bassett's likely competition---Close, Field, Hunter, Hargitay, Arquette---have already won Emmys
Generally speaking this is a pretty big advantage.
It used to be in the Lead Drama Actress category.
But since Janney won her fourth Emmy in 2004, no actress has managed to repeat in the category. Now granted, it's only been four years, but that's unusual for this category. Close, however, could break the trend this year. It's still surprising that Falco didn't manage to win again after 2003 especially considering the tape (and buzz) she had in 2004.
Originally posted by BuffyMars: I would imagine her tape would be "Heal Thyself", the flashback episode with Anthony Edwards. She was outstanding and has been very good all season. I think maybe the system last year would've given her a better shot. She might've made the top 10 and gotten her tape seen. I don't know if she'll make a top 6 popular vote. There is certainly more buzz surrounding ER these days, for a variety of reasons, but is it enough? I'm just not sure. I don't think you're off your rocker, however.
See I think Bassett has a strong shot at making the Top 6 based on her name, pedigree and the buzz surrounding ER. Right now, it looks like Close, Field, Hargitay and Sedgwick are the four likely nominees. Then, depending on category placement and whatnot you have Arquette, Bassett, Paquin 1 or 2 "Mad Men" girls and whoever else fighting for two spots.
Am I forgetting another major contender?
Anyway, I do have a strong suspicion Bassett will be pushed supporting to ensure a nomination.
I think she will and should go supporting. This is a category made for veteran actresses and Bassett could be classified as one. "ER" is more an ensemble work than one man (or woman) show. She has a bigger chance of getting into (and win) in supporting category. Oh, and she deserves to.
I don't think she has that kind of hype surrounding her performance. And let's face it, this is the most competitive year in recent memory for Lead Actress Drama. The nominations alone will be competitive, even barring who will eventually win.
I think she will and should go supporting. This is a category made for veteran actresses and Bassett could be classified as one. "ER" is more an ensemble work than one man (or woman) show. She has a bigger chance of getting into (and win) in supporting category. Oh, and she deserves to.
Even if she gets nominated (which is pretty likely even if she gets smidgen of critical backing and a big campaign),it will be hard to win unless she has a tape that is relevant(Field/Janney), allows the voters to sympathize with her(Field), cheer her on(Arquette), or knock them out(Close). Tape is very important here.
Emmy voters aren't the oscars, because they watch tapes they don't care about outside factors like race and being overdue. Think Angela Lansbury.
Also, I'm not sure emmy voters love Bassett as much as they "should". She didn't score a nom in 2005 for Guest Actress on Alias when she clearly deserved to imo.
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I think she will and should go supporting. This is a category made for veteran actresses and Bassett could be classified as one. "ER" is more an ensemble work than one man (or woman) show. She has a bigger chance of getting into (and win) in supporting category. Oh, and she deserves to.
Even if she gets nominated (which is pretty likely even if she gets smidgen of critical backing and a big campaign),it will be hard to win unless she has a tape that is relevant(Field/Janney), allows the voters to sympathize with her(Field), cheer her on(Arquette), or knock them out(Close). Tape is very important here.
Emmy voters aren't the oscars, because they watch tapes they don't care about outside factors like race and being overdue. Think Angela Lansbury.
Also, I'm not sure emmy voters love Bassett as much as they "should". She didn't score a nom in 2005 for Guest Actress on Alias when she clearly deserved to imo.
If she submits Heal Thyself, it's certainly a tape that will allow voters to sympathize with her. It revolves around the death of her son. It's really a terrific episode and would certainly be a contender, if she gets that far.
Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over— an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.
The huge buzz surrounding ER this season has been the return of old characters, not the introduction of new ones. So I don't think she really is likely to get nominated.
That said, I feel that she should submit herself in supporting. I think Parminder Nagra is the lead this season. Actually, when I was plotting my mid season nominations, Bassett made it into my personal Supporting Actress category.
I think ER could get nominated for several categories this season--- i'm thinking- Drama Series (for the finale which is SURE to be a mega-popular episode, perhaps it may even get ER into the top 5 ratings again), and i'm thinking Writing is a possibility. I also believe Guest categories will be filled with "ER" nominees--- Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, George Clooney (for name alone) and possibly Julianna Margulies (name alone also). Bassett would and should have the better chance in supporting where she would be a virtual lock to win. She could easily win against the likes of Hiegl, Oh, Wilson, Griffths and so on. In lead she'd be facing too much competition.
Paramder Nigra hasn't proven to be an Emmy favorite so i don't think she's a threat---but if they allow the ER veterans returning for guest spots to go Lead or supporting they will likely get nods--- I'm thinking this could be the year that Noah Wylie gets a long overdue Emmy win.
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20043 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
Angela submitted herself in supporting at the NAACP Image awards, and won that night. I think she should go Supporting at the emmys, then she would be a lock to win with the "Heal Thyself" tape.
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There are too many up-tight gay people on this borad..They need to get laid.. holla at me and if your in my area maybe I can help you out..
If Bassett submits herself in lead, there's no way she'll win, let alone be nominated. If she submits in supporting, there's a small chance she'll land a nomination, but I doubt a win.
Posts: 3794 | Location: Earth | Registered: April 11, 2005
I love her, but she would have no chance in hell to win if she went Lead and not b/c of her, but b/c of how these Emmy voters are. But I think if she went Supporting she has a chance at a win.
Posts: 5352 | Location: New York/California | Registered: September 30, 2006
Okay team....do your homework....Cicely Tyson did win in 1974 for the Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman....under the category of general Drama....also Black Lead actresses are NOT generally acknowledged by the Emmys (Oscars, SAG, IFP, Critics Choice, MTV Movie Awards, Golden Globes - yes but not ATAS) in either Drama or Comedy....
fact: Drama Nods 1995 Cicely was nom for Sweet Justice (NBC) - drama 1992 & 93 Regina Taylor for I'll Fly Away (NBC) - drama 1986 Alfre Woodard for St. Elsewhere (NBC) - drama 1982-1985 Debbie Allen for Fame (SYN) - drama
Comedy Nods/wins 1985-1986 Phyllicia Rashad for Cosby SHow (NBC) 1982-1983 Nell Carter for Gimme A Break! (NBC) 1979-1984 Isabel Sanford for The Jeffersons (CBS) *in 1981, Isabel finally won the emmy for her role on The Jeffersons
funny how Colin Powell says we have the "Cosby's" in the White house and yet television still doesn't quite reflect that....or does it? i pose the question to you.....either way, seems the only way to be assured of getting a nod and standing a chance at winning is to go the supporting route....and that's just based on statistics....feel free to check out the Goldderby site and the ATAS site to look up the info for yourself.....
I'd love to think Bassett could be nominated in Supporting -- "Heal Thyself" was a stunning hour for her and she more than deserves it. Between her veteran status, her tape, and the new buzz surrounding ER, I feel as if there is a slight chance she could slip in. Slight being the key word.
Posts: 2445 | Location: MA | Registered: June 16, 2005
For starters, I must object to the initial premise: a dim season for series television? You must not be watching the same shows I am. The ratings have dramatically favored cookie-cutter procedurals and reality shows, but what's happening on TV this spring has been largely stunning: "Big Love," "Damages," "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica," "Friday Night Lights," "Dollhouse," "Breaking Bad" -- it's been an amazing season.
That said, I don't think Angela Bassett will be in the discussion this year. Yes, "ER" has a lot of buzz this season, but it's for the returns, not the newbies. Over the years, the love for "ER" has waned and is now almost non-existent. It has been I think seven years since a member of the regular cast was nominated for an Emmy, and no regular from the show ever won an Emmy save Julianna Margulies, and that was back in the first season.
And I don't think her race will be a factor either. It takes the right actor in the right role to break barries, like America Ferrera, who was a lock to win her revolutionary lead comedy actress Emmy without anyone ever mentioning her race. Bassett is good on "ER" and if nominated she has a tape to compete, but with the straight popular vote back in play, she doesn't stand much of a chance. To get nominated, she'll have to fight against Kyra Sedgwick, Mariska Hargitay, Holly Hunter, Sally Field, Glenn Close, the "Big Love" actresses, the "Mad Men" actresses, Calista Flockhart, Evangeline Lilly, and maybe even Connie Britton (depending on category placement) and Mary McDonnell for places in the top 6, and most of them are likely to place ahead of Bassett in a popular vote. Those are some deep odds.
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"A movie is not good because it arrives at conclusions you share, or bad because it does not. A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it: about the way it considers its subject matter, and about how its real subject may be quite different from the one it seems to provide." - Roger Ebert, from the introduction to "Awake in the Dark" (2006)
742, I must object to you. In case you haven't been paying attention for the last few years. "Big Love" got no love from the emmy's, "Lost" has been lost on the voters, "Battlestar Galactica" gets director and writing and tech nods and that's it, "FNL" had it's lights put out by the emmy voters. So, bringing these shows up doesn't help your case.
"Dollhouse" is a brand new show and doesn't look to be anything the academy would like, imo. "Breaking Bad" won lead actor last year and that's all it will win, I don't see it winning again. I think that award was to reward a hard working actor.
Also, as far as this popular voting goes, yes there are five actresses who will prob. be locks, Kyra, Mariska, Sally, Holly, Glenn. You say that Angela isn't loved enough to get nominated, but let me remind you that the Academy has nominated her before for "The Rosa Parks Story" back in 2002.
Also, the "Big love" actresses suffer from competeing against each other, which is always a tough sell to voters. The "Mad Men" women are going to suffer from the supporting stigma because the show mainly revolves around men and the women are treated as supporting artists, so no I don't think they have any shot at a lead nomination. Evangeline Lilly is on a show that is lost on the voters and is old news. Connie Britton is on a show that most people don't even know is still around. I honestly thought it was cancelled a long time ago.
Calista is the only one I can see getting that sixth spot or maybe even Anna Paquin if the voters really go for the young artist factor.
