When I think of relevant, beloved, respected awards shows, the first ones that come to mind are the Oscars and the Emmys.  The Teen Choice Awards probably wouldn’t even land in the top 10 of such a list, but there’s no denying that they cater perfectly to their audience.  Unlike the MTV Movie Awards, which often make me gasp in horror at some of the nominees (Transformers for Best Movie?  No.), the Teen Choice Awards often get things right, honoring an interesting mix of respectable fare and solid entertainment.  The 10th annual special, hosted by Miley Cyrus, will air Monday, August 4 on FOX.

The nominees for the 2008 Teen Choice Awards were released today, and to no one’s surprise the CW racked up a ton of nominations.  Shows such as Smallville, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill will be vying for top prizes.  Read on for the complete list of nominees.

You can see the complete list of non-television nominees here, but let’s start by talking about the TV shows, actors and personalities who will be up to win the coveted surfboard award.  If you’re between the ages of 13 and 19, you can vote once a day for your favorite nominees by heading to TeenChoiceAwards.com.

Choice TV Show: Drama

Friday Night Lights
Gossip Girl
Grey’s Anatomy
House
One Tree Hill

I find it completely odd, but not at all unwelcome, that House is on this list.  Who knew teens were into the cranky 40-something antics of Hugh Laurie?  I’m rooting for Friday Night Lights in this category, though if Gossip Girl takes it I’ll gladly cheer.  If One Tree Hill wins I’m throwing things at my television.

Choice TV Show: Action Adventure

Heroes
Lost
Prison Break
Smallville
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Supernatural had a much better season than most of these shows, yet is inexplicably absent from this list.  Lost is the only one that truly deserves a nomination.  Nothing else even compares.

Choice TV Show: Comedy

Desperate Housewives
Hannah Montana
How I Met Your Mother
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty

I guess teens don’t watch The Office and 30 Rock on a regular basis.  It’s hilarious to see Hannah Montana nominated for an award.  While I’m sure that makes host Miley Cyrus happy, I’m hoping Ugly Betty walks away with the prize.

Choice TV: Animated Show

American Dad
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Family Guy
South Park
The Simpsons

South Park may not be fit for teenage audiences, but it’s easily the best show of the bunch.

Choice TV: Reality Dance

America’s Best Dance Crew
Dance War
Dancing with the Stars
So You Think You Can Dance
Your Mama Don’t Dance

It’s amazing how many dancing shows are currently plaguing the airwaves, but somehow they missed the best one of all: Bravo’s Step It Up and Dance.  With that out of the running, my vote goes to So You Think You Can Dance.  I just can’t get enough of Mary Murphy’s screeching.

Choice TV: Reality Music Competition

American Idol
Don’t Forget the Lyrics!
Making the Band 4
The Next Great American Band
Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

As someone who had to recap every episode of Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious, I can safely say it doesn’t deserve to win a thing.

Choice TV: Reality Beauty & Makeover

America’s Next Top Model
Beauty and the Geek
The Biggest Loser
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Project Runway

Top Model is enjoyable, but Project Runway is classier and more addictive.

Choice TV: Celebrity Reality

Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Life of Ryan
Rob & Big
Run’s House
The Hills

The Hills has this in the bag, though I would rename this the “Everything That’s Wrong with Television” Award.

Choice TV: Looking For Love

I Love New York
Flavor of Love
Rock of Love with Bret Michaels
The Bachelor: London Calling
The Bachelorette

Actually, maybe celebrity reality is only half of what’s wrong with television.  The other half is encapsulated by the shows above.

Choice TV: Reality Competition

The Amazing Race
American Gladiators
Big Brother 9
Oprah’s Big Give
Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites

Though I heard that Survivor had a fairly compelling season, and American Gladiators is a great guilty pleasure, I have to vote for The Amazing Race on this one.

Choice TV: Game Show

Amnesia
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Deal or No Deal
Duel
The Moment of Truth

Anything but The Moment of Truth. That’s more a harbinger of the apocalypse than an actual game show.

Choice TV Actor: Drama

Chace Crawford – Gossip Girl
Chad Michael Murray – One Tree Hill
Patrick Dempsey – Grey’s Anatomy
Penn Badgley – Gossip Girl
Taylor Kitsch – Friday Night Lights

Alright, on to the real categories!  Chad Michael Murray and Patrick Dempsey annoy me too much for words to describe, but the other three are all good choices.  Taylor Kitsch really had a chance to shine in season 2 of Friday Night Lights, so I say give it to the hunky Canadian.

Choice TV Actress: Drama

Blake Lively – Gossip Girl
Hilarie Burton – One Tree Hill
Katherine Heigl – Grey’s Anatomy
Leighton Meester – Gossip Girl
Sophia BushOne Tree Hill

I see that Katherine Heigl didn’t pull her name out of the running for this award.  Gossip Girl‘s Blair Waldorf is one of the most divine characters on television, and she’d be nothing without the snarky awesomeness of Leighton Meester.

Choice TV Actor: Action Adventure

Josh Holloway – Lost
Matthew Fox – Lost
Milo Ventimiglia – Heroes
Tom WellingSmallville
Wentworth Miller – Prison Break

I’m sorry, but where are Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki?  I take offense to their exclusion.  I’m voting for Matthew Fox, who is the underappreciated glue that holds Lost together.

Choice TV Actress: Action Adventure

Hayden Panettiere – Heroes
Ali Larter – Heroes
Evangeline Lily – Lost
Kristen Kruek – Smallville
Summer Glau – Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

The Sarah Connor Chronicles is a bit of a mess as a series, but Summer Glau is the lone bright spot in the ensemble.  She deserves it.

Choice TV Actor: Comedy

Barry Watson – Samantha Who?
Charlie Sheen – Two and a Half Men
Michael Urie – Ugly Betty
Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother
Steve Carell – The Office

Barry Watson, seriously?  Steve Carell is essential to the success of his series, but Michael Urie and Neal Patrick Harris are both scene stealers.  Give it to all three of them!

Choice TV Actress: Comedy

America Ferrera – Ugly Betty
Christina Applegate – Samantha Who??
Jaime Pressly – My Name is Earl
Miley CyrusHannah Montana
Tina Fey – 30 Rock

I know Miley Cyrus is popular amongst the tweens, but putting her up against these great comedic actresses, as well as Jaime Pressly, is kind of terrible.  She’ll win, but Tina Fey should track her down afterwards and steal the surfboard.

Choice TV: Personality

Heidi Klum – Project Runway
Lil Mama – America’s Best Dance Crew
Ryan SeacrestAmerican Idol, E! News
Simon Cowell – American Idol
Tyra Banks – America’s Next Top Model

I’ve never heard of Lil Mama in my life, Tyra Banks is insane, and Cowell and Seacrest are greatly overexposed.  Heidi Klum should walk away with it.

Choice TV: Breakout Show

America’s Best Dance Crew
Gossip Girl
Miss Guided
Samantha Who??
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Is this even a contest?  Gossip Girl all the way!

Choice TV: Breakout Star Female

Blake Lively – Gossip Girl
Leighton Meester – Gossip Girl
Olivia Wilde – House
Summer Glau – Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Taylor Momsen – Gossip Girl

This is a tough one, as I love all of these girls and think they’re all great on their respective shows.  Though as far as a breakout star goes, I’d give it to Leighton Meester or Blake Lively.

Choice TV: Breakout Star Male

Chace Crawford – Gossip Girl
Ed Westwick – Gossip Girl
The JabbawockeezAmerica’s Best Dance Crew
Thomas Dekker – Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Zachary Levi – Chuck

The Jabbawockeez should not count as breakout stars, but whatever.  Ed Westwick should start clearing out a space for his giant surfboard.

Choice TV: Male Reality/Variety Star

Brody Jenner – The Hills
David Cook – American Idol
Rob Dyrdek and Christopher Boykin – Rob & Big
Ryan Scheckler – Life of Ryan
The JabbawockeezAmerica’s Best Dance Crew

This is the worst category I’ve ever seen.  I’d give the award to no one.

Choice TV: Female Reality/Variety Star

Heidi Montag – The Hills
Kim Kardashian – Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Kristi Yamaguchi – Dancing with the Stars
Lauren Conrad – The Hills
Whitney Thompson – America’s Next Top Model

Someone from The Hills is destined to win this, aren’t they?  I guess that’s a small step above Kim Kardashian.

Choice TV: Villain

Ed Westwick- Gossip Girl
Michael Rosenbaum – Smallville
Spencer Pratt – The Hills
Vanessa Williams – Ugly Betty
Zachary Quinto – Heroes

Spencer Pratt’s inclusion here is hilarious and well-deserved.  Michael Rosenbaum is old news, and Zachary Quinto was more annoying than villainous in season 2 of Heroes.  Let the awesome Ed Westwick and Vanessa Williams battle to the death for it.

Click here for the nominees in movies, music, comedy, fashion and sports.

– Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of the CW)

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Staff Writer, BuddyTV