The nominees for the Screen Actors Guild awards were announced today and, as always, prove to be a nice barometer of who really deserves these end-of-the-year acting nominations. Since SAG is comprised of actors, there is no group more qualified to dole out acting awards than them. Therefore, I trusts these awards and nominations more than any other acting nominations. This is not to say I don't disagree with some of their choices. I do. My biggest qualms actually come from their film nominees, but we won't get into to that. The nominations in each TV category are after the jump, with commentary.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series James Gandolfini - The Sopranos Michael C. Hall - Dexter Hugh Laurie - House James Spader - Boston Legal Kiefer Sutherland -24 Good to see Gandolfini in the mix; he seems to have been absent from most other lists this year. I've got to give my vote to Kiefer, although Hugh Laurie is incredible. Spader gets a surprise nomination, but he deserves it. I would've nominated Patrick Dempsey instead, but I could go either way. Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Patricia Arquette - Medium Edie Falco - The Sopranos Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: SVU Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy I find it interesting that Chandra Wilson is their choice of the women on Grey's Anatomy. I suppose her character is a difficult one, especially keeping her sympathetic amid her actions. Hargitay seems to always be the favorite in this category. Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock Steve Carell - The Office Jason Lee - My Name is Earl Jeremy Piven - Entourage Tony Shalhoub - Monk Ah, well done, SAG. Jeremy Piven deserves this and, although he isn't technically the lead on Entourage, he is the best thing on the show. Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series America Ferrera - Ugly Betty Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine Megan Mullally - Will and Grace Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds Jaime Pressly - My Name is Earl I've never understood the love for Megan Mullally; she did nothing but annoy me. I'm at a loss in this category. If you're going to nominate supporting roles here (like Pressly), why not give Jenna Fischer a nod for her work as Pam on The Office. She's much funnier than Huffman, for instance. Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 24 Boston Legal Deadwood Grey's Anatomy The Sopranos As great as all these shows are, I think you have to give it to Grey's. Their cast is so deep and consistent that it keeps everything on a level plain. You never grow impatient with one character, or wish to get back to another. Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives Entourage The Office Ugly Betty Weeds This is one of those things that really sticks in my craw: DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES IS NOT A COMEDY. It's a good satire. To be a comedy, a show has to be funny. By funny, I mean it has to make you laugh. Why must we keep labeling that show a comedy? If you consider Boston Legal, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and Grey's Anatomy (all funnier than Housewives) dramas, than Desperate Housewives can be too. Anyway, if The Office doesn't win this, something is amiss in the universe. -Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer