Will Emmy history repeat if James Spader joins 'The Office'?

There are whispers across Hollywood that James Spader may be joining the cast of "The Office" following his memorable cameo in the season finale. Rumor has it that he'll replace Kathy Bates, who played a recurring role as the CEO of the fictional Sabre printer company. She's leaving the show to focus on the second season of the legal drama "Harry's Law."

If this scenario doesn't sound familiar, it should. In 2003, Spader joined another long-running show, ABC's drama "The Practice," replacing Dylan McDermott, who had been nominated for drama actor (in 1999, losing to Dennis Franz for "NYPD Blue"). Although "The Practice" had largely gone out of Emmy favor by its eighth and final season, Spader's one-year stint won the series its first and only lead-acting Emmy. The following season, his character was spun off onto a new series, "Boston Legal," for which he won two more Emmys (2005, 2007).

If he joins the cast of "The Office" this fall, will history repeat itself? Steve Carell has been nominated five times for playing bumbling boss Michael Scott and is expected to receive a sixth nomination this year, but he has yet to win. And he's not the only cast member with bad luck at the Emmys. The series, which won as top comedy in 2006, has never won an award for acting, so a win next year for Spader would be the series' first.

Spader could also become the second male actor to win lead acting Emmys for both comedy and drama. The first was Robert Young ("Father Knows Best" in 1958, "Marcus Welby M.D." in 1970). Last year Edie Falco became the first woman to accomplish this feat when she won as comedy actress for "Nurse Jackie." Previously, she was a three-time champ for "The Sopranos" (1999, 2001, 2003).

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-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: James Spader with his Emmy for "Boston Legal" in 2005. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

The highs and lows of the Emmy races: The most interesting categories

 
With more than 100 Emmy races, it’s difficult to know which contests will be the most exciting and which ones can be skipped for a bathroom break during the awards telecast. But from the way things are shaping up, here's a cheat sheet to what promise to be the five most interesting races:

Lead actor, comedy: It’s a good thing Steve Carell has a sense of humor. Even though “The Office” proved to be an Emmy darling at the start (best comedy series, 2006), Carell has lost the lead actor race five times, including once to the chap who created the original British series: Ricky Gervais (“Extras”). Now can Carell finally get the last laugh upon leaving the Yankee version? Sarah Jessica Parker was overdue for an Emmy when she ultimately prevailed for her last season on “Sex and the City.”

Drama series: Can “Mad Men” go four in a row for top drama series? Only three programs have won that trophy as many times: “Hill Street Blues” (1981-1984), “L.A. Law” (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991) and “The West Wing” (2000-2003). Its toughest rival may be “Boardwalk Empire,” which won the drama award at the Golden Globes and best ensemble at the SAG Awards. Both shows are old news, though, airing in late 2010. The usurper could be “The Good Wife.” It’s currently airing, Emmy voters love legal dramas and it’s on CBS. Most members of the academy work for broadcast networks — but a show airing on one of the Big Four hasn’t triumphed here since 2006, when “24” took it.

 

Will Ferrell: It's a 'crime' if Steve Carell doesn't win an Emmy for 'The Office'

Will Ferrell is campaigning for Steve Carell to win an Emmy for his final season on "The Office."

Ferrell recently joined the cast to work closely again with his old pal Carell, who last teamed up with Ferrell on screen in the film adaptation of the TV series "Bewitched" in 2006. Carell's quest for the Emmy has been elusive -- he's lost five times. Last week, Carell took his final bow on the show in a poignant episode that he probably submitted to Emmy judges.

The writers "did such a nice job with that last episode, of making it funny but emotional and poignant," Ferrell told Access Hollywood. "And if Steve doesn’t win an Emmy, it's a crime. As long as I win an Emmy, that'll be fine. But if Steve doesn't, for sure, it's a crime."

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Will Ferrell, center, and Steve Carell in "The Office." Credit: NBC

'The Office' farewell present to Steve Carell: Emmy?

While appearing on "The Office," Steve Carell lost five Emmy bouts: twice to Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"), once, most recently, to Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory"), once to Tony Shalhoub ("Monk") and once, quite ironically, to Ricky Gervais, who created the original British version of "The Office" but won his Emmy for "Extras" while competing against the U.S. version of "The Office."

Blame part of Carell's poor luck on the episodes submitted to the Emmy juries. They just didn't have the emotional oomph sufficient to knock voters' blocks off. But now Carell has two episodes that might prove victorious. For weeks, our forum commenters have been hyping his sweet marriage proposal to Holly (Amy Ryan) as a real winner. However, his farewell from the series was a heart-tugger with a plus: Being a special one-hour episode, it will be twice as long as most sitcom entries in the category.

Which one should he submit this year? Below, what our forum writers said when I posed the question. See more responses here.

Brilliance inmorbid: It was a good episode and a solid goodbye, but it could come off as overly sappy if you don't have an emotional connection to the series. Carell is the front-runner, but this isn't unbeatable.

LadyHathor25: Carell absolutely needs to go with "Goodbye, Michael". He would be a total fool to not to. This is a winning tape.

Hodag129: Tom, you're great and I appreciate all you do here, but this is a dumb question. Definitely "Goodbye Michael."

tv_freak: The goodbye episode because of screen time, sentiment, and it's equally emotional as the proposal. He may not even have the most LOL tape of the six nominees, especially if you have not watched this show from the start. All things considered, this is his episode from beginning to end.

GoMe91: I love Alec Baldwin, but if the Emmy voters give Alec the Emmy over Steve, they are not doing anyone any favors. Not the show 30 Rock. Not Alec. Because whoever weirdly beats Steve this year, will be criticized unmercifully until the next ceremony. So JUST GIVE STEVE THE EMMY ALREADY and make everyone happy. Jim Parsons already has one. Alec has two. Let's spread the love and give it to Steve after 7 amazing seasons!

-- Tom O'Neil

Photos: The farewell of Michael Scott (Steve Carell) from "The Office" (top) and his proposal to Holly (lower). Credit: NBC

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Steve Carell: Farewell, 'The Office' -- Hello, Emmy?

Steve Carell: Goodbye, 'The Office' -- Hello, Emmy?

Steve Carell has never won an Emmy, but now four of our six forum moderators believe he'll finally prevail for his final season in "The Office" -- Marcus Dixon, Darrin Dortch, Rob Licuria and Matt Noble. According to their newly updated rankings in the Emmy race for lead comedy actor, our moderators are split on who else may be out front to win: Chris Beachum believes two-time champ Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock") will triumph again while Matthew Cormier is betting on the return of last year's champ Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory").

Of course, it all comes down to the strength of the sample episode that the nominees decide to submit to the Emmy jury. Most of our pundits are betting on Carell because they assume he'll submit Michael's sweet marriage proposal to Holly (Amy Ryan) or else, if it's strong enough, his final farewell to the Dunder Mifflin gang.

Notice how many of our Emmy pundits believe Ed O'Neill ("Modern Family") will move up to the lead race after he failed to be nominated last year in supporting. Such a switch is speculation, not official. Also notice how none of our pundits includes past nominee Charlie Sheen ("Two and a Half Men") in their rankings. How telling is that, eh?

-- Tom O'Neil

LEAD COMEDY ACTOR	Beachum	Cormier	Dixon	Dortch	Licuria	Noble
Alec Baldwin, ‘30 Rock’	1	2	3	2	3	3
Steve Carell, ‘The Office’	2	3	1	1	1	1
Matt LeBlanc, ‘Episodes’			6		5
Danny McBride, ‘Eastbound & Down’	6		5			3
Joel McHale, ‘Community’	4			6	4	5
Matthew Morrison, ‘Glee’	5	4	4	4		4
Ed O’Neill, ‘Modern Family’		5		5
Jim Parsons, ‘Big Bang Theory’	3	1	2	3	2	2
Matthew Perry, ‘Mr. Sunshine’					6
Jason Schwartzman, ‘Bored to Death’						6
William Shatner, “.... My Dad Says’		6

Photo: NBC

Poll: Will 'Modern Family' win best comedy series again at the Emmys?

Last year, the Emmy race for best comedy series was no laughing matter. Three-time champ "30 Rock" entered the contest undefeated, facing off against newbies "Modern Family" and "Glee." "Modern Family" triumphed and has continued its quality in Season 2, but so has "Glee," which is now technically overdue to win, and "30 Rock," which is poised for revenge. What's ahead?

"The Office" won in 2006 and now has sentiment on its side as Steve Carell bids bye-bye. Certainly, it'll be nominated again. That makes four likely contenders in this category that has six nominees. Which shows will nab the other two slots?

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Nurse Jackie" pulled off surprise bids last year and "Jackie" at least may be back ("Curb" isn't eligible this year). But maybe not. It's vulnerable. "The Big Bang Theory" is long overdue for its first bid here and may finally get recognized thanks to Jim Parsons' winning best lead comedy actor last year.

Also in serious contention for a bid are "Episodes," "Family Guy" and -- uh-oh! -- "Two and a Half Men"? See list below. 

-- Tom O'Neil

* nominated last year

Photo: "Modern Family" (ABC) /p<>

Comedy Central/MTV Networks Comedy Awards nominations announced

 
So you thought the awards' season was officially over on Feb. 27, Oscar Sunday?

Think again. Comedy Central and MTV Networks have created the Comedy Awards, which will be telecast on April 10 on Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1, CMT and Nick at Night.
 Nominations in 15 categories were announced Tuesday. The nominees were chosen by the "Comedy Awards' Board of Directors,'' which includes director James Burrows, Stephen Colbert, Brad Grey, Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers and Seth MacFarlane. The winners will be chosen by an invitation-only voting body from members of the comedy community.

The nominees are:

Comedy Series

"30 Rock"

"Eastbound & Down"

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"

"Modern Family"

"The Office"

Comedy Actor-TV

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Ty Burell, "Modern Family"

Steve Carell, "The Office"

Danny McBride, "Eastbound & Down"

Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock"

Comedy Actress-TV

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"

Jane Lynch, "Glee"

Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"

Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"

Comedy Actor-Film

Russell Brand, "Get Him to the Greek"

Will Ferrell, "The Other Guys"

Zach Galifianakis, "Dinner for Schmucks"

Paul Giamatti, "Barney's Version"

Jonah Hill, "Cyrus"

Comedy Actress-Film

Tina Fey, "Date Night"

Anne Hathaway, "Love & Other Drugs"

Helen Mirren, "Red"

Chloe Moretz, "Kick-Ass"

Emma Stone, "Easy A"

Late Night Comedy Series

"The Colbert Report"

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"

"Jimmy Kimmel Live"

"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"

"Late Show with David Letterman"

Sketch Comedy/Alternative Comedy Series

"Children's Hospital"

"Funny or Die Presents"

"Saturday Night Live"

"Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job"

"Tosh.O"

Stand-Up Special

"Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening"

"Bill Maher...But I'm Not Wrong"

"Louis C.K.: Hilarious"

"Ricky Gervais: Out of England 2"

"Whitney Cummings: Money Shot"

Comedy Film

"Cyrus"

"Easy A"

"Get Him to the Greek"

"Kick-Ass"

"The Other Guys"

Animated Comedy Film

"Despicable Me"

"Megamind"

"Shrek Forever After"

"Toy Story 3"

Animated Comedy  Series

"American Dad"

"Archer"

"Family Guy"

"The Simpsons"

"South Park"

For a complete list of nominees, go to Thecomedyawards.com

-- Susan King

Photo: Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin star in NBC's "30 Rock," which garnered seven Comedy Awards nominations. Credit: Nicole Rivelli / NBC Universal

Poll: Can Steve Carell finally win a Golden Globe for 'The Office'?

Poor Steve Carell. For the past four years, he's lost the Golden Globe for best TV comedy actor – three times to Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"). Baldwin has such a high Cool Factor that he might win again – that is if he can topple recent Emmy champ Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory"). Parsons wasn't nominated last year, but members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. have such a strong, newfound love of "The Big Bang Theory" that it's nominated for best comedy TV series too.

That makes Steve Carell the curious wild card in this contest. Globe voters know that he's quitting "The Office." They might decide to give him this trophy again (he won in 2006) as a farewell present, especially considering who is hosting the awards ceremony – Ricky Gervais, who created the original, British version of "The Office," which pulled off a shocking upset as best TV comedy series in 2003. [For the record: An earlier version of this post implied that Carell had never won a Golden Globe.]

It's a safe bet that quite a few HFPA members have imagined how much fun it would be to see Gervais and Carell at the podium together.

— Tom O'Neil

 

Photo: Steve Carell in "The Office." Credit: NBC.