How I Met Your Emmy Nomination

Every year I try to provide fair and objective Emmy predictions and insight, but I'm throwing all of that out this year.

After the nominations were announced this morning (see post below for official list), I almost passed out because SO MANY of my favorite shows and actors were nominated (or in some cases, finally nominated) this time around.

I'm so used to liking shows that no one has heard of, or shows that no one cares about that it's going to be bizarre to see my faves honored on TV's biggest night.

So I'm not doing any predictions this year, I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the show for once.

With that said, I do have to make special mention of a few nominees:

- In the biggest and best news of all, "HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER" HAS FINALLY BEEN NOMINATED FOR BEST COMEDY SERIES. What a deserving turnaround for a show that was almost cancelled last spring. I know "30 Rock" will probably win again (three straight wins will start to make me nervous in regards to "Frasier" maintaining its Emmy record five consecutive awards) but I don't really care; "HIMYM" is finally starting to get the recognition it should have been getting all along.

- The most surprising/satisfying nomination next to "HIMYM" for me was Kristen Wiig from "SNL" receiving a Best Supporting Actress in Comedy Series nod. If you haven't seen "SNL" in the past few years, you have to know that Wiig is legit. My Fiance and I love everything she's in (she almost stole "Knocked Up" in her two minutes of screen time) and I would give anything to be a Hollywood producer and pitch a Wiig-driven primetime variety show revival (think Carol Burnett) to a network and make lots and lots of money of that show's success.

- Even though "Big Bang" wasn't nominated, glad to see Jim Parsons (Sheldon) was. I'm a bit surprised he's in the Best Actor category instead of Best Supporting Actor - he is the definition of a supporting cast member to me. Can't pull for him over Steve Carrell (Michael Scott is the best character on television, period) even though it doesn't matter because Alec Baldwin will probably win again.

- Anyone else surprised to see "Family Guy" land a Best Comedy nomination? First animated show to do so since "The Flinstones" 48 years ago. Really? "Family Guy" gets nominated when "The Simpsons" still hasn't? Really? Huh...

- It's also a little strange to me that last year's Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series winner Jeremy Piven ("Entourage") did not get a nomination but Kevin Dillon - from the same show - did. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Johnny Drama fan, but there hasn't been an "Entourage" moment yet where Dillon was better than Piven.

- With Piven gone, doesn't it feel like it's shaping up to be a legendary win for "HIMYM's" Neil Patrick Harris (who is hosting this year's Emmys by the way)?!

- Glad to see "30 Rock's" Tracy Morgan get some Emmy love - but then again, who didn't from that show this year?

- Last year's Best Drama Series champ "Mad Men" is back to defend its title - I just started watching Season 2 on DVD, so I don't feel qualified to judge it yet, but everyone keeps saying the second season was somehow better than the first.

- Usually could care less about the Reality show categories but I am definitely pulling for "Top Chef" and actually think it has a decent shot at dethroning reigning champ "The Amazing Race".

- And finally, while I'm never going to be his biggest fan, I do have to say that Justin Timberlake has been a fantastic "SNL" host over the past couple of years and I was surprised and happy to see him earn a nomination for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Timberlake has meshed well with this underrated cast and through some of his reoccurring skits and video shorts, has helped make the sketch comedy show somewhat relevant again.

For a more professional analysis, be sure to check out former TV writer ("MASH", "CHEERS", "FRASIER", to name a few) Ken Levine's blog.