Hugh Laurie and House were both named when the 2008 Emmy Award nominations were read this morning. It is the series’ third Emmy nomination; its competition includes Boston Legal, Damages, Dexter, Lost, and Mad Men. It is very tough competition for the show, but the strike-shortened season has offered some of the series' best episodes to date (even if you were not a fan of the “survivor arc”). Particularly notable episodes (in my opinion, anyway) were “Ugly,” “97 Seconds,” “Frozen,” “Don’t Ever Change” and the dual finale episodes “House’s Head” and “Wilson’s Heart.”
It has been reported that House submitted the episode "Ugly" to the Emmy organization for initial consideration. That episode broke with the series’ usual format by adding the element of a documentary crew, which followed House and his team as they diagnosed a young man with a facial deformity. Interspersing black and white footage of the team as the camera saw them with the live action, it also set House in direct conflict with one of his new fellows, a plastic surgeon with a professional interest in the case.
Laurie’s episode, unsurprisingly, is the wonderful "House’s Head". In the series’ penultimate episode, House experiences a severe head injury and amnesia, losing the previous four hours. As House pushes himself to remember, recalling only that he “saw” something about a fellow passenger that was important and possibly fatal, he grows more and more desperate to know. Laurie is mesmerizing in the episode, appearing (quite literally) in every scene of what must have been a physically and emotionally grueling shoot.
This is Laurie’s third Emmy nomination, having been inexplicably snubbed two years ago, much to the bewilderment of critics and fans. He has never won an Emmy, but has been much lauded both by fellow actors, having won the Screen Actors Guild award, and television critics—twice winning the Golden Globe and twice winning the Television Critics Association award for his compelling and textured portrayal of the complex Dr. Gregory House. Many critics believe that Laurie is long overdue for his consistently excellent performance in the demanding role. He carries the series, which has the distinction of being both critically acclaimed and a ratings hit, perennially being one of television's highest rated scripted series. House also received nominations for directing (Greg Yaitanes, “House’s Head”) and music composition for Jon Ehrlich (“Guardian Angels”).
Article comments
1 - Ann
I'm thrilled for the nominations that House received. All are well deserved, however, I think Robert Sean Leonard and Anne Dudek were deserving of nominations, as well. I hope Hugh wins, although I'm not going to count on it. That way I won't be disappointed if he doesn't win. I have one question, though. Why are there 6 actors nominated for best actor in a drama, and 6 series nominated for best drama? I thought it was 5.
2 - Barbara Barnett
I think particularly Anne Dudek as a guest star would have been a nice nomination for the show. I like Robert's performance, but I think he, himself, said that this isn't really the sort of part to get Emmy notice for a supporting role. Of course as a fan, we can disagree with him :-)
Both the dramatic series and dramatic actor categories were incredibly rich this year. Lots of excellent shows. I think the voting by the "blue ribbon panel" must've been too close to whittle it down to five (but six is within the rules).
3 - RealDeal
Congratualtions to Hugh Laurie for his nomination but my joy is deeply marred by the Emmy's failure to recognize the extraordinary talent and creative genius of Robert Sean Leonard. The TPTB submitted the Ugly epsiode for which the Wilson and House/Wilson parts were made of awesomeness. HL submitted House's Head for his episode and the only scene I replay is the one where Wilson learns that Amber was on the bus and is dying.
I'm going to pass on the Emmys again this year. I just can't watch knowing that Robert Sean Leonard was overlooked once again.
4 - Barbara Barnett
I would like to respectfully agree to disagree with you regarding House's Head. To me it was one of the best hours of television I've seen in many, many years. Laurie was brilliant, displaying an astonishing range while being in nearly every frame.
Robert Sean Leonard, I believe, submitted Wilson's Heart for consideration, and he was wonderful in it, evoking a terrific range of emotion. I cannot know why the Emmy folks didn't nominate him--perhaps next year.
5 - Amanda
I don't know what I will do to vent my frustrations if Hugh does not win the Emmy
this year, I just know that it will be
BIG!!!!
Seriously, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THOSE EMMY PEOPLE??
6 - Amanda
I NEVER want to hear the name TRITTER or MORSE
EVER again!!!!!
HATED...I MEAN HATED the TRITTER ARC!!!!
7 - sue
I believe Hugh has not won the Emmy because he is British. Has any other Brit been nominated for a lead actor or actress role in years? There was an "influx" of British actors last year, and every article began with "Hugh Laurie started a wave of British actors starring in American TV series." British actors will work for less money, and they have convincing American accents. American actors are afraid of losing the acting jobs that are left after reality shows and game shows have monopolized prime time. Are there any 8:00 dramas any more? Maybe Bones and NCIS. The rest are game shows and reality shows.
If they reward Hugh with the Emmy, producers will be encouraged to bring over more British actors. So, they nominate him but don't reward him, and they think that is good enough.
8 - bliffle
Too bad the emmys aren't international. Much as I like Laurie, I'd vote for Luca Zingaretti in the Sicilian series "Montalbano".
Montalbano
It's available on "MHZ Worldview", on better college stations everywhere. Like KCSM (44.2) on the SF Peninsula.
9 - Nancy
Sue, So you think Hugh should not get the EMMY because he is British??
Well I think Hugh should get the EMMY because he is an AMAZING actor. With all he has to do on HOUSE...change his accent, walk with a cane, memorize many pages of dialog a day since he is in about every scene....I think he MORE than deserves the EMMY.
10 - Nancy
Bliffle, The EMMYS are for AMERICAN TV. If you want someone else but Hugh to win, why don't you suggest an award show for your country?
11 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Nancy--I don't think that's what Sue was saying. Just that (in her opinion) there's a bias against Brits. I don't agree with that. I think a lot of British actors have been nominated and awarded with lots of honors. Hugh won the SAG (which was voted on by his american peers).
This year, also, for example his category includes (of course) Hugh and the Irish Actor Gabriel Byrne. The mini-series supporting actor category includes two Brits: Tom wilkinson and Stephen Dillane for John Adams and Ralph Fiennes also scored a nomination.
Bliffle--in a sense the Emmys do acknooledge some internation films -- those that play on American television. A great number of mini-series are British imports that play on Public Television or on Cable.
But the Emmys are not an international award porgram. Just like the BAFTAs in the UK do not award American telelvison (they do have a non-British category (House was nominated last year).
12 - ann uk
If hugh doesn't win this time I shall start to believe in the conspiracy theories suggested by some of your other correspondants!
Us Brits have done well in many American awards and I think on the whole you are generous in your judgments. One of our tabloids today had front page headlines " Glory Laurie "- one of the reasons I hope Hugh will win is to raise his profile over here where he tends to be typecast as a comic actor. An emmy for House might make his ability as a straight actor more appreciated.
13 - Barbara Barnett
ann UK--this has to be his year. One of the problems for Hugh is that his role isn't necessarily showy over a one-episode stint. His is a textured and often very subtle performance--nothing over the top (unless he is off the rails, and then it is still less giving speeches and more about his phenonmenal physical acting.)
Take House's Head. I just watched it again yesterday to see the performance. So much of what House goes through is played out in his eyes. He has no big speeches, no "big" acting moments, but just a beautiful performance all the way through (and he's in every scene). the subtle difference in the way he says "Stay with me" to his hallucintory muse and how he says it to Amber.
Even the acting choices he makes when the stripper is trying to give him a lap dance are just wonderful, subtle things (he never puts his hands on her--never touches her--in Wilson's Heart he did the same with dream Amber. He never touches her.) In House's Head, Hugh plays House as someone driven to do something, but doesn't know why he's driven. (Even beyond his confusion due to the head trauma).
It's interesting, knowing the fact that its Amber, and watching the final scenes in House's Head again, you understand what was going on in the bus after the crash. Why would House reach for Amber's hand? Why try to follow her, crawling out of the bus? Why so desperately, as Hugh portrayed it?
He knew he was badly injured, and that Amber was also badly injured. But he also knew for that fleeting time while he was still in the bus that Amber was in possibly mortal danger. HE knew she had taken Amantadine and that if she had kidney damage from the trauma, she'd never survive it. So he tried to stay close to her--grabbing for her hand...(remember, he didn't even like her, so why else so desperately reach out for her). Seeing her taken out of the bus after he regains consciousness, he follows, but by the time he's out of the bus and the "events" of the trauma, his head injury and shock (I think House was pretty close to being in shock) wiped his memory of it. As he's examined, he doesn't speak, he's confused and dazed (well, more than dazed); his hands are shaking and, I think in a lot worse shape than the emergency responsder assumed.
Anyway, HL conveys so much in that scene. You can almost see the memory of what happened seep away as he wanders aimlessly in the wrong direction and away from help.
I'm hoping to do a more scene by scene analysis once I have a transcript, because I really think the acting in that episode by Hugh was so brilliant. I think it even surpasses Merry Little Christmas (which I think was another powerhouse of a performance from HL).
14 - El Bicho
Sorry to burst the conspiracy bubble, but if Brits don't win, how did Ricky Gervais win Best Actor (Comedy) for Extras last year?
Award shows are glorified infomercials.
15 - Barbara Barnett
I don't believe in conspiracy theories, El Bicho, but I do believe that it's a matter of bias in favor (in drama anyway) of a "big" performance and one that is more quietly effective (and probably more demanding). It's also an issue of the single episode criterion.
As someone who's been watching awards shows since I was six or so, I don't see them as infomercials, except maybe in a very oblique sort of way. On the other hand, I'm not very cynical about these sorts of things. I just like to see all those lovely gowns (and those lovely tuxes) and hope for a great moment or two (and if Laurie wins) a great acceptance speech.
16 - Barbara Barnett
UPDATE--I have now heard that House did not submit "Ugly" as was previously reported here. Later information (according to that bastion of awards show chatter) is that they submitted "Frozen"--a fabulous choice if true. (Thanks Gerry!)
17 - sue
House did like Amber. He fired her because she was too much like him. He realized she was good for Wilson. If he didn't like her, he would have let her drive him home. He had hallucinations about having a relationship with her.
I think in the case of drama, there is a bias against Hugh because he is British. When they announced the influx of British actors, it was for dramas, not comedies. Most of the scripted programs on TV are dramas. The Office originated in England and I believe Ricky Gervais was responsible for its success there.
I don't think you can compare the SAG awards and to the Emmys if who can vote is different.
Hugh has raised the standard for actors and the expectations of the viewing audience. Why glorify the actor who is putting pressure on them to live up to his capabilities? House is one of the top scripted dramas on television now. Boston Legal, as much a comedy as a drama, is a lot farther down the list.
From the time House started in 2004, Hugh has had incredible reviews for his acting chops. Does James Spader get any reviews from anyone? The only time I hear about him is when he wins and people think he didn't deserve it.
House is unique in the history of television. The character is innovative and memorable. He is a head to toe character. Hugh uses his entire self when he embodies him. He is the consummate actor. The fact that he has not won the Emmy devalues the prestige of the award. When everyone wonders why he wasn't nominated or didn't win, the actual winner suffers. Spader may have the Emmy, but he doesn't have the critical and audience support.
18 - Orange450
"It's interesting, knowing the fact that its Amber, and watching the final scenes in House's Head again, you understand what was going on in the bus after the crash. Why would House reach for Amber's hand? Why try to follow her, crawling out of the bus? Why so desperately, as Hugh portrayed it?"
When I first saw that scene, it seemed to me that when House was reaching for Amber's hand, their hands were positioned very similarly to the way that God's and Adam's hands are positioned in Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" - when God gives Adam the spark of life. I'm still not sure if I was imagining things, or if perhaps it was done on purpose.
(Afterwards, the scene proceeds in slow motion (if I recall correctly), but as their hands drift apart, their position is maintained in that same "reach".)
It's only at the end of "Wilson's Heart", after House remembers and we learn what actually happened on the bus before the crash, that it occured to me that maybe the focus on their hands drifting apart symbolized the extinguishing of Amber's spark of life as she fell beyond the reach of the person who could have saved her.
I'm still not sure if I'm imagining things or not!
19 - Nancy
Barbara, I stand corrected.
Also, I heard that HOUSE submitted 'House's Head' for Hugh, but I'm not sure what they submitted for the show. We should know this one!
20 - Barbara Barnett
Orange--I do think you have it, and I,too flashed on the Michaelangelo masterpiece when I saw the scene. House saw her drifting away--away from anyone who could help her--himself. He knew that if he lost track of her, she would die at that point (although we certainly didn't know it in HH). He also probably knew that he was pretty badly injured--and when he left the bus and wandered off, his own memory of it was erased as the swelling in his temporal lobe got worse. And then he lost the memory completly, leaving him in the strip club, confused dazed and not knowing how he got there.
nancy--I believe the producers changed their selection from Ugly to Frozen.
21 - ann uk
I think you are so right in your analysis of Hugh's acting and why it is often undervalued. Thinking of the scene in which Wilson asks House to undergo the risky brain stimulation, it struck me what grand opera it would make. What an aria Verdi would have written for House, expressing all his sense of betrayal and loss and his noble resolution to sacrifice himself for his friend - and all this is expressed in a curt nod!
It is an advantage of the series form that, like a novel, it can develope characters in depth and House MD uses this to the full whereas many series try to deliver a melodramatic punch in every episode. Hugh Laurie- and we- now know House so well that the most profound feelings can be expressed by a fleeting glance.Everything that HL does seems natural for House because he has developed such a deep understanding of the character.
I hope the Emmy jury will at last recognise this!
22 - ann uk
Your comment about the "one episode " format of the Emmys is on the ball. In judging a serial, surely the should look at the series as a whole ?