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Emmy people, you suck.
Or rather, you don't like shows with creatures that suck. And that sucks.
It's rare these days that a TV show can take you to a different place, immerse you in a different world, show you something new.
And True Blood does all those things.
But the vampire drama was snubbed in all the major categories yesterday when the nominations for the 61st annual Emmy Awards were announced.
It's enough to prompt Canadian-born, New Zealand-raised, Academy Award-winning actress Anna Paquin to say, "Bite me."
Well, she probably is too polite to say such a thing, so we'll say it for her.
For the uninitiated, True Blood is based on a series of novels by Charlaine Harris and has a fascinating premise.
Set in the American deep south in current times, vampires recently have come out of the closet and openly are existing alongside human beings in a tense arrangement that creates extremists on both sides.
It's unique stuff, huh?
True Blood originates on HBO in the United States and airs north of the border on HBO Canada. The second season currently is under way, but it was the first season that was eligible for the Emmy categories that came out yesterday.
True Blood got three piddly nominations. One for outstanding art direction in a single-camera series (woo-hoo!). One for outstanding main-title design (sound the trumpets). And one for outstanding casting in a drama series (celebrate good times, come on!).
Actually, that last one is a nice nod. But the ironic thing is, it's a category in which we might have given True Blood a pass.
While nobody in the cast of True Blood is weak, per se, there are a couple of performances for which we don't have particular affinity.
We find Rutina Wesley to be somewhat grating in the role of Tara Thornton. And Stephen Moyer is a tad bland as Bill Compton, a love-struck but dour vampire who always seems to be in emotional turmoil.
But the people who are great in True Blood are really, really great. We have infinite fondness for the quirky way in which Paquin tackles the lead role of mind-reading waitress (and Bill's love interest) Sookie Stackhouse. Shaggy Sam Trammell is excellent and sympathetic as shape-shifting bar owner Sam Merlotte. And Australian heart-throb Ryan Kwanten brings more and more to the role of wide-eyed and easily influenced Jason Stackhouse with each passing episode.
All three of those people would have been worthy of a nomination in an individual category. But Paquin in particular deserved recognition. We honestly can't think of any other actress who could conjure the perfect combination of heroism, immaturity, toughness and vulnerability required for the role of Sookie.
Who would we have dumped in the best-actress-in-a-drama category to make room for Paquin? Well, we wouldn't have messed with Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men. But frankly, we would have placed Paquin atop any of the other five perennial nominees (Kyra Sedgwick from The Closer, Holly Hunter from Saving Grace, Glenn Close from Damages, Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: SVU and Sally Field from Brothers and Sisters).
True Blood did not start out as an immediate ratings success, but audiences have grown substantially and steadily, to the point now that it basically has become HBO's new marquee series. That word-of-mouth growth should speak volumes.
Maybe True Blood is just too weird for some people. Emmy voters don't tend to appreciate fantasy fare.
Which is odd in a way, because that tends to be the stuff that a good chunk of the public likes the most. Isn't a new Harry Potter film making a gazillion dollars as we speak?
So True Blood doesn't get nominated for best drama, but Dexter -- a personal favourite which nonetheless had a decidedly off-year -- does.
Bloody hell!
WELL-EARNED NOMINATIONS
Sometimes Emmy gets it right. Outside of the big six categories -- best comedy, best drama, and best actors and actresses in comedies and dramas -- here are six nominations in the more obscure divisions that we were absolutely delighted to see:
1. Michael Emerson, Lost
Best supporting actor in a drama series
Ben Linus is the greatest twerpish TV villain since Frank Burns on M*A*S*H.
2. Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Best supporting actress in a comedy series
With Amy Poehler gone, where would SNL be without its current go-to girl Wiig?
3. Kenneth Branagh, Wallander
Outstanding lead actor in a mini-series or movie
If you missed this set-in-Sweden, three-part cop drama on PBS, find a way to see it.
4. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Outstanding non-fiction special
A fascinating doc. Again, if you missed this on HBO Canada, find a way to see it.
5. Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Best supporting actor in a drama series
As the spiralling-out-of-control Jesse Pinkman, Paul hit all the right notes.
6. The United States of Tara
Outstanding cast for a comedy series
A special shout-out to Canada's Keir Gilchrist, who plays Tara's complex son Marshall.