Live on the Scene: The Emmy Nominations

Picture it. Richmond, Va. 1992. My first Emmy nominations viewing. My mom shakes me awake and places some Cinnamon Toast Crunch next to me, as I rub my groggy eyes and hope to hear Home Improvement's name be called in Best Comedy Series.

This went on, minus the Home Improvement part, every year, up to now.

Imagine my surprise/glee when my boss invited me to the Emmy Nominations Announcement this morning. I was on cloud 9, still am actually.

Yes, the announcements began at 5:40am PST, yet I somehow got enough sleep to make it in time.

FYI to any people in North Hollywood, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 5300 Lankershim is the only one that opens at 5am. Me and the old man in the corner of the store had a grand old time...until the security at the front of the Television Academy building told me no food or drink was allowed inside the theatre....cut to me chugging the Ice Blended, hoping to gain a buzz, and walking in with Mark & Vicki.

I'm not sure if anyone else had the same impression, but whenever I watch the E! Commentary, or even ET, any entertainment programs, they make it seem as if the nominations are being announced in a separate room from the commentary.

Not so.

Watch with Kristin is going on to the left of me with Jason Kennedy on E!, while a KTLA anchor advises his audience to grab that last cup of coffee because the "60th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominations are about to be announced". We grab a ballot, secretly of course, and sift thru. No Jay Leno? No FNL? Boston Legal AGAIN!?

Neil Patrick Harris & Kristin Chenoweth walk about with VP John Scheffner (great man, very kind) and they begin the announcement. Cheers are heard throughout the room for Mad Men's nom, Sally Field, Raisin in the Sun, Damages, and Gabrielle Byrne. We cheer when Tom Bergeron's nom as Reality Host is announced (WOO). A snicker is heard behind me when Boston Legal's nom for Outstanding Drama Series is announced. The cake is brought out, marking the 60th Anniversary. By 7am, no one had touched it. Neil mentions in an interview "yes, the first thing I think of at 6:40am is cake". Reporters rush the stage trying to get that one great photo of Kristin Chenoweth leaning on the Emmy statue.

Speaking of which, the mystery as to what the Emmy represents. The ball that she is holding above her head represents an atom, aka the Sciences. The wings/bolts represent the Arts. So, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Who needs the Scooby Gang?

I watch as our TV Idol, Kristin in a smashing green dress, interviews Kristin Chenoweth. Look for me behind them since I made sure to walk back and forth, or look longingly in the distance as if I was searching for someone. They act as if they've been old friends, kissing each other's cheek, beaming at each other. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but I know Kristin gave Kristin C a gift at the end. How sweet!

My friend Lauren surprises me at the stage with a hug, I'm not realizing that she's the publicist for the Academy. Even though she's had a long couple days involving the ESPYs, she still offers to invite me to any other Emmy events coming up. So, expect scoop, Couch readers!

The one depressing thing? Walking out, realizing it was daytime, and I still had 2 and a half hours to kill before work.

Don't mind me, but I'm going to sip on my tea while my Emmy credential dangles around my neck....and I curse Boston Legal's name.

You can get a full list of the nominees at:
http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2008pte/60thpte_nomswin.php