Ugly Betty Well Represented On Ausiello’s Dream Emmy Ballot
May 20, 2008 by Tom
TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello has decided to make life easier for the voters for this year’s Emmys – he’s created his own ballot. He calls it a “dream ballot”, and this is the 7th consecutive year he’s done it. Now, Ausiello has great taste in television, if not in haircuts, so voters would be wise to listen.
Ugly Betty cast members are well represented in the dream ballot. The following were “nominated” on the dream ballot:
- America Ferrera, Lead Comedy Actress. She’s on this list along with Marcia Cross, Dana Delaney,Tina Fey, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. America is, as usual, a no-brainer, if only for her performance in episode 2.16 ,Betty’s Baby Bump. The academy seems to prefer Tina Fey’s “I’m oh-so sardonic and smarter than everyone else” style of comedy, though.
- Vanessa Williams, Supporting Comedy Actress. I like it – Wilhelmina has been wonderfully evil this season. However, I would have found a way to nominate Becki Newton. She stole more scenes this year than anyone.
- Michael Urie, Supporting Comedy Actor. Finally! Somebody gave the Julliard grad his due. Ausiello says, “Urie, meanwhile, went beyond flamboyance, hitting a bull’s eye himself when Cupid took aim at his character.” True, True.
Ausiello’s list does, however, bring up something that has always bugged me: Ugly Betty does not have a male lead. Not really. I know that Eric Mabius comes close, but his character is, when you boil it down, a supporting character. Most weeks, his screen time is about the same as Michael Urie. None of the romantic characters in Ugly Betty are leads, either. Chris Gorham and Freddy Rodriguez are supporting cast.
Of course, a show doesn’t have to have a male lead, but it bugs me that Mabius, Gorham, and Rodriguez will never be nominated for awards, because they are supporting actors, and, let’s face it, Urie gets 80% of the male comedic lines per show. They supply more drama than comedy. They do a great job, but they are kind of stuck in no-man’s land when it comes to awards nominations. When you think about it, Ashley Jensen, Ana Ortiz and Judith Light are in the same boat. It’s going to be hard for any of them to be nominated ahead of Williams and (hopefully one day) Becki Newton.
But heck, I’m just waiting for Urie to get his due.
Ausiello’s full list after the jump:
Lead Comedy Actress
Marcia Cross (Bree, Desperate Housewives)
Dana Delany (Katherine, Desperate Housewives)
America Ferrera (Betty, Ugly Betty)
Tina Fey (Liz, 30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (Christine, Old Christine)
Lead Comedy Actor
Alec Baldwin (Jack, 30 Rock)
Larry David (Larry, Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Adhir Kalyan (Raja, Aliens in America)
Jim Parsons (Sheldon, Big Bang Theory)
James Roday (Shawn, Psych)
Supporting Comedy Actress
Kristin Chenoweth (Olive, Pushing Daisies)
Swoozie Kurtz (Lily, Pushing Daisies)
Amy Pietz (Franny, Aliens in America)
Wanda Sykes (Barb, New Christine)
Vanessa Williams (Wilhelmina, Ugly Betty)
Supporting Comedy Actor
Neil Patrick Harris (Barney, How I Met Your Mother)
Tyler Labine (Bert, Reaper)
Jack McBrayer (Kenneth, 30 Rock)
Chi McBride (Emerson, Pushing Daisies)
Michael Urie (Marc, Ugly Betty)
Image: Newscom
If Becki and/or Michael don’t their Emmy nominations soon i’ll go mad!
The show has won best comedy series, and seeing as they account for a great deal of the comedy in the show, they really deserve some recognition!
I kind of think the only reason Becki Newton won’t get an Emmy nod is that Vanessa Williams is a bigger marquee name than Newton. But personally I feel Becki Newton not only deserves it more but fits into that category better. Supporting should be supporting of the main storylines and at times Wilhelmina’s storylines rival Betty’s in importance in the episodes (though for me, not interest–I’m not too fond of the surrogate storyline).
Becki wasn’t nominated………. I’m confused! Why do you say she is?
What Sarah said.
is there a category for best guest star? CLIFF!
Totally agree with Sarah.
Becki & Michael would totally get that!! 
You know what would be amazing? A new catergory for joint performances
“is there a category for best guest star? CLIFF!
”
There is a category for guest stars–”Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series” (there’s a category for drama as well). But I think that in that category both male and female actors are considered.
Freddy Rodriguez could be considered for that even if he contracts to come back in Season 3 as a cast member (much like Gorham did going from Season 1 to 2). Same for the David Blue (Cliff). Both I think are deserving.
“But I think that in that category both male and female actors are considered.”
Just to correct myself, the category is separated–we could see Gabrielle Union nominated. I thought she was really good on UB.
I’m agree with Sarah,what she said.But wait and see what happen.Wow,America Ferrera get won alots for best actress on Ugly Betty.She is very good actress.
OMG – I was saying that Becki SHOULD be nominated. IMHO, she’s actually been better than Williams this year. Even when the writers got a little lost with her character, she managed to pull it off beautifully.
i dunno… it seems to me that michael and becki should be nominated for sure!!! but also that david is the best choice for male guest star. he was better recieved than freddy and his character had more to him.
“but also that david is the best choice for male guest star. he was better recieved than freddy and his character had more to him.”
Only mentioned FR as a possible Guest Star nod because after TKAA, he totally would have earned it. And also he’s got the credentials that TPTB at The Emmys love–he’s been nominated before as Supporting Actor for Six Feet Under. Guest Star is a category you almost have to have Hollywood Street cred to grab–Judith Light and Salma were nominated last year. As much as I think David Blue is deserving (I love, love, love Cliff!), he just doesn’t have the name recognition needed yet.