Staring at approximately 14,000 new Emmy nominations today, what do we make of it all? Here are a few trends, gripes and more:
1) New is big: Anything new tends to seem bright and shiny and appealing. This year, three first-year shows scored big. "The Good Wife" is up for best drama, with Julianna Margulies up for best actress in a drama. "Glee" and "Modern Family" are both up for best comedy, with many of their actors also nominated.
2) Departing is cool, too: Sometimes, shows get nominated on their way out, too. "Lost" should have had a best-drama nod every year, now it does. Also, Conan O'Brien -- freshly departed from NBC -- has a nomination; Leno and Letterman don't.
3) The overlooked: Great shows on cable tend to be noticed; great ones on the broadcast networks might be ignored. Once again, the wonderful "Big Bang Theory" (CBS) and "Friday Night Lights" (DirectTV and NBC) were again overlooked for best comedy and drama series.
4) The noticed: At least, some of those show's actors were nominated this time. Jim Parsons is up for best actor in a comedy; Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are up for best actor and actress in a comedy. They play the coach and his wife; then again, you could fill the entire supporting category with the superb young "Lights" actors, starting with Jesse Plemmons and Taylor Kitsch. In fact, this week's show (8 p.m. July 9, NBC) has great moments from all three of this season's new young stars.
5) Also overlooked: Two of TV's best competitive reality shows -- "Survivor" and "So You Think You Can Dance" -- weren't nominated. You can catch a "Dance" results show tonight (9 p.m., July 8, NBC).
6) Remember movies?: Yes, people do sometimes make great movies. The season's best movie and performance -- "Temple Grandin," Claire Danes -- were nominated; also nominated was Al Pacino's great work as Jack Kevorkian in "You Don't Know Jack." There are great TV movies out there; one of the best is the splendid "Murder on the Orient Express" remake, at 9 p.m. Sunday (July 11) on most PBS stations.