OK, we'll try to do this as the Emmys are going on. I'll throw in some comments from time to time; please add yours:
1) Marc Shaiman is now officially one of my heroes. Shaiman used to write those funny little songs that Billy Crystal opened the Oscars with. He and Scott Wittman have written the musical "Hairspray" and the brilliant song that Neil Patrick Harris sang to close the Tonys. Now they've written Harris' opener for the Emmys. It was a delight -- the first time I've heard Tony Shalhoub rhymed with "boob tube." I also loved the reference to "Mad Man" co-star Christina Hendricks: "She could turn a gay to straight -- oh never mind, there's Jon Hamm."
2) Harris is also a terrific host. Even losing (to the well-deserved Jon Cryer) became a comedy opportunity.
3) I was also happy to see Kristin Chenoweth winning for "Pushing Daisies," a wonderful show that has already vanished. HOWEVER, I'm not pleased with the Toni Collette win for actress in a comedy. Mostly, she gets the Emmy for having a complex role in a so-so show in which she does an OK job.
4) I'm also not that happy about Alec Baldwin winning for best comedy actor. (Jim Parsons and "Big Bang Theory" don't get the credit they deserve.) I did, however, enjoy his frank admission that he'd trade it for a chance to look like Rob Lowe. I would, too -- and that would involve stealing an Emmy first.
5) Jeff Probst said it just right: "Neil Patrick Harris, THIS is the way to host the Emmys." Also, I'm glad to see Probst win again for best reality host; he does a great job on "Survivor."
6) Oh, I see "Amazing Race" has won for best reality competition. That's seven years, seven Emmys. Didn't "Jeopardy" used to retire people after winning five times? Doesn't Michigan retire them after winning twice?
7) What happened to that nifty device that made the microphone higher or lower, to suit each winner? It worked fine with the 5-foot Chenoweth, but fell short (way short) with the 6-foot-7 Ken Howard. We're just lucky Shaq's show will never win.
8) It was good to see three Brits win well-deserved Emmys for movies or mini-series -- Brenden Gleeson as Churchill in "Into the Storm" and the director and writer of "Little Dorrit." I'm still perplexed by the director's first name, "Dearbhla." In correspondence terms, that translates to "Dear Better Homes and Lawns Association."
9) That was a great twist, interrupting the show to do a "Doctor Horrible" bit. It's another good reason to have Harris be the host of everything.
10) It was good to see the wins for "Little Dorrit," which won for best mini-series, plus its writing and directing. Too many PBS shows get overlooked, from this year's "God on Trial" and "Wallander" to, in the past, the brilliant "Bleak House."
11) It certainly was no surprise to see "Grey Gardens" win for best movie. The surprise, I guess, was that its writer-director, Michael Suscy (pronounced sushi) didn't win. I suppose it's tough to get votes when you're a homonym for uncooked fish.
12) Ricky Gervais (the "Office" creator) is one of my all-time favorite presenters. (My very favorite is Steve Martin, but Gervais is close.) Tonight, he explained that he prefers the Emmys because there are way too many good-looking people at the Oscars. "In this room, I'm probably above average. And Steve Carell is considered handsome."
13) It wasn't surprising to see "The Daily Show" win again for best variety show -- it's my favorite show overall, just above "Big Bang Theory" and "House" -- but it's always good to see Jon Stewart at the microphone. "You're doing a tremendous job," he told Harris, quite accurately. "Most of these shows kind of suck."
14) My vote goes to Anna Torv's red, low-cut dress. Or to Anna Torv in that dress. Or some combination. Just give it an award.
15) You could tell this show isn't likely to get huge ratings, when the on-screen promo note said, "In Memoriam, 6 minutes." When you're promo-ing the obituaries, you've got a problem. Still, that segment was nicely done, with great singing by Sarah Maclachlan and the wise decision to have Walter Cronkite featured last.
16) This is good, sort of. In two supporting actor categories, I've been wrong, but got my wish. For comedy, my "will win" (Harris) lost to my "should win" (Jon Cryer). For drama, my "will win" (William Hurt) lost to my "should win" (Michael Emerson of "Lost"). I guess I'm happy.
17) OK, it all ended with a repetition run. Glenn Close won again, Brian Cranston won again, "30 Rock" won again. Then "Mad Man" won (yes, again) for best drama, just after its show had finished its 10-11 p.m. airing on AMC.
18) If you missed this "Mad Men," look for the rerun; it ends with some offbeat touches that remind us of "Twin Peaks." Such surprise twists remind us of the importance of its producer's comment: "I might be the only person in this room who has complete creative freedom." Also, incidentally, I give my second-place award for best-person-in-a-dress to January Jones of "Mad Men" in that sweeping white gown.
19) In my predictions, I finished only a so-so seven out of 14. I would do much better if I quit predicting "House" and Hugh Laurie each year.
20) I will NOT quit predicting "House" and Hugh Laurie each year.