If you’ve read my blog before or have talked to me in real life for more than 3 minutes, you are probably aware that I’m a scholar of all things television. From I Love Lucy to Friends to the upcoming season, I have at least a dabbling knowledge of most shows, networks and trends, plus a frighteningly deep well of knowledge of a few specific subjects.

With all of that said, I have a confession that is going to surprise many:

I’m not a big fan of the Emmys.

Don’t get me wrong… I love seeing the celebrities and the thought of honoring worthy members of the television industry.

I just don’t think the Emmy gets it right very often and that ticks me off.

It makes sense when you think of it, actually.  The Emmys are the only award that recognize people for doing the same work year after year.  The Tonys and Oscars are for one-time acting performances and you can’t be nominated for a Grammy for singing the same more than once.

Because of this, you get the strange situation where critical darlings are continually singled out, even in years when their work wasn’t particularly good.  A few actors – such as Candice Bergen after winning 5 Emmys for Murphy Brown –  have even taken their names out of contention to give others a chance. (Take note Jon Stewart…)

What that means is that amazing performances are not given an opportunity to break into the established norm unless the critics have all decided as a group that something new is worthy (e.g., Girls).  Don’t get me wrong, as sometimes strange, wonderful things happen – like overlooking the fact that Game of Thrones is a fantasy show, which is usually a genre hated by the Emmys.

So, while tons of deserving shows and performances have been nominated and won, I can’t help but dwell on the ones who never had the chance.  These are the ones that make me especially cranky:

• Numbers 1-10 on my list go to  Michael Landon. The man wrote, acted, directed and produced and was on television from 1959 – 1989 consecutively (if you count the  Little House on the Prairie made for TV movies in 1984. Which I do.)

• Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore on Gilmore Girls.  While I’m at it, the writing staff from Gilmore Girls.
• Sarah Michelle Geller as Buffy Summers and Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Aaron Sorkin for writing Sports Night, and the show for Best Comedy.

• Eden Sher as Sue on The Middle.
• Miguel Ferrer and Kathryn Hahn as Garret and Lily on Crossing Jordan.  I hated the show – it was terrible, but I kept coming back for these two supporting characters.  Actually, isn’t that a better indication of wonderful acting? Anyone can shine on a great show.  It takes true talent to stand out on a crappy show.

All of my whining aside, I will love television.  And a true lover of television can’t miss the glitziest night of the year so I will still be watching.

AND this year I will be live-tweeting, so follow me at @LauraCKilmartin.

Why?  Why watch and continue to torture myself?

Because Benedict Cumberbatch is nominated (even though he’s going to lose to Michael Douglas), which goes to show that sometimes the nominations get it right!

See you on Twitter!