Gays and the 2010 Emmy nominations

As a site that focuses on entertainment of LGBT interest, I would have done a post on the gays and lesbians nominated for Emmy Awards no matter what.

I went ahead with my post with kudos for out two-time nominees Jane Lynch and Neil Patrick Harris and out performers with a single nomination including Chris Colfer, Jesse Tyler Fergeson, Sir Ian McKellen, and Wanda Sykes.

Well, a terrific article in today’s Los Angeles Times by Mary McNamara names several more gay nominees including Glee creator Ryan Murphy, director Paris Barclay, Alan Cumming and Lily Tomlin.

More on them in a minute. McNamara, one of the best television critics in the business, did a column on how to read this year’s Emmy nods and states: “At long last it really is, honest to God, OK to be gay on television.” She points to the success of Glee (19 nominations) and Modern Family (14 nods) and that three of the nominees for best supporting actor in a comedy play gay characters. Also, the nominations for on-screen couple Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet marks the first time that members of a fictional couple have ever competed against each other for an Emmy.

Writes McNamara:

The “Modern Family” face-off marks the first time members of a fictional couple have competed against each other for an Emmy, but much more significant were the story lines and performances that led to the nominations.

The one criticism aimed at the phenomenally successful “Glee” has been its surrender of story to song, but the quietly epic tale of Kurt’s coming out to his father (beautifully played by Mike O’Malley, who got a guest star nomination) has consistently grounded “Glee” in real drama when it threatened to lose itself to theatrics.

Meanwhile, on “Modern Family,” the partnership and new parenthood of Mitchell and Cam wound up providing the show’s comedic spine and some of its most moving moments. And while “Modern Family,” like “Glee,” has come under some fire for not allowing their gay characters to do more than pine (“Glee”) or chastely hug (“Modern Family”), at least these states of celibacy make narrative sense – most high school students pine more than participate, and any new father will tell you that Mr. Pants for Romance he’s not.

I’m not sure if that will or should satisfy people who want to see equal liplock action among gays and straights.

Anyway, back to the gay nominees!

Alan Cumming has been nominated in the guest actor category for his recurring role as an attorney on CBS’s The Good Wife. If he were to won, he could place the Emmy alongside the Tony Award he won for Cabaret several years back.

Lily Tomlin already has won four Emmys for writing her various television specials with life partner Jane Wagner and others and also has a Daytime Emmy. But her nomination for guest actress in a drama for Damages would be her first win for dramatic acting.

Ryan Murphy first of all is responsible for creating the role of Kurt on Glee for Colfer and he, of course, had the good sense to cast Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester. Those two gifted performers were nominated for Emmys but Ryan got several nominations of his own: for writing, for directing, and he’s also a producer on Glee which is nominated for outstanding comedy.

Paris Barclay was nominated for directing the “Wheels” episode of Glee.

Also of gay interest: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding reality show and will be looking for win for the third time in five years … Archie Panjabi’s supporting actress nod for The Good Wife is for a lesbian character … Beau Bridges’s nomination for guest actor in a drama series is for portraying a transgender cop in The Closer. … Mike O’Malley‘s guest actor in a comedy nod for Glee comes for a performance that made you cry more than laugh. The actor was superb in an episode where he defends his gay son against his girlfriend’s son who used a gay slur in his house.

I love having so much to write about on this topic!