2010 Emmys Liveblog

Here we are again, for another Emmy Awards telecast. I can't help feeling a little bitter straight off, because I was Conan O'Brien had hosting duties the last two times NBC had the Emmys, and he was always fantastic. Were it not for the spectacular flameout earlier this year, he would be hosting again. Jimmy Fallon's got big shoes to fill.

Here we go:

5:00 - Opening sequence "Glee" parody is a little awkward, but the cameos are good. Oh, Betty White, you never get old. Fallon's singing on "Born to Run" is... unfortunate, but he's getting plenty of good support. Nice to see Time Gunn, Hurley, Jon Hamm, Tina Fey, and Joel McHale.

5:07 - Here comes the monologue. Acoustic guitar is a good sign. And not a minute in, we've got the Conan joke. Hello!

5:08 - The little song numbers for each Emmy category would have been a nice conceit if they were grouped together, but it just went straight into a comedy montage. Blah.

5:12 - First award presented by Betty White and Jon Hamm. Best Supporting Actor for Comedy is... Eric Stonestreet. First win for him and "Modern Family."

5:13 - Is that John Hodgman announcing? The deadpan intro is great. I hope this keeps up.

5:15 - Commercial break. Was that it for Fallon's monologue? It feels like he bailed awful quick there.

5:18 - It is John Hodgman! I wish he was hosting instead of Jimmy Fallow, who is relaying jokes from Twitter. Ehh.

5:19 - Sofia Vergara and Jim Parsons are presenting for Best Comedy Writing. I love the writing intros. "Modern Family" is two for two. Steve Levitan is an adorable man.

5:23 - Hooray, Stephen Colbert! No Jon Stewart this year? They usually have a double act. Oh well, he's presenting Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy. Jane Lynch! Jane Lynch! Yay! If "Glee" doesn't get anything else tonight, no big deal.

5:26 - They just lifted a sting from "Kill Bill." Which, now that I think about it, probably lifted it from something else.

5:31 - Well, Jimmy Fallon is trying. I'll give him that. Matthew Perry and Lauren Graham are up to introduce the winners of Best Guest Actors in Comedies - so they can introduce something else. Betty White and NPH win... and they're not presenting anything? Oh well.

Perry and Graham go on to present Best Comedy Direction. I love that they gave them the same chance to do intros the way the writers did. I love seeing the behind-the-camera getting more spotlight. And another win for "Glee"! Tied two and two with "Modern Family."

5:35 - Looks like a cross-over clip sketch with "Modern Family." Stewie drops in, rampant heterosexuality, and Clooney!! Fun bit of filler there.

5:37 - LL Cool J (whuh?) and Eva Longoria present Best Comedy Lead Actor - Jim Parsons won! Jim Parsons won! You heard Hodgman. Nerds, take to the streets!

5:44 - And we're back with NPH, who owns Fallon's sad attempt at ragging on him. He's also presenting Best Comedy Lead Actress. Edie Falco wins, ending Tina Fey's streak. Good for her. She tries to convince us she's not funny. Not working.

5:47 - Fallon's back with the guitar, which means we're in for another montage. Reality shows! The quality-to-crud ratio here is staggering, but enough good shows are around that I can't write it off wholesale.

5:49 - Will Arnett and Keri Russell present Best Reality Series - Top Chef wins! They just ended the insanely long "Amazing Race" streak! It's out with the old this year in practically every category.

5:56 - Hail Ernst & Young. Hallowed be thy name.

5:57 - Ooh, Julianna Margulies dissed Fallon. But it was planned. On with the drama montage. You know they mean business when they bring out the "Dragonheart" music. These montages are including all the right shows, but the footage choices are terrible.

6:00 - The Law & Order SVU leads are here to present Best Drama Writing. Fallon correctly observes that they saved NBC's 10PM timeslot. Suck it Leno! "Mad Men" wins, as expected. Will the proliferation of newbie winners be limited to the non-dramatic categories?

6:03 - Awkward cutoff there. On to Best Dramatic Supporting Actor - Aaron Paul wins! And he hugged Hodgman on the red carpet! Go "Breaking Bad"! Go!

6:09 - Should I be worried that they're leaning so heavily on Tweets? Here's Emily Deschanel and Nathan Fillion for Best Best Dramatic Supporting Actress. Archie Panjabi wins for "The Good Wife," a show I'm not familiar with. But Panjabi is gorgeous and articulate and awesome.

6:12 - Edie Falco presents Best Dramatic Actor - Cranston wins! I was rooting for Hall or Laurie since they're overdue for wins, but it's hard to argue with "Breaking Bad." And Cranston is such a wonderful presence, I can't say no to more of him.

6:19 - I'm really looking forward to "Undercovers." Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw present Guest Actor Emmys for Drama. John Lithgow and the glorious Ann-Margaret are the winners and here to present Best Director for Drama. Nice to see so many female nominees this year, but I'm glad "Dexter" won. The show does not get enough love.

Going to have to break for a second post soon.

6:23 - An In Memoriam segment for finished shows? Oh, Fallon's doing Elton John. Enough time has passed since we lost Princess Di that this isn't skeevey. And Fallon's vocal cords have warmed up. He sounds much better now.

Wait, no Heroes, Cold Case, Scrubs, or Tudors? Awww.

6:31 - Twitter intro is definitely getting old. Matthew Morrison and Tina Fey are up to present Best Actress in a Drama. Kyra Sedgwick wins! And I'm cutting off here for a new post.