So the Emmys announced the top ten drama and comedy finalists today. Of course these lists will be narrowed down to the five nominees in each category later next month, but the finalists are pretty interesting:

Drama

“Boston Legal” (“The Court Supreme”)
“Damages” (Pilot)
“Dexter” (“The Dark Defender”)
“Friday Night Lights” (“Leave No One Behind”)
“Grey’s Anatomy” (“Freedom, Parts 1 and 2″)
“House” (“Frozen”)
“Lost” (“The Constant”)
“Mad Men” (Pilot, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”)
“The Tudors” (#205)
“The Wire” (Series finale, “30″)

Comedy

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (“The Bat Mitzvah”)
“Entourage” (“The Day F***ers”)
“Family Guy” (“Padre de Famila”)
“Flight of the Conchords” (“Sally Returns”)
“The Office” (title to come)
“Pushing Daisies” (“Pie-lette”)
“30 Rock” (“Cooter”)
“Two and a Half Men” (“Rough Night in Hump Junction”)
“Ugly Betty” (“Something Wicked This Way Comes”)
“Weeds” (“Go”).

My first reaction was shock that Ugly Betty submitted the Wicked episode (which I thought was horrible and felt like a 52-minute advertisement for the musical), and that it’s been named a finalist off that episode. I’m also surprised by the absence of How I Met Your Mother. While not too high in the ratings, it’s liked by critics and had the whole Britney-buzz factor not too long ago. Then again, I’m not that surprised for I can barely tolerate the show. Jason Segel’s great and I worship NPH, but the wide-eyed chirpiness of the other three actors make my stomach turn. I have met Ted, and I don’t like him.

As for other reactions to the comedy finalists, Two and a Half Men’s inclusion continues to be a mockery of good taste (every time I stumble upon a rerun, it’s about Charlie Sheen’s dick in some way. It’s happened too many times to be a coincidince), and Family Guy’s unprecedented inclusion is certainly newsworthy – especially if they can actually pull off a nomination in this comedy. I wonder if Chuck was submitted in this category as well. I never really watched it, but it seemed to do well and fit within comedy better than drama. I bet I could look that up, but I’m too lazy. Finally, I’m disappointed Samantha Who? isn’t on this list, because I think it’s one of the best comedies on network television, especially given it’s still in its rookie year.

If I got to pick which 5 of the finalists actually receives a nomination, I’d go with Family Guy, The Office, 30 Rock, Weeds, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, with The Office winning. What about you?

Looking at the dramas, there’s clearly a large number of subscription and cable channel shows on here, which I think is fair given the overall lower quality of network dramas. Not that there aren’t a few deserving network dramas. Lost was better this season than it’s been since season 1 in my opinion, and if it doesn’t get a nomination it will be a travesty. House is a finalist, and although I do not watch it, I hear it’s a pretty good show that definitely deserves to be a finalist if not a full nominee. And I’m thrilled one of my cult darlings, Friday Night Lights, is getting some Emmy love (despite this season being a little disappointing).

Not deserved is Grey’s Anatomy, which has been awful ever since Denny mercifully died (hated him, hated the plot), yet I keep watching like a trained dog. Desperate Housewives – which is not a finalist – was a hundred times better this past year, largely in part to the addition of the fabulous Dana Delaney. I fear Grey’s will get a nomination out of tradition and its high ratings, which is crap but the Emmys tend to play it safe. Case in point – Boston Legal. As Gob would say, c’mon! 10 bucks James Spade and William Shatner get nods too, and at least one pulls off the win.

As for the non-network shows, I’ve only seen a few episodes each of Damages and Mad Men, so I don’t have that much to say of them. Of the two, I think Mad Men is more deserving for Damages seemed uneven and almost too hokey at times whereas Mad Men felt like an expertly crafted, authentic period drama that simply moved too slowly to hold my attention. I’ve seen Dexter once and hated it, but I’ve never seen The Tudors or The Wire at all. However, I’m still rooting for The Wire to be nominated from all the glowing reviews I’ve heard. It’s coming up pretty soon in my Netflix queue now that I’ve finished Arrested Development and season 3 of Weeds.

And that brings me to the shows left out in the drama category. The list is missing Heroes, which some may find upsetting but I don’t given the dramatic decline in quality this past season. Any time they’d cut to Hiro in ancient Japan, I’d go rummage in the fridge. I’m also a little surprised to see Big Love isn’t on this list, given the big love (couldn’t resist) HBO shows are usually given. However, by far the most upsetting for me is that fact that Battlestar Galactica has yet again been ignored by the Emmys, despite being one of the best shows on television. What the frak, Emmy? After sitting through three years of watching Veronica Mars – and the amazing, girl-crush worthy Kristen Bell in particular – get snubbed, it’s infuriating to watch it happen again with another outstanding show.

Anyway, if I got to pick which 5 of the finalists actually receive a nomination, I’d go with Lost, The Wire, Friday Night Lights, Mad Men, and House, with The Wire winning it all (having submitted its series finale which I heard amazing things about). What about you?

The actual nominees in both categories, as well as all the other categories, will be announced July 17th.