michaelemerson

As the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences tries to whittle the submissions down to actual nominees, it's interesting to take a look at who has made it to the semifinals. It's not a nomination, but it's one step away. Today comes word of the finalists for best comedy actress and best supporting drama actor. There are some surprises.

Chief among those for me is Sarah Silverman. I honestly hadn't even considered her in the running. I'm not much of a fan, but I do like that she is being considered for the simple fact that the base the nominees are drawn from can always use some expansion. And if she is the most surprising inclusion, the most surprising snub just might be Teri Hatcher. Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross, and Felicity Huffman all made the cut, but not Hatcher. Ouch. The rest of the finalists, and the supporting actors from a drama, after the jump.

Michael Emerson owns season four of Lost. Many of the season's best scenes have featured Ben Linus. From screwing with Locke to obsessing over Juliet, Ben has become one of the show's standout characters. Emerson took the complex role to an entirely new level in last week's episode, "The Shape of Things to Come." I'll be shocked (and furious) if he doesn't get an Emmy nomination this year.

Let's take a look at some of Ben's most unforgettable moments using the mastermind's own words. If we're lucky, Ben will give us a few more to add to the list by the season's end. Spoiler alert: If you're not caught up with Lost, stop reading now.

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(S04E09) What a brilliant episode! At this point, I think all future Lost episodes should be either Ben-, Sayid-, or Desmond-centric. This episode had it all: tons of action, several big revelations, and more questions to ponder. Michael Emerson gave yet another award-worthy performance this week and showed off his action hero side.

Follow this link to join the chat. The full review is after the jump.

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"Welcome to the war." Ben Linus utters those words to John Locke in one of ABC's Lost promos, gun in hand. Since day one, Ben claimed that the freighter folks were going to kill everyone on the island. The show's three-hour finale is only a few weeks away. What do these last episodes of the season hold for the island residents? Can they hold their own against Widmore's team of scientists and thugs? Spoiler Warning: Some details from promos, interviews, and podcasts are mentioned.

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(S04E08) We're going into a five-week Lost hiatus, and I'm extremely thankful that this wasn't the season finale. "Meet Kevin Johnson" wasn't a bad episode, but I couldn't have waited until 2009 for a follow-up. This episode did have its moments. We learned more about the island's connection to its inhabitants, Michael's time on the mainland, and there was (at least) one death. That should keep us busy for the next month or so, right?

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If you're frugal, TV-obsessed, and in a relationship (a winning combination if there ever was one), you might want to check out ABC.com's free Valentine's Day e-cards. You can use your favorite characters from Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, and Lost to express your love for that special someone. Tell your significant other that you're McDreamin' of them, send a post-it note from Henry Grubstick, or impart a creepy--but loving--message from Benjamin Linus. My only complaint is that more ABC shows, like Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money, weren't included. Who wouldn't want a valentine from Olive Snook or Clark the driver?

Now that I've pointed out some of the disappointments of Season Three, it's time to give the show its due praise. This season, Lost returned to its Season One glory, and it was a joy to experience. Loyal fans were rewarded with serious answers, killer performances, and one of the biggest game-changers ever. Let's get to it!

Answers, Answers, Answers: If there was one thing I couldn't complain about in my Lost letdowns post, it was a lack of answers. We got plenty of answers to questions that were raised in all three seasons of the show. We learned how Locke ended up in his wheelchair, one of the most intriguing questions of Season One (certainly more so than the origin of Jack's tattoos). Fans' theories about Claire's real father were confirmed. A piece of the DHARMA Initiative's history was revealed, and we even got a look at Jacob. As if that wasn't enough, we learned the identity of the original Sawyer--and so did James "Sawyer" Ford. Thank you, Lost writers!!

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