B10 The Boston Globe WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2019 Names What the Emmys got right and wrong By Matthew Gilbert GLOBE STAFF Some thought “Game of Thrones” might end up with a weak showing on this year’s Emmy nominations list. Naturally, there has been a sentimen- talist urge to honor a TV monument and cultural phenomenon for its final round; but the reviews for the season — an especially short, rushed season — were largely negative. But “Game of Thrones” and its cast got plenty of recognition — too much HELEN SLOAN/HBO VIA AP recognition, in my opinion — when Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington the nominations were announced (by in “Game of Thrones.” a playful D’Arcy Carden and Ken Jeong) on Tuesday morning. All the drama acting categories contained “GoT” cast members — Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke for their leading roles and Gwendoline Christie, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turn- er, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Wal- HISTORY CHANNEL PHOTOS dau, and Alfie Allen for their support- ing work. Add in the nomination for best drama and it’s clear the Television Aerosmith’s long-lost van Academy didn’t care about the griping. Or, perhaps, they didn’t watch. With all due respect to a wonderful show that didn’t land intact, a number JOJO WHILDEN/FX VIA AP restored to groovy glory of those nominations ring hollow. I’m Billy Porter in “Pose.” a massive fan of Headey as the nefari- ous Cersei, but really she was barely in Members of wwawas,as, not surprisingly, the season. And Turner, who played Aerosmith were iin te terribler condition. my favorite character, Sansa, brilliant- recently invited BBuButut w when the band ly, hardly had a chance to shine. Per- to walk this way to hehheardeara d the van had haps those slots could have gone to see their rusty old bebbeenene found, they of- some more interesting actors (see tour van — uncov- fefferedrer d to buy it back snubs below)? Suranne Jones of “Gen- ered in the woods onooncence it was restored. tleman Jack,” I’m looking at you. of rural Massachu- SiSince then, Wolfe, The “Game” is not up, then, as we setts — restored to FrFFritz,iti z and Tabano head toward the Sept. 22 Emmy cere- something like its hhahaveavev worked on the mony, and HBO is certainly benefit- former groovy glory. vvavan,ann, which they ing. The cable channel, which still When Frank Fritz ppupurchasedurcc for comes up with TV’s finest lineups, AIMEE SPINKS/HBO and Mike Wolfe gota $$2$25,000.25,0 broke a single-season Emmy nomina- Suranne Jones in “Gentleman tip about an aban- In a July 8 epi- tion record with 137 nods this year. Jack.” doned van in Chester-- sosodede of the show, HBO even beat last year’s most nomi- field, they weren’t ex- ththee triotr found an nated TV outlet, Netflix, which this the former series, which was noticed pecting to find some- “American Pickers” took an old Aerosmith tour van (above), iidenticald truck to year drew 117 nods. Yes, streaming- not just as best comedy and for its thing that belongs in restored it, then unveiled it to the band’s members (top). use for parts. Any- only sites are ascendant, but not nec- lead, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, but also the Rock & Roll Hall off thing that wasn’t restored was re-created from old essarily to the exclusion of the likes of for two excellent supporting actors, Fame. photos, including an interior decorated in wood panel- HBO. Olivia Colman (yup, the Oscar winner) Fritz and Wolfe, the stars of the History channel reali- ing. Once the work was complete, Wolfe and Fritz met up Surprise: Few knew about Pop’s and Sian Clifford. ty series, “American Pickers,” have labeled it “. the with Aerosmith in Las Vegas, where the band has been “Schitt’s Creek,” until old seasons Snub: I’m a fan of Hulu’s “Catch- most incredible thing we’ve ever found in our lives.” playing a residency at the Park MGM. showed up on Netflix. It became an 22,” especially its lead actor, Christo- In an August 2018 episode of “American Pickers,” the “[They] did such a great job making the van look like overnight sensation, despite already pher Abbott, and its supporting actors Chesterfield property owner said the 1964 International it did then,” Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry said in the ep- being many seasons into its run. Now, Kyle Chandler and George Clooney. Harvester Metro van was in the woods when he bought isode. as the Canadian show heads into its And yet: crickets. The miniseries had the land from Mark Lehman, Aerosmith’s former road The band plans on incorporating the vehicle into their sixth and final season on Pop, Emmy some hardcore competition, to be fair, manager. Vegas residency. (Aerosmith is scheduled to play four voters have finally taken note, with especially from Netflix’s memorable (The owner had already returned a tape he’d found on shows at the MGM Springfield in August.) Then they three major nominations — for stars “When They See Us,” which was nomi- the property to Steven Tyler, Aerosmith’s frontman. The hope the van will end up in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara nated for best limited series and six tape was from a 1971 Aerosmith show at Lowell High in Cleveland. and for best comedy. That’s all good, acting awards. HBO’s “Chernobyl,” School.) Tyler says the van has tremendous sentimental value but does it highlight the fact that vot- FX’s “Fosse/Verdon,” Showtime’s “Es- The band’s founding member Ray Tabano confirmed to him. ers weren’t duly noting the show be- cape at Dannemora,” and HBO’s the van had been used by the group to get to small gigs in “That was the dream. To move to Boston, to live to- fore its sudden rise in popularity? “Sharp Objects” also deservedly filled the New England area. gether and just write some songs. Since then, we’ve been Could it mean they’re not as thorough up those categories. The vehicle features a cartoon figure on the side in the living the dream. That’s what this van means to me,” Ty- as we’d expect? Snub: Hulu’s “Shrill” deserved a same pose as the old “Keep on Truckin’ ” comic, along ler said. Snub: I’m thrilled that FX’s “Pose” nod or two. Aidy Bryant was perfect as with the name Aerosmith. After decades in the woods, it CHRIS TRIUNFO won some recognition, for best drama a woman dealing with other people’s and for Billy Porter. But really, the discomfort about her weight. She show is fueled by the stunning work of shoulda been a contender. Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Surprise: I’m endlessly pleased that and Indya Moore, in addition to that Jodie Comer was finally nominated for of Porter, and each of these trans “Killing Eve.” But did the voters watch Klosterman sets his imagination free in ‘Captivity’ women deserved some love. that second season? It was a mess, af- Surprise: I felt the second season of ter the perfection of season one (which Chuck Klosterman realizes you kind of loved immediately came un- “Barry” was good, but disappointing was written by Waller-Bridge), and may be confused by the title of his usually naturally to me. after the bravura first round. Emmy even Oh had trouble rising above the new book. And at the time, this was like voters passionately disagreed with me, chaotic and absurd story line. Only The tales that make up the best- 1994, there were clear entries into and didn’t just give the HBO show its Comer emerged with extraordinary selling author’s first book of short the field. Every town had a newspa- expected nods for best comedy and for work. stories, “Raised in Captivity: Fiction- per, and there was some publication last year’s winners, Bill Hader and Snub: No “Better Things,” Pamela al Nonfiction,” are weird, funny, ab- at some level to enter the job mar- Henry Winkler. This year, voters also Adlon’s phenomenal portrait of an in- surd — but they’re not nonfiction. ket. I went to a state college, had to recognized Anthony Carrigan (great as tergenerational family of women? They are, in fact, completely pay loans, and needed a job in six NoHo Hank), Stephen Root, and Sar- That’s a major shame. Adlon has been from Klosterman’s imagination. months, so the idea of being a jour- ah Goldberg for their supporting nominated twice for best actress in a They read like “Black Mirror” ep- nalist was a practical thing. Luckily, turns. comedy, so we know the voters are isodes directed, perhaps, by a dead- Ilikedit. Snub: There was D’Arcy Carden on aware of her and her FX series. Come pan Christopher Guest,orLarry Da- stage announcing the nominees. But on, folks. I hope it’s not because the vid. Q. How did that branch into what her name wasn’t among the honored first two seasons included Louis C.K. Vignettes include: A guy discov- weird piece of dialogue, or a prem- you do now? few, despite her remarkable work as behind the scenes. ers a puma in an airplane bathroom. ise, I’d put it into my phone in the A. I worked in Fargo [N.D.], at the the robotic human — or is that the hu- Snub: The outstanding variety talk A prisoner reflects on his old high notes section.