The 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air on Sunday night, but Doug Strassler and I couldn’t wait that long. We’ve been e-mailing about the nominees all week, and let me tell you, we got sassy. (Hence the term “sassologue” in the title of the post.)

After the jump, I’m pleased to present the highlights of our exchange. Woot-woot!

On September 15 Mark wrote…

Hey Doug,

You may have heard that the television people are giving out prizes this weekend. They’re called the Emmys. Let’s discuss them.

I’ll admit that while I watch a disturbing amount of television, most of the things I watch are never deemed worthy of Emmy consideration. Because the genius of  Two and Half Men is too awesome to overcome, I suppose.

That said, I’m happy with some of the categories this year. Like, how great is it that the Sushi Samba knocked Piven out of  Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy? I’m happy  Rainn Wilson is back again, and I’m happy Jack McBrayer made the cut. Most of all, though, I’m glad Tracy Morgan got a nomination. His work gets overshadowed on 30 Rock

I don’t watch the other shows in this category, but I did watch Neil Patrick Harris host this year’s Tony Awards. Having also seen “Dr. Horrible’s Very Singalong Bloggy Thing” and the first Harold and Kumar movie, I am convinced that Doogie deserves this year’s prize for How I Met Your Mother. If he’s half as awesome on that show as he is on everything else, then he’s a lock. Also, doesn’t it seem like he’s joined Justin Timberlake in the category of “guys everyone likes?” After awarding the trophy to Piven’s hateful ass so many times, the Academy needs to balance things out by throwing some love at deserving fella.

What are your thoughts on this and other categories?

–Mark

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Later that day, Doug wrote…

Hey Mark,

I wasn’t sure what happened with Piven not getting nominated — did he pull a John Larroquette and not submit his name after his consecutive wins? Or is the Academy maybe just not that into him anymore? I hope it’s the latter; three Emmys were already overkill for essentially playing himself. And Emmy voters still nominated the show and co-star Kevin Dillon, so it seems to be a personal affront.

I’m also pleasantly surprised that John Krasinski, America’s Office sweetheart, continually fails to get nominated though Rainn Wilson does. The Office has one of the most talented ensembles on TV, but Krasinski consistently seems to be the least passionate and hard-working member of the cast.

The other nominees are just about who I’d expect, although, despite my continuing dissatisfaction with Weeds, I’d have liked to see Justin Kirk recognized. I watch all of the nominated shows except for Two and a Half Men (unless it happens to be playing while I am in mid-air), but I do like that Jon Cryer gets nominated. However, it seems pretty clear that this is Neil Patrick Harris’ year. The only thing that bothers me is that he’s gotten so much attention by now, the award feels like an overdue afterthought. Remember when Edie Falco and Allison Janney won their Emmys during their shows’ first seasons? Those were great moments because it allowed new fans to discover them at a great moment in their careers, but also gave their current fans something to cheer about. Still, I agree. They have to give it to him this year.

Speaking of overdue, it’s high time that Vanessa “L Yeah!” Williams won her Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Do you think she’ll lose to Jane Krakowski, in a 30 Rock sweep?

Doug

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On September 16 Mark wrote…

Doug, I will be calling Vanessa Williams “L. Yeah” for the rest of my life.

As for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Emmy went to Kristen Wiig. From the little bit I’ve seen, she’s funny on Saturday Night Live, and she ruled in Ghost Town. If she wins, then I’ll consider it a delayed acknowledgment of that movie’s awesomeness.

However, I really want L.Yeah to win. Did you know that she’s never won a Grammy, an Emmy, or even a Golden Globe? What the hell? She’s turned it out in every medium, from Broadway to audio books, yet she keeps getting denied. Plus, she’s great on Ugly Betty. Since the show has had two weak seasons in a row, however, I’m afraid voters will decide the nomination is enough.

Hmm… following that logic, SNL has never had a consistent season. I don’t even know if it’s had a consistent episode. Given 30 Rock‘s overall quality, Krakowski may be the one to beat. I’d be okay with that. She’s swell.

What are your thoughts on Best Supporting Actor in a Drama? Is there any way Michael Emerson can snag some gold? Will William Shatner bloviate his way to a going-away prize?

—Mark

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Later that day Doug wrote…

You’re right that L. Yeah’s more of an asset to Ugly Betty than the show is to her. She needs one killer episode to show the voters, and she doesn’t have one. Also, though she’s never won a Tony, she was nominated for Into the Woods and rocked as Chita Rivera’s replacement in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She’s the female NPH! If anything, I think Broadway baby Kristen Chenoweth might have a better chance, though the fact that Pushing Daisies only had a baker’s dozen of viewers probably doesn’t help.

So I do think Krakowski has a better shot. But you know what? Last year I predicted Amy Poehler to win (incorrectly). I’ll tempt fate again and predict SNL co-star Wiig gets it this year. And I hope Suze Orman hands it to her. (Personally, I also fell in love with Rosemarie DeWitt in The United States of Tara — she’s on a roll between that gig and Rachel Getting Married.)

As for Shatner, I’d like to think the Boston Legal lovefest is finally over; neither the show nor James Spader were nominated even though the categories were expanded to allow six nominees, so I hope someone other than His Roundness gets the Drama Supporting Actor award this year. On the positive side, I love that Aaron Paul got nominated for Breaking Bad. It’s great that Emmy voters realized that while Bryan Cranston kicks butt, he gets by with a lot of help from his friends (see also: co-star Anna Gunn). I also wish John Mahoney could have been recognized for In Treatment.

And to answer your question, I think Michael Emerson could totally win for Lost, just as Terry O’Quinn did two years ago. I think his only competition comes from William Hurt in Damages and John Slattery in Mad Men, playing two different version of sleazebuckets. I think I’ll go ahead and predict Emerson though.

What about Supporting Actress in a Drama? Will Dianne Wiest win again? Will Sandra Oh lose for the fifth year in a row?

—Doug

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On September 17 Mark wrote…

Now see, this is what I was talking about earlier. There are six women nominated for Supporting Actress in a Drama, and I haven’t seen one hot second of any of their shows. I still can’t believe that Elizabeth Mitchell got denied. As you may remember, I love her. This is also a category where the utter lack of support for the cast of Big Love should bring shame to many hearts. And could S. Epatha Merkerson get one lousy nomination for her countless years of kicking ass on Law & Order?

But I can’t root for actors that aren’t nominated, so lets’ see… I’ve enjoyed all six of these ladies in other things, but Cherry Jones has got enough awards, and at this point, I don’t think anyone really cares about 24 except my friend Stephanie, and that’s only because she wants to sex up Kiefer Sutherland. So Cherry’s out.

Chandra Wilson has won before. Out.

Rose Byrne shares a last name with my boyfriend, but I don’t think that’s gonna get her out of Glenn Close’s shadow. Out.

That leaves us with Hope Davis, Dianne Wiest, and Sandra Oh. Davis and Oh are respected and everything, but Wiest… she’s gold. Yes, she’s won in this category before (like Wilson), and yes he has a lot of awards (like Jones), but she’s just so super-duper talented. And she’s got two Oscars. Two! I say Wiest wins again.

Thanks, Doug. I’m ready for the Emmys now.

—Mark