The nominations for the 26th Annual Gemini Awards were recently announced, and I was thrilled with some of the names that made the list, but did notice some glaring omissions. I’m not going to analyze the nominees in depth, but rather focus on some key categories.
Thoughts on some of the nominees:
The competition is really tough in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role category. I’d be pleased with any of those nominees taking home the statue, but if I had to choose, it’d be a toss up between Hugh Dillon for Durham County and Michael Riley for Being Erica. I was very pleased to see Sam Witwer in that category for his performance as Aidan in the SPACE/Syfy series Being Human, although I’d probably say he’s the long shot.
I was pleased with Erin Karpluk‘s nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for Being Erica. She was impressive this past season given the twist that the series took and how terribly wrong it could have gone if it didn’t have a solid anchor like her. I haven’t seen any of her opponents’ performances in this category so I can’t say with any certainty if Karpluk’s the frontrunner.
By far, the nomination I was most excited by is Ksenia Solo‘s as Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series for Lost Girl. She is perfection as Kenzi, Bo’s human sidekick, and shines with every line she speaks. But she faces stiff competition in that category, which pits her against Rookie Blue‘s Melanie Nicholls-King and Enuka Okuma.
John Dunsworth was nominated in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series category for Haven, although I think Colm Feore may take that one for his role in The Borgias. Haven is a series that I’ve grown to love, with its eccentric characters and “Trouble-d” small town setting, so I’m happy to see it get some love.
Could have/should have made the list:
Best Dramatic Series nod for Durham County.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role nom for Anna Silk in Lost Girl, Meaghan Rath in Being Human and Emily Rose in Haven.
Lucas Bryant in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role category for Haven.
Rick Howland and Kris Holden-Ried in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series for Lost Girl.
A Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series nomination for Sebastian Pigott in Being Erica.
Random observations:
One thing I do have to note – genre TV performances were recognized again this year (last year’s Geminis had Robert Carlyle take home a statue for his role on Stargate Universe). I always see this as a victory for genre TV, considering this is roughly the Canadian equivalent of the Emmys.
Lots of co-productions between Canada & other countries were reflected in this year’s nominees – Being Human, Haven, Rookie Blue, and The Borgias, to name a few.
I was surprised by multiple nominations for Skins, which was supposedly an inferior facsimile of its UK counterpart, caused an uproar with advertisers, and was already been cancelled. Other cancelled series Shattered and Endgame landed several nominations as well.
The Best Dramatic Series category really baffled me, especially since Skins was included and Durham County wasn’t.
You can read the complete list of nominees here.
Which nominations are you most pleased with? And who, in your opinion, was left out in the cold?
The 26th Annual Gemini Awards air Wednesday, September 7th on CBC.
I’m with you 100% Melissa! I was thrilled to see so many of the genre shows getting numerous nominations, and in addition to instead of only in the standard categories of effects, make-up, etc. Thrilled for the deserved not to Ksenia Solo for Lost Girl, she is a true stand out and I’m very impressed it pulled 5 nominations.
I’m really surprized that Haven only got one nomination, I think it deserved a writing nomination (I wonder what/which shows were submitted for consideration), although because it has a long-arc as well as episode feel I can see how fans might appreciate the writing more than a one-watch. I also really think Emily Rose should have been nominated for her portrayal of Audrey. I wonder if there is any co-pro-ness that influences the voters.
I grew to love the North American Being Human, and did love Sam Witwer in the episode he’s nominated for but agree that chances might not be great versus the heavy hitters in that category. I’m also shocked that Shawn Doyle wasn’t nominated for acting, he’s an extraordinary performer.