In fact, we have nothing to be ashamed of from this year's selection of nominees, except that a lot of the same titles appear in multiple categories.
I'm sending out my ballot this week. You can peek into the voting booth to see whom I'm putting a check mark next to on the bigger categories and why.
Program of the Year
Nominees: "John Adams" (HBO), "Lost" (ABC), "Mad Men" (AMC), "Ken Burns' The War" (PBS), "The Wire" (HBO)
Never has my hand been more sure than when marking a check next to "Mad Men," AMC's sterling first entry into original programming.
The one-hour series about advertising executives in the 1960s is a powerful and thoughtful drama that looks at the gender war, male bonding and work discrimination from a totally different era.
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
Nominees: "30 Rock" (NBC), "The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central), "The Daily Show" (Comedy Central), "Flight of the Conchords" (HBO), "The Office" (NBC).
Think a dry, whimsical and funnier version of "Tenacious D," and you have the makeup of one of the funniest new shows from last season, the New Zealand import called "Flight of the Conchords."
It follows the musical adventures of Bret and Jemaine, two unassuming folk musicians trying to make it in New York City. It's a fresh, bold and hilarious half hour with side-splitting music videos.
Outstanding Achievement in Drama
Nominees: "Damages" (FX), "Friday Night Lights" (NBC), "Lost" (ABC), "Mad Men" (AMC), "The Wire" (HBO).
This clearly was the year of "Mad Men." But had that show not existed, I likely would vote for "The Wire," which had a great final season that tackled the struggling newspaper industry and its rocky relationship with police.
Outstanding New Program of the Year
Nominees: "Breaking Bad" (AMC), "Damages" (FX), "Flight of the Conchords" (HBO), "Mad Men" (AMC), "Pushing Daisies" (ABC).
I'd still vote for you-know-what, but it's worth noting the second pick would be AMC's other remarkable drama (that's two for two), "Breaking Bad."
It's a shocking and provocative hour about a chemistry teacher who sees his life spiraling out of control when he decides to turn bad and cook methamphetamine to help support his family.
Career Achievement
Nominees: James Garner, Lorne Michaels, Bill Moyers, William Shatner, Mike Wallace.
It's easy to stand tall and - with all the nobility a critic can muster - point to someone like Moyers or Wallace for a lifetime of service in news.
But who else commanded a starship, saved the world countless times, and still had time to make love to green women, not to mention Candice Bergen (and possibly Heather Locklear)?
William Shatner is a hero to all, winner of two Emmys and a Golden Globe, and he can phaser someone between the eyes at 50 meters. Oh, and he knows how to find the cheapest flights online.
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* VINCE HORIUCHI'S column appears Mondays and Fridays. He can be reached at vince@sltrib.com or 801-257-8607.
