NEW YORK — Look, I love Tony Shalhoub, don't get me wrong. But what is it about "Monk" that appeals to Emmy voters? He just won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — he's been nominated three times and won twice. The show is cute, and he's great. But really?

Same for James Spader, who also just won. Two wins in a row for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for playing Alan Shore — first on "The Practice," now on "Boston Legal." With the Emmys, I think it's interesting when someone quirky wins once. When it becomes a pattern, it just seems like another rut that the show gets into.

We're in the home stretch.