If my post about the Dylan screening seemed a little whiny, it was because I knew I'd be getting up at 3:30 a.m. today to catch a shuttle to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in North Hollywood to watch the Emmy nominations be announced.

A hardy few of us do this every year -- there were six of us this morning -- even though an envelope with all the nominations listed and broken down a half-dozen different ways is delivered to the hotel we're staying within an hour of the announcement.

Yes, we're crazy. Or compulsive. (In my case, I blame it on too many years of Catholic school.)

But you know, this way I don't have to deal with Matt and Katie.

And it's mild fun to see all the entertainment-oriented TV shows doing their thing this early in the morning. Because we're print press, and don't come with huge cameras and microphones and hundeds of wires, we get primo spots in the second row of the auditorium, right behind the academy bigwigs and others associated with the Emmy broadcast.

Hollywood may not think reporters and TV critics are good for much, but we're at least capable of filling seats.