Emmys

Note: This is the first in an on-going series of posts exploring the major categories at the 2015 Emmy awards. We will cover actors, actresses, and series – Comedy and Drama – through the end of the voting period on August 28. See something you like or a performance you’d like to single out? Share the posts and create some Twitter buzz! We’ll see you at the Emmys.

The six actresses who have been honored in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series lineup have now moved onto the next stage of the Emmy process. Each nominee has submitted an episode that best encapsulates their work from the 2014-15 television season for voters to judge and choose the winner of the category. Although the strict rules from the past have been loosened by the new streaming service (voters will now watch the episodes online), theoretically the quality and impact of the selected episodes are supposed to dictate how members vote.

crazyeyes

Performer: Uzo Aduba as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Orange is the New Black

Episode: “Hugs Can Be Deceiving” (Season Two, Episode Three)

Highlights: Suzanne’s backstory is fleshed out through flashbacks involving highly emotional situations.

Why she could win: In addition to claiming the Screen Actor’s Guild for Female Performer in a Comedy Series (in any category: lead, supporting, guest), Aduba won the Comedy Guest Actress Emmy for season one last year, so we know industry voters have been positively responding to her work on Orange is the New Black. Under the more relaxed voting process, having a trending name of a previous award winner like “Uzo Aduba” means something. The episode she submitted allows her to dig into some grating, exuberant emotions, such as slapping herself in the face, bearing the brunt of public humiliation, and being ostracized by the other prisoners on the show. A child actor fills in Suzanne’s younger years, which should lock the viewer into empathizing with the character to an even greater degree when Aduba plays more of the defining moments in the character’s later years. Of all the nominated performances in the category, Aduba has the loudest acting of the bunch, which more easily paves the road to impressing voters.

Why she could lose: Her acting and storyline are appropriate enough to catch the eyes of Emmy judges, but Orange is the New Black is still at its core an ensemble show, and even though Crazy Eyes gets more focus in this single hour than usual, there are still other moving components other than her backstory. The buzz for her show has also simmered this year, as it was snubbed in both the writing and directing categories after a strong acknowledgement for season one. This is most likely the result of the show’s category switch from comedy to drama. Contending as a dramatic series entails fiercer competition than what Orange is the New Black rivaled in a lighter field last year; Aduba’s greatest challenge is overcoming her co-nominees’ more somber performances. Though her acting is grounded in dramatics, Aduba has flares of comedy running through her work.

good-wife459

Performer: Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart in The Good Wife

Episode: “Loser Edit” (Season Six, Episode Eighteen)

Highlights: Diane argues for gay marriage in a think tank exercise and a mock trial, allowing her to give many speeches and display grandstanding moments of heroism.

Why she could win: For the show’s six-year run, there has not been an Emmy voting cycle where Baranski was in contention for her work on The Good Wife, and with each passing season her material becomes more aggressive. “Loser Edit” is the best of the six episodes she has ever submitted for playing Diane Lockhart. Baranski is practically the lead of “Loser Edit,” with even Alicia’s storyline appearing secondary to Diane’s plot. Whenever Diane is on screen, Baranski incessantly engaged and drives the conversation surrounding the political issue. She makes us feel the passion in Diane’s defense of gay marriage, a topical plot since the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide, to the room full of conservatives. She delivers a few beautifully flowing speeches about the law and how personal and fair it has to be. Baranski, who last won an Emmy over 20 years ago and would benefit from a more popular-vote swaying Academy, could be the spoiler of this category with her moving performance composed of subtlety. Also working in her favor: an actress from The Good Wife has won every year since the show began, and Baranski is the only hope this year to keep the (probably inadvertent) tradition alive.

Why she could lose: Diane is not the type of character that lends itself to hysterical moments of crying and yelling, the type character behavior Emmy trophies gravitate towards. Baranski doesn’t invade the viewer’s personal space with her acting like some of the other nominees do, so voters could feel less emotionally compelled to vote her. Also working against Baranski is the fact that being overdue at the Emmys does not hold as much weight as being overdue at the Oscars. Many people theorize her annual Emmy adulation is a result of respect for a veteran actress, not necessarily because she’s undeniably fantastic in the role.

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Performer: Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones

Episode: “The Dance of Dragons” (Season Five, Episode Nine)

Highlights: Daenerys dominates the last third of “The Dance with Dragons,” including an epic action sequence, which includes intimate moments she shares with her wounded dragon, Drogon, in a fighting arena.

Why she could win: Game of Thrones actors often cannot make it to the finish line at the Emmys because of a lacking screentime in their submissions. In Clarke’s favor is an extensive presence in a segment the end of the episode, and voters will also see her performance in her co-star Lena Headey’s submitted episode, “Mother’s Mercy.” The Game of Thrones craze currently floating in the air benefits her as well; the show received 24 nominations from the Television Academy this year.

Why she could lose: Unfortunately for Clarke, most of her work in this episode is purely physical and spectacle, nothing grounded in heavy emotion and melodrama. She barely has any lines of dialogue for being on screen for 15 minutes, which is a huge problem for an actor trying to win an Emmy. Even though she was nominated before, Clarke was severely underestimated by most pundits for a nomination this year and was most likely swept into the category as a result of the enormous consensus support for the series this past season.

AnnaDAS5

Performer: Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates in Downton Abbey

Episode: “Episode Eight” (Season Five, Episode Eight)

Highlights: This episode shows Anna first being placed in a police lineup, identified, and subsequently arrested for murder.

Why she could win: The arc of Froggatt’s episode—Anna being hauled away in handcuffs—is inherently sympathetic, which is something voters are drawn to when making their picks in the acting categories. With Maggie Smith’s shocking omission from the category, Froggatt is left as the sole actor representing the Emmy favorite, Downton Abbey. The huge fanbase for her show within the Academy could rally behind Froggatt. After all, she was overlooked last year with her devastating rape storyline in order to reward Anna Gunn’s seismic submission for the final season of Breaking Bad.

Why she could lose: Froggatt is a returning nominee, but her submission this year pales in comparison to the terrific highs she achieved last year. Though she’s physically present throughout the 67-minute show, her presence is barely felt because of her mostly brief scenes—only three of Froggatt’s scenes that last longer than a minute and half. The material she’s given does not allow her to be as effective as other women nominated in this category.

Joan

Performer: Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris in Mad Men

Episode: “Lost Horizon” (Season Seven, Episode Twelve)

Highlights: In the series pinnacle moment for her, Joan takes a stand against sexism in the 1970’s workplace and eventually leaves her position at the advertising agency of which she was once a partner.

Why she could win: Hendricks was widely seen as the MVP of Mad Men’s final string of episodes, mostly due to Joan’s feminist nerve as she enters the world of a bigger corporation. Voters will root for Joan the more than any other character in this year’s Drama Supporting Actress category as they see the unfair treatment she endures as a woman in the workforce in the early ‘70s. Hendricks gets to play some memorable scenes in “Lost Horizon,” specifically ones that shine a light on the boldness Joan has when firing back at the men trying to dismiss her occupational complaints. This episode marks more of a tragic ending for Joan, who surrenders to the payoff and leaves the advertising agency quietly. This Hendricks’s sixth Emmy nomination for the role without ever winning. Unlike the Oscars, having an “overdue factor” doesn’t influence voters as much (and if any supporting actress benefits from being “overdue” this year, it’s most likely Baranski, who has been nominated nine times since she won her last Emmy), but the growing nostalgia for Mad Men could make Hendricks a more appealing contender this year.

Why she could lose: Dozens of Mad Men actors have helped fill the Emmy ballots over the eight years, but never has an actor won, which is most likely due to the voting system not being compatible with the type of nuanced acting style Mad Men required. Emmy voters love to reward emotional fireworks like crying and powerful speeches, and though “Lost Horizon” is one of her better episodes in a “fireworks” sense, it still has the problems that all of Hendricks’s other submissions had in being too timid and not as vigorously expressive as her competition.

Cersei

Performer: Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones

Episode: “Mother’s Mercy” (Season Five, Episode Ten)

Highlights: After being held in prison for a period of time, Cersei confesses her sins to the High Sparrow and accepts the following punishment in order to be released: walking completely naked through an angry mob of townspeople, who verbally and physically shame her.

Why she could win: Game of Thrones topped the list for receiving the most nominations of any show this year, so not only is the Academy is approving of the fifth season, but there is the rare precedent for actors winning from the fantasy genre: Peter Dinklage won the Supporting Actor Emmy in 2011 for Game of Thrones. More importantly, Headey’s submission is easily the most immediately impactful of the category. She’s likely to startle voters with her vulnerability in her confession scene, her helplessness when having her head forcibly shaved, and her disturbing agony in the Walk of Shame sequence. It’s the caliber of an acting showcase that undeniably shakes the viewer into horror. The goal of an actor submitting tapes is to leave an unforgettable mark on the voters mind in their episode, and it’s doubtful that anyone will forget Headey’s 10 minutes of walking nude through a crowd of extras, who are degrade her by yelling, “Whore!” and “Shame!”

Why she could lose: While it seems as if she could be a lock for the win, Headey has a major obstacle between her and the trophy: a body double was used for the majority of the Walk of Shame scene, confirmed by Headey herself. (The belief is Headey opted to use the body double after receiving news of her pregnancy.) The Academy could agree with some viewers who have commented about the awkward CGI used to put Headey’s face on the body double in the finished scene. In fact, most of the scene is framed in longer shots; there are very few instances in the where Headey’s acting is the pure driving force of the scene’s impact. The directing and action around the character are arguably the reasons why the scene is so traumatic. In addition, Headey has no screentime in the first 40 minutes of “Mother’s Mercy,” and is not offered the opportunity to portray any other emotions apart from suffering.

It’s one week now after the Emmy nominations, and I’ve time to absorb the implications of what’s been nominated. The trouble with the Emmys is that, between nomination day and the close of voting (voting runs for a 2-week period from August 17 through August 28), there aren’t many significant indicators of how the winds are blowing within the Television Academy. Unlike the Oscars, where every awards-giving group possible seems to hold their awards ceremonies directly in the path of greatest influence, the Emmys just seem to happen in a bit of a bubble. You really have no idea what lies within the hearts and minds of Emmy voters, and all you can really look at is the work submitted by series and actors as representations of their best work over the course of the year to identify any significant patterns or milestones achieved that would potentially attract votes.

As someone who pays attention to the months leading up to the Emmys ceremony, it’s incredibly frustrating to try and predict. As someone who enjoys watching the Emmy ceremony, it makes for a much more exciting show when the end results aren’t so easily predictable. I mean, right now at this point in the Emmy cycle, who out there can guarantee that they know the winner of the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy? Last year, nearly everyone was predicting Breaking Bad for its well-received farewell season. But the year before, who would have guessed the same show would win the Drama Series award for the first half of its final season? This year, signs should point to Mad Men taking home a trophy for its final season. Common logic would tell you that. However, while the final episodes were much beloved, the first half of the season was widely seen as a bit of a letdown. People claimed Matt Weiner and crew were spinning their wheels in storytelling. Then, there’s the problem of the missing Direction nomination. How could Matt Weiner miss out on directing the most discussed episode of the series in years? Interestingly enough, the last time a dramatic series won the Drama Series Emmy without a directing nomination was back in 2011 when Mad Men won. Before that, you have to go all the way back to the late 90s when The Practice and Law & Order won to find series winning without directing nominations. But this isn’t the Oscars. It can happen.

But if it’s not Mad Men, then what will it be? The only nominated drama series with all the major nominations plus three acting nominations is Game of Thrones, but I’m extremely hesitant to proclaim that series the frontrunner given its fantasy roots (Lost is the only winner in decades that could be considered within the same genre) and its divisive season. Maybe not divisive enough to prevent a boatload of nominations (a series-leading 24 nominations) but perhaps too divisive to merit wins. After all, this was the season of Sansa’s rape and of burning children and of a saggy midsection. It may the big dog on the block, but I have difficulty seeing it in the winner’s circle. Given its broad Emmy support in major categories, House of Cards would have won last year had it not been for the Breaking Bad juggernaut. This year, it’s down slightly in nominations, and it missed out on both Writing and Directing bids. HomelandDownton AbbeyBetter Call Saul? And Orange Is the New Black seems to have fallen victim to the much-reported category placement. Right now, if you put a gun to my head, I would say it’s Mad Men‘s to lose despite the oddly absent direction nominee. But as I’ve said before, the Television Academy apparently thinks the show directs itself and isn’t afraid to reward the entire experience even if they omitted its direction.

Comedy Series nominees have broader chances at winning because more series hit the critical nominations than in their Drama Series counterparts. LouieSilicon ValleyTransparent, and Veep all received nominations for both Writing and Direction. Silicon Valley, frustratingly, received no acting nominations, so conventional logic would put that down a peg below the rest. The highest profile series out there right now is Amazon’s Transparent with multiple acting nominations, including a surprise nomination for Gaby Hoffman, so that would seemingly put it squarely out in front. And deservedly so. In a year where Caitlyn Jenner and the first transgender houseguest on the reality series Big Brother are all over the news, it seems fitting that a critically acclaimed series about a man coming out to his family as transgender would take the prize. It’s only drawback would be its placement on Amazon Prime, and I have a strong suspicion that members of the Television Academy aren’t going to be so eager to embrace alternate content delivery platforms. After all, it was a few decades before HBO finally started taking home major awards with Sopranos and Sex And The City. Still, Transparent has my vote right now, unless…

There is another way to look at the Comedy Series category. Even though it received no Writing or Direction nominations for the first time in its series run, Modern Family definitely sticks out among the rest of the crowd. I know. I know. Everyone groans when Modern Family wins another award. And with due cause. I like the show, but it’s time to move on. Still, if you look carefully at the nominations, then you’ll see a pattern emerge. Louie (dark Indie), Parks and Recreation (absurdist blending with open-faced emotion), Silicon Valley (techie), Transparent (dark – some say too dark – indie), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (wildly absurdist), and Veep (political) all have very specific types of humor. Call them niche comedies, if you want. Modern Family is the only nominee in the batch of seven to broadly appeal to all members of the Television Academy. It could conceivably win again in what would be a record-breaking win besting Frasier‘s series streak by simply being nice enough to appeal to anybody. As Sasha with the Oscars, the most likely candidates for “best” anything are the ones you can sit your entire family in front of without offending anyone. Modern Family excels at that. I’m not predicting it to win right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

So that leaves us roughly here in terms of most likely to win three weeks ahead of the voting window opening:

Outstanding Drama Series

  1. Mad Men
  2. Game of Thrones
  3. Better Call Saul
  4. House of Cards
  5. Homeland
  6. Downton Abbey
  7. Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Comedy Series

  1. Transparent
  2. Modern Family
  3. Veep
  4. Silicon Valley
  5. Louie
  6. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  7. Parks and Recreation

Stay tuned to Awards Daily TV and our Water Cooler podcast for continued discussion on the Emmy awards. Starting August 10, we will be publishing a series of “Making the Case” articles that explores each of the 14 major nominees across Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series and how each could conceivably win the big prize. As I’ve said before, without an obvious front-runner, the awards themselves become a lot more interesting.

Following last week’s Primetime Emmy nominations, the Television Academy announced today the 36th Annual News and Documentary Emmy nominations. Featuring 45 categories, the awards honor documentaries, news reports, and multimedia projects within the field of broadcast journalism. PBS lead the pack with 57 nominations followed by CBS’s 44 nominations.

The awards will be presented on September 28, and some of the major nominations are as follows:

 

Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

  • CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley: Life and Death in Gaza
  • Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and Nightline: Making History: The U.S. and Cuba
  • NBC Nightly News: Without Warning: The Mudslide
  • NBC Nightly News: Ukraine
  • The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer: Rescue from Mt. Sinjar

 

Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

  • CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley: Challenge Academy
  • CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley: The War Against Ebola
  • CBS This Morning and CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley: Immigration Coverage
  • NBC Nightly News: Hooked: America’s Heroin Epidemic
  • Nightline: The Ebola Crisis: Inside the Hot Zone

 

Outstanding Feature Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

  • 60 Minutes: Pope Francis
  • ABC World News with David Muir and Nightline: Stolen Childhood
  • CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley: On The Road: Pay It Forward
  • CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley: On The Road: Secret Santa
  • CBS This Morning: Note to Self: Scott Ostrom
  • Nightline: Brian Ross Investigates Lawrence of Afghanistan … And His Woman
  • PBS NewsHour: Senegal’s Child Beggars

 

Outstanding Hard News Report in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

  • NBC Nightly News: Inside Kobani
  • Nightline: Brian Ross Investigates: Olympic Gold, Olympic Greed
  • Nightline: Ebola: The Gates of Hell
  • Nightline: Moscow is Burning
  • PBS NewsHour: Impossible Choice

 

Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

  • Anderson Cooper 360: Crisis At The VA, Veterans Dying While Waiting For Care
  • Anderson Cooper 360: Theme Parks Investigation
  • CBS News Investigative Unit: Bringing Home America’s Fallen
  • CBS This Morning: Death in Paradise
  • PBS NewsHour: Hazardous Work: Diving into the Philippines’ Dangerous Underwater Mines

 

Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

  • Anderson Cooper 360: GM Blamed for Death
  • Nightline: Brian Ross Investigates: Herbalife– The Dream and The Reality
  • Nightline: Yoga Guru Under Fire
  • PBS NewsHour: The Minimum Wage Debate in Seattle
  • PBS NewsHour: Who’s Behind The Chinese Takeover Of The World’s Biggest Pork Producer?

 

Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a News Magazine

  • 60 Minutes: Ebola Hot Zone
  • Fault Lines: Ferguson: City Under Siege
  • Fighting Ebola Street by Street
  • FRONTLINE: Ebola Outbreak
  • FRONTLINE: The Battle for Ukraine
  • VICE News: Russian Roulette 

 

Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine

  • 48 Hours: Perilous Journey
  • 60 Minutes: 3 Years Later
  • 60 Minutes: Chernobyl
  • 60 Minutes: The Islamic State
  • 60 Minutes: War and Hunger

 

Outstanding Feature Story in a News Magazine

  • 60 Minutes: The Lion Whisperer
  • 60 Minutes: The Shooting at Chardon High
  • Dateline NBC: A Bronx Tale
  • E:60: Carmen: A Survivor’s Story
  • A Meredith Vieira Special: A Leap of Faith

 

Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a News Magazine

  • 20/20: Brian Ross Investigates: Deadly Impact
  • 60 Minutes: Denied
  • 60 Minutes: Nowhere to Go
  • 60 Minutes: The Case of Alex Rodriguez
  • Fault Lines: American War Workers
  • FRONTLINE: Hunting Boko Haram

 

Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting in a News Magazine

  • 20/20: Brian Ross Investigates: Confessions of a Counterfeiter
  • 60 Minutes: Chairman Ma
  • 60 Minutes: Falling Apart
  • 60 Minutes: Over a Barrel
  • 60 Minutes: Rigged

 

Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis

  • All In with Chris Hayes: All In America: A New Frontier in Women’s Healthcare
  • All In with Chris Hayes: Fifty Year War: The Changing Face of Poverty in America
  • Face the Nation: 60th Anniversary Episode with President Obama and President Bush
  • Face the Nation: Summer War in Gaza
  • This Week with George Stephanopoulos: June 22, 2014

 

Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story-Long-Form

  • ABC News Special Events: The Downing of Malaysia Flight M17
  • ABC NEWS Special Events: Your Voice/Your Vote 2014
  • Anderson Cooper 360: NYC Chokehold Death Protests
  • CNN: Ukraine: Shooting in Independence Square
  • NBC News Specials: Malaysia Flight 17

 

Outstanding Coverage of a Current News Story-Long Form

  • E-Team
  • FRONTLINE: The Rise of ISIS
  • FRONTLINE: United States of Secrets
  • HBO Documentary Films: Terror at the Mall
  • POV: After Tiller
  • POV: American Promise

 

Outstanding Investigative Journalism-Long-Form

  • FRONTLINE: Firestone and the Warlord
  • HBO Documentary Films: Hunted: The War Against Gays in Russia
  • HBO Documentary Films: The Newburgh Sting
  • Independent Lens: The State of Arizona
  • Pimp City: A Journey to the Center of the Sex Slave Trade

 

Outstanding Informational Programming-Long-Form

  • HBO Documentary Films: Private Violence
  • Independent Lens: Bully
  • Mission Blue
  • POV: Fallen City
  • POV: When I Walk

 

Outstanding Historical Programming-Long-Form

  • Brothers in War
  • HBO Documentary Films: Nixon By Nixon: In His Own Words
  • Independent Lens: The Trials of Muhammad Ali
  • MAKERS
  • The Unknown Known

 

Outstanding Business and Economic Reporting-Long Form

  • America ReFramed: Fate of a Salesman
  • CNN Films: Ivory Tower
  • FRONTLINE: To Catch a Trader
  • Independent Lens: Medora
  • POV: Big Men

 

Outstanding Interview

  • 60 Minutes: Recruiting for ISIS
  • 60 Minutes: The Director
  • Meet the Press: Former Vice President Dick Cheney Interview
  • Surviving An ISIS Massacre:
  • VICE News: The Architect

Outstanding Arts and Culture Programming

  • HBO Documentary Films: Banksy Does New York
  • HBO Documentary Films: Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus
  • Independent Lens: Muscle Shoals
  • POV: Dance for Me
  • Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon

 

Outstanding Science and Technology Programming

  • American Experience: The Poisoner’s Handbook
  • CNN Films: Dinosaur 13
  • How We Got to Now with Steven Johnson: Clean
  • NOVA: Alien Planets Revealed
  • Your Inner Fish

 

Outstanding Nature Programming

  • Nature: Ireland’s Wild River
  • Nature: Snow Monkeys
  • Nature: Touching the Wild
  • Saving Africa’s Giants With Yao Ming
  • Wild Hawaii

 

Best Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast

  • CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley: Life and Death in Gaza
  • NBC Nightly News and Today: Hooked
  • Nightline: Moscow is Burning
  • Nightline: The Ebola Crisis
  • Noticiero Univision: Recorrido a Bordo de la Bestia (The Dangerous Journey in “The Beast”)

 

Best Report in a News Magazine

  • 60 Minutes: Denied
  • 60 Minutes: Inside Homs
  • 60 Minutes: Nowhere to Go
  • 60 Minutes: The Case of Alex Rodriguez
  • Dateline NBC: A Bronx Tale

 

Best Documentary

  • E-Team
  • FRONTLINE: United States of Secrets
  • Independent Lens: The Trials of Muhammad Ali
  • Independent Lens: BULLY
  • POV: After Tiller
  • POV: American Promise
  • POV: Big Men

The full list of nominations is available at the Television Academy’s website.

It’s finally Emmy time, folks. After months of predictions, prognostication, and advocacy, the Television Academy has released their 2015 Emmy nominations. Joey, Megan, and Clarence discussion their in-depth reactions, surprises, and disappointments. Additionally, they begin to sort through the nominees and try to figure out who’s ahead at this point in the overall Emmy race. If you have feedback or predictions of your own, then drop them in the Comments section below.

On next week’s episode, we’re going to tackle the unexpected phenomenon of FOX’s Wayward Pines, so, if you’re behind on the show, then here’s some advanced warning to catch up and be a part of our conversation. Also, coming in August, we plan to dive into another Water Cooler flashback – this time, Netflix’s divisive fourth season of Arrested Development. If you’ve seen it, then maybe it’s worth a revisit. If not, then here’s the perfect time to binge away.

It’s taken me a while to formulate some coherent thoughts around the Emmy nominations announced earlier today. It’s not that I haven’t had any reactions, but it’s just that it has been a real shit storm of a day for me personally. Sometimes, the personal comes (and should come) ahead of the frivolous. Also, I watched the announcements squarely using the Television Academy’s direct feed for the first time, so I don’t have the noise of on-air commentators or online bloggers in my head. I haven’t had time for it, and, honestly, it’s been pretty nice.

That said, I do have a few pointed thoughts on some successes and some misses across the board. Overall, it was a very solid batch of Emmy nominees. There are ALWAYS things to complain about, but, this year, those are fewer and far between. So, let’s start with the good:

The Good

Game of Thrones, a show I clearly love, is also clearly loved by the Television Academy. Aside from receiving the highest number of nominations (24), it’s the only Drama that received show, acting, directing, and writing nominations across the board. They love it so much that they even nominated Emilia Clarke again when Daenerys had very little to do this season. The annoying thing about that is that Lena Headey (also nominated) now has to compete against Clarke for the win, resulting in a potential split vote for the Games ladies.

Tatiana Maslany finally received recognition from the Television Academy. I don’t watch Orphan Black, but her performance is apparently so fantastic, so legendary, that it has become the world’s obsession as to why she wasn’t nominated. Good for her. It’s nice to see hard work recognized… and the Internet appeased.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt received more major nominations than many thought it would. There were two camps of prognosticators: those that thought Ellie Kemper would be the series’ only major nomination and those that thought the Emmys would recognize the whole shebang. The nominations proved the latter with one major exception. We’ll talk about that later.

Lisa Kudrow’s nomination for The Comeback proves that the Emmys still love and recognize quality – when they love a particular actress. I’m also super-psyched about Parks & Recreation receiving a bid for Comedy Series on its series finale run. It won’t win, but it’s good for the Television Academy to give it a farewell hug. They’re a hard-working and brilliantly funny crew that got the shaft from NBC. Good for them.

The Bizarre

My only nomination for the strangest Emmy love is for the 19 nominations bestowed upon FX’s American Horror Story: Freak Show season. I expected a boatload of technical nominations – the sets and cinematography were fantastic – but SIX acting nominations? Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, and Finn Wittrock were all expected but Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, and Dennis O’Hare? For this season? They weren’t given a lot to do, and where was Michael Chicklis? Everybody thought he’d be nominated for certain. Ryan Murphy clearly has a passionate love affair with the Television Academy. All I have to say is watch out for Scream Queens and, more probably, American Crime Story.

The Bad

The Affair. Zero nominations. The trouble with going out on a limb passionately for a show (as I did) is that, one, it clouds your judgment. Around late April or early May, I felt a complete lack of buzz for the brilliant show. The writing was on the wall, and I painted over it. Then, it kind of sucks to go all-out for zero results. I will forever believe that the Academy messed this one up, if only for recognizing Ruth Wilson’s great performance.

Vera Farmiga was shunned for her series best work in Bates Motel. I didn’t expect her to be there, although I certainly went to bat for her. She’s an amazing actress who consistently feels under-appreciated to me. She’s not widely used in film, and she’s not given nearly the right amount of recognition she deserves for her television work here in Bates. I’ve said why she deserved a nomination, and I know in my heart that I was right. It was a tough category and was populated with some actresses who haven’t really grown their characters in years (looking at you Claire Danes).

Speaking of Homeland, I don’t know how the hell you watch the fourth season of that show and NOT nominate Mandy Patinkin for his electrifying performance. He carried Saul into the darkest of places and provided the emotional core of the season that balanced Carrie’s wilder moments. I know he’s been nominated before, and it’s nice to recognize new blood. But, damn. He was that good.

How in the world could the Emmys show completely embrace Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt but omit its star, its reason for being, Ellie Kemper? She IS the show. The show IS her. Everything else is just window dressing. If you love the show, then you kind of have to love her. It’s a huge snub to poor Kemper who, undoubtedly in true Kimmy fashion, will still smile her way up the red carpet in September.

Some will say Empire‘s lack of major nominations (aside from Taraji P. Henson) is a bad thing. I predicted it for major awards, but I’m not really surprised it didn’t get there. It was too soapy and too over the top to win over the Academy on the whole.

I’m very happy for Silicon Valley‘s major nominations (series, direction and writing), but I don’t know how, for the second year, the talented and funny cast didn’t make it in. I felt for sure that T.J. Miller was a shoo-in and perhaps a dark horse to win. Strange how these things work. Perhaps they’re not famous enough? Perhaps the Academy thinks they’re really developers? Who knows.

What did you like about the nominations? What did you miss? Leave your comments below!

 

Joey and Clarence briefly discuss initial reactions to today’s Emmy Nominations announcement.

 

Here are the nominations for the major categories at the 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards as announced by Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) and Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance). HBO’s Game of Thrones leads the nominees with 24 nominations following by American Horror Story: Freak Show with 19 nominations. Mad MenHouse of Cards, and Transparent each received 11 nominations. HBO actually lead the entire field with a whopping 126 nominations. The biggest surprise seen by most was the lack of love for FOX’s Empire.

A complete list of the nominations can be found here.

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Better Call Saul
  • Downton Abbey
  • Game of Thrones
  • Homeland
  • House of Cards
  • Mad Men
  • Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama

  • Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
  • Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
  • Jon Hamm, Mad Men
  • Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
  • Liev Schrieber, Ray Donovan
  • Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama

  • Claire Danes, Homeland
  • Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
  • Taraji P. Henson, Empire
  • Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
  • Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men
  • Robin Wright, House of Cards

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama

  • Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
  • Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
  • Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
  • Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
  • Michael Kelly, House of Cards
  • Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama

  • Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
  • Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
  • Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
  • Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
  • Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
  • Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • Louie
  • Modern Family
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Silicon Valley
  • Transparent
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Veep

Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy

  • Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
  • Louis C.K., Louie
  • Don Cheadle, House of Lies
  • Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
  • Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
  • William H. Macy, Shameless
  • Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy

  • Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
  • Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
  • Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
  • Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
  • Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy

  • Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  • Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Ty Burrell, Modern Family
  • Adam Driver, Girls
  • Tony Hale, Veep
  • Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy

  • Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
  • Julie Bowen, Modern Family
  • Anna Chlumsky, Veep
  • Gaby Hoffman, Transparent
  • Allison Janney, Mom
  • Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
  • Niecy Nash, Getting On

Outstanding Limited Series

  • American Crime
  • American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • The Honorable Woman
  • Olive Kitteridge
  • Wolf Hall

Outstanding TV Movie

  • Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Curtain, Poirot’s Last Case 
  • Bessie
  • Grace of Monaco
  • Hello Ladies: The Movie
  • Killing Jesus
  • Nightingale

Outstanding Lead Actor, Mini Series or TV Movie

  • Adrian Brody, Houdini
  • Ricky Gervais: Derek: The Final Chapter
  • Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
  • Timothy Hutton, American Crime
  • David Oyelowo, Nightingale
  • Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini Series or TV Movie

  • Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
  • Felicity Huffman, American Crime
  • Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Queen Latifah, Bessie
  • Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
  • Emma Thompson, Sweeney Todd (Lincoln Center)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Mini Series or Movie

  • Richard Cabral, American Crime
  • Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
  • Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
  • Dennis O’Hare, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Michael Kenneth Williams, Bessie
  • Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story: Freak Show

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini Series or Movie

  • Angela Bassett, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Zoe Kazan, Olive Kitteridge
  • Regina King, American Crime
  • Mo’Nique, Bessie
  • Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show

Outstanding Reality Competition

  • The Amazing Race
  • Dancing with the Stars
  • Project Runway
  • So You Think You Can Dance
  • Top Chef
  • The Voice

Outstanding Reality Host

  • Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
  • Anthony Bourdain, The Taste
  • Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
  • Heidi Klum/Tim Gunn, Project Runway
  • Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

  • The Colbert Report
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

  • Comedy Bang Bang
  • Drunk History
  • Inside Amy Schumer
  • Key & Peele
  • Portlandia
  • Saturday Night Live

In advance of Thursday’s 2015 Emmy nominations announcement, the Awards Daily TV crew of Megan, Joey, and Clarence are each providing their predictions in the major Emmy categories. Check back on Thursday to see who wins the Awards Daily TV Emmy prediction crown. Want to play along? Leave your predictions in the Comments section below.

Today, we conclude our predictions fiesta with Clarence who is going with Vera Farmiga in Bates Motel if it kills him. Should he be wrong on this, then please be kind. 

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • The Big Bang Theory
  • Louie
  • Modern Family
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Silicon Valley
  • Transparent
  • Veep

Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy

  • Louis C.K., Louie
  • Billy Crystal, The Comedians
  • Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
  • William H. Macy, Shameless
  • Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
  • Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy

  • Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
  • Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
  • Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
  • Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy

  • Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  • Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Ty Burrell, Modern Family
  • Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
  • Tony Hale, Veep
  • T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy

  • Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
  • Julie Bowen, Modern Family
  • Anna Chlumsky, Veep
  • Allison Janney, Mom
  • Judith Light, Transparent
  • Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Better Call Saul
  • Downton Abbey
  • Empire
  • Game of Thrones
  • House of Cards
  • Mad Men
  • Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama

  • Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
  • Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
  • Jon Hamm, Mad Men
  • Terrence Howard, Empire
  • Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
  • Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama

  • Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
  • Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
  • Taraji P. Henson, Empire
  • Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
  • Ruth Wilson, The Affair
  • Robin Wright, House of Cards

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama

  • Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
  • Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
  • Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
  • Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
  • Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
  • Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama

  • Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
  • Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
  • Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
  • Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
  • Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
  • Sissy Spacek, Bloodline

Outstanding Limited Series

  • American Crime
  • American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • The Honorable Woman
  • The Missing
  • Olive Kitteridge
  • Wolf Hall

Outstanding TV Movie

  • Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Curtain, Poirot’s Last Case
  • Bessie
  • Derek: The Final Chapter
  • Killing Jesus
  • Nightingale
  • Worricker: Salting the Battlefield

Outstanding Lead Actor, Mini Series or TV Movie

  • Adrian Brody, Houdini
  • Ricky Gervais: Derek: The Final Chapter
  • Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
  • David Oyelowo, Nightingale
  • Bill Paxton, Texas Rising
  • Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini Series or TV Movie

  • Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
  • Felicity Huffman, American Crime
  • Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Queen Latifah, Bessie
  • Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
  • Emma Thompson, Sweeney Todd (Lincoln Center)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Mini Series of Movie

  • Michael Chiklis, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
  • Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
  • Jonathan Pryce, Wolf Hall
  • Stephen Rea, The Honorable Woman
  • Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story: Freak Show

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini Series or Movie

  • Zoe Kazan, Olive Kitteridge
  • Mo’Nique, Bessie
  • Janet McTeer, The Honorable Woman
  • Cynthia Nixon, Stockholm, Pennsylvania
  • Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Susan Sarandon, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

Outstanding Reality Competition

  • The Amazing Race
  • Dancing with the Stars
  • Project Runway
  • So You Think You Can Dance
  • Top Chef
  • The Voice

Outstanding Reality Host

  • Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
  • Anthony Bourdain, The Taste
  • Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
  • Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
  • Heidi Klum/Tim Gunn, Project Runway
  • Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

  • The Colbert Report
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

  • Comedy Bang Bang
  • Inside Amy Schumer
  • Key and Peele
  • Portlandia
  • Saturday Night Live
  • The Soup

For the record I have never (regrettably) lived on the shores of America, nor am I an expert in its realm of television. I am, however, invested enough to have the passion for, and a fairly good knowledge of, the medium. With the Emmy nominations just a couple of days away, rather than make myself look a TV novice, I took to the streets to ask the regular people their views on the potential omissions from the nominations and who might surprise us by showing their face.

LIMITED SERIES / TELEVISION MOVIE 

SNUB?   American Horror Story: Freak Show   “It was just too much for me. I didn’t mind the haunted house one, the prison one, or even the one with the witches and Kathy Bates’ talking head, but this is just a freak show now. Plus, ain’t nobody even asked me to be in it, and I got a third nipple.”

SNUB?   Killing Jesus   “The title alone I would say, very controversial. Good thing he came back for a sequel.”

SPOILER?   Gracepoint   “Really loved the first season of Broadchurch, so powerful, so emotional. But this is the American version, and I want to be patriotic. Though in truth, Gracepoint was piss poor.”

SNUB?   David Oyelowo (Nightingale)   “If the film academy can do it then so can the television academy.”

SPOILER?   Stephen Merchant (Hello Ladies The Movie)   “If Ricky Gervais can do it then so can his comedy writing partner.”

SNUB?   Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Freak Show)   “Because enough is enough now. I hear in American Horror Story: Sexy Ghost, Lange will be playing a bed-side lamp and will still be nominated.”

SPOILER?   Yaya Dacosta (Whitney)   “Woman director for one. Black director for two. Plus, if you can’t appreciate the life of Whitney Houston, we have a problem. Because I will always love her. Yes, I. I will. I will always love her.”

SNUB?   Damian Lewis (Wolf Hall)   “With the High Sparrow also in this show and hotly tipped, they could split votes. One big drawback, no wolves.”

SNUB?   Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story: Freak Show)   “Two heads is not always better than one.”

SPOILER?   Abigail Lawrie (The Casual Vacancy)   “In all seriousness, not as well known as Michael Gambon for sure, but bottom line she is the best thing in this.”

DRAMA SERIES

SNUB?   Downton Abbey   “Aren’t we a little tired of seeing that opening of the dog being walked. Though the poor dog did pass away, it was a rather sudden decision by the production team given the association with the name Isis. I can’t wait until next year when Lord Grantham drags her corpse along the green on a leash.”

SPOILER?   Bloodline   “Emmy liked Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights. They liked Linda Cardellini in Mad Men. They liked Sam Shepard in Dash and Lilly. They liked Sissy Spacek in The Good Old Boys. Plus, it is Netflix. Very tasty ingredients. Wait, what was the question?”

SNUB?   Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)   “He is just too funny in this. Surely they will forget it’s a drama. Though that scene when he kicks the door closed and almost breaks down. Nice. I’m not sure now, it’s confusing. Was he on meth?”

SPOILER?   Jamie Dornan (The Fall)   “He may have weird sexual methodology, his American acting might suck, but he is rather captivating as a killer in Northern Ireland. No, really.”

SNUB?   Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)   “She makes me want to watch classic old episodes of E.R. but she has no room on her shelves at home for another Emmy. Take a year off Julianna, you’ve earned it. Plus, she gave me crabs.”

SNUB?   Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul)   “It would be upsetting if the incredible Mike was not nominated, given a fleshed out narrative and screen time – which he fills expertly. If Emmy does not simply go for Saul then he could be out too.”

SPOILER?   Michael McKean (Better Call Saul)   “Is it unthinkable that Chuck could get in? There is no doubt he was great in the show. But can Emmy forgive him for what he did to Saul? His own brother! Worse things have happened.”

SNUB?   Lena Headley (Game of Thrones)   “So that was a body double the whole time? Why would she deserve an Emmy nomination for that? Sure, sure, she was pretty much flawless and had a great range to work with the entire season. Oh what, so Emmys are about good work now? If you want a nomination, then show me your boobs. Real boobs.”

SPOILER?   Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)   “There’s nothing like a supporting cast member of a snubbed regular to shake things up a bit. Plus, Archie is very decent in this and is in the mix of some of the juicy story-lines.”

COMEDY SERIES

SNUB?   Veep   “Politics? Boo!”

SPOILER?   Shameless   “Shagging? Yeah!”

SNUB?   Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)   “Is he not too humanized now Amy has her claws in him? We want robot Sheldon back. And he is not getting an Emmy nod until we do.”

SPOILER?   Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)   “Honestly, one of my favorite comedy shows around. I, too, was one of the few who was not surprised when he and the show scooped Golden Globe wins last year. Could it repeat here? Did I mention Saturday Night Live?”

SNUB?   Amy Schumer (Inside Amy Schumer)   “Too funny. Too talented. Too empowering. Too current. Too fat.”

SPOILER?   Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project)   “It’s now or never, Kelly Kapoor.”

SPOILER?   Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation)   “What’s not to like? A very busy twelve months with the Lego, the talking tree, and the velociraptors. How does he even have a sense of humor after all of that? Plus, dreamy.”

SNUB?   Allison Janney (Mom)   “Not that funny, and who would want a mother like that?”

SPOILER?   Wendi McLendon-Covery (The Goldbergs)   “Very funny, and who would not want a mother like that?”

Author’s Note: Regarding the speaking to real people, I did nothing of the sort. This is mere fiction, an attempt at tongue-in-cheek humor disguising some possible snubs and spoilers come Thursday. Not all, I might add, my own opinion.

In advance of Thursday’s 2015 Emmy nomination announcement, the Awards Daily TV crew of Megan, Joey, and Clarence are each providing their predictions in the major Emmy categories. Check back on Thursday to see who wins the Awards Daily TV Emmy prediction crown. Want to play along? Leave your predictions in the Comments section below.

Today, we continue with Joey who is hoping the Emmys don’t ignore the comic genius of Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He also goes out on a few, very shaky, limbs.

 

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • The Big Bang Theory
  • Louie
  • Modern Family
  • Silicon Valley
  • Transparent
  • Veep
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

 

Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy

  • Louis C.K., Louie
  • Don Cheadle, House of Lies
  • Billy Crystal, The Comedians
  • William H. Macy, Shameless
  • Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
  • Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

 

Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy

  • Jane Fonda, Grace & Frankie
  • Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
  • Amy Poehler, Parks & Recreation
  • Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
  • Lily Tomlin, Grace & Frankie

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy

  • Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  • Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
  • Ty Burrell, Modern Family
  • Tony Hale, Veep
  • T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley
  • Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy

  • Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
  • Julie Bowen, Modern Family
  • Anna Chlumsky, Veep
  • Allison Janney, Mom
  • Judith Light, Transparent
  • Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

 

Outstanding Drama Series

  • The Affair
  • Downton Abbey
  • Empire
  • Game of Thrones
  • House of Cards
  • Mad Men
  • Orange is the New Black

 

Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama

  • Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
  • Jon Hamm, Mad Men
  • Terrence Howard, Empire
  • Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
  • Clive Owen, The Knick
  • Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

 

Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama

  • Claire Danes, Homeland
  • Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
  • Taraji P. Henson, Empire
  • Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
  • Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men
  • Robin Wright, House of Cards

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama

  • Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
  • Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
  • Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
  • Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
  • John Slattery, Mad Men
  • Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama

  • Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
  • Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
  • Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
  • Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
  • Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
  • Lorraine Toussaint, Orange is the New Black

 

Outstanding Limited Series

  • American Crime
  • American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • The Honorable Woman
  • The Missing
  • Olive Kitteridge
  • Wolf Hall

 

Outstanding TV Movie

  • Bessie
  • Derek: The Final Chapter
  • Killing Jesus
  • Nightingale
  • Stockholm, Pennsylvania
  • Worricker: Salting the Battlefield

 

Outstanding Lead Actor, Mini Series or TV Movie

  • Adrian Brody, Houdini
  • Timothy Hutton, American Crime
  • Ricky Gervais: Derek: The Final Chapter
  • Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
  • David Oyelowo, Nightingale
  • Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini Series or TV Movie

  • Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
  • Felicity Huffman, American Crime
  • Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Queen Latifah, Bessie
  • Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
  • Frances O’Connor, The Missing

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Mini Series of Movie

  • Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
  • Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
  • Jonathan Pryce, Wolf Hall
  • Stephen Rea, The Honorable Woman
  • Michael Kenneth Williams, Bessie
  • Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story: Freak Show

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini Series or Movie

  • Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Mo’Nique, Bessie
  • Janet McTeer, The Honorable Woman
  • Cynthia Nixon, Stockholm, Pennsylvania
  • Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show
  • Susan Sarandon, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

 

Outstanding Reality Competition

  • The Amazing Race
  • Dancing with the Stars
  • Project Runway
  • So You Think You Can Dance
  • Top Chef
  • The Voice

 

Outstanding Reality Host

  • Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
  • Anthony Bourdain, The Taste
  • RuPaul Charles, RuPaul’s Drag Race
  • Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
  • Heidi Klum/Tim Gunn, Project Runway
  • Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night

 

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

  • The Colbert Report
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  • Late Show with David Letterman
  • Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

 

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

  • Comedy Bang Bang
  • Drunk History
  • Inside Amy Schumer
  • Key & Peele
  • Portlandia
  • Saturday Night Live

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