One thing’s for sure. Critics love them some FX.
The network is all over the list of Critics Choice nominations, from best Drama Series (The Americans, Justified) to Comedy (surprise appearance from You’re the Worst) to acting categories (Walton Goggins—twice!—for Sons of Anarchy and Justified ).
Still, HBO lead the day with 27 nominations with Olive Kitteridge tying FX’s Justified for most nominations with five apiece.
Biggest Surprises
Aden Young for Rectify. I recently argued that if anyone would get any kind of awards love, it would be Young, and it looks like critics feel the same, as that was the show’s sole nomination (although Abigail Spencer received a Best Supporting Actress nomination back in 2013).
Carrie Coons and Christopher Eccleston for The Leftovers. It looks like some masochists are watching that show.
Eva Green for Penny Dreadful. She stands no chance at the Emmys, but it was thrilling to see her recognized for dominating the first season of Showtime’s gothic horror series.
Final season Parenthood acting nominations for Mae Whitman and Craig T. Nelson.
So who was snubbed?
Netflix’s House of Cards was completely shut out of the nominations. Not even stars Kevin Spacey or Robin Wright received bids. This is kind of shocking.
Netflix’s other big early 2015 show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt only picked up a Best Supporting Actor Comedy nomination for Tituss Burgess. It failed to get a Best Comedy nom, as did Ms. Schmidt herself, Ellie Kemper.
Game of Thrones‘ Lena Headey missed out for Best Supporting Actor Drama. This will not be repeated at the Emmys.
No Mad Men. At all. Which means it won’t be nominated during its last season.
Parks and Recreation is also missing. Even Amy Poehler. And we just don’t like that at all.
The awards ceremony will be held May 31 and broadcast live starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on A&E.
Best Drama Series
The Americans
Empire
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Homeland
Justified
Orange is the New Black
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Aden Young, Rectify
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Charlie Hunnam, Sons of Anarchy
Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Timothy Olyphant, Justified
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Keri Russell, The Americans
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Christopher Eccleston, The Leftovers
Craig T. Nelson, Parenthood
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Walton Goggins, Justified
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Carrie Coon, The Leftovers
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Joelle Carter, Justified
Katheryn Winnick, Vikings
Lorraine Toussaint, Orange is the New Black
Mae Whitman, Parenthood
Guest Performer in a Drama Series
Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder
Julianne Nicholson, Masters of Sex
Linda Lavin, The Good Wife
Lois Smith, The Americans
Sam Elliott, Justified
Walton Goggins, Sons of Anarchy
Best Comedy Series
Broad City
Jane the Virgin
Mom
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Veep
You’re the Worst
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, Blackish
Chris Messina, The Mindy Project
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Ilana Glazer, Broad City
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Adam Driver, Girls
Cameron Monaghan, Shameless
Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin
T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley
Titus Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tony Hale, Veep
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Allison Janney, Mom
Carrie Brownstein, Portlandia
Eden Sher, The Middle
Judith Light, Transparent
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Melanie Lynskey, Togetherness
Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series
Becky Ann Baker, Girls
Bradley Whitford, Transparent
Josh Charles, Inside Amy Schumer
Laurie Metcalf, The Big Bang Theory
Peter Gallagher, Togetherness
Susie Essman, Broad City
Best Movie Made for Television
Bessie
Killing Jesus
Nightingale
A Poet in New York
Stockholm, Pennsylvania
Best Limited Series
24: Live Another Day
American Crime
The Book of Negroes
The Honorable Woman
Olive Kitteridge
Wolf Hall
Best Actor in a Movie or Limited Series
David Oyelowo, Nightingale
James Nesbitt, The Missing
Kiefer Sutherland, 24: Live Another Day
Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall
Michael Gambon, The Casual Vacancy
Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series
Aunjanue Ellis, The Book of Negroes
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
Queen Latifah, Bessie
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Limited Series
Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
Cory Michael Smith, Olive Kitteridge
Elvis Nolasco, American Crime
Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Jason Isaacs, Stockholm, Pennsylvania
Jonathan Pryce, Wolf Hall
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series
Claire Foy, Wolf Hall
Cynthia Nixon, Stockholm, Pennsylvania
Janet McTeer, The Honorable Woman
Khandi Alexander, Bessie
Mo’Nique, Bessie
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show
Best Reality Series
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Deadliest Catch
Married at First Sight
MythBusters
Shark Tank
Undercover Boss
Best Reality Competition Series
The Amazing Race
America’s Got Talent
Dancing With the Stars
Face Off
MasterChef Junior
The Voice
Best Reality Show Host
Anthony Bourdain, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Betty White, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
James Lipton, Inside the Actors Studio
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Tom Bergeron, Dancing with the Stars
Best Animated Series
Archer
Bob’s Burgers
Gravity Falls
The Simpsons
South Park
Star Wars: Rebels
Best Talk Show
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The Graham Norton Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
OK, these award “thingies” are getting a bit dubious. The selection for all that is called “television” (misnomer, at best) is so vast that of course worthy work will be missed. It is simply roulette that Robin Wright, who will be Emmy-nommed, could be missed while worthy performers like Charlie Hunnam in Sons, Aunjanue Ellis/Book of Negroes and Winnick in Vikings, all of whom I adored this season but none of whom have a hope in hell at an Emmy nom, get selected here.
So the process comes off as strategic, like making sure every participant gets a star.
There is no way that any current awards structure can accommodate the bulk and wealth of material under the umbrella of “television”.
Time to evolve.