The drag queen legend is on the Emmy ballot in Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, and respect must be paid!
I remember the first time I ever saw Miss Coco Peru. In Jim Fall’s romantic comedy, Trick, Coco delivers a monologue in a gay bar restroom (we’ve all been there) to Christian Campbell’s pee shy Gabriel about why he shouldn’t go home with a hunky go-go boy. She delivers one of the most iconic lines ever uttered about hooking up that I still reference it to this day, but I will admit that I will never be able to match Coco’s cadence perfectly. I bring up this nearly 20 year old comedy to express my devotion to Miss Coco Peru and remind everyone that Clinton Leupp, Coco’s alter ego, is eligible for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for NBC’s Will & Grace.
Miss Coco only has one episode on the ballot (“Grace’s Secret”), and it’s one of the best of the season. While Grace makes an emotional breakthrough with her father, Will and Karen battle it out over who gets to be Jack’s best man. Miss Coco senses drama like twinks smell poppers in the air at Pride. “Conflict! We hate that here,” she says as her Cheshire grin curls on her face. As the bitch royale carries on throughout the evening, Coco doesn’t let us forget that she is attracted to Eric McCormack’s Will. “Who likes my second husband?” she asks the crowd when they have to applaud for their favorite.
If Emmy voters recognize Coco from that episode, they should do themselves a favor and check out the season finale, “Jack’s Big Gay Wedding,” because it showcases how well Miss Coco can land a funny line. When Jack and Estefan’s flight to Spain is canceled, they are forced to say ‘I do’ in an airport terminal and Miss Coco happens to be ordained. It’s worth noting that Leupp’s Miss Coco appeared briefly as Lawrence in season four’s “Moveable Feast” so his participation in NBC’s revival isn’t lost on hardcore Will & Grace fans.
Not to harp on the category placement, but character actors can sometimes get lost in this category because of the amount of people from Saturday Night Live. Since 2010, 16 men have been nominated for the Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy Award from the sketch show (coincidentally, 16 women have also been honored with nominations in the Guest Actress category from SNL). That doesn’t mean that those actors don’t put in the work, but Will & Grace used to be one of the best place for characters to get nominated for their guest work on the NBC sitcom. It would also be a really nice way to honor a drag legend who has been in the business for so long. Remember children–drag queens don’t just death drop and lip sync for their lives. Miss Coco is able to make us laugh with just a look or a tossing her trademark red hair back.
Miss Coco would be an inspired choice in this category. Guest actors should pop into an episode, pull the attention from the story (in a good way), and leave you wanting more. Miss Coco can emcee gay brunch or perform a wedding ceremony–under harsh lighting no less! There are many men up for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, but no one does it as fabulously as Miss Coco Peru. Nominate the man behind the drag!
Season 10 of Will & Grace is available on NBC.com.
