Emmy Nods 2014: Full List, First Impressions
Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 9:55AM The Emmy nominations have been announced for your viewing pleasure... unless your favorites were snubbed in which case here's the list to enrage you. Cable continues to ruthlessly dominate making things very hard for network shows - even hits like Scandal and The Good Wife. And Emmy proved again, as they often do, that they are very slow to change, largely embracing the same performers / shows they've always embraced as if they're only ever voting on the entirety of a show and not its current season.
I know people are very upset about Tatiana Maslany's ongoing snub for Orphan Black. She basically embarrasses every critic that's ever over-used the word "chameleon" to describe an actor; we should've saved the word for her. But this is not remotely surprising in any sense and I'm confused as to why so many people thought it might happen. The show is...
a) ...not on a prestigious network like HBO
b) ...a genre show and awards bodies from Oscar to Emmy only deign to honor those when they're insanely popular and never just because they're great or an actor is great on them.
c) ...filled with actors (including Tatiana) who are not well known in Hollywood.
d) ...not as good as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica and those genre shows were egregiously snubbed for YEARS despite endless enraged fanbases and critical pleas
COMEDY
Outstanding Comedy Series
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"Orange is the New Black"
"Silicon Valley"
"Veep"
With 30 Rock no longer eligible there was room for one new series but Emmy made room for two by dumping Girls. I'm rooting for Orange which is probably the only show popular enough to take down the Modern Family behemoth which ties Frasier for most comedy series wins ever if it wins again this fall.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Taylor Schilling, "Orange is the New Black"
With Laura Dern & Tina Fey no longer eligible there were two spots free. That brought McCarthy back (after one miss) and made room for newbie Schilling (they're voting on Season 1 of OITNB). So there's actually no true movement in this category. Expect JLD to win her third Veep statue unless Emmy goes all-in for Orange across the board.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Ricky Gervais, "Derek"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
William H. Macy, "Shameless"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
With Baldwin and Bateman no longer eligible there were two spots free, which allowed Gervais and Macy to enter the lineup. But no true movement in the category... though it is mildly annoying that Gervais is there since his show was not particularly well received from my understanding.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Allison Janney, "Mom"
Kate Mulgrew, "Orange is the New Black"
Kate McKinnon, "Saturday Night Live"
Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"
Last year this category had seven nominees (all but one of which, Jane Krakowski, were eligible again) but they were slightly less excitable this year and they're back to six with some small movement. Out went Vergara (Modern Family slightly less dominant in nominations this year) and Jane Lynch (inexplicably nominated again for Glee last year) and in went the two Kates and Allison Janney, an Emmy favorite winning two nominations for her two new shows (see also: Masters of Sex)
Who will win? It's actually quite competitive, right? Especially since this is the Emmy category that is the msot reliably surprising in terms of wins. Any guesses?
Girls fell somewhat in Emmy favor but Lena & Adam are still accounted for, bless their role-playing
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"
Adam Driver, "Girls"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Fred Armisen, "Portlandia"
Tony Hale, "Veep"
Not much movement with most of last year's field returning though in the sketch comedy realm Bill Hader had to fall away to make room for Fred Armisen and in the sitcom realm Ed O'Neill is gone to make room for Andre Braugher in the newbie Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Nathan Lane, "Modern Family"
Steve Buscemi, "Portlandia"
Jimmy Fallon, "Saturday Night Live"
Louis C.K., "Saturday Night Live"
Bob Newhart, "Arthur"
Gary Cole, "Veep"
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, "Orange is the New Black"
Laverne Cox, "Orange is the New Black"
Natasha Lyonne, "Orange is the New Black"
Tina Fey, "Saturday Night Live"
Melissa McCarthy, "Saturday Night Live"
Joan Cusack, "Shameless"
A sure sign that they love Orange is the New Black. As well they should though the Emmy rules DESPERATELY need intervention. You should not be allowed to be a "guest" actor if you are in every episode of a series. Hi Joan Cusack! Again.
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
"Episodes" -- "Episode 305" (David Crane)
"Louise" -- "So Did The Fat Lady" (Louis C.K.)
"Orange Is the New Black" -- "I Wasn't Ready" (Jenji Kohan and Liz Friedman)
"Silicon Valley" -- "Optimal Tip-To-Tip Efficiency" (Alec Berg)
"Veep" -- "Special Relationship" (Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche and Armando Iannucci)
It's standard procedure for new shows to enter their pilots for consideration but that looks weird here since Orange is the New Black's pilot is maybe its worst episode.
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
"Episodes" -- "Episode 309" (Iain B. MacDonald)
"Glee" -- "100" (Paris Barclay)
"Louis" -- "Elevator, Part 6" (Louis C.K.)
"Modern Family" -- "Vegas" (Gail Mancuso)
"Orange Is the New Black" -- "Lesbian Request Denied" (Jodie Foster)
"Silicon Valley" -- Minimum Viable Product" (Mike Judge)
Why is Glee still getting nominations? Who even watches that anymore? And also...
Just noticed JODIE FOSTER won her first nom for Directing. And for an ep. titled "Lesbian Request Denied" Sometimes life is perfect.
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) July 10, 2014
DRAMA
Outstanding Drama Series
"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"House of Cards"
"Mad Men"
"True Detective"
Very little movement despite most pundits believing that we had a major shake-up coming due to the long in the tooth nature of most of the shows and True Detective's gambit to compete here instead of Miniseries. That paid off. It's the only new nominee. The rest of the list repeats from last year with only Homeland falling away for that third season which really cratered with fans and critics.
Who will win? I'm genuinely torn between Breaking Bad one last time, True Detective or even Game of Thrones in a surprise since True Detective and Breaking Bad seem to court the exact same tastes. Though in truth the show I think deserved to win wasn't nominated (Masters of Sex)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Lizzy Caplan, "Masters of Sex"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
The only thing I cared about here was seeing Lizzy Caplan and there she is. I'm fine. I get your Maslany pain but Emmy/Oscar just don't do great genre performances.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Woody Harrelson, "True Detective"
Matthew McConaughey, "True Detective"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
This race was always going to be shaken up with the double True Detective nod (and I'm glad they're both nominated since Harrelson was marvelous and is was unjustly shut out of a lot of the early conversations because of The Year of McConaughey. To make room for both of them we lost Hugh Bonneville from Downton Abbey and former winner Damian Lewis from Homeland.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"
Lena Headey, "Game of Thrones"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"
The Usual Suspects. They've all been here before with the sole exception of Lena Headey who wins her first nomination in her fourth season on Game of Thrones; It pays to not be killed off!
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Josh Charles, "The Good Wife"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan"
The only newcomer is Oscar winner Jon Voight but he's not new to Emmy. He has been nominated twice before in miniseries categories. Otherwise the only movement is Josh Charles returning for his second nomination for The Good Wife after a couple of years away from the shortlist.
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Dylan Baker, "The Good Wife"
Reg E. Cathey, "House of Cards"
Paul Giamatti, "Downton Abbey"
Robert Morse, "Mad Men"
Beau Bridges, "Masters of Sex"
Joe Morton, "Scandal"
If Robert Morse doesn't win this award I am going to be... no, I can't even think about it. It's too painful to think about however likely a loss is since Emmy has a policy of voting against Mad Men actors.
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Kate Burton, "Scandal"
Jane Fonda, "The Newsroom"
Allison Janney, "Masters of Sex"
Kate Mara, "House of Cards"
Margo Martindale, "The Americans"
Diane Rigg, "Game of Thrones"
Alison Janney is a true marvel on Masters of Sex, layered, soulful, sad, sexy, confused... but again... Emmy really needs to look at rules about what constitutes "Guest" versus "Supporting" since she's one of the show's major categories.
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
"Breaking Bad" -- "Ozymandias" (Moira Walley-Beckett)
"Breaking Bad" -- Felina" (Vince Gilligan)
"Game of Thrones" -- "The Children" (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss)
"House of Cards" -- "Chapter 14" (Beau Willimon)
"True Detective" -- "The Secret Fate of All Life" (Nic Pizzolatto)
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
"Boardwalk Empire" -- Farewell Daddy Blues" (Tim Van Patten)
"Breaking Bad' -- "Felina" (Vince Gilligan)
"Downton Abbey" -- "Episode 1" (David Evans)
"Game Of Thrones" -- "The Watchers on the Wall" (Neil Marshall)
"House Of Cards" -- "Chapter 14" (Carl Franklin)
"True Detective" -- "Who Goes There" (Cary Joji Fukunaga)
The absence of Mad Men in the writing/directing categories does not bode well for its Emmy futures as it nears its end. Yes yes it won the drama series prize repeatedly at first but otherwise and quite strangely Emmy mistreated it.
The Silver Lining I'm hoping for if Mad Men comes up empty is that Breaking Bad also comes up empty somehow and TV learns to stop splitting seasons in half. It is O-B-N-O-X-I-U-S and anti-viewer.
MOVIE/MINISERIES
Outstanding Miniseries
"American Horror Story: Coven"
"Bonnie & Clyde"
"Fargo"
"Luther"
"The White Queen"
"Treme"
Outstanding Television Movie
"Killing Kennedy"
"Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight"
"The Normal Heart"
"Sherlock: His Last Vow"
"The Trip to Bountiful"
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Coven"
Sarah Paulson, "American Horror Story: Coven"
Helena Bonham Carter "Burton and Taylor"
Minnie Driver "Return to Zero"
Kristen Wiig, "The Spoils of Babylon"
Cicely Tyson, "The Trip to Bountiful"
As TFE readers know I am a huge Sarah Paulson fan. That said I think her nomination for Coven is very strange since its the first time the show's giving her a lame duck character who had very little dramatic oomph.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Chiwetel Ejifor, "Dancing on the Edge"
Martin Freeman, "Fargo"
Billy Bob Thornton, "Fargo"
Idris Elba, "Luther"
Benedict Cumberbatch, "Sherlock"
Mark Ruffalo, "Normal Heart"
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Angela Bassett, "AHS: Coven"
Kathy Bates, "AHS: Coven"
Frances Conroy, "AHS: Coven"
Ellen Burstyn, "Flowers in the Attic"
Julia Roberts, "The Normal Heart"
Alison Tolman, "Fargo"
Coven party in the house. Thrilled to see those nominations and it's also hilarious that Emmy keeps nominated Burstyn even after that 6 second fiasco nomination some years back in which they proved they don't actually watch the shows they're voting on.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Colin Hanks, "Fargo"
Martin Freeman, "Sherlock: His Last Vow"
Jim Parsons, "The Normal Heart"
Joe Mantello, "The Normal Heart"
Alfred Molina, "The Normal Heart"
Matt Bomer, "The Normal Heart"
They should probably rename this category "Outstanding Anyone but Taylor Kitsch" Or, as I tweeted...
Is there no end to Taylor Kitsch's penance for "Battleship". First "John Carter" and now ONLY "Normal Heart" cast member snubbed?
— Nathaniel Rogers (@nathanielr) July 10, 2014
To be fair Jonathan Groff was also not nominated but he died super fast after that telltale cough in the opening scene and Emmy does not (YET) have a category for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. His role was basically to cough and die and while that would be more than enough to get Ellen Burstyn nominated for something Jonathan Groff is not yet in that Great Lady realm of performers who just have to show up. But I sincerely hope he was singing Funny Girl numbers between takes...
♪ Now, can't you see to look at me
That I'm a natural Camille?
As Camille I just feel
I've so much to offer.
Listen kid, I know I'd be divine because
I'm a natural cougher.
[Coughs]
Some ain't got it-not a lump,
I'm a great big clump of talent! ♫
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
"American Horror Story: Coven" (Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk)
"Fargo" (Noah Hawley)
"Luther" (Neil Cross)
"Sherlock: His Last Vow" (Steven Moffat)
"The Normal Heart" (Larry Kramer)
"Treme" (David Simon & Eric Overmyer)
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
"American Horror Story: Coven" (Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)
"Fargo" (Adam Bernstein)
"Fargo" (Colin Bucksey)
"Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight" (Stephen Frears)
"The Normal Heart" (Ryan Murphy)
"Sherlock: His Last Vow" (Nick Hurran)
VARIETY
Outstanding Variety Series
"Jimmy Kimmel Live"
"Real Time With Bill Maher"
"Saturday Night Live"
"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
"The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon"
Outstanding Variety Special
"AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Mel Brooks"
"The Beatles: The Night That Changed America"
"Best Of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Primetime Special"
"Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays"
"The Kennedy Center Honors"
"Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles"
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
"Inside Amy Schumer" (several)
"Key & Peele" (several)
"Portlandia" (several)
"The Colbert Report" (several)
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (several)
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (several)
Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
"67th Tony Awards" (Dave Boone & Paul Greenberg)
"Beatles: Night That Changed America" (Ken Ehrlich & David Wild)
"Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays" (Billy Crystal)
"Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles" (Sarah Silverman)
"71st Golden Globe Awards (several)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
"Portlandia" (Jonathan Krisel)
"Saturday Night Live" (Don Roy King)
"The Colbert Report" (James Hoskinson)
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (Chuck O'Neil)
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (David Diomedi)
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
"67th Tony Awards" (Glenn Weiss)
"Beatles: Night That Changed America" (Gregg Gelfand)
"Six by Sondheim" (James Lapine)
"The Kennedy Center Honors" (Louis J Horvitz)
"The Oscars" (Hamis Hamilton)
"The Sound of Music Live!" (Beth McCarthy Miller & Rob Ashford)
REALITY
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
"The Amazing Race"
"Dancing with the Stars"
"Project Runway"
"So You Think You Can Dance"
"Top Chef"
"The Voice"
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
"Antiques Roadshow"
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"
"MythBusters"
"Shark Tank"
"Undercover Boss"
"Who Do You Think You Are?"
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
"Alaska: The Last Frontier"
"Deadliest Catch"
"Flipping Out"
"Million Dollar Listing New York"
"Wahlburgers"
"Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan"
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
Betty White, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"
Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With The Stars"
Jane Lynch, "Hollywood Game Night"
Heidi Klum & Tim Gunn, "Project Runway"
Cat Deeley, "So You Think You Can Dance"
Anthony Bourdain, "The Taste"
I know RuPaul aint got time for that (and easily outclasses the competition) but think of how awesome his gown would be if they nominated him?
MISCELLANIA
The Emmys actually make it quite difficult to get a full copy and paste list (they're very Grammy like in that way and also for the sheer amount of categories) so if you'd like to see all their nominees the easiest way is not easy... it's kind of a click through situation at their website... They have it all in word and pdf format (supposedly) but I've been having downloading trouble with their site. There are approximately 67 more technical categories including multiples of many of the tech categories (for example, Cinematography gets 5 different competitive fields) but the important thing to note here is that Mad Men is back where it belongs in Outstanding Costume Design. Impossibly and unfortunately and tragically and annoyingly television's best costumed show (Janie Bryant is a genius, full stop) does not win nominations every year in this category and it has yet to win the Emmy here.
Reader Comments (59)
Dear Elisabeth Moss,
You were the best this season.
Sincerely,
Peggy Sue
Lizzy Caplan got nominated. I'm happy. That's all. Don't care about rest. She gave the best performance I watched on TV last year, male, female, comedy, drama. She broke hearts and mended them right back within the same hour. Real meaning of "outstanding".
Is it just me or is nominations ALL 5 women from American Horror Story: Coven a bit excessive? lol
2 leads (Paulson, Lange)
3 supporting (Bassett, Bates, Conroy)
dang!!
...and BOOOOOOOOOO to no RuPaul again :(
I've given up hope that will ever happen.
Meanwhile the stale and bland Project Runway's umpteenth rendition continues to get it. B.S.!
KAAATE MCKINNOOOONNNNNN!!!!!!
She's the most brilliant thing on TV this decade. What hyperbole? I'm only stating fact.
I haven't been this excited about a comic actress since roughly Lisa Kudrow. While I never want her to leave SNL, I can't wait to see her in movies.
I never would've seen this nomination coming but so glad she's getting recognition. Gah! I can't believe it's the Emmys and I'm this excited.
Otherwise I'm all for an Orange Is the New Sweep. I do worry that Taylor Schilling's scary, carefully layered genius gets a bit lost amidst the hype over that fabulous ensemble but what an ensemble.
Much as I love Cox as an icon-in-the-making, I do find that performance just the tiniest tad uneven (whenever she's with her son, she tends to resort to that one Young and the Restless face expression). I would've preferred Yael Stone getting in there instead. But still, can't complain too much a bout that category's lineup.
Over in the drama side of things, I'm generally all about Mad Men, and I haven't loved this new season any less than the others (and yay Christina Hendricks! Another person I worry gets a bit overlooked, at least as far as her acting is concerned). Six Feet Under aside, it's probably my favourite TV drama ever but that last batch of episodes from Breaking Bad was just astounding. So I'd personally struggle to settle on a vote in that category.
I still can't bring myself to watch True Detective. I'm just generally over crime shows (they're to TV what superheroes are to the movies at the moment) and all the mysogyny claims have really put me off.
I know The Good Wife isn't popular on this site, but the fact it didn't get nominated for this season is an outrage! This season was one of the best seasons of television I've seen, and rivalled Breaking Bad for top place on my charts. And no writing or directing for "Hitting The Fan"! I can't believe it! And yes, I've watched every show that got nominated, and The Good Wife deserves to be in!
Ryan -- Amen
Very happy for Adam Driver, Lena Dunham, Lizzy Caplan and Kate Mulgrew. Also happy for Allison Janney despite the category fraud.
Wait! Isn't Fred Armisen the lead in Portlandia?
Jon Hamm--they're just fucking with him. They just want him to show up at the Emmys in a manly, manly beard. He has lost when he was the only actor in the field to do truly breathtaking work. Now he's up against McConnaughey and everyone else can just stay home. There are actors who will never approach, in entire careers, his work in a single hour of TV, but fuck it, Emmy doesn't love him.
Mad Men is going to get shut out again. No writing or directing nominations for Mad Men means they really don't get it and don't want to.
Allison Janney in Masters of Sex. These categories have been so trivial in the past, but crowning that performance is VERY IMPORTANT.
Deborah - right? It's actually disgusting at this point. I keep hoping they'll pull a Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights last season win for him but then I remember that that was miraculous because it was so exceedingly rare. It probably won't happen again in my lifetime.
I'm glad Lizzy Caplan and Allison Janney got nods but no Michael Sheen? That's just wrong
Supp. Actor Mini or Movie: Even though he certainly is "the bomb," Matt's name is spelled "Bomer."
Yay for OITNB, but why guest actors noms? I guess they had to put them somewhere. And double yay for writing! Great for Baranski in TGW and finally, Poehler in Parks and Rec! And yay for Margo Martindale for The Americans. She should just be a guest star in everything.
Agree with Ryan about TGW's best season, so too bad about nom.
Why o why is anyone from Downton Abbey still being nominated? It was the WORST season.
I agree Michael Sheen should have been nominated. He was way better than Daniels and Spacey.
The Emmys are a joke, with series regulars competing as "guest" actors, ongoing series nominated as miniseries, miniseries nomianted as drama series, multiple legacy nominations that have nothing to do with their actual work in the actual voting period. They're like the Golden Globes but worse. It's not even worth celebrating the handful of good, on point, celebration worthy nominations because there's just so much bullshit to wade through the get there.
john smith - LOL. thanks for the typo catch. that's what i get for typing fast but curse Emmy for not making it easy with a copy and paste template.
everyone -- Masters of Sex was, i personally think, the deserving best Drama Series winner this year but weirdly I think Michael Sheen is its weak link so i don't mind the omission that much.
roark -- sadly, that's very true. Legacy noms are a real problem. The strange thing is I thought the Emmys were now decided based on nominating committees? but maybe that's not true. Anyway there are SO MANY TV SHOWS that I think Emmy really ought to make the voting on nominations super restrictive so we could get more fluctuating awards each year. They desperaately need a kind of blue ribbon panel situation that Oscar gave themselves with foreign film.
It can't feel good to be Emmy Rossum. After all of the shuffling they did to try and convince people that the series was a comedy (that comedy actress roundtable with Emmy Rossum having to be juxtaposed with Mindy Kaling and other actual comedic actresses to talk about what was possibly the most dramatic and harrowing season for the character she played) and they still ended up with not much more than they usually end up with--new edition William H. Macy, Joan Cusack who's a mainstay and nothing else. I love "Shameless". I think it's a great, underrated gem of a show that handles the large sibling family dynamic excellently. But I hope this is a lesson to not try and game awards campaigning so transparently. At a certain point, let the work speak for itself, let the chips fall where they may and accept that a series or a performer may not be the Emmys cup of tea. After being so misused, underused, and...not very good in so many movies, Emmy Rossum finally found a role that's at once against-type casting and somehow seems tailor made for her and she's doing (I'd argue) the best work of any dramatic actress on television. It's a shame the Emmys won't give love to Emmy.
I am very much in a good mood this mood though when I read that an openly transgender actress (and a pretty great one at that) has been nominated for a major acting award. This is awesome. This is huge. Especially coming on the heels of so many in the transgender community feeling invisible and overlooked by the casting of/praise heaped upon Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club. This is a big deal. I'm so happy for her.
The OITNB ladies in guest actress have to be worried about vote-splitting (Cox and Aduba even submitted the same episode, so anybody watching to evaluate their performances will be doing it at the same time).
FRANCES CONROY!!!
The undeniably MVP of Coven. The actress Gods are smiling down on Conroy today.
I know that The Sound of Music Live was a bit a mess...
BUT I was hoping to see Laura Benanti and/or Audra McDonald nominated...
Happy about the Coven ladies, Kate McKinnon, Lena Headey instead of Emilia Clarke
Bummed about Keri Russell missing again, no nominations for Looking / Jonathan Groff / Lauren Weedman, no RuPaul AGAIN
Ms. Jessica. Lange. Goddess.
It's great to see a few new faces, but come on...how long do we have to wait until Eden Sher gets a nom for The Middle? And Jonny Lee Miller is so good on Elementary. Where's the love?
If Modern Family wins this year, I believe it's tied with Frasier for most consecutive wins--5-- for a comedy show...and right out of the gate too.
EMBARRASING. The Oscars always get so much criticism for being drawn to bait/buzz but the Emmys are truly THE WORST. And this year is especially RIDICULOUS.
Buzzy shows? Nowhere to be seen. Let's then nominate AGAIN Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey and keep on with the Modern Family love. Gah.
You're right about Tatiana Maslany but still... I know you're biased towards Whedonverse (Buffy, Dollhouse) and yes they should have been nominated but to me this thing is more on the side of The Wire. I get they don't watch Orphan Black but do they read? Every TV critic I follow has been beating the drum for her for the last six months... Plus she won Critics Choice AGAIN. Hmm, Academy, take a hint.
This is crazy. I'm not even going to debate The Good Wife getting ignored in Drama. It's too much.
As for your question on SUPPORTING ACTRESS COMEDY:
From what I hear and from what I've seen: ALLISON JANNEY has this in the bag. The character is solid, it's a Chuck Lorre comedy, they LOVE Janney and any of her MAIN episodes is stellar.
She's winning two actually; Guest Actress Drama for Masters of Sex is hers to lose, too.
"Hannibal" is the biggest snub for me. Not even in the technical categories! It's one of the most haunting, gorgeous shows on TV right now. Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen are aces!
I am furious about the sub for The Good Wife. If anything, it shows the Emmys like something, then move on and it doesn't really matter if the show's good or not. Ryan, Hitting the Fan wasn't up for Writing - they went with The Last Call and could only get one. I thought TLC was a masterpiece but... ugh.
Happy for Laverne Cox. Poor RuPaul. Happy for Lena Headey, but yikes, that picture reminds me why it's weird she made it in for this season. Still, she's been one of the best actors throughout the show's run (MUCH better than Clarke, IMHO).
Breaking Bad is winning, no contest. I figured Modern Family's competition was Veep, but OITNB would be an interesting pick. McConaughey vs. Cranston, Wright vs. Margulies. My instinct on Comedy Supporting Actress is Bialik (building momentum over the years) vs. Janney (they adore her) but it's anyone's game.
Taryn Manning: robbed.
Not to be that guy, but you need to edit the variety section. There are two categories, one for Variety Series and one for Reality-Competition Series, which you seem to have mixed together and left some off. The only reason I bring this up is because this is the first place I looked for the nominees, and you had me thinking that both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report had been snubbed, which would have been the most shocking thing from this year's nominees by far.
The lack of love for THE AMERICANS continues to astound me, even though it probably shouldn't. It's seriously one of the best dramas on TV now, if not *the* best. And I defy anyone to show me better work than what Matthew Rhys has been doing on it.
And the Downton nods are just sheer laziness. The acting is still good, but the show itself? It's never been anything more than a glorified soap (admittedly a pretty entertaining one at times), and the most recent season was atrocious.
Oh, and happy for Frances Conroy. As my friend put it "She deserves the Emmy just for yelling BALENCIAGA while being burned at the stake, which is exactly what I would say."
Lea Delaria for ORANGE: Robbed.
Edwin -- thanks. I'll blame HuffPo or The Wrap or whatever as well as the Emmys for not making this easy to cut and paste so my post was an amalgam of three sources plus my own typing. I APPRECIATE THE NOTE. FIXED.
eurocheese -- that will make me so sad if BREAKING BAD wins. Not because the show isn't worthy but because it will encourage TV to keep breaking up final seasons and that's so anti-viewer and has already had such a deleterious effect on television. Mad Men's final season was buliding up such great momentum and now that's killed.
TOM -- and Lea is actually a "guest" since she's not in every episode.
I honestly cannot take seriously any award for which the rules for consideration are so fast and loose. "American Horror Story" is not a miniseries. Period. As for the guest acting categories, it used to be that a performer had to appear less than 25 percent of a season (fewer than 6 of the 24 episodes in a traditional season) in order to submit there. What happened? Why are three of the programs nominated as best variety series also represented in the competition category, and if there is going to be that much overlap, then why have both? I'm vexed by all of this.
Television is such a behemoth of styles, platforms etc that the Emmys need to restructure themselves to match. Network (22 eps) should not be up against cable (as few as 8 eps). The demands are so different. Based on quality, The Good Wife should be at the top of the heap. Based on demand of production, it leaves everyone else in the last century on every level.
Tatiana Maslany proves once again that the Emmy nom committee has their collective head up their collective ass (I agree with your reasoning, Nat, of why it was snubbed, but......).
And the massive category fraud of what constitutes a mini-series, drama, movie.........
Noms I am excited about--Kate McKinnon-SNL, Brilliance.
Supporting Actress Drama--
TROY -- that variety/competition thing was a typing / copypaste mistake. i got two categories jumbled. but yes there are a lot of weird things about rules. and when the rules are so non-existent it does call the validity of the whole thing into question.
Henry -- i agree that restructuring is necessary but I like the idea of doing away with comedy and drama and basing it on half hour vs hour programming as some actual TV creators have suggested. all the best dramas have a sense of humor and all the best comedies have dramatic soul so it seems silly to pretend differently.
I'm sorry, WHY isn't The Good Wife's "Hitting The Fan" all over these nominations?!? Best hour of TV all year, BAR NONE (sorry, Breaking Bad, which I just finished and, WOW). This was left off the Best Drama category for freaking Downton Abbey (which was much better this season but still...)?!?!?!
Most disappointed at the lack of Hannibal (which, whatever else you want to say about it, is impeccably acted and perfectly shot) and The Americans. Sad about Masters of Sex's snub in Drama Series (it's only behind Good Wife and Hannibal for me), but the acting nods make me happy. And RuPaul. #dragtheemmys
It also sucks that the maneuvering of Shameless got William H. Macy a nomination but Emmy Rossum, who had several episodes which showcased the best work of her career (and some of the best work on TV) got zip, because she was IN A DRAMA.
Also, all the Emmys belong to Orange is the New Black, and Frances Conroy on Coven. BALENCIAGAAAAAAA!
What Peggy Sue said in the first comment. It's just the truth.
They might as well have nominated "Finding Bigfoot" in every Reality category because they are all just jokes. What's next? The Duggars? Oy to the vey,
I love the love for Veep, but the no love for Timothy Simons makes me sad.
"though it is mildly annoying that Gervais is there since his show was not particularly well received from my understanding."
No one watches 'Derek' but those who do appreciate its warmth and humanity. In today's culture of snark and cynicism, it's refreshing for 'Derek' to be so earnest, and I'm glad it was honored.
That being said, it's not really a comedic role for Gervais, so I'm wondering if they even watched the show..
Can we talk about how amazing it is that Laverne Cox is now an Emmy Award-nominated actress? I actually want Uzo Aduba to win because she's perfection as Crazy Eyes, but a Laverne Cox win would not disappoint me.
The disappointment is no love for Pennsyltucky in Orange is the New Black. That's the work of the devil.
I call BS on the "unstructured reality series" category. No reality show is really unstructured; an ATM machine video camera is unstructured.
the nom I am most disappointed not to see is Dean Norris for Breaking Bad. He has built a great character over the years and had some powerful moments in the final season.
I LOSE MY SHIT!
NO THE GOOD WIFE, and they still nominated downton abbey!!!
Holy mother YES!
Since long I have predicted Lena Headey, instead mother of dragons.
Noecitos -- Oh, thanks! Clearly, we're a minority. I thought everyone was going to be furious here!
I also think Janney is winning both awards. She's fantastic in Mom. I've been watching recaps and it's better than I expected. Nathaniel, I would recommend it to you -Octavia Spenser and Mimi Kennedy are regulars- but it has laugh track so I won't even dare.
P.S. To think that someone can watch Robert Morse's final scene in Mad Men and not vote for him makes me so depressed.
Epic tweets, by the way.
Matt Bomer better freakin win this
3 thinks:
1-AMY POEHLER NEEDS TO WIN AN EMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-I am sooooooooo happy that Kirsten Wiig got nominated 'cause she was SOOOOOOOOO funny in a thing that nobody saw... WATCH IT SHE IS HILARIOUS (It's called "Spoiledl of Babylon"
3-Frances Fisher I : B-A-L-A-N-C-H-I-A-A-A-FINALY-WIN-AN-EMMY....
The snubbing of Bellamy Young for Scandal will have me drinking for days.