Emmy Noms 2015 ~ Drama/MiniSeries, First Impressions
Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 1:02PM 
Emmy Awards will be held on Sept 20th this yearYou've surely already read Team Experience Dream Drama Ballots so you'll know that for many of us Emmy Nomination morning can be a Waking Nightmare. For all the talk of "The Golden Age" of television, there's precious little evidence of that in what is essentially the official industry record each year. "But these are high quality shows!" You protest. Well, yes but...
Even if you accept as the gospel truth that all of the Emmy nominees are of high quality, a true golden wouldn't support a great deal of repetition. A true golden age would suggest such a high level of quality in the competitive pool that the nomination shortlists in each category would be quite volatile from year to year with slight or major dips or rises in quality for entire shows and individual characters reflected in dozens of different names and titles in the Emmy categories causing a revolving door effect rather than a copy and paste effect with some people popping up sporadically, others once and never again, etcetera. This is rarely if ever the case with Emmy. Once you're in the list you tend to stay in, screw the merits of individual episodes, character arcs or seasons that are officially in play. Hence no Golden Age... at least not according to Emmy. Maybe they'll catch up sometime? Yet with their darling Breaking Bad off the air, last year's disruptive force True Detective ineligible (no new episodes during the eligibility period), and Orange is the New Black forced to switch from comedy to this category by the Academy itself, changes were practically forced upon the Emmy voting body.
Did it free up their thinking? Let's find out. The nominee list with first impression commentary after the jump...
DRAMA
Outstanding Drama Series
"Better Call Saul" (1st season. 1st nomination)
"Downton Abbey" (5th season. 5th nomination... though the first was in another category)
"Game of Thrones" (5th season. 5th nomination)
"Homeland" (4th season. 3rd nomination)
"House of Cards" (3rd season. 3rd nomination)
"Mad Men" (8th season. 8th nomination... 7½ whatever)
"Orange is the New Black" (2nd season. 2nd nomination... though the first was in another category)
Similarity to Last Year: 4/7 or 5/7 if you count Better Call Saul as Breaking Bad (I do) or 6/7 if you count Orange's Comedy nod last year (I do). Collectively these series have been on for 28 seasons and nominated for 27 of those.
Surprise That Isn't Remotely A Surprise: Homeland returning. Game of Thrones not being effected by all the Rape Exploitation complaints.
Sorry About It: Despite enormous ratings or acclaim for Empire and The Americans respectively, they couldn't crack this constantly sealed off category.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Danes, "Homeland" (4 noms in 4 seasons - 2 additional nominations and 3 wins in total)
Viola Davis, "How To Get Away With Murder" (1st nomination, 1st season)
Taraji P Henson, "Empire" (1st nomination, 1st season)
Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black" (1st nom, 3rd season)
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" (6th nom in 8 seasons as this character, 1 additional nomination)
Robin Wright, "House of Cards" (3rd nom in 3 seasons)
Similarity to Last Year: 2/6. Caplan, Dockery, Washington, and Marguiles are all out for newbie sensations Henson & Davis, their on/off affection for Moss and...
Biggest Surprise: Tatiana Maslany finally securing a nod for the third season of her incredible multiple character performance in Orphan Black.
Sorry About It: Lizzy Caplan continued to be utterly brilliant in Masters of Sex but the show's second season proved a distant memory for voters.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler, "Bloodline" (1st season... 3 previous nominations and 1 win)
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom" (3 noms for 3 seasons, 1 win)
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" (8th nom for 8 seasons, 7 additional noms other categories)
Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul" (1st nom, 1st season - 7 noms/2 wins in other categories)
Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan" (1st nom, 2nd season - 1 previous nomination)
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards" (3rd nom for 3 seasons, 4 additional noms in other categories)
Similarity To Last Year: 3/6 but hilarious all three drop-offs were not even eligible this year so again Emmy only changed when they were forced to.
Sorry About It: Despite a vastly improved performance in the second season, there's no Michael Sheen for Masters of Sex here.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Uzo Aduba, "Orange is the New Black" (2nd nom for 2nd season, previously Guest Actress which she won)
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife" (6th nom in 6 seasons, 8 noms/1 win previously for other work)
Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones" (2nd nom in 5 seasons)
Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey" (3rd nomination in 5 seasons)
Lena Headey, "Game of Thrones" (2nd nomination in 5 seasons)
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" (6th nomination in 8 seasons)
Similarity to Last Year: 4/6. Previous winners Maggie Smith and Anna Gunn (the latter no longer eligible) dropped off to make room for Uzo Aduba (expected) and Emilia Clarke again (unexpected). Despite the fact that Clarke is hardly the most lauded actor on her show and this is arguably the single most competitive category with endless impressive possibilities. Seems that voters really do only watch 10 shows.
Sorry About It: The incredible female casts of The Leftovers and Orange is the New Black who were all left out but for Aduba
Bloodline is a very bro-centric show. So 2 of the 3 bros were its nominees
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, "Better Call Saul" (2nd nomination for this character, 3rd overall)
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey" (4th nomination for this character in 5 seasons)
Alan Cumming "The Good Wife" (3rd nomination for this recurring character - once in guest character)
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" (5th nomination in 5 seasons for this character, 1 win)
Michael Kelly, "House of Cards" (1st nomination for 3rd season as this character)
Ben Mendelsohn, "Bloodline" (1st nomination, 1st season)
Similarity to Last Year: 2/6, though of the 4 "new" players, only one is "New" in all ways - Ben Mendehlson
Sorry About It: Matt Czuchry who got plentiful 'best he's ever been' notices but remains the one key Good Wife actor never nominated. Too many others to mention.
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
F Murray Abraham, "Homeland"
Alan Alda, "The Blacklist"
Beau Bridges, "Masters of Sex"
Reg E. Cathey, "House of Cards"
Michael J Fox, "The Good Wife"
Pablo Schreiber, "Orange is the New Black"
Similarities to Last Year: 2/6... though some were no longer eligible due to new very smart rule: if you're in more than 50% of the episodes you can't be considered a "Guest" anymore.
Pleasant Surprise: The men from Orange never get any credit so Pablo's nomination surprises
Playing the leading character's mom is a good way to get nominated in this category.
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Khandi Alexander, "Scandal"
Rachel Brosnahan, "House of Cards"
Allison Janney, "Masters of Sex"
Margo Martindale, "The Americans"
Diane Rigg, "Game of Thrones"
Cicely Tyson, "How to Get Away With Murder"
Similarities to Last Year: 3/6.
The Americans
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
"The Americans" - "Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep" (Joshua Brand)
"Better Call Saul" - "Five-O" (Gordon Smith)
"Game of Thrones" - "Mother's Mercy" (David Benioff & DB Weiss)
"Mad Men" - "Lost Horizon" (Semi Chellas & Matthew Weiner)
"Mad Men" - "Person to Person" (Matthew Weiner)
Are They Really Doing It: These plentiful nominations do suggest that they want to send Mad Men off in style
Surprise: The American's cant crack that impenetrable Best Drama field but at least they were honored for writing.
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
"Boardwalk Empire" -- "Eldorado" (Tim Van Patten)
"Game Of Thrones" -- "Mother's Mercy" (David Nutter)
"Game of Thrones" -- "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken" (Jeremy Podeswa)
"Homeland" - "From A to B and Back Again" (Lesli Linka Glatter)
"The Knick" -- "Method and Madness" (Steven Soderbergh)
Surprise: Interesting that Boardwalk and The Knick managed nominations here despite little love elsewhere
MOVIE/MINISERIES
Outstanding Miniseries
"American Crime"
"American Horror Story: Freak Show"
"Olive Kitteridge"
"The Honorable Woman"
"Wolf Hall"
Outstanding Television Movie
"Agatha Christie's Poirot: Curtain, Poirot's Last Case"
"Bessie"
"Grace of Monaco"
"Hello Ladies: The Movie"
"Killing Jesus"
"Nightingale"
Surprise: After a year of critical ridicule, Grace of Monaco got a last laugh with an Emmy nomination in its category
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Honourable Woman"
Felicity Huffman, "American Crime"
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Freakshow"
Queen Latifah "Bessie"
Frances McDormand "Olive Kitteridge"
Emma Thompson "Sweeney Todd: Live From Lincoln Center"
Surprise: Is this the best category?
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Adrien Brody, "Houdini"
Ricky Gervais, "Derek Special"
Timothy Hutton, "American Crime"
Richard Jenkins, "Olive Kitteridge"
David Oyelowo, "Nightingale"
Mark Rylance, "Wolf Hall"
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Angela Bassett, "AHS: Freakshow"
Kathy Bates, "AHS: Freakshow"
Regina King, "American Crime"
Mo'Nique "Bessie"
Sarah Paulson, "AHS: Freakshow"
Zoe Kazan, "Olive Kitteridge"
Breaking: Category to be renamed Official American Horror Story Placeholder Category. Paulson really outdid herself this year so perhaps she'll finally have a crack at the statue?
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Richard Cabral, "American Crime"
Denis O'Hare, "AHS: Freakshow"
Damian Lewis, "Wolf Hall"
Bill Murray, "Olive Kitteridge"
Michael Kenneth Williams, "Bessie"
Finn Wittrock, "AHS: Freakshow"
FINN WITTROCK. THAT IS ALL. EEEEEEEE.
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
"American Crime" - Episode One (John Ridley)
"Bessie" - (multiple)
"Hello Ladies: The Movie" (multiple)
"The Honourable Woman" (Hugo Blick)
"Olive Kitteridge" (Jane Anderson)
"Wolf Hall" (Peter Straughan)
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
"American Horror Story: Freakshow" - "Monsters Among Us" (Ryan Murphy)
"Bessie" (Dee Rees)
"The Honourable Woman" (Hugo Blick)
"Houdini" (Uli Edel)
"The Missing" (Tom Shankland)
"Olive Kitteridge" (Lisa Cholodenko)
"Wolf Hall" (Peter Kosminsky)
MISCELLANIA
There are approximately 67 more technical categories (The Emmys are nearly as robust as the Grammys with minutae) including multiples of many of the tech categories (for example, Cinematography gets 5 different competitive fields). We'll single some of those out in later posts but for now if you're interested, go to the official Emmy site.
Reader Comments (47)
How is GRACE OF MONACO nominated for Best Made for TV Movie???!
It wasn't MADE for TV? lol
The Emmy nom lists always feels so incestuous. But having said that.... FINN WITTROCK!!!
Grace of Monaco is up against an adaptation of a Bill O'Reilly book, so I wouldn't get too excited about it.
I cannot believe they forgot to nominate Maggie Smith. That seems like such a weak category... except for Christina Hendricks. Does she actually have a chance?
I didn't expect them to nominate The Americans, so I'm not really disappointed that it didn't turn up today. That said, it was lame to nominate Margo Martindale, who did nothing for that nomination, over the fantastic Lois Smith, in guest actress. It's nice seeing Joshua Brand, who has been around since St. Elsewhere, nominated for writing, though.
Happy for Chandler and Mendelsohn noms, "Bloodline" isn't quite a great show but the performances, all of them, are great. Disappointed by the lack of award love for Cardellini but used to it (which is additionally disappointing). Also happy for the nom for Niecy Nash, I haven't actually seen "Getting On" but she is always hilarious and some precious little new blood to the Emmys.
I'm in shock that they snubbed January Jones.
Although I agree This wasnt game of thrones best season, the show is still very very very good. The Walk of shame sequence was simply unforgettable and no television event this year-not even Caitlin jenner or draper's farewell- caused as much online comotion and buzz as jon snow's deste. The Battle of hardhorne was incredible. Its production values are very strong, art direction is breathtaking, Well written, Well acted, Well directed.
That being said, They didnt know what to do with Dorne.
And it gets a bit waaaaaaaay too disturbing sometimes (burning shireen, boltons always getting Their way, human Nature always at its worst"
Boo on the best supporting actress category. I would've had Mulgrew, Toussaint and Jones over the GoT gals and Froggat!
My first observation when I saw the complete list was that I have never in all of my life seen a year in which blackness was as represented as it is this year in the nominations, especially actresses who've been underappreciated for so long (Regina King, Khandi Alexander). Wow.
Lead Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie is filled with nothing but Oscar winners and nominees, most of whom have either won or been nominated for Emmys before. I mean, does it get any better than that?
As much as I want Henson to win for Empire, I think it would be criminal for Moss to walk away from Mad Men having never been awarded.
I want Mo'Nique to win in her category for one reason: her speech.
hahahahaha.... Adrien Brody's nomination for Houdini! I watched all 5 million hours of it. It was just so terrible but at the same time weirdly watchable, it reminded me of Elizabeth: The Golden Age in that way. I think instead of watching the submissions in Movies/Miniseries, voters just tick every actor they've heard of who's on the list.
Seriously though my fave nomination is Khandi Alexander for Scandal. I love that performance. And she was also great in Treme.
Don't like Game of Thrones hogging most of the single-camera cinematography noms, thought The Knick would be deserving here. Also surprised Wolf Hall missed out in movie/miniseries cinematography, the lighting was my favourite part of the whole thing.
Supp. Actress Drama is such a disappointment for me. So much potential.
Miniseries or a Movie seems like the easiest category to secure a nomination in simply because of numbers. I tend to think that accounts for AHS' dominance despite worst-yet reviews.
Finn, Mo'Nique and Lisa Kudrow, VERY happy!!!
I don't care about anything else this year-it's the Emmys, you take the small wins when you get them and I consider Finn Wittrock a BIG win. I'm happy, and will have my "Dandy is Dandy" t-shirt on for the show.
lisa kudrow!!!
no toussaint :( :( :(
anual "breaking bad" complaint o_o
What did Keri Russell do to Emmy voters. Whatever it was, she's paid the price already.
Lisa Kudrow❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍🏻
I just want to point out that Miranda Richardson hilariously scored her first Emmy nomination today for narrating an orangutan documentary.
Grace of Monaco as Outstanding Television Movie? Oh my sides.
RuPaul's Drag Race finally scored an Emmy nom!
I guess I should watch Bloodline.
TATIANA
So the other Americans (Horror Story and Crime) are considered miniseries? Emmy needs an anthology category for these multiple-season shows.
TATIANA
RIP Betty Draper.
TATIANA
Jon Hamm could actually win this...unless Odenkirk does, which will drive some people I know insane.
TATIANA
I'm thinking that somebody at CBS got fired today.
TATIANA!!!!!
Best Actress in a Comedy, Drama and TV Movie are awesome categories.
Where is Gillian Anderson for The Fall?!? I don't get the Emmys and their snubbing. I mean Gillian is a past winner and multiple nominee!?
JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM JON HAMM
Despite what some say Emilia Clarke is a good actress and I am happy for her.
STILL no Eden Sher? WTF!
Margulies not Marguiles. You never EVER write it right!
I can't believe Lorraine didn't make it. Best villain in years.
Right, brookesboy? Sher is the undisputed MVP of The Middle.
@Paul Outlaw
Yeah. I don't even watch BCS and since many of the best men were either ineligible (Dancy, Mikkleson) or not nominated (Rhys, Owen, West, Young, Heughen), I'm wholly rooting for Odenkirk just for the hilarity of it all.
Hopefully Tatiana Maslany's fans will shut up now. You got your nomination, now tone it down to a 3.
Fun fact: Taraji and Viola got their first Oscar nominations in the same year and category as well.
Very dissapointed that BLOODLINE didn't do better. But hopefully Ben Mendelsohn will win.
now I know the voters never watch the shows ...
Grace of Monaco?.... What a joke ...
now I know the voters never watch the shows ...
Grace of Monaco?.... What a joke ...
Well, Grace of Monaco DID have its US debut on Tv. So I'm more surprised that neither Kidman nor Roth was nominated.
It's not any different than Behind the Candelabra. It was a Tv-movie in the US, even though it was in competition at Cannes and a Cinema release in many other countries.
Except Behind the Candelabra was actually a good film. Even I know that Grace of Monaco was a complete shit-fest. I am signing on for anything (James Franco, an animated bear) and am still throwing noodles against the wall. It's kind of an obsession for me to work a lot, but I have been told that I don't have any self-awareness or perspective. X
@Nicole :D
Behind the Candelabra is a great film. And Grace of Monaco is imo actually ok. But I wasn't talking about quality.
Was DAREDEVIL eligible?
Of the 99 acting nominations 18 were given to black actors. That's roughly 18%.
That's a little over 1 out of 6.
COMEDY
Don Cheadle
Anthony Anderson
Andre Braugher
Tituss Burgess
Keegan-Michael Key
Niecy Nash
DRAMA
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Uzo Aduba
Reg E.Cathey
Khandi Alexander
Cicely Tyson
TV MOVIE / MINISERIES
Queen Latifah
David Oyelowo
Angela Bassett
Regina King
Mo'Nique
Michael Kenneth Williams
The 18 nominations were evenly spread out across most categories and genre.
7 were Oscar nominees and 1 won an Oscar (Mo'Nique), 6 are women.
Hmm, good year for black actors?
Tatiana Maslany, "Orphan Black" (1st nom, 3rd season). Incredibly happy. Easily the best surprise of the set.
now that she finally has the nomination, surely maslany has to win; how can anyone look at her tape and not marvel at the many different characters she excels at?
i'm disappointed julianne nicholson's turn on masters of sex was overlooked; that was the most heartbreaking performance of the year
No Lorraine Touissant... no Empire ladies in guest actress. Unacceptable.
@NoNo - Yes, but this isn't Taraji's first Emmy nomination. She was nominated a few years back for a horrible lifetime movie.
Either way, I'm excited to see SO many black actors/actresses recognized. Many categories where they make up 50% of the nominees. Beautiful. Of course, there were even more that I think should've made it in, but I have to appreciate this.
I will never forgive Lorrain Touissant's snub, though. She was absolutely incredible and it's not like they didn't watch the show, it was nominated for drama series! Whatever.
Rooting for Taraji and Sarah Paulson and Niecy Nash.
No The Affair, Maggie Smith, Sissy Spacek, John Slattery and Juliana Margulies. UGH.
The series snub for The Good Wife. SIGH.
I really hope the always deserving Christine Baranski will win at least one statue this year.
And Chris Noth has also never been nominated for an Emmy.
YAY for Game of Thrones, and Lena Headey is simply outstanding.
SHOCKED with the exclusion of Patinkin.
I already regret having not seen House of Cards this season.
Love the surprise nom for Emma Thompson.
Jon Hamm MUST win.
After further reflection:
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
Surprise: Is this the best category?
Replace Jessica Lange with anyone else eligible and probably yes.
It's going to be a tense moment if (when?) Jim Parsons (or whoever) says: "And the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy goes to...Amy..."
Dept of WTF/MIA: The Americans and its actual cast (Margo Martindale barely registered in her appearance this year), Eva Green and Penny Dreadful's cinematography and production design, Jordan Peele, Matt Czuchry, Justified, Nick Offerman, The Leftovers, The Affair, Masters of Sex...
Definitely get the fatigue with regular players making it again, but there's LOTS to celebrate this year in terms of new players (Maslany, Nash, etc.). So let's be positive.
Emilia Clarke had a very big year on Thrones, so it makes sense that she got in, even though she's not that good. Headey deserves the trophy though.
With only two acting noms this year and no writing or directing noms, OINTB clearly suffered by being shuffled to Drama (but it still got a Best Series nom).
I'm also pleasantly surprised for Finn. I was worried voters would have seen it as campy, but he really nailed that childlike, crazy, spoiled brat aspect of his character.
As previous comment showed - Taraji P. Henson is a previous Emmy nominee - Nathaniel. for Best Actress in a Miniseries/Movie for TV.
The bad buzz for the conflict between Panjabi and Margulies was paid hard and the ridiculous digital touch for Panjabi exit