Share Your Emmy (Drama) Ballots
Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 2:00PM We've already discussed our comedy ballots and though we've got a few more individual FYCs coming and are still trying to sample various new series we missed that others are rooting for before the nominations, let's talk Drama Series. Emmy is always loathe to change up its nominations so the actual nominees this year are likely to be the exact same as last year which means that you're looking at...
PREDICTIONS
Do you think GAME OF THRONES can repeat its win?
- Game of Thrones (Season 6 -- nominated for all previous seasons. 1 win for Season 5)
- Better Call Saul (Season 2 -- nominated last year, too)
- Downton Abbey (Season 6 -- nominated for all previous seasons. 1 win for Season 1 as "limited series")
- Homeland (Season 5 -- nominated for 3 of 4 previous seasons. 1 win for Season 1)
- House of Cards (Season 4 -- nominated for all previous seasons)
- Orange is the New Black (Season 3 -- nominated for all previous seasons. though first was in "comedy")
Basically you're looking at the same lineup that's been going on for half a decade (since Better Call Saul just replaced its origin series Breaking Bad). But with Mad Men out of the picture there is exactly one slot free, which we assume will be taken by...
- Mr Robot (Season 1 -- since its won so much buzz, acclaim, and fandom in its debut season)
PREFERENCES
If I was in charge rare would be the series that was always nominated since nearly all series have some ebb and flow in terms of quality and there is (thankfully) so much quality competition out there. The only long-running television show of my entire life that I would have nominated every single year was Mad Men...
(My other favorite show of all time Buffy the Vampire Slayer I would have only nominated for five of its seven seasons) You may recall that my ballot last year was "Daredevil (S1), Empire (S1), The Leftovers (S1), Mad Men (S7b), Masters of Sex (S2), Orange is the New Black (S2), and Outlander (S1)" with The Flash (S1) just on the outside crying beautiful man tears about just missing. Though all but Mad Men are still airing, only two of those would still make it this year...
Again, despite what Emmy perpetually sells, most shows dip and rise in quality constantly. Even if a show is still good it's not always "best" and sometimes shows sink from "best" to "unwatchable" or at least "tired" more quickly than one could ever hope. Penny Dreadful is a good example of varying quality. The first season had a lot of promise but it was awkwardly presented, more high-concept than good story. It never felt like a "great" show. In the second season everything came together superbly, braiding elements that felt too separate or gimmicky in the first season. With a tighter focus and a stronger villain, it soared perversely and thrilled with its acting showdowns. Season 3 has lost some of that focus (separating all your major characters is so rarely a good idea) so I probably won't nominate it next year but Season 2 is absolutely deserving. (Note: Penny Dreadful straddles the Eligibility dates each year so it's Emmy contention is always confusing but this year the voters are supposed to be responding a Season 2 which aired an entire year ago. I checked the ballots)
My ballot for this Emmy year would contain only two shows from last year though I still watch all those shows and most are still good. I know The Americans is probably deserving but I am perpetually running behind on that show so it feels weird to include it fully.
- Agent Carter (S2) - Sending it to Hollywood was a clever move with rich rewards. Sad to see this delightful retro-stylish show go.
- Downton Abbey (S6) - I'm not immune to nostalgia and I have to send it off with love. (Returning after absence)
- The Leftovers (S2) - Even better and it was great to begin with. (Consecutive nomination)
- Mr Robot (S1) -Very strong launch though i wonder how they can sustain it
- Orange is the New Black (S3) -Still amazing. Each season has had such a different flavor which is rewarding since the more typical TV tradition is doing the same thing with slight variations like a well oiled machine (Consecutive nomination)
- Penny Dreadful (S2) -Everything came together: creepy, memorable, mythic, well plotted
- UnREAL (S1) -Every episode of this totally original series -- which looks at the sociopathic showrunning of a reality show that is suspiciously like "The Bachelor" -- was like exclamation points all over my face. Provocative, superbly acted, and bracingly funny but disturbing - like a cold snap with an afterburn.
Winner: UnREAL
My acting ballots are after the jump... Share yours in the comments!
Winner: Rami Malek, Mr Robot
(It was Jon Hamm for me last year)
Winner: Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
(It was Taraji P Henson for me last year)
Winner: David Tennant, Jessica Jones
Winner: Regina King, The Leftovers
BUT... Write-in vote for Adrienne C Moore for "Black Cindy" on Orange is the New Black. Her arc of conversion to Judaism was so superbly rendered, transforming from comic to dramatic as the season turned. For me she was the MVP of the third season. Sadly she is not eligible for the Emmy as she was not submitted. Which is... insane. Awards shows keep re-rewarding Uzo Aduba which is disappointing because this show has such a deep bench of talented women and the MVPs change drastically from season to season so the nominations really ought to as well.
Winner: BD Wong, Mr Robot
Winner: Patti Lupone, Penny Dreadful
Reader Comments (46)
No Keri Russell for The Americans? :(
I actually still can't decide how much I like The Leftovers. Really hard for me to make my mind up on that one.
Of you nominees:
Have not seen, should get on that: UnREAL
Your winner choices: Pretty darn strong choices all around especially Rami & Eva who are both astoundingly good.
Biggest Snubs The Americans & Keri Russell (who is undeniable and can do so much without saying a word)
What are you thinking?
>Not a fan of D'Arcy at all in Agent Carter. Could easily replace him with so many other strong performers like Tobias Menzies (Outlander), Michael Kelly (who should be the winner IMO) or one of the worthy men in The Amercians or Game of Thrones
Of your best actress line-up, I'll take your word on Shiri being worthy and would otherwise boot both Coon and Atwell in favor of Kerri Russell and Robin Wright (who was better this season than she has ever been on house of cards).
I know you stopped watching How to Get Away With Murder, but Viola Davis is more than deserving of being nominated and winning again.
Crossing fingers for Patti Lupone!
Yeah, I've gotta chime in on the Keri Russell love and her incredible work. Why do you think she hasn't made the lists this year when her co-star seems to finally be in contention?
OITNB S3 was not good (thankfully S4 has washed away the stink), but frankly it's hard to want it to be the first one to fall off when Better Call Saul/House of Cards were never very good, and GoT continually gets rewarded for looking pretty despite the last three seasons being consistently mediocre. (I don't watch Homeland or Downton Abbey.)
Tom M -- i assume it's always that her category is so much more competitive than Matthew's.
/3rtful -- i just never thought she could make the character cohere in any real way (due to the terrible writing) but maybe things have improved on that front.
Annony -- well, he's in 6th place and there are shows i need to catch up with or sample still so I'm willing to bet there is someone out there more worthy but i adore his chemistry with Attwell.
My picks:
Drama Series: GoT (or HoC)
Comedy Series (I think I forgot it last time): Veep (or UKS)
And I mistakenly list Hugh Laurie as a guest actor on Veep (he is credited as such, but submitted as supporting), so my pick for Comedy Guest Actor is: Sam Elliott - Grace and Frankie
For drama acting:
Actor: Kevin Spacey - HoC
Actress: Robin Wright - HoC
Supp. Actor: Mandy Patinkin - Homeland
Supp. Actress: CHRISTINE BARANSKI - TGW
Guest Actor: Blair Underwood - TGW
Guest Actress: Ellen Burstyn - HoC
I haven't seen The Leftovers Season 2 UGH, and I love UnREAL, but it stands no chance imo.
Nathaniel, Murder is a nighttime soap opera. Davis' character will be written in an erratic way because they are constantly shifting the perspective to suit their needs for whatever arc they're throwing our way for the most shock value. Viola attempts and succeeds in my book of making illogical and implausible human behavior look and feel real.
I love Taraji but her character remains relatively unchanged. She delivers like a pro but has none of the good stuff say for humor and sassy to play. There are crying scenes in season two unattached to anything else to support it.
Here are mine - the winners are marked with an asterisk. I forgot how much I liked season 2 of The Affair until I participated in this exercise.
Actor - Kyle Chandler (Bloodline); Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul); Clive Owen (The Knick); Matthew Rhys (The Americans)*; Dominic West (The Affair); Aidan Young (Rectify).
Actress - Shiri Appleby (UnREAL); Claire Danes (Homeland); Taraji P. Henson (Empire); Keri Russell (The Americans)*; Robin Wright (House of Cards); Ruth Wilson (The Affair).
Supporting Actor - Dylan Baker (The Americans); Clayne Crawford (Rectify); Noah Emmerich (The Americans); Andre Holland (The Knick)*; Mandy Patinkin (Homeland); Nick Sandow (Orange is the New Black).
Supporting Actress - Taryn Manning (Orange is the New Black); J. Smith-Cameron (Rectify); Abigail Spencer (Rectify); Alison Wright (The Americans)*; Maura Tierney (The Affair); Constance Zimmer (UnREAL). [THIS IS THE WORST CATEGORY - EACH OF THESE ARE A+ PERFORMANCES. I CAN'T BELIEVE I CUT HOLLY TAYLOR. I WANTED TO INCLUDE SO MANY MORE.]
Guest Actor - Reg E. Cathey (House of Cards); Darren Goldstein (The Affair); Mark Margolis (The Affair); Mark Proksch (Better Call Saul); Pablo Schreiber (Orange is the New Black)*; Stephen Spinella (The Knick).
Guest Actress - Kathleen Chalfant (The Affair); Natasha Lyonne (Orange is the New Black)*; Annet Mahendru (The Americans); Sarah Steele (The Good Wife); Cicely Tyson (House of Cards); Mare Winningham (The Affair).
Tom M - I think people are more inclined to like Matthew Rhys's character because he plays the nicer, softer character who is more open to Western society and defection. Keri is the Communist hard-liner who is willing to have her children become Soviet agents; it's harder to get people to vote for a character like that, especially when it is a woman. I think she's years overdue for an Emmy, though.
/3rtful - agree to disagree. and yes i'm aware that it's a nighttime soap opera but so is Empire. Cookie feels like a real coherent albeit a supersized personality and it feels like a huge portion of that is TARAJI's creativity playing her. There's more than just humor and sass... there's nuance and consistency iin the way she plays the different relationships between each of her three sons and she sells the highly improbable constant back and forth about whether or not she hates or loves Lucius or both simultaneously.
Viola's work in HTGAWM at least from the episodes I watched in the first season never felt like anything more than a collection of interesting almost textbook fascinating scenes of a great actress struggling with subpar material. I'm happy she won the Emmy (it's valiant work in a terrible show that's totally wasting her time -- other than making her more rich and famous) but I think Taraji deserved the Emmy last year.
Suzanne -- i should've included Spinelli in my "Guest Actor" ballot. why did i stop at five? I wish I could get into The Affair but something stops me from embracing it.
AR - i'm always curious why people think season 3 of OITNB was not good. Is it because it was so different from season 2? In my mind that's a strength but then I hate TV when it wastes its longform powers on just repeating itself each season.
.
Oh gosh, can't believe I left out Tatiana Maslany. Shame on me. Any listing without her is indeed irrelevant.
After writing a detailed list or two in other categories and glancing at the eligibility list in this one, I just can't. Sensory overload/short circuit/head explode.
I will cheer for The Americans, though, along with Penny Dreadful, The Affair, Mr. Robot, The Leftovers and—HELLO!—iZombie (the best show you are not watching).
I agree with /3rtful about Viola vs. Taraji and the second season of Viola's show was much more thrilling than the even bigger mess that Empire became. Hell, HtGAwM S2 was a better ride than most movies I saw last year.
Love most of your choices. The only show that I absolutely love and I think got even better in its second season was "The Affair." By expanding the perspectives the story was told from, the story became richer and more interesting. It upped the ante in a very real, exciting way. If there was anyone more deserving this year of an Emmy than Maura Tierney for "The Affair," I've yet to see them.
Anybody else watch "Happy Valley"? I hate the police, but this is a really empathetic show about a veteran female cop trying to keep a lower-class town on the edge from completely falling apart. The lead actress, Sarah Lancashire really deserves some Emmy love for the second season.
OITNB S3 was great. The worst thing about it is, as usual, Taylor Schilling.
Everyone around her is so much more compelling than her. I know he was trying to do something different, but Kohan should have just cast Mary Louis-Parker again. She would have been SO MUCH better.
Paul Outlaw -- so iZOMBIE is actually good?
Chris - maybe i should give it a second chance. I just couldn't get into it the first season though i did give it a real fair several episode try. Perhaps its my aversion to Dominic West?
The Affair, House of Cards, The Good Wife, The Knick, The Leftovers & OITNB
Carrie Coon, The Leftovers
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
Sarah Lancashire, Happy Valley
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Ruth Wilson, The Affair
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Hugh Dancy, The Path
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Clive Owen, The Knick
Justin Theroux, The Leftovers
Dominic West, The Affair
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Selenis Leyva, OITNB
Taryn Manning, OTINB
Helen McRory, Penny Dreadful
Rea Seehorn, Better Call Saul
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Christopher Eccleston, The Leftovers
André Holland, The Knick
Joshua Jackson, The Affair
Joel Kinnaman, House of Cards
Michael McKean, Better Call Saul
Nick Sandow, OITNB
Ellen Burstyn, House of Cards
Kathleen Chalfant, The Affair
Patti LuPone, Penny Dreadful
Deirdre O'Connell, The Affair
Kathleen Turner, The Path
Mare Winningham, The Affair
Jerry Adler, The Good Wife
Nathan Darrow, House of Cards
Denis O'Hare, The Good Wife
Pablo Schreiber, OISTNB
Teddy Sears, Masters of Sex
Paul Sparks, House of Cards
All the reviews I have read about Horace and Pete say is a masterpiece and that Laurie Metcalf has a killer monologue that will give her another Emmy.
Marsha Mason - I'm a huge fan of Happy Valley, both seasons are amazing. Sarah Lancashire and the show aren't popular/known enough in the US, unfortunately.
But the series is a gem and very highly appreciated in the UK.
God Bless the BBC.
I'm happy she won the Emmy (it's valiant work in a terrible show that's totally wasting her time -- other than making her more rich and famous) but I think Taraji deserved the Emmy last year.
Television is now leverage for movie stars. Veterans and emerging (regardless of age) stars use the medium to gain a greater audience with the public and awards attention to appear viable to the gatekeepers at the studios. Hence damn near everyone dips their toe in the televised and streaming waters. Viola Davis may possibly win the Oscar this year because she's on HTGAWM. Taraji is booking film work because of Empire (sure she could if Empire didn't exist) but it has been a huge help and earned her a Golden Globe.
Obsessed with The Americans and Happy Valley. Russell and Lancashire are phenomenal. Feel like Lancashire should get the Emmy because who knows if that show will get another season and Russell has at least 2 more, right?
The writing and directing on both is fantastic--but give the nod to Sally Wainwright who wrote AND directed most of HV in Season 2.
Cicely Tyson returned for another triumphant Emmy-worthy turn on HTGAWM.
Andre Holland is a BEAST!
Not sure if he'd be supporting or guest, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan really gave TGW the kind of juice and sexiness it lacked in previous seasons.
Speaking of The Americans, Frank Langhella in a Sphinx role as the protagonists' contact is very powerful. Luckily, as an old and distinguished actor, he'll at least be on their radar!
@ Nathaniel
iZombie is marvelous.
"The characters and character arcs are so well-drawn, the dialogue is as sharp as Thomas and Ruggiero-Wright's best stuff on Veronica Mars, and the show consistently manages to build to big emotional moments involving the web of lies everyone is spinning about their role in this slow-burn zombie apocalypse. Be fun, be entertaining, and make me care about the people on your show, and consistency and/or comprehensibility of your plot becomes much less essential." (Sepinwall)
Yes a thousand times for Eva Green!!! Sad about Agent Carter too :(
I don't watch anywhere near enough TV to have any say. I actually did really enjoy OITNB's third season. I know many didn't, but I enjoyed the way it expanded upon many of its characters.
MarshaMason and LadyEdith - Couldn't agree more with you about Happy Valley and Sarah Lancashire's exceptional performance in it, although she's lost the BAFTA twice now (she won in Supporting for Sally Wainwright's other show, Last Tango In Halifax a few years ago). If there's one performance that I wish people were championing more, though, it's hers.
NewMoonSon--agree re Morgan on TGW. He and Baranski were the only good things about the final season.
Any ballot that doesn't include The Americans for Drama Series this year, I'll have a hard time taking seriously (which includes the Emmys). The fourth season was some of the best television I've seen in a long time...
Nat - I agree, The Affair was the rare show that really improved from Season 1 to Season 2. The showrunners included the perspectives of the cheated on spouses in Season 2, and Maura Tierney's perspective, in particular, enhanced the show a lot.
Happy Valley is one show I want to try this summer, probably once I finish this season of OINTB.
As one of "The Americans"' biggest supporters, I second all of the love for that show. I've lost all faith Emmy will recognize that, too. I second Suzanne's shoutout for supporting nods to Dylan Baker, who was new to the cast this year but absolutely phenomenal, and Alison Wright, who's been phenomenal all along but got even more so these past couple of seasons. And of course Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, who continue to knock it out of the park.
And I also concur that THE AFFAIR improved significantly from season 1 to 2, as did AGENT CARTER. Both would likely make my ballot for best drama series. Caveat: there are way too many shows I don't watch or haven't gotten to yet (THE LEFTOVERS, BLOODLINE, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, UnREAL, and I guess GAME OF THRONES and HOUSE OF CARDS although I really have no interest in those last two).
lylee - i really don't like either of those last two shows (that are always nominated). I see episodes here and there and always dislike them. and GoT at least i gave a totally fair shot, to, way back when.
Nathaniel, why are you posting GAME OF THRONES spoilers? Please, don't do it, or at least post a warning! I'm very disappointed, really!
This -- i have no idea what you're talking about
^^^The Jon Snow photo at the top of the post, probably.
Oh, sorry. all i did was search Game of Thrones Season 6 for a photo and that's what came up.
The Affair is a superb adult drama. S1 was fantastic
a) Am I the only one that thinks UnReal is a comedy? It's a pitch black comedy, yes, but I would classify it over there without a second's hesitation.
b) Tonnes of great dramas. Right now, my nominees would contain The Americans, Game of Thrones, Hannibal (third season aired this emmy period, though I don't think they submtited) and Mr. Robot, with another dozen (!) shows competing for the final two slots.
c) Nathaniel, I really don't see how Game of Thrones loses, to be frank. It's having a terrific season, the emmys love it and the new voting structure privileges repeat winners in a serious way. Mr. Robot will definitely read too young and The Americans, despite having it's greatest season ever and cementing its place as a truly all time list show, probably won't get nominated).
I got really bored during the second season of The Affair but would definitely have Maura Tierney on my ballot.
Also Taryn Manning was magnificent on season 3 of Orange (Which I also loved) and I hope she shows up.
Hope to also see a lot of Mr Robot love 9especially I the tech nominations, the sound mixing in that show is insanely awesome) and another nom for Tat.
Also this is for comedy but I really hope Broad City gets some recognition this year,
This is Best Actor in Drama Series or Sexier Actor in Drama Series?
I hope that Penny Dreadful has enough love this year especially for the wonderful Eva Green and Helen McCrory.
If The Leftovers is able to pick up all the nominations on your ballot, I'll be absolutely thrilled - I was weeping in a fetal ball on the sofa by the end of the final episode! Rarely is such high-stakes ambition pulled-off with such devastating aplomb. Theroux, Coon and King gave absolutely towering performances and I would love it if some awards recognition drew more viewers in, as it still seems like a bit of an underdog, despite the widespread critical acclaim for the second season (I loved the first season two, but they really took the game up several notches this year).
The last season of Downton Abbey was entertaining but in no way should be nominated. They made terrible choices (bringing back Branson and then doing nothing interesting with him, turning Carson into a non-stop jerk, etc.).
Maslaney has to be in the Best Actress lineup. However great you think your nominees are, Maslaney is literally doing that times 7.
Schreiber is maybe the worst actor on OITNB. He's a total cartoon.
"This is Best Actor in Drama Series or Sexier Actor in Drama Series?"
OT, but Jaime Camil is campaigning as Sexiest Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series!