SXSW: Dreaming of Space in ‘Linoleum’

By Abe Friedtanzer

Not all comedians can excel at drama, and those who do it best tend to achieve a middle ground that allows them to maintain some elements of their typical routines but fold them into a compelling serious turn. There are many successful examples, including Robin Williams and Mary Tyler Moore. Jim Gaffigan has dabbled in drama before, with a particularly memorable performance in Light from Light opposite the underrated Marin Ireland. It turns out he’s just the right person to anchor Linoleum, a film that mixes science fiction, family issues, and outright oddities…

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Emmy Watch: Supporting Actress Drama Contenders

by Abe Fried-Tanzer

Can Fiona Shaw return despite heaps of competition?

Our Emmy punditry continues with Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. There’s a lot to unpack in this very crowded race. A full two-thirds of last year’s nominees won’t be back because they all starred on the now-ended Game of Thrones.

Count on defending champ Julia Garner (Ozark) to return, especially since the latest season of her show recently premiered to great acclaim (she may also be joined by costar Janet McTeer). I’m not sure the same will be true for Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), since her role isn’t at all central and it’s not yet known if the show will be as well-received by Emmy voters as it was for its second season. Theoretically, that leaves four and maybe even five spots wide open, but that doesn’t take into account the many previously nominated actresses on shows returning from a season off the air and newly back in contention…

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Team Experience: One last agonized cry for the snubbees this Emmy nomination day!

As is our habit, we polled Team Experience this morning to see which Emmy snub yanked them straight to mourning this morning. Here are their answers. Please share your own in the comments, won't you? Misery loves company!

CHRIS FEIL: MJ Rodriguez in POSE. While we can hope that Billy Porter's immensely deserved nomination can represent the entire ensemble with a win, it still leaves Pose's exquisite female cast members unrewarded including the most deserving: Mj Rodriguez's resilient and compassionate house mother Blanca. It's infuriating that the show's directing and writing went unrecognized due to the Game of Thrones glut, but to have denied the season's emotional epicenter is just about unconscionable. Hers is the work that most embodies the multifaceted show and all of its triumphs and power.

DEBORAH LIPP: Gentleman Jack got crowded out, why? Emilia Clark over Suranne Jones is not supportable. FOUR nominations for Game of Thrones over Sophie Rundle in supporting actress is not supportable. Game of Thrones' worst season over this breakthrough new series is NOT! SUPPORTABLE!

lots more weeping after the jump...

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FYC: Underrated Players on Emmy-Noticed Series

Team Experience is sharing FYCs as the Television Academy votes on Emmy nominations (voting closes on June 24th). Here's Abe Fried-Tanzer

There are so many deserving series and performers that never stand a chance at the Emmys simply because voters don’t seem to notice their existence. The best recent example of an extremely talented cast almost entirely missing the Emmy radar is Parenthood, which squeaked out one lone acting bid – for guest actor Jason Ritter – over the course of its six seasons. While it hasn’t received that level of acclaim, Billions is another instance of a show with tremendous awards potential that hasn’t picked up any to date. But then there are shows that do manage to earn accolades, yet the enthusiasm doesn’t extend to all players. John Krasinski never got nominated for The Office despite three costars being nominated, and he’s not the only one to be ignored even though Emmy voters were clearly watching his show.

Here are five underrated players from shows Emmy voters do watch that deserve to break through this year...

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