This Sunday September 23 is the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards and the competition this year is pretty fierce but also pretty devoid of Black faces, a shame really as The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has expanded the amount of nominees in recent years. Still, while we focus on Black television we’re TV lovers here period so from the actual list (I made some predictions months ago right before the noms were released – http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/this-week-in-black-television-wholl-get-an-emmy-award-nomination-and-who-else-should) I’ll pare down who I think will take the trophy this year from the major categories (and others I just dig) with some emphasis on the ones with Black faces like Don Cheadle. PLEASE share with me who you think will win in the comments section following my picks. I’ll also be live tweeting during the Awards so follow me at @MediaManWatch and share Emmy musings along with me.
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences — 64th Primetime Emmy Award Nominations
Outstanding Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • CBS
Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO
Girls • HBO •
Modern Family • ABC
30 Rock • NBC
Veep • HBO
I was overly hopeful thinking Community would’ve made this list, but the bigger shame is that Parks and Recreation didn’t (knowing the ATAS they’ll put it on there once it gets corny) any of these are pretty deserving (yes, in many ways even Girls) but it should be a split between Curb and Veep, the former having a great resurgence and the latter being a fantastic newcomer. Emmy doesn’t tend to have much imagination when it comes to comedy though, so expect Modern Family to win.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Girls – Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath
Mike & Molly – Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn
New Girl – Zooey Deschanel as Jess Day
Nurse Jackie – Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton
Parks And Recreation – Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope
30 Rock – Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
Veep – Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer
Emmy is obsessed with Nurse Jackie and Edie Falco. Personally, I don’t get the hype and she shouldn’t have nominated over Christina Applegate in Up All Night. Now that I’ve huffed over that, this is one of the hardest races on the blocks.
Going back to most of my thoughts two months ago (I had most of these right):
Amy Poehler should win. She had an outstanding year on Parks as she ran for the head of city council and had to deal with even more weirdo personalities, not even counting her own staff, in the town of Pawnee. I do think Zoey Deschanel will be tough competition though. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss will win though. As vice-president Selina Meyer under the direction of creator Armando Iannuci of Steve Coogan’s British TV show “Knowing Me, Knowing Your With Alan Partridge” and the movie In The Loop fame, this will most likely be a slam dunk. It’s Louis-Dreyfuss at her best, which is saying a lot. Plus, Emmy loves her!
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory – Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
Curb Your Enthusiasm – Larry David as Himself
House Of Lies – Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan
Louie – Louis C.K. as Louie
30 Rock – Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
Two And A Half Men – Jon Cryer as Alan Harper
I had this list 100% right! (Please cheer for me, it’s the only one I was that solid on). That said, let’s keep my original instincts on this that Larry David will take home the trophy. The Hollywood Performer thinks that Don Cheadle will take it. As I said months ago, I’d LOVE to see Don Cheadle take it. Maybe next year?
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory – Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler
Desperate Housewives – Kathryn Joosten as Karen McCluskey
Modern Family – Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy
Modern Family – Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
Nurse Jackie – Merritt Wever as Zoey Barkow
Saturday Night Live – Kristen Wiig as various characters
Why is it called the Primetime Emmy Awards and SNL cast members are nominated? So dumb. Anyway, I hope they don’t go with the emotional awardee like they did with the noms for the recently deceases Joosten or with Wiig leaving SNL (which shouldn’t be there!!!). I feel Emmy will surprise us and give Blossom Mayim Bialik the win.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Modern Family – Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett
Modern Family – Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett
Modern Family – Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy
Modern Family – Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker
New Girl – Max Greenfield as Schmidt
Saturday Night Live – Bill Hader as various characters
I won’t rant again about SNL, though it’s still shameful they got a nom over Nick Offerman on Parks and Recreation. Another difficult category, it’ll probably be Stonestreet but I’d love to see Ed O’Neill take home the trophy – he was especially good as the Pritchett patriarch this year. But, Ty Burrell will win.
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Glee – Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Shannon Beiste
Saturday Night Live – Maya Rudolph, Host
Saturday Night Live – Melissa McCarthy, Host
30 Rock – Elizabeth Banks as Avery Jessup
30 Rock – Margaret Cho as Kim Jong-il
Two And A Half Men – Kathy Bates as Charlie Harper
Elizabeth Banks has been teriffic as Jack Donaghey’s wife Avery for the past two seasons of 30 Rock, and I love the fact that her second husband Kim Jong-Il (watch the show) played by the Margaret Cho was also nominated. Still, I’m loving Banks for this – she should’ve been nominated before anyway! Kathy Bates is the favorite though.
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm – Michael J. Fox as Himself
Modern Family – Greg Kinnear as Tad
Nurse Jackie – Bobby Cannavale as Dr. Mike Cruz
Saturday Night Live – Jimmy Fallon, Host
30 Rock – Will Arnett as Devon Banks
30 Rock – Jon Hamm as Abner and David Brinkley
Kinnear was creepy as Tad (as is anyone named Tad) on that fantastic episode of Modern Family. Everyone here is deserving. But, the most deserving is Michael J. Fox and he’ll win here AND/OR for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series.
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Community • Remedial Chaos Theory • NBC – Written by Chris McKenna
Girls • Pilot • HBO – Written by Lena Dunham
Louie • Pregnant • FX Networks – Written by Louis C.K.
Parks And Recreation • Win, Lose, Or Draw • NBC – Written by Michael Schur
Parks And Recreation • The Debate – Written by Amy Poehler
My favorite category of the Emmy Awards, with the drama writing nod right ahead of it (no offense to our actors here). The ‘Remedial Chaos Theory’ episode of Community was one of the Top 5 moments in television all year. No exaggeration. But I feel Lena Dunham will win this and represent an entire generation with it.
Outstanding Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire • HBO
Breaking Bad • AMC
Downton Abbey • PBS
Game Of Thrones •
Homeland • Showtime
Mad Men • AMC
In my original account I did not account for Downton now being regarded as a regular series instead of a mini-series, and I’m not the only one who was shocked it now was. It’s a good show, I’m a fan, but that last episode was too TV convienent.
Either way, I contend that Breaking Bad should win. I’m a Mad Men fanatic, but with Don Draper not being as cool as he was in past seasons (Don smiling that often became unnerving to me), I just can’t see it winning. Ah well, Zoo Be Zoo Be Zoo. That said, everyone is thinking Homeland will take home the Emmy. They may be correct.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Damages – Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
Downton Abbey – Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley
The Good Wife – Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick
Harry's Law – Kathy Bates as Harriet Korn
Homeland – Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison
Mad Men – Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson
This is Claire Danes’ award to lose. My So Called Life fans’ll be running down the isles (though probably not listening to Jared Leto’s music on their iPods)!
Kathy Bates shouldn’t have even been nominated for the atrocious and thankfully canceled Harry’s Law (though I did like Christopher McDonald on there). That personally offends me.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire – Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson
Breaking Bad – Bryan Cranston as Walter White
Dexter – Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
Downton Abbey – Hugh Bonneville as Robert, Earl of Grantham
Homeland – Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody
Mad Men – Jon Hamm as Don Draper
I seem to be the only who thinks it possible that Bryan Cranston might lose. Of course I thought Kelsey Grammar would get nominated for BOSS, so what do I know? I’m gonna go wild card on this and say Hugh Bonneville takes it, though I’m rooting for my man Walter White to blow up this category (you loving my tounge-in-cheek references yet?).
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad – Anna Gunn as Skyler White
Downton Abbey – Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Downton Abbey – Joanne Froggatt as Anna
The Good Wife – Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma
The Good Wife – Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart
Mad Men – Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway Harris
Another controversial category. How do you decide this?!? Once again, stick with the original instinct: Christina Hendricks. As Joan Holloway (yes, if you missed it she’s Holloway again) she was actually in less episodes than usual but made more of an impact. Her scenes had weight, real gravitas, and she brought it in an emotional and physical way. Hendricks deserves this, but the competition is fierce as Archie Panjabi had a similar year.
All that said, it’s hard to beat out Maggie Smith, who has us all in stitches whenever she appears on screen. She barely even has to utter a line – her acting is all in her face – but always has the best dialogue on the show.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad – Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman
Breaing Bad – Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo 'Gus' Fring
Downton Abbey – Brendan Coyle as John Bates
Downton Abbey – Jim Carter as Mr. Carson
Game Of Thrones – Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Mad Men – Jared Harris as Lane Pryce
While I have to take back not nominating Aaron Paul on my previous list I’m still thoroughly annoyed that John Slattery from Mad Men was not nominated. I was literally spellbound for days. My own drama out of the way, I’ve never hidden my love and utter respect for Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring – and neither has most of America. He’s my undisputed champ to win this.
If one of the Downton people wins over him I’m putting my foot through the television. Nominate them to win next year, I’d love to see Mr. Carson accept the award then. Free Bates!
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
The Good Wife – Martha Plimpton as Patti Nyholm
Grey's Anatomy – Loretta Devine as Adele Webber
Harry's Law – Jean Smart as D.A. Roseanna Remmick
Mad Men – Julia Ormond as Marie Calvet
Shameless – Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson
Smash – Uma Thurman as Rebecca Duvall
In all fairness I haven’t seen Joan Cusack on Shameless but I got half of these noms right, showing how much of a TV geek I am. This is tough so I’m gonna say it’s a tie between the enchangting Julia Ormand and firebrand Martha Plimpton in their respective guest roles.
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Breaking Bad – Mark Margolis as Tio Salamanca
The Good Wife – Dylan Baker as Colin Sweeney
The Good Wife – Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning
Justified – Jeremy Davies as Dickie Bennett
Mad Men – Ben Feldman as Michael Ginsberg
Parenthood – Jason Ritter as Mark Cyr
Mark Margolis hasn’t uttered a word (well, only in flashbacks) on Breaking Bad and yet his character has endured for multiple seasons. Good as he is, I would give it to Michael J. Fox. What a sneaky pr!@k he is on The Good Wife!
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire • To The Lost – Tim Van Patten
Breaking Bad • Face Off – Vince Gilligan
Downton Abbey • Episode 7 – Brian Percival
Homeland – Pilot – Michael Cuesta
Mad Men • The Other Woman – Phil Abraham
I contend that the ‘Far Away Places’ episode of Mad Men should’ve been nominated but it is nominated for writing, which works as well. Homeland will probably win this one.
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Downton Abbey • Episode 7 • PBS
Homeland • Pilot • Showtime
Mad Men • The Other Woman • AMC
Mad Men • Commissions And Fees • AMC
Mad Men • Far Away Places • AMC
It’s difficult for me to say this, but I think Episode 7 of Downton Abbey will win. It was to me the best episode of their fantastic season. All of the nominated Mad Men episodes are clearly the best of their season too. This one is a nail-biter.
Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
American Horror Story • FX Networks
Game Change • HBO
Hatfields & McCoys • HISTORY
Hemingway & Gellhorn • HBO
Luther • BBC America
Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece) • PBS
I’ve been a huge fan of the Sherlock re-imaginging since day 1 (okay, since it came out on DVD – I don’t get BBC America!). This nominated edition of it, the first episode of the second season, was better than most movies I’ve seen in the theater all year. But I think the epic that was Hatfields & McCoys will win over it, and Kevin Costner will win the Lead Actor Emmy for this role of 'Devil' Anse Hatfield in miniseries, as well as Tom Berenger as his evil relative Jim Vance. And both insanely deserve to win.
Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
Game Change – Jay Roach, Director
Hatfields & McCoys – Kevin Reynolds, Director
Hemingway & Gellhorn – Philip Kaufman, Director
Luther – Sam Miller, Director
Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece) – Paul McGuigan, Director
If I had it my way this would be Sherlock for the win but Jay Roach will take it, and good for him for directing that fantastic HBO movie.