Emmy Nominations for Comedy 2016: Who and What
Louie Anderson was nominated for best supporting actor for his role as Christine Baskets on FX
Ones thing for sure…considering he’s a talented actor, Anthony Anderson doesn’t seem to have much of a poker face. Despite being nominated the year before, a story he told to a slightly less giddy Lauren Graham as they were announcing the Emmy’s today, he was just as excited this year when she said his name. Anderson, along with his costar Tracy Ellis Ross and their series Black-ish, were all nominated in comedy series categories this year. But unlike many years, the awards in comedy were spread out across a wide spectrum of shows AND markets.
Outstanding Comedy Series
In the outstanding comedy categories, only two shows from network television (both ABC) were nominated…Black-ish and Modern Family. Silicon Valley and Veep beat out HBO’s other comedy series like Girls (a one time Emmy Favorite) and Ballers (their latest comedy), and Showtime once again fails to land any. Instead shows on streaming services took the remaining three slots. Master of None joins last year’s nominated Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Netflix’ comedy series up for the prize. And Amazon’s Transparent, the most dramatic of the comedies, once again received a nomination for best series.
Best Actor and Actress in Comedy Series
Star Jeffrey Tambor, 2015’s best actor in a comedy, was once against nominated for his work on Transparent as a father of three adult children transitioning to life as a woman. And this seemed to be the category with the most familiar names this year. Don Cheadle, Louis C.K., and Matt LeBlanc are out this year, but returning for another battle with Tambor are Anthony Anderson, Will Forte for Last Man on Earth, and William H. Macy for Shameless. Aziz Ansari’s personal comedy Master of None scored him a nomination as well, despite some worried would be forgotten because it premiered so early on Netflix, becoming the best actor rookie alongside Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss’s nomination for Veep is no surprise and she’s already the frontrunner again this year; this is her fifth nomination and she’s won 4 in a row. But returning from last year’s nominees are only Amy Schumer for Inside Amy Schumer and Lily Tomlin for Grace and Frankie. Otherwise everyone in this category’s new; Ellie Kemper got her nomination for Kimmy Schmidt this year after some felt her omission last year was an oversight because the show was nominated. Emmy favorite Laurie Metcalf received another nomination, but her first for HBO’s Getting On…and her first in the best actress category. And Ross received the first Emmy nomination of her career…but the loudest reaction from Anderson when he announced her name.
Supporting Actor and Actress Nominations
In one of the biggest pieces of news today…Louie Anderson received a nomination for Baskets in the supporting actor category for playing a role of the opposite sex, as Christine Baskets. He’ll compete alongside Andrea Braugher for Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Keegan-Michael Key (for the last season of Key & Peele), Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Matt Walsh and last year’s winner Tony Hale (both from Veep). Hollywood’s current it-girl Kate McKinnon gets to wrap up Ghostbusters week with a best supporting actress nomination for SNL. She’ll compete against Niecy Nash (for Getting On), Gaby Hoffman and Judith Light (both from Transparent), Anna Chlumsky (from Veep) and last year’s winner Allison Janney from Mom.
Major Players in Best Guest Actor/Actress Categories
Comeback of the year might go to Tracy Morgan, who scored a nomination for best guest actor for hosting SNL. Although he’ll have to compete against fellow host Larry David, and previous best guest actor winner Bob Newhart. Bradley Whitform (from Transparent) and Peter MacNicol and Martin Mull (from Veep) also received nominations in the category. One of the big stories from the category already came and went, when SNL alumni Jason Sudeikis submission for Last Man on Earth was denied after it was determined he appeared in too many episodes. SNL seems to be a favorite in the category because in best guest actress it received four nominations…for Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy, and a joint nomination for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (expect debate about that one). Laurie Metcalf gets to claim two nominations in one year for best actress on the Big Bang Theory, as series which also earned Christine Baranski a nomination. Melora Hardin rounds out that ballot for her work on Transparent.
As per usual, the Miniseries and Movies steered clear of honoring comedies…only A Very Murray Christmas on Netflix earned a best movie nomination.
Variety Talk Show and Variety Talk Show Writing Category
Right now however, the biggest story might be the changing of the guards in the Variety Talk Show category. After winning last year for Jon Stewart’s last season as host, The Daily Show didn’t receive a nomination for the first time since 2003. Likewise, while The Colbert Report earned a nomination every year since 2006, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert did not carry on that legacy. Instead, The Late Late Show with James Corden received a nomination as did Daily Show veteran John Oliver’ Last Week Tonight for a second year in a row. Oliver’s competing with another HBO series, Real Time with Bill Maher (which missed out on a nomination last year). Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon return to the category from last year. And to everyone’s surprise, Jerry Seinfeld’s Crackle series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee took the 6th slot.
In the Writing category (which often closely mirrors best series) Daily Show alumni Samanatha Bee jumped into the mix with the first season of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and will compete with Inside Amy Schumer, Key & Peel, Last Week Tonight, Portlandia, and SNL.
Other Bits of comedy news from this year’s announcements
Aziz Ansari received a nomination for directing and writing on Master of None, both for the episode
Amazon also scored a nomination for their comedy series Catastrophe, written by comedians Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan
Chris Rock Was nominated for best director of a variety Special for Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo, which received an Outstanding Variety Special nomination as well.
Garfunkel and Oates (Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci) earned best original music and lyrics nomination for their song Frozen Lullaby for their special Garfunkel and Oates: Trying to Be Special
The new category, Short Form, earned nominations for lots of comics-Rob Corddry and Rob Huebel for Children’s Hospital and Jack McBrayer for Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell (all on Adult Swim) for best actor. Erinn Hayes for Children’s Hospital and Janet Varney for Everybody’s Crazy But Us (on Funny or Die) received best actress nominations. Children’s Hospital and Hack Into Broad City were the comedies nominated for outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama
Writing for a Variety Special favors comedies it seems as all five nominations went to comedy specials; Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo, John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid, Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping, Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted, and Triumph’s Election Special 2016.
Read more comedy news.
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