New Comedies Shine in Emmy Nominations

new-comedies-shine-in-emmy-nominations

In a year filled with heavy-hitting dramatic performances and series, an array of fresh, original and edgy comedic offerings were honored with nominations for the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

orangenewblackThe Netflix original series “Orange is the New Black “received an incredible 12 nominations for its first season, including “Best Comedy Series,” “Best Actress in a Comedy Series” (Taylor Schilling), and “Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series” (Kate Mulgrew). OITNB’s nominations helped carry Netflix to a total of 31 nominations, up from just 14 last year.

Comedy Central earned a record 21 nominations, anchored by “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” (which each received six nominations ), to edgier fare. “Inside Amy Schumer” received a well deserved first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. Key & Peele” (four nominations), “Futurama” (2 nominations), “South Park,” “@midnight” (one nomination each) rounded out the honors for Comedy Central.

schumerThe Best Comedy Series category presents a diverse and eclectic group of programs, from the traditional, laugh-tracked  network sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” to darker, more incisive fare like “Louis,” “Orange is the New Black,” and HBO’s “Veep.”  Four-time Emmy winner “Modern Family” is still the favorite in the category as it attempts to straddle the gap between the mainstream and the subversive,” but the rise in acceptance – and in critical praise – of comedies that are willing to push boundaries, make dick jokes, and disregard political correctness represents a new trend in comedy without boundaries.

Other notable comedy nominations this year include Ricky Gervais (for “Derek”), Louis C.K. (for “Louie” and “SNL”), and William H. Macy (for “Shameless”) all battling it out in the Best Actor in a Comedy Series; and Melissa McCarthy (“Mike & Molly”) battling it out with Edie Falco (“Nurse Jackie”), Julia Louis Dreyfus (“Veep”), and Amy Poehler (Parks & Recreation” in the Best Actress in a Comedy Series category.

Overall, HBO’s original series, “Game of Thrones,” lead all programming with 19 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage, who won the award in 2011), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Lena Headey), and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Diana Rigg), as well as awards for writing and directing.

Fan favorites “The Walking Dead” and “Orphan Black” were left out in the cold.


In the drama categories, the Best Actor in a Drama Series has some interesting competition with Nominees: Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”; Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom”; Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”; Woody Harrelson, “True Detective”; Matthew McConaughey, “True Detective”; Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”.

This means Detectives Hart and Cohle are going to run head to head as both Harrelson and McConaughey received Best Actor nominations for their roles in the Southern Gothic morality play “True Detective.” Cranston could be the sentimental pick for his final season as Walter White (on “Breaking Bad,” at least), but Spacey is an Academy Award winner and  is always in the running, while Hamm and Daniels could prove to be dark horse contenders.  

In the Best Drama Series categories, nominees: “Breaking Bad”; “Downton Abbey”; “Game of Thrones”; “House of Cards”; “Mad Men”; “True Detective” will have the same issues.  Again, “Breaking Bad” is a sentimental favorite, but “True Detective” was a shining star that caught viewers completely off-guard this year. It will be interesting to see if a psychological drama steeped in mysticism, cynicism, and nihilism can knock off established contenders like “House of Cards” and “Mad Men.” And “Game of Thrones” wowed with several powerful dramatic performances played against a big-budget backdrop.

The prime time Emmys will be hosted by Seth Meyers on NBC on Monday, August 25th.

Outstanding Comedy Series:
“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
“Louie” (FX)
“Modern Family” (ABC)
“Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
“Silicon Valley” (HBO)
“Veep” (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Louis C.K., “Louie”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Ricky Gervais, “Derek”
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Edie Falco, “Nurse Jackie”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Melissa McCarthy, “Mike & Molly”
Amy Poehler, “Parks & Recreation”
Taylor Schilling, “Orange is the New Black”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Fred Armisen, “Portlandia”
Andre Braugher, “Brookyln Nine-Nine”
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Adam Driver, “Girls”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family”
Tony Hale, “Veep”

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory”
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”
Anna Chlumsky, “Veep”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
Kate Mulgrew, “Orange is the New Black”

Outstanding Variety Series:
“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
“Real Time with Bill Maher” (HBO)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series:
Steve Buscemi, “Portlandia”
Louis C.K., “Saturday Night Live”
Gary Cole, “Veep”
Jimmy Fallon, “Saturday Night Live”
Nathan Lane, “Modern Family”
Bob Newhart, “The Big Bang Theory”

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series:
Uzo Aduba, “Orange is the New Black”
Laverne Cox, “Orange is the New Black”
Joan Cusack, “Shameless”
Tina Fey, “Saturday Night Live”
Natasha Lyone, “Orange is the New Black”
Melissa McCarthy, “Saturday Night Live”

Outstanding Variety Special

“AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks” (TNT)
“The Beatles: The Night That Changed America” (CBS)
“Best of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Primetime Special” (NBC)
“Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays” (HBO)
“The Kennedy Center Honors” (CBS)
“Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles” (HBO)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central)
“Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)
“Portlandia” (IFC)
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC)

Outstanding Writing For a Variety Special

“The Beatles: The Night That Changed America” (CBS)
“Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays” (HBO)
“The 71st Golden Globe Awards” (NBC)
“Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles” (HBO)
“67th Tony Awards” (CBS)

Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program

“Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: President Barack Obama” (FunnyOrDie.com)
“Childrens Hospital” (Adult Swim)
“Parks and Rec in Europe” (NBC.com)
“The Soup: True Detective” (E!)
“Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show Starring Bruno Mars” (FOX)

Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program

“Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” (Crackle.com)
“Cosmos: A National Geographic Deeper Dive” (NationalGeographic.com)
“I Was There: Boston Marathon Bombings” (History.com)
“Jay Leno’s Garage” (NBC.com)
“Park Bench With Steve Buscemi” (AOL)
“30 for 30 Shorts” (ESPN)

 

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Dan Murphy is a freelance writer in Buffalo. Pre-order his new book documenting the rise of women’s wrestling from sideshow to WWE main event on Amazon.com, "Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women’s Wrestling"
Dan Murphy
Dan Murphy
Dan Murphy is a freelance writer in Buffalo. Pre-order his new book documenting the rise of women’s wrestling from sideshow to WWE main event on Amazon.com, "Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women’s Wrestling"