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Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) is going for the three peat, and I think she's going to do it. For some odd reason, she's been unable to submit her best for Veep. The first season she submitted the episode tears when there were clear alternatives like the Pilot and “Baseball.” The second season, she submitted the episode “Running”, which offered her some physical comedy and intoxication, but was no where near as strong as season finale “DC.” However, she still won both times. Why? Because an average Julia Louis-Dreyfus tape, is a great one in the Emmy field. In the episode “Crate”, which is along the same lines. She doesn't have too much to do, except for the incredible bathroom scene when she discovers that she is becoming president. It seems like enough, partially in thanks to the relatively weak field of episodes.
Her closest competition is Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly). Although she was snubbed last year after winning for the freshman season and being nominated once more, she comes back strong with an episode that has all the hallmarks of an Emmy winning episode. First, there's range. It's a surprisingly emotional episode of the series, which isn't something you usually get from a multi-cam sitcom. The episode has a strong storyline with a beginning, middle, and end. Lastly, she has a lot of impact. You feel bad for her, and sometimes that's all you need.
There is some competition coming from Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), who is the overdue choice, and Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), who would be the freshman choice. I could see it going either of those ways before going back to McCarthy, but I think Dreyfus is the safer choice here.
1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (“Crate”)
2. Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly (“Mind Over Molly”)
3. Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (“Recall Vote”)
4. Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black (“Fucksgiving”)
5. Lena Dunham, Girls (“Beach House”)
6. Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (“Super Greens”)
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.