Like its drama counterpart, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series is a crowded field this year. Three-time winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) returning to the race, overdue industry and fan favorite Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), and veteran actresses Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) co-starring in a new Netflix (which is red-hot at the Emmys) already make the category heavy enough. However, now comes the process of fitting in the new stars and the perennially nominated women.
With Tina Fey and Netflix backing her star-vehicle, Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) should be in no matter how her quirky show does at the Emmys.
Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) seems to have some momentum going for her, and considering her acclaim and success early in the year it’s obvious that the often ignored CW will be campaigning hard.
With two new actresses possibly joining the lineup, that would mean that Emmy favorite Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) could be pushed out. It might be unwise to predict that such a no brainer nominee would be snubbed, however I could see scenario where the category is expanded to 7 with a tie somewhere in the voting.
Another new nominee that could pop up is Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback), a favorite from Friends who self parodies in her new show, which is the actually be her comeback.
Check out all of our 2015 Emmy Predictions here!
Strong Frontrunners
1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
2. Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
The Veterans
3. Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
4. Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie
Could be any of them
5. Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
6. Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
7. Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
8. Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Other Contenders
9. Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly
10. Lena Dunham, Girls
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.