Smash Cut

Category: Emmys

  • 5 New Shows That Could Break into the 2016 Emmy Race

    5 New Shows That Could Break into the 2016 Emmy Race

    The Emmys are often slower to pick up to new shows than other awards, however this year there are a few that may make it into the race. Here are five new shows that could break into the Emmy race this year.

    Also, check out our early Emmy predictions for Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series!

    mozart in the jungle new shows emmys

    Mozart In the Jungle

    Mozart in the Jungle pulled off two wins at the Golden Globes earlier this year, which proves that Amazon’s other comedy “Transparent” wasn’t just a one off. The online streaming service is making a strong play for the awards races and “Mozart in the Jungle” seems to be their next big contender. The Golden Globes have been pretty consistent in predicting a nomination for a show on the comedy side. Winners of Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy tend to go on to receive at least a nomination. Still, they might have a hard time in the series race because of the strength of the comedy field this year. However, they could possibly pull off a nomination for Lead Actor for Globe winner Gael García Bernal if perennial nominee Don Cheadle drops off like Jim Parsons did last year.

    Master of None

    Aziz Ansari’s Netflix comedy “Master of None” made a huge splash with audiences and critics to become one of the best new series of the year. It won the award for Best Comedy Series at the Critics’ Choice Awards, which is not a prerequisite, but it certainly helps. However, the biggest plus for it is the fact that Netflix will be pushing the show extremely hard. Plus, its popularity has been slow, but building.

    Aziz Ansari has a great chance of reaping both writing and Lead Actor nominations. The show itself is a strong contender for Best Comedy Series despite the crowded Comedy field this year. It’s going to surprisingly be one of the less divisive new shows that are in contention this year. As for other categories, I could see a directing nomination if the show really catches on with voters as well as a well-deserved Nöel Wells.

    rebecca-bunch-greg-rachel-bloom-crazy-ex-girlfriend-850x560

    Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

    Another network that has been having some surprising recent success is the CW, mostly because they’ve become extremely brave in their programming. Last year, Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) pulled off a win at the Globes, but failed to repeat her success at the Emmys. This year, Rachel Bloom won Best Actress at the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards. While that doesn’t guarentee her a nomination (see: Gina Rodriguez), “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a far more accessible show that Jane the Virgin and has similar acclaim.

    Rachel Bloom has a great chance of showing up in Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and the show is definitely in the running for a writing or directing nom. However, an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination is going to be more difficult to come by with the crowded field. The show should also do well in the below the line categories like Outstanding Music and Lyrics, Choreography, and Sound Mixing.

    Narcos

    Since “House of Cards,” Netflix hasn’t been able to get another one of its drama series into the race. While “Bloodline” received two acting nominations, that’s really been the extent of their Emmy success. “Narcos” has similar reviews to the first season of “House of Cards” and has also had a slow and steady building of buzz. While it doesn’t have the strong names behind it like “House of Cards,” it’s a sweeping series that comes at a time where the cartel has become a common interest in books and movies.

    It’s going to have a tougher time than “Mr. Robot” to break into the Drama Series race, but Wagner Moura, who plays Pablo Escobar, could make it into the weaker Lead Actor race.

    mr. robot new shows emmys

    Mr. Robot

    The most likely show to break into the drama categories is USA’s “Mr. Robot.” The show has garnered huge acclaim and has already won at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, and reaped a SAG nomination for Rami Malek. While USA has yet to really break into the Emmy race, “Mr. Robot” feels like the kind of drama that the Emmys can actually latch onto.

    The series is an extremely strong contender for Drama Series, Writing, Directing, Lead Actor for Rami Malek, and Supporting Actor for Christian Slater. It can even make a strong showing in the Creative awards, particularly Cinematography and Editing. It could be among the nomination leaders for a new show similarly to the way “Transparent” was last year.

  • Egregiously Early 2016 Emmy Predictions: Comedy and Drama Series

    Egregiously Early 2016 Emmy Predictions: Comedy and Drama Series

    The Oscars are over, which means it’s time to turn our attention to the Television kudos, the Emmys and our 2016 Emmy Predictions! Last year was an odd year for the Emmys with several different changes giving us surprise winners. Of the most important changes:

    1. During the nomination process in lead and supporting categories, there will be six nominees as usual. However, there can be seven or eight nominees if the seventh and eighth place person on that ballot comes with 2% of the sixth place person. That’s why we had seven nominees in Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    2. Instead of panels reviewing submitted episodes of the nominees, the full Television Academy is able to vote.

    The second rule showed the most obvious effect with winners like Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) and Allison Janney (“Mom”) winning by lazy name checking rather than their tapes. Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”) and Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”) easily had the best tapes in their respective categories.

    This is why this year at the Emmys is going to be the most interesting. Now that we’ve seen how this new system affects the winners and nominees, we can better predict the winners. On the drama side, Emmy heavy-hitter “Mad Men” opens up spots in several categories. Most importantly, Best Drama Series.

    This year has been a particularly weak one, so there won’t be much movement.

    Last year’s winner “Game of Thrones” will easily make it back into the race as well as perennial nominees “House of Cards” and “Downton Abbey.” First-time nominee “Better Call Saul” will make it back in as well following a strong year of nominations last year. Despite only receiving three nominations last year, “Orange is the New Black.” which was moved to drama after a new rule defining dramas as an hour-long, should make it back in because of the weak field.

    That leaves two spots open. Golden Globe winner “Mr. Robot” has the best chance of any new show this season of breaking into the race. With the lack of contenders, it should be able to do it. That leaves the last spot to either previous winner “Homeland” and Netflix newcomer “Narcos.” Both series received generally positive reviews this year. However, the buzz for the former just doesn’t seem to be there

    BEST DRAMA SERIES
    1. Game of Thrones
    2. House of Cards
    3. Better Call Saul
    4. Mr. Robot
    5. Downton Abbey
    6. Orange is the New Black
    7. Narcos

    8. Homeland
    9. Vinyl
    10. The Good Wife

    The comedy side is quite the opposite. There is an abundant of contenders. However, it’s certain that previous winners “Veep” and “Modern Family” will return. “Transparent” will also come back following a great performance in nominations last year. After those three contenders, the waters get a little murky. Aziz Ansari’s highly acclaimed Netflix show “Master of None” has a great chance of breaking into the race after nominations at the Golden Globes and a win at Critics’ Choice. Perennial nominee “Silicon Valley” still seems to have legs, so the HBO show should come back along with a nominee last year, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” 

    The last spot could go a few different ways. Golden Globe winner for Best Comedy Series and Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy “Mozart in the Jungle” could make it in, especially after Amazon proved extremely successful with “Transparent.” However, until the Globe win I didn’t hear much buzz about the show. So I don’t think it will make it in too easily. Former perennial nominee “The Big Bang Theory” could make it back in after its 200th episode this year. Then there’s “Black-ish,” which had Anthony Anderson nominated last year and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” the little CW show that could, which won a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice for it’s lead actress. However, I’m going to go with Fox’s “The Last Man on Earth.” It had a great year last year with four big nominations for both writing and directing, as well as lead actor and editing. It feels like a series nomination is the next natural step. Then again, that’s what I thought with “New Girl” and we know how that ended up.

    BEST COMEDY SERIES
    1. Veep
    2. Modern Family
    3. Transparent
    4. Master of None
    5. Silicon Valley
    6. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
    7. The Last Man on Earth

    8. The Big Bang Theory
    9. Mozart in the Jungle
    10. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

    Check back here for more 2016 Emmy Predictions!

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Our final picks on who will win

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Our final picks on who will win

    The 2015 Emmy Awards are this Sunday where Television’s finest will come together to honor the best and brightest of the year. Below are our final predictions on who will win and who should stay home. Here are our 2015 Emmy Predictions!

    Come back to Smash Cut tonight for our Live Blog of the ceremony!

    game of thrones the wars to comeDrama Series
    Better Call Saul
    Downton Abbey
    Game of Thrones***
    Homeland
    House of Cards
    Mad Men

    This is probably one of the toughest races of the night, especially with the new voting system, it’s really a race between two beloved series. Mad Men received critical raves for its final season and remains one of Hollywood’s one of most beloved series. It helps that the show hasn’t won a single Emmy in nearly two years and still has yet to win an acting award, which is widely known. The other is not only a beloved series, but also the biggest series in the world. Game of Thrones received more than any other nominee this year, which is a feat in itself. It also won 8 awards at the Creative Arts Emmys this past weekend, which is one away from tying The West Wing’s record for the most awards won in a single year of 9. While I think it’s going to be close, I’m going to call the race for Game of Thrones.

    Lead Actor in a Drama Series
    Dominic West, The Affair
    Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
    Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
    Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
    Jon Hamm, Mad Men***
    Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
    Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

    I think it’s a pretty well known fact that Mad Men never won an acting Emmy. However, the most egregious of those snubs comes from their leading man. Jon Hamm has a HUGE Emmy IOU that I think they’re likely to pay this year. However, he has to look out for Kevin Spacey, who is a well liked industry actor, Bob Odenkirk, who has a strong episode submission, and Kyle Chandler, the man who beat Hamm the year he should have been unbeatable. Hamm should have this one locked up pretty tight, but one of the 3 men mentioned could surprise.

    ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Lead Actress in a Drama Series
    Taraji P. Henson, Empire
    Claire Danes, Homeland
    Robin Wright, House of Cards
    Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder***
    Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men
    Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

    This is a race between two huge performances by two actors who are extremely respected in the industry. Viola Davis has been in the conversation for the Emmy before her show even premiered. The two-time Oscar nominee gives a passionate performance in How to Get Away with Murder that in any other year would win in a walk. However, this year she has to contend with Taraji P. Henson whose larger than life performance in Empire won her raves and propelled her to become a pop culture icon. It’s going to be a close race, however I think Davis has too much momentum behind her for her not to lose.

    Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul***
    Ben Mendohlson, Bloodline
    Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
    Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
    Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
    Michael Kelly, House of Cards

    Jonathan Banks has this race locked up for his surprisingly heartbreaking portrayal of Mike. If he gets any challenge, it would come from Michael Kelly or Ben Mendohlson, but don’t count on it.

    christina hendricks supporting actress in a drama seriesSupporting Actress in a Drama Series
    Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
    Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
    Lena Headey, Game of Thrones***
    Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
    Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
    Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black

    This is probably one of the most competitive acting races this year, with 4 contenders having legitimate shots at winning the Emmy. Lena Headey was the early favorite to win for the “Mother’s Mercy” episode of the show. However, with the new popular vote and the controversy over her body double, she is going to get strong competition from more popular choices like Christina Hendricks or Christina Baranski, who are both overdue for their roles or Uzo Aduba, who is an industry it-girl and current Emmy champ. I think Headey maintains her edge from early momentum, but Hendricks is going to give her a hell of a fight.


    Selina signs her bookComedy Series
    The Big Bang Theory
    Louie
    Modern Family
    Parks and Recreation
    Transparent
    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
    Veep***

    Nearly everyone who watches the Emmys, has something to do with the Emmys, or hear about it secondhand know that Modern Family has won an egregious number of Emmys

    Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
    Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
    Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
    Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
    Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
    Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation***
    Julia Louis Dreyfus, Veep

    Julia Louis Dreyfus has won this category three years in a row and continues with phenomenal performances in the show. However, there are two contenders who have factors that will help them in the popular vote. Amy Poehler is incredibly overdue in this category and an industry favorite. On the other hand, Amy Schumer is Hollywood’s it-girl, whose show shocked in multiple categories. I think the latter Amy seems to have the momentum, but I think it’s going to Poehler who finally makes it up to the stage. NOTE: This is my gutsy prediction of the year. Pretty much no one else is predicting her.

    shameless-recap-150405Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    Anthony Anderson, Blackish
    Matt Leblanc, Episodes
    Don Cheadle, House of Lies
    Will Forte, Last Man on Earth
    Louie CK, Louie
    William H. Macy, Shameless
    Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent***

    With perennial winner Jim Parsons out of the way, Jeffrey Tambor should have a clear path to win here. The only nominee that can really give him any competition is Macy.

    Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
    Niecy Nash, Getting On
    Julie Bowen, Modern Family
    Allison Janney, Mom***
    Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
    Gaby Hoffman, Transparent
    Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
    Anna Chlumpsky, Veep

    If we were still under the old system of voting, Anna Chlumpsky would have won for her incredible performance in her episode submission. However, because of the new popular vote, a win for her will be harder to come by. I think that last year’s winner Allison Janney is probably just going to repeat because of lazy name checking. Jane Krakowski, who never won for her performance on 30 Rock, has a sliver of a chance, as does two time winner Julie Bowen, but I think Janney has this pretty locked up.

    Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
    Adam Driver, Girls
    Keegan Michael-Key, Key and Peele
    Ty Burrell, Modern Family
    Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt***
    Tony Hale, Veep

    This is essentially a three man race. When nominations came out, the early frontrunner with the hilarious “Peeno Noir” episode was Tituss Burgess. However, after the popular vote proved to have more influence on the race than we originally thought, I think that last year’s winner Ty Burrell or 2013’s winner Tony Hale will take it. Hale has a strong submission, while Burrell is obviously a favorite. As with many categories, I’m going with the early momentum, which has worked for me in the past, so I think Burgess is still taking it.

  • Emmy 2015 Spotlight: “Mad Men”

    Emmy 2015 Spotlight: “Mad Men”

    Photo by Vulture
    Photo by Vulture

    How will Don Draper die? Throughout the final episodes of Mad Men, which aired the second half of its final season this past spring, it was this question, and increasingly speculative answers to it, that dominated so much discussion of the show. As is so often the case with Mad Men, much of that speculation was beside the point. Like with previous similar speculation of the “Megan is surely Sharon Tate” variety, these questions treated Mad Men like a much more conventional, clichéd story than it has ever attempted to be. By the seventh season, you would think we’d know better. But no—we expected Mad Men to submit to conventional narrative tropes straight through to the very end.

    This is likely why the conclusion that Matthew Weiner did provide was at first so jarring. Suddenly there are only ten minutes left of Mad Men, and Don Draper is in a share circle at a hippie commune, hugging a strange man and getting his om on. And then, “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke.”

    Weiner likely thought this ending fairly straightforward, and in fact it is. In the world of Mad Men, Don goes to the Mecca of enlightenment, reinvents himself once more, and subverts an entire subculture to sell soda—and he does it while creating arguably the most successful advertising campaign of the era. That there is any debate at all about this outcome is a testament to the complexity of the series, but that doesn’t make the debate any less wrongheaded. Is it a cynical note to end the series on? Certainly. But it is also distinctly Mad Men, a fitting conclusion in its content and in its surface inscrutability.

    Mad Men’s final run is as notable for what it did not do as for what it did. It did not run through a laundry list of finale must-haves. (The one instance in which it did do this, with Stan and Peggy’s rom-com moment in the finale, is one of the series’ few bum notes.) It did not concern itself overly with explanation, or with tidiness. The finale does do more than it needs to set up “next acts” for the central characters, but this tidiness is happily subverted in many of the cases. Joan’s business may fail. Pete and Trudy may be just as unhappy when they step off that plane. Roger may divorce again. Latter-day Mad Men devoted a lot of time to making its characters unbelievably materially happy; they all end the series millionaires. But if the millions didn’t make them happy, there’s no guarantee that a new job, a new boyfriend, a new try at marriage, or a new outlook on life will have any more success.

    mad men time and life
    Photo Credit: The Unauthorized Critic

    That’s what makes the closing moments so great, and it’s what means that they aren’t, necessarily, as cynical as they appear on their face. That Don returns from his sojourn essentially unchanged is a truism of life, but it doesn’t have to be a cynical one. That humans are fundamentally unchangeable is a core notion of the show. It would have been more cynical for Weiner to, in the eleventh hour, suddenly posit that the characters have finally bettered themselves—this time, it all works out! There is no magic salve for the human condition. We come as we are. Mad Men’s thorough, nuanced, empathic understanding of this truth is its single greatest achievement, and that understanding is on display throughout this last set of episodes.

    It’s true of Betty, who, perhaps not entirely unexpectedly, receives the series’ only truly tragic sendoff. Yes, Betty Francis ends the series with a cancer diagnosis, one that comes in the midst of her studies toward a psychology degree. But all the same traits are still there: the stubbornness that leads her to refuse Henry’s insistence on more thorough care; the recklessness that leads her to, even briefly, consider a flirtation with a much older Glenn Bishop; and the hardness toward Sally that, ultimately, expresses itself as a kind of maternal protectiveness, in the lovely final letter that Betty pens to her daughter.

    It’s true of Peggy, who continues to climb the corporate ladder throughout this final run. For Peggy happiness is much more easily pinned down than it is for Don, but don’t confuse that with contentedness. Peggy must always be moving; she, like Don, always has the next goal in sight. Part of it is that, for women, the goalposts are positioned rather differently. But part of it is that same hunger, and it’s that hunger that scores her Bert’s weird octopus painting, and it’s that hunger that keeps her at McCann-Erickson, rather than running off to join Joan’s business (which is not to belittle either option). It’s that same hunger that makes her sudden realization of her love for Stan feel, if not wrong, then just a little too pat.

    Photo Credit: Us Magazine
    Photo Credit: Us Magazine

    And it is, as always, true of Don. He ends the series where he began it, more or less. The penultimate episode finds him at a VFW hall, ever the outsider among these hardened veterans, who are nothing like Don. Secretly he thinks they are beneath him; they are the man he abandoned to become Don Draper. There is the creeping sense of dread, that perhaps Don will finally be found out, brought to task for his original sin—but no, that would be too obvious, and besides, we already knew, have known for some time, that the secret of Don’s identity wouldn’t matter. Bert shrugged it off, way back when. And it’s not that identity that gets Don in trouble here. Instead it’s his readiness to identify a kindred spirit, a ne’er-do-well teenager who cons the vets out of their money. Don tries to talk the kid off his path, and onto a better one, or at least, a different one than the path that Don chose. But people don’t change. We come as we are.

    The last set of episodes was more polarizing than perhaps would have been expected. Significant stretches of time were spent on seeming irrelevances; except that nothing is irrelevant in Mad Men’s novelistic approach, should you be willing to take the time to engage it. The show concluded more vehemently denying its medium than ever—and it’s a good thing. In doing so Matthew Weiner has delivered a stunning seven seasons’ worth of consistently A+ drama. I am hard-pressed to think of a bad episode of Mad Men; I don’t know that there is one. But don’t be surprised when Mad Men goes home effectively empty-handed at this year’s Emmys, too. There are sacrifices to be made in denying the medium, and among them are viewership and accolades. Those of us who invested the time, the thought, the energy, though—we know what we’ve experienced, and we know we’re not likely to see anything of its kind again. Maybe that’s hyperbole. Or, maybe, it’s just advertising.

     

    Standout episodes: “Time & Life,” “The Milk & Honey Route,” “Person to Person”

    This paragraph is about the Emmys and how Mad Men should win, but probs won’t.

  • Emmy Spotlight: Inside Amy Schumer

    Emmy Spotlight: Inside Amy Schumer

    jdCh3By most measures Amy Schumer is an unlikely It Girl. She is crude and often vulgar. She does not look like or present herself as a vapid, bleached-blond wastrel. She speaks bluntly and frankly about the very system that regularly anoints It Girls, and what she has to say is sharply critical. And yet here we are: Amy Schumer is nominated for an Emmy, is the star of a hit movie, and is a least a weekly headline item. It should go without saying that this is a vastly preferable world, and that it is Amy Schumer’s own body of work that has made her success possible.

    Inside Amy Schumer presents its third season for Emmy consideration this year, but this is the first season to truly become such a hot topic of conversation. Schumer’s ascent into the public eye has been nothing shot of meteoric. In fact you can begin to see the backlash phase beginning; pick any comments section on an article about Schumer and you will find at least one comment complaining about the superfluity of articles about Schumer. You don’t need me to tell you that this backlash is largely imagined, the result of the collective undesirables of the Internet-with-a-capital-I, replete with neckbeards and MRA-pamphlets, finding fault with Schumer’s particular brand of feminism.

    These neckbeards are Schumer’s bread and butter. Inside Amy is nominated for Outstanding Variety Series (though really, should not these shows be eligible to compete in the “real” comedy category?), but one need only focus on the episodes and sketches singled out for the show’s other six (!) nominations to see exactly what Schumer’s project is, and where she plumbs society’s less fortunate aspects for maximum comedic effect.

    Take “Cool With It”, which of the three episodes highlighted by the Television Academy plays things the most straight. In the titular sketch, Amy plays an office worker determined to play it cool with her office-bro co-workers. They go out to a strip club, get drunk, get lap dances, all to Amy’s repeated, increasingly garbled refrain that she’s “cool with it!” Things escalate until Amy is murdering the stripper and burying the body—still cool with it. The sketch ends with a non-sequitur; Amy turns to the camera and pitches equal pay for women. Then she bashes the still-breathing stripper over the head with her shovel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOlELxK83pw

    It’s easy to see why the sketch appeals to Emmy votes, and why this episode is the one for which Amy is recognized as an actress. On display is her determinedness to weave current social issues into her comedy, but to do so in challenging and unexpected ways. Here the issue is not just equal pay—in fact that is shoehorned in rather weakly—but also the issues that women face in the office and in other social situations. They are expected to conform to such dudebro behavior—think of Gillian Flynn’s “Cool Girl” for this concept taken to its dramatic extreme. Schumer satirizes it expertly, but what is also on display here is her gameness to use her own physicality in service of the satire. Schumer’s leans into her physicality, not afraid to play a silly, drunken slob. Physical comedy is a huge part of what makes these sketches work, and Schumer’s versatility is showcased here.

    That Schumer is not afraid to sound drunk, look silly, or go blue is half of her success recipe. The other half is her braininess, and that of her writing team, all of whom are also recognized for an award this year. Again, the individual episodes recognized are clues into what Emmy voters have rightly recognized in the show as a whole. Nominated for Outstanding Original Music is Girl You Don’t Need Makeup, the One Direction parody that also features in “Cool With It.” The song is first and foremost a quality pop track, which isn’t exactly required, but it certainly helps; the production is so top-notch, this could easily be a real One Direction song.

    Screen-Shot-2015-04-22-at-11.49.36-AM-1280x789
    Photo Credit: Salon

    The music and lyrics are by staff writer Kyle Dunnigan, and they are, at first, a straight parody of “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful”, with the same “you’re naturally beautiful!” message, only infinitely more obtuse. (Sample lyric : You’re beautiful and who cares what they think / Now wash that lovely face off in the sink / In the sink, girl.) But things very quickly take a turn for the absurd, a trademark of many of Schumer’s best sketches; the satire begins obviously, but then is turned on its head. After the first chorus, the boy band exhorts Amy to “hold up, girl / we spoke too soon / with this whole no makeup tune / we kinda changed our minds on the makeup thing.” Now they’re extolling the virtues not of makeup, but of the way makeup can make a girl look like a “naturally beautiful girl.” “You’ll be the hottest girl in the nation / with just a touch of foundation” and “I didn’t realize that your lashes were so stubby and pale / Just a little mascara and you’ll look female” drive home the point, and before long the chorus has been revised as well. Amy is still perfect when she wakes up, “just don’t go outside like that, OK? / just a little makeup, some natural-looking makeup / what more do I have to say?” By the end of the song Amy is made up like a clown. Here again is that perfect marriage of verisimilitude, satire and absurdity.

    That braininess extends to the other two episodes singled out for Emmy recognition. In the first, “Last Fuckable Day,” the titular sketch features Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tina Fey, and Patricia Arquette, who are celebrating Julia’s last fuckable today. The thesis is that women in Hollywood reach an arbitrary point at which they are no longer fuckable, and there’s nothing to be done about it. The sketch treats this not just as a tremendous injustice, but as an insurmountable fact. Throughout, the actresses lean into and even celebrate it; now they can eat whatever they want, and fart and belch freely. Unlike many of the other sketches this season, any sort of heightened absurdity isn’t really on display here at all; the sketch is just funny women making pithy jokes about a very real, ongoing situation in Hollywood.

    Fuckability is the question at hand in the greatest sketch of the season, as well; and here absurdity is the name of the game. “12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer” is an episode-length sketch, which is risk number one; it is a straight, nearly shot-for-shot parody of 12 Angry Men, which is risk number two; and it minimally features Amy herself, which is risk number three. That the thing was made at all is nothing short of a miracle, even with the likes of Jeff Goldblum,Vincent Kartheiser, Kumail Nanjiani, and Paul Giamatti (who is nominated for the episode) lend some star power to proceedings.

    inside amy schumer 12 angry men
    Photo Credit: AV Club

    They’re all great and they certainly lend to the comedy, but as it turns out they were hardly necessary. The strength of Schumer’s satire more than stands on its own. Up for dispute is a very simple question: is Amy Schumer hot enough to be on television? Given the types of “criticism” that are so often volleyed at Schumer, this episode is most easily read as a more than apt retort to the aforementioned neckbeards of the internet. The comedy lies in the treatment of the issue; all of the actors are incredibly game, discussing degrees of fuckability with straight faces and surprising passion. What if it was late at night and you’re in bed and you squinted at the television? Would she be fuckable then? Some of the jury allows that she would. Eventually the question becomes one of “reasonable chub”; if Amy gets you even a little hard, she gets to be on TV.

    This is insane. This is hilarious. And this is how it is to be a woman on television. That Amy Schumer gets weekly to stand before a camera and speak truth to power, and that the reward is, finally, an absurd degree of popularity, visibility, and accolades, is a long overdue recognition of some tremendous work. Not all of her sketches always land—some veer too far in one direction, be that in the direction of satire or of absurdity or of topicality—but when that perfect alchemy is struck, Inside Amy Schumer manages something that a lot of other comedy on television isn’t even attempting.

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    julie bowen supporting actress in a comedy series

    I think everyone in the category for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series breathed a sigh of relief when Orange is the New Black was deemed a drama series and, in turn, Uzo Aduba was pulled out of contention.

    With her out of the way, it’s going to be a tight race with several women having phenomenal episode submissions. Last year’s winner Allison Janney (Mom) still has a shot due to one thing: her name. The six-time winner is consistently funny in Mom, playing the wild character to Anna Faris’ straight one. However, whether or not her name can pull her through over nominees with stronger submissions is going to be the question. Julie Bowen (Modern Family) could win her third Emmy if she submits the phenomenal “Connection Lost” episode. What’s going to be the biggest factor for her is the Modern Family fatigue. After all, they’re going for their sixth win in the Best Comedy category and have dropped yet again in total nominations.

    I think the clear winner here based on tape is Anna Chulmpsky (Veep) who delivers an incredible speech in the episode “Convention” that is pure Emmy bait and fantastically performed. I mean, just see for yourself:

    Plus, with Veep making a play for Comedy Series, she could be swept up. So I’m giving her the edge.

    There are two wild cards in play. The first is Gaby Hoffman (Transparent), who nabbed a surprise nominations. The reason she is a wild card is because the voters picked the deserving supporting character from that show. Originally, we expected Judith Light to be the show’s supporting nomination. The reason this is relevant is because that means the voters are watching (and loving) the show. She could definitely pull this off depending on her submission.

    The second wild card is Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt). Although she was never able to take the trophy home for 30 Rock, voters love her enough to nominate her year after year. She’s overdue for a win, and sometimes that’s enough.

    Check out all our 2015 Emmy Predictions here!

    1. Anna Chlumpsky, Veep (Suggested Episode Submission: “Convention”)
    2. Julie Bowen, Modern Family (Suggested Episode Submission: “Connection Lost”)
    3. Allison Janney, Mom
    4. Gaby Hoffman, Transparent
    5. Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable  Kimmy Schmidt (Suggested Episode Submission: “Kimmy Goes to a Party”)
    6. Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
    7. Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
    8. Niecy Nash, Getting On

  • LIVE BLOG: 2015 Emmy Nominations Reactions

    LIVE BLOG: 2015 Emmy Nominations Reactions

    2015 emmy nominations reactions

    The 2015 Emmy Nominations are being announced live this morning (Thursday, July 16th) at 11:30 AM by Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black) and Cat Dealy (So You Think You Can Dance). The nominations honor the best of this year in television from both comedy, drama, miniseries, and TV movie.

    Check out our live reactions here while the nominations are announced. Then stay tuned to Smash Cut to see our full reactions and predictions.

    Take a look at our predictions and tell us who you think (and want) to be nominated!

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  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actor in a Drama Series

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actor in a Drama Series

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    The precursor awards of the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards tend not to affect the outcome of the Emmys. However, this year the race for Lead Actor in a Drama Series is looking to go to the winner of at least two of those awards. Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) has been the bridesmaid for two Emmy cycles now, losing to Jeff Daniels and Bryan Cranston. It looks like he’s finally going to take it this time.

    Perennial Emmy loser Jon Hamm (Mad Men) is assured to come back and could finally pull off a win for the show (it has lost every acting award it’s been nominated for) with a submission of the series finale “Person to Person.”

    In addition to the two perennial nominees above, there are three new faces looking to join the race. Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) has turned the comic relief of Breaking Bad into one of the most intriguing characters of the television season. Depending on how the show fares at the Emmys, we could see a win for him, especially with his arsenal of phenomenal episodes. Dominic West (The Affair) can’t seem to break into the Emmy race. From The Wire to The Hour, he’s been egregiously snubbed, however the third time could be the charm. Again, it depends on how well the show is received. One nominee that can’t depend on his show is Cilve Owen (The Knick). While the Cinemax drama was well received, it has one thing against it. It’s on Cinemax. Owen can probably get in on buzz and name alone, but there are others in the mix like Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom), Terrence Howard (Empire), and Kyle Chandler (Bloodline) who could just as well take his place.

    1. Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
    2. Jon Hamm, Mad Men
    3. Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
    4. Clive Owen, The Knick
    5. Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
    6. Dominic West, The Affair

    Check out our complete list of 2015 Emmy Predictions HERE!

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actress in a Drama Series

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actress in a Drama Series

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    Isn’t it refreshing to have a year where an actress category is actually competitive? Lead Actress in a Drama Series was won by the same two women for the past 4 years, but with Homeland on the downswing and last year’s winner Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) having to rely on submissions tapes, this year is especially open for a new winner.

    That new winner is looking to be SAG winner Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder). Her performance pretty much speaks for itself (Plus, she has the fake cry face down. Take notes Kerry Washington and ugly crying champion Claire Danes), but on top of that, she has the buzz, the episodes, and the respect of the industry. She is the solid frontrunner.

    Taraji P. Henson (Empire) has the monster hit of Empire behind her, plus the same buzz, episodes, and respect of the industry as Davis. The only difference here is that Davis had the luxury of competing in the precursors of the Globes and SAG. Henson is still a strong frontrunner, I think her biggest hurdle might be getting nominated depending on how the voters respond to the show.

    After the three frontrunners, we have two strong returners in the mix. Robin Wright (House of Cards) was a frontrunner last year before the messed up her episode submission, however she should still safely return. Kerry Washington (Scandal) is losing a lot of buzz, so I’m thinking she drops out this year, however with a solid episode submission in “Run” if she is nominated I can say her making a run (pun intended) for the crown.

    The last spot is going to be tough call. Three-time Emmy winner Claire Danes (Homeland) is losing a lot of steam with Homeland dropping out of the conversation like a rock. This year’s Globe winner Ruth Wilson (The Affair) should be able to slip in, however her globe win isn’t going to help her much here.

    I’m playing it very conservatively here. A lot of contenders like Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men), Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), and Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) can still slip in.

    I think the most notable part of this category would be to see three women of color be nominated. Not only would it be a first, it would be a wonderful note to the changing landscape of television. Take note Oscars.

    1. Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
    2. Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
    3. Taraji P. Henson, Empire
    4. Robin Wright, House of Cards
    5. Claire Danes, Homeland
    6. Ruth Wilson, The Affair

    Check out our complete list of 2015 Emmy Predictions HERE!

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Drama Series

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Drama Series

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    UPDATED 6/15/15

    For Best Drama Series, we’re definitely going to see the perennial nominees like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Downton Abbey, and House of Cards. However, the rest of the category is going to look pretty different from the past.

    One of the major effects of the new rule changes is going to be the introduction of Orange is the New Black to the category. At this point, they are a virtual lock and are taking up the newly added seventh slot.

    With Breaking Bad out of the way and True Detective being moved to Limited, we have room for at least two different nominees. Empire was the biggest hit of the season and garnered strong critical acclaim as well as commercial. It also has the fact that it’s a broadcast series (the majority of the Academy work in broadcast) and it’s likely to nab additional major nominations. Better Call Saul has garnered extremely positive reviews and strong ratings and looks to make a strong showing like its parent series.

    The last spot is really going to be a mystery in the series races, since we’ve never had a year with this many nominees.The winner of the Globe often makes an appearance here, so The Affair has a chance to make an. Another new show may be the direct successor to Bad at the Emmys. Based on nominations last year, I’d say The Good Wife has a chance. However, many pundits predicted the series to make a return last year and it failed to do so.

    Depending how the Emmys react to Bloodline and Homeland, we could see one of these shows make an appearance.

    AS FOR THE WINNER, I think it’s going to be between three returning nominees since Breaking Bad is gone and there’s really no new show that feels like a first season winner. Game of Thrones has been a strong performer so far at the Emmys and the a strong second half of the season coupled with strong buzz can propel it to a win. If you asked me in March which show would win best drama series I’d say House of Cards with no hesitation. However, there’s really no buzz for it anymore and the season was the worst received so far. The last possibility is 4-time winner Mad Men. I know it hasn’t won a single award in the past two years, but there’s no denying the huge buzz around the show in Hollywood following the finale. It could follow The Sopranos, Everybody Loves Raymond, Sex and the City, and Breaking Bad as some of the shows in past years that have won for their final season.

    Check out our complete list of 2015 Emmy Predictions HERE!

    1. Game of Thrones
    2. Mad Men
    3. House of Cards
    4. Orange is the New Black
    5. Downton Abbey
    6. Empire
    7. The Affair

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Complete List

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Complete List

    2015 emmy predictions

    The Emmy season is in high gear as the best of the small screen competes for ratings and gold. This year, we’ve seen some unprecedented rule changes that’ll make this year one to remember. So, check out our 2015 Emmy Predictions!

    Best Drama Series

    Best Actor in a Drama Series

    Best Actress in a Drama Series

    Best Supporting Actor in Drama Series

    Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    Best Comedy Series

    Best Actor in a Comedy Series

    Best Actress in a Comedy Series

    Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

    Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    supporting actor in a drama series emmy predictions
    It seems that every year it’s becoming harder and harder to figure out who will win Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the Emmys. However, this year we’re even having the problem or predicting who will be nominated. With 4-time winner Aaron Paul and The Good Wife favorite Josh Charles out of the race, we automatically have to open slots. However, you have to factor in surefire new nominee Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul), who contends again after being nominated for Breaking Bad, to take up another spot.

    After Jonathan Banks, the rest of the category gets a little cloudy. It’s going to be hard to count out perennial nominee Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) who won for the first episode of the epic series. However, with a less prominent role this season, he could be pushed out for Kit Harrington whose performance and story arc was highly lauded this season.

    Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) has a strong chance of coming back after the series had creative resurgence, however it could be little too late for the Emmy winning series. A new nominee like Ben Mendohlson (Bloodline) or Michael Kelly (House of Cards) could make an appearance if an also ran nominee like Jim Carter (Downton Abbey) gets pushed out. However, there’s little room to add them in if Jon Voight (Ray Donovan) makes an appearance.

    If you couldn’t tell by this frantic article, I have little idea who’s going to be nominated. However, it’s time to make my final predictions. But be warned, I’m making no locks for this category. It’s truly anyone’s game.

    1. Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
    2. Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
    3. Ben Mendohlson, Bloodline
    4. Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
    5. Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
    6. Michael Kelly, House of Cards

    Check out our complete list of 2015 Emmy Predictions HERE!

  • 2014 Emmy Predictions: Drama Series

    2014 Emmy Predictions: Drama Series

    Drama Series is pretty much done for me. A lot of people are going to say True Detective can win, Game of Thrones can win, House of Cards can win, but Breaking Bad will win.

    Although my confidence was a bit shaken when True Detective hauled in 4 awards at the Creative Arts Emmys, I still believe Breaking Bad is close to a lock. It hasn’t shown many signs of strength thus far, but it also hasn’t shown any signs of weakness. It again won Picture Editing as it did last year, but most pundits expected the show to win most of its awards at the main ceremony. With the powerful buzz around the final season, its increase in nominations, and nominations in key categories give Breaking Bad all it needs to pull off a win.

    If there was an alternative, it would be True Detective. Before the Creative Arts Emmys, I would have said that House of Cards was the alternate choice. It is probably one of the biggest cultural phenomenons since Breaking Bad went off air and it received surprise nominations in the guest and writing categories. However, following its already impressive success, True Detective is the clear alternative.

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    1. Breaking Bad
    2. True Detective
    3. Game of Thrones
    4. House of Cards
    5. Mad Men
    6. Downton Abbey

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    christina hendricks supporting actress in a drama series
    Supporting Actress in a Drama Series is going to be a tough category to hash out. Emmy favorite Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) returns, unopposed by two-time winner Anna Gunn, as does perennial nominee Christine Baranski (The Good Wife).

    Smith has already won twice for the role before being stopped when Anna Gunn won twice for Breaking Bad. However, with some Downton fatigue and a stronger focus on episode submissions she may not be the juggernaut she has been in past years.

    Baranski, on the other hand, has the benefit of The Good Wife‘s creative resurgence and a slew of episode submissions to pick from.

    Who they have to look out for is Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), who joins the race after OITNB was classified as a drama. With her strong awards history and extreme likability make her an instant threat in this race.

    After these three women, the field widens up. Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) has been nominated for this award 5 times, which pushes her into overdue territory along with Christine Baranski. However, with Mad Men‘s waning nominations, she could be dropped. Of course, the potential buzz around the final season can keep her in the race.

    If we’re going by buzz, then Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) will certainly have an extreme edge with the deafening noise that Game of Thrones causes whenever an episode airs. Also, based on the source material, she will have a plethora of episodes to choose from.

    Other possibilities include Oscar winner Sissy Spacek (Bloodline) and this year’s Golden Globe winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or TV Movie Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey).

    Check out our full 2015 Emmy Predictions here!

    Strong Possibilities
    1. Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
    2. Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black
    3. Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

    On shaky ground
    4. Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
    5. Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
    6. Sissy Spacek, Bloodline
    7. Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey

    The rest of the field
    8. Kate Mulgrew, Orange is the New Black
    9. Alfre Woodard, State of Affairs
    10. Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones

  • 2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    2015 Emmy Predictions: Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

    peter dinklage supporting actor in a drama series

    Last year in Supporting Actor in a Drama Series we had a fierce three man race that ended with Aaron Paul taking his third Emmy for Breaking Bad. Now, with two of those men gone from contention, we just have Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) left in the race. Dinklage won an Emmy for the first season of the series with a heartbreaking speech in the episode “Baelor.” This year, he doesn’t need anything as rousing with this relatively weak field.

    His immediate competitor is Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul). He was previously nominated for the role in 2013 for Breaking Bad becoming the first and only actor to be nominated twice in that category for different shows. Although he may not have some of the stellar material that Dinklage has, he definitely has the urgency.

    The next three spots are going to go to “perennial” nominees Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), Jon Voight (Ray Donovan), and Jim Carter (Downton Abbey). In any other year Patinkin and Carter would be on the chopping block. However, in this relatively weak year in this category they are comfortably in and nominated.

    The last spot is really up in the air. If Michael Kelly (House of Cards) has a good shot if the show is a big hit at the Emmys. He’d also have a plethora of episodes to choose to submit. However, if House of Cards doesn’t have an uptick in nominations like I think it will, then it really just becomes a name game.

    There aren’t any shows with supporting actors that could get in purely on buzz, the only one is really Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline). He received strong critical acclaim for his performance and Netflix could push him hard in the category.

    After that, veteran actor Michael McKean (Better Call Saul) and previous nominees Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) and John Slattery (Mad Men) have the next best shots.

    Check out all of our 2015 Emmy Predictions here!

    Frontrunners
    1. Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
    2. Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul

    Perennial Nominees
    3. Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
    4. Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
    5. Jim Carter, Downton Abbey

    Could be any of them
    6. Michael Kelly, House of Cards
    7. Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
    8. Michael McKean, Better Call Saul
    9. Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
    10. John Slattery, Mad Men