Category: Emmys

2014 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actress in a Miniseries/TV Movie

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Earlier, this category seemed like an open and shut case. Cicely Tyson (The Trip to Bountiful) was the undisputed frontrunner for the role that won her the Tony for her performance in the 2013 revival of this classic play. However, when critics awarded Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Coven), which doesn’t seem important, but for critics to get a behind a performance that seems to have lost a lot of its buzz and a show that lacked acclaim is shocking.

Then there is Minnie Driver (Return to Zero), who turned in a phenomenal performance and Helena Bonham Carter (Burton and Taylor), whose turn as Elizabeth Taylor was a career high. It seems like a toss up now, but I think the nominees are set. I am prepared for an upset with Rebecca Ferguson (The White Queen) thrown in the mix possibly pushing out one of the bottom 3 ladies.

1. Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful
2. Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven
3. Helena Bonham Carter, Burton and Taylor
4. Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Coven
5. Minnie Driver, Return to Zero
6. Whoopi Goldberg, A Day Late and a Dollar Short
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7. Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen
8. Toni Collette, Hostages

July 8, 2014
2014 Emmy Predictions: Writing for a Drama Series

Writing categories are some of my favorite categories in all entertainment awards shows, but they really do rule supreme for me at the Emmys. Why? Because TV writing can be so good and emotionally taxing, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, but it can also absolutely suck. So any award that appreciates good writing is one that I’m for.

This year in Writing for a Drama there is a mixed bag of returners and new shows, but there are a couple wild cards that could throw a wrench into the category.

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1. “Ozymandias”, Breaking Bad (Written by Moira Walley-Beckett): If this wasn’t one of the greatest episodes of drama to hit the small screen, then I don’t know what is. Further than that, considering the show received two nominations in this category last year despite a 4 year drought shows me that voters are paying attention and if they know what’s good for them, this episode is solidly in first place.
2. “Waterloo”, Mad Men (Written by Matthew Weiner): This one is pretty much a hunch. If Mad Men is able to get back into this category, which they dominated until last year, it’s probably going to have to be a big episode. That’s why I’m thinking the season finale could be it. It probably doesn’t hurt that Matthew Weiner penned the episode.
3. “The Last Call”, The Good Wife (Written by Robert and Michelle King): For some reason they didn’t submit the superior “Hitting the Fan” for consideration, which I could have seen winning. While this episode is good, they’re just holding on to a nomination now.
4. “The Long Bright Dark”, True Detective (Written by Nic Pizzolato): If True Detective makes as big a splash at the Emmys as we think it will, then it’s just natural that their Pilot is nominated here.
5. “The Children”, Game of Thrones (Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss): The decision to again only submit one episode is probably going to work in favor for Game of Thrones, especially with their most buzzed about season yet.
6. “Pilot”, Masters of Sex (Written by Michelle Ashford): The Emmys are suckers for Pilots and I think in any other year Masters of Sex would be nominated in series, but this is a nice consolation prize.
7. “Felina”, Breaking Bad (Written by Vince Gilligan): If the Emmys go crazy over the show again, it’s possible that they up their writing nominations from two to three. If that’s the case, I think the series finale is a safe bet.
8. “Confessions”, Breaking Bad (Written by Gennifer Hutchison): Of all the memorable episodes from the final season of Breaking Bad, the “Confessions” confession tape has to be one of the most memorable scenes. It also doesn’t hurt that the episode won the WGA award for Best Drama Episode.

May 20, 2014
Who Will Lead the Emmy Nominations? (Drama)

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With the Emmy nominations announcement quickly approaching I thought it would be helpful to see what shows will reap the most nominations. For this list I only considered awards that are presented on the main telecast and the guest categories.

Right now, I have Breaking Bad leading the nominations with nine. I think their leading the nominations is contingent on the number of writing and directing nominations they receive. In terms of total nominations I think Game of Thrones is going to lead with a large haul of technical nominations.

Breaking Bad (9 Major Nominations)
Drama Series
Directing for a Drama Series – Rian Johnson (“Ozymandias”)
Directing for a Drama Series – Vince Gilligan (“Felina”)
Writing for a Drama Series – Moira Walley-Beckett (“Ozymandias”)
Writing for a Drama Series – Gennifer Hutchison (“Confessions”)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Bryan Cranston (Suggested Episode Submission: “Ozymandias”)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Aaron Paul (Suggested Episode Submission: “Confessions”)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Dean Norris (Suggested Episode Submission: “Blood Money”)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Anna Gunn (Confirmed Episode Submission: “Ozymandias”)

The Good Wife (7 Major Nominations)
Drama Series
Writing for a Drama Series – Robert and Michelle King (“The Last Call”)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Julianna Margulies (Suggested Episode Submission: “The Last Call”)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Josh Charles (Suggested Episode Submission: “Hitting the Fan”)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Christine Baranski (Suggested Episode Submission: “Outside the Bubble”)
Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Nathan Lane (Confirmed Episode Submission: “The Decision Tree”)
Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Carrie Preston (Confirmed Episode Submission: “A Few Words”)

Game of Thrones (6 Major Nominations)
Drama Series
Writing for a Drama Series – David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (“The Children”)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Peter Dinklage (Suggested Episode Submission: “The Laws of Gods and Men”)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Emilia Clarke (Suggested Episode Submission: “The Children”)
Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Pedro Pascal (Confirmed Episode Submission: “Mockingbird”)
Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Diana Rigg (Confirmed Episode Submission: “The Lion and the Rose”)

Mad Men (6 Major Nominations)
Drama Series
Writing for a Drama Series – Matthew Weiner and Carly Wray (“Waterloo”)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Jon Hamm (Suggested Episode Submission: “The Monolith”)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Elizabeth Moss (Suggested Episode Submission: “The Strategy”)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Christina Hendricks (Suggested Episode Submission: “The Strategy”)
Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Robert Morse (Confirmed Episode Submission: “Waterloo”)

True Detective (5 Major Nominations)
Drama Series
Directing for a Drama Series – Cary Joji Fukunaga (“Who Goes There”)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Matthew McConaughey (Suggested Episode Submission: “Who Goes There”)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Woodey Harrelson (Suggested Episode Submission: “The Secret Fate of All Life”)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Michelle Monaghan (Suggested Episode Submissions: “Haunted Houses”)

House of Cards (5 Major Nominations)
Drama Series
Directing for a Drama Series – Jodie Foster (“Chapter 22”)
Directing for a Drama Series – James Foley (“Chapter 26”)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Kevin Spacey (Suggested Episode Submission: “Chapter 14”)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Robin Wright (Suggested Episode Submission: “Chapter 17”)

Masters of Sex (5 Major Nominations)
Writing for a Drama Series – Michelle Ashford (“Pilot”)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Michael Sheen (Suggested Episode Submission: “Catherine”)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Lizzy Caplan (Suggested Episode Submission: “Involuntary”)
Guest Actor in a Drama Series – Beau Bridges (Confirmed Episode Submission: “Manhigh”)
Guest Actress in a Drama Series – Allison Janney (Confirmed Episode Submission: “Brave New World”)

June 26, 2014
2014 Emmy Predictions: Best Variety Series

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The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has dominated this category since 2003 winning for 10 consecutive years. That was until The Colbert Report upset last year winning Writing for a Variety Series and Variety Series. They’re the frontrunner right now, but it’s possible that The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon pulls off an upset with all of Fallon’s good will in the Academy.

Locks
1. The Colbert Report
2. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
3. Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon

Pretty Much Safe
4. Jimmy Kimmel Live!
5. Saturday Night Live

Fighting for the Last Slot
6. Real Time with Bill Maher
7. Late Show with David Letterman
8. Conan

June 19, 2014
10 Comedy Actors that Deserve, but won’t get, Emmy Nominations

It’s no secret that most award shows don’t get it completely right, but the Emmys are probably the most guilty of that. Why? Because they have years to nominate an actor or a show, but never do. Sometimes after years of ignoring, the Emmys finally give a show it’s fair notice (i.e. Friday Night Lights). However, most actors and shows simply go without the recognition they deserve. So, to give them that recognition, here is a list of 10 Comedy Actors (male or female, lead or supporting) that deserve Emmy nominations this year, but won’t get one (probably). Be sure to check out our Drama Actor version here!

Martha Plimpton | Raising Hope
Plimpton got a well-deserved Emmy nomination for the first season of the show, however she has been terribly ignored since then. She’s a great actress playing a great role. She can go from something ridiculous like sleeping with a pair of pantyhose on her head to something sincere like singing Hope a lullaby in the Pilot. Either way, her hilarious Virginia-isms and strange perspective on life offer Plimpton comedy gold that she handles with complete grace and ridiculousness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekuRhiEV1aw

Andy Daly | Review
He’s playing the role of a man reviewing life… enough said. It seems nearly impossible for someone to try to even attempt to play a character that is supposed to be so clearly in a real situation, act ridiculous, but still make it seem real. Yeah, that’s pretty hard. However, he succeeds with impeccable timing and delivery. Even when I first saw previews I thought it was a completely unscripted show, he is just that good.

Eden Sher | The Middle
The Middle has never seemed to catch on with viewers or the Emmys, but the critics have always been there. They have also consistently praised Eden Sher for her performance as the Heck’s perennially down on her luck daughter Sue. She has the distinctly difficult role of just being a complete goofball. Everything she tries to do is done in such vain, but her character’s bright demeanor always breaks through. Sher takes the role, which could have gone so over the top, and grounds it in something endearing. However, the perennially second child of ABC’s Wednesday comedy block will continue to be ignored.

June 17, 2014
LIVE BLOG: Emmy Ballot Reaction

The Emmys have released the ballot for nominee voting for this year’s awards. Annually there are surprises for category placements, episode submissions, and much more. Check out my reactions for the ballot and what I think they mean for the awards.

The best part? No need to refresh the page. All the updates will appear automatically.

While you wait, check out our Emmy Predictions!

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June 9, 2014
Can Peter Dinklage Win Emmy #2?

Peter Dinklage ended up being the absolutely worthy winner of Game of Thrones’ only acting Emmy so far in the series’ run. From the beginning of this season, it looked like his storyline was going to put him in line for yet another Emmy, but it wasn’t until this week’s episode that this hunch came to fruition.

The episode “The Laws of Gods and Men” found Tyrion at his absolute lowest, which for Dinklage is a high point. While on trial for murder Dinklage gets to perform his usual one-liners and quips, but it’s the end of the episode that could bring him gold.

In season one the actor won for the episode “Baelor.” He was able to make up lack of screen time and absence from the first half of the episode with a drunken emotional speech about a whore that his father and brother paid to sleep with him. It is a known fact that Emmy voters love speeches. Last year’s Emmy winners Anna Gun and Jeff Daniels can attribute their wins to emotional speeches in their submissions.

Dinklage was fortunate to receive yet another speech, but this time even bigger in scope. He essentially took a lifetime of hate, for his father, for his sister, for the people of King’s landing, and regurgitated it in an anger filled emotional speech, complete with gasps, yells, and dramatic close-ups. Will it be enough to win him his second Emmy?

It could be. Game of Thrones is at the top of its popularity and acclaim and its success at the Emmys thus far doesn’t hurt. However, Dinklage has one thing in his way: Aaron Paul.

Paul is already one of the few actors to win twice in this category. He has also has a watershed submission that could rival Dinklage’s speech. What Dinklage does have above Paul is time. By the time Emmy voting starts, Breaking Bad will have been off for nearly a year, so Dinklage will of Thrones’ fresh buzz.

As of now I am predicting Aaron Paul, but I think the next few months are going to see a lot switching in this category.

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May 13, 2014