Jalal Haddad takes a look at the Limited Series Emmy race in a series of posts leading up to the Emmy nomination announcement on July 14th. Over the next week, Jalal will be providing his own expert analysis in individual races and covering the top ten contenders in each category.
1. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Photo courtesy of FX.Ryan Murphy has single handedly taken the dying miniseries genre and turned it into the most exciting on television by revamping it with various anthology series or inspiring others to do the same. With American Crime Story,he turned O.J. Simpson once again into the most captivating pop culture event of the year. Actors like Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vance, and even John Travolta gave some of the best performances of their careers. American Crime Story has the potential to dominate the Limited Series/TV Movie categories and even though it has a lot of worthy competition it will probably do just that.
2. American Crime
Photo courtesy of ABC.For a broadcast network in 2016 to produce something as high caliber as American Crime is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. Oscar winner John Ridley took themes like sexual assault, racism, and violence and dealt with them in a timelier and more thought provoking manner than any of the limited series or TV movies that HBO produced in the past year. On top of that, the show gave us some of the best performances of the year from Lili Taylor, Connor Jessup, and Joey Pollari. The show may not be able to beat American Crime Story for the top award, but the Television Academy will honor this sophomore season with a lot of nominations, especially in the acting categories.
3. Fargo
Photo courtesy of FX.Two years ago, Fargo won the Limited Series award after receiving 18 nominations. The second season premiered to even more acclaim than the first, and, for the first part of the season, fans were obsessing over the 1979 set story. The finale was a bit more divisive amongst fans and critics, but Emmy voters are historically much more forgiving than any other group. Even if the show doesn’t have the momentum to win again, it will at least be nominated.
4. Roots
Photo courtesy of History.The $50 million remake of the most successful miniseries of all time is never going to be as successful as the original, and a lot of people (especially those who were around for the original) dismissed it because of that. After the series premiered, critics and filmmakers like Ava Duvernay began to champion the series and some even argued that it is better than the original. Because of its massive scale and importance, the remake will likely make it into the Limited Series lineup. However, like other History Channel projects, it was probably released too late in the awards calendar to make a bigger splash in the acting and craft categories.
5. American Horror Story: Hotel
Photo courtesy of FX.Fans and critics were largely disappointed in the fifth AHS installment because of its weak and muddled plot, and many voters weren’t ready to say goodbye to Jessica Lange and embrace Lady Gaga. Enough voters could be done with the show after Hotel and ready to move on to much stronger anthology series. However, last year a lot of fans were frustrated with Freak Show, and the season ended up having its most successful year at the Emmys in terms of nominations. The craft and tech branches will continue embracing the show in their categories and because of that the show might just have enough support to continue being nominated.
6. The Night Manager
Photo courtesy of AMC.The adaptation of John Le Carré’s novel could easily be embraced by Emmy voters, especially since they have a long history of recognizing BBC imports. The limited series didn’t dominate the cultural conversation in the same way that the various American anthology series did, but it uniquely appeals to older voters. Because of its subject matter and source material, the series also carries a stronger sense of sophistication compared to its competition that might help it stand out to voters.
7. Show Me a Hero
Photo courtesy of HBO.Show Me a Hero came and went quickly last August without much attention from audiences and journalists. Public Housing as a topic isn’t much of a draw to audiences even if it is created by Oscar winners like Paul Haggis. I don’t know very many people besides myself who watched all four parts of the limited series so voters will probably get bored before being shown the tragedy. Oscar Isaac did win a surprise Golden Globe for his role (probably attributed to his rising star status), and the program was nominated by the DGA and WGA awards so at least some industry professionals are paying attention.
Worth Mentioning: London Spy, The Spoils Before Dying, Madoff, True Detective
The Limited Series category has fluctuated between five and six nominees over the years depending on the votes, and this year there are only seven likely contenders vying for those slots. The year began with one of the most disappointing second installments of an anthology series (True Detective), but as the year progressed the anthology format gave us some of the best programs on television. The most interesting element of the category will be what series actually fills that fifth (sixth?) slot when nominations are revealed next week. Arguments could be made for any of the three contenders but in the end I’m betting on the craft branches to push American Horror Story: Hotel into another nomination.
Jalal Haddad takes a look at the Lead Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie Emmy race in a series of posts leading up to the Emmy nomination announcement on July 14th. Over the next week, Jalal will be providing his own expert analysis in individual races and covering the top ten contenders in each category.
1. Sarah Paulson (Marcia Clark) The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Photo courtesy of FX.
Over the past four years of continuous nominations, Sarah Paulson has become the most overdue actor working on television. Two of those years, she entered the ceremony as the odds on favorite to win only to go home empty handed. That’s not going to happen this year. American Crime Story is the most buzzed about show on television and her performance alone is enough to make her the obvious choice. On top of that bloggers and critics have done an amazing job of making sure she is the obvious choice.
2. Kerry Washington (Anita Hill) Confirmation
Photo courtesy of HBO.
On paper, Confirmation is the perfect Emmy vehicle for two-time nominee Kerry Washington. In fact, she became the frontrunner to win the second HBO announced they were producing the Anita Hill biopic. Unfortunately for Washington, Confirmation came and went with a whisper in a year dominated by some of the best limited series in the history of television. Any other year she would be a lock to win, and she will still be nominated. Sadly for Washington, a traditional biopic for once isn’t going to earn her that Emmy.
3. Kirsten Dunst (Peggy Blumquist) Fargo
Photo courtesy of FX.
After a string of indie hits, Kirsten Dunst had a career-defining performance as the catalyst character in the second season of Fargo. She won the Critics’ Choice last winter but lost the Golden Globe to Lady Gaga (which caused a lot of outrage on Twitter). Six months later, she has lost a lot of that awards steam to overdue actors like Paulson and Washington, but it would still be shocking if voters overlooked her for a nomination.
4. Felicity Huffman (Leslie Graham) American Crime
Photo courtesy of ABC.
Felicity Huffman became the only star of Desperate Housewives to win an Emmy for being the most relatable and likable of the four women, a stark contrast to her frigid and harsh characters on American Crime. There is no doubt that Emmy voters will continue to nominate her for her work on the anthology series, but she doesn’t have the material to stand out against any of the frontrunners to actually win.
5. Lili Taylor (Anne Blaine) American Crime
Photo courtesy of ABC.
Lili Taylor gave the most heartbreaking performance of the category as a single mother trying desperately to help her son survive. If I were an Emmy voter, she is who I would be voting for. Voters are probably going to love the second season of American Crime, but Taylor has never been able to gain major traction for her performance probably because she is the least known name out of the major contenders.
6. Rachel McAdams (Detective Ani Bezzerides) True Detective
Photo courtesy of HBO.
Yes, the second season of True Detective was one of the biggest disappointments on television in recent memory, but McAdams was the only element of the season to which people had positive reactions. She has also been receiving a lot of attention for her supporting performance in Spotlight which earned her a surprise Oscar nomination. She could easily be the sixth nominee but voters might be so turned off by the disappointing season that they ignore the show completely.
7. Blythe Danner (Ruth Madoff) Madoff
Photo courtesy of ABC.
Madoff was a modest success for ABC in terms of ratings and reviews. If the limited series aired on HBO, Danner would be a major Emmy threat. She is a 6-time nominee and won two for her role in Huff so there is no doubt she is on the radar of at least some Emmy voters. If she does end up with a surprise nomination, it will be because of name-checking, especially since ABC seems to only be heavily campaigning Dreyfuss.
8. Audra McDonald (Billie Holiday) Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill
Photo courtesy of HBO.
Earlier this year, HBO filmed and aired the Tony-winning production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. McDonald is getting a lot of Emmy buzz for her performance. Thanks to her live performance and musical elements she will probably stand out to Emmy voters. The only problem is that the acting branch doesn’t nominate just any live taped performance. They usually go for very well respected actors in highly regarded productions like Ian McKellen in King Lear or Emma Thompson in Sweeney Todd. She is at least on the radar of Emmy voters, having been nominated four times (two for acting and two for special class program).
9. Kristen Wiig (Dolores DeWinter) The Spoils Before Dying
Photo courtesy of IFC.
Seve7-time Emmy nominee Kristen Wiig is so popular with Emmy voters that she earned a surprise nomination for The Spoils of Babylon, the small IFC comedic limited series poking fun at the over-the-top miniseries of the 70s. She could easily be nominated for the follow-up, The Spoils Before Dying, but the category is much more crowded this year, and she is competing against herself in Lifetime’s A Deadly Adoption.
10. Lady Gaga (The Countess) American Horror Story: Hotel
Photo courtesy of FX.
Lady Gaga replaced Jessica Lange as the face of American Horror Story for the fifth season. While some people grew to like her performance on the horror anthology, a lot of people were left feeling underwhelmed after four legendary years of Jessica Lange. Emmy voters don’t usually embrace pop stars, but they might embrace her since they haven’t shown any signs of moving on from American Horror Story with last year’s Freak Show earning the most nominations of any of the installments.
O.J. Simpson and Girls are among ADTV’s favorite 2016 TV shows
We are now halfway through the 2016 TV year. Seems like a great time to take stock on the quality of the 2016 TV season. In case you missed it, Joey, Megan, and Clarence unveiled their list and honorable mentions on this week’s Water Cooler Podcast. Not wanting to leave out the rest of the AwardsDaily TV team, we’ve included everyone’s top five of 2016 TV below.
It’s interesting to take stock midway the TV year, more interesting than doing the same for film. The Emmy voting window runs June 1 through May 31 of the following year. That puts the “quality corridor” of TV – i.e. Emmy bait television like Roots and All the Way – in the late winter and early spring. Therefore, it’s sometimes harder to narrow this list down in July than it is at the end of the year. There is a lot of great television halfway through the year because that’s when Emmy voters pay the most attention.
So, here’s the full Team ADTV list. Be sure to share your top five in the comments section below! We’d love to hear what you’re loving!
Jalal Haddad takes a look at the Lead Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie Emmy race in a series of posts leading up to the Emmy nomination announcement on July 14th. Over the next week, Jalal will be providing his own expert analysis in individual races and covering the top ten contenders in each category.
1. Bryan Cranston (Lyndon B. Johnson) All the Way
Photo courtesy of HBO.
Bryan Cranston became the frontrunner for his portrayal of LBJ the day HBO announced they were adapting the play that featured his Tony-winning role. Cranston won six Emmys for starring and producing Breaking Bad, and his popularity is still at an all-time high amongst industry voters. He is going to receive a lot of votes even though his performance isn’t the strongest in the group. In the final round of voting he will no doubt benefit from the ACS actors splitting the vote.
2. Courtney B. Vance (Johnnie Cochran) The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Photo courtesy of FX.
After twenty years of working as a character actor on television Vance was finally given the role of a lifetime portraying Johnnie Cochran. Voters criminally overlooked him last year for his heart wrenching guest performance of a father of a slain teen on Scandal, but there is no way voters are going to make the same mistake twice. Most pundits would argue he is the frontrunner of the category, and he undoubtedly give the best performance but it might be difficult to beat an Emmy favorite like Cranston unless ACS fully dominates the Limited Series races.
3. Cuba Good Jr. (O.J. Simpson) The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Photo courtesy of FX.
Nineteen years has passed since Cuba Gooding Jr. won his Oscar, and he hasn’t been nominated for a major award since. Ryan Murphy gave him a career comeback, something he has done for Oscar winners in the past. Voters will embrace that story especially since he has been the face of the limited series since January. He may be overshadowed at the Emmys by Cranston and Vance, but at least he can take solace in being the frontrunner for the Golden Globe.
4. Idris Elba (John Luther) Luther
Photo courtesy of BBC America.
For the past five years Idris Elba has been making his way around the awards circuit for his performance as detective John Luther. He won a Golden Globe, SAG, and a Critics Choice award for the sleeper hit, but he has yet to win an Emmy. Oscar voters made the mistake of snubbing him last winter, but the Television Academy won’t make the same mistake although he doesn’t have a strong chance of outshining the competition with more buzz.
5. Oscar Isaac (Nick Wasicsko) Show Me a Hero
Photo courtesy of HBO.
After a stellar 2015, Oscar Isaac is quickly becoming America’s most charismatic movie star. In between his two big cinematic hits, he starred in Show Me a Hero, the little-seen HBO limited series about a NY public housing unit. He deservingly won a Golden Globe for his performance, but the series aired nine months ago so many voters might not be paying attention. If anyone can campaign a small limited series its HBO, and his status as a rising star will only help him.
6. Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes) Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Photo courtesy of BBC America.
In 2014 Benedict Cumberbatch ended his three year nomination streak in this category with a shocking win in a minor Sherlock sweep. A couple years later, it’s hard to tell whether Sherlock is as popular as it used to be amongst Emmy voters, but in a year with so many options voters will probably lean towards the more obvious choice.
7. Ricky Gervais (Ian Finch) Special Correspondents
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
With 22 nominations in twelve different categories, it’s safe to say Emmy voters love Ricky Gervais. Netflix has successfully campaigned his little scene performance in Derek to voters, and they should have no problem doing the same for Special Correspondents, a film he starred in, wrote, directed, and even composed the music. The only problem is the film is terrible. If voters watch the film he could be in trouble but he will likely receive a lot of votes out of name recognition alone.
8. Timothy Hutton (Dan Sullivan) American Crime
Photo courtesy of ABC.
Timothy Hutton’s characters have consistently been one of the weaker elements of American Crime. It’s hard to tell whether that’s due to his performance or the writing. He received a nomination for the first season when the lead actor race was much less stacked, but his chances are a lot smaller now that the competition is stronger. Hutton is another contender that belongs in the supporting race and if his dispensable character ends up with another nomination it will be due to an American Crime sweep.
9. Patrick Wilson(Lou Solverson) Fargo
Photo courtesy of FX.
If the category were less competitive Patrick Wilson, would be a shoo-in for his role in Fargo, a show that Emmy voters have loved in the past. His chances of a nomination would be much stronger in the supporting category, but I don’t think a cop with a quaint accent (and nothing else going for him) can stand out against the other contenders here. In the end I could be underestimating him; voters did love the first season enough to award it with 18 nominations.
10. Richard Dreyfuss (Bernie Madoff) Madoff
Photo courtesy of ABC.
The Oscar winner has never been nominated for an Emmy before although he has received two SAG nominations for his TV work. Critics greeted his performance in Madoff with modestly positive reviews, but it seemed like no one was taking the show as seriously as other limited series on television. This is the type of performance that would have won him an Emmy ten years ago, but with a lot of the best work on TV happening in the Limited Series race, he probably doesn’t stand a chance even if ABC has been campaigning him across the internet.
Worth Mentioning: Tom Hiddleston, Colin Farrell, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen, Anthony Hopkins, Matt Bomer, James Franco
In the past, British exports and Emmy-bait projects dominated the Limited Series/TV Movie acting races. The category provided the perfect time for a bathroom break during the telecast, but this year the race is crowded with the biggest names on television, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and some of the most riveting performances on television. Readers, which six actors do you think will make the final cut come nomination day? Am I underestimating the love voters have for Fargo and American Crime? Will voters make a habit out of bringing back former nominees?
Episode 83: The Cooler gang takes a look at the Best of 2016 TV thus far in the year.
On a special holiday edition of the Water Cooler Podcast, Joey, Megan, and Clarence each list their personal picks in the Best of 2016 TV halfway through the calendar year. Some of the Cooler gang had a harder time than others narrowing the field down to an acceptable five television shows. Who are the easiest lays (television speaking of course) on the Water Cooler Podcast? What shows do they all have in common? What shows will Megan ridicule? And what shows rank as the worst in the year to date? We’ll answer all of these questions and more in this week’s main segment.
As always, we close with the Flash Forward. This week, however, we offer a special Flash Forward into the back-half of 2016. We take a look at the Top Five TV shows – both new and returning – that we are most anticipating starting with the late summer into the fall television season.
Hope you enjoy, and happy Fourth of July from all of us here at the Water Cooler Podcast!
With most networks taking a break to focus on the Emmys and their upcoming fall slate of shows, July has historically been a dry spell for new creative content. This might be the perfect month to catch up on everything sitting in your Netflix queue. Or you could watch one of the many films added to Netflix in July including two films everyone should check out, The Invitation and the Oscar-nominated Mustang. Along with those films, Netflix has a roster of three shows worth your attention:
Stranger Things, Season One (July 15th)
Billed as a love letter to the supernatural classics of the 80s, Stranger Things is the story of three young friends on an adventure when one of them vanishes into thin air. The premise of the show is pretty cryptic. Friends and family search for a missing boy while other mysterious kids pop up out of nowhere. The show is billed as a supernatural horror, but judging from the trailer, the horror is in the same vein of shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark. Stranger Things also stars Winona Ryder, an actress I always love to see on TV (mostly so I can chant “Free Winona” to anyone who will listen).
Marco Polo, Season Two (July 1st)
Marco Polo, Netflix’s epic historical drama produced by the Weinsteins, has returned for a second season a year and a half later. Without big names or critical acclaim, the show struggled to stand out against some of Netflix’s other shows, but Netflix has insisted that the first season was a “massive success” and very popular with audiences. Michelle Yeoh and Gabriel Byrne have joined the cast for the second season. With its luscious scenery and epic battles, Marco Polo may be a good show for anyone looking for something to tide them over until Game of Thrones returns.
The third season of Netflix’s animated hit returns this month with a trailer hinting at a season long arc focusing on BoJack as he is finally given a role that has the potential of earning him an Oscar. The show will return with a cast of all-star voices including Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Aaron Paul, and Alison Brie.
Netflix’s full lineup of new programming:
July 1 Between (Season 2) Deep (Season 1) Marcella (Season 1) Marco Polo (Season 2) Raiders of the Lost Art (Season 2) The Shannara Chronicles (Season 1)
July 4 Kuromukuro (Season 1)
July 7 NSU German History X (Season 1)
July 8 Word Party (Season 1)
July 9
Mystery Files (Season 1)
July 10 The Last Kingdom (Season 1)
July 14 Magi: The Adventures of Sinbad (Season 1) Todd Margaret (Season 3)
July 15 The Adventures of Puss in Boots (Season 3) Stranger Things (Season 1)
July 19 Liv and Maddie (Season 3)
July 22 BoJack Horseman (Season 3) Degrassi: Next Class (Season 2)
July 24 Popples (Season 3)
July 29 Home: Adventures With Tip & Oh (Season 1) LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One (Season 2)
MOVIES
July 1 41 on 41 (2014) A Long Way From Home (2013) Back to the Future (1985) Back to the Future Part II (1989) Back to the Future Part III (1990) Bad Boys II (2003) Batman: The Movie (1966) Beavis and Butt-head Do America (1996) Beverly Hills Cop (1984) Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Blade 2 (2002) By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (2009) Catwoman (2004) Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) Cinderella Man (2005) Conflict (2015) Death Race 2 (2010) Death Race 3: Inferno (2013) Dreamcatcher (2003) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) Gladiator (2000) Hello, Dolly! (1969) Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002) Honey (2003) Insomnia (2002) The Italian Job (2003) Jackass: Number Two (2006) Jim Jefferies: Freedumb (2016) Lalaloopsy Ponies: The Big Show (2014) Lethal Weapon (1987) Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) The Longest Yard (2005) The Lovely Bones (2009) Making the American Man (2016) Mean Girls (2004) Nevada Smith (1966) Nick of Time (1995) The Painted Veil (2006) Pandemic (2015) Phenomenon (1996) Rumor Has It (2005) Scooby-Doo (2002) The Sting (1973) Stomp the Yard: Homecoming (2010) Talhotblond (2009) Terminus (2016) Turner and Hooch (1989) Twisted (2004) Watershed: Exploring A New Water Ethic for the New West (2012) Well Wishes (2015) Working Girl (1988) Yours, Mine and Ours (2005)
July 6 The Big Short (2015)
July 7 A War (2015) The Armor of Light (2015) Brahman Naman (2016)
July 8 The Invitation (2015)
July 9 Mustang (2015)
July 12 Rolling Papers (2015)
July 14 Gridlocked (2015)
July 15 Ghostheads (2016) Holidays (2016) Rebirth (2016) Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016)
Emmy nomination ballots were due Monday night at the Television Academy. Hold your breath until July 14.
And now we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. The first wave of interviews, parties, screenings, and For Your Consideration events is over. We’re in the quiet lull until the July 14 Emmy nomination announcement. So what, if anything, swayed voters’ minds in their final voting minutes? Particularly with last year’s winners Game of Thrones and Veep.
The Emmy Game
HBO cleverly staged the finale of their blockbuster, and Emmy friendly, Sunday night entertainment conveniently just before the closing day. Perhaps they’ve always done that, but this year, it feels especially brilliant. At least in one case. The final two episodes of Game of Thrones were the buzziest of not only the season but also perhaps the entire series. Only the “Red Wedding” episode or Jon Snow’s death shook the firmament of the internet. The one-two punch of “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter” seized popular culture for the final week of the voting period with its massive battles and shocking season finale deaths. It also helped that the series took a massive step forward toward an end game in the closing moments.
But did this really sway Emmy voters? Is this really a big step forward to one more Emmy nomination for the behemoth? Probably not. You’re either into Game of Thrones or you’re agnostic of it. There’s little in between. The episodes may warrant additional attention to the actors – maybe Kit Harington or additional support for Lena Headey – but my sense is that those who were going to vote for the series already voted for it. Or at least had it penciled in. It would be interesting to see how many ballots come in over the course of the 2-week voting period. Did everyone fill it out immediately? Did they wait until the last minute? The fate of hanging nominees like Kit Harington may depend on how many saw his strong, physical performance in “Bastards.”
What about Veep?
Veep is a little trickier in my opinion. The series is most assuredly guaranteed major nominations in all eligible categories, and I don’t see anything able to beat it in September. Still, season five left a bad taste in my mouth. “Kissing Your Sister,” an episode dedicated to Catherine’s (Sarah Sutherland) documentary about the Selina Meyer presidency, left me underwhelmed. It felt completely unnecessary, a broken interlude to an otherwise flawless season. Remember how we dreaded Parks and Recreation‘s season seven episode “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show?” The one dedicated to a Chris Pratt fantasia? “Kissing Your Sister” is what I feared “Johnny Karate” would be. The finale, while offering some very funny moments, left an awkward aftertaste, setting up a season six that I’m not sure I really want to see.
Still, no one is betting against Veep at the Emmys. There simply isn’t enough competition. Or maybe there’s too much?
Introducing the Coolies
That brings an interesting point. We here at AwardsDaily TV just voted in our very first Coolie Awards. The Coolies are ADTV’s own Emmy nomination simulation experiment. We all voted for Emmys exactly as the Television Academy did. Granted, there were only seven instead of 18,500, so the survey sample sizes don’t line up. Still, we all voted for the shows we watch and love, the people we respect, and the underdogs we wanted to throw our votes behind. The results will be available July 13, but I noticed something very interesting as I tabulated the results. Without a preferential Emmy nomination process, it became a popularity contest.
That’s not to say our nominations will completely align with expectations – we have a few left-of-center picks here and there – but I was personally surprised at how quickly we aligned on selections. Without trying to predict nominations, we seem to have fallen into the same Emmy patterns that the Television Academy does year after year. What does this mean? The Emmy nomination process probably needs some kind of overhaul. Maybe not the blue-ribbon panels of yesteryear, but perhaps the preferential ballot for nominations? Seems to me that would result in a few more interesting nominations on July 14.
No changes in the Emmy Tracker this week. The Coolies will debut on July 13 along with ADTV’s official Emmy nomination predictions. Stay tuned to ADTV on July 14 for the official announcements as well as reaction from 2016 Emmy nominees and a special Water Cooler Podcast breaking down the nominees and inevitable shocking omissions.
Jalal Haddad takes a look at the Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy race in a series of posts leading up to the Emmy nomination announcement on July 14th. Over the next few weeks, Jalal will be providing his own expert analysis in individual races and covering the top ten contenders in each category.
1. Viola Davis (Annalise Keating), How to Get Away With Murder
Viola Davis became the front runner the second that ABC released their first trailer for HWTGAWM two years ago, and she’s gone on to win every peer popular vote for her role as Annalise Keating ever since (An Emmy and two SAG awards). Actors love her and there are very few other actresses that can break her winning streak. Some critics were bored with the second season, but as long as the show remains a hit she’ll be the front runner for the Emmy.
2. Robin Wright (Claire Underwood), House of Cards
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
Season four was all about Claire Underwood even more than it was about her husband, President Frank Underwood. She took on her mom, her husband, the president of Russia, and just about anyone else who stepped in her way. Voters are going to be even more impressed with Wright when they realize she directed almost a third of the season. Robin Wright is the only actress with any chance of beating Davis. After dominating the entire season Claire joins her husband in his breaking of the fourth wall, and voters are going to feel very conflicted on who to vote for.
3. Juliana Margulies (Alicia Florrick), The Good Wife
Photo courtesy of CBS.
Emmy voters aren’t going to ignore Juliana Margulies in the final season of a show for which she has won two Emmys over the past six years. They’ve left her out in the past, but that was probably a result of being dismissed as an obvious favorite in a crowded category. Even though the network drama has been dismissed in the past in favor of cable TV, fans of Juliana are going to rally behind her in her final season. If her ten previous nominations are any indicator, she has a lot of support.
4. Claire Danes (Carrie Mathison), Homeland
Photo courtesy of Showtime.
Claire Danes’ performance as a bipolar CIA operations officer is looked at as one of the most iconic performances of the 21st century even as the show goes in questionable directions plot-wise. She has been nominated for all four seasons and until there is some sort of hint that voters have moved on (like she or the ensemble being dropped at SAG), she is just about assured of another nomination.
5. Taraji P. Henson (Cookie Lyon), Empire
Photo courtesy of Fox.
Empire was the most buzzed about new show last year, but voters largely ignored the show aside from a nomination for Taraji P. Henson’s heavily celebrated performance. Now that the show has lost a lot of that steam, she is one of the more vulnerable actresses in danger of not returning. Lucky for her voters will probably continue to embrace her for a consistently strong performance and continuously being the most entertaining person at just about every awards show and interview.
6. Kerry Washington (Olivia Pope), Scandal
Photo courtesy of ABC.
Emmy voters dropped Washington last year after two nominations after a lot of fans felt the show jumped the shark. The show still isn’t the ratings juggernaut that it used to be but it has regained some of that attention for following the election year throughout the season. Especially with Olivia’s shocking scene involving a chair she has the potential to sneak back into the lineup. Especially since she will be one of the first names on some of the ballots.
7. Shiri Appleby (Rachel Goldberg), UnReal
Photo courtesy of Lifetime.
Critics have been championing Shiri Appleby’s performance as a mentally unstable producer of a Bachelor-esque reality show, and it’s the type of breakthrough performance that Emmy voters should be celebrating. She should be the a frontrunner in the category, but voters have proven time and time again they are willing to ignore any show on a network like Lifetime, especially shows that don’t focus on men. If Appleby is nominated by the acting branch, it will show that the academy’s outreach to younger voters is working.
8. Vera Farmiga (Norma Bates), Bates Motel
Photo courtesy of A&E.
ADTV has been Vera Farmiga’s biggest cheerleader for her work on Bates Motel. Season four probably gave Farmiga her strongest material since the first season (when she was last nominated), and bloggers and critics have kept her in the competition since that shocking finale last May. Voters proved that they are willing to put aside their genre and network bias when they nominated her for the first season and if the buzz convinces them to return to the show she could easily sneak back into the category.
9. Tatiana Maslany (Multiple Characters), Orphan Black
Photo courtesy of BBC America.
Tatiana Maslany’s surprise nomination last year was the best example of a successful campaign by critics and fans incessantly championing a performance from a small show. It took three seasons to convince voters to seek out Maslany’s performance of an eclectic group of clones, but it eventually paid off after SAG voters took the first step. Most voters probably didn’t stick with the show after the plot became increasingly complicated and boring. Many of them will probably return to actors from stronger shows.
10. Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), Marvel’s Jessica Jones
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
Pulpy crime shows like Jessica Jones aren’t the typical types of programs that attract Emmy voters, but Netflix has been heavily campaigning the show, especially Ritter’s lead performance. Just about every industry website has featured full ads for the show. Even if the show wasn’t on the radar of many voters they will at least remember Ritter when they go to fill out their ballots. A nomination is unlikely, but if Netflix is really successful with their massive campaign anything could happen.
Worth Mentioning: Michelle Dockery, Eva Green, Laura Carmichael, Taylor Schilling, Keri Russell, Gillian Anderson, Carrie Coon
While compiling my top ten I continuously questioned including so many prior nominees. With the buzz around Homeland and Empire fading I’m particularly curious to see of Danes and Henson make the cut next year. The more time goes by I’m convinced an upset could happen by Appleby or Farmiga (particularly Appleby). Readers, what do you think? Should I follow my gut and move up Appleby or will voters once again prove they are creatures of habit and continue to nominate their usual lawyers and politicians?
American Horror Story season six details are scarce. ADTV takes a look at the rumors and the facts for the upcoming season.
FX’s American Horror Story: Hotel heads into next month’s Emmy nominations fighting sister show American Crime Story for awards glory. Last year’s Freak Show received a series-record 20 nominations despite no one admitting to actually liking the season. It’s unlikely that Hotel will receive as many nominations given the extremely crowded Limited Series categories. So, after (in my view) a creative uptick in the opulent and typically bonkers Hotel, audiences are ready to welcome American Horror Story season six this fall. And, as per usual for Ryan Murphy’s horror anthology series, details are very scarce.
We know nothing about season six theming. The recently released series logo perhaps hints at a devilish horn hooking upward, connected into the dangling question mark. Does the Devil have something to do with season six? Or the Antichrist? I could see that in the icon. Plus, the Devil’s number is 666. Hard to pass that one up. I could imagine a season set in Coven‘s closing Hellish scenes. It certainly left me with more of a terrified and empty vibe than anything else in the series. Would that reunite us with Kathy Bates’s Marie Delphine LaLaurie or Lily Rabe’s Misty Day? Only time will tell…
Here’s what we know for sure about the returning cast.
Cheyenne Jackson is confirmed to return after his Hotel stint.
Lady Gaga will return as well – something we’ve known since March. She’s apparently rumored to play the sidekick of a serial killer and will not loom as large as she did in Hotel.
Angela Bassett is also set to return and told Entertainment Weekly she thinks her character is an alcoholic. Either that’s a cover or she’s not returning as Coven‘s Marie Laveau.
Denis O’Hare will return. He’s an AHS staple after sitting out Asylum.
Evan Peters will return and recently sported a massive beard, which caused fans to speculate the new look is designed for season six.
Leslie Jordan (Quentin Fleming in Coven) will return. According to the actor, his scenes will heavily feature Lady Gaga.
Matt Bomer will also return.
American Horror Story queen Sarah Paulson isn’t confirmed yet, but it’s difficult to imagine a season without her.
Since we know nothing about the plot, let’s take a look at some of the more prevalent rumors on the internet. Because everything on the internet is right, ya know???
Multiple sites have reported the season will somehow deal with children based on this Ryan Murphy quote, “If you look at horror tropes, the innocence of children, that sort of wide-eyed entryway into some world is always very dramatic and satisfying.”
Given that, many people imagined the season would either introduce or tangentially involve the internet-started Slender Man concept. Murphy denied this theory, however.
Ryan Murphy did confirm the series would be darker and less opulent. I believe he’s said that every year of the series since Murder House. See how that turned out…
Filming started around mid-June in Los Angeles. One scene reportedly involved a nursing home or hospital setting. The series reportedly takes place in the present with “echoes of the past,” according to FX president John Landgraf. Murphy confirmed that the season will have multiple call-backs to previous seasons.
There are countless rumors spread across the internet that have the season set everywhere from a summer camp to a boarding school to a high school. Last August, Entertainment Weekly featured a massive cover story revealing Lady Gaga’s Countess character. If the big reveal doesn’t come in July’s ComicCon, then August should bring the official announcement if not a teaser.
Stay tuned to AwardsDaily TV for the latest updates!
Update: FX announced today season six will premiere September 14 at 10PM ET, nearly one month earlier than its typical October premiere.
American Crime season three starts to take shape as cast and setting are announced
For a while, American Crime season three seemed like a shaky proposition. Show runner John Ridley would reportedly abandon the Emmy-winning ABC property for another series recently given the go. Fortunately for fans of Ridley and his hot-button anthology series, American Crime season three will move forward at ABC, and it will feature two of its biggest stars.
Multiple news outlets are confirming Felicity Huffman’s return to the series. She won an Emmy nomination for its first incarnation and will likely receive a second Emmy nomination on July 14. Huffman is officially joined by Emmy-winner Regina King. Co-star Timothy Hutton should also return, but an official announcement is still outstanding.
American Crime season three will take place in North Carolina and will reportedly deal with labor issues, economic inequality, and civil rights. The actual filming, however, will take place in Los Angeles thanks to new California tax credits. No word yet on whether or not the new season will incorporate the recently controversial North Carolina-based HB2 legislation. The bill, among other items, restricts bathroom entry to an individual’s gender at birth.
Felicity Huffman won an Emmy for ABC’s Desperate Housewives, and Regina King received an Emmy for season one of American Crime.
