Emmy Tracker: Movers and Shakers in the Limited Series Categories

The Emmy Tracker Limited Series categories are ever in-flux thanks to an abundance of potential nominees

On this week’s Water Cooler Podcast, Joey, Megan, and I had a robust conversation about the highly competition Limited Series Emmy races. If you haven’t had the chance to listen, it’s a comprehensive (re: long) overview of we consider to be the hottest categories at the 2016 Emmys. I know I said it’s long. Hopefully, you’ll find it flies by as we did. At any rate, the conversations on the podcast led to today’s updates in the Emmy Tracker Limited Series categories. Plus, we’ve now seen Roots and The Dresser, two television productions that deserve serious consideration.

Today’s updates include…

• We’ve added Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker to the overstuffed Supporting Actor race thanks to a stand-out performance on nights one and two of A&E’s Roots update. We’d left him off because we weren’t sure how impactful he would be in the ensemble cast. Well, we’ve seen it now, and he’s a significant standout. As Fiddler, he gives the kind of performance that truly pops, playing the violin as Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) escapes a plantation during a Christmas celebration. Then, Fiddler becomes the driving force behind Kunta Kinte emotionally recovering from an extremely brutal punishment. As such, Whitaker will likely figure into the race in a very significant way should the Television Academy respond positively to Roots.
• So, if Forest Whitaker goes in, then someone must come out. After fully considering All the Way, none of us were truly impressed by Frank Langella’s stereotypically mustache-twirling performance. This week, we’re dropping him in favor of Whitaker. Far better in All the Way was Bradley Whitford as LBJ’s vice president, Hubert Humphrey. Similar to Greg Kinnear’s Joe Biden, Whitford manages to both impersonate Humphrey and make him a compelling character. Plus, the Television Academy loves Whitford, having awarded him multiple nominations and a win last year for Transparent. Sorry Martin Freeman. Maybe another year.
• Richard Dreyfuss steps up a few notches for his Madoff performance. We weren’t sure exactly how the performance would resonate from its original airdate last February, but Mr. Dreyfuss has been on the campaign circuit as well as going on a few highly publicized anti-Trump Twitter rants. You may call that lunacy. We call it brilliant campaigning.
• There was a lot of conversation around Wendell Pierce’s performance in Confirmation as future Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Pierce is a well known and much-liked television actor who was also seen this year in Fox’s Grease Live! The problem with Pierce is the role of Clarence Thomas isn’t fully realized as the film is without a doubt in Anita Hill’s corner. This is her movie. He’s not given a compelling scene to warrant attention above many other fine actors. Plus, there’s that whole simple battery charge to deal with stemming from a Bernie Sanders rally in Atlanta. Political rants on Twitter are one thing, allegedly attacking a woman is entirely another. We didn’t include him for now…
• The American television premiere of Starz!’s The Dresser introduced two very strong contenders in the Best Actor race. Sirs Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen both give great performances, even if they are polar opposites. Who has the upper hand? The role gives Hopkins free license to be big, broad, and hammy (something he joyously excels at) while performing King Lear and contemplating a life in the theater. McKellen has the bittersweet role of the ignored dresser. McKellen is always fantastic and has awards heat when he acts, but it’s been a while since Hopkins has been this great. I’m giving Hopkins the upper hand for now as Timothy Hutton (American Crime) and Patrick Wilson (Fargo) fall below the top ten.
• Quick updates: Anika Noni Rose (Roots) is apparently now being considered for Supporting Actress in a Limited Series rather than Best Actress in a category dominated by Sarah Paulson (The People v. O.J. Simpson). Additionally (and sadly), And Then There Were None was completely removed from the list because it was not submitted for Emmy consideration. It will compete at the International Emmy Awards instead.