As I start my annual Emmy wishlist, I remember that the Emmy voters quite frequently get it wrong and turn their noses up at shows that the public is embracing. In other words, get ready for more Downton Abbey nominations, and snubs for The Walking Dead.
For Best Supporting Actress, Allison Janney is basically a lock for Mom. Julie Bowen is looking good again for Modern Family, as is Sofia Vergara. Anna Chlumsky should get nominated again for Veep. The final slot, as boring as it seems, should go to Mayim Bialik for The Big Bang Theory. Is that me predicting no new entries? Yup.
If anyone breaks through, it’ll be Jane Krakowski for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I doubt Kate McKinnon will be nominated for SNL, or Wendi McClendon-Covey for The Goldbergs. We must be done nominating Merritt Weaver by now, right?
Who would I nominate? I’d nominate the aforementioned Krakowski, alongside Chelsea Peretti for Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Aubrey Plaza for Parks and Recreation (it’s her last chance y’all), and the oft-forgotten Kaley Cuoco for The Big Bang Theory. The last nomination would be a toss-up between Janney and McKinnon for me. It’s not a particularly strong category this year, with most new network sitcoms taking a giant nosedive.
For Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Tituss Burgess has to be a front-runner to breakthrough with a nomination for The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He’ll be up against Ty Burrell for Modern Family, Andre Braugher for Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Tony Hale for Veep, and likely another newcomer. Will it be Martin Sheen or Sam Waterston for Grace and Frankie? Will it be Hugh Laurie for Veep? Josh Gad for The Comedians?
It might even be love for a long-time coming nominee like Aziz Ansari or Chris Pratt for Parks and Recreation. Pratt’s star has risen so much that it’s hard to imagine he won’t get noticed this time around. Kunal Nayyar might finally feel some Big Bang love. TJ Miller is certainly in the running for Silicon Valley.
I’d pick Burgess, Braugher, Ansari, Pratt, and Nick Offerman. The Emmys have a lot of ground to make up for snubbing the trio of Parks and Recreation actors, and it’s their last chance to give them some love.
