Best Drama Series
Nominees:
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
House of Cards
Mad Men
True Detective
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
House of Cards
Mad Men
True Detective
Will Win: Breaking Bad
True Detective might be the buzziest show, but the ending was polarizing, and a recent plagiarism controversy could hurt its chances. Plus, it's hard to beat the near-universal love for Bad, which finally won its first series Emmy last year and will never get that chance again.
True Detective might be the buzziest show, but the ending was polarizing, and a recent plagiarism controversy could hurt its chances. Plus, it's hard to beat the near-universal love for Bad, which finally won its first series Emmy last year and will never get that chance again.
Should Win: Breaking Bad
Where to start? The acting was so good that some fans were still rooting for a certain child-poisoning, nursing-home-bombing, baby-smuggling meth dealer right up until the very last minute. The storytelling was so good that it tied up some ends that you might not remember being loose. (Walt's lost khakis, found!) And the finale was so hugely satisfying, it proved that Breaking Bad isn't just one of the year's best dramas—it's one of the greatest dramas of all time..
Where to start? The acting was so good that some fans were still rooting for a certain child-poisoning, nursing-home-bombing, baby-smuggling meth dealer right up until the very last minute. The storytelling was so good that it tied up some ends that you might not remember being loose. (Walt's lost khakis, found!) And the finale was so hugely satisfying, it proved that Breaking Bad isn't just one of the year's best dramas—it's one of the greatest dramas of all time..
Best Actor, Drama
Nominees:
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Will Win: Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Now that Rust Cohle's ''time is a flat circle'' speech has officially reached memestatus, pretty much everyone can appreciate McConaughey's eerily dead-inside performance. Also, with so many True Detective nods, the show will probably win forsomething, and still hot from his Oscar breakthrough, McConaughey seems like the safest bet, especially given that Cranston hasn't won since 2010.
Now that Rust Cohle's ''time is a flat circle'' speech has officially reached memestatus, pretty much everyone can appreciate McConaughey's eerily dead-inside performance. Also, with so many True Detective nods, the show will probably win forsomething, and still hot from his Oscar breakthrough, McConaughey seems like the safest bet, especially given that Cranston hasn't won since 2010.
Should Win: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
It's hard to imagine a more difficult role than the one Cranston played here, transforming a vulnerable middle-aged cancer patient into TV's most powerful supervillain—and then, during the show's final episodes, transforming him back into a vulnerable middle-aged cancer patient again.
It's hard to imagine a more difficult role than the one Cranston played here, transforming a vulnerable middle-aged cancer patient into TV's most powerful supervillain—and then, during the show's final episodes, transforming him back into a vulnerable middle-aged cancer patient again.
Best Actress, Drama
Nominees:
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Will win/Should win: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Perhaps some will vote for the two-time Emmy winner (once for E.R., once for her current show) out of guilt for fact that The Good Wife was unjustly denied a nomination for Outstanding Drama despite fielding a sensationally entertaining season. Good enough reason for me! And Margulies earned it all year long, from warring with her former firm over accounts and cases or grieving the stunning shooting death of her former lover Will Gardner (Emmy-nominated Josh Charles).
Perhaps some will vote for the two-time Emmy winner (once for E.R., once for her current show) out of guilt for fact that The Good Wife was unjustly denied a nomination for Outstanding Drama despite fielding a sensationally entertaining season. Good enough reason for me! And Margulies earned it all year long, from warring with her former firm over accounts and cases or grieving the stunning shooting death of her former lover Will Gardner (Emmy-nominated Josh Charles).
Best Supporting Actor, Drama
Nominees:
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Will Win: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
The two-time Emmy winner was asked to play the extremes of lost meth slinger Jesse Pinkman all season long, and he made them excruciatingly real, from dead-inside, what-have-I-become? despair to raging self-loathing hellbent on vengeful justice to his last moment, that horror-charged hallelujah howl as he broke for good and burned rubber away from the father figure broken bad, Walter White.
The two-time Emmy winner was asked to play the extremes of lost meth slinger Jesse Pinkman all season long, and he made them excruciatingly real, from dead-inside, what-have-I-become? despair to raging self-loathing hellbent on vengeful justice to his last moment, that horror-charged hallelujah howl as he broke for good and burned rubber away from the father figure broken bad, Walter White.
Should Win: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
I won't complain one bit if Paul wins, but his work feels forever ago and Paul has been richly rewarded with fat stacks of award show love for slinging his brilliance. So at the risk of being poisoned by Breaking Bad's rabidly loyal fans, I am raising my goblet to Dinklage. A bleaker-than-usual year for Game of Thrones found an always-compelling access point in the wrenching trials and tribulations of Tyrion Lannister, and Dinklage—who won in this category in 2011—deserves to win again for rising to the occasion of actually making me care about the most hopeless, brutal world on television.
I won't complain one bit if Paul wins, but his work feels forever ago and Paul has been richly rewarded with fat stacks of award show love for slinging his brilliance. So at the risk of being poisoned by Breaking Bad's rabidly loyal fans, I am raising my goblet to Dinklage. A bleaker-than-usual year for Game of Thrones found an always-compelling access point in the wrenching trials and tribulations of Tyrion Lannister, and Dinklage—who won in this category in 2011—deserves to win again for rising to the occasion of actually making me care about the most hopeless, brutal world on television.
Best Supporting Actress, Drama
Nominees:
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Will Win: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
The Emmys love a Lady Macbeth figure. There are two of them on this list—the characters played by Gunn and Headey—which might mean they'll cancel each other out. But this is Gunn's last chance to be honored as Skyler White. Besides, who's gonna vote against a mother who's willing to stab her own husband to defend her kids?
The Emmys love a Lady Macbeth figure. There are two of them on this list—the characters played by Gunn and Headey—which might mean they'll cancel each other out. But this is Gunn's last chance to be honored as Skyler White. Besides, who's gonna vote against a mother who's willing to stab her own husband to defend her kids?
Should Win: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Go watch the scene from ''Ozymandias'' where Skyler finally attacks Walt. Notice how slowly and deliberately Gunn builds from a place of calm (''Where is Hank?'') to terror (''Where. Is. Hank?''), to fury (that brutal knife fight), to panic (she's hyperventilating), to something far beyond any emotion you can name, which brings her to her knees in the middle of the street, covered in blood, screaming as loud as she can. Then, when you're done, try to argue that she doesn't deserve this.
Go watch the scene from ''Ozymandias'' where Skyler finally attacks Walt. Notice how slowly and deliberately Gunn builds from a place of calm (''Where is Hank?'') to terror (''Where. Is. Hank?''), to fury (that brutal knife fight), to panic (she's hyperventilating), to something far beyond any emotion you can name, which brings her to her knees in the middle of the street, covered in blood, screaming as loud as she can. Then, when you're done, try to argue that she doesn't deserve this.
Best Comedy Series
Nominees:
The Big Bang Theory
Louie
Modern Family
Orange Is the New Black
Silicon Valley
Veep
The Big Bang Theory
Louie
Modern Family
Orange Is the New Black
Silicon Valley
Veep
Will Win: The Big Bang Theory
Modern Family has won this award four years running, and perhaps I'm a fool for betting against it this year. Still, I think this is the year Emmy decides enough is enough, and bestows its highest comedy honor to television's most watched show, a well-oiled, high-functioning yuk-yuk machine. Emmy hasn't given this award to a cable comedy since Sex In The City in 2001. Clearly, Emmy likes its comedy broad and broadly cast.
Modern Family has won this award four years running, and perhaps I'm a fool for betting against it this year. Still, I think this is the year Emmy decides enough is enough, and bestows its highest comedy honor to television's most watched show, a well-oiled, high-functioning yuk-yuk machine. Emmy hasn't given this award to a cable comedy since Sex In The City in 2001. Clearly, Emmy likes its comedy broad and broadly cast.
Should Win: Louie
A tough category for me. I have equally high regard for Orange Is The New Black(which I don't think belongs in this category), Veep (which makes me laugh very hard, but this season, not as hard as previous seasons) and Silicon Valley (a smart, sweet newbie that started strong, got better, then finished just-okay). But Louie nudges ahead for me—at least, today—because of my admiration for the way this surreal, cerebral, painful-hysterical comedy of middle-aged male bad manners took chances with content, form, performance, and even the out-of-sequence way it aired its episodes. Not all of CK's experiments were funny, but they were always stimulating, and the comedy genre—and TV—is better for them.
A tough category for me. I have equally high regard for Orange Is The New Black(which I don't think belongs in this category), Veep (which makes me laugh very hard, but this season, not as hard as previous seasons) and Silicon Valley (a smart, sweet newbie that started strong, got better, then finished just-okay). But Louie nudges ahead for me—at least, today—because of my admiration for the way this surreal, cerebral, painful-hysterical comedy of middle-aged male bad manners took chances with content, form, performance, and even the out-of-sequence way it aired its episodes. Not all of CK's experiments were funny, but they were always stimulating, and the comedy genre—and TV—is better for them.
Best Actor, Comedy
Nominees:
Louis CK, Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Ricky Gervais, Derek
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Louis CK, Louie
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Ricky Gervais, Derek
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Will win/Should win: Louis CK, Louie
Emmy chooses to honor the comedian-auteur's bold innovation and alternately hilarious and profound irreverence here, ending the streak of four consecutive wins by Team Chuck Lorre actors (three for Jim Parsons, one for Jon Cryer).
Emmy chooses to honor the comedian-auteur's bold innovation and alternately hilarious and profound irreverence here, ending the streak of four consecutive wins by Team Chuck Lorre actors (three for Jim Parsons, one for Jon Cryer).
Best Actress, Comedy
Nominees:
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black
Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
After beating Lucille Ball's record for Emmy nominations—she has earned 15 nods, and won four statues, two of them for Veep—Louis-Dreyfus might as well write her name in permanent ink on the ballot. And, to be fair, she probably deserves an honorary Emmy for last year's very funny acceptance speech alone.
After beating Lucille Ball's record for Emmy nominations—she has earned 15 nods, and won four statues, two of them for Veep—Louis-Dreyfus might as well write her name in permanent ink on the ballot. And, to be fair, she probably deserves an honorary Emmy for last year's very funny acceptance speech alone.
Should Win: Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black
Schilling probably won't win, because her part is more sardonic and less laugh-out-loud funny than your traditional comedy role. But she deserves this based on sheer range: her emotional breakdowns are every bit as artful as her physical comedy. Who else on this list can cry just as well as she can chase a chicken?
Schilling probably won't win, because her part is more sardonic and less laugh-out-loud funny than your traditional comedy role. But she deserves this based on sheer range: her emotional breakdowns are every bit as artful as her physical comedy. Who else on this list can cry just as well as she can chase a chicken?
Best Supporting Actor, Comedy
Nominees:
Fred Armisen, Portlandia
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Adam Driver, Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Tony Hale, Veep
Fred Armisen, Portlandia
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Adam Driver, Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Tony Hale, Veep
Will Win: Tony Hale, Veep
This is a tough one—it's anyone's game. Modern Family is a perennial Emmy favorite, but the two nods could split the vote. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Portlandia, and Girls didn't have their buzziest seasons. So that leaves Hale, who won last time around.
This is a tough one—it's anyone's game. Modern Family is a perennial Emmy favorite, but the two nods could split the vote. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Portlandia, and Girls didn't have their buzziest seasons. So that leaves Hale, who won last time around.
Should Win: Adam Driver, Girls
You know you're witnessing greatness when the stand-out character on a show called Girls is a guy. If Adam Sackler used to be a one-note creep, Driver helped him evolve into a deeply conflicted human being with actual promise, in a season when he gets his first role on Broadway. Driver brings out the ambivalent charm in Adam, and it's to Driver's immense credit that it's sometimes hard to tell whether we're supposed to think that Adam is a great actor or not.
You know you're witnessing greatness when the stand-out character on a show called Girls is a guy. If Adam Sackler used to be a one-note creep, Driver helped him evolve into a deeply conflicted human being with actual promise, in a season when he gets his first role on Broadway. Driver brings out the ambivalent charm in Adam, and it's to Driver's immense credit that it's sometimes hard to tell whether we're supposed to think that Adam is a great actor or not.
Best Supporting Actress, Comedy
Nominees:
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Allison Janney, Mom
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Allison Janney, Mom
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Will win/Should win: Allison Janney, Mom
Janney has already copped an Emmy in this year's competition, picking up a trophy last weekend in the guest actress-drama category for her work in Masters of Sex. The versatile star was equally winning if not more so as Anna Faris' maturity-challenged party girl mom. Not only did she bring to life a complex character, she was truly supporting, helping to raise Farris' own game, and genuinely additive, frequently elevating silly sitcom material to poignant dramedy. Nurturing, dynamic, irreplaceable, and just plain funny—now that's a great performance. And mom.
Janney has already copped an Emmy in this year's competition, picking up a trophy last weekend in the guest actress-drama category for her work in Masters of Sex. The versatile star was equally winning if not more so as Anna Faris' maturity-challenged party girl mom. Not only did she bring to life a complex character, she was truly supporting, helping to raise Farris' own game, and genuinely additive, frequently elevating silly sitcom material to poignant dramedy. Nurturing, dynamic, irreplaceable, and just plain funny—now that's a great performance. And mom.
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