My Emmy Nominations

The real Emmy nominations come out on Thursday morning, but these are mine for the not-so-small cross-section of television that I watch.  Several shows ended this year – Mad Men, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Boardwalk Empire, Parks and Rec, Nurse Jackie, Glee, Cougar Town, The Killing, True Blood (which I downright loathed) and it really was time for them to go.  What will waste my time now?  Let’s adhere to the laws of alphabetics and start with Comedy:

Comedy Show

I’m really not digging a lot of comedy shows this year.  I laugh more at the last 2 minutes of The Goldbergs when they show the real family’s video footage than most entire episodes.  I don’t watch Silicon Valley and I loathe almost everything on CBS.  Plus, Big Bang, Louie, Girls, Modern Family all seem tired, but are guaranteed nominations.  It’s ridiculous that Bob’s Burgers is not eligible because it’s animated. 

• Community – I miss Troy, but it was a good season.  Steve Guttenberg Alert!
• Happyish – Miserable people making fun of hipster douchebags. 
• Jane the Virgin – Cute enough, kind of like Ugly Betty.
• The Last Man on Earth – They don’t have to hire extras.
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Thanks for being you, Tina Fey.
• Veep – Still solid.

Best Actress – Comedy

• Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Think Brendan Fraser in Blast from the Past.  I realize no one has ever written that as a compliment before, but I stand by it.
• Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback – Such a horrifying train wreck but hard to look away.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep – Incompetent yet angry.
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation – It’s her last chance, people!
• Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin – I’ll hate it next year when they baby comes.
• Kristin Schaal, The Last Man on Earth – So annoying, but she is Louise Belcher.

Best Actor – Comedy

• Steve Coogan, Happyish – It was supposed to be Philip Seymour Hoffman.
• Billy Crystal, The Comedians – Why not?
• Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth - He’s got a Larry David vibe because nothing goes right and then he gets blamed.
• Matt LeBlanc, Episodes – He playing a douchier version of himself.  Brave, right?
• Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Kind of smarmy but likable.
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent – The show is not funny, but it’s here anyway.

This was one of the hardest categories to choose.  I know Louie and Parsons will be here but whatever.  I still hold out hope for Neil Flynn on The Middle - always underappreciated.

Best Supporting Actress – Comedy

• Alison Bree, Community – I doubt being on Yahoo raised viewership.
• Kathryn Hahn, Happyish – She’s a cool Mom that hates everyone.
• Carol Kane, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Dirty old lady alert.
• Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation – Dirty young lady alert.
• Stephnie Weir, The Comedians – So awkward and uncomfortable.
• Merrit Wever, Nurse Jackie – So nice and sweet and impossible to be.

A special shout-out to Melora Hardin on Transparent for giving Big Boo on OITNB a run for her butch money.

Best Supporting Actor – Comedy

• Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Black, gay and old.
• Kevin Dunn, Veep – Best lines in the show.
• Josh Gad, The Comedians – Also playing a douchier version of himself (hopefully)
• Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation – Ron Swanson doesn’t want your validation.
• Chris Pratt, Parks and Recreation – He never has to do TV again.
• Jim Rash, Community – Either he’s gotten more to do or everyone else is doing less.

I couldn’t find Jamie Camil who plays Rogelio on Jane the Virgin on the list.  Bummer!

Guest Actress – Comedy

• Tina Fey, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – I have a feeling it won’t get one real nom.
• Laurie Metcalf, The Big Bang Theory – It’s fun to rip on overbearing, religious people.
• Megan Mullally, Parks and Recreation – I’ll miss you most of all, Tammy 2.
• Rhea Perlman, The Mindy Project – Nick and Carla Tortelli reunited.
• Michaela Watkins, Transparent – I like her in everything or the 3 things I’ve seen.

Guest Actor – Comedy

• Jim Florentine, Louie – He was a jaggy comic Louie had to stay with in the condo.
• Jon Hamm, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – He better get at least one this year!
• Jason Mantzoukas, The League – How Rafi became Rafi.
• Tim Blake Nelson, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – You can’t not like him.
• Seth Rogen, The League – Dirty Randy returns.
• Bradley Whitford, Transparent – Always fun to watch – even in a dress.

Drama Show

• The Affair – Shot from 2 points of view and you never know the truth.
• Game of Thrones – The last 3 episodes made up for a boring beginning.
• House of Cards – Where will you go from here?
• Mad Men – It ended well.
• Orange is the New Black – It had a much better chance in the comedy category.
• The Walking Dead – It won’t be nominated but it’s the only show I watch live and then watch people talk about it. 

Best Actress – Drama

• Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder – Several murders is more accurate.
• Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Back – She’s 6 distinct characters – wake up, people!
• Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men – Badass Peggy Olson.
• Kerry Washington, Scandal – Viola may take off her makeup and wig, but Kerry lets her fro go.
• Ruth Wilson, The Affair – I can’t figure out her face.
• Robin Wright, House of Cards – The brown hair was off-putting.

I really liked Agent Carter, unfortunately, Hayley Atwell is too much of a longshot.

Best Actor – Drama

• Jon Hamm, Mad Men – It’s Don’s Draper’s last hurrah.  Make it happen!
• Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul – He’s always good – the show is a little slow.
• Timothy Olyphant, Justified – It wrapped up a little too cleanly.
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan – A stoic anti-hero, like Louie but tough and attractive.
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards – Do not steal this from Jon Hamm – you’ve got another season to win yours.
• Dominic West, The Affair – Just because Jimmy McNulty never got one.

Supporting Actress – Drama

• Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black – Time for a Crazy Eyes spin-off.
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones – I have a feeling she will get her revenge.
• Christina Hendricks, Mad Men – She don’t need a man, she’s got work to do!
• Kate Mulgrew, Orange is the New Black – I couldn’t decide between her or Vee.
• Lorraine Toussaint, Orange is the New Black – Slocked and loaded.
• Bellamy Young, Scandal – She certainly doesn’t suffer in silence.

I love Maura Tierney in The Affair, but that won’t help her here.

Supporting Actor – Drama

• Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul – More Mike episodes, please!
• Jere Burns, Justified – He’s been in everything, but Wynn Duffy was awesome.
• Walton Goggins, Justified – How does a racist cracker speak so fluently?
• Vincent Kartheiser, Mad Men – They made him fat and bald, so give Sweaty-faced Pete a chance!
• Mandy Patinkin, Homeland – Gotta love the Tink.
• John Slattery, Mad Men – I can’t believe he survived the series.

Guest Actress – Drama

• Marcia Gay Harden, How to Get Away with Murder – I needed a 5^th actress.
• Julia Ormond, Mad Men – Mean and French, redundant much?
• Carrie Preston, The Good Wife – Elsbeth Tascioni should guest star on every show.
• Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones – Badass old lady Alert!
• Kiernan Shipka, Mad Men – Her character’s life won’t be easy.

Guest Actor – Drama

• Ed Asner, The Good Wife – Lou Grant turned into even more of a sexist jag.
• Walton Goggins, Sons of Anarchy – Give Venus Van Dam an Emmy!
• Oliver Platt, The Good Wife – He’s always fun to watch, even as a Republican.
• Pablo Schreiber, Orange is the New Black – The return of Porn-stache.
• Aaron Staton, Mad Men – He lost an eye for them, but he got his.

Best Picture Nominee Rankings

Here is how I rank the Best Picture Nominees and a review in 8 words or less:


1.  Whiplash - Vern Schillinger returns to kick music's ass.

2.  The Imitation Game - Cumberbatch is a badass, gay genius.

3.  Birdman - Hard to recommend; actors are smarmy douches.

4.  The Theory of Everything - I liked Mr. Mom, but Holy Shit!

5.  Boyhood - It seemed like it was going somewhere...

6.  American Sniper - Cooper was good; the ending was obscenely abrupt.

7.  Selma - Very upset to find out he cheated constantly.

8.  The Grand Budapest Hotel - Watch The Royal Tenenbaums instead.

5 Things about the Emmys...

5 things I loved about the Emmys:

• Jimmy Kimmel ripping on Matthew McConaughey
• Weird Al's TV theme lyrics, especially his plea to George R.R. Martin
• That Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo all lost even though they were picked to win.
• That Martin Freeman got an Emmy, even though it wasn't for Fargo.
• Breaking Bad finished strong.

5 things I hated about the Emmys:

• Martin Freeman not winning an Emmy for Fargo.
• Presenting the Guest Actor awards at the technical ceremony.  I wanted to see Uzo Aduba win!
• The commercials for NBC's terrible new shows - Bad Judge and whatever that crap with Debra Messing is - UGH!
• Allison Janney winning for that hacky role on a horrible show.  Anyone else was the better choice.  Writing in Courtney Thorne-Smith for According to Jim was a better choice.
• This dress:  

5 really disturbing things about the Emmys:

• Matthew McConaughey's face.  Stay out of the sun, dude!  Maybe he'll win an Emmy for playing Robert Redford in a Lifetime movie.
• Sara Bareilles' nose ring - it was like she had a lightning bug on her face.
• Gwen Stefani auditioning to be on SNL as a Donatella Versace impersonator - plus, her inability to read or be remotely charismatic.
• That Debra Messing's eye color changes throughout that commercial and that she is wearing a bright green T-neck.  Does that ever happen?  I won't watch it just for that shirt.
• Stephen Colbert talking to his invisible friend and Key and Peele's 'impromptu' skit.

My Emmy picks

I probably should have started this when they were announced, but on Thursday, I was struck with the amazing idea to watch all the Emmy nominated episodes for acting.  Once they get nominated, the actor (or agent or network) gets to choose the one episode that will be sent out for the voters to watch.  Some of them chose poorly.  I watched them all (in the last 84 hours) – even shows I have never seen – and have ranked them in order of Emmy deservingness.  I tried not to be biased to the shows I like, which is nearly impossible.  Thankfully, some episodes were nominated by co-workers, so it boiled down to about 34 hours of TV in 3.5 days.  I don’t have a lot to do and I don’t like going outside when it’s hot anyway.  Meanwhile, spoilers abound because I can’t not mention stuff.  You have been warned. 

BEST COMEDY ACTRESS:

1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep” – episode “Crate” – She’s really funny in this role.  I love swearing and thinking everyone’s an idiot.

2.  Taylor Schilling, "Orange is the New Black" - episode "The Chickening" – She was getting starved out and looked awful.  Plus, she had a bunch of outburst scenes. 

3.  Melissa McCarthy, "Mike and Molly" - episode "Mind Over Molly" – I quit this show because it’s hacky and she’s too mean, but she had some good moments in the shrink’s office
4.  Lena Dunham, "Girls" - episode "Beach House" – That green bikini and having no shame are such foreign concepts to me.  Plus, she said, “I’ve been called a narcissist since I was 3.”

5. Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation" - episode "Recall Vote" – She got depressed and drunk.
6. Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie" - episode "Super Greens" – Horrible episode choice.  She should have picked the one where she tricked her sponsor into rehab.  She hardly did anything.

BEST COMEDY ACTOR:   This was a tricky category and my least favorite choices – I don’t watch three of the shows, and 2 are basically playing themselves.

1.  Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes" - episode "Episode 306" – He’s uber-Joey: super dumb, slutty, and unsuccessful but with excessive swearing.

2.  Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" - episode "The Relationship Diremption" – He’s just really good in this role, there’s no way around it.

3. Don Cheadle, "House of Lies" - episode "Wreckage" – Maybe I’ll watch this now.  It does have Jean-Ralphio.
4.  Louis C.K., "Louie" - episode "Model" – Sad sack Louie gets lucky and actually smiled at the end.  He also bombed, got embarrassed by Seinfeld and fell down.
5.  Ricky Gervais, "Derek" - episode "Episode 2.6" –It’s very weird and hard to understand.  I laughed when he looked at the camera.
6.  William H. Macy, "Shameless" - episode "Lazarus"- He was barely in it and didn’t have much to do when he was.

BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  Not great choices.  I can't wait for Uzo Aduba next year!

1.  Kate Mulgrew, "Orange is the New Black" - episode "Tit Punch" – She makes people outcasts even though she was one.  I think she just hates blondes.

2.  Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory" - episode "The Indecision Amalgamation" – She’s a good foil to Sheldon and feigned interest in video games.
3.  Julie Bowen, "Modern Family" - episode "The Feud" – She yelled and was shrill, but also got lice.
4.  Anna Chlumsky, "Veep" - episode "Detroit" – I was going to put her at #2, but I couldn’t remember anything she did in the episode.  I remember Chris Meloni. 
5.  Allison Janney, "Mom" - episode "Estrogen and a Hearty Breakfast" – Horrible laugh track and obvious, just-for-shock jokes.  CJ Cregg would be embarrassed.
6.  Kate McKinnon, "Saturday Night Live" - episode "Host: Anna Kendrick" – I laughed at the German chancellor but this show is too hard to watch and should not be included in this category.

BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR:  None of these episodes wowed me and I’m really apathetic to all the choices.

1.  Tony Hale, "Veep" - episode "Crate" – Great scene with Julia in the bathroom.  I liked how he sat on the couch with her bag listening to her so attentively. 

2.  Ty Burrell, "Modern Family" - episode "Spring-a-Ding Fling" – He had nice a cross-dressing moment in his parody song.  Classic Dunphy.

3.  Andre Braugher, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" - episode "Christmas" – Monotone and gay, but not amazing.
4.  Adam Driver, "Girls" - episode "Two Plane Rides" – There have been better episodes with him.  He only had 2 scenes.  I liked the one where his sister visited – I would have picked him to win.

5.  Fred Armisen, "Portlandia" - episode "Pull-Out King" – This show is weird and so is Fred Armisen.  I did laugh a couple of times, so maybe I’ll keep watching.
6.  Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family" - episode "Message Received" – His Dad can’t understand his wedding and he’s mean to Cam.  Seen it.

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS:  I thought I had this one figured out immediately until I watched them again.  So much crying in these.   I'm fine with any of the top 3 winning.

1.  Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife" - episode "The Last Call" – I really didn’t want to watch the Will is dead episode again – thanks a  lot!  She did all the stages of grief thing and had a last voicemail from him.  Then she finds out he was mad at her when he called. 
2.  Kerry Washington, "Scandal" - episode "The Fluffer" – She’s a badass in this show with the world’s most fucked up parents.  She could win.
3.  Robin Wright, "House of Cards" - episode "Chapter 26" – She should have submitted the interview episode.  She was incredible in it and the whole show went downhill after it.  She definitely would have won – Bad Decision Jeans.

4.  Claire Danes, "Homeland" - episode "The Star" – I’m just over this show.  I hated this season – I won’t even say what happened so other people can watch and be disappointed with me.

5.  Lizzy Caplan, "Masters of Sex" - episode "Pilot" – She didn’t do a lot in the first one, admits sex and love aren’t exclusive in the 50’s and jumps right into watching people bang.

6.  Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey" - episode "Episode 4.1" – Matthew’s dead, she’s sad and calls her kid an orphan.  She manages to be hostile and unsympathetic even as a widow.

BEST DRAMA ACTOR:  Heisenberg or Wooderson?  What will happen?

1.  Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" - episode "Ozymandias" – This one goes back to the first cook to show that his evolution into evil genius is complete.  He watched Hank die, turned Jesse over to the Nazis after telling him about Jane.  He got into a knife fight, stole the baby and did his best to un-implicate Skyler in his crimes.  He was busy.

2.  Matthew McConaughey, "True Detective" - episode "Form and Void" – I think this was a bad choice.  He spent a lot of time holding a gun in a maze.  He had one speech at the end, but I liked him his stuff in the interrogation room in earlier episodes.

3. Woody Harrelson, "True Detective" - episode "The Locked Room" – Poor Woody got overshadowed in this show because of MM, but he was good lying to his wife and going ballistic on his mistress’ date.
4.  Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" - episode "The Strategy" – I think he’ll win next year.  This episode made me angry that Elisabeth Moss and Vincent Kartheiser didn’t get nominated.
5.  Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards" - episode "Chapter 26" – Again, not the right episode.  Things happen but not enough to showcase how good he is in this role.

6.  Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom" - episode "Election Night, Part 2" – He made one speech about being a Republican and asked Mac to marry him.  Not enough to repeat.

BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

1.  Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad" - episode "Ozymandias" – Tears and emotions aplenty in this one. 
2.  Lena Headey, "Game of Thrones" - episode "The Lion and the Rose" – She’s so smug and mean to Brienne.  She was better drunk in the battle of the Blackwater though.

3.  Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey" - episode "Episode 4.8" – Again, just a complete badass in this role.

4.  Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife" - episode "The Last Call" – She’s always good (but never won on this show) and cried a lot over Will.  
5.  Joanne Froggatt, "Downton Abbey" - episode "Episode 4.2" – Yeah, she got raped but it was in the last 5 minutes and she did her quivering lip crying thing.  I think one of the follow up episodes would have been a better choice.
6.  Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" - episode "The Strategy" – All she did was rebuff Bob and say that Harry sucks.  We all know that. 

BEST DRAMA SUPPORTING ACTOR:  Extremely hard to choose between the Top 4.

1. Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad" - episode "Confessions" – He got interrogated, bamboozled by Walt (again), kicked Saul’s ass, figured it all out and he cried A LOT!!
2.  Josh Charles, "The Good Wife" - episode "Hitting the Fan" – He was good and I like him so much better than Chris Noth.  He was betrayed, got outraged, threw some stuff and did dirty lawyer tricks.
3.  Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" - episode "The Laws of Gods and Men" – He got screwed over big time by almost everyone he knows.  You can never truly be friends with spiders or whores.
4.  Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland" - episode "Gerontion" – Got to love the Tink.  He's always so outraged at everyone's immorality and his beard is almost its own character.
5. Jon Voight, "Ray Donovan" - episode "Fite Nite" – I might start watching this show, but September will be here soon.  He was way too mean to Rosanna Arquette and his accent was sketchy.

6.  Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey" - episode "Episode 4.1" – He had some nice moments with bitchy Mary, but it’s not flashy enough for this category.

My Dream Emmy Nominations 2014

I don’t like how you can just choose to be in any category.  Fargo had 10 episodes but it’s a Miniseries and True Detective has 8 episodes and it’s a Drama show.  So, everything is messed up and I had to weed through a lot of pictures to find where everyone can be actually nominated.  And, it’s the last season of Breaking Bad and first of Orange is the New Black.  Plus, I haven’t watched Boardwalk Empire yet.

       

 Comedy Show

• The Big Bang Theory
• Community
• The Mindy Project
• Nurse Jackie
• Orange is the New Black
• Veep

These are the shows I thought had the best seasons, not the ones that will be chosen.  I thought Girls, Parks and Rec, Modern Family, New Girl and Louie all tapered off this year.  Even though they were canceled, I had a weird, embarrassing soft spot for Trophy Wife and The Neighbors – more proof of that to follow.

Comedy - Actress

• Lena Dunham, Girls – Nudity is one thing but wearing a bikini while riding a bike is something else.
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie – She’s back to being bad and interesting.  Fuck rehab!
• Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project – She has the best throw-away lines – I hope she writes them.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Veep – I have an affinity for people who are quick to anger and swear a lot.
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation – She’s still good though the show is down. 
• Taylor Schilling, OITNB – She’s one of the least likable characters - It must be the acting, right?

Honorary Mention:  Wendi McClendon-Covey, The Goldbergs – Just for the sweaters.

Comedy - Actor

• Jake Johnson, New Girl – I like his fuck-up of a character and his voice when he screams.
• Matt LeBlanc, Episodes – Watching him be the anti-Joey is fun.  And he swears a lot!
• Joel McHale, Community – He’s never gotten any Emmy love.
• Chris Messina, The Mindy Project – Alright, your pop culture over-saturation has won me over!
• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory – He doesn’t need to win again, but he’s good.
• Adam Scott, Parks and Rec – I know Andy Samberg will take his spot.

HM:  Bradley Whitford, Trophy Wife – I love him and his wild and crazy hair.

Comedy – Supporting Actress

• Danielle Brooks, OITNB – It makes no sense that she’s in this category.
• Anna Chlumsky, Veep – She’s My Girl, yo.
• Kate Mulgrew, OITNB – She’s a marshmallow on toothpicks, but a complete badass.
• Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Rec – She and Andy are the new Pam and Jim but meaner and dumber.
• Merrit Wever, Nurse Jackie – Fuck yeah, she won last year.  Her abrupt speech means she might be  like Zoey in real life and that’s not a bad thing.
• Anna Deveare Smith, Nurse Jackie – She’s cool and tough and mean.

HM:  Samara Wiley, OITNB – even though she shouldn’t be in this category either.  She’s a lesbian named Poussey – accent a droite, bitch!

Comedy – Supporting Actor

• Ty Burrell, Modern Family – He’s the best thing about that show.
• Kevin Dunn, Veep – He gets  the best lines that make fun of everyone else.
• Tony Hale, Veep – I’m glad Buster found his vocation.
• Ed O’Neill, Modern Family – Everyone else on the show has won except him and Sofia.
• Chris Pratt, Parks and Rec – I do prefer chunky Andy to buff, superhero Andy; it’s more believable.
• Simon Templeman, The Neighbors – I know the show is dumb, but he was odd and funny.

HM:  Andre Braugher is far more probable, but I really liked Albert Tsai on Trophy Wife.  Yeah, I know, I have a problem.  Move on…

Drama – Show

• Breaking Bad
• Game of Thrones
• The Good Wife
• Justified
• Mad Men
• True Detective – Though I’m not apeshit for it like everyone else. 

Shows that have a shortened or summer schedule tend to get lost.  I don’t really remember what specifically happened on Downton Abbey, The Newsroom, The Bridge, The Killing or Sons of Anarchy.  I remember the big stuff.  Some were just bad:  Homeland, House of Cards.

Drama – Actress

• Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex – I doubt she has a chance but she’s Janis from Mean Girls
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife – This is one of the girlier shows I watch.
• Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black – The only non-believable part was the transgendered one.
• Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men – How will it end for poor Peggy?
• Kerry Washington, Scandal – This is the girliest one.
• Robin Wright, House of Cards – She is icy and looks amazing.  Why is she engaged to creepy Russell from Six Feet Under?

HM:  Diane Kruger on The Bridge – She was stoic and awkward, maybe she’s a stand-up.

Drama – Actor

• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad – Last call for Walter White.
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men – He’s never won and there’s only one more chance.
• Woody Harrelson, True Detective – He's had a good year.
• Matthew McConaughey, True Detective – His transformation was cool.
• Timothy Olyphant, Justified – He’s just cool – there’s no other word for it.
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards – Though the show really declined, he’s good.

HM:  I know they have no chance:  Andrew Lincoln, Charlie Hunnam, Jonny Lee Miller and Clark Gregg (Go you, Huskies).

Drama – Supporting Actress

• Christine Baranski, The Good Wife – She’s always good.
• Laura Carmichael, Downton Abbey – Screw Mary and her suitors; come on, sad sack Edith!
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones – She never gets Emmy love, but her incest-born son did die.
• Michelle Monaghan, True Detective – I really like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, so this is for that.
• Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey – She’s a sassy, old broad.
• Bellamy Young, Scandal – She’s got several rights to be bitchy.

HM:  I thought Joan sucked on Mad Men and Anna Gunn won last year.  I do like Emily Mortimer and Joelle Carter.

Drama – Supporting Actor

• Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones – He did some stuff this season.
• Walton Goggins, Justified – Though they never explain why a racist hillbilly is so eloquent. 
• Mandy Patinkin, Homeland – Gotta love the Tink.
• Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad – One last chance for Jesse Pinkman.
• Jeff Perry, Scandal – He’s a very, very bad man (and not because he’s gay).
• Peter Saarsgard, The Killing – He can be creepy on TV as well as film.

HM:  Way too many – Jere Burns, Josh Charles (RIP), Elias Koteas, Gerald McRaney, Vincent Kartheiser.

The guest actor categories make me angry.  To me, a guest actor should be 1 or 2 really memorable episodes.  Many candidates are in most of the season and are just not in the supporting category, but they only submit for 1 episode.  So, I looked at all the pics and tried to base it on if it was ‘a very special episode of Blossom’ or not.  Except for Uzo Aduba – she’s just incredible.

Comedy – Guest Actress

• Uzo Aduba, OITNB – I‘d throw my pie for her.
• Sarah Baker, Louie – And then everyone made fun of her weight on the internet – way to go, America!
• Laverne Cox, OITNB  – Get ready for the first trans-gendered Emmy nominee (hopefully).
• Gaby Hoffmann, Girls – How is that crazy bitch the girl from Uncle Buck?
• Taryn Manning, OITNB – Those teeth…
• Julie White, Nurse Jackie – She ran into the buzzsaw that is Jackie.

Comedy – Guest Actor

• Walton Goggins, Community – One of the best episodes of Community EVER.
• Rob Lowe, Californication – A very weird, over the top character.
• Christopher Meloni, Veep – I couldn’t watch his new show, but he was good here.
• Mike O’Malley, Glee – His character has always been amazing, but I won’t be watching this episode again.
• Pablo Schreiber, OITNB – Porn-stache!
• Ben Schwartz, Parks & Rec – Jean-Ralphio in the house!

Drama – Guest Actress

• Allison Janney, Masters of Sex – So much different than CJ Cregg.
• Shirley MacLaine, Downton Abbey – The perfect match for Maggie Smith.
• Carrie Preston, The Good Wife – Any show would be better with Elsbeth Tascioni.
• Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones – Just for getting rid of Joffrey.
• Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Nashville – You can’t escape white trash family.
• Alicia Witt, Justified – Bad family, worse decisions…

Drama – Guest Actor

• Dylan Baker, The Good Wife – He’s always memorable and super-creepy.
• Michael Bowen, Breaking Bad – Did Uncle Jack drive the Pussy Wagon?
• Walton Goggins, Sons of Anarchy – Last season's episode was more shocking but he wasn't in the running.
• Harry Hamlin, Mad Men – I really like him in this role.
• Hamish Linklater, The Newsroom – He was so jerky and smarmy – way different than Christine’s brother.
• Michael Rapaport, Justified – A nice boost to the cast.

I don't watch a lot of these, but I have to do some picks because of Fargo which was the best thing on television this year.

Miniseries/Movie

• American Horror Story: Coven - This was the first season I watched.
• Fargo – In-fucking-credible!
• The Normal Heart - Sad and infuriating.
• Psych The Musical - Only episode I've ever seen, woke up early one morning.

Miniseries/Movie – Actress

• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story – I can't believe how they make her look - she's so brave!

Miniseries/Movie – Actor

• Martin Freeman, Fargo – He is amazing and should win everything forever!
• Mark Ruffalo, The Normal Heart - He was okay compared to these two.
• Billy Bob Thornton, Fargo –  Very good, but he's no Lester.

Miniseries/Movie – Supporting Actress

• Kathy Bates, AHS - She's always good, even as a super-racist.
• Frances Conroy, AHS - She plays a weirdo well.
• Audra McDonald, The Sound of Music Live - She's got some pipes.
• Julia Roberts, The Normal Heart - She better not beat Deputy Molly Solverson.
• Alison Tolman, Fargo – And she was right all along!!

Miniseries/Movie – Supporting Actor

• Christian Borle, The Sound of Music Live - Sure, why not?
• Keith Carradine, Fargo - Badass Step-Grandpa!
• Martin Freeman, Sherlock - I haven't seen it yet, but he should win everything.
• Danny Huston, AHS - Good enough