The Primetime Emmy Awards seem to like the same shows, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, and Fargo lead the 2014 Emmy Awards Nominations
To quote Emmy winner Heidi Klum, “one day you are in and the next day you are out!” Does this phrase apply at the Emmy Awards? It did for two shows, but I will get to them in a minute.
On Thursday July 10th at around quarter to 9 the Emmy Nominations were announced by Mindy Kaling and and Carson Daly. There we some surprises like Lizzy Caplan, without Michael Sheen, which makes no sense, but honestly beyond that nomination, nothing that was announced live shocked me. Alright I was shocked and saddened that one of the actual announcers, Mindy Kaling was snubbed for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the soon to be over rated Melissa McCarthy. Kaling looked a tad upset, but unlike past announcers who were announced to present and then not nominated, and bailed, she showed up.
On to the nominations at hand, Game of Thrones went from 16 nominations last year to 19 nominations in its fourth season, which type of jump rarely happens. The show was honored in Best Drama Series, Supporting Actor (Peter Dinklage) and Lena Headey. I must applaud Emmy voters for swapping Emilia Clarke who did nothing this past season with Headey, she deserves this nomination.
Breaking Bad did amazing as well scoring 16 nominations, including nominations for Drama Series, Lead Actor (Cranston), Supporting Actor (Aaron Paul), and Supporting Actress (Anna Gunn). Dean Norris was predicted by many but was snubbed. The biggest snub in my opinion is no directing nomination for Rian Johnson who directed the best episode of the season “Ozymandias” they gave the nomination to Gilligan for the finale. “Ozymandias” was nominated for writing.
True Detective had an impressive 12 nominations, the highest for a drama series in its first season (tied Orange is the New Black for new series). I am proud/happy the Academy nominated the underrated Harrelson, I hope he beats McConaughey.
Rounding out the six was House of Cards, Downton Abbey, and Mad Men. Cards did well in its second season scoring two lead nominations along with a Guest Actor and Actress, Writing and Directing. Can someone tell Americans just because its British period piece does not mean it should be rubber stamped. The most boring season of Downton Abbey made the cut, time to put this and Maggie Smith nominations out to pasture!
The biggest past winner, now loser is Homeland. This show won Drama Series two years ago and they let it go, Danes and Mandy Patinkin are still nominated, but the show has few other nominations. While this is not a surprise I think its interesting that Emmy voters paid attention to the critics point of view on this shows downturn in quality.
On to laughing, Modern Family and its cast are starting to lose their sheen. Family only 3 cast members nominated their lowest tally of nominees, they were Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Julie Bowen. The show received 10 nominations.
The biggest nominations tally went to Orange is the New Black, which is not really a comedy, but I digress. I am happy to report this show received 12 nominations, including Comedy Series, Lead Actress (Taylor Schilling), Supporting Actress (Kate Mulgrew), three Guest Actress nominations, and nominations in writing a directing, but that directing nomination should have gone to Michael Trimm not Jodie Foster. Beyond proud of Laverne Cox and her nomination.
Veep is climbing up the nomination ladder from 5 to 9, and they finally have a writing and guest nomination! Watch out for this show to spoil, but at the moment I would predict this or Orange is the Black. Rounding out the rest of the comedy series nominations is The Big Bang Theory, Louie, and Silicon Valley. With regards to those three, Kaley Cuoco is the Courteney Cox of Big Bang; she deserves a nomination. Thank God Ellen Burstyn did not get a nomination for Louie. Silicon Valley is not my jam so I think its nomination over The Mindy Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and many others is a bit pretentious.
Who got the biggest shaft? Girls. The show got two nominations, one for Dunham, and one for Adam Driver, but it was bounced from writing, directing, got no guest nominations, and no series nominations. My thought is that they replaced this with Valley because well they get dorky boy humor over whiny girl humor, but just a thought.
FX just became a power player in the Mini-Series category, Fargo received 18 nominations, and American Horror Story: Coven received 17 nominations, pretty impressive, now if they could only get more than a guest actress nomination for Margo Martindale and The Americans I would be even happier. Again I digress. Fargo is the most nominated long form program nominated this year.
On the television movie side the most nominated TV Movie was The Normal Heart, it not only earned a lead actor (Mark Ruffalo) and supporting actress nomination (Julia Roberts), but it earned 4 supporting actor nominations (Bomer, Parson, Mantello, and Molina). Sherlock: His Last Vow came in second, and scored twelve nominations.
The Good:
True Detective and Orange is the New Black scoring 12 each
Veep bumping up in nominations
The Good Wife’s Julianna Margulies and Josh Charles getting nominations again
Allison Janney as a double nominee
Kate McKinnon’s Supporting Actress nomination for SNL, and Fred Armisen’s Supporting Actor nomination for Portlandia
Lizzy Caplan’s nomination for Masters of Sex
Lena Headey in for Game of Thrones
Andre Braugher representing Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Puzzling
No love for Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Episodes getting a Comedy Writing and Directing nomination
Melissa McCarthy back for Mike and Molly
The Bad
Downton Abbey, time to burn the house down, and stop submitting Maggie Smith!
No love for Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Good Wife snubbed in drama
NO TATIANA MASLANY!! (yes that deserves caps)
No Mindy Kaling, or her show
The lack of love for Masters of Sex
No Bellamy Young for Scandal
Hannibal snubbed again!
Overall it looks like The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences liked the same shows once again, with a few surprises. This is a mixed bag, just glad no more Merritt Wever.
The Full List:
Best Drama Series
“Breaking Bad”
“Downton Abbey”
“Game of Thrones”
“House of Cards”
“Mad Men”
“True Detective”
Best Comedy Series
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Louie”
“Modern Family”
“Orange is the New Black”
“Silicon Valley”
“Veep”
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
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”
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
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”
Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock: His Last Vow”
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Dancing on the Edge”
Martin Freeman, “Fargo”
Billy Bob Thorton, “Fargo”
Idris Elba, “Luther”
Mark Ruffalo, “The Normal Heart”
Outstanding Reality Series Program
“The Amazing Race”
“Dancing with the Stars”
“Project Runway”
“So You Think You Can Dance”
“Top Chef”
“The Voice”
Outstanding Variety Series
“The Colbert Report”
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live”
“Real Time with Bill Maher”
“Saturday Night Live”
“The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon”
Outstanding Miniseries
“American Horror Story: Coven”
“Bonnie & Clyde”
“Fargo”
“Luther”
“Treme”
“The White Queen”
Outstanding Television Movie
“Killing Kennedy”
“Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight”
“The Normal Heart”
“Sherlock: His Last Vow”
“The Trip to Bountiful”
Supporting Actor, Drama
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
Jim Carter, “Downton Abbey”
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
Josh Charles, “The Good Wife”
Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland”
Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”
Supporting Actress, Drama
Anna Gunn, “Breaking Bad”
Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”
Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey”
Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones”
Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife”
Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men”
Supporting Actor, Comedy
Andre Braugher, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Adam Driver, “Girls”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, “Modern Family”
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Fred Armisen, “Portlandia”
Supporting Actress, Comedy
Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory”
Julie Bowen, “Modern Family”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Kate Mulgrew, “Orange Is the New Black”
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”
Anna Chlumsky, “Veep”
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie
Colin Hanks, “Fargo”
Jim Parsons, “The Normal Heart”
Joe Mantello, “The Normal Heart”
Alfred Molina, “The Normal Heart”
Matt Bomer, “The Normal Heart”
Martin Freeman, “Sherlock: His Last Vow:
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie
Frances Conroy, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Angela Bassett, “American Horror Story: Coven”
Allison Tolman, “Fargo”
Ellen Burstyn, “Flowers in the Attic”
Julia Roberts, “The Normal Heart”
Guest Actor, Drama
Paul Giamatti, “Downton Abbey”
Dylan Baker, “The Good Wife”
Reg E. Cathey, “House of Cards”
Robert Morse, “Mad Men”
Beau Bridges, “Masters of Sex”
Joe Morton, “Scandal”
Guest Actress, Drama
Margo Martindale, “The Americans”
Diana Rigg, “Game of Thrones”
Kate Mara, “House of Cards”
Allison Janney, “Masters of Sex”
Jane Fonda, “Newsroom”
Kate Burton, “Scandal”
Guest Actor, Comedy
Bob Newhart, “The Big Bang Theory”
Nathan Lane, “Modern Family”
Steve Buscemi, “Portlandia”
Jimmy Fallon, “Saturday Night Live”
Louis C.K., “Saturday Night Live”
Gary Cole, “Veep”
Guest Actress, Comedy
Natasha Lyonne, “Orange Is the New Black”
Uzo Aduba, “Orange Is the New Black”
Laverne Cox, “Orange Is the New Black”
Tina Fey, “Saturday Night Live”
Melissa McCarthy, “Saturday Night Live”
Joan Cusack, “Shameless”
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
Breaking Bad • Ozymandias • AMC • Sony Pictures Television
Moira Walley-Beckett, Written by
Breaking Bad • Felina • AMC • Sony Pictures Television
Vince Gilligan, Written by
Game Of Thrones • The Children • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; Television 360; Startling Television and Generator Productions
David Benioff, Written by D.B. Weiss, Written by
House Of Cards • Chapter 14 • Netflix • Donen/Fincher/Roth and Trigger Street Productions, Inc. in association with Media Rights Capital for Netflix
Beau Willimon, Written by
True Detective • The Secret Fate Of All Of Life • HBO,
Nic Pizzolatto, Written by
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire • Farewell Daddy Blues • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions
Tim Van Patten, Directed by
Breaking Bad • Felina • AMC • Sony Pictures Television
Vince Gilligan, Directed by
Downton Abbey • Episode 1 • PBS • A Carnival Films/Masterpiece Co-Production in association with NBC Universal
David Evans, Directed by
Game Of Thrones • The Watchers On The Wall • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; Television 360; Startling Television and Generator Productions
Neil Marshall, Directed by
House Of Cards • Chapter 14 • Netflix • Donen/Fincher/Roth and Trigger Street Productions, Inc. in association with Media Rights Capital for Netflix
Carl Franklin, Directed by
True Detective • Who Goes There • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Neon Black, Anonymous Content, Parliament of Owls and Passenger
Cary Joji Fukunaga, Directed by
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Episodes • Episode 309 • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Hat Trick Productions, Crane Klarik Productions
Iain B. MacDonald, Directed by
Glee • 100 • FOX • Ryan Murphy Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Paris Barclay, Directed by
Louie • Elevator, Part 6 • FX Networks • Pig Newton, Inc. and FX Productions
Louis C.K., Directed by
Modern Family • Vegas • ABC • Picador Productions and Steven Levitan Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Gail Mancuso, Directed by
Orange Is The New Black • Lesbian Request Denied • Netflix • Lionsgate Television for Netflix
Jodie Foster, Directed by
Silicon Valley • Minimum Viable Product • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Judgemental Films, Alec Berg, Altschuler Krinsky works, and 3 Arts Entertainment
Mike Judge, Directed by
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Episodes • Episode 305 • Showtime • Showtime Presents, Hat Trick Productions, Crane Klarik Productions
David Crane, Written by
Jeffrey Klarik, Written by
Louie • So Did The Fat Lady • FX Networks • Pig Newton, Inc. and FX Productions
Louis C.K., Written by
Orange Is The New Black • I Wasn’t Ready (Pilot) • Netflix • Lionsgate Television for Netflix
Liz Friedman, Written by Jenji Kohan, Written by
Silicon Valley • Optimal Tip-To-Tip Efficiency • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Judgemental Films, Alec Berg, Altschuler Krinsky works, and 3 Arts Entertainment
Alec Berg, Written by
Veep • Special Relationship • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Dundee Productions
Simon Blackwell, Story and Teleplay by Tony Roche, Story and Teleplay by Armando Iannucci, Story by
Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
American Horror Story: Coven • Bitchcraft • FX Networks • 20th Century Fox Television
Ryan Murphy, Written by Brad Falchuk, Written by
Fargo • The Crocodile’s Dilemma • FX Networks • MGM and FX Productions
Noah Hawley, Written by
Luther • BBC America • A BBC and BBC America co-production
Neil Cross, Written by
The Normal Heart • HBO • HBO Films in association with Plan B Entertainment, Blumhouse and Ryan Murphy Productions
Larry Kramer, Screenplay by
Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece) • PBS • Hartswood West for BBC/Cymru Wales in co-production with Masterpiece
Steven Moffat, Written by
Treme • …To Miss New Orleans • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Blown Deadline Productions
David Simon, Written by Eric Overmyer, Written by
Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special
American Horror Story: Coven • Bitchcraft • FX Networks • 20th Century Fox Television
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Directed by
Fargo • The Crocodile’s Dilemma • FX Networks • MGM and FX Productions
Adam Bernstein, Directed by
Fargo • Buridan’s Ass • FX Networks • MGM and FX Productions
Colin Bucksey, Directed by
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight • HBO • HBO Films in association with Rainmark Films and Sakura Films
Stephen Frears, Directed by
The Normal Heart • HBO • HBO Films in association with Plan B Entertainment, Blumhouse and Ryan Murphy Productions
Ryan Murphy, Directed by
Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece) • PBS • Hartswood West for BBC/Cymru Wales in co-production with Masterpiece
Nick Hurran, Directed by
Outstanding Variety Special
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Mel Brooks • TNT • AFI Productions
The Beatles: The Night That Changed America • CBS • AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC
Best Of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Primetime Special • NBC • Universal Television and Broadway Video
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Jennilind Productions
The Kennedy Center Honors • CBS • The Stevens Company in association with the John F. Kennedy Center
Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Funny or Die and Black Gold Films
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series
The Colbert Report • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions
Opus Moreschi, Head Writer Stephen Colbert, Writer Tom Purcell, Writer
Richard Dahm, Writer
Barry Julien, Writer Michael Brumm, Writer Rob Dubbin, Writer
Jay Katsir, Writer
Frank Lesser, Writer Glenn Eichler, Writer Meredith Scardino, Writer Max Werner, Writer
Eric Drysdale, Writer Paul Dinello, Writer Nate Charny, Writer Sam Kim, Writer Aaron Cohen, Writer Gabe Gronli, Writer Matt Lappin, Writer
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC
Elliott Kalan, Head Writer Tim Carvell, Head Writer Steve Bodow, Writer
Dan Amira, Writer Travon Free, Writer Hallie Haglund, Writer
JR Havlan, Writer Matt Koff, Writer
Dan McCoy, Writer
Jo Miller, Writer Zhubin Parang, Writer Daniel Radosh, Writer Lauren Sarver, Writer Jon Stewart, Writer Rory Albanese, Writer
Inside Amy Schumer • Comedy Central • Jax Media
Jessi Klein, Head Writer Amy Schumer, Writer Emily Altman, Writer Jeremy Beiler, Writer Neil Casey, Writer
Kurt Metzger, Writer Kyle Dunnigan, Writer Christine Nangle, Writer Daniel Powell, Writer
Key & Peele • Comedy Central • Central Productions
Jay Martel, Writer
Ian Roberts, Writer
Jordan Peele, Writer Keegan-Michael Key, Writer Alex Rubens, Writer Rebecca Drysdale, Writer Colton Dunn, Writer
Rich Talarico, Writer Charlie Sanders, Writer
Portlandia • IFC • Broadway Video for IFC
Fred Armisen, Writer Carrie Brownstein, Writer Jonathan Krisel, Writer Graham Wagner, Writer Karey Dornetto, Writer
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon • NBC • Universal Television and Broadway Video
AD Miles, Head Writer Patrick Borelli, Writer Gerard Bradford, Writer Luke Cunningham, Writer Mike DiCenzo, Writer Mike Drucker, Writer Jess Dweck, Writer
Dicky Eagan, Writer Jimmy Fallon, Writer John Haskel, Writer Josh Lieb, Writer Arthur Meyer, Writer
Chase Mitchell, Writer Dan Opsal, Writer Gavin Purcell, Writer
Jon Rineman, Monologue Writing Supervised by/Writer
Albertina Ross, Writer
Jason Ross, Writer
David Young, Writer Michael Jann, Writer
Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series
The Colbert Report • Episode 9135 • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions
James Hoskinson, Directed by
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Episode 18153 • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC
Chuck O’Neil, Directed by
Portlandia • Getting Away • IFC • Broadway Video for IFC
Jonathan Krisel, Directed by
Saturday Night Live • Host: Jimmy Fallon • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Don Roy King, Directed by
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon • Episode 1 (Will Smith/U2) • NBC • Universal Television and Broadway Video
Dave Diomedi, Directed by
Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special
The Beatles: The Night That Changed America • CBS • AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC
Gregg Gelfand, Directed by
The Kennedy Center Honors • CBS • The Stevens Company in association with the John F. Kennedy Center
Louis J. Horvitz, Directed by
The Oscars • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Hamish Hamilton, Directed by
Six By Sondheim • HBO • HBO Documentary Films in association with Sabella Entertainment
James Lapine, Directed by
The Sound Of Music Live! • NBC • Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment
Beth McCarthy Miller, Directed by
Outstanding Special Class Program
The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards • NBC • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. in association with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
The Oscars • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony • NBC • NBC in association with FiveCurrents
The Sound Of Music Live! • NBC • Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment
67th Annual Tony Awards • CBS • White Cherry Entertainment