Jmunney's Blog

The normal Emmys have announced their nominations, and now here are the nominations for the Emmy as awarded by me.  These nominations are preliminary for now, as I may catch up on some shows between now and the presentation of the awards (which will be soon before or soon after the normal Emmys).  Since there are a lot of good shows I don’t watch, I have selected some nominees according to what I have heard from other people about those shows.  These “Reputation” nominees are marked and recognized separate from the shows I actually watch.

Comedy Series
Arrested Development
Bob’s Burgers
Community
Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23
Louie
The Middle
New Girl
30 Rock
REPUTATION
Enlightened

Lead Actor in a Comedy
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Louis C.K., Louie
Neil Flynn, The Middle
Joel McHale, Community
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Lead Actress in a Comedy
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Jane Levy, Suburgatory
Krysten Ritter, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23
Dreama Walker, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23
REPUTATION
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Will Arnett, Arrested Development
Ike Barinholtz, The Mindy Project
Michael Cera, Arrested Development
David Cross, Arrested Development
Ray Ford, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Jake Johnson, New Girl
Alex Karpovsky, Girls
Ian Patrick, The Neighbors
Danny Pudi, Community
Simon Templeman, The Neighbors

Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Alison Brie, Community
Carly Chaikin, Suburgatory
Eliza Coupe, Happy Endings
Elisha Cuthbert, Happy Endings
Zosia Mamet, Girls
Toks Olagundoye, The Neighbors
Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation
Lucy Punch, Ben and Kate
Alia Shawkat, Arrested Development
Eden Sher, The Middle
Cecily Strong, Saturday Night Live

Guest Actor in a Comedy
F. Murray Abraham, Louie
Zach Galifianakis, Saturday Night Live
Bill Hader, Portlandia
David Koechner, The Middle
David Lynch, Louie
Bob Odenkirk, The Office
John Slattery, Arrested Development
Fred Willard, Community
Patrick Wilson, Girls

Guest Actress in a Comedy
Isla Fisher, Arrested Development
Brie Larson, Community
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
Parker Posey, Louie
Chloë Sevigny, Louie
Jenny Slate, Parks and Recreation
Kristen Wiig, Arrested Development
REPUTATION
Molly Shannon, Enlightened

Drama Series
The Americans
Justified
Mad Men
Orphan Black
Parenthood
REPUTATION
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Hannibal

Lead Actor in a Drama
Walton Goggins, Justified
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Joshua Jackson, Fringe
Timothy Olyphant, Justified
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
REPUTATION
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Hugh Dancy, Hannibal
Freddie Highmore, Bates Motel
Damian Lewis, Homeland

Lead Actress in a Drama
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Keri Russell, The Americans
REPUTATION
Claire Danes, Homeland
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
Kerry Washington, Scandal

Supporting Actor in a Drama
Max Burkholder, Parenthood
Noah Emmerich, The Americans
Jordan Gavaris, Orphan Black
Vincent Kartheiser, Mad Men
John Noble, Fringe
Mike O’Malley, Justified
Kevin Rahm, Mad Men
REPUTATION
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones
Michael Cudlitz, Southland
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Mads Mikkelsen, Hannibal
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Corey Stoll, House of Cards

Supporting Actress in a Drama
Adelaide Clemens, Rectify
Annet Mahendru, The Americans
Monica Potter, Parenthood
Emily Bett Rickards, Arrow
Kiernan Shipka, Mad Men
Abigail Spencer, Rectify
Mae Whitman, Parenthood
REPUTATION
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad

Guest Actor in a Drama
Patton Oswalt, Justified
Jere Burns, Justified
Harry Hamlin, Mad Men
Ryan Lauria, Parenthood
REPUTATION
Eddie Izzard, Hannibal

Guest Actress in a Drama
Channing Chase, Mad Men
Linda Cardellini, Mad Men
Margo Martindale, The Americans

Original Music and Lyrics
“Electric Love,” Bob’s Burgers
“The Mad Pooper,” Bob’s Burgers
“Rural Juror,” 30 Rock
“The Thanksgiving Song,” Bob’s Burgers
“That’s an Adventure (Hot Air Balloon),” Community

In picking my biggest Emmy snubs, I am not just considering my own feelings, but the overall buzz surrounding a show or a performer.  I cannot reasonably expect Emmy voters to nominate someone just because I was the only one who thought that actor was great.  But if there’s enough buzz being buzzed by critics and industry insiders along with the buzz that we lowly non-professionals are buzzing, then I feel that voters surely ought to take notice.  Thus, these choices are not necessarily my top picks in these categories.  If my top choice had much less buzz than another worthy choice, then I am angrier with the Emmys regarding the latter.  And when talking about snubs, you have to talk about the actual nominee that you think should be replaced, so I have done that for all of my selections.

(If there’s another egregious snub that I didn’t list here, it’s probably because I don’t watch the show.  Chime in about any other snubs in the comments!)

1. Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black for Lead Actress, Drama – We have all talked enough about how mind-blowing Tatiana Maslany’s multi-character performance is.  She may be on a little-watched show on a little-watched network, but sometimes some performances are so good that they just cannot be ignored.  WHO SHOULD SHE REPLACE? All 7

2. David Lynch, Louie for Guest Actor, Comedy – Was he just too weird for the Emmys?  It’s not like he’s any weirder than the show he was on.  True, though, he was weird in a different way. WHO SHOULD HE REPLACE? Nathan Lane on Modern Family

3. Lily Rabe, American Horror Story: Asylum for Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie – In other AHS: Asylum news, I’m happy that Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson were nominated, but they should really switch categories.  But the best performance this season was provided by Lily Rabe as meek Sister Mary Eunice and the decidedly un-meek demon who possesses her, getting crazier than even how crazy Ryan Murphy could have imagined. WHO SHOULD SHE REPLACE? I can’t fairly say she was more deserving than the performances in this category I didn’t see, but there were only 5 nominees.  I don’t see why there couldn’t have been a 6th.

4. Joel McHale, Community for Lead Actor, Comedy – Despite a down year for Community, Joel McHale may have had his best season thus far. WHO SHOULD HE REPLACE? Matt LeBlanc for Episodes

5. Jake Johnson, New Girl for Lead or Supporting Actor, Comedy – It was The Year of Nick Miller, but somehow the Emmys abandoned New Girl completely. WHO SHOULD HE REPLACE? Since Jake entered in Lead, Don Cheadle, House of Lies (If he had entered in Supporting, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family)

6. Jane Levy, Suburgatory for Lead Actress, Comedy – Her lack of name recognition and her show’s inconsistency probably held her back, but there was nothing inconsistent about her ability to ground the cartoonish trappings of Suburgatory with comedically dramatic chops. WHO SHOULD SHE REPLACE? Actually, though I personally would put Levy ahead of them, all of the nominated ladies probably deserve it.  But there were 7 nominees here last year.  Why not this year?

7. Arrested Development for Best Comedy – I will concede that Arrested Development Season 4 was not as strong as its original run, but we’re not comparing it to itself, we’re comparing it to other shows on now. WHAT SHOULD IT REPLACE? Modern Family!  (But since that’s not going to happen, The Big Bang Theory.)

8. Will Arnett, Arrested Development for Supporting Actor, Comedy – I would personally prefer Michael Cera.  And David Cross and Tony Hale (who opted to only submit for Veep) were great, too.  Jeffrey Tambor isn’t bad either, though the George, Sr. storylines were the weakest links of Season 4.  The point is, if there is a show that actually deserves to dominate the Comedy acting categories the way Modern Family has, it’s Arrested Development.  And Will Arnett is probably the most popular choice to get that going. WHO SHOULD HE REPLACE? Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family

9. Monica Potter, Parenthood for Supporting Actress, Drama – Prognosticators were describing Monica Potter’s cancer arc as shameless Emmy bait, but done really well.  I personally would prefer Mae Whitman (because she’s Mae Whitman), but Potter did nail it. WHO SHOULD SHE REPLACE? I don’t watch most of the shows here, but from what I’ve heard, Christine Baranski hasn’t done all that much special lately on The Good Wife.

10. The Middle for Best Comedy – This is the sort of show that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. WHAT SHOULD IT REPLACE? Modern Family!  The Middle is the weirder, better ABC Wednesday night comedy.

11. Vincent Kartheiser, Mad Men for Supporting Actor, Drama – Pete Campbell has always been a slimeball, but Vincent Kartheiser clearly knows how to make him an interesting, even occasionally likable, slimeball. WHO SHOULD HE REPLACE? Actually, nobody.  Everyone in this field is great.  The supporting categories really need more like 10 slots, especially this one.

12. Walton Goggins, Justified for Supporting Actor, Drama – Justified needs more Emmy love.  Goggins might be the best option in that regard. WHO SHOULD HE REPLACE? See above.

EDIT: Here’s a bonus snub I forgot to include on the initial post:
13. Any song from Bob’s Burgers for Original Music and Lyrics – Bob’s Burgers is not a musical in name, but it is in spirit. WHAT SHOULD IT REPLACE? I didn’t watch the Tonys, Smash, or Nashville, so I don’t know how good those songs were, but I’m sure those from Bob’s were better.

-I knew that my easy choice for the best performance of the year –  Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black – was far from a sure thing, but the way Lead Actress in a Drama was blown up – half of last year’s nominees are gone, a seventh slot was added, three ladies are up in their shows’ first seasons and another in her show’s second season that feels more like a first – suggests the field may have actually been open enough for her to have a chance.  The lesson here is that it helps to be a familiar face.  I would’ve thought, though, that Tatiana’s chances compared favorably to those of Vera Farmiga, who isn’t that big a movie star – and if Emmy voters could turn their dials up to A&E, then I believe in them enough that they can make it up to BBC America.

-Lead Actor in a Comedy is an interesting category.  There are a few really deserving fellows, but overall it’s a light field.  Thankfully, last year’s way too safe winner, Jon Cryer, was left out.  But, seriously, Don Cheadle AND Matt LeBlanc?  I know Joel McHale (still excellent despite a down year for Community) and Neil Flynn (his and his show’s best years yet) were going to be ignored, but they shouldn’t have been.  What about Jake Johnson (even though I think he should have submitted as Supporting)?  New Girl was on Emmy’s radar last year (although this year it got zilch overall).  As long as Don or Matt don’t win, we’re good.  And since Alec and Jim have both won multiple times, let’s spread the wealth around to Louie or Jason.

-The Modern Family stranglehold is weakening!  Only 5 of the 6 adult cast members were nominated!  Interestingly enough, last year’s Supporting Actor winner, Eric Stonestreet was the one left off.  I’ll take that, because it made room for a stranger choice like Adam Driver.  (A lot of great guys were still left out of this field, but progress is progress.)

-No Guest Actor slot for David Lynch?!  The most egregious non-Tatiana Maslany snub of this year.

–Bob’s Burgers up for Outstanding Animated Program is great news, seeing as it had one of the best seasons of an animated series ever.  It deserved more recognition (Original Song several times over, hello!), but at least we know some voters are watching it.

-No Writing or Directing nods for Mad Men?  What is going on?

-Laura Dern for Lead Actress Comedy was the most pleasant surprise.  I’ve only watched Season 1 of Enlightened so far, but I hear Season 2 is even better, so I’m sure Laura is deserving in what remains one of the most unbelievably competitive categories.

-Didn’t we all decide that, despite how great Jane Lynch is, Sue Sylvester stopped being a great character – or really, good at all – after Season 1 of Glee?  Wasn’t that why she was not nominated the past two years?  We could have used the extra seventh Supporting Actress slot for a lot of ladies, but not Sue Sylvester.

-Look, I love Will Forte.  I probably love him more than anyone else.  But you don’t need to keep nominating him for Guest Actor for 30 Rock.  Especially if it means leaving out people like David Lynch for Louie.  Actually, now that I think about it, I love Will Forte.  He deserves all the nominations he can get.

-Does Louis C.K. hold the record for most Emmy nominations ever yet?

Apparently, some television actors don’t know how big or small their roles are on their shows.  Or they just don’t care.  Or they prefer to be in the category that they think has easier competition.  Whatever the reasons, every year, there are lead performers who submit in the supporting category, or vice versa.  I scoured the ballot (http://www.emmys.tv/ballots/2013) to find this year’s offenders. Here they are, listed in order of “Definitely Wrong Category” to “Probably The Right Category But An Argument Could Be Made Otherwise.”

-Amy Schumer (submitted as Supporting instead of Lead for Inside Amy Schumer) – The show’s named after you, you’re in every sketch, and at least 90% of the sketches revolve around your character…
-Anthony Jeselnik (submitted as Supporting instead of Lead for The Jeselnik Offensive) – Umm, again, look at your show title.
-Rob Lowe (submitted as Lead instead of Supporting for Parks and Recreation) – Rob Lowe, you are not a lead.  You’re just not.  There are four others (Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones) with bigger roles than yours, two of whom submitted as Supporting.  And there are three others (Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt) whose roles are at least as big as yours.
-Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein/Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele (submitted as Supporting instead of Lead for Portlandia/Key and Peele) – Guys, these are your shows.  Keegan and Jordan, it’s your eponymous show.  You can support each other as co-leads.  Also, Fred, you’re competing with yourself on the Supporting ballot (SNL) instead of spreading yourself around!
-Portia De Rossi (submitted as Lead instead of Supporting for Arrested Development) – I don’t know if you could really say that anyone had enough screen time in AD S4 to be considered a lead.  We can accept Jason Bateman, because everything more or less still goes through Michael, but other than that, I don’t see the justification.
-Sarah Wayne Callies (submitted as Lead instead of Supporting for The Walking Dead) – When you die about halfway through the season, that kind of makes it hard to be a lead.
-Katie Cassidy (submitted as Lead instead of Supporting for Arrow) – This is not a show with multiple leads.
-Sarah Paulson (submitted as Supporting instead of Lead for American Horror Story: Asylum) – There were a lot of characters in AHS: Asylum, and somehow just about everything went through Lana.
-Jim Beaver (submitted as Guest instead of Supporting for Justified) – The whole seasonlong storyarc kind of revolved around him.
-Jake Johnson (submitted as Lead instead of Supporting for New Girl) – Yeah, his screen time was aplenty, but this is still Zooey Deschanel’s show.
-Adam Scott (submitted as Lead instead of Supporting for Parks and Recreation) – Despite being the husband of the main character, I would argue he is at most the third most significant character.
-Freddie Highmore (submitted as Supporting instead of Lead for Bates Motel) – Apparently the focus is more on Mrs. Bates, but I’m hearing this is just the latest example of a child actor apparently not being old enough to enter in the lead field.
-Jessica Lange (submitted as Lead instead of Supporting for American Horror Story: Asylum) – She could maybe make a case as a secondary lead.
-Mike O’Malley (submitted as Guest instead of Supporting for Justified) – He may have been in only half the episodes, but he was the season’s main villain.
-Walton Goggins (submitted as Supporting instead of Lead for Justified) – He had about as much screen time as Timothy Olyphant.  Who says the antagonist can’t be considered a lead?
-Mads Mikkelsen (submitted as Supporting instead of Lead for Hannibal) – I haven’t started watching yet, but I hear this may actually be the right choice despite his name being in the title.
-Garret Dillahunt (sumbitted as Lead instead of Supporting for Raising Hope) – You gotta call Lucas Neff the top lead, but I guess he, Dillahunt, and Martha Plimpton all have enough screen time for there to be 3 leads.  Apparently Lucas Neff didn’t even submit himself anyway.
-Tatiana Maslany (submitted as Lead instead of Everything for Orphan Black)

We’re well into 2012-13 television season, and the Emmy competition for Best Comedy Series is as deep and varied as I can ever remember it being.  Here’s how who I believe should be the contenders are shaping up:

Safe Bets
Happy Endings
Louie
The Middle
New Girl
30 Rock

This Was a Safe Bet Last Year, and I Feel Like it Should Be a Safe Bet This Year, But it Isn’t as Good as Last Year, But It Mixes Things Up a Lot, And Isn’t That a Mark of a Good Show? So Maybe it is as Good as Last Year
Girls

Not Enough Episodes Have Aired to Say for Sure
Community

When These Shows Are at Their Best, They’re the Best on TV, But Too Often This Season They Haven’t Been at Their Best (Their Own Fault Division)
Parks and Recreation
Suburgatory

When This Shows is at Its Best, It’s the Best on TV, But Too Often This Season It Hasn’t Been at Its Best (Not Its Fault Division)
Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23

This Show Doesn’t Seem to Fit Any of My Categories, But It’s Good, Isn’t It?
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

One Show I Don’t Watch That is Possibly the Best Show on Television
Enlightened

2 Animated Shows That Will Probably Enter the Animated Field But Would Easily Be in the Running if They Were to Enter the Comedy Field
Archer
Bob’s Burgers

And here are my current Number One contenders in the acting categories:

Lead Actor
Joel McHale, Community

Lead Actress
Jane Levy, Suburgatory

Supporting Actor
Jake Johnson, New Girl

Supporting Actress
Elisha Cuthbert, Happy Endings

With the exception of Fringe, I either do not watch any of the top dramas, or I am still playing catch-up on Netflix.  So, for the drama categories, I am going to pick based on the tings that I hear.

Best Drama

I believe that Community is the best show on TV, but if it is not, then it must be Breaking Bad.  Game of Thrones is nearly all the way up there, too, from what I hear.  Homeland – apparently the best new drama of the year – is probably going to crash the party and may even have a chance to win.  The Good Wife somehow manages to find a place among its more unusual competition.  Can’t forget Mad Men.  I’ll take Justified over Boardwalk Empire.

Lead Actress

This is the first year that I believe that Anna Torv truly deserves a nomination along with her castmates.  Claire Danes quite possibly deserves to win in Homeland’s first year.  I’m assuming Julianna Margulies is still great.  My sister, brother, and dad watch more Mad Men than I do; whenever I walk in the room, I always enjoy what Elisabeth Moss is doing.  And let’s go a little wild for the last two spots: Katey Sagal and Emily VanCamp.

Lead Actor

Apparently Bryan Cranston owns this category.  I enjoy Jon Hamm and Timothy Olyphant and would like to be watching their shows more often.  Steve Buscemi, right? I’m feeling that Damian Lewis must match up well with Claire Danes for Homeland to be as good as people say it is.  And let’s show some post-cancellation love to Jason Isaacs. 

Supporting Actress

Morena Baccarin was the right sort of sexy-scary on V; I hope that’s also true on Homeland (because of Homeland, the president did see her boobs). Speaking of boobs … her acting is good, too … Christina Hendricks. I loved Mae Whitman in a little show called State of Grace, then on Arrested Development, then in the live-action Rugrats trailer on Funny or Die; in this category she’s up for Parenthood.  Madeleine Stowe was great in 12 Monkeys; that’s not too different from Revenge, right?  Archie Panjabi won this category once – her character seems interesting.  And I keep hearing praise for Kiernan Shipka, so let’s just give her a nomination, why don’t we.

Supporting Actor

Gus Fring died so that Giancarlo Esposito could get an Emmy.  And Aaron Paul is the other strong contender from Breaking Bad in this field.  I’m not sure if John Noble should be up for Lead or Supporting; since he was submitted in Supporting, we’ll go with that.  And Joshua Jackson was good, too.  Peter Dinklage won last year, so I’m sure he deserves the nomination, if not the win, again.  And gotta be Neal McDonough.

Guest Actor and Actress
It’s hard enough keeping track of guests on the comedies (which I watch), so I’m not going to bother trying to figure out the guests on the dramas (which I don’t watch).

Emmy nominations are coming on Thursday (July 19)!  So here is what and who Ibelieve should be nominated.  I made my selections based on what categories I think the shows and the actors should be in, not necessarily what category they were submitted in.  So, if an animated show submitted for animated series (and was thus not eligible to also submit for comedy series), I still considered it for best comedy, or if an actor submitted for lead but really should have submitted for supporting, I considered that person in the supporting field.  Or if guest actors weren’t submitted, I don’t care.  There are certain potentially deserving nominees on shows that I do not watch or just started watching that I have heard enough good things about to consider along with those I am familiar with; such contenders are marked in italics.  My choices are listed in order of most deserving first.

(Thanks to fishsticktheatre.com for the Community screencaps.)

Best Comedy

Remember when 30 Rock was (deservedly) dominating this category?  And now Modern Family is (undeservedly) dominating?  Both of those shows miss my short list.  Boy, are we living in a golden age of comedy.  Is it time yet for everyone else to realize how incredible Community is?
1. Community (Check out this episode: “Remedial Chaos Theory”)
2. Parks and Recreation (Check out this episode: “Citizen Knope”)
3. Louie (Check out this episode: “Duckling,” from what I’ve heard)
4. Happy Endings (Check out this episode: “Big White Lies”)
5. Girls (Check out this episode: “Vagina Panic”)
6. Bob’s Burgers (Check out this episode: “Bad Tina”)
Also worth consideration: Archer, Suburgatory, 30 Rock, The Middle

Lead Actress

There sure are a lot of great comedies fronted by funny ladies these days.  Zooey Deschanel sure is awesome.  (You hear that, people who don’t like her?!)  But Amy Poehler is even more awesome, and it continues to be a disgrace that she hasn’t won yet.
1. Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (Check out this episode: “The Debate”)
2. Zooey Deschanel, New Girl (Check out this episode: “Jess and Julia”)
3. Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope (Check out this episode: “Jimmy’s Fake Girlfriend”)
4. Lena Dunham, Girls (Check out this episode: “Vagina Panic”)
5. Tina Fey, 30 Rock (Check out this episode: “The Tuxedo Begins”)
6. Jane Levy, Suburgatory (Check out this episode: “The Motherload”)
Also worth considering: Krysten Ritter, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, Dreama Walker, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, Laura Dern, Enlightened

Lead Actor

The more and more I think about it, the more I realize how much Joel McHale as Jeff Winger belongs in the pantheon of perfect casting.
1. Joel McHale, Community (Check out this episode: “Origins of Vampire Mythology”)
2. Louis C.K., Louie (Check out this episode: “Duckling,” from what I’ve heard)
3. Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock (Check out this episode: “Today You Are a Man”)
4. Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory (Check out this episode: “The Stag Convergence”)
T5. Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele, Key & Peele (Check out this episode: Episode 1)
Also worth considering: Will Arnett, Up All Night, Danny McBride, Eastbound & Down, Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm

Supporting Actress

Thanks to the debuts of Suburgatory and Up All Night and the maturation of Happy Endings, this category is more crowded than ever.  But, uh-huh, Alison Brie is still the best.  But she does have some solid competition on her own show.  And oh how I wish I could also pick Aubrey Plaza!
1. Alison Brie, Community (Check out this episode: “Regional Holiday Music”)
2. Gillian Jacobs, Community (Check out this episode: “Remedial Chaos Theory”)
3. Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation (Check out this episode: “Live Ammo”)
4. Eden Sher, The Middle (Check out this episode: “Leap Year”)
5. Casey Wilson, Happy Endings (Check out this episode: “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre”)
6. Carly Chaikin, Suburgatory (Check out this episode: “Down Time”)
The difference between these last two slots and the first two out was razor-thin; I could easily switch Casey and/or Carly out with a castmate, and then turn around and switch them back the next day.
7. Elisha Cuthbert, Happy Endings
8. Allie Grant, Suburgatory
Also worth considering: Eliza Coupe, Happy Endings, Ellie Kemper, The Office, Maya Rudolph, Up All Night, Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory, Zosia Mamet, Girls, Yvette Nicole Brown, Community, Ana Gasteyer, Suburgatory, Kaitlin Olson, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Supporting Actor

Nick Offerman was more awesome than ever as Ron Swanson this season, and I thought that this would be the first season that I would pick him over Danny Pudi, but then Community went and had a run of incredible Abed-centric episodes in the back half of the season, and I’ve got to give it to Danny again.  Both of them deserve to have won multiple times already.  I would also be okay with Jim Rash getting one step closer to an EGOT.
1. Danny Pudi, Community (Check out this episode: “Virtual Systems Analysis”)
2. Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation (Check out this episode: “Campaign Ad”)
3. Jim Rash, Community (Check out this episode: “Documentary Filmmaking: Redux”)
4. Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live (Check out this episode: “Zooey Deschanel/Karmin”)
5. Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock (Check out this episode: “Today You Are a Man”)
6. Damon Wayans, Jr., Happy Endings (Check out this episode: “The Code War”)
Also worth considering: Adam Pally, Happy Endings, Ty Burrell, Modern Family, Max Greenfield, New Girl, Donald Glover, Community, Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation, Jason Segel, How I Met Your Mother, Chris Pratt, Parks and Recreation, Adam Driver, Girls, Alan Tudyk, Suburgatory, Chevy Chase, Community, Charlie Day, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, James Van Der Beek, Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, Glenn Howerton, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Danny DeVito, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,  Rob McElhenney, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Atticus Shaffer, The Middle,  Aziz Ansari, Parks and Recreation, Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock, Tony Hale, Veep

Guest Actor and Actress

Oh, guest actor category, you drive me crazy, what with your mix of recurring characters who don’t appear often enough to enter into the supporting field and characters who only appear for one episode or one arc.  Community’s resident Hispanics – fight it out!  As for the ladies, I can safely pick Kathryn Hahn ahead of all others; let’s make her more of a household name!
1. Richard Erdman, Community
2. Luis Guzman, Community
3. Paul Rudd, Parks and Recreation
4. Norm MacDonald, The Middle
5. Giancarlo Esposito, Community
6. Jim Carrey, 30 Rock
Also worth considering: William Baldwin, 30 Rock, Steve Buscemi, Saturday Night Live, Will Forte, 30 Rock, Kyle McLachlan, Portlandia

1. Kathryn Hahn, Parks and Recreation
2. Zooey Deschanel, Saturday Night Live
3. Kristen Wiig, Portlandia
4. Whoopi Goldberg, The Middle
5. Emma Stone, Saturday Night Live
6. Leslie Mann, Modern Family
Also worth considering: Ursula Parker, Louie, Lizzy Caplan, New Girl

Best Drama
Once again, it is clear that I do not watch that many dramas, or at least not that many good dramas.  I can vouch for Fringe deserving a spot, and The Walking Dead might be welcome as well. Breaking Bad, which is apparently the best show on television right now, didn’t have any new episodes in the eligibility period.  So I’m hearing that Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Justified, Mad Men, or perhaps The Good Wife ought to go here.  It’ll be several years before I can say for sure.  After all, I still have to get around to watching The Sopranos and The Wire.

Lead Actor
I would throw my support behind John Noble all the way here, except that he apparently enters in the supporting field.  I hear that Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), and Timothy Olyphant (Justified) are all great, and that Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) continue to be so.  Brian Cranston won’t be around to defend his title.

Lead Actress
I am going to continue my campaign for Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) to get some Emmy love.  And Anna Torv (Fringe) may have just been strong enough to earn a nod this year.  Apparently, Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) and Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) are also deserving.

Supporting Actor
On Fringe, John Noble’s was by far the most astounding work of any actor on TV this year.  From what I have heard, Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) is the only other contender who can even come close to him.  Fringe deserves to double up here, as Joshua Jackson went deeper and darker.

Supporting Actress
I suppose Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) might repeat here, and Kelly McDonald (Boardwalk Empire) sounds good, too.

Guest Actor/Actress
For perhaps the first time eveer, the guest actor statues for comedy and drama ought to go to the same recipient, as Kevin Corrigan led us further into the mysteries that lie at the heart of Fringe.  It was a treat to see Noah Emmerich pop up in The Walking Dead.  Returning for five minutes, Michael Rosenbaum was the best thing about the final season of Smallville.  As for the ladies, I have no idea.  I am sure there were great guest actresses this past season, but I just did not happen to catch them.