Emmy Awards 2015: And the Nominees Should Be … (Part 1)

Which programs will make the cut in the Drama Series category Which performers will be in the running at this yearamp8217s Emmy Awards scheduled to be telecast live September 20 on Foxamp160Weamp8217ll have to wait two weeks for those allimportant answers In the meantime here are my thoughts on the subject My picks for the most deserving Comedy Series and the performers in them will appear next weekOutstanding Drama Seriesamp8220The Americansamp8221 FX amp8211 One of the Academyamp8217s most shameful oversights in recent years has been the failure of its voting members to recognize this show or anyone in its outstanding cast especially leads Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell The Broadcast Television Journalists Association honored amp8220The Americansamp8221 last month with the Criticsamp8217 Choice Award for Best Drama Series Is the usual Emmy snub even possible after thatamp8220Downton Abbeyamp8221 PBS amp8211 That evergrowing cluster of critics who behave like the Borg and those who fear not following the pack amp8211 have all but turned away from this thoroughly satisfying and reliably soothing series and its outstanding ensemble even as the audience for amp8220Downtonamp8221 has continued to grow and the SAG Awards have continued to honor its cast members What better way to start the New Year as PBS always does than with the return of the Crawleys and their servants Millions of people will miss them dearly after the sixth and final season finishes its run in early 2016amp8220The Good Wifeamp8221 CBS amp8211 Iamp8217ve put this title in bold because it is my pick as the best in this category amp8220The Good Wifeamp8221 pictured at top is that all too rare drama series on broadcast or cable that gets better each and every season and isnamp8217t afraid to take enormous risks with its narrative It started out six years ago as the best broadcast drama and one of the very best in its overall genre and it can still claim both distinctions Last year the Academy didnamp8217t even nominate this deserving show but at least it honored series star Julianna Margulies with a second Emmy for her work as beleaguered attorney wife and mother Alicia Florrickamp8220Empireamp8221 Fox amp8211 How could Emmy not acknowledge this sizzling hot melodrama one quite unlike any other primetime soap in the history of the medium but one that also calls to mind fond memories of those TV titans from the Eighties amp8220Dallasamp8221 and amp8220Dynastyamp8221 amp8220Empireamp8221 pictured below permeated popular culture before its first episode ended and its ratings consistently rose throughout its 10episode run Broadcast television seemed a whole lot quieter and less commanding when itsamp8217 short first season ended in Marchamp8220Justifiedamp8221 FX amp8211 The recently concluded sixth and final season of this series should be required viewing for all showrunners many of whom lose sight of honoring their characters and their longtime viewers when itamp8217s time to wrap a show amp8220Justifiedamp8221 did both It was a marvel of contemporary storytelling Plus guest stars Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen slayed itamp8220Mad Menamp8221 AMC amp8211 Surely voting members of the Academy wonamp8217t miss their last chance to support this uncommonly profound show and the uniformly understated brilliance of its storytelling acting and directing Its final seven episodes were problematic at times amp8211 especially all the meandering stuff with that waitress but when they made the same magic that earned amp8220Madamp8221 four consecutive Emmys as Outstanding Drama Series at the start of its run we were reminded all over again of the unique genius of series creator Matthew Weineramp8220Orange is the New Blackamp8221 Netflix amp8211 Still the most interesting dramatic series on television even if it isnamp8217t as consistently compelling or profound as so many others or as it had been in season one As always if it ainamp8217t on the page it ainamp8217t on the stage or the screen and we have Jenji Kohan to thank for that But itamp8217s the amp8220OITNBamp8221 ensemble that really makes this show soar That cast is one for the agesNow onto my choices for the nominees in each category My personal pick for the winner of each is in boldOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesJon Hamm amp8220Mad Menamp8221 AMCSam Heughan amp8220Outlanderamp8221 StarzFreddie Highmore amp8220Bates Motelamp8221 AampampECharlie Hunnam amp8220Sons of Anarchyamp8221 FXBob Odenkirk amp8220Better Call Saulamp8221 AMCMatthew Rhys amp8220The Americansamp8221 FX picturedOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesViola Davis amp8220How to Get Away with Murderamp8221 ABCVera Farmiga amp8220Bates Motelamp8221 AampampEEva Green amp8220Penny Dreadfulamp8221 Showtime picturedTaraji P Henson amp8220Empireamp8221 FoxJulianna Margulies amp8220The Good Wifeamp8221 CBSElisabeth Moss amp8220Mad Menamp8221 AMCOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesJonathan Banks amp8220Better Call Saulamp8221 AMCRupert Friend amp8220Homelandamp8221 ShowtimeWalton Goggins amp8220Justifiedamp8221 FXBen Mendelsohn amp8220Bloodlineamp8221 Netflix picturedTobias Menzies amp8220Outlanderamp8221 StarzMandy Patinkin amp8220Homelandamp8221 ShowtimeOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesChristine Baranski amp8220The Good Wifeamp8221 CBSJoelle Carter amp8220Justifiedamp8221 FXJane Fonda amp8220The Newsroomamp8221 HBOCharlotte Rampling amp8220Broadchurchamp8221 BBC America picturedMaggie Smith amp8220Downton Abbeyamp8221 PBSLorraine Toussaint quotOrange Is the New Blackquot Netflix

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Emmy Awards 2015: And the Nominees Should Be … (Part 1)

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Ed Martin

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Emmy Awards 2015: And the Nominees Should Be … (Part 1)

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