Emmy 2015: And the Nominees Should Be … (Part 2)

To review my suggested nominees in the Drama Series arena check out Part 1 of this series.

Outstanding Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) – Eight seasons in and it’s as fresh as it was at the start – and funnier, too. There seems to be a looming sense of industry fatigue when it comes to honoring this show. If so, what nonsense. As connoisseurs of fine wine and aging baby boomers will tell you, contrary to popular opinion older is often better.

Jane the Virgin (The CW) – On the other hand, this brand new hour-long comedy emerged fully formed as one of the most charming and delightful surprises of the season. I didn’t care for the final moments of the season finale – the kidnapping of a newborn is just too heavy for a comedy of any kind, and the show may never be the same because of it. But “Jane” is super in every other way, and it boasts the most appealing cast on television.

The Middle (ABC) – The most underappreciated comedy series on American television just happens to be the only series on American television about Americans who live their lives the way most Americans do. That is, crawling through one financial challenge after another with no hope of anything changing for the better. It also happens to be one of those sitcoms like “The Big Bang Theory” that somehow gets funnier and more heartfelt with every passing season.

Modern Family (ABC)– My early enthusiasm for this ground-breaking and genre-twisting family sitcom dimmed quite a bit during the last two seasons. But it lit up all over again this year, lifted in no small way by that remarkable episode shot entirely on iPhones and other digital devices. For that brilliant half-hour alone “Family” once again deserves recognition as the best in the business.

Mom (CBS) – Memories of “All in the Family” and the many other great ‘70s sitcoms from the legendary Norman Lear often come flooding back when watching this funny and fearless show, which dares to tackle difficult contemporary issues without sacrificing its entertainment value. And it never preaches, another lesson taken from Lear. Anna Faris and Allison Janney have developed that kind of all too rare seamless chemistry between actresses that we once enjoyed from Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance, Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper, Jean Stapleton and Sally Struthers and Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams.   

Silicon Valley (HBO) – The funniest comedy on premium cable tackles a topic that would seem to be somewhat limited and opens it up as relatable mainstream entertainment. Executive producer Mike Judge once again proves that he is among the smartest people creating television.

You’re the Worst (FX) – The sexiest show on television, and one of the funniest, with a bold take on relationships and boundary pushing nudity that would seem more at home on HBO and Showtime. It isn’t easy to produce a compelling rom-com, as we saw last season with multiple misfires from ABC (“Selfie,” “Manhattan Love Story”) and NBC (“Marry Me,” “A to Z”). Male-driven FX, of all networks, nailed it. Too bad the folks in charge saw fit to send “Worst” off to FXX while keeping their own rom-com misfire, “Married,” on the mother-ship.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Gael Garcia Bernal – Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon)
Johnny Galecki – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Chris Geere – You’re the Worst (FX)
Thomas Middleditch – Silicon Valley (HBO)
Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent (Amazon)(pictured)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Patricia Heaton – The Middle (ABC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep (HBO)
Gina Rodriguez – Jane the Virgin (The CW)
Amy Schumer – Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)(pictured)
Constance Wu – Fresh Off the Boat (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Tituss Burgess – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
Jamie Cavill – Jane the Virgin (The CW)
Noel Fisher – Shameless (Showtime)
T.J. Miller – Silicon Valley (HBO)
Cameron Monaghan – Shameless (Showtime)(pictured below left, with Noel Fisher)
Zach Woods -- Silicon Valley (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Julie Bowen – Modern Family (ABC)
Anna Chlumsky – Veep (HBO)
Allison Janney – Mom (CBS)(pictured below left, with Anna Faris)
Mimi Kennedy – Mom (CBS)
Eden Sher – The Middle (ABC)

The opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage management or associated bloggers.