Ok, so ahead of the Emmy nominations on July 15, there are basically two precursor awards for the television season (not like the Oscars, where there are now a million precursors that usually determine the winners before the show ever airs). There's the Television Critics Association (TCA) that's been around since the 80's, and there is now the much newer Broadcast Film Critic's Choice TV Awards, which started handing out prizes in 2011. They had their third annual ceremony tonight and since precursors are becoming more important every year, it's worth noting the winners, as they may or may not end up shining a light on certain Emmy contenders. Here are the results for the major categories announced tonight:
COMEDY
Supporting Actress: Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) & Eden Sher (The Middle) (tie)
Supporting Actor: Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory)
Actress: Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Actor: Louis CK (Louie)
Series:The Big Bang Theory
DRAMA
Supporting Actor: Michael Cudlitz (Southland)
Supporting Actress: Monica Potter (Parenthood)
Actress: Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) (!!!!!)
Actor: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Series:Game of Thrones & Breaking Bad (tie)
MOVIE/MINISERIES
Supporting Actor: Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story: Asylum)
Supporting Actress: Sarah Paulsen (American Horror Story: Asylum)
Actress: Elisabeth Moss (Top of the Lake)
Actor: Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra)
Movie/Mini:Behind the Candelabra
As you can see, most of my excitement is reserved for Tatiana Maslany, who not only won here, but also secured a TCA nomination today and could very well win that too. I still think it's too much to hope for Emmy recognition, but given how incredible her performance is, if the critics keep pushing her through and people actually watch Orphan Black, she may be too much to ignore. If she did somehow pull off a miraculous nomination she's got the episodes to easily win- she's that good. No real surprises in the other categories, although this sudden critical love for The Big Bang Theory is kind of interesting. I'm thinking it's in response to its massive ratings and pop culture prominence, which keep increasing every year, and that could very well spill over into Emmy love as well. Michael Douglas begins here what will be his complete and very deserving sweep of the TV awards this season, and likely dominance in the Movie/Mini category for Behind the Candelabra as well. And here's hoping Elisabeth Moss can win her category for Top of the Lake, where she was SO good, and since she'll likely never win for Mad Men, it could easily be seen as a consolation prize from voters. And for what it's worth, I do expect the Drama Series Emmy this year to probably be between Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, so this result hints toward that coming as well.
