Biggest Surprises:
- Obviously, Kristen Wiig for The Spoils of Babylon. It was pretty awesome that she actually got recognized for that, making my long ago wish for it in my review come true.
- Kate McKinnon slid into the SNL slot nicely, which was well-deserved, seeing as she's one of the only good things about SNL these days. And Fred Armisen for Portlandia, but in supporting when it's entirely his show? They really, really need to bring back that Best Individual Performance in a Variety Series award, which was eliminated just a few years ago. I don't even know why they got rid of it. It'd be filled every year with worthy competitors instead of nominating them in the supporting acting categories, where they don't belong.
- Ricky Gervais for Derek? This Netflix show was not the best received, making it a case of likely name recognition in a weak field, and the same goes for William H. Macy's first nod for Shameless since it moved from Drama to Comedy series. I wonder if either of them can take down three time champ Jim Parsons though.
- Lena Headey is nominated for the first time for Game of Thrones, taking Emilia Clarke's slot from last season. I don't know how that happened exactly, since Cersei really didn't have much screen time this year, except early on when grieving over Joffrey's death. Looks like Emmy voters are actually watching Game of Thrones though (it led all nominations with 19), which is not always the case with these things.
- The voters continue to soften on Modern Family, dumping Eric Stonestreet, Sofia Vergara and Ed O'Neil from their usual acting slots, giving both Orange is the New Black and Veep a strong chance to take it down this year. But they really don't want to let go of Downton Abbey, which got noms for Maggie Smith, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery and Joanne Froggat again, plus nods for writing, directing and series. Wow. They remain the one awards body still enamored with Downton.
BIggest Snubs:
- So, yeah, Tatiana Maslany. You just can't make these people watch Orphan Black no matter what, it seems. Probably means Robin Wright takes the category, unless Claire Danes can three-peat, but they seem to have totally gone off Homeland, which didn't even get nominated in series.
- Nothing but Andre Braugher for Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which means it's just another case of name recognition for a show they clearly didn't watch.
- Fans of The Good Wife were angry this morning, as even though most of the actors got back in, the show didn't, probably just missing out for what many say was undoubtedly its best season ever. And in favor of Downton Abbey too, that's gotta sting.
- Nods for writing, directing and series for Silicon Valley (and it kicked out Girls, ha!) yet none of the actors got in. Huh. That's a mystery, especially if they were looking to fill out names in that Best Actor in a Comedy lineup.
- Michael Sheen dissed for Masters of Sex when co-star Lizzy Caplan was nominated, missing out in favor of Jeff Daniels, who I'm pretty sure no one thought would be back this year for the canceled Newsroom. Hopefully he gets his shot next time, when Breaking Bad 's absence will leave empty slots across the board.
