by Nathaniel R
Aidy Bryant in "Shrill"
Voting is winding down for the year's Emmy nominations, which is why we've been sharing FYCs. If past years are any indication the nominee list will look nearly identical to last year's with the exception of shows/performances that are no longer eligible. Their slots will be filled by the new hits (it seems likely, for example, that Pose and Russian Doll and a couple of other freshmen series that got people talking for months on end, will receive attention). But looking over the ballots for performers, it becomes suddenly clear that NO ONE can watch this much television...
Though I pride myself on being mostly aware when it comes to all forms of showbiz outside of music and reality tv (neither of which I can remotely claim to understand/keep up with), I didn't recognize the titles of more eligible shows than I care to admit. With more and more streaming services each year providing original content adding to the hundreds of shows from dozens of network and cable channels, the field is enormous. It's little wonder that Emmy voters just stick to their favourites... which is why they really should have blue ribbon panels doing the nominating, who commit to watching a high percentage of the the submission tapes in their assigned category. The nominations would be a little consistent that way (as juried fields tend to be) but it would, we think, provide a better indication of the quality in a given season as opposed to "shows we watch. the end." Then let the general body of the Academy do the winner voting. You'd have less repeat winners that way for sure.
After the jump my very spotty ballots in sitcoms -- this is perhaps not how I'd actually vote as if I were a voter I would definitely be sampling the tapes of submitted episodes to feel conscientous about things -- but from the series I do watch or have samples, here are the people I'm rooting for... even if they don't have a prayer in hell of making the list.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Obviously Phoebe Waller-Bridges and Natasha Lyonne have decent shots at Emmy nominations for their miraculous work. But a lot of these other women are deserving of nods, too, even though they are extreme longshots. It's particularly painful that Rachel Bloom and Sutton Foster have never been honored despite years of great work now for their dazzling one-of-a-kind star turns on their respective series.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Here's the thing -- and this is why it irks that Game of Thrones hogs the Acting Categories each year in drama. You shouldn't always vote for something just because you watch it. Watch your submission tapes, voters! For example, I've sampled from about 10 of the 75ish male-led shows listed (with 87 men eligible) and watched only two loyally and in most cases, I wouldn't enthusiastically vote for the leading man/ men. The shows I watched didn't scream "AWARD-WORTHY" in this category, probably because I drift more towards female-led TV series. As for Barry, I know it's a critical darling but shows about sympathetic assassins are not for me. If you believe the world as portrayed in mainstream TV and film, assassins and serial killers are up their with doctors and lawyers for most common career tracks. How are any of us still alive with all those professional and amateur-hobbyist killers out there in every city by the dozens? The show I missed that I most wanted to watch that involves this category is What We Do in the Shadows but it's too expensive to screen since we cut the cord long ago and it's not streaming without paying for a full season.
The point is this: there are only three men that really hold my heart in this category, from what I've seen (which again SPOTTY so please recommend shows in the comments). Ted Danson is a likely nominee because Emmy voters love him (and he's doing terrific work on The Good Place in a part that's miles from his previous "signature" role of Sam on Cheers, so the man's got comic range). Drew Tarver and Ramy Youssef are very unlikely as nominees go given the low profile of their shows but they're both perfect whilst adorably struggling through what their shows are comically and dramatically throwing at them.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
I was tempted to just be cheeky and list D'Arcy Carden 10 times due to the "Janet(s)" episode previously discussed. My love for The Marvelous Mrs Maisel really nosedived in season two but I think Marin Hinkle is so undervalued in general and on this show, so I want to put in a word for her.
And of course it's absolutely shameful of the Academy that Donna Lynne Champlin and Rita Moreno both haven't won Emmys for their shows let alone even been nominated. What an insane world we live in.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
I couldn't get into / finish the last season of Kimmy Schmidt (despite loving the first three seasons) but given that Emmy voters actually watch the show AND nominate Titus Burgess regularly it's unthinkable and embarrassing x ∞ that they haven't given him the statue for what is inarguably an all-time great comic creation. Even if you could only give out one acting Emmy a year encompassing all categories, he already should have been a winner.
Finally, here are the shows I'd probably vote for for OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES (though, again, I'd dutifully watch screeners before voting)
Take all of this with a hefty grain of salt because I'm always behind on television AND not a binge watcher (too busy with movies) so I have not seen every eligible episode of ANY of the comedy series save for the short first seasons of Now Apocalypse, Russian Doll and Shrill. Even with shows I love I am generally at least a half season behind always. Sometimes more than that.
We desire your ballots and feelings on the state of situation comedy on television and streaming right about now. What are you watching? What should we all be watching or get immediately caught up with? Which shows do you think have overstayed their welcome with the Emmys... and so on.