Maya Reddy ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
The awards season has arrived, and with it, more opportunity to complain about what award shows did or didn’t get right. The Golden Globes, in particular, is an awards show that often provides much more interesting results in its nomination pool for TV than the Emmys, or even the SAG Awards. Unlike the Emmy’s, the Hollywood Foreign Press has been more inclined to pay attention to newer shows, than to keep nominating the same shows every year. It definitely brings some surprise, and some dismay as well. Here are the top five television snubs for the Golden Globe nominations.
5. Shameless
William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Allen, Cameron Monaghan, Ethan Cutkosky and Emma Kenney in Shameless. Photo Credit: Showtime.
Showtime’s Shameless has had its trouble with award shows since its first season. Having finished its fourth season, the show still struggles with being not quite a comedy and not quite a drama. Much like its fellow dramedy, Orange is the New Black,Shameless submitted as a comedy instead of a drama this past year for awards season and both reaped a profit. More profit was reaped by Orange is the New Black (deservedly), while Shameless male lead, William H. Macy garnered a nomination.
The lack of recognition given to Emmy Rossum, who was received extremely positively by the critics this past season is quite a shame. Even the show itself provides a perspective not seen much on TV, while it’s cast of mostly young actors prove immensely talented. It seems fighting amongst this dichotomy between comedy and drama, Shameless is still getting the short end of the stick.
4. Amy Poehler
Adam Scott and Amy Poehler in the Parks and Recreation episode “Leslie & Ben.” Photo Credit: Tyler Golden/NBC.
The Golden Globes and the Emmys have gone back and forth consistently on how to treat Amy Poehler. With five consecutive nominations but never a win at the Emmy’s for her portrayal of Leslie Knope on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, and only three nominations but one win at the 2014 Golden Globe’s, Amy Poehler does get her fair share of nods. It was still a surprise to see her off the nominations list for the Golden Globes when she won the year prior. Especially with the final season of Parks and Recreation kicking off January 2015, one would the think the Hollywood Foreign Press would give the actress a proper send-off.
3. The Americans
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in The Americans episode “The Walk-In.” Photo Credit: Patrick Harbron/FX.
Widely considered one of the best shows no one’s heard of, The Americans, on FX is a show that started off great and has grown into something even greater in its second season. What makes the lack of a Golden Globe nomination really surprising is that theoretically, nominating The Americans is something the Hollywood Foreign Press would do – considering it’s lack of publicity, only being two seasons in, and being adored by the critics. With raving reviews comparing it to the Sopranos, The Americans provides a taste of the moral ambiguity and narrative tension missing out in a good portion of the drama series contenders.
2. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Andy Samberg and Terry Crews in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode “Chocolate Milk.” Photo Credit: John Fleenor/FOX.
Another complete surprise came from the snub of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which won last year in its first season for best comedy series and best lead actor for Andy Samberg. It was unexpected when it won last year, and was even more of a surprise when it didn’t get any nominations this year. Considering its rising popularity that came from the sudden love from the Golden Globes, this charming show’s lack of attention in its second year is quite a disappointment. Even more disappointing though, is the lack of a Golden Globe nomination for the Emmy nominated Andre Braugher, who has become a fan favorite for good reason.
1. Tatiana Maslany
Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black. Photo Credit: Steve Wilkie/BBC America.
Unlike with The Americans, where one can console themselves that the lack of a nomination came from obliviousness, Tatiana Maslany’s numerous roles on BBC America’s Orphan Black, garnered her attention and a nomination from last year’s Golden Globes. Hopefully it won’t become a consistent pattern that Tatiana Maslany can only be nominated by one of the big three award shows for television every year – this year being a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
Yet it’s mind-blowing to think that a performance that has grown even more nuanced and compelling to watch onscreen in its second season, has not been deemed good enough compared to its first season to earn a second nomination. There is a depth to each of the upwards of seven lead characters that is unparalleled. Tatiana Maslany gives a Golden Globe winning performance for every character she portrays. Given her incredibly impassioned fan base, this snub will be one of many that won’t be forgotten soon.
On the positive side, the Golden Globes still showed initiative to open up its options for nominees. With newcomers from Jane the Virgin and Viola Davis in How to Get Away with Murder getting well-deserved nominations, the Golden Globes are offering a unique look into what good television has been this past year.
