66th Annual Primetime Emmys Nominees & Predictions

Rachel Smith ‘16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Another year, another awards season. Early Thursday morning the hilarious Mindy Kaling and your favorite TRL host, Carson Daly announced this years list of Emmy nominations. Though Kaling’s show was snubbed in the Best Comedy Series category, there is an impressive list of nominees.
This will be the last time Bryan Cranston and the Breaking Bad crew can sit pretty on top of the list of nominations. This year also marks the end of the Mad Men reign. Both shows are nominated for Best Drama Series along with Downton Abbey, House of Cards, True Detective and the leader for nominations, Game of Thrones; which is standing strong with 19 nominations.
The list of Best Supporting Actors and Actresses is not straying far from the past line up but maybe the winners will be a surprise. Lena Headey is nominated for the first time for Cersei Lannister on Game Of Thrones, but Anna Gunn is a safe bet for her final bow as Mrs. Heisenberg on Breaking Bad. Best Supporting Actor looks like the toughest category to pick one true winner. The list includes everyone’s favorite Lannister and 2011 winner, Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones. His acting this season was superb and beautifully painful and his performance rivals Aaron Paul’s on Breaking Bad for the win. The final season of Breaking Bad was emotional for a million reasons but everyone had to feel for Pinkman being a tortured soul, emotionally and physically. Not to mention Aaron Paul is the best speechmaker in Hollywood. Let’s give him one more win with a hefty “Bitch!” to end it on the right note.

The ladies bringing all the drama includes the newest member of the nominee list, Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex). Last year’s winner, Robin Wright is back in the ring and should get the award again for her role in House of Cards. She melts into her character and creates a woman you hate to love. Kerry Washington’s pregnancy really distracted from her character this season on Scandal so it’s odd she was nominated this time around.
Lead actor in a Drama Series will probably go to fan favorite Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) who has won 4 times in this category. HBO’s breakout hit True Detective has two nominations for Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. Also in this category is Kevin Spacey who should absolutely win for House of Cards; this Netflix hit show would not work with anyone but Spacey leading it.
The drama categories are strong but lets talk about the comedy. The nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series are: Louie, Modern Family, Orange is the New Black, Silicon Valley, The Big Bang Theory and Veep. Aren’t we all kind of over the hype of Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory? It could be stolen by freshman comedy Silicon Valley, but Orange is the New Black is such a massive hit that it deserves the recognition.

The leading funny ladies are all perfect in their roles. Last year’s winner Julia-Louis Dreyfus is up for her role in Veep and the award will most likely go to her again or Amy Poehler. They both play politicians but on very different levels of hilarity. Poehler was so ecstatic about her Golden Globe win that it would be nice to see her be recognized for her long running role as Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation.
The nominees in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress is a breath of fresh air this year. Anna Chlumsky is nominated for the second year in a row for Veep. Kate McKinnon got a surprise nod to represent the Saturday Night Live crew but likely won’t win. Kate Mulgrew is nominated for Orange is the New Black as everyone’s favorite Russian inmate, Red. Chlumsky is incredible on Veep and has earned her nomination, but it looks like Mulgrew might take it this year.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy also mixed it up a bit this year. Last years winner Tony Hale is nominated again for Veep and Adam Driver is up for Girls. Predictions are leaning towards back-to-back Emmy wins for Tony Hale but Driver could get the surprise win.

Now we have the Best Guest Actress in a Comedy series and there is a 50% chance the statue is going to an Orange is the New Black cast member. Laverne Cox, Uzo Aduba, and Natasha Lyonne are all rightfully nominated. One of them should win but which one?
How can you pick?
The men impressed with their guest spots this year as well. Louis CK and Jimmy Fallon are going head to head for their SNL hosting skills. Modern Family must be included in every category and did not disappoint with Nathan Lane getting a nod. Lane basically played himself on the award snatching series, but he played himself so well that he’ll probably take home the Emmy.
Let us not forget about the miniseries and TV movies. The miniseries competing for the award are American Horror Story: Coven, Fargo and The Normal Heart. The Normal Heart made such a bold and beautiful statement both in story, subject and acting that they should get the recognition.

The leading actress of a miniseries category is filled with diverse talent. Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story: Coven) will be the top contenders to win. The leading men for a movie or mini-series is chock full of talent but Mark Ruffalo was incredible in The Normal Heart. It would be hard to see him not go home with the award.
The Best Supporting Actress in a miniseries category is half American Horror Story: Coven with Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates and Frances Conroy all getting nominations. Julia Roberts will find herself at the Emmy’s instead of Oscar’s this year for a nod for The Normal Heart. Roberts may win for the complexity of her character but the AHS women seem to have locked up the category.
Supporting Actor for this category looks like it will be picked up from one of the phenomenal stars of The Normal Heart. Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Alfred Molina, and Joe Mantello all received nominations for HBO’s critically acclaimed film. Jim Parsons and Matt Bomer deserve the win most of the nominees but to which it will go, we’ll have to wait until August 25^th to find out.

Here is the full list of nominees:

Best Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory
Louie
Modern Family
Orange Is the New Black
Silicon Valley
Veep
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Lena Dunham – Girls
Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie
Julia Louis Dreyfus – Veep
Melissa McCarthy – Mike & Molly
Amy Poehler – Parks & Recreation
Taylor Schilling – Orange Is the New Black
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory
Ricky Gervais – Derek
Matt LeBlanc – Episodes
Don Cheadle – House of Lies
Louis C.K. – Louie
William H. Macy – Shameless
Supporting Actor – Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – Brookiyn Nine -Nine
Adam Driver – Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson – Modern Family
Ty Burrell – Modern Family
Fred Armisen – Portlandia
Tony Hale – Veep
Supporting Actress – Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory
Julie Bowen – Modern Family
Allison Janney – Mom
Kate Mulgrew – Orange Is the New Black
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live
Anna Chlumsky – Veep
Best Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
House of Cards
Mad Men
True Detective
Best Actress in a Drama Series
Lizzy Caplan – Masters of Sex
Claire Danes – Homeland
Michelle Dockery – Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife
Kerry Washington – Scandal
Robin Wright – House of Cards
Best Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels – The Newsroom
Jon Hamm – Mad Men
Woody Harrelson – True Detective
Matthew McConaughey – True Detective
Kevin Spacey – House of Cards
Supporting Actor – Drama Series
Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad
Jim Carter – Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage – Game of Thrones
Josh Charles – The Good Wife
Mandy Patinkin – Homeland
Jon Voight – Ray Donovan
Supporting Actress – Drama Series
Anna Gunn – Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey
Lena Headey – Game of Thrones
Christine Baranski – The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks – Mad Men
Joanne Froggatt – Downton Abbey
Best Miniseries or Movie
American Horror Story: Coven
Bonnie & Clyde
Fargo
Luther
Treme
The White Queen
Best Actress Miniseries or Movie
Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Coven
Sarah Paulson – American Horror Story: Coven
Helena Bonham Carter – Burton and Taylor
Minnie Driver – Return to Zero
Kristen Wiig – The Spoils of Babylon
Cicely Tyson – The Trip Bountiful
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Dancing on the Edge
Martin Freeman – Fargo
Billy Bob Thornton – Fargo
Idris Elba – Luther
Mark Ruffalo – The Normal Heart