2016 Emmy Nominations

It's that time of year again. The Emmys don't get up early like the Oscars, so they didn't announce their nominees until 11:30 am. Anthony Anderson screamed a few times too. Here's a list of the 2016 Emmy nominations. My thoughts follow in green.

Outstanding Drama Series
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Game Of Thrones
Homeland
House Of Cards
Mr. Robot
I'm really happy to see Better Call Saul, Game of Thrones, and Mr. Robot here. The Americans finally getting some love has to feel good for their fans.

Oustanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler - Bloodline
Rami Malek - Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk - Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys - The Americans
Liev Schreiber - Ray Donovan
Kevin Spacey - House Of Cards
RAMI MALEK! That's my favorite nomination in this category.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Danes - Homeland
Viola Davis - How To Get Away With Murder
Taraji P. Henson - Empire
Tatiana Maslany - Orphan Black
Keri Russell - The Americans
Robin Wright - House Of Cards
Anderson butchered Tatiana's name, which I thought was fairly straightforward pronunciation wise. 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks - Better Call Saul
Peter Dinklage - Game Of Thrones
Kit Harington - Game Of Thrones
Michael Kelly - House Of Cards
Ben Mendelsohn - Bloodline
Jon Voight - Ray Donovan
I'm happy to see Harington here. I wish they would've submitted Liam Cunningham for Thrones. He did better than Dinklage this year. 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Emilia Clarke - Game Of Thrones
Lena Headey - Game Of Thrones
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Maura Tierney - The Affair
Maisie Williams - Game Of Thrones
Constance Zimmer - UnREAL
Of course the wonderful Melissa McBride is snubbed again. It's a shame that she's SO good on a show that's so poorly written. Maisie Williams for example, her story on Thrones this year was terrible, but her acting was great, and here she is. It's really a testament of how bad TWD's writing is if even Melissa McBride can't rise above it. Ranting aside, someone give Lena Headey this Emmy.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Mahershala Ali - House Of Cards
Hank Azaria- Ray Donovan
Reg E. Cathey - House Of Cards
Michael J. Fox - The Good Wife
Paul Sparks - House Of Cards
Max von Sydow - Game Of Thrones
Max von Sydow got nominated for just being himself, and I'm okay with that. 

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Ellen Burstyn - House Of Cards
Allison Janney - Masters Of Sex
Margo Martindale - The Americans
Laurie Metcalf - Horace And Pete
Molly Parker - House Of Cards
Carrie Preston - The Good Wife

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
The Americans ("Persona Non Grata")
Downton Abbey ("Episode 8")
Game Of Thrones ("Battle Of The Bastards")
The Good Wife ("End")
Mr. Robot ("eps1.0_hellofriend.mov")
UnREAL ("Return")

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Downton Abbey ("Episode 9")
Game Of Thrones ("Battle Of The Bastards")
Game Of Thrones ("The Door")
Homeland ("The Tradition Of Hospitality")
The Knick ("This Is All We Are")
Ray Donovan ("Exsuscito")

Outstanding Comedy Series
black-ish
Master Of None
Modern Family
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Veep
Veep is love. Veep is life. 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson - black-ish
Aziz Ansari - Master Of None
Will Forte - The Last Man On Earth
William H. Macy - Shameless
Thomas Middleditch - Silicon Valley
Jeffrey Tambor - Transparent
I love seeing Thomas Middleditch here. 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Ellie Kemper - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep
Laurie Metcalf - Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross - black-ish
Amy Schumer - Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin - Grace And Frankie

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Louie Anderson - Baskets
Andre Braugher - Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Tituss Burgess - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Ty Burrell - Modern Family
Tony Hale - Veep
Keegan-Michael Key - Key & Peele
Matt Walsh - Veep
I'm so happy for Matt Walsh. It's about time the Emmys nominated more Veep actors, their ensemble is spectacular. 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Anna Chlumsky - Veep
Gaby Hoffmann - Transparent
Allison Janney - Mom
Judith Light - Transparent
Kate McKinnon - Saturday Night Live
Niecy Nash - Getting On

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Larry David - Saturday Night Live
Peter MacNicol - Veep
Tracy Morgan - Saturday Night Live
Martin Mull - Veep
Bob Newhart - The Big Bang Theory
Bradley Whitford - Transparent

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Christine Baranski - The Big Bang Theory
Tina Fey & Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live
Melora Hardin - Transparent
Melissa McCarthy - Saturday Night Live
Laurie Metcalf - The Big Bang Theory
Amy Schumer- Saturday Night Live
How is it possible for Fey and Poehler to share an acting nomination? Like, what the fuck is that? Maybe that's how Key and Peele should start submitting. I'm happy for them beacuse I love them, but seriously, wtf?

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Catastrophe ("Episode 1")
Master Of None ("Parents")
Silicon Valley ("Founder Friendly")
Silicon Valley ("The Uptick")
Veep ("Morning After")
Veep ("Mother")
I'm surprised that Mother is getting nominated for Veep because I thought that was hands down the worst episode they've ever done. 

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Master Of None ("Parents")
Silicon Valley ("Daily Active Users")
Silicon Valley ("Founder Friendly")
Transparent ("Man On The Land")
Veep ("Kissing Your Sister")
Veep ("Morning After")
Veep ("Mother")

Outstanding Limited Series
American Crime
Fargo
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Roots
I'd be happier for American Crime if they didn't end season two in the worst possible way. They answered no questions. I hope Fargo takes this. 

Outstanding Television Movie
All The Way
Confirmation
Luther
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
A Very Murray Christmas
I liked Sherlock and Confirmation. Still need to see Luther. 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Bryan Cranston - All The Way
Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Idris Elba - Luther
Cuba Gooding, Jr. - The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Tom Hiddleston - The Night Manager
Courtney B. Vance - The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
This time last year I would've been psyched for Tom Hiddleston, but now he's just embarrassing. I'm sure Taylor Swift is excited for the red carpet opportunity though.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Kirsten Dunst - Fargo
Felicity Huffman - American Crime
Audra McDonald - Lady Day At Emerson's Bar & Grille
Sarah Paulson - The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Lili Taylor - American Crime
Kerry Washington - Confirmation

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Sterling K. Brown - The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Hugh Laurie - The Night Manager
Jesse Plemons - Fargo
David Schwimmer - The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
John Travolta - The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Bokeem Woodbine - Fargo
Yay for these Fargo nominations! Though I'm surprised Patrick Wilson didn't make the cut. You go, Meth Damon.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Kathy Bates - American Horror Story: Hotel
Olivia Colman - The Night Manager
Regina King - American Crime
Melissa Leo - All The Way
Sarah Paulson - American Horror Story: Hotel
Jean Smart - Fargo

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Fargo ("Loplop")
Fargo ("Palindrome")
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("From The Ashes Of Tragedy")
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("Marcia, Marcia, Marcia")
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("The Race Card")

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
All The Way
Fargo ("Before The Law")
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("From The Ashes Of Tragedy")
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("Manna From Heaven")
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("The Race Card")


Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
The Voice
It's pretty cool that American Ninja Warrior is here, even though I'm still bitter that they don't show the Japanese version on television here anymore. 

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
Documentary Now!
Drunk History
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Variety Talk Series
Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Late Show With James Corden
Real Time With Bill Maher
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series
Inside Amy Schumer
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Late Show With James Corden
Saturday Night Live
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Full list of nominations here