DRAMA
ACTUAL NOMINEES:
- Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantrout (Breaking Bad)
- Bobby Cannavale as Gyp Rosetti (Boardwalk Empire)
- Jim Carter as Charles Carson (Downton Abbey)
- Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)
- Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
- Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson (Homeland)
SURPRISED HE'S NOT NOMINATED: Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley (Downton Abbey)
SHOULD BE NOMINATED: Corey Stoll as Rep. Peter Russo (House of Cards)
This is a year where I feel as if the nominees earned their way into this category for their past work in the show, and not for their works in this past season. Let's start with former winners, shall we?
- Two time winner Aaron Paul is back at it again. After winning his second Emmy over fellow Breaking Bad alum Giancarlo Esposito (who played Gus Fringe) last year, I no longer enjoy Paul even getting nominated. Paul did some great work in Season 4 when he devolved and then sprung back into shape after the closing events of Season 3, but Season 5.1 Jesse Pinkman really didn't do a whole lot. He mainly acted like Walt's sidekick and wasn't even around during the final few episodes. The writers of Breaking Bad didn't give Jesse a whole lot to work with, and in a category that's always crazy deep, I wouldn't have minded if a newcomer took Paul's nomination place.
- The other former Emmy winner, Peter Dinklage, also didn't have a lot to deal with during Season 3 of Game of Thrones. He was barely in any scenes, and what little scenes he was in, he was just getting berated by his father or trying to get berated by his sister. Tyrion Lannister is one of the best characters currently on television, but based upon last season, Dinklage's spot should have gone to his character's brother- The Kingslayer played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
- Mandy Patinkin earns his first nomination for his role of Saul Barenson in Homeland, and this nomination feel like a "my bad" from the Emmys for not nominating him last year. Granted, last year was an extremely difficult entry year with Jared Harris as Lane Pryce on Mad Men, as well as the overwhelming love the Emmys had for Downton Abbey, but still- there's no excuse. Season 2 of Homeland focused HEAVILY on Nicholas Brody as Carrie Mathison, leaving Saul with very, very little to do. Sure, he was important for the plot in the beginning, but he didn't have ANY memorable emotional scenes or moments in this past season.
- Lastly, I'll briefly discuss Jim Carter. While I stopped watching Downton Abbey this past season, I find it hard to believe that Carter or his character did anything drastic or different that would make me change my mind about him. I think the character of Carson is just "eh", and from what I understand, Dan Steven's Matthew Crawley had the emotional and more deserving story line this past season.
- Two time winner Aaron Paul is back at it again. After winning his second Emmy over fellow Breaking Bad alum Giancarlo Esposito (who played Gus Fringe) last year, I no longer enjoy Paul even getting nominated. Paul did some great work in Season 4 when he devolved and then sprung back into shape after the closing events of Season 3, but Season 5.1 Jesse Pinkman really didn't do a whole lot. He mainly acted like Walt's sidekick and wasn't even around during the final few episodes. The writers of Breaking Bad didn't give Jesse a whole lot to work with, and in a category that's always crazy deep, I wouldn't have minded if a newcomer took Paul's nomination place.
- The other former Emmy winner, Peter Dinklage, also didn't have a lot to deal with during Season 3 of Game of Thrones. He was barely in any scenes, and what little scenes he was in, he was just getting berated by his father or trying to get berated by his sister. Tyrion Lannister is one of the best characters currently on television, but based upon last season, Dinklage's spot should have gone to his character's brother- The Kingslayer played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
- Mandy Patinkin earns his first nomination for his role of Saul Barenson in Homeland, and this nomination feel like a "my bad" from the Emmys for not nominating him last year. Granted, last year was an extremely difficult entry year with Jared Harris as Lane Pryce on Mad Men, as well as the overwhelming love the Emmys had for Downton Abbey, but still- there's no excuse. Season 2 of Homeland focused HEAVILY on Nicholas Brody as Carrie Mathison, leaving Saul with very, very little to do. Sure, he was important for the plot in the beginning, but he didn't have ANY memorable emotional scenes or moments in this past season.
- Lastly, I'll briefly discuss Jim Carter. While I stopped watching Downton Abbey this past season, I find it hard to believe that Carter or his character did anything drastic or different that would make me change my mind about him. I think the character of Carson is just "eh", and from what I understand, Dan Steven's Matthew Crawley had the emotional and more deserving story line this past season.
Now we'll discuss two nominees that actual deserved to get nominated.
- Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantrout on Breaking Bad has always been a great character since you thought he was only Saul's bodyguard. His stoic presence helps make him that much more of a bad ass. And even though Mike looks old, he's smart and will find a way to kill you no matter his age. Stepping up to the forefront during this last season of Breaking Bad, I'm glad Banks finally got his recognition and his due.
- Lastly, we have Bobby Cannavale. A great character actor for years and years, Cannavle got to shine as the sexually perverse and easily prone to anger villain Gyp Rosetti during Seaosn 3 of Boardwalk Empire. The character was so messed up to begin with and Cannavale played it so beautifully, this out-of-nowhere nomination was a warm welcome.
WHO WILL WIN: Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
WHO SHOULD WIN (ACTUAL NOMINATIONS): Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire)
WHO SHOULD WIN (ENTIRE ELIGIBLE FIELD): Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire)
COMEDY
COMEDY
ACTUAL NOMINEES:
- Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
- Adam Driver as Adam Sackler (Girls)
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett (Modern Family)
- Bill Hader as Stefon (Saturday Night Live)
- Tony Hale as Gary Walsh (Veep)
- Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett (Modern Family)
SURPRISE HE'S NOT NOMINATED: 3x nominee and 2x winner Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
SHOULD BE NOMINATED: 2012 nominee Max Greenfield (New Girl)
THOUGHTS ON THE ACTUAL NOMINEES
- I will start with the three Modern Family gentlemen first. While I do enjoy the show (although not as much as the Emmys or the rest of America do), I do still have the same complaints about who from this show gets nominated as I did last year. For starters, while Burrell, Ferguson, and O'Neill are very funny and good comic actors, I can easily think of six names off the top of my head that are more deserving. Second, what makes the adult actors any better than the child actors on the show? Rico Rodriguez who plays Manny is just as good as them, and Nolan Gould who plays Luke is my favorite male actor out of anyone in the main cast. I'm just happy Eric Stonestreet didn't get nominated. It's not that he isn't good or did something in Season 4 that was downright atrocious, but it's just nice that the two time winner could make some room for other people- unless 2009 winner Ty Burrell wins.
- I don't think you can credibly deny Bill Hader's talent as a comedic actor, but his last season on SNL was great. From the start of the season when Hader played a Vietnam vet in a puppetry class to his last Stefon sketch during the season finale, Hader was incredible as always during Saturday Night Live's 38th season.
- While I do not watch Veep (no excuses), I did watch Season 4 of Arrested Development. By far and away, the best episode of that season's was Buster Bluth's episode. Tony Hale deserved an Emmy nomination for that episode alone (in fact, the Emmys are based on episodes and not seasons), but unfortunately, Hale didn't nominate himself from the show. Instead, he nominated himself for his full work on Veep. However, there's no doubt in my mind that his Arrested Development love seeped into this Veep nomination.
- I don't watch Girls, so sorry, I can't comment on how good Adam Sackler is. I saw the Girls pilot and wasn't a fan.
- I will start with the three Modern Family gentlemen first. While I do enjoy the show (although not as much as the Emmys or the rest of America do), I do still have the same complaints about who from this show gets nominated as I did last year. For starters, while Burrell, Ferguson, and O'Neill are very funny and good comic actors, I can easily think of six names off the top of my head that are more deserving. Second, what makes the adult actors any better than the child actors on the show? Rico Rodriguez who plays Manny is just as good as them, and Nolan Gould who plays Luke is my favorite male actor out of anyone in the main cast. I'm just happy Eric Stonestreet didn't get nominated. It's not that he isn't good or did something in Season 4 that was downright atrocious, but it's just nice that the two time winner could make some room for other people- unless 2009 winner Ty Burrell wins.
- I don't think you can credibly deny Bill Hader's talent as a comedic actor, but his last season on SNL was great. From the start of the season when Hader played a Vietnam vet in a puppetry class to his last Stefon sketch during the season finale, Hader was incredible as always during Saturday Night Live's 38th season.
- While I do not watch Veep (no excuses), I did watch Season 4 of Arrested Development. By far and away, the best episode of that season's was Buster Bluth's episode. Tony Hale deserved an Emmy nomination for that episode alone (in fact, the Emmys are based on episodes and not seasons), but unfortunately, Hale didn't nominate himself from the show. Instead, he nominated himself for his full work on Veep. However, there's no doubt in my mind that his Arrested Development love seeped into this Veep nomination.
- I don't watch Girls, so sorry, I can't comment on how good Adam Sackler is. I saw the Girls pilot and wasn't a fan.
WHO WILL WIN: Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
WHO SHOULD WIN (ACTUAL NOMINATIONS): Bill Hader (SNL)
WHO SHOULD WIN (ENTIRE ELIGIBLE FIELD): Nick Offerman (Parks and Rec)
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