While there isn’t really anyone eligible for the lead actor and actress categories due to the ensemble nature of its cast, there was a genuine breakthrough this year in the supporting categories.
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The Netflix series House of Cards is one of the primary opponents of Game of Thrones for the Best Drama category, and although it will be a tough bid to win, there are a number of other categories that prove the show’s fifth season is as good as any.
Here again, “Mr. Robot” and Rami Malek are getting a lot of buzz, with more than usual attention being paid to Matthew Rhys for “The Americans”. He is the reigning Outstanding Lead champ and also took home a Golden Globe in 2015 as well for Best Actor in a Television Series.
In Lead Actress, the nominees are Claire Danes (Homeland), Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder), Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Keri Russell (The Americans) and Robin Wright (House of Cards). Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany also has a shot at taking the title this year.
Just like the Primetime Emmys, Game of Thrones leads the pack in nominations.
Aside from being nominated for the Best Drama Series category, GoT has also overtaken the Best Supporting Actor/Actress in a Drama categories as well, sending two actors (Kit Harrington and Peter Dinklage) and three actress (Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, and Maisie Williams). They are competing with “Downton Abbey” veteran Maggie Smith, Maura Tierney for Showtime’s “The Affair” and Constance Zimmer for Lifetime’s “UnReal”. He follows last year’s master of ceremonies, Andy Samberg. Even with the increased exposure with more episodes centered on her character, she will have to wait to win her first Emmy award.
Over the past 10 years, Constance Zimmer had recurring roles on television shows that received a combined 11 Emmy nominations for either Outstanding Drama Series, or, in the case of Entourage, Outstanding Comedy Series.
In another change, this one implemented past year, voting was expanded from blue-ribbon panels to depending on the award giving substantially more or all of the academy’s 20,000-plus members the chance to vote for finalists. Her performance is spot on, and yet it has been left off the nomination list again in 2016. No one has had that many repeat victories in the category before, but another trophy would also make her the most-celebrated actress in the category in Emmy history as she’s now tied with Candice Bergen and Mary Tyler Moore with five wins each (Dreyfus has a previous win for The New Adventures of Old Christine). Small blue-ribbon judging panels gave way to the group’s 20,000 members voting on key winners, rendering the awards more democratic. The actor, Key, will be pushed by Louis Anderson, who plays a woman in Baskets.
Emmy thumbed her nose at some of our favourite shows and performers this year. Anna Chlumsky from Veep is a strong nominee as well. However, Saturday Night Live earned 15 nominations as well.
Two more Emmy nomination categories will be enticing to watch in 2016. A dark horse nomination pick could be Fargo. “Confirmation”, starring Kerry Washington as American attorney Anita Hill, is the way to go. It will be favored.
Since becoming eligible to appear on the Emmy ballot in 2013, Netflix has gathered a total of 117 nominations overall.
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But there are some tight races that will add high drama to the Emmy telecast (ABC, 8 p.m., hosted by Jimmy Kimmel).
