Emmy snubs alert: Six shows and actors that had better be nominated
With around 8,000 Emmy submissions this year, the idea of being snubbed seems almost ridiculous. Voters must sift through dozens and dozens of worthy contenders and squeeze them into a category’s meager six nomination slots. Disappointment is a given. It simply isn’t possible to reward all the good work. Sorry, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. I’m sure you’ve learned not to take these things personally.
That said, there are a handful of series and actors who have done exceptional work that has been celebrated to such an extent that, should they not be recognized when Emmy nominations are announced Thursday morning, we’d need to break out the torches and pitchforks. Call these the must-pick six.
The unapologetic feminist: Samantha Bee
Bee’s take-no-prisoners political satire and intelligent advocacy have electrified the late-night landscape, which, until her show “Full Frontal” debuted in February, had been remarkably, ridiculously dominated by men. An unapologetic feminist, Bee has become a hero and a game changer in a few short months on the air. Ignoring her in favor of her genial male counterparts would be a travesty.
The hacker-heavy psychological thriller: “Mr. Robot”
When it comes to genre shows and Emmy voters, my default mode is to hope for the best and assume the worst. The hacker-heavy psychological thriller “Mr. Robot” went over big with critics, but older TV academy members might not warm up to Rami Malek’s delusional vigilante or even know of the show’s existence. (It’d be a different story if “Mr. Robot” aired on HBO or AMC instead of USA.) Still, with all the justified acclaim, it’s hard to imagine “Mr. Robot” and its star suffering the same fate as “Orphan Black.” The TV academy isn’t Evil Corp., right?
The force behind one of TV’s strongest characters: Rhea Seehorn
“Better Call Saul” earned 7 Emmy nominations last year, including nods for series and actors Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks. It’s widely assumed the recognition will be repeated for the show’s stellar second season, a season that Seehorn owned, according to Odenkirk. Yes, “The Good Wife” and “Downton Abbey” concluded their runs this year, which means that voters have one last chance to honor Maggie Smith, Joanne Froggatt and Christine Baranski. Again. (Yawn.) But at the expense of Seehorn, the force behind one of TV’s strongest, most interesting characters? That would rate more than a misdemeanor.
The challenger of hot-button issues: “black-ish”
For its debut season, “black-ish” star Anthony Anderson received the show’s lone Emmy nomination. But the series really found its voice in its second year, addressing hot-button topics like police brutality and race relations with intelligent humor and dependable subtlety. With vacancies created by the departure of “Parks and Recreation” and “Louie,” it would be stunning if “black-ish” didn’t make the comedy series cut.
The stand-up comedian that deserves respect: Aziz Ansari
Stand-up comedians have a hard time earning respect from Emmy voters – and sometimes for good reason. (The “Seinfeld” mantra of “no hugging, no learning” could apply to its namesake’s approach to acting.) Ansari deserves plenty of love though for his range on his superb, effortlessly multicultural Netflix comedy, “Master of None.” Playing an aspiring actor fighting for his best self (and looking for Brooklyn’s best tacos), Ansari created a charmer afraid of growing up but taking the necessary steps to do so.
The one-episode wonder: Laurie Metcalf
How many voters watched Louis C.K.’s celebrated, self-distributed “Horace and Pete”? Who knows. But Metcalf’s one-episode showcase, which opened with a nine-minute, unbroken, confessional close-up of the great actress spinning a weird, erotic tale of a sexual encounter with her 84-year-old father-in-law, is the kind of work that the Emmy guest acting categories were made to celebrate.
UPDATE: The good news: Ansari, “black-ish” (and its leads, Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross), “Mr. Robot” (and its actors, Malek and Christian Slater) and “Horace and Pete’s” Metcalf were all nominated. Yes! The not-so-good news: Seehorn and Bee weren’t. (!!!!) You can read my lament about their omissions – and others – here.
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