Emmys Comedy nominees reaction: 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' not so fast

Like its distant cousin, Christmas in July, the Primetime Emmys (August 25th on NBC) serve as a reminder that we are now closer to the upcoming awards season than we are to the previous one. This often puts the Emmys in an odd predicament as shows that have seen their season or series finales in late summer or early fall are revived one last time in hopes of being rewarded. That means that shows like Orange is the New Black are nominated for its first season, not the recently released second season, while others like Silicon Valley, which ended its first season a couple months ago, are also up for awards.

And just like all of us, award shows are not immune to “buzz”. Since the Emmys are so far away from the other major TV awards, the Golden Globes, the shows that are buzzworthy or trending before one awards academy probably won’t be the same as for the other. Case in point, the 2014 winner for best comedy series Brooklyn Nine Nine – which was in the middle of its season when the Globes took place – is not even nominated for best Comedy Series in the Primetime Emmys. That isn’t to say Brooklyn Nine Nine is any less deserving but that, perhaps, since the season ended so long ago there might be a bit of out of sight out of mind with the Emmys committee.

I am going to side with the Emmys. While Brooklyn Nine Nine had a very strong inaugural season, especially for a comedy on one of the four major networks, it often left a strong feeling of the potential to be great but not yet realizing that potential. I do prefer Brooklyn Nine Nine to Emmys nominees The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family but those two shows are wildly popular and a tad more family friendly that FOX’s new hit.

First season comedies are definitely well represented otherwise, however, with nominations for both Silicon Valley and Orange is the New Black. Silicon Valley might feature comedy a tad too specific for most audiences but it definitely was surprisingly funny due to its great casting and the chemistry between the cast. Orange is the New Black is an entirely different beast altogether. It finds a very happy medium between entertainment without trivializing the fact that the women are still criminals. And with so many well drawn female characters, something almost nonexistent for comedies that aren’t about trying to find a man, Orange is the New Black is definitely deserving and will be Veep’s biggest competition.

I don’t have much to say about Veep except that you need to watch it. Like, right now. The comic timing is perfect, the performances are wonderful, and its humor is not only a smart satire but it also happens to be hilarious.

Louie will probably always be a bridesmaid for award shows. The academies recognize its brilliance and that it is doing something very different than your typical comedy but its indefinable qualities also end up hurting it in the long run.

If you’re looking for a snub (aside from the aforementioned Brooklyn Nine Nine) for best comedy series the much canceled and beloved (or loathed by NBC) show Community would be a solid choice. While it lost a bit of its charm in the Dan Harmon’s return season there were so many great high-concept, parody episodes that outweighed some of the lesser episodes. While not the best season of the show it was still quite a feat that the show’s original creator returned and offered up a relatively strong season.

For Lead Actor most of your usual suspects return, including last year’s winner Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory. Matt LeBlanc (Episodes), Don Cheadle House of Lies, and Louis C.K. (Louie) join Parsons as holdover nominees from last year. Of the returners Louis C.K. may simultaneously be the most and least deserving as he is one of the rare few to be able to marry his brand of complete awkwardness with laughs but that is also who he is, which means he’s really not acting.

Again Brooklyn Nine Nine is snubbed as Andy Samberg, the Golden Globe winner, is not even nominated. Instead William H. Macy for Showtime’s Shameless and Ricky Gervais for Netflix’s Derek are nominated. Modern Family is also held without a nomination for Lead Actor but that probably speaks to the fact that the cast is very much an ensemble (Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Tyler Burrell are both nominated for Supporting actor) rather than the quality of acting. It would be quite interesting to see the oft-controversial Golden Globes host win an Emmy but this is probably Parsons’s to lose.

The Lead Actress race is more promising than Lead Actor. Sorry, guys. Lead Actress nominees feature comedy TV heavy weights in Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation, Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) and female comedy personalities that are reaching new levels of stardom in Lena Dunham (Girls) and Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly). Taylor Schilling rounds out the nominations for Orange is the New Black.

Louis-Dreyfus is always excellent and definitely the frontrunner but McCarthy got her start on Mike & Molly and the fact that she is being given lead roles in summer blockbusters might help her out – especially since her performances on Mike & Molly feature the whole octave of acting notes, unlike her very one note movie characters. Schilling gets a nomination because the show is about her character’s story in prison but, at least in her first year, will not be awarded. Falco may be like Louis C.K. in that she is always nominated but seemingly never awarded.

Before I get into the supporting actor/actress categories I must say that what nominees Fred Armisen (Portlandia) and Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) are asked to do on a weekly basis is far greater than what a normal comedy actor/actress must do. The breadth of the characters that both Armisen and McKinnon are asked to perform requires dexterity that isn’t usually found in a normal actor’s performance when asked to do just one recurring character a week. While the characters they are asked to play may not reach the emotional depths of those on non-sketch comedy shows, the fact that they do so many characters so well more than makes up for it.

Having said that, I’d be shocked if either were awarded.

Supporting Actor will also be a tight race as Burrell and Ferguson may end up splitting votes for their performances in the Emmys’ beloved Modern Family, leaving the door open for the other nominees. Andre Braugher’s straight man routine while playing a gay police captain on Brooklyn Nine Nine was nearly perfectly executed. And when he was allowed to be funny he more than delivered.

Adam Driver for Girls is also beginning to become a star now that he has been cast as a villain in the upcoming Star Wars sequels. Tony Hale is greatly overlooked for his performance as Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s personal aide. Each performance brings something different to the table.

Supporting Actress will also feature some good competition as stalwart Julie Bowen (Modern Family) is going up against the superbly frightening and sympathetic Kate Mulgrew (Orange is the New Black) and foul-mouthed political strategist Anna Chlumsky (Veep). Allison Janney is nominated for her returning TV role for Mom’s first season and The Big Bang Theory gets one more nomination in the form of Parsons’s geek love interest, Mayim Bialik.

As far as snubs go for supporting actor and actress I have to say that Stephanie Beatriz as Rosa the hardass in Brooklyn Nine Nine. Likewise New Girl’s Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield also could be argued for, despite their characters having been around for a few years.

Feel free to sound off in the comment section below and look for more 66th Primetime Emmys coverage as August 25 inches closer.