67th Emmy Award Nominations

The nominees for the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced. Herein, nominees in select categories. Visit emmys.org for the full list of nominees.

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Drama Series

Outstanding Drama Series

• Better Call Saul
• Downton Abbey
• Game of Thrones
• Homeland
• House of Cards
• Mad Men
• Orange is the New Black 

With new rules landing Orange is the New Black in the drama category and the entry of new series, like Better Call Saul, look for this year's drama slates to look a little different than usual. 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
• Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Does anyone else find it wonderful that the hilarious Bob Odenkirk is gaining such fame these days for drama series? Still, I'm voting Kevin Spacey, although actual voters might get sentimental and award Jon Hamm, as this is the last year Mad Men will be nominated.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 

• Taraji P. Henson, Empire
• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Robin Wright, House of Cards
• Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
• Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
• Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black 

Of note: I think this is the first time since The Good Wife began that Julianna Margulies is not nominated in this category. Also note that recent nominee and fan favorite Kerry Washington is not nominated. Even if they were, I'd still be Team Robin. 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
• Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
• Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
• Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
• Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
• Michael Kelly, House of Cards  

This is venerable company. I'm rooting for Peter Dinklage.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones 
• Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
• Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
• Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
• Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black 

After the season finale of Game of Thrones, I'm tempted to throw my support to Lena Headey, but Emilia Clarke is the Mother of Dragons. Come on!

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

• Alan Alda, The Blacklist
• Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
• F. Murray Abraham, Homeland
• Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards
• Beau Bridges, Masters of Sex
• Pablo Schreiber, Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

• Margo Martindale, The Americans
• Diana Rigg, Game of Thrones
• Rachel Brosnahan, House of Cards
• Cicely Tyson, How to Get Away with Murder
• Allison Janney, Masters of Sex
• Khandi Alexander, Scandal   

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Joshua Brand, The Americans, "Do Mail Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?"
• Gordon Smith, Better Call Saul, "Five-O"
• David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones, "Mother's Mercy"
• Semi Chellas and Matthew Weiner, Mad Men, "Lost Horizon"
• Matthew Weiner, Mad Men, "Person to Person"

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series   

• Tim van Patten, Boardwalk Empire, "Eldorado"
• David Nutter, Game of Thrones, "Mother's Mercy"
• Jeremy Podeswa, Game of Thrones, "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken"
• Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland, "From A to B and Back Again"
• Steven Soderbergh, The Knick, "Method and Madness"

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Comedy Series

Outstanding Comedy Series 

• Louie
• Modern Family
• Parks and Recreation
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Veep 

Look, Veep is hilarious. Parks and Recreation is a sentimental favorite (this past season was the show's last), but damn it if Silicon Valley doesn't make me burst out laughing every. single. week. 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Anthony Anderson, Blackish
• Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
• Don Cheadle, House of Lies
• Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
• Louis C.K., Louie
• William H. Macy, Shameless
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

I'm thinking Jeffrey Tambor is the favorite to win this category, but haven't watched Transparent, so I'm going with Don Cheadle, even though House of Lies hews more toward drama (or dramedy) than comedy.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
• Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
• Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep  

You know the drill in this category: I love Amy Poehler. (But I'd be cool with Julia Louis-Dreyfus or Amy Schumer taking home this award.)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Adam Driver, Girls
• Keegan-Michael Key, Key and Peele
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Tony Hale, Veep

Is there anything funnier than Andre Braugher's stoicism on Brooklyn Nine-Nine?

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
• Niecy Nash, Getting On
• Julie Bowen, Modern Family
• Allison Janney, Mom
• Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live    
• Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
• Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Anna Chlumsky, Veep  

There are eight nominees in this category. As the list kept going, I had to make sure I didn't miss a category break. I think Kate McKinnon is fantastic, but Anna Chlumsky is also aces, and her show is consistently better.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

• Mel Brooks, The Comedians
• Paul Giamatti, Inside Amy Schumer
• Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
• Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live
• Bradley Whitford, Transparent
• Jon Hamm, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

• Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory
• Gaby Hoffman, Girls
• Pamela Adlon, Louie
• Elizabeth Banks, Modern Family
• Joan Cusack, Shameless
• Tina Fey, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

• David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Episodes, "Episode 409"
• Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth, "Alive in Tucson"
• Louis C.K., Louie, "Bobby's House"
• Alec Berg, Silicon Valley, "Two Days of the Condor"
• Jill Soloway, Transparent, "Pilot"
• Simon Blackwell, Admando Iannucci and Tony Roche, Veep, "Election Night" 

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

• Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, The Last Man on Earth, "Alive in Tucson"
• Louis C.K., Louie, "Sleepover"
• Mike Judge, Silicon Valley, "Sand Hill Shuffle"
• Jill Soloway, Transparent, "Best New Girl"
• Armando Iannucci, Veep, "Testimony" 

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Limited Series or Movie

Outstanding Limited Series

• American Crime
• American Horror Story: Freak Show
• The Honorable Woman
• Olive Kitteridge
• Wolf Hall 

Outstanding Television Movie 

• Agatha Christie's Poirot: Curtain, Poirot's Last Case
• Bessie
• Grace of Monaco
• Hello Ladies: The Movie
• Killing Jesus
• Nightingale

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

• Timothy Hutton, American Crime
• Ricky Gervais, Derek (Special)
• Adrien Brody, Houdini
• David Oyelowo, Nighingale
• Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge
• Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

It's usually not a good idea to root against Mark Rylance. It almost feel sacrilegious. But Wolf Hall wasn't that good, and impressive as Rylance can be, Richard Jenkins's nuanced performance in Olive Kitteridge was astonishing. 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

• Felicity Huffman, American Crime
• Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Freak Show
• Queen Latifah, Bessie
• Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman
• Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge
• Emma Thompson, Sweeney Todd (Live from Lincoln Center) 

Frances McDormand was phenomenal, though I'd be delighted to see Emma Thompson go home a winner, if only for the witty acceptance speech she'd be likely to give.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

• Richard Cabral, American Crime
• Denis O'Hare, American Horror Story: Freak Show
• Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story: Freak Show
• Michael Kenneth Williams, Bessie
• Bill Murray, Olive Kitteridge
• Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

• Regina King, American Crime
• Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Freak Show    
• Angela Bassett, American Horror Story: Freak Show 
• Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Freak Show 
• Mo'Nique, Bessie
• Zoe Kazan, Olive Kitteridge 

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special

• John Ridley, American Crime, "Episode One"
• Dee Rees, Christopher Cleveland, Bettina Gilois (story by Horton Foote), Bessie 
• Stephen Merchant, Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, Hello Ladies: The Movie
• Hugo Blick, The Honorable Woman
• Jane Anderson, Olive Kitteridge
• Peter Straughan, Wolf Hall 

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special

• Ryan Murphy, American Horror Story: Freak Show, "Monsters Among Us"
• Dee Rees, Bessie
• Hugo Blick, The Honorable Woman
• Uli Edel, Houdini
• Tom Shankland, The Missing
• Lisa Cholodenko, Olive Kitteridge
• Peter Kosminsky, Wolf Hall 

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Other Categories

Outstanding Variety Talk Series

• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• Late Show with David Letterman
• The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon  

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series

• Drunk History
• Inside Amy Schumer
• Key and Peele
• Porlandia
• Saturday Night Live  

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
If listed in the nomination sheet, the head writer is listed; for all of nominated writers on each show, see the full nomination list 

• The Colbert Report, head writer: Opus Moreschi
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, head writer: Elliott Kalan
• Inside Amy Schumer, head writer: Jessi Klein
• Key and Peele
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Outstanding Variety Special

• Bill Maher: Live from D.C.
• The Kennedy Center Honors
• Louis C.K.: Live at the Comedy Store
• Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen
• The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
• Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek  

Outstanding Special Class Program

• Beyonce and Jay Z: On the Run
• 72nd Golden Globes
• The Oscars
• Sweeney Todd (Live from Lincoln Center)
• 68th Tony Awards  

Sonic Highways Nominations:

• Outstanding Informational Series or Special 
• Dave Grohl, Outstanding Direction for Nonfiction Programming
• Justin Lebens, Outstanding Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming
• Fred Stuben, Jeff Fuller and Eddie Kim, Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming

Miscellaneous Nominees of Note:

• Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special 
• Alex Gibney, Outstanding Direction for Nonfiction Programming, Going Clear 
• Salvador Perez, Gala Autumn and Ivy Heath Thaide, Oustanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series, Limited Series or Movie, The Mindy Project 
• Alan Gilbert, Outstanding Music Direction, Sweeney Todd (Live from Lincoln Center) 
• Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez, Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, "Kiss and Old Man," from The Comedians, and "Moving Pictures," from the Oscars