ReasonForOurHope

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Sunday Best: Emmy Nominations 2021

 I meant to get this up a few weeks ago when they were announced, but I have been particularly busy.  


Below are the list of nominations for this year's Emmy's.  While I'm very pleased that there is a few sci-fi and super hero shows have received nominations, I get the feeling that this is only a nod to their popularity and they are not meant to be actual contenders.  However I could be wrong.  And simply receiving the nomination opens doors.  The Lord of the Rings had to nominated for Best Picture 3 times before the 3rd Film took home the Oscar.

Usually I also give my predictions, but this year I just can't find the motivation.  Usually there is only one or two shows in each nominated category that I watch and I don't have a good pulse for the tastes of the Emmy voters.  Instead I will simply give you my thoughts as to what SHOULD win.


For my Catholic Skywalker Awards, The Mandalorian got my Best Drama.  In the comedy category, Ted Lasso won Best Comedy, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.  Hamilton also won my Best Movie award.  So it is nice to see all of these get prominent nominations, especially Ted Lasso with the most.  


Here are some of the nominees with my comments.


Variety talk series

“Conan”

“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”


-I don't really watch these shows anymore.  But Conan O'Brien should finally get some of the comedic recognition he deserves and he is much funnier than any of the other nominees.




Competition series

“The Amazing Race”

“Nailed It!”

“RuPaul’s Drag Race”

“Top Chef”

“The Voice”


-I only watch the Amazing Race and it is still the best reality competition show around.  Tough As Nails should have been nominated too.


Lead actress, comedy

Aidy Bryant, “Shrill”

Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant”

Allison Janney, “Mom”

Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”

Jean Smart, “Hacks”


-While Hacks is not good, Smart is great in it and deserves the Emmy.


Lead actor, comedy

Anthony Anderson, “black-ish”

Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”

William H. Macy, “Shameless”

Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”

Kenan Thompson, “Kenan”


-Jason Sudeikis does his best work in Ted Lasso is the main reason why the show is so good.


Comedy series

“black-ish”

“Cobra Kai”

“Emily in Paris”

“The Flight Attendant”

“Hacks”

“The Kominsky Method”

“PEN15"

“Ted Lasso”


-I don't know why Cobra Kai is in the comedy category.  Easily Ted Lasso should win if the category is comedy.  But Cobra Kai may be a better show overall.  This is a tough one.


Lead actor, limited series/TV movie

Paul Bettany, “WandaVision”

Hugh Grant, “The Undoing”

Ewan McGregor, “Halston”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton”

Leslie Odom Jr., “Hamilton”


-I'm excited that they recognized Bettany's work as Vision, but I think I'm going to have to go with Lin-Maneul Miranda on this one as the heart of the amazing Hamilton


Lead actress, limited series/TV movie

Michaela Coel, “I May Destroy You”

Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”

Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”

Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit”

Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown”


-As with Bettany, I'm glad Olsen gets this recognition. Her performance was outstanding and I loved the way she and Bettany adapted to the various TV genres without feeling out of place.


Limited series

I May Destroy You

Mare of Easttown

The Queen’s Gambit

The Underground Railroad

WandaVision


-The only one I watch is WandaVision, so that gets my vote.


Lead actress, drama

Uzo Aduba, “In Treatment”

Olivia Colman, “The Crown”

Emma Corrin, “The Crown”

Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Mj Rodriguez, “Pose”

Jurnee Smollett, “Lovecraft Country”


-Don't watch any.


Lead actor, drama

Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us”

Jonathan Majors, “Lovecraft Country”

Josh O’Connor, “The Crown”

Regé-Jean Page, “Bridgerton”

Billy Porter, “Pose”

Matthew Rhys, “Perry Mason”


I only watch This is Us and Brown is always great, so he gets my vote.


Drama series

“The Boys”

“Bridgerton”

“The Crown”

“The Handmaid’s Tale”

“Lovecraft Country”

“The Mandalorian”

“Pose”

“This Is Us”


-The Mandalorian gave me one of the best TV experiences I've ever had, so there Is no question that this should win.



Supporting actress, drama

Gillian Anderson, “The Crown”

Helena Bonham Carter, “The Crown”

Madeline Brewer, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Ann Dowd, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Aunjanue Ellis, “Lovecraft Country”

Emerald Fennell, “The Crown”

Yvonne Strahovski, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Samira Wiley, “The Handmaid’s Tale”


-Don't watch any.


Supporting actor, drama

Giancarlo Esposito, “The Mandalorian”

O-T Fagbenle, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

John Lithgow, “Perry Mason”

Tobias Menzies, “The Crown”

Max Minghella, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Chris Sullivan, “This Is Us”

Bradley Whitford, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Michael Kenneth Williams, “Lovecraft Country”


Giancarlo Esposito's Moff Gideon is fantastic. He does so much with very little dialogue. The best part is in the season two finally when you watch his smug expression be replaced by cold terror: amazing.


Supporting actress, limited series/TV movie

Renée Elise Goldsberry, “Hamilton”

Kathryn Hahn, “WandaVision”

Moses Ingram, “The Queen’s Gambit”

Julianne Nicholson, “Mare of Easttown”

Jean Smart, “Mare of Easttown”

Phillipa Soo, “Hamilton”


While I really enjoyed Hahn's turn in WandaVision, Phillipa Soo has to get my vote because of her incredibly performance with all of its emotional depths.


Supporting actor, limited series/TV movie

Thomas Brodie-Sangster, “The Queen’s Gambit”

Daveed Diggs, “Hamilton”

Paapa Essiedu, “I May Destroy You”

Jonathan Groff, “Hamilton”

Evan Peters, “Mare of Easttown”

Anthony Ramos, “Hamilton”


All three nominees from Hamilton were good. Even though Diggs has the most charisma, I think Ramos showed the most range and depth.


Supporting actress, comedy

Aidy Bryant, “Saturday Night Live”

Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”

Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live”

Rosie Perez, “The Flight Attendant”

Cecily Strong, “Saturday Night Live”

Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso”

Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”


Both Temple and Waddingham were good in Ted Lasso, I'm going to give a slight edge to Temple who was able to take a very shallow character and give her depth without feeling false.


Supporting actor, comedy

Carl Clemons-Hopkins, “Hacks”

Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”

Brendan Hunt, “Ted Lasso”

Nick Mohammed, “Ted Lasso”

Paul Reiser, “The Kominsky Method”

Jeremy Swift, “Ted Lasso”

Kenan Thompson, “Saturday Night Live”

Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live”


Lots of nominees from Ted Lasso, but Brett Goldstein is the the one to win. His Roy Kent is a man with a gruff exterior... and a gruff interior. But he is a fully fleshed out character. Goldstein makes you feel his inner struggle as Kent comes to realize he is past his glory days and has to begin to put away the thing that meant most to him.


Guest actress, drama

Alexis Bledel, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Claire Foy, “The Crown”

Mckenna Grace, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Sophie Okonedo, “Ratched”

Phylicia Rashad, “This Is Us”


-I only watch This is Us and Rashad did a fine job with lots of gravitas.


Guest actor, drama

Don Cheadle, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”

Charles Dance, “The Crown”

Timothy Olyphant, “The Mandalorian”

Courtney B. Vance, “Lovecraft Country”

Carl Weathers, “The Mandalorian”


-Carl Weathers rules.



Variety special (prerecorded)

“Bo Burnham: Inside”

“David Byrne’s American Utopia”

“8:46 — Dave Chappelle”

“Friends: The Reunion”

“Hamilton”

“A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote”


-No question that it should be Hamilton


Animated program

“Big Mouth”

“Bob’s Burgers”

“Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal”

“The Simpsons”

“South Park: The Pandemic Special”


-The Simpsons is still the best animated show on television. You may say that it isn't nearly as good as it used to be, and that is fair. But it is still funnier than any other animated show now.


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