The most prestigious awards show in the TV industry, the Emmys is also often also the
most
predictable, preferring to favour the familiar instead of rewarding the most richly-deserved.
However, with several of its most beloved shows now retired (Mad Men, Parks and
Recreation) or on a break (Louie), this year’s nominations have thrown up a few new faces
to go alongside all the regular ones.
Here’s a look at those who probably weren’t expecting an invitation to the ceremony on
September 18, as well as a look at those who may feel they have unfairly missed out.
Surprise: Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell (Outstanding Leading Actor/Actress in a
Drama Series)
It’s certainly a welcome one, but it’s still a surprise nonetheless that Matthew Rhys and Keri
Russell have both finally been given some recognition after four seasons on The Americans.
It’s pretty much business as usual elsewhere, with the five eligible nominees from last
year’s
Best Actress category all given the nod, and Mr. Robot’s Rami Malek the only other new
inclusion in the Best Actor field.
Snub: Girls
Girls picked up ten Emmy nominations over its first two seasons, and although the acclaim
began to dry up, last year still saw Adam Driver (Outstanding Supporting Actor) and Gabi
Hoffman (Outstanding Guest Actress) rewarded for their talents.
Despite a fifth series which many consider to be a return to form, Lena Dunham and co.
have been entirely ignored for the first time this year, proving that voters have well and truly
fallen out of love with the HBO show.
Surprise: The Late Late Show With James Corden (Outstanding Variety Talk Series)
After much initial scepticism, James Corden has won over nearly all of his detractors with
arguably the most entertaining and most talked-about late night show on the block.
And to cap off a pretty much perfect first 18 months in the job, the star now joins fellow
British export John Oliver alongside old favourites Fallon and Kimmel in the Outstanding
Variety Talk Series category.
Snub: Orange is the New Black
Girls isn’t the only former Emmy favourite which has been given the cold shoulder this year.
Orange Is The New Black has received 16 nominations since landing on Netflix back in
2013, winning four, but following a third season which some have classed as fairly
underwhelming, it doesn’t appear at all on this year’s list.
Surprise: Black-ish (Outstanding Comedy Series)
Aziz Ansari’s beautifully observed Master Of None was always expected to take one of the
two Outstanding Comedy Series positions vacated by Parks and Recreation and Louie.
#EmmysSoDiverse – The Emmys are showing the Oscars how it should be done
But ABC sitcom Black-ish was much less of a lockdown, as evident by the whoops and
hollers from its star (and nominations co-host) Anthony Anderson at the
nominations ceremony.
Two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda certainly isn’t short of awards glory, but she has every
right to feel slightly miffed at being ignored yet again in the Lead Actress in a Comedy
category, while her Grace and Frankie co-star Lily Tomlin picks up her second consecutive
nomination.
In arguably a more difficult and less showy role, Fonda has been just as integral to the slow-
burning show’s success, so it’s a little baffling as to why voters have decided against
spreading the love around.
Surprise: Thomas Middleditch (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series)
Mike Judge’s razor-sharp tech satire Silicon Valley picked up six nominations at last year’s
ceremony, but they were all for those behind the camera rather than those in front of it.
However, this year Thomas Middleditch, who plays nervy programmer Richard in the HBO
show, has deservedly received some attention too in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a
Comedy Series category, alongside fellow first-time nominee Aziz Ansari.
Surprise: Cuba Gooding Jr (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie)
The first series of American Crime Story is widely regarded as one of the finest TV shows
of
2016 so far, but the man at the centre of it, Cuba Gooding Jr, was also seen as its weakest
link.
But Emmy voters appear to have ignored his failure to truly inhabit the role of O.J. Simpson
and have given him a surprise Lead Actor in a Limited Series nod alongside his co-star and
potential winner Courtney B. Vance.
Snub: Lady Gaga (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie)
Lady Gaga’s portrayal of The Countess in the fifth season of American Horror Story divided
audiences, with some hailing her it as a femme fatale masterclass and others describing it
as wooden as the Hotel Cortez’s doors.
The awards shows have given her an equally mixed response with the Golden Globes
giving her a gong and this year’s Emmys ignoring her altogether.
Surprise: Constance Zimmer (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series)
Constance Zimmer’s powerhouse performance as ruthless executive producer Quinn King
was the most impressive thing about the ‘far better than it had any right to be’ reality TV
satire UnREAL.
But the fact that it airs on Lifetime, a network more associated with trashy unauthorised
stories of 90s TV shows and Grumpy Cat movies, wrongly suggested that voters would
unfairly tar the show with the same brush
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