Comedy
Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine Nine”
Tituss Burgess – “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
Ty Burrell – “Modern Family”
Adam Driver – “Girls”
Tony Hale – “Veep”
Keegan-Michael Key – “Key & Peele”
For a time, this category was the “Modern Family” show: for years, three or four of the nominees were all from the show. But as it ages, it’s slipped away, and last year only Ty Burrell made the cut. He’ll probably do so again this time, and indeed this otherwise is likely to be an almost exact repeat of last year, I reckon, with two-time winner Tony Hale, Andre Braugher, Tituss Burgess (the most likely to unseat Hale), Adam Driver and Keegan-Michael Key all likely to return. But if anyone falls away — and Braugher, Driver or even Burrell all could — look for Laurence Fishburne for “Black-ish” or, less likely, Louie Anderson for “Baskets” to be the ones to break in.
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Best Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Mayim Bialik – “The Big Bang Theory”
Julie Bowen – “Modern Family”
Anna Chlumsky – “Veep”
Gaby Hoffman – “Transparent”
Allison Janney – “Mom”
Kate McKinnon – “Saturday Night Live”
The field’s so deep here that the category went to an unprecedented eight nominees last year — chances of that happening again are slim, but there’s still tough competition, as you might imagine. Again, I’m expecting something of a repeat of last year, just with fewer people. Mayim Bialik and Julie Bowen are near-inevitabilities in this category, though with their shows aging, and “Modern Family” actress Sofia Vergara having fallen off her slot, the emphasis becomes increasingly on the ‘near.’ Anna Chlumsky and Allison Janney are fresher faces, and will be back (with Janney likely winning again), while I think Gaby Hoffman returns, as will Kate McKinnon. If the category ends up at more than six, look for Jane Krakowski in “Kimmy Schmidt” or, less likely, Niecy Nash in “Getting On” to repeat, while Hoffman’s “Transparent” co-star Judith Light could join the mix, and Debra Winger for “The Ranch” is a newcomer to watch.
Best Actor In A Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – “Black-ish”
Aziz Ansari – “Master Of None”
Gael Garcia Bernal – “Mozart In The Jungle”
Will Forte – “The Last Man On Earth”
William H. Macy – “Shameless”
Jeffrey Tambor – “Transparent”
It’s a striking testament to the strength of women in TV comedy this year that the lead actor category here is easily one of the thinner categories right now. Obviously there are lots of good performances to seek out, but surprisingly few that seem genuinely viable (especially with regulars “Louie” and “Episodes” taking the year off), to the extent that the little seen Jerrod Carmichael in “The Carmichael Show” or Patrick Stewart in “Blunt Talk” are viable candidates. Category staple Jim Parsons shouldn’t be ruled out, but having fallen out last year, it’s hard for him to claw his way back into the mix. Otherwise, this is basically the Jeffrey Tambor award for the next few years, and he’ll be joined by last year’s nominees Anthony Anderson, Will Forte and William H. Macy (whose “Shameless” has somehow avoided recategorization, despite obviously being a drama). Don Cheadle could also return, but we think Aziz Ansari and the now-Golden Globe-winning Gael Garcia Bernal will edge him out for their fresher-feeling shows after “House Of Lies” was cancelled this year.
Best Actress In A Comedy Series
Rachel Bloom – “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”
Tracee Ellis Ross – “Black-ish”
Ellie Kemper – “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – “Veep”
Amy Schumer – “Inside Amy Schumer”
Lily Tomlin – “Grace & Frankie”
With “Nurse Jackie,” “The Comeback” and “Parks & Recreation” all off the air, a number of spaces open up in the comedy actress race, even if the winner will inevitably be Julia Louis-Dreyfus for “Veep.” The latter will be joined by returning nominees Amy Schumer and Lily Tomlin, and beyond that we’re pretty sure that Ellie Kemper from “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and Tracee Ellis Ross from “Black-ish” will be nominated. The last slot is more open — we could see Constance Wu of “Fresh Off The Boat,” America Ferrera of “Superstore,” Jane Fonda of “Grace & Frankie,” Gillian Jacobs of “Love” or, we hope, Aya Cash of “You’re The Worst.” But the most likely, after her Golden Globe win, is probably “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” star Rachel Bloom.
Best Comedy Series
“Black-ish”
“Master Of None”
“Modern Family”
“Silicon Valley”
“Transparent”
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
“Veep”
There’s been a real changing of the guard here the last few years, and with staples “Louie” and “Parks & Recreation” no longer around to compete, that could well continue this year. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that long-time staple “Modern Family” might not even make the cut this time around with such a wealth of options (but still probably will, let’s face it). The current veteran “Veep,” which finally unseated “Modern Family” for the win last year, will be the front-runner, and I think three others will return, in ‘Transparent” (which could upset “Veep”) “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Silicon Valley.” To replace the departed “Louie” and “Parks & Rec,” the smart money’s on “Black-ish,” which won a lot of critical plaudits this year, and Netflix’s “Master Of None.” But don’t rule out “Modern Family,” obviously, a creatively-revived “Girls,” “Mom,” or even a newcomer like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Casual” or “Catastrophe.”
