The nominees are: The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik; Modern Family's Julie Bowen; Veep's Anna Chlumsky; Mom's Allison Janney; Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon; and Orange Is the New Black's Kate Mulgrew.
1. KATE MULGREW - ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (NETFLIX)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "TIT PUNCH"
The veteran character actress - who scored her first ever Emmy nomination this year - has something her competitors don't: screentime. Her episode submission is 51 minutes long. That's nearly double everyone else's episode. Plus, she's a major focus in that episode. It's such a transformative performance too. She's the scary Russian lady but she too has her vulnerabilities. The voters really embraced the prison dramedy this year. Wrap all of that up and you got a frontrunner in this race.
2. ALLISON JANNEY - MOM (CBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "ESTROGEN AND A HEARTY BREAKFAST"
Previous Emmy winner Janney can walk away with two more acting awards this year which could almost be too impossible for the voters to refuse. She's absolutely stunning on Masters of Sex and a lock to win there. She's giving a much different performance on the CBS sitcom but the work there is equally as rewarding. The problem, however, is that her nomination was the only major one for the comedy. Plus, she decided to submit the episode where her character goes through menopause which is definitely a broader episode. She may have been better served submitting the more heavy "Zombies and Cobb Salad" where her character hits rock bottom and relapses.
3. JULIE BOWEN - MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE FEUD"
Bowen is a two-time former winner in this category. That definitely means something especially when you factor in the performer who beat her last year (Nurse Jackie's Merritt Wever) isn't even nominated this year. However, I don't remember this being a big or even good season for Claire. Her episode is the one where she gets lice - which is largely just physical comedy. But hey, voters tend to like physical comedy.
4. ANNA CHLUMSKY - VEEP (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "DETROIT"
This was a great season for Veep the show and it definitely has the group momentum to potentially win in several categories. I'm not counting Chlumsky out of this race. I just don't think this was a particularly big season for her character Amy. Yes, she continued to utter her lines with delightful frustration. But I don't remember a big moment for her this year where I said, yes, that will win her an Emmy.
5. MAYIM BIALIK - THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE INDECISION AMALGAMATION"
If Bialik couldn't win with the tiara episode, I don't think she'll ever get enough support to win in this crowded field. She continues to have great moments on the show as her relationship with Sheldon continues to be fleshed out. But it also sometimes just plays as a reactionary role compared to the flashier stuff Jim Parsons get to do.
6. KATE MCKINNON - SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "HOST: ANNA KENDRICK"
I don't think a regular Saturday Night Live cast member will even win in these Supporting categories. If Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader couldn't pull out a win, I really don't expect McKinnon to either this year even though she's often the funniest thing on the show.
1. KATE MULGREW - ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (NETFLIX)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "TIT PUNCH"
The veteran character actress - who scored her first ever Emmy nomination this year - has something her competitors don't: screentime. Her episode submission is 51 minutes long. That's nearly double everyone else's episode. Plus, she's a major focus in that episode. It's such a transformative performance too. She's the scary Russian lady but she too has her vulnerabilities. The voters really embraced the prison dramedy this year. Wrap all of that up and you got a frontrunner in this race.
2. ALLISON JANNEY - MOM (CBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "ESTROGEN AND A HEARTY BREAKFAST"
Previous Emmy winner Janney can walk away with two more acting awards this year which could almost be too impossible for the voters to refuse. She's absolutely stunning on Masters of Sex and a lock to win there. She's giving a much different performance on the CBS sitcom but the work there is equally as rewarding. The problem, however, is that her nomination was the only major one for the comedy. Plus, she decided to submit the episode where her character goes through menopause which is definitely a broader episode. She may have been better served submitting the more heavy "Zombies and Cobb Salad" where her character hits rock bottom and relapses.
3. JULIE BOWEN - MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE FEUD"
Bowen is a two-time former winner in this category. That definitely means something especially when you factor in the performer who beat her last year (Nurse Jackie's Merritt Wever) isn't even nominated this year. However, I don't remember this being a big or even good season for Claire. Her episode is the one where she gets lice - which is largely just physical comedy. But hey, voters tend to like physical comedy.
4. ANNA CHLUMSKY - VEEP (HBO)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "DETROIT"
This was a great season for Veep the show and it definitely has the group momentum to potentially win in several categories. I'm not counting Chlumsky out of this race. I just don't think this was a particularly big season for her character Amy. Yes, she continued to utter her lines with delightful frustration. But I don't remember a big moment for her this year where I said, yes, that will win her an Emmy.
5. MAYIM BIALIK - THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "THE INDECISION AMALGAMATION"
If Bialik couldn't win with the tiara episode, I don't think she'll ever get enough support to win in this crowded field. She continues to have great moments on the show as her relationship with Sheldon continues to be fleshed out. But it also sometimes just plays as a reactionary role compared to the flashier stuff Jim Parsons get to do.
6. KATE MCKINNON - SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC)
EPISODE SUBMISSION: "HOST: ANNA KENDRICK"
I don't think a regular Saturday Night Live cast member will even win in these Supporting categories. If Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader couldn't pull out a win, I really don't expect McKinnon to either this year even though she's often the funniest thing on the show.
