From June 12 to June 26, voting is taking place for The 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. To add to the excitement of the past year in television, I'm providing analysis on which shows and performers are likely to get nominated this year. Next up is Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
2016 Nominees:
Ellie Kemper for Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus for HBO's Veep (WINNER)
Laurie Metcalf for HBO's Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross for ABC's black-ish
Amy Schumer for Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin for Netflix's Grace and Frankie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus for HBO's Veep (WINNER)
Laurie Metcalf for HBO's Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross for ABC's black-ish
Amy Schumer for Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin for Netflix's Grace and Frankie
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the five time reigning champion in this category. She will continue to get nominated and likely win until either Veep ends or she removes herself from consideration. Neither of which is true this year. So, she's once again leading the pack. Elsewhere, Laurie Metcalf and Amy Schumer are out of the race. So, there are a couple of open spots with a number of different options to replace them. One likely contender is Allison Janney from Mom who has made the move to Lead from Supporting. Tracee Ellis Ross and Ellie Kemper also seem strong to return. I also find myself underestimating Lily Tomlin. Every year I think she'll fall off the list because Grace and Frankie doesn't seem to have much across the board support. But the voters still love her. I don't have her in the Top 6 this year. But I wouldn't be surprised if she returns and someone I wish gets nominated gets snubbed instead.
So now, here's my thoughts on the performers must likely to be nominated for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus for HBO's Veep
- Tracee Ellis Ross for ABC's black-ish
- Ellie Kemper for Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
- Allison Janney for CBS' Mom
- Issa Rae for HBO's Insecure
- Pamela Adlon for FX's Better Things
And now, for some serious threats that could break into the list:
- Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda for Netflix's Grace and Frankie
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Amazon's Fleabag
- Justina Machado for Netflix's One Day at a Time
- Kristen Bell for NBC's The Good Place
- Drew Barrymore for Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet
- Sharon Horgan for Amazon's Catastrophe
- Sarah Jessica Parker for HBO's Divorce
- Minnie Driver for ABC's Speechless
- Kathryn Hahn for Amazon's I Love Dick
- Tracey Ullman for HBO's Tracey Ullman's Show
- Lena Dunham for HBO's Girls
- Rachel Bloom for The CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- Gina Rodriguez for The CW's Jane the Virgin
- Michaela Watkins for Hulu's Casual
- Carrie Brownstein for IFC's Portlandia
- Tig Notaro for Amazon's One Mississippi
Some considerable long-shots:
- Anna Faris for CBS' Mom
- America Ferrera for NBC's Superstore
- Constance Wu for ABC's Fresh Off the Boat
- Emmy Rossum for Showtime's Shameless
- Aya Cash for FXX's You're the Worst
- Sela Ward for Epix's Graves
- Catherine O'Hara for Pop's Schitt's Creek
- Gillian Jacobs for Netflix's Love
- Logan Browning for Netflix's Dear White People
- Colleen Ballinger for Netflix's Haters Back Off
- Lola Kirke for Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle
- Julie Klausner for Hulu's Difficult People
- Rachel Blanchard and Priscilla Faia for Audience's You Me Her
- Zooey Deschanel for FOX's New Girl
- Kaitlin Olson for FOX's The Mick
- Alia Shawkat for TBS' Search Party
And now, just some colorful oddities who still have an outside chance:
- Wendi McLendon-Covey for ABC's The Goldbergs
- Sutton Foster for TV Land's Younger
- Briga Heelan for NBC's Great News
- Rashida Jones for TBS' Angie Tribeca
- Natalie Zea for TBS' The Detour
- Mindy Kaling for Hulu's The Mindy Project
- Britt Robertson for Netflix's Girlboss
- Riki Lindhome and Natasha Leggero for Comedy Central's Another Period
- Katy Mixon for ABC's American Housewife
- Jessica St. Clair for Comedy Central's Review
- Janet Varney for IFC's Stan Against Evil
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!
