My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy

I think Jenna Fischer is Emmy worthy,
let's hope the real voters feel the same.

The Emmy nominations are once again around the corner (they'll be announced July 18) so I will once again present my thoughts on who should be nominated seeing as Emmy voters & I so often disagree. In fact last year we agreed on only 21 of 61 nominations, because of a tie there wan an extra Emmy nominee, last year & that gap was especially large in comedy where we found common ground on only 6 of 31. Maybe this year there will be more of an overlap but I'm not getting my hopes up. 

Before i get to my thoughts on our first category, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy, it bears mentioning once again that Emmy voters are people who work, or worked, in the industry (actors, directors, writers, etc.) hence many of them don't have the time to watch a broad variety of shows. I, on the other hand, have plenty of time! So much time that I managed to watch 42 shows last year & I added another 6 in 2013 (seriously). Thus their choices may get tons of publicity I'd argue mine may well be more valid. Of course really I think TV critics should be in charge, since it's their job to judge television, so here's a professional's opinion.*

I freely admit that I'm ripping off Alan Sepinwall's Emmy gimmick. As for any similarities between our picks I would merely say we both watch a lot of TV & have good taste.

It's important to also not that like actual Emmy voters I'm restricted by whether or not an actor submitted themselves & where they chose to do so, so while I may think someone's a lead character if they submit in supporting I'm bound to honor that (I'm also not nominating anyone from shows I didn't watch at least a few episodes of, sorry Downton Abbey). Click here for the actual Emmy ballot. Last year Emmy voters & I didn't agree on one nominee, come July 18th I encourage you to come back here & decide who did a better job.

My Nominees: This is probably the most trouble I've ever had narrowing down this category which is testament both to the ever better roles women are having in comedy & the ever increasing amount of television I've been watching.

Carly Chaikin (Dalia Royce, Subrugatory)-Last year it was Allie Grant who represented Suburgatory in this category & while she continued to do strong work Chaikin often stole the show with her deadpan performance of Chatswin's most superficial, & devious, citizen. Her hate for Tessa has always been funny but this year the writers gave Chaikin more to do as Dalia mourned the loss of her nanny, took an interest in Judaism, let her need for a father figure slowly be revealed, & participated in one brutal catfight. If one were to measure each actresses screen time to laugh ratio Chaikin would be in the top 2.

Possible Submission Episode: "Decemberfold"

Chances of a Nomination: 0%

Jenna Fischer (Pam Halpert, The Office)-Three years ago I wrote, "as long as The Office is on Fischer's getting one of my nominations." Alas the next year she only made honorable mention, & last year I didn't even mention her at all. Of course this had far more to do with the writing on The Office going into a downward spiral than it did Fischer, & even though its final season was far from a banner year for the show Fischer was the beating heart of the show (Jim & Pam were the only real reasons to keep watching), as Pam dealt with the consequences of Jim's unilateral decision making on their family & marriage. If that doesn't sound funny it's because it wasn't. Fischer is a gifted comic actress when called to be but in this final season the show's best dramatic performer (at least since Carell left) was left to do some dramatic lifting & she excelled be it breaking down in tears when Jim treats her callously on the phone or finding her way back to more solid marital ground. Jenna Fischer has only one Emmy nomination for her work on The Office & it would be a shame if that number doesn't double this year, but if doesn't she'll always have the greater honor saying the last line on one of America's greatest sitcoms, “There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn’t that kind of the point?”

Possible Submission Episode: "Customer Loyalty"

Chances of a Nomination: 50%

Kaitlin Olson (Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)-For the second straight year Olson worked her way onto my ballot with one of the least ego driven performances on TV. Every season mountains of terrible things happen to Dee & even when they aren't Dee is usually being a pretty terrible person but Olson is game for all of it. Further on a show otherwise dominated by men Olson's Dee holds her own in the comedy department even if she's getting run over otherwise, or more accurately her car is being demolished by the guys yet again, & it only works because of Olson's balls out performance. 

Possible Submission Episode: "The Gang Gets Analyzed"

Chances of a Nomination: 0%

(No video because FX is super stingy on youtube)

Aubrey Plaza: (April Ludgate, Parks and Recreation)-The only actress to earn my nomination each of the last four years Plaza continues to give one of the funniest performances on TV. She's funnier using only her eyes than most actors can dream of ever being. Sending April to Washington D.C. with Ben for a few episodes allowed Plaza & Adam Scott to play off each other's considerable talents as April messed, & bonded with, Ben. Plaza continued to be one half of the funniest marriage in TV history, & she also was given the opportunity to continue to demonstrate April's growth (she was even nice to Anne, once) as she managed a town forum in Leslie's place & even battled against her mentor at one point. Like every non-Amy Poehler actor on Parks and Rec Plaza will likely be ignored again but make no mistake Aubrey Plaza is as deserving as anyone, even the men.

Possible Submission Episode: "Leslie vs. April"

Chances of a Nomination: 10%

Jessica Walter: (Lucille Bluth, "Arrested Development")-I don't remember where I read it but someone commented about the new season of AD saying that Walter seemed to be the actor most immediately in touch with her character after the show's seven year hiatus & I'm inclined to agree. Walter's portrayal of Lucille One remained as acidic as ever & she nailed the rare moments of humanity Lucille showed in her featured episode. She won an Emmy 38 years ago, & was nominated once before in this role so hopefully she can break through once again.

Possible Submission Episode: "Queen B"

Chances of a Nomination: 33%

Julie White (Anne, "Go On")-White is probably best know as Shia LaBeouf's mom in the Transformers movies &, with Go On's cancellation, will likely remain that way which is a shame because she proved to be capable of so much more in Go On's one season. On a show that often struggled to balance comedy with the inherent sadness of its premise––a guy joins a support group after his wife dies––White excelled at playing a widowed lesbian lawyer, routinely elevating the material she was given to play. She also proved to have the best chemistry of anyone in the cast with star Matthew Perry & storylines featuring the two of them were often highlights. A year ago I didn't know Julie White's name, now I desperately hope she gets another high profile chance to play such a multidimensional character.

Possible Submission Episode: "Bench-Clearing Brawl"

Chances of a Nomination: 0%

Honorable Mention: The women of Community (ALISON BRIE!, Yvette Nicole Brown, & Gillian Jacobs) all did fine work this year but the material they were given wasn't quite good enough to allow any of them to make the list. The women of Happy Endings (Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, & Casey Wilson) were even more Emmy worthy, & I wouldn't be too upset with anyone including them over my above choices. Allie Grant continued to be one of the funnier elements of Suburgatory. Ellie Kemper continued to be a bright spot in another lesser season of The Office & provided the most emotional moment of the finale. As the most under appreciated member of Parks and Recreation Rashida Jones continued to do strong work. Diane Ladd didn't have as much to do this year on Enlightened but was great with what she got. Zosia Mamet continued to give one of the more outright funny performances on Girls while her relationship with Ray also gave her more emotional territory in which to show off. Lucy Punch may have grabbed one of my nominations had she submitted herself for her scene stealing performance in Ben & Kate.  Allison Williams' Marnie doesn't give the most likable performance on Girls (does anyone?) but that just shows how in touch the naturally charming Williams is with her character.