Emmy Dream Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2012-2013)

There are a lot of funny women on television, but there could be more!  This list was not hard to narrow dow, the only other people I would have potentially on this would have been Tina Fey (30 Rock), or Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie).  With Dern's show off the air, Foster's show potentially cancelled, and 30 Rock off the air, there are fewer shows with strong female leads.  I am hoping that this category gets some great new potential with the fall 2013 shows.

Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe in Enlightened

After only two seasons, creator Mike White's show had the plug pulled.  I will admit that this show grew on me, partly because White found his groove, but also because leading lady Laura Dern is a great actress who make Amy incredibly realistic persona.  Amy, and Enlightened are not your traditional comedy archetypes, but there is an something honest about her acting.  Amy wants to live a vivid more connected life, and Dern provides audiences with acting that makes you feel connected with this character.

Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day in New Girl

Jess went through a lot this year, from being sex buddies with her boyfriend, and realizing she wanted more, to thinking about wanting children, to dealing with her parental baggage, to dating her roommate Nick.  While the first season introduced the quirk the second season added even more depth and layer to Deschannel's Jess.  While many will argue the actress is playing herself, or a version of other characters she has played before, I have argue, that Deschanel still does a great job.  Zooey added life to this character, and had one of the best years for a female performer; she is a vision here, and does a fantastic job within this role.

Lena Dunham in Hannah Horvath in Girls

Hannah, Hannah Hannah, you got a job writing finally, but then you couldn't put words on the page.  One of the most interesting aspects of Hannah's journey this season was the exploration of her OCD, watching Dunham explore this offbeat topic with the blended mixture of humor and drama was some of the best television from this past season.  At the center of this show Dunham is a captivating leading lady, who does not fit the mold, Hannah defies the norm constantly, and does so with guts.  Dunham is great within this role, her performance within the season finale is proof.

Sutton Foster as Michelle Simms in Bunheads

Sutton Foster is one of my favorite Broadway babies, he performances in shows like Anything Goes, and even Shrek were fantastic.  In Bunheads Foster continues the fast talking tradition of Amy Sherman-Palladino as the fast talking Michelle, who is whisked away from her life as Vegas showgirl to get married and move to a small town.  Foster is brilliant as Michelle, the way she mentors the young girls with whom she teaches, and how she spars with Kelly Bishop; she carries the mantle of fast talking champ Lorelai Gilmore well.  Let's just hope she gets to do more, and the show is picked up.

Julia Louis Dreyfus as Vice President Selena Meyers in Veep

Dreyfus is one of the best female comediennes in the history of television.  This is of course a bold statement, but this woman has created three different television characters (all great), and been a player on Saturday Night Live.  In season two Selena helped save hostages, ran into a glass door, and contemplated her own Presidential campaign, none of it was with ease, and most of it was clumsy.  Dreyfuss is the commanding force on this show; she is is great in this role, and really nails every moment, every facial expression with ease.

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation

I like her and I love her!  Leslie's first year on city council was met with many obstacles, like councilmen Jamm, town folk who were willing to let law keep them in the 1800s, and so much more.  The beginning of the season also had her far away from her boyfriend Ben, but that was fixed after Gerry had his fart attack, and Ben proposed.  Poehler still adds new layers to Leslie after all these years; she is one of the funniest women, and makes this sometimes compulsive women the most like able characters on television.  

Women in Comedy Part II: Acting, Directing, Writing, Creating, Producing!

This past Saturday night Lena Dunham became the first winner of the Director's Guild of America (DGA) Award in the television comedy category.  Dunham won the DGA for the episode entitled "Pilot" or the first episode of the show Girls.  While women have won this category in the drama category, most of the recent wins have come in the most recent years.  One of the most recent wins was Patty Jenkins winning for the first episode of the television series The Killing.

Over the last decade female characters in television series both comedy and drama have become more and more interesting and dynamic.  One of the main reasons for these dynamic women in television is mainly because there are more women behind the scenes as creators, directors, writers, and producers.  In the drama world Shonda Rhimes is the best example working, with shows like Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal centered all on female leads.  Yet the women of comedy have grown the most, and in larger numbers.

I would say that Tina Fey was at the start of this trend in the world of television comedy.  Fey an SNL alum created a small, but critically acclaimed television series about Liz Lemon who works on an NBC Variety Show named TGS. Sound familiar?  Fey's television series, 30 Rock, was not a monster hit in the ratings, but the show had an impact in many ways.  Fey started this trend where she not only starred in the show, but she created the show, produced the show, and wrote for 30 Rock.  Fey's Liz Lemon does feels as though she is a genuine creation of her own make; she is Tina Fey.  I always think of 30 Rock as the modern day Mary Tyler Moore Show, but Mary Richards was written and created by a woman now.

Fey influenced gal pal Amy Poehler in her next step after SNL, Poehler is stars in Parks and Recreation, and writes many of the episodes for the show.  I believe that New Girl would be something different without creator/producer Liz Meriweather behind the scenes.  The combination of Deschanel and Meriwather makes Jess an even more interesting layered, and of course quirky character.  Mindy Kailing who was a producer and writer for The Office has her own show now as well, where stars produces, and writes.  While The Mindy Project is still finding its footing the series feels right out of the mind of the star herself, and Mindy's adventures make sense because they are a creation of her own doing.

Then there is today's "modern" girl who has brought women even further to the forefront in television, Lena Dunham. Dunham's Girls is a show where you may not like the characters, you may not think its funny, but boy does it have a strong power.  While I think its one of the funniest shows on television Girls sharply points out the harsh realities of generations inability to cope, struggle, but they know how to have fun, and believe that life should be this amazing adventure.  Dunham has created four spectacularly different female characters that bring out all of these elements.  Dunham is a is genius, and  week after week she creates an evolutionary pattern for women working in television.

If you look at each of these women they star(ed) in some of the funniest shows of the last ten years, and have laid the groundwork for the future of television to continue to evolve, and create incredible female characters.  They have also started this great trend of letting women have more power over their own voice, and establish precedent for future generations to come.  These women are trailblazers in the world of television, and the work they do helps further the art of television.

Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

This category is filled with a lot of new faces this year, mainly because many of the potential returners shows lost me.  There is no Tina Fey, Laura Linney, or Edie Falco, but this is the strongest I have seen this category in years.  These six women are some of the funniest/wittiest women on television today.


Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe in Enlightened-I have to start with the statement, I hate this show!  The show made me me honestly cringe, and feel as though I never connected to the plot or the characters.  With that said Dern is fantastic in this role, and I would not want to begrudge the great work she did as a woman who has a breakdown only to come back spiritually enlightened.  The problem with individual spiritual enlightenment is that when you return to your real life the people around you have not had the same experiences.  Watch Amy navigate this experience, and also try and be more self assured is hilarious but also sad, great performance.

Zooey Deschanel as Jess in New Girl-Jess is is the perfect quirky girl; she started out the first episode breaking up with her boyfriend and moving in with three "bros" the plot sounds formulaic, and to an extent it is, but Deschanel is one of the cutest/funniest actresses on television today.  Watching Jess pretend to be Nick's girlfriend at a wedding so they could make his ex jealous was one of my favorite moments of the season.  Nick wants Jess to be normal, but there is no fighting the quirk and the changing the chemistry between these two.

Julia Louis Dreyfuss as Vice President Selena Meyer in Veep-Watching the Vice President have a pregnancy scare, mock an elected Asian official, and try and get legislation passed that the President kills are only three of the reasons this new show has hit it out of the park.  Veep is one of the funniest new shows of the season, and thanks largely to comedic timing of Julia Louis Dreyfuss.  Dreyfuss is one of the funniest women in television from Seinfeld to this; she has created fun new roles that make you want laugh so hard you pee your pants.  This is the role of a lifetime, and they picked the right person.

Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath in Girls-Like or hate this show Dunham is one of young rising stars on television today, and her television series explores a new generation of young women today.  Dunham wrote and directed the entire first half of this first season.  Writing is her strength, but I am particularly wowed by the way she puts it all out there when she acts.  There is a natural ability she has to be frank with her character Hannah, and this allows her writing to shine, and for us to think she may be a little selfish and spoiled too.  Hannah is hilarious, and watching her debate with her parents why they should give her money and support her is one classic scene. 

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation-Another great season for Poehler!  Leslie Knope ran for office without the help of an official team (and won).  In the middle she tried to win over an average joe voter, started dating broke up with, and started dating Ben again, she tried to get on her feet, and all in all this was one of the most fun rides for a strong comedic female character.  Knope was initially looking to be a rip off of Michael Scott, but they went in a new direction, and gave her character a beautiful heart.  Poehler is a comedic genius, and watching her navigate every step of the election was so much fun, mainly because she is one of the funniest ladies working.

Martha Plimpton as Virginia Chance in Raising Hope-Martha Plimpton is one talented lady, she plays this role so well, and I love her as an actress.  My favorite episode entitled "Poking Holes in the Story was one of her funniest moments of the season where she takes a job as a live in house and child sitter when she realizes all of Hope's toys have been recalled.  Plimpton is a riot, and she continues to be one the the many reasons to continue watching this show.

Homeland Lands the Most Nominations at the TCA Awards

The Television Critics Association (TCA) announced their nominations today.  Unlike most television award shows this one breaks down performance to a single category entitled individual achievement in drama, and individual achievement in comedy.  One of my qualms within this system usually means less female nominees (for some reason), but this is not the case this year.

This year two women landed nominations in the drama category Claire Danes (Homeland) and Jessica Lange (American Horror Story).  The woman makeup the majority of the comedy nominees Lena Dunham (Girls), Julia Louis Dreyfuss (Veep), and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation).  This is unusual, and I have applaud the TCA for breaking this gendered streak.

Homeland also broke barriers today.  In Homeland's first season they became the most nominated television series with four nominations including the above mentioned nomination for Claire Danes, Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Drama Series, and Program of the Year.

The TCA as you may have noticed have those other neat categories like Outstanding New Program, Program of the Year, Heritage Awards for performers and television series.  This year (like most) Program of the Year is dominated by Dramas, in fact all five are drama series this year.  Usually they sneak in one comedy, a news program, or even a reality series.  I would have liked to see Parks and Recreation or Community make this list but no such luck.  Overall a great set of nominees.

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Claire Danes (Homeland)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Louis C.K. (Louie)
Lena Dunham (Girls)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
Anderson Cooper 360
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Frontline
60 Minutes
The Rachel Maddow Show

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING
The Amazing Race
Dancing with the Stars
The Glee Project
So You Think You Can Dance
The Voice

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
iCarly
Phineas and Ferb
Sesame Street
Switched at Birth
Yo Gabba Gabba

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
Girls
Homeland
New Girl
Revenge
Smash

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES AND SPECIALS
Downton Abbey
Game Change
Hatfields & McCoys
Hemingway & Gellhorn
Sherlock

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Justified
Mad Men

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
The Big Bang Theory
Community
Louie
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dick Clark
Andy Griffith
David Letterman
Regis Philbin
William Shatner

HERITAGE AWARD
Cheers
Lost
Saturday Night Live
Star Trek
Twin Peaks

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Mad Men
Downton Abbey