Emmy Week (2013): Time to Liven Up Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards. Can Louis C.K. Save the Day?

For the past 6 years 2 shows have won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards, 30 Rock and  Modern Family.  From 1999 until 2006 only one show repeated their victory and that show was Everybody Loves Raymond.  Between 1999 and 2006 shows like Ally McBeal, Friends, Will & Grace, Sex and the City, Arrested Development, and The Office each took their turn at the podium.  Each of these shows won in a year with critical support, they were the best seasons of their shows history, and deservedly.  The only win I would argue against was Everybody Loves Raymond's repeat, which should have been a repeat win for Arrested Development, or even Desperate Housewives.

As stated above 30 Rock and Modern Family have dominated these categories for six years, and this could be the seventh, this award winner has gotten stale like back to the days of Frasier's 5-peat in the mid to late nineties.  The big question of the week is can comedian Louis C.K. come in and save the day making this category a bit more interesting?

Ove the years only a few shows have repeated in this category, Frasier has the most wins at 5.  There are three shows tied with four wins: All in the Family, Cheers, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.  Four shows have three wins: 30 Rock, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Modern Family, and Taxi.  Seven shows have 2 wins: Everybody Loves Raymond, Get Smart, The Golden Girls, I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Show, Murphy Brown, and The Phil Silvers Show.

Of the 65 years only 20 years have had repeat winners, which is pretty great at creating variety in this category, but we are in a drought.  Both Modern Family and 30 Rock are heavy front runners this year, but there is one upstart who could change it all, and that's Louis C.K. for Louie.

Over the years shows like Louie rarely win in the series category, but do score nominations.  Curb Your Enthusiasm is obviously the closest show to compare.  Curb  has been nominated for 39 Emmy Awards, but only won 2, only one non technical award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.  Louie has just tied Curb's record of two wins, one for writing last year, and one for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.  C.K. himself has been nominated all three the show has been on the air for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, but this is the first year the show has been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.  Can Louis C.K. do what Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld from an HBO series could never do with Curb, win?

Louis C.K. is nominated for nine Emmy Awards this year, and the answer is maybe.  Is there Modern Family fatigue?  The show was nominated for fewer awards this year, and one of their cast members was snubbed for the first time since the first season.  The show also has no writing nominations.  Can 30 Rock swing back for the purpose of sentimentality?  The show won it's first Emmy in 3 years Outstanding Casting, which is fairly rare for a show in its last season.  The only problem is that only two shows have won for their final seasons, and they are Everybody Loves Raymond and Barney Miller.  30 Rock may win win an acting and writing or directing, but not series.

Does this open the door for Louie?  Why not The Big Bang Theory, the most watched show comedy on television?  Bang has no writing or directing nominations, along with some of the other major technical awards that signal a win here.  Girls is too polarizing and has lost its sheen, and while Veep has the clout it did not score a writing or directing nomination in a show where those factors are the most important.

My gut says Modern Family will keep the snooze fest of this category alive, but I am going to go out on a limb, and predict that Louie will shake things up, and pull out a surprise victory in this category.

Emmy Week 2012: Game of Thrones Comes out on top at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Last year Boardwalk Empire walked away winning the most awards ever at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards with seven wins.  This year last years most snubbed series at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards Game of Thrones came out on top this year with six wins.  Of the other Outstanding Drama Series nominees Boardwalk Empire won three, Homeland won two, Downton Abbey won two, Breaking Bad and Mad Men went home empty handed.  Going home empty handed at this part of the award show is not a bad sign.  Boardwalk Empire only won the Outstanding Direction award last year, and lost the Drama series award to Mad Men, and come on who would not have voted for Martin Scorsese. The Emmy Awards always like to surprise.

The Emmys did surprise in three of the four Guest Acting categories, specifically in the both drama categories.  Martha Plimpton won for one of my favorite guest starring roles on The Good Wife; she had a small part this season, and that was why she was not one of the favorites.  Although I should have seen this coming people do not often repeat wins in this category, this was her first Emmy win.  Jeremy Davies from Justified upset favorites like Mark Margolis from Breaking Bad, and Michael J. Fox from The Good Wife, this was also Davies first Emmy.  After 9 nominations and 0 wins at the Emmy Awards Kathy Bates finally triumphed playing ghost Charlie, a role I am not shocked Emmy voters ate up.  Jimmy Fallon was the easiest to predict, his return hosting gig to SNL, was one of the best episodes of the year.

Of the Outstanding Comedy Series nominees Girls took home one win, Curb Your Enthusiasm took home one win, and Modern Family took home one win, 30 Rock, Veep, and The Big Bang Theory went home empty handed.

Upsets also happened in the Outstanding Animated Program where The Penguins of Madagascar beat The Simpsons and Futurama, and So You Think You Can Dance lost the choreography award to Smash.

Here is a full list of the winners:

Casting in a Drama Series | Homeland (Showtime) 
Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special | Game Change (HBO) 
Casting For A Comedy Series | Girls (HBO) 

Guest Actress In A Comedy Series | Kathy Bates, Two and a Half Men 
Guest Actor In A Comedy Series | Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live 
Guest Actor In A Drama Series | Jeremy Davies, Justified 
Guest Actress In A Drama Series | Martha Plimpton, The Good Wife 

Directing For A Variety Series | Saturday Night Live (NBC) 
Writing For A Variety Series | The Daily Show (Comedy Central) 
Outstanding Variety Special | The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) 

Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Miniseries, Movie Or A Special | The Walking Dead (AMC) 
Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic) | Game of Thrones (HBO) 
Makeup For A Miniseries Or A Movie (Non-Prosthetic) | Hatfields & McCoys (History) 
Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Dancing With the Stars (ABC) 

Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special | Masterpiece: Great Expectations (PBS) 
Hairstyling For A Miniseries Or A Movie | American Horror Story (FX) 
Hairstyling For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special | Saturday Night Live (NBC) 
Choreography | Smash (NBC) 

Reality Program | Undercover Boss (CBS) 
Music Direction | The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) 
Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score) | Downton Abbey (PBS) 
Music Composition For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special (Original Dramatic Score) | Hemingway & Gellhorn (HBO) 
Original Music And Lyrics | The 65th Annual Tony Awards (CBS) 

Art Direction For A Multi-Camera Series | 2 Broke Girls (CBS) 
Art Direction For A Single-Camera Series | A tie: Boardwalk Empire (HBO) and Game of Thrones (HBO) 
Art Direction For Variety or Nonfiction Programming | A tie: The 54th Annual Grammy Awards (CBS) and The 65th Annual Tony Awards (CBS) 

Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series | Homeland (Showtime) 
Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series | Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) 
Multi-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series | How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 
Picture Editing For Reality Programming | Deadliest Catch (Discovery) 

Animated Program | The Penguins of Madagascar (Nickelodeon) 
Short-format Animated Program | Regular Show (Cartoon Network)  
Voice-over Performance | Maurice LaMarche, Futurama (Comedy Central) 

Special Visual Effects | Game of Thrones (HBO) 
Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role | Boardwalk Empire (HBO) 
Stunt Coordination | Southland (TNT) 

Main Title Design | Masterpiece: Great Expectations (PBS) 
Original Main Title Theme Music | Masterpiece: Page Eight (PBS) 

Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera) | Paul Simon’s Graceland Journey: Under African Skies (A&E) 
Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) | Game of Thrones (HBO) 
Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) | Modern Family (ABC) 
Sound Mixing For A Miniseries Or A Movie | Hatfield & McCoys (History) 
Sound Mixing For A Variety Or Music Series Or Special | The 84th Annual Academy Awards (ABC) 
Sound Editing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special | Hemingway & Gellhorn (HBO) 
Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming | Frozen Planet (BBC/Discovery) 
Sound Editing For A Series | Game of Thrones (HBO) 

Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series | Two and a Half Men (CBS) 
Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series | Boardwalk Empire (HBO) 
Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie | Masterpiece: Great Expectations (PBS) 
Cinematography For Reality Programming |  Deadliest Catch (Discovery)  
Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming | Frozen Planet (BBC/Discovery) 

Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Series | Saturday Night Live (NBC) 
Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety, Music, Or Comedy Series | So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety, Music, Or Comedy Special | The 54th Annual Grammy Awards (CBS) 

Outstanding Nonfiction Series | Frozen Planet (BBC/Discovery) 
Outstanding Special Class Program |  The 65th Annual Tony Awards (CBS) 
Outstanding Special Class Program Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program | Childrens Hospital (Cartoon Network)

Comedy Series Emmy Submissions

So for those who may not know, but odds are that if you read about pop culture you do, everyone submits an episode (s) for the perspective category they are nominated for.  This is this year's comedy acting race, and some analysis on the race (so far).

BEST COMEDY SERIES:
 30 ROCK * Season 6 * NBC
Tape A: "Idiots Are People Two!" & "Idiots Are People Three!"
Tape B: "The Tuxedo Begins" & "St. Patrick's Day"
Tape C: "Meet the Woggels!" & "Murphy Brown Lied to Us"

THE BIG BANG THEORY * Season 5 * CBS
Tape A: "The Hawking Excitation" & "The Countdown Reflection"
Tape B: "The Russian Rocket Reaction" & "The Beta Test Initiation"
Tape C: "The Ornithophobia Diffusion" & "The Shiny Trinket Maneuver"

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM * Season 8 * HBO
Tape A: "Vow of Silence" & "The Hero"
Tape B: "Palestinian Chicken" & "Car Periscope"
Tape C: "Mister Softee" & "Larry vs. Michael J. Fox"

GIRLS * Season 1 * HBO
Tape A: "Pilot" & "Vagina Panic"
Tape B: "Hannah's Diary" & "Hard Being Easy"
Tape C: "Leave Me Alone" & "She Did"

MODERN FAMILY * Season 3 * ABC
Tape A: "Door to Door" & "Aunt Mommy"
Tape B: "Leap Day" & "Baby on Board"
Tape C: "Punkin' Chunkin'" & "Egg Drop"

VEEP * Season 1 * HBO
Tape A: "Pilot" & "Catherine"
Tape B: "Nicknames" & "Baseball"
Tape C: "Full Disclosure" & "Tears"

Analysis: Comedy series seems locked up, but with these episodes, and recent developments there is always some doubt.  Modern Family has won twice, and the show is favored to win for a third time this year.  I would say that their recent contract disputes, weaker set of episodes, and lack on nominations in the writing category, which they won two years in a row, sets them back.  The biggest spoilers are HBO's Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm and CBS's The Big Bang Theory.  Curb had an incredible season, and the show is beloved, Veep has a hip factor, and started out strong, while Big Bang harkens back to the traditional sitcom.  Curb is the biggest spoiler, but it feels too late.  Big Bang would make the most sense, because its well liked and popular. Modern Family is the most nominated series, I predict it wins one last year (this one) and is done.  30 Rock may have scored a lot of nominations, but the show is done, and I am shocked Girls made it into this category, but I do not think the average voter will get it.

1-Modern Family
2-Curb Your Enthusiasm
3-The Big Bang Theory
4-Veep
5-30 Rock
6-Girls

BEST COMEDY ACTOR:  
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock ("Live from Studio 6H")
Don Cheadle - House of Lies ("Gods of Dangerous Financial Instruments")
Louis CK - Louie ("Duckling")
Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men ("Frodo's Headshots")
Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Palestinian Chicken")
Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory ("The Werewolf Transformation")


Analysis: This race boils down to three men, two playing themselves and one playing a geek.  At the moment my predicted front runner is hip comic Louis C.K.; he is hilarious and heat warming in his episode where he is going overseas to perform for the troops an his two daughters pack a baby duck in his suit case to keep him safe.  David picked one of his funniest episodes ever, where he goes to a Palestinian restaurant because he likes there chicken, one funny thing happens after another.  Parsons is the perennial favorites with two wins under his belt (they love repeat winners).  Parsons episode is solid.  I personally would pick David based on the tapes, but I think he's in third at the moment.  Louis C.K.'s show is more current, and hes a triple nominee, with a great tape.  Just watch out for that threepeat from Parsons!


1-Louis CK
2-Jim Parsons
3-Larry David
4-Alec Baldwin
5-Jon Cryer
6-Don Cheedle

BEST COMEDY ACTRESS:
Zooey Deschanel - New Girl ("Bad in Bed")  
Lena Dunham - Girls ("She Did")
Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie ("Disneyland Sucks")
Tina Fey - 30 Rock ("The Tuxedo Begins")
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep ("Tears")
Melissa McCarthy - Mike and Molly ("The Dress")
Amy Poehler - Parks and Recreation ("Win, Lose or Draw")


Seven nominees!  Lots of contenders, but two are out, the F's Fey and Falco.  The two women have their trophies.  Dunham picked a poor tape, I would say she's out.  And then there were four.  McCarthy won on a weak tape last year, but I do not think she will repeat, look for her to take Guest Actress.  Deschanel submitted well, but will the Emmy voters love her quirck enough?  My thoughts are no.  Leaving two women Poehler and and Dreyfus to battle it out.  Both have solid tapes, and are well respected, but look for Dreyfus to win out.  Dreyfus is nominee from a Best Comedy Series nominee this year, while the Emmys snubbed Parks and Recreation.  Will this matter ? Maybe.  Looking at the past winners many of these ladies shows were ignored, especially in recent years, Melissa McCarthy, Toni Collette, Julia Louis Drefus (Old Christine), and Helen Hunt for the last two years of Mad About You.  Tight race and data matters so the edge goes to Dreyfus.


1-Julia Louis Dreyfus
2-Amy Poehler
3- Zooey Deschanel 
4-Melissa McCarthy
5-Lena Dunham
6-Tina Fey
7-Edie Falco

BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTOR:  
Ty Burrell - Modern Family ("Lifetime Supply")
Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Modern Family ("Leap Day")
Max Greenfield - New Girl ("Control")
Bill Hader - Saturday Night Live ("Host: Katy Perry")
Ed O'Neill - Modern Family ("Baby on Board")
Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family ("Treehouse")


Analysis: If this were based on tape alone I would pick Max Greenfield, but the truth is that with four nominees the other Modern Family guys help each other out.  My guess is that like The West Wing the show will have every supporting male win.  With that said who stands the best shot to win next for the show?  This year the tapes are proving to be in Jesse Tyler Ferguson's favor.  Each tape seems to help him out while none really help Ed O'Neil.  Eric has a strong tape on his own, and is great in many of the other tapes so look for him as a spoiler.  Burrell's character is beloved, like Stonestreet's because their humor is more laugh out loud than dry so he could spoil as well.  Hader is out!


1-Jessie Tyler Ferguson
2-Ty Burrell
3-Eric Stonestreet
4-Max Greenfield
5-Ed O'Neil
6-Bill Hader 

BEST COMEDY SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  
Mayim Bialik - The Big Bang Theory ("The Shiny Trinket Maneuver")
Julie Bowen - Modern Family ("Go Bullfrogs!")
Kathryn Joosten - Desperate Housewives ("Finishing the Hat")
Merritt Wever - Nurse Jackie ("One-Armed Jacks")
Kristen Wiig - Saturday Night Live ("Host: Mick Jagger")
Sofia Vergara - Modern Family ("Tableau Vivant")


Analysis: Look for three women to dominate this, Vergara, Wiig, and Joosten.  Why?  Vergara has finally submitted an incredible tape, and she steals the show on Bowen's tape as well.  If they go for the best they should pick her.  Why the other two ladies? Sentimentality.  Sure Joosten and Wiig are both talented, but sentiment will play a major role here.  Wiig's swan son on SNL highlights her funniest moments and sends her off with graceful dancing so touching!  Joosten is a favorite among the Academy, and her death could have a major impact on voters.  This happens, but mainly when the performance is so out of this world like Heath Ledger or Peter Finch.


Predictions
1-Kristin Wiig
2-Sofia Vergara
3-Kathryn Joosten
4-Julie Bown
5-Mayim Bialik
6-Merritt Weaver

BEST COMEDY GUEST ACTOR:
Will Arnett - 30 Rock ("Idiots Are People Three!")
Bobby Cannavale - Nurse Jackie ("Disneyland Sucks")
Jimmy Fallon - Saturday Night Live ("Host: Jimmy Fallon")
Michael J. Fox - Curb Your Enthusiasm ("Larry vs. Michael J. Fox")
Jon Hamm - 30 Rock ("Live from Studio 6H")
Greg Kinnear - Modern Family ("Me? Jealous?")


Prediction:Jimmy Fallon vs. Michael J. Fox-This is a nail biter, but I think Fallon will win.

BEST COMEDY GUEST ACTRESS:
Elizabeth Banks - 30 Rock ("The Return of Avery Jessup")
Kathy Bates - Two and a Half Men ("Why We Gave Up Women")
Margaret Cho - 30 Rock ("The Return of Avery Jessup")
Dot-Marie Jones - Glee ("Choke")
Melissa McCarthy - Saturday Night Live ("Host: Melissa McCarthy")
Maya Rudolph - Saturday Night Live ("Host: Maya Rudolph")


Prediction-Dot Marie Jones has a shot this year, but look for Melissa McCarthy to actually make the judges laugh


BEST COMEDY WRITING:Community - Chris McKenna - "Remedial Chaos Theory"
Girls - Lena Dunham - "Pilot"
Louie - Louis CK - "Pregnant"
Parks and Recreation - Amy Poehler - "The Debate"
Parks and Recreation - Michael Schur - "Win, Lose or Draw"


Prediction-They are always the wild card group, and I think this is between Girls and Parks and Recreation, with Girls squeaking out the win for four time nominated Dunham.

BEST COMEDY DIRECTING:Curb Your Enthusiasm - Robert B. Weide - "Palestinian Chicken"
Girls - Lena Dunham - "She Did"
Louie - Louis CK - "Duckling"
New Girl - Jake Kasdan - "Pilot"
Modern Family - Steven Levitan - "Baby on Board"
Modern Family - Jason Winer - "Virgin Territory"  


Prediction: Louie vs. Curb, look for Duckling to steal their hearts and impress them with great direction.

2012 Comedy Emmy Nomination Predictions

Their is no easing the tension in these laugh filled categories, but most unlike within the drama category many of these nominees are easier to predict.  There are a few nominees that will make it in the Outstanding Comedy Series with no problem, and they are: Modern Family, 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.  Curb could be knocked out, but with a Seinfeld pedigree, one of the funniest seasons ever this 6 time nominee (in this category) is sure to be back.  The question like within the drama category is what show takes the sixth spot?  

Here's how this shakes out:

Two nominees from last year will most likely be booted from this race, and those are both Glee, and The Office.  The Office is out, the show has only won four Emmy Awards, one writing award, one directing, and for Outstanding Comedy Series all different years.  The show is a fossil and longer holds any merit, losing credibility, and if the show gets nominated the system is a failure.  Emmy voters are smart enough to walk away.

Glee is off the mark, and no longer has the cool factor that drive Emmy voters to include this series.  The first season garnered 20 nominations, but lost out to Modern Family.  Modern Family dominated season two, and Glee fell further with 12 nominations, and won only two.  The show no longer is relevant, and has critically gone even further down hill.  If Glee makes it back in I would be shocked.

There are too many new shows, and a few in their later seasons that the Emmy Awards will want to validate, and make themselves relevant.  This list includes: Community, Girls, Louie, New Girl, and Veep.

Community has been all over the news, mostly with press about negative things.  Dan Harmon and Chevy Chase had a famous fight, with an infamous voicemail.  Dan Harmon was forced to step down as EP, and Chevy was almost given the boot.  The shows hiatus made people angry and brought back higher ratings for the show.  Community is on the low end of this list, but anything is possible.  May get a writing and directing nomination, but I doubt it scores in the comedy race.

Girls is probably too hip for these old voters, and while many people will compare this show to Sex and the City the difference is the age thing.  Viewers will not connect to this the way they did to Sex and the City.  City was about women in their late 30s and 40s who were a bit more relate able, while these characters feel like planet mars to outsiders of this culture.  On the flip side the show is a phenomenon, and Dunham is the it girl.  My thought is too polarizing and will gain a few other nominations, but not here.

Louie is similar to Curb in that it follows Louis C.K. in the midst of raising his daughters, and trying to become successful as a stand up comic.  Louie is also another hip show, and while many think voters will cling to this show (and I will admit it has a shot) I think voters may not find it as funny unless they like his work.  I would say this has the second highest chance of scoring a nomination.

If you asked me in the fall which show had the best chance of sealing up the sixth spot I would have said New Girl.  The show lost some steam as the season progressed because ratings dipped, and newer shows out shined this more traditional sitcom like series.

One show that I think will steal the sixth spot and proved brighter than any of the others is Veep.  Veep is just the kind of show that makes the Academy drool.  Dreyfus is a previous Emmy winner and creator Armando Ianucci has this way of structuring the show that makes this high brow comedy with lots of curse words one that I imagine many people will check off on their list.  This show has snob appeal, yet makes one of the highest offices so relate able.  I think this takes the sixth spot.
 Look for Julia Louis-Dreyfus to compete in the most competitive category at this year's Emmy Awards, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, a category so crowded last year's winner may not be invited back!

Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
30 Rock
Veep

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin-30 Rock
Louis C.K.-Louie
Jon Cryer-Two and a Half Men
Larry David-Curb Your Enthusiasm
Johnny Galecki-The Big Bang Theory
Jim Parsons-The Big Bang Theory

Lead Actress in Comedy Series
Zooey Deschanel-New Girl
Lena Dunham-Girls
Tina Fey-30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus-Veep
Melissa McCarthy-Mike and Molly
Amy Poehler-Parks and Recreation

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Ty Burrell-Modern Family
Jessie Tyler Ferguson-Modern Family
Tony Hale-Veep
Ed O'Neil-Modern Family
Nick Offerman-Parks and Recreation
Eric Stonestreet-Modern Family

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen-Modern Family
Kathryn Joosten-Desperate Housewives
Jane Lynch-Glee
Sofia Vergara-Modern Family
Betty White-Hot in Cleveland
Kristin Wiig-Saturday Night Live

Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Directing, Guest Acting, and Writing in a Comedy Series

A strong comedy needs support from their guest actors just like a drama does, but within the comedy world these guest actors also need to be more than just superstar cameos.  Within the last decade many comedies have used guest stars to lure people into watching their shows, and have not done a good job of fitting guests into the fabric of the show.  Shows that were bad offenders with this in the past were Will & Grace, and Friends, and some current offenders are Glee, and 30 Rock.  Three of the these four shows are my favorite shows (except for Glee), but they have abused the guest acting privilege like no other. If I listed their misuse of guest stars within each of these shows the list could be longer than this entire blog post.

This year Parks and Recreation did an excellent job using their guest stars like Kathryn Hahn and Paul Rudd who fit in perfectly with Leslie's election story line.  Hahn was the bigger standout to me.  Modern Family has been a major offender at times of not knowing how to use their guest stars properly but this season using Bobby Cannavale as Cam's clown friend was genius, and Ellen Barkin as Phill's rival in real estate was side splitting.  Within the last couple of year's there have also been many nominees who played themselve in television shows like Kate Winslet and Ian McKellan in Extras.  This year Michael J. Fox and Joan Rivers got major laughs with their perspective guest starring roles on Curb, and Louie.  Fox was funny in playing against type or how we perceive him, while Joan was true to form, in coaching Louie in his career.


Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Bobby Cannavale-Modern Family
Michael J. Fox-Curb Your Enthusiasm
John Goodman-Community
Justin Long-New Girl
Paul Rudd-Parks and Recreation
Louis C.K.-Parks and Recreation

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Becky Anny Baker-Girls
Ellen Barkin-Modern Family
Patricia Clarkson-Parks and Recreation
Kathryn Hahn-Parks and Recreation
Megan Mullally-Happy Endings
Joan Rivers-Louie

Direction in a comedy series helps the performers guide them on the way to making the audience laugh.  Brilliant directors build on the shows writing, and actors to help put together moments we will never forget.  Iconic television director James Burrows who has directed for Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, and Will & Grace is the best comedic director in television of all time.  Burrows brought the cast of Friends together prior to their first episode to get the group to build a comradery, that was apparent on screen.  Burrows did the same with all of his other shows, and helped define many sitcoms as massive hits, and classic television.

Today direction in a comedy has evolved because television comedies have evolved from the traditional sitcom.  Shows like Curb, Louie, Veep, and Happy Endings prove television comedies are more sophisticated than they ever have been.  Watching Brad's dance to the dentist chair in
"The St Valentine's Day Maxssacre" or the random way the dice can change events in Community's "Remedial Chaos Theory" prove that even more traditional shows have mastered a new art of bringing comedy into our living rooms.  Welcome to the new age of comedic direction, and sample on this great list of brilliantly directed episodes.

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm-The Palestinian Chicken-Robert B. Weide
Community-Remedial Chaos Theory-Jeff Melman
Girls-Welcome to Bushwick aka the Crackcident-Jody Lee Lipes
Happy Endings-The St Valentine's Day Maxssacre-Joe Russo
Louie-Duckling-Louis C.K.
Veep-Chung-Armando Iannucci


Writing is the key to comedic television, shows whose writing becomes sloppy, or forgets character and becomes too slapstick is much more apparent in comedy.  Even in it's third year Community had some weak moments, but also had two of the funniest episodes of television with both "Remedial Chaos Theory" and the Law & Order spoof "Basic Lupine Urology."  Community knows how to weave character development with witty/snarky humor that resonates throughout the shows episode, and all season long.  This show is brilliantly written.


Two new HBO series hit it out of the park in their first year, Veep and Girls, two shows with female leads.  Recently Adam Carolla stated that women are not funny, but these two shows prove he is mistaken.  Dunham is the creator, writer, director, and star of her show.  While the shows humor can be off-putting to many, Dunham's self-efficacy is on point in her writing.  While Veep is written by men the show is about the first female Vice President, and the awkward moments contribute to one of the funniest political satires on office ever.  4 of the nominees in this category happen to be women as well, proving that throughout the evolution of television of comedy women are getting more opportunities to show how funny they truly can be.


Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Community-Remedial Chaos Theory-Chris McKenna 
Community-Basic Lupine Urology-Megan Ganz
Girls-Pilot-Lena Dunham
Modern Family-Little Bo Bleep-Cindy Chupack
Parks and Recreation-The Debate-Amy Poehler 
Veep-Chung-Sean Gray & Armando Iannucci & Will Smith

Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

This group of six men is incredibly unique, two of the men are playing themselves, three of the men were or still are comedians, and Alec Baldwin and Steve Carell are gone from this list.  This year's leading men are a bunch of off the wall oddball, atypical leading men.  This is one of my favorite categories this year, and is one of the strongest line-ups I have seen in years.

Larry David as Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm-After a brief hiatus the Curb team returned for for another great season, one of their best.  Larry used an excuse to get out of doing something, and ventured to New York City.  Before Larry went to the East Coast and scuffled with Michael J. Fox and Rosie he dealt with a mini-dilemma, whether or not to eat from a Palestinian chicken restaurant with amazing chicken.  The episode entitled Palestinian Chicken is one of the funniest half an hours of television I have ever seen!  David is spot on, and I never laughed harder then when the Palestinian waitress is sleeping with him and insulting him calling him a "dirty Jew"...he takes it because she is beautiful.  David was great all season, and he could finally win this year.

Garett Dillahunt as Burt Chance in Raising Hope-One half of one of the funniest duos of television today.  Burt Chance is not the sharpest, but even with his lower intellect he is one of the funniest leading men on television today.  Of these six men Burt is one of the most real characters; he is a great father, husband, and granddad.  From the first time you meet this guy pushing a guy into thorns while he pees you can see that he he remains a man child, but throughout the second season he has become more hilarious, and the character is even better than in the first.

Louis C.K. as Louis C. K. in Louie-Louis C. K. is one of the funniest men on television today.  I love watching his facial expressions; he is incredibly straight faced, but also looks appalled by many of the crazy situations he has gotten into.  I think my favorite moment was his interaction with Joan Rivers this season, these two had this great chemistry, and as she is trying to mentor him he goes for a kiss.  Awkward, she hits him, and begrudgingly accepts.  Louis C.K. reminds me of Seinfeld but funnier than Jerry himself. He uses the situational crazy antics of New York, his daughters, and his broken marriage to find the hilarity in life, and makes it work so well.

Joel McHale as Jeff Winger in Community-Winger zingers are the best.  From day one Jeff Winger has fought hard against being considered part of this study group, but as he feels more at home he has developed into an even better character.  In "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism" we get explore the more vulnerable side of Jeff's younger years where we find out Shirley bullied him when the were younger.  McHale has great chemistry with Yvette Nicole Brown and they make an brilliant comedic duo.  McHale is great in this show, and his "cool" ways as Jeff Winger always add a little fun to the group especially when he is getting kicked out of biology class or helping investigate the death of a yam.

Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation-Too many people have been ignoring this man.  While this was the year of Leslie Knope and her campaign, I was more enamored with her campaign manager Ben Wyatt (that could be mainly because I think he's cuter), but more because he is one of the funniest people on the show.  Ben had a lot of great moments from defending Leslie at a bowling alley, to being an out of work calzone maker, to Leslie's campaign manager, but my personal favorite Ben moment was watching him try to "Treat Yourself" and buy and dress up in a Batman outfit, one of the funniest moments of the season.  The real question "Is Batman Crying?"

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory-Knock "Penny" Knock "Penny" Knock "Penny" Knock "Penny" Knock "Penny"...Parsons is one of the funniest men in television today.  Sheldon Cooper is emotionally vacant mainly he has no use for sarcasm only straight forward dialogue that furthers what he needs and wants.  In the "The Friendship Contraction" Sheldon keeps Leonard up all night with emergency preparedness, and then Leonard refuses to take him so some appointments, which causes the two to hilariously revisit their roommate agreement.  In the fifth season Sheldon finally admits Amy is his girlfriend, and this took his character to a whole new level.