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.  

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.