The 2016 Emmy Nominations: Predictions and Thoughts from a Nerd’s Perspective

We have four weeks to go until the 2016 Emmy Awards. As a television reviewer for this site and a general fan of the medium, the nominations caught my attention when they were announced last month. Needless to say, there were some pleasant surprises, but there were also some entrants that left me frustrated, upset, and bewildered. I invite the readers of this article to journey into my line of thought on the Emmys. I shall peruse through the major award categories and declare who I think will win, who I think should win, and any thoughts I have on the category or nominees.

Special note: the Emmys deserve props for appointing Jimmy Kimmel as host. He’s the perfect fit in the sense of humor and likability.

Best Comedy Series

The Nominees

• Black-ish
• Master of None
• Silicon Valley
• Transparent
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Veep

Who Will Win: Veep

Who Should Win: Anyone else

My Thoughts: I’m sorry, but I haven’t caught on to the critics’ obsession with Veep.

Best Drama Series

The Nominees

• The Americans
• Better Call Saul
• Downton Abbey
• Game of Thrones
• Homeland
• House of Cards
• Mr. Robot

Who Will Win: Game of Thrones

Who Should Win: Game of Thrones

My Thoughts: Come up with one reason why GoT shouldn’t win. I’m waiting . . .

Best Variety Talk Series

The Nominees

• Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
• The Late Late Show with James Corden
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• Real Time with Bill Maher
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Who Will Win: Jimmy Fallon

Who Should Win: James Corden

My Thoughts: No Conan or Kimmel? I just have to say one other thing: Jimmy Fallon is highly overrated. There, I said it.

Best Variety Sketch Series

The Nominees

• Documentary Now!
• Drunk History
• Inside Amy Schumer
• Key & Peele
• Portlandia
• Saturday Night Live

Who Will Win: Inside Amy Schumer

Who Should Win: Drunk History

My Thoughts: I love me some Amy Schumer, but tell me Drunk History isn’t fantastic!

Best Limited Series

The Nominees

• Fargo
• The Night Manager
• American Crime
• The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Roots

Who Will Win: The People v. O. J. Simpson

Who Should Win: The People v. O. J. Simpson

My Thoughts: Who on earth has the brass ones to remake Roots? Was there even a need?

Best Reality/Competition Program

The Nominees

• The Amazing Race
• American Ninja Warrior
• Dancing with the Stars
• Project Runway
• Top Chef
• The Voice

My Thoughts: I don’t watch a single one of these shows. Reality shows are not good in general. The one exception is Ink Master, and I see there is no nomination, so my interest in this category is zero.

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

The Nominees

• Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
• Aziz Ansari, Master Of None
• William H. Macy, Shameless
• Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Who Will Win: Jeffrey Tambor

Who Should Win: William H. Macy

My Thoughts: If the Emmys are as half as political as the Oscars, fan favorites do not necessarily get the consideration they should. On this list, Shameless is probably the most beloved, at least by those that have access to Showtime.

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

The Nominees

• Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Laurie Metcalf, Getting On
• Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
• Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
• Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Who Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Who Should Win: Amy Schumer

My Thoughts: I may be the only person in the world that isn’t completely enthralled with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Seinfeld aside, I don’t find her humorous . . . at least not to the point the Emmy people seem to think. Pick someone else, guys.

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series

The Nominees

• Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
• Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
• Matthew Rhys, The Americans
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
• Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Who Will Win: Kevin Spacey

Who Should Win: Liev Schreiber

My Thoughts: I think Kevin Spacey is a talented actor but could someone take five minutes to give Liev Schreiber props for how awesome he is this year . . . please? Also, where’s the nomination for Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul?

Best Lead Actress in a Drama

The Nominees

• Claire Danes, Homeland
• Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder
• Taraji P. Henson, Empire
• Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
• Keri Russell, The Americans
• Robin Wright, House of Cards

Who Will Win: It’s a tossup between Claire Danes and Viola Davis

Who Should Win: Keri Russell

My Thoughts: I think all nerds should be absolutely outraged that Krysten Ritter was not even nominated for Jessica Jones!

Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

The Nominees

• Bryan Cranston, All the Way
• Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock
• Idris Elba, Luthor
• Cuba Gooding Jr., The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
• Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Who Will Win: Bryan Cranston

Who Should Win: Courtney B. Vance

My Thoughts: I hated his character, but damn if Vance wasn’t good!

Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

The Nominees

• Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
• Sarah Paulson, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Felicity Huffman, American Crime
• Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
• Lili Taylor, American Crime
• Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Who Will Win: Sarah Paulson

Who Should Win: Sarah Paulson

My Thoughts: If Sarah Paulson doesn’t win, I will officially think the Emmys are rigged.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy

The Nominees

• Louie Anderson, Baskets
• Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
• Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
• Ty Burrell, Modern Family
• Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele
• Matt Walsh, Veep

Who Will Win: Ty Burrell

Who Should Win: Louie Anderson

My Thoughts: I love Ty Burrell, but isn’t Modern Family sort of on its way out? If not, does no one else from that show get love? Also, very surprising that no one from The Big Bang Theory was nominated.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy

The Nominees

• Anna Chlumsky, Veep
• Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
• Judith Light, Transparent
• Kate McKinnon,  Saturday Night Live
• Niecy Nash, Getting On

My Thoughts: Forgive me, I have no idea who should or will win in this category. I don’t watch Veep or Transparent and have never seen Getting On. I would vote for SNL except I stopped watching after Kristen Wiig left—it hasn’t been good in years!

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

The Nominees

• Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
• Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
• Kit Harrington, Game of Thrones
• Michael Kelly, House of Cards
• Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
• John Voight, Ray Donovan

Who Will Win: Peter Dinklage

Who Should Win: Kit Harrington

My Thoughts: Before I get crucified, I love Peter Dinklage! However, how can anyone, nerds especially, argue that this season was not Jon Snow’s year?

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

The Nominees

• Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
• Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
• Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
• Maura Tierney, The Affair
• Constance Zimmer, UnREAL

Who Will Win: Maggie Smith

Who Should Win: Anyone from Game of Thrones

My Thoughts: I think Game of Thrones as some of the most talented actresses on TV as well as probably the strongest women on TV. How can one of them not win?! As much as I disagree, though, I think it will be Maggie Smith.

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

The Nominees

• Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
• Jesse Plemmons, Fargo
• David Schwimmer,  The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• John Travolta, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story
• Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo

Who Will Win: Sterling K. Brown

Who Should Win: John Travolta

My Thoughts: John Travolta was probably the most fun person to watch on The People v. O. J. Simpson, so that has to count for something.

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series of Movie

The Nominees

• Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel
• Olivia Colman, The Night Manager
• Regina King, American Crime
• Melissa Leo, All the Way
• Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel
• Jean Smart, Fargo

Who Will Win: Kathy Bates

Who Should Win: Melissa Leo

My Thoughts: No offense to Kathy Bates or Sarah Paulson, but American Horror Story: Hotel sucks on ice! Better luck next season.

And there you have my predictions. I’m upset that more nerdy shows didn’t (and typically don’t) show up. But hey, every day we grow larger and larger as a group. Game of Thrones definitely has it in the bag this year, and that’s what I call winning the battle . . . for now.