TeleFilmiest Awards
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6th Annual TeleFilmiest Awards – Nominations

With this year’s Emmy nominations providing equal shares of fun surprises and disappointments, it’s time to reveal nominations for the TV awards that really matter, my own TeleFilmiest Awards! These are my personal nominations for the best in TV from the 2017-18 season in the categories of comedy, drama, limited series/TV movie and variety. Peak TV has made it more difficult than ever to catch all the good stuff, so while I may not have gotten to everything, I can assure you that all of this year’s nominees are deserving in their own ways.

A few notes before I reveal the nominations. First off, with the rise of strong limited series over the past few years I’ve decided to expand the Limited Series/TV Movie Actor and Limited Series/TV Movie Actress categories into lead and supporting for the first time. Second, the special achievement award featured at the end of this post is for certain elements of shows (like sound design and voiceover work) that do not fit into the regular categories but I feel still warranted acknowledgment.

So without further ado, I am pleased to announce the 6th Annual TeleFilmiest Award nominations in 26 categories here.

And the nominees are…

BEST VARIETY SERIES

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)

The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (Netflix)

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)

Portlandia (IFC)

Saturday Night Live (NBC)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Jeff Daniels as Frank Griffin in Godless

Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert

Cody Fern as David Madson in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Édgar Ramírez as Gianni Versace in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Jason Ritter as Bill Allens in The Tale

Finn Wittrock as Jeff Trail in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Joanna Adler as Mary Ann Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Elizabeth Debicki as Mrs. G in The Tale

Laura Dern as Diane Evans in Twin Peaks

Judith Light as Marilyn Miglin in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Naomi Watts as Janie-E Jones in Twin Peaks

Merritt Wever as Mary Agnes McNue in Godless

 

BEST DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (“A Random Killing”) — Gwyneth Horder-Payton

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (“House by the Lake”) — Daniel Minahan

Black Mirror (“USS Callister”) — Toby Haynes

Godless — Scott Frank

The Tale — Jennifer Fox

Twin Peaks David Lynch

 

BEST WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

American Vandal (“Clean Up”) — Matthew McManus and Kevin McManus

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (“House by the Lake”) — Tom Rob Smith

Black Mirror (“USS Callister”) — Charlie Brooker and William Bridges

Godless — Scott Frank

The Tale — Jennifer Fox

Twin Peaks — Mark Frost and David Lynch

 

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Kyle MacLachlan as various characters in Twin Peaks

Jack O’Connell as Roy Goode in Godless

Evan Peters as Kai Anderson in American Horror Story: Cult

Jesse Plemons as Robert Daly in Black Mirror

Jimmy Tatro as Dylan Maxwell in American Vandal

 

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Laura Dern as Jennifer Fox in The Tale

Michelle Dockery as Alice Fletcher in Godless

Natalie Dormer as Hester Appleyard in Picnic at Hanging Rock

Cristin Milioti as Nanette Cole in Black Mirror

Sarah Paulson as Ally Mayfair-Richards in American Horror Story: Cult

Andrea Riseborough as Mia Nolan in Black Mirror

 

BEST LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE

American Vandal (Netflix)

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)

Black Mirror (Netflix)

Godless (Netflix)

The Tale (HBO)

Twin Peaks (Showtime)

 

BEST GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Ron Cephas Jones as William H. Hill in This Is Us

Zahn McClarnon as Akecheta in Westworld

Gerard McRaney as Dr. K in This Is Us

Jimmi Simpson as William in Westworld

Glynn Turman as Nate Lahey, Sr. in How to Get Away with Murder

Bradley Whitford as Joseph Lawrence in The Handmaid’s Tale

 

BEST GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

L. Scott Caldwell as Jasmine in How to Get Away with Murder

Cherry Jones as Holly Maddox in The Handmaid’s Tale

Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones

Debra Jo Rupp as Linda in This Is Us

Cicely Tyson as Ophelia Harkness in How to Get Away with Murder

Samira Wiley as Moira in The Handmaid’s Tale

 

BEST DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

The Americans (“START”) — Chris Long

Game of Thrones (“The Spoils of War”) — Matt Shakman

The Handmaid’s Tale (“June”) — Mike Barker

The Handmaid’s Tale (“The Last Ceremony”) — Jeremy Podeswa

Mr. Robot (“eps3.4_runtime-error.r00”) — Sam Esmail

Stranger Things (“Chapter Nine: The Gate”) — The Duffer Brothers

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Bobby Cannavale as Irving in Mr. Robot

Noah Emmerich as Stan Beeman in The Americans

Joseph Fiennes as Commander Fred Waterford in The Handmaid’s Tale

David Harbour as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things

Justin Hartley as Kevin Pearson in This Is Us

Noah Schnapp as Will Byers in Stranger Things

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Alexis Bledel as Emily in The Handmaid’s Tale

Danielle Brooks as Taystee Jefferson in Orange Is the New Black

Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid’s Tale

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones

Thandie Newton as Maeve Millay in Westworld

Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford in The Handmaid’s Tale

 

BEST WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

The Americans (“START”) — Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg

Game of Thrones (“The Dragon and the Wolf”) — David Benioff and D.B. Weiss

The Handmaid’s Tale (“June”) — Bruce Miller

Killing Eve (“Nice Face”) — Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Stranger Things (“Chapter Six: The Spy”) — Kate Trefry

This Is Us (“The Most Disappointed Man”) — Kay Oyegun

 

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson in This Is Us

Kit Harington as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones

Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson in Mr. Robot

Matthew Rhys as Philip Jennings in The Americans

Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson in This Is Us

Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe in Westworld

 

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jodie Comer as Villanelle in Killing Eve

Viola Davis as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder

Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson in This Is Us

Elisabeth Moss as Offred/June Osborne in The Handmaid’s Tale

Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri in Killing Eve

Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings in The Americans

 

BEST DRAMA SERIES

The Americans (FX)

Game of Thrones (HBO)

The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

Killing Eve (BBC America)

Mr. Robot (USA)

Stranger Things (Netflix)

This Is Us (NBC)

 

BEST GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Donald Glover as Host in Saturday Night Live

Leslie Jordan as Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace

Kyle MacLachlan as Mr. Mayor in Portlandia

John Mulaney as Host in Saturday Night Live

Wallace Shawn as Herb Smith in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Katt Williams as Willy in Atlanta

 

BEST GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alexandra Billings as Davina in Transparent

Lauren Graham as Bridget in Curb Your Enthusiasm

Tiffany Haddish as Host in Saturday Night Live

Jane Lynch as Sophie Lennon in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Maya Rudolph as Jen in The Good Place

Molly Shannon as Val in Will & Grace

 

BEST DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Atlanta (“Teddy Perkins”) — Hiro Murai

Barry (“Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going”) — Alec Berg

Black-ish (“Juneteenth”) — Anton Cropper

GLOW (“Live Studio Audience”) — Jesse Peretz

The Good Place (“Dance Dance Resolution”) — Drew Goddard

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (“Pilot”) — Amy Sherman-Palladino

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Andre Braugher as Ray Holt in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Brian Tyree Henry as Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles in Atlanta

Tony Shalhoub as Abe Weissman in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Lakeith Stanfield as Darius in Atlanta

Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau in Barry

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Zazie Beetz as Van in Atlanta

Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

D’Arcy Carden as Janet in The Good Place

Heidi Gardner as various characters in Saturday Night Live

Betty Gilpin as Debbie “Liberty Belle” Eagan in GLOW

Rita Moreno as Lydia Riera in One Day at a Time

 

BEST WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

Atlanta (“Teddy Perkins”) — Donald Glover

Atlanta (“Crabs in a Barrel”) — Stephen Glover

Barry (“Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going”) — Liz Sarnoff

BoJack Horseman (“Time’s Arrow”) — Kate Purdy

The Good Place (“Somewhere Else”) — Michael Schur

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (“Pilot”) — Amy Sherman-Palladino

 

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Anthony Anderson as Andre “Dre” Johnson in Black-ish

Fred Armisen as various characters in Portlandia

Ted Danson as Michael in The Good Place

Donald Glover as Earn Marks in Atlanta

Bill Hader as Barry Block in Barry

Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

 

BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alison Brie as Ruth “Zoya the Destroya” Wilder in GLOW

Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam “Midge” Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Carrie Brownstein as various characters in Portlandia

Allison Janney as Bonnie Plunkett in Mom

Justina Machado as Penelope Alvarez in One Day at a Time

Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow “Bow” Johnson in Black-ish

 

BEST COMEDY SERIES

Atlanta (FX)

Black-ish (ABC)

BoJack Horseman (Netflix)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)

GLOW (Netflix)

The Good Place (NBC)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)

 

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT

An Emmy for Megan — Megan Amram — Acting (short form)

BoJack Horseman  Wendie Malick — Voiceover performance

Game of Thrones — Steve Kullback et. al — Visual effects

The Good Place — Matt Flynn Production design

Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Variety special

Twin Peaks — David Lynch, Ron Eng, et. al — Sound design

***

Winners will be announced August 7

Check out my past awards here.