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.