Now for a continuation of my “If I Picked the Emmy Winners” series. This time around I’ll be revealing which shows, actors, directors and writers I would vote for in the Limited Series/TV Movie and Variety categories.
If you haven’t already, check out my Comedy winners here. Now let’s dive right in. Remember, I will reveal which Emmy nominees I would vote for to win, and also my own personal pick from the 2016-17 TV season outside the confines of the nominees.
The nominees for Outstanding Variety Talk Series are…
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Real Time with Bill Maher
I would vote for:
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
This was a banner year for late night talk shows, due to the insanity of the presidential election and Donald Trump’s subsequent rise to power. I think most of the shows nominated here are on equal footing in terms of impact and satirical ability, but Full Frontal with Samantha Bee really filled the outrage slot I was missing from Jon Stewart. Bee has a uniquely angry yet cogent stance on modern-day politics that makes every week must-see viewing for me.
My personal pick:
Late Night with Seth Meyers
It’s a shame that Late Night with Seth Meyers was not nominated at the Emmys because I truly believe he strikes the perfect balance between anger, goofiness, warmth, and intelligence in this brutal political climate. In addition to his brilliant “Closer Look” segments, he also gives great interview. It’s clear that he cares very deeply about people, and I appreciate that in a late night host.
The nominees for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series are…
Billy on the Street
Documentary Now!
Drunk History
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live
Tracey Ullman’s Show
I would vote for:
Billy on the Street
I say it every year and I’ll say it again now: Billy on the Street is the funniest show on TV. No other show makes me laugh out loud more, at the pure specificity of the show’s brilliant pop culture references. This year featured some of the best celebrity sketches yet, including Super Sloppy Semi-Automatic Double Dare! with Keegan-Michael Key and Death Rogen being among my favorites.
My personal pick:
Billy on the Street
I’m just going to post some of my favorite prizes given out this year:
-Lego Manchester by the Sea
-Cuoco Clock (named after Kaley Cuoco)
–We’re Going to Cuba, Uzo Aduba by Dr. Seuss
-A Build-A-Bear of Rachel McAdams in Spotlight
–Tickle-Me-L. Ron Hubbard
The nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie are…
Judy Davis – Feud: Bette and Joan
Laura Dern – Big Little Lies
Jackie Hoffman – Feud: Bette and Joan
Regina King – American Crime
Michelle Pfeiffer – The Wizard of Lies
Shailene Woodley – Big Little Lies
I would vote for:
Laura Dern – Big Little Lies
Laura Dern is a national treasure. In Big Little Lies she is at her crazy, neurotic, complicated best as alpha mom, Renata, who is losing control of her situation. She has so many great scenes throughout Big Little Lies, from telling Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) that she’s dead in this town to her monologue about being a career woman to her countless scenes of drinking wine outside her beautiful Monterey house. She was the very definition of a scene-stealer.
My personal pick:
Kelly Bishop – Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
While Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) were huge parts of Gilmore Girls‘ success, Emily (Kelly Bishop) was the show’s secret weapon despite being a supporting player. She finally gets her time in the sun in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, with Emily grappling with the loss of her husband of 50 years, Richard (the late Edward Herrmann). Bishop was funny, heartbreaking, unlikable, and sympathetic all at once, cementing an amazing end to the character of Emily Gilmore.
The nominees for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie are…
Big Little Lies — David E. Kelley
Black Mirror (“San Junipero”) — Charlie Brooker
Fargo (“The Law of Vacant Places”) — Noah Hawley
Feud: Bette and Joan (“And the Winner Is… (The Oscars of 1963)”) — Ryan Murphy
Feud: Bette and Joan (“Pilot”) — Jaffe Cohen, Michael Zam and Ryan Murphy
The Night Of (“The Call of the Wild”) — Richard Price and Steven Zaillian
I would vote for:
Big Little Lies — David E. Kelley
When I think about Big Little Lies I not only acknowledge the amazing performances but the whip-smart writing. David E. Kelley is a master of dialogue and interpersonal relationships, especially when it comes to strong yet flawed women. Celeste’s (Nicole Kidman) therapy scenes and Madeline’s various quips are enough to give Big Little Lies my vote here.
My personal pick:
Big Little Lies — David E. Kelley
So good, guys.
The nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie are…
Bill Camp – The Night Of
Alfred Molina – Feud: Bette and Joan
Alexander Skarsgård – Big Little Lies
David Thewlis – Fargo
Stanley Tucci – Feud: Bette and Joan
Michael Kenneth Williams – The Night Of
I would vote for:
David Thewlis – Fargo
I have not wanted a character to die more this year than V.M. Varga (David Thewlis) on Fargo. His masterful performance was truly upsetting on a visceral level, with Thewlis essentially playing the embodiment of all evil. While Fargo‘s third season was relatively uneven, Thewlis’ performance was consistently flawless.
My personal pick:
David Thewlis – Fargo
I just wanted an excuse to post that GIF.
The nominees for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie are…
Big Little Lies — Jean-Marc Vallée
Fargo (“The Law of Vacant Places”) — Noah Hawley
Feud: Bette and Joan (“And the Winner Is… (The Oscars of 1963)”) — Ryan Murphy
Genius (“Einstein: Chapter One”) — Ron Howard
The Night Of (“The Art of War”) — James Marsh
The Night Of (“The Beach”) — Steven Zaillian
I would vote for:
Big Little Lies — Jean-Marc Vallée
There were so many excellent choices made by Jean-Marc Vallée in adapting Big Little Lies from book to screen. The intercutting between the deposition and the events leading up to the murder, the visual aesthetic, and the music choices all contributed to an engrossing viewing experience that made me thirst for more from these women from Monterey.
My personal pick:
Black Mirror (“San Junipero”) — Owen Harris
“San Junipero” is the crowning achievement of the past TV season for me. It is a perfect episode of television, in which director Owen Harris brilliantly introduces you to a rich, futuristic world in which people can visit a simulated reality. It is there that two women (Mackenzie Davis and Gugu-Mbatha Raw) fall in love and try to figure out how to be with each other forever. Harris pulls off a difficult sci-fi premise and infuses it with so much passion that I was completely overwhelmed after watching it.
The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie are…
Riz Ahmed – The Night Of
Benedict Cumberbatch – Sherlock: The Lying Detective
Robert De Niro – The Wizard of Lies
Ewan McGregor – Fargo
Geoffrey Rush – Genius
John Turturro – The Night Of
I would vote for:
Riz Ahmed – The Night Of
Riz Ahmed is one of the finest young actors of our generation, and The Night Of is easily his best performance. Playing Naz, a man wrongfully accused of murder, Ahmed does an amazing job of presenting a scared man who does not know who he is, who eventually molds himself into a hardened prisoner. Ahmed tracks this evolution carefully, to the point where we do not know if we still sympathize with Naz in the end, but we do understand him.
My personal pick:
Riz Ahmed – The Night Of
See above.
The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie are…
Carrie Coon – Fargo
Felicity Huffman – American Crime
Nicole Kidman – Big Little Lies
Jessica Lange – Feud: Bette and Joan
Susan Sarandon – Feud: Bette and Joan
Reese Witherspoon – Big Little Lies
I would vote for:
Nicole Kidman – Big Little Lies
While I can appreciate all the nominees this year, Nicole Kidman really blew me away with her quietly devastating work on Big Little Lies. The actress truly dug into her character of Celeste, a woman harboring the secret of being in an abusive marriage. Kidman excels in Celeste’s therapy sessions, perfectly portraying a woman having a breakthrough about her life.
My personal pick:
Nicole Kidman – Big Little Lies
Obviously.
The nominees for Outstanding Limited Series are…
Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
Genius
The Night Of
I would vote for:
Big Little Lies
As you can tell from the other winners in this post, I really loved Big Little Lies. In a world where movies continue to cater to straight, white teenage boys, television has become a safe haven for those who appreciate stories about older women. Big Little Lies ticks so many boxes for me, from beautiful cinematography to amazing “actressing” to a thrilling mystery component, along with a damn fine soundtrack. This is an easy vote.
My personal pick:
Watch it.
DRAMA picks coming soon.