Home Culture ‘Game of Thrones’ Leads in Emmy Nominations

‘Game of Thrones’ Leads in Emmy Nominations

by AFP
Kevin Winter-Getty Images North America—AFP

Kevin Winter-Getty Images North America—AFP

Several perennial favorites snubbed in best of show honors as online streaming catches up to its analog counterparts.

Epic fantasy drama Game of Thrones led the pack of contenders for television’s coveted Primetime Emmy awards Thursday for a second straight year, with nods in an impressive 24 categories.

The grisly show will once again vie for the coveted outstanding drama series trophy—an honor that has so far eluded it—against Better Call Saul, Downton Abbey, Homeland, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Mad Men. American Horror Story: Freak Show scored the second highest tally with 19 nods, followed by Olive Kitteridge with 13.

Bessie, an HBO film about the life of blues singer Bessie Smith starring Queen Latifah, scored 12 nominations for television’s equivalent of the Oscars, to be handed out on Sept. 20 in Los Angeles. There were also some notable snubs, including perennial favorites The Good Wife, Lena Dunham’s Girls, and The Big Bang Theory—all shut out of best show honors.

Empire, Fox’s debut melodrama about family feuds in a musical empire, only garnered three nominations despite its success with TV viewers, 17.6 million of whom tuned into the first season finale. But fan favorite Taraji P. Henson could make history if she wins in the best actress in a drama category for her portrayal of family matriarch Cookie Lyon—no African American actress has ever won that prize.

Another black actress, two-time Oscar nominee Viola Davis, is nominated in the same category for her work on ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder.

Wildly popular retro-cool Mad Men again had a strong showing with 11 nominations for the second half of its final season. “I am so lucky to have been a part of Mad Men and to have played such a wonderful character like Peggy,” said best actress nominee Elisabeth Moss, adding: “I am ecstatic for the rest of my Mad Men family who also got recognized.”

Political thriller House of Cards also scored 11 nods, as did dark comedy Transparent, which won the first-ever Golden Globes for online retail giant Amazon earlier this year. American Crime and Boardwalk Empire took 10 nominations each, followed by political comedy Veep with nine.

Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus—a nominee—quipped, in character: “As president, my staff and I are too busy doing the people’s business to watch television. Nonetheless, we are thrilled to be a part of this celebration of creativity. [Go Jon Hamm!]” she added, referring to the Mad Men heartthrob.

Game of Thrones already garnered the most nominations for last year’s Emmy awards, but went home with none of the big prizes. Drama Breaking Bad and long-time comedy hit Modern Family were named the best shows.

The hotly-anticipated nominations were announced by Orange Is The New Black star Uzo Aduba and Cat Deeley, host of So You Think You Can Dance.

For best comedy series, defending champion Modern Family will go up against Louie, Parks and Recreation, Silicon Valley, Transparent, Veep and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Louie star Louis C. K. is up for best comedy actor, against Anthony Anderson for Black-ish, Matt LeBlanc for Episodes, Don Cheadle for House of Lies, Will Forte for The Last Man On Earth, William H. Macy for Shameless and Jeffrey Tambor for Transparent.

Transparent, about a family patriarch who comes out as transgender, was one of the biggest hits last year for Amazon, which is battling to catch up with streaming pioneer Netflix—home of House of Cards and Orange—for awards glory.

The Primetime Emmys will be hosted by comedian Andy Samberg, star of the award-winning series Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Touching on the perennial theme of lack of diversity in Hollywood, Emmys organizers were keen to point out Thursday that the nominee list included a 60 percent increase in female screenwriters and directors since last year. “This was truly a remarkable year in television,” said Television Academy chairman Bruce Rosenblum. “From the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, to David Letterman’s retirement and the conclusion of Mad Men, television’s creativity, influence and impact continue to grow and have never been stronger.”

Below is a list of the nominees in key categories for the 2015 Primetime Emmy awards:

Outstanding Drama Series

Better Call Saul

Downton Abbey

Game of Thrones

Homeland

House of Cards

Mad Men

Orange is the New Black

Outstanding Comedy Series

Louie

Modern Family

Parks and Recreation

Silicon Valley

Transparent

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Veep

Lead Actor, Drama

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Kyle Chandler, Bloodline

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Lead Actress, Drama

Taraji P. Henson, Empire

Claire Danes, Homeland

Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder

Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Robin Wright, House of Cards

Lead Actor, Comedy

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish

Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Don Cheadle, House of Lies

Will Forte, The Last Man On Earth

Louis C. K., Louie

William H. Macy, Shameless

Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Lead Actress, Comedy

Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback

Lily Tomlin, Grace And Frankie

Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

Amy Poehler, Parks And Recreation

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Supporting Actor, Drama

Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul

Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Jim Carter, Downton Abbey

Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones

Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

Michael Kelly, House Of Cards

Supporting Actress, Drama

Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey

Lena Headey, Game Of Thrones

Emilia Clarke, Game Of Thrones

Christine Baranski, The Good Wife

Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black

Supporting Actor, Comedy

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Adam Driver, Girls

Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele

Ty Burrell, Modern Family

Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Tony Hale, Veep

Supporting Actress, Comedy

Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory

Niecy Nash, Getting On

Julie Bowen, Modern Family

Allison Janney, Mom

Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent

Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Lead Actor, Limited Series or Movie

Timothy Hutton, American Crime

Ricky Gervais, Derek Special

Adrien Brody, Houdini

David Oyelowo, Nightingale

Richard Jenkins, Olive Kitteridge

Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Lead Actress, Limited Series or Movie

Felicity Huffman, American Crime

Jessica Lange, American Horror Story

Queen Latifah, Bessie

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Honorable Woman

Frances McDormand, Olive Kitteridge

Emma Thompson, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Television Movie

Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Curtain, Poirot’s Last Case

Bessie

Grace of Monaco

Hello Ladies: The Movie

Killing Jesus

Nightingale

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