Image Credit: Justin Lubin/NBC; Bob D'Amico/ABC How competitive are the Emmy races for lead and supporting comedy actress? Any of the following 10 women could grab a fistful of gold on Aug. 29 and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least. Of course, that’s not to say that there aren’t two very clear favorites…
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Toni Collette (United States of Tara)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
Lea Michele (Glee)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
The Frontrunner: Falco. Emmy loves honoring successful second acts, and the Sopranos vet has enjoyed a doozy of one with Nurse Jackie. Going against her: Voters may feel she belongs in the drama series category.
The Dark Horse: Poehler. The SNL vet somehow manages to make Leslie Knope seem like both a complete ditz and the smartest person in the room.
Most Egregious Snub: Cougar Town‘s Courteney Cox. I’m not sure what Emmy’s beef is with Cox—she was the only Friend who failed to secure a nod during the show’s run—but they really need to get over it.
Other Notable Omissions: Better Off Ted‘s Portia de Rossi, Drop Dead Diva‘s Brooke Elliott, and The Big Bang Theory‘s Kaley Cuoco
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Holland Taylor, (Two and a Half Men)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
The Frontrunner: Lynch. She’s as hilarious onscreen as she is beloved off. Going against her: She was also the favorite to win the Golden Globe—and she lost.
The Dark Horses: Vergara and Bowen. Don’t count either one out—particularly if Family sweeps the night.
Most Egregious Snub: Cougar Town‘s Busy Philipps. Lynch may want to give Philipps a shout-out in her acceptance speech. Had Philipps been nominated, I’m fairly certain she would have won.
Other Notable Omissions: Community‘s Alison Brie and Yvette Nicole Brown, and The Office‘s Jenna Fischer.
More Emmy Analysis:
Ausiello predicts best lead and supporting actor in a comedy
Ausiello predicts best lead and supporting actor in a drama
Ausiello predicts best lead and supporting actress in a drama
Ken Tucker predicts best lead and supporting actress in a comedy
Lynette Rice breaks down the episode submissions
This is going to be interesting! (:
Agree!
“Community”‘s Yvette Nicole Brown not getting nominated is considered a notable omission? Are you kidding?
Shirley is ANNOYING! My least favorite character. In fact, if they kick her off the show then “Community” would be my #1 comedy show.
The award is given to the skills of performing a character, not to the nature of a character. It’s also a matter of opinion, whoever wins the Emmy won’t be “officially” better than the rest, or the ones not nominated.
Sorry,but annoying does not equal bad acting.
Busy Phillips truly deserved not only a nomination but a win as well. As did Cox with a nomination. I think people better watch out, I’ve got a feeling Cougar Town is really headed someplace special next season and will finally get it’s due because imo it IS the best comedy out there right now. Not Modern Family, not that trainwreck Glee but Cougar Town!
I think Lynch is certain to win. Sure she didn’t win the Golden Globe but she was against actresses in both dramas and miniseries. The only competitor in her category is Julie Bowen, who submitted excellently and has a real shot. Vergara could have taken the prize had she chosen a better episode for submission.
Leading actress is harder to predict. Falco is, of course, the frontrunner but I can’t dismiss Toni Collette in this race. I think that she could become the first comedy actress to repeat in God knows how long. Poehler’s an outside chance, but I don’t think Fey/Michele/Louis-Dreyfus are in with any kind of shot.
Patricia Heaton in 2000 and 2001 haha.
I love Laurie! I was actually hoping that Busy Philipps would get a surprise nod. But to say that she’s going to win had she been nominated is an overstatement. Without Jane Lynch, I think the one of the Modern Family ladies will take home the Emmy.
That being said, Edie Falco and Julie Bowen FTW!
I agree. That was a weird thing to say. I mean…she wasn’t even nominated, which means in most minds she was lower on the list that those who were. Whahhh?
As much as I think Lynch will win, I think Jane Krakowski submitted well and might splinter some votes.
I agree about the Cougar town snubs. Both Courtney and Busy are hilarious on CT, and should have been nominated.
Vanessa L.(Yeah) Williams should have been nominated just this one last time as Wilihemina(sp?) Slater. She was phenomenal. In the Supporting category, I would love…LOVE!!!…if Bowen or Vergara wins. It’s only right. But with the much hype and galore Lynch has been receiving (and much deserved), she will most likely win. And I ain’t mad at that.
Perhaps the least intelligent comment I’ve read in a while is Ausiello’s suggestion that Lynch “give a shout-out” to an actress whom he thinks would have won had she been nominated. Michael, she WASN’T NOMINATED. Neither was Vanessa L. Williams, whom I happen to think was consistently more entertaining than Lynch, and I don’t expect whomever wins the Emmy to “give shout outs” to actresses whom the Academy chose not to recognize.
I think Ausiello was making a joke because of the certainty of Phillips’ win (in his book).
Huh? Sort of nonsensical.
Agree with Vivi and Brett. Vanessa L.(Yeah) Williams could of at least got a nod. She was the best part of the show aside from Marc and Amanda. After all let’s be honest Sue is Wilhelmina Slater in high school. Anywho I love Lynch and I forsure thought she was a shoe-in until i saw the episode she submitted. The Madonna ep. It wasnt the best she could have chosen where as Bowen and Vergara submitted their BEST work, it was the perfect choice. As much hype as Jane has i dont think voters will see the true funny of Sue through the episode she picked.
The only thing Cougar Town has been snubbed for is cancellation. The show is terrible.
LISA EDELSTEIN IS THE BEST AND HUDDY FTW! THESE ACTRESS ARE LOSERS, LISA DESERVED TO WIN!
Ha ha! Because when I think “comedy” I think “House.”
Idiot
I actually think that Lea Michele is going to win !
I love Glee, but I really am surprised that Lea was even nominated for this. Sure the girl can sing but she really isn’t THAT funny compared to other actresses who could have been nominated in her place. Just my two cents…
You obviously see something in Busy Phillips that is just lost on me.
Agreed! Everyone I know who watches Cougar Town joins me in the belief that the worst thing about CT is Phillips’ terrible acting. Has anyone else noticed she plays exactly the same character as she did on Dawson’s Creek years ago? She was just as unbearable then. Honestly Ausiello, your credibility wanes every time you praise her.
I don’t remember her from DC. but I did see her on Love Inc and she’s the same character there!
HATED her on Dawson’s Creek!!! Don’t even get me going. I only watched one episode of Cougartown and was just like, “wow, Audrey all over again” and haven’t watched since. It’s a shame, because I love Courtney Cox but Phillips is too annoying for me to get by.
Agreed. I simply do not understand why some critics think Busy Phillips is good in this role. I also agree that she’s potentially the worst part about this show; her, and possibly the actor that plays Bobby. I think the only character that truly deserved a nod was Greyson.
Merritt Wever should be in Notable Omissions too, she’s fantastic as Zoe.
I want Edie Falco and Jane Lynch to win.
Agree about Busy Phillips and Courtney Cox, I like the show but the show itself isn’t emmy worthy, as it’s just a simple fun comedy. However, the actors are brilliant, Busy especially brings something special, though they are often let down my a dodgy script.
In what way was Edie’s performance comedic? There are dark, comedic elements to this show and to US of T, but I have no idea why these actresses are competing for best comedic performance. People have complained about the nomination of Glee under the comedy category, but I think that these two Showtime shows are much closer to drama than comedy.
I’d have to agree with this — but then, I would have thought “The United States of Tara” was too dark to compete in the comedy category, but Toni Colette won last year, didn’t she? (I think both Colette and Falco are amazingly talented performers, but the idea of anything that’s 100% grim being eligible in comedy seems off to me.)
Yes, but US of Tara, although a bit darker this year, still has the comedic turn especially when Tara is Buck. Tornado was my favorite episode.
Joan, the episode is called “Torando”!