It’s that time of year again where the Emmy Nominations are announced so that TV critics and viewers alike can jump for joy that their favorites got recognized—or balk at the stupidity of some of the nominations.
Here at TV Is My Pacifier, we are an opinionated bunch, so we’ve decided to not only give you a run down of the nominees, but also grace you with our opinions. You’re welcome. 😉
Jump ahead to see who we all think you should be rooting for.
Outstanding Comedy Series
NOMINEES: The Big Bang Theory, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Girls, Modern Family, 30 Rock, and Veep
JENNY: No contest. The Big Bang Theory has never had a bad episode in my opinion. I can watch the reruns (now on TBS!) constantly and enjoy them just as much as I did the first time. It always makes me laugh, and I love all the characters.
KYLE: I’m torn between The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. I will go with the former, but I would have really liked to have seen Parks and Recreation or The Middle on this list.
MEGAN: This is an easy choice for me—The Big Bang Theory. It’s the cream of the crop for the comedies I like.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
NOMINEES: Lena Dunham (Girls), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly), Zooey Deschanel (New Girl), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Tina Fey (30 Rock), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
JENNY: Considering I only watch one of those shows, my vote has to be Melissa McCarthy. I love her to death on Mike & Molly. She’s really fantastic—the episodes leading up to the wedding where she totally went Bridezilla were brilliant.
KYLE: I wish we could have also seen Eden Sher in this or the supporting category for her portrayal of Sue Heck on The Middle. However, this is an easy choice for me—Amy Poehler is hilarious as Leslie Knope.
MEGAN: Not such a clear cut choice for me, but if I have to choose, I’m going to go with Zooey Deschanel. Her timing and quirky humor on New Girl never fails to make me giggle.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
NOMINEES: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Don Cheadle (House of Lies), Louie C.K. (Louie), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), and Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)
KYLE: Are you kidding me? Jon Cryer for Two and a Half Men?! This is another easy choice for me—Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper is pretty much the main reason why I watch The Big Bang Theory.
MEGAN: Jim Parsons is the joy of my Thursday nights as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory—I never tire of him. I do not think that Don Cheadle or Jon Cryer are worthy of their nominations.
JENNY: I will just echo what Megan & Kyle both said. 🙂
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
NOMINEES: Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie), and Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
KYLE: There are quite a few good choices in this list—Mayim Bialik and Julie Bowen are great, and Kathryn Joosten was fun on her show, but I don’t think she would even be on this list if she were still alive. My vote goes to Kristen Wiig, as she was the only thing keeping SNL funny. It will be interesting to see what the show does without her in the fall.
MEGAN: While Kathryn Joosten was hilarious on Desperate Housewives, I don’t even feel this category suits that show. I’m going to go with Mayim Bialik on The Big Bang Theory because she is the perfect accompany to Parson’s Sheldon.
JENNY: As much as I love Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara on Modern Family, one of the smartest things TPTB for The Big Bang Theory did was add Mayim Bialik to the cast. No contest for me.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
NOMINEES: Ed O’Neil (Modern Family), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), Max Greenfield (New Girl), and Bill Hader (SNL)
KYLE: What is up with all the Modern Family nominations?! They should really have a cap on how many times a show can be represented in a single category—or perhaps create an ensemble award instead. That said, Ty Burrell as the “always trying to be the cool dad,†Phil Dunphy, is my favorite part of the show.
MEGAN: I had the same complaint last year with all the Modern Family nominations. We get it; your show is funny. Perhaps they should even the playing field and just make a new category, “Outstanding Actor/Actress on Modern Family†because it would certainly free up some space for other shows. I’m actually going with Max Greenfield from New Girl because his portrayal of Schmidt has made me laugh so hard, I’ve cried.
JENNY: That is kind of crazy… If I have to choose one from that list, eek. I don’t know. Either Ty Burrell or Eric Stonestreet.
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
NOMINEES: Dot-Marie Jones (Glee), Maya Rudolph (SNL), Melissa McCarthy (SNL), Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock), Margaret Cho (30 Rock), and Kathy Bates (Two and a Half Men)
KYLE: Wow, I really don’t care about any of these nominees. But if forced to pick, I guess Melissa McCarthy for her episode of SNL.
MEGAN: Unlike Kyle, I do actually care about a couple of these nominees, but my choice is easy—Dot-Marie Jones for her brilliant work as Coach Beiste on Glee. This past season, she went through a lot of character growth and really had some poignant moments; when not making us cry, she was making us laugh. She’s incredibly talented.
JENNY: I know it’s not a popular opinion on this site, but I think my vote would be for Kathy Bates on Two and a Half Men. She was HYSTERICAL playing Charlie Sheen’s character of Charlie when Alan was going crackers.
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
NOMINEES: Michael J. Fox (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Greg Kinnear (Modern Family), Bobby Cannavale (Nurse Jackie), Jimmy Fallon (SNL), Will Arnett (30 Rock), and Jon Hamm (30 Rock)
KYLE: Again, not really a category I have a strong opinion on. I thought Michael J. Fox was better on The Good Wife, but I’ll pick his cameo in CYE.
MEGAN: This category is a bit of a miss for me, but I’ll go with Michael J. Fox simply because I adore him.
JENNY: Uh, I guess what Megan says. heh Greg Kinnear was okay on Modern Family, but… *shrug*
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
NOMINEES: Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Lena Dunham (Girls), Louie C.K. (Louie), Jason Winer (Modern Family), Steven Levitan (Modern Family), and Jake Kasdan (New Girl)
KYLE: Modern Family had some great episodes this season, including “Virgin Territory,†so that’s my vote.
MEGAN: I love New Girl, so I’m going to go with Jake Kasdan for the pilot episode.
JENNY: The only show I watch on that list is Modern Family, so let’s go with that. LOL Either or, I don’t know…or care, I suppose.
Outstanding Drama Series
NOMINEES: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, and Mad Men
KYLE: Breaking Bad had me on the edge of my seat all last season. This show is so fantastic and is easily my top pick for drama.
MEGAN: Out of the nominees, all of which are amazing, I’m going to go with Breaking Bad. It has a strong cast, great writing, and has me riveted often.
JENNY: I don’t watch any of them, so…
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
NOMINEES: Glenn Close (Damages), Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), Julianna Marguilies (The Good Wife), Kathy Bates (Harry’s Law), Claire Danes (Homeland), and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
KYLE: While I’m not extremely excited by any of these nominees, I will go with Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife. I would have rather seen maybe Jennifer Carpenter for her role as Debra Morgan on Dexter—or even Ashley Judd for Missing (but she shows up under mini-series).
MEGAN: Tough choices, but I’m going to go with Claire Danes for Homeland. She deserves it for her portrayal of Carrie Mathison.
JENNY: Again, I don’t watch any of them. Does Harry’s Law even qualify as a drama? LOL
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
NOMINEES: Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Damian Lewis (Homeland), and Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
KYLE: If Bryan Cranston doesn’t win for his portrayal of Walter White in Breaking Bad, I will be so upset. The show is amazing, and he is a huge part of that.
MEGAN: Oh my, what a tough category, but I’m going to agree with Kyle and say that Bryan Cranston is more than deserving!
JENNY: Again…not ones I watch. *shrug*
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
NOMINEES: Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey), Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), Christine Baranski (The Good Wife), and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
KYLE: I would love to see a Breaking Bad sweep, and Anna Gunn really took on a bigger role as Skyler White this season. Would love to see her win.
MEGAN: This is a tough one but I’m going to go with Archie Panjabi because she is fierce in her role as Kalinda, and I admire the strong woman she plays.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
NOMINEES: Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), and Jared Harris (Mad Men)
KYLE: Why must I choose between Jesse and Gus?! I’m hoping for a Breaking Bad win either way, but Giancarlo Esposito really deserves it this season for his amazing portrayal of Gustavo Fring.
MEGAN: Peter Dinklage because he is brilliant as Tyrion—he just oozes talent.
JENNY: Nope, not a one.
 
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
NOMINEES: Martha Plimpton (The Good Wife), Loretta Devine (Grey’s Anatomy), Jean Smart (Harry’s Law), Julia Ormond (Mad Men), Joan Cusack (Shameless), and Uma Thurman (Smash)
KYLE: Seriously, Uma Thurman?! I’m torn between Martha Plimpton and Joan Cusack. However, after attending the Shameless panel at Comic-Con last week, I am reminded of just how great the character of Sheila Jackson is, so my vote goes to Joan.
MEGAN: Uma Thurman? Were they watching the same train wreck I was? There’s no way they were! I’m still in shock from that ridiculous nomination. I’m going to go with a more logical and realistic choice of Joan Cusack in Shameless. She was incredible.
JENNY: Uma Thurman? LOL I didn’t even watch and I know how ridiculous that nomination is…
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
NOMINEES: Mark Margolis (Breaking Bad), Dylan Baker (The Good Wife), Michael J. Fox (The Good Wife), Jeremy Davies (Justified), Ben Feldman (Mad Men), and Jason Ritter (Parenthood)
KYLE: DING…DING…DING…DING. This one’s easy. Mark Margolis gave an excellent and extremely memorable performance as Tio Salamanca in Breaking Bad—all without saying a single word of dialogue!
MEGAN: Such a tough choice for me, but I’m going to go with Michael J. Fox for The Good Wife. Every time he is on as Louis Canning, I am in awe of him.
JENNY: Jeremy Davies on Justified, simply because it’s the only one I watch. 🙂
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
NOMINEES: Tim Van Patten (Boardwalk Empire), Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), Brian Percival (Downton Abbey), Michael Cuesta (Homeland), and Phil Abraham (Mad Men)
KYLE: There are some iconic images in the season finale of Breaking Bad that I will never forget. An amazing end to the season, and an easy choice for me.
MEGAN: I’m going to have to agree yet again with Kyle (won’t happen this often again, I promise 😉 ), and choose Breaking Bad with the direction of Vince Gilligan.
JENNY: Nope, not a one…
Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
NOMINEES: American Horror Story, Game Change, Hatfields & McCoys, Hemingway & Gellhorn, Luther, and Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia.
KYLE: I don’t really consider American Horror Story a mini-series, and I haven’t seen any of the others except Sherlock, so that is my choice.
MEGAN: American Horror Story for it’s creepy brilliance.
JENNY: Like Kyle, I don’t consider AHS a mini-series…nor Luther, frankly. Regardless, I didn’t watch any of them.
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie
NOMINEES: Connie Britton (American Horror Story), Julianne Moore (Game Change), Nicole Kidman (Hemingway & Gellhorn), and Ashley Judd (Missing)
KYLE: I love that Missing has re-written history and has now become a mini-series since they weren’t picked up after the short first season. While I think Ashley Judd should have been nominated in the lead actress category for this excellent, under-rated series, I would be happy to see her win here.
MEGAN: I’m torn between Connie Britton and Ashley Judd—but I’m going to go with Connie Britton because I absolutely adore her.
JENNY: Since when were AHS or Missing considered mini-series? *rolls eyes* I gotta go with Ashley Judd. I want her back on TV ASAP.
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
NOMINEES: Woody Harrelson (Game Change), Kevin Costner (Hatfields & McCoys), Bill Paxton (Hatfields & McCoys), Clive Owen (Hemingway & Gellhorn), Idris Elba (Luther), and Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia)
KYLE: I have only see Sherlock, so that gets my vote by default.
MEGAN: What an incredibly loaded category—there are some tremendously talented actors! My vote is with Kevin Costner for Hatfields & McCoys.
JENNY: Again with the whole Luther not being a mini-series, but whatever. Didn’t watch any of them.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or A Movie
NOMINEES: Frances Conroy (American Horror Story), Jessica Lange (American Horror Story), Sarah Paulson (Game Change), Mare Winningham (Hatfields & McCoys), and Judy Davis (Page Eight)
KYLE: I have only seen American Horror Story. Out of the two actresses nominated, Jessica Lange is easily my pick for her over-the-top, sometime campy, portrayal of Constance Langdon.
MEGAN: Hands down, Jessica Lange for her insanely odd and creepy portrayal of Constance Langdon on American Horror Story.
JENNY: Didn’t watch any of them.
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie
NOMINEES: Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story), Ed Harris (Game Change), Tom Berenger (Hatfields & McCoys), David Strathairn (Hemingway & Gellhorn), and Martin Freeman (Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia)
KYLE: Martin Freeman is great as Dr. John Watson, so Sherlock gets my vote.
MEGAN: Watson is one of my favorite characters of all time, so it’s an easy choice of Martin Freeman for the win. He was amazing.
JENNY: Okay, I apparently really need to watch more varied television. 🙂
Outstanding Variety Series
NOMINEES: The Colbert Report, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Real Time With Bill Maher, and Saturday Night Live
KYLE: Saturday Night Live gets my vote by default, as it’s the only one I watch.
MEGAN: I like most of these shows on occasion, even though I don’t watch them religiously. Out of the choices, I’m going to go with The Daily Show With Jon Stewart—but I feel like the The Late Late show with Craig Ferguson was robbed of a nomination.
JENNY: Like Megan, I’d have loved to see Craig Ferguson get a nomination. But I also think Conan should have been. Out of the choices there…I don’t watch any of them.
Outstanding Variety Special
NOMINEES: Betty White’s 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America’s Golden Girl, Kathy Griffin: Tired Hooker, The Kennedy Center Honors, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again, and Tony Bennett: Duets II
KYLE: Kathy Griffin is always hilarious (and also the only one of these I watched).
MEGAN: First, let me say that any title with the words “Kathy Griffin†is going to be hilarious, but my vote is for Betty White’s 90th Birthday—it was astounding. I loved seeing all the love of her fellow actors, but even more so, she is always funny.
JENNY: I agree with Megan. 🙂
Outstanding Animated Program
NOMINEES: American Dad!, Bob’s Burgers, Futurama, The Penguins of Madagascar, and The Simpsons
KYLE: This is a tough call—I really enjoy Bob’s Burgers, Futurama, and The Simpsons, but I’d have to go with Futurama.
MEGAN: I am not a huge fan of animated comedy, but out of the choices, I’m going to go with American Dad! because it’s just so wrong, it’s right.
JENNY: Yeah, none of them…
Outstanding Short-format Animated Program
NOMINEES: Adventure Time, Phineas and Ferb, Mad, Regular Show, and Robot Chicken
KYLE: What are we going to do today? Pick Phineas and Ferb as our winner!
MEGAN: This is easy! Phineas and Ferb makes my TV viewing time with my daughter worthwhile! I love this show sometimes even more than she does. WIN!
JENNY: Let’s make it a clean sweep. Phineas and Ferb is hysterical. 🙂
Outstanding Reality Program
NOMINEES: Antiques Roadshow, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, MythBusters, Shark Tank, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Undercover Boss
KYLE: While many of the other shows are deserving, they seem to manufacture stories just to pull on the heart strings of the viewers. However, what they do on MythBusters each week is always amazing, so they get my vote.
MEGAN: I’m going to go with Undercover Boss because unlike Kyle, I like my heart strings tickled. I enjoy the emotional connections I feel to the people on the show. It’s really well done.
JENNY: I have to agree with Kyle. I love MythBusters.
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
NOMINEES: The Amazing Race, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, and The Voice
KYLE: The Amazing Race is always my favorite reality competition show due to the sights, drama, and adventure.
MEGAN: Surprisingly, a very hard category for me because I enjoy quite a few of these—but I’m going to go with The Amazing Race because it is consistantly one of my favorites.
JENNY: I love The Amazing Race, but my vote would have to be SYTYCD because I love watching the dancers and the judges.
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
NOMINEES: Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race), Ryan Seacrest (American Idol), Betty White (Betty White’s Off Their Rockers), Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars), and Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance)
KYLE: The Amazing Race wouldn’t be the same without Phil Keoghan, so he’s my pick.
MEGAN: While I love Phil from The Amazing Race, my heart lies with Cat Deeley from So You Think You Can Dance. She is amazing at keeping that show going and being not only supportive to the contestants, but funny, as well.
JENNY: What Megan said exactly.
There you have our picks. Sound off below, and let us know who you are rooting for. For a full list of nominees, click here. And don’t forget, The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards airs Sunday, September 23rd, on ABC starting with the 1-hour red carpet special at 7/6c, followed by the 3-hour award show at 8/7c.
