There were so many fine programs on TV this year that the TV Academy won’t be able to recognize all of them when the prime-time Emmy Award nominations are announced early Thursday in LA.
That’s good news for the medium, which hasn’t run out of quality product — but bad news for the actors, writers and producers who will unfortunately fall through the cracks.
Expect a raft of nominations for the long-running series that really delivered. “Game of Thrones,” “The Good Wife” and, of course, the record-breaking final season of “Breaking Bad” all had amazing, news-making episodes. In that regard, the “penultimate” season of “Mad Men” really did not deliver — so everyone should get a grip if that show comes up short on Thursday.
The most excitement of this year’s TV crop surrounds the anticipated Emmy-nominations sweep for HBO’s “True Detective” and “The Normal Heart,” two outrageously good productions that were better than any movie Hollywood was putting out at the time.
Multiple nominations for Netflix’s revolutionary series “Orange Is the New Black” should revive the moribund comedy series category. That show has the best ensemble acting of any series this year.
Here’s a look at who will likely be nominated — and who should ultimately win an Emmy statuette:
Best Drama
Either the TV Academy will send one more valentine to “Breaking Bad,” which ended last September, or look forward and reward HBO’s “True Detective.” But most deserving of a nomination and a victory is CBS’ “The Good Wife,” for doing what no network series ever does: reinventing itself in its fifth season and bringing out the best in its creative team.
Best Comedy
Is this the year that uber producer Chuck Lorre finally brings home an Emmy for “The Big Bang Theory,” the No. 1 show on television? Do academy diehards really think “Modern Family” deserves another Emmy after four consecutive wins? The most inspired choice here for both a nomination and ultimate victory would be “Orange Is the New Black.” This wonderful show breaks just about every rule on TV and makes us care about its motley crew of criminals. (But “Big Bang” is overdue for the win.)
Best Actor, Drama
This is Matthew McConaughey’s prize to lose. He still has the momentum from his Oscar win this winter for “Dallas Buyers Club.” Jeff Daniels won in this category last year largely on the strength of his monologue in the “Newsroom” pilot. McConaughey’s monologues in “True Detective” were hypnotic, strange and singular.
Best Actress, Drama
Robin Wright should be nominated and will win for “House of Cards.” Again, monologues carry great weight with voting actors and hers, in which Claire Underwood revealed that she was raped and had an abortion, made you see the character in a completely new light.
Best Actor, Comedy
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory.” Andy Samberg is not going to win for “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Parsons’ superb work in “The Normal Heart” will make it very easy for the academy to nominate him, give him a third Emmy and honor the most popular show on television.
Best Actress, Comedy
“Veep” star Julia Louis-Dreyfus does not need another Emmy award, having already won four times (twice for this show). This category has been overdue for an overhaul for years now and the best way to accomplish that is to give the award to Taylor Schilling for “Orange Is the New Black” as one way to celebrate that series’ appeal with viewers.