2015 Nominees:
Edie Falco for Showtime's Nurse Jackie
Lisa Kudrow for HBO's The Comeback
Julia Louis-Dreyfus for HBO's Veep (WINNER)
Amy Poehler for NBC's Parks and Recreation
Amy Schumer for Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin for Netflix's Grace and Frankie
The race for Lead Comedy Actress will have the most turnover of any of the major categories at the Emmys this year. Amy Poehler and Edie Falco's shows ended last year. There wasn't another season of The Comeback. So, Lisa Kudrow is out as well. That's half the field open for many possibilities. Plus, Julia Louis-Dreyfus seems to be the only lock of the other three as well. She's once again the frontrunner for the win too after another wonderful season of Veep. She'll continue to win in this field until she pulls a Candice Bergen and removes herself from consideration. She's just that good. But right now, the focus is on who will get nominated. Amy Schumer and Lily Tomlin were nominated last year. But both Inside Amy Schumer and Grace and Frankie had more buzz a year ago. I'm guessing they return to the field. And yet, voters could really embrace new blood and really change up the category. Or they could retreat to the familiar and recognize past nominees (like Melissa McCarthy or Lena Dunham) or go for the big names (like Jane Fonda, Dianne Wiest or Jamie Lee Curtis). I have a feeling the final result is going to be a mix of those two mentalities. Past nominees and big names will enter the race. But so will some fresh blood from new shows that really deserve it (like Tracee Ellis Ross, Ellie Kemper or Michaela Watkins). And yet, I still have major doubts that either Gina Rodriguez and Rachel Bloom will get nominations. They really deserve it but The CW is still struggling when it comes to Emmy nominations. Nevertheless though, this will be quite the race to watch come nomination morning.
Edie Falco for Showtime's Nurse Jackie
Lisa Kudrow for HBO's The Comeback
Julia Louis-Dreyfus for HBO's Veep (WINNER)
Amy Poehler for NBC's Parks and Recreation
Amy Schumer for Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin for Netflix's Grace and Frankie
The race for Lead Comedy Actress will have the most turnover of any of the major categories at the Emmys this year. Amy Poehler and Edie Falco's shows ended last year. There wasn't another season of The Comeback. So, Lisa Kudrow is out as well. That's half the field open for many possibilities. Plus, Julia Louis-Dreyfus seems to be the only lock of the other three as well. She's once again the frontrunner for the win too after another wonderful season of Veep. She'll continue to win in this field until she pulls a Candice Bergen and removes herself from consideration. She's just that good. But right now, the focus is on who will get nominated. Amy Schumer and Lily Tomlin were nominated last year. But both Inside Amy Schumer and Grace and Frankie had more buzz a year ago. I'm guessing they return to the field. And yet, voters could really embrace new blood and really change up the category. Or they could retreat to the familiar and recognize past nominees (like Melissa McCarthy or Lena Dunham) or go for the big names (like Jane Fonda, Dianne Wiest or Jamie Lee Curtis). I have a feeling the final result is going to be a mix of those two mentalities. Past nominees and big names will enter the race. But so will some fresh blood from new shows that really deserve it (like Tracee Ellis Ross, Ellie Kemper or Michaela Watkins). And yet, I still have major doubts that either Gina Rodriguez and Rachel Bloom will get nominations. They really deserve it but The CW is still struggling when it comes to Emmy nominations. Nevertheless though, this will be quite the race to watch come nomination morning.
So now, here's my thoughts on the actors most likely to be nominated for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus for HBO's Veep
- Tracee Ellis Ross for ABC's black-ish
- Ellie Kemper for Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
- Amy Schumer for Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer
- Lily Tomlin for Netflix's Grace and Frankie
- Melissa McCarthy for CBS' Mike & Molly
And now, for some serious threats that could break into the list:
- Jane Fonda for Netflix's Grace and Frankie
- Gina Rodriguez for The CW's Jane the Virgin
- Rachel Bloom for The CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
- Lena Dunham for HBO's Girls
- Michaela Watkins for Hulu's Casual
- Anna Faris for CBS' Mom
- America Ferrera for NBC's Superstore
- Constance Wu for ABC's Fresh Off the Boat
- Gillian Jacobs for Netflix's Love
- Martha Plimpton for ABC's The Real O'Neals
- Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson for Comedy Central's Broad City
Some considerable long-shots:
- Dianne Wiest for CBS' Life in Pieces
- Carrie Brownstein for IFC's Portlandia
- Zooey Deschanel for FOX's New Girl
- Jamie Lee Curtis and Emma Roberts for FOX's Scream Queens
- Aya Cash for FXX's You're the Worst
- Maria Bamford for Netflix's Lady Dynamite
- Rashida Jones for TBS' Angie Tribeca
- Lola Kirke for Amazon's Mozart in the Jungle
- Sharon Horgan for Amazon's Catastrophe
- Emmy Rossum for Showtime's Shameless
- Julie Klausner for Hulu's Difficult People
And now, just some colorful oddities who still have an outside chance:
- Wendi McLendon-Covey for ABC's The Goldbergs
- Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham for USA's Playing House
- Sutton Foster for TV Land's Younger
- Mindy Kaling for Hulu's The Mindy Project
- Rachel Blanchard and Priscilla Faia for Audience's You Me Her
- Laurie Metcalf for HBO's Getting On
- Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome for Comedy Central's Another Period
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Let me know in the comments below!
