2015 Critics' Choice Awards, Speculative Fiction, Politics, Crime, and History

For this Sunday's entertainment entry, I'm taking a break from looking at the box office receipts for the big screen, as I did for the past three weeks to examine the best of the little screen in the genres and topics I find most interesting, speculative fiction (encompassing science fiction, fantasy, and horror), politics,  crime, and history.  The occasion is the 5TH Annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards, which are taking place tonight.

The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced nominations for the 5th annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards, which will be broadcast live on A&E from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, May 31, 2015 (8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT), with a one-hour Red Carpet Special preceding the awards show.

HBO leads the networks in nominations with 27, followed by FX which garnered 16. Topping the list of nominated series are Justified (FX) and Olive Kitteridge (HBO), both with five nominations. The Americans (FX), Bessie (HBO), The Good Wife (CBS), Transparent (Amazon) and Wolf Hall (PBS) followed close behind with four nominations each. Other top series with multiple nominations include American Crime (ABC), American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX), The Big Bang Theory (CBS), Broad City (Comedy Central), The Honorable Woman (Sundance), Jane the Virgin (The CW), Silicon Valley (HBO), Stockholm, Pennsylvania (Lifetime) and Veep (HBO), all with three nominations. Walton Goggins is nominated for his performance in two different shows: Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Justified (FX) and Best Guest Performer in a Drama for Sons of Anarchy (FX).

These awards should be a good preview of the Emmy Awards.  Those nominations will be announced in July and the winners awarded in August.

Follow over the jump for my comments on tonight's nominees.

I begin by identifying the shows in the categories I'm examining and listing them by the number of nominations.  The ones in italics are the ones I've watched, while those also in bold are the ones I'm still watching.

Speculative Fiction

American Horror Story: Freak Show, Game of Thrones, Penny Dreadful, The Leftovers, The Last Man on Earth, Star Wars Rebels, Face Off.

It's no surprise that I've watched all the speculative fiction nominees at least once.  Of all of them, the only one I've completely given up on is The Leftovers, which I panned.  I will at least try the next installment of American Horror Story if there is one and want to catch more of Star Wars Rebels. As for the two shows I'm currently watching, each deserves their own entry.  Until then, I have a nickname for Penny Dreadful--James Bond, Vampire Hunter.  You read it here first.

Politics

The Americans (also a show about history and crime), The Good Wife (also a crime show), Veep, The Honourable Woman, Homeland, 24: Live Another Day,  The Casual Vacancy, Archer, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

All of the shows my wife and I have watched in this category are worth watching; we certainly plan on catching up on The Americans.  We got out of the habit of watching The Daily Show and This Week Tonight; we certainly should make an effort to catch Jon Stewart before he leaves and resume watching This Week Tonight.  As for The Good Wife and Veep, each deserves an entry in their own right later, along with Scandal, which was an award winner last year but was shut out this year.

Crime

Justified, The Americans (also a show about history and politics), The Good Wife (also a politics show), American Crime, Stockholm, Pennsylvania, Orange Is the New Black, Bates Motel, How to Get Away with Murder, Sons of Anarchy, Better Call Saul, Rectify, Bloodline, Nightingale.

My wife and I didn't care for Better Call Saul.  I think we'll have to marathon Breaking Bad first.  I'll have more to say about Orange is the New Black later in this entry.

Historical Fiction

The Americans (also a show about politics and crime), Bessie, Wolf Hall, Masters of Sex, The Book of Negroes, Vikings, Killing Jesus.

No surprise, the show in this category that I've watched is one that fits in two others.

I'll finish up with the categories with nominees that I'm watching beginning with the drama nominees, as the genres I'm examining are best represented there.

BEST DRAMA SERIES
• The Americans (FX)
• Empire (Fox)
• Game of Thrones (HBO)
• The Good Wife (CBS)
• Homeland (Showtime)
• Justified (FX)
• Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

There is no defending winner in this category, as Breaking Bad is off the air.  However, Orange is the New Black won for best comedy last year.  I find it interesting, if appropriate, that it's in the drama category this year; the second season was darker than the first.  I'm rooting for The Good Wife but I wouldn't be upset if any of The Americans, Game of Thrones, or Orange is the New Black wins.

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
• Eva Green – Penny Dreadful (Showtime)
• Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife (CBS)
• Keri Russell – The Americans (FX)
• Taraji P. Henson – Empire (FOX)
• Vera Farmiga – Bates Motel (A&E)
• Viola Davis – How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)

There is no defending winner, as Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black was not renominated.  Julianna Margulies, Keri Russell, and Vera Faminga were all nominated last year and I think Margulies is favored.  However, I think Eva Green gave an outstanding performance in Penny Dreadful and stood out from a cast of noteworthy actors, so I am rooting for her.

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
• Aden Young – Rectify (Sundance)
• Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul (AMC)
• Charlie Hunnam – Sons of Anarchy (FX)
• Freddie Highmore – Bates Motel (A&E)
• Matthew Rhys – The Americans (FX)
• Timothy Olyphant – Justified (FX)

Again, there is no defending winner and Matthew Rhys is the only returning nominee, making him the nominal favorite with the actors in series that are wrapping up like Sons of Anarchy and Justified.  I have no dog in this fight, as I'm not watching any of these shows now.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
• Carrie Coon – The Leftovers (HBO)
• Christine Baranski – The Good Wife (CBS)
• Joelle Carter – Justified (FX)
• Katheryn Winnick – Vikings (History)
• Lorraine Toussaint – Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
• Mae Whitman – Parenthood (NBC)

Once again, there is no defending winner, but Christine Baranski is the sole returning nominee.  I'd be rooting for her anyway.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
• Ben Mendelsohn – Bloodline (Netflix)
• Christopher Eccleston – The Leftovers (HBO)
• Craig T. Nelson – Parenthood (NBC)
• Jonathan Banks – Better Call Saul (AMC)
• Mandy Patinkin – Homeland (Showtime)
• Walton Goggins – Justified (FX)

Once again, there is no defending winner, as Breaking Bad is off the air.  Walton Goggins is the sole returning nominee, so I have him as the nominal favorite.  Like the leading actor in a drama, I have no dog in this fight.

GUEST PERFORMER IN A DRAMA SERIES
• Cicely Tyson – How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
• Julianne Nicholson – Masters of Sex (Showtime)
• Linda Lavin – The Good Wife (CBS)
• Lois Smith – The Americans (FX)
• Sam Elliott – Justified (FX)
• Walton Goggins – Sons of Anarchy (FX)

This is a category that just doesn't have repeat nominees much, although I'd have preferred Carrie Preston to Linda Lavin.  Just the same, I'm rooting for her.

Next, the comedies.

BEST COMEDY SERIES
• Broad City (Comedy Central)
• Jane the Virgin (The CW)
• Mom (CBS)
• Silicon Valley (HBO)
• Transparent (Amazon)
• Veep (HBO)
• You’re the Worst (FX)

No defending winner as Orange is the New Black is in the drama category this year.  I'm rooting for Veep, but I expect Transparent will win it.

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
• Anthony Anderson, Blackish (ABC)
• Chris Messina, The Mindy Project (FOX)
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent (Amazon)
• Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
• Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley (HBO)
• Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth (FOX)

I did not like Will Forte's character, but he did a good job of portraying a jerk dealing with the end of the world.  Just the same, he's outclassed, as I expect either Jeffrey Tambor or Johnny Galecki will beat him.

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
• Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)
• Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat (ABC)
• Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin (The CW)
• Ilana Glazer, Broad City (Comedy Central)
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
• Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback (HBO)

Finally, a defending winner in Julia Louis-Dreyfus!  I'm rooting for her to repeat against this strong field.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
• Adam Driver, Girls (HBO)
• Cameron Monaghan, Shameless (Showtime)
• Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin (The CW)
• T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley (HBO)
• Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
• Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)

Tony Hale looks like the sole returning nominee.  He's also my personal favorite.  Good luck.

The rest of the comedies do not have nominees in shows I watch, so it's time to skip to the movies and miniseries.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
• Aunjanue Ellis – The Book of Negroes (BET)
• Felicity Huffman – American Crime (ABC)
• Frances McDormand – Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
• Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Honorable Woman (Sundance)
• Queen Latifah – Bessie (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
• Bill Murray – Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
• Cory Michael Smith – Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
• Elvis Nolasco – American Crime (ABC)
• Finn Wittrock – American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)
• Jason Isaacs – Stockholm, Pennsylvania (Lifetime)
• Jonathan Pryce – Wolf Hall (PBS)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
• Claire Foy – Wolf Hall (PBS)
• Cynthia Nixon – Stockholm, Pennsylvania (Lifetime)
• Janet McTeer – The Honorable Woman (Sundance)
• Khandi Alexander – Bessie (HBO)
• Mo’Nique – Bessie (HBO)
• Sarah Paulson – American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)

American Horror Story didn't get nominated for best limited series, but it certainly had some fine acting.  I'm rooting for all the nominees.

Three final categories.  First, the cartoons.

BEST ANIMATED SERIES
• Archer (FX)
• Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
• Gravity Falls (Disney Channel)
• The Simpsons (FOX)
• South Park (Comedy Central)
• Star Wars Rebels (Disney XD)

Archer is the defending champion, but it's up against stiff competition.  Any of them could win, but I'm rooting for Star Wars Rebels.  Not only is it a good cartoon, it's a good Star Wars show.

Next, the talk shows.

BEST TALK SHOW
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
• The Graham Norton Show (BBC America)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
• The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS)
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)

The Tonight Show is the returning winner, but I wouldn't be surprised if The Daily Show gets the award as Jon Stewart leaves.  As for Last Week Tonight, I find it interesting that it beat out Real Time.  I really should resume watching it.

Last and probably least, the reality competition shows.

BEST REALITY COMPETITION SERIES
• The Amazing Race (CBS)
• America’s Got Talent (NBC)
• Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
• Face Off (Syfy)
• Master Chef Junior (FOX)
• The Voice (NBC)

The defending winner, Shark Tank, didn't get renominated.  The Amazing Race and The Voice are returning nominees, but I wouldn't be surprised if Dancing With the Stars wins.  As for Face Off, it should just be happy it was nominated.

That's it for this month.  See you in June with a new Nablopomo theme!