'Saturday Night Live' leads Outstanding Variety Sketch Series nominations, again

It's time for me to return to the Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards.  Today, I'm examining the show either tied for the second highest number of nominations behind "Game of Thrones" with 21 or, if its interactive program is counted, tied with the most Emmy-winning show on television with 22, "Saturday Night Live."  I begin with its program nomination category, Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.

At Home with Amy Sedaris (truTV)
Drunk History (Comedy Central)
I Love You, America with Sarah Silverman (Hulu)
Portlandia (IFC)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Tracey Ullman's Show (HBO)

This is the only category in which "At Home With Amy Sedaris" and "I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman" earned nominations, and I predict both will walk away empty-handed.  'Saturday Night Live' won this category last year and I'm confident it will win it again this year.


Just as "Jesus Christ Superstar Live" earned nominations in acting to compete with the actors and actresses in limited series categories, SNL earned multiple acting nominations in the comedy categories, just like last year.  Two of them are for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Louie Anderson as Christine Baskets on Baskets (Episode: "Thanksgiving") (FX)
Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Donald Glover") (NBC)
Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Episode: "Kimmy and the Beest!") (Netflix)
Brian Tyree Henry as Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles on Atlanta (Episode: "Woods") (FX)
Tony Shalhoub as Abraham "Abe" Weissman on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "Thank You and Good Night") (Amazon)
Kenan Thompson as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: John Mulaney") (NBC)
Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau on Barry (Episode: "Chapter Four: Commit ... to YOU") (HBO)

Alec Baldwin won last year for his Donald Trump impressions on SNL, so I wouldn't be surprised if he wins again, but I also wouldn't be surprised if Tony Shalhoub upsets him for his role as the father in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."  That show should win for Outstanding Comedy Series and its star Rachel Brosnahan should win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, so Shalhoub might get caught up with them.


Three performers from SNL earned nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Zazie Beetz as Vanessa "Van" Keefer on Atlanta (Episode: "Helen") (FX)
Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "Doink") (Amazon)
Aidy Bryant as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Chadwick Boseman") (NBC)
Betty Gilpin as Debbie "Liberty Belle" Eagan on GLOW (Episode: "Debbie Does Something") (Netflix)
Leslie Jones as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Donald Glover") (NBC)
Kate McKinnon as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Bill Hader") (NBC)
Laurie Metcalf as Jackie Harris on Roseanne (Episode: "No Country for Old Women") (ABC)
Megan Mullally as Karen Walker on Will & Grace (Episode: "Rosario's Quinceanera") (NBC)

Once again, the returning winner is from SNL, Kate McKinnon.  It's likely that she will earn a three-peat, but I also think it's as likely that Alex Borstein from "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" will take the trophy home as well with an outside chance that Betty Gilpin of "GLOW" will upset both.  Nothing like a good story about show business to get Hollywood professionals to vote for you and both "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "GLOW" are about show business.


Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Sterling K. Brown as Philip Davidson on Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Episode: "The Box") (Fox)
Bryan Cranston as Dr. Templeton on Curb Your Enthusiasm (Episode: "Running With The Bulls") (HBO)
Donald Glover as Host on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Donald Glover") (NBC)
Bill Hader as Host on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Bill Hader") (NBC)
Lin-Manuel Miranda as Himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm (Episode: "Fatwa!") (HBO)
Katt Williams as Willie on Atlanta (Episode: "Alligator Man") (FX)

Bryan Cranston is probably the best actor of the bunch, but that doesn't mean he'll win.  Instead, I think the award will once again go to one of the guest hosts from SNL.  Which one?  Doesn't matter to me.


Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Tina Fey as Host on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Tina Fey") (NBC)
Tiffany Haddish as Host on Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Tiffany Haddish") (NBC)
Jane Lynch as Sophie Lennon on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Episode: "Put That On Your Plate!") (Amazon)
Maya Rudolph as Judge Gen on The Good Place (Episode: "The Burrito") (NBC)
Molly Shannon as Val on Will & Grace (Episode: "There's Something About Larry") (NBC)
Wanda Sykes as Daphne Lido on Black-ish (Episode: "Juneteenth") (ABC)

The speculative fiction fan in me wants this to go to Maya Rudolph, but I think it will between one of the hosts of SNL and Jane Lynch.  Yes, more "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

Follow over the jump for the rest of SNL's nominations, some of which I've covered before.  Nothing like being a good environmentalist and recycling my material.

I begin with the categories I covered in 'Last Week Tonight' leads Outstanding Variety Talk Series nominees, again.

The next category, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, has four variety talk nominees and one variety sketch nominee.

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

No surprise, "Last Week Tonight" is the two-time returning winner here, too.  Based on that and its victory at the Writers Guild of America for Comedy/Variety Talk Series, I think it's once again the favorite.  Also, this is the only nomination for "Late Night with Seth Meyers" while "The Late Late Show With James Corden" does not have a nomination in this category.  Smart call.

The proportion of variety talk to variety sketch series continues to decline in the next category, Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series.

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (Episode: "Episode 2061"), Directed by Andre Allen (TBS)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Episode: "Episode 421"), Directed by Paul Pennolino (HBO)
The Late Late Show with James Corden (Episode: "Episode 0416"), Directed by Tim Mancinelli (CBS)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Episode: "Episode 438"), Directed by Jim Hoskinson (CBS)
Portlandia (Episode: "Riot Spray"), Directed by Carrie Brownstein (IFC)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Donald Glover"), Directed by Don Roy King (NBC)

For once, "Last Week Tonight" is not defending a category.  Instead, it's "Saturday Night Live."

A very similar field composes the nominees for Outstanding Interactive Program.

The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Online (TBS)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

"Last Week Tonight" won this category last year and in 2015 with "The Late Late Show with James Corden," so I deem that "Last Week Tonight" is the favorite with "The Late Late Show" the most likely challenger to upset it.
...
For the next category, I am being a good environmentalist and recycling from Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and NASA all nominees at the 70th Emmy Awards.

Bill Nye Saves The World...has earned a nomination for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Reality, or Reality-Competition Series.  This is almost identical to the nomination it earned last year for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety, Nonfiction, Reality, or Reality Competition Programming.  Congratulations on the near-repeat!  On the other hand, Nye's series is competing against "Dancing With The Stars," "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" (the episode on the now-dead Sinclair-Tribune merger and long-dead Warren G. Harding I already wrote about), "Saturday Night Live," and "The Voice."  "Saturday Night Live" won this Emmy Award last year and I think it's favored again this year.  As I wrote last year, "Bill Nye and Netflix should just be happy to get the nomination."

When I get around to Variety Sketch Series, I'll reuse this paragraph again.  I told you I am a good environmentalist!
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Now, the last category in which "Last Week Tonight" is contending, Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series.

The Big Bang Theory (Episode: "The Bow Tie Asymmetry") (CBS)
Dancing with the Stars (Episode: "Finale") (ABC)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (Episode: "Jimmy Kimmel Live In Brooklyn: Billy Joel And Tracy Morgan") (ABC)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Episode: "Episode 421") (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Donald Glover") (NBC)
The Voice (Episode: "Live Finale, Part 2") (NBC)

Hey, look, a scripted comedy among all the variety and reality-competition shows!  Everybody sing "One of these things is not like the others!"  Seriously, "The Big Bang Theory" has won this award before, but the returning victor is "Saturday Night Live," which I expect will repeat with the possibility of being upset by "Dancing with the Stars," which won the award year before last.
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Now for the main Carpool Karaoke series' nominations, beginning with Outstanding Short Form Variety Series.

Carpool Karaoke: The Series (Apple Music)
Creating Saturday Night Live (nbc.com)
The Daily Show — Between the Scenes (thedailyshow.com)
Gay of Thrones (FunnyOrDie)
Honest Trailers (YouTube)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - Cover Room (nbc.com)

Corden sings, Corden dances, Corden tells jokes, Corden acts - he's versatile, but I don't think he's going to win this category, as "The Daily Show — Between the Scenes" is the returning winner.  Also, this is only nomination for "The Tonight Show."

Now for categories I have not mentioned before, beginning with Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Programming.

Dancing with the Stars (Episode: "Disney Night") (ABC)
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
RuPaul's Drag Race (Episode: "10s Across The Board") (VH1)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host: Natalie Portman") (NBC)
Tracey Ullman's Show (Episode: "Episode 1") (HBO)

"RuPaul's Drag Race" won this category last year, so I think it's the favorite.  The year before, a live musical did, so "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" is my pick for an upset.  SNL has an better than average chance, as it is the only other previous winner among the nominees.

Next, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special.

Dancing with the Stars (Episode: "Night at the Movies") (ABC)
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
RuPaul's Drag Race (Episode: "10s Across The Board") (VH1)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host : Tiffany Haddish") (NBC)
The Voice (Episode: "Live Finale, Part 1") (NBC)

A live musical won this last year, but five years in a row before that, SNL won this category, so I think it's the favorite, followed by "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert."  My third choice would be "Dancing with the Stars," but that show hasn't won since 2011.

Many of the usual suspects appear as nominees for Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Series.

America's Got Talent (Episode: "The Finals") (NBC)
Dancing with the Stars (Episode: "Halloween Night") (ABC)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host : Kevin Hart") (NBC)
So You Think You Can Dance (Episode: "Finale") (Fox)
The Voice (Episode: "Live Finale (Part 1)") (NBC)

This award has been bouncing back and forth between "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Voice" for years and I think this year will be no different, so it will be one of the two.

More of the usual suspects appear as nominees for Outstanding Make-up for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic).

Dancing with the Stars (Episode: "Halloween Night") (ABC)
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)
RuPaul's Drag Race (Episode: "10s Across The Board") (VH1)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host : Tina Fey") (NBC)
The Voice (Episode: "Live Finale, Part 1") (NBC)

SNL won last year so I think it will win this year with "Dancing with the Stars" having the best chance at upset.

It's a real grab bag for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

Big Mouth (Episode: "Am I Gay?") (Song: "Totally Gay") (Netflix)
A Christmas Story Live! (Song: "In The Market For A Miracle") (FOX)
The Good Fight (Episode: "Day 450") (Song: "High Crimes And Misdemeanors") (CBS)
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast (Song: "Just Getting Started") (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (Episode: "Host : Chance the Rapper") (Song: "Come Back Barack") (NBC)
Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life (Song: "The Buddy Song") (Netflix)

Oh!  Music!  I have no idea who will win, but I'll embed the two most political songs at the end for an encore.

I conclude my review of the nominations with Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)
Cobra Kai (YouTube)
GLOW (Netflix)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Shameless (Showtime)

This award has been bouncing back and forth between "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Shameless" for most of this decade, but I don't think either will win it this year.  Instead, I think it's between "Cobra Kai" and "GLOW" with the latter favored.  Again, there's nothing like a show being about show business to get Hollywood professionals to vote for it.

I promised I would embed the two most political nominated songs.  Here they are, beginning with The Good Fight's Animated Guide To Impeachment.

How's impeachment work? This tongue-in-cheek animated video from The Good Fight, created by Jonathan Coulton and appearing at the end of Season 2, Episode 7 ("Day 450"), will tell you everything that you need to know.

Next, Come Back, Barack - SNL.

De-Von-Tré (Chance the Rapper, Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd) wishes President Barack Obama would come back. [Season 43, 2017]

I'm 100% behind the sentiments of both songs.

My longtime readers are probably asking if I'm going to post anything about "Westworld," "Game of Thrones," "The Handmaid's Tale," "Stranger Things," and other speculative fiction nominees at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.  Tomorrow.  Stay tuned.