“RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
Coming off RuPaul’s first Emmy nomination and win for hosting last September, “Drag Race” seems poised to take the jump from series nomination also ran to an actual win. RuPaul has seen his profile jump in the media and the series move to VH1 has doubled its ratings. The question is how many of those viewers are Television Academy members? Judging by the increasing number of celebrities who admit they are fans of the show that could actually be a significant number. If they watched season 9, which concludes a week from Friday, they saw a very close competition with some gag-worthy exits via injury, most notably from a fan favorite contestant who froze and asked to lip sync…with her mask on. Season 9 didn’t reach the heights of “All Stars 2” which ran in the fall and was shockingly not submitted for Emmy consideration (what sort of strategy is that?), but if they can get a nod from the series so far the finale, which airs three days before voting ends, could give the series the Emmy crown.
Trace Lysette, “Transparent”
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Lysette was heartbreaking as a friend of Maura (Jeffrey Tambor) who ends up going on a road trip with her adult son Josh (Jay Duplass) only to have it end for an almost unexpected reason. Josh had no problem with Lysette’s character being a trans woman. No, he gave her the cold shoulder the moment he learned she was HIV positive. The two actors are phenomenal in this moment and for Lysette it’s as worthy of an Emmy nod as the already heralded performances of Television Academy favorites Tambor and Judith Light.
Matthew Rhys, “Girls”
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
In a perfect world Rhys will not only earn his second Emmy nod for his role as Philip on “The Americans,” but one for his standout performance as a writer with sexual predator tendencies on a landmark episode of “Girls.” The episode in question, “American Bitch,” was written by star and show creator Lena Dunham and is basically a twofer as both actors verbally spar over accusations leveled against Rhys’ character. The 43-year-old Brit is simply superb (as is Dunham) as he demonstrates the depths of an impressive range that’s barely been tapped up until now.
Danielle Flora, “Lip Sync Battle”
Outstanding Choreography
You wouldn’t think the all-encompassing Choreography category is that competitive, but it is (so much so you wonder why it isn’t divided up into two different awards — live events and comedy or drama series). If there is any justice Flora, who has been the secret weapon on “Lip Sync” since it started, will finally earn a nod. Unlike her peers on “Dancing with the Stars” or “So You Think You Can Dance,” Flora often has less than 36 hours to choreograph the numbers celebrities show up to perform live (well, taped live) in front of a studio audience. She often only has a few hours of rehearsal with the talent before they hit the stage. Sometimes she’s lucky and a participant will have serious dance training, say like West End vet Tom Holland, but that usually means they want to do something even more complex and challenging. Watch Holland’s “Lip Sync” number and check out the troupe of dancers surrounding him. If that’s not Emmy worthy in this category, I’m not sure what is.
Mandy Moore, “This Is Us”
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
As Rebecca not only is Mandy Moore playing a mother of three young children and a potentially philandering husband in the early 1980s, but she is playing the same character as a much older woman in 2017. The 33-year-old Moore is remarkable in how she handles the challenge and incorporates the right touches to convey the older version of her character. Some of the most iconic actors in the world have stumbled under old age makeup. Moore isn’t one of them.
Madeline Brewer, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Elisabeth Moss? Check. Ann Dowd? Check. Alexis Bledel? Check. Yvonne Strahovski? Check. However, the surprise in the Hulu series’ first season is the poignant turn by Brewer as Ofwarren, a woman who is in a fragile state because of a massive amount of psychological and physical abuse including having had one of her eyes removed as punishment for not initially succumbing to her fate as a handmaid. Every time Brewer appears she finds a way even in her craziness to make you worry she may be killed or victimized again for saying the wrong thing because of her fragile state. In a story filled with such great female performances, it’s Brewer (next to Moss, of course) that haunts you the most.
Lakeith Stanfield, “Atlanta”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
If you want to learn how to steal scenes check out Standfield’s work in “Atlanta.” He brings a particular and welcome rhythm to Donald Glover‘s celebrated dramedy that you simply can’t ignore.
