Anonymous Emmy Ballot: Actor/Writer Believes Legends Ted Danson and Lily Tomlin Deserve More Recognition
Ted Danson has won two Emmys, out of 16 nominations. Both of them were for playing Sam Malone on “Cheers,” most recently in 1993. Lily Tomlin has won six Emmys, out of 25 nominations. Four of them were for writing, one for a special, and the most recent one as a narrator.
That’s not enough for one anonymous Emmy voter who shared their ballot with IndieWire. Both icons are among the picks by this actor/writer, who also hopes FX’s “The Americans” goes out with a big hurrah.
In this installment of IndieWire’s Anonymous Emmy Ballots, the voter chooses “The Americans” for outstanding drama, as well as stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys for drama actress and drama actor. “C’mon,” he wrote. “You gotta give this show some love.”
IndieWire reached out to creatives across the industry this year to share their own Emmy ballots, anonymously, and explain why they made their choices. Performers, writers, producers, publicists, executives, and craftspeople from across the industry offered up their answers, and IndieWire has been posting some of those ballots last week and this week.
Here’s how the anonymous actor/writer made their picks on this year’s Emmy race. Read on below:
Outstanding Drama Series
☑ The Americans
The Crown
Game Of Thrones
The Handmaid’s Tale
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld
C’mon. You gotta give this show some love.
Read More: Emmy Predictions 2018 — The 70th Annual Primetime Emmys
Outstanding Comedy Series
☑ Atlanta
Barry
black-ish
Curb Your Enthusiasm
GLOW
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Silicon Valley
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
It’s the most exciting show in this line-up. You truly don’t know what you will get each week. It’s the new Must-See TV.
Outstanding Limited Series
The Alienist
The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Genius: Picasso
Godless
☑ Patrick Melrose
Great series. I don’t think anyone watched it though.
Outstanding Television Movie
Fahrenheit 451
Flint
Paterno
The Tale
☑ USS Callister (Black Mirror)
One of the most memorable “Black Mirrors” — it reminds you why you fell in love with it in the first place.
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Foy/The Crown
Tatiana Maslany/Orphan Black
Elisabeth Moss/The Handmaid’s Tale
Sandra Oh/Killing Eve
☑ Keri Russell/The Americans
Evan Rachel Wood/Westworld
I’m a fan of everyone in this category but Keri Russell is the clear standout, she unapologetically places one of the the most complex people on TV. That is unsympathetic yet you can’t take your eyes off her.
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman/Ozark
Sterling K. Brown/This Is Us
Ed Harris/Westworld
☑ Matthew Rhys/The Americans
Milo Ventimiglia/This Is Us
Jeffrey Wright/Westworld
I’m once again throwing my full support to another “American,” Matthew Rhys’ series arc is magnificent. The finale showed all sides of this character who fell for the American dream yet was loyal to his homeland. He does more with no words than other actors with pages of dialogue.
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Pamela Adlon/Better Things
Rachel Brosnahan/The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Allison Janney/Mom
Issa Rae/Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross/black-ish
☑ Lily Tomlin/Grace And Frankie
I know it’s not the “flashy” choice but Lily continues to grow and mature as a comedian and performer with every passing year. Very few actresses can keep doing what she does as good as she does. This performance should be recognized.
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson/black-ish
☑ Ted Danson/The Good Place
Larry David/Curb Your Enthusiasm
Donald Glover/Atlanta
Bill Hader/Barry
William H. Macy/Shameless
After decades on screen Ted Danson, who has been nominated more than he has won, seems to be having the time of his life with this role, which shows him in such a new way you can hardly believe you’ve been watching him your whole life.
Lead Actress in a Limited Series/Movie
Jessica Biel/The Sinner
Laura Dern/The Tale
Michelle Dockery/Godless
Edie Falco/Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders
Regina King/Seven Seconds
Sarah Paulson/American Horror Story: Cult
[No pick.]
Lead Actor in a Limited Series/Movie
Antonio Banderas/Genius: Picasso
Darren Criss/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Benedict Cumberbatch/Patrick Melrose
Jeff Daniels/The Looming Tower
☑ John Legend/Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert
Jesse Plemons/USS Callister (Black Mirror)
When you can help someone get an EGOT you have to do it.
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Alexis Bledel/The Handmaid’s Tale
Millie Bobby Brown/Stranger Things
Ann Dowd/The Handmaid’s Tale
Lena Headey/Game Of Thrones
Vanessa Kirby/The Crown
Thandie Newton/Westworld
☑ Yvonne Strahovski/The Handmaid’s Tale
The unsung hero of this show, Yvonne finally was able to step into the spotlight and this season she delivers a KNOCKOUT performance.
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau/Game Of Thrones
☑ Peter Dinklage/Game Of Thrones
Joseph Fiennes/The Handmaid’s Tale
David Harbour/Stranger Things
Mandy Patinkin/Homeland
Matt Smith/The Crown
I just love him. In a show full of big characters he leads the way with a complex character that evolves more complexly each season.
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Zazie Beetz/Atlanta
Alex Borstein/The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Aidy Bryant/Saturday Night Live
Betty Gilpin/GLOW
Leslie Jones/Saturday Night Live
☑ Kate McKinnon/Saturday Night Live
Laurie Metcalf/Roseanne
Megan Mullally/Will & Grace
If we are taking about funny. There is no one that makes me laugh harder than Kate every Saturday night. She has taken Will Ferrell’s throne.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Louie Anderson/Baskets
Alec Baldwin/Saturday Night Live
Tituss Burgess/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
☑ Brian Tyree Henry/Atlanta
Tony Shalhoub/The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Kenan Thompson/Saturday Night Live
Henry Winkler/Barry
He takes a potentially one-note character and makes it one of the most nuanced performances on TV.
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Sara Bareilles/Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert
Penélope Cruz/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Judith Light/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Adina Porter/American Horror Story: Cult
☑ Merritt Wever/Godless
Letitia Wright/Black Museum (Black Mirror)
[No reason given.]
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jeff Daniels/Godless
Brandon Victor Dixon/Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert
John Leguizamo/Waco
Ricky Martin/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Edgar Ramírez/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
☑ Michael Stuhlbarg/The Looming Tower
Finn Wittrock/The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
An actor who consistently turns in amazing performances. His role on this show is quiet perfection.
Outstanding Reality/Competition Program
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Project Runway
☑ RuPaul’s Drag Race
Top Chef
The Voice
Yaaas QUEEN! Go get that trophy — You’ve been leading the way for years, we are just catching up.
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
Antiques Roadshow
Fixer Upper
Lip Sync Battle
☑ Queer Eye
Shark Tank
Who Do You Think You Are?
May all reboots be as good, timely and socially relevant.
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
Born This Way
Deadliest Catch
Intervention
Naked And Afraid
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked
United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell
[No pick.]
Host for a Reality or Reality/Competition Program
W. Kamau Bell/United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell
Ellen Degeneres/Ellen’s Game Of Games
☑ RuPaul/RuPaul’s Drag Race
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn/Project Runway
Jane Lynch/Hollywood Game Night
I love RuPaul and I will fight anyone who disagrees that they’re the most purposefully entertaining person on this list.
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
☑ Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Late Show With James Corden
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
You can’t miss this show. It does more than “60 Minutes” in 30 and makes you laugh way harder too.
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
At Home With Amy Sedaris
☑ Drunk History
I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live
Tracey Ullman’s Show
The scope of this show is so impressive to me. While all of these are entertaining, I feel like I walk away smarter after watching “Drunk History.”
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
60th Annual Grammy Awards
☑ Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert
Night Of Too Many Stars: America Unites For Autism Programs
The Oscars
Finally, a live musical that isn’t lame or embarrassing.
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Carol Burnett Show 50th Anniversary Special
Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2018
☑ Dave Chappelle: Equanimity
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee Presents: The Great American* Puerto Rico (*It’s Complicated)
Steve Martin & Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life
Dave is doing what no other comedian is doing and that’s pushing buttons, challenging what you think and saying uncomfortable things. Whether or not you agree with him, he’s the comedian we need that makes you laugh and slightly uncomfortable.
Outstanding Informational Series or Special
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath
☑ My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman
StarTalk With Neil deGrasse Tyson
Vice
David Letterman doing what he wants with whom he wants, the way he wants. Perfection.
[Production assistance by Liz Shannon Miller.]
