2016 Emmys: Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Another Win for Allison Janney or is Niecy Nash Going to Upset?

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Allison Janney (Mom) looks poised to win her third Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy this year, according to AwardsWatch’s Emmy Experts. This would be her seventh Emmy win, putting her within spitting distance of Cloris Leachman’s Emmy record of eight individual Primetime Emmys for performance and it would tie her with Ed Asner. Her submission is frighteningly low on screentime and what there is of it is largely dramatic; only the opening scene is comedic. That hasn’t stopped the Emmys before though; when they love you, they really love you.

But there are upsets in the making in the form of Niecy Nash (Getting On) and Judith Light (Transparent). Nash, who surprised everyone with a nomination last year, is back to prove it wasn’t a fluke. Her submission is very strong, with a great balance of comedy and drama and multiple scenes dealing with her family regarding her invalid mother and patients and staff at her hospital. With her co-star Laurie Metcalf making it in the Lead category we could be seeing a Merritt Wever-type of win here. Plus, anyone who was a fan of Nash’s much broader and comedic turn in Scream Queens could push her here. Judith Light earns her first nomination for Transparent (she was previously nominated in Guest for Ugly Betty) for an episode of more depth than most of her first season episodes combined. Finding the right rhythm of pathos in the confusion of her relationship status with her trans ex-husband and comedy in the pathos, Light’s submission, “Flicky-Flicky Thump-Thump,” also provides a sharp commentary on sexuality and sensuality in your 60s.

Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live) could greatly benefit with her Hillary Clinton submission as we are deep into the 2016 Election but she is outshined by her episode’s host, Ariana Grande (who should have been nominated in Guest). Gaby Hoffman (Transparent) returns here with a great episode as she struggles with her graduate essay and potentially complicated sexual relationship with her professor, played by Cherry Jones. Anna Chlumsky submitted the only episode she really could as this was not the best season for her on Veep. A win here would be shocking and her low placement by most Emmy Experts shows that.

Here are the rankings for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series from the Emmy Experts:

Check out full Emmy Predictions from the Emmy Experts here.