2016 Emmy Nominations: The Americans Gets Its Due, UnREAL is Real

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The 2016 nominations for the 68th Emmy Awards are in and as usual not without some shocking mentions and even more shocking snubs. The Americans broke BIG this year (its 4th season) hitting Lead Actor (Matthew Rhys), Lead Actress (Keri Russell) and Drama Series. The show had languished with a writing nomination last year and a Guest Actress win for Margo Martindale but has always been one of television’s biggest critical hits. UnREAL, Lifetime’s show within a show hit grabbed a nomination for Constance Zimmer in Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and a surprise nod in Writing for its first season.

Game of Thrones absolutely decimated the nominations this year, especially in the acting categories where it adding Kit Harington to two-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage in Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and in Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Maisie Williams joins Emilia Clarke and Lena Headey.

As predicted, The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story performed very well in nearly all of its eligible categories including three in Supporting Actor – Sterling K. Brown, David Schwimmer and John Travolta. The FX mini also scooped up three Directing and three Writing nominations.

Despite Louis C.K.’s Horace and Pete getting almost completely snubbed, multi-Emmy winner Laurie Metcalf survived with a Guest Actress in a Drama Series nomination – one of three she earned today. She also was nominated for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Getting On) and Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (The Big Bang Theory).

The 68th Emmy Awards will be held on September 18th in Los Angeles and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Here are the nominations:

Outstanding Drama Series
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mr. Robot

Outstanding Comedy Series
Black-ish
Master of None
Modern Family
Silicon Valley
Veep
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Outstanding Limited Series
American Crime
Fargo
The Night Manager
The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Roots

Outstanding Television Movie
All the Way
Confirmation
Luther
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
A Very Murray Christmas

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Taraji P Henson, Empire
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Keri Russell, The Americans
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock
Idris Elba, Luther
Cuba Gooding Jr., The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
Courtney B. Vance, The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
Sarah Paulson, The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Lili Taylor, American Crime
Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Will Forte, Last Man on Earth
William H. Macy, Shameless
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Laurie Metcalf, Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross, Blackish
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Louie Anderson, Baskets
Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn  Nine-Nine
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Matt Walsh, Veep
Tony Hale, Veep

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Niecy Nash, Getting On
Allison Janney, Mom
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Judith Light, Transparent
Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Constance Zimmer, UnREAL

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jesse Plemons, Fargo
Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
Sterling K. Brown, People v. O.J. Simpson
David Schwimmer, People v. O.J. Simpson
John Travolta, People v. O.J. Simpson

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Melissa Leo, All the Way
Regina King, American Crime
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel
Jean Smart, Fargo
Olivia Colman, The Night Manager

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • Bob Newhart
Saturday Night Live • Tracy Morgan
Saturday Night Live • Larry David
Transparent • Bradley Whitford
Veep • Martin Mull
Veep • Peter MacNicol

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Game Of Thrones • Max von Sydow
The Good Wife • Michael J. Fox
House Of Cards • Reg E. Cathey
House Of Cards • Mahershala Ali
House Of Cards • Paul Sparks
Ray Donovan • Hank Azaria

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory • Laurie Metcalf
The Big Bang Theory • Christine Baranski
Saturday Night Live • Tina Fey & Amy Poehler
Saturday Night Live • Melissa McCarthy
Saturday Night Live • Amy Schumer
Transparent • Melora Hardin

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
The Americans • Margo Martindale
The Good Wife • Carrie Preston
Horace And Pete • Laurie Metcalf
House Of Cards • Ellen Burstyn
House Of Cards • Molly Parker
Masters Of Sex • AllisonJanney

Variety Talk Series
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Late Show With James Cordon
Real Time With Bill Maher
Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Variety Sketch Series
Documentary Now!
Drunk History
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live

Reality-Competition Program
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
The Voice

Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars
Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night
Steve Harvey, Little Big Shots
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway
RuPaul Charles, RuPaul’s Drag Race

Outstanding Directing For a Drama Series
Downton Abbey • Episode 9
Game Of Thrones • Battle Of The Bastards
Game Of Thrones • The Door
Homeland • The Tradition Of Hospitality
The Knick • This Is All We Are
Ray Donovan • Exsuscito

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
The Americans • Persona Non Grata
Downton Abbey • Episode 8
Game Of Thrones • Battle Of The Bastards
The Good Wife • End
Mr. Robot • eps1.0_hellofriend.mov (Pilot)
UnREAL • Return

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special
Fargo • Loplop
Fargo • Palindrome
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story • From The Ashes Of Tragedy
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story • Marcia, Marcia, Marcia
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story • The Race Card

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Master Of None • Parents
Silicon Valley • Daily Active Users
Silicon Valley • Founder Friendly
Transparent • Man On The Land
Veep • Kissing Your Sister
Veep • Morning After
Veep • Mother

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Catastrophe • Episode 1
Master Of None • Parents
Silicon Valley • Founder Friendly
Silicon Valley • The Uptick
Veep • Morning After
Veep • Mother

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special
All The Way
Fargo • Before The Law
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story • From The Ashes Of Tragedy
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story • Manna From Heaven
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story • The Race Card