OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

BREAKING BAD:

Tape A: “Hazard Day” & “Fifty-One”

Tape B: “Dead Freight” & “Buyout”

Tape C: “Say My Name” & “Gliding Over All”

GAME OF THRONES:

Tape A: “Walk of Punishment” & “And Now His Watch Has Ended”

Tape B: “Kissed by Fire” & “The Climb”

Tape C: “Second Sons” & “The Rains of Castamere”

THE GOOD WIFE:

Tape A: “Don’t Haze Me, Bro” & “Waiting for the Knock”

Tape B: “Je Ne Sais What?” & “The Seven Day Rule”

Tape C: “Red Team, Blue Team” & “Death of a Client”

HANNIBAL:

Tape A: “Apéritif” & “Potage”

Tape B: “Sorbert” & “Fromage”

Tape C: “Entrée” & “Rôti”

MAD MEN:

Tape A: “To Have and to Hold” & “For Immediate Release”

Tape B: “The Better Half” & “In Care Of”

Tape C: “Favors” & “The Quality of Mercy”

SOUTHLAND:

Tape A: “Heat” & “Babel”

Tape B: “Bleed Out” & “Hero’s”

Tape C: “Chaos” & “Reckoning”

AND THE WINNER IS:

GAME OF THRONES

Last Year’s Winner: Mad Men

This win in drama series brings the win total to 6 for Game of Thrones on the first series win and their third nomination.

The third season of Game of Thrones was such an event as a season that so much horribly terrifying things occured that made the drama of the series much more dramatic moments throughout that while it was hard to watch it was addictive watch for the ten weeks the show was on. WIth such moments as The Red Wedding, Daenerys taking Astapor and Jamie losing his hand to name a few really made it the best drama series of the season. This third season was the best so far that it now has compelled me to read the books which shows have never done which shows how great the show continues to grow in quality HBO lets them.

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

30 ROCK (Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander, Alec Baldwin, Keith Powell, Katrina Bowden, Grizz Chapman, Kevin Brown, and John Lutz, James Marsden)

GIRLS (Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver, Alex Karpovsky)

HAPPY ENDINGS (Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans, Jr., Casey Wilson)

NEW GIRL (Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone)

NURSE JACKIE (Edie Falco, Merritt Wever, Paul Schulze, Peter Facinelli, Dominic Fumusa, Anna Deavere Smith, Stephen Wallem, Ruby Jerins, Mackenzie Aladjem, Morris Chestnut, Betty Gilpin)

PARKS AND RECREATION (Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, Retta)

AND THE WINNER IS:

NEW GIRL

Last Year’s Winner: Happy Endings

This is the first win for the ensemble of New Girl on their second nomination.

New Girl was great in it’s first season but really became a grew into it’s greatness in it’s brillant second season. All the actors really became a great ensemble playing so well off of each other that the best parts of the show is when all the characters are in one scene together. The ensembl;e grew so well into their legs that each of the actors get the best from the writing that their is no weak links to the cast making the show have such standout characters this season and even adding recurring characters that also fit well into the cast that they can keep coming back as the show grows better and better throughout the seasons.

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

BREAKING BAD (Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Steven Michael Quezada, Jesse Plemons, Laura Fraser)

GAME OF THRONES (Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Iain Glen, Michelle Fairley, Charles Dance, Stephen Dillane, Carice van Houten, Natalie Dormer, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Alfie Allen, Jack Gleeson, John Bradley, Oona Chaplin, Joe Dempsie, Rose Leslie, Sibel Kekilli, Rory McCann, Conleth Hill)

THE GOOD WIFE (Julianna Margulies , Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Josh Charles, Christine Baranski, Makenzie Vega, Graham Phillips, Alan Cumming, Chris Noth)

MAD MEN (Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, Aaron Staton, Rich Sommer, Kiernan Shipka, Jessica Paré, Kevin Rahm, Christopher Stanley, Jay R. Ferguson, Ben Feldman, Mason Vale Cotton, Robert Morse, John Slattery, James Wolk, Linda Cardellini, Harry Hamlin, Teyonah Parris)

PARENTHOOD (Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen, Sam Jaeger, Savannah Paige Rae, Max Burkholder, Joy Bryant, Tyree Brown, Miles Heizer, Mae Whitman, Xolo Mariduena, Bonnie Bedelia, Craig T. Nelson, Jason Ritter, Ray Romano, Matt Lauria)

SOUTHLAND (Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, Benjamin McKenzie, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin Alejandro, Tom Everett Scott)

AND THE WINNER IS:

MAD MEN

Last Year’s Winner: Mad Men

This is the fourth (second consecutive) win for the ensemble of Mad Men on their sixth straight nomination.

As time passes on Mad Men the dynamics of the cast of Mad Men changes which makes the ensemble even richer and greater which is one of the many reasons the show works. The cast works even better when characters can be given just one small scene and make it work so well that we care for all these characters which is why we keep failing in love with them over and over again. This season may have been the darkest season yet in risks it took still even being able to make the show work even when the darkness was hard to watch the chemistry of this great cast works well that the show will always be known for the great ensemble acting that is rewarded once again by me.

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

American Horror Story: Asylum, FX

Behind the Candelabra, HBO

The Big C: Hereafter, SHO

The Hour, BBC America

Parade’s End, HBO

Top of the Lake, Sundance Channel

AND THE WINNER IS:

BEHIND THE CANDELABRA, HBO

Last Year’s Winner: Game Change

 

Behind the Candelabra with this win comes to a total of 4 wins including wins for Douglas, Lowe and Soderbergh.

HBO really made such a strong choice in airing Behind the Candelabra when it was not accepted to be released in the cinema and just as impressive as Soderbergh’s films have been lately with such great character moments throughout and the difference with this film is how beautiful looking it is from the bright colours used throughout making it such an enjoyable dark story of the true side of hollywood surrounding Liberace and how this relationship came to such a horrible end in both the breakup and the actual end of Liberace himself making for a moving film to watch this is worthy of being on the big screen.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Benedict Cumberbatch as Christopher Tietjens in “PARADE’S END”

Matt Damon as Scott Thorson in “BEHIND THE CANDELABRA”

Michael Douglas as Liberace in “BEHIND THE CANDELABRA”

Toby Jones as Alfred Hitchcock in “THE GIRL”

Ben Whishaw as Freddie Lyon in “THE HOUR”

AND THE WINNER IS:

MICHAEL DOUGLAS AS LIBERACE IN "BEHIND THE CANDELABRA"

Last Year’s Winner: Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in “SHERLOCK: A SCANDAL IN BALGRAVIA"

This is the first win for Michael Douglas on his second nomination for his work on Behind the Candelabra.

Once the project was announced to come to television Douglas seemed like he would be capable of nailing the difficult role of Liberace and not only did he live up to the expectations he exceeded them in my book giving a great turn as the legendary performer. Lierace in the film was not the main focal point being seen through the eyes of the tortured Scott but still Douglas stole all of his scenes changing so much into the role that he seemed so much like the real Liberace is was a sight to behold not even feeling like the typical television performance but more like a layered and complete film performance that while the other nominees were just as good Douglas was far above the rest.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Michael Lehmann for (“The Name Game”), American Horror Story: Asylum

Steven Soderbergh for Behind the Candelabra

Michael Engler for (“The Finale”), The Big C: Hereafter

Susanna White for Parade’s End

Garth Davis and Jane Campion for Top of the Lake

AND THE WINNER IS:

STEVEN SODERBERGH FOR BEHIND THE CANDELABRA

Last Year’s Winner: Jay Roach for Game Change

This is the first win for Steven Soderbergh for her first nomination for her work on Parade’s End.

Soderbergh’s supposed final film was the greatly acclaimed Behind the Candelabra and once again his direction was strong with many of his normal styles shown through this very stylied film. Soderbergh is not just strong for his style as a director but also for the cast that he brings to his films and this is because of how strong he works with the cast which was present once again and if this is really the final project that Soderbergh (which it likely isn’t) it was a great way for him to go out.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Romola Garai as Bel Rowley in “THE HOUR”

Jessica Lange as Sister Jude Martin in “AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM”

Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison in “THE BIG C: HEREAFTER”

Sienna Miller as Tippi Hedren in “THE GIRL”

Elisabeth Moss as Det. Robin Griffin in “TOP OF THE LAKE”

AND THE WINNER IS:

ELISABETH MOSS AS DET. ROBIN GRIFFIN IN "TOP OF THE LAKE"

Last Year’s Winner: Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in “GAME CHANGE”

This is the second win for Elisabeth Moss on her sixth nomination for her work on Top of the Lake.

Elisabeth Moss is one of the best working television actresses working today and while I have rewarded her before for her work on Mad Men her best work of her career for me came in Top of the Lake. While she had to but on the New Zealand accent for the whole series I thought she was strong enough in her performance to act though her accent that at times might have not sounded as natural as a person for the area could have. The performance given by Moss was a slow built one that as the miniseries went on only grew in how strong it became though the many colours Campion wrote for Moss to act and having this lead role really opened me up to the true talent of Moss that she was my first and only choice for her great performance in this great miniseries.

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Richard LaGravenese for Behind the Candelabra

Abi Morgan for The Hour

Tom Stoppard for Parade’s End

William Boyd for Restless

Jane Campion and Gerard Lee for Top of the Lake

AND THE WINNER IS:

JANE CAMPION AND GERARD LEE FOR TOP OF THE LAKE

Last Year’s Winner: Danny Strong for Game Change

This is the first win each for Jane Campion and Gerard Lee for their first nominations for their writing of the miniseries Top of the Lake.

  Campion most known for her oscar winning writing for The Piano came to television with an exciting and intriging miniseries that while it had a clear ending still felt like there was so much more to have been explored. With great writing comes great character development which was well done throughout all the characters most given distint personalities no matter how large the role. Also the writing was great to set the atmosphere of the show which was easily set and made for such an enjoyable miniseries not having it be surprising Campion and her writing partner Lee where bedhind this great work.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

James Cromewell as Dr. Arthur Arden in “AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM”

John Benjamin Hickey as Sean Tolkey in “THE BIG C: HEREAFTER”

Rob Lowe as Dr. Jack Startz in “BEHIND THE CANDELABRA”

Peter Mullan as Matt Mitcham in “TOP OF THE LAKE”

Sebastian Stan as T.J. Hammond in “POLITICAL ANIMALS”

AND THE WINNER IS:

ROB LOWE AS DR. JACK STARTZ IN "BEHIND THE CANDELABRA"

Last Year’s Winner: Ed Harris as John McCain in “GAME CHANGE”

This is the first wIn for Rob Lowe on his second nomination for his work on Behind the Candelabra.

Soderbergh coming to tv was bound to be great and when he was able to deliver such great leading performances by Damon/Douglas one of the better parts to the whole movie was tv favourite Rob Lowe playing the cooky plasic surgeon to Liberace and even with few scenes Lowe was able to create such a memorable role that he was a force to be reconned with in my supporting actor category. The performance was one of the many comic reliefs to the film and from the pulled back facial experissions to the even greater line deliever Lowe stole all his sceneshe had even when he was acting aganist such strong leading performances.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Adelaide Clemens as Valentine Wannop in “PARADE’S END”

Holly Hunter as GJ in “TOP OF THE LAKE”

Sarah Paulson as Lana Winters in “AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM”

Lily Rabe as Sister Mary Eunice McKee in “AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM”

Charlotte Rampling as Eva Delectorskaya in “RESTLESS”

AND THE WINNER IS:

LILY RABE AS SISTER MARY EUNICE MCKEE IN "AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM"

Last Year’s Winner: Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon  in “AMERICAN HORROR STORY”

This is the first win for Lily Rabe on her second nomination for her work on American Horror Story: Asylum.

With the change of season two of American Horror Story the show got much better and while Lange the season 1 standout was great the real scene stealer was season returner Lily Rabe who got to milk all her scenes playing the once innocent possed nun who was even moe evil to these people of the mental institution. Rabe got season 2 what she never got in season 1 was the chance to act such a great character arc throughout that when her character left in such a tragic death the show fell down in quality as far as the characters fall itself. Rabe was stunning throughout and it shows really Murphy’s wrting only helps give women the chances to give such strong performances and whle she did not have the most screentime Rabe still was able to create such a memorable role that it would be surprising in season 3 if Rabe was allowed to have as much fun with Sister Mary Eunince as she did in season 2 Asylum.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Glenn Close as Patty Hewes for (“But You Don’t Do That Anymore”) in “DAMAGES”

Tatiana Maslany as Sarah Manning/Alison Hendrix/Cosima Niehaus/Helena for (“Unconscious Selection”) in “OPRHAN BLACK”

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick for (“Red Team/Blue Team”) in “THE GOOD WIFE”

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olsen for (“The Better Half”) in “MAD MEN”

Emmy Rossum as Fiona Gallagher for (“A Long Way From Home”) in “SHAMELESS”

Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings for (“Covert War”) in “THE AMERICANS”

AND THE WINNER IS:

TATIANA MASLANY AS SARAH MANNING/ALISON HENDRIX/COSIMA NIEHAUS/HELENA FOR ("UNCONSCIOUS SELECTION") IN "ORPHAN BLACK"

Last Year’s Winner: Claire Danes as Carrie Manthison for (“The Vest”) in “HOMELAND”

This is the first win for Tatiana Maslany on her first nomination for her work on Orphan Black.

I never watched this show through it’s full run until buzz built and so I watched the show all in one day and was outstanded by the lead performance by Maslany who was an unknown canadian actress until this show. The role is quite baity and the great part of her performance is making all of her characters so unique that at times I forgot she was playing all these clones which adds to the greatness of this performance. She had many emotions to play especially in the ninth episode where every one of the characters each went through their own emotionally arcs including Sarah and her daughter, Helena in a cage, Cosima being betrayed and Allison with her comedic moments made for such a strong leading performance from Maslany that only looks to grow and grow and cause me to reward Maslany ever year until the show comes to an end.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Bryan Cranston as Walter White for (“Say My Name”) in “BREAKING BAD”

Hugh Dancy as Will Graham for (“Rôti”) in “HANNIBAL”

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan for (“Run”) in “DEXTER”

Jon Hamm as Don Draper for (“In Care Of”) in “MAD MEN”

Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens for (“Ghosts”) in “JUSTIFIED”

Matthew Rhys as Phillip Jennings for (“Safety and Honor”) in “THE AMERICANS”

AND THE WINNER IS:

JON HAMM AS DON DRAPER FOR ("IN CARE OF") IN "MAD MEN"

Last Year’s Winner: Bryan Cranston as Walter White for (“Crawl Space”) in “BREAKING BAD”

This is the third win for Jon Hamm for his eigth nomination for his work on Mad Men.

The men I nominated in this category all had a chance of winning since each of them are great leads to their shows but when it came to picking one winner for the second time in this category I must pick Hamm again for another strong year of work that continues to be unrewarded as Don Draper on Mad Men. His standout moment of the entire season was that deeply dark destructive Hershey speech where the character of Don finally took another dramatic twist. Hamm’s performance is quite strong especially in that finale and while most of his work might be quiet in my mind it is some of the most explosive work he has ever done especially in this second season and while most performances call for shouting and angry faces Hamm plays every one of his scenes with great inner stregth makes for such a compelling performance that will only have one more season to be great and hopefully gets rewarded for the his developing work he has protrayed on the show.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

George Mastras for (“Dead Freight”), Breaking Bad

Rian Johnson for (“Fifty-One”), Breaking Bad

David Nutter for (“The Rains of Castamer”), Game of Thrones

David Slade for (“Apéritif”), Hannibal

David Fincher for (“Chapter 1”), House of Cards

AND THE WINNER IS:

DAVID NUTTER FOR ("THE RAINS OF CASTAMER"), GAME OF THRONES

Last Year’s Winner: Matthew Weiner for (“The Phantom”), Mad Men

This is a second win for David Nutter for his second nomination for his work on Game of Thrones.

There is not questioning the achievment that is the episode The Rains of Castamer and one of the most important parts of this episode is the great direction by David Nutter. His work is very present in the episode in my opnion with many great shoots such as the climactic killing shot where we see so much action happen over the course of the final 15-20 minutes we are able to see all the horror quite clearly and his direction is also present in scenes away from The Red Wedding including Daenerys taking over Yucai and the Stark brothers almost brought back together. This was a great achievment in direction that is steady throughout.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jennifer Carpenter as Debra Morgan for (“Surprise, Motherf**cker”) in “DEXTER”

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen for (“And Now His Watch is Ended”) in “GAME OF THRONES”

Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark for (“The Rains of Castamer”) in “GAME OF THRONES”

Anna Gunn as Skyler White for (“Fifty-One”) in “BREAKING BAD”

Monica Potter as Kristina Braverman for (“Keep on Rowing”) in “PARENTHOOD”

Kiernan Shipka as Sally Draper for (“The Quality of Mercy”) in “MAD MEN”

AND THE WINNER IS:

ANNA GUNN AS SKYLER WHITE FOR ("FIFTY-ONE") IN "BREAKING BAD"

Last Year’s Winner: Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris for (“The Other Woman”) in “MAD MEN”

This is the first win for Anna Gunn on her third nomination for her work on Breaking Bad.

As the character of Walter White grows more evil I believe the character of Skyler grows more relatable and that is in part to the great performance given by Anna Gunn who was an easy winner from the moment the season started especially in the episode “Fifty-One” where Gunn showed so much range like she never has that she was able to make Skyler my favourite character even though before I did not always like the character but she has grown so much. Gunn’s performance is not the most explosive role compared to her co-stars but with not even any dialogue Gunn is able to givew so much to this complex character of Skyler White.

EDIT

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Sam Catlin for (“Fifty-One”), Breaking Bad

David Benioff & D. B. Weiss for (“The Rains of Castamer”), Game of Thrones

Robert King & Michelle King for (“Death of a Client”), The Good Wife

Graham Yost & Chris Provenzano for (“Decoy”), Justified

Carly Wray and Matthew Weiner for (“In Care Of”), Mad Men

AND THE WINNER IS:

CARLY WRAY AND MATTHEW WEINER FOR ("IN CARE OF"), MAD MEN

Last Year’s Winner: Andre Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton for (“Commissions and Fees”), Mad Men

This is the first (third for co-writer Weiner) shared by Carly Wray and Matthew Weiner on a shared 10 nominations for their work on Mad Men.

Mad Men is one of my favourite shows on tv and is so well written that I could fill up a whole category with episodes from that show. The standout episode of the sixth season and the winning episode was the season finale that was so dark and such a buildup from the entire season where every moment felt earned and this was another great job by Matthew Weiner as he works with another writer to form such a great episode that I had to reward it for such great dialogue pieces as the Hershey speech and many standout moments.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut for (“Say My Name”) in “BREAKING BAD”

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jamie Lannister for (“Kissed by Fire”) in “GAME OF THRONES”

Michael Cudlitz as John Cooper for (“Chaos”) in “SOUTHLAND”

Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder for (“Where’s Waldo?”) in “JUSTIFIED”

Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell for (“In Care Of”) in “MAD MEN”

Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hanibal Lecter for (“Fromage”) in “HANNIBAL”

AND THE WINNER IS:

JONATHAN BANKS AS MIKE EHRMANTRAUT FOR ("SAY MY NAME") IN "BREAKING BAD"

Last Year’s Winner: Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring for (“Hermanos”) in “BREAKING BAD”

This is the first win for Jonathan Banks on his first nomination for his work on Breaking Bad.

For the third season in a row a standout supporting actor wins my award with Banks following previous winners Paul and Esposito. Banks finally got the chance to standout this season playing the emotional Mike who was the most likeable character of the season. His standout episode was his final episode where he had some great moments especially his final ones where he really got to show some range that he even bested actors like Paul and Cranston that thiss performance he gave needs to be rewarded.

OUTSTANDING HOST OF A REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM

Tom Beregon for “DANCING WITH THE STARS”

RuPaul Charles for “RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE”

Cat Deeley for “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE”

Phil Keaghon for “THE AMAZING RACE”

Jeff Probst for “SURVIVOR”

AND THE WINNER IS:

JEFF PROBST FOR "SURVIVOR"

Last Year’s Winner: Jeff Probst for (“Bum-Puzzled”), Survivor

This is the fourth win for Jeff Probst on his sixth nomination for his hosting fo Survivor.

I’m not the biggest fan of reality shows so since I have a certain number of shows I watch this year I could only nominate four people but when it came to a winner the choice was easy with me picking Probst again who is one of the best in the business especially with the hard job he has out in the wild and while the show might never really be about him he makes impressions as a calm guy who keeps the crazy in tact and with two strong seasons he was an easy choice for the fourth time.

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM

Dancing With the Stars, ABC

The Glee Project, Oxegyn

RuPaul’s Drag Race, Logo TV

So You Think You Can Dance, FOX

Survivor, CBS

The Voice, NBC

AND THE WINNER IS:

SURVIVOR, CBS

Last Year’s Winner: Survivor (“Bum-Puzzled”)

This is the fourth win (second consecutive) for Survivor on it’s eleventh nomination for reality competition series.

Survivor has been up and down in quality since the early seasons of the show but with two straight strong seasons the show really found it’s way back to being the best of the year including all those great dramatic moments with violent outbursts as well as the great moving moments and then those great challanges make the show an enjoyable show to watch weekly putting it in my number one position.