OUTSTANDING MINISERIES OR TELEVISION MOVIE

7 Days in Hell

American Crime

Fargo

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Roots

Show Me a Hero

AND THE WINNER IS:

FARGO

Maybe it's too early to reward such a major award as Miniseries/TV Movie but here it is. The resurgence of the limited series has brought only positives to the tv landscape as people are willing to come to tv for these short run shows that produce some of the best tv has to offer. As is the case with Fargo which was brilliant in it's first season (won the same prize 2 years ago) but it's second season much bigger in size and scale was if not better just as great as the first season. The show just took more creative risks in the narrative and everyone of them paid off culminating in a fantastic season of television filled to the brime with great drama, great performances and overall just a fully formed universe that unless from the mind of Noah Hawley would not be as captivating.

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Jessica Hecht as Audrey Eastman for ("AKA 99 Friends") in "JESSICA JONES"

Patti LuPone as Joan Clayton for ("The Nightcomers") in "PENNY DREADFUL"

Natasha Lyonne as Nicky Nichols for ("Empathy Is a Boner Killer") in "ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK"

Laurie Metcalf as Sarah for ("Episode 103") in "HORACE AND PETE"

Bridget Regan as Dottie Underwood for ("Life of the Party") in "AGENT CARTER"

Liv Tyler as Meg Abbott for ("Ten Thirteen") in "THE LEFTOVERS"

AND THE WINNER IS:

LAURIE METCALF AS SARAH FOR ("EPISODE 103") IN "HORACE AND PETE"

This is the second win and nomination for Laurie Metcalf. She previous won for her role as Carolyn Bigsby on Desperate Housewives (2007) and now wins for her role as Sarah on Horace and Pete.

This was probably the easiest win in my entire television section because when you think of an actor guesting on a television for one episode and completely dominating that person is Laurie Metcalf. Sure one could say an entire episode devoted to one performer is enough for any actor playing this role to be great but Metcalf is just so beyond what anybody could've done with the role I just can't deal with how explosive she is. Almost the entire episode is on Metcalf's face as she delivers one long at times uninterrupted monologue about this women's experience. It is just so captivating and like nothing I've ever seen on television that between Metcalf and this role of Sarah I've never been this impressed by a guest appearance.

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOVIE

7 Days in Hell

The Americans ("Glanders")

Fargo ("Waiting for Dutch")

Penny Dreadful ("Glorious Horrors")

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story ("Marcia, Marcia, Marcia")

AND THE WINNER IS:

THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY ("MARCIA, MARCIA, MARCIA")

This is the first win for the hairstyling team of Chris Clark, Natalie Driscoll and Shay Sanford-Fong. They won together for their work on The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. In particular the episode "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia".

Every single time we as a general audience tuned into The People v. O.J. Simpson it took everyone's attention similarly to the actualy true events where just couldn't stop yourself from watching. One of the main reasons for this was how accurately they recreated these true people. Hairstyling was an especially impressive job because the looks of these people are so iconic by the amount of coverage of them through the long drawn out trial. Sarah Paulson who in real life doesn't look much like Marcia Clark with the help of impressive hairstyling is able to completly disappear into the character and become Clark. Just great work by these three men and anybody involved with the hairstyling.

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC AND LYRICS

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ("You Stupid Bitch")

Hannibal ("Love Crime")

Key & Peele ("Pirate Chantey")

South Park ("Safe Space")

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! ("Ding-Dong Diddly Ding-Dong Do")

AND THE WINNER IS:

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND ("YOU STUPID BITCH")

Music is the most impressive part of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend for me. While I will have issues occasionally with the show and some songs when the show hits it's stride like with You Stupid Bitch then I know the show is fulfilling it's promise of greatness. The song is you typical power diva ballad of a woman who is a complete mess. The song is a riff on those great concert songs you see diva's deliver for audiences to sing with. The song is just powerful and is something I could listen to for hours through it's great comedy and power.

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Ramin Djwadi for ("The Winds of Winter"), Game of Thrones

Cliff Martinez for ("This is All We Are"), The Knick

Max Richter for ("I Live Here Now"), The Leftovers

Abel Korzeniowsk for ("And They Were Enemies"), Penny Dreadful

Gabriel Mann for ("The Source"), Rectify

AND THE WINNER IS:

RAMIN DJWADI FOR ("THE WINDS OF WINTER"), GAME OF THRONES

This is the second win and nomination for Ramin Djwadi. He previously won for his main titles theme music for Game of Thrones and now wins for his music composition of the season 6 finale "The Winds of Winter.

When it came to one piece of music being so widley discussed on television this season it was Djwadi's The Light of the Seven on the season six finale of Game of Thrones. In particular his standout piece comes in the first 30 minutes of the episode set in King's landing. The score is mainly piano based which is a change for Djwadi on this show but an effective one. The score like the set builds to a unexpected climax as Cersei Lannister literally burns it all up. The score does the job of building tension in this scene as charcters start to worry with non movements in the plot. Djwadi has outdone himself with the work in this finale and I'm just blown away by his Philip Glass inspired score.

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Production Design by Warren A. Young; Set Design by Shirley Inget for ("Waiting for Dutch"), Fargo

Production Design by Deborah Riley; Set Design by Rob Cameron for ("The Winds of Winter"), Game of Thrones

Production Design by Matthew Davies; Set Design by Jaro Dick for ("Digestivo"), Hannibal

Production Design by Howard Cummings; Set Design by Regina Graves for ("Do You Remember Moon Flower?"), The Knick

Production Design by Jonathan McKinstry; Set Design by Philip Murphy for ("Glorious Horrors"), Penny Dreadful

AND THE WINNER IS:

PRODUCTION DESIGN BY HOWARD CUMMINGS; SET DESIGN BY REGINA GRAVES FOR ("DO YOU REMEMBER MOON FLOWER?"), THE KNICK

This is the first win for both production designer Howard Cummings and set designer Regina Graves. Cummings was previously nominated for Behind the Candelabra (2013) and for The Knick (2015) in collaboration with Graves.

Cinemax's series The Knick while a great show was down a bit from it's great season 1 for me. However my feelings towards the consistant quality of the show in no way reflect on the production values of the show. The art direction of the show continued to be stellar. Whether it's the main hospital which just continues to a wonderful built enviornment when every time we visit this hospital we are fully pulled in. There is also the burning which as the characters move through to escape is some great set design with just about every part of the set feeling real and of it's time. Great design this show has and hopefully more seek to watch this show.

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Giovanna Ottobre-Melton for ("Life of the Party"), Agent Carter

Carol Case for ("Waiting for Dutch"), Fargo

Ellen Mirojnick for ("Wonderful Surprises"), The Knick

Terry Dresbach for ("Not in Scotland Anymore"), Outlander

Gabriella Pescucci for ("Glorious Horrors"), Penny Dreadful

AND THE WINNER IS:

GABRIELLA PESCUCCI FOR ("GLORIOUS HORRORS"), PENNY DREADFUL

This is the first win and second consecutive nomination for Gabriella Pescucci. She was previously nominated for her costuming of Penny Dreadful season 1 and wins for her costuming of Penny Dreadful season 2. In particular she wins for her work on the episode "Glorious Horrors".

There's nothing like victorian set ball for a costume designer to really show what they are made of. As is the case with Gabriella who really her attention to detail in giving particular character traits in the costumes to make us believe in the characters even more. I especially love how her work goes to make Vanessa, Madame Kali and Lily three distinct women who while from the same era are completly different characters attending this ball. Down to their clothing's colour and structure that helps to differentiate them from one another. Elegant and stylish work from Pesucci who really helped in creating this visually appealing show for us all to watch for three seasons.

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Craig Wrobleski for ("The Myth of Sisyphus"), Fargo

James Hawkinson for ("Antipasto"), Hanibal

Steven Soderbergh for ("This is All We Are"), The Knick

Owen McPolin for ("Glorious Horrors"), Penny Dreadful

Patrick Cady for ("The Source"), Rectify

AND THE WINNER IS:

JAMES HAWKINSON FOR ("ANTIPASTO"), HANNIBAL

This is the third win and nomination for James Hawkinson. He wins for his cinematography for Hannibal Season 3 and previously won his work on the previous two seasons.

It's quite obvious that Hawkinson was going to win this prize yet again for his expert photography for Hannibal. A show that sadly has departed the airwaves forever but because of Hawkinson and his collaborators work will be a show never forgotten. This premire to season 3 is especially a highlight where we take a detour from the main plot following Hannibal and Bedelia on their journey through Italy. Like all episodes of the show it is packed with breath taking visuals and for this being a new location the episode took place in there was even more greatness to behold as we'd never Hawkinson capture these locations before. What a wonderful job Hawkinson has doen for three seasons now and hopefully he continues to move on because he is quite the talent.

OUTSTANDING EDITING FOR A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Daniel A. Valverde for ("Persona Non Grata"), The Americans

Bridget Durnford for ("The Myth of Sisyphus"), Fargo

Tim Porter for ("The Winds of Winter"), Game of Thrones

Michael Doherty for ("Antipasto"), Hannibal

Michael Ruscio for ("Lens"), The Leftovers

AND THE WINNER IS:

TIM PORTER FOR ("THE WINDS OF WINTER"), GAME OF THRONES

This is the first win and nomination for Tim Porter for his editing of the Game of Thrones episode "The Winds of Winter".

I've had my problems with Game of Thrones for seasons now but even I can admit when the show goes full in brilliance that it is at times the best thing to watch on tv. As was the case with the season finale "The Winds of Winter" which was edited to perfection. The main example of this comes in the opening 20 minutes all set in King's Landing as the quick cutting between different locations in this city. The music also adds to the brilliance of this edited sequence but the music and editing work so in force with one another that the editing became as great as it has ever been on the show. This sequence becomes one of the greatest moments for the show and this is down to Porter's editing work.

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Joe Anderson as Mason Verger for ("Digestivo") in "HANNIBAL"

Richard Armitrage as Francis Dolarhyde for ("The Great Red Dragon") in "HANNIBAL"

Rhys Darby as Guy Mann for ("Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster") in "THE X-FILES"

Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk for ("Seven Minutes in Heaven") in "DAREDEVIL"

Raul Esparza as Dr. Frederick Chilton for ("The Number of the Beast is 666...") in "HANNIBAL"

Justin Kirk as Joseph Bucher for ("Fatherland") in "MANHATTAN"

AND THE WINNER IS:

RICHARD ARMITRAGE AS FRANCIS DOLARHYDE FOR ("THE GREAT RED DRAGON") IN "HANNIBAL"

This is the first win and nomination for Richard Armitrage. He wins for his performance as Francis Dolarhyde on Hannibal Season 3 especially in his introduction episode "The Great Red Dragon".

What can be said about Armitrage's performance as Francis Dolarhyde that can't simply be summed by just looking at him. The Camera just sticks to Armitrage and everything he does that it is such a wonderful turn that really drove home the ending of Hannibal season 3 to a great end I was looking forward too and fearful of not getting just because I had really not been much of a fan of Armitrage before this. In his introduction episode he just glows on screen from when you first see him and this continued on throughout his entire season arc as the horrifying Dolarhyde.

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A SERIES, MINISERES OR MOVIE

Agent Carter ("Life of the Party")

All the Way

Hannibal ("Digestivo")

iZombie ("Salvation Army")

Penny Dreadful ("Fresh Hell")

AND THE WINNER IS:

HANNIBAL ("DIGESTIVO")

This is the second win and third nomination for the makeup team of NBC's Hannibal. They previously won for their work on the Season 2 episode ("Tome-wan") and where also nominated for their work on the Season 1 episode ("Sorbet").

Even though it was a year that fans like myself had to say goodbye to NBC's critically acclaimed Hannibal due to it airing late in the previous awards calendar it became eligible for my 2015/2016 awards. While it aired so long ago never was I going to forgets it's greatness and of the many impressive production departments the makeup especially in the creation of Mason Verger is some of the most believable while fantastical makeup effects to be at this high level especially on network television. The makeup was impressive able to makeup a different actor this season playing the role similar to the previous actor in the role which goes to show the makeup artists of the show are actually talented.

OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLES THEME MUSIC

Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Paul Simon for Horace and Pete

Cristobal Tapia de Veer for Humans

Sean Callery for Jessica Jones

Victor Reyes for The Night Manager

AND THE WINNER IS

RACHEL BLOOM AND ADAM SCHLESINGER FOR CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND

This is first win for Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger for the composing of the opening credits theme song for CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

The music is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and for me it all comes back to the opening credits song. The song perfectly sums up the pilot episode for sure in a quick 30 second song. The song plays before each episode and perfectly sets the town as we enter into the crazy world that is this show. Opening themes whether with lyrics or just music scores are important and work best in setting up our minds for these shows. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's is a great example of someones craziness all summed into one catching opening theme song.

OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLES DESIGN

Tom Smith for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Saskia Marka for Deutschland 83

Michelle Dougherty and Arisu Kashiwagi for Jessica Jones

Mara Smalley for The Leftovers

Patrick Clair and Zac Wakefield for The Night Manager

AND THE WINNER IS:

PATRICK CLAIR AND ZAC WAKEFIELD FOR THE NIGHT MANAGER

This is the third win and nomination for Patrick Clair. This is also the first win and nomination for Zac Wakefield. They win for their work on the opening credits of AMC's The Night Manager. Patrick Clair previously won the past two years for his opening credits design of True Detective (2014) and Halt and Catch Fire (2015).

The fact that Patrick Clair wins again for opening credits he has had a hand in creating goes to show how opening credits are not a dying bread especially when you have someone like Clair consistently creating great credits to watch each week before these shows. The Night Manager a series that it's moments of wonder was always a highlight for it's wonderfully detailed credits which fully displayed the spy nature of the show with th cutting between visuals that really worked for me. It really was a beautifully designed work to behold which is why it's no question in me choosing the work by these men as the best.

17th "An Irish Person" TV Awards ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Welcome to anyone who followed this blog when I posted my stage wins just over a month ago and now with the 2015-2016 tv season over and the prestigious Emmy awards nominations revealed I believed it was time for me to return to the blog and day by day leading up to the 68th emmy awards I will go award by award. Feel free to follow if you have any suggestions please write them below. Other then that see you tomorrow when I start awarding great tv from this season starting with the category for Main Titles Opening Credits.