OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Uta Briesewitz for (“Seven-Fifty”), The Deuce
Sam Esmail for (“Protocol”), Homecoming
Saverio Costanzo for (“Episode 7”), My Brilliant Friend
Ryan Murphy for (“Pilot”), Pose
Janet Mock for (“Love is the Message”), Pose

AND THE WINNER IS:

JANET MOCK FOR ("LOVE IS THE MESSAGE"), POSE

This is the second win and nomination for Janet Mock. She has also won writing for Pose (2019).

When the emmy nominations were announced back in July I think the nomination I was most upset not to see was Janet Mock in the drama directing category. I guess Mock even with an emmy snub ended up winning with her new Netflix deal and through this deal and her creative work on Pose Mock is blazing a trail for other queer artists to be possibly given opportunities like she now has. With every new award I bestroy on Pose I just plead people watch this show because it is truly brillant television. 

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Bryan Cogman for (“A Night of the Seven Kingdoms”), Game of Thrones
Sally Wainwright for (“I Was Just Passing”), Gentleman Jack
Jacquelyn Reingold for (“The One with Lucca Becoming a Meme”), The Good Fight
Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk & Steven Canals for (“Pilot”), Pose
Ryan Murphy & Janet Mock for (“Love is the Message”), Pose

AND THE WINNER IS:

RYAN MURPHY & JANET MOCK FOR ("LOVE IS THE MESSAGE"), POSE

This is the first win and nomination for Janet Mock. This is the second win and fifthteeth nomination for Ryan Murphy. He previously won for producing Glee (2010). He was also nominated for producing American Horror Story (2012-2013), The Normal Heart (2014), American Crime Story (2016, 2018), Feud: Bette and Joan (2017), directing Nip/Tuck (2004), Glee (2009), The Normal Heart (2014), Feud: Bette and Joan (2017) and writing Glee (2010), Feud: Bette and Joan (2017) & Pose (2019).

Ryan Murphy is one of the most innovative television creators of the 2010's. While not everything he produces is perfect just about everything he puts his name behind is important. Pose as a series is a natural progression for Murphy and his inclusiveness that he features in his series. The fact that Murphy is a powerhouse in television and he can give opportunities to those considered minorities is an impressive act. Janet Mock an artist who I'd not been familiar with before Pose has really made an impact on me by her talent for directing/writing,producing that she showed in the first season of Pose. This standout writing episode was the standout episode of the season and as with most great Pose episodes featured great drama and great joy in the characters of this ballroom scene accomplishing such great feats in a time period when members of the community being represented where going through such hard times.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN DRAMA SERIES

Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Gloria Cruz for ("Toys") in "HOMECOMING"
Audra McDonald as Liz Lawrence for ("The One About the Recent Troubles") in "THE GOOD FIGHT"
Indya Moore as Angel Evangelista for ("The Fever") in "POSE"
Rhea Seehorn as Kimberly "Kim" Wexler for ("Breathe") in "BETTER CALL SAUL"
Fiona Shaw as Carolyn Martens for ("Desperate Times") in "KILLING EVE"
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark for ("Winterfell") in "GAME OF THRONES"

AND THE WINNER IS:

INDYA MOORE AS ANGEL EVANGELISTA FOR ("THE FEVER") IN "POSE"

This is the first win and nomination for Indya Moore.

See Hollywood! Casting trans actors to play transgender roles will not destroy a character as there are plenty of talented actors with Indya Moore being a great example of one. From the first moment Moore's Angel walked on screen and travelled through the brilliant first season it was clear she is a talent to watch. Everything is beautifully deep in how she portrays Angel and with her main story acting opposite the equally great Evan Peters it was an entirely believable love story. While this plotline is not continuing into the second season I will always appreciate the work by these two actors and especially Moore who yet again in the second season is doing tremendous work (she could contend for a second consecutive win in a year's time). As I have been saying with every Pose win people just need to binge this show quickly if they've not watched a second of it.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy for ("The Long Night") in "GAME OF THRONES"
Bobby Cananvale as Colin Belfast for ("Protocol") in "HOMCOMING"
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister for ("A Night of the Seven Kingdoms") in "GAME OF THRONES"
Ncuti Gatwa as Eric Effiong for ("Episode 5") in "SEX EDUCATION"
Evan Peters as Stan Bowes for ("Pink Slip") in "POSE"
Shea Whigham as Thomas Carrasco for ("Test") in "HOMECOMING"

AND THE WINNER IS:

SHEA WHIGHAM AS THOMAS CARRASCO FOR ("TEST") IN "HOMECOMING"

This is the first win and fourth nomination for Shea Whigham, He was previously nominated as part of the ensemble of Boardwalk Empire (2012, 2014-2015).

A reliable supporting character actor is one of my favourite performers to watch on television and Whigham is a great example of this kind of performer. In Homecoming he is the lesser known in acting opposite award winners like Bobby Canavale and Julia Roberts however after watching the first season the actor you can't help but talk about is Whigham. He was amazing in his role as the detective trying to clear up some of the shadiness of the organization which connected all of the series characters. Having seen Whigham in a lot of wasted supporting roles I was happy being a fan that he finally got a role which spotlighted him and perhaps will launch him into a string of roles like this that make people appreciate him more.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Mahershala Ali as Detective Wayne Hays in "TRUE DETECTIVE"
Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe in "A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL"
Jared Harris as Valery Legasov in "CHERNOBYL"
Jharrel Jerome as Korey Wise in "WHEN THEY SEE US"
Ashton Sanders as Bigger Thomas in "NATIVE SON"
Jeffrey Wright as Louis in "O.G."

AND THE WINNER IS:

JHARREL JEROME AS KOREY WISE IN "WHEN THEY SEE US"

This is the first win and nomination for Jharrel Jerome.

How incredible the casting of Moonlight has been with three actors from that film making up 50% of this lineup. Jerome my personal winner while a smaller part of that great film with his work as Korey Wise has full broken out like the rest of the Moonlight ensemble. In the first 2 episodes he's great however like many have mentioned when watching the fourth and final chapter of the series we as the audience really get to appreciate his performance. His work displayed such deep sadness in how he was fully punished and hurt by his experiences in prison. People just need to watch the series and witness his great work being the only actor to play both the teenage and adult versions of his character Korey.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Amy Adams as Camille Preaker in "SHARP OBJECTS"
Patricia Arquette as Tilly Mitchell in "ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA"
Carla Gugino as Olivia Crain in "THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE"
Joey King as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in "THE ACT"
Florence Pugh as Charlie / Charmain Ross in "THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL"
Michelle Williams as Gwen Verdon in "FOSSE/VERDON"

AND THE WINNER IS:

MICHELLE WILLIAMS AS GWEN VERDON IN "FOSSE/VERDON"

This is the first win and nomination for Michelle Williams.

For being William's long awaited return to television it's clear the days of Dawson's Creek are very much behind her. In this miniseries we have Williams playing the legendary Gwen Verdon and all I can say is I was stunned. The performance is entirely felt in both body and voice. It seemed her body like Verdon was dancing through the entire performance. Having slightfly suffered through a period in Williams career where it felt like all she was asked to play was depressed women now having seen her be so alive in a role increased my love for her again. The series was all about Michelle for me and even though her and Rockwell were meant to be co-leads I was just never effected by his work the same way I was by hers.