OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

BETTER CALL SAUL
Tape A: “Breathe” & “Talk”
Tape B: “Quite a Ride” & “Something Stupid”
Tape C: “Wiedersehen” & “Winner”
THE DEUCE
Tape A: “Our Raison d'Etre” & “There’s an Art to This”
Tape B: “What Big Ideas” & “All You'll Be Eating is Cannibals”
Tape C: “We're All Beasts” & “Inside the Pretend”
THE GOOD FIGHT
Tape A: “The One with Lucca Becoming a Meme” & “The One Where a Nazi Gets Punched”
Tape B: “The One with the Celebrity Divorce” & “The One Where Kurt Saves Diane”
Tape C: “The One Where the Sun Comes Out” & “The One About the End of the World”
HOMECOMING
Tape A: “Mandatory” & “Pineapple”
Tape B: “Redwood” & “Helping”
Tape C: “Protocol” & “Work”
MY BRILLIANT FRIEND
Tape A: “The Dolls” & “The Money”
Tape B: “The Metamorphosis” & “Dissolving Margins”
Tape C: “The Fiances” & “The Promise”
POSE
Tape A: “Pilot” & “Access”
Tape B: “Giving and Receiving” & “The Fever”
Tape C: “Love is the Message” & “Mother of The Year”

AND THE WINNER IS:

POSE

This is the first win and nomination for Pose in this category. This year it was nominated for twenty-one awards winning ten of those. The awards it won are Series, Ensemble, Leading Actor (Porter), Leading Actress (Rodriguez), Supporting Actress (Moore), Directing, Writing, Casting, Hairstyling & Makeup. It was also nominated for Supporting Actor (Peters), Guest Actor (Jackson), Guest Actor (Meloni), Directing, Writing, Art Direction, Choreography, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing & Main Titles Design.

The television event of the 2018-2019 tv season for me was Pose. The show premiered at basically the start of the summer of 2018 and yet nothing in terms of quality has reached it's height. I just love everything about this show even if it does contain certain faults because if I can love this show at it's worse I'm good at watching it at it's best. Ryan Murphy continues his prolific career of being the most powerful producer working in the golden age of television. Love him or hate him just appreciate the work he produces.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

BARRY
Tape A: “Past = Present x Future Over Yesterday” & “What?!”
Tape B: “ronny/lily” & “The Truth Has a Ring to It”
Tape C: “The Audition” & “berkman > block”
BETTER THINGS
Tape A: “Chicago” & “Nesting”
Tape B: “No Limit” & “What is Jeopardy?”
Tape C: “The Unknown” & “Shake the Cocktail”
FLEABAG
Tape A: “Episode 1” & “Episode 2”
Tape B: “Episode 3” & “Episode 4”
Tape C: “Episode 5” & “Episode 6”
ONE DAY AT A TIME
Tape A: “The Funeral” & “Benefit with Friends”
Tape B: “Nip It in the Bud” & “The First Time”
Tape C: “Drinking and Driving” & “Ghosts”
THE OTHER TWO
Tape A: “Pilot” & “Chase Goes to a Premiere”
Tape B: “Chase Gets the Gays” & “Chase Gets a Nosebleed”
Tape C: “Chase Shoots a Music Video” & “Chase Drops His First Album”
SCHITT'S CREEK
Tape A: “The Crowening” & “Love Letters”
Tape B: “The Dress” & “Housewarming”
Tape C: “Meet the Parents” & “The Hike”

AND THE WINNER IS:

FLEABAG

This is the first win and nomination for Fleabag in this category. This year Fleabag received thirteen nominations winning four of those. This season it wins for Series, Supporting Actor (Scott), Guest Actress (Scott Thomas) and Writing. It was also nominated for Ensemble, Leading Actress (Wallter-Bridge), Supporting Actress (Ciafford), Supporting Actress (Colman), Guest Actress (Shaw), Directing, Casting, Cinematography & Editing.

I was a fan of Fleabag's first season and now following the second season I'm thankful people who might've skipped the first season are fully caught up due to the pure perfecton that is season two. For such a short run of two seasons it is arguably one of the greatest comedy series from the past decade in television and even if we never revisit the show again we should thankful we have this easily digestiable series to rewatch for years.

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES

THE DEUCE (James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Chris Bauer, Gary Carr, Chris Coy, Dominique Fishback, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Margarita Levieva, Emily Meade, Michael Rispoli, Luke Kirby, Jamie Neumann, David Krumholtz, Daniel Sauli, Sepideh Moafi, Olivia Luccardi)
GENTLEMAN JACK (Suranne Jones, Sophie Rundle, Joe Armstrong, Amelia Bullmore, Rosie Cavaliero Gemma Whelan, Gemma Jones, Timothy West, Tom Lewis)
THE GOOD FIGHT (Christine Baranski, Rose Leslie, Cush Jumbo, Delroy Lindo, Sarah Steele, Nyambi Nyambi, Michael Boatman, Audra McDonald)
HOMECOMING (Julia Roberts, Bobby Cannavale, Stephan James, Shea Whigham, Alex Karpovsky, Sissy Spacek, Marianne Jean-Baptiste)
POSE (Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Charlayne Woodard, Evan Peters, Dyllón Burnside, Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross, Angel Bismark Curiel, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, Jeremy McClain, Jason A. Rodriguez)
SUCCESSION (Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Juliana Canfield, Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, Dagmara Dominczyk , Peter Friedman, Natalie Gold, Justin Loupe, Matthew Macfadyen, Arian Moayed, Scott Nicholson, David Rasche, Alan Ruck, J. Smith-Cameron, Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong, Rob Yang, Ashley Zukerman)

AND THE WINNER IS:

POSE (MJ RODRIGUEZ, DOMINIQUE A. JACKSON, BILLY PORTER, INDYA MOORE, RYAN JAMAAL SWAIN, CHARLAYNE WOODARD, EVAN PETERS, DYLLON BURNSIDE, HAILIE SAHAR, ANGELICA ROSS, ANGEL BISMARK CURIEL, KATE MARA, JAMES VAN DER BEEK, JEREMY MCCLAIN, JASON A. RODRIGUEZ)

This is the first win and nomination for the ensemble of Pose.

As we are coming to the end of my awards it's clear that I adored Pose. Of the drama acting categories it has won 3 awards for Rodriguez, Porter & Moore. While many of the cast members were not personally nominated by me I do have to give great congrats to the ensemble at large as they are all quite astonishing. I live for and love the characters on this show and with the second season recently ended I still am devoted to the show and expect even more awarding from me for the show in a years time because it just is that good.

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Andre Braugher, Dirk Blocker, Joel McKinnon Miller)
FLEABAG (Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Sian Clifford, Olivia Colman. Bill Paterson, Brett Gelman, Andrew Scott)
G.L.O.W. (Britt Baron, Shakira Barrera, Alison Brie, Kimmy Gatewood, Betty Gilpin, Rebekka Johnson, Chris Lowell, Sunita Mani, Marc Maron, Kate Nash, Wyatt Nash, Sydelle Noel, Victor Quinaz, Gayle Rankin, Bashir Salahuddin, Kia Stevens, Jackie Tohn, Ellen Wong, and Britney Young)
ONE DAY AT A TIME (Justina Machado, Todd Grinnell, Isabella Gomez, Marcel Ruiz, Stephen Tobolowsky, Rita Moreno)
THE OTHER TWO (Drew Tarver, Heléne Yorke, Case Walker, Ken Marino, Molly Shannon, Josh Segarra)
SCHITT'S CREEK (Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Emily Hampshire, Jenn Robertson, Chris Elliott, Sarah Levy, Dustin Milligan, Noah Reid, Karen Robinson)

AND THE WINNER IS:

SCHITT'S CREEK (EUGENE LEVY, CATHERINE O'HARA, DANIEL LEVY, ANNIE MURPHY, EMILY HAMPSHIRE, JENN ROBERTSTON, CHRIS ELLIOTT, SARAH LEVY, DUSTIN MILLIGAN, NOAH REID, KAREN ROBINSON)

This is the first win and nomination for the ensemble of Schitt's Creek.

Television comedy is currently producing such great content that even when I loved Schitt's Creek for seasons I was never able to find a place to fully nominate the series. However with this penultimate season it's great quality was too hard to ignore. I have loved the show since it began five years ago and I am so happy that it's seemingly broken through and if you are not watching the series something has to be wrong with you. The Rose family who lead this series are an iconic TV family and the entire town of Schitt's Creek who support them are also wonderful. With the show ending with it's next season I'm in a state of depression because I'd welcome 10 more years of these characters.

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM

The Amazing Race ("I Took Out a Polar Bear")
Dancing With the Stars (“Week 5: Disney Night”)
RuPaul's Drag Race (“Diva Worship”)
So You Think You Can Dance (“Auditions #1”)
Survivor (“Breadth-First Search”)
Top Chef (“Surprise...It's Restaurant Wars”)

AND THE WINNER IS:

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE ("DIVA WORSHIP")

This is the fourth win and eleventh consecutive nomination in this category for RuPaul's Drag Race.

Even with a weaker season airing in 2019, Drag Race still stands high above all other reality-competition programs which is why it will likely continue claiming this prize from me as I love the show it has become.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart for ("The One Where Diane Joins the Resistance") in "THE GOOD FIGHT"
Jodie Comer as Villanelle / Oksana Astankova for ("I Hope You Like Missionary!") in "KILLING EVE"
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Eileen Merrell / "Candy" for ("We're All Beasts") in "THE DEUCE"
Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri for ("Do You Know How to Dispose of a Body?") in "KILLING EVE"
Julia Roberts as Heidi Bergman for ("Protocol") in "HOMECOMING"
MJ Rodriguez as Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista for ("Mother's Day") in "POSE"

AND THE WINNER IS:

MJ RODRIGUEZ AS BLANCA RODRIGUEZ-EVANGELISTA FOR ("MOTHER'S DAY") IN "POSE"

This is the first win and nomination for MJ Rodriguez.

Before Pose premiered I had no idea who MJ Rodriguez was, this type of discovery is always my favourite when watching a new film or television show. Rodriguez plays the motherly figure Blanca who from the moment she's introduced is captivating. MJ like many of the performers featured in Pose provides great heart and love of their characters that for me was entirely satisying to watch. Ryan Murphy has used his clout quite well in providing opportunity for minority talent and Rodriguez is a great example of this great opportunity. Perhaps if the people with money in film/television making were more like Murphy we wouldn't have the great inequality we have and there'd be more talent like MJ given great opportunities to shine.

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Brian Cox as Logan Roy for ("Which Side Are You On?") in "SUCCESSION"
Cody Fern as Michael Langdon for ("Could It Be... Satan?") in "AMERICAN HORROR STORY: APOCALPYSE"
Stephan James as Walter Cruz for ("Redwood") in "HOMECOMING"
Richard Madden as PS David Budd for ("Episode 6") in "BODYGUARD"
Bob Odenkirk as James Morgan "Jimmy" McGill for ("Piñata") in "BETTER CALL SAUL"
Billy Porter as Pray Tell for ("Love is the Message") in "POSE"

AND THE WINNER IS:

BILLY PORTER AS PRAY TELL FOR ("LOVE IS THE MESSAGE") IN "POSE"

This is the first win and nominated for Billy Porter.

Billy Porter! Billy Porter! Billy Porter! I have to say now that this performance is the best of this past television season. Everything he did on the show was perfect from the cutting way he deliveres Pray Tell's reads at the ball to the caring way in which he delivers Pray Tell's elder advice to the younger characters on the show. Porter's work is full of so much weight and debt and a performance that no other actor could deliver. With the show just completing it's second season a few weeks ago I expect him to be rewarded again by me because if possible he was even greater in the second season.

P.S. Porter is the one Emmy win that I would be upset not to see in a weeks time.