As usual, the Emmy nominations are as striking for their omissions as they are for their inclusions. Here are six shows that deserved to be recognized.
Yesterday, reporters gathered at Los Angeles’s Wolf Theatre to watch Anna Chlumsky and Shemar Moore announce the 69th Primetime Emmy nominees. The reveal was fairly predictable, with buzzy newcomers like Atlanta, Westworld, and The Handmaid’s Tale joining stalwarts like House of Cards and Veep.
While we don’t begrudge the nominees their triumph, we can’t help but lament all the worthy candidates that failed to make the cut. After all, this is Peak TV; with an unprecedented number of shows vying for attention and a limited number of available slots, snubs are inevitable. And let’s be honest: complaining is part of the fun of awards. How else can we assure ourselves that our taste in entertainment is cool and daring?
So, without further ado, here are six shows that should be (but aren’t) Emmy nominees:
Arrow
From multiplexes to the small screen, superheroes dominate pop culture right now. Do they need any more attention? Probably not. But Arrow made a tricky task look easy in its fifth installment, bringing a series-long narrative to a satisfying – yet not definitive – close, and I wouldn’t hesitate to rank it alongside any “prestige” drama. Whatever it lacks in glamour, it gains in entertainment value, which requires its own kind of artistry. It’s everything a superhero story should be: action-packed yet disciplined, buoyant yet earnest, its larger-than-life dilemmas rooted in personal stakes.
Deserved a nomination for: Lead Actor (Stephen Amell); Stunt Coordination
Fresh off the Boat
Like the Huangs, Fresh off the Boat has come a long way in three seasons. ABC’s family sitcom got off to a rocky start, relying on broadly drawn characters and somewhat superficial cultural humor. Over time, however, it found its voice, revealing a keen wit beneath its affable sensibility and ‘90s nostalgia. Season 3 is most notable for its exploration of citizenship, but it is equally impressive for more conventional plotlines, like Emery’s efforts to fit into middle school, thanks to its winning cast. Besides perennial standout Constance Wu, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, and Ian Chen display comedic chops that belie their age.
Deserved a nomination for: Lead Actress (Constance Wu)
Halt and Catch Fire
You could be forgiven for forgetting that Halt and Catch Fire exists. The AMC tech drama aired its most recent episode way back in October and has struggled to attract viewers after a freshman season that prompted unfavorable Mad Men comparisons. It’s too bad, because that means one of the best shows on television is passing by virtually unnoticed. In season 3, it reached new levels of excellence, relocating from Texas to Silicon Valley and turning up the heat on its characters to the point of explosion. Each episode was a marvel of storytelling, conflicts, emotions, and ideas merging in seamless synergy. For a series about computers, it was never dull and always human.
Deserved a nomination for: Outstanding Drama; Lead Actress (Mackenzie Davis); Supporting Actress (Kerry Bishé); Directing (Andrew McCarthy, “Yerba Buena”); Cinematography (“You Are Not Safe”)
Jane the Virgin
Jane the Virgin lost some of its spark this season, increasingly bogged down by the melodrama it once wore lightly (Rose stopped being interesting a long time ago). Still, it remained a reliable laugh generator, and in terms of ambition, it is unparalleled among comedies – network, cable, or streaming. In addition to navigating sexuality with insight and humor, it juggles a range of tones, genres, and styles; even when it misses the ball, you feel obliged to applaud the effort. If nothing else, it has Gina Rodriguez, whose charming, versatile performance as Jane Villenueva never ceases to dazzle.
Deserved a nomination for: Lead Actress (Gina Rodriguez)
The Leftovers
Okay, The Leftovers wasn’t technically shutout; Ann Dowd got a well-deserved nod for her formidable guest appearance as cult leader Patty Levin. But in an ideal world, HBO would get at least as many Emmy nominations for this sublime apocalyptic saga as it did for Westworld. Anchored by a host of fearless performances, The Leftovers turns existential despair into urgent, mesmerizing drama. Imagine The Tree of Life with karaoke, an orgy, and mute nihilists, and you’d get the gist. Yet, even that doesn’t capture the audacity – the sheer weirdness – of Damon Lindelof’s vision. Like all things spiritual, it must be experienced to be understood.
Deserved a nomination for: Outstanding Drama; Lead Actor (Justin Theroux); Lead Actress (Carrie Coon); Supporting Actor (Christopher Eccleston); Actress (Amy Brenneman); Directing (Mimi Leder “The Book of Nora”); Writing (“Certified”); Music Composition; Cinematography (“Don’t Be Ridiculous”)
Superstore
Network comedy is thriving, though you wouldn’t know it from the Emmys, which seem content to use black-ish and Modern Family as stand-ins. In addition to the aforementioned Fresh off the Boat and Jane the Virgin, there’s Brooklyn Nine Nine, Speechless, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and The Carmichael Show. My personal favorite is NBC’s Superstore, which has flown under many critics’ radars. Like The Office, on which creator Justin Spitzer served as a writer, it’s interested in small-town America and the mundane reality of work. Also like The Office, it rejects the feel-good, found-family vibe that tends to pervade sitcoms in favor of deadpan satire. However, in its diverse, dynamic ensemble, impish social commentary, and empathetic tone, it’s one of a kind.
Deserved a nomination for: Outstanding Comedy; Lead Actress (America Ferrera); Writing (“Tornado”); Directing (“Tornado”)
Related Story: Emmy nominations 2017: winners, upsets, and reactions
The 69th Primetime Emmy Awards will air September 17 on CBS.