Inside track: Emmy race for lead comedy actress
All five of last year's Emmy rivals for best comedy actress are back in the race and seem likely to return on July 16: Christina Applegate ("Samantha Who?"), America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty"), Tina Fey ("30 Rock"), Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("The New Adventures of Old Christine") and Mary-Louise Parker ("Weeds").
Since the TV academy is expanding this category to six contenders this year, that means there's room for one more. Don't count out Amy Poehler just because "Parks and Recreation" hasn't scored big with TV critics and Nielsen viewers. Unlike the previous three Emmy derbies, nominees will be chosen by a popular vote of members of the academy's acting branch – and, of course, Poehler is hugely popular. Personally, I'm rooting for her to get in. Poehler told Gold Derby that there will be no "diva clawfest" between her and former "Saturday Night Live" costar Tina Fey (last year's champ) if they both nab noms, but we bloggers can stir up trouble anyway.
Toni Collette ("United States of Tara") has a good shot at a bid, especially since she's a past Oscar nominee ("The Sixth Sense," 1999). If nommed, she could pull off an upset victory in September, considering how well split-personality roles do at all showbiz awards (think Joanne Woodward in "Three Faces of Eve" at the Oscars, Sally Field in "Sybil" at the Emmys).
2005 champ Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives," 2005) might rebound, but she wasn't nominated last year or in 2006.
** Nominee last year
* Top 10 Semi-Finalist in 2008
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
(Front-runners)
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" **
Toni Collette, "United States of Tara"
Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives" *
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" **
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" ** (Winner in 2008)
Teri Hatcher, "Desperate Housewives"
Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives" *
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine" **
Eva Longoria-Parker, "Desperate Housewives" *
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds" **
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program" *
(Possible)
Tichnia Arnold, "Everybody Hates Chris"
Kaley Cuoco, "The Big Bang Theory"
Joely Fisher, "'Til Death"
Anna Friel, "Pushing Daisies" *
Debra Messing, "The Starter Wife"
Megan Mullally, In the Motherhood
Billie Piper, "Secret Life of a Call Girl"
(Long Shots)
Miley Cyrus, "Hannah Montana"
Cheryl Hines, "In the Motherhood"
Tamela Mann, "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns"
Megyn Price, "Rules of Engagement"
Judy Reyes, "Scrubs"
Molly Shannon, "Kath and Kim"
Jordana Spiro, "My Boys"
Cynthia Stevenson, "Surviving Suburbia"
Yvonne Strahovski, "Chuck"
Photos: NBC
RELATED POSTS
Inside track: Emmy race for best drama series
Inside track: Emmy race for best comedy series
Inside track: Emmy race for lead actress in a drama
Inside track: Emmy race for lead actor in a drama
Inside track: Emmy race for lead actor in a comedy
Inside track: Emmy race for lead comedy actress
Inside track: Emmy race for best miniseries
Inside track: Emmy race for best TV movie
Get Gold Derby on Twitter. Join the Gold Derby Group at Facebook. Become friends with Tom O'Neil on Facebook. Get Gold Derby RSS feed via Facebook. RSS Feedburner. RSS Atom.
HI Tim, Im glad YOU recognise Tichina Arnold. Why dont the Emmys? Why do they ignore AfrAm shows? In teh 9-s it was Phylicia Rashad in The Cosby Show to the actresses of Girlfriends, to now Everybody Hates Chris.
WHY ARE AFRAM shows ignored?
Posted by: lilkunta | July 17, 2009 at 06:39 AM
Billie Piper is amazing in Secret diary (as she was in Doctor who). She deserves at least a nomination. That would be awesome!
Posted by: Sunny | July 12, 2009 at 01:56 AM
Jordana Spiro should be recognized for her comedic talent in "My Boys." It is a great show with a cast with great chemistry and it really shows in its writing. "My Boys'" IMHO has not gotten much recognition as its fellow cable shows.
Posted by: Maria | July 11, 2009 at 03:00 PM
This whole "It's Best Actress in a Comedy Series, NOT "Best Comedy Actress." thing is bull. Seriously, why have two different categories to award the same kind of performance? The "Best Actress in a Comedy Series" should award comedy actresses. PERIOD!
Posted by: Anna | July 07, 2009 at 08:16 PM
wish Tina will make it
Posted by: seo india | July 07, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Give it to Julia Louis Dreyfus for being a milf!!!
Posted by: Doug | July 04, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Remember: It's Best Actress in a Comedy Series, NOT "Best Comedy Actress." Yvonne Strahovski is the best actress on television (any genre). I don't think she's being given a fair shake because she plays the "straight man" and the lack of media exposure, and should be a lot higher on that list than just a long shot.
Posted by: Ambaryerno | July 04, 2009 at 07:59 AM