AFT Awards: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

This is the twelfth category of the 6th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2011-2012 season. This year, semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work being done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Emily Bergl, Joan Cusack, Cynthia Nixon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Autumn Reeser

Emmy nominees: Elizabeth Banks, Kathy Bates, Margaret Cho, Dot-Marie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph

Semi-finalists: Kiernan Shipka (Apartment 23), Allison Janney (The Big C), Cynthia Nixon (The Big C), Parker Posey (The Big C), Isla Fisher (Bored to Death), Lily Tomlin (Eastbound and Down), Robin Wright (Enlightened), Cat Deeley (House of Lies), Ellen Barkin (Modern Family), Patricia Clarkson (Parks and Recreation), Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock), Chloe Grace Moretz (30 Rock), Amy Poehler (30 Rock)

Finalists: Mary Steenburgen (30 Rock) fit into the universe of her show gloriously, exuding spectacular chemistry with Alec Baldwin’s Jack. Jenna Elfman (Shameless) was unrecognizable in a brief but extremely memorable wild appearance. Anna Camp (House of Lies) meshed marvelously with those around her, making one of the pilot’s scenes unforgettable. Louise Fletcher (Shameless) took crazy to a whole new level, even for the Gallagher family. Alicia Silverstone (Suburgatory) was sweet and perhaps a bit too sincere in an otherwise airy society.

The nominees:

Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation) babbled brutal dialogue and had a great time matching wits with the constantly stupefied Ben and Leslie. Megalyn Echikunwoke (House of Lies) turned what could have been a distracting character into a crucial component of her show. Lizzy Caplan (New Girl) had the perfect part as an equally sarcastic and neurotic match for Nick. Susan Sarandon (The Big C) was charming and charismatic as a quirky motivational speaker.

The winner:

Dawn Olivieri (House of Lies) stole her every scene with an explicitly-expressed sexuality used as a weapon.

Next up: Best Directing for a Drama Series