Nominees are pictured and listed in alphabetical order. Submitted episode titles are in parentheses. Beware of minor spoilers for listed episodes.
Mayim Bialik as Amy Fowler, The Big Bang Theory (The Fish Guts Displacement)
Bialik is back with her second consecutive nomination for playing Sheldon’s girlfriend Amy on the hit CBS sitcom. In her submitted episode, Amy gets sick and is surprised to discover how good a job Sheldon does of taking care of her when prompted. It’s a fun part and a fun episode, and a win for someone besides star Jim Parsons might be a welcome thing for her show.
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy, Modern Family (My Hero)
Bowen has won this award twice in a row, with an additional nomination the year before that. In her submitted episode, Claire is chosen by her son as his hero, prompting considerable shock from her husband. Bowen is the competent straight woman on her show, and she doesn’t have to try hard to win this award. With a wide field, I still think she’s the frontrunner to win again.
Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer, Veep (First Response)
I’m very happy to see Chlumsky recognized for a performance I didn’t expect Emmy voters to notice. Chlumsky is reliable as Selina’s number one female advisor, who is just as uncensored as her boss and just as witty. In her submitted episode, Amy gets to yell at a producer during an interview and stand her ground in defense of her boss. I’d love to see her win, but I don’t think she’ll be singled out from this showier bunch.
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Moroney, 30 Rock (Hogcock/Last Lunch)
This is Krakowski’s fourth nomination for this show. She was snubbed last year but nominated three times in a row before that. Krakowski has never won an Emmy, and her winning would be a great way to say goodbye to the show, especially since nominated costars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey have already won. Her submitted episode, the two-part series finale, includes a great snippet of “The Rural Juror” and wouldn’t leave anyone doubting that Krakowski has created a truly unique and unforgettable character.
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester, Glee (Diva)
I’m perplexed by Lynch’s inclusion here because I thought voters had all but forgotten her show. Lynch won three years ago for the freshman season of her show and was nominated the year after as well. In her submitted installment, Sue gets to sing in full costume as part of a feud with Blaine. She’s fun in it, but it’s hardly the caliber of performance or writing that she used to have. There’s no reason she couldn’t win again, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Modern Family (Yard Sale)
Vergara is on her fourth nomination, and she’s lost twice in a row to her costar Julie Bowen. I wrote last year that voters might be tired of her character, but in her submitted episode this year, she reveals a hidden talent for ventriloquism. Even if I didn’t buy it, she was doing something different for once, and it might well be the thing that finally gets her some reward beyond just a nomination.
Merritt Wever as Zoey Barkow, Nurse Jackie (Teachable Moments)
Wever is back with a second consecutive nomination for the fifth season of her show for her portrayal of talkative nurse Zoey, who often tries to spread her passion and energy to those around her despite their best attempts to ignore her. In her submitted episode, Zoey encourages Dr. Prentiss to be friendlier and tells people he likes getting hugs, which makes for a great showcase of her zeal. If she were a bigger name in a less crowded category, she might have a shot at winning.
Who should win (based on entire season): Chlumsky or Bowen
Who should win (based on individual episodes): Bialik, Chlumsky, or Wever
Who will win: I’m not sure who might be the one to beat Bowen, but if she did lose, I’d bet on either Krakowski or Vergara.
Next up: Best Directing for a Drama Series
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