Tuesday, October 14, 2014

AFT Awards: Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

This is the eleventh category of the 8th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2013-2014 seasons. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series


Last year’s nominees: Kevin Dunn, Tim Minchin, Chris O’Dowd, Patton Oswalt, Andrew Rannells

Emmy nominees: Steve Buscemi, Louis C.K., Gary Cole, Jimmy Fallon, Nathan Lane, Bob Newhart

Semi-finalists: None

Finalists: On a show I don’t watch, Steve Buscemi (Portlandia) was fantastically desperate and unlucky as a celery salesman. Jon Glaser (Parks and Recreation) gave the eternally seedy Councilman Jamm a bit of endearing personality but didn’t apologize for any of his irritating tendencies. Andrew Rannells (Girls) delighted in drama and got to experience some new soapy situations of his own. Pablo Schreiber (Orange is the New Black) seized the opportunity to make Pornstache an utterly detestable human being intent on making everyone around him as miserable as suited his mood.

The nominees:

Henry Winkler (Parks and Recreation) had a lot of fun with a role that didn’t need to be as dramatic and hilarious as he made it, turning his pediatrician into a cunning, high-mined businessman. Billy Eichner (Parks and Recreation) made Craig a fascinating mess to watch, always on a short leash but possessing a good sense of completely unchecked humanity. Chris Diamantopoulos (Episodes) was all kinds of crazy, with his focused performance best exemplified by a conversation with an egg. Christopher Meloni (Veep)
played dumb to perfection, gleefully enjoying his own stupidity and his pride in having a soapbox.
The winner:

Sam Elliott (Parks and Recreation) created a parallel version of Ron, who initially seemed to be just like the mustachioed meat eater but who did a marvelous job of proving to be his exact opposite in every possible way.

Next up: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

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