Thursday, September 17, 2015

AFT Awards: Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

This is the third category of the 9th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2014-2015 season. 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 Lead Actor in a Comedy Series


Last year’s nominees: Matt LeBlanc, Danny McBride, Stephen Merchant, Chris O’Dowd, Adam Scott

Emmy nominees: Anthony Anderson, Don Cheadle, Louis C.K., Will Forte, Matt LeBlanc, William H. Macy, Jeffrey Tambor

Semi-finalists: Chris Geere (You’re the Worst)

Finalists: Nat Faxon (Married) made a mildly motivated father and husband feel real and funny. Don Cheadle (House of Lies) built up his company with no end in sight, eager to unapologetically bite the hand that fed him at every turn. Mark Duplass (Togetherness) was nervous and awkward as a competent stylistic anchor of his muted comedy. Steve Coogan (Happyish) hated everything around him with a passion but managed to turn his protagonist into a believable character over the course of his show’s sole season. Elijah Wood (Wilfred) wandered around wondering whether he was crazy in his show’s fourth and final season.

The nominees:

Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation) made Ben a crucial part of Pawnee’s history in his show’s marvelous final season. Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) was selfish and oblivious as always as he started to see that maybe his career wasn’t headed where he thought it was. William H. Macy (Shameless) nearly let Frank become a good person but made sure to let his inner awfulness shine through. Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley) was a meticulous mess, trying so hard to steer his startup right and failing in some way at every occasion.

The winner:

Jeffrey Tambor (Transparent) delivered an immersive, heartfelt take on a woman trapped in a man’s body finally ready to reveal to those around her the true self she had been bottling up for decades.

Next up: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

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