Tuesday, August 9, 2016

AFT Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

This is the eighth category of the 10th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2015-2016 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 Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series


Last year’s nominees: Anna Chlumsky, Yael Grobglas, Amy Landecker, Amanda Peet, Jenny Slate

Emmy nominees: Anna Chlumsky, Gaby Hoffmann, Allison Janney, Judith Light, Kate McKinnon, Niecy Nash

Semi-finalists: Adrienne C. Moore (Orange is the New Black), Allison Williams (Girls), Amy Landecker (Transparent), Andrea Navedo (Jane the Virgin), Angelique Cabral (Life in Pieces), Anna Chlumsky (Veep), Betsy Brandt (Life in Pieces), Brooklyn Decker (Grace and Frankie), Donna Lynne Champlin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Emma Kenney (Shameless), Gaby Hoffmann (Transparent), Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Jenny Slate (Married), Judith Light (Transparent), June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), Kate Mulgrew (Orange is the New Black), Kether Donohue (You're the Worst), Kristen Bell (House of Lies), Laura Prepon (Orange is the New Black), Mary Elizabeth Ellis (The Grinder), Melanie Papalia (You, Me, Her), Natalie Morales (The Grinder), Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black), Sarah Burns (Married), Sufe Bradshaw (Veep), Taryn Manning (Orange is the New Black), Zosia Mamet (Girls)

Finalists: Amanda Peet (Togetherness) spiraled out of control as she figured out what she wanted but couldn’t go about it the right way or keep her feelings bottled up. Yael Grobglas (Jane the Virgin) pulled double duty playing sisters separated at birth, each frantic and fierce in their own ways. Collette Wolfe (You're the Worst) was a rare bright spot on her show, so full of unbridled energy and positivity without any extreme excess baggage. Ashley Gerasinovich (The Detour) was the best kind of TV child, one who knew much more than she should have for her years yet still reverted back to her age at regular intervals. Christina Millian (Grandfathered) made her character a vital and totally entertaining part of her show, full of pipe dreams and tireless energy.

The nominees:

Noel Wells (Master of None) was immediately sweet, sincere, and cool, the perfect match for Dev. Paget Brewster (Grandfathered) was the best part of FOX’s short-lived sitcom, a mother and grandmother still trying to figure out how to properly navigate the social scene and her love life. Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces) was the scene stealer in her large ensemble, so effortlessly sardonic and ready to call out the absurdity of each situation. Elaine Hendrix (Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll) made Ava more than just the lifelong girlfriend of a rock star, imbuing her with sass, loyalty, and one hell of a strange relationship with her boyfriend’s daughter.

The winner:

Tara Lynne Barr (Casual) held her own with the adult actors on her show, making Laura an impossibly mature teenager whose age-defying wisdom couldn’t help blinding her from what could hurt her most.

Next up: Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

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