AFT Awards: Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

This is the twelfth 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 Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Sasha Alexander, Gillian Jacobs, Yara Martinez, Bridget Regan, Andrea Savage

Emmy nominees: Christine Baranski, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Melora Hardin, Melissa McCarthy, Laurie Metcalf, Amy Schumer

Semi-finalists: Aly Michalka (iZombie), Amy Landecker (Married), Andrea Savage (The Grinder), Anjelica Huston (Transparent), Anna Camp (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Carla Gugino (The Brink), Evan Rachel Wood (Doll and Em), Ginger Gonzaga (Togetherness), Janet Varney (You're the Worst), Jenny Slate (Girls), Kathryn Hahn (Transparent), Katie Aselton (Togetherness), Kimiko Glenn (Married), Lydnsy Fonseca (Grandfathered), Michaela Watkins (Married), Mircea Monroe (Significant Mother), Olivia Wilde (Doll and Em), Sarah Baker (Married), Sherilyn Fenn (Shameless)

Finalists: Suzanne Cryer (Silicon Valley) was monotone and impossible to read in her every humorous scene, all the more impressively managing to let some personality shine through. Carrie Brownstein (Transparent) took on a bigger role in her show, finding unexpected happiness and asserting herself to try to make it last. Tessa Ferrer (You're the Worst) represented something her show doesn’t often see - a good person who was also fun but doomed to not be able to survive in the jungle. Hilarie Burton (Togetherness) was a hypnotic breath of fresh air in a dreamlike installment that took its characters away from their everyday, while Emily Althaus (Togetherness) was an equally alluring but far more grounded find.

The nominees:

Regina Hall (Grandfathered) was a formidable match for Jimmy, successful and vain in many of the same ways and not content to let him slide by on his charms alone. Sasha Alexander (Shameless) continued to be an alluring, unattainable part of her show and Lip’s life as circumstances got considerably more difficult. Eliza Coupe (Casual) defined her show’s title by being effortlessly easy going and cool, ultimately too much so for those who wanted more with her. Claire Danes (Master of None) loosened up a bit as a wife all too eager to cheat on her husband.

The winner:

Callie Thorne (Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll) was the single best instance of casting of the season, returning to work with “Rescue Me” costar and creator Denis Leary as the woman who had his child and won’t soon let him forget it.

Next up: Best Directing for a Drama Series