Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced soon, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that last year’s nominees mean zilch at the Globes and that the race is almost entirely unpredictable.

Last year’s nominees:
Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Sarah Jessica Parker (Divorce)
Issa Rae (Insecure)
Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin)
Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)

New contenders:
Alison Brie (G.L.O.W.)
Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Betty Gilpin (G.L.O.W.)

Potential first-time nominees:
Pamela Adlon (Louie)
Kristen Bell (The Good Place)
Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie)
Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

Returning series:
Debra Messing (Will and Grace)

Category promotions:
Allison Janney (Mom)

Past nominees:
Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie)

There were six nominees in this category last year, and only one - Parker - is ineligible this year because her show doesn’t return until 2018. That leaves past winners Bloom and Rodriguez, personal favorites of mine, defending their spots on aging shows against the very popular Ross, who won last year, continually lauded Louis-Dreyfus, who, despite six consecutive Emmy wins, has yet to win a Globe for this role, and Rae, whose show is still hot in year two. There aren’t that many chomping at the bit to break into this race, since none of the five Emmy nominees not recognized in this category last year are likely to make the cut this year, and instead I’d bet on Messing to rejoin the race for her ninth nomination and her first in nine years. I’d love to see Bell here but I don’t see it happening. The very recent release of Amazon’s very popular new show is likely to win voters over here for Brosnahan’s lead performance.

Current predictions:
Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Debra Messing (Will and Grace)
Issa Rae (Insecure)
Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish)