'Black-ish' (ABC)
By far, the most daring and
brilliant sitcom on the networks today is this well put together ensemble. Featuring one of the best comic
casts on TV, it has dealt with far more of the serious issues in a better way
than some dramas can. (The episode dealing with how police involved shootings
have affected people deserves a nomination on its own). And considering that
this series writing has brought out the best in unlikely sources (who'd have
thought Laurence Fishburne has such comic timing?) this series is by far the
best in a growing power lineup on ABC.
'Jane the Virgin' (CW)
I don't know why the Emmys are
willing to nominate networks that aren't
even on TV but not ones that are on this little gem. Considering how many
great series are on this show, its telling that its best chance of getting a
nomination is from the brilliant satire. Playing off some of the most
ridiculous tropes of some ideas, with some brilliant adventures for its
heroine, as well the most delightful narrator in this medium, this is one
series that defied the sophomore slump. It should be noted that, like its
heroine, it deserves nominations.
'Master of None' (Netflix)
All right, even with 'Orange is the
New Black' forced to compete in the drama category, there are a lot of good
comedies on Netflix, and its possible Kimmy Schmidt will once again join the
field. But considering how brilliant and how well handled Aziz Ansari (who I'll
be getting back to, believe me) was both in front of and behind the camera, and
considering that he dealt with some issues that you'd be amazed TV hasn't dealt
with, this show deserves consideration. The fact that it beat 'Transparent' out
for Best Comedy in this year's Critics Choice should count for something to.
'Mom' (CBS)
No other broadcast series has
handled the mixture of dark drama and bitter comedy as well as this one. And
watching its two brilliant leads go through situations that you wouldn't think
could be mined for comedy (hell, the premiere dealt with finding a dying parent
after thirty years) is frankly rather remarkable. Allison Janney has been
rewarded more than enough for this show. The series should be honored too.
'Silicon Valley '
(HBO)
All right, a lot of the tech talk
on this series can go over my head. But considering that one of the most recent
episode managed to make comic sport of it demonstrates that I was an idiot for
ignoring this series for the last two years. It's loud, its funny, its very
dirty (one need only say the words 'horse sex' to explain why), and its
characters are far more endearing than the majority of the leads of cable
comedies. Pied Piper may be having a lot of trouble succeeding in the business
world, but this series isn't, and it deserves to.
'Transparent' (Amazon)
No other series of this list more
fits the term 'dramedy' than this gem of a series. As Maura Pfefferman becomes
closer to realizing who she truly is, the rest of her family seems to be taking
steps backwards. It can often be painful to watch them stumble. But the cast is
one of the most brilliant assembled from Jeffrey Tambor on down, and it
continues to scintillate as it grows. If any series from a streaming network
deserves to win the top prize, its this one.
'Veep' (HBO)
Honestly, watching President Meyer going through an
electoral nightmare that almost makes our political situation seem normal
shouldn't be the kind of thing for comedy. And watching the characters getting
even more ruthless as the path to victory becomes more desperate should be
funny at all. But it is. Hysterically so. And this series has become more and
more fascinating the more desperate it got, and oddly enough, in the
penultimate episode - a documentary filmed by the neglected daughter of the
President - revealed that there were certain depths even to the most shallow of
them, and showed some surprising humanity
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