BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

This category has been remarkably difficult to fill over the last few years, especially with the departures of “The Office” and “30 Rock.” The streak of Best Actress being more competitive than Best Actor continues and I’m putting money again on Jim Parsons inexplicably winning another Emmy. There are better choices, people. Here are six.

The one man who I think could break the Parsons streak is everyone’s moppa, Jeffrey Tambor, who brought such honesty to the central role on “Transparent,” the program that has really put Amazon on the television map. He captured the emotional truth of his character’s journey in ways that other actors would have missed. It would be stunning were he NOT to be nominated. Same with Louis CK, who certainly wasn’t down as a performer or director this year. It would be crazy not to nominate him again.

Let’s look a little deeper for the other four candidates. While I think he can sometimes overplay his character’s awkwardness, one shouldn’t under-value the way Thomas Middleditch serves as the emotional center of “Silicon Valley.” He’s a strong candidate. And I think Mark Duplass is getting better as he gets older, arguably doing his best work to date on “Togetherness.” Chris Geere would make a really solid nominee for “You’re the Worst,” but there are two others that just edge him out.

Will Forte delivered the most unique network sitcom of the year in “The Last Man on Earth” and, as much as I like Kristen Schaal and even January Jones’ work here, the program is nothing without Forte. He’s in nearly every scene and it’s his timing that sells the unusual rhythm of the overall piece.

Finally, ABC has become one of the few lonely islands of quality comedy on network television, especially now that NBC has essentially given up on it entirely. While “Modern Family” gets all the attention, newcomers “Black-ish” and “Fresh Off the Boat” are both superior programs. Let’s bring them into the Emmy fold this year, starting with Anthony Anderson’s work on “Black-ish” (although Randall Park on “Fresh Off the Boat” would be a phenomenal alternative).

Anthony Anderson, “Black-ish”
Louis CK, “Louie”
Mark Duplass, “Togetherness”
Will Forte, “The Last Man on Earth”
Thomas Middleditch, “Silicon Valley”
Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent”