TV Shows to Watch in Preparation for Emmy Season

Emmy nominations are set to be announced on July 19th so the time has come to predict which shows will get the coveted nominee spots and what shows to catch up on before the awards ceremony. While several nominations are up in the air in many categories, there are certain shows that have very good chances of being nominated based on previous awards shows and their critical reception in the past year. Here are some of the shows that you should be watching to prepare for television’s biggest night this coming fall:

Drama:

Game of Thrones (HBO) just finished its second season a few weeks ago and managed to exceed upon the perfection of the first season. The Blackwater Battle episode alone seems to be enough to secure this show a place in the Emmy line-up. With Peter Dinklage winning the Golden Globe for his performance in the first season, his place in the nominees is also pretty secure. The real question is whether any other actors will receive nominations as well.

Homeland (Showtime) proved to be one of the most impressive shows of this past season with one of the most talent casts and an incredible, controversial storyline. Claire Danes surpassed herself in each and every episode and is sure to receive a nomination. This show received an incredible amount of nominations at the Television Critics Awards and it is sure to be one of the leaders in this year’s Emmy nominations as well. Homeland has blown away audiences and critics alike with only ten episodes to its name, so be sure to catch up before the next season this fall.

Breaking Bad (AMC) is also a show to watch this coming Emmy season, because of the climactic season finale and the continual jaw-dropping performances given by Bryan Cranston. The amazing talent of the actors on this show has not only solidified it as one of the best shows this past year, but also one of the best television shows of all time. The newest season premieres on July 15th so catch up on the past four seasons while you can.

Drama Wildcard:

Fringe (FOX) has been continually snubbed at the Emmys, but hopefully the astounding performances by Anna Torv and John Noble this past season are enough to get it some recognition. The show went above and beyond conceptually this past season, and it took many risks, which hopefully will incur a bigger reward. The show’s next season will be its last, so this is one of the last chances for Fringe to get recognized the way it deserves.

Comedy:

Parks and Recreation (NBC) had an absolutely stellar season despite the fact that its ratings haven’t been that high. While this show has been recognized in the past in the best comedy category, it would be wonderful if some of the actors were given nominations as well. This season was also made exponentially better by guest stars, Kathryn Hahn and Paul Rudd, who will most likely be recognized as well. The campaign arc gave this past season much more stability and shape while allowing Leslie to give a much more emotional performance than usual, especially in the finale. Catch up on this show, because it will not only be recognized at this year’s Emmys but hopefully for many years to come.

Girls (HBO) just finished its first season and has already managed to be one of the most polarizing shows of the past few years. Because of this polarity, it’s up for debate whether or not it will get nominations, but there is no doubt in my mind that it should. Lena Dunham gave an impeccable and frustrating performance as Hannah, but went above and beyond in her writing abilities behind the scenes of the show. With only ten episodes under its belt, there’s no excuse not to catch up on this show and find out what all the fuss is about.

New Girl (FOX) has managed to be simultaneously a laugh-out-loud comedy while maintaining high standards of writing and complex character development. The four roommates have already solidified themselves as some of the best new characters of television, and the show will almost certainly be a nominee in the best comedy category. Hopefully, Zooey Deschanel will get nominated as well for her quirky portrayal of Jess at the helm of this fantastic comedy of errors.

Comedy Wildcard:

Community (NBC) has been on the brink of extinction for so long, that it almost feels unreal that it got renewed for another season. This show continues to outdo itself in every respect and absolutely deserves Emmy nominations this season, which could potentially help rope in some new viewers. The originality of the characters and the situations they find themselves in is unparalleled, and some of the episodes in the last half of this season seemed like they were flat-out challenging the network not to renew them. Similarly to Fringe, this show takes enormous risks but garner huge rewards, which hopefully will be reflected in the nominee selection.

Tags: breaking bad, Community, Emmy Awards, emmys, fringe, Game of Thrones, girls, homeland, new girl, parks and recreation