Recently, Comedy Bang! Bang! creator Scott Aukerman penned an op-ed directed to the TV Academy asking for the potential creation of a new Emmy category. As it stands now, the Outstanding Variety Series is a catch-all that includes late night talk shows, sketch series, and most other breeds of comedy programs that do not fit in the Comedy Series field. This category’s nominees are almost invariably filled by late night talk shows (and Saturday Night Live). Aukerman proposes that, in light of the recent boom of critically acclaimed sketch and alternative comedy series, Variety Series be split into two categories: variety/talk program and sketch/alternative program.
If that split existed, what nominees would I be calling for this year in the Outstanding Sketch/Alternative Series category? And would there be enough candidates to fill up four new acting categories: Lead Actor, Lead Actress, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress in a Sketch or Alternative Program? Or would there just be one or two acting categories? Or would the performers, somewhat ill-fittingly, remain in the Comedy performing fields?
Here are the sketch/alternative nominees that would make my wishlist:
Outstanding Sketch/Alternative Series:
-Comedy Bang! Bang!
-Key and Peele
-The Eric André Show
-Kroll Show
-Inside Amy Schumer
-Portlandia
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Sketch/Alternative Series:
-Eric André, The Eric André Show
-Keegan Michael-Key/Jordan Peele, Key and Peele
-Nick Kroll, Kroll Show
-Scott Aukerman, Comedy Bang! Bang!
-Nathan Fielder, Nathan for You
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Sketch/Alternative Series:
-Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
-Carrie Brownstein, Portlandia
Outsanding Supporting Actor in a Sketch/Alternative Series:
-Reggie Watts, Comedy Bang! Bang!
-Kyle Mooney, Saturday Night Live
-Hannibal Burress, The Eric André Show
-Taran Killam, Saturday Night Live
-Beck Bennett, Saturday Night Live
-Tim Kalpakis, The Birthday Boys
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Sketch/Alternative Series:
-Aidy Bryant, Saturday Night Live
-Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Looking over the makeup of the acting categories, I think I would advocate for a single Sketch/Alternative Performer category, or a split of Sketch/Alternative Actor and Sketch/Alternative Actress.
Jeff Malone is a voracious entertainment consumer and entertainment creator. He currently resides in New York City, where he is working on a Master’s in Media Studies at The New School. In addition to his pieces on TMRzoo.com, you can check out his blog (jmunney.wordpress.com), where he provides regular coverage of Community and Saturday Night Live, as well as other television, film, music, and the rest of pop culture.
