With the 2016 Emmy nominations announced, now is the wait for what episode each nominee will submit for consideration. There is always much debate over whether or not “tapes” matter anymore. Sometimes we see killer submissions win while two minutes of screentime (and very little do to) earns you an Emmy. Often you’ll see a comedy nominee submit a more dramatic episode (Sarah Jessica Parker did for Sex and the City and won) to show range but that doesn’t always work. In the award-predicting business we also refer to something as a ‘Whitecaps’ episode. That refers to the episode of The Sopranos that Edie Falco submitted and eventually won for. It represents a submission so perfect that no one else could possibly win. Not every, but most Emmy seasons, has someone with a ‘Whitecaps’ submission that makes for an easy winner prediction call.
This year though is going to see a difference in voting that may not make the ‘tapes’ matter at all. It’s a straight popular vote; meaning Emmy voters won’t be ranking their choices but simply choosing their #1. In the past that means that passion choice like Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie) could surprise everyone with a win. This voting change, however, could spell a triple victory for the very popular Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones or a repeat for Viola Davis in How to Get Away with Murder. Dinklage was able to win last year with a nothing submission against much more formidable competition. Both have good submissions this year (Davis has a winner) but could pick poorly like Robin Wright (House of Cards) did a few years ago.
Since the Guest nominations already came with submitted episodes for consideration during the nominating process those are already listed.
Check back here as these are updated as soon as they come and chime in on the forums or the comment section on what you think someone should submit.
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Larry David, Saturday Night Live (“Host: Larry David”)
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory (“The Opening Night Excitation”)
Peter MacNichol, Veep (“Thanksgiving”)
Tracy Morgan, Saturday Night Live (“Host: Tracy Morgan”)
Martin Mull, Veep (“The Eagle”)
Bradley Whitford, Transparent (“Oscillate”)
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Mahershala Ali, House of Cards (“Chapter 44”)
Hank Azaria, Ray Donovan (“One Night in Yerevan”)
Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards (“Chapter 49”)
Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife (“Taxed”)
Paul Sparks, House of Cards (“Chapter 49”)
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory (“The Convergence Convergence”)
Tina Fey & Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live (“Hosts: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler”)
Melora Hardin, Transparent (“Flicky-Flicky Thump-Thump”)
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live (“Host: Melissa McCarthy”)
Laurie Metcalf, The Big Bang Theory (“The Convergence Convergence”)
Amy Schumer, Saturday Night Live (“Host: Amy Schumer”)
Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Ellen Burstyn, House of Cards (“Chapter 41”)
Margo Martindale, The Americans (“The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears“)
Laurie Metcalf, Horace and Pete (“Episode 103”)
Molly Parker, House of Cards (“Chapter 45”)
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife (“Targets”)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder
Taraji P Henson, Empire
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Keri Russell, The Americans
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock
Idris Elba, Luther
Cuba Gooding Jr., The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
Courtney B. Vance, The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
Sarah Paulson, The People v O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Lili Taylor, American Crime
Kerry Washington, Confirmation
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Will Forte, Last Man on Earth
William H. Macy, Shameless
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Laurie Metcalf, Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross, Blackish
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Louie Anderson, Baskets
Keegan-Michael Key, Key & Peele
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Matt Walsh, Veep
Tony Hale, Veep
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Niecy Nash, Getting On
Allison Janney, Mom
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Judith Light, Transparent
Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Constance Zimmer, UnREAL
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
Jesse Plemons, Fargo
Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
David Schwimmer, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
John Travolta, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
Melissa Leo, All the Way
Regina King, American Crime
Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story: Hotel
Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Hotel
Jean Smart, Fargo
Olivia Colman, The Night Manager
Outstanding Drama Series
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mr. Robot
Outstanding Comedy Series
Black-ish
Master of None
Modern Family
Silicon Valley
Veep
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt