Emmys Watch: 15 Freshman Comedy Series/Stars Who Could (Or Should) Shake Up The Old Guard

By Team TVLine

14-KATE-MULGREW-OITNB

14-KATE-MULGREW-OITNB Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Who's Captain Janeway? Mulgrew made us forget all about her Star Trek roots with her deeply layered performance in a role that, in less talented hands, could have been a one-note Slavic villainess.

Kate Mulgrew, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Who's Captain Janeway? Mulgrew made us forget all about her Star Trek roots with her deeply layered performance in a role that, in less talented hands, could have been a one-note Slavic villainess.

2-Andre-Braugher-Brooklyn-Nine-Nine

2-Andre-Braugher-Brooklyn-Nine-Nine Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox) Lead Actor in a Comedy Series As the exceedingly stoic, openly gay Captain Ray Holt, Braugher takes what could be a thankless role of "straight man" to his motley band of goofball detectives and elevates it with a sweet, paternal energy and a brilliant deadpan approach to his character's own eccentricities.

Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

As the exceedingly stoic, openly gay Captain Ray Holt, Braugher takes what could be a thankless role of "straight man" to his motley band of goofball detectives and elevates it with a sweet, paternal energy and a brilliant deadpan approach to his character's own eccentricities.

MARCIA GAY HARDEN

MARCIA GAY HARDEN Marcia Gay Harden, Trophy Wife (ABC) Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Harden's name is almost an automatic part of the Emmy discussion -- seeing how she's an Academy Award winner making a foray into primetime comedy. But it's the way she steals scenes as a domineering, Type A orthopedic surgeon (and the ex-wife of Bradley Whitford's Pete) that makes her a worthy contender.

Marcia Gay Harden, Trophy Wife (ABC)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Harden's name is almost an automatic part of the Emmy discussion — seeing how she's an Academy Award winner making a foray into primetime comedy. But it's the way she steals scenes as a domineering, Type A orthopedic surgeon (and the ex-wife of Bradley Whitford's Pete) that makes her a worthy contender.

Pilot

Pilot Allison Janney, Mom (CBS) Lead Actress in a Comedy Series As Bonnie, the bawdy, recovering addict mother of Anna Faris' Christy, Janney makes her character's total disregard for societal approval and rampant self-absorption not only uproarious, but also strangely endearing.

Allison Janney, Mom (CBS)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

As Bonnie, the bawdy, recovering addict mother of Anna Faris' Christy, Janney makes her character's total disregard for societal approval and rampant self-absorption not only uproarious, but also strangely endearing.

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5-taryn-manning-Orange-Is-the-New-Black Taryn Manning, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Although we think Pennsatucky's teeth deserve an Emmy all to themselves, their wearer left us in awe every time she was on screen.

Taryn Manning, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Although we think Pennsatucky's teeth deserve an Emmy all to themselves, their wearer left us in awe every time she was on screen.

6-Brooklyn-Nine-Nine

6-Brooklyn-Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox) Outstanding Comedy Series Right from its pilot episode, Fox's freshman cop comedy stood out for sharply defined characters with just the right ratio of eccentric-to-endearing. As its season has progressed, the show's ease at presenting heightened, goofball scenarios with a charming undercurrent of camaraderie has hinted we're watching a possible TV classic in the making.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)

Outstanding Comedy Series

Right from its pilot episode, Fox's freshman cop comedy stood out for sharply defined characters with just the right ratio of eccentric-to-endearing. As its season has progressed, the show's ease at presenting heightened, goofball scenarios with a charming undercurrent of camaraderie has hinted we're watching a possible TV classic in the making.

7-Uzo-Aduba-Orange-Is-the-New-Black

7-Uzo-Aduba-Orange-Is-the-New-Black Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series This relative newcomer burst onto our screens eyes-first, juggling Shakespearean sonnets, public urination and terrifying threats -- all while maintaining her signature face and summoning relatable emotion.

Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

This relative newcomer burst onto our screens eyes-first, juggling Shakespearean sonnets, public urination and terrifying threats — all while maintaining her signature face and summoning relatable emotion.

WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY

WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY Wendi McLendon-Covey, The Goldbergs (ABC) Lead Actress in a Comedy Series McLendon-Covey's performance as the smothering but big-hearted mother of the show's titular, 80s-tastic clan is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Wendi McLendon-Covey, The Goldbergs (ABC)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

McLendon-Covey's performance as the smothering but big-hearted mother of the show's titular, 80s-tastic clan is equal parts hilarious and touching.

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9-orange-is-the-new-black-emmy Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) Outstanding Comedy Series If House of Cards was the main course Netflix brought to the Emmy dinner party, OITNB was the delicious dessert: the women's prison dramedy made us laugh, cry and, strangely enough, kinda left us wanting to commit a minor crime and get sent to Litchfield.

Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Outstanding Comedy Series

If House of Cards was the main course Netflix brought to the Emmy dinner party, OITNB was the delicious dessert: the women's prison dramedy made us laugh, cry and, strangely enough, kinda left us wanting to commit a minor crime and get sent to Litchfield.

10-Christine-Woods-Hello-Ladies

10-Christine-Woods-Hello-Ladies Christine Woods, Hello Ladies (HBO) Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Woods deftly balances playing the straight woman to Stephen Merchant's outlandish lead with guffaw-inducing moments all her own. That unforgettably awkward tap-dance performance from Season 1 is the kind of scene Emmy voters should have on their radar screens

Christine Woods, Hello Ladies (HBO)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Woods deftly balances playing the straight woman to Stephen Merchant's outlandish lead with guffaw-inducing moments all her own. That unforgettably awkward tap-dance performance from Season 1 is the kind of scene Emmy voters should have on their radar screens

ALBERT TSAI

ALBERT TSAI Albert Tsai, Trophy Wife (ABC) Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Whether he's helping his wacky mom finish her homemade jewelry line or getting nailed in the "ovaries" with a soccer ball by his eager stepmom, Tsai's Bert is the most reliable source of laughs on ABC's underrated (albeit poorly titled) Tuesday gem. That's no small feat given the show's impressive ensemble cast.

Albert Tsai, Trophy Wife (ABC)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Whether he's helping his wacky mom finish her homemade jewelry line or getting nailed in the "ovaries" with a soccer ball by his eager stepmom, Tsai's Bert is the most reliable source of laughs on ABC's underrated (albeit poorly titled) Tuesday gem. That's no small feat given the show's impressive ensemble cast.

The Michael J. Fox Show - Season 1

The Michael J. Fox Show - Season 1 Betsy Brandt, The Michael J. Fox Show (NBC) Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Whether it's her expert comedic timing, her killer chemistry with her onscreen hubby or just the fact that she's finally taking center stage after five seasons of side-kicking brilliance on Breaking Bad, Brandt has captured our attention on The Michael J. Fox Show as one of this fall's breakout funny ladies.

Betsy Brandt, The Michael J. Fox Show (NBC)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Whether it's her expert comedic timing, her killer chemistry with her onscreen hubby or just the fact that she's finally taking center stage after five seasons of side-kicking brilliance on Breaking Bad, Brandt has captured our attention on The Michael J. Fox Show as one of this fall's breakout funny ladies.

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13-joe-lo-truglio-Brooklyn-Nine-Nine Joe Lo Truglio, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox) Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Lo Truglio never allows his clumsy geek Det. Boyle to come off as pitiful in his adulation for Andy Samberg's cool-cat colleague or in his unrequited crush over the scary-stern Det. Diaz. Instead, as the most enthusiastic player on the titular squad, he's the wide-eyed heart of the operation -- and of Fox's delectable freshman hit.

Joe Lo Truglio, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Lo Truglio never allows his clumsy geek Det. Boyle to come off as pitiful in his adulation for Andy Samberg's cool-cat colleague or in his unrequited crush over the scary-stern Det. Diaz. Instead, as the most enthusiastic player on the titular squad, he's the wide-eyed heart of the operation — and of Fox's delectable freshman hit.

1-Taylor-Schilling-Orange-Is-the-New-Black

1-Taylor-Schilling-Orange-Is-the-New-Black Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix) Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Even as we became less interested in Piper's white-girl problems over the course of Season 1, Schilling imbued her convict-out-of-water with so much complexity that we never got the urge to ask her to check her privilege.

Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Even as we became less interested in Piper's white-girl problems over the course of Season 1, Schilling imbued her convict-out-of-water with so much complexity that we never got the urge to ask her to check her privilege.

MICHAELA WATKINS

MICHAELA WATKINS Michaela Watkins, Trophy Wife (ABC) Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series As scattered hippie Jackie, the second ex-wife of Bradley Whitford's Pete, Watkins aces the difficult assignment of annoying every adult character with whom she shares the screen -- while simultaneously managing to make the audience chuckle.

Michaela Watkins, Trophy Wife (ABC)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

As scattered hippie Jackie, the second ex-wife of Bradley Whitford's Pete, Watkins aces the difficult assignment of annoying every adult character with whom she shares the screen — while simultaneously managing to make the audience chuckle.

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