AMELIA SHEPHERD: 11 MUST-WATCH ‘PRIVATE PRACTICE’ EPISODES TO KNOW HER BETTER IN ‘GREY’S ANATOMY’

Within the GREY’S ANATOMY universe that Shonda Rhimes created, there are years and years of backstory for many of the characters. But besides the previous 12 seasons of GREY’S, there’s also PRIVATE PRACTICE. After several crossover episodes between the two shows, Amelia Shepherd made her way to GREY’S and became a series regular in season 11.

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read further if you haven't seen GREY'S ANATOMY season 13, episode 5 yet

With Shonda and her team dipping into the enormously rich pool of backstory for other characters, it was only a matter of time before Amelia’s past would be brought up and explored through present circumstances. Even if you didn’t watch PRIVATE PRACTICE, it’s already clear that Amelia has a history of substance abuse and addiction, which we’ve seen her battle with even on GREY’S. However, with this week’s episode, Amelia’s backstory is brought up again, when she suspects that she might be pregnant. It comes up when Meredith tells her and Maggie that she didn’t have to tell Derek when she found out she was pregnant the second time, because he was already dead by then. Later Amelia recalls how even she was in a similar situation when she found out that she was having her late fiancé, Ryan’s baby.

By the end of the episode she finds out that she’s not pregnant, and while Owen tells her that they can try again, she’s speechless. Something about her silence told me that she was more relieved than disappointed, and understandably so. Anyone who saw how her last pregnancy went down would understand how scary the thought of carrying another child would be for her.

In case you didn’t see her story on PRIVATE PRACTICE, but would like to get the essence of what she’s been through and how it informs the person she is today, you can still just see these few episodes of PRIVATE PRACTICE, and know Amelia Shepherd a little better:

PRIVATE PRACTICE

Season 5, episode 6 – "If I Hadn't Forgotten..."

Season 5, episode 7 – "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough"

Season 5, episode 8 – "Who We Are"

Season 5, episode 9 – "The Breaking Point"

Season 5, episode 16 – “Andromeda"

Season 5, episode 17 – "The Letting Go"

Season 5, episode 18 – "It Was Inevitable"

Season 5, episode 19 – "And Then There Was One"

Season 5, episode 20 – "True Colors"

Season 5, episode 21 – "Drifting Back"

Season 5, episode 22 – "Gone, Baby, Gone"

Of course there are many other episodes that you can watch to know Amelia better (the complete seasons 3 to 6 of PRIVATE PRACTICE). However, the list above are the episodes relevant to Amelia’s suspected pregnancy in this week’s GREY’S, as well as any future pregnancy for her. We know that Caterina Scorsone is pregnant in real life, so I think it’s safe to assume that Amelia will have a real pregnancy storyline in GREY’S ANATOMY at some point this season. 

EMMYS 2016 – AWKWARD MOMENTS, SURPRISES, PREDICTABLE MOMENTS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS

Jimmy Kimmel fit into his role as Emmys host as well as he fit into every situation from various shows in the opening compilation. From the Bronco chase and the ride with the Dunphys to the Carpool Karaoke session, the politically funny interaction with Jeb Bush, and the dragon ride with Daenerys, that entire bit was hilarious. Then he walked onto stage, and it was like it was an episode of his show, but with all the jokes revolving around the Emmys and the nominees. He took on his role with ease as he took charge of the evening as a true emcee.

Kimmel did have a few embarrassing moments though.

3 AWKWARD MOMENTS FOR THE HOST

1. When Kimmel dissed Mark Burnett for being responsible for Donald Trump’s rise—as creator of THE APPRENTICE that made Trump famous. It was funny, and it was even disturbingly true. However, Burnett had the last laugh, when he turned up to accept his Emmy for THE VOICE, Outstanding Competition Reality Program.

2. When Kimmel complained about nominees like Maggie Smith not bothering to show up for the Emmys and winning, going so far as to say that they would be disqualified. Obviously, he was joking, but it was sacrilegious to say that Dame Maggie Smith should get her ‘Dowager Count-ass’ down there if she wanted to win. Again, the joke was on him. She did win. Additionally, the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Drama also went to someone who wasn’t present—Ben Mendelsohn for BLOODLINE.

3. When Kimmel didn’t win for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, and Matt Damon showed up, casually eating an apple, to gloat over Kimmel ‘losing’. Long-time (faux) nemeses, Damon and Kimmel’s fights have been thoroughly entertaining, and it was almost like a night with Kimmel hosting the Emmys would have been incomplete without a little on-stage banter between the two. It was especially funny when Damon said it was humiliating that Kimmel had to go on hosting after his ‘loss’.

But there were also a couple of other awkward moments on-stage. One was Aziz Ansari, in his incomplete-speech moment after he and Alan Yang accepted their Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series for MASTER OF NONE. His presentation later gave him the opportunity to complete his speech. Everyone has moved on, but at least he got to thank his parents.

Andy Samberg and Kit Harrington’s presentation was particularly awkward, as they tried to say things that would get them on ‘next year’s Emmys promos’. They said stuff like “I came here in my limo,” which fell flat. But making it worse, they said they wouldn’t and would kiss Kyle Chandler and had a fake proposal. So embarrassing.

But there were some moments that I thought were funny as hell.

3 FUNNIEST MOMENTS (aside from the whole opening bit)

1. When Rami Malek started his acceptance speech by saying, as though in character, “Please tell me you’re seeing this too!” (On winning Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama for MR ROBOT.) That was so clever, and seemed almost spontaneous. What made it even better was the immediate surprise on his face when his name was called out. If there was ever a moment to make that joke, that was it. It was just perfect.

2. When Amy Schumer was reading the note from Jimmy Kimmel’s mother (Joann), which said that Joann found ‘Amy’ really funny and thought that ‘Amy’ should be hosting. Joann had signed off the note by saying: “Please bring PARKS & RECREATION back.” And ‘Amy’ Poehler was sitting not too far away.

3. When Jimmy said, “TRANSPARENT was born a drama but identifies as a comedy.” It was just hilarious.

Of course there were some very satisfying wins, albeit many of them were really surprising.

3 MOST PLEASANT SURPRISES

1. Rami Malek and Tatiana Maslany winning Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama and Actress – Drama respectively. It’s good to see people winning for a fresh take on a dramatic performance (Malek) and for being a powerhouse of performance in the many roles Maslany dons on ORPHAN BLACK. Also, it’s almost refreshing to see young talent taking away the big prizes.

2. Regina King winning her second Emmy for AMERICAN CRIME. She’s so good on that show. Especially in its second season, to see King play a privileged person of color, dealing with the scandal and the suspicion that hits her family and taking charge of things. She commanded attention in every scene, and her restraint was admirable.

3. MASTER OF NONE winning for Outstanding Writing. It’s a good show with a lot of heart—especially the episode on ‘Parents’, which won. It’s nice that such work is rewarded amidst clear and predictable winners. That also goes for Jill Soloway’s win for directing, for TRANSPARENT.

And that brings me to the most predictable Emmy winners of the evening.

3 MOST PREDICTABLE EMMY RESULTS

1. GAME OF THRONES and VEEP winning Outstanding Series (Drama and Comedy respectively). Isaid it here before. It was among the few predictions I got right. The TV Academy loves to continue with winning streaks for some of their favorite shows. Last year, these two shows won the top prizes for the first time, and it wasn’t their first. And I highly doubt this year will be their last.

2. Jeffrey Tambor (TRANSPARENT) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (VEEP) winning Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress – Comedy – respectively. Their winning streaks are on too. Louis-Dreyfus, of course won her fifth consecutive Emmy for this role, and maybe she’ll win more. But I’m quite sure Tambor will win at least one more.

3. THE PEOPLE V OJ SIMPSON winning a lot. Everyone knew this was the one to beat. Aside from giving FARGO a run for its money in the Outstanding Limited Series category, it grabbed three acting Emmys, one of which was Sarah Paulson’s, who deserved it the most.

3 MOST DISAPPOINTING EMMY RESULTS

1. Kirsten Dunst not winning for FARGO. Yes, Sarah Paulson was really deserving of her win. She was outstanding. However, for me, Dunst’s performance on FARGO’s second season was a total knockout turn. And I really wanted to see her win for her portrayal of the wonderfully crazy Peggy Blomquist. Of course, hearing Paulson’s excellent speech, and her warm acknowledgement of the real Marcia Clark and Ryan Murphy, made me feel a little better about this.

2. SHERLOCK: THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE winning for Outstanding TV Movie. I don’t know what the Academy members were thinking. This atrocious TV event didn’t deserve to even be near any lists of award nominees.

3. Kate McKinnon winning Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy. I have nothing against McKinnon. She should win awards if she was good; as should a lot of other sketch and variety comedy actors and actresses. However, they miss out, because they’re squeezed in with the actors and actresses in longer-form scripted comedy, and comedy performances as a whole suffer. If (Outstanding) Sketch/Variety Comedy can get a category separate from (Outstanding) Comedy Series, then why can’t the actors and actresses?

All said and done, it was a good show. Jimmy Kimmel was refreshingly funny and he kept things moving along. The Emmys 2016 definitely didn’t disappoint.

EMMYS 2016 – AWKWARD MOMENTS, SURPRISES, PREDICTABLE MOMENTS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS

Jimmy Kimmel fit into his role as Emmys host as well as he fit into every situation from various shows in the opening compilation. From the Bronco chase and the ride with the Dunphys to the Carpool Karaoke session, the politically funny interaction with Jeb Bush, and the dragon ride with Daenerys, that entire bit was hilarious. Then he walked onto stage, and it was like it was an episode of his show, but with all the jokes revolving around the Emmys and the nominees. He took on his role with ease as he took charge of the evening as a true emcee.

Kimmel did have a few embarrassing moments though.

3 AWKWARD MOMENTS FOR THE HOST

1. When Kimmel dissed Mark Burnett for being responsible for Donald Trump’s rise—as creator of THE APPRENTICE that made Trump famous. It was funny, and it was even disturbingly true. However, Burnett had the last laugh, when he turned up to accept his Emmy for THE VOICE, Outstanding Competition Reality Program.

2. When Kimmel complained about nominees like Maggie Smith not bothering to show up for the Emmys and winning, going so far as to say that they would be disqualified. Obviously, he was joking, but it was sacrilegious to say that Dame Maggie Smith should get her ‘Dowager Count-ass’ down there if she wanted to win. Again, the joke was on him. She did win. Additionally, the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Drama also went to someone who wasn’t present—Ben Mendelsohn for BLOODLINE.

3. When Kimmel didn’t win for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, and Matt Damon showed up, casually eating an apple, to gloat over Kimmel ‘losing’. Long-time (faux) nemeses, Damon and Kimmel’s fights have been thoroughly entertaining, and it was almost like a night with Kimmel hosting the Emmys would have been incomplete without a little on-stage banter between the two. It was especially funny when Damon said it was humiliating that Kimmel had to go on hosting after his ‘loss’.

But there were also a couple of other awkward moments on-stage. One was Aziz Ansari, in his incomplete-speech moment after he and Alan Yang accepted their Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series for MASTER OF NONE. His presentation later gave him the opportunity to complete his speech. Everyone has moved on, but at least he got to thank his parents.

Andy Samberg and Kit Harrington’s presentation was particularly awkward, as they tried to say things that would get them on ‘next year’s Emmys promos’. They said stuff like “I came here in my limo,” which fell flat. But making it worse, they said they wouldn’t and would kiss Kyle Chandler and had a fake proposal. So embarrassing.

But there were some moments that I thought were funny as hell.

3 FUNNIEST MOMENTS (aside from the whole opening bit)

1. When Rami Malek started his acceptance speech by saying, as though in character, “Please tell me you’re seeing this too!” (On winning Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama for MR ROBOT.) That was so clever, and seemed almost spontaneous. What made it even better was the immediate surprise on his face when his name was called out. If there was ever a moment to make that joke, that was it. It was just perfect.

2. When Amy Schumer was reading the note from Jimmy Kimmel’s mother (Joann), which said that Joann found ‘Amy’ really funny and thought that ‘Amy’ should be hosting. Joann had signed off the note by saying: “Please bring PARKS & RECREATION back.” And ‘Amy’ Poehler was sitting not too far away.

3. When Jimmy said, “TRANSPARENT was born a drama but identifies as a comedy.” It was just hilarious.

Of course there were some very satisfying wins, albeit many of them were really surprising.

3 MOST PLEASANT SURPRISES

1. Rami Malek and Tatiana Maslany winning Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama and Actress – Drama respectively. It’s good to see people winning for a fresh take on a dramatic performance (Malek) and for being a powerhouse of performance in the many roles Maslany dons on ORPHAN BLACK. Also, it’s almost refreshing to see young talent taking away the big prizes.

2. Regina King winning her second Emmy for AMERICAN CRIME. She’s so good on that show. Especially in its second season, to see King play a privileged person of color, dealing with the scandal and the suspicion that hits her family and taking charge of things. She commanded attention in every scene, and her restraint was admirable.

3. MASTER OF NONE winning for Outstanding Writing. It’s a good show with a lot of heart—especially the episode on ‘Parents’, which won. It’s nice that such work is rewarded amidst clear and predictable winners. That also goes for Jill Soloway’s win for directing, for TRANSPARENT.

And that brings me to the most predictable Emmy winners of the evening.

3 MOST PREDICTABLE EMMY RESULTS

1. GAME OF THRONES and VEEP winning Outstanding Series (Drama and Comedy respectively). Isaid it here before. It was among the few predictions I got right. The TV Academy loves to continue with winning streaks for some of their favorite shows. Last year, these two shows won the top prizes for the first time, and it wasn’t their first. And I highly doubt this year will be their last.

2. Jeffrey Tambor (TRANSPARENT) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (VEEP) winning Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress – Comedy – respectively. Their winning streaks are on too. Louis-Dreyfus, of course won her fifth consecutive Emmy for this role, and maybe she’ll win more. But I’m quite sure Tambor will win at least one more.

3. THE PEOPLE V OJ SIMPSON winning a lot. Everyone knew this was the one to beat. Aside from giving FARGO a run for its money in the Outstanding Limited Series category, it grabbed three acting Emmys, one of which was Sarah Paulson’s, who deserved it the most.

3 MOST DISAPPOINTING EMMY RESULTS

1. Kirsten Dunst not winning for FARGO. Yes, Sarah Paulson was really deserving of her win. She was outstanding. However, for me, Dunst’s performance on FARGO’s second season was a total knockout turn. And I really wanted to see her win for her portrayal of the wonderfully crazy Peggy Blomquist. Of course, hearing Paulson’s excellent speech, and her warm acknowledgement of the real Marcia Clark and Ryan Murphy, made me feel a little better about this.

2. SHERLOCK: THE ABOMINABLE BRIDE winning for Outstanding TV Movie. I don’t know what the Academy members were thinking. This atrocious TV event didn’t deserve to even be near any list of award nominees.

3. Kate McKinnon winning Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy. I have nothing against McKinnon. She should win awards if she was good; as should a lot of other sketch and variety comedy actors and actresses. However, they miss out, because they’re squeezed in with the actors and actresses in longer-form scripted comedy, and comedy performances as a whole suffer. If (Outstanding) Sketch/Variety Comedy can get a category separate from (Outstanding) Comedy Series, then why can’t the actors and actresses?

All said and done, it was a good show. Jimmy Kimmel was refreshingly funny and he kept things moving along. The Emmys 2016 definitely didn’t disappoint.

THE TV TALK BEST OF 2015-16 – RESULTS

Before the Emmy winners for 2015-16 are revealed this Sunday, here is the best of the TV year 2015-16, in my opinion.

Series – Drama

THE AFFAIR

BETTER CALL SAUL

DOWNTON ABBEY

FARGO

HOMELAND

MASTERS OF SEX

NARCOS

The upstairs-downstairs drama came a full circle in its final season, after going through a World War, death, murder trials, romances, blasts from the past, new families, bad financial times, the declining relevance of nobility and the fight to keep the estate. The Crawleys grew from strength to strength through each setback. In the final season, loyalties were shaken, dreams were shattered, hearts were broken, relationships evolved, and finally there were some happy endings for many. Generating a mixed bag of emotions within the confines of the sensibilities of the ’20s, DOWNTON made a comment on the socio-economic situation of the time, especially so in the final season. After an evolution for each, the characters were developed with finesse, and each one in the large ensemble was done justice to. It was a perfect end to what can be called an iconic series that spoke to so many people in so many ways.

Series – Comedy

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND

GRACE & FRANKIE

MASTER OF NONE

MODERN FAMILY

MOM

MOZART IN THE JUNGLE

VEEP

VEEP has been such a roller coaster from the beginning. It’s been funny, silly, ridiculous, much like American politics has become these days. In its fifth season, the strange provisions in the American constitution to break a tie in a general election were brought to the front of the series with such outrageousness. It was comical to see the hoops that the characters has to go through to get ahead of the tie-breaking, and the extents they would go to in order to stay ahead. In addition to that, Selina’s relationship with her daughter saw new levels of hilarity, as Catherine proved to be sole heir of Selina’s mother’s estate. Additionally, Selina’s new boyfriend, new bodyguard, the meeting with the Chinese, the Finnish Prime Minister… they were all such brilliantly executed storylines. Moreover, the season took us to the top of the roller coaster that the show is, without revealing whether it was going even further up or straight down. From Selina’s hatred towards Tom James and their sexual tension to her final downfall as another woman rose to the top, everything was quite the ride with twists and surprises that kept us on our toes all along. This was a good season for VEEP.

Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role – Drama

Felicity Huffman as Leslie Graham, AMERICAN CRIME

Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings, THE AMERICANS

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, DOWNTON ABBEY

Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, THE GOOD WIFE

Claire Danes as Carrie Matthison, HOMELAND

Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER

In the fourth season of THE AMERICANS, Keri Russell lent excruciating pain to her always-exemplary portrayal of Elizabeth Jennings, as the KGB spy was forced to do some things were really beyond her at this stage in her journey. She revealed with real depth that Elizabeth has started to get affected by the things her duty towards ‘the Centre’ compel her to do. She was absolutely stunning with her portrayal of the self-revulsion she felt at having to seduce her friend’s husband. She was remarkable as a mother who was trying to do what’s best for her daughter and protecting her like a lioness, despite being annoyed by Paige in certain ways. She was the complete package of perfect performance this season.

Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role – Drama

Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates, BATES MOTEL

Bob Odenkirk, as Jimmy McGill, BETTER CALL SAUL

Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood, HOUSE OF CARDS

Michael Sheen as William Masters, MASTERS OF SEX

Wagner Moura as Pablo Escobar, NARCOS

Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson, MR. ROBOT

Jimmy McGill went from being a guy who was trying hard to fit into a mold set for him at a corporate law firm, to kind of ‘breaking bad’ in this season of BETTER CALL SAUL. His earnestness in trying to do something right by making that TV commercial, and his outrage at being reprimanded for it, was conveyed with strong conviction by Odenkirk. He filled each scene he was in with such restrained emotion, which made you want to root for the guy even more. He even brought a certain endearing quality to revenge against a sibling. This season, Odenkirk really showed us shades of Saul Goodman that we know so well, without taking away from the positive earnestness of Jimmy McGill.

Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role – Comedy

Rachel Bloom as Rebecca Bunch, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND

Lily Tomlin as Frankie Bergstein, GRACE & FRANKIE

Jane Fonda as Grace Hanson, GRACE & FRANKIE

Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn, MIKE & MOLLY

Anna Faris as Christy, MOM

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, VEEP

Lily Tomlin’s performance as Frankie in the second season of GRACE & FRANKIE was just outstanding through the crazy situations the madcap Frankie puts herself through. She does paintings of her own vagina, she makes her own lubricant, she takes on a fight with her best friend’s executive daughter, she meets her son’s birth mother, and she prepares to euthanize a suffering friend, all the while dealing with guilt and heartbreak. She was just fantastic through it all. She delivered each quirky dialogue, each oblivious expression, each entitled posture, and everything else with no flaw.

Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role – Comedy

Jim Parsons as Dr. Sheldon Cooper, THE BIG BANG THEORY

Rob Lowe as Dean Sanderson, THE GRINDER

Aziz Ansari as Dev, MASTER OF NONE

Gael Garcia Bernal as Rodrigo D’souza, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE

Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfefferman, TRANSPARENT

Bernal, a fine performer, who adds a genuine and unique flavor to whatever he does has done fantastically in MOZART. His quirky and endearing character was essentially thrown into various situations in the second season of the Amazon series, what with trying to divorce his wife and all. We even saw him outside of being part of the orchestra, and then getting involved in the politics of it. His inability to confront his feelings for ‘Hailaye’ is so believable but present, and Bernal is responsible for every nuance that puts together all of the above.

Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role – Drama

Maura Tierney as Helen Solloway, THE AFFAIR

Regina King as Terri LaCroix, AMERICAN CRIME

Lili Taylor, as Anne Blaine, AMERICAN CRIME

Maggie Smith as Lady Violet Crawley, DOWNTON ABBEY

Kirsten Dunst as Peggy Blumquist, FARGO

Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark, THE PEOPLE V. O.J. – AMERICAN CRIME STORY

There’s no doubt that Kirsten Dunst’s performance on FARGO this year was a knockout turn for her. In my opinion, she shined as one of the best performers of the year. Her crazy and endearing and laugh-out-loud-worthy scenes as Peggy were absolutely what made the season for me. FARGO season 2 would’ve been quite dry without her extraordinary contribution.

Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role – Drama

Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehrmantraut, BETTER CALL SAUL

Jim Carter as Charles Carson, DOWNTON ABBEY

Rob James Collier as Thomas Barrow, DOWNTON ABBEY

Rupert Friend as Peter Quinn, HOMELAND

Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson, THE PEOPLE V. O.J. – AMERICAN CRIME STORY

Christian Slater as Mr. Robot, MR. ROBOT

Thomas Barrow to me was one of the most interesting character in DOWNTON ABBEY, if not the most interesting. He was layered and drew empathy even through his more cunning ways. Rob James Collier took the character to various places over the years, but in the final season especially, he gave us the angst and the desperation of Thomas Barrow in the most gut-wrenching way. His suicide attempt and his surrender thereafter were beautifully portrayed.

Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role – Comedy

Mayim Bialik as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, THE BIG BANG THEORY

Donna Lynne Champlin as Paula Proctor, CARZY EX-GIRLFRIEND

Allison Janney as Bonnie, MOM

Debra Monk as Betty, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE

Suzanne Cryer as Laurie Bream, SILICON VALLEY

Judith Light as Shelly Pfefferman, TRANSPARENT

Judith Light is such a layered performer. And she brings a certain desperation to the character of Shelly in TRANSPARENT that is so self-aware, yet unperturbed. I think in the show’s second season in particular, she got the opportunity to shine more as someone who was trying to move on from her family in some ways, trying to get on with her life. All this while, she maintained with consistency the annoying qualities of the character that we’re supposed to hate and love.

Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role – Comedy

Fred Savage as Stewart Sanderson, THE GRINDER

Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett, MODERN FAMILY

Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker, MODERN FAMILY

Malcolm McDowell as Thomas, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE

Zach Woods as Donald ‘Jared’ Dunn, SILICON VALLEY

Tony Hale as Gary Walsh, VEEP

Gary comes off as really dumb. He’s a pushover, a doormat, a punching bag and everything of the kind, while actually making one think that he has no self-esteem. And now I almost cannot imagine Tony Hale as being anything different than what Gary is. I think he does an outstanding job year after year. And this year in particular, his physical comedy has been spectacular. Just seeing his expressions in some scenes can crack anyone up.  

Performance By A Guest Actress

Christine Baranski as Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, THE BIG BANG THEORY

June Squibb as ‘Meemaw’, THE BIG BANG THEORY

Marisa Tomei as Mimi Whiteman, EMPIRE

Catherine O'Hara as Dr. Debra Radcliffe, MODERN FAMILY

Rosie O'Donnell as Jeanine, MOM

Ellen Burstyn as Elizabeth Hale, HOUSE OF CARDS

Baranski is just the best performer in the room in any scene that she does on THE BIG BANG THEORY. She is poker-faced snarky like few can pull off. Beverly’s intellectually-laced indifference is a work of genius put together by the chameleon of an actress that is Christine Baranski.

Performance By A Guest Actor

Michael J. Fox as Louis Canning, THE GOOD WIFE

Timothy Olyphant as Timothy Olyphant, THE GRINDER

Reg E. Cathey Freddy, HOUSE OF CARDS

Harry Hamlin as Fred, MOM

Zachary Levi as James McMahon, TELENOVELA

Till the end, Michael J Fox brought to the role of Louis Canning a sort of conniving, quirky brilliance, with perfection. In the few scenes that he had on the show’s final season, he did absolute justice to the character that we grew to love and hate over the last seven years.

Writing

BETTER CALL SAUL

DOWNTON ABBEY

FARGO

HOMELAND

MASTERS OF SEX

MODERN FAMILY

MOM

Gripping to the core, HOMELAND’s writing in season 5 was at its edge-of-the-seat best. I thought every scene perfectly complemented its preceding and succeeding scenes. The plotting was well-paced, and the characters and their relationships were fleshed out with nuance, all the while doing justice to who they essentially were, despite their evolution over five seasons.

Cinematography

BETTER CALL SAUL

FARGO

HOMELAND

MR. ROBOT

THE PEOPLE V. O.J. – AMERICAN CRIME STORY

Stunning shots, genius transitions and brilliant foregrounding made FARGO the hypnotizing spectacle that it turned out to be. Without the opening visuals of some scenes, this series would not have made as deep an impact as it did.

Production Design

BETTER CALL SAUL

CODE BLACK

FARGO

HOMELAND

SUPERGIRL

From the shambles where Quinn recovers and the sex club where the CIA’s leak takes place, to the refugee camp and the European townships displayed, HOMELAND set each frame in meticulously detailed environments, getting every element right.

Costume Design

DOWNTON ABBEY

EMPIRE

FARGO

THE ROYALS

Consistency was key in the art of costume displayed by DOWNTON ABBEY season after season, in keeping with the eras that it portrayed. The costume design in the final season was nothing short of outstanding. It presented the characters and their predicaments and states of mind with brilliance. From the wedding dresses and the millinery to modifications in the staff’s livery to the children’s outfits, everything was beautifully put together, forming an essential part of the DOWNTON world.

Make-Up And Hairstyling – Prosthetic/Non-Prosthetic

CODE BLACK

FARGO

GREY’S ANATOMY

NARCOS

The excellent prosthetic make-up made CODE BLACK the graphic and disturbing beauty that it was. The chaos of the ER in a state of 'code black' would not have been the same without the excellence in make-up.

Music – Background Score

THE CATCH

THE GOOD WIFE

HOMELAND

MR ROBOT

Capturing the tense mood, the intense flavor, the intriguing madness of MR ROBOT, its soundtrack is nothing short of captivating. It complements the ingenuity of MR ROBOT’s drama to perfection.

Music – Songs (Original/Compilation)

THE CATCH

CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND

EMPIRE

GREY'S ANATOMY

NASHVILLE

The quirky, funny, outrageousness that is the soundtrack of CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND enhances the titular craziness to such a level that without this brand of music, the show won’t be the unique comedy program that it is.

Fine Print ▪ The eligible series are those that I follow, and have had new episodes on the air or online between September 12, 2015 and July 14, 2016 (THE AFFAIR, AMERICAN CRIME, AMERICAN IDOL, THE AMERICANS, BATES MOTEL, BETTER CALL SAUL, THE BIG BANG THEORY, BLUE BLOODS, BONES, CHICAGO FIRE, CHICAGO MED, CHICAGO P.D., CODE BLACK, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, DEVIOUS MAIDS, DOWNTON ABBEY, DR. KEN, ELEMENTARY, EMPIRE, EPISODES, FARGO, FEED THE BEAST, THE FLASH, THE FOSTERS, FULLER HOUSE, GIRLS, THE GOLDBERGS, THE GOOD WIFE, GOTHAM, GRACE AND FRANKIE, GREY'S ANATOMY, HOMELAND, HOUSE OF CARDS, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, MASTER OF NONE, MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA, MASTERS OF SEX, MISTRESSES, MODERN FAMILY, MOM, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, MR. ROBOT, NARCOS, NASHVILLE, THE ODD COUPLE, THE ORIGINALS, THE PEOPLE V. O.J. – AMERICAN CRIME STORY, QUANTICO, RIZZOLI AND ISLES, THE ROYALS, SCANDAL, SHERLOCK, SILICON VALLEY, SUPERGIRL, SUPERSTORE, TELENOVELA, TRANSPARENT, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, VEEP) ▪ The maximum number of nominees 7 ▪ The minimum number of nominees is 3 ▪ The ‘TV TALK Best Of 2015-16’ is only an expression of what I considered as excellence in television in the year 2015-16 ▪