12 New Shows That Deserve Emmy Consideration This Year

Emmy nominations are announced tomorrow, and there's plenty of wide-open categories. Many nominees from last year aren't eligible this year for various reasons. This means that some shows not nominated last year will get nods this time around. It also means that there's plenty of room for new shows to break in. Below are some of the new shows that most deserve consideration for nominations this year.

Dead To Me:
It's one of Netflix's newest shows, but the dark comedy Dead To Me made quite a splash when it debuted in May. The show, which stars TV veterans Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate, isn't like any other contender in the comedy category this year. It's much darker and twistier than anything else. The two leading performances are some of the best on TV this year, helping to make an already-intriguing story even better with their stellar chemistry.
Consider in the Following Categories: Comedy Lead Actress (Linda Cardellini; Christina Applegate)

Dirty John:
It was definitely over-the-top at times, but Bravo's Dirty John was also one of my favorite new shows of the past years. It was addicting, enthralling television that drew me in from the very first moment. That's because it featured many extremely talented performers, with Connie Britton's lead performance being the best of a great crop. Supporting performances by both Jean Smart and Julia Garner (whose work in the finale of the show is the highlight of the series for me) are also notably pretty great, and both deserve consideration. With lesser performers, this show could have been a complete and total mess. But with the right casting, it was truly marvelous.
Consider in the Following Categories: Limited Series; Limited Series/TV Movie Lead Actress (Connie Britton); Limited Series/TV Movie Supporting Actress (Jean Smart; Julia Garner)

Disenchantment:
Disenchantment took some time to find its footing, but once it did, it was a very fun time from then on. Matt Groening's medieval-set cartoon isn't like his previous creations, or any other animated series. That's what makes it so good. It's refreshing to see something different on TV, and that's exactly what this is. The animation is both simplistic and beautiful at the same time, with vivid colors that make the show pleasing to the eyes as well.
Consider in the Following Categories: Animated Program; Voice-Over Performance (Abbi Jacobson)

The Kids Are Alright:
The performance of this show's leading lady, Mary McCormack, does deserve a look in the lead actress race. McCormack, a TV veteran that also had a memorable guest spot on Will & Grace this season, delivered a hilarious, superb, and sometimes even moving performance as an Irish Catholic mom raising 8 kids in the 1970s. While the rest of the cast was superb, McCormack was always a standout.
Consider in the Following Categories: Comedy Lead Actress (Mary McCormack)

The Kominsky Method:
I generally enjoy Chuck Lorre's works, but The Kominsky Method is something special. It's easily one of his better works, with sharp, funny writing that makes you think about life and the human condition. Spectacular acting is all around in this series, with lead actor Michael Douglas bringing his charm to a character that should be utterly charmless, and Alan Arkin gave a performance both deeply moving and deeply funny. Every guest star was perfect, but spots by Danny DeVito and Ann-Margret are the best of the crop, both worth nods for sure.
Consider in the Following Categories: Comedy Series; Comedy Lead Actor (Michael Douglas); Comedy Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin); Comedy Guest Actor (Danny DeVito; Elliott Gould); Comedy Guest Actress (Ann-Margret)

Live In Front of a Studio Audience:
This isn't necessarily a new "show" but it is a new TV special eligible for the Emmys this year, and it deserves them. Like most, I was skeptical of this when it was first announced. All in the Family and The Jeffersons are both iconic shows, and putting new actors into those roles could have ended catastrophically. It didn't though. Quite the opposite, actually. While nobody can touch the original actors, this was about as good of a cast as you could possibly ask for. Marisa Tomei is the true standout here, showing off her comedic chops as Edith Bunker.  Even when the story didn't demand her character to be the center of attention, I couldn't take my eyes off of her, and she stole the show. Wanda Sykes also put in an expectedly top-notch performance as Louise Jefferson in the both halves of the special, and a surprise appearance by Marla Gibbs (reprising her original role in The Jeffersons) may have been the best casting move of all. This is an experiment worth trying again, and one worth considering at the Emmys.
Consider in the Following Categories: Live Variety Special; Limited Series/TV Movie Lead Actress (Marisa Tomei; Wanda Skyes); Limited Series/TV Movie Supporting Actress (Marla Gibbs)

Making It:
The rare reality show to break into this list, Making It was one of my favorite shows of 2018 for a very simple reason: it's the finest example of escapism TV that you can find. Even though it is a competition, it never featured the drama of many other competition shows. It was always just a fun experience where showcasing beautiful crafting was the main goal. Hosts Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, always there to provide jokes and lighten up any situation, had a big hand in creating that atmosphere. The reunited co-stars from Parks and Rec certainly deserve consideration for their work on the series.
Consider in the Following Categories: Competition Program; Host for a Reality or Competition Program (Amy Poehler & Nick Offerman)

The Masked Singer:
The breakout hit of the 2018-19 season (and the 2020 Super Bowl lead-out program), The Masked Singer, deserves major consideration at the Emmys in the technical categories, particularly for its magical costumes. While the show itself is a fun and weirdly intriguing, the costumes are the main draw and the team behind those costumes deserve to be recognized for their work for sure.
Consider in the Following Categories: Costumes for a Variety, Non-Fiction or Reality Program

The Other Two:
It might not have gotten the coverage in the press that most other shows on this list got, but The Other Two deserves equal attention. Every member of show's main cast is great, and the writing is super and witty. All of the characters feel are well-developed, each getting enough attention to actually give them time to grow on you. The actors all do their part to make these often-wacky characters feel like real humans and not just caricatures. Supporting actress Molly Shannon delivers some of the best work of her career in the season's penultimate episode, titled Chase Drops His First Album, where her character reveals a long-kept secret in perhaps the funniest way imaginable. The entire episode is comedic genius and deserves all the awards attention possible.
Consider in the Following Categories: Comedy Lead Actor (Drew Tarver); Comedy Lead Actress (Heléne Yorke); Comedy Supporting Actress (Molly Shannon); Comedy Supporting Actor (Ken Marino); Writing for a Comedy Series (Chase Drops His First Album)

Pose:
If there's one show that first popped in my mind when I first decided to write this article, it was Pose. FX's groundbreaking, dazzling drama about the 1980s New York ball scene features the largest LGBTQ+ cast on television. I wasn't familiar with the work of most of the cast, so I didn't know what to expect going into the show, and every single person in the cast surprised me, in the best way possible. Pose is TV at its finest, and it deserves to be considered for every Emmy possible.
Consider in the Following Categories: Drama Series; Drama Lead Actor (Billy Porter); Drama Lead Actress (Mj Rodriguez); Drama Supporting Actress (Indya Moore); Drama Guest Actress (Sandra Bernhard); Writing for a Drama Series (Mother of the Year)

Sharp Objects:
Sharp Objects is a slow burn, but once it gets going, it becomes extremely intriguing and addicting TV. You want to just keep watching it until you learn every secret possible about the town and charactrers at the center of the show's mystery. Amy Adams is brilliant as a troubled reporter who returns home to her (spoiler alert!) extremely messed-up family. Patricia Clarkson steals the whole show as the mother of Adams' character, a role that should certainly win her the Emmy, not just get her considered for one. Newcomer Eliza Scanlen also shines in her role, and based on her performance in Sharp Objects, she's definitely one to watch out for.
Consider in the Following Categories: Limited Series; Limited Series/TV Movie Lead Actress (Amy Adams); Limited Series/TV Movie Suporting Actress (Patricia Clarkson; Eliza Scanlen)


What We Do In The Shadows:
I'll be honest, when this show first premiered, I wasn't a huge fan. It took a few episodes to find it's footing, certainly. And that is absolutely fine, because just a few episodes in, it was one of the most original and captivating new comedies I've seen in years. It's not really like anything else on TV, which makes it a real treasure. I would point to its cast as the main reason why the show works so well. While the writers did an excellent job (particularly in the second half of the season), the actors were able to make the off-the-wall humor work so very well all season. These are characters that are so intriguing that it would be interesting to watch them do just about anything, and the actors deserve some recognition for that. By far the show's best episode is The Trial, a clever and hilariously-written episode featuring some surprising and brilliant guest appearances. It's one of the best comedy episodes of 2019 and deserves some consideration in the writing category.
Consider in the Following Categories: Comedy Lead Actor (Kayvan Novak); Comedy Lead Actress (Natasia Demetriou); Comedy Guest Actress (Tilda Swinton); Writing for a Comedy Series (The Trial)

What new shows would you like to see recognized at the Emmys this year? Let me know in the comments and make sure to vote in the poll below!

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