2nd Annual TeleFilmiest Awards - Winners (Part 1)

2nd ANNUAL TELEFILMIEST AWARDS - WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT

Welcome, everyone, to the 2nd Annual TeleFilmiest Awards. It has been another fantastic year of television, with drama, comedy, movies, miniseries and variety series turning the medium into the best form of storytelling out there. Just one week ago I posted nominations in 26 categories, awarding the best television has to offer. Now it's time to crown some winners. Let's get things started.

Our first category tonight is Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. 

And the nominees are:

Pamela Adlon as Pamela in Louie

Uzo Aduba as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Orange is the New Black

Sarah Baker as Vanessa in Louie

Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset in Orange is the New Black

Mimi Kennedy as Marjorie Armstrong in Mom

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Uzo Aduba as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Orange is the New Black

With a name like "Crazy Eyes," it's hard to not stand out. Aduba's performance has been a fan favorite from the start, initially for her intense crush on Piper and the comedic lengths she would go to make her her "prison wife." But Aduba goes above and beyond what could have easily been a cartoon caricature, instead forming a woman with many flaws but just as many unique strengths. As Season 1 moves along, viewers see the simple desire to fit in and be loved above all else, making her one of the best new characters of the TV season.

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Our next category tonight is Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. 

And the nominees are:

Brad Garrett as Gordon Lewis in The Crazy Ones

Andrew Rannells as Elijah Krantz in Girls

Jeremy Renner as Jeff Davis in Louie

Pablo Schreiber as George “Pornstache” Mendez in Orange is the New Black

Damon Wayans, Jr. as Coach in New Girl

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Pablo Schreiber as George "Pornstache" Mendez in Orange is the New Black

Much like "Crazy Eyes," it's hard to go wrong with a name like "Pornstache." The character everyone loves to hate is a major antagonizing force in the prison in Season 1 and Schreiber plays him to sleazy perfection. The raw, masculine energy he provides is a fascinating dynamic in a predominately female-driven show and Schreiber truly steals every scene he is in. He often provides comedic relief in a series that often takes some dark turns, giving a perfect comedic guest performance.

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Next up is the category of Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

And the nominees are:

Andrew Haigh for Looking (“Looking for the Future”)

Louis C.K. for Louie (“So Did the Fat Lady”)

Nick Jones for Orange is the New Black (“Bora Bora Bora”)

Amy Poehler & Michael Schur for Parks and Recreation (“Second Chunce”)

David Quantick, Tony Roche & Armando Iannucci for Veep (“Debate”)

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

David Quantick, Tony Roche & Armando Iannucci for Veep (“Debate”)

Perfectly satirizing the lunacy of American political debates, "Debate" is an expertly-written episode of Veep that highlights everything that makes the show great. From dynamite zingers ("Go fuck yourself, Jack and the Giant Freakstalk!") to Maddox's insane ramblings about "holes," this episode proves Veep's brilliant grasp on the soundbite culture of today's politics. And Selina debuting her new haircut and everyone's horrified reactions is one of the best comedy moments of the year.

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Next is the category of Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

And the nominees are:

Jorma Taccone for Brooklyn Nine-Nine (“Thanksgiving”)

Louis C.K. for Louie (“In The Woods”)

Jodie Foster for Orange is the New Black (“Lesbian Request Denied”)

Michael Trim for Orange is the New Black (“Can’t Fix Crazy”)

Chris Addison for Veep (“New Hampshire”)

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Michael Trim for Orange is the New Black (“Can’t Fix Crazy”)

Everything culminates in the Season 1 finale of Orange is the New Black. The prison comes together for an elaborate Christmas pageant as Piper finds herself being rejected by both Larry and Alex. Her newfound independence leads her to battle it out with her longtime enemy, Pennsatucky, in one has become one of the most iconic fights of the season. A perfect blend of comedy (Norma sings!) and drama (the final fight), concluding one of the best debut seasons for a series in recent history.

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Coming up next is Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie.

And the nominees are:

Noah Hawley for Fargo

Matt Piedmont & Andrew Steele for The Spoils of Babylon

Nic Pizzolatto for True Detective

Noah Hawley for Fargo

Living up to the near-masterpiece that is Joel & Ethan Coen's 1996 film Fargo was an impossible task from the start, yet Hawley's 10-episode reimagining of the quirky police dramedy comes pretty darn close. Long periods of Fargo just feature two characters talking in a room about their ordinary lives, showing the simplicity of the small Minnesota community. Mixed with scenes of real suspense and horror, Hawley manages to create a world where anything can happen in the most unexpected ways (raining fish, blood in the shower, etc.). Above all, though, his creation of fully fleshed out characters like Lester, Molly and Gus along with the menacing Lorne Malvo is where he excels most.

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Next up is Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Movie.

And the nominees are:

Adam Bernstein for Fargo (“The Crocodile’s Dilemma”)

Ryan Murphy for The Normal Heart

Cary Joji Fukunaga for True Detective

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Cary Joji Fukunaga for True Detective

When True Detective burst onto the scene in January, those from the TV and film world were boasting about the near motion picture quality of the Louisiana-set series. Fukunaga directed all eight episodes of the season and expertly covered the 17-year case that drove detectives Rust Cohle and Marty Hart to madness. From the sweeping landscape of the swampy Louisiana locale to the most intimate moments of Rust and Marty going toe-to-toe, Fukunaga gives each shot the attention it deserves. The six-minute tracking shot at the end of Episode 4 in particular highlights the level of care and detail given to the project.

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Moving on to the category of Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries/Movie.

And the nominees are:

Matt Bomer as Felix Turner in The Normal Heart

Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard in Fargo

Woody Harrelson as Martin Hart in True Detective

Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle in True Detective

Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo in Fargo

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle in True Detective

"Time is a flat circle." Perhaps no other phrase will be remembered from True Detective as much as this, but it represents exactly what makes McConaughey's performance so memorable. Rust is a troubled man whose borderline insane ramblings isolate him from Marty and just about everyone else in his life, but his cynical personality help him see things for what they are. The performance has the same McConaughey drawl seen in many of the actor's roles but his utter magnetism when delivering monologues cannot help but command a room. Whomever is cast in Season 2 will have big shoes to fill.

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Next is the award for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.

And the nominees are...

Frances Conroy as Myrtle Snow in American Horror Story: Coven

Jessica Lange as Fiona Goode in American Horror Story: Coven

Julia Roberts as Dr. Emma Brookner in The Normal Heart

Allison Tolman as Molly Solverson in Fargo

Kristen Wiig as Cynthia Morehouse in The Spoils of Babylon

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Allison Tolman as Molly Solverson in Fargo

The very definition of a revelation, Tolman's understated yet powerful performance in Fargo is one hell of a debut. This is Tolman's first starring role and she proves in these 10 episodes that she can go up against the best of them, including Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman. The actress gives Molly small-town idealism, even though the character knows she's trying to excel in a man's world. She is a hopeful character who just wants to see justice served and even when people constantly bring her down, she never feels pitiful. She is the consummate underdog. And Tolman is an actress who is here to stay.

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Next up is the big award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.

And the nominees are:

American Horror Story: Coven

Fargo

The Normal Heart

The Spoils of Babylon

True Detective

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Fargo

As mentioned in previous category wins, the brilliance of Fargo is in combining the small-town quirk with genuine moments of terror. The miniseries shows the danger potentially lurking in your seemingly-friendly neighbor's home. Like AMC's Breaking Bad, it shows the capability of men who are repressed, though it is often counter-balanced with genuine humor and a wink to the audience watching. It is very interested in telling an epic tale, but does not beat the viewer over the head with just how important everything is, allowing the viewer to interpret the events presented however they want. 

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Moving on to drama, we will move to Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

Annaleigh Ashford as Betty DiMello in Masters of Sex

Allison Janney as Margaret Scully in Masters of Sex

Margo Martindale as Claudia in The Americans

Julianne Nicholson as Dr. Lillian DePaul in Masters of Sex

Diana Rigg as Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Allison Janney as Margaret Scully in Masters of Sex

Playing Margaret Scully, the wife of a closeted gay man, Janney has never been better. Janney is one of the best aspects of the first season of Masters of Sex, portraying a woman who doesn't know the true pleasures of life until she interviews for Masters and Johnson's sex study. Having never had an orgasm before, she breaks down and proceeds to go out for a night of true sexual awakening. Margaret's arc throughout Season 1 is fascinating and sympathetic, but it is Janney's gravitas that brings magic to the role.

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And now, the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series:

And the nominees are:

Beau Bridges as Provost Barton Scully in Masters of Sex

Robert Forster as Ed in Breaking Bad

Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones

Robert Morse as Bertram Cooper in Mad Men

Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones

Supporting/guest characters come and go all the time on Game of Thrones, but very few manage to truly make an impact in their short time on the show. However, Pascal made the most of his screentime since the minute he was introduced in the Season 4 premiere. Playing a man looking to avenge the murder of his family, Pascal's Oberyn uses grace and charm to get his way into the inner circle of King's Landing. Everything culminates in his final scene of the season, in which he playfully taunts his opponent in battle, allowing his cleverness to get the best of him. He is easily one of the standouts of Season 4 and will likely be remembered as one of the most significant supporting characters in the show's history. 

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Next up, we have the category of Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.

And the nominees are:

Charlotte Sieling for The Americans (“Behind the Red Door”)

Rian Johnson for Breaking Bad (“Ozymandias”)

Vince Gilligan for Breaking Bad (“Felina”)

Alex Graves for Game of Thrones (“The Lion and the Rose”)

Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (“Waterloo”)

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Rian Johnson for Breaking Bad (“Ozymandias”)

This is the second straight win for Johnson in this category for directing an episode of Breaking Bad, but this year there was really no other option. "Ozymandias" is arguably the best episode Breaking Bad has ever produced and Johnson's visual style fits like a glove with the show's overall climax. The Hank scene in the desert focused on Walt's anguish, but the focus shifts when Walt interacts with Skyler and the two engage in a genuinely suspenseful knife fight. From start to finish, "Ozymandias" is a work of art that will surely rank among the best episodes of television of all time.

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The final category for tonight is Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series:

And the nominees are:

Oliver North & Tracey Scott Wilson for The Americans (“Martial Eagle”)

Gennifer Hutchison for Breaking Bad (“Confessions”)

Moira Walley-Beckett for Breaking Bad (“Ozymandias”)

Carly Wray & Matthew Weiner for Mad Men (“Waterloo”)

Sam Shaw & Michelle Ashford for Masters of Sex (“Catherine”)

And the TeleFilmiest award goes to...

Moira Walley-Beckett for Breaking Bad (“Ozymandias”)

Johnson's directing wouldn't be anything without Walley-Beckett's writing. As mentioned, "Ozymandias" is perhaps the definitive Breaking Bad episode and Walley-Beckett's script being so air-tight with emotion, impact, suspense and quiet moments ensure that no scenes drag too long or feel superfluous. Everything with Walt, Hank and Jesse in the desert is perfectly paced, as is the genuinely horrifying scene with Walt, Skyler and Walt Jr. in their house. Television writing doesn't get much better than this.

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That's all for now, folks. Tune in next time to see the winners of the final 13 categories, including Comedy Series and Drama Series. Thanks for reading!

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