2nd Annual TeleFilmiest Awards - Winners (Part 2)

     Welcome back to the 2nd Annual TeleFilmiest Awards. Click here for the first group of winners. I will now present the winners for the final 13 categories:

Our first category tonight is Outstanding Comedy Ensemble.

And the nominees are:

Brooklyn Nine-Nine:

Stephanie Beatriz, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti and Andy Samberg

Community:

Alison Brie, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, Danny Pudi and Jim Rash

Orange is the New Black:

Jason Biggs, Michael J. Harney, Michelle Hurst, Kate Mulgrew, Laura Prepon and Taylor Schilling

Parks and Recreation:

Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Jim O'Heir, Rob Lowe, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Retta and Adam Scott

Veep:

Sufe Bradshaw, Anna Chlumsky, Gary Cole, Kevin Dunn, Tony Hale, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons and Matt Walsh

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

The cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine

It is difficult for any sitcom to get good chemistry and rapport going right away, but Brooklyn Nine-Nine managed to be an exception. While Andy Samberg may seem like an unlikely leading man, he is perfectly cast here as the sometimes straight man, sometimes goofball. Each character, from deadpan Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) to irreverent Gina (Chelsea Peretti) to butt-of-the-joke Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) lends their own brand of humor to the series, yet all of them work well together.

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Next up we have Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

And the nominees are:

Taran Killam as Various characters in Saturday Night Live

Joe Lo Truglio as Charles Boyle in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Reid Scott as Dan Egan in Veep

Timothy Simons as Jonah Ryan in Veep

James Wolk as Zach Cropper in The Crazy Ones

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Joe Lo Truglio as Charles Boyle in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Standing out in a show like Brooklyn Nine-Nine with so many comedic presences is no easy feat, but Lo Truglio's performance as the delightfully quirky yet clueless Det. Boyle is one of the most comedic of the TV year. There are so many wonderful Boyle moments from the show's first season, including his low-rise jeans, his obsession with Vivian (Marilu Henner) and his various "truth bombs." Lo Truglio even excels with dramatic material, especially during his Medal of Valor arc.

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And now the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

And the nominees are:

Gillian Jacobs as Britta Perry in Community

Allison Janney as Bonnie Plunkett in Mom

Kate McKinnon as Various characters in Saturday Night Live

Kate Mulgrew as Galina “Red” Reznikov in Orange is the New Black

Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Allison Janney as Bonnie Plunkett in Mom

With an additional TeleFilmiest Award for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Masters of Sex, Janney has never been better, excelling in both drama and comedy. In Mom, Janney is the typical boozy, disruptive mother figure, but she gives additional gravitas to the role. Any time she is on screen she completely steals the show but her moments to shine (her battle with menopause, her intervention) prove her range as an actress. And there's nothing better than Allison Janney in a blonde wig singing "Son of a Preacher Man." Nothing.

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Next we have the award for Outstanding Variety Series.

And the nominees are:

The Colbert Report

Comedy Bang! Bang!

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Portlandia

Saturday Night Live

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Comedy Bang! Bang!

Hosted by the intrepid Scott Aukerman, Comedy Bang! Bang! is an odd little gem of a show that manages to lampoon talk shows and pop culture in general. Among the best moments of the latest season include Zach Galifianakis stopping by for the "finale" episode, the Talk Show Rescue Kitchen Nightmares parody and Scott going "back in time" to the 1960s version of the show. To quote the always hilarious horse-fighting Calvin Twins, "You gotta laugh!"

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Moving on to drama, here is Outstanding Drama Ensemble.

And the nominees are:

The Americans:

Noah Emmerich, Annet Mahendru, Susan Misner, Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell, Keidrich Sellati, Holly Taylor and Alison Wright

Breaking Bad:

Betsy Brandt, Bryan Cranston, Laura Fraser, Anna Gunn, RJ Mitte, Dean Norris, Bob Odenkirk, Aaron Paul and Jesse Plemons

Game of Thrones:

Alfie Allen, John Bradley, Gwendoline Christie, Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Liam Cunningham, Charles Dance, Stephen Dillane, Peter Dinklage, Natalie Dormer, Jerome Flynn, Aidan Gillen, Jack Gleeson, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Conleth Hill, Kristofer Hivju, Sibel Kekilli, Rose Leslie, Rory McCrann, Hannah Murray, Iwan Rheon, Sophie Turner, Carice van Houton and Maisie Williams

House of Cards:

Mahershala Ali, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Darrow, Michel Gill, Sakina Jaffrey, Michael Kelly, Gerald McRaney, Molly Parker, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright

Mad Men:

Ben Feldman, Jay R. Ferguson, Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks, January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, Robert Morse, Elisabeth Moss, Jessica Pare, Kevin Rahm, Kiernan Shipka, John Slattery, Rich Sommer, Christopher Stanley and Aaron Staton

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

The cast of The Americans

This was one of the most difficult categories to choose a winner from, but I wound up going with the cast of The Americans because it seems that each of them rose to the task and then some in Season 2. Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell were just as great as they've always been, but Allison Wright, Noah Emmerich and especially Annet Mahendru were excellent, each of their characters suffering in silent desperation. Among the best acted moments in Season 2 were Nina during her lie detector test, Philip threatening the church pastor and Stan realizing it's all over between him and his wife.

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Let's move on to Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

And the nominees are...

Anna Gunn as Skyler White in Breaking Bad

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones

Annet Mahendru as Nina Sergeevna in The Americans

Kiernan Shipka as Sally Draper in Mad Men

Allison Wright as Martha Hanson in The Americans

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Anna Gunn as Skyler White in Breaking Bad

There is simply no beating Anna Gunn this year. She won this category last year, but her performance in the episode "Ozymandias" is perhaps her best ever. The gradual buildup to her big fight with Walt (Bryan Cranston) is some of her best acting, with just her face telling the story. The fight itself is horrifying in its violence and tragedy, and her subsequent running out into the street is genuinely emotional in a way that even the most virulent of Skyler haters have to admit is very affecting.

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Next up is the category Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

And the nominees are:

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones

Noah Emmerich as Stan Beeman in The Americans

Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody in Homeland

Dean Norris as Hank Schrader in Breaking Bad 

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones

In terms of a full story, Tyrion Lannister had his best season yet, from beginning to end, and Dinklage more than rose to the occasion. Him finally standing up to his father Tywin (Charles Dance) while on trial, fighting for his life, is perhaps his crowning achievement of the series so far and when he has his final act of revenge in the finale episode, it is a beautiful, fitting moment. Yet his subtle, perfect facial reactions to the chaos of King's Landing going on around him are what tip him over the edge, for me.

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Moving to the big categories, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

And the nominees are:

Fred Armisen as Various characters in Portlandia

Scott Aukerman as himself in Comedy Bang! Bang!

Louis C.K. as Louie in Louie

Jake Johnson as Nick Miller in New Girl

Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta in Brooklyn Nine-Nine

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Fred Armisen as Various characters in Portlandia

It's easy to take advantage of Armisen in Portlandia, but the mere fact that he can play an art teacher, a skater dude and a meek housewife within the course of a half hour and be convincing and funny in each role is astonishing. It is his role as an old feminist bookstore owner, however, that remains his best character on the show and without fail, he manages to make me laugh the most in every episode of the series.
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Next up we have the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

And the nominees are:

Carrie Brownstein as Various characters in Portlandia

Anna Faris as Christy Plunkett in Mom

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President Selina Meyer in Veep

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation

Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman in Orange is the New Black

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President Selina Meyer in Veep

For the second year in a row, this award goes to JLD for her continued excellence on Veep. This season saw Selina going on the campaign trail for presidency and she brought a whole new level of lunacy to the proceedings as the power-hungry yet utterly clueless character. Her debuting her new haircut is some of her best work on the series yet and her scene in the bathroom with Gary (Tony Hale) after finding out some very big news near the end of the season is comedy at its finest.

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Let's move on to the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

And the nominees are: 

Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson in Masters of Sex

Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland

Tatiana Maslany as Various characters in Orphan Black

Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson in Mad Men

Robin Wright as Claire Underwood in House of Cards

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Robin Wright as Claire Underwood in House of Cards

This is as much as an award for "most improved actress" as it is for Best Drama Lead Actress. Wright's performance as the brilliantly icy and conniving Claire Underwood reached heights I didn't know capable as she further stepped into the role of Lady Macbeth. Her big interview episode, in which she reveals that she got an abortion in college is some of the most patient, understated acting I've seen in a while. At times she can prove to be more ruthless than her husband, and Wright's cold delivery with hints of vulnerability make the show worth watching.

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For our final acting category, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

And the nominees are:

Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad

Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men

Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson in Homeland

Matthew Rhys as Philip Jennings in The Americans

Michael Sheen as Dr. William Masters in Masters of Sex

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad

While all of the actors in this category are incredibly gifted, this award can only go to Cranston. His portrayal of the monstrous yet relatable Walter White will go down as one of the best in television history, and his final season just proves his excellence as an actor. He has so many money scenes in the final season, from threatening Hank (Dean Norris) in the premiere to the entire desert sequence from "To'hajiilee" to "Ozymandias" to leaving town, to the epic finale. The legend of "Heisenberg" will live on for years to come.

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Finally, we've reached our final two categories of the evening. Here we go.

The nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series are:

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Girls

Louie

Orange is the New Black

Veep

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Orange is the New Black

In the summer of 2013, Netflix debuted a little show from the creator of Weeds that had little to no buzz, months after the massively buzzed-about House of Cards in addition to the return of Arrested Development. One year later, Orange is the New Black has turned into a legitimate cultural phenomenon, and for good reason. Set in an all-woman prison, Orange is the New Black uses upper-middle-class Piper (Taylor Schilling) as an entry point, but it soon blossoms into a series about minorities, the frequently unjust prison system and the powerful beauty of building a new community. While it definitely has dramatic and dark moments, OITNB shines when it's just two characters in a humorous situation, whether it be the prisoners lending their various "talents" to the Christmas pageant, an epic dance-off or the hunt for a mysterious chicken. There is nothing like Orange is the New Black on television and it deserves to be celebrated as a unique exploration of characters rarely seen on television.

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Let's get to the final category.

The nominees for Outstanding Drama Series are:

The Americans

Breaking Bad

Game of Thrones

Mad Men

Masters of Sex

And the TeleFilmiest Award goes to...

Breaking Bad

A shining example of going out on top, the final season of Breaking Bad is just about as good as television gets. Despite airing almost a full year ago, the show has still managed to leave an impact on me. The series is expertly directed, written and acted, and it only gets better as everything comes to a head in the final season. Some of its best moments include Walt's confrontation with Hank, as well as his fight with Skyler, Hank and Marie (Betsy Brandt) watching Walt's tape full of excuses, the desert shootout and the final conversation between Walt and Jesse in the series finale. The final season is only eight episodes, but it accentuates the idea of quality over quantity, which only serves to distance cable from network television as a better mode of storytelling. In this manner, the series was fully able to deliver a perfect, fitting ending. "I guess I got what I deserved" indeed.

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And with that, the second TeleFilmiest Awards ceremony is complete. It was another great year for television and I have hope that things will continue to get better as we live through the Golden Age of TV. Thanks for reading. I would encourage you to check out any of the shows nominated and awarded this season. Until next time...

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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