My Emmy Ballot: Drama

N.B. These ballots are based on the official submissions and follow the Emmy rules for nominations (i.e. 10 for Programs, 6 for Actors and 5 for Casting). All ballots are in ranked order, with winners in bold.

As always, the drama categories were once again fiercely competitive this past TV season, especially among the lead performers, with many gifted actors delivering superlative work. Indeed, the quality of acting was the main draw for me this year, which explains my obvious love for one show in particular. While most fans are singing the praises of Season 4 (I still need to catch up) of "Orange is the New Black", I'm still in awe of the brilliantly character-focused work of Season 3, which produced one of the most moving and cathartic seasons of television I've ever seen. As a result, this heavily female-driven show nearly swept my drama ballots this year, leaving room only for Louis CK's disarming dramatic performance on "Horace and Pete" and Graham McTavish's rambuctious turn as Dougal MacKenzie on "Outlander".

Here's my full list of winners and runners-up for the Drama categories for 2015-2016:


OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Graham McTavish, Outlander (for "Je Suis Prest")
Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards (for "Chapter 50")
Max von Sydow, Game of Thrones (for "The Door")
Pablo Schreiber, Orange is the New Black (for "A Tittin' and a Hairin'")
Simon Callow, Outlander (for "Vengeance is Mine")
Gary Lewis, Outlander (for "The Fox's Lair")

Previous Winners

2013: Rupert Friend, Homeland
2014: Damon Herriman, Justified
2015: Lars Mikkelsen, House of Cards


OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Natasha Lyonne, Orange is the New Black (for "Empathy is a Boner Killer")
Laurie Metcalf, Horace and Pete (for "Episode 103")
Annet Mahendru, The Americans (for "Pastor Tim")
Hannah Dunne, Horace and Pete (for "Episode 106")
Ellen Burstyn, House of Cards (for "Chapter 41")
Aidy Bryant, Horace and Pete (for "Episode 102")

Previous Winners

2013: Laura Fraser, Breaking Bad
2014: Carrie Preston, The Good Wife
2015: Carrie Preston, The Good Wife


OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

Orange is the New Black
Horace and Pete
Game of Thrones
The Americans
Bloodline

Previous Winners

2013: Game of Thrones
2014: Breaking Bad
2015: House of Cards


OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nick Sandow, Orange is the New Black (for "We Can Be Heroes")
Michael McKean, Better Call Saul (for "Klick")
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife (for "KSR")
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (for "Gloves Off")
Tony Goldwyn, Scandal (for "The Fish Rots from the Head")
Costa Ronin, The Americans (for "Clark's Place")

Previous Winners

2013: Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
2014: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
2015: Matt Czuchry, The Good Wife


OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Kate Mulgrew, Orange is the New Black (for "Bed Bugs...")
Taryn Manning, Orange is the New Black (for ""A Tittin' and a Hairin'")
Edie Falco, Horace and Pete (for "Episode 5")
Jessica Lange, Horace and Pete (for "Episode 5")
Bellamy Young, Scandal (for "Get Out of Jail, Free")
Margo Martindale, The Good Wife (for "Iowa")

Honorable Mention: Yael Stone, Orange is the New Black

Previous Winners

2013: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
2014: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
2015: Kate Mulgrew, Orange is the New Black


OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Louis CK, Horace and Pete (for "Episode 10")
Steve Buscemi, Horace and Pete (for "Episode 6"")
Kyle Chandler, Bloodline (for "Part 21")
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (for "Klick")
Matthew Rhys, The Americans (for "Travel Agents")
Terrence Howard, Empire (for "Time Shall Unfold")

Previous Winners

2013: Damian Lewis, Homeland
2014: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
2015: Kevin Spacey, House of Cards


OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black (for "Fear...")
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander (for "Faith")
Kerry Washington, Scandal (for "Baby, It’s Cold Outside")
Keri Russell, The Americans (for "The Day After")
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (for "Judged")
Claire Danes, Homeland (for "Super Powers")

Previous Winners

2013: Claire Danes, Homeland
2014: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
2015: Taylor Schilling, Orange is the New Black


OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Orange is the New Black
The Good Wife
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Empire
The Americans
Scandal
Better Caul Saul
Outlander
Horace and Pete

Previous Winners

2013: Breaking Bad
2014: The Good Wife
2015: House of Cards

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