7 Things We Hope the Emmys Get Right This Year

With so much TV and such few slots on the ballot, it’s inevitable we’ll have something to gripe about when Emmy nominations are announced on July 16. Here’s a wish list.

1. Welcome Dave back. David Letterman’s Late Show, which consistently won the variety series category before Comedy Central began its 12-year winning streak, hasn’t even been nominated the last five years. Giving Letterman one last nod would acknowledge his unforgettable final run of shows.

2. Tip your hat to Justified. FX’s underappreciated crime drama on wry had the year’s most satisfying final season (sorry, Mad Men), and this is Emmy’s last chance to take notice. Also worthy: the show’s actors, Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter and villain Sam Elliott.

3. Open the tent wide. The CW finally deserves to break through with the delightful Jane the Virgin. Relative newbie Amazon has a contender with Transparent, featuring Jeffrey Tambor as its transgender heroine. While we’re on the subject of diversity, don’t forget Empire and star Taraji P. Henson, Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu and black-ish.

Gina Rodriguez from Jane the Virgin

4. Get over the genre bias. Game of Thrones isn’t TV’s only great fantasy. Time to celebrate Tatiana Maslany’s virtuoso work on Orphan Black after three seasons. Starz’s time-travel romance Outlander and Showtime’s dazzling Gothic monster mash Penny Dreadful (and their respective stars) are also deserving.

5. Give The Americans its due. The acclaimed FX spy thriller has yet to make the best-drama cut, and its brilliant chameleon stars Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell have never been recognized. With the drama category opening to seven shows, and House of Cards having an off year and True Detective not eligible, there’s room.

6. Shake things up in the reality-competition field. With the same handful of shows being nominated since the category began in 2003, why not finally embrace Syfy’s creature makeup extravaganza Face Off, which is at least as creative as perennial nominees Project Runway and Top Chef.

7. Sue Heck FTW! This was “The Year of Sue” on The Middle, and Eden Sher’s performance has never been better. Or more touching, as Sue learned at graduation that her classmates knew who she was, and liked her, all along. Now it’s Emmy’s turn.

Eden Sher from The Middle

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