Emmys' Diverse Noms Prevent #OscarsSoWhite-Type Catastrophe (Analysis)

#EmmysSoWhite? Not quite.

When the Emmy nominations were announced Thursday morning, it was clear that the Television Academy has again sidestepped the thorny race problems that have long plagued the movies, a problem symbolized by the #OscarsSoWhite protest.

A number of TV programs with racially diverse casts were honored in major categories, including ABC’s sitcom “black-ish,” FX’s docudrama “The People v. O.J. Simpson” and Netflix’s dating comedy “Master of None.”

Also Read: Watch Anthony Anderson's Perfect Emmy Nom Reactions (Video)

In the lead drama actress category, Taraji P. Henson will again face off against Viola Davis (who won last year), even though last year’s initial buzz over their shows, “Empire” and “How to Get Away With Murder,” has long since died down.

In the lead comedy actor race, Anthony Anderson of “black-ish” (pictured) will face off against first-timer Aziz Ansari of “Master of None.”

The nominations underscore the larger point that television on the whole tends to be more diverse than movies.

Partly that’s due to sheer size. An explosion of programming on recent years – including streaming outlets such as Amazon and Netflix – has led producers to seek out stories that represent a broader constituency.

Television has more freedom from many of the severe financial constraints that have forced movie studios into churning out high-risk, mega-budget franchise pictures.

Emmy Nominations 2016: Biggest Snubs and Surprises (Photos)

The 2016 Emmy nominations were announced Thursday morning, and as always, there were snubs and surprises aplenty. From "Master of None" and "The Americans" picking up their first nominations, to "The Good Wife" and "Girls" being left out, here are some of the day's biggest shockers.

Also Read: Emmy Nominations 2016: The Complete List
Surprise: "The Americans"

After three seasons as a critical and cult darling, "The Americans" finally broke through the Emmy barrier with three major nominations, for Best Drama Series, Best Actor for Matthew Rhys and Best Actress for Keri Russell.

Also Read: Emmy Nominations 2016: ‘The Americans’ Finally Breaks Through After 4 Seasons
FX
Snub: "The Good Wife"

Perennial Emmy favorite "The Good Wife" went out with a whimper as it got no nominations in major categories, including for Julianna Margulies, who was shut out of the Best Drama Actress race after winning twice before for her role as Alicia Florrick.

Also Read: Emmys’ Diverse Noms Prevent #OscarsSoWhite-Type Catastrophe (Analysis)
CBS
Surprise: "Master of None"

Aziz Ansari's understated Netflix dramedy was beloved by critics and fans, but it seemed to fly under the radar, especially compared to Netflix's other splashier marquee shows, like "House of Cards" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." But on Emmy nomination morning, it scored four nods, including Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actor for Ansari.

Also Read: Watch Anthony Anderson’s Perfect Emmy Nom Reactions (Video)
Netflix
Snub: "Key & Peele"

The Academy apparently played favorites with the very funny comedy duo, and nominated Keegan-Michael Key for Best Supporting Comedy Actor -- but not his partner-in-crime, Jordan Peele.

Also Read: Emmy Nominations By the Numbers: ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘OJ Simpson’ Lead
Getty Images
Surprises: "Game of Thrones" actors

"Game of Thrones" leading the way with the most nominations (23 this year) is certainly no surprise, but this year, they really cleaned up in the acting categories, with usual suspects Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey joined by newcomers Kit Harington and Maisie Williams. Emilia Clarke, who was nominated for the first time last year, picked up her second nomination as the Mother of Dragons.

Also Read: Emmy Nominations 2016: The Complete List
HBO
Snubs: Emmy veterans

Despite winning Best Supporting Actress two years in a row, "Orange Is the New Black" star Uzo Aduba was not even nominated in 2016. Ditto for "Modern Family" star Julie Bowen, a perennial nominee and 2-time winner for Best Comedy Actress, who was shut out this year. And in "Downton Abbey's" final year on the air, it managed only one nomination, for Maggie Smith.

Also Read: ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Fans Angry Over Season 4’s Major Death
TheWrap
Surprise: Laurie Metcalf's Hat Trick

The "Getting On" actress was not satisfied with just getting nominated for HBO's departing comedy, and picked up nominations in two more acting categories, for guest-star work on "The Big Bang Theory" and "Horace & Pete," respectively.

Also Read: Laurie Metcalf Just Scored Emmy Nominations in 3 Different Categories
Getty Images
Snubs & Surprises: Late Night Edition

James Corden picked up his first Emmy nomination for "The Late Late Show," but his fellow CBS newcomer Stephen Colbert, who took over "The Late Show" from David Letterman, was shut out of the Outstanding Variety Talk Show category. Snubbed also were Jon Stewart proteges Trevor Noah and Samantha Bee, whose "Daily Show" and "Full Frontal" were shut out, respectively.

Also Read: Matt LeBlanc Rides Circles Around James Corden in ‘Bottom Gear’ Scooter Race (Video)
CBS
Snub: "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"

Just like predecessor "Jane The Virgin," The CW's newest Golden Globe-winning dramey was shut out in the major categories at the Emmys, picking up neither Best Comedy Series nor Best Comedy Actress, the category star Rachel Bloom won at the Golden Globes. "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" did pick up four Emmy nominations -- for choreography, music and its main titles.

Also Read: How ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,’ ‘Orange Is the New Black’ and Other Sitcoms Fight Mental Health Stigmas
The CW
Surprise: "black-ish"

This probably wasn't much of a surprise to fans and critics alike, who have embraced ABC's family sitcom, but Anthony Anderson, who was nominated for his first Emmy last year for the show and was nominated again this morning, certainly acted surprised when the show picked up two additional nominations this year, for Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actress for Tracee Ellis-Ross.

Also Read: Watch Anthony Anderson’s Perfect Emmy Nom Reactions (Video)
ABC
Snub: "Girls"

A very strong Season 5 of Lena Dunham's HBO dramedy was shut out completely at the Emmys in 2016. Previously, "Girls" had been nominated every single season it was on the air. Allison Williams' snub for the Marnie-centric "Panic in Central Park" episode seems especially egregious.

Also Read: ‘Girls’ Star Alex Karpovsky Talks About Directing His First Episode, Ray’s Future With Marnie
HBO
Surprise: Beyonce

"Lemonade" was a full-blown phenomenon the day it premiered on HBO, but did anyone expect it would become an Emmy darling as well? "Lemonade" was nominated for Outstanding Variety Special and three other nominations, including Beyonce herself for Directing.

Also Read: Jay Z Raps Response to Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’
HBO
Snub: "UnREAL"

Constance Zimmer deservedly got a Best Supporting Actress for her work on Lifetime's dark parody of "The Bachelor," but where was Best Drama or Best Actress for Shiri Appleby, the dysfunctional, decidedly unmoral center of the show?

Also Read: Why ‘UnReal’ Cast a Black Bachelor Before ‘The Bachelor’ Did
Lifetime

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”The Americans“ finally broke through, but ”The Good Wife“ went out with a whimper

The 2016 Emmy nominations were announced Thursday morning, and as always, there were snubs and surprises aplenty. From "Master of None" and "The Americans" picking up their first nominations, to "The Good Wife" and "Girls" being left out, here are some of the day's biggest shockers.

Also Read: Emmy Nominations 2016: The Complete List

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Emmy Nominations 2016: Biggest Snubs and Surprises (Photos)

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