2016 Golden Globes: Why Lena Headey, Mayim Bialik, Uzo Aduba deserve Supporting nominations

As we mentioned earlier this weekend when looking at the Supporting Actor category for the 2016 Golden Globes, the Hollywood Foreign Press really needs to divide this up somehow into multiple categories. You’ve got dramas, comedies, and miniseries mixed up in here, and it is almost impossible to imagine some genres getting the same sort of respect as others … even though they should.

We feel like we have a good representation in our own personal ballot below for Supporting Actress, but we also want to know what you think, as well!

Uzo Aduba, “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix) – Probably one of the favorites, and really deservedly so when you look at her overall body of work. It really does not matter if you consider this show a drama, a comedy, a dramedy, or anything else; Crazy Eyes still reigns supreme as one of the most fascinating characters on TV right now. She may not be the lead, but this for our money is one of the ten best characters across all genres right now.

Mayim Bialik, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) – We thought Mayim had a really great spring, which is why we put her as a contender for a comedy Emmy. However, she’s had an even better fall so far as Amy Farrah Fowler has gone through huge changes in her personal life with Sheldon. One of the reasons we’ve had such passionate opinions about the story in season 9 is because Bialik has made us care so much for this character. That heartbreaking scene in the Thanksgiving episode where Sheldon opts to not get back together with her may be one of the single best performances on the show to date.

Christina Hendricks, “Mad Men” (AMC) – Hendricks has probably a list of five or six iconic episodes of this show that she can look back on fondly, and lucky for her some of the great stories were still coming at the end of the final season. Joan finally found her right place, even if it took trial, error, and unfortunate hardship to get there. When “Mad Men” was on the air, we’d put Joan right on that list with Crazy Eyes.

Carrie Coon, “The Leftovers” (HBO) – We suppose that it is possible Carrie could be considered a lead for Nora Durst, but with this show so ensemble-based we feel like this is more of the right spot. Regardless, the work she’s done this time is phenomenal. Nora is an unrelenting person, someone constantly seeking security, and not afraid to make huge sacrifices for the sake of it. We sympathize with her plight, even though we think that the character would prefer that we admire her for her audacity.

Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones” (HBO) – Next to Aduba we’d say right now that Headey is the closest to a sure thing when it comes to getting a nomination, mostly on the strength of the final episode “Mother’s Mercy” and all of the emotion and torment that went into that. She has made this character so complex over the years that while you may not root for her, you may at least sympathize more than you did going into season 5.

Honorable mentions – Christine Baranski, “The Good Wife” (CBS), Joelle Carter, “Justified” (FX),  Joanne Froggatt, “Downton Abbey” (PBS), Melissa McBride, “The Walking Dead” (AMC), Jadyn Wong, “Scorpion” (CBS)