Our Picks for 69th Primetime Emmy Awards [2017] - Programs

The Emmy awards are to be declared on September 17, 2017 in LA(where else?). The nominations are pretty solid as usual and I am here to comment on my personal favorites from them. These choices are only from the 'Programs' category. Rest to come soon.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Hugh Laurie in Veep
[Photo Credit - HBO]

1.     Outstanding Comedy Series – Veep:  It is one of the few shows on TV that decently portrays a powerful woman without making her out to be completely evil or completely pure. Selina Meyer is beautifully flawed and strikingly relevant after Clinton’s defeat in the 2016 election.

2.     Outstanding Drama Series – The Crown: This show is enthralling. It beautifully weaves the tale of a female aristocrat struggling to come to terms with a position that offers nominal powers but creates sober personal conundrums. Again, a show that illustrates the real life humanness residing in even the most idolized personalities.

3.     Outstanding Variety Talk Series – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: He entertains, he informs, he makes it simpler and he researches [how much time do the people on the show have?]. He talks about serious threats using bar jokes and somehow brings hamsters into a discussion about crucial socio-economic matters. Also, the only Talk Series I can actually get around to watch.

4.     Outstanding Variety Sketch Series – Saturday Night Live : Celebrity appearances, sketches that are relevant to the times, talented writers and the overall spontaneity of the show makes it the best contender.

A screencap from Henrietta Lacks' biopic
[Photo Credit - HBO] 

5.     Outstanding Limited Series – Big Little Lies: I am never gonna read books again, if all of them were made into series this well. Steamy sex, romantic fluff, criminal issues…the list is endless. This show is what every show should strive to be. This show breaks all stereotypes about “soccer moms” and stresses the point that appearances can be staggeringly misguiding.

   6.   Outstanding Television Movie – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: I’ll be honest. I haven’t watched the other TV movies nominated. The reason I watched this one was that I wanted to know about Henrietta Lacks but didn’t have the patience to go through a complete book [I have a hard time going through nonfiction works]. A choice by default.

7.     Outstanding Reality Competition Program – Top Chef: I happen to despise reality shows. I don’t even have a guilty pleasure. I never have and never will watch any reality show, simply owing to the fact that everything is scripted and nobody actually is convincing in any frame. Top Chef is my pick simply because it has lots of food which barely bears a consequence but does inspire my father to cook more often[He is a great cook who is ‘personally affronted by the wrong methods used on the show’; his words not mine.]

Which of the choices do you agree/disagree with?Do tell us in comments below.