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2014 Emmy Submissions are in! Will your favorite make the final ballot?

American Horror Story Emmy Awards Game of Thrones Inside Amy Schumer News Orphan Black Parks and Recreation Shameless

Reading through the Emmy submission list every June is one of my favorite moments of the year. It’s fun to see which actors have the biggest egos. You know, the ones who will submit themselves for the lead categories when they are so obviously supporting.

At first it's nice to see the different types of roles being put forward, but then you come to the terrible realization that many of them are not likely to receive an actual nomination. In recent Emmy history, it’s almost always the same actors vying for the same awards every year. 

If you have an established name, you have a better chance of earning a nomination (or even a win) in a mediocre role than you would if you were an unknown in a fantastic role. Remember that time Melissa McCarthy won for Mike & Molly the same year Bridesmaids was released? Sadly it’s more about who you are than the role at hand.

The 2014 Emmy submissions can be found here. Let me run through some of my favorite parts of these ballots:

• If your show is on ABC Family, The CW, or MTV – why are you submitting for the Emmys? Why are you wasting your money on this? (Yeah, The Emmys require a submission fee if you’re not already a member of the academy). I don't mean to come off as a TV snob, but come on now. This is ridiculous. Teen Wolf, you really think you have a shot here? 

• Rapper Nelly submitted himself for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Real Husbands of Hollywood. I was not even aware this was a thing. But really, is the world ready for EMMY-AWARD WINNER Nelly?

• Rob Lowe once again submitted himself for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Chris Traeger on Parks and Recreation. Yeah, this is the same guy who left half-way through the last season yet still thinks of himself as the show’s “lead."

• Shameless is submitting themselves into the comedy categories for the first time in 4 seasons. Because season 4 was just a RIOT, yaknow? With Liam almost dying of a cocaine overdose, Fiona going to prison and having a complete meltdown, Ian’s bi-polar disorder, Frank on his deathbed – this season was just a LAUGH-A- PALOOZA. Emmy Rossum gave one of the best dramatic performances this season and I just can’t take her seriously on a Lead Actress in a Comedy ballot. Maybe that’s the joke? How meta.

• Amy Schumer submitted herself for Outstanding Supporting Actress for Inside Amy Schumer. Because that makes total sense, right? It seemed silly to me at first, but after a little research I found out there's an actual reason behind it. Apparently, actors in sketch or variety series are forbidden to submit themselves in the lead categories.

• Each submission lists the specific role for each actor – scroll down to Tatiana Maslany for Orphan Black. As Sarah, Beth, Cosima, Rachel (and more). AND MORE. I have a very good feeling that she is going to pick up a nomination this year as she has received accolades from almost every other award series so far. Her absence in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category last season was regarded as one of the biggest snubs of the year.

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
(HBO's Game of Thrones)
(Photo via Entertainment Weekly)

• I hope Lena Headey gets some Emmy-love this year. She has submitted for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, of which she plays brilliantly. I firmly believe she is television's best villain. I want to see Cersei die but then at the same time I just know I would miss her. I enjoy every scene she's in but I still hate her. Does that make sense? A character you love to hate but really just love? I guess that's a prime example of why Lena deserves a nomination. 

• Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie is comprised of almost the entire American Horror Story: Coven cast. I would bet my life that Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett both receive a nomination as well as Jessica Lane in the Lead Actress category. I would like to see Lily Rabe pick up a nomination too (#JusticeForMistyDay). While I love Sarah Paulson more than anything – she submitted herself for lead, which I think that may have been an overstep.

Official nominations will be announced live from the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre on July 10^th at 5:30AM.