2015 Emmy Reactions: What Julia Louis Dreyfus, Tituss Burgess and Other Nominees Had to Say

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The nominees have been announced! Even though the official winners won’t be decided (and awarded) until later this year, the excited nominees had plenty to say. See the immediate reactions tweeted or shared by actors. Plus, visit our Emmys page at tvinsider.com/emmys for more coverage.

Actors

Anthony Anderson | Tituss Burgess | Richard Cabral | Don Cheadle | Darren Criss | Alan Cumming
Jeff Daniels | Ricky Gervais | Seth Green | Tony Hale | Timothy Hutton | Ben Mendelsohn
Bob Odenkirk | Liev Schreiber | Kevin Spacey | Jeffrey Tambor

Actresses

Uzo Aduba | Mayim Bialik | Julie Bowen | Anna Chlumsky | Viola Davis | Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Joanne Froggat | Taraji P. Henson | Felicity Huffman | Allison Janney | Regina King | Tatiana Maslany

Hosts and Entertainers

Jimmy Fallon | Jane Lynch | Amy Schumer

Directors, Executive Producers, Writers

Al Jean | Jenji Kohan | Michael McDonald | Chris Miller and Phil Lord | Gareth Neame | Jill Soloway

ACTORS

Anthony Anderson

Nominated: black-ish, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Tituss Burgess

Nominated: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

“It’s remarkable,” marvels Burgess, a first-time nominee. “I never win anything so this is so titillating, I can’t even explain it!” The scene-stealing sidekick to Ellie Kemper’s cult escapee watched the nominations online, but needed a little help to get through the ceremony. “They didn’t announce everything, so I literally walked downstairs to get a shot of Tequila because I was so stressed out. Then I came back upstairs and my publicist called, and I could tell from the way she said the hell of hello that it was good news.”

Richard Cabral

Nominated: American Crime, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

In addition to scoring first-ever Emmy nod, Cabral has another reason to celebrate. “Today is my wife’s birthday,” he says. “We were on the road when I got a text from one of the writers on American Crime and he let me know [about the nomination]. I was speechless, I lost my breath for a bit!” Admitting that he “didn’t think this was a possibility,” Cabral is “taken aback” by the acknowledgment and thrilled with the show’s whopping 10 nominations. “I’ve been honored to be a part of this project from the very beginning…I was just content with that! This is a bit much to wrap my head around. I am thrilled for everybody.”

Don Cheadle

Nominated: House of Lies, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

“7 nominees? Clearly men in comedy is SO much more weighty and important than any other sex or category. You’re welcome, America.”

Darren Criss

Nominated: Glee, Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics (“This Time”)

Alan Cumming

Nominated: The Good Wife, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Jeff Daniels

Nominated: The Newsroom, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Ricky Gervais

Nominated: Derek Special, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

Seth Green

Nominated: Robot Chicken, Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

On his voice-over nomination:”This is probably the only circumstance where you will ever find me nominated for an award for playing Batman.”

On his show’s nomination: “We’re surprised and thrilled, it actually really means something to us to be consistently invited back to this party and to be considered among all of our favorite shows and performers. We don’t expect to win mind you, but we’ll get our suits pressed nonetheless.”

Tony Hale

Nominated: Veep, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Timothy Hutton

Nominated: American Crime, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

“I am very excited,” says Hutton of his first Emmy nomination,which he learned of while doing yard work! “I’m in upstate New York at my house, and I was cutting some branches from a tree, kind of keeping myself busy,” he offers with a laugh. His phone started ringing “a little bit more than usual” shortly after the nominations were announced. One of those calling: Series creator and executive producer John Ridley. “I had a nice call with him [and I] am just so happy for everybody involved in the show. The fact that it got 10 nominations…everyone is just so excited.”

Ben Mendelsohn

Nominated: Bloodline, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Where was the Aussie actor when he learned the news? “I was in a prison shower, having a very bad time of it. I was in a fight,” he says. No, Mendelsohn hasn’t gone the way of his dark, troubled Bloodline character, Danny Rayburn—he was in Kent, England shooting his last scene for the movie Blackbird, in which he stars with Rooney Mara. The Emmy nod for his critically lauded performance in the Netflix series is his first “[Danny] is an extraordinary character. I feel very, very lucky that I got to play him,” he says. “He’s someone who’s a bad guy or troubled guy, but you get to know what makes him tick to a degree…. He’s very uniquely realized.”

“As an actor who has spent twenty years trying to crack America, the day I reached the Bloodline set and found my name on a chair next to Sissy Spacek’s was the happiest of my working life,” the actor says. “This [moment] has just matched it. Thank you, Daniel Zelman, Glenn and Todd Kessler, for creating, in Danny Rayburn, this absolute gift of a role and to Netflix for allowing me to bring him to life (and death). I am grateful beyond measure.”

Bob Odenkirk

Nominated: Better Call Saul, Outstanding Lead Performer for a Drama Series

“I am truly blown away at this nomination. I am grateful to Vince, Peter, and the writing staff. I also have to thank my amazing cast mates Jonathan Banks, Michael McKean, Michael Mando, Patrick Fabian and Rhea Seehorn because everyone raises everyone’s game. I promise to wear a tux to the ceremony. And of course thank you to the Academy!!!!”

Liev Schreiber

Nominated: Ray Donovan, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Kevin Spacey

Nominated: House of Cards, Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Jeffrey Tambor

Nominated: Transparent, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

“This is absolutely the truth and it should show you the zeitgeist of this moment. I got up, and I hadn’t heard anything, so I just turned on the television and the first vision I had of the day was Caitlyn Jenner is a white dress at the ESPY Awards. And then the calls started to come in. I’m so, so happy. We are the little engine that could.”

ACTRESSES

 

Uzo Aduba

Nominated: Orange Is the New Black, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Mayim Bialik

Nominated: The Big Bang Theory, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

“I am literally shocked. Every year it’s a humble blessing to be nominated and I don’t think any of this, or the adrenaline it creates, for granted. I never knew that playing dress up for a living could be this invigorating. Thank you for the honor of being nominated for the fourth year in a row!”

Julie Bowen

Nominated: Modern Family, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Anna Chlumsky

Nominated: Veep, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Anna Chlumsky’s third consecutive nod for playing Veep‘s Amy Brookheimer “feels as pleasant as can be!” As does the new later time of this year’s announcements. “I really got on with my day,” she confesses. “I did all the things I do with my two-year-old, and I was just about to get some beans into a slow-cooker when [I got the call]. Finding out news like this is always nice no matter what time of day, but it was good because I could be happy and say ‘this is great!’ and also still have beans to get cooking!”

Viola Davis

Nominated: How to Get Away With Murder, Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Nominated: Veep, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

“As President, my staff and I are too busy doing the people’s business to watch television. Nonetheless, we are thrilled to be a part of this celebration of creativity. (Go Jon Hamm!)”

Joanne Froggat

Nominated: Downton Abbey, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Taraji P. Henson

Nominated: Empire, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Felicity Huffman

Nominated: American Crime, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

“I didn’t think we’d get nominated,” says a clearly elated Huffman, who just earned her third career nod. “I knew we had great reviews but the viewership was down, so I thought ‘OK, John Ridley created a great show and nobody saw it.'” Which explains why, when her phone started ringing while packing up her house in the Colorado mountains today, she paid it no mind. “I didn’t know if was the window repair guy or what!” A half hour later, the actress saw she had a call from series creator Ridley. “And you know, he’s my boss, so you don’t want to blow him off,” she adds laughing. “I picked it up and said ‘Well?’ And he went ‘It’s better than we could have expected.’ Indeed. With 10 nominations, Huffman says “this is huge” for the show.

“The fact that [it] got 10 nominations…for Richard [Cabral], Tim [Hutton], Regina King, writing and direction. It’s such an endorsement of the whole show, which is admittedly outside the box of what network has done. I believe it even pushes the envelope of what cable has done. I feel like it’s more art than television show.” Fittingly, Huffman scored her first nomination and win a decade ago for Desperate Housewives, another ABC series that dared to be different. “God, was it 10 years? That was certainly was a groundbreaking show, as well. It was women over 40 who were viable!” [Plus: Her husband, actor William H. Macy, also earned an Emmy nomination for Shameless, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.]

Allison Janney

Nominated: Mom, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Regina King

Nominated: American Crime, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie

“I just want to say that I am so proud of this show. Everybody felt that it was a singular experience and that we were a part of something special that could actually start a conversation–so to be recognized in this way is really wonderful. These performances were so powerful across the board. It is extremely rewarding to be part of a cast that is so strong–oh, and the crew. I’m so lucky that I’m on my way now to play with half of the American Crime crew on the set of The Leftovers here in Austin. The fact that I get to go celebrate with about 30 men and women who also worked on American Crime is just priceless.”

Tatiana Maslany

Nominated: Orphan Black, Outstanding Lead Performer for a Drama Series

Hosts and Entertainers

Jimmy Fallon

Nominated: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Outstanding Variety Talk Series

“So honored to be nominated for an Emmy. I love being part of the American tradition of late night comedy…that people watch the next day on their phone after a brief yogurt commercial.”

Jane Lynch

Nominated: Hollywood Game Night, Outstanding Host for a Reality-Competition Program

“I couldn’t be more honored with this nomination or more grateful to all the celebrities and regular folk who show up every week game to play! And almost certainly make a fool out of themselves.”

Amy Schumer

Nominated: Inside Amy Schumer, Outstanding Lead Performer for a Comedy Series

Directors, Executive Producers, Writers

Al Jean (Executive Producer)

Nominated: The Simpsons (5 nominations)

  • Outstanding Animated Program
  • Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson)
  • Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Tress MacNeille as Laney Fontaine, Shauna and Mrs. Muntz)
  • Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Hank Azaria as Moe Szyslak and Pedicab Driver)
  • Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation (Tara Paul, Re-Recording Mixer; Mark Linden, Re-Recording Mixer)

“We were particularly happy to see the voiceover nomination for Tress MacNeille a brilliant performer for whom this is long overdue. Oh, who are we kidding, we were thrilled about all 5.”

Jenji Kohan (Creator/Executive Producer)

Nominated: Orange Is the New Black, Outstanding Drama Series

“We’re proud to be the misfits who don’t fit in–comedy, drama, nobody knows what to do with us…and we like it that way. No matter what you call us, we’re honored to be recognized by the Academy with this nomination. On behalf of the entire cast, the writers, producers and crew, and so many others that work tirelessly on this show, this is really cool and we thank you.

Michael McDonald (Executive Producer)

Nominated: American Crime, Outstanding Limited Series

“When John and I started on this journey, we wanted to present a show that spoke the truth about race and faith in America today. We are beyond honored that the Academy members recognized our amazing cast and crew who shared their own personal truths to make this project happen. We cannot thank ABC and Paul Lee enough for being so brave to bring these stories to broadcast television.”

Chris Miller and Phil Lord (Directors)

Nominated: The Last Man on Earth, Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

“We are so happy for our dear friend Will Forte [who was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series]. His genius is to make us laugh and think and care all at the same time. We feel really lucky to receive this directing nomination, but even luckier to work with such a talented group of actors, writers, editors and filmmakers as we did on Last Man, including our fellow nominee editor Stacey Schroeder. They made us look really good, and they made it one of the most enjoyable filmmaking experiences of our lives. We’re filling up the margarita pool to celebrate.”

Gareth Neame (Executive Producer)

Nominated: Downton Abbey, Outstanding Drama Series

“We’re very proud of the most recent season of Downton Abbey and are so appreciative that the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has chosen to honor the Downton team in this way. On behalf of all those who bring to life the saga of the Crawley family and those who serve them, thank you for recognizing our show for a fifth consecutive season.”

Jill Soloway (Writer/Executive Producer/Writer)

Nominated: Transparent, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

“We all gathered on the stage because we’re filming season 2, and our call time was 8 o’clock. So we all gathered around a TV and lost our minds. We were so excited, about the shows nomination, and Jeffrey’s nomination, and then we were all frantically looking on our phones to see if we won anything else and then the word came out that we had 11 nominations. It was Charlie getting the golden ticket 11 times over and over!”

Emmys




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