Emmys 2015: Best Comedy Series — Our Dream Nominees

By Michael Slezak June 1, 2015 5:00 pm EST

TRANSPARENT WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: The freshman season of Amazon Prime's complex character study about a family patriarch's transition to female — and the inevitable ripple effects on her adult children — wasn't merely politically important, but heartbreakingly authentic, achingly funny and deeply fascinating, too.

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THE COMEBACK WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Almost a decade after its freshman run, Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King's unflinching exploration of what it means to be an aging former It Girl in Hollywood only sharpened its satirical focus — and managed to also grow its heart several sizes. The Season 2 finale — in which Kudrow's Valerie is forced to choose between a coveted moment of glory at the Emmys or the bedside of her ailing hairstylist Mickey — proved an utterly profound meditation on love, fame and personal identity.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Almost a decade after its freshman run, Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King's unflinching exploration of what it means to be an aging former It Girl in Hollywood only sharpened its satirical focus — and managed to also grow its heart several sizes. The Season 2 finale — in which Kudrow's Valerie is forced to choose between a coveted moment of glory at the Emmys or the bedside of her ailing hairstylist Mickey — proved an utterly profound meditation on love, fame and personal identity.

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JANE THE VIRGIN WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Simply put, Season 1 of The CW's breakout comedy managed to be heartwarming, gut-busting and poignant (sometimes all at once), with a sun-drenched Miami setting and a cast of fearless, funny Latinas that looked and sounded like no one else on TV. Bonus points for introducing the world to an incredible talent in star Gina Rodriguez — a potential Emmy nominee in her own right.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Simply put, Season 1 of The CW's breakout comedy managed to be heartwarming, gut-busting and poignant (sometimes all at once), with a sun-drenched Miami setting and a cast of fearless, funny Latinas that looked and sounded like no one else on TV. Bonus points for introducing the world to an incredible talent in star Gina Rodriguez — a potential Emmy nominee in her own right.

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SILICON VALLEY WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: In its second season, HBO's tech satire evolved into a complex, moving and — most importantly — funny portrait of a dysfunctional family that featured one of the most underrated ensembles on television.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: In its second season, HBO's tech satire evolved into a complex, moving and — most importantly — funny portrait of a dysfunctional family that featured one of the most underrated ensembles on television.

emmys-2015-comedy-series-transparent1

TRANSPARENT WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: The freshman season of Amazon Prime's complex character study about a family patriarch's transition to female — and the inevitable ripple effects on her adult children — wasn't merely politically important, but heartbreakingly authentic, achingly funny and deeply fascinating, too.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: The freshman season of Amazon Prime's complex character study about a family patriarch's transition to female — and the inevitable ripple effects on her adult children — wasn't merely politically important, but heartbreakingly authentic, achingly funny and deeply fascinating, too.

emmys-2015-comedy-series-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt

UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Like the second coming of 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — with its killer ensemble and infectious earworms, including the iconic "Pinot Noir" — was an immediate (and ultimately satisfying) must-binge from the moment it debuted on Netflix.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Like the second coming of 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — with its killer ensemble and infectious earworms, including the iconic "Pinot Noir" — was an immediate (and ultimately satisfying) must-binge from the moment it debuted on Netflix.

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VEEP WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Her unexpected ascent to POTUS in Season 4 hasn't made Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Selina Meyer any less profane, self-absorbed, ineffective or power-hungry — nor has it blunted the barely concealed (and brutally funny) rage and exasperation of her ragtag staff. It's enough to make us chant "Four more years! Four more years!"

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Her unexpected ascent to POTUS in Season 4 hasn't made Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Selina Meyer any less profane, self-absorbed, ineffective or power-hungry — nor has it blunted the barely concealed (and brutally funny) rage and exasperation of her ragtag staff. It's enough to make us chant "Four more years! Four more years!"

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YOU'RE THE WORST WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Though we know it references the FX comedy's cast of intentionally unlikable characters, this title couldn't be any less reflective of our feelings about the show. Adultery, casual sex and "Sunday Funday" were among the hard-hitting topics explored in the sleeper hit's freshman season, and we can't think of four funnier people we'd rather watch navigate those murky waters.

WHY IT DESERVES A NOD: Though we know it references the FX comedy's cast of intentionally unlikable characters, this title couldn't be any less reflective of our feelings about the show. Adultery, casual sex and "Sunday Funday" were among the hard-hitting topics explored in the sleeper hit's freshman season, and we can't think of four funnier people we'd rather watch navigate those murky waters.