Emmy diva smackdown: Jane Lynch, Betty White, Cloris Leachman

The Emmy battle over best supporting comedy actress is turning out to be a dramatic face-off involving some of TV's top divas.

Jane Lynch ("Glee") won last year and will surely pose a tough challenge again, but beware: She competes against two of Emmy's most beloved stars.

Betty White ("Hot in Cleveland") is a five-time past champ, whose most recent victory was last year for guesting on "Saturday Night Live." But that's a modest tally compared with the trophy stash of Cloris Leachman, who's won more Emmys in the performance categories than anyone in TV history –- nine, if you count her Daytime Emmy along with her Primetime awards. Now she's back in the running for "Raising Hope," competing against last year's nominees who have a good shot to return: Julie Bowen ("Modern Family"), Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock"), Holland Taylor ("Two and a Half Men"), Sofia Vergara ("Modern Family") and Kristen Wiig ("Saturday Night Live").

Knocking hard on this category door are Allison Janney ("Mr. Sunshine"), Martha Plimpton ("Raising Hope") and Gabourey Sidibe ("The Big C").

Below, my breakdown of the category. Also see my handicapping of the races for best supporting comedy actor, lead drama actor and best drama series.

-- Tom O'Neil

BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTRESS
(Front-runners)
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Allison Janney, "Mr. Sunshine"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"
Diane Ladd, "Enlightened"
Cloris Leachman, "Raising Hope"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Martha Plimpton, "Raising Hope"
Gabourey Sidibe, "The Big C"
Holland Taylor, "Two and a Half Men"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"

 

 

Comedy Central/MTV Networks Comedy Awards nominations announced

 
So you thought the awards' season was officially over on Feb. 27, Oscar Sunday?

Think again. Comedy Central and MTV Networks have created the Comedy Awards, which will be telecast on April 10 on Comedy Central, Spike TV, TV Land, VH1, CMT and Nick at Night.
 Nominations in 15 categories were announced Tuesday. The nominees were chosen by the "Comedy Awards' Board of Directors,'' which includes director James Burrows, Stephen Colbert, Brad Grey, Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers and Seth MacFarlane. The winners will be chosen by an invitation-only voting body from members of the comedy community.

The nominees are:

Comedy Series

"30 Rock"

"Eastbound & Down"

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"

"Modern Family"

"The Office"

Comedy Actor-TV

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Ty Burell, "Modern Family"

Steve Carell, "The Office"

Danny McBride, "Eastbound & Down"

Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock"

Comedy Actress-TV

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"

Jane Lynch, "Glee"

Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"

Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"

Comedy Actor-Film

Russell Brand, "Get Him to the Greek"

Will Ferrell, "The Other Guys"

Zach Galifianakis, "Dinner for Schmucks"

Paul Giamatti, "Barney's Version"

Jonah Hill, "Cyrus"

Comedy Actress-Film

Tina Fey, "Date Night"

Anne Hathaway, "Love & Other Drugs"

Helen Mirren, "Red"

Chloe Moretz, "Kick-Ass"

Emma Stone, "Easy A"

Late Night Comedy Series

"The Colbert Report"

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"

"Jimmy Kimmel Live"

"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon"

"Late Show with David Letterman"

Sketch Comedy/Alternative Comedy Series

"Children's Hospital"

"Funny or Die Presents"

"Saturday Night Live"

"Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job"

"Tosh.O"

Stand-Up Special

"Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening"

"Bill Maher...But I'm Not Wrong"

"Louis C.K.: Hilarious"

"Ricky Gervais: Out of England 2"

"Whitney Cummings: Money Shot"

Comedy Film

"Cyrus"

"Easy A"

"Get Him to the Greek"

"Kick-Ass"

"The Other Guys"

Animated Comedy Film

"Despicable Me"

"Megamind"

"Shrek Forever After"

"Toy Story 3"

Animated Comedy  Series

"American Dad"

"Archer"

"Family Guy"

"The Simpsons"

"South Park"

For a complete list of nominees, go to Thecomedyawards.com

-- Susan King

Photo: Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin star in NBC's "30 Rock," which garnered seven Comedy Awards nominations. Credit: Nicole Rivelli / NBC Universal