So, as you've no doubt seen, the 2015 Emmy Nominations are out and, as I noted in my posting of the nominations, there weren't many surprises to be had, at least not in what received nominations. Even Bloodline, with its handsomely lensed environs and brilliant ensemble, makes sense in the cold light of day, as it essentially recalls a work of classic theater and Hollywood, namely Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Nostalgia has always been the guiding principal in the Emmys, whether in rewarding lesser shows from old favorites (The Newsroom) or continuing to honor shows that have been on a downward trend for some time (Downton Abbey). They also tend to latch onto familiar storylines, such as Bloodline's, at the mild peril of ignoring more thoughtful and daring programs. (I swear I'm trying very hard not to go on another harangue about Hannibal.) Here's what we thought they got right and wrong about the six major categories, and for an overall look at how the whole nominations process happens, check out Allison's helpful guide.

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Outstanding Drama

Better Call Saul

Downton Abbey

Game of Thrones

Homeland

House of Cards

Mad Men

Orange Is the New Black

Surprises: It's interesting to see Orange is the New Black moved from Outstanding Comedy to Outstanding Drama, which makes sense, considering the darker directions the shows been roaming into. Other than that, this seems about par for the course.

Snubs: The Americans, first and foremost, followed quickly by The Walking Dead and Hannibal.

Snoozes: House of Cards had a mediocre third season, but even that is excusable in the face of the continued nominating of Downton Abbey, which hasn't been of note since Paul Giamatti's character walked out of the series for good.

Outstanding Comedy

Louie

Modern Family

Parks and Recreation

Silicon Valley

Transparent

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Veep

Surprises: I'd like to say that the continued fawning over Modern Family is a surprise, but it's really not. It's also interesting that Transparent is being nominated as a comedy, though that likely will have a Orange is the New Black-type course correction eventually.

Snubs: black-ish has been one of a mere handful of sitcoms over the last decade that has actually made me belly laugh, rather than just intermittently thinking that a joke or awkward incident is amusing.

Snoozes: Modern Family. Great cast and all, but the storylines have grown slack in comedic tension and more saccharine with age.

 

Lead Actor in a Drama

Kyle Chandler, Bloodline

Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom

Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Surprises: Kyle Chandler is a great actor, but Bloodline is nothing if not an ensemble piece, and his performance does not give a specific pulse to the show in any way. In this case, the setting seems to be the series' true dramatic anchor.

Snubs: Andrew Lincoln in The Walking Dead and Matthew Rhys in The Americans.

Snoozes: Ray Donovan may be one of the most risible shows currently in production, and Liev Schreiber, usually a clutch dramatic presence as a character actor, gives little but a potent sense of brooding machismo to the thinly conceived part.

Lead Actress in a Drama

Claire Danes, Homeland

Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

Taraji P. Henson, Empire

Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black

Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Robin Wright, House of Cards

Surprises: No major surprises here, aside from the absence of anyone from Orange is the New Black, though that show has become far more of an ensemble piece since Season 1.

Snubs: Keri Russell had an especially challenging season on The Americans and the fact that she's getting bumped over for Viola Davis, a great actress in a very dumb show, is borderline insulting.

Snoozes: Not to harp on Davis again, but even if one conceded that she props up the rest of How to Get Away with Murder, what she gives to the series is nothing more than a sturdy anchor, as the terminally erratic narrative flails around.

Lead Actor in a Comedy

Anthony Anderson, black-ish

Louis C.K., Louie

Don Cheadle, House of Lies

Will Forte, Last Man on Earth

Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

William H. Macy, Shameless

Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Surprises: Jeffrey Tambor deserves all the praise in the world for his studied, moving performance on Transparent, but that the show is considered a comedy is news to me.

Snubs: I thought Josh Gad's work on The Comedians was worth more attention than either Cheadle or Macy, but really, this race is between C.K., Forte, and Tambor, or at least should be.

Snoozes: William H. Macy has done an awfully admirable job making the same joke sound funny time after time in Shameless, but I can't say I quite understand the continued love for an increasingly lackluster series.

Lead Actress in a Comedy

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer

Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Surprises: It's nice to see Lily Tomlin up here, for her generous, funny work on Grace & Frankie, though Jane Fonda's work on the underrated comedy series is just as strong. Still, this category is mostly dead-on.

Snubs: Pamela Adlon fired on all cylinders on the most recent, abbreviated season of Louie, but once again was ignored for her hilarious, unabashed performance. Runners-up: Hadley Delany and Ursula Parker, though they might fit better in supporting.

Snoozes: As I said before, this category is about as spot-on as I could imagine. Even the women nominated for programs I don't watch regularly (Nurse Jackie, The Comeback) are clearly the main reason those series have a following in the first place.